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HISTORICAL 

ENCYCLOPEDIA 



OF 



ILLINOIS 

EDITED BY 

Newton Bateman, LL. U. Paul Selby, A. M. 



AND HISTORY OF 



CARROLL COUNTY 



edited by 
Chaki.es L. Hostetter 

VOLUME II. 
ILLUSTRATED 



CHICAGO 
munsell publishing company 

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In the first century of the Christian era, Tacitus (perhaps the 
greatest of Roman historians) wrote that the object of historv 
was "to rescue virtuous acts from the oblivion to which the 
want ot records would consign them." 





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PUBLIC LIBRARY 




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PREFACE 



In eonipiliiig this history of Carroll County the ohject has heen to record 
facts relating to the lives of people who settled in this locality, beginning \yitli 
the first settlements of an unoccupied country, to the end that a permanent 
record might he made which will be accessible for an unlimited time to those 
who have an interest therein. The life of a man, his achievements, what he 
has accomplished during his life, can be perpetuated in no better way, or 
preserved longer or more permanently than by the art of printing. It enables 
us to read the past, a reverence for which, a distinguished author says, is the 
basis for all sound progress. 

For a work of this kind facts have to be sought for ; no one volunteers informa- 
tion ; it has to be dug out of musty records or drawn from dormant and uncer- 
tain luemorics. One often finds very little wheat among a great deal of chaff. 
It has been an interesting work, liecause it relates to the very beginning of 
the settlement of a new land, heretofore unknown and uncivilized. Interesting 
also because it covers a time of unprecedented progress in the arts and sciences; 
in the application of modern genius and thought to the amelioration of the 
physical conditions under which the pioneers lived and toiled. Changes have 
taken place that have indeed been marvelous, and beyond the imagination of 
the most visionary pioneer. Conditions now are so different from those under 
which our grandfathers and grandmothers lived, that intelligent comparisons 
are almost impossible. Nearly all things are new and the former things have 
passed away. The age of iron and invention is now supreme. So wonderful 
and rapid have been the changes which can be recounted by persons now living 
that it is utterly impossible to predict what the future may bring forth. 

The principal reason for undertaking this work was to presei-ve many of 
the facts concerning the early history of this county, which otherwise would 
soon have been obliterated by the passing of time. It is now nearly a hundred 
years since the first permanent settlement was made in Carroll County, and 
very few of the adult settlers of the first fifty years are now living. 

Friends of the undertaking have helped where they could. j\lany more no 
doul)t would have lent the editor a helping hand had they been called upon. 
We are especially under obligations to the following persons for valuable assist- 
ance and information furnished, which has added greatly to the interest of the 
work: Henry Elsey, of Elkhorn Grove; \V. H. Hurless, for the use of the old 
files of the Mirror; George A. Royer, Secretary of the Old Settlers Association, 
for the use of their records: Bernie Holland, Secretary of the Sailors niid Sol- 
diers Association, for the use of their records; W. H. Dresback, of Lanark; 



F. :\r. Sclmlts, of Chadwiok; S. J. Holland, of Thomson; H. N. Parsons, for 
his history of York Township, and to Nathaniel I\[iles, for his very interesting 
sketeh of ilount Carroll. 

To others credit has been given in the work, especially to ]Mr. Samuel Pres- 
ton, for much interesting information which has been taken from his pul)lished 
articles on '"The Pioneers of Mount Carroll.'' 

The editor also has had access to the notes of Dr. Henry Shinier, which he 
had made in contemplation of some time writing a history of the County, 
ilueh of this matter will be found in the chapter taken from the manuscript 
of the Hon. James Shaw, which he had placed in the hands of the publishers 
prior to his death. 

The compilation of this history has been made intennittently at such times 
as could be spared from business hours, and ou this account it may be lacking, 
in a few cases, in continuity ; nevertheless to make the work accurate and trust- 
worthy has been the first consideration. 



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INDEX 



CHAPTER I. 

PHYSICAL CPIARACTERISTICS OP^ CARROLL COUNTY. 

Western boundary — Magnificent Trees — Came — Dyson's Lake — Drain- 
age Ditch — Apple River — Rush Creek — Ridge Road — The Peca- 
tolikee — The Waukarusa — Savanna Ridge Road — Johnson Creek — 
First County Ditch — Flowing Wells — High Hill — Improvements 
— Lead Jlines — Iron Mines — Coalite IMines — Indian ]\Iounds — Mr. 
Pidgeon's Work — Traditions of De-Coo-Dah — Plum River Indian 
Jlounds — Arnold's Grove Indian ]\Iounds — ilounds in Mount Car- 
roll Township — York Township ilounds — Stone Relics — The Dalles 
of the Waukarusa — The Prairie 617-626 

CHAPTER II. 

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CARROLL COFXTY. AS DELIVERED BY 

HON. J A:\1ES SHAW. AT LANARK, ILLINOIS, ON JULY -i, 1876 

AT A FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION THERE 

HELD AND OLD SETTLERS MEETING. 

Ancient Owiici'siiii) — Noi-tinvcstcrn Tci'ritory — Jo Daviess County — 
Savanna First Town — New County Otficer.s — County Commissioners 
Court — First Circuit Court Held in the County — Removal of County 
Seat From Savanna — Court House Built — IMembers of the Legisla- 
ture — Early Settlenient.s — First Settlement in Carroll County — 
Savanna Settled — First School House — First Trail — Tavern Rates — 
Cherry (irove Settlement — Elkhorn Grove Settlement — IMarking the 
Way— Yoi-k Township Earlv Settlers-^IIow They Canu — York 
Townshiji Named — Preston Prairie and Blount (Jarroll Settlements 
— 1837 Original Jlill Company Formed — First Religious Meeting — 
The JMill (,'ompany— Stag Point— First School— First Mail— The 
Seminary — The Academy — Early Settlement in W^ysox — Indians — 
— A Pioneer Lost — Jumping a Claim — Shelving Rock Shanty — 
Rattlesnakes — Inventive Genius — Names of Places — Straddle Creek 
— Early Settlement — Agricultural Society — Early Premiums 
Awarded — News Papers — Magnitude 1876 — Wai- Record (127-651 



CHAPTER III. 

THE PIONEERS. AVHERE THEY CAME FRO:\I. AND HOW THEY 

GOT HERE. 

Canal Boat Traveling — Steam Boat Trip — Covered Wagons — Prairie 
Fires — By the C4reat Lakes — Tliose Who Did Not Come — Postage — 
Battled With ^Many Diffieulties — Happiest People — Savanna Pio- 
neers — Left Galena 1828 — Strong Hands. Stont Hearts — Bob Upton 
— Savanna A Trading Post — Rivers Commercial Highways — Black 
Hawk War — Flight. Anxious ^Mothers — Love of Pioneering — David 
Emmert and His Family. Samuel jM. Hitt. Nathaniel Halderman — 
Building the ]\Iill at ]\lount Carroll — Boarding the Hands — Store 
Built — Lodging the People — Caroline Wade — Land. Sales — Hard; 
Times, Scarcity of ]\loney — Baptismal Pool — The Graveyard, First 
Grave — First Newspaper Printed in ilount Carroll — Pioneers Con- 
tinued. Doctors Abraham and John L. Hostetter — First Bank — 
Breaking out of the Civil War — Depreciated Currency — John 
Ir\ine. Sr. — AVeddings. Birlhs and Deaths in the Log Cabin — ]\Iiss 
Anna Hostetter . . . .^ 651-665 

CHAPTER IV. 

THE FORTY-NINERS. 

Gold Accidentally Discovered in California — Ways of Getting There — 
Excitement Spreads — Lives of the Gold Jliners — First Party From 
Mount Carroll — Pierce and Youtz Drowned — The Barber Incident 
— Hardships Endured — The ]\Iarch Began — Those From Savanna — 
The Emmert Party — Evan Rae Elected Captain — Shottenkirk's 
Diary — Snow Constantly in Sight in June — Crossing Green River — 
Daring Act of Heroism — Another Party Leaves ilount Carroll — The 
Mumma Party— Government of the Gold Seekers — Franklin Lang- 
worthv's Book — Abandon Wagons, Pack on Animals — ^Mount Carroll 
lS5-4-^The Return 665-672 

CHAPTER V. 

ORGANIZATIONS. 

Protective Leagues — First Lyceum — Horse-Thieves — Prairie Bandits — - 
Vigilantes — Elkhorn Grove Compact — The Grange ^Movement — 
Granges — Protits of Iu.siTrance — Fraternal Insurance — Mutual Fire 
Insurance 672-677 

CHAPTER VI. 

SOLDIERS AND PATRIOTIC ORDERS. 

The Grand Armv of the Republic— Nase Post No. 80— Ob.iects— Wo- 
man's W. R. C. No. 95. .Mount Carroll— Shiloh Post No. 85— 
Shiloh W. R. C. Lanark— Illinois W. R. C. Gazette— Objects of the 
W. R. C 677-682 



CHAPTER Vll. 

PATRIOTIC ORDERS— Continued 

R. M. A. Hawk Post, 4()ti— W. R, ('.. Savanna— George Kridlcr Post. 575 
— W. R. C, I^Iillc'dgeville— Hohiian I'ost. 57!) — Reoapturcd Flags — 
■\V. R. C. Thomson — Holdeii Putnam I'ost, 646 — Camp Sons of Vet- 
erans — W. R. C, Slianuon — Div .John L. Ilostctter Post, 785 W. — 
R. C. Chadwick— R. .M. A. Hawk Post, 4(1(1 Sjivanna 682-688 

CHAPTER Vll I. 

THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS SOCIETY OF CARROLL COUNTY. 

Orgaiuzed at Lanark — ^Milledgeville Meeting — -Monument Committee — 
Action of the County Board — Committee Appointed by Board — Re- 
port of Joint Committee — Dedication of the .Monument — The Pro- 
cession — The Speeches — History of the Monument — Inscriptions — 
The Statues — Height of Monument — Reunion .Meetings — Savaiuia 
Selected as Place of Meeting " 688-693 

CHAPTER IX. 

CARROLL COUNTY. LMPROVEMENT AND PROGRESS. 

Stage Lines — Prairie Fires — Finances — County Incorporated — Census 
1840 — Census I!»l() — Decrease Accounted foi- — Former Citizens 
Scattered — Emigration — Progress — The Threshings — The Banner 
Corn County — County Ofificers — Railroads, Valuation — Rural 
Routes— Valuation of Property — Taxes 693-698 

CHAPTER X. 

CHAD\VICK .\XD F.\IR II.WEN TO\VXSHTP— LANARK AND ROCK 

CREEK TOWNSHIP. 

Cnadwick — Fair Haven Township — German Settlers — Laiuirk — Old 
House — Fourth of July, 1876 — Early Days— Bu.siness. 1!)]1 — Water- 
works — TeleplioiU' System — Factories — Rock Creek Township — First 
Settlers 698-702 

CH.M'TER XI. 

CHERRY GROVE— FREEDOM— LLAIA, TOAVNSHIPS. 

Cherry Grove — Stiige Lines — Racine and Mississippi Railroad — Geoi-ge 
Town— Wood Lots— Forest Fires— Wild Ginseng— Early Settlers — 
l>iiicoln and Douglas Deliate — Freedom Township — Arnold's Grove 
— Hunting Grounds of Ihc Iiiiiians — Early Settlers — Wages — Horti- 
culture — Orchards — Lima Township 702-705 



CHAPTER XII. 

VILLAGE OF MILLEDGEVILLE— WYSOX— ELKHORN GROVE 

TOWNSHIPS. 

Milledgeville— Original Plat— AVysox Township— Early Settlers— Elk- 
horn Grove Township — Tiie People — Log Rollings — Old Center 
School House — :\Iethodist Church— Hand Saw-:\Iill — First Water 
Power :\Iills— A Go-Devil— A Dutch Oven— The Sucker Trail— A 
Pigeon Trap — Choice Dishes — Intoxicating Liquors — A Valuable 
Load — Names of Early Settlers — War Record — The Underground 
Railroad — Hazlehurst 705-713 

CHAPTER XIII. 

MOUNT CARROLL, CITY AND TOWNSHIP— SALEM TOWNSHIP. 

City of Mount Carroll — Mayors — Public Library — Caroline Mark Home 
Business Enterprises — Churches — Civic Societies — Frances 
Shimer School — Jlount Carroll Towniship — First Mill — First School 
— Occupation of Farmers — Salem Township — Interesting Incidents 
— Cyclones — A Log School House — Special Crops 713-721 

CHAPTER XIV. 

SAVANNA CITY AND TOWNSHIP— VILLAGE OF SHANNON AND 

TOWNSHIP. 

Savanna City — Buildings — Banks — Telephone Company — ^lanufaetur- 
ing — Fishing — Newspapers — Early Settlers — First School Teacher 
— Religious Organizations — Business Urms — Cemetery Association 
— Electric Light Plant — Savanna Township — Shannon — Grain 
]\Iarket — Lumber — The Shannon Telephone Company — Shannon 
Township — First Settlers — Tlie Wheat Crop — Fii-st Threshing 
Machines 721-727 

CHAPTER XV. 

VILLAGE OF THOMSON— TOWNSHIPS OF YORK, WASHINGTON AND 

WOODLAND. 

Thomson — Creameries — Melon ^larket — Centennial Celebration — York 
Township — First Settlement — Bluffville — First Fair — Argo — Law- 
yers and Ministers — Old Point Bluif — Washington Township — 
Early Settlers — Wolves — Arnold "s Landing — Portsmouth — IMarcus 
Train Robbery — Woodland Township — Saw-Mills — Hay Family — 
Cheese Factory 727-733 

CHAPTER XVI. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

The Part of Biography In General History — Citizens of Carroll County 
and Outlines of Personal History — Personal Sketches Arranged In 
Encylopedie Order 735-935 



PORTRAITS 



Bashaw, William C23 

Bashaw, Mrs. William 622 

Beattie, James P 630 

Beattie, Mrs. James P 630 

Becker, Egbert T. E 638 

Becker, Sarah C 640 

Browning, Matilda 648 

Browning. William F 648 

Busell, David C 656 

Cliambers, Jacob L 664 

Chambers, Mrs. Jacob L 664 

Colehour, Mary J 674 

Colehour, Samuel P 672 

Connell, John R 682 

Connell, Mrs. John R 682 

Cushman. Josiah B 690 

Demmon, Eliza 700 

Demmon, John F 698 

Deuel, Horace C 708 

Deuel, Martha B 708 

Diehl, Fred S 712 

Ecknian, James A 716 

Eckman, Mrs. James A 716 

French, Norman D 720 

Fulrath, Adam 724 

Galpin, Daniel A 726 

Galpin, Mrs. Daniel A 726 

Hacker, William P 730 

Hacker, Mrs. William P 732 

Hartficld, Ernest M 736 

Hathaway, James 743 

Hawk, Ella 748 

Hawk, Hugh C. ..." 746 

Henze, Fred C 753 

Henze, Mrs. Fred C 752 

Hoerz, Cora E .758 

Hoerz, David 756 

Hoffman, John 762 

Hoffman, Mrs. .John 762 



Holland, Smith J 766 

Holland, Mrs. Smith J 766 

Hostetter, Charles L 617 

Landon, George W 770 

Landon, Mrs. George W 770 

Livengood, Zachariah T 774 

Livengood, Mrs. Zachariah T 774 

Mackay, William 778 

Mark, Caroline 782 

McNamer, Hiram 786 

McXamer, Marie 786 

Jleyer, Frederick, W 790 

Meyer, Mrs. Frederick W 790 

Miller, Daniel M 908 

Miller, Herman 794 

Miller, Mary L 908 

Myers, George 798 

Nipe, Amelia 848 

Nipe, William E 802 

Parker, John C 806 

Parker, Mrs. John C 808 

Patch, Benjamin L 812 

Rauser, Christian G 816 

Rauser, Jlrs. Christian G 816 

Root, George A 822 

Root, George A 826 

Root, Helen F 824 

Root, Marvin 820 

Runnels, Burget F. 830 

Schick, Eli 834 

Schick, Jones 836 

Schick, Mary E 838 

Shaw, James 843 

Shepard, Adelia 848 

Shepard, Martin 846 

Smith, Margaret A 854 

Smith. W'illiam W 852 

Snivcly, John R 858 

Snow, Charles P 862 



Snow, Sarah A S64 

Spealman, Joseph, 868 

Spealman, Mary 870 

Sprecher, Louis H ST-l 

Sprecher, Nancy J 876 

Stedman, Ira JI 880 

Stedman, Mrs. Ira M 880 

Steffens, Joseph 884 

Steffens, Orinda 886 

Strickler, Jacob H 890 

Sword, Samuel 894 

Sword, Mrs. Samuel 894 



.898 



Thorpe, Phoebe A 902 

Turner, Elmira 908 

Turner, Joshua 908 

Turner, Silas E 906 

Turner. Mrs. Silas E 906 

Warner, Joseph A. and Family 912 

Watson, Otho 916 

Watson, Sarah 918 

Wolf, Amos 932 

Wolf, Mrs. Amos 924 

Zelenka, Henry 928 

Zelenka, Mrs. Henry 928 



Taylor, James and Family 

Thorpe, Lucius 902Zuck, John H. and Family 932 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



Carnegie Library 660 

Caroline Mark Home 634 

Castle Rock .618 

College Hall T04 

County l-'ann Houses 668 

Court House 617 

Dearborn Hall 694 

Devil's Back-Bone 618 

Electric Light Station .678 

Falls of the Waukarusa 634 

First Log House in Carroll County 653 

First Store in Mt. Carroll 644 

Giants Tea Table 626 

Hathaway Hall 704 

Map of Carroll County 617 

Mi-tcalf Hall , 686 

Old Stone Court House 653 

Poets Rock 634 

Scene Across the Campus 686 

Scene on the Waukai-usa 626 

Soldiers' Monument 617 

Stone House at Wilderberg 660 

Tennis Court 694 

The Old Mill 660 

The Twin Sisters 018 

Water Works Plant 678 




^^ v^;:^£5t=^^ 






,*!;i5*°- 






HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



CHAPTKR I. 



PHYSICAL CIIAKACTERISTICS 
CARROLL COUNTY. 



OP 



ning sloughs foriuiug uiuuy wooded islands. The 
principal of these Is Turkey Slough in the 
southwest toruer of the county, between this 
and the nieanderiiiix slough, so called. Is Rig 
Island, ne.\t east Little Island and Marble 
Island, and Marbli- Slough, su n.-iuied after an 
early settler. 



MAQNiriCENT TREES 



WESTEBN BOUNDABY — MAGNIFICENT TREES — GAME 
— DYSON'S LAKE — DRAINAGE DITCH — APPLE BIVEB 

— BUSH CREEK — BIDGE BOAD THE PECATOLIKEE 

— THE WAUKABISA — SAVANNA BIUOE ROAD 

JOHNSON CREEK — FIR.ST COUNTY DITCH — FLOW- 
ING WELLS — HIGH HILL — IMPROVEMENTS — LEAD 
MI.NES — IRON MINES — COALITE MINES — INDIAN 
MOUNDS — MB. PIIXiEON"S WORK — TBADITIONS OF 
DE-COO-DAH PLUM BIVEB INDIAN MOUNDS — AR- 
NOLD'S GROVE INDIAN MOUNDS — MOUNDS IN 
MOUNT CARROLL TOWNSHIP — YORK TOWNSHIP 
.MOUND.S — STONE REI.K S — THE UAI.I.KS OF THE 
WAUKABUSA — THE PBAIBIE. 

Before entering upon the history of the people 
who made their homes in this beautiful country, 
it may be well to consider the natural conditions 
they found here ; conditions which determined 
them to cast their lot here, and to build up com- 
munities and create a new civilization for them- 
selves; a country and a civilization which they 
might leave as an inheritance for the genera- 
tions that should follow them. 

WESTEBN BOUNDARY 

The great Mississippi river, any school boy or 
girl will tell you, is the longest river in the 
world, It bounds the county on the west; the 
thread of the main channel of the river is the 
state and county line. The eastern Imnk of the 
river In the south part of the county is bordered 
with timber Interspersed with bayous and run- 



in early days these islands were covered with 
magnificent trees, s^ome were nut bearing trees, 
the fruit of some was a very large hickory nut 
and there were smaller shellliark hickory nuts 
and walnuts in great abundance. Here the 
scjuirrels, of which there were several varieties, 
did not want for a plentiful store of nuts for 
winter use. Neither did the early settlers who 
greatly relished this addition to their not exten- 
sive bill of fare. 



The waters were filled with the finest kinds 
of game fish, and game of all kinds was very 
abundant, on the islands; and on the waters 
there were several kinds of wild geese and a 
great variety of ducks, and there were also wild 
turkeys and deer, and pigeons In great numbers. 

THE SAND RIOOE 

r;ast of the islands Is a treeless almost level 
plain, called tlii> Sand ridge, about five miles in 
width, not much above the level of the river In 
high water, extending from below Savanna 
south between the bluffs and the river, to the 
southern iHiundary of the county. 

DYSON'S LAKE, DRAINAGE DITCH 

Situated near the eastern boundary of this 
plain, in Mount Carroll and York Townships Is 



617 



618 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



Srufish lake, called also Dyson's laUe, after 
William Dyson, a iMoneer of 1837. who took up 
n claim on the western shore of the lake. At- 
tempts have been made to drain this lake by 
digging a ditch through low-lying marsh ground 
northward to Plum river, but they have only 
succeeded in lowering the surface of the water 
in the lake a few feet, and draining a part of 
the surrounding lands temiiorarily ; the ditch 
has invariably been tilled up with sand and 
mud, washed into it by heavy floods in the 
streams to the east of it, particularly Deer 
creek, which flowing west past Hickory Grove, 
carries down from the hills a great deal of the 
soil, which is deposited in the ditch, especially 
when the waters in the Mississippi and Plum 
rivers are high. There is very little fall from 
the lake and consequently no current running 
northward to carry the sediment out of the 
ditch, on account of which conditions it seems 
to be an impracticable undertaking to drain Sun- 
fish lake. The first ditch was dug in 1S71 by 
the county and cost nearly seven thousand dol- 
lars and was paid from the sale of swamp 
lands successfully drained by the county ditch, 
running south through the Willow island tract 
of land. The last attempt to drain this lake 
was made by the owners of laud to be benefitted 
under the drainage law. The ditch, however, 
filled up as before and an attempt is now 
being made to pump the water out of the lake 
into the ditch. 

APPLE BIVEE — RUSH CBEEK 

Apple river flows through the northwest corner 
of the county and empties into the Mississippi 
river on Section 11. Range 2, Washington 
Township. At its nmuth is .\]i|ilc River Island. 
X little farther east Rush creek flows through 
the center of the same township, on Section 17; 
in an early day it was McKillups dam and 
water power. This stream empties into the 
great river on Section 28. where the Burling- 
ton Railroad crosses this creek. A little west 
of the bridge near Marcus station, is where the 
iKitcd train robbery occurred in ]902. One of 
the principal tributaries of Rush creek is Camp 
creek. It gets its name from the fact that 
during the Blackhawk War and about the time 
of the attack on the fort at Elizabeth a large 
body of Indians were camped at the largo spring 



in the beautiful valley which is the headwaters 
of the creek. 

.MCJ-AKLAXD's BAY 

A little further down the river from the mouth 
of Rush creek is McFarland's bay, in early days 
used as a favorite and safe place for wintering 
rafts of pine logs that were then floated down 
the river from the pineries, also for wintering 
steamboats. Below the bay the river Hows 
quite close to the high bluffs, in early days 
called the Council Bluffs of the upper Mississippi 
river. They are the highest bluffs anywhere 
along the river and the most picturesque ; here 
can be seen high upon one iierpeudiiular bluff 
the profile of an Indian face, in these bluff.s is 
also the noted Bob Upton's cave. In earl.v days 
steamboats burned wood and got large supplies 
from Savanna. At one time, great piles of red 
cedar taken from the bluffs above the town were 
to be seen at Savanna waiting for the arrival 
of some steamljoat. This gave some of the early 
settlers the impression that the much talked of 
Savanna where they were to land, was "only 
a wood pile." For some years the railroads 
consumed great quantities of wood to make 
steam in the engines; they got large sui)plies 
from timber along the river, most of which be- 
longed to Uncle Sam, — conservation of the for- 
ests had not then been thought of. When wal- 
nut wood became valuable the great walnut 
trees, centuries old, were felled by the wood- 
man's axe. Below Savanna is the big slough 
through which Plum river enters the Mississippi 
river, west of this was Savanna lake. 

RIDGE ROAD — THE PECATOLIKEE 

Between the valley of Rush creek and Plum 
river valley is a ridge road from which fine 
views are had over both valleys. Plum river 
is the longest stream in the county. The gov- 
ernment surve.v gave its Indian name as Pecato- 
likee and marked it, "navigable," up to "Bow- 
en's Ferr.v," just below where the mill dam of 
Bowen's mill used to be. In the north part of 
Woodland its two branches East and West Plum 
river come together, the east branch Is fed by 
Crane's run, on which was Crane's fort ; further 
up is the Lyn Grove branch, which rises near 
Lyn Grove on Section 10. Cherry Grove Town- 
ship and Cherr.v Grove branch, on Section \?>, 




CASTLE ROCK ()\ THE WAUKARUKA 




THK I'W IN SLSTERS 




DKMLS HACK-BONE 



■ o 



:/ 



HISTORY OP CARROLL COUNTY 



019 



Freedom Townsliip. on whiili hi yoars 
liv \v;is I'.dlinsor's saw mill. 



Willow island tract, leading south iiilo White- 
side connty. aditcd to tlio area drained. 



THE WAUKARUSA 

In the south part of Woodland township the 
waters of the Wankar\isa How into I'liun river, 
and about twenty rods lielow its junction on 
Section :V2. there was a sulphur siiring, so 
marked on early maps. The Wauliarusa takes 
its rise south and east of Shannon, the Badger 
springs starting one of the head branches. Cedar 
creek is a small stream that flows into it from 
the south a little above its junction witli Plum 
river, the Pecatolikee. At the head of Cedar 
creek tliere is a spring which feeils a fish pond 
made by Samuel Preston, in wliieli he r.aised 
many tine tish. 

SAVANNA HIDGE BOAD 

Plum river and its branches drain the entire 
north half of the county. Along the dividing 
line between Plum river valley and Johnson 
creek valley on the south, there is a ridge road 
to Savanna. From this road there are beauti- 
ful views over the valley on either side extend- 
ing for many mile.s, and toward the west as far 
as the Iowa bluffs along the great river. When 
the early settlers came from Savanna, having 
disembarked there from a Mississippi steam- 
boat, after a long and wearisome journey, and 
traveled along this road and looked eastward 
over the beautiful prairies, there spread out be- 
fore them, they thought they had indeed reached 
the "Promised Land." 

JOHNSON CKKEK. FIHST COUNTY DITCH 

The southern half of the county is drained by 
sn.aller streams. Johnson creek in the west part 
has its beginning near the center of Salem town- 
ship, flows through the southeast corner of 
Mount Oarroll township, thence through York 
toward the Mississijjpi river bottoms. There 
originally it was lost in the sands, but some 
CL'terprising farmers of that township made 
dykes on both sides of the channel so as to con- 
fine its waters in flood time, thus recovering 
from the floods and consoquent standing waters, 
some of the most valuable l.-uid in thi- enunty. 
The county ditch, .lug in isci;. tlir.mgh the 



FLOWING WELLS 

In the northeast corner of York township on 
wliat was the Tomlinson fnrm is an artesian 
well. It was bored by some strangers, who 
came to this county prospecting, thinking that 
they would find coal becau.se there was a shale 
saturated with some kind of oil cropping out in 
the neighborhood. They were skeptical of the 
V. ay the geologists read the Iwok of stone, viz. : 
that coal is not found in this geological forma- 
tion, and the deeix>r they bored the farther they 
were getting from the coal bearing rocks ; they 
bored down through a very hard rock and at 
five hundred and fifty feet struck a white sand 
stone so soft they could not secure a core, and 
water rose to the surface in a fine flowing well. 

In the city of Savanna they get a fine flow of 
>vater by boring about four hundred and fifty 
fj?et. and two of these wells supply the city 
with water. 

At Mount Carroll the city had a well 
drilled with the intention of going deep enough 
to get .flowing water, but no water was reached 
except in small quantities, until at a depth of 
two thou.sand five hundred feet the white sand- 
stone was struck and the water rose to within 
forty feet of the surface; it has been frequently 
analyzed and fomid to be of the very finest qual- 
ity. This well Is listed as one of the deep wells 
of the earth. 

Kock creek, the headwaters of which begin 
just south of the city of Lanark, flows south to 
the southwest corner of Wysox township, where 
it is joined by Otter creek which takes its rise 
in the east half of Itock creek township; further 
east is Klkhorn creek whose headwaters drain 
Lima townshiii. It was so named on account 
of the elk horns that have been found in the 
grove of the same name, some of which are still 
preserved by citizens of the county. Further 
east and near the county line is Eagle creek; in 
an e.irly day < n sertion Ki was Kagle creek mill 
dam. 

moil llll.l, — IMPROVE.MENTS 

On the ridge between the valleys of the Wan- 
karnsa and Itock creek a little cast and north of 
the southeast corner of Section 10 in Salem town- 
ship is what is called High Hill, said by the gov- 



620 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



ernment surveyors to be the highest point iu the 
cc'unty. Near here the roads cross, the one 
running east and west is called Cyclone Ridge, 
from the fact that on Jlay 18, 1S9S a cyclone 
passed along this road doing a great deal of 
damage. From this high hill there is a beauti- 
ful view looking out over the once prairie 
country, which was then treeless but is now 
dotted with farm houses, school houses and 
country churches with small clusters of trees 
and orchards about them. Spread out before 
the observer are variegated colored, cultivated 
fields, chauging color with the seasons of the 
year. Here and there c-au be seen the roofs of 
immense barns and innumerable smaller build- 
iiigs for the housing of the farmer's grain, stock 
and machinery, and commodious dwellings in 
many of which at this day, are all the modern 
conveniences which tend to make life comfort- 
able, gas, light, heat and water systems, while 
wind mills and pumping engines enable the 
farmers to be no longer dependent upon springs. 
The numerous lines of poles remind the ob- 
sener that neighbor can talk with neighbor 
over the telephone, and all the world at large. 

MINES — LEAD 

From an early day considerable mining has been 
done for lead ; principally in Woodland and 
Mount Carroll townships, although some lead 
has been mined in Savanna. 

The geologists say, the mode of the occurence 
of the galena in the upper mines of the 
ilississippi river is extremely simple. The geo- 
logical age of the groups of strata in which the 
ore is found is lower silurian. In these mines 
the principal lead bearing rock is a crystaline 
limestone from two hundred and fifty to two 
hundred and seventy-five feet in thickness where 
liot partially removed by erosion. The upper 
portion of this formation is somewhat argil- 
laceous; the middle a very pure heavy bedded 
dolomite; the lower silurian rock containing 
numerous flinty masses. This group of strata 
is locally known as the upper magnesian lime- 
stone. It is separated from a rock of very 
similar character, called the lower magnesian 
limestone, by three groups of strata, which 
are commonly designated as the blue lime- 
stone, the buff limestone and the St. Peter's 
sandstone. The first of these is thin bedded, 
highly fossillferous purely calcareous rock. At 



Savanna large masses of the rock are composed 
of casts of pentamorits ; some triloliitfs :ire also 
found there. The blue limestone is from fifty 
to seventy feet in thickness ; the buff fifteen to 
twenty and the sand stone eighty to a hundred. 
The blue and buff limestones are about the same 
geological age as the Trento and Black river 
groups of the New York geological survey. 

The yield of the upper mines is gradually 
diminishing: and this will continue to be the 
case, since the extent of the lead bearing rock 
is limited and the vertical range of the crevices 
confined to a moderate tUiekness. There is no 
probability that paying mines will be discovered 
in the lower magnesian limestone. This cor- 
responds with the experience of the miners in 
this county ; the crevices do not extend very 
deep and are usually very narrow and very 
few of them; no caves as in the mines about 
Galena, which often contained large quantities 
of lead ore. The early miners in Carroll county 
were usually stopped by the water coming 
into the shaft, in later years improved ma- 
chinery was used and the water lowered but 
with no favorable results. No great strikes were 
e\er made in these mines; sufficient mineral 
however was found to pay fair wages for the 
labor expended. The ground most dug over was 
the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter 
oC .Section 3 in Mt. CaiToll township. This was 
r-alled the Still House Forty Lead Mine. 
Whether it was dug over so much on account of 
it;- being productive of mineral or because it was 
convenient to the still-house, is a question. 

THE IBON MINES 

Ten years ago some gentlemen from St. Paul, 
Minn., prospected quite extensively on Sections 
10 and 30 on the farm of Samuel B. Adams for 
iron ore and other minerals. They leased a 
number of other tracts for the same purpose. 
It was thought at one time that they would 
develop quite an extensive iron mine, and the 
matter of building a branch railroad from 
Savanna up tlie Plum river valley, to haul 
the ore to Chicago smelting furnaces was talked 
of; but what ore was taken out, said to be 
a fine quality of hematite ore, was hauled to 
Savanna by wagon loads and thence shipped by 
rail to Chicago ; but not finding it in sufficient 
quantity to warrant the erection of furnaces at 
the mine or the building of a railroad, the 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



621 



mine was abandoned. There were indications 
of a more valuable metal which the prospectors 
expected to find by going deeper into the earth, 
but so much water interfered with the sinking 
of the shaft, that project was abandoned. .Some 
of the farmers in that ueigliborhood still think 
there are valuable minerals to be found under- 
lying their farms. A more certain fortune how- 
ever is to be gained by tilling the fertile soil 
on the surface. 

THE COALITE MINE 

This is situated on the farm that belonged to 
the late Beers B. Tomlinson on the southeast 
quarter of Section S'j in Mount Carroll town- 
ship. 

A strata of bituminous shale was discovered 
in boring for coal. The vein Is about six feet 
thick and covers over one hundred acres, so far 
«s explored. The shale after undergoing a cer- 
tain process was found to make a very tine in- 
expensive paint, especially useful in preserving 
iron. 

To manufacture the paint a company was 
forme<l at Freeport and incorporated, called the 
Natural Carbon Paint Company. The late 
Michael Schauer of Shannon, until his recent 
death, was president of the company, which 
bought grounds and some buildings and erected 
others on the north bank of the Pecatonica 
river at Freeport. Not having sutfleient means 
to carry on the manufacture of the paint they 
leased the plant to a large paint manufactur- 
ing company of Chicago, who are preparing to 
do an extensive business. The process is to 
roast the shale in closed retorts, some gas comes 
off which is burned for heating the retorts, 
and tarry oil comes off, which has mcdiiinal 
properties, which have not been thoroughly in- 
vestigated but it was found that there was a 
large percentage of carbolic acid in the tar. 

The plant is now used for reducing the shale 
to a dry powder, which is shipped to Chicago 
where it is manufactured into paint. The capa- 
city of the plant is to use about a car load a day. 
It has to be hauled by teams from the mine to 
the Mount Carroll station and loaded on the 
cars. This mine is not very far from the cutoff, 
on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul rail- 
road, and eventually a switch will probably be 
run into the mine and shipments made by rail. 
This same kind of bituminous shale is found at 



another place in the county much nearer the 
railroad and more convenient for shipping or 
being manufactured into paint. 

INDIAN MOUNDS 

Quite a number of Indian mounds are to be 
seen in different parts of the county. They are 
always objects of interest, and the unanswered 
questions arise, as to what human hands raised 
them, and when, and for what object? Certain 
it is, they were made by the aborigines and 
they are the only record there is of the exist- 
ence on this continent of an ancient people. 

A very interesting work on the mound build- 
ers was written by William Pidgeon of Mount 
Carroll, called the Traditions of De-Coo-Da h ; 
published by Thayer, Bridgeman & Fanning 
N. Y. 1853. This work has been considered by 
aicheologists to be a very valuable contribution 
on the subject of which it treats. 

In our neighboring state of Wisconsin, great 
interest has been taken in the preservation of 
these prehistoric remains. The Wisconsin Ar- 
cheological Society, the State Federation of < 
Womens' Clubs and local historical societies, 
have taken it in hand to procure the title to the 
land on which the mounds are found, and to 
convert these plats of ground into small parks, 
wherein the mounds can be preserved from de- 
struction. These parks are used by the public 
for holding field meetings, picnics and so forth. 

MB. PIDQEON'S WORK, TRADITION OP DE-COO-DAH 

The title to Mr. Pidgeon's work, shows its 
scope, '"Traditions of De-Coo-Dah and Anti- 
quarian Researches ; comprising Extensive Ex- 
plorations, Surveys and Excavations of the 
wonderful and mysterious earthen remains of 
the mound builders of America." 

"The Traditions of the Last Prophet of the 
Elk Nation Relative to their Origin and Use, 
pud the Evidences of an Ancient Population 
more numerous than the Present Aborigines." 
By William Pidgeon. 

"Embellished with seventy engravings descrip- 
tive of one hundred and twenty varying rela- 
tive arrangements, forms of earthern effigies, 
anti(iui' sculptures, eti'. 

Mr. Pidgeon was one of the pioneers of Car- 
roll county, his daughter was the wife of John 
li. Christian, the first watchmaker and jeweler 
in the town, who sold clocks and i-egnlat('<l the 
time for all the inhabitants. He told when the 



622 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



sun was on the meruliau from the shadow that 
his door jamb made with reference to a crack in 
the floor of his shop and thus obtained the cor- 
rect time. Tradition has it, that Mr. Pidgeon 
was a very intelligent gentleman, quite a learned 
man, spoke several languages. In conversing 
with the Northern Indians and with De-Coo-Dah 
he employed an interpreter. It is said Mr. 
Pidgeon's treati.se was first written in blank 
verse after the manner of Homer, but the sub- 
ject being such a matter of historical fact, his 
publishers advised rewriting it in prose. It is 
further said that he wrote the book over the 
cattle pens, where he was employed in feeding 
the stock on the slops from the distillery in 
Mount Carroll. 

PLUit BIVER MOUNDS 

In Chapter XXII, page 175, he gives this ac- 
count of the "Unfinished Earth Works on Strad- 
dle Creek, Illinois :" 

"There is. at the junction of .Str.-iddle creek 
with Plum river, four miles west of Mount Car- 
roll, a group of mounds some of which are ap- 
parently complete, but many others are in an 
uufinislied state. 

"De-Coo-Dah represents these works to liave 
been constructed by a people who were ac- 
customed to burn their dead. The rings or 
circular mounds shown in the cut, page 59 are 
from twelve to twenty feet in diameter, and 
about two feet in height. The earth appears to 
have been thrown from within, forming a ring 
and leaving the interior in the form of a basin. 

"Each family formed a circle that was held 
sacred as a family burying place or funeral 
mound; and when one of the family died, the 
body was conveyed to this place, and fuel being 
prepared was placed in the basin and burned. 
After the body was entirely consumed a thin 
covering of earth was spread over the ashes. 
The next death called for similar ceremonies, 
and so on until the enclosure was filled. Then 
the ring was raised about two feet, and 
thus prepared for further use; and this process 
was repeated as often as became necessary, the 
diameter of the circle being gradually diminished 
at the erection of each addition to the ring, 
giving it finally a conical form. Some of the 
rings shown in the cut are full, and present a 
flat surface. There are also two battle burial 
iiiounds attached to this group. I sank a shaft 



in one and was fully satisfied of the correctness 
of the traditional history, from the fact that 
after sinking about ten inches, I struck a bed 
of earth and ashes mingled with particles of 
charcoal, extending to the bottom of the shaft, 
which I sank some twelve inches below the 
bottom of the surrounding surface. This mound 
was constructed in the form of a tortoise with- 
out head, tail or feet, and I presume it contains 
the ashes of a portion of that nation." He exam- 
ined several other mounds and found them con- 
structed in the same manner and composed of 
the same material. 

Continuing. Mr. Pidgeon says, "In the vicinity 
of this group and about forty perches to the 
south of it, there is another complete group, 
where tumular burial was practiced, without 
fire. The traces of bodies in decomposition are 
evident. Drs. A. and J. L. Hostetter sunk shafts 
ill two of these mounds, in one of which they 
found the jaw bone with the teeth of a human 
being apparently of gigantic proportions. They 
still retain it in their drug store at Mount Car- 
roll. I presume however, that this was a relic 
of some recent deposit, as there were also other 
• bones in better state of preservation in the same 
mound. The other mound adjacent to it was 
ff uud upon examination to contain nothing more 
than the usual strata of decomposed matter. 
After a thorough examination of the group, I 
was satisfied that there had either been a 
change at some past era, in the common mode 
of burial, or that region was inhabited by an 
immense population, at different eras, who prac- 
ticed tumular burial in different ways. The 
traditions of De-C\io-Dah sanction the latter con- 
clusion ; and it is further corroborated by the 
fact that, west of the Mississippi, as far as our 
researches have extended, we have found in all 
burial mounds examined, the traces of fire in 
deposit of charcoal and ashes, while on the east 
side of that river from the junction of the 
Missouri to the Fall of St. Anthony we have only 
found an occasional isolated mound of that 
d(;scription with the single exception of the 
group on Plum river. 

"From these facts in connection with the tra- 
ditions of De-Coo-Dah, respecting the ancient 
liihabitants of these regions, as of various 
languages, customs and color, we are led to the 
conclusion that at least two distinct races of 
men have occupied this territory at different 
eras, and that both became nationally extinct, 




< 




a 



-J 

►J 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



623 



anterior to the occupation of the present Indian 
race." 

Tliat tliese mounds are ancit'Ut we know, from 
tlie fatt that tlie Xortli American Indians were 
never Ivnown to have erected tumuli at any era 
known to history or tradition. Tliey did how- 
over use the.se ancient mounds as places for 
burying their dead, in shallow graves. 

AUNOLU'S GROVK I.NDW.V MOUNDS 

AlHiut two and one-half miles north of Mount 
Carroll, on the north side and close to the 
.\riiold's (Jrove road, in the field of Mrs. .John 
Souders. are four very interesting Indian 
mounds. They are conical mounds about sev- 
euty-five feet apart, built on the top of the ridge, 
raised four or five feet above the surrounding 
surface, each about thirty feet in diameter at 
the base, and eight or ten feet across the top. 
which is depressed, forming a basin in the c-enter. 
Aliout forty years ago some jirofessional men of 
Mount t'arroll dug into one of these mounds, the 
most esisterly one i>erhaps. as it is disfigured 
now ; they found nothing but bones of some 
human skeletons. There was then growing on 
some of these mounds walnut trees two feet in 
diameter. The.se mounds are being rapidly 
destroyed, the depression on the center holds the 
water from rain and melting snow, and the hogs 
running in the pasture have made hog- 
wallows in the top of the mounds, gradually 
carrying the dirt out so that they have become 
quite deep holes, of irregular shape. It is un- 
fortunate that something cannot be done to pre- 
serve these ancient monuments. 



MOUNDS IN MOU.VT CVRBOLL TOWNSHIP 

On the ridge on the IJristol farm, on the 
southeast quarter of section li), there are three 
or four conical Indian mounds, and about two 
miles south of these on the edge of the bluffs, on 
the old .lames Wil.son farm, in section 20, there 
are several Indian mounds. These have been 
superficially examined and bits of skeletons and 
some relics found. The bluffs here overlook the 
lakes in the Mississijipi valley, where there was 
an abundance of game. All the mounds thus far 
mentioned are on high ground, from them there 
is a tine vitjw of the surrounding country. 



YORK TOWNSHIP MOINDS 

There are three distinct Indian mounds on 
the northeast quarter of section 20 about two 
and a half miles northwest of the village of 
Thomson. These are on high ground overlook- 
ing the slough and the woods along the Missis- 
sippi river. These mounds are in a row north 
and south almost touching each other at the 
base and are ten or twelve feet above the 
level of the ground. From a distance they look 
quite prominent in the landscape. They seem to 
be made of sand from the surrounding land 
with a few rocks that must have been trans- 
ported to the place. In excavating so as to 
m.'ike an examination of the mounds these rocks 
interfered so that a thorough examination was 
not made, by a party that undertook it some 
thirty years ago. All that this party found in 
digging into the mound was the bones of the 
fingers of a human hand. 

In the same neighborhood on lower ground, 
there is one large Indian mound, said to be fif- 
teen rods across at the bottom. It seems to have 
been made of earth brought from a distance 
and originally was raised about twenty feet 
above the natural surface. Where it is located, 
it has the appearance of having been an island 
and if is supposed the earth of which it is com- 
posed was brought there in canoes, and the ob- 
ject in making it so high was to have the top 
al»ove the high water in the Mississippi river. 
It was first dug into by some college students 
from the south of Thomson; some thirty skel- 
etons were unearthed by this party. Another 
explorer found in the mound a finger bone that 
had a thin thread of gold around it. The bodies 
all lay with their feet toward the center of the 
mound as appeared from the skeletons found. 

Nearly every year there is .some one digging 
in this mound, out of idle curiosity to see what 
they can find. It is also being plowed over for 
farming purposes, and will .soon bo a thing of 
the past. Something ought to be done to arouse 
sufficient interest in the public so that all the 
n:ounds in the country will be preserved and 
protected from despoliation and destruction. 

STONE RELICS 

Many Indian arrows of great variety as to 
shape and size have been found in the county; 
also stone axes, weighing from two or three 



624 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



ounces to thirteen and a half pounds, some of 
them very artistic and with perfectly grooved 
heads; skinning stones, amulets and a great 
variety of celts and some Paleoliths and some 
Neolithic heaps of small stone. These relics 
are all in the hands of private individuals. 
Dr. Rinedollar of Mount Carroll has a very fine 
collection, among which are fifteen stone axes 
nearly all of which are grooved, and over five 
hundred arrow heads, about a peck, besides 
many other fine specimens of the work of the 
men of the stone age. Captain J. F. Allison had 
at one time, when he lived at Mount Cnrrull. a 
very fine collection of stone axes, found in this 
county. 

A permanent organization ought to be formed 
for the county, for the purjxjse of preserving 
historical treasures so that the collections may 
not be dissipated, and some of the specimens 
perhaps lost beyond recovery. 

During the World's Pair in Chicago, a very 
fine collection of stone arrow heads and stone 
axes, made by George Winters of specimens 
found in Carroll and Jo Daviess counties, was 
sold to the Illinois World's Fair Commission. 
After the fair it was given to the Arcbeological 
Exhibit of the University of Illinois. 

THE DALLES OF THE WAUK.\RVSA 

These now famous walls of rock and beau- 
tiful scenery begin just below the city park. 
Mount Carroll, at Point Rock park, as it is ikiw 
called, and line the creek on either side for sev- 
eral miles. They are at some places a hiuidred 
feet or more In height almost perpendicular. In 
pioneer days they were crowned with great tall 
pines that towered an equal distan<-e towards 
the sky. These walls of rock are so close to- 
gether at some places, they form what might be 
called a mountain gorge. They shut out the 
sunlight, except for a short time during the 
day, and in the hottest days in summer furnish 
a delightful shade and cool resort. At other 
places they also modify the climate in winter; 
so that at one place, it is as mild as the climate 
of St. Louis and Southern Illinois; here the paw 
paws grew and nowhere else so far nortli. 
These bushes used to fill the narrow valley along 
the stream, together with other shrubs and flow- 
fcra that belonged to a more southern clime. The 
rocks, which were not entirely perpendicular, 
were covered with vegetation, and were fes- 



tooned at all seasons of the year with various 
kinds of flowers and vines; in some of the damp 
nooks hanging moss drooped from the branches 
of the cedars. In winter they were covered 
with the cedar, and the beautiful dark green hem- 
lock ; that drooping over the rugged bluffs 
seemed to try to cover their nakedness. Inter- 
mingled with the green of the cedar and hem- 
lock, was the bitter sweet with its bright red 
berries. 

In spring time these lovely valleys were car- 
peted with flowers, the trilliums and hepaticas, 
pink, white, and some tinged with delicate blue, 
and the anemones and the bluebells, and as 
spring wore away and the great floods in the 
creek subsided, so as to make the many fords 
passable, one could see far up the rugged bluffs, 
the beautiful columbines, growing out of the 
crevices of the rocks and covering jutting 
benches or steps that were only accessible by 
giant strides. There were many ferns, among 
which was the beautiful maiden hair fern and 
that wonder always of children, the walking 
fern, which in shady places had taken possession 
of the great moss-covered rocks that lay scat- 
tered about the shady valley of the creek. Here 
also grew that sweetest scented of flowers, the 
orchis spectabilis, of the same family as the lady 
slipper, which grew so bountifully in the woods 
in those days. Later in the fall of the year 
high up on the overhanging precipices where 
there did not seem to be .soil enough for any- 
thnig to grow but the mosses and the lichens, 
of which there was a great variety, grew the 
beautiful blue hair bell with its long black stem 
and bell shaped flower, the same that is so much 
prized by travelers in the mountains of Switzer- 
land. 

When the country was new the.se dells were 
free to every one and were certainly very gi'and 
and beautiful as nature had finished them. The 
entrance to the dells was by Poet's Kock. The 
usual way of seeing them was on horseback ; 
horseback riding was a common means of trav- 
eling in those days. Parties were frequently 
formed for the purpose of going "down to the 
cave." Indeed there was no other way in early 
days to traverse the dells, on account of some 
twenty-seven times the creek had to be forded 
to go down as far as the cave. To gallop over 
the open prairie, and then plunge into the shady 
recesses of the dells was not an infrequent pas- 
time of the young people of the pioneers. 



HISTORY OP CARROLL COUNTY 



625 



The cave was a great crevice in the wall of 
rock, aud extended hack from the face of the 
bluff a hundred feet or more, was enlarged, and 
extended deeper into the ground by the miners 
digging for lead, which here was found in tiny 
veins running through the solid rock, so that it 
and some side chambers could be traversed by 
man for several hundred feet. To get into the 
cave it was necessary to cross the creek at this 
place, either in a rude boat or perhaps a canoe 
made from a hollow log or on a temporary 
bridge of poles or planks made by ingenious 
youths, so that their best girls, they were all 
best to some of the swains — could get into the 
cave. In later years the fords were improved 
so that one could drive down to the cave, mainly 
through the interest which Judge Patch had 
taken in baring them repaired after every flooil, 
which would t)ften make them impassable and 
sometimes even change the course of the creek, 
as it does not run straight along its narrow 
way, but meanders from one higli bluff across 
to another, then back again, and the valley it- 
self was by no means in a straight line, but 
wound about, some places doubling on itself 
in cutting through the hills, so that in travers- 
ing a distance of nearly two miles in a straight 
line it winds about for three miles or more. 
Below the «ive is the grotto and along the 
way are many curious formations which have 
been given fanciful names, some of which have 
not been an improvement on those of the early 
pioneers. What is now known as Point Rock, 
where one enters the dells, was called Poet's 
Rock by the young people of the pioneer days. 
Here the swains of early days were wont to 
retire to indite those tender eiiistles which won 
the hearts of the maidens of pioneer days. 
After this period was passed through the rock 
became a trysting place for happy lovers. 

In many places civilization has marred the 
beauty <if these dalles, particularly where they 
extend through the village; here a dam was built 
auoss the narrow valley to raise a water jiower 
of twenty feet fall for the Mount Carroll mill. 
In the early days this dam formed a beautiful 
clear lake, very deep and filled with many 
kinds of game fish. In the summer time it was 
fine for boating and bathing and in winter for 
Bkating, more than a mile in extent, passing uii 
by Day Spring and Day Spring Hollow, which 
latter jilaces are now fortunately enclosed in the 
grounds of the Caroline Mark Home, and will in 



time be made into a beautiful park. When the 
first settlers came. Mount Carroll was the site 
of au Indian village, and when the mill dam 
was being built where the mill pond now is the 
skeletons of their tepees were still standing. 
Here it is told that an Indian squaw riding up 
the stream on her pony placed a foot on either 
bank and the white man called It Straddle 
Creek, but the Indian name is Waukarusa. 
wliich means, waist deep. 

Passing further up the stream and two miles 
from the city, are what might be called the up- 
per dalles of the Waukarusa. Here the natural 
growth of forest trees has been preserved, and 
the valley between the bluffs is still filled with 
great tall walnut, sugar maple, linden, ash and 
many kinds of oak and other trees, so that 
within the space of a few acres every kind 
of tree to be found in this latitude can be seen 
growing. Here also grows in great abundance 
the thong wood, of so much use to the Indians 
in tying together the bark with which tliey 
formed their canoes and wigwams. 

An ancient oak may be here seen that was 
probably growing when Columbus discovered 
America, a stately monarch of the forest, — 

"What gnarled stretch, what depth of shade is 

his," 
"There needs no crown to mark the forest's 

king." 

The body of this tree at its smallest girth is 
over ten feet in circumference ; about fifteen feet 
from the ground it divides into two enormous, 
almost perpendicular branches, one of which is 
over six feet in circumference, and the other 
over seven; it is sixty feet high and spreads 
seventy feet in width. In very early days this 
oak sheltered a hunter's log cabin ; the hearth- 
stone of its fire place still remains to mark the 
spot where it stood ; from which place can be 
seen in the distance, looking south, a spring 
where the deer and elk in early days used to 
come from the prairies to drink of its cool aud 
refreshing waters. The oak and the violet, 
which are here such near neighbors, were a few 
years ago voted by the graded schools of Illinois 
to be the state tree and the state tlowcr. This 
old oak overlooks a high bluff where there 
is a perpendicular wall of rock rising from the 
running water below, some fifty feet in height, 
.•iiid for several rods in length in a straight line, 
the top is fringed with low bushes and at the 



626 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



upper eud of the perpendicular wall of rock is 
n conveuieut crevice. This place was used by 
the Indians iu the early days for destroying 
great numbers of bufifalos. Large herds of these 
annuals roamed over the prairies of Illinois in 
early days. Like many wild animals, they were 
in the habit of following a leader, and were not 
easily deflected from the course he was pursu- 
ing. The Indians taking advantage of this fact 
substituted one of their number disguised as a 
bi'fifalo, with a bison skin with head, ears and 
horns and no doubt the tail, so that the deception 
of the dumb animals was quite complete. The 
Uerd was then surrounded by the Indians and 
put to flight towards the one in disguise, who 
imitating the motion of the erstwhile leader fled 
towards the cliff with the whole herd following 
niton his heels. He took shelter in the crevice of 
the cliff. The herd having gained great 
momentum iu that direction could not stop, if 
they would : those in the rear forced the fore- 
most on until they nearly all went over the brink 
of the precipice to their utter destruction. 

In the early days, all along the Waukarusa 
"liriglit old inhabitants." so called by the In- 
dians iu a word translated from the Indian 
tongue, were entirely too numerous for one to 
be at ease when walking through the woods. 
This is another of several good reasons parties 
had for going down to the cave on horseback ; 
these "bright old inhabitants" being very 
poisinious rattlesnakes. The reader will be glad 
to know that they are now exterminated in this 
neighborhood and it is seldom that one is found 
anywhere In the whole county. 

The catamount, that terror of the woods, lived 
in a cave below the cliff near this ancient oak, 
when the country was first settled by white men. 
He no doubt stretched his lithe body along the 
huge limbs of the old oak and with glaring eyes 
the blood-thirsty month was ready to drop down 
ol; his prey, the little rabbit that sought shelter 
in the depths of the tree's hollow trunks, or the 
gentle fawn that was enjoying the grateful 
shade under its spreading branches. 

In those days of the early settlers the wild 
pigeons came to this country in such great flocks 
as to form clouds that darkened the sun ; they 
used to light on the old oak in great numbers to 
feed upon its acorns. 



Further down the stream, above a deep pool, 
there is a mass of rocks covered here and there 
with shrubs and cedars and tall trees, over which 
one can look when stauding upon the hillside 
:iliove. This place and scenery gave to the 
author of the, "Merchant Prince of Cornville," 
some of his ideas, which have since become of 
world wide notoriety, especially in theatrical 
circles. This play is claimed by its author to 
C(,ntain the ideas which made such a great suc- 
cess of Edmoud Rostand's great works "Cyrano 
De Bergerac." and "L'Aiglou," and "Le Chan- 
tacler." So near akin Is all the world that the 
palaces of Taris hark back the echoes from the 
fern clad cliffs of the little stream in Illinois 
now called the Waukarusa. 

THE PBAIRIE 

Above the upper dells the explorer emerges 
upou the beautiful prairie, which extends for 
miles towards the rising sun. In early days it 
was thought these prairies would never be set- 
tled and farmed, although they are the most 
fertile lands in the country, because there was 
no water, no wood for building or fuel, nor for 
making fences to enclose the cultivated fields, 
to keep off the roving bands of cattle that 
grazed at large for miles around. The beauty of 
the scene was however, impressed upon the 
early settler. In the springtime the prairie was 
a delicate green ; among the blades of grass 
were such tiny flowers, as the violet and 
the strawberry, and many others of delicate 
tints and of unknown names ; these covered 
valley and knoll, making a trackless sea of 
billowy verdure. The observer soon became 
aware that he n;ust take note of his bearings, 
or he would be lost among the greeu knolls, as 
there was nothing to mark his way. The hori- 
zon was an unbroken circle of green which met 
the sky. As the season advanced toward mld- 
sunmier in the grass were delicate tiny flowers, 
— tlie violet and others more conspicuous and 
gaudy. In the autumn, yellow was the pre- 
dominating color of the flowers which were 
then very beautiful. The prairie had a beauty of 
its own, which beggars description ; it has van- 
ished forever ; we shall never see its like again. 




GIANT'S TKA-'IAMLE IN THE UALLE8 OF 
THE WAIKARUSA 




SCENE ON llli; W AlKAUrSA NEAl! Till': CWK AT WILOKUHinu; PLACE 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



627 



CHAPTER II. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CARROLL 
COINTY, AS DELIVERED BY HOX. JAMES 
SHAW, AT LANARK, ILLINOIS, ON JULY 
4. 1S7(> AT A FOURTH OF JULY CELE- 
BRATION THERE HELD AND OLD 
SETTLERS MEETING. 



A.NCIENT OWNERSHIP — NORTHWESTERN TERRITORY 
— JO DAVIESS COUNTY — SAVANNA FIR.ST TOWN — 
NEW COUNTY 'OFFICER.S COUNTY COMMISSION- 
ERS COURT — FIRST CIRCUIT COURT HELD IN THE 
COUNTY — REMOVAL OF COUNTY SEAT FROM 

SAVANNA COURT HOUSE BUILT — MEMBERS OF 

THE LEGISL.\TURE — EARLY SETTLEMENTS — FIKST 

SETTLEMENT IN CARROLL COUNTY" SAVANNA 

SETTLED — FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE — FIRST TR.VIL 
— TAVERN RATES — CHERRY GROVE SETTLE- 

MENT — ELKHORN GROVE SETTLEMENT — MARKING 

THE WAY YORK TOWNSHIP EARLY" SETTLERS — 

HOW THEY' CAME — Y"ORK TOWNSHIP NAMED 

PRESTON PRAIRIE AND MOUNT CARROLL SETTLE- 
MENTS — 1S37 ORIGINAL MILL COMPANY FORMED 
FIRST RELIGIOUS MEETING — THE MILL COM- 
PANY" — STAG POI.NT — FIRST SCHOOL — FIRST MAIL 
— THE SEMINARY — THE ACADEMY — EARLY' SET- 
TLEMENT IN WYSO.X — INDIAN.S — A PIONEER LOST 
— JUMPING A CLAIM — SHELVING ROCK SHANTY' 
— RATTLESNAKES — INVENTIVE GENIUS — NAMES OF 
PLACES — SIRADDI-E CREEK — EARLY' SETTLEMENT 
— AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY — EABLY PREMIUMS 
-VWAHDED — NEWS PAPERS — MAGNITUDE 1S7C — 
WAR RECORD. 

Till' ruitcd Shilcs liy Viirious iroalies witli 
tUi" Indiiins from IS114 to 18:?2, bad e.xtiiifjiiished 
tlicir titles to llic ImikI in ttie Rock river val- 
ley and about tbe (iaieiia lead mines: tlie red 
men remained, bowever. until about tbe time 
of tbe RIackbawk war, before tliey permanently 
removed lo their new homes west of Ibe Mis- 
sissi|i|ii river. Independent of this occni)a- 
tion .-ind ownei'sbip of tbe soil by the aljo- 
rinines, France and Ensland, as each gained 
asoendeney in tbeir new world dominions, ruled 
tbe nortbwest by turns, until it was con(iuered 
from tbe latter, by tbe bold and beroic e.vpedi- 



lions of (k-orge Rogers Clark, wbose campaigns 
in Illinois reduced tbe Britisli posts of Kas- 
kaskia and Fort Vinceiuies between the Ohio 
and Mississippi rivers. 

ANCIENT on .NERSIIIP 

An ei)itome of tbe history of this ancient 
ownership may fitly introduce this attempt to 
elotbe in historic narr.ilive tlie following: pages 
of our local annals. 

Tbe history of Illinois up to l.Sdlt may be 
eiiitomized nearly as follows. (Jriginally its 
territory, with that of oilier northwestern 
states, was a part of New or Canadian France, 
and was partially under French control. 

Tbe Jesuit missionaries were tbe first white 
men wbo discovered the Mississippi river and 
traversed its tributary streams. Tbey came 
to tell the story of the Cross and evangelize 
the wild tribes of the prairie and the woods. 
Their relations or journals are the sources of 
our early northwestern history and primitive 
settlements. Their heroism and adventurous 
discoveries founded tlie empire of New France 
in the new world. From the mouth of the St. 
Lawrence river to tbe Father of Waters their 
early labors to proselyte the Indian races were 
constant and unremitting. The charm of a 
certain spirit of romance hangs over tbeir lives 
thus tilled with the iiassion, beauty and beroic 
achievements of a fervid religious enthusiasm. 
Nor are incidents almost tragic in their sadness, 
wanting to complete the historic picture or 
story. There is no death scene in the history 
of those days more touching than the death-bed 
of Maripiette, one of the explorers of this very 
territory, yielding up bis spirit in prayer to the 
(lod who gave it, by the banks of the small 
river which hears his name on the eastern shore 
of Lake .Michigan, on May 1".). K!".". The patlios 
of that de.Uh-bed scene is touching in tlie e.\- 
treme. 

Between 1715 ami 1720, this Northwestern 
Territory was made a jiart of Louisiana and was 
tbenceforlb governed from New Orleans instead 
of Quebec. The southwest bad had its ups and 
downs and tierce conllicts had been waged in tbe 
n<!\v slates of Florida. Lousiana and Texas, be- 
tween colonies, soldiers and emissaries of France 
and Spain. By the treaty of Great Britain and 
France, (Treaty of Paris, 1703), all the north- 
western territory including Canada, was ceded 



628 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



by the latter power to the former, and Captain 
Sterling in behalf of Great Britain, opened a pro- 
visional government at Fort Chartres in Ran- 
dolph County in ITGo. In the following year Illi- 
nois and the northwestern territory was placed 
under the supervision of Canada, and governed 
from thence for many years as a British Prov- 
ince. Meantime the Revolutionary war broke 
out. In 1778, General Clark, one of the most 
heroic soldiers and leaders of his time, organized 
the expedition referred to and after incredible 
hardships and heroism, captured Fort Vineennes 
on the Wabash, garrisoned by British troops, un- 
der General Hamilton and restored this whole 
country to the American Colonial government. 
It was placed under the jurisdiction of the State 
of Virginia, which in October, 1778. was organ- 
ized into the County of Illinois of the Indian 
Territory. At that time there were two grades 
of territories recognized. In the first grade the 
appointed judges and governor made the laws. 
By a vote of the people in 1812, Illinois passed 
to the second grade, in which a territorial legis- 
lature consisting of a council and House of 
Representatives, made the laws and exercised 
the functions of government. This first legisla- 
ture consisted of four councilmen and seven 
representatives. 

STATE DIVIDED INTO COUNTIES 

In 1800 acting governor Pope by his proclama- 
tion divided the state into two counties; St. Clair 
and Randolph, and they were the only counties 
for three years prior to 1812, at which time by 
a vote of the peojile of these two counties, the 
territory passed to the second grade of govern- 
ment. In September of the same year four 
niore counties were organized and an election 
was ordered which elected the four councilmen 
and seven representatives of the first legislature 
chosen in the state. 

As the state grew and passed into its state 
existence in 1818. the carving process went on. 
and new counties were constantly organized. 
Peoria county when organized extended from 
the Illinois river on the east to the northern 
boundary line of the state. 

JO DAVIESS COUNTY FOBMED 

Finally in 1827 Jo Daviess county was organ- 
ized out of the northern part of this large ter- 



ritory. It embraced what Is now the counties of 
Lee, Ogle, Carroll and Whiteside and some other 
territory yet unorganized. In 1836 Ogle was 
carved off from Jo Daviess and afterward Lee 
was carved off by dividing Ogle into two coun- 
ties. Meanwhile Carroll county remained a part 
of Jo Daviess, and its first settlement, its first 
county government and its first resident Jus- 
tices of the Peace appear while It was yet a 
part of Jo Daviess county. A few of the oldest 
citizens in 1876. remembered, when Carroll 
county was still a part of Jo Daviess and 
Galena was the county seat, of the former 
county. 

CARROLL COUNTY ORGANIZED 

This brings us to the organization and 
political history of Carroll county, the proper 
subject of this history. As early as 1837 peti- 
tions had been addressed to the Legislature, 
asking for a separate county organization, signed 
by the citizens of Savanna and many others. 

SAVANNA FIRST TOWN IN COUNTY 

The town of Savanna had been laid out by 
Luther H. Bowen. with whom was associated a 
man by the name of Murray. One John A. C. 
Clark seems also to have laid off the north part 
of the town : but none of these plats seem to 
have been recorded until after the complete or- 
ganization of the county. 

The first petition for county existence con- 
tained the novel request that the court house of 
the new county should be erected on "Murray's 
Scjuare," in the new town of Savanna. 

The act organizing the new county was ap- 
proved and became a law on the twenty-second 
day of February, 1839. It provided that an 
election should be held on the second day of 
April following ; for the purpose of choosing the 
seat of justice for the county, and of electing 
county officers. This act contains some novel 
provisions, requiring the owners of lands on 
which the county seat might be located, or the 
town of Savanna, in case it should be located 
there, to donate land or town lots and also to 
donate thirty-five hundred dollars in cash to 
be paid to the county for the erection of a court 
house and other public buildings in six, twelve 
and eighteen month installments. 

This election was held on the eighth day of 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



629 



Ai)ril, 1S39. .Savanna received one hundred and 
twenty-sis votes. That vote was phired on 
record and certified to be the majority of all the 
votes cast, liy John Knox, I.tH)nard Goss, Alvin 
Iluinplirey, J. C. Owings and Henj. Church, act- 
ing justices of the peace in and for the original 
county of Jo Daviess. Savanna thus became 
the county seat of the new county. Returns of 
first elec-tion were to be made to these justices 
of tlie peace, who were to canvass the returns 
and declare the result, which was done in due 
form of law. 

THE NEW COtJNTY OFFICERS 

The new county was attached to the sixth 
judicial circuit ; and courts were to be held in 
it twice a year, at such times as the judge should 
designate. We tind afterwards that he held the 
circuit court or terms of court in the months of 
September and May. 

Township organization had not then come into 
fashion in this [lart of the state but a County 
commissioners court, composed of three commis- 
sioners did the legal and other business of tlie 
county. 

Sample M. Journey, Garner Moffett and Luther 
II. Bowen, were the first commisisoners 
elected. At their second meeting in June, 1S39, 
they drew lots for the terms of duration of their 
office, Luther II. Bowen drew the one-year 
terra, S. SI. Journey drew the three-year term. 
and the two-year term was left for Garner Muf- 
fett, he getting what is called IIobson"s clmiiv: 
but I cannot find that Moffett ever qualified or 
took part iu the county business until about the 
close of the year 1S39. 

COUNTY COMMISSIONEBS CODET 

The first meeting of the county commissioners 
court was held iu Savanna, April 13, 1S39. They 
appointed Elijah Bellows and .Vlvin Daviiis the 
first assessors of the county. Norman D. French 
the first collector, laid off the county into ten 
road districts; assessed four days' road l.'ibor 
upon each man if necessary to have so much ; 
granted a license or two to keep tavern, and 
did some other liusiness. I find afterwards that 
the fees of the alwve assessors, were seven dol- 
lars to one and seventeen dollars to the other. 
William Goss was the first clerk of the county 
commissioners court ; Hezekiah Frances was the 



first sheriff; John C. Owings was the first pro- 
bate justice ; Mason Taylor was the first cor- 
oner ; Uoyal Cooper was the first recorder ; I^evl 
Warner was the first surveyor; Leonard Goss the 
first notary public; and Vance Davidson was the 
first public administrator. The commissions of 
these officers all bore date early iu the year 
Ib'od ; several of them were re-elected and served 
term after term in succession, especially was 
this true of Francis Owings, Taylor, Cooper and 
Warner. 

The first county order issued by the commis- 
sioners was to Captain James Craig for ten dol- 
lars and fifty cents for a copy of the law or- 
ganizing the county. Captain Craig was the rep- 
resentative for Jo Daviess county, who intro- 
duced the bill, in the legislature to incorporate 
the county. 

FIRST COURT HELD IN THE COUNTY 

On the twelfth of September 1839, the first 
term of the circuit court was held in a build- 
ing two blocks south of the present residence 
(1875) of Dr. Woodruff, a sort of a public build- 
ing in which all public gatherings were ac- 
customed to convene for public meetings. 

The following are the names of the grand and 
petit jurors which were selected by the county 
commissioners court for this term. Grand jur- 
ors lor .September term 1839 ; John Knox, A. 
Painter, Herman McNamar, Daniel Storler, 
Thomas I. Shaw, E. W. Todd, Francis Garner, 
John C. Owings, George Swaggert, Nathan Fisk, 
Samuel I'restou, David Masters, Beers Tomlin- 
son, Aaron Pierce, Thomas Rapp, John Eddowes, 
John Beruard, John Laswell, Stephen N. Arnold, 
Elijah Sterns, William Dyson, Jr., William Dy- 
son, Sr., and Daniel Christian. 

Pettit jurors for the same term : William 
Ayres, Aaron Robb, William Jenkins, Isaac 
Jones, John Her, Sumner Downing, Nelson 
Swaggert, Irwin Kellogg, Vance L. Davidson, 
Alouso Shannon, John Orr, David Ashby, George 
W. Brice, William Eaton, Levi Newcomer, John 
Johnson, John Cuunuings, George Christian, 
Paul D. Otis, Ellas P. Williams, Royal Cooper, 
David L, Bowen, William Bundel and John Ful- 
ler. These were among the prominent old set- 
tlers, most of them are dead now, sleeping quiet- 
ly in their coHined sleep ; some went off to other 
states and localities; while a very few may yet 



630 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



linger among the living In the little county they 
helped to organize and build up. 
■ At the first term of the court the docket con- 
tained eight cases; five of them were appeals 
from assessments of damages, highway cases I 
suppose; two were forcible entry and detainer 
suite; one was a trespass on the case suit; most 
o! these cases were continued or dismissed ; and 
the only attorney on record I find, was a man by 
the name of Wakefield, who must have starved 
to death if he depended on legal fees for a. 
living. 

At the next term of court, May term 1840, 
there were twelve cases on the docket. Martin 
P. Sweet, Judge Drummond, a Mr. Chase and a 
Mr. Hoge appear as attorneys of record. Judge 
Drummond had two divorce suits and they were 
the only chancery cases of the term. In fact 
these two chancery cases are the beginning of 
the chancery record in Carroll County. The 
cases were: Jeremiah Humphrey vs. Hannah 
Humphrey and Dudley C. Humphrey vs. Lavinia 
fJumphrey, both were commenced by the hus- 
bands and both husbands were supposedly made 
happy by obtaining the divorces sought. At the 
same term there were two slander «uits Robert 
Ashby vs. Peter Bashaw and Oliver Bashaw, 
both suits seemingly dismissed without a trial 
or hearing. Soon after this the names of E. B. 
AVashburn, Judge Heaton and otliers whose 
names became prominent or distinguished as 
lawyers, began to appear on the dockets as then 
jjracticing law in Carroll County. A part of 
Pierce's tavern was used as jury rooms; fifteen 
dollars were appropriated per term to pay for 
jiutting these jury rooms in i>rder, except at 
one term when the appropriation was only five 
dollars, to fix up a jury room in the Mississippi 
house for some kind of court purposes. 

Judge Stone of Galena held most of these 
early courts. Judge Brown succeeded him, of 
whom many ancedotes were told, some of them 
still linger in the memories of some of the older 
lawyers. 

EEMOVAI> OF THE COUNTY SE.VT FROM SAVANNA 

As settlements spread over the county and 
emigrants sought this part of the state, the 
question of removing the county seat to a more 
central location began to b.e agitated. This agi- 
tation was chiefly urged on by the Mount Car- 
roll Mill Company. It culminated in the passage 



of an act by the legislature, approved March 6, 
1843, appointing Moses Hallett, of Jo Daviess 
county; John Dixon of Lee county and Nathan 
Belcher of Rock Island county, commissioners to 
select a proper and more central location. On 
the 17th day of May of the same year they met 
and selected forty acres of land donated by 
Nathaniel Halderman on behalf of the Mill 
Company, on the hill in Mount Carroll, where 
the churches now stand, stuck a stake there 
where the public square was to be. and named 
the site Mount Carroll. This land and ten 
acres donated by George W. Christian was laid 
off into town lots and these lots or some of 
them were offered at auction on the twentieth 
of November, A. D. 1843. This plat was laid off 
by the commissioners, was afterward vacated 
by the legislature February 5, 1851. Savanna 
had got out hewed timbers for a block house jail 
at this time but had failed to build a court 
house. The Jtlill Company were not satisfied 
with the location of the town plat as made by 
the commissioners, and the result was that no 
lots were sold by the county at the sale adver- 
tised to take place. Thereupon Nathaniel Hal- 
derman offered to build a substantial court house, 
making the offer for the Mill Company, if the 
county would deed back the forty acres donated 
to the county by the company, and also cancel 
a subscription of one thousand dollars which the 
company had made towards erecting a court 
house and public buildings; this offer was ac- 
cepted. 

FIRST COURT HOUSE BUILT 

The building of the court house was com- 
menced in 1843 and completed so that the public 
offices were removed into it on the first Monday 
of September, 1844. The right to use the court 
house for church purposes and for other meet- 
ings and gatherings was reserved for ten years 
by those who erected it. The first gathering in 
this young temple of justice was a Fourth of 
July celebration in 1844 before the building was 
completed, and in those days revival meetings 
preiiching and other meetings on public occasions 
were regularly held there. Thomas Hoyne of 
Galena made the oration, at this meeting to cel- 
ebrate the day. 

What reminiscences of those early days this 
old court house could tell, could its now scat- 
tered rocks be gathered up and endowed with 



.^ 



Bmh 


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^I^^^^^Hl^ 




f^m 




m 


|SB 


^^^H^ ^^^^ 


^jmH 



J 






3 




liW 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



631 



speech; but like everything else it had to give 
place to the progressive spirit of the new civi- 
lization. 



COUNTY OFFICERS 

It is not ni.v puriioso now to trace this comity 
seat mutter further. The history of the county 
from that time down to the present, shows that 
November twenty-first 1S49, George W. Harris 
qualified as the first county judge and Norman 
I). French and George W. Knox as associate 
judges. Harris resigned a year after his elec- 
tion, and was succeeded by David Emmert, and 
he by Tlxomas Rapp. C. VanVechten, Judge Gray 
and John Wilson and later by Hon. B. L. Tatch, 
who held the office for many years, (until suc- 
ii'cdcd by A. V. Wingert. and he by John D. 
Turnbaugh, the incnmltent in 1910). 

The county clerks and clerks of the county 
commissioners court have been William B. Goss, 
John Wilson, T.eonard Goss, Valentine Bohn, 
I'.tnj L, Patch, It. G. Bailey, R. M. A. Hawk and 
perhaps otliors who filled the office in those early 
(lays I The incuMilieuts down to the present 
lime have been: E. T. E. Becker, F. A. Smith 
and Andrew B. Adams.] 

The county was but a brief period under the 
supervision of the judge and his two associate 
judges. We find that April S, 1S50, the first 
meeting of the supervisors took place and ad- 
joined for the want of a quorum, to the 23d diiy 
01' April ; on that day the new board met and 
organized. Tlie following were the names of the 
supervisors i)reseut at the first meeting and 
there is no record of any absentees: Jared 
Bartholomew, Da. ol P. Holt, Rollin Wheeler, 
Sample M. Journey, George Sword, Monroe 
Baile.v, Henry F. Lowraan and John Donalson. 
Jared Bartholomew was elected chairman. 

There has been no change since in the system 
of our county government and the system is so 
familiar to all our citizens, that it may be dis- 
missed without further comment. It is the good 
Uepul>lican system adopted by all the counties 
ii; the northern part of the state. 



mSINESS OF THE PROBATE COURT 

As a matter of interest it may be proper to 
state that the first busiuess done by the probate 
court, was the lu'obating of the will of Peter B. 



Newell. l)y John C. Owings, jirobate justice of the 
peace, September 5, 1S39. The first marriage 
license issued, as shown by these early rei^'ords 
was to Marshall B. Pierce, to marry Julia A. 
Baker, which was dated August 27, 1839. Ben- 
jamin Church J. P. tied the knot. The fir.st 
deed recorded was from Bowen and Murray to 
David Ii. Harrison and was dated May 2G, 1S37 
and was recorded July 4, 1839. 



MEMBERS OF THE LEGISL.\TORE 

The names of the men who have represented 
the county in the legislature, so far as I can find, 
are ditticult to state accurately on account of the 
changes fre<iueutly made in the representative 
districts and our changed connection with ad- 
joining counties. 

I give as nearly as I can, however, the names 
of those who have been connected with public 
affairs and who have been residents of the 
count.v, since it was organized with their call- 
ings and professions so far as I know them. 
J. M. Hunter, senator in 27th General Assembly, 
a lawyer and served one term of two years ; 
H. A. Mills, banker, senator; W. P. Miller, 
l.iwyer, ISth General Assembly; Rowland 
Wheeler, merchant. 19th Assembly ; Porter Ser- 
geant, merchant. 20th General Assembly, two 
years ; James DeWolf, farmer, 21st General As- 
semlily, two years ; Benjamin L. Patdi, lawyer, 
22iid General Assembly, two years; J. F. Chap- 
man, merchant, 23rd Assembly, two .years ; 
Daniel W. Dame, farmer, 24th Assembly ; Elijah 
Funk, farmer, and surveyor, 25th General As- 
sembly, two .vears ; Adam Nase, ex-sherilT and 
carpenter, 20th General Assembly; James Shaw, 
law.ver, 27th and 2Sth General Assembly, four 
years; N. D. French, farmer, 39th General 
Assembly. [James Shaw was speaker of the 
House of Representatives during one long ses- 
sion and one or two .idjourned se.s.sioiis. John 
.M. Stowell. merchant, was our representative 
I.S77; Emanuel Stover and Henry Bitner, Dem., 
1881; (Jeo. I,. Hoffman, attorney, 1883; Simon 
Greenleaf, editor, 1885; I.evi I. Bray, farmer, 
ISSit; Dan"! I, Berrj", attorney, 1891-95; J. N. 
Brandt, farmer, Dem.. 1.S!)3: David < '. P.ussel. 
farmer. lSil7-99; C. W. .Middlekaul'f. .ittoniey, 
.ind I'.. \. I.eclitenberger, nierchanl, Dem.. i:i(i1 ; 
and W. \V. (;ill<'spie, farmer, 1!)(i:;-(KI. | 



632 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



POLITICS OF THE COUNTY — CIBCUIT JUDGES 

The politics of the county up to the organiza- 
tion of the Republican party was always Whig 
by a small majority. In 1S40 it gave its first 
vote for Harrison. In 1844 the electoral vote 
was cast for Henry Clay, as near as I can deter- 
mine. In 1848 it went for Taylor ; in 1852 Gen- 
eral Scott was its choice. Since then its vote 
has been true blue for the Republican party 
nominees, with some local exceptions. 

The circuit judges, as near as I can determine, 
have been Judge Stone, Judge Brown, Judge 
Williiuson. Judge Drury, Judge Heaton, Judge 
Eustace, Judge Crabtree, Judge Cartwright, 
Judge Garver, Judge Tuthill, Judge Shaw, Judge 
Eaum, Judge Farrand and Judge Heard. 

THE EABLY SETTLEMENTS 

The early settlers located in favorite spots, 
where they could procure wood for fuel and 
building and fencing their crops, and water for 
themselves and their stock. These locations 
and settlements were known as neighborhoods. 
The working of the Galena Lead Mines, just 
north of Carroll County, first attracted settle- 
ments and emigration to this part of Illinois. 
They first led to annual migrations from central 
Illinois and other southern localities. 

The French voyager, LaSeur, in the year 1700, 
first discovered lead ore in Jo Daviess County, 
which joins Carroll on the north, and named 
the stream which flows through Galena, Fever 
River, or first, perhaps, the River of the Mines. 
It afterward took the former name on account 
of the fevers and other diseases prevailing there. 
The miners crowded there in great numljers and 
suffered much from periodic fevers and ague. 
Prior to the working of the mines by white 
men the Indian squaws had sometimes e.Kca- 
vated the lead ore and subjected it to their 
rude smelting processes. Great fortunes were 
subsetjuently amassed in this business and many 
who here secured fortunes went to Chicago and 
helped to make that city a colossal center of 
commerce. Early in 1819 a man by the name 
of Bontillier settled on the east side of Ga- 
lena River (Fever River) where the city of 
Galena now stands, and he is said to be the 
first white man who settled there. A little 
later in the season Jesse W. Shull had estab- 
lished a trading post there, or near there, and 



he was .soon joined by .V. P. Vanmeter and Dr. 
Samuel Muir. who had the honor of nam- 
ing the future wealthy city to grow up there. 
These men traded with the Indians, and married 
Indian wives. About 1S23 and 1824 the won- 
derful Galena mines began to attract the atten- 
tion of the adventurous western and southern 
people. Permission was obtained from the In- 
dians to mine in certain defined territories. A 
Colonel Johnson came with a number of men 
and claimed exclusive right to work the mines 
bj some sort of government permit. In 1826 
and 1827 large diggings were found, and a great 
excitement sprang up all over the state. 

Captain Thomas surveyed and laid out the 
town of Galena ; government permits were given 
to settle on the lots, and these were the only 
titles the first settlers had to their new homes 
or could obtain until 1838. In 1827 there was 
supposed to be sixteen hundred miners scat- 
tered about these hills and valleys. Indian 
troubles began to brew. General Gaines of the 
regular army and Dodge of the volunteer 
forces scoured the country with troops and the 
general government about this time paid the In- 
dians some twenty thousand dollars for their 
claims to these mineral lands. 

Peoria, on the Illinois river, had been settled 
soon after Galena, and mails were carried on 
horseback by way of Peoria to Galena from Van- 
dalia, the then capital of the state. In those 
days mining excitement ran high like the Cali- 
fornia fever of 1849, or the Black Hills fever 
of 187G. Every spring the covered wagons, 
prairie schooners, from southern Illinois, Mis- 
souri, Tennessee and other places, wended their 
toilsome journeys to the mines of northern Illi- 
nois. They came in the spring, delved and dug 
all summer, sold out their outfits, and returned 
to the south later in the fall. Their appearance 
in the spring was at the same time the sucker 
fish filled the small streams and tributaries of 
Fever River ; the people became known as 
"suckers," and this name attached itself to the 
Inhabitants of the state who became known as 
suckers. 

This great annual travel followed these early 
trails; passed by conspicuous mounds and 
groves and over natural fords in the streams 
and wore its tracks so deep into the prairies 
and woodlands that they may be traced in fa- 
vorite siwts even yet. One of these ancient 
highways or trails crossed Rock river near 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



633 



I'roiihetstowii. in \Vliitt>si(ie L'lpiiuty; ;iiintln'i- 
at Dixon's Ferry and others liigber up Rock 
river. The Lewiston trail which crossed 
near Prophetstown passed up through Carroll 
County, crossed Johnson's Creek near Amos 
Shoemaker's farm, passed over the ridge on the 
old Shannon farm (Section 2(5, Mount Carroll 
Township), crossed the ridge west of and near 
Mount Carroll and continued hence north to 
Kli/.abeth and Galena. 

The old Sucker trail crossed at Dixon's 
Ferry, ran through Buffalo Grove, Chamber's 
Grove and Cherry Grove, crossed Plum river at 
the old Harris place where there was a stage 
station and ixjst office. At one time John C. 
Owlngs plowed furrows across the prairies from 
his house to Buffalo Grove to give direction to 
this travel north and south. Kellogg's trail, 
made in 1820, passed east of this county be- 
tween Polo and Mount Morris. Boles trail was 
from the old Kellogg trail ; it began twelve miles 
south of Dixon and was the same trail referred 
to as the Sucker trail a few lines back. An- 
other trail and old military route between 
IJocU Island and Prairie du Chien crossed the 
western part of Carroll County, along the sand 
ridge and near the sloughs and timber belt of 
the Mississippi river between Fulton and Sa- 
vanna and from thence ran north toward Han- 
over and Galena. As early as 1S2C or 1827 a 
Peoria man named Bogardis had attempted to 
establish a ferry at Dixon, but the Indians 
burned his boat and drove him away. In 1S2S 
a Frenchman named Joe Ogle made a more sue 
cissful attempt, perhaps because he married an 
Indian s(iuaw, and was respected by the Indians. 
Previous to the opening of this ferry the heavy 
wagons of the miners and stages then passing 
through Cherry Grove had to be taken apart and 
ferried across Rock river In Indian canoes, 
while the oxen and horses were made to swim 
the stream. April 11th. 1839, John Dixon, 
afterward named by the Indians "Xachusa," 
"White hair head," arrived at Rock river, 
bought out Ogie for eighteen hundred dollars, 
and gave his name to the ferry and subsequent 
city which soon grew up. By this time Galena 
had become quite a mining center of, perhaps, 
tive hundred inhabitants, and had a newspaper, 
til" "Miners Journal." 

-has settlements sprang up at first at the 
cross'.ng of the streams and at beautiful groves, 
as it was then believed people could not live 

2 



through the winters in the open prairies. At 
first rude tavern stands and ferries were the be- 
ginnings of permanent occupancy. Soon, how- 
ever, the fame of the beautiful Rock river and 
its rich surrounding prairie lands was spread 
abroad through all the southern settlements and 
through the middle and eastern states and men 
were prospecting everywhere for the inirpose of 
permanent settlement and making prairie homes. 
Iidians swarmed over the face of the country in 
those days. The Sacs and Foxes had the seat 
of their empire at Rock Island; The W'inne- 
bagoes lived around Dixon and up and down 
the beautiful Rock river ; the Pottawatomies oc- 
cupied the territory about Lake Kushkonoug, 
higher up Rock river. 

Prior to this treaties liad been made with 
the Indians to extinguish their titles, but the 
Indians had not yet left, and did not respect 
the solemn treaties they had entered into. 

When the white men saw iue country it is 
not strange they were charmed with It, nor is 
it strange that the red men were unwilling to 
give it up without a struggle. 

Oh. beautiful Mississippi river, river of the 
rocky bed, the shining silvery flow and the 
limpid sweet waters ; more than the Mohawk or 
the romantic Wyoming or any classic stream of 
Italy's fabled mountains ; bordered everywhere 
by virgin prairies, landscapes all flecked with 
the wild flowers, and of unexampled fertility 
and dotted with island-like groves as Edens ; 
the haunts and the homes of the red deer; the 
si'.aggy buffalo and the wild red man. No won- 
der the miner and the adventurous explorer 
hastened home, packed up the family penates 
and goods, and came hither, to carve out new 
homes in the virgin wilderness and flowery 
prairies. 

At this time a stage line had been established 
from Peoria and central Illinois, even before 
Ogle started his ferry across Rock river. Be- 
fore this the hor-ses and stage coaches had to be 
ferried and forded across in the old pioneer way 
or in the Indian style. 

When the troops who served in the Black 
Hawk war returned home they spread the fame 
of the Rock river country far and wide ; that 
and the restless love of adventure and the fame 
of the lead mines roused a spirit of adventure 
which sent a wave of emigration to northwestern 
Illinois and the famous lead mines. 

The early settlements and mining camps took 



634 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



their names from the groves that had been 
named by the hunters and travelers. In 
Carroll Cbunty the names of Cherry Grove set- 
tlement. Buffalo Grove settliMiient. retain their 
names to this day. Burr Oak Grove, in Stephen- 
son County, had been settled in 1S29; Buffalo 
Grove in Ogle County in 1.820 or 1830, by a Mr. 
Chambers, a Mr. Ankeny, and other settlers 
were already at Elizabeth and Rush creek at 
even an earlier da.v. and in all the surrounding 
counties the idoneers were flocking in ; the 
loads were spotted with prairie schooners, con- 
taining the families of the mover.s and their 
household goods. 

FIBST SETTLEMENT IN CABKOIX COUNTY 

The first settlement in Carroll County was 
made at Savanna in 1828. In November of 
that year George and Vance L. Davidson, Aaron 
Pierce and William Blundel, with their families, 
moved from the lead mines to Savanna with ox 
teams. The place was then known as the Coun- 
cil Bluffs of the Uijper Mississippi. The council 
house of the Indians still stood there and the 
Pierce family moved into it, until the log cabins 
could be built. This council house was two 
stories high ; was built with poles and covered 
with liark of trees and would hold one thousand 
people. In this house the Pierces lived and 
entertained travelers and traded with the In- 
dians, who came across the river in canoes or 
on the ice In winter. [All that portion of 
Savanna between Main street and the bluffs was 
heavily timbered but the trees were all dead. 
having been girdled by the Indians and the 
ground under the dead trees was cultivated by 
them. Some of these trees were of oak and 
three feet in diameter. The Indians used to 
have their war dances near where Stranskey's 
shop was afterward built, and a hundred Indian 
Canoes would sometimes be moored, or rather 
beached, along the bank of the river, returning 
from Davenport or Dnbucjue. at which places 
there were Indian towns. [M. B. Pierce, in Sa- 
vanna Times, Jany. 5th, 1.87G, Old Settlers' 
Record fly leaf. Ed.] Wild rushes and tall 
grass grew in abundance about the place. On 
these the oxen lived the first winter. AVood 
was hauled, fence rails were split, and the 
c^abins built during the winter, and in the 
SI ring the groinid was plowed for the crop of 
1829. 



In May. 1820, the wife of Captain John B. 
Rhodes was born. She was the first white child 
born in Carroll County, and was born in the old 
Indian Coinicil House, where her father and 
mother, the Pierces, temiwrarily resided. The 
nearest neighbors on the east were at Dixon, 
on the north at Hanover, on the south at Al- 
bany, on the west was the Mississippi river, be- 
yond this there were no white inhabitants. 

The Indians were numerous and friendly. 
Game and fish were abundant, so were mos- 
quitos. gallinippers. raccoons, blackbirds, crows 
and other birds of prey, in fact, the first corn- 
fields had to be guarded from the depredations 
of the latter, and especially from blackbirds 
and crows. River navigation was done mostly 
in keel boats by cordeling, poling, sailing and 
rowing, and the usual time of a trip from St. 
Louis was thirty days. Skiff voyages were 
often made to St. Louis. In .luly. 1820. .\aron 
Pierce and Marshall B. Pierce, his son, went 
to Bond County iu this state, where they had 
first made a temporary settlement upon coming 
to the west, and drove their horses and cows to 
Savanna, these lieing the first stock brought to 
the county. In the spring of 18.S0 or 1831, 
.lohn Bernard settled on the place known as 
the Hatfield place. Messrs. Hays and Roiiinson 
the same spring took up the farm lately occu- 
r)ied by (ieorge Fish. A man by the n;une of 
Corwin took up or owned the fann recently 
invned by Xoah McFarland. Corbin built his 
house, or nest, in a tree eight feet from the 
ground to keep out of the way of snakes, which 
were very abundant there. These men were all 
b.-u-helors, but subsequently married and be- 
came the heads of families. 

In 1832 the Black Hawk war broke out. The 
tamilies of these early settlers were then moved 
to Galena for safety, the men remaining to 
cultivate the crops and protect their property. 
They built a small block house near the point 
ol the bluff where the residence of the late M. 
Dupuis now stands. This fort stood the Indian 
fire all one afternoon without loss of life to the 
settlers, but their horses and cattle were not 
so fortunate. The day the fort was fired on a 
man by the name of Bob Upton, who belonged 
to the settlement, and was a wild, generous, 
dare-devil, drinking sort of a man. but liked by 
every one, had quite a heroic adventure. He had 
been out hunting at the time of the attack, near 
the Whitton farm, and had shot a deer. He 




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HISTORY OF CARRODL COUNTY 



635 



was in the act of cutting its throat when he 
saw a liand of i-edsl;ins advauciug in a circle 
with tile evident object of securing his capture. 
He tirst loaded his gun and then ran for dear 
life. Tlie bullets flew and sung around him, 
and it is said one of them cut the strap of his 
(ilil-fasliioiied powderliorn. Imt Bob readied tlie 
bluff above Savanna in safety. Hearing the 
tiring on the fort, he concealed himself in a 
cave in the rocks about half a mile above the 
town, ever since called Upton's cave. There he 
remained until darkness covered the land. When 
night came the men in the fort made their 
escape, contisi-atcd a .skiff and started up the 
river for Calena. Upton, from his place of 
refuge, beard the ascending boat, hailed it, and 
made bis escape with the rest. It is tradition 
tliat as the lioat drew near the shore its inmates 
earnestly urged bim to jump in before the skiff 
v.as witliin forty feet of land. It is also said 
tliat l)efore leaving the fort the inmates drew 
lots to see who should tirst go out and recon- 
noiter and find a boat. The lot fell to Aaron 
rieric, uluise fear made his hair almost lift his 
bat dtt" : but he did liis duty manfully, neverthe- 
less, and tile crew .safely readied (Jaleiia. This 
block liouse and little battle is referred to 
in one of the early histories of Illinois. Will- 
iam H. Goss had Ijecome a citizen of Savanna 
.111(1 was in tlie fort at the time of the Indian 
attack on it. Tradition has it that he was 
compelled to climb iipon the roof and let him- 
self down the chimney as the Indians had 
command of the regular entrance, where he 
could have gotten into the fort. 

SAVANNA SETTLED 

AbiJiit Is.'i.S the country commenced settling 
up more rapidly, and many more located iu 
S;ivaiina. In ]S.'iJ Luther H. Bowen came to 
the West, and was engaged as a surveyor, run- 
ning tlic bimndary line of the state. About 1830 
b( laid out the town of Savanna. He died about 
ISTti. having been intimately associated with all 
its leading interests for forty years. The first 
post ollice in the county was estatilished there, 
and Mr. Bowen was appointed postmaster. He 
also opened the first store the town had. .Tames 
White also opened a store soon after Mr. Bowen 
(lid, and others did the same. Savanna was 
then the only settlement of any size between 



the villages of Galena and Rock Island, and for 
many years afterward it was a place of as much 
importance as either. It was the trading post 
at, far east as Rockford. Freeport as late as 
1S34 was yet the Winnesheik's Indian village. 

In 1S37, Elias Woodruff, John Fuller, David 
L. Bowen and otliers well known afterward, had 
located there. By 1840 Savanna was a village 
(•(■ntaiiiing two hundred inhabitants. Besides 
those already named John B. and Thomas 
Rhodes, W. L. B. Jenks, Royal Cooper, Leonard 
Goss, John Wilson, Porter Sargent, Fred Cham- 
bers and many others whose names I have not 
obtained were leading citizens in early days. 
Aaron Pierce built his tavern where the resi- 
dence of Captain Thomas Rhodes stands, in the 
winter of 1836 and 1837. It was afterward 
moved down town and was known as the Cham- 
bers House, and has. since the writing of the 
above, been burned. In 1837 Luther H. Bowen 
built the Woodruff House, which, for a time, 
was kiKiwii as tlie Mississippi House. 

FIRST SCHOOL 

About this time Dr. Elias W(iodruff taught 
the first school in a log house where the lower 
blacksmith shop stood. He was also the physi- 
cian for the town, and in those days of fever 
and ague and other sickness, and faithfully 
attended the sick, pay or no pay. A Mr. Craig 
built a saw mill in 183.5, at Bowen's Mill site, 
but the ne.xt year Luther and David I/. Bowen 
owned the mill. 

Ill is:'i!l Porter Sargeant built the iMUvdcr mills 
near where the flouring mills of Messrs. Bowen 
and Kitchen were located. Tlie father of Lewis 
W. Beniis and some eastern capitalists were 
largely interested in the jwwder mills. They 
manufactured blasting powder for tniuing pur- 
poses chiefly. In 184.5 two of the buildings blew 
up, killing young Balcolm of the York settle- 
ment, severely injuring EInathan .Jacobs and one 
(U- two others. James Wilson was superin- 
tendent of the works at that time. The mill 
was promptly rebuilt. Afterward, when the 
company ceased to run the mills, several fisher- 
men went into the abandoned building, and in 
an attempt to light a pipe, another explosion of 
loose powder took place. One of the men, a Mr. 
Hicks, was killed ; another named Smith was 
Icrriblv burned, .iiid a third was badly Injured. 



636 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



The same year L. H. Bowen and Royal Jacobs 
built a small grist mill just above the saw mill 
on the same stream. 

FIRST TEIAI, 

While the circuit court was held iu Savanna 
one of the most noted trials was a murder case 
on change of venue from Jo Daviess County. A 
prisoner by the name of Mathews had killed a 
man in the mines. Every citizen in the county, 
liable to act as a jury man, was summoned, and 
most of them passed upon before the jury was 
finally inipanelled. The prisoner was ac- 
quitted. 

[The difficulty of procuring jurors for this 
trial, on account of Savanna being so far to one 
side of the settled portion of the county, was 
one of the chief reasons for moving the county 
seat to a more central location.. — Ed.] 

TAVERN KATES 

The county commissioners were iu the habit 
of fixing tavern rates, a:mong other duties they 
performed ; and I find that on the few occa- 
sions they did so, the price of meals was fixed 
at twenty-five cents, and drinks of whiskey at 
six and a fourth cents, or a iiicayune, as those 
coins were then called. 

THE CHERRY GROVE SETTLEifENT 

In the spring of 1S30 Thomas Crane came to 
Cherry Grove, made a squatter's claim, and be- 
came the first settler there. He built the first 
house on what is now known as the Laird farm. 
When Judge Shaw wrote his history of Carroll 
County, it was situated on the Northern slope 
of the Cherry Grove ridge, near a fine spring. 
It was built of logs, with a large chimney in 
the center, which had a fireplace on either side, 
the chimney forming part of the jMrtition be- 
tv/een two rooms iu which there was one door. 
This was called Crane's fort. An old settler 
says that when a boy he used to chop bullets 
out of the posts that formed the palisade, also 
out of the trees near l)y, which would indicate 
fighting there at one time. The house was 
picketed in regular Indian fort style by setting 
up .split logs on end, pointed at the top and eight 
or nine feet high, with port holes between the 
pickets and inclosing a small yard about the 



cabin. Soon afterward he sold the claim to 
Samuel M. Hitt of Maryland, who afterward 
became a resident of Ogle County. 

[This Crane's Fort was a station on the stage 
line from Peoria to Galena. In May, 183.3, the 
county commissioners of Jo Daviess County 
commissioned Levi Warner to lay out the road 
between Galena and Peoria, from which place 
many settlers came into this county, coming up 
the Illinois river in steam boats, which at Pitts- 
burg flew a flag, "Bound for Peoria, Illinois." 
He certified the distance to be one hundred and 
forty- five miles, twenty-six and twenty-five 
hundredths chains. At Crane's Fort the survey- 
ing party remained over Sunday, From thence 
to Galena he notes Crane's branch, east fork 
of Plum river, and main Plum river. South of 
the fort on the line of this survey was Cham- 
ber's Grove, where Isaac Chambers settled in 
1S31. Ed.] 

Francis Garner made a claim to a large tract 
of land at Cherry Grove ailjuining the Crane 
claim, having selected the location while a sol- 
dier of the Black Hawk war. In 1834 he moved 
his family from the southern part of the state, 
bringing a wife and seven children, some of 
whom lived here in 1876. 

In 1833 William Thomson settled west of the 
Crane place, and John C. Owings settled at 
Owing's Point, being the west point of the grove. 
In the same year Levi Walden settled iu the 
grove, and one year later George Swaggert came 
and for a time kept a tavern at the Grove. Mrs. 
Swaggert died December 5th, of the year of her 
arrival, and was the first buried in the Cherry 
Grove Grave Yard. She had selected the place 
of her burial before she died. 

In 1835 Garner MofCett came with his wife 
and three children. He bought a claim and 
lived in the original log cabin on it from 1830 
to 1848. In 1837 William Daniels made his 
claim where George Reasoner now lives, and in 
the same year George W. Harris came with his 
family to look after the interests of Hitt, who 
had large claims in connection with others in the 
county. Harris moved into the picketed house 
and for three years kept a tavern and post 
office there a few years, and then moved to the 
"Old Harris Place." on Plum river, now known as 
the Noble farm. Here he kept stage house and 
I)ost office until 1847, the stage route having been 
diverted from Cherry Grove to pass through 
Mount Carroll. The writer well remembers 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



637 



when the first stage coach left the old stone hotel 
HI Mouut Carroll, there was much more excite- 
ment iu the little town than when the first train 
arrived at the station about twenty years later. 
Before this time the Mount Carroll people had 
to go to Cherry Grove, six miles away, for their 
mail, once or twice a week; now (1912) it is de- 
livered at eveiT farmer's door every day. Ed.] 

With Harris' folks came Peter Myers, his 
wife and son I'aul, and John Her and family. 
After about three years Harris built the old 
Cherry Grove House for Hitt on the ridge uear 
the old fort. This was a frame house of some 
jiretensions in architecture. It was used for a 
hotel and kept by Harris for several years. The 
travel from Rock river to Galena passed by it. 
The building was afterward moved to Lanark, 
and is now the livery stable connected with the 
Taber House. About 1840 Cherry Grove was 
the only stopping place of any importance in 
that i)art of the country, and many of the early 
settlers made this their temporary stopping 
place. A heavy line of stage coaches then 
traveled through this settlement between Peo- 
ria and (ialena. 

In 1S3S Sarah Moffett was born. She was the 
daughter of Garner Moffett, and was the first 
child born at Cherry Grove. She married Eman- 
uel Stover. Garner Moffett died in 1856. He 
was much respected, and held many of the offices 
at that time, and was an honest man. 

James Mark came to Carroll County in 1837, 
without money or property, and a year or two 
later made a claim of what became the great 
Marks homestead. 

Nathan l-'isk and family came and located on 
the north side of the Grove. 

Israel Jones located out in the prairie at the 
big springs. In those days it was thought that 
people could not live on the bleak prairie away 
from the groves and timber. 

In the same year A. G. Motl'ett claimed a tract 
of land lying south of the J. Owings place. 

Bradstreet Robinson had settled east of the 
grove iu 1S3"J. The elder Beattie and the elder 
Mr. Laird (father of John Laird), came also 
about this time and either made claims or 
bought out a claim. 

Mr. Brotherton came also at an early day, and 
soon after 1840 John 'Wolf and many others 
settled in or near the Cherry Grove settlements. 

The stockade house was built near a big 
spring on the farm formerly owned by Emanuel 



Stover and the claims were made along the 
stream and grove and extended indefinitely out 
into the prairie towards Carroll creek. George 
Swaggert .soon left Cherry (irove, and settled in 
what is now called Arnold's Grove, buying out 
the claim of William Thomson, who had located 
there and made a claim at Cherry Grove. He 
scld out this place about 1840 to Daniel Arnold 
and Henry Strickler ; and went to Missouri 
where he spent the most of his money. Finally 
he returned and settled on the Swaggert place 
about two miles southeast of Mount Carroll. 
Bowman's Grove was settled by .Vdam Dag- 
gort about the same time. Adam Daggert kept 
a post office at his place for several years. 
After Harris removed from Cherry Grove, the 
stage line was diverted to pass through what 
is now Hostetter's Grove and Daggert's Grove. 
Daggert kept the mail in a box and every one 
who came for mail looked it over and selected 
his own If he could read the writing on the 
letters. Mr. Owings was one of the early set- 
tlers and was honored with many of the local 
offices. He sold out in 1868 and removed to a 
place near Marshalltown, Iowa, where he now 
resides. 

ELKHORN QBOVE SETTLEMENT 

In the month of November, 1834, George W. 
Knox found a trail leading from Kellogg's old 
station at Buffalo Grove to the east end of Elk- 
horn Grove, to the place now owned by Uncle 
Harry Smith. John Ankeny had settled there 
in 1831, but had been driven out liy the Indians. 
He came back in 1833 or 1834 and lived on the 
Harry Smith place. Just west of there was an- 
other house built by Thomas Parish in 1830 or 
1831. He was probably the first settler In the 
grove. 

Levi Warner, the first county surveyor of the 
county, in 1834 lived In a house on the south 
side of the Grove; one of the Belding family 
lived with him. They were both surveyors and 
kept batchelors' hall. The place is now oc- 
cupied by John II. Ilaynes. [We should not 
omit here Mr. Warner's episode, with refer- 
ence to the house of John D. Winters near the 
present site of Elizabeth, who ran the line 
of stages from Galena to Peoria. At this 
place Mr. Warner "took some bearings," that 
were not mentioned in Guntlier. He was then 
a bachelor thirty-eight years old. His life had 



638 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



been spent with his compass and chain, snr- 
ve.ving the western wilds. At this house re- 
sided a comely widow named Martha Winters, 
formerly Martha Bailey of Cincinnati, Ohio. 
This fact no doubt made an impression on Mr. 
Warner's mind and through the sights on his 
compass he often saw this welcome cabin of Mr. 
Winters", for in the spring of 183.5 he returned 
again to this cabin and married the charming 
widow Winters on April 1:2. who survived to be 
his companion through life. One daughter was 
born to them, who is the wife of Lewis Rey- 
nolds of Elkhorn (irove. She was the first 
white child born in that township. Ed.] 

In the winter of 1834 and 1835, Alvin 
Humphrey settled at the northwest corner of 
the grove and about the same time Levi Newman 
and a man by the name of Scott settled on the 
west end of the grove, and Tilton Hughes and 
Caleb Dains settled at the southwest corner. 
In the fall of 1S.S4 a man named Peter, a mill- 
wright, built a house on the creek bottom, some 
thirty rods east of the mill, near Milledgeville. 
.Sickness discouraged him and he gave up his 
claim to Jesse Kester, who l)uilt a saw mill and 
a small corn cracker mill. Kester sold out his 
claim to A. C. Knox. The latter built a grist 
mill and had it in operation in 1839. In 1835 
John Knox made a claim and planted the first 
orchard in the county, on the south side of the 
grove. 

The first child born in Milledgeville was Eliza 
J. Knox, and the first death was that of Albert 
Knox, both chidren of A. L. Knox. The first 
celebration of the Fourth of July was at the 
house of Alvin Humphrey in 1837. The oration 
was by Felix Conner ; Elijah Eaton built the 
first saw mill in 1837. In 1835 L'ncle Harry 
Smith and Sample Journey had arrived. Miles 
Z. Laudon, Father Hunt, Elder Paynter, Steven 
VanDusen and several others whose nardes were 
somewhat prominent, came afterward and later 
Milledgeville had grown into quite a village so 
that a post office was established there In 1844, 
with Jacob McCortie as postmaster. 

[In early days the roads over the prairie were 
traveled so little and the tracks were so scatter- 
ing and grown up with grass that travelers 
sometimes lost their way. This led to plowing 
the longest furrow in a direct line that was ever 
plowed in Carroll Count.v. Mr. Humphrey, of 
Milledgeville. father of Mrs. VanVechteu, offered 
to furnish the plow and team, two yoke of oxen. 



no doubt, to any one who would mark the road 
to Mount Carroll and Savanna. So Mr. Spencer, 
father of Mrs. John Uegeman, held the plow and 
made a furrow from Thomas Ransoms" in Elk- 
horn Grove township out to Lewis Blisses' in 
Mount Carroll township; from there the road 
was traveled so much it was plain. An old set- 
tler, Jabez Todd, who lived in Elkhorn Grove 
township used to like to puzzle the young set- 
tlers, by making this statement; that when he 
came to this country he settled in ,Io Daviess 
County, and has lived at the same place ever 
since; how could that be when Elkhorn Grove 
is in Carroll County? Ed.] 

When settlements first commenced, before any 
road was regularly laid out the leading trail 
passed through the grove up to where John C. 
Owings lived, at Cherry Grove, thence on to 
Galena ; this trail left the old Peoria Trail 
twelve miles south of Dixon, crossed Rock river 
south of Gass Grove, passed through Sugar 
Grove and thence by the present site of Wilson"s 
Mill to and through the center of Elkhorn 
Grove. In 1832 Samples M. Journey was mar- 
ried to a daughter of Mr. Aukeny who then 
lived at Buffalo Grove. All the neighbors ex- 
cept Kelloggs' family were Invited to the 
feast; there was a feud between the Ankeny 
and Kellogg families about their tavern stands 
in Buffalo Grove, hence the latter family was 
not bidden to the wedding, but a large com- 
pany danced all night and no doubt did .lustice 
to the feast. Journey must have taken up his 
residence in Carroll County soon after this 
event. This is all I have found of the very 
oldest settlers of Elkhorn Grove. 

MONEY BAGS 

In those days a number of rich men iirospect- 
ing out west started one day from the west end 
of the grove to go to the residence of John C. 
Owings. which could plainly be seen over the 
wide intervening prairies. When half way 
across, such a feeling of loneliness came over 
their spirits that they stopped ; rearranged their 
money belts, and came to the grave conclusion 
that this prairie country was nothing but a wil- 
derness and would never amount to anything; 
whereupon they departed from it as fast as pos- 
sitile. Think of that, you farmers who now 
rate your farms at one hundred dollars per acre 
in this very part of the conutr.y. 







S'^X.^ /:&^ /2^-^^c 



w 









HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



639 



YORK township's EABLY SETTLERS 

Hon. Xoruian D. French was among the first 
settlers in this part of the county. He came to 
uortliern Illinois in the fall of 1S32. He .spent 
the foUowinj,' winter chopping wood in the lead 
mining districts near Galena, living in a dug-out 
which had formerly been used as a miner's 
tump. After his day's work was done he re- 
paired to the camp, and each evening whittled 
out an a.\ handle, the sales of which paid his 
hoard. The summer of 1833 he spent at Buffalo 
(irove. In 1S34 he was engaged on the govern- 
ment survey, and helped to block out Carroll 
County into government townships. He was also 
engaged on the surveys of Whiteside and Rock 
Island Counties, and was one of the party that 
laid out the sites of Rock Island, Daveniwrt and 
other cities now of considerable importance. He 
helped stake out the first traveled road from 
Rock river via Union Grove and Bluffville to 
Savanna. In pursuance of these duties he car- 
ried the chain on foot about seven hundretl 
miles. During the winters when surveying could 
not be carried on he spent his time in hunting 
and trapping. Thus he passed the winter of 
1833 and 1S34, about two hundred miles west of 
Dubuque, with five companions. The furs of 
beaver and otter which they gathered, were 
brought down the Des Moines river in the spring 
and shipped to Cairo. During his hunting and 
trapping he became well acquainted with Chief 
Black IlawU, also Chief Keokuk, spoiuling 
several nights in Black Hawk's wigwam. In 
the same manner he became acquainted with 
the famous W. Y. Ives and Missouri Dixon and 
other noted trapper^ and hunters of early days. 
■When the surveying was finished he went into 
business in a miner's .supply store at Platteville, 
Wis., but his health failing he was forced, in 
the fall of 1S37, to go on his farm in York 
township, where he lived for fifty-three years. 
Mr. French was the father of York township. 
and was Identified with all its interests from 
the beginning. In 1839 he was appointed the 
first tax lollcctor for the whole county, col- 
lected two hundred dollars as the whole tax of 
the county and often traveled many miles to col- 
lect ten cents. He was a member of the 29th 
General Assembly of Illinois, representing the 
counties of Carroll and Whiteside. He was a 
member of the Old Settlers Association from its 
organization in 1S74 and the vice president from 



York township until the time of his death. In 
the absence of the president-elect of that organi- 
zation he presided, and being called upon for a 
speech, he said that his facilities for obtaining 
an education in early life were very limited; 
that he would sooner undertake to open up a 
new farm upon the prairie than to try to interest 
an audience by making a set speech. "We are 
here," he said, "not to make long speeches, but 
to brighten up old memories." Settlers living 
within twenty miles of each other were called 
iieighlxirs. In 1S32, when he came to the north- 
ern part of this state, from Vermont, he crossed 
Rock river at Dixon's Ferry, kept by one Dixon, 
proceeding north he found a few settlers at 
Elkhorn Grove. At Cherry Grove also were two 
or three settlers. In 1833 he hired out as a 
farm hand in the fall of that year, and In 1834 
he helped to survey the county into townships. 
At one time, in 1833, he lost his way in a fog 
and after two days' fasting he turned up in 
Savanna. He first made the claim which he 
new owns in 1835, broke ground in 183(5, built a 
cabin in 1837, raised his first crop in 1838, and 
has raised a crop every year since. 

ORIGIN OF SUCKERS 

Continuing, Mr. French said: "It was cus- 
tomary in those days for people living in the 
south part of the state to take their teams and 
some milk cows and go up in the spring at the 
same time as the sucker fish in the streams to 
the lead mines near Galena; work at mining 
through the summer, sell out their stock and 
trappings and return in the fall, which gave to 
these people the name of "Suckers." 

.Vt a meeting of the Old Settlers' Associa- 
tion, in 19(10. a short time previous to his 
death, lie was again called upon for a speech, 
and told how he made his log cabin, made shakes 
for the roof and a puncheon floor; went on 
font from Savanna to Chambers Grove before 
there was any road made, keeping the divide, 
between Straddle Creek and I-ittle Rock and 
.Tohnson's Creek. 

[His father. Jacob French, was a native of 
Massachusetts, his mother, Pamelia Dartt, wag 
born in Connecticut. In 1840 his sister, Pamelia 
I'ierce (nee French) came from Vermont. She 
was the first white lady to make an overland 
trip from Chicago to Savanna. October 23rd, 



640 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



1849, he married Miss Mary Duusbee, at Cam- 
bridge. Vermont. Ed.] 

Otber settlers who came early to York were 
William Dyson and Russel Colvin, who came in 
the spring of 1S36. Dyson built the first cabin 
on the old Dyson farm. The next year his two 
sons became settlers, and a brother of N. D. 
French, Harvey French, took up a claim near 
the claim of his brother. These settlements 
were west of the bluffs on the Mississippi bot- 
toms. In 1S3S the beautiful bottom lands in the 
valley of Johnson creek were taken up ; Lewis 
St. Orr built the first house on the farm where 
William Carroll now lives. 

COL. BEEBS TOMLINSON 

[Mr. Samuel Preston, in his Pioneers of Mount 
Carroll. (1S94). says: "On the first of March, 
183S, there stopped at father's a man on horse- 
back, saying that he was on hunt of a place to 
locate a colony from York state. He needed no 
further endorsement, when we found that was 
his mission, for his words and actions stamped 
him as a leader. He was a lumberman, and 
was caught in the financial crash of the year 
before while on his way to market with a large 
lot of lumber. But Colonel Beers Tomliuson 
was not a man to 'cry over spilled milk,' and 
came west to retrieve his loss. We directed him 
to Johnson's creek valley, before mentioned, 
which took his fancy. He hired father to go with 
a team and strike a furrow around half the town 
of York. He claimed also the grove of timber 
on the south part of Sections 35 and 36 in Car- 
roll Township. Claim secured, Mr. Tomlinson 
started for his home in York state, riding his 
horse to Chicago, but as horses were hard to 
convert into cash, he traded his for lake fish 
and shipped them home.'' 

"In December (1838) Col. Beers Tomlinson 
returned with his son and Monroe Bailey. They 
came with a span of horses and wagon by 
land all the way from Steuben county. New 
York. Their first object was to secure grain to 
winter their team. Hearing that Alvin Humph- 
rey of Elkhorn Grove had corn yet to husk, 
they went there and procured a job husking on 
sl'.ares. Humphrey was a hog dealer and driver, 
buying hogs down in the central part of the 
state and driving them up into the lead mines. 
He always kept a large number on his farm, of 
the kind called in those days, "shad-bellies," 



from their resemblance In shape to that fish. 
Col. Tomlinson and Mr. Humphrey both were 
not slow in cracking jokes, and Tomlinson said 
to Humphrey : "Mr. Humphrey, if the old say- 
ing be true, you must have a very choice variety 
of pork here." "How so?" asked Mr. Humphrey. 
"The nearer the tioue the sweeter the meat" 

Col. Tomlinson's next move was to find shelter 
tor the winter, which he did in a cabin in 
Woodland Township, owned by Nelson Swaggert. 
Then they commenced work to haul logs to 
Christian and Company's saw mill, to get lumber 
to build on their claims. Charles and Monroe 
Bailey did the chopping and the colonel the 
hauling, showing themselves masters of the lum- 
ber business by soon stocking the mill with logs 
as fast as cut. They hauled the sawed lumber 
on to their claims. Colonel Tomlinson built his 
house on the southeast quarter of Section 35, 
in Mount Carroll township. 

Monroe Bailey made a claim for his father, 
Joshua Bailey, on Section 1 in York Township 
and Section C in Fairhaven Township, lately 
owned by Ansel Bailey. In the autumn of 1839, 
Joshua Bailey came with his sons,. Elijah, Ansel 
and Ira. and moved into the cabin Monroe had 
prepared for them. 

Mr. Preston also sa.vs in regard to Col. Tom- 
linson that he was in the war of 1812, having 
raised a company. He was chosen its cap- 
tain. It is said by one of his York neighbors, 
who was one of the company, that while ren- 
dezvousing the first night was spent in a hall ; 
the captain introduced a new military order not 
found in Scott's Tactics. The hall floor was 
scarcely large enough for the men to lie down 
except in what is called spoon fashion, a posi- 
tion which it was necessary to change fre- 
quently, and all had to do it at the same time ; 
so when Captain Tomlinson, who remained 
standing, thought they had lain on one side long 
enough, would give the order, "right spoon" or 
"left spoon." Ed.] 

About 1838 Daniel Ken.von and Cornelius 
Shoemaker took up their abode as permanent 
settlers of the town. In 1840, 1841 and 
1842 settlers came more slowly than 'in subse- 
quent years. In the latter year Horace Me- 
lendy and Hiram Balcom were among the 
settlers then coming. They went to work 
in the Savanna Powder Mill and when that 
building was blown up, Balcolm was killed and 
many others were injured. Balcolm was univer- 




J/^ir^c^2^ ^. /^yL i^ dc^t^ 



THE Sf" ■"'*^, 



..ONS 1 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



641 



sally luoiinied. as he as a man of fine promise. 
It 1843 and 1844 there was a large increase of 
settlers in this localit.v. They came as a rule 
with families, who since have been and are now 
permanent citizens of the township. 

The early settlers of York township are made 
up of prominent families largely related to each 
other. The French. Balcom, Bailey, Melendy, 
Cole, Dyslin and others will always be noted In 
any history of the town.ship, in fact Uncle Jo 
Cuslnnan, tlie liist<iri:in of the town, and a man 
whose biographical knowledge of the first fami- 
lies, is not excelled by any citizen of the county, 
says that the Ualcoms and Baileys, with their 
relatives, nearly made up the census of the 
town taken a few years ago. 

In 18.">0, York with other towns of the county, 
passed from the old form of town government 
and ele<-ted .Monroe Bailey as its first supervisor 
under the new system of government. The town 
has been (jiiite prosperous. Its leading citizens 
are solid substantial men with heads of their 
own. Indeed we are in the habit of referring 
to York people as a little nation of themselves. 
Monroe Bailey about 1843 or 1844 brought from 
Albany, New York, the first thrashing machine 
e^er set up in the county. 

FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE 

In 1844 the Bluffville school house, where the 
Bailey church now stands was built. Levi Kent 
taught the first school in it. The pupils were 
some of them full grown and a little rude, and 
Mr. Kent had trouble with some of them. A 
remark of Herman Edgerly, in connection with 
this schiKil, lias lieninie a tradition. He offered 
if they would let him teach the school, he would 
guarantee that the scholars who lived to spring 
would know something. 

A child of Herman Colvin was the first child 
born in the town, and a child of Harvey French 
is supposed to be the first one who died in the 
town. Both of these events occurred soon after 
the families to which they belonged came, but I 
cannot give the exact year. A great many of 
these early settlers are now sleeping in their 
quiet graves; and still a goodly number survive, 
several of whom are over eighty years old. 
Those settlers were a long lived people. I'ncle 
Joe Cushman estimates that the average dura- 
tion of their lives was something like seventy 
years, a remarkable fact, when we consider that 



they underwent the hardships of the early 
pioneer days and conditions. 

HOW THEV CAME 

Most of them emigrated to the wild west in 
the old fashioned style, in covered wagons drawn 
by ox teams. The conveyances took the name of 
prairie schooners. John A. Melendy stated to 
me that the team of horses he drove through 
from A'ermont took over a month to make the 
journey, and were in as good condition the day 
he reached Rock river and crossed it at Oregon 
City as the day the team started on its long 
journey. 

TORK TOWNSHIP NAMED 

In 18.34 N. D. French helped stake out the first 
traveled road from Rock river via Union Grove 
and Bluffville to Savanna. A bridge was built 
at or near Bluffville, this was to turn the Lewis- 
ton trail through Savanna. York was at first 
called Harlem Precinct, but the name was 
changed to York by request of the state 
auditor, when Township Organization was 
adopted. At this time or a little before in 1833, 
there were ten families at Rock Island, one at 
Hampton, six or seven at Port Byron, one at 
Cordova and those already named at Savanna. 

PRr.STON PRAIRIE AND MOVNT CARROLL SETTLEMENTS 

The first settlement at Preston Prairie, was 
made in the spring of 183G. as near as I can 
determine, by Samuel Preston who located his 
claim where his worthy son of the same name 
now resides. In February of that year, the two 
Prestons, Samuel Sr., and Samuel Jr., started 
from Bureau county in a one horse pung or 
jumper with blankets provisions, etc., and landed 
at Cherry Grove, where Swaggert then kejit a 
tavern. Their adventures on this trip were 
varied ; they slept one night before the end of 
their journey, under a shelving rock, midway 
between the present Preston homestead and Ful- 
rath's mill, and in the morning found themselves 
covered with snow. 

.\t that time Paul D. Otis drove stage through 
Cherry Grove. John D. Winters owned the stage 
line, and a man liy the name of Mathews was 
superintendent. Mathews and Otis were then 
contemplating making a large joint claim where 
Mount Carroll now stands, which they after- 
wards made. Mr. Preston made a claim of the 
mill site where Chalfnnt's mill was afterwards 



642 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



built, iu addition to his farm of tlie prairies. 
He had hardiy finished making his mill claim 
when Otis and Mathews came along with hatch- 
ets to take it up for themselves. 

The elder Mr. Preston intended to open a 
tavern to accommodate the travel then coming 
to and going out of Savanna eastward and 
toward Elkhorn Grove. Before he could get his 
log cabin built, or his family moved to his claim, 
he was called on to entertain travelers. The 
second day found two young men. who had 
been surveying a road from Elkhorn Grove to 
Savanna, calling for quarters and entertainment. 
They slept in a covered wagon and their meals 
were chiefly roasted potatoes. These early trav- 
eUrs were Nathan Ford and Royal Cooper. Two 
hayricks were built during the season near to- 
gether and the space between was covered over 
with ixiles and hay. and iu this enclosure trav- 
elers were put to bed to sleep. Cherry Grove 
was the only voting precinct in the county. 

