Full text of "History of Du Page County, Illinois"

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HISTORY

Du Page County,

ILLINOIS.

by :r/uftts BL^nsroT3:A.K,iD.

ILLUSTRATED,

CHICAGO :

O. L. BASKIN & CO... HISTORICAL PUBLISHERS,

Lakeside Building.

PREFACE.

A FTlSljjseveraV^ifoijtti^cJf laborious research and persistent toil, the history of Du Page
• Couoty..ie.cpHH>lete. ancrH is our hope and belief that no subject of general importance or
interest* has •heen* overlooked *oY omitted, and even minor facts, when of sufficient note to be
worthy of record, have been faithfully chronicled. In short, where protetcted investigation
promised results commensurate with the undertaking, matters not only of undoubted record,
but legendary lore, have been brought into requisition. We are well aware of the fact that it is
next to impossible to furnish a perfect history from the meager resources at the command of the
historian under ordinary circumstances, but claim to have prepared a work fully up to the
standard of our engagements. Through the courtesy and assistance generously afforded by the
residents of Du Page, we have been enabled to trace out and put into systematic shape, the
greater portions of the events that have transpired in the count}- up to the present time, and we
feel assured that all thoughtful persons interested in the matter will recognize and appreciate
the importance of the work and its permanent value. A dry statement of facts has been
avoided, so far as it was possible to do so, and anecdote and incident have been interwoven with
plain recital and statistics, thereby forming a narrative at once instructive and entertaining.

To the many friends who have contributed special portions of the matter herein contained,
and to those who have assisted Mr. Blanchard with dates .and other memoranda, our thanks
are due, and we trust that the earnest endeavors that we have exercised to present our patrons
with a work worthy in all respects will, in part, repay them for their kindness.

November, 1882. O. L. BASKIN & CO.

CONTENTS.

PART I.

HISTORICAL. page.

CHAPTER L— Do Page a Spanish Possession— The French Take
Possession of the Northwest— The Country Comes Under
English Rule— George Rogers Clarke— Territorial Subdi-
visions—First Conveyance of Land in Du Page County—
The Pottawatomies— Great American Treaty of 1833—
The Chicagou Portage— The Removal of the Indians—
Their Present Condition— Origin of tho namo Du Page —
Spanish Conquest and Its Aims— Baron de Carondelet—
The Spanish Close the Lower Mississippi — County Organ-
ization and Subdivision— Northern Limits of Illinois —
The French Traders— Act Organizing Du Page County .. 11

CHAPTER II.— The Pioneer— Stephen J Scott— The Scott Set-
tlement — Blodgett Hauley— Bailey Hobson, the First Set-
tler of Du Pago County— Building the First Cabin— Cross-
ing a Slough— Williard Scott — Social Entertainments-
Corn Pancakes— The Napers— First Ground Plowed— The
First School— Joseph Naper— John Naper— The First
Stove— Christopher Paine— The First Saw-Mill— Home-
made Spinning Wheels and Looms— Cold Winter of 1830-
31 — Portuge to Chicago — The Lawtons — The Pottawato-
mies — Flight to Fort Dearborn — Horrible Massacre at
Indian Creek— Exploits of Col. Beaubien 25

CHAPTER III.— Capt. Paine arrives at the Naper Settlement
— Fort Paine Built — James Brown Shot by the Indians —
Expedition to Half Day's Village — Maj. William Whistler
Arrives at Fort Dearborn — Capt. Paine's Company Return
to Danville — Gen. Scott arrives at Chicago — The Cholera
— Gen. Scott Encamps on the Desplaines— Gen. Scott at
Fort Paine — Gen. Scott's Army at Rock Island — John K.
Clark — Black Hawk Sent to Fortress Monroe — His Death
— Poll-Lists — The Pre-emption House— Claimants — The
Prairie Schooner — The First Grist-Mill — Fowler's Grap-
ple with the Wolf — The Pioneer of Pioneers — Early
Preachers 42

CHAPTER IV.— Public Land Surveys— The Land Claim Sys-
tem — Necessity for the Higher Law — The Big Woods
Claim Protecting Society — The Land Pirate Company —
Land Speculators— Indian Burying Grounds — The Fox
River Country — Method of Grinding Corn — Indian Vil-
lages — Indian Agriculture — Indian Modes of Travel —
The Country North, East and South of the Du Page Set-
tlements— The Du Page County Society for Mutual Pro-
tection — The Hognatorial Council 55

CHAPTER V.— First Introduction of Slavery into the Colony
of Virginia — First Anti-Slavery Literature — Southern
Origin of Anti-Slavery Societies — Action of the Quakers
— " The Genius of Universal Emancipation " — Early Abo-
litionists — The Old Federal Party — Origin of the Demo-
cratic and Whig Parties — Origin of the Republican Party
— Gov. Coles — Elihu B. Washburne — Stephen A. Douglas
— Abraham Lincoln — The Western Citizen Introduces
Abolitionism into Chicago — Its Effect— Illinois the First
State to Take Political Action in the Abolition Movement
— John Brown — Fort Sumter 68

CHAPTER VI.— Record of Du Page County in the War of the

Rebellion 90

CHAPTER VII.— The First Election— County Commissioners'
Court — The County Line Surveyed — The County Divided
into Precincts — Townships Organized — List of County
and Town Officers — Valuation of Taxable Property — The
First Grand Jury— Public Schools— The Old Stage Coach
— Railroads — Removal of the County Seat — The County
Fair — Geology of the County 138

CHAPTER VIII. — Milton Township — Its First Settlers —
Wheaton— How It Received Its Name — The Galena &
Chicago Union Railroad — Churches of Wheaton — Pio-
neer SchooJ — Stacy's Corners — Babcock Grove — Prospect
Park— Its Churches 163

CHAPTER IX— Downer's Grove Township— The Old Indian
Boundary — Cass' — Pierce Downer — Thomas And i us —
Chicago Reminiscences — The Village of Hinsdale — Brush
Hill Memories — Clarendon Hills — Fredericksburg —
Downer's Grove Village — An Ox Team Hitched to an
Oak Log — What Grew Out of It — The Underground Rail-
road 194

CHAPTER X.— Naperville Township— List of Early Settlers-
Village of Naperville — Churches — Schools — Manufacto-
ries — The Northwestern College — Temperance Move-
ments — Newspapers — Fire Department — Military Com-
pany — Nurseries — The Lodges — Bank — Stone Quarry 212

CHAPTER XL— Lisle Township— The First Settler— His Hardi-
hood — Thanksgiving — A Female Pow-wow — The Old Grist
Mill — The Chronic Pioneer — His Generosity 240

6 K C A n o

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XII— York Township— Origin of Its Name— It*
Early Settlers— The Desplaines Bridged — Sunday Service
on Slab Seats— The Pioneer School Mistress— The Widow-
er's Cabin— Praying Matches — Suicide — Bursting Forth
of a Spring — Elmhurst — German Evangelical Seminary —
Lombard 246

CHAPTER XIII.— Wlnfleld Township— Warrenville — Water
Creeses — Their Consequences — Newcomers and Distant
Neighbors— Parties and Raisings— Railsplitting— Fourth
of July— The Schoolgirl's Handkerchief- The Old Saw-
Mill— The Hotel and Dancing Hall— What was in a Trunk
of Old Papers — Churches — The Warrenville Academy —
Gary's Mills— Methodist Church at the Place — A Shylock
Member Excommunicated— Winfield— Turner Junction
—John B.Turner 255

CHAPTER XIV.— Wayne Township— Pioneer Life of Its Set-
tlers — Corner on Whisky and Its Result— Indian Burial
— Indian Importunity — Wolves on the Rampage — Going
to Mill— Father Kimball— Pioneer School — Gimletville—
Its Hopes Dashed to the Ground — Hillocks, Spas and
Rivulets — Wayne Station — Relics of the 8tone Age 268

CHAPTER XV.— Bloomingdale Township — Indian Burying-
Grounds — The Meachams — Pioneer Burials — Early Road
Districts — Scene in a Sunday Service — Tragical Termi-
nation of a Law Suit — School Districts — Petrifactions —
Bloomingdale Village — Churches — Business Men of
Bloomingdale — Roselle — Its Business Men — Meacham —
Strange Phenomenon on Kelley's Farm 274

CHAPTER XVI —Addison TownBhip— The Mountain Daisy-
Indian Encampment — The Army Trail — The Soldier's
Grave — The Log Cabin — Home Talent — The German
Vanguard — The Pioneer Tavern — The Old Galena Trade
—Salt Creek— Francis Hoffman, a Lay Preacher— The
Village of Addison — The German Evangelical Teachers'
Seminary — The Orphan Asylum — Professional and Busi-
ness Men of Addison — Itasca — Its Business Men — Lester's
— Benson ville— Schools 284

PART II.

BIOGRAPHICAL. page.

Naperville Township 3

Milton Township 46

Downer's Grove Township 77

Lisle Township 130

York Township 153

Wlnfleld Township 172

Wayne Township 195

Bloomingdale Township 214

Addison Towuship 227

PORTRAITS.

Albro, Ira 17

Bates, Gerry 89

Bates, Frederick H 117

Benjamin, R. Y 279

Blancliard, Walter 99

Carr, John '. 107

Curtiss, Samuel 35

Fischer, Henry D 13ft

Graue, Frederick 243

Graue, Deidrick 261

Greene, Daniel M '. 53

Middaugh, H. C 125

Patrick, W. K 153

Robbins, W 81

Scott, Willard 225

Smith, John 143

Strucknmnn, Deidrich 63

Thatcher, A. T 45

Walker, Jamos B 27

Warne, John 189

Warne, Sarah 207

Wheaton, J. C, 8r 171

Wiant, Joel 71

PAET I.

History of Du Page County,

CHAPTER I.

DU PAGE A SPANISH POSSESSION— THE FRENCH TAKE POSSESSION OF THE NORTH WES?— THE
COUNTRY COMES UNDER ENGLISH RULE — GEORGE ROGERS CLARK— TERRITORIAL SUBDI-
VISIONS—FIRST CONVEYANCE OF LAND IN DU PAGE COUNTY— THE POTTAW ATOMIES
—GREAT AMERICAN TREATY OF 1833— THE CHICAGOU PORTAGE— THE REMOVAL
OF THE INDIANS— THEIR PRESENT CONDITION— ORIGIN OF THE NAME
DU PAGE— SPANISH CONQUEST AND ITS AIMS— BARON DE CARON-
DELET — THE SPANISH CLOSE THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI —
COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND SUBDIVISION— NORTHERN
LIMITS OF ILLINOIS— THE FRENCH TRADERS— ACT
ORGANIZING DU PAGE COUNTY.

THE history of the world has a grandeur,
like a distant landscape — too far away for
the eye to take in its infinite detail — such as
the delicate tracery of plant life or the stub-
born structures of rock formations which make
it up.

But the history of our age, and especially
our own locality, comes home to us personally.
Commonplace as it may seem to us now, in
the distant future, it will help to make up a
whole; deepening in interest as time chops off
the centuries, one after another. All great
men must have a constituency, but little if
any inferior to themselves in intellect, and it
is the actions and deeds of the citizen which
speak through some representative whose
talent for becoming their advocate has given
him a famejustly to be shared by his cotem-

poraries, and of these, county history is to
speak. They constitute the delicate tracery
and details of the historic landscape destined
some day to be as grand as it is distant.

We propose to give a history of Du Page
County from the earliest records pertaining to
it, to the present time.

Not long ago, comparatively, as to the world's
chronology, but primitively as to our history,
this county was lost for want of a suit of
clothes, nor was it but a small part of the loss
for such default. The circumstances are these:
When Columbus was casting about from king
to king in Europe to obtain patronage where-
with to pursue his plans of discovery, he had
dispatched his brother Bartholomew to the
court of Henry Vllth of England to beg his
royal favor and material aid. On his way

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

thither, he was taken by pirates, and during
his captivity was robbed of all his valuables,
including his pretty suit of clothes with which
he was to be attired when he made his humble
petition to the king, and after Anally reaching
England he was obliged by the labor of his hands
to earn another suit in which to appear before
him ere his mission could be executed. At
last this was done, and he gained the king's
ear, who listened to his proposals with favor,
but alas for courtly etiquette ! — while Bar-
tholomew was at work earning money to pay
his tailor's bill, Queen Isabella, of Spain, had
fitted out Columbus, and Henry's hopes were
dashed, to'.tae';ground. Not the last time that
the impulses of a woman have circumvented the
toattfjre'bul t^frdy .plans and ambitions of man.
' ' i5u Page County is but an infinitesimal part
of the New World which Columbus promised
to give to the king who should fit him out and
which, as far as such a title could go, fell into
the hands of Spain by right of priority of dis-
covery, a precarious title as the sequel proved,
but nevertheless an honor which England will
regret the loss of, till Macauley's New Zealander
shall sketch the ruins of St. Paul.

Beginning with this pretentious right of
Spain to the soil of Du Page County, let us
trace the National claims to it, till private
claims began to be granted to actual settlers.
The Spanish claim vanished out of existence
as other nations began to take possession of
parts of the New World, for occupation based
on priority of discovery soon began to trans-
cend any decree not sustained by the sword.

The French found their way up the St. Law-
rence River as early as 1534, settled Quebec
in 1608, and under Father Alouez took nation-
al possession of the Great Northwest on the
14th of June, 1671, at the falls of Ste. Marie
(the outlet of Lake Superior). Courcelles
was then Governor of Canada, and the entire
country along the lakes through the latter was
an unknown quantity. Frontenac was Gov-

ernor from 1672 to 1682, during whose admin-
istration Marquette and Joliet discovered the
Mississippi River in 1673, and on their return
trip, passed up the Desplaines River, which
washes the soil of Du Page County. These
with their five attendants were the first white
men who ever beheld its soil. They might
have encamped on it, but this is only specula-
tion. La Barre became Governor of the coun-
try from 1682 to 1685, during whose term of
office La Salle, Tonty and numerous mission-
aries and fur traders passed along the Des-
plaines River to and from the " Chicagou "
portage, which route of travel is older than
history.

Denonville was Governor from 1685 to 1689.
Frontenac a second term from 1689 to 1699.
De Calliers from 1699 to 1703. Vandreville
from 1703 to 1726. Beauharnois from 1726
to 1747, Galissoniere from 1747 to 1749.
Jonquiere from 1747 to 1752. Sonquill for
1752.

Du Quesne from 1753 to 1755, during whose
term of office the French built forts where Erie
and Pittsburgh, Penn., now stands, the latter
being named after him. The Marquis
de Vandreville de Cavagnal was the last
French Governor; his authority ceased when
the English conquered the country under Gen.
Amherst ; the chief victory by which the con-
quest being made was Wolf's on the heights of
Abraham in 1759. Though Canada now was
under English rule with Sir Jeffrey Amherst
as Governor, yet the French posts of the Illi-
nois country were not taken possession of by
the English till 1765, when Capt. Stirling, with
a force of one hundred men, established him-
self at Fort Chartres, at which time the English
flag first waved over the soil of the Prairie
State.

Gen. James Miller succeeded Amherst as
Governor the same year, 1765, who, in turn,
was suceeded by Paulus Emelius Irving in
1766. The latter was succeeded by Sir Guy

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Carleton, who was Governor till 1770. Hector
T. Crumahe was Governor till 1774, and Sir
Guy Carleton again till 1778, during whose
term of office the American Declaration of In-
dependence in 1776 raised a new and then
strange issue in the minds of men. During
all these past years of French and English
occupation, the native inhabitants of Du Page
County, as well as their white companions, the
fur traders, took interest in all that was pass-
ing in the political world, and when the Amer-
ican fires of the Revolution were kindled along
the Atlantic coast, the issue was explained to
the Indians of the entire Northwest as the En-
glish viewed it, which, of course, won their
sympathies. The Americans were represented
to the Indians as being cruel and savage to the
last degree, and the quiet French of the Illinois
country, together with their loving red com-
panions, believed the story, yet a combination
of events in 1778 dispelled this illusion and
changed the destiny of the Northwest. This
was George Rogers Clark's conquest of the Illi-
nois country, which was the first raising of the
American flag on her soil. B}' virtue of this
conquest, the country was transferred from
English to American rule, and by the peace of
Paris in 1783, the entire Northwest, as far as
the Mississippi River, became a part of the
United States.

Until the year 1784, it was within the juris-
diction of the Old Virginia Colon}^, at which
time it passed into that of the United States,
and three years later, in 1787, St. Clair was ap-
pointed to govern the entire Northwest, of
which Du Page County formed a part.

In 1800, the Territory of Indiana was set off,
which included the present States of Indiana,
Illinois, Wisconsin and the Peninsular portion
of Michigan, and William Henry Harrison was
appointed Governor, with Vincennes on the Wa-
bash as the seat of government. In 1809, the
Territory of Illinois was set off and Ninian
Edwards was appointed Governor, who held

this position till Illinois became a State, and
Shadrack Bond was its first Governor. Edward
Coles was, in 1822, elected the next Governor,
after a struggle between the advocates of slav-
ery and those of freedom, perhaps never before
equaled in a State election in sanguine bitter-
ness, for particulars of which see E. B. Wash-
burne's Life of Edward Coles.

During all these years, the original owners of
the soil (the Indians) were resting in a happy
but treacherous security that they should ever
retain it. No white people had settled on it or
manifested any disposition to do so, and
although six miles square had been ceded to
the United States by the Pottawatomies and
other tribes at the treaty of Greenville in 1795>
yet up to this time no use had been made of it
except to build a fort and establish a trading-
post there. The first special conveyance of
lands within the limits of Du Page County from
the Indians to the United States was made Au-
gust 24, 1816. The Pottawatomies (who then
held the whole of Du Page County) uniting with
the Ottawas and Chippewas in making a grant
to Ninian Edwards, William Clark and Auguste
Chouteau acting in behalf of the United States.
The cession included the southeast corner of
Lisle Township, all of Downer's Grove except
the northwest corner and the southeast corner
of York.

The whole cession was a strip of land which
the Government bought for the purpose of con-
structing a military road on it from Chicago to
Ottawa to facilitate the building of the Illinois
and Michigan Canal, a scheme to which pub-
lic attention had early been called. Sa} r s Mr.
Edwards : " Having been one of the Commis-
sioners who treated for this land, I personally
know that the Indians were induced to believe
that the opening of the canal would be very ad-
vantageous to them, and under authorized ex-
pectations that this would be done, they ceded
the land for a trifle." (See Edwards' History
of Illinois, page 99.)

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

The Pottawatomies, or Peuteowatamis as
they were sometimes called, were found by the
French adventurers along the shores of Lake
Michigan when the country was first discovered
b}' them. The position they held was a com-
manding one as to locality, as it is known that
their hunting-grounds extended at one time all
around the Southern extremity of Lake Michi-
gan, though shared at various times with the
Ottawas, the Cherokees and the Miamis.

When Alouez was exploring the shores and
islands of Lake Superior, even before the inte-
rior of the country had been entered except by
Nicolet, he met a delegation of 300 Pottawato-
mies at Chagouamigon (an island in Lake Su-
perior) as early as 1668. Among them was an
old man of 100 winters. Says the relation :
He appears to have been a great " medicine
man " among his tribe, and was regarded by
them as a wonderful prophet. He could fast
for twenty days, and often saw the Great Spirit.
This venerable seer died while on the island on
his visit to Alouez here.

Father Marquette makes frequent mention of
the Pottawatomies in his journal, which he
kept, in the winter of 1674-75, at " Chicagou,''
and to them and the Illinois tribes was he in-
debted for many acts of kindness extended to
him during his detention at Chicago on account
of sickness.

This tribe continued to be the transcend-
ent Indian power along the Southern shores
of Lake Michigan from its first discovery till
the final removal of all the Indians from the
country by Col. Russell in 1836. They took
sides with the British in the war of 1812, and
struck heavy blows against the Americans in
that war, of which the massacre at Fort Dear-
born and other casualties in the early -part of
that war bear testimony.

They had joined with other tribes in ceding
six miles square at the mouth of Chicago River
to the Americans at the treaty of Greenville in
1795, as already told, and when the progress

and development of the country demanded fur-
ther cessions of territory, it was to them chiefly
that the Government looked as the highest au-
thority to apply to for the purchase of needed
lands.

As late as 1833, they had only sold to the
United States Government the small part of
their Illinois hunting-grounds contained within
the limits of the treaty of 1816, and up to this
time they owned, perhaps, in common with the
Ottawas and Cherokees, all that part of North-
ern Illinois which lies east of Rock River and
northwest of the strip of land ceded by the
three tribes in 1816. Settlers were coming in-
to the country and staking out their claims,
knowing full well that the Government would
soon extinguish the Indian title.

Under this pressure, the United States Gov-
ernment summoned the Pottawatomies, Ottawa
and Chippewa, tribes to a great council to be
held at Chicago in September, 1833. This was
the greatest event the little then mushroom
town had ever seen. Besides the interest the
Indians felt in the treaty, there were scores of
white men gathered around the spot to put in
various speculative claims as to property al-
leged to have been stolen by the Indians, or to
bring in enormous charges for services ren-
dered to the Government b} r virtue of contracts
of an indefinite character.

The Government had made immense prepa-
rations to feed the Indians, of whom three tribes
were on the ground with their squaws and pa-
pooses stretched on boards or slung in pocket-
shaped blankets.

After several days of palaver in which the
whims of the Indians were artfully humored,
and the bright side of their natures had been
brought to the front by those arts which had the
result of years of practice, the Indians finally
affixed their sign to the treaty, by which they
sold the entire northeastern portion of Illinois (an
area embracing more than ten of its present
counties, among which Du Page was one) to

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

the Government. G. B. Porter, Thomas J. V.
Owen and William Weatherford, in behalf of
the Government, negotiated the treaty. It
bears date of Chicago, September 26, 1833. It
was the last treaty of importance ever held
with the Indians in the Northwest, and was the
instrument by which the Indian title to the
country became extinguished after its joint oc-
cupation by the red and white races (the latter
including the French) ever since 1673, more
than a century and a half.

At no other place in • America had the In-
dians lingered so long after the advent of the
whites, and it is not strange that a great variety
of associations had sprung up between the
triple alliances of native, French and English
races, as they had mingled together at the
" Chicagou " portage. Here was the great cany-
ing-place between the immense prairie country
to the southwest, and the lakes and along the
shores of Lake Michigan, from " Chicagou " to
the straits. Indian canoes were frequently
passing to and fro during the summer season,
and Mud Lake and the Desplaines River was
in this direct line of travel. The first interest
that drove the American element to Chicago
was the Indian trade, and the American Fur
Company was its first representative. Most of
those engaged by this company were men bred
on the frontier, and felt no repugnance toward
the Indians, but on the contrary not a few felt
a friendship for them, strengthened by 3'ears of
companionship in the fascinating sports of
border life, which not only level social distinc-
tions, but accept a good fellowship through a
rough exterior, intolerable to the uninitiated
civilian, whose motto is " the tailor makes the
man." Many of the Indians could make nice
discriminations in issues when natural rights
were at stake, and the higher law to them was
a tribunal from which there was no appeal.
This is not too much to say of them till they
were brutalized by bad whisky, and their morals
corrupted by the vices without being elevated

by the virtues of the whites. The former they
could imitate, but the latter were sealed books
to them. The amount of goods dispensed to
them at Chicago to fulfill treaty stipulations,
was often very large, and in order to distribute
them equitably, men were chosen for the
service whose personal acquaintance with the
Indians would enable them to do it in the most
satisfactory manner. On these occasions the
hugh piles of goods, consisting largely of In-
dian blankets were dispensed by peace-meal
to the different Indian families, according to
their necessities, but sometimes a discarded
Indian lassie, whose place had been substituted
b}' a white wife, came in for an extra share of
finery as an offset for lacerated affections — a
cheap way of satisfying such claims. Nowa-
days it costs as many thousand dollars as it
did then yards of cheap broadcloth.

The removal of the Pottawatomies from the
country was effected in 1835-36, as before
stated by Col. J. B. F. Russell.

Previous to the death of his widow, which
took place in the present year 1882, she al-
lowed the writer to take items from her hus-
band's journal, and the following is one of the
items :

" The first party of Indians left Chicago Sep-
tember 21, 1835, with the Chiefs Robinson,
Caldwell and La Fromborse, and proceeded to
their place of rendezvous twelve miles from
Chicago, on the Desplaines — a place of meeting
usual on such occasions. I met them in coun-
cil and presented to them the object of the
meeting, and the views of the Government re-
lative to their speedy removal to their new
country. They wished to defer answering what
I had said to them for two days, to which I
consented. Sunday, 28th, provided teams and
transportation for the removal of the Indians."

The journal next proceeds to detail the par-
ticulars of his thankless toil in satisfying the
real and whimsical wants of his captious charge,
who honored him with the appellation of father,

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

and vexed him with complaints continually.
Their course lay westward through Du Page
County, and their first stopping place was on
Skunk River, in Iowa. Patogushah started
with his band to winter at this place. His was
the first party to start independent of Govern-
ment assistance. Robinson had command of a
separate party, Caldwell another, Wabunsie
another, and Holliday another, and Robert Kin-
zie and Mr. Kirchival assisted Mr. Russell in
superintending the whole. Fort Des Moines lay
on their route to Fort Leavenworth, near which
was their reservation on the Missouri River.
They were to draw their supplies from the fort
as stipulated by the Government at the treaty,
after they had settled themselves in their new
home adjacent to it.

Two years after their settlement, owing to
feelings of hostility which the frontier settlers
felt toward them, they were removed to Council
Bluffs, from whence, after remaining a few
years, they were again removed to the Kansas
Territory, where they now live, diminished in
numbers from 5,000 at the time they left Illi-
nois to less than half that number, but the}' are
now in a prosperous condition. The report
from the office of Indian affairs in Kansas Sep-
tember 1, 1878, saj's : "The Pottawatomies
are advancing in education, morality, Christian-
ity and self-support. A majority of them have
erected substantial homes, planted fruit trees,
and otherwise beautified their surroundings.
The average attendance at a school which the
Government has provided for them is twenty-
nine, from an enrollment of forty-four. The
school buildings are well supplied with facili-
ties for boarding and lodging the pupils, and
also for teaching the females household duties.

This reservation contains 77,357 acres of land
in Jackson County. Their wealth in individual
property amounts to $241,650. On their farms
they have reapers, mowers, planters, cultiva-
tors, and other agricultural machine^, all of the
latest approved patterns. Such is the history,

and present condition of the people we drove
from the soil of Du Page County, or rather our
civilization obliged them to sell out to us, in-
asmuch as we were mutually unendurable to
each other. The bones of their fathers are
now a component part of the dust beneath our
feet, with no stone to perpetuate their memory,
except those of Alexander Robinson and Sha-
bonee, both of whom were esteemed by all who
knew them for their many manly and benevo-
lent traits of character, and whose lofty virtues
deserve historic acknowledgment. A tomb-
stone marks the grave of each, which is still
beheld with respect by many who well remem-
ber them. As already stated, ere the Indians
had left the country, their grounds had begun
to be claimed by the pioneer settlers, and his
plowshare had already scarred the soil never
before turned up to the mellowing influence of
the sun.

The Du Page River had, from time imme-
morial, been a stream well known. It took its
name from a French trader who settled on this
stream below the fork previous to 1800. Hon.
H. W. Blodgett, of Waukegan, informs the
writer that J. B. Beaubien had often spoken to
him of the old Frenchman, Du Page, whose sta-
tion was on the bank of the river, down toward
its mouth, and stated that the river took its
name from him. The county name must have
the same origin. Col. Gurdon S. Hubbard, who
came into the country in 1818, informs the
writer that the name Du Page, as applied to the
river then, was universally known, but the
trader for whom it was named lived there before
his time. Mr. Beaubien says it is pronounced
Du Pazhe (a having the sound of ah, and that
the P should be a capital). This was in reply
to Mr. Blodgett's inquiry of him concerning the
matter.

The county organization of the great North-
west grew into, or, rather, was, reduced into its
present conditions by successively subdividing
the immense areas over which its first courts

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

held jurisdiction after Territories and States
had been established.

After the conquest of the Illinois country by-
Gen. George Rogers Clark, in 1778, according to
the old Virginia claim, the whole Northwest was a
part of her territory. This claim rested on her
original charter from King James (which, ac-
cording to the view taken of it by Thomas
Paine, was absurd). But, without discussing
its merits, let us record the commendable part
this State took to preserve the fruits of Clark's
conquest.

In the spring succeeding it (1779), Col. John
Todd, under a commission from Patrick Henry,
then Governor of Virginia, came to Vincennes,
on the Wabash and Kaskaskia, 111. (over both of
which places the American flag waved), for the
purpose of establishing a temporary govern-
ment, according to the provisions of the act of
the General Assembly of Virginia, bearing date
of October, 1778. On the 15th of June, 1779,
he issued {he following proclamation :

Illinois County, To Wit:

Whereas, from the fertility and beautiful situation
of the lands bordering on the Mississippi, Ohio, Illi-
nois and Wabash Rivers, the taking up of the usual
quantity of land heretofore allowed for a settlement
by the Government of this country:

I do therefore issue this proclamation, strictly en-
joining all persons whatsoever from making any new
settlements upon the flat lands of the said rivers or
within one league of said lands, unless in manner
and form of settlements as heretofore made by the
French inhabitants, until further orders herein
given. And in order that all the claims to lands in
said county may be fully known, and some method
provided for perpetuating by record the just claims,
every inhabitant is required, as soon as conven-
iently may be, to lay before the person, in each
district appointed for that purpose, a memorandum
of his or her land, with copies of all their vouchers;
and when vouchers have never been given or are
lost, such depositions or certificates as will tend to
support their claims — the memorandum to mention
the quantity of land, to whom originally granted,
and when; deducing the title through the various
occupants to the present possessor. The number of
adventurers who will shortly overrun this country

renders the above method necessary, as well to as-
certain the vacant lands as to guard against tres-
passes, which will probably be committed on lands
not on record.

Given under my hand and seal at Kaskaskia the
15th day of June, in the third year of the Common-
wealth, 1779. John Todd, Jr.

The foregoing is the first official act of
the Americans to organize civil government
over the Northwest. The Virginia cession of
1784, rendered it a nullity, and the entire coun-
try with its 2,000 French^inhabitants, and its
10,000 Indian population was virtually under
no national jurisdiction during a period of
several years.

Even when St. Clair was appointed Gov-
ernor in 1787, the English still held possession
of Detroit, Michilimadnac, St. Joseph on Lake
Michigan, Prairie du Chien and Sandusky,
and contrary to treaty stipulations, retained
these posts till July, 1796. This retention did
not bring on any conflict of authority between
St. Clair and Lord Dorchester, who then, as
Governor of Canada, extended his rule over all
the towns on the upper lakes, and Oswego on
Lake Ontario. The reason for this was because
Washington gave instructions to St. Clair to do
nothing which might offend the English, but
wait until amicable negotiations should secure
our rights. The attitude of Spain was then a
constant menace and threat against the North-
west. This power held the mouth of the Mis-
sissippi River, and all the Territory on its west
side indefinitely — perhaps to the Pacific coast,
(if she could circumvent the English in her
claims to what she ultimately held there). Early
in 1779, war was declared between these two
powers ; and the Spanish of St. Louis, in their
zeal to strike a blow at the English, formed an
expedition against the British post at St. Joseph,
under command of Capt. Don Eugenio Pierre.
It started January 2, 1781, with a force of
sixty-five men, surprised and took the place,
and by virtue of this conquest made an attempt
(absurd as it was fruitless) to annex the terri-

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

tory intervening to Spain, which would be all
Northern Illinois. Balked in this attempt at
the treaty of Paris, which established the Mis-
sissippi as our Western boundary, Spain sub-
sequently closed the port of New Orleans
against the commerce of the Northwest, and
contrary to treaty stipulations of 1795, retained
possession of Natchez and one other port on
the east bank of the Mississippi, at the same
time forbidding the navigation of the river to
the western people, except on condition that
they would secede from the Atlantic States
and make themselves an independent nation
under protection of the Spanish Government.
These were the conditions on which they might
secure the Mississippi as a thoroughfare to the
seas.

Gen. James Wilkinson, after the death of
Gen. Wayne, succeeded to the command of the
United States forces in the West, and to him
the Baron de Carondelet, the Spanish Govern-
orof Louisiana, sent a messenger named Thomas
Powers, with a request that he would send no
force against the posts on the east bank of the
Mississippi, held by Spain, but would wait for
the delivery of the posts till the matter could
be negotiated amicably. Powers, at the same
time, tried to bribe the people of the Northwest
to declare themselves independent, and offered
them $100,000 and the free navigation of the
Mississippi if they would do so — a paltry sum
whereby to corrupt a State, even if the State
were capable of the treachery, and its record
serves rather to reveal the low Spanish esti-
mate of patriotism than any honor of which an
American need be proud, for having rejected
the bribe. Orders were issued for the arrest of
Powers, as soon as the nature of his mission
became known to Washington, but he evaded
pursuit and found his way back to his master,
the feeble old dotard, who was Spanish Gov-
ernor of New Orleans at the time.

Great as his folly was in attempting to divide
the union of the States, the matter was a cause

of much solicitude and anxiety in the minds of
our statesmen at the time, and it required their
utmost exertions to prevent armed expeditions
from the Northwest from going down the
river and forcing a passage to the gulf. John
Ja} r , one of our ablest men, counseled mod-
eration, under an assurance that by waiting
a short time, the force of events would secure
our rights without war. These rights on
the Lower Mississippi were not secured fully
till 1798, during the summer of which year
the Spaniards reluctantly gave up their
forts on the east bank of the Mississippi,
and Gen. Wilkinson erected Fort Adams on the
spot occupied by one of them, which was just
above the thirty-first degree of north latitude.
From that time henceforward, the navigation
of the Mississippi was never closed against the
commerce of the Northwest, till by the rebels
in 1861, who kept it closed three years, when
by the courage of not a few Du Page County
soldiers, with others, it was opened.

It has already been stated that the whole
Illinois country had been officially organized
as Illinois County by action of the Governor of
Virginia in 1779, which became annulled in
1784 when that State ceded the Northwest to
the United States.

Then there followed a hiatus in organized
government here till St. Clair, who was ap-
pointed Governor in 1787, had established
courts in the Northwest the next year, in 1788.
These courts did not extend their jurisdiction
to the Illinois country till 1790, at which time
Illinois Territory became organized as one of
the four counties in the Northwest, and was
named St. Clair County, and was represented
in the Territorial Legislature held at Fort
Washington (Cincinnati), by Shadrack Bond.

On May 7, 1800. when the Territory of In-
diana was set off, which embraced both of the
present States of Illinois and Indiana, the same
general laws which had hitherto prevailed in
the Northwest were continued in operation in

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Indiana Territory, and no civil subdivisions into
new counties were made, till the 28th of April,
1809, at which time Illinois Territory was set
off and divided into two counties — Randolph
and St. Clair — by Nathaniel Pope, Secretary
under Ninian Edwards, its Governor.

St. Clair County embraced its Northern por-
tion, including the present county of Du Page,
which then had only transient white inhabitants
in the employ of French fur traders.

The next change in counties made was Sep-
tember 14, 1812, when Governor Edwards es-
tablished the county of Madison, which em-
braced the whole portion of the territory north
of a line extending along the south side of the
present county of Madison due eastwardly to
the Wabash River, which included the present
county of Du Page.

No further civil divisions were made while
Illinois remained a territory, but an issue came
up, on bringing it into the Union, of vital im-
portance not only to the locality of Du Page
and its adjacent counties, but to the nation
itself.

The terms by which the Northwest was
ceded by Virginia to the United States pro-
vided for the number of States into which it
might be subdivided, which was to be five at
most, and the ordinance also provided that in
the event of five States being made of the ter-
ritory, two should be constituted out of the
territory north of a due east and west line
drawn through the territory, intersecting the
southern extremity of Lake Michigan.

This being the law, the people of Illinois
had no expectation that the northern boundary
of the State could go farther north than this
point when it should apply for admission into
the Union. Wisconsin Territory had already
been set off in 1805, with its southern limits
on a line due west from the southern limits of
the lake, in accordance with what nobody had
yet questioned as the construction of the law.

Thus matters stood when it was proposed to

bring Illinois Territory into the Union, in
1818. Judge Nathaniel Pope then analyzed
the whole situation, and, by the force of his
logic, explained away the legal objections to
the extension of the State of Illinois to a
point farther north than the act of cession
from Virginia had provided as just told.

First let us state his arguments for the
change, and these were the substance of them :
Lake Michigan, connected by water communi-
cation with the Eastern States, and indissolu-
bly bound the interests of the country
adjacent to it to them. The Mississipppi
River and its tributaries exerted the same in-
fluence in a southern direction with the South.
Give Illinois a good frontage on Lake Michi-
gan, with the port of Chicago the terminus of
the canal to be built, and a mighty State would
be formed, holding the destinies of both sec-
tions within its grasp — the middle link in the
chain, and the strongest one. Here was an
object worth working for, and he laid the case
before Congress to bring it about. He con-
tended that Illinois could claim the whole of
Wisconsin if Congress chose to give her such
dimensions, inasmuch as the ordinance left it
optional with the United States to divide the
territory into only three States, in which case
Indiana must reach from the Ohio River to the
British possessions, and Illinois from Cairo to
the British possessions. But that Wisconsin
was powerless to establish a boundary which
should conflict with the powers of the United
States, who had power to embrace her whole
area within the limits of Illinois. He carried
his measure through both Houses, and the
northern line of Illinois was established on the
parallel of 42° 30', where it now is. If he
had failed in this, Du Page County would now
have been a part of Wisconsin, and perhaps
Illinois would not have had so strong a Union
element when the issue came up in 1861
whether the United States was to be divided or
rent in two.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

The following are Judge Pope's words on
the subject, which, as we look back upon the
events which have since taken place, seem to
have been prophetic : " A very large com-
merce of the Center and South would be found
both upon the lakes and upon the rivers. As-
sociations in business, in interest and of friend-
ship would be formed, both with the North and
the South. A State thus situated, having such
a decided interest in the commerce and in the
preservation of the whole confederacy, can
never consent to disunion ; for the Union
cannot be dissolved without a division and
disruption of the State itself."

Du Page County is a part of this strip of
land, the title of which was held in dispute be-
tween the States of Illinois and Wisconsin, and
on the decision of the issue which decided the
question of ownership to it, being a momentous
one ; for it must not be forgotten that when the
" tug of war " came in the Legislature of the
State as to vital questions on sustaining the
Union, the loyalists had nothing to spare in or-
der to turn the scale, and then it was that the
influence of the part of the State which laid be-
tween its northern line and a line drawn due
west from the southern limits of Lake Michigan,
suddenly arose into prominence, and verified
the arguments that Judge Pope made in 1818
in favor of the line of 42° 30', as the northern
line of the State ; and here it should not be
omitted, that the influence of our Mr. Lincoln
himself, potent as it was, in the immaculate
foot-prints which he had left behind in the State,
before he left it for the White House, though it
had an equal share with the northern tier of
counties in preserving the unconditional loyalty
of the State, was barely sufficient. These remin-
iscences are no dream ; they are founded on
reality, and must ever stand as a memento that
our county, together with adjacent ones, was in
that crisis the local hinge on which the issue
turned, and to record this in history is but an
act of justice.

Crawford County was among the first organ-
ized on the admission of the State into the
Union, and included all the territor}- north of
its present locality. It was soon reduced in its
area by the organization of Clark County, whose
dimensions extended from its present boundary
over the entire northern part of the State like
its predecessor, which had in turn been laid out
on a grand scale, and reduced in proportion as
the progress of settlements had made it neces-
sary to subdivide the great northern wilderness
into new counties.

The next change in counties affecting the
northern part of the State was Januarj' 31,
1821, under Gov. Bond, at which time Pike
County was organized, which took in all the ter-
ritory in the State north of the southern line of
the present Pike County, the Illinois and the
Kankakee Rivers.

Du Page was then a part of Pike County till
the 28th of January, 1823, when the county of
Fulton was established, comprising all of Pike
County except the portion south of the north
line of the present Fulton County, which change
brought Du Page under the jurisdiction of Ful-
ton County, of which Lewistown was the county
seat.

All these civil changes were previous to any
permanent white settlement, and there is no
record that any of the traders or Indians whose
erratic habits gave a temporary residence in
what is now our county, ever applied to the
constituted authorities for any purpose. Why
should they? If any of the traders had a dis-
pute, they settled it on the spot, perhaps by a
" knock down argument," or if they wanted to
marry any of the brunette beauties of the prai-
rie, first they must be accomplished in the
manly arts of hunting, or their chances would
be slender of winning them. Next (to do the
Indians justice), if any of the daughters of
the higher-minded class of Indians had made
themselves indispensable to the happiness of
any of the traders, either French or American,

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

it required no small measure of circumspec-
tion to gain the father's consent to the marriage,
and to do this a sound body and a reasonable
discrimination of the principles of justice on
the part of the suitor was necessary.

These essentials being satisfactorily ar-
ranged, the marriage itself was only a promise
of fidelity on both sides, and did not in the es-
timation of these sons of the wilderness need
the record of official authority either to make
it binding or to strengthen its force. A few of
these marriages were permanent, and the writer
has interviewed the offspring of some of them
who are now esteemed members of society
amongst us.

Peoria County was the next civil division
under which Du Page fell. It was organized
June 13, 1825, with the following boundaries:
" Beginning where the line between Town-
ships 11 and 12 north intersects the Illinois
River ; thence west with said line to the range
line between Ranges 4 and 5 east ; thence
south with said line to the range line between
Townships 7 and 8 ; thence east to the line be-
tween Ranges 5 and 6 ; thence south to the
middle of the main channel of the Illinois
River ; thence up along the middle of the
main channel of said river to the place of be-
ginning." On the 7th of December, the county
was divided into three Election Precincts, of
which Alexander Woolcott, John Kinzie and
John Baptiste Beaubien were Judges.

John Dixon was Clerk of the county, and so
remained till his resignation, May 1, 1830, when
Stephen Stillman was appointed.

Cook was the next organized county of the
now reduced area of Northern Illinois wilder-
ness. It took in at first the present counties
of Lake, McHenry, Will, Du Page and Iroquois,
the act organizing it bearing date of March 1,
1831. It had three voting precincts — the Chi-
cago, the Hickory Creek and the Du Page, the
latter of which included the present county of
Du Page and portions of Will.

On the 8th of the same month. Samuel Miller
Gohlson Kircheval and James Walker were
sworn in as Commissioners, who promptly pro-
ceeded to legislate for the wholesome regula-
tion of the infant count}'. Prominent among
the laws they passed were those regulating the
prices of spirituous liquors, which they took as
good care should not be extortionate, as did
the French Revolutionists the price of bread
during the Jacobin Reign of Terror in France.
It was "ordered that the following rates be
allowed to tavern-keepers, to wit : Each half
pint of wine, rum or brandy, 25 cents ; each
pint of wine, rum or brandy, 37£ cents ; each
half pint of gin. 18f cents ; pint of gin, 31£
cents ; gill of whisky, 6£ cents ; half pint of
whisky, 12£ cents ; pint of whisky, 18f cents.
For each breakfast and supper, 25 cents ; each
dinner, 37£ cents ; each horse feed, 25 cents ;
keeping horse one night, 50 cents ; lodging for
each man per night, 12£ cents ; for cider or
beer, one pint, 6£ cents ; one quart of cider or
beer, 12£ cents."

The Commissioners also soon issued permits
to Alexander Robinson, J. B. Beaubein and
Madore Beaubein to sell goods, who, added
to six merchants already established in the
county, made nine. From the records of the same
year, 1831, subsequent to those already men-
tioned, appears the name of Joseph Naper, of
Naper settlement, who, it appears, was then a
licensed merchant and the first in the present
county of Du Page.

Such are the first laws ever enacted to pre-
vail over this county after settlers came to it.
At that time, Chicago, Canal Port, Naperville,
Desplaines, Keepotaw and Thornton, were re-
ported as the towns of Cook County. It was
named after Daniel P. Cook, the same who, with
the election of Shadrack Bond for Governor, in
1818, had been elected Attorney General. To
him the country along the canal owes a lasting
obligation. At a session of the Legislature,
Januarj' 17, 1825, a law was passed incorpo-

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

rating the Illinois & Michigan Canal Associa-
tion, with full power to build the canal. By
the seventh section of their charter, it was pro-
vided that all immunities, etc., hitherto made
by the General Government to facilitate the
building of the canal, should revert to the asso-
ciation to which the State had granted the char-
ter to build it. This excess of State authority
to dispose of the large amount of land (ever}'
alternate section of a strip six miles wide on
each side of the canal, which the Government had
given to aid in building it), by placing the lands
at the disposal of a private com pan}', was not
looked upon with favor by the General Govern-
ment, and, had it not been for the efforts of Mr.
Cook, the State would have lost the lands, and
the canal project would have been indefinitely
postponed. He was then Member of Congress,
and, seeing the danger, he used his powerful in-
fluence among his constituents to have the act
repealed which the State had passed. In this
he was successful, and the corporations were
obliged to surrender their charter.

We come now to the organization of Du Page
County — the last subdivision of Cook. In 1 838,
this was considered and talked over by the peo-
ple, and a plan to make four counties out of
the area of Cook was looked upon with favor.
To effect this object, committees were appointed
from each respective locality proposed as the
territory to be occupied by them.

It was first proposed by the Commissioners
to create one county of nine townships in the
northwest corner of Cook, which, had it been
done, would have taken the three present town-
ships, viz., Wayne, Bloomingdale and Addison,
together with the present townships of Hanover,
Schaumberg, Elk Grove, Barrington, Palatine
and Wheeling in Cook, for one of the four new
counties. Du Page County was to come im-
mediately south of this, and take in nine town-
ships, in which case Naperville would have
been not very distant from the center of the
county.

For some cause not known to the writer, the
Commissioners appointed to mature this plan of
subdividing Cook County never met at the ap-
pointed place of rendezvous, which was to have
been at a certain hotel in Chicago. The conse-
quence was, the subject of setting-off Du Page
County came before the Legislature under differ-
ent forms, and the action of that bod}' specified
the limits of the county according to the act of
which the following is a copy :

Section 1. Be it enacted by the people of the
State of Illinois represented in the General Assem-
bly : That all of that tract of country lying within
the following boundaries, to wit: Commencing on
the east line of Kane County at the division line
between Sections 18 and 19, in Township 37 north, of
Range 9 east, of the Third Principal Meridian, pur-
suing the same line eastward until it strikes the
Desplaines River; thence following the said river up
to the range line between Township 11 and 12 east,
of the Third Principal Meridian; thence north on
said line to the township line between 40 and 41 ;
thence west on said line to the east line of Kane
County; thence south on the east line of Kane
County to the place of beginning, shall constitute a
new county by the name of Du Page; provided al-
ways that no part of the county above described,
now forming a part of Will County, shall be in-
cluded within the said county of Du Page, unless
the inhabitants now residing in said part of Will
County shall, by a vote to be given by them at the
next August election, decide by a majority of legal
voters that they prefer to have the said territory
make a part of the said county of Du Page.

Sec. 2. An election shall be held at the Pre-
emption House, in Naperville, on the first Monday
in May, next, by the qualified voters of said county,
for county officers, who, when qualified, shall hold
their offices until the next general election ; said
election shall be conducted and returns thereof
made to the Clerk of the County Commissioners'
Court of Cook County, as in other cases, and said
Clerk shall give certificates of election; and when
said County Commissioners shall be elected and
qualified, the said county of Du Page shall be duly
organized. S. M. Skinner, Stephen J. Scott and
Loren J. Butler, are hereby appointed Judges of
said election.

Sec. 3. Said county of Du Page shall be at-
tached to the Seventh Judicial District, and the

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Judge of said circuit shall fix the terms of said
court therein, two of which shall be held in said
county annually at Naperville, where the County
Commissioners may direct, until the county build-
ings are completed.

Sec. 4. For the purpose of locating the per-
manent seat of justice for said county of Du Page,
the following-named persons are hereby appointed
Commissioners, to wit: Ralph Woodruff, of La
Salle County ; Seth Read, of Kane County, and
Horatio G. Loomis, of Cook, who, or a majority of
them, shall meet at the Pre-emption House, in Na-
perville, on the first Monday of June, or within
thirty days thereafter, and first being duly sworn by
some Justice of the Peace, shall proceed to locate
the seat of justice for said county at the most eligi-
ble and convenient point, provided the said Com-
missioners shall obtain for the county from the
claimant a quantity of land, not less than three
acres, and $3,000 for the purpose of erecting county
buildings, which sum shall be secured to the County
Commissioners and paid out under their direction
for the purposes aforesaid.

Sec. 5. The Commissioners appointed to locate
said county seat, shall each be allowed the sum of
$3 per day for each day by them necessarily em-
ployed in the performance of that duty, to be paid
out of the treasury of said county.

Sec. 6. The qualified voters of the county of
Du Page, in all elections except county elections,
shall vote with the district to which they belong
until the next apportionment, and shall in all
respects be entitled to the same privileges and rights
as in general belong to the citizens of other counties
in this State. William L. D. Ewing,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.
S. H. Anderson,

Speaker of the Senate.

Approved February 9, 1839.

Tho. Carlin.

State op Illinois, )

Office of Secretary of State, \
I, Alexander P. Field, Secretary of State, do here-
by certify the foregoing to be a true and perfect
copy of "An act to create the county of Du Pas-e,"
now on file in my office. In testimony whereof I
have hereunto set my hand and the seal of State at
Vandalia February 18, 1839.

[l. s.] A. P. Field,

Secretary of State.
Previous to the passage of this act, there had
been considerable canvassing of* public opinion

as to the division of Cook County, and among
those who took part in this discussion was Mr.
J. Filkins, who owned property in Wheeling —
the northern part of Cook County. His plan,
as well as that of many others, was to create a
county in the northern part of Cook, which should
include the present three northern townships of
Du Page County, with Wheeling for the county
seat, and in accordance with this proposition, a
representative from Naperville and one from
the southeastern part of Cook County had
agreed to meet at a certain hotel in Chicago to
agree on some concert of action in the matter.
The Naperville representative was promptly at
the place of rendezvous, but the others did not
attend, and no systematic plan of action was
determined on.

Pending these ambitious schemes, which
local interests as well as real necessities set on
foot, the citizens of Chicago were in a flutter
of perturbation lest they should lose some of
their territory, doubtless feeling their ability
to govern more instead of being shorn of a part
of what they then had.

A convention now being about to assemble
at Vandalia, to take into consideration plans
for public improvements, it was necessary for
the Chicagoans to call a public meeting to
appoint delegates to attend it. Such a call at
Chicago would then, as well as now, bring out
J;heir big guns as well as a full regiment of
small arms to make a rattle of musketry after
the cannons had been shot off ; or, in other
words, to do the cheering after the orators had
spoken. In obedience to the calL, a meeting
assembled on the 3d of December, 1836, and,
as the pith of a woman's letter may be found
in the postscript, so the chief object for which
this meeting was called, was reserved for the
closing business. After a few vehement speech-
es had been made, the animus of which was
to protest against any further division of Cook
Count}', resolutions were adopted in accord-
ance with these sentiments, and a committee

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

of three was appointed to circulate a petition to
be sent to the Legislature, expressive of the will
of the people of Cook County on the subject.

Unfortunately for the people of Chicago,
Joseph Naper was then representing Cook
County in the Legislature, and it was like strik-
ing on a drum that wouldn't sound, to talk
" such stuff"' to him. He himself was a power,
and two of the most influential members
of the Senate were his strong friends. One of
these was Peter Cartwright, of Carlinville, who
had all the Methodists in the State at his back,
and the other was old John Harker, from Union
County, who was regarded bj r the Egyptians
as a host.

Nothing more was heard about the county
to be set off from the northern part of Cook —
it being probably thought best not to amputate
another limb from her body at that time.

It is worthy of record that of the committee
appointed at the Chicago meeting, Gurdon S.
Hubbard was one, but for some reason best
known to himself, he declined to serve. Per-
haps Mr. Hubbard, in advance of any of the
rest, saw the impolicy as well as impractica-
bility of the scheme in question. He came to
Chicago in 1818, and is still an active man at
the place, which has grown from a post of the
American Fur Company to what it now is under
his eye. As might be supposed, the petition
was like seed sown in stony ground.

In due course of legislation, Du Page County
was organized as per the act already stated, the
first section of which gave the inhabitants of
the three northern tiers of sections in Will
County, the power to choose b}' a popular vote>
in the following August, to which county they
would belong. Had the election taken place
immediately, it is almost certain that the people
of the territory in question would have annexed
themselves to Du Page County, to whose inter-
ests at Naperville they had been allied by his-
toric as well as social relations from the first;
but the time between the passage of the

act and the August election, which was to cast
the die, was utilized by the Will County inter-
ests and a formidable opposition to the Du
Page interests was the result. To add to the
discomfiture of the Du Page advocates, some
one brought a bottle of whisky into the arena
on election day, which roused the indignation
of the teetotalers of the Will Count}' interests t
and brought out their full force with their
thunder thrown in.

The autumn sun dipped into the western
green, the polls were closed, votes counted,
and one majority for Will County was the re-
sult. There wasn't much poetry about the
canvass. It need not be claimed that Johnny,
with the love of his inamorata in his heart,
voted to please his would-be father-in-law or
any such kind of moonshine. It was a sharply
defined local and temporal issue, and for a
small one, large results have grown out of it ;
for had the county limits extended south of
Naperville, as the original bill intended, no
attempt would ever have been made to re-
move the county seat, or if made, would not
have been successful.

The parties authorized by the fourth section
of the act creating the new county to locate
the county seat, met on the 17th of June, 1839,
at the Pre-emption House in Naperville, and lo-
cated it at that place. At the same time, a
deed was executed to the county of an undi-
vided half of the public square on which the
county buildings were erected the same year
by voluntary subscription from the citizens of
Naperville to the amount of $5,000. Subse-
quently, the small brick buildings were built for
storing the records, etc.

In vain may the records of any State in the
Union be searched for a parallel in eventful
epochs involving vital political questions which
locally came up within their jurisdiction as has
been thrust upon the State of Illinois, and the
country around Chicago has been the pivot
upon which these issues have turned. This is

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

only a just conclusion to deduce from the events
of this chapter. The next will begin with the
pioneer work begun in Du Page County under
a new order of things destined to subordinate
wild nature to the uses of man, and reproduce
old-settled and time-honored institutions on a

generous scale, there to multiply under the
fostering hand of nature. This has been done,
but let us take a retrospective view of the proc-
ess by which it was accomplished while the
living witnesses of it are still on the historic
stand to testify.

CHAPTER II.

THE PIONEER— STEPHEN J. SCOTT— THE SCOTT SETTLEMENT— BLODGETT HAULEY— BAILEY HOB-
SON, THE FIRST SETTLER OF DU PAGE COUNTY— BUILDING THE FIRST CABIN— CROSSING A
SLOUGH — WILLIARD SCOTT — SOCIAL ENTERTAINMENTS — CORN PANCAKES— THE
NAPERS— FIRST GROUND PLOWED— THE FIRST SCHOOL— JOSEPH NAPER— JOHN
NAPER— THE FIRST STOVE— CHRISTOPHER PAINE— THE FIRST SAW-MILL—
HOME-MADE SPINNING WHEELS AND LOOMS— COLD WINTER OF 1830-31
—PORTAGE TO CHICAGO-THE LAWTONS-THE POTTAWATOMIES
—FLIGHT TO FORT DEARBORN— HORRIBLE MASSACRE
AT INDIAN CREEK— EXPLOITS OF COL. BEAUBIEN.

~T"Y7~ITHIN the memory of men now living^
V V the whole of Du Page County was an
immaculate tablet on which to make the first
footprints of progress in the form of agricult-
ure, architecture and public works. In ancient
times, when new countries were settled, it was
done by nations who sent out colonies under
the especial guardianship of a king's viceroy,
and this was the case with the first new coun-
tries settled in America from Europe. All
this became changed when the American nation
became the owner of the vast plains of the
West. Then settlements began to be made on
private account for the first time in the world's
history, and such a conception of human rights
put in such universal practice, as it was here,
brought into being a class of men different from
any hitherto known. They were the creation
of their period in their habits, character and
their self-sustaining powers. They valued
themselves not for what their fathers had been,
but for what they themselves were. It takes a
few generations for mental force to gather and
turn the thoughts of men into new channels, and,

by the time Northern Illinois xvas settled, the
thoroughbred pioneer, in his floodtide of glory,
came upon the scene. He is the man referred
to— the incarnation of freedom in its broadest
sense, the man who is a law unto himself, who
takes a short cut to the ends of justice regard-
less of technicalities ; the man who evinces
himself more by what he does than by what he
says, and scorns unfair distinctions not based
on merit.

To describe the American pioneer would re-
quire the imagery of romance and the force of
the drama. Behold him, as he turns his face to
the West, his gun on his shoulder, his dog by
his side, his horses harnessed to the wagon
that contains his household goods, his wife and
babies, behind which follow at a slow pace his
cattle, driven by his young sons, whose keen
eyes often dart their irrepressible humor from
beneath a tattered hat brim. This is the true
pioneer. His step is firm ; his glance is keen ;
his whole appearance commands respect,
though his garments may be of the coarsest
stuff. To him belongs a singular fame, for he

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

is the first to lay the dimension stone of
a social fabric which is to grow up where
he plants the seed, and become a lasting mon-
ument to perpetuate his memory.

The "first of these pioneers who became ulti-
mate residents of Du Page County were Steph-
en J. Scott, who came with his family from
Maryland, and made a claim on the lake shore
just north of the present site of Evanston, in
1826. The place was then and is still known
as Grose Point. It is an elevated sand ridge,
making an abrupt bank on Lake Michigan, but
not composed of a soil adapted to the growth
of the cereals, which is probably the reason
why Mr. Scott left the place and took up a
claim at the fork of the west branch of Du
Page River, which he did in the autumn of
1830, with his family, among whom were his
sons, Willard and Willis.

This became known as the Scott settlement,
and was the first beginning made which drew
to the place other settlers. Its locality was
just south of the Du Page County line in the
present count}'' of Will, but accretions to it
soon extended up the stream, within the pres-
ent limits of the county.

Early in the following June, 1831, Isaac P.
Blodgett came from Amherst, Hampshire Co.,
Mass., and settled at the fork, his son Henry,
now Judge Blodgett, of Chicago, being^then
nine years old.

Pierce Hawley also came to the place about
the same time, and, in the summer of the next
year. 1831, Robert Strong, Rev. Isaac Scarrett
Capt. Henry Board man and Isaac Stock well
came to the Scott settlement, and became per-
manently identified with the interests of what
was then known as the Du Page Country.
These were near neighbors to the settlement
began the same year just above them on the
Du Page, and soon the little gap of unclaimed
land that intervened between them was filled
up with new-comers.

But the first actual settler in the count} 7 now

named Du Page was Bailey Hobson. His
widow is still living in Naperville, and the
following is a brief narrative of the events of
her experiences in coming to the place, as re-
ported to the writer in June, 1882.

Mrs. Clarinda Hobson was born in Georgia
in December, 1804. The family emigrated to
Orange County, Ind., in 1812, where she
was married to Mr. Hobson in 1821. In 1830,
they removed to the present site of New-
ark, 111., remaining there the succeeding
winter, when, in the following November
of the same year, Mr. Hobson went to the
Du Page River, about two miles below the
present site of Naperville, and marked out
his claim, consisting of about five hundred acres,
lying on both sides of the river. This clone, he
returned to his temporary home to make the
necessary preparations for building a habitation
on his Du Page River claim. To this end, he
again went to the place with a load of shakes
(clapboards) with which to make a roof for his
intended cabin, and a hired man accompanied
him to help cut and haul to the ground the logs
necessary for its walls. The} 7 had only worked
one day, when the cold was so intense they
were obliged to abandon their plans and turn
their course toward home, which they reached
in safety after two days' toiling over the bleak
prairie with an ox team.

With the opening of March, 1831, the work
was again resumed by sending Lewis Stewart,
brother of Mrs. Hobson, to the place to cut the
logs for the cabin, while Mr. Hobson himself
was to follow with the ox team and wagon
loaded with their household goods. A new
dilemma now arose. More than a hundred In-
dians had just encamped hard by their house
for the purpose of making maple sugar in an
adjacent grove, and she dare not stay with her
five children alone in their midst. Meantime,
her husband's duties were imperative. He must
go to the new home to get the house ready for
the opening of spring.

^u.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

In this emergency, Mrs. Hobson formed the
resolution to transport her family to a small
settlement a few miles distant at what was then
called Weeds', and now Hollenback's Grove.
Besides the family, were two horses and four-
teen head of cattle, the same stock that had
been driven from their home in Indiana. Ac-
cordingly, her husband started off with their
furniture, and she, with the family and their
flock, by a different route, to reach a temporary
abiding place. On the way, she had a danger-
ous slough to cross, where the track was buried
beneath the flood, so deep that she dare not
trust ber little ones on the horse alone, but took
them across one or two at a time on her own
horse and set them on the opposite bank till
they were all safely landed. The fourteen cattle
were then driven over and all herded safely in
the grove, where they were kept on browse and
what grass they could find on the early spring
sward. Here she remained awaiting her hus-
band's return to take the family and their stock
to their new home.

A few days brought this about, notwithstand-
ing the hardships he had encountered in camp-
ing out on the open prairie on his way, and
other discomforts not easily imagined by those
who read of them nowadays. March was nearly
spent when they arrived at their home. It was
a rough log cabin with a puncheon floor, but
no windows. The lack of them was the smallest
of their grievances, for the unchinked crevices
between the logs let in light enough.

Willard, the son of Stephen J. Scott, who had
recently married the oldest daughter of Mr.
Hawlej 7 , was then living in the same log cabin
with his father, and their families being the
nearest neighbors to the Hobson. family, occa-
sional visits were made between them, and the
hospitalities of the wilds exchanged in true pio-
neer style. Their entertainments did not con-
sist of the modern aesthetic styles of serving
their dishes, or of the epicurian qualities of
them, but were simplified down to actual ne-

cessities. Corn seems to have constituted their
entire material for bread ; nor had they vege-
tables or fruits the first year, and the corn it-
self was in the ear, as it grew at Weeds' (now
Holderman's) Grove, from whence it had to be
transported by ox teams.

The problem now was how to convert it into
meal, the solution of which, however, did not
task the ingenuity of a true pioneer to its ut-
most by any means. The first process was to
shell it ; the next to immerse it in hot water to
start the hulls. It was then put into an iron
kettle and pounded with the head of an iron
wedge (the tool used for splitting rails) till it
was made into meal. The next process was to
put this meal into cold water and float the hulls
off, and the meal was ready for use.

It was made into a batter with water only, and
fried like pancakes, or, for variety's sake, spread
on a wooden board and turned up to a fire to
be baked into bread. Sifting this meal when
dried left its coarsest portions for hominy,
which gave them varieties improvised out of
corn.

Such was the first household and home
made in this county, of which a faithful witness
in the person of Mrs. Hobson is still among us
in the full enjoyment of her mental faculties.

The next who came to the county were the
Napers. They were men of broad ambition
like the pioneers who had preceded them in
the Scott settlement. While residents of Ohio,
they had owned a sailing vessel on the lakes,
named the Telegraph, which they had sold,
agreeing to deliver it in Chicago in the sum-
mer of 1831, and in this vessel on its passage to
this place they came with the families of John
Murray, Lyman Butterfield, Henr}* T. Wilson
and a Mr. Carpenter. It set sail from Ashta-
bula, Ohio, in June, landing them in Chicago
in time to reach Du Page early in July.

The spring preceding, Joseph Naper had
been to the place, made a claim and hired men
to come from Chicago and put up a log cabin

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

where Naperville now stands. The building
was made ready and also ten acres of ground
" broke," as per a contract with Mr. Scott, on
the arrival of the colony, for such in substance,
was the Naper settlement. The season was too
far advanced to plant corn, and in its stead,
buckwheat was sown on seven acres of it, and
the balance planted with rutabaga turnips.
This, together with a few acres of ground
planted by Mr. Hobson, constituted the first
tillage of the soil of this county, unless -^some
of its red owners, with the assistance of their
loving brothers — the French — had raised scan-
ty patches of corn, beans or pumpkins on it,
which is quite probable, for as early as 1790
the Indians had cultivated extensive fields on
the Maumee, and also on the Wabash, and
more than half a century before had, with the
aid of the French, plowed and planted fields in
Southern Illinois, and also reaped considerable
income from working the lead mines of Galena
on their own private account, all of which goes
to show that the inevitable crops of corn so
essential to their existence had ere this been
planted by them on the fertile lauds of the Du
Page. Mr. Naper's buckwheat crop was a
bountiful one, and in the autumn drew to the
place countless numbers of prairie chickens to -
get a taste of the kind of food then so new to
them.

The Naper and Scott settlements, being as>
they were in such close proximity to each
other, with a reciprocity of interest in all mat-
ters pertaining to the welfare of newly-settled
countries, began in September following the
arrival of the Naper colony, to lay plans for
the education of their children. To this end,
preparations were made to build a schoolhouse
which should accommodate both settlements,
and the following subscription paper was drawn
up by John Murray, father of our present
County Judge, to obtain support for and to es-
tablish the school.

The original document is now in possession

of William Naper, now a clerk in Messrs. Scott

& Co.'s dry goods store (son of Joseph Naper,

deceased):

September 14, 1831.

We, the undersigned, whose names are hereto
affixed, do agree to hire Lester Peet to teach a school
in our respective district for the term of four
months, for the consideration of $12 per month.
Said teacher doth agree, on his part, to teach a
regular English school, teaching spelling, writing,
arithmetic and English grammar, if required. And
the understanding is, that said teacher is to board
with the scholars. School is to commence by the
15th of November next.

N. B. — Each subscriber doth agree to pay his
proportionable part of the teacher's wages, accord-
ing to the number of scholars that he subscribes for
or sends, and it is likewise understood that Joseph
Naper, Christopher Paine and Bailey Hobson be
and are a committee to superintend said school,
and to see that there is a suitable house built in due
season, etc.

Joseph Naper, six scholars; H. T. Wilson, two
scholars ; Richard Sweet, two scholars ; Daniel
Landon, one scholar ; James Green, one scholar ;
Bailey Hobson, one scholar ; John Naper, one
scholar; John Manning, one scholar; Daniel Wilson,
one scholar ; Christopher Paine, three scholars ;
John Murray, two scholars; Edward A. Rogers, one
scholar.

Ere this school had been established, both
the Naper and Scott settlements had been re-
enforced by new arrivals, as appears from such
names not mentioned in the history found among
the subscribers to support the school.

But ere we proceed, let us give to the Napers
an historic recognition of their many worthy
traits of character.

Joseph Naper, the oldest of the two brothers,
began his career as a cabin boy on a steamer
on Lake Erie. In this occupation he was con-
tinually exposed to danger, which accounts for
the bold and daring resolution which character-
ized him throughout his life. He remained on
the lakes till he rose to the distinction of Cap-
tain of a steamer on Lake Erie which plied be-
tween Buffalo and Detroit from 1828 to 1830.
As has already been told, he came to the Du Page

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

in 1831, and here he soon established a repu-
tation as a generous benefactor to all who came
within the reach of his liberalit}\ He donated
land to all who wished to come to the place
and build on it, and to those who owed him
debts which could not be paid without distress,
he always extended clemency, and sometimes
forgave the debt entirely.

John Naper was also a sailor in his tender
3'ears like his older brother, and as soon as he
was old enough commanded sailing vessels on
Lake Erie, and remained in this employment
till 1830. The two were in partnership together
in their Du Page colony, bringing with them
to the place the ironwork for the saw-mill to
be erected here, and also a stock of goods with
which to open trade. Whatever may be said
of the oldest brother as to both his courage and
generosity, may also be said of John, " and,"
says Judge Murray, " the latter (John) had more
dash than his older brother. His weight was
about 200 pounds, his limbs muscular, and his
whole frame almost as elastic as a circus tum-
bler."

Mr. P. F. W. Peck, afterward well known in
Chicago, came to the Du Page a few weeks
after the arrival of the Napers, and formed a
partnership with them in storekeeping, which
was the first establishment of the kind in the
country around. The Sauk war, which followed
the next year, discouraged Mr. Peck, and the
partnership between him and the Napers was
dissolved by mutual consent, the latter giving
to Mr. Peck three lots, each 80x165 feet, on
South Water street, Chicago, for his interest in
the store. It was not without misgiving that
this offer was accepted, but it laid the founda-
tion for the princely fortune which he ultimately
amassed.

From Judge Murray, also, the writer has
learned of the versatile and useful talents of
Christopher Paine which are worthy of record,
inasmuch as he was a remarkable representa-
tive of pioneer ingenuity.

To him the whole settlement looked for de-
vising ways and means to accomplish ends.
Mr. Naper set about building a mill in the au-
tumn of 1831, and to Mr. Paine was confided
the building of the dam. This he did by first
laying logs, next stone and after these the
buckwheat straw from the ground sowed in the
summer to help hold the dirt in its place when
laid on the logs and stone. The dam served
its purpose, and in the spring of 1832 Mr. Na-
per's mill — the first ever built in Du Page
River — was in running order.

A grist-mill was needed perhaps more than
a saw-mill, and Hawley conceived the idea of
building it. But how to get the mill stones —
M that was the rub." He laid the case before
Mr. Paine. He scratched his head and " his
jaws wagged with increased rapidity while
he kept up an incessant expectoration," (says
Mr. Murray), and exclaimed " By Jinks, I can
make them " (the stones). He then selected two
good bowlders from the grove, and hammered
and pecked on them till he had fashioned them
into upper and nether mill stones.

The stone chisels to do this were probably
made by Isaac Blodgett, who was a blacksmith
in the Scott settlement, of whom mention has
already been made. The mill was a success.
It was propelled by ox power, by means of a
sweep. Each neighbor brought his grain to it
and ground it with his own team.

As to the toll, no one now knows how it was
paid. Probably it was a free mill, but without
doubt Mr. Paine was rewarded for the service
he had rendered the neighborhood.

The same year he introduced the culture of
flax, and made the necessary machinery — the
spinning wheel and loom — with which to make
it into cloth. His wile, not less ingenious than
her husband, spun the flax and wove it into a
handsome cloth, coloring a part of the yarn or
thread, and weaving into the fabric a bright
plaid check. Of this cloth she made suits for the
whole family, including herself and her husband:

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

They were the admiration of the neighbor-
hood, but they were thought to be rather cool
for winter, though Mr. Paine at that season
wore a warm buckskin sack, tanned and made
by himself, from beneath which the check
linen vest showed conspicuously, and is still
remembered by the old settlers of Naperville.
Mr. Paine was a model of generosity. " Would
divide his last potato," says Judge Murray,
"with any one in need." In the fall of 1832, he
sold out and settled on the Fox River at the
present site of Batavia, where he was subse-
quently bought out by Judge Wilson. He
then went to Geneva Lake, Wis., where he
started a saw mill. From thence, after again
selling out, he went to Duck Creek, Wis., and
again built a saw mill. Here he remained,
still dispensing his utilitarian labors with a
generous hand, till he died, respected by all
who knew him. Returning again to the Naper
settlement, the severity of the winter of 1830-
31 should not be left without a record. Snow
fell to an average depth of four feet, and the
cold was intense from November till April,
with but little cessation. The wild turkeys all
died for want of forage ; and, up to that time,
the country was full of wild hogs bred from
those left by the garrison when Fort Dearborn
was abandoned in 1812. These all died also,
for they could not penetrate the deep snow for
acorns in the groves, and the last one starved
to death.

The deer fared better because they could live
on browse, but many of them died also. Mr.
Willard Scott, banker in Naperville, the son of
Stephen J., is the authority for the above ; and
further states that for the next four years suc-
ceeding the winter of 1830-31, he had often
passed from the Desplaines River through Mud
Lake into the Chicago River with the barges
of the American Fur Company.

John Baptiste Beaubien was their agent
there at that time, to whom some of the In-
dians brought their furs to sell, packed on the

backs of ponies, but most of them sold their
furs to the traders, who had transient stations
throughout the country. Bernardus Lawton
was one of these traders, whose station was at
Plainfield, but his headquarters were at Chi-
cago. David Lawton lived on the Desplaines,
where he kept a tavern at the present site
of Riverside from previous to 1830 till his
death. Both were highly esteemed alike by
whites and Indians. Says Mr. Scott : " Ber-
nardus had an Indian wife, who was a sensible
and discreet woman, .who ever enjoyed the con-
fidence of her husband."

From the verj 7 first the Pottawatomies, who
were frequently at the Naper settlement, had
always been friendly, and highly esteemed Mr.
Scott, with whom their acquaintance had been
of several years' duration, and likewise held the
Naper brothers in like favor, though their ac-
quaintance had been shorter. The same may
be said with regard to all the old settlers with
whom the writer has conversed, all of whom
speak kindly of the Pottawatomies. Wlty
should they not ? The}*- had settled on land
that the Indians never had sold, and they made
no attempt to molest them, but treated them
with kindness.

In speaking of an interview with the In-
dians, sa} r s Mrs. Hobson : " The Pottawatomies
frequently called at our house, and were always
friendly up to the spring of 1832, when strange
appearances began to be manifest. On one
occasion, three Indians came to her house
when no one but her two youngest children
were with her. Two of them seemed friendly
as usual, but the third betrayed himself to be
of a strange tribe, and wore a rueful counte-
nance. He would not eat of the food she
placed before the visitors, which behavior, so
eccentric in an Indian, boded no good intent.
Besides this, she plainly saw that it required
an effort on the part of the two friendly Potta-
watomies to prevent an outbreak on the spot."

When the three left, she saw him conceal a

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

carving knife under his blanket, with which she
had been cutting off some dried beef for her
visitors, and, as they were departing, she in-
formed the two friendly Indians of the theft.
They promptly took the knife from the culprit,
and restored it to Mrs. Hobson, meanwhile
evidently rebuking the faithless vagabond for
his perfidy ; and, at the same time, apologizing
to Mrs. Hobson by repeating to her " me-o-net '
— no good Indian, pointing to the stranger.

He was doubtless a Sauk, who had come
among the Pottawatomies to influence them to
take up the hatchet against the whites.

Two days after this adventure at the house
of Mrs. Hobson, the real alarm came.

Its incidents are so well told in Richmond &
Vallette's Early History, that their relation of
it has been transferred to these columns by
permission of Col. Henry Vallette :

" Never was a ' good time come ' hailed with
more gladness than was the spring of 1832 by
the infant colony. A prospect of reward for
past hardships was before them. All was busy
preparation for the approaching seed time. The
labor of breaking and fencing went briskly for-
ward, and in due time the new-fledged grain
came peering from the mellow ground. But
long before the growing fields stood ready for
the sickle of the glad harvester, the little band
were obliged to relinquish their cherished antici-
pations, and flee from their new homes for the
safety of their lives.

" The news of the breaking-out of the Black
Hawk war caused great excitement in the settle-
ment, and the alarm was heightened by the
arrival of Shata, an express from the Pottawat-
omies, who were friendly to the whites, with
the intelligence that a party of Sac Indians
were committing depredations among the set-
tlers on Fox River, some ten miles distant, and
that the houses of Cunningham and Hollenback
had been burned to the ground, and their prop-
erty entirely destroyed. Aware of their ina-
bility to carry on a successful warfare with the

Indians, as the colony was in an almost defense-
less state, and, being liable to an attack from
them at any moment, the settlers decided to
send their families, with all possible haste, to
Chicago, where old Fort Dearborn offered its
protection to any fearing the incursions of the
savages. The settlement was now the scene of
universal disorder and alarm. Bustle and con-
fusion were the order of the hour. Men were
hurrying to and fro in eager pursuit of their
wives and children, while weeping wives and
crying children were hurrying with equal ra-
pidity and greater anxiety in pursuit of their
husbands and fathers. Order was at length, in
some degree, restored, and while the women
were engaged in packing such articles of cloth-
ing and provision as they would require for the
journey, the men were actively fitting out teams
to convey them away.

" Early in the afternoon of the 18th of May,
the train started for Chicago. But the family
of Christopher Paine, who lived near the place
of S. & D. Babbitt, consisting of his wife and
six children, were, in the general confusion in-
cident to their hast}' departure, left behind.
The family were sent in advance of the train,
with directions to wait at a short distance from
the settlement for its arrival. Concealing them-
selves in a thicket by the roadside, near the
farm now owned by Capt. John Sargent, and
not hearing the company as it passed, they
were obliged to remain in their place of con-
cealment during the night, which must have
been one of fearful anxiety to the mother, as
the imaginative dangers of her situation mag-
nified, while watching over her houseless and
defenseless children. They returned in safety
to the settlement next morning, but much ex-
hausted by fatigue and hunger.

" The following incidents relating to the alarm
and sudden flight of Mr. Hobson's family, have
been kindly furnished by one of its members.
Mr. Hobson, with Mr. Paine and son, had just
seated themselves at their noonday meal, relat-

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

ing, in the meantime, the intelligence they had
received while working in the field ; that a band
of Indians were advancing, and were then only
thirty miles distant, when they were suddenly
interrupted by the appearance of Paine's eldest
son, who rushed into the house, bareheaded and
breathless, informing them that Specie and
Ament had just arrived from the Au Sable
grove, having run their horses down, and per.
formed a part of the journey on foot, to bring
the alarming intelligence that a body of Indians
had that morning passed through Hollenback's
Grove, killing several settlers, and burning every
thing in their path. Upon this intelligence)
immediate preparations for safety were consid-
ered expedient. Hobson and Paine arose from
the table, leaving the dinner untasted. Mr.
Paine, accompanied by his sons, started in great
haste for their home, while Mr. Hobson pre-
pared to ride up to the Naper settlement to see
what the inhabitants there had concluded to
do, but his wife and children, clinging to him,
begged him not to leave them ; whereupon he
saddled the horses, and after seeing the wife
and children all mounted, except the eldest son j
who was to accompany them on foot, they started
together. They directed their course through
the east end of the grove, and coming upon a
rise of ground, beheld a man on horseback, about
a mile distant. It immediately occurred to Mr-
Hobson that this was an Indian spy, but it
proved to be one of a small party of scouts sent
out from the settlement. He, however, directed
his wife and children to hasten out of sight.
They rode into the grove and dismounted. Mr.
Hobson came up soon after, threw the saddles
into a thicket, turned the horses into a neigh-
boring field, and made all possible haste to se-
crete his family ; directing them to use every
precaution to evade pursuit, and not to tangle
nor bruise the grass and weeds as they went
along. Having done this, his attention was
next directed to his dog, a faithful and valuable
animal. ' You have been,' said he, ' my com-

panion and protector for years ; you have never
been unfaithful to a trust, nor given me cause
to question your fidelity — always the first to
welcome, foremost to defend. But now you
may betray us, and, saddening as the thought
may be, I must be reconciled to the thought of
putting 3-0U to death.' So, taking the unsuspect-
ing victim, he went to a cabin near by, which
had been but recently occupied by the family
of Mr. Seth Wescott, his object being to pro-
cure an ax with which to do the deed at which
his ver} r soul shuddered. It was supposed that
the family of Mr. Wescott had received the
alarm, and fled. What then was his surprise
to meet him at the threshold of his door, with
gun in hand, just starting out on a hunting ex-
pedition. At Mr. Hobson's solicitation, the
dog was shot ; but he died not, as many pass
from life, without a tear to consecrate the event,
or a heart to embalm the memory of the de-
parted soul — his loss was sincerely lamented.
Mr. Wescott made immediate preparation to
join the settlers, and Mr. Hobson, fearing that
the report of the gun might have alarmed his
family, hastened to meet them. Accompanied
by his wife, he then returned to the house to
make preparations, in case it should become
necessary for them to desert their home. The
box had been removed from the wagon, but
with his wife's assistance he was enabled to re-
place it, and after completing their arrange-
ments, they again set forth, Mrs. Hobson with
some food to seek her children in the grove
while her husband went to the settlement to
see what preparations were being made there.
On his arrival he found that the families, with
a part of the men, had gone to Chicago. He
informed those that remained of the condition
of his family, and of his anxiety that they should
set out that night, in hopes of overtaking the
advance party. Capt. Naper, Lieut. King, and
Specie volunteered to return with him to the
place where he had concealed his family. They
were all mounted except King, who was on

1&C1^2^*jlZ fc^W^>

HISTORY OF DCJ PAGE COUNTY.

foot. Having found the family in their hiding
place, it was a matter that required considerable
mathematical skill to determine how they were
to be conveyed. It was at length decided that
the two eldest children should be placed on the
horse of Mr. Hobson ; that Capt. Naper should
take two more on the horse with him ; and that
Mrs. Hobson, assisted by King, should go on
foot, carrying the youngest child, then two } T ears
old. They pressed on toward the north end of
the grove, where Mr. Hobson had agreed to
meet them with his team. Emerging from the
grove they had yet half a mile to go, and Mrs.
Hobson being fatigued from the journe}', one of
the children was taken from Capt. Naper's horse
and placed on the horse with the two others,
while Mrs. Hobson mounted behind Capt. Na-
per. They started again, one horse carrying
Capt. Naper, with his huge Kentucky rifle, to-
gether with Mrs. Hobson, one child, and sundry
and divers trappings. It is supposed that the
gallant Captain never presented a more formid-
able appearance than he did while riding along
on that memorable occasion, with his burnished
steel glistening in the moonbeams, although he
has, since that day, been the hero of at least
three decisive battles.

" They arrived in safety at the place appointed
to meet Mr. Hobson, who soon came up with
his oxen and wagon, bringing with him such
things from the house as he could hastily pick
up in the dark. The announcement of " all
aboard " soon followed. Mr. Hobson gave up
his horse to Mr. King, who returned with Capt.
Naper to the settlement, while the vehicle con-
taining the family moved on its slow and weary
way. The night was cold, and rendered still
more uncomfortable by a heavy fall of rain ;
but wet and cold are of minor consideration
when compared with the horrors of an excited
imagination, which transforms every tree and
shrub into a merciless Indian foe, with toma-
hawk and scalping knife in hand, ready to com-
mit their deeds of cruelty and slaughter. Pass-

ing a night of the most intense fear and anxiety,
they arrived at Brush Hill at sunrise. Crossing
the O'Plain, they found a habitation, the only
one on the whole route. They journeyed on
and soon reached the " Big Prairie," the distance
across which is about ten miles. Crossing this
prairie was the most tedious part of the way.
The wheels, during a greater part of the dis-
tance, were half imbedded in the marshy soil,
rendering it almost impossible for the team to
move on, even with an empty wagon. The chil-
dren became sickened from exposure and thirst.
Being unprovided with a drinking vessel, Mrs.
Hobson frequently took the shoe from her foot
and dipped the muddy water from the pools by
the roadside, which they drank with much ap-
parent satisfaction. They plodded on at a slow
pace, and reached their destination at a little
before sunset, much exhausted by hunger and
fatigue, neither Mr. nor Mrs. Hobson having
tasted food for more than thirty-six hours.
They were safety quartered in Fort Dearborn,
and here we leave them, and return to the
settlement.