Nathan Downing arrived in the autumn of 
this year and settled where John Kinney now 
resides. In the spring of the next year, 1S3T, 
the first child was born into Dowling's family, 
she was a girl baby who in the course of time 
became the wife of Gideon Carr. 

Keziah Everts made a claim this year where 
Frank Trail formerly resided. Samuel L. 
Bailess, a Virginian, made a claim near where 
the fair grounds now are ; laid out a town and 
named it Richmond from the capital of his 
native state. He made liberal offers to settlers, 
and two or three houses were built. Otis and 
Mathews were dissatisfied as they claimed the 
same land, but Bailess lield on to the possession : 
and in this case possession turned out to be nine 
points in the law. Mathews built a cabin near 
by and his father moved into it. 

0BIGIN.\L MILL COMPANY FORMED 

In 1837 the orginal mill company, consisting 
of Daniel Christian, Nathaniel Swiugley. Sam- 
i;el L. Hitt and George Swaggert was formed. 
The company bought out Otis and Mathews, who 
had located a large claim covering the mill site, 
and the land where Mount Carroll now stands, 
paying them fourteen hundred dollars for the 
claim. The claim covered section 1, east half of 
section 2. nortlieast quarter of section 13. and 
the north half of section 12. Heman Downing 
bought all the claim of his brother Nathan. 



Their father Abner Downing made a claim on 
section 15 lately owned by Sumner Downing. 
Dr. E. C. Cochran made a claim where William 
Petty now resides. Daniel Christian had arrived 
in 1S:57 and iu that year or the spring of 1838, 
had moved his family into the cabin vacated 
by Mathews ; he had eight children. George 
W. Christian afterwards settled where Herman 
Coel now resides. Daniel Christian built to the 
old house and occupied it until the time of his 
death. His son .loseph Christian lately resided 
there. 

This year Hitt and Swingley built a saw mill 
west of Mount Carroll on Carroll Creek. Wil- 
liam Mackay and John George hired this mill 
and ran it the first year. This year Heman 
Downing ereetetl a frame barn and all the set- 
tlers far and near, turned out to help raise the 
heavy hewn oak timbers. 

In 1S3S Mr. Hinkley took the claim now owned 
by Daniel Crouse, and L. H. Bowen had a great 
barn raising on Tim Doty's place. This was the 
first frame building erected on the place, or in 
the township. George V. Stewart settled on a 
ciaim, lately owned by Samuel Haynes, 

In 1S39 John O'Neal came with his family and 
settled on the old Swaggert place, southeast of 
Mount Carroll, Mr, Swaggert claimed the loca- 
tion, and afterwards at the head of ten men, 
drove O'Neal off, took the rifle with which 
O'Neal was trying to defend him.self and his 
castle from him by force, and maintained his or- 
iginal claim. Mr. Preston in his Pioneers of 
Mount Carroll gives the following account of 
this incident, we have no means of determining 
which is correct. 

"This same year came John O'Neal in ad- 
vance of his family from York State and he and 
George W. Stewart laid claim to a part of sec- 
tion seventeen in Salem township, where the tel- 
egraph road crosses Johnson Creek, and put up 
the body of a cabin. But they got notice that 
Hank Hopkins of Savanna claimed that land, 
and was coming the next day to tear the cabin 
d<l^^•n. They each armed themselves with a gun 
and went inside the cabin to await the onset, 
'Hank.' came with a half dozen pals from 
Cherry Grove, and Stewart related the scene as 
follows : 'They climbed right up on the cabin 
with our guns pointing right at them, and rolled 
the logs down over our heads.' "Did yon have 
your gun cocked?' Stewart was asked. 'No, 
I was afraid it would go off.' " 



HISTORY OP CARROLL COUNTY 



643 



O'Neal tlieu took up another location where he 
aftenvarJs built a large brick house, and kept 
travelers for many years on the road to Savan- 
na, west of Mount Carroll about three miles. 

In l.s:j7 David Masters uiade a claim and 
afterward built a cabin near the place where the 
Mount Carroll railroad depot now stands near a 
beautiful i)iue and maple grove yet standing. 
These trees it is said by some writers were car- 
ried from Elkhoru Grove and planted there, but 
this is not likely as there were many of the same 
kind growing along the creek, much nearer his 
place. Ed.l 

FIRST BEUGIOUS MEETING 

The first religious meeting was held on the 
prairie in 1839 by a Presbyterian by the name of 
Whipple at the house of Heman Downing. The 
first school was taught in an upper room of 
Mr. Preston's house by Miss Sarali Jane Haw- 
ley. This year a Mr. Leonard became the owner 
of the mill site claimed by Mr. Preston and built 
a small grist mill. The mill stones were taken 
from a quarry of limestone near by, and may yet 
be seen in the old Chalfant mill now owned by 
Adam Fulrath. 

In 1840 Lewis Bliss and Benjamin Church 
built the house where Jacob Ilartman now re- 
sides on the old Stearns farm and fitted it up for 
a tavern stand. At this time a contest took 
place for a post office on the prairie. Previously 
the settlers had obtained their mail matter at 
Cherry Grove. Heman Downing and Mathews 
were applicants for the new post office. Both 
were Whigs and the Jeff ersonian Democracy was 
in i)ower. The Downing men inserted in their 
petitions the statement, that he was a Democrat, 
but Luther IL Boweu who forwarded the peti- 
tion to Washington and who was a sound Demo- 
crat, simply endorsed on the back of the Down- 
ing petition, "he is a Whig." Mathews got the 
appointment, but a new administration discon- 
tinued tlie office the next year. 

THE Mir.L COMPANY 

No sketch of early Carroll county history, 
would be complete without a reference to the 
operations of the Mount Carroll Mill Company, 
-and the subsequent settlement of the city of 
Mount Carroll, although it is not my purpose to 
speak or write of settlers who arrived after 



1S40; some other time I may attempt to carry 
this history down to 1S50, and to a later date 
perhaps. 

S. M. Hitt of Ogle county, Daniel Christian, 
Nathaniel Swingley and George Swaggert com- 
posed the original mill company as already 
stated. They i)urchased the mill site and 
claimed several sections of land around it. This 
firm was dissolved and a division of proiierty 
made. This was prior to 1840. In that year on 
the 10th day of May, David Emmert and family 
landed at Savanna. He settled at Cherry Grove 
and for a time kept a tavern there. In 1841 
Nathaniel Ilalderman also came and located at 
Cherry <;ro\e for a time, and kept a t;iveru 
there. lie arranged with Emmert to build a 
mill somewhere in the county. They first ne- 
gotiated for the purchase of the Bowen 
mill site near Savanna, hut for some reason 
could not obtain that power. They finally 
selected the Moiuit Carnill mill site. They were 
to pay three thousand dollars for the site and a 
tract of land adjoining. The new company went 
by the name of Enmiert, Ilalderman and com- 
pany. John Rinewalt was a member of the firm 
and came on in 1843. David Emmert eventuall.v 
retiretl from the firm in 1845, and John Irvine 
Sr. took his place. For a short time Jessie and 
Thomas Uapp had an interest in the enterprise. 
In the fall of 1S41 Mr. Ilalderman happened to 
meet Daniel Hurley, Patrick Silk, Hugh Slowey 
and several others, who had stopped at Cherry 
Grove with horses, carts and so forth, to obtain 
their dinners. Previous to this the company had 
built the log house at Stag Point, a jiart of 
which now stands on the grounds of Isaac Shel- 
don. Enimert's family had moved into it in 
Jannar.v. 1841'. being the first family whiih ever 
resided in Mount Carroll. Ilaldernian brought 
Hurley down to the point, and the job of 
building the mill dam. and digging the mill 
race was let to him. The companj- pushed their 
enteri)ri.>-es. The iiilll was finished and run- 
ning iu the tall of l.s41i. The company boarded 
the hands, some forty i]i number, established 
a store: first running it in a shed attaihed to 
the log cabin, and afterwards building a regular 
storeroom which is the .same building now oc- 
cu|iied by .Mr. Slieldon as -a I'esidence. The 
hands wcic p.-iid mostly out of the store. The 
company built tlie stone house, the i)resent 
residence of James Ilallett and al.so the original 
I uililiiig at the head of the dam where .Jacob 



644 



HISTORY OP CAEROLL COUNTY 



Loh resided; they also built tlie c-ourt bouse 
as narrated in speaking of the removal of the 
county seat. 

STAG POINT 

In those days there were lively times round 
Stag Point, now the mill site of the large stone 
mill. When the company settled with Hurley, it 
was unable to pay him his money. Hurley was 
disappointed ; he said he expected the "gold,'" 
but he had to take for his pay the splendid tract 
of prairie land just east of the present city lim- 
its which in a few years made him a wealthy 
man, by its rapid advance in value. From 1S45 
settlers increased rapidly. 

FIBST SCHOOL 

The first school kept in the city was taught 
by a young man by the name of Andersen, in the 
old stone court house. 

The first church was the old Methodist chnreh, 
a brick structure and a great church building 
for its day ; but now used principally for shops 
of various kinds. At present time it is used as 
a garage. 

The first school house was the old brick build- 
ing, on the site of which John Xycum built his 
tine brick residence. 

FIBST MAIL 

At first the Mount Carroll people obtained 
their mail matter from Cherry Grove and Plum 
river ix)st offices. Prior to 1853 a tri-weekly 
stage c-oach to c-arry the mail, had been estab- 
lished. In that year Jacob P. Emmert obtained 
the contract for a daily mail by way of Savanna 
to FreeiJort. This remained until the railroad 
was constructed by the old Racine and Mississ- 
ippi Railroad Company, then the coaches were 
hauled ofif. 

From this small beginning established by the 
Mill Company the present little city of Mount 
Carroll, with its fine schools, churches and busi- 
ness interests, had their inception and growth. 

In 1867 the present city charter was obtained 
from the legislature and affirmed by a vote of 
the people adopting it. 

THE SEMINARY 

Xo sketch of our little city would be complete 
without reference to the Mount Carroll Semin- 



ary, that seat of learning widely known in edu- 
cational circles. The charter of this institution 
was obtained in 1852 by William T. Miller, the 
then representative, and some attempts were 
made to organize a school, which at first were 
not very successful. 

On the eleventh day of May, 18-53. Miss F. A. 
Wood and Miss C. M. Gregory came to Mount 
Carroll and opened a select school in the second 
story of what was known as the Ashway build- 
ing, located where the Glenview Hotel is now; 
nominally under the auspices of the Seminary 
charter, but really independent of the board, 
as they made their arrangements, provided the 
school room, paid all the expenses. The first 
term opened with eleven pupils and closed with 
forty. This selec-t school was carried on in 
the downtown building about one year and a 
half. 

During the spring and summer of 1854, the 
Seminary building was erected by the corpora- 
tion; raising some of the money by stock sub- 
scription, and incurring an indebtedness for the 
balance. The building was. however, erected on 
credit, at a cost including five hundred dollars 
for five acres of ground, of forty-five hundred 
dollars. At that time the surrounding 
lands were worth ten dollars per acre. The 
building of the Seminary however, largely in- 
creased the value of adjacent lands, especially 
those between the Seminary site and the town 
plat. 

In 1854 the school was removed from the Ash- 
way building to the new Seminary building and 
formally organized under its charter. Misses 
Wood and Gregory were employed on salaries. 
Al the end of sis months it became evident that 
a new and financial administration of its affairs 
was necessary. Expenses exceeded income. The 
stock subscribers became dissatisfied and the 
corporation began to devise ways to get out of 
the enterprise. Finally an arrangement was 
made by which the two ladies agreed to take the 
school into their own hands. They were to pay 
the forty-five hundred dollars the cost of the 
building ; the trustees donated the furniture, on 
condition that the school should be maintained 
at least ten years. Rinewalt and Halderman 
donated the five hundred dollars for the 
grounds, or rather surrendered their mortgage 
for that amount. Afterwards claims for money 
borrowed on the work were presented for about 
twelve hundred dollars. These Misses Wood 










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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



645 



and Gregory tinally assuiiifil iiiid were released 
from the teu year obligations which they had 
entered into. They thus paid the entire cost of 
the institntion, except the five acre donation of 
the grounds. 

The school gradually increased until 1S57; 
then additional buildings were erected, to ac- 
comodate its growing patronage. Before this 
young gentleman had been admitted to the 
school as well as girls and young ladles. In 
1805 additional buildings were erected with the 
intention of again admitting boys and young 
men. Now the largest addition of all is being 
completed with good prospects of being filled 
for the coming school year by girls and young 
ladies alone. 

The school was under the control of the cor- 
porators from October 1S54 to April ISoo ; from 
the latter date to December, ISo", it was under 
the owners. Miss F. A. Wood and Miss C. M. 
Gregory ; from the latter date to July 1S70, un- 
der the control of Mrs. F. A. Wood Shinier. 
Miss Wood having married Dr. Henry Shimer. 
At the latter date, Mrs. Shimer bought the in- 
terests of Miss Gregory and has remained sole 
proprietor ever since. 

Miss A. C. Joy is now associate principal ; Dr. 
Shimer's connection with the school has been 
solely in the capacity of professor and teacher, 
he having no part in its government or financial 
management. In the department of science and 
natural history, he has collected a very valuable 
cabinet for the use of the school. In ornithol- 
ogy, his collection of birds is not surpassed by 
any collection of the state. 

THE ACADEMY 

The present condition of the Academy is very 
[irosperous, with fine commodious buildings, well 
fitted with modern improvements ; its music 
rooms furnished with the best of musical in- 
struments ; its extensive grounds of over thirty 
acres filled with evergreens, shrubbery, graper- 
ies and fruit trees ; its corps of teachers care- 
fully selected, and its financial management 
marked with the most marked success. The fu- 
ture of this institution bids fair to eclipse any 
female seminary in the northwest. The school 
department under the able management of Miss 
Joy is giving universal satisfaction ; while the 
the musical department's reputation is attracting 
those who cpme from long distances to enjoy its 



privileges. [For I'urtlier history of the Academy 
now called the Frances Shimer School, see a 
subseiiuent chapter. Ed.) 

OTHtK SETTLE.MKNTS OF THE EAHLY DAY 

In addition to the foregoing, which were the 
princiiial early settlements, a tew isolated fami- 
lies and settlers had located in other parts of 
the county in the very early day. Marion C. 
Taylor came to the lead mines in 182S and set- 
tled in Carroll county afterwards. He is the 
oldest living pioneer now living within the 
county limits. 

About 1S3-1 Uriah (Jreen, then a young man 
lived on Plum river not far from the old Har- 
ris farm as it was afterwards called ; now owned 
bj Thomas Noble. 

William Thomson had made a claim in Wood- 
land in 1835, and when he sold out to George 
S^^aggert, he went to his Woodland claim. As 
will be seen in another part of this narration, 
Thomson had made his original claim at Clierry 
Grove among the Cherry Grove settlers, and had 
sold that claim to Garner Moffett in 1S35, but 
must have located his Arnold Grove claim before 
that time. 

EARLY SETTLEBS IN WYSOX TOWNSHIP 

In 1S39, I.. H. and A. T. Eastabrook settled in 
the town of Wysox ; about the same time mem- 
bers of the Fletcher family began to arrive. 
Among the first was Byron and Nelson Fletcher ; 
Nelson could detail many of the horse races. 
dances, fights and claim difficulties in that part 
of the country in an early day. He was at one 
time fined ten dollars for helping to whip a man 
by the name of Brown, who had jumped his 
claim. He was also familiar with the incident 
of .Samples M. .lourney, breaking the staff over 
the head of Woodruff, his as.sociate while they 
were surveying. 

BOCK CBEEK TOWNSHIP 

David Becker was the first settler in Rock 
Creek, thirty-three years ago the present (1876) 
July. He settled on the place where Daniel 
Belding now resides, built the great house.^and 
sold out to Mr. Belding. 

The nest year Zachariah Kiukade settled at 
the head waters of Rock Creek near Lanark. 



646 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



rUilander Seyuiour also settled on liis home 
farm place very early. He was at one time sur- 
veyor of the county. Becker claims to liave given 
ttie Town of Rock Creelc its name. Wlien lie 
took up his claim, there was only a path where 
the Elkhorn and Mount Carroll road runs, and 
no liridges made on the streams. 

INDI.\NS 

As already mentioned the Indians swarmed 
over this whole part of the state, for some time 
after the first settlers located. In Brown's his- 
tory I find reference to a small settlement at 
the mouth of Plum river, before it was named 
Savanna, this was referred to in the item as to 
the early settlement of that place. 

I find in Ford's history of the state, an order 
despatching Colonel Alexander's battalion of 
troops to Plum river so that a part of the 
BlackbawU army marched through our county 
and probably came up the Lewistou trail aud 
then passed through Cherry Grove. John De- 
ment fought a sharp battle at Kellogg's Grove 
not far from Buffalo Grove. An express of six 
men riding from Galena to Dixon were fired on 
in i)assing through Buffalo Grove and one man 
named Durley was killed. Black Hawk him- 
self attacked Apple River Fort, near Elizabeth, 
but was repulsed, having shot one man dead, 
who was standing at a porthole bravely defend- 
ing the fortification. Tradition has it that a 
party of white men pursued some Indians who 
bad been marauding about Elkhorn Grove, and 
coming up with them just north of Mount Car- 
roll, in a holl<iw near Mr. Moore's resi(len<e sur- 
prised and shot their leader through the head. 

The Indians were great horse thieves and on 
one occasion, Garner MoBEett and Mr. Garner 
pursued a party of them to Milwaukee and 
secured a span of horses they had stolen. Mrs. 
M ift'ett related an incident, of a large and sav- 
age Indian coming into the house one day, when 
no one was at home but herself and children, 
and after deliberately laying down bis rifle, 
tomahawk and scalping knife asked for some- 
thing to eat; this was given him, aud he was 
told to, "puck achee," leave, which he immediate- 
ly did. Such incidents were of frecjuent occur- 
rence. The Owing boys aud others hunted with 
the Indians, dressed like Indians and looked 
like Indians. 

Uncle Garner Moffett used to preach in those 



days. One Sunday as he was traveling through 
Elkhorn Grove to fill an appointment on the 
other side, at a private house, he met about 
three hundred Indians straggling along the nar- 
row trail and concluded his hearers could get 
along that Sunday without the gospel, as we 
find that he turned and hastened back to Cher- 
ry Grove, believing that Indians were too thick 
around there for healthy preaching. 

In addition to the attack on the Savanna 
Block House and the adventure of Upton there 
spoken of, M. B. Pierce says that he and his 
f other were in Galena at the time of the attack 
on the block house. Marshall says he was called 
upou to stand ground, and In the hurry got his 
pants on wrong side first, and thus did a soldier's 
duty until morning. 

Another incident is told of Upton, illustrating 
the daring character of the man. Captain Orrin 
Smith of Galena had a very valuable horse 
stolen by the Indians and in some way he found 
out that the thieves had gone to Rock Island. 
He offered Upton two hundred dollars to rescue 
the animal. Upton started alone; found the 
horse feeding among a lot of Indian ponies 
at the head of Rock Island; crossed over where 
Moline now stands; crawled through the grass 
and succeeded in placing a halter on the animal ; 
swam him over to the Illinois side; mounted and 
as he was fleeing, was fired at by about a dozen 
of the savages as they were emerging from the 
woods aud saw him. The hero escaped by hang- 
ing to the side of the swift tlying horse's neck, 
one bullet marked the horse behind the ears, 
but ranged too high to make other than a slight 
flesh wound. 

INDIAN FIGHTING 

There must have been some Indian fighting 
at the fortified cabin iu Cherry Grove, as there 
i.? a firmly lielieved tradition, that the women 
molded bullets, while the men fired out of the 
port holes. This much is a historic certainty ; 
in the Indian troubles, the few persons in the 
neighborhood gathered into the stockade when 
they heard the Indians were coming from Eliz- 
abeth. They, however, changed their minds by 
the next day, and all started iwst haste for 
Dixon, in the morning, where they arrived 
safely. About noon the savages arrived at the 
fort, fired for a while on the building and the 
stockades, aud finally broke in the Jieavy gate 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



647 



in the iialisarlc iiiailo of s|ilit logs piuiipd to- 
gether and ill tlie doors of the fort. Among 
otlier mischievous jiraulvs thej' tooli the feather 
beds out to the top of the hill ; ripped them open 
and hugely enjoyed the sight of seeing the 
feathers scattered before the wind over the 
piairli's. This "Fort," was situated near a 
s|.riiig on Crane's run, not very far from what 
is now called the Moffett school house, at the 
ceiitir of section L'l!, Freedom towuslii|i. It was 
ipidhalily located near the center of the south- 
cast quarter of section twenty-three. Ed.] 

A PIONEER I.0SI 

Another incident, in the early days, tragic in 
its sadness, was the death of tlie father of 
I.uther II. and David Boweu. The old gentle- 
man had been living with another son, a doctor 
at Joliet, but started on foot to visit his sons 
Luther. John, David and Sherman, then living 
ai Savanna. He arrived at tlie home of John 
(_■. Owing's about a weeli later, in the afternoon 
of a stormy day, in the early spring of 1830, 
tired and fiM)t sore. Owiiigs urged him to stay 
all night ; but Mr. Bowen was anxious to reach 
Savanna, and after receiving directions as to the 
right road, he started on. Some two weeks later 
I.uther II. Bowen learned from a letter from 
Joliet, from the brother there of the father's 
start on his intendetl visit. In alarm he started 
out to trace up the missing father. Visiting 
Owing's place he tliere learned the facts above 
narrated. He returned to Savanna for help. 
M last the party found the lost man lying 
dead by the side of the trail, two miles north of 
I'rophetstown. He had evidently talieii tlie 
I.cwiston trail about three miles west of Mount 
Carroll, and had followed it far into the night, 
until worn out with fatigue he sank into the 
Iciig sleep of death by the wayside. The prairie 
lire bad burned over him, scorching his clothes. 



Kellogg lived on the old stage mad near rieas- 
ant V.illcy. was a notorious claim sjieculator. 
and had hired Hiram G. Francis to work for him 
and set him to cutting timber on the Otis claim. 
Otis went to Galena, and had Kellogg indicted 
by the grand .lury. .Mr. Francis who saw the 
shooting and would have been an important wit- 
ness, went back to his old home in York State 
where he remained two or tliree years. Mean- 
time the case was continued from term to term 
of tlie court and linally nolle prossed. 

SHELVING ROCK SHANTY — R.^TTLESNAKES 

111 this same shanty, which was built against 
a shelving rock, Monroe Bailey stopped for a 
time when he came to the country. He tells 
that on one evening a large pot of miisli was 
being prepared for the evening meal. The rock 
against which the fire was built became hot, and 
suddenly exploded with terrible effect on the 
iiu:sh. and the great terror of the men. 

Kattlesnakes were plentiful about the rocks 
in those days. A tishiiig party of which Sumner 
Downing was one of them, discovered a den of 
rattlesn.-ikes near Jacobstowii and slew about 
one hundred and thirty of the reptiles at one 
time. The men of that party would have made 
good Saint Patricks. If they had kept on, few 
snakes would have been left in the county. Lieu- 
tenant Joseph Slyers of Company A, Forty-tifth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry on a recent visit to 
Mount Carroll said, that his father entered land 
ill Woodland in 1.S4.S. When he was a boy rat- 
tlesnakes were quite numerous; they would come 
around the fire more than a dozen at a time, 
and that he killed one that measured eight feet 
long and had twenty-four rattles. One time 
wb.en he had no gun with him he saw a drove of 
forty deer. 

INVENTIVE GENUS 



JUMPING A CLAIM 

Another incident in connection with land dif- 
ficulties, is told of I'aul D. Otis. \ man by the 
name of Kellogg had jumped the cl.iini of this 
.same man. X quarrel ensued, and Kellogg fired 
a pistol at Otis. The ball penetrated a thick 
coat and bruised the skin but inflicted no fatal 
wound. The shooting happened near the shanty 
of Otis and Mathews near the old saw mill. 



Another of the early incidL-nts of the first 
settlement of this part of the state, illustrates 
the Inventive genius of the first settlers. One 
Joe Miles was a sort of lawyer, they called such 
members of the profession .Tack lawyers, but he 
was a genius in his way. He spent much time in 
trying to invent the first reaping machine that 
ever was started in a wheat ti<'ld in the county. 
It was a horizontal revolving wheel, with the 
outer rim set full of scythe blades. 



648 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



When the machiue was ready to make its 
first trial, a crowd was there to see how it 
would dispose of the growing grain. It was 
near the present Academy grounds. As the 
machine went up the street to the place of the 
test to be made, an unfortunate pig with a 
snort and a grunt started to cross the street 
before it ; the unfortunate porker, was like the 
war chariots of Pharoah, the revolving blades 
caught and made an end of his poor pigship, 
but on the trial the machine would not properly 
cut small grain, however well it would slay pigs, 
cripple horses and men. 

NAMES OF PLACES 

The history of the names of places is some 
times significant and is worthy of attention. I 
have made some inquiries as to these names 
bestowed upon places and localities in Carroll 
Count.v. Jlount Carroll was so named by the 
commissioners, who located the county seat; 
when they staked off the hill where the churches 
now stand. 

Savanna was named from the marshy plain, 
supposed to resemble the savannas of the 
south; Elkhorn Grove and creek from the uum- 
bei of old elk horns there in early days ; Eagle 
Point from an old eagle nest there, when white 
men first came; Rock Creek and town from the 
rocky and gravelly creek of the same name; Lan- 
ark from a county or locality in Scotland, because 
Scotchmen named the new towns along the line 
of the first railroad in the county; Buffalo 
Grove, Indian name Nauusha, from the ancient 
herd of buffaloes which lingered thereabout 
when the first white men came: York because 
many of the early settlers came from New York 
State ; Wysox from a town of the same name In 
Pennsylvania, from whence came many of its 
first settlers ; Woodland from its timber and 
thickets ; Cherry Grove from the wild cherry 
trees found there; Plum river from the wild 
plum trees growing along its mai'giu and flat 
bottom. The Indian name of Plum river was 
Pecatolica, found in a government patent and 
some old deeds. Shannon town and village took 
the name of William Shannon, who first laid 
out the town and village. 

The name of the county was first suggested 
by Israel Chambers. He being the oldest citizen, 
as a compliment to him he was given the honor 
of selecting a name for the county ; he named it 



Carroll after Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, one 
of the signers of the Declaration of Independ- 
ence. 

Badger Springs was named by a party con- 
sisting of S. M. Hitt, Nathaniel Swingley, John 
Wagner and David Mumma, who were traveling 
from Cherry Grove to where George W. Harris 
was staying in Ogle county. On the 17th day of 
May. these people stopped at the springs to eat 
their dinner; while-- there Swingley killed a 
badger, and thereupon JMumma suggested that 
they name the springs, which was at once done. 

STRADDLE CKEEK 

One authority for the name of Straddle creek ■ 
gives it thus : John Aukeny and two other 
men had started north from Elkhorn Grove, rid- 
ing on Indian ponies; they came to a creek with 
steep banks in the prairie, and in crossing the 
pony of the heaviest man was unable to cinib up 
the bank ; the rider thereupon placed one foot on 
each bank, and the pony struggled out between 
his legs. Ankeny from this circumstance named 
the creek Straddle Creek. Freedom took its 
name from the fact that it had been free from 
law suits up to that time. 

EAELT SETTLEMENTS 

In the early day Carroll County was settled 
up in the old pioneer way. Nowadays when a 
new county is opened up to settlement, the rail- 
road is the pioneer of the advancing wave of 
emigration. Towns are laid out, machinery, 
libraries and pianos introduced, and cultivated 
society, form the nucleus of population. There 
are no old settlers any more, no unwritten his- 
tory of the early days ; but the old fashioned way 
of a new country was different. The pioneers 
came in prairie schooners, covered wagons. They 
endured hardships, they lived in log cabins. 
Neighboi-s were far apart, but warm hearted and 
true men and women. The men wore coonskin 
caps, the women wore linsey wolsey dresses, not 
very fashionably cut. There are men in my 
hearing who wore sunbouuets for their want of 
hrts, and their linsey wolsey breeches were 
baggy and dyed with c-opperas and walnut bark. 
The corn dodgers and johnny cakes as made in 
those days, are pleasant remembrances, they lay 
close to a man's ribs. The hog and hominy were 
food fit for the fabled gods. Tin reflector stoves 



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wOV 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



649 



took the place inter awhile of the old flat ii'ou 
IKjts, -which used to hake such good bread. 
Wouderful batches of biscuit were baked then, 
each was equal to a five cent modern loaf. The 
nii-rrj- makings were hearty and well enjoyed. 
The pioneers did their work mostly with oxen. 
They had hogs, and such hogs; they were the old 
fashioMed prairie rooters, and could run like a 
deer. In a few instances their owners tied knots 
in their tails to keep them from going through 
the i)icket fences, and when they drove those 
fattened for the Galena market, if their horses 
were good so as to keep up with the hogs, they 
got to market iu a day ; the pork brought a dol- 
lar and a half per hundred pounds and some- 
tinios the money was paid out for calico to make 
the women's dresses. 

GAME ABOUNDED 

Deer, wild turkeys, raccoons and ,ill sorts of 
game abounded ; the streams were full of game 
fish, and the marshes roared with tlie noise of 
the wild fowls. Mosquitoes swarmed in clouds; 
fever and ague abounded in the summer and 
fall. Crows and blackbirds ravaged the grow- 
ing crops; and the boys had to dress up scare- 
crows to keep them out of the gardens. 

CLAIM SOCIETIES 

Difficulties were mostly settled by arliitratimi. 
but Judge Lynch was sometimes called in to 
deal with outrageous cases. Claim societies 
existed and men who jumped the claims of oth- 
eiY. or entered men's claims from under them 
were summarily dealt with, and never did it 
again. In ('arroll Coniily. Abrani Mnft'ett's claim 
was entered from under by a man named Halvcr ; 
but a band of regulators compelled him to give 
up the patent and abandon his entry. Men were 
honest, and sheriffs and lawyers were not much 
needed. 

FBUOALITY AND CONTENTMENT 

Humble indeed were those log cabin homes of 
the first settlers ; but around their bright fire- 
sides, God's good angels came to bestow bene- 
dictions. Ilealth and labor; frugality and con- 
tent, chastity and love dvrelt In those humble 
homes. These hunter farmers came to lay 



broad and deep the foundations of future slates 
and a great free nation. 

THE AGBICULTUBAL eOCIETY 

This society was organized in September, 1853, 
and held its first fair in the year 1S55, on the 
farm of Monroe Bailey in York. John N. Keech 
was its first president. Its second fair was held 
oii the grounds just east of the residence of O. 
S. Beardsley in Mount Carroll. The fairs since 
then have been held on the grounds of the so- 
ciety near Mount Carroll, except for the years 
1S65 and 1860, when they were held in Lanark. 

Garner Moffett was president and H. G. Graf- 
ton was secretary of the meeting which organ- 
ized tlie society. At the early fairs, Monroe 
Bailey and John A. Melendy u.sed to take most 
of the premiums, with their fine stocks, but they 
generally donated these premiums to the society. 

EARLY PREMIUMS AWARDED 

We think tlic liilliiwiiig jireniiunis awardcil at 
the first fair (1S55) of sufficient interest to be 
worthy of note. 

The committee on agricultural implements re- 
ported as follows : 

"McCall & Kellogg are entitled to a premium 
on the best stove manufactured in Carroll 
county. 

"We also award to Widney & Walker a pre- 
mium on the best fanning mill manufactured in 
said county." Also 

1st Premium awarded for the best oil paint- 
ing, by Miss Sarah Fuller of Mt. Carroll Semi- 
nary. 

1st Premium awarded for the best penciling 
by Miss C. M. Gregory of the Mt. Carroll Sem- 
inary. 

Best monochromatic by same. 

1st Premium, for the best single carriage 
horse, oxhiliited by Miss F. A. Wood of the Mt. 
Carroll Seminary. 

Hogs were very much better than Judge 
Shaws' description of them, as the committee 
reported, "that but two small lots were entered 
nn;- rlo they think either worthy of a premium." 

Of this fair, Mr. D. H. Wheeler, editor of the 
Carroll County Republican, says, "it marks an 
era In our history, — draws a line from which 
we may look iiackward and forward — to which 
those who come after us may refer as a sort of 



650 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



bouiulary. between the half-civilizatiou of early 
western settlement and the full maturity of a 
country abounding in all the necessities and 
most of the luxuries of cultivated life." Ed.] 
The- fall of 1876 witnessed its twentieth 
fair. The war excitement In 1861 preveuted 
a fair being held that year. The premiums 
awarded the first year amounted to only forty- 
eight dollars in money ; the rest were given in 
diplomas. The premium list for 1S7G amounted 
to three thousand dollars. Later the fair man- 
agement became so heavily indebted and their 
real estate encumbered by mortgage with ac- 
cumulated interest, through no fault of any one 
year's management, but principally on account 
of bad weather aud lack of attendan<-e sufficient 
to meet the expenses and pay the large prem- 
iums offered. To continue the fair and relieve 
those who had become resiMusible for the un- 
secured debts, a few public spirited gentlemen 
organized a stock company and incon^orated 
aud raised money sufficient to pay the debts of 
the original organization ; took over all the prop- 
erty of the old organization, and have continued 
the annual fair with variable financial success 
on the old fair grounds. The oHicers for 1910 
were : J. A. Warner, president ; Thomas C. Jenks, 
vice president ; Cal Jl. Feezer, secretary ; and 
J. D. Turnbaugh, treasurer. 

NEWSPAPERS 

The first newspaper m the county was the 
Mount Carroll Tribune, started in ISoO in Mount 
Carroll by Dr. John L. Hostetter, was printed 
m Freeport and published for a short time. 

In lS.o2 Jacob I". Emmert started the Carroll 
County Republican with Henry Gratton as its 
editor. Emmert sold out in about nine months 
to Gratton ; Gratton ran it for a time and then 
sold out to David H. Wheeler, in 1S.j5, who con- 
tinued the paper until 1S.j7 ; he in turn sold out 
to David B. Emmert ; he sold his interest in the 
Republican to Dr. John L. Hostetter. Mean- 
time English had started the Home Intelligencer. 
In May IS.jS, the two papers were consolidated 
under the name of Republican and Intelligencer, 
with Hostetter and English as business man- 
agers. This arrangement did not last long. The 
Intelligencer was again started as a separate 
paper with English and Cochrane at its head. 
It lasted about a year, Cochran went out, Eng- 
lish died soon after, and the paper came to an 



abrupt termiuatiou. Dr. Hostetter continued the 
Keimblican for awhile, then sold out to Ladd 
and Silvernail ; who in time sold out to the 
Seminary, when the issue of the paper ended 
after a short existence. 

The Carroll County Mirror was started liy 
Holinger and Weudel. This paper still survives, 
after having changed hands several times. 
About 18.5.3 Smith D. Atkins aud a Mr. Allen 
started aud ran the Savanna Register in tliat 
place for about a year. In May, 1S64, J. R. 
Howlett started the Lanark Banner in that 
place. In 1867 he sold out to J. E. Millard who 
continued to publish it until his active duties 
as school commissioner, caused him to suspend 
its publication. 

J. R. Howlett commenced the publication of 
the Carroll County Gazette, first in Shannon aud 
afterwards in partnership with J. M. Adair in 
Lanark. Adair went out and Howlett sold out 
to George Hay, who took control of the Gazette 
Office, July 3, 1875, and in September took into 
partner.ship with him M. W. Lowis, which ar- 
rangement continued until November 7. 1876, 
when Mr. Hay sold his interest to F. H. B. Mc- 
Dowell of Chicago: the following February he 
purchased the interest of his partner. In 1878 
it is said the paper had a circulation of one 
thousand copies with a constantly increasing 
subscription list, which was at that time the 
largest circulation of any paper in the county. 

The Savanna Times, in 1876 owned and 
edited by Simon Greenleaf and published in 
Savanna has changed hands several times, and 
is uow owned by W. W. Gillespie. 

The Mount Carroll News was started in 
Mount Carroll by Frank Beeler. He sold out to 
J. W. Mastin, who commenced the publication of 
the Carroll County Weekly Herald. Thomson 
aud Shannon have had newspapers, but they 
have been published elsewhere and did not con- 
tinue long as local papers. 

The Savanna Times was first .started aud pub- 
lished in Shannon, and afterwards the office was 
removed to Savanna. 

NOTABLE PUBLICATIONS 

Of the many notable things published, interest 
centered in the fierce sectarian controversy 
waged over the Seminary in the Republican, in 
1S.')7 : and the Solferino articles, being take-offs 
of the hosts of candidates running for the local 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



651 



offices about 1800, imblislieil iu the Hoinc In- 
telligencer, and in pamphlets. 

MAIiMTlDE (1870) 

I have thus hrielly and iniporl'i'ctly alteniptoil 
to write down and preserve some of the un- 
written history of Carroll county. It is the 
experience of all who attempt this task, in other 
places, that the first writing contains errors and 
mistakes. It caiuiot be otherwise. Old settlers 
themselves do not agree as to material facts. I 
invite criticism of the foregoing sketch, criticism 
iu a friendly spirit wliicli will give nie the 
nieans of correcting any errors, and enable me 
to continue the narrative down to later times. 
Then if opportuuities ax'e favorable this brief 
beginning may grow into a more pretentious his- 
tory of the c-ounty. 

We now see how small were the beginnings of 
our little county. Its growth however, has been 
rapid and prosperous. In ISCO our population 
was 11,718; in 1870 that population had grown 
to 10.707. The assessed value of the property 
in the county in 1875 was, .$7,87.j,877.00, as re- 
turned by the local assessors, who valued it at 
about two thirds of its real cash value, taking 
the aver.ige of the county. 

Shannon, Mount Carroll. Lanark and Savanna 
have become prosperous cities and towns, while 
Thomson and Milledgeville are thriving villages. 
(lood school houses in the country districts and 
good graded schools in the towns, denote the 
irosperity of our unexampeld school system. 
The whole country is under a high state of cul- 
tivation, and our farmers have tasty, and some 
of them elegant houses. Banks and mills 
abound; churches of fine appearance lift their 
spires heavenward, and denote the religious and 
nioral heart. 

OUR WAK RECORD 

During the war of the rebellion we raised iu 
tile county about two hundred and fifty thou- 
sand dollars in the shape of bounties for our 
soldiers, and the support of their families. We 
furnished soldiers too. On the 2ritli of April. 
ISOI, M.ijor Nase's Company K, l.'jtb Illinois Vol- 
unteers was mustered into service ; on the 20th 
of November, 1801 Captain Polsgrove's Company 
A, and Captain Fisk's Company E, were mus- 
tered into the Lead Mine Regiment. On the 7lli 



i>f September, 1801. Cpalaiu llelTeltisger's Com- 
pany I, of the 34tih Regiment was mustered into 
service. On the 4th of September, 1SC2, Cap- 
tain U»K,-ker's Comjiany I, and Cajjlain Stoufer's 
Company C, were mustered into the 92d Regi- 
iiicnt. We also furnished many men for the 52d 
Regiment and for several Cavalry Regiments, 
besides recruitiug for the old regiments. In all 
we must have sent to the war of the great rebel- 
lion nearly one thousand men. [The Adjutant 
(Joneral's Report, Illinois, gives us credit for one 
thousand four hundred and ninety-eight enlist- 
ments, and there are inscrilieil on the soldier's 
nionmnent in the Court House Square, twelve 
lunidred and eighty-four names. Her quota was 
always full, and not one of that number was 
drafted. — Ed.] ; and no better men were fur- 
ni.shed by any county in the state. 

I'll is sketch makes no i)retensions to an ex- 
haustive narrative of any .subject touched upon. 
It is simply an attempt to connnence the col- 
lection of our local annals. When they are all 
collected the materials for a very interesting 
history of the county will be at hand. 



CHAPTER III. 



THE PIONEERS, WHERE THEY CAME 
FROJI. AND HOW TIIEY (!OT HERE. 



CANAI, BOAT TRAVELINO — STF:AM BOAT TRIP — COV- 
KRED WAGONS — PRAIRIE FIRES — BV THE GREAT 
LAKES — THOSE WHO DID NOT COME — POSTAGE — 
BATTLED WITH MANY DIFFICULTIES — HAPPIEST 
PEOPLE — SAVANNA PIONEERS— LEFT GALENA 1828 

— STRONG HANDS, STOUT HEARTS — BOB UPTON 

.SAVANNA A TRADING POST — BIVERS COMMERCIAL 
HIGHWAYS — BLACK HAWK WAR — FLIGHT, ANX- 
IOUS MOTHERS^LOVE OF PIONEERING DAVID 

EMMERT AND HIS FAMILY. SAMUEL M. HITT, 
NATHANIEL HALDERMAN — BUILDING THE MILL 

AT MOUNT CARROLL — BOARDING THE HANDS 

STORE BUILT — LODGING THE PEOPLE CAROLINE 

WADE — LAND SALES — HARD TIMES, SCARCITY OF 
MONEY — BAPTISMAL POOL — THE GRAVEYARD, FIRST 
GRAVE — FIRST NEWSPAPER PRINTED IN MOUNT 



652 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



CAEROLL — PIONEERS COMIXUED, DOCTORS AliRA- 
HAM AND JOHN L. HOSTETTER — FIRST BANK — 
BREAKING OUT OF THE CIVIL WAR — DEPRECIATED 

CURRENCY JOHN IRVINE SB WEDDINGS, BIRTHS 

AND DEATHS IN THE LOG CABIN — MISS ANNA 
HOSTETTER 

It will tax the reader's miud to iiiiagiue this 
eouutr.v without towus aud cities, without rail- 
roads, 110 way to get here except with horses nr 
oxen, or by the rivers, and the canal boat or by 
the great lakes. Some lauded in Chicago from 
sailing vessels. Mr. Samuel Preston's father, 
who was one of the earliest pioneers, came to 
Chicago on the barQue Illinois, from there he 
went to Princeton, and later to Carroll county. 

C.\NAL BOAT TRAVELING 

Most of those who came from Pennsylvania 
took the passenger canal boat, on the "raging 
canal." A young lady pi<iueer descriliing tlit' 
cabin in one of these boats, crowded with pas- 
.seugers of all kinds, says in her diary: "T" 
be compressed into the narrow space of a canal 
boat, among a dozen different classes, corres- 
ponds with my idea of a purgatory." These 
boats of course could go no faster than the 
mule on the tow path, which pulled them along. 
There were delays in passing under bridges 
and going through locks. At these places lively 
passengers would jump off and walk along the 
tow-path and jump on at the next liridge or lock. 
'When going under bridges, passengers on the 
hurricane deck of the canal boat would have to 
duck their heads for fear of striking the girders 
of the bridge. The arrival of a boat at a stop- 
ping place, or its passing under a bridge was 
announced by the blowing of a horn. After 
leaving the canal boat the traveler went over 
the mountain on what was called the inclined 
plane, being pulled up in a car, that ran on a 
strap rail, on one side of the mountain, and let 
down on the other. 

STEAMBOAT TRIP 



Louis, where passengers had to change to smaller 
boats if their destination was farther up the 
river. It w-as dangerous boating down the Ohio ; 
sandbars and rapids had to be passed in day- 
light, but these floating palaces, were taken 
safely over these dangerous places, by skillful 
pilots, who knew full well the danger and the 
Intricacy of the swirling waters and contrary 
currents. The mighty father of waters reached, 
the boat traveled day aud night; sometimes 
however when the night was very dark, the boat 
had to tie up by the woods on the bank of the 
stream, being unable to proceed in the dark on 
account of the danger of running into some of 
the many snags that filled the river bed in many 
places, or of punching a hole in the bottom of 
the craft, which would allow the vessel to fill 
with water in a few moments, letting all go to 
the bottom of the river and as a traveler said, 
"to eternity in an unexpected hour." Some of 
these steamboats discharged their passengers at 
Rock Island, not daring in low water to try to 
pass the rapids in the river just above this 
place, and the emigrants had to get to their 
destination as best they could ; others landed at 
Savanna and made their way across the country 
on foot or in teamster's wagons. The time it re- 
quired to come from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 
on the canal, inclined plane, and the Ohio and 
Mississippi rivers to Savanna, Illinois, was a lit- 
tle more than two weeks. This was considered 
fast traveling. 

COVERED WAGONS 

others came liy covered wagons and other 
vehicles drawn by horses or oxen, across the 
mountains, through the dense wooded wilder- 
ness of Ohio and Indiana, then across long 
stretches of prairie, sometimes detained many 
days by floods and swollen streams, which could 
not be crossed for want of bridges or ferries. 
Id later years there were a few bridges that 
could be crossed by paying toll, and turnpikes 
over which they could travel by paying toll, 
which was more per mile than the fare on the 
railroads is now. 



At Pittsburg one could take a steamboat fl.y- 
ing a flag, with this inscription : "Bound for 
Peoria, Illinois;" or a much better boat, a float- 
ing palace, it seemed like, after getting out of 



PRAIRIE FIRES 

Emigrants were often detained by prairie fires 
which were more dangerous than the floods; 



the stuffy little canal boat, bound for St. these no man could stay, he could only wait and 




OLD STONK (OUHT HOUSE 




1 IKSI I.OC IKHSl'; 1\ CAKHOLL COUNTY 



HISTORY OP CARROLL COUNTY 



653 



pray for the gentle rain from the cloud filled 
sUy, all conquerer of the fiery flames. 

Those who ciune uvtM-himl h:i(l cuvpred wn:;- 
ens, in which were packed their household goods 
and provisions for the journey. Some had horses, 
some cattle, some traveled with cows along, and 
even had them yoked to wagons. The roads 
were often so rough that by hanging the cream 
in a pail to the wagon, the shaking would churn 
It to butter so that it would be ready to use at 
the next stopping place. One party was two 
months in coming from Franklin County, Penn- 
sylvania, to Carroll County. Others found it so 
difficult traveling overland that when they got 
to Wheeling, Virginia, took the steamboat from 
there to go down the Ohio, thence up the Missis- 
sippi river. An amusing Incident was told by 
Davenixirt Davis, late County Treasurer of Car- 
roll County, who was an eye witness. The late 
Judge Shaw's wife's father, was moving west, 
and had some stock on board the steamboat 
among which was a thoroughbred bull; the bull 
managed to jump overboard and swam to an 
island In the river ; the boat was stopped in Its 
course, and the word went round that "Harvey's 
bull was overboard." The boat followed the 
animal to the island and he was safely put 
aboard again. 

MOVED BY THE GREAT LAKES 

Others came by the great lakes to Chicago or 
perhaps disembarked at Detroit and came from 
these places overland. The New Englanders 
and those further east came by way of the 
Hudson and the Erie canal to Buffalo and from 
thence by the lake route. 

When at last they arrived at their destination 
they were weary and travel stained, provisions 
almost e.\hausted, and there was no habitation, 
no house for them to occupy, most of them 
with very scant means to subsist upon, strangers 
in a strange land where there was nobody, 
neighbors were miles away. It is no wonder 
some of the women were homesick, and shed 
many bitter tears, longing for the comfortable 
home and friends they had left behind them, 
whom they never expected to see again, if they 
had to travel that weary journey back to the 
old home. Nor could lliey ever exiiect tlieir 
friends to come to them if they told a truthful 
tale, of the dithculties they had encountered to 
get here. 



THOSE WHO DID NOT COME — POSTAGE 

If they told them of the great advantajie of 
coming to this new country, so much land to be 
bad for so little money, tlieir friends and kin- 
dred would write back and say like one who 
gave the following reasons for not coming west, 
from a letter dated January 10th, 1840, with the 
usual beginning; "I embrace this opportunity of 
informing you that we are well, and hoping that 
you enjoy the same blessing. You write for me 
to come out to your country. I can't tell whether 
I will go out or not. I can't see any advantage 
in it, for if the land is cheap, the grain is cheap 
also, and if the wages is high, store goods are 
high too." 

Such a letter was hardly worth the postage, 
which the sender seldom paid, but old settlers 
say they were always glad to get letters, but 
often did not have the money to pay the postage. 
To accommodate those who did not have the 
money the postmaster kept a little account book 
labeled "Postage Book ; by whom due." The 
names of the patrons of the office were arranged 
alphabetically; opposite each name tlic post- 
master would set down the amounts of postage 
charges, and number of letters delivered as 
5 : 6 : 10 : 5 : 20 etc., when it was paid the amount 
was crossed off. Periodically, for the purpose of 
collecting these dues, he would make a list of 
the names with the amount due set opposite the 
name, when paid it was so marked. There were 
no postage stamps, no envelopes. The lettet 
sheets were folded in such a manner, so that 
tUey could be sealed with a wafer or sealing 
wax. It required some skill to properly fold a 
letter, so that by pressing the folded letter 
apart the writing could not be seen. One ingen- 
ious youth who had occasion to correspond with 
bis fiancee, and did not trust the peeping post 
mistress, made some envelopes for their own 
use. There were no steel or gold pens in pioneer 
days, but very good pens were made froih 
gcosequills, which were in common use. It was 
one of file duties of tlie schodlmaster to sharpen 
the goosequill pens for his pupils. There was 
no blotting paper, instead a sand box was used, 
something like a pepper box with a wide rim on 
top, making a little hopper to catch the sand, 
which after being sprinkled on the damp ink was 
l)oured from the jiaper back into the box. 



654 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



BATTLED WITH MANY DIFFICULTIES 

Duriiij; tbe early settlement of the country the 
pioneers battled with many difficulties. First 
were those of getting here from homes far dis- 
tant in the east. Many of these emigrants en- 
dured weeks and months of wearisome travel, 
literally passing through fire and flood to reach 
their destination. Then after a habitation was 
secured, it often was a very meager pro- 
tection to the family against the elements and 
wild beasts. Then came the subduing of the 
virgin soil; the c-ost of the first plowing was 
three times the cost of the land if purchased 
from the government at a dollar and a quarter 
an acre. Many other ditticulties were invari- 
ably the accompaniment of pioneer life. Dis- 
tant markets, very imi)erfe(t and rude machin- 
ery, in comparison with what the farmer's now 
use. As an illustration, with the little V shai)ed 
harrows they had then, drawn by wne horse, the 
farmer could harrow an acre in a day ; they now 
have harrows drawn by four horses, the driver 
rides, and harrows eighty acres in a day. Slow 
and lalwrious was transportation, often with un- 
renjunerative prices for farm products. There 
was much hard labor, which, with the exposure 
to the elements for want of ordinary protection, 
often resulted in sickness with the most dis- 
tressing maladies, and the doctors lived far 
away, often wholesome food was needed more 
than medicine. Had they not all been young 
and hearty, very few would have survived the 
ordeal. 

The early settlers however, notwithstanding 
their privations were among the happiest people 
in the world, living on hope and the prospect of 
future, which are always bright to young peo- 
ple, especially in a new country. It did one 
good to be among them and see how they got 
along without many of the conveniences, that a 
more settled civilization gives. Their hospital- 
ity knew no bounds. They would stop their 
work and take a stranger anywhere and show 
him everything. If you wish to enjoy life go 
■west and visit among the new settlers. 



THE SAVAXN.V PIONEERS 

From a clipping in the Old Settler's Record, 
page 111, The Missing JAnk I'aper, read by 
David Lr. Bowen, September 23, 188C. Contrib- 
uted by Mrs. Blundell. then living in California : 



In the suauuer of 18-S an acquaintance was 
formed between the families of Aarou Pierce and 
Ceorge Davidson, then living in the lead mines 
back of Galena. They had .spent an unsuccess- 
ful season in search of mineral treasures, usual- 
ly but erroneously supposed by the novice to be 
found in fabulous quantities in all mining re- 
gions. With a view to a more permanent loca- 
tion and permanent employment at a less uncer- 
tain business these people formed the project of 
moving down to the Mississippi bottoms and 
taking up government land, for farming and 
engaging in whatever other business might come 
to hand. Therefore on the fifteenth da,v of 
Seiitember 181'S, Aaron Pierce. George Davidson 
and his sou Vance L. Davidson and William 
Blundell. his son-in-law. started in search of 
an old Indian town, called by the Indians, 
Council Bluffs. Two years before this time 
(in 1S2C) oue of the party on his way to the lead 
mines had passed through the place and noted 
the location and beauty of the scenery. Tliis 
part.v after examining the site concluded to 
nidve to this place and make it their home. 
It was near the last of October before they 
were ready to move. It was arranged that 
Davidson and family should embark in a flat 
boat with most of the bulky and heavy articles 
of household furniture, while Pierce and bis 
family, were to make the trip by l;ind. 

LEFT GALENA 1828 

Mrs. Ilarriet L. Davidson says her father 
Aaron Pierce and family, six in all, left Galena 
about the first of November, 1828. with an ox 
team, accompanied by Vance L. Davidson on 
horseback, for the purpose of reconnoitering and 
finding a way for the wagon ; after a tedious 
journey of three days, most of the way through 
a trackless wilderness composed of under brush 
and timber, over hills and through hollows with 
almost impassable sloughs, which had to he 
crossed, fording creeks and swimming rivers, 
they arrived at the top of the bluffs overlooking 
the upper part of what is now Savanna. Here 
their course was intercepted by steep and almost 
impassiible bluffs ; on the west of them was a 
perpendicular wall of rock two hundred and fifty 
feet high with the great river flowing close to 
its base. From this point, they saw spread out 
before them a magnificent panorama ; for a dis- 
tance of fifteen or twenty miles north or south 



HISTUKY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



655 



tlipy could trace the wiutling course of the great 
Father of Waters as it flowed <iuietly down to 
the great ocean along hanks covered with great 
forest trees and vines and shrubs and other vege- 
tation of almost tropical growth. To the tourist 
and lover of natural scenery it was a rare and 
beautiful sight; but what was it to these wan- 
derers in this wilderness, stopping here at the 
very outlast of civilization; across the river was 
the BlacU Hawk territory owned by the tribes 
of the Sac and I'ox Indians; westward even to 
the Pacific ocean there was scarcely a trace of 
civilization, and very few white men except a few 
trappers and traders. With scanty means of 
subsistence, with the cold winds of November 
upon them with nothing to shelter them from 
the chilly blasts of an inclement winter, they 
were surrounded by treacherous bauds of sav- 
ages, whose friendship -was as unreliable and 
unstable as the win<ls. 

STKOXG HANDS, STOUT IIEAKTS 

It took Strong arms and stout hearts to look 
around at their little cues, without some fore- 
bodings for the future. The evening fi-osts were 
fast gathering upon them as they prepared to 
descend to the valley. Along the side of the liluff 
there was an Indian trail that ran down by way 
of a long narrow ridge: by chaining the wheels 
of their wagon and fastening a small tree to 
drag under them and then holding the wagon 
from upsetting, they succeeded in descending 
without mishap, and on reaching the bottom 
took possession for the night of a large Indian 
lodge made of poles driven into the ground 
and covered with liark. it having been formerly 
used as an Indian council house. Fortunately 
the party tliat went by the river, consisting 
of Blundell and Davidson, arrived a few hours 
later, having been several times stuck on sand- 
bars and meeting with other delays. Their tent 
or lodge they made with poles covered with 
the long grass that was very abundant along the 
bottom land, where it grew to such a height that 
a man on horseback in it cmild nut be seen a 
hundred yards away. 

The first day of November, ISL'S. found this 
little colony of eleven persons, four men, three 
women and four children all encamped at what 
is now called Savanna. In three weeks by all 
working together they had raised three log 
cabins, even the gable ends were logged up: the 



roofs were covered with four-foot stakes, held 
on with weight poles, if any nails were used in 
the building they were few aud far between. 
The parly had brought some provisions with 
tliem: game was plentiful in the fall; but their 
stock of provisions failed before spring, so that 
they were reduced to living on a little soup; 
.some of the men went to (Jalena for supplies, 
all they could get was a dollars' worth of coffee 
and thirty pounds of flour. In February the 
river opened, much earlier than usual and a 
boat got up to (Jalena with flour, where they 
obtained a barrel at a cost of twenty-five dol- 
lars. After the first year their supplies were 
abundant. 

In 1829 the somewhat noted character. Bob 
Upton, made his first appearance at the settle- 
ment. He was sent out as a runner by General 
Kearney with letters and despatches from the 
fort at Rock Island to the lead mines. He was 
a humorous sort of fellow, yet with all his trif- 
ling talk was fearless and faithful to his friends 
and a man of considerable intelligence after 
the manner of a backwoods man, living on the 
frontier, hunting and trai)r)iug for a subsistence. 
He remained in the settlement for some time and 
was there when a few years later the Indians 
attacked the block house. Many amusing stories 
are related liy the old settlers of Bob I'i)ton and 
his adventures. lie is reported as ■'Robert" 
Upton, to have gone to California during the ex- 
citement over the discovery of gold, and never 
returned. Thus he with many others disappears 
from the history of Carroll County. 

Vance L. Davidson and Marshall B. Pierce 
kept a trading post at Savanna for trading with 
the Indians who came from over the river in their 
canoes. Sometimes there would lie a lunidred 
or more beac-bed on the bank of the river. 

The Mississippi river and the other rivers 
of the west were great commercial high-ways, 
for the puriKise of trading with the Indians. 
John Finley, before he introduced Daniel Boone 
and his party into the feryie valleys of Kentucky, 
was Master of the Batte.ui Ilutchins, in it he 
carried cargoes of merchandise worth thousands 
of dollars between the various trading posts 
on the rivers. This boat was named after 
Tliomas Ilutchins. who was then engaged as an 
engineer in the service of the British arm.v, 
surveying and platting these great waterways 
and the several iwrtages from the rivers to the 
great lakes. He afterward became Surveyor 



656 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



General of the United States aud invented our 
system of township surveys. 

BLACK HAWK WAR, FLIGHT ANXIOUS MOTHERS 

Then the Blacli Hawlc war broke out and all 
the Indians became hostile. The white poeple 
at Savanna were obliged to flee for their lives. 
The women and children were rowed up the river 
at night. Mrs. Mary J. Rhodes who was the 
first white child born in Savanna and in the 
county used to tell how anxious their mothers 
were ou this trip, for fear the babies would cry 
and they would be discovered by the Indians, 
who were supposed to be lurking everywhere, 
and their flight interrui)ted ; but they all escaped 
in safety. Some dangerous adventures, how- 
ever befell the men who were left in the block- 
house, for the purpose of protecting their prop- 
erty, which are related elsewhere. After the 
war was over and Black Hawk captured and his 
warriors driven from the state of Illinois, the 
pioneer settlers returned to Savanna. 

LOVE OF PIONEERING 

When the discovery of gold in California was 
heralded throughout the land, the spirit of ad- 
venture and love of pioneering was still cher- 
ished in the minds of Davidson and his family 
and his friends. Conditions had so changed at 
Savanna, that they sought for new fields of ad- 
venture and Vance L. was among the first to 
make the trip across the plains with the gold 
seekers. Returning he went again and took 
with him his wife and family and his son-in- 
law Ed Price and his wife and child, and Henry 
Pierce, Mre. Davidson's brother. William Blun- 
del, who was married to Vance Davidson's 
sister, and his .son, Jeff and wife went along 
and John, Joe and Richard Smith are reported 
to have been with this party, also John Saxton 
and his wife, and William and Joseph Ashby. 
The two latter returned to Savanna, but after- 
ward, in 1S64 went to California and Oregon, 
and became permanent residents there. When 
these people with others arrived at Council 
Bluffs, as was the custom, they organized for 
mutual protection in crossing the plains ; Vance 
L. Davidson was elected their captain. In 
crossing the plains they had to endure many 
hardships and privations, an account of which 
Is given elsewhere. Some of these people and 



many of their descendants are now living in 
California and other western states. 

In California -there is an organization of over 
a hundred former residents of Carroll County, 
who meet in annual reunion at Los Angeles for 
the purpose of keeping up their acquaintance and 
refreshing their recollections of the times they 
lived in little Carroll County. Many of them 
have, since leaving here seen a good deal 
of the big world and have prospered and 
are of greater use to their fellow men perhaps 
than if they had continued to live here and had 
confined their activities to the precincts of their 
old homes in Illinois. 

EMMERT FAMILY 

DAVID EMMERT AND HIS FAMILY; SAMUEL M. HITI ; 
NATHANIEL HALDERMAN 

When David Emmert. who was the first per- 
manent settler in Mount Carroll, was a young 
man he went Into Pennsylvania, from his home 
in Maryland, and was engaged in buying wheat 
and teaming it to Baltimore. He married Susan 
Price and returning to Maryland he lived on a 
farm before coming west ; on this farm he was 
building a fine fish pond and Joseph Welty was 
helping him at this work. 

About this time Samuel M. Hitt the owner 
of the mill site at Mount Carroll came to visit 
Mr. Emmert and persuaded him to come to Car- 
mil County, telling him of the mill site of Luther 
H. Bowen near Savanna and of his at Mount 
Carroll, in which Mr. Hitt with others was in- 
terested. They had purchased the claim to the 
mill site from the original preemptors. Hitt 
praised the country and spoke of the good chance 
it offered to a young man to mend his fortunes ; 
this was in the fall of 1S30, and David Emmert 
came west in the spring of 1840, in company with 
Mr. Hitt and his family, going to Ogle County 
first, but eventually arriving at Cherry Grove 
in this county In May of that year. Here he 
kept the Cherry Grove House, which was a 
stopping place on the stage line from Dixon 
to Galena. He with the keen sense of a pioneer 
saw the advantages and possibilities of the 
country, at once wrote to Nathaniel Haldennau 
and induced him to come west. Thus the men 
who built the mill and founded a city, were 
induced to come west and take hold of the mill 




^a/vJi ^, fdu^JjL 






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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



657 



enterprise, whi^li was the beginuing of Mimiit 
Carroll. 

Some years ago. Joe Welty. one of the piontH'rs. 
related the following incident to Dr. Henry 
Shinier, who made a note of it, for the purpose 
of sometime writing a Iiistory of the county; 
stating that David Emniert used to tell this 
anecdote in the c-ompany"s store at Stag Toint, 
saying that by accident he once was traveling on 
Sunday iu Pennsylvania and U|>oii hearing men 
thrashing with a flail in a barn near the road, 
he went in to see about wheat, he was then buy- 
ing grain, he saw three sons flailing and the old 
man turning bundles. Eniniert said in German, 
'•how is this? you are thrashing on Sunday," 
whereupon the old man said, "if it is Sunday we 
will quit, we do not take the papers and we 
did not know it was Sunday." This it is said 
used to bring down the house, for Mr. Emmert 
had great descriptive powers and could relate 
such anecdotes without a smile. It may be 
said, for the benefit of the Scotchman, the Joke 
was. you ought to take a newspaper to tell when 
Sunday comes, the application of this will appear 
when it is seen what a family of printers the 
Emmerts became. 

Before coming west David Emmert was living 
in Cumberland County near Harrisburg. here he 
had become acquainted with Doctors Abraham 
and John L. Hostetter and George Hollinger who 
afterwards came to Mount Carroll ; at this time 
Jlr. Emmert was a member of the Pennsylvania 
legislature. Through trusting a dishonest man, 
with a large amount of money to buy wheat he 
lost nearly all the capital lie had. This perhai)S 
more than anything else, determined him to take 
what little he had left and his family and try 
to retrieve his fortunes in the great west. 

BUILDING THE MUX AT MOUNT CAHBOLL 

As has been told by Judge Shaw in his history. 
Mr. Emniert went into partnership with Mr. 
llalderman. to build the mill, the firm was called 
Emmert, Hadermau & Co. The services of an 
architect, a Mr. Chapman of Ogle County, were 
soon secured to plan and super\ise the erection 
of the mill. Bradstreet Uobin.son was employed 
to haul the logs to the sawmill of Hitt and 
Swingley, a short distance down the creek ; most 
of the great timbers, still to be seen in the mill. 
were cut from government land, which for many 
years was free to all comers. Elijah Bailey's 



father did the iron work for the mill and shod 
the cattle. Two of the carpenters who worked 
on the mill and who did the work to unite the 
two log cabins to make a dining room for the 
workmen were Henry Lowman and Abraham 
Beeler, they also built the store building at Stag 
Point. -Mr. Emmert hired Daniel Hurley, John 
Herrington. Michael Mahan, Patrick Silk and 
Hugh Sloey to build the mill dam and the mill 
race; they completed this work early in the 
spring of If^S. Jonathan Myers came from Ogle 
County to lay the walls for the mill which was 
built of native stone ; upon finishing the work 
he flourished his hammer over the high gable of 
the west end of the mill and said, "hurrah for Mt. 
Carroll and Emmerts' mill, water on the wheel, 
wheat in the hopper, meat on Halderman's back 
and marrow in Rinewalfs bones.'' His assistants 
on the walls of the mill were Emanuel Morrison, 
Thomas Reed, M. Reed and William Nicols. Mr. 
Chapman and his two sons Will'am and Mordecai 
took the contract for doing the mill-wright work. 
The mill shaft, the axle to the great water wheel 
which turned all the machinery, including the 
great stone burrs that ground the wheat, was 
cut on the Mississippi bottoms ; Robert Kennedy 
assisted by Abraham Beeler dressed it and put iu 
the burrs. 

BOAUDINO THE HANDS WHILE BUILDING THE MILL 

While the mill was building Mrs. David Em- 
mert and Miss Harriet Harmon, boarded the 
workmen, some forty in number, in the log cabin 
on the knoll near the mill site, commonly known 
as Stag Point, named from the deer whicli had 
tre<iuently been seen there. This cabin had been 
built not far from a spring, at the foot of the 
hill, which a great tree overshadowed in those 
days. In the winter of 1841-42, another cabin 
was erected about fourteen feet from the 
original one, at the gable end. and the space be- 
tween the two log cabins was roofed over to make 
a dining room for the workmen. 

These ladies had the fever and ague, wliiih 
was so common at the time and from which the 
early settlers suffered greatly, fortunately they 
alternated in having the chills and were still 
alile to do the work between times. When one 
w'juld be down sick the other would do the work 
and take care of the children, no sooner would 
the one recover than the other was taken down 
with this distressing mal.-idy; anil so these brave 



658 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



young women got aloug and fed the forty men 
or more who were building tlie mill. They de- 
serve great credit for the part they took in this 
enterprise. Jliss Harmon afterward married 
Robert Kennedy an exiiert miller from Phila- 
delphia, who ran the Enmiert and Ilalderman 
mill ; he died many years ago leaving his widow 
with a family of small children to fight life's 
battles alone, which she has faithfully done, and 
still lives in Mount Carroll, honored and re- 
spected by every one ; nothing in the city, which 
she has seen grow from a small log dwelling 
house to its present proud dimensions, is too good 
for the people to offer this aged widow to en- 
jo.v. She has no kin here beside her own family 
except a sister, Mrs. Manning, living north of 
Lanark, who is also an octogenarian. The 
little girl, Ann, daughter of David Emmert. 
who helped to set the table and kept the 
glasses bright, for those forty workmen, is still 
living in Mount Carroll. Mrs. Ann Hallett, wid- 
ow of Bartlett Hallett. 

STORE BUILT ; LODGING THE PEOPLE ; C.4B0LINE 
W.\DE 

In 1842 the store at Stag Point was built also 
the cooper shop, ^^■hen the mill was running 
people came for many miles with wheat and grists 
to be gi'ound; they had to have lodging places 
somewhere. Jliss Caroline Wade came to the 
assistance of the ladies mentioned and made the 
beds and bunks, sometimes for fifty or more 
lodgers, the log house was filled, the store loft 
and the cooper shop. She afterwards became the 
wealthiest citizen in the county; founded the 
Caroline Mark Home and endowed it with over 
half a million dollars. 

L.\ND SALES, II.\ED TIMES. SC.\RCITr OF MONEY 

Following the year 1839 the early settlers had 
great difficulty in getting their groceries with 
their farm jiroducts on account of financial stress 
and the scarcity of money; but greater ditlicul- 
ties had to be overcome later, which went to the 
securing of the titles to their lands and their 
homes. In the ■\\iuter of 1842-4.3. President 
Tyler issued a proclamation bringing into market, 
the lands of Carroll County and a part of Ogle, 
in the November following. The settlers, not 
without reason, became alarmed, as mone.v such 
as the government re<inired in payment for lands, 



was not to be had. Gold and silver and treasury 
notes were the only legal tender for government 
lands at that time. The suppl.v of money for the 
whole country was said to be less than one hun- 
dred miliion of dollars and there was very little 
of it in the west. 

Early in the spring of 1843 the settlers began 
to move in the matter. They feared that to have 
their lands put up for sale, under the then ex- 
isting conditions, would put them at the mercy 
of the land sharks. Meetings were called, the 
first in the northern part of the county at the 
Cherry Grove House, of David Emmert. There 
was a good attendance. Lewis Bliss went from 
Preston Prairie with his bugle horn, and en- 
livened the meeting with some )nusic. The meet- 
ing after making some preliminary arrange- 
ments, adjourned to meet a month later at the 
Companies' Store at Stag Point, near the mill. 
At the meeting at Mount Carroll it was re- 
solved to petition President Tyler for relief, set- 
ting forth the condition of the .settlers and ask- 
ing him to postpone the sale. Tyler had turned 
traitor to the party that elected him and was not 
at all iwpular nor thought to be in s.vmpathy with 
the people who had elected him. It was there- 
fore humiliating to the "Whig portion of the set- 
tlers to be obliged to ask a favor of him ; they 
were in a large ma.iorit.v in Carroll County, 
which was the banner county of the state for 
the AYhigs. 

David Enmiert. who was a Whig, had been 
chosen to draft the petition to the president, 
which he did and jiresented it at the meeting. 
It closed with these words : "Remember and 
aid us in our need, and we will remember you 
when aid will be greatl.v needed." George W. 
Ilarris, a democrat, was the first to speak and 
said, "I think you had better leave that out, the 
President will take that as an insult." 

Seymour B. Tomlinson. a Whig, was the next 
to speak, he said : "Yes leave that out, I wouldn't 
vote for John T.yler to save my farm." 

The Honorable Samuel Ilitt of Ogle Count.v, 
who was an old friend and acquaintance of 
President Tyler, was made the liearer of the 
petition to tlie president. 

The iiresident after reading the petition said 
that he was in full symi>athy with the settlers 
and would like to aid them in securing their 
lands, "But," said he, "the time set for selling 
the lands cannot be iwstponed. But I will in 
a special message to Congress recommend the 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



659 



passage of a law, giviiiK to all settlors wiio are 
entitled to land under the iiiwrniUinn act, one 
year to pay for tUeir lands from the date of ap- 
Ijlic-ation." The president was as good as his 
word; suoli a law piisseil. It gave the set- 
tlers time to prepare for paying for their lauds 
and most of them took advantage of it to secure 
their homes. 

I'rotective leagues were I'oniuMl in dilTerent 
Iiarls of the county, for the safety and protection 
of the settlers at the land sales: all disputes 
among land claimants were adjusted before a 
board of arbitrators previous to the day of sale. 

The sale was to take place at the land office 
at Dixon. Illinois. Each league had a man se- 
lected In lijd off all the laud covered by the 
leilgue. for such of the settlers as were ready to 
pay for it. 

David Kmniert was selected as the bidder for 
the northern league. lie had a plat of the lands 
before him and the' eighties niarketl with the 
name of the claimant who was ready to pay. 
Mr. Eddy one of the clerks of the department 
was the crier; the land was offered in eighty 
acre tracts, commencing with the east half of the 
northeast quarter of section one and going 
through the towushiii in the order the sections 
are numbered. He cried off the land as rapidly 
as he could name the lots, slowing up by a sign 
when near a lot to be taken, when a bidder 
would cry out "bid," which meant the lowest 
price at which it c-ould be sold. viz. one dollar 
and a quarter an acre, and the name of the 
purchaser would be recorded. If any one bad 
attempted to raise that l)id. it was generally 
understood he would have been roughly liaiidlcil 
and uo doubt made to withdraw his biil. 

FIRST COUNTY JUDGE 

David Ennnert succeeded George W. Harris 
who was the first county judge. He had resigned 
at the end of a year in otliie. There were very 
few estates to be administertxl upon in those 
days. The jiioueers were all young people, so 
few old i)eople came to the new country, that a 
gray haired man or a baldheaded man was a 
great curiosity to the children of the early 
settlers; their grandfathers and grandmothers 
had been left in their (■(inifdrtalile homes in the 
east. 

In 184!) when the Savanna IJranch Itailroad 



was incorporated .Judge David Knimert was one 
of the first board of directors. 

THE n.M'lIS.MAI. rooL, TIIK (IHAVIi YARD, THE FIBST 
GRAVE 

A short distance down the creek from the West 
Carroll bridge, just below the grave yard there 
was a beautiful pool in the creek with a clean 
sand and gravelly bottom which was used for 
many years by the early settlers as a baptismal 
pool, and many of the inhabitants of tlie village 
and surrounding country were immersed therein. 
Jlr. Emmert belonged to a church that believed 
in and practiced this manner of baptism. Other 
denominations used this iwol for the same pur- 
pose sometimes cutting the ice away for the pur- 
pose of inunersing converts. 

David Ennnert gave the land for the old grave 
yard and in 1S.">2 laid out the West I'arroU 
addition to Mount Carroll. st>metimes called T.ou- 
dou after the native place of some of the early 
settlers. 

The site for the graveyard was then oiien 
country, uncultivated; Mr. Elijah Bailey said 
that, when he was a young man. breaking 
lirairie on the Emmert claim, he used to turn 
his cattle out to graze where the gi-aveyard now 
Is. Some years later there was a lone grave 
lliere ami it was an object of uo little curiosity. 
The .young people of the settlement used to take 
a walk over there, on the Sabbath day, to look 
at this lone grave. It was the final resting place 
of a stranger by the name of Smith; Joseph 
Welty, a carpenter, who came to Mount Carroll 
through his acipiaintance with David Ennnert, 
made this statement in regard to this stranger 
and the beginning of the graveyard. In .Inly, 
18-44 one II. Smith came here from Xenia. Ohio, 
was taken sick of dysentery on the river, en- 
route to the Galena lead mines. He got off the 
boat at Savanna and came on a wagon to Mount 
Carroll. Welty waited on him until he died, 
this was the first death in Mount Carroll. When 
the man was dead Mr. Welty went to N. Hal- 
derniau at the mill to sc>e iibout .i burial place 
and he said: "Wait until David Eunnert comes 
over and we will see about it ;"' Mr. Ennnert 
soon came and said : "We must have a grave- 
yard."' Mr. Ilaldermau, Mr. Emmert and Mr. 
Welty went out across the breast of the mill- 
(l.im whi<h was then used for a wagon road, 
having a bridge across lln> mill race. They 



660 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



looked about the ridge on the north side of the 
millpond and concluded that it was not suf- 
ficiently easy of access ; then Mr. Enimert pro- 
posed to go over to the grounds where the cem- 
etery now is. There he told Mr. Welty to select 
a sixit, which he did close by a large white 
oak tree, and commenced to dig the grave. 
After digging awhile William Powers came over 
and helped him. When the grave was dug Mr. 
Welty went over to Fred Williams' shop and 
they made the coffin of black walnut, also a 
handbarrow ; on this they bore the coffin to the 
grave the same evening. The coffin was laid in 
the ground without a rough box. boards were 
then laid over the coffin on shoulders cut in the 
earth. Dr. Judd was the attending physician. 
There was no ceremony at the grave. The next 
death in Mount Carroll was that of Rebecca, a 
one year old child of Thomas and Margaret Rapp 
in the summer of lS4u ; it took the summer 
diarrhoea of infants with fever ; Dr. Abraham 
Ilostetter was the physician, there were no re- 
ligious services, she was laid in a grave beside 
Smith. Mr. Welty helped Fred Williams make 
that coffin. The next grave was either Keefer's 
or that of Daniel Christian, Sr., he was a soldier 
of the war of 1S12. Welty helped to dig these 
graves and helped to make the coffins. The 
inice of a good walnut coflln was five dollars and 
nothing was charged for digging the grave. Dan- 
iel Christian, Sr., died December 20th, 1847 ; after 
this burials were more frequent. Welty and 
Williams making the coffins for five or six years. 
The plat of ground set apart for a graveyard by 
David Emmert was eventually filleil with graves 
until there was no room for more. These lots 
were all free to any person who needed a place 
for burial. Oakhill Cemetery was laid out by 
Mr. X. Halderman on lands he owned adjoining 
the old graveyard. The graves in this city of the 
dead number more now than the living in the 
city near by. Instead of natures' monument that 
marked the sight of the first grave, a beautiful 
oak tree, great monuments and tombstones en- 
cumber the ground, so vast are some of them it 
seems as though mother earth can scarcely bear 
their weight, indeed the little lots on which they 
stand could not bear them up without the as- 
sistance of their neighbors. 

The first woman's club or organization of wo- 
men in Mount Carroll was formed for the pur- 
pose of raising means to fence the graveyard. 



stock being allowed, in those days, to run at 
large. Mrs, Tommy Rapp was one of the mem- 
bers of this clu-b, sewing circle was the modest 
name they gave it, also Mrs. Harriet Kennedy 
to whom we are indebted for this information, 
who is still living in Mount Carroll. 

For many years the Smith grave was unmarked 
except by a simple mound and the oak tree, but 
through the thoughtful generosity of the neigh- 
bors it Is now marked by a slab with appropriate 
inscriptions. It may be seen near the east en- 
trance to the new cemetery. 

The year after the building of the mill David 
Emmert built the stone house over the beautiful 
spring to the north of the creek and the town. 
For many years this house was occupied by Mrs. 
Ann Hallett, daughter of David Emmert, wife 
of Bartlett Hallett an early settler and a brick- 
maker and contractor ; the brick in all the old 
brick houses in the town were made by the 
Halletts. James and Bartlett. In this house 
many of the early settlers were welcomed on 
their arrival and enjoyed the hospitality of the 
Emmert's until a place could be found for them 
in which to make a permanent abode. 

In ISoO during the excitement attendant uiwn 
the discovery of gold in California, Judge Em- 
mert fitted out three wagons with four yoke 
of oxen to each wagon, for the gold seekers ; 
his son Simon went with the party, also the 
schoolmaster Shottenkirk and W. A. J. Pierce, 
still living in Mount Carroll, who carried the 
purse to pay expenses, which was exhausted 
long before they reached the gold mines. The 
names of others who went with this party and 
the adventures they and others met with on 
the way are related in another chapter under 
the heading, the Forty-niners. The Emmert 
caravan as it drove out of the little town made 
quite an imposing sight. TTie men were all in 
a jolly mood in hopeful anticipation of soon 
finding their fortunes in the land of gold ; only 
one or two did so, and some never returned; 
among these was Judge Emmerfs son. 

In 1S52 Judge Emmert was one of the incor- 
porators of the Mount Carroll Seminary and 
treasurer of the board of trustees. In 1S54 after 
the German Baptist or Brethren church had 
built a commodious meeting house at Arnold's 
Grove, David Emmert was chosen to the ministry 
of that church. 




STONE HOUSE AT WILDEKBEHC. 

Built in 1861 by Dr. Abraham Hostottrr; now occiii)i((l by liis 

son, grandson and great-grandson. 




CARNEGIE LIBRARY, MT. CARROLL 




OLD MILL AT MT. CARROLL. BUILT 1842 



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,-oot»J 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



661 



FIRST NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN MT. CARROLL 

David Emmei't withdrew fi'om tlie Mill com- 
pany is 1S51 or 1852 and built a warehouse for 
the purpose of buying and storing grain, on the 
southwest corner of Main and Market streets 
opposite the old stone court house. In this 
building on the third floor he helped his son 
Jacob P. Emmert start the first printing odice 
in the county and here in 1852, was printed the 
Republican, the first newspaper printed in the 
county. Mr. H. G. Gratton who had been pub- 
lishing the Freeport Journal at Freeijort went 
into partnership with Jacob P. Emmert. In 1853 
after a year's experience, Jacob withdrew from 
the printing business to become clerk of the 
circ-uit court and recorder. Later he became 
interested in some real estate and with Emanuel 
Stover laid out Stover and Emmert's addition 
to Mt. Carroll; near this addition he built a 
fine brick mansion, in which Mr. N. H. Halder- 
mau now resides. 

Mr. Gratton, who was a generous public spirited 
citizen, did much for the advancement of the 
town and especially the seminary, where his 
granddaughter in later years attended as a 
student. lie published the Republican Until 1855, 
when it passed into the hands of D. H. Wheeler. 
He continued the paper for two years 'feud in 
1S57 sold to D. B. Emmert, second son of David 
Emmert. (Jeorge English was the fdreman 
under the David B. Emmert administration and 
when young David was taken away liy the I'jkc's 
Peali excitement, he sold his interest in the 
Republican to Dr. John L. Hostetter; Eugli-sh 
continued to publish the paper under the firm 
name of Hostetter & English. Young David 
on his return from the mountains, stopped at 
Topeka, Kansas, and started a paper there, 
called the Auboru Docket. He was elected 
chief clerk of the house of representatives of 
the Kansas legislature. Later he went to Fort 
Scott and started a paper in a small town, near 
there, called Marmaton. Here Joseph, sixth 
son of David Emmert, who had learned the 
businesfs as the devil in the printing office in 
Mt. Carroll under English, had charge of this 
liaper and fought his brother David, who had 
started the Fort Scott Monitor on the county 
seat question ; Fort Scott won out. 

Dr. Hostetter sold an interest in the Republi- 
can office to Dr. E. C. Cochran ; George English 
starting another paper called the Home Intel- 



ligencer. Soon after Hostetter and Cothran be- 
came associated as partners in the Republican, 
an arrangement was made by which that paper 
and the Intelligencer were consolidated. Dr. 
Hostetter retired from the business and English 
and Cochran published the consolidated paper 
for a short time, when English renewed the 
publication of the Intelligencer and Dr. Hostetter 
resumed charge of the Republican. From him it 
passed Into the hands of Silvernail and Ladd 
of the Mt. Carroll seminary. Silvernail was 
professor of languages and taught Greek and 
Latin at the seminary. Mrs. Shimer was in 
some way responsible, for the success of the 
business under Silvernail and Ladd, and when 
it ceased to be a paying enterprise the jiress 
and type fell into her hands and it was removed 
to the seminary, and for a time Mrs. Shinier had 
printed and published there the Seminary Bell. 
Mr. Isaiah Holliugor and liis partner, Alex 
Weudel. who had in the meantime started the 
Mt. Carroll Mirror, were frequently called upon 
by Mrs. Shimer to help with the t.vi)esetting 
and printing of the Bell, when she was short of 
help, as printers were not very numerous in 
those days and few so competent as Messrs. 
Hollinger and Wendel. They printed the first 
issue of the Min-or, March 21, 18C0. Mr. 
Wepdel was a practical printer from Franklin 
County, Pa. He and Hollinger had been work- 
ing together in the Republican and Intelligencer 
offices. Xhey published the Jlirror for twelve 
yeaV.s. and until they went into the service on 
the last call of President Lincoln for volunteers 
for the Clnl War when they closed their jirint- 
ing office. During its publication James Shaw, 
afterwards circuit judge, and C. B. Smith. Esq., 
fretpiently contributed editorial articles for the 
Mirror. After the close of the Mirror office 
there was no paper published in Mt. Carroll for 
several months. Grim-visaged war stalked 
abroad in the land ; the newspaper business 
was one of the industries that was i)aral,vzed. 
Later Hi Bohu took charge of the Mirror of- 
fice; it then passed into the hands of Scott and 
Cormauy. The latter married Miss Susan Em- 
mert, sister of the printers, Jacob. David B. and 
Joseph. 

After Hollinger and Wendel, came back from 
the army, having served their terms of enlist- 
ment, they again took charge of the Mirror and 
continued Its publication until they sold It to Cap- 
tain J. M. Adair, who continued to publish the 



662 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



paper until Septemljor, ISi-i, when lie suld it to 
J. F. Allisou wlio was tlieii c-ounty treasure!-; tlie 
following January Allisdu sold the paper to AV. 
D. Hughes aud A. B. IloUinger. Mr. Hughes 
after\Aard became sole proprietor with 
Don R. Frazer as local editor. Mr. Hughes 
sold the Jlirror to AV. L. Puterbaugh, January, 
IS!)'.). Frank H. Hurless aud Dick Hughes, who 
had been working in a printing office in Savanna, 
came to Mount Carroll and started a semi-week- 
ly newspaper which they called the Repul)lican. 
The following Jlay they bought the Mirror and 
it was merged with that paper. 

lu September, 1S75, Fi;ank A. Beeler started 
the Mount Carroll News ; on the following April 
it [lassed into the bauds of J. William Mastin, 
whose father, Jethro Mastin, was an old settler 
of Shannon and a lifelong Democrat. Mastin 
changed the name to that of the Herald and 
started to publish it as an independent in politics, 
but later suitported the Democratic candidates 
for office lu 187G, and in January, 1877, he sold 
the paper to Hollinger aud Sessions. Hollinger 
had disposed of the Mirror and gone to Iowa ; 
after his return he and Frank .7. Sessions 
bought the Herald of Mastin and clianged its 
politics to that of a Keimblican paper. In 1873 
Allison again purchased the Mirror, this time of 
Martin Shugroe and transferred it to \V. L. 
Puterbaugh, now editor of the Milledgeville Free 
Press. The object to be obtained, Mr. Allisou 
says, in the first instance was a faithful collec- 
tion and publication of the happenings of the 
day and to ju-omote harmony and tranquillity ; 
the second purchase was made for the purjiose 
of flagellating lloke Smith for arbitrarily sus- 
jiending and reilucing soldiers' ])eusions. The 
jtublisher was summarily bounced from the ]jen- 
sion service during President Cleveland's second 
term. 

After Mastin sold out the Democratic Herald, 
Cal M. Freezer, who toad learned the printer's 
trade in the Herald office and worked for Hughes 
in the Mirror oftice. witli the assistance of Fred 
S. Smith, started the Mount Carroll Democrat, 
but it did not receive sufficient support from that 
party, and Mr. Freezer changed its )X)litics to 
that of a Reiiubliean paper: and the Mirror, now- 
owned and published by Frank H. Hurless, and 
the Democrat are still published as dail.v and 
seiul-weekly new-sjMpers in Mount Carroll. 

Thus it will lie seen that a correct history of 
Mount Carroll cannot be written without giving 



David Ennnert and his family credit for the 
inijiorlant part they took in the very bo^ginning 
of Jlount Carroll, which starte<l with the build- 
ing of the mill, nor the histoi'y of the press of 
Mount Carroll without including his family. 
Three of his sons and one daughter, who married 
a printer, w-ere directly connected with the print- • 
ing business in Mount Carroll. All that are left 
of the family here now are his daughters, Mrs. 
Ann Hallett, widow of Bartlett II. Hallett, and 
a grandson. Charles F. Emniert, son of David 
B. Emmert. Jacob P. Ennnert removed from 
here to Chicago many years ago and died there, 
leaving two daughters there. Joseph still lives 
in Chicago. All the other descendants of this 
estimable family are widely scattered through- 
out the Union. 

David Eimnert had a son. John, who in early 
days was a mail agent on the steamboats on the 
Jlississippi river ; be succeeded his In-other, Ja- 
cob iu that line of business. Another sou, Wil- 
liam, went from here to Kansas and later to 
Colorado. Thomas, the fifth son of David Em- 
mert, on the breaking out of the war enlisted in 
the Sth Illinois Cavalry and died of typhoid fever 
.•it .\lexandria, Virginia. He was the first soldier 
to be brought home and buried in the old grave 
yard, that Mr. Emmert so generously gave to the 
public for a burying-groun<l. 

THE DOCTORS HOSTETTER. .\LEX. OFFICE, AND 
WILLIA.M HALDERMAN 

On April l.'jth. 184.''., Doctor Abraham Ilostetter 
with his wife and two small children and his 
brother. Doctor John L. Ilostetter and their 
sister, Anna, with a friend, Ale.xander Office, 
arrived in Mount Carroll. They came from 
Pennsylvania by way of the canal up the valley 
of the Susquehanna, over the mountains by the 
inclined plane, and by steamboat on the great 
rivers ; they imssed through the great fire at 
Pittsburg, the most noted and destructive in the 
United States, until the great Chicago fire of 
1871. Iu the fire at Pittsburg they had a nar- 
row escai>e from going down with a burning 
bridge when they were fleeing afoot to escape, 
to the country, from the burning city. They 
stopped at Saint Louis to change steamboats; 
here Doctor Abraham bought a small stock of 
drugs and had them shipped to Mount Carroll. 
Tlie first night on their arrival at Mount Car- 
roll they stopped at the Mansion House, now 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



663 



called tlif Clil'luii Udlise, wliiill \v:is tlioii lieiiii; 
built by Thomas Rapp; it was unfinisbeil the 
[lartltions tieitig unplasteretl. The doctor soou 
licuiuht a small house, which stood where IIol- 
man's funiiture store uow is, and erected a two 
story addition thereto, using the lower floor for 
a drug store, the first in Mount Carroll ; in addi- 
tion to drugs he kept a stock of paints, oils and 
window glass. 

SCATTKRED SETTLEMENTS 

The doctors Abe and John Ilostetter. as they 
were familiarly called here, bad a very e.xtensive 
niediial ]iractice in the village and surrounding 
country ; it was not unusual for them to be calkMl 
uixm to attend invalids for twelve or fifteen and 
even twenty miles away; these distances they 
were obliged to travel on horseback, with their 
saddlebags, containing their medicines and sur- 
gical instruments, thrown across the horse's 
back. Whole families would sometimes be dowu 
sick with the prevailing maladies; often, the doc- 
tors said needing wholesome food, for want of 
some one to prepare it, more than medicine; fre- 
quently the doctors' good wives would send along 
loaves of bread for those in need. After seven 
years of this arduous practice Doctor Ab- 
raham quit the practice of medicine, sold his 
drug store and moved to Salem township on 
some land he had bought of the government at a 
dollar and a quarter an acre, where his young- 
est son, W. Ross Ilostetter, now resides. 

FIRST D.\NK 

In 18.J7 he formed a partnership with some 
eastern friends, who had capital and started 
the banking firm of Ilostetter, Reist & Co., in a 
small room of the old house, next the drug store. 
Mills it Hooker opened an exchange and hank- 
ing house in the old Enmiert building opposite 
the nioninnent, alwut the same time. This firm 
was composed of II. A. Mills, ;\.nd M. L. Hooker, 
who retired from the business and it was con- 
ducted as the firm of H. A. Mills & Co., until the 
first National Hank was organized with II. A. 
Mills as cashier and James Mark as presideiu. 
Money was scarce in those days and interest and 
exchange rates very higli. so uuich so that the 
Mount Carroll Mutual Manufacturing and Hy- 
draulic Company, ojiened what they called a 
bank of deposit and offered through their treas- 



urer, N. llaldeniiMU, to pay ten per i-ent interest 
on deposits. 

. niiE.VKING OUT OI- THE ( IVll. W.\l! 

Dr. Ilostetter continued the banking business 
until the breaking out of the civil war; his 
nepliew, Amos W. Ilostetter, who had become 
cashier and bookkeeper of the bank, enlisted in 
the ;i4tli Illinois Volunteer Infantry, became Cap- 
tain of Conii^ny I. was killed while rec^unoiter- 
ing on the picket line before Atlanta, Georgia. 
The historian of the 34th Illinois, says the caj)- 
tain was held in high esteem by every one with 
wliom he came in contact. As he was borne by 
the regiment he commenced speaking to the men 
bidding them a last farewell as he iiassed down 
the line of the company, and indeed it was a 
pathetic scene. His body was brought liome 
and buried in the old graveyard. 

DEPRECIATED CURRENCY ^ 

On account of the war and the uncertainty of 
the future condition of the country all the cur- 
rency in circulation became greatly depreciated 
the only security for much of it being the bonds 
of the southern states which eventually became 
worthless ; the more money a bank received 
on deposit the worse it was off. The only thing 
the country banks could do was to send these 
depreciating bank bills to their Chicago or New 
York correspondents ; these soon become so 
glutted with this depreciated currency that they 
were obliged to susijend business. Kventually 
all bank bills were refused; the gold and silver 
had gone out of circulation, and it became very 
(litHcult to do any business. Postage stamps 
began to be useil for making change. This was 
file origin of what was called postal currency. 
To replace the ixjstage stamps the government 
issued a paiM>r ciu'rency which contained the 
lectures of the stamps; a five cent stamp or a 
ten cent stamp, a twenty-five cent note con- 
tained the pictures of five five-cent stamps. Be- 
fore these could be procured all sorts of tokens 
were in circulation as money. Storekeepers had 
printed circular cards, on which was printed 
"good for ten cents," or any other amount ; 
these were not very dtn'able. and when worn 
were soon presented for redemption, in money 
or goods, so that they came to make them of 
metal, with the inscription stamped upon them ; 



664 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



banks issued eliecks iipou themselves in various 
amounts, tbese circulated instead of money, but 
were eventually redeemed aud destroyed; like 
the "card money," also called bons, that was 
used by the traders in early days iu dealing 
with the Indians iu the Illinois country, wheu 
the "Buck Currency," became unwieldly, a buck 
skin always passing for the value of five livres 
or one dollar at the early trading iwsts in the 
Illinois country. 

.70HN IBVINE. SR. 

Dr. John L. Hostetter married Miss Mary Ir- 
vine, daughter of John Irvine, Sr., one of the 
partners in the Mill Company at that time; 
their wedding taking place in the old log bouse 
where the Emmerts had lived and boarded the 
men who built the mill. Both being very popu- 
lar young people there was a large party aud a 
great charivari during which a live pig was put 
into the room, by Henry Sager, it is said, who 
afterward was the boss mason on the stone 
house at Wilderberg. The pigs they had in 
those days were indeed lively, and hard 
to catch. The father of the bride was 
greatly incensed, and although an exhorter 
in the M. E. church, went in search of 
a club to beat the author of this indignity but 
could find nothing for the puriwse but Mrs. Ir- 
vine's rolling pin. This is not the first "rolling 
pin," that figured in the fortunes of some of 
the early settlers. Mrs. Marks the founder of 
the "Home for Old Ladies," says she first had to 
use an ear of corn for a rolling jjin, later a black 
bottle, then with a draw knife aud a saw she 
made herself a rolling pin. 

The Bradstreet wedding was also in the old 
house. There the first Mrs. Rinewalt died, aLso 
Mrs. John Irvine, Sr. In this old log cabin 
John JI. Rinewalt was born, also Joseph S. 
Miles, cashier of the First National bank and 
presideut of the Business Men's Association of 
Mount Carroll. 

Dr. John L. Hostetter became, at one time very 
much interested in the newspaper publications 
in this part of the state. He started the Mount 
Carroll Tribune, the first newspaper in the 
county, mention of which is made elsewhere. 
When the war broke out he enlisted with the 
34th I. V. I., as regimental surgeon, but was soon 
promoted to brigade surgeon. On his return 
home he continued the practice of medicine dur- 



ing the remainder of his life very much trusted 
and respected by a large circle of acquaintances. 
Alexander Ofiicer who came to Mount Carroll 
with this party, for a time had a lumber yard 
where the churches now are, but he soon went 
to Chicago, where he became interested in the 
lumber business and acquired a fortune. He 
married there and his only child, a daughter, 
is still living iu the city ; her husband is at the 
head of one of the largest wholesale grocery 
firms in Chicago. 

ANNA HOSTETTER 

Jliss Anna Hostetter, the sister of Doctors 
Abraham and John, married William Halderman, 
brother of Nathaniel, and he ran the mill com- 
pany's store at Stag Point. This store did a 
large business, dealing with customers who 
came from man.v miles around with their pro- 
ducts to exchange for merchandise and groceries. 
He had a novel way of shijiping butter, some of 
which lie sent as far south as New Orleans. He 
had kegs made that would hold twenty-five 
poimds of butter, these when filled he packed in 
a great hogshead and covered all with brine; 
when it arrived at its destination after a long 
steamlxjat jonrney in a warm country, the but- 
ter was still fresh and sweet ; which also spealvs 
well for the skill with which it was made by the 
good pioneer women of the settlement. The 
immense cask and the small kegs were made at 
the cooper shop, where the flour barrels were 
made, in which the mill company shipped their 
flour to the same market. They were made of 
staves and hickory hoops, all of which material 
was procured from the woods iu the neighbor- 
hood of the mill and store. An enterprising man, 
he afterward bought a steam flouring mill in 
Freei>ort ; but died when still a young man and 
his remains rest In the vault, on the hillside over- 
looking the site of the old store, which is so con- 
spicuous on looking west from JIarket street in 
Mount Carroll. 

-inna afterwards married the Hon. Johu H. 
Addams of Cedarville, the father of Jane Ad- 
dams, then a child of eight years, who has 
become distinguished as the founder of Hull 
House in Chicago, and is now a very noted wo- 
man and author of several books relating to 
social science, her latest being a large volume 
entitled Twenty Years at Hull House. 

Mrs. Addams at the age of eighty-three, is still 






^-^ 

H 







HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



665 



liviug at Ced.uTilli", StfplK'iisdii Cmiiil.v. one of 
the very few survivors of the pioneers of Mount 
Carroll. To her we are Indebted for a great 
many Interesting facts in regard to the early 
settlers of Mount Carroll, which" are related in 
this history. Many otliers are of too per.sonal a 
nature to be of general interest and are on that 
account, reluctantly omitted. 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE FORTY-NINERS. 



GOLD ACCIDENTALLY DISCOVERED IN CALIFORNIA — 
WAYS OF GETTING THERE — EXCITEilENT SPREADS 
— LIVES OF THE GOLD MINERS — FIRST PARTY 
FROM MOUNT CARROLL — PIERCE AND YONTZ 
DROWNED — THE BARBER INCIDENT — HARDSHIPS 
ENDURED — THE MARCH BEGAN — THOSE FROM 
SAVANNA — THE EMMEET PARTY — EVAN RAE ELEC- 
TED CAPTAIN — SHOTTENKIRK'S DIARY — SNOW CON- 
STANTLY IN SIGHT IN JUNE — CROSSING GREEN 
RIVER — DARING ACT OF HEROISM — ANOTHER PAR- 
TY LEAVES MOUNT CARROLL — THE MUM MA PARTY' 
— GOVERNMENT OF THE GOLD SEEKERS — FRANKLIN 
I-VNGWORTHY'S BOOK — ABANDON WAGONS, PACK 
ON ANIMALS MOUNT CARROLL 1854 THE RE- 
TURN. 

GOLD ACCIDENTALLY DISCOVERED IN CALIFORNIA 

Gold was accidentally discovered In California 
in the year 1848. On December fifth President 
Taylor announced the discovery in his message 
to congress. The abundance of the precious 
metal was such as could hardly be believed; he 
said that ships on arriving at California were 
deserted by their crews. Labor commanded an 
e.xorbitant price, and every pursuit save gold 
hunting was abandoned. The country went wild, 
[low to go to California, what to take and when 
to start were the questions discussed by every- 
body. 

WAYS OF GETTING THERE 

I'ntil spring came the overland route was 
closed, but the way by sea was oi)en. Some went 



to New York and took sailing vessels by way of 
Cape Horn, around South America. Philo Cole 
late of this county took this route from Boston, 
going with a c-omimny that bought a sailing ves- 
sel and put out from there. It took them over 
si.x months to sail around the Horn and when he 
arrived at the land of gold he soon found that 
he could make more money raising [wtatoes than 
lie c-ould digging for the precious metal. Other 
ways were open, as they might go to CcMtral 
America and ac-i'oss the Isthmus of Panama or 
by the Nicaragua route, and Robert Moore of 
Mount Carroll was one to take one of these 
routes, or one might go through Me.xico from 
Vera Cruz to some port on the Pacific and 
trust to find a sailing vessel there to carry 
them to San Francisco. 

EXCITEMENT SPREADS 

The newspapers continued to spread broad- 
east all sorts of exciting rumors, from San 
Francisco, and with each batch of letters the 
gold fever raged more fiercely. A letter from a 
gentleman in California stated tliat lumps of 
gold a iwund in weight had frequently been found 
and that good sized pieces could be dug from 
crevices in the rock. A young man from New 
York had written that he would return in a few 
mouths with a half million dollars in gold dust. 

The president's message lent credence to the 
wildest rumors. People went wild ; thousands of 
pioneers, from the western country prepared to 
go by the overland route. Carroll County iwople 
were not immune from catching this, "yellow 
fever.'' Mr. Preston says, in his notes, on the 
Pioneers of Mount Carroll, "the rush for the 
California gold fields for this .year, (1850) took 
more people from the county than were added to 
it." 

LIVES OF THE GOLD SEEKERS 

The lives of these seekers for gold, in a new 
world, where they were thrown upon their own 
resources, beyond the restraints of civilization, 
without written laws, were ofttimes tragic in the 
extreme. Tliis life has been portrayed in a trag- 
edy called the (Jirl of the (jiolden West, and 
quite recently (1910), this tragedy has been 
written into an Italian OiM'ra and set to miisli! 
and thus has been presented to an astonishetl 
world, on the stages of the greatest theaters and 
oi>era houses of Eunip(» and .\merica. Many of 



666 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



the pioneers of Carroll Couuty had a part iu that 
life. It becomes interesting to know who tUey 
were aucl what they did. 

FIRST PARTY FROM MOUNT CARROLL 

The first party that went from Mount Carroll 
started March 27th, 1S49. It consisted of ten or 
twelve men. John Pierce, brother of William A. 
.T. Pierce, still living here, took this party out 
with an ox team. With him, as near as can be 
ascertained now was his brother-in-law, William 
Yontz, Richard Owings, sou of J. C. Owings of 
Cherry Grove notoriety ; Gilbert Mark, brother of 
John Mark late of Carroll County ; Gilbert dietl 
in California ; his widow, Mrs. Laura Wicks is 
still living near Mt. Carroll with her son-in-law, 
Lyman L. Wood. Owings and Larkins Liusey 
went by the river to St. Louis to buy supplies 
for the party, intending to meet them at St. Joe, 
Missouri, where Liusey died of the cholera. 
Samuel Spang was one of this party ; he was of 
great assistance to the Emmert party, who went 
the following year, by directing some of the peo- 
ple from this county to the best places for mining. 
Spang after searching for gold for about twenty 
years, at last found a decayed quartz vein on the 
top of a mountain. He had to carry his dirt 
down a mile to wash it ; but he made forty 
thousand dollars in eight days, which he event- 
ually lost, and as is often the case with those 
who suddenly acquire riches he died poor. 

PIERCE AND YONTZ DROWNED 

A sad accident befell the leader of this party, 
whereby he found a watery grave. In crossing 
the Platte river where there was no ferry, they 
used their wagon box for a boat ; it upset and 
sank. Pierce who was an expert swimmer tried 
to save his brother-in-law, Yontz, who could 
not swim ; they were both drowued. 

Most of this party had agreed to pay Pierce 
for their passage on their arrival at the gold 
mines, or soon after, it is to be supposed when 
they suecee<led in getting some gold dust. After 
Pierce's death it is said tliat they sold every- 
thing and accounted to no one. 

BARBER INCIDENT 

A man by the name of Barber was with this 
party ; this incident was told of him by one of 



tlie survivors of another party that crossed the 
plains a year later. Barber left a wife behind 
him at Mount Carroll. He was a great money 
maker, and very fortunate iu the mines, he fre- 
quently sent his wife money until he had sent 
her several thousand dollars ; when he was told 
that the man at home with whom she was living 
was using his money but she was always writ- 
ing for more, so he stopped sending her any 
more. At last a letter came from her, he could 
not read and being told it was from his wife at 
Mount Carroll, he tore it into bits and threw it 
on the floor. He had hardly doue this when he 
repented of his rash act, and said he would give 
a hundred dollars to know what was in that 
letter. So the teacher Shottenkirk, who happened 
to be there swept the pieces together, and al- 
though he had not had the practice that many 
young people have nowadays iu putting jig saw 
puzzles together, he put them so that he could 
read the letter. It was a very nice letter from 
his wife. Barber, however, sent no more money 
home, and eventually took to himself anotlier 
wife in California. 

IIARDSnirs ENDl RED 

These i»eople knew nothing of the hardsliips 
that had to be endured. Early in March the 
gi'eat emigration overland began, and scores of 
companies and thousands of men attached to no 
company set off for the gathering grounds west 
of the Missouri river. The spring was late and 
until the grass on the prairie had grown suf- 
ficiently to feed the cattle it was not safe to 
start. 

THE MARCH BEGAX 

By the first of May the march began in earn- 
est. The routes taken by the emigrants led over 
rolling prairie, rich in verdure to the Platte river. 
At Grand Island, fifteen da.vs journey from Inde- 
pendence, Missouri, the united streams as one 
great caravan swept along westward. Beyond wffs 
Fort Kearney ; here a record of the passing teams 
was kept ; each team on au average had four 
yoke of oxen with from four to ten men. By 
June twenty-second 1849, five thousand, five huu- 
dretl and sixteen wagons had been counted and 
some two hundred more were estimated to be 
coming. Twenty thousand persons and sixty 
thousand animals were said to have passed the 
fort. Hundreds had turned back and it was 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



667 



estimatwl that over two tUousaiul liail diod of 
tin; i-huk'ra. 

The way letl tlu-ougli the Black Hills country 
to the Sol til Pass. P>(>fore they reached this 
part of the journey the energies of the men and 
auimals began to be severely taxed; for miles 
the line of travel was strewn with all kinds of 
iniplcnients and furniture that had been thrown 
away to lighten the loads for the weary animals. 
Some emptied part of their wagons and left them 
liy the way. Still further on beyond Fort Lara- 
mie carcasses of dijad animals were left along 
the route. 

One who took the route by the Ilumbolt river 
describes this part of the journey as follows: 
The river was without perceptible current, witli- 
out a fish or living n-eature in its waters, wiud- 
ing its sluggish length along through a desert 
until it dis;iiipears. There was not, he said, wood 
enough in the whole valley to make a snuff l)ox 
nor vegetation sutHcient to shade a rabliit. The 
whole region was a great desert of sand and 
ashes. A continuous march of thirty -four hours 
across this desert brought him and his com- 
Iianions to the Carson river. The last twenty 
miles of the journey bore silent testimony to the 
sulTcring of those who had gone before. Along 
the trail lay the bodies of oxeu with their yokes 
still on them, the carcasses of horses and mules 
from which their liarness had not been removed, 
abandoned wagons and property of every kind. 
Some after safely crossing this desert were rob- 
l)e<l by the Indians and forced to make the re- 
mainder of their journey on foot, with their be- 
longings packed on their backs ; for a hundred 
miles they trudged along. Winter was approach- 
ing and snow would soon Ijegin to fall in the 
mountains. The government sent relief parties 
to aid the belated emigrants; many men were 
found sick with scurvy, and numbers too sick to 
travel and all were begging for food. 

The small parties from Carroll County did not 
fare any better than others, they suffered many 
hardships. All that has been written here has 
been contirmed by the few survivors of the little 
bands who started out so gayly on a pleasant 
March day. with such high hopes of tinding their 
fortunes in the land of gold. 

THOSE IKOM SAVANNA 

Mr. Frank Stedman of Savanna wliose fallier 
went to California in IS.yi, kindly made what 



inquiry he could and gives a list of the names 
of persons who went from Savanna in that year 
to the gold mines, and says probably I have 
missed s<jme as it is difficult at this late day to 
get the names of all. One party was Albert 
Stedman and Daniel King with three others 
as passengers; they had one wagon with two 
»;pau of horses. Another party was ICdward 
McLenahan, Griffith Robins, Thomas I'arker and 
Henry Cox. They had one wagon with two yoke 
of oxen. The following also went that year: 
IMiuey Taylor, Thomas B. Rhodes, L. D. Price, 
.John Barker, Robert Upton, Joseph Taylor, Har- 
mon Brown, Frank Gilbert, Ira Buchanuan, Levi 
Wil.son. John Armstrong, Will C. Pierce, Geo. W. 
Jenks, Frank Hitchcock. 

For others who went from Savanna, and the 
adventures they had, see the chapter. The I'ion- 
eers of Savanna. The reader will notice in the 
above list the name of Robert Upton, a noted 
character in the early days of the setllcnn nt of 
the county as before mentioned. 

THE EMMEBT PARTY 

Early in the spring of 1850, David Emmert, 
then called. Judge Emmert, fitted out three 
wagons ^^■ith four yoke of oxen to each wagon, for 
those who wanted to try their fortunes in the 
new Eldorado. His son, Simon Emmert, was one 
of the party. William A. J. Pierce, who is the 
only one living of all the men who went to the 
coast from Carroll County, was to carry the 
imrse and pay the expenses, but be as economi- 
cal as he could. The party soon ran out of 
funds and did as many others had to do, stopped 
for a time at Salt Lake, and went to work for 
the Mormons. Before they started from Mount 
Carroll Judge Emmert sent a man to St. Louis 
to buy and ship up the Missouri river sup- 
plies for the party, consisting of bacon and 
Hour and all kinds of food that they could 
carry and would necil in crossing the plains 
and the mountains beyond. The party started 
from .Mount Carroll on the 2:;rd of .M.irch, 
ls.">(i, they were rafted across the river at 
Savanna and [iroceeded on their journey through 
Iowa. There was in the Knuuert party beside 
those named, the schoolmaster Shottenkirk, 
who kept a journal of the trip and sent it 
Ijack to Judge Emmert, but it was currently re- 
IKirted that it never reached him. Hugh E. Tay- 
lor was one of this party, he was "grubbed 



668 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



staked"' by James OBrieii ; Daniel Brown, Joe 
Strickler ; tlie brothers. Reynolds, B. W. and J. 
L., who had been keeping the JIausion House, 
the old stone hotel ; Xathauiel Sutton, who came 
to this couuti-y with Zaehariah Kinkade; Jacob 
Traxell from Pleasant Valley, who stopped at 
Salt Lake and It is said joined the Mormons ; 
Merriam VanGastou; George Goltman. who 
never returned ; Joseph Ganson. who left a wife 
and two children and never returned and Wil- 
liam Callahan, and one or two others. 

EVAN BEA ELECTED CAPTAIN" 

When this party arrived at the Missouri river, 
about eight miles below Council Bluff.s, they 
waited about a week for their supplies to arrive 
from St. rx)uis. They made their own ferry boat 
by bolting two wagon boxes together after having 
made them watertight. When they reached the 
other side they with others organized into a com- 
pany of sixty or eighty men. Evan Rea of 
Mount Carroll was elected captain. He came 
with another party, which had one wagon and 
four yoke of oxen and with him were James 
Trail, Harlyn and George Pyle. 

SHOTTEXKIEK'S DIARY 

To follow this party we copy from an old news- 
paper, the Mount Carroll Tribune, the tirst paper 
published in Mount Carroll, from Vol. 1, Xo. IS, 
the diary of D. G. Shottenkirk, one of the party, 
called 

"California Journal, by D. G. Shottenkirk." 
The first date is June 20th, (1850), the last 
July 1st. During these days the party passed 
up the Platte river, crossing it many times, often 
with great difficulty ; sometimes to avoid cross- 
ing where it was very difficult and dangerous 
they climbed over mountain ridges where for 
short distances the road was almost jjerpendic- 
ular. They passed through the South Pass and 
by the Pacific Springs, the waters of which flow 
into the Pacific ocean ; but their journey was not 
yet half done, the Sierras were yet to cross, and 
the difficulties and privations they had exper- 
ienced were notliiug compared to those they had 
to endure before they reached the land of gold. 
Some extracts from this diary that relate to 
people well known to many of the residents of 
Carroll county may be of sufficient interest to 
copy here : 



■June 22ud. — Part ot McPike and Strothers 
line from St. Joseph, Mo., passed us early this 
morning. They had separated in order to take 
better advantage of the Scarcity of gi'ass, their 
mules generally looked well. We forded the 
river this morning at a good fording place. About 
a mile further the road and river run between 
the rocky bluffs. There are many emigrants' 
names painted on the side of the rocks. We had 
to ford the river twice extra on account of some 
high rocks jutting out into the stream. The 
river is narrow and deep with a rocky bottom 
and requires great care in drivers to prevent a 
wagon from over setting. There were a number 
of wagons that crossed immediately before us. 
and got into deep water and wet most of their 
loading. We however crossed without wetting 
anything. We camjjed upon the sweet-water 
again at the termination of the rocky bluffs. We 
again drove our cattle across the river the grass 
was a little better on the opposite side. We 
found a good wagon here that had been left and 
as it was a much lighter and better running 
wagon than the heavy one of ours (No. 1) we 
concluded to exchange and leave ours in the 
place of it. I gave it as my opinion, however, 
that as our loading had become quite light and 
our cattle showed some symptoms of fail- 
ing, it would be much easier on them and in 
the end prove to our advantage to leave one 
wagon altogether, but the majority of the com- 
pany thought otherwise. 

"We si)ent the afternoon again in airing our 
provisions, and in shortening the bed of No. 2 
wagon. We found three or four old hut light 
trunks in two of which Emmert packed his 
clothing and left the heavy boxes. Mr. Pyle 
came up and passed us this evening. He left one 
ox that had become so foot sore, they could not 
drive him any further. 

"June 2.3rd. — Habits of industry are cultivated 
by some at least on this route, for I saw a lady 
riding along on horseback busily engaged in 
sewing. 

SNOW CONSTANTLY IN SIGHT IN JUNE 

"There are large quantities of snow constantly 
in sight on the bluffs to our left We passed 
a great number of dead horses and oxen, in 
crossing the desert. About four o'clock we came 
to the river, forded it at a pretty deep ford, 
unyoked our cattle to let them rest, grazing was 




C'OrXT^ I'AKM HorSK BEFORE ITS DESTRUC'- 
I'loN in \ CVC'I.OXE IX 1,S9S 




COIX'I^ !• AliM IKMSK AK'IKK THE C^CLUXE OF 1898 




■mi-; m;\\ ((HN'i^ i \hm uriLDixc 



THE N*i^,^ 
PUBLIC LIB 



>i 



•^■. ,;--.r.AT10'NSJ 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



669 



out of the question unless tliej- would eat snf;c 
bnish,— cooked a dish of hasty puddini; — hit<'hed 
up again, crossed a branch of the Sweet Water, 
drove two or three miles over high hills, when 
by turning off from the road for about a half 
mile to the river, and driving the cattle across 
to the south side we found some little grass. 
Drove twenty miles. 

June 24th.— 'I'here is snow close by our 
camp, more than ten feet deep. The cattle had 
Tery poor picking here, as there is nothing in the 
vicinity but snow and sage brush. There was an 
emigrant bought some flour today at twenty-one 
dollars per hundred and sold it again within an 
hour for thirty-one dollars. Bacon, however, sells 
more reasonable, ten cents per iwund. There 
was an emigrant passed us this evening, who or- 
iginally took passage in the "Pacific Line." but 
has since exchanged berths with a passenger in 
an ox train. Many more are anxious to obtain 
the same chance. B. W. Rej-nolds was taken 
sick this morning with the mountain fever. Dis- 
tance, twenty-one miles. 

June 25th— We started by daylight. * * * We 
passed a grave wilh which there is some mystery 
connected, on the head board of it was written, 
"To the memory of Columbus, who was found 
with his throat cut, having In his hand, with a 
death grip, his pocket knife, ou the 19th day of 
June, ISoO." * * * There is an express mail here 
owned by Col. Estile, intending to start for Wes- 
ton, Mo., some time in the month of Jul.v. He 
charges fifty cents per single letter postage. I 
had not time to write. There were more than 
two hundred teams in camp when we arrived, and 
among others H. Pylo and Captain P's division. 
We have two more sick men, Callahan and J. L. 
Reynolds on the list today, with the same dis- 
ease. Distance twenty miles. 

ABANDON PAKT OF TIIEIlt TRAIN" 

June 27th — * * * The coniixiny have almost un- 
animously come to the eondusion that we had 
letter leave one wagon and favor our cattle as 
much as we can. We accordingly took the bed of 
No. 3, (for the sake of the patent rubber top), 
and put it ujion the new wagon, as it was the 
best one. We burned the bed of the other one 
and completed the work of demolition by sawing 
the spokes out of No. .3 to make stakes of to 
fasten our cattle at night. After we had loaded 
up our wagons again, there came a violent storm 



of wind and rain. Our cattle filled themselves 
so well, that some of the boys thought they must 
have drank alkali. 

June 2sth. — * * * Our sick men are rapidly 
recovering. Distance eighteen miles. 

CROSSING GREEN RIVER 

June oOth. — * * * We rose liy daybreak and 
in company with four others manned the two 
boats and in about an hour our wagons were all 
safely across Green river. The river is about 
ten feet deep and rising rapidly, though the first 
emigrants that passed here the twenty-seventh 
of May forded it with ease. Several dead horses 
floated past while we were crossing the wagons. 
We had somewhat of a job in getting our cattle 
across the river. They had hitherto swam every 
stream without any or little trouble. The water 
was very cold and it was very disagreeable stand- 
ing in the water so long. Vfe were kept busy 
until noon, throwing stones at and otherwise 
scaring them to make them cross. We got them 
all to cross but three, and we took them back to 
the ferry boat, held them by the head and made 
them swim across behind the boat. When we 
came back to the ferry boat from swimming our 
cattle, we found a great crowd of teams collected 
there. The emigrants at the ferry had just 
taken the body of a man that was floating down 
stream from the river, lie was apparently about 
forty years of age and nmst have been drowned 
at least ten days ago; there was nothing by 
which to identify him. 

DARING ACT OF HEROISM 

There was a daring act of heroism performed 
this afternoon, that deserves to be rewarded, an 
act sliowing what a woman can do in ease of 
danger and difflculty. A company from Ottawa, 
111., were crossing at the ferry next above us, 
when the Imat upset. There was a woman anil 
two small children on the wagon board at 
the time. The wagon bed floated off and 
careened ou Its side. The woman lashed 
one child about her neck caught the other in her 
arms, got upon the outside of the wagon bed and 
sustained herself in this position until a young 
Snake Indian seeing the inuninent danger she 
was in, leaped upon his horse, swam into the 
current, and seizing the rope of the other ferry 
boat, (with which they were trying to overtalve 



670 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



tlif woiuau, but were able to gain uiwn the 
wagoubed but slowly), lie swam down the river 
until he overtook the wagon bed, when he jumped 
from his horse, leaving him to take care of him- 
self and caught one of the children in his arms 
and helped the woman on board the boat, wheu 
they rowed safely to shore. It seems almost 
incredible to believe it were possible in this swift 
current, yet such is undoubtedly the fact. 

July 1st — We rose early this morning and bid- 
ding adieu to Green river or the Colorado of the 
West, started on a drive of fifteen miles without 
grass or water. The road was sandy and in 
many places covered with cobble stones, which 
made it hard traveling for the cattle. Distance 
fourteen miles.'' 

It was reported that all of Mr. Shotteukirk"s 
diaiy was lost in sending it by mall to Dr. David 
Emmert, but that evidently was an error. How- 
much of It was published in other numbers of 
the Mount Carroll Tribune is unknown ; the one 
quoted from is the only number of that paper 
preserved so far as known. 

ANOTHER PARTY LEAVES MOUNT CARROLL 

Still another party left Mount Carroll for the 
gold mines, this one on the first day of April, 
1850. There were nine men, two wagons aud 
seven horses. In this party was David Mumma, 
a splendid mau to have in the camp, as is testi- 
fied by one of his companions ; knew how to do 
everything to make people comfortable in camp, 
was a very good cook of such food as could be 
had on a trip like this. He was an indefatiga- 
ble miner and trapper ; after returning to Mount 
Carroll and working in the lead mines near there, 
he returned to Tike's Peak to mine gold aud 
silver ; he there contracted the mountain fever, 
and came home and died from the same. His 
widow, Mrs. Mary C. Mumma, w-as the daughter 
of George W. Harris, one of the very early 
pioneers of this county ; she is still living at 
Cleveland, Ohio. Their family of six daughters 
are widely scattered; their husbands occupying 
honorable po.sitions in the active duties of the 
business world. 

THE MUMMA PARTY 

In the Mumma party was Joe Christian who 
was the proprietor of the transportation facili- 
ties; Abe Beeler; Billy Towers, a lead miner who 



lived at the Mansion House, kept at that time 
by George Hollinger; and George Hay, then 
quite a young man, who was enabled to go VN-ith 
this gold seeking party through the assistance 
of his uncle, Teter Hay, a lead miner who came 
here from the Galena lead mines. He was the 
father of the present superintendent of schools, 
John Hay, aud William J. Hay, for many years 
supervisor from Woodland township aud chair- 
man of the County Board. 

George Hay had stated to friends many in- 
teresting incidents of this trip across the con- 
tinent. On their way out he said, they were 
obliged to stop three different times to let the 
immense herds of buffalo go by, as it was not 
safe to cross their trail while they were in mo- 
tion, which seemed to be day and night for two 
or three days in succession ; he said not only 
thousands but a milliou or more seemed to be in 
the procession. On the overland trip their 
horses gave out and they were obliged to buy 
oxen and when they got to the Sierra mountains, 
the last mountain range they Iiad to cross, they 
were reduced to such straits, that they traded 
the whole outfit, except what they could carry, 
for a sack of flour. Then they trudged along 
over the mountains on foot; a weaiy tramp it 
was. 

GOVERNMEXT OF THE GOLD SEEKERS 

1'lus incident was also told by Mr. Hay, and 
it illustrates the manner of government these 
miners and gold seekers, out of necessity, made 
for themselves. A murder had been committed 
in their camp, a man was arrested on suspicion, 
a jury of six was drawn by lot, Mr. Hay was one 
of the number, the evidence was heard by the 
jury and it was so convincing the jury were 
unanimous in voting a verdict of guilty, after 
wailing till morning and again voting, the ver- 
dict was the same. The execution of the guilty 
man soon followed, and the iJlace was called 
Hangtown. 

After his return to Carroll County Mr. George 
Hay entered upon an active business life and 
soon became identified as one of the leading 
business men of the county. He was at one time 
editor and publisher of the Carroll County Ga- 
zette, which he for several years published at 
Lanark. Afterward he assisted Mr. Duncan 
Mackay and others in starting the first bank iu 
Savanna and was for a number of vears its 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



671 



cashier. One of liis daughters, Miss Helen Ilay. 
became quite distiusruished for her ability as 
the head ot tlie Illinois Training school for 
Nurses and virtually had charge of the nurees 
in the Cook County Hospital. Subsecjuently she 
spent several mouths abroad for the purpose of 
study and to perfect her knowledge of the pro- 
fession she so greatly honors. 

l'R.\NKI.IX I AXUWORTHY's BOOK 

There were two others in this ixirty and 
lYanklin Laugworthy may have been one; he 
lived to return to Carroll County and to publish 
a very interesting book of his travels, called : 
"Scenery of the Plains, Mountains and Mines, 
or a diary kept upon the Overland Route to 
Califoniia by way of the Great Salt Lake ; Trav- 
els in the Cities, Mines and Agi-ieultural Dis- 
tricts, Embracing the Return by the Pacific 
Ocean and Central Ameriea, in Years 1850, '51, 
'52 and '5.3." So says the title page. Published 
at Ogdensburg by J. C. Sprague, book seller, 3855. 
The author says in the preface: "The year 
eighteen hundred and fifty is an epoch that will 
bo memorable in the history of the United States. 
It is a year that will be long remembered, as one 
of unparalleled emigration, suffering and death. 
The official announcement of the astounding 
facts In relation to the gold discoveries in Cali- 
foniia, seemed to move the whole nation, as with 
an electric shock, and a vast multitude of more 
tliaii si.xty thousand human beings were seen 
rushing across the plains and deserts, and ov"r 
tremendous mountains, flu.shetl with high hopes 
and eager to fill their coffers with the glittering 
dust." 