" Some fifteen or twenty men remained be-
hind, when the settlement was abandoned by
the families, in order to protect, if possible, their
dwellings and other property, from the depreda-
tions of the Indians, should they come to de-
stroy them. They quartered themselves in the
log house of Capt. Naper, and kept vigilant
guard during the night. On the following
morning the settlers were visited by Lawton, an
Indian trader, living on the O'Plain, in company
with three Indians and a half-breed, named
Burrasaw. They brought no news, but came
to gather further particulars in relation to the
threatened invasion of the Sacs. As the set-
tlers had heard nothing of their movements
since the departure of Shata's express, it was
resolved that a party, joined by Lawton and the
three Indians, should go to the camp of the Pot-
tawatomies, near the Big Woods, some ten
miles distant, for information. Two men,

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

named Brown and Murphy, had been placed on
patrol that morning, and were out on the
prairie, a little west of the settlement. The
party setting out for the Big Woods determined
to test their courage, and for that purpose, sent
the three Indians in advance of the main party.
As soon as the Indians came in sight of the
patrol, they gave a most terrific war-whoop, and
darted on after them with the fleetness of so
many arrows. The patrol, seized with sudden
consternation, sprang to their horses and fled in
the wildest dismay — first toward the north, but
being intercepted by some of the company,
whom they took to be savages, they wheeled
and took an opposite direction. In this course
they were again intercepted by the three In-
dians. Concluding they must be surrounded,
they came to a halt, laid down their arms, and
were about to sue for mercy, when they chanced
to discover in the features of their vengeful
pursuers a striking likeness to those they had
left at the settlement. The fact soon dawned
upon them that they had been successfully
hoaxed, and their duties ' on guard ' terminated
with that adventure.

" The company advanced toward the Big
Woods. As they drew near the timber, an In-
dian was observed mounted on a horse, who, on
seeing them, turned and fled. The three In-
dians made instant pursuit ; overtaking him
before he had gone far, they made themselves
known as friends, and detained him until the
company came up. Lawton understood the
dialects of several Indian tribes, and in a con-
versation with him ascertained that he belonged
to the Pottawatomies, who were encamped only
three miles distant. The Indian said the whole
of his tribe were drunk, and it would be danger-
ous for the company to visit them. However,
after brief consultation, they decided to pro-
ceed to the encampment, and the captured In-
dian led the way. Although the appearance of
the company in the camp caused some little ex-
citement among that portion of the tribe who

were sufficiently sober to entertain an emotion
of any kind, yet they were received with no ap-
parent indications of hostility. On examination,
the testimony of the Indian was fully substan-
tiated. Indians were found in a state of beastly
intoxication in every part of the camp ; while
others were enjoying the pastime in the most
picturesque, amusing and fantastic series of per-
formances that can be imagined. Dancing,
singing, whooping and screeching, delightfully
mingled, formed the grand offering which there
went up at the shrine of bad whisky and worse
tobacco. One fellow, who seemed to be of a
decidedly pugnacious turn, was lying on the
ground, face downward, with his hands secured
behind him, Samson like, with green withes.
Frantic with rage, he seemed to utter the most
vehement and fearful denunciations against all
who came near him. Upon inquiry, it was as-
certained that the fellow had violated an im-
portant law in their code respecting these.,
orgies, which law forbids ' a brother knocking a
brother down,' and he was suffering the penalty
affixed.

"The company were summoned into the
presence of the chiefs, who gave them a friendly
and courteous reception. A council was called,
and Lawton and Burrasaw were admitted to the
ring. The consultation lasted for two or three
hours, and the ' outsiders ' were becoming rather
impatient. An old Indian woman, known to
Capt. Naper, while passing near him, uttered in
his ear the word ' Puc-a-che,' which, being both
literally and liberally interpreted, signifies
' Be off.' And the Captain began to think it
time to heed the advice.

" Inquiry was made in relation to the delib-
erations of the council, and Lawton responded,
that 'there were 300 Sac Indians in the Black-
berry timber, some four miles distant, and,'
said he, ' you will see them if you wait here
an hour.' These Indians will not fight them,
but will " stop them by talk," if they can, from
burning your settlement.' The Captain signi-

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

fiecl no inclination to hold an interview with
300 Sac Indians, but suggested the propriety
of retreating to the settlement as soon as pos-
sible, and sending the most valuable property
there to Chicago. This plan received the ac-
quiesence of all the company, and after making
arrangements with Lawton to send an express
to notify them of any immediate danger from
the Sacs, the settlers returned. The packing
of their goods was immediately commenced.
All the articles which were inconvenient to
convey were lowered into a well parti}' dug,
and all was soon ready for loading the wagons.
The horses had been harnessed, and were then
feeding at a stable some ten or fifteen rods
from the house. Capt. Naper was in the house
tying the corners of a quilt, which contained
the remnant of clothing left behind by his fam-
ily, when a man rushed wildly into the room,
shouting at the top of his voice, " the Indians
are upon us!" The whole company took in-
stant alarm and with the exception of Captain
and John Naper, beat a precipitate retreat to
a thicket of hazel bushes, which, in those days,
flourished in prolific exuberance on the soil
now known as Jefferson avenue. The two
Napers were somewhat unlike the redoutable
Mr. Sparrowgrass, who was prone to pull trig-
ger and make inquiries afterward. They de-
cided that inquiry should take the precedence,
and if it came to that, why they could run
some.

"As the horses were near, they removed the
harness and put on the saddles, that they
might be in readiness in case of emergency.
They had scarcely accomplished this, when
Alanson Sweet came galloping up on his fierce
charger, exhorting them to instant flight, if
they valued their lives. ' There are at least
500 Indians upon us,' said he, ' and they are
not more than fifteen rods off' Alanson rode
away, but the Napers resolved to investigate.
They walked in the direction from which Sweet
said the Indians were approaching, and soon

came upon a rise of ground which had con-
cealed the Indians from view, when lo ! the
dusky visage of their friend Lawton appeared
before them. He was at the head of about
fifty brawn}' Pottawatomies, and had come to
warn the settlers of immediate danger. Mes-
sengers were sent out to gather in the fugitives,
that all might listen to Lawton's story. He
said that at least sixteen of the Sacs, and how
many more he did not know, had crossed Fox
River ; that the Pottawatomies could not stop
them. They were determined to attack the
settlements, and their ' talk ' could not pre-
vent them. The settlers, upon this, abandoned
all idea of saving their property, but deter-
mined to make every effort to save the wife
and children of Paine, who were still in the
settlement. The horses were attached to a
light covered wagon, in which the family was
placed, and the whole company set out that
night for Chicago. John Naper insisted upon
going on foot, and divested himself of every-
thing in the shape of attire, except his shirt
and pantaloons. He was earnestly entreated
to ride, but upon his assuring the party that
' he coHld outrun any Sac Indian in the na-
tion,' further importunity was deemed useless.
They reached the O'Plain, and encamped for
the night without taking their horses from the
wagon, that they might be ready to move on
at a moment's warning. They had hastened
on, through fear of being cut off on the north-
ern trail by the Indians, and being much worn
with fatigue, all hands slept pretty soundly till
next morning. The journey was then resumed,
and the party arrived at Chicago before noon,
on the 20th day of May. A company of twen-
ty-five men was* raised during the day, to re-
turn to the settlement. It consisted chiefly of
settlers, accompanied by Capt. Brown and Col.
Hamilton. The} 7 started on Saturday, May 21,
and passed the night at Lawton's. Next day
they went oh to the settlement, where they
found everything undisturbed. Leaving the

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

settlement under the guardianship of several
friendty Indians, the company proceeded to
Plainfield, where they found the settlers safely
quartered in a fort, which they had just com-
pleted. They then started for Holderman's
Grove, to ascertain the condition of the settlers
there. Meeting Cunningham and Hollenback
on the way, they were informed that it would
be of no use to go farther, as their propertj-
had been destroyed. Notwithstanding, they
proceeded to Holderman's Grove. From this
place they sent an express to Ottawa, to notify
the settlers of the safety of their property, and
also sent a messenger to Chicago to apprise
their friends of their own safety. The party
remained at Holderman's house during the
night. Early next morning the express re-
turned from Ottawa, bringing the intelligence
of the massacre at Indian Creek. The party
immediately went to Ottawa, and thence pro-
ceeded to the scene of the bloody tragedy.
What they there witnessed was too appalling
to be described. Not less than fifteen bodies,
of men, women and children were lying there,
cut and mangled in the most shocking manner.
It was ascertained that they were the families
of Messrs. Hall, Davis and* Pettigrew, and that
two daughters of the Hall family, Silvia and
Rachel, the one about seventeen and the other
about fifteen years old, were carried off as pris-
oners. The party of Indians immediately re-
treated into the Winnebago country, up Rock
River, carrying the scalps of the slain and
their prisoners with them. 'Indian wars are
wars of a past age. They have always been
characterized by the same ferocity and cruelty.
To desbribe this massacre is only to repeat
what has been written a hundred times ; but a
brief account of it may not be deemed inap-
propriate in this place. The Indians were
about seventy in number. They approached
the house, in which the three families were as-
sembled, in the daytime. They entered it
suddenly, but with little notice. Some of the

inmates were immediately shot down with
rifles, others were pierced through with spears
or dispatched with the tomahawk. The In-
dians afterward related, with an infernal glee,
how the women had squeaked like geese when
they were run through the body with spears, or
felt the sharp tomahawk entering their heads. All
the victims were carefully scalped, their bodies
shockingly mutilated ; the little children were
chopped to pieces with axes, and the bodies of
the women were suspended by the feet from
the walls of the houses. The young women
prisoners were hurried, by forced marches, be-
yond the reach of pursuit. After a long and
fatiguing journey with their Indian conductors,
through a wilderness country, with but little to
eat, and being subject to a variety of fortune,
they were at last purchased by the chiefs of
the Winnebagoes, employed by Mr. Gratiot for
that purpose, with $2,000, in horses, wampum
and trinkets, and were returned in safety to
their friends.'

" The company assisted in burying the dead
and returned with sad hearts to Ottawa. There
they found Col. Stillman's command, consisting
of about two hundred men, under Col. John-
son. The settlers, or Capt. Brown's company,
as it was called, encamped on the north side of
the river, near where the citj' of Ottawa now
stands. Capt. Brown's company being so small,
he requested Col. Johnson to send an escort
with his pai% to Chicago, as it was expected
that they would be attacked b}' Indians on their
return. Col. Johnson refused to send men for
that purpose, but paraded his company and
called for volunteers. Maj. Bailey and twelve
privates volunteered to go. But the company
being still very small, Col. Johnson agreed to
send a detachment up the river and meet Maj.
Brown's company at Green's mill. Upon this
assurance, the settlers left Ottawa and followed
the river up as far as Green's, but no tidings
came to them of Col. Johnson's detachment.
Returning to Holderman's Grove, they found

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY

everything laid waste. The settlement there
was a scene of complete devastation and ruin.
The} 7 proceeded to Plainfield, and found the
gai'rison in the state of great alarm, occasioned
by the news of the massacre at Indian Creek.
The women, who appeared the more courageous,
provided the company with a good supper, and
they remained there until next day. In the
morning the settlement was abandoned, and all
started for Chicago, except a preacher by the
name of Paine. He refused to accompany them>
as he had, from some cause, conceived the no-
tion that the settlers at Chicago had all been
murdered. He started in the direction of Hol-
derman's Grove, but was found murdered some
days afterward, with one scalp torn from his
head and another from his face. Paine was
wont to wear a very heavy beard, which ac-
counts for the scalp being taken from his face.
There is a tradition of this brutal affair, which
informs us that the Indians cut off Paine's head
and carried it with them, supposing, from the
appearance given to the face by its long beard,
that the}' had killed one of the gods of the
whites.

" The settlers all reached Chicago the same
day on which they left Plainfield.

" The Scott families, which should have been
noticed in another place, did not abandon their
claims at the Forks, until some time after the
inhabitants fled from the settlement. A son of
Robinson, an Indian chief of the Pottawatomie
tribe, was living with them, and they knew that,
in case of actual danger from the Sacs, the boy
would be taken away. When he was removed,
they concluded there would be no safety in re-
maining longer, and thereupon followed in the
trail of their affrighted neighbors, to Fort Dear-
born."

The writer will here state that from Judge
R lodge tt himself he has learned that Half Day,
a Pottawatomie chief, attended a council held
at this time at Waubonsies village (now Au-
rora), in which Rlack Hawk's emissaries were

trying to persuade the Pottawatomies to come
to his assistance. This they declined to do,
advising the Sauks at the same time to aban-
don their warlike designs, but in vain.

Half Day then left the council and hastened
to the house of Mr. Riodgett. warning him of
the impending danger, when he promptly set
about starting for Fort Dearborn with his fam-
ily, at the same time dispatching young Henry,
then ten years old, to the various families in
the Scott settlement, to warn them of the dan-
ger, and they all retreated together to the fort.

This in no wise conflicts with the statement of
Richmond and Vallette, but would go to show
that warning to them came from a different
messenger than the one who brought the un-
welcome news to the Naper settlement.

" Not long after, a scouting party of twenty-
five horsemen started for the settlement; their
object being to ascertain whether any of the
enemy had been there, and to look after the
property of the settlers. This expedition was
placed under the command of Col. Reaubien.
They left Chicago in the morning, and at noon
reached the O'Plain River, where they found
Robert Kinzie, with fifty Indians under his com-
mand.

" An arrangement was made, by which it was
agreed that the Indians, under Capt. Kinzie,
should proceed by the direct trail to the settle-
ment, and the mounted company should pro-
ceed to the same place by way of Capt. Roard-
man's, to look after the property there.

" It was expected that the latter party would
arrive at the settlement some time before the
former. Reaubien's company urged their horses
on as fast as possible, and' in a few hours ar
rived at Ellsworth's Grove. The skirt of tim-
ber, which then extended over nearly the whole
area of the present village of Naperville, con-
cealed the settlement from their- view, but to
their surprise, and we might add, to the dismay
of some, smoke was seen rising from the place
where Naper's house was situated. A halt was

HfSTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

called, and by some of the company, most will-
ingly obe}'ed. A hasty consultation followed,
and John Naper, who was ever ready to ' don
armor and break a lance ' in the cause of his
friends, volunteered to ride around the point of
timber and ascertain whether the settlement
was in the possession of friend or foe. In case
he could meet with friends, he was to discharge
his rifle, to notify his waiting and anxious com-
rades of that fact. But if foes were encoun-
tered, he was to return immediately to the com-
pany. His progress was watched with no small
degree of interest, until he passed behind the
point of timber, out of sight. Soon the reports
of two guns were heard, and Naper did not make
his appearance. In all probability he was shot,
and the alarm among the company increased.
There was no means of telling how numerous
the enemy might be, nor how soon the sharp
report of the rifle might be their own death-
knell.

"Two of the company, one of whom was
mounted on a pack mule, and the other on a
diminutive pack pony, belonging to the Ameri-
can Fur Company, manifested considerable un-
easiness, as they had found by actual experi-
ence that neither of their animals was very
remarkable for speed, and knew that in case of
flight they must inevitably fall in the* rear, and
become an easy prey to their pursuers. They
considered discretion as the better part of valor,
and ' self-preservation the first law of nature,'
and, suiting their action to the consideration,
hobbled off toward the East Branch timber.
They had not gone far when they were dis-
covered by Col. Beaubien, who rode on after
them, loudly vociferating, ' Halt ! halt !' They
did not heed the command, but concentrated all
their efforts to get out of his way. Beaubien
put spurs to his horse and soon ran them down.
Coming up to them, he drew a pistol, and, pre-
senting it, uttered the effective condition and
conclusion, ' You run ? By gar ! you run, me
shoot you !' The argument was irresistible,

and the fugitives were captured and brought
back. R. N. Murray, who was with the com-
pany, being well mounted, started to go and
ascertain what had become of Naper ; but he
had gone only a short distance when John
made his appearance and gave the signal that
friends were in the camp, which signal was
greeted with a shout as joyous as any that ever
broke the silence of that grove. On entering
the settlement, it was ascertained that the In-
dians under Capt. Kinzie had accomplished the
journey before them, and had fired the two guns
as a salute to the gallant Naper, as he rode
fearlessly into the camp. The company had
been out all day, and were very hungry, but
nothing could be found at the settlement in the
way of provisions. Among the cattle feeding
on the prairie was a fine, fat steer, belonging
to R. M. Sweet; and it was decided that it
should be slaughtered for their evening's re-
past. The cattle were all very wild, and ran
off in fright whenever they were approached, so
that the only method of securing the young
steer was by shooting it. The Indians being
anxious to undertake this part of the project,
about fifty of them were provided with rifles,
and they sallied forth toward the place where
the herd was feeding, capering and cutting all
kinds of antics as they went along. As they
approached the herd, their victim was singled
out, and two or three shots were fired without
taking effect. The affrighted animal ran bellow-
ing over the field, closely pressed by his assail-
ants, who kept up a continual fire upon him,
until the whole round had been discharged.

" Of the fifty shots directed toward the ani-
mal, none proved mortal. A rifle ball, how-
ever, more fatally lodged, sent a tremor through
his frame, and caused him to slacken his pace.
The chase continued for some time, when the
animal, in attempting to cross a slough, became
mired and was easily taken. ' War seemed a
civil game,' compared to the uproar that fol-
lowed the fall of this hero. And as they bore

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

him upon their shoulders triumphantly into the
camp, one would have supposed, from the infer-
nal yelling and screeching of those Indians,
which

" ' Embowel' d with outrageous noise the air,'
that Milton's deep-throated engines were again
let loose with a certainty. They all shared the
triumph, and each celebrated tlie capture of the
steer as his own special achievement. Nothing
could exceed the vainglorious vaporing of these
rude sons of the forest, as they strutted about
and exulted in the heroism of the adventure.
The animal was properly dressed, and portions
of the meat were prepared for supper, of which
all partook with a good degree of relish.

" After supper, the log store was broken open
and found to contain, among other things, a good
supply of the two staple articles of pioneer mer-
chandise, viz., rum and tobacco. These were
dealt out profusely to the Indians as a reward
for their valorous conduct in the evening chase.
The company remained at the settlement during
the night. In the evening, to vary the monotony
a little, the}- prevailed upon the Indians to get
up a war dance. This performance, when dra-
matically considered, is strictly tragic, but it
must be admitted that the ' bill ' for that even-
ing had a fair sprinkling of the comic. Scalping
scenes and tomahawk scenes were presented in
the most approved Indian fashion, to the infinite
amusement of a small but ' highly respectable
audience.' At a late hour, the whole company
retired, each individual selecting his ' site ' with-
out respect to the complexion of his neighbor.

"In the morning the company under Beaubien
arose with an impatient desire to meet the ene-
my. They had slept off the fatigue of the pre-
vious day, and their desire for conflict returned
with redoubled force with the restoration of their

bodily energies. They resolved upon committing
havoc among the Sacs, and fearing that they
might, in some unguarded moment, slay some of
their friends, the Pottawatomies, by mistake,
they went again to the old log store and procured
a piece of cotton sheeting, which they tore into
small strips and tied around the head and waist
of each friendly Indian. Thus decorated, the}'
left the party of Capt. Kinzie, and started for
the Big Woods. The prairies were scoured, but
not an Indian, nor trace of an Indian, was to
be found.

" The company returned to the settlement
sadly dejected at the ill success of their Quix-
otic adventure, and started for Chicago on the
following morning. Nothing transpired on the
way worthy of notice, except that the company
rode as far as Brush Hill, constantly expecting
to suffer the inconvenience of being shot, through
the carelessness of one of its members, a young
man then fresh from New York City, but now
an individual of some distinction in Chicago
City. He accidentally discharged his piece three
times before reaching Brush Hill. The guns were
strapped to the saddles in a horizontal position,
and the chances were that the young man's ran-
dom shots would take effect, if he was allowed
the range of the whole company much longer.
Arriving at Brush Hill and attempting to dis-
mount, bang ! went his gun again. This aroused
the ire of Col. Beaubien. He could endure it no
longer, and commanded the youth to surrender
up his arms. This the young man stoutly re-
fused to do, whereupon Col. Beaubien made a
violent descent upon him, threw him down, and
after a short struggle, succeeded in wresting the
gun from his grasp, after which there was no
more ' firing on parade ' that day."

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

CHAPTER III.

CAPT. PAINE ARRIVES AT THE NAPER SETTLEMENT— FORT PAINE BUILT— JAMES BROWN SHOT BY
THE INDIANS— EXPEDITION TO HALF DAY'S VILLAGE— MAJ. WILLIAM WHISTLER ARRIVES
AT FORT DEARBORN— CAPT. PAINE'S COMPANY RETURN TO DANVILLE— GEN. SCOTT AR-
RIVES AT CHICAGO— THE CHOLERA— GEN. SCOTT ENCAMPS ON THE DESPLAINES
—GEN. SCOTT AT FORT PAINE— GEN. SCOTT'S ARMY AT ROCK ISLAND— JOHN
K. CLARK— BLACK HAWK SENT TO FORTRESS MONROE— HIS DEATH
—POLL LISTS— THE PRE-EMPTION HOUSE— CLAIMANTS— THE
PRAIRIE SCHOONER— THE FIRST GRIST-MILL— FOWLER'S
GRAPPLE WITH THE WOLF — THE PIONEER OF
PIONEERS — EARLY PREACHERS.

PENDING these excitements, Black Hawk,
with his army, were encamped on the
Rock River, north of Dixon, and Gen. At-
kinson, who held chief command of the volun-
teers, was stationed at Ottawa ; and inasmuch
as the new settlers on the Du Page had no
means of knowing the real situation, they
thought it no more than a prudential measure,
warranted by the circumstances, to build a
fort, into which the settlers might take refuge
in case of a sudden invasion. Accordingly,
Capt. Joseph Naper, Capt. H. Board man and ten
or twelve others, about the middle of June,
started for Ottawa to get assistance from Gen.
Atkinson to do this. He granted their request,
and detailed Capt. Paine, of Joliet, with a com-
pany of fifty volunteers from Danville, to assist
in the work. These, with the company of men
comprising the settlers on the Du Page, under
command of Capt. Joseph Naper, soon com-
pleted the work.

The following is the muster-roll of the Du
Page Company :

Muster-roll of a company of mounted volun-
teers in the service of the United States in de-
fense of the northern frontier of the State of
Illinois against the Sac and Fox Indians, from
the County of Cook, in said State, in the year
1832, under command of Capt. Joseph Naper.

Joseph Naper, Captain ; Alanson Sweet,
First Lieutenant, now living at Evanston, 111. ;
Sherman King, Second Lieutenant, afterward a
resident of Brush Hill, III.; S. M. Salsburj',
First Sergeant, dead ; John Manning, Second
Sergeant ; Walter Stowell, Third Sergeant,
afterward removed to Newark, 111.; John Na-
per, Fourth Sergeant, died in Naperville ; T. E.
Parsons, First Corporal ; Lyman Butterfield,
Second Corporal ; Israel P. Blodgett, Third
Corporal, dead ; Robert N. Murry, now County
Judge of Du Page County.

Privates — P. F. W. Peck, William Barber,
Richard M. Sweet, John Stevens, Jr., Calvin M.
Stowell. John Fox, Denis Clark, Caleb Foster,
Augustine Stowell, George Fox, T. Parsons,
Daniel Langdon, William Gault, Uriah Paine,
John Stevens (dead), SethWescott (dead), Henry
T. Wilson (now ninety-four years old, living at
Wheaton), Christopher Paine, Bailey Hobson,
Josiah H. Giddings (living in Wisconsin), Anson
Ament, Calvin Ament, Edmund Harrison, Wil-
lard Scott (now living in Naperville), Prez Haw-
ley, Peter Wicoffe.

The fort was situated on the spot now occu-
pied by the house of Lewis Elsworth. It was a
stockade of about 100 feet square, surrounded
by pickets set in the ground, on two* diagonal
corners of which were two block-houses, pierced

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

with port-holes so as to command the prairie
in every direction. While constructing the
block-house, " shakes " (clapboards or shingles)
had to be used for covering. A quantity of
these had already been riven out from oak tim-
ber in Sweet's Grove, two and one-half miles dis-
tant, and Capt. Paine detached two men with
a team to haul them to the ground. It was
driven by James Brown, and a young man
named Buckley accompanied him to assist in
loading. Arriving at the grove, they had to
pass through a pair of bars, and Buckley
jumped from the wagon to take them away,
proceeding thence directly toward the pile of
shakes. Brown drove on toward the spot,
when, on entering the grove, he was fired on
by a party of Indians who laid in ambush for
the purpose of cutting off any one who might
be so unfortunate as to cross their path. Three
balls pierced his breast, and he fell. The
horses, which were spirited animals, took fright,
and, running, with great force thrust the end of
the tongue of the wagon two or three inches
into an oak tree. The three Indians who did
this dastardly work now came up, scalped their
victim, cut the horses loose from their confined
position, mounted them and fled, two of them on
one horse and the third on the other.

Young Buckley, who witnessed the cruel fate
of his companion, fled to the fort, breathless
and stupefied with terror. On his arrival, it
was several minutes before he could speak, but
his blanched face and protruding tongue told
"his story in advance, all but the detail. His
feet were bare, but he could not remember hav-
ing pulled off his boots, which he must have
done to lend speed to his flight. As soon as
he could give an account of the affair, a com-
pany of ten or twelve men well mounted started
in pursuit. Passing by the spot where the un-
fortunate young soldier laid still warm, but a
lifeless corpse, they kept on the track of the
vagabonds who had slain him, and followed
them to a grove near the present residence of

Judge Drummond. Night overtook them here,
and while the pursued could flee, the pursuers
could not follow their tracks. Thus balked of
their purpose, the party returned, taking up the
body of Brown on their way and conveying it
to the fort. He was buried with the honors of
war on a rise of ground about twenty rods from
the fort, and subsequently his remains were re-
moved to the cemetery at Naperville, where a
monument perpetuates his memory. He was
one of the Danville volunteers.

The night after this unfortunate occurrence,
under the impression that a large force of hos-
tile Sauks must be not far distant, Capt. Naper
and Alanson Sweet started for Fort Dearborn
at Chicago to get a re-enforcement ; but Gen.
Williams, who held command there, after con-
ferring with his subordinate officers, instead of
granting him the men refused, on the ground
that he deemed it unsafe — a reply illy calcu-
lated to re-assure the little band alread}- there,
and especially the two scouts who had alone
ventured through a country supposed to be
beset with foes. The two scouts returned to
Fort Paine, and no further move was made till
the 4th of July, when a scouting party, under
command of Capt. Boardman, consisting of
about twenty well-mounted men, started out
on a reconnoissance to Ament's Grove, eight
miles below Oswego. There they encamped at
the deserted house of Mr. Ament, who, with
his family, had taken refuge within the walls of
Fort Dearborn.

During' the night, rain had fallen, making
a mold for footprints in the well-frequented
trail that led past the place, and careful exami-
nation the next morning revealed the tracks of
two Indians. Of course, in the distempered
imaginations of the raiders they must be
Sauks, and they followed them about fifteen
miles to the village of a friendly Potta-
watomie chief. While yet a mile distant from
the village, the figure of an Indian on top
of one of the tents was plainly discernible,

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

evidently on the watch for his pursuers. The
place was soon gained, but all was silent as the
grave in the deserted place. Careful exami-
nation now traced the fugitives to the
river bank opposite an island. Had the harm-
less but unlucky fleers been found, the}^ would
have been shot at sight. This they well knew;
and, instead of either attempting to hold a
parley with the scouts or to run away before
their fleet horses, stealthily climbed a tree on
the island and concealed themselves amid its
foliage.

In vain their pursuers searched for their
tracks along river bank and trail. No trace of
them could be found, and the party returned
to Fort Paine. Some weeks afterward, two
friendly Pottawatomies told the story to Alex-
ander Robinson, giving point to the recital by
describing the astonishment of their pursuers
as to the mysterious wa}' by which their tracks
had been concealed.

They had circumvented White Eagle, as they
called Mr. Scott, and that was glory enough for
them.

Let us now return to Fort Dearborn. Here
fugitives from the Hickory Creek, Naper, Scott
and Walker's Grove settlements had gathered
into close quarters, and nearly all of them des-
titute of food and a change of clothing. This
would have been no especial grievance to sav-
ages, but to the people here assembled, who had
been bred in the midst of plenty, nothing but
the value which a cultured citizen places on
life could make it endurable.

While these fugitives were amusing them-
selves as best they could to kill the long days
of July, the sound of a cannon broke the si-
lence of the morning. All eyes turned toward
the lake, and there was an approaching sail.
Succeeding puffs of smoke, with a corresponding
number of reports, after brief intervals, threw
the town into transports, and almost everybody
flew to the beach. The vessel approached the
mouth of the river, cast her anchor and low-

ered her boat3. Into these the soldiers leaped,
and soon came rowing up Chicago River amidst
the huzzas of the assembled spectators.

This was a small command under Maj. Will-
iam Whistler, the son of the same who had
built the first Fort Dearborn in 1803-04. He
came as an advance to Gen. Scott to make prep-
arations for his arrival. Those who were shel-
tered in the fort were required to leave it.

For a short time, some still lingered around
outside, but most of them returned to their
homes, and the Naper settlement began to as-
sume its former appearance again. Capt.
Paine's company of volunteers left Fort Paine
on the 10th of July, as the danger by this time
was considered past, as it had been in reality
long before, for Black Hawk for many days
with his whole army had been in full retreat
northwestwardly in Wisconsin.

'Twas on the 8th of July, at 2 o'clock, dur-
ing the small hours of morning, that the inhab-
itants of Chicago were awakened by an outcry
in the streets. Gen. Scott's arm}' had arrived
at the place and his soldiers were dying with
the cholera. When the broad light of morning
came, says an eye-witness, hardly a resident
was to be seen in the streets for nearly all had
fled. Dr. De Camp, the arm}^ plrysician, prompt-
ly called on those who had the courage to re-
main to allay their fears, and to assure them
that the disease would be confined to the garri-
son. Indian Robinson (chief of the Pottawat-
omies), John Miller (a tavern-keeper at the
fort) and Benjamin Hall, at present residents of
Wheaton, 111., remained at their respective
posts, but the town, so recentl} 7 the scene of
bustle and confusion, presented the solemnity
of a graveyard.

In a few days the fleers began to return, but
kept aloof from the fort where the disease was
making such havoc that there were scarcely
well ones enough to take care of the sick and
bury the dead. Ninety of the soldiers fell vic-
tims ere the contagion had spent its force, and

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

were buried just outside of the fort without the
usual military honors of a soldier or even the
civil usages of a coffin. When the last spark
of life was supposed to be gone out, the corpse
was hastened to the grave which was ever ready
to receive the victim, where stood two grave-
diggers with immobility in their faces and
spades in their hands to interpose a few feet of
earth between the decaying mass of contagion
and the living world above ground. While
this decimating process was going on, Gen.
Scott was in no condition to take the offensive,
but soon the disease exhausted all the material
on which it could work, and abated. A camp
was then established on the Desplaines River,
where such soldiers as were still suffering from
the effects of cholera could recruit their strength
preparatory to a march across the country to
the Mississippi River. This done, Gen. Scott,
with twelve men as a body guard, and two
wagons drawn by horses, started across the
country for Fort Armstrong on Rock Island ;
Fort Paine, on the Du Page, lay on his route,
and here he arrived on the 20th of Juby, about
the middle of the afternoon, and spent the first
night on his journey.

He conversed very agreeably with the citi-
zen soldiers at the fort, and started on his way
early the next morning, taking a straight course
for Dixon, across the open prairie, which led
him directl}* across Du Page County. It is
worth}' of notice here that Luther Nichols, a
well-known resident of Chicago till his death
in 1881, was one of the soldiers who accom-
panied him. Mr. Nichols was also the last
surviving soldier of Fort Dearborn who went
through that fearful ordeal. The writer called
on him but a few months before his death, and
the following is the substance of his story,
which verifies what has already been stated.
He came to Chicago, with his wife and one
child (as a soldier), in the service of the United
States Infantry, under the immediate charge of
Maj. Whistler. On their arrival, they found

Fort Dearborn crowded with fugitives from the
adjoining country, who had fled to the place
for refuge from the Black Hawk Indians. They
were ordered to leave at once, and obe3 r ed the
summons with reluctance, as their fears were
not yet allayed from the danger of Indian scalp-
ing parties. A few days after their arrival,
Gen. Scott came and brought the cholera.
Maj. Whistler then left the fort and built bar-
racks for his men at the foot of the present
site of Madison street. Here they remained
during the prevalence of cholera, and assisted
in burying the dead of Scott's army. Soon
after Gen. Scott's arrival, several of the dead
bodies of such soldiers as had died on the pas-
sage (of which eighteen had been thrown into
the lake), were driven by the winds ashore on
the beach south of Chicago, where he (Mr.
Nichols) with six of the company, were ordered
to go and bury them. It was a loathsome task,
but quickly done. Their graves were soon dug
in the soft sands of the shore, into which their
bodies were tumbled and hastily covered, from
which place they have never been resurrected.

Mr. Nichols witnessed Gen. Scott's treaty
with the Sauks, at Rock Island, where their
miserable remnant made their signs to relin-
quish their homes forever. They were subdued,
humbled, and so emaciated by hunger and hard
marching as to look like skeletons with leath-
ern sacks drawn over them. There was much
carousing and hilarity among the soldiers. Mr.
Davenport, after whom the cit\* opposite was
named, kept a grocery and drinking saloon in
Rock Island, half a mile above Fort Armstrong,
where both officers and soldiers made them-
selves merry on whisky, which was said to be
of a good brand, but of its quality Mr. Nichols
could not judge from his own knowledge.

These simple facts from the lips of this hon-
est old man have not only an historic but a
moral force. Had he been intemperate, like
some of his comrades, he would not have been

the last survivor of Fort Dearborn. He was

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

born in Otsego County, N. Y., in 1805 ; enlist-
ed in the regular service in 1828 ; was honora-
bly discharged at Fort Dearborn in the fall of
1833, and remained in Chicago till his death,
in 1881. After the departure of Gen. Scott on
his way to Rock Island, the command of the
main body of the army devolved on Col. Cu Da-
rnings. Many of the men still lay in a feeble
condition, encamped at the present site of Riv-
erside on the Desplaines. In a few days, they
were ready to take up their march, all but four
or five soldiers. These were carried in the
wagons, and the army started up the Desplaines
River to the present site of Maywood ; thence
in a direct line through Gilbert's Grove on the
Du Page. They crossed the Fox River three
miles below where Elgin now stands. Thence
through a Winnebago village where Beloit,
Wis., now is. The track they made has since
been used as a highway, and called the arm}''
trail, but the same trail was a well-known
route before Scott's army traveled it. It was
an old Indian trail from Chicago to the Winne-
bago village where Beloit now stands, from
time immemorial. Scott's army were ordered
to follow it, and they obeyed to the letter, cut-
ting a wagon road through groves where it
led that they could easily have gone around.

The train waited a week for dispatches at
the Indian village, and, after these came, they
bent their course down the Rock River to Rock
Island. It was probably the result of the bat.
tie of Bad Ax that turned the course of the
army toward Rock Island instead of toward
the locality where Black Hawk's arm}' were
fighting like wild beasts at bay. At the battle
of Bad Ax, most of his men were dispatched
to the happy hunting grounds, and many of
their squaws and papooses also went with
them, embarking from the fatal island in the
Mississippi River where, from the steamer
Black Warrior, and from the company of Capt
Taylor (afterward President of the United
States), a deadly fire was kept up on them till

the last wretch who had taken refuge there was
killed, of whatever sex or age they might be.

Robert N. Murray had enlisted in the serv-
ice of Col. Cummings as teamster, to sit in one
of the fifty wagons of which the train was
composed and hold the ribbons. After the
first day's ride, he run over a hornets' nest,
which gave the teams that immediately fol-
lowed anj benefits that might result.

The retaliation for this disturbance of their
home was prompt and decisive, as it was indis-
criminate, for it fell not on the teams that had
run over them, but on those that followed.

Maddened into fury by their stings, the horses
ran away and broke several wagons, and two
days' detention to make repairs was the result,
all of which was charged to accident (?). Far-
ther along, young Murray was promoted from
driving the baggage wagon, to which he had
first been assigned, to driving the carriage of
the Colonel himself, who held command of the
whole train. This promotion could not have
been the result of Murray's bold charge on the
hornets nest, for his modesty forbade that he
should plume himself, and he said nothing about
it to any one till he became County Judge?
when he revealed the reminiscence to the writ-
er, which is hereby transferred to these columns
as a fresh bit of history to illustrate the jocular
spirit of the times that then prevailed.

In the summer of 1836, Dr. Teffts, of Elgin,
was passing the spot where this event occurred,
and there lay in the prairie grass, the bones of
a skeleton beside the army trail. Without doubt
they were those of a soldier buried here during
the detention, and dug up by the wolves after the
train was out of sight, who, hyena-like, had
made a hideous repast from his diseased flesh.
These relics may now be seen in Dr. Teffts' of-
fice.

It may want explanation how Gen. Scott,
while at Chicago, learned of the progress of the
war, and the locality of the erratic combatants
engaged in it — a knowledge so essential to him

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

(the Comaiander-in-Chief), before any steps
could be taken from his position at Fort Dear-
born. To get this information, he employed a
man acquainted with the country to go to Dix-
on, on Rock River, which was supposed to be
Gen. Atkinson's base.

The name of the intrepid scout thus employed
to communicate with Gen. Atkinson was John
K. Clark, an early " habitant " of Chicago, still
remembered by a few of its early settlers. His
mother was a captive, who had been taken in
childhood by the Shawnees from the Virginia
frontier during Dunmore's war in 1774. and
subsequently became the wife (after the Indian
fashion) of John Kinzie, the founder of the city
of Chicago (in the American sense). Clark was
the oldest son of this discarded wife after her
marriage to a worthy Scotch gentleman. He
executed the mission of Gen. Scott with fidelity,
taking along with him two half-breeds, equally
courageous, to assist in any emergency that
might befall him on the way. Stealthily he
traversed the open prairie which intervened
between Chicago and Dixon, passing through
the northern part of the present county of
Du Page, avoiding all trails and Indian
lodges lest he might be captured by emissaries
of Black Hawk, who were then supposed to be
prowling about for stragglers. When he re-
turned with a message from Gen. Atkinson and
presented it to Gen. Scott, he with his comrades
received a liberal reward, but the two half-
breeds tarnished their laurels by a carousal,
and, before they recovered from the effects of
it, died with cholera. Mr. Benjamin Hall, now
living in Wheaton, saw them but a few minutes
before they were taken down.

After the arrival of Gen. Scott's army at
Fort Armstrong, the fifty teams accompanying
it were sent back to Chicago, young Murray
being one of the drivers. They had been pur-
chased at Milan, Ohio, but were sold at Chi-
cago on Government account for the most they
would bring. The Indian prisoners were sent

to Jefferson barracks just below St. Louis on
the 9th of September. Here Black Hawk, who
was among them, remained till April 26, 1833,
when he was sent to Fortress Monroe, since
which time worse men than he have been con-
fined there. On the 4th of June following, he
was sent back to the small relic of his tribe,
then removed west of the Mississippi River.
On his wa}% he was received with ovations in
all the large cities through which he passed.
Ladies of high rank flattered him with compli-
ments, which, if anything could astonish an In-
dian, must have been a surprise to this old
weather-beaten warrior at the contrast pre-
sented between the treatment he had received
at the hands of the white men who first drove
him from his village with no provocation, and
the kind sympathy of these elegant ladies.
Not to be outdone b} T them in courtesy, he re-
sponded to their pleasant words and smiles in
as good English as he could : " Pretty Squaw,
Pretty squaw."

On returning to his country, he was restored
to his tribe as a chief subordinate to Keokuk.
His last days were spent in quietude, where
his good squaw attended to his wants till death
caused him to be

" Admitted to that equal sky

To which his faithful dog shall bear him company."

This was October 3, 1838. He was buried in
a sitting posture, near the present village of
Towaville, in Wapello County. A mound six
feet high was raised over the grave of this ill-
starred chieftain who must ever stand recorded
as the last native defender of the soil of the
Northwest. Thus^nded all danger from Indian
troubles, for no fears were entertained on ac-
count of the Pottawatomies, though still more
numerous than the whites throughout Northern
Illinois.

In justice to the memory of Black Hawk, it
should not be omitted here that according to
the testimony of Gov. Reynolds, who was in
the war and an eye witness, it appears that the

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

first hostile shot was fired at one of Black
Hawk's men, who was one of five to convej r a
flag of truce to the camp of the Americans.
Two of these white-flag bearers were captured
and killed by the volunteers, and Stillman's
disgraceful defeat was the result of this affair,
on which occasion a little handful of Indians
gave chase to 240 volunteers, and killed 11 of
them in revenge for their attack upon the five
truce- bearers.

The massacre at Indian Creek soon followed,
which for hellish cruelty has never been ex-
ceeded in the annals of Indian warfare. Two
of the Indians engaged in it were supposed to
be, and probably were veritably identified after-
ward, and a bill for murder against them was
found in the Court of the Grand Jury at Ottawa.
The criminals were placed in the hands of
George E. Walker, then County Sheriff of La
Salle County ; but as their trial was postponed
six months, and, in the meantime, the tribe to
which the two criminals belonged had been re-
removed beyond the Mississippi River, Mr.
Walker released them on their own pledge that
they would return at the next term of court, he
himself signing their bail.

On the appointed day, in stalked the two In-
dians with the air of their brethren when they
sing their death song ; but, owing to the floods,
the judge could not appear, and the court again
adjourned over to another term. The two In-
dians again returned to their tribe, supposing
the matter done with. In this they were mis-
taken. Mr. Walker was called upon to produce
them at the next session of court, and he started
immediately and alone acfoss the countay,
reached the tribe, and the two criminals re-
turned without hesitation with him ; were tried
and acquitted for want of identification satis-
factory to the jury.

Mr. Walker died in 1874, at No. 34 Indiana
avenue, Chicago, greatly esteemed by all who
knew him. This information was direct from
his truthful lips before he died.

During the absence of the settlers at Naper's
colony, they had disturbed nothing which had
been left behind, and when the fleers returned
they found the warm meals that some of them
had left on the table untasted, now worse than
cold hash.

The sacrifices that had been made by the
hast}- stampede into Fort Dearborn of the
Naper settlers, were more than offset by the
widespread fame and notoriety which the affair
had given throughout the country, which soon
began to induce emigration not only into the
entire northern portion of the State ; and among
the other wonders that first surprised new
comers, was the wonder that so fertile a coun-
try accessible as it was to the world outside,
had so long remained unnoticed.

The following poll lists are copied from the
original documents, which are now in the hands
of William Naper, son of Joseph Naper. They
are authentic records of the names of settlers
then in and contiguous to the Naper settle-
ment :

A poll book of an election held in the Scott Gen-
eral Precinct in Cook County, 111., on Monday the
6th day of August, 1832.

voters' names.
Joseph Naper, P. F. W. Peck,

Harry Boardman, Israel P. Blodgett,

Stephen M. Salesbury, Robert Strong,
John Manning, Walter Stowell,

Seth Wescott, R. M Sweet,

John Naper, Harry T. Willson,

Pierce Hawley, Peter Wycoff,

Willard Scott, Bailey Hobson.

Isaac Scarritt,

At an election held at the house of Joseph Naper
in the Scott Precinct, in the county of Cook and
State of Illinois, on the 6th day of August, in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
thirty-two, the following-named persons received
the number of votes annexed to their respective
names, for the following described offices to wit:
Joseph Duncan had 14 votes for Representative to

Congress.
Jonathan H. Pugh had 2 votes for 'Representative to

Congress.
James N. Strode had 13 votes for Senator.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

James W. Stephenson had 3 votes for Senator.

Benjamin I. Mills had 16 votes for Representative.

Stephen B. Forbes had 17 votes for Sheriff.

Elijah Wentworth, Jr., had 16 votes for Coroner.

Rufus Brown had 17 votes for County Commissioner.

Harry Boardman had 16 votes for County Commis-
sioner.

Holder Sisson had 16 votes for County Commis-
sioner.

James Walker had 1 vote for County Commissioner.

Certified by us,

Joseph Naper,
Harry Boardman,
Stephen M. Salesbury.

Attest: Judges of Election.

ISwSo™: I ow» <■■—■

A poll book of an election in the Scott General
Precinct in Cook County, 111., on Saturday the 6th

of October, 1832.

voters' names.
Daniel Landon, Lyman Butterfield,

Joseph Naper, John Manning,

Harry Boardman, Christopher Payne,

John Murray, Peter Wycoff,

Alanson Sweet, Caleb Foster,

Asahel Buckley, John Naper,

Sherman King, Pierce Hawley.

8. M. Salesbury,

At an election held at the house of Joseph Naper
in the Scott General Election Precinct in the Flag
Creek District, in the County of Cook and State of
Illinois, on the 6th day of October in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-
two, the following-named persons received the
number of votes annexed to their respective names,
for the following described offices to wit:
Stephen M. Salisbury had 10 votes for Justice of

the Peace.
John Murray had 2 votes for Justice of the Peace.
John Manning had 1 vote for Justice of the Peace.
Sherman King had 1 vote for Justice of the Peace.
Willard Scott had 14 votes for Constable.
William Laird had 12 votes for Constable.
John Murray had 1 vote for Constable.
Sherman King had 1 vote for Constable.
Certified by us.

Joseph Naper,
Harry Boardman,
John Murray,

Judges of Election.
Attest:

Alanson Sweet, > ni , „ Tni . .
John Manning, nUrks of Election.

Soon after the election, says Judge Blodgett,
Henry Pomeroy, Samuel Gooderich, Hiram
Standish and Capt. John Barber settled at what
was at this time called the Hawley and Scott
settlement, which by the next year was so
much extended by new-comers as to nearly fill
up the gap between it and the Naper settle-
ment.

Among this class of settlers who came after
the Black Hawk war and became permanent res-
idents was John Stephens, who in July, 1832,
bought out a claim of P. F. W. Peck, a part of
which lies within the present corporate limits
of Naperville. He remained on it till his
death in 1862. Philinda, his daughter, mar-
ried William Laird the next year, 1833, and
went to the Fox River to live. Mr. Laird died
in 1834, when Mrs. Laird returned to her father's
house at Naperville, where she married Hiram
Fowler in 1844. She and her husband are now
(1882) both living in Naperville, and from them
the writer learned the date of the erection of
the first hotel in Naperville, as well as being
the first in the county of Du Page. It was the
Pre-emption House, the frame of which was
put up by George W. Laird, brother of William.
He sold it to John Stephens, who partly fin-
ished and rented it to Mr. Crocker, and subse-
quently to Mr. Douglas, Mr. Aldrich, and lastly
to Messrs. Munson & Webster, after which he
sold it to Gen. Bill.

When the frame of this old landmark was
raised, the event was one of no small magni-
tude in the estimation of those interested. On
all such occasions in that day, the inevitable
bottle is passed around at seasonable intervals,
and it appears that on this occasion a vein of
sentiment inspired at least one mind, and found
vent in the following lines, which were spoken
by Nathan Allen from the ridge pole of the
frame when finished.

"This place once a wilderness of savage and owls.
Where the red man once roamed and the prairie wolf
howled,

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

This house now erected the place to adorn,
To shelter the living and babes yet unborn,
"We'll name it " Pre-emption"— a law that's complete,
For the use of George Laird who says he will treat."

The author's name is not known, but nobocty
will accuse him of plagiarism, for the lines them-
selves were too naively put together to allow
grounds for such a charge, painting as no other
language could the spirit of the da}-s of 1834
at the Naper settlement. Michael Hines, who
came to the place the next year (1835), arrived
on Temple's line of stages, passing Barry's
Point, nine miles west of Chicago, where the
Widow Barry kept a hotel ; Lawton's, on the
Desplaines ; Brush Hill, where Mr. Fuller kept
a log hotel, and Richard Sweet's, a hotel one
and a half miles east of Naperville. Says Mr-
Hines : " The Pre-emption House was then the
only building on the low grounds. On the ele-
vated grounds were log houses where the Na-
pers, Mr. Strubler, Dr. White, Dr. Potter and
Alexander Howard, who kept the post office,
lived. There was one store also at the time.
Mr. Hines is now Justice of the Peace in Na-
perville. But the country all round was filling
up with settlers, and it may with truth be said
that its agricultural growth was more rapid
than its increase in trading interests, for the
reason that the first wants of the settler were
simplified down to his necessities, and until
the farmers of any new country get revenues
from their farms, their villages will improve
slowly.

The onl}* public surveys that had yet been
made in the country were of the lands south-
east of the old Indian boundary line, which
only took in about fifty sections in the south-
east corner of the present county, but settlers
could not wait for surveys. They were on the
ground, and when they saw a piece of land that
suited them, they took possession of it, or, at
least, as much of it as they felt their ability to
pay for when it came to be surveyed and
brought into market by the Government. To

define the limits of their claims, they plowed a
furrow around them on prairies, and blazed the
trees to define claim lines in the groves. The
first claims thus made were for lands comprising
both prairie and timber in requisite proportions;
water also being an important consideration,
lands on the Du Page River, or those on which
springs were found, were the first sought for.
All lands of this description, for many miles
around the Naper settlement, were under claim
as earby as 1835, but plenty of open prairie had
not been taken possession of previous to 1839.

The second hotel built in the Naper settle-
ment was the New York House. It was not at
first intended for a hotel, but for a wagon and
blacksmith shop, for which purpose it was used
for a year or more, when it was metamorphosed
into a house of entertainment, by removing the
forges which once stood where now the billiard
table stands in this establishment, which is
still like the Pre-emption House, one of the
links that connect the early day to the present.

R. N. Murray was its first proprietor. While
the house inside had been purged of every ves-
tige of blacksmith's cinders — honorable in their
place, but not appropriate in a hotel, still the
old swings for shoeing oxen outside remained
for some years — after their mission had ended —
there standing as a huge memento of the early
methods of transportation by these slow, but
faithful animals, with their cloven hoofs plated
with iron.

During all this time, Naperville was the cen-
ter of attraction. Here was a saw mill, stores,
shops and two taverns, and it was on the great
highway that led from Chicago to Ottawa, and
thence to Vandalia, the capital of the State.
This road was traveled by a constant stream of
prairie schooners, as they were called. The}'
were large Pennsylvania wagons covered with
canvas, drawn by oxen. Slowly they moved
along, with their ponderous burdens following
the beaten track over the great ocean of waving
grass, that was omnipresent, with nothing to

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

relieve its monotonous grandeur (if the ex-
pression is admissible) but here and there a
grove. When night overtook them, their drivers
fed the oxen from the prairie and berthed him-
self in the wagon after having eaten his cold
boiled ham and corned bread, seasoned with a
swallow from his flask (if he had not joined the
teetotalers) to tone up his spirits with his di-
gestion.

Naperville was a far-famed stopping-place
for these travelers, and some of its early resi-
dents have informed the writer that more than
fifty of these " prairie schooners " anchored
there during the season of travel every night.
Whisk}' was 20 cents per gallon, and they had
merry times. Far along the verge of the grove
their shouts rent the air, and their camp-fires
gleamed through the darkness till a late hour-
The teams from the West were loaded with grain
for the Chicago market, and those from the
East with goods to suppty the necessities of
farmers, such as salt, leather, plows and other
indispensables.

Besides this travel through the place, there
was a large travel from every direction to it, to
bring corn and wheat to a grist-mill, which
Bailey Hobson and Harry Boardman had fin-
ished in running order in 1835. This was the
first and only one of the kind that went by water
in a large scope of country around, and here
the farmers came with their grists, and also took
the occasion to do a little shopping at the stores.

It was a great event in the place when this
mill went into operation ; every one wished to
help the enterprise along, and let it not be for-
gotten that in this benevolent work Miss Lucy
Standish made the bolt cloth, and ingeniously
put it on the reel. She is cousin to the wife of
Mr. F. Mather, a resident of Wheaton, and a
true descendant of Old Cotton Mather, the great
foe to Salem Witches. Whether Miss Standish
is related in any way to the celebrated Miles,
the writer cannot say, but it is certain that she
is not his direct descendant, as he died a bache-

lor, after an unsuccessful courtship, resulting
from the blunder of sending an agent to do his
courting, who won the lady on his own account,
and left poor Miles a lonesome monument of
the old adage, that " faint heart never won
fair lady." Albeit the memory of Miles Stand-
ish is embalmed in history, for his pugnacious
feelings toward the Indians, who never commit-
ted an offense against him. His humble name-
sake, Miss Lucy, whose ingenuity in making
the first bolt cloth that ever separated bran
from flour in this county, still lives among us,
worthy to be represented in these pages. In
the good old times when she was in the hey-
day of her vigor, almost everybody partook of
the "rough and ready" spirit. If anything
difficult or dangerous was to be done, there was
little shirking. Nobody was afraid of soiling
their kid gloves. It's doubtful if there was such
a thing in the county.

Hiram Fowler, who still lives as a resident
of Naperville, now far advanced in years, de-
lights to rehearse the tales of early life there,
and amongst other reminiscenses, has a wolf
story, which, though familiar to his fellow-citi-
zens, will bear printing for the benefit of those
who have not heard him tell it.

In 1836, his home was a mile and a half
above Naperville, on the bank of the Du Page,
from which, late one afternoon, he rode to the
town on horseback to buy some groceries. On
his return, his dog encountered a wolf some
distance ahead of him, and he well knew, from
the fierce snapping and yelping, that a battle
was going on between the two. Hastening to
the spot, he dismounted, but he had no weapon,
not even a stick with which he could take part
in the evenly matched fight. But, unarmed as
he was, he ventured to give the wolf a kick in
the head, or rather make the attempt to, when
the defender caught the toe of his boot, and
cut a hole through the upper with a single
snap, his tooth passing between two of Mr.
Fowler's toes.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Nothing daunted by the failure of this first
charge upon the enemy, he next grappled with
him, catching him b} r the hind foot and swing-
ing him around so violently that he could not
turn the biting end to defend himself. Mr.
Fowler saw his advantage, hung to him with
the grip of a giant, swinging him furiously with
one hand, while with the other he seized the
bridle of his horse and leaped upon his back,
still clinging to the wolf. He now galloped to
the home of Mr. Bird, half a mile distant, who
came to his assistance and dispatched the wolf.

Besides the permanent settler who plants
himself on the soil of a new country and grows
up with the country, is another class of men,
of whom it may with truth be said, lose the
end in the means to acquire that end. They
are the incarnation of the true pioneer, and
their love for settling on the broad face of
nature, untarnished by the devices of clans or
even the restraints of conventionalism, amounts
to a passion, or, as some would saj 7 , " a hobby."
These men are almost always generous and
self-sacrificing, abhor technicalities and scorn
thieves.

They take a short cut toward what they
consider a principle of justice, though it may
be across fields of jurisdiction. Mr. Lewis
Ellsworth, a well-known citizen of Naperville,
tells the writer an anecdote as to one of these
men, named Stout, who had made a claim on
the west side of the East Branch of the Du
Page, Lisle Township, Section 11. He had a
large field of corn near the road where the
travel went from the back country to Chicago,
and it was a frequent occurrence that passers
with loaded wagons would take corn from his
field to bate their teams. When informed of
this, he replied that it was all right, as he felt
so strongly imbued with the principle of hospi-
tality that he felt no desire to put a stop to
what the mildest name other people would have
given to it would be a trespass. But Mr. Stout
came from a backwoods place in Indiana, where

the generosity of the neighborhood would for-
bid one to charge pay for a horse feed, and he
could not bring himself to such a practice.
Soon after this, there came an avalanche of
settlers and the machinery of law and society
was put fairly in motion. Then he left for a
new field on which to bask in the sunshine of
immunity from restraints.

Those who have lived in frontier places can
best understand the eccentricities of these men.
The writer once knew one of them to move six
or eight miles and build a new cabin at the
spot because his cow had chosen her range
there, which whim would be like the tail wag-
ging the dog instead of the dog the tail.
Without drawing any comparison between
these men and Oscar Wilde, who stands at
the other end of the pole, it is justly due to
them to say that, with all their idios} 7 ncracies j
they possess points out of which the romancer
and the poet weaves the brightest colors into
his fabric. Cooper's Leather Stocking was
one of them, and Longfellow's Lover of Evan-
geline was another. One other class of the
early day deserves mention, and that is the
preacher.

The reverend pioneer was no aesthetic. He
rode an ambling pony from settlement to set-
tlement, and quartered on the hospitality of
the people as he went along, which was always
a steadfast dependence, for no one would turn
anybody away, especially a preacher. He was
always very much at home, and, if his coat
often wanted a few stitches to make it present-
able to an audience, he did not hesitate to ask
the mistress of the household whose circle he
honored with his presence to do the necessary
needle work. His sermons, if not elegant,
were effective, and laid the foundation for more
learned and perhaps more effeminate preachers
to reap where he sowed the seed.

Rev. S. R. Beggs was one of these early
preachers, and has written a book relating his
early experiences, from which the following

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

quotations are taken as good authority to
show the methods and mission of the early
preacher. On page 91, he sa}-s: " I thanked
him, and attended morning devotions. The
thanks and prayers of the Methodist minister
in those days always settled the reckoning with
their hosts." On page 108, continues Father
Beggs, in 1834 : " I was re-appointed to Des-
plaines Mission (this included the Du Page
country), and I returned with renewed zeal,
which in this case was the more necessary, as
the rage for speculation was just commencing
among both settlers and emigrants. It was
an earnest struggle, and it sometimes seemed
impossible to hold the attention of the sinner
long enough to impress him with the great
claim which the Gospel had on him. Those
who would not come out to church I followed
to their houses, conversing with them on the
highways and by the wayside. It was a doubt-
ful struggle ; but by the help of the Lord and
His efficient instruments — in the persons of
Brothers Walker, E. Scarriott and F. Owens —
I saw many souls converted and believers

strengthened. * * * My worldly goods
increased, so that, if one could use the paradox,
I was cursed with blessings. Three years be-
fore, I owned a horse and $60, now my farm of
240 acres was nearly paid for, and I had four
horses, seven cows and forty hogs."

On page 229, in speaking of Rev. Mr. See,
Father Beggs continues : "I knew him well, and
as a good preacher, and if he 'got into the
brush,' as the pioneers used to say, when one
was at a loss how to go on with his sermon, it
was no more than others did who made preten-
sions to greater advantages when trying to
j)reach without a manuscript, and at last did
not get the brush cleared away after all, as did
Father See. Indeed, I have often thought of
the story of one of the ' regular succession,' who,
while preaching, suddenly discovered that ' third-
\y ' had been blown out of the window, by means
of which he lost the thread of his ideas, and
came to a full stop. And " (continues Father
Beggs, in defending Mr. See from an attack
made on him for ' slaughtering the king's En-
glish ' ), " thank God, he slaughtered sin, also."

CHAPTER IV.

PUBLIC LAND SURVEYS— THE LAND CLAIM SYSTEM— NECESSITY FOR THE HIGHER LAW— THE BIG
WOODS CLAIM PROTECTING SOCIETY— THE LAND PIRATE COMPANY— LAND SPECULATORS
—INDIAN BURYING GROUNDS— THE FOX RIVER COUNTRY— METHOD OF GRINDING
CORN— INDIAN VILLAGES— INDIAN AGRICULTURE— INDIAN MODES OF
TRAVEL— THE COUNTRY NORTH, EAST AND SOUTH OF THE DU PAGE
SETTLEMENTS— THE DU PAGE COUNTY SOCIETY FOR MU-
TUAL PROTECTION— THE HOGNATORIAL COUNCIL.

n"^HE public lands of the United States are
-»- ordinarily surveyed into rectangular tracts,
bounded by lines conforming to the cardinal
points. These tracts are designated as town-
ships, sections, half-sections, quarter-sections,
half-quarter-sections, quarter-quarter-sections,
and lots. They have, as nearly as may be, the
following dimensions : A township is six miles

square ; a section is one mile square ; a half-
section is one mile long and one-half mile wide ;
a quarter-section is one-half mile square ; a
half-quarter-section is one-half mile north and
south, and one-fourth mile east and west ; a
quarter - quarter - section is one -fourth mile
square ; a lot is one of the subdivisions of such
part of a fractional section as is not susceptible

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

of division into quarter-quarter-sections, and
contains, as nearly as may be, the quantity of
a quarter-quarter-section.

This plan of survey is called the rectangular
system. It has been in operation since the
latter part of the last century. Since its in-
auguration, it has undergone modifications con-
tributing much to its completeness. The later
surveys are, therefore, much more S3 r stematic
and regular than the early ones.

In applying this system to any portion of the
public lands, a base line, on a parallel of lati-
tude, and a principal meridian intersecting it,
are established as the necessities and con-
venience of the survey ma} 7 require ; and they
are laid down and marked with great care.
Other lines are then run corresponding to these,
and so that the last ones are, as nearly as may
be, six miles apart each way.

The rectangular tracts thus formed are the
townships, and subdivisions of these form the
sections and fractions of sections.

A line of townships extending north and
south is called a range. The ranges are desig-
nated by their number east or west of the
principal meridian. The townships in each
range are named by their number north or
south of the base line.

This will be understood by observing upon
the map of Illinois that a principal meridian is
laid down from the mouth of the Ohio River
northward through the State, and that in the
northeast corner of Washington Count}' it in-
tersects a base line on the parallel of thirty-
eight and a half degrees. This principal
meridian and base line, it will be seen, are each
numbered both ways from the point of inter-
section. This is the third of the established
permanent meridians of the land survey.
Springfield, for instance, is thus found to be in
Township 16 north, in Range 5 west, of the
Third Principal Meridian.

The Fourth Principal Meridian begins at the
mouth of the Illinois River and intersects a

base line at Beardstown. All of the State
west of the Illinois River, and west of the
Third Principal Meridian northward from where
it crosses the Illinois River, is numbered from
this fourth meridian. The Second Principal
Meridian extends from the Ohio River, in
Crawford County, Ind., through the State. It
intersects the base line in Orange County. The
portion of Illinois east of Range 11 east of the
Third Principal Meridian, north to the south
line of Township 31, is numbered from this
Second Principal Meridian, all the rest is num-
bered from the Third Meridian, and Du Page
County is included in this territory. The public
surveys had been extended through the entire
southern and central portions of the State of
Illinois long before Du Page County or the
northern part of the State had been settled,
and on no part of the public domain of the
wild and unsurveyed territory of the United
States had so many complex conditions crossed
the path of the settler as here.

That this country had so long remained
comparatively unknown to the world outside,
was due to the fact that the Indian title to it had
not been extinguished till the social antagon-
isms of the white and red races were brought
face to face with each other, and demanded
action to prevent violence. The Pottawatomies
had been no idle observers of the manner by
which their red brethren east of them had been
driven from their lands. They had seen these
tribes take up the hatchet, and though led by
such renowned chiefs as Pontiac, Little Tur-
tle and Tecumseh, had been vanquished and
almost annihilated in the unequal combat that
followed their efforts to defend their soil from
the first inroads of the settlers. Hoping to
avert such a calamity, they attempted to do it
by submission, and in accordance with this
policy never molested the settlers who came
among them, nor could Black Hawk's emissa-
ries with all their bravado induce them to
change their peaceful policy. For this reason

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

the Government could have no quarrel with
them, and there was no necessity to extinguish
their title to their lands till social influences
under the conditions of peace as already stated
made it essential to the best interests of both
the red and white races to do so. This is why
public surveys in Northern Illinois had been
retarded so long. The consequence was that
the settlers, in their haste to secure the best
lands, were obliged to take possession of them
in a state of nature, and establish the limits
and boundaries of their farms themselves,
which limits of course would have to be
changed to suit the lines made by the survey-
ors when they came to be made. To adjust
these limits whose section lines left portions of
two or more men's claims in one section, in-
volved nice distinctions in the natural princi-
ple of justice, with no precedent or rule as a
guide. This was only one of many other com-
plications to be solved on principles of equity
and fair dealing growing out of land claims.
The primary object of the settlers was to secure
homes for themselves, while for the rights of
the land speculator who came here to take
possession of the land to speculate on and en-
rich himself on its enhanced value growing out
of their labor, they cared nothing. He did
not come within the pale of this protection; on
the contrary, he was regarded with jealousy,
and had a thorny path to travel when he came
in collision with their interests.

But the foremost object of the settlers was
to guard against " claim jumping." This was
an attempt on the part of some interloper to
take possession of some parcel of land within
the limits of a claim already made. The lim-
its were marked by a furrow in the prairie, and
in the groves by marking the trees in a similar
manner to the way in which public surveyors
" blaze " -their lines through the woods in tim-
bered countries.

To adjust all the disputes liable to grow out
of all these circumstantial points, it was

thought expedient to organize a society and
appoint a committee of referees with plenary
power to settle all issues that compromise had
failed to harmonize between parties interested-
To this end, on the 6th of February, 1836,
a meeting of claim-holders was convened at
the house of Mr. A. Culver, who lived on the
eastern side of the Big Woods, which lies
partly in the southeastern corner of Du Page
County and also beyond to the west in Kane
Count}'. At this meeting, Dr. Levi Ward,
Frederick Stolp, A. E. Carpenter, William J.
Strong and Charles Sidders were appointed a
committee for the purpose required. These
gentlemen constituted a court of justice from
whose decision there was in substance no ap-
peal. Not that they or their constituency held
themselves in a position of defiance to law-
The}* only made a law unto themselves to pre-
pare for an emergency for which the laws of
the land had not made provision. They only
protected themselves in their natural rights to
land before it was surveyed, as the Government
protected pre-emptors after surveys had been
made.

It is true that certain contingencies were lia-
ble to come up with them not possible to pre-
emptors of public lands, and for these contin-
gencies they did not hesitate to provide, as the
sequel will show ; and here the historian would
be at default if he did not record the fact that
in no case has the decision of this self-consti-
tuted court been accused of injustice. The so-
ciety formed at the house of Mr. Culver was
called " The Big Woods Claim Protecting So-
ciety," of which John Warne was Secretary.
It was the first of the kind in the county and
consisted of ninety-seven members, including
officers, all of whom, so far as tradition and
reports go, were stalwart, justice-loving men,
who would neither commit an offense against
justice nor submit to one, quite a number of
whom are still living.

As an historic record, a list of those who first

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

joined the society is inserted : John Warne,
A. E. Carpenter, James Dyer, John Mosier,
Joseph Fish, J. M. Warren, John Maxwell,
Cornelius Jones, John Ogden, Phineas Graves,
William Hall, David Crane, James Brown,
Frederick Stolp, Nelson Murray, Taylor S.
Warne, Jesse B. Ketchum, Barton Eddy, David
McKee, J. S. P. Lord, Joseph Wilson, Warren
Smith, Henry M. Waite, Lyman King, Luther
Chandler, Gilbert S. Rouse, S. H. Arnold. Jos-
eph Stolp, Reuben Austin, Charles Arnold,
Levi Leach, Elihu Wright, Nahan Beardsley,
S. Hurlbut, Darias J. Lamphear, Walter Ger-
main, John B. Eddy, John Gregg, Samuel
Mosier, Orrin W. Graves, B. Tubbs, Jr., Joseph
Thayer, Thomson Paxton, L. Ward, Charles
Brown, Charles Sidders, James Hymes, Nathan
Williams, William J. Strong, Robert Hopkins,
Jesse Graves, John Stolp, Allen Williams, A.
Culver, Thomas N. Paxton, Dennis Clark,
Amander P. Thomas, Alfred Churchill, R. S.
Ostrander, A. W. Beardsley, George Laird,
George C. Howes, Samuel Paxton, William
Williams, George Monroe, Harvey Higbee, N.
H. Thomas, Enos Coleman, Linus L. Coleman,
Eli Northum, Zerah Jones, Reuben Jones,
George S. Blackman, Blackman & Winslow,
William E. Bent, J. B. & E. Smith, Ira Wood-
man, Alden S. Clifford, William Hill, John Fox,
Nathan Williams, Alanson Arnold, Eleazer
Blackman, Aurin Ralph, John Sidders, Russel
Whipple, Sheffield Mills, Jonas Lamphear, Will-
iam R. Currier, Manus Griswold, Isaac Barnes.
These gentlemen bound themselves, in the pe-
nal sum of $1,000 each, to protect and assist
each other in their respective claims, as per the
decisions of the committee they had appointed
to represent and define their rights.

Their meetings were to be twice a year, or
oftener if necessary, and the next one met on
the 6th of August, 1836, at the house of Thomas
Paxton. This was by the provisions of their
compact to be the date of their annual meet-

A new committee was chosen at this meet-
ing, consisting of William J. Strong, Thomson
Paxton, John Gregg, Warren Smith and Fred-
erick Stolp. At this meeting, it was made the
duty of the Secretary to record the description
of each claim of the different members, who were
to give the §&we to him within ninety days.
The meeting was adjourned to meet again at
the same place on the 4th of February the suc-
ceeding year.

As already stated, the Big Woods' Claim
Protecting Society was the first one of its kind
established here ; but previous to its organiza-
tion a company of land speculators had entered
the Big Woods, and laid claim to several sec-
tions of its best timbered land, and for the better
security of their lands had built a rail fence
around it. The gentlemen composing this so-
ciety gloried in the name of the Land Pirate
Company, but their piratical exploits in monop-
olizing the timber wanted for the use of the
settlers never achieved sufficient notoriety to be
lionized as marine highwaymen were by B3T011
in " The Corsair," for not long after the forma-
tion of the Big Woods Society the fence they
had built around their claim disappeared, and
nobody ever knew who hauled the rails away
any more than it was known who, under the
guise of Indian plumes and paint, only sixty
years before this event, had went aboard the
English ships in Boston Harbor, and emptied
their tea chests into the sea. One of these tea
destroyers survived till about the date of this
Big Woods Company's birth, having in his lat-
ter years revealed his identity, and, perhaps,
some of those who moved away the offending
rails, by means of which it was hoped to retain
" the timber of the Big Woods, may yet tell how
it was done, and who did it. Possibly the old
veteran of Boston Harbor had set them up to
the business.

Land speculators at the time of the formation
of this society, were almost as numerous as the
actual settlers. The} r made a business of mark-

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

ing out claims in a similar manner to settlers,
and, after making slight improvements on them,
selling these claims to settlers at a large profit.
Against this grievance there was no remedy,
for it was optional with the settler to purchase
his claim or go farther West and make one'from
the great domain west of the Fox River, between
which and the Rock River no claims had been
made, except along their immediate banks.

The land south of the Indian boundary line
having been surveyed about the year 1830, came
into market in 1835. Much of it rested under
claims, and a collision of interest came up when
the land was offered for sale at the land office
in Chicago. Speculators began to bid on it as
high as $10 or $15 per acre, and quite a num-
ber of actual settlers lost the lands on which
they had settled and made improvements ; but
the sale had not proceeded long till the claim-
ants asserted their rights, backed up by too for-
midable an array of force and influence for the
speculators to set at defiance, and no more bid-
ding on lands under a settler's claim was ven-
tured on. The same year, in 1835, the lands
along Fox River were partly under claims, and
from Joseph Tefft, M. D., a present resident of
Elgin, the writer has learned the extent of set-
tlements from the present site of Aurora, then
known as Waubonsie's Village, to Elgin at that
time.

Mr. Tefts came from Madison County, N. Y.,
and, after making a short stop at a place called
the Yankee settlement, on the Desplaines
River, he passed through Naperville, and
thence to the Fox River, in the autumn of
1835. Where Aurora now is, he found on the
west bank of the river a log cabin, where Mr.
Wilde lived on land he had claimed. On the"
east bank were some settlers also, but not
more than two or three. Two and a half miles
up the river was the Indian burying-ground,
■where mounds like those in our cemeteries
were raised over graves. Here Were newly-
made graves, for the country was still occu-

pied by a remnant of Waubonsie's subjects.
Besides those buried in the ground was the
body of a child, incased in birch bark, attached
to the limb of a tree far above their reach,
where it swung to and fro in the wind. This
custom of depositing the remains of young
children in trees, thus incased, was not unusual
among the Indians. Perhaps it was to rock
them to sleep. A Mr. McNemar then owned a
claim at the place, including the Indian ceme-
tery. Farther along, a man named Ctybourne
had a saw mill on a branch of the Fox River
coming in from the west, near the present site
of Batavia. At the present site of Geneva
lived James Herrington, who then kept a store
at the place, depending on custom from settlers
from a large radius of country around. At
the present site of St. Charles lived Mr. Fer-
sons, father of Reed Fersons, on the west side
of the river. Four miles to the north lived
Rice Fay, who came to the place the year be-
fore, and had raised a few vegetables and some
corn for family use. Not long afterward, Mr.
Teffts having made a claim and settled a short
distance above him on the river, he came to
his cabin to buy a few potatoes, but no per-
suasion could induce him to sell them ; but,
just before leaving, he gave him some, in*
which respect he was not unlike many other
pioneers. Mr. Fay had a large family, and
ground all their cereals for bread in a coffee
mill during the winter of 1835-36.

Farther up, where the army trail crossed
Fox River, lived Mr. Kendall in a log cabin on
his claim. Above him, Ira Minard had a claim
on the ground now occupied by the Elgin
Insane Asylum.

Mr. Minard, Reed Fersons and B. T. Hunt
were the founders of St. Charles.

At Elgin was a log cabin on the west side of
the river where Jonathan Kimball lived, who
was subsequently Justice of the Peace at Elgin.
Phineas Kimball lived on the east side, imme
diately north of the present site of the depot.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

North of him lived Ransom Olds, and the next
who came were James T. Gifford, the founder
of Elgin, who built a house near where Mr. Or-
lando Davidson now lives ; Hezekiah Gifford,
who built a house where George S. Bowen lives,
and Dr. Tefft, who settled in South Elgin and
now lives in Elgin.

There had been a large Indian village be-
tween the present city of Elgin and Dundee,
where about three acres of land still bore the
marks of their rude agriculture. Similar signs
were also apparent at South Elgin, where even
some of the tent poles of the Indians were
standing where their frail tenements had but
recently stood.

When the inhabitants of these places changed
their residence for a winter's hunt, or to make
a visit to a neighboring town, sometimes they
all went together, with the papoose baby
straped to a board which was lashed to the
back of the mother. The next two oldest put
one each into saddle-bags, and thrown across
the back of the pony as we used to take a grist
to mill in the olden time. The father then
mounted the pony, and then all were ready for
a march, the patient squaw having the hardest
part, as she tugged the papoose along by the
side of her lord, whose leggings her hands had
ornamented with porcupine quills or beads.

Fox River was then full of fish, which were
caught by the settlers and sometimes salted
down for table use in the winter. Beyond these
beginnings on the river-bank westwardly, was
a waste of prairie presenting no attraction to
the settler till the Rock River was reached.
To the north no settlements had been made till
the vicinity of Green Bay and Fort Howard
was reached. To the east was the mushroom
town of Chicago, waiting the completion of the
canal as a voucher for ultimate grandeur. Be-
tween this germ cell of a city and the Du Page
was first a dismal swamp, drained in its western
verge by the Desplaines River, on the banks of
which Mr. Barnardus Lawton had established

a hotel that old settlers still hold in grateful
remembrance.

Southward of the Du Page settlement — we
must remember that at this date of which we
now speak, 1835, it belonged to Cook County —
was a country settled more and more densely
the farther one went, till he reached Edwards
County, opposite St. Louis.

These were the surroundings of what is now
Du Page County, when the claimants of land here
first put down their stakes, not to be pulled up
again, and united their wisdom in council at
the Big Woods, for the purpose of uniting their
muscle, if necessary, to protect each other in
getting deeds of the lands which their labors
were about to make valuable. In this there
was no law but the higher law to protect them,
and this the}' were bound to employ. That dis-
putes, and what are called old-claim feuds, arose,
is true, but they had their origin in the same
misconception of the principles of justice that
give rise to law suits now, and not in the action
of the league.

A society having similar objects in view as
the Big Woods Society, was formed in Naper-
ville October 28, 1839. It was called the Du
Page County Society for Mutual Protection.
For a record of this society, we quote from
Richmond & Vallett's History :

Russell Whipple was called to the Chair, and
James C. Hatch appointed Secretary. Whereupon
the following report was read to the meeting: At
a meeting of the settlers of Du Page County, held
at Naperville on the 29th of September last, to take
measures for securing their rights and interests to
and in their respective claims, a committee of ten
was appointed to draft rules and regulations to pre-
sent for the consideration of this meeting, in com-
pliance with which, said committee respectfully beg
"leave to present the following:

Situated as we are upon Government lands, which
have, by the industry of the settlers, already be-
come highly valuable, and inasmuch as our claims
lie in such a variety of shapes, and are of such dif-
ferent dimensions that they cannot in any manner
correspond with the Government survey, it appears
necessary, in order to prevent the most fearful con-

HISTORY OF 1)U PAGE COUNTY.

sequences, that the lines of our respective claims
should be established previous to the Government
survey, and we ourselves bound by the strong arm
of the law, to reconvey, as hereinafter mentioned,
to our neighbors, whenever these lands are sold by
the order of the General Government, so as to keep
our claims as they are now established; and to ac-
complish this end, we recommend the following
regulations:

First. We do hereby form ourselves into a so-
ciety, to be called the Du Page County Society for
Mutual Protection, and agree to be governed by
such prudent rules and by-laws as the society may
hereafter adopt, not inconsistent with the laws of
the country; and that we will make use of all hon-
orable means to protect each other in our respective
claims, as may hereafter be agreed upon and re-
corded; and that we will not countenance any un-
just claim, set up by speculators or others ; and we
declare that the primary object of this society is to
protect the inhabitants in their claims and bounda-
ries, so that each shall deed and redeed to the other
as hereinafter mentioned, when the Government
survey does not agree with the present lines, or lines
which may hereafter be agreed upon.

Second. That there be a committee of five ap-
pointed at this meeting, three of whom may form a
board of arbitration, to decide from legal testimony,
all disputes respecting the lines or boundaries of any
claim to which they may be called together, with
the costs of the arbitration, and the party or parties
who shall pay the same: Provided, It does not ap-
pear that such dispute has previously been decided,
by an arbitration held by the agreement of the par-
ties, which shall be a bar against further proceed-
ings of said committee, except as to matter of costs.

Third. That each of the said committee shall
be entitled to $1 per day, for each day officially en-
gaged.

Fourth. That in all cases where the parties
cannot establish their lines, either by reference to
their neighbors or otherwise, either party may, at
any time, by giving to the other ten days' notice of
his or her intention, call out at least three of the
board of arbitration, to decide the same, and their
decision shall be final.

Fifth. That there shall be one Clerk appointed
at this meeting, who shall keep a fair record of all
transactions of this association, and also of all de-
scriptions of claims presented to him for record:
Provided, That there is attached thereto a certificate
from all who have adjoining claims, certifying to
the correctness of such description, or a certificate

signed by a majority of any arbitration, met to es-
tablish any line or lines of said claim; and that the
said Clerk shall be entitled to 25 cents for recording
each claim and certificate.

Sixth. That it shall be the duty of every settler
to present to ;he Clerk, a definite description of his
or her claim, either from actual survey or other-
wise, and also to set his or her hand and seal to a
certain indenture, drafted by Giles Spring, Esq., of
Chicago, for this society.

Seventh/ That there be a committee of three in
each precinct appointed at this meeting, for the pur-
pose of carrying into effect the sixth regulation.

Eighth. That the settlers on the school lands
ought to obtain their lands at Government prices.

Ninth. That we will firmly and manfully pro-
tect all who conform to the above regulations pre-
vious to the 1st day of January, 1840.

"Which report and regulations were unanimously
adopted, and ordered to be embodied in a consti-
tution.

Thereafter, on motion, a committee of six was
appointed by the chair, to nominate a board of ar-
bitration and Clerk, viz., Lewis Ellsworth, Elihu
Thayer, Luther Hatch, Cornelius Jones, Job A.
Smith and David S. Dunning; who, having retired,
returned and reported Lyman Meacham, Erastus
Gary and Stephen J. Scott Board of Arbitration, and
P. Ballingall, Clerk; which nominations were ap-
proved of.

Whereupon, it was moved and adopted, that the
following persons be the precinct committee, viz. :

Naperville Precinct — Stephen J. Scott, Henry
Goodrich, Nathan Allen, Jr.

Webster Precinct — John W. Walker, James C.
Hatch, Pierce Downer.

Deerfield Precinct— Luther Morton, Perus Barney,
Moses Stacy.

Washington Precinct — Lyman Meacham, Smith
D. Pierce, Capt. E. Kinny.

Orange Precinct — Job A. Smith, William Kim-
ball, Luther F. Sanderson.

Du Page Precinct — Warren Smith, Lorin G. Hul-
bert, Alvah Fowler.

Big Woods Precinct — John Warne, Levi Leach,
William J. Strong.

Resolved, That this meeting adjourn till the first
Monday in January, 1840.

Russell Whipple, Chairman.

James C. Hatch, Secretary.

At a meeting of the "Du Page County Society
for Mutual Protection," held at Naperville, the 6th
day of January, A. D. 1840, in pursuance of ad-

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

journmcnt, Russell Whipple took the chair, when,
on motion of Mr. George Martin, it was

Resolved, That the time for recording the claims
of the members of this society, in order to secure
the beneflt8 of the ninth resolution of the meeting
held on the 28th of October last, be extended till
the 1st day of March next.

On motion of Mr. James C. Hatch,

Resolved, That the claims belonging to members
of this society which lie on the line of or in another
county shall be entitled to record and protection, on
the member complying with the fifth regulation.

On motion of Mr. Lyman Meacham,

Resolved, That when a claim belonging to a mem-
ber of this association shall border on that of a non-
resident, or that of a person out of the State, or on
land not occupied, the same shall be recorded if a
certificate from the adjoining claimants be attached
thereto, certifying to such non-residence, absence or
non-occupancy, and that there is no dispute concern-
ing the same.

On motion of Mr. William J. Strong,

Resolved, That any member of this society who,
in an arbitration, fails to establish his claim before
the Board of Arbitration, shall pay the costs thereof
within six days from the decision being pronounced,
and failing to make such payment, he shall cease to
be a member of this society..

Resolved, That this meeting adjourn until the first
Monday in March next.

P. Ballingall, Clerk.

At a meeting of the society held at Naperville, on
the 6th day of January, A. D. 1840, in pursuance
of adjournment, Stephen J. Scott was appointed
Chairman.

Resolved, That James Johnson and Isaac B. Berry
be allowed another trial in their arbitration with
Harry T. Wilson, on condition that said Johnson
and Berry pay one counsel fee and the whole costs
of the arbitration.