He observed that an unusual number of the 
emigrants were professional men. There was 
an abundance of preachers of all denominations, 
crowds of learned counsellors in law, wliilc 
almost every tenth man had the title of doctor. 
He says, "We have any amoimt of Generals, 
Judges, etc." 

There were nine in the party in which Jlr. 
Langworthy started from Mt. Carroll on the 
first of April, 1850, with two wagons and seven 
horses, a team he says by no means sufficient 
for the undertaking, but he does not give the 
names of those who were in this party. He 
further says, there were no bridges and few 
ferries, so there was great danger in crossing 
the streams. Horses and cattle were made to 



swim across the rivers by being forceil into 
the cold water which went whirling and rolling 
by, often sweeping everytliing down the stream, 
and many men were drowned, their wagon boxes 
sometimes overturned and it was imiwssible to 
swim ashore, the water was so swift and cold, 
lie says that Pierce and Yontz were drowned 
at the upper crossing of the Platte by the 
upsetting of their wagon box in 1849. The year 
after there was a good rope feiTy at this place. 
The charges were fi\e dollars for each wagon 
and a dollar for each animal, so many were 
crossing, he supposed the owners of -this ferry 
would clear fifty thousand dollars that year. 

ABANDON WAGONS, PACK ON ANIMALS 

AVhen they got into the nio\nitains it was .so 
high up, it was vei-y cold even in June. Large 
numbers, he says, were leaving their wagons and 
packing upon their animals ; horses, mules and 
even oxen were used for packing. The wagons 
are generally broken to pieces and used for fuel 
by their owners. Thousands of fine trunks and 
boxes and barrels are burned for cooking pur- 
Iioses ; property that cost a hundred dollars in 
the states is none too much to make a comfort- 
able fire of an evening. 

After giving a ver.v interesting account of 
their passage over the Sierras, the highest 
mountains they passed over, he says : "For the 
two years I lived in California I supported m.v- 
self by traveling, and giving popular lectures on 
scientific subjects. At times I attempted to 
lal)or at mining, but was oliligod to desist on 
account of my health. » » » 

One design I had in undertaking this hazard- 
ous enterprise, was to gain a competency of 
this world's good.s. In this I was not alone, 
neither was I singular in failing to accomplish 
this object.'" 

3HT. CARROLL, 1854 

Sjieaking of the changes in Mt. Carroll in the 
three years he had been awa.v, he said : "It 
had more than doubled in size. It is now a 
flourishing little villege of about eight hundred 
inhabitants; containing a court house of stone; 
tliree churches; a flourishing academy, common 
schools, etc. It is expected the Chicago and 
Mississippi Air Line railroad will be constructed 
and pass near this place, when it will be a 



672 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



poiut of iuiiuense Importance. Here is already a 
steam ami water power flouring mill ; iron foun- 
dry and other manufacturing establishments." 
He returned by way of Central America, from 
New York he went up the Hudson river and to 
Chicago, by way of Niagara Falls. "Chicago," 
he said, "was a city of seventy thousand inhabit- 
ants. The place seems destined very soon to 
become the great emporium of the west." 



passed away recently at the age of four score 
years and more, a very much honored and re- 
spected citizen of a neighboring county. 



CHAPTER V. 



THE KETUBN 

Two other Mt. Carroll citizens came home 
together, by the Panama route. They boarded 
a steamship at San Francisco, a double decker 
with sixteen hundred passengers, returning 
home. One of these men who was terribly sea 
sick and unable to take a mouthful of food for 
eight days. He had his gold dust and some 
Spanish doubloons in a sort of buckskin vest, 
with pockets in it made for the purix)se of carry- 
ing gold. The doc-tor told him this was 
oppressing him and that he would have to take 
it off ; that he would take care of it until they 
reached Panama, where he had to leave the 
boat. He and his companion landed at Panama. 
The one paid thirty-tive dollars for a room, the 
first night on land so as to be in a safe and 
respectable place with his gold. They took a 
train across the Isthmus, the first train either 
had seen. Eventually they reached home, but 
fortune did not again favor them both equally 
here. One was a gay gallant, who had returned 
with gold dust and Spanish doubloons, he wore 
a cloak and cape of broadcloth, sported a scarf 
pin made from a nugget of gold and like Othello 
of old, could speak to the belle of the village, 
"of moving accidents by flood and field," "of 
hair-breadth escapes in the imminent deadly 
breach," etc. And so he won the hand and 
heart of the lady, for which many suitors had 
spoken in vain ; while his companion who had 
been less successful in mining, had trudged 
on foot from the mines to Sacramento, a dist- 
ance of forty miles, and back .again the same 
day to get a letter from his lady love. On 
liis return home, like Enoch Arden of old, he 
found her the wife of another. When tliey 
met, it is said, the silent tears of each wei-e 
the only greeting; and they parted forever. 
But this tale does not end here. He consoled 
liimself by finding another sweetheart, and both 
lived to be blessed with many children. He 



ORGANIZATIONS. 



PKOTECTIVE LEAGUES IIRST LYCEUM HORSE- 
THIEVES — PRAIKIE BANDITS — VIGILANTES — ELK- 
HORN GBOVE COMPACT — THE GRANGE MOVEMENT 

GRANGES — PROFITS OF INSURANCE — FRATERNAL 

INSURANCE — MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE. 

When the first settlers came, they came as 
single families, with a few neighbors or friends 
together. There was no occasion for organiza- 
tion, until it became necessary to unite for pro- 
tection against common foes, such as "land 
sharks, claim jumpers, and horse-thieves.'" 

PROTECTIVE LEAGUES 

They formed in different parts of the county, 
what they called protective leagues. The earliest 
settlers were always willing and glad to welcome 
new settlers ; there was land enough for evei-y- 
body, and the more that came and made perma- 
nent settlements, the nearer it made the first 
comers to neighbors. There were some selfish 
and grasping men, however, who without any 
intention of making permanent settlements, laid 
claim to large tracts of land, with the intention 
of later entering them at the land otEce and 
after securing the title, to hold the land for 
speculative puiiwses. 

The permanent settlers in self defense formed 
protective leagues. How many of these leagues 
there were, and who were their officers, Is now 
lost to history, except in a very few instances 
which will be given. They bad a summary way 
of enforcing their home-made edicts, and on one 
occasion, some of the members were haled into 
court for a violation of the law, charged with 
committing an assault and battery. There were 
three men who entered an improved farm, be- 




^ ^' -12^ ^r^^-^^iytyL 



AA' 



^--' \ 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



673 



longing to one of the settlers, who with some 
of his neighbors, in the same predicament, was 
unable to procure the money to enter the land. 
These men were two brothers by the name of 
Green and another by the name of Maider. The 
league took these men and applied a rawhide 
whip to them without mercy. -I'he men who did 
the whipping were Charles Hughes, John Hill 
and Jesse Hill. Clark Green, who was the 
prosecutor at court, had been given thirty-three 
lashes; Robert Green was given eleven, when 
he agi-eed to give up the laud, and George Maider 
gave up the land without whipping. This was 
said to have beeu done in Fair Haven township. 
A similar league existed in Mt. Carroll, but 
their manner of intimidating such offenders was 
by dipping them in the mill-race. There were 
other so-called protective leagues, formed by 
meu who would not allow anyone to enter laud 
in sight of their claims, and some claimed all 
the prairie one could see from the back of a 
horse. A few of these waited upon a resident 
of Mt. Carroll, who had entered some laud far 
away from any settlement, they expected to 
make this party give it up or jiay a bonus to 
be left alone. They, however, did not enter the 
house or accomplish their design, as the good 
housewife was heating a kettle of water pre- 
Iiaratory to giving them a warm reception, in 
case they attempted to enter the house or carry 
away her husband. At the land office at Dixon, 
it was generally understood that if anyone would 
bid more than a dollar and a quarter an acre, 
the minimum price at which land could be 
bought of the government, or would attempt to 
enter land claimed by a settler, that the regul- 
ators would see that the offending party was 
thrown into Rock river and kept there until 
he retracted. 



a Universalist and a great man to argue on 
religious topics. After his return from Cali- 
fornia, an account of which trip he published 
in a book, he moved with his family to Minne- 
sota and there joined the Methodist church. 

HORSE THIEVES 

There were bands in early days, who stole 
and ran away with settlers' horses; this was 
a very serious matter, as the settlers depended 
upon the work of their horses to maintain their 
families. These outrages led to the formation 
of societies and organized effort for the purpose 
of assisting in catching horse thieves. The vari- 
ous societies were banded together for mutual 
cooperation. Committees of young men were 
ai)poiuted in different parts of the county, to 
be in readiness with fleet horses, to jjursuo a 
horse thief on short notice. The punishment 
meted out to one if caught was severe in the 
extreme, usually hanging, but the necessity of 
putting a stop to this violation of the law, and 
for the purpose of intimidating horse thieves 
and breaking up such bauds of outlaws, seemed 
to justify the meaus taken to accomplish that 
end. If turned over to the officers for legal 
punishment, these bold thieves frequently 
escaped sometimes through the connivance of 
friends, and sometimes for want of secure jails 
to confine them in, until the law could take its 
course. In case of escape they would rontiuue 
their depredations in a more flagrant manner 
than ever, knowing full well that their pursuit 
and capture was a very difficult matter. It is 
believed the thieves were organized as. well as 
the settlers. 

THE PRAIRIE UANDITS 



FIRST LYCEUM 

Besides organizations for business, there were 
some for pleasure and intellectual improvement. 
The first Lycouni or debating society, was one 
which met in the log cabin of Daniel Christian, 
Sr.. in the winter of lS4.'i and IS-H; among those 
who tcKik part in this Lyceum were. Bradstreet 
Robinson. Rezin Everts, Howard Frew Smith, 
Franklin Langworthy and others. Jlost of these 
men went to California to better their fortunes 
in the gold mines. Langworthy the same winter 
gave a course of lectures on geology. He was 



There was a couipany of them known as the 
Prairie Bandits, which operated along the Mis- 
sissippi river on both sides, extending iuto York 
township on this side. How to counteract the 
outlaw spirit, and stop the horse stealing which 
was so common everywhere, the settlers did 
not know." It is said that iu Ajiril, 3841, several 
of the older settlers called on Judge Ford; he 
afterwards was governor of Illinois, and wrote 
a history of the state, theu a circuit judge, re- 
siding at Oregon, Ogle county, and asked him 
what could be done about the matter. The 
judge knew the strait in which the honest 



674 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



settlers were, iu some communities, and how 
they were at the mercy of au organized band 
of l)laclilegs; that it was almost useless to iu- 
volie the aid of the civil authorities. He recom- 
mended that the honest settlers also organize, 
appoint officers and committees, and where the 
provocation was extreme, that they go to the 
men whom they liuew to be dishonest, and con- 
nected with the horse stealing bands, tal^e them 
by force from their homes, strip them to their 
waist and apply a rawhide to their bare backs. 
He recommended thirty lashes as a very good 
dose for the first application, a second offense 
should call forth a double dose, and the more 
dangerous parties should be given notice to leave 
the state within a short time or suffer the 
consequences. 

vigil.\>;tes 

These organizations were called Regulators 
or Vigilantes. It is said a number of those who 
were whipped, came to the regulators and volun- 
tarily joined the organization and promised to 
obey the rules of the order and lead straight 
lives. They were not only interested iu stop- 
ping horse stealing, but they took it in hand 
to stop all unlawful acts. 

In Elkhorn Grove through the Instance of 
Levi Warner, their attention was called to the 
protection of the timber on the school section, 
in that township. Such quantities of timber 
were required to construct fences and buildings 
and for fuel ; serious depredations were being 
made upon the luiprotected tracts of timber. A 
meeting of the citizens was called and held at 
Mr. Warner's house on the 22d of December, 
1838. The following resolution was passed: 

"Resolved, That the Committee of Vigilance 
Is hereby authorized to appropriate or dispose 
of the timber on the si.>cteenth (school) section, 
that is going to waste, and that a treasurer be 
appointed from said committee, whose duty it 
shall be to put the funds so obtained on interest 
with good security for its forthcoming, when 
called for by the school agent, at the selling or 
disposing of the school lands." 

By resolution Caleb Daiues was appointed 
treasurer. 

ELKIIOKX CKOVE COMPACT 

Levi Warner was instrumental in organizing 
a vigilance committee in Elkhorn Grove, which 



it is said, "had a powerful regulating effect." 
The following is one of the calls he issued as 
secretary : 

"Fellow citizens of Elkhorn Grove Compact, 
the time has arrived requiring our imdivided 
and united efforts, the energy, sagacity, wisdom 
and iutegi'ity of our enlightened body, in en- 
deavoring to maintain ours and others rights, 
with regard to ourselves, our families and our 
homes. In endeavoring to maintain this right, 
if we but suffer ourselves to be led by partiality, 
favor or affection, or biased by the opinions of 
others, favor one i)erson guilty of transgression 
or violence of the rules of our compact more 
than another guilty of the same act, that instant 
our Compact looses its authority, its power and 
(control must fall and we shall be left to the 
mercy and option of any wtio choose and have 
it in their power, to take from us our heads, 
our claims, our favors, our homes, our prospects 
of supporting ourselves and families. Let us 
then go hand in hand with a firm resolution 
to abide by each other iu defending and main- 
taining each others rights and the validity of 
our Compact will be a bar to its encroachment. 

"Fellow citizens of Elkhorn Grove Compact, 
one and all you are hereby requested to meet 
at the Central school house in Elkhorn Grove 
on Saturday the 5th of October next, for the 
purpose of ascertaining whether the Compact 
shall be dissolved or continued in force. By 
order of the Committee of Vigilance, and to do 
such other business as may be thought necessary 
when we meet. Levi Warner, See." 

Xo date is given ; Levi Warner was justice 
of the peace from 1835 to 1839, when this county 
was a part of Jo Daviess. His commission as 
county surveyor is dated, May 1, 1830. The 
act of the state legislature organizing Carroll 
County, was approved February 22, 1839. A 
meeting of the citizens was held at Mr. Warner's 
house to remonstrate against giving the half 
of the three eastern townships of this county 
to Ogle, but it was of no avail. The people 
iu that territory voted to be in Ogle county. 

FARMERS ORGANIZE THE GRANGE MOVEMENT 

Early in the seventies there was a great deal 
of unrest among the farmers of the west, on 
account of the low prices of the staple products 
of the farm, so low as to be quite unremunera- 
tive to the farmers. Indeed there was a time 




<M<7^.^^^-^^ ^^^^2;^ 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



675 



when some found it advisable to buni their 
corn for fuel, rather than sell it for the low 
price then prevailing, (fifteen cents a bushel), 
and buy coal or even wood. At the sauie lime 
agricultural products were bringing fairly good 
prices in the eastern markets, and it was quite 
natural, and a sane business proposition to seek 
the cause and a remedy for their troubles. 

The principal causes seemed to be the cost 
of (ransi)ortation, and the support of a large 
and I'xponsive body of what they called middlo- 
nicii, wlio handletl the farmers" products enroute 
to the general marl<ets, as well as the supplies 
the farmers had to purchase. Single-handed 
they were helpless and could not accomplish 
anything, so that organization became necessary, 
and what was called the grange movement began. 

Uy March, 1S74, an extensive farmers' move- 
ment was in evidence throughout the country. 
Grange organizations and mass meetings of 
farmers were held to discuss taxation, tariff, 
currency and transportation, and to regulate 
things generally. A great Grange Fourth of 
July, (187.^), celebration was held in Elkhorn 
Grove at "Uncle Harry Smith's," at which, 
notwilhstaniling ])revious stormy wea'ther, over 
live thousand people were gathered together. 

By Slay, 1874, the following Grange^ had been 
established in Carroll County: 

Milledgeville; Master, L. C. Uelding: Secre- 
tary, S. II. Todd. 

liook Creek; Master, D. W. Dame; Secretary, 

C. I!. Kllsworth. 

Otter Creek; Master, .\. Wuodiii ; Sccii'tary, 
\V. II. Kreidler. 

Maple Grove; Master, J. II. Shiley ; Secretary, 
J. V. Cotta. 

Salem; Master, B. F. Miller; Secretary, W. 

D. .Moffett 

Enterprise; Master, H. li. Field; Secretary, 
O. ]•:. Southerberry. 

Fair Haven ; Master, E. Hathaway ; Secretary, 
H. H. Holt. 

Freedom ; Master, Daniel Teeter, Sr. ; Secre- 
tary, J. E. Laird. 

Carroll ; Master, Jacob Lohr ; Secretary, John 
H. Keech. 

York ; Master, Robert Dunshee ; Secretary, 
Samuel Lord. 

Oakville ; Master, Jubu .Mackay ; Secretary, 
Robert Graham. 

Argo ; Master. Elijah P.ailcy; Secretary. Edwin 
Kevins. 



Rdsedale; JLaster, Peter Hyzer ; Secretary, 
Williatu Bile.«, Jr. 

At the same time Carroll County was repre- 
sented among the olhcers of the Illinois State 
Grange of Patrons of Husbandry; D. W. Dame 
being charmau of the executive committee and 
Mrs. Dame being elected Ceres. 

At the organization of the Illinois State 
Farmers Association, January l.'ith and 10th, 
1873, there were present delegates from granges 
and farmers' clubs, two hundred .•ind seventy-five, 
they met at Bloomingtou and organized. Dun- 
can Mackay of Salem township, was elected 
treasurer. 

At the second annual meeting of the Illinois 
State Grange, lield at Bloomington, December 
0. 1873, D. W. Dame was on the committee on 
transiwrtatiou, and by resolution was apiwinted 
alternate delegate to the National Grange, and 
L. C. Beldiug of Carroll County was on the 
committee of "Home Manufactures." 

After these agitations had reached a climax, 
the excitement among the farmers began to 
wane. The patrons of husbandry became so 
engrossed in their private affairs, they neglected 
to attend the meetings of the local Granges, 
and finally nearly all organizations were neg- 
lected. Still the agitation and consequent or- 
ganization left its impression upon the legislation 
of the western states, and we have in the 
statute iKioks of Illinois, the first state to take 
action in this respect, what has been called the 
(Jrange Legislation, composed of some very 
useful and salutary laws. Some of these laws 
the railroad corporations were loath to obey, 
especially a law reducing the rate of fare 
to be charged by a certain railway com- 
jiany. The farmers were too impatient to 
await the action of the courts, and were deter- 
mined to make a test case; a number of them 
boarded a train and tendered the conductor the 
legal fare, which under instructions he refused 
to accept, there were too many for the train 
officers to undertake to put them off so they 
carried them to their destination, without pay. 
On another occasion, however, those refusing 
to pay the demands of the railroad, were col- 
lected in several cars, and soon found themselves, 
ingloriously side-tracked far from any station, 
with no means of locomotion except what nature 
had provided them with, as they no doubt said : 
"shanks' mare." These agitations, by the farm- 
ers, coui)led with the arguments they so strongly 



676 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



urged, had their influence iu shaping the decis- 
ions ot our highest tribunal, when eventually the 
cases reached our supreme court, and had some 
influence iu bringing about the enactment of 
the original Interstate Commerce law iu 1SS7, 
after fifteen years of more or less continuous 
discussion in and out of congress. 

One of the most useful laws enacted on account 
of the Grange agitation, was that authorizing 
the organization of Township Mutual Fire In- 
surance companies, which was eventually ex- 
tended to authorize County Mutual Fire Insur- 
ance companies, also the laws authorizing what 
is called Fraternal (life) Insurance. 

So immense were the profits in the so-called, 
"Old Line Companies," both fire and life insur- 
ance, as to be hard to be believed. 

PROFITS IN OLD LINE INSURANCE 

Here is an example of one of these; the facts 
and figures are taken from sworu testimony, 
names are omitted. 

In 1S75 the plaintiff took twenty shares of 
stock in one of these c-ompanies, par value, 
fifty dollars per share amounting to one thou- 
sand dollars, he paid on this purchase two hun- 
dred dollars iu cash, $200.00. The balance, eight 
hundred dollars was paid him out of cash divi- 
dends. 

In 1S70. he took forty shares more, and paid 
cash $2,000. 



Total outlay $2,200. 

From time to time he received in stock divi- 
dends. 913 shares, par value $50, amounting to 
$45,050.00. 
During the same time he received iu 

cash dividends $ 46,521.85 

He sold 373 shares at $275 per share 102,854.75 
Plaintiff was offered in cash for the 
remaining GOO shares $300 per 

share, making 180.000.00 

This was in 1902, since then he has re- 
ceived in cash dividends 54.0o0.00 

Increased value of his shares, now 
$650. each 210,000.00 

Total return to plaintiff ou an invest- 
ment of $2,200 $593,376.60 

This is Ijetter than money at ten per cent in- 
terest compounded, which without loss, doubles 
every seven years. This was a life insurance 



company. The same is true with reference to 
fire insurance. Here are the figures taken from 
a company that is a comi>etitnr of the mutual 
fire insurance companies in this county and in- 
sures to a considerable extent the same class of 
proi^erty. From a newspaper clipping; Two 
dividends of thirty-five per cent each were de- 
clared during the last fiscal year. The stock, 
the par value of which is one hundred dollars 
per share, was quoted in January. 1909. at 
$1,450 per share; January, 1910, $1,700, and Feb- 
ruary 9th, at $1,850 per share. 

The statute of Illinois, requires all insurance 
companies doing business in the state to publish 
annually a report of their business done in the 
state. In these reports they are required to 
answer the following questions : "How much 
have you received in premiums in this state 
during the past year, and how much have you 
paid iu losses during the same time?" The 
answers invariably show that the receipts are 
double in amount for what they pay for losses. 
A consideration of these facts led the farmers 
to organize insurance companies of their own, 
notwithstanding the oft reiterated cry of the 
"Old Liners," that "only those trained to the 
business can make a success of it." They have 
trained themselves to the business and have 
made a success of it. 

FRATERNAL INSURANCE 

More than twenty years ago the citizens of 
Mount Carroll were very much interested in the 
fraternal insurance company called the Modern 
Woodmen of America, and assisted in its organ- 
ization ; it is now the largest and most success- 
ful fraternal insurance company in America. 
One of the first camps. No. S, was organized in 
Mount Carroll, A. M. Green, a druggist in 
Mount Carroll, was supreme treasurer of the 
head organization. C. C. Farmer was one of 
the founders and for twenty-one years one of 
the Board of Managers. 

.MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES 

The first company organized in the count.v, was 
the Eagle Point .Alutual Township Fire Insur- 
ance Company, which commenced business Aug- 
ust 26th, 187.3. Abraham Higley was the first 
president and Henry Elsej', was secretary, he has 
held the office for thirty-seven years. The ter- 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



677 



ritory in which it was autliori/i'il to do liusiness 
was the half township of Kagle Point in Ogle 
county and the lialf township of Ellchorn Grove 
in Carroll county. Its last annual report shows 
that it had in force one hundred and seventy- 
six policies, amounting to $iJ4'.».42S.OO. held by 
180 members. The cost was thirty cents on each 
hundred dollars e\ery live years, which has suf- 
ficed to pay all expenses and all losses by fire 
and lightuins. 

The next company to or^tanize was the Rock 
Creek Township Mutual Fire Insurance com- 
pany, which commenced business April 1st, 1S74 ; 
Duncan Mackay was the first president and 
Robert Galusha, Secretary. The original com- 
pany took In five townships, in 1902 was changed 
to a County Mutual, but continued to operate in 
the same territory; its last annual report shows 
that it liad !'.«» imlicies in force amounting' to 
$1,024,128. 

The next comiiany to organize, that had terri- 
tory in this county, was the Forestou Mutual 
Fire Insurance Company, commenced business 
February, 1877, and the Loran Township Mutual 
Fire Insurance company, commenced business 
January 1. 1880; the former company had one 
township. Shannon, and the latter, two town- 
ships. Cherry Grove and Freedom, in this county, 
together with other townsliips in the adjoining 
counties. 

The Mount Carroll. Mutual Township Fire In- 
surance eomi>any, commenced business March 1st, 
1SS7, Amasa T. Duushee. president and C. L. 
Hostetter. secretary. This company did a suc- 
cessful business for twelve years, when it was 
merged into the county mutual. All these com- 
panies refused to insure dwellings in the cities 
and towns of the caunty. In these there were 
many citizens who were desirous of Insuring 
their proiierty on the mutual plan ; a number of 
them got togetlier and organized the Mt. Carroll 
Mutual County Fire Insurance company and on 
May Gth, 1888, issued its first policy. Elijah 
Bailey was president and C. L. Hostetter secre- 
tary. In the fall of 1893 all the members of the 
Mount Carroll Township Mutual reinsured in the 
County Mutual. Its last annual reiwrt shows 
the company had in force 2,058 policies amount- 
ing to $3,197,333. It has nearly two thousand 
members. The cost of Insurance in these com- 
panies is less than one-half the cost In the old 
line companies. After an experience of nearly 



forty years, the farmers have demonstrated to 
llit'ir satisfaction that the mutual plan is a safe 
and very economical way of insuring their prop- 
erty aganst loss or damage by fire and light- 
ning. 

It is said in a recent work, (Parsons Laws of 
Business, 1911), that of late years the numljer 
of mutual fire insurance companies has great- 
ly increased in tliis country and much the larg- 
est amount of insurance against fire is effected 
Ijy them. The principal reason for this is, un- 
doubtedly, their cheapness, and reliability may 
be added. 



CHAPTER VI. 



SOLDIERS AND PATRIOTIC ORDERS. 



THE OBAND ABMY OF THE REPUBLIC — NASE POST 
NO. 80 — OBJECTS — woman's W. R. C. NO. 95, 
MOUNT CARROIX — SHILOH POST NO. 8.5 — SHILOH 
W. R. C, LANARK — ILLINOIS W. R. C. GAZETTE — 
OBJECTS OF THE W. R. C. 

SOLDIERS AND PATRIOTIC ORDERS 

The following names were omitted from a for- 
mer history of the county, which purixjrted to 
give the names of all those soldiers who en- 
listed in the war for the preservation of the 
union, from Carroll County : John H. Allison, 
enlisted August 2Sth. 18G1 in Company G.. 39th 
Illinois Infantry; killed at Suffolk, Va., Septem- 
ber 28tb, 1802. 

William Allison, enlisted October 22nd, IStil, 
in Company H., 55th Illinois Infantry: dis- 
charged October 31st, 1804; was killed in a 
railroad accident at Dixon, Illinois, on liis way 
home from service. 

These men were brothers of Joseph F. Allison 
a veteran of the late war, who was in many 
l)atties and several times seriously wounded. 
Their father, Fisher Allison, was one of the 
pioneer settlers of Elkhorn Grove. 



678 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



13-lTn IXFANTRV. (,100 DAY SERVICE) 

Early iu tbe siiring of 1S04, the governors of 
the middle western states, namely : Ohio, Indi- 
ana, Illinois and Iowa, believing that the rebel- 
lion was neariug its close, and desiring to aid 
the government in every way possible, tendered 
to the president a volunteer force of eighty-five 
thousiind One Hundred-day men, to relieve the 
veteran soldiers from guard duty at our forts, 
arsenals and elsewhere ; of this number, Illi- 
nois furnished thirteen regiments and two bat- 
talions. Speaking of the service performd by 
the hundred-day troops. Governor Yates, iu his 
last annual message, paid them a high 
and deserved compliment in these words, "Our 
regiments under this call performed indispensa- 
ble and invaluable services, in Kentucky, Ten- 
nessee and Missouri, relieving garrisons of vet- 
eran troops who were put to the front, and took 
part in the Atlanta campaign, several of them 
also composing a part of that glorious army 
that bas i>enetrated the very vitals of the re- 
bellion and plucked some of the brightest laurels 
that this heroic age has woven for a patriotic 
soldier. Five out of the hundred-day regiment, 
(the i:Uth was one of these) after their term 
of service had expired voluntarily extended their 
engagements with the government and marched 
to the relief of the gallant and able Rosencrans, 
who at the head of an inadequate and poorly 
appointed army was contending against fearful 
odds for the preservation of St. Louis and the 
safety of Missouri.'' They were also tendered 
the thanks of President Lincoln. All had en- 
listed without bounty and only received a sol- 
diers monthly pay. 

The 1.34th Infantry, Illinois Volunteers, was 
organized at Camp Fry, Chicago, Illinois, by 
Col. Walter W. MeChesney, and was mustered 
in May 31st, 1804, for one hundred days. Left 
Camp Fry June 3rd, for Columbus, Kentucky, 
and was assigned to garrison and picket duty. 
Mustered out of service October 2.5th. 1804, at 
Chicago. 111., by Lieutenant Joseph Horr, 1.3th 
U. S. Infantry. Those from Carroll county 
were: 
Company E. — 

Wagoner, Nathaniel P. Walters. 

Privates: Samuel Allen, James Brotherton, 
William C. Cooley, Reuben II. Gray, James Ir- 
vine, Silas Killum, John R. Robinson, Jliltou 
H. Westbrook. 



Company G. — 

First Sergeant: C. L. Hostetter. 

Corporal : John S. Emmert. 

Privates: John T. James, John E. Long, Wil- 
liam J. Libertou, Smith Myers, Thomas Pal- 
mer, Gideon K. Palmer, George F. Robison, John 
Stump, Jacob Wolf, Daniel Watson. 

THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC 

When the soldiers of the Union Army came 
back from the war, the service they had given 
their country made them distinguished veterans 
and they became the recipients of the nation's 
homage. These soldiers had made it possible to 
have and keep a united country. At the recent 
dedication of the battlefield of Osawatomie, Kan- 
sas, which the Women's Relief Corps there had 
purchased and presented to the state, ex-Presi- 
dent Roo.sevelt i>aid this tribute to these men. 
•'John Brown's work was brought to completion, 
was made perfect by the men who bore aloft the 
banner of the Union during the four terrible 
years between Sumter and Apiwmatox. To the 
soldiers who fought through those years — and of 
course to a very few of their civilian chiefs like 
Lincoln — is due the supreme debt of the Na- 
tion. They alone of all our people since we be- 
came a Nation, rendered to us and to all who 
c-ome after us a service indispensable. They 
occupy the highest and most honorable posi- 
tion ever occupied by any men of any generation 
in our country." 

At the close of the war, it was natural for the 
soldier who with his comrades had endured the 
hardships, sufferings and anguish of wounds, 
and all the privations of a dreadful war, to 
possess a feeling of the very closest friendship 
for those who had served with him during such 
service. When therefore the soldiers of the 
Union army, were mustered out of the service, 
which they had so freely given their country, 
the greatest comradeship that ever knit men to- 
gether was sundered, and they cheerfully ac- 
cepted whatever influence would again unite 
them in the fellow.ship of their comrades and 
tend to keep bright the recollections of their 
army life. And so it came about that the Grand 
Army of the Republic was formed. The first 
organization was effected at Decatur, Illinois, 
April 0th, 18G0. The motto of the Grand Army 
is, "Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty." Its pur- 
iwse is to teach patriotism to the rising genera- 




ELECTRIC LIGHT STATION, 
MT. CARROLL 




WATKI! \\(i1;KS PLANT, M'lV CAHHOLL 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



679 



tlon and to inculcate purity in ijublic affairs, and 
to assist needy and worthy soldiers, their widows 
and orpliaus. 

Tlie fullowinj; is a list of the members of the 
G. A. K. I'osts, and of the Woman's Relief Corps 
in Carroll County, so far as llie same could he 
obtained. 

Charter members of Nase Tost, Xo. 80, G. A. 
R., Department of Illinois, which was the first 
organized in the county : Dan R. Frazer, D. B. 
Smith, J. F. Allison, E. T. E. Becker, A. B. Nel- 
son. W. II. Wildoy. W. P. Robb. .1. Schick. I.. E. 
Miller. W. D. IIughe.«, Conrad Frederick. Dudley 
O'Xeal. R. A. Williams, J. W. Kling, J. P. Beat- 
tie, Allen McClure, A. Mathewson, Oliver 
Swartz, John Daughty, John Sager, Charles P. 
Sutton, Joseph C. Forbes, Jacob Everhart, Otis 
Grim. Charter is dated the ninth day of July. 
A. D., 1880. 

Other members : R. M. A. Hawk, J. L. Taylor, 
John Hoover, E. Force. John C. Davis, F. R. 
Ely, Augustus I'hilips, W. II. Kennedy, David 
Shilling, Jas. O'Brien, Jeremiah George, J. II. 
Bowman. G. P. Sutton. D. Embick. Hiram 
i;. Wolf. Lyman L. Wood, Jacob Wood, John I. 
Fisher, DeLancy Kenyon, J. P. liussell, II. Kear- 
uaghan, John R. Evans, Ileury Loechel, J. 
Schleining, Wm. B. Rea, John II. Gray, John 
Shay, Jacob Bucher, Elhannan Fisher, Euos T. 
Cole, D. L. Oberhoim, J. Goodmiller, A. K. II. 
Pickert, George Roth, C. Bawden, J. Broomhall, 
John W. Lego, J. M. Kremer, E. C. White, J. B. 
Cushman, Henry St. Clair, C. V. JIcDermott, 
Wm. Fulton. G. W. Collins, John Zuck. James 
M. Smith, Thos. J. Smith, Geo. W. Gelwicks, Jos. 
P. Smith, Frank L. Tuttle, G. F. Bucher, A. Wal- 
lace, Jno. C. Gelwicks, A. Ferreuberg, W. L. 
Bennett, Christopher Davis, II. C. Kenyon, Adam 
Laufer, Wm. Noble. Wm. Fulton. M. Rinedollar, 
D. W. Herman, J. S. Hall, J. T. Clevidence, 
George Eckliart, E. Fink, John Mader, Philip C. 
Gill, J. C. Rinedollar, J. H. Cluck, Frederick 
Diehl, Jacob C. Clark, Burton Philips, Henry 
Meyer.s, A. N. Rockstead, J. E. Morgan. J. D. 
Fargusson, David William, II. O. Speight, N. 
Rinedollar, Henry Ilartman, Adam Kohler, J. H. 
Jackson, M. D. Ilerrington, C. Bachman, D. M. 
Hewett, Wm. II. Shultz, Martin H. Reeder, 
George Horner. 

OFFICERS FOB 1880 

W. H. Wildey, Commander. 

R. .V. Williams, Senior Vice Commander. 



John Sager, Junior Vice Coivmiander. 

J. F. Allison, Officer of the Day. 

W. P. Roljbe, Outside Guard. 

E. T. E. Becker, Quartermaster. 

D. B. Smith, Sergeant Major. 

A. B. Nelson, Quartermaster Sergeant. 

W. D. Hughes, Adjutant. 

The following are the Past Post Commanders 
of Nase Post: W. H. Wildey, R. A. Williams, 
W. D. Hughes, John C. Davis, E. T. E. Becker, 
Joseph F. Allison, Don R. Frazier, John C. Gel- 
wicks, W. P. Robb, Evan T. Cole. 

Number of members in good standing, 52; de- 
ceased, 40 ; moved away. 9 ; total enrolled, 110. 

Present commander. Captain W. II. Wildey. 

Nase Post has printed with its roster and 
memorial roll, the following : 

THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC 

"No child can be born into it ; no proclamation 
of President, or edict of King or Czar can com- 
mand admission ; no university or institute of 
learning can issue a diploma authorizing its 
holder to enter; no act of Congress or Parlia- 
ment secures recognition; the wealth of a Van- 
derbilt cannot ijurehase the position ; its doors 
swing open only upon the presentation of a bit 
of paper, torn, worn, begrimed it may be, which 
certifies to an honorable discharge from the Ar- 
nues or Navies of the Nation dui-ing the war 
against the rebellion,'' and, unlike any other as- 
sociation, no "new blood'' can come in ; there 
are no growing ranks from which recruits can be 
drawn into the Grand Army of the Republic. 
With the consummation of i>eaee through victory 
its rolls were closed forever. 

The objects to be accomplished liy this organ- 
ization are as follows: 

1. To preserve and strengthen those kind and 
fraternal feelings which bind together the sol- 
diers, sailors and marines who united to sui)- 
press the late rebellion. 

2. To assist such former comrades in arms 
as need help and protection ; and to extend n(H>d- 
ful aid to the widows and orphans of those wlio 
have fallen. 

3. To maintain true allegiance to the United 
States of America, based upon a paramount 
respect for, and fidelity to the National Consti- 
tution and the laws, to discountenance wli.itevi'r 



G80 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



tends to weaken loyalty, incite insurrection, trea- 
son or rebellion, or in any manner impairs the 
efficiency or permanency of our free institutions ; 
to promote the spread of universal liberty, equal 
rights, and justice to all men. and to encourage 
honor and purity in public affairs. 

THE woman's relief CORPS 

A kindred and auxiliary organization to the 
G. A. R. is the Woman's Relief Corps. It is 
comiiosed of the motliers, wives, daughters and 
sisters of the Union soldiers, .sailors and mar- 
ines, who aided in putting down the rebellion, 
together with other loyal women. This order 
may thus be perpetuated but tlie Grand Army, 
as an organization, will cease when all its mem- 
bers are dead. 

The Objects 

The objects of this organization are to es- 
pecially aid and assist the members of the Grand 
Army of the Republic and as a matter of course 
to sympathize with them, and to perpetuate the 
memory of the heroic dead of the Union Army. 
To assist all Union Veterans who may need help 
and protection and to assist their widows and 
orphans, and find them homes and employment 
when necessary and to assure them of their sym- 
pathy and protecton and friendship. To cherish 
the memory and hold in the highest esteem our 
army nurses and all loyal women who rendered 
service in any manner to our common country in 
her hour of need. To maintain true allegiance 
to the United States of America. And to in- 
culcate lessons of patriotism and love of country 
among their children and in the communities in 
which they live and to encourage the spread of 
universal liberty and equal rtghts to all man- 
kind. 

The corps at any place are supposed to take 
the name of tlie Grand Army post to which they 
are auxiliary. In case a post disbands, the 
corps that has been auxiliary to it may still con- 
tinue as a corps of the department of the 
Woman's Relief Corps retaining their original 
number and name. 

The corps badge is a Maltese cross of copper 
bronze with the Grand Army medallion in the 
center surrounded with the words on each of 
the four corners. Woman's-Relief-Corps-18S.3, 
the date of the original organization. The cross 



is suspended from a pin bearing the monogram of 
the initials, "F. C. L.'' ( Fraternity. Charity, 
Loyalty), by a red, white and blue ribljou of suit- 
able length and width. 

XASE woman's relief CORPS. KO. 9o 

Through the kindness of Mrs. E. L. Forbes of 
Mount Carroll, we are favored with the following 
report of Xase Relief Corps, Xo. 95. which was 
organized January Kjth. 1002. by Mrs. Martlia 
H. Baxter, Department President, in Memorial 
Hall, Mt. Carroll; the first officers were: Presi- 
dent. Mrs. Etta J. Smith ; Sr. Vice President, 
Mrs. Sarah C. Becker ; .Jr. Vice President, 
Ann Rinedollar ; Chaplain. Mrs. Louisa B. Cluck ; 
Secretary, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Myers ; Treasurer. 
Mrs. Nancy Mader ; Conductor, Naomi Hall ; 
Guard, Ruhmah Stitely ; Assistant Conductor, 
May Wildey ; Assistant Guard, Emily Wildey ; 
1st Color Bearer, J. O'Neal ; 2nd, Carrie Ben- 
nett ; ord. Emma L. Forbes : 4th. Susan Cluck : 
Organist, Anna A. King. 

The names of the charter members iu addition 
to the above officers were : Esther E. Farmer, 
Echiah Cole, Susanna §. Unger, Louisa B. Cluck. 
Josephine M. Kramer. Alice Watson. Matilda D. 
Browning. Ann O'Neal, L. Annie Hollinger. Caro- 
line M. Browning, Minne G. Eley, Anna E. 
Eley, Sarah G. Liberton, Ruth Rohrer, Eliza- 
beth Eymer, Hester Fink, Ella M. Feezer, Susan 
Petty. 

Nase Rfelief Corps lias a memliership of fifty- 
four members. The ladies take great interest 
in their work and hold their meetings regularly 
in Memorial Hall. The Past Presidents have 
beeu Etta J. Smith ; Emma L. Forbes ; Louisa 
B. Cluck. The present officers are Anna M. King, 
President ; Susan Rinedollar, Sr., Vice President ; 
Emma L. Forbes, Junior Vice President; Chap- 
lain, Louisa B. Cluck; Secretary, Retta Sisler. 

SHILOH POST G. A. R., LANARK 

Through the kindness of Comrade Col. George 
A. Root, Commander of Shiloh Post No. 8-5. 
Department of Illinois, Grand Army of the Re- 
public, we are favored mth the following infor- 
mation : The iKJst was named Shiloh Post because 
most of the charter members were engaged in 
that battle. 

The post was organized September 23rd, 1880, 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



681 



by I'aptiUii Wililey, assisted by J. 1'. Allisuii. M. 
O., with the following officers: 

Geo. M. Lattig. Coiiimaiider ; D. II. Snyiler, 
Senior A'ice Connnander ; George W. Noble, 
.Junior Vice Comnmnder; David Lepnian, 
Quartermaster ; George A. Hoot, Officer of the 
I»ny ; Willis Kay. Otlicer of the (Juard ; Seth C. 
Wiley, .\djutant; W. L. Thomson, Sergeant 
JIa jor ; .1. T. Valentine, Quartermaster Sergeant. 

Other charter ujemliers were: M. J. Rowland. 
George W. Gordon. B. S. Gaff, Victor Whisler, 
Austin Willis. K. Stover. Peter Raymer, H. W. 
Wales. .7. R. Rudirauff. .T. I'. Carman. Jonas 
Hutlingtiin. Henry Fonlds. Thomas Elder. A. H. 
Howen. Warren Sherwood. M. J. Boyle and I. L. 
IJowen. 

.Toined since by muster or transfer : L. II. 
Sprecher, C. A. Cobb, G. D. Lint, Ellas Binga- 
niaii. .7. Wheat. Samuel C. Gault, X. Fagan, 
Thomas Daley. ,7. Balts!. Henry Lego, h. T. Bray, 
W. II. Ford. Oil R. Wiseman, Wm. Schaut, J. 
W. Flanagan, Amos Ditsworth. P. W. Eisenhise, 
J. II. Stri.Uler, W. II. Mi/.ner. John Mahaffa, .M. 
C. JlcCogg, M. Cakerice, Luman Willis, Levi 
Chirk, Geo. W. Annis, E. A. Straub. Henry Mil- 
ler, D. A. Galpln, C. R. Bennett, S. E. Carter, 
Thomas Gibbons, Jas. W. Lee, 11. J. Griswold, 
Geo. Xicodemus, II. French, Thos. J. Sizer, J. E. 
Robinson. C. P. Snow, Amos Walk, J. E. Tav- 
ener. .1. H. Mrllhatim. .\. Wakeman. .7ohn Tall- 
man. J. W. Wimer, C. H. Spanogle, Wm. Garland, 
A. P. Doolittle, Henry Rister, SI. Cormauy, Frank 
Mitchell, Geo. H. Paul, E. L. Lower, Edmond 
Flora, Ilobert G. Aurand, John A. Sleer, Wm. 
Corey, Ellswortli Ilerrington and Perry Xixon. 

Tlie following have been Post Commanders : 
George M. I..atig, D. A. Galpiu, Eli L. Lower, Ij. 
H. Sprecher and the present commander, George 
A. Root. 

This post lias eighty-eight members and meets 
regularly at Masonic Hall the first and third 
Wciliicsilay evening of each month. 

Simon WO.\IAN"s RKLIlil" COIU'S 

was orgatiized Feliruary ISth, 1803, with 
eighteen charter members as follows: President, 
Mary J. Sprecher; Senior Vice President, Aima 
Lafferty : Junior Vice-President. Lettie Dres- 
back; Chaplain, Elizabeth Keller; Conductor, 
R<).\y (ilotfelty; Treasurer. Ora Sprecher; 
Guard. .\nn Sprecher; Secretary. Anna Bailey; 



.\sst. Con.. Lizzie Ilaller; and Asst. Guard, 
.Matilda Ford. 

Other charter members were Emaline BufC- 
ingtoii, Elizabeth Boyle, Sarah Brooke, Mary 
Rorabeek, Clarissa Valentine, Mrs. G. M. Latig, 
Rena Sleer and Kate Aunis. 

The following are the Past Corjis Presidents: 
Xaiicy Sprecher, Anna M. Bailey, Anna I^afforty, 
Helen Middlekauff, Josibelle Dilley, Ella Mc- 
Xaiuar and Anna Sprecher Weed. Lydia Landt 
is Secretary, Etta Packard, Treasurer, and 
Emma Heath, Press Correspondent. 

The jireseut itiembers are, beside those men- 
tioned above, Sarah Brooke, Phoebe Yeager, Vine 
Wales, Grace Franck. Myra Pierce. Amaiula Lego, 
Catharine Kiukade. Blanche Kinkade. Tliursa 
.Noble, Etta Packard, Alice S. Sherwood, Anna 
Wild, Nettie Bray, Grace Wiley, Sarah Snow, 
Hattie Downs, Ida Tallman, Chloe Galpln, Cora 
McLaughlin Burwell. Maggie La Shelle, Julia 
Strickler, Isabel Gault, Clarissa Leland, Flora 
.\rnold, Aggie Woodside, Eva Landt, Clara 
Teachout, Rebecca McLaughlin, Mary Cottrell, 
Eliniiia Howe, Henrietta Sponsellar, Florence 
Good, Kate Hodge, Jo.^ibelle Dilley, Mae Gril- 
ley, Ida Good, Louise Warfel, Ella Swigert, 
Frances Ditsworth, Mattie Hugett, Mary Mit- 
chell, Mary Wimer, Bessie McNaiuar, Delia Me- 
Knight, Lydia Landt, Cora Burnette, Mrs. D. 
Hei)ner, Ijizzie Root, Adda Tallman, Mary 
Courts, D. Leonette Stevens, Leona Hess, Anna 
Bray, Abbie Hess, Emma Derr, Ella Risle.v, .Mar- 
garet Reitzell, Mae Sword, Lulu Jane Ileiter, 
Jennie Ketterman, Anna Horning, Fannie Sleer, 
Ella I'eters, Bess Colver, Emma Heath, JIayne 
Peters, Lydia Aspinwall, Ida S. Renuer, Nan 
Gossard, Luella Schadt Peters, Esther Schnee, 
Leah Weed, Edna Dobbs and Edith Lower. 

Shiloh Relief Corps Xo. 227, now boasts of one 
luiiidred members and is one of the strongest in 
the department, and in the real work of the 
order stands second to none. Anna Sprecher 
Weed of this corps has been appointed .\ssistant 
Department Inspector three times. 

THE II.r.INOIS W. H. C. GAZETTK 

This very useful and interesting magazine wa.9 
started by Helen .Middlekauff of Lanark, daugh- 
ter of Judge Seymour D. Thomson of St. Louis, 
a distliiguisbed law writer. 

Mrs. Middlekauff is a ineinber of Shiloh W. K. 
C, and was several times president nf the corps; 



682 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



in May, 190G, she was apixnnted press corre- 
spoudent of tlie Department of Illinois. Her 
duties as such correspondent were to dissemi- 
nate iutelligeuce to tlie public of tile practical 
and fraternal w-orU of the order and as she said 
in her "Prefatory" remarks, "to rualie the paper 
newsy in W. R. C. affairs, trusting that from 
its pages members may learn the ways and 
means used by other corps of extending relief 
and raising money for relief funds." The 
Gazette is still published monthly in neat maga- 
zine form, Volume 5 being now edited and pub- 
lished by Ida M. Treuary, 5481 Kimbark ave- 
nue, Chicago. 

A'ery many interesting activities of the W. R. 
C. are reported in this magazine, a few of which 
follow : 

Turning over monies to the post, no doubt 
very acceptable to the old soldiers. 

Taking a large prize for a patriotic float on 
the occasion of a street parade. 

Getting up ten cent teas to raise money, which 
also add much to the social enjoyment of the 
members of the corps and their friends. 

Surprising some comrade of the post with a 
fine supper, or with popcorn and bananas or 
sandwiches and coffee, and some friends, who 
thus tried to show their good will and friend- 
ship. 

Sending boxes to needy soldiers. 

Buying a cemetery lot and allowing no soldier 
to be buried in the potter's tiekl. 

Erecting monuments at the unmarked graves 
of old soldiers. 

Furnishing a ward in a hospital for the use 
of old soldiers. 

A whist party given by the ladies of the corps 
was a success both socially and fiaiancially. 

One corps held a "rummage sale," which was 
a great success. 

"Sunshine Committee,'' sent many a spray of 
beautiful flowers to cheer the room of sick mem- 
bers or comrades of the G. A. R. 

Banquets for husbands of corps ladies, to 
which the G. A. R. boys were invited. 

I'atriotic instruction during teachers' institutes 
nnd the best methods of imparting same in the 
schools and elsewhere, to the end that the serv- 
ice rendered our country by the old soldiers may 
not be forgotten and that the young men of our 
glorious country will be ready and willing when 
occasion may require, to fill up the ranks of our 
defenders. 



Some of the orders of the Department are pub- 
lished in the Gazette which add to its inter- 
est. The subscription price is only fifty cents 
a year, which together with a few advertise- 
ments, pays for its publication. The editorial 
work of Jlrs. Jliddlekauff, although it required 
a great deal of time, was gratuitous. The 
Gazette is so well started on its way now, 
that it is self supporting and promises to be- 
come a very useful factor in the affairs of the 
W. R. C. of Illinois. The Deixirtment of Illi- 
nois may well be proud of the fact that it 
maintains the only Woman's Relief Corps news- 
pai)er or magazine in existence. 



CHAPTER VII. 



PATRIOTIC ORDERS— Continued. 



B. M. A. HAWK POST, 40G W. K. C, SAVANNA — 

GEORGE KBIDLER POST, 575 — W. R. C, MILLED6E- 

VILLE — HOL.MAN POST, 579 RECAPTURED FLAGS 

W. B. C, THOMSON — HOLDEN PUTNAM POST, 

646 CAMP SONS OF VETEBANS — W. R. C, SHAN- 
NON DR. JOHN L. HOSTETTEB POST, 785 W. R. 

C. CHADWICK — R. M. A. HAWK POST, 40G 
SAVANNA. 

The present Comuiauder of this Post is Frank 
Kearney, who kindly furnished the following in- 
formation : 

The Past Commanders have been, H. C. Hun- 
ter, John Hoffman, J. A. Robison, Charles L. 
Howe, F. L. Tuttle, Bernard Holland, George E. 
Fuller, J. R. Robinson, and B. J. Murray. 

ORGANIZED 

The Post was organized February 19th, 1884, 
with the following charter members: Samuel 
Allen, James Atkins, John Buckley, Bailey Clev- 
enger, H. W. Chapman, John H. Eley, W. L. 
Gayetty, William Gibbons, George Goddard, John 
Hoffman, H. C. Hunter, Frank Kearney, B. J. 
Murray, W. J. Ritchie, John A. Robison, Levi 




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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



683 



St-hadle. Tom Souires, .7. M. Startzmau, Carl 
Turner, G. W. Varuey aiul Jolm Hulett. 

Other members of the Post: Daniel Atherton, 
Charles Bartlett, A. Bost, B. J. Berge, Nelson 
Bersley, D. M. Bersley, Augiistiu Bristol, George 
Buckley, G. C. Carpenter, George Chapin, Ira 
Clarke, George W. Collins, John Conner, Thomas 
Donald, 'William Ellis, Dave Fitzpatrick, N. 
Fish, .Tohu Flory, George K. Fuller, William Ful- 
ton. John (Jrovor, Uobert Getty. Nat Ginter. 
II. II. Good, Tom Graham, Thadeas Groves. H. 
D. Grover. Archie Hall, John Hoffman. James 

F. Hubbell, Noah II. Jordon. Will B. Jordon, 
John Lahre, U. Leonard, William Lucas, Allan 
JlcClure, G. W. McGowen, Dan Jlclutyre, Joseph 
D. Mace, Thomas Mechem, Jac-ob F. Miller. 
Robert Moore, Smith Myers, J. A. Nickells, Ja- 
cob I'latteuberg, J. M. Powers, Fred Prufer, Ben- 
ton Rituour. John R. Robinson, J. Richardson, 
Tliomas A. Royer, John F. Schluuke, W. S. Shel- 
don, Charles Salsherry, William Stubs, Nicholas 
Sewerth, Ulrich Truuiuger. I'liney Taylor, Frank 
L. Tuttle, Carlton Weckfleld, Nels G. Wliisler, 
U. L. Wilder, J. S. Wright, Michael Zigafus. 

[R. M. A. Hawk Post was named after that 
gallant soldier. Major R. M. A. Hawk, of the 
92nd Illinois V. I., who lost a limb in a skirmish 
at Swift Creek, N. C, at the close of the war. 
Indeed the news had come to the Union forces 
that Lee had surrendered, ju.st before the enemy 
charged Major Hawk's connnand. He was for 
many years County Clerk of Carroll County and 
in 1S77 was elected to the 4(Uli Congress; he died 
in W'ashingtiin while in attendance u|)on his 
duties in Congress. 

His widow. Mrs. Mary G. Hawk, at the time 
of the dedication of the Soldier.s' Monument, took 
advantage of the occasion to invite all the mem- 
bers of the Post to her house to dinner, and you 
may be sure treated them right royally ; she also 
presented each member with a fine steel engrav- 
ing and memorial of her late husband, which the 
members of tlie Post prize very highly. Such an 
occasion as this is a bright spot in the life of 
an old soldier which he will long remember. 

W. R. C, SAVANNA 

Mrs. Olive E. Gilbert, President, Savanna, 
kindly furnished the following names of the of- 
ficers and a list of members of the Woman's 
Relief Corps No. 28.3 of the R. M. A. Hawk Post 

G. A. R. Savaima : 



President, Olive E. Gilbert ; Senior Vice Presi- 
dent. Sue JiirdoM ; Junior Vice, Ruth llolman; 
Secretary Mary E. Sager; Treasurer, Edith Bu- 
chanan; Chaplain, Catharine Gilbert; Conductor, 
Augusta Kosey ; Guard. Amelia Wliislcr. 

Other members: Edith Buheren, Hazel Des 
Parios. Ida Elliott, Mary Fulton, Catharine Gil- 
bert, OIlie Gilbert, Amanda Groves, Emma 
Haines, Jennie Hodson, Emma Homedew, Ruth 
Ilolmeu, Eliza Jordon, Elizabeth Johnson. Sue 
Jordou. Augusta Kosey, JIary Prufer, ilaud 
Piukney, Mary Sager, Jess Pulley, Amelia Sor- 
enson, Mary Jane Taylor, Amelia Whisler, Anna 
Williamson. 

GEORGE KRIDU;B POST G. A. R. >0. 575 

Commander Horace T. Healy of Milledgeville 
kindly furnished the following information in 
regard to George Kridler Post, No. ~^''^, Depart- 
ment of Illinois, G. A. R. 

The iwst received its charter and was mustereil 
in -May 15, 1886, by Captain W. H. Wildey, 
mustering officer for this district. The follow- 
ing comrades, being charter members and the 
lK)St's first officers : 0. E. Goshert, installed as 
Commander; II. T. Healy, Senior Vice Com- 
njnnder; J. P. Hunter. Junior Vice Connnander ; 
Oliver Lamiiman, Surgeon ; Charles Gaylord, 
Chaplain; W. W. Stevens, Officer of the Day; 
W. II. Calkins. Quartermaster ; Charles L. Dyer, 
Officer of the Guard ; Freeman Pierce. Adjutant; 
Charles II. Olmstead. Quartermaster Sergeant ; 
Frank Ha Howell. Sergeant Major. 

Roster of other members of Kridler I'ost : 
Marten Adams, Walter Allen, E. M. Baxter, 
W. II. Bent. .lohn Beutley. W. II. Brad«ay, 
Joel B. Buswell, Ulysses Buffington, David 
Bushman, Stephen Calkin.s, J. L. Chambers, W. 
W. Chaffee, Charles Cheeseman, Job D. Clark. 
-Vlliert Darrow. John T. Dailey, Decatur Easta- 
lirooks, George J. Ehni, Henry Elsey, Peter 
Eiislay, Louis B. Fosdick, James C. Goldthorpe, 
William J. Griswold, Andrew Glen, Mathias 
Ileiber, A. R. Ilurless, Steven V. Hendricks, 
Leonard Holly, Samuel Hall, David H. Kimmel, 
.lanu's A. King, Charles S. Klock, G-.'orge C. 
Leighty, John B. -McPherson, Nicholas Miller, 
Robert Maserik, J. S. Palmer, Jonathan Patch, 
Emanuel Sarber, Christopher Schmick, Heni-y 
Scott, W. M. Sears, J. D. Sigfried. David Sen- 
neff, T. G. Smith. Albert Smith, Jabez W. T(pd(l, 



684 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



Waltor F. SuuilerlauU, James 1'. Swezey, Geovw 
"Wagner, Charles Williams. 

PAST POST COMMANDERS 

C. E. GosUert, George J. Elmi, Albert Smith, 
John T. Dailey. 

PRESENT OFFICERS 

Commander Horace T. Healy. S. V. ('., W. G. 
Bent ; J. V. C, J. C. Goldthorpe. 

The Post meets semi-mnnthly : observes Mem- 
orial Day, ami attends Divine services in a 
body the Sabbath iireceding that day. 

The Post was named in memoiy of Comrade 
George Kridler, of Company K. loth I. V. I., 
who was dangerously wounded at the battle of 
Shiloh and died at Savanna. Illinois, on his way 
home. 

SONS OF VETEliANS 

There was a camp of Sons of Veterans' or- 
ganized several years ago at Milledgeville, but It 
"went to pieces." 

GEORGE KRIDLER, WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS 

Tlie following information was furnished for 
the County History by Jliss Annah M. Tracy 
of Milledgeville: 

The George Kridler "Woman's Relief Corps. 
No. 106, was organized April 2Gth. 1888. with 
sixteen charter members. 

The following otflcers were duly installed for 
the first year, by Mrs. J. G. Harrison, President 
of the Sterling "W. R. C. assisted by Com- 
mander H. T. Healy of tlie George Kridler G. 
A. R. Post: President. Mrs. Lizzie Spaulding; 
Senior Vice President, Amanda Lee : Junior Vice 
President, Elizabeth Lampuian ; Secretary, Lil- 
lian Stevens; Treasurer. Ella Olmstead ; Chap- 
lain, Julia Bentley ; Conductor, Fauuie E. Smith ; 
Assistant Conductor, Mrs. Etta Olmstead ; Guard, 
Sarah J. Healy; Assistant Guard, Amelia H. 
Dull. 

Other charter members wore: Hannah M. 
Cheeseman, Sophia J. Ensley, Hester Holly, Ceci- 
lia O. Smith, Etta M. Todd, Rhoda M. Williams. 
Members who have joined since: Viletta Ack- 
erman, Frances Alsip. Maude Allison, Rosanna 
Adams, Gertrude Anabel, Fraukie Aurand, 
Nancy Babcock. Mary Barber. Cathai-ine P.arthel. 



Mary Baldwin, Abbie Beelie. Martha I'.ennett, 
Minnie Bent, Olive Bent. Phila Booth. I'rances 
Bills, Frank Boyd, EvSther Brodoek, Alice Brown, 
Christina Brown, Sarah Burris, Martha Burns, 
I<:mma Burns, Mary Bull, Mary Bushman. Carrie 
Calkins. Minnie Calkins, Pauline Calkins. Alice 
Cliambers, Rose Compton. Susie Cheeseman, 
Delila Coffee, Dorothy A. T. Clark, Anna Chron- 
ister, Libbie Crawford, Anna Daily, Catharine 
Davis, Julia Dennis, Jennie Diugman, Nellie 
Durnstiue, Ann E. Dyer, Alice Eastabrooks, Mary 
Eastabrooks, Sarah Ea.sta brooks, Aletha Eite- 
miller, Nell Farhney, Julia Farhuey. Alice Flem- 
ing. Sarah Frazer, Alice Freaze, Ida Frederick, 
Maranda Frease. Mary Furgesson, Barliara Gar- 
wick, EBie Gault, Emma Griswold, Ida Gross, 
Mary E. Gulliford. Edith Griswold, Cassie Geld- 
macker, Anna Goldthorpe, Enuna Hauua, Mar- 
tha Healy, Mabel Hallowell, Pauline Ileide, 
Edith Holly, Allie Hunter, Lottie Hurless, Eliza- 
beth Ilnrlbert, Frank Hubbard. Martha Kelley. 
Elizabeth LarUie. Bessie McKee. Emma MePher- 
son, Jennie Manning, Kate Manning. Mary Man- 
ning, Lucy Mathews. Mrs. D. L. Maxwell, Kath- 
arine Milroy, Louise Moscrip. Mary Millard, Eva 
Mummert, Hattie Neikirk, Amey Norrie, Laura 
Robinson, Nellie Robinson. Sarah Roderick, Lil- 
lie Roderick. Lottie Roderick, Clara Ruth, Mary 
Sarber, Martha Shannon, Thersa Shannon, Nel- 
lie Stevens, Anna Stevens, Louisa Sigfried. Phoe- 
lie Smith. Lillian Smith, Etlilyn Straker, Susan 
Sweezy, Anna Taylor, Annah M. Tracy. Sarah 
Tnlley, Grace Wiley, Adelia Wolber, Eunna 
Wood. 

We now have fifty-three members ; tlie re- 
maining eighty-one have been transferred, honor- 
ably discharged or dropped : we lost sixteen by 
deaths. 

PAST PRESIDENTS 

The following have served the Corps as Pres- 
idents: Lizzie M. Spaulding. Sarah J. Ilealey. 
Sarah Eastabrooks, Alice Eastabrooks, Eliza- 
beth Lampman. Martha Bennett, Annah M. 
Tracy, Alice Fleming, Nellie Durstine. Nellie 
Knliinson. Rosanna Adams. Etfie Gault. 

WORK DONE 

During the twenty-two years of our work we 
have given for relief to soldiers and their de- 
jiendent ones. .$211.42 in money; for relief other 



nrSTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



685 



than money, .$r)f)l.!ir> ; tiiiiieil over to I'ost, 
$254.73. 

We helped furnish a room in the Soldiers' 
Widows* Home, at Wilmington. 

Contributed to the Imrial plot in lOlmwood 
Cemetery, Cliiiafro, for Soldiers' Dependent 
Widows and also to the Imrial fund to lie used 
for same; anil the iminy other calls that came to 
us yearly. 

We also purchased grave marliers for forty- 
live deceased couu'a<ies and thirteen for our AV. 
R. C. deceased nieniliers. 



The otiicers fur tlie year 1010 were: President, 
Rosanna Adams, Senior "S'lce President, Alice 
Fleming; .Junior Vice President, Anua Gold- 
thorix- ; Secretary, Charlotte Ilurless ; Treasurer, 
Carrie Calkins ; Chaplain, Anuah M. Tracy ; Con- 
ductor, Martha Burns ; .Assistant Conductor, Lot- 
tie Roderick; tJuard, Sarah Roderick; Assistant 
(juard, i:Hie Cault; First Color Bearer, Kate 
.Manning; Second Color Bearer. Kdith Holly; 
Third Color Bearer, Lillic Roderick; Fourth 
Color Bearer, Jennie Manning; Patriotic In- 
structor, Nellie Durstine; Press Corresixmdent, 
Kli/.abeth Lampman ; Musician, Nellie Robinson. 

Miss Tracy further states, "that when this 
auxiliary was in its infancy, the membership 
was small and Inextierienced and they had much 
to contend with, but peace and harmony soon 
Ijrevailed ami nil became enthusiastic in gain- 
ing niembersliiii and planning social events 
and entertainments that were helpful in 
many ways. .\nd tints we have struggled on 
through these twenty-two years of our grand 
good work of doing something for the bettcnnent 
of comrades and tlieir dependent ones. Much 
could he said of the work of Mrs. Julia Bentley, 
who was mother of the Corps, as through her 
efforts the Corps was organized, and a more 
faithful hard working member we never had. 
Always ready to do her part, and more, and 
when differences arose she was a mediator. She 
was elected I'liaplain when the cori)S was or- 
ganized and tilled that ollice for twenty years 
until her death, excepting oidy one year. 

"Muc-h could he s;iid of other members. It has 
always been onr aim to build up socially as well 
as financially and to carry on all the different 
branches of the work exi)ected of each auxil- 
iary. 



"Only three of the charter members remain. 
The Corps meets regularly in the G. A. R. hall 
the first and third Saturday afternoon of each 
month, at two o'clock. 

IIOI.MA.N I'OSr G. A. R., NO. 579 

Comrade Dr. F. E. Melugin, of Thomson, fur- 
nishes the following information in regard to 
Ilolman Post No. .j!)7 and W. R. C. No. 70. 

llolman Post No. 5!)7 of Thomson was char- 
tered Sept. 7th, 188G. 

Charter and other members: R. B. .\therton, 
I". 1 1. Balcom, C. G.- Blaklee, Nelson Bursley, A. 
C. P.urt. Ilarrlson Coddington. W. D. X. Cone, 
.lames II. Dyson. Kichard Foster, Thadeus 
(hoves, J. II. Green, S. Hollingshaid, Arthur 
Ilotchkiss, Marcus II. Judd, Isaac Lewis, Nor- 
man Lewis, George Manning, Dr. F. E. .Melugin, 
Wm. A. Shoemaker, Edmoud Smith, Samuel B. 
Smith, Carl Wakefield, Samuel Walters. I']dward 
Yates. 

PAST POST COM. M ANDERS 

James II. Dyson, S. C. Holllngshead, Daniel 
Embick, John II. Taylor, Dr. F. E. Melugin, R. 
B. Atherton, Thomas C. Rhodes, George John- 
son, Albert G. Durkee, Barnabas Hinds, J. M. 
.McGinty, S. B. Smith and W. H. Switzer, who 
is the present Commander, and Dr. F. E. Mel- 
ugin, is .Adjutant. 

Old soldiers living in York Tiiwnship nut 
members of the Post, U. \. Pratt and Thomas 
Oakley. .Member of Chadwick Post, W. B. De- 
lana. 

BKCAPTUBF.n INIOX FLAGS 

[Seventeen Union flags were discovered by 
Captain Norman Lewis of Thomson, at the C.-ip- 
ilcil building at Raleigh, North Carolina on its 
surrender, .\pril i:!th, 1805. The Confederate 
Governor Swain of the state s;ud when inter- 
rogated by Captain Lewis, in regard to the 
flags: "There are no flags here, sir." .V negro 
standing by, like all the blacks, a friend of 
the Union soldier, six)ke up and said, "Here 
.Massa. I sliow you where de flag is." Captain 
Lewis followed the loyal African and seized the 
flags. .Vmong them ho found the one surren- 
dered by General Miles' command at Il.irper's 
Ferry and the flag of the 5Gth Pennsylvania Vol- 
unteers, which, together with one belonging to 
a New A'lirk regiment, were returned to the 



686 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



proper custodians, leaving in his possession tbe 
otliers which he retained as mementos of the 
great struggle. 

Ilolmau Post was uameil for James G. IIol- 
iuau of Company F., 52ud Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry; he lost a leg, from a wound received in 
the army. His father was Peter Holman, one 
of the early settlers of York Township. He 
was a Post Master and Justice of the Peace for 
many years.] 



H0I.M.\N W. R. C, NO. 7!) 

P.y authority of Mrs. Francis Lewis, President 
of the Woman's Relief Corps of Morrison, on 
January 11th, 1900. the Woman's Relief Corps 
of Thomson was organized as Holman W. R. C. 
No. 79. 

The first oflicers installed were: President. 
Mary D. Houghton ; Senior Vice President, Sarah 
L. Dyson ; Junior Vice President. Ellen M. 
Pratt ; Secretary, Nellie E. Atherton ; Treasurer, 
Henrietta VAlen Sanborn ; Chaplain. Ijouisa Ath- 
erton ; Conductor, Arilla Bennett; Guard, Nellie 
Schade ; 1st .and i'nd Assistant Guards. Cora 
Rhodes and Lina Stagg ; Color Bearers, Mary W. 
Cone, Carrie M. Johnson. I^lla Stark and Car- 
rie Lang. 

Beside the above the following were charter 
and other members : Augusta Balcom, Jennie 
R. Cone, Mary Foster. Ruth J. Holman. Laura 
E. Holman, Florence E. Melugiu. Cornelia Shoe- 
maker and Anna .Smith. At present the corps 
numbers thirty-eight members. Mrs. Sarah 
Groharing is its president. 



HOLDEN PUTXAM I'O.ST, NO. C4G 

This Post of G. A. R., of Shannon, was char- 
tered November 17th. 1SS7, with the following 
charter members : 

B.alser Bristine, Henry Burket, George C. By- 
ers, Robert D. Cheeseman, Reuben Couley, Chris- 
tian Fry, William J. Griswold, Russell A. Hays, 
R. W. Healey, Henry Hoy, Jacob Kehm, John A. 
Leonard, E. E. Peterson. Michael Thomas and 
Ed. C. Truckenmiller. 

The Past Commanders have been John A. 
Leonard. William Corie, Jacob Kehm, R. D. 
Cheeseman. William IL Fleisher, George C. 
Byers, Christian Fry, R. B. Straw, and James 



Ruljendall who is the present Conmiander. and 
R. D. Cheeseman, Adjutant. 

Names of other members of the Post : Patrick 
Barrett, Elias G. Bowers. John Bowman, Frances 
Cooney, Abraham Diehl, John Doneman, Peter 
Eisenbise, T. J. Elder, Jacob Fry, Edmond Flora, 
Christopher F. Herr, D. L. Humbert, John Isriel, 
B. F. Kremer. Isaac Lehre, George M. Leshell, 
Patrick McGinnis. Edward Mooney, A. E. 
Machamer. David Payne, James R. Quick, Amos 
Reynolds. Jacob Sturtevant. James Rubendall, 
J. I. Smith, J. R. Rogers, Thomas Sigre, Ed A. 
Straub, George P. Swift, Alfred Whitacor, Dar- 
ius Wintrus, Washington Thomas. 

The present officers of the Post are : Po.st 
Commander. James Rubei.dall ; Senior Vice Com- 
mander. R. B. Straw; Junior Vice Commander, 
Adjutant. R. D. Cheeseman, who is also Quiirter- 
master; Chaplain, Henry Hoy; Officer of the 
Day, David Payne; Officer of the Guard, Jacob 
Sturtevant. 

The Post was named after General Ilolden 
Putnam, one of the distinguished officers of the 
late war for the Union. 



DAVID PAYNE CAMP, SONS OF VETERANS, OF 
SHANNON 

Roster and list of members and officer's : Har- 
ve.v Rubendall. Commander ; George Trucken- 
miller, Senior Vice Commander ; Grover C. 
Truckenmiller, Junior Vice Conunander; Free- 
man A. Cook, Chaplain ; Daniel S. Hoy, Secre- 
tary; Charles Sturdevaut, Color .Sergeant; John 
C. I'arker. Sergeant of the Guard ; James Payne, 
Picket ; Alvin F. Kramer, Treasurer ; Geoa'ge 
Sturtevant, Corporal ; George H. Parker, 4th U. 
S. Regular Infantry ; Fred Cheeseman, Edward 
Truckenmiller. Robert L. Miller, Hanry A. AVliit- 
acre. William Straw. Charles Truckenmiller, Bell 
lOverett Boyle. Charles W. Hoy, Charles Stewart, 
Joseph Sturdevaut, Arthur Rubendall and Geo. 
C. Ewing. [From a book called "Life and 
Ciril War Services of Edward A. Straub of Co. 
B, 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry," now of Shannon, 
written by himself. Published by Yewdale & 
Sons Co., Milwaukee, 1909.] TTie camp was 
named after David Payne, one of the members 
of Holden Putnam Po.st, G. A. R. The camp at 
this writing has disbanded and surrendered its 
charter. It is to be hoiked it may sometime be 
revived. 




Miri'CAl,!' IIAIJ.. FliAXCKS SIlIMi;!! SCIIOOl,, M'l'. CAKUol.l, 




SCENE ACHOSS THE CAMl'lS. FKAXCES SHLMER .SCHOOL. M'l' (Aliltdl.l. 



THE HEW TOm 
PUBLIC LIBRARY 






HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



687 



HOLDEN PUTNAM W. R. C. NO. ISo 

Mrs. Aunie Yoid.v kindly furnishps tlio follow- 
ing information in regard to this Corps. 

It was organized at Shannon. June 2'.)th, ISOl, 
with eighteen members and the following of- 
ficers: Annie Yord.v, President; Wealthy Smith, 
Senior Vice ; Mrs. J. Frye. Junior Vice ; Mrs. J. 
Kehm, Treasurer; I.uella ICehni, Secretary; 
Belle Payne, Conductor; Lucy Payne, Guard. 

Members : Miss Ines Humbert. Mrs. J. C. At- 
kins. Mrs. Rebecca Unger, Miss Mary Kreamer, 
Mrs. A. C. Machamer, Mrs. A. W. Babb, Mrs. D. 
L. Humbert, Mrs. J. A. Leonard, Mrs. R. D. 
Clieeseman, Mrs. A. Reynolds and Mrs. George 
Byers. 

Other Members: Fannie Good, Kate Spatz, 
Kate Boyle, Maggie Reddingtou, Lottie Miller, 
Harriet Suavely, Mrs. Cook, Ella Whitmore, 
Anna Miller, Rose Reddington, Mrs. Kennedy. 

From Mr. Straub's book, above referred to, we 
copy this tribute to the Woman's Relief CoriJS : 

"Our indispensable auxiliary, the Woman's Re- 
lief Corps, continues to do beneficial work. They 
encourage many of the Posts, some of which 
would have disbanded but for their encour,age-. 
nient and assistance. Their charity is broad and 
the organized efforts of the faithful members 
in teaching patriotism is bearing fruit. Mrs. 
Mary G. Linc-oln, Department President, has been 
untiring in her noble efforts to build up our 
worthy auxiliary. This eminent lady has visited 
all parts of the Department and has done iutel- 
ligent and effective work wherever she has gone. 
For her ability, her zeal and kindly courtesy, so 
ably supported by that baud of noble, self-sac- 
rificing women, we desire to exi>ress not alone 
the thanks of Holden Putnam Post, but the 
appreciation and thanks of the entire Depart- 
ment." 



mander, M. II. Judd ; Senior Vice Commander, 
I). N. McLaughlin ; Junior Vice Commauder, Con- 
rad Frederick ; Chaplain, Henry Sack ; Quarter- 
master, J. R. Lamb; Surgeon, Adam Koehler; 
Officer of the Day, Henry Ilolmadel ; Officer of 
the Guard, John Schreiuer; Adjutant, Harrison 
Kcckler; Quartermaster Sergeant, Nicholas Mil- 
ler; Sergeant Major, Henry Dambmau. 

Other charter members were: C. L. Hostetter, 
(Jeorge Eekhart, Le^i Ganger, George Alteuse, 
and Henry Loechel. 

Other members: Fred Diehl, P. C.j Samuel 
Nettleton, John Davis, John Schleining, Jesse 
Hill, J. II. Green, Balser Appel, David Wressell, 
Henry Traum, Charles D. Camp, David H. Grim, 
Christian Bauchmau, Henry Hartman, Peter 
Rahn, W. B. Delano, R. H. Foster, John Ever- 
hart, George Bitner, Jerry George, Robert Gra- 
ham, Conrad Schleining. 

Past Post C-ommanders : M. II. Judd, Henry 
Sack, Harrison Keckler, Charles D. Camp and 
Fred Diehl. 

The Post was named after the late Dr. John 
L. Hostetter of Mount Carroll, Surgeon of the 
:!4th Illinois V. I., in which regiment many of the 
comrades served through the war. Dr. Hostetter 
afterward became surgeon of the Brigade. 
- This, the youngest post in the county, has had 
regular nionthly meetings for many years, but 
as their numbers have decreased and the infirmi- 
ties of advanced age have prevented some from 
attending, the meetings are held quarterly, on 
the fourth days of the mouths of January, Aprit, 
July and October. Si>ecial meetings .are held in 
anticipation of Decoration Day, which is always 
fittingly observed with appropriate services. Ten 
survivors are all that are left of the original 
thirty-seven members. 



UK. JOHN" L. HOSTETTER rO.ST G. A. R. 



THE WOMAN S RELIEF CORPS OF CHADWICK 



The followiMg information was obtained 
through the assistance of Comrade Freil Diehl, 
late Commander of the Post. 

Dr. John L. Hostetter Post, No. 785, was organ- 
ized at Chadwick, Illinois, August 18th, 1897. 
Captain W. H. Wildey, P. C. of Mount Carroll, 
with authority from the Department Mustering 
Officer, assisted by Captain E. T. E. Becker, 
mustered the following named ex-soldiers and 
they selected their first officers as follows : Com- 



These ladies are in hearty sympathy with the 
old soldiers, and assist them on every occasion 
that opix)rtunity presents. Not an old soldier 
pa.sses away, but what their loving hands place 
upon his bier beautiful flowers, and they an- 
nually assist in decorating the old soldiers' 
graves with these tokens of friendsliij) in a 
spirit of charity and lo.valty. The following 
are the names of the members of the corps and 
its officers. 



688 



HISTORY OP CARROLL COUNTY 



HOSTETTEE CORPS. >'0. 150, OF CHADWICK 

The corps was iustituted April otU, 1002, by 
Mrs. Ida E. Palmer, Senior Aide of Chicago, with 
17 charter members, as follows : 

Susie B. Foster, Bertha H. Garwielj, Eliza- 
beth DieUI, Ella Spealmau. Catherine Zug- 
schwerdt. Sarah Green, Lucetta Ganger. Lnviea 
Sack, Augusta Dambman, Mary Handel, Katie 
Sacli Rahu, Edna M. Kingery, Amelia Saeli 
Spealman, Harriett Rummel, Mae Harris, Emma 
Hohnadel, Katie Dambman. 

We now have a membership of eighteen with 
the following officers: President, Catharine 
Zugschwerdt ; Senior Vice, Loviea Sack ; Junior 
Vice, Ella Spealman; Secretary, Nettie Sack; 
Treasurer, Mamie C. Curley ; Chaplain, Maggie 
Garwick ; Conductor, Katie Dambman; Assistant 
Conductor, Clara Grove; Guard, Augusta Damb- 
man ; Assistant Guard, Bertha Spencer ; Color 
Bearers, Xos. 1, 2, 3 and 4, Mary Handel, Emma 
Honadel, Katie Sack Kahu, Elizabeth Diehl ; Pa- 
triotic Instructor, Edna M. Kingery ; Press Cor- 
respondent, Amelia Spealman ; Musician, Edna 
B. Hicks ; Aides, Catharine Zugschwerdt, Clara 
Grove and Edna Hicks. 

The Past Presidents are as follows: Susie 
Foster and Clara Grove. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS SOCIETY OF 
CARROLL COUNTY. 



elected as the tirst Colonel or presiding officer and 
John S. Hall, Adjutant or secretary. Sixty-live 
comrades signed the constitution and by-laws. 

The next meeting was held at Mount Carroll ; 
the records say dinner was served by the citi- 
zens of Mount Carroll at twelve o'clock and all 
soldiers with their families and a number of 
citizens partook of a bountiful repast. 

Savanna was selected as the next meeting 
place and Major George A. Root of Lanark was 
elected Colonel and Comrade B. J. Murray of 
Savanna. Adjutant. The next and fourtli meet- 
ings were held at MilledgeviUe. 

SOLDIERS AND SAILORS MONUMENT 

At this meeting the Hon. D. W. Dame of Lan- 
ark, spoke in regard to building a Soldiers' and 
Sailors' Monument and offered the following pre- 
amble and resolution: "Whereas Carroll County 
has as much interest in keeping green the mem- 
ory of the lieroie dead of this county who fell 
in defense of the Union, as our sister counties 
of our state which have already erected soldiers 
monuments or memorial halls at their several 
county seats or elsewhere. Therefore be it re- 
solved : That the soldiers and citizens of Car- 
roll County assembled at Milledgevlle in this 
annual reunion hereby inaugurate the movement 
for building a soldiers monument for Carroll 
County. 

"That a monument committee consisting of 
one from each township be now named, whose 
duty it shall be to select five persons to be known 
as the C^irroll County Soldiers Monument Com- 
mittee, to carry this resolution into effect." 

COMMITTEE APPOINTED 



ORGANIZED AT LANARK — MILLEDGEVILLE MEETING — 
MONUMENT COMMITTEE^ACTION OF THE COUNTY 

BOARD COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY BOARD — BE- 

POBT OF JOINT COMMITTEE — DEDICATION OF THE 

MONUMENT THE PROCESSION — ^THE SPEECHES 

HISTORY OF THE MONUMENT — INSCRIPTION.S 

THE STATUES — HEIGHT OF MONUMENT — REUNION 
' MEETINGS — SAVANNA SELECTED AS PLACE OF 
-MEETING. 

The Soldiers and Sailors Reunion Society of 
Carroll County was organized at Lanark, Octo- 
ber 2.3rd, 1884. Captain E. T. E. Be<'ker was 



The nominating committee reported the fol- 
lowing names: D. W. Dame of Lanark. L. F. 
Eastabrooks of Wysox. W. H. Griffith of Savanna, 
George F. Bucher of Mount Carroll and John H. 
Taylor of York. 

At the next meeting, which was held at Shan- 
non. Captaiu W. H. Wildey was elected Colonel. 
The fifth meeting was held at Lanark and Don 
R. Frazer was elected Colonel, and Levi Clark, 
Adjutant. The next meeting was a basket pic- 
nic at Mount Carroll and the seventh meeting 
was also held there. Here L. T. Bra.v was 
elected Colonel and George E. Fuller of Savanna, 
Adjutant. At this meeting three members were 
added to the Monument Connnittee as follows : 



HISTORY OB^ CARROLL COUNTY 



689 



C. L. Ilostetter of Salem, Eli Lower of Hock 
Creek, ami George E. Fuller of Savaniui. 
On motion it was decided that the Soldiers' 
Monument bo located on the Court House Square 
if jterniissiDn cnuld lie had from the Board of 
Supervisors. The committee was instnu-tod to ^'ct 
such permission and got such aid as they Ihouglit 
best. Alter this meeting the eommitteo got busy, 
and tlie eightli annual reunion, which was to 
have been held in Savanna, was changed to 
Mount Carroll, so that the association might 
participate in the dedication of the monument. 

.\CTI0.N OF THK BO.\Rn OF SUPER\1S0RS 

The following appears to have been the ac- 
tion Of the Board of Supervisors with reference 
to the building of the monument. At the Scj)- 
tember term, 1S!)0, on motion of Mr. Cook of 
Shannon, it was ordered that this board grant 
pernnssion to the Soldiers and Sailors Associ- 
ation of this county to erect a monument to the 
memory of the soldiers and sailors of Carroll 
Ciiunty, In the court house square. 

COMXinrKK Al"l'OINTKl> HY COUNTY BOARD 

At a meeting of the Board, September 10th, 
1S90, on motion of Mr. Sprecher of Rock Creek, 
seconded by Mr. Lewis of York, a conmiittee of 
three from the Board of Supervisors was ap- 
pointed to act with the committee of the Sail- 
ors and Soldiers As.sociation. to ascertain what 
a suitable monument would cost and what would 
be suitable action to take in the premises. The 
chairman of the board. C. L. Hostetter, apiiointed 
as such conmiittee. Louis II. Sprecher of Rock 
Cl'eek. Norman Lewis of York and William .J. 
Ilay of Wiiodhind Iciwiiship. 



RESULT OF AX ELECTION 



Mr. 

the 



At the December meeting of the board 
Sprecher, chairman of the committee of 
County Board, i-eported the result of the elec- 
tion in regard to the county building a soldiers' 
monument out of a total vote of 2,051. 1.942 voted 
for an appropriation of six thousand dollnrs to 
build a nioiiumcnt and 700 against. 

STATES attorney's lUiPORT ADVERSE 

Tlie States Attorney was called upon for bis 
opiiiiiin as to the legality of such an appropria- 



tion and he reiwrted that the statute does not 
authorize the County Board to make an appro- 
priation for any such purpose. (A few years 
later, however, the Illinois legislature passed an 
act autliorizing counties to erect monuments or 
iiieniorial buildings in honor of their Soldiers 
,uid Sailors. R. S. Chap. 34, Sec. 115.) 

The report of the committee was accepted and 
the committee continued for furtlier action. 

REPORT OF THE JOINT COM.MITTEE 

.Vt tlie February session of the Board of Su- 
liervisors (1S91) the joint committee of the Sol- 
diers Association and the committee of the board 
of supervisors made a lengthy report to the 
board of supervisors, stating that they had here- 
tofore been appointed to enquire into and report 
in relation to building a soldiers' monument to 
be erected on the public ground adjacent to the 
court house in Mount Carroll, thai Uiey bad 
solicited from designers and mamil'aclurcrs of 
inonuiueuts to present for their inspection de- 
signs for monuments such as was desired, that 
eight designs were submitted, that they had con- 
cluded nixm the selection of a design presented 
liy (ieorge IL Mitchell of Chicago. Seven of the 
committee's names are signed to this repnrt. 

ACTION OF THE BOARD 

The same committee offered a preamlilc and 
i'es<ilnlion to this effect: Whereas, at an election 
held in the county on the 4th of November, ISOO, 
it was voted and carried by a large majority in 
favor of an appropriation of si.x thousand dol- 
lars to erect uixm the public grounds belonging 
to said county at the city of Mount Carroll, a 
soldiers' monument, suitable and appropriate, to 
the memory of the brave and patriotic soldiers 
and sailors, furnished by said county for the 
Union armies and navy in the late civil war and 
in pulting down the rebellion, Tlierefore 

RE.SOI.ITION MAKING THE Al'l'HOl'llI ATION 

lie it resolved: That we the Board of Sniiervisors 
of Carroll County, believing in the project and 
favoring the eminent propriety and fitness of 
such a inonnment and acting in obedience to the 
expressed will of the patriotic citizens of said 
county • ■ • we therfore, hereby appropriate 
tlie sum of six thousand dollars to be expended 



690 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



in the improvement of the public Court House 
Grounds in Mount Carroll by erecting thereon 
such monument, to be built in accordance with 
plans selected by the committee heretofore ap- 
pointed"- for that purixjse, to he completed and 
ready for unveiling on some day in October, 
1S91. 

Mr. Sprecher. member of the Board from Rock 
Ci'eek, moved the adoption of the resolution and 
called for the ayes and uayes. the same was car- 
ried, nine voting in the affirmative and five in 
the negative. 

On the 30th of March, a contract was made 
with Mr. Mitchell and executed on behalf of the 
county by C. L. Hostetter. Chairman of the 
Board of Supervisors. 

DEDICATION OF THE MONUMENT 

The unveiling and dedication of the Soldiers" 
Monument was a great event for Carroll County. 
These ceremonies were apix)inted by the Board 
of Sui^ervisors to take place October Cth, 1891, 
twenty years ago. 

SCHOOLS GIVEN A HOLIDAY 

The Board requested that the schools of the 
county be given a holiday for the purpose of 
permitting the teachers and pupils to attend. 
John H. Grossman, then county superintendent 
of schools, issued a notice to the above effect, 
that headquarters for pupils, teachers and school 
officers would be at the Mount Carroll high 
school buildings. That well filled lunch baskets 
should be brought along; that railroad tickets 
could be procured at reduced rates. 

BUSINESS HOUSES CLOSED 

Mayor Glotfelty of Lanark and the mayor of 
Savanna issued proclamations urging the busi- 
ness men to close their places of business from 
eight o'clock a. ui. to seven p. m., so as to per- 
mit everybody to attend the dedication of the 
monument. 

The Savanna Journal. F. S. Greenleaf editor, 
of October 8th, 1801, gives this account of the 
dedication. "Tuesday was probably the most im- 
portant day in the history of Mount Carroll 
. . . everybody was there. Eight coaches were 
loaded at Savanna ; a large delegation came from 
Thomson, and from Lanark and h'hannon came 



many more . . . had the day been pleasant 
there would, probably have been half as many 
more; as it was there were at least five thousand 
people in the city. [The city was beautifully 
decorated with flags and bunting. Two delicate 
arches spanned the streets in front of the monu- 
ment on which were flags and a banner in- 
scribed. "Loyalty."] 

THE PROCESSION 

The Savanna band headed the procession fol- 
lowed by the Grand Army Posts, the Uniformed 
Rank Knights of Pythias, the Select Knights 
of America and the Savanna Hose Company No. 
2, making five handsomely uniformed organiza- 
tions, "and we may say that this c-onstituted 
quite as fine and extensive a showing as was pre- 
sented."' including of course numerous citizens 
who brought up the rear. Lanark and Shan- 
non and Thomson were all represented and in 
fact every town in the county was there. In the 
parade were the school children from all over 
the county in line with the Mount Carroll schools. 
Altogether the parade was a fine showing of 
what Carroll County can do when occasion re- 
qiiires. Excellent preparations had been made 
for the entertainment of the visitors. Beside 
the regular hotels there were several places 
where meals were served by the church women 
and not only was the fare offered the very best 
Init the prices were reasonable. 

THE SPEECHES 

About two o'clock the great crowd began to 
gather in the Court House park to listen to the 
siieeches. Uiwn the platform were Congressman 
Hitt, State Auditor Pavey. and James I. Neff 
of the State Board of Equalization, and a great 
many others of local note. The Honorable H. S. 
Clarke, the orator of the day, could not be pres- 
ent. The welcoming address was delivered by 
the mayor of the city, the Honorable X. H. Mel- 
eudy. and responded to l)y Mr. Neff. The ad- 
dress to the soldiers was given by Hon. J. M. 
Hunter. Mr. Pavey's address followed, "which 
seemed to interest the i>eople more than any 
other." 

HISTORY OF THE MONUMENT 

This paper <'urther reports that, C. L. Hostet- 
ter. chairman of the committee appointed by 



-^^^■^^^^H^^^^^^^^^pr- 




B. mf^ ^S9l 


kr 


• 





^nLJ^ 



t-ry^ Ci--n'-<- 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



691 



the Soldiers iuid Sailoi-s Assdciation, iirosented 
a report, giving a history of tlicir aotioii, iu sub- 
stance as follows. At the first nitK-ting of the 
joint eomniitlee of the Soldiers' and Sailors' and 
Supervisors' connnittee. the Hon. U. W. Dame 
was elected chairman, George F. Bucher Secre- 
tary and C. L. I-Iostetter, Treasurer. A sub-com- 
mittee consisting of Messrs. Sprecher, Griffith 
and Ilostetter. was appointed to solicit funds for 
the biiildiiig of the monument witli authority to 
appoint committeos in each township. On motion 
of Jlr. Hay it was ordered that a committee be 
apixiinted to make arrangements to have u vote 
taken at the November election, upon the ques- 
tion of an appropriation to be made by the coun- 
ty board not to exceed six thousand dollars for 
l)uilding a soldiers' monument. The chairman 
appointed as such committee, William J. Ila.v of 
AN'oodlnnd. ICli ly. Lower of Rock Creek, and 
("eorge E. Fuller of Savanna. The further ac- 
tion of this committee will be found in the pre- 
ceding lines. 

DESCKIPTIOX OF TIIK MONfMEXT 

The foundation, which is made of native lime- 
stone, is eight feet deep in the ground, and was 
built liy .Tosiali Schamel, a veteran stone mason 
of Mount Carroll. The first base, which is one 
immtnsc stone is the lieaviest piece iu the monu- 
ment; the other two bases aad-.the shaft, which 
is nineteen feet high, are eadi one solid stone. 
They are made of Barre granite from Vermont. 
On the front face of the cap-stone is a wreath: 
on the lower i^art of tlie shaft, front face, is a 
Tnited States flag, musket cap and cartridge 
box, knapsack and canteen, all grouped together; 
on the reverse side is the G. A. It. badge. 

INSCBIPTION.S ox THE MOMMENT 

On the front of the die: 

C.vRBOLL County 

TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN WHO SAVRT* TIIK 

I-XIOX THAT THEIK EXAMPLE MAY SPEAK 

TO COMING CEXERATIOXS 

On the other three sides of the die are the 
names of soldiers and sailors who enlisted from 
Carroll County, giving their regiments and com- 
pany. 

On the frieze, at the lower part of the cap, 
front side above the die: 

Slavery Auolisueu 



On the rear : 

I'EACE KESTOREU 

On either side in front : 

Courage — Endurance 

On the front face of the shaft iilinlh. cut in 
raised letters : 

18G1— 1865 

On the reverse: 

Erected A. D. ISOl 

The names of twelve liattles, three on each 
side of the shaft, in raised letters: 



DONELSON 

NASHVILLE 
WILDERNESS 

STONE RIVER 



SHILOII 
ATLANTA 
EESACA 



VICKSm-RG 
cmCKAMAUGA 

GETTYSBURG 
E COEINTII 



On the four sides of the upper statue plinth 
are eight corps badges, in all of which corps 
Carroll County was represented by volunteers. 

1st Army Corps 

(Round figure) 

4th Army Corps 

(Triangle) 
14th Army Corps 

(Acorn) 

15th Army Corps 

(Cartridge box) 

IGth Army Corps 

(Round figure) 

17th Army Cordis 

(Arrow) 
20th Army Corps 

(Star) 

2rird Army Corps 

(Shield) 

THE STATUES 

The statuary consists of three pieces represent- 
ing the Infantry, the Cavalry, and the standard 
hearer on top of the monument. The first 
two are six feet seven Indies high and are made 
of fine grained red Westerly granite. The upper 
statue or standard bearer measures ten feet to 
top of standard. 

The statue facing n(u-lli, re|>resenting a cav- 
alry man. was designed and wrought for this 
monument i)y the sculptor, I^rado Taft, of Chi- 
cago. Lewis n. Sprecher of Lanark made 



692 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



several trips to Chicago and ilonuing liis cav- 
alry iinifonii anil accoutrements there, iwsed 
as a model for tliis statue. It is a very fine 
worlv of art. 

?C.\MES OF THE SOLDIERS .\ND SAILORS 

There was not room for all the names of the 
soldiers on the monument. Tlirough the efforts 
of .Tohu S. Hall, later County Surveyor, who was 
a veteran in the Union army and a prisoner at 
Andersonville prison, the board of supervisors 
erected near the monument two columns with an 
arch spanning the interval hetween them, which 
was also the design of Mr. Hall. On these col- 
umns the additional names were cut, ],2S4 in all. 

From tlie working plan of the monument it is 
forty-nine feet and three inches high, the con- 
ti-actor having increased the size of several of the 
stones above the i-ecpiirc^ments of the contract. 
Counting a few inches of the foundation above 
the ground it is practically fifty feet high. 

It is said by evei-j' one who has seen it to he 
a very imixising and beautiful luonunient. 

REUNIONS 
SAVANN.\ MEETING 

At the business' meeting of the Association on 
the day of the dedication of the monument. Sav- 
anna was selected for the next, the 0th meet- 
ing. Lieutenant Colonel W. P. Robb was 
promoted to the rank of Colonel and Jacob S. 
Wright was elected Adjutant. The meeting was 
at Savanna Sept. 15th, 1802. Headquarters were 
provided where the c<3nirades registered and were 
provided with meal tickets for themselves and 
families. They had a sjilendid parade at this 
meeting, composed of veterans and other organi- 
zations, part of the Savanna Fire Department 
and the children of the Savanna schools in holi- 
day attire. Senator Shelby JI. Culloni was the 
orator of the day. followed by General Smith D. 
Atkins and the venerable Chaplain Cartwrigbt of 
Oregon. I'jion invitation of the comrades at 
Milledgeville that jjlace was selected for the next 
meeting. George F. Bucher was promoted to the 
oHice of Colonel and Comrade H. T. Healy of 
Milledgeville was elected Adjutant. 

MILLEDGEVILLE MEETING 

The 10th meeting was held at Milledgeville 
Sept. 27th, 189.3. Kridler Tost, assisted by the 
patriotic citizens of Aiilledgeville, had erected an 



arch spanning tlie four corners of the main 
streets from which hung suspended in large let- 
ters, "Welcome Comrades." A parade was 
formed and marched through the princiijal 
streets of the village. It was headed by the 
Kagle Point Band, speakers in carriages. Hawk 
Post of Savanna, Nase Post, Mount Carroll, IIol- 
den Putnam Post, Shannon Woman's Relief 
Corps, Shiloh Post 8.5 of Lanark and their Relief 
Corps, Kridler Post of Milledgeville, Plum River 
Drum Corps, probably the iloore brothers. 
Ilarlyn and Jacob, who iliil no niucli when they 
were lads, with their drum and life to arouse 
the patriotism of the people during war times: 
tl en followed the Milledgeville school children 
and the Milledgeville Cornet band, Camp !)('>. P. 
<». S. of A. 

SHANNON MEETING 

.Vt the business meeting a motion was made 
to dispense with the parade which was lost. 
Shannon was selected as the place for the next 
meeting George E. Fuller of Savanna was elected 
Colonel and John A. Leonard, Adjutant, One 
hundred and sixty -one comrades registered at the 
Shannon meeting and were given tickets for din- 
ner. Comra<le .J. S. Wright of Savanna was 
elected Colonel and B. S. Gaff, Adjutant, Meet- 
ing adjourned to meet in Lanark, 1S05. An old 
time camp fire was held in the evening consisting 
of songs and short speeches, closing by singing 
Marcliing Through Georgia. 

LA .\ ARK MEETING 

The 12tli meeting was held at Lanark. General 
D. .Vtkins delivering the annual address. .Miss 
Wright, daughter of the presiding officer, Col. 
J. S. Wright, rendered a patriotic poem entitled 
The Siege of Corinth. Horace T. Healy was pro- 
moted to Colonel and Comrade E. T. Cole of Mt. 
Carroll was elected Adjutant, and Alt. Carroll 
selected as the next place for meeting. 

.MOUNT CARROLL MEETING 

M this meeting, the l.^th annual reunion, the 
register showed 100 soldiers and sailors present. 
The parade of the old soldiers was joined at the 
school building by 42.5 of the school children each 
with a flag. The address was delivered in the 
opera house by W. G. Cochran, Department 
Commander. J. A. Leonard of Shannon was 
promoted to Colonel and M. 11, Judd of Chad- 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



693 



wick was ulcrltsl Ailjutaiit ami I'liadwitk si'lcnt- 
cd as tlu> plarc for tlic next nieetiii!;. 



Willi the lii'ld ollicers; (ho niliiutes are signed 
liy Geogi-e J. Eliui, Adjutant. 



CIIADWKK MEKTINO 

Ai this, lli(> mil meeting, six less registered 
tliaii at the last meeting. Colonel .7. A. Sexton 
of Chicago, delivered tlie address. Hon 1{. R. 
Ilitt and General Smitli D. AtUins also s|Kike. 
B. S. Ooff was proniotetl to Colonel and J. It. 
Uoliinson of Savanna was elected Adjutant and 
Savanna chosen as the next place of meeting. 

SECOND SAVANNA MEETIXG 

The l.'th meeliiig was held there. Two hun- 
dred and thirty-one old soldiers and s;ulors regis- 
tered, which was. perhaps, the largest number 
that ever registered at any of these meetings. 
The registration was not confined to old soldiers 
of Carroll County, many took pleasure in attend- 
ing from adjoining counties and from Iowa ; 
some came longer distances to attend these re- 
iMiioiis. K. T. E. Cole was promoted to Colonel 
and \y. D. X. Cone of Tliomson was elected 
.\djntant. 



SAVANNA MEETINGS 

The lOtli. and all subsequent meetings, have 
been held at Savanna. The following have been 
the Colonels or presiding ofhcers : George J. Khni, 
.Tohn A. Itobison, Lewis II. Sprecher. Frank 
Kearney, (Jeorge Noble, C. I-. Ilostetter, It. B. 
Straw, C. S. Wiley; and the Adjutants: J. R. 
rJol>inson for two years, and B. Holland for last 
five years ; until the 2Sth animal reunion. August 
24th, 1011, J. P. Plattenberg was the presiding 
Colonel ; B. Holland was elected Colonel for the 
ensuing year and George E. Fuller, Adjutant. 

These meetings have been a source of great 
pleasure to the old soldiers. They give them au 
opportunity to meet old comrades whom they 
otherwise would not see. At the last meeting at 
Savanna they were all taken to ride in automo- 
biles, through the city and into the country. Their 
smiling faces indicated the pleasure it was to 
them. 



THOMSON MEKTINC; 

The Itltli reunion was held at 'Jliomson, Sep- 
tember 21st. ]8!)n. Hon II. U. Ilitt deliveretl 
the address. .M. II. .Tudd was promoted to Col- 
onel, and W. W. Stevens, of Milledgeville, was 
eleclcil .\djulanl. 



CHAI'TEU IX. 



OARKOI>L COUXTY, I.MI'ROVEMEXT AND 
PROGRESS. 



TWO .MEETINCS AT .\I I I.I.KDGEVII.LE 

At the time appointed the weather was not 
favorable for a large meeting. .Mrs. F. O. Mc- 
Cleland, president of the Illinois Department of 
the Woman's Relief Corps delivered the address. 
The ISth meeting was held at Milledgeville, 
September lltli. 1001. The meeting was called 
to order by J. R. Robinson, Colonel, presiding. 
The address was delivered liy the late Hon. 
Alfred Bayles. State Superintendent of Public 
Instruction. 

At this meeting the holding of annual reunions 
at some point in the county easily reacheil by 
rail was agitated and a motion was adopted, that 
nil future meetings be held in Savanna. W. D. 
N. Cone of Thomson was promoted to Colonel 
and the appointment of an Adjutant was left 



STAGE I.INE.S — PBAIRIE FIBES — FINANCES — COUNTY 

INCOKPOBATED — CENSUS 1840 — CENSUS 1910 

DECKEASE ACCOUNTED FOB — ^FORMER CITIZENS 

SCATTERED — EMIGRATION PROGRESS THE 

THRESHINGS — ^TIIE HANNEB COBN COUNTY — 

COUNTY OFFICEBS — RAILROADS. VALUATION 

BUBAL ROUTES — ^\ALUATION OF PROPERTY — TAXES. 

The lirsl scttlcniciit of the ccjuMiy was at S:iv- 
anna, soon after Elklioru Grove was settled, fol- 
lowed by settlements at Cherry Grove, where be- 
fore the land was surveyed there was a com- 
pleted highway from Dixon to Galena, wliicli 
was the main traveled line from Galena to Chi- 
cago, and at that time the latter was the less 
important town of the two. Crane's fort was 



694 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



located on this road and Iroui here Thomas 
Crano carried tlie tirst mail to Freejiort. This 
road extended south as far as Peoria where pas- 
sengers lauded from steamboats from the east. 
At the Cherry Grove station on this road W. A. 
J. Pierce's father, John Pierce, kept the stage 
horses; he was also postmaster there for three 
or four years. 

STAGE LINES 

The stoppiug places for the coaches, in this 
county, were Garner's and Sample Journey's near 
Elkhorn Grove and Mitchell's upon Plum river. 
The line was afterward established ou what was 
later called the old telegraph road, named so 
from the fact that the first telegraph line through 
the comity was built on this road from Dixon 
through Mount Carroll to Galena. The stations 
on these stage lines were usually about twenty 
miles apart, some more, some less. The drivers 
changed horses at stations. When teams were 
fresh they were put on the longer stations and 
when worn and tired they would put them on 
the shorter routes. They got behind time in 
tho.se days in crossing sloughs and sometimes 
were delayed until it got dark and the drivers 
would get lost and c-ould not find the places 
where the sloughs were pas.sable, and would not 
get into the station until the second day. In 
vain the few Inhabitants of these stations and 
perhaps waiting travelers, listened for the toot of 
the horn with which the drivers took pleasure in 
awakening the echoes of the surrounding coun- 
try. 

PRAIRIE FIRES 

Some times the stages would be delayed by 
prairie fires, in passing them there was great 
danger ; at many places along the route, it was 
prairie as far as the eye could see from the top 
of the coach. Tlie upland gi-ass was about two 
feet high while the bottom lands were covered 
with grass, which in many places was tall 
enough to hide a horse and rider. In this wild 
grass were many beautiful flowers. This bouquet 
of wild flowers stretched out on evei-y side and 
filled the air with fragrance. But this stretch of 
grass and flowers, so beautiful in summer, be- 
came a source of great danger, as soon as it was 
killed by the frosts of atumn. When dry this 
heavy covering, some times the accumulation of 
several years, if set on fire, burned with great 



rapidity, and the fire swei)t over the prairies and 
there was nothing to stay its progress and there 
was great danger from it, many of the early 
settlers lost houses and crops in these fires. For 
their protection the settlers found it necessary 
to make fire breaks, as they were called, by 
plowing furrows about a fourth of a mile apart, 
and, when it was very dry and still, burn the 
grass between the furrows, yet in a furious wind 
the tumble weeds, that were entangled in the 
grass, when set free by the fire, rose by force 
of the heat high into the air and were blown long 
distances often across the fire-breaks. The 
flames traveled with incredible rapidity and not 
only shot up fifty to a hundred feet in height, but 
spread over one hundred to three hundred feet 
in width on the ground according to the force of 
the wind, driving all before them. The deer 
were sometimes seen fleeing before the flames 
when becoming exhausted, they would turn and 
make a break to pass through this cordon of fire 
and smoke. In the fall of the year the air w-as 
often filled with the smoke of the burning prair- 
ies and the horizon would be lighted here and 
there during the night by prairie fires. Some- 
times the red batallious of flames could be seen 
in the distance as they swept widely across the 
prairies. They would continue to rage for days, 
until a rain put them out or made the grass so 
wet it would not burn. They did great damage 
where they passed over patches of bushes or 
young trees burning them to the ground. These 
autumnal fires were probably the cause of our 
treeless prairies, a young forest could not with- 
stand their ravages. Tlie only defense a settler 
had was the fire-break, if perchance they crossed 
this boundary the only remedy was to beat out 
the fire with bundles of bushes, usually cut from 
hazel thickets, but that was very hot and ex- 
hausting work. 

PANAMA 

On the Savanna branch of the road spoken of 
called then the Savana and Kockford road, in 
1837, the ground where the fairground now is. 
a mile south of Mount Carroll, was laid out into 
tovra lots by Samuel Bailiss, a Virginian, who 
called it after the capitol of his native state, 
Richmond. A few cheap houses were built and 
occupied, this was probably the place that was 
nicknamed Slab City. A jwst oflice was located 
here in 1840 with Charles G. Hawley as post 




PARTS (»1- METCALF, HATHAWAY, COLLECE AND WEST HALLS TENNIS COURT, 
FKAXC'ES SHnn:K SCHOOL. MT. CARROLL 




OEARHOHN IIAi.l. AM) ( ANNA li|-,l)>. liiANC I-..- >1 1 1 \1 1 .1; M ll()(<L, Ml i \l;l;i'I.L 



y^ 




HISTORY OP CARROLL COUNTY 



695 



master aiul the iilace renamed Panama, as the 
state already had a Uiolimoud post office. The 
Whigs coming into power in 1S41 were com- 
mitted to relrenchmout of expenditures and 
post olflces not paying expenses were discontin- 
ued, this incinded I'auania, a very I'amiliar name 
now to the American people. 

The next year (1842) Mount Carroll was 
started and the mill built, and this completed the 
downfall of Richmond. 

FINAN'CES 

The following incident illustrates the early 
financial c-oudition of the county. In 1S;!7 Moses 
Hallett, who was sheriff of Jo Daviess County, 
the father of James and Bartlett Hallett, old 
settlers of Mount Carroll, came to Cherry Grove 
hunting jurors to attend the circuit court at 
(Jalena. He summoned Samuel Preston's father 
to attend court as a juror. Mr. Preston, after 
spending a week with no prospect of getting 
through, appealed to Judge Stone to be excused. 
The pay of jurors was one dollar per day ; he 
received a county order for six dollars but he 
found it nearly worthless as the country had 
been flooded the year before with "wild cat 
money." but he found a merchant who would al- 
low him twelve and a half cents on the dollar In 
store goods, and he took for his six dollar order 
a ix)und of stocking yarn valued at «eventy-five 
cents. This with similar incidents furnished 
good reasons for erecting a new county out of 
this part of Jo Daviess, when jurors had to 
travel forty miles to attend court and lor a 
week's service did not draw suHicieut money to 
IKiy their expenses at court for one day. 

TIIK COl'NTY INCOIirOHATEI) 

A petition was presented in the house of rep- 
resentatives December 31st, 1838, by Mr. Kent 
asking for the formation of a new county out of 
a part of .To Daviess County. The petition was 
referred to the committee on counties, which re- 
iwrted a bill .January ]!)th, 183!), for an act to or- 
ganize Carroll County. This bill was reported by 
Mr. Moore reiiresentative from McLetui County. 
The boundaries were originally the same as now. 
The half townships of Shannon, Lima and Elk- 
horn Grove were att;iched to Ogle ('ounty by a 
section of the bill. In 1851 a bill was i>iisse<l at- 
taching those half towns to Carroll County, but a 



vote of the people occupying those hall' tmvn- 
shiiis failed to conlirm it. 

CENSUS 1840 

In 1840 Carroll County had within her bor- 
ders 1,023 persons of all ages, of these two were 
engaged in mining, 282 farming, 15 were store 
keepers, 31 were manufacturers, 7 were engaged 
in professional labors. There was one Revolu- 
tionary War pensioner. Tliere were four schools 
with aiwut one hundred scholars, eight persons 
over twenty years of age. who could not read or 
write. During this year our neighboring coun- 
ty of Jo Daviess held in Umdage. six persons 
as slaves. 

CENSUS 1010, nECRKASE ACCOUNTED FOB 

By the census of 1010 Carroll County has 18,- 
035; KXlO, 18,003 and 1800, 18,320, a decrease 
during the last decade of nearly one thous;ind 
in population. This decrease in ijoinilation is 
not owing to any fault in the fertility of the soil 
or the productiveness of the farms or unremun- 
erative prices for farm products, but rather to 
its great fertility and ease of cultivation and 
over productiveness ; like a hive filled with 
lioney and an abmulanee of food, the workers 
rather than remain in idleness, have like the 
l)ees sought new fields of labor. 

Many have profited by the experience of their 
fathers, have gone west to take up more land and 
buy larger farms, than they could possibly pur- 
chase here, so that their children might have the 
advantage of the increase in value of the western 
lands, which they saw was sure to follow. Some 
have sought broader if not more fertile fields. 

FORMER CITIZENS SCATTERED 

Former citizens of Carroll County are scat- 
tered all over the United States. They have 
taken up sheep ranches and cattle ranches ou 
the great plains. Some have orange groves in 
California and some in Florida, fruit orchards 
in irrigated lands of the Xorthwestern states 
and rice farms in Louisana. 

Carroll County furnished a governor for the 
state of Kansas ; a member of congress for Bos- 
ton ; a distinguished divine for New Fngland ; 
the president of the New York Central, with a 
salary at one time, greater than that of the 



696 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



president of the United States, commenced his 
career, as a railroad emplovee, by piling wood 
for firing railroad locomotives at Thomson, Car- 
roll County. JIany have been attracted by the 
glare and bustle of the great cities and have 
buried themselves there, no doubt often longing 
for the pure air and green fields of their coun- 
try homes. 

EMIGR.\TION 

The emigration from the c-ounty has been so 
great that not enough people have been left to 
properly till the fertile farms; but for the great 
improvement in farm machinery, so that one man 
can now do the work of many, the farms could 
not be cultivated. Some day. perhaps, the tide 
of emigration will set the other way. There is no 
longer occasion for our young people to seek 
occupation elsewhere. Carroll County has great 
possibilities and unparalleled advantages, which 
will some day be utilized. It is never too dry 
like it often is in the west nor too cold like 
it always is in the north. 



The last sevent.v-five .vears have witnessed 
most amazing progress in civilizatinn. in the 
arts, and in all kinds of human activity. When 
the first settlements were made in northwestern 
Illinois, the Mississippi river was the dividing 
line between civilization and barbarism. Sixty 
years ago a skilled engineer thought it iwssible 
this great river might some day be bridged for 
railroad trains to pass over. All beyond the 
Father of Waters was a dreary wild untrod by 
whiteman's foot, e.xcept as some fearless trapper, 
in quest of game, would penetrate the abode 
of savage beast and still more savage man. The 
Indian, the buffalo and the rattlesnake were the 
undisputed occupants of the now fertile prairies, 
of the great state of Iowa. Westward the course 
of empire has taken its way even beyond the 
Pacific ocean. There is no longer any west in 
this great country. 

Xo longer do we behold the white canvased 
caravan, the prairie schooners, moving westward, 
for steam says to the emigrant, "I'll carry you 
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, sooner than you 
can drive .vour o.k team from Ohio to the Mississ- 
ilijii. I'll carry your letter to London, for two 
cents, and you get an answer back in ten days 
delivered at your door. 



The wooden mouldboard of our fathers is for- 
gotten, a steel one now turns its polished sur- 
face to the soil. The sickle and the cradle have 
been superceded by the harvester, a marvel of 
ingenuity, which binds and tosses to one side the 
golden sheaves with a dexterity that seems al- 
most human. The "ten o'clock piece," and the 
"four o'clock piece," which our mothers prepared 
for the harvester!?, who had to rise early and 
work late is a thing of the past. 

The flail of onr grandfathers has been suf^r- 
ceded by the steam thrasher, which "feeds 
itself." blows the straw into mammoth barns 
or stacks it into great half moon stacks and 
sacks the golden grain three tliousand bushels 
or more in a day. 

THE THRESHINGS 

Threshing in the days of the pioneers was done 
in this manner: in a circle of about twenty feet 
in diameter the bundles of grain were set in a 
leaning position towards the center and two oxen 
or horses walking abreast tramped otit the 
grain. Some times more animals were used by 
tying the head of one horse to the tail of an- 
other and a boy rode the leader the others had 
to follow. A man stirred tip the grain until it 
was tramped out, then raked off the straw and 
piled up the grain and chaff in the middle of the 
circle. The grain had then to he winnowed from 
the chaff, a very tedious process. Later fanning 
mills were manufactured at Mount Carroll by 
Widney and Walker ; one of these machines was 
used by a large neighborhood. In 1844 Monroe 
Bailey of York brought to the county the flr.st 
effective threshing machine. This could thresh 
and clean 200 bushels of wheat in a day and was 
thought to be a very great invention. 

At these modern threshings all the neighbors 
help each other, turn about, as it reiiuires a 
great many men and teams, and the grain is 
hauled from shocks in the fields to the machine, 
which is run by a steam engine. They are the oc- 
casion of great feasts, gotten up by the farmers" 
wives, assisted also by their neighbors. A sam- 
ple of the threshers' diimers of the present day 
may be described as follows : A great long table 
that will seat twenty or more hungry men, who 
need plenty of elbow room, is literall.v loaded 
down w-ith good things to eat. For meats there 
are fried chicken, roast beef and cold ham, all 
kinds of vegetables and fruit in season, mashed 



HISTORY OP CARROLL COUNTY 



697 



IKitatui's, yi'llow with biittei- ami rronni. I'rt'sh 
wheat bread and rolls of the finest quality, and 
ilieesi'. jams, jellies, and honey and fresh butter, 
canned apricots and peaches, two kind of cake, 
angel food and rhoixjlate layer cake, jiinser 
crackers, douirlniuts, freshly fried, celery, lemon- 
ade, teil or eoffe, to conclude, two kinds of pie 
are served, two generous pieces tin each plate. 
How does this compare with the fare of a pion- 
eer, who had hannnered the grain with a flail 
all llie weary day, wheu he sat down to his 
frugal meal of bacon and hominy, or corn bread 
washed down with rye coffee. 

The .song of the spinning wheel is no longer 
lieard in the land, for steam has said to the 
good housewife. "I have a thousand fingers of 
curious shape and a delioate mechanism to do 
tliat work for you." 

THE li.V.N.NEE CORN COUNTY 

Carroll County iu the year 1911 was the banner 
coru-raising county of llliuois, which holds the 
title of the banner corn state, both having had 
the highest average per acre, llliuois for the 
fnited States, and Carroll County the higliest 
average of any county in the state. The corn 
crop is never a failure in this county, and 
raising corn and hogs and cattle, is the chief 
occupation of the people; in some sections this 
is varied, especially iu York township, where 
milking cows and selling cream to the creameries, 
is found to be the most profitable. The cream- 
eries in which many of the farmers are inter- 
ested, manufacture butter of the very best 
quality and obtain the highest price in eastern 
c-onunnnities from siiecial customers. Gathering 
the cream from the milk is now made easy and 
e-xjieditious by the use of separators which are 
iu general use among the farmers. The sweet 
skimmed, or .separator milk, is great food for 
the calves and pigs. 

PHIZES T.\KEX 

Many prizes have been taken lor llie best 
butter, at state aud national exhibitions, made 
by Carroll County farmers and Carroll County 
creameries. 

COUNTY OFFICERS 

Tile following were the ccninly officers for 
I'.in ,ind lOlL': 



County Judge, John I). Turnbangh. 
County Clerk, A. B. Adams. 
Sheriff. David B. Doty. 
Superintendent of Schools. John Ilay. 
Coroner. Dr. J. B. Schreiter. 
I'ublic Administrator. Mark S. Forbes. 
States Attorney, F. J. Strauskey. 
Circuit Clerk, Valentine Boerner. 
Probation Otiicer. II. r. Ilostetter. 
Treasurer. William II. .Stiteley. 
Master in Chancery, Chas. E. Stuart. 
Public Guardian, D. C. Smith. 
.Sui>t. County Farm. Theodore Bundy. 

■ME.MIJERS OF THE HOARD OF SUPERVI.SORS 

M. C. Radke, Chairman, Savanna. 
William J. Hay, Woodland. 
Richard A. Kersey, Cberrv (J rove. 
William S. Manning. Lima. 
Charles A. Beede. Salem. 
Smith J. Holland, York. 
F. A. Fogel. Wysox. 
J. W. Miller. Washington. 
Win Vanderbeyden. Freedom. 
William Fisber. Shannon. 
Kli I.. Lower. Hock Creek. 
William F. Snook, Mt. Carroll. 
J. A. Wright, Fair Haven. 
Benjamin C. Knox, Elkborn Grove. 

RAILROADS 

Carroll County has ample railroad facilities. 
The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, Raciue aud 
SdUthwestern division, enters the county at 
the southwest corner, runs thence north to 
Sa\-iiiina, thence east and north and passes out 
at the northeast corner of the county with a 
branch near the nortli line, running east to 
Chicago. Another branch (the cut-off), runs 
fr<im the .southwest corner of the county, north 
and east to the main line at the center of the 
county at Ashdale. 

The Chicago, Burlington & Northern railroad. 
runs from the s<jutliwest corner of the count.v, 
north to Savanna and from there in a sontb- 
easlerly direction to the southeast corner of the 
(■(jiinty, near Milledgeville. tlie main line run- 
ning north from Savanna along the river to the 
northwest corner of the county. 



698 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



VALUATION 

The Chica;;.!, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, 
has sixty miles of main track on its Hue through 
the county, and a double track on its Chicago 
line; with side tracks and buildings on its right 
of way, and is valued for assessment at over two 
millions of dollars. 

The Burlington has over forty-eight miles of 
main track, and with side tracks and buildings 
on the right of way, is valued over one million, 
si.x hundred thousand dollars, making a total 
valuation in the county of railroad tracks and 
buildings on the right of way of nearly four 
million dollars. 

A branch of the JlUwaukee & St. Paul road 
is now, (February, 1912), being surveyed from 
Mt. Carroll in a northwesterly direction, through 
the c-ouuty. Xothiug. however, may come of this 
as several preliminary surveys have been made 
in this neighborhood over other c-ourses. 

The building of several trolley lines through 
the county, has also been discussed, which will 
no doubt materialize in the not far distant 
future. 

RURAL ROUTES 

The Government has established in this county 
twenty-seven free delivery routes. These mail 
carriers routes are from twenty-five to thirty 
miles each, so that nearly one thousand miles 
are traversed every working day, delivering 
mail daily to nearly all the inhabitants of the 
county. There are two telephone system.s, the 
Farmers Mutual and the Independent. There 
are about 4,000 people who have telephones, 
and each one can talk to their neighlwrs all 
over the county. 

It is well to recall the advantages we enjoy 
over those of the pioneers. There is no jjoverty, 
no one suffering from privation of even the 
luxuries of living. The people of Carroll County 
everywhere, are a prosperous, happy and con- 
tented people; naturally law abiding, honest 
and industrious. Many automobiles are now in 
use. some of these are self-starters and make 
their own electric lights. 

VALUATION OF PROPERTY 

The tot.Tl value of all property assessed in 
the county, for the year 1911, was $27,G7.j.48;5.00. 
Tax assessed on the same was $270,253.54. 
The county tax is $41,129.81. 



CHAPTER X. 



CHADWICK AND FAIR HAVEN TOWNSHIP 

— LANARK AND ROCK CREEK 

TOWNSHIP. 



CHADWICK — FAIR IIAVEX TOWNSHIP — GERMAN SET- 
TLERS — LANARK — OLD HOUSE — FOTJETH OF JULY, 
1876 EARLY DAYS — BUSINESS, 1911 WATER- 
WORKS — TEI.EPHONE SYSTEM — FACTORIES — BOCK 
CREEK TOWNSHIP — FIRST SETTLERS. 

CHADWICK 

Oliadwiek is in the northeast corner of Fair 
Haven township. It was made a station on the 
Chicago, Burlington & Northern railroad, and 
named after one of the railroad officials. It is 
782 feet above the sea level, has a population 
according to the last federal census of 517. 

It was laid out and platted by the St. Paul 
Land Company, April 5. 1886, with several addi- 
tions added since then and is "one of the prettiest 
little villages, and the youngest town in Carroll 
County." It has three churches, two physicians, 
one dentist and one jewelery store, two harness 
shoixs and one elevator, one lumber merchant 
and three coal dealers, one hotel and two hard- 
ware stores, three dry goods stores, one drug 
store and one meat market, three restaurants 
and one bakery, and one boot and shoe store, 
three wagon and blacksmith shops, and two 
barber shops, two milliner shops and three 
saloons, and one of the best equipped creameries 
in the county ; two banks ; Farmers' State 
bank, II. H. Beede. president: M. S. Weary, 
cashier; W. J. Schriener. assistant cashier; 
First National bank. N. H. Hawk, president; 
R. H. Campbell, vice-president ; C. M. Kingary, 
cashier. It has a fine electric light system. 
In 1805, a system of waterworks was put in and 
a fine fire department organized. A newspaper 
conducted by Andrew Straneh, is called the 
'•Chadwick Clarion.'' Chadwick is surrounded 
by a very fine farming country. Its business men 
are mostly young and energetic, all working to- 
gether for the best interest of the town. It has 
good streets and several miles of cement side- 




j:!/mwvoifu. 



to1^\^ 



V 






^^c^*J 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



699 



walks and many tijic ri'sidcnci's. It lias a large 
frame public scIkmiI hnildiiii; in wlildi live teach- 
ers are employed. 

lAIH IIAVKN TOWNSHIP 

Fair Haven is in the middle of the lower or 
southern tier of townships. The census of 1910, 
gave the jxiiiulation at 1.278. 

It was to a great extent settled by immigrants 
from Germany, who had the patience to make 
farms by grubbing out the groves and trees that 
were scattered over this township. The princi- 
IKil grove was called Black Oak grove, but in 
it were no very large trees, like there were in 
otlier groves of tlie county ; most of the laud 
was covered with scrubby black oak trees, 
scattered here and there. 