Resolved, That the Board of Arbitrators shall have
power to fill all vacancies occasioned by death, re-
moval or otherwise, between this time and the first
Monday in May next.

Resolved, That the resolution offered by William
J. Strong, and passed at last meeting, be and is
hereby repealed.

Resolved, That the line between Ephraim Collar
and Timothy E. Parsons is hereby declared to be

the road leading from to , laid by But-

terfield, Church and Arnold, as the same has been
recorded.

Resolved, That this meeting adjourn till the first
Monday in May next.

P. Ballingall, Clerk.

At a meeting of the Du Page County Society for
Mutual Protection, held at Naperville, on Monday,
the 4th day of May, A. D. 1840, pursuant to adjourn-
ment, John Stevens was appointed Chairman and
James F. Wight Clerk pro tern., when, on motion of
Mr. P. Downer,

Resolved, That the time for settling and recording
claims of the members of this society be extended to
the first Monday in June next.

Resolved, That this meeting adjourn to the first
Monday in June next, then to meet at Naperville.
J. F. Wight. Clerk pro tern.

At a meeting of the Du Page County Society for
Mutual Protection, held at Naperville, on Monday,
the 1st day (being the first Monday) in June, 1840,
pursuant to adjournment, Capt. John Stevens was
appointed Chairman.

Patrick Ballingall, Esq., having resigned the
office of Clerk of this society, on motion of Mr.
Hunt,

Resolved, That James F. Wight be and is hereby
appointed Clerk of this society, in the place of P.
Ballingall, Esq., resigned.

Resolved. That the time for settling and recording
claims of the members of this society be extended
until the first Monday in September next.

On motion of Mr. James C. Hatch,

Resolved, That the Clerk hereafter record no cer-
tificates of claims unless it is certified that they are
the only claimants adjoining the claim or claims
offered to be recorded, or, for want of such certifi-
cate, that the applicant shall make oath that no
other person except those named in such certificate
adjoin him.

Resolved, That the Clerk shall notify all persons
whose claims are recorded (without their having
signed the settler's bond) that they sign the said
bond, or they will not be protected by this society.

Resolved, That this meeting adjourn to the first
Monday in September next, then to meet at the
Pre-emption House, in Naperville, at 1 o'clock P. M.
James F. Wight, Clerk.

At a meeting of the Du Page County Society for
Mutual Protection, held at Naperville, on Wednes-
day, the 3d day of March, 1841, Hon. Russell Whip-
ple was called to the Chair, and Morris Sleight ap-
pointed Secretary.

After the object of the meeting had been stated
by Stephen J. Scott, the following persons were ap-

(DECEASED)

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY,

pointed a committee to draft resolutions expressive
of the sense of this meeting, viz.: Luther Hatch,
Stephen J. Scott, William J. Strong and Isaac
Clark.

On motion of N. Allen, Jr., Esq., Alymer Keith
was appointed Clerk of this society, to record claims
and the certificates for the same, and to keep the
settlers' book, in place of James F. "Wight.

Besolved, That the time for recording claims be
extended to the first Monday of September, 1841.

The committeee appointed to draft resolutions
reported the following, which were adopted, with
one or two dissenting votes:

Whereas, It is generally believed that the public
lands on which we hold settlers' claims will be
shortly offered for sale, and in order that each
claimant may obtain and feel secure in the pos-
session of his just claim, it is deemed necessary that
there be a uniformity of action and feeling on the
subject, and believing that the proving up of pre-
emption claims will have a tendency to create ex-
citement and confusion, if not to interfere with the
rights of others; therefore be it

Besolved, 1" That we will not prove up our pre-
emption claims, even when justly entitled to do so,
except in cases where it may be deemed necessary to
secure the claimant; but that we will not do so with-
out the consent of a committee to be appointed by
this union or the several towns, to settle disputes.

Besolved, 2. Tnat any person who shall attempt
to obtain a pre-emption, and thereby seize upon any
part of any other person's claim, shall be deemed a
dishonest man, not entitled to the protection of this
union, and shall not be allowed to purchase any
other land in this county, if this union can pre-
vent it.

Besolved, 3. That when the inhabitants of any
township shall guarantee to those on the school sec-
tion, and entitled to a float, that they shall have
their claim at ten shillings per acre, then, in such
case, if they shall obtain, or attempt to obtain, a
float, or lay one upon any other claimant's just
claim, they shall be considered no better than a
thief or a robber, and shall have no protection from
this union.

Bosolved, 4. That it is the duty of this association
to take measures to secure to claimants on the school
section their claims at government price.

Besolved, 5. That the protection of this union will
not be extended to any person who shall either take
or purchase a school section float, except the town-
ship refuse to guarantee, as in the third resolution.

Besolved, 6. That the several townships in this

county call meetings, and make arrangements and
adopt such measures as may be thought necessary
with regard to their claims at the approaching land
sale.

Besolved, 7. That the proceedings of this meeting
be forwarded by the Secretary to the land office in
Chicago, and ask of the Eegister and Receiver to
act with regard to lands in this county on the spirit
of the resolutions here passed.

Besolved, 8. That the proceedings of this meeting
be signed by the Chairman and Secretary and pub-
lished in the Chicago papers.

Subordinate claim societies were organized
in each of the precincts of the county ; the set-
tlers pretty general!}' joined them, and many
difficulties were adjusted by this means among
the squatters. The hard times which followed
the crisis of 1836 and 1837 discouraged specu-
lation somewhat, and but few were able to pur-
chase the land which they had improved, and
some were unable to do that. The pledges
made by the members of the claim societies
were uniformly carried out, and all honorable
men gave no cause of complaint to their neigh-
bors. In a few cases some less scrupulous
refused to deed lands in their possession to the
rightful owner, and, in consequence, quarrels
and some suits at law were the result.

We subjoin a few instances, showing how
summarily a certain class of claim difficulties
were disposed of. Many more might be added,
but let these suffice.

Two neighbors owned adjoining claims, and
at the time of the organization of the claim
society, their land was being surveyed bj^ the
Government surveyor. One of the men hap-
pened to be a member of the societ3 r , and the
other, not. It so happened that the random
line, run by the surveyor, cut off a portion of
the claim of the first, and left it in such a man-
ner that the other would be entitled to a pre-
emption upon it. When he discovered this, he
refused to deed the land to the one who claimed
it. Persuasion was used in vain. He thought
he had the advantage of his neighbor, and de-
termined to keep it. In a few days, however,

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

matters assumed a different light, and then the
line was established so as to give back to the
society man not only what he claimed, but also
a large corner from his neighbor's tract, and
now he was entitled to a pre-emption. The ob-
stinate man was thus induced to join the socie-
ty, and take upon himself the obligation to
" deed and re-deed." After being kept in sus-
pense for awhile, by way of punishment, his
land was again restored to him.

There were many of the settlers who did not
join the claim societies, but among all bona-fide
settlers there prevailed a determination to pro-
tect each other. The first trouble arising from
'•claim jumping," was in 1836, or thereabouts,
respecting the claim of a Mr. Frothingham, in
the town of Milton. A family of squatters came
on and took possession of a portion of his
claim, without leave or license, and were deter-
mined to remain there in spite of entreaty or
physical force. The settlement was apprised
of this state of affairs, and a companj' of about
fifty horseman proceeded to the cabin of the in-
corrigible squatters, who, on seeing them, broke
for tall timber, leaving but one occupant in the
cabin, an old lady who had passed the running
point. The sum of $17 was raised among the
company to indemnify the family for sundry
outlays which they had made upon the prem-
ises. This the old lady received upon condi-
tion that the family should quit the claim
without delay. To expedite the execution of
her part of the contract, the settlers fell to work
and assisted in the removal of the furniture
from the house, and in clearing the premises of
everything that belonged to the family. After
this had been done, the house was torn down
and the rubbish thrown into a heap near by,
preparatory to kindling a bonfire, when the
"meeting" was called to order and several
stump speeches, of a decidedly inflammatory
character, were made. We are not in posses-
sion of the minutes of those speeches, but have
been informed that the Hon. Nathan Allen

figured quite conspicuously in this part of the
exercises. His speech on that occasion is
spoken of as being one of his most felicitous
and pointed " efforts." When the speech-mak-
ing had subsided, fire was set to the heap of
promiscuous ruins, and the hut of the interlop-
ers was soon reduced to ruins. The conduct
of the settlers in this case proved a warning to
future intruders, and claim-jumping was rarely
heard of in that part of the county afterward.

A man from Plumb Grove happened to be
on his way to the Naper settlement, and passed
near the place while the affair just described
was taking place. Seeing the smoke ascend
from the spot, and hearing the universal uproar
among the settlers, he concluded at once that a
party of Indians was there, killing and laying
waste. Turning from the beaten track which
led near the house, he made a circuit around
the " marauders," and lashing his horses to
their utmost speed, rode to' the settlement,
warning everybody to flee for their lives. The
cause of his fright was pretty generally under-
stood, and therefore he did not succeed in get-
ting up a very serious alarm.

A few years after, a contention arose respect-
ing the Tullis claim, which was situated in the
same neighborhood. Under a pre-emption law
passed about that time, a man by the name of
Harmond undertook to pre-empt a portion of
the claim of Mr. Tullis, who had already ob-
tained possession of it under a former pre-
emption act. In order to comply with the
provisions of the later act, Harmond built a
pen of small poles near the center of his claim,
stayed in it only one night, and started immedi-
ately for Chicago, to prove his pre-emption. On
his return, he commenced making repairs upon
an old block-house which was already built
upon his " quarter," and being asked why he
was doing it, replied that he had pre-empted
that claim, and was going to live there. This
aroused the indignation of the neighboring
squatters, who called a meeting to take into

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

consideration the conduct of Mr. Harmond. He,
being present, was advised to relinquish his
claim, but he positively refused to do it, and at
the same time threw out some pretty savage
threats against the settlers, in case they at-
tempted to remove him by force. After a long
consultation, it was concluded that the building
on the premises should be torn down if he did
not abandon it without delay. At this decis-
ion, Harmond became greatly exasperated, and,
having his rifle with him, threatened to fire
upon "the first man who should tear off a
board." Whereupon a fearless Quaker gentle-
man stepped forth and remarked to Mr. Har-
mond that if he designed to put that threat into
execution he had better begin by shooting at
him, as he considered himself a mark of suffi-
cient magnitude for a claim jumper to shoot at,
anyhow. The old Quaker was soon joined by
Lyman Butterfield, who addressed Mr. Har-
mond in pretty much the same strain, inform-
ing him that if he was not willing to waste his
powder on one man, he would offer the addi-
tional inducement of placing his own body in
fair range, so that he might at least kill " two
birds with one stone." But Harmond could
not be prevailed upon to shoot, and so the
party proceeded to the disputed claim, tearing
down the house, and removing every vestige of
former occupancy. Before ten minutes had
elapsed, after the decision of the council of
settlers, this was done, and Mr. Harmond was
sent on his waj 7 to other parts, not rejoicing,
but uttering the most awful denunciations
against such ungentlemanly treatment.

In justice to a numerous class of our early
settlers, we deem it appropriate to introduce
here a brief notice of a society which was formed
in 1834, and known as the " Hognatorial Coun-
cil." We have ransacked all the dead languages
we ever heard of in order to obtain for our
readers some clew to the origin of this prcenomen,
but have been signally defeated in the under-
taking. Its origin is altogether too obscure for

us, and we leave the task of tracing it to pro-
fessional archaeologists. The object of the
" council " seems to have been the settling of a
peculiar class of claim difficulties, which were
not taken cognizance of by the bona fide claim
committee, and its operations were designed to
burlesque the proceedings of that committee,
as well as to ridicule courts in general. All
disputes brought before the " Hognatorial "
were settled in a summary and satisfactory
manner. We can illustrate this remark with
but one instance, which occurred in the south
part of the county. A man by the name of
Clark, who was firmly grounded in Midship-
man Easy's doctrine of " what belongs to my
neighbor belongs also to me," made a " claim '
upon another man's land, lying somewhere on
the Du Page River. Finding that peaceable
and quiet possession was impossible, he applied
to a gentleman who happened to be posted in
"hognatorial matters" for advice. He was, of
course, advised to bring the matter before the
" Hognatorial Council," as that was the only
reliable tribunal having jurisdiction over such
grievances. His case was prepared by Nathan
Allen, a man of superior legal attainments, and
upon a certain day the Hognatorial Council
room was crowded to witness the proceedings
in the case. Allen opened the case b} 7 giving
to the jur} T a plain, unvarnished statement of
the facts, and closed it by a most pathetic ap-
peal to their sense of justice in behalf of his
wronged and injured client. Several witnesses
were called upon to testify, and the upshot of
the testimony was that Mr. Clark had a claim
commencing at a certain point on Du Page
River, but in what direction his lines ran from
that point it was impossible to ascertain. Sev-
eral hours were occupied in examining wit-
nesses, during which time Clark kept a boy
running to and fro between the " council cham-
ber " and his house, to inform his wife of the
different phases which the case assumed as the
trial progressed. At length the testimony was

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

all in, the closing argument made, and the case
submitted to the jury. There was but one
point left for the jury to act upon, and that re-
lated particularly to the boundary of Clark's
claim. They were out but a short time, and re-
turned the following verdict : " We, the jurors
in this case, decide that Mr. Clark is justly en-
titled to a piece of land lying on the Du Page

River, and described as follows, to wit : Com-
mencing at a certain point on the east bank of
said river, and running perpendicular to the
horizon straight up." This was enough for
Clark. He hastened to communicate the result
to his waiting, anxious wife, and afterward pro-
ceeded to the tavern and got ingloriously
drunk over the result of his victorious suit.

CHAPTER V.

FIRST INTRODUCTION OF SLAVERY INTO THE COLONY OF VIRGINIA— FIRST ANTI-SLAVERY LITERA-
TURE—SOUTHERN ORIGIN OF ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETIES— ACTION OF THE QUAKERS—" THE
GENIUS OF UNIVERSAL EMANCIPATION "—EARLY ABOLITIONISTS— THE OLD FEDERAL
PARTY— ORIGIN OF THE DEMOCRATIC AND WHIG PARTIES— ORIGIN OF THE RE-
PUBLICAN PARTY — GOV. COLES — ELIHU B. WASHBURNE — STEPHEN A.
DOUGLAS— ABRAHAM LINCOLN— THE "WESTERN CITIZEN" INTRODU-
CES ABOLITIONISM INTO CHICAGO— ITS EFFECT— ILLINOIS THE
FIRST STATE TO TAKE POLITICAL ACTION IN THE ABOLI-
TION MOVEMENT— JOHN BROWN— FORT SUMTER.

THE history of the war of the rebellion has
been written by several of the ablest men
our country has produced as political econo-
mists and authors ; and while these men have
given us the fundamental principles that ruled
in the issue, and even told how these principles
gathered force in the councils of the nation,
none of them have made an historical record of
the special events from the first, which, step by
step, produced the cause for which the issue
came into being. Nor have they biographically
sketched the men who were the instruments by
which the great change in public opinion was
wrought, that finally became an " irrepressible
conflict," to be decided by the sword only.
This as yet unwritten chapter in history may be
appropriately introduced here to precede the
war record of Du Page County.

Among the first American anti-slavery lit-
erature to be found since we became a nation
are some tracts in the private library of George
Washington, which library was purchased by

some Boston gentleman, and presented to the
Boston Athenaeum for preservation, where they
may now be found. Next in order, exclusively
anti-slavery, may be cited an oration upon the
moral and political evils of slavery, delivered
at a public meeting of the Maryland Society for
Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, July 4,
1791, by George Buchanan. M. D., member of
the American Philosophical Society, Baltimore ;
printed by Philip Edwards, 1793, and re-printed
by Robert Clark & Co., Cincinnati, in 1873, as
an appendix to an address by William F. Poole
on early anti-slavery opinions, delivered before
the Cincinnati Literary Club in 1872. Dr-
Buchanan's oration was a forcible argument
against slavery, for which he received a vote of
thanks from the society before whom it was de-
livered. He was born near Baltimore, Septem-
ber 19, 1763, and died at Philadelphia of yellow
fever in 1807, while in the discharge of his
duties as a physician.

In Jefferson's Notes on Virginia, which were

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

written in 1781-82, occur paragraphs condem-
ning slavery in forcible language, and canvassing
different plans for its extinction. In these sen-
timents Mr. Jefferson was sustained by a very
respectable constituency of Southern men,
among whom was George Wythe, of William
and Mary College.

Says Mr. Poole in his address already re-
ferred to : " There never has been a time since
1619, when the first slave ship — a Dutch man-
of-war — entered James River, in Virginia, when
in our country there were not persons protest-
ing against the wickedness and impolicy of the
African slave trade, and of the domestic slave
system. Slavery was introduced into the
American colonies against the wishes of the
settlers by the avarice of British traders, and
with the connivance of the British Government.
In 1772, the Assembly of Virginia petitioned
the throne of England to stop the importation
of slaves, using language as follows : ' We are
encouraged to look up to the throne and implore
your Majesty's paternal assistance in averting
a calamity of a most alarming nature. The
importation of slaves into the colonies from the
coast of Africa hath long been considered as a
trade of great inhumanity, and under its present
encouragement, we have great reason to fear,
will endanger the very existence of your Maj-
esty's dominion."

No notice was taken of the petition by the
crown, from which it is manifest that slavery
was enforced upon America by the mother
county.

Even while the first crude thoughts of the
American Revolution were revolving in the
minds of our fathers, an anti-slavery society
was formed by the Quakers at Sun Tavern in
Philadelphia, April 14, 1775.

The next year, 1776, the Quakers disowned
such of their members as continued to hold
slaves over the lawful age.

Patrick Henry in a letter dated January 18,
1773, to Robert Pleasants, afterward President

of the Virginia Abolition Society, said : " Be-
lieve me I shall honor the Quakers for their noble
efforts to abolish slavery. * * * I believe
a time will come when an opportunity will be
offered to abolish this lamentable evil." The
first anti-slavery society took the name of the
society for the relief of free negroes unlawfully
held in bondage. It met four times in 1775,
but on account of the Revolutionary war did
not meet again till February, 1784, the next
year after peace. Benjamin Franklin was Pres-
dent and Benjamin Rush Secretary of this so-
ciety in 1787.

A society in New York was established for
the manumission of slaves January 25, 1785,
of which John Jay was President, and Alexan-
der Hamilton his successor.

The foregoing are only a few of the leading
anti-slavey societies which sprung into exis-
tence in the first half-century of our Govern-
ment. The American Colonization Society was
formed in 1816, for the purpose of freeing slaves
and sending them to Africa, but this was found
to be of but little avail in the immense work to be
accomplished. In 1827, there were 136 aboli-
tion societies in the United States, 106 of which
were in slave-holding States. Many of the
later established ones of these, were the result
of Benjamin Lundy's efforts, who was the main
connecting link between the old societies
founded by the Revolutionary fathers and the
more modern Abolitionists, who revised the
work that they begun, and carried it on to suc-
cess amidst a storm of abuse, and sometimes
great personal violence.

Mr. Lundy was a Hicksite Quaker, born
in New Jersey January 4, 1789. In 1821,
he commenced the publication of The Gen-
ius of Universal Emancipation at Mount
Pleasant, Ohio. This name to his paper was
borrowed from Grattan's eloquent speech on
the abolition of slavery in the British Do-
minion. His paper was removed to Tennessee,
where it was continued till it was again re-

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

moved to Baltimore in 1825, and afterward to
Philadelphia, where it was continued till de-
stroyed by a mob at the burning of Pennsyl-
vania Hall in 1837.

Mr. Lundy, then undaunted by the murder
of Elijah P. Lovejoy, went to Illinois to con-
tinue the work he had begun there by resuming
the publication of the Genius, where his prede-
cessor had lost his life in the same cause.

William Lloyd Garrison, William Goodell,
Joshua Leavitt, Arthur Tappan and many
other leaders of the anti-slavery movement owe
their convictions to Lundy's teachings. His
paper was largely patronized by prominent
men in the Slave States. In an August num-
ber of the Genius, 1825, a statement is made
showing that there were more subscribers to
the paper in North Carolina than in any other
State. He died at Lowell, 111., August 22, 1839.

William Lloyd Garrison was born at New-
buryport, Mass., December 12, 1804, and when
very young, his father died, and he was left to
the care of a Christian mother. When only
nine years old, he was apprenticed to a shoe-
maker, but found his health would not permit
him to continue the trade. He then, after
some efforts to secure the advantages of an
academy, became apprenticed to the publisher
of a paper in his native town, and, while learn-
ing this trade, kept up his studies and began
to contribute for the press. At the age of
twenty-four, he became editor and proprietor
of a paper at Newburyport, but this enterprise
was not a success. In 1827, he became editor
of a total abstinence journal in Boston, which
was united later with a temperance and political
paper in Bennington, Vt. Subsequently, he
united with Benjamin Lundy, a Quaker, in the
publication of The Genius of Universal Eman-
cipation, at Athens, Ohio, where his uncompro-
mising spirit soon manifested itself, and Gar-
rison was imprisoned for libel. His fine was
paid by A. Tappan, and Garrison went to Bos-
ton, where, January 1, 1831, he issued the first

number of the historical Liberator. He started
without money, and did not have even an
office. In 1832, he visited England, where he
was well received by many of the leaders of
public opinion. When the American Anti-
Slavery Society was organized at Philadelphia,
he took a prominent part in the work. He
lectured frequently, and was on one occasion
dragged through the streets of Boston by a
mob for pleading the cause of the bondman.
Garrison was persecuted greatly, and the Gov-
ernor of Georgia once offered $5,000 for his
arrest. The warfare he waged against slaver}'
was continued until the slaves were set free,
and Januarj- 1, 1866, he published the last
number of the Liberator. From that time till
his death, which occurred May 24, 1879, he
was engaged in writing on various topics.

Benjamin Franklin Wade was born in Spring-
field, Mass., October 27, 1800. Like Garrison,
and many of the most eminent men of this
country, his early life was a struggle to obtain
an education — a struggle which was success-
ful. In 1826, he began the study of law, and
two years after, was admitted to the bar in
Ashtabula County, Ohio. In 1847, he was
chosen Presiding Judge of the Third District
of the State, and in 1851 was elected United
States Senator, and re-elected in 1857 and
1863. In 1865, he became President pro tem.
of the Senate and Acting Vice President of
the United States. In March, 1867, he was
elected President of the Senate. Senator Wade
was a strong anti-slavery leader, a stalwart
Union man, and advocated the homestead bill
for years, and it was in his charge that it
finally passed through the Senate. He was a
member of the San Domingo Commission, and
favored the annexation of that island to the
United States. His death occurred March 2,
1878, at Jefferson, Ohio.

T. Allan was born in Middle Tennessee, and
grew to manhood in Huntsville, Ala. In 1832,
he went to Lane Seminary at Cincinnati, Ohio,

^Xo-tJL lOcck^./^

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

and soon afterward took an active part in
slavery discussions by the students of that
institution, always advocating abolitionism.
This banished him from his father's house in
Alabama and also from Lane Seminary, to-
gether with many other anti-slavery agitators
among the conscientious students. Mr. Allan
then took the lecture field, and became agent
of the anti-slavery society in Ohio and West-
ern New York and also in Illinois. For ten
years this was his main work. He now lives
at Geneseo, 111.

William Goodell, by profession a merchant,
converted also by Lundy in 1828, was the
editor at the time of the National Temperance
Journal at Providence, R. I. He became a
permanent editor of anti-slavery journals, the
Friend of Man and Principia. He was the
main editor and supporter of the Gerrit Smith
doctrine of the unconstitutionality of slavery,
on which a section of the Liberty party was
formed. He died at Janesville, Wis., in 1879.

Joshua Leavitt, born in the western part of
Massachusetts, a convert of Lundy's, a minister
by education and an editor by profession. He
published the Emancipator, the organ of the
national Abolitionists, after Garrison's disaffec-
tion. He was the leader in the foundation of
the Liberty party of 1840, which grew into the
Republican party of 1860, Of which Abraham
Lincoln became the first successful and official
representative. Both the Evangelist and the
Independent of New York have been under his
editorial charge, and were indebted to him for
no small share of their influence as anti-slavery
organs. He died at Brooklyn, N. Y., January
16, 1873.

William Ellery Channing was born at New-
port, R. I., April 7, 1780. Coleridge said : " He
had the love of Wisdom and the wisdom of
Love." In 1837, his efforts to abolish slavery
began. In 1841, his book on the subject was
published, and had a wide circulation. He
died at Bennington, Vt., October 2, 1842.

Elijah Parish Lovejoy, " first American mar-
tyr to the freedom of the press and the free-
dom of the slave," was born in Albion, Me.,
November 9, 1802; educated at Waterville ;
went to St. Louis, Mo., in 1827 ; ordained in
1834 ; became editor of the St. Louis Observer,
a Presbyterian weekly. Required by the pro-
prietors of the paper to be silent on the sub-
ject of slavery, he boldly claimed the rights of
free speech and a free press ; was mobbed in
St. Louis and St. Charles ; bought the paper ;
removed it to Alton, 111., where three presses
were destroyed by violence, and at length, on
the night of November 7, 1837, while, by the
Mayor's order, defending his fourth, he was
shot by an armed mob. His murder roused
the North against slavery.

Rev. and Hon. Owen Lovejoy, a younger
brother of Elijah P., born in Albion, Me., Jan-
uary 6, 1811. He vowed eternal hostility to
slavery over the dead body of his brother ; be-
came pastor of the Congregational Church of
Princeton, 111., in 1838 ; was elected to the
Illinois Legislature in 1854, to Congress in
1856, and for three succeeding terms; died
while a member, in March, 1864, in Brooklyn,
N. Y. He was a very able preacher ; had
wonderful magnetism as a political speaker
over the masses ; became a leader in Congress,
asserting and maintaining the right of free
speech there, against clamorous opposition*

James G. Birney was born at Danville, Ky.,
February 4, 1792. He was the first Liberty
party candidate for the Presidency ; was a
wealthy Southern slaveholder ; emancipated his
slaves, and was editor of the Philanthropist at
Cincinnati, Ohio. His press was destroyed sev-
eral times. He died at Perth Amboy, N. J.,
November 25, 1857.

Gammiel Baily, a physician by profession,
succeeded Birney in editing the Philanthropist.
He founded the National Era at Washington,

*H. L. Hammond contributed the sketch of both of the Love-
joys.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

the paper that first gave to the world " Uncle
Tom's Cabin." The Era had a great influence
in popularizing anti-slaver}' principles. Dr.
Baily died in 1857 on a passage from Europe.

John G. Whittier was born in Haverhill, Mass.,
December 17, 1807. He was a shoemaker by
trade, a Quaker in religion, and a poet by
nature. He was an early friend of both Garri-
son and Lundy, from whom his innate abhor-
rence to human slavery was strengthened, and
he never ceased to use his able pen against it
till emancipation was proclaimed. His other
contributions to American literature have done
much to elevate its standard. His home is at
Amesbury, Mass.

Arthur Tappan was born in Connecticut May
22, 1786. He became a wealthy New York
merchant, well known throughout the whole
country as the abolition merchant, whose store
was shunned by the Southern trade. He founded
the Emancipator ; helped to fouud Oberlin Col-
lege, and was ever ready to assist the great
cause both with his influence and money. He
died July 23, 1865.

Lewis Tappan, brother of Arthur, was born in
Connecticut May 23, 1788. He was also a
wealthy New York merchant. He founded the
American Missionary Association, and was one
of the promoters of the National Era. He died
July 21, 1873.

Charles Sumner was born in Boston, Mass.,
January 6, 1811. He was the successor of
Daniel Webster in the United States Senate in
1851, which place he retained by successive
elections till his death. During this long and
exciting period in our country's history, he was
one of the main pillars in the great anti-slavery
fabric, which grew into maturity during his
Senatorial terms. His speech on the rendition
of Mason and Slidell was one of the most
masterly arguments of his time, and settled the
American mind in favor of Seward's policy in
delivering them up. Mr. Sumner died in Wash-
ington, D. C, March 11, 1874.

Lucretia Mott, one of the earliest female anti-
slavery orators — a Quaker preacher — was born
on the island of Nantucket in 1794, and resided
through her active life in Philadelphia. She
was a friend and supporter of Lundy on his
first appearance as an agitator ; was afterward
alike the friend and patron of Garrison. More
than any other woman, should she be known as
the female philanthropist of America, ranking
with Elizabeth Fry in England. She died at
her home, near Philadlphia, in November, 1880.

Lydia Maria Child, a celebrated woman, edi-
tor and author, a most elegant writer. She
edited the National State Slavery Standard, the
organ of the Garrison party. She wrote the
famous book, " An Appeal for the African."
She died in Massachusetts at a very great age,
in the spring of 1880.

Sarah and Angelina Grimke, two sisters and •
converted slaveholders from Charleston, S. C.
They emancipated their slaves and came North
to reside, and were active co-workers with the
Garrisonians of Boston. Angelina married
Theodore D. Weld. They were both women of
talent, and devoted philanthropists.

Theodore D. Weld became a student of Lane
Seminary in 1833, was a very eloquent orator
and forcible writer. At one time, he seemed to
be the literary author of the anti-slavery move-
ment. " Slavery as It Is " and the so-called
"Bible Argument" against slavery, works by
him, were the great guns of the moral conflict.
He married Angelina Grimke, a fit helpmeet in
his anti-slavery mission. •

Charles T. Torrey, a minister of the Congre-
gational Church and editor of the Tocsin of
Liberty, of Albany, and other papers ; the
operator on the Underground Railroad ; was
arrested in Mar}iand for running off slaves ;
convicted, sent to prison for life and died in a
year in the Maryland State Prison. He was a
devoted Christian man and known now as the
Martyr Torrey.

Samuel Lewis, a prominent anti-slavery man

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

of Ohio and eloquent lay preacher of the Meth-
odist denomination. He was a member of the
Board of Education of the State. He was an
effective orator, friend and supporter of Birney,
Bailey and Chase.

Salmon P. Chase was born in Cornish, N. H.,
January 13, 1808. He was one of the founders
of the Liberty party, in 1848, a member of
the Buffalo Free-Soil Convention that nomi-
nated Van Buren for President. In 1849,
elected United States Senator from Ohio by
a coalition of Democrats and Free-Soilers, and
made a record in the Senate as the uncom-
promising enemy of slavery. He became Gov-
ernor of Ohio in 1855, and was re-elected in
1857, and was appointed Secretary of the
Treasury by Lincoln in 1861, which office he
held three years, during which time the bank-
ing system now in use was founded, of which
he may be called the father. Upon the death
of Chief Justice Taney, Mr. Chase was ap-
pointed by Mr. Lincoln to that position, Octo-
ber, 1864. The fourteenth amendment to the
Constitution of the United States, which guar-
anteed civil rights to the Freedman, was among
the last of the public acts passed under his ad-
vocacy. He died of apoplexy at the residence
of his daughter, Mrs. William Hoyt, New York
City, May 7, 1873.

Joshua R. Giddings, the famous member of
Congress from Ohio, who pioneered the slavery
agitation in that great conservative body, was
born at Athens, Penn., October 6, 1795. His
reputation for consistency and honesty as a
statesman was acknowledged throughout the
country. He was appointed Consul General at
Montreal by Abraham Lincoln, where he died
May 27, 1864.

Gerrit Smith, a wealthy man of Central New
York, born in 1798, the most noted philan-
thropist of the country. He was the head of
the intense organization in politics known as
the Gerrit Smith's Liberty Party. He was a
friend alike of the two extremes of action —

John Brown and Elihu Burritt. Gave his money
freely to aid the fugitives, and for John
Brown's Kansas work, for the support of the
temperance and anti-slavery cause, and gave
away land freeby to colored men upon which
to make for themselves farms. He died sud-
denly in New York in 1874.

Elihu Burritt was born at New Britain,
Conn., December 8, 1811. He was a blacksmith
by trade, and was known throughout the coun-
try as " The Learned Blacksmith." Besides his
wonderful linguistic accomplishments, he was
a persistent searcher into the wants of the com"
mon people, and to this end made a tour
through England on foot. He was ever ready
in America to assist the abolition cause with
his logical pen as well as every other cause on
the side of humanity against oppression. He
died at the place of his birth in March, 1 867.

Wendell Phillips, the great New England
orator, born in Boston in 1811, the most active'
of all the agitators; now alive and as aggressive
as ever in the path to which his tenacious con-
science leads. His almost unparalleled powers
of eloquence have become well known through-
out the country, and the fame of them is destined
to pass into history.

Frederick Douglas was a slave by birth,
who secured his freedom first by flight and
afterward by paying his master his commercial
value in cash to enable him to avoid being
victimized by the Fugitive Slave Law. He
distinguished himself by writing a book en-
titled " My Bondage and My Freedom," which
had a wide circulation, and by some subtle and
secret methods, found its way into various parts
of the South, where it caused great commotion.
Mr. Douglas is now Recorder of Deeds in the
District of Columbia.

Jane Gray Swishelm was born in Pittsburgh,
Penn., December 6, 1815, descended from the
old Scotch Reformers, and also from the amia-
ble Lady Jane Gray, the nine days' Queen of
England. In January, 1848, she started the

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Pittsburgh Saturday Visitor, a paper devoted
to various reforms, but especially to the anti-
slavery cause. This paper supported Van
Buren when a Free-Soil candidate for the Pres-
idency as she says " to smash one of the great
pro-slavery parties of the nation, and gain an
anti-slavery balance of power to counteract the
slavery vote for which both contended." This
paper, together with many other anti-slavery
sheets, were the entering-wedge of disintegra-
tion to the political policy which had hitherto
courted the favor of the slavery interest as in-
despensable to success ; for they forced their
sentiments into the ranks of the old Whig party
till there was little left of it but a shell after
its abolition element was brought to the sur-
face. In the spring of 1857, Mrs. Swishelm
established the Visitor &t St. Cloud, Minn., soon
afterward taking the lecture field as an aboli-
tionist. Her path was a thorny one, but she
succeeded with her paper in spite of mobs and
threats, and the old public functionaries of
Minnesota recoiled before her oratorical and ed-
itorial power, and finally sunk below the sur-
face to rise no more.

In 1881, Mrs. Swishelm published her book
entitled " Half a Century," which is a valuable
record of the stirring time indicated in its title.
She now lives at Swissvale, near Pittsburgh,
still vigorous in mind and body.

Henry B. Stanton was one of the Lane Sem-
inary students at the time of the anti-slavery
excitement there. He was from Rochester, N.
Y. He was a man of talent, a fine speaker,
and soon took a prominent part in the Aboli-
tion movement. His field of labor was mostly
in New England and New York. Some of the
time he was associated with James G. Birney.
He was one of the originators of the Liberty
party. He is still living, hale and hearty — a
New York law}-er.

Hooper Warren, a native of Windsor, Vt., a
printer by trade, and an editor by profession.
The early anti-slavery man in Illinois when

the State was admitted into the Union, pub-
lished the Ed wards ville Spectator from about
1820 to 1826, which at the time was the only
paper that opposed the introduction of slavery
into Illinois. In that issue, he was a coadjutor
of Gov. Coles, and first nominated him as a
candidate for Governor. He was editor, in
1811 and 1842, with Z. Eastman, of the Genius
of Liberty. He died at the home of his
daughter at Mendota, in 1864. He was one of
those who early shaped the anti-slavery move-
ment in the West, from Hooper Warren,
through Lovejoy, on to the culmination of the
reform in the election of Abraham Lincoln,
which was manifestly the result of their ef-
forts.

Jonathan Blanchard, a native of Vermont,
took strong anti-slaver} 7 ground when he, a
young man, started out in life, armed with a
college diploma and an uncompromising spirit
toward slavery and secret societies. He was
early associated with the abolition movement,
and was outspoken as to the impolicy of slav-
ery when Henry Ward Beecher, his associate,
stood on neutral ground, under the wing of his
venerable father, Dr. Lyman Beecher, of Cin-
cinnati. Mr. Blanchard was a settled pastor
over a church in Cincinnati in 1848, and, dur-
ing his residence at that place, held a debate
with Rev. Dr. Rice, a pro-slavery minister of
his own denomination, which debate was pub-
lished in book form, and is now a kind of rare
old relic sometimes found on second-hand
booksellers' shelves, labeled " scarce," and sold
at an advance on its original price.

From Cincinnati, Mr. Blanchard removed to
Galesburg, where he became President of Knox
College, after remaining at which place a few
years he came to Wheaton, and has been Presi-
dent of the college at this place till 1882, when
he voluntarily resigned for his son Charles to
take his place. He is still vigorous in mind,
with a positiveness of purpose whose limit bas
not yet been overtaken by his advancing years.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Ichabod Codding was born in Bristol, Onta-
rio Co., N. Y., September 23, 1810. Secretary
Chase acknowledged him to be the greatest
orator he ever heard. He was educated at
Middlebury College, Vt., and came to Illinois
in 1842, by invitation of Mr. Eastman, to take
the lecture field in the anti-slavery agitation at
the West, and it is not too much to say that
his influence in this growing locality had much
to do in developing that sentiment that made
it possible to nominate one of its sons to the
Presidency of the United States. Mr. Codding
died at Baraboo, Wis., June 17, 1866.

Zebina Eastman, born in Amherst, Mass., a
printer by trade and an educated journalist,
having studied for that profession, he suc-
ceeded Mr. Lundy, the pioneer, in editing his
paper in Illinois, in 1839. In 1841, edited the
Genius of Liberty, with Hooper Warren. In
1842, removed to Chicago, by invitation of Dr.
C. V. Dyer and Philo Carpenter, and com-
menced the publication of the Western Citizen,
then the only anti-slavery paper in the North-
west, with the exception of the Philanthropist,
at Cincinnati. The Citizen was continued till
1855. He was a coadjutor with Elihu Burritt
in his League of Brotherhood and a member of
the Peace Congress at Frankfort, Germany, in
1850. He was appointed by Lincoln Consul at
Bristol in 1861. He now resides near Chicago,
and is in the employment of the Government.
The policy of the anti-slavery agitation shaped
in the Citizen was in some sense distinct from
the issues of the Eastern Abolitionists. It was
more definitely political and for the restoration
of the Declaration of Independence in the'
Government, and was the policy on which anti-
slavery principles triumphed in the election of
Mr. Lincoln.

Dr. Charles V. Dyer, the famous Abolitionist
of Chicago, and eminent as a manager of the
Underground Railroad, a noted wit and ever a
pronounced active man. The colored people
of Chicago presented him with a gold-headed

cane for having broken a previous one over the
head of a slave-catcher. He was appointed by
President Lincoln Judge of the Slave Trade
Court at Sierra Leone. Died at Chicago in
1877.

Charles Durkee, residing at Kenosha, Wis.,
was the first anti-slavery Congressman from
Wisconsin, and afterward United States Sen-
ator. He was a very effective man in the anti-
slavery cause in the early days of its agitation
in the Northwest. He was a member of the
Peace Congress at Paris in 1849.

Elihu B. Washburn, born at Livermore, Me.,
September 23, 1816, was elected to Congress
from Galena, 111., November, 1852, by the votes
of the Old Whig party and the Abolitionists who
joined them. He took his seat in the Thirty-
third Congress in December, 1853, and to the
utmost of his power resisted the passage of the
Kansas and Nebraska bill, and voted for every
measure tending to the abolition of slavery.
In his eight subsequent elections to Congress,
he received the entire abolition vote of his dis-
trict.

He was a strong advocate for the nomination
of Mr. Lincoln in 1860, and was his confiden-
tial friend and adviser during his administra-
tion.

Was appointed Secretary of State by Gen.
Grant in 1869, occupying that position but a
short time, when he was sent as a minister to
France, in March, 1869. He held this position
eight and a half years, during which time the
Franco-German war took place.

He was charged with the protection of the
German nationalities in Paris and Frauce. He
was recalled at his own request, in 1877, since
which time he has resided in Chicago.

Edward Coles was the earliest and most dis-
tinguished Abolitionist that ever lived in Illi-
nois, and was the second Governor of the State.
He was born in Virginia in 1786. His father
was a large slaveholder, and at his death be-
queathed to him a plantation with a large num-

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

ber of slaves. Determining not to live in a
slave-holding State, nor to hold slaves, he sold
his plantation, liberated all his slaves, giving
to each 1 60 acres of land in Illinois and re-
moved to Illinois in 1819. From his earliest
childhood, he imbibed the most intense hatred
of slavery, and devoted the earlier part of his
life to the cause of abolitionism. He was
Governor of Illinois at the time of the colossal
and desperate struggle to make it a Slave
State, and all his official and personal influence
was wielded to defeat that great iniquity.
To him more than to any other man is Illinois
indebted for being a free State.

A sketch of Gen. Coles and of the slavery
struggle of 1823 and 1824, has been prepared
by Hon. E. B. Washburn, which will form a
valuable contribution to early Illinois history.
Gov. Coles died in Philadelphia in 1868.

William Henry Seward was born in Florida,
Orange Co., N. Y., May 16, 1801. When the
issue of a slavery or anti-slavery policy came
before the administration, he became an em-
phatic anti-slavery advocate, and ever after-
ward was faithful to that principle. He was
the author of that forcible term, the "irre-
pressible conflict," which, the sequel shows?
was no empty name. He was appointed Sec-
retary of State by Lincoln in 1861, and it is to
his able foreign policy that our nation owed
the preservation of peace abroad during our
Rebellion. Mr. Seward died in Auburn, N. Y.,
October 10, 1872.

Theodore Parker, an independent Unitarian
minister of Boston, almost initiated a new school
in theology, which might be styled the religion
of humanity, and was a ver}' effective laborer
in the anti-slavery cause, without attaching
himself to any of its sects. He was born at
Lexington, Mass., in 1812, on the consecrated
ground of the Revolution, and was the grand-
son of one of its early heroes, Capt. John Parker.
During the time of the fierce anti-slavery agi-
tation, he delivered occasionally a great sermon

or an address, on the intense points of the con-
test then at issue. At the time of the attempted
enforcement of the fugitive slave law, he mani-
fested a most fierce hostility to its enforcement ;
and, at one time, he addressed a large concourse
of his fellow-citizens in Federal Hall, counseling
effective passive resistance, while the corridors
of the hall were filled with files of United States
soldiers with fixed bayonets, ordered there to
preserve the peace and enforce the law. He de-
fied the soldiery, and he declared that he should
march out between their files when he had closed
his speech ! Horace Greeley, of the New York
Tribune, was alwaj-s among the most anxious
to publish the forcible productions of Theo-
dore Parker. He died at Florence. Italy, where
he had gone for the purpose of rejuvenating his
gradually perishing vitality on the 16th of May,
1860. This strong and intellectually great man,
who had lived such an active life, expressed
regret, when he came to die, that he had accom-
plished so little for humanity.

John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of
the United States, and son of the second Presi-
dent, was one of the greatest statesmen and
remarkable men the country has produced. He
was born at Quincy, Mass., July 11, 1867, and
was a youth, and doubtless very much inspired
by the events, during the period of our Revo-
lutionary war. He should be regarded as
among the most foremost of the anti-slavery
men of the country, though he avowed no
affinity with any of the organizations or sects
that grew out of the agitation. He was in fact
the first political victim to the slave power
' of the country, that for a generation slaugh-
tered its thousands of advanced men, and
the manhood of millions of the politicians
of the country ; for it was because he was not
a slave-holder, and was a man of the North
more than for anything else that he was de-
feated for the Presidency for the second term by
Andrew Jackson ; from this period the sectional
feeling for the protection of slavery took its

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

rise. Mr. Adams, after his return to Congress,
beginning a new career in political life, after he
had once run its course to the Presidency, be-
came specially known as the champion of the
right of petition ; a sacred political and civil
constitutional right, which had been smitten
down in the interest of slavery at the behest of
the slave leaders. Mr. Adams, from his expe-
rience in political life from the beginning of the
Government, and his once personal ' contact
with its influence, knew more than any other
man of the insiduous wiles of the growing
slave power, and he knew better than any
other man how to combat it. His was an in-
dividual life of combat with that power, with-
out support from party or combination. The
conflicts with it is one of the sublimest mani-
festations of the career of the politician and
statesman the country has ever furnished ; and
in it he sought for no co-operation from any
clique or combination, and seems to stand alone
like the form of a giant, fighting for human
and constitutional rights of the fellow-men.
As he had good reason to suspect the iniquities
that were covered in the heap of meal, he
delved into the maturing plot, for the robbing
of Mexico of her province of Texas, and get-
ting special information from old Benjamin
Lundy, who had traveled largely in Texas for
the purpose of settling a colony of emancipated
slaves there, he astonished the slave-holding
plotters and the nation at large by exposing in
a great speech in Congress in 1836 the whole
plan of securing the annexation of Texas for
the purpose of extending the area of slavery,
as the programme was some years later liter-
ally carried out. Mr. Adams virtually defined
the slave power as a political combination,
though he did not give it that name, when he
said that it " was a power in American politics
that governed the Government."

He gave no special encouragement to any
plan of political action in hostility to slavery ;
gave no special countenance to Garrison or the

Liberty party, though he was particularly con-
fidential with Benjamin Lundy and Joshua
R. Giddings, but worked on, partially in
sympathy with the party to which he nominally
belonged, in hostility to the Jackson part}',
though himself an original Democrat, and the
last of the Jeffersonian Presidents. Standing
very much alone, and, for many years, con-
temned by all parties ; not apparently perceiv-
ing any ground for a voting opposition to slav-
ery as an institution bulwarked in the reserved
rights of the States, and therefore was not a
political Abolitionist, and looking probably to
its extirpation by moral force alone, as dis-
couraging as it then seemed to be. But to
this wise man above his generation was given
the foresight to predict the policy and the way
in which slavery was finally abolished by the
war power. Abraham Lincoln adopted the
doctrine of John Quincy Adams when he used
the war power of the nation to abolish slavery.
It was this power, which John Quincy Adams
portrayed in a great speech in 1836, as the
onty possible way in which the nation could
reach slavery and put it out of existence. The
slaveholders madly invoked that power, and
met its recoil in the destruction of their pet
institution.

Mr. Adams was suddenly stricken down,
with his fighting armor on, on the floor of the
Representative Hall, and taken to a committee
room, where he died in Februar}', 1848, and his
last words were remarkable for so remarkable a
man — " This is the last of earth."

Cassius M. Clay, a native of Kentucky, and
an early anti-slavery man of the South, who
made himself most odious in his native section
for his hostility to their cherished institution.
He was born in Madison County, Ky., in 1811,
and is still alive. He edited, in 1845, the
True American, an anti-slavery newspaper in
Lexington, at the time of the most intense ex-
citement. He defended his press against the
mob spirit by the well-known efficiency of his

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

tried rifle ; but being prostrated by severe ill-
ness, the mob improved the opportunity, and
they broke up his newspaper establishment and
shipped the fragments of his material out of
the State. Horace Greeley, who was foremost
in encouraging him, published a volume of his
anti-slavery speeches in 1848.

John P. Hale, born in Rochester, N. H.,
March 31, 1806, and died soon after his return
from Madrid as United States Minister, under
Abraham Lincoln, November 19, 1873. He is
distinguished as the leading politician under
the Liberty party, and was that party's candi-
date for the Presidency after James G. Birney,
until it was merged into the Republican party.
He is known as the first successful rebel against
the slave power, he at that time being a nom-
inee of the Democratic party for Congress ; op-
posed the annexation of Texas ; was stricken
out of the party roll of candidates ; and the
people taking him up, he was elected United
States Senator. He was first nominated for
the Presidency by the Western Citizen of Chi-
cago, in 1858, and about six months after was
indorsed by the National Liberty Party Con-
vention. He was a genial, jovial man, and
very much annoyed the Southern Senators by
his pungent criticisms. He was the first anti-
slavery man in the Senate, followed afterward
by his coadjutors, Chase, Seward, Fessenden
and the corps of noble men that in time came
to the front, to be the supporters of Lincoln in
his arduous responsibilities as the emancipator
of 4,000,000 of slaves.

Rev. C. Cook, Congregational minister, was
born in Vermont in 1778, graduated at Middle-
bury College in 1808, preached in the State of
New York till 1837 ; made an anti-slavery ar-
gument in the Presbyterian General Assembly
at Philadelphia, in 1836. He settled at Henne-
pin, 111., in 1837, and gave anti-slavery lectures
in various parts of the State in 1838 and 1839,
often being the victim of mob violence.

In 1840, he removed to Aurora, Kane Co.,

111., and became pastor of the First Congrega-
tional Church. He died at Ottawa, 111., March
21, 1860, at the house of his son, B. C. Cook,
where he spent the last fifteen years of his life.
Horace Greeley was born in Amherst, N. H.,
February 3, 1811. His father removed to West
Haven, Vt., when Horace was but ten years old,
where, between the ills of poverty and intemper-
ance which were ever present with the father,
the education of the son was sadly neglected ;
but the young child of fortune possessed by
nature the wherewithal to educate himself, as
he paddled his own canoe through the waves of
the great sea of life. At the age of fifteen, he
was apprenticed to the printing business, after
learning which trade he went to New York, ar-
riving in August, 1831. Here he worked at his
trade till June 1, 1833, when he became one of
the proprietors of the Morning Post, the first
penny daily ever published in America. On
March 22, 1834, the New Yorker was started
with Mr. Greeley as editor. In the stirring
times of 1840, he published the Log Cabin, a
campaign paper in the interest of Gen. Har-
rison's election to the Presidency, and the next
year he commenced the publication of the New
York Tribune, which paper he planted deep in
the estimation of every thinker in America, in-
cluding not only political economists, but even
erratic dabblers in every species of reform, or
whatever was claimed to be such — all had their
"sa}'" in the columns of the Tribune. Of
course, slavery became a target for his keenest
darts, and from the first to the last of the con-
flict between the slavey and anti-slavery in-
terest he never ceased to " pour hot shot" into
the ranks of the enemies of universal freedom,
all the more effective because Mr. Greeley him-
self was free from any entanglements to cripple
his own action, having no alliances with any
party whose interests could be compromised by
the downfall of slavery. Under his masterly
pen, the Tribune soon took the highest rank in
American journalism, and its circulation was

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY

not exceeded by any other paper, although it
was interdicted in many of the Southern States,
where, could its editor have been found, he
would have been lynched on the spot.

When the convention of 1860 met at Chicago
to nominate a Republican candidate for Presi-
dent of the United States, all eyes were turned
toward Mr. Greeley, who seemed to hold the key
to the situation ; nor was this hypothesis a false
one. At that time, there were substantially
but two candidates in the field — Seward and
Lincoln. Mr. Seward stood high in the estima-
tion of his party both East and West, and his
record was untarnished by any political act that
would not bear the closest scrutiny. Moreover,
he was well versed in all the affairs of State,
having been Governor, Senator and Foreign
Minister, and his soundness on the vital issues
essential to the fulfillment of the Republican
doctrines was not to be questioned. These
qualifications would seem to give him an assur-
ance of success, and would certainly have done
so but for the influence of Mr. Greeley. Some
years before this period, a rupture broke out
between Mr. Seward and Mr. Greeley, growing
out of a complaint on the part of the latter that
the former had neither appreciated nor re-
warded him for his services in the great Whig
cause, in which the two were co-workers. As
to this quarrel between these two distinguished
and estimable statesmen, the public were, in the
main, reticent, but, at the convention of 1860,
it was in vain that Mr. Seward's friends tried
to win over the great journalist — he cast his in-
fluence in favor of Mr. Lincoln, and turned
the scale.

In this sketch of Mr. Greeley, it would be un-
timely to state the conditions that placed Mr.
Lincoln in a position so high that only Mr.
Greeley's influence was necessary to make him
the winner over the great statesman opposed to
him, and we will pass to the next point in Mr.
Greeley's life. When the rebellion broke out,
he first proposed to let the seceding States go

in peace under a belief that they would soon be
glad to come back into the Union, but he did
not long hold to this theory, and advocated a
vigorous prosecution of the war.

Omitting a record of his acts till 1872, let us
look on both sides of the question which made
him accept the nomination of the Democrats to
be run by them as their candidate for the Presi-
dency. First, he did not accept a plank in
their platform which could in any way, even by
implication, compromise his life-long teachings
of Whig and Republican doctrines. The whole
Democratic party virtually abandoned their
ground and threw themselves at his feet — he
whom they had ever affected to despise. As
far as the substance went, this was a sufficient
vindication of Mr. Greeley's course; but, in
theory, it looked otherwise to many who had
been his friends. He was accused of apostacy,
and made the butt of unsparing ridicule beyond
the power of his hitherto philosophic mind to
bear. He sank rapidly beneath his load of
humiliation, and died shortly after ttie election
a victim to despair.

His funeral was one of the most impressive
ever known in New York, and every tongue
that, but a few days before had spoken ill of him
was now softened into charity for him who had
ever been the great — the honest — the fearless
mouthpiece of the Republican party.

John G. Fee was born in Bracken County,
Ky., in 1816. When a young man, he was
ostracized by his parents for advocating anti-
slavery sentiments. He organized three
an ti- slavery societies in the face of fierce op-
position, and, continuing his efforts in this
direction, he became the victim of violent
mobs in 1856 and later. He was repeatedly
threatened with death if he did not leave the
State, but still he continued his labors. Dur-
ing the war, he helped to establish various col-
ored schools in Kentucky. He was one of the
founders of Berea College, and is now pastor
of a church at that place.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

John Brown was born in Torrington, Conn.^
May 9, 1800, of good old Puritan stock, being
fifth in descent from Peter Brown, who landed
in the Mayflower in 1620. As a boy, he was
an industrious, muscular, hardy and a capable
worker in the great hive of industry that char-
acterized the age of his youth. But he never
was a boy except in years, for he felt the
responsibilities of manhood from a tender age.
From his earliest recollections he entertained a
great aversion to slaver}', and, in 1854, this
trait in his character began to take action as
the Kansas border opened a field for it. Four
of his sons had settled there, eight miles from
the village of Osawatomie, near the border.
Here they became an object of great aversion
to the border ruffians from Missouri on their
father's account as well as their own, being
Free- State men, and, in obedience to their call,
their father came the next year — 1855 — with
arms and ammunition to defend them. During
the next year, he had several successful en-
counters with the pro-slavery raiders who
came across the line to commit depredations
on the Free-State men, and soon gained a repu-
tation which made him hated and feared by his
adversaries in the irregular style of warfare
that was then going on in Kansas. Thirty
men were now under his command at Osawat-
omie, and were suddenly attacked by a force
of five hundred Missourians. Their advance
was so sudden that half of his men were cut
off and taken ; but, with the remainder, Brown
made a glorious retreat, fighting his pursuing
army as he fled before them, and inflicting
severe losses upon them. For this gallant
action he gained the sobriquet of "Osawat-
omie Brown."

Six weeks later, he held command of the
forces to defend Lawrence against a greatly su-
perior force of the enemy ; but the latter dared
not make the attack against so obstinate a
leader.

These exciting events only served to whet

the edge of his sword for new encounters against
the slave power, against which his whole life
and soul and strength was pitted, and he laid
his plans accordingly.

He had read of insurrections among slaves,
and fully believed that if a respectable nucleus
of strength could be established in their midst;
an army could soon be improvised from them,
who would gather force, like, a whirlwind, and
sweep through the South. Under this belief,
so inspiring to his hungry soul, he contemplated
seizing the United States Arsenal at Harper's
Ferry, where from 100,000 to 200,000 stand of
arms were usually stored.

He was about a year maturing his plans, and
all things being ready on his part, he, at the
head of twenty-two men, seventeen of whom
were white and the remainder colored, made the
attack at 10 o'clock Sunday night, on the 16th
of October, 1859. The three watchmen of the
arsenal were taken prisoners, and the town of
Harper's Ferry fell into his hands. Private
houses were entered, and all arms found therein
were taken. The next morning, he had sixty
prisoners in his camp, many of whom were work-
men in the employment of the United States.

As soon as the temporary stupor caused by
his audacity had passed away, the citizens of
the surrounding country began to gather to the
scene, while, unfortunately for Brown, no recruits
came to his standard except six or eight slaves
who had been compelled to do so. An attack
was now made upon the arsenal, which was kept
up till the next day at noon, with losses on both
sides.

Brown's forces were now all killed or mortally
wounded but three, who still held the engine
house to which they had taken refuge. At 7
o'clock, the door of their " last resort " was
battered in, when Brown, still fighting with the
courage of Charles XII at Bender, fell beneath
a sabre stroke, receiving two ba} T onet thrusts
after he was down, and the victory over this
strange man was won.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY

Now came his greatest triumph. Senator
Mason, of "Virginia, and Gov. Wise confronted
him ; but his bearing was dignified and cheer-
ful. Nor did he lose those masterly qualities
of his mind, which challenged the respect of his
enemies even till his death. His trial was put
off till the 31st on account of his weakness from
his wounds.

In the defense which followed, he refused to
allow his counsel to put in the plea of insanity,
but he placed his defense solely on the moral
points in the case, and firmly justified his course
to the last. He was found guilty by the court
of the several charges brought against him, and
hung on the 2d of December.

During the preparations, he was the calmest
one of the thousands assembled to witness the
last end of this hero.

That he was an offender against the laws of
Virginia no one can question, and his justifica-
tion by the almost entire press and people of
the North was one of the many proofs that the
higher law is stronger than any that man can
make when the public will demands its exe-
cution.

" John Brown's body lies moldering in the dust ;
His soul is marching on !"

became the song of the war, to be chanted by
thousands of voices in concert, falling upon un-
willing ears like the voice of a ghost, as the
Northern soldiers marched through the South.
He drew the first blood in the war that was
hastened by his death, and only began in a
small way, what was soon to be carried on un-
der the forms of law on a far grander scale.

His widow visited Chicago in August, 1882,
and was received with public honors.

Charles G. Finney was born in Litchfield,
Conn., August 29, 1792— died in Oberlin, Ohio,
August 16, 1875 — became President of Oberlin
College in 1852, and held the position till 1866.
The college over which he presided was noted
for being a nursery of Abolitionists, from its
first organization, under his rule.

A brief sketch of Lane Seminary may be con-
sidered as exemplary to show the growing
anti-slavery sentiment that was destined first
to split asunder churches, colleges and ulti-
mately, for a time, the nation itself. It was
established at Cincinnati in 1832 as a theo-
logical school, when theology by many people
in America recognized slavery as a patriarchal
institution, justified in the Old Testament by
precedent and not explicitly forbidden by the
new. Dr. Lyman Beecher was President of this
institution, and Calvin E. Stone held the chair
of Professor of Biblical Literature, and it was
the first of its kind established in the West on
a footing of the first grade. It was patronized
by the best representatives of the orthodoxy of
the country. But, unfortunately for Lane as
for other " solid " institutions of the country,
there was at that time subtly creeping into the
public conscience a disintegrating " heresy,"
so called, and the very attempts that the found-
ers of these various institutions made to sub-
due the " heresy " (while in the germ cell) only
served to cultivate it into a vigorous growth.
What could these perplexed fathers do in this
dilemma? If they gave full freedom to the
young mind to discuss anti-slavery sentiments,
the sturdy old leaders both in church and in
State would be obliged to come in collision with
the interests of their Southern associates, whose
tenacity as advocates for slavery forbids its
merits to be questioned under penalty of the
severance of all ties of friendship and alliance.
Hence, free discussion must be forbidden, in
order to retain the good will and patronage of
southern co-workers in religion as well as poli-
tics.

Pending this dilemma, in Lane Seminary
many of its earnest students became thoroughly
convinced of the impolicy and wickedness of
slavery through the teachings of Garrison, as
well as by the discussions in their own lyceum
on the subject, and formed themselves into an
anti-slavery society. When the preamble and

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

resolutions of this society were read to their
President, the venerable father acknowledged
the truth and force of them, but averred that it
was untimely to agitate the subject, and in-
sisted that they should desist from so doing.
This requisition the zealous students refused
to comply with, but published their sentiments
to the world through the press. The matter
now became serious. Many papers took sides
one way or the other, and the students unex-
pectedly became famous. They were extolled
as heroes by the Abolitionists, and branded as
fools, and threatened with mob violence by the
Kentucky slaveholders and their Cincinnati
friends. The Trustees of Lane Seminary be-
held the opening of this issue with consterna-
tion. Lane Seminary was a " hot-bed of aboli-
tionism." went forth the cry. Summary meas-
ures must be taken to arrest this impression
so fatal to the success of this institution. Ac-
cordingly, new rules were made ; the students
must not make public addresses against slavery;
must disband their anti-slavery society, and the
executive committee were empowered to dis-
charge any student from the institution with-
out notice or trial. Tyranny over minds could
go no further. All but the victims of this gag
law were satisfied, and in their transcient hour
of triumph the authors of it thought they had
settled the whole matter. It is justice to the
memory of Asa Mahan, one of the Trustees,
to state that he protested against these despotic
rules, but he was powerless to prevail against
them. He then informed the students of the
substance of these laws, and heartily sympa-
thized with them in opposition to them.

The first step taken by the Trustees under
the new regulations was to make an order to
dismiss Theodore D. Weld and W. T. Allan
from the institution, whereupon H. B. Stan-
ton, then a student of Lane, and since Secre-
tary of War, called the attention of the students
to the situation, saying, " The question now is,
can we, under the new laws, remain in the in-

stitution ? Let all who answer in the negative
rise to their feet." Three-fourths of the stu-
dents promptly rose and bade good-by to Lane,
leaving her with a mill-stone around her neck
that soon sunk her to rise no more, and her
fate became that of all parties, politicians and
institutions that only know enough to step in
other people's tracks and follow them to de-
struction, because they happen to be big ones.
And here it may be meet to say that repub-
lican institutions, to be consistent with their
principles, should accept no political rule or
dogma or faith, except on its positive merits,
regardless of what interested parties ma}* say
or pretend to. As long as they do this, and
dispense even-handed justice to every interest
and every individual, so long will such a gov-
ernment stand, if it is to the end of time, and
it is not too much to add that no government,
of whatsoever form, ever went into decadence
that had not by its contempt for the rights of
its own subjects, deserved first their apathy and
lastly their antagonism.

Rufus Lumry was of French Huguenot an-
cestry. He was born in Rensselaerville, N. Y., at
the close of the last century. He united with
the Methodists, and became a minister among
thein at his maturity. In 1835, he took radi-
cal anti-slavery grounds at Princeton, 111., for
which he was arraigned before the conference
and required to desist. This his conscience
forbade, and he severed his connection with the
church and joined the Wesleyans. Subse-
quently he was condemned to suffer death on
board a steamboat, for preaching abolition
sentiments, and given half an hour for prep-
aration. He was calmer than his accusers, for
he told them he was ready, but would not re-
lent, while they reconsidered and did not kill
him. He was a co-worker with Owen Lovejoy,
Z. Eastman, I. Codding and others, and with
them was kicked, buffeted and despised by the
populace. The year 1862 found him in Colo-
rado, pursuing his work of reform, where he

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUXTY.

was accidentally drowned in crossing a mount-
ain torrent.

H. H. Hinman was born in Connecticut in
1822, graduated at Willoughby Medical Col-
lege in 1846; came to Illinois in 1849, was or-
dained to the ministry and went as a mission-
ar} 7 to Africa in 1860. In 1866, he returned
and labored as a home missionary in Wiscon-
sin till 1873, and the next year came to Wheat-
on, 111. His first vote for President was for
Birney in 1844. He always took radical
ground on the slavery question, advocating its
universal and unconditional abolition by the
Government. He helped organize the first
Republican party, and start their first paper in
Livingston Count}-. He always assisted fugi-
tive slaves to get their liberty, and did not con-
sider himself a violator of law b}' so doing, as
he looked upon all laws to enslave them as void.
He believes in Divine Law as the true basis of
civil law — in the prohibition of the liquor
traffic — the suppression of secret societies, and
the substitution of international arbitration for
war. Mr. Hinman's home is in Wheaton, 111.

J. C. Webster. The pastorates of ministers in
" ye olden time," were longer than they are now.
Rev. Josiah Webster presided over his flock at
Hampton, N. H., about thirty years, and during
this term of ministerial service, his son, Jesse
C. Webster, was born. It was in January, 1810.
From him he inherited his Congregationalism,
and his love for the ministerial calling. Even
in that day, slavery was abhorred by benevolent
men, and young Jesse also inherited this sen-
timent from his father, who, with prophetic vis-
ion, said that slavery was destined to be " blot-
ted out in blood."

Mr. Webster graduated at the theological
institution at Andover in 1832. About this
time, a member of the British Parliament came
to the place to lecture, named George Thomp-
son. To the conservative element, he was a
fire-brand, but many conscientious young men
did not view him in that light, and Mr. Web-

ster was one of these. He identified himself
with the agitators, and was reproved b}- the
professors of Andover for it, and even rebuked
for walking arm in arm with Rev. A. A. Phelps
because he was a coworker with Thompson.
Mr. Webster left the seminary with its parting
blessing, cum grano, and soon after delivered
an abolition lecture, getting pay for the same
in eggs, unsavory as they were, hurled at his
head. He next became pastor of a Congrega-
tional Church at Hopkinton, Mass., and during
his long term there, advocated the cause of the
slave and became President of the American
Church Anti-Slavery Society, the object of
which was the exclusion of pro-slavery senti-
ments from the church. From that day to the
present, he has been true to the cause, and like
other Abolitionists has become noted for what
was once considered a weakness, and he has
recently been honored with the title of D. D.
His home is Wheaton, 111.

James B. Walker is one of the well-preserved
specimens of the pioneer preacher, editor and
Abolitionist, so few of whom are now among us
to take us back to early daj-s when men had
not sought out so many inventions to subordi-
nate true merit to the control of pretentious
purposes. He was born in Philadelphia in Juby,
1805, but by the death of his father, which took
place before his birth, his mother was thrown
into the generous household of her parents, who
lived twenty miles from Fort Pitt (now Pitts-
burgh), and here young James' first resolutions
fastened upon his childish mind to live, and
grow from the log cabin in which he dwelt to
the varied positions which he has honored in
his long and eventful life

He began his career clad in ^garments spun,
woven, cut and made by his mother, on the
frontier with the first rudiments of science dis-
tilled into his mind in a log 3choolhouse by a
pedagogue with a rod in one hand and a spell-
ing-book in the other, and when the former was
once used on him, Mr. Walker still remembers

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

the rueful looks and illy- concealed indications
of sympathy which little Sarah Trovillo mani-
fested on the occasion, which a thousand-fold
atoned for the disgrace of the whipping which
only hurt for a few minutes, while Sarah's inno-
cent regrets often call back the flowers of spring
to blossom again in midwinter.

Having graduated at this school, young
James was set to work in a nail factory in
Pittsburgh, where he passed the red-hot iron
rods from the furnace to the workmen. While
thus emplo} r ed, a benevolent gentlemen, visiting
the shop, saw something in him that attracted
his attention, and gave him a silver half-dollar.
It made him feel richer than he has ever felt
since.

During these tender years, Mr. Walker says
he felt afraid to pass the house of a certain
blacksmith in the night because he was an infi-
del.

Having remained at work in the nail factory
till the din of hammers there impaired his
hearing for a time, he was mercifully taken
from the place and set to work as a store boy
at Hookstown, near the borders of Virginia.
It was a rough place, and was universally
known by the epithet of " The Devil's Half
Acre." Mr. Walker speaks of the disgusting
scenes of drunkenness and fighting that he saw
during his two years' residence at the place,
sometimes disfiguring and crippling those en-
gaged in them for life.

The next change in the life of young Walker
was to apprentice him to Messrs. Eiphbaum &
Johnston, who published the Pittsburgh
Gazette — the first newspaper published West of
the Alleghany Mountains. It was edited by
Morgan Neville. This occupation opened up a
new field for the genius of the young lad, whose
talents had hitherto been wasted on pursuits
for which he was neither mentally nor physic-
ally fitted. Here he remained five years, in
which time he learned the printer's trade,
and received the religious teachings of the

Scotch Secession Church, of which his mother,
whose home was now at Pittsburgh, was
a member. Mr. Walker speaks of early
Methodism, as it was then, as follows : " The
men wore a coat of the Quaker form,
and the women all wore the Quaker, or
Methodist bonnet. To be a Methodist in those
days, was to come out from the world in a
sense not understood at the present time.
When a young woman was converted, all orna-
ments were laid aside."

While at work on the Gazette, Mr. Walker
says he sent a contribution to the Evening
Post, of Philadelphia, which was rejected, but
he reserved the same for publication in a paper
of his own, which acquisition — long ago a
reality — seemed even then a distant possibility
in his ambitious imagination.

Mr. Walker's next change was to go to New
York City. He made the journey on foot — 300
miles in ten days, carrying his pack swung
from a staff across his shoulder.

From thence he went to Philadelphia, and,
like Benjamin Franklin a century before him,
followed type-setting. After remaining here
awhile, he again returned to New York, and
obtained employment for a short season, in the
capacity of clerk for the celebrated M. M.
Noah, who had established the first daily paper
ever issued in New York. Its first name was
Noah's Ark, which was subsequently changed
to the Courier and Enquirer. His term of
service, however, soon ceased with Mr. Noah,
as he sold out his paper and became Judge of
the Court of Sessions. On parting with young
Walker, he gave him a letter recommending
him to Mr. Booth, a celebrated star actor. His
son, in 1865, was the murderer of Abraham
Lincoln. Mr. Booth treated the young appli-
cant with deserved attention, but informed him
that there were so many applicants from young
men wishing to try their fortunes on the stage,
that he could not give him anj 7 encourage-
ment.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Mr. Walker's means now became exhausted,
and he sold a cloak to get money to pay a
washing bill. He crossed the ferry to Hobo-
ken, and started into the country on foot, not
knowing whither he was going. He was soon
overtaken by a farmer, who gave him an invi-
tation to ride. In conversation with him, he
learned that a schoolmaster was wanted in his
district. He obtained the situation, and with
it relief. Mr. Walker, having finished his en-
gagement, subsequently i-eturned to the West
and bought a half-interest in the Western
Courier, a paper published in the Western
Reserve, Ohio.

Soon after this, he made the acquaintance of
John Brown, Theodore Weld and other early
Abolitionists, and espoused the cause in which
these men were engaged, in which cause he
was the victim of a determined mob at Hud-
son, Ohio, while he was a student at the West-
em Reserve College at the place, which was
shortly after his connection with the Western
Courier. He had been invited to give an anti-
slavery lecture at the Congregational Church.
It was known beforehand that violence would
be resorted to to prevent it, and the preacher,
either through fear or from other motives, did
not attend. He might have been like the
hunter who saw an animal in the woods that,
in the bushes, looked some like a calf and
some like a deer, and prudentially fired at it
with such an aim as to miss it if a calf and
hit it if a deer. In like manner, many preachers
took safe ground in the pioneer days of aboli-
tionism. But, whatever were the motives of
the minister in question, his wife nailed her
colors to the masthead and boldly took her
seat in the church. Young Walker ''laid on "
heavy and unsparing. The mob outside hurled
stones, battered the doors, broke in all the
windows, and, not content with this, threw Are
through the apertures. By this time the audi-
ence had all fled, but Mr. Walker and the hero-
ine wife of the minister were the last to leave

the building. He was not molested on his
retreat — perhaps her presence saved him.

After graduating at this college, he was
employed as editor of the Ohio Observer, at
Cleveland. Subsequently, Mr. Walker removed
to Cincinnati, where he established a religious
paper, The Watchman, under the patronage of
the Synods of Ohio, Cincinnati and Indiana.
Dr. Stowe, Jonathan Blanchard and J. Benton
engaged to obtain 1,600 subscribers for his
paper. Dr. Beecher and Dr. Stowe were then
professors in Lane Seminary at Cincinnati
which was thoroughly pro-slavery, and ulti-
mately went down under the teachings of abo-
litionism. Meantime, Mr. Walker did not tone
down his editorials as to the subject of slaver}'
in the columns of the Watchman, though he
was requested to do so by some of its time-
serving supporters.

While engaged in these editorial duties, he
wrote and published his book, " Plan of Sal-
vation." It has been translated into six lan-
guages, and is a text book in the Theological
institutions of Europe and America.

This was the crowning work of his life, but
since that time he has been pastor of a church
in Mansfield and Sandusky, Ohio, and latterly
Professor of Mental Science at Wheaton Col-
lege, his present home, where he is now enjoy-
ing a green old age, beloved by all, but most
by those who know him best. He has no chil-
dren, but has adopted, raised and educated
thirteen, and fitted them for responsible posi-
tions in life.

Washington and Adams belonged to the
old Federal party. Jefferson, though in har-
mony with them as to the fundamental prin-
ciples of Government, yet through his excessive
zeal for the broadest forms of liberty, laid a deep
foundation for a departure from the old Fed-
eral conservative policy. He was radical, san-
guine, and his mind was ready to indorse the
veirdict of popular convictions, even though
sometimes perhaps hasty and ill digested. It

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

was due to his diplomacy and his public policy
combined, that the declaration of the war of
1812 was made against England, which declar-
ation was in violation of the sentiment of New
England, as history abundantby proves. He
had been Minister to France during the tran-
sient glories of the Republic, which succeeded
her revolution of 1798, and his sympathies be-
ing entirely with her he never lost an occasion
to give England a thrust in the conflict that
followed between her and France, and our
declaration of war against England helped
France, besides settling old scores on our own
account.

The war won nothing in theory, but more
than any one could have hoped for in practical
results and military glor}\ Jackson's victory
at New Orleans, though achieved after peace
had been signed, placed him at the head of the
accumulating force that was gathering strength
in opposition to the old Federal policy of Wash-
ington, and when these two forms were arrayed
against each other with John Quincy Adams,
the standard-bearer for the time-honored policy
of his father, and Gen. Jackson the exponent of
the Jeflersonian policy, the latter won the day.
Jackson became President, and the beloved
champion of popular rights par excellence.
Under him the Democratic party became strong
and invincible, till an issue came up bound to
crush all partisan organizations. Meantime
the Western States were rapidly being settled,
and were destined to become the base of oper-
ations, from which the champions of each side
of the final issue between slavery and anti-
slavery should inaugurate their policy, and
put their respective machinery in motion.

The Whig party, whose success had been but
transient, was going to seed. It had in its ranks
too many Abolitionists to live permanently,
besides its banking policy had been disastrous
to the country. But a new party rose into
prominence out of the teachings of the men
whose brief biographies have just been given,

and in the State of Illinois this policy gained
its first substantial success politically, and set
in motion a train of events as to State policy,
that soon found its way into the national policy.
The circumstances are these :

Soon after the murder of Lovejoy at Alton,
a meeting was called at Chicago, not as a direct
abolition meeting, but to characterize the ac-
tion of the mob that killed him as a blow aimed
against the constitutional right of the freedom
of the press.

Rev. F. Bascom (now living at Downer's
Grove), the late Dr. C. V. Dyer, Philo Carpen-
ter and Calvin DeWolf (now living at Chicago)
were the leading spirits of this meeting. A
watch was kept outside, lest a mob might assail
them during their deliberations, but no one
molested them.

This was the first meeting ever held in Chi-
cago that called in question the right of any-
body to oppose slavery agitation by any means-
fair or foul.

As has already been recorded in the biog-
raphy of Benjamin Lund} 7 , he came to Illinois
after the death of Lovejoj 7 , and established a
paper in defense of constitutional rights.

After his (Lundy's) death in 1839, his paper
was continued by Hooper Warren and Z.
Eastman, the latter now a resident of May-
wood, Cook Co., 111.

In 1840, an Anti-slavery Presidential ticket
was formed in Illinois, in Fulton County, with
James Birney as standard-bearer. Here was
the beginning ; but more practical results,
through Illinois men, followed in due course.

Warren and Eastman's paper was continued
at La Salle, on the same press that the old vet-
eran Lundy had consecrated to the cause, till
1842, when Rev. F. Bascom invited Mr. East-
man to come to Chicago, Dr. Dyer being the
bearer of the invitation. It was accepted, and
Mr. Eastman transferred his type and presses
thither the same year (1842), and continued the
paper under the name of the Western Citizen.

/esy^y^y

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

On declaring its policy, the Citizen said :
" We see no reason why our Government should
be overturned, our Constitution trampled under
foot or the Union dissolved, or why the church
organizations should be destroyed. * * *
We wish it understood that our course is re-
formatory, and not destructive."

Icabod Codding soon became associated with
Mr. Eastman, and took the field as lecturer.
Chief Justice Chase said he was, the most elo-
quent orator he ever heard. The widow of Mr.
Codding is still living at Lockport, 111.

A convention was soon held in Chicago, at
Chapman's Hall, on the southwest corner of
La Salle and Randolph Streets, at which the
new party sat in council, recognizing not only
the usual methods of propagating their senti-
ments, but recognizing the Underground Rail-
road as a means worthy to be used. From this
time henceforward, the Liberty party alwaj's
put candidates in the field for State elections
and for Congress as fast as the principles of
the party gained a foothold in Congressional
districts.

The Wilmot Proviso, the Nebraska Bill,
Squatter Sovereignty, Fugitive Slave Laws, Re-
peal of the Missouri Compromise, John Brown's
Raid, and the Dred Scot Decision followed in
their immutable train and augmented agitation
till two great Illinois champions were brought
into the arena destined, the one to rend asun-
der the Democratic party, and the other to be
the representative of the new party that was to
• rise into being amidst the din and strife and
contending emotions that racked the brains of
politicians opposed to moral sentiment.
While numerical force was centering into the
hands of the Liberty party during these years,
the old Whig party still kept up its organiza-
tion. Hon. E. B. Washburn was one of their
number, and owed his first election to Con-
gress to votes from the Liberty party, who
joined with the Whigs, and astonished the
stronghold of Democracy by electing him.

This signal defeat for the Democrats never was
recovered from ; Mr. Washburn's heavy blows
fell with great force upon the party to which
he was opposed, and will descend into history
as a monument to perpetuate the memory of
Illinois as the vanguard in the new order of
things about to take place. The Liberty party
by this time held the situation in their own
hands. Not that they outnumbered the Demo-
crats, but because they held the balance of
power. The Whigs could do nothing without
them, and spread their sails to their breezes.
They were potent in the Legislature, for these,
too, they held the balance of power, and from
this time onward they continued to circumvent
their opponents till strong enough to take the
field alone in their own name and with their
own strength. Mr. Douglas' term in the South
being about to expire, a new election was nec-
essary in 1858. His joint debate with Mr.
Lincoln at that time is still fresh in the minds
of Illinois citizens. Mr. Douglas was elected
by a majority of eight votes in the House of
Representatives, which decided the election by
their vote, but Mr. Lincoln had a majority of
4,000 popular votes in the State, and won the
laurels during this debate that made him can-
didate for the Presidency in 1860.

An anecdote is told of Mr. Lincoln concern-
ing his supposed temerity in running against
Mr. Douglas for the Senate, as follows : An
inquirer says to him : " You don't expect to
beat Douglas, do you ?" To which Mr. Lincoln
responded that it was with him as it was with
the boys who made an attack on a hornets'
nest. " What do you expect to do, boys ?"
You don't expect to take that hornets' nest, do
you ?" " We don't know that we shall exactly
take it," replied the boys, " but we shall be-
devil the nest." So said Mr. Lincoln, "If we
don't capture Douglas, we shall bedevil his
nest."

Mr. Douglas' magnanimity to Mr. Lincoln
after his election to the Presidency is well

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

known. He, too, was an Illinois man. He was
the instrument by which the partisan ties that
originally bound the party to a wrong princi-
ple were rent asunder, when he became the
candidate of its Northern wing for President
at the same time that Lincoln was candidate for
the Liberty party in 1860.

Every soldier who went from Illinois to fight
against the rebellion ma}- well feel pride in
the part their State took in it, not only in being
the first State to define the new policy of the
Government, but in furnishing the great states-
man to direct the arm of the nation when raised
in defense of those rights which are essential
to the grandeur of a State, and especially to
Illinois, whose central position binds its inter-
ests alike to every part of the county. The
record of Du Page County soldiers in the con-
flict that decided the question that Illinois
statesmen had been the first to give form and
system to, is a noble one.

And, though the county is small, her soldiers
took part in the most decisive campaigns and
battles of the war, and those who have re-
turned and are now living, are among our most

highly-esteemed fellow-citizens — efficient in the
arts of peace as they were formidable on the
field of battle.

The same may be said, as a rule, of all the
soldiers who went from the North, and it may
also be said that this fair fame is all the more
to be prized, because so many share it ; but let
it not be forgotten that the Liberty party of
Illinois inserted the first wedge of disintegra-
tion into the slavery plank of the Democratic
party. Thi3 plank was a fungus growth on the
trunk of their tree. Jefferson, from whom they
claim origin, planted no such seed in its virgin
soil, but it grew there as cancers sometimes
grow in stalwart frames. The surgeon's knife
has removed it. All this is simple history, and
not partisan pleading in any sense.

Both the officers and men composing the
Union arm}', were made up from each political
party, and partisan issues were lost sight of in
the transcendent crisis thrust upon the country
b}' the hostile shots fired at the American flag
that waved over Fort Sumter, near the spot
where Fort Moultrie had repulsed the British
in 1776.

CHAPTER VI.

RECORD OF DU PAGE COUNTY IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.

IN the war with Mexico, in 1846-47, the
quota of Illinois was six regiments, which
were the first ever raised in this State for
regular service in the United States. Thirty-
four years had passed since that time, and
though the art of war had gone into disuse,
when Abraham Lincoln made a call, April
16, 1861, for 75,000 troops to serve three
months, ten regiments from Illinois responded,
though their quota was but six. The number-
ing began where regiments for the Mexican
service left off, consequently the number of the

first regiment raised for service in the war of
the rebellion was numbered seven.

SEVENTH REGIMENT.

The Seventh Regiment of Illinois Infantry
was among President Lincoln's first call for
three months' men. It was first organized
April 25, 1861. Twenty-four men from Du
Page County enrolled themselves in it as pio-
neers in a new branch of industry in which they
mostly if not all as yet were untaught. That
they soon (like others who followed) became

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

efficient, the result proved. After the term for
which this regiment had enlisted had expired,
many of the men re-enlisted, and the regiment
re-organized .as veterans for three years' service
at Camp Yates, Springfield, July 25, 1861. Its
first destination was Ironton, where it was
placed under the command of Geu. Prentiss.
Cape Girardeau was the next point reached, and
Fort Holt, Ky., its next.

On the 3d of February, it reached Fort Henry,
from which place it started on the 12th for Fort
Donelson, to take part in the siege of that post,
then in the hands of the rebels, and here it was
engaged in the last charge made against the
enemy's works. After the capture of this fort,
it was dispatched to the Tennessee River, and,
the following April, took part in the battle of
Shiloh, and subsequently in the battle of Corinth,
which took place October 3, 4, during both of
which days the Seventh was much of the time
under fire. From the 18th of December, to the
following year. 1863, in May, it was mounted
and engaged in raiding and skirmishing. On
the 22d of December, the regiment re-enlisted
as veterans. On the 11th of January, 1864, it
was furloughed for thirty days to rest from its
hitherto unceasing toils, at the expiration of
which term it was sent to Pulaski, where, being
again mounted, it went into scouting service in
Northern Alabama.

On the 5th of October, 1864, it was in the
sanguinary battle of Altoona Pass, where it lost
143 men. On the 9th of November, it joined
Sherman's army in its march to the sea, after
the successful accomplishment of which exploit
the Seventh, together with its other companions
in arms, marched in review before President
Lincoln in Washington, who there beheld the
men whose hardihood had won the cause for
which such sacrifices had been made.

From there the Seventh proceeded to Louis-
ville, where it was mustered out July 9, 1865.

Following are the names of the men in this
regiment :

COMPANY A.

Bates, Allen, Wayne, enlisted and mustered in July
25, 1861; killed at Shiloh April 6, 1862.

The following were three months' men from
Du Page County, enlisted April 22 and mus-
tered in the 25th, 1861 :

Boutwell, C. M. ; Goodwin, J., Musician; Ham-
mond, S. F.; Oyer, Joseph; Smith, A. R. ; Thomp-
son, T. J. ; Wilson, O. R.

Three years' service :
Trick, Richard A., Wayne.

COMPANY C

Bader, Erail, Naperville.

Battles, Edwin D., Turner Junction.

Erhardt, John, Naperville, re-enlisted as veteran;
promoted Corporal.

Gilhower, John, Naperville.

Givler, David B., Naperville, Musician; re-enlisted
as veteran.

Hamilton, Jesse, Naperville; re-enlisted as veteran.

Lamb, Lyman, York, discharged May 6, 1862.

Mitchell, Robert, Warrenville; re-enlisted as vet-
eran.

Waddlehoffer, Charles, Naperville ; re-enlisted as
veteran.

Stafflinger, John, Naperville.

Ward, Stephen D., Warrenville, killed at Rome;
Ga., August 21, 1864.
(All the above were enlisted July 18, and mustered

in the 25th, 1861.)

Ward, Charles, Warrenville, enlisted September 27,
1861; discharged May 19, 1862.

Fisher, William, Naperville, enlisted and mustered
in December 23, 1863.

Hubreht, John B., Naperville, enlisted and mustered
in December 23, 1863; promoted Corporal; killed
at Altoona, Ga., October 5, 1864.

Vorhes, William W., Warrenville, enlisted and
mustered in December 22, 1863; promoted Ser-
geant.

TENTH REGIMENT.

The Tenth Regiment of Illinois Infantry was
mustered into service at Cairo April 29, 1861.
It had but one volunteer from Du Page County:

company c.
Goodell, Charles, York, enlisted and mustered in
August 31, 1864.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

TWELFTH REGIMENT.

The Twelfth Regiment of Illinois Infantry
was organized at Cairo, and mustered in Au-
gust 1, 1861. It had two volunteers from Du
Page County :

COMPANY I.

Bolin, Dennis, Winfield, enlisted and mustered in

October 25, 1864.
Hannesey, James, Wayne, enlisted and mustered in

October 25, 1864.

THIRTEENTH REGIMENT.

The Thirteenth Regiment of Illinois Infantry.
Company K, of this regiment was from Du
Page County. It was organized at Dixon May
9, 1861, and mustered into service on the 24th.
It was first ordered to Caseyville, 111., thence
to Rolla, Mo., and the succeeding October (the
25th) was ordered forward to join Fremont's
army at Springfield.

Gen. Fremont being now removed, the plan
of the campaign was changed, and the Thir-
teenth was ordered back to Rolla, where it re-
mained till December 12. From there it was
ordered to Salem to guard against guerrillas for
two weeks, after which it returned to Rolla,
where it remained till March 6, 1862, when it
was sent to join the army of Gen. Curtis, against
whose army Price's rebels were making demon-
strations. The junction was made with Gen.
Curtis on the 18th of March, and on the 8th of
April the army started for Helena, Ark. The
march was one unremitting struggle tlrrough
mud and water, and it was not till the
last of July that their destination was reached.
Here the regiment was attached to Gen. Steel's
division of Sherman's army, then about to
move against Vicksburg. the key to the Lower
Mississippi, and as such a strategic point of im-
portance second to no other in the Confederacy.
On the 22d of December, 1862, an immense
fleet of transports hung along the banks of the
river, where the Thirteenth had enjoyed a brief
respite from the toils of marching. Into these
the men were closely packed and turned down

the turbid waters of this stream till the mouth
of the Yazoo was reached. Here under a con-
voj r of gunboats they steamed up this tribu-
taiy to make an attack on Vicksburg from the
east. On the morning of the 27th, the line of
battle was formed, the Thirteenth occupying the
left wing of the army in Gen. Steel's division.
The first day was occupied in making ap-
proaches to the formidable works of the enemy,
and nothing more was done than to drive in
their pickets. The next morning opened with
a skirmish, but in the afternoon the Thirteenth
and Sixteenth, led by Gen. Wyman, silenced
some of the batteries of the enemy, while doing
which Gen. Wyman fell mortally wounded, but
he still encouraged his men. All this was but
an insignificant skirmish compared to the work
to be accomplished before the stars and stripes
could shadow the defiant town in the closer ap-
proaches, to which death lurked in ominous
silence.

On the 29th, the desperate charge was made.
'Twas upon the earthworks along the banks of
Chickasaw Bayou. These were to be taken by
storm, and before they could be reached, an
open space must be traversed under fire from a
sheltered foe from two directions. Into this
terrible arena the Thirteenth led the way across
two lines of rifle-pits, which they captured.
This brought them within thirty rods of the
frowning battlements yet to be taken. One
hundred and seventy-seven of their men had
fallen. To advance was death. The day was lost,
and they retired in good order. The enemy
were wild with delight, but the end was not yet.

At Arkansas Post was a large depot of stores,
and 5,000 rebel troops to guard them. Gen.
McClernand was sent to take the place, and
Gen. Steel's division, among whom was the
Thirteenth, were a part of his forces. The at-
tack was suddenly made, and a day's fighting
was rewarded with the capture of the place, in-
cluding 5,000 prisoners. This irreparable loss
to the enemy was soon succeeded by another

HISTORY OF ~DU PAGE COUNTY.

severe one at Greenville, Miss., in which the
Thirteenth had a hand, after which it shared
the triumph of the capture of Jackson, the capi-
tal of the State of Mississippi, from whence it
was ordered again to Vicksburg, and there
manned the trenches which environed the place
amiflst a tempest of shot till it finally surren-
dered, July 13, 1863 — a monument of tena-
cious hardihood in triumph over audacious
courage almost unparalleled in the records of
modern warfare.

Chattanooga was the next principal scene of
battle for the Thirteenth. It guarded the bag-
gage train of the array to this place ; was fore-
most in the capture of Tuscumbia, and lent a
hand in taking Lookout Mountain, which mir-
acculous achievement was soon followed by the
victory of Mission Ridge, where the Thirteenth
captured more prisoners of the Eighteenth Ala-
bama than their own force numbered. The
enemy now were in full retreat, and the Thir-
teenth foremost in pursuit of them, but at Ring-
gold Gap they made a stand, and, owing to the
natural strength of their position, held our
forces at bay. In the first charge that followed,
many were killed, among whom was Capt. Wal-
ter Blanchard, of Downer's Grove.

But a desperate encounter was yet in store
for this regiment. At Madison Station, Ala.,
where it was posted, after being reduced by the
casualties of war to 350 men fit for duty, it
was surrounded by more than one thousand
of the enemy's cavalry, with three pieces of
artillery. After two hours' fighting, it made
good its retreat, but left behind sixty-six men
as prisoners. The enemy's loss was sixty killed
and wounded.

In the summer of 1864, the regiment returned
to their homes to rest, but soon re-enlisted in
the Fifty-sixth. The entire loss during the
war, from all causes, was 565 men.

COMPANY H.

Babcock, Frederick W., Naperville, enlisted and
mustered in August 24, 1864.

Thatcher, Nelson L., enlisted and mustered in
May 24, 1861; mustered out June 18, 1864.

COMPANY K.

Captains. — Blanchard, Walter, Downer's Grove,
date of rank May 24, 1861, died December 4, 1863,
from wounds received at Ringgold Gap; Cole, Jor-
dan J., Downer's Grove, date of rank December 4,
1863, promoted from Second Lieutenant to First
Lieutenant. Term expired June 18, 1864.

First Lieutenants. — Bailey, Eli, Naperville, date
of rank, December 29, 1862, promoted from Ser-
geant to Second Lieutenant. Term expired June
18, 1864; Hobson, Meritt S., Naperville, resigned
January 22, 1862.

Second Lieutenant. — Naper, George A., Naper-
ville, date of rank January 22, 1862, promoted from
Sergeant. Killed at Vicksburg December 29, 1862.

Sergeants. — Page, Edmund E. Lisle, enlisted June
25, mustered out June 18, 1864, as First Sergeant;
Ketcham, Hiram, Winfleld, enlisted June 25, 1861,
mustered out June 18, 1864, wounded; Gladding,
John G., Winfleld, enlisted June 25, 1861, discharged
December 25, 1862; disability.

Corporals. — Pollard, Reuben B., Downer's Grove,
enlisted June 25, 1861, discharged March 25, 1863;
Blanchard, Franklin, Downer's Grove, enlisted June
25, 1861, mustered out June 18, 1864, as Sergeant;
Farrar, Eugene W., Downer's Grove, enlisted June 25,
1861, mustered out June 18, 1864, as Sergeant; Riley,
Patrick, Downer's Grove, enlisted June 25, 1861, Col-
or Sergeant, killed at Ringgold November 27, 1863;
Kenyon, Israel, Naperville, enlisted June25, 1861, dis-
charged February 20, 1862, disability; Hyde, Charles
W., Naperville, enlisted June 25, 1861, died June 15,
1863, wounds; Ball, Lewis C, Naperville, enlisted
June 25, 1861, mustered out June 18, 1864.

Musicians. — Perry, Merritt, Downer's Grove, en-
listed June 25, 1861, transferred to non-commis-
sioned staff September 10, 1861, as Principal Musi-
cian; Sucher, -James W., Downer's Grove, enlisted
June 25, 1861, mustered June 18, 1864; Kenyon,
John M., York, enlisted June 25, 1861, transferred
to non-commissioned staff November 20, 1863, as
Principal Musician.

Privates. — Beckman, Charles, Naperville, June
25, 1861, discharged March 10, 1864, lost right arm;
Bader, Adolpb, Naperville, June 25, 1861, prisoner
of war, mustered out June 18, 1865; Bolles, Charles
E., Turner Junction, enlisted and mustered in March
8,1862, discharged February 10, 1863, for wounds;
Beesing, Lewis, Naperville, June 25, 1861, died
August 4, 1863; Ballou, Daniel W., Naperville, June

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

26, 1861, trans, to Tenth Missouri Cavalry, promoted
Second Lieutenant; Blanchard, William, Downer's
Grove, June 25, 1861, discharged April 18, 1862, dis-
ability; Boettger, Charles, Du Page County, June
25, 1861, mustered out June 18, 1864; Beuck, Fritz,
Du Page County, June 25, 1861, mustered out June
18, 1864; Balliman, William, Downer's Grove, June
25, 1861, mustered out June 18, 1864; Baugertz, Lor-
entz, Downer's Grove, June 25, 1861, discharged
July 25, 1862, disability; Bolles, Essec, Du Page
County, June 25, 1861, mustered out June 18, 1864,
as Corporal; Carpenter, Charles, Downer's Grove,
June 25, 1861, mustered out June 18, 1864; Daniels,
John, Naperville, June 25, 1861, trans, to Tenth
Missouri Cavalry, October 1, 1861; Deuel, Charles
B., York, June 25, 1861, mustered out June 18, 1864;
Dirr, Adam L., Naperville, June 25, 1861, mustered
out June 18, 1864; Doerr, Phillip, Naperville, June
25, 1861, trans, to Tenth Missouri Cavalry, October
1, 1861; Fowler, Oliver S., York, June 25, 1861,
mustered out June 18, 1864, as Corporal; Farrell,
James, Du Page County, June 25, 1861, re-enlisted
as veteran January 1, 1864, trans, to Company I,
Fifty-sixth Illinois, prisoner of war; Ferris, Charles
H., Lisle, June 25, 1861, died November 26, 1861 ;
Greggs, Joseph, Du Page County, June 25, 1861,
discharged September 18, 1863, disability; Griffith,
Charles, Warrenville, June 25, 1861, mustered out
June 18, 1864; Gokey, Lewis, Warrenville, June 25,
1861, re-enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864, trans, to
Company I, Fifty-sixth Illinois; Howard, Abraham
C, Downer's Grove, June 25, 1861, trans, to Invalid
Corps September 1, 1863; Hart, Matthias, Naper-
ville, June 25, 1861, mustered out June 18, 1864, as
Corporal; Holley, James L., Du Page County, June
25, 1861, mustered out June 18, 1864; Hunt, Henry,
Downer's Grove, June 25, 1861, discharged Febru-
ary 20, 1862, disability; Howland, Charles E., Lisle,
June 25, 1861, died October 25, 1861; Hintz, Mi-
chael, Du Page County, June 25, 1861, discharged
March 30, 1863. lost his arm;.Hartigan, Patrick, Du
Page County, June 25, 1861, mustered out June 18,
1864; Harris, Charles, Du Page County, June 25,
1861, re-enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864, prisoner
of war; Henrick, Christian, Brush Hill, enlisted and
mustered in June 25, 1861, mustered out June 18,
1864; Johnson, William, Du Page County, June 25,
1861, re-enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864; Kuchel,
Mathias, Lisle, June 25, 1861, mustered out June
18, 1864; Kreitzer, Ferdinand, Du Page County,
June 25, 1861, discharged October 1, 186 ! , disability;
Kniffin, Daniel. Lisle, June 25, 1861, transferred to

Invalid Corps; Kenyon, William J., Naperville, June
25, 1861, died April 20, 1863; Miller. John F., Na-
perville, June 25, 1861, prisoner of war, mustered
out June 7, 1865; Neas, Baptiste, Naperville, June
25, 1861, killed at Chickasaw Bayou December 29,
1862; Naper, JohnN., June 25, 1861, discharged Jan-
uary 1, 1864, disability; Neaderhauser, Daniel, Na-
perville, June 24, 1861, died October 27, 1861; Potter,
William, Naperville, June 25, 1861, trans, to Inva-
lid Corps September 21, 1863; Potter, Robert K.,
Naperville, June 25, 1861, discharged May 26, 1863,
disability; Rose, William E., Naperville, June 25,
1861, mustered out June 18, 1864; Smith, Joseph,
Lisle, enlisted and mustered in June 25, 1861, mus-
tered out June 18, 1864; Snyder, Reuben, Naper-
ville, June 25, 1861, died December 21, 1863, wounds;
Sucher, Jacob, Downer's Grove, June 25, 1861, mus-
tered out June 18, 1864; Shuester, William, Lisle,
June 25, 1861, prisoner of war; Standage, Henry,
Du Page County, June 25, 1861, reported dead;
Turner, George, Downer's Grove, June 25, 1861,
mustered June 18, 1864; Townsend, Lysander, York,
June 25, 1861, discharged December 10, 1863, disa-
bility; Tuttle, Charles, Du Page County, June 25,
1861, died December 26, 1861; Toitlet, John, Dow-
ner's Grove, June 25, 1861, prisoner of war; Wilflin,
Christian, Du Page County, June 25, 1861, re-en-
listed as veteran January 1, 1864, prisoner of war;
Walters, Christian, Downer's Grove, June 25, 1861,
mustered out June 18, 1864; Woods, Hollis, Win-
field, June 25, 1861, died January 29, 1863, wounds;
Webster, Charles, Lisle, June 25, 1861, mustered out
June 18, 1864.

Recruits.— Griffith, Samuel, Warrenville, Sep-
tember 10 1861, discharged February 7, -1863, disa-
bility; Hubbard John B., Naperville, September 10,
1861, trans, to Invalid Corps; Hall, Henry K., Na-
perville, September 10, 1861, discharged November
15, 1862, disability; Ketcham, Abraham, Winfield,
October 1, 1861, re-enlisted as veteran; Prandleburg,
Joseph, Du Page County, July 8, 1861, trans, to
Company I, Fifty-sixth Illinois; Remmel, Matthias,
Naperville, September 10, 1861, discharged May 26,
1863, wounded in head; Roush, Jeremiah, Naper-
ville, September 10, 1861, discharged August 11,
1863, disability; Rose, William, October 1, 1862, dis-
charged April 18, 1863, disability; Starnhagen, John,
Du Page County, enlisted and mustered in July 21,
1861, died May 24, 1862; Stevens, De Witt, Naper-
ville, July 7, 1861, killed at Chickasaw Bayou, De-
cember 29, 1862; Stark, Henry, Du Page County,
enlisted and mustered in July 15, 1861, re-enlisted as

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

veteran; Tennant, Joseph, Naperville, September
10, 1861, re-enlisted as veteran; Tilden, Charles,
Naperville, March 24, 1862, trans, to Company I,
Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry; Wescott, Theophilus,
Warrenville, September 10, 1861, discharged October
1, 1861, disability.

FIFTEENTH REGIMENT.

Fifteenth Regiment of Illinois Infantry was

organized at Freeport, 111., and mustered into

service May 24, 1861, being the first in the

State for the three years' service ; had four

men from Du Page County. It was mustered

out September 1, 1865, at Fort Leavenworth,

Kan.

company c.

Truman, Ira, Milton, enlisted and mustered in May

24, 1861; mustered out May 25, 1864.
Truman, Austin B., Milton, enlisted and mustered

in May 24, 1861 ; mustered out May 25, 1864. '

COMPANY E.

Blaisdell, William E., Wayne, enlisted and mustered
in May 24, 1861; discharged January 22, 1863.

Watson, Edward, Wayne, enlisted and mustered in
May 24, 1861; killed at Shiloh April 6, 1862.

NINETEENTH REGIMENT.

The Nineteenth Regiment of Illinois Infan-
try in its formation dates from the opening of
the war. Three companies of it, without wait-
ing till men could be raised, were hurriedly
sent to Cairo April 14, 1861, under Gen. Swift,
to guard the place from a threatening attack.
The regiment was completely organized and
mustered into service at Chicago June 17,
1861, and mustered out at the expiration of its
term of service July 9, 1864. It had one man
in it from Du Page County.

company c.
Miles, Martin, Wheaton, who remained in the serv-
ice during its term.

TWENTIETH REGIMENT.

The Twentieth Regiment of Illinois Infantry
was organized at Joliet May 14, and mustered

in June 13, 1861. It took part in the siege of
Fort Donelson February, 1862, and in the bat-
tle of Shiloh the following April. It also was
in man}' other engagements during the term of
its service, till it was mustered out at Louis-
ville, Ky., July 16, 1865, and arrived at Chi-
cago the 19th for discharge. It had five men
from Du Page County.

COMPANY A.

Scott, Silas O, First Sergeant, enlisted and mus-
tered in October 10, 1864.

Ewing, Robert, Sergeant, Naperville, enlisted and
mustered in October 12, 1864.

Bocker, George B., Addison, enlisted and mustered
in October 12, 1864.

Wante, Lushing, Naperville, enlisted and mustered
in October 12, 1864.

COMPANY B.

Neff, Martin, Du Page County, enlisted October 14,
and mustered in the 28th, 1861; died at Cairo Sep-
tember 2, 1863.

TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT.

The Twenty-third Regiment of Illinois In-
fantry, known as the Irish Brigade, was organ-
ized at Chicago May 17, 1861, and mustered
into service June 17, and mustered out July
24, 1865. It had fifteen men from Du Page
Count}' in its ranks as follows :

COMPANY H.

Bates, Francis, Wheaton, Sergeant.

Watson, Casper W., Wheaton, Corporal.

Armbruster, Adam, Naperville.

Austin N., Wheaton.

Beardsley, Jerome G., Wheaton.

Drullard, Thomas W., Wheaton.

Getsch, Frank S., Milton.

Georo, Serophine, Milton.

Manning, Augustus, Warrenville.

Kovey, Fred, Milton.

Kinyon, Albert R., York.

Ott, Peter, Milton.

Ulech, Herman W. A., Wheaton.

Wilskin, Dominee, Naperville.

Yeates, J. K. P.

The above all enlisted in March, 1865, and
were mustered out with the regiment.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

THIRTY-THIRD REGIMENT.

The Thirty-third Regiment of Illinois Infan-
try, knowu as the Normal Regiment, because it
was composed largely of teachers and stu-
dents, was organized at Camp Butler in Sep-
tember, 1861, and mustered into service the
same month. It moved immediately to Iron-
ton, Mo., where it remained during the winter,
doing occasional scout service and fighting the
battle of Fredericksburg. In March, 1862, it
moved southward and joined Gen. Curtis'
army, and took part in the battle of Cache.
After being engaged here in several skirmishes
with the enemy, it moved to Pilot Knob, Mo.,
arriving in October, 1862.

November 15, it moved to Van Buren, Ark.,
in Col. Harris' brigade, Brig. Gen. W. J. Ben-
ton's division of Gen. Davidson's corps, and
made a winter campaign in Southeast Missouri,
passing through Patterson, Van Buren, Alton,
West Plain, Eminence and Centreville, and
returned to Bellevue Valley, near Pilot Knob,
about March 1, 1863.

It was then ordered to St. Genevieve, Mo.,
where, with the command, it embarked for Mil-
liken's Bend, La. It was now attached to the
First Brigade, First Division, Thirteenth Army
Corps, and with it took part in the battles of
Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Black River
Bridge, the assault and sieges of Vicksburg
and Jackson.

In August, it moved to New Orleans with
the Thirteenth Corps. In October, it was en-
gaged in the campaign up the Bayou Teche,
and, returning to New Orleans in November, it
was ordered to Brownsville, Tex., but before
landing was ordered to Arkansas Pass. It
disembarked on St. Joseph's and Matagorda
Islands to Saluria, participating in the capture
of Ft. Esperanza, and thence moved to Indian-
ola and Port Lavaca.

The First Brigade, while on the mainland of
Texas, was commanded by Brig. Gen. Fitz
Henry Warren. January 1. 1864, the regiment

re-enlisted as veterans, and March 14 reached
Bloomington, III., and received veteran fur-
lough.

April 18, 1864. the regiment was re-organ-
ized at Camp Butler, 111., and proceeded to
New Orleans via Alton and St. Louis, arriving
the 29th and camping at Carrollton.

May 17, it was ordered to Brashear City,
La. Soon after its arrival, the regiment was
scattered along the line of the road as guard,
as follows : Companies F, C and K at Bayou
Boeuf ; Company I at Bayou L'Ours ; Com-
panies A and D at Tigerville ; Company G at
Chacahula ; Company E at Terre Bonne ; Com-
pany B at Bayou La Fourche and Bayou des
Allemands ; Company H at Boutte ; regi-
mental headquarters, Terre Bonne. The dis-
trict was called the " District of La Fourche,"
commanded by Brig. Gen. Robert A. Cameron,
headquarters at Thibodeaux.

September 17, 1864, the non-veterans of the
regiment were started home, via New York
City, in charge of rebel prisoners, and were
mustered out at Camp Butler about October
11, 1864.

March 2, 1865, it was ordered to join the
Sixteenth Arn^ Corps. Near Boutte Station
the train was thrown from the track, and nine
men killed and seventy wounded. On the
18th, the regiment embarked on Lake Pou-
chartrain for Mobile expedition. Company K
remaining behind to guard transportation,
joined the regiment April 11, at Biakely.

It next moved via Fort Gaines and Navy
Cove, landed on Fish River, Ala., and marched
with Gen. Canby's army up the east side of
Mobile Bay. The regiment was in the First
Brigade, Col. W. L. McMillian, Ninety-fifth
Ohio ; First Division, Brig. Gen. J. McArthur ;
Sixteenth Army Corps, Maj. Gen. A. J. Smith.

March 27, it arrived in front of Spanish
Fort, the main defense of Mobile, and, until its
capture, April 18, was actively engaged. Loss,
1 killed, 2 died of wounds, and 9 wounded.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

After the surrender of Mobile, it marched,
April 13, 1865, with the Sixteenth Army
Corps, for Montgomery, Ala., where it arrived
on the 25th, and encamped on the Alabama
River. Here it received the news of Lee and
Johnston's surrender, after which its operations
were not of a hostile character.

May 10, marched to Selma, and May 17 by
rail to Meriden, Miss. In the latter part of
July, the regiment was filled above the maxi-
mum by men transferred from the Seventy-
second, One Hundred and Seventeenth, One
Hundred and Twenty-second and One Hundred
and Twenty-fourth Illinois, when it moved to
Vicksburg August 4, 1865, and remained at
that place until mustered out of service No-
vember 24, 1865, and ordered to Camp Butler,
111., for final payment and discharge. It had
forty-seven men from Du Page County.

COMPANY B.

Morgan, Moses J., Naperville, Captain; date of rank

September 18, 1861.
Durant, Edward T., Lisle, First Lieutenant; date of

promotion from Second Lieutenant March 20,

1864.
Morgan, Sid. O., Naperville, Sergeant; re-enlisted

as veteran.
Lyon, Forester S., Downer's Grove, Sergeant; re-

enlisted as veteran.
Barr, James M., Lisle, Corporal; discharged March

23, 1863, for disability.
Cotter, Charles M., Lisle, Corporal ; discharged

March 23, 1863, for disability.
Green, Frank D., Lisle, Corporal; died at Ironton,

Mo., February 15, 1862.
Wakeman, Bradford J., Cottage Hill, Musician;

promoted to Fife Major.

PRIVATES.

Allison, Andrew, Cass; died at Helena October 5,

1862.
Andrews, Charles, Downer's Grove; mustered out

October 11, 1864
Andrews, Giles, York, mustered out October 11,

1864.
Austin, Charles G., Jr., Downer's Grove; re-enlisted

as veteran.
Ballou, Morgan, Lisle, mustered out October 11,

1864, as Corporal.

Block, Ferdinand, Lisle; re-enlisted as veteran.

Blodgett, Scott, Cass; re-enlisted as veteran.

Clark, Luther J., Bloomingdale; re-enlisted as vet-
eran. •

Chatfield, Alonzo B., Lisle; discharged for wounds.

Chatfield, George W., Lisle.

Cry, Samuel, Naperville; re-enlisted as veteran.

Clifford, Edward. Cass; mustered out October 11,
1874.

Day, Brice, Cass, died at Mound City September
15, 1862.

Durant, William E., Lisle; re-enlisted as veteran.

Fetterman, Cyrus, Cass; re-enlisted as veteran.

Fischer, Frederick J., Addison; mustered out Octo-
ber 11, 1864, as Corporal.

Grothman, Frederick, Addison; discharged October
4, 1864, term expired.

Heartt, George, Cass; re-enlisted as veteran.

Harberger, Jacob, Addison; re-enlisted as veteran.

Holchany, Frederick, Addison ; re-enlisted as vet-
eran.

Hummer, Jacob, Naperville; re-enlisted as veteran.

Koshner, Charles, Naperville; re-enlisted as veteran.

Morgan, Henry G., Naperville; discharged Febru-
ary 11, 1862, for disability.

Marvin, Hector A., Lisle; died at Ironton, Mo.,
November 19, 1861.

Rodgers, Lucius B., Milton; re-enlisted as veteran.

Ridge, Royer, Naperville; re-enlisted as veteran.

Smart, Wesley, Downer's Grove; mustered out Oc-
tober 11, 1864.

Schmidt, Edward, Addison.

Schwartz, Louis, Addison; died at Ironton, Mo., Oc-
tober 14, 1861.

Shimmer, J. O, Addison; mustered out October 11,
1864.

Turtlott, James M., Cass; mustered out October 11,
1864.

Utting, William, Addison; died at St. Louis October
20, 1861.

Wheatley, William, Lisle; mustered out October 11,
1864.

RECRUITS.

Grannke, Charles, Addison, enlisted December 2,

1861; died at Virginia Station, Mo., March 2,

1862.
Grothman, Frederick, York, e nlisted October 4,

1864.
Hatch, Edward P., Lisle, enlisted September 20,

1864; discharged July 20, 1865, as Sergeant for

promotion in U. 8. Colored Infantry.
Renken, Henry, Addison; transferred to gunboat

service February 7, 1862.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

COMPANY P.

Lapin, Charles, Warrenville.

COMPANY H.

Nelson, Henry, Napervllle, enlisted March 20;
mustered in April 17, 1864.

Those who were mustered in October 4, 1864, were
such as did not re-enlist after their terms had ex-
pired.

THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.

The Thirty-sixth Regiment of Illinois In-
fantry was organized at Aurora, 111., in Sep-
tember, 1861, and mustered into service the 23d
of the same month. It was sent to St. Louis,
where it received its arms, from whence it was
sent to Rolla, where it remained till January
14, 1862. More active service now began, and
it was engaged in battle at Bentonville and Pea
Ridge, subsequent to which it was assigned to
Gen. Pope's command. It was next engaged in
the battle of Percyville, where it lost seventy-
five killed and wounded. But its terrible con-
flict was at Stone River, where, after six days'
fighting, it came out with only 200 men. It
was subsequently engaged in other battles near
Chattanooga, in all of which its courage was not
found wanting. It was mustered out at New
Orleans, October 8, 1865, and arrived at Camp
Butler the 17th for discharge. It had forty-
seven men from Du Page County.

COMPANY A.

Taylor, John B. F., Wheaton, enlisted August 8,
and mustered in September 23, 1861 ; discharged
September 22, 1864.

COMPANY C

Rothemel, Benhard, York, enlisted and mustered
in October 14, 1864; transferred from Seventy-
fourth Regiment.

COMPANY K.

Captain— Adams, John Q., Wayne, date of rank
August 20, and mustered in September 23, 1861 ; re-
signed September 7, 1862.

First Lieutenants— Elliot, John F., Wayne, date
of rank September 7, 1862, mustered in March 12,
1863, promoted from Sergeant, discharged May 30,
1864 ; Pratt, Emery W., Wayne, date of rank April
11, 1865, mustered in July 8, 1865.

Second Lieutenants — Hammond, Mathew J.,
Wayne, date of rank February 15, 1862, resigned
September 7, 1862 ; Hazelhurst, Charles, Wayne,
date of rank September 7, 1862, mustered in Novem-
ber 17, 1862, resigned July 7, 1865.

Sergeants— Smith, Romain A., Wayne, enlisted
August 12, 1861, re-enlisted as veteran ; Adams, El-
dridge, Wayne, enlisted August 12, 1861, died of
wounds January 18, 1863 ; Dickenson, David H.,
Wayne, enlisted August 12, 1861, as Corporal, pro-
moted to Second Lieutenant U. S. Colored Infantry.

Corporals— Folson, Theodore A., Wayne, enlisted
August 12, 1861.
Ketchum, Abram J., Wayne, enlisted August 12;

1861, transferred to Company K.

Starr, Robert H., Wayne, enlisted August 12, 1861;
re-enlisted as veteran.

Albro, Eugene P., Wayne, Corporal, enlisted Au-

. gust 12, 1861.

Adams, Aseph J., Wayne; killed in battle at Stone
River.

Hemmingway, George W., Wayne, musician, en-
listed August 12, 1861; discharged for disability.

Hazelhurst, James, Musician, Wayne, enlisted Au-
gust 12, 1861 ; re-enlisted as veteran.

PRIVATES.

Allen, Henry O, Wayne, enlisted August 12, 1861
promoted to Corporal; discharged, February 25

1862, for wounds.

Adams, William, Wayne, enlisted August 12, 1861
missing at Chickamauga September 20, 1863.

Blank, Harrison W., Wayne, enlisted September 20
1861; re-enlisted as veteran.

Clark, John P., Wayne, enlisted August 12, 1861
died at Rolla December 14, 1861.

Delany, James, Wayne, enlisted August 12, 1861
discharged September 22, 1864.

Gordon, John M., Wayne, enlisted August 12, 1861
re-enlisted as veteran.

Grundy, Samuel, Wayne, enlisted August 12, 1861
killed at Chickamauga.

Gates, George W., Wayne, enlisted Angust 19, 1861,
killed at Dallas, Ga., May 26, 1864.

La Rue, Harrison M., Du Page County, enlisted Sep-
tember 24, 1861, transferred to Fifteenth Cavalry.

Hillard, Michael, Wayne, enlisted August 12, 1861,
died at Lebanon, Mo., Feb. 12, 1862.

Hazelhurst, Frederick, Wayne, enlisted August 12,
1861, mustered out, September 8, 1864, &j Cor-
poral.

Hammond, Daniel, Wayne, enlisted August 12, 1861,
re-enlisted as veteran.

™jU£i^73la**4^L&f&r)

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

101

Judd, Francis, Wayne, enlisted August 12, 1861, re-
enlisted as veteran.
Matteson, Thomas P., Wayne, enlisted August 20,

1861, promoted to Principal Musician.
Minkler, John O, Wayne, enlisted August 24, 1861,

re-enlisted as veteran.
Monroe, George, Wayne, enlisted August 20, 1861,

killed in battle at Stone River.
Monroe, Edward E., Wayne, enlisted August 20,

1861.
Piatt, Emery W., Wayne, enlisted August 12, 1861,

re-enlisted as veteran.
Paul, John, Wayne, enlisted August 20, 1861, re-en-
listed as veteran.
Peterson, John, Wayne, enlisted August 21, 1861;

transferred to V. R. C. April 17, 1864.
Skinner, Harrison, Wayne, enlisted August 12,

1861; killed at Perrsville, Ky., October 8, 1862.
Simmons, Benjamin W., enlisted August 12, 1861.

Scales, George M., Wayne, enlisted August 12,

1861; re-enlisted as veteran.
Samson, Francis, Wayne, enlisted August 12, 1861;

died of wounds received at Cassville, Mo., April

16, 1862.
Sanders, Harlan, Wayne, enlisted August 12, 1861 ;

discharged April 19, 1863, for wounds.
Tukesbury, Francis, Wayne, enlisted August 12,

1861; re-enlisted as veteran.
Tucker, Charles A., Wayne, enlisted August 12,

1861, re-enlisted as veteran.
Wood, Orrin, Wayne, enlisted August 12, 1861, died

January 19, 1863, of wounds.
Wagoner, Sidney O., Wayne, enlisted August 12,

1861, discharged March 16, 1864, for wounds.
Unassigned Recruits — Bissell, Charles, York, en-
listed and mustered in October 14, 1864.

THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.

The Thirty -seventh Regiment of Illinois In-
fantry was organized at Chicago in September
1861, and mustered out at Houston, Tex., May
15, 1866. It had four men from Du Page
County.

Clark, Elijah A., Wheaton, First Assistant Surgeon,
promoted by the President to Surgeon of Eighth
Missouri Cavalry.

Blodgett, Edward A., Downer's Grove, Quartermas-
ter's Sergeant.

COMPANY C.

Newton, Isaac, Wheaton, enlisted September 1,
1861; re-enlisted as veteran.

company o.
Topel, Dedrick, Downer's Grove, enlisted August
15; re-enlisted as veteran.

THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENT.

The Thirty-ninth Regiment of Illinois In-
fantry began recruiting immediately after the
firing on Fort Sumter, but was not ready to
take the field at the first call for six regiments
from Illinois. It was mustered into service
August, 1861, at Chicago, and mustered out
at Norfolk, Va., December 5, 1865. It had
two soldiers from Du Page County.

COMPANY G.

Cook, Ezra A., Wheaton, enlisted September 2,
1861, discharged in 1864 for disability; Decker,
Lewis, Wheaton, enlisted August 9, 1861, discharged
the 30th for disability.

FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT.

The Forty-second Regiment of Illinois In-
fanty was organized at Chicago July 22, 1861
It bore the brunt of the war, being in the
principal battles in which the Army of the
Cumberland was engaged. It was mustered
out at Indianola, Tex., December 16, 1865, and
reached Camp Butler January 3, 1866. It had
seven men from Du Page County.

COMPANY B.

O'Brien, Edward, Du Page County, enlisted and
mustered in September 3, 1860, at Chicago, re-enlist-
ed as veteran^ from Du Page County January 1,
1864, transferred to V. R! 0. March 13, 1865.

. , - , • j COMPANY 4,

Bents, Benjamin,' Napervilfe, enlisted and mus-
tered in September 3, 1861, re-enlisted as veteran;
Butts, Benjamin F., Naperville, enlisted February
16, 1861, re-enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864,
mustered out December 16, 1865, as Sergeant; Gillis,
Thomas, Naperville, enlisted and mustered in Aug-
ust 3, 1861, killed at Farmington, Miss., May 9,
1862; Itzenhauzer, John, Naperville, enlisted and
mustered in September 10, 1861, died of wounds
January 8, 1862; Shimp, William, ' Naperville, en-
listed and mustered in September 10, 1861, promoted
to Sergeant, discharged on account of wounds Sep-

103

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

tember 16, 1864; Wilcox, Elisha, Naperville, enlist-
ed and mustered in August 18, 1861, re-enlisted as
veteran.

FORTY-FOURTH REGIMENT.

The Forty-fourth Regiment of Illinois In-
fantry was organized in August, 1861, at Camp
Ellsworth, in Chicago, and mustered out Sep-
tember 25, 1865, at Port Lavaca, Tex. Ar-
rived at Springfield October 15, 1865, where it
was discharged. In had one soldier from Du
Page County.

COMPANY E.

Goldhammer, Henry, York, enlisted August 1,
mustered in September 13, 1861, transferred to
Company K.

FIFTY-FIRST REGIMENT.

The Fifty-first Regiment was organized at
Camp Douglas December 24, 1861. April 2,
1862, it moved against Island No. 10. It suf-
fered severely at the battle of Chickamauga,
being in the thickest of the fight. On Febru-
ary 10, 1864, the whole regiment mustered as
veterans. During the Atlanta campaign, it
lost 3 officers killed, 4 wounded, and 1 05 men
killed and wounded. It was mustered out of
service at Camp Irwin, Tex., September 25,
1865, and arrived at Camp Butler October 15.
It had eighteen men from Du Page County, as
follows :

COMPANY B.

Bates, Ansel, Cottage Hill, enlisted October 19,
1861, mustered in Javuary 23, 1863, promoted Ser-
geant and Second Ijie.ufenan > t;yBl)3$.s!c)}} i Gustave,
Cottage Hill, enlisted October 19., 1861, mustered in
January 23, 1862;' Bi}rnian\jiewisi 'Addi'eob'^eTitfsted
December 5, 1861 ;' Foley," John, Cottage Hill, en-
listed November 26, mustered in December 24, 1861,
died at Chattanooga June 1, 1864; Hahn, Henry,
Brush Hill, enlisted December 3, 1861; Hoffman,
Paul, Cottage Hill, enlisted December 5, 1861;
Johnson, Christian, Cottage Hill, enlisted Decem-
ber 7, mustered in the 24th, 1861; Kehler, Phillip,
Cottage Hill, enlisted December 7, mustered in the
24th, 1861, died at Paducah June 1, 1862; Keiler,
Stephen, Cottage Hill, enlisted December 13, mus-
tered in the 24th, 1861, discharged October 2, 1862;
Kernan, Mark T., York, enlisted November 26,

1861; Lapp, Henry, Cottage Hill, enlisted December
24, 1861, mustered in January 23, 1862, accidentally
killed March 16, 1862; Lauerman, John, Cottage
nill, enlisted December 20, 1861, mustered in Janu-
ary 23, 1862; Snow, Edgar J., Cottage Hill, enlisted
October 23, mustered in December 24, 1861 ; Welsh-
William, Cottage Hill, enlisted November 80, mus-
tered in December 24, 1861; Werden, Frederic,
Brush Hill, enlisted December 2, mustered in the
24th, 1861.

COMPANY E.

Hull, Edward E., Naperville, enlisted December
24, 1863; killed at Kenesaw Mountain June 15, 1864.

COMPANY I.

Miller, George W., Cass, enlisted February 25,
mustered in March 10, 1865 ; Prickett, William W.,
Cass, enlisted February 25, mustered in March 10,
1865

FIFTY-SECOND REGIMENT.

The Fifty-second Regiment was organized at
Geneva, 111. Its first active service was at Fort
Donelson, where it arrived in time to take
charge of the rebel prisoners taken there and
deliver them at Springfield and Chicago. It was
then ordered to join the Army of the Tennes-
see, and was engaged in the battle of Shiloh,
where it lost in killed, wounded and missing
over one- third of its number. It was subse-
quently in the battles of Iuka, Corinth, Snake
Creek Gap, Resaca, Lay's Ferry, Rome Cross
Roads, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Nickojack
Creek, Decatur and Altoona, after which it
was with Gen. Sherman on his march to the
sea, and went from there to Richmond. Was
next in the grand review at Washington, from
whence it was ordered to Louisville, where it
was mustered out only 517 strong out of the
original 940 men in its ranks, to whom 400 had
been added as recruits, 823 men having been
killed or disabled in the battles and hardships
which this regiment had passed through. It
had twenty-four men from Du Page County,
as follows :

COMPANY A.

Burnham, Edward, Du Page County, enlisted Oc-
tober 12, mustered in the 25th, 1861 ; Giles, Jerry W.,
Naperville, enlisted September 16, mustered in Oc-

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

103

tober 25, 1861; Graves, James D., Naperville, en
listed October 25, 1861.

COMPANY C.

Parks, Isaac, Naperville, enlisted September 15,
mustered in November 19, 1861.

COMPANY D.

Brown, Gilbert N., Winfleld, enlisted September
10, mustered in November 19. 1861, re-enlisted as
veteran, promoted to Sergeant; Hammond, James
W., Winfleld, enlisted January 20, mustered in
February 27, 1864; Hammond, William H, Winfleld,
enlisted and mustered in at tbe same time ;
Reckenback, Christian, Winfleld, enlisted Sep-
tember 10, mustered in November 19, 1861 ;
Stanfer, Lewis, Winfleld, enlisted and mustered in
at the same time, re-enlisted as veteran; Swenson,
John, Warrenville, enlisted and mustered in at the
same time, re-enlisted as veteran; Vanderogen,
John, Naperville, enlisted January 19, mustered in
February 27, 1864, died near Marietta, Ga., July
23, 1864.

Recruit— La Plant, Medar, Naperville, January,
13, 1864.

COMPANY I.

Farnham, Thomas E., Warrenville, enlisted Sep-
tember 11, and mustered in October 25, 1861.

COMPANY K.

Cleveland, Sylvester, Naperville, enlisted January
9, 1864; Currier, William R,, Turner Junction, en-
listed September 6, mustered in October 25, 1861.

Unassigned Recruit — Ford, John, Naperville,
mustered in February 27, 1864.

The following were musicians who enlisted
October 25, 1861, all from Naperville :

Glines, A. B., Heitzler, John, Mathias, Gregory,
Sayler, Alexander H, Sayler, Morgan F., Sayler,
Thomas W., Swartz, Joseph, Vallette, James M.

FIFTY-THIRD REGIMENT.

The Fifty -third Regiment of Illinois Infantry
was organized at Ottawa, 111., in the winter of
1861-62. and moved to Camp Douglas Febru-
ary 27. It was mustered out at Louisville,
Ky., July 22, 1865, and arrived at Chicago the
28th. It had one man from Du Page County
in its ranks.

COMPANY K.

Kingston, George, Downer's Grove, enlisted as
recruit October 19, 1864.

FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT.

The Fifty-fourth Regiment was organized at
Camp Dubois, Aurora, 111., in November, 1861,
as a part of a Kentucky brigade. It was mus-
tered into service February 18, 1862. This
regiment was actively engaged raiding against
and skirmishing with the enemy much of
the time during the war, and in consequence
many of them were taken prisoners, but were
exchanged December 5, 1864.

It was mustered out at Little Rock October
15, 1865, and was discharged at Camp Butler
the 26th. It had thirteen men from Du Page
County.

COMPANY B.

Miller, Alexander, Milton, enlisted November 21,
and mustered in February 16, 1861; re-enlisted as
veteran.

COMPANY D.

Cox, William, Downer's Grove, enlisted as re-
cruit March 31, 1865, died at Fort Smith, Ark.,
September 12, 1865; Cox, Wesley H, Downer's
Grove, enlisted as recruit March 6, 1862, died at
Memphis October 1, 1863; Hardsoc, Elzy, Downer's
Grove, enlisted as recruit March 1, 1865, mustered
out October 15, 1865.

COMPANY G.

Busick, James A., Milton, enlisted December 2,
1861, mustered in February 18, 1862, re-enlisted as
veteran; Sutherland, Amaziah, Milton, enlisted De-
cember 2, 1861, re-enlisted as veteran; Stevens,
John W., Milton, enlisted December 2, 1861, re-en-
listed as veteran.

COMPANY I.

Farroll, Ezra R., York, enlisted and mustered in
as recruit March 7, 1865, mustered out October 15,
1865; Riscoe, John, York, enlisted and mustered in
March 7, 1865, mustered out October 15, 1865.

COMPANY K.

Campbell, James H, Milton, enlisted as Wagoner
December 10, 1861, mustered in February 10, 1862;
Boyd, Ithamer, Milton, enlisted December 10, 1861,
mustered in February 16, 1862; re-enlisted as vet-
eran.

104

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

TJNA88IGNED RECRUITS.

Baker, Henry J.. York, enlisted and mustered in
March 8, 1865; Plumby, Andrew J., Milton, enlisted
and mustered in March 30, 1864, transferred to V.
R. C. September 22, 1864.

FIFTY-FIFTH REGIMENT.

The Fifty-flfth Regiment of Illinois with the
Fifty-fourth Ohio Infantry, distinguished them-
selves by their obstinate valor at the battle of
Shiloh, where they held the extreme left of the
Union army against a greatly superior force of
the enemy till the main body had retired.
Their loss in this engagement was ten officers
and 102 killed or mortally wounded. The
regiment was organized at Camp Douglas, and
mustered into service October 31, 1861, and
and mustered out at Little Rock, Ark., August
14, 1865. It arrived at Chicago August 22,
where it was discharged. It had in its ranks
thirty-five men from Du Page County :

company c.
Sanders, Calvin A., Naperville, enlisted Septem-
ber 26, 1861, discharged January 5, 1863, for dis-
ability; Summers, Thomas, Du Page County, en-
listed September 30, 1861, died at Memphis Septem-
ber 22, 1862; Schultz, Theodore, Du Page County,
enlisted August 27, 1861, re-enlisted as veteran.

company e. •

First Lieutenant. — Dixon, William H., Downer's
Grove, resigned March 13, 1862.

Privates. — Arnot, Hugo, Naperville, enlisted Sep-
tember 3, 1861, promoted to Corporal; Bautling-
hause, Amos, Naperville, enlisted September 6,
1851; Benie, Henry, Naperville, enlisted September
25, 1861, re-enlisted as veteran ; Baiger, Dedric,
Naperville, enlisted September 26, 1861, re-en-
listed as veteran; Dixon, Robert, Du Page County,
enlisted February 18, mustered in the 27, 1861,
promoted to Captain from First Sergeant, re-en-
listed as veteran ; Downing, William, Blooming-
dale, enlisted March 1, mustered in April 12, 1861;
Garbs, Richard, Naperville, enlisted September 16,
died at St. Louis of wounds October 31, 1864; Garst,
Christian, Naperville, enlisted September 6, 1861,
re-enlisted as veteran ; Gleasner, Andrew, Naper-
ville, enlisted September 9, 1861, re-enlisted as vet-
eran ; Gushard, Emanuel, Naperville, enlisted No-

vember 1, 1861, taken prisoner November 3, 1863;
Gushard, Isaac, Naperville, enlisted September 26. re-
enlisted as veteran; Kailer, Frederick, Naperville, en-
listed September 3, 1861, re-enlisted as veteran; Rei-
ser, Henry, Naperville, enlisted September 3, 1861,
re-enlisted as veteran; Kennedy, James, Naperville,
enlisted September 8, 1861; Kellogg, Samuel C, Na-
perville, died at Vicksburg July 18, 1863; Leibern-
guth, Christian, Naperville, enlisted September 6,
re -enlisted as veteran; Leibernguth, Christian, Cass,
enlisted January 24, mustered in February 16, 1864,
promoted fo Sergeant; Misner, Andrew, Naperville,
enlisted September 19, 1861, re-enlisted as veteran;
Porter, William, Naperville, promoted to Captain
April 1, 1863, killed in battle June 27, 1864; Papp,
Martin, Naperville, enlisted September 20, 1861, dis-
charged September 26, 1863, for wounds; Porter,
Martin R., Du Page County, enlisted September 3,
1861, discharged for disability June 28, 1863; Rey-
nolds, Henry, Naperville, enlisted September 6,
1861; Reinoehl, Henry, Naperville, re-enlisted as
veteran January 23, 1864; Reinoehl, Joseph, Naper-
ville, enlisted November 18, 1861; Shaning, Dede-
rick, York, re-enlisted as veteran January 23, 1864,
killed at Kenesaw Mountain June 27, 1864; Shan-
ing, Richard, Naperville, enlisted September 5,
1861, re-enlisted as veteran; Stretcher, David, Na-
perville, enlisted September 5, 1861, re-enlisted as
veteran; Teisel, Henry, Naperville, enlisted Septem-
ber 6, 1861; Trinke, Harman, Naperville, enlisted
October 16, 1861, died at Napoleon, Ark., January
17, 1863; Warden, Moses, Du Page County, enlisted
September 3, 1861, re-enlisted as veteran; Warden,
John, Du Page County, enlisted September 7, 1861,
re-enlisted as veteran.

FIFTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.

The Fifty-eighth Regiment of Illinois Infan-
try was organized with nine companies at Camp
Douglas, and mustered into service December
24 and 25, 1861, the remaining tenth company
being mustered in February 7, 1862. It par-
ticipated in the capture of Fort Donelson, and
was in many sanguinary battles during the
war. It was mustered out at Montgomery,
Ala., April 1, 1866. Twelve Du Page County
men were in its ranks, as follows :

company c.
Atwater, Benjamin F., York, enlisted December
12, mustered in the 25th, 1861, discharged June 17,

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

105

for disability: Eldridge, George W., York, enlisted
January 12, 1862, discharged for disability.

COMPANY D.

Mehan, John, Naperville, enlisted December 3,
1861, mustered in the 20th, 1861, re-enlisted as vet-
eran ; Stuber, Daniel, Addison, enlisted November
9, mustered in December 31, 1861, killed at Shiloh,
April 6, 1862.

COMPANY P.

Hoehn, George, Corporal, Brush Hill, enlisted
and mustered in December 31, 1861, re-enlisted as
veteran; Ugoveck, Albert, Cottage Hill, Corporal,
enlisted November 12, mustered in December 31,
1861 ; Shultz, John, Brush Hill, enlisted October 30,
mustered in December 31, 1861.

COMPANY G.

Battles, Caleb, Winfield, enlisted and mustered in
December 31, 1861, transferred to Company I, March
2, 1862.

COMPANY H.

Scoville, George R., Wheaton, enlisted October 8,
1861, discharged for disability; Scoville, Goodwin
D., Wheaton, enlisted October 8, re-enlisted as vet-
eran.

COMPANY I.

Dooner, Jeremiah, Turner Junction, enlisted De-
cember 9, mustered in the 24th, 1861, died of wounds
received at Shiloh.

SIXTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.

The Sixty-seventh Regiment of Illinois In-
fantry was organized at Camp Douglas June
13, 1862, for three months' service, where it re-
mained during its term. It had in its ranks
three men from Du Page County.

COMPANY B.

Farnagham, Melvin, Warrenville, enlisted June
4 and mustered in the 13th, 1862.

COMPANY D.

Blanchard, William F., Wheaton, enlisted June
2, and mustered in the 13th, 1862; Ward, Isaac S.,
Wheaton, enlisted and mustered in at the same time.

SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT.

The Sixty-ninth Regiment Illinois Infantry
was organized at Camp Douglas, and mustered
into service as a three months' regiment June

14, 1862. It had five Du Page County men in
its ranks.

COMPANY B.

Benedict, Thomas, Wayne, Donovan, Henry,
Turner Junction ; Griffith, William, Turner Junction ;
Ketchum, Charles F., Turner Junction; Stephens,
Alonzo S., Winfield; all mustered out at the expira-
tion of their term.

SEVENTY-SECOND REGIMENT.

The Seventy-second Regiment of Illinois In-
fantry was organized by the Roard of Trade,
Chicago, July 23, 1862. It took part in the
campaign on the Rig Rlack, siege of Vicksburg,
battle of Nashville, Fort Pillow, Fort Pember-
ton and many other lesser battles. It was mus-
tered out of service at Jackson, Miss., August
13, 1865. It had fifteen men from Du Page
County in its ranks.

COMPANY A.

Black, Henry, York, enlisted and mustered in
October 8, 1864, transferred to Twenty-third Veteran
Reserve Corps, April 24, 1865; Schurzman, Charles,
Addison, enlisted and mustered in October 8, 1864,
died of wounds at Greenville, Ala., April 16, 1865.

COMPANY C

Gleason, Henry J., Milton, enlisted and mustered
in August 21, 1862, promoted to Captain September
8, 1864; Gleason, Bishop J., Milton, enlisted Janu-
ary 4, and mustered in the 31st, 1864, transferred to
Thirty-third Regiment.

COMPANY D.

Graves, Julius, Lisle, enlisted July 28, mustered in
August 21, 1861.

COMPANY E.

Wells, Abraham, Downer's Grove, enlisted Au-
gust 8, mustered in the 21st, 1862; Wells, Lucian,
Cass, enlisted and mustered in at the same time;
Winterton, William, Downer's Grove, enlisted and
mustered in at the same time.

COMPANY G.

Stinson, Thomas, Naperville, enlisted August 12,
and mustered in the 21st, 1862, died May 28, 1862, of
wounds.

COMPANY K.

Heinricks, Peter, York; Heinrick, Christopher,
York, enlisted and mustered in October 8, 1864-

106

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Newhouse, Peter, Addison, enlisted and mustered in
at the same date; Ross, Charles, York, enlisted and
mustered in August 23, '1864; Shattman, Ernst, Ad-
dison, enlisted and mustered in October 8, 1864;
Williams, William M., York, enlisted and mustered
in October 14, 1864.

EIGHTY-SECOND REGIMENT.

The Eighty-second Regiment of Illinois In-
fantry, called the Second Hecker Regiment,
mostly made up of Germans and Scandinavians,
was mustered into service at Camp Butler,
August 26, 1862. This regiment always
honored the German name for toughness and
endurance. It was mustered out at Chicago,
June 17, 1865, at which time it had only 310
men left. One man represented Du Page
County in it.

COMPANY K.

Bumgartner, Andreas, Winfield, enlisted July 5,
mustered in September 26, discharged May 5, 1864,
for disability.

EIGHTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.

The Eighty-eighth Regiment of Illinois In-
fantry, known as the Second Board of Trade
Regiment, was mustered in at Chicago August
27, 1862, and after participating in its share in
the war was mustered out of service at Chica-
go, June 14, 1865. Eight men from Du Page
County were in its ranks.

COMPANY B.

Hamilton, Robert, Musician, died at Nashville,
January 13, 1863; Jones, James H., mustered out
June 9 as Corporal; Sutherland, James B., died at
Nashville of wounds January 26, 1863 ; Thomas,
Samuel S., transferred to Company E.

All the above from Milton, and enlisted and
mustered into service in August, 1862.

company o.

Hubbart, Nicholas, enlisted August 12, mustered
in the 27th, 1862; Hester, Samuel L., enlisted August
15, mustered in the 27th, 1862, mustered out as Cor-
poral; Hester, Samuel, enlisted and mustered in at
the same time; Kelly, Samuel, enlisted and mus-
tered in at the same time.

All the above from Milton.

EIGHTY-NINTH REGIMENT.

The Eighty-ninth Regiment of Illinois In-
fantry was organized at Chicago under the
united supervision of several railroad com-
panies, whose parent offices were at the
place. Hence it was called the Railroad Regi-
ment. Its first company was mustered into
the service August, 25, and its last the 27,
1862. It belonged to the Army of the Cumber-
land, and Nashville was the last great battle in
which it was engaged, at which place it was
mustered out of service June 10, 1865. It had
seven men from Du Page County in its ranks.

COMPANY K.

Watson, Emery B., Turner Junction, Corporal,
enlisted August 5, mustered in the 25th, 1862, dis-
charged September 25, 1864, for disability ; Fort-
man, Louis, Milton, enlisted August 4, and mus-
tered in the 25th, 1862, died at New Albany, Ind.,
December 12, 1862 ; Leary, John, Turner Junction,
enlisted August 11, and mustered in the 25th, 1862 ;
Scott, Otis P., Turner Junction, enlisted August 7,
and mustered in the 25th, 1862 ; Temple, George,
Naperville, enlisted January 23, 1864 ; Washington,
George, enlisted at the same time ; Wright, Wallace,
Turner Junction, enlisted August 7, mustered in
the 25th, 1862, killed at Chickamauga September
19, 1863.

NINETY- FIFTH REGIMENT.

The Ninety-fifth Regiment of Illinois Infan-
try was mustered into the service at Rockford,
111., September 4, 1862. Its chief field of op-
eration was around Vicksburg, New Orleans
and Mobile. It was mustered out at Camp
Butler, Springfield, August 16, 1865. It lost
84 men in battle, and 276 of disease. Two
men from Du Page County was in its ranks.

COMPANY A.

Pomery, Luther, Addison, enlisted October 17,1864,
transferred to the Forty-seventh Illinois Infantry ;
Smith, Thomas, Turner Junction, enlisted January,
25, 1865.

ONE HUNDREDTH REGIMENT.

The One Hundredth Regiment of Illinois In-
fantry was organized August 28, 1862, and

fo&n gA

'-Q/pr

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

107

known as the Will County Regiment. It had
one man from Du Page County.

COMPANY D.

Saylor, Peter H., Naperville, enlisted August 1,
Mustered in the 30th.

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH REGIMENT.

The One Hundred and Fifth Regiment of
Illinois Infantry deserves a more extended his-
tory than any other to whose ranks Du Page
County contributed her citizen soldiers, not be-
cause these soldiers were better than others
who had gone from this county into the war
before or after them, but because there were
more of them than had enlisted into any other
single regiment from this county.

The first call for volunteers had been made
April 16, 1861, more than a } r ear previous to
the initiatory steps taken to raise the One Hun-
dred and Fifth Regiment. Du Page County
had fully contributed her quota to fill the first
demand made upon her public spirit. Her
young men had gone forth, with many others
from the entire North, and the enemy had been
met on many a field. Sometimes defeat and
sometimes victory had followed, but as yet no
substantial results had been reached as to how
the conflict was to end. The rebels had lost
none of their confidence ; on the contrary, their
resolution and courage seemed to be gathering
force.

While this was true, it may with equal
truth be said the inflexible determination of the
North to conquer them had become the trans-
cendent sentiment of the pulpit, forum and
the press, and had fired the ambition of almost
every young heart to interpose the muscular
frame that encased it between the sacred shrine
of his country's freedom and the enemy who
had attacked it. The pleasing illusions, first
that the rebels would not fight, and next that
they could be conquered in three months, had
vanished — the first when they fired on Fort
Sumter, and the second when they met they

met the Union forces in the field as " Greek
meets Greek."

And, while we condemned them none the
less, we have been taught to respect them more,
at least for their fighting qualities. Such was
the spirit of public sentiment when the One
Hundred and Fifth Regiment was organized in
the counties of De Kalb and Du Page — six
from the former and four from the latter. It
was in response to a call from President Lin-
coln for 300,000 more men.

The One Hundred and Fifth Regiment Illi-
nois Infantry Volunteers was mustered into the
service of the United States September 2, 1862,
at Dixon, 111.

On the 8th, moved to Camp Douglas ; on the
30th left Camp Douglas for Louisville, Ky.;
arriving on the 2d of October and reporting to
Gen. Dumont, was attached to his division,
Brig. Gen. W. T. Ward's Brigade ; on the 3d
moved in the direction of Frankfort ; arrived
on the 9th after a severe march ; were engaged
in guard and picket duty, with occasional slight
skirmishing with the enemy. While at Frank-
fort, made a raid to Lawrenceburg and returned.
On the 26th moved en route to Bowling Green,
arriving on the 4th of November, and remain-
ing one week. Was ordered to Scottville, No-
vember 25 ; moved to Gallatin, Tenn., Decem-
ber 11 ; moved to South Tunnel February 1,
1863 ; returned to Gallatin, remaining until the
1st da} r of June, 1863, when it moved to La-
vergne ; from thence to Murfreesboro, Tenn.;
returning to Lavergne the last of July, moved
to Nashville August 19 ; was quartered in Fort
Negley, doing guard duty in it and the city of
Nashville ; exchanged the Austrian musket,
with which the regiment had been armed, for
the Springfield rifle musket. Meanwhile it was
attached to the Eleventh Army Corps, Maj.
Gen. O. O. Howard commanding.

On the 24th of February, 1864, it took the
line of march in the diriction of Chattanooga,
Tenn. On the — th day of March it arrived

108

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

at Wauhatchie, at which place it remained
until the 2d day of May, being brigaded with
the One Hundred and Second and One Hun-
dred and Twenty-ninth Illinois, Seventieth Indi-
ana and the Seventy-ninth Ohio, with which it
remained during the war. In the meantime,
the Eleventh and Twelfth Army Corps were
consolidated under the name of the Twentieth
Army Corps, Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker com-
manding. May 2, moved to Gordon's Mills ;
May 6, marched to Leet's Farm ; thence to
Taylor's Ridge on the 7th ; May 10, moved to
Snake Creek Gap ; May 12, to Sugar Valley ;
May 13, moved in the direction of Resaca,
Ga., skirmishing that evening and the next
day. The morning of the 15th, moved with
the corps to the extreme left of the lines. Im-
mediately upon its arrival, took part in a
charge upon the enemy's works, which were
carried, losing several men in the engagement
On the 16th, pursued the retreating army
arriving at Calhoun on the 17th. On the 18th,
moved to near Cassville. On the 19th, the
One Hundred and Fifth being in advance,
skirmished with the rear guard of the enemy,
driving them at every point. Remained near
Kingston until the 23d, when ordered forward,
crossing the Etoway River; 24th, moved to
Burnt Hickory. On the 25th, continuing its
march to Dallas, Ga., encountering the enemy,
having a brisk engagement until dark — the
casualties numbering 15, including two com-
missioned officers.

From this time until the 1st of June, the
regiment was engaged in advancing the line,
building and strengthening the works and
skirmishing, losing 16 men.

On the 1st of June, moved to the extreme
left with the Twentieth Corps. On the 2d, the
One Hundred and Fifth was ordered out as
flankers, in which position it lost a most excel-
lent officer, Surgeon Horace S. Potter, being
killed by a shell. On the 3d, moved around
and beyond the enemy's right, encamping near

Ackworth, Ga. Here it remained until the 6th,
when it moved forward and took position at
Golgotha Church, in line of battle, throwing
up intrenchments and remaining until the 15th,
when it again moved forward, encountering*
the enemy behind the breastworks. A steadj ?
fire was kept up until dark. That night and
the next day (the 16th) was occupied in
strengthening the position by erecting breast-
works, being exposed to the fire of the enemy.
Lost 19 men during the two days. The night
of the 16th, the enemy retreated. On the
17th, 18th, 19th and 20th, followed the retreat-
ing enemy, with slight skirmishing at inter-
vals ; 21st, severe skirmish fighting ; 22dr
moved forward about a mile, in close proxim-
ity to the enemy's works, exposed to their fire,
losing 11 men. The enemy evacuated its posi-
tion during the night of July 2. On the 3d,
moved in the direction of Marietta, Ga. The
brigade to which the One Hundred and Fifth
was attached being the advance, skirmished
with the enemy, losing 1 man killed and 2
wounded, camping about four miles from Mari-
etta, Ga., in plain view of a portion of the
rebel army. On the evening of the 4th, con"
tinued the march in the direction of* the Chat-
tahoochie River, camping within two miles of
that stream, on the north side, the night of the
6th. Remained there until the 17th, when it
crossed the river and encamped until the after-
noon of .the 18th ; moved forward about five
miles and rested until the morning of the 20th;
crossed Peach Tree Creek and came upon the
enemy.

A line of battle was formed, a charge of the
enemy was repulsed in the afternoon, and sev-
eral prisoners captured, also the colors of the
Twelfth Louisiana. The 21st was occupied in
burying the dead of both sides, and collecting
and turning over ordnance and other property.
On the 22d, moved forward about three miles,
when the enemy was again encountered, posted
behind the defenses of Atlanta. Intrenchments

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

109

were immediately thrown up. Remained in
this position until the 26th, when relieved and
placed on reserve ; 29th. moved six miles to
the right of the line. Making the position
secure by throwing up works, remained until
the 2d day of August ; returned to the left and
took position, which was fortified and strength-
ened. Constant skirmishing and artillery firing
was kept up until the night of the 25th of
August, when ordered to fall back to the Chat-
tahoochie. Here it remained until the 27th,
when it took position on the north side of that
stream, doing picket and guard dut}-. The 2d
day of September the city of Atlanta surren-
dered. The regiment remained in the vicinity of
Atlanta until the 15th of November, when the
" grand march to the sea " was begun. The
One Hundred and Fifth, accompanying the ex-
pedition, bore its full share of the trials and
hardships incident thereto.

Passing on the route Decatur, Lithonia, So-
cial Circle, Rutledge and Madison, at which last-
named place it arrived on the 19th of Novem-
ber. From thence marched southward to the
city of Milledgeville, the capital of Georgia, ar-
riving on the 22d, and remaining until the 27th.
Thence to the north of the Mississippi &
Georgia Central Railroad. Passing through
Sandersville, Davisboro and Louisville (the One
Hundred and Fifth and part of the One Hun-
dred and Second meeting a body of rebel cav-
alry between the two last-mentioned places),
reaching Milan on December 3.

Continuing the march toward Savannah, pass-
ing through Springfield on the 7th, having a
slight skirmish with the guerrillas, arriving in
the city ot Savannah on the 10 th. The One
Hundred and Fifth being the advance that day,
had a brisk skirmish with the enemy's pickets,
driving them within the defenses of that city.
Participated in the siege of Savannah, which
surrendered to a magnanimous foe, to use the
words of the Savannah Republican. This was
the crowning success of the campaign, and the

troops were in ecstacies. The} T mingled freely
with the populace, bought hot cakes of the
pretty, bright-eyed feminine rebels, who didn't
look so very hostile to the boys as they ate from
their pie-tins the delicious tid-bits prepared for
them, u all for greenbacks," of course, and yet,
greenbacks nevertheless, it was a pleasant
change to eat food prepared by female hands.
On the 31st of December, A. D. 1864, and Jan-
uary 1, 1865, was occupied in crossing the Sav-
annah River, losing one man by a musket shot
from the enemy. Moved five miles, and en-
camped until the 4th of January. Marched
north to Hardee's farm, and again encamped
remaining until the 17th, with slight skirmishes
at intervals. Moved to Hardeeville, remaining
there until the 29th, when it started on the
campaign of the Carolinas. Moving northward,
nothing of interest occurred until the 2d day of
February, when the One Hundred and Fifth be-
ing in the advance, encountered the enem}' near
Lawtonville, strongly posted behind their bar-
ricades ; it immediately charged the enemy,
driving them from their position through the
town, losing eight men in the engagement.

Continued the march on the 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th
and 7th, when the One Hundred and Fifth had
the advance. Had some slight skirmishes
with Wade Hampton's cavalry ; 8th, 9th and
10th. were engaged in tearing up railroad be-
tween Graham Station and Williston ; from
thence across the North and South Edisto
Rivers, on the road to Columbia, arriving op-
posite that city on the 16th, after a ver} T disa-
greeable march through swamps and marshes.
Not being able to cross the Congaree at that
point, moved up the river and crossed the
Broad and Saluda Rivers, which unite and
form the Congaree. Marching northward, ar-
rived at Winnsboro on the 21st On the 22d,
the regiment, again in the advance, had some
skirmishing with Butler's rebel cavalry, and
crossed the Wateree River ; reached Hanging
Rock on the 27th ; rested one day ; 29th moved

110

HISTOUY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

forward, arriving at Chesterfield March 3 ; at
Cheraw March 6. Crossed Great Pedee and
Lumber Rivers, and arrived at Fayetteville on
the 11th. Resting three days, 15th moved in
the direction of Raleigh, N. C, some ten miles,
when it encountered the enem}', heavily in-
trenched near Averysboro ; then, on the 16th,
followed the battle of Averysboro, the enemy
being driven from their position. The One
One Hundred and Fifth lost six killed and six-
teen wounded.

On the 19th, 20th and 21st, took part in the
engagement near Bentonville ; the enemy evac-
uated that place on the night of the 21st. Ar-
rived at Goldsboro on the night of the 24th.
Thus ended the campaign of the Carolinas.

Remained at Goldsboro until April 10, 1865.
Continued the march toward Raleigh, arriving
at Smithfield on the 11th, and at Raleigh on
the 13th, encountering but little opposition
from the enemy. Resting till the 25th, moved
out some fourteen miles on the Holty Springs
road, in the direction of Gen. Johnston's
army. Encamped during the 26th and 27th.
In the meantime, Gen. Johnston surrendered.

On the 28th, returned to Raleigh, and imme-
diately began making preparations for the
homeward march. On the 30th. left Raleigh
en route to Washington City, by way of Rich-
mond, passing through the latter city on the
11th of May ; arrived in the vicinity of Alex-
andria, Va., on the 19th ; took part in the
grand review at Washington on the 24th, when
the regiment received a compliment for their
movements in the manual of arms and their
military appearance. Remained in the vicin-
ity of Washington until the 7th of June, when
the regiment was mustered out of the service
and started by rail for Chicago, 111., where it
arrived on the 10th. Remained at Camp Fry
until the 17th, when paid off and disbanded.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL.

Vallette, Henry F., Naperville; date of rank Sep-
tember 2, 1862; resigned June 18, 1864.

ADJUTANT.

Phillips, "William N., Wayne; date of rank Sep-
tember 2, 1862; resigned December 2, 1862.

SURGEONS.

Potter, Horace S., Milton; date of rank Septem-
ber 5, 1862; killed in battle June 2, 1864.

"Waterman, Alfred, "Warrenville ; date of rank June
2, 1864; promoted from First Surgeon; mustered out
June 7, 1865.

FIRST ASSISTANT SURGEON.

Beggs, George W., Naperville; date of rank June
2, 1864; promoted from Second Surgeon; mustered
out June 7, 1865.

NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.

SEBGEANT MAJORS.

Vallette, Jonathan G., Milton; discharged July 6,
1864, to accept commission in volunteer service.

Whitlock, Ogden, Milton, mustered out June 7,
1865.

COMMISSARY 6FRGEANT.

Clinton, Beach, Winfield; promoted First Lieu-
tenant and Quarter-master in United States Colored
Troops.

HOSPITAL 8TEWARDS.

Beggs, George W., Naperville; promoted Assistant
Surgeon.

PRINCIPAL MUSICIANS.

Fuller, Morell, Du Page County.
Van Vetzger, "Walter.

COMPANY B.

CAPTAINS.

Rogers, Theodore S., Naperville, date of rank
September 2, 1862; resigned September 30, 1864.

Church, Lucius B., Winfield, date of rank Sep-
tember 30, 1864; promoted from Lieutenant; mus-
tered out June 7, 1865.

FIRST LIEUTENANT.

Scott, Willard, Jr., Naperville, date of rank Sep-
tember 30, 1864; promoted from Second Lieutenant;
mustered out June 7, 1865.

SECOND LIEUTENANT.

Bedell, Gilbert, Winfield, date of rank June 7,
1865; mustered out (as Sergeant) June 7, 1865.

FIRST SERGEANT.

Sedgwick, John A., Naperville, enlisted August 2,
1862; discharged November 15, 1864.

SERGEANTS.

Kelley, Isaac D., Naperville, enlisted July 29,
1862; mustered out June 7, 1865.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Ill

Carpenter, Ashley E., Milton, August 6; died at
Scottville, Ky., November 30, 1862.

Bedell, Gilbert, Winfield, August 4; mustered out
June 7, 1865, First Sergeant; commissioned Second
Lieutenant, but not mustered.

Townsend, Perry, Downer's Grove, July 29; mus-
tered out May 18, 1865.

COBPOR&M.

Naper, Mark A., Naperville, August 6 ; mustered
out June 7, 1865, as Sergeant.

Town, Morris, Winfield, August 6 ; mustered out
June 7, 1865, as Sergeant.

Cooley, Elias A., Winfield, August 5, private ; died
June 22, 1864; wounds.

Freeto, William, Milton, July 29 ; mustered out
May 13, 1865.

Burns, Elias, York, August 4 ; died June 22, 1864 ;
wounds.

Yock, Nicholas, Naperville, August 4 ; mustered
out June 7, 1865.

Foster, Alexander F., Downer's Grove, August 12 ;
discharged April 7, 1863 ; disability.

Barr, Samuel A., Naperville, August 6 ; mustered
out June 7, 1865.

PRIVATES.

Beach, Clinton, Winfield, August 5 ; promoted
Commissary Sergeant.

Burns, John B., York, August 2.

Beggs, George W., Naperville, August 6 ; pro-
moted Hospital Steward.

Bowker, George, Bloomingdale, August 7.

Branch, Royal D., Naperville, August 2.

Bucks, Wesley, Lisle, August 2.

Beidleman, William, Lisle, August 3.

Bachlem, William, Winfield, August 5.

Buchannan, Albert, Winfield, August 5 ; dis-
charged June 26, 1863 ; disability.

Brown, William H, Winfield, August 6 ; pro-
moted First Lieutenant United States Colored In-
fantry.

Bannister, Edmund B., Naperville, August 4 ;
discharged January 20, 1863 ; disability.

Babbitt, John H, Naperville, August 4.

Balch, Homer, Naperville, August 5.

Butz, Joseph J., Naperville, August 6.

Coslett, Robert, Winfield, August 6 ; mustered
out June 7, 1865, as Corporal.

Cooper, Frederick, Winfield, August 6; died at
Bowling Green, Ky., January 1, 1863.

Cotes, John S., Winfield, August 11 ; died at Mur-
freesboro July 25, 1863.

Cornell, Joseph, Downer's Grove, August 11.

Chase, Samuel B., Downer's Grove, August 11.

Davis, Zora B., Naperville, August 6 ; discharged
October 29, 1864 ; disability.

Fuller, Morell, Down'er's Grove, August 4; pro-
moted Drum Major.

Fowler, Daniel H, Naperville, August 7 ; trans-
ferred to Company D, One Hundred and Fifth Illi-
nois Infantry.

Fisher, Abram B., Naperville, August 5.

Fey, Albert, Winfield, August 5 ; mustered out
June 7, 1865, as Corporal.

Gager, John T., Lisle, July 29 ; mustered out June
7, 1865, as Corporal.

Gushert, Conrad, York, August 4; discharged
January 21, 1863 ; disability.

Grumbine, Moses, Naperville, August 4 ; dis-
charged May 2, 1865 ; disability.

Hand, Lewis J., Lisle, August 5.

Hickel, George, York, August 6.

Hynen, Ernest, Lisle, August 4 ; killed at Averys-
boro, N. C, March 16, 1865.

Hoffman, Bartholomew, Naperville, August 5.

Hammschmidt, Joseph, Winfield, August 5 ; mus-
tered out July 1, 1865.

Hughes, William S., Winfield, August 6.

Johnston, William, Naperville, August 4 ; dis-
charged January 21, 1863 ; disability.

Jones, Daniel, Downer's Grove, August 6 ; mus-
tered out July 10, 1865.

Kenyon, Paris, York, July 29 ; died August 16,
1864; wounds.

Kirmmer, Henry, Lisle, August 6 ; transferred to
Veteran Reserve Corps March 13, 1864.

Kimball, Delos, Naperville, August 7 ; discharged
May 23, 1863 ; disability.

Kenyon, Nicholas R., York, August 4 ; discharged
March 2, 1863 ; disability.

Kessell, George, Naperville, August 6.

Kopp, Henry G, Naperville, August 6 ; mustered
out July 22, 1865 ; prisoner of war.

Lindsey, Merritt, Naperville, August 3 ; died at
Nashville, Tenn., April 9, 1864.

Murray, Charles, Winfield, August 5.

Motzberger, Henry, Milton, August 2.

Mowry, Henry, Winfield, July 31.

Meyers, Edwin B., Milton, August 4 ; discharged
April 6, 1863 ; disability.

Meyers, Frederick A., Milton, August 4.

Meyers, William H, Milton, August 4 ; trans-
ferred to Engineer Corps August 15, 1864.

McMillan, James, Naperville, August 5.

Mayers, Henry, Naperville, August 4.

McQuinston, William, Lisle, August 6.

112

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Mussleman,' Harrison, Lisle, August 6.

Norton, Henry, Naperville, August 6 ; died August
19, 1864 ; wounds.

Neitz, Moses, Naperville, August 15.

O'Conner, Hains, Wmfield, August 5.

Pratt, Lorenzo, Wheaton, August 5 ; discharged
April 6, 1863 ; disability.

Purnell, William, Winfield, August 5 ; mustered
out May 19, 1865.

Reynolds, Alonzo L., Naperville, August 5 ; dis-
charged January 21, 1863 ; disability.

Rickert, Edwin C, Milton, August 4; mustered
out June 7, 1865, as Corporal.

Stanley, Joseph, Naperville, August 7 ; absent ;
sick at muster out of regiment.

Stephenson, John P., Winfield, August 5.

Stevens, Matthias A., Naperville, August 7.

Strong, Robert H, Du Page County, August 3.

Stutenroth, Charles W., Naperville, August 4 ;
mustered out June 7 as Corporal.

Smith, Chauncey G , Du Page County, August 9 ;
discharged December 20, 1863 ; disability.

Stanley, Joel, Naperville, August 3.

Townsend, Augustus, York, July 29 ; discharged
May 17, 1863 ; disability.

Tucker, George, Winfield, August 9.

Van Veltzer, Walter, Downer's Grove, August 4 ;
promoted Fife Major.

Van Oven, Adelbert, Naperville, August 9.

Wallace, Gerry, Downer's Grove, August 15.

Weaber, Edward, York, August 9 ; mustered out
June 7, 1865, as Corporal. •

Wright, Albert H., Naperville, August 11.

Weaver, Daniel R., Naperville, August 4.

Wiant, Albert H, Wheaton, August 6.

Wilson, Moultrie, Winfield, August 15 ; discharged
February 20, 1863 ; disability.

Watson, Sanford, Winfield, August 5 ; transferred
to Engineer Corps August 15, 1864.

Wyman, William H, Winfield, August 5 ; dis-
charged January 20, 1863 ; disability.

Zeutmeyer, Henry S., Naperville, August 5 ; died
August 2, 1864 ; wounds.

RECRUITS.

.Leffler, Jeremiah, Naperville, mustered in No-
vember 27, 1863; transferred to Company K, Six-
teenth Illinois Infantry.

Palmer, Alonzo L.

cooks or A. D.

Perkins, Tillman, mustered in June 1, 1863.
Link, Robert, mustered in March 17, 1863 ; absent,
sick, at muster out of regiment.

COMPANY D.

CAPTAINS.

Graves, Amos C, Winfield, date of rank Septem-
ber 2, 1862; discharged March 30, 1865.

Graves, Judson A., Winfield, date of rank April
20, 1865; promoted from Sergeant ; mustered out (as
First Lieutenant) June 7, 1865. /

FIR8T LIEUTENANTS.

Jeffers, William H, Downer's Grove, date of rank
September 2, 1862; resigned May 5, 1864.

Peaslee, Luther L., Naperville, date of rank May
5,1864; promoted from Second Lientenant; resigned
September 24, 1864.

Coffin, Edward B., Winfield, date of rank April
20, 1865; mustered out as Sergeant June 7, 1865.

• SECOND LIEUTENANT.

Brown, George, Du Page County, date of rank
June 7, 1865; mustered out as Sergeant June 7, 1865.

FIRST SERGEANT.

Valette, Jonathan G., Milton, enlisted August 14,
1862; promoted Sergeant Major.

SERGEANTS.

Sedgwick, George G., Bloomingdale, enlisted
August 14; discharged February 23, 1863; disability.

Billings, John, Jr., Winfield, August 11; dis-
charged February 6, 1863; disability.

Munk, Edward, Jr., Winfield, August 11; dis-
charged July 11, 1863, to accept commission Four-
teenth U. S. C. T.

CORPORALS.

Graves, Adoniram J., Winfield, August 12; pro-
moted First Sergeant, First Lieutenant and Commis-
sioned Captain.

Coffin, Edwin, Winfield, August 12; First Ser-
geant, commissioned First Lieutenant, but not
mustered; mustered out June 7, 1865; wounded.

Pinny, Milton, Winfield, August 12; discharged
April 25, 1863; disability.

Apthorpe, George, Bloomingdale, August 14; dis-
charged July 11, 1863, to accept commission in
Fourteenth U. S. C. T.

Hayes, George, Bloomingdale, August 8; died at
South Tunnel, Tenn., December 29, 1863.

Fowler, Ferdinand F., Naperville, August 12; dis-
charged February 18, 1863; disability.

Freer, Theodore R., Downer's Grove, August 14;
died at South Tunnel, Tenn., January 30, 1863.

MUSICIANS.

Watts, Joseph H, Winfield, August 14; mustered
out June 7, 1865.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

113

White, Uriah C, Winfleld, August 14; mustered
out June 7, 1865.

WAGONER.

Wood, James H., Milton, August 15; discharged
July 16, 1864.

PRIVATES.

Barrows, James, Downer's Grove, August 14.

Berry, Isaac J., Winfleld, August 14; mustered out
June 7, 1865, as Sergeant.

Billings, Simeon, Winfleld, August 12; mustered
out May 20, 1865.

Bostwick, Hiram A., Winfleld, August 12; mus-
tered out June 7, 1865, as Corporal.

Bartholomew, Charles, Winfleld, August 14; died
at South Tunnel, Tenn., January 18, 1863.

Bostwick, Arthur, Winfleld, August 14.

Blakeman, Jacob, Downer's Grove, August 12;
mustered out May 20, 1865.

Brown, George, Du Page County, August 11;
mustered out June 7, 1865, as Sergeant; commis-
sioned Second Lieutenant, but not mustered.

Bartholomew, Darius, Naperville, August 14.

Collins, George, Lisle, August 14.

Conners, James, Downer's Grove, August 14.

Cry, David, Naperville, August 14; mustered out
June 7, 1865, as Corporal.

Chapman, Edward, Bloomingdale, August 7;
killed at Dallas, Ga., May 29, 1864.

Clark, Henry E., Bloomingdale, August 14; died
at Gallatin, Tenn., February 8, 1863.

Dalton, Naylor, Winfleld, August 11.