Joseph Wressel came to this part of the 
county in 1838, and David Wressel in 1839; 
they came from Oauada ; their father, Samuel 
Wressel, was born in England. 

In 1844, I.. E. Gallusha built the lirst house 
in Fair Haven. Frank Bell .settled there the 
.Siinio ye.ir. Henry Myers. .Jr.. came from New 
Jersey to the county in 1.S4.J. 

GERMAN SETTLEKS 

In 1848 the Germans began to arrive, most 
of them were from Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. 

Henry B. Zugschwerdt arrive<l here in 1848, 
and crossed the Atlantic- ocean seven times, in 
the interest of his countrymen. 

Werner Zugschwerdt came in 18.")<). In 18r)."i, 
the following all crossed in the same ship: 
Henry Diehl, Fred Diehl, X'hilip Lang, .Tohn 
Frederick, Conrad Frederick, Conrad Dahler, 
and I'hilip (JuacklKirner. 

They all s|«ike the German language, and 
they had their church organizations with 
preaching in (Jerman. For a time they had 
their own schools, under the supervision of the 
church, where the children were taught in 
German. Eventually, Iiowever, they all learned 
to understand and speak the English language; 
and soon became naturalized citizens of the 
I'nitefl States. Among the daughters of these 
lirst families are some of the best English school 
teachers in the county. JIany of the young 
men enlisted in the war for the I'liion and 
fought bravely with olliei's to mainlain the 
Uepublic entire. 



LANARK 

Population lUlo, 1,175. Elevation, 8S3.3. 

D. W. Dame purchased the land and laid out 
the city of Lanark under the auspices of tlie 
Northern Illinois R. I{. Co. The original town 
was platted, October 3, 18G1, by Richard Irvin, 
for the railroad company and John Xycum. 
The c-oini)any lirst built a large liotel, commenced 
July 1, ISfil, which is still in use on the north 
side of the track, now called the Lanark House. 

John Xycum of Mt. Carroll, donated eighty 
acres to the railroad company, and it purchased 
eighty acres more. The company thereby be- 
came the owner of 100 acres of land for the 
town site. The company contributed liberally 
in lots to the church societies, for locations for 
building. Also a school lot, and a whole block 
which is now the city park. It was named for 
a county in Scotland where a banker lived, 
who lent the company the money that was used 
to build the railroad. The first business liouse 
was a small establishment, opened by "Uncle 
Chauncy Grant," and his son William, with a 
small stock of goods that did not exceed one 
hundred and fifty dollars in value. The country 
about the town was sparsely settled, but as soon 
as the railroad was built settlers came in 
rapidly. 

OLD HOUSE 

Among the first houses erected in Lanark, 
was a one-and-a-half story building, that has .i 
very singular and interesting history, which 
may not be known to the present inhabitants 
of the city. (It stands on the east side of Broad 
street, between Carroll and the railroad track). 

TTiis building was first erected in New Orleans, 
built of live oak lumber for a warehouse. In 
later years it was taken apart, and moved up 
the river to St. Louis and rebuilt on the levee 
at that city. Bec-oming in the way there of 
modern improvement, it was again taken down 
and moved to Savanna, and rebuilt there as 
a warehouse. AVlien the Western Union rail- 
road was established, it obstructed the purjiosed 
track laying, and was condemned and ordered 
removed. 

Henry fierce then became its owner, and 
when the railroad was completed, the company 
gave him free trans|»rtation and removed it 
to Lanark. Here it was again rebuilt, and two 
or three rooms in the upper story fitted up for 



700 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



living rooms, aud tbese were occuiiied by A. M. 
Yoric and his family ; here occurred the first 
birth and the first death iii Lanark. York came 
here as a young attorney and hung out his 
shingle at this building, using it as a residence 
and law office. AVben the war came he enlisted. 

In laying out the town, the railroad company 
designated one square for a public park, which 
in course of time was planted in trees, and is 
now a beautiful shady park, where the old 
settlers meetings are held annually. 

For twenty years Lanark grew raiiidl.v, and 
as the surrounding prairie with its rich soil 
was made into productive farms, its commerce 
increased, so its aggi'egate business, including 
the shipments of grain and live stock, was 
larger than the business of any other town in 
the county. It had great expectations of becom- 
ing the metroiK)lis of the county and in no 
distant day the county seat. It seemed to lie 
rapidly outstrip]iing its rivals — Jit. Carroll and 
Savanna. 

lANARK'S lOUKTII OF JULY. 187li 

That the nation's centennial .iubilee was fitly 
celebrated in Lanark, we gleau from the Lanark 
Gazette ; Mr. George Hay was the alile editor 
at that time. It says : "over five thousand peo- 
ple were present at a grand jiatriotic outliurst liy 
tlie iiioneei-s and jiatriots of Carroll County." 
The early dawn of this centennial holiday was 
disturbed by the ringing of bells aud the dis- 
charge of firearms, aud those whom these failed 
to arouse, received a still louder call, v.-hen an 
old field piece sent forth her first intimation 
that she too could speak on that da.v. The firing 
of the cannon was in charge of John Rule. \V. 
L. Tomlinson, D. AY. Dame, Dan Snyder, after- 
ward sheriff of the couut.v. Dr. Chamberlaiid 
(dentist), Wm. Mizuer and J. Borcherd, wlio did 
their work, we are told, "coolly and effectively, 
without excitement and withnut accident." 
These gentlemen had procured the government 
field piece from the arsenal at Rock Island. 
and given their bonds for its return. 

The whole town was beautifully decorated 
with flags and bunting, the portraits of AYash- 
ington and Lincoln were plentifully distributed 
about the town ; "and even the much .abused 
Grant found a defender on that day in the 
person of Mrs. C. E. Wales, who gave his por- 



tr.iit a couspicuous place among the decorations 
on one of the corners of the street." 

A prominent feature of the program was the 
march of the Fantastics. jireceded by Gideon's 
liand. 

The engines on the trains passing throngh 
tlie town, were profusely aud handsomely decor- 
ated, and the cannon was again fired on the 
arrival of each train. 

The procession was arranged in the following 
order: Lanark Cflrnet band, hook and ladder 
company. AYilliam L. Thompson, fireman ; hose 
company, L. A. Chaffee, foreman, George Butts, 
assistant foreman : Neptune fire engine company. 
William Lowis, foreman; James Buchaiman. 
first assistant ; I'eter Royner, second assistant ; 
William Crinklaw, engineer. All were beauti- 
fully .•uul profusely decorated. 

The entire fire department was under tlie 
leadership of city marshal, William Beans. 
assisted by N. R. Rose, a.ssistant marshal. 
Following next was the c-annon drawn by two 
hor.ses ; Band of Martial nnisic ; .Alasonic socie- 
ties. Marshal, Dr. II. W. Wales: Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows. Dr. J. Ilaller, marshal. 
Saliula Cornet band car containing Goddess 
of Liberty aud thirty-eight young ladies, Miss 
Lizzie Ila.v. now the wife of Arthur Woodruff, 
postmaster of Savanna was among these, each 
of the young ladies represented one of the states 
of the union. The editor of tlie Gazette says : 
"This was one of the grandest features of the 
procession." The car was drawn by four fine 
horses, furnished and driven by W. W. Rock- 
well, next a carriage containing Hon. .Tames 
Shaw, orator of the day; the IIon.^D. M. Dame. 
president of the day. dressed in costume of 
ITTti. representing General Washington, fullowed 
by carriages containing other distinguished 
citizens. 

M.-ijor (ieorge A. Root was chief iiiarsli.-il. 
and .\. V. Branyan assistant. 

.Vt tlie stand excellent music was rendered 
by the bands and a select glee club, consisting 
of .Mi.sses May Z. Su.yder and Stella AVTiite, 
witli Miss L. Smith at the organ and Messrs. 
J. K. .Millard and W. P. Smith. 

"A most eloquent and appropriate prayer" was 
offered by the Rev. Charles Rowe. 

Tile Declaration of Independence was read 
liy the Rev. J. W. Henderson. 

The president, the lion. D. W. Dame, pre- 
faced his introduction of the .speaker, with an 




^. ^^ 






.V^ 



^t^^ 



HISTORY OF CARROLL ("OUNTY 



701 



liistoriciil skutcli, uf Ihu iiiaich ul' eveiit.s which 
preceded, "the drama enacted July -Ith, 177(!, and 
the stirring sequences whieli followed." 

Hon. .James l^haw delivered an oratinn wliicli 
was I'Miiiicnti.v litliiij; for the occasion. 

KAUl.Y nAYS 

The country all about Lanark in early days, 
was thiidy settled jirairie land. .James I!. 
Howell who first settled iu Freedom townshii) 
in tlie fall of 184.">, lived in a house on the site 
of Lanark, where his son Thomas 1''.. and 
dauirhler llanna V.. were the first white children 
horn ill Itock Creek townsliiii, where Lanark 
now slands. 



when pumped- direct into mains. It has a 
volunteer fire department very effective and 
efficient. 

Its electric lights are furnished hy a private 
philit. 

TKI.EPIIO.NE SYSTEM 

Tlie Lanark Mutual and the Independent 
Telephone c-ompanies, each have central stations 
in Lanark and are well patronized. The Lanark 
Mutual has nearly seven hundred subscribers, 
many of whom are stockholders. .John I{. Wolf 
is ijresidenl. Itoyd Zuck, secretary, and W. II. 
Dresltack, auditor. It was first organized. 
-March li. V.M2, and incorporated, July 10, 1907. 



lil'SINESS 1011 

Lan.-irk has twn hotels, two dry goods and 
one gents' furnishing store, two meat markets 
and three restaurants and one bakery, three 
grocery stores and two agricultural implement 
stores, three wagon and l)lacksmilh sliops, two 
banks, and three barber shops, two millinery 
shojis and three physicians, two harness shojis 
and two elevators, two billiard halls, one lumber 
yard and two coal dealers, a furniture store and 
undertaker, one uewsiwper, the Lauark Gazette. 
seven churches, several very large and handsome 
church edifices. Tlie cost of I^an;irk"s former 
schoolhouse was seventeen tliousaiid dollars. 
wlieh was destroyed by fire, November. 18!):!, 
supposed to liavi- been created by siionfaneons 
couihustion in a large pile of soft coal in the 
basement. It was rebuill at a cost of twenty- 
four thousanil dollars for building, apparatus 
and furniture and library. It is one of the finest 
school buildings in tlie county, lias a library of 
seven hundred volumes with nearly four hun- 
dred fiupils enrolled. 

\VATER WOHKS 

Lanark has oni' of the best systems of water 
works in tlie counly. established in LSSS. con- 
sisting of two and lialf miles of water mains 
and twenty-eight hydrants. 

The water is pumped from a well into a 
stand pipe by an eighty-five horse power engine, 
with a tank that will hold si.xly lliou.sand gal- 
lons of water. The puinjis have a capacity of 
four thousand galhuis every (juarter of an hour 



FACTORIES 

One of the most successful is the r.,anark 
('aiming Company. They sell their g(>o<ls as the 
•'.Maple City Brand," which lias acipiiicd ipiite 
an enviable reputation. 

The company packed during the |iast year, 
five hundred thousand cans of corn, one hundred 
and ninety thousand of pumpkin and thirty 
thou.sjind cans of tomatoes. During the ■|)ast 
ye.ir the capacity of tlie plant has been doubled. 
They have paid out during the year ten thousand 
dollars to the farmers for raw material, nearly 
seven thousand dollars for labor and over a 
thousand dollars to local merchants for supplies. 

The company was iiicorponited iu May. 1007, 
with a capital of fifteen thousand dollars, after- 
wards increased to twenty-five. John W. Peters 
is president, Peter Ilowigan, secretary and 
treasurer, Thomas W. Potter the efficient man- 
ager. "Try the .Maple City brand and be con- 
vinced of its merits." W. II. Dresback is one 
of tlieir efiicient salesmen. 



ROCK (KEEK TOWXSniP 

Population, 1010, 1,840. Elevation, 780 feet to 
047 feet above tlie sea level. 

This township is comix)sed of high, beautiful 
rolling prairie there being no groves and few 
streams; it was among tlie last to be settled 
in the county, altlumgh the soil is the best, and 
the farms now the most valuable in tlie county 
and llic larincrs the wealthiest, many of them 
Iiaviii;.' fine Imililiiii-'s and iiiiidcrn imiiriivciiicnls. 



702 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



, FIBST SETTLERS 

Kock Creek's first settlers were David Becker 
aud Zofhasiah Kiukode. Becker sold to Dauiel 
Beldiu};. who came to this county from Vermont, 
and in ISoo, had a large cheese factory, capable 
of manufacturing a thousand pounds per day. 
The greater part of his cheese was sold in 
Europe. Richard A. Thompson was an early 
settler and the first to introduce cheese making 
into the county, which was engaged in quite 
extensively, for the means at hand. l)y some of 
the early settlers. 

D. W. Dame who was born in New Hampshire, 
settled in Rock Creek in June, 1857. 

Amos Wolf whose father was an early settler 
at Cherry Grove, was one of the most extensive 
farmers in Rock Creek. He raised and sold in 
one shipment 177 liogs, which netted him in 
cash, $4,828. One of his brothers, David Wolf 
did better since then by making one shipment 
of cattle that amounted to over eight thousand 
dollars. The early settlers' fathers, some of 
them non-residents, purchased large tracts of 
its beautiful prairie land, but as the first owners 
passed away iu the settlement of their estates, 
their farms have subsecjuently been divided into 
smaller places. 



CHAPTER XI. 



CHERRY GROVE— FREEDOM— LIMA, 
TOWNSHIPS. 



found growing in this grove. They were very 
tall and straight trees and could be seen a consid- 
erable distance from the prairie, towering above 
the oaks and other trees. 

The 1910 census credits the township with 704 
inhabitants. 

STAGE LINES 

Cherry Grove figured quite prominently in the 
early settlement of the county on account of the 
stage lines that passed through this territory 
from the east and south converging here in a 
highway that led to the Galena Lead Mines, 
which was perhaps what was called the Sucker 
Trail ; along this road the southerners returned 
every fall with their home made wagons loaded 
with mineral, drawn by four or six yoke of 
oxen ; most of these oxen having their toes 
shod with iron to withstand the wear of constant 
traveling: aud although slow iu motion they 
made a very good motive ix)wer when urged 
along by the great thong whips of their drivers, 
the crack of which resounded for some distance 
and is remembered by the early settlers as well 
as the squeaking of their heavily loaded wagons. 
Some of these teams brought merchandise, which 
the steamboats landed at Peoria, for the mer- 
chants of Galena, whidi they distributed 
throughout the northwest country. The Cherry 
Grove stage station was located near the west 
boundary of the township on section 30. It was 
the first stopping place in the county of many 
of the early settlers. Another road passed 
through the northeast corner of the township 
from Gratiots Grove, fifteen miles from Galena, 
to Peoria. 

THE EACIXE AND MISSISSIPPI RAIIJiOAD 



CHEBKY GBOVE — STAGE LINES — RACINE AND MISSI.S- 
SIPPI EAILEOAD — GEORGE , TOWN — WOOD LOTS — 

FOREST FIRES WILD GINSENG — EARLY SETTLERS 

LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS DEBATE — FREEDOM TOWN- 
SHIP — ARNOLD'S GBOVE — HUNTING GROUNDS OF 
THE INDIANS — EARLY SETTLERS — WAGES — HORTI- 
CULTUBE OECHABDS — LIMA TOWNSHIP. 



This railroad was laid through this township 
and a great deal of the line graded. Some of 
these grades are now used as a part of the pub- 
lic highway, and future generations may wonder 
how so much dirt came to be moved to so little 
purpose. The answer involves a tale of fraud 
and misreiM'esentation and misplaced confidence 
by which many of the farmers of Carroll County 
were grievously imposed upon. 



CHEBBY GBOVE 



GEORGETOWN 



Cherry Grove was so named from the great 
number of wild cherry trees the early settlers 



Georgetown, two miles north of Lanark, 
started in 1850 is now a collection of a few 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



703 



houses, a church and a school house, liut would 
have been a considerable towu had the R. & M. 
railroad beeu built. 

WOOD LOTS 

The eastern ixirt of the township was a beau- 
tiful rolling [irairie and the western part wood- 
ed hills. Where the timber was thick the land 
was divided into wood lots of a few acres each 
which those owning prairie farms purchased for 
supplying fuel and wood for other purposes on 
the farm. The frame work of many of the large 
barns in the county was made from hewn tim- 
ber. Most of the old houses have great tire- 
places, where the rough wood in large pieces was 
used for heating the house. It was all brought 
from the wood lots, some times several miles 
distant, usually in winter time on sleds. 

FOREST FIRES 

In early days forest fires frequently swept 
through these woods and destroyed a great deal 
of the timber. Since they have been kept out the 
growth of young trees has beeu quite rapid, so 
that notwithstanding a large portion of some of 
the groves has been grubbed out to make ready 
for farming, there is more timber in the county 
now than when it was first settled. Coal is so 
much cheaper very little wood is used for fuel. 
Many of the large basswood trees are shipjjed 
out of the county to be used for making matches 
and for other purjioses. Portable saw mills are 
used to convert the large hard wood trees, prin- 
cipally oak and walnut, into lumber which is 
con.sumed on the farms and for planking bridges, 
thi walnut, which is too valuable for the.se pur- 
pose, finds a ready market outside of the county. 
What is said here will apply to all the groves 
and timber lots throughout the c-ounty, some of 
which have been more nearly destroyed than 
others. 

WILD CIN'SENG 

One of the products of these groves, besides 
the game and berries which were very abundant, 
was the roofs of the wild ginseng. These in 
early days the Indian gathered and after tbem 
the trappers and hiuiters. and was usually sold 
to the druggists. It is now shipited to China, 
where the Chinese use it as a medicine. .\s the 
wild roots became scarce it became very valuable, 



and in late years the cultivation of the roots has 
become a new industry. At Georgetown in Cherry 
Grove, Mr. Switzer has started quite a large 
garden from wild roots found in the grove. He 
uses artificial shade, as it has to be grown in the 
shade. C. L. Hostetter near Mount Carroll, has 
nearly an acre in cultivation under the natural 
shade of the trees, and Ilolman and Jloore in 
Woodland township, have an acre or more in 
cultivation under the trees. It is said that an 
acre of these roots ready for harvesting is worth 
several thous;iud dollars. The Ditsworth Broth- 
ers of Salem Township were among the first to 
experiment in raising ginseng. There are sev- 
eral others in the county engaged in this new 
industry. 

EARLY SETTLERS OF CHERRY GROVE 

The following are the names of early settlers 
who seem to have been omitted in the general 
histoi-j' of the county, and the years when they 
settled in Cheri-y Grove. Simon Fellows, in the 
early thirties, is said to have been the first 
postmaster at the (irove. Mi-s. Martha Winters, 
widow, formerly Jlartha Bailey, came from 
Greenbriar county, Virginia, April 12th, 1833, 
and kept the stage house for her brother-in-law, 
.John D. Winters, at Cherry Grove in an early 
day. .She married Levi Warner who had settled 
in Elkhorn (Jrove in 183G. William Wiley came 
in 18.37, John Pierce in 1838. Francis Garner, 
wife and five or si.x; children, came from .southern 
Illinois in 1834; he had been in the BUickhawk 
war and selected his claim on his way home 
after his discharge at Galena. In 1841, W. A. 
.T. Pierce came with his father's family from 
Washington Co., Md. They had a sL^t-horse 
team and one wagon. They left in the spring 
and stopped on the way to visit, arriving at 
Garners, near the Grove, in October. Abraham 
Moffett had been west before 1841 and went east 
after having made a claim and broke some land, 
to get married. He and his bride came west 
with the Pierce family. Henry B. Puterbaugh, 
David Puterbaugh and Aaron Beck came in 
1840 and George W. Puterbaugh, R. L. Chitty and 
Henry Puterbaugh in 1848. Larkins Lind.sey 
taught school about this time in the Moffett log 
sh;inty. .Mr. Pierce's sister Virginia, also taught 
the school at the Grove. 



704 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



LINCOLN AND DOVGI^S DEBATE 



AENOLD S GROVE 



John Wolf, one of CUerry Grove's pioneer citi- 
zens tooli a notable part in the great debate of 
Lincoln and Douglas, at Freeiwrt, August 27th, 
1858. Mr. Douglas arrived the day before in the 
evening and was escorted to the Brewster House 
l)y a torchlight procession. Mr. Lincoln arrived 
on a special train on the Illinois Central at ten 
o'clock in the morning of the day of the debate 
and it is said was escorted to the hotel by his 
friends pressing into their service an ox team, 
hitched to a hayrack, on which the "rail split- 
ter," rode, and he was followed by an immense 
throng of people to his hotel, with great cheering 
all the way. It was arranged that Mr. Douglas 
was to be taken from the hotel to the grounds, 
where the si^eaking was to be in a coach drawn 
by four white horses. But Mr. Linctiln's friends 
had arranged with Jlr. .John Wolf, who hajipeiied 
to be in town with his big Pennsylvania or Con- 
nestoga wagon with his big four horse team, that 
he should procure another span of fine horses to 
put with his four horse team and drive Mr. Lin- 
coln and some of his friends to the grounds in 
his big wagon with the splendid six horse team 
with their big harness and other trappings. lie 
did so, riding the "wheel horse,'' and guiding the 
team with one line in regular Pennsylvania style. 
When Mr. Douglas heard or saw that Mr. Lin- 
coln was going to the grounds in such rustic 
state, he refused to ride in the coach with the 
four white horses and walked to the grounds in 
still more democratic fashion. 

When Mr. Wolf returned home, his fame had 
preceded his arrival and his neighbors took 
pleasure iu asking him, "what have you been 
doing at Freeiwrt?" "Oli," he said, "acting the 
fool for other people." It is said he got forty 
dollars for the job. with which he was well 
pleased. 

A thousand i)eople from Carroll County at- 
tended this meeting. 

FREEDO.M TOWNSHIP 

Freedom is in the middle of the northern 
tier of townships in Carroll County. The cen- 
sus of 1910 gives the population at .580. The 
northwest half of the township is hilly and at 
til? time of the settlement of this portion of the 
country was covered with scattering timber and 
one beautiful grove. 



It was named after Daniel Arnold and his 
son John, who settled there in 1810. In early 
days it was one of the finest groves in the coun- 
ty, but its glory has departed, nothing now is 
left of the great trees but their stumps and few 
of these have e.scaped the "gnawing tooth of 
time." Mr. Arnold's wife, whose maiden name 
was Price, was a sister of Mrs. David Emmert, 
whose husband built the mill and started Mount 
Carroll. 

The township has about the same history as 
that of Cherry Grove. Owens Point as it was 
called where John Owens resided, was within 
the limits of Freedom Township, as were the 
farms of the Moffetts. Marks and Lairds. 

HLXTIXG GROUNDS OF THE INDIANS 

The Indians were numerous for many years 
after the Black Hawk war, and as late as 1835 
or 36 a trading post was kept at Owens Point 
where guns, amunition, calico, blankets, whiskey, 
red handkerchiefs, beads and etc.. were ex- 
changed witli the Indians for pelts and gin- 
seng. 

The Indians were a source of annoyance and 
greatly feared especially l)y the women and 
children. They clung to their hunting grounds of 
which Plum river and its tributaries furnished 
the very best, and to the graves of their fathers. 
represented by the beautiful Indians Mounds on 
the edge of the timber overlooking the prairie 
to the southward. 

EARLY SETTLERS 

The early settlers were the same class of 
people as those who settled Cherry Grove, and 
they came from the same localities in the east. 

William Thompson made the first claim at Ar- 
nold's Grove iu 18.33. 

(iarner Moffett from Wasliington Co.. \:i.. 
came in 1830. 

In 1843 George Grove settled on section 2'.) : .-ilso 
Jacob Alright, who came with the Arnolds in 
1840. His widow, an aged lady, is now living 
with her son in Iowa, age ninety-one years. 

In 1845 quite a number settled in Freedom 
Township. There was W. R. Laird and Daniel 
Miller, David Teeter, Daniel Teeter. .Samuel 
Mitchell and James R, Howell, Joseph Stitzel 




C'OLI.KCK IIAI.L. riiWCKS SHIMER SCHODI.. Ml i AHHOLI. 




ii\-niA\\ \^ iiM.i.. ri{ANci;s siiimi-;h sciiooi,. mt. cahkoi.l 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



ro5 



niul Daniel Sheiirer. In 1842 ciinip .Matlicw K. 
Davis and Soionioii Wado witli liis sister ("ani- 
line, afterwanl Mrs. James Mark and the luund- 
er of the Caroline Mark Ilonie at Monnt Carrdil. 

WAliES IN EARLY nAYS 

A niontli's work was valued at ten dollars, 
riowiiif; fil'ty cents per da.v and liutchering 
one dollar: one da.v use of cattle (ox team) 
twenty-tive cents ; a week's work by wife, sev- 
enty-tive cents; one day raking and binding 
wheat, one dollar; work at haying, fifty cents 
a day. 

Most of the early settlers were from Tennsyl- 
vauia with some from Maryland. They planted 
orchards and soon had about them the comforts 
of life, living in good frame houses, some of 
brick, as a brick yard was started in early days 
at Mount Carroll, there being suitable clay there 
for making tine red brick. 

Agriculture is the chief oecnpation of tlie peo- 
ple here as elsewhere throughout, tlie county. 

lIORTICULTtRE 

Mr. C. F. Schaale.however. wluise farm is near 
the Mounds, has recently gone into horticulture, 
having iilanled twenty-five hundred apple, plum 
and cherry trees, trwo thousand grapes, fifteen 
hundred currant and goose berries. He makes 
a specialty of canning tomatoes in glass. One 
year (1911) he put up two hundred crates, lie 
also manufactures grape juice. He crates bis 
grapes in five pound baskets, six in a crate. 
In this way they stand shipiiing better than the 
usual way of putting a larger (piantily in a sin- 
gle basket, lie also raises some tine melons. 



the east tier of townisliijis. It Is one half the 
congressional townshii) the other half being in 
Ogle County. 

It is a beautiful ijrairie <ountry with a part of 
Chambers Grove running into the east side of it. 
On account of it being mostly prairie it was not 
settled as early as other portions of the county, 
most of the early settlers coming there from 1844 
to ]8.')(i. 

.John Chambers and I'hiletus Peck, the very 
flr.st settlers, came prior to 1840. A ma.jorily of 
the early settlers were fr(un Pennsylvania, but 
.losejih Franks, who came in 1844, was born in 
T(M'onto and his wife was born in Canada. 

Nathan Krebs and liis wife came in 184."! also 
Gabriel Sarber and bis family all from Pemisyl- 
vania. 

Charles Franks, who was born in England, 
came to this state in isy.j and to this county in 
1840, his wife Ellen Young was bom in England. 

John W. Franks, born in Canada, came the 
same .vear, his wife was from Pennsylvania. 

Z. D. Marks, born in Connecticut, came to this 
county iu 1848 and Emanuel Ilepler was born In 
Pennsylvania, came to this county 1840, also 
Isaac Paul. 

There were some l.wge land <iwners in Lima 
in early days some of whom were nonresidents 
which prevented the township from being so 
thickly and speedily settled as other parts; these 
large tracts of land are gradually being divided 
into smaller farms, with resident owners. 



CIIAPTEK XII. 



ORCIIARnS 

.\pple orchards in tliis county have not been 
a great success except on a very small scale 
and the very best attention, which a few of the 
farmers have time to give them, and they are 
short lived. Some of the older settlers have 
planted the fourth or fifth orchard on their 
farms and these only liear abtmdantly occa- 
sionally. 

I.IM.V TOWNSIIIl" 

rcpnlalion I'.lld. :'<2:\. 

Lima township Is situalccl in the middle of 



VILLAGE OF MILLEIKIEVILLE— WYSOX— 
ELKllOKN GKOVE To\VX8IIlP8. 



MILLEnGEVlI.T.E — ORKilNAI. PLAT WYSOX TOWN- 
SHIP — EARLY- .SETTLERS — ELKHORN GRO\'E TOWN- 
SHIP — THE PEOPLE — IXK) ROLLINGS — OLD CEN- 
TER SCHOOL HOUSE — METHODIST CnURCH — 
HAND SAW-MILL — FIRST WATER POWER MILLS — 
A GO-DEVIL — A DUTCH OVEN — THE SUCKER TRAIL 
— A PIGEON TRAP — CHOICE DISHES — INTOXICAT- 
ING LIQUORS — A VAI.UAIU.E LOAD — NAMKS OK 



706 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



EABLY SETTLERS — WAB BECORD — THE UNDEB- 
GBOUND RAILROAD HA2ELHURST. 

MILLEDGEVILLE 

This village of six huuared thirty oue in- 
habitants by the census of 1910, is 729 feet above 
the sea level, is located in the south east corner 
of Wysox township surrouujed by a country un- 
surpassed for farming and stock raising. It was 
iucoriwrated as a village in 1887. 

OBIGIXAL PLAT 

The original plat of Milledge-iille was made by 
George W. Knox and Rollin Wheeler, April 10th, 
1850, and certified to by Philander Seymour 
County Surveyor. Later when the Burlington 
railroad was built through the county in 1886 a 
station was established north of the old town 
and a large addition made to the town under the 
auspices of the St. Paul Land Company entitled 
Myers Addition, where the business part of the 
town rapidly built up with fine store buildings 
suitable for every branch of trade, and a fine 
school building was erected at the cost of fi.ono 
dollars in 1877. 

It has three churches, two physicians, one 
jewelry and drug store, one harness shop and one 
elevator, one lumber and two coal dealers. 
one furniture store and one hotel, three dry goods 
stores, one meat market and two restaurants. 
four grocery stores, three wagon and black- 
smith shops, one bank, Shumway State Bank. 
I. F. Greenawalt, Prest., X. M. Cantrell, V. 
Prest., H. C. Knox, Cashier, and two barber 
shops, and one weekly newspaper and iirintiug 
office. The Free Press, W. L. Puterbaugh, editor 
and proprietor. A water .system Is owned by the 
city which pays running expenses. The city is 
out of debt having paid the last bond in Jan- 
uary, 1912. 

The village has many flue residences with beau- 
tiful lawns, kept in fine condition, and the 
residents are progressive and up to date in 
every respect. Recently the citizens of the vil- 
lage and Wysox township have voted to expend 
thirty-five thousand dollars in improving the 
reads into Milledgeville. They expect this 
amount of money will build about thirteen miles 
of hard road. 



WYSOX TOWNSHIP 

By the last census Wysox township had a 
ixjpulation of 1,483. No better farming lands 
can be found anywhere. In early days most of 
the township was a beautiful rolling prairie 
country. On the east it was bounded by Elk- 
horn Grove. Some of the early settlers have 
been mentioned in the sketch of that township. 

As in other cases the first settlers located near 
the groves in order that they might have not 
only the protection of the timber but have wood 
for fuel and logs for building their cabins and 
timber for making rail fences to protect their 
crops. Live stock for many years was allowed 
to roam over the praii'ies at will and stock rais- 
ing became one of the most profitable branches 
of farming that the early settlers engaged in, 
and still continues to be such although now the 
law requires every owner of cattle to keep them 
on his own land and a farmer may raise his 
crops unprotected by fences. 

EARLY SETTLERS 

Among the first settlers was the Eastabrook 
family. They came from Bradford County, Penn- 
sylvania, making the entire trip overland by 
wagon, fording the Ohio river at "WTieeling, 
West Virginia. There were no bridges in those 
days and every stream along the route had to 
be forded. A. G. Eastabrook made this trip with 
his father's family in the winter of 1839. He 
was eighteen years old when he settled here. 
There were no railroads then and the grain was 
often carted to Chicago where wheat sold at 
fifty cents a bushel. He took some of his wheat 
to Mt. Carroll, where it l)rought thirty-five cents 
a bushel at the mill, but its value had to be taken 
out in trade. He married Ellen Wheeler, a 
daugliter of Rollin Wheeler, an early settler, and 
at one time sheriff of Carroll County. 

Levi F. Eastabrook came to Carroll County a 
few years later. He bought the place where he 
lived, a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of 
prairie land, and ten acres of timber, for eight 
Inmdred dollars, which is worth now more than 
twenty times that sum. 

Josiah P.. Johnson came to this county from 
Bradford County, Pennsylvania, in 18.39, was 
sheriff of the county in 1856. His wife, Lucy 
Ann Tucker, was from Tompkins County. New 
York. 



HISTORY OP CARROLL COUNTY 



707 



Another notable citizen of Wysox who set- 
tled there in early days, was Elder Ileury Myers, 
a fanner and preacher. lie and his wife, Anna 
Lichty. were the parents of sixteen children, 
twelve of whom grew to nianliood and woman- 
hood. He left surviving him at the time of his 
death nearly one hundred granddiildreu and 
fifty great-grandchildren. With Init one exception 
they were all engaged in farming and almost 
one hundre;! farms were opened and owned hy 
himself and his descendants. Jllany of the 
fariners in this townsliip now have very hand- 
some and conunodious rosidenct^ with all the 
modern comforts and conveniences that are en- 
joyed hy residents of the cities. Modern in- 
ventions enable the farmer to harness the wind 
and add many comforts to his home at moderate 
expense. 

There were other early settlers of Wysox who 
have been mentioned elsewhere. 

■ EI.KIIOKN GHOVE TOWNSIIU' 

I'oimlution I'JlO, four hundred and thirty-one. 

Another of its first settlement.s and the most 
extensive at that time, in Carroll County, was 
KIkliorn Grove in tlie southeast corner of the 
county. This grove was settled by pioneers from 
all parts of the east, some of tlieni (timing first 
lo (tliio and some to ICentucky and southern 
Illinois. 

THE PEOPLE 

Most of these jieople were originally from 
New Knglanil. New York and Virginia, with a 
few from I'ennsylvania, but not neiirly so many 
from the latter state as there are in other 
parts of the county. 

Elkhorn Grove and neighlmrhood, in fact the 
whole county, was settled by a very intelligent 
and enterprising class of peope. Most of tbem 
were from the midde class of societ.v. both in re- 
gard to intelligence and wealth. They had been 
acrustomed. in tlieir native states, to liabits of 
industry and they did not leave those habits be- 
hind theru. They were all .voung people and 
entered upon the labor of o|)ening farms and 
gathering around them the comforts of life, with 
a zeal and determination which with their earn- 
est efforts could not fail of success. 

Upon their arrival they were nearly all strang- 
ers to each other, in a strange, almost uninhab- 
ited land, and later with a few neighbors and 



these far aixirt. But they all came here with 
the same object to make homes for themselves 
and their families. 

LOG ROLLINGS 

At the log rollings was one of the first and 
best means of getting acquaintel with others. 
At these many of the pioneers met for the first 
time and acquaintances and friendships were 
formed wliich were enjoyed as long as life lasted. 
The first log rolling at Elkhorn Grove of 
which we have any account was the one Levi 
Warner mentions in his notes: '"June 0th. 1S34, 
went to Aukenies raising." 

(We are indebted to Mr. Henry Elsey of Elk- 
horn Grove fcr the following facts in regard to 
the building of a log cabin here related.) 

After the trees were cut and trimmed and 
drawn to the place where the cabin was to be 
built and every thing was ready for the raising 
the day was set and the ueighlwrs far and near 
were all invited to the raising. The tools that 
were necessary to have in building a log house 
were an axe and an auger ; in addition to these 
if the builder had a frow and an adze he was 
well supplied : the frow was used in splitting 
the "shake," shingles and the adze to smooth off 
and level the "puncheon floor." It was a tool 
something like a hoe but heavier and with a 
sharp steel edge. 

The neighbors came with their ox teams and 
their log chains and whatever tools they had 
that would be useful at the raising. Some of the 
men were skilled workmen who had learned to 
clio|) wood in the old home in the east. When 
they got together ready for the rolling a cap- 
tain was first chosen, then four men to notch the 
corners. To do this nicely, required some skill 
which came from practice. 

The door and window jambs were split from 
some straight graine<l timber and hewn as 
.smooth as it was possible to make them with the 
tools they had at hand: the logs were "b\itted" 
off straight or sawed, if they had a saw, and 
the jambs fastened to the ends of the logs by 
wooden pins driven into auger holes bored 
through the jambs and into the ends of the logs. 
When the walls were high enough, the gable 
rafters, made from heavy poles, were i>ut in 
place and lighter rafters in between these, to 
which were pinned i)oIes running leugthwise of 
the roof on wliich the. "shakes," were fastened. 



708 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



these were long shingles made by splitting them 
with a frow from logs four or five feet in length ; 
on top of these, long iwles were fastened with 
pins into the gable rafters which held the shakes 
in place and kept them from warping. Next was 
the IniiUling of the fireplace and chimney. -Vs 
there was no stone or brick to be had it was 
built of sticks and clay, the builder being c-are- 
ful that no wood was exiwsed to the fire. A 
supply of clay was kept on hand to patch any 
place where it might scale off from the wood 
and a pail of water to extinguish any incipient 
blaze. 

The floor was made of logs split in the center 
and laid on the ground with the split side up, 
the etlges being hewn straight so as to fit to- 
gether as close as possible ; they were held in 
place by wedges driven between the logs in the 
side wall and these split logs, this foi-med the 
puncheon tloor. The door was made of shakes 
arid hung on wooden hinges witii a wooden latch 
on the inside, wliich was lifted by pulling a 
string that ran through a small hole in the door 
to the outside, if pulled in the door was locked 
against outsiders, Init "the latehstring was al- 
ways out." for neighbors and friends, by the pio- 
neers of Elkhorn Grove. 

It was a hai>py day for tlie pioneers when the 
small supply of household goods could be moved 
into the log cabin, then it was: 

"The 'prairie schooner' her anchor cast. 
Lay at her moorings, just before. 

The little log cahin's open door. 
And the household goods, a meager store, 

Lie scattered alx)ut on the i)uncheon floor. 
Then it was that the bright young wife, 

Began the worl; of her frontier life." 

From Andrew Downings poem entitled the 
"Pioneers," written for the second annual Old 
Settlers Association meeting, September 23, 1S75. 
Mr. Downing's father and mother settled in 
.Mount Carroll Township in 1S37, and he was the 
first male child Ijorn in that township. 

The first log cabin, built in the grove was that 
of John Ankeney in ISIil ; he abandoned it to 
go to the Black Hawk War ; it was on the nortli 
side of the grove on section eight, and was sev- 
eral times used by pioneei-s a.-; a temixirary resi- 
dence until they could liuild log taliins ftir them- 
selves. 



OLD CENTER SCHOOL HOUSE 

While these jjeople were engaged in securing 
their individual interests, they did not neglect 
the c-ommon welfare. As soon as a sufficient 
number of families settletl in a neighborhood a 
log school house was built and school opened and 
maintained by private subscription or tuition. 
Oftimes donations either in money or labor were 
made by those who had no children to educate. 

Old Center school house was built of logs in 
the fall of 1S3.5. and was no doubt the first build- 
ing erected in the county exclusively for educa- 
tional purposes. A man named Ingalls was the 
first teacher. He was frozen to death in the 
winter of 18.3G while going home, being intoxi- 
cated. 

METHODIST CHURCH 

In this school house the south Elkhoni Grove 
Methodist Churdi Society worshipi)ed initii a 
church was built. 

Father McKean, who was on the' circuit, 
lireached the first sermon in Elkhorn Grove in 
1S3G. The society was organized and had regu- 
h-r preaching in the school house in the summer 
of 1S.3S. 

Their churcli Imilding was commenced in l.Slo 
and CHimpleted at a cost of si.x hundred dollars, 
the following year. 

A pioneers' ii.\xd saw mux 

-Vt a few places in the county, especially at 
Elkhorn Grove are to be seen today holes in 
the ground that are a puzzle to the casual ol)- 
server to know how they came to be made there. 
They were made by the early settlers to use 
in sawing boards from logs. 

.V pit was dug perhaps twent.v feet long and 
six feet or more deep around which a scaffolding 
was built of logs two or three feet above the 
ground, on this a log was placed that had been 
hewn flat on both sides, on the upper side the 
thickness of the boards to be sawed was marked 
off with chalk or charcoal ; the saw was started 
on one of these lines, a man in the pit with a 
veil over his face to keep the sawdust out of 
his eyes, pulled it down, a man on top pulled it 
up and guided it in the mark; sometimes he 
was assisted b.v the spring of a sapling bent over. 
Not far from the center of section eighteen Elk- 
horn Grove Township, one of these mills was in 
active operation in 1S3.^>-.3(j. 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



709 



The niiin in the pit was called the iiitinaii. 
Thus came the name of the bar that coimecteil 
the iiower in the saw mill to the saw and later 
the l)ar tliat connected the sickle in the nunvcr 
or reaiHT with the wheels of the machine was 
called the pitnian. Other excavations are some- 
times seen wliere charcoal was made, calli'd cliar- 
coal iiits, but they were not so large. 



A lllTHI OVEN 

The most important piece of Idtcheu ntensil 
was the dutch oven. It was u larj;e cast iron 
lK)t with a lid that had a flange around the edge. 
Anything to be baked or cooked was put in the 
|Hit and set in the coals then the lid was put on 
and lilled with coals. This could be easily lifted 
iilT williH\il 1,'etting aslies or coals into tlie lK)t. 



TIIK FIHST MU.l.S IN THE COUNTY 

•|lie lirst saw mill in the county run liy water 
power was erected by Jesse Kestou on IClkhorn 
cieek near Milledgeville in 1834. The Bowen 
Hrolhers saw mill was laiilt on Plum river in 
l,s:r.. lu ].s:!T Klijah Katon l)uilt a saw mill on 
i:iMinrn creek. This mill was purcliased l>y 
Smith and .Jurney and later was sold to Man- 
assa XeiUirk; Lucius S. TUorp Iwughl it in tlie 
fifties and converted it into a grist mill, later it 
was known as the L. S. Thorp and Sous mill and 
was tlie first mill in this part of the country to 
adopt the roller process lu the making of fiour. 

When the farmers of the surrounding country 
could no longer raise wheat the mill was again 
cliangcd into a saw mill, with a rotary instead 
of the old time sash .saw. And it is now (1012J 
the only water power mill of any kind in the 
cM\n]ty. 

IIRST ITXJlIt MII.I.S 

The lirst settlers at the grove to<:ik their grain 
to I'eoria to be ground, there was the nearest 
mill. Later Adam Knox built a small mill on 
Elkhorn Creek and .lo.-^cph Wilson Imilt one on 
.r.ulTalo Creek. 

A (;0-l)EVlL 

Crain was taken in small ciuantities to these 
mills and lo avoid using the heavy wagon for so 
small a load llu- farmers at the grove made and 
used what tliey called a go-devil. It was made 
from a forked limb or log, betweeu the two 
branches cross pieces were pinned ; the load was 
placed uiM)n this, the oxen were hitchcHl to it 
witli a chain and it was dragged n|Min the 
ground ; tlie same instrument was often used in 
winter when tlie snow was deep to break a path 
for the children to tlie scliool house. 



NAMES OMITTKl) 

The lollowing are tlie names of settlers who 
c.ime prior to IS.jO, who seem to have been omit- 
ted from the general history of the county; and 
some interesting facts connected with the lives 
of others. 

.Vlvin llumiihrey came in 183.") or :!l!, and 
started a tavern <ni the Sucker Trail, on the 
north east (piarler of sc<-lion Iwclve. Wysox 
Townsliii). 

Kansoni Shoemaker arrived at the grove early 
in the spring of IK'A and moveil his family into 
a cabin built by Ankeny in ISiJl. 

.John Knox and family came in l.S:!4. 

.loliii Katon. Caleb and Alva Dailies, bis brotli- 
ers-in-law settled in South KIkhorn in 1836. 
Caleb had settled there a few years before 
.Tohii Eaton built the first house between Chicago 
and the Mississippi river. 

Lucy L. Eaton, nee Daincs, was a very notable 
woman. She was an expert in the use of the 
spinning wheel and loom. She not only made 
cloth to supply her ow^u family, she was step- 
mother to ten children of Mr. Eaton, but she 
wove cloth to sell to pay for the tuition and 
school books for the children. She was the 
(laughter of John Daines who lived near Maran- 
Ihon, New York. John was a lad during the 
Kevolutionary war. and his father. John Daines 
was a soldier in that war. 

Alva Daines came from New York and made 
a home in Elkhorn in 1830. lie was a post- 
master there for four years, on tlie stage line 
from I'eoria to Galena, and was appointed by 
the county commissioners the first assessor of 
Carroll (Vmnty in 1S.3!>. His wife. .Martha 
Erolhingham. was from Ohio. 

Albert II. Ilealy. was a gradnale in music at 
the W.voming Academy. New York. He came to 
Elkhorn in 1841, with Hiram Ste^vart. 

Samuel Orinsbee from Vermont settled in the 
grove in ISl."i. 



710 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



Jauies Henry Jenkins" family should not be 
omitted. Henry Jenkins, as he was called, was 
known all over the grove and abroad ; he was 
noted for his Uospitality, at a time when all 
frontiersmen made the traveler welcome; Mary. 
Mrs. L. Fosdick ; Sarah, Mrs. Hiram Woodin ; 
Lavinia, Mrs. P. MeCurdy and Nora. Mrs. John 
Coffey, were bis daughters. 

The Jenkins brothers who were here in the 
thirties were, Russell, who was a soldier in 
the Mexican war: William, who made a home on 
set^-tion four and married Miss Eunice Stewart 
of Eagle Point, ]S40; L'hauncy. who was born in 
New York and married Mary Seaman, 1848; 
Wellington, who resided near Stump Town 
(Hitt) for some years. He married Mary 
Becker, a sister of Capt. T. E. Becker, late of 
Mount Carroll. 

John W. Stewart and his wife Harriet L., 
nee Booth, were among the first of the old set- 
tlers to aid in education and religious work. He 
was a great temperance and auti-slaverj' man. 
His wife taught for many years the infant class 
in the church at Eagle Point. 

Lucius S. Thorp, born in Genesee County, New 
York, came to Carroll County in 184G. He was 
county surveyor for many years. His son 
Charles S. Thoi'ii owns and operates the only 
water jiower mill left in Carroll County. 

Naaman Spencer came in 1837 from Pennsyl- 
vania. His family was of English origin. He 
was born in Connecticut, a cooper by trade. He 
and his sons supplied the flouring mills, of which 
there were several in the grove, with flour bar- 
rels in which flour was shipped in early days. 
The business was discontinued in ISliS. 

THE STICKER TRAIL 

Just where tbis trail traversed tlirough tbe 
county it is difficult now to tell, there were no 
doubt several lines of travel which were changed 
on account of difficulties that had to be over- 
come or avoided. There are places where these 
lines converged at fords of streams where the 
deep worn cuts in the banks of the stream and 
hill sides, indicate a great deal of travel many 
years ago. The Sucker Trail where it ran 
through Elkhorn Grove was afterward called 
the State Road. The State Road was afterward 
called the Telegraph Road. It is quite probable 
the Sucker Trail diverged from this road east 
of Mount Carroll and crossed Straddle Creek in 



the grove that is now part of Wilderberg Place 
and led from thence in a north and westerly di- 
rection to Galena. 

These early roads or trails were made along 
by the groves and streams from necessity so that 
there were stopping places where fuel and wa- 
ter could be procured for campers. The Sucker 
trail probably followed the Indian trails, which 
no doubt were first traveled by the bufCalo and 
deer and other wild animals perhaps the elk. 

A PIGEON TRAP 

Naaman Spencer made a pigeon trap and be- 
came quite noted in the neighborhood on this 
account. It was in the days when wild pigeons 
were very plentiful. An oiien place was selected 
in the woods, and the ground cleared and made 
as smooth as a floor. This place was surround- 
ed with a rail fence, when it was necessary, to 
keep stock off. The pigeons were baited by scat- 
tering wheat or corn on the cleared space until 
the birds became accustomed to coming there to 
feed. They would alight on the limbs of the 
trees in great numljers, a few would venture on 
the pigeon bed and if there was nothing to dis- 
turb them they would alight on tlie ground to 
get the grain, sometimes so thick that there was 
no room for more. They were fed several days 
with corn or wheat. 

Then the net was set, it was made of twine 
with meshes an inch and a half square about 
twenty-four feet long by twelve wide, one edge 
of the net was fastened to the ground on one 
side of the pigeon bed and the net folded up 
along the edge and covered with grass ; the two 
loose corners were fastened to long roises ; the 
opposite ends of the ropes were fastened to 
spring poles bent over the opposite edge of the 
bed ; when pulled down they were fastened tight 
to some kind of a catch or trigger. From these a 
line ran to a bough shelter several rods from the 
pigeon bed where the operators, usually two, 
came before daylight to spring the trap, which 
had been set and baited the evening before. Mr. 
Elsey. says : "It was an exciting time then until 
the catch was made and hundreds, perhaps 
thousands, of pigeons would come through the 
tree tops and pass away, then another crow'd 
would come and alight in the trees nearby. A 
squin-el would perhajis jump into the pigeon bed 
to get some of the grain then the pigeons would 
all fly away, and not return for half an hour. At 
last some of Hhem take courage and begin to 












.<-: 



HISTORY OP' CARROLL COUNTY 



-11 



returu in vast uumliers alighting near llie bed, 
a single pigeon would hover over it for a moment 
and settle slowly to the ground and begin to 
pick up the grain, then a dozen then a hundretl 
then the air would he thick with them and there 
was no [ilaoe for them to alight upon the ground. 
A steady pull would set free the net and the 
spring of the pules would draw the net through 
the cloud of birds at a distance of three feet 
from the ground, then those iu the bough house 
made all haste to get to the front line of the 
net to hold it down so that the birds under the 
net could uot escape. Witli a mighty roar the 
birds that were free passed from sight and tlie 
work of taking care of tlie captives began." 

It was not unusual to catch from two to five 
hundred at a time, and if the catch was a big 
one, the neighbors were invited to help dispose of 
tliem. Tliey were picked and dressed in the old 
cooper shop, where five or six families would be 
rei)resented at a "i)igeon picking.'' The body 
fe-athers were carefully .saved to make feather 
beds and some of these feather beds arc to be 
found in the grove today. 

CIIOU E DISHES 

Among the choice dishes that apix'artnl on the 
pioneers tables was smoked pigeon br(>asts. They 
had been placed in brine for a short time and 
then smoked, in the big chimney tire places, and 
were considered a luxury even when other game 
was almndant, smoked or dried venison being so 
plentiful the settlers would tire of it. 

On the prairie the farmers also caught pigeons, 
much in the same manner usually in the fall of 
the year. They set trees about the plat of 
ground for the birds to alight on as iu the woods 
planting the spring poles in the ground and 
making a trigger to hold them down like the 
boys use on a figure four trap, the upright piece 
being driven into the ground. They had a novel 
way of killing them, a slight bite on the back 
bone just back of the skull would kill them in- 
stantly. Old hunters understand this manner of 
killing game. 

INTOXICATINd LlylOU 

It is no wonder that a great deal of intoxicat- 
ing liquor was used about Elkhorn Grove. 
Farmers rould not get cash for their corn, even at 
the distillery, but they could exchange corn for 



whiskey at the rate of a bushel of corn for a 
gallon. A man would take a load of shelled com 
to Peoria, which was ninety seven miles from 
tlie grove and bring back a thirty-two gallon 
barrel of whiskey, which he would exchange for 
dry goods with the home merchant at tiiirty cents 
lier gallon; the merchant tlien retailed i( for 
thirty-five cents cash per gallon. 

A VAI,U.\BI.E LOAD OF FARM PRODUCE 

Mahassa Xeikirk came from Washington 
County, Maryland. September 13, 1837, and set- 
tled on section eighteen. Ills was a liosi)itable 
family, at their cabin one always found the latch 
string out. Tliey were thrifty and prosjK'rous. 
-Mr. Xeikirk probably sold the most valuable 
load of farm produce ever marketed in Carroll 
County. It was a load of seventy bushels of 
clover seed, which he hauled to Polo with a four 
horse team and sold it for fourteen dollars a 
bushel, receiving nearly one thousand dollars for 
the load. 

NAMES OF EARLY SETTLERS 

The Webster bruthers; George It., Novatus 
B., .Tared and Oscar, came from Delaware Coun- 
ty. New York, and settled alxiut the Grove in 
is:;."!. Their father. Elijah, with his wife and 
daughters came iu 1837. 

Daniel Stormer. who bad been in the I5lack 
Hawk war, was from Tennessee. He settled in 
Elkhorn Grove in 1837. 

Hiram McNamar and wife came from Ken- 
tucky. April 27th. 1830. He was twenty-three. 
The young couple camped three weeks in their 
wagon, until he built a cabin. Money was very 
scarce. He paid Mr. Shoemaker all the money 
he had for breaking three acres of prairie. 
They were glad to have letters come from their 
friends, but very sorry that they did not have 
money enough to take tlieui from the post Office. 

George W. Knox lanie to Carroll County in 
ISU. 

George Curtice came from England to Elkhorn 
Grove in 18.37. His son .Tnhn afterwards sellled 
near Shannon in Cherry Grove Township. 

Eliakim Todd, moved from Connecticut to 
Pennsj-lvania in 1823. Mr. Todd in company with 
a brother-in-law. .Joseph Hire, started from Ea- 
Raysville. Pennsylvania, in September, 1837 and 
walked nearly the entire distance to Elkhorn 



712 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



Grove, arriving at Humphrey's tavern, December 
3rd. 1837. lu later .vears lie lived at the home 
of his son. Samuel II. Todd at the Grand View 
Farm near Milledgeville. 

ililes Z. Laudou was born in Delaware County. 
New York ; his wife, Mary Sanborn, was from 
Canada. They came to the Grove in 1838. He 
•was sheriff of Carroll County one term, also 
Supervisor. 

Klizabeth Lowry. \. G. Eastabrooks and Henry 
C. Hunter came in 18-39. Mr. Hunter was from 
Wilkinson County. Mississip|ii ; his wife came 
from ^■irginia. 

Jolm II. Hawes was from Bedford County, 
Virginia. He bought a claim of Levi Warner 
on section 21. September Ji!nd. 1840. Alfred 
Steffins came the same year. 

George W. Laudon came from New York state 
and settled in the Grove in November, 184.5. He 
was a skilled mechanic and had a blacksmith 
shoii on the west bank of Elkhorn Creek at 
Fremont. He invented a plow to take the place 
of the wooden rooter. It required three yoke of 
oxen to draw it. Soon it became known that 
any kind of iron, steel or wood work could be 
done at Landon's shop. He employed several 
hands, among them Dennis Woodin. George An- 
derson and Lewis B. Fosdick. The business 
branched out and included a gun shop in which 
rifles were made and repaired. He also made 
files and rasps. 

Gerardus Beekman came in 1S42 ; Levi Neikirk 
in 1844; William L. .Johnson in 184.5; Ran.som 
Wilson in 1849. He lived in the old stage house 
where the first store was kei>t in the town. 

The earliest arrivals at Elkhorn Grove may 
be named and located as follows: On the west 
end of the Grove were. Mahassa Neikirk. Alva 
Daines. Lyman Hunt. Alvin Humphrey. Elijah 
Eaton, the Eastabrooks, Todds and Newman. 

On the north side, Sample M. Journey, John 
Ankeny, Harry Smith, John Fosdick, Clark 
Stoqe, and Naaman Spencer. 

On the south side was John Kno.\, Levi 
Warner, E. W. Todd. Daniel Stormer. Caleb 
Daines, Hiram McNamar. Jasper Steflins. 
Thomas Hughes, Abijah Painter and others. 

About 18.37 a flood of settlers arrived at Elk- 
horn Grove. 

Most of the foregoing facts in regard to the 
pioneers of Elkhorn Grove are taken from 
biographical sketches written b.v Henry Elsey. 
to whom we are greatly indebted for the use 



of his manuscripts. He intends depositing these 
sketches, which contain very many interesting 
facts, with a IIistori«il Society at Polo, Ogle 
County, Illinois. 

W.\R RECORD 

Elkorn Grove's war record was very creditable. 
Jlr. Elsey says, "Long before a call for troops 
was made by President Lincoln, the fire of war 
lay smoldering in the breasts of the loyal citizens 
of Elkhorn Grove. 

"In school houses on winter evenings and in 
store and blacksmith shops the subject of slavery 
had been debated, pro and con." 

Mr. Elsey's sympathies, like the majority of 
the neighborhood, were with the slaves. 

THE t'NDERGROUXD R.\ILR0AD 

He was one of the operators of the under- 
ground railroad an<l says he helped many slaves 
to get from Fulton on the Mississippi river to 
Byron, on their way to Canada and freedom. 
They were usually taken from place to place in 
the night, hidden in wagons with farm produce. 
Continuing he says : "The invasion of Kansas 
by a horde of southern ruffians, who Ixiasted that 
they went there to fight and to vote slavery into 
free territory, had fired the blood of the pioneers 
and their loyal sons. When the call to arms came 
more offered their services than oould be ac- 
cepted, at that time." He gives a list of one 
hundred and seven names of Elkorn Grove soldier 
boys, a great many for that neighliorhood. es- 
jiecially when we consider that Elkhorn Grove is 
only half a towushii). 

Among these were Harry Smith's sons. He 
was born in New Hampshire: went to the lead 
mines in Wisconsin from Rock Island in 18.32. 
Enlisted in the Black Hawk war and was elected 
captain of a company, called the White Oak 
Springs Volunteers. He and Sample M. Journey 
started the first store in the Grove. He bought 
the claim of John C. Ankeny and afterward en- 
tered it. It was the first claim that was en- 
tered in the town. 

He was the first member of the State Legis- 
lature. 1843-44. from this county and was a 
member of the Constitutional Convention. 1860-Gl. 

His wife. Lucinda Dalton, was from North 
Carolina. 

Their son Samuel was in the First Illinois 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



713 



Artillery in the war for the preservation of the 
Union ; he was o-aptain of Battery A ; was taken 
prisoner before Atlanta and was confined for 
eight months in Confederate prisons. 

Tip Garland !^niitli was in Company II, 71U 
Illinois Cavalry, and Frank was Captain of Com- 
pany D, 140th I. V. I. 

IIAZELIURST 

In the sonth east corner of Elkhoru Grove is 
a station on the Chicago, r.nrlington and North- 
ern Railroad, called Ilazelhnrst. It is so near 
the east line of the connty it is difficult to tell 
which county it is in. There is one general 
merchandise store kept by Harry G. Smith, a 
grandson of "Uncle Harry" Smith, just men- 
tioned above. He is also postmaster. There are 
eight houses in the town and thirty-two inhabi- 
tants all told. 

There is one elevator, one blacksmith sliop 
and one doctor. C. W. SIcI'herson, SI. D. Hazel- 
hurst is S4G feet above the level of the sea. 



CHAPTEn XIII. 



MOUNT CARROLL. CITY AND TOWNSHIP- 
SALE.M TOWNSHIP. 



CITY OF MOUNT CARROLI, — MAYORS PUBLIC 

LIBRARY — CAROIJ.XE MARK HOME — BUSINESS 
ENTERPRISES — CHURCHES — CIVIC SOCIETIES — 
FRANCES SIintER SCllOOI.— MOUNT CARROLL 
TOWNSHIP — FIRST MILL — FIRST SCHOOL — OCCU- 
PATION OP FARMERS SAIEM TOWNSHIP — IN- 
TERESTING INCIDENTS CYCLONES — A LOO 

SCHOOL HOUSE — SPECIAL CROPS. 

THE CITY OF MOUNT CARROLL 

Written for the Connty History by N. Miles. 

The city of Mount Carroll, the county seat of 
Carroll County, is situated at aliout the geo- 
graphical center of the county on the main line 
of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, 
817 feet above sea level. Agriculture is the 



principal business of the comnmuit.v, and as the 
rural districts have iucrea.sed their wealth from 
the fertile soil, the city has gained in pros- 
perit.v. The hills uiion which it is built, Carroll 
Creek wandering between them, the plentiful 
trees, long shady streets and substantial public 
buildings combine to make Mount Carroll one 
of the very attractive towns. 

While not varying greatly in jHapulation from 
the figure shown by the census of lOHi — s<jme 
ITo!) — Mount Carroll has been making a steady 
and consistent advance along the lines of civic 
improvement. There are few towns of its size, 
if any. in the state, which can boast so many 
creditable public buildings, such well organized 
sch(X)ls and attractive park grounds, all char- 
acterizing a si)irit of progress that is capable 
of accomplishmeut. 

The county buildings occupy a square in the 
business district. The present Court House was 
'built in 1858 to take the place of the stone 
structure erected for the county by the old Mill 
Company in IS-H. Since that time the business 
of the county has again outgrown its quarters 
and a second building was added for the use of 
the county otficers in 1805. 

The year 1911 witnessed the completiun of the 
new City Hall, just west of the Court House 
square. Realizing that the location was ad- 
mirable for a City Hall, a number of citizens 
under the name of the Mount Carroll Cit.v Hall 
Association, Ixjught the site in 1910 and held It 
until in 1911 a si>ecial election decided that the 
city should buy the lot and put out a bond issue 
of .$9,000.00 for the erection of a new Hall. The 
present splendid building is the result and the 
old City Hall perched on the edge of the 'Wau- 
karusa" at the head of Market Street, is no 
longer the meeting place of the council. 

MAYORS 

The old Hall witnessed the assemblage of a 
long line of officers. The Mayors of the city 
since 1878 are as follows : 

1878 John L. Tonillnson. 

1879 Henry Bitner. 

1880 P. B. Cole. 

1881 Henry Bitner. 

1882 John Coleman. 
lS,S:i Jas. C. Strong. 
18.84 B. Lepman. 
1885 George L. Hoffman. 



714 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



18S6 George L. Hoffman. 
ISST John W. Miller. 
ISSS Johu W. .Millei-. 
1SS'.> Otto Jesseu. 
180U Frank D. Freeman. 
1S91 X. H. MeleuUy. 

1892 X. H. Meleudy. 

1893 John Coleman. 
1804 George L. Hoffman. 
ISiio George M. Wberritt. 
189G George il. Wberritt. 

1897 George F. Buelier. 

1898 Amasa T. Uunsliee. 

1899 Thos. B. Rhodes. 

1900 Chas. L. Kinney. 

1901 Cha.s. E. Beaver. 

1902 Amasa T. l)uushee. 
V.Ht?, William It. Tiptou. 
IWl Josephus B. Smith. 
190.5 Chas. E. Beaver. 

1906 Chas. E. Beaver. 

1907 Chas. E. Beaver. 

1908 John A. Bender. 

1909 Jason B. Paul. 

1910 George W. Ivey. 

1911 T. A. War-htel. 

PUBLIC I.IBK.\RY 

Across the street from the City Hall stands 
the Mount Carroll Township Public Library. 
The building, erected in 1907, a beautiful struc- 
ture of brick and stone under a tile roof, was 
the gift of Andrew Carnegie. The Library con- 
tains about 2000 volumes which have an an- 
nual circulation of upwards of 10,000. The 
present aduiiuistrative board has been in office 
since the founding of the Library. President, 
R. E. Eaton. Vice President, T. A. Waehtel, 
Secretary. Chas. F. Schaale, Treasurer. George 
D. Campbell. W. E. Xipe and N. C. Smith, 
Librarian. Miss E. Luverta Smith. 

Mount Carroll's Public School System has 
been productive of very efficient work, and to- 
gether with the Frances Shimer School, affords 
to the city unusual educational advantages. 
Housed in a .$.3,000.00 building completed in 
1908, the equipment is modem and administra- 
tion progressive, placing the school upon the 
accredited list of the University of Illinois. 
During the fall of 1911 the erection of a gym- 
nasium was commenced. The funds necessary 
for the purchase of material were raised by 



popular subscription and Prof. R. Gorman, with 
the assistance of the school boys, undertook the 
work of constructing a building 42 by 86. Th« 
Board of Education is as follows : President, 
R. E. Eaton, Secretary, F. S. Smith, W. E. 
Xipe, X. C. Smith, W. L. Kueale, S. P. Cole- 
hour, J. C. Gelwicks, T. A. Waehtel, and Supt. 
C. J. Brosnan. 

Mount Carroll was, until 1906, handicapped by 
the fact that there was but one bridge across 
the creek that gave access to the country north 
of the city, and this one was so placed between 
hills that it necessitated considerable heavy 
pulling for the farmers who used it. The con- 
struction, on cement foundations, of an iron 
bridge over 300 feet long has eliminated these 
difficulties and has made more attractive that 
part of the city lying north of the stream. 

CAROLINE MARK HOME 

Here the Caroline Mark Home for aged 
women is situated. Jlrs. Caroline Mark, with 
her husband James Mark, was one of the pio- 
neers of northern Illinois. She died ix)ssessed 
of a considerable estate and left the greater 
part of it in trust for the founding of a home 
for aged ladies. The building, erected in 1907, 
stands on an elevated knoll, which together with 
a farm bordering on the creek, comprises the 
grounds of the institution. The present trustees 
of the home are F. S. Smith, George D. Cami)- 
bell and A. F. Wingert. 

The grounds of the home have afforded a 
location for the Auditorium of the Lincoln 
Chatauqua, which has had a strong hold here 
for several years, under the presidency' of the 
Reverend William Beers. The Mount Carroll 
meeting has come to be one of the strongest 
Chatauqua Assemblies in the state. 

The same civic enterprise which secured the 
location for the City Hall was also responsible 
for the acquisition by the cit.v of Point Rock 
Park, a beautiful tract of thirty-five acres ly- 
ing ad.iaeent to the town. The land became the 
property of the Point Rock Park Association, 
formed for the purpose of purchasing and hold- 
ing it, in 1903, and was transferred to the city 
one year later. The Park is at the head of the 
canyon or gorge of Carroll Creek and possesses 
among other natural beauties, the famous Point 
Rock, which projects over a bend of the stream 
as It rounds the end of a long ridge. 



HISTORY OP CARROLL COUNTY 



715 



BUSINESS ENTEKPKISES 

Mount Carroll supports a variety of business 
euteri)rises. Tbere are two papers, elevators, 
uiill, (.•reamery, electric light plant, two hotels, 
opera house, garage, lumber yards, cement fac- 
tory, two banks, grocery, dry goods, drug, cloth- 
ing, hardware, millinery, jewelry, music and 
lurnituro stores, restaurants, blacksmith and 
harness shops, and ice factory. 

The J. M. Shirk Milling Company is now using 
the same mill that belonged to the old Mill 
Company which began operations here in 1842. 
The floods of the summer of 1911 tore a great 
hole in the mill dam so that the original source 
of i>ower is no longer in use. With the passing 
of the dam, the falls, due to their overflow 
have been destroyed and the city has lost one of 
its most attractive beauty spots. 

The business portion and part of the residence 
district are served by sewage systems installed 
l)y private enterprise. The entire city is lighted 
by electricity generated by the plant of the 
Mount Carroll Electric Light Company. The 
water supply comes from two wells, one of them 
among the deep wells of the United States, de- 
scending over 2,500 feet. In 1911 an artificial 
ice plant was installed so that the city is pro- 
vided with the purest ice at all seasons. 

CHUECHES 

Methodist Episcopal Church, organized 1S39, 
Keverend E. G. Cattermole, Pastor. 

Church of God, organized 1849, Reverend J. 
W. Primrose. Pastor. 

First Baptist Church, organized 1853, Rev- 
erend W. .T. Peuc-ock, Pastor. 

First Lutheran Church, organized 1858, Rev- 
erend C. J. Callier, Pastor. 

Dunkard Church, Reverend Israel Cripe, 
Pastor. 

United P.rethren, Reverend W. W. Oborheim, 
Pastor. 

CIVIC SOCIETIES 

Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 
."(I. organized 1H40. 

Priscilla Rcliekah, Lodge No. 315, organized 
1894. 

C.vrus Lodge. No. 188 A. F. and A. M., or- 
ganized 18.jG. 

Long Comniandery, No. GO, Knights Templar, 
organized 1891. 



Ola Chapter, No. 170, Eastern Star. 

Knights of Pythias, Rieuzi Lodge No. 574, 
organized 1899. 

Pythian Sisters, organized 1911. 

Modern Woodmen of America, Excelsior 
Camp, organized 1883. 

Royal Neighbors of America, Carroll Camp, 
No. 380. 

Nase Post, No. 80 G. A. R., organizetl 1880. 

Nase Relief Corps, No. 95, organized 1902. 

Yeomen of America, organized 1904. 

Woodmen of the World, organized 1904. 

Court of Honor. 

THE FRANCES SHIMER SCHOOL OF THE UNIVEESITT 

OF CHICAGO, MOUNT CAKROLL, ILLINOIS, KEV. 

WILLIAM PARKER m'KEE, DEAN. 

On July 1, 1896, Mt. Carroll Seminary became 
The Fi-auces Sliimer School of the University 
of Chicago. The older institution was the prop- 
erty of Mrs. Frances A. Wood Shimer. She 
transferred the buildings and grounds of the 
seminary on the date named to a board of 
trustees, consisting of fifteen persons, who were 
to hold the property in trust for public use, and 
they and their successors were to administer 
the school under certain limitations agreed on 
between Mrs. Shimer and this board. The ar- 
rangement by which the new institution came 
into existence was carried through by personal 
negotiations between President William Rainey 
Hariwr of the University of Chicago, and other 
University men, with Mrs. Shimer. The new 
board, under the agreement, was to include 
representatives of the University of Chicago and 
of the former students and friends of the Mt. 
Carroll Seminary, and two-thirds of this board 
and the head of the institution were to be mem- 
bers of Baptist churches. No other religious 
(inalification appears for any trustee or teacher 
or pupil connected with the institution. 

The institution opened under the new manage- 
ment in September, 1890, with Ida JI. Gardiner, 
Dean, and Prof. Frank J. Miller of the Uni- 
versity of Chicago as non-resident principal. 
July 1, 1897. on the resignation of Miss Gardiner, 
the present Dean took charge. 

By the month of June, 1899, sufficient progress 
liad lieon made to justify an effort to improve 
the facilities of the institution, and the trus- 
tees, encouraged by a contriliution from Mrs. 
Shimer, voted to let the contract for the erection 



716 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



of South Hall. As time passed, the trustees 
were led iu Juue, ItXto. to seek subscriptious for 
a music hall, aud iu November of that year 
Dearborn Hall, named for Mrs. Isabel Dearborn 
Hazzeu, vrho for many years had been asso- 
ciated with the Seminary, was opened for use. 
In the fall of 1904, the school found itself with- 
out sufficient space to accommodate its house 
pupils, and the board voted iu June, 1905, to 
proceed with the erection of Hathaway Hall, 
named after an early graduate of the institu- 
tion, aud this building was occupied in the 
November following. On February 0, 1906, fire 
destroyed all the buildings which remained on 
the grounds formerly used by the Seminary, 
along with South Hall, erected in 1899. Appeal 
was at once made to the friends of the institu- 
tion far and near for a building fund to replace 
the buildings which had been destroyed. Ap- 
proximately fifty thousand dollars were secured 
for this purpose aud to liquidate the indebted- 
ness of the institution, ten thousand dollars of 
which was contributed by Andrew Carnegie of 
New York City. After the fire, the tnastees 
took immediate action and at once proceeded 
with the erection of West Hall which was en- 
tered in September, 1906, and was used as a 
dormitory and recitation building combined until 
January, 1908. when Metealf Hall was likewise 
completed and occupied. This building was 
named in honor of Mrs. Sarah Metealf, the 
mother of Dr. Henry S. Metealf, president of 
the board of trustees, she having been a life long 
friend of Mrs. Shimer. 

The capacity of the buildings not being suffi- 
cient to accommodate the growing constituency 
of the institution, the trustees voted early in 1909 
to erect a building to be known as College Hall, 
which was occupied in the following September. 
These five buildings now in existence, in addi- 
tion to the central steam plant and laundry, with 
their e<iuipnieut and furniture, represent a cash 
expenditure in tlie past seven years of approxi- 
mately one hundred thousand dollars. They 
are all substantially built, designed by Chicago 
architects, admirably suited for the purposes for 
which they are used, harmonious iu architecture 
and construction and material, well distributed 
over a considerable part of the grounds. The 
total capacity of house pupils is one hundred and 
two, with adequate recitation rooms, library fa- 
cilities and boarding accommodations. Provi- 



sion is also made for day pupils residing in Mt. 
Carroll. 

The grounds of the institution, including recent 
purchases, aggregate thirty-six acres. They are 
well wooded, largely due to the interest of Mrs. 
Shimer, in trees, and are well suited both by 
their beauty and extent foi- the purposes of a 
school for girls. Ample space is given for out- 
door games, including golf, tennis, and basket 
ball. Space is also available for kitchen gardens. 

This institution stands in a peculiar relation 
to the University of Chicago, educational, not 
financial. Tresident Hari-j' Pratt Judson of the 
University, with Secretai-y Goodspeed. Business- 
manager Heckman, and Dean Butler of the 
School of Education are all members of the 
board of trustees of the Frances Shimer School. 
In addition to this, the school is in the relation 
of affiliation to the University which, in effect, 
guarantees the educational policy of the insti- 
tution. The standard of scholarship has been 
kept up to that required by the University of 
Chicago and eastern colleges for women, in order 
that graduates of the academic department may 
enter these and other institutions without exami- 
nation. 

The faculty iu the scholastic department is com- 
posed of college trained people, most of them 
graduates of advanced institutions of learning. 
The instructors iu other departments have had 
corre.siX)nding advantages in special schools and 
in European travel. Among members of the 
present faculty, these have been connected with 
the institution four years or more ; William 
Parker McKee since 1897 ; Florence Turney Mc- 
Kee. 1901; Elsie C. Hobson, 1907; Dora Ger- 
trude Knight. 1900 ; Elsie Morrison, 1905 ; Delana 
E. Bailey. 1900 : Emil Liebling, 1905 ; Grace M. 
Bawden. 1898; Bertha R. Bowman, 1907. 
Eighteen people iu the year 1910 were in- 
structors iu the school, including one assistant, 
and Emil Liebling, who is visiting director in 
piano. 

The scope of instruction given in the institution 
covers first of all college work. In the erection 
of College Hall in 1909. public attention was 
called to the fact that the institution had al- 
ready been giving two years of college work for 
some time, and in that year was enlarging and 
strengthening these courses. No special ap- 
peal, however, up to that time had been made 
for college pupils. At the present time, Decem- 
ber, 1910, over twenty girls are doing college 





* 




^ 

^ 







X/ 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



717 



work in the institution, and thirty or more of 
the students are jiraduates of high scliools. 
The college t-ourses are so arranged that tliey 
are tlie e<iuivalent of siniihir courses in other 
colleges and universities, and tlie work is done 
under the sujiervision of corresponding depart- 
ments in the University of Chicago to the end 
that credit for ad%'ance<l standing may be gained 
there and elsewhere by those who do the col- 
lege worlc in this school. 

Next iu rank under the junior college is the 
ac-adeniy with its acadouiic work of four years, 
covering those courses ordinaril.v given in the 
best high schools, in matliematics. language, 
science, history, literature. Classical and 
scientitic courses are offered and students are 
preiKired for tlie best institutions cast and 
west. 

In the department of nnisic. instruction is 
given in piano, voice, and violin, the work in 
piano being under the general sU|)ervision of 
Emil Liebling of Chicago, who makes quarterly 
visits to the school, examines the work, gives 
a recital, and addresses the pupils on questions 
connected with their work. 

In 1001 the department of don)estic science was 
organized under the instruction of Miss Sarah 
Hostetter of the class of '78, and place was 
found for this department in Dearborn Hall 
opened iu 100.'?. This department has grown 
steadily with the increase iu interest the 
county over in this side of the education of girls. 
and at the jiresent writing is clamoring for more 
space. 

The department of expression, including phys- 
ical culture and elocution, has had serious at- 
tention for years, as all the house iiujiils are 
required to take instruction iu jihysical culture, 
and private instruction is offered in elocution. 

Courses iu sleuograi)hy and typewriting have 
been olTered from the outset, and there is de- 
mand for further extension of work of this 
character and for enlarging the si>ope of it to 
include secretarial work and other similar lines 
of study. 

Mt. Carroll Semin.iry contrilinted to the 
Frances Shimer RcIkioI an interest in art and 
work has been continued in Ibis department from 
the very iM'ginning. offering courses iu drawing, 
water color, oil. and china )iainting. 

With the nuiltiplication of its buildings and 
the increased efficiency which they ha'N'* given. 
along with the eidargement of the courses of 



study and the addition of new ones, has come a 
steady increase in the numbers of the pupils 
from outside of Mt. Carroll. In the past ten 
years, students from twenty-four states, and 
also frou) .Tapau. Canada, and old Mexico have 
attended the institution. 

Diplomas are granted jiupils who complete the 
work either in the scholastic department or in 
music, art, elocution, or domestic science. A 
gold medal is offered for jiroficiency in nuisic. 

One of the most valuable features of the 
.Si-bool is the home life whi<-h is offered. The 
pupils reside in beautiful buildings with every 
comfort and modern convenience, and are in 
constant association with teachers of refinement 
and experience, under whose supervision they 
do their work. This suix-rvisiou extends not 
only to the class room, but to the whole of the 
daily life of the pupil. This free iutermiugling 
of pupils from good homes with one another 
and with teachers who have much to ointribute 
to them in the social life, in addition to the 
work of the class room, is one of the most valu- 
able features of the work of the school. I'ar- 
ents realize that their daughters are cared for 
and protected from outside influences. Some 
idea of the growth of the school from the be- 
ginning may be gained from the following tabu- 
lated statement : 

Receipts from 

House pupils for 

rupils Pupils school bills 

00-7 01 3.J $ n,.o.-)0.00 

07-8 07 3.J ,S,0.-T.(in 

OS-0 04 .'57 0,007.00 

00-00 SO .■!7 10,070.00 

(K)-Ol 72 4.3 O.O.'l .00 

01-02 77 47 12.00;',.0() 

02-03 82 .■)0 13,231.00 

03-04 70 .-.0 14,100.00 

04-0.5 111 70 17.200.00 

05-00 00 .". ffire) 13.300.00 

00-07 102 .57 (West Hall) 10,.500.00 

07-08 108 70 (Met calf Hall).. 20..5.50.00 

0,S-00 120 74 24..50.5.00 

00-10 127 82 (College Hall).. 24.740.00 

10-11 1.58 108 (over) 38.000.00 

In the winter of 1010-11, the trustees jiur- 
chased nine and one-half acres of ground across 
tlie street from the center of the grounds west 
with a view to further. extension of the facilities 
of the institution. The capacity of all the dor- 
mitories on the grounds is taxed with the pres- 



718 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



ent attendance and further growth is Impossible 
until additional buildings can be provided. It 
is hoped that funds may be secured by which. 
within the next five years, there may be added 
to the institution additional dormitories, a li- 
brary building, a science hall, and an entirely 
new heating and power plant with steam laun- 
dry. 

The trustees of the institution in the year 
1910 were : Henry S. Metcalf, President ; Na- 
thaniel Butler, Chicago, Vice President ; Wil- 
liam P. lIcKee, Mt. Carroll. Secretary ; George 
D. Campbell, Mt. Carroll, Treasurer ; Mrs. A. 
T. Dunshee, Mt. Carroll; Lathan A. Crandall, 
D. D., Minneaixjlis, Minn. ; John M. Riuewalt, 
Mt. Carroll ; Wallace Heckman, Chicago ; Mrs. 
W. R. Hostetter, Mt. Carrol! ; Harry Pratt Jud- 
son, LL. D., Chicago ; Hon. A. J. Sawyer, Lin- 
coln, Nebraska ; Mrs. Hattie N. LePelley, Free- 
r)ort. 111. ; J. H. Miles. Mt. CaiToll ; Thomas W. 
Goodspeed, D. D., Chicago. 

[Mo.st of the progress of this, now thoroughly 
modern institution, in buildings and equipment, 
in the number in attendance and in the effi- 
ciency of the faculty, is due to the thorough busi- 
ness capacity and ability of the Dean, ably sec- 
onded by the resident members of the board of 
trustees. Through him, also, the non-residents 
of the board liave been kept in touch and hearty 
symiMthy wit' the work in hand and they have 
given freely whatever assistance and encourage- 
ment they could. The citizens of the city and 
surrounding country also take great pride in 
this institution and lend a helping hand where- 
ever possible. Ed.] 

MOUNT CARBOLL TOWNSHIP 

Population 1010, seventeen hundred ninety- 
seven. 

Samuel Preston, Sr., of Mass., made the first 
claim and was the first settler in Mount Car- 
roll township. His claim covered the water 
power of Fulrath's mill and what has ever since 
been known as "Preston's Prairie." The same 
day he made his claim Paul D. Otis and Gran- 
ville Mathews, the stage drivers on their win- 
ter route, made a claim of the land and water 
power at Mt. Carroll. This afterward became 
the property of the Mill Company of Enunert, 
Halderman & Co. These claims were made in 
183G. Otis and Matlicws built a caljin and what 



afterward became the property of Jacob Chris- 
tian who came here with his father's family in 
1S.37. Daniel Christian, father of Jacob, came 
here in 1836, and he with four others made claim 
to six sections of land. The Christians were 
from Maryland and Col. Beers Tomlinson came 
from Connecticut in 1837. and the following set- 
tlers came in 1.S3S. 

Peter and William Bashaw came from Can- 
ada, by team through Michigan, Indiana and 
Illinoi.s. and were six weeks on the wa.v. There 
was only one house in Dixon where they crossed 
Rock river, and not a house between there and 
Cherry Grove. Jonathan and Claressa Cum- 
mings came from New Hampshire. Sumner 
Downing and his father, Abner Downing, who 
was born in Connecticut, came here in 1837 and 
tuok up a claim of .320 acres. Sumner's mother 
was a Preston of JIassachusetts. Hezekiah 
Frances, born in Vermont, reared in New York, 
married Nancy Asliorn from Indiana, and James 
Wilson from Vermont came on foot from Chi- 
cago, when there was only one house between 
Elkhorn Grove and Savanna. He had charge of 
the Powder Mills near Savanna for a time, then 
entered government land and went to farming, 
used to sell good wheat at thirty cents a bushel 
and corn at ten cents. 

Among those who came in ].S3f) were Hollis 
Cunimings, born in New Hamps'aire. who came 
from New York state to Carroll County. J3is 
wife Emily M. McNamer was from New York, 
Benjamin Day came from Vermont. There were 
only a few cabins on Preston Prairie when he 
came ; he married Emerence Downing ; she 
was born in Massachusetts. When out of flour 
in the winter they punched holes in a tin pan 
and grated the corn into meal, one neighbor 
would use the utensil and then another until 
it was worn out. 

John Fish was born in New York and Charles 
W. Tomlinson came from New York. In 1838. he 
and his father and Monroe Bailey came together, 
his father having been a captain in the War of 
1812. Beers B., brother of Charles, came the 
same year. Felix O'Neal came from New York ; 
he helped to erect the first lime kiln in Carroll 
County. His father. John O'Neal, kept a tavern 
or stopping place for travelers in early days on 
the road lo Savanna near where it crossed 
Cedar Creek. 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



719 



FIRST MILL 

111 183:1 or ■;!!) a man by the name of Leonard 
built a ;;rist mill where Adam Fulratirs mill now 
is aiKl made the mill stones, from native stone. 
One of tlie stones may still be seen at the Ful- 
nitli mill. If the jrrinding away of the soft 
stone (lid not add In the quality of the corn 
meal, it lertainly added to its weight and may 
have made the Johnnie Cake a little gi'itty and 
cerl.iiiiiy heavier. 

FIRST SCHOOL 

Sarah .T. Ilawley taught the first school in 
Mount Carroll township, in a slab house on IIol- 
lis Cnniniing's farm. She had an opportunity to 
teach the next summer at one dollar per week. 
She said that she would prefer to cook and 
wasli dishes. Seymore Downs argued the case 
witli lier and said, "jnst think, you will only 
have to work five and a half days and only 
si.\ hours a day, how much easier it wonld he," 
but he rcmld nol persuade her to accept what 
amounted to about five dollars a mouth. 

0CCtP.\T10N OF FARMERS 

The princiiial occupation of the farmers now 
is raising and fattening hogs and cattle and 
keeping t-ows to milk and sell the cream to the 
creameries where it is manufactured into but- 
ler. One of the John Newman Co.'s "Spring- 
brook Creameries" is located in Mt. Carroll 
nudei- the management of William Eugelbricht 
wlio.se butter score at the Xational Butter 
Makers Convention at Chicago in 1!)11 was 04.00, 
being next to the highest of all competitors. 
Tlie farmers have been receiving during the fall 
and winter from twenty-five to thirty-five cents 
per [lound for butter fat. 

By raising stock and a proper rotation of the 
crops of corn, oats and grass the fertility of 
the soil is maintained, although it seems to be 
no longer adapted to raising whejit as in for- 
mer year.s. 

SALEM TOWNSHIP 

The central township of the whole county cen- 
sus of 1010 gives the population at 1.408. By an 
act of the legislature, the west half of sec- 
tion six was added to Mount Carroll township 
and a portion of this and the west part of sec- 



tion seven were included wilhiii I lie city limits 
of Mount Carroll at the time of its incorporation 
by a special act of the legislature. The south- 
west portion of this township was a wooded 
country, sometimes called Klackoak ; this por- 
tion was settled by Germans (see history of 
Fairhaven Township). The north east part of 
the township was a beautiful rolling prairie and 
is nio.stly tributary to Lanark (see early set- 
tlers of Rock Creek Township). In the south 
west corner of the township is a station on the 
C. B. & Q. railroad called Daggett after one of 
the officials of the road. 

EARLY SETTLERS 

The first settler was David Masters. He 
made a claim and built a cabin on section seven, 
south of Mt. Carroll in 1S:'.7. Later he built a 
dam on Johnson Creek and erected a small wool 
carding mill, the only one in tlie county. 

George Swaggert. who had lieen living on the 
stage line at Cherry Grove and had sold his 
interest which he had in tlie mill site at Mt. 
Carroll, took up a claim in Salem on Johnson 
creek where the stage line or state road from 
Dixon to Galena crossed that stream and built 
quite an extensive log house and later a large 
barn : nothing is left to mark the site of these 
buildings. 

Heni-y AVeitzel was one of the very first set- 
tlers in this town. He came from Southern Il- 
linois about 18.37 and made a claim, and en- 
tered some land from the government. Adam 
Daggert settled in Salem the same .year; his son, 
Henry, was the first child born in Salem. On 
the home farm on Sec. IB of Henry AVeitzel, 
there has been preserved one of the ancient 
threshing floors. :\ ring worn in the ground 
where he and his sons used to thresh their 
grain by tramping it out with oxen or horses, 
until threshing machines came into vogue and 
later permanent use. Such places were common 
in those days and were used year after year. 
This perhaps is the only one spared in the 
county. 

INTERESTING INCIDENTS 

There are many interesting incidents con- 
nected with some of the early German settlers ; 
they were a hardy, industrious people and very 
desirable citizens in a new country. Mrs. 
Calheriiio Kline, a sister of Mr. Henry Weitzel, 



720 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNT Y 



and mother of Mrs. John Mackay was one of 
these. It was her custom to do her sboiipin? in 
Savanna : it was the only place and twelve miles 
away: she thoufrht nothing of walking there, car- 
rying what little she had to sell and returning 
the same day with the necessary supplies for the 
family. On one occasion they had a horse to 
sell and she led it all the way to Galena, forty 
miles, and returned the next day with the in-lce 
of the animal. On another occasion Mrs. Kline 
and the children were hunting their cows that 
used to stray away sometimes and get lost ; they 
had been looking for them several miles from 
home on the prairie down towards Milledge- 
ville. As they were passing through the high 
grass they noticed something had been digging 
in the ground and the grass was trami>ed down. 
On their return towards home the children in- 
sisted on investigating the spot and to their 
great joy they found a nicely smoked ham which 
a wolf probably had stolen and buried there. 
'J"o show the necessity tinder which the pioneers 
sometimes lived: This same family was short 
of provisions and the mother sent the children 
to a neighbor a mile away to borrow some meal. 
They returned empty handed and they were 
obliged to dig up the potatoes they had planted 
sometime before so they might have something 
to eat. 

The Daggerts came about the same time and 
took up as a claim a small grove of ancient oaks, 
about two miles east of Jlount Carroll. In a 
very early day the Sucker Trail ran by this 
grove and for a short time it was followed by 
this stage line and it is said the Daggerts kept a 
postoffice. but not being able to read English 
readily, people coming for mail had to help them- 
selves. 

Pnni-an Mackay who was born in Scotland, 
came first to Nova Scotia, then to Maine, and in 
]840 settled in Salem Township at Oakville. 
His brother, William, came about the same time 
and was engaged in running the saw mill which 
he rented of Hitt and Swingley in Mt Carroll 
Township. In the autumn of 1S43, their brother 
Jolin Mackay and sister Helen, who afterward 
niarried Daniel Hurley of Salem Township, to- 
gether with William Finlayson and William 
Graham and their families, all came together 
from Chicago and settleii in Oakville. 

These early settlers have all passed away but 
tliev have left many children and grandchildren 



to revere their memory and enjoy a rich in- 
heritance which was left to some of them in 
lands. They, however, are widely scattered 
through the country from Maine to California 
and from Canada to Panama, even South Amer- 
ica. 

Mr. William Finlayson of Salem township, 
enjoyed considerable notoriety during the World's 
Fair at Chicago, when they had the first loco- 
motive that was used in America. Mr. Finlay- 
son was the conductor on the train it drew. 

Seymore Downs and Henry Reynolds were 
early settlers in Salem Township. Peter Shra- 
der came to this county in 1,S40 and John Gel- 
wicks in 1848 : they were both from Pennsyl- 
vania and settled in Salem Township. 

Also Dr. Abraham Ilostetter. who came to 
Mount Carroll in ISl.'i and settled in Salem with 
his family, three sons and two daughters, in 
1852. 

He brought the first herd of thoroughbred 
short horn cattle to Salem Township, some of 
the very best in the Fnited States: at the head 
of the herd was the 0th Duke of Airdrie. Many 
of them and their descendents were afterwards 
prize winners at State and County Fairs, their 
descendents were sold all over the western 
states, two of them being taken to California. 

In 1870 he brought the first herd of thorough- 
lired Jerseys to the county. These his son W. 
Ross Hostetter has continued to breed at his 
Granseland farm; they also were prize winners 
wherever shown. He also introduced thorough- 
bred Berkshire hogs into the county. 

CYCLONES 

On May 12th, 188(5, a cyclone destroyed the 
house and barn of Robert Jloore and the house 
of William Mackay, and on May ISth. 1808, a 
cyclone which destroyed the county farm build- 
ings passed through Salem Township from west 
to east, making a pathway of death and de- 
struction. Only one person was killed, but many 
had very narrow escapes from death. Several 
houses were torn from their foundations and 
scattered to the four winds. 

• A LOG SCIIOOLUOUSE 

Among the first in the county was the log 
schoolhouse on the old Edwards place. Sec. 




XUHMAX D. FUKXCII 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



721 



sev^n, in Salom lownsliip. It was on tlie old 
State road fnun Dixon to Cnlena wliicli ran 
diagonally tliroush the oonnty Imt was at'tor- 
ward changed in several places to r\ui on the 
section lines and to turn square corners. In this 
old log schoolliouse there was a great fireplace 
in one end of the house where great logs were 
burned in cold weather to keep the children 
warm. Desks were arranged on the other three 
sides by driving long pius into holes liorcd into 
the logs in tlie wall, and upon these pins hiiig 
boards were fastened which formed a desk-like 
shelf; a seat or long bench was made b.v driving 
pins for legs into a long slab. This stood under 
the shelf; all the pupils when seated on these 
benches facetl toward the wall. Of course there 
were no backs to the benches, and to be seated 
the inipils had to climb over the long bciuli or 
slip in at the ends. 

It was an ideal place for spelling school and 
si)elling down contests of which there were man.v 
in Salem. One school would spell against another 
arranged on op|iosite sides of the r(K)ni along 
the benches facing each other. As the words 
were pronounctMl by the 'teacher, they woulil be 
taken up and spelled by each side alternately. If 
missed on one side the bad speller sat down 
and one on the other side would ju'onounce the 
word and tr.v to si)ell i( correctly. There were 
several very good spellers in Salem esi)ecially 
in the Oakville school. The Mackays and (Jra- 
h:ims and the Finlaysons were bai'd to heat. 
They are grey-haired sires and gr.indmothers 
now but still are proud of the fame they won 
at spelling school contests. 

SPECI.\I> CROPS 

Salem has a iioIihI |iopcorn farm. The I'.eede 
Brothers, Charles and Herman, raise jiopcnrn cm 
i. large scale, and have facilities for seas<inlng 
and storing it "without the aid of mice." they 
say. until the market price is satisfactory. Then 
it is shelled and shipped away by the car load. 

During war times some of the Salem f.irmers 
raised large crops of wheat and sold it at very 
remunerative iiriccs. Hut of late years wheat 
raising is not profitable, there seems to be some 
element lacking in the soil to enalile it to jiro- 
ducc a good crop of wheat. 



CII.'iPTEK XIV. 



SAVANNA CITY AND TOWNSHIP— VILLAGE 
OF SHANNON AND TOWNSHIP. 



SAVANNA CITY — lUIUllNdS — BANKS — TELEPHONE 
CO.MPANY — MANl TACTIRING — FISHING — NEWS- 
PAPERS — EARLY SETTLERS FIRST SCHOOL 

TEACHER — RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS — BUSINESS 
FIRMS — CEMETERY ASSOCIATION — ELECTRIC LIGHT 
PLANT — SAVANNA TOWNSHIP — SHANNON — GRAIN 
MARKET — LUMBER — THE SHANNON TELEPHONE 
COMPANY SHANNON TOWNSHIP FIRST SET- 
TLERS — THE WHEAT *CROP — FIRST THRESH- 
I.VG MACHINES. 

SAVANNA CITY 

The oldest town in the county the early his- 
tory of which has been fully written in another 
chapter of this history. The federal census of 
lino gave the population at 3,()01, an increase 
of odO during the preceding decade. Elevation 
above sea level, ."lOi feet. 

BUILDINGS 

The business porlicni of the city is built up 
with fine bnildiugs and solid business blocks. 
The main street is paved with hard brick and 
other streets macadamized, some of them 
beyond the city limits; it has several miles of 
cement sidewalk; a fine system of water works 
snpidied by two artesian wells and recently the 
city has connnenced to build a sewerage system, 
which will be a great convenience to tlic inhabi- 
tants of the city. 

It has an electric light i)lant owned and oper- 
ated by private enterprise. 

It has a commodious public school building 
which was erected in 1870. and in 100:i a sub- 
stantial township high school building was 
erected in Savanna at a I'osI of forty thousanil 
dollars. 

It has a fine public library occupying a spacious 
new building, under the efficient cliarge of Miss 
Emma Bowen. librarian, the funds for which 
were donated bv Mr. Carnegie. It was first or- 



iZ'Z 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



g.anized as the Savaiuui Ciniilaliim' Library As- 
sociation ill 187"). 

Savanna was iiu-i)r|K>rateil as a cily in 1S74. 
Tlio lirst Mayor iimler tlie now city cliarter was 
>Io<lar(l Diipiiis. The jiresent Mayor is Chai'Ies 
.Tciilis. 

At I he first election nnder the new cliarter 
there was an animated contest between the li- 
cense and anti-license people. The contest was 
very cIo.se but the license ticket was elected by 
a small ma.iority and Savanna has had saloons 
nearly every year since. There are now .some 
twenty-one in lunnber and each of them pays a 
license fee of five hundred dollars annually. 
They carry on such an extensive business that 
it tends greatly to the demoralization of a con- 
siderable number of the citizens of Savanna as 
well as the people of the neighboring towns and 
the surrounding country. 

Savanna has a progressive business men's as- 
sociation, called the Savanna Improvement As- 
sociation. "Organized for increasing the indus- 
trial and business growth of Savanna, Illinois.'" 
Mr. J. S. Williams is Tresident ; W. L. Brerton, 
Secretary ; Charles K. Miles, Treasurer. Savanna 
is a division point of tw-o great railroad sys- 
tems, the C. M. & St. Paul and the C. B. & Q., 
and being located on the Mississippi river its 
shipping facilities are unsurpassed by any town 
in the county. 

A large portion of the adult male iKipnlatinn 
of the city are employees of the railroads and 
thousands of dollars are paid monthly to these 
people, the pay roll of the C. M. & St. Paul 
being nearly half a niilllou dollars annually. 

The same road has just completed a very 
fine station building beautifully furnished on the 
inside and equipped with every modern con- 
venience, and is making other extensive Im- 
Iirovements in anticipation of an increase of 
business, principally on account of through traf- 
fic from the I'.icific coast. 

BANKS 

Savanna has two banks and a Savings Build- 
ing and Loan Association. 

The First National bank began as a private 
partnership liank. The gentlemen composing it 
were O. P. Miles, Uriah Green, Henry Ashway, 
John Mackay, Duncan Mackay, all of Mount 
Carroll, and Or. Woodruff and George Hay of 
Sa\ai]ii,-i. all now deceased. George Hay was 



the cashier for about eight years. They adver- 
tised as being supported by an individual liabil- 
ity of two hnndred thousand dollars, which was 
quite correct as nearly all these gentlemen were 
the wealthiest in the county. 

This bank was afterward incorporated as the 
. Savanna State bank, July 14th, 1891, with a 
capital of fifty thousand dollars and new stock- 
holders taken in, most of whom were from Sav- 
anna. Later it was changed to the First Nation- 
al bank. A savings department was added with 
the .same stockholders and otticers as the National 
bank. Charles K. Miles who was its cashier for 
many years is now its president. William S. 
Wallace, cashier, and Frank Steadman. assistant 
cashier. 

The Commercial State bank was organized and 
incorporated June 9th, 1002. with a capital of 
.$25,0(10. afterward increased to $.50,000. It also 
has a savings department. Its officers are 
George N. Machen, President ; W. L. Westbrook ; 
Cashier ; Bruce Machen. Ast. Cashier. 

The Savanna Homestead Loan association 
was organized in 18.80 ; ten years later it was re- 
organized under the state law and called the 
Savanna Savings, BuUding and Ixian associa- 
tion. F. S. Greenleaf has for many years been its 
secretar.v and through his management in that 
capacity it has been a marked success. It is the 
only institution of the kind in the county and 
has been A-er.v useful in aiding many of the citi- 
zens to build and own their houses. A. P. Wood- 
ruff is President and C. K. Miles, Treasurer. 

TELEPHONE COMPANY 

The Independent Telephone Company was in- 
corporated as a Stock Company in 1892, with a 
capital of .$75,000, by Mr. Frank Zinnel who be- 
fore that time had either built or bought an 
exchange in every town in the county. In 
May, 1904, it increased its capital stock to $150,- 
000. Mr. Zinnel is president and general man- 
ager and L. S. Bowen, secretary of this company. 
It has iu the neighborhood of three thousand 
subscribers iu the county, most of them living 
ill Savanna and the western part of the county. 

MANUFACTURING 

Savanna has very little manufacturing for a 
city of its size and with such unparalleled ad- 
vantages for shipping goods to every point of 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



723 



the coinpass. In eai'ly days there wei'e several 
sawmills wliiih iiuimifiKtiired lumber from logs 
taken fioiu the river, hut these enterprises al- 
though they prospered for a while, were not 
ahle to comiwte. by the use of steam, with the 
great lumber mills in other places, some of which 
were ruu by water jjower, and so they languished 
and eventually closed. 

E.Vnl.Y MANUFACTORIES 

The most extensive of these was M. Dupiiis' 
steam siiw, shingle and lath mills. They were 
located hnmediately on the banks of the Mis- 
sissippi river. When the mill was running logs 
were taken from the river by machinery. These 
were bought in rafts that were brought down 
the river from the pineries. lie mannfarture<l 
into lumber perhaps twenty-five million feet 
and sold from thirty to forty thousand dollars 
worth annually. In 1852 liis sales amounted 
to lifty thousand dollars. This was before the 
days of railroads, when people came to Savanna 
for lumber all the way from Rockford, Freeport 
and all the surrounding country. In 1853 and 
1854 he maintained a hnnher yard at Freeport 
where his sales were large. 

Morse and Dr. Wolf had an extensive flouring 
mill at one time which was well sustained in 
Savanna city. 

In 1865 S. .T. Herman and J. A. Stranskey 
had wagon and machine shops on a large scale 
and gave employment to a number of mechanics. 
Their business prospered at the commence- 
ment but misfortune overtook them. In No- 
vember, 187:!, their entire establishment was 
burned. 

I'TSIIING 

.V nnmlier of men whose Imrnes are in Sav- 
anna are engaged in this industry. 

They catch the fish with seines aud various 
kinds of nets, some of them now using boats 
I)ropelled by gasoline engines. (Quantities of 
the fish are sliipi)ed to distant markets in t In- 
east and many are sold by local peddlers in I lie 
adjoiidug country. 

nUKWF.KIKS 

Savanna had at one time two breweries but 
only one survives. In early days there was a 
distillerv when^ whiskey and high wines were 



made from corn and r.ve but it was unable to 
compete with larger concerns elsewhere. 

NEWSI'Al'KliS 

(Jharles Allen, .-i printer from Freeport, started 
the first newspaper in Savanna in 1854, and 
called it The Register. It was edited by 
Smith I>. .VI kins of Freeport. After a few 
months the owner sold the paper to Mr. Graf- 
ton who removed the plant elsewdiere. 

The Savanna Times was established by J. 
William .Mastin and for the first ten weeks it 
was printed at the office of the Shannon Gazette 
at Shannon. The first issue printed in Savanna 
was that of September 11th, 1875, at which time 
the equipment of the Shannon Gazette was moved 
to Savanna and Simon Greenleaf and Mastin 
continued to publish the jiaiier until March, 
1S7(1, when Greenleaf bought JIastin's interest 
in the paper and became the editor and jiro- 
prietor which position he held until 1884 when 
the paper passed into other hands. In 18t>5 the 
daily edition was commenced and has been con- 
tinued down to the present date. In 1907, 
Miss Ij. M. Frazer became the editor of the 
paper and Hon W. W. Gillespie the publisher. 
The paper has always been republican in politics. 
It is now c<-inducted by .1. E. Humbert. 

The Savanna Journal was started by Frank 
Greenleaf in 1885, and he has been its owner and 
publisher ever since. It is the only democratic 
paper in the county and occupies the finest and 
best equipped newspaper office in the county. 

EARLY SETTI.ERS 

Among the early settlers of Savainia |irior 
to 18.50. were Aaron Pierce. George Davidson. 
Vance L. Davidson and William Rlundle and 
their families. They had gone to Galena during 
the excitement upon the discovery of the lead 
mines. The location of Savanna was then 
known as the 'Touncil Bluffs of the Upper Mis- 
sissippi." An old council house built by the In- 
<lians was there and was occupied by the Pierce 
family as a frontier hotel and may be said to 
have been the first hotel or tavern in the county 
as stopping places for travelers were then called. 
The exact location of this council house, as near 
as can be determined now. was on a plat of 
ground directly above or north of the residence 
of the late Medard Dnpuis. 



724 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



Two years afterward John Bernard and three 
others. Hays, Corbiu and Robiuson. joined these 
first settlers. Luther H. Bowen, David L. Bowen 
and Xatliau Ixird c-ame in 1835 ; Dr. E. Woodniff, 
John Orr, and John Fuller, 1837 : W. L. B. .lenks, 
1S;{S; Hank Hopkins, Hezekiab Frances and 
Benjamin Church. 1830 ; Fred Chamliers, who 
was born in Eugkiud and afterwards became 
interested in the powder mills on Plum river, 
1840 ; Capt. J. B. Rhodes, 1841 ; he was born of 
pioneer parents in Ohio, after clerking for 
about a year he went back to Ohio and brought 
west a large drove of sheei>. After disjiosing 
of these he was engaged in business in Savanna 
until 1852. when he bought an interest in the 
steamboat "Martha,"' Xo. 2, and was engaged in 
the steamboat Ijusiness until he retired from 
active business engagements. In 184G, he was 
married to Mary Jane Pierce who was the first 
white child born iu the county, she it is said 
was born in the old Indian council house. 

Xo steps were taken to build a town at the 
present location of Savanna, until 18.30, when 
Luther H. Bowen. having the .vear before Iwught 
the claim of George Davidson and Aaron Pierce, 
caused a survey and plat of the jiroposed town 
of Savanna to be made and the same to be re- 
corded in the recorder's office at Galena, Illinois, 
on the 2Sth February, 18;:!9. 

Mr. Bowen. the same year oi>ened a general 
store and established a ferr.v near the mouth of 
Plum river, which was necessary in times of 
high water, when the river could not be forded, 
bridges were not thought of in the early days. 
At such times the feri-y was the only way Sa- 
vanna could be reached l)y team from the east 
and south. 

FIR.ST SCHOOL TEACHER 

iliss Hannah Fuller, sister of John Fuller. 
who came to Savanna in 1837, was the first school 
teacher. Dr. Ellas Wdodruft was the first doctor. 
He also taught school. 

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS 

The Methodist people were the first to organ- 
ize a church society. Tliey had religious serv- 
ices as early as 183G. Both the Davidson and 
Blundel families were Methodists and in 18:38 
the .\shby famil.v, devout Methodists, arrived 
and from that time on the Methodist denomina- 



tion has fiourished in Savanna. The Congre- 
gational, Presbyterian. Catholic, Free Methodist, 
Baptist and Church of the Latter Day Saints 
hiive been organized in Savanna in the order 
named and each have places of worship, some 
of which are very handsome and commodious 
church edifices. 

BUSINESS FIRMS 

Fifty-five years ago. (1857) when Savanna 
was designated as the terminus of the Racine 
and Mississippi Railroad, the people had great 
expectations and Savanna was a very flourish- 
ing town. At that time the following were the 
luincipal business men: M. B. and H. C. Pierce, 
Orr and Tomlinson. W. S. Pease. Rhodes & Co., L. 
W. Bemis, and others were engaged in the dry- 
goods and grocery business ; Bowen and Cham- 
berlin. produce merchants ; Dr. E. Woodruff, 
druggist; D. L. Bowen. machinist; James Irvine 
& Co., and M. Dupuis. luinlier merchants with 
steam sawmills; L. D. Pierce and C. W. Fuller, 
proprietors of well conducted hotels. 

Savanna has the usual number of societies, 
all of which are in a flourishing c^ondition. 
Among these is the Savanna Boat Club, of which 
Edward Hendricks is Commodore and P. M. Fer- 
guson, Secretai-j-. Many of the citizens of Sav- 
anna take a great deal of pleasure in boating on 
tlie river. They have summer cottages at 
beautiful places on either tiank of the river. 
There are about forty gasoline launches on the 
river some of which are very fast-going crafts. 

CEMETERY ASS0CI.\TION 

The Savanna Cemetery Association, was in- 
conwrateil by a special act of the Legislature, 
passed Fetiruary 15, 1855. The incorporators 
were. Luther H. Bowen. Reuben II. Gray, John 
B. Rhodes, Daniel P. Holt, Henry B. Harmon, 
Porter Sargeant. and Enoch Chamberlain. 

A short time since some of the patriotic womeu 
of Savanna undertook to raise funds to erect 
within this cemetery a soldier's monument ; no 
doubt some time this will be done. 

SAVAXXA TOWNSHIP 

Population, e.xcluding the city of Savanna, cen- 
sus 1910, six hundred and sixt.v-six. It is 
iKUiiided on the west by the Mississippi river 




#nr 




HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



727 



the close of the war, after which he engaged in 
the insurance business in Shannon. 

WHEAT IROP 

In the early days of the settlement of Shannon 
Township, wheat was tlie main eroi) and as the 
country rapidly settled the prairies became one 
great wheat field. At first they raised fall wheat, 
but S(><jn changetl to spring wheat. Threshing 
machines at first were crude affairs. The ma- 
chine was loadetl with grain, tlien a drive about 
the field was made usually in a circle, the straw 
was scattered over the field until the load was 
threshed ; for tills seiwiee the threshers took a 
toll of one bushel in ten. Ira Moats, who after- 
ward lived west of I'olo. had the first thresher 
in his locality. In later years the farmers about 
Shannon raised a great deal of barley ; now corn 
and oats are the principal croiis as in other 
jKirts of the county. 



CHAPTER XV. 



VILLAGE OF TIIO.MSOX— TOWXSIIIP.S OF 

YORK, WASmXUTOX AXD 

WOODLAXD. 



THO.MSON — CRKAMEBIES MEIX)N MARKET — CEN- 
TENNIAL CE1.KHRATI0N — YORK TOWNSHIP — FIRST 
SETTI.E.MENT — RLLIFVILLE — FIRST FAIR — ARGO — 
LAWYERS A Nil .MINISTERS — OLD POINT BLUFF — 

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP — EARLY SETTLERS 

WOLVES ^ARNOLD'S LANDING PORTSMOUTH 

MARCUS TRAIN ROBBERY — WOODLAND TOWNSHIP 
— SAW-MILLS — HAY FAMILY CHEESE FACTORY. 

THO.MSON 

The village of Thoinsiin is in the southwest 
jiart of tiip founty in York Township in the cen- 
ter of a very beautiful valley, alxnit four miles 
in width, bounded ly the Mississippi river on 
the west and a high range of bluffs on the east. 
On the north and south what was once a level 



prairie, is now dotted all over with well cul- 
tivated farms, handsome houses and large barns. 
It stretches away as far as the eye can see in 
either direction. 

Thomson was started as a station on the 
Warsaw. Hock Island and Galena Railroad. The 
original [ilat of the town was made December 3, 
1864, by G. A. Thomson, who was connected 
with the Western Union Railroad, which was 
afterward taken into the Chicago, Milwaukee 
and St. Paul system. 

The main line of the Chicago, Burlington and 
Quincy railroad from St. Paul to St Louis 
passes through the town, which gives it un- 
usual shi|>iiing facilities. In conse<iuence its buy- 
ers have always paid the highest price of any 
market in the county for farm products. 

The first building erected on the town plat 
was the Thomson House, which is still used as 
a hotel, now under the management of Uriah 
Pratt, formerly of Mount Carroll. 

The first regular train of cars passed through 
Thomson. .Tamiary 12, 1805. A few years after- 
ward Xorman D. Fi-euch and Xoah Green became 
proprietors of the town site and laid out addi- 
tions thereto. 

The first .school taught in Thomson was in 
1SG."> and Miss Brown, daughter of Noah Brown, 
was the teacher. It now has a school building 
with four rooms, that cost eight thousand dollars. 

Thomson has grown rapidly the last few years 
and it is now a village of nearly six hundred in- 
habitants. Federal census of 1010. 4:?7. 

It has three churchesj, two ]ihysicians, one 
.jewelry store, or^.«levator, three 'coal dealers, 
one harness shop and one peat mjirket, two 
restaurants and ' ti4B* bakeries. thTee grocery 
stores and one ba'nk, two barber shops, one milli- 
nery shop, and one ne\tsi>aBcrand printing of- 
fice, established by N. D. •^ITllardJin 1S"J4. 

CREAMERIES 

Thomson has two creameries, adjacent to the 
lown on the e-ast. This locality is noted as 
among the most advanced d;iiry sections of the 
state. 

MELON MARKET 

From here melons are shipped to all the sur- 
rounding cities b.v train loads, sometimes as far 
.lortli as St. Paul and the Dakotas and South to 



728 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



Mobile. Alabama. Since Muscatine has fallen 
oft iu the melon iuilustry, Thomson has become 
better known as u melon center than any other 
loc-ality iu the middle west. The annual out-put 
is about two hundred and fifty car loads, valued 
at thousands of dollars. For other interesting 
facts iu regard to Thomson, see York Township. 
Thomson is six hundred and six feet above 
the sea level, beini; fourteen feet higher than 
;>avanna and a little over three hundred feet 
lower than Shannon. 

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 

The Thomson and York centennial celebration 
1S70. was a notable event. Jolin A. Melendy, 
who was one of the pioneer settlers, came from 
Vermont in 1&J4 with one span of horses, his 
wife and his dog. On arriving here he went to 
work for Norman D. French at twelve dollars 
a month and his wife for one dollar a week. 

For the puri>ose of this celebration he and 
('■\[>t. S. S. Dunn procured a cannon from the 
arsenal at Rock Island, putting up live hundred 
dollars as security for its safe return. The au- 
thorities at the U. S. Arsenal sent Corporal 
Casey along to take care of the cannon. John 
Spires of York, who had seen service in the 
Artillery in the war for the Union, did most 
of the firing. The cannon was placed on the 
high bluff that over looks the valley in vsrhich 
Thomson is situated. The gunners took delight 
in awakening the inhabitants of the whole town- 
shii) of York, as the reveberations of the firing of 
this big gun echoed from bluff to bluff across 
the wide valley. Josiah B. Cushman was cliief 
marshal of the day and marched the entire 
I>opulation of the village up to the front of the 
bluff where all gathered to listen to the program 
under the shade of the oaks. 

Norman D. French presided. The orators of 
the day were W. J. Bailey of York, since con- 
gressman and governor of Kansas, and Daniel 
and Henry Mackay of Oakville. All three on 
this occasion delivered their maiden Fourth of 
July orations. Father Cushman read a history 
of Y'ork Township, no one could have done it 
better. He lived to be an octogenarian in the 
town of his adoi)tion and is quoted today as 
having written the most accurate history of York 
township. 



YOUK TOWNSHIP 



BY HENRY R. P.\R.SONS 



York township consists of one town and a 
fraction, having forty whole sections and six 
fractional sections, caused by the uneven course 
of the Jlissi.ssippi river, which bounds the town- 
ship on the west 

The surface of York township varies greatly. 
The west shore line along the river, consists of 
bayous and islands covered with pin oaks, birch, 
maple and other soft woods, but not large enough 
for profitable saw timber. A line of bluffs about 
three to four miles fi-om the river, extends north 
to south through the town, excepting a break of 
one mile in the center. The bluffs vary in 
height from one hundred to two hundred feet, 
partly covered with forests of oak and red 
cedar. The rock foundation of the bluffs con- 
sists mostly of sandstone uix)n a basis of Galena 
and Niagara limestone. Between the bluffs and 
the river the surface is ixirtly level, a black 
bottom laud of exceeding richness, the remainder 
being a ridge of sand mostly used for growing 
melons and rye. East of the bluffs, composing 
more than one half the township, the surface is 
undulating excepting a valley bordering the 
.Tohnson Creek, tlie only stream of any size in 
the township. The soil of the prairies ranges 
from light gravelly and flinty knolls to rich 
black soil with a few sections of clay soil. 

THOMSON 

The only incorporated village in York is 
Thomson, having two railroad.s, the Chicago, 
Milwaukee and St. Taul and the Chicago, Bur- 
lington and Quincy. Near the northern boundary 
is the hamlet of Argo, but designated by the C. 
M. & St. Paul Railroad, which has a switch here, 
as Fa.v. Near the eastern boundaiy is also a 
hamlet known as Ideal. Where the break iu 
the bluffs occurs is a bold sharp point known as 
-Point of Bluff," also called P.luffville, beiug the 
lilace of first settlement in the town. 

FIRST SETTLEMENT 

Here Norman D. French made the first claim in 
IS.i.j. his land lying mostly west of the bluff. 
French built a cabin in 1837 and raised his first 
crop the following year, living on the farm until 
his death. Mr. French held the offices of Post- 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



729 



muster. Jiistite of the I'eace, County Conimis- 
sioiier, ColU'ctcir. Suiiervisur iiiid was ii nuniiber 
of the 2'Jtli General Assembly. The entile tax 
of York at that time was about two huiulred 
dollars, while iu 1910 it is over one huuilrea and 
seveuty-five thousand. 

William Dyson and lUissel t'olvin settled at 
Bluffville in is;!7, Kussell Colvin built the 
first sawmill, in the town, on Johnson's Creek 
in 1840. .Mason French also settled at Bluff- 
ville about this time, erecting a house of brick 
made uixm the farm. The first school was held 
at Bluffville, Le^i Keut is considered as being 
the first teacher, although Elizabeth Thornton, 
taught in lS.'!."i. 

Col. Beers Tomlinson settled at the uortli 
boundary line in l.s.'!S, but having land in Mt. 
Carroll Town.shi|) became more identified with 
Mount Carroll. Joshua Bailey located at the ex- 
ti-eme northeast corner of York iu 18.30, and iu 
1851 built the first churcli, this church being a 
Baptist church, built afc Argo with Emmert 
Ingham as first pastor. The Methodist soci- 
ety also used the house, the Rev. Campbell be- 
ing one of the earliest pastors. Other very early 
settlers on the northern Iwundary, were the 
Lamb brothers, Channcey. Garrett and Emory. 
Cornelius Shoemaker settled in the southern part 
of York in 1S:?9. About lSi4 John Melendy lo- 
cated south of Bluffville taking up a large tract 
of land, his son J, A. Melendy being ix)stmaster 
at Bluffville from 1853 to 1859. George N. Me- 
lendy. grandson of John Melendy, now owns 
the original entry. From this date of settlement 
until 18.")<), a large number of settlers came from 
Vermont and New York, the French and Me- 
lendy families having come from Vermont while 
the Baileys and Lambs emigrated from New 
York. Of the best known of these was Ileman 
Edgerly from Vermont settling in 1840 at Bluff- 
ville; having been preceded by William Carroll 
coming from Virginia in 1835 taking land west of 
Argo, also lOben Balcom who located so\ith of 
Argo. 

BLUFFVILLE 

Heman Edgerly kept a tavern and store at 
Bluffville being the main supply for travelers go- 
ing south from Savanna, or north from Fulton 
crossing, in the early days there was also a 
blacksmith shop and post office at Bluffville. 

Others who settled just before or after IS-'O: 
C. Vanvechten at Argo, the Dun.shees, G. Tape, 
8 



the Coles, one of whom, John Cole, was asses.sor 
for York about thirty years and was known 
through the whole county; D. Leavens, G. Dwin- 
nell. the Athertons, I'eter llolnian. the Greens 
and Taylors. 

FIRST FAIR 

The first agricnllural fair of Carroll County was 
held in York one half mile east of Argo at the 
Monroe Bailey farm, now owned by W. D. Gold- 
ing. The fair was held the first Thur.sday of 
October. 1854; the entries not being extensive, 
and lacking buildings the horses were fastened 
to posts and the cattle kept in pens. The above 
mentioned farm was the birth place of W. J. 
Bailey, who became a member of congi'ess from 
Kansas and was governor of Kansas for one 
term and is now a leading banker at Atchi- 
son, Kansas. Xot the first but nearly so was 
a grist-mill at Bluffville, which had been moved 
there from Jacobstown, managed for many years 
by Israel Pettit, noted for his shrewd sayings 
and wit ; the mill pond was a recreation spot for 
people from a great distance. 

THOMSON VILIJ^GE 

The village of Thomson in York, was laid out 
in 1SG4, It was a station of the Western rail- 
road, now the C. M. & St. Paul. The first house 
was built by Norman Judson ; it was constructed 
of grout. The first principal buildings were the 
Thomson House, now the Pratt House and some 
store rooms on Slain street. Regular trains be- 
gan running in January in 1865, using wood for 
engine fuel. A lucrative business was done in 
supplying wood for that jnirpose. W. C. Brown, 
president of the New York Central railroad 
began his railroad work here cording wood 
along the track. His father, (Rev. Charles 
Brown), was a Baptist preacher living in Thom- 
son and preaching at Argo and at the church 
two miles east of Thomson. Another .son, 
George Brown, was killed while in the employ 
of the road. 

The first warehouse was moved from Savanna 
in 18G.5, has since been rebuilt and is now man- 
aged by the Neola Elevator Company. At various 
times the elevator lias been in the liands of the 
following grain buyers: Noah Green, Norman 
Lewis, ,T. Melendy and William Stark, the grwit- 
est amount of business was done while managed 
by Mr. Lewis in the seventies, thousands of 



730 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



Inisliels of grain being received each day. 
Nornuni Lewis was for many years prominent 
in business and iwlitics. He served three years 
in tlie civil war being promoted to First Lieu- 
tenant. Was suiierxisor from Torlc Township 
for a number of years, also a memlier of tlie 
Illinois Legislature. 

The first school taught in Thomson was in 
1865. Miss Brown being the teacher, the dis- 
trict then containing five legal voters, three 
of whom were school directors. At the present 
time a good three-room building is overflowing 
with pupils and the revenue from the rail- 
roads causes the school tax to be very small. 

There are two churches in Thomson, the 
Christian, erected in 186G-67, and the Method- 
ist Episcopal, in 1870. The pastors of the 
Christian church have been Rev. Sweaney. 
Bleakesly. Carpenter, Mrs. Babcock. Miss Very 
and the present pastor, Rev. Swarensou. 

The pastors of the Methodist church have been 
Reve-ends Campbell, Best. Hinks. Hoffman, 
Hicks. Clay, and the present pastor, Rev. Jones. 

For years the Masons occupied the front in 
the secret societies and mostly dominated the 
iwlities of the town, but of late years have been 
oliliged to divide honors with the Knights of 
Pythias, the Odd Fellows, the Woodmen, Mystic 
Workers and the allied branches of female soci- 
eties. .\t present the societies do not attempt 
to control ix)litics to any great extent. 

Thomson has one bank, with a nominal capital 
of .$20.(K)0 that amount representing the in- 
dividual liability of the members of the firm. 
Mr. H. S. Peck is president, and Miss Tillie 
M. Dugard is cashier. 

There is one meat market, three general 
stores, two hardware and implement stores, 
three restaurants, one drug store, one livery 
stable and the usual number of shops. 

One of the first physicians was Dr. N. Steven- 
son and others have been Merritt L. Saunders, 
D. Finlayson. W. Durkee and the present firm 
of Melugin and Sagner. The junior member 
of this firm is Mi.ss Sagner who never shirks 
her duty as a practicing physician, she re- 
sponds to all calls in all kinds of weather, 
when necessary drives her own team or auto 
as occasion may require. Another quite noted 
practitioner of York was Miss Harriet Ni- 
chols, who married Charles Schmeling, is 
now a widow and lives in Fulton where she en- 



joys a lucrative practice and the confideiice 
and esteem of a large circle of acquaintances. 

Dr. Stevenson, enlisted as many others did. 
from York, to help put down the Rebellion, and 
became surgeon of the regiment. Soon after re- 
turning from the army he died. His widow, 
Mary Jane Stevenson, was noted in her day 
as a ready writer, contributing many articles 
for the magazines, especially Arthur's Home 
Magazine published in Philadelphia. She re- 
moved in an early day with her family to the 
northwest where some of her children took up 
homesteads: one of them in later years follow- 
ing the profession of his distinguished father. 



The hamlet of Argo. situated mostly in sec- 
tion two was first known as the Bailey settle- 
ment, the postoHice being located for years one 
mile south of the present site. William Balcom 
was postmaster for alxmt thirty years, being 
succeeded when the office was moved to .Vrgo 
by W. H. Turner who filled the oflice until the 
free delivery was established. 

For years the only liuildings at Argo were the 
Baptist church. Alonzo Fuller's shoesho]) and 
J. Morgan's blacksmith shop. At present there 
are two stores, one shop, school house and 
Methodist church. 

The C. M. & St. Paul R. R. have a switch 
here and handle carload lots but give no reg- 
ular train service. 

For many years a postoffice was maintained 
near the eastern boundary of York on section 
twenty-seven, with Henry Homedew as post- 
master and it was known as Johnson creek 
postoffice. It was moved north about two 
miles and renamed Ideal, then gave way to 
the free delivery. 