Dixon, James C, Downer's Grove, Sergeant;
transferred to Engineer Corps August 7, 1864.

Denny, Charles, Naperville, August 11; discharged
September 22, 1864; insane.

Drullard, Alvaro, Naperville, August 10; Cor-
poral; died at Murfreesboro September 2, 1863.

Elsy, Isaac, Naperville, August 14; died at Gal-
latin, Tenn., April 9, 1863; accidental wounds.

French, Joseph G., Bloomingdale, August 12;
mustered out June 7, 1865, as Corporal.

Gary, Erastus N, Milton, August 14; discharged
September, 1864, as Sergeant ; wounds.

Givler, Solomon, Jr., Naperville, August 14 ; died
at Scottsville, Ky., Decembers, 1862.

Godfry, Luther N, Bloomingdale, August 13 ;
discharged February 24, 1863 ; disability.

Gumpsheimer, Christ, Downer's Grove, August
14 ; discharged January 15, 1864.

Goodel, Henry, Du Page County, August 12.

Hatch, Reuben R., Lisle, August 10 ; discharged
April 1, 1863 ; disability.

Ingalls, Abner E., Lisle, August 10 ; discharged
March 14, 1863 ; disability.

Ingalls, Andrew E., Lisle, August 14 ; died at Gal-
latin, Tenn., February 14, 1863.

Kumner, Herman, Milton, August 10 ; mustered
out as Corporal ; wounded.

Leonard, Charles, Naperville, August 10 ; killed
Averysboro, N. C, March 16, 1865.

Landon, Dwight, Bloomingdale, August 14.

Lawrence, Charles, Bloomingdale, August 14 ;
discharged May 29, 1863 ; disability.

Lilly, Emery A., Bloomingdale, August 14 ; left
at Scottsville, Ky., November 24, 1862.

Linck, Antone, Lisle, August 14 ; mustered out as
Corporal.

Meyrs, John M., Downer's Grove, August 12 ;
died at Gallatin, Tenn., April 8, 1863.

McQuestion, Christ, Naperville, August 14 ; dis-
charged December 23, 1863 ; disability.

Munk, James C, Winfleld, August 14 ; killed at
Resaca, Ga., May 15, 1864.

Meachem, Lucius, Bloomingdale, August 6 ; dis-
charged December 5, 1862 ; disability.

Morey, John, Lisle, August 15; discharged April
18, 1865.

Miles, James, Lisle, August 14; discharged De-
cember, 29, 1862.

Palmer, Alonzo, Lisle, August 14; transferred to
Company D March 21, 1863.

Puffer, Charles, Lisle, August 14.

Pierce, John H, Bloomingdale, August 14; died
at Frankfort, Ky., November 18, 1863.

Robberts, Charles, Naperville, August 14; dis-
charged January 9, 1863; disability.

Rogers, Bloomingdale, August 7; mustered out as
Sergeant; was a prisoner.

Rogers, Dedrich, Lisle, August 14.

Ruckerick, Henry, Downer's Grove, August 12;
mustered out June 7, 1865; wounded.

Richards, Samuel T., Lisle, August 13; died South
Tunnel, Tenn., January 28, 1863; wounded.

Resequie, Lucien V., Winfleld, August 14; mus-
tered out May 19, 1865.

Streblow, Frederick, Downer's Grove, August 14;
mustered out as Corporal.

Shimelspfenig, Frank, Naperville, August 14 ;
mustered out as Corporal.

Schroder, John, Naperville, August 13; trans-
ferred to Mississippi Marine Brigade March 25, 1863.

Straul, Antone, Lisle, August 14.

Straul, Antonie, August 14.

Shilling, Jacob, Downer's Grove, August 12.

114

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Stanley, Elisha, Naperville, August 14; killed at
Kenesaw Mountain June 16, 1864.

Taylor, Rufus B., Lisle, August 10.

Thompson, William, York, August 14; transferred
to navy June 30, 1863.

Umberger, Hiram, Naperville, August 13; mus-
tered out July 1, 1865, as Corporal: prisoner of war.

Wray, William T., Winfield, August 12; killed
at Resaca, Ga., May 15, 1864.

Wheatley, Isaac, Lisle, August 11; mustered out
as Sergeant.

Wilson, Rolon, Winfield, August 12; discharged
April 4, 1863.

Wallace, Rosell, Bloomingdale, August 14.

Winop, Daniel, Downer's Grove, August 13; trans-
ferred to Engineer Corps August 7, 1864.

Yender, Allis, Lisle, August 14.

RECRUITS.

Cline, Lewis, Downer's Grove, October 18, 1864;
transferred to Company F, Sixteenth Illinois Infan-
try.

Edlie, J., Downer's Grove, Oct. 18, 1864; trans-
ferred to Company F, Sixteenth Illinois Infantry.

Fowler, Daniel, Naperville; died at Gallatin,
Tenn., March 28, 1863.

Graves, James D., Naperville, November 27, 1863;
transferred to Company F, Sixteenth Illinois In-
fantry.

Qieble, John, Downer's Grove, October 18, 1864;
transferred to Company F, Sixteenth Illinois In-
fantry.

Gerlin, John, Downer's Grove, October 18, 1864;
transferred to Company F, Sixteenth Illinois In-
fantry.

Mayo, Alfred H., Naperville, November 27, 1863;
transferred to Company F, Sixteenth Illinois In-
fantry.

Mochel, George, Downer's Grove, October 18,
1864; transferred to Company F, Sixteenth Illinois
Infantry.

Wolf, George, September 20, 1862.

Winslow, Edward M., September 20, 1862.

COOK8 OF A. D.

Ayers, Peter, October 14, 1863; died at Nashville,
Tenn., March 4, 1864.

Jones, Robert, November 14, 1863; absent, sick,
at muster out of regiment.

COMPANY p.

CAPTAINS.

Daniels, Seth F., Wheaton; date of rank, Sept-
ember 2, 1862; discharged June 7, 1865.

Adams, Samuel, Wayne; date of rank, September
2, 1862; resigned April 13, 1864.

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.

Tirtlatt, William M., Milton; date of rank April
13, 1864; promoted from Sergeant to Second Lieu-
tenant November 28, 1864.

Smith, Melvin, Winfield; date of rank April 13,
1864; promoted from Sergeant.

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.

Porter, Warner, York; date of rank September 2,
1862; resigned April 17, 1863.

Cram, George F., Wheaton; date of rank June 7,
1865 ; commissioned, but not mustered ; muster out
June 7, 1865, First Sergeant ; promoted from Cor-
poral ; wounded.

SEROEANTS.

Wheeler, Henry C, Milton, enlisted August 8,
1862; promoted Second Lieutenant Fourteenth U.
S. C. T.

Wolcott, Morgan, Wayne, enlisted August 5,
1862; discharged March 4, 1863, disability.

Perry, Daniel E., Winfield, enlisted August 9,
1862: died July 29, 1863.

CORPORALS.

Boutwell, George W., Wayne, enlisted July 31,
discharged July 6, 1864, to accept promotion in U.
S. C. T.

Akin, Sterlin D., Wayne, enlisted August 5, 1862;
died at Frankfort, Ky., October 24, 1862.

Smith, George A., Wayne, August 5, 1862; trans-
ferred to Mississippi Marine Brigade March 2, 1863.

Perry, Harris, York, August 3, 1862; discharged
March 6, 1863, as private; disability.

Meachem, Marchal E., Milton, August 10, 1862,
died at Scottsville, Ky. , November 25, 1862.

Thompson, John, Jr., Wayne; enlisted August 5;
1862; discharged April 20, 1863; disability.

Knine, George W., Bloomingdale, enlisted Aug-
ust 7, 1862.

MUSICIAN8.

Kenyon, George W., York, enlisted July 29, 1862;
mustered out June 7, 1865, as private.

Standish, Hiram C, Lisle, enlisted August 11,
1862; discharged February 19, 1863; disability.

WAGONER.

Carter, William, Wayne, enlisted August 5, 1862 ;
discharged May 20, 1863; disability.

PBIVAT>S.

Adams, Charles H, Wayne, August 5.
Ackerman, Alonzo, Milton, August 22.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

115

Baker, Silas, Wheaton, August 3.

Bacheider, John, Milton, August 9; promoted
Sergeant; died August 2, 1864, wounds.

Braud, David N, Wayne, August 5; died Bowl-
ing Green, Ky., December 18; 1862.

Blank, Joel, Wayne, August 5; died Bowling
Green, Ky., November 14, 1862.

Boutwell, Charles M., Wayne, August 5; pro-
moted Sergeant.

Brannon, Patrick, Winfield, August 7; died about
June 25, 1864; wounds.

Brown, William, Wayne, July 31; discharged
October 17, 1864; wounds.

Brody, James, Bloomingdale ; August 5; mustered
out as Corporal; wounded.

Conner, Samuel F., Wayne, August 13; dis-
charged October 30, 1862; disability.

Compton, Henry D., Bloomingdale, August 9.

Cary, Edward, Winfield, August 7; wounded.

Clark, Norman S., Wayne, July 31; mustered out
Sergeant.

Congleton, James A., Bloomingdale, August 7;
mustered out as Corporal.

Dissing, Aaron, Naperville, August 22; wounded
twice.

Depue, Hanson J., Downer's Grove, August 11;
discharged September 10, 1864; wounds.

DeWolf, Leonard E., Milton, August 8; dis-
charged January 3, 1863; disability.

Ehle, Harmon S., Bloomingdale, August 7; mus-
tered out June 10, 1865, as Corporal.

Fairbank, James H, Winfield, July 31.

Fletcher, W. Nichols, Wayne, August 5; mustered
out as Sergeant.

Fancher, Allison, Wayne, August 13; discharged
January 11, 1863, for disability.

Filer, Frank, York, August 9 ; absent, sick, at mus-
ter out of regiment.

Geer, Daniel V., Winfield, July 26; died January
16, 1863.

Geer, Lewis C, Winfield, August 3; discharged
January 19, 1863, for disability.

Griswold, Martin E., Wheaton, August 22.

Grant, Isaac J., York, July 29; discharged March
8, 1863, for disability.

Grant, David J., York, August 7; mustered out
May 22, 1865, as Sergeant.

Grant, Orris W., York, August 7.

Green, Edwin, Wayne, August 5; discharged April
7, 1863, for disability.

Gray, Virgil V., Wayne, August 22; discharged
April 13, 1863.

Holmes, Thomas W., Milton, July 30; absent
wounded at muster out of regiment.

Hadley, Amis L., Milton, August 8.

Hammond, Perry H., Wayne, July 31; died at
Nashville, Tenn., December 24, 1863.

Hammond, John, Jr., Wayne, July 31; mustered
out June 7, 1865, as Corporal.

Johnston, James K., Downer's Grove, August 9.

Jipson, Thomas, Milton, August 22; transferred to
Engineer Corps, August 15, 1864.

Keniston, Uriah B., Wayne, July 29; wounded.

Kingsley, Henry S., Milton, July 28; died January
17, 1863.

Knickerbocker, Wilson, Milton, July 30; died at
Louisville, Ky., November 11, 1862.

Long, Silas, Wheaton, July 26.

Lewis, William, Wayne, August 13; wounded.

Mills, Samuel, Wayne, August 4; transferred to
Company I.

Mattocks, Andrew J., Milton, August 5; died Au-
gust 5, 1864.

Miller, George, York, August 8; mustered out as
Corporal.

Miller, Albert, York, August 9.

McGilvery, John, Wayne, August 20; wounded
twice.

Minor, Briton, Bloomingdale, August 5.

McLean, Daniel, Wayne.July 31, Corporal; trans-
ferred to navy July 15, 1864.

Mullen, Orlando J., Wayne, July 31; discharged
March 22, 1864, for disability.

McGraw, Patrick, Milton, August 6; wounded.

Owen, ElishaG., Wayne, July 31; died March 28,
1863.

Pepper, Patrick, Wayne, August 1 ; transferred to
Company I.

Parker, Dexter, Milton, August 15; mustered out
May 17, 1865.

Porter, William, Wayne, August 6.

Rice, Arthur P., Wheaton, July 26; killed at Res-
aca, Ga., May 15, 1864.

Rudd, William C, Wheaton, August 10.

Reed, George B., Wayne, August 13.

Rush, Green B., Downer's Grove, August 8.

Sullivan, John, Milton, July 27.

Stanham, John, Wayne, August 5.

Samuelson, Gustavus, Wayne, August 10; dis-
charged April 20, 1863, for disability.

Stover, Lewis C, Milton, August 10; discharged
December 15, 1863; wounded.

Stockton, Joseph, Winfield, August 7; wounded.

Sayer, Warren M., Wayne, July 31.

116

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY

Trick, Richard A., Wayne, July 30; discharged
December 17, 1862; disability.

Talmage, George H., York, August 9.

Vanhoughton, John, Milton, August 22; mustered
out as Corporal.

Wright, Benjamin F., Milton, July 28; supposed
transferred to naval service.

Wheeler, John W., Wayne, July 29.

Whitlock, Ogden, Milton, August 20; promoted
to Sergeant Major.

Wakelee, William H., Wheaton, August 3; dis-
charged for disability.

Wildman, Joseph, Milton, August 5; discharged
December 20, 1862; disability.

Wheelon, Peter, Milton, August 13; transferred
to Company I.

Yander, Samuel, Lisle, August 13; died February
23, 1863.

RECRUITS.

Grant, Isaac J., Milton, October 15; transferred to
Company K, Sixteenth Illinois Infantry.

Hiatt, Luther L., Wheaton, October 15.

Nash, Delos, Milton, October 15; discharged Jan-
uary 8, 1863; disability.

Riley, George W., Milton, October 15; mustered
out as Corporal.

Wilcox, Herbert W., Milton, October 15; dis-
charged May 26, 1865.

COOK OF A. D.

Branch, John, June 1, 1863; absent, sick, at mus-
ter out of regiment.

COMPANY I.

CAPTAINS.

Jones, Enos, Milton, date of rank September 2,
1862; resigned December 17, 1862.

Locke, William O., Addison, date of rank Decern*
ber 17, 1862; discharged August 25, 1864.

Bender, George A., Wheaton, date of rank Oc-
tober 14, 1864; discharged March 18, 1865; promoted.

Unold, John, Addison, date of rank May 19, 1865;
mustered out as First Lieutenant June 7, 1865; pro-
moted.

FIRST LEUTENAHTS.

Locke, William O., Addison, date of rank Sep-
tember 2, 1862; promoted.

Frank, David, Babcock's Grove, date of rank,
May 19, 1865; mustered out as Sergeant June 7, 1865.

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.

Fischer, Augustus H., Addison, date of rank Sep-
tember 2, 1862; died August 13, 1864.

Reinking, Henry, Addison, date of rank June 7,
1865, mustered out as Sergeant June 7, 1865.

8ERGEANT8.

Pierce, Hannibal, Addison, enlisted August 15;
discharged January 15, 1864, as First Sergeant, to
accept commission in Sixteenth U. S. C. T.

Wagner, Joseph, Danby, enlisted August 15; ab-
sent, wounded, at muster out of regiment.

Baker, John, Wheaton, enlisted August 15; pri-
vate, absent, sick at muster out of Regiment.

CORPORALS.

Plummer, Sephemus, enlisted August 15.

Knust, Frederick, Addison, enlisted August 15;
discharged April 24, 1863.

Rainking, Henry, Addison, enlisted August 15;
commissioned Second Lieutenant, but not mus-
tered.

Smith, John, Addison, enlisted August 15, mus-
tered out June 7, 1865, as Sergeant; wounded.

Wigand, Joseph, Danby, enlisted August 15; mus-
tered out July 1, 1865; prisoner of war.

Schmidt, Louis, Addison, enlisted August 15; mus-
tered out June 7, 1865, as Sergeant.

Werner, Jacob, Addison, enlisted August 15.

Ashe, August, Addison, August 15; died May 17,
1864; wounds.

Anderson, William, Addison, August 15.

Andres, Valentine, Addison, August 15; died at
South Tunnel, Tenn., January 1, 1863.

Baker, John H., Addison, August 15.

Brockman, Henry, Addison, August 15.

Brems, John, Bloomingdale, August 15; trans-
ferred to Engineer Corps August 15, 1864.

Brems, Henry, Wheaton, August 15.

Dohlman, Jochine, Wheaton, August 15.

Dirking, William, Wheaton, August 15.

Darner mays, Henry, Addison, August 15; died at
Gallatin, Tenn., February 3, 1863.

Dollinger, Anton, Danby, August 15; mustered
out as Corporal.

Fullman, Frederick, Addison, August 15; died at
Gallatin, Tenn., June 5, 1863.

Fredericks, George, Addison, August 15; dis-
charged January 10, 1863.

Fischer, Diedrick, Addison, August 15; died at
Louisville, Ky., Februry 10, 1863.

Fredricks, John, Addison, August 15.

Frank, David, Babcock's Grove, August 15, com-
missioned First Lieutenant, but not mustered; mus-
tered out June 7, 1865, as First Sergeant.

Foust, John, Babcock's Grove, August 15; died
at Louisville, January 8, 1863.

qA~,

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

119

Fork, Gerhard H., Babcock's Grove, August 15;
died at South Tunnel, Tenn., January 20, 1863.

Gray, Fredrick J., Addison, August 15.

Gletcher, Fredrick, Addison, August 15; mustered
out as Corporal.

Gimble, John, Addison, August 15; mustered out
as Sergednt.

Huehl, Gerhard, Addison, August 15; discharged
December 14, 1862.

Herbst, Henry, Addison, August 15; died at South
Tunnel, Tenn., January 1, 1863.

Holdorf, Gotlieb, Addison, August 15.

Herneman, David, Addison, August 15.

Hinton, Edward, Addison, August 15; transferred
to Engineer Corps August 15, 1864.

Hanebuth, August, Addison, August 15; mustered
out as Corporal.

Hanebuth, William, Addison, August 15.

Heller, Henry, Addison, August 15; absent, sick,
at mustering out of regiment.

Jenkins, William F., Addison, August 15; mustered
out June 7, 1865, as Corporal.

Kemph, Samuel, Wheaton, August 15; mustered
out as Corporal.

Konson, Henry, Wheaton, August 15.

Koxing, Henry, Cottage Hill, August 15; died at
Bowling Green, Ky., November 25, 1862.

Kline, John, Wheaton, August 15.

Kniepenberg, Henry, Addison, August 15.

Kessel, Christian, Addison, August 15; mustered
out July 1, 1865.

Lenehrson, Frederick, Addison, August 15; mus-
tered out as Corporal.

Lenesenhop, William, Addison, August 15; died
at Gallatin, Tenn., December 18, 1862.

Leseberg, Frederick, Addison, August 15; died at
Gallatin, Tenn., February 23, 1863.

Messenbrink, Frederick, Addison, August 15.

Messenbrink, Lewis, Addison, August 15; dis-
charged February 27, 1865; disability.

Mueller, Philip, Addison, August 15.

Maas, Peter, Babcock's Grove, August 15; dis-
charged May 23, 1863.

Mishe, Augustus, Wheaton, August 15; absent,
sick, at mustering out of regiment.

Mills, Samuel, Wheaton, August 15; discharged
February 19, 1863; disability.

Mehring, Henry, Addison, August 15; died at
Murfreesboro, Tenn., July 4, 1863.

Muss, Nicholas, Addison, August 15; discharged
February 19, 1863; disability.

Newman, Andrew, Cottage Hill, August 15; died
May 27, 1864; wounds.

Pepper, Patrick, Wheaton, August 15; discharged
December 31, 1862; disability.

Ritter, Carl, Addison, August 15; died at Bowling
Green, Ky., November 27, 1862.

Ruprecht, Henry, Addison, August 15; transferred
to Invalid Corps February 24, 1864.

Schmidt, John H, Addison, August 15; mustered
out as Corporal.

Schott, Adam J., Addison, August 15; discharged
May 3; disability.

Spangenberg, Christian, Addison, August 15; died
at Albany, Ind., December 4, 1862.

Schoh, John W. H, Addison, August 15; died at
Gallatin, Tenn., May 15, 1863.

Stuve, Diedrick, Addison, August 15.

Schultz, Carl, Naperville, August 15; died at Gal-
latin, Tenn., March 12, 1863.

Tegtman, Henry, Addison, August 15; died May
17, 1864; wounds.

Timmer, Herman, Cottage Hill, August 15; dis-
charged March 3, 1863, as Corporal; disability.

Volberding, Lewis A., Addison, August 15; dis-
charged April 22, 1863, as Corporal; disability.

Wilke, Charles, Addison, August 15.

Webber, Frederick, Addison; mustered out June
19, 1865.

Wailon, Peter, Wheaton, August 15; transferred
to Engineer Corps August 15, 1864.

Weisman, Henry, Addison, August 15; died at
Louisville, Ky., December 25, 1862.

Zarzo, John, Bloomingdale, August 15.

RECRUITS.

Comro, Adolf, Addison, October 12, 1864; trans-
ferred to Company H, Sixteenth Illinois Infantry.

Holt, Henry, Addison, October 12, 1864; trans-
ferred to Company H, Sixteenth Illinois Infantry.

Jones, David, Milton; died at Milton, 111., October
8, 1862.

Mockling, Henry, Addison, Oct. 12, 1864; trans-
ferred to Company H, Sixteenth Illinois Infantry.

Wolf, Christian, Addison, October 12, 1864; trans-
ferred to Company H, Sixteenth Illinois Infantry.

COOKS OF A. D.

Levi, , August 20, 1863; absent, sick, at mus-
ter out of regiment.

Roman, , September 15, 1863 ; died March 28,

1865; wounds.

The date affixed to the names shows the
time of the eulisment of each soldier.

The date of mustering out or discharged is
also given to such soldiers as were honorably

120

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

discharged before the regiment was mustered
out. The term " discharged " means an honor-
able discharge.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVENH REGIMENT.

The One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Regi-
ment of Illinois Infantry was organized at
Camp Douglas and mustered into service Sep-
tember 6, 1862. It started out with 887 men
and returned with but 231 — the survivors of a
hundred battles — who were mustered out at
Chicago June 10, 1865. It had four men from
Du Page County in its ranks.

COMPANY A.

Mosely, Albert, Naperville, enlisted August 6,
mustered in September 5, 1862; died at Oswego, 111.,
September 7, 1863.

Mosely, Henry, enlisted and mustered in at the
same time ; absent sick at muster out of regiment.

COMPANY P.

Lemis, Daniel W., Naperville, enlisted August 11;
mustered in September 5, 1862; detached at muster
out of regiment.

COMPANY K.

Ruckel, Philip H., York, enlisted August 14 and
mustered in September 5, 1862; died at Walnut
Hill, Miss., July 3, 1863.

Regiments from number 132 to 143 inclu-
sive were enlisted for only 100 days' service.
These fresh recruits were designed to hold
places already in possession of the Union
forces while the veterans were pushing into
the extreme limits of the South.

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SECOND REGIMENT.

The One Hundred and Thirty-second Regi-
ment of Illinois Infantry was organized at
Camp Fry, Chicago, and mustered in for 100
days' service from June 1, 1864. It moved
June 6 for Columbus, K}'., and arrived on the
8th. It was sent fo Paducah, 111., where it
remained till its term expired, when it moved
to Chicago, and was mustered out October 17
1864. It had fifteen men from Du Page
County.

company c.
Ufford, Charles, Naperville, enlisted May 31.

COMPANY H.

Sedgwick, John A., Naperville, Captain; date of
rank June 1, 1864.
Rook, Stephen, Naperville; recruit.

COMPANY I.

Herrick, Herrold O, Naperville, Sergeant, enlist-
ed May 16, 1864.

Wright, William P., Naperville, Corporal, enlist-
ed May 19, 1864.

Bickford, Levi F., Wheaton, Corporal, enlisted
May 17, 1864.

Bunn, Isaac H., Warrenville, enlisted May 18,
1864.

Conklin, Lewis, Naperville, enlisted May 17, 1864.

Denham, George W., Warrenville, enlisted May
13, 1864.

Hall, Charles H., Naperville, enlisted May 20,
1864.

Hallam, Robert, Naperville, enlisted May 12, 1864.

Long, Luther, Wheaton, enlisted May 21, 1864.

McNeal, John, Naperville, enlisted May 20, 1864.

Sellers, Edward B., Wheaton, enlisted May 12,
1864.

Thatcher, Charles D., Naperville, enlisted May
16, 1864.

ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FIRST REGIMENT.

The Hundred and Forty-first Regiment of
Illinois Infantry was mustered into service
June 16, and mustered out October 10, 1864, it
being organized for one hundred daj's' service.
It had eighty men from Du Page County.

COMPANY o.
Town, Albert, Winfield.

COLONEL.

Bronson, Stephen, Milton.

CAPTAIN.

James, Albert S., Danby.

FIRST LIEUTENANT.

Churchill, A. Danby.

SECOND LIEUTENANT.

McChesney, Joseph R., Danby.

MUSICIANS.

Eldridge, David, York.
Vallette, Edward, Milton.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

121

Ackerman, Miles, Milton; mustered out as Cor-
poral.
Bronson, Charles; mustered out as First Sergeant.
Bird, Henry; mustered out as Corporal.

Bisbey, Bruce; mustered out as Corporal.
Barnes, William; mustered out as Corporal.

Burback, Augustus T., Elgin.

Churchill, Andrew, Milton.

Cook, Nathaniel. Milton.

Cheney, Eugene M., Milton.

Dodge, Parker C-, Downer's Grove.

De Wolf, Franklin, Milton.

Doherty, George, Elgin.

Eldridge, George W., Elgin.

Efland, Ernst, Milton.

Edwards, John, York.

Finnamore, Henry, Milton.

Ginter, William, Elgin.

Giblin, Henry, Downer's Grove.

Gibbons, John J., Elgin.

Holmes, Alanson N., Milton; mustered out as Cor-
poral .

Hockaday, William, Addison.

Hatch, Henry M., Downer's Grove; promoted
Sergeant.

Hennessy. Michael, Milton.

Hines, Fred, Downer's Grove.

Hubble, John, Milton.

Hill, David, Milton.

Harrington, James H, York.

Hageman, Francis C, Milton; promoted Assist-
ant Surgeon.

Jewell, Andrew, Milton.

Jamison, Hugh, Milton.

Johnsorj, William H, Milton.

Kane, Thomas, Milton.

Knutt, Herman, York.

Kelly, James, Winfield.

Litchfield, Cyrenicus W., York; mustered out as
Sergeant.

Luke, Robert B., Milton.

Lichundguth, Michael, Downer's Grove.

Myers, Edwin R., Milton; mustered out as Ser-
geant.

Muzzy, Harrison, Milton.

McCormic, John, Milton.

Myers, Charles M., Milton.

Newton, William C, Milton.

Nickerson, James D., Milton; mustered out as
Corporal.

Peck, Sanford, York.

Pierce, William H, Bloomingdale.

Puffer, George W., Downer's Grove; died at Col-
umbus, Ky., August 19, 1864.

Peters, John, Elgin.

Quigley, Adelbert, Milton.

Rickert, George, Milton; mustered out as Corporal.

Richardson, Henry, Milton.

Sandercook, George, Milton.

Stacy, Philo W., Milton; mustered out as Cor-
poral.

Shepherd, William, Downer's Grove.

Smith, John, Downer's Grove.
,. jSabin, Charles A., Milton; mustered out as Cor-
poral.

Sprout, William, Milton.

Steavens, John, Milton.

Smith, Charles, Milton.

Thompson, Alexander, Milton.

Vallette, John O., Milton; promoted Hospital
Steward.

Vallette, Henry A., Milton; mustered out as Cor-
poral.

Warnock, Benjamin F., Elgin.

White, James, Milton.

White, Michael, Milton.

Wallace, Henry, Downer's Grove.

Walsh, Thomas, Windfield.

Wilson, Alexander, Downer's Grove.

Weaber, William, York.

Wing, John P., Milton.

Young, Andrew, Milton.

Zeir, Peter, Milton.

Zerell, Ferdinand, Milton.

Hagerman, Francis C, Milton; recruit.

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SECOND REGIMENT.

The One Hundred and Fifty-second Regi-
ment of Illinois Infantry was organized at
Camp Butler February 18, 1865, for one 3*ear,
and mustered out of service at Memphis, Tenn.,
the following September, on the 11th, the war
having closed before its term had expired. It
had one man from Du Page County.

COMPANY o.
Miller, William R., York.

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-THIRD REGIMENT.

The One Hundred and Fifty-third Regiment
of Illinois Infantry was for one year's service.

122

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

It was organized at Camp Fry, and was mus-
tered in February 27, 1865. Its chief mission
was to defend the Nashville & Chattanooga
Railroad. It was mustered out at Memphis,
September 15, 1865. The number of men from
Du Page County in it was seventy-five, as fol-
lows :

company c.

Adams, Hiram, Wayne.

Barter, Franklin, Wayne ; died at Nashville,
Tenn., March 16, 1865.

Barther, William, Bloomingdale.

Bushe, George, Wayne.

Chisholm, Oliver P., Bloomingdale; promoted to
Second Lieutenant.

Eastman, Edwin, Bloomingdale, Corporal.

Fowler, Charles, Bloomingdale, Wagoner.

Grow, Freeman, Bloomingdale.

Gage, James H, Wayne.

Hall, Charles A., Wayne.

Hammond, Abram, Wayne.

Hemmingway, Charles E., Wayne.

Johnson, William H., Milton; promoted to Com-
missary Sergeant.

King, George T., Wayne.

McAleer, John, Bloomingdale, Sergeant.

McKillips, Albert H., Wayne.

McKillips, William M., Wayne.

McNaught, Ezekiel, Wayne.

O'Brien, Henry, Bloomingdale; discharged June
1, 1865.

Ray, Lewis C, Bloomingdale, Corporal; absent,
sick, at muster out of regiment.

Shaw, Willis, Bloomingdale, Musician.

Shaw, George W., Bloomingdale.

Smith, Albert E., Wayne.

Turner, August, Wayne.

Wheeler, Danforth M., Bloomingdale.

COMPANY D.

Art, James J., York; mustered out July 25, 1865.

Atherton, Lucius W., York; absent, sick, at mus-
ter out of regiment.

Balcom, Truxton H., York.

Delano, William B., York; mustered out May 24,
1865.

Fuller, Alonzo W., York; promoted to Second
Lieutenant.

Hulett, John.

Sperry, William O., York ; mustered out as Cor-
poral.

Tuttle, Francis L., York; mustered out as Cor-
poral.

COMPANY E.

Brown, Alfred, Addison.
Buckner, Daniel, Winfield.
Johnson, Samuel, Addison.
Nicholas, Samuel, Addison.
'Reddick, Austin, Addison.
Williams, John H.

COMPANY I.

Warnock, Benjamin F., Milton, Sergeant; pro-
moted to Second Lieutenant.

Rickert, George J., Milton, Sergeant; mustered
out as First Sergeant.

Cheeney, Eugene M., Milton, Sergeant; promoted
to Quartermaster's Sergeant.

Howard, Charles H., Milton; absent with leave at
muster out of regiment.

Miller, George T., Milton, Corporal, mustered
out as Sergeant.

Miner, Ithamer, Milton, Corporal.

Wilson, Walter S., Winfield, Corporal; mustered
out as Sergeant.

Dore, Thomas, Winfield, Corporal.

Aitkin, Walter, Winfield.

Anderson, Andrew, Winfield.

Brown, Luther D., York.

Bristol, Peleg, York.

Bristol, Augustus, York.

Bohlander, Philip G., Milton.

Bohlander, Henry, Milton.

Boardman, Albert, Winfield.

Cleveland, Sylvester J., Milton.

Denham, Robert, Winfield.

Ginter, William, Milton; wagoner.

Lewis, Fletcher, Milton.

Moore, Oscar, Milton.

O'Brien, Thomas, Winfield.

Olsen, Sinert, Winfield.

Perkins, William F., Winfield.

Piatt, William T., Milton; discharged July 16,
1865, for disability.

Ranston, S., York; discharged August 31, 1865,
for disability.

Stephen, Archibald, Milton.

Sprout, John, Milton.

Soler, John Dexter, Winfield.

Tansel, Rand, Milton; absent, sick, at muster out
of regiment.

Town, Albert S., Winfield.

Weaver, John, Milton.

Walan, Henry, Milton.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY,

123

Wilson, Elliot, Winfield.

Young, Andrew, Milton ; mustered out as Cor-
poral.

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.

The One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Regiment
of Illinois Infantry were enlisted for one year.
It was mustered into service at Camp Fry
March 9, 1865, and was detailed to guard the
railroad between Chattanooga, Tenn., and Dal-
ton, G-a., and subsequently to do patrol duty at
Memphis. It was mustered out at Springfield,
111., in September, 1865. It had ninety-nine men
from Du Page County in its ranks as follows :

COMPANY A.

MUSICIAN.

Zase, Andrew, Addison, enlisted February 18,
1865; mustered out September 20, 1865.

PBIVATEB.

Alexander, Samuel, Addison, February 18, 1865
mustered out September 20, 1865.

Berry, Washington, Addison, February 18, 1865
mustered out September 20, 1865.

Breese, James M., Addison, February 18, 1865
mustered out September 20, 1865.

Durfey, Jefferson, Addison, February 18, 1865
mustered out September 20, 1865.

Killey, Francis M., Addison, February 18, 1865
mustered out September 20, 1865.

Stowers, Robert W., Addison, February 18, 1865
absent, sick, at muster out of regiment.

COMPANY D.
CAPTAIN.

Blanchard, William, Downer's Grove, date of
rank March 9, 1865; resigned June 14, 1865.

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.

Bard, Reuben W. , Naperville, date of rank March
9, 1865; resigned May 81, 1865.

Hudson, David G., date of rank June 12, 1865;
mustered out September 20, 1865.

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.

Mertz, Solomon E., Lisle, date of rank March 9,
1865; resigned June 13, 1865.

Wright, William P., Naperville, date of rank
June 21, 1865; promoted from Sergeant, then Cap-
tain; mustered out September 20, 1865.

SERGEANTS.

Heillegass, William H., Naperville, enlisted Feb-
ruary 25, 1865; mustered out September 20, 1865, as
First Sergeant.

Crampton, William M., Naperville, enlisted March
1, 1865; absent at muster out of regiment.

Hall, George, Naperville, enlisted February 25,
1865; mustered out September 20, 1865.

Brown, Jones B., Downer's Grove, February 25,
1865; mustered out May 16, 1865.

CORPORALS.

Weaver, Harvey, Naperville, enlisted February
25, 1865; mustered out September 20, 1865, as Ser-
geant.

Dudley, Edward C, Lisle, enlisted February 25,
1865; mustered out September 20, 1865, as Sergeant.

Knauss, George F., Lisle; enlisted February 25,
1865; mustered out September 20, 1865.

Thatcher, Charles T., Naperville; enlisted Febru-
ary 25, 1865; mustered out September 20, 1865.

Kulp, George J., Naperville; enlisted February 5,
1865; mustered out September 20, 1865.

Wilson, Alexander, Downer's Grove; enlisted Feb-
ruary 25, 1865; mustered out September 20, 1865.

Rich, Lewis M., Downer's Grove; enlisted March
1, 1865; mustered out September 20, 1865.

Miller, Levi, Naperville; enlisted February 25,
I860; mustered out September 20, 1865.

MUSICIANS.

Shepherd, Ralph A., Downer's Grove; enlisted
February 24, 1865; mustered out September 20, 1865.

Aaron, Julius, Naperville; enlisted March 1; mus-
tered out May 20, 1865, as private.

Esher, Martin E., Lisle; enlisted February 24,
1865; mustered out September 20, 1865.

Atzel, John, Downer's Grove, March 1, 1865.

Atwood, William, Downer's Grove, February 24,
1865; died, date and place unknown.

Berry, Charles H., Downer's Grove, March 2,
1865; mustered out February 20, 1865.

Bateman, JuhnW., Downer's Grove, February 24,
1865.

Brown, David, Downer's Grove, February 25, 1865.

Bapst, Lewis, Downer's Grove, February 29.

Compte, Eugene, Naperville, February 25.

Craigmile, Alexander, Downer's Grove, February
25, 1865.

124

HISTORY OF. DTJ PAGE COUNTY.

Chomann, Jacob, Lisle, February 25, 1865. •

Drew, Robert, Lisle, February 25, 1865.

Davenport, Oscar, Downer's Grove, March 1, 1865;
absent at muster out of regiment.

Essington, Thomas, Lisle, February 25, 1865.

Ebberly, John B., Lisle, February 24, 1865.

Flisher, John, Downer's Grove, March 1, 1865.

Getsh, Anton, Naperville, February 25, 1865.

Grass, Frederick, Naperville, February 25, 1865.

Gushart, David, Naperville, February 25, 1865.

Good, Robert G., Lisle, February 25, 1865; mus-
tered out May 13, 1865.

Grassley, Charles, Lisle, February 25, 1865.

Hintz, Frederick, Downer's Grove, February 24,
1865.

Hines, Frederick, Downer's Grove, February 25,
1865.

Hubbard, Charles H, Naperville, February 25,
1865.

Heim, Henry, Naperville, February 25, 1865.

Holderer, Christian, Naperville, ^February 25,
1865.

Houser, Milton L., Lisle, February 25, 1865.

Heittler, John,. Lisle, February 25, 1865.

Houser, William, Naperville, February 25, 1865.

Hammer, Peter, Lisle, February 25, 1865.

Hinderlong, Christian, Lisle, February 25, 1865.

Kreyder, Charles, Downer's Grove, March 1,
1865; mustered out as Corporal.

Kochley, Joseph, Naperville, February 25, 1865.

Kline, Jacob, Downer's Grove, February 25, 1865.

Kreyder, John, Downer's Grove, February. 24,
1865.

Kline, William, Lisle, February 25, 1865.

Lent, Lawrence, Naperville, February 25, 1865;
mustered out as Corporal.

Lienbundguth, Michael, Downer's Grove, Febru-
ary 24, 1865.

Mattis, Sebastian, Naperville, February 25, 1865.

Mattis, Joseph, Naperville, February 25, 1865.

Maynard, Levi, Downer's Grove, February 24,
1865.

Mertz, Wellington, Downer's Grove, February 24,
1865; mustered out May 26, 1865.

Netzley, John W., Lisle, February 25, 1865.

Oldfield, Joshua, Downer's Grove, February 27,
1865.

Porter, Alva B., Downer's Grove, March 2, 1865.

Peter or Petus, Frederick, Downer's Grove, March
1, 1865.

Riddler, William, Naperville, February 25, 1865.

Rickert, Alexander M., Naperville, February 25,
1865; mustered out September 16, 1865.

Rickert, Lichard, Lisle, February 25, 1865; absent
at muster out of regiment.

Rehin, Andrew, Downer's Grove, February 24,
1865.

Smith, George, Jr., Downer's Grove, March 11,
1865.

Smith, Charles, Downer's Grove, March 2, 1865.

Schmidt, Frederick, Naperville, February 25,
1865.

Stoner, Frank A., Naperville, February 35, 1865.

Stover, Edmund, Lisle, February 22, 1865.

Shaffer, Alfred, Lisle, February 25, 1865.

Stroule, George, Lisle, February 25, 1865.

Strauss, Albert, Lisle, February 25, 1865.

Shephard, William, Downer's Grove, February
25, 1865.

Turner, George, Naperville, February 25, 1865.

Ulrich, Henry, Naperville, March 1, 1865.

Vogle, Nelson, Lisle, February 25, 1865.

Wagner, Naperville, February 25, 1865.

Wheatley, Frederick, Lisle, February 25, 1865.

Whitney, William C, Lisle, February 25, 1865.

Wetten, Valentine, Downer's Grove, February 25,
1865.

Yender, George, Lisle, February 25, 1865.

Yund, Simon E., Naperville, March 1, 1865; mus-
tered out August 25, 1865, as Musician.

COMPANY E.

PRIVATE.

Kaley, Jefferson, Winfield, February 28, 1865.

COMPANY P.

PRIVATES.

Cragg, Edward, Winfield, February 28, 1865.

Cragg, George H, Winfield, February 25, 1865;
mustered out May 12, 1865.

Griswold, David M., Winfield, February 28, 1865;
mustered out May 27, 1865.

Misener, Merit, Winfield, February 26, 1865.

COMPANY G.

PRIVATE.

Campbell, Garrett, Lisle, March 1, 1865.

The date of the enlistment of each soldier is
affixed to his name, and also of mustering out,
when discharged before the term for which he
enlisted.

Cogswell's battery.

West, Louis, Naperville, enlisted February 25;
mustered in April 6, 1864; mustered out as Sergeant.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

125

PETTIT S BATTERY.

Pettit's Battery had one man from Du Page
County :

Wesley, Christian, Milton, enlisted in 1862; served
three years and eleven days; wounded.

Barker's Dragoons had three men from Du
Page County :
Litchfield, Cyrenius W., York.
Reihansperger, Lawrence, Winfield.
Reiley, John, Winfield.

FIRST ARTILLERY.

The First Regiment of Light Artillery had
three men from Du Page County enlisted in it :

COMPANY D.

Schuerman, Jacob, Naperville; mustered in July
30; discharged September 20, 1861.

COMPANY M.

Andreuss, Charles B., York, enlisted and mustered
in October 14, 1864; died at Camp Butler November
20, 1864.

Darst, Jonathan H., Winfield, enlisted and mus-
tered in October 26, 1864.

SECOND ARTILLERY.

The Second Artillery had eighteen men from
Du Page County :

COMPANY I.

Rich, Judson, Naperville, Second Lieutenant; pro-
moted to Captain.

Ward, George T., Naperville, First Lieutenant;
date of rank December 9, 1864.

Haight, Charles D., Naperville, Quartermaster
Sergeant; promoted to Second Lieutenant.

Stolp, Rufus, Naperville, enlisted October 25, 1861;
re-enlisted as veteran; promoted to Sergeant.

Stolp, Rufus S., Naperville, enlisted January 1,
1864; mustered out as Sergeant.

Black, Neal J., Naperville, enlisted December 12,
1861 ; mustered out as Corporal.

Blackstun, Henry, Naperville, enlisted December
12, 1861.

Potter, Robert K., Naperville, enlisted December
12. 1861.

COMPANY K.

Pool, Francis K., Downer's Grove.
Young, John, Downer's Grove; both enlisted and
mustered in October 18, 1864, as recruits.

COMPANY L.

Gager, Charles M., Brush Hill.

Coe, Samuel A., Downer's Grove; both enlisted
February 15, and mustered in the 28th, 1862.

Coffin, Menzo C, Downer's Grove.

Fox, Herman M., Downer's Grove; both enlisted
and mustered in October 18, 1864.

Ireland, John, York, enlisted and mustered in Feb-
ruary 28, 1862; discharged March 31, 1864, for dis-
ability.

Reynolds, Allen, Downer's Grove, enlisted and
mustered in February 28, 1862 ; re-enlisted as
veteran.

Smith, Otis A., York, enlisted and mustered in
February 28, 1862; re-enlisted as veteran.

Buck, Thomas, Winfield, unassigned recruit; en-
listed and mustered in October 25, 1864.

SECOND CAVALRY REGIMENT.

The Second Cavalry Regiment was mustered
into service August 12, 1861, and mustered out
of service at San Antonio, Texas, November 24,
1865. It had one man from Du Page County.

COMPANY M.

Preston, Charles, Milton, enlisted June 1; mus-
tered in October 16, 1864.

THIRD CAVALRY REGIMENT.

This regiment was organized at Camp Butler,
111., in August, 1861, and mustered out at
Springfield, October 13, 1865. It had four men
from Du Page County.

COMPANY H.

Hubbard, William, enlisted February 25; mus-
tered in the 27th, 1865; promoted to Sergeant.

Fischer, James H, Winfield, enlisted February
28; mustered in March 1, 1865.

COMPANY I.

Backus, Myron, Addison, enlisted and mustered in
February 28, 1865.

COMPANY K.

Milner, Henry O, York, enlisted and mustered in
March 7, 1865.

FOURTH CAVALRY REGIMENT.

This regiment was mustered into service at
Ottawa August 6, 1861, and mustered out in

126

HISTORY OF DV PAGE COUNTY.

November, 1864. It had two men from Du

Page County.

company c.

Avery, John, Milton, enlisted August 24, 1861;
mustered out November 3, 1864, as Sergeant.

Avery, Frank H., Milton, enlisted August 29, 1861;
discharged April 20, 1862, for disability.

SIXTH CAVALRY REGIMENT.

This regiment was organized at Camp Butler,
111., November 19, 1861, and mustered out at
Selma, Ala., November 5, 1865. It had two
men from Du Page Count}'.

COMPANY B.

McKinny, John H., Milton, enlisted and mustered
in March 14, 1865.

Rinebard, John, Milton, enlisted and mustered in
March 21, 1865.

EIGHTH CAVALRY REGIMENT.

The Eighth Cavalry Regiment was organ-
ized at St. Charles, 111., in September, 1861, by
Col. Farnsworth, and mustered in the 18th. In
October it moved to Washington, and in De-
cember, to Alexandria, Va. The following
March, it joined Gen. Sumner's division in his
advance on Manassas, after which it guarded
the Rappahannock till May. On the 4th, it
moved to Williamsburg under command of Gen.
Stoneham. June 26, it held *he enemy under
Jackson in check at Mechanicsville, after which
battle a change of base was made by the Union
forces, in accomplishing which the Eighth pro-
tected the rear of the army by successful skir-
mishes with the enemy. At Malvern Hill, it
led the attack which was made on that place.
August 30, 1862, it embarked at Yorktown and
landed at Alexandria the 1st of September,
from which place it took the offensive and capt-
ured 220 prisoners, two guns and the colors of
the Twelfth Virginia Regiment.

It was next engaged at Antietam, and next
at Martinsburg, after which it led the advance
of the Army of the Potomac almost constantly,
skirmishing with the enemy, till it reached Fal-

mouth November 23, 1862, after which it was
on picket duty during the active operations
that immediately followed.

The next year, 1863, its earnest work was
redoubled, and the actions in which it was
engaged may be enumerated as follows : Sul-
phur Springs, April 14 ; battle near Warrenton,
the 17th ; Rapidan, May 1 ; Northern Neck, the
14th ; Borstly Ford, June 9 ; Upperville, the
21st ; Fairville, Penn., the 30th ; Gettysburg,
July 1 . It claims the honor of firing the first
shot at this decisive battle ; Williamsport, Md.,
the 6th ; Boonsboro, the 8th ; Funkstown, the
10th ; Falling Waters, the 14th ; Chester Gap,
the 21st ; Sandy Hook, the 21st ; near Cul-
pepper, Va., August 1 ; Brady's Station, the
4th ; a raid to Falmouth, the 30th ; Pony Moun-
tain, September 13 ; Libert} 7 Mills, the 21st ;
Brady's Station, October 11 ; Manassas, the
15th ; Warrenton, the 30th ; Rexleysville, No-
vember 8 ; Mitchell's, the 12th, and Ely's Ford,
the 30th.

During the war, the following is a summary
of the results of their arms, from official rec-
ords :

Captured, wounded and killed of the enemy,
3,946 ; slaves liberated, 3,000 ; horses killed or
captured, 4,110 ; mules killed or captured, 661 ;
sheep killed or captured, 1,400 ; cattle killed or
captured, 2,200 ; wagons captured, 280 ; smug-
gling crafts destroyed. 208 ; 10 tons of ammu-
nition ; 7 tons of leather, and 16 tons of pork
captured ; 7 colors and 6 guns taken, added to
which were cereals and small arms, valued at
$2,000,000. These men were among the best
soldiers in the war, whose bodies were hardened
into clear muscle and bone, by their unceasing
activity, made effective by the indomitable
courage that held their uplifted arms to the
service.

This regiment was mustered out at Benton
Barracks, Mo., July 17, 1865, and ordered to
Chicago, where its remnant, less than one-third
of its original number, received its final pay-

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

137

ment and discharge. It had 197 men from Du
Page County in its ranks.

MAJORS.

Kelley, Elisha S.', Milton; date of rank December 5,
1862; resigned May 23, 1863.

CHAPLAINS.

Matlock, Lucius O, Wheaton; date of rank Octo-
ber 8, 1861; mustered out August 25, 1862.

NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.

CHIEF BUGLEB8.

Bartholomew, George W., Winfield; re-enlisted
as veteran January 1, 1864.

VETERAN NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.

QUARTEBMA8TBR SEBQEANT.

Gates, Robert W., Bloomingdale; enlisted Janu-
ary 1, 1864; promoted to Regimental Quartermaster.

COMPANY A.

Emery, James H.. Wheaton; enlisted September
8, 1861; discharged April 24, 1862.

COMPANY D.

CAPTAIK8.

Gerhart, Jacob S., Bloomingdale; date of rank Sep-
tember 18, 1861; resigned July 28, 1862.

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.

Verbeck, Carlos H., Bloomingdale; date of rank
September 18, 1861; promoted to First Lieutenant;
term expired February 1, 1865.

Dunning, Andrew, Addison; date of rank March 3,
1865; promoted to First Lieutenant; mustered out
July 17, 1865.

SERGEANTS.

Wallis, George, Bloomingdale; enlisted August 20,
1861 ; discharged February 27, 1862, for disability.

Clark, Charles L., Bloomingdale; enlisted Septem-
ber 4, 1861 ; re-enlisted as veteran.

COBPOBALS.

Dunning, Andrew, Addison ; enlisted August 28,
1861; re-enlisted as veteran.

Farr, Asa W., Bloomingdale; enlisted August 28,
1861 ; mustered out September 28, 1864, as Sergeant.

Coe, Curtiss H., Bloomingdale; enlisted August
20, 1861; died at Alexandria, Va., May, 1862.

Durland, Garrett P., Bloomingdale; enlisted Au-
gust 28, 1861; re-enlisted as veteran.

Avery, Daniel J., Wayne, September 9, 1861 i
transferred to Company M.

Ackley, John W., Bloomingdale, September 2,
1861; re-enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864; mus-
tered out as Corporal.

Asendorf, Albert, Addison, September 12; mus-
tered out September 28, 1864.

Bunnell, Marcus, "Bloomingdale, September 9,
1861 ; re-entisted as veteran November 30, 1863 ;
mustered out as Corporal.

Baltz, William, Bloomingdale, August 24, 1861!
transferred to Company M.

Churchill, Amos, Milton, August 30, 1861 ; trans-
ferred to Company M.

Clark, Morgan L., Bloomingdale, September 5 ;
1861; discharged in 1862; disability.

Cheesman, George B., Addison, September 17
1861.

Chapman, Thomas, Bloomingdale, August 20
1861; discharged February, 1862; disability.

Douglass, James, Bloomingdale, August 20, 1861
re-enlisted as veteran November 30, 1863; mustered
out as Wagoner.

Deibert, Jacob, Bloomingdale, September 4, 1861
mustered out September 28, 1864.

Driscoll, Obadiah, Wayne, September 9, 1861
discharged July 31, 1862; disability.

Eggleston, Surrial G., Addison, September 14
1861; discharged March 19, 1863; wounds.

Ehle, Austin J., Bloomingdale, August 30, 1861
mustered out September 28, 1864.

Ehle, John H., Bloomingdale, September 16, 1861
died at Alexandria, Va., April, 1862.

Eggist, Christopher, Bloomingdale, September 16
1861 ; transferred to Company M.

Fink, Barney H., Addison, September 4, 1861
discharged November 12, 1862; disability.

Founder, Euseba, Bloomingdale, September 5,
1861 ; re-enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864 ; mus-
tered out as Corporal.

Gannon, Thomas, Bloomingdale, September 3,
1861 ; re-enlisted as veteran November 30, 1863;
mustered out as Corporal.

Gerhardt, Livingston E., Bloomingdale, Septem-
ber 3, 1861 ; prisoner of war, reported dead, dropped
from rolls.

Goodwin, William W., Bloomingdale, August 30,
1861; discharged November 26, 1862; disability.

Giedman, Henry, Addison, August 28, 1861 ; mus-
tered out September 28, 1864, as Corporal.

Hackendorf, Henry, Bloomingdale, August 28,
1861; discharged February 4, 1863; disability.

Kollinan, Henry, Bloomingdale, September 7,
1861 ; transferred to Company M.

128

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Kohn, Frederick, Bloomingdale, September 17,
1861; transferred to Company M.

Landon, Allen S., Bloomingdale, August 20, 1861;
mastered out September 28, 1864.

Landon, Cbarles, Bloomingdale, August 30, 1861 ;
re-enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864; mustered out
as Corporal.

Laning, Dedrick, York, September 17, 1861; re-
enlisted as veteran December 20, 1863; mustered out
as Saddler.

Muzzy, Emeric O., Bloomingdale, September 17,
1861; died at Alexandria, Va., February, 1862.

Meachem, Sylvester, Bloomingdale, September 17,
1861; mustered out September 28, 1865.

Mund, Dedrick, York, September 9, 1861 ; died at
Andersonville Prison September 6, 1864 ; number of
grave, 7,989.

Mcintosh, Hugh, Bloomingdale, September 17,
1861 ; re-enlisted as a veteran November 30, 1863
mustered out as Corporal.

Nash, DeWitt, Bloomingdale, September 7, 1861
mustered out September 28, 1864.

Northrup, Albert, Bloomingdale, September 4
mustered out as Corporal.

Noon, John, Bloomingdale, September 9, 1861
re-enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864; mustered out
as Sergeant.

Pierce, William D., Bloomingdale, August 20,
1861; transferred to Company H.

Pflarger, August, Bloomingdale, September 2,
1861 ; re-enlisted as veteran November 30, 1863 ;
mustered out as Sergeant.

Rickert, Jacob D., Bloomingdale, August 20, 1861;
mustered out May 20, 1862, prisoner of war.

Rave, William D., Bloomingdale, September 9,
1861; discharged in 1862.

Rode, Ernst, York, September 9, 1861 ; discharged
May, 1862, disability.

Sedgwick, Estus P., Bloomingdale, September 2,
1861; died at Alexandria, Va., March, 1862.

Segus, Henry, Bloomingdale, September 5, 1861;
killed at Culpepper, Va., August, 1863.

Teimer, Herman, Addison, September 7, 1861;
discharged July 31, 1862, disability.

Thorne, Alexander P., Wayne, September 16,
1861; mustered out September 28, 1864.

Volke, John, Addison, September 5, 1861 ; died at
Washington, D. C, October 26, 1862.

Weaber, Benjamin F., Bloomingdale, Septem-
ber 5, 1861; killed near Boonesboro, Md., July 8,
1863.

Weaber, William, Bloomingdale, September 12,
1861 ; discharged November 26, 1862, disability.

Wilk, Henry, Bloomingdale, September 9, 1861;
re-enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864.

Wedmeir, Henry, Bloomingdale, September 4,
1861 ; re-eniisted as veteran November 30, 1863.

Woodworth, Henry, Wayne, September 16, 1861;
re-enlisted as veteran.

Way, Edmund, Bloomingdale, August 25, 1861;
transferred to Company M.

Wright, Sylvester, Bloomingdale, September 17;
mustered out September 28, 1864.

Zooh, Frederick, Bloomingdale, September 7,
1861; died at Baltimore Cross Roads, Va., in 1862.

VF.TKRAJJ8.

Bye, William, Bloomingdale, November 30, 1863;
mustered out as Sergeant.

Clarke, Charles S., Bloomingdale, January 1, 1864;
mustered out as Sergeant.

Dunning, Andrew, Addison, January 1, 1864; pro-
moted First Lieutenant.

Durland, Garrett B., Bloomingdale, January 1,
1864; mustered out as Sergeant.

Duneka, Henry, Bloomingdale, Dec. 20, 1863.

Fehrman, Lewis, Bloomingdale, December 20,
1863; mustered out as Corporal.

Fehrman, August, Addison, January 1, 1864; ab-
sent, sick, at mustering out of regiment.

Rave, August, Bloomingdale, January 1, 1864.

EECBUITS.

B W., Bloomingdale, October 13, 1863.

Brandt, , Bloomingdale, January 20, 1863;

discharged January 10, 1865; disability.

Clark, Morgan L., Bloomingdale, February 3,
1864.

Dunning, Samuel N, Addison, February 20.

Elbert, William, Addison, October 8, 1864.

Miner, William, Bloomingdale, October 14.

Reinhardt, Henry, Addison, October 8, 1864.

COMPANY E.

CAPTAINS.

Kelly, Elisha S., Milton, date of rank September
18, 1861; promoted Major.

Jones, Marcellus E., Wheaton, date of rank Oc-
tober 10, 1864; promoted from Sergeant to Second
Lieutenant, then First Lieutenant; mustered out
July 17, 1865.

Buck, Daniel N., Naperville, date of rank De-
cember 5, 1862; promoted from First Sergeant to
First Lieutenant; term expired October 10, 1864.

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.

Flagg, Benjamin L., Milton, date of rank Sep-
tember 18, 1861 ; resigned July 15, 1862.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY

129

Riddler, Alexander McS. S., date of rank Octo-
ber 10, 1864; promoted from Corporal to Second
Lieutenant; mustered out July 17, 1865.

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.

Taylor, Woodbury M., Milton, date of rank Sep-
tember 18, 1861; promoted First Lieutenant; pro-
moted second time Captain Company L by Presi-
dent April 11, 1864.

Whitaker, Owen, Milton, date of rank December
8, 1864; promoted from Corporal; resigned June 9,
1865.

Wayne, Edward, Naperville, date of rank June 20,
1865; mustered out as Sergeant July 17, 1865.

QUARTEHMA8TER SEBOEANT.

Foster, George, Milton, enlisted September 5,
1861 ; re-enlisted as veteran.

8EBOEANT8.

Smith, Samuel W., Naperville, enlisted Septem-
ber 10, 1861; promoted Sergeant Major.

Hines, Thomas S., Naperville, enlisted Septem-
ber 10, 1861; mustered out September 28, 1864;
term expired.

Mott, Meritt, Milton, enlisted September 5, 1861;
discharged April 13, 1862; disability.

CORPORALS.

Harnes, Benjamin F., Naperville, enlisted Sep-
tember 10, 1861; discharged February 15, 1863 as
Sergeant; wounds.

Oberhallsen, Samuel, Naperville, enlisted Septem-
ber 10, 1861; discharged November 23, 1862; disa-
bility.

Fosha, George, Naperville, enlisted September 10,
1861; re-enlisted as veteran.

Crosby, Frank, Milton, enlisted September 5,
1861; discharged October 8, 1864; term expired.

Ackley, Frank M., Milton, enlisted September 5,
1861; re-enlisted as veteran.

McNorth, George S., Winfield, enlisted Septem-
ber 5, 1861 ; re-enlisted as veteran.

BUGLER.

Lund, Henry, Milton, enlisted September 5, 1861 ;
promoted Chief Bugler.

FARRIER.

Bond, Samuel, Naperville, enlisted September 13,
1861 ; re-enlisted as veteran.

PRIVATES.

Benjamin, Henry H., Lisle, September 10, 1861;
mustered out September 28, 1864; term expired.

Brooks, Edwin H., Milton, September 10, 1861;
re-enlisted as veteran; mustered out as Corporal.

Bartholomew, George W., Warren ville, Septem-
ber 10; promoted Chief Bugler.

Burnham, Remembrace, Bloomingdale, Septem-
ber 5, 1861 ; re-enlisted as veteran.

Cooley, Herbert, Wheaton, September 5, 1861;
re-enlisted as veteran; mustered out as Sergeant.

Corbet, Clark S., Milton, September 5, 1861; dis-
charged November 15-, 1862; disability.

Chadwick, William H., Milton, September 5,
1861; re-enlisted as veteran; mustered out as Corp-
oral.

Churchill, William H., York, September 5, 1861;'
mustered out September 28, 1864.

Ditzler, Eli H., Naperville, September 10, 1861;
mustered out September 28, 1864.

Davis, Samuel, Milton, September 5, 1861; mus-
tered out September 28, 1864.

Dense, Darwin, Danby, September 14, 1861; re-
enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864; mustered out
as Sergeant.

Dissinger, Aaron, Naperville, September 17, 1861 ;
discharged April 21, 1862; disability.

Dodge, Horace O., Milton; September 18, 1861;
mustered out September 28, 1864; term expired.

Foster, James, Winfield, September 5, 1861; dis-
charged July 25, 1863.

Franks, Benjamin, Naperville, September 14,
1861; re-enlisted as veteran.

Flagg, Sewell, Milton, September 14, 1861; Ser-
geant; killed near Manassas, Va., October 15, 1863.

Farrer, Judson, Downer's Grove, September 17,
1861; died at Alexandria, Va., June 18, 1863;
wounds.

Guio, Augustus, Milton, September 5, 1861; dis-
charged January 8, 1863; disability.

Jacob, Gates, Downer's Grove, September 18,
1861; discharged November 28, 1862; disability.

Heim, George, Lisle, September 17; re-enlisted as
veteran January 1, 1864; mustered out as Sergeant.

Hardy, Edgar A., Milton, September 5, 1861; re-
enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864; mustered out as
Sergeant.

Hart, Horace, Milton, September 5, 1861; re-
enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864.

Hymes, Jacob, Naperville, September 5, 1861;
discharged April 16, 1862; disability.

Hale, James O., Winfield, September 5, 1861; re-
enlisted as veteran November 30, 1863; mustered out
as Corporal.

Hughes, Morgan, Naperville, September 17, 1861 ;
re-enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864; mustered out
as Bugler.

130

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Hector, Frank, Milton, September 18, 1861; trans-
ferred to Company A.

Howell, Charles, Downer's Grove, September 18,
1861; mustered out September 28, 1864, as Cor-
poral.

Havens, John W. f Downer's Grove, September
18, 1861; re-enlisted as veteran ; promoted Corporal;
absent, sick, at muster out of regiment.

Hyde, James, Naperville, September 17, 1861; re-
enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864.

Jewell, Solomon W., Milton, September 5, 1861;
discharged November 25, 1862; wounds.

Jones, William, Milton, September 5, 1861; dis-
charged January 23, 1863, as Sergeant; wounds.

Jepperson, Herman K., Warrenville, September
18, 1861; re-enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864;
died of starvation February 21, 1865, in rebel hospi-
tal at Danville, Va.

Kockley, Jacob, Naperville, September 18, 1861 ;
re-enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864; died at
Washington, D. C, August 10, 1864; wounds.

Kelly, Benton J., Milton, September 17; mus-
tered out September 28, 1864.

Kinzie, AbramA., Naperville, September 17. 1861;
re-enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864.

Loser, William, Naperville, September 17, 1861 ;
re-enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864.

Loser, John, Naperville, September 17, 1861; re-
enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864; mustered out as
Corporal.

Mott, Gilbert, Milton, September 5, 1861; re-en-
listed as veteran January 1, 1864.

Meachem, Frank, Milton, September 5, 1861; dis-
charged December 5, 1862.

Mertz, Franklin B., Naperville, September 10,
1861; mustered out September 28, 1864; term ex-
pired.

Mills, George A., Milton, September 14, 1861;
died at Alexandria, Va., February 22, 1862.

McCauley, Augustus, Naperville, September 17,
1861; mustered out September 28, 1864.

McMillan, Daniel, Downer's Grove, September 18,
1861; discharged September 22, 1862; disability.

Plumer, Benjamin, York, September 18, 1861;
promoted Regimental Commissary Sergeant.

Poison, Emerick, Milton, September 14, 1861; dis-
charged February 28, 1863; disability.

Potter, Nelson A., Milton, September 5, 1861;
transferred to Company A.

Plant, Roswell, Naperville, September 14; re-en-
listed as veteran January 1, 1864.

Pinches, William, Downer's Grove; mustered out
September 28, 1864, as Corporal.

Perry, John, Downer's Grove, September 17, 1861;
discharged March 21, 1864.

Persem, George, Naperville, September 17, 1861 ;
killed Funkstown, Md., July 10, 1863.

Ringman, George, Milton, September 5, 1861;
killed Morton's Ford, Va., October 11, 1863.

Rogers, Francis A., Downer's Grove, September
18, 1861; mustered out September 28, 1864; term ex-
pired.

Slyter, Charles, Milton, September 5, 1861; died
at Alexandria, Va., July 1, 1863; wounds.

Strouse, Lewis, Lisle, September 10, 1861; re-en-
listed as veteran January 1, 1861 ; mustered out as
Corporal.

Stoner, John, Naperville, September 17, 1861; re-
enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864.

Snyder, Daniel, Lisle, September 14, 4861 ; killed
South Mountain, Md., September 14, 1862.

Shaeffer, Levi S., Naperville, September 18, 1861;
discharged October 8, 1864, as Sergeant.

Stevens, Abraham, Warrenville, September 18,
1861; discharged February 13, 1863; disability.

Schuster, Franklin, Milton, September 18, 1861;
re-enlisted as veteran.

Tobias, William J., Naperville, September 10,
1861; re-enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864; died at
Naperville, 111., May 12, 1864.

Wheeler, Allen, Downer's Grove, September 18,
1861

Wentworth, Winfield, September 5, 1861.

Weidman, Curtis S., Milton, September 5, 1861;
mustered out September 28, 1864.

Wayne, Edward, Naperville, September 17, 1861 ;
re-enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864; mustered out
as First Sergeant; commissionel Second Lieutenant,
but not mustered.

Whitaker, Owen, Milton, November 30, 1863; pro-
moted Sergeant, then Second Lieutenant.

REORU1T8.

Ashley, Benedict, Downer's Grove, October 18,
1864.

Burnham, Oscar D., Naperville, January 10, 1864,
veteran.

Britegan, William, Naperville, February 23, 1864;
absent, sick, at mustering out of regiment.

Bennett, William, Milton, September 27, 1864.

Bunn, Henry, Downer's Grove, October 18, 1864.

Culver, Charles S., Warrenville, Dec. 24, 1864.

Campbell, John, Naperville, January 1, 1864; died
at Camp Relief, D. O., July 6, 1864.

Desenbrock, Henry, Naperville, December 20,
1863, mustered out; Blacksmith.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

131

Dixon, Charles G, Downer's Grove, October 18,
1864.

Freets, William, Milton, September 9, 1861 ; dis-
charged September 18, 1861.

Graham, James, Naperville, January 10, 1864.

Gerberick, Levi, Naperville, February 23, 1864.

Gleason, Watson W, Downer's Grove, October
18, 1864.

Hudson, William, Warrenville, Deeember 22,
1863; died in rebel prison at Richmond, Va.

Johnson, Oscar, Milton, September 14, 1861, dis-
charged September 20. 1861.

Kribill, John, Naperville, December 20, 1863.

Murray, John, Naperville, January 10, 1864.

Mertz, Owen, Lisle, February 19, 1864.

Neff, Joseph, Naperville, January 4, 1864; killed
at Monocacy, Md., July 30, 1864.

Robinson, Ashael F., Milton, August 11, 1862;
re-enlisted as veteran.

Robinson, Daniel F., Milton, August 11, 1862; re-
enlisted as veteran.

Strieker, David, Naperville, December 21, 1863.

Schaftmetzle, Chas., Naperville, January 1, 1864.

Statt, Charles, Downer's Grove, October 18; 1864.

Wilson, Thomas, Wheaton, February 5, 1864.

Ward, James A., Warrenville, January 2, 1864.

Winderburg, Louis, Naperville, Dec. 20, 1863.

Ward, Charles H, Warrenville, December 24,
1863; died in District of Columbia July 23, 1864;
wounds.

COMPANY F.

PRIVATES.

Brown, James, Du Page County, Sept. 4, 1861;
discharged Sept. 19, 1862; accidental wounds.

Hawley, Oliver, Du Page County, August 30,
1861; re-enlisted as veteran January 1, 1864; Ser-
geant; discharged July 1, 1865.

NINTH CAVALRY REGIMENT.

The Ninth Cavalry Regiment was organized
at Chicago in November, 1861, and mustered
out at Selma, Ala., October 1, 1865. It had
three men from Du Page County.

COMPANY D.

Toune, Dedrick, Addison, enlisted September 10;
mustered in the 21st, 1861.

COMPANY K.

Bostwick, Henry C, Du Page County, enlisted
September 10, 1861; discharged September 30, 1862,
as Sergeant.

Woodworth, Frank, Bloomingdale, Corporal; en-
listed September 5, and mustered in October 26,
1861 ; re-enlisted as veteran.

TWELFTH CAVALRY.

After its organization in December, 1861, it
was promptly sent to Virginia, where, at Win-
chester, its earnest work began in September,
1862. It was at Harper's Ferry when sur-
rounded by the rebels, and saved itself from
capture by cutting its way through their lines,
escaping into Pennsylvania. It was then joined
with the Potomac Army, and advanced to Dum-
fries, Va., where it remained till March, 1863,
holding the place against the rebel Gen. Stuart.
It next took part in the famous Stonewall raid,
a detachment of which, under Col. Davis,
passed the rear of Lee's arnrv within two miles
of Richmond. In June, 1863, it was attached
to the First Division Army Corps, and was in
active service through the sanguinar}' campaign
that followed. It next returned to Chicago and
recruited to its maximum, when it returned to
the front, arriving at New Orleans April 1, 1864,
where it was engaged in picket duty and raid-
ing till the war was over. It had forty-eight
men from Du Page County in its ranks.

COMPANY A.

Drury, John, Naperville, enlisted January 22,
1862; died at Camp Butler the following March.

Muck, Henry, Naperville, enlisted January 9,
1862, re-enlisted at veteran.

COMPANY B.

Miskosaki, Egnes, Naperville ; enlisted January 6,
1862; re-enlisted as veteran.

company c.

CAPTAIN.

Bronson, Stephen, Wheaton, enlisted and mus-
tered in February 28, 1862; promoted Major.

SECOND LIEUTENANT.

Ward, George F., Wheaton, enlisted November
17, 1862; promoted to First Lieutenant.

Mills, Alexander, First Sergeant, Milton, enlisted
December 10, 1861; promoted Second Lieutenant
March 15, 1863; resigned, January 2, 1864.

132

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Chadwick, Edwin, Corporal, Milton, enlisted Oc-
tober 81, 1861; re-enlisted as veteran.

Paine, Robert E., Milton, enlisted November 30,
1861.

Finch, Charles L., Milton, Bugler, enlisted Janu-
ary 10, 1862; re-enlisted as veteran.

Standish, Stephen, Lisle, Sergeant, enlisted Octo-
ber 1, 1861; re-enlisted as veteran.

Stearns, Benjamin, Winfield, Blacksmith, enlisted
December 16, 1861.

Atkinson, Robert, Wayne, Saddler, enlisted Octo-
ber 13, 1861.

Cheeney, E. M., Milton, Wagoner, enlisted No-
vember 3, 1861; discharged October 1, 1862.

Ackerman, J. D., Milton, enlisted December 27,
1861.

Ackerman, S. W., Babcock's Grove, enlisted De-
cember 24, 1861; re-enlisted as veteran.

Bedford, Franklin, enlisted December 14, 1861;
promoted to Hospital Steward.

Bronson, Charles, Milton, enlisted December 31,
1861 ;• discharged for disability.

Burns, Patrick, Milton, enlisted December 10,
1861; re-enlisted as veteran.

Butterfield, Theodore, Milton, enlisted December
10, 1861; re-enlisted as veteran.

Cooper, Benjamin, Naperville, unassigned re-
cruit, enlisted December 29, 1863.

Ensworth, Edgar, Milton, enlisted January 1,
1862.

Finch, Elisha W., Milton, enlisted December 17,
1861; re-enlisted as veteran.

Hickey, Ball, Milton, enlisted December 12, 1861;
discharged October 1, 1862.

Higgins, Owen, Wayne, enlisted December 13,
1861 ; became prisoner of war and was discharged.

Gorow, John L., Milton, enlisted December 10,
1861; re-enlisted as veteran.

Mason, E. H, Milton, enlisted December 14, 1861;
re-enlisted as veteran.

Moon, G. W., Milton, enlisted January 1, 1862;
re-enlisted as veteran.

Mott, Willard, Wheaton, enlisted December 1,
1861; discharged May 14, 1862.

Riley, John, Wayne, enlisted February 4, 1862;
re-enlisted as veteran.

Ushner, Ferdinand, Milton, enlisted January 1,
1862; killed at Gettysburg July 1, 1863.

Vintom, William, Cottage Hill, enlisted Febru-
21, 1862; discharged.

Wakefield, James B., Wayne, enlisted January
16, 1862; re-enlisted as veteran.

Welch, John, Winfield, enlisted November 15,
1862; re-enlisted as veteran.

Wentworth, C. E. H, Wheaton, enlisted February
1, 1862; promoted to Hospital Steward.

Wright, William, Milton, enlisted December 1,
1861; discharged March 1, 1863.

Ferich, Charles L., Naperville, enlisted as veteran
March 1, 1864.

Ferish, Elisha W., Milton, enlisted February 28,
1864, as veteran.

The two above mustered in February 29, 1864, as
veterans.

Woods, William, Wheaton, enlisted as recruit.

COMPANY D.

Brown, Henry D., Wayne, enlisted February 10,
1862; re-enlisted as veteran.

Keith, Chas., Wayne, enlisted December 27, 1861.

Langly, F. M., Wayne, enlisted February 15, 1862;
re-enlisted as veteran.

Ogden, Alonzo, Wayne, enlisted February 24,
1861; discharged June, 1863.

Panter, Allen, Wayne, enlisted February 24, 1861.

Panter, J. O, Wayne, enlisted February 26, 1861.

Rabus, Lewis, Wayne, enlisted March 2, 1861;
discharged September 4, 1863.

COMPANY M.

McGinty, Joseph, York, enlisted December 14,
1863; transferred to Company H as consolidated.

THIRTEENTH CAVALRY.

The Thirteenth Cavalry was organized at
Camp Douglas December, 1861, and mustered
out at Springfield August 31, 1865. It had
eight men from Du Page County.

company A.

Becker, Friederick, Addison, enlisted September
19, mustered in December 31, 1861.

Jenson, Franz Z. F. W., Downer's Grove, enlisted
September 28, mustered in December 31, 1861.

COMPANY B.

Kretzer, Ferdinand, Naperville, discharged Octo-
ber 2, 1862, for disability.

* COMPANY C.

Sommer, Wilheim, Addison, enlisted October 20,
mustered in December 31, 1861.

Schroeder, Henry Carl, York, enlisted October 21,
mustered in December 31, 1861.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

133

COMPANY E.

Waskon, William, Addison, enlisted October 23;
discharged 1862.

COMPANY H.

Blackeman, Reuben.

Eyor,. Peter, both of Naperville, and enlisted De-
cember 1 ; mustered in the 31st, 1864.

FIFTEENTH CAVALRY.

The companies of which this regiment was
composed were enlisted in the autumn of 1861.
Company I was mustered into the service Sep-
tember 23, 1861, but the first orders organizing
the regiment bears date of Springfield, Decem-
ber 25, 1862. The term of enlistment of the
men expired January 1, 1865, when this regi-
ment was consolidated with the Tenth, and the
re-enlisted men of both regiments made twelve
companies. Thirteen men from Du Page
County were in its ranks.

COMPANY H.

Bushell, Joseph, Naperville, Corporal.

Warner, William, Naperville, Corporal.

Monk, Joseph, Naperville, Corporal.

Coffman, Adam Q., Wayne.

Canlon, Arnold, Wayne.

Rinehart, Charles C, Winfield.

All the above enlisted August 7, 1861.

COMPANY I.

Hagadon, George W., Wheaton, Corporal, en-
listed August 2, 1861; discharged May 24, 1863, for
disability.

Mo wry, Allen, Turner Junction, Corporal; re-en-
listed as veteran.

Rathborn, Joshua, Danby, enlisted August 2,
1861, mustered out August 24, 1864.

Tucker, Lawrence S., Turner Junction, enlisted
August 2, 1861; re-enlisted as veteran.

COMPANY K.

Larkin, Nathan, Wayne, Corporal, enlisted Au-
gust 12, 1861; re-enlisted as veteran.

Balch, Edwin E., Naperville, enlisted August 17,
1861; re-enlisted as veteran.

COMPANY L.

Barr, John C, Du Page County, Sergeant, en-
listed December 2, 1861; mustered in January 1,

1862. Private in detached service, missing since the
massacre of Fort Pillow.

SEVENTEENTH CAVALRY.

The Seventeenth Cavalry Regiment was or-
ganized by John F. Farnsworth under order
issued from the War Department August 12,.

1863. Eight companies were mustered into
service January 22, 1864. Four more com-
panies were mustered in by the 24th of Febru-
ary, and the regiment was complete. The fol-
lowing May, on the 3d, it moved to report to
Gen. Rosecrans, who was then commander of
the Department of the Missouri. In June, its
First and Second Battalions were ordered to the
North Missouri District, while the Third re-
mained at Alton, 111., which had been head-
quarters up to this time for the whole regi-
ment. Companies C and D, of this battalion
took part in the defense of Jefferson City, Mo.,
against Price's army. The Second Battaliou
were engaged in patroling the country and de-
fending the railroads against rebel guerrillas,
etc. The Third Battalion left Alton in Septem-
ber, 1864, passing through St. Louis in the
direction of Rolla to prevent the army of Price
from cutting off its communication with St.
Louis. More active work was now open for
this regiment. In connection with other regi-
ments, it was placed under command of Gen.
Sanborn, and the Seventeenth took part in the
attack on Gen. Price at Booneville. On the 22d
of October, 1864, at Independence, Mo., it dis-
mounted, and with the Thirteenth Missouri
gained the rear guard of the enemy and capt-
ured their artillery. Two days after this,
1,000 rebel prisoners were taken, among whom
was the famous Gen. Marmaduke, just over the
Kansas line.

The Seventeenth, now with McNeil's brigade,
pursued the defeated foe in the direction of
Fort Scott, the rebels, still numerous and
formidable, oft making bold stands and giving
battle to their pursuers. They finally escaped
into Arkansas, and the pursuing column re-

134

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

turned to Springfield, Mo., after a flying cam-
paign of forty-three days, in which 1,000 miles
had been traveled, and many spirited skirmishes
with the enemy encountered. It was mustered
out in November and December at Fort Leav-
enworth, Kan. It had sixty-one men from Du
Page County in its ranks.

Matlack, Lucius C, Wheaton, date of rank Jan-
uary 23, 1864.

ADJUTANT.

Smith, Samuel W., Naperville; date of rank, No-
vember 25, 1863.

QUARTERMASTER.

Horner, Benjamin F., Naperville; date of rank
July 13, 1865.

COMPANY H.

CAPTAIN.

Smith, Samuel W., Naperville; date of rank De-
cember 9, 1864.

FIRST LIEUTENANT.

Laird, William J., Naperville; date of rank July
14, 1865; promoted from Second Lieutenant.

SECOND LIEUTENANT.

McMillan, Alexander, Wheaton; date of rank
July 14, 1865.

QUARTERMASTER SERGEANT.

Filler, Thomas, York; enlisted December 23, 1863.

SERGEANTS.

Oberholsen, Samuel, Naperville; enlisted January
1, 1864; promoted to First Sergeant.

Horner, Benjamin F., Naperville; enlisted Janu-
ary 1, 1864; promoted to Regimental Quartermaster.

CORPORALS.

Money, Abram W., Bloomingdale, enlisted Janu-
ary 1, 1864; mustered out as Sergeant.

Porter, Frank H, Wheaton, enlisted December 3,
1863; mustered out as Sergeant.

Wells, Milton J., Wheaton, enlisted January 1,
1864; promoted to Regimental Commissary Ser-
geant.

Good, Walter W., Naperville, enlisted January 1,
1864; mustered out as Sergeant.

Parsons, Peter, Naperville, enlisted December 25,
1863; mustered out as Sergeant.

WAGONER.

Andrews, Dewey, Wheaton, enlisted December
3, 1863; mustered out as Corporal.

PRIVATES.

Andrews, August, Winfleld, enlisted December
25, 1863; mustered out as Corporal.

Blessman, Frederick, York, enlisted November 9,
1863.

Boltman, Frederick, Cottage Hill, enlisted No-
vember 1, 1863.

Barribal, Henry, Bloomingdale, enlisted January
1, 1864.

Bounear, Henry, Addison, enlisted December 15,
1863.

Benkert, Lawrence, Naperville, enlisted Decem-
ber 25, 1863.

Bond, Elijah, Bloomingdale, enlisted January 1,
1864.

Bond, Rosaloo, Naperville, enlisted January 1,
1864; mustered out as Sergeant.

Caulkins, Joshua, Naperville, enlisted December
4, 1863.

Dunn, Joseph, Downer's Grove, enlisted January
4, 1864.

Dissinger, David, Naperville, enlisted December
25. 1864.

Fry, William, Naperville, enlisted January 1,
1864.

Grambine, Solomon, Naperville, enlisted January
1, 1864.

Gebhart, Frederick, Wheaton, enlisted Jan uary 4,
1864.

Grant, Adelbert, York, enlisted November 10,
1863.

Guchart, Samuel, Naperville, enlisted December
25, 1863.

Heinburg, Charles, Addison, enlisted January 11,
1864; died at Fort Scott, Kas., November 16, 1864.

Hatch, Franklin, Bloomingdale, enlisted January
1, 1865.

Kiesling, Augustus, Addison, enlisted December
23, 1863; mustered out as Corporal.

Ketchum, Elias D., Naperville, enlisted January
4, 1864.

Lyon, Charles, Wheaton, enlisted December 29,
1863; mustered out as Corporal.

Lyman, John F., Wheaton, enlisted December 1,
1863; drowned at Pleasant Hill, Mo., June 29, 1865.

McMillan, Alexander, Wheaton, enlisted Novem-
ber 1, 1863; promoted to Hospital Steward.

McMasters, Frank, York Centre, enlisted Novem-
ber 10, 1863.

Morgan, Royal T., Wheaton, enlisted December
1, 1863; mustered out as Corporal.

Meacham, Henry, Naperville, enlisted January 1,
1864; died at Sedalia, Mo., October 28, 1864.

<?W^4gS&i^^C^

t^cs/Le^

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

137

Metzler, Samuel, "Winfield, enlisted January 4,
1864.

Meininglious, Louis, Bloomingdale, enlisted Jan-
uary 4, 1864; mustered out as Corporal.

Miner, Martin, York, enlisted January 1, 1864.

Plummer, Benjamin, York, enlisted December
23, 1863; promoted to Regimental Commissary
Sergeant.

Priess, Frederick, Wheaton, enlisted December
15, 1863.

Rohker, Henry, Naperville, enlisted January 4,
1864.

Stoner, William, Cottage Hill, enlisted January 1,
1864.

Sperlon, John, Wheaton, enlisted December 1,
1863.

Schofield, Joseph E., Bloomingdale, enlisted Jan-
uary 1, 1864.

Scott, Samuel, Naperville, enlisted December 26,
1863.

Sininger, John, Babcock's Grove, enlisted De-
cember 25, 1863.

Turner, George J., Addison, enlisted January 4,
1864.

Votner, William, Wheaton, enlisted January 11,
1864.

Warneke, Frederick, Wheaton, enlisted November
27, 1863.

Warkle, Christopher, Naperville, enlisted Decem-
ber 25, 1863.

Warren, Martin J., Downer's Grove, enlisted Jan-
uary 4, 1864.

Detzler, William, Naperville, enlisted February
27, 1864; drowned at Glasgow, Mo., August 15,
1864.

Daniels, John, Naperville, enlisted March 29,
1864; died of wounds received in battle at Hunts-
ville, Mo., July 24. 1864.

Noddlehoffer, William, Naperville, enlisted March
7, 1864.

Reinhart, Frederick, Naperville, enlisted March
7, 1864.

Snibley, Henry C, Naperville, enlisted January

30, 1864.

RECRUITS FOR THE FIRST AHMT CORPS.

Linsley, John C, York, enlisted February 7, mus-
tered in the 20th, 1865; mustered out February 21,
1866.

Carroll, James L., York, enlisted February 13,
mustered in the 25th, 1865; mustered out February
13, 1866.

Rathbum, Joshua, Milton, enlisted and mustered
in March 2, 1865; mustered out March 2, 1866.

The above assigned to Second Regiment U. S.
Veteran Volunteers.

Bexler, John, York.

Needham, James, York.

Both enlisted and mustered in February 17, 1865.

Goble, Abraham E., York, enlisted and mustered
in February 24, 1865; promoted Sergeant.

The three above assigned to the Fourth Regiment
U. S. Veteran Volunteers.

Carroll, Edward.

Felthousen, Jacob D.

Gaskell, Sylvester H.

Olson, Martin.

Pomeroy, Winfield K.

Thompson, John.

The above six all from Milton; enlisted and mus-
tered in March 10, 1865.

Carpenter, James E., York.

Kaenig, Adolph, Downer's Grove.

Hengel, Mathias, Milton.

Loveland, Henry, Milton.

McGuire, Francis, Milton.

The above two enlisted and mustered in March 23,
1865.

Cheney, William, Downer's Grove.

Lutze, George D., Downer's Grove.

The above two enlisted March 81, 1865, and as-
signed to the Sixth Regiment U. S. Veteran Vol-
unteers.

Tebo, Caleb, York, enlisted and mustered in April
10, 1865; promoted April 13, 1866, Sergeant.

The names of Du Page County soldiers are
recorded in thirty-four regiments of infantry,
ten regiments of cavalry and five regiments of
artillery, as follows :

INFANTRY REGIMENTS— numbkr of mbm.

Seventh Illinois Infantry 24

Tenth Illinois Infantry 1

Twelfth Illinois Infantry 2

Thirteenth Illinois Infantry .' 90

Fifteenth Illinois Infantry 4

Nineteenth Illinois Infantry 1

Twentieth Illinois Infantry 5

Twenty-third Illinois Infantry 15

Thirty-third Illinois Infantry 47

Thirty-sixth Illinois Infantry 47

Thirty-seventh Illinois Infantry 4

Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry 2

Forty-second Illinois Infantry 7

■ Forty-fourth Illinois Infantry 1

Fifty-first Illinois Infantry 18

138

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Fifty-second Illinois Infantry 24

Pif ty-third Illinois Infantry 1

Fifty-fourth Illinois Infantry 18

Fifty -fifth Illinois Infantry 35

Fifty-eighth Illinois Infantry 12

Sixty-seventh Illinois Infantry 3

Sixty-ninth Illinois Infantry 5

Seventy-second Illinois Infantry 15

Eighty-second Illinois Infantry 1

Eighty-eighth Illinois Infantry 8

Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry 7

Ninety -fifth Illinois Infantry 2

One Hundreth Illinois Infantry 1

One Hundred and Fifth Illinois Infantry. . . 398

One Hundred and Twenty-seventh 4

One Hundred and Thirty-second 15

One Hundred and Forty -first 80

One Hundred and Fifty-third 75

One Hundred and Fifty-sixth 99

Total 1066

ARTILLERY— number of mm.

Cogswell's Battery 1

Petit's Battery 1

Barker's Dragoons 3

First Artillery 3

Second Artillery 18

Total 27

CAVALRY — number or men.

Second Cavalry 1

Third Cavalry 4

Fourth Cavalry 2

Sixth Cavalry 2

Eighth Cavalry 197

Ninth Cavalry 3

Twelfth Cavalry 48

Thirteenth Cavalry 8

Fifteenth Cavalry 18

Seventeenth Cavalry 61

Total 339

Recruits for First Army Corps had from Du

Page County 20

Grand total 1452

It is to the credit of Du Page County that
she not only contributed her quota to the war
for the Union, but that she took official action
to reward her soldiers, an historic voucher to
which is here recorded in the following resolu-
tions which were passed :

Whereas, The President of the United States by
his proclamation dated December 19, 1864, has called
for 300,000 men for military service, and has ordered
that the number not obtained by voluntary enlist-
ments previous to the 15th day of next February,
shall be filled by draft ; and

Whereas, The County of Du Page has promptly
filled all former calls for troops with volunteers, and
now desires to retain its good name in the premises,
and to do its full share in the great work of saving
the Union, and the necessary power to act having
been granted to the Board of Supervisors of said
county by a recent act of the General Assembly,
therefore,

Resolved, That the Board of Supervisors of Du
Page County hereby authorize the payment of
$400 to each volunteer except commissioned officers,
who may enlist and be mustered into the service of
the United States for one year or more, and credited
to said county under said call of December 19, 1864,
said sum to be paid in county orders, bearing inter-
est at 7 percent as follows: One order for $200 pay-
able out of the bounty war fund of 1865, and one
order for like amount to wit: $200 payable out of
the bounty war fund of 1866.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

139

CHAPTER VII.

THE FIRST ELECTION — COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT — THE COUNTY LINE SURVEYED— THE

COUNTY DIVIDED INTO PRECINCTS— TOWNSHIPS ORGANIZED — LIST OF COUNTY AND

TOWN OFFICERS— VALUATION OF TAXABLE PROPERTY— THE FIRST GRAND JURY

— PUBLIC SCHOOLS— THE OLD STAGE COACH— RAILROADS— REMOVAL OF

THE COUNTY SEAT— THE COUNTY FAIR— GEOLOGY OF THE COUNTY.

IN a previous chapter the organization of Du
Page County has been recorded, which was
in February, 1839. The following May the
first election took place for county officers, at
the Pre-emption House in Naperville. There
were then no voting precincts, and whoever
wished a voice in the matter in question must
go to Naperville to the vote. Stephen J. Scott,
S. M. Skinner and L. G-. Butler had been au-
thorized b}' the law to act as Judges of the
first election. The officers elected at this time
were only to serve till the 5th of the following
August, when a general election was to have
place. Previous to this election orders were
issued to make a map of the county, as per
following official act :

County Commissioners' Court, June 4, 1839.
It is ordered by said court that Lyman Meacham,
Surveyor-elect for the county of Du Page, be and is
hereby authorized to furnish to the Clerk of this
court, as soon as possible, an estimate of the expense
of surveying or taking from the Surveyors already
made the said county, and making a map thereof
showing thereby the boundaries of said county of
Du Page as designated in an act entitled an act "To
create the county of Du Page, and also showing
thereby the location of the principal roads therein
as at present located, and also showing on said map
the principal groves, villages and settlements in
said county, together with such other information
as to the said Surveyors may seem proper."

County Commissioners' Court, June 29, 1839.

Ordered by the court, that the Treasurer pay Ly-
man Meacham, the sum of $13.18 in full for his ac-
count for surveying the county line.

Meantime the county was filling up with set-
tlers, and the necessity for subdivisions, making

up the usual machinery of county organization,
became apparent.

The following document shows the official
action as to the matter :

County Commissioners' Court, June 28, 1839.

Ordered by the court, that all of that part of Du
Page County, included within the following bound-
aries, be and is hereafter known as Orange Precinct,
to wit: Commencing on the northwest corner of
said county, thence south on the west line of said
county, far enough to include Job A. Smith, Murray
and Kline, and to continue east far enough to turn
due north and strike the west line of Mr. Clark's
claim, and continue north to the county line, thence
west to the place of beginning. Their elections
shall be held at the schoolhouse near Luther
F. Sanderson, and Job A. Smith, William Kim-
ball and Daniel Roundy are appointed Judges of
Election.

Ordered by the court, that all of that part of Du
Page County included within the following bound-
aries be hereafter known as Washington Precinct,
to wit: Commencing at the northeast corner of the
county, thence west ten miles to Orange Precinct,
thence south five miles, thence east to the county
line, thence north to the place of beginning. Their
elections to be held at the house of Alanson Wat-
son, and Charles Hoyt, Lloyd Stearns and Harvey
Meacham are appointed Judges of Election.

Ordered by the court, that all that part of Du
Page County included within the following bound-
aries be and is hereby known as Deerfield Precinct,
to wit : Commencing at the southeast corner of
Washington Precinct, thence running west nine
miles ; thence south five miles ; thence east four
miles ; thence north two miles ; thence east to
the county line; thence north to the place of begin-
ning. Elections to be held at Luther Morton's
house, and Daniel Fish, N. B. Morton and L. Q.
Newton are appointed Judges of Election.

140

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Ordered by tlxe court, that all that part of Du
Page County included within the following bound-
aries be hereafter known as Webster Precinct, to
wit: Commencing at the southeast corner of Deer-
field Precinct, running west five miles; thence south
two miles; thence west four miles; thence south five
miles; thence east three miles ; thence south one
mile; thence east to the county line; thence north
to the place of beginning. Their elections to be
held at the house of Horace Aldrich, and Luther
Hatch, Pierce Downer and John Talmadge are ap-
pointed Judges of Election.

Ordered by the court, that all of that part of Du
Page County included within the following bound-
aries be hereafter known as Big Woods Precinct,
to wit: Commencing at the southwest corner of the
county, running north six miles; thence east to
Reuben Austin's west line ; thence south to said
Austin's southwest corner; thence east three miles
from the west line of the county; thence south par-
allel with the west line of the county to the south
line of the county; thence west to the place of be-
ginning. Their elections to be held at the house of
Fred. Stolp, and Ashbel Culver. John Warne and
Robt. H. Jefferson are appointed Judges of Election.

Ordered by the court, that all of that part of Du
Page County included within the following bound-
aries be hereafter known as Du Page Precinct, to
wit: Commencing at the southwest corner of Orange
Precinct ; thence running east eight miles ; thence
north one mile; thence east one mile; thence south
through the center of the county to the northeast
corner line of Naperville Precinct; thence west to
the line of the Big Woods Precinct; thence north on
the Big Woods Precinct line; thence on the county
line; thence to the place of beginning. Their elec-
tions to be held at the house of Alfred Tufts, in
Warrenville, and Warren Smith, George House and
Angus Ross are appointed Judges of Election.

Ordered by the court, that all of that part of Du
Page County included within the following de-
scribed boundaries be hereafter known as Naper-
ville Precinct, to wit: Commencing at the southeast
corner of Du Page Precinct; thence south on the
west line of Webster Precinct till it strikes the
Galena State road ; thence east three miles; thence
south to the county line; thence west nine miles to
the Big Woods Precinct; thence north on the east
line of the Big Woods Precinct; thence east to the
place of beginning. Their elections to be held at the
Pre-emption House in Naperville, andS. M. Skinner,
Stephen J. Scott and H. L. Peaslee are appointed
Judges of Election.

Ordered by the court, that all of that part of Du

Page County, included within the following bounda-

[ ries, be hereafter known as Cass Precinct, to wit :

I Commencing at the northwest corner of Section 30,

i Township 88, Range 11 ; thence east to the county

I line ; thence south to the Desplaines River ; thence

I west, following the river and county line to the south-

j west corner of Section 18 ; thence north to the place

| of beginning: their elections to be held at the

house of Alvin Lull, and George Jackson, Thomas

Andrus and Alvin Lull are appointed Judges of

Election.

Ordered by the court, that all that part of Du
Page County, included within the following described
boundaries, be, and is hereafter to be known as York
Precinct, commencing on the east line of Du Page
County, at the southeast corner of Deerfield Pre-
cinct ; thence west three miles ; thence south to the
north line of Cass Precinct ; thence east to the east
line of Du Page County ; thence north along the
east line of said county to the place of beginning.
The elections shall be held at the house now occu-
pied by Sherman King, and that Benjamin Fuller,
David Thurston and John Talmadge, be and they
are hereby appointed Judges of Election in said pre-
cinct.

County Commissioners' Court, March 6, 1841.

Ordered by the court, that the following described
boundaries constitute, and be hereafter known as
Washington Precinct, in Du Page County, to wit :
The whole of Township 40 north, Range 11 east, of
the Third Principal Meridian ; and, it is further or-
dered by the court, that all elections to be in future
held in said precinct, shall be held at the house of
Ariel Bowman, and that John Lester, Mason Smith
and Charles H. Hoit, be and they are hereby ap-
pointed Judges of Election in said precinct.

Ordered by the court, that the following described
boundaries constitute and be hereafter known as
Bloomingdale Precinct, in Du Page County, to wit :
Commencing on the north line of said county, on
the line between Ranges 10 and 11 ; thence west on
the north line of the county four miles ; thence
south five miles ; thence east to the line between
Ranges 10 and 11 ; thence north to the place of
beginning. And it is further ordered by the court,
that all elections that may be held in said precinct,
shall be held in the schoolhouse in said precinct,
near Orange Kent's, and that Harvey Meacham,
Harry Woodworth and Loyd Stearns, be and they
are hereby appointed Judges of Elections in said
precinct.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

141

County Commissioners' Court, June 3, 1846.

Ordered by the court, that Congressional Town-
ship 40 north, Range 11 east, of the Third Principal
Meridian in the county of Du Page, State of Illi-
nois, constitute and be hereafter known as Washing-
ton Precinct, and that all elections in said precinct
shall be held at the house known as the Salt Creek
House in said township.

Ordered by the court, that Congressional Town-
ship 40 north, Range 10 east, of the Third Principal
Meridian, in the county of Du Page, State of
Illinois, constitute and be hereafter known as
Bloomingdale Precinct, and that all elections to be
held in said precinct shall be held at the school-
house in the town of Bloomingdale in said precinct.

Ordered by the court that Congressional Town-
ship 39 north. Range 11 east, of the Third Principal
Meridian, in the county of Du Page, in the State of
Illinois, constitute and be hereafter known as York
Precinct, and that all elections to be held in said
precinct shall be held at the house of Hiram Brown
in said township.

Ordered by the court, that Congressional Town-
ship 39 north, Range 10 east, of Third Principal
Meridian, in the County of Du Page, State of Illi-
nois, constitute and be hereafter known as Deerfleld
Precinct and that all elections to be held in said
precinct shall be held at the house of Jesse C.
Wheaton in said township.

Ordered by the court, that Congressional Town-
ship 40 north, Range 9 east, of the Third Principal
Meridian, and Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 in Town-
ship 39 north, Range 9 east, of the Third Principal
Meridian, in the county of Du Page, State of Illi-
nois, constitute and be hereafter known as Orange
Precinct, and that all elections to be held in said
precinct shall be held at the house of Joseph Mc-
Millen in said precinct.

Ordered by the court, that all that portion of
Congressional Township 39 north, Range 9 east, of
the Third Principal Meridian, that lies south of the
south line of Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, in said
township, and Sections 1, 2 and 3 in Township 38
north, Range 9 east, of Third Principal Meridian,
together with Sections 5 and 6 in Township 38
north, Range 10 east, of the Third Principal Me-
ridian, in the county of Du Page, State of Illinois,
constitute and be hereafter known as Du Page Pre-
cinct, and that all elections to be held in said pre-
cinct shall be held at the house known as the War-
renville Hotel in said precinct.

Ordered by the court, that the following bound-
aries be hereafter known as Big Woods Precinct, in

the county of Du Page and State of Illinois, to wit:
Commencing at the northeast corner of Section 4,
in Township 38 north, Range 9 east, of the Third
Principal Meridian; from thence west along town-
ship line to county line between Kane and Du Page
Counties; thence south along county line to county
line between Will and Du Page Counties; thence
east along county line to the southeast corner of
Section 33, in Township 38 aforesaid; thence north
to the place of beginning, and that all elections to
be held in said precinct shall be held at the house of
Frederick Stolp in said precinct.

Ordered by the court, that the following bound-
aries constitute and be hereafter known as Naper-
vdle Precinct, in the county of Du Page, in the
State of Illinois, to wit: Commencing at the south-
west corner of Section 34, in Township 38 north,
Range 9 east, of the Third Principal Meridian ; from
thence north to the northwest corner of Section 10,
in said township; from thence east to the northeast
corner of Section 8, in Township 38 north, Range
10 east, of Third Principal Meridian; thence north
to township line between Townships 38 and 39,
Range 10 east; thence east along township line to
the center of the Du Page River; thence southerly
along the center of said river to the county line be-
tween Will and Du Page Counties; thence west to
the place of beginning; and that all elections to be
held in said precinct, shall be held at the court
house in Naperville in said precinct.

Ordered by the court, that the following bound-
aries constitute and be hereafter known as Webster
Precinct, in the County of Du Page and State of
Illinois, to wit: Commencing at the northeast cor-
ner of Section 1, in Township 38 north, Range 11
east, of Third Principal Meridian ; from thence
west along the township line to the center of East
Branch of the Du Page River; thence southerly
along the center of said river to the section line
between Sections 22, 23, 26 and 27; thence east to
the southeast corner of Section 21, in Township 38
north, Range 11 east; thence north to the north-
east corner of said Section 21; thence east to the
county line between Cook and Du Page Counties;
thence north to the place of beginning; and that all
elections to be held in said precinct, shall be held at
the house of Levi C. Aldrich in said precinct, and
that Jeduthan Hatch. John Stanley and Leonard K.
Hatch be Judges of Election in said precinct.

Ordered by the court, that all that portion of
Township 37 north, Range 11 east, of the Third
Principal Meridian, that lies in the county of Du
Page and State of Illinois, and Sections 22, 23,

142

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36, in
Township 38 north, Range 11 east, together with
those parts of Sections 25, 26, 35 and 36, in Town-
ship 38 north, Range 10 east, that lies east of the
center of the East Branch of the Du Page River,
constitute and be hereafter known as Cass Precinct;
and that all elections to be held in said precinct
shall be held at the house known as the Washing-
ton Hotel in said precinct.
In County Court of Du Page County, December

5, A. D. 1849.

Commissioners to divide county into townships:
Whereas, the Legislature of Illinois, did, at its
last regular session, provide by law for the organi-
zation of counties into towns ; and, that the law
containing such provision, should, at the next gen-
eral election, be caused to be submitted to the people
of the several counties in said State, for their adop-
tion or rejection ; and, whereas, at the last general
election, said law was adopted by the county of Du
Page, in the State of Illinois, as appears from the
following abstract of the votes, for, or against, town-
ship organization, to wit :

State of Illinois, (
Du Page County, } '

We, James F. Wight and Levi C. Aldrich, two of
the Justices of the Peace, and Hiram H. Cody, Clerk
of the County Commissioners' Court of said county,
hereby certify that the following is a true and cor-
rect abstract of the votes given at an election held
in the several precincts in said county, on Tuesday,
the sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, for
and against township organization, to wit : For
township organization, there were seven hundred
and seventy-three votes ; against township organi-
zation there was one vote.

Witness our hands and seals at Naperville, in said
county, this twelfth day of November, A. D. 1849.
James F. Wight, J. P. [seal.]
Levi C. Aldrich, J. P. [seal. J
Hiram H. Cody, Clerk, [seal.]

And, whereas, said law requires the County Com-
missioners' Court, or the County Court, whichever
shall be in commission at the next session after said
election in those counties, which shall adopt said
law, to appoint three Commissioners to divide such
counties respectively into towns.

It is ordered by the court, that, in pursuance of
the first article of the act to provide for township
organization, Capt. Joseph Naper, Daniel Fish and
Erasmus O. Hills, be, and they are hereby appointed

Commissioners to divide the county of Du Page
aforesaid into towns, as anticipated and required by
said act.

Agreeable to their authority, the Commission-
ers met and organized the count}' into townships
as they now appear on maps of the county.

The next business was to elect a Board of
Supervisors, which was done the same year,
and the following is their official action at their
first meeting :

State of Illinois, \

Du Page County. \ \ November 11, 1850.

The Board of Supervisors of the county of Du
Page and State of Illinois, met on Monday the 11th
day of November A. D. 1850, for their first annual
meeting, at the office of the Clerk of the County
Court in Naperville in said county, and were organ-
ized by the selection of Russell Whipple as their
Chairman.

The following members, upon a call of the roll
of the towns were present, to wit:

Addison, Smith D. Pierce; Bloomingdale, Eras-
mus O. Hills; Wayne, Luther Pierce ; Winfield,
William C. Todd ; Milton, Warren L. Wheaton;
Downer's Grove, Leonard K. Hatch ; Du Page,
Amasa Morse; Naperville, Russell Whipple ; York,
not represented.

On motion, the following standing committees
were appointed by the Chair:

On Claims— E. O. Hills, Warren L. Wheaton,
Luther Pierce.

On Paupers— W. C. Todd, L. K. Hatch, S. D.
Pierce.

On Equalization— W. L. Wheaton, E. O. Hills,
Amasa Morse.

On Court House and Jail— S. D. Pierce, L. K.
Hatch, A. Morse.

On Finance— E. O. Hills, W. L. Wheaton, Luther
Pierce.

On motion of W. L. Wheaton, a select committee
was appointed by the Chair on Printing.

The Chair appointed W. L. Wheaton, W. C. Todd
and Amasa Morse.

Various claims being presented, were referred to
appropriate committees.

On motion, the Chair appointed the following
Supervisors a select Committee on Licenses:

William C. Todd, W. L. Wheaton, A. Morse.

A memorial on the subject of License addressed
to the Board was presented by Supervisor Todd,
and, on motion, referred to the Committee on Li-

1/2

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

143

censes; said memorial was signed by about three
hundred and fifty ladies.

The certificates of the Town Auditor of the towns
of "Winfield, Addison, Downer's Grove, Naperville,
and Wayne were presented by the several Super-
visors of said towns, and, on motion, referred to the
Committee on Claims.

On motion, it is ordered that the board adjourn
until to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock.

For ten years previous, no change had been
made in the general formula of official author-
ity, but in 1849 the Clerk of the Circuit Court
was constituted Recorder, ex officio.

The County Court was composed of a County
Judge and two Justices of the Peace. The
County Clerk became the Clerk of the County
Commissioners. The County Judge and two
County Justices were a board for the transaction
of county business, and the County Judge with
the Clerk were clothed with authority to tran-
sact probate business. The organization of not
only the county but the townships, with their
officers, having been completed, the following
list of them is here inserted, which will serve
the reader as a chronological record of the
progress of the county :

The following is a list of those who served
the county in the Legislature of the State :

1836 — Capt. Joseph Naper, of Naperville.
1838 — Capt. Joseph Naper of Naperville.
1842 — Jeduthan Hatch, of Lisle.
1844— Julius M. Warren, of Winfield.
1846 — Capt. E. Kinne, of Bloomingdale.
1848— Warren L. Wheaton, of Milton.
1850— Willard T. Jones, of Naperville.
1852 — Capt. Joseph Naper, of Naperville.
1854— E. O. Hills, of Bloomingdale.
1856— Truman W. Smith, of Winfield.
I860— F. H. Mather, of Milton.
1862— A. S. Barnard, of Lisle.

1864 — S. P. Sedgwick, of Bloomingdale, resigned ;
H. C. Childs, of Milton, elected to fill vacancy.
1866— H. C. Childs, of Milton.
1868-H. C. Childs, of Milton.
1870 — William M. Whitney, of Downer's Grove.
1874— James Claflin, of Lombard ; V. Fredenha-

gen, of Downer's Grove.
1876— James G. Wright, of Naperville.

1839 to
1847 to
1853 to
1861 to
1865 to

1869 to
1876 to

COUNTY CLERKS.

1839 — Clark A. Lewis, of Warrenville ;
elected July 14, died the same month.
1846— Allen C. Mcintosh, of Naperville.
1852— Hiram H. Cody, of Bloomingdale.
1860— Myron C. Dudley, of Bloomingdale.
1864— C. M. Castle, of Naperville.
1868— F. J. Fischer, of Addison.
1868— H. B. Hills (vacancy), of Blooming-
dale.
1876— J. J. Cole, of Downer's Grove.
1882— M. S. Ellsworth, Lisle.

CIRCUIT CLERKS.

1839 to 1842— Patrick Ballingall, of Naperville.

1843 to 1846— E. B. Bill, of Naperville.

1847 to 1849— John J. Riddler, of Naperville.

RECORDERS.

1839 to 1842— S. M. Skinner, of Naperville.
1843 to 1846— A. S. Jones, of Naperville.
1847 to 1849— John J. Riddler, of Naperville.

CLERKS AND RECORDERS.

1850 to 1851— John J. Riddler, of Naperville.
1852 to 1855 — Peter Northrup, of Addison.

1856 to 1859— John Gloss, of Wayne.

1860 to 1867— W. M. Whitney, of Winfield.

1868 to 1876— John Gloss, of Wayne.
1876 to 1880— Frank Hull, of Milton.
1880 to 1884— Thomas M. Hull, of Milton.

TREASURERS.

1839 — Morris Sleight, of Naperville.
1839 to 1842— Stephen J. Scott, of Naperville.

1843 to 1844— Robert K. Potter, of Naperville.
1845 to 1846— John J. Kimball, of Naperville.

1847 to 1848— Nelson A. Thomas (vacancy) of Na-
perville.
1849 to 1854— Henry F. Vallette, of Milton.
1855 to 1856— William J. Johnson, of Milton.

1857 to 1858— Hiram Standish, of Naperville.
1859 to 1860— Henry F. Vallette, of Milton.

1861 to 1862— S. M. Skinner, of Naperville.
1863 to 1868— Daniel N. Gross, of Naperville.

1869 to 1872— Joel Wiant, of Winfield; Henry M,

Bender, of Bloomingdale.
1873 to 1876— Lewis C. Stover, of Milton, from 1876
to 1880.

SHERIFFS.

1839 to 1841— Daniel M. Greene, of Lisle.
1842 to 1843— Hiram Fowler, of Naperville.

1844 to 1845— R. N. Murray, of Naperville.

144

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

1846 to 1849— George Roush, of Naperville.
1850 to 1851— C. R. Parmlee, of Lisle.

1852 to 1853— Truman W. Smith, of Winfield.
1854 to 1855— A. C. Graces, of Winfield.
t856to 1857— James J. Hunt, of Naperville.

1858 to 1859— A. C. Graves, of Winfield.

1860 to 1861— T. S. Rogers, of Downer's Grove.

1862 to 1863— James J. Hunt, of Naperville.

1864 to 1865— Samuel E. Shimp, of Naperville.

1866 to 1867— Philip Strubler, of Naperville.

1868 to 1869— Charles Rinehart, of Wayne.

1870 to 1876— John Kline, of Wayne.

io76 to 1882— Samuel E. Shimp, Naperville.

COUNTY JUDGES.

1839— J. W. Walker, of Downer's Grove.
1839 to 1842— Lewis Ellsworth, of Naperville.

1843 to 1846— Nathan Allen, of Naperville.

1847 to 1848— John J. Kimball, of Naperville.
1849 to 1851— Nathan Allen, of Naperville.

1852 — Jeduthan Hatch, of Lisle.

1853 to 1859— Walter Blanchard, of Downer's

Grove.
1860— Seth F. Daniels (vacancy), of Milton.

1861 to 1864— Hiram H. Cody, of Naperville.

1865 to 1868— Seth F. Daniels, of Milton.

1869 to 1872— M. C. Dudley of Naperville.
1873 to 1876— A. S. Janes, of Milton.

1876 to 1877— S. P. Sedgwick, Milton, to fill vacancy.

1877 to 1882— Robert N. Murray, Naperville.

COUNTY SURVEYORS.

1839 — L. Meacham, of Bloomingdale.

1839 to 1846— Joel B. Kimball, of Naperville.
1847 to 1858— Horace Brooks, of Milton.

1859 to 1861— J. G. Vallette, of Milton.

1862— James M. Vallette (vacancy), of Na-
perville.

1863 to 1866— A. S. Janes, of Milton.

1867 to 1870— James M. Vallette, of Naperville.

1871 to 1876— A. S. Janes, of Milton.
1876 to 1882— James M. Vallette, of Lisle.

CORONERS.

1839— H. L. Peaslee, of Naperville.

1840 to 1841— E. G. Wight, of Naperville.
1842 to 1843— Nathan Loring, of Naperville.

1844 to 1845— Jacob Keefer, of Naperville.
1846 to 1847— D. C. Gould, of Naperville.

1848— LaFayette Avery, of Milton.
1849 to 1851— C. C. Barnes, of Naperville.
1852 to 1853— F. C. Hagerman, of Winfield.

1854 to 1855— W. B. Stewart, of Naperville.

1856 to 1857— Alfred Waterman, of Milton.

1858 to 1861— H. C Daniels, of Naperville.
1862 to 1863— Dr. Brown, of Milton.

1864 to 1865— H. C. Daniels, of Naperville.

1866— Clinton Cushing.

1867 — George W. Beggs, of Naperville.
1868 to 1869— F. C. Hagerman, of Winfield.
1870 to 1876— H. C. Daniels, of Naperville.
1876 to 1878— George F. Heiderman, York.

1878 to 1879— George L. Madison, of Winfield.

1879 to 1880— A. C. Cotton, Winfield, to fill vacancy.

1880 to 1882— A. C. Cotton. Winfield.

SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

1839 to 1842— Lewis Ellsworth, of Naperville.

1843— R. N. Murray, of Naperville.
1844 to 1846— Horace Brooks, of Milton.
1847 to 1848— W. L. Wheaton, of Milton.
1849 to 1855 — Hope Brown, of Naperville.

1856 — Lorin Barnes, of Bloomingdale.

1857 to 1858— Charles W. Richmond, of Naperville.

1859 to 1860 — Lorin Barnes, of Bloomingdale.
1861 to 1863— George P. Kimball, of Milton.

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.

1864— George P. Kimball, of Milton.

1865 to 1876— Charles W. Richmond, of Naperville.
1876 to 1881— J. R, Haggard, Downer's Grove.

1881 to 1882— H. A. Fischer, Milton.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

1839 — Josiah Strong, Lisle; J. W. Walker, Downer's
Grove; H. L. Cobb, Cass; R. P.Whipple, Na-
perville; Hiram Fowler, Winfield.

1840— J. W. Walker, Downer's Grove; H. L. Cobb,
Cass; Noah Stevens, Bloomingdale.

1841— J. W. Walker, Downer's Grove; J. A. Smith,
Wayne; Noah Stevens, Bloomingdale.

1842— Warren Smith, Winfield; J. A. Smith, Wayne;
Noah Stevens, Bloomingdale.

1843— J. A. Smith, Wayne; T. Hubbard, York.

1844 — John Thompson, Lisle; J. A. Smith, Wayne.

1845 — John Thompson, Lisle ; Thomas Andrus,
Cass; T. Hubbard, York.

1846 — John Thompson, Lisle; Thomas Andrus, Cass;
Asa Knapp, York.

1847 — John Thompson, Lisle ; Smith D. Pierce, Ad-
dison; Asa Knapp, York.

1848 — David Crane, Naperville; Smith D. Pierce,
Addison; Asa Knapp, York.

SUPERVISORS — TOWN OP ADDISON.

1850— Smith D. Pierce.
1851 — John Pierce.

HISTORY OFDD PAGE COUNTY. 145

1852— Peter Northrup.

1862 to 1864— E. Manville.

1853— Edward Lester.

1865— John Fairbanks.

1854 — James Wakeman.

1866— Amos C. Graves.

1855 to 1858— Henry D. Fischer.

1867 to 1869— J. H. Lakey.

1859 to 1860— John H. Franzen.

1870-E. Manville.

1861 — James Wakeman.

1871 to 1873— J. H. Lakey.

1863— Smith D. Pierce.

1874 to 1875— E. Manville.

1863 to 1865— James Wakeman.

1875 to 1876— J. H. Lakey.

1866— Henry D. Fischer.

1876 to 1877— A. T. Jones.

1867 to 1870— August Meyer.

1877 to 1880— G. J. Atchinson.

1871 — James Wakeman.

1880 to 1882— C. W. Gary.

1872 to 1875— Henry D. Fischer.

1876— Henry Korthauer.

TOWN OF MILTON.

1876 to 1882— Henry Korthauer.

1850— Warren L. Wheaton.

1851 to 1855— William J. Johnson.

TOWN OF BLOOMINGDALE.

1856 to 1857— Frederick H. Mather.

1850 to 1851— E. 0. Hills.

1858 to 1862— H. C. Childs.

1852— H. B. Hills.

1863— Erastus Gary.

1853— Cyrus H. Meacham.

1864 to 1865— Hiram Smith.

1854— J. G. Yearick.

1866— Hiram Smith and S. W. Moffatt.

1855— Daniel H. Deibert. ■

1867— A. S. Janes and H. Edwards.

1856 — Horace Barnes.

1868 to 1869— A. S. Janes and H. F. Vallette.

1857 to 1863- Cyrus H. Meacham.

1870 to 1871— A. S. Janes and S. P. Sedgwick.

1864 to 1873— W. K. Patrick.

1872 to 1873— A. S. Janes and E. H. Gary.

1874 to 1876— William Rathge.

1874 to 1875— H. G. Kimball and E. H. Gary.

1876 to 1877— A. D. Loomis.

1875— W. H. Wagner and Erastus Gary.

1877 to 1882— William Rathge.

1876— W. H. Wagner and S. W. Moffatt.

TOWN OF WAYNR.

1850 to 1852— Luther Pierce.

1878— W. H. Wagner and S. W. Moffatt.
1879— Amos Churchill and N. E. Gary.

1853 to 1854— Luther Bartlett.

1880 -Amos Churchill and N. E. Gary..

1881— Amos Churchill and S. P. Sedgwick.

1855 — Luther Pierce.

1882— Amos Churchill and S. W. Moffatt.

1856— Ira Albro.

1857 to 1858-Charles Adams.

TOWN OF YORK.

1859 to 1860— S. W. Moffatt.

1850— E. Eldridge.

1861 to 1862— Samuel Adams.

1850 to 1852— Gerry Bates.

1863 to 1867— Warren H. Moffatt.

1853— W. Burbank.

1868 to 1873— Daniel Dunham.

1853— H. Whittmore.

1874 to 1875— A. M. Glos.

1854 — Asa Knapp.

1876— R. H. Reed.

1855 to 1856— Robert Reed.

1876 to 1877— R. H. Reed.

1857 to 1860— Frederick Gray.

1877 to 1878— A. M. Glos.

1861 to 1863— George Barber.

1878 to 1879— Luther Bartlett.

1864— Adam Hatfield.

1879 to 1881— A. M. Glos. *

1865 to 1867— Frederick Gray.

1881 to 1882— James Shields.

1868 — August Meyer.

1869— George Barber.

TOWN OF WINFIELD.

1870 to 1875— Adam Glos.

1850 to 1852— William C. Todd.
1853 to 1854— Charles Gary.

1855— Gurdon N. Roundy.

1876 — Henry Goldermann.
1876 to 1879— Henry Goldermann.
1879 to 1882— Adam Glos.

1856— Truman W. Smith.

1857— Charles Gary.

TOWN OF NAPERVILLE.

1858 to 1860— John Fairbanks.

1850 to 1851— Russell Whipple.

1861— Alfred Waterman.

1852 — Joseph Naper.

146

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

1853— Hiram Bristol.

1854— David Hess.

1855— R. N. Murray.

1856— Charles Hunt.

1857 — N. Crampton and Joseph Naper.*

1858— Charles Jenkins and John Jassoy.*

1859— Jacob Saylor and Michael Hines.*

1860— James G. Wright and M. S. Hobson.*

1861 to 1862— B. W. Hughes and Morris Sleight.*
1863— Charles Jenkins and Robert Naper.*
1864— Charles Jenkins and D. C. Butler.*

1865 to 1866— Charles Hunt and John Collins.*
1867— B. W. Hughes and H. H. Cody.*
1868— Charles Jenkins and R. N. Murray.*

1869 to 1872— Charles Jenkins and M. C. Dudley*
1873— Charles Jenkins and James Dunlap.*
1875— James G. Wright and B. B. Boecker.*
1876— Christian Wise and Lewis Ellsworth.*

1876 to 1879— C. Wise and J. J. Hunt.

1879 to 1880— C. Wise and A. Mc. S. S. Riddler.

1880 to 1881— C. Wise and H. C. Daniels.

1881 to 1882— Adam Keler aDd Peter Thompson.

TOWN OP LISLE.

1850 — Amasa Morse.

1851 — Jeduthan Hatch.

1852— John Stanley.

1853— Lewis Ellsworth.

1854— Hiram H. Cody.

1855— James C. Hatch.

1856 — Amasa Morse.

1857— John Collins.

1858— William B. Greene.

1859— A. S. Barnard.

1860— Graham Thome.

1861— John H. Hobson.

1862— C. H. Goodrich.

1863— R. S. Palmer.
1864 to 1865— Gilbert Barber.

1866-E. E. Page.

1867— Lewis Ellsworth.
1868 to 1875— E. E. Page.

1875 to 1876- William King.

1876 to 1881— William King.
1881 to 1882— B. B. Boecker.

* Presidents of village of Naperville, and ex officio Supervisors.

TOWN OP DOWNER'S GROVE.

1850— Leonard K. Hatch.
1851 to 1853— Walter Blanchard.

1854— G. W. Alderman.

1855— Walter Blanchard.

1856— Seth F. Daniels.

1857— Samuel DeGolyer.
1858 to 1861— Leonard K. Hatch.

1862— L. D. Fuller.

1863— Leonard K. Hatch.

1864— John A. Thatcher.

1865— T. S. Rogers.

1866 to 1868— J. J. Cole.

1869— J. J. Cole.
1869 — J. W. Rogers (vacancy).
1870— Alanson Ford.
1871 to 1872— V. Fredenhagen.
1873— H. F. Walker.

1874 to 1875— V. Fredenhagen.

1875 to 1876— Alanson Ford.

1876 to 1877— Alanson Ford.

1877 to 1882— Charles Curtiss.

The following are the names of the Judges
who have presided in this Judicial Circuit :

1840 — John Pearsons.
1841 to 1842— Theophilus W. Smith. ,

1843 to 1847— Richard M. Young.
1847 to 1849— Jesse B. Thomas.
1849 to 1855— Hugh Henderson.
1855 to 1857— S. W. Randall.
1857 to 1861— Jesse O. Norton.
1861 to 1867— Isaac G. Wilson.

1867 to 1874— Sylvanus Wilcox.

1874 to 1876— Hiram H. Cody, C. W. Upton, Isaac
G. Wilson, Charles Kullem.
The total valuation of all taxable property in Du
Page County in 1840 was $196,292, on which
$981.46 was paid for county taxes, and $392.58 for
State taxes, making $1,374.04, the total tax in 1840.
There were then only State and county taxes, the
State tax being two mills on the dollar, and the
county tax five mills on the dollar, making but seven
mills on the dollar, the full tax. There are now
(1882), State, county, town, road and bridge, school
and corporation taxes, added to which are special
assessments when necessary for specific objects.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

147

TABLE,

SHOWING THE ASSESSED VALUE OF REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY IN DU PAGE
COUNTY FOR THE YEARS 1850 AND 1881.

TOWNSHIPS.

Real Estate ! Real Estate
Assessment. Assessment.

fob 1881.
Lots.

for 1860.

Personal
Property.

Aggregate
Valuation.

Addison

Bloomingdale . . .

Wayne

Winfield

Milton

York

Downer's Grove

Lisle

Naperville

$64 269
52 007
90 196
100 358
108 271
108 784

96 785

97 767
165 766

Totals

Amt. R. R. property added.

$461 985

435 853

449 524

456 021

452 737

455 124
604 853

456 602
485 790

$18 565

18 902
4 985

77 675
128 683

84 191
265 359

70 272
146 828

$42 425
29 978

31 333
48 274
34 305
25 847

32 280
36 663
67 409

$129 999
89 052
66 179
82 972
84 334
98 253

144 273
98 163

123 206

81 985
121 329
148 632
142 576
134 631
129 065
134 430
233 175

$610 549
543 807
520 688
616 668
665 754
637 568

1014 485
625 037
755 824

$884 203 $4258 489

Grand total.

$815 460

$348 314 I $916 431

$1232 517

$5990 380
$ 620 032

$6610 412

Note. — The first assessment of real estate in the county was in 1850.

I, L. C. Stover, Treasurer Du Page County, do hereby certify that the foregoing statement is correct.

L. C. Stover, County Treasurer for Du Page County, 111.

148

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Following are the names of the first Grand
Jury ever impaneled in Du Page County
summoned to appear at term of Circuit Court
begun and held at Naperville, in said county,
by virtue of an act entitled "An act to create
the county of Du Page, ' 'approved February
9, A.. D. 1837, on the 23d day of September,
A. D. 1837," to wit:

William J. Strong, Morris Sleight, George
S. Blackman, Luther Hatch, John Thompson,
Thomas Andrus, Hiland Martin, Moor R.
Webster, Isaac Clark, Moses Stacy, Jonathan
Barnes, Luther Morton, Lloyd Stearns, Israel
P. Blodgett, David Page, Samuel Curtiss,
Elisha Fish, William C. Todd, Warren Smith,
Abel E. Carpenter, James Lamb, Frederick
Stolp and John Maxwell; and the said Lu-
th«r Hatch was appointed to act as foreman;
and the first Petit Jury was John Naper,
Amander P. Thomas, Russell Whipple,
John Stevens, Jr., Shadrach Harris, Nathan
Stewart, Harry Goodrich, David G. Parson,
Harry Meacham, Theodore Hubbard, Nathan-
iel B. Morton, Levi Ballou, Moses K. Hoyt,
Pierce Downer, Walter Blanchard, Horace
Aldrich, John Tallmadge, Henry T. Wilson,
Seth Sprague, Ethan Griswold, David Wad-
ham, Daniel H. Orcutt, John Warne and Jo-
seph Means.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Previous to 1855, a vigorous system of ed-
ucation prevailed in Du Page County, but it
was not as general and uniform as at pres-
ent.

The Naperville Academy, the Illinois In-
stitute at Wheaton, and the Warrenville
Seminary, were in their full tide of success
during that time, as well as a goodly number
of district and private schools.

At that date (1855), Rev. Hope Brown,
School Commissioner, made a report which
showed the number of school districts in the
county to be sixty-eight, four of which had

no schoolhouses. The number of pupils was
two thousand or more. Twelve hundred
studied arithmetic, 500 studied geography,
250 English grammar, and 100 such higner
branches as algebra, physiology and natural
philosophy.

Schools were taught from six to eight
months each year, but in some of the districts
there were no winter schools.

The wages of female teachers were from
$8 to $16 per month, besides board; and for
male teachers, from $16 to $30 per month.

Five years later, in 1860, the report of Ho-
race Barnes, School Commissioner, shows that
there were eighty-one schools in the county,
and 4,054 children who attended schools, out
of a school census showing those between the
ages of five and twenty-one of 4,909. Four-
teen district libraries were purchased in 1860
— one in Addison Township, six in Bloom -
ingdale Township, one in Winfield Town-
ship, and three each in Milton and York
Townships. The amount raised by direct tax
in the county for school purposes that year
was $8,885.74, and the amount raised by the
State fund paid to the County Treasurer was
$6,480.75, making a total of receipts from
county tax and State appropriation, for the
year 1860, to be expended for schools, of $15, -
366.29.

The average monthly wages paid to female
teachers the same year was $12 per month,
and to male teachers, $24.50.

The report of C. W. Richmond, the County
Superintendent of Schools, for the year 1870
shows the number of school districts in the
county to be eighty-seven; number of persons
between the ages of six and twenty-one to be
5, 298. The gross receipts for the support of
schools for the year were $6,109.50, $5,727.-
15 of which came from school tax direct,
$359.55 from interest on school, college and
seminary fund, and $23 from fines and for-

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

149

feitures. Added to this was $6,042.63, which
should have been paid in from the State tax
of 2 mills on the dollar the year before, but,
through some informality, did not come.
Although it was paid in by the State in 1870,
it properly belonged to the fund of 1869.

The same year (1870), female teachers re-
ceived from $12 to $70 per month, and male
teachers from $30 to $80 per month.

The number of graded schools in the
county was seven, three of which were in
Winfield Township, two in Milton, one in
Downer's Grove and one in Naperville Town-
ship.

Said Judge Cody, in a Fourth of July ad-
dress at Naperville in 1876: " We have ex-
changed the log schoolhouse of 1831 for two
magnificent colleges, two theological semi-
naries and for high schools and free schools
of easy access to every child within our lim-
its." '

This expresses the general situation at that
date, showing the complete introduction of
our school system, which is now in full tide
of progress.

The report of H. A. Fischer, County Super-
intendent of Schools for 1882, shows the
number of graded schools in the county to be
six, two of which are in Downer's Grove, two
in Milton, one in Winfield and one in Naper-
ville.

The number of ungraded schools are
seventy-seven, making a total number of
schools in the county, exclusive of private
schools, to be eighty-three. The total num-
ber of persons in the county between the ages
of six and twenty-one was 9,116.

Sixteen districts have school libraries, the
total value of which is $1,080.

The average monthly wages paid male
teachers was $49.15, and female teachers,
$32.84.

The entire receipts for the support of

schools for the year were $46, 122.91, $1,032.-
11 of which was from income of township
fund, $6,473.20 from State fund and fines
appropriated for the benefit of schools, $37, -
888.51 from special district taxes, $285 from
sale of school property, and $127.64 from
various other sources.

Of the six graded schools reported in the
county, four are high schools. The distinc-
tion between the two grows out of the fact
that in high schools a regular course of study
is pursued, and pupils who take the full
course are entitled to a diploma at gradua-
tion.

These schools are located at Naperville,
Wheaton, Turner Junction and Hinsdale.

Of the school libraries in the county, Prof.
Fisher, in his report, speaks in terms of com-
mendation, stating that they are made up of
valuable works on history, biography, poetry,
science and romance of a high character, and
almost exempt from the gushing style of dime
novels.

As to the discipline of the schools, it may
be stated that the moral force of the teachers
over the pupils is gathering force, and there
is little, if any, danger that it will ever lose
its grip— certainly not as long as the stand-
ard of teachers is kept up to its present grade.
And here the writer cannot forbear to draw a
comparison between the teachers of Du Page
County schools and the teachers of New York*
City schools, which schools he has recently
visited, and, in justice to home talent, must
give it the preference. Here our most es-
teemed families are not above letting their
sons or daughters teach, but in New York or
Brooklyn such is not the case, and the class
teachers there have to be taken from ranks in
society not always clothed with the dignity
of aristocracy in intelligence.

By State authority, a 2-mill tax is collected
on all property and appropriated according

150

HISTORY OF 1)U PAGE COUNTY.

to the school census of each township, which
census enumerates those under twenty -one
years of age. Direct taxes for schools in
this county are assessed for each school dis-
trict, according to their instructions.

THE OLD STAGE COACH.

The old stage coach, mail routes and roads
were an institution once in the heyday of their
glory in Du Page County, and the old settlers
love to think of the good old sociables held
in these vehicles, which jostled the passen-
gers into good nature with each other, as the
Jehu in the box bulldozed his horses through
the sloughs.

In 1825, a Mr. Kellogg pioneered his way
across the prairie from Peoria to Galena.
This was the first road that ever went to the
place, although it had been settled a century,
but reached by way of the River. Dixon was
settled in 1830, and in 1834, a stage line was
established to it and Galena from Chicago,
through the following points: Lawton's, on
the Desplaines; Brush Hill, where Oriente
Grant opened a tavern next year; Naper's
settlement, where a post office was then es-
tablished named Paw Paw; Gray's Crossing,
where Mr. Gray lived, at a favorable fording
place on the Fox River, two miles below the
present site of Aurora; Dixon, on the Rock
River, where Mr. Dixon kept a ferry; Apple
River, where a fort was built, twenty miles
southeast of Galena; thence to Galena, the
termination of the line. This was the first
legally established road through the county.
Joseph Naper was one of the Commissioners
to lay it out under State authority, and Col.
Warren carried the mail in a lumber wagon
from Chicago to Naperville till the stage
line was established.

Trade between Galena and Chicago was
then a coveted prize, and road places north
of the Naper settlement soon began to take

measures to straighten the line between the
two places, in order to bring the travel by
their own doors.

St. Charles was the first to lead in this,
and subscribed $2,000 to lay out and improve
a road direct from their place to Chicago,
with this end in view, and, in the summer of
1836, a force of men and oxen were at work
along the line all the way between Desplaines
River and their place, plowing and scraping
along the flat lands. This was the origin of
what is now well known as the St. Charles
road.

Elgin did a similar thing, but little, if
any, later, and established what has ever
since been known as the Elgin road, passing
through Bloomingdale, where Col. Hoit
opened a tavern; thence east to the Desplaines,
three miles north of the present site of May-
wood, where Mr. Sherman kept tavern;
thence to the old Whisky Point road run-
ning northwest from Chicago, connecting with
it at the present site of Jefferson, in Cook
County. The old Indian trail that went from
the western extremity of Lake Erie to what
is now Rock Island was a well-known path
in the early days, and from where it in-
tersected the Illinois and Indiana State line,
a road was laid out by State authority, pass-
ing thence through Lockport, Naperville,
Warrenville, Dundee on Fox River, MoHenry,
and thence to the Wisconsin line, near Nip-
issing Creek. Col. Warren was one of the
Commissioners to lay it out.

The first stage line that ever ran through
Du Page County was Templeton's line of
stages from Chicago to Galena. This line
first went through Naperville and Dixon, but
subsequently changed its route, when Frink
& Walker bought out Templeton, in 1838,
and lines were established from Chicago to
Galena via Bloomingdale; Chicago to St.
Charles by the St. Charles road; and Chica-

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

151

go to Naperville, Aurora and Ottawa. These
three lines continued to pass through Du
Page County, all of which carried the mail,
till railroads were built, supplanting them.
During the winter months, the Government
at first suspended the mail to Galena, as it
involved too much risk.

GALENA & CHICAGO UNION RAILROAD.

The following is a history of the Galena
& Chicago Union Railroad, now the Chicago
& North- Western Railroad:

This road was first chartered January 16,
1836, which was two years before Chicago
had been chartered as a city, and it enjoys
the distinction of being her first railroad.
Its primary interest was to advance the price
of real estate, and thereby promote the pros-
perity of Chicago, which was then a village
of 3,820 inhabitants, with room enough to
grow larger. The capital stock of the rail-
road company was $100,000, with power to
increase it to $1,000,000. It was optional
with the company to run the road either with
horse or steam power. William Bennett,
Thomas Drummond, J. C. Goodhue, Peter
Semple, John B. Turner and J. B. Thomp-
son, Jr., were authorized to receive subscrip-
tions to the stock. By the conditions of their
charter, the company were obligated to com-
mence work on the road within three years,
and within this time the questionable enter-
prise was undertaken.

The first problem was how to get a found-
ation through the spongy slough that inter-
vened between the then mushroom town of
Chicago and terra firma, od the ridge now
occupied by Oak Park. It was then deemed
impossible to find bottom in these shaky
lands, and piles were resorted to, with lon-
gitudinal stringers, to secure support from
one to another. Thus the work began along
Madison street, but was soon abandoned

as premature, and no farther attempts to
prosecute it were made till 1846, when
William B. Ogden, John B. Turner and
Stephen F. Gale purchased the charter of
Messrs. Townsend & Mather, of New York,
who, up to this time, held it, with the assets
of the company. Ten thousand dollars in
stock was to be paid down, and $10,000 on its
completion to Fox River. A preliminary
survey was made, and the work put in charge
of Richard P. Morgan, a gentleman from
Boston, who had earned a reputation for rail-
road building in Massachusetts.

The next year, on the 5th of April, a Board
of Directors was appointed, and books were
soon opened for subscription to the stock.

Here fresh difficulties came up. Many
thought the road would injure the retail
trade of Chicago (which was all shft then
had, by facilitating the transportation of
goods to country merchants, and the latter
feared their trade would suffer such quick
and easy access to Chicago as the road would
give to the farmers. Despite these difficul-
ties, through the efforts of Benjamin W.
Raymond and John B. Turner, in their suc-
cess in negotiating loans in New York, and
the reluctant home subscriptions to the stock,
the road was finally completed to Harlem,
ten miles from Chicago, December 30, 1848,
to which place its rickety old second-hand en-
gine and cars ran, on a slipshod foundation
of wooden stringers, faced with bar iron.

During the autumn of the same year, its
track was laid to Elgin, and the cars were
running to the place January 23, 1850, for
which the company owe a lasting obligation
to Edward W. Brewster, now a citizen of
Wheaton. He was then living on his farm,
at the Little Woods three miles telow Elgin,
and he not only gave the company the right
oi way through his land, but gave them lib-
erty to cut ties from his grove, without which

152

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

privilege the road could not have been fin-
ished before another summer, for navigation
was about to close, and ties could not have
been procured from any other source. " One
good turn deserves another." So Mr. Brew-
ster gave the company the necessary ground
for grading the road when filling was want-
ed, but on conditions that he and his family
should ride free on the road as long as he
lived. Little did they then know what they
were bargaining for. Mr. Brewster still lives,
though ninety years old, and when he comes
for his annual pass, the company pleasantly
tell him, " Yes, Father Brewster, we are will-
ing to carry you as long as you live, but we
did not expect you were going to live so
long."

Out of this humble beginning, this com-
pany has grown into gigantic proportions,
co-equal with the increase of wealth in the
country through which it and its various di-
visions pass. These are the Galena Division,
313.14 miles; Iowa Division, 622.53 miles;
Northern Iowa Division, 292.43 miles; Wis-
consin Division, 555.26 miles; Peninsular
Division, 290.10 miles; Madison Division,
461.79 miles; Winona & St. Peter's Railroad
and Branch, 406.10 miles; Dakota Division?
342.99 miles; total, 3,284.54 miles.

Lines under construction : Volga to Ab-
beyville, Dakota, 24.50; Watertown, D. T.,
to Redfield, 65; Sioux Rapids to Ireton,
Ipwa, 68 ; Narenta to Felch Mountains, North-
ern Michigan, 36.40; total miles under con-
struction, 193.96; grand total, 3,478.44.

This company achieved its first success
partly in Du Page County, and through its
center, on this road, passes much freight from
the Pacific Coast to Europe. Its entrance
into the business heart of Chicago is direct
and without detention, affording its business
men easy access to rural homes in Du Page
County, the eastern portions of which its

fast trains reach in forty -five minutes, the
central portions in fifty- eight minutes, and
the western portions in one hour and fifteen
minutes, thereby bringing the towns of this
county within as quick time to the business
center of Chicago as the remote but already
thickly settled streets in the outskirts of this
city, to and from which the horse cars are
uncomfoitably crowded constantly, and it is
an unsolved problem why the thousands who
have already availed themselves of these con-
ditions to secure rural luxuries are not mul-
tiplied, till the whole line of the road is a
continuous village. This would quickly be
the case if every citizen of Chicago knew by
experience the advantages of life among the
gardens.

CHICAGO, BURLINGTON & QUINCY RAILROAD.

The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
passes through the southern tier of towns in
Du Page County, affording facilities for easy
access to Chicago, and offering good induce-
ments for business men to make quiet homes
along its line. The first beginning or nu-
cleus of this road was the Aurora Branch
Railroad, a line of road constructed in pur-
suance of an act of the General Assembly of
the State of Illinois, approved February 12,
1849.

The Aurora Branch Railroad extended from
Aurora, Kane County, about thirteen miles to
a point on the Galena & Chicago Union Rail-
road, now named Turner Junction. The first
locomotive was purchased February 20, 1852.

The original charter was amended June 22,
1852, and the name of the company changed
to the Chicago & Aurora Railroad Company.
On January 26, 1853, the charter was again
amended, and the name of the company be-
came the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail-
road Company, a name formally accepted by
the stockholders February 14, 1855.

^2/^<

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY

155

At a meeting of the Board of Directors
held February 11, 1862, an act of the Gen-
eral Assembly, authorizing the construction
of a branch from Aurora to Chicago, by way
of the village of Naperville, was formally ac-
cepted by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Railroad Company. At the annual meeting
of the stockholders held June 20, 1862, it
was resolved to authorize the building of the
road from Aurora to Chicago. This road was
completed in 1864, at which time it only went
•to the Mississippi River, but now Northern
Missouri, the State of Kansas, Southern Iowa
and Southern Nebraska are directly on its
lines, and besides these, it claims a share in
the Colorado and Pacific trade. It had 2,-
924 miles of railroad in operation January
1. 1882.

CHICAGO & PACIFIC RAILROAD.

The Chicago & Pacific Railroad was organ-
ized by R. M. Hough in December, 1877.
The charter bears date previous to 1878, since
which time the railroad was built, under the
supervision of R. M. Hough, who was Pres-
ident of the road. The Directors of the road
were Thomas S. Dobson (who was also Vice
President), Walter Pearce, John L. Wilcox,
George S. Bowen, George Young and Will-
iam Howard. John L. Wilson was Solicitor,
and William T. Hewes, Secretary. Fifteen
thousand dollars was paid to William How-
ard for the charter. An ordinance was
passed in the Council to give the right of
way for the road into Chicago in May, 1872.
In June following, work was commenced on
the road, and it was finished to Elgin in the
summer of 1873. This road is now owned
by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail-
road.

DU PAGE COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY.

In giving a history of this society, we are
somewhat embarrassed, as we find no record
of its first meeting. At whose suggestion it

was called, in what month it was held, by
whom the meeting was called to order, or
who participated in its organization, we are
not informed; we are assured, however, that
the first meeting was held in Naperville.
The minutes of the first anniversary indicate
that Rev. John H. Prentiss was the first Pres-
ident, and leave us to infer who were his as-
sociates in the organization:

Naperville, February 5, 1841.
The society met at the office of Esquire Hosmer,
and was opened with prayer by Rev. John H. Pren-
tiss, President. The annual meeting having failed,
the following were appointed officers of the society
for the ensuing year, viz.: Rev. Orange Lyman,
President; Rev. Caleb Lamb, Hart L. Cobb, E.
Thayer, Eli Nosheram and T. Paxton, Vice Presi-
dents; John H. Prentiss, Secretary; Aylmer Keith,
Treasurer; Lewis Ellsworth, Depository ; J. H.
Prentiss, A. Keith, Pomeroy Goodrich, Isaac Clark
and Alexander Underwood, Executive Committee.
At the second annual meeting the following resolu-
tion was passed: "Resolved, That the first article of
the constitution be so altered that the name of the
society shall be the Du Page County Bible Society,"
thereby indicating that it formerly had a local name.
At this meeting, we find the first report of the
Treasurer, as follows: " There is now in the treas-
ury $8cash, and, as far as can be ascertained, $15.80
worth of books." In 1843, the Treasurer reported
eight Bibles and three Testaments on hand, valued at
$11.72, also cash $6 ($3 of which is counterfeit).
We may charitably hope this spurious money found
its way into the Lord's treasury by mistake. The
first fifteen years, the society held its annual meet-
ings at Naperville; the sixteenth anniversary at
"Wheaton Station," from thence it went to Bloom-
ingdale, returning by the way of Danby to Wheaton.
After visiting Lombard and Prospect Park, called
again at Wheaton on its way to Turner Junction,
Elmhurst being the next stopping place, from which
we return to Naperville to greet our old friends of
forty years ago; old friends, did we say? Were we
to call the roll of those who, forty years ago were
active in Bible cause, how few would respond !
Opposite the names of nearly all we write gone —
dead. The memories of other years crowd upon us.
The recollection of, and association with, many now
living, as well as those gone before, during a resi-
dence of forty-four years in the county, is pleasant.

156

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

We write their history to-day, who will write ours
forty years hence?

Eleven venerable men have presided over the de-
liberations of the society, and eight Secretaries
recorded its doings.

We are unable to give correctly the financial his-
tory of the society, but, from the best sources at our
command, it has received and disbursed at, least
$15,000, the smallest sum reported in any one
year being $6.25, the largest $949.13.

L. W. Mills, Secretary.

REMOVAL OF THE COUNTY SEAT.

As stated in foregoing pages, at the organ-
ization of Du Page County it was anticipated
to take in the three ranges of sections on its
southern limit, but this plan miscarried, and
left Naperville at the extreme southern verge
of the county, which had the effect to jeop-
ardize her prerogative, and ultimately to
disinherit her from a right that she, by vir-
tue of age, numbers' and wealth, tenaciously
claimed, which was to be the seat of justice
of the county. Albeit her remoteness from
the center of the county afforded a pretext
for other ambitions to come to the front and
assert their claims.

This rivalry began to take legal action in
the winter of 1857, when the Legislature of
the State passed an act authorizing an elec-
tion to be held on the first Monday of May,
the same year, to decide the question of the
removal of the county seat to Wheaton.

The election was held, but it went against
removal, setting the matter at rest for ten
years, when, through the Wheaten interest,
the Legislature again authorized an election
for the same purpose. It was held in June,
1868, and this time gave a small majority
for removal — not without the '• inside grip "
(best known by politicians) being practiced
on both sides to their utmost limit. They
made a very interesting polemic out of the
campaign, which must ever stand as a monu-
ment of Du Page County grit, but both sides

were so nearly matched in handling their
forces that neither gained any advantage, and
it was the few extra votes that gave Wheaton
the victory, and not her superior skill.

After the election, it was many months
before the court confirmed the decision; this
done, the Board of Supervisors selected a site
for the court house, which was donated to
the county, and the building erected that now
convenes the court sessions and places crimi-
nals on the proper side of iron grates. The
records were removed early one winter morn-
ing, and, unfortunately, a few of them were
lost, but not any portion of them that are es-
sential to show a good chain of title to lands.
In the summer of 1879, a fire-proof building
was erected on the north side of the court
house grounds, with vault and offices for
Clerks and Treasurer.

UU PAGE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL
SOCIETY.

Fairs had their origin as far back as the first
Olympiad, 600 years B. O, when kings ran
foot races with "news boys," whose occupa-
tions of turning an honest penny, selling the
Naperville Clarion or the Wheaton Illinoisian,
was no bar to their social equality with a
crowned head, at least at the Olympic games.
When both were stripped, perhaps the "news
boy ' ' could show the best muscle, and that was
what counted. These were exhibitions of
strength, but nowadays men plume them-
selves more on a big pumpkin and on the
muscle of their horses, so they always had a
race-course for the latter to ventilate his fine
points on and a place in which to show the
pumpkins, and then in these days of female
culture, the best room in the building is al-
lotted to the display of needle work and
crayon work of the girls, and sometimes a
few loaves of bread from a matronly hand.
Du Page County, animated with a laudable

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

157

ambition to stimulate her industries and in-
genuity, took steps in this direction by call-
ing a public meeting at Naperville, October
19, 1853, of which E. O. Hills, of Blooming-
dale, was Chairman, and James Gr. Wright, of
Naperville, Secretary. The society was or-
ganized with a constitution and by-laws, with
183 members, Lewis Ellsworth, President; J.
G. Wright, Secretary. The first fair was
held at Naperville October 11 and 12, 1854.
The third annual fair was held at Wheaton
September 17 and 18, 1856. A charter was
obtained in February, 1857, soon after which
fifteen acres of ground were donated to the
society by J. C. and W. L. Wheaton, for a
permanent place for holding their .fairs. By
the conditions of the donation, the grounds
are to revert back to the original owners if
the society neglects to hold their fairs for
three successive years. Fairs have been held
each year at the place ever since, with a good
showing of the best things in the county.
Mr. Albert D. Kelly, the present Secretary,
furnished the above statistics for the work.

TELEPHONE LINES.

Telephone lines were established Septem-
ber 1, 1882, between Chicago, Austin, May-
wood, Elmhurst, Lombard, Wheaton, Elgin,
St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Aurora, Joliet,
Lockport and Summit. The intermediate
towns will be connected as soon as practicable,
and tte line is to be extended to Rock ford
soon. It would be premature to state at this
time any limit to the extension of the line.
The rates now are 25 cents for five minutes'
conversation. L. C. Brown, Agent.

GEOLOGY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.*

The following diagram shows the order
and thickness of the several divisions which
form the geological system of Illinois:

♦Contributed by C. D. Wilber, LL.D.

Quaternary.

T«rti,iry.

Carboniferous .

Mountain
Limestone.

Devonian.

Upper
Silurian.

Lower
Silurian.

Prairie surface.
Alluvium and Drift.

200 ft.

900 ft.

Tertiary .

Upper,
Middle

and

Lower

Coal measures.

300 ft.

Millstone Grit.

250 fc.

Chester Limestone.

100 ft.

Ferruginous Sandstone.

200 ft.

St. Louis or Warsaw Limestone.

100 ft.

Keokuk Limestone.

200 ft.

Burlington Limestone.

100 ft.

Kinderhook Group.

40 ft.

Black Slate.

120 ft.

Hamilton Group.

60 ft.

Oriskany Sandstone.

300 ft.

Niagara Limestonn.

100 ft.

Hudson River Group.

300 ft.

Galena or Trenton Limestone.

150 ft.

St. Peter's Sandstone.

100 ft.

Calciferous Sandstone.

158

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

The position occupied by Du Page and ad-
jacent counties is the Niagara division of the
Upper Silurian. This has been determined
by the examination of the various quarries
and from outcrops of rock formation on the
Du Page River, and also by several artesian
borings, which have penetrated more than
one thousand feet. In this division are
found the quarries of Lemont and Joliet,
from which are annually shipped vast quan-
tities of dimension stone and building ma-
terial. Below it from 700 to 800 feet is
found the St. Peter's sandstone, which con-
tains the water supply of the great system of
artesian wells, of which about one hundred
are already in active operation in Northern
Illinois.

The county of Du Page, it will be seen,
occupies both extremes of the geological
series, viz., the Silurian system at the bottom
and the prairie system at the top. The pres-
ent article being limited to a few pages, will
be mainly devoted to a consideration of the
unfailing, omnipresent question, viz., "What
is the Origin of the Prairies ? ' '

From observation on the smaller lakes and
lakelets in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and
Ohio, Prof. Leo Lesquereux saw, as he
thought, the outline of a theory which would
account for the present prairie system.

After a brief view of the soils of these dry
lakes, and the tree growths on the margin, he
says: From these facts, no other conclusion
can be taken than this: That all the prairies
of the Mississippi Valley have been formed
by the slow process of sheets of water of
various extent, first transformed into swamps,
and by and by drained and dried. The high
and rolling prairies, the prairies around the
lakes, those of the bottoms along the rivers
are all the result of the same cause, and form
a whole and indivisable system.

But since lake bottoms are generally level,

or present a general concavity of surface, and
since prairies afford every variety of topog-
raphy of rolls, hills, slopes, plains, divides,
inclines, draws, ravines, terraces, bottoms,
etc. , it seemed quite difficult at the outset to
meet these formidable difficulties. But the
heroic Lesquereux sweeps them all away with
a pen stroke.

"I believe," says he, "that though undu-
lated the surface of the prairies may be now,
as it has been originally horizontal enough
to form shallow lakes, and then swamps like
those which now cover some parts along the
shores of Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, etc. I
have followed for whole days the sloughs of
the prairies, and have seen them constantly
passing lower and well-marked channels, or
to the beds of rivers by the most tortuous
circuits, in a manner comparable to the me-
anderings of some creeks in nearly horizontal
valleys. Indeed, the only difference is that
in the high prairies there is not a definite
bed, but a series of beds extending, narrow-
ing, winding in many ways. This explana-
tion seems so natural that I could not under-
stand how high prairies could be perfectly
horizontal."

No person ever appeared more charmed
with his favorite idea than the bold Lesque-
reux with his pet theory for the origin of the
prairies.

" The level of the low prairies being scarce-
ly above that of the lakes, their surface after
an overflow becomes dry by percolation and
evaporation, rather than by true drainage.
But wherever the rivers have cut deeper chan-
nels, the drainage has constantly taken place
toward these deep channels, and the water,
though its movements may be very slow, fur-
rows the surface in its tortuous meanderings,
and from this results that irregular, wavy con-
formation, generally and appropriately called
rolling prairie."

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

159

For illustration of his theory, Prof. Lesque-
reux refers to the prairie soil of Illinois:

"Its thickness is first to be considered; it
varies from one to four feet, and even more
How has been produced this enormous coat-
ing of black mold which covers the clay sub-
soil? and, also, how has this subsoil been
produced, if not under the influence and ac-
tion of water ? Complete oxidation of vege-
table remains has never resulted in the keep-
ing of such a peculiar thick compound as is
the soil of the prairies. We must then con-
sider this prairie soil as formed under pecu-
liar chemical action by a slow oxidation or
decomposition of vegetable matter, retarded
in its action by water, in preventing the free
access of oxygen, as in formation of peat.
This (prairie) soil, then, as we have said, is
half peat and half humus."

Prof. Whitney, formerly State Geologist of
California, writing of the formation of prai-
ries, considers the absence of trees caused by
the fineness of the soil, and partly by the ac-
cumulation in the bottoms of immense lakes
of a sediment of almost impalpable fineness
under certain conditions.

The one great fault with these theories is,
that they are hasty and indiscriminate, when
a larger view would include all that these
theorists have stated, without shutting us up
to narrow requirements. We can take in all
that Prof. Lesquereux says, viz., that the
great prairie system has been covered with
water, and at the same time understood that
water action is not, or was not even the re-
motest cause of the unwooded districts.
The prairies may come after the existence
and subsidence of lakes, but they come
simply in the order of events, and not as a
consequence of water. There is nothing in
the water or primitive lake theory that does
not apply equally to the wooded regions of
any country.

Referring to Lesquereux's theory, and
Whitney's, Prof. Winchell says: " The fatal
objection to this theory, and all the theories
which look to the physical or chemical con-
dition of the soil for an explanation of the
treeless character of the prairies, is discovered
in the fact that trees will grow when once
introduced."

The numerous lakes of Iowa, Illinois, Wis-
consin and Michigan are mostly shallow, cov-
ering often areas five miles by ten or fifteen.
They have a dark sediment bottom, generally
upon clay, which, being impervious, like
leather, will for ages maintain these bodies
of fresh water as they are. In some cases of
higher altitude, with smaller lakes, the clay
can be punctured, and after the escape of
water the black sediment becomes good soil.
Or the lake may be drained by cutting down
its lower edge with a deep ditch. It is ob-
vious that the concave- shaped clay substratum
caused the lake, and it appears that the fresh
water acted as a medium through which the
sediments, no matter how obtained, were pre-
cipitated; but directly the lake is drained the
soil is ready to raise crops of grains, grasses
or trees — but it does not become a prairie.
West of the Missouri River, and, as far as
known, west of the Mississippi River, in Ne-
braska and Kansas, the brown-colored top soil
is not a sediment of, but instead, the same
material as the sub-soil, whether loess or
drift, having the same chemical elements, but
colored by successive years of decay of
grasses. Whether these grasses, year after
year, were burned or disappeared by the
slower process of oxidation, they were cer-
tain to contribute both the dark or humus
color, besides a certain amount of material
not being sediment in any sense. We are
agreeably relieved from introducing the need-
less miracle of innumerable lakes as prairie
antecedents.

160

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY,

The evidence of prairie origin deduced from
the disappearance of lakes, large or small, is
therefore rejected as not sufficient. The
lake patches with subsequent drainage, are
simply facts by themselves, but not in any
way related to the origin of the vast un-
wooded regions of North America.

The proportion of prairie to forest is so
great in the Western States and Territories
as to reverse the order of the inquiry. It
seems here more proper to inquire, Why have
we woodland and grove and densely timbered
tracts in the Canadas and Eastern States, in-
stead of these " unshorn fields, sublime and
beautiful, for which the speech of England
has no name?"

This leads to another inquiry, viz., Which
is the normal condition of the surface; which
has priority, prairie or woods? Are not
prairies, and pampas, and steppes, and vast
unwooded areas quite as natural as forest-
covered plains and hills? Have we not a
problem quite as intricate in explaining the
existence and permanence of forests as in pre-
senting a theory which explains their ab-
sence ?

Individual estimates of the comparative
value of wooded and prairie regions would
vary as to the tastes or traditions of men;
but the general summary of an impartial
census leaves no room for debate on the su-
perior advantages of prairie surfaces. The
center of empire makes its way westward
over these natural meadows more rapidly than
through dense forests. The unprecedented
advance in the United States since the year
1840, in political power, wealth and popula-
tion, is due, mainly, to the prairie system of
the Western and Northwestern States and
Territories.

The landed estate of Illinois is worth
$1, 000,000, 0U0 in forty years, is equal to
that of Ohio in nearly eighty years, and

an average prairie county in the interior of
Nebraska in twelve years attains the wealth
and population of one in the woods of Ohio,
of equal size, with seventy-five years of toil.
After searching all that is known upon the
subject, we may see that both prairie and
forset are natural conditions, and that it is
in the power of man to make or unmake, to
have either surface, or to combine the two in
any manner united' to his use or caprice. It
does not matter, therefore, whether grassy
plains or boundless forests have priority as
the primitive condition. It would easily ap-
pear from both geologic and human history,
that the two orders of surface have alternate-
ly held possession, and that the present prai-
ries and timbered areas, wholly, or in part,
were once covered with forests, and vice
versa. To that whenever we raise the ques-
tion of priority, we are at once carried into
the realm of geologic history, whose faint
outline can be seen on the shores of the old
Silurian Sea, where the first fronds of vege-
table lifo raised their tiny forms, suited to
the earliest condition of light, air and moist-
ure consistent with life upon the planet.
But the two great orders of vegetable life,
viz., trees and grasses, are so diverse in mode
of growth, in form and in degree of vital
force that we may naturally took in the di-
rection of this diversity for causes that shall
logicallyjlead us toward a satisfactory expla-
nation.

The superior vital force of grass growths,
aided by favorable conditions, enables them
to exclude timber growths, except where pro-
tected by natural barriers. The constant and
free action of the3e relative forces maintains
the present boundary between prairie and
timber areas. Whenever these forces are in-
constant, or irregular, or suspended by human
agencies, the relative areas of each are varied
or changed.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

161

Grass is called " an annual " plant, yet in
an enlarged sense it is perennial. There is
more vitality in the rhizoma or roots of grass,
than in the oak or palm. Whatever may de-
stroy a tree or shrub brings no harm to grass.
An ocean of flame may sweep over the prairie
and consume every living thing, and leave
the plain a parched and desolate waste, yet
in a month the grass is green over the entire
area, but the trees are dead. What required
ten, twenty or a hundred years to accumulate
as forest or grove, can be replaced only by the
same number of years, while grass will come
to its best estate in the summer time of every
year. I offer this primal and fundamental
relation between grasses and trees, as the
present and procuring cause in a theory to
explain, philosophically, the origin of the
prairies :

' ' Next in importance to the Divine profu-
sion of water, light and air, those three great
physical facts which render existence possible,
may be reckoned the universal beneficence of
grass. Exaggerated by tropical heats and
vapors to the gigantic cane congested with its
saccharine secretion, or dwarfed by polar rig-
ors to the fibrous hair of Northern solitudes,
embracing between these extremes the maize,
with its resolute pennons, the rice plant of
Southern swamps, the wheat, rye, barley, oats
and other cereals, no less than the humbler
verdure of the hillside, pasture and prairie
in the temperate zone, grass is the most wide-
ly distributed to all vegetable beings, and is
at once the type of our life and the emblem
of our mortality. Lying in the sunshine
among the buttercups and dandelions of May,
scarcely higher in intelligence than the mi-
nute tenants of the mimic wilderness, our
earliest recollections are of grass; and when
the fitful fever is ended, and the foolish
wrangle of the market and forum is closed,
grass heals over the scar which our descent

into the bosom of the earth has made, and
becomes the blanket of the dead.

" Grass is the forgiveness of nature — her
constant benediction. Fields trampled with
battle, saturated with blood, torn with the
ruts of cannon, grow green again with grass,
and carnage is forgotten. Streets abandoned
by traffic become grass grown like rural lanes,
and are obliterated. Forests decay, harvests
perish, flowers vanish, but grass is immortal.
Beleaguered by the sullen hosts of winter, it
withdraws into the impregnable fortress of
its subterranean vitality, and emerges upon
the first solicitation of spring. Sown by the
winds, by wandering birds, propagated by
the subtle horticulture of the elements, which
are its ministers and servants, it softens the
rude outline of the world. Its tenacious
fibers hold the earth in its place, and prevent
its soluble components from washing into the
wasting sea. It invades the solitude of de-
serts, cJimbs the inaccessible slopes and for-
bidden pinnacles of mountains, modifies
climates, and determines the history, char-
acter and destiny of nations. Unobtrusive
and patient, it has immortal vigor and ag-
gression. Banished from the thoroughfare
and the field, it bides its time to return, and
when vigilance is relaxed, or the dynasty has
perished, it silently resumes the throne from
which it has been expelled, but which it
never abdicates. It bears no blazonry of
bloom to charm the senses with fragrance or
splendor, but its homely hue is more en-
chanting than the lily or the rose. It yields
no fruit in earth or air, and yet should its
harvest fail for a single year, famine would
depopulate the world."

The forest, however, in its strife for the
mastery or possession has its peculiar advan-
From its deep shades it excludes the
The lack of light and warmth in
the twilight of vast forests — "the boundless

162

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

contiguity of shade " — partly paralyzes vege-
table growth of all kinds, and nearly obliter-
ates all traces of grass. The shrubs and un-
dergrowth are dwarfed into insignificance,
and appear unwelcome, like lank beggars in
a lordly court.

Grown trees, however, with their spreading
branches, bearing coronals of leaves, yearly
increase in this manner their own bulk, and
at the same time deepen the shade that de-
prives the shrub or sapling and grass of their
bread of life. By this regime the forest at-
tains its majesty, and maintains its regal
splendor for centuries. By this economy,
with its steady bracing and blending of
woody fiber, the tree trunk lengthens towards
the sun, increases in strength and beauty,
and contributes to man his house on land and
his ship at sea. On the border, between the
forest and plain, both grasses and trees show
the decimating effect of antagonism in the
struggle for existence. Trees of high growth
and rank never grow into columns; but, with
branches near the grouDd, dwindle into groves
in bush forms. Among them, but with
abated force, the grasses spread, and afford
only tolerable pasture. It is evidently a
drawn battle, or an attempt to compromise
under a flag of truce. The effect of annual
fires over prairie areas is nearly uniform.
It is one of the constant forces, varying, of

course, in direction and power with the wind,
but passing over, year after year, nearly the
same areas, and meeting the same barriers to
stay its progress, thus keeping the same bor-
der line between the two kingdoms. These
fires may have originated ages ago, from the
ordinary lightning, or what is more probable,
they were caused by the same means that now
maintain them, viz., human agency. From
time immemorial, the Indians have, generally
in the autumn of each year, fired the prairie
or grass plains, producing thereby that pecu-
liar phenomena called Indian summer. By
these annual fires, they secure two results,
viz. , first, the game is driven to the timber,
where it can be more easily taken; and sec-
ond, the grasses being burned, the bare
prairie affords free vision against invasion,
and also facilitates speed, whether for assault
or retreat. Compelled thus by a twofold ne-
cessity to annually burn the prairies, it is
easy to see that they must have maintained
for ages the areas that were fixed by natural
barriers in the indefinite past — established
with no prospect of change, except by a
change of policy under a different race of
men. In this case the successful invaders of
the present vast population of farmers must
speedily revolutionize the Indian policy and
the former boundaries between prairies and
groves.

MILTON TOWNSHIP.

163

CHAPTER VIII.

MILTON TOWNSHIP — ITS FIRST SETTLERS — WHEATON— HOW IT RECEIVED ITS NAME — THE
GALENA & CHICAGO UNION RAILROAD— CHURCHES OF WHEATON— PIONEER SCHOOL-
STACY'S CORNERS— BABCOCK GROVE— PROSPECT PARK— ITS CHURCHES.

TWO seafaring men, who had risen from
cabin boys to become masters of vessels
by time they had attained manhood, formed
a determination to relinquish the calling to
which they had been trained, and strike oat
a new course in life. These men were the
two Naper brothers, of whom much has been
said in previous pages. The new plan con-
templated the forming of a colony to establish
itself and grow up with the country some-
where in the West to which^the immense im-
migration was tending that had loaded their
vessels westward bound to their utmost ca-
pacity for the years that they had been sail-
ors and Captains. The names of two of tbe
men who joined their colony are Lyman But-
terfield and Henry T. Wilson. The vessel
started from Ashtabula, Ohio, in June, 1831,
and arrived at Chicago in July. From thence
the adventurers made their way across the
spongy flats that then intervened between the
place and the Desplaines River, and kept on
to the west till their destination was reached,
which was the spot where Naperville now
stands. Here Mr. Butterfield and Mr. Wil-
son remained a short time, witnessed the
Black Hawk scare, and the next year took up
claims a few miles north of the parent set-
tlement — Naperville. Mr. Butterfield's claim
was for a half-section of land lying wholly in
the present township of Milton, in its south-
eastern corner. Mr. Wilson's claim, made at
the same time, happened to be where the
three townships— Lisle, Winfield and Milton

— corner together. These two men were the
true pioneers of Milton Township, just half
a century ago last June, the time cf writing
this chapter being August, 1882. Mr. But-
terfield died a few years ago, but Mr. Wilson
still walks the streets of Wheaton, and stal-
wart young men, whose fathers he saw in
their swaddling clothes, now help the old
man up and steady his tottering footsteps
down the uneven sidewalks of Wheaton, as
he goes for the mail or after a newspaper to
see what is going on in a world of excitement
of which he has beheld three full generations.
His grip on life is still tenacious as it is
chronic. As this goes to press, news comes
that Mr. Wilson's sands of life are run out
almost to the last grain.

Ralph and Morgan Babcock came to the
place since called Babcock's Grove, and made
claims in 1833 of nearly the whole grove,
with a view of parceling it out to their friends
who were soon to follow.