Ideal has now two stores, school house and 
Evangelical church but no railroad. 

The Baptist church at Argo and the so called 
Dunshee church were formerly one liut the .\rgo 
church, for lack of membership, sold the build- 
ing and are represented at the other branch. 
The principal preachers of the Baptist church 
have been Emmert Ingram, Revs. Scott, Root, 
B. F. Humphrey. Charles Brown, Lansing. Gil- 
bert, Robins. Bucher and the present pastor 
Rev. Lynds. 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



731 



LAWYERS AND MINISTERS 

Those who have lived in York and became 
lawyers are Frank Dunshee, now in Des Moines, 
Iowa, John Senueff, now in Britt, Iowa, and 
H. K. Parsons, retired. 

Those of York who entered the uiluistry are 
Frank Gardner, uow deceased, William Pratt, 
now iu California, Samuel Olds, Ilortou Greeu 
and A. Burr. 

Those in York related to famous men are 
Daniel Webster of Thomson, a farmer, a great- 
nephew of Daniel Webster, the statesman, also 
William Livingston a relative of David Liv- 
ingston, the explorer. 

To the first settlers, to the present citizens, 
to the strangers who visit us, and to those com- 
ing afterward, a place of interest is the rugged 

OLD POINT OF BLUFF. 

A familiar land mark is Old Point of Bluff, 
Seamed and worn, and rugged and rough. 
For ages it stood overlooking the plain 
Through winter's snow and summer's rain. 
Strange things it's seen since the world was 

iiew. 
Wild fowls by thousands o'er the common flew ; 
Unmarked was all by the work of man. 
Wolf and deer then at freedom ran. 
Strange things has the old bluff seen. 
Watching from river to hills the land between, 
Time lengthening into months and to years. 
Grand in its loneliness a stranger to fears. 
A race it has seen fade from their home. 
Whose signal fires once flared from its dome. 
New people it's seen invade the new land, 
And roads winding round where trails marked 

the sand, 
A story it knows of projects and towns spring- 
ing forth, 
Kaihoads and steamers traversing the Xorth 

and the South. 
Yes. knows this land better than we its owners 

can. 
Has known it since first the broad river ran ; 
May the pioneer's sons have ever an honest 

pride. 
In this sentinel firm, scanning the country wide. 
Its bold front face with wood crested mane. 
\Miose top each rising sun crowns in glory 

again. 
It has stood for ages, and for ages will stand, 



Daylight, moonlight, in darkness guarding the 

laud, 
A lion couehaut, the monarch of all he surveys, 
The one thing unchanged since ancient days. 

H. U. P. 

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 

Washington township is in the northwest 
corner of the county. Population 1910, 581. It 
was not geuerally settled as soon as the east- 
ern portion of the county not being located on 
any line of travel in early days, and bordering 
on the Mississippi river, it is broken up into 
hills and valleys and sparsely wooded, but well 
adapted to stock raising. 

EARLY SETTLERS 

There were a few early settlers however, 
among whom was Mason C. Taylor. He came 
to Savanna in 1827, and selected land in Wash- 
ington Township on which he made an attempt 
to settle, but the Indians being troublesome he 
went to Galena for a time and returning about 
1S29 became a permanent resident on his land. 
His wife Mary Cumniings was from Pennsyl- 
vania. He was twice coroner of the county and 
served three terms on the board of supervisors. 
He was a volunteer in the Black Hawk war. A 
man of austere character in regard to what he 
believed to be morally wrong, he was a tem- 
perate man in his habits and lived to the ripe 
old age of eighty-four. (Old Settlers Record 
page 120.) Another of the first settlers was 
Milas C. Robinson who came here in IS."?.'!. 
His son John A., married Miss Lydia Hatflelil 
whose father was one of the early settlers in 
Washington Township, one of his daughters mar- 
ried Frederick Miller, father of John W. Mil- 
ler. sui>ervisor of Wasliington Township to whom 
we are indebted for the following incident. 



His father Frederick Miller, enlisted in the 
02nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry and was killed 
in a battle. This left his mother with three 
small children and with little means. She put 
up a shanty herself, and lived in it on the 
farm: the wolves were very ferocious and trou- 
blosome, they carried away their only turkej 
gobbler and would prowl around at night. To 



(d2 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



frighten them away the children would pour 
gunpowder in the palms of their hands and set 
it off with a coal of fire on the end of a stick, 
the flash through the cracks in the house and the 
smell of the smoke of the powder would frighten 
away the wolves. 

ar>'old's landing 

Arnold's landing is in this township on the 
Mississipiji river ; in early days it was of almost 
as much importance as Savanna was at that 
time. 

Stephen X. Arnold in 18.33 or '34, came to 
this part of the county and gave his name to 
this landing on the Mississippi river ; he was 
appointed by the county Board of Commission- 
ers to serve on the first grand jury, 1S39. The 
land on which he settled afterward became the 
proi>erty of John Robinson. 

POBTSSfOUTH 

Portsmouth on section eleven near the mouth 
of Apple river was laid out as a town and 
"threatened to crowd Savanna off the map" as 
an old settler expressed it. 



Marcus, where the noted train robbery on the 
Burlington railroad occurred is in this town- 
ship, about four miles north of Savanna. The 
train attack occurred on the night of the 5th 
of August. 1902. Five men were engaged in this 
robbery. They stopped the train with a red 
light signal, put the engineer and fireman under 
guard, uncoupled the express car and engine 
and ran it up the track, blew open the safe with 
nitroglycerine and rifled the contents. One of 
the men was accidentally shot by the discharge 
of the gun of his companion. They uncoupled 
the engine from the express car and attempted 
to make their escaiie with their wounded com- 
panion, but believing him to be mortally wounded 
they killed him and threw his body from the 
engine. The dead man was afterwards identi- 
fied and two of the robbers caught. At Apple 
river bridge they abandoned the engine letting 
it run on until it stopped beyond Hanover. The 
men escaped in a skiff at Apple river. 

While in the Carroll County jail the prison- 
ers made several desperate attempts to escape 



but their efforts were thwarted by the vigilance 
of sheriff, D. B. Doty. They were convicted of 
highway robbery -with deadly weapons and sen- 
tenced to the state penitentiary for life. 

WOODLAND TOWNSHIP 

The last census placed the ixipulation of 
Woodland at 794. It is a timberetl country and 
was first occupied by William Thomson and 
Moses Wootan. Uriah Green settled in this 
township in 1.837 and became a very extensive 
farmer and stock raiser and was one of the wealth- 
iest men in the county at the time of his death. 
The Hendersons and the Gills came to the town- 
ship in 1842 or '43; Mathias Watson, 1841, and 
William Davis the same year. He was born in 
West Virginia and came to Vermillion County, 
Illinois in 1824. He lived with his i>arents on 
Indian Creek, six miles from Ottawa where his 
father was building at the commencement of the 
Indian War. All the neighbors had gone to 
Ottawa except two families who were at his 
father's cabin. They were attacked by the In- 
dians and his father and mother, two brothers 
and two sisters with several others were mas- 
sacred. Mr. Davis and his bi'other. Stephen, 
escaped. When he came to Woodland he ran a 
saw-mill, one of the first, in the county. This 
probably was the Emmert Mill built at West 
Point and Plum river by David Emmert in 1842. 

SAW-MILLS 

These saw mills, although very primitive, were 
a great saving of labor in the sawing of logs 
into lioards and other kinds of sawed timber 
which otherwise would have to have been 
hewn. The.v were usually constructed as fol- 
lows : A dam and flume was built in the creek 
or river and the water shot down a planked 
flume twelve feet wide. A long straight white 
oak log was used for the axle of the wheel. 
Mortices were made through it in which cross 
bars were placed and on the ends of these bars 
wide planks were pinned, thus making a wheel 
with four paddles. The wheel was erected over 
the flume so that the edge of the plank moved 
close to the bottom of the flume. To the end 
of the axle an arm was fastened like the crank 
or handle to a chain pump, and to the end of this 
crank was attached one end of the pitman. The 
other end of the pitman had the saw attached. 




KKAXCKS i; IIACIkKK 




\/ 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



733 



It was liuiig ill a lonj^ frame from wiiiL-h it got 
its name of a sasli-saw to distiuguisli it from 
rotary saw. Tliis frame ran in slides uijon two 
lieavy posts. Tlie log to be sawed was phueti 
on a frame and fed against tlie saw by means of 
levers worked by hand. Tlie owner of the 
mill took half the lumber for sawing the logs. 

LEAD MINES 

Some of the early settlers were attracted to 
Woodland township by the lead mines where a 
good deal of mineral was dug in early days. 
It was also found in the neighboring township 
of Mount Carroll. Among these men were Mor- 
gan Proce, (1844), Teter Hay (1851) and others. 
Lucius Douglas and W. D. Gillogly came to 
Woodland in 1844. Daniel Kingery iirst settled 
here and then bought a flue prairie farm in 
Salem township, which his son Andrew Kingery 
now owns. Elijah Funk for many years county 
surveyor had bought from the Government a 
large tract of land near the center of this town- 
ship thinking it much more valuable than the 
fine prairie land which he surveyed in later 
years when the farms were worth many times 
the value of the land he had bought in early 
days in Woodland township. 



THE HAY FAMILY 

Of the very early settlers of Woodland but 
few now remain and few of their descendants 
are left, the Hay family being about the only 
one. The others as time passed sold their farms 
and went west or settled in the towns pursuing 
other occupations than farming. I'ifty years 
ago some wheat was raised in Woodland and a 
grist-mill near the junction of the east and west 
branches of Plum river did considerable busi- 
ness grinding graiu and making flour for home 
consumption. A saw-mill was operated in con- 
nection with the mill. Samuel Yantz first built 
the dam and mill in ]S4'.1, leased it to Harvey 
and Ranse Wilson^Iater of Elkhorn Grove. He 
sold it to Abraham Polsgrove in 1855, who 
caused it to be torn down, and the dam was 
washed away by the floods in the river. 

CHEESE FACTORY 

In the northern part of this township is a 
cheese factory which is operated on the co- 
operative plan by the neighborhood farmers. It 
has been a success and has enabled them to 
market the milk from their cows at a fair 
profit. 



BIOGRAPHICAL 



CHAPTER XVI. 



THE PAKT OF BIOGRAPHY IN GENERAL HISTORY — 
CITIZENS OF CARROLL COUNTY AND OUTLINES OF 
PERSONAL HISTOIIY — PERSONAL SKETCHES AR- 
RANGED IN ENCYCLOPEDIC ORDER. 

The verdict of mankind has awarded to the 
Muse of History the highest place among the 
Classic Nine. The extent of her office, however, 
appears to be, by many minds, but imperfectly 
understood. The task of the historian is compre- 
hensive and exacting. True history reaches be- 
yond the doings of court or camp, beyond the is- 
sue of battles or the effects of treaties, and re- 
cords the trials and the triumphs, the failures 
and the successes of the men who make history. 
It is but an imperfect conception of the philoso- 
phy of events that fails to accord to portraiture 
and biography its rightful position as a part — 
and no unimportant part — of historic narrative. 
Behind and beneath the activities of outward life 
the motive power lies out of sight, just as the 
furnace fires that work the piston and keep the 
ponderous screw re\olving down in the darkness 
of the ship 's hold. So, the impulsive power which 
shapes the course of communities may be found 
in the moulding influences which form its citi- 
zens. 

It is no mere idle curiosity that prompts men 
to wish to learn the private, as well as the public, 
lives of their fellows. Rather is it true that such 
desire tends to prove universal brotherhood; and 
the interest in personality and biography is not 
confined to men of any particular case or voca- 
tion. 

The list of those, to whose lot it falls to play a 
conspicuous part in the great drama of life, Is 
comparatively short; yet communities are made 
up of individuals, and the aggregate of achieve- 
ments — no less than tlic sum total of human hap- 
piness — is made up of the deeds of those men and 
women whose primary aim, through life, is faith- 
fully to perform the duty that comes nearest to 
hand. Individual influetice upcm human affairs 
will be considered potent or insignificant, accord- 
ing to the standpoint from which it is viewed. To 
him. who standing upon the seashore, notes the 
ebb and flow of the tide and listens to the sullen 
roar of tiie waves, as fhey break upon the beach 
in seething foam, seemingly chafing at their lim- 
itations, the ocean appears so vast as to need no 



tributaries. Yet, without the smallest rill that 
helps to swell the "Father of Waters," the mighty 
torrent of the Mississippi would be lessened, and 
the beneficent influence of the Gulf Stream di- 
minished. Countless streams, currents and coun- 
ter currents— sometimes mingling, sometimes 
counteracting each other— collectively combine to 
give motion to the accumulated mass of waters 
So it is— and so must it ever be— in the ocean of 
human action, which is formed by the blendine 
and repulsion of currents of thought, of influence 
and ot lite, yet more numerous and more tortu- 
ous than those which form the "fountains of the 
deep. The acts and characters of men, like the 
several faces that compose a composite picture 
are wrought together into a compact or hetero- 
geneous whole. History is condensed biography 
Biography is History teaching by example " 
It is both interesting and instructive to rise 
above the generalization of history and trace in 
the personality and careers of the men from 
yvhom it sprang, the principles and influences the 
impulses and ambitions, the labors, struggles 
and triumphs that engross their lives. 

Here are recorded the careers and achieve- 
ments of pioneers who, "when the fullness of time 
had come," came from widely separated sources 
some from beyond the sea, impelled by divers 
motives, little conscious of the import "of their 
acts and but dimly anticipating the harvest 
w_luch would spring from the sowing. They built 
the.r primitive homes, toiling for a present sub- 
sistence while laying the foundations of private 
tortuiies and future advancement. 

Most of these have passed away, but not before 
hey beheld a develoi.ment of business and popu- 
lation Mirpassmg the wiMest dreams of fancy or 
expectat^ion. A few yet remain whose years have 
passed the allotted three-score and ton, and who 
f.u° ';?'"""»f' among the cherished memories 
ot their Jives, their reminiscences of early days. 

rriic roll.ivilng llrms of neiMna! „ml ranilly history liavlni Iven 

win f't^Zl'XiZT '"""" '""" •" ""^ ""' "' •"» "-^ 

ACKER, John, a representative and self-made 
luisiiicss man .iiid puhli<'-spiriteil citizen of 
S;ivaiiii!i. is a native „{ f'arroll county, born in 
Carroll towiisliiii. Octobci- ."{O. 1870, a son of 
Conrad nml Anna Barbara (Wacker) Acker, 
both ti-oiii Gniss. Alls Altdorf. Germany. The 
father came to the Cnlted States about 1S68 



735 



736 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



aud (lied about ISSl. at the age of sixty-three 
years. He located ou a farm in Carroll county, 
where he spent the remainder of his life. His 
widow, who was much younger than he, still 
survives. John was the eldest of their five 
children, the others being ; Anna, who married 
Julius Heidt, a banker of Carthage, S. D. ; 
William, who is a resident of South Dakota ; 
Rose, who married William Boothby. a farmer 
of Carroll county ; Mina. who married Louis 
Getz, a farmer of Carroll county. 

When John Acker was eleven years of age, he 
lost his father and at that tender age began to 
bear the responsibilities of life. He was reared 
on a farm and educated in the district schools, 
remaining with his mother until he was twenty 
years of age. Following this he worked one 
year on the farm of his uncle, John Wacker, 
after which he made a trip west, spending 
about a year in the Dakotas. Eeturning to 
Carroll county, he worked for a few years on 
the home farm, devoting considerable time to 
threshing. In 1S92, he began working for the 
Milwaukee Railroad, aud, after some changes, 
in 1807 re-entered the employ of this company. 
Still later he was engaged in farming for a 
time ou his own account. In August, 1001, Mr. 
Acker located in Savanna, purchasing a piece 
of property there that was badly in need of 
repairs, and established himself in a business 
that has since proven very profitable. Within 
a few years of coming to the city, he was rec- 
ognized as one of the substantial men of the 
place, and began to branch out in other lines 
of endeavor, specializing on real estate ventures. 
He has shown excellent judgment in his in- 
vestments, and has made improvements of a 
valuable nature on his land, having recently 
erected the tenth building. He has undertaken 
a residence for himself, of a high class of archi- 
tecture, which contains modern sanitary and 
convenient appliances. The other buildings 
have all been residences or business houses. 

Since coming to Savanna Mr. Acker has 
made many warm friends, aud has the entire 
confidence of his fellow-townsmen, as was dem- 
onstrated in the spring of 1909, when he was 
elected alderman of the First ward, by an 
overwhelming majority, the count showing 
about twice as many votes for him as for all 
other candidates coml)ined. During the first 
year of his incumbency in this office, he was 
a member of the committee on sidewalks, and 



many improvements were made during this 
time. He later was chairman of the committee 
ou streets, and the condition of the thorough- 
fares of the little city sjaeaks well for the ac- 
tivity and faithfulness of this body. Mr. 
Acker has always stood for the progress and 
improvement of the community, not in his 
official capacity alone, but as a private citizen, 
his purse strings being always. loosened for the 
advancement of any worthy public cause. He 
is enterprising in business and in his private 
life is well known for his charities and benefac- 
tions, being one of the little band of citizens 
who labor constantly for the uplifting of con- 
ditions in their town, looking beyond the im- 
mediate needs of the people and preparing for 
the good of the next generation as well as the 
present. For two years Mr. Acker has been a 
delegate to the Upper Mississippi River Im- 
provement Association, the meetings being held 
at Winona and St. Paul, Minn. 

Mr. Acker was married, April 23, 1001, to 
Miss Emma Anna Hoffman, daughter of .lohn 
Hoffman, a biograiihy of whom appears in this 
volume. One daughter, Clara Alvina, who 
was born to this couple, July 27. 1005, is a 
bright and handsome child. 

ADAMS, Andrew B., was born in the town of 
Woodland, Carroll county, August 12, 1856, a 
son of James and Mary (Law) Adams. His 
early life was similar to that of any country 
boy in the home of an energetic pioneer in the 
early history of the county, he attending the 
couutry school during the winter months and 
during the summer, from early years, being a 
factor in the laborious work connected with 
the developing and carrying on of the farm. 
Amid these surroundings lessons of self-reli- 
ance and independence were thoroughly 
learned and have served him well through his 
many years of active industry and efficient 
public service. 

In 1S81 Mr. Adams left the farm and came 
to Mount Carroll to learn the trade of a miller 
and mastered it in all its details, including the 
dressing of the mill stones then in use. In 
January, 1SS6, he met with a terrible accident 
in which his right arm was caught in the gear- 
ing in the mill and so severely injured that 
amputation near the shoulder ijecame neces- 
sary. Fortunately within a few weeks, thanks 
to his splendid p' fsique ai d rugged constitu- 




C V '^ . /V^-^>^^^ii^^r.<:-<^^^ 



/ \ 



V 




HISTORY OP CARROLL COUNTY 



737 



tioii, he appeared ou the streets lacking liis 
good right arm hut restored to health from an 
ordeal that would surely have cost the ordi- 
nary man his life, hut loss of his arm made a 
change in occupation necessary. While look- 
ing about for some line of activity to which 
to devote his energies, lie was elected in the 
spring of 18SG, collector for the town of Mount 
Carroll and held the office for several terras. 
In ISOO Mr. Adams was elected county treas- 
urer and at the expiration of his term as 
treasurer in lOOl, he was elected to the otiice 
of county clerk and clerk of the county court, 
which he lias held continuously up to the pres- 
ent tinie,. the term he is now serving exiiiring 
in 1914. As a county officer Mr. Adams has 
given service of a very high order, he being 
thoroughly informed ou every detail concerning 
all the duties devolving upon him and indus- 
trious and painstaking to a fault in looking 
after the interests of the county and the people 
whom he serves. Always at his post of duty, 
courteous and caijable, he lias given an admin- 
istration that it would be hard indeed to excel. 
On November S, 1SS3, Mr. Adams was mar- 
ried to Miss Minnie .T. McNamara, of Mount 
Carroll, and they live in their own home in 
that lily. 

ADAMS, Christly R. — Travelers passing through 
Carroll (■(Uiiity, never fail to make favorable 
comment on the well cultivated and finely im- 
proved farms that meet their eye and without 
doubt the wish is aroused in many that cir- 
sumstances might he so molded in their own 
cases as to enable them to enjoy life in such a 
rich agricultural region. This is certainly the 
thought aroused when the fine farm of ISS 
acres, cultivated by Cliristly li. Adams comes 
into view, with its carefully tilled fields, its 
herds of cattle and its liountiful orchards. 
Lying adjacent, as it does, to the thriving town 
of I.anark, the residents of this farm are able 
to enjoy the benefits of both country and town 
life. Mr. Adams was born at lieaver Creek. 
Md.. December 2^. 1S49, a son of George 1. 
and .\my (Rowland) Adams. 

The jiareiits of Mr. -Vdains were also natives 
of Maryland and the father followed farm pur- 
suits until the time of his retirement prior to 
his death, which occurred November 10, 1901. 
The mother survived until May 12, 1902. She 
was born in ISHO, and her husband in 1S25. 



They had twelve children, as follows : Christly 
K. ; Mrs. Jane South ; Joseph ; George B. ; Bar- 
iiara and I-izzie, who were twins, tlie former 
being deceased; Mrs. Amy Stottleinyer ; Amos 
L., who resides at llagcrstown, Md. ; John, 
who lives in Maryland; Hannie, who lives on 
the old homestead known as the Green Mea- 
dow Farm; Mrs. llattie Adams, who lives at 
Funkstown, Md. ; and William, who lives on 
the homestead. 

Christly K. Adams came to Illinois in 1S73 
and has been engaged in agricultural pur.suits 
since 1S75. lie was married at Pleasant Val- 
ley. Md., in 1873, to Miss Katie J. M.-irtin, the 
youngest of three children born to her parents, 
William and Mary (Gurley) Martin, the others 
being : John T., who lives at Brun.swick, Md., 
and Mrs. Emma Jennings, who Is of the same 
place. The father of Mrs. Adams died when 
she was but three weeks old. She was reared 
near her place of birth and an Interesting oc- 
currence in her early life was a very distress- 
ing one for her family. When about six years 
old she wandered In her i3lay so far from home 
that slie became lost on a mountain. For- 
tunately she was found by a kind woman who 
reported the case to the stage driver as he 
passed through Boonesboro, but not before 200 
men had spent an anxious night searching for 
her, and ou the following day she was returned 
unharmed to her mother. 

Mr. and Jlrs. Adams have had the following 
children : George I., who was born September 
30, 1S73, is in the real estate business at 
Lanark; Robert E., who was born November 1. 
1S75, is a farmer in Carroll county; Christly 
P., who was born April 19, 1S7S, is a fanner 
in Carroll county; Clora R., who was born 
November .5, 1S83; and Blanche, who was born 
January 3, 1881. The grandchildren are: Don- 
ald, Helen. Maynard, Robert and Josephine. 
Mr. Adams and family attend the Christian 
church. Politically he Is a Democrat and at 
one time was a school director. He and his 
son Robert belong to the order of Mystic Work- 
ers, while Mrs. Adams is otricially connected 
with the same fraternal organization. 

ADAMS, Samuel J. — The privilege of living 
upon the spot of one's birth is not given to evei7 
man. There is something inspiring in the fact 
that the land owned by a father has come into 
possession of the .son, who in turn will hand it 



738 



HISTORY OP CARROLL COUNTY 



Jowu to bis ehililren. and urges the possessor 
to renewed efforts to improve the property. One 
of tlie prosperous farmers of Woodland town- 
ship, Carroll county, is Samuel J. Adams, born 
here July 4. 1^8, a sou of .Tames and Mary 
(Law) Adams, both natives of Ireland. They 
came to America in the early forties, she with 
her parents who located In Washington town- 
ship, this county. About a year after her ar- 
rival, she married James Adams, and they lo- 
cated on a small farm, on section 30, Woodland 
township. Mr. Adams preempted land at va- 
rious times, and at his death possessed over 300 
acres. In 187i). they moved from the farm to 
Mt. Carroll, which continued their home until 
they died, Mr. Adams passing away in 18S0, 
when over sixty years old, and his wife January 
1. 1911. when about eighty-five years old. Mr. 
Adams built the present two-story rock residence 
on the farm. Since his death, the barn and other 
improvements have been added by his son. Mr. 
and Mrs. Adams had seven children, of whom 
Samuel J. was the eldest, the others being: 
Thomas, who is of South Dakota; William J., 
who Is of Gllmore, la.; Andrew D., who is of 
Mt. Carroll ; Martha, who is the wife of Elijah 
Pathley, of Mt. Carroll ; Mary, who is the wife 
of William Johnson, of Lanark, 111. ; and Sarah, 
who is of Mt. Carroll. 

Samuel J. Adams was educated in the local 
schools, and has always lived on his present 
farm. After his father's death, Mr. Adams 
bought the farm, to which he has added 100 
acres, and now owns 400 acres, all in fine con- 
dition. 

In 1876 Mr. Adams married Agnes Espie, born 
in Scotland, In 1842, daughter of James and 
Mary (McGee) Espie. They came to America 
in 1860. locating in Woodland township. Mr. and 
Mrs. Adams have three children: James A., 
who was born June 22, 1878, lives with his 
parents; John E., who was born February 20, 
1880, also lives with his parents; and Annie 
M., who was born July 28, 1882, is the wife of 
John G. Law. Politically, Mr. Adams is a Re- 
publican, but has held no ofHces outside several 
of the township ones. He is a consistent mem- 
ber of the Presliyterian Church. Mr. Adams 
carries on general f.\rniing and stock raising, and 
because he tborouglily understands his business 
has made a success of it. Mr. Adams Is one of 
the solid men of his comnmnity and one who has 
always been interested in its progress. 



ALLEN, Walter W., one of the well known and 
highly respected pioneers of Carroll county, was 
born in Erie county, Pa., July 12, 1840, a son 
of iMvid IJ. and Susan K. (Scoville) Allen, 
natives of Xew York State, he born October 29, 
1S09. and she. October 10. 1814. When a lad. 
the father went with his parents to Girard, 
I'a.. where a farm was bought, although his 
fatlier, John Allen, had been earlier in life a 
wlieelwright. In this locality occurred the 
marriage of David R. Allen and his wife, on 
July 3, 18.36, and in 1845, removal was made to 
Michigan. Later they came to Carroll county, 
111., at a time when there were but three 
bouses on the road between Sterling and Mil- 
ledgeville. There was no house for them so 
they lived in a little shoe shop near the Elkhom 
until a log cabin could be built. It was put up 
in Whiteside county, and amid surroundings 
so wild that often at night the wolves would 
come and putting their paws on the window 
.sill, frighten them fearfull.v. Later, the father 
.sold this claim and moved to the vicinity of 
Morrison. III., where he opened a cheese fac- 
tory, selling bis product at six cents per pound. 
He tlien liought forty acres, and developed a 
farm, living in Whiteside county until his 
death, which occurred about 1887, when he was 
seventy-six years old. His wife died in 1881. 
They had three daughters and one son : Helen 
A., who married Harrison Roland, died, leav- 
ing five children ; Josephine, who married James 
Taylor, a farmer of South Ellihorn, died; 
Anna, wbo married John Knox, of Iowa, died; 
and Walter W. 

Walter W. Allen received a district school 
education and worked on his father's farm un- 
til he enli.sted in 1S04, in the Eiglith Illinois 
Cavalry for service during the Civil War, join- 
ing the regiment at St. Charles, 111. He was 
then taken with the measles, complications set 
in. and be was sent to Chicago, and thence to 
Washington. D. C, to join his regiment for 
patrol duty at the capltol, and was there when 
President Lincoln was assassinated. He viv- 
idly remeniliers the heartrending occurrences 
of that dread period. Mr. Allen was the man 
wild c-alled for General I'ayne at Warrington, 
\a., wlien that confederate leader was cap- 
tured. He also participated in the battles of 
Point of Rocks, Middletown, Frederick City 
and numerous skirmishes. 

Mr. Allen's marriage occurred September 1, 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



739 



1860, to Anna Mary SI(X'anii. wlu) was born 
June 13, 1851, in Imli.uia, a daufiliter of 
Charles and Malinda (Fritdi) McCann. Mrs. 
McCann was a native of Germany, wlio came 
■with her parents to Pennsylvania, and is now 
living in Milledgeville, aged eighty years. 
Charles McCann was a marble cutter by trade, 
having learned it early in life. Mr. and Mrs. 
Allen have had children as follows: Delia, 
who was born August 2, 1S70. married John 
Spang, of Iowa, issue — Lloyd, Maude and 
Italigli; Italigli, who was born November 7, 
l,s71, married Edith Petty, issue — Mabel, 
Maude, Kthel, Mason and Denver; Clara, who 
was born December IG, 1S75, married John 
Hahn, issue — Parilla ; Lewis J., who was born 
January 2r>, 1870, married Millie Smith. Febru- 
ary 14. 1!)12; Gertrude M.. who was born De- 
cember 8. ISSO; Edith, who was born June 26, 
ISSti, died November 80, I'.tll, Iiaving married 
George Imel. a farmer, issue — Wayne and 
La Rue ; Eva, who was born Aril 15, 1889, mar- 
ried Kim Todd; Orville, who was born Decem- 
ber IS, ISttO. is at home; and Laura, who was 
born May IS, IMiy, is at home. 

For many years Mr. Allen was a butcher, 
and did some farming, but in lS9(i, ho bought 
city property, and now has a beautiful home. 
He belongs to the G. A. R. Post, and in politics, 
be has always been a Republican. During the 
years he has been a resident of this county, he 
has witnessed many changes. When lie came 
here the most iirimitive conditions prevailed, 
but gradually tliey were replaced by others 
more distinctive of advancing civilization, un- 
til he is now proud to claim that there are few 
districts better improved than the one in which 
he lives. Mr. Allen has contributed his own 
part towards this growth, altliough he has 
never de.«ired public office, but sought to show 
his loyalty as a private citizen. His war 
record shows that he was a brave soldier, and 
never sought to shirk his duty. 

ALLISON, Joseph F., was born October 19tli, 
1838 at Mystle, Canada, a son of Fisher and Jane 
G. (VanBuskirk) Allison and Fisher Allison 
■was born at Keswick, England. August 1?>, 181.5 
and his wife at Fairview, O., a daughter of Isaac 
VaiiP.nskirk who was born in Virginia and 
served in the Federal army in the war of 1S12. 
Fisher Allison's grand-inicle Henry .Mlisnn 
served in the British .nrniy dni-ing the .\nieri- 



can Kevolntion. He came from Canada to the 
United States and on Sept. G, 1810. settled on 
a farm near Milledgeville, whore he resided to 
the day of his death, March S, 1S7S, be being 
buried in the Old Elkhorn Grove Cemetery, 
which he helped Levi Warner to survey about 
1843. In early days he was a member of the 
vigilance conuuittee which met at the Old 
Center school house in Elkhorn Grove to de- 
vise means for enforcing order among the 
scattered settlement and for mutual protection. 
Fisher Allison was one of the early pioneers 
and regarded by all who knew him as a ster- 
ling and upright citizen. In politics he was 
an Abolitionist until 18G0, when ho joined the 
Republican party. He was township collector, 
supervisor of the town of Elkhorn Grove and 
chairman of the county board between 18G0 
and 1870. He was a Methodist and pr&ached to 
congregations which were without a regular 
minister. Until 1856 he lived in a log house 
built by John Knox during the Black Hawk 
War. 

Thirteen children ■n-ere born to Fisher Alli- 
•son .-ind his wife, seven of whom are now living. 
They had four sons in the Union army during 
the war of the Rebellion. Josei)h F. was in 
Company H, Fifteenth Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry; Henry was in Company K, of the same 
regiment ; John, who enlisted in Company G, 
Tliirty -Ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, was 
killed at Suffolk Va., September 28, 18G2 ; Wil- 
liam, who was in Company H, Fifty-tifth Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry was killed in a railrojid 
accident on his way home after his discharge. 
Joseph F. .Vllison enlisted as a in-ivato and 
was engaged in the following battles: Shiloh, 
Siege of Corinth, Hatchee River, Siege of Vieks- 
burg. Siege of Jackson, Champion's Hill and the 
Siege of Atlanta. He received a shell wound 
in both hands at Ilatcliee River. October 5, 
1862. which resulted in the loss of his left 
hand and the third and fourth fingers of his 
right hand. .Vfter recovering he returned to 
Ills regiment and served at the front in several 
engagements, hut was again woimdod, this 
time in his right leg at Champion's Hill. The 
oflicial report of Colonel Cyrus Hall who com- 
manded the Brigade at this battle has this to 
say in regard to Mr. Allison : "I would most 
respectfully and earnestly call the attention 
of the connnandlng General to Lieutenant 
.\llison. Company II Fiftei'iitli Illinnls Infantry, 



740 



HISTORY OP CARROLL COUNTY 



who lost one hand and part of the other at the 
battle of the Ilatchie, October 5, 1SG2, and was 
again severely wounded in the leg at the en- 
gagement at Champion's Hill, February 4, 
]8(i4. His gallantry and soldier-like qualities, 
are highly commended by his regimental com- 
mander.'' This report having been written on 
the bloody field of Champion's Hill was highly 
appreciated by Mr. Allison's friends. In spite 
of his wounds, he again returned to service and 
participated in the Siege of Atlanta ; was 
transferred to the veteran reserve corps; served 
in North Carolina and was mustered out Janu- 
ary 1, 1S68. He was promoted to sergeant, first 
sergeant, second lieutenant, and first lieutenant. 
Very few soldiers have been in so many terri- 
ble battles and been so severely wounded and 
yet lived to become useful citizens and to enjoy 
themselves in the peaceful walks of life to a 
"good old age." 

Joseph F. Allison received his education in 
the district schools of Elkhorn Grove and at 
Mount Morris Seminary, and prior to 18G1, 
was a farmer. He has held offices of circuit 
clerk, county treasurer and examiner and 
special examiner iu the I'nited States Pension 
Bureau. 

In politics Mr. Allison is a Republican and 
in church affiliation a Methodist. On Septem- 
ber 28. ISOe. he married Harriet Adaline Dodge, 
a daughter of Dr. Darius and Martha A. 
V (Fo.ster) Dodge, of Rockford, 111. Tliey had 
the following cliildren : Frances Cora, who was 
born June 15, 1870; AVaite Fisher, who was 
bom August 10, 1872; Martha Adaline, who 
was born February 27, 1SS2 ; Joseph Foster, 
who was born April 21, 1SS4. 

While living in Mount Carroll, Joseph F. 
.\llison was one of its most enterprising citizens. 
He built the handsome brick block on the corner 
west of tlie Soldiers' Monument ; bought the 
land north of the creek, and laid out an addi- 
tion to the city, on which he erected a large 
brick residence, now owned by the Caroline 
Mark Home. He built the first suspension foot 
bridge across the mill-pond, from bluff to bluff, 
which has now been replaced by a substantial 
iron, wagon and foot bridge, and he was at 
one time editor and proprietor of the Carroll 
County Mirror. At present Mr. Allison is re- 
siding at No. 430 M. street, N. W., Washing- 
ton, D. C. 



ATHERTON, Sylvanus R., whose life has been 
identified with the progress and development of 
Carroll county, Illinois, since 1850, and who is 
now an honored and esteemed retired resident 
of Thompson, was born at Ticonderoga, Essex 
county, N. Y., May .31, 1839, a son of Ransom 
and Elvira D. (Balcom) Atherton. The paternal 
grandparents of S.ylvanus R. Atherton, were 
Peter and Betsey (Bailey) Atherton. In 1845 
they came to Carroll county and settled iu York 
township, where the gi-andfather oi>ened his 
blacksmith shop, although he had manufactured 
axes and other edge tools in Ticonderoga, N. 
Y. He had four sons. Ransom, Cephas, Ralph 
and Emory, and two daughters, Susanna and 
Elizabeth. The former married Beley C. 
Bailey and the latter was the wife of Freeman 
Kenyon, all now being deceased. Both Peter 
Atherton and wife died in York township, and 
their ashes rest iu the Argo Cemetery. She was 
a member of the Baptist Church. 

Ransom Atherton, father of Sylvanus R., was 
born in Essex count.v, N. Y., October 2, 1815, 
and died February 21, 18S0, on bis farm in Iowa. 
By trade he was a blacksmith. In September, 
183S, he was married in Essex county, to Elvira 
D. Balcom, who was born at Hague, N. Y., 
October 1. 1818. In 1850, with wife, two sons, 
and one daughter. Ransom Atherton moved to 
Carroll count.v. 111., and settled in what was 
then called Baileyville but now is Argo. and 
bought a farm in York township, on which he 
also continued to conduct his shop as long as 
he lived in this county. Later in life he moved 
to Iowa and bought a farm near Maquoketa. 
He was three times married, first to Elvira D. 
Balcom, who died November 26, 1855 ; second, 
to Ix)uisa Densmore, and third, to Amanda 
Cook, who survives him and lives in Iowa. 
Tlie children of his first marriage were : Syl- 
vanus R. ; Susanna, who married a Mr. Clark 
and both are now deceased ; George Patrick, 
who was born April 25, 1849, died in 1853 ; 
and Julia M., who was born in Illinois, Febru- 
ary 22, 1852, died in 1872. To the second union 
there was no issue. The children of the third 
wife were : William E., who lives with his mother 
in Iowa ; Amanda L., who was born November 
30, 18C7, married a Mr. Fuller and they live 
in a Western state ; and Charles, who was born 
February 12, 1878, is a farmer in Dakota. 

Sylvanus R. Atherton was eleven years old 
when he accompanied his parents to Carroll 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



741 



county and his educiition was obtained in tlie 
district sdiools as liis father could spare liini, 
as lie iH'gau to l)e of great assistance wlien 
still young. After his marriage, Mr. Atherton 
rented a farm in York township, which he 
operated until 1863, when he bought eighty 
acres and from time to time added to the same 
until he owned 100 acres. At that time the 
Civil War was in progress and in ist;."> .Mr. 
Atherton enlisted in Company ('. Si.xty-Filtli 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served until 
the war closed being mustered out at Greens- 
burg, N. C, from whence he was sent to Chi- 
cago, III., where he received his honorable dis- 
charge. After his return he built a comfortable 
residence on his first purchase of land and the 
family lived there until 1880, when, on account 
of failing healtii, .Mr. Atherton rented the place 
to his son Olice and moved to a village named 
Ideal, where he started a little store and sub- 
stHiueutly was appointed postmaster. This 
name was given to the place by Mr. Atherton 
on account of pleasant conditions, people and 
surroundings, which lie considered were ideal. 
Mr. Atherton continued to reside at Ideal and 
carry on business until lS!t3, when he sold 
the luiilding there. In 18!l3 he bi>ughl a 
store building and conducted a boarding house 
and restaurant until 1801). when he disposed of 
his interests in the above and since then has 
lived retired, although he still owns the build- 
ing. He is one of the successful self-made men 
of the county, who has been enterprising and 
useful in public matters, for very little of 
imiwrtance was projected or carried out 
during his active years in the communities in 
which lie lived, witliout his advice and coopera- 
tion. He was one of the organizers of the Car- 
roll County Mutual Fire Insurance Company. 
Mr. Atherton's recollections go baclv to the time 
when there were no railroads in tliis section 
by which farmers and slock raisers could ship 
produce or stock, the former having ti> he 
hauled to Fulton or Savanna, and the latter 
driven to the same points, and those were the 
days when farmers received but thirty-five 
cents a bushel for their wheat. 

On September 28, 18C1. Mr. Atherton was 
married to Miss Eugenie Marsli.ill, who was 
born in Warren county. N. Y.. January 21. 
18-1.">, a daughter of .Malliew II. and Hannah 
Amanda (Carpenter) Marshall, the former a 
native of Connecticut and the latter of New 



York. The Marshalls came to Carroll county 
and settled in York township in ISoo and be- 
came substantial residents of this section. The 
father of Mrs. Atherton died October 31, 1894, 
when aged more than seventy-nine years, and 
the mother, October 0, 1898. Of their one son 
and si.v daughters, there are four daughters still 
living: Minerva, wife of Thomas OaUley, who 
lives at Thomfison ; Martha, who is the widow 
of Albert Harrison, who served in tlie Civil 
war as .i member of the Fifty-tiftii Illinois 
Volunteer Infautry, for three years and also 
suffered in Andersonville Prison, lives at Walla 
Walla, Wash. ; Ors, who was born June Ui, 
18G2, is the widow of Lewis French and lives 
at Madison, S. Dak. ; and Mrs. Atherton. Those 
deceased were: Mary, who died August 22, 
180(1, and Olive, born in 1802, who died in 1S82. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Atherton the following chil- 
dren were born, all on the old home farm ex- 
c-ept the eldest: Eveline Elvira, who was born 
October 23, 1862, married George Beck, of 
Webster, S. Dak., and they have four children: 
Flavie, Eugenia, Millie and Genevelve; Olice, 
who was born July 19, 1807, who now owns 
the old homestead, was married to Carrie Rush, 
February 18, 1889, and they have one child, 
Neva : Jesse A., who was born July 15, 18G9, 
died July 27, 1884; Millie M., who was born 
July .•!!, 1874, died July 24, 1885; Jennie E., 
who was born July 1, 1876, died June 2. 1903 ; 
and Nellie E., who was born January 7, 1880, 
is the wife of Roy I. Houghton, a sketch of 
whom will be found in this work. Mr. Ather- 
ton was reared in the Metliodist faith, his par- 
ents having been fiioneers in the church in this 
section and he has always given this religious 
body sufiiiort although never becoming an actual 
member. Like liis father he early became a 
Republican in his political attitude. Me has 
frequently served as a school director and for 
eleven years was clerk ol" the school iioard and 
li.'is also served as highway <-omniissioner. 

BARBER, William A. While the soil of Carroll 
county is very fertile, water plentiful and easily 
obtained and climatic condition ideal, good crops 
cannot be raised unless the land is properly 
worke<l and scientifically nourished, and the high 
standard set and maintained by the agricultur- 
alists here is therefore very creditable to them. 
One of those thus representative of the best 
farming interests of this part of the state, is 



r42 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



William A. Barber of WasUington township, 
boru ou tlie farm he now owus, November 5, 
1805, son of Armor and Mary (Mclutyre) Bar- 
ber. The father was born in Ireland, in IS-V, 
coming to America witli his parents in 183o. 
They came through Chicago to Carroll county, 
locating in Washington township, near the pres- 
ent liomestead. Armor Barber was the fourLli 
of five children born to his parents, and like all 
offspring of pioneers, had few educational ,id- 
vautages, but taught himself the greater part 
of what he knew, and liecame a man of rare 
intelligence. His father died a few years after 
the family located here, and he was cast on his 
own resources. Very early in life he began 
entering land, on section 7, Washington towji- 
ship, maliing homes for his mother and himself. 
In 1840 he went down the Mississippi river to 
New Orleans, and thence via the Isthmus of 
Panama, to the gold fields of California. There 
he remained two years, returning to his honie 
l)y the same route. Soon thereafter, he was mar- 
ried. His wife was born in Canada, coming of 
.Scotch descent, being a daughter of Hugh and 
Christie (McCall) Mclntyre, natives of Scot- 
land. Armor Barber continued to enter addi- 
tional laud, usually forty acres at a time, until 
he owned 300 acres, all in Washington township. 
In the spring of 1805, he went to Piko's Peak, 
Colo., driving overland, and remained there until 
the fall of that year, wlieu he returned home. 
His death occurred April 1, 1900. He was a 
Democrat, and held several township oftices. His 
wife passed away in September, 190-1, aged sixty- 
five years. These parents had ten children, but 
all except three died when .small : Henry H. 
of New York City ; William A. and Grac-e A. sur- 
vive. Of them the eldest was graduated in civil 
engineering from the Illinois State University 
at Champaign, 111., in 1884, and at present is 
w-ith the Lackawanna Steel Co. ; and Grace A., 
who was married to Martin Salzer, lives in Mt. 
Carroll township, this county. 

William A. Barber was educated in the district 
schools of Washington township. Remaining on 
the farm with his parents, after their deatli he 
succeeded to the home i)roperty. He is not mar- 
ried. All his life he has been a farmer. ;\nd 
he thoroughly understtinds every detail of his 
work. His property is one of the finest in the 
township, and he takes great pride in it and in 
maintaining the standard of excellence his 
father raised. 



BASHAW, Grant D.— Pioneer life in Carroll 
county was fraught with many dangers and 
filled with hardships which can be scarcely un- 
derstood in these days of modern conveniences 
and improvements. When those forerunners of 
civilization came here, they found either dense 
woodland, or raw prairie, and years of hard 
work were required before the wilderness was 
transformed into fertile farms and flourishing 
cities. One of those who took part in this gen- 
eral develojiment, and reared a family to do 
him honor in his new home, was William 
Bashaw, whose son. Grant G. Bashaw of Mt. 
Carroll township, now ably represents the 
father's ideas and maintains the high standard 
of honor set up by the older man. William 
Bashaw was born in St. Marys, St. Marys 
county, Canada, in 1825, being a son of Peter 
and Mary (.\shby) Bashaw, both born in St. 
Mary's, Canada, becoming there farming people. 
WTien the father died, the three elder children, 
William. I'eler, «ho was born in 1828, now 
residing in Mt. Carroll, and Mary, who was 
Ixjrn in 1830, promised to cling together and 
make a home for the younger children. Four of 
the children died soon after. Mary being one of 
these. William and Peter worked in conjunc- 
tion as partners, and when the United States 
government opened land around Mt. Carroll for 
settlement, they came here, each entering eighty 
acres in the western part of Mt. Carroll town- 
ship. They added to their original 160 acres 
until they owned about one thousand acres. 
Sometime in the early seventies, they dissolved 
jiartnership, divided the land, money, stock, etc., 
William's share of the land being about 490 
acres. He was an extensive stock dealer, and 
an important factor in agricultural life in Car- 
roll county until his death on the home farm, 
where he passed away, April 15, 1882. His 
widow survives him, making her home in Sa- 
vanna, where she is a member of the Methodist 
Church, as was her husband. He was a Re- 
publican in political faith, but only held minor 
offices, not caring for public life. Mr. and Mrs. 
Bashaw were married after Mr. Bashaw secured 
his Carroll county farm, and the.v had six 
children : Dora, who is Mrs. D. W. Ward, of 
Fulton, 111. ; William, who resides near Chad- 
wick ; Sarah, who is Mrs. James Doty, of Madi- 
son, Wis., Grant D., and Charles and Mary, who 
are deceased. 

Grant D. Bashaw attended the district schools 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



743 



of his towiisliip aiui tlio lii^'li scIidoI of S:iv:uiii:i, 
and spent liis life on tlie homestead. When 
eighteen years old, he rented the farm of his 
mother, making his home with her for ahont 
twenty year.s. In 18SG, he bought this 3 70 
acre farm in section 18, also ninety-three acres 
in se<tiou 20 and 29, and 105 acres, in ser-lion ^^^ 
Savanna township, carrying on general farming 
throughout, specializing on dairying. Ilis re- 
ligious atHliations are \vith the Baptist Churcli. 
On May 16, 1888, Mr. Bashaw was united in 
marriage with Miss Hattie Bogue, born in Iron- 
ton, Sac county, Wis., August 20, 18G8. a daugh- 
ter of Thomas and Melissa (Dyson) Boguc, 
natives of England and Illinois, respectively. Mr. 
and Mrs. Bashaw liave four children : .'Shirley 
T., who was born March 19. 1880. lives with 
his parents ; Vernon W., who was born October 
12, 1891, lives at home; Hattie M.. who was 
born November 26, 1896; and Gladys J., who 
■was born November 21, 1899. Mr. Bashaw is 
one of the live, progressive farmers of this 
locality, whose success in life has been attained 
by hard worlc, intelligently directed, and a thor- 
ough knowledge of his business. 

BAST, Henry. — Perhaps no people in the world 
aiipreciate the value of a good education lil<o 
those born in Germany, for the whole atmos- 
phere there is filled with the idea of careful 
training for .some fixed purjiose. Thus it is that 
the German-Americans of our own country lead 
in giving tlii-ir children tlie best edu<atiiinal ad- 
vantages within their power, and it is often- 
times the school director of German birth \vho is 
the most anxious to secure excellent teachers. 
Henry Bast of Salem township, is an excellent 
example of this class of man. He was born in 
UhTi, Iles.se-Darmstadt, Germany, February 17. 
1852, a son of Henry and Mary (Fredericli) 
Bast, al.so natives of Germany. The father died 
in 1859. and Mrs. Bast, her mother, Mrs. Fred- 
erick, Henry Bast and his sister Kate Bast, 
born in 1849, came to America in 18G2, locating 
in Lanark with Mrs. Bast's sister and brother. 
For two years Mrs. Bast worked as a house- 
kee|>er. and then married William Bobbins, who 
bought a farm of .'57.3 acres on section .3.'i, Salem 
township, two years after marriage. They re- 
sided on this farm until after Mrs. Rolihins died, 
al)out 1.S70. aged fifty-six years. Mr. IJobbins 
died about 1880, having lived for some years with 
his step-son, Henry Bast. 



Henry Hast attended school in the winter and 
worked on the farm in the summer from 1863 
until 1870. He then bought 200 acres of the 
Uobbins' farm, but later sold forty acres. He 
then bought 112 acres on section 28, later sell- 
ing a portion of it to his son, (Jeorge, and a i)art 
of it to the C. B. & Q. Railroad. At present he 
owns 212 acres on section 3:S, Salem township, 
having always lived on a farm. I'or some years 
Mr. Bast has been specializing on full-blooded 
Hereford cattle and Duroc hogs, and also raises 
horses. He is one of the thoroughly modern, 
jirogressive agriculturists of Carroll county, and 
his success in life is the direct result of his 
knowledge of his work and his liking for it. 
rolitically, he is a Heiiublican, and for three 
years was road commissioner, but aside from 
that never had time to devote to public office. 
In .voung manhood he joined the Evangelical 
Church, and has been class leader for years, and 
director of the church school. 

On February 17. 1876. Mr. Bast was married 
to Mary Rath, born in .To Daviess county. 111.. 
in 1854, a daughter of Jolm and Barbara (Sacke) 
Rath, natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Bast 
became the parents of eight children: William 
K., who is of Fair Haven township; Mamie 
M., who is the wife of Charles Sack of Argo, 
111. ; Lydia, who is the wife of Victor Hines of 
Salem township ; George H., who is of Salem 
township ; Cora Bast, who is of S. Dak. ; Ada, 
who is of Salem township; Edward, who is at 
home; and Emma, who is also at home; Miss 
Cora Bast went to South Dakota to teach music, 
and while there acting upon the adrice of friends, 
homesteaded. and is now proving up her claim. 
.VII the children have been carefully educated, 
and Mr. Bast is very proud of them, and what 
they have accomplished. 

BEATTIE, Captain James P., a retired farmer 
living; at .Mt. Carrnlj. who is a veteran of the 
Civil Wair, has been a resident of the county 
since 1858. He was born in New Jersey. ,Tanu- 
ary 12, 1837, son of Alexander and Mary Eliza- 
beth (Patterson) Beattie. the former of whom 
came to the Uuitetl States from Ireland, with 
his parents at the age of three years, and 
learned the trade of a blacksmith. After com- 
pleting his apiireiiticeslnp he set up in business 
for himself in Cambridge. Washington coinit.v, 
N. v.. and tliere bis son .lames P. received his 
education. Upon the death of his ixirents the 



lii 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



latter became a member of the family of L. 
E. IIiu;t, with whom he remained imtil he 
reached his majority. lu the fall of 1S5S he 
came to Carroll county and worked by the 
month on various farms for two years. 

He enlisted in the Union Army at Galena, 
November 14. 1S61. becoming a member of Com- 
jiany A. Forty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
and participated in the battles of Fort Henry 
and Donelson, Shiloh, and Siege of Corinth. 
being promoted to rank of sergeant Jlay 1. 
18G2. He took part in the engagements at 
Thompson's Hill, Raymond, and Champion's Hill 
and at the latter was shot in the right thigh. 
May IC, 18G3. and sent to the hospital, where he 
was taken prisoner, on the 24th of the same 
month. He was e.\chauged September 1, ISC'!, 
and took part in the skirmish at Woodland Plan- 
tation, after which his term of enlistment ex- 
pired. He re-enlisted as private January 5. 1SG4 
and was promoted by Colonel Seeley to orderly 
sergeant November 1, and to first lieutenant 
December 31, 1864, with Captain Munson of the 
Third Division, Seventeenth Army Corps. He 
was lu the skirmish at Fort Pocotelego, January 
14, 180.5, and received Uis commission as captain 
from Captain Noyes at Washington, D. C, May 
25, ISGo. 

After his discharge from the army, Captain 
Beattie returned to Carroll county and worked 
on a farm in Jo Daviess county one summer. 
On December 19, 186.5, he married Miss Mary 
E. Hickman, daughter of Mrs. L. Hickman of 
Carroll county, and they became the parents 
of three children, of whom two still survive : 
Anna L. who married Charles W. Blair, of 
Kent, 111., September 13, 1904, was born in Jo 
Daviess county, December 19, 1866, and died at 
Kent, November 30, 1908, leaving a husband 
and three children: Brin W., Allen L. and Ola 
M. ; James A., who was born in Carroll county, 
June 3, 1868, resides at home; and Mary Isa- 
belle, who was born in Carroll county in 18TS. 
married and has one sou, Donald James Rollins, 
born Novemljer 2, 1900, but now resides with 
her father. 

Soon after his marriage Captain Beattie 
located on a farm in Woodland township, 
where he remained until February, 1907, when 
he sold and locate<l in Mt. Carroll, having been 
an enterprising and successful farmer who won 
the respect and esteem of his neighbors. lie 
is a Republican in politics and served as town- 



ship assessor, collector and road commissioner, 
and for fifteen continuous years served as 
school director. He is a prominent member of 
Major Nase's Post, G. A. R. of Mt. Carroll and 
has served as junior vice-commander and for 
the last three years has held the office of senior 
vice-commander. Although reared in the Pres- 
byterian faith, he is not a member of any church 
at the present time. Mrs. Beattie died at the 
Mt. Carroll home March 2, 1910. and was buried 
at Mt. Carroll Cemetery. The funeral services 
were conducted by Rev. Buck waiter, an intimate 
friend of the family. Mrs. Beattie was a much- 
beloved, highly esteemed woman, a devoted wife 
and mother, who had many sincere friends. 

Captain Beattie is hale and hearty and though 
retired from active life, takes a keen interest in 
the advancement and progress of the community. 
He has seen many remarkable cliauges in Car- 
roll county since coming here, and possesses a 
remarkably clear memory of conditions as they 
were fifty years ago. His able descriptions of 
life in those early days are interesting and 
instructive. He has made his own way in life 
and has achieved gratifying success by his un- 
aided efforts. 

BECKER, Captain Egbert Ten Eyck, (deceased), 
an honored veteran of the Civil War, was a 
prominent attorney and practiced many years 
in the county courts of Carroll county. Captain 
Becker was respected as a man of high pur- 
pose and earnest effort, and was governed by 
the best of principles in all his movements. He 
was born in Le Roysville, Bradford county. Pa., 
April 2S, 1S.33, a son of David and Fanny 
(Benham) Becker. The father was a farmer 
by occupation and the family was an old New 
York one, of German descent. Many of the 
Beckers are now residents of Schoharie county, 
N. Y. Captain Becker was the oldest of the 
family of children born to his parents and when 
about ten years old accompanied them west. 
They settled on Rock Creek. Carroll county. 111., 
and the boy received his elementary education 
in the common schools of the neighborhood. 
He spent one year at Lombard College, Gales- 
burg. 111., after which he carried on farming 
until lie enlisted in Company I Ninety-second 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, of which he was 
elected caiitain. and they were afterward 
mounted. The regiment was organized in July 
and August under the direction of Col. Smith 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



745 



1>. Atkins, iiiul iiuistertHl in at Uockfoiil, Scp- 
tember 4, 1S02. They were mustered out at 
Camp Douglas, Chicago, July 8, 1805. Captain 
Becker served tbree years in this regiment, re- 
fusing promotion and never applying for a fur- 
IdUgli. He participated in many important en- 
gagements but was never injured by bullet or 
sabre, nor never was ill during Iiis term of 
service. He always had a strong i)liysi(iuc and a 
stalwart figure, being able to endure many bard- 
sliijis and privations without giving way to 
fatigue or illness. He was with JSlierman im 
his famous March to the Sea and had m.uiy 
e.\(iting and interesting e.xperiences. 

.\fter his discharge from the army Captain 
Hecker studied law with J. M. Hunter, an 
able and prominent lawyer, and was admitted 
to the bar in 18(57. He served as county clerk 
three terms, succeeding Maj. R. M. A. Hawk, 
who had been elected to Congress. Captain 
Becker had a good practice in his profession 
•,ind held many local offices, such as alderman 
and schf)ol director He was a Good Templar 
(luring the life of that organization in Mt. Car- 
roll, and was an active Mason, having taken 
the Thirty-second degree in the order. He was 
an enthusiastic member of the G. A. R. and 
served many years as commander of the local 
iwst. 

Captain Becker was married in the town of 
his nativity, to Sarah C, daugliter of L. L. and 
S. A. Bo.sworth, of Le Roysville. I'a.. and four 
children were born to this union: Ola, who died 
at the age of twenty-three years; .Sarah C, 
who died when three years of age ; and Robert 
;ind Mary (twins) who died in infancy. Cap- 
tain Becker died at his home In Mt. Carroll, 
May 28, lOOG, and was sincerely mourned by the 
entire community. 

BEEDE, Charles A. — Unremitting inilnstry. un- 
swerving ecoiioMiy. and a steadfastness of in- 
tegrity, conibined with a thorough knowledge of 
farming conditions, have made Charles A. 
Uei'de one of the leading agriculturists of Car- 
roll county. He resides on section ."JO, Salem 
township, but was born in Sandwich, Carroll 
county. X. H.. August 23, 1.S4S. being a son 
of Thomas H. and Hannah (Ethridge) Beede, 
natives of Sandwich, N. H. Thomas H. Beede 
was a .son of Thomas and Susanna (Rogers) 
Beede. natives of Carroll count.v, X. H., and 
Hannah Ethridge was a daughter of Samuel 



and hydia (Cook) lOtlu'idge. natives of Ciir- 
roll county, X. H. Both faiiiilies wei-e fanning 
people. 

Thomas H. Beede was educated in the pub- 
lic schools and by private tutor at home. He 
and his wife were married alwut 184:i, and 
settled down to farming, lie alternating agri- 
cultural work with shoemaking. Inning learned 
that trade. In l.sci,"i, the family located in 
Salem township, Carroll county. 111., on the 
farm now owned by Charles A. Beede. This 
property was only rented until 1870. but in 
that year Thomas H. Beede bought the entire 
KiO acres, to which he later added eighty acres, 
and made many iniiirovements. Mr. Beede was 
a Republican, but never held any otbces and 
did not allow himself to be tied down too 
closely l>y party lines. In religious faith he 
and his wife were Methodists, he acting as 
superintendent of the Sunday school in New- 
Hampshire. Mr. Beede died January 7, 1887, 
aged si.xty-eight .vears, having Ijeen born 
January 22, 1819. His wife, born October 20. 
1822, died in June, 1893. They were the fiar- 
ents of three sons: Samuel E.. of Bradenburg, 
Fla.; and Charles, and Herman II.. who live 
together. 

Charles A. Bee<le was educated in the com- 
mon schools, and academy of Carroll county, 
X. H. He came west with his parents, and 
after he attained his ma.iority he worked in 
partnership with his father on the farm, until 
the latter's death. Since then he and his broth- 
er, Herman H.. who is president of the Farmers 
State Bank of Chadwick, have operated the 
farm in partnership, doing general farming and 
cattle raising, and make a specialty of growing 
iwpcorn. Politically a Republican he has served 
as school trustee for a number of years, was 
elected township sui)ervisor in 190.8, and Is now 
serving his third term. 

In 1884,; Mr. Beede married Kavina G. 
Mackay, born in Salem township. Jaini.iry 1.", 
18.K'i. daughter of John and Catherine (Rupple) 
JIackay. Mrs. Beede died July 5, 190.">, leaving 
no issue. On October 1, 1908, Mr. Beede mar- 
ried Mr.s. Alice (Adams) Bollinger, Iiorn in 
Jo r)aviess county. 111.. December .TO. 1S0.">, 
daughter of Samuel and Mary (Henry) Adams, 
the former a veteran of the Civil War. The 
Beedes are well and favorably known through- 
out the county, and lK)th Mr. Beede and his 
brother are excellent farmers, who have made 



746 



HISTORY OF CAEROLL COUNTY 



their pix)pert,v yield them good returns for the 
time and money expended upon it. 

BISHELL, William Dawson, a successful busi- 
ness man of Savanna, was horu in Caythorite, 
Lincolnshire, England, May 14, 1872. a son of 
William and Elizabeth (Dawson) Bishell. He 
received his education in Newark-on-Trent, at- 
tending school until he was thirteen years of 
age. Althimgh he had literary tastes, he was not 
given the advantage of a classical course, being 
early in life obliged to earn his own living. He 
turned his hand to any honest employment by 
which he might earn money, siiending a year 
with an uucle at Derbyshire where he com- 
menced to learn the barber's trade. His father 
had come to America and was at that time 
located at Darlington, Lafayette county. Wis., 
whither the lad made his way alone coming 
on the boat City of Chester, being but fourteen 
years old. He remained in that vicinity until 
nineteen years of age, spending most of this time 
at farm work, after which he was a year at 
Fayette, Wis., and another year at Warren, 
III., then going to Chicago, where he completed 
his course as a barber. 

During the World's Columbian Exposition 
held at Chicago, Mr. Bishell worked at his trade 
in that city, being located at various points, 
sometimes by himself and sometimes having a 
partner. After spending two years in Chicago, 
lie removed to Dubuque, la., remaining there 
three years, coming to Savanna in 1000. and 
establishing himself at his present location. 
Fraternally he is a member of the ICnights of 
Pythias and of the Modern Woodmen of 
America. In the former order he is past chan- 
cellor and a lieutenant in the Uniform Rank, 
and in the latter he is counsellor. 

On December 2.5, 1897, Mr. Bishell married 
Miss Genevieve, daughter of Michael and Ma- 
tilda Monty, of Chicago. Mr. Monty has been 
deceased many years. There are no children of 
this union. Mr. Bishell is a good citizen, pub- 
lic-spirited and earnest of purpose, and has 
many friends in the city. 

He made a record for himself as the leader 
in the fight against a commis-sioner form of 
city government. Elected to the city council 
in 1910, Mr. Bishell entered upon his duties 
enthusiastically, feeling that to change any ex- 
isting forms except for grave reasons would be 
acting against the Declaration of Independence. 



His work in this respect was in compliance with 
the dictates of conscience. 

BOERNER, Valentine, of Mt. Carroll, has held 
several public offices in Carroll county, and is 
now filling that of circuit clerk and recorder, 
in which he has served a number of years. Mr. 
Boerner was born in Saxony, Germany, August 
26, 1857, and at the age of twelve years ac- 
companied an aunt to the United States. They 
located in Hartford. Conn., and there he at- 
tended night school and at the same time 
learned the trade of cigar-making, which he 
has followed all his sub.sequent life. He re- 
moved to Jackson county, la., in 1882, and after 
spending six years there came to Carroll county 
and pursued his trade in Savanna. He won 
the good will and esteem of his fellow towns- 
men and in 1899 they elected him to the office 
of city clerk. Two years later he was elected 
city treasurer, and in 190,3 was elected super- 
nsor, being re-elected in 1005. Shortly after- 
ward, the office of circuit clerk and recorder 
becoming vacant, Mr. Boerner was elected to 
fill it assuming his duties in June, 1905. There- 
upon he changed his residence to Mt. Carroll, 
the county seat, and at the elections held 1008 
and 1912, he was re-elected to the same office, 
being its present incumbent. He has given most 
faithful and satisfactory service in every par- 
ticular, and stands well throughout the county. 
He is a Republican in political belief and 
actively interested in the public welfare. 

Mr. Boerner was married July 27. 1804. to 
Mary Rath, a native of Carroll eiiuiitj-, born in 
Washington township, and four children have 
been born of this union : Marie, Louis, Fred- 
erick, and one who is deceased. Mr. Boerner 
is well known in fraternal and social circles, 
being affiliated with the A. F. & A. M., the K. 
P. and I. O. O. F. After locating in Savanna 
he organized the Savanna Cigar Company. Inc., 
which was dissolved when he came to Mt. Car- 
roll, as his time was fully taken up with the 
duties of his position. 

BOLINGER, George W., now retired from an 
agricultural life and residing at Lanark, was 
formerly very active as a farmer, and well 
known as such throughout Carroll county. He 
was born February 7. 1848. son of Michael and 
Elizabeth ("Rupert) Bolinger. both natives of 
Pennsylvania, where the father was born 




/t .^ ./^^f:>c<y\ 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



r47 



August 2, ISOli, iiud the mother. Deicmbei- 2, 
ISCHj. Farmiug people, they eauie to Illinois iu 
1S54, locatiug at Geoigctown, whei'e Mr. Boliiigoi- 
entered hiud I'roui the government, and lived 
there until death elaiiued him and liis wife. 
Michael Boliuger died August 1. 1S!!^1. and his 
wife, August ;i, ISliO. They had ten children, 
four of whom survive: Adam, who was horn 
April IT, 1S3S, lives iu Kansas; Michael It., 
who was born September 30, 184:!, lives in IjOS 
Angeles, Cal. ; Mrs. David Zuck, who lives in 
Dallas Center, la. ; and George W. For many 
years, the father was a minister iu the Church 
of the Brethren, and helped to erect a church 
of this denomination iu 1855, which was the 
second to be built in Carroll county. The 
I>aterual grandparents were natives of Germany, 
who came to this country at an early day. It 
took si.\teen weeks to make the journej-, as they 
came on a sailing vessel. 

George W. Boliuger was educatetl in the dis- 
trict schools of Carroll county, and grew up on 
his father's farm, remaiuiug with him until he 
attained his majority, when he married. In 
1S71, he went to Kansas, where he worked for 
two .years on a farm. His first employment 
was making posts and he also farmed there 
with an o.v team, but not liking conditions, re- 
turned to Illinois, which has continued to be 
his home. At cue time he owned 240 acres of 
land, and still retains about 200 acres and two 
line residences iu Savanna. He is also inter- 
ested in the lumber yards in Green River. 
Washington, and in a fruit farm in Idaho. 

On February 7. 1871. Mr. Boliuger was niar- 
rietl by Ilcv. Henry Martin to Anna L. Fini- 
froch, born April IS. ISol. a daughter or IClias 
an<l Sarah (Wolf) Finifroch, natives of Mary- 
iMiiil, who ranic to Illinois in 1857, where they 
farmed. Mr. and Mrs. Boliuger became the 
parents of children as follows : Elmer G., who 
was born March 20. J.875, is a farmer at Cherry 
Grove; Maggie and MoUie. twins, who were 
born September 1. 187G, are both living in Car- 
roll county; Orpha E.. who was born June 11, 
1878; Etta, who was born .March 4. 1882; Lulu, 
who was born September 18. 1885; and Harvey, 
who was born March G, 1891. is a farmer in 
Cherry Grove township. Mr. Boliuger has six 
grand-children. He had the misfortune to lose 
bis wife on April 10, ISOG. She was a most ex- 
cellent lady, of a high. Christian character. 
For fifteen years, Mr. Boliuger has been a 



school director, aud is also a road commissioner. 
In 100!), he left his farm, and moved to Lanark, 
where he is comfortably located. He has been 
deacon and trustee of the Brethreu Church of 
Cherry Grove, and for the past eighteen years 
has led the singing. All his life, he has held 
strong temperance views, and is active in the 
I'rohibition party. A man of steadfast pur- 
I>ose, he worked hard and long to secure success, 
aud deserves unlimited credit for what he has 
accomplished. Not only is ho highly regarded 
in Lanark, and the township that was his home 
for so many years, but all over Carroll county, 
for his merits are appreciated and admired. 

BOWEN, Lester Waterman. — The name of 
Boweu has been closely identified wi.th the 
best interests of Savanna since the early set- 
tlement of the community. Its representatives 
have held many iwsitious of honor and trust 
and have enjoyed in full measure the con- 
fidence and esteem of their fellow citizens. 
Lester Waterman Boweu, a member of this old 
family. Is a native of the city and has spent 
his entire life here, with the exception of his 
servi e in the Union Army during the latter 
part of the Civil War. He was born Novem- 
ber 24. 1S45, a son of David L. and Lila C. 
(Fierce) Boweu, the father being one of the 
very early settlers of Savanna, aud the mother 
a daughter of II. Pierce, a pioneer of Illinois. 
David L. Boweu came to Savanna in 1S39, and 
there established himself in business as a 
builder and contractor, thus having nmch to 
do with the early progress and upbuilding of 
the city's material interests. He filled various 
local olfices and was honored by election to 
the office of mayor. He and his wife had five 
children, the eldest being Lester W. 

The education of Lester W. Boweu was ac- 
quired in the public schools of his native town 
and he early learned the trade of a carpenter 
under his father's instruction. He has fol- 
lowed his trade since for the greater |iart of 
his time and has built up a large business as 
a contractor, following in his father's footsteps. 
Since 1870 he has conducted his business on his 
own account. In 1804, although he had not yet 
reached his majority, Mr. Boweu enlisted for 
one year in Ctompany E, One Hundred and 
Fort.v-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which 
was organized at Si)ringfleld on September IS, 
18G4. The regiment was assigned to duty 



748 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



guardinjr drafted men at Brighton, Quincy. 
Jacksonville and Siiringfleld and was mustered 
out at the latter place July 5, 1SG5. Mr. 
Boweu came back to Savanna after being mus- 
tered out and resumed work at his trade. 
Many of the finest buildings in Savanna are 
his product and besides the various business 
blocks and residences he has erected for others, 
he has put up several houses for himself. He 
is well known in Masonic circles, having joined 
the order in ISSO, when he became a member 
of Mississippi Lodge Xo. 38r«, A. F. & A. M.. 
and in 1S94, entered Savanna Chapter No. 20U, 
1£. .V. M. A Republican, Jlr. Boweu served the 
city thirty-six years as alderman, and during 
1S03-4 was ma.vor. On April 15, 1910, he was 
apiM)inted superintendent of the city water 
works by Mayor W. M. SIcGrath, and reap- 
pointed to that office by Mayor Jeuks. 

.\Ir. Boweu was married in 1871 to Miss 
Flora A. Westbrook, also a native of Savanna, 
daughter of Luther H. Westbrook, a prominent 
merchant in Savanna, where he was one of the 
early settlers. Two children were born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Boweu : Mary LOuisa, who is the wife 
of B. B. Hyler, of Savauua. and Rodney W., 
who is deceased. 

BOWEN, Luther Sherman, who lias borne an 
important part in building up a large enter- 
lirise in Carroll c-ounty. 111., laboring against 
heavy odds, has won to successful ends through 
persistent and efficient service, and his work 
as secretary and treasurer of the Ciirroll 
County Independent Telephone Company, is 
worthy of him. Mr. Bowen was born in 
Savanna, Carroll county. 111.. February 3. ls."."i, 
son of Luther H. and Elizabeth I>. (Chamberlin) 
Bowen. The father was born near Utica. X. Y. 

After completing the course in the public 
schools of Savanna, Luther Sherman Boweu 
entered Br.vant & Stratton's Business College, 
of Chicago, so that when his father died about 
this time, and he succeeded to the latter's 
mercantile business in his native town, he was 
able to carry it on. Mr. Bowen conducted this 
general store about twenty-three .vears. but in 
l,S!Ji) disiwsed of it to William Lichtenberger, 
who afterward failed in business. Air. Boweu 
then took a much-needed rest from business 
cares for three years, when he helped organize 
the telephone com])any for which he has done 
so much. The organization was effected in 1902 



and the promoters immediately recognized that 
the.v nnist use their l)est efforts to succeed in 
maintaining their ground. That they accom- 
plished this and much more the i)resent con- 
ditions prove. This telephone company has been 
of great benefit to the people of the county, 
to all parts of which it extends its lines, and 
is a great aid to business men. 

Besides his private interests Mr. Bowen has 
always taken an active part in the welfare of 
his city, serving many years as a member of 
the school iKjard and four years as its president. 
He was a member of the board of commissioners 
at the time the water works were completed, 
which belong to the city. The plant, in addition 
to being able to furni.sh Savanna with free 
water, is so operated that the city has paid 
tlie original cost, redeeming all bonds at ma- 
turity, and has a surplus from it in the treas- 
ury each year. Mr. Bowen is a business man 
of good .iudgment and brings his high powers 
to l>ear on the affairs of the city as he would 
on his own matters. Fraternally, Mr. Bowen 
is a member of the Masonic order, being a 
Knight Templar and Shriner. having passed 
through the lower degrees of the organization. 

On October 0, ISSO, Mr. Boweu was married 
at Savanna to Emma F.. a daughter of William 
and Faimy Machen, and three children have 
blessed this union: Fred M.. who is a buyer 
and s;ilesman for J. V. Farwell & Company, 
of Chicago ; Sherman B., who was graduated 
from high school, spent two .vears at the I'ni- 
versity of Illinois, after which he entered 
I^ehigh I'niversity and took a two-year course 
in mine engineering, now i)eing an expert 
mining engineer ; and Luther Hershey. who was 
graduated from the Savanna high school. Mr. 
Buweii is a Reimblican in political belief. 

BOYLE, James Martin, (deceased), a vet- 
eran of the Civil war, and for many years an 
honored resident of Carroll county, was born in 
Z.inesville, Ohio. April 17, 1S30, and died Decem- 
ber 9. 1901. at Lanark, as the result of a stroke 
of jiaralysis. He was Iniried in the cemeter.v 
at Lanark, the funeral services being conduited 
by Rev. B. A. Dickens and attended by members 
of the Methodist church. Shiloh Post G. A. R., 
Modern Woodmen. Ancient Order L^nited Work- 
men, Old Settlers" Association and Boyle Hose 
Compau.v. to all of which he belonged. His 
I;illier died when he was five years of age and 






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MliS. Ill (III (' II \\\ K 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



749 



bis mother in 1ST4. lie i;re\v to iiiiiiiliuiHl in liis 
native state, lint after liis uiarri:.j:e went witli 
liis wife to Dulmcine, Iowa, wliere lie resided for 
a time, tlien moving to Galena, Illinois, and 
thence to Freeport. Soon afterward lie located 
at Shannon, Carroll county, coming there in 
l.sin, when the town.site was a cornfield, before 
the comiiletion of the railroad. 

On May 15, ISGl, Mr. Boyle enlisted in Com- 
pany (J. One Ilnndred and Forty-second Illinois 
Volnnleer Infantry, and was honoralily dis- 
iluuired t)ctober 2r>. 1S(;4. He was a charter 
member of the G. A. H. Tost at Lanark, anil 
was also a charter member of the local hxlge 
of the A. O. U. W., which he jolntHi April 11, 
1883, the number of his policy showinf; that only 
sixty iMilicies had been previously issued. lie 
had served twenty-four .vears as captain of Hoyle 
Hose Company of Shannon. 

By occupation Mr. Boyle was a tailor and was 
a workman of ability and reliability, connected 
for thirty years with J. G. Sheller, of Lan.irk. 
He iterformed his full duty as a man, a citizen 
and a soldier, and was a kind husband and 
lallicr, a true friend who was interested in llic 
welfare of his <omninnity. Ilis death came as 
a .shock to his friends and acquaintances and his 
loss was widely mourned. 

Jlr. Boyle married Elizabeth Lamoin Kldred 
and children were born to them as follows: 
Mrs. Ella Welch and Mrs. Delia Sherman of 
Cushinj;, Nebraska ; Mrs. George X. Leiand. of 
Kansas City. Missouri ; George B. and F. B., 
of St. Paul. Nebraska ; Miss Mahala and Bell E., 
all of whom survive. 

Mrs. Elizabeth L. Boyle was born at Elyria, 
Ohio. December S.',, l.S.'G, and she died at the 
iKJiiic of her daughter, Mrs. Mayme Leiand, of 
Kansas City. Mi.ssouri, November 2(i, 1!K)7, and 
lier remains were brought to the Boyle family lot 
in Lanark, for burial, the services being con- 
ducted by the Rev. Z. T. Levengootl. of L;fiiark. 
She was one of a family of eight children, who 
were left orphans in youth. Mi-s. Boyle was a 
charter niember of the Woman's Belief Corps at 
Lanark and at the time of her death was its 
oldest member. A devout Tresbyterian. kind .md 
charitable to all, during her last sickness, when 
she was confined to her bed eight niontlis with 
chronic bronchitis, she exhibited a high degree 
of patience and Christian fortitude. She left 
seven children, eighteen grandchildren and six 
great-grandchildren. 



BREARTON, John L.— Among the best known 
young attorneys of Carroll county is John L. 
Brearton, ,i public-spirited and useful citizen 
of S.-ivanna. He has held many odices of pri- 
vate and public trust since coming to the county 
and has been faithful to the interests of others 
in every instance. Mr. Brearton was born at 
Morris(Ui, 111.. January 1.5, 1879, and is a son 
of William and Emma (Lane) Brearton, natives 
of Canada and New Jersey. The Brearton 
family was originally of Ireland. 

John L. Brearton was reared in his native 
village and after being gi'aduated from the Mor- 
rison schools, entered (Jeorgetown College, of 
Wljishington, D. C., from which he was grad- 
uated in 1902, as a lawyer. He at once entered 
into the practice of his profession in the office 
of D. S. Berry, of Savanna, and since the un- 
liniel.v demise of tills able and exiierienced 
l.iwyer he has been associated with Chesley M. 
W.-ilter under the tirin name of Brearton & 
Walter. He has won the esteem and confidence 
of the communit.v, has built up a good practice 
and was elected to the offices of city attorney, 
member and secretary of the township high 
school board, the city school board and secretary 
of the Savanna Improvement Association. 
( 'liesley M. Walter is a graduate of the tlniver- 
sity of Illinois. Class of 1911, and a lawyer of 
Savanna. 

On April 10, 19(i(!, Mr. Brearton married .Miss 
Florence Green, of Morrison, a daughter of John 
S. and Cornelia Green, and two children have 
been born of this union, Mary and Lane. Mr. 
Brearton is master of Mississippi Lodge No. ;W.l, 
A. F. & A. M. In polities he is a Uepublican. 
He is recognized as an able attorney, and a man 
of reliability and integrity, who has a wide 
circle of friends among whom b(> is iMipular, 

BROWN, Walter E., whose finely improved 
farm of twenty acres lies adjacent to Mt. Carroll, 
.also owns the undivided lialf of the ad.joiiiing 
p]'o]ierty of 140 acre.s. He IcK-ated here in 1911, 
having jireviously been a fanner and for four 
years a merchant at Wacker, III. Mr. Brown 
was born near rboms<iii, III., May l.'i, 18G9, a .son 
of Henry J. and Martha A. (Colvin) Brown. 
Henry J. Brown was born in Ohio and his grand- 
father David Brown, was a soldier in the British 
army, during the War of 1812, having been a 
native of England. Henry .T. Brown served for 
a period ,)f twenty months in the Civil W.ir, 



750 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



as a member of Company C. Ninety-second Illi- 
nois Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Becker, 
of Mt. Carroll. Prior to this he had come over- 
land to Carroll county, from Vermont and settled 
on land near Thomson. 111., where he was en- 
gaged in farming. He married, March 21, 1867, 
Martha A. Colvin, who -was born in Missouri, 
March 8, 1845, and they had the following chil- 
dren : Walter E. ; Mrs. George Bower, who lives 
in York township; Chase R., who lives at Mt. 
Carroll ; Wilma H. who is the wife of Frank 
Rush, a farmer near Thomson ; and Artie M.. 
deceased. 

Walter E. Brown was reared on his fathers 
farm and attended school at Mt. Carroll, after 
which he engaged for some years in farming 
and later in merchandising, as noted above. He 
was married, October 20. 1892, by Rev. H. F. Gil- 
bert, to Miss Etta L. Lord, who was born Decem- 
ber 10, 1869. Her father, Samuel Lord, was a 
native of Vermont, and died in 1904, in Illinois 
to which state he came in 1860. On October 
10, 1865, Samuel Lord married Mrs. Lucena 
(Reed) Stratton, who was born at Strikersville, 
N. Y. Mrs. Lord had a son, Charles J. Stratton. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lord came to Carroll county in 
1866. settling near Thomson, 111. They had the 
following children : Samuel, who was born Octo- 
ber 25, 1S67; Etta L., who is Mrs. Brown; Wil- 
liam who was born April 28. 1872 ; Minnie V.. 
who was born July 19, 1873, is the wife of 
William T. Livingston, of Mabelton, Wash. ; and 
Reverdy R.. who was born January 7. 1876. now 
conducts a store at Polsgrove. Mrs. Lord has 
seven grandchildren and three great-grandchil- 
dren. Prior to her first marriage she was a school 
teacher for thirteen terms in her native state 
and taught in the East Auroi'a Academy, she 
having been educated in the Middlebury 
Academy. Great-grandfather Reed was killed 
by the Indians in the War of 1812 at Buffalo. 
Mr. and Mrs. Brown have one child. Leuna L.. 
who was born September 7, 1S97. One daugh- 
ter. Bessie, who was born September 9, ISOo. 
died in infancy. Jlr. and Mrs. Brown attend the 
Baptist Church. In politics he is a Republican. 

BROWNING, William F., (deceased), a resident 
of Mt. Carroll from 1872, until the time of his 
death, was station agent for the Chicago, Mil- 
waukee & St. Paul Railroad Company for 
thirty-eight years, and was well known in Car- 
roll county. He was born in Bradford county. 



Pa., September 30, 1840, son of E. H. and Sarah 
(Black) Browning. The father had a furniture 
factory near Touawanda, where he made furni- 
ture by water-power, from the raw material. He 
died when his son William F. was about thirteen 
years old. The latter received a common school 
education and spent one year at an academy. 
Mrs. Brow-ning brought her family west in 1857, 
locating in Mt. Carroll. 

About the lime of the outbreak of the Civil 
War, Mr. Browning engaged in railroad work, 
in which he continued until his death. He 
learned telegraphy, spending nine years with 
the Illinois Central Railroad Company, and then 
entered the employ of the St. Louis & Southeast- 
ern, now a part of the Louisville & Nashville. 
Later he was in the employ of the Chicago. 
Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Chicago, Rock 
Island & Pacific Railway Companies. Solicitous 
of the interests of his emplo.vers and courteous 
and business-like in his handling of the bu.si- 
ness he won friends. His brother, H. H. Brown- 
ing, is located in Detroit, Mich., where he has 
for many years been general agent for the United 
States Express and the Dominion Express Com- 
panies. 

Mr. Browning was married, September 19, 
1860. to Miss Matilda Remley at Polo, 111., by 
Rev. Wm. Ilollyoke. and they would have cele- 
brated their golden wedding anniversary had 
he lived until September. 1910. Three children 
were born of this union : Lewis E., who is a 
farmer of Carroll county, married Caroline 
Mark and has two children — Wayne F., of Chi- 
cago and Hazel ; Wayne C. who is an express 
messenger in Chicago, married Gertrude Mark 
and Ihey have two children. James M. and 
Robert; William H. who died in 1895, when 
twenty-seven years of age. a young man of ex- 
cellent habits and good prospects, was at that 
time teller of the Illinois Trust & Savings Bank, 
of Cfiicago. The two older sons spent several 
years in the express department of the Northern 
Pacific Railroad Company, but after their mar- 
riages, both settled in Carroll county. 

Mr. Browning was prominent in fraternal 
circles including the Masonic order in Mt. Car- 
roll and held most of the offices in the local 
lodges. He was well-known and popular, a 
man of true worth and high integrity in his 
dealings with his fellows, standing high in the 
estimation of all. He died July 23, 1910, and 
was buried in Mt. Carroll cemetery. 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



751 



BUNDY, Theodore, superintendent of the Ciir- 
roll county intirmary aiul poor farm which are 
located two miles south of Mt. Carroll, Is a 
man whose executive ability and kindly impulses 
admirably fit him for the proiier discharge of 
Ihc duties pertaiiiini; to his office. He was borii 
ill WiHidlaiid toNviisliip, this county. September 
15. 1S72. a .son of Delevan and Mary (Bishop) 
Hundy, the former a native of Indiana and the 
latter of Pennsylvania. The father came to Car- 
roll county about l.'SSO, settling in Woodland 
township, where he opened up and developed a 
farm, lie enlisted In 1861 for service in the 
Union army during the Civil War, and after 
a faithful service extending over three years, 
was mustered out, and returned to t'arroll 
c-ounty which remained his home until his 
death, he devoting himself to agricultural pur- 
suits. .\fter the death of his first wife, Mary, 
he married her sister, Sarah Bishop. By his 
first marriage, he had two sons, Jesse, who is 
a farmer residing in Salem township; and Theo- 
dore. 

.\rter t-ompleting his course at school, Theo- 
dore Bundy worUed for some years upon vn- 
rious fai'ins in his native county. As soon as 
he was able, however, he began renting land, 
operating it and gaining an intimate knowl- 
edge of agricultural life which admirably fitted 
him for his present position. In 1907, the 
comity hoard of supervisors appointed him su- 
perintendent of the poor farm, and he at once 
assiuncd bis duties. Under his intelligent super- 
vision, the farm has attained to a high state of 
cultivation, and the inmates are given a sym- 
pathetic care that wins for Mr. Bundy affection 
anil aiiprciiaHiiii. Introducing blooded stock on 
till' iilacc, .Mr. Bundy sells the produce not 
iiccilcil I'lir llic inmates, to surrounding farmers 
at breeder's prices. During 1909, the surplus 
sold of farm prtiducts and live stock netted the 
county .$1.4(11.4.'!. The infirmary is a two-story 
modern brick building and generally liouses 
about twenty indigent persons, although its 
capacity is greater. In order to keep abreast of 
work ill his line, Mr. Bundy belongs to the State 
and district agricultural societies and various 
charitable organizations, and always attends the 
meetings, thus securing and imparting nnu'li 
valuable information. Genial, kind-hcarlcd 
and intelligent, practical in his ideas and pos- 
sessing the ability and willingness to carry them 
tnit. Mr. Bundy has made an envialilc record in 



his conduct of the affairs under his charge, and 
has the warm approval and respect of all who 
know him. .Vs he is a self-made man, having left 
home soon after the death of his mother, M"- 
Bundy can sympathize with those who have had 
to labor agaiust misfortune. 

On .Tuly 7, 1895, Mr. Bundy was married to 
Katharine Iloerz, a daughter of Carl Adam and 
Anna .Mary (Keidiasch) Iloerz, the former born 
in Wurtenbcrg. Germany, where he was a farmer 
until he came to the United States, settling first 
in Allegheny City, Pa., from whence he later 
came to Washington township, Carroll county, 
becoming supervisor of the township and a 
leader in iMlitics. His wife was born In the 
same city as he. Mr. and Mrs. Bundy have had a 
family as follows: Florence Blanche, who was 
born .July 3, 1897 ; AValter Earl, who was born 
February 2, 1900; and Carlos Adam, who was 
born July 10, 1907. Although Mr. Bundy was 
reared in the faith of the United Brethren 
Church, his children are all communicants of the 
German Lutheran Church, in which his wife 
was reared. Mre. Bundy was born August 1. 
1877, and is the matron of the infirmary, being 
her husband's invaluable assistant in the affairs 
of the institution, .\mong other things, she at- 
tends to the bookkeeping, is as capable in her 
work as he is in his, and they work together 
for the best interests of those under their charge. 
In polities, Mr. Bundy is a Republican, although 
he has never been very active in party affairs. 
He is a member of Jit. Carroll Lodge No. 50, 
I. O. O. F. 

BUSELL, David C. — Carroll timiity lias con- 
ferred distinguished honors upon some of its 
citizens, sending them to represent its people in 
the State Assembly. While without doubt all 
have endeavored to do their duty as they saw 
it, there are some whose names stand out 
prominently because of their peculiar fitness for 
the ofiice, and the dignlfio<l capability with which 
they discharged its many duties. One of those 
thus recognized is the Hon. David C. Busell now 
of Milledgeville. He was born at Sandwich, N. 
H., June 20, 18.37, being a son of James L. and 
Huldah F. (Page) Busell, the former born at 
Sandwich, N. H., December 11, 1.811, and the 
latter at Rochester, N. H. May 20, 1812. The 
maternal grandfather was a soldier in the War 
of 1812, having enlisted from Unehestcr, N. II., 
where he was lx)rn. He was highly esteemed 



752 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



ami is still remembered as the first hi his i-om- 
munity to have a barn raising without Ihiuor. 
The father, James L. Busell. came to Carroll 
county in 18156, and siteut his remaining days ou 
a farm. 

David C. Busell was educated in )iul)lic 
and tuition schools, and was brought up to a 
farm life. Always an enthusiastic admirer of 
Abraham Lincoln, he so eagerly espoused the 
doctrines of the new party he helped to found, 
that he walked from Milledgeville to Polo, to 
reach Freeport by rail in order to hear the his- 
toric debate between his hero and Senator Doug- 
las, in 18.58. As he grew older. Mr. Busell was 
called upon to fill various offices of local impor- 
tance, and served as treasurer of the schoul fund 
for thirty years and was supervisor from Wysox 
township for fourteen consecutive years. In 
1S9C, Mr. Busell was elected on the Republican 
ticket to the Lower House of the Legislature, 
and again in 1808. being a memlier of the 
Fortieth and Forty-first Assemblies, and proved 
himself a statesman of nnlilemished honor and 
uninterrupted usefulness to his constituents. He 
became a Mason in 180.8. and has passed thmugli 
all the degrees, being now a Knight Temiihir, 
and is a member of Milledgeville Lodge. Xo. 
345, A. F. & A. M. in which he has held nearly 
all the oflices, but Master. While very active in 
the work of the Methodist Cliurch and its Sun- 
day school, he is not a member of the church. 

On February 7. 1870, Mr. Busell was married 
to Gertrude E. Taylor, by Rev. Brown nf the 
Methodist Church at Dixon. Mr. and Mrs. 
Busell became the parents of two children : Ella 
A. who was born April 15, 1872. lives near Mil- 
ledgeville, married to C. A. Spauogle. issue : six 
children. Emily G., Everett B., Alice .L. Esther 
A.. Ralph A., and Marian E. ; and Emeline S.. 
who was born December 6. 187.o, married .\rlliur 
C. Gruber. She died September 6. in02, and is 
buried in South I'llkhorn Cemetery. Throughout 
his useful life, Mr. Busell has always tried to 
advance the interests of others as well as his 
own, and not only has been a distinguished man 
but also a good one as well. He is president of 
the First National Bank of Lanark, whicli office 
he has held for twenty years, and is a director 
of Shumway's Bank of Milledgeville. 

BUSH, John A., now living retired in Savanna, 
for many years was a well known figure in agri- 



cultui'al life in Jo Daviess county, and is recog- 
nized as an authority upon those matters which 
relate to farming and kindred Industries. He 
was born in St. Louis, Mo.. October 19, 18.32. a 
son of James A. Bush. The father was a native 
of Scotland, and his wife of Virginia. John A. 
Bush grew up to a farm life, receiving a com- 
mon school education. When his country had 
need of his services, during the Civil War, he 
enlisted August 7, 1802, In Company E, Ninety- 
sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Cap- 
tain Black. He was wounded at the battle of 
Chlckamauga so severely that he was iu the 
hospital eighteen mouths. In addition to this 
painful experience, he was taken prisoner, and 
held eleven days, when he was paroled, but later 
went to Camp Butler, being there six mouths 
when he was sent to the front to Louisville, 
then to Knoxville, but saw no active duty until 
he was discharged at Chicago, June 1, 1865. Re- 
turning to private life, he took up his affairs 
and continued them. For thirty years, he oper- 
ated a threshing machine, and conducted a fine 
farm in Wisconsin, with profit honestly earned. 
In lS!t!>, he retired to !<avanna, which has since 
been his home, and he owns his residencH? here. 

Mr. Bush was married (first) in lS.j-1. to 
Eunice M. Williams, a native of New York State, 
whose parents came to Jo Daviess county. 111., at 
an early day. Mrs. Bush died iu 1885. In 
188(1, Mr. Bush was married (second) to Eliza- 
beth Sigafus, widow of Christopher Sigafus. 
Her parents were natives of England, and are 
both deceased. Mr. Bush has children as fol- 
lows : George A., Elmer, William, Charle.s, John, 
Joseph, Earl, Mrs. Melvina Smith, and Mrs. 
Ella Mellen. There are ten grand-children In 
the family. Mrs. Bush has a brother living at 
.\pple River, who is a veteran of the Civil AVar, 
having served four years. By her first mar- 
riage, Jlrs. Bush had two sons: William, a 
plasterer by trade; and Frank, a plumber, both 
of whom live with Mr. and Mrs. Bush. .Mr. 
Bush is a member of the Methodist Church. 
Politically, he is an independent. His connec- 
tions with the Savanna Post of the G. A. R. 
gives him much pleasure. Ills long life of use- 
fulness both as a private citizen and soldier 
teaches a lesson to the young, who will do well 
to profit by his example, for he has worked hard 
i\nd secured a comfort.able competency for his 
old age. 




1^ 



^ 







HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



753 



BUTTERBAUGH, Jacob F., wlio lias spoilt tlip 
larger jiart <it' a Imsy ami usoful life within 
Carroll county, coming to this section when a lail 
of fourteen yeare and remembering when deer 
and other wild creatures of the forests still 
were plentiful, now lives in comfortable re- 
tirement on the old homestea<l in Cherry (Jrove 
township. lie was born in Franklin county. 
Pa., June 19, 1835, and is a son of John and 
Xancy (Royer) Butterliaugh. 

It was away back in ],S4!) that the father of 
Mr. Butterliaugh had the foresight to buy .JTO 
acres of land in Illinois, the rich, loamy soil 
contrasting favorably with the wornout fields 
of the section of Pennsylvania from whence he 
came. lie developed a fine farm in Cherry Grove 
township, with the help of his sons, Jacob F., 
Martin, David and Sanuid, and both he and wife 
died here, among the most resi>ected of the old 
settlers. 

Jacob F. Butterbaugh had school opportuni- 
ties In his native county but there was jilenty 
of hard work on the i)ioneer farm after coming 
to Illinois. In ISC" he purchased his farm of 
100 acres from his father, for wliom he worked 
until he was twenty-five years of age, and ad- 
ditionally he owns 120 acres which adjoins the 
old homestead, which is two and one-half miles 
north of Lanark, and is occupied and operated 
by his sou, Roy. For many years Mr. Butter- 
baugh followed general farming and stock rai.'?- 
iug, specializing on hogs, but in 1001 he retired 
from hard labor and now contents himself with 
a general oversight of his former many activi- 
ties. I'robably no man in Carroll county is bet- 
ter known, and his dpinion and memory are 
often consulted regarding early events in tlils 
section. 

In 18C0, Mr. Butterbaugh was married to 
Miss Lizzie II. Emert, an cstim.ililc lady, who 
died in 1007. She was a daughter of Jose|ih 
and Elizabeth (Barbarry) i:mcrt. who were 
natives of Marylan<I. 

Mr. Butterbaugh has three children, namely: 
Ira. who lives on the old home place; Roy. who 
as mentioned above, is a farmer in Cherry 
Grove township; and Mrs. Cora IIe|iher. who is 
a resident of Lanark. There are nine grand- 
children in the family and Mr. Butterbaugh 
has great reason to take iileasure in them. He 
is a member of the Brethren Church. He has 
always done his part in advancing the interests 



of his section and for many years served the 
townslii[) in the ottice of school director. 

BYARS, Robert, (deceased). — Few men in Car- 
mil county. 111., would be so widely missed 
and sincerely mourned as the late Robert By- 
ars, who passed away at his home at Savanna, 
May 2(), 11)10. Mr. Byars spent his entire life 
in the county, having been born in Washington 
township, October 30. 1854, a son of Francis 
and Ann (Steele) Byars, both natives of Ire- 
land, who married in tliat country. The par- 
ents came to America with a party of neigh- 
bors, who settled near each other in the vicin- 
ity of Zion Cliurch. The Byars family is 
given mention at length in connection with the 
notice of John Byars, to be found in this work. 

Robert Byars was reared on his father's 
farm and received a connnon school education. 
As a young man he came to Savanna and en- 
tered into partnership with Joseph Whithart, 
for conducting a meat business. Several years 
later Mr. Whithart retired from business life 
and his interest was taken over by Arthur 
Seeber, who continued in business several 
years, after which Mr. Byars formed a iiartner- 
ship with Fred Whithart. a son of his first 
partner, and the firm began shipping live stock, 
<'ontinuing with unusual success until the death 
of Mr. Byars. They established an enviable 
reputation in business circles and the general 
esteem in which Mr. Byars was held is shown 
by the fact that during his last Ulne-ss many 
of his business associates, commission mer- 
chants from Chicago, came to visit him. He 
was a general favorite wherever known and 
had formed an extensive ac(piaintanee. being 
known for a man of just dealing and integrity 
in every relation of life and his word was con- 
sidered as good as a bond. His funeral was 
by far the largest ever seen in Savanna. 

Mr. Byars was married June 30, ISSl. to 
.Margaret Irwin, a native of Galena. 111., and 
a daughter of William J. and Elizabeth (Lo- 
gan) Irwin, the former born in the north of 
Ireland and the latter in Edinburgh, Scotland. 
Mr. Irwin and his two sons were soldiers in 
the Civil war, he and the older brother serv- 
ing throughout the war and the younger 
l)rother only during the latter part. The elder 
bnither, Aleck Irwin, ran away from home, at 
the age of sixteen .vears. to join the army, and 
when he had been away from home but thir- 



r54 



niSTORT OF CARROLL COUNTY 



teeu (lays was wounded, but recovered and re- 
joined his reiiinient. He is now residing in 
Colorado. Mr. Irwin lived to an advanced age 
and died in 189S, within three weeks of the 
death of his wife. 

In hnsiness Jlr. Byars was most successful 
and for several years dealt largely in Dakota 
lands, which netted him very good results. He 
was considered one of Savanna's leading citi- 
zens and his loss was keenly felt in many cir- 
cies. He and his wife had no children of their 
own luit reared one orphan. Bava M., giving 
her an excellent education. No more fitting 
example could be given of the generosity and 
fairness of this humane and kindly man than 
the fact that when his adopted daughter mar- 
ried slie was given a good start in life and was 
well remembered in her benefactor's will. It 
is by such acts that a man helps to make the 
world better, and his memory should be kept 
green. At the time of his death Mr. Byars 
owned a farm in Oklahoma and another just 
outside the city of Savanna, both of which are 
now the property of his widow. Mr. Byars 
took little active interest in political affairs, 
and the only office lie ever held was that of 
alderman, to which he was electe'd one or two 
terms. Fraternally he was a member of the 
Modern Woodmen of America. 

CALKINS, William H., whose retentive memory 
carries him back to days when agricultural oper- 
ations in the oldest settled sections were carried 
on with an expenditure of time and effort that 
would now be deemed entirely out of date, lives 
in comfortable retirement at Milledgevllle, 111. 
He was born in Wayne county, N. Y., July 1, 
184.'?, and is a son of John and Sally Ann (Van 
Valkerburgb) Calkins, natives of Vermont. The 
mother was a descendant of one of the early 
settlers of the Green Mountain State. John 
Calkins and wife moved with other relatives to 
Wayne county. N. Y., and there La Follette 
Calkins, the grandfather, died in 1850. The 
grandmother married (second) James West and 
slie died at Frog Point, N. Y. The parents of 
William H. Calkins were married in 1837, and 
the mother who was the first wife of John 
Calkins, died in Wayne county in 1S50. His 
second marriage took place in 18.o4, to Nancy J. 
Frazeir and. in 18.5.5, they moved to a farm sis 
miles from Kalamazoo, Mich. In that same 
year they came to Whiteside county. 111., set- 



tling within three miles of Milledgeville. At 
first John t'alkins rented land, but in 1804, pur- 
chased forty acres. He made an excellent farm 
of that property and lived on it until 1877, when 
be bought a home in Milledgeville. where his 
death occurred March 20, lOtio, having reached 
the age of ninety-three years, respected and 
esteemed beyond the usual amount of regard 
shown to venerable age. In early life a Whig. 
he became prominent in the Republican party 
later on. In religious belief he was a Baptist. 
The four children of his first marriage were : 
William II, : Stephen Q.. who lives at Quincy, 
111., is a veteran of the Civil War. and was 
wounded at the battle of Shiloh ; Abraham, who 
dieil September 13. 1908 ; and Mary A., who mar- 
ried David Bushman, both of whom are de- 
ceased, being survived by one daughter, who is 
the wife of William Fleming. Three children 
were born to the second union, all of whom are 
now deceased. 

^^^lliam H. Calkins accompanied his parents 
to Michigan and then to Illinois and started to 
school in April. 1856, attending until he was 
twelve years of age at which time he went to 
work on a farm, his duties continuing through 
the summer while in the winter time he had 
further school advantages. He well remembers 
tramping through deep snow and facing sharp 
winds but in those days boys were not sup- 
posed to mind such exposure and In fact did 
develop sturdy frames and sound constitutions. 
He remained with his father for some years and 
then went to live with his l>rother Abraham and 
together they rented 200 acres of land and op- 
erated it jointly until October 8. 1804, when he 
enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering 
Company M, Ei.ghth Illinois Cavalry for one 
year or during the war. His regiment was sta- 
tioned at Fairfax Court House. A'a.. but in the 
spring of 1805 it was ordered to Missouri for 
military work on the plains, but he was bonora- 
l>ly discharged in July of that year, the war 
being over. He returned home and resumed work 
on the farm and was married February 2, 1870, 
to Miss Emma Scoville. She was born in White- 
side county. 111., January 17, 1853, a daughter of 
James and Elizabeth Scoville, early settlers in 
that section, both now deceased. 

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Calkins settled 
on a farm in Genesee township, Whiteside coun- 
ty, three and one-half miles from Milledgeville. 
This farm Mr. Calkins developed into one of the 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



755 



best in tlie townsliip and nddifionally lias done 
some building and house painting:, allhough lie 
never served an apprenticeship to these trades. 
He has done well for a man who started out in 
life with a capital of $50, owning at present 
some very uiluable property, having eilucnted 
his children and at all times done his full duty 
as a citizen. In recalling early days he remem- 
bers the old shovel plow and tMpially in-imitive 
implements for farm use. On April 11, 1SS4, 
Mrs. Calkins died and was sunived by three chil- 
dren, namely : John E., married Flora Blackman 
and they have four sons ; Elvin E., who was born 
in 1876, married Pauline Haug and they have 
one son, Lawrence. Elvin who is now operat- 
ing the home farm. Mr. Calkins was married 
(second) to Mrs. Carrie M. (Hendrick) Bush- 
man, who was born August IG, 1SG4, a daughter 
of Lewis C. and Catherine L. (Herald) Hend- 
rick. natives of New York. By her first marriage 
Mrs. Calkins had two ohildcen : Lolla, now the 
wife of Herbert Page of Rockford, 111. ; and Dora 
E., who died in infancy. Mr. Bushman died 
July 27, ISSd. One child has been born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Calkins, Zolla lona, born March 13, 
1S9G. Mr. Calkins belongs to a number of so- 
cial and fraternal organizations, including: the 
Grand Army of the Republic, the Modern Wood- 
men of America, Mystic Workers, Patriotic Order 
Sons of America, while Mrs. Calkins of the 
Women's Relief Corps and Mystic Workers and 
for eight years was treasurer of the former 
body. They are worthy members of the Church 
of the Brethren. Politically he has always been 
a Republican and for four years served as a 
ineniher of the board of aldermen of the town 
and during this time the cement walks were laid 
and other improvements were completed. 

CARPENTER, Kellie B., manager and secre- 
tary of the Argo Creamery, at Argo, Carroll 
Co., 111., was born within a half mile of his 
]ireseiit jilant. on section 10. York township. 
January 2ll, l.SfiS, a son of John and Hannah 
(Keiiyon) Cari)enter. John Carpenter was 
born in Warren county. .\. Y.. and in ls.")4 ac- 
companied his fattier. Hishop Cariieiiter, to 
CarroU'county. ill., tlie Ken.von family coming 
at the same time and both settling in York 
township. In 1S50 .Tohn Carpente;- married the 
daughter of the neighboring family and after- 
ward he bought 2*10 acres here, all whiili he 
sold, tint forty-five acres, and this reni.ained the 



family home until the end of their lives. They 
bad three sons: Sylvester. Horace and Kellie 
B.. and an adopte<l daughter, llattie. who is 
now the wife of II. L. Rawlins, a farmer in 
York township. Sylvester Carpenter, a very 
prominent citizen of Thomson, 111., married 
Laura Gleason, of Thomson. Horace Carpen- 
ter is a merchant at Baker City and married 
there. John Canienter was a carpenter and 
builder by trade and followed the same for 
niuiiy years in Illinois, he and bis brother, 
Charles Carpenter, being associated for many 
years. He was born in 1S2S and died in liilO, 
having survived his wife since 1903. 

Kellie B. Carpenter was reared on the home 
farm and obtained his education in the district 
schools, attending the Y'ork Center School. As 
soon as old enough to handle a plow he began 
to help on the farm luit at the same time con- 
tinued to study and thus became a well in- 
formed young man. For some years he and his 
lirother Sylvester operated the farm together, 
then taking their cream to what was known as 
the York Creamery, which was owned by John 
Hadley. Mr. Carpenter was only sixteen years 
of age when he and his lirother Sylvester took 
over this creamery route and continued it 
until I.SSS. In the fall of that year he made a 
trip to California but returned in the following 
year and resumed farming, continuing until 
1S90, when he went to work in the York 
Creamery. Having been handling cream for 
some five years he had gained a pretty fair 
knowledge of the business and of the details 
of manufacturing butter and found the work 
congenial, so that, when Mr. Hadley sold out to 
Mr. Petty in l.'<91. he remained. In 1M>2 the 
new owner sold to the John Xewman Company, 
of Elgin. 111., and thirteen years later the in- 
terests of this company were purchased by the 
Argo Creamery Company, an incorporated body 
under the laws of the state of Illinois. This 
is one of the best equipped creameries of the 
state and the work is done under the direct su- 
liervision of Kellie B. Cariienter. who is sec- 
retar.v and general manager; Herbert S. Peck 
being treasurer, and Charles Dunclier is now 
president. 

In various contests and exhibitions of butter 
makers. Mr. Carpenter has Iieen awarded the 
following premiums: .\t Oalesbiirg. at the Illi- 
nois State Dairymen's meeting, bis scores \vere 
07i'j: in 1S99 a gold medal from the Kliiin 



756 



HISTORY OP CARROLL COLINTY 



Board of Trade; a bronze medal at the St. Louis 
Exiwsition in I'.IO-I. with record !»;!; grand 
sweepstakes, Illinois Fair. VM4, score DO; first 
premuiui for Xortheru Division, Illiuois State 
Fair, 1910, score 94 1-3; contest conducted by 
the Illinois State I'niversity, 1911, highest score 
95 and 95 5-ti; grand sweepstakes, Illinois 
State Fair, 1911 ; state cup awarded to him by 
the X. C. & B. A. 10th Annual Convention, 
Chicago, 111.; 1911, score 94-83. He is state 
vice president of that association. This com- 
pany turns out 200,000 pounds of butter a year, 
the average price being twenty-eight cents. 
For twenty years he has devoted his time and 
attention to the dairy business and thereby has 
gained a national reputation. 

Mr. Carpenter was married in York town- 
ship. February 3, 1891, to Miss Mary Belle 
Teeter, by Rev. Keagle, of the Evangelical 
Church. She was bom near Harrisburg, Pa., 
October 24, 1872, her parents now residing at 
Bolivar, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter have 
three children: Leia, who was born Kovemljer 
27, 1893 ; John, who was born August 17, 1002 ; 
and Lenn, who was liorn June 2, 1010. Jlr. 
Carpenter owns aliout forty-five acres of the 
old homestead on Section 10 and ninety-two 
acres devoted to his dairy industry on Sections 
10 and 3. In politics he is a Republican and 
is serving as a school director. Fraternall.v 
he is a Mason, a Knight of Pythias and Itelongs 
also to the Modern Woodmen. His residence is 
in tlie creamery building, where he has neatl.v 
arranged fpiarters. Mrs. Carpenter is a mem- 
ber of the Pytliiah Sisters and Royal Xeigli- 
bors. 

CASSELBERRY, John, (deceased).— The rec- 
ords of Carroll county show no name more 
highly honored than that which was borne by 
the late John Casselberry of Mt. Carroll town- 
ship, one of the prosiierous farmers and exten- 
sive cattlemen of that locality. He was born in 
Montgomery county. Pa., November 11, 1832, 
being a son of William and Ann (Johnson) 
Casselberry, both of whom rounded out useful 
lives in Pennsylvania. William Casselberry 
was a tanner, but the greater part of his life, 
he farmed. lie and his wife had cliildren to 
the number of ten. 

John Cassellierry attended the district 
schools of liis neigliborhood, following wliich 
he went to Morristuwn and Reading to com- 



lilete his education. He then worked on the 
home farm in the summer, and taught school 
(luring the winter months, until is.j5. when he 
went to Carroll county, JId., and that winter 
tauglit school. In 18.56, he came to Carroll 
county. 111., where he worked out as a farm 
liand. l)ut soon thereafter assumed charge of 
the farm, working it on shares, thus continuing 
for tliree years. In the winter of 1858, he re- 
turned to the east and there obtained sutlicieut 
money to buy 140 acres in Mt. Carroll town- 
shiji. As soon as he bought this land, he com- 
menced improving it, and the first year he put 
in 100 acres of wheat, from which he harvested 
3,000 bushels, but only received thirty-five cents 
per liushel for it. In addition to the wheat, he 
raised oats and a little corn. Later Mr. Cas- 
selberry added to his original farm, until at 
the time of his demise, lie had 220 acres, of 
which twenty-three acres were taken liy the 
railroad. In 1880, he began farming tlie Keech 
farm of 200 acres. Mr. Casselberry devoted 
considerable attention to stock raising, his 
l)roduct usually averaging fifty to seventy-five 
head of the best grade of Shorthorn cattle; 
twenty head of standard trotting and draft 
liorses. in the latter preference being shown 
the Percheron lireed. 

On Felirnary 24. 1859, Mr. Casselberry was 
married to Emily P. Keech, who passed away, 
July 27. 1869, having borne her husband font- 
cliildren : William N., born December 3, 18.59 ; 
Annie J., born September 2, 1861. married Dr. 
I,. H. JIalouey, of Savanna. 111. ; Lorena J.. 
liorn January 8, 1865, of Savanna, 111. ; and 
Charles S., born March 21, 1869, resides (m a 
portion of the home farm. Mr. Casselberry 
was married again, February 29, 1872, to Mrs. 
M. Eleanore Barclay, daughter of John and 
Elanora (McCracken) Barclay, of Franklin 
county. Pa. Mrs. Casselberry is the youngest 
of six children, and was born April 20. 1845. 
.Mr. and Mrs. Casselberry became the parents 
of four children: Emily C. born November 26, 
1S72; Mary L.. born May 31, 1875; John N., 
born May 28, 1879, and S. Edwin. b<irn August 
15. 1881. Mrs. Casselberry lives in Savanna. 

For over twenty years, Mr. Casselberfy acted 
as a school director, being elected on the Re- 
publican ticket, and was proud of the fact that 
he cast his first presidential vote for John C. 
Fremont. He was a meml)er of the Baptist 
Church, of which his widow is also a member. 




•^ ayvn^ 




HISTORY OK CARROLL COUNTY 



757 



and he passed away linu in its faitli, January 
27, 190S. His place is empty, but the good that 
lie ac-oomplished during his long, useful. God- 
fearing life, will not die. Never neglecting 
what lie l)elieved to be his duty, always giv- 
ing full measure to others, and in turn exact- 
ing it. lie made a success of his worl;, and left 
behind liim in addition to a l)lamelcss and lion- 
ored name, a comfortable fortune fur liis widow 
and cliildren. 

CASSELBERRY, William N.— As is liappily 
often tlie case, tliose bred to agricultural life 
continue to till the .soil, and follow in the foot- 
steps of good and honored sires. The late 
John Casselberry, whose biography appears at 
length elsewhere, brought up his children to 
farming, and while giving them a sound edu- 
cation, taught them to work as well. His son, 
William N. Casselberry, of whom we write In 
this slietcli. is one of the best examples of the 
native sons of the county. He was born in 
iMt. Carroll township, December 3. ts;,5!), his 
mother having been the tirst wife of his father. 
Kmily r. (Keccli) Casselberry, whose death 
occurred when William was only ten years old. 
Following out his father's ideas, he went to 
the district schools in the winter, and worked 
on the farm in the summer, growing up amid 
strictly agricultural surroundings. In iss". 
he rented a farm from D. F. Holmes in .Salem 
township, operating it until in If^'M. when he 
bought his i)resent property of l.")4.Sl acres, in 
.Mt. Carroll township, formerly owned by Wil- 
liam Wolfe. Thomas Kinney and II. Bowman. 
On this he has made material improvements, 
and brought it Into a high state of cultivation. 
On March 2fi, 1884, Mr. Casselberry married 
Samantha K. Merchant, bom in Fair Haven 
towiisliip. this county, daughter of Van P.ureii 
and I.estina .\. (Bancroft) Merchant. Mr. 
and Mrs. Casselberry are the parents of the 
following children: Ada. born in February, 
IS.'C). married Kgbert Ritchie and resides at 
Kiinberl.v, Idaho; Walter X., born February 
(i. isss. married Phebe Schroppel and resides 
in .Savanna. III.; Harry L.. born July 2."). l.SSil. 
married Kthel Zigler and resides in Savanna : 
and Xellie B.. born July 10, 180.3. lives with 
her parents. 

Mr. C.-issellierry is a ItepubllcMii. .nid li.-is liclil 
the office of road conimissioner, .-is well as si>v- 
eral others in the township. He is a live. 



energetic, progressive agriculturist whose in- 
terests are centered here, and who has great 
faith in the continued advancement of prop- 
erty values, and betterment of conditions. 

CHAMBERS, Jacob L., Sr.- Tlicrc is iiulliing 
truer than that iiersevering industry pays and 
that youth is the time to prepare for comfortable 
old age and this applies to every vocation and 
particularly to agricultural activities. In the 
case of Jacob L. Chambers, the results of a 
busy and well spent life are competency, good 
health and the esteem and affection of family 
and fellow citizens. Jacob L. Chambers, who, 
for many years, was a practical and successful 
farmer and .stock raiser of Carroll county, has 
been a valued resident of Milledgeville since 
1S!)4. but still keeps a directing eye over his 
large estate in Wysox township. He was born 
in Jackson count.v. Ind., July IS, 1842, a son 
of Charles J. and Martha (Jacobs) Chambers. 

Charles J. Chambers was born in Washington 
county. Ind.. a son of John Cliaiiibers. a native 
of Kentucky, who had moved to Washington 
county at a very early day. He there was mar- 
ried to Sarah Johnson and tliey had a large 
family. He was quite a iwliticiaii in bis day 
and was an able and resourceful man. being 
appointed manager on all public occasions and 
probably held many of the local offices. His 
descendants have scattered over Indiana, Iowa 
and Illinois, everywhere being among the best 
class of citizens. In lS4n Cliarlcs J. Cbainbers 
left Indiana and entered land near Milledge- 
ville. Carroll county. 111., but in December of 
(hat year took sick and died. The brother of 
Mr. Chambers, Irvin G.. came to tli(> help of 
the family and took them all back to the old 
home in Indiana in a large wagon, with llieir 
family imssesslons. For some years the widow 
(if Charles .T. Chambeps ke|it house for her 
brother and then rented a little farm in .Tack- 
.sfin county and there she died in IS.^iO. March 
.'!(>. She was an admirable woman, a hard 
worker and a good manager. She was the 
good mother of three children: Sarah Jane, 
who died April 10. 1804. aged seventeen years: 
Jacob L. : and .Tonas B.. who died December 
l.s. 1002. The latter was a soldier in the Civil 
War. T.ater he moved to Nebraska and en- 
gaged in firming near Omaha, in which cit.v 
be subsefpieiitly .settled .■ind there engaged in 
the grocery business until his death in 1002. 



758 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



Jacob I.. Chambers attended a subscription 
school for a time iu his boyhood. After the 
death of his father and the return of his mother 
to his grandfatlier"s farm he weut to worlv 
and remembers many Idnd acts of his grand- 
father. The latter gave the boy an ox team 
and he was iustnicted how to cultivate wheat, 
having twelve acres to clear for his grand- 
father. He was a willing and industrious 
youth and worked early and late and so im- 
pressed his relatives with his ability and good 
judgment that an uncle bought a farm for him 
aud his brother. The Civil war came on, and 
he enlisted as a soldier, volunteering for three 
years or during the war. in Comjiauy G. Twenty- 
fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. His regi- 
ment was sent tirst to Yiucennes, then to 
Evansville, St. Louis, Jefferson City and 
Georgetown, and at 8edalia. Mo., Mr. Chambers 
was taken down with the measles. For a 
time he was dangerously ill in a hospital. After 
he recovered he rejoined his regiment and par- 
ticipated in all its activities up to the Siege of 
Fort Donelson. which was a hard tight. From 
there the twenty-fifth was sent back to Fort 
Henry, then to .Savannah and on to Pittsburg 
Landing. The history of those dreadful days 
is preserved in the annals of this brave regi- 
ment and Mr. Chambers bore no inconspicuous 
jiart in all its valorous doings. He was several 
times wounded but was always with his regi- 
ment unless confined in a hospital. Finally he 
was discharged on account of disability from 
these injuries and then returned to his home. 
Just as soon as he had sufliciently recovered 
Jlr. Chambers resumed work, and in the fall 
of 18(i2. his brother and an uncle enlisted. He 
then rented a farm from his grandfather and 
with a few hundred dollars from his mother's 
estate, lie and his brother went to work, and 
raised grain and hogs. Afterward he went to 
work for himself and in the fall of 1SG4. had the 
satisfaction of realizing on a good crop that Le 
had raised himself. About that time he and his 
grandfather started to make the trip Into Illi- 
nois, and although his grandfather was robbed 
of his pocket-book while waiting for his train, 
he borrowed money and they went to Chicago, 
tlieuce to Sterling and on to the land in Car- 
roll county that Charles J. Chambers had en- 
tered in 1N49. 'J'bey then went to Iowa, sub- 
serpiontly returning to Indiana, having been 
much benefited and instructed by this visit 



into other sections. Before returning to the old 
farm of his father In Illinois, Mr. Chambers 
had many experiences and both ups and downs. 
Finally with his brother he came to the old 
place, bought his brother's interest, but not 
settling iu Carroll county until after his first 
marriage, in 1870. In the meanwhile he had 
other agricultural experiences and worked suc- 
cessfully in Indiana, and for a time rented a 
part of the old farm of his grandfather. After 
his second marriage he settled in Genesee town- 
ship, Whiteside county, a number of years later 
moving to Lanark. The life in that village did 
not come up to his expectations and he sold his 
Iiroperty there and bought 280 acres In sections 
17 and 10 and 20 in Wysox township. On that 
farm the family had a beautiful home and to 
his original purchase he added until he now 
owns 700 acres of land. In 1894 he erected 
his handsome residence at Milledgeville and 
retired from active farm labor but has by no 
means lost bis interest in agricultural matters. 
Mr. Chambers was married first in 1870, to 
Caroline Wetzell, who died in 1871. On April 
30, 187o, he was married (second) to Miss Alice 
0. Hawkins, who was born in Lawrence county, 
Ind., on October 2S, 1S55, and was brought to 
■WTiiteside county in 1861. Seven children have 
been born to them, namely : D. Austin, who died 
at the age of six and one-half years ; Zoa M., 
who was born iu Whiteside county, July 10, 
1877, is the wife of Arthur Deets and they live 
in Whiteside county, and have one child, Alice 
Catherine; Ada Alice, who was born January 
30, 1881, is the wife of Fay Wolfe, a merchant 
at Milledgeville; Ida N., who was born Decem- 
ber 16, 1884, is supervisor of art in the schools 
of St. Cloud, Minn., having been graduated from 
the high school at Milledgeville. took a course 
and was graduated in art from the Francis 
Shinier Academy at Mt. Carroll, and In June, 
1911, was graduated from the Art Institute, Chi- 
cago, with honors, being an artist of exceptional 
ability; Jacob L., who was born September 4, 
1S88, spent two years at a militai-y school at 
Boonville, Mo., and is now engaged on the home 
farm : Don R., who was born November 24, 1890, 
iias the s:ime record : and Ora Lucile, who was 
born March 2.5, 1898. This family has been af- 
forded both educational and social advantages 
and are Intelligent and accomplished. The sons 
are successfully operating the home estate which 
bears the name of Rock Vale Farm. In poiitics 




K^trrzLyQ' ^jt^-€Ay^Y^ 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



(•59 



Mr. Clminbers is a Republican. He is itieulitioil 
with the G. A. R., aud lie aud liis family belong 
to the Christian diurih. 

CHAMPION, Herbert M., a farmer and breeder 
of DnrcK'-.Iersfy linijs, owns and operates a fine 
jiroperty on section 10, Rocit Creelc township, 
Carroll county. He was born on section 11, this 
township, April IS, 1856, a son of Perry and 
Chloe (Chubbricli) Champion, born and reared 
in Bradford county. Pa. Both the paternal and 
maternal grandparents were of English extrac- 
tion, who came to Pennsylvania in a very early 
day. All of these died in Pennsylvania. 

Perry Champion was a farmer and teacher 
wliile residing in Pennsylvania aud after coming 
to Carroll county taught school in Ellihoru Grove 
township. The family migration was made to 
Carroll county in 1S51, the little party con- 
sisting of Mr. aud Mrs. Champion and their 
two sons. He bought land on section II, Rock 
Creeli township, to the extent of 100 acres, from 
the government, and from this wild property he 
made a fine liomo, aud resided upon it for many 
years, but in ISSS, left the farm, aud locating 
at Lanark, lived there until his death, April 2, 
ISO", at the age of seventy-three years. His 
widow survived him until August 31, 1898, 
when she passed away, aged seventy-one years. 
Both died firm in their faith of the Methodist 
Church of which they were members. He was 
a man that took a deep interest in educational 
matters, and was for many years a school di- 
rector, aud he was always ready to support 
niea.sures tending to paying good salaries to the 
teachers. A great reader, he kept posted on cur- 
rent events, and knew what lie was talking about. 
His support was given to the Republican party. 
A practical, plaiu man, he had the faculty of 
making and retaining friends, and was ever 
ready to aid them with sound advice. Ho and 
his wife had six children, four sons aud two 
daughters : Fred, who went to Manhatteu, 
Kans., and there died ; Clarence, who has not 
been heard from in some years ; Herbert M. ; 
Julianna. who is the wife of George M. Walles 
of Lanark ; Clara, who is the wife of Ed. Gar- 
shaw of Beatrice, Xeb. ; and James, who died 
at the age of twenty-seven years, married Car- 
rie Sword who is also deceased, the two dying 
a week apart. 

Mr. Champion was reared as any country boy, 
working on the farm and attending public school. 



When he started out for himseli;, he bought 
forty acTes on section 10, Rock Creek township, 
and commeuced at once to improve it. For mauy 
years, until 11»1U. he specialized in the breeding 
of liogs. carrying the Poland-Chinas, but in 
that year, turned his attention to the Duroc- 
Jerseys, and is better pleased with the results. 
At present he has sixty head of the pure blooded 
stock. Although he spent ten years iu Benton 
county, la., Mr. Champion has always regarded 
CiirroU County as his home. 