The next year (1834), Deacon Winslow
Churchill, with his sons — Seth, Winslow, Jr.,
and Hiram — came to the place and made
claims — all in what is now Milton, except
that of Winslow, Jr., which was on the
ground on which the northern part of the
village of Lombard, in York, now stands.
With the Churchills also came the wife of
Morgan Babcock, John D. Ackerman and
family and Seth Churchill and family. All
these came from Onondaga County, N. Y.,
arriving at Chicago on the schooner La

164

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Grange, June 4, 1834; here they procured
teams, and, loading their household goods,
started over the prairies, stopping the first
night, at Scott's tavern, where Lyons now is,
and the next night at Parson's, where Lisle
now is; thence over the trackless prairie
northwardly, to the grove where their home h ad
been secured to them the year before by a few
blazes made on trees in the grove and a few
stakes driven in the prairie by Mr. Babcock.
In 1835, Moses .Stacy and his wife came
from Windham County, Vt., via Buffalo to
Detroit, by steamer, thence by schooner to
Chicago; thence, with a hired team, they
started for Hennepin, 111., their original des-
tination, but, on their arrival at Ottawa, they
found so many cases of malarial fever that
they retraced their steps in pursuit of a more
salubrious location to the north. They found
it 'he last of August, 1858, at the high spot
of land to which their name has been given —
Stacy's Corners — and here Mrs. Stacy and
one of her sons still live on this spot so beau-
tifully adorned by generous nature, on the top-
most of those gravelly ridges that rise in ter-
races one above another till it crowns the whole
with a broad plateau, extending indefinitely
to the north. Here they built a small cabin,
14x16, with a puncheon floor and a roof of
split logs, the lower layers of which were
channeled so as to catch the drainage from
the upper ones. Soon after it was built, an oc-
casional traveler called at night for enter-
tainment. It would not do to turn him
adrift, for he had no other refuge. Thus be-
gan this business of tavern-keeping, which
grew on their hands till their premises were
enlarged and rebuilt once and again, and
still inadequate to supply the demand as the
country settled to the West, and Stacey's
Corners gave promise of a central nucleus of
a metropolitan character, and the name of
Du Page Center was given it.

David Christian settled at the place in
1837, and built a frame house, the first in
the new settlement. In a few years it had
two good stores, two blacksmith shops, a har-
ness shop, a hame factory, a wagon shop and
all the machinery of a town.

Even Chicago came to the place to get
their mechanics to make a dredge to clean
the mud out of the Chicago River. But there
was a limit to this prosperity. The laws of
trade are inexorable and would follow the
railroads, even from pleasing heights into
valleys, and when the Galena & Chicago
Union Railroad came through in 1849, many
buildings were moved from the Corners to
Danby, and all the business that had hither-
to centered at the place.

But let us return again to the good old
days of 1835, when log schoolhouses were
built for earnest children to study in, drawn
thither by no aesthetic influences. One of
these was built by subscription in 1835, at
an opening in the north edge of the grove,
on a small tributary of the East Fork. It is
now a lonesome spot, away from the road, but
was then vocal with young voices on week
days, and hallowed with divine worship on
Sundays, as all schoolhouses were in the early
days.

The first teacher in this house was Miss
Maria Dudley, whose brother is now a promi-
nent lawyer in Naperville. Rev. Pillsbury
was the pioneer preacher in it, per order of
Presiding Elder Clark, of the Du Page dis-
trict, the same who had in June the previous
year, come to the place to preach the funeral
sermon of a young daughter of Deacon Wins-
low Churchill — Amanda. There was no
cemetery in which to deposit her remains,
but she was buried on private grounds with
solemnities all the more impressive, because
where people are few and the face of nature
is ample, the loss of a single individual

MILTON TOWNSHIP.

165

leaves a broader chasm in the home circle
and in the neighborhood.

The same year, 1835, William D. Dodge,
from Rutland County, Vt., came to the settle-
ment and made a claim adjoining Babcock's,
his family arriving the following October.
It was no small acquisition to the settlement,
for he had four sons and nine daughters, all
of whom settled at the piece. The names of
the sons were N. Mason, Darwin D., William
B. and J. S. It is not so necessary to name
the girls, for they soon became identified by
other names of a more masculine and less
transient type, in which capacity they lent a
hand in building up the country.

Warren L. and Jesse 0. Wheaton, Erastus
Gary, Peter Crosby, S. H. Manchester, Al-
vin Simmons, Peter Northrup, all came to this
township soon afterward, and all of them
are still active men, which would go to show
that half a century in Milton Township had
not tasked nature to her extreme limits, with-
out counting how much wear and tear these
gentlemen had before they came here with
ripe growth in their limbs. These specimens,
together with other evidences, go to show the
healthfulness of the place. Its surface
drainage is good, there being no extensive
flat lands in the township, though a nar-
row belt of low interval skirts the East
Branch of the Du Page River that courses
through the eastern tier of sections in this
township.

These low lands are not built on, but serve
for pasturage or meadow, being too spongy
for cultivation. There are groves of good
timber in the southwestern and central east-
ern and northeastern portions of the town-
ship, which have, even up to this day, large-
ly furnished fuel for farmers and townsmen,
besides much material for building, fencing,
etc. The gravel banks along the railroad
west of the Du Page are very valuable, and

furnish the necessary material for graveling
the railroad.

Milton has eight school districts and as
many good schoolhouses, two of which are
graded. The number of persons between the
ages of six and twenty in the town is 468.

In the western part of the town, at Pleas-
ant Hill, is a creamery that consumes 4,000
pounds of milk, makes 120 pounds of butter
and 350 pounds of cheese daily. The dairy
business is on the increase in the town,
owing, especially, to the facilities which the
railroad affords for sending milk to Chicago.

- THE MASTODON.

To trace the history of this noble animal
since the timbers of Noah's ark cringed be-
neath his ponderous tread, would take us
through many evolutions of nature ere his
offspring found their way into Du Page
County. That he finally chose his pasture
here is an evidence that it was then as now a
good grazing country, for he was an herb-
eating animal. His teeth give evidence of
that and further prove that if he did not find
grass enough to fill his capacious stomach,
that he could crop the little twigs from the
trees, or eat the trees themselves level to the
ground, if they were young forest trees not
over twenty feet high, for what were such
saplings between teeth that weighed from
two to six pounds each, twenty- four in num-
ber. Some of them were fashioned like
pruning- shears; his tusks were ten feet in
length, ten inches in diameter at the base and
weighed 200 pounds. These are the dimen-
sions and weight of a pair of them found
near Aurora a few years ago, while excavating
for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail-
road. Later in the fall of 1869, the bones of
one fore leg, sixteen sections of vertebrae,
shoulder-blade and hip-bone of this extinct
species were found on the land of Mr. Horace

168

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Jane, two miles from Wheaton. The prob-
lem is, When did this animal leave his foot-
prints on our soil ? Lyell says that they be-
came extinct many thousand years ago, but
it is evident that he had not consulted Mr.
Jayne, for he could have given him evdience
that would have dispelled such a theory.

Mr. Jayne says he found the bones in a
comparatively recently filled- up basin of
water, imbedded in murky accretions from its
surrounding water-shed. Near the bones
were small tree trunks still standing with
their roots pierced into the solid soil below
the black muck that covered and preserved
them. This don't look like the work of
"many thousand years,'' for this process of
the filling up of prairie ponds is still going
on, and much of nature's handiwork in this
direction has been done within the memory
of our early settlers. No; we may conclude
that not more than five centuries ago at
most that herds of mastodons frisked about
here like lambs in a June pasture. Perhaps
they grazed the timber all down where the
prairies are, and providentially left the groves
for winter pasture. If this settles the ques-
tion of the origin of the prairies, it will save
archaeologists a good deal of hard study.

HISTOKY OF THE VILLAGE OF WHEATON.

Amidst the ' ' banks and braes " of Wind-
ham County, Conn., there grew up some note-
worthy historical associations. The place
was settled in 1686 by good old Puritan stock
from Koxbury, Mass., whose influence is felt
to-day in the social circles of Wheaton, though
transmitted through not less than six genera-
tions. From Pomfret, in that county, came
the first settlers of Wheaton, whose courage
and ambition may have been toned up to a
good scale by the proximity of their birth-
place to the cave where Gen. Putnam bearded
the wolf in his lair and slew him, which was

quite a feat for a young man not accustomed,
like the old Romans, to play the gladiator.
From near the spot where this event had
transpired, Erastas Gary came to St. Joseph,
Mich., in the autumn of 1831. Here he
found a prosperous village, containing about
twenty-five families, with sufficient attractions
to determine him to remain for the winter to
teach the town school and await what might
turn up. The next spring, having determined
to see what was on the other side of the lake,
he started, April 1, 1832, with three compan-
ions, in a dugout canoe for Chicago, which
was then the usual method of private travel
between the two places. Constant toiling at
the oars along the southern shores of Lake
Michigan, with two nights spent in camp
thereon, brought the travelers to Chicago on
the 3d, and here Mr. Gary only spent the
night, for the place looked far less inviting
than St. Joseph. " Westward ho! " was the
watchword the next morning, and, after
taking leave of his companions, he took up
his march toward sunset and gained Law-
ton's, on the Desplaines, at night, after a
day of amphibious toil, sometimes for miles
through water a foot deep. The next day, he
reached Naperville, which was on the 5th.
From thence he made his way northwardly,
and took up a claim at first adjoining the
claim of Mr. Butterfield, some years before
the spot where Wheaton now is become his
residence.

That there would have been a village at or
not far from where Wheaton now stands is
certain in any event, but how it came to be
located in this precise spot, and how it took
its name, grew out of the following circum-
stantial details.

Warren L. Wheaton, whose limbs had
gathered pith and whose fires of youth had
been fanned to manhood's flame, around the
old classic grounds of Pomfret (his birth-

MILTON TOWNSHIP.

167

place), as well as Mr. Gary's, came to the
Gary settlement June I, 1837, to which E.
Gary, his fellow- townsman, had preceded
him. Ever since the Black Hawk war, set-
tlers had been actively employed in making
claims, especially contiguous to the Naper
settlement, and the lands where timber and
prairie were conbined in desirable propor-
tions, were all under the bonds of claims,
which were sacred as deeds, at least till the
land had come into market, and long enough
thereafter to give the respective claimants a
reasonable time to pay for them.

The amount of land to which the Garys
and Butterfields had laid claim was much
larger than they wished for their own use,
and had designedly been made so for the
purpose of letting their friends and old fel-
low-citizens from Pomfret have a portion of
it. Notwithstanding this propitious chance
of settling here, young Wheaton had a desire
to look farther west before he made a de-
cision, which, as the result proved, was to
establish him for life. Accordingly, he
started on foot over the open prairies, in a
southwesterly direction, sometimes getting a
ride by stage or otherwise, and in his wan-
derings visited St. Louis, Quincy and Bur-
lington. At the latter place was only two
houses. Keeping on up the river, he saw
Dubuque, when it had but a few houses, and
Galena, when there were only a small cluster
of buildings at the place. From this place,
he turned his course homeward, or to what
afterward became his home, but between
which spot and himself lay an immense
plain of waving grasses, almost entirely unin-
habited. Dixon was his first point to reach,
to which a well-known trail led and also con-
tinued on to the east, the main line leading
to Ottawa and a branch of it to Naperville.
Over this prairie trail he traveled on foot,
and by time he had returned, was in a suit-

able frame of mind to cast his lot with his
friends, among the undulating swells of land
where he now resides. Perhaps his long
stretches of marching between the stopping
stations and his tired limbs, had something
to do with this decision, but yet the distant
hope that Chicago would rise out of the mud
and become at least a good market for prod-
uce was then in the minds of every one, and
had its influence with Mr. Wheaton.

A year had now been spent in prospecting,
pending which time a Mr. Knickerbocker had
come to the place, and, liking the lay of the
land where the Garys and L. Butterfield
had made a claim, either unwittingly or
through design, came to the spot with an ox
team and began to turn over the sod. Thirty
acres were plowed before he was discovered,
when intelligence of the trespass came to the
Garys and Mr. Butterfield. Something must
be done immediately, and it was planned by
the aggrieved party promptly to repair to the
spot with a team rigged to a plow, and com-
mence breaking the sod by following the fur-
rows already made by the claim-jumper, as
Mr. Knickerbocker then was looked upon to be.
Thus the two rival interested parties contin-
ued at their work, without saying a word,
and, as they went round after round on the
same land, determination gathered force.
Knickerbocker was the first to raise the fiag
of truce, which he did substantially by com-
ing to the Gary party to hold a parley.

During this eventful parlance, young War-
ren Wheaton, who was a looker-on, took the
Gary team and hastened to the next rise of
land to the east, where no claim had yet been
made, and plowed around about 640 acres or
more to secure it to himself before Knicker-
bocker could have time to do it, for Mr.
Wheaton well knew that he would be driven
from the grounds of Gary or Butterfield,
and felt almost certain that he would claim

168

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY,

the next adjoining land, to which he now
was making good his own claims. While Mr.
Wheaton was doing this, the dispute was ad-
justed by paying Mr. Knickerbocker $120 for
his service in plowing the land, of which
there were thirty acres — a happy way of set-
tling the affair, and a generous one on the
part of the defendants, for claim-jumping
then was a serious offense, and if condign
punishment was meted out for it, there was
no one to question its justice or propriety.
By this time, Jesse Wheaton, who had arrived
in the country a few months subsequent to
his brother Warren, was on the spot, and the
disputed territory to which Knickerbocker
had laid claim, was promptly transferred to
him by his paying for the plowing, which he
did.

Perhaps this finale to these negotiations
was a sort of " all-in-the-family '' arrange-
ment, for the tradition says that it was then
supposed that Jesse felt a gentleness toward
Grinds, the sister of E. and J. Gary, the
truth of which is confirmed by the subsequent
marriage of the two, and it is not too much
to say here that this marriage so promptly
made verifies the assertion that Cupid is more
unerring in his darts in new countries, for
nowadays many long courtships terminate in
failures.

These are the circumstances which brought
the two Wheaton brothers to the place where
each now live, and for whom the town was
named. That they came may be set down,
perhaps, as the result of rivalry or ambition
to secure a claim ahead of Mr. Knickerbocker,
and that the town took its name for them, is,
perhaps, the result of a friendly dinner.

The circumstances are these: When John
B. Turner and William B. Ogden came
through the place, in 1849, prospecting for
a route and the right of way for the Galena
& Chicago Union Railroad, they had met but

slender encouragement from the settlers im-
mediately east of this place, then without a
name. Not that the inhabitants objected to
the road, but they showed a disposition to
avail themselves of the occasion to get a round
price for the land needed for its construction.
Instead of taking any such advantage, the
Wheatons were in full sympathy with these
representatives of the road, offered them the
right of way gratis, and invited the two gen-
tlemen to dinner. Whether it was this din-
ner, which was doubtless a good one, or the
free gift of land, or both combined, that in-
fluenced the managers of the road to put the
station here and name the place Wheaton,
will never be known, but certain it is that no
amount of finessing and subtlety on the part
of rival localities, which immediately ensued,
could change the firm purposes of Messrs.
Turner and Ggden. They were true to their
first love and resisted all the blandishments
of coquetry that followed from whithersoever
it came.

Mr. Jewell went so far as to build a depot
at an expense of $400, so situated as to bring
: the road near to his land, the same now known
I as Jewell's Grove, but it had no effect.

Dissatisfaction also prevailed in other lo-
- calities where apathy had existed but a short
I time before, ere the people had awakened to
! the importance of the subject..

But let us return to trace the first settlers,
who came to the place after the Wheatons
had set their stakes here. The three next
were Peter Crosby, who now lives next door
east of the house of the writer; S. H. Man-
chester, who now lives close by Wheaton,
and Avin Simmons, who still lives at the
place. These five first settlers are all our
esteemed fellow-citizens to-day, July, 1882,
after a residence of almost half a century, and
all able to attend to their daily avocations
with their accustomed promptness. To them

MILTON TOWMSHIP.

169

may be added Erastus Geary and Henry T
Wilson, both of whom are citizens of Wheat-
on, and came to the county several years be-*
fore the first five named, but not to Wheaton
till many had preceded them. Both these
gentlemen are well known throughout the
country. Mr. Gary is still an active mem-
ber of society, taking an interest in all the
issues that affect the welfare of our country,
but Mr. Wilson, now within a few weeks of
ninety-four years old, has passed his age of
utility, though he still sometimes walks the
streets and bids good morning to his old
friends, of which he has countless numbers.

There are many others venerable with age
and honors, but the mention of whose names
does not belong with a list of first settlers,
because they came later to the county.

'In the fall of 1849, the Galena & Chicago
Union Railroad laid their track through the
place, and thence to Elgin, and built a depot
here, if poles set in the ground to sustain a
roof of battened boards and sides, fashioned
in the same manner, deserves such a name.
The track consisted of strap iron spiked on
wooden scantling, on which rickety old sec-
ond-hand engines ran at slow rates; but this
means of transportation, though defective,
was better than the bottomless sloughs that
intervened between Wheaton and Chicago.

The first store built here was a grocery.
Who ever heard of any other kind of a store
as a pioneer effort in a new country? Its
very name sometimes meant that you could
buy from its proprietor Kentucky Twist or
Kentucky Bourbon, or something else more
fiery, and it also meant that the way-worn
traveler could find entertainment with a good
solid bed to sleep in, if the bedstead which
held it did not break down, and that he could
luxuriate on nutritious corn-bread for supper
and breakfast. This is what the pioneer
grocery in a new country frequently meant,

and the one opened here by Patrick Lynch
justified the reputation of these primitive es-
tablishments, especially those who played
" Hamlet without the character of Hamlet."
The next store was not a grocery store, that
is, Kentucky Bourbon was not kept in it, al-
though it kept tea, coffee and sugar and
everything that sober people wanted from a
penny whistle to a bass drum, to use a com-
parison. It was a country store, and Mr. H.
H. Fuller was its proprietor; he, at the same
time, kept a hotel, was Postmaster, kept the
depot and a stage office, all of which callings
have grown into larger dimensions than one
man could attend to, except the stage office,
which is now one of the extinct institutions,
like the relics of mastodons that were dug up
on the land of Mr. Jaynes, adjacent to
Wheaton.

Mr. Fuller has now enough to do to attend
to the depot, of which he still has the charge.
His old store stood where the Central Hotel
now stands, immediately south of the depot.

The first man here who followed that occu-
pation to which Elihu Burritt lent so much
honor (that of a blacksmith), was Mr. Worm-
with; his shop stood where the store of
Messrs. Grotte Bros, now stands, and was
erected in 1850. Mr. Wormwith, a few years
later, died with consumption. The ware-
house now occupied by Messrs. Sutcliffe &
Kelly was built the same year as the black-
smith shop — 1850 — by E. Gary and the
Wheatons.

On the 20th of June, 1853, the southeast
quarter of Section 16, Township 36, Range
10, having been laid out in streets, by W.
L. Wheaton, J. C. Wheaton and others, a
plat of it was duly recorded as the village of
Wheaton.

From this period to 1859, the town grew
apace, so as to contain not less than seven or
eight hundred inhabitants. It was, however.

170

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

stigmatized as "Wheaton's Mud-Hole" by
some rival localities — a name, it must be con-
fessed, not unmerited in the early spring or
during excessive wet weather in its primitive
days, when a mxid blockade kept the people
at home oftentimes when pressing necessities
urged locomotion.

Stimulated by these unfavorable conditions,
the prominent citizens of the place saw the
necessities of improving the streets and drain-
ing the sloughs and ponds, of which there
were many, and, after conferring together,
decided that the true interests of the town
required an act of incorporation, in order to
enforce a system of public improvements.
Accordingly, a charter was drawn up by the
United Council of the representative men of
the place, taking the charter of Naperville as
a model, with but two modifications, the first
of which was that the President of the Coun-
cil Board should not be admitted as a mem-
ber of the Board of Supervisors of the county,
and the second was that the Council Board
should have the power to license or suppress
the sale of fermented or distilled liquors of
all kinds. It was stipulated by the charter
as follows: "The first election shall be held
on the third Monday of March, A. D. 1859,
and Erastus Gary, L. J. Bliss, Seth F. Dan-
iels and J. C. Wheaton, or any two of them,
may act as Judges of said election. This act
to be in force from and after its passage."
Approved February 24, 1859.

The north half of the southwest quarter
and the west half of the southeast quarter of
Section 16, the south half of the northeast
quarter and the east half of the southeast
quarter of Section 17. Township 39, Range
10, east of the Third Principal Meridian,
were the lands comprised in the charter.

The second charter of Wheaton, the one
under whose authority the Council now acts,
was approved March 11, 1869. It enlarged

the limits of the town, so as to include in all
the whole of Section 16 and the southeast
quarter and south half of the northeast quar-
ter of Section 17, and the south half of the
south half of Section 9, and the southwest
quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 10,
and the west half of the northeast quarter
and the northwest quarter of the southwest
quarter of Section 15, same township and
range as the first description.

The third article of the charter provided
that the first Monday in each year should be
the day of annual election for town officers,
which officers should consist of a Council
Board of five — that a Justice of the Peace
and a Constable should be elected biennially
on the same day of each alternate yoar, and
that the Council Board shall have power
to appoint a Clerk, Treasurer, Assessor and
Street Commissioner. The office of Assessor
is now discontinued, as the Township Assess-
or acts in his place and the Treasurer of the
village corporation is elected by popular vote
instead of being appointed by the board.

A liberal system of public improvements
has been inaugurated in Wheaton as the
permanent policy of the town. First, the
streets were piked up with dirt from ditches
each side, ponds drained by tiling, and stone
culverts built, but these improvemeuts were
found insufficient to make the streets pass-
able in early spring, or during seasons of rain
and warm weather in the winter, and it was
determined to grade them with gravel, which
fortunately abounds in various places near by.
This work was begun in June, 1877, and, July
16, 1880, a gravel pit was bought of E. H.
Gary, for $400, which gives promise of an
abundant supply of this material so essential
to the wants of the town.

Of the manufacturing interest of Wheaton,
little need be said. In the summer of 1856,
Peter Northrup built a grist-mill, with two

MILTON TOWNSHIP.

173

run of stones propelled by steam power, to
"which a planing-mill was also attached. It
fulfilled his expectations until it was burned
down, in December, 1858. It stood north of
the blacksmith shop of August Michels, across
the street. About the same time this grist mill
was built, a carriage factory was erected just
west of it by Avery Chadwick, with steam-pow-
er for machinery. H. C. Chi Ids, who came to
Wheaton in 1855, full of ambitious ideas,
bought out this establishment, in 1859, and
employed about fifteen hands in it in the
manufacture of locomotive vehicles for chil-
dren and babies, for which there was quite a
good home market in such a fruitful country
as Wheaton and its surroundings. This
building burned down in 1861, but the de-
mand for baby carriages kept on increasing,
notwithstanding. In this emergency, Mr.
Childs went to work immediately to build
another factory, the site of which was across
the street south of the Methodist Church. It
was finished in 1862, and the same business
went on it till the supply of baby carts was
ahead of the demand, for there is a limit to
the rate of animated reproduction. Mr.
Childs now bought the ground now occupied
by the Kelly Block, where formerly stood a
fine hotel owned by Mr. Kinney (which had
been burnt in 1861) and here he erected the
building which now stands on the spot, and
it is worthy of notice that he established the
grade of Wheaton business streets by elevat-
ing his sidewalk several feet above the old
grade. The next attempt at manufacturing
here was by R. Blanchard, who established a
map factory in the Bedel Block, opposite the
depot, in the autumn of 1871. In a few
weeks the building burned, and Mr. Blanch-
ard transferred his business to other quar-
ters, and ultimately, to his own premises, on
the grounds of his homestead. On the spot
made vacant by the burning of the Bedel

Block was built the Central Block, in 1875 .
It is the principal business block of the town,
containing ample stores and basements, with
a fine hall and offices above.

Had none of these establishments been
burned, it is hardly to be supposed that
Wheaton would ever have attained notoriety
as a manufacturing town, for the reason that
no streams of living water run through it,
but its eligible situation as a place of resi-
dence commends it to those wishing a home
in a healthy locality among intelligent and
thrifty people. The houses in the town are
ample distances apart to insure a free circula-
tion of air between each, and, in consequence
of the college having been located at the
eastern extremity of the town, and the grad-
ed schoolhouse at the western, its area pre-
sents tangent points in each respective direc-
tion.

For a place of its size, few have such an
extended reputation, and it is well known
that its fame is due to the tenacious religious
connections, not only of its leading men. but
of its every-day sort of people, who follow
the ordinary occupations of life. This is
evident from the fact that there are eight
churches here which support regular preach-
ing, and at least four more kinds of religious
beliefs, too weak in numbers to have churches
and preaching, but not too luke-warm in their
religious feelings to keep alive in their hearts
and consciences fidelity to their principles,
and it is proper here to add that the univer-
sal charity that the necessity of religious
sentiment has imparted to the place, has
thrown its mantel over all who act out relig-
ion whatever they do or do not profess; and
it is historically due to Wheaton to say that a
citizen will be equally respected here if he
does or does not help support any religious
faith, other things being equal.

The remarkable cases of longevity here are

174

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

worthy of mention. Henry T. Wilson, aged
ninety-four, now able to go out of doors, but
his mind enfeebled and his memory almost
gone. He is well known as having been an
active and useful pioneer and a thrifty farm-
er. Edward W. Brewster is ninety years
old; he has seen all our early Presidents, in-
cluding President Washington, of whom he
still retains a dim recollection, though but a
child when he saw him. He has ever been
foremost in every good work that appeared
before him to be done during his long and
useful life. For many years he was a mem-
ber of the School Board of Chicago, and his
large list of friends are still found among the
most intelligent people of that city and other
places where his life has been spent. His
mind is still bright, and he may be seen al-
most any pleasant day at work in his garden.

Mr. and Mrs. Sanford Manchester, each
over eighty years old, have lived forty years
in Wheaton, and, on the 28th of June, 1882,
celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of their
wedding-day. They are now enjoying a rea-
sonable degree of health.

The elevation of Wheaton at the depot is
166 feet above Lake Michigan, on the rail-
road track. From this point, the land grad-
uates upward, both to the north and to the
south, except in the channel of a slough,
which tends to the southwest, and affords a
good escapement for surface drainage.

WHEATON COLLEGE.

About the year 1850, a movement was set
on foot in the Illinois Annual Conference of
the Wesleyan Methodist denomination to es-
tablish an institution of learning somewhere
in the State of Illinois.

The originators of the scheme were mostly
men who had but little of this world's goods
and prized learning for the power that they
saw it gave others, rather than from any ex-

tensive realization of its benefits in them-
selves. They were real reformers, and were
especially interested in the anti-slavery strag-
gle which was then at its height.

They saw with deep concern the children
of anti slavery fathers and mothers, who
were sent to college, where nothing was said
against human bondage, soon losing their
parents' principles and concluding that if
slavery were as bad as they had been taught
at home to regard it, the teachers they had
learned to reverence and love would say some-
thing about it.

Their purpose, as his father, who was one
of them, has often told the writer, was not so
much to start a denominational, sectarian
school, as to provide a pJace where their
principles, by them prized and early taught
to their children, should not be smothered
out by being held in silence by those who
taught or desiroyed by the active, despotic
teaching of the times. Wheaton, offering the
most favorable terms, was chosen as the seat
of this school. Preparations for building
began by the founders kneeling in the prairie
grass on the summit of the beautiful hill now
crowned by the stately stone edifice known as
Wheaton College building, and dedicated the
hill and all that should be upon it to that
God in whom trusting they had boldly gone
into the thickest of the fight, not only for the
freedom of human bodies, but of human souls
as well.

Although often being taunted by the enemy
with being men of but one idea, and some-
times pleading guilty to the charge, their one
idea was a grand one, including the whole of
man, all his interests for this world and the
next.

A plain stone building, two stories above
the basement, forty-five feet by seventy-five,
was first erected at a cost of about! 10,000.
In the basement of which, the upper part be-

MILTON TOWNSHIP

175

ing yet unfinished, on the 14th of December,
1853, the Illinois Institute, for such was its
first name, was opened under the instruction
of Kev. John Cross, suceeding whom, the
next April, the Kev. C. F. Winship, afterward
missionary to Africa, had charge of the same
for one year. Subsequently, Eev. G. P. Kim-
ball, Miss Pierce and the writer of this consti-
tuted the faculty until the opening of the next
college year, when Kev. J A. Marti ing became
"Principal of the first collegiate year."

On the opening of the school year, Septem-
ber, 1856, Kev. L. C. Matlach, who had been
chosen President some years before, entered
upon his office. He was preceded a little by
Prof. F. G. Baker, who has, till his recent
decease, been Professor of Music and Trustee.
Also by Dr. Hiatt. The Trustees had sold,
chiefly through the agency of Kev. R. F.
Markham, for many years Trustee and agent,
scholarships to the amount of $21,000, of
wliich the intention was to use only the in-
terest, but, in the exigencies of building and
keeping up current expenses, some $6,000 of
the principal was either invested in a board-
ing-hall or used up in paying bills.

This was in part offset by $2,000 or $3,000
of interest on scholarships yet unpaid. An
effort was made to replace the money expend-
ed by investing all the interest accruing
thereafter and making up a fund of $3,200
to run the school for two years, by the faculty
giving $200 each from their already very
small salaries, and the Trustees giving each
a like sum, and securing the balance by sub-
scription outside. This plan was only par-
tially successful, but served to help the in-
stitution along for a time.

Under the Illinois Institute charter, the
Trustees were appointed by the Illinois Con-
ference, and vacancies accruing between its
sessions were filled by the Trustees them-
selves.

The finances of the institution becoming
more and more involved, the Trustees began
to cast about for outside aid to meet current
expenses and pay a debt that had already
reached the sum of $5,"000. This debt, which
had grown to over $6,000, was afterward paid
through the efforts of President Blanchard.
If some people could be found and enlisted,
who had principles like their own, the school
could yet be saved and made to fulfill the
design of its founders.

The Congregationalists, in their free gov-
ernment and general adhesion to reform prin-
ciples, seemed more like them than any other
church.

Overtures were accordingly made to the
Congregational State Association, and also to
President J. Blanchard, who had recently left
the Presidency of Knox College. A meeting
of leading Congregationalists was appointed
at Wheaton to consider the matter, which
meeting, as a whole, decided against the prop-
osition to adopt the college; yet many of
its leading members promised all the aid in
their power, if President Blanchard would
take the Presidency of the college.

Stipulating that the charter should be so
changed that the Trustees should be a closed
board; that the church should make some
slight changes, and, while retaining its con-
nection with the conference, should become
connected with the Congregational Associa-
tion, President Blanchard consented to take
the Presidency, although at the same time he
had similar invitations from five other insti
tutions — some, perhaps all, apparently more
eligible than the one accepted, for the reason
that he preferred a college whose principles
were like his own. The founders, also, were
careful before giving up the control, to stipu-
late that the institution should continue to
teach their principles, which included not
only opposition to chattel slavery, but as well

176

HISTOKY OF DV PAGE COUNTY.

opposition to all spiritual despotism that
seeks to fetter the souls of men by profane
and extrajudicial oaths and obligations.

In Jannary, 1860, President Blanchard en-
tered upon the duties of "his office. The name
of the institution was changed to Wheaton
College, and the charter was amended by the
Legislature of 1861.

The first class of seven young men, all of
them from the regular college course, gradu-
ated on the 4th of July, 1860.

The Board of Trustees was enlarged to
twenty members, and J. Blanchard, Hon.
Owen Lovejoy, Dr. F. Bascom, Deacon Moses
Pettengill, De Chester Hard, Dr. Edward
Beecher and F. H. Mathers, Esq., became
members of the Board of Trustees.

On the breaking-out of the war, a large
number of students went into the army, so
that the next year no class graduated.

In response to the country's first call for
men, several entered the service, among whom
O. W. Wood, of the Freshman class, a noble,
Christian young man, who, amid many dis-
couragements, was working his way to a col-
lege diploma and a life of usefulness beyond I
it, contracted fatal disease while lying en- |
camped among the swamps of Cairo. He j
lingered long enough to return to friends at
Dover, 111., but soon struck his tent and went
to be with the angels.

G. H. Apthorpe sickened at the same time
and place, subsequently recovered and was
afterward shot dead while fighting as Captain
of a colored company.

J. H Dudley, too, succumbed to the ma-
laria engendered by the stagnant waters
about Cairo, dying at his home, in Whiteside
County, 111. Of this same first quota of the
college to the war, W. H H. Mills, a slender,
beautiful youth, and a universal favorite,
lost his life while bathing in the Ohio Kiver.

Subsequently, G. C. Hand, of Elkhorn,

Wis., then a graduate of the college, a young
man of splendid scholarship, of high, noble,
Christian bearing, who went into the army
to serve his country, not for pelf or prefer-
ment, choosing the post of a private when
office was offered him, volunteering to go un-
armed with the surgeons into danger, and,
when captured, suffering another to go free
in his place when he might have been ex-
changed, died by starvation in a rebel prison.

H. Skinner, "Little Skinner," as we used
to call him, wiry, withy little fellow, thwarfcwd
the cunning or malice of some practical joker
or copperhead, who had, during the night,
placed the hated palmetto flag above the
great ball surmounting the cupola of tbe col-
lege, hoping to enjoy the rage of the mass of
angry youth who, in the morning, should
hasten to haul it down. The boy's peering
eyes, before all others, espied it, and, almost
without an observer, he performed the daring
feat of climbing the lightning rod and no eye
again saw that emblem of rebellion. To our
surprise, for we thought him too small for a
soldier, one day Skinner donned the blue and
slung his knapsack and rode away to join the
country's braves on the field of deadly strife.
In the morning of that awful day at Pea
Ridge, Skinner was on the sick list. When
the order came to march out to battle, forth
came he from the hospital, but was ordered
back, but the hospital could not contain him
while his fellows were fighting for their
country. Sallying forth, he mounted ahorse
and all day long he was in the thickest of the
fight, and, at nightfall, insensible, was borne
by loving comrades back to camp.

In one of the hard-fought battles of the
South, while in the midst of a conflict, a rebel
bullet sent him to sleep with the immortal
defenders of liberty. Wheaton College gave
to the country other sons not here mentioned,
because not known to the writer, or, if once

MILTON TOWNSHIP.

177

known, not now recalled. Others, no less
brave, bear honorable scars that tell of their
fidelity. Among these, Maj. Powell, now of
the Smithsonian Institute, having buried an
arm in the grave of the great rebellion, after-
ward, in the service of science, in the ex-
plorations of the caiions of the great rivers
of the Pacific slope, performed deeds of dar-
ing surpassing those of knight -errant, with
his one strong arm boldly steering his frail
boat into gloomy canons, which the boldest
native, with two arms, dared not enter, shoot-
ing the water falls and coming out safe many
miles below. M>j. John Kinley, of the in-
vincible Eighth Illinois Cavalry, is growing
prematurely gray from an ugly wound receiv-
ed in battle, and Sergt. J. F. Ellis, who,
while carrying his colors into the deadly
breach, fell by a terrible wound, still lives to
engage in the ever irrepressible moral con-
flict against evil. But the great design of
Wheaton College was not to fit men for car-
nal warfare. It soon found that in this world
where error reigns, truth may not be taught
with impunity. From the first, the college
had a rule forbidding students to attend se-
cret societies while in college. The Master
of the Masonic Lodge gave notice that he
intended to break down this rule. For some
months it did not appear how he was going
to make the attack, till at length a strolling
lecturer was imported to organize a Good
Templars Lodge. He said publicly, let the
students join us, and, if the faculty dare say
anything we will publish them to the ends of
the earth, and they will have to shut up their
doors. Three students were known to have
joined them, one of whom was made their
Secretary, and defiantly posted notice of their
meetings in the college halls. The challenge
thus boldly given was not declined. When
arraigned and asked if they knew of the col-
lege rule, they said they did and intended to

disregard it. Their parents were then inter-
viewed, and one of them said that he pro-
posed that his son should attend the lodge
and the college too. The students were then
suspended until they should conform to the
rule. The falsehood was everywhere pub-
lished that the college had expelled students
for belonging to a temperance society. A
writ of mandamus was sued out to compel
the faculty to take these students back.
They were beaten in the lower court and
appealed, the Master of the Masonic Lodge
signing the bail bonds for the costs. The
Supreme Court sustained the decision of
the lower tribunal, and the first moral conflict
ended.

As to birds, there comes a time of nest build-
ing; so to men and institutions there comes
a time to build; such was the next great un-
dertaking of this young college.

A proposition was made to raise the first
$10,000 in little Du Page County, and the
President said that if others would raise this
amount at home, he would go abroad and se-
cure other funds to complete the enterprise.
Part of the sum was raised, and the writer of
this was appointed to canvass the county and
complete the subscription

The west wing was then inclosed and six
recitation rooms finished in the connecting
wing, when all the moneys raised were ex-
pended, and, in pursuance of the policy not
to go into debt, building operations ceased.

About two years f ter, the President hav
ing secured more money, the work of build
ing was again resumed, and continued until
the present noble building was completed, at
a cost of some $70,000, although in doing so
a dfbt ; in spite of the President's protest, of
$20,000 was contracted.

After this period of external material ac-
tivity, there succeeded a calm which was fol-
lowed by a moral tornado.

178

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

The immediate successors of the Illinois
Institute Trustees and faculty felt doubly
bound, both by their own convictions and by
the injunction of their predecessors to teach
their principles, while others who came in
later, while professing to hold the same prin-
ciples, wished Wheaton to be like other col-
leges that made no stir about these reform
principles. The secret empire, which, de-
spising the weakness of this feeble folk, had
before kept comparatively quiet, now began
to show signs of war. As before, the local
lodge issued, by its Master, its brutum fulmen
against a rule, so now there came from secret
caverns a hundred miles away an edict that
the head of this dangerous institution must
be cut off. Strike, but conceal the hand, is
the assassin's motto, upon which secrecy al-
ways acts. The outburst of this real division
of sentiment in the college and church; the
sore heads always thrown off by any active
movement; the financial embarrassment of
the college, all together, seemed to afford a
fitting opportunity for action, and for the
real actors to escape notice.

One material thing only seems to have es-
caped their notice. No power on earth could
perform the desired decapitation outside of
the Board of Trustees, and the large majority
of these held the same principles as their
President, and were men whom neither threats
could intimidate nor money buy, both of
which were tried.

When other measures failed, ecclesiastical
action was taken, such as, if now attempted
in any civil court in Christendom, would con-
demn the actors to an immortality of infamy
more enduring than that of the Star Chamber
or the Holy Commission, the result of which
was to drive from the association of which he
had been a father, and the college church
from connection with what had always pro-
fessed to be a circle of free churches. Whpn

the mad surges finally are laid, it is found
that God still reigns, and Wheaton College,
head and all, lives. Not only lives, but still
grows and strengthens, sending downward its
roots and upward and outward its branches,
bearing leaves and flowers and fruits, bidding
fair to become a tree of the centuries, to
stand, when the errors it was set to with-
stand have faded from the minds of an intel-
ligent, free, Christian people.

The debt of the college, now increased to
nearly $24,000, still remained unpaid. Prof.
C. A. Blanchard was planning for much-
needed rest in the summer vacation, when,
on reading some passages of Scripture, he
felt impressed that the debt must be paid,
and he must take measures to raise it. Times
were still hard, and sober business men said
that nothing short of a financial miracle
could do it. Contrary to the judgment of
the President even, Prof. Blanchard got up
a subscription, payable in case the whole sum
should be subscribed before the opening of
the next fall term. When urged to put the
time longer, he said if it was raised God
must raise it, and he could do it in that
time as well as longer. Before the time ap-
pointed, every dollar of he sum was made up
as a free-will offering.

The college lives to day out of debt, its
faculty agreeing to take what money comes
in during the year, and at the close give :he
balance of their small salaries, and report no
debt.

Owing to the infirmities of age, its old
President has for two years sought to retire,
but, by the united entreaties of Trustees and
faculty, has been induced to retain the office ,
till the present

He now, full of years and honors, gives place
to his son, Prof. Charles A. Blanchard, who
comes to the head of an institution every way
well equipped for duty, having in addition

MILTON TOWNSHIP.

179

to the ordinary college, a prosperous musical
department, under the charge of Prof. S.
Wesley Martin; a very successful art depart-
ment, taught by Mrs. S. H. Nutting, and a
young and vigorous theological seminary,
under the charge of President L. N. Stratton,
one of the first graduates of the college. — O.
F. Lumhy.

THE COLLEGE CHUBCH OF CHRIST.

The first settlers on the site of the town of
Wheaton were Hon. Warren L. Wheaton and
his brother, Jesse C. Wheaton, for whom the
town was named. They worshiped with a
small Methodist Episcopal Society, at Gary's
Mill, in this county. The first society formed
within the town was by Wesley ans, February,
1843, and numbered at first fourteen mem-
bers.

This society was ministered to by Rev.
Rufus Lamry, Rev. Milton Smith, Alexander
McArthur, L. B. Ferris, John Cross, G. Clark,
William Kimball, H. Moulton, William Whit-
ten and R. F. Markham, whose labors ex-
tended to 1855. From that year to 1859,
the preachers were Joel Grinnell, G. P. Kim-
ball and L. C. Matlack.

January, 1860, J. Blanchard, who had been
called to the Presidency of the college, took
charge of the church. A new charter was ob-
tained for the college, and the name of the
church was changed to the First Church of
Christ, in Wheaton, February 2, 1860, and
about one hundred members were received in
the first two years of his pastorate. The Wes-
leyans had a rule excluding members of secret
orders from the first, seventeen years before the
change, and they made it a condition of the
change that their testimonies against slavery
and secret societies should be faithfully main-
tained, which condition has been sacredly
observed. It was, however, thought expe-
dient to organize a Wesleyan society, and an

amicable division took place, which resulted
in the present Wesleyan Church in Whea-
ton, November, 1862. Before and since the
withdrawal of the Wesleyans, the members
of both churches have all walked in harmony
from first to last.

The "First Church of Christ" was so
named after the manner of the early Congre-
gational Churches of this county, which
aimed to be after the strict New Testament
model, and were not called "Congregational,"
but as in Hartford and New Haven, etc.,
simply churches, designated by number,
street or locality. Like the early Congre-
gational Churches, too, it called its commit-
tees of discipline " Elders. " Its government,
too, like theirs, is strictly Scriptural, that is
to say, democratic.

Several attempts were made to over-ride or
rescind the rule excluding the secret deistical
orders, both in the church and in the college,
but our Circuit and Supreme Courts sustained
the rule, and the church refused to ignore or
rescind it.

The church united with the Fox River
Union in 1860. It was set off to a new Con-
gregational association, the Aurora, in 1867,
and was transferred by request to the Elgin
association, in 1875. The relations of the
First Church with the three local associations
to which it has belonged, have been unexcep-
tionably harmonious, as also with the general
association of Illinois. All these bodies have
on their records, the strongest possible testi-
monies against the deistic secret orders. In
1867, the State Association adopted a resolu-
tion, written by Professor, now President,
Bartlett, of Dartmouth College, declaring
Freemasonry M hostile to good government
and the true religion," and, at the same ses-
sion, a report by Dr. Edward Beecher, which
says: "By it (Freemasonry) Christ is de-
throned and Satan is exalted." And Aurora

180

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Association refused to license two young
men who were Freemasons to preach.

Difficulties having arisen in 1877 of a com-
plex nature, stimulated by an officer of a Ma
sonic lodge outside, at the written request of
above eighty members, in January, 1878,
the church voted to dissolve and become two
churches, allowing the members to go with
either body as they chose. Some thirty act-
ing members withdrew and afterward ex-
changed the name of "First Chiorch of
Christ " for the " First Congregational
Church," and also struck from the manual
their testimony against secret lodges.

The original church, to avoid controversy
about the name, took the name of the " Col-
lege Church of Christ, retains the testimonies
unaltered (1882), worships in the same place
where it ever has done since its organization;
has enjoyed several revivals of religion, peace
in its own membership and charity with all
churches of Christ — Jonathan Blan chard.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The organization known as the First Con-
gregational Church, Wheaton, originated in
a meeting held at the residence of Joseph
Chadwick, Sr., in February, 1843, and was
first known as the Wesleyan Methodist
Church, its membership numbering fourteen
persons. Rev. Rufus Lumry was the first
minister. For several years, no records were
preserved, but it is known that the follow-
ing-named ministers preached for the church
between the years 1843 and 1854: Milton
Smith, Alex McArthur, L. B. Ferris, John
Cross, Geo. Clark, Wm. Kimball, H. Moulton,
Wm Whittin and R. F. Markham.

The records have been preserved since
1855, and from these we learn that Rev. Joel
Grennell preached a few months during that
year; Rev. G. P. Kimball, four months in
1856; Rev. L. C. Matlack, in 1856-59.

In January, 1860, Rev. J. Blanchard was
employed as supply, and on February 2 suc-
ceeding, the church voted to adopt the name
of the First Church of Christ, in Wheaton,
111. , and to send a delegate to the next meet-
ing of the Fox River "Union, a Congrega-
tional association. At the same time, a
church covenant, in accordance with Congre-
gational usage, was adopted. At the meet-
ing of the Fox River Union, April 25, 1860,
the church was received into the fellowship
of the Congregational Churches. For geo-
graphical considerations, it was dismissed to
the Aurora Association in 1867, and by that
body to the Elgin Association in 1875, where
it still holds denominational connection.

On November 29, 1862, twenty-eight mem-
bers petitioned for letters of dismission, to
form a Wesleyan Methodist Church, which
were granted.

In January, 1878, difficulties in the church
culminated in the withdrawal and subsequent
excision of a large number of members, who
organized as an independent body, styled the
College Church of Christ.

During the twenty-two years of existence
as a Congregational Church, nearly seven
hundred persons have been connected with its
membership, and its pulpit has been supplied
by the following clergymen, viz. : E. N.
Lewis, G. F. Milliken, William H. Brewster,
J. B. Walker, D. D., Lathrop Taylor and
Augustine G. Hibbard. The pastoral relation
has been formally instituted in but two in-
stances, Rev. G. F. Milliken and the present
pastor having been regularly installed.

A house of worship was built in 1878, at a
cost of nearly $5,500. In January, 1879,
the name was changed to harmonize with its
denominational connection, to its present
title, the First Congregational Church. The
present membership is forty-three; Sabbath
school membership, seventy; contributions

MILTON TOWNSHIP.

181

for twelve months, $1,300. Church Clerk,
Rev. I. A. Hart; Deacons, Loren Barnes,
Rev. H. W. Cobb and E. B. Wakeman; Sun-
day School Superintendent, William Nunn;
Trustees, E. W. Fisher, George Maze, S. N.
Moffatt. — Augustine R. Hibbaed.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The Methodist Episcopal Church at Whea-
ton was organized as a circuit October 24,
1857, with the following officers: Rev. J.
W. Agard, Presiding Elder; Rev. J. Nate,
first pastor; Rev. C. Gary, Local Deacon;
Erastus Gary, Levi Ballou, M. E. Nash,
John Finnerson, George Reed, Joel Wiant,
William Ainsworth and Warren L. Wheaton,
Stewards; Orlando Wakeley, David S. Chris-
tian and William Miller, Class-Leaders.

Rev. T. L. Olmsted, with Rev. George
Brewster as his assistant, succeeded Rev. J.
Nate as pastor.

In 1859, Rev. Luke Hitchcock was Presid-
ing Elder, and Rev. Thomas Corcoran was
preacher in charge.

In May, 1860, Rev. L. Hitchcock was
elected agent of the Western Methodist Book
Concern, and Rev. E. M. Boring was ap-
pointed Presiding Elder of the district. In
the fall of I860,, Wheaton was made a sta-
tion, with Rev. L. H. Bugbee as preacher in
charge, Rev. William Kimball as Local El-
der, with P. M. Curtis, O. Wakeley, J. C.
Wheaton and W. L. Wheaton as Stewards,
with M. E. Nash and L. S. Phillips as Class-
Leaders.

In the winter of 1861, the present church
was finished, and dedicated by Bishop M.
Simpson, assisted by Rev. E. M. Boring and
Rev. O. H. Tiffany. It had eighty-seven
members and eighteen probationists, and the
Sunday school connected with it had an en-
rollment of 160. Wheaton was in the Chi-
cago District of the Rock River Conference.

The following is a list of its Presiding El-
ders, who succeeded Rev. E. M. Boring to the
present time: Rev. S. P. Keys, Rev. H.
Crews, Rev. W. C. Damdy, Rev. A. J. Jut-
kins, Rev. W. C. Willing and Rev. L. Hitch-
cock.

The following is the order of pastors since
the first one: Rev. A. W. Page, Rev. J. O.
Cramb, Rev. George E. Strowbridge, Rev. S.
Stover, Rev. John Ellis (during whose charge
there was a gracious revival of religion), Rev.
William Goodfellow, D. D, Rev. J. G. Camp-
bell, Rev. S. Searl, Rev. R. Congdon, Rev.
W'illiam P. Gray and Rev. E. M. Boring.

The church has had a varied history.
Many who have been identified with it
have removed to other localities, and many
have died in the faith and gone home to
heaven.

It has contributed its share to the benevo-
lent enterprises of the day, both in material
aid and by its influence, and now stands with
a fair record and in the enjoyment of a rea-
sonable degree of prosperity — an honor to the
cause of Christ, and a blessing to the world.
It has a membership of eighty-seven, and five
probationists, and a Sunday school member-
ship of 225, with an average attendance, dur-
ing the past year, of 110.

The writer has just been returned to this
charge for the third year. The following
are the present officers of the church: A. B.
Curtis, Local Preacher; J. C Wheaton, Sr.,
J. C. Wheaton, Jr., W. I. Wheaton, E. H.
Gary, N. E. Gary, William L. Gary, William
H. Wakelee, B. Loveless and H. H. Fuller,
Stewards; A. B. Curtis, Levi Ballou, C. O.
Boring, Class-Leaders; J. C. Wheaton, Sr.,
E. H. Gary, William L. Gary, H. H. Fuller,
H. Holt, J. G. Vallette, J. J. Cole and A. M
Ballou, Trustees; C. O. Boring and A. B.
Curtis, Superintendents of the Sunday school.
The Trustees hold in trust for the church one

182

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

church valued at $3,000, and one parsonage
valued at $2,500.

The above report is made from imperfect
data, and doubtless has many omissions of
persons and events which should have been
named — E. M. Boring.

BAPTIST CHURCH.

Rev. Philander Taylor was the real pio-
neer of the Baptist denomination in this vi-
cinity. He began his work at Stacy's Cor-
ners as early as 1846, and succeeded in es-
tablishing a church at the place, which would
have been a permanent one, had not the in-
fluence of the railroad, which left that place
a mile out of the way in 1849, drawn busi-
ness to Danby.

Under such adverse circumstances, it was
in vain to try to build up the church at tho
Corners, and the building which had been
erected for its use was removed to Danby, the
railroad station, where the prospects for a
village seemed promising. Meanwhile, the
few Baptists at the Corners, intent on build-
ing up and re-organizing, chose Wheaton as
the most propitious place for their second
attempt, not for its local convenience, but
because it seemed to give better promise of a
growing place than any other within the
same compass. In accordance with this reso-
lution, the society held their meeting at a
schoolhouse at this place, after the removal
of their church, and continued to do so till
1863, during which period several citizens of
Wheaton joined them, and they felt stroDg
enough to organize a church, which was done
in 1864. For the next year, they held their
meetings mostly in the Universalist Church.
Meantime, they had commenced a building
of their own, which was partly finished, and
meetings held in its vestry room from May 12,

1866, till the completion of the building, in

1867. It was dedicated the 5th of Decem-

ber. Rev. Garrison was the pastor of this
society from its first meetings in Wheaton
most of the time till its re-organization at
that place in 1864. Rev. B. F. McLafferty
was the first pastor after its re-organization.
He was succeeded by Rev. S. W. Marston,
who held charge till 1865, since which time
Rev. E. O. Brien, Rev. W. W. Smith, Rev.
A. J. Colby, Rev. F. M. Smith, Rev. S. Ba-
ker, Jr., Rev. Henry B. Waterman and Rev.
T. W. Green have in turn been pastors of
this church. The main church building is
33x56 feet, added to which is a vestry 18x24
feet.

The first Trustees of the church were P.
W. Stacy, John Sutcliffe, P. S. Driscoll, E.
S. Kelley and John Roberts.

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN WHEATON.

The first services of this church were held
in June, 1875, by the Rev. Dr. C. V. Kelly,
who continued to hold occasional services
until the time of his death, in the spring of
1876. The Rev. Dr. William Reynolds suc-
ceeded him in the work in June, 1876, re-
maining in charge of the mission until his
death, in the summer of the same year. The
parish then remained without a clergyman
for nearly a year, the services being contin-
ued every Sunday with Mr. William A.
Shearson as lay reader.

In May, 1877, Bishop McLaren sent to the
mission the Rev. Dr. T. N. Morrison, who
has remained in charge up to the present
date (October, 1882).

Until June, 1882, the services of the mis-
sion were held in the Universalist Church;
but on Sunday, the 18th of December, 1881,
the Bishop of the Diocese laid the corner-
stone of the new church, which was completed
in June of the following year.

The consecration services were held on the
20th of June, 1882, and were attended by the

MILTON TOWNSHIP.

183

Bishop and a large number of the clergy and
laity from Chicago and its vicinity.

The new church, which bears the name of
Trinity, is built of wood, with stone found-
ation. Its seating capacity is about one hun-
dred and fifty, the dimensions of the nave
being 28x60 feet, and of the chancel 14x16.
The interior of the church is finished in oiled
pine and stained walnut, and has a handsome
open timbered roof. The windows are of
stained glass, and are, in several instances,
memorial gifts. The chancel is semi-octag-
onal in form, and is finished like the body
of the church. The various articles of chan-
cel furniture are of walnut, and were, with
the exception of the altar, gifts from individ
uals, the altar being given by the Church of
the Epiphany, Chicago.

The church, which is entirely free of de,bt,
was built and furnished at a cost of about
$5,100, all of which was contributed by the
members of the mission and their friends. —
Mary Drummond.

wesleyan methodist church.

The Wesleyan Methodist Church of Whea-
ton was organized in February, 1843, at a
meeting held at the house of Joseph Chad-
wick, in what is now known as the Hadley
neighborhood. George C. Vedder was chosen
Chairman; Joseph Chadwick, Steward; and
Abial Hadley, Class-Leader. Kev. Eufus
Lumery was the first pastor. The primary
reason which led to this organization was the
connection of the Methodist Episcopal Church
with slavery, the parties in this movement
being members of her communion. That
this band of reformers were justified in their
action is unmistakably proven by the history
of the times, the church from which they
withdrew, as also others, having long since
indorsed their position.

The distinctive reformatory principles of

the church are opposition to slavery, secret
societies and arbitrary church government;
methodistical in doctrine and usages, Congre-
gational in government, the laity being
equally represented with the clergy in all
their deliberations. It holds an associated
relation with a connection of churches known
as the Wesleyan Methodist connection of
America. This was the first church in
Wheaton. Its early history and interests
were closely identified with those of Wheaton
College, which was founded by the Wesley -
ans under the name of Illinois Institute. In
1860, by mutual agreement, the college passed
into the hands of the Congregationalists,
and the church connected therewith assumed
the name of the First Church of Christ, fol-
lowing which a re- organization was effected,
thereby constituting the present Wesleyan
Church.

The following persons have served the
church as pastors : Bevs. B. Lumery, Milton
Smith, A. McArthur, L. B. Ferris, John
Cross, George Clark, William Kimball, H.
Maulton, William Whitten, B. F. Markham.
George Kimball, Joel Grennell, L. C. Mal-
lack, J. Blanchard, A. H. Hiatt, D. F. Shep-
ardson, H. B. Will, William Pinkney, Will-
iam H. Van Boren, J. M. Snyder, J. N. Bed-
ford, A. F. Dempsey and L. N. Stratton,
President of Wheaton Theological Seminary.
— L. W. Mills.

st. Michael's catholic church.
The Catholic congregation of St. Michael's
Church at Wheaton was organized in 1879.
Up to that time, and until the new church
was formally and solemnly dedicated — which
was done on the 29th of June, 1882 — the peo-
ple living in and around Wheaton used to at-
tend service partly in Winfield, partly in
Milton, both places being two and a half miles
distant from Wheaton. In 1879, however, the

184

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

people thought it best to have their own at-
tendance, and hence they concluded to build
a suitable church for worship. The founda-
tion was begun on the 29th of May; 1879,
and by the 24th of the following month, work
had advanced so far that the corner-stone
could be laid, which was done by Very Rev.
J. McMullen, at that time Administrator of
the Diocese of Chicago. After the comple-
tion of the basement, work stopped for nearly
two years — apparently for want of means —
but it was resumed in the fall of 1881. The
edifice, which has a stone basement, on which
is built a handsome frame church, measures
45x80. Above the altar in the middle, a
picture of the Archangel St. Michael, fighting
the demon, an oil painting by J. Schott,
Detroit; at the left of the altar, a statue of
the Blessed Virgin ; and at the right a statue
of St. Joseph. The whole was finished June
29, 1882. It is an ornament for Wheaton, a
proof* of the liberality of the rather small
congregation — number of families at present
being about thirty-five. It was solemnly
blessed on the above date, by His Grace, the
Most Rev. Archbishop P. A. Feehan, D. D.,
who appointed the Rev. William de la Porte,
who, for over twelve years, was pastor at Na-
perville, as rector of the new church. — Wm.
de la pobte.

st. Stephen's church at milton.
This church is as old as St. Peter's at Na-
perville, from which place it was formerly
attended up to August, 1866. Then the Rev.
M. Albrecht took, for a short time, charge of
the congregation. After his departure, for
two years it was attended by the Benedictine
Fathers from. Chicago, when the church at
Winfield was built, and that place received
its own pastor. Milton then was regularly
attended from Winfield twice a month. At
present, it is under the care of the pastor of

"Wheaton, who visits the church likewise
twice a month. — Wm. de la Porte.

THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN ST. JOHN'S
CHURCH OF WHEATON.

This congregation was organized in the
beginning of the year 1865. At the time of
its organization, it numbered some forty fam-
ilies. Its first services were held in the Uni-
versalist Church, Rev. F. W. Richmann, at
that time pastor of a congregation in Elgin,
occupying their pulpit every second Sunday.
On Christmas Day of the same year, the
congregation tendered a regular call to Rev.
Prof. C. A. T. Selle, of the Evangelical Lu-
theran Teachers' Seminary at Addison, 111.,
who accepted, and remained their pastor for
nearly seven years. Services were then held
in # the northeast and public schoolhouse. At
the close of 1871, Prof. Selle left, and Rev.
G. G. W. Bruegmann, pastor of Rothenberg,
followed in his place. This gentleman also
remained for a period of seven years. Dur-
ing the time of his pastorate, in 1875, the
congregation bought the southwest end pub-
lic school property, and fitted it up to suit
their purpose. In the spring of 1878, Rev.
Bruegmann accepted a call to Herscher Sta-
tion, 111., and the pulpit of the congregation
from that time until the fall of 1880 was
alternately supplied by the Lutheran pastors
from neighboring towns, viz., Rev. H. F.
Fruechtenicht, from Elgin; Rev. M. Grosse,
from Oak Park; Rev. I. H. C. Steege, from
Dundee; Rev. H. Freese, from Algonquin;
Rev. H. Grupe, from Rothenberg; Rev. L.
Wagner, from Chicago; and Rev. Prof. Theo-
i dore Brohm, from Addison. Up to this time,
the congregation had Gospel service but every
second Sunday. In the fall of 1880, their
present pastor, the Rev. Karl Koch, was
tendered a call, who had just finished his
theological studies in the seminary, connected

MILTON TOWNSHIP.

185

with the German Evangelical Lutheran Syn-
od of Missouri, Ohio and other States, at St.
Louis. Regular services were now held every
Sabbath day. The present number of fami-
lies constituting the congregation is fifty-live,
with nearly three hundred and fifty souls.
In connection with the church, an every-day
school is sustained by the congregation,
which is taken care of and taught by the
pastor himself. The number of scholars last
winter was sixty-two; in spring, thirty-two.
The schoolhouse was built in the fall of 1881,
at an expense of nearly $600. The present
value of the whole property belonging to the
congregation is about $3,000.

Standing in close relation with the congre-
gation at Wheaton, there is a smaller one at
Turner Junction, numbering but fifteen fam-
ilies, where regular Gospel services are led
by the pastor of the Wheaton Church in the
afternoon of every second Sunday. The
place of worship is the Methodist Church,
the use of which has been secured for a small
amount of rent. — Karl Koch.

THE UNIVEESALIST CHURCH OF WHEATON.

In 1862, a few men met together in Whea-
ton to form a society. They were not pro-
fessed Universalists, but this name was applied
to them, and perhaps fitted them better than
any other. They resolved to build a church,
and appointed a committee to this end, whose
names were C. K. W. Howard, H C. Childs,
E. Holmes, J. O. Vallette and Hiram Smith.
The house was built by subscription, and
dedicated the same year. S. C. Bulkley was
the first pastor, who has been succeeded by
A. M. Worden, A. B. Call, J. O. Barrett,
Henry Jewell, Samuel Ashton, D. P. Kayner,
J. Straube and S. Sage.

Some of the terms of the above ministers
lasted but a few weeks, and between several
of them have been vacations without preach-

ing. It would not be proper to call this body
of men a church, because they never have
united under any bond of faith, or instituted
any church ordinance in discipline. Strictly
speaking, they are liberals, perhaps no two of
whom believe alike on religious questions.
They are bound together by no creed, and
cannot be rent asunder by apostasy.

They have occasional preaching, when a
meritorious speaker offers his services and
expounds the general theory of a broad relig-
ion to meet their approbation.

ANCIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS.

Wheaton Lodge, No. 269, A., F. & A. M., was
chartered by the Grand Lodge of Illinois Oc-
tober 6, 1858, working seven months under
dispensation. The first officers were J. G. Val-
lette, W. M.; Peter Northrop, S. W.; F. H.
Mather, J. W.; Harry T. Wilson, Treas.; L. J.
Bliss, Sec; William Vallette, S. D.; Henry
Bird, J. D.; William E. Taylor, Tiler.

The charter members were J. G. Vallette,
Peter Northrop, Frederick H. Mather, W. P.
Abbott, H. T. Wilson, Henry Bird and James
L. Bliss.

In 1859, J. G. Vallette was W. M., and James
L. Bliss, Sec. In 1860, L. J. Bliss was W. M.,
and J. G. Vallette, Sec. In 1861, L. J. Bliss
was W. M., and J. McConnell, Sec. In 1862,
L. J. Bliss was W. M., and W. E. Taylor, Sec.
In 1863, Henry Bird was W. M., and Simeon
Schupp, Sec. In 1864, H. C. Childs was W.
M., and W. G. Smith, Sec. In 1865, H. C.
Childs was W. M., and P. Parmelee, Sec. In
1866, H. C. Childs was W. M., and Henry E.
Allen, Sec. In 1867, M. E. Jones was W. M.,
and H. E. Allen, Sec. In 1868, H. C. Childs
was W. M., and J. B. Clark, Sec. In 1869,
Melvin Smith was W. M., and James B. Clark
was Sec. In 1870, Melvin Smith was W. M.,
and William H. Johnson, Sec. In 1871, Mel-
vin Smith was W. M., and John Roberts, Sec.
In 1872, M. E. Jones was W. M., and H. W.

188

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Grote, Sec. In 1873, Alfred Waterman was W.
M., and Henry Grote, Sec. In 1874, L. Collar
was W. M., and H. W. Grote, Sec. In 1875,
James Saunders was W. M., and Henry M.
Bender, Sec. In 1876, William H. Johnson
was W. M., and G. H. Thrasher, Sec. In 1877,
William H. Johnson was W. M., and L. C.
Stover, Sec. In 1878, Leonard Pratt was W.
M., and L. C. Stover, Sec. In 1879, William
H. Johnson was W. M., and L. C. Stover, Sec.
In 1880, William H. Johnson was W. M., and
L. C. Stover, Sec. In 1881, William H. John-
son was W. M., and L. C. Stover, Sec.

The present officers are M. E. Jones, W. M.;
I. S. Ward, S. W.; Horace Jayne, J. W.; Will-
iam H. Johnson, Treasurer ; L. C. Stover, Sec;
Fred Jewell, S. D.; William Rothchild, J. D.;
John Hohman. Tiler.

From its organization until May, 1866, the
lodge held its meetings in the building on the
corner of North Railroad and Hale streets, now
occupied by Grote Bros. From that time until
May, 1870, meetings were held in the third
story of the Bedell Building. At that time the
lodge was moved to the building where its
meetings are now held, then owned by Smith &
Kimball, and purchased by the lodge in Janu-
ary, 1872. In December, 1875, the lodge, in
connection with Doric Chapter, No. 166, R. A.
M., rented rooms in the second story of the
Central Block, and held its meetings there until
July, 1878. when it moved back to its present
quarters in its own building, where it has since
held its meetings, enjoying a fair share of pros-
perity and success. — William H. Johnson.

Doric Chapter, No. 166, R. A. if.— The first
movement toward organizing a chapter of Ro3 r al
Arch Masons in Wheaton was made by a few
Companions, who met in the hall of Wheaton
Lodge, No. 269, November 3, 1874, and, after
consultation, decided to make an earnest effort
to establish a chapter in Wheaton. which they
at once proceeded to do.

In the meantime, J. Blanchard, hearing of
the effort that was being made, called an indig-
nation meeting of the citizens of Wheaton, to
take measures to prevent the organization of a
Chapter of Royal Arch Masons here in their
midst. Accordingly, he and his adherents met
in the Wesleyan Church, and, after due con-
sideration, protested against it. Notwithstand-
ing, on January 13, 1875, a dispensation was
issued b}* the Grand High Priest, authorizing
the formation of a chapter in Wheaton, and
October 28, 1875, a charter was issued to the
following Companions :

John H. Lakey, Edward J. Hill, C. P. J.
Arion, William H. Johnson, H. T. Wilson, G.
H. Thrasher, L. Collar, Henry M. Bender,
James Saunders, Caspar Voll, H. H. Fuller, A.
H. Wiant, J. McConnell, G. P. Gary, William J.
Loy, John Tye, John Mc Williams, L. Ziemer,
E. H. Gary, L. B. Church, J. B. Trull, H. Brad-
ley, L. C. Clark, George Webb, 0. M. Hollister,
A. Campbell, John Kline, L. L. Iliatt, A. Wat-
erman, A. E. Bisbee and Frank F. Loveland.

The officers of Doric Chapter, while working
under dispensation, were, John H. Lakey, H.
P.; Edward J. Hill, K.; C. P. J.. Arion, S.;
William H. Johnson, C. H.; L. C. Clark, P. S.;
A. H. Wiant, R. A. C; John Mc Williams, M.
3d Veil ; G. H. Thrasher, M. 2d Veil ; H. T.
Wilson, M. 1st Veil; L. Collar, Treas.; J. B.
Trull, Sec; A. E. Bisbee, Tiler.

In 1876, E. J. Hill was H. P., and G. H.
Thrasher, Sec. In 1877 and 1878, F. F. Love-
land was H. P., and C. Voll, Sec. In 1879,
1880, 1881 and 1882, William H. Johnson was
H. P., and Caspar Voll, Sec

While working under dispensation, the chap-
ter met in the hall of Wheaton Lodge. After
being chartered, it occupied rooms in Central
Block jointly with Wheaton Lodge until July,
1878, since which time it has held its meetings
in the hall of Wheaton Lodge.

Its piesent officers are William H. Johnson,
H. P.; John McWilliams, K.; H. T. Wilson,

MILTON TOWNSHIP.

187

S.; A. H. Wiant, C. H.; James T. Hosford, P.
S.; A. C. Cotton, R. A. C; John Kline, Treas.;
Caspar Voll, Sec; Henry Grote, M. 3d V.; Ed-
gar Stephens, M. 2d V.; William T. Reed, M.
1st V.; L. C. Clark, Chaplain; I. S. Ward,
Tiler. — Wm. H. Johnson.

INDEPENDENT LITERARY ASSOCIATION OF WHEATON.

This association was permanently organized
in November, 1880, by the adoption of a con-
stitution and by-laws and the election of the
following officers: Dr. L. Pratt, President;
W. H. Johnson, Vice President; A. S. Lan-
don, Recording Secretary; K. A. Patrick,
Corresponding Secretary; L. E. De Wolf,
Treasurer; E. H. Gammon, Marshal; and
other officers to carry out its objects. The
originators had in view the establishment of
a society not controlled by any special inter-
est except that of the general public good in
mutual improvement in science and literature.
It is also hoped and expected that amongst
its future uses will be the establishment of a
reading room, winter courses of popular lect-
ures, and a public library. For two winters
following its organization, the society has
provided for a number of public lectures and
other literary public meetings, which have
proved of interest to many citizens.

Its constitution provides for debates, es-
says and addresses at stated intervals.

Its membership has increased within the
past year, and an interest in its utility is de-
veloped to such a degree that its permanent
establishment as an important element of
progress in cultivating moral and intellectual
attainment is looked upon as a fixture. Its
meetings are suspended during the extremely
hot weather and short evenings, and renewed
with increased interest when summer is over.

Present officers: George Brown, Presi-
dent; S. W. Moffatt, Vice President; A. S.
Landon, Recording Secretary; J. Grove,

Treasurer; L. H. Wills, Corresponding Sec-
retary; E. W. Fisher, Marshal. — L. Pratt.

The Sunday school is an institution which,
like many other kindred societies, originated
in New England, and from thence it was car-
ried to every hamlet in America where the
representative Yankee has planted himself to
stay. In all Western towns, the question is
not, Will the Sunday school come? or Has it
come ? but Who brought it first ?

The honor of doing this at W T heaton be-
longs to Alvin Seamans. He settled here in
1839, having come from Pomfret, Conn. , the
home of the Wheatons and Garys, through
whose example he came to the place, and
with him came Hezekiah Holt, all the way,
with a team.

The school was established in 1850, at a
schoolhouse where divine service was held by
the Wesleyan and Episcopal Methodists, each
occupying it by turns, in those utilitarian
days, when no good thing was allowed to de-
cay for want of use. This schoolhouse stands
a little west of the old Meacham place, and
went by the name of the Wheaton School-
house. Old Father Kimball, Mr. Bates, Mr.
Curtis and Mr. Holt, besides the Wheatons,
Garys and a few others, were then the chief
patrons of this " kind of an omnibus school-
house," whose seats hardly had time to cool
between the varied sessions with which they
were occupied.

Mr. Seamans was Superintendent of this
Sunday school, and Mr. H. H. Fuller, Secre-
tary. A library of 100 volumes was obtained,
and subsequently, with the school itself,
transferred to Wheaton Institute, then under
the charge of the Wesleyans, which, a few
years later, became Wheaton College. The
old house has had an erratic history, hav-
ing, after it was no longer wanted for a
schoolhouse, been moved half a mile west for

188

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

a farmhouse, next a mile east for the dwell-
ing of a citizen of Wheaton, and lastly was
moved from thence to become the home of
Mrs. Bender, widow of him whose fatal fall
from a building terminated his life a few
years ago.

It is not too much to say that no other
building in Wheaton has been the abiding
place of such versatile experiences. Peda-
gogues, pupils, preachers and people have
had their day within its walls, since which
time many a rollicking baby has first seen the
light of day under its venerable roof. It is
the oldest building in Wheaton, and still
standing in reasonably good order. The
next generation may whittle it up into charms
to dispel the misty shrouds that hover around
their way, if they don't inherit a good foun-
dation from us on which to build their hopes
of prosperity and happiness here.

WHEATON SCHOOLS.

In almost all newly settled places, the first
schoolhouses are built by subscription. It is
as natural that this should be so as it is for
children to grow in these same new settle-
ments and multiply their numerical strength,
and they do this so quickly in these great,
broad creations of sea room that their parents
are compelled to make provision for their ed-
ucation before the slow machinery of govern-
ment gets into working order and builds
schoolhouses with public money accumulated
by taxation.

Wheaton was like other new places, and,
when the endless chain of time had turned up
the figures 1847, a bevy of buxom boys and
lithe girls were hop-skipping and jumping
about, and stood in need of something be-
sides chimney-corner discipline.

In this emergency, their fathers built a
schoolhouse and hired a teacher to apply the
discipline, while ABC, etc., were taught.

It was erected on the land of Alonzo Crosby.
This was the honorable pioneer schoolhouse
of Wheaton, who, though now far outgrown
of such unpretentious public buildings,
nevertheless cherishes the memory of them
with kindly retrospections. This old school -
house was for seven years the seat of learn-
ing and the fine arts at the place, and within
its walls young minds took their first bent,
and genius aspired to high aims in life,
though perhaps incased in sunburnt skins.
In 1854, a new schoolhouse was built by pub-
lic money, the contract being let to J. G. Val-
lette, for which he received $750.

Eight years later, a second building was
erected, for the primary department, the orig-
iginal one being too small to seat the increas-
ing number of children.

In 1863, the first one was burned, and the
school was transferred to the basement of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, where it re-
mained till the graded schoolhouse which now
ornaments the town was built, the finishing
of which bears date of June 6, 1874. J. C.
Wheaton, E. Gary* and W. K. Guild were
the Building Committee. It has six large
school rooms and two recitation rooms, be-
sides the basement, which could be utilized
for additional school rooms should necessity
require it.

The school is graded in its course of study
according to the formula of other first-class
graded schools. Mrs. Frankie Wheaton Sny-
der is Principal; Miss N. JH. Cole, teacher of
grammar; Miss L. E. Wheaton has charge of
the intermediate course; Miss E. T. Miller is
Second Principal; and Miss E. D. Knight
has charge of the primary department.

JOURNALISM IN WHEATON.

It is quite difficult, at this time, owing to
adverse circumstances, to procure correct data
and particulars as to the first publication of a

MILTON TOWNSHIP.

191

newspaper in Wheaton. So far as the writer
knows, there are no files available of the news-
papers published prior to 1861, having been
destroyed by fire or lost.

A newspaper was being published at Na-
perville, then the county seat, but the citi-
zens of Wheaton, a village on the Galena Di-
vision of the Chicago & North- Western Rail-
road, believing the interests of their town de-
manded such an enterprise, determined to aid
and assist any one who would make the vent-
ure. Sufficient encouragement being given,
in the month of June, 1856, Leonard E. De
Wolf, a prominent lawyer and a large real
estate owner, purchased a hand press and
printing materials of S. P. Rounds & Co., of
Chicago, and commenced the publication of
the Du Page County Gazette, employing J.
A. J. Birdsall as foreman and associate edi-
tor. It was published about a year, when it
was discontinued.

After that, a gentleman from Chicago by
the name of Nathaniel H. Lewis undertook
to resurrect the newspaper enterprise by
starting the Wheaton Flag. But this paper
led a precarious life, and, about the year
1860, was burned out, the fire supposed to
have been the work of an incendiary. We
have no knowledge whether the paper was
resurrected after the fire.

In June, 1861, Henry C. Childs, a public-
spirited gentleman, commenced the publica-
tion of the Northern Illinoian, and remained
proprietor of it for six years. The paper was
not a financial success, but was one of the
best-conducted papers at that time in North-
ern Illinois, and had much to do in bringing
Wheaton and Du Page County into promi-
nent notice. It was during his administra-
tion of the paper that the county seat fight
culminated, and no doubt was facilitated on
account of his zealous efforts. His brother-
in-law, Philander Parmalee, was in his em-

ploy, as well as William Marriott and John
A. Whitlock

During the years 1862 and 1864, Benjamin
F. Taylor, the well-known author and poet,
was connected with the Illinoian as its lit-
erary editor. The paper was very much
sought after on that account, and obtained
an enviable reputation.

In April, 1867, H. C. Childs sold out to
John A. Whitlock, who successfully conduct-
ed it up of the 16th of April, 1870, when,
owing to ill health, it was sold to the present
editor and proprietor, J. Russell Smith,
changed to the name of Wheaton Illinoian.

At the time of the starting of the paper, in
1861, by H. C. Childs, it was made a seven-
column paper. December 7, 1864, it was en-
larged to an eight-column. In 1868, John A.
Whitlock reduced it in size to a six-column,
enlarging it to a seven -column the same year.
January 1, 1876, the present owner enlarged
it to an eight-column, which size it still re-
tains.

The Illinoian is and has always been a
Republican paper, fearless in defending the
right, but charitable in allowing all parties a
fair hearing, zealously looking af ter the local
and general interests of the county.

In addition to the Illinoian, there is pub-
lished in Wheaton a literary sixteen-page
monthly entitled the College Record, Liter-
ary Union of Wheaton College, publishers;
established 1865 — J. Russell Smith.

WHEATON BUSINESS DIRECTORY.

Attorneys— N. E. Gary, E. H. Gary, C. L.
Blanchard, W. G. Smith, L. E. De Wolf,
Col. J. W. Bennet

Abstract of Titles— J. G. Valletta

Banks — Gary & Wheaton.

Blacksmiths— A. Michels, C. W. Watson,
McDonald, H. Egers.

Barber — John Lawler.

192

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Clergymen — Rev. J. Blanchard, Rev. J. B.
Walker, Rev. A. H. Hiatt, Rev. L. N. Strat-
ton, Rev. C. F. Hawley, Rev. W. W. Stew-
art, Rev. I. A. Hart, Rev. W. O. Hart, Rev.
H W. Cobb, Rev. H. Fischer, Rev. A. G. Hib-
bard, Rev. E. M. Boring, Rev. C. W. G. Koch,
Rev. C. A. Blanchard, Rev. J. C. Webster.

Coal Dealer— H. H. Fuller.

Carpenters— A. T. Childs, C. W. Miller,
D. Compton, J. Homer, C. Louks.

Carriage Painter and Trimmer — G. W,
Matthan.

Carpet- Weavers — Mr. Arakelian, Martha
Blair.

Dry Goods and Groceries — A- S. Landon &
Co., Grote Bros., Cole & Guild, J. B. Colvin.

Druggist — L. L. Hiatt, W. A. Henninger.

Dentists — J. H. Ashley, P. Learn.

Dress-Making- Misses Nash, Mrs. Sals-
bury, Mrs. Vernon, Mrs. I. Lewis, Miss C.
Scofield.

Furniture-Dealer — Conrad Kampp.

Grain -Dealers— Sutcliffe & Kelly.

Groceries and Confectionery — W. Millner,
J. H. Vallette, E. W. Bixby, L. W. Mills.

Hardware — John Sauer, H. & E. B. Holt.

Hotels— M. Stark, M. Rickert.

House and Sign Painters — William Schatz,
George Hagermann.

House-Moving — M. E. Jones.

Harness-Makers — Binder Bros.

Insurance — J. G. Vallette, Wm L. Gary.

Jewelers — L. C. Brown, A. Alberts.

Livery Stables — Durland & Congleton, E.
H. Ehle.

Lumber-Dealers — W. K. Guild, Sutcliffe
& Kelly.

Laundry — Mrs. J. Wright.

Landscape Gardener and Florist — J oseph
Stanford.

Boot and Shoe Makers — A. Rau, G. Esten-
felter, O. Horner.

Merchant Tailor — H Garlic, F. Kusousky.

Meat Markets — C. A. Sohmer, Thoman &
Webber.

Masons and Builders — A. Austin, C. GateB,
J. Knippen.

Millinery — Misses Nash, Mrs. West.

Music Teachers — (vocal) S. W. Martin,
(instrumental) S. W. Martin, Miss Nettie
Pratt.

Nurserymen — A. H. Hiatt, O. F. Lumery,
J. C. Wheaton.

Publishers — R. Blanchard, J. R Smith.

Printers — J. R. Smith, A. L. Hamilton,
F. Miner.

Postmaster- —George B. Vastine.

Photographer — Charles L. Kersting.

Physicians and Surgeons — L. E Pratt, F.
N. Englehard, A. H. Hiatt, S. P. Sedgwick,
E. Vogeler.

Painting and Drawing— Mrs. S. H. Nut-
ting, Miss Flora Mills.

Real Estate Agents — C. P. J. Arion, H.
W. Cobb, J. Bussell Smith.

Restaurants— W. Millner, E. W. Bixby.

Surveyors — J. G. Vallette, A. S. Landon.

Station Agent— H. H Fuller.

Telegraph Operators — Charles Fuller, M.
E. Griswold.

Tinners— J. P. Sauer, H & E. B. Holt.

Veterinary Surgeon — J. H. Brown.

Wagons and Carriages — William H. John-
son, A Stephens, S. Ott, F. Man.

WHEATON CREAMERY COMPANY.

Organized February 10, 1882. Capital
stock, $7,000. James S. Peirronet, President;
E. H. Gary, Vice President; H. H. Fuller,
Secretary, J. J. Cole, Treasurer. Brick
building, 36x75 feet; cost, with fixtures and
grounds, $7,500. All late improvements,
including the wire circular vat, Frazier
gang press (which will press twenty cheeses
at once), and the Mason revolving butter-
worker. The milk is conducted from the re-

MILTON TOWNSHIP.

193

ceiving room into vats in the cooling room,
where the cream is raised. Then the milk is
drawn from under the cream and carried
through conductor pipes to cheese vats in the
manufacturing room. Water is supplied by
two wells, one twenty feet, the other 15 feet
deep. Capacity of factory is 16,000 pounds
of milk per day.

The interior of the building was planned
by Mr. J. J. Cole, and is entirely different
from any factory in the State.

PROSPECT PARK.

Prospect Park is a village on the western
fringe of Babcock's Grove. It grew into be-
ing as a station on the G. & C. U. R. R. Dr.
L. V. and his brother Lensa Newton bought
land here of William Churchill previous to
1849, and when the railroad came through,
Dr. Newton built a depot. David Kelly kept
it, and also a tavern and post office in the
same building He had formerly, in 1847,
kept a post office on his farm, three miles to
the north. He also has the honor of giving
the name of Danby to the place, this being
the same name he had given to a town in
Rutland County, Vt., ere he came West. He
lived to see it changed to its present name,
much to his regret

Messrs. Standish & Saylor, in 1853, opened
the first store at the place. The old depot
was about this time moved away by the
owner, and a new one erected by the railroad
company, which still stands. The original
one, after it had been moved, was occupied
for various uses till it had executed its
mission, and was lastly moved to get it out of
the way, which was about the year 1862.
Undecided what disposition to make of it,
the rickety old structure was allowed to re-
main on a side-hill, where it stood for some
months, like the leaning tower of Pisa — a
slipshod monument of early days, as well as

a target for jokes from railroad passengers
who beheld it. The site of this town is un-
equaled by any other in the county in na-
ture's variety of oval hillocks, rising one
above another, all underlaid by a substratum
of gravel, and fanned by tbe breezes from the
adjacent grove. It was platted May 20, 1854,
by L. V. Newton, situate on Section 11,
Township 89, Range 10. Its elevation above
Lake Michigan is 162 feet.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF PROSPECT PARK.

This church was organized April 15, 1862.
After the ceremonies of organization, thirteen
persons united — Mr. H. B. Gifford and wife,
A. Standish and wife, S. Ventassel and wife,
J. P. Yalding and wife, Mrs. Cornelia
Brooks, Miss Emily Brooks and Mrs. R. Rud-
dock. Church services were held at Stacy's
Corners until February, 1863, when the
building was moved to its site. Rev. E. N.
Lewis was the first pastor. Nearly one hun-
dred persons have united with the church
since its organization, but many have died,
and others have left the place; not quite half
of that number are members to-day. Three
of the original members — Mr. and Mrs. J.
P. Yalding and Mrs. C. Brooks — are regular
attendants on * all church services. The
Wednesday evening prayer meeting has been
sustained ever since the organization, and a
ladies' prayer meeting for a few years.