On February 25, 1S78, Herbert M. Champion 
was married to Miss Catharine Messinger, born 
at Rock Run. 111., July 25, 1800, a daughter 
of Edward Messinger. Her mother died when 
she was only twelve months old, and her father 
September 5, 1805, when she was five years 
old. She was one in a family of two daughters 
aud five sons. Mr. and Mrs. Champion became 
the parents of the following children : Ida, who 
was born September 20, 1870, married (first) 
Henry Gibb, issue, — Merle Gibb, born iu Rock 
Crock township, June 11, 1001, lives with his 
grandparents, his mother having married (sec- 
ond) Monro Poffenberger, Issue, — Samuel and 
Robert, and all reside in Mt. Carroll ; Clara, 
who was born in Rock Creek township, March 
1-1, 1882, married William Tenley of Lanark ; 
Charles, who was born in Benton county, la., 
March 22. 1887, married Pearl Cramer, and lives 
at Lanark; and Clarence, who was born in 
I'.cnton county. la., February 27. 1880, married 
Minnie Grim, adopted daughter of Otho Grim, 
issue, — lona. 

For many years, Mr. aud Mrs. Champion have 
been members of the Progressive Brethren 
Church, which is a branch of the Dunkards. 
They have been closely identified with the 
moral uplift of their neighborhood, and take a 
deep interest in their church at Lanark. Both 
reinenilier distinctly the many important changes 
which have taken place in their county where 
they have lived and labored for so many years, 
and they have justly earned the high respect 
in which they are held by all who know them. 

CHAPIN, George W. — Some of the most repre- 
sentative men of Savanna, have retired from 
active life, and are now able to give to civic af- 
fairs that keen supervision which requires leis- 
ure. One of the retired citizens of this place 
is George W. Chapln, a man universally re- 
spected. He was born at Freeport, 111., March 



-y 



760 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



10. iSrii, soji of Ixirin and CatUeriiie (Ruff) 
Chapiii. a sketch of whom is found elsewhere in 
this worli. Mr. Chapiu was reared in Savanna, 
the family having moved here, and he worked 
on the farm and railroad, until he enlisted in 
Company C, Xiuety -second Volunteer Infantry of 
Ills state, in 1863. He was under Captain Hawk, 
and served until 18G5 as a brave and valiant 
soldier. Mr. Chapin had the misfortune to be 
taken captive and confined In the infamous An- 
dersonville jirison. where he was held five 
months. Some idea of his sufferings can lie 
gained from the fact that when he was taken 
there he weighed 1G2 pounds, and when he left, 
he only weighed eighty-two pounds. He was 
discharged at Springtield. in Jul.v. 1S6.">. 

In 1807, Mr. Chapin was united in marriage 
to Jliss Elizabeth Bats, who died in 1903. Mr. 
and Mrs. Chapin had six children: Mrs. Bella 
B. Haver; Mrs. Susan Rose, who is of Mt. Car- 
roll : Emma, who is the wife of Isaac Elliott of 
Savauua ; Elmer who is of Savanna : Viola who 
is the wife of Calvin Elliott a contractor : and 
Mrs. Nicholas Elliott who is of Savanna. Mr. 
Chapin has twelve grandchildren, and is very 
liroud of his family, as he has every reason to be. 
lie belongs to the Hawk Post, G. A. R. of Sav- 
anna. Mr. Chapin is not affiliated with any 
religious organization, but his wife was a mem- 
ber of the Baptist Church. .\s a soldier and citl- 
sien, Mr. Chapin has done his whole duty and de- 
serves the confidence he inspires. 

CHAPIN, Louis L. — The record of any com- 
munity is found in the history of the lives of 
its citizens, and when they have lived honorably 
and uprightl.v, their locality shows the eft"ect of 
such efforts. The Chapin brothers have done 
unicli to raise the standard of their neighbor- 
hood, and one of tliis name who is speciall.v 
representative of the better class of citizens of 
Carroll county, is Louis L. Chapin. a veteran of 
the Civil war, now retired. He was born in 
Black River county. O.. February 22, 1842. a son 
of Loriu and Catherine (Ruff) Chapin. natives of 
Vermont and Pennsylv.inia. resjteetively. The 
father, who was a shoemaker, came west in 184.". 
and died at the age of seventy-seven years. His 
widow survived him. dying at the age of eighty- 
four years. 

Louis L. Chapin sjient liis boyhood in .Savanna, 
receiving a pulilie school education. In 1SG3. 
he enlisted in Caiitain Hawk's Company. Xinety- 



second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served 
until 1805, being with General Sherman on the 
famous March to the Sea, and in several engage- 
ments [trior to that, among them being those of 
Lookout M(mntain. and Atlanta. After being dis- 
charged at Concord. X. C, he came back to 
Savanna. 

After the death of his father, Mr. Chapin took 
the home place, and cared for his mother as long 
as she lived. He cast his first presidential vote 
for President Grant. Jlr. Chapin belongs to Caj)- 
tain Hawk's Post. G. A. R., as does his brother 
George W. Another brother. John, resides in 
Kansas. 

A man of retiring disposition, he has uever 
sought public office, but has tried to do his full 
duty as a citizen, and give his supiwrt to all 
measures which in his opinion would benefit the 
ma.iority. 

CLARK, Ira, whose useful life as a fireman 
for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- 
road, indicates that he had a full realization of 
himiau responsibilities, and faithfully endeav- 
ored to discharge them, so that now in his re- 
tirement he has few regrets, is living at Sa- 
vanna. He was boru in New York state, No- 
vember 2."), 18.'?2. son of William and Priscilla 
(Short) Clark. The family came to Illinois 
when Ira was aliout ten .vears of age. locating 
near Bluffville. where the father was killed in 
the early jiart of .July following, by a stroke 
of lightning. The mother lived to be seventy 
years old. 

Ira Clark grew up to useful manhood, and 
had a varied career. Leaving home when fifteen 
vf*ars old be began working on the Illinois and 
Michigan canal. Then he went to Chicago and 
later to Milwaukee, where he drove a hack for 
F. Oakley, for four years and then went into 
the country for a short time but returning to 
Milwaukee worked again for Mr. Oakley when 
he began driving a stage coach. Not only did 
he drive a stage coach, but fired on steamboats 
on the Missi.ssippi river, and carried mail from 
Savanna to Fulton. In those early days, he 
went on horseback, and at times had difficulty 
in fording the streams owing to high water. 
ITpon one occasion, he slipped from his horse, 
and clinging to Its tall, swam out. Again, he 
had to swim across a creek, when carrying mall 
to Fl-eeport. in freezing weather and almost lost 
his life. For two years, he oi^eratetl a 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



763 



the priiidiiles of piitriotisni, brou^'lit ui) amid 
truly uiiriglit siin-ouiuiiugs, taugut irom infancy 
the lessons which when learned lead towards 
good citizenship and capable manhood and 
woman, there is little reason to feel surprise that 
new fields were sought, as the east gradually 
stretched out towards the west, hy members of 
this family. 

To leave generalities and deal directly with 
one of the memliers of this family whose name is 
a household one in Carroll county, attention is 
called to the biograjihy of one of the retired 
farmers of this section. While he has never 
been c-.illed uiMjn to enter public life to any ex- 
tent, had he felt it his duty to do so, he would 
have discharged the obligations placed uiwn him 
wisely and capably, and proven his strength -in 
that direction as he has in so many others dur. 
ing his long life. Samuel P. Colehour, Sr., who 
carried on fanning in Carroll county, for a 
period of fifty years, has been a resident of the 
county since 1854. He was born in Montgomery 
county, I'a.. Septeml)er IS, 1S34, a son of Henry 
and Hannah (Uichards) Colehour, Iwth also na- 
tives of that county, the father being born in 
1805. The family came to Illinois in 1854 and 
made the trip from Freeport to Mt. Carroll by 
stage. The father having sold the old liomestead 
in Pennsylvania for $110 per acre, jmrchased 240 
acres just outside of Mt. Carroll ujxm his arrival. 
None of his sons except S. P. Colehoitr cared to 
develop wild land into a farm, and engaged in 
other linos of work. One son, Charles W., re- 
moved to Chicago and purchased 400 acres in 
So\ith Chicago, known as Colehonr's Addition, 
which he laid out in city lots, but becoming in- 
volved in litigation, lost most of his investment. 
Two sons, David B. and .Tames A., enlisted in 
the Union army and the former, who died of 
heart disease at Nashville. Tenn.. in lsi"S. was 
brought to Mt. Carroll and buried in Oak Hill 
cemetery. James A. was x^ith General Sher- 
man on the famous March to the Sea and was 
mustere<i out at the end of his term of service, 
after which he resunie<l the duties of private 
life. He now resides at Battle Lake, Ottertail 
county, Minn. 

Since coming to Carroll county Mr. Colehour 
was engage<l In farming until a few years ago. 
when he retired from active life and rented his 
farm, which he still owns. He receivefl his e#ii- 
catlon in the country schools and spent his boy- 



hood on "his father's farm, sixteen miles from 
Philadelphia, where he was reared to farm work. 
He has done most of the improving of his 
farm, developing it highly and is known as an 
energetic, able farmer and business niau. He 
felt it his duty to remain at home with his 
parents at the time of the Civil War, but greatly 
regretted his inability to go to the front and 
fight for the cause he believed right. 

Mr. Colehour was married at Ashton, HI., 
June 2, 1864, to .Miss Mary Jane Wood, who 
was born in Bradford county. Pa.. October 3, 
1S34, and dietl August 2!), I'.t02, and is buried 
in Oak Hill cemetery, Mt. Carroll. She came 
with her i)arents to Carrroll county in March, 
1854, and was engaged in teaching several years, 
when she entered Mt. Carroll Seminary (in 
1861), from which she was graduated in 1864. 
She was a cultured and refined woman, a kind 
mother and a good neighbor, and interested in 
the well-being of all about her. Her loss was 
keenly felt in the community where she had 
lived so long and had made so many warm 
friends. Mr. and Mrs. Colehour were parents of 
sis sons, all of whom were born in Carroll 
coimty : Edward Frank, who was born April 
12, 1865, lives in Roekford ; Fred H., who was 
born September 14, 1866, is engaged in an 
elevator and grain business in Mt. Carroll ; Jesse, 
who was born December 22, 1807, is a farmer of 
Carroll county; John B.. who was born January 
19, 1870, died October 1895 ; George W., who was 
born May 26. 1871 : and Samuel P.. Jr.. who 
was born November 27. 1875. is a physician 
practicing in Mt. Carroll. Mr. Colehour is a 
man of pleasing appearance and genial man- 
ner, and takes a keen interest in life. He makes 
several visits to his farm each week and care- 
fully looks after his various interests. 

COLEHOUR, Samuel P., M. D., a leading phy- 
sician and surgeon of Mt. Carroll, where he has 
be(>n established in a general practice about a 
dozen years, was born at Mt. C^irroU, Novem- 
ber 27, 1875. son of Samuel P. and Mary J. 
(Wood) Colehour, both nati\ies of Penn.'syl- 
vania, the father having been born in Mont- 
gomery county. The father of Samuel P. Cole- 
hour Sr., was a native of Holland, who came to 
America in the early part of the nineteenth cen- 
tury and died in the prime of life. The father 
of Dr. Colehour was a farmer and came to Illi- 



7G4 



liLSTOKV UF CAKKOLL COUNTY 



nois iu the early fifties. He aud his ■wife were 
married June 2, 1SG4, and became pareuts f)t« 
six children, namely : Frank E., who is an in- 
surance agent at Rockford, 111.; Frederick H.. 
who is in a grain, coal and cement business at 
Mt. Carroll; Jesse, who is a farmer of Carroll 
county ; John, who died iu ISST ; George W. ; 
and Dr. Samuel P. 

After receiving a common and high school edu- 
cation in his native city, Samuel P. Colehour. 
Jr., attended the National Medical College, from 
which he was graduated iu 1890. since whieli 
time he has been located in Jit. Carroll. He 
is the official local surgeon for the Chicago, Mil- 
waukee & St. Paul Railroad Company, and for 
six years held the office of county physician and 
surgeon. He is connected with the County and 
State Medical Societies and the American Med- 
ical Association, and is medical examiner for 
the Mutual Life Insurance Company, of New 
York, the Phoenix Mutual Insurance Company, 
the Northwestern Insurance Company, and other 
Insurance c-ompauies, besides various fraternal 
organizations. In political view he is a Repub- 
lican. Fraternally he is affiliated with the A. 
F. & A. M.. the I. O. O. F.. the K. P.. the M. 
W. A. and Royal Neighbors. 

Dr. Colehour was married April 12. 1!M)0. to 
Myrtle M. Kinney, born March IG, 1877. daugh- 
ter of George and Annie (Kingery) Kinney, of 
Carroll county, and they have two children : 
Samuel P. Ill, who was born July G, 1!mi7, 
and James Kinney, who was born Octobei' 2;t, 
1909. Dr. Colehour has spent practically bis 
entire life in Mt. Carroll and is firmly estab- 
lished in the confidence and esteem of li'.s fci- 
low-townsmen. He has a good standing iu his 
profession and has a reputation for skill and 
efficiency in all branches of his practice. Mrs. 
Coleliour is a member of the Baptist church 
and fraternally belongs to the Eastern Star 
and Rehekahs. 

COLEMAN, John.— Those of an older genera- 
finu in Carroll county, can look back over the 
intervening years aud appreciate how much has 
been accomplished. Where once all was dense 
timber, or raw prairie, now flourish fertile 
farms or thriving cities; railroads transport com- 
modities to and fro, and motor cars chug over 
highways that in the early days were merely 
Indian trails. Farming has been revolutionized. 



and no one has profited more from the introfluc- 
tiou of modern methods than the agriculturalist 
himself. One of these business men of an older 
day is John Coleman of Mt. Carroll, born in 
York county. Pa., December 22. 1.831, a son of 
George aud Catherine (Zorger) Coleman, both 
natives of York county. Pa, Mr. Coleman- was 
a stone mason and distiller, who died about 
1833, his widow surviving him until 1853. John 
Coleman was the youngest of their five children. 

When he was only ten yeai-s old, he left 
his mother and went to live with a merchant, 
working iu the store, thus continuing for twelve 
years. During this time he went to the pub- 
lic scliools about three months in the year. 
After he reached the age of twenty -four years, 
lie entered an academy and completing his 
education, taught school two terms. Following 
this, he went into a mercantile business. In 
the spring of 1865, he sold and came to Jackson- 
ville, where he spent five mouths before locat- 
ing at Mt. Carroll. Here he aud William 
Graham embarked iu a lumber and grain busi- 
ness, continuing it until 1870, when they dis- 
Iiosed of their interests. In 1S73 he embarked 
in a grain business by himself but iu 1907, re- 
tired, the concern being now conducted by F. 
H. Colehour. his son-in-law. 

In IS.'^O, Jlr. Coleman married .Mary E. Dres- 
bach. born in Cumberland county. Pa.. July 27. 
1S3S, daughter of the Rev. Simon and Frances R. 
(Bowman) Dresbach, natives of Pennsylvania. 
The father of the Rev. Mr. Dresbach moved to 
Ohio in 1810, aud there the younger man be- 
came ordained a minister of the United Brethren 
church, returning to Pennsylvania to carry on 
his ministerial labors. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman 
had eleven children, niue of whom survive: 
Annie L., who is of Chicago; John A., who is 
of Mt. Carroll, having at one time been county 
treasurer; George M., who is of Dover, Okla. ; 
Mary G., who is the wife of Joseph S. Jliles of 
Mt. Carroll; Cora, who is the wife of ^\1Iliam 
Mackay of Salem townshiji : Flora M., who is the 
wife of F. H. Colehour of Mt. Carroll ; Edward 
W.. who is of Poison. Mont.; Miss Frances R.. 
who is a bookkeeper iu the First National Bank 
of Mt. Carroll, and her father's housekeeper; 
Thomas, who died at the age of seven years ; 
Louis Carlos, who is of Mt. Carroll ; and Clar- 
ice, who died a day later than Thomas, aged 
four years. Mrs. Coleman died October 2, 190G, 



HISTORY OF CAKUOLL COUNTY 



r65 



le.aving a bereaved family. Mr. Coleman is a 
Republitau, aud has beeu alderman frum his 
ward several times, was mayor of Mr. Carroll 
in lSSl-2 aud lS9;5-4, being a most elliciiMit and 
business-like otlicial. He belongs to the Masonic 
fraternity, and since 1J<S3 has been a tliirty- 
socoud degree Mason. He is a man highly rc- 
sijeeti'd by. his many friends in the county. His 
beautiful hoiiif is set in the center of a large 
lawn, filled with evergreen and pine trees. Al- 
tliough eighty years old. he is active aud enjoys 
excellent health, and his recollections of early 
days are very interesting. During the many 
years he was in business here, be controlled an 
immense trade and was brought into close con- 
tact with all clas-ses of men, so that his opinions 
regarding tbem are well worth consideration. 

CONNELL, John Richard, a man of many busi- 
ness interests and a citizen of ^avanna whose 
imblic spirit and i)er.sonal enterprise have con- 
tributed iu many ways to promote the import- 
ance of this place, was born at Skibbereen, 
County Cork, Ireland, April 1, 1860. His parents 
were Samuel and Patience (Levis) Connell. 
There were ten children liy bis second marriage, 
which was with the mother of John Ricbar<l 
Connell. The latter was the eighth in order of 
birth and the only one of these #n to come to 
America, the others remaining in their native 
country, where the father died in 1SS;5, and 
the mother in 1885. However the two children 
by the first marriage of Samuel Connell to a 
Miss 'Wolfe, Thomas and Bessie also braved the 
incidents of a trip to the new world, the former 
dying in Boston, Mass., December 30, 1910, 
and the latter who married Charles O'Hara nl' 
Boston, died in that city in August, 190:J. 

.John II. (Vinnell attended the village schools 
until he was seventeen years of age, when he 
became ii clerk in a grocery store, making a 
choice in the mercantile business of the line in 
which he has continued to the present, a plan 
that best assures success according to a recent 
published statement from one who is reputed to 
be "the rich(>st man in the world."' In isso 
Mr. Council came to America and after a stay 
of two weeks in Boston, Mass.. he located at 
Hanover, in Jo Daviess county. 111., where he 
became a bookkeeper in a general store. In 
1892, he went to Polo, Ogle county. 111., where 
he purchased a grocery store and continued to 



opcr.itc it tnitil 189(;, when he sold his interest 
there an<l came to Savanna. On May 2'>, 1890, 
he purchased the Star grocery store at this place, 
iu l!Mi7 moving to his present location, iu the 
meantime having acciuircd another grocery 
propert.v which he coml)iiied with bis first enter- 
prise. He is now the proprietor of cnie of the 
largest grocery houses in Savanna and carries 
the largest and best assorted stock. For some 
years he has been additionally interested iu 
handling real estate. He has thus not only pros- 
pered himself, but has helped the town in call- 
ing the attention of outside capital which has 
resulted in many excellent and profitable in- 
vestments. Politically he is a Republican but 
has accepted no public office. 

On September 15, 1897, Mr. Council was mar- 
ried to Auna Laura Shepard, who was born 
.\ugnst 2."), 1809, in Savanna township, this 
county, a daughter of Martin and .\delia (Ben- 
uct) Shepard. Martin Shepard was born near 
Auliurn, N. Y., February 23, 1835, and died March 
1, 190.1. He was a son of Simeon and Polly 
(Eddy) Shepard, natives of New York, who 
came to Carroll county in 1851 and located iu 
lOlkhoru Grove township. Martin Bennett and 
wife were married May 10, 185-1. She was born 
near Burlington, Vt., June 12, IS.3.1. aud sur- 
vives him. Her parents. Charles and Sally 
(Hill) Bennett brought her to Illinois in the fall 
of 1S:17, and they settled on a farm on I'lum 
river, Savaiuia township. Charles Bennett subse- 
quently became the first sheriff of Carroll 
county aud served several terms in this office. 
.\fter their marriage, Martin Shepard and wife 
resided for a year in Savanna, and then spent 
one year in Iowa. After their return to Illinois, 
.Mr. Shepard rented land, but subsequently 
bought heavily aud at one lime owned GOO acres 
on which he lived until his death. They had 
nine children, seven of whom survive, Mrs. 
t'oiuiell being the fifth of these in order of birth. 
Mr. and Mrs. Connell have had three children : 
Cecil Hjchard, w!ho was born September 9, 
1898; Ella Margaret, who was born August 10, 
r.Ki2; and John Sherman, who was born Jan- 
uary 8, 1911. 

Mrs. Connell is a gr.idiiate of the Thomson 
high school and for two .vears was a student at 
the State Normal school at Normal, III. Prior 
to the latter school attendance, however, she 
taught school for six years and for two years 



766 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



thereafter. Both she and Mr. Comiell are active 
nieuibers (if the Methodist Church, haviug iiuited 
with it early iu life, and Mrs. Couuell is a 
member of the various benevolent organizations 
connected with the same. She also belongs to 
the Woman's Literary Club of Savanna, the 
Rebekahs, Yeomen and Royal Neighbor.?, while 
Mr. Couuell belongs to the Odd Fellows and 
Modern Woortnien of America. Mr. Couuell has 
made two visits abroad, one alone iu ISIiii. aud 
the other in 1907 when he was accompanied by 
his family. They enjoyed a three mouths' trip 
all over Ireland. The Couuell family is oue of 
the most prominent aud representative of Carroll 
county. 

CUSHMAN, Josiah B. (deceased).— Fifty years 
ago the greatest cxiuflict this country will ever 
know, was precipitated upon the people. 
Brother was pitted against brother. Thous- 
ands went forth to battle for what conscience 
dictated. At this distance it is difHcult for the 
present generation to appreciate what the vic- 
tory cost the country, for all did not die upon 
the battle field, nor from the immediate effects 
of exposure. The true cost of the war can 
never be given, for countless lives were short- 
ened, and as many homes laid desolate because 
of premature deaths. Some of the bravest vet- 
erans of this mighty struggle have passed away, 
especially iu Carroll county, who might still be 
with their loved ones had they not been 
prompted by a sense of duty and true patriotism 
to offer up their health aud strength and risk 
their lives in the cause they loved. Oue of those 
who are tenderly remembered not only as for- 
mer soldiers, but for civic virtues as well, is the 
late Josiah B. Ctishman, for many years associ- 
ated with the history of Mt. Carroll. 

The birth of Josiah B. Cushman occurred in 
New York state, October 25. 1833, he being a 
son of Joseph and Persis (Philips) Cushman. 
The father was born in Vermont, Jauary 2S, 
1,8(K). Growing up in his native state, Josi.ah B. 
Cushmau received but scanty educational ad- 
vantages, but made the most of what he had, 
and was ever willing to learn from experience 
and observation. In June, 1853, he came to 
Illinois, locating first in York township. At 
one time he was associated in business with 
a partner, under the name of the Thompson & 
Neal Machine Works, and transferred this 



plant to Mt. Carroll. Later he went to Harvey, 
111., aud worked there for a couple of years, 
when he returned to Mt. Carroll, and worked iu 
the village until his retirement several years 
prior to his death, which event occurred October 
3, 1910, when he was seventy-seven years old. 

In 1864, he enlisted from York township, in 
the One Hundred and Forty-sixth IlHnois Vol- 
unteer Infantry, and served faithfully until the 
close of the war. He was on guard at Spring- 
field when President Lincoln was assassinated, 
aud as be held the rank of sergeant, participated 
iu the funeral of the martyred president, his 
couunanding officer being Captain Lengle. 

On June 2, 1S66, Mr. Cushman was united in 
marriage with Ellen A. Tomlinson, daughter of 
Charles and Eliza (Athertou) Tomlinson, na- 
tives ,of New York state. Mr. Tomlinson came 
to Illinois iu 1S36 or 1837, and was a farmer 
until his deatli, in 1901. his wife dying in the 
same year. Mrs. Cushman has oue sister, Mrs. 
William Neal, of Mt. Carroll. Mrs. Cushman 
was educated iu Mt. Carroll, and was a teacher 
for a short time prior to her marriage. When 
she was only fifteen years old, she joined the 
Christian church, and has continued faithful to 
its teachings ever since. Mrs. Cushman owns 
forty acres of land, and a beautiful residence, 
the whole bStig a very valuable property. 
From the time the Grand Army of the Repub- 
lic had a post in his vicinity, Mr. Cushman was 
one of its enthusiastic members, and enjoyed 
meeting his old comrades. From the time he 
voted for John C. Freemont for president, Mr. 
Cushman was .a Republican. For years he was 
greatly interested in temperance work, aud ex- 
erted a beneficial influence with regard to this 
and other questions looking towards a moral 
uiilift. He was a man widely and favorably 
known, and had many friends throughout the 
country of which for so many years he was a 
useful and promiuent resident. 

DAINS, William A.— It is difficult to realize, 
after noting the advanced civilization of the peo- 
ple and the developed condition of both town 
and country in Carroll county, that there are 
those still living who can recall, not only the 
introduction of wonder-working farm machinery 
and scientific discoveries together with public 
utilities for comfort and well-being, but can also 
tell from their own experience that compar- 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



767 



atively but a few years ago, deer aud other wild 
creatures of the woods, roamed over a large 
IKjrtiou of this now iinproved part of tlie state. 
William A. Daius, one of the county's most re- 
spected citizens, can sjM^ik thus with authority. 
His birth tool< place in Klkhorn (Jrove. ("nrnill 
county, March 5. 1S40, and he is a son of Alvali 
and Martha (Frothingham) Dains. ^ 

Alvah Daius was born in Cortland county, N. 
Y., iu October, ISOO. His great-grandfather, 
who came to America direct from Ireland, met 
his death while gallantly fighting in the battle of 
Bunker Uill. Iieing wounded so seriously that ho 
could not be taken from the field alive. Alvah 
Dains was a tanner and furrier and also un- 
dertook boot and shoe making as well as car- 
pentering. In fact he was a man wlvo could 
profitably turn his hand to most anything. He 
was thus well equipped for life in a pioneer set- 
tlement and came to Carroll county, in 1837, 
where two years later he married .Miss Martha 
Frothingham, of Worthiiv^ton. O.. the ceremony 
being performed by John M. Owens, a .justice 
of the peace, from Mt. Carroll. Alvah Daijis 
secured ICO acres of government land, by entry, 
and continued to reside on it until the tiii^Q of ■ 
his death, in October, 1S77. His widow siTt-..> 
vived him many years, she passing away at Bat- 
tle Creek, .Mich., May 11, 1894. To them the 
following children were Iwrn : William A., 
Eliza, David, Florence. David M.. and Mary E., 
the last named being the wife of .John Bohner. 
who is a fanner living near Clarksville, la. The 
two survivors of the family are its youngest and 
oldest members. 

William A. Dains spent a liapi>y lioyhnod on 
the home farm, and helped his fattier tmlil he 
was twenty-one years of age. in (he meanwhile 
attending the district schfmls as oiiportunity was 
afforded and afterwards enjoyed four years of 
instruction at Mt. Carroll Seminary. He recalls 
that the first school he ever attended was held 
in a private house in Elkhorn Orove, the teacher 
being James McCready. While at home with 
his father he learned the carpenter trade, but 
has never do|iended on that for supiiort althouuh 
he has found this knowledge a desirable acquisi- 
tion at many times. 

On September 5, 1801, he enlisted f<n- service 
in the Civil war. entering Company I, Thirty- 
fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Cap- 
tain Heffelfinger, of Mt. Carroll, and was in 
Camp Butler. Springfield, for three weeks. The 



exposure of army life undermined his health 
aud after being confined iu Hospital No. 5, at 
Louisville, Ky., for three w^eeks he was honor- 
ably discliarged at Nashville, Teuu., Sei)tember 
12, 1S(J2. Mr. Dains then became a school 
teacher-aud taught six terms at Elkhorm Grove, 
one term at Brookville. 111., two terms iu Ne- 
braska, and one near Bluffville, 111. He became 
owner of the old hoiuestead and coutinued to 
live there until he was fifty years of age, when 
he moved to the vicinity of Thomson, III., where 
he purchased 500 acres of laud and lived for 
four years, when he moved to Jit. Carroll in 
IS'.H. For five years Mr. Dains continued to 
live in this place aud then bought a farm of 
100 acres near Graud Junction, Mich., where he 
remained for thirteen years, and then returned 
to Mt. Carroll, where he has since lived. 

On April 25, 1868, Mr. Dains was married to 
Miss Mahala Hoover, who had come to Illinois 
in January of that year. She was a daughtei- 
of Jolm and Elizabeth (Roushy) Hoover, natives 
of Wilkosharre, Pa. Mrs. Dains died in Ne- 
braska, in September, 1872. Two daughters were 
born to this marriage: Lillian May, who mar- 
-rled John Reeder and lives with Mr. Dains; and 
NeHie V., who was the wife of Ernest M. Wool- 
•gar,, Mxs'. Woolgar died May 13, 1007, at Clyde, 
Ohio,/_Mr. Dains- has nine grandchildren aud 
-one great-grandchild. He was reared in the 
Baptist faith. Politically he is a Republican, 
a stanch party man, but he has nevei- consented 
to serve in any ofiice except that of school di- 
rector. He is a member of the John H. Andrews 
Post, G. A. R., of Lacota, Mich. 

In his recollections of the earlier days of this 
section. Mr. Dains refers to many interesting 
events iu its history. He recalls the great ex- 
citement created when the first telegraph line 
was put through, in 1852, from Di.vou to Galena. 
He recalls al.so when the founder of Daveniiort, 
la., met his death at the brutal hands of 
prairie banditti, being dragged up and down 
stairs by the hair of his head, until he suc- 
cumbed. He tells stories of the days when nails 
of iron of any sort were swrcely available: when 
practically all manufactured articles were 
shi|iped from Pittsb\irgli. in steamboats, down 
the Ohio river; when cabins were decorated with 
the skins of wild animals and an out-hanging 
buckskin latchstring voiced the settler's hos- 
pitality. Many were the herds of wild deer 
hrowsinir on the prairies that now conipo.se a 



768 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



part of bis well imiirovecl farm. lie is, at this 
time, one of the oldest liring settlers of Car- 
roll county, and these, his silver years, are filled 
with the contentment of work well done, and 
the oousciousuess of having earned the respect 
and true friendship of a host of acquaintances. 

DALE, George.— Few farmers are better known 
in Carroll county than George Dale of Mt. Car- 
roll township because of his success as an agri- 
culturist and also on account of his intimate 
knowledge of his work. During all of his trans- 
actions, he has acted according to his own con- 
ception of duty, which is a high one, and while 
succeeding, has retained the confidence and re- 
spect of his neighbors. He was born in Franklin 
county. Pa., March 2S. 1S.53. being a son of 
William and Mary (Stitt) Dale, natives of that 
same county and farming people. In 18G4, the 
family came to Mt. Carroll, where Mr. Dale 
worked as a farm hand until he rented a farm 
of Thomas Deede iu Pleasant Valley township, 
Jo Daviess county. Here he remained for throe 
years, then spent two years on another farm in 
that locality. In 1877. he bought 100 acres in 
Freedom township, where he resided until about 
1894, at which time he moved to Mt. Carroll, 
and rounded out his life, dying in 1905, aged 
seventy-five years. His wife died in 1907, aged 
seventy-five years. The.v had eleven children, 
of whom eight survive: George; Elizabeth, Mi-s. 
James Davis, of Mt. Carroll ; Sarah, Mrs. Henry 
Newcomb, of Colorado : Nancy, Mrs. Wesley 
Xewcomb, of Colorado ; Mrs. William Morrow, 
of Kansas ; John W.. of Mt. Carroll ; Daniel, of 
Freedom township. 

George Dale attended the public schools of 
Carroll count.v. and remained with his parents 
until he was forty-one years old. For several 
years he owned a share in the farm, and when 
his parents retired, he bought the entire proper- 
ty, and continued on it until 1900. In that year 
he sold to buy 160 acres iu section 24. Mt. Car- 
roll township, which has continued to be his 
home. He has made a fine property of this 
farm, and is reaping abundantly from his invest- 
ment of time and money. Politically a Repub- 
lican, he has never desired office. lie belongs 
to the Church of God of Mt. Carroll. 

On December 2.', 189-t, he married Kate 
Rausch, born in Freedom township, Carroll 
county. 111.. December 2."). 1863, daughter of 
Casper and Catherine (Keil) Rausch, pioneers of 



the county. Mr. and Mrs. Dale are the parents 
of two children : Martha May, born April 16, 
1897, and Lillie, bom April 1, 1899. The family 
life of the Dales is an ideal one and their friends 
are welcomed to their house with warm hos- 
pitality. 

DAUPHIN, Julius Victor, one of the progressive 
men of Mt. Carroll township, was born in 
Schrobenhausen, Bavaria, Germany, April 15, 
1833, a son of Julius Victor and Elizabeth (Link) 
Dauphin. The father was born In Weisenburg, 
Alsace, Germany, In ISOO, and was a well edu- 
cated man, his parents having been very wealthy, 
and his father a .judge. After serving six years 
in the army, the elder Julius Victor Dauphin 
went to 'javarir., (Jermany, buying a farm of 
eighty acres. In 1.S30. he married Elizabeth 
Link, born in the village of Hesseu. Germany, 
in 1810. In the latter part of 1853, he sold his 
farm, and on January 3, 1854, lauded iu New 
York City. The family came west to Chicago, 
where they lived one month, then left for Sa- 
\anna, where they bought a lot and built a 
house upon it. Here Mr. Dauphin died of 
cholera on July 23, 1854, leaviug a wife and 
twelve children : Dora S., Mrs. George Brusher, 
who was the oldest, died in Savanna about 
1856 ; Julius V. ; Christian W., who is of Tildeu, 
Neb. ; Ferdinand E., who is of Oklahoma ; Bar- 
bara Hinneman, who is of Forreston, 111.; Maxi- 
niillian, .and six who died young. Mrs. r)auiiliin 
was married about 1857 to George Fred Sbull 
and they lived in Savanna until they died, she 
passing away July 24, 1884. 

When the younger Julius Victor Dauphin came 
to America, he located in the vicinity of Galena 
and for five months worked on the Illinois Cen- 
tral Railroad, but then went to Savanna, where 
he lived for seventeen years, working iu the saw- 
mill in the summer, and at chopping cord wood 
in the winter. On November 12. 1870. he was 
married to Sophia C. Liselta Englekiug. born in 
Klissen. Hanover, Germany, December 20, 1850, 
daughter of Christian and Sophia (Haderharst) 
Englekiug. natives of Hanover, Germany. Mrs. 
Engleking died about 1854. Mrs. Dauphin was 
the sixth of seven children born to her parents. 
When only seventeen years old. she came to 
America with her younger brother, Diedrich 
Engleking. They came direct to .Savanna, where 
she met and married Mr. Dauphin. After their 
marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Dauphin lived in Sa- 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COl'NTY 



769 



viinii.i iiiilil lUe early iiiut of 1.S71. wUoii they 
uioveil to 170 acres of farm laud on sections 5 
and 0. Mt. Carroll township, ^Yllicll Mr. Dauphin 
had liuU4.'Ut in IStJ". This has continued the fam- 
ily lioiiie ever since. Mr. Dauphin has added to 
his holdings until he now owns (iSO acres of 
land, all of whicli is very valuahle. He votes 
independently, preferring to select the man he 
deems best suited for the office. He is a mem- 
ber of the German Lutheran church, to which 
he contributes liberally. The children of him- 
self and wife are: One who died in infancy; 
Elizabeth, who was born January 7, l.s7:i, 
died Decemlier 17. 1804. married t!e<jrj;e Weid- 
man; Geort;e F.. wlio was born Decemlier 4. 
1874, lives on section tj. Mt. Carroll township: 
Julius, who was boru February G, 1S77, lives 
•with ills father; Christian D., who was born 
March 15, 1S79, lives in Savanna township; 
Doroth.v. who was born March 7, 1881. married 
Edward Dauiihin — two children, Cornelius and 
Jessie; Victor E., born July 27, 188."!, lives with 
his fatlicr; Edward L.. who was born March 
IS, 1801 ; and Maximillian, who was horn Au- 
gust J 2, ISOO. 

DAVIS, Christopher. — The modern farmer while 
he has many more opportunities of development 
than his forefathers, still because of the retpiire- 
nients made upon liim, has to be a better trained 
man to succeed. Farming is no longer conduited 
in a hit-or-nnss style, but logically and method- 
ically, and nothing is done without tliere be- 
ing a good reason back of it. For this reason 
Carroll county farmers are numbered among 
the be.st agriculturists in the country, and one 
who has attained a well deserved prosperity is 
Christopher Davis of section 20. Salem township. 
He was born in B'ranklin county, I'a., October 
21, 1840. being a son of Thomas and Elizabeth 
(Rinedollar) Davis, of the same county. These 
parents arrived by boat at Savanna, Carroll 
county. III., in 1852, and from thence came to 
Mt. Carroll, where the father opened a black- 
smith shop. This he conducted until he was 
seventy-two years old, when he retired. His 
death took place October i:'.. 1887. when he was 
seventy-eight years old. having been born in 
1809. His wife died in March. 1800. aged eighty- 
one years, having been born December 27, 1818. 
They had ten children, seven of wliom survive, 
Christopher being the eldest. In addition to 
him there were: Mrs. Camilla .Mtenson. of Mt. 



Carroll, HI.; Mrs. Anna Hoover, of Mt. C'arroll ; 
John C, also of Mt. Carrol! ; Mrs. Harry Sutton, 
of Alt. Carroll; Mrs. Ellen Shores, of Marseilles, 
Mo. ; Mrs. Abbie Edwards, of Missouri ; and three 
who are deceased, Thomas, Sarah and Elithebeth. 

Christopher Davis was educated in the schools 
of Mt. Carroll, with one term at the seminary. 
When nine years old, he began working on a 
farm in summer and attending school in winter, 
and kei)t this up until he was sixteen years old, 
after which he devoted all his time to farm- 
ing. In 1801. he enlisted in the first company 
formed in Mt. Carroll, but on account of his 
mother's poor health was excused. On August 
0. 1802, he enlisted in Company C, Ninety-second 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry and served with that 
regiment until mustered out at Concord. X. C, 
July 7, 1805. Although he saw nnich service, 
he was neither wounded or taken prisoner, and 
was only absent from his command five day.s, 
on account of sickness. He was in many skir- 
mishes and in Georgia with General Sherman, 
marching to the sea witli that commander. In 
1805, he returned to Mt. Carroll, rented a farm, 
and began working for himself. Two of the 
brothers of Mr. Davis, Thomas and John C, also 
gave good service to their country during the 
Civil war. Thomas Davis enlisted in Company 
K, Fifteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which 
was the first company to be raised in Carroll 
county, and he died suddenly of sickness while 
at the siege of Vicksburg. John C. Davis en- 
listed in Company C. Ninety-second Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, in December, 1803, and 
served until the close of the war. He was trans- 
ferred to the Sixty-fifth Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry while in the service. 

On December 22. 1808, Christopher Davis mar- 
ried Mary J. Zuck. born in Freedom township, 
Carroll county. May 4. IS.JO, daughter of Henry 
and Sarah (Zillbart) Zuck. Mr. Zuck was born 
at Znck's Landing on the I'otomac. in Virginia, 
June 22, 1810, his father being a ship builder. 
■^Irs. Zuck was born in Lancaster county. Pa., 
December 24, 1810. The Zillhart family moved 
to Maryland, to whicli state Mr. Zuck moved 
when young. There he met and married Miss 
Zillhart, September 0, 18.38. On Septemlier 10. 
1^4, they started for Illinois in a wagon, arriv- 
ing in Ogle county October 10 of that year. In 
the spring of 1845, they settled in Freedom town- 
ship, this county, where they rented land, but in 
1849, entered land to the amount of eighty acres 



70 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



on section 20, Salem township. To this removal 
was made in February, 1852, and here Mr. and 
Mrs. Zuck resided until tbey went to Mt. Carroll, 
in 1S90. Mrs. Zuck died April 1, 1S91, and Mr. 
Zuck, December 9, 189.5. They owned 287 acres 
on sections 17, 20 and 21, and were well-to-do. 
There were two children in their family : John, 
born April 17, 1840, now at Mt. Carroll, and 
Mrs. Davis. 

When Mr. and ilrs. Davis married, tliey 
rented the farm they now own, of Mr. Zuck. 
After a year they mowd to Fair Haven town- 
ship, but after a year more, they returned to 
Salem township, and rented the farm on section 
17. In the spring of 1892, they bought 137 acres 
in Woodland township, making it their home 
until 1901, when they sold and moved to their 
present farm of 157 acres on section 17, Salem 
township, inherited by Mrs. Davis from her 
father's estate. They own property on section 
20. making In all 201 acres, devoted to general 
farminir and the raising of graded stock, includ- 
ing short horn cattle. Politically Mr. Davis is 
a Republican, and he belongs to Nace Post, Xo. 
SO, G. A. R., of Mt. Carroll. Mr. and Mrs. Davis 
are members of the Methodist church. 

Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Davis: Thomas, who was born December 21, 
1809, was killed by a bull on September 20, 
1909: Sarah E., who was born July 4, 1872, is 
at home ; Nellie S.. who was boru June 2. 1874, 
married L. O. James and they live at Savanna : 
Charles F., who was born September 10, 187G, 
resides with his parents ; and Lulie Mae, who 
was born October 17, 1883, is the wife of Ray 
Altanson, of Mt. Carroll. The Davis family is 
one of the most representative in this section. 
Mr. Davis is an excellent farmer, a loyal citizen 
and has given public-spirited assistance in secur- 
ing many needed improvements. 

DAVIS, Floyd N., who, as manager of the Lan- 
ark green house, at Lanark. Carroll county. 111., 
does a large business in handling all varieties of 
plants and flowers and maizes a specialty of fu- 
neral designs, has been established bore since 
1909. Mr. Davis was born at Morrison, 111., 
Febmary 14, 1881. and is a son of S. M. .ind 
Jennie (McDaniel) Davis. 

S. M. Davis was born in Ohio, in 1844, but 
moved to Illinois prior to the Civil war, during 
which he served the Union cause with praise- 
worthy fidelity. He was a member of the 



Ninety-Second Illinois Volunteer Infantry and 
for four years saw hard service. He marched 
with General Sherman on that memorable trip 
to the sea and tixik part ai such decisive battles 
as Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga, Chatta- 
nooga, Mi-ssionary Kidge, luka and Corinth. By 
profession he was an engineer and was in the 
employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quiney 
Railroad. He married Jennie McDaniel, who 
w.is born in 1S4(!. and they had the following 
children lx)rn to them, namely : Charles ; Harry, 
who lives at Polo, 111., and is manager of the 
I'olo green house ; Frank : Mrs. Clarence Allen, 
who lives at Polo. 111.; Robert, who served as a 
bugler through the Spanish-American war, as a 
member of the Sixth Illinois Volunteers; Ber- 
tha, who is deceased ; Flo.yd X. ; Mrs. Clifton 
Douglas, residing at Rockford, 111.; Mrs. Charles 
Abbott, living at Waldo, S. Dak. and Walter. 

Floyd X. Davis obtained his education in the 
pulilic schools and then turned his attention to 
his present line of business for which he has a 
natural inclination and in which he has been 
quite successful. He does a large trade in fu- 
neral work, his skill and taste in arranging de- 
signs being well known over a wide section, 
while he also supplies appropriate pieces for 
weddings and other festive occasions. 

On June 1, 1910, Floyd N. Davis was united 
in marriage with Miss Eva Cunningham, who is 
a daughter of Harry E. and Emma (Rhodes) 
Ciniuingham, who were born in Washington 
county, Md. On March 12, 1911, Mr. and Mrs. 
Davis became the parents of twin children, a 
son and daughter, and they bear the names of 
Fred and Freda. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian church. He is iden- 
tified fraternally with Camp Xo. 7, Modern 
Woodmen of America, of Lanark. Independent 
in his political views, he may always be counted 
on to uphold law and favor public spirited move- 
ments in his own community. 

DEITRICK, John, who is a representative of 
one of the old families of Carroll county, and a 
man of both business and political prominence 
in this section, was born in Freedom township, 
Carroll cimnty. 111.. Feliruary 11, 18.50. a sou of 
Samuel and Susan (Haines) Deitrick. Samuel 
Deitrick was born in Maryland, in 1823, came 
from there to Ogle county. 111., In 1S45 and 
from thence to Carroll county, where his death 
occurred in 18.55. He married Susan Haines, 




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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



771 



who was born iu Maryland, January :!, ISIU, 
and died February 28, 1908. They had the fol- 
lowing cliiUlren: Mary E. and Martha, both 
of whom are deceasinl : !:?auiuul. who lives in 
Wisconsin; John; and Mrs. .John G. Kauser, of 
Mt. Carroll, ^aujuel Deitritk was a member of 
the Sous of Xomi>erance, in Freedom townsliip. 
He and his wife were yood, Chri.stian iieople, 
aud worthy members of the United Brethren 
church. 

Johu Deitrick has spent his life in Carroll 
county and is very favorably known from one 
part of it to the other. He attended school 
more or less regularly until he was seventeen 
yeiirs of age aud then turned his attention to 
farming as a business aud c-ontinued an active 
agriculturist until 1911, when he came to Mt. 
Carroll, where he has since resided. His first 
purchase of laud was a tract of seveuteeu acres, 
to which he added until he owned eighty-five 
acres, all of which he cleared himself and made 
of his land u valuable and productive farm. In 
190G ho sold that properly, and l)ouglit another 
containing 114 acres, on which he resided until 
1911, when he bought his present residence at 
>It. Carroll, together with other property. Al- 
though no longer active as a farmer, Mr. Deitrick 
has by no means retired from business. He had 
many years of successful experience in the 
horse business and continues in that line, main- 
taining stables and dealing in thonmghbrecl 
stock Uniwrted from France. For years .Mr. 
Deitrick has been active as a poliliciau aud is 
an imiwrtant factor iu the Republican ranks. 
He has been elected to numerous local offices 
and has served honestly and efficiently in every 
one. At times he has been school director, as- 
sessor, town clerk and eonstaiile and a member 
of the Republican central committee, and the 
duties pertaining to each office have been dis- 
charge<l to the satisfaction of all concerned. 

On January 18, 1880, Mr. Dietrick was mar- 
ried to Miss Theresia Miller, a daughter of 
John E. and Elizabeth (Fuchs) Miller. Mrs. 
Deitrick was born May 21, 18G1, in Carroll 
county. 111., but her parents are natives of Hesse 
Darmstadt. Germany, where the father was born 
January 31. 1S38, and the mother, February 7, 
1840. They came to America when aged nine 
and eighteen years, respectively, and have al- 
ways resided in Carroll county, until 1870 in 
Rock Creek township, moving then to Freedom 
township, and in 1011 retiring to Lanark. They 



had the following children: Mrs. Deitrick; 
Mary, who lives at Peoria, 111. ; Henry, who 
lives iu Cherry Grove township ; Mrs. Emma 
Carter, of Freedom township ; Mrs. Ella I'eters, 
of Lanark; Oiara and Walter, both of Lanark; 
aud Mrs. Nellie MumtVird, who lives at Mt. Car- 
roll, 111. Mr. aud Mrs. Deitrick have one daugh- 
ter, Clara E., who was horn February 28, 19U2. 
.Mrs. Deitrick was reared in the Lutheran 
church, while Mr. Deitrick is liberal iu his 
religious views. He is au active member of the 
JIasonic lodge at Mt. Carivll, with which he has 
been identitied for the past thirty years. 

DEMMON, John Farnsworth (deceased).— The 
settlers of Carroll county who came here early 
iu the fifties, met with many hardships which 
took fortitude to overcome. They had none of 
tlie modern conveniences with which to operate 
either iu the house or field, and even good roads 
were practically unknown. Their eliildren suf- 
fered for lack of proper educational facilities, 
and religious services were a luxury. Because 
things have chauged, the preseut generation is 
liable to forget what is due to those who secured 
the existing conditious, and one of the motives 
of the writers of this volume is to put this debt 
fairly before the descendants of the pioneers of 
the county. One of the men who played well 
his part in the advancement of Carroll county 
was the late John Farnsworth Deunnon, born iu 
Wrmoiit, .\pril l.j. 182S, a son of Roswell and 
Aurelia (Farnsworth) Deumion, natives of the 
same State. They were farming people, who 
had five children. 

John Farnsworth Demmou was educated at 
Woodstock Academy in his native State, and in 
early da.\s was a teacher. In 1850, he came to 
Illinois, crossing Michigan liy stage. In Chicago, 
he joined his uncle. .Mr. Frink, of the Frink- 
Walker stage-coach line, and becoming inter- 
ested in the Chicago aud Galena lines, was in- 
duced to enter the employ of this company and 
was first stationed at Belvidere. When the 
railroad reached that point, he pushed on to 
Warreu. While tliere, he passed through the 
cholera epidemic, wliidi almost wiped out whole 
<omniunilies. Wliih- escaping himself, he took 
care of many, and upon one occasion conveyed a 
train-load of people from Uockford to Freeport, 
all of the other train employes having been 
stricken down with the dread disease. His work 
was varied, as he journeyed from one station to 



772 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



auotber. collecting iiost office receipts for the 
government. Later he weut to Madison, Wis., 
where he niaintaiuod his headcjuarters for some 
time. In ISoC, he entered a section of land in 
\\'hiteside county, on the Carroll county line, 
and later added Carroll county land to his farm. 
In 1SC2, he settled ou the laud, which was then 
raw prairie, and passed through all the hard- 
ships incident to the period. Having remarka- 
ble business ability, be accumulated land until 
he owned 1.2S0 acres in Illinois. 2,0Ci0 acres in 
Clark county, S. DaU., and two sections near 
Creston, la. Strictly honest in his dealings, he 
never had to call upon the law to settle bis 
afifjirs, aud his word was recognized as being 
as good as his bond. Trusted and honored by 
all who knew him, he was a worthy example of 
the best class of Illinois pioneers. A man of 
robust health, he was never sick until stricken 
with the grippe which eventually caused bis 
death. A temperance man, he was a foe to 
both liquor aud tobacco. While a young man 
on the stage route, strong temptations c-ame to 
him, but he had the courage to live up to his 
convictions and resist them. Kind and benevo- 
lent, he contributed to many charities, and was 
very liberal in his donations. Politically, he 
was a Republican, and for two terms was a 
justice of the peace in Wbiteside county, and 
held several local township offices. He was 
reared an Episcopalian, and held to that faith. 
On December 20, 1S65, Mr. Demmon was mar- 
ried in Christ Church. Chicago, by Bishop Che- 
ney, to Miss Eliza A. Van Patten, they being 
the first couple married in that edifice. She was 
born in Pompey. X. Y.. October 6. 18.38. daughter 
of Aaron and Maria (Van EttenK Van Patten, 
natives of Schenectady. N. Y., farming people, 
Ijoth descendants of old Holland stock. Mrs. 
Demmon was the fourth in a family of nine chil- 
dren, aud was educated in the high school and 
academy of Syracuse, N. Y. In 1SG3 she went to 
Chicago to teach in the public schools, and there 
she met Mr. I)?nnni>n. .\fter their marriage Mr. 
and Mrs. Dennnon moved to their farm in White- 
side county. 111., then went to Morrison, 111.. 
where they spent ten years, after which they 
came to Mt. Carroll to give their children the 
benefit of the schools here, and bought the John 
Rinewalt home on Broadway, where the widow 
now lives. Mr. Demmon continued to operate his 
farm until his death, and it is still owned by the 
familv. On Jlav •"), 1802, Mr. Denunon passed 



awa.v, leaving a widow and four children to 
mourn his loss: Charles R., who was born Sep- 
tember 28. 1800. of Chicago, is an inspector for 
the Adams Express Co. ; John B., who was born 
June 18, 1868. of Mt. Carroll, is a farmer and 
stockman ; Miss Rose M., who was born June 26, 
1871, is a gi-aduate of Mt. Carroll Seminary and 
a teacher in the public schools of Chicago ; 
Stephen D., who was born September 3, 1873, 
Avas graduated from the Xorth Western Law 
School, and now resides in Chicago. Mrs. Dem- 
mon is a member of the Daughters of the Ameri- 
can Revolution, being eligible through both 
branches of her family. The family residence 
is one of the most beautiful ones in Mt. Cajroll, 
and shows evidence of the cultured tastes of its 
mistress. All the members of this old and hon- 
ored family, are prominent in their several com- 
munities, while they are affectionately remem- 
liercd l)y the (jeople among whom they grew up in 
Mt. Carroll. 

DEUEL, Charles A., a general farmer and stock 
raiser, residing on section 25, Cherry Grove 
township, CaiToll county, is a member of one 
of the old and highly respected families of this 
section. He was born in Rock Creek township, 
Carroll county, March 17. 1872. a son of Horace 
and Martha (Lynch) Deuel. Horace Deuel was 
Ijorn in SusQuebannah county. Pa., January 11, 
18.30, aud from there came to Carroll county, 
111., locating on an improved farm of eighty 
acres, situated on section 22, purchasing this 
land just before his marriage. His first wife 
ilied leaving one child, Emily, who is now also 
decea.sed, having been the wife of O. M. ICeeney, 
a farmer in Rock Creek township. His second 
wife. JIartha Lynch, he married at Mt. Carroll, 
she being also a native of Pennsylvania. Horace 
Deuel and wife lived on the farm in Rock Creek 
township until the fall of 18S2, when Mr. Deuel 
bought 100 acres in Salem township, Carroll 
county, aud in the spring of 1890 bought 220 
acres ou section 25, Cherry Grove township. He 
lilaced fine improvements on all his land but re- 
sided on his last purchase until his death. De- 
cember 4, 1892. He was one of the progressive 
anil successful farmers of the county and was 
(onsidered a fine judge of stock and of land 
values. While not a member of any special 
church he was a moral man, was liberal in his 
gifts to all religious bodies and gave support to 
lienevoloiit movements. To his sec-ond marriage 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



(73 



four chikli-iMi wore Ijoni, imniel.v : Fr.-inU. wlm 
is a leading merchaut in .Sustiueliannah fdunty. 
Pa.; Charles A.; George E., who is a tcatiier in 
Wilmot. S. Dak.; and Sarah, who is the wife of 
l'"re(U'ri( k W. Dielil. a farmer in Cherry Grove 
township. The mother of the above t-liilUren 
slill resides on the old farm. When Mr. Deuel 
came to Illinois he was accompanied by his 
parents and their last years were passed here. 

Charles A. Deuel was educated in the public 
schools of Rock Creek and Salem townships and 
he afterward took a business cinirse at Dixon. 
111., having graduated there in 1900, after which 
lie came home and took charge of the farm on 
section '17, in Cherry Grove township. Since his 
marriage he has independently operated this 
farm of 220 acres, keeping a line grade of live- 
stock, including Shorthorn and Galloway cattle, 
Poland-China hogs and some very fine speci- 
mens of Norman horses. 

On January 1, 1907, Mr. Deuel was married 
by I£ev. I'. .1. Beisel, in Tower City, N. Dak., to 
Miss Gertrude Odell, who was born on a farm 
near Des Moines, la.. May 9. 188.S. a daughter 
of Alonzo and Kllen (Murray) Odell, the father 
one of the substantial farmers of that section. 
To this marriage one daughter was born, on De- 
cember 20. 1907, who hears the i)leasant name of 
Dorothy E. aud is a very attractive little maiden. 
In iKjlitics Mr. Deuel is a Republican and .'it 
jireseut is serving as a member of the Republican 
county ( entral committee, from Cherry Grove 
township. He has efficiently filled local offices 
such as township trustee, asses.sor and school 
trustee. For many years he has been identified 
with the Masonic Lodge at Shannon, 111., and in 
every way may be justly numbered with the 
representative men of Carroll county. 

DIEHL, Fred S., D. D. S., <.r l,Mii:iik, III., is a 
bright, wide-awake young man. enthusiastic in 
his professional work and interested in |)ublic 
events and issues. He was born in Lanark, Oc- 
tober 15, 1881, and is a .sou of Conrad and Sabina 
(Siaferth) Diehl, the former a native of Frank- 
fort, Germany, who came to the United States 
in 1804, and settled in Carroll county. Conrad 
Diehl engaged in the harness-making business, 
conducting the same with success until 1891, 
when he moved to his farm near lianark and 
carried on agricultural operations there until 
his death, Xovombor 2.5, 190.'j. He and his wife 
were parents cf si.\ children : Emma, who is the 



wife of Dr. Snively, of Lanark; Herman G., 
who is the owner of a drug store in Chicago ; 
Charles W., who is a farmer of Carroll county ; 
Fred S., aud Frank E. who lives with his mother 
and conducts the home farm. 

In 1901 Dr. Fred S. Diehl was graduated from 
the Lanark high school, and for three years 
thereafter was eng.-iged in teaching in the 
schools of Carroll county. In 190.5 he entered 
the deutal department of the Northwest- 
ern University, of Chicago, aud was graduated 
therefrom with his degree in May. 1908. Being 
iiilluenced by his brother Herman to remain in 
Chicago, he opened an office on Addison avenue, 
which he continued eighteen mouths, but closed 
it on account of being able to purchase the prac- 
tice of Dr. Staley, who had been in eoutirtuous 
practice in Lanark for a period of twenty years. 
Dr. Diehl has succeeded iu retaining the entire 
practice, and owing to his wide acquaintance in 
the eastern part of the county, has been able to 
add to it considerably. He is a member of the 
Xortbern Illinois State Dental Society, and 
while a resident of Chicago was an active mem- 
ber of the Chicago Odontograiihic Society, from 
which he resigned upon leaving the city. He 
is a Democrat iwlitically but is williug to vote 
for the man rather than for party in local af- 
fairs and is actively interested in the welfare of 
bis community. He has spent most of his life 
in Lanark, where lie is well known, and enjoys 
Ibe confidence and esteem of all who have been 
associated with him. He is conscientious and 
careful in bis work and is able to retain any 
patients he treats. 

Dr. Diehl was married October 30, 1912, to 
.Miss I'earl E. Richardson, of Milledgeville, III., 
the only child of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Richard- 
son, who reside on their farm four miles south- 
west of .Milledgeville. She attended the graded 
schools in Milleilgeville and also was in attend- 
ance for several terms at Francis Scliimer Acad- 
emy, in .Mt. Carroll, and Mt. Morris college, Mt. 
Morris. 111. 

DIEHL, Fred W.— A traveler tliiougli Cherry 
Grove townshij) nuist be impressed with the 
richly cultivated condition of a large part of the 
soil and also the (pi.-ility of its cattle and sIcH-k. 
If he is fortunate enough to be admitted as a 
visitor to any of the fine homestead.s, he may also 
be pleasurably moved to see the happiness that 
e.vists through the estimable qualities and en- 



774 



HISTORY OP CARROLL COUNTY 



during virtues of his hosts. Surely would this 
be the ease should he pause on the farm owned 
and operated by Fred W. Diehl, which lies on 
section 26, of the above named township. He 
was born in Rock Creek township, Carroll county, 
111., July 17, 1S71, and is a son of Henry Diehl, 
a highly respected retired farmer who now lives 
iu .Shannon township. 

Fred W. Diehl obtained his education in the 
district schools of his native place, and early 
in life began to help on the home farm thus 
continuing until his marriage when he was 
about twenty-flve years old. to Miss Sarah E. 
Deuel, a daughter of the late Horace Deuel, of 
Rock Creek township. After their marriage, Mr. 
Diehl took charge of -Mrs. Deuel's farm and for 
ten years successfully operated that tract of ]84 
acres, situated on section 25. Cherry Grove town- 
ship. In 1900 he bought ninety-six acres of 
unimproved land located in section 26, and im- 
mediately erected a handsome residence and suit- 
able barns and stock shelters on it, for by this 
time he had become one of the most prosperous 
stockraisers in the county. He has added still 
further to his improvements and has continued 
to raise his standard stock according to modern 
and scientific methods and in the average has 
from seventy-five to 100 head of Chester-White 
hogs to put on the market. Mr. Diehl gives 
sensible reasons for jireferring this breed and 
certainly Is successful in raising them. In late 
years he has also given considerable attention 
to growing Galloway cattle. In addition to 
being a capable agriculturist. Mr. Diehl is a 
first class citizen, giving his support and influence 
to every movement that promises social better- 
ment. He is not identified with any political 
party, choosing to do his own thinking and he 
casts his vote for the candidate of whom his 
judgment approres. He served two years as col- 
lector of Cherry Grove township and for nine 
years has heen a school director of school dis- 
trict No. 3.3, Cherry Grove. 

Three children have been liorn to Mr. and Mrs. 
Diehl : Florence S., born July 23, 1806 ; Grace 
B., born October 5, 1899; and Frank M., born 
January 28, 1906. The family attends both the 
Lutheran and the Evangelical Church. Thej 
have a wide circle of friends and their hospita- 
ble home sees many pleasant social gatherings, 
Mrs. Diehl having an enviable reputation as a 
housewife. Mr. Diehl belongs to the Mystic 
Workers, the Modern Woodmen of America and 



Lodge 490, A. F. & A. M., while both he and his 
wife are members of the Eastern Star. 

DIEHL, Henry, an honorable ami respected 
citizen of Carroll county, who is a substantial 
retired fanner living in his handsome residence 
at Shannon, for fifty-five years has been identi- 
fied with this section of Illinois. He was born in 
Hesse Darmstadt. Germany, eighteen miles from 
Frankfort-on-the-Main. September 9, 1839, and 
is a son of Johannus Diehl. who was the sev' 
entli of that name living in the same village, 
all being small farmers. The mother of Henry 
Diehl was named Catherine (Fisheller) Diehl 
and married iu 1838. She and her husband 
died in their native land In 1869, a year that was 
particularly fatal to the family as during its 
passage father, mother, grandfather and a 
brother of Mr. Diehl all passed away. 

Henry Diehl was the eldest of four brothers. 
Frederick, the second bom, came to the United 
States and in the course of time became a well 
to do farmer in Rock Creek township, Carroll 
county, where he died in 1905, leaving a family 
of three daughters. John, the third member of 
the family, is a farmer residing near Mt. Morris, 
IU. August, the youngest, died on the home farm 
in Germany. The parents reared their children 
iu the faith of the Lutheran Church. Henry 
Diehl attended school, all German boys do that, 
it being an inflexible law of the laud and an 
excellent one. He was more ambitious than 
some of his companions and from boyhood cher- 
ished the desire to emigrate to America and at 
the age of eighteen years, in 1S.")1, he was pre- 
pared to do this, so bidding his people farewell, 
he embarked on his long trip. After a voyage 
on a sailing ship lasting forty-two days, he was 
safely landed in the harbor of New York, and 
from there came directly to Carroll county, 
where he secured work in the harvest fields near 
what is now the village of Chadwick. He had 
learned to bind wheat in many a contest in his 
native land and he proved so expert at the busi- 
ness in Carroll county that he was able to earn 
two dollars a day while others could earn no 
more than $1.50 a day. After the harvest sea- 
son closed he worked by the month for a salary 
of twelve dollars and during the winter as was 
the custom, merely for his board and lodging. 
In the spring of 1858 he engaged to work for 
Samuel Bowen near Chadwick and during the 
eight months he remained with that employer 




s 



y. 



w 



u 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



( ID 



saved his wases so that wlieii he drew the money 
he had a lump sum of .$lii4. He followed this 
same plan more or less, also working in harvest 
fields up to IStil, when he went home for a visit. 
After his return to Carroll county, he and his 
lirother John and several otlier German younj: 
men who had come into the neighborhood, all 
became citizens on June 21, 18C2. He was mar- 
ried iu June, 1801, and after marriage he bought 
eighty acres on section 25 and to that added 160 
acres on section 20, Rocli Creek township and 
now owns 240 acres. For his eighty acres of 
niilniproved land he paid fifteen dollars per acre. 
On it he ]iut up a small frame house and devel- 
oped tlie property into a tieautlful farm on which 
he continued to live until 1899, when he turned 
it over to his son and bought his present fine 
home at Shannon, where he is surrounded by 
every comfort. 

Mr. Dielil married Catherine Miller, who was 
born iu 1842 In Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. In 
1847. her parents. Johannus and Mary (Hurst) 
Miller, came to the I'nited .States and settled in 
Hock Creek township. Carroll county, wliere 
he liecame a leading farmer. Mr. and Mrs. 
Miller have had seven sons and one daugh- 
ter. Two sons died In infancy. Conrad and 
William died at the age of ten years. John 
Miller lives at Lanark, 111. George lives at 
Shannon and Henry lives at Lanark. 

To .Mr. and Mrs. Diehl the following children 
were Ixirn : Henry, who dietl at the age of eight- 
een years ; John, who was born August 28, 
1804, married Kate Smith and is a farmer in 
Uock Creek township, issue, — Layman and 
Lewis ; George, who was born April 12, 1866, 
married Hattle Schanen and lives on the home- 
stead : Mary, wlio was born June .3. 1809, is the 
wife of Ge<jrge Schneider, a farmer iu Cherry 
(irove townslilp. issue, — three children : Fred W., 
who was lK)rn July 17, 1871, is a farmer in 
Cherry Grove township, and mairied in 1895 
.Sarah Deuel, a daughter of the late Horace 
Deuel, issue, — Florence, Grace and Frank ; 
Emma, who was horn January 15, 1874, died 
March 9, 1.874 ; Charles, wlio was born October 
15, 1875, is a musician and imisic dealer at Mil- 
ledgeville; Herman, who was born March 22, 
1878, died in December. 1893 : Ernest Conrad, 
who was born January .'JO. 1880, is a farmer in 
Elkhorn (Jrove township, and married, issue, — 
Hryan ; Josephine, who was born June 4, 1881, 
is the wife of IJalph Wick, who is in the har- 



nessmaking business at Shannon, issue, — Alice, 
Helen and Ida ; Fannie, who was born October 
27, 1882, died September 22, 188.3; and Albertine, 
who was born June 15, 1883, died August 20, 
1883. 

Mr. Diehl succe<'ded In lils agricultural under- 
taking and at one time was noted for the fine 
stock he marketed, on one occasion hauling thirty 
wagon loads of Chester Wliite hogs to Polo, all 
averaging 450 pounds, for which he received 
the highest market price. .Mr. Diehl cast his 
vote for candidates of the Itepublican party for 
many years but he is a thinking man and real- 
izes that new conditions liave come about so 
that his ne.xt vote may be given independent of 
party and entirely according to his own judg- 
ment. 

DOTY, David Boone, county sheriff of Carroll 
county, is a native of the county, born in Mt. 
Carroll townshi]), September 19, 1850, a son of 
Timothy and Jane (Craig) Doty, the former a 
native of Canada. Tlie fatlier was educated iu 
his native country and at the age of twenty- 
one years came to Illinois. He had been reared 
to farm work and had attended the common 
schools. About 1842 he came to Savanna and 
for four years worked at whatever employment 
he was able to find. When he married he settled 
on a farm iu Mt. Carroll township, where he 
spent the remainder of his life, dying In 18!MJ. 

After attending tlie district schools in his 
native township, David B. Doty engaged in farm- 
ing and in 1883 moved to a farm near Galesburg, 
Neosho county, Kans., where he icarried on 
agricultural pursuits about fi^'« years. He then 
retired from that occupation. In 1890, he was 
elected to the olhce of niarslial of Thayer. Kans., 
which post he held three years, after which 
he returned to Savamia, 111., and for some nine 
years worked for a railroad company. Mr. Doty 
is a Republican in politics and has always been 
interested in public affairs. He lias alwa.vs en- 
joyed the confidence and regard of his fellow- 
citizens and in 1!X)2 was elected to the otiice of 
sheriff, being re-elected In 190(i and again in 
1910. He had previously served some time as 
station police ollicer at S.ivaima so was well 
fitted by e.xpeiience and study for tlie office of 
sheriff, the duties of which he has perrnrmcd In 
a sjitlsfactory manner. 

Mr. Doty was married (first) December 18, 
1879, to Maggie Shannon and they had five chll- 



776 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



dKU : Lee, who was boru October 5. ISSO, mar- 
ried Ollie Allison and lives at Portland. Ore. ; 
Jennie, wlio was boru October 31, 1SS2 ; William, 
who was boru September 9, 1SS5, married Zella 
Feter and lives in Mt. Carroll; Mabel, who was 
born April 4. ISSS, married Clarence Poffen- 
barger, issue — Clarence and an infant ; and Dee, 
who died In early childhood. Mrs. Doty died 
Alareh 21, 1000, and is buried in the Savanna 
cemetery. Mr, Doty was married (second) on 
November 22, 190G. to Anna McCall. of Mt. Car- 
roll, and they have two children : Dee McCall, 
born December 1. 1007 ; and Margaret E., born 
January 12, 1911. Mr. Doty is a member of the 
Masonic lodge and the Modern Woodmen of 
America. 

DUNNING, Edward H., a prominent and sub- 
stantial citizen of Savanna, is a self-made man 
in every way, having been left an orphan in 
childhood and early thrown cu bis own re- 
sources. He was horn in Trempleau county. 
Wis., April 24, 1S71, son of Erastus and Eliza- 
beth (Howe) Dunning, natives of Ohio and 
Minnesota, respectively, whose ancestors were 
from more eastern states. Erastus H. Dunning 
was a farmer by occupation and an early set- 
tler of Jlinnesota. His wife died when Ed- 
ward was eleven years of age and he died about 
three years later. 

Edward H. Dunning went to live with strang- 
ers when he was but eleven years of age, hut 
already knew how to work, having at the age 
of nine years followed a plow for days at a 
time for his father. After his mother's death 
he went to work on a farm near Richmond, 
Minn., and from there went to Trempleau. 
Wis., but after a short time, went to Homer, 
Minn., where he attended school. He removed 
to Winona. Minn., and drove a team In that 
town for a time, and then went to work as an 
engineer on the Mississippi river, being em- 
ployed on the raft-boat "F, C. A. Denkman." 
Later he purchased a farm near Camp Douglas. 
Wis., and after living there eleven years located 
in West Salem, where he was engaged in dig- 
ging wells and other work in connection there- 
with. He still later moved from West Salem to 
La Crosse, and soon afterward came to Savanna, 
which has been his home since 1904. He has 
developed into a public-spirited and enterpris- 
ing citizen, interested in the progress and de- 
velopment of the conunuuit.v. A Repulilii-an in 



princiiile, he votes for the men and measures he 
considers will serve the best interests of the 
people. He is a member of the Presbyterian 
church, to which his wife also belongs, and is 
affiliated with the Yeomen of America. 

Mr. Dunning is connected with the Peoples 
Gas & Electric Company, of Savanna, with 
which he holds an important position, one of 
trust and responsibility, being chief engineer. 
He is known to be upright and fair in his deal- 
ings with others and Is well liked in various 
circles. Although living at Oak Park in East 
Savanna, he has sold his property recently, but 
he intends to purchase another home in the near 
future. 

Mr. Dunning was married in West Salem, De- 
cember 4, 1900. to Miss Esther Kronberg, who 
was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, May •"). 18S1, 
and came to the United States when she was 
eight years old. Her parents were born in 
Denmark, her father being deceased. Her mother 
and stepfather (also a native of Denmark) re- 
side in West Salem. Mr. Dunning and wife 
have the following children : Harold R.. born 
in West Salem, March 6, 1901; Merle C. born 
in La Crosse, March S, 1903; Vi\ian A., horn 
in Savanna, December 1, 190-5; and Loyal, born 
in Savanna, July 20, 190S. 

DYER, Walter Leroy, baggage-master for the 
Chicago, Milwaukee & St, Paul Railroad, was 
lX)ru iu Liscomb, la,, January 14, 1872, a son 
of George W, and Mary E. (Thompson) Dyer. 
His parents, who were originally from the East, 
made Liscomb their home for some time, Imt 
then removed to Savanna, 111., afterward mak- 
ing it their permanent place of residence. Here 
Walter Dyer spent the greater part of his .youth, 
attending the public schools of the place and 
generally enjoying himself as boys of his age 
do. Until he reached the age of thirteen he 
felt no burden of responsibility, but in that year 
his father who was a railroad man, was killed 
by a falling tree while he was chopping wood. 
This sad bereavement left the lad and his 
mother with scarcely anything, and of neces- 
sity Walter Dyer engaged with a neighboring 
farmer, that he might add what he could to his 
mother's meager allowance. His father was 
Iniried iu Savanna, and the mother, who sur- 
vived until Feb. G, 1910, when she died at her 
sister's liome in Mattoon. 111., was brought home 
and placed to rest by his side. Young D.ver 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUiNTY 



777 



continued with his farm work until he was 
nearly seventeen years old, when he entered 
the employ of a liaker. This work he found 
nut much to his liking and after a year spent 
In a planing mill, and another as an assistant 
in the local livery liarns, he went to work iu 
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Taul round house, 
as 11 mechanic, thus continuing for five years. 
At the expiration of that time, he was promoted 
t<i the position of baggage master for that road. 

On May 14, 1S95, Mr. Dyer was married to 
Miss Ellen Law, of Woodland, 111., a daughter 
of Samuel Law, a prominent farmer of that 
part of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Dyer became 
tlie parents of two daughters: Gladys, who was 
born September 9, 1S9G, milliner; and Florence 
M., who was born October 30, 1S99. 

The Dyers are regular attendants at the 
Methodist church, iu which each hold's member- 
ship. Mr. Dyer has for seventeen years been 
fraternally connected with the Modern 'Wood- 
men, and has also been a member of the vol- 
unteer fire department since he was eighteen 
years old. The family live in their pleasant 
home, in Savanna, where their open-handed hos- 
pitality is dispensed. 

DYSON, Elijah H., a retired farmer living at 
Tlinmson. 111., and one of the best known men 
of Carroll county, was born in this county on 
section S, York township, March 20. 1S41, a sou 
of William and Lavina (Smith) Dyson. Will- 
iam Dyson was born in Taylor county, Va., Sep- 
tember 17, 1S12. In 1819 he went to Barthol- 
omew county, Ind., and there, on September 17, 
IS.^o, was married to Lavina Smith, who was 
born February 2, 1S14, and they came to Car- 
roll county. 111., October 19, 1838. Lavina Smith 
was born in Ohio and died at Thomson, 111., on 
February 4, 1011, two days after celebrating 
her ninety-seventh birthday. William Dyson, 
the grandfather of Elijah II. Dyson, came to 
Carroll county in 1837, with his wife, Betsy 
(Ilulibard) Dyson, accompanied by four sons: 
Eli, Charles, Hezekiah and William. Eli and 
Hezekiah both died in York township and were 
buried near their parents, iu the old Baptist 
liurying ground. Charles Dyson died in Wis- 
consin. The Dysons were well known people 
and in a measure maintained the reputation for 
hospitality that belongs to Virginia people. They 
were pioneers in every sense of the word. 
William Dyson, father of Elijah H. Dyson, 
n 



engaged in farming as an occupation, and to 
a large degree was one of the men who assisted 
in the development of this part of Carroll count.v. 
When he came to section IS, York township. 
Savanna was but a hamlet of a few houses and 
one store. During the later years of his life 
he was a devout member of the Christian church. 
In politics he was a Republicsin. In earlier days 
he enjoyed hunting the wild game that was yet 
plentiful all through this part of the country. 
To William and Lavina Dyson the following ehil- 
dreu were born : Serena, James, Elijah H., 
Mary, Nancy, William, Amos and Matilda. Mary 
died at the age of four years. James died in 
lOOG, having served in the Civil war for 
four years as a member of Company C, Ninety- 
second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, a brave man 
all through this long period. His widow survives 
and lives at Thompson, 111. William Amos is a 
retired farmer living at Davenport, la., mar- 
ried Alice Smith and they have two children, 
Louis and Tina. Serena J. is the widow of 
Henry Bristol, who left six children and she re- 
sides at Elk Point, S. Dak. Nancy is the widow 
of David Ashby and lives at Red Oak, la. 

Elijah H. D.vson had such school opportunities 
as were afforded in York township in his boy- 
hood but while still young began to take part 
iu the farm industries, probably his first real 
work being plowing with an ox-team, when about 
ten years old. He remained at homo until liis 
marriage, which occurred when he was about 
twenty-two years old, and then settled on the 
iild homestead of his grandfather, on section 
IS, York township. This land the grandfather 
had bought from the government for .$1.2.j per 
acre, the patent bearing the signature of Presi- 
dent James K. Polk. On this farm Mr. and 
Mrs. Dyson remained until March. 1902, and 
then moved to Thompson, where they enjoy every 
comfort of modern life, stili retaining the owner- 
ship of 153 acres of fine land. 

On July 26, 1863, Mr. Dyson was married to 
Miss Malissa L. Gaar, by Rev. C. W. Sherwood. 
She was born in York township, October 27. 
184.5, a daughter of John P. and Elii!al)etli (Shoe- 
maker) Gaar. The father of Mrs. Dyson was 
born in Kentucky, Septemlior 1.5. 1809, and the 
mother in Ohio, December 2.5, 1812. In Ma.v, 
1839, they were married at Marion, Ind., and 
in 1843 came to Carroll county and settled on 
a farm two miles east of Thompson, on which 
they spent the rest of their lives. John P. Gaar 



778 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



was a relative of Abraliam Gaar. of the Gaar- 
Scott Threshing Machine Co., of Richmond. Ind. 
Mrs. Dyson can trace her genealogy hack to John 
Gar, as the name was then siielled. who came 
to America from Bavaria, Germany, in 1651, 
after which the family was well known in 
Virginia. North Carolina and Kentucky. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Dyson the following children were 
•born : Cora A., born June 15, 1804, married 
John Meddles, a farmer in Clay county, S. Dak., 
and they have five children — Frank. Ktta. Lizzie, 
Pearl and Dyson. Lizzie, born JLirch 13, 1866, 
died at the age of seventeen years and six 
months ; Robert B., who was born March 18. 
1868, lives at home ; Harry L., who was born 
June 17, 1875, married Loretta Griswold, and 
they have three children — Wilbur. Wilmot and 
Sylvia. Mr. Dyson operates the old home farm 
in section 18 for his father ; TVTalter, who was 
born October 14. 1S7S, married Rosa B. Martin- 
dale and they live at Lyons, la., now lives in 
Thompson. They have six children : Clifford 
B., Cora M., Mary L., Thelma M., Myrua M., 
and Bernard Gaar. Mr. and Mrs. Dyson have 
met with few personal bereavements and their 
long period of married life has been one of real 
companionship. For over fifty years they have 
been members of the Christian church, for forty- 
six of these Jlrs. D.vson being a teacher in the 
Sunday-school, and for twenty-six years Mr. 
Dyson has Ijeeu a deacon in the church. 

DYSON, William H. — For seventy-five years, 
three-fourths of a century. William H. Dyson 
has been a resident of Carroll count.v. 111., and 
has vitall.v interested himself in its development, 
agricultural and otherwise, and en.ioys the dis- 
tinction of being the county's oldest native born 
resident. He was boi'n at Savanna, Carroll 
county. 111., February 22. 1838, a son of Heze- 
kiah and Ruth (McEndlow) Dyson. Hezekiah 
Dyson was born in Virginia and in early man- 
hood made his way to Bartholomew county, Ind., 
where he maiTied, in 1830 coming with his wife 
to Carroll county. 111., where he secured work in 
a saw-mill, near Savanna. In June. 1S3S. when 
his son, William H., was four months old, he 
moved into York township, having entered land 
on section 20, in 1837, and there built tlie first 
log cabin ever erected on what is now called the 
Bluffs. While his was the first white man's 
home, this section had long afforded subsistence 
to other than animal life, for Indians still roamed 



at will over the country and made settlement 
wherever they pleased. Although many of the 
early settlers had reason to fear the Indians, 
Mr. Dyson never had any trouble with them and 
even was on friendly terms although his wife 
felt it advisable to hide the children in the 
cabin when these visitors ,")peared. It prol)- 
ably was a happy day for Mr. Dyson when the 
Indians were removed from this state and he 
ferried 300 of them across the river. To Heze- 
kiah Dyson and wife five sous and six daughters 
were born, eight of whom were born in Car- 
roll county and ten of the family grew to matur- 
ity. The family's record as offered is the fiil- 
lowing. One daughter died in infancy. James 
Dyson died at the age of thirtj'-two years, leav- 
ing three children. Charles Dyson, who died 
at the age of fifty-two years, married and had 
nine children, four of whom survive. William 
H. Dyson was the fourth in order of birth. 
Serena is the widow of Isaac Boody, who was 
accidentally killed in a railroad wreck. She 
resides at Morrison, 111., and is the mother of 
seven children. Nellie is the wife of James 
Jackson, residing at Chicago, 111., and they have 
four living children and one deceased. Hezekiah 
married Mrs. Rachel (Mounts) D.vson and they 
live at Manila, la. Margaret who lives in 
Utah, is the widow of Joseph Little, and was 
twice married, first to James Little. Edith and 
Katie both reside at Los Angeles, Calif. Cor- 
nelius Dyson is a prominent resident of Topeka, 
Kan.s., and four sons were born to his fir.st mar- 
riage. Mary Is the wife of Asa Rodgers and 
they live in Michigan. She was first married to 
Charles Patrick. 

The parents of the aljove family have long 
since passed away, the death of the mother 
occurring in 1S77 and that of the father, .Marcli 
17, 1882. They were leading members of the 
Baptist clnirch and in every relation of life 
were worthy of emulation. Mr. Dyson, from a 
capital of fifty cents, with which he landed in 
York township, built up an amjile fortune, 
reared a large family in comfort and respectabil- 
ity and left an estate including 100 acres of 
valuable land. 

William H. Dyson attended the subscription 
schools in boyhood, his father paying the sum of 
fifty cents for the privilege. There was a log 
sehoolhouse built near his home and the teach- 
ers boarded around with their patrons, each 
family having, in turn, a chance to make his 




WILLIAM MAC'KA'i 



^\\ 



>* ■■ -:' 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



intimate acquaintance. Many times his tUougbls 
wander back to the old log schoolhouse with its 
primitive equipments and Mr. Dyson can even 
remember the names of his early teachers. As 
soon as he was old enough, he was taught farm 
duties, for in his Iwyhood youths were exjiected 
to earn their own ••keep" and usually did much 
more, and as he grew older he was of still more 
assistance to his father. Ox teams were used 
for transiJorting corn to the mill at Savanna, 
and as there was uo market for this grain it 
was largely used as home food, wheat at that 
time bringing only twenty-five or thirty cents 
a bushel. Mr. Dyson recalls when coffee was 
an almost unknown luxury in the home, and 
when the tallow dip was universjiUy used for 
illuminating purposes. Mr. Dyson remained on 
the home farm until he was twenty-one years 
of age. In is.",!), with his brother Charles, he 
rented land and for several years they attended 
to their own domestic arrangements. On Feb- 
ruary 6, 18G1, however, Mr. Dyson was married 
to Miss Amanda Mounts, who was born near 
Columbus, Ind. The families were additionally 
united, his brother James having married her 
sister Rachel. In the meanwhile. Mr. Dyson 
bought eighty acres of land situated in section 
20, York townshiii, and after marriage he and 
his wife settled there and on this farm two of 
their five children were born. He then sold his 
first purchase and bought ICO acres in section 
28, and on that farm three more children were 
liorn, the record being as follows : Nettie, who 
was born November 14, 18G2, married Milus 
Knight, March 1. 1881. who was born in Ten- 
nessee and came to Illinois with his i)arents in 
chililhood. Mr. and .Mrs. Knight had three daugh- 
ters born to them, namely, Nellie, Maude and 
Rosa. Nellie Knight died at the age of four 
years. Maude was married December 18, 190C, 
to Mark Gaar, and died May 10, 1007. Rosa 
Knight was born March 14, 1801, graduated at 
tlie Thompson high school with the class of 
1008, and in 100ft was appointed teaclier of the 
best equipped school in York township and has 
been retained as such ever since. .Mr. Kniglit 
died June 28, 1804. He was a man of sterling 
character and a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church. 

Stella Dyson married Elmer Griswold. who is 
a farmer in Ym^k township. George Dyson, who 
Is an extensive farmer near Lanark. 111., mar- 
ried Mary Grimm, and they have four chil- 



dren: Glenn, Leah, Neva and Thelma. Charles 
Dyson, who resides in Iowa and is olhcially con- 
nected with the Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 
married Minnie (Ireely and the.v havt! two 
children : Lloyd and Paul. Mary Dysou mar- 
ried Samuel Grimm, who carries on the in- 
dustries on Mr. Dyson's old farm, and they have 
three children : Anna, Bert and Claude. The 
mother of the above family was permitted to 
see her children all happily settled in life be- 
fore she passed away on September 15, 1011. She 
was an active member of the Christian cluircli 
and was beloved by all who knew her. 

Mr. Dyson remained on his farm until 1892 
and then purchased a lot in a pleasant section 
of Thompson, 111., on which he erected a com- 
fortable dwelling and for three years afterward 
conducted a meat market but since thou has 
lived retired from active participation in busi- 
ness. Mr. Dyson still finds much, however, to 
interest him, has a wide circle of congenial 
friends and a beloved daughter, Mrs. Knight, 
to look after his comfort, she, since the death 
of her mother, residing with her father. Mr. 
Dyson is a member of the Christian church, lie 
has been a member of the Republican party 
since the days of Abraham Lincoln, who has 
ever stood to him as a type of pure Americanism. 

EATON, Ralph Elmer, a prominent attorney of 
Mt. Carroll, 111., is active in public affairs that 
are beneficial to the community and has estab- 
lished himself in the confidence of his fellow- 
citizens and associates. Mr. Eaton was l)orn 
at Pleasant Valley, .To Daviess county. III.. May 
11. ISC.j, a son of Daniel and Harriet (House) 
Eaton, the former of whom was a native of 
Oswego, N. Y., who was brought in boyhood to 
Illinois in 184.') by his parents. In 1849, during 
the gold excitement in California, he traveled 
across the plains with an ox team and s|K>ut 
four years there, becoming owner of a mine 
which he sold upon leaving fcn^ a few thousand 
dollars that later made its purchasers rich. Re- 
turning to Pleasant Valley, he purchased a farm 
and operated it until a few years before his 
death, when ho moved to Savanna, where he 
died. 

Mr. Eaton was graduated from Fulton College 
in 1SS4 and the following year entered the office 
of James M. Hunter, a successful lawyer of Mt. 
Carroll, studying with him for two years. In 
1887 he was admitted to the bar and entered 



780 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



upon tlie iiraetice of his profession at Mt. 
CaiToll, being elected to the office of state's at- 
torney the following year. He held this resixin- 
sible office twelve consecutive years and since 
then has heen fully occupied with his private 
practice, and the duties pertaining to his con- 
nection as local attorney with the Chicago. Mil- 
waukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. One of 
the juost noted cases with which Mr. Eaton has 
been connected was that of Meyers, murderer 
of the mayor of Thompson, 111., In which Meyers 
had been declared guilty by the jury. Mr. Eaton 
w-as the attorney for the prisoner and saved his 
life by a technicality. He has also became well 
known as the attorney for the defence of Ed 
and Frank Koser, held on a murder charge at 
Savanna, and secured their acquittal. In the 
Shimer will case, in which Mr. Eaton served as 
attorney for the complainants, he won the deci- 
sion, this being the first case ever tried in the 
county where the will was set aside. He has 
been president of the library board since its 
organization, the library building having been 
erected during his incumbency, and he was for 
several terms president of the board of educa- 
tion, holding this office when the public school 
building at Mt. Carroll was erected. He has 
also served as alderman and has held various 
other local offices. 

On March 6, 1887, Mr. Eaton married Miss 
Lucy Viiwnd, of Jo Daviess count.v. 111., and 
four children have been Iwrn of this union : 
Laura, Flora, Helen and Kalph. Laura and 
Flora are teaching school, while the two younger 
children are at home. Mr. Eaton is a stanch 
Republican in politics and is one of the best- 
known lawyers of his county. 

ECKMAN, Jacob Alpheus, who is one of the 
substantial men of Carroll county, residing on 
East Locust street, Lanark, is a representative 
of an old Pennsylvania family that has been 
known for generations in Lancaster county. He 
was born in Lancaster county. Pa., March 8, 
1864, a son of Daniel G. Eckman who moved with 
his family to Carroll county. III., in 1870, becom- 
ing one of the extensive farmers and representa- 
tive men of this iiart of the State. 

Jacob Alpheus Eckman. better known to his 
friends as Alpha, was reared on the lionie farm 
and attended the district schools nearest his 
home. On Januai-y 21. 188G, he was married to 
Miss Barbara Ellen JIartin. who was Ixirn in 



Franklin county. Pa., December 20, 18&4, a 
daughter of the Rev. Henry and Susan (Zuck) 
Martin, both natives of Franklin county, Pa. 
They came to Carroll county In 1865 and bought 
120 acres of land In Cherry Grove town- 
ship, later adding forty acres, and there they 
made a beautiful home. The Rev. Henry Martin 
was born August 10, 1826, and died October 20, 
1908, and he was survived but one week by his 
wife who was born February 11, 1833, and died 
October 27, 1908. He was a minister and for 
many years preached for the German Baptist 
people who rejoiced in his wonderful presenta- 
tion of bible truths. He was the father of 
twelve children, four sons and eight daughters. 
Two of the children died in infancy, their names 
being Hannah M. and Anna F. The following 
survive: Lena, who is the wife of John A. 
Martin, a farmer of Cherry Grove township ; 
Sarah, who is the wife of George W. Windie, a 
farmer in the vicinity of Radis.son, Wis., issue, — • 
Minnie, Ella, Viola, Charles, Ilan-y and Clyde; 
Daniel, who is a farmer iin Pocahontas county, la., 
married Sadie Lutz, issue, — Etta, Alfred, Earl ; 
Mrs. Eckman ; Harry, who is a farmer in Cherry 
Grove township, married Lulu Curtis, issue, — ■ 
Albert and Walter; Susan, who is the wife of 
Thomas Bere of Lanark, issue, — Marie and 
Quinter; Minnie, who is the wife of Elmer 
Bolinger of Shannon, 111., issue. — Mabel; Ida 
C, now deceased, was the wife of Ploward Crab- 
tree, a farmer of Shannon township, and she 
left six children: Bessie, Katie, Gertie, Howard, 
Albert and Berry; John W., who died in li»ll. 
married Maggie Mattis, who survives and makes 
her home with her daughter. Minnie, in Lanark: 
and Albert who died April 24. 1893. Mr. and 
Mrs. Martin lived to see twenty-three grand- 
children and eight great-grandchildren and took 
great pleasure in their health and haiipiness. 

After their marriage Mr. and Jlrs. Eckman 
rented a farm in Rock Creek township, and he 
operated 160 acres of the old homestead until 
1898, when he bought the entire property and 
made it one of the most productive farms of 
this section. In 1903 he sold his first purchase 
and bought 116 2-3 acres situated on section .33, 
Cherry Grove township, on which he made many 
improvements, selling it to great advantage in 
1911, when he bought another farm in Rock 
Creelv township known as tlie Bert Zuck farm. 
Mr. and Mrs. Eckman have one daughter, Lulu 
May, who was born April 27. 1893. Their otiier 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



781 



chilli (lied in infiincy. Tlio dauglitor was iniir- 
ricil May 22. lOll!. to Frank A. Kampmeier, a 
fanner of Itock Creek township, operating a 
farm owned by Mr. Eckman. Mr. Kampmeier is 
a reliable, capable young man. He was born at 
Shannon, 111., March 21, 1S0.3. Mr. and Mrs. 
Eckman with their daughter and her husband, 
are active members of the Church of the 
Brethren. Mr. Kckman considers himself re- 
tired, but nevertheless he passes few idle hours, 
finding work at c.irpenlering and building a 
pleasant way to pass the time. The family is 
one held in very high regard at I-anark. 

ECKMAN, John Truman, a retired farmer and 
business man, now residing at Lanark, has 
spent the greater part of his life in Illinois, but 
his birth took place in Lancaster county. Pa., 
September Hi, 1S5S. His parents were Daniel 
(J. and Leah II. (lloak) Eckman, and his grand- 
I)arents were John and Mary (Pfoulz) Eckman. 

John Eckman was born in Germany and 
probably was young when his parents emigrated 
to America and settled in Lancaster county. 
Pa., where he died when aged seventy-nine 
years. He followed farming as an occupation 
and was a member and liberal supporter of the 
German Reformed Church. His children were 
two sous and three daughters : Daniel G. ; Eliza- 
beth, who was the wife of Jacob Eckman, a 
cousin, and both died in Lancaster county ; 
Susan, who married Henry Eckman, of the same 
name but of no relationship, and they both died 
in Lancaster county ; Kate, who married Joseph 
Folk, and they also died in Lancaster county ; 
while John, the eldest born, lived and died in 
I'ennsylvauia. 

Daniel G. Eckman was born in Lancaster 
county, April 11, 1S25, and when he reached 
manhood was there marrietl to I-eah Hoak, who 
was born December 28, 1826. After marriage 
they remained in Lancaster county until 1871, 
when they moved to Carroll county. 111., and here 
Mr. Eckman bought IGO acres, situated on section 
17, Rock Creek township. During his first year 
he built a house and also a bank barn, with 
dimensions of 50x100 feet, which was the first 
bank barn ever erected in Rock Creek townshii>. 
He always kept a good grade of stock and had 
the proper idea of earing for this portion of 
his wealth, providing good quarters at all times. 
Subsequently he also erected a handsome and 
comfortable residence on this farm. 



After leaving the farm in 1882 he and wife 
made their home with a daughter, and after 
the death of his wife in ISSo, he remained a 
member of a son's household, where his death 
occurred May 12, 1005, when he was aged sev- 
enty-eight years. They were faithful members 
of the Church of the Brethren. To them the 
following children were born : Amanda, who was 
bi>rn in Lancaster county, December 9, IS47, 
married B. K. Meyer, and died December 1, 
lOd.'i; Simon, who was born February 19, 1819, 
died May 4, 1871. in the same year that his 
p,-irents moved to Illinois ; Mary E., who was Iwrn 
August 22. 1850, died July 1, 1851; Emma E., 
who was horn January 9, 1852, died October 20, 
1.S.j6; Anna, who was born September 17, 1853, 
married Hon. William Kimmel, a very prominent 
ritizen of Sheldon, la., an extensive land owner 
and twi<'e a member of the State Senate; Eliza- 
beth, who was born October 9, 1850, is the wife of 
Jacob Royer. a retired farmer of Lanark, III.; 
John Truman, who was born September li;, 
1858; and Jacob Alpheus, who was born Manli 
8, 18C4, is a retired farmer living at Lanark, III. 

John Truman Eckman was about thirteen 
years old when he accompanied his parents to 
Illinois, and completed his education in llie 
schools of Carroll county. In 1880 he bonghi a 
farm of ninety acres adjoining the old h<ime- 
stead, in Rock Creek township, but continued to 
live with his parents while he managed the 
homestead farm together with his own ninety 
acres, making 2.")0 acres under his direction. 
After his marriage in 1882 he took entire charge 
of the homestead and after making some changes 
and improvements, purchased the pro]ierty and 
made his home on it until he first moved into 
Lanark, in 1801. For two years he was in the 
coal business there but in 1893 returned to the 
farm and was interested in a stock liusiness 
until 1902, when he once more came to Lanark, 
where he embarked in a flour, feed and imple- 
ment business, continuing it until 190C, when ho 
disposed of it and until 1908 carried on a real 
estate luisiness, since which time ho has lived 
retired in his handsome residence on East Pearl 
street, which he eomiileted in 1912. In all his 
undertakings he has been more or less success- 
ful, owing to excellent business judgment, and 
even yet he prefers to keep busy, serving as one 
of the directors of the Rock Creek-Lanark Mu- 
tual Fire Insurance Company, of which he ha3 
been secretary since 190?.. Ho keeps a watcli- 



782 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



ful eye on proiierty values as he owns consiilei'a- 
ble iu this and other sections, iucluUin:,' tlie 
creamery Ituilding oast of Lanark, two town 
properties, eighty acres of land in Wood county. 
Wis., and is president of the Lanark-Idaho Or- 
chard Co-operative Company, which holds eighty 
acres of apple orchards. In politics he has 
always been a Rei)ublican and after he was 
twenty-one years of age was elected a school 
director in Rock Creek to\\-nsliip and for four 
years has been a member of the Lanark school 
board. 

On Xovember 30, 1882, Jlr. Eckman was mar- 
ried to Miss Mary E. Dubbel, who was born in 
Washington county. Md.. November 20, 1855, and 
accompanied her parents to Illinois in 1862. 
Her father bought a farm west of Lanark, in 
Rock Creek township, where both parents died. 
Mr. and Mrs. Dulibel lia<l five children : David, 
wlio married Enuna Sherry, lives at Lanark; 
Mrs. Eckman ; Helen, who is the wife of John 
E. Rowland, a farmer in Cherry Grove town- 
ship; Edward, who is a farmer near Water- 
town, S. Dak.. maiTied Elma Arnold; and Anna 
B.. who is the wife of Jack Gordon, and they 
live at Freei)ort. 111. Three children were Imrn 
to Mi\ and Mrs. Eckman: one that died in in- 
fancy ; Bess, who was born December 13, 1881), 
was maiTied June 1, 1011, to Scott S. Nichol. 
who is operating the old home farm for Mr. 
Eckman; and Daniel P.. who was born June 20. 
1895, and resides at bduie. Mr. Eckman and 
family are members of the Church of the 
Brethren and for years he has been a deacon 
and a member of its board of trustees. 

ELLIOTT, James (deceased).— All of the mar- 
tyrs of the Civil war did nut perish upon tlie 
battle fields for many lived for years, bearing 
with them the effects of injuries received dur- 
ing their i)eriod of service. In spite of what 
by many would have been regarded as a serious 
handicap. fre<uieiirly these heroes attained dis- 
tinction in various walks of life, and only gave 
up when death claimed them. One of the men 
who not only was a good soldier, but an e.xcellent 
business man as well, was the late .Lames Elliott. 
who was a contractor of bridges and one of the 
substantial men of Savanna. He was born in 
Ireland, May 0. 1843, but had lived in this 
country for many years. During the Civil war. 
he served as a brave and valiant soldier, en- 
listing in Company C, Ninety-second Illinois 



Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Stover 
Hawk, and later as a veteran in the Forty- 
fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was 
wounded at the battle of Lookout Mountain, 
and never fully recovered from it, as this in- 
jury occasioned his death September 4, 1893, 
and his remains were laid to rest in Ziou Grove 
cemetery in Woodland township. In 18C5, he 
received his honorable discharge, after having 
participated in the celebrated March to the Sea 
with General Sherman. After the war, he 
joined the G. A. R. Post at Mt. Carroll. 

When he was five years old, his parents lo- 
cated in New York state, where they remained 
for two years, and then tame west to Illinois. 
Mr. Elliott was educated in Carroll county, at- 
tending the old Stone school iu Savanna. After 
his war service, he returned to that city, where 
he resided until he went to Woodland town- 
shii). That continued to be his home for thirty 
years, and he served there as a school director 
for a long period. 

Iu January, 1866, Mr. Elliott was married 
by Squire Byron Ecker to Martha Rolands, 
who was born in Jo Daviess county. 111., Novem- 
ber 18, 1845, a daughter of Michael Rolands of 
Iri.sli de.scent who came to Illinois from Ken- 
tucky prior to the Black Hawk war, in which 
he served, fighting bravely against the Indians. 
His death occurred in the fifties. Mrs. Elliott 
had two brothers, Calvin and Joseph who 
served during the Civil war in the Forty-eighth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry and participated in 
the March to the Sea with General Sherman. 
Both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott 
became the parents of the following children : 
William M., who is a teamster of Savanna, mar- 
ried Mary Son ; Isaac, who is also a teamster 
of this city, married Emma Chapin, issue, — 
Earl. Lloyd and Ruth, and by a first marriage 
to Rilla Hastings, has two children, — May and 
Irwin; Albert, who is a farmer of Canada, mar- 
ried Cora Finch; Calvin; Richard N. who is in 
partnership witli Calvin at Savanna, married 
Edna R. Chapin, issue, — Alma and Roderick ; 
and Delia M. who married Irwin Kennedy of 
Savanna, issue, — Martha L. 

Calvin Elliott was bom in Woodland town- 
ship August 4, 1877, and he was educated in the 
country schools, so that he is essentially a Car- 
roll county iiroduct. Mr. Elliott learned the 
stone mason trade which he has found very u.se- 
ful in his line of work, and has been in a gen- 




CAKol.l.NL MAUK 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



783 



oral coutractiug business, taking eontnuts for 
stone, steel and concrete work for the last lif- 
teen years. On July 2, 1911, he suffered a loss 
from fire, but rebuilt that same year. He built 
and owns the two houses adjoining his resi- 
dence, putting them up in 1009. >Ir. Elliott has 
done considerable work in Carroll and Jo Da- 
viess counties, building bridges and liuilding and 
rei)airing ix)ads. 

Mr. Elliott was married to Miss Viola Chupiu, 
a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Bates) 
Chapiu, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. 
Elliott have lour children : James W., Albert 
B., Martha L., and Delia \. Politically Mr. 
Elliott is a Uepubliian and is a yotnig man well 
liked in his couununity, where he is also re- 
.si)f<ted for his business judgment and ability. 

ELSEY, Henry, one of the old settlers and lead- 
ing citizens of Hazelhurst, Carroll county, is an 
excellent e.xample of the sturdy English stock, 
for he was born at Epson, county Surry. Eng- 
land, July 9, ISiT. His father, also Ilein-y Elsey, 
was a native of Eiison, but the grandfather, 
Henry Elsey, was born ou the border of Scot- 
laud. He served in the British army under the 
Duke of Wellington, in the war against Napo- 
leon, and also saw service in Canada and India. 
AVlien he retired from the army, he settled in 
Epson, near the Down.s. and there married Susan 
Napier, a sister of Sir Charles John Napier, 
Major-Geueral and of Sir William Francis 
Napier, also an olBcer in the British army. This 
marriage displeased the Nai>ier family, and Mrs. 
Elsey was disowned by them for marrying one 
regarded as so much her social inferior. The 
old soldier and his bride cheerfully accepted 
the situation, and went to work to make a pleas- 
ant home on land leased from the crown. Al- 
though humble, it was a happy home, the boys 
and girls growing to useful manhood and woman- 
hood. In turn they married and lalnjred in the 
fields and shops and factories, and they re- 
garded England as the best country in the 
world. 

Henry Elsey. the second, married Eliza I.over- 
age, born in Worchester, a servant in the home 
of Lord Mayo of Cheam. They had four chil- 
dren: Robert, Henry, Alfred and .\nna Eliza. 
The years 1&17 and 1848, were sorrowful ones 
to the poorer classes in England. No work was 
to be obtained, taxes were very high, the crops 
failed ou account of excessive rains, and there 



were no potatoes. Sickness and death were con- 
stant visitors in the homes of the pool*. The 
Elsey family suffered terribly, and all but Henry 
died, and the spring of 18-18 found him in an 
English workhouse, oriilianed and friendless. 

In July, ISIO. an uncle took him from this in- 
stitution, and paid his i)ass;ige to the United 
States, but died soon after their arrival in New 
York City, leaving beside Henry, a widow and 
five children, almost penniless, entire strangers 
in an alien land. The years that followed were 
ones of toil and hardship for the widow and 
her little ones. They eventually arrived at 
Elgin, 111., and there they found that there was 
a bright side to life. Entire strangers gave them 
a helping hand, and there was plenty of work, 
although at scanty wages. Henry fomul a home 
and board, and was giveu clothes and an np- 
portuuity to attend school. 

A year or two in the National school at Epson 
had taught him to read, and he was fortunate 
enough to fall in with intelligent men and women 
who were fond of reading. The first newspaper 
Henry saw was the National Era, in which 
that classic Uncle Tom's Cabin was then run- 
ning. This powerful story made a deep im- 
pression on the lad. and he became a radical 
Abolitionist. John B. Gough"s lectures on tem- 
perance were published in this same organ, and 
Henry also espoused the teini>erance cause. 

Later on he reached Carroll county, and be- 
came connected with the "Underground Kail- 
road,'' and for several years put into iiractical 
oi)eration his Abolition views, by aissisting 
slaves to escape, driving over the roads between 
Fulton and Byi-on with negroes seeking freedom. 
He assisted many to escape to Canada. Natur- 
ally with his views, he was one of the first to 
enlist, when the three years' call was issued for 
triMi]is. and served for four years, fnur months 
and seven days in the United States army. He 
saw service in the Fifteenth Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry, the Seventh Illinois Cavalry, and the 
Fifth Veteran Reserve Corps, participating in 
the following engagements : Farraington, Cor- 
inth, luka, Corinth (second), Grierson's Raid 
to Baton Rouge, La Port, Hudson Plains Store, 
the Tickafaw Bridge. Holly Springs. Shoal 
Creek. Lawreni'ebnrg. Suinnierville, Island No. 
10. Franklin, Lynnville and in many cavalry 
skirmishes. He was wounded at Cold Water 
Ford, November 3, 186."?. by a musket ball In 
his right leg, which was not extracted until 



784 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



four years later, he serving for two years after 
being sliot. That wound is still causing him 
trouble. 

On Thanksgiving Day, 1870. Heury Elsey was 
married to Clarinda Spencer, daughter of Allen 
B. and Eliza C. Spencer. They have three chil- 
dren : -Mrs. rhila Booth of Aurora, III. ; Mrs. 
Mary Dutey, of Polo, 111., and Allen S. Elsey, 
of Eagle Point, 111. 

For several years after he came home from 
the army, Mr. Elsey followed the trade of car- 
penter and builder, working when it was neces- 
sary to know how to build with raw materials, 
hewing the timbers with a broad axe and mak- 
ing sash and doors by hand. He was post- 
master at Eagle Point twenty years ; clerk, six- 
teen years ; school director, twelve years ; justice 
of the peace, four years ; township collector, one 
year; and secretary of the Eagle Point Town- 
ship Mutual Fire Insurance Company for thirty- 
seven years, township school treasurer, twelve 
years, and treasurer of the Eagle Point Fire In- 
surance Company, five years. He is now town- 
ship school treasurer for both Eagle Point and 
Elkhorn Grove township. He has never sought 
any office save that of postmaster, and is proud 
of the fact that during the thirty-seven years 
he has been connected with the insurance com- 
liany, there has never been a word written in 
the company records, or a policy issued that 
was not written by him. During all this time 
not one annual report has been returned to him 
for correction by the superintendent of insur- 
ance. Mr. Elsey feels that his adopted country- 
men have given him their confidence and on 
this account he feels amjily repaid for the years 
he suffered by reason of the wound he received 
in the Civil war, when he sees "Old Glory" 
floating over a united and prosperous people. 

FARMER, Charles C, of Carroll county, is well- 
known as an organizer of the local branches of 
the Modern Woodmen of America and the 
Woodmen of the World, and made the speech 
at Omaha, Nebr., nominating J. C. Root as the 
national head of both organizations. Since 
these orders have been well established Mr. 
Farmer has spent much of his time promoting 
their welfare and growth. He is a man of 
strong personality, a good orator and much 
interested in the work in which he has been en- 
gaged, so that his enthusiasm has been inspir- 
ing to others. Mr. Farmer is also prominent in 



Masonic circles, being a Knight Templar and 
served three years as worshipful master of 
C'irus lodge at Mt. Carroll. Mr. Farmer has 
lived in Mt. Carroll some time, and is inter- 
ested in all iniblic movements using his influ- 
ence for the advancement of the welfare of the 
city. 

On April 10, 1SG2, Mr. Farmer was married 
to Miss Esther E. Jefferis, of Mt. Carroll, a na- 
tive of AVilmington, Del., and they have become 
parents of two children, Charles C. Jr. and 
Mary R., the latter the wife of Elmer P. Kinney, 
and motlier of three children, two sons and a 
daughter. 

Captain Charles C. Fanner, Jr., was born 
January 9, 1S76, and received his preliminary 
education in the public schools of Carroll 
county. He was apix)inted by Congressman R. 
R. Hitt to a scholarship at West Point, being 
graduated from that institution in 1S09, as 
second lieutenant. Captain Farmer participated 
in the Spanish-American war, serving in Cuba 
and the Philippines, and is now stationed at 
Fort Moade, So. Dak. 

FINK, John V. (deceased).— Although all that 
was earthl.v of John V. Fink, of Savanna, 
passed from the knowledge of men many years 
ago, his record as an energetic and useful citi- 
zen is still well remembered, and those of his 
friends yet living will recall his upright hon- 
esty and good deeds. Mr. Fink was born in 
AUeutown, Pa., a son of William Fink. He was 
educated in his native state and at the age of 
fifteen years left home and went to Baltimore, 
where he learned the trade of a cooper, at 
which he worked the greater portion of the 
remainder of his life. After extensive travel- 
ing, and a period of residence in Kentucky, in 
1S40 Mr. Fink came to Savanna, 111., where 
he met and married Margaret Bothwell, of Eng- 
lish and Scotch descent, although a native of 
Ireland. Mr. Fink and his wife became the 
parents of six children: two died in infancy; 
Sarah, who is now deceased, for twenty-seven 
years was a school teacher, and well known 
as an efficient educator, was located for seven 
.vears at Thomson, 111., seven years at Leclaire, 
la., and some years at Savanna; Eucy, who is 
the widow of John Q. Wing, is a re.sident of 
Chicago ; Anna J., who for many years was a 
prominent educator; and John E., who was 
graduated from the law department of Ann 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



785 



Arl)or university, is now ;m attuniey located at 
Clinton, la., and was for many years a judge 
of the police court. Mrs. Fink was one of five 
cbildren, two daughters and three sons, and 
went to Vermont with her three brothers when 
about seventeen years of age. When aliout 
twenty years of age, having learned the trade 
of a milliner, she went to Alliauy. X. Y., wliere 
she had two brothers and when about twenty- 
three years old came to Sa\anna. Her lirother 
James died in Albany. Her brother Jeremiah 
lived many years on a farm near Albany, but 
later moved to Clinton, la., where he died. The 
third brother lived in Galena, III., many years, 
but spent the last of his life in Duliuque. la. 
The sister Sarah married Charles Pult'iu-d, cif 
Savanna. 

For many years John Fink worked in Sa- 
vanna at the trade of a cooijer. He early 
.showed his sagacity and good judgment by 
investing in land in the vicinity and became 
quite wealthy, retiring when about sixty years 
of age. He was a devout man and his chil- 
dren were reared among Christian influences. 
His liouse was always an abiding jilace for min- 
isters in early days and he was one of the 
founders of the Congregational church of Sa- 
vanna, remaining faithful to its teaching until 
death, and contributing liberally to its support. 
He served many years as deacon in the clinrch 
and was always ready to help in its work. In 
politics lie was a Hepnlilican liut never sought 
office. Mr. Fink lUed March I!), 1S9.5. Always 
a true friend to educational movements, though 
he received liniite<l op|)ortunities in this re- 
spect himself, he was eager to give to his chil- 
dren the best advantages in his power, so that 
all were well fitted for their future work and 
all who reached maturity spent some time in 
teach ijig. 

FLEMING, Hugh Mack (deceased), formerly 
residing at Milledgeville. III., was born in Law- 
rence county, Ind.. .\pril 20, 18.37. a son of Robert 
Lacy and Jane (Scritehfield) Fleming. Grand- 
father Fleming was born in Ireland and when he 
emigrated to America settled first in the State 
of New York but later moved to Lawrence 
county, Ind., where he died. 

Robert Lacy Fleming was born in Xew York 
l)Ut was mainly reared in Indiana. Allbough he 
had but meager educational opportunities be be- 
came a man of considerable conseiiueuee, serving 



for many years after moving to Illinois, in the 
office of Justice of the Peace and as Township 
Clerk. In politics he was first a Whig and later 
a Republican. He was maiTied in Indiana to 
Jane Scritchfield, who was born in Ohio, and in 
184(1, with her family, came to Illinois. .Vt that 
time his son, Hugh Mack Fleming, was nine 
years old and his memory recalls what was then 
an eventful journey. Seven wagons were piled 
high with household effects and the three weeks 
of travel, while a serious enough matter to the 
older members of the family, was one of rare 
adventure to the restless children. They wit- 
nes.sed sights they had never seen before, travel- 
ing through unbroken forests, fording uubridged 
streams and making roads over uncharted prai- 
rie, religiously resting every Sabb.-ith day. It 
was in the fall of ISIG that the family reached 
Whiteside county. 111., and remained there until 
the following .spring and then moved into Car- 
roll county, selecting tracts of land near a mill 
site, the same now being included in the busy 
towu of Milledgeville. For some years the 
Scritebtields remained here but later moved to 
Tama county, la. .Some five years after coming 
to Illinois, Robert Lacy Fleming bought eighty 
acres of land in Wysox township, a part of 
which Hugh Mack Fleming still owns, and here 
spent his life following farming and the raising 
of stock. He was a great student of the Bible 
and so familiar with its wisdom that it was a 
pleasure to him to discu.ss moral questions and 
apply passages of Scripture to maintain bis 
contentions. In his religious opinions he was of 
the LTniversalist faith. His death occurred in 
1880 and his widow survived him for ten years. 
She was reared in the Methodist faith. Three 
sons and five daughters were born to them and 
four of these survive, Hugh Mack being the 
third in order of birth. Sarah, who lives in 
Whiteside county, is the widow of Kdwin Bird- 
sell. Margaret, who lives at Morrison, 111.. Is 
the widow of Henry Pond. Eva also resides at 
Morrison. Robert Bruce is a painter and decor- 
ator and lives at Baraboo, Wis. Angelina mar- 
ried Henry Birdsell and they are deceased, sur- 
vived by one daughter, Clara, who is the wife of 
Henry Stevens, of Sumner, la. Xancy married 
William Ilowland and they both died at .Ster- 
ling, 111., and they are survived by one daughter, 
Grace, who resides at Boston. Mass. 

As stated above, Hugh Mack Fleming, was not 
yet ten years old when his family moved to 



786 



IILSTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



Carroll county, where he lived up to the time of 
his death. He attended the subscription school, 
his father paying twenty cents a day to have his 
three children instructed, the teacher being John 
Camiiljell. This first scUool-liouse was a very 
primitive affair but in the winter of 1S4S a three- 
room building was erected in the village, which 
was at first used for school purposes, later as a 
hotel and still later as a dwelling. Mr. Fleming re- 
mained on the home farm until his marriage in 
1S60. when he rented laud of his grandfather, in 
Whiteside county, on which he lived until 1SC2, 
when he returned to Carroll county and bought 
five acres of the homestead, on which he erected 
his first residence a part of which stands. In 
1863 he rented forty acres and also bought 
forty acres of land from the Illinois Central 
Railroad and this was the nucleus of his fine 
farm, which, through five purchases, aggregated 
19o acres. Following his third marriage, Mr. and 
Mre. Fleming lived for two years on his farm 
and then came to Milledgeville, where Mrs. Flem- 
ing had erected a comfortable and attractive 
dwelling, on Ilolton avenue, where she still 
resides. 

Mr. Fleming was married (first) July 4, 18C0, 
to Sarah Wilson, who died early. She was an 
estimable woman and was a Spiritualist in re- 
ligious belief. Tlie following children were born 
to them : Cassius M., who is a farmer in Mis- 
souri ; Lilly, who is the wife of Henry Whittling. 
a farmer near Central City, la. ; Minnie, who 
is the wife of Edgar Holt, a farmer near Nim- 
rod. Mo. ; Nellie, who is the wife of David 
Story, of Enid, Okla. ; -Cora, who is the wife of 
Philip Xogle residing on the old Fleming home- 
stead in Wysox township ; Lydia, who is the 
wife of James Story, a farmer near Oakley, 
Kans. ; and George, who is a farmer in Wysox 
township. As each of the children left the old 
homestead, Mr. Fleming gave them help in get- 
ting started in life and it was a great comfort 
to him to know that all were doing well. 

Mr. Fleming's second wife was Mrs. Mary 
Holt, who died in 1S98, leaving no issue. On 
Decemlier 0, 1900, Mr. Fleming was married 
(third) to Mrs. Tillie (Courtwright) Ilollowell. 
who was born in Columbia county. Pa., January 
17. 1841. Her grandfather was of Scotch de- 
scent and was a prominent man in Pennsylvania 
and servetl in the state legislature. Her father 
died in Pennsylvania, but her mother, who was 
of Oerman ancestry, survived to come to Illinois 



and lived with Mrs. Fleming at the time of 
death. Mrs. Fleming has a brother, Oscar A. 
Courtwright, who is a retired farmer in Iowa 
and the owner of 1500 acres of land, went to 
that section among the early home-seekere and 
at first lived in a sod house. The early Court- 
wrights were of the Methodist faith and in early 
days their houses were oi)en homes for the min- 
isters. Mrs. Fleming was reared a Baptist, but 
now attends the Brethren Church at Milledge- 
ville. She came to Illinois in 1869 and was first 
married to William Hollowell, who was born in 
Canada, but at that time was a successful farmer 
and highly respected resident of Whiteside coun- 
ty. He was a leader in the Baptist church, a 
deacon in the same and a liberal contributor. 
He died October 11, 189.S. His first marriage 
was to Jane Peters and they had two sons : 
Grant and Arthur, whom Mrs. Fleming reared 
and considers the same as her own. Grant Hol- 
lowell is a farmer in Iowa, married Annie Rit- 
teuhouse and they have three children. Arthur, 
in partnership with his brother, owns and oper- 
ates 20O acres of Iowa land. Both are leading 
farmers of their section. 

Sir. Fleming served in numerous local offices 
and had been school director, highway commis- 
sioner and trustee. He reached the age of 
seventy-five years. For sixty-five years he re- 
ceived his mail at the same place and remem- 
bered when it cost twenty-tive cents to send a 
letter back to Indiana. 

FLICKINGER, John F., a prominent and suc- 
cessful merchant of Lanark, is progressive and 
enterprising in his methods and is recognized as 
a useful and desirable citizen. He was born 
in Rock Creek town.ship, Carroll count.v, March 
15, 1875, son of Noah F. and Rachel A. (Etling) 
Flickinger. The Flickinger family is well- 
known in Carroll county, Noah F. Flickinger 
having come here in 1868, from Ohio. His wife 
died December 27, 1909, in Lanark and was 
buried in Lanark Cemetery. He is retired and 
lives in Lanark. 

After graduating from the public schools of 
Carroll county, John F. Flickinger took an en- 
gineering course at the Illinois State University, 
following which he engaged in a contracting 
business, and in this connection erected a large 
number of fences in Carroll and adjoining coun- 
ties, having a number of men in his employ. 
He followed this occupation continuously un- 











y< 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



787 



til 1005, when bo inucUastil the luirdware busi- 
ness which William II. IIoss had established 
in ISGO at Laiiarl;. Mr. FlicUinjjer cai-rie.s a com- 
plete line of shelf and heavy haidwaro, build- 
ing material of various kinds, farm inijilenients, 
paints, glass and other goods to be loinid in 
the stock of a large store of this kind, and 
is considered a bright business man and one of 
the most enterprising merchants in the county. 
Mr. Flickinger was married November IS, 
ISOiJ. to Miss Mille Swigart. daughter of Samuel 
Swigart. of Lanark, and they are the i)areTils 
of three children: Ilarl;in. who was born in 
Lanark. October 1.'!. l!Mi.", ; Kenneth, who was 
born .Vugust l."?, 100."). and Ronald Noah, who 
was born April 17. 1008. Mr. Flickinger and 
family are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, of Lanark, and Mrs. Flickinger is a 
member of the ladies' .society. lie belongs to the 
Blue Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and his wile to the 
Eastern Star. Mr. Flickinger has been active in 
the Itepublican party since attaining his major- 
ity and has been elected to serve as delegate 
to the state, congressional, judicial and county 
conventions of bis party. For several years he 
has been a member of the Repul)lican county 
central committee and since the campaign of 
1008 has held the office of secretary of that 
body. Always interested in any wortliy cause 
which has for its object the betterment of ex- 
isting conditions, be has served as president of 
board of education and alderman. In addition 
to his other interests, he is vice president of 
the Lanark Canning Co. 

FLICKINGER, William J.— Perhaps in no sec- 
tion of the State of Illinois are farmers so in- 
telligent and so alive to the imiK^rtance of the 
industries they carry on as in ('.arroll connty. 
and a traveler whose business or pleasure took 
him near the pleasant little city of Lanark, could 
not fail to notice and pass favorable comment 
on tlie well improved property belonging to Wil- 
liam .L Flickinger. 

William .T. Flickinger was born in Carroll 
county. 111. lie is of German ancestry and the 
name is well known in Pennsylvania and Ohio 
as well as in Illinois. lie was reared on his 
father's farm and obtained his education in the 
district schools. He has devoted his attention 
entirely to agricultural pursuits and for four- 
teen years before coming to his present place 
operated the Edward Pnterhangh farm. Mr. Flick- 



inger is one of the most e.xtensive stock raisers 
iu Carroll county, his grade of cattle and hogs 
being always kej)! up to a high standard. The 
latest agricultural nn^thods are followed here 
and the best improved farm machinery is used, 
Mr. Flickinger keeping thoroughly abreast with 
the times in agricultural progress. 

On November 1.'8, 1805, Mr. Flickinger was 
married to Miss Fannie Liviugard, who was a 
daughter of E. P. and Rachel (Elling) Livingard, 
who were natives of Ohio, and they have three 
children: Italph, Edwin and Helen. Mr. Flickin- 
ger and family belong to the Presbyterian church. 
In ixililics .Mr. Flickinger has always been an 
anient Itepublican and for four years has served 
his townsbiii in the office of school director. 

FORRY, Jolin.— Mention anywhere in Rock 
Creek township, the name of John Forry, 
and expressions of good will will be heard 
as well as resjiectful and friendly com- 
ments on hiui.seir and family. Mr. Forry 
and wife lielong to that [)lain and worthy class 
that form the foundation of society in any com- 
munity and from such people como those who 
are useful to the neighborhoods iu which they 
live in both public and private life. He was 
born in what was then Union county. Pa.. Feb- 
ruary IS, 1S44. a son of David and Sophia 
(Straub) Forry. 

David Forry was Ixirn in ISOS. in I'nion 
Connty, Pa., was married in 1832, and died iu 
JS5ii. His wife was born in 1812 and survived 
until 1807. They were parents of fourteen 
children : Mrs. Jacob Diceinger and Mrs. Sophia 
Cuppins, who live at Mifflin, Pa.; Mrs. Charles 
(Irabele, who lives at Richfield, Pa.; Mrs. John 
Spighenger. who is living at Altoona, Pa. ; Mrs. 
Sarah Kissinger, who is deceased, lived at Mif- 
flin. Pa.: Mrs. (ieorge Slieltery, who is deceased, 
lived at D.iylon. Mich.; Mrs. John Yeager, who 
is deceased, lived at Richfield, Pa. ; Mrs. George 
.Martin, who is decease<l. lived in Pennsylvania ; 
Mrs. .John Gordon, who is deceased ; Daniel, who 
is deceased, lived at Richfield, Pa. ; Levi, who is 
deceased ; Catherine, who is deceased : James, 
who is a farmer of Snyder county, I'a. ; and 
David Forry. who is deceased. 

John Forry was re:ire(l on a farm and during 
boyhood attended the district schools for three 
months in the winter of each year, but as soon 
as he was old enough to handle a plow he went 
to work in the fields and remained on the home 



788 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



farm until the fall of 1S(J3. Xoue of his family 
had been inclined to a militiiry life except his 
uncle. Charles Straub, who had served in the War 
of ISli', but Mr. Forry determined to do his 
part in the suppression of rebellion and in the 
fall of the above year enlisted for service in the 
Civil war, entering the Second Pennsylvania 
Heavy Artillery and contracting for three years 
or during the war. He saw hard service. It 
was his regiment that at White House Landing 
threw the shot into the ranks of the enemy 
that drove them from a favorable position ; then 
took part in the battle of Hatcher's Run, after 
which came the terrible days of the Wilderness. 
He bore up under all the hardships for two 
years and was then taken seriously sick and on 
this account, in February, 1S65, was sent home 
and as his regiment was mustered out before he 
was able to rejoin it he has never received his 
discharge papers although entitled to them. He 
again helped on the farm and afterward went 
to work in the pineries in Clinton county, Va., 
and soon afterward was married, there lieiug 
quite a little romance connected with the same. 
In Clinton county he met as a young lady one 
whom he had known as a little girl, playing in 
her father's mill in Snyder county. She was 
born December 20. 1845, in Snyder county and 
later accompanied her parents when they moved 
to Clinton county, where, in .June, 186-5. she 
was married to John Forry. 

Mr. Forry worked at logging in Clinton county 
until 1867 and then moved to Carroll county, 
HI., locating at Shannon. In the following 
spring he was engaged by John Atkins to work 
by the month and worked for five months for 
this employer at .$2.j a month, and afterward for 
Henry Pnterbaugh, off and on, for some seven 
years. During lSTO-7 he worked by the day for 
David Boyd and in 1878 rented a farm from 
"Walter Cole, in Salem township. In 1879 he 
rented a farm on which he lived for four years 
and for some years afterward was in Salem 
township. In 1904 Mr. Forry came to Rock 
Creek township, renting at first but for the 
past two years has been residing on his present 
fann which is situated In section 2, Rock Creek 
township, carrying on general farming. 

Mrs. Forry is a daughter of George and Susan 
(Heiser) Straub, natives of Snyder county. Pa., 
who came to Carroll county in 1867. They set- 
tled firet at Georgetown and then in Fairhaven 
township. Mrs. Straub died on the farm in 



1904 and Mr. Straub makes his home with his 
sons who live at Chadwick and, although he 
is now in his ninty-second year still enjoys rea- 
sonably good health. Ilis family contained six 
sons and six daughters : Callie, who died at 
the age of nine years ; Barbara, who is deceased, 
was the wife of John Moore, of Chicago ; Christ- 
ian, who lives at Chadwick ; Daniel, who lives 
in Nebraska ; John, who died at the age of 
fifty years ; George, who lives at Chad«-lck ; 
Harrison, who lives on the old home farm near 
Chadwick ; Mrs. Forry ; and the others who dieil 
in infancy. 

Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Forry. Sarah, who was born in Clinton county, 
Pa., March 9, 1866, and accompanied her parents 
to Illinois. She was married to Henry Bailey, 
April 3, 1907, who died October 15, 1911. and 
she now lives with her parents. Frances was 
born June 27, 1SG7, and is the wife of Aaron 
Lopp and lives at Hanover, 111. Louise was 
born February 8, 1860, and was married first 
to Fred Richmond and had two children, Frank 
and Ralph. Her second marriage was to Lewis 
Fisher and they live at Hanover, 111. Elmer 
was born March 25, 1871, lives at Hanover, 111., 
married Jennie Glenn, and they have four 
children : Erkstin. Clifford, Annie and Harry. 
Frank was born July 1, 1873, lives at Park- 
ville, la., married Lottie Doty and they have 
four children : Martha, Nathan, Wava and Lulu. 
Charles was born November 3, 1875, and lives 
at Deerwood, Minn. Linnie, born June 3, 1878, 
and Irva, born June 25, 1882, reside at home. 
Archie was born June 17, 1884. and is a farmer 
near Clarksville, la. He married Jessie Arvine. 
Mr. Forry has always kept well posted concern- 
ing public questions and has enrolled himself 
as a member of the Progressive party. He has 
sen-ed with efliciency in public offices and for 
four years was highway commissioner of Rock 
Creek township. Both he and .wife are mem- 
bers of the Church of God. 

FOSSLER, Wellington Charles, osteopatliic pliy- 
siclan, a successful practitioner, with offices at 
Mt. Carroll, and at Savanna, was born at 
Adeline, 111., October 16, 1885, a son of Isaac 
A. and Emily (Relchenbach) Fossler. Isaac A. 
Fossler was born on his father's farm, near 
Freeport, 111., May 23, 1854, where his father 
had settled when he came to Illinois from Penn- 
sylvania and from which he moveil to Iowa, in 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



789 



the early seventies, and died at Ackle.v, in I'JIO. 
He owned many acres of laud and was a mill- 
\viij;lit by trade. He married Sarah Kimball, 
in I'cnnsylvauia, wbo died in 1000. Isaac A. 
Fossler engaged In business as a merchant at 
Adeline, 111., until 18SS, when he moved to Leaf 
lUver and continued tliere as a merchant until 
August 24, 1011, when he disposed of his Inter- 
ests and on May 1, 1912, removed to Cliicago 
to engage in the scale business, with handsome 
offices at No. CSS Postal Telegraph building. He 
married Emily Reichenbach, who was born at 
Adeline, 111., February 2S, 1803. and is a daugh- 
ter of Dr. Charles H. and Catlieriue (Arbagast) 
Reichenbach. The father of Mrs. Fossler was 
a graduate of Berlin University and belonged 
to a prominent old German Empire family. Ho 
came when a young man to the United States 
and after marriage located at Adeline, 111., where 
he engaged in medical practice for a number 
of years and then moved to Oregon where both 
he and his wife died. By a former marriage 
Isaac A. Fossler had one son. Earl W., who is 
a resident of Polo. 111. To his second marriage 
four sons were born, namely: Wellington C. ; 
Clarlv E., who was Ijilled by a railroad train at 
Leaf River, when aged fourteen years ; Deau L., 
who is a student now in college ; and A'an II., 
who is at home. 

Wellington C. Fossler was graduated from the 
Leaf River high school in 1904 and in 1909 was 
graflu.ited from the American College of Osteo- 
pathic -Medicine and Surgery, now the Little- 
jolui College, Chicago, 111., and he also took a 
business course. Immediately after leaving 
school he became a country school teacher, in 
the vicinity of Leaf River, in the meanwhile pre- 
paring for his college cour.se of four years un- 
der the supervision of Dr. (iordon. of Rock- 
ford, and later of Dr. Martin, at Mt. Clemens, 
Mich. After completing his medical course. Dr. 
Fossler opened an office in Chicago, at No. I.Tl.'i 
West Madison street, where he remained for 
one year and then removed to Warren, 111., from 
which place he came to Mt. Carroll on Janu- 
ary 1. 1911. He has fine quarters in tlie new 
Telephone building In Savanna, justified by an 
extensive practice, and also maintains an office 
■il Mt. Carroll, where he has office hours on 
Tuesdays. Thursdays and S.iturdays. It Is quite 
possible to use his automobile in covering the 
distance between his offices. His success in the 
management of chronic cases has been no less 



than remarkable and his general practice is sec- 
ond to no other in Carroll county no matter 
what their school of medicine. Dr. Fossler is 
director of the Mt. Carroll band and of the 
Methodist church choir. 

Dr. Fossler was married .luno 27, 1909, by 
Rev. Pierce, in the Methodist church at St. Joe, 
Mich., to Miss Mamie C. Norman, who is a 
daughter of John and Regina Norman, who were 
born in Pennsylvania. Mr. Norman is superin- 
tendent of a boiler manufacturing company at 
Chicago. Jlrs. Fossler is active in the Congrega- 
tional church, of which she is a member, while 
Dr. Fossler was reared in the Methodist faith. 
Mrs. Fossler is a member of the order of Royal 
Neighbors, at Mt. Carroll. He is identified with 
Cyrus Lodge, No. 188, A. F. & A. Jl., and witli 
Carroll Lodge, No. 50, Odd Fellows. Through- 
out his entire mature life he has been a loyal 
Republican. 

FRANK, Henry, inulortakcr and licensed cni- 
balmer, and dealer in furniture, pianos, organs, 
carpets and rugs at Chadwick, is one of the lead- 
ing citizens of Carroll county. He also has a 
branch establishment at Thomson, HI. which is 
in charge of his son, William. Mr. Frank was 
born in Germany, August 22, 1S.")7, being a son 
of John and Maria (Repp) Frank, both natives 
of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. The father was 
a farmer, but for twenty-five years was on the 
police force, retaining this appointment until his 
death which occurred when he was eighty-three 
years of age. For many years he was one of 
the leading members of the Lutheran church, 
and was a most e.vcellent man in every respect. 
He was also chief of the fire department, and 
when he died many iieople of importance attended 
the funeral to pay their respects to a man they 
so highly honored. His wife died in 1872. aged 
forly-nine years. The grandmolher of Henry 
Frank lived to be ninety-one years, and his 
grandfather's life was also prolonged to a ripe 
old age. The maternal grandmother lived to be 
ninety-two. One of her sons was killed during 
the Civil war in this country. The children born 
to .John and Maria Frank were: John. Jr. who 
is a farmer in Germany and at one time held the 
office of highway commissioner, Ijeiiig .-ippninted 
by the slate; William who is al.so one of the 
state highway commissioners; JIargaret wlio is 
the wife of John .Vlt a farmer in Germany; 
Eliza and Henry. 



790 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



Heni-y Frank went to school from the age of 
six to that of fourteen years. He was then ap- 
prentioed for three years to the caliinetniakin.:; 
trade, and during tliat iieriod received his board 
as c-ompensation for his labors. When he had 
completed learning his trade, he began making 
furniture, but his earnings were turned over to 
his father. In 1882. when twenty-five years old, 
lie left his native land, and came to ilt. Carroll, 
arriving here September lo, of that same year. 
He began working as a cai-peuter at fifteen dol- 
lars per month, but the following year worked 
as a jounie.vmau cari^enter. In 1887, he went to 
Shannon, 111., and established himself as a con- 
tractor and builder, erecting some of the best 
business houses and dwellings in the place, giv- 
ing employment to from seven to ten men winter 
and summer. 

On March 2G, 1802, Jlr. Frank came to Chad- 
wick, and opened his furniture establishment, 
and seeing a field for undertaking embarked in 
that line as well. The next year he Iwught ont 
the stock of his rival in the furniture business, 
and since then has been the leader in his lines in 
this part of the county. Later he began handling 
musical instruments, rugs and carpets, to meet an 
existing demand, and now occupies a store build- 
ing 20 X 90 feet. In connection with his furniture 
estalilishment, he makes picture frames and does 
repairing along a cabinet-making line. In 1901, 
Mr. Frank received his diploma as an embalmer 
from the Barnes Embalming School of Chicago, 
and his State license from the State board. He 
has the best funeral car in Carroll county, and 
is always in the front rank for securing what 
he believes will add to the improvement of his 
business. 

On January G, 1880, Mr. Frank married Eliza 
Kraft, also a native of Germany, who came to 
America to join her brother. Three children 
were born of this union, William and two who 
died in infancy. Mrs. Frank died December 20, 
1889, when William was but five weeks old, hav- 
ing been born November 16. 1889. On July 6, 
1891, Mr. Frank married Eliza Faust, also born 
in Germany. She was brought to America by 
her iiarents. and was reared in Waterloo, la. 
There were five children of this second marriage: 
two who died in infancy; and Emma, Louis and 
John, of whom the eldest is a graduate of the 
Chadwick high sch<M)l, class of 1911. William, 
the son by the first marriage, was also graduated 
from tlie Chadwick high school, and for one year 



was a teacher. He took a position with his 
father as clerk and assistant embalmer. but in 
June. 1911. he entered the International School 
of Embalming at Chic-igd. and was gra(luate<l 
therefrom. His father then established his 
branch house at Thomson, under the firm name 
of Henry Frank & Son, and already the junior 
member has made himself felt in the business 
world there. He is a good undertaker, and 
thoroughly understands his business. 

Henry Frank is one of those careful, conscien- 
tious, reliable German-Americans who can be im- 
plicitly trusted in every respect. When called 
in upon the sad occasions which come to all, he 
proves himself a real friend, and his sympathy 
and ready tact relieves suffering and soothes 
grief. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic 
Lodge of Chadwick, the Odd Fellows of Shannon, 
the Modern Woodmen of Chadwick, and he and 
his family are Lutherans. In politics, he is lib- 
eral. For many years he has been an elder in 
his church, and as treasurer of the church fund, 
has rendered very valuable services. Although 
the only one of his family in America, he is 
proud of his adopted country, and regards his 
coming here the best move he ever made in life. 

FRENCH, Norman D. (deceased).— Perhaps 
there is no family name in Carroll county that 
is more justly held in esteem than that of 
French, and to learn of its beginning here, it is 
necessary to trace back to New England where 
even in Colonial days it represented sturdiness 
of character and a measure of financial independ- 
ence. Norman D. French was born at Cam- 
bridge, Vt., January 1, 1810, and died in Carroll 
connt.v. III., February 2'2, 1891, having spent 
more than half a century in his adopted State. 
His parents were Jacob and Parmelia French, 
both of whom were born in Vermont. 

It is quite probable that Norman D. French 
in his native environment did not find oppor- 
tunities that satisfied his ambition as, in 1832, 
he is found in Fulton count.v. 111., ready to join 
a government surveying party which was under 
Deputy T'nited States surveyor C. R. Bennett. 
The work of those early surveyors was both dif- 
ficult and dangerous and on many occasions 
entailed considerable hardship, the country being 
wild and unsettled and communication with 
sources of food supply often being entirely cut 
off. While surveying the lands in both Fulton 
and Carroll counties, an early winter settled 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COLWTY 



791 



down ou the iwi'tj- aliove mentioned and as 
lirovisions I)egan to get scarce, the ollicer sent 
out one of tlie men with team and wagon to 
Port Byron, to secure a supply of necessities. 
Tlie hungry men waited in the tiuihcr for his 
return, but, after a consideralile time, finding 
that the night would probably pass without re- 
lief, they started to cross the stream on a rudely 
constructed raft that went to pieces iu the wa- 
ter, and to add to" their discomfort, drenched not 
only them.celves liut wet their entire supply of 
pnnl; which was a calamity iu itself, there being 
no matches at that da.v, tire being se<'ured with 
imnk from tliut ignition. It was Jlr. French 
who came to the rescue, finding some dry cotton 
batting in liis vest lining that took the place 
of the useful punk. A fire being made, their 
clothing had a chance to dry. Along iu the night 
they heard a call and following it up found 
their lost conn-ade who had become lost in 
searching for the jiarty, and had met with nian.v 
misfortunes, including the death of one of the 
horses. This incident is related as indicative of 
the early activities of Mr. French in Carroll 
count.v. 

After reaching Carroll county, Mr. French 
was so impressed with the natural advantages 
offered here that he entered a government claim 
of 160 acres, to which he later added until he 
o^nied 040 acres, on section 17, near the Muffs, 
in what is now York township, but accompanied 
the surveying party to .To Daviess county. Al- 
though he did not settle on his land until 1838, 
he frequently visited it and looked after minor 
inipro\-enieuts and never thought of disposing of 
it or moving to any other section. His first 
liouse was a log cabin with a thatch roof, but 
the time came when a spacious mansion took 
its i)lace while ,"),000 acres of ricli prairie sni'- 
rounding, was his land. Norman I). French 
became one of the most successful farmers and 
extensive stock raisers of this part of Illinois. 
He was an unusually astute business man and 
continued to manage his large interests until 
within a short time of his decease notwithstand- 
ing his other activities as a justice of the peace 
and otherwise as a local official. He was of 
broad and cTilightened mind and enconrnged the 
advancement of general education and gave help 
in the upliuilding of religious and other moral 
enterprises, particularly along the line of tem- 
perance. He was the first postmaster in Car- 
roll county, the first county conunissioner, the 



first supervisor and collector, collecting the first 
lax levied in Carroll county, the whole amount 
not exceeding .$200. On many occasions, how- 
ever, he traveled miles in order to collect a levy 
of ten cents. He was elected a member of the 
Twenty-ninth General Assembly to represent 
what was the Eleventh Senatorial District, com- 
posed of Carroll and Whiteside counties. Mr. 
French was always progressive iu his political 
views, being a Whig, then a Free Soiler and a 
Kepublican when that organization came into 
being. He was liberal in the distribution of his 
wealth and was unostentatiously charitable. 

Xornian D. French returned to Vermont to 
marry and on October 23, 1849, he was united to 
Miss Mary Dunshee, who aceomiMuied him back 
to Illinois, and died iu York township, December 
11, 1855, leaving two daughters: Jane E., who is 
now deceased, married Clareuee B. Houghton ; 
and Mary D,, who became the second wife of 
Clarence B. Houghton, and they had two sous, — 
Harry F. and Roy I. Xorman D. French was 
married (second), ou May 10, 185D, at Belvidere, 
111., to Mrs. Harriet L. Hodgkins, who died May 
25, 1SG2, leaving one son, Xorman Stephen Abe, 
who was born May 22, 1860. 

Xorman S. A. French was carefully reared 
and was given excellent advantages of all kinds, 
attending the Xorthwestern College at Fulton, 
111., and a business college at Daveniwrt, la. 
After returning to the home farm, he was mar- 
ried May 21, 1885, to Miss Mattie DuGard, who 
was Iwrn Xoveniber 2, 1863, in Spring Valley, 
near Shannon in Carroll county, 111., a daughter 
of Thomas and Maria Jane (Morarity) DuGard, 
natives of England. One son, Xorman D,, was 
born of this marriage in Freeport, 111., Septem- 
ber 28. 1.S88. Mr. French was never strong, and 
his death occurred July 7, 1893, when he was 
liUt thirty-three years old. He was buried iu 
Dunshee cemetery where his parents are also 
interred. Since his death, Mrs. French has 
shown much business capacity in her manage- 
ment of the large interests left her by her hus- 
liand. 

Xornian D. Frencli. who li:is succeeded to a 
large part of his grandfatlier's estate, now own- 
ing 2..500 acres including the old home property, 
has turned his attention to its development with 
the good judgment and thoroughness which are 
family traits. After attending school at Thom- 
son, III., and a military school at Delafield, 
AVis., he si>ent two years in the Rock Island 



79: 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



siliools. and was graduated from the high school 
there in the class of I'jOS. He is yet a student, 
lieing an undergraduate at the Leland-Stanford 
University, at Palo Alto. Calif. 

FRY, Jacob. — While some of the agricultural- 
ists from the United States are seeUlug homes 
in the wonderful northwest of Canada, many 
of the substantial men from the Dominion have 
come here, so that each country has given to 
the other. One of the men who is proud of his 
Canadian birth, although for mau.y years a resi- 
dent of Carroll county, is Jacob Fry, a retired 
farmer of Shannon. He was boru In Canada, 
April 1, 184.0, a sou of George and Margaret 
(Klein) Fry. natives of Germany, where the 
father was boru in 1823, and his wife in 1825. 
He was a farmer and died fifteen years ago, 
while his widow survived him until 1005. Com- 
ing to the United States. Mr. Fry was first lo- 
cated at Xaperville. thirty miles west of Chicago, 
and resided there for eight years, when he went 
to Ogle county, and after fifteen years of farm- 
ing in that locality, came to Carroll county, ar- 
riving here in 18G7. .settling one mile northeast 
of Shannon. For four years, that continued to 
be his home, when he moved to the Old Turk 
farm, and spent three years. He then moved 
to a farm five miles south of the city of Shan- 
non and spent fourteen years. For the next four 
years, he lived In Shannon, but leaving, located 
west of the city, and remained for four years 
more, when he sold his farm, and went to 
Freeport, 111., where he worked at the carpenter 
trade and as a painter. Once more, he came 
to Shannon, and since 1011, has been living 
here retired. 

Like a number of other Canadians, Mr. Fry 
has given his adopted country military service, 
enlisting in 18G5, in Company K, Fifteenth Illi- 
nois Volunteer Infantry, under Captain John 
A. Long, and was honorably discharged at Wash- 
ington, D. C, August 7. 1SG5. He had the mis- 
fortune to be taken ill. and had to spend two 
months in the hospital at Washington. Upon 
his return, he resumed his farming. 

On January 2^. 1807. Mr. Fry was married 
to Miss Elizabeth Kurtz, daughter of Thomas 
and Matilda Kurtz, natives of Pennsylvania. 
Mrs. Fry was born in June. 1816, and came west 
in ISGo. Mr. Kurtz was a Democrat and served 
as a school director. The children born to Jlr. 
and Mrs. Fry are: ^Milton, who is of St. Louis, 



is a teacher in the McKinley high school ; Ar- 
thur, who is a retired merchant of Shannon; 
Mrs. Cora Jones, who lives on a farm south- 
east of Shannon; Matilda M., who is the wife 
of Harry Harrod, a professional ball player of 
Freeport; and Harry, who is of Freeport, is a 
barber. There are two grandchildren in the 
family, Paul and Donald Jones. The family be- 
long to the E\-angelical church. Mr. Fry belongs 
to the G. A. K. Post of Freeport. During the 
time he lived in Lima township, he was a jus- 
tice of the peace, school director, and road com- 
missioner, and has always been interested in 
educational matters, although his own educa- 
tion was limited to the country schools. In 
1008, Mr. and Mrs. Fry took a delightful trip 
to Pike's Peak, Seattle, Wash., and other west- 
ern points. Mr. Fry owns property in Freeport, 
as well as his residence in Shannon, and is in 
comfortable circumstances. 

FULRATH, Adam, a leading mercliant of Mt. 
Carroll county, stands high in his community 
as a whole-souled, genial man and an enter- 
prising, useful citizen. He was boru in Reichel- 
seim, Germany, April 22, 1838, a son of John 
and Margaret (Harr) Fulrath. During the 
winter of 1851, John Fulrath emigrated to 
America, locating in Pennsylvania, the remain- 
der of the family following him the next year. 
He had been a farmer in his native country, 
and naturally continued in this line of endeavor 
after coming to his new home. For a few 
.vears, he farmed in Franklin county. Pa., but 
in 1S5S brought his family to Carroll county, 
111., where he bought a farm in Mt. Carroll 
township, and it continued to be his home until 
death claimed him. John Fulrath was married 
in 1825 and he and his wife had the following 
children: George and John, who are farmers 
of Mt. Carroll township; Peter, who died dur- 
ing boyhood in Germany ; Adam ; G. Henry, 
who is a farmer of Mt. Carroll township; and 
Margaret, who married P.artholomew Power, of 
Mt. Carroll. The father of this family died in 
188-t. his wife having passed away in 1872. 
and both are buried in Center Hill cemetery, Mt. 
Carroll township. He was prominent in local 
affairs, as well as in the church, and was a man 
who earned and retained tlie respect of all with 
whom he was associated. 

As a boy. Adam Fulrath attended the local 
schools, and after coming to America, spent one 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



793 



winter atti'ndinj; si-houl iii FrauUliu cuimty, 
I'a., where he began learniug Euglish. His ser- 
vices were theu required, and lie spent four 
years in farm work in I'enusylvania, nifter 
which lie went to C»hio, where for anotlier fmir 
years he was engaged in similar employment. 
He then came to Carroll county, 111., and bought 
a farm from Tliomas Brady in 1SC3, which 
he sold the following year to Jacob Harr. 

After his marriage in 1SG4, Mr. Fulrath moved 
to Jones county, la., wliere he bought a farm 
and lived upon it four years, then selling it, 
returned to Carroll county, and bought land 
from John Fulrath and John Grove, then 
l;nown as the Jackson farm. There he re- 
mained seven years, when he sold to Rartbolo- 
mew Rowers, and bought the Fulrath mill in 
Mt. Carroll township, which he still owns, hav- 
ing conducted it for over thirty-four years. 
In 1904, Mr. Fulrath established himself in a 
hardware business at Mt. Carroll, and in 1900, 
he moved from his farm to Mt. Carroll, where 
he has since resided. At present he deals in 
shelf and heavy hardware, farm implements, 
wagons, engines, threshers and similar articles, 
carrying an immense stock and representing a 
number of responsible firms. He is honest and 
upright in all his dealings and has the entire 
confidence of his customers. His large trade 
is constantly growing, for his patrons ap- 
preciate the fact that he endeavors to give 
them just what they want, while his stock is 
.so complete that there is no ditlicnlty experi- 
enced in making a choice. 

In 1804. Mr. Fulrath was married to Hannah 
Smith, a daughter of William R. and Elizabeth 
Smith, of Carroll county. Mr. and Mrs. Ful- 
rath became the parents of the following chil- 
dren : William It., who was iwrn in Jones 
county, la., April 7, ISC"), is in a coal and 
brick l>usiiiess in Savanna; Ccorge W.. who was 
born in Iowa. February li, tsOT, is a farmer of 
Carroll county; Ada, who was bom in Carroll 
county, February 23, 1S69, married William II. 
Christian; Cora E., who was born in Oiirroll 
county, married OrviUe Smith, of Woodland 
township; Jacob D.. who was born Ai)ril S, 
1872, is in business with his father; Dr. Wesley, 
who was born June 23. 1874, practicing jit 
Waukesha, Wis.; Elizabeth, who married Klmor 
Weidman. of Mt. Carroll; .\dam M.. who was 
born March 7. ISSO, is also working with bis 
father; Grace Mabel, who married Elmer Heii- 
12 



.son, lives on the Fulrath homestead; Clarence, 
who was born Feb. G, 1887, is associated in 
business witli his father, married rhilaniia 
Wood ; and Nellie who was born January ."i, 
1890, is at home. The children have all Ijcch 
well educated in the common schools. Mr. 
Fulrath and his family are members of the 
United Brethren Church of Center Hill, of 
which he has been trustee since 18G8, and for 
ten years was superintendent of the Sunday 
school, while for eighteen years he was a class 
leader. Mrs. Fulrath is a member of the 
Woman's Missionary Society. Politically. Mr. 
Fulrath is a Republican, and served four years 
as commissioner, while for thirty-seven years 
he was a school director. While all of his 
time is devoted to his business, Mr. Fulratli 
still retains ownership of his fine ISS-acre farm 
in Mt. Carroll township. Hale and hearty, Mr. 
Fulrath enjoys e.xcellent health, and is able 
to enter into his business affairs with a zest 
seldom displayed by one of his years. A man 
of excellent judgment in both his private affairs 
and public matters, his advice is often souglit, 
and he has alwa.vs been a leader among his 
associates who recognize in him a representative 
of tlie highest interests of his community. 

Ill reviewing his life, Mr. Fulrath dwells up- 
on the suffering endured by himself and the 
rest of the family after the father left for 
America. This was the period of the terrible 
famine that nearly devastated Germany and 
sent so many of its reliable i>eople to the United 
.States. People starved to death for lack of 
food, and the Fulrath family barely escaped 
such a fate. Mr. Fulrath has never forgotten 
these experiences and often six'aks of them to 
his family, impressing upon his children the 
need for constant thanksgiving that their lot 
has been cast amid such difl'erent surround- 
ings. .\ltliough he was forced to work for three 
dollars a mouth for some time after coming to 
this country, Mr. Fulrath declares that that 
money seemed big to him, coming as he did 
from a land where there was absolute penury. 

FULRATH, WilUam R., of Savanna, is a self- 
made in;iii, having started witliont a dollar and 
by liis industry and tfood management built up .a, 
fine liusines.s. He was born in .Mechanicsville. 
la., .\pril 7. ISO."), a son of Adam and Hannali 
(Smith I Fulrath. the latter a native of Ilarris- 
liurg. I'M. Tlie fatlier was l)orn in Oermanv ;ind 



r94 



HISTOKY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



came to America about fourteen years of age, 
sijemling some time iu Carroll county, after 
which he removed to Iowa, but within four years 
returned to Carroll county. Upon his return to 
Illinois he engaged in farming, but later sold his 
property and embarked in a milling business, to 
which his son William R. was reared. There 
were eleven children In his family. 

At the age of twenty -three years William R. 
Fulrath who had received but limited educational 
chances, left his father and located in Savanna, 
finding employment with L. S. Boweu, a grocer, 
with whom he remained eight years. He then 
engaged in manufacturing brick and has since 
continued in this line. Purchasing an old es- 
tablished brickyard, he after a time added wood 
to his stock, and in 1905 began selling coal. He 
has been very successful in all three lines, and is 
an energetic business man. Besides the business 
already described Mr. Fulrath deals in real 
estate, buying and selling farms and town houses, 
having extensive holdings of valuable projierty 
in Savanna and vicinity, as he has shown good 
judgment in making his investments. 

Jlr. Fulrath was married April 11. lS.S(j, to 
Irene, daughter of Thomas J. and Letitia (Dick) 
Smith, of Mt. Carroll, and they have four chil- 
dren : Lettie May, Lillian, William Logan and 
Laura. Their first child died in infancy. Mr. 
Fulrath is a Republican in political belief and is 
a member of the school board of Savanna, ren- 
dering valuable service in tliis connection. 

FURMAN, William. — There have been agricul- 
turists who have thought it necessary in order 
to prosper as farmers and grain growers, to seek 
the Llakotas or even the reputed fertile sections 
across the Canadian border, but it is probable 
that if they had possessed the patience, industry 
and good judgment of William Furman and pur- 
sued the same sensible and jirogressive methods, 
they would have found Carroll county. III., had 
both the necessary _ soil and climate. William 
Furman is one of the most extensive farmers, 
grain growers and stock feeders in Carroll coun- 
ty, his land lying in Wysox township. He was 
born at Carlisle, Cumberland c-onnty. Pa., July 
7, 18G-t, and is a son of John and Rebecca (Mc- 
Farland) Furman, both of whom died at Colum- 
bus, O., having had these children : James. Wal- 
ter, Harvey, William, and Sally who married 
Howard Scott and moved to New York. 

Mr. Furman is a self-made man, from the 



early age of seven years having had to take care 
of himself and thus had but meager educational 
advantages. When ten years old he secured 
employment tliat jaid him two dollars a month 
and as he grew older and more capable his wages 
increased and during the summer of 1882 he was 
earning eleven dollars a month. Early iu that 
year he had decided to seek work in Illinois and 
his first employer in Carroll county was Elias 
LiviDgood residing near Lanark. la 1SS3 he 
entered into a contract with Mr. Livingood for 
.'JS200 for the year's work. From 1884 until 1885 
he was in the employ of Willis Miller and Link 
Livingood and in 188G he began to work for the 
Wysox Horse Company and continued until 1887, 
at .$3(X» a year. In the summer of 1888 he 
worked for James Coleman and after his mar- 
riage, in Dec-ember of that year worked for his 
father-in-law until 1889, when he rented IGp acres 
of land from George Dimmond, in Rock Creek 
township and operated this until 1895, when he 
rented l'5G acres of Rev. David McMiller, which 
farm he operated until 1897. In that year he 
purchased 120 acres in Wysox township and 
settled on his own farm, hanng acquired this 
land after so many years of hard work and 
careful saving. In working for others he had 
been very successful in his methods and he con- 
tinued to follow the same when it came to his 
own enterprises and met with the same success. 
In 1908 he formed a partnership with Roderick 
Chishorn to operate the latter's farm of 7(;<) 
acres, (140 lying on the north side of the road and 
120 on the south side, and all of this land is now 
under Jlr. Furmau's personal supervision. Spe- 
cial attention is given to grain growing and feed- 
ing horses, cattle and hogs, from ten to eighteen 
car loads of hogs being shipped in one year. 

Although Mr. Furman grows .so much grain he 
has none to sell, using all of it for feeding pur- 
poses. It requires twenty-two liead of horses 
to operate the farm and Mr. Furman has been 
far sighted enough to see that it pays to have 
the best machinery on the market including a 
gasoline engine. He makes a sitecialty of black 
cattle. Under his management this farm has 
lieeu made the best yielding one in Carroll county, 
lie believes in the rotation of crops and works 
on the principle that nothing should be taken 
out of the land without returning the same ele- 
ments to the soil. 

On December 5, 1888, Mr. Furman was mar- 
ried to Miss Annie Fike, a daughter of J. J. 



HISTORY OF CAKKOLL COUNTY 



795 



Fike. a well known farmer of Carroll county. 
They have an atlopled son, Charles KurniMii, who 
was horn at .Mt. Carroll. Deconiber ."O, IIJOO, a 
lino youth who retnrns the artVelion that bis 
adoiilecl parents lavish on hiui, and has been 
with Mr. anil Mrs. Fnrinan since he was two 
and one-half years old. He is bright at school, 
possesses musical talent and can play on the 
piano with considerable skill. Mr. Furnian is 
an active member of the (Jernian Baptist church. 
lie has been a successful man rising; through his 
own efforts :ind deserves much credit. 

GALPIN, Daniel A., who lias been a resident 
of Lanark for nearly thirty years, is a success- 
ful mason and building and bridge contractor, 
lie is held in high esteem for his imblic spirit 
and his support of various measures for the 
benefit of the community. .Mr. Calpin was born 
in Bradford county. I'a.. .May l-j. lS:!:i, and is a 
son of Orin G. and Polly ( Vought) (iaipin. both 
of whom were d(>scended from old Ilugneiiot 
families, the Galpius and Voughts each contrib- 
uting their share of soldiers to the American 
Revolution. The Gali)ins were early settlers of 
Connecticut and the Voughts of Pennsylvania. 
During the Revolutionary War seven of the Gal- 
pins wore taken prisoners by the Uritish and 
transported to England, two of them dying on 
board ship before reaching their destination, 
and the others, with their companions, return' 
iug home after their release. Orin G. Galpin' dis- 
tinguished himself as a soldier in the War of 
1812. 

After completing the course in the public 
schools Daniel A. Galpin learned the mason's 
trade with a Mr. Ilollenbeck, of Corning. X. Y.. 
remaining there two years, Avhen he returned 
to Bradford, I'a., where he lived until IS."!."). M 
that time he came to Silver Creek township, 
Stephenson county. 111., and followed his trade 
II. ere fo\ir years. Ueinoring to Ogle county he 
lived there until 1883, since which linu' he has 
lived in Lanark. 

On April 1!», ISf.l. Mr. Galpin enlisted as a 
ninety-day man at Freep(M-t. in Captain (Dr.) 
McKliu's Company, but they were never sent 
to the front, and he re-enlisted September 10, 
18G1, in Company A, Forty-sixth Illinois Volun- 
teer Infantry, remaining at Camp Butler, near 
Siiringfield. until December of that year, when 
the regiment was stationed at Lincoln Barracks, 
Springfield, until February of the following year. 



wlien they went to Fort Donelson and took [>art 
in the three-day engagement. Jlr. Galpin's sub- 
sequent record may be briefly stated as follows: 
Participation in engagements at Fort Henry and 
Shiloh, Siege of Corinth (on the right), Mem- 
phis, Bolivar (Tenn.), and Natchez. The ri'gi- 
nient then proceeded to Memphis to lake pari 
in the Siege of Vicksbnrg. when Mr. G.iipin 
w.is detailed on detached service, including 
the battles at Grand Gulf, Bayou Serra, Ray- 
mond (Miss.). Champion's Hill. Black River. 
Vlcksburg, ,Tackson, and Natchez. He was then 
sent to Caiitain Haines of the regular army for 
service in the mechanical division, and was set 
to work mounting cannon, for which service in; 
was well prepared on account of his previous ex- 
perience. He spent some time at Fort Mcl'her- 
son, returned to Vick.sburg and took part in the 
raid at Meridian, Miss., when he embarked for 
service on the Mississippi and Tennessee rivers, 
which ende<l in the battle at Clifton. Tenn. 
'I'he regiment marched then through to .Vl.ib:iMia 
and joined General Sherman at Ackworth. Ga.. 
after which they were in the battles at Kenesaw 
Moiuitain, Rossville and Atlanta, where General 
McPherson, who was In the famous "left" was 
killed on July 22, 1864. Mr. Galpin took part 
in the battles of Izra church, near Atlanta, :ind 
.Tonesboro. and at the latter says he witnessed 
one of the grandest and luost imposing spectacles 
<]f conflict ever recorded in hist(uy. .\fter tak- 
ing part in a battle at Lovejoy, Ga.. he returned 
again to Atlanta, where he was mustered out. 
During his long and adventurous service he was 
never sick or wounded, although a bullet pierced 
his trousor leg at one time and twice he narrowly 
escaped capture by the Confederates. 

.Vfter the war Mr. Galpin returned to Ogle 
county, making Ibc trip via the Chattanooga & 
Louisville Railroad. He had been promoted to 
rank of sergeant after the battle of Fort Donel- 
son, and after Shiloh was again promoted, and 
also received special mention for his work at 
Fort McPherson. when he served under Captain 
Haines and Lieut. Dennis. He resumed his con 
tracting business and erected many public and 
private buildings in the county and this p:\vl 
of the state, among them notably the Forreston 
school building and the school building at Lan- 
ark, and has ever since followed this occupa- 
tion with success, with the exception of two 
years when he was interested in luiiung. 

In lSr.r, .Mr. Galpin joined Davis Post G. A. 



796 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



K.. of Freepoi't, and served twice as vice coiu- 
niauder before trausferring liis membersliip to 
the post at Lanark, of which he has been com- 
mander several terms. Previous to the war he 
was a Whig and since has been an ardent Re- 
Ijublican. He served as commissioner of high- 
ways and member of the board of education at 
Forreston ; was for four years city marshal of 
Lauarlv, but has since refused to hold office, be- 
ing absorbed by bis business interests. He has 
served as delegate to numerous G. A. R. en- 
campments and political conventions and is a 
man of influence and stability. Hi.s principal 
business is building concrete bridges in his part 
of the state and he is constantly e-veeuting im- 
portant contracts. 

In 1858 Mr. Galpin married .Miss Cbole F.. 
daughter of 8anford P. Prince of Bradford 
county, Pa. Her father was a soldier in the 
War of 1812. Mr. Galpin and his wife be- 
came parents of children as follows : Orin, 
who is working in a machine shop in Freeport ; 
Irene, who is Mr.s. Chase, of Savanna; Arthur, 
who died in infancy; Augusta, who died wlieii 
seven years old ; Clara, who is Mrs. .John Phjujh. 
of Mt. Carroll ; Nellie, who is Mrs. Harrison, 
of Savanna ; and Lettie. who was graduated from 
Lanark high school died at the age of nineteen 
years. Mr. Galpin is a member of no church 
organization. Fraternally he is a member of the 
I. O. O. F. and follows the high princijiles of 
conduct inculcated in that order. He resides in 
the northern part of Lanark, where he and his 
wife have a very pleasant home. She is a lady 
of housewifel.v acconi|ilishinents and highly cul- 
tured and is interested in the advancement of 
public interests as well as her husband. He is 
progressive and liberal in his views and tolerant 
of the ideas and opinions of others. The pic- 
ture of Mrs. Galpin which ajipears in this work- 
was sent to Mr. Galpin while in the arm.v in 
18C:i. He lost it at the battle of Atlanta, July 
22, 1864, and it was found by a Thirty -second 
Ohio soldier who brought it li> liiiu wliile hi' was 
in camp near .\tl.-uita. Ga. 

GETTY, Robert. — Pennsylvania has sent some 
of its most substantial men to Illinois, with the 
result that the latter state owes a vast debt 
to the former commonwealth, for these sturdy 
men have helped in deveIoi)ing the Prairie state. 
One of the men who has borne liis part in the 
growth of Illinois. i>; Robert Getty, now livitig 



retired at Savanna, after years of toil as a 
farmer. He was born in Allegheny county. Pa., 
July G, 183i, son of Samuel aud Lavina (James) 
Getty. The father was born in Ireland, but 
came to America in 1811, at the age of twelve 
years. The mother was born in Ohio. In 1852, 
the family came west, locating in Iowa, north 
of Lyons, where the father died in 1884, and the 
mother in 18.50 or 1851, prior to the family mi- 
gration. Their children were: Robert; John, 
of Long Beech. Cal. ; Jesse H., of Kansas, who 
served in the Civil war, being taken prisoner 
and confined in Andersonville for five months, 
dying from the effects of wounds received ; 
Thomas B., who lives at Chicago ; and James 
an<l Samuel, who were both in the Civil W.-ir. 

On August C, 18G2, Mr. Getty enlisted in Com- 
pany C, Ninety -second Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry, under Captain Stofifer. and later under 
Captain Hawk. He was at Chattanooga, and in 
many skirmishes, serving until June 21, 1805, 
when he was mustered out at Concord, N. C. 
Coming west to Chicago, he was paid off, and 
then located at Savanna, where for a year he 
worked at firing on steamboats. Following that, 
he engaged in farming, with profitable results on 
a Hid acre farm he had bought in Crawford 
county, la., which he later sold. In 1902, he 
bought a half section of land in Dakota, selling 
it at a profit in 1909, when he bought his present 
comfortable home in Savanna, where he is now 
living retired. 

The first marriage of Mr. Getty occurred in 
1854, when he was united to Louisa Walters who 
died September 29. l.sr.T. By his first marriage, 
Mr. Getty had the following children: Ida. who 
is the wife of William Schwitzer. and four who 
are dead. 

On March 15, 1869, Mr. Getty was niiirried 
(second) to Mrs. Jane Burger, daughter of 
John C. and Katherine Fuller, natives of 
New York and Pennsylvania, respectively. They 
came west in 1840. locating on a farm in Iowa, 
where the father died in 18(i2. his widow sur- 
viving him until ISTG. They had other children, 
namely: Mrs. Emeline Cummings, who is of 
XCimball. S. D. : Helen, who is the widow of 
William .\slifield. lives in Missouri; George 
Washington Fuller, who is a farmer of Iowa. 
Mr. and Mrs. Getty became the parents of three 
children: Frank C.. of Michell. S. Dak., who 
married Myrtle La Fortun. issue — 'N'incent S. and 
VeriMiM : James II., of Sioux City. Iowa, who mar- 



IIISTORV OF CARROLL COUNTY 



797 



ried Viola CiiiniuiiiKS, issue — ^Margiirie P. ; Ktbel, 
who was born September 10, 1882 ; aud Aniiiua 
I. aud Orvillo T., who are deceased. Mr. Getty 
is a Uoiniblicaii, and served as school director 
for several terms, while living in Iowa. He 
belongs to the local Post, No. 470, G. A. U. The 
United Brethren church holds the niemhership 
of his family, and he is respected in it, as he is 
elsewhere, for he is worthy of all cpufidenee. 

GILLESPIE, Isaac- One of the iMi|jnrtaiit old 
families of Carroll county, i.s that of Gillespie 
aud it has a history replete with nuich interest. 
Originating in the Highlands of Scotland, the 
early Gillespie.s were identilicd with the Camp- 
bell Clan and they participated in movements 
both ecclesiastical and civil that made Scot- 
land what it is today. Strong adherents of the 
Calviuistic doctrine, one of the Gillespies helped 
to frame the Constitution of Faith. About the 
close of the seventeenth century, three brothers. 
David, James and John, crossed to Ireland 
and settled in County Antrim. During the 
Revolution of 1090, James enlisted and fought 
as a soldier under William, Prince of Orange, 
aud the sword lie carried still is preserved by 
his descendants. From County Antrim the Gil- 
lespies moved to County Monaghan, where they 
acquired large tracts of land an<l grew tl.ix 
and became linen manufacturers aud drapers, 
the fine Irish linen wliich was made on hand 
looms supplying the market at Belfast, and its 
beauty and finish has never been excelled by 
modern machinery. 

In 1700, James Gillespie married Elizabeth 
Riddle and they had six children. Their sec- 
ond son, John Gillespie, man-led Jane Stuart 
and six children were born to them. Isaac 
Gillespie, second son of John, married Jaue 
Boyd, and they had ten children, seven of 
these being sons, and it was this generation that 
founded the family in America. Isaac Gil- 
lespie, with wife and children, reached the 
shores of the Vnited States in 1849, and came 
to Illinois, residing at first near Hanover, in 
Jo Daviess county, and later in Carroll county, 
but the first son of the family had preceded the 
others and was working as a farmer near 
Hanover, when the rest of the family joined 
him. This was .Tames Gillespie, who was born 
In 1820, and eros.sed the Atlantic in 1847, spend- 
ing his first winter at St. Louis, Mo., and in 
the spring of IS-IS making his way to .To Pnvicss 



county, III. He found farm work, and in the 
following year bought 320 acres on sections 1 
and 2, AA'ashington township, Carroll county, 
of which he took po.ssession in 1S51. Here he 
built a primitive log cabin which sufficed for 
several years, when he erected a more sub- 
stantial one. AlMjut 1851 he was married to 
JIargaret McKeague, born in County Monaghan, 
Ireland, in 1818. They settled on this land 
with intention of making it their permanent 
home aud worked together witli this end in 
view. They were typical people of their day, 
industrious, frugal and hospitable, and were 
widely known. They were members of the 
United Presbyterian Church. Three children 
were born to them, namely : Isaac ; Margaret, 
who died at the age of fourteen years; and 
Jane, who is Mrs. William Elliott, residing in 
Washington township. The father of the above 
family died in August, 1875, and the mother in 
February, 1877. 

Isaac Gillespie was born on the above men- 
tioned farm, which is his property at the 
present time, August 29, 1852. He attended 
the district schools as opportunity offered, but 
his advantages were somewhat limited because 
his father needed his help on the farm. This 
assistance was cheerfully given and in the im- 
lirovements which has made this a very de- 
sirable property, he took a leading part. Being 
the only son he remained at home, and when 
his father died he assumed all responsibilities. 
At that time the farm contained ;iOO acres and 
to this Mr. Gillespie has added until he now 
owns .537 acres. General farming is carried on 
and fine stock is rai.sed, Mr. Gillespie special- 
izing on Shorthorn cattle and Xorman horses. 
He has found shec]) raising profitable and at 
present has about 400 he.id. He has other in- 
terests and is vice president of the Commercial 
I'.ank at Savanna, wliidi he assisted in organ- 
izing in the summer of 1902. The original cap- 
ital was $25,000, which in 1911 was increased 
to .$50,000. a proof of the prosperity of the in- 
stitution. 

On Xovember 7, 18S.3, Mr. (Jillespie was mar- 
ried by Rev. C. II. Mitchell of Zion, to Miss 
Matilda White, born in Pleasant Valley, Jo 
Daviess county. 111., in 18.59. She died January 
IS, 1903, leaving five children, the eldest born 
dying in infancy. Edwin James, born November 
29, 1880, resides on a farm in Woodland town- 
ship. Howard H., born in June, 1889, is mar- 



798 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



rled and lives ou the home farm. Sherman 
Lee, boru September 10, 1891, Florence May, 
born October 3, 1803, and C. Ward, boru July 
10, 1898, all live at home. On March 20, 1908. 
Mr. Gillespie was married (second) to Miss 
Emma MotscUman by her brother, Lewis ,T.. of 
the Lutlieran Church. .She was born in AYash- 
ingtou township, Carroll county. 111., April 12, 
1866, a daughter of John and Fredriclia Motch- 
man, natives of Germany. In politics, Mr. Gil- 
lespie is a Republican and in 1884^ he was elect- 
ed supervisor of Washington township and served 
out his term with efficiency. Since 1883 he has 
been a school director and has held other local 
offices, but has never been a seelier for the 
same, his good citizenship not depending on 
office holding. He is one of the township's 
most respected and representative men. For 
thirty years he has been au elder in the United 
Presbyterian Church and for more than that 
period has been a teacher in the Sunday school. 

GREELEY, Dustan M., M. D. — Few men are 
better or more favorably linown in Carroll 
county, than Dr. Dustan M. Greeley, now living 
retired at Mt. Carroll. Dr. Greeley was born 
at Yates, Orleans county, N. Y., March 22. 1S3-1. 
a son of Dustan and Julia A. (Herrington) 
Greeley, the former of whom was a large land 
owner and agriculturist. The son was educated 
at Lima and Yates academies and Geneseo Col- 
lege, and studied medicine with Dr. C. H. Cleve- 
land, of Cincinnati, O., after which he attended 
the Eclectic Medical Institute in the latter city, 
from which he was graduated in 1859. After 
his graduation Dr. Greeley returned home, and 
in 1865 removed to Jit. Carroll, where he formed 
a partnership with Dr. David Crouse, who had 
been a fellow-student in Cincinnati. 

Upon locating at Mt. Carroll Dr. Greeley met 
with immediate success and was recognized as 
an able and sliilful physician. About a year 
after coming to the city Dr. Greeley lost his 
partner, who moved to Waterloo, la., to join a 
brother who had located there and Dr. Greeley 
then formed a partnership with Dr. D. Frank 
Etter, which arrangement continued alwut two 
and one-half years, then the partnership was 
dissolved, and Dr. Etter soon afterward re- 
moved to Yankton, So. Dak. From his estab- 
lishment in Mt. Carroll, until 1905, Dr. Greeley 
was the leading physician in Carroll county, 
and in that year retired from active life. He 



is a member of the Carroll County Medical 
Society and stands high in his profession, hav- 
ing become one of the county's most prominent 
older citizens. He takes moderate enjoyment 
in life, .ifter having spent nearly half a century 
in arduous professional toil, is active and strong 
with a fine physique, which has stood him in 
good stead in his life work. 

Dr. Greeley was married in Mt. Carroll, May 
12, 1858, to Aliss A. Josephine Harvey, by the 
Reverend Cobuer, of the Baptist Church, and 
to this union one son was born, D. Ward, who 
died of angina pectoris in his seventeenth year, 
and is buried in Mt. Carroll cemetery. Mrs. 
Greeley has always taken great interest in the 
affairs of the woman's home mission and other 
women's benevolent societies, and so far as her 
health has permitted has given to such causes 
as nuich help as possible. In politics Dr. 
Greeley is a stanch Repuljliean. He is a mem- 
ber of no secret societies, but both he and his 
wife are well known in social circles, is fond 
of his home and possesses quiet tastes. Mrs. 
Greeley is a native of Wheeling. W. \'a., 
and was born on May, 8, 1851, daughter of 
John and Nancy (Nelson) Harve,v, natives of 
Maryland and Virginia, respectively. Both died 
in Wlieeling, W. Va., where they are buried. 

GREENAWALT, Frank A., who is one of the 
highly respected retired farmers now making 
Lanark their home, occupies his beautiful resi- 
dence on East Pearl street, where his surround- 
ings are all that good taste and moderate de- 
sires for sociability can expect. He was born, 
reared and passed many years of his life on a 
farm, having been born in Fi'anklin count.v. Pa., 
December 8, 1S54, and is a son of .Tacol) and 
Henrietta (Swigert) Greenawalt. 

The parents of Mr. Greenawalt were both 
born in Franklin county but the grandparents 
came from Germany. Grandfather Greenawalt 
settled on a farm near Fayetteville, Pa., prior 
to 1820, and spent the rest of his life there. 
One of his sons, Jacob Greenawalt, was born in 
Franklin county. Pa., in 1834, and died in 1881. 
survived by his widow, wlio still Tnes in Frank- 
lin county, w'nere she was born February 13, 
1833. Both were reared in the Lutheran faith. 
For many years he was active in providing, as 
far as possiljle, for the spread of education in 
his section, serving on the school board and 
paj'ing cheerfully the taxes imposed. In poll- 




(;i;()i{(;i'; .mvkks 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COT^NTY 



799 



tics he was a Repul/lican. To Jaooli and Hen- 
rietta Greenawalt a family of twelve chiliiren 
was boru and of these tliere are nine yet living. 
Kate, horn Octolier 11, 1S.">2. is the wife of 
(Jeorjje H. BricUer. a rarnur in Franklin 
county; Frank A.; Kniuia. born January 1, 
1S57, is the wife of Daniel Glaser. a farmer in 
Franklin county; Susan, born Marcli 7, 185!), 
died in lS(i5: Sarah, born in IStiO, died in early 
womanhood; .Jacob, born February 2, lsij2. died 
when af;ed twenty years ; George, born November 
3, 18114, is a merchant in Franklin county ; 
LiUira, boru iu 1808, is the wife of Harry Kreiis. 
of Mercersburg, Pa.; Jolin Calvin, born in iscii, 
is a farmer in Carroll county, HI. ; Otho, born 
in 1871, is a painter and decoratoi-, iu business 
at Shermiintowu, Pa. ; Robert, born iu 1874, 
is a farmer in Carroll county. 111.; and William, 
boru .July 28, 1877, is a iiainter of Franklin 
county. Pa, 

Frank A. Greenawalt attended the district 
schools iu boyhood, but as he was the eldest 
son he soon had to give assistance to his father, 
with whom he had a verj- practical sort of train- 
ing and remained at home until in March, 
1S7G. At that time he concluded to start out 
on his own account and as wages for farm hands 
in Pennsylvania did not exceed eight or ten 
dollars a month, he decide<l to push on into 
Illinois, having learned that the western farmers 
were willing to pay higher for their helpers. 
After reaching Douglas county. 111., he went to 
work for Thomas Bundy for twenty dollars a 
month, which at that time seemed wealth to 
him, and he remained with Mr. Bundy three 
years. In 1870 his father fell ill of a mortal 
sickness and he returned to the homestead, b>it 
after the death of his faliier, in the following 
si>riug, he returned to Illinois and engaged with 
Jason Paul, in Carroll county, and worked one 
year for him for twenty dollars a month. In 
November of ISSO he was married and then 
rented a farm in Salem townshi]), west of 
I.anaik, containing 320 acres. He stocked this 
farm and immediately started large operations, 
in a short time giving attention to the buying 
and feeding of cattle. Not every one who 
eng.-igcs in the stock and cattle linsiuess suc- 
ceeds, but Mr. Greenawalt met with success 
from the first, and soon was sending out two 
car loads of cattle a year and from 100 to l.'jO 
head of hogs. Finding it profitable to r.iise 
his own feed and thereby keep from exhausting 



his land, he followed that method of farming 
and raised heavy yields of corn and oats. He 
continued his farm and stock industries iu 
Salem township until 1!(U1, when he rented ."itio 
acres in Kock Creek township, which was known 
as the Amos Wolf farm. This large body of 
land gave him an opportunity to go still more 
extensively into the business and by feeding all 
the grain he raised he was enabled to turn off 
five car loads of cattle and the same of hogs 
annually, and continued actively engaged until 
he decided to retire, in l',)ll, when he came to 
Lanark. He more readily did so beeau.se he 
could safely leave his former interests in the 
hands of his two eldest sous, both of whom 
are practical farmers and stock men. The 
breeding of fine hor.ses has also been one of the 
.successful activities of this farm. He has a 
wheat farm of 240 acres iu North Dakota. 

On November 2.5, 1.880, Mr. Greenawalt was 
married to Jliss Anna M. Teeter, who was born 
in Franklin county. Pa., April 1, 1S53, and came 
to Carroll county with her parents in 1870, buy- 
ing a farm in Salem township. They were David 
and Catherine (Barrach) Teeter, the former of 
whom died in 1881, and the latter in 18.83. Mr. 
Teeter was one of the successful farmers of 
Carroll county and owned 200 acres of finely 
cultivated land. Mrs. Greenawalt has three 
sisters and two brothers : John Teeter, who is a 
farmer near Bolivar, Mo.; Ella, who is the wife 
of William J. Hower, a farmer in Rock Creek 
township; Maggie, who is the wife of David 
Gordon, a hoteikeeper in Iowa ; George, who is 
.superintendent of the Mutual Telephone Com- 
pany of Lanark ; and Laura. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Greenawalt the following 
children have been born : Georgie Porter, who 
died in infancy; Roy. who was born in Salem 
township, September 11, 1883, married Irma 
Lambert in October, 1911, and is now farming 
for himself; Otho Floyd, who was born October 
4, 1885, was married in November, 1911, to Grace 
Deets. and he also is a larnier on the Amos Wolf 
estate; Harry Ward, who was born June .'>^, 
1888, lives at home; Percy F., who was born 
June 28, 1894, is a druggist at Lanark. In 
politics Mr. Greenawalt is a Republican, Imt has 
refused every tender of public office, except that 
of school director. Upon the organization of the 
State Fxchauge Baidv in 1910. he took stock and 
was elected one of the directors of that insti- 
tution, his name being one of Its valuable assets. 



800 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



Mr. and Jlrs. Oreeimwalt are inemliers of the 
Prosressive Brethren Chnrch. 

GREENLEAF, Frank S.— It is strong proof 
of the character and business ability of Franli 
S. Greeuleaf. of Savanna, that he has lieen able 
to build up the leading paper having democratic 
principles in Carroll county, 111., in a community 
so overwhelmingl.v Republican in sentiment. Mr. 
Greenleaf is of French Huguenot descent and 
was born at Shakopee, Minn., August 10. 1S50. 
sou of Simon and Frances J. (Foss) Greeuleaf. 
the father's family being from Maine and the 
mother's from Massachusetts. The parents came 
west a short time before the Civil War and 
located at Minneapolis, later removing to 
Shako])ee. The father had lieeu a farmer, but 
soon after coming to Minnesota was employed 
in the quartermaster department of the United 
States government, being located at Davenport. 
la., and Racine, Wis. He afterwards became 
connected witli the fuel department of the Chi- 
cago. Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company, 
and removed to Savanna in 1867, during his 
later life becoming engaged in an insurance Imsi- 
ness, as adjuster and conveyancer. He estab- 
lished the Savanna Times in 1875, as a weekly, 
which he conducted ten years. The career of 
Simon Greeuleaf shows him to have been a man 
of superior Intelligence and ability. His uncle, 
also named Simon Greeuleaf. was a celebrated 
jurist and the author of that well-known work. 
"Greeuleaf on Evidence." 

As a boy, Frank S. Greeuleaf attended the 
public schools of Savanna, and then worked 
for a time in a drug store, after which he 
entered his father's office as an apprentice in 
newspaper work. Later he worked four years 
in the general store of L. S. Bowen, serving as 
clerk, bookkeeper and general salesman at dif- 
ferent periods. In 1885, in company with his 
father, Mr. Greeuleaf established the Savanna 
Journal, which he still owns and edits. He 
became sole owner about one year after it was 
established and he has made a marked success 
of the enterprise, having what is probably the 
most valuable plant in the count.v. He lias 
meanwhile held many offices of public trust and 
honor. He was city clerk two terms, city treas- 
urer one term, president of the district board of 
education two terms ; a member of the township 
Iward of education since its organizaiiou and 
its secretary ten years, supervisor of Savanna 



township two terms and three years a member 
of tlie board of review. He is a Democrat in 
politics and active in the interests of his party. 

In ISSij, with a number of other citizens, Jlr. 
(ireenleaf organized the Savanna Building 
Association, which has been a splendid success, 
and for a period of twenty-five years (from its 
organization to the present time) he served as 
its secretary. It is a great source of gratiflea- 
tion and pride to Mr. Greenleaf and the other 
organizers tliat the association has been the 
means of enabling many of their fellow-towns- 
men to save and invest their earnings to such 
good advantage that many of them have become 
owners of comfortable homes, who otherwise 
could not have been so fortunate. The scheme 
has been a success from the start and the 
concern now has assets of more than $10i),000. 

Since his father's death Mr. Greenleaf has 
been engaged rather extensively in Insurance 
and real estate liusiness. He is now vice presi- 
dent of the First National Bank of Savanna, 
with which he has been connected many years. 
In 1890 he helped organize the first electric 
company in Savanna and is now serving as sec- 
retary of the gas and electric company that was 
organized in 1907. 

Mr. Greenleaf was married February 4, 1885, 
to Miss Margaret T. Keuney, of Oxford Junc- 
tion, la., and four children have been born of 
this union : Kenneth, Harold. Dorothy and John 
S. Kenneth and Harold are graduates of the 
high school at Savanna and are students of the 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where 
they are pursuing an engineering course. Mrs. 
Greenleaf is a woman of culture and refinement, 
and a splendid wife and mother. She has con- 
tributed her full share towards the advance- 
ment of women's clubs in Carroll county, was 
the prime mover in the organization of the 
Women's Literary Club, of Savanna, and has 
always been one of its leading members. At 
present she is serving as district vice president 
of the State Federation of Women's Clubs. 

HACKER, William Pugh, senior member of the 
mercantile firm of Hacker & Fike of Milledge- 
ville, was born on a farm in Whiteside county, 
III.. March ?A. 1870. a son of John and Susanna 
(Johnston) Hacker. John Hacker was a sou of 
William Hacker, and the latter was a son of 
Thomas Hacker and a captain in the British 
army, serving with distinction. He was a man 



IIISTOKY OF CARROLL COrXTY 



POl 



of fine ("duration and sood family, who served 
his country ably for twelve years. His sword 
and epaulets are kept by his f;randson as cher- 
ished relics. His birth occurred in the parish of 
Cornwell. England, where Thomas was also bom, 
and he developed into a farmer. AVilliam Hacker 
was married (first) to Jane Habes by whom he 
had a daughter, Mary Jane who married Fisher 
Coon of Shannon, 111. .She died leaving two 
sons: Ralph of Shannon, and Robert of Freeport, 
both farmei-s. Thomas Hacker married (second) 
Elizabeth Jasiwr by whom he had nine children, 
three of whom survive : Elizabeth who is the 
widow of James Taylor, resides in Prince Edward 
Island, aged ninet.v-two years, having been the 
mother of five children, four of whom are living ; 
Mary who married 'William Reed, one of the 
prominent settlers and large landowners of 
Whiteside county. 111., now deceased, survives 
her husband, living now at Emerson, 111., having 
been the mother of si.x: children ; and Mrs, Jennie 
Judd, widows of Charles Judd, who is a resident 
of Leadrille, Colo, She had six children by Mr. 
Judd, When she married him, she was the 
widow of William France, one of the pioneers of 
Whiteside county, HI., a millwright by trade, who 
operated the old Conio mill in Whiteside county. 
William Hacker went with his family from 
England to Prince Edward Island in 18.30, and 
in that same year came to the United States, 
first settling in Wayne county, Pa., where he 
lived until 183G. He then went to Willow, Ul- 
ster county. X. Y., and remained until 184-1. 
While they were living there, ,Tohn Hacker was 
born on September 22, 1812. In 1844, the family 
migrated to ■Rliitesido county. III., settling on 
the county line between the latter and Carroll 
counties. The father died in the new home Sep- 
tember 2, 1846, leaving nine children fatherless. 
These children were: Richard who was born in 
England, February 2(i, 1823, toiled on a lanal in 
boyhood and worked his way up to being ca\>- 
tain, but later settled in Whiteside county, own- 
ing in time a good farm and becoming a prom- 
inent man and a member of the Methodist church 
and sui>erintendent of the Sunday school, but 
later moved to Wakeeney, Trego county. Kas., 
where he died in 188.5, his family returning to 
Whiteside county in 1890, they being Edward 
and James B., owners of 240 acres in WTiitesido 
county, and 640 acres in Kansas; Nathaniel who 
was born in England, June 10, 182."), died iu 
Whiteside county, where he had been a success- 



ful farmer. Iravhig three children, — Williur, 
Stella and Minnie Belle, the latter marrying 
and dying, and the other daughter being the 
wife of William Woodriug of Kock Falls, 111., 
while Wilbur is living at Sac City, la. ; Betsy 
Ann, who is deceased; Elisha and Anna Belle 
(twins) who were born February 2, 1830, the 
former dying when eighteen years old, but the 
latter living to marry Elias Lefevere, a prom- 
inent resident of Sterling. III. ; James who was 
born March 10, 1832; M.iry who was born Janu- 
ary 10, 1834, married William Reed; Edward 
who was born October 1, 18.39, enlisted in Com- 
pany II, Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry, serving with his regiment until he was ■ 
killed in the trenches at Kenesaw Jlountain, dur- 
ing the fourth day of the siege; and John. 

John Hacker was the youngest member of the 
family and lived at home until his marriage 
which occurred iu 1875, when he settled on a 
farm he had purchased from the Illinois Cen- 
tral Railroad, adding forty acres to the original 
eighty acres. The prairie was broken with eight 
,voke of oxen, Edward Hacker assisting his 
brother in the work. John Hacker prospered 
and became one of the prominent and successful 
agriculturists of his section. Charitable, he 
never sent anyone away from his door without 
assistance. While a staunch Reimhlican, he was 
never willing to hold office, preferring to exert 
his influence as a private citizen. Although not 
a member of any religious organization, he helped 
to support the South Elkhorn church. A fine 
citizen, honorable and trustworlhy. when he died 
March 4, 1907, his locality lost a good man. His 
remains were interred in the South Elkhorn 
cem(>tery. His widow resides on the home farm 
to which she was taken as a bride when eighteen 
years old. Two children were born to her and 
husband: William P, and Sarah .\., the latter 
born March 7, 1878, manied .\lbert Weast, a 
farmer of Ogle count.v. They have a daughter, 
Dorothy and a son, John S. 

William Pugh Hacker was born on the home- 
stead where he grew up. attending the district 
schools. In 1890, he entered Mt. Morris college, 
from which he was graduated June 4, 1901. He 
eanied the money to take him through college 
and is proud of this fact. Returning home in 
September, 1901, he bought a grocery and stock 
of goods valued at -^StX) in Milledgeville. and was 
engaged in conducting the business until the fall 
of 19113, during wbirh time be init things on a 



802 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



good iiuying basis ami so sold lialf his interest, 
formins: a partueiship with Wallace W. Fike. 
under the name of Ilaiker & Fike. The firm 
rented a double store, adding gents" furnishings, 
boots and shoes to the lines carried, and later 
took up the handling of queensware and became 
agents for the Ford automobiles. Four clerks 
are employed, and the partners also wait upon 
their customers. From the beginning, this busi- 
ness has paid good profits, and the stock has been 
increased until it far exceeds the original 
amount. Owing to their connections, the firm 
are able to carry an excellent line of goods and 
offer prices that are as low as is consistent with 
ithe quality of the goods. Their motto is "Honest 
weight and a square deal."' 

On December 4, 1901, Mr. Hacker was married 
to Frances Edith Dunmore l>y the Rev. C. A. 
Gage of the Methodist Church of Milledgeville. 
Mrs. Hacker is a daughter of Tliomas and Mar- 
riette (Smith) Dunmore of England. Mrs. Dun- 
more died when Mrs. Hacker was seven years 
old. Mr. Dunmore survives and makes his home 
in Milledgeville. Mr. and Mrs. Hacker became 
the parents of four children : Beulah Pruella who 
was born October 30, 1902; Richard .John who 
was born March 15. lOO.'i ; William Wa.vne who 
was born February 2, 1008 : and Daniel Taul who 
was born December 22, 1911. 

While actively engaged in building up his 
flourishing business, Mr. Hacker has found time 
to discharge his duties as a citizen, and for four 
years served as a member of the village board, 
giving it an honest service. He belongs to the 
Masonic Lodge No. .345 of Milledgeville, and 
is now serving the third time as worshipful 
master, having held nearly all of the other of- 
fices. He also belong.s to the Modern Woodmen 
of America. Both he and his wife are members 
of the Eastern Star. They are Methodists, Mr. 
Hacker is liberal in his support of the church, 
and is serving his third year as president of the 
Milledgeville men"s Sunday-school class, which 
has nearly one liundred members. Politically he 
is a republican. The Hacker home is a pleasant 
one, and Mr. Hacker is interested in raising 
fancy chickens, having one of the most valnaljle 
flocks of White W.vandottes in this part of the 
State. His product has carried off more ribbons 
than any other flock in this section. These 
aviards have been as follows for the winter of 
1911 and 1912-191.'!. His winnings at Milledge- 



ville Poultry Show December 30, 1012 to Janu- 
ary 4, 1913— F. H. Shallaberger, Judge. 

1st pen, score 188.13 ; 1st eoc-kerel, 94% ; 2d 
cockerel, 93% ; 3d cockerel. OSli ; 4th cockerel. 
93; 1st pullet, 94% ; 2d pullet, 94i/. ; 3d and 4th 
pullets, 94 : 1st hen, 94% ; 2d hen, 94% ; 3d and 
4th hens, 94. 

1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th cocks. 

Special premium for highest scoring bird in 
show. His strongest competitor was a breeder 
of a well known strain who won 2d pen only. 

At Dubuque. Iowa. December 10 to 15. 1912 — 
Russell. Judge. 

2d pen, score 187.375; 1st cockerel, 95%; 1st 
pullet, 94% — ^was cut 1-2 point on weight, being 
very young; 4th pullet, 94%, tying two others 
for 2d. He entered only one cockerel and four 
pullets, having very strong competition, there 
Ijeing nine pen entries in his class of the best 
White W.viindottes in eastern Iowa and north- 
Avestern Illinois, 13 cockerels and 23 pullets. 

At DeKalb, 111., Jan. 6 to 11, 1013, Warnock, 
Judge. — 2d cockerel, score 95 ; 3d cockerel, 94% ! 
3d cock, 93%. 

At Sterling, 111., Nov. 25 to 30, 1912, McCord, 
Judge. — 1st cockerel, score 95%. 

At State Show, Springfield, 111., Jan. G to 11, 
1913. Russell, Judge. — 5th cockerel in a class of 
34. 

At Polo. 111., Dec. 18 to 23, 1911, D. E. Hale, 
Judge. — 1st pen, score 189.87 ; 1st cockerel, 94% ; 
3d, 93% ; 2d hen, 95% ; 2d pullet, 95% ; 5th, 94%. 

At MilleHgeville, 111., Dec. 11 to 16, 1911, Calvin 
Ott, Judge. 

Prize for liighest scoring pen in show. 

Prize for highest scoring cockerel in show. 

Prize for highest .scoring pullet in show. 

1st pen, 191.02 ; 1st cockerel, 9C ; 2d, 95% ; 3d, 
95%; 1st pullet. 9G; 2d, 95%; 3d, 95%; 4th, 
94% ; 5th, 94 ; 1st hen, 951/2 ; 3d, 94% ; 2d cock, 
94. 

H.ieker's Wliite Wyandottes are white and 
bred to lay. Mr. Hacker is a member of the 
National White Wyandotte Club ; also president 
of the Milledgeville Poultry Association, having 
served as one of the directors of the association 
ever since its organization. 

In addition to other calls made upon him, Mr. 
Hacker has been the manager of the family 
estate, and owns some property in Oakley, Kas., 
eighty acres in Roswell, N. M. and property in 
Gary, Ind. A splendid business man, upright 
in his dealings, he has forged to the front, and 




WIM.IAM !•: Xll'K 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



803 



has iiiM<l(' M success of whatever he has at- 
tempU'd. In his home town, he is held in the 
highest esteem as a good business man and a 
public-siiirilt'd, lnyal citizen. 

HALDERMAN, Nathaniel H.— Tin- Ualilorman 
iMiiiily liavf Iii'cn as,soriatcd with the progress 
and growtli of Mt. Carroll, 111., from the estab- 
lishment of the town, and have always rep- 
resented the best interests of the community. 
'l"he family was founded in America by five 
brothers, who emigrated from Germany to the 
rniled Slates, two of them locating in the South 
and llie others in the North, and the father of 
Xathanii'l II. Ilalderman was a native of Penn- 
sylvania, born May 1. 1811. The subject of this 
sketch was born in Mt. Carroll, February 21, 
]S5:i. son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (McCoy) 
Ilalderman. The father died June 27, 1880. He 
lived near Norristown, Montgomery, Pa., until 
he reached manhood, and in 1840 came to what is 
now the site of >It. Carroll, where he became 
as.sociated with John Rinewalt and David Eni- 
mert. in laying out the town site. Mr. Haider- 
man donated land and erected, free of charge, 
the first court house erected there, and was thus 
lai-gely instrumental in securing the removal of 
the county-seat from Savanna to that location. 
His marriage occurred in Illinois but his wife 
was originally from Norristown, Pa. They were 
Ii.i rents of five children, three daughters and two 
sons, of whom Nathaniel II. was the third in 
order of birth. They were: William (now de- 
ceased) ; Rebecca T., Mrs. Capt. J. M. Adair, of 
Spriiigfi4'ld ; Nathaniel II.; Frankie. deceased; 
llattie E., Mrs. Robert E. Webb, of Chicago. 
After the death of his wife Mr. Ilalderman mar- 
ried (second) her sister, Slary T. McCoy, and 
they were parents of two chiUlien. Edward M., 
of Des Moines, and Mary L>ell Ilalderman. Re- 
fore leaving bis native slate .Mr. Ilaldcnuan bad 
leanu'd Ibc trade of miller, and after locating 
in .Mt. Carroll lie cirganized .-i conijiany and bnilt 
the first J-'i'lJ^t mill '" Hi'it I'^H't of the state. This 
was a substantial stone structure and is still 
standing, and looks much as a modern building 
would. The interior has been changed to meet 
modern conditions and demands, but the outside 
of the building is just as it was put ui), in 1841. 
The early educalion of Nathainel II. Ilalder- 
man was acijuired in bis native cit.v and later 
he entered Chicago (then Douglas) University, 
and al'IrrwiU'ils atlcndcd :i Chicago business col- 



lege. Thi.s was about the time of the Chicago 
fire, and Mr. Ilalderman removed to Milwaukee, 
wliere he subsequently engaged in a produce and 
connnission business .md became a member of 
the board of trade of that city, where he re- 
mained until his fatlier's death, in 1880, when 
be returned to Mt. Carroll and took charge of 
the affairs and estate of his father, which he has 
since continued. He has become jirominent in 
public affairs in the city and has served as alder- 
man several terms. He has also been a member 
of the school hoard. In politics he is a repub- 
lican. He is an enterprising and progressive citi- 
zen and is interested in various financial en- 
terprises in the coninnniity, in which he has been 
fairly successful. He is well regarded and has 
a good standing in the connnunity, not only for 
the part he has pla.ved in affairs, but for the 
reputation and high esteem his father had won 
before him. 

Mr. Haklerman was married December 27, 
1875, to Mary Eliza Crunnner, of Mt. Carroll, 
and two sons have been l)orn of the union: Her- 
bert Frank, ^associated in business with his 
father, and Nathaniel, in the milling business in 
Springfield, 111., who married Ressie A. Norton, 
of Marengo, HI., and they have one son, Frank 
Norton. 

HANDEL, John.— Tlie stranger traveling through 
Carroll county, will be impressed with the great 
number of well cultivated farms, the sleek cattle 
and the evidences of a substantial peojile who 
live happy and contented. In nine cases out of 
ten lie will find that the most desirable [iroper- 
ties belong to old C.erman-.Vmericau families 
who, have exercised in llicir operation and man- 
agement the thrift and g(M)d sense which is 
rightly crcHlited to the (Jermans. which qualities 
are inlipriled. One of the leading and snbstan- 
ti.-il .-igriculturists of Wasliington townsliip is 
John Handel, whose 240 acres of valuable land 
have largely been developed by himself and en- 
tirely im|iroved through his efforts. Ho was 
born in Wurtemburg. Germany, October 29, 1843, 
and is a son of Daniel and Uosina (Sehoenhar) 
Handel. 

The parents of Mr. Handel were natives of 
(Jermany ,ind tlie father was a stone mason b.v 
trade. In the winter of 1848-9 the family came 
to .Vnierica. landing at New Orleans, and arrived 
at St. I.ouis, Mo. by way of the Mississippi river, 
oil .I.iiiuarv 1, 1849. They remained in Si. Louis 



804 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



until navigatiou opeiieil in the upper part of the 
river, when they took passage on a river boat 
and came to Galena, in Jo Daviess county. III., 
shortly afterward moving to Hanover, where 
Mr. Handel had an opportunity to work at his 
trade. Work continued for some mouths and 
then he moved to Darinda and Daniel Handel 
there rented a farm on which he lived about six 
years. In 18.o7 he moved to Carroll county, 
where he bought IGO acres of land on section .">. 
■Washington township but later disposed of it and 
purchased forty acres on section 8, on which 
place he lived until his death. He carried on 
farming and also worked at his trade. Both he 
and his wife were members of the Lutheran 
church and they were good and worthy people. 
They had five children, three of whom are liv- 
ing, namely : John ; Lena who is Mre. John Mc- 
Intyre, resides at Hanover, Jo Daviess county ; 
and Mary, Mrs. James E. Dean, who lives on 
the Handel homestead in Washington township. 

John Handel obtained his education in the 
public schools in the neighborhood in which the 
family lived during his boyhood, and he continued 
to work with his father until 1864. in August of 
that year enlisting for service in the Civil war. 
He entered Company E, One Hundred and Forty- 
sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and remained a 
soldier until he was honorably discharged in 
the latter part of July, 1865 and was mustered 
out at Camp Butler, near Springfield. After re- 
tuniiug from the army, Mr. Handel continued 
on the home farm with his father for a time. 
About 1868 he bought the farm of 160 acres on 
section 8, which is his homestead and contains 
240 acres. When he came to the place there 
were no improvements except a log house, but 
he built a handsome and substantial two and 
one-half story stone residence and has otherwise 
done a large amount of improving. For a num- 
ber of years Mr. Handel devoted a large part of 
his time to bee culture and has a large apiary 
on the farm, which, for some years has been 
under the management of his son Charles. Mr. 
Handel has always been a very busy man and he 
is an intelligent and public spirited one. He has 
frequently been selected by his fellow citizens 
for ofiiee holding and has served some four terms 
as highway commissioner, one year as assessor, 
and for a number of years as school director. 

On April 13, 1871, Mr. Handle was married 
to Miss Theresa Miller, who was born in Ger- 
many, March 17, 1845, a daughter of Frederick 



and Christina Miller, who came from Germany 
about 1850 and located first at Milwaukee. Wis., 
later moving to Jo Daviess county, 111. Mrs. 
Handel died April 3, 1906, the mother of five 
children, four of whom are living: Charles D., 
wlio resides at Savanna ; Mamie, Mrs. Otto 
Bertsch, w-ho lives in Jo Daviess county; and 
Homer 11. and Ernest R.. who reside with their 
father. Mr. Handel is independent in his poli- 
tical views. 

HARR, John. — Carroll county farm land is 
exceedingly fertile and responds profitably to 
any care expended upon it. The agriculturists 
who under.staud its requirements are sure of 
reaping large profits from their investment of 
time and money. One of the farmers who ap- 
preciate this is John Harr of Mt. Carroll town- 
ship. He was born in this township, February 
12. 1866, being a son of Jacob and Elizabeth 
(Rheiffer) Harr, natives of Rheichelsheim, 
Germany, where he was born July 25, 1S25, and 
she, January 29, 1S30. Jacob Harr was edu- 
cated in Germany, and worked with his father, 
who was a carpenter. In 1S4S, Jacob Harr 
came to the United States, settling first in 
Pennsylvania, where he farmed for several 
years. He then went to Springfield, O., where 
he continued farm work for several years more. 
Before leaving Pennsylvania, he had married, 
and he and his wife came to Carroll county, 
111., in 1858, renting a farm on Preston Prairies, 
Mt. Carroll township. Here they lived for about 
six years, when they bought twenty acres in 
Jit. Carroll township, on .•section 8. To this, 
additions were made until there were 300 acres 
in the home farm. When Mr. Harr died, he 
owned laud in Woodland township as well as in 
Mt. Carroll township, and devoted it all to 
general farming and stockraising. Politically, 
he was a Democrat, and in religious faith, 
lielonged to the United Brethren Church. Eight 
cliildren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Harr, 
three of whom died in infancy, and two later 
in life, three surviving. Those living are : 
Jacob, of Six)kane, Wash. ; George H., of 
Savanna, 111., and John. Mr. Harr died June 
19, 1S93, since which time his widow has made 
her home with her sou John. 

John Harr went to the Mt. Carroll township 
district schools, and grew up on the farm with 
his parents. When twenty-one years old. he 
began working by the month, but in 1803, he 



I11ST(»KV OF CAKKOLL COUNTY 



805 



timk charge of the homosteail. on suctions 17 
iiiKl 21, thus contiiuiiui; viiitil l!iOr>. wlu'ii he 
sold 120 acres, and bouirht I'.tl acres in sections 
17. 1^ and 21, wliere he resides at in-esent. 
Here he carries on general farniini;. and lias 
heen reniarlcably successful. Lilve his father, 
he is a Democrat, and has been a school director 
since allaining his majority. 

< In December 24, 1S9S, he was married to Cora 
Klsie Holy, l)orn in Mt. Carroll to\vnsliii>. 
December 23, 1S7.J, dauKhter of Augustus and 
Caroline (Oberheim) Holy, natives of Franklin 
county, Pa. He was born May 0, 1S44, in Frank- 
lin county, I'a., where his wife was boru, Xoveui- 
bei- 23, 1S51, and both died in Carroll county, 
111. Mr. and Mrs. Harr are the parents of 
four children : Esther JI., who was boru Sep- 
tember 20, 1S99; Lila F.. who was born Novem- 
ber 10, 1000. and I.lo.vd .T. and Loyal .T.. twins, 
who were born Feliruary 20, 1004. All are going 
to school. Mrs. Harr is a member of the t'nited 
Brethren Church. 

HARTFIELD, Ernest M., M. D.— On a firm 
fomulation of accurate medical knowledge ad- 
ministered with conscientiousness and discern- 
ment. Dr. Frnest M. Hartfield of Cliadwick has 
built a splendid practice in a comparatively few 
short years. He was born in St. Louis. Mo.. 
October 20, 1SS2, being a son of Ernest and 
Ro.se (Campbell) Hartfield. The father is a 
native of Germany, who came to America, set- 
tling in St. Louis, where he married and fol- 
lowed his trade of a moulder until ISJsri, when 
he took his family to Chicago and eventually 
became connected with the Chicago Stove Works. 
There were two children in the family : Dr. 
Hartfield, and a brother, George, now the dis- 
trict manager of the T'nited States Playing 
Cards Co.. of Minneapolis, who rose from the 
position of one of the company's office boys to 
his present resiv)nsible situation. The mother 
was born in Mary county. Mo., May 27, 1802, a 
daugliter of a I-'ederal .soldier, wlio died while 
in service during the Civil War. Mrs. Hartfield 
has but little recollection of her father, but 
her mother survives, making her home in 
Chicago. 

Dr. Hartfield was forced ti> leave school uiieii 
he was in the seventh grade in oiilcr to help 
provide for his mother and younger lnollicr. 
While the mother worried, the brave l.id con- 
soled her by saying that be promised to finish 



his education later when oi)portnnity was iire- 
.sented. .ind he never fiagged in his efl'ort to keep 
his word. Obtaining a position wllli Mandel 
Bros.. Chicago, he worked his way up through 
sheer ability and determination until he became 
floor-manager. Ituring this time he kept up 
his studies, attending regular night school until 
he was prei^ared to enter "upon his medical 
studies. It took five years of hard night work 
to pass the high school e.\amination.s. Few- 
people realize what this means. .Ml day. from 
eight in the morning to si.\ at night, lie was 
giving to his employers the best (hat was in 
him, and then until ten-thirty he would labor 
over his books at home, frequently going with- 
out a meal rather than lose time from his 
studies. Dr. Hartfield then entered the Central 
Institute and later the Reliance Medical Col- 
lege of Chicago. He still retained his po.sition 
with Mandel Brothers, yet he never missed a 
lecture in liis college course and he graduated 
as valedictorian of his class, an honor he undis- 
initably had earned. He was graduated in the 
class of 1909 with the highest honors. While 
he did not give up his position. Dr. Hartfield 
opened an ofBee in the Champlain Building, .lust 
across the street from Mandel Brothers' store. 
Here he practiced, having office hours from 
0:30 to S:30 o'clock every evening, and thus 
he secured a considerable iiatronage. 

These .years of double duty impaired his 
strength, and he knew it was necessary for him 
to make a change, so he left Chicago, September 
13, 1910, and located in Chadwick, HI., taking 
over the practice of Dr. C. H. Harrison. In 
1011 he leased the Hotel Cliadwick and |>laced 
it in the hands of his mother. He has a suite 
of rooms in this liostelr.v, and is fast becoming 
one of the leading physicians of this section 
of the state. His otfice is very fully cHjuipiied, 
and a line medical library, including the latest 
treatises on thera|)eutics. insures his jiatients of 
the most advanced service. Still Intensely am- 
bitious, he keeps abreast of modern research. 

Dr. Hartfield obtains much rela.\atiou from 
the social life that Js centered in Chadwick. 
At the present writing he is a member of the 
local Lodge No. S(i7, A. F. & A. M. ; of the 
Lanark Chapter No. 139. R. A. M., of Lanark; 
of Rainah Chapter No. DO, O. K. S., of Clrnd- 
wick; .•mil of Long Commaudery No. CO, K. T., 
of Mt. Carroll. In professional circles he is the 
vice-president of Carroll Couuty Medical .Society, 



806 



HISTORY OP CARROLL COL'NTY 



and a member of both the Illinois State Medical 
Society and the American Medical Association. 

On the seventh of Jnly, 1012, Dr. Ilarttield 
was nnited in marriage with Miss Marie (iab- 
ben, of Chicago. 

During the many years that he was eniijloyed 
at Mandel Brothers' he gained the confidence 
and respect of his ftuployers and fellow-workers. 
While attending strictly to the affairs placed 
in his charge, he was so just in his decisions 
that those under him felt that they had in him 
a friend. Customers of the store became in- 
debted to him for his unfailing courtesies in 
adjusting matters for them, and many outside 
his personal circle of friends, which was a large 
one, rejoiced at his .successful graduation. Man- 
del Brothers showed their appreciation of his 
faithful service b.v presenting him with a roll 
of honor, which he will always treasure, for it 
was honorably won. Throughout his busy life. 
Dr. Hartfield has proven himself worthy of the 
highest consideration. A devoted son and 
brother, a conscientious employee, and a faithful 
student, he gained a training that will i)rove of 
value to him throughout the .years that stretch 
before him in the pursuance of his chosen pro- 
fession. 

HATHAWAY, James, was born February 1, 
1799, at Fall River, Mass., and died at Savanna, 
111., June 23, ISCO, a sou of William and Mary 
(Valentine) Hathawa.y. He left his home about 
the year 1.S13 and settled in Clarion, O.. where 
he remained about one .vear, clearing land, but 
became employed about the Higby Mills. Still 
later he became the owner of a steam mill in 
Hampden, O., which he ran with his usual 
enterprise and success. Mr. Hathaway to a 
shrewd, strong mind of unusual vigor added 
that cultivation which may be acquired by a 
very busy man, from books and newspapers and 
in a wide intercourse with men and the active 
world. Early he became one of the best in- 
formed men of the country as he was one of 
the foremost men of business in it. These qual- 
ities joined with his acknowledged integrity of 
character, early indicated him as one of the 
fittest for the offices of the township, many of 
which he filled. He was for many years a 
justice of the peace, aud his admirable judg- 
ment and practical good sense won the gen- 
eral respect of the people and secured confidence 
in his decisions. 



In 1S4S he was elected sheriff of (Je.Tuga 
county, aud reelected to succeed himself. He 
had already made himself familiar with pension 
laws and became a successful jirosecutor of 
claims, a business which he conducted at Char- 
don, of which place he became a resident when 
elected sheriff, which duties he performed with 
ability and promptnes.s. He subsequently 
became a large purchaser of pine lands in the 
northwest aud a dealer in western lands. .V 
man of great vigor and activity of mind, em- 
ploying none but honorable expedients, he was 
one of the kindest of mortals, generous and 
liberal in his dealings, and was widely known 
and generally respected and esteemed. 

Mr. Hathaway was married to Jliranda 
Ashley, daughter of Xoah ,\shley and .Vbigail 
Pease of Springfield. Mass., .Vugust 2, l.S2(!. 
To this union eight children were born, as fol- 
lows: Isaac Newton Hathaway, who was a 
prominent lawyer of Chardon, O., was a member 
of both hou.se and .senate of the state legisla- 
ture and was on several state boards; James 
' Valentine Hathaway, who was a large cattle 
and sheep dealer in Nevada and one of the 
"forty niners,"' who went to California ; Edwin 
Hathawa.y, who married Flora .\. Downs, a 
daughter of an old settler of Carroll county, 
lived ou the farm in Fairhaven township, where 
he was justice of the peace for many years, also 
township school treasurer, and naturally of a 
bright mind, was said to be the finest mathema- 
tician in the county ; .John, who was a merchant 
in Sabula, la., never married ; Louisa M.. who 
was a teacher in Carroll county and prominent 
in business circles, married Thomas Corbett. 
after the death of her sister, Mrs. Mar.v Lincoln 
Hathawa.v-Corbett, who was a graduate of the 
Mount Carroll Seminar.v, class of 1S69 ; having 
been prior to her marriage a public school 
teacher for .years, Hathaway Hall of the 
Academy of Francis Shinier School being named 
for her by her younger sister, Jlrs. Hattie 
Nevada Le Pelley, who has been for several 
years one of the board of trustees, of the Francis 
Shinier School, formerly the Seminary ; and Mrs. 
Le I'elle.v, who is the sole survivor of this 
very distinguished family. She and her hus- 
band, Mr. Edward Le Pelley are held in very 
high e.steem by a large circle of friends. 

Mr. Hathaway moved his family to Savanna, 
111., in 18ri!>, where he was interested in lumber 
and grain, and for man.v years he conducted 




jJr^^M^U 



/v 





HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



807 



loggiug (.amps iii Wisconsin, during the winter 
season, overseeing liis farming interests in Fair- 
liaven townsliiii (luring tlie summer. Most of 
the land lie Uad in Illinois and Wisconsin he 
acquired from the government and he also owned 
large tracts of laud in Iowa. 

After his death his wife continued to reside 
iu the old home at Savanna with her daughters, 
where she died June 11, ISs."). Mrs. Ilatliaway 
was a woman of sterling qualities and a sub- 
stantial member of the community, dispensing 
good cheer among her neighliurs and friends. 
She was a woman of decided business instincts, 
successfully administering her husband's estate 
and business enterprises after his death. 

HAWK, Hugh C. (deceased).— Oftentimes tliose 
who are taken away by death seem to Ije the 
ones who can be least spared, for their lives 
are useful, their good deeds many, and their 
home ties strong. Yet death is no respecter of 
persons, and the records of Ciirroll county show 
that some of its most venerated men have gone 
to their last rew-ard. One of those whose 
memories are lionored for what tliey ac- 
complished in iife, and who lias lelt alile 
representatives liehind him, is the late Hugh 
C. Hawk, formerly of Salem township, who 
was born in Freedom township, this count.v, 
October 27, IN.'iN, being a .son of William II. 
and Margaret K. Hawk, natives uf Virginia. 

Hugh C. Hawk was brought uj) in Carroll 
county, and given such educational advantages 
as were offered by the district school and Jit. 
Carroll high school. I'ntil he was twenty-one 
years old. lie remained with liis parents, but 
in the spring of ISSO, he rented a small farm, 
and worked it for himself. Two years later he 
moved to the farm of his half-brother, where 
he resided until l.so.5, when he settled on the 
240-acre farm on section 3, Salem township, he 
had bought In 1894. This continued to be his 
home until January. 1011. when he moved to 
Lanark, where he died June 30, l!»ll. Wliile 
.•I strong Uepublican. he never held anything but 
the les.ser offices, for he did not care for public 
life. Fraternally, he was a member of the 
Woodmen of America. In 1878 he joined the 
Cliristiaii Church of 'Ljiuark, and continued 
faithful to these obligations until his death. 
lie was a member of the official board of the 
church for several years, and tanghl in the 
Sunday school. 



On December 14, Issl, he was married by 
Kev. Crowix of the Kaptist Church, to i;ila 
M. Blake, born in Herby, Vt., October 2."i, Is.V.), 
daughter of Horatio C. and .Viiiia >I. (Holmes) 
Blake, natives of Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hawk became the jiarents of six children: 
Walter II. Hawk; Ilattie M., who is of Lanark; 
Mrs. Mable A. Merritt, who is of .Superior, 
Xeli. ; Earl B.. who lives in Lanark ; Kay 10., 
who lives in Salem township; and Cliarles 
Homer, who is of Salem township. Mrs. Hawk 
died October 23, 1890. In October, 1S9!». Mr. 
Hawk married (second) Mrs. Etta (Howe) 
Splain, who now resides iu Lanark. 

Walter H. Hawk was born in Salem tow n- 
.ship, December 17. 1882, and received a good 
common school education there, and ]irolited 
by a two-years' eourse in the L.-uiark high 
school. He remained with his father until he 
was twenty-two years of age, when he rented 
ICO acres in Salem township. Iu Janu.iry, 
1911, he moved to the homestead whii h lie now 
rents and operates. 

On December 11, ]!I07, Walter 11. llawl< and 
Zella Drenner were married by Z. T. Livingood 
of the I'rogressive Dunkard Church of Lanark, 
111. She was born in Freedom township, Febru- 
ary ](!, 1880, being a daughter of Hamilton and 
Emma (Bullington) Drenner, residents of Free- 
dom township. Mr. and Mrs. Hawk have two 
sons, II. Hugli, born December 21, 1908, and 
Forest E., boru January 31, 1913. The Hawk 
family is an old and honored one in Carroll 
county, and its representatives are among the 
leading agriculturists and business men of this 
locality, the careful training and Christian up- 
bringing in their youth, now bearing fruit in 
the lives of the younger generation, and raising 
up a lasting monuiuenl to the virlues of llie 
excellent jiarents. 

HAWKINS, Howard, a fanner who is also en- 
gaged in a livery and feed business at Milledge- 
ville. was bom in Genesee township. Whiteside 
eonnly. 111., .\ugiist 22, 1860, a son of Seth and 
Marind.i (Johnston) Hawkins, and a grandson 
of Samuel Hawkins. The latter was a n:itive 
of Louisville. Ky.. where he married and later 
moved with his wife to Albany, Ind., but came 
from there to Lawrence county, and still later to 
Jasper county. 111., where they were early set- 
tlers and both died there. They were among 



808 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



the founders of the IXethoaist church of that 
section. 

Seth Hawkins was born iu Lawrence county, 
lud., October 14, 182S, and died December 25, 
1SS5. He was reared near Bedford, where he 
was married February 20. lS5i, to IXarinda 
Johnston, who was bom also in Lawrence county, 
November 4, 1838, who is still living. In the 
spring of ISCO Seth Hawkins and wife settled 
iu Whiteside county, 111., and It was iu this 
county his death occurred when he was fifty- 
seven years, two mouths and eleven days old. 
His burial was in Hazel Green cemetery. When 
the Civil war broke out he enlisted while in 
Indiana, for a term of three months, and it was 
while serving out a second enlistment of three 
months that his wife removed to Whiteside 
county to be near her own people, who had pre- 
viously located there. They were originally from 
East Tennessee and moved first to Lawrence 
county, Ind.. and there lived imtil 1857, when 
they went to Whiteside county. Her grand- 
father on the maternal side was Isaac Maiden 
and be was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. 
William Johnston was born March 1, 1807. .nnd 
died March 20, 1873. He married Nancy Maiden, 
who was born iu 1S03. and died at the home of 
her son, Arthur Johnston, in Iowa, January 10. 
1883, when aged eight.v years, and her remains 
were brought to '\^1liteside county and laid by 
the side of her husband. Her first marriage had 
been to Joseph Day, who. at death, left one 
child, Elizabeth Ann. At the age of thirteen 
years Mrs. Hawkins united with the Methodist 
EiJiscopal Church and has been active in its 
work for sixty years. 

.\.fter receiving his honorable discharge from 
the army, Seth Hawkins came to Whiteside 
county, where he re-enlisted, entering Comjiany 
II. Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for 
three years or during the war, serving on spe- 
cial duty after losing three fingers of his left 
hand. He participated in the following battles: 
Perryville, Stone River, Chickmauga, Lookout 
Mountain and numerous other engagements of 
less moment. After the close of the war he 
returned home and resumed farming, his wife, 
in the meantime, with remarkable resourceful- 
ness and good judgment, having managed the 
little farm and kept the children together. They 
were as follows : Alice C, who is the wife of 
Jacob L. Chambers ; Emma D.. who is deceased, 
was born in Lawrence county. April 11, 18.57, 



and died September 2, 1908, married William 
McCombs and they had five children, Bertie, 
born October 17, 1881, died January 13, 1883; 
Stella, born November 8, 1882, wife of Harvey 
CaiTenter of Milledgeville and mother of Veloris 
and Harold; Olie. born October 4, 1884, died 
August 30, 1887 ; Alice, wife of Grant Byers, and 
Virgil McCombs, born July 4, 1895 ; Howard who 
was the third born in the Hawkins family ; 
James who was boru iu Whiteside county, March 
1. 1S03, married Ida E. Smith, issue, — Flora, 
Nora, Marjory and one who died in infancy ; is a 
retired farmer living at Polo. 111. ; Olie B. who 
was born February 17, 1804, married Jlinerva 
Uurless. issue. — .\rthur. Alta. Arley, Forest. Mel- 
vin. Jlilford and Jlerrill ; Luther who was born 
November 13. 1809, and died December 20, 1880, 
aged eleven years ; Viola, who was born Janu- 
ary 20, 1870, is the wife of William Meakins, 
lives at Morrison, 111., and they have three 
children, — Carl. Homer and Ruth ; and Florilla 
who died December 9, ISSO, aged six years, one 
month and seventeen days. 

Howard Hawkins spent his boyhood as do 
many farmer boys of the present day, assisting 
on the farm and attending school as opportuni- 
ties offered. When twenty-two years old, on 
May 10. 1883. he was married to Miss Clara J. 
Overholser, born iu Genesee township, White- 
side count.v. III., April 12, 1805. daughter of John 
M. and Lydia (Crom) Overholser. They wore 
natives of Wood county, O.. coming from there 
to Illinois iu 1854. Air. Overholser became a 
well-to-do farmer and in 1900 retired from active 
business and has since resided in the pleasant 
village of Coleta. He and wife are members of 
the United Bre.thren Church. To them were 
born these children : Elizabeth, who married 
Clark Vincon, of Coleta, and they have two chil- 
dren. M.vrtle ;uid Pearl ; Martin Overholser who 
was born September 1, 1800. died December 1, 
1894 ; Mrs. Hawkins ; Delia who is the wife of 
John Snavely, of Coleta ; James who was born 
January 23, 1879, married Lena Heckman. and 
they have three children, Alice, Grace and John. 

After bis marriage. Mr. Hawkins rented a 
farm of 200 acres in Clyde township, Whiteside 
count.v, on which he lived until 1885, when he 
purchased a three-acre tract on which was a 
residence and lived there until 1888, engaged in 
operating his father-in-law's land. He then 
rented 270 acres which he successfully conducted 
until 1895 when he bought 100 acres in Wysos 




Q'^-U:^ (i.(P ^^y^I^ 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



809 



fownsliip, Ciinall county. After liviiij^ there for 
one year, Mr. Hawkins found a tenant that paid 
a cash rent while lie moved to Milledgeville, lo- 
cating on a small place. He then engaged in 
bauling milk first to Coleta and later to the 
John Xewiuan creamery at Milledgeville and 
so continued until 1808, when he added another 
forty acres to his farm in \^'>i-sox township and 
moved hack to his own land, which he cultivated 
until lOuri. Then he again rented out his farm 
and returned to Milledgeville, wliere lie bought 
a livery stahle and feetl harn, selling the barn in 
11X)7 and in the same year buying ICO acres in 
Ogle county, near Oregon. This farm he sold in 
1909 and bought fifty-five acres in Genesee 
township, 'Whiteside county. He also owns thirty 
acres in Clyde township, in the same county, his 
land aggregating in all 245 acres. In 1909 he 
bought his present livery barn and feed stables 
and is credited with having one of the best 
e<iuipi)ed barns in the county. He keeps thirteen 
horses in fine condition for hire and also two 
automobiles. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins are parents of the 
following children : Orville E. who was boru in 
Clyde township. Whiteside county, December 29, 
1885, was married Octol)er 30, 1907, to Mamie 
Myers, and they have two children, — Clara and 
Mont F. ; Noel who was born November 2, 1887, 
was married October 10, 1910, to Maud Flynn, 
and they have one child, — William; Bernie who 
was born December 9, 1889, was married Janu- 
ary 19, 1911, to Edna Olmstead, is a clerk at 
Milledgeville; Mont H. who was born January 
10, 1891, is in business with his father, was 
maiTied January 24, 1912, to Cora Wolfe, of 
Polo, and Lydia A. who was born December 12, 
189C. The two older sons are in a meat and 
market business as partners. 

In politics Mr. Hawkins is a Itcpublican and 
for two years has been serving in the office of 
constable. He and family are members of the 
United Brethren Church. In addition to his 
other business interests, .Mr. Hawkins is agent 
for the Travese Land Company of Wheaton, 
Minn. 

HAY, John, county superintendent of schools, 
has been active and prominent in public affairs 
in the county since he attained his majority. 
He is a native of the county, born in the town 
of Woodland, a son of Peter and Elizabeth 
(McKie) Hay, both natives of Scotland, who 

13 



were married In this county in 18.54. They were 
the iiarents of four sons and one daughter, the 
last named dying in infancy. 

With the exception of four years during which 
he served as deputy county clerk of Carroll 
county, his entire life has been spent In con- 
nection with the work of public schools and he 
was recognized for many years as one of the 
successful and progressive teachers of the 
county. He was elected county superintendent 
of schools in 189S and has been three times 
re-elected to the same position. Mr. Hay keeps 
in close touch with the progress of educational 
affairs and is thoroughly posted in the latest 
and best methods of teaching and school man- 
agement. He Is a man of excellent judgment, 
energetic and industrious, practical in his ideas 
and makes a careful study of all problems with 
which he has to deal. 

Mr. Hay was married February 9, 1910, to 
Aliss Alethea Griffith of Mount Carroll. 

HAY, Wilham J., of Woodland, P. 0., Mt. 
Carroll, is u native of the town in which he 
resides, and enjoys an acquaintance with resi- 
dents of Carroll county e<|ualed by few of her 
citizen.s. His father, Peter Hay, one of the 
pioneers of the county, died when the subject 
of this sketch was but a hid, the oldest of four 
children, so the responsibilities of the home and 
the management of the little farm devolved 
largely upon him and the effect of developing 
his resources making him in his younger man- 
hood mature for his years. He is engaged in 
farming and stockraisiiig and has made a suc- 
cess of his business. 

While Mr. Hay has been absorbed in the 
management of his own interests he has, al.so, 
identified himself with public affairs and been 
active in promoting the interests of the com- 
munity and county in which he lives. In ISSO he 
was apiwinted treasurer of his township and has 
held the position continuously up to the present 
time. He was elected to the office of supervisor 
l>y the people of his town in 1880 and has been 
named to succeed himself at the expiration of 
each succeeding term to the present date, 1913 ; 
during the tinii- he has served on the county 
board liaving held the position of chairman 
for eight years and served as a member of many 
committees that had charge of important busi- 
ness for the county, among them being the com- 
n\lttee that represented the county board in the 



810 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



erection of t!ie si)leudid soldiers" momiuient tliat 
stands in the court house square iu Mt. Carroll. 
Mr. Hay also served on tlie committee that had 
in charge the construction of the buildings at 
the county farm that replaced those destroyed 
by the cyclone in 1S98. For a number of years 
Mr. Hay served as secretary of the Mt. Carroll 
township Mutual Insurance Company, and after 
the merging of that company with the County 
Mutual Insurance Company, he was honored 
with the office of president of the last named 
company and has held it for the past eight 
years. He is also a stockholder and member of 
the board of directors of the Fair Association 
and one of the active workers in that enterprise. 
As a memlier of the Republican county central 
committee for a number of years, he has been 
a factor iu political affairs and an influential 
member of the organization. 

HEIMBAUGH, Elmer £., proprietor of the 
Spruce Lawn Stock Farm, situated on section 6, 
Wysox township, Carroll county, 111., was born 
on this farm. June 9. 1S71, a son of Matthew H. 
Heimbaugh. who is now retired, an extended 
mention of whom will be found in this work. 
Elmer E. Heimbaugh obtained his education iu 
the public schools and has been engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits all his life. He has been ac- 
knowledged a capable and industrious farmer 
since he was seventeen years of age and it was 
about that time he made a record as a corn 
husker, in ten hours husking 128 bushels. In 
1S92, when twenty-one years of age, Mr. Heim- 
baugh rented 240 acres of land from his uncle, 
James Heimbaugh. in Kock Creek township, 
bought a fine grade of stock and so worked as to 
prove his ability. In 1S97 he formed a partner- 
ship with his father and removed his stock to the 
homestead since when the business has enlarged 
to include Shorthorn cattle and Hambletonian 
horses. The output of cattle and stock from 
this farm during the partnership was enormous 
and the prices received far beyond the ordinary. 
Some of the horses Mr. Heimbaugh and father 
sold for $300, became such ^\-inners of prizes 
that in a short time they were resold for $1,500. 
The partnership continued until 1910. Mr. 
Heimbaugh trained three horses that attained 
and developed great speed. In 1904 the part- 
ners bought Aegon Star, sired by Aegon 
2 :1S .3-4., son of the world noted brood mare, 
Nutwood. The first purchase was by Henry 



Wible and Mathew Heimbaugh, the former sell- 
ing his interest to Mathew and Elmer E. Heim- 
baugh, in 1907. The animal was brought then 
to the Heimbaugh farm where he has since 
been kept and is the sire of six descendants in 
the 2:30 class, and the grandsire of two in 
the 2:30 class, this being the standard class. 
Aegon Star has run in twenty-six races and 
has won first prize twenty-two times and sec- 
ond prize three times, and was also a winner 
in the roadster class at the Chicago Horse show. 
He has appeared at three county fairs in Iowa, 
Illinois and Wisconsin and once was a winner 
at the Chicago International show, with twenty- 
five competitors in the field, taking the blue 
riblion from horses that had cost their own- 
ers $35,000. This horse has been one of the 
most valuable ever ownal in the state. Aegon 
Star was raised by C. D. Ire, of Cedar Rapids 
and sold to George K. Winig of that city, who 
developed his speed and the animal won for 
him in races the sum of $58,000. He sold the 
horse to M. H. Tichenor for $0,500, and in 
1904, as above stated, it became the property 
of Carroll county stock men. In 1910 Mathew 
Heimbaugh retired and on the farm there were 
then fifty head of fiue horses, cattle and hog.s, 
and Elmer E. retained the above noted horse. 
Other valuable animals that he owns are: 
Glenagan, a six-year-old by Aegon Star; I'acto- 
las by Pactolas, a four-year-old; Judy Cart- 
right, by Exalted; Brude Mars by John K. 
Gentry; Alamodes S., son of Simmons, grand- 
daughter of Glenview, 1170, by Belmont, 64; 
Thomas W. Glenwood Gray Hawk, 0473 ; and 
others with noted sires. He owns 160 acres of 
the old home farm but operates the entire 320 
acres. He is a firm believer in blooded stock 
of all kinds and keeps only the finest grade of 
hogs, cattle and horses, turning out 100 head 
of hogs a year and fifty head of cattle, and 
also raises many Plymouth Rock chickens. He 
has devoted his whole life to growing and im- 
proving his stock and is recognized as a superior 
judge of the same. 

On January S, 1891, Mr. Heimbaugh was mar- 
ried to Miss Flora A. Downs, who was born in 
Rock Creek township, March 27, 1871, a daugh- 
ter of Charles and Emma (Rush) Downs, who 
were born in Pennsylvania and still survive. 
Mr. and Mrs. Heimbaugh have the following 
children : Ralph, who was born January 9, 
1893; Belva, who was born October 20, 1895;^ 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



811 



Donald, who was born May -7, l;)10; 
aud Orville, who was born May 10, I'Jll. Mr. 
and Mrs. Heiuibaugh are active members of 
the Progressive Brethren church at Milledge- 
ville. In local politics Mr. Heiuibaugh exercises 
his owu judgment, while iu national affairs he 
supports the iirohiliition ticket. For many years 
he has beeu a school director in Star district. 
He belongs to I^odge No. ITS, Maccabee.s, at 
ChadwicU, 111. 

HEIMBAUGH, Matthew H., now retired after 
an active life as a farmer aud raiser of fine 
road and trotting horses, is Uuowu througliout 
Carroll county as a man of ability aud integrity 
of puriiose. He was born in Somerset county, 
Pa., May 10, lS-10, a son of .Samuel and Rachel 
(I'iukerton) Heimbaugh. The father was boru 
in Pennsylvania, December 25, ISOl, and the 
mother iu the same state, three years later. 
These excellent parents died, the father iu 1S,S5, 
and the mother in 1S91. They had eight chil- 
dren, of whom tlie following survive: Mrs. 
Sarah Falk ; Elsie McXair; David, who lives 
in Pennsylvania, and Matthew H. Two died 
iu infancy, and James and Jonas died later on 
iu life. 

Matthew H. Heimbaugh is essentially a self- 
made man, for he had only two and one-half 
months of .schooling, so all the more credit is 
due him for what he has accomplished. He re- 
mained with his father until he was twenty- 
three years old. when he began for himself. In 
ISCS, he left Pennsylvania, which had been bis 
home, and came to Carroll county, locating 
seven miles south of Lanark, where he remained 
until 1S96, when he moved to Lanark which 
has since been his place of residence. 

On February 8, 1S63, Mr. Heimbaugh was 
married by IJev. .losiah Ringer, to Rarlnra" 
Peck, a daughter of Jonas and Fanny (Sayler) 
Peck, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to 
Illinois in 18(!7, settling near Milledgeville. Mr. 
aud Mrs. Heimbaugh are the parents of four 
children : James W. who lives iu California ; 
Klmer E. who lives on what used to be his 
father's homestead of ICO acres which he re- 
cently purchased ; Idela Chisem who lives at 
Lanark; and Minnie who married .\lbort 
Liehty of Waterloo, Iowa; four children are de- 
ceased: .\|-Miln(l:i. Calvin. .Missouri and Kililh. 
They have five grandchildren. 

Mr. IleiMibangli is a member of the Lutheran 



church, and his wife of the Brethreu church. 
He has served his church as a deacon for years. 
I'olitically, he is au independent. For twenty 
years, he has beeu a school director, and for 
four years, road eommissiouor. While Mr. 
Heimbaugh was not given educational advan- 
tages, Sirs. Heimbaugh, who was born October 
20, 1843, was educated in tlie public schools of 
Pennsylvania, and has been a great help to her 
husband. Both are very excellent people who 
stand high, not only iu Lanark, but through- 
out Carroll county, where they have lived for 
.so many useful years. During the years, he 
operated as au agriculturist, Mr. Heimbaugh 
achieved a well-merited success and is num- 
licred among the substantial men of Carroll 
county. 

HENZE, Fred C, proinictor of the Excelsior 
Stock Farm, a Une estate of about ItiO acres, 
with cultivated lields, orchards, woodland and 
pasture, situated very favorably in one of the 
best sections of Shannon township, Carroll 
county, was born in Rock Grove township, Ste- 
Iihensou county, III., January 0, ISO.S. His (jar- 
euts, Henry and Caroline (Wulkey) Henze, 
were boru iu Germany. They were children 
when their jjarents came to America and both 
grew up iu Stephenson couuty where their 
fathers were farmers. When Henry Henze was 
married he bought forty acres of land and 
lived on that place for two years, but in 1870 
moved to Forreston township, in Ogle couuty, 
where he purcha.sed HJO acres and continued to 
cultivate the farm until his death, in 1800, he 
being then lifty-six years of age. His widow 
survives and has resided at Freeport since 
18!JS. Ten children were born to Henry and 
Caroline Henze, nine of whom are living, Fred 
C. being the oldest aud the only member of 
the family living in Carroll county. 

Fred C. Henze attended the district schools 
in Ogle c-omity and assisted bis father on the 
home farm until he was twenty-one years of 
age, after which he worked for three years as 
a farm hand. In 1892 he rented 200 acres of 
land on section IT, Shannon township, belonging 
to his father, and in 1903 bought the farm from 
his father's estate and made this his permanent 
home. He remodeled the house and made many 
imiirovemeuts of a substantial nature iind has 
everything very comfortable arcjund his home. 
.Mr. Henze has given a great deal of attention 



812 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



to raising fine stock believing that full blo<ided 
cattle and bogs are much more profitable than 
the common breeds, selling about two car loads 
of Poland-China hogs of this description each 
year. His cattle are fine specimens of full 
blood, high grade stock, and he also produces 
heavy draft liorses of the best breed. The 
products of the Excelsior Stock Farm are easily 
recognized when they are exhibited and Mr. 
Henze is to be commended for his efEorts to 
raise the stock standard in Carroll county. 

On November 7, 1S95, Mr. Henze was married 
to Miss Etta DeWall. who was born in For- 
reston township, Ogle county. 111., April 21, 
1875, a daughter of John and Margaret 
(Geerds) DeWall, natives of Germany, the cere- 
mony being performed by Rev. J. E. Funk. 
Seven children have been bom to Mr. and Mrs. 
Henze, six of whom are living: Clara L., John 
F., Rosa G., Fred J., Margaret G. V. and Ethel 
Xx)uisa. Mr. Henze and family attend the Pres- 
byterian church. He is no seeker for public of- 
fice but is a fair-minded, reputable citizen and 
is interested in township affairs at all times. 
He votes with the Democratic party, in county 
and state matters. 

HODGES, Anson E., one of the most public- 
spirited citizens of Savanna, is well known in 
railroad circles in his part of the state. He has 
done all in his power to further the progress 
of the city and has served the public well in 
various minor offices. He was born in Tioga 
county. Pa., August 10, 1852, son of Gideon L. 
and Martha M. (Rexford) Hodges. The 
paternal grandfather was a Methodist circuit- 
rider. In boyhood Anson E. Hodges received 
but a meagre education, being reared on a 
farm, as his father was an agriculturist, and is 
largely self-educated. In 1862 he came west 
with his parents and settled on a farm at Lyn- 
don, 111. In the spring of 1S70 Mr. Hodges left 
the farm and moved to Turner Junction (now 
West Chicago), 111., and entered the employ ol 
the North Western Railroad Company as line- 
man in the telegraph service. He became a 
brakeman in 1874 and in 1880 was promoted to 
lx)sition of conductor. 

In 1882 Mr. Hodges accepted a position with 
the Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad 
Company as conductor, which he resigned in 
1886 and took a position with the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, work- 



ing in the same capacity for that road two years. 
In May, 1889. he was promoted to the position 
of general yardmaster for this road at Savanna, 
which he has now filled for twenty-two years. 
Since being appointed to this position he has 
practically had charge of the affairs of the com- 
pany at this point, and being an efficient, level- 
headed man, enjoys the implicit confidence of 
the oflicials of the road. He has tried to arouse 
a spirit of progress among the citizens of 
Savanna and has been identified with the best 
interests of the community. 

On February 10, 1875, Mr. Hodges was mar- 
ried to Miss Emma E. Jones, daughter of Albert 
H. Jones, of West Chicago, 111. The Jones 
family originally came from New Jersey. The 
maternal grandfather of Mrs. Hodges. Mr. John 
Warne, came to Illinois in 1818. He was a 
civil engineer by profession and lived to the 
age of ninety-four years. Mr. Hodges and his 
wife have become the parents of the following 
children : Ella May, who was born December 
12, 1875, died April 6, 1S96; Edith Belle, who 
was born March 31, 1877, married Charles N. 
Jeuks, of Savanna ; and Albert Anson, who was 
born July 14, ISSO, was married, October 21, 
1907, to Ethel Stonerock, of Poutiac, and is now 
an official in the State Reformatory. Mr. Hodges 
is a member of the Order of Railway Conductors, 
to which he has belonged since 1884, and he is 
a Knight of Pythias, in which he is grand 
chancellor of Carroll county, also a member of 
the Grand Lodge of that order. In politics he 
is a Republican. He is president of the Savanna 
Improvement Association and has served two 
terms as alderman and has several times de- 
clined to be nominated for the office of mayor. 

HOERZ, David. — The Hoerz family were among 
the pioneers of Carroll county, where they have 
held an honorable position in various circles 
since locating here. David Hoerz is a native of 
the county, born on his father's farm in Wash- 
ington township, January 2, 1885, and his entire 
life has been spent within the confines of the 
county. For the past five or six years he has 
been a resident of Savanna, where he holds 
a good position with the Peoples Gas & Elec- 
tric Company. He is a son of Carl Adam and 
Marie (Kedisch) Hoerz, natives of Germany, 
and of German ancestry. They came to Carroll 
county in an early day and now reside on their 
well imi)roved farm of 120 acres in Washington 




BF.XJAMIX L. TAICll 



HISTORY OP CARROLL COUNTY 



813 



townshiii. Tliey became parouts of nine cliil- 
dren: Juliii, Katie, Mary, Christina, Lena, 
George, and David, living, Adam (deceased) 
and one child who died in infancy. 

Mr. Iloerz attended the local schools and 
worljed on a farm for his father until he was 
twenty-two years of age. After his marriage 
he came to Savanna, where he owns a nice home 
on North Fourth street. lie is an expert in 
the nuiliing of water gas, and holds an im- 
portant position with the company by which 
he is eni|)loyed. In politics he is a Kepnlilican 
and he and the other members of the family 
are members of the Evangelical Methodist 
Church, while fraternally he is affiliated with 
the Kuights of Pythias and insured with the 
Hartford Connecticut Life Insurance Company. 
For nearly three years he \vas a member of 
Ckjmpany M, Third Infantry Illinois National 
Guard. 

At Mt. Carroll, 111., on June 12, 1907, Mr. 
Hoerz was united in marriage with Cora K. 
Fehler, who was born in Jo Daviess county, 
111., Seiitember 20. 1SS7, a daughter of John 
and Elizabeth (Hoffman) Fehler, also natives 
of Jo Daviess county. Mr. and Sirs. Hoerz 
have had two children, namely : I>orothy E., 
who was lx)rn September 20, 1!)09 ; and Marie 
C, who was horn August 23, 1911. Both were 
born in Savanna. 

HOFFMAN, George L. — Among the most enter- 
prising and jirogressive citizens of Carroll 
county. 111., is George L. Hoffman, a leading 
attorney of Mt. Carroll. He was born in Hesse 
Darmstadt, Koenig, Germany, December 1, '18-17, 
and was brought liy his parents to America when 
about three years of age. The family located 
at Cbambersburg, Pa., and the boy received his 
education in the public schools, supplementing 
this instruction by a course in a select school at 
Strasburg, in the same state. At the age of 
fourteen years he began learning the trade 
of shoemaking and for fifteen years worked at 
this occupation, teaching school during winters, 
later on. In 1S70 Mr. Hoffman came to Carroll 
county, where he worked at his trade and taught 
school for several years, and in 1S73 be entered 
the Normal School at Normal, 111., from which 
he was graduated four years later, having mean- 
time studied law, so that he was admitted to 
the bar in 1877, having been graduated from 
the Wesleyan Law School at Bloomington, 111., 



during the same year. He located in Des 
Moines, la. for the practice of his profession, 
but the folowing year (1878) returned to Car- 
roll county and entered the office of the most 
eminent attorney of the county, J. M. Hunter, 
of Mt. Carroll. In 1S82 Mr. Hoffman located in 
the offices he now occupies, and has been very 
successful in his legal career, practicing in 
the local, state and Federal courts. He is a 
man of superior intelligence and acumen and 
is well fitted to cope with .such legal problems 
as he encounters. He is a brilliant and force- 
ful .speaker and presents his arguments in a 
telling manner 

Mr. Hoffman has held many local offices of 
trust and honor, serving twenty-five years as 
alderman of Mt. Carroll and three terms as 
mayor of the city. He was the first president 
of the board of education under the present 
law and has given the best of service in all 
these posts. In 1882 he was elected a member 
of the Illinois State Legislature and made an 
honorable record in this connection. He has 
traveled extensively in the United States and 
other parts of America and also in Europe, and 
in this way has broadened his ideas and his 
outlook upon life. His fellow-citizens have de- 
lighted to honor him and to show their ap- 
preciation of his public service. 

On January 1, 1880, Mr. Hoffman married 
Miss Capitola Armour, and three cliildren have 
been born of this union : Blanche, Ernestine, 
who married Victor Hasskasin, issue, — Blanche, 
lives at Harrisburg, Pa. ; and Capitola. 

HOFFMAN, John, who for nearly thirty years 
was engaged in business in Savanna, has 
recently retired from active life and is enjoy- 
ing a well-earned reiwse. He is a native of 
Switzerland, born at Oetwil, on Lake Zurich, 
December 16, 1840, the youngest of the seven 
children of John and Elizabeth (Honiberger) 
Hoffman. The father of these children died 
when John was an infant, and for many years 
he was kept at home to help his mother with 
various work on the farm, so he was never 
alile to learn a trade, although he worked for 
a time in a factory near his birthplace. When 
he was about fifteen years of age one of his 
brothers emigrated to America and sent home 
such favorable rejiorts of the conditions he had 
found, that anotlier brother soon followed, and 
in 18(;4 the mother made the trip to the new 



814 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



country, together with John and another son. 
They joined the other members of the family 
at Galena, 111., and as men were at that tinio 
being drafted for service in the Union Army, 
John Hoffman, together with his brother Henry 
and their cousin, Jacob Homberger, volunteered 
their services as substitutes, thus earning a 
bounty. Mr. Hoffman had served his regular 
term in the army in his native land and was 
thus able to do his part intelligently. He tool; 
part in no serious engagements, though he served 
to the end of the war, but Mr. Homberger died 
from a fever contracted in Texas in 1SC5. 

Upon receiving his discharge from the army 
Mr. Hoffman purchased eighty acres of land in 
Jo Daviess county, where the brothers were 
located, and cultivated this farm five years, 
after which he sold and spent eight years in 
business in Elizabeth, three years in Hanover, 
and in 1S82 purchased property in .Savanna, 
where he has since resided. 

Mr. Hoffman was married. April 2.3, ISCS, to 
Kunitgunda Schneider, who had come to 
America from Saxe-Coburg, Germany, a short 
time prior to her marriage. Mrs. Hoffman died 
January 27, 1000, having been a devoted mother 
and wife, beloved by her many friends and her 
immediate family. She and her husband were 
parents of eleven children, five of whom are 
deceased : Maggie, who is Mrs. Frank Rush, 
of Lamar, Colo., issue, — Clarence and Alma : 
Emma, who is Mrs. John Acker, of Savanna, 
Issue, — Clara; Harry, of Savanna; Bertha, who 
is Mr.s. Louis Kyarsgarrd, La Crosse, Wis., 
issue, — Alfred and Elsie; Matilda, who is Mrs. 
Clarence Bowers, issue, — Ella, with her family 
lives with her father; l^rieda, who is unmarried, 
lives at home ; Rudolph, who is also at home. 

Before locating in Savanna Mr. Hoffman made 
a visit to his birthplace, but conditions in his 
native land compared so unfavorably with his 
new home that he returned to America more 
enthusiastic than ever in his love for his adopted 
country. He had also visited various other 
parts of Eurojie, but nowhere found a place he 
preferred to the State of Illinois. Soon after 
his return he established himself in the hotel' 
business, from which he was able to retire in 
lOOC, with a competence. He is a Republican 
in politics and has served four years as alder- 
man. His present position and success are the 
results of his own efforts, as he came to the 
T'nited States a poor man and made his own 



way in life, rising by his own efforts to a posi- 
tion of prominence and influence among his 
fellows. He has had an active life and always 
hard-working and ambitious, has prospered 
accordingly. 

HOLLAND, Smith J., owner and proprietor of 
what is known as the Clover Farm, a richly pro- 
ductive tract of land situated in section 19, 
York township, Carroll county, was born at 
Chester, X. Y., near Glenns Falls, January 28, 
ISCO, a son of George W. and Elizabeth S. 
(Smith) Holland. The Holland family is of 
German extraction, while the Smith ancestry is 
traced to Scotland. Great-grandfather Holland 
settled in Pennsylvania, where Grandfather 
James Holland was born and from that state 
removed to New York state near Glenns Falls, 
where he resided until his death, at the age of 
ninety-one year.s. 

George W. Holland was a merchant in New 
York state for many years, but in 1S65 sold his 
interests there, on account of failing health, and 
then came to Carroll count.v, Illinois, with the 
idea of living as much as possible an out-door 
life. He therefore enga'ged in farming on rented 
land, near Thomson. 111., until 1S72, when he 
retired to the village of Thomson and died 
there May 30, 1876. His widow survived until 
October 7, 1904. They were most worthy mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 
polities George W. Holland was a lifelong 
Democrat. They had the following children : 
Smith J.; Ellas H., who died in February, 
1890, was a farmer in Carroll county, married 
Itelieeea Dusing, who lives at Thomson and 
they had five children: Edson, Lina, Walter, 
Sylvia and Carl; Anna E., who died February 
5, 1899; Hattie M., who is the wife of George 
Greely, a resident of Thomson with farm in- 
terests; and Helen, who is the wife of Albert 
Olds, who is a farmer in York township and they 
have one son. 

Smith J. Holland was six years old when he 
accompanied his mother and brother to Carroll 
county, in 1806, the father having made the 
journey in the preceding year. He soon became 
a school boy, diligently applying himself and 
when vacation came found employment so that 
he might add to the family income, his father's 
invalided condition making such exertion not 
only commendable but to some degree necessary. 
He first started into an independent business 



IlISTOKY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



815 



wlien he bought au old horse, secured a dray 
and trausjxirted any kind of eoniniodities that 
were entrusted to him. Business was soon l)risU 
enougli to enable him to secure a liotter horse. 
He followed the draying Imsiuess, huilt up from 
this humble start, for nine years. In 1SN3 he 
visited Dalcota, with some idea of locating there, 
but after one suuuner returned to Thomson 
and engaged as clerk in William Stark's store. 
In the same year he was elected tax collector 
and continued in the ollice until ISSH, when lie 
was appointed jiostniaster, during these years of 
politic-al oflice having i>erforme(l his clerkly 
duties in addition to his official ones. He now 
resignetl as clerk, being by this time a fairly 
well educated young man, having kept up a pri- 
vate course of study. When President Harri- 
son succeeded President Cleveland, he was re- 
appointed postmaster, and when Pi'esident 
Cleveland entered upon liis second administra- 
tion, he was once more appointed, and thus, for 
thirteen years lie held the position. In ISOS lie 
was elected collector of York township once 
more, having previously served from ISSo until 
1896. He has done considerable business at one 
time or another in settling up estates, his repu- 
tation for good judgment and reliability causing 
many people to turn to him for help or advice. 
With his family he belongs to and liberally gives 
support to the Christian church, in which he is 
an elder. Mr. Holland was elected supervisor 
of York township in 1907. He has always been 
Interested in the public schools, for eighteen 
years serving on the school board, and has also 
served as chairman of the county farm, county 
schools and county bridge committees. In ISOS 
he purchased forty acres of land situated on 
section 9, York townshij). Mr. Holland con- 
tinued to reside in his comfortable home at 
Thomson, which he still owns, until 1901, when 
he retired to his farm and immediately began 
its .improvement. He now has a fine modern 
residence and substantial barns and other build- 
ings apd has set out fruit trees which are doing 
well, insuring him a bountiful yield of apples, 
plums, peaches and cherries. To his original 
forty acres he has added until he now has 1(;o 
acres, on sections 1 and 19, all under a high 
state of cultivation. He owns fine dairy .stock 
and operates a dairy with Guernsey and IIol- 
stein cows, having some pure bred cattle. His 
land has been so productive of clover that the 



beautiful name of Clover Farm is quite an ap- 
propriate one. 

Mr. Holland was married July IS, 1SS9, to 
.Miss Hortlia Hrilcll, who was born at Thom- 
son, 111.. August 29, 1807, a daughter of Emulous 
and Almeda (Greely) Hritell. The father of 
Mrs. Holland was born at Weyb ridge, Vt., and 
the mother in Chittenden county, January 5, 
1823. She now makes her home with her daugh- 
ter, still being active both in mind and body, al- 
though in lier eighty-ninth year. Mrs. Holland's 
father was born June u, 1827, and was one of 
the "Forty-niners" to California, walking the 
whole distance. After coming to Carroll county 
he was engaged in the drug business from 1S7G 
until ISSO and died October 30, 1890, having 
been one of the well known men of Thomson. 
Mrs. Holland had one brother, Daniel, who was 
born at .\ppleton, O., March 21, 1801, and died 
at Fulton, 111., May 20, 1902. He married 
Vivian Swit/.cr. who, after his death, married 
Lewis Schick. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Holland three children were 
born, namely : Winnie J., born at Thomson, 
October 23, 1893; Bessie A., born at Thomson, 
July 30, 1895; and Hobart S., born on the home 
I'arm, October 27, 1902. The children have been 
given advantages of all kinds and are capable 
and agreeable members of society. 

HOLMAN, William T. S., of tiie firm of Holman 
& Myers, proprietors of the only furniture and 
undertaking establishment in Mt. Carroll, has 
been engaged in his iiresent business the past 
twenty years. Mr. Holman was born in Carroll 
township, Carroll county, September 3, 1864, a 
son of Charles and Sarah N. (Cook) Holman, 
the former a native of I'ottstown, Pa., from 
whence he came west soon after his marriage, 
in 18.55. He was a carpenter by trade and 
established the business in which his son now 
lias a half-interest. Charles Holman and his 
wife were parents of five children : Charles 
N., Horace (deceased). William T. S. and Edwin 
O. Mrs. Holman died in October, 1879. and 
Mr. Holman married (second) Martb.i Slifer, 
by which marriage he liad one daughter, Ethel 
S. Mr. Holman died March 0, 1910. 

William T. S. Holman received a common 
school education and lived on his father's farm 
until he was about twenty years of age. In 
1888 he took up a claim of land from the gov- 
ernment, in Colorado, lived there long enough 



816 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



to prove his title to same, but iu 1S89 went to 
Boulder, Moiit., where during oue summer he 
worked in a silver mill, then, returning to Mt. 
Carroll, for three years occupied his summers 
iu bee culture and during the winters worthed 
in what is known as "the old cave," a lead 
mine on his father's farm. In 1892 he purchased 
the share of Air. Ludwick in the firm of Holman 
& Ludwick, the other partner being his father, 
and the two Ilolmans carried on this business 
together until the father resigned on July 1, 
1905, selling his interest to Sherman Myers, 
who still owns a half interest. The older Mr. 
Holman had been engaged in business nearly 
forty years and had built up a good trade, 
which brought in a very fair income. Their 
patronage is secured from the surrounding 
country for many miles. 

Mr. Holman was married November 1, 1900. 
to Nettle E. Krause, whose parents live at 
Loran, 111. Mr. Holman is a Republican in 
politics and fraternally Is connected with the 
I. O. O. F. and the A. F. & A. M., being a 
Knight Templar in the last named order. He 
is an enterprising and energetic business man 
and has exhibited excellent judgment in the 
conduct of his affairs. Besides his furniture 
business he is interested in various other enter- 
prises, among them the growing of ginseng. In 
company with Anson and Jesse Moore, he has 
three acres planted in this, and they expect to 
plant three acres additional each year for the 
ensuing five years. As it requires five years 
for the plant to mature, at the end of that 
time they will have a ginseng farm of fifteen 
acres, from which they can cut each year a 
three-acre patch, and they expect this venture 
to prove a financial success, for by renewing 
three acres each year, they will have established 
an enterprise that will yield them a good in- 
come each year. 

HOSTETTER, Charles Linnaeus, was born in 
Cumberland county. Pa., near the city of Har- 
ri.sburg. The Hostetters were old settlers of 
Lancaster county. Pa., the family having sprung 
from one of the Swiss Mennonite exiles who 
arrived in this country in 1710, and purchased 
lands of the Penns as early as 1747. This land 
was on the Conestoga river, near Lancaster 
City. The deed to this property was signed 
by John Penn for himself and Thomas and 



Richard Penn, and is now in Mr. Hostetter's 
possession. 

Linnaeus Hostetter's fatlier. Abraham Hos- 
tetter, son of Abraham Hostetter and Magde- 
lena Lichty, \\as born on the Hostetter farm 
near Lancaster City, Pa. 'When a young man 
he studied medicine and was graduated from 
the Pennsylvania Medical College at Phila- 
delphia in 1S41. He practiced medicine a short 
time iu Cumberland county and while there 
married Catharine Bowman, daugliter of Samuel 
Bowman and Sarah Gorgas, who lived on a 
farm not far from Harrisburg, where Catha- 
rine Bowman had received her education at the 
Harrisburg Female Academy. Abraham Hos- 
tetter came west in the spring of 184.';, bring- 
ing his wife and sou Linnaeus, and a younger 
son, Samuel, with him. They arrived iu Mt. 
Carroll on the loth of April. Here he engaged 
at once in the active practice of his profession 
anil soon became closely identified with the 
financial and agricultural Interests of the com- 
munity. He moved from town to his farm, now 
the home of his youngest son, W. R. Hostetter, 
in 1852, and in ISOl and 1802 he built for him- 
self a beautiful stone residence on another of 
his farms two miles directly east of Mt. Carroll, 
naming it Wilderberg. 

Linnaeus Hostetter was the oldest of nine 
children born to Abraham Hostetter and his 
wife, five of whom died iu infancy ; those still 
living, being: Abram, Ross, Sarah and Susie 
Hostetter (now Susan Mackay) and himself. 
When old enough to leave the district school 
in the country he became a pupil of Miss Wood 
(afterwards Mrs. Shimer), and Miss Gregory, 
who later founded the Mt. Carroll Seminary, 
now the Frances Shimer .School. Upon com- 
Iileting his work iu the seminary he had suf- 
ficient advanced standing to enable him to enter 
the University of Chicago as a junior, from 
which school he was graduated in 1805, with 
the degree of Bachelor of Science. He then 
attended the Union College of law in Chicago, 
was admitted to the bar in 18()7 and connnenced 
the practice of law in that city, later removing 
to Mt. Carroll, where he soon built for himself 
a very successful practice. While he was a 
student at the University of Chicago the call 
came for more volunteers to fight for the Union, 
and Mr. Hostetter left his studies to helj) organ- 
ize Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-Fourth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was in the serv- 




^.^ , (Aai^^^£^ a^ 




HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



817 



ice ill Ketitiicky niul Missouri uiilil tlic tiiiii' I'm- 
whifli lu> luul onlisted exjiired. 

Ill jiolitics Mr. Iliisti'ttcr has always been a 
liepiiblican of tlie stuuntliost typo. For several 
years he was chairman of the Itepublican County 
Central Coinmittee, a position he filled with 
credit to himself and party. He served the 
county as state's attorney for four years, and 
as nia.ster-in-chaucery for two terms. At the 
time the soldiers" monniuent was erected in the 
court house square he was chairman of the 
board of supervisors and it was largely through 
his efforts that this beautiful work of art was 
obtained for the city as a memorial to its heroes 
and patriots. 

On tlie third day of March, 1885, Linnaeus 
Hostetter was married to Miss Mary Teart of 
Philadeliihia, Pa. She was the daughter of 
Daniel I'eart, who was of English descent, a 
Quaker, and a man of tine bearing and great 
strength of mind and body. He was one of the 
most tru.stworthy of the "Wagoners of the Alle- 
ghanies," and carried goods of great value to 
the west in his immense wagons, drawn by six 
horse teams. His wife, Elizabeth Hernley, was 
of Mennonite ancestry, but after her marriage 
she became a Quaker and they being bitterly 
opposed to slavery, she took an active part in 
the famous "Underground Railway," in opera- 
tion before and during the war. The family 
at this time were located at Columbia, Pa. Mary 
Hostetter was an educated lady, of refined 
tastes, a splendid and accomplished housekeeper 
and loving home-maker. She was a great reader 
and student all her life and a lover of nature 
and its lieauties. For many .vears she was an 
active member of the Mt. Carroll Woman's Club 
and at tlie time of the organization of the dis- 
trict federation of Woman's Clubs she was 
elected their first treasurer. She died June 0, 
1902, leaving her husband Linnaeus and one 
sou, Heber Peart Hostetter. After attending 
the country district school and several of the 
grades in the Mt. Carroll public school, Heber 
was graduated from Culver Military Acailcmy, 
and later from the t'niversity of Chicago, re- 
ceiving the degree of Hachelor of Philosoiiliy 
and Doctor of Jurisprudence from that insti- 
tution. After his graduation he engaged in the 
practice of law in Chicago for about two years, 
but is now permanently located in .Mt. Carroll, 
in partnership with his father. 

On April .1. I!ll1, he was married in .\ii(on, 



Canal Zone, I'anania, to Miss Florence A. Sco- 
field, formerly a student at the University of 
Chicago, but at the time a teacher in the United 
States government schools on the Canal Zone. 
They have one son, Heber Peart Hostetter, Jr., 
who was born March 13. 1912. 

Mr. C. L. Hostetter's life has always been one 
of great activity. Aside from his law practice 
ho has been connected with many business tran.s- 
actions, one of wliioh was the organization of 
the Mt. Carroll Mutual County Fire Insurance 
Company in 18SS. The first year it was organ- 
ized he was elected secretary of the company, 
which oflice he has held continuously from that 
day to this. Through his careful management 
and indefatigable work the company has grown 
from year to year, until now it is the largest 
financial institution in the county. His 
thorough knowledge of tlie mutual fire in.sur- 
ame business led to his preparation of several 
articles and addresses delivered by him before 
tlie Illinois Association of Farmers Mutual In- 
surance Companies, and later published in their 
proceedings. On January 21, 1911, he was ap- 
IM)inted chairman of the Committee on Legisla- 
tion of that ai-sociation. He has also written 
several historical sketches. In 1908, he wrote 
a monograph for the American Historical Asso- 
ciation on the British Occupation of the Illinois 
Country from 1763 to the time of the Surrender 
of Kaskaskia to George Rogers Clark. In 1909 
he contributed an article to the University of 
Chicago Magazine on "The Early Days at the 
University During War Times," in which he 
described th-;- appreciation and love expressed 
by the peojile of Cliicago for Jlr, Lincoln at the 
time of his assassination. This article attracted 
attention in different parts of the United States. 
IJoliert T. Lincoln, son of the martyred presi- 
dent, wrote the author a personal letter, thank- 
ing him for what he said regarding his father. 
-Vt one time Mr. Hostetter had in his charge 
the original emancipation iiroclamation, and he 
is now preparing a paper for the Illinois State 
Historical Association, giving a history of this, 
perhaps greatest of state papers. In the com- 
pilation of this history of Carroll county, Mr. 
Hostetter has spent his time and energy un- 
sparingly. Only those who have undertaken 
similar tasks can appreciate the work necessary 
to bring it to completion. It is the most com- 
plete and accurate history of the county jmb- 
lished. 



818 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



Ipon the death of his wife, Mary P. Il(i<- 
tetter. Mr. Hostetter's sister, Miss Sarah, who 
was then iDrineipal of the domestic science de- 
partment of the high school of Janesville. Wis., 
gave up her worli there to keep house for her 
brother. Through her efforts the annual Christ- 
mas reunions of all the family at Wilderlierg 
have lieen l^ept up from year to year, very few 
having been missed in the last fifty years: 
liliewise the Fourth of July celebration and 
picnic in which all the friends and neighbors 
participate. 

Miss Sarah was graduated in music, also from 
the literary department of the Mt. Carroll sem- 
inary, class of 1S7S. She was principal of the 
music department of Groton College, at Groton, 
S. Dak., and of the Breck school. Wilder, Minn., 
where her niece, Adallne Hostetter, was her 
assistant. She afterward studied domestic 
science, which was then lu its infancy, at Lewis 
Institute in Chicago and Bradley Polytec-hnic 
Institute at Peoria, 111., and established the 
department of domestic science at the Francis 
Shinier School in 1002. 

In private life Mr. Hostetter occupies his 
time in aiding nature make more beautiful his 
already lovely home. He has undertaken the 
reforestration of a portion of his farm and has 
laid out the grounds about the house in wind- 
ing drives and paths, calling it Walderjia Park. 
As a further diversion and recreation he has 
engaged quite extensively in raising ginseng 
and orchids, which were found growing wild 
in parts of the yard. 

HOUGHTON, Roy I., wlio is one of the enter- 
prising and substantial citizens of Thomson, 
and a member of one of the old families of this 
part of the State, was born in Whiteside eount.v, 
111., April 5, 1S7S, a son of Clarence B. Hough- 
ton, one of the highly respected retired resi- 
dents of Thomson. Roy I. Houghton attended 
the district schools and was creditalily graduated 
from the Thomson and Mt. Carroll high school 
in the class of 1S9G, after which he attended 
the Stineman Institute, at Dixon, 111. In the 
fall of 1898 he accepted a position as stenog- 
rapher in the offices of the Illinois Central Rail- 
road at La Salle, 111., for a short time, after 
which he moved to Clinton, 111., remaining with 
the railroad company until 1900, in which year 
he went to Seattle, Wash. For a time he was 
connected there with the Great Northern Rail 



road Company, and for three months in the fall 
of 1001, was with a commission firm. After- 
ward he engaged in farming in York township, 
Carroll county, where he owns 240 acres of 
land, continuing until 1908. when he rented 
his farm and retired from the farm to Thom- 
.sou. where he has continued to reside. 

On February 24, 1004, Mr. Houghton was 
married to Miss Nellie Atherton by the Rev. 
Cari)enter of the Christian Church of Thom- 
son, 111. She was born in York township, 
January 7, 1880, a daughter of S.vlvanus R. 
and Eugenia (Marshall) Atherton. Mr. Ather- 
ton was born in New Yorl^ and was eleven years 
old when his parents came to Carroll county. 
During the Civil war he enlisted from this 
county. Mr. and Mrs. Houghton have two chil- 
dren : Mary, who was born August 13. 1905 ; 
and Leona Beth, who was born March 30, 1911. 
They attend the Christian Church, but are not 
members. In politics Mr. Houghton is a Repub- 
lican and has tilled numerous town.ship offices. 
He has served as tax collector and was elected 
police magistrate, but resigned after holding 
the office for one year. For two years he was 
secretary of the Johnson Creek Drainage Dis- 
trict, also the Savanna and York Drainage Dis- 
trict. At present he is a member of the Thom- 
son school board, of which he is clerk. In all 
his official duties he has given satisfaction. For 
many years he has been a member of the 
Masonic fraternity, belonging to Lodge No. 559, 
at Thomson. He is also a Knight of P.vthias, 
and belongs to the Mystic Workers. For two 
years Mr. Houghton served as wor.shipful master 
of the Masonic Lodge. Mrs. Houghton Is a mem- 
ber of and takes much interest in the Woman's 
Relief Corps. The family is one of social prom- 
inence in Carroll county. 

HUNGERFORD, Grant E.— It is only within 
recent ,vears that cement has been utilized in 
almost every line of building and construction 
work, taking the place of other materials to a 
large extent, and as a contractor in cement and 
as bridge builder. Grant E. Huugerford is well 
known all over Carroll county. He was born 
near Silver Creek, in Chautauqua county, N. Y., 
July 22, 185."?, and is a son of John G. and Sarah 
Jane iWhaley) Hungerford. The parents of 
Mr. Hungerford were also born in New York, 
the father on April 2, 1S25, and the mother in 
ls:'..">. Thev came to Illinois in 1857 and settled 



HISTORY OF CAKKOLL COUNTY 



819 



at Mt. Carroll, where the father was a contrac- 
tor up to the time of his death, iu IS!)!), his wife 
having passed away iu 1S77. They had six 
children : Grant E., Wesley, Clarence, Anna, 
Ernest, and Minnie. 

fnder his father's instruction, Grant K. Ilun- 
gerford, after his school period was over, learned 
building and contracting and all over Carroll 
county may be found, especially in bridge and 
cement work, testimonials as to his skill, good 
judgment and honesty, many of his contracts 
having l)eon of exceeding ini[x>rtance. On Janu- 
ary -J, 1877, he was married to Miss Lena C. 
Young, daughter of John and Sarah (Clay) 
Young, the former of whom was liorn in Penn- 
sylvania and the latter in Ohio. In 184G they 
moved to Jo Daviess county. III., the fatlier of 
Mrs. Ilungerford engaging in farming. lie died 
in 1804, when she was three months old. her 
mother surviving until 1S50. Although thus 
early orphaned. Jlrs. Ilungerford enjoyed 
superior educational advantages and fitted her- 
self for teaching school. For two years she 
was a student in the lugh school and In 1873 
entered Mt. Carroll Seminary, where she re- 
mained one and one-lialf years. For several 
years she taught school both in Jo Daviess and 
also in Carroll county and made many friends 
in every section. Mrs. Ilungerford had the fol- 
lowing brothers and sisters : Adam ; Simeon, 
who is a retired farmer living at Lincoln, Neb. ; 
John, who is a retired farmer living at Peoria, 
HI.; William, who is a resident of Los Angeles, 
Calif. ; Henry, who died in 1882 ; Emanuel, who 
is living in Illinois; Elizabeth, who is the widow 
of Daniel Beaver, lives in Kansas; and Maria, 
■who is the widow of Ira Iloat. Iler half brother, 
William I'.rady and half sister, Mrs. Ilonry Blair, 
both live in Illinois. Mrs. Ilungerford Iwlonged 
to a very i)atriotic family, five of her brothers 
serving iu the Civil War, one of them, Emanuel, 
enlisted when but seventeen years of age. An- 
other, Ilenrj', died from the effects of a year's 
imprisonment in Libby Prison, I{i<-lunond. 

Mr. and Mi-s. Ilungerford have h.id four chil- 
dren born to them : .Marian, wlio was born 
October IS, 1877, married Charles Gault, resid- 
ing at Chicago. III., and they have had two chil- 
dren — Charles F. and Doris, the former of whom 
was accidentally drowned November 22. 1911, 
at the age of six years; John M., who married 
Bernice Nelson, has four children — Elbert, Aus- 
tin. Katherine and William; Lee E.. who was 



born in 1SS4, resides at homo and operates his 
own blacksmith shop at Mt. Carroll; and Fred, 
who was born December s. IS'.H), lives at home. 
Mr. Ilungerford and family are members of the 
.Methodist KpiscoiKil Chiu'cli. Politically he is a 
Kepnblican and has served two terms as alder- 
man. He is prominent in several fraternal or- 
ganizations, being a member of the Knights of 
Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America, Court 
of Honor, and Odd Fellows, and in the last 
named is a past grand official, while he also 
belongs to the Yeonians. Mrs. Ilungerford is a 
niemlier of the Royal Neighbors and in 1908 was 
sent as a delegate to Chicago, being vice presi- 
dent of her district organization. In 1878 Mr. 
and Mrs. Ilungerford took a wagon trip to 
Nebraska, being three months on the road and 
enjoying themselves very much. They remained 
in Colorado for two years and in the West until 
1882, when they came back to Jit. Carroll, where 
they have lived ever since. 

HUNTER, Henry Frederick.--The time has long 
gone by when Illinois farmers w'ere contented 
W'ith the mere tilling of the soil, satisfied with 
the yields from their fields, with no aspirations 
for the real comforts of living, for the better- 
ment of their communities or the educational 
advancement of their children. In no section of 
the State have greater changes come about than 
in Carroll county, where there are men of 
intelligence, foresight and public spirit who have 
set a good example that has been followed by 
others. Henry Frederick Hunter is one of the 
above mentioned class. He was born in Wysox 
township, Carroll county, 111., January 10, 1.858, 
and is a son of .Tohn II. and Emeline Alice 
(Wells) Hunter. 

Henry Hunter, the grandfather, was born in 
Mississippi and he married Mary F. Hughes, 
who was a native of Virginia. They went with 
their parents to Indiana, were married there, 
and in 1839 came to Carroll county, 111. They 
settled on the county line in South Elk- 
horn township at first and then moved on the 
line separating Ogle and Carroll counties, 
this line running right through their house. 
Still later, Henry Hunter settled on .sec- 
tion 1, Wysox township, where he acquired 
320 acres. He was an extensive farmer and 
also raised many fine horses. In March, 1870 
he sold that farm and bought land in Elkhorn 
township on which he made his home until liis 



820 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



death, August 12. ISSO. He was one of the 
old-time Whigs and helped to organize the 
Republican party in Carroll county. His wife 
died June 2, 1S83. They had eleven children, 
and of these there are four survivors : Mrs. 
Martha Scott, of Marysville, Cal. ; George W., 
of Oregon ; Henry Clay, who was county sur- 
ve.vor for many years and was the inventor of 
a biplane many years before aviation was con- 
sidered practical ; and James P., who lives at 
Silverton, Ore. 

John H. Hunter was born in Indiana, in 1S29, 
and died in Madison county, la., April S, ISOO. 
He was a man of fine character and was highly 
respected. He accompanied his parents to Illi- 
nois and grew to manhood on his father's farm. 
Later he bought eighty acres in Wysox town- 
ship and lived there until 1867, when he moved 
to Iowa, settling first in Marshall county and 
later in Madison county. He had married Emily 
Alice Wells in Carroll county, an educated lady, 
who was then teaching school. After she was 
left a widow she resumed teaching in Carroll 
county, but subsequently married John H. 
Hawes, who is a substantial resident of Mil- 
ledgeville, 111. Mrs. Hawes conies of old Puritan 
stock and Presbyterian faith. Her mother lived 
to the age of ninety-five years. Of the family 
of four children born to John H. Hunter and 
wife, Henry Frederick was the eldest, the others 
being: Nellie, who is the wife of W. C. Sloan, 
postmaster at Creed, Colo.; John W., who is 
a machinist with the Clinton Iron Bridge Com- 
pany, has two daughters, Zelia and Beryl, the 
latter being the wife of Henry Beicbenbach ; and 
Emma, who is the wife of H. B. Hendrick, a 
farmer in Wysox township. 

Henry Frederick Hunter accompanied the 
family back to Carroll county after the death 
of his father. He was instructed by his mother 
and also attended the district schools and made 
his home for a number of years with his grand- 
father. On October 17, 1S88, he was married 
to Miss Minnie Spaulding, who was born at Kil- 
bourn, Wis., June 20, 1SG3. After marriage 
they settled on the present farm of eighty acres 
in Elkhorn township, which was then all timber 
and stumps. In the comparatively short period 
since 1890 Mr. Hunter has accomplished the 
clearing and improving of his land and now 
owns a very valuable property. He is a man of 
progressive ideas and puts these into practice 
in his agricultural operations. His stock is all 



high-grade and his Shorthorn cattle are eligibU 
to register. To Mr. and Mrs. Hunter the fol- 
lowing children were born : Blanche H., who 
is the wife of Charles R. Brandon, and they 
live at Albert Lea, Minn., where he conducts 
a wholesale confectionery business, both of them 
having formerly been succes.sful teachers; Ruth, 
who died when aged ten months ; Jesse M.. who 
was born September 2. 1893, was educated at 
Milledgeville and Dixon college, and is now a 
successful teacher; and Irma M., who was born 
September 28, 1894, Is still in school. Mr. and 
Mrs. Hunter have given their children educa- 
tional and other advantages and they have been 
prepared by the proper home atmosphere, to 
take their places in any situation to which life 
calls them. They have been given good litera- 
ture as the fine, well-.selected home library of 
400 volumes gives evidence, and by example 
and precept have been encouraged along right 
lines. Mr. Hunter cast his first presidential 
vote for Hon. James A. Garfield and has sup- 
ported Republican candidates ever since. He 
has served numerous local offices, is a member 
of the Republican County Central Committee, 
for two years was township supervisor and for 
fifteen years has been a member of the school 
board. 

IRVINE, William, of Chippewa Falls, Wis., was 
born at Mt. Carroll, 111., October 28, 1851. His 
father, John Irvine, Sr., was from Indiana 
county, Pa., where he was born January 20, 
1790, and his mother, Amanda M. Fitch, was 
born August 12, 1809 in Delaware county, N. Y. 

John Irvine. Sr., was a soldier of the war 
of 1812, serving as sergeant in Capt. S. Ogle's 
company of Maryland militia. Father Irvine, 
as he was often called in later years, was closely 
identified with the early history of Mt. Carroll, 
lie came here from Pittsburgh, Pa., in ISl.j, at 
which time he became interested in the miU 
property with Messrs. N. Halderman and John 
Rinewalt, but several years later, he .sold his 
interest and was engaged in the mercantile 
business until his death, which occurred July 
21, 1875. 

William Irvine, the subject of this sketch, 
was educated at the Mt. Carroll public schools 
and the seminary. At an early age he began his 
business career as a clerk on a Mississippi 
steamboat, engaged in towing rafts of lumber 
from the mills at Chippewa Falls, Wis., down 




MAIiVTX HOOT 




\y 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



821 



the river to market. Tu this manner he became 
aeiuuiinted witli tlie lumber business of the 
upper Mississippi river and its tributaries. For 
many years he has been the niana{;er, having 
also an interest in the business, of the Chiii- 
pewa Lumber and Boom Company, fhlppewa 
Falls, Wis., manufacturers of lumber, of which 
company Mr. F. Weyerhauser is president. 

William Irvine was married October 2S, 1S73, 
at Mt. Carroll, 111., to Adelaide M., daughter 
of Orlando S. and Eliza Elnora Beardsley. 

Although Jlr. Irvine's homo is at Chippewa 
Falls, he still has a warm place in his heart 
for Mt. Carroll and his old friends. His father 
and mother are buried in the old cemetery on 
the hill, and not a year passes but that he 
comes to visit their graves. 

JAMES, Harry. — ilany of the agriculturists of 
an older generation are content with what they 
have accomplished in years gone by, and retire, 
leaving the active management of their prop- 
erty in the hands of capable sons. In this way 
they gain a leisure they have earned, and are 
able to give more attention to civic affairs, and 
the enjoyment of the comforts long denied them- 
selves. One of tliese representative retired 
farmers of Cari-oU county is Harry James of 
Mt. Carroll township, who was born near Els- 
ton. Cornwall. England, May 20, 1S53. a son of 
William and Charlotte (Cheniddon) James, na- 
tives of the same place. They came to Mifflin 
county, Pa., in 1872, and in 1SS2, to Carroll 
county, 111., making their home with Harry 
James until their death, his in 180."), aged 
seventy-three years, and hers in Sei)teinber, IIXU, 
aged eighty-one years. They were the parents 
of ten children, of whom Harry was the seventh. 
Eight of these children came to America, four 
settling in Carroll county, and six still sur- 
vive : Richard, of Freedom township ; Mary A., 
Mrs. Mary Freloor of Mt. Carroll; Harry; 
Emily, Mrs. Pierce of Memphis, Tenn. ; Char- 
lotte Sheeters of Bedford, Pa. ; and William T. 
of Yankton, .S. Dak. 

Harry James was educated in the public 
schools of England, and was brought up on a 
farm. When he came to Pennsylvania with his 
parents, he remained with them a short time, 
but on December 18, 1875, he came to Carroll 
county. 111., commencing to work for Uoss Hos- 
tetter. After a year, he engaged with C. L. IIos- 
tetter, and remained with him for four years. 



In December, ISSO, Mr. James rented a farm 
of 200 acres of R. B. Hallet in Woodland town- 
ship, operating it for nine years, or until Decem- 
ber, 188tt, when he moved to Jo Daviess county, 
renting of Ed. Strickland. After four years 
there, he returned to Woodland township, buy- 
ing a farm of 100 acres of James Patton. In 
six years, he sold this property at a profit, and 
Ixmght 173 acres on section 23, Mt. Carroll 
township, where he now resides, owning 243 
acres on .section 23. He is a Republic.iu jioliti- 
cally, and has held several township offices, 
lie and his family are membere i)f the Evangel- 
ical i-hurch. 

In January, 1S73, he was married in Penn- 
sylvania to Sarah E. Vincent, born in York 
county, Pa., February 18, 1855, daughter of 
Harry S. and Sarah (Wagoner) Vincent, the 
former being a native of London, England. Mr. 
and Mr.s. Vincent came to Carroll county. 111., 
in 1S75, and located in Mt. Carroll. Mrs. Vin- 
cent died in 1SS4, and Mr. Vincent was drowned 
in a creek in Woodland township in 1886. Mr. 
and Mrs. James are the parents of one son, 
William H., born in Huntington county. Pa., in 
April. 1S75. He was educated in the public 
schools of Mt. CiirroU and those of Jo Daviess 
county, and has always resided with his par- 
ents. In 1S05, he was married to Annie Millets. 
Iwrn in Jo Daviess county. 111., who died in 
1S07, aged twenty-two years, leaving one child, 
Daisy James, living with her father. Mr. 
James was married the second time, in 1899, to 
Minnie James, born in Cornwall. England, In 
1S78, a daughter of Richard and Mary (Tre- 
door) James. They came to Carroll county 
about ISO."). Mr. and Mrs. James have three 
children : .Mabel Albertine, Hari-j- R. and Wal- 
ter M. While now retired from active pur- 
suits, Harry .lames yet resides on the farm, 
being content to leave matters in the care of his 
son who is one of the best farmers in the county. 

JOEBGEN, WiUiam G., who has a reputation 
as a careful and successful breeder of high 
class Percheron horses, which extends well over 
the state, with a stock farm near Chadwick, 111., 
was born in Clinton county, la., October 20, 
1870, and is a son of Antone and .Vnna (Uhl- 
rich) Joebgen. The mother Is of French ances- 
try and was born In 'Wi.sconsln. The father 
was born in Germany and was eleven years of 
.ige when lie accompanied his parents to the 



822 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



United States, tliey settling six miles north of 
Clinton, la. There be grew to manhood and in 
1S75 was married to Anna rblrieh. 

Antoue Joebgeu and wife lived with their chil- 
dren in Clinton countj', until 1S79, when he 
removed to Crawford county, with his family 
and there bought 100 acres of fine land, which 
he subsequently sold to advantage. In ISiK! he 
bought 4&0 acres in Crawford county and put 
all of it under fine cultivation. He was inter- 
ested also in stoeli lu'eeding and developed ex- 
cellent judgment along this line and in the 
course of years became oug of the best known 
horse breeders in the state of Iowa. In 1S99 
he disposed of iKith stock and land and moved 
to Chickasaw county, la., where be bought KJO 
acres, and remained on that place until he re- 
tired from activity, settling iu a beautiful home 
iu Duliuiiue, la., where he and wife enjoy every 
comfort of life. They are devoted members of 
the Catholic church. In all sections in which 
Mr. Joebgen has resided, the same opinion has 
been held concerning bim and is still repeated, 
that he is an honest and upright man in all his 
dealings. At times he served In local offices but 
was never what might be termed a politician. 
To Antone Joel\geu and wife twelve children 
were born, eight sons and four daughters and, 
as typical of the sturdy stock from which they 
have come, all this noble family still live, tbe 
eldest being William G. Mathew, the second 
son. Is a farmer iu Pennington county, S. Dak., 
and Frank, the next brother, is a farmer in the 
same section. Henry carries on farming in 
Chickasaw county, la. Mary is the wife of Wil- 
liam Sauber, a farmer in Nebraska. Hannah 
and Maggie are both teachers of music and re- 
side with their parents. Gertrude is the wife of 
a resident of Dubuque, where Joseph also lives. 
Ernest, the next in order of birth, is in the 
drug business at Dubuque. John is a graduate 
of tbe Dubuque Business College, in the class of 
1911, while the youngest, Leonard, lives at home 
and is a drug clerk. 

From boyhood William G. Joebgen has been 
accustomed to handling stock and after his 
school days were over, had many resiionsibili- 
ties on his shoulders, as his father's eldest son 
and main helper. From 1897 until 1S9S he 
worked for himself, by the month. He bought 
his first Percheron stallion when a colt, paying 
$32.5 for him, kept him for four years and then 
sold for .$600. In 1902 he purchased Julius, a 



pure bred Percheron stallion, for which he 
paid tlie sum of $000, owned him three mouths, 
and then sold him for $900, these business trans- 
actions .showing that Mr. Joebgeu is a shrewd 
and able business man. In 190S he came to 
Thomson, Carroll county. 111., and for two 
years worked by the month on farms, and in 
1909 bought the pure bred Percheron stallion 
colt, Black Richmond, registered by the Illinois 
Stallion Registering Board, No. 27173, the pedi- 
gree being unquestioned. Black Richmond was 
l)red liy Aikman Bros., of Lyons, la., color black, 
lireed Percheron, foaled in the year 1900. The 
rejKirt states that he was duly examined and 
that he is registered as No. 67041 in the Stud 
Book of the Percheron Society of America. All 
lovers of fine hor.ses agree on the qualities and 
points of this beautiful animal. In February, 
1911, Mr. Joebgen took his horse to South Da- 
kota but in December following brought him 
liack to Chadwick. Mr. Joebgen is justly proud 
of owning so magnificent a specimen, and Car- 
roll county is Indebted to him for his enterprise 
in raising the standard of horses here. 

JOHNSON, Hans, one of the most extensive 
contractors of Carroll county, who has erected 
many of the finest buildings in this part of 
the State, was boru in Denmark, February 3, 
1S52. At the age of fourteen years he began 
learning the trade of a mason, becoming an 
expert. In 1872 he erected tbe largest smoke- 
stack ever put up in Denmark. Coming to 
America in 18S2, the following year he arrived 
at Savanna, which has since been his home. 
He soon began contracting for the erection of 
buildings and went into partnership with a 
Mr. Burk, which connection continued until ISSS, 
when Mr. Burk retired from active life. 

Mr. Johnson has erected most of the brick 
buildings in Savanna, having built twenty-eight 
on Main street alone. He also put up the Bap- 
tist Church edifice, the Chicago avenue school 
and the addition to the Lincoln school, besides 
residences in various parts of the city. He 
erected the Mt. Carroll school building, con- 
ceded to be the best in the county, also Hatha- 
way Hall. East Hall, Metcalf Hall, and the 
electric light plant at Mt. Carroll. He built 
the Farmers' Bank and four stores in Chad- 
wick and the bank at Milledgeville. He is 
known as the most honest and reliable con- 
tractor in northwestern Illinois, and is always 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



823 



rushed with oitlers aud contracts waiting to 
be completed. 

Upon locating in Savanna Mr. Johnson huilt 
a small hou.se, 14 x 22 feet and had to dig two 
feet on one side and use twolve-foot posts on 
the other side. From that rough gully he has 
developed one of the handsomest and pictur- 
esque streets of the city. In 1S!)2 he erected 
the large and handsome residence he now occu- 
pies, on the site of his first house, having at 
one time owned the entire block. 

On August 5, 1SS2, Mr. Johnson married 
Bernherdine Xelson, who came from Denmark 
on the same ship as he. and Ihey have children 
as follows: I'"re(1. who was born August ."l. 
ISS:?; Carl, who was horn Octolier 24. 1S.S7; 
Hans, who was born February 11, 1888; Eliza- 
beth, who was born January 26, 1889 ; Anna, 
who was born April 3. 1890; Julius, who was 
born July 30, 1894 ; Alfred, who was Iwrn March 
:'.. ISltS; Klizalietli. Julius and Bernherdine. who 
died in infancy. Mr. Johnson is a Democrat in 
politics aud is a member of the Danish Lutheran 
Church. He is proud of the position he has 
won by his own efforts and is recognized as a 
man of good business judgment and enterprise. 
In 1909 he made a visit to his native country, 
which he enjoyed exceedingly. 

KEARNEY, Francis.—One of the distinctive 
features of the smaller cities and towns of 
Illinois, is the location in them of men who 
have left the strenuous life of an agriculturist 
for the comfort and ease of more urban resi- 
dence. One of the substantial retired fanners 
of Savanna, who has fairly earned the rest he 
is now taking, is Francis Kearney, bom at 
Galena. 111.. March IC, 1S44. son of Hugh aud 
Mary Ann (Uoilly) Kearney. Both were natives 
of Ireland, brought here at the ages of sixteen 
and nine years, respectively. The father worked 
in the mines of Galena for years, but later became 
a farmer. He was quite a traveler, having been 
in the Hudson Bay region, from whence lie came 
to S(:iles Mound, Galena, .\pple Uivor, and 
arrived at Savanna in 1S5S, where he con- 
tinued farming until his death, March 21, 1S!S5, 
aged seventy-three years. He and his wife were 
consistent members of the Catholic Church, but 
he was buried by llie .Methodist Church. Tolit- 
ically, he was a Democrat. The mother passed 
away April 14, ISSO. The father had a brother. 



Francis, wlio came to this country, but only 
remained a year. 

Mr. Kearney grew up to hard work, and was 
educated in the district scliool. Adopting farm- 
ing as his life work, he was very successful, 
at one time owning 300 acres of valuable farm- 
ing land in Carroll county, two miles southeast 
of Savanna. He has invested largely in city 
proi)erty, having a deep faith in the future of 
Savanna. When his country had need of his 
services, Mr. Kearney enlisted August 2, 1SG2, 
in Company C, Ninety-second Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry, under Captain Stover, and particii)ated 
in the battles of Chickamauga, Missionary 
Ridge, Kesaca, and others, aggregating twenty- 
three in all. He was mustered out on July 
0, 1805, at Concord, Md. 

Mr. Kearney was married by Judge I'atch, 
May 6, 180G, to Miss Helen Gray, a daughter 
of Reuben H. and Abby Gray. She died Novem- 
ber 11, 1901, aud is buried in the Savanna 
cemetery. Mr. Gray was deputy county sur- 
veyor for years. Mr. and Mrs. Kearney had 
the following children : Myrtle, who is the wife 
of John Bogue of Oklahoma, seven children, 
B. Francis, George, Arthur, John R., F.llen S., 
Loren and Benjamin; Reuben, who is a pas- 
senger conductor on the Milwaukee & ."<t. Paul 
Railroad, at Dubuque, la., has two cliildreu, 
Walter and Charles; Mary, wlio is the wife 
of Henry Radke. a farmer ol Carroll county, 
Minnie, Lizzie Hartley and Catlierine. who 
is the wife of Dr. George Cottral of Savanna ; 
Iy<iuise, of Dubuque, la., who is the wife of 
Walter Graham, a conductor on the Milwaukee 
& St. Paul Railroad ; and Helen G., who died 
June 31, 1891, and is buried at Savanna. There 
are nine grandchildren in the family. Mr. 
Kearney is a member of the Masons, Jlodern 
Woodmen of America, aud the local G. A. R. 
Post, No. 40(!. Staunch in his Repulilicanism, 
he has been road commissioner for twenty-five 
years, city marshal for two years and constable 
for eight years. Reliable, conscientious and 
subst;intial, Mr. Kearney has always done what 
he believed to be his full duly. Iinlh as a soldier 
and citizen. 

KINGERY, Andrew J.— Some of the most sub- 
stantial agriculturalists of Carroll county, are 
native-born sons of the county, whose lives have 
been spent amid rural surroundings, and who 
have been reared to farm work from childhood. 



824 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



One of tbe most iirosperous farmers of this 
locality is Audrew J. Kingery of section S, 
Salem townshiii, born in Mt. Carroll township, 
July 6, ISGG, a son of David and Elizabeth 
(Boyer) Kingery. The father was born in Ilag- 
erstown, Md., and the mother iu Franldiu county, 
Pa. 

Andrew J. Kingery was educated iu the dis- 
trict schools and helped ou the farm until he 
was eighteen years old, when he went to worlv 
as a farm hand, thus continuing until 18S9, when 
he rented his father's farm of 292 acres iu 
Salem township, where he has been farming 
since that time. In 1S9S, he bought the farm, 
which now contains 27G acres, aud is called 
Meadowdale. Here he carries on general farm- 
ing, and raises full-blooded Aberdeen-Angus cat- 
tle and Hampshire hogs. Politically a P.epub- 
lican, he has been a school director for the past 
twenty-four years, and road overseer for the 
same length of time. Fraternally he is a mem- 
ber of the Mt. Carroll lodge Odd Fellows. Mrs. 
Kingery belongs to Royal Neighbors and Re- 
beccas. 

On July 1. 1SS4, Mr. Kingery was married to 
Martha E. Kuhn, born in Lee county. 111., March 
28, 1863, a daughter of Philip and Mary (Kuhn) 
Kuhn, natives of Maryland, who moved to 
Cedar Rapids, la., in 1865. There Mrs. Kingery 
lived until her marriage, and there her parents 
died, the father, July 23, 1S93, and the mother. 
July 4, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Kingery have had 
nine children: Mrs. Ada M. Hanson, of Cedar 
Rapids, la., who has one son. Lawrence; Mrs. 
Bessie E. Becli, of Buffalo, N. Y., has one son, 
Paul; Jay Walter, who is with his parents; 
Mrs. Louisa E. Derrer, of Murdo, S. Dali., has 
one son, Lloyd; David Franklin; Edith Mary; 
Charles Earl; Andrew Theodore and Ruth 
Marian. The last five children are at home. 
Few people are better known in Carroll county 
than those belonging to the Kingery kin aud 
they have won their standing through con- 
scientious, upright living, and kindly interest 
in the affairs of others, giving a hearty sym- 
pathy and helping hand whenever needed. An 
excellent farmer, Mr. Kingery is recognized as 
an authority upon stock matters, and is a good 
citizen and loyal friend. Mrs. Kingery is very 
fond of poultry and her magnificent flock of 
several hundred White Plymoutli chickens and 
her ducks are a source of pleasure to her. 



KINGERY, Charles M.— The banking interests 
of Chadwick are in the hands of as able finan- 
ciers as are to be found in Carroll county, if 
not in the State, and as a consequence the 
monied affairs of this locality are in excellent 
condition. The Bank of Chadwick is fortunate 
in having connected with it a person of the ex- 
perience and ability of Charles M. Kingery, 
whose long association witli this institution ex- 
tends over a period of more than twenty years. 
Mr. Kingery was bom at Mt. Carroll, 111., 
October 27, 1869, a son of David and Eliza- 
beth Kingery. David Kingery, now deceased, 
was a farmer, and his life is treated of at length 
elsewhere in this work. 

Charles JI. Kingery was educated in the pub- 
lic schools of Mt. Carroll, Mt. Morris Busi- 
ness College, and the Davenport, la., Business 
College. The first fourteen years of his life, 
he spent on his father's farm, following which 
he spent two years at school, and then for six 
years was clerk in a grocery store. He did 
not srorn small beginnings, but sawed wood, and 
was first chore boy about the grocery store. 
He then drove a delivery wagon, and having 
learned the business from the bottom, became 
clerk in the establishment of Lichty & Stak- 
miller of Mt. Carroll, which firm he served 
faithfully until entering the Bank of Chadwick 
as clerk and bookkeeper, December 1, 1891. 

On November 1-1, 1S94, Mr. Kingery was mar- 
ried to Eda Mary McLaughlin, daughter of D. 
N. McLaughlin, a sketch of wliom ajipears else- 
where in tliis work. Mr. and Mrs. Kingery 
became the parents of children as follows: 
Helen L., who was born October 16, 1S96; John 
D., wlio was born July 29, 1S9S; Robert H., 
who was born September 20, 1904; and Sarah 
Elizabeth, who was born March 30, 1910. Mr. 
Kingery is a Knight Templar and Shriner, and 
very active in Masonic circles. The Republican 
party holds his fealty, and he served for seven 
terms as mayor of Chadwick. giving the city an 
able, businesslike administration, and inaugurat- 
ing many much needed reforms. 

In addition to his beautiful liome iu Chad- 
wick, Mr. Kingery owns a fine farm in Carroll 
county, and is a man of substance. His com- 
prehensive knowledge of the banking business, 
and practical application of it, have made him 
one of the lenders iu financial circles in Carroll 
county, and he is often called upon to give ad- 
vice and material assistance in the carrying out 




MK>S. GKOHCK A UnoT 






.<v^ 



^e 



.^r^o^^ 



.t*°^oe- 




(IKOIU'.K A. HOOT 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



827 



but the old homosteiul is yet in the possession 
of the family. Francis M. Knox was the young- 
est born of the twelve children and was four 
years old when his parents came to Elkhoru. 
Here he grew up and remained until 1849 when 
he joined a party that set out across the jilains 
in search of trold. He went as far west as I'ike's 
Peak and had many adventures liut shortly after- 
ward returned to Illinois although the two 
brothers who had accompanied him remained 
in Colorado and subsequently died there. After 
Francis M. Kuo.\ married he bought a farm in 
Wliiteside county, just over the Carroll county 
line, and there he lived until the time of 
death. .January 1-t, 1900. He was a well in- 
formed man and one who was highly respected. 
He was a Ropulilican from principle but would 
never acceiit any p\iblic office except that of 
school director. For many years he was a mem- 
ber of the Order of Odd Fellows. 

Francis M. Knox married Susan Johnson, who 
was born in 1835, a daughter of Barney Johnson, 
and she still occupies the old homestead. Eight 
children were bonj to them, four sons, and 
four daughter.s, namely : Lettie, who married 
Jesse Stoffens, a farmer in Elkhorn township, 
is now deceased, survived by two children ; 
Richard, who is a farmer in Whiteside county ; 
Frank, who lives at Guthrie, Oklahoma ; Wil- 
liam, who died when aged fourteen years ; Alice, 
who is the widow of William McDearmoud, re- 
sides with her four children at Lincoln, Ne- 
braska ; Henjamin C. ; Loie, who is the wife of 
Berd Rosecrans, of Guthrie, Oklahoma, and they 
have three children; and Bertha, who is the wife 
of Edward Hudson, who is a farmer on the old 
homestead in Whiteside county. 

Benjamin C. Knox spent his boyhood days ou 
his father's farm and attended the district 
schools and later took a course in the Sterling 
high school. In 1.S89 he took charge of the farm 
on which he was lx)rn, renting the same for one 
year, and in 1.890, in partnership with his brother 
Richard Knox, bought a threshing outfit. For 
twenty-one years each season finds Mr. Knox 
attending to the threshing business, so arranging 
that none of his other interests will suffer. In 
1905 he bought 100 acres of fine land on sec- 
tion 7, Elkhorn township, having lived on land 
here owned by himself and wife since 1894. In 
1907 he erected his comniodinus modern residence 
and substantial liuililiu;.'s tor stock and (ither 



t.irm puriioses, and all .surroundings indicate a 
large amount of thrift and comfort. 

Ou November 28, 1894, llr. Knox was married 
to Miss Belle Si>aulding, who was born at Kil- 
bouru City, Dane county. Wis., October 26, 
1874, a daughter of Samuel and Jlargaret Tol- 
liflson Spaulding. Her father was born at El- 
niira, N. Y., August IS, 1821, and came to Car- 
roll county in 1.8:59, later moving to Wisconsin. 
In 1851 he married Margaret Tollifison. For 
many years he operated a feri-y boat across the 
Wisconsin River, but in 187G returned to Car- 
roll c"ounty and engaged in farming until his 
death in 1905, his wife dying in the same year. 
She was a native of Nonvay and was brought 
to America by her parents, who settled at Racine, 
Wis., in 1836, and was one of a family of nine 
children. To Mr. and Mrs. Knox three children 
have been born, namely : Paul, who was born 
September 3, 1906 ; Margaret, May 28, 1907 ; and 
Kuth, born January 8, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Knox 
attend what is known as the Union Chureh at 
West Elkhorn. Politically he is an ardent Re- 
publican and a man of much influence in party 
matters in his section and is a member of sev- 
<^ral of the important county committees. He 
served five years as township collector, one year 
as township clerk, and in 1910 was elected a 
member of the board of supervisors. 

LAHRE, John. — JIany of the farmers of Car- 
roll county have combined the operation of a 
threshing machine with their agricultural pur- 
suits with profitable results, for .some of those 
engaged in farming are not able to buy a 
thresher, but are anxious to secure the use of 
one during harvest time. One of the men 
formerly engaged along these two lines is John 
Kahre, now living retired at Savanna. He was 
born in Union county, Pa., September 28, 1.S34, 
son of Henry and Sarah (Mangier) Lahre, the 
former born at Baltimore, Md., in 1802, and the 
latter in Union county. Pa. The father came 
to Illinois in 1S44, entering 160 acres of land 
from the government, near Pearl City, west of 
Freeiwrt, on which he died in 1892, his widow 
surviving him until 1894. He was a shoemaker 
by trade, but while residing in Pennsylvania, 
was employed in a distillery for a jieriod. 

John I.ahre was reared and educated in the 
coinitry districts of Stephenson county. 111. 
Leaving school, he operated his father's farm 
for several vears. In 1803, he enlisted in Com- 



828 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



puny C, Forty-sixth Illinois A'olunteei' Infantry, 
under Captain Arnold and Edward White, and 
participated in the battle of Champion's Hill, 
and the Siege of Vieksburg, being wounded at 
the former. He served until 1S06, when he was 
honorably discharged at Baton Rouge, La., re- 
turning to Stephenson county, immediately 
thereafter. In 18S5, he came to Savanna, and 
for eight years worked in the coal sheds for the 
Cliicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. 
About fifteen years ago, he retired, and Iniilt 
his handsome residence in 1S92. 

In 1S57, Mr. Lahre married Lucy PenticoCf. 
daughter of John and Elizabeth (Keister) Pen- 
ticoff. Her parents came to Illinois in 1S47, 
taking up land near Pearl City. By trade Mr. 
Penticoff was a stone mason. Ills death oc- 
curred about 1S92, and his wife passed away 
alxiut 1SS9. Mr. and Mrs. Lahre became the 
parents of children as follows: Sarah E.. 
wife of Erastus Page, who served in the 
Civil War ; one who died iu infancy ; An- 
drew Jackson, who is an electrician of Sa- 
vanna ; John, who was born iu 1864, is also 
an electrician ; Anna, who is the wife of 
Edward Koser. a helper in the round house of 
the Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad ; 
Isaac, who is a farmer of Savanna ; Laura, who 
is the wife of George Gray of White Water, 
Wis. ; Lettie, who is the wife of John Allfish ; 
Ida, who is the wife of Frank Fredrick ; Henry, 
who is a machinist of Savanna; Paul, who is a 
carpenter of Havre ; and William, who is of 
Savanna. There are nine grandchildren in the 
family. 

During his long life, Mr. Lahre has cast but 
one presidential vote, and that was for Bu- 
chanan. He heard the famous debate between 
Lincoln and Douglas at Freeport, and remem- 
bers the occasion vei-y well. During the many 
years he has lived in Illinois, he has witnessed 
numerous changes, bearing his part in some of 
them, and his recollections of those early days 
are intensely interesting. 

LAMPERT, Albert J., of Lanark, a public- 
spirited and progressive citizen, formerly in- 
cumbent of the office of deputy state food in- 
spector, was born in Freeport, 111., March 4. 
1S57, a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Geiser) 
Lampert. Joseph Lamport was born in Austria 
and came to America as a young man. locating 
in Freeport in 1850, establishing himself in 



business there as a building contractor. He 
died in 1870 and his widow survived him until 
1901). She was born in Canton-Berne. Switzer- 
land. They had nine children. The father be- 
longed to Bissels Engineers and served during 
the Civil war. He was taken prisoner by Hood's 
command ; served three years. 

The education of Albert J. Lampert was ac- 
quired iu his native city and after leaving school 
he learned the trade of a barber under Louis 
Jungkeuz, of Freeport. Some years later he 
went to Lena, 111., and conducted a shop of 
his own there for five years. He came to Lanark 
in 1881, and worked for Rudolph Luecke for 
over one year when he started in a shop which 
he conducted until 1907, when he turned it over 
to his son, Charles I. 

The marriage of Mr. Lampert occurred in 
ISSO. when he was united with Margaret E., 
daughter of John W. Weber, and they became 
parents of the following children : Charles I., 
who was born in Lanark, May 26, 1882, attended 
the L:\nark high school and resides at home; 
Irma A., who was born in Lanark, July 5, 1888, 
is a graduate of the Lanark high school and also 
took a course in sketching and drawing at the 
Acme school of drawing, in Kalamazoo, Mich., 
after finishing she married Roy Greenawalt, a 
farmer near Lanark. Mr. Lampert was reared 
in the Lutheran faith but is not now a member 
of any church. Fraternally he is a member of 
the I. O. O. F. and the M. W. A., being especially 
prominent in the latter order. He was the first 
delegate from the Lanark Camp to the first 
Woodmen state convention at Springfield; for 
fourteen years served as clerk of Lanark Camp, 
and was for one term venerable consul of same. 

Politically Mr. Lampert is a stanch Repub- 
lican and served two terms as alderman of the 
second ward of Lanark, declining to serve again. 
In 1899 he was elected mayor of the city and 
served one term in this office. Mr. Lampert 
when in office was prime mover in securing 
lights, water and cement walks. He also built 
the water tower and the water plant. He served 
two years as county central committeeman and 
has been a delegate to numerous conventions. 
He was appointed deput.v state food inspector 
May 15, 1909, and traveled all over Illinois in 
the discharge of his official duties, standing 
high in the estimation of his fellows to whom 
he is well known as a man of sterling integrity 
and high i>rinciple. His fine home in West 



HISTORY OP CARROLL COUNTY 



829 



IjauaiU is owuecl by hiiii as well as some other 
city property, and with his brothers he has au 
iuterest in the estate left by their mother, con- 
sistiug of some store bviiUliiifis, which lliey have 
not yet divided. Mr. I.ampert has always boon 
charitable anil heljied all those in need. 

LANDON, George Ivan, of the lirm of Asa A. 
Laudon, is one of the progressive farmers and 
stockmen of Carroll county. He and his brother 
have been operating the Landon homestead as 
a fine stock farm, specializing on blooded horses. 
Both brothers were born on this farm, George 
I., January 2S, 1S57, and Asa, February 5. 1854. 
They are the sons of George W. and Martha J. 
(Thompson) Landon. The father is a native 
of Delhi, Delaware county, N. Y., who came to 
Carroll county at a very early day. He and his 
brother, Miles Z., were pioneers of this part of 
the state, and became active in iJolitics. The 
latter became sheriff of Carroll county, and 
was known as Squire I^andon. 

George W. Landon built a blacksmith .shop 
and worked at his trade, making the first steel 
plows used in this section. He made the plow 
that broke the sod of the site of the little city 
of Polo. His plows had a sale all over the 
uortliern part of the state, for he was a good 
mechanic and conscientious in his work. Un- 
til 18.", he continued in this line of work, and 
then built a niiil on the Elkhoni, and operated 
it day and night for many years. It yet stands 
and is known as the Freemont mill, the name 
being given it by Chauncy Jenkins in a speech 
when the mill was being raised. It was largely 
patronized until the roller mills were built in 
various parts of the country, and the Landon 
lirothers still grind cornmeal for farmers in 
their locality, and use the machinery for light 
sawing for their own use. 

The mother, Martha J. (Thompson) Landon, 
came of Scotch and Irish ancestry, and in her 
family were men and women of strong char- 
acter. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Landon 
settled in the house now owned by their sons, 
and there six children were born to them : 
Amelia, who married (first) Herbert W. I'age, 
issue — -Ilerljcrt W. of Kockford. 111., and (sec- 
ond) Charles IT. Sunderland, of Rockford ; Lola 
M., deceased, who was the wife of W. M. 
Brown, of Dixon, 111., issue — Lula I'., widow of 
Dr. Burton Vaughn, of Dixon, 111.; Capitola, 
who is the widow of M. M. Lewis, was formerly 



of Rockford, issue — Madge, wife of Alexander 
Gaird, of Rockford, and Lola Lewis, of Rock- 
ford; and Polly, wife of George M. Crombie, of 
Forreston, 111., issue — Charles Ctombie; Asa A., 
and George I. The father was not interested 
in political matters, although often urged to ac- 
cept nomination, preferring to give his time and 
attention to his work. However, he was always 
glad to forward any worthy measure looking 
towards the moral or material advancement of 
his community, and was extremely charitable, 
no one ever being turned hungry away from his 
door. Until within a few years of his death, 
he took pleasure in repairing farm implements, 
and was proud of his skill at this kind of work. 
The death of this excellent man occurred in 
1S93, and his wife died soon thereafter. Eight 
years before he died, his brother, Miles, passed 
to his reward. There are many rifles and 
butcher knives still in use that were made by 
this skilled mechanic. 

Asa A. Landon learned the blacksmith trade, 
and worked at it for a number of years, but 
George I. developed into a horse breeder. His 
running horse, Belle Redmond, bought at Fair- 
bury, Neb., was at one time well known in 
this part of the state. In 1806, George and his 
brother bought eighty acres of land on section 
(5, Elkhorn Grove township, to which they have 
added until they own 120 acres. Their stallion 
Nonesuch, bred by August Belmont, of N. Y., 
was one of the first imported running horses in 
this part of the state. Xonesueh is a son of 
Imp the ill-used sire of the futurity winner, 
His Highness, the only thoroughbred two-year- 
old colt to win more than .$100,000 in a single sea- 
sou. This stallion was also the sire of the race 
horse Badge, winner of many high class races, 
who finished second in the Brooklyn handicap 
of l.S!)0. For the p;ist twenty years tlie Landon 
brothers have been brooding from this fine stock, 
and among their finest horses were Kaufman 
and Callie Lilly. While with his horses when 
they were entered for races, George I. Landon 
studied their diseases and has developed into a 
skilled veterinary, being one of the best posted 
men in his lino with regard to chronic and sup- 
posed diseases that many others were not com- 
petent to handle, and has effected cures when 
the hocses have been given up. One of his 
remedies is designed to cure that usually fatal 
disease known as "pink eye." 

While one brother is breeding horses and 



830 



HISTORY OP CARROLL COUNTY 



studying their diseases, the other is developing 
along mechanical lines, and in 1907, procured 
a patent on a new and useful implement to be 
used in the noses of hogs to prevent their root- 
ing. It is a disk mounted on ordinary wire, 
with a central hole and a series of barbs around 
its edge. It is adjusted easily and is perfectly 
adapted for its proi)ose<l use. 

The whole family are musicians and in the 
old days when all were together both organ and 
violin were played and the joyous voices joined 
in singing. Many times the old homestead was 
the scene of gatherings where dancing was the 
chief feature and the brothers look back with 
tender memories to those jieriods before the fam- 
ily separated. Like their father, they are Spir- 
itualists, and believe that they enter into com- 
munication with their loved ones gone before, 
and are comforted by the messages they are 
convinced are sent to them from time to time. 
There are few who stand any higher in public 
esteem than these two, who are so intimately 
associated with the development of Carroll 
county. 

LICHTY, Elias D., a substantial retired farm- 
er, whose skill as an agriculturist was recog- 
nized throughout Carroll County during ithe 
years he was in active life, and who is regarded 
as an authority upon matters pertaining to 
farming, is now residing at Lanark. He was 
l)orn in Somerset, Pa., August 19, 1851, a son 
of Levi and Ann Lichty, natives of the same 
)ilace. These parents c-ame to Lee county. 111., 
at an early day, but after a few years, moved 
to Carroll county, arriving here in 1868, and 
locating on a farm. The father had the follow- 
ing children : Ellas D. ; Urias M., deceased : 
W. H.. of Kansas City, Mo. ; Mrs. Emma Puter- 
baugh, of Chicago; Cora Gorden, of Lakeside, 
Wash. 

Elias D. Lichty received a common school edu- 
cation, and grew up to fann life. He secured 
his father's homestead of 160 acres of fine land, 
four miles southeast of Lanark, where he became 
an extensive grain and stock grower, thus con- 
tinuing until his retirement to Lanark. He 
built his handsome residence in Lanark, in 1904. 

On October 21. 1876, Mr. Lichty was married 
(first) to Cora Rodrick, daughter of George 
Rodrick, a native of Maryland. She died Octo- 
ber 2.5, 1908. By this marriage Mr. Lichty had 
children as follows: Raymond, who was born 



in 1S77, lives at home ; Ivu J., who was bom 
December 22, 1S85, is a very accomplished young 
lady, a graduate of Lanark high school, now a 
teacher in the Lanark school ; Leroy W., who 
died January 14, 1912; and Ruth W., who was 
born August 10, 1S91, is at home. Mr. Lichty 
was married (second) May 14, 1911, to Mrs. 
Anna Horning, daughter of Oliver and Marga- 
ret (Richardson) Smith, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania, where the father was born February 2, 
1831. The mother died October 12, 1S67. He 
and his wife had the following family: Mrs. 
Lichty and Mrs. Margaret Langer of Altoona. 
By her first marriage, Mrs. Lichty had two 
children : Mrs. Sadie Asay. who is of Mt. Car- 
roll ; and Albert Horning, who is employed at 
Savanna by the Chicago, Burlington & Quiney 
Railroad. Mr. Lichty is a member of the Breth- 
ren Church. Politically, he is a Democrat, and 
has served as school director for fifteen years. 
He is a man widely known and universally re- 
spected, and his name stands for uprightness and 
honesty of purpose. 

LIVENGOOD, Henry.— The church has always 
e.\erte<l a beneficial influence upon the lives of 
men and the progress of communities. When a 
church is established in a locality, its begin- 
nings in true civilization are written, and be- 
cause of this and the iwwer of the moral force 
it exerts, the men instrumental in bringing about 
its organization, and continuing its healthy 
growth, are deserving of more than passing men- 
tion. The establishment and progressive advance- 
ment of the Brethren Church of Milledgeville 
are due to the efforts of the Livengood family, 
whose united efforts have been directed towards 
making this denomination a religious power in 
Carroll county. One of the most active in church 
work at present in this locality, is Henry Liven- 
good, a retired farmer of Milledgeville. He was 
born in Somerset county. I'a.. July o. 184.J. be- 
ing a sou of Abraham and .\nna (Meyers) 
Livengood. 

-Vbraham Livengood, one of the grand old men 
of Carroll county, whose memory will long be 
cherished, was born in Somerset county. Pa., 
September 22, 1822. and died in Milletlgeville, 
February 13. 1890. In 1854, he came to Carroll 
county, locating on 320 acres of land which he 
developed into so fine a property that it is still 
pointed out as one of the model farms of the 
county. At one time he owned 840 acres of land. 




{^S^^^^E....^ ^^. 



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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



831 



but eventually disposed of much of it. and in 
1884 relived, intendiuK to pass the remainder of 
bis life amouK l>is children, l)ut his active spirit 
could not rest content, and in ISStl, he in eon- 
junction with a Mr. Knapp built a two-stor.v 
brick structure on Main street. In this build- 
ing, the two, who had formed a partnership, con- 
ducted a first class mercantile business. Mr. 
Livengond was far seeing, and (iftcu when land 
was selling for a trifle an acre, would declare 
that he firmly believed he would live to see it 
held for .$100 per acre, and his faith was more 
than justified. He was instrumental in the 
upbuilding of the new part of Milledgeville, and 
was prominent in advancing educational matters. 
However, he was more active in church work 
than anything else. While living in Pennsylvania 
he was a Dunkard, and continued to esiwuse that 
faith until the formation of the progressive 
Dunkard church, known as the Brethren, when 
he became one of its most enthusiastic sup- 
porters, helping to build the church, and direct 
its government. When he died, full of years, 
after a useful and happy life, the whole com- 
nninity mourne<l him, and attended his funeral 
in crowds to do him honor. 

A worthy son of his honored father. Henry 
Livengood, has always labored towards the ad- 
vancement of his church and community, and 
is now numbered among the most representative 
of the solid men of this county. He was but a 
lad when brought here by his father in 18.54, 
and has grown up within its confines, becoming 
thoroughly actpiainted with all the needs and 
possibilities of his community. ' He attended 
school, and assisted his father on the farm, 
remaining with the latter until he was twenty- 
three years old, when he married. .Vt this 
time he bought eighty acres on section 8, Wysox 
township, later adding to his original purchase 
until he owned 320 acres. This continued the 
family home for many years, during which time 
be made many improvements developing it into 
a magnificent jiroperty. He erected a residence 
SOxrJO. large barns, and other buildings, and 
specialized on Poland-China bogs, being a leader 
in raising this variety. His shipments ranged 
from 100 to 200 head of hogs annually, and he 
also raised cattle and horses, in addition to 
carrying on general farming. Eventually, he 
retired leaving the management of his farm to 
his sons. 

On February 5, 1871, Mr, Livengood was 



united in marriage with Amanda Miller, born in 
Somerset county, Pa., July 9, 1853, daughter of 
D. M. and Mary (Lichty) Miller, who came to 
t.'arroll county in 18C4. Mr. Miller was a Breth- 
ren jireacher. Four children were born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Livengood : Alice, who was born March 
27, 1873. a graduate of the city high .schmil, is 
at home; Anna, who died at the age of three and 
one-half years; William Wallace, who was l)orn 
.Vugust 30, 1879. and Charles A., who was born 
January 23, 1882. William married, December 
4. l!Ki7, Rose Dambman, a native of this county. 
One child, Marian Amanda, was horn June 11, 
1909, on her great-grandmother's eightieth birth- 
day. Charles A., married June 22, 1904, Hattie 
Goble, and one child, Catherine Amanda, was 
born March 5. 1909. Two sons live on the home 
farm, and make a specialty of raising Short- 
horn cattle. Mr. Livengood gave bis children 
good educations, and made their liome attractive. 
He is one of the leaders of the Brethren Church, 
and most liberal in his contributions toward its 
support. 

Mr. Livengood distinctly remembers the hard- 
ships of early days, and the pleasures as well. 
The family came to Carroll county when the 
prairie grass stood as high as a man's head, 
wlien he was on horsel)aek. t'pou one occasion 
Mr. Livengood went with his uncle to Mt. Car- 
roll after some cattle. On the return trip, a 
blizzard began to rage, and the helpless travel- 
ers crawled into the box of their wagon, drawing 
over them an old blanket. Even then, the.v nearly 
froze to death, and were thankful to get out 
alive. Looking back upon those days, and com- 
paring them to the present ones, Mr. Livengood 
feels that the ]>resent generation is being given 
many advantages, but still holds to the belief 
that all these hardships developed character, 
made hardy, healthy men, ready to endure all 
and build out of the wilderness present civiliza- 
tion. 

LIVENGOOD, Zachariah T., for many years 
M iiiiiiistci' of tile P.rctbrcn church, is a man 
whose e.\ample and eloquent exi)ounding of the 
Scriptures have not only been jileasing to 
his friends, but the source of continual good in 
his community. Mr. Livengood was born in 
Somerset county, Pa., December 13, 1849, be- 
ing a son of Abrah;im and Fannie (Meyers) 
Livengood. the former l)orn September 22. 1^*22. 
died February 13, 1S90; and the latter born 



832 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



June 11, 1S29, is still living. Z. T. Livengood 
grew up in Somerset county, ami after eouiinsr 
to Carroll county, lived nine years on his first 
farm, nine years on the Telegraph road, nine- 
teen years in Lanark and two years in Jlilledge- 
ville. Z. T. Livengood, was a great-grand- 
son of Peter Livengood, who came from Germany 
to flee from military service in his native 
country. The last named was bom in 1730, 
and died 1S26. He spelled his name accoi'ding 
to the old German way. Leibundgut. The chil- 
dren of Abraham and Fannie Livengood were, 
Henry, born July 5, 1845; Elias P., born Feb- 
ruary 10, 1847 ; Zachariah T., born December 
13, 1849; Joseph, born January 4, 1853, died 
June 12, 1903, at Seattle, Wash. ; Mary M., born 
February 4, 1855 (married Henry Walker); 
David, born October 24, 1857. died November 9, 
1875 ; Abraham L.. born April 30, 1S60 ; Anna 
Ellen, born November 30, 1862 (married Wil- 
son Miller, November 30, 1881) ; William C, 
born March 14, 1SG5, died November 10. 1909 ; 
Sarah Ella, bom July 31, 1867 (married Samuel 
Fliekinger) ; Samuel Livengood, born December 
5, 1869 ; John Z., born June 1, 1872, died March 
19, 1874 ; and Frank Edwin, born Septemlier 
4, 1875. 

Zachariah T. Livengood was brought up on a 
farm, and for several years after leaving school, 
taught school himself, and farmed. He was 
finally made a minister of the gospel, taking 
charge of the Lanark mission when there were 
but seven members. During the quarter of a 
century he has been in the ministry, he has built 
up the churches at Milledgeville and Lanark, 
until they now have a membershiii of 250 souls 
each. He has built three churches, one at 
Eethleham, one at Milledgeville and one at 
Lanark. Eloquent and arousing in his sermons. 
he is considered one of the most powerful 
preachers of the Brethren church in this section. 

Mr. Livengood was married November 20, 
1872, at Lanark, 111., to Belinda Hauger, born 
August 14, 1852, a daughter of Hiram J. and 
Elizabeth (Horner) Hauger, the former born 
December 1, 1831, and the latter, April 17, 1832. 
Mr. and Mrs. Livengood have had one son: 
John A., born July 29, 1870, married Cora Mil- 
ler, June 13, 1900, and they live on a farm two 
miles south of Lanark. Mr. Livengood owns 
eighty acres of land in Rock Creek township, 
two miles south of Lanark, and a beautiful mod- 
ern home in the city of Lanark. He is a mau 



whose good works cannot be measured by any 
human rule, for much is never kuo\\ui on the 
outside. His charities are many, and his sym- 
pathies broad, and his people admire, respect 
and love him, and feel bound to him by ties 
that extend over a lifetime. 

LOTZ, Theodore E., Jr, D. V. M.— Perhaps no 
field of scientific research and consequent useful- 
ness, has been more perceptibly widened in the 
last decade, than has that relative to the veter- 
inary branch of medicine and surgery and bright 
and ambitious young men are finding a career in 
which the emoluments are large and the pro- 
fessional standing high. Among the well known 
young men of the profession in Carroll county, 
111., is Dr. Theodore E. Lotz, who is also an 
experienced farmer and stock raiser and owns 
valuable lands in Fair Haven township. He 
was born in Fair Haven township, on section 
24, June 29, 1878, a son of Theodore and Eliza- 
beth (Repp) Lotz, one of the venerable and 
esteemed citizens of Fair Haven township, mem- 
tion of whom will be found in another part of 
this work. 

Theodore E. Lotz attended the public schools 
and later took a commercial course in the Dixon 
Business College, at Dixon, 111., and after he 
returned to the farm, in 1898, gave his father 
assistance and as he is the youngest of the 
sons, remained at home. In the management of 
the 360 acres of the home fanu and in taking 
care of the fine stock, Mr. Lotz was very suc- 
cessful but he continually realized how better 
equipped he vi-ould be in the latter industry if 
he had thorough veterinary knowledge. Thus 
he began to study by himself and his interest 
grrew and in September, 1909, he entered the 
Chicago Veterinary College and continued until 
he received his diploma, graduating in 1910 with 
class honors. He has a completely equipped 
laboratory on his farm and has all the modern 
appliances for the treatment of surgical cases 
and already he has a very satisfactory practice, 
and as he is ambitious, there is. undoubtedly a 
fine future before him in his clio.sen profession. 
In 1911 he bought IGO acres of the old home 
farm and still continues to manage the 360 acres 
for his aged father. 

On March 2, 1910, Dr. Lotz was married to 
iliss Bertha E. Lorke, by Rev. Harris, a daugh- 
ter of Gustave and Margaret (Repp) Lorke, 
prominent farming people of Genesee township, 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



833 



Wliilc-^ido fouiity. III. Mrs. Lotz is an accom- 
plished and educaled lady. Dr. Lotz and wife 
are active members of the Evangelical Church 
at Chadwiclv, 111. In his political views he is 
strongly Republican. 

LOVELY, Lewis. — The railroad ((iiiiiiaiiics I'ur- 
iiish emiiloympnt for tlie energy and ability of 
many of the substantial men of various coni- 
ninnities through whicli they pass, and benelit 
largely liy the faithful service remlered them 
by these sturdy representatives of labor. One 
of those c-onnected with the Chicago, Burlington 
& Quincy Railroad as machinist, is Lewis 
Lovely, of Savanna. He was born in Canada, 
May 10, 1S43, a sou of Alexander and Mary Ann 
(Jerry) Lovely. The father was born in 
Canada, and the mother in England, but both 
passed away thirty years ago. 

When he was only a baby, Mr. Lovely was 
taken to Boston, Slass., where he grew to man- 
hood. He had no educational advantages, and 
is entirely a self-made man. In 1861, he en- 
listed in Company I, Fifth Massachusetts Vol- 
unteer Infantry, and served for ninety days, 
as a guard. Forty years ago, he came to Illi- 
nois, arriving at Savanua in March of that year, 
and at first worked in the saw-mill of Mr. 
Dupris. but for the past twenty-six years, he 
has been in the employ of the Chicago, Bur- 
lington & Quincy Railroad, and that company 
has no more faithful man. 

In 1S<12, Mr. Lovely was married to Miss 
Margaret Balgor, born in Canada, and they have 
the following children: Lewis; Mrs. Frank 
Salisbury; Amelia, who is at home; Thoma.'^. 
who is of Savanna, 111.; Louis, who lives in 
Savanna ; and Pearl, who is now Mrs. Russell 
Marth. There are four grandchildren in the 
family. Mr. Lovely is a member of the Catholic 
church. Politically, he is a Republican, but has 
never sought otTice.. his business cares .ire loo 
many, and his work too heavy for him to go 
into public life, although he takes interest in 
local progress. Fraternally he belongs to the 
Court of Honor. The beautiful family resi- 
dence in Savauna, is owned by Mr. Lovely. No 
man stands higher in the estimation of those 
who know him throughout all of Carroll county, 
than he, whoso faithfulness to duty has been 
his watchword through'iut a long and honor- 
able life. 



MACKAY, Duncan (deceased).— Old-time resi- 
dents of Carroll ci)un(y, will remember with 
Iileasure the late Duncan Mackay, who during a 
loug life filled with activities of an agricultural 
nature, displayed the traits of honesty, integrity 
and clean-living that made him esteemed by his 
fellow-townsmen, who elected him to positions 
of honor and trust. A native of Sutherland- 
shire, Scotland, Mr. Mackay was born Novem- 
ber 13, 1812, a son of James Mackay, a farmer 
by occupation, and came to the United States 
about 1S27. He had begun to learn the trade 
of carriage maker in his native country, and 
on locating in Calias, Me., after a short stay in 
Nova Scotia, he completed his apprenticeship 
and engaged in business with his elder brother, 
William. They had built up a successful and 
liaying business when the financial crash of 
1S30 came.' and during the following year Wil- 
liam Mackay came west to Carroll county. III., 
while Duncan remained in the east to settle 
up matters. There Duncan Mackay was mar- 
ried on June 9, 18-10, to Miss Jessie Mackay, 
who was born in Scotland in 1820, and they im- 
mediately left for Carroll county, going by boat 
to Chicago, and thence overland, walking part 
of the way, to Mount Carroll. For a short time 
they made their home witli William Mackay, 
after which they boarded with the Christian 
family, on Preston Prairie, but eventually Dun- 
can and William Mackay began farming on a 
claim in Salem township, and this association 
continued until 1S56, at wliich time they di- 
vided their land. At the time of his death, 
Duncan Mackay was the owner of TiOO acres in 
his Salem township homestead, in addition to 
considerable other property. He was always 
a hard and faithful worker, and his success 
was entirely due to his own efforts, as at the 
time of his arrival in Illinois he was in ex- 
ceedingly straitened circumstances. For 
many years he was an active member of the 
Orange, which association sent him, in May, 
1873, as representative of the agricultural in- 
terests of the county to the Granger's state con- 
\ention, and during the same year he was ap- 
pointed by Governor Beveridge as commissioner 
to the Vienna (.\ustria) convention, after the 
close of which he traveled extensively and on 
his return to Carroll county he brought with 
him .some of the finest specimens of Perchoron 
horses that the county has ever seen. He and 
his wife were members of the Presbyterian 



834 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



church, and he held the office of deacon therein 
for many years, in addition to acting as leader 
in prayer meetings and teacher in the Sabbath 
school. Politically a Reimblican, he took an 
active part in public matters and served as 
county supervisor for many years in addition 
to holding numerous other township and county 
offices. In 1862 he was one of the organizers of 
the First National Bank, of Alt. Carroll, and in 
1S64 he became president of that institution, 
a position which he held until his death, Septem- 
ber 4, 1SS9, his widow surviving him until April 
3, 190C. 

Mr. and Mrs. Maekay were the parents of 
twelve children, of whom seven survive, as fol- 
lows : ilrs. Anna Moore, born November 12, 
1841, wife of Robert Moore, of Mt. Carroll, 111.; 
Mrs. Barbara Gilmore, born May 20, 1S40, re- 
siding in Chicago ; Mrs. Jennie Van Patten, of 
Los Angeles, Cal. ; Mrs. Lena Jack, on the old 
homestead in Salem township ; Mrs. Nellie M. 
Hawse, of Morrison, 111. ; Mrs. Nettie Sharpe, 
of Jacksonville, 111. ; and Duncan, Jr.. of San 
Antonio, Tex. 

MACKAY, William J.— Some of the most rep- 
resentative of the Carroll county farmers are de- 
voting their attention to breeding and raising 
high-grade stock, realizing the immense profit 
accruing from these lines of endeavor. One of 
the men who has proven to his own satisfaction 
the desirability of stock raising is William J. 
Maekay, of section 22. Salem township, born 
on his present farm July 29, 1S61, a son of Wil- 
liam and Isabel (Murray) Maekay, natives of 
Sutherlaudshire and Dornach, Scotland, respec- 
tively. He was born July 13. 1S02, and she 
June 22, 1832. William Maekay was a wagon- 
maker by trade, who in young manhood went 
to Nova Scotia, and about 1832 or 1S33, came 
to Mt. Carroll and with a man named Mr. 
George, started a saw-mill on Carroll creek. 
When the government opened up the land for 
entry, Mr. Maekay went to Dixon, 111., and en- 
tered ei.ghty acres in Carroll township, and later 
entered more land in Salem township. His two 
brothers, Duncan and John, joined bini and also 
took up land. Mr. Maekay made his home with 
them until his marriage. On January 8, 18DG, 
he married Isabel Murray, who had come to 
America with her two aunts Mrs. Richard Lib- 
berton and Mrs. Frank Craig, to visit her 
uncle James Mark, who lived in Cherry Grove 



township, Carroll county. Mr. and Mrs. Maekay 
went to live on a farm that comprised nearly 
300 acres, on .sections 21 and 22. Salem town- 
ship, continuing here until their buildings were 
swept away in 1886, by a tornado. After this 
harrowing experience, they went to Mt. Carroll 
to live, and there passed away, on September 1, 
1S8S, and she May 25, 1911. They were Pres- 
byterians and very devout, adhering strictly to 
their religious views and observances. Their 
four children were : Margaret, who died in 
1.S8T; Jean ISiUiel. who died October 14. 1912; 
wife of De Putran Gliddon ; William J., and 
Efiie, who died in 1899. 

William J. Maekay went to school in Salem 
township, and for one year to Lake Forest 
Academy, but made his home with his parents 
until they moved to Mt. Carroll, when he rented 
the farm. In 1890, he bought the property, then 
comprising 201 acres, and since then has spe- 
cialized on raising cattle, hogs and horses, his 
annual output being about a carload of Short- 
horn cattle, and the same number of thorough- 
bred Poland-China hogs. 

On August 23, 1900, he was married to Mrs. 
Cora (Coleman) Van Buskirk, born in Mt. Car- 
roll, 111., January 22, 1807, daughter of John 
and Mary E. (Dresback) Coleman. Mx'. and 
Mrs. Maekay are the parents of five children : 
Isabel, William, Helen, John and Donald, all 
at home. Mr. Maekay is a shrewd business 
man and excellent farmer who under.stands his 
work, and is progressing rapidly in it. 

MADER, John, a retired farmer residing at 
Mt. Carroll, was born in Union county. Pa., Feb- 
ruary 14, 1844, sou of Abraham and Susanna 
(Faust) Mader. The father was a farmer and 
came from Pennsylvania to Ward's Grove, near 
Kent, 111., in 1844. Eighteen mouths later he 
moved to Berryman townshiiJ, Jo Daviess county, 
where he was one of the pioneers. He and his 
wife were parents of eleven children, nine of 
whom they brought with them to Illinois. At 
the time the family came west the father had 
a three-horse wagon and his capital in money 
was but sixty dollars, with which he established ■ 
a home in the new location. Of this family 
the only oues now surviving are John and an- 
other son and three daughters. The father died 
a few years since, in his eight.v-ninth year, his 
wife having died many years previously. 

Mr. Mader had very limited educational ad- 





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KLl SCHICK 



THE IfEW TORf 
fUBLIC LIBRARY 



ASTOH, LENOX 
[TlrPEN FOUNDATIONF , 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



835 



vantages, and beiiif? the oldest son, bis serv- 
ices were needed in lielping with the farm woric 
as soon ns lie could be of assistauee, so as a 
mere child many taslis fell to liis share. There 
were few schools in those days and the terms 
were short, but he made tlie most of his op- 
jiortunities. By the time the Civil war broke 
out, he had earned for himself a span of horses 
and liad rented a farm for the following year, 
which he was intending to operate, but like 
many other young men. he was fired with iia- 
triotism, and about August 1, 18ti2, enlisted 
from Jo Daviess county, although consider- 
ably under age. Upon asking his father's con- 
sent he was told to join a regiment then being 
recruited near Freeport, and accordingly became 
a private in Company F, Ninety-second Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, which company was mounted 
soon afterward. Mr. Mader participated in 
many important engagements, among the most 
notable being Chickamauga and Missionary 
Ridge. After the capture of Atlanta, while he 
was on vidette duty, he was captured by bush- 
whackers and spent eight months a iirisoner, 
most of the time in the infamous Andersonville 
prison, from which he was released near' "the 
close of the war. From Jacksonville. FUl., by 
transport he went to Annapolis. Md.. and from 
tlience to St. Louis, then on to Springlielil. 
HI., where he was honorably discharged. He 
was never ill for one day, was never seri- 
ously wounded, and was never away from his 
command until the time of his capture, proving 
himself a brave and faithful soldier who per- 
formed well every duty entrusted to him. 

After the war Mr. Mader returned to Berry- 
man township, Jo Daviess county, and engaged 
in farming. Some years later he removed to 
■Woodland township, locating on a farm about 
one mile from Mt. Carroll, and operated this 
land until al>out ls!)i;, then retired from active 
labor and came to his pre.sent comfortable home 
in Mt. Carroll, where ho has since led a life 
of ease In the enjoyment of a well-earned com- 
petency, lie also has a l)eautiful summer home 
at Lanesville, Iowa., where he and his wife 
spend several months each year with much 
enjoyment. He is blessed with abundant health 
and energy and enjoys his fishing boats, 
launches, etc., with a vigor and enthusiasm 
which might be envied by many a younger man. 
In his way of spending the autumn of life 



he shows superior judgment and good sense, and 
by active outdoor pursuits bids fair to prolong 
his life liy many years. 

Mr. JIader was married (first) Xovember 5, 
ISliT, to Miss Anna Green, of Woodland town- 
ship, a daughter of Uriah and Alameda (Jreen, 
and they were parents of nine children: 
Alameda, who died at the age of eleven years; 
Stephen Dallas, who married Minnie 'Weldon, 
lives near Des Moines, Iowa, and they have 
two daughters; Cora G., who married Harry 
Griffin, lives in Chicago; Gertrude, who mar- 
ried Frank Fritz, lives near Lanark, 111.; Lena 
A., who lives in Chicago ; Myrtle Joy, who mar- 
ried William Beal, of Walnut, 111., and they 
have one child; Ulriah Blaine, who married 
Vera Grossman and lives at Broken Bow, Okla. ; 
Walter II., who is of South Dakota ; Anna G., 
who died in infancy. Mrs. Mader died October 
30, 188S. Mr. Mader married (second) Nancy 
V. Green, a sister of his first wife, this event 
taking place January 15, ISOO. 

Mr.. Mader is a member of the local post of 
the G. A. R. and is also connected with the A. 
F. & A. M., being a Knight Templar, and a 
charter member of the Knights of Pythias I^odge, 
No. 574, of Mt. Carroll. He has always taken 
an active interest in all questions affecting the 
general welfare of his community. He served 
several years as supervisor while living in 
Woodland township. He has always been one 
of the prime movers of every cause for the ad- 
vancement and progress of the community. Soon 
after coming to Mt. Carroll he assisted in or- 
ganizing the electric light plant for lighting the 
city, he and Mr. Wildey being the chief sup- 
porters of the enterprise. He succeeded his 
father-in-law, Uriah Green, as president of the 
First National Bank, holding that position un- 
til it was accorded to the present incumbent, 
Robert Moore. 

Both wives of Mr. Mader inherited comfort- 
able fortunes in both land and money, and he 
has carefully and conscientiously cared for 
same aside from his own private means. He 
has invested his first wife's fortune as guardian 
for their children and greatly to their advan- 
tage. His private fortune is entirely of his 
own earning and secured l)y his individual ef- 
forts, as he started in life with nothing but his 
good health and energy which he jeopardized 
by leaving everything to serve his country. 



836 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



MADSEN BROTHERS, wlio have praetieally, 
the iiioimiioly uf the photograph business in 
the western part of Carroll county, have built 
up a large enterprise from a small begin- 
ning. The firm is composed of Thomas and 
Albert Madsen, sons of Peter Madsen, a native of 
Denmark, a farmer by occupation, who came to 
America at the age of twenty-two years. His 
birth occurred November 15, 1851. He came to 
Carroll county in 1877 and purchased a farm 
iu Savanna township, where he spent the re- 
mainder of his life. On December 25, 1S7S, 
he was married to Lucinda Iving, daughter of 
Hiram and Elizabeth King, of Carroll county, 
and four children were born of this union : 
Thomas, Albert, Willis aud Ralph. All survive 
except Ralph. The father of these children 
died April 20, 1901. The children were all edu- 
cated iu the Savanna .schools and Thomas also 
took a course at the Illiuois College of Photog- 
raphy, at Effingham, HI., one of the most noted 
institutions of its kind in the United States. 
He had previously taught school two years at 
Chestnut Park. 

In 1903 Thomas and Albert Madsen purchased 
the photograph gallery of R. L. Muzzy, who 
for fiftee.'i years had conducted a successful 
business iu Savanna, and in 1909 they erected, 
on the site of the old liuiUling, an elegant brick 
structure, with commodious quarters for the 
carrying on of their business on the ground floor, 
and two suites of flats above. In 1906 they 
opened another gallery at Chadwick, as a branch 
of the original business. They spend one day 
a week at the latter town, as an accommoda- 
tion to their many patrons in the vicinity, and 
have met with gratifying success in both 
Ijlaces. They are good artists iu their line, 
have excellent taste in posing their subjects 
and pay special attention to the background and 
to the finishing of their photograiihs. 

Thomas Madsen, who was born February 12, 
1878, was married August 20, 1903, to Miss 
Beula Krell, of Savaima, and they have one 
son, Benjamin. Willis Madsen, born December 
25, 1882, married October 15, 1906. Augusta 
Xehrkorn. of Savanna, aud they had one child, 
born January 17, 1911, who died October 2. 
1011. Albert Mf.dsen, born August 7, 1880. is 
unmarried. The mother resides with her sons, 
Thomas aud Albert. The three sons are Repub- 
lican in political belief aud actively interested 
in local affairs. They are all enterprising and 



energetic business men aud are highly respected 
lor their many good qualities. 

MALONEY, Luther H., M. D., who enjoys a 
large practice in his profession, has been located 
at Savanna, since 1884. He is a uative of Car- 
roll county, born on his father's farm, December 
0. 1857, son of James S. aud Frances V. 
(Bashaw) Malouey, James Maloney was born 
in 1832, at Newcastle. Del., his father being a 
native-born American. He came west with his 
parents in 1845, being then about thirteen years 
of age. The tauiily took a boat down the Ohio 
river from Pittsburgh, then took another l>oat at 
St. Louis and went up the Mississippi. While 
they were moving from one boat to another the 
father of this family, Martin Maloney, was ac- 
cidentally drowned, leaving a family of small 
children. James, being the eldest child, assumed 
charge of the family affairs and they located 
in Savanna in the spring of 1845. He was large 
for his age and worked at whatever emiJloyment 
could be obtained, soon being able to earn as 
much as many a man. Later he purchased a 
small farm, which he improved and cultivated, 
and sold it to buy a larger farm. He prospered 
through these changes aud cared for the fam- 
ily. Of his two brothers and a sister, the 
latter died soon after coming to Carroll county, 
but the others lived. Mr. Maloney was able to 
retire from active life some years ago and now 
lives at Mt. Carroll. 

James Maloney married Frances V. Bashaw 
in Carroll county, a native of Montreal. Her 
parents were early settlers in Savanna of 
Canadian-French descent. They died soon after 
their arrivMl, leaving a family of small chil- 
dren, who managed to keep together aud sup- 
port themselves until they reached maturity, 
some of them becoming very prosperous, and 
are still surviving. Mrs. Malouey died in 1885. 
To her and iter husband eight children were 
born, of whom three sons and four daughters 
are living, and Dr. Luther H., was the second 
child. 

Dr. Maloney received his preliminary educa- 
tion in the district schools and then took a 
literary course at Mt. Morris (111.) College. He 
taught school for a time in order to secure funds 
to further pursue his studies, and in 1884 he 
was graduated from Hahnemann Medical Col- 
lege, of Chicago, immediately thereafter locat- 
ing at Savanna where he entered upon a gen- 





aiA^ 




THE NEW TORS j 
PUBLIC LIBRA'^"^ 

AdTOR, LENDS i 

TILDEN FOUND ATIONS I 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



837 



eriil practice. In ISOO, he took a iiost-iiraduate 
course at the Chicago Ilomeoiiatliic Meilicai Col- 
lege. He stands well in the coniinunit.v anil in 
his profession and is identified with the Illimiis 
Homeopathic Medical Association, the American 
Institute of Homeopathy, the County Medical 
Society and the Rock Hiver Institute. Frater- 
nally, he is a member of the Masonic Order, 
lieloiif;ing to the Savanna Lodge and Cliapter. 
the Long Comniandery of Knights Templar, of 
Mt. Carroll, and the Freeport Consistory, and 
has taken the thirty-second degree in the order. 
He is much interested in public affairs in his 
connnnnity and served some years as a member 
of the school board of Savanna. 

On Sei)tember 19, 1SS3, Dr. Maloney married 
Anna J. Casselberry. of Carroll county, and two 
children have been born of this union. .T. How- 
ard M., born November 20, ISSO, and Emily F., 
on August 31, iss;s. 

■ MANNING, William S.— Progressive in all 
things including agriculture, stock raising, poli- 
tics and citizenship, William S. Manning, of 
section 32, Lima township, has fairly earned the 
right to be named among his community's rep- 
resentative citizens, and to tiie high esteem and 
contidence in which he is universally held. Mr. 
Manning is a native son of Carroll county, hav- 
ing been born in Rock Creek township, on the 
farm of his father, section 25, April 28, ISW, 
and is a son of Nelson W. and Melvina (Shafer) 
Manning. 

Nelson W. .Manning was a native of Kno.x 
county. Ohio, and his wife of Indiana, the latter 
being brought to Carroll county. 111., as a child. 
Alfred .Maiming, the paternal grandfather of 
William S., was in the eighth generation of an 
Knglish family that was founded in .\meri("i 
prior to the Revolutionary War, in which mem- 
bers of the family fought, as they also did in 
the War of 1812. In 1S."2 Nelson W. Manning 
came to Carroll county and purchased land on 
section 2."i, Rock Creek townsliip, and after jire- 
pariiig a home was here married. The Civil War 
then claimed him as a soldier in the Thirty- 
fourth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and 
during the struggle between the States he fought 
with that noted organization, which accompanied 
Slierman on his famous March tn ilie Sea, came 
north through the Carolinas and participated 
In the Crand Review at Washington. On re- 
ceiving Ills hciniir.ililc discharge after gallant 



service. .Mr. .Manning resumed farming and was 
so occupied until his relirment to Lanark, whore 
his death occurred in December (i. liMJl. A man 
of a retiring dis|Kisiti<in, shunning prominence 
because of a modest nature, he still made his 
influence felt upon his connnnnity, and for many 
years interested himself deeply iu promoting 
education in his adopted state. He was clerk 
of the school board for years, and brought to 
his work that thoroughness and attention to 
detail that made him in liis private life note 
the leading events of each day for over fifty 
years in a well-kept diary. He and his faithful 
wife were consistent and well-known members 
of the Evangelical Church, and were not only 
instrumental in having the church built here, 
but were always loyal and liberal in their sup- 
port. Mrs. Manning passed away in the faith of 
this denomination, in July, 18S9, beloved by all 
who knew her kindly, affectionate. Christian 
spirit. They had five children: William S. ; 
Martha A., who is now the wife of Michael 
Munts, a merchant of Freepoit, 111.; George, 
who is a well-known and able physician and 
surgeon of Garden Prairie, 111., who married 
Miss May Schriner and has two children. — El- 
done and Margerie; Marshall O., who is a 
popular citizen of Freeport, married Miss .Jennie 
Schriner; and Nellie, wlio is the wife of Charles 
.\ppleby, lives in Chicago. 

Reared to agricultural pursuits, and educated 
in the district schools, William S. Manning 
early demonstrated his ability as a farmer on 
the old homestead, and in 1888 purchased a 
farm of 2.^0 acres and began to breed stock in 
a small way. In 1891 he moved to his present 
handsome farm, and since that time his rise has 
been rapid. On December 29, 1892, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Annie C. Traum, by Rev. Quine, 
of Lanark. She was born iu Rock Creek town- 
ship February 27, 1874, daughter of Conrad 
Traum, one of the substantial farmers of that 
ciiiimiinnty. .Mr. Manning brought his wife to 
the home he had prepared for her, and together 
they have developed this into one of the finest 
properties in their part of the county. They 
have had two children: Ralph G.. born Decem- 
ber 17, 189G; and Harold, born April 13, 1899, 
bright and interesting youths who assist their 
father iu his operations wlien not attending 
school. 

In 18!l2 .Mr. Manning began to breed Hereford 
cattle, starting with seventeen head of pure- 



838 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



bred stot-k, although he had brought the first 
Hereford bull into Carroll county in 1881, hav- 
ing paid $350 for this individual. It was bred 
in Maine. As this animal was about one year 
old and weighed 700 pounds, it will be seen that 
Mr. Manning iwid fifty cents per pound for the 
beast. Subsequently he began breeding Poland- 
China hogs, but in 189S changed to the Chester- 
White breed, and now ships about 150 aunually, 
each weighing in the neighborhood of 250 pounds, 
while he keeijs on an average of 200 head on 
his farm. Forty breeding cows, and 100 cattle 
make up his herd of pure Hereford, and at the 
head is the noted individual "Dinsiuore," full 
brother to the prize-winning bull "Dinsmore 
Third." which stood third in class at the Iowa 
.State Fair of 1912, this being one of the strong- 
est strains of the Hereford family. Mr. Mann- 
ing was given his start by his father, but it was 
earned by honest, earnest endeavor. The elder 
Manning considered that the twenty-five years 
that his .son had spent on the home place was 
worth .?S.000. and accordingly set that nmeh land 
aside. To this Mr. Manning has added from 
time to time until he now owns 490 acres, which 
he has brought to a high state of cultivation and 
doubled in value by wise and modern improve- 
ment. 

Mr. Manning cannot be said to be a public 
figure, as far as politics are concerned, but his 
value to his community is well known to hiS 
fellow citizens. He supports all movements that 
make for the welfare of his township, county 
or State, and has interested himself in education 
to the extent of serving for five years as a mem- 
ber of the school board. Progressive himself, 
the candidates of the progressive democratic 
party receive his vote. He was elected super- 
vLsor in IfKX) and still holds the office. At the age 
of twenty-one years he joined the local lodge 
of the I. O. O. F. and before its abandonment 
occupied all of its chairs. At this time he be- 
longs to Lodge No. 363, Knights of Pythias, at 
Lanark. While Mr. and Mrs. Manning do not 
belong to any special religious denomination, 
they are liberal in their support of churcb and 
charitable movements, while their numerous 
warm friends will testify emphatically to their 
universal ix)pularity. 

McELHENEY, William D., a highly respected 
citizen of Savanna. 111., was born in Hunting- 
don county, Pa., February 22, ISl.i, sou of 



James S. and Rose Ann (Dubs) McElheuey, 
both natives of Scotland, who came to America 
after their marriage and settled in Pennsylva- 
nia, but about 1S50 removed to the vicinity of 
Kalamazoo, Mich. The father was a farmer 
and merchant and he and his wife had seven 
sons and five daughters. 

The education of William D. McElheuey was 
received in a log schoolhouse and in April, 1S61, 
he enlisted in Company K, Second Regiment, 
Michigan Volunteer Infantry, for service during 
the Civil war. He was wounded at the battle 
of Fair Oaks and discharged in the fall of 18(12. 
In January, 1SG3, he re-enlisted in the Eighth 
Michigan Cavalry, and was promoted to rank 
of first lieutenant, participating in many bat- 
tles, and in September, 1864, was captured and 
spent several months in a Confederate prison. 
He was wounded three times and had several 
horses .shot under him. After seeing much 
hard service and enduring many hardships and 
privations be was discharged in 1865. with the 
rank of captain. 

In 1.S68 Mr. McElheney began working for 
the Michigan Central Railroad Company, as fire- 
man, and in 1872 went to Freeport and entered 
the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. 
Paul Railroad Company, then the Western 
Union Road. Aftpr working four years as tire- 
man for this road he was promoted to position 
of engineer. He has been engineer on passen- 
ger trains for the past twenty-seven years and 
during that time has never had a wreck, either 
of his engine or of a ear. On accouut of poor 
health he has had a leave of absence recently. 

In July, 1874, Mr. McElheney married Sophia 
Spangler, born August 24, 1850, whose parents 
died in Germany. She came to America with 
a brother when she was eighteen years of age. 
Children were born of this union as follows : 
Alice, who was born October 8, 1877. married 
J. A. Hall, four children — Lorine J.. Gladys and 
Lavern ; Edwin E., who was born September 19, 
1879, is a railroad employe ; Paul, who was 
born November 3, 1881, is also a railroad em- 
ploye ; Bessie, who was born December 25, 
1883, married Oscar Poorman, two children — 
Wanda and William Henry; Ruby, who was 
born October 4, 1891 ; Sophia Bell, who was 
born March 4, 1897; William, who was born 
January 10, 1875, died November 2. 1900: 
Henry and Frank, who died iu infancy. There 
are eight grandchildren in the family. Mr. Me- 




'.yi/t<zri/ 0. droAz-^yAy 



/7 



, PUBLIC UBKAI<^ 

1 ^luDE^^fo;^ 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



839 



Elheney inircliased the home he now occupies 
on Bowen street, when he came to Savanna, in 
1SS4, and is now well known in railroad circles, 
having a number of warm personal friends. He 
is much interested in the |)ublir welfare and 
progress, and in politics is a Repiililican. Fra- 
ternally, he is a member of the Knights of 
I'ythias and Brotherhood of Locomotive En- 
gineers. Although injured by being accidentally 
struck in the head April. 1909, near Lanesville, 
la., causing impairment of eyesight, he is other- 
wise in good health. 

McGRATH, Wilmer W., M. D., a successful 
j-oung physician of Savanna, now holding the 
office of mayor of that city, was liorn iu Derinda 
township, Jo Daviess county, 111., January ."i, 
1870, son of Robert and Esther (Weir) Mc- 
Grath. farming iieople. The paternal grand- 
father was a native of Ireland and as a young 
man located in Beaver coinit.v. Pa., where he 
lived until 1S.3(J, then removed to Jo Daviess 
county. He was one of the first settlers of 
Derinda township, and he and his wife had nine 
children, of whom Robert was the seventh. Of 
the progeny of this family but few now live 
in northwestern Illinois. Robert McGrath died 
in 1903 and his widow in 1907. They had five 
children. 

Dr. McGrath completed the courses in the 
common and high schools of Savanna and in 
1893 matriculated in the Central Medical Col- 
lege, of St. Joseph, Mo., from which he was 
graduated in 190C. He came to Savanna three 
months after his graduation and has since built 
up a practice second to none in Carroll county, 
standing high in his profession and winning the 
confidence of the community. He belongs to the 
county, state, and American Medical Societies, 
and also to the Knights of I'ythias and various 
other fraternal orders. While not active in 
political affairs he is a standi Republican and 
has held various local offices. He was elected 
mayor in 1908, 1910, and an cnterijrising citizen 
at all times, he has filled the office of chief ex- 
ecutive with credit to himself and his city. Dr. 
McGrath has many friends and is popular with 
all classes, having a sincere manner and an up- 
right, reliable character. 

On March 8, 189.S, Dr. McGrath married Miss 
Henrietta De La Vergne, a daughter of Ben- 
jamin De La Vergne, of Savanna, and two chil- 



dren have been born to this union, Floyd and 
Gladys C, both attending school. 

McINTYRE, Daniel, a woU-todo farmer and 
useful citizen of Carroll c-onnty. 111., is a son of 
Hugh and Christie (McCall) Mclutyre, Scotch 
Highlanders. The father emigrated to Canada 
about 1818 and spent some time in Ontario. He 
and his wife met and were married near Jlon- 
treal about 1S35 and they came to Carroll 
county about 1840, locating on the farm now 
owned by their son Daniel. They were promi- 
nent and respected citizens of their community 
and became successful farmers. There were 
nine children in their family: Mary, who is de- 
ceased ; Neil, who served twelve years as a jus- 
tice of the peace; Anna; Catherine; Daniel; 
Duncan ; Marjorie ; Christie and Lsabelle. The 
parents of these children died in Carroll county. 

Daniel Mclntyre was educated iu the country 
schools and reared to farm worlv, which he has 
followed all his active life. As a young man he 
enlisted for service in the Civil war and after 
his discharge returned to tlie farm. He has 
brought the land to a high state of cultivation 
and is one of the most successful farmers in his 
conununity. He is a Republican in politics and 
ready to support any movement for the pro- 
gress or welfare of his township or county. He 
married Margaret McCabe, daughter of Robert 
McCabe. of Carroll county, and they are par- 
ents of three children : Roy, Isabelle, and Jesse. 

McKEE, William Parker, A. M., B. D., dean and 
instructor iu the Frances Shinier school of the 
Fniversity of Chicago, was born at Indianola, 
111., August 8, 1802, son of Melvin and Hattie 
(Parker) McKee. The father was a Baptist 
minister and of Scotch-Irish ancestry. The fam- 
ily was established in Virginia, proliably in the 
early iiart of the seventeenth century. The 
father of Melvin McKee moved from Kentucky 
in 1828 to Edgar county. 111., wdiere he spent the 
remainder of his days near the town now known 
as Clirisman. 

Mr. McKee received his early educational 
training in the common schools and later at- 
tended Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Ind., 
gradmiting therefrom with the degree of -V. B., 
in 1S83. He was graduateii in 1887 from the 
Baptist Union Theological Seminary (now the 
Divinity school of the University of Chicago), 
with the degree of B. D. In 1^97 he received 



840 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



the degree of A. M. from the I'niversity of 
Minnesota. In 1^07 he received the degree of 
B. D. from the I'niversity of Chicago. He 
served ten .years, from 1SS7 until 1897, as pastor 
of Olivet Baptist church, at Minneapolis, and 
iu the latter year came to Mt. Carroll as dean 
of the Frances Shinier school, which post he 
now fills. There are IGO students iu this school 
and the course covers four years of academic 
and two years of college work. There are 
seventeen members in the faculty. 

On August 23, 1887, Dr. ilcKee married Net- 
tie Hartley, of Chrisman, 111., and one son was 
born of this union, Howard Hai-jjer, born July 
27, 1890, instructor in geology in Drury College. 
Springfield, Mo. Mrs. McKee died September S, 
1S!)4. and Dr. MelCee married (second) June 
27, 1901, Florence Turney, of Chicago, and they 
have one child, Margaret Elizabeth, born Sep- 
tember 21, 1002. Dr. McKee is a Progressive 
in politics. He has lived in Mt. Carroll fifteen 
years and has identified himself with the best 
interests of the city and community. 

McKENNEY, Oscar F., (deceased).— Each suc- 
cessive step iu the business career of Oscar F. 
McKenney was brought about through his nat- 
ural ability and enterpi'ise, and he won an en- 
viable position in the financial circles of Illi- 
nois and adjoining states. He was associated 
with various banks which he helped to Iniilt up, 
and was at the time of his death president of 
the Carroll County Bank, of Mt. Carroll, which 
sound and substantial institution he helped to 
organize, being continued as its head. Mr. Mc- 
Kenney was born in Dixon, III., April 22, 1842, 
the eldest sou of Frederick C. and Catherine 
(Clute) McKenney. The McKenney s came to 
America from Scotland iu the latter part of the 
seventeenth century, and settled near Albany, 
on the Hud.son River, N. Y., where they have 
since been prominent. The Clutes were de- 
scended from the Marcellus family of Holland, 
known in New York as "Mohawk Dutchmen." 
Members of both families were farmers. 

Frederick C. McKenney came to Dixon, 111., 
in 1835, engaging iu mercantile business. His 
manner of conductiug his early business ventures 
is typical of conditions before the days of rail- 
roads, iu the middle west. Iu 1S32, there be- 
ing a large migration from the vicinity of 
Sdienectady, N. Y., into Canada, and Mr. Mc- 
Keiniey joined it and bought and cleared a piece 



of land there, constructing six saw-mills, which 
he operated for a time and then sold. He then 
proceeded to Toronto, where he purchased a 
large suppl.v of groceries and loaded them on 
a boat, his objective point being the then new 
town of Milwaukee, Wis., where he intended 
to establish himself in business. His goods 
were brought from the boat to the shore and 
sold as fast as unloaded, being disposed of in 
two days. Tliere were so many people in the 
to\\n it was impossible for Mr. McKenney to 
secure lodgings. He hired a horse and made 
several excursions into the woods around the 
town, but not being pleased with the outlook 
and surroundings, left the town by boat for 
Chicago, which he found upon his arrival to 
be a ••mudhole," in his estimation. Hearing of 
'•Dixon's Ferry," which he thought would be a 
good location, he proceeded thither and find- 
ing the place much to his liking, decided to en- 
gage in business there. Going to St. Louis, lie 
purchased a good stock of groceries and brought 
the same by lioat up the Mississippi to Fulton. 
111., thence overland to his destination where 
he emiiarked in business. A few years later he 
visited Schenectady and there married Ctith- 
erine Clute, after which he proceeded to Bos- 
ton, New York and Philadelphia, and purchased 
a stock of dry goods and other needed supplies, 
which he had shipped by the Erie canal to 
Chicago and thence by wagon to Dixon. He 
conducted a large store in Dixon for about 
tweut.v-five years, and during this time also 
bought and sold live stock, which he marketed 
iu Chicago. 

At the beginning of the Civil war Jlr. McKen- 
ney secured a number of contracts to supply 
the government with cavalry horses, and mules 
and about that time went into the stock busi- 
ness on a larger scale, erecting large horse sales- 
barns, a livery stable and stock yards. He dis- 
posed of this business sometime later aud during 
the last ten years of his life was retired. Never 
active in politics, he had been a Whig in his 
views liut during the Civil war became a Lin- 
coln Itepublican and so continued. His oldest 
child. Elizabeth, was first Mrs. Wilber, but is 
now Mrs. Chas. Huguett, of Dixon, and she was 
the first white child born in the city of Dixon 
proper. Mr. McKenney died iu 1882. and was 
buried iu Dixon, and his widow died ten years 
later (1892) and is buried by the side of her 
husband. Their children were : Elizabeth, who 



HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



841 



was born in 1S3S ; Oscar F. ; CUarU's H., who 
was born in 1852, manager and diroctor of the 
L'nion State Bank, of Dixon ; Susan, who was 
born in 1S49, is now Mrs. Charles G. Smith, of 
Dixon. 

Oscar F. McKenney was educated in the primi- 
tive public schools of Dixon, goin;; to scliool 
for a time in the old courthouse and later in a 
little old stone schoolhouse, before the time of 
graded schools. At the age of fifteen years he 
left school and found employment as checking 
clerk for what is now the Chicago & Northwest- 
ern Railway, of Dixon, and six months later 
was given an office position with the same com- 
pany, continuing four months in this capacity, 
when he took charge of a small station near 
Dixon, remaining there but a short time. He 
then went to work in the general offices of the 
same road in Chicago, and remained there two 
years, after which he went to New York City, 
being one of the first freight agents of the 
road, and spent two years there, having entire 
charge of the eastern territory and visiting 
the larger cities many times in search of freight 
business. Returning to Chicago he silent a 
year as general freight agent, and then ac- 
cepted the position of locating the company's 
lost freight and freight cars, traveling over 
all the roads of the country and looking for 
borrowed cars. He spent some time each month 
during this period taking out the pay car, 
which duty doubled his responsibilities for a 
few days at a time. 

Mr. McKenney left his position with the rail- 
road company to accept one with the Great 
Western Manufacturing Company, of Cincinnati, 
as traveling salesman for all kinds of railway 
supplies, including every part of a car from 
a screw to a wheel, and visited all the division 
headquarters of the different roads in this con- 
nection, continuing this work about one year, 
when he became ill and returned to Dixon to 
rest. About this time a large mercantile 
house in Dixon failed and its affairs were put 
in charge of a Chicago lawyer named Mr. Ives, 
who also became ill, and Mr. McKenney was 
asked to take his place for a time. Though not 
fully recovered himself, he took charge of this 
business, conducting a closing out auction sale, 
and this was such a success that he felt an 
ambition to engage in similar business, and in 
company with Mr. Wickes, a former dry goods 
merchant, who had cried this sale, a company 
15 



was fcirmed for conducting auction sales. Mr. 
McKenney resigned his position with the Cin- 
cinnati house and the firm of McKenney & 
Wickes continued in successful operation two 
years, doing business in a number of cities, then 
Mr. Wickes sold to Mr. Loveland, who remained 
in partnership with Mr. McKenney for thir- 
teen years. 

In 1870 Mr. McKenney came to Mt. Carroll 
to conduct a sale in a building situated where 
the store of Kroft Clothing Company now stands, 
and the following year he held another sale in 
the city, after which he determined to estab- 
lish a business in Mt. Carroll. Mr. McKenney 
had made it a habit to spend most of his sum- 
mers buying goods in the east having them 
shipped to their various stores. Their business 
in Mt. Carroll flourished, their excellent goods 
and moderate prices bringing them customers 
from a wide territory, and their annual re- 
ceipts were something like $150,000. Mr. Mc- 
Kenney's brother, Charles, spent several years 
in their Mt. Carroll store and took the interest 
of Mr. Loveland uiwn the latter's retirement 
from the business. The two brothers branched 
out into various enterprises, having retail stores 
at Lanark, Polo, Oregon, Byron, Savanna. 
Thomson, Chadwick and Leaf River, 111., and 
Stuart, Iowa, all of which were eventually dis- 
posed of, the last one to be sold being the de- 
partment store at Lanark. 

In January, 1906, Mr. McKenney, with .Jolni 
M. Rinewalt, George and Robert Campbell, or- 
ganized the Carroll County Bank, at Mt. Car- 
rol, of which Mr. McKenney was president to 
the time of his death. In company with liis 
former partner, Mr. Loveland, Robert Moore. 
Jr.. and his brother, Mr. McKenney, and other 
representative men organized the Union State 
Bank at Dixon, and he also helped organize 
banks at Leaf River and Chadwick, 111., and 
Beloit, Wis., in all of which he formerly held 
office and was at the time of his death a mem- 
ber of tlic hoards of directors of all these institu- 
tions, lie left investments in banks and in land 
in Hand c-iiunty. S. I)., and in Murray cuiiiily. 
Minn. 

Under the will of Caroline Marks, Mr. McKen- 
ney was appointed trustee with Frederick Smith 
of her enormous estate, and according to the di- 
rections of this document he erected and had 
supervision of the Caroline Marks Home for Old 
Ladies, at Mt. Carroll. His able management 



842 



HISTOKY OF CARROLL COUNTY 



greatly increased the value of this estate ami 
was of great lieuefit to the cause. The history 
of this iustitutioii will he found elsewhere in 
this volume. 

Mr. JIcKenney was married in 1SS7 to Miss 
Anna Lou, daughter of H. G. and Mary M. 
(Gotshall) Fisher, of Mt Carroll, and no chil- 
dren were born of this union. Mr. McKeuney 
was a Repulilicau in polities and in fraternal 
life was a Master Mason. He was also a mem- 
ber of the American Banking Association. He 
was a man of courteous manuer and dignified 
bearing, highly esteemed by all. and had a mul- 
titude of friends. He and his wife occupied .-i 
splendid home on Clay street, Mt. Carroll, 
where they lived the year around, liaving no 
winter or summer residences in other parts of 
the country. He was well known in financial 
circles and helped build up many useful en- 
terprises. The death of this worthy man oc- 
curred July 2(!. 1910. 

McLaughlin, David N., (deceased), for many 
yeai's was one of the solid, reliable, dependable 
citizens of Carroll county, 111., a veteran of the 
great Civil war. and a public official of marked 
efficiency, was born in Franklin county. Pa., 
July 11, 1846. and died at his home in Mt. 
Carroll, August 2. 1890. His parents were 
Jo.seph and Mary (Teeter) McLaughlin, both 
of Franklin county, and they had two other 
children : Louisa C. and .Joseph M. The father 
died in Pennsylvania, after which, iu 1872, 
Joseph M, McLaughlin, came to Illinois and set- 
tled on a farm in Mt, Carroll townshiri, and 
two years later his mother and sister joined him. 

David X. McLaughlin remained in his native 
state and attended the district schools in Frank- 
lin county until he was sixteen years of age, 
when the outbreak of the Civil war changed the 
course of his activities and pi'obably largely 
influenced his whole after life. He enlisted 
as a member of the Seventy-seventh Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteer Infantry, and with his regi- 
ment participated in the hardships of the cam- 
paign that led to the battle of I'ittsburg Land- 
ing and was also engaged at Stone river, in the 
Atlanta campaign and performed a brave man's 
part on the field at Shiloh. After that battle 
be was detailed to serve in the First Kentucky 
Light Artillery, with which he continued for 
the nine months yet remaining of his term of 
enlistment. He reenlisted at Whiteside, Tenn,, 



when he was given a fmlough of thirty days, 
after which he rejoined his regiment and was 
subsequently concerned with the military opera- 
tions at Xa.shville. Tenn., on the Mississippi 
river and later in Texas, where he was stationed 
when the war closed. His regiment was recalled 
to Philadelphia, where he was honorably dis- 
charged and mustered out in the fall of ISO'i. 

After his military service was over, Mr, Mc- 
Laughlin returned to Franklin county, where 
he worked on farms until ls7(i, when he joined 
the other members of the family in Carroll 
county. For the following six mouths he en- 
gaged in teaming, in the meanwhile looking 
around for a desirable farm proi>erty, and finally 
rented land iu Preston Prairie township, on 
which he resided for three and one-half years. 
AVithout doubt lie im|)ressed himself favorably 
on his fellow citizens in his new home, for about 
this time he was appointed overseer and su- 
perintendent of the Carroll county i>oor farm, 
and for thirteen years this large public estate 
was under bis charge. In IS'.)') he moved to 
Chadwick, 111., where, in partnership with J. 
F. Shrader, he was engaged in the livery busi- 
ness for five years, but in the tall of 1898, after 
being elected county treasurer, moved to Mt. 
Carroll, where his death occurred in the fol- 
lowing .year. In his political affiliation he was 
a Republican. His genial manner and friendly 
spirit endeared many people to him personally, 
while his honorable public services won their 
profound respect. He was continuously inter- 
ested in Nase Post, No. SO, G, A, R., of Mt, 
Carroll, and had served as senior ^■ice com- 
mander. 

At Mercersburg, I>a„ on July 11, 1870, Mr. 
McLaughlin was married to Miss Sarah J. 
Cromer, who still survives and is an esteemed 
resident of Mt. Carroll. Her parents. John and 
Maria (Shatzer) Cromer, were also natives of 
Pennsylvania, and of their family of eight chil- 
dren, Mrs, McLaughlin was the seventh born. 
She was born in Franklin county. December is. 
18.51, and she attended the common schools. Her 
mother died April 8, 18(3.3, and in 18(U her 
father was married to Charlotte Deitrick, and 
his death occurred in his native state, Januar.v 
29, 1885. To Mr. and Mrs. McLaughlin three 
children were born : Mary Eda. September 14, 
1871, who was married on November 14, 1894, 
to C. M. Kingery ; Rose Edna, November 21, 
1874, who was married on July 16, 1901, to 




} 



Liy<-*<^'<7 fjl^ C*-^''^J^- 



HISTORY OF CARROLL (OINTY 



843 



John P. Tlolliiiser ; and Leila Malicl, Anftnst 
3. IsTli, wlio clit'd at Mt. Carroll, on .September 
27, i!ior.. 

McNAMER, Eugene, lias tlie satisfaction of 
livin;; on the farm on which he was born, .I\ine 
5, Is.")!, which is situated on section liK, Klk- 
horn Grove township, Carroll county. 111. Ills 
father, Hiram McNanier, was liorn in Davis 
county, Ky., .Tune 2, ISIU, and came as one of 
the earliest settlers in Carroll connty. locatin.^- 
in Klkhoru Grove to\vnshi|i on April 27. iS'iii. 
After reaching here, lliram ilcXamer canijied 
out and slept in his wagon for three weeks until 
he could get a log cabin piil up. lie paid out 
his last silver coins to a maii by the name of 
Shoemaker to induce him to break three acres 
of prairie laud to;' him. It was a lonely sec- 
lion and sometimes when his jieople in D.ivis 
county would send him a letter it was a great 
event and it generally was a hard matter to 
pay the mail man twenty-five cents charge for 
delivery. He prospered although he had to 
haul his grain to Chicago, a distance of 13S 
miles. From that city liis return load would 
be lumber, with other articles so very needful. 
The present residence was erected in Is.'d with 
lumber, part of which Iliram McXamer conveyed 
in the above way. He lived to .see more changes 
and to become one of the leading men of this 
section, and filled offices of trust ami responsibil- 
ity. Ho was highway connnissioner. school di- 
rector and for seventeen .years was school 
trustee. He was married tirst in Kentucky to 
Emeline Ixxket, who died February 2(». 1S-i:i, 
leaving one daughter, Martlia, who is the wife 
of R. J. Heath, residing in Hardin county, Iowa. 
His second marriage was to Maria Stewart and 
the following children were born to them: 
Mary, who died in ]S74. was the wife of Lewis 
Johnson, also deceased; Kugeue : John, who is 
deceased; Willis T.. who is a f.irmer in F.lk- 
horn Grove; Nellie, who is the wife of IMwiu 
O. Kane, of Polo; Frank, wlio is a niinistef oi 
the Methodist Episcopal clunili at I'roiibets- 
towu, Whiteside county. III.; Harry, who died 
at the age of twenty years ; and Jessie, who is 
a wife of William Sweet, who is engaged in the 
livery busine.ss at Sterling. 111. The father of 
the above family died September 4, l.*;!)], and 
the mother, February 1!), ]s!)!t. 'i'hey were ac- 
tive members of the Methodist Episcopal chnic li. 



They were estimable people in every relation of 
life and were honored and esteemed. 

For sixty years Eugene McXamer has lived 
on the old homestead and in the old house which 
are dear to him tlirough many associations. 
He attended the district schools and also a 
scho<jl at Helolt. Wis., after which he returned 
to the old home and as bis brothers had started 
out for themselves he bought 117 acres here 
and has been successful as a farmer and stock 
raiser. When twenty years of age he united 
with the Methodist Episcopal church and for 
forty years has been active in church work and 
a member of the hoard of stewards. I'olitic- 
ally he has always been a Ueimblicin and has 
served as town clerk to the satisfaction of his 
fellow citizens. He is IdeiitiHed with the Order 
of Odd Fellows. To a considerable degree .\Ir. 
McNamer has resigned the heavier duties of his 
farm to those younger but keeps a careful super- 
vision over affairs. 

MELENDY, George N