The church is in a prosperous condition,
all of its services being well attended.

Prof. H A. Fischer, of Wheaton College,
has supplied the pulpit since the last of May.
The Sabbath school has a membership of
over one hundred.

THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH.

The Free Methodist Church at Prospect
Park grew into being in 1880, but yet the
material which composed it had been accu-

191

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

mulatir-g for years prior to that date. The
immediate action that gave birth to it was
a series of meetings held by Rev. J. E. Cole-
man and Rev. J. D. Marsh, and, under the
pastoral charge of the latter, the church was
organized from the converts of this series of
meetings. At the expiration of Mr. Marsh's
term — one year — Rev. William Ferris became
pastor, who was succeeded the next year by
Rev. James Sprague, the present pastor.

The above statistics have been furnished
to the editor by Miss Rose Weidman, Clerk
of the church.

The Prospect Park Library Association is
a stock company of twenty members, similar
to the one at Wheaton, kept at A. S. Lon-
don's. The books are Harper's publications,
and the Librarian's report shows that the
books are read and appreciated by the mem-
bers. They intend to make an effort this
winter to purchase more books and increase
their membership, so as to get more American
publications. The officers of the association
are: P. G. Hubbard, President; F. W. Stacy,
Vice President; W. Sabin, Secretary; W. H.
Luther, Treasurer; and Miss Georgiana
Allen, Librarian.

NAMES OF THE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL
MEN OF PEOSPEOT PARK.

Luther Winter, dealer in feed and coal.
W. H. Luther, agent for the C. &. N. W.
R. R.
Miles Allen, store and post office.
P. G. Hubbard, dealer in broom corn.
William H. Wayne, blacksmith.
M. H. Wayne, wheelwright.
Nelson Dodge, carpenter and builder.
Brake & Myers, carpenters and builders.
Will Jellies, carpenter and builder.
J. R. McChesney & Co., general store.
H. Wegman, general store.
Allen R. Walker, tinshop and hardware.
E. Graff, hotel.

John Weidman, broom factory.
John Hayden, store.
Frank Walworth, stone mason.
G. M. H. Wayner, commission store.
R. Blackman, dealer on Board of Trade.
John Sabin, boot and shoe shop.
Aug Bregson, boot and shoe shop.
J. S. Dodge, retired farmer.
L. C. Cooper, attorney at law.
James Sanders, M. D.

CHAPTER IX,

DOWNER'S GROVE TOWNSHIP — THE OLD INDIAN BOUNDARY — CASS — PIERCE DOWNER

THOMAS ANDRUS — CHICAGO REMINISCENCES — THE VILLAGE OF HINSDALE— BRUSH

HILL MEMORIES — CLARENDON HILLS — FREDERICKSBURG— DOWNER'S

GROVE VILLAGE— AN OX TEAM HITCHED TO AN OAK LOG— WHAT

GREW OUT OF IT — THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

DOWNER'S GROVE TOWNSHIP includes
the Government Township described as
Town 38, Range 11, and also the three north-
ern tiers of sections northwest of the Desplaines
River, in Town 37, Range 11, the portions lying
in Town 37 being unofficially known and de-
scribed as Cass.

The whole of Downer's Grove, except Sec-
tions 5, 6, 7 and the diagonal halves of 4, 8
and 18, lies southeast of the old Indian Bound-
ary line, and was surveyed by the Government
between the years 1829 (at which time sur-
veys were commenced at Chicago) and 1835.
the year of the Government sale of these lands.

DOWNER'S GROVE TOWNSHIP.

195

Besides this Indian Boundary line was another
running parallel with it twent}' miles southeast
of it, both of which extended from Lake Mich-
igan to the Illinois River at Ottawa. The strip
inclosed by these lines had been ceded to the
United States August 4, 1816, by the Ottawas,
Chippewas and Pottawatomies, particulars of
which have been stated in a former chapter.
Through this belt of land the Illinois and Michi-
gan Canal was located, and the alternate sections
for five miles on each side of it were donated
to the State of Illinois, to aid in its construc-
tion. Portions of these donated lands laid in
Downer's Grove, and were sold by the Canal
Commissioners, but were not offered for sale
till some years after the sale of the Govern-
ment lands, which took place in June, 1835.

Many of the early settlers of Downer's Grove
were purchasers both of Government and Canal
lands.

Very few of them were land claimants, but
bona fide purchasers from the first. Mr.
Downer, whose history is told in connection
with the village of Downer's Grove, was the
first settler of this town. Many other pioneers
of this town are also mentioned in connection
with the historj 7 of its villages, but one of them,
who had no participation in village building,
deserves a page on account of his experiences,
which are so representative of life here in the
early day. This was Thomas Andrus, born in
Rutland County, Vt., from whence he inherited
those inflexible traits of character that are
almost certain to make a man pull through
difficulties. He was born in 1801 ; came to Chi-
cago December 1, 1833 ; couldn't find anything
to do, and started back toward sunrise on foot,
but before he had arrived to the Calumet, a
man hired him to drive an ox team. This oc-
cupation lasted till the next year, 1834, when
a venturesome man determined to erect a three-
story hotel on the northwest corner of Lake
and Dearborn street, and carpenters were
w anted. Of course he was a carpenter ; he

was a Yankee, and that meant a carpenter just
then. The next winter it might have meant a
pedagogue, but whatever it means it always
means the best of the kind wanted.

Mr. Andrus went to work and filled the bill
satisfactorily, and there is evidence that he was
above par in the estimation of his employer ;
for when the frame of his building was up, Mr.
Andrus suggested to him to call his magnifi-
cent three-story hotel the Tremont House, after
the still celebrated house of that name in Bos-
ton. His advice was taken, and the name has
been transmitted to the third generantion of
Tremont Houses ; the present one on the corner
diagonally opposite where the first was built in
1834, being the third in succession, the second
one having been burned in the great fire of
1871. The first one had a billiard table in the
third story, which then overlooked the whole
one and two-story town. Dearborn street was
then the great thoroughfare to the North Side,
to which it was connected by a draw-bridge
that lifted perpendicularly by means of wind-
lasses, but when the next bridge came to be
built,. the Clark streeters subscribed the most
and won the prize, for money then " made the
mare go" as well as now, and it made the
bridge go.

Now, let us take Mr. Andrus through one
more old way-mark in Chicago before he goes
to settle. It is this : He assisted in driving
the piles for the foundation of John H.
Kinzie's warehouse in 1834, the first ever
built in Chicago, and saw the first lot of
wheat shipped from it that ever went East
from the place. In the autumn of the
same year, Mr. Andrus returned to Ver-
mont, and the following spring (1835), came
back with his wife and three children, arriving
at Chicago in June, and in July settled where
he now lives, on Section 6, Town 37, Range 11.
Shadrac Harris had preceded him a few weeks,
and lived on Section 8, quite near him. Mr.
Harris is now living at Marengo.

196

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Dr. Bronson lived on the Plainfield road, two
miles to the Northeast. He was the first settler
in the vicing. Hartell Cobb lived a little
west of Mr. Bronson. After Mr. Andrus had
been settled six weeks, an election was held
for Justice of the Peace, and he was one of the
candidates. He came within one vote of being
elected, his rival having three votes while he
had but two. Mr. Harris, the fortunate wire-
puller, was duly sworn in, but he had to go
to Chicago where folks swore to be thus dubbed.
The next term Mr. . Andrus ran against the
same man for the same office and was elected,
and could have retained the office a second
term had not his wife interfered. This tidy
Vermont girl saw more tobacco juice than profit
in it (for the trials were held in her parlor), and
she requested her husband to decline a renomi-
nation. His acquiescence was no mean exam-
ple in favor of woman's rights. The first
schools of the place, says Mr. Andrus, were
taught in discarded private houses, whose own
ers had built better ones, and Miss Nancy
Stanley was the first teacher. She afterward
married Mr. Bush, and subsequently Mr. Dryer
for her second husband.

Elder Beggs, the same who now lives in
Plainfield, was their first preacher, and Gen. E.
B. Bill, the same who got up a company for
the Mexican war and died in the service, think-
ing the Methodists had not been sufficiently
generous with Father Beggs, got up a dona-
tion party for him, which was well received
by the devout itinerant, though it came
from the world's people and not from his own
flock.

Mr. Andrus was appointed the first Postmas-
ter of Cass Post Office, which was organized in
1834, and held the position fifteen years, during
which time 5 cents was reported to him as an
error in his account. Several offices, away from
the stage line of Mr. Frinck that passed his
house, were supplied from his office by horse-
back mail riders. Frinck's line had sixteen

coaches each way per day. Of course he kept
tavern in his new house, which he built in 1836,
and in the dining-room dances were held. How
were you on tip-toe ? asked the writer of Mrs.
Andrus. Smiling through the honorable wrink-
les of eighty years that furrowed her cheek,
she replied, "Oh, I don't like to recojnmend
myself."

Edgar S., the fourth child of the family, was
born after their settlement where they now are,
and was the first white birth of this town. He
is now one of its residents.

The above, together with the history of the
villages of this town, fully represents its pioneer
days. There are thirteen schoolhouses in the
town, three of which are graded, and 1,142 per-
sons between the ages of six and twenty-one.

THE VILLAGE OT HINSDALE.

A sailor once said that he didn't see the need
of any land except enough to build docks to.
His ideas, like some other people's, were limited
to his own immediate wants. His whole sphere
of human knowledge centered in himself.

' ' His soul, proud science never taught to stray,
Far as the solar walk and milky way."

Nor even as far as 'tis from Chicago to Hins-
dale, of which the latter is an outpost, a kind
of retort, to catch the lovers of nature, and
hold them among the delightful ranges of the
place as they pass from the man-made city of
Chicago, full of turmoil, inductions and seduc-
tions, into the God-made country, full of
"Ye banks and braes of Bonnie Doon."

Here they bloom M fresh and fair," and leave
no " thorn behind " to the peaceful citizen as he
sleeps among them, fanned by the summer
breath, as it moves over a broad heath of prairie
farms and groves.

The variegated hillocks, no two of which are
alike, on which the town is laid out, seem to
have been fashioned by the hand of nature for
a kind of landscape village, and for nothing
else, for its site never had been utilized for

DOWNER'S GROVE TOWNSHIP.

197

farming purposes before the village was born,
with a silver spoon in its mouth, to use a met-
aphor. But, first, let us tell some of the con-
ditions of the place before the village came
into existence. Alfred Walker came from
Windsor County, Vt., to Brush Hill, just north
of Hinsdale, in April, 1854. Here he found
a little bevy of settlers nestling in an open-
ing in the grove around two taverns, a
store and a blacksmith shop. The old name
of Brush Hill still clung to tbe place, and does
yet, although Benjamin Fuller, three years be-
fore, had incorporated the town and officially
named it Fullersburg. Mr. Walker bought all
the land Mr. Fuller owned, and his tavern-
stand, and became proprietor of the place. It
had few permanent inhabitants, John Coe and
Benjamin, Lewis and Reuben Fuller being all
that Mr. Walker mentions as land owners. One
of the taverns was a sort of catch-all for new-
comers, where rooms were temporarily rented
to them till a place to settle was found, and six
or eight such families at a time held their tran-
sient abodes there, where they baked their corn-
bread and boiled their coffee with fuel gathered
from the adjacent grove. Mr. Walker's pur-
chase of Mr. Fuller included the land on which
his house now stands, half a mile north of the
depot, and here he built a farm house in 1858,
in which he now lives, within the corporate
limits of the town — a monument to link Hins-
dale back to the pioneer times that preceded
its present age.

At that time, says Mr. Walker, there was not
a house south of him for eight miles. All the
lands were owned by speculators, and held at
from $7 to $25 per acre. One tract, just over
the line of Cook County, sold at auction in
185-4, for $5.25 per acre, and, says Mr. Walker,
" up to 1862, wolves were often seen, and cau-
tious mothers dared not send their little chil-
dren into the groves after the cows."

Two years later was planted the germ out of
which Hinsdale grew into being. This was

done by Mr. William Robbins, who, after he
had purchased 800 acres of land, built the fine
residence he now occupies, which was finished
in February, 1864, being the first erected in the
place. Mr. Robbins' purchase included the
west half of Section 7 in Cook County, besides
Section 12, on which was the original plat of
Hinsdale. The next year, he fenced in the
whole tract for a stock farm, and the year after
(1866), laid out the northwest quarter of Sec-
tion 12 in lots, varying in size from one acre to
lots of sixty-six feet frontage. The same year,
the streets were graded, plank sidewalks laid
and those first trees planted which now lend
such a charm to the place. Rev. C. M. Barnes,
the same who now has a large book-store in
Chicago, bought the first lot of Mr. Robbins,
and built a house on it, though the family of
James Swartwout was the first one to come to
the place after that of Mr. Robbins.

Mr. Swartwout occupied one of Mr. Robbins'
houses. The golden wedding of this vener-
able pair was celebrated at Hinsdale in July,
1882.

In 1866, Mr. Robbins built a stone school-
house, which, at the time was deemed too large
for present or even future use, but, in 1880, an
addition was erected beside it, doubling its ca-
pacity, and the two combined are now barely
sufficient to accommodate the multiplying wants
of the place, where education of the rising
generation is a prominent interest, and where a
united public sentiment has provided not
only a model schoolhouse, but model teachers
and a school exemplary in its grade and dis-
cipline.

In 1866, Mr. 0. J. Stough bought eighty
acres, being the south half of the northwest
quarter of Section 1, and the next year he
bought the southeast quarter of Section 11,
160 acres, and the next year, 1868, by various
purchases, he bought the most of Estabrook's
addition to Hinsdale, lying in the southeast
quarter of Section 2, and the next year, 1869,

198

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

he bought about one hundred and thirty-seven
acres lying in Section 10 — all the above
purchases situate in Town 38, Range 11, and
largely on tbe north side of railroad track,
along those beautiful terraced elevations that
rise one above another till the groves of Old
Brush Hill are reached, and on May 19, 1868,
1868, his first addition to Hinsdale was re-
corded, and his second addition June 2.

Besides making these purchases and sub-
dividing portions of them, Mr. Stough built a
church on the north side in 1868, and Rev.
William Balch, a present citizen and highly
esteemed minister of the Gospel at Elgin, was
pastor of this church for two years. A Bible
class was connected with it of which Hon. Joel
Tiffany, a present resident of Hinsdale, held
charge. Neither the church nor the Bible-class
were working under any name, but their inde-
pendent teachings partook of the broad type of
natural religion. Many of the first patrons of
the church left the place after Mr. Balch's
term had expired, and services were suspended
in it about a j-ear thereafter.

The first addition made by Mr. Robbins to
the original town was called W. Robbins' First
Addition. The second was W. Robbins' Park
Addition. The latter was laid out by H. W. S.
Cleveland, Landscape Gardener.

After making a thorough study of the oval
elevations and graduating valleys of the place,
he laid out streets, threading their way among
them in scroll-shaped curves, the better to
heighten their scenic effect, and that he suc-
ceeded admirably in his effort, the present
natural and artificial beauty of the place bears
ample evidence. Mansions, birds-nest houses,
hedge rows, conservatories, vine-clad arbors
and graveled walks interlacing the ground on
which they stand, have put the finishing touch
on the whole.

This is Hinsdale as it is — cheer}', beautiful
and healthful, from both social and physical
causes.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT HINSDALE.*

The Congregationalists residing in Hinsdale
organized themselves into a church, consisting
of ten members, August 12, 1866, which was
duly recognized by a council of neighboring
churches October 16 of the same year. Mr.
C. M. Sanders, a student of the Chicago Theo-
logical Seminary, commenced to preach regu-
larly in the place a few weeks before the
organization of the church. He was ordained
by a council in April, 1867, and continued
acting pastor of the church till the close of
1868.

During his ministry, thirty-five members
were added to the original number, and their
place of worship was changed from the passen-
ger depot to Academy Hall.

During several succeeding months, the church
was dependent for a supply of its pulpit prin-
cipally on students of the Theological Sem-
inary.

In October, 1869, Rev. F. Bascom, then of
Princeton, 111., accepted their invitation and
became their resident pastor. He remained in
charge of the church till May, 1872. He was
succeeded by Rev. J. W. Hartshorn, who en-
tered upon his work in November of that year,
and remained till the close of 1875.

From the 1st of February succeeding, Mr.
Crow, from the Theological School at Evans-
ton, was in charge of the church for six
months.

In the autumn of 1876, Rev. William
Butcher was engaged as pastor for one year,
and continued his ministry till December,
1877.

The Rev. Mr. Hartshorn, who on retiring
from this place, had taken charge of the Con-
gregational Church in Naperville, was now re-
called, and remained as pastor two years, from
May, 1878.

In the summer of 1880, Rev. John Ellis be-
gan his labors as pastor of the church, which

♦Contributed by Rey. Flavel Bascom.

DOWNER'S GEOVE TOWNSHIP.

199

have thus far been attended with growing in-
terest.

In 1873, the congregation, needing a more
commodious place of worship, commenced the
erection of a stone edifice ; but when the
walls had reached the height of the basement
story, the approach of winter and an empty
treasury, suggested the propriety of postpon-
ing the erection of the upper story, and the
finishing of a lecture-room under a temporary
roof. In that room the congregation has found
comfortable accommodations for more than
eight years.

In the summer of 1881, an effort to complete
this house of worship was resumed, and pros-
ecuted with the most gratifying unanimity and
liberality. But unforeseen difficulties and
hindrances delayed the work and postponed
its completion till August, 1882. It was dedi-
cated to the worship of God on the 6th day of
that month, free from debt.

In its origin and history hitherto, this church
has sought to cherish the spirit and to exem-
plify the principles of union among evangelical
Christians of every name. It has been toler-
ant of unessential doctrines in its membership.
For a long time it united with another church
in the place, in sustaining public worship and
the various forms of Christian work. It has
alwa}-s welcomed Christians of ever} r name to
its fellowship in the privileges and labors of its
own members, and its prosperity has been
greatly promoted by such co-operation. For
the second time it has a pastor ecclesiastically
connected with another denomination ; but his
ministry is none the less satisfactory and prof-
itable to Congregationalists, while it tends to
obliterate all denominational distinctions in the
community.

The whole number of members connected
with the church since its origin, is 153. Its
present membership, exclusive of absentees, is
eighty-four, of whom fifty-two have been re-
ceived in the last two years.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH AT HINSDALE*

A Baptist Church was organized in Hinsdale
in 1868. For several months it had no pastor,
and has preserved no record of its transactions.

In October, 1869, Kev. James Lisk accepted an
invitation to the pastorate of the church, and be-
gan his ministry the first Sabbath of that month.
Their place of public worship was the wait-
ing room of the railroad passenger depot, where
he preached to them ver} 7 acceptably till the
spring of the following jear, when his accept-
ance of a call to a larger field left them again
as sheep without a shepherd.

In the meantime, they had undertaken the
erection of a house of worship, the expense of
which overtaxed their resources, and subse-
quently involved them in great embarrassment.

After the completion of their house, they were
unable to carry the pecuniary burdens which
they had assumed, and, at the same time, pro-
vide for the salary of a pastor. They, there-
fore, invited the Congregationalists to worship
with them, who accepted the invitation, and
both churches united in the support of the
Congregational Pastor. In many respects this
arrangement was profitable and satisfactory
and was continued till May, 1872, when it was
discontinued by mutual consent. During the
next year the church had no regular supply of
their pulpit, but depended principally on the
Professors and students of the Baptist Theo-
logical Seminary of Chicago.

In June, 1873, Rev. George Kline became
their Pastor, and for about a year labored ear-
nestly and faithfully to promote the interests of
the church and community. But his people
then consented regretfully to his removal, be-
ing unable longer to pay him the requisite sal-
ary. And in the prevailing financial embar-
rassment which was then so disastrous, their
house of worship passed out of their hands
irrecoverably. They were already depleted in
numbers by deaths and removals as well as

* By Rev. Flavel Baecom.

200

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

diminished in resources. And now the loss of
their house, »dded to their former reverses, was
so discouraging that they voted to disband,
and authorized their Clerk to give letters of
dismission to other churches to their few re-
maining members.

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OP HINSDALE*

In the spring of 1873, a few of the citizens
of Hinsdale, viz., Messrs. Stuart, Notingham,
Maydwell, Chant, Slocum, Crocker and Payne,
met at the house of D. J. Crocker to organize
the Grace Episcopal Sunday School, of which
Mr. J. F. Stuart was chosen Superintendent,
and which formed the foundation for the parish
which was organized March 31, 1875, under the
name of Grace Episcopal. Easter services had
been held previous to this date in the base-
ment of the Congregational Church, but no
parish meeting was held till March 31, 1875,
when Alfred Payne and Robert Slocum were
elected Wardens, and John Ohls, William B.
Maydwell and J. F. Stuart were elected Vestry-
men. At the vestry meeting following the ad-
journment of the parish meeting, John Ohls
was chosen Treasurer ; J. F. Stuart, Secretary,
and Alfred Payne, Lay-reader. The services
of the Rev. N. F. Tuson were also engaged, and
for the space of one year he acted as priest-in-
charge, allowing us one service a month.

After his resignation, the same arrangement
was made with the Rev. Mr. Fiske, of Naper-
ville, who officiated the last Sunday in each
month till August 26, 1878, when, pursuant to
a call from the parish, the Rev. D. F. Smith,
of Champaign, 111., came to Hinsdale as Asso-
ciate of the Rev. Mr. Fiske, upon whose resig-
nation Mr. Smith became priest-in-charge, in
which capacity he remained, holding three
services a month in the building known as
"The Old Baptist Church," till June 11, 1881,
when he resigned, and services for a time were
entirely suspended.

*By William C Payne.

During the first period of Mr. Smith's charge,
the church seemed prosperous and progressive,
but toward the latter part, that discord which
affects, more or less, all religious bodies, crept
in and nearly ruined the work which had been
done before.

On the last Sunday in January, 1882, serv-
ices were recommenced in the room known as
Rath's Hall, where the Rev. Mr. Perry officiated
on the second Sunday of each month following,
and in March the Rev. Mr. Lewis, of La Grange,
as the Associate of Mr. Perry, agreed to hold
services on the last Sunday of each month, on
the remaining Sundays being lay services, read
by Alfred Payne. Up to this date, services
have so continued, and there is every prospect
of a church edifice being erected soon, on the
land northeast of the Congregational Church,
which has been donoted for building purposes
by the kindness of Mr. William Robbins.

SCHOOLS OF HINSDALE.

In 1866, when much of the real estate of Hins-
dale was owned by Messrs. William Robbins, 0.
J. Stough and J. I. Case, of Racine, Mr. Robbins
built the first school building in Hinsdale — a
three room stone building having two rooms
below and one above. The two lower rooms
only were used for school purposes for some
time, the upper room being used as town
hall.

In the lower room, Miss Stocking taught a
subscription school, with one assistant, till the
fall of 1867, when it was organized into a pub-
lic school as a branch of the Fullersburg Dis-
trict. The Directors chosen were Messrs.
Plummer, E. P. Hinds and William R. Banker,
and Mr. B. F. Banker was appointed Principal.
The following year the building was bought of
Mr. Robbins for the sum of $8,000, and Mr.
Gleason received the appointment as Principal.
The same year, that portion lying south of the
C, B. & Q. R. R., was formed into a separate
district, and so it remained till the year 1877,

DOWNER'S GROVE TOWNSHIP.

201

while P. A. Downey was principal, when ail-
that portion lying north of the C, B. & Q.
track, and included within the corporation of
Hinsdale, was united with the south side.
After Mr. Downey, Mr. R. A. Robinson became
Principal of the school, with two assistants,
and the following year, 1879, an extensive ad-
dition was made to the building at an expense
of about $6,000. Mr. Robinson taught three
years, and before his resignation the school be-
came very prosperous, giving employment to five
teachers. Mr. E. L. Harpham succeeded Mr.
Robinson, and under his charge the school still
continued to increase, and much interest was
taken in it, not only by those sending children,
but also by others.

Upon the resignation of Mr. Harpham, the
care of the school devolved upon Mr. F. C.
Cole, an Ann Arbor graduate, who was chosen
by the .present Directors, Messrs. R. A. Childs,
John Bradley and C. H. Hudson.

Mr. Cole is assisted by four teachers, and
the building is nearly filled with pupils, many
of whom are children of those residents who
have but lately made Hinsdale their home.
— William C. Payne.

Hinsdale Lodge, No. 6^9, A., F. & A. M.—

This lodge began work under dispensation
granted b}- Grand Master Harmon G. Reynolds,
March 19, 1870, and held its first meeting
March 24, 1870, in Academy Hall, D. A.
Courter acting W. M. ; J. M. Barr, S. W., and
N. H. Warren, J. H.

The charter was granted by the Grand Lodge
October 4, 1870, the following-named being
charter members : D. A. Courter, J. M. Barr,
N. H. Warren, F. H. Rogers, William Blan-
chard, L. E. Gifford, I. L. Hinds, C. T. Plum-
mer, S. A. Coe, B. Plummer, Charles Fox, J .
H. Alexander, B. E. Terrill, W. R. Banker,
Eben Millions and George H. Burtt.

The first meeting under the charter was held
January 5, 1871, when the lodge was consti-
tuted by G. W. Barnard, Deputy Grand Master,

and the following persons were installed as
officers :

D. A. Courter, W. M. ; J. M. Barr, S.
W. ; N. H. Warren, J. W.j Charles Fox,
Treasurer; Charles T. Plummer, Secretary ; L.
E. Gifford, S. D. ; B. E. Terrill, J. D., and Eben
Millions, Tyler.

The lodge moved into a new hall, purchased
and fitted up by them January 2, 1873, but the
panic compelled them to relinquish this and
secure smaller and less expensive quarters over
Fox Bros, store, in the spring of 1878, where
the " three great lights " still burn.

The present officers of the lodge are William
Duncan, W. M. ; A. L. Pearsall, S. W. ; A. S.
Johnston, J. W. ; Charles Fox, Treasurer ; A.
G. Butler, Secretary ; F. A. Rice, S. D. ; George
H. Burtt, J. D. ; E. Millions, Tyler.

The present membership is twenty-eight,
among whom are eight of the charter members.
The others have passed beyond, and have been
consigned to the earth by their brethren in the
full belief that they had found the perfection
of light, and reached the last and highest
degree. — A. L. Pearsall.

Hinsdale Lodge, A. O. U. W.,No. 182, organ-
ized April 16, 1881.

P. M. W., George H. Talmadge ; M. W., J.
B. R. Lespinasse ; Foreman, Adolph Froscher ;
Overseer, J. H. Papenhausen ; Recorder, James
W. Sucher ; Financier, J. C. Merrick ; Guide,
Philip Bayer ; Inside Watchman, Henry Heinke;
Outside Watchman, George Trench.

Damascus Legion, No. 11, Select Knights A.
O. U. W., organized August 19, 1882.

Select Commander, J. B. R. Lespinasse ;
Vice Commander, George H. Talmadge ; Lieu-
tenant Commander, Wendal Hix ; Select Re-
corder, J. W. Sucher ; Treasurer and Record-
ing Treasurer, J. C. Merrick ; Standard Bearer,
George H. Trench ; Marshal, J. H. Papenhau-
sen ; S. W., G. H. Steinhoff; J. W., John A.
Debus ; Chaplain, Philip Bayer , Guard, Rich-
ard Warde.

202

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL MEN OP HINS-
DALE, ILL.

Attorneys at Law, D. J. Crocker, R. A.
Childs, William D. Gates, J. Tiffany.

Real Estate Dealers, William Robbins, 0. J.
Stough, D. L. Perry, A. Walkel, D. Roth.

Postmaster, Justice of the Peace, Notary
Public and Insurance, A. L. Pearsall.

Police Magistrate, Real Estate and Insur-
ance, A. Dorathy.

Physicians, J. C. Merrick, T. T. Howard,
Joseph Williamson, F. H. Van Liew.

General Store, Fox Rrothers.

Grocery and Provisions, F. Bradley.

Drugs, William Evernden.

Hardware and Agricultural Implements, John
Bohlander.

Meat Market, John A. Gifford & Co., Will-
iam Hix.

News Agent and Bakery, Thomas Foster.

Barber and Bakery, Philip Bayer.

Cool Dealer, P. S. Townsend.

Lumber and Real Estate, J. Hulaniski.

Carpenters and Builders, William Johnston,
S. F. Mills, A. W. Bostwick, carpenter and re-
pairer.

Tailor, J. H. Papenhausen.

Shoemaker, W. Lislie.

Blacksmiths, George Trench and — Lewis.

Hotel and Livery, Philander Torode.

Mason and Builder, Jacob Walliser.

Painters, A. H. Townsend, William H. At-
kinson, Thomas Wadsworth, A. Anthony.

President and Board of Village Trustees.
D. L. Perry, George H. Talmadge, J. Hulan-
iski, George W. Hinckley, J. C. Hess, J. C.
Merrick.

A. L. Pearsall, Treasurer.

George Bowles, Clerk.

Portrait and Landscape Painter, A. Payne.

Pastor Congregational Church, Rev. John
Ellis.

One of the Directors Illinois Home Mission,
Rev. Flavel Bascom.

Rev. T. T. Howard.
Principal of School, T. C. Cole.
Station Agent, E. A. Lyon.
The elevation of the railroad track above
Lake Michigan is 158 feet.

DOWNER'S GROVE VILLAGE.

When the grove after which this village was
named looked, from a distance, like an island,
and the prairie around it like the ocean sur-
rounding it, on one summer's day in 1838, six
yoke of oxen, hitched to the trunk of a large
tree, patiently toiled along what is now Maple
Avenue in Downer's Grove. Backward and
forward, for two miles or more, they dragged
their ponderous burden, till the prairie turf was
ground into a well-beaten path, and on this
path grew the village to its present dimensions.
If it had not been made here, the village would
have centered farther to the south, where the
original trail first went that led from Chicago
to Naperville, and it was to divert the travel
from its old channel and turn it where it now
is that the surface was thus marked, connect-
ing each way with the first trail. This was
done by Israel P. Blodgett and Samuel Curtis,
who held claims within the present corporate
limits of this village. Soon after doing it, they
planted on each side of this marked trail those
sugar maple trees that have now attained such
large proportions, and outrival in arborial
grace any wayside trees, far or near, in North-
ern Illinois. They will perpetuate the memorj*
of those who planted them for centuries to
come, as lithe feminine forms beside mascu-
line ones, slowly pace along beneath their foli-
age in the twilight hour, when young minds
take sentimental turns.

This is the history of the trees and their
uses. Now let us relate the history of the other
conditions of the town, less ornamental, but
quite as essential to its success.

In the autumn of 1 832, by the means of the
Sauk war, a knowledge of the country west of

DOWNER'S GROVE TOWNSHIP.

203

Chicago had come to the county of Jefferson,
in the State of New York, and with a deter-
mination to cast his lot here, Pierce Downer, a
resident of that place, came to this spot to
select a location, and being attracted by the
beautiful grove, then the favorite abiding place
of Wawbunsie — the Pottawatomie Chief, but
now named after himself, he made a claim on
what is now Section 6, Township 38, Range 11.
He was a man of a sound body, an energetic
mind, bred in the ironclad integrity of his age,
tenacious of his rights and able to defend them,
as was soon abundantly verified.

His claim was on the north side of the grove,
and here he lived alone in the edge of the
island-like spot, till his family came the next
year — 1833. The same year, also, came his
son Stephen, Mr. Joel Wells and Mr. Cooley.
Stephen then made a claim on the east side of
the grove, and Mr. Wells and Mr. Cooley made
claims the southeast of the grove — all these
claimants selecting suitable proportions of tim-
ber and prairie.

Meantime, Messrs. Wells and Cooley coveted
a portion of Mr. Downer's claim, and in an evil
hour commenced erecting a cabin on it. This
resulted in a collision, the details of which, as
told by Mr. Downer himself to Walter Blanch-
ard in 1857, and printed in Richmond & Val-
lette's History of Du Page County, are here
quoted :

" ' I went to Chicago one day to buy some
provisions, and on returning, thought I saw
some one working near the northeast corner of
the grove. I went home and deposited my
cargo (a back load), and although very tired,
went out to reconnoitre my premises. To my
great surprise I found that Wells and Cooley
had commenced erecting a cabin on my claim.
I went to a thicket close by and cut a hickory
gad, but found I had no power to use it, for I
was so mad that it took my strength all away.
So I sat down and tried to cool off a little, but
my excitement only cooled from a sort of vio-

lent passion to deep and downright indignation.
To think that my claim should be invaded, and
that, too, by the only two white men besides
myself then at the grove, made the vessel of
my wrath to simmer like a pent sea over a
burning volcano. I could sit still no longer.
So I got up and advanced toward them, and
the nearer I approached, the higher rose the
temperature of my anger, which, by the time I
got to them, was flush up to the boiling point.
I said nothing, but pitched into them, shelalah
in hand, and for about five minutes did pretty
good execution. But becoming exhausted and
being no longer able to keep them at bay, they
grappled with me, threw me on the ground, and
after holding me down a short time, they
seemed to come to the conclusion that ' discre-
tion was the better part of valor ' and let me
up, when they ran one way and I the other, no
doubt leaving blood enough upon the field of
action to induce a stray prairie wolf to stop
and take a passing snuff as he went that way.
But, sir, they didn't come again to jump my
claim."

As might be supposed, Mr. Wells was now in
a suitable frame of mind to sell out, and, as good
fortune would have it, Mr. Israel P. Blodgett,
the same who had settled in the Scott settle-
ment alluded to in foregoing pages, was ready
to buy him out, which he did in 1835, and
moved to the place with his family, who may
be enumerated as follows : H. W., now Judge
of the Court at Chicago ; Israel P., Jr., now liv-
ing at Downer's Grove ; Daniel, not living ;
Asiel, now living at Waukegan ; Edward A.,
now living in Chicago ; Wells H, now living
at St. Louis.

The year before this — 1834 — Geary Smith
came to the place, made a claim, and also bought
out Stephen Downer. The ground on which
the railroad depot now stands is on this pur-
chase.

On the 14th of August, 1836, Samuel Curtis
bought a part of Mr. Blodgett's claim, for which

204

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

he paid $1,000 cash down, and on it now stands
the center of Downer's Grove. He died Feb-
ruary 25, 1867, aged seventy-seven years, and
was buried in the cemetery at the place. He
is kindly remembered by the many friends he
made during his useful life. Two of his sons —
Charles and Roswell O. — still live in the village.

David Page came to the place in 1837 ;
bought a farm at the south edge of the present
corporate limits of the town, where he remained
till he died a few years ago.

The same year, Walter Blanchard, from Or-
leans County, N. Y., in connection with Henry
Carpenter, from Washington County, N. Y.,
bought a farm, part of which is now within the
the incorporate limits of Downer's Grove.

Mr. Blanchard's land extended southwardly
from the present town, and through the more
elevated portions of it. The old trail went
leading from Chicago to Naperville ; thence to
Dixon and Galena by one branch, and by another
to Ottawa.

The track made b} r dragging the log, as al-
ready stated, shortened this curve that went
along the portion of Mr. Blanchard's place in-
tended for his future residence, which had been
made by the early travelers to find better eleva-
tions. Like many other young men who came
West, Mr. Blanchard was without a wife. Here
was a beautiful location, where he had secured
a home that any of his female friends left be-
hind might feel happy and fortunate to enjoy
with him. He did not share the feelings of the
young man out here, whose name need not be
mentioned, who, looking upon the matter in a
business way, said, " I ain't going to pay no
freight on a woman, no how, when there's
enough here !" But, under the influence of
first impressions, returned East, and promptly
came back with his new bride ; but, what was
his [surprise to find the locality of the road
changed so that his first plans had to be modi-
fied to suit the conditions. Mr. Blanchard has
ever since been one of the representative men

of the place, and nobly died in defense of the
country at the battle of Ringgold Gap, in 1863.
His remains were brought home and interred
in the cemetery at the place.

Henry Carpenter, who bought land with him,
did not come to the place to live till 1840. Five
years later, he opened a store, the first one es-
tablished in the place. Eli W. Curtis was then
Postmaster, and, at his request, Mr. Carpenter
took the duties of the office as Secretary.

Mr. Carpenter's trade came from the sur-
rounding country, and in that day he was
obliged to sell largely on credit. Any one who
came into his store with his shoes tied up, could
get trusted, and but few of them betrayed his
confidence.

In 1855, Mr. Carpenter sold a half-interest
in his store to Leonard K. Hatch, and the next
year sold out entirely.

A town hall was built by the corporation for
holding town meetings, elections, etc., in 1877.
It also had cells for confining vagrants, etc.
Robert Dixon measured out justice to who all
came before him for that purpose, and was the
first judicial magistrate at the place.

At a drunken row, while raising a building
on Salt Creek, a man was badly hurt, and Mr.
Dixon fined the offender $15. After this he
alwaj'S refused to taste liquor lest it might set
a bad example, although the best of people
then drank moderately, for there was no one to
say Why do ye so ? Not every public officer
is as consistent now-a-days.

J. W. La Salle built a store with a commo-
dious public hall over it in 1879.

A company came here in 1872, and bought
600 acres of land, most of which was in the
grove which is now being laid off in streets,
with artistic curves, rustic parks and lawns,
for elegant residences. Gen. Ducat is the prin-
cipal proprietor.

After the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Railroad Company was located, and while it
was being built, there was some uncertainty as

DOWNER'S GROVE TOWNSHIP.

205

to where the depot should be located in the
town. To settle this matter, a meeting was
called, to which Walter Blanchard, Henry Car-
penter, Samuel Curtis, 11. O. Curtis, S. P. Blod-
gett, N. K. Whitney and a few others attended.

Five hundred dollars were made up to pur-
chase grounds for the depot where it now
stands. The owner of the land, John P. Coates,
being unfriendly to the road, would not sell
it short of this sum, which was a round price,
and, inasmuch as the lands a mile to the west,
owned by Mr. Dryer, were offered free for the
depot, it would have been built there had not
the gentlemen mentioned above bought the
lands of Mr. Coates and presented them to the
company.

The plat of Downer's Grove beai*s date of
September 26, 1864, recorded by Norman Gil-
bert, and situate on part of Section 8, Town 38,
Range 11. At the railroad track it is 150 feet
above Lake Michigan.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH.

On August 5, 1851, a little band of Baptists
assembled in a schoolhouse, about one mile
from the present location of their meeting-
house, for the purpose of consulting together
as to the propriety of organizing a Baptist
Church. After mature deliberation, the seven-
teen present unanimously resolved to proceed
to organize, and adopted articles of faith and
covenant, and at said meeting extended a
unanimous call to the Rev. G. F. Holt to be-
come their pastor, which he accepted. At the
same meeting, Edward Goodenough and Lewis
Pound were chosen Deacons. A council of
delegates from several sister churches was
called to meet with them on the 10th of Sep-
tember, which council assembled and unani-
mously voted to recognize the church as a
Scripturally organized church of Christ, the
following-named individuals being its constit-
uent members : Edward Goodenough, Lura A.
Goodenough, Henry Cruthers, Harmon Good-

enough, William C. Perry, Lewis Pound, Mary
C. Pound, Philip Sucher, Emily Sucher, Caro-
line Gleason, Josephine Gleason, Am. E. Good-
enough, G. Smith, Antoinette Trumbull, Nor-
man Gilbert, Emily Gilbert and Sarah M. Smith.
This little band of pioneers all had a mind to
work, and with the help of a few accessions to
their number and the indefatigable labor of
their pastor for help from those outside, suc-
ceeded during the first years in building

and paying for a house of worship, at a cost of
about $1,200 ; at which time the only settle-
ments near, besides the farm community, were
a small store, kept by Messrs. Carpenter &
Hatch, and a blacksmith, Philip Sucher.

In 1871, their meeting-house was destroyed
by fire, without insurance. At that time, the
church numbered about ninety, less than one-
fourth being males. They were not discour-
aged. A meeting was soon called of the church
and society, a building committee appointed,
with instructions to procure plans and build a
new house, which was completed and dedicated,
free from debt, about one year thereafter, at a
cost of about $5,000, in addition to which,
something over $600 was raised to pay for
organ, carpet and other furniture for the same.

During the first eight years of the history of
the church, preaching was only maintained on
alternate Sundays. Since that time, the church
has maintained preaching every Sabbath, with
fair congregations, though three other churches
have meeting-houses. One or two other soci-
eties have occasional meetings. The present
membership is 108 ; a Sunday school with an
average attendance of 105, there being 168
names on the Secretary's book. — N. K. Whit-
ney, Present Church Clerk.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The Congregational Church of Downer's
Grove was organized September 14, 1866.
Meetings, at first, were held in a hall rented for
the purpose. In the year 1874, a meeting-

•2(16

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

house was built. The audience-room is pleas-
ant. A good congregation meets on the Sab-
bath, and an interesting Sunday school is held.
The pastors of the church have been T. F.
Chafer. Joel Grant, A. L. Loomis, G. T. Hol-
comb and S. F. Stratton, who is in the fifth year
of his pastorate.

ST. PAUL'8 CHURCH.

This church belongs to the Evangelical
Association. In 1860, Martin Escher, Sr.,
Jacob Rehm, Solomon Mertz, Phillipp Leh-
man, Michael Hofat and others, purchased, for
the use of this church, the one which the
Congregationalists had built some years pre-
viously. In 1864, this building was moved to
a more central location, the better to accom-
modate the members of tbe church, which then
had increased to fifty in number.

The church continued to prosper, and, in
1873, had increased in numbers to seventy,
many of whom lived in the village of Downer's
Grove. It was, therefore, thought best to again
move the church, to place it in a more central
location, and to this end an acre of land was
purchased of Thomas Hustin, in the south-
western part of the village, to which place the
church was removed. A flourishing Sabbath
school, numbering 100 members, is connected
with the church, of which William J. Boidel-
man is Superintendent. Rev. Samuel Deikover
was the first and Rev. Peth the present pastor.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.

The Downer s Grove Methodist Episcopal
Church was organized by Father Beggs in
about 1836. The first church was built in
1852. Lewis Wood, Nathan A. Belden, John
Howard, F. M. Roe and John Cotes were the
Trustees. Rev. — Stover was the first pastor. '

In 1864-65, Rev. Richard Wake was pastor.
Rev. Samuel Ambrose, Rev. J. R. Allen, Rev.
A. W. Patton and Rev. R. D. Russell suc-
ceeded till 1868.

Rev. Samuel Hewes was pastor in 1876, and

left in 1878. Rev. John 0. Foster was pastor
in 1878-79. In 1880, Rev. T. C. Warrington
and Rev. C. W. Cordes were pastors. In 1881,
Rev. A. H. Kistler, with Rev. T. C. Cordes,
were pastors.

The church now occupied was rebuilt in
1879, at an expense of $15,000, besides the
ground, which had been originally donated by
Henry Carpenter.

The membership is now thirty-five, and the
Sunday school about eighty. The church is
out of debt, both for church and parsonage.

The Cass Methodist Episcopal Church was
organized as early as 1836, probably by Father
Beggs, who would be more likely to pioneer
it than any one known to the writer. Services
were first held in a log schoolhouse. Elisha
Smart, Old Father Cobb and Mrs. John Old-
field were among the first members. The pres-
ent church was built in 1869. Rev. A. W. Pat-
ton and Rev. J. R. Allen were the ones who
obtained the subscription to build it. Mr.
William Smart donated the ground. The
church is valued at $2,500, all paid for. It
has the same pastors as the Downer's Grove
Church, for which reason its history has suc-
ceeded it, though the church is located in the
southern part of the town. The Sunday school
has ninety scholars, and the church numbers
seventy-five members.

THE DOWNER'S GROVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The first schools here were maintained by
subscriptions or by pro rata assessments ; but
now schools are supported by a public school
fund and taxes paid by freeholders. Early
schools were kept mostly in private houses,
where accommodations were rude and limited.
Now comfortable and commodious buildings,
erected for the purpose, give shelter to our
public schools.

As early as the winter of 1836 to 1837, in a
"lean-to" built to the house of Mr. I. P. Blod-
gett, Sr., the village schools had their birth-

82 YEARS OLD.

DOWNER'S GROVE TOWNSHIP.

209

Mr. Hiram Stillson, a student from Oberlin,
here instructed the children of Mr. Blodgett
and a few others, who were glad to avail them-
selves of the opportunities here afforded.

About the year 1837-38, what may be re-
garded as the first district school was opened
in a house built by Mr. John Wallace, on the
spot where Mr. Meadowcroft's house now
stands, and of which the old schoolhouse now
constitutes a part. Here George Carpenter
taught one term.

Subsequently, school was kept under the roof
of Mr. Samuel Curtiss, Sr., taught by Norman
G. Hurd, followed by E. W. Curtiss.

Later, Mr. L. K. Hatch taught a school in
what was then known as the "Norwegian
House," or the " old shoe shop," which stood
some distance west of the Blanchard place.

In 1838, a schoolhouse was built on the
" west side," near the present home of L. W.
Stanley. Here Mr. Sherman taught the first
school, which was made up of children who
•came from far and near. Mr. Slawson, E. W.
Curtiss, L. K. Hatch and Amos Adams (now
Judge of Circuit Court in California) served in
the capacity of teacher.

In 1846, a redivision of districts took place,
whereupon a site was purchased and a school-
house built near the present residence of Mr.
F. M. Woods, by Directors James Depue, W.
B. Pratt and John Shepard. 0. P. Hathaway
was employed to teach the first school, and was
succeeded by Messrs. H. L. Litchfield, J. M.
Valette, Dayton and M. B. Gregorj'. Here
taught, also, Miss Mary Blodgett, who has died
long since, and Miss Annis Gilbert, now Mrs.
Paige. Our fellow-townsman, Capt. T. S. Rog-
ers, here " wielded the birch," " chalked the
line " and reigned a " monarch of all he sur-
veyed " from behind the teacher's desk. Here
J. W. Rogers instructed the youth, who came
in such numbers "to sit at the feet of this
Gamaliel," that, unless some class was contin-
ually on the " recitation floor," all could not

find seats. Others, whose names have escaped
the vigilance of memory, here made the best
of the advantages afforded in instructing the
youth placed under their care.

In 1867, it seems the schoolhouse of 1846
had " served its day and generation," and what
is now the " north wing " of the present brick
building was erected by Directors John Thatch-
er, John Stanley and Gardiner Paige. This
building contained two rooms, and was dedi-
cated to the cause of education by the Misses
Cochrane, who taught the first schools in the
new building.

It rapidly increased in numbers, and, in 1873,
the brick building was full to overflowing, and
a room was rented on Main street to accommo-
date a third department.

Owing to the rapid increase in the population
of our village, and consequent growth of the
school, Directors Curtiss, Blodgett and Farrar,
found it necessary, in 1877, to erect the main
part of the present building, thus furnishing
four commodious rooms, all of which are at
present full to their utmost capacity ; and, judg-
ing from the unprecedented increase in the
school population as recently reported to us by
the Clerk of the School Board, it cannot be long
ere the sound of the builder's hammer must
again be heard on the school premises, and an
increased teaching force will be a necessity.

In 1876, the school was thoroughly graded —
a ten years' course of instruction adopted —
embracing two years of high school work.
Three classes have thus far graduated from this
school ; in 1879, a class of five members ; in
1881, a class of seven, and, in 1882, a class
of six.

The school, at present under the directorship
of Messrs. Woods, Blodgett and Curtiss, is in a
prosperous condition. At no time during the
seven }'ears' work of its Principal has the out-
look been more encouraging. Miss Georgia
Fitch, in the primary ; Miss Elizabeth F. Marsh,
in the intermediate, and Miss Maria L. Clark,

210

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

in the grammar department, are the assistant
teachers, all of whom are accomplishing credit-
able results. — John K. Rassweiler, Principal.

ABOLITIONISM.

Abolitionism in this county had its exponents
in Downer's Grove perhaps to a greater extent
than in any other part of the county when
such a political doctrine was stained with dis-
grace in popular estimation. Its active spirits
were Israel P. Blodgett, David Page, Robert
Dixon, Henry Carpenter and Rockwell Guild.
Walter Blanchard was a Whig Abolitionist,
<; not that he loved Caesar less, but Rome
more." He took hold of the work as soon as
he saw progress.

Mr. Blodgett had charge of the station on
the underground railroad. The trains generally
ran in the night. Aurora was the first station
west, and Chicago on the east, the depot at the
latter place being at the house of Philo Car-
penter.

From Aurora to Downer's Grove was one
night's run, thence to Chicago another night's
run. When passengers arrived on these trains,
their names were not published on register
lists; on the contrary, the passengers were
often concealed in buffalo hides as they were
taken from the vehicles in which they rode,
and carried into a larder room like a quarter of
beef. This was the way the disciples of Free
Soil, in their aggressive proselytism, managed
to inaugurate a system which ultimately over-
turned the mightiest and haughtiest patri-
archal institution that ever grew into existence
on American soil, and it is worthy of mention
that Du Page County was one of the pioneers
in this sweeping change in the public policy of
our nation.

PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS MEN.

Pastor Baptist Church, Rev. Mr. Van Osdell ;
Pastor Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. Mr.
Cordice.

Real Estate Agents, Street & Pardee, East
Grove.

Western Agent New York Lace House, John
Radcliffe.

Jeweler and Watchmaker, V. Simonson.

Draper and Tailor, N. W. Peterson.

Blacksmiths and Horseshoers, J. W. Sucher,
shop, corner Main street and Maple avenue ;
Peter Wertz.

Tinware, Reapers, Mowers, Old Iron and
Rags, John Debolt.

Broom Factory, I. P. Blodgett.

Boot and Shoe-makers, and all kinds of fine
repairing, George Diener : Charles Hodgman.

Ice Cream, Confectionery and Bakery, John
Welter.

Wagon-maker, Livery and Sale Stable, C.
Smith.

Practical Wagon-maker, William Mergen-
thal.

Barber, E. E. West.

Harness-maker and Fancy Carriage and Sign
Painting, M. F. Saylor.

Harness-maker, George Downer.

Station Agent, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy,
F. G. Brown.

Switchman, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy,
D. 0. Cole.

Engineer, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, C.
W. Frisbie.

Fireman, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy,
Wesle} 7 Frisbie.

Pastor Congregational Church, S. F. Strat-
ton.

Attorney at Law, A. B. Wilson.

Police Magistrate, Gardner Paige.

Postmaster, J. M. Barr.

Dealers in Lumber, Coal, Hardware, Agricul-
tural Implements, Salt, Stucco, Lime, Cement
and all kinds of Builders' Materials, J. W.
Rogers & Co. ; Mochel & Co.

Carpenters and Joiners, B. B. Morgan ; F.
Schindler.

Druggist, C. J. Meadowcroft.

DOWNER'S GROVE TOWNSHIP.

211

Cheese Factory, Grist and Planing-Mill, Mil-
ler & Blanchard. Average amount of milk re-
ceived per day, 3,000 pounds ; average amount
of butter made per day, sevent} T -five pounds ;
average amount of cheese made per da} 7 , 225
pounds.

Bricklayer, and all kinds of mason work, W.
J. Beidleman.

Painting, Papering, Whitewashing and Cal-
cimining, C. N. Saylor.

Beardsley House, Proprietor, E. S. Beardsley.

All kinds of Millinery work, Mrs. K. G.
Bates.

Milliner and Fashionable Dressmaker, Mrs.

E. H. Andrews.

Dealers in Dry Goods, Groceries, Read} 7 -
made Clothing, Etc., Thatcher & Crescy ; David
Kline ; La Salle & Co.

Physicians, J. R. Haggard, M. D., office over
drug store ; E. H. Le Due, M. D., office at drug
store.

Dentist, Dr. J. F. Thompson, office in New
Music Hall, Chicago, 111.

Agent for Linden Heights Land Association,

F. M. Woods, office at post office.

The principal streets of Downer's Grove have
been graveled eight inches deep in 1882. The
gravel has been brought to the place by the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Com-
pany from their gravel pits at Montgomery,
Kane Count} 7 , the gravel being laid down at
the place at a very low rate for the benefit of
the town. It is designed to gravel Maple avenue
next A'ear.

CLARENDON HILLS.

Clarendon Hills, situate just west of Hins-
dale, was platted October 29, 1873. James M.
Walker, Amos T. Hall, Robert Harris and Henry
C. Middaugh, were the original proprietors. A
new depot has been built at the place.

The streets are laid out in curves adapted to
the graduating rises of ground on which the
whole town is located, some parts of which are
the highest points of land on the Chicago, Bur-

lington & Quincy Railroad between Chicago
and the Fox River. The divide on the railroad
track is two miles west of this place.

The elevation of the track at the depot at
Clarendon Hills is 158 feet above Lake Michi-
gan, from which place the land rises on both
sides, but more rapidly on the north side, where
it justifies its name of Clarendon Hills in mul-
tifarious ovals and convexities, intermingled
together in Nature's ease.

FULLERSBURG.

This village lies within the old Indian boun-
dary lines, and, consequently, the land on which
it stands was sold in 1835.

It was purchased by Robert Jones, of New
York City. The next year (1836), Orin and
David Giant, two brothers, came to the place,
who were its first settlers. They opened a tav-
ern, and established a post office named Brush
Hill, and, for many years, it was a well known
landmark, to which roads, trails and trade
tended throughout the country. Sherman King
succeeded him in tavern keeping, who was suc-
ceeded by Mr. Atkinson in this business, then
so profitable, when the ox-team dragged its
ponderous burden over the muddy roads. John
S. Coe came to the place in 1839. Jacob W.
Fuller then lived two miles to the north. His
son, Benjamin, platted the place January 20,
1851, when its name was changed to Fullers-
burg. It is a most delightful retreat, among
the tree-clad hills just north of Hinsdale, from
which place sidewalks extend to its central
streets.

The following is a list of its business and
professional men : Rev. F. Boeber, Lutheran
Church ; A. Ford, merchant ; S. Heineman, mer-
chant and Postrnaster ; C. Eidam, blacksmith ;

C. T. Coe, blacksmith ; F. Tunk, wagon- maker ;
I. Haff, wagon-maker ; C. Karnatz, shoemaker ;

D. Moeder, shoemaker ; I. Ruchty, ice-dealer ;
I. Miller, hotel ; P. Bohlander, hotel ; F. Graue.
miller ; W. Ostrum, plasterer and mason ; A.

212

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Froscher, carpenter and builder ; W. Wagner,
carpenter and builder ; Wm. Delicate, painter ;
L. Kurth, painter ; Wm. Ostrura, stone-mason.
Its Church. — In the lovely little village of
Fullersburg, Du Page County, there is a Ger-
man congregation, called the " German United
Evangelical Church of St. John," founded in
1878 by their present pastor, and numbering

already fifty families. The congregation owns
five acres of land, whereon the unpretending
meeting-house is standing, and wherein the
dead of the church find their last resting place.
There is also a day school as well as a Sunday
school connected with the German Church, and
attended by from fifty to sixty children. — Fr.
Boeber, Pastor.

CHAPTER X.

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP— LIST OF EARLY SETTLERS— VILLAGE OF NAPERV1LLE— CHURCHES-
SCHOOLS — MANUFACTORIES — THE NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE — TEMPERANCE
MOVEMENTS — NEWSPAPERS — FIRE DEPARTMENT— MILITARY COM-
PANY—NURSERIES—THE LODGES— BANK— STONE QUARRY.

THE history of the Naper settlement com-
prised the cream of the pioneer history
of the county. It has been told in early
chapters in sufficient detail to leave little to
be said here; yet a list of the names of early
settlers of this township may be a conven-
ience to the reader, and the following is given:
Joseph Naper, John Naper, John Murray,
Christopher Paine, R. N. Murray, Ira Car-
penter, John Stevens, Michael Hines, A. H.
Howard, John Warne, Daniel Warren,
Leister Peet, George Laird, Harry Fowler,
Hiram Fowler, E. B. Bill, Nathan Allen,
Louis Ellsworth, S. M. Skinner, A. S. Jones,
S. Sabin, George Martin, L. C. Aldrich, H.
L. Peasley, B. Hyde, George Stroubler, G.
Bishop, T. H. Stevenson, W. Rose, R. Wright,
E. G. Wight, J. F. Wight, W. Weaver, J.
Granger, N. Crampton, W. J. Strong, R.
Whipple, U. Stanley, T. Thatcher, A. T.
Thatcher, J. Lamb, R. Hill, David Babbitt,
H. C. Babbitt, J. S. Kimball, J. B. Kimball,
L. Kimball, R. K. Potter, J. J. Kimball,
Adial S. Jones, Peter Dodd, Benjamin Smith.
The Scotts and H. Boardman were settlers
of Will County, just over the line, but were

associated with all the interests of the Naper
settlement. Their history is inseparable
from that of both Will and Du Page Coun-
ties, as has already been made apparent to
the reader. It may also be said that the his-
tory of Naperville Village further elucidates
the early history of the county.

The township has 1,289 children between
the ages of six and twenty-one, ten school
districts, with a schoolhouse in each, and one
graded school.

Outside of Naperville Village are three
churches, as follows:

GERMAN BAPTIST CHURCH.

The German Baptist denomination of
Christians (commonly known by the name of
Dunkards) organized as a society in 1855,
and built a meeting-house in 1860, about
half way between Naperville and Warren-
ville, in Naperville Township. It was built
by subscription among themselves. Their
ministers, Deacons and Elders are elected by
the members of their society, and none of
them have any salary. They take care that
none of their people shall become paupers,

NAPERVILLE TOAVNSHIP.

213

or want for the comforts of life, by visiting
every family among their order and supplying
them with all that is necessary, if misfortune
befalls them. They now number between
fifty and sixty members. Its present officers
are C. F. Martin, Elder; Jacob Sollenberger,
Simon Yundt and Hiram Smith, ministers;
Dorence Vroman, Noah Early, Michael Sol-
lenberger and John Netzley, Deacons.

It is against their principles to go to law
or go to war, or to swear by oath; but they
affirm when called to give evidence before a
court of justice.

Their origin was in Germantown, Penn.

Christopher Sauer, who brought the first
printing press to America, was one of the
founders of this society.

The name Dunkard is improperly applied
to them. Their real name is indicated at
the head of this sketch.

st. John's lotheran chuhch.

The following history of the Evangelical
Lutheran St. John's Church" of Naperville,
Du Page Co., 111., from its origin in 1853 to
the present date, is by H. Horstman:

The above-named church owes its origin to
about ten or a dozen German citizens of the
towns of Naperville and Lisle, in Du Page
County, who desired to make the attempt to
lay the foundations for a congregation of
their own creed, at the same time using ex-
clusively the German language as a medium
of communication in divine service, for the
benefit of those new-comers from the Father-
land who might happen to^arrive in this vi-
cinity.

At that time, in the summer of 1853, the
Rev. Fr. Ottmann, a member of the Lutheran
Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other States,
lived between Naperville and Downer's Grove.
He had been designated to preach the Gos-
pel to a number of farmers residing in the

vicinity of the latter place, and alternately
held divine service in a schoolhouse near
Downer's, and in a similar building situated
in a more northerly direction, on the old plank
road from Naperville to the Desplaines
River.

The above men from Naperville and Lisle
went to hear Mr. Ottmann from time to
time, and finally made arrangements with
him to come to Naperville every third Sab-
bath morning, to preach a sermon in the old
court house, and at the same time to make an
attempt to build up a congregation sufficient-
ly numerous to sustain their own preacher.
Mr. Ottmann fulfilled his engagement to the
best of his ability, establishing for himself a
well-earned reputation for sincerity and piety,
but felt compelled, after a duration of fifteen
months, to abandon his trust, being unable to
agree with the members in some fundamental
principles held sacred by the Synod of Mis-
souri, but which they had been taught to re-
gard in a more liberal light. In the winter
of 1854-55, Mr. Ottmann received a vocation
to Missouri, and left for that State, accom-
panied by the best wishes of his friends in
Du Page County.

About the same time, information was re-
ceived that, in the fall of 1855, the Rev. E.
H. Buhre, formerly a member of the Lutheran
General Council of the State of New York,
had arrived in Aurora, Kane County, from
Williamsburg, N. Y., built up a congrega-
tion in the former place, and, by the help of
friends, had even succeeded in erecting a
church building. The Naperville men, after
having attended his divine service occasion-
ally, finally induced Mr. Buhre to visit Na-
perville every third Sabbath afternoon, and
for this purpose the building of the Method-
ist Episcopal Church of that place was kindly
ceded. Mr. Buhre came to Naperville for
several months, when the members of the con-

214

HISTORY OF T)U PAGE COUNTY.

gregation, which then had assumed a more
tangible form, secured the services of a Mr.
Lerfling, who moved to Naperville in the fall
of 1856, but was again dismissed by the con-
gregation in January, 1857, after which time
Mr. Buhre kindly resumed his activity in Na-
perville, having, during this time, joined the
Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Northern Illi-
nois, consisting then mostly of ministers of
German and Scandinavian, but also of Anglo-
Saxon, descent, under guidance of the Rev.
Dr. Harvey, of Springfield.

In April, 1857, a member of the Lutheran
congregation at Naperville, who, in the mean-
time, had in some way, though perhaps not
formally organized, visited Germany, and
there secured the services of Mr. Herm Lies-
mann, a young man of many abilities, and ed-
ucated by the missionary society at Barmen,
Rhenish Prussia, to preach the Gospel to his
countrymen in the United States. Mr. Lies-
mann arrived in the fall of 1857, and, after
having been ordained by the above-named
Lutheran Synod of Northern Illinois, and de-
clared their member, forthwith began to for-
mally and legally organize the Lutheran con-
gregation at Naperville. Mr. Liesmann at
the same time held divine service about six
miles southeast of Downer's Grove, and built
and dedicated a church there in the summer
of 1859 During Mr. Liesmann's stay in
Naperville, which lasted two and a half
years, the congregation there bought the old
meeting-house of the Evangelical association
of that place, situated on its present site on
Van Buien avenue, for $600, and, for an equal
amount, erected a parsonage. Mr. Liesmann
left for Iowa in the summer of 1860, and in
his place the congregation chose Mr. H. M.
Guehl, also at that time a member of the
Synod of Northern Illinois, but which, shortly
afterward, he left, to be accepted as a mem-
ber of the Lutheran Svnod of Wisconsin.

whose doctrines seemed more conformable to
his views.

The congregation soon followed his exam-
ple, organized under a new constitution, and
numbered about thirty members, several of
whom, however, moved to other States in the
course of time. In the fall of 1862, Mr.
Guehl was called by his synod to Northern
Wisconsin, and as his successor the congre-
gation chose the above-named Rev. E. H.
Buhre, who had long felt inclined to leave
Aurora. Mr. Buhre also remained in Naper-
ville two years, the same time visiting, on the
Sabbath afternoon, Downer's Grove, and then,
owing to some difficulties, vacated the par-
sonage and removed to a private residence,
which, in the meantime, he had created.
Mr. Buhre left in the fall of 1864, and from
that time to September, 1865, no minister of
the Lutheran denomination resided at their
parsonage at Naperville.

Occasionally during that time, divine serv-
ice and communion were held by the Rev. E.
Kenchen, a member of the then United Evan
gelical Synod of the Northwest, comprised of
representatives of both the Lutheran and
Reformed Churches of Germany, as embod-
ied in the Evangelical Churches of that State,
though conforming to republican institution.
The congregation of Naperville soon found
the doctrines held by that synod more agree-
able to their views than the ultra- Lutheran
doctrines of the Synods of Missouri and Wis-
consin, joined the former, and were, in July,
1865, by them supplied with a pastor of their
own, in the person of the Rev. William Bin-
ner. The members, however, whose num-
bers had become smaller, organized under a
new constitution, which, with only one
amendment, regarding membership, exists to
this day.

Mr. Binner, with his family, remained at
Naperville a little over three years, and,

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP.

215

though removed by the Lord some seven
years ago, is still kindly remembered by his
many friends. Mr. Binner left Naperville
in October, 1868, and was succeeded by Mr.
J. Kern, a young man of medium capacities,
who, unaided by experience, ultimately failed
in his task, and was in turn succeeded, after
a year's time, by the Rev. T. Lotka, who,
however, after a short stay of nine months,
accepted a call for a Professorship at Fari-
bault, Minn The Rev. Fr. Lohappel fol-
lowed in the fall of 1870, and under his guid-
ance, in 1871, the church building was
greatly enlarged, a steeple was built and a
suitable bell procured; the interior also was
newly and neatly furnished, the whole outlay
being nearly $2,000. The funds for this
purpose were raised partly by contribution of
members, one-half of them, however, present-
ed to the congregation by Mr. William Preis-
werk, a wealthy gentleman of Switzerland,
formerly a resident of the State of Illinois,
who faithfully remembered his old friends.

Mr. Schappel having, in March, 1874, re-
signed his trust, was, in July of the same
year, succeeded by the Rev. R. Wobus, a
young man of great ability and sterling char-
acter, who, however, was called, two years
afterward, to a theological Professorship near
St. Louis, Mo., belonging to the Evangelical
Synod of North America, which, at the pres-
ent time, comprises in the United States all
the representatives of their own creed.

To this day the Evangelical Lutheran Con-
gregation adheres to that synod, and their
pulpit has been successively occupied by the
Rev. A. Teutschel, from September, 1876, to
the same time in 1877, by Rev. H. Huebsch-
mann from April, 1878, to October, 1881;
the present pastor, Rev. G. Hageman, how-
ever, residing at Amboy, Lee County, and al-
ternately holding divine service at Naperville
and at the former place. Owing to the re-

moval of many members to Iowa, Kansas and
other States, the number of them is not large,
but the prospect of having the ranks again
' filled by emigration from the Fatherland is
encouraging.

EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION.

The Evangelical Association at Copenha-
gen, in the southwest part of Naperville
Township. Six families of this faith came
to Copenhagen and settled in 1844, from
Pennsylvania, holding religious services in a
schoolhouse till 1858, when a church was
built by subscription. Rev. Lintner was
their first pastor, who preached at the school -
house; after whom they had other pastors
biennially, according to their church govern-
ment. From its first organization, the mem-
bership has continued to increase, chiefly by
immigration. It now numbers about forty
members. The church is a neat edifice, and
its grounds ornamented with trees.

The society is in a prosperous condition,
all of its members thrifty farmers, sons and
daughters of the first founders of the church,
who have inherited the religion of their fa-
thers, as well as their correct habits in social
life.

VILLAGE OF NAPERVILLE.

The first settlers of Boston were attracted
there by an excellent spring of pure water
that broke out of the ground from the base
of one of the three hills that originally stood
at this place, which the Indians called Shau-
mut.

Naperville had a like attraction as to the
spring, which drew settlers here and made it
the first nucleus of rising power in Northern
Illinois west of Chicago and east of Dixon.
Joseph Naper first surveyed and laid out the
town in streets, and his plat of it bears date
of February 14, 1842. It was situate on the
southeast quarter of Section 13. Township

216

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

38, Range 9 east, and henceforward the name
of the place was Naperville, instead of the
Naper settlement. The first frame building
erected in it was done by A. H. Howard in
the fall of 1833. It stood a few rods south
of a house in which Mr. J. Horn lived in
1876.

Here was the center to which highways
tended. Here were saw and grist mills,
stores, and the material out of which to make
a town, and here existed the necessities for a
corporate government to regulate certain con-
tingencies that are sure to come up amidst
diverse interests in close proximity and pos-
sible rivalry to each other, and a public meet-
ing was called at the court house in 1856 to
take the initiatory steps to bring about the
desired end. By a vote at this meeting, Hi-
ram Cody, R. N. Murray, H F. Vallette and
H. Loring were appointed to draft the form
by which it was desired by the sense of this
meeting to incorporate the town, and Lewis
Ellsworth and Nathan Allen were commis-
sioned to present this document to the Legis-
lature to be acted on by that body. In ac-
cordance with their request, an act was passed
by the Legislature of Illinois, and approved
by the Governor, Joel A. Matteson, February
7, 1857, to incorporate the village of Naper-
ville. Its officers were to consist of a Presi-
dent and four Trustees, a Clerk, a Police
Magistrate and a Police Constable. The
President and Trustees to be chosen annually,
and the other officers once in four years, and all
by a vote of the people.

The first election was held under the new
corporation May 4, 1857, resulting in the
election of the following officers: For Presi-
dent, Joseph Naper ; Trustees, Hiram H.
Cody, George Martin, Xavier Egerman, Mich-
ael Hiens; for Clerk, C. M. Castle; Treasurer
A. W. Colt; Police Magistrate, H F. Val-
lette; Police Constable, A. C. Graves.

At this election, 174 votes were polled; at
the election in 1860, 230 votes; in 1865, 199
votes; in 1870, 253 votes; in 1874,389 votes.
(Returns wanting in 1875.) In 1881, 420 votes
were polled.

In March previous to this election, the
most disastrous flood ever known on the Du
Page River occurred. It carried away the
dam above the town, and the accumulated
waters it -held back thus suddenly released
rose into the streets of the low grounds and
gave the inmates of the houses barely time
to escape. The damage caused by the flood
was over $15,000. M. Hines, J. T. Green,
R. Willard, C. W. Keith and J. Naper were
the principal losers.

The original town lies in the southeast
quarter of Section 13, in the town of Naper-
ville, as it is now named, which civil division
was given to the Government township de-"
scribed as Township 38, Range 9 east, but,
by subsequent additions made to it, the vil-
lage extends eastwardly into Range 10, Sec-
tions 7 and 18, in Lisle Township. The
elevation at the railroad track above Lake
Michigan is 146 feet.

The present public square of Naperville is
the ground occupied by the old court house,
about half of the grounds laid out in the town
of Lisle, and was conveyed gratis to Naper-
ville March 30, 1877.

Much the largest portion of the village lies
on the northeast bank of the Du Page River,
which naturally inclines its surface toward
the south and southwest, thereby giving veg-
etation an early start in the spring. The
ground graduates upward from the river on
both sides into a great variety of oval eleva-
tions. One of them, on which the house of
Mr. Ellsworth stands, was the spot on which
Fort Paine was built in 1832, it being con-
siderably higher than any other rise of ground
near by, but the broad plateau in the back-

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP.

217

ground beyond the erosion and bank drainage
of the river is still a little above any portion
of the village of Naperville. The town is
well supplied with springs of very pure wa-
ter, which rises several feet above the sur-
face, and is made to flow into tanks for con-
venience to the citizens.

The following description of the town,
given by C. W. Richmond and H. F. Val-
lette, in their History of Du Page County,
published in 1857, will show what it then
was, only the next year after it had been in-
corporated :

"The mercantile business, aside from agri-
culture, is the chief business of the town.
The principal stores employ capitals of be-
tween $6,000 and $8,000 annually. They
sell large amounts of goods, not only to the in-
habitants of this, but to thos6 of surrounding
towns. Integrity is the marked characteristic
of the dealings of the merchants of Naper-
ville. This, in connection with the uniformly
low prices at which they sell their goods, has
secured to them a liberal and extended pat-
ronage.

" There are two large nurseries near the vil-
lage, from which trees and shrubs are sent to
all parts of the Northwest. We have been
furnished some account of the business of
these nurseries, which we give below: The
Du Page Eclectic Nurseries were established
in 1853, by R. W. and R. B. Hunt. During
the four years past, these nurseries have prop-
agated, in each year, from fifty to one hun-
dred and fifty thousand fruit trees. Orna-
mental trees and shrubbery have been propor-
tion ately increased, and some thousands of
foreign trees and shrubs have been added by
importation, as the business has justified.
The Du Page County Nurseries of Lewis
Ellsworth & Co. were established in 1849.
These nurseries cover at present some fifty
acres of ground, embracing in their collec-

tion the most extensive stock and assortment
of varieties of fruit and ornamental trees,
shrubs and plants, to be found in the North-
west. The yearly increase of trees and shrubs
by propagation is truly astonishing. The
proprietors have imported, during the present
season (1857), from Europe, more than thirty
thousand young evergreens and other plants.
Attached to the establishment is a plant-
house, arranged for propagating plants dur-
ing the winter season. The establishment
gives employment to a large number of work-
men, some ten or twelve families deriving
their entire support from it. Some fifteen
or twenty men are employed, at an expense
of over $6,000 per annum."

The foregoing account of a business so es-
sential to the comfort and beauty of newly
made prairie homes serves to show from
whence came the horticultural development
of the country around, or at least how a
branch of industry took its start that has mul-
tiplied trees and other plants till every
hamlet and every farm is supplied with
them.

Subsequently, C. W. Kichmond established
a nursery here, and continued the business
for some years, thereby lending a hand to the
arduous and useful work of supplying the
country with trees.

Ernst Van Oren also established a nursery
about the same time as Mr. Richmond, and
still continues the business.

The Du Page County Nursery, the first one
established here, is still supplying orders for
trees and other plants, but is not increasing
its stock, or propagating, Mr. Ellsworth, the
proprietor, wishing to relieve himself of its
active work and responsibilities.

The present nursery stock here is not as
large as it formerly was, but the growing of
trees is constantly on the increase in the
country.

218

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Of other manufacturing establishments in
Naperville, at the same time, says Richmond
and Vallette, in their history:

" The plow and wagon shops of Messrs.
Vaughan & Peck. It was originally estab-
lished by A. S. Jones, who is entitled to the
credit of originating the steel plow now so
much in use. The manufactory of this plow
commenced in 1840. They possess many supe-
rior qualities, for which they have become ex-
tensively noted throughout the West. From
its circular we learn that this establishment is
the oldest in the Western States, having manu-
factured the steel scouring plow for eighteen
or twenty years, and always winning first
premiums at State and county fairs. The
establishment is capable of making fifteen
plows per day."

Say Richmond and Vallette, in 1857:
Subsequently, this establishment passed into
the hands of Mr. N. Boughton, who carried
it on under the name of the Naperville Agri-
cultural Works, who, having enlarged its ca-
pacity, employed about sixty hands. These
workmen, with others employed by manufact-
uring establishments here, on public days
made the streets of Naperville lively, espe-
cially on one 4th of July, 1870, when a dis-
pute arose between some of them and the
German citizens of the place about some
trifling matter of no vital interest, which re-
quired the utmost efforts of Mr. J. J. Hunt,
then Police Magistrate, to settle, or rather to
prevent violence from growing out of, for he
made no attempt to investigate the " true in-
wardness " of it, which undoubtedly had been
bottled up and escaped from such confine-
ments down the throats and thence into the
brains of a few otherwise " real good fel-
lows." Mr. Hunt interposed between the
unctuous aggressors and the objects of their
resentment, when they reconsidered their res-
olution and retreated, muttering, as they

went, something about the Dutchman,

and peace was restored

Mr. Boughton, not long after this, removed
the establishment to Chicago, and took these
"real good fellows" along with him. Hence
they did not make "real good plows," but an
inferior article, and his business ran down,
but, after a brief cessation, the business was
resumed again in Naperville.

Messrs. Strauss & Getsch, who now turn out
plows after the first perfect mold, invented
by Mr. A. S. Jones, the original proprietor.

There were two breweries in Naperville in
1857, where the famous beverage of lager
beer was made. Their annual consumption
of barley was then 15,000 bushels, and of
hops 11,000 pounds. Their capacity of
manufacture was then 186,000 gallons annu-
ally, which brought in to the manufacturers
about $150,000 per year.

There is now (1882) but one brewery in
operation here, which was established by John
Senger in 1850. It consumes annually 10,-
000 bushels of barley and from 6,000 to 7,-
000 pounds of hops. It makes about five
thousand barrels of beer annually, which is
sold at Chicago and through the country
around.

From the Naperville Clarion of July 25,
1877, we take the following, to show the con-
dition of the town at that time:

"Naperville of to-day is an enterprising
city of about two thousand inhabitants, the
largest and most important in the county.
It is situated in the heart of one of the finest
agricultural districts of Northern Illinois,
and the fertile acres and healthful climate
have contributed to make up Du Page County
one of the wealthiest sections of the State.
The city is located on a series of elevations
overlooking the surrounding landscape of hill
and dale which, with the glistening waters of
Du Page River, seen here and there as they

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP.

219

roll through the valleys, form a pleasant view i
to the beholder.

The streets, which are fringed with shade
trees, are regularly laid out, and mostly
graded and provided with sidewalks. Upon
the business thoroughfares are many two and !
three story blocks, mostly of brick or stone, !
comprising stores and business houses, con- j
structed in modern style of architecture, and
presenting a front scarcely inferior to the
business streets of our larger cities.

The writer of the above, in his further de-
scription of the place, speaks of the follow-
ing material interests and business firms then
prominently known here. Eight churches
are noted, a district school, the Northwestern I
College, and hotels, among which the Pre-
emption House was named as an old land-
mark. The tile and brick works of Messrs.
Martin & King; the stone quarries of Mr. J.
Salfisberg; the cheese factory of George H.
Hunt; the Du Page Valley Mills, under the
management of L. Rosen treter, the one orig- I
inally built by Joseph Naper; Mr. William
Shimps, carriage factory ; the drug store of
Mr. F. Morse; Mr. Theo German's merchant
tailoring house; Willard Scott & Co.'s dry !
goods store; Messrs. Collins & Naper's store;
Mr. P. Beckman's leather and shoe findings
store; Messrs. Rickert & Vance's blacksmith- j
ing business; Mr. Fred Long's furniture j
house; Mr. C. Scherer's hardware store; Mr. D.
Strubler's carriage factory; Messrs. Escher & [
Drisler's grocery; Mr. M. Weismantel's jew- |
elry store; Willard Scott, Sr., & Co.'s Bank;
Mr. L. S. Shafers planing-mill ; Mr. J. Hil- '
terbrand's carriage factory; Mr. Martin Fest's
boot and shoe factory; Messrs. Reuss& Diet-
er's clothing store; Mr. P. Marlin's flour and
feed store; Mr. M. Brown's store; Messrs. !
Ditzler & Hosier's store; Messrs. Dunlap &
Co.'s grocery; Mr. R. H. Wagner's saddlery
establishment; Mr. W. S. Latshaw's grocery; !

Mr. John Pf ister's hardware store; Dr. H. C.
Daniels' paint, oil and drug store; Mr. P.
Strubler's grocery store; Messrs. Ehrhardt &
Bros.' boot and shoe store ; Mr. George
Strubler's livery stable; Mrs. Lindeman's toy
store; Mr. L. G. Kent's grocery; Mr. P.
Schmelzer's bakery; Mr. M. B. Powell's drugs
store; Messrs. J. Ehrhardt & Co.'s boot and
shoe store; Mr. C. Schultz's cigar store; Mr.
A. Scott's grocery; Mr. M. Hemmer's furni-
ture store; Mr. B. J. Slicks' grocery; Mr. H.
L. Peasley's dry goods store; Messrs. W. H.
Hillegar & Co.'s hardware store; and Mr. C.
H. Finley's photograph gallery; Mr. C. Ken-
dig's dental rooms and photograph gallery;
Mr. Jacob Say lor's lumberyard; Messrs. Hart-
runf & Son's lumberyard; Mr. C. Boettger's
meat market; Mr. D. Garst's meat market;
Thomas Saylor's ice cream and confectionery
store. Also shoemakers as follows: J. Con-
grave, Compte, G. Friess, G. Fosha, J.

Fehlman, Mr. Knetzger, J. Stubeurauch and
Jacob Zimmerman; Mr. Obermayer's cigar
factory; Mr. F. Strahecker's blacksmith shop;
Mr.W. Lent's blacksmith shop; Messrs. Strausz
& Getsch, proprietors of the plow factory;
Messrs. Bauer Bros., blacksmith shop, and Mr.
A. Hartrunf 's blacksmith shop ; Mr. J. J.
Hunt's hardware store; Alfred Shafer's car-
penter shop; Mat Stevens' carpenter shop;
R. Swarz's blacksmith shop; John Herbert's
harness shop; Walter Good's paint shop;
Francis Saylor's carriage factory; Mr. Arm-
bruster's and Mr. Mueller's wagon shops;
Fred Miller's taxidermist and painting estab-
lishment; Mr. Brussel's livery stable; Fred
Kaylor's clothing store ; Mr. Schloessler's
cigar factory; and Mr. Michael Hines' shoe
shop.

NORTH WESTERN COLLEGE.

The Northwestern College, under the aus-
pices and patronage of the Evangelical Asso-
ciation, is located at Naperville. The college

220

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

building is an elegant, substantial and com-
modious structure of stone, containing spa-
cious recitation rooms, a large chapel, society
halls, reading room, laboratory, and other
rooms for special college purposes. The sit-
uation of the building and grounds is in the
finest part of the village, on a moderate eleva-
tion, affording a commanding view of the
rich and beautiful country all around to a
distance of many miles.

The college was instituted at Plainfield,
Will Co., 111., in the fall of 1861. Prior to
this time, there had been no college institu-
tion under the support and patronage of the
Evangelical Association. With the exception
of several seminaries in the east, no higher
schools of learning had been sustained by the
denomination. Indeed, it may be said that
the organization of Northwestern College is
the mark of a new departure iu the history
of the enterprises of this young and growing
church. It had long been verified that de-
nominational schools inured greatly to the
benefit of the churches which they represent-
ed. Leading men, ministers and laymen,
believing that the means to support and ma-
terial to furnish a college were in the pos-
session of the church, strongly advocated the
establishment of such an institution. The
Illinois and Wisconsin Conferences of the
church were the leaders in this movement.
Accordingly, a deputation of citizens of Plain-
field was sent to the sessions of the confer-
ences in the spring of 1851, with overtures for
the location of the school in that village. An
agreement was effected. There was at this time
a township high school building in process
of erection at Plainfield. This was conveyed
to the Trustees of the college, and in the fall,
when the building was completed, the school
was opened under the name of Plainfield Col-
lege.

Notwithstanding the fact that the college

opened its doors to the public during the dark
and lowering days of the first years of the
war of the rebellion, when public thought
and interest was intent upon the question of
the safety of the greater institution — our
united country; when thousands of young
men, the flower of the land, went forth to the
tented camp and the battle-field — notwith
standing these discouraging circumstances,
the institution had an auspicious beginning.
At the end of the first year, the Indiana and
Iowa Conferences added their support to the
undertaking. There was a fair attendance of
students during the first year, with an in-
crease from abroad from term to term. The
institution received its regular collegiate
chater in 1865. With the growth of the
number of regular college classes, the num
ber of instructors was increased. The first
class of graduates went out in 1866, since
which time the college has annually sent out
from her halls a greater or less number of
graduates into the active arena of practical
life.

In 1864, the name of the institution was
changed to Northwestern College. While
public interest in the school was widening
and manifesting itself in an increase of pat-
ronage from a distance, it soon became ap-
parent that certain circumstances essential to
the permanent growth of the college had not
been practically anticipated when PI ainfield
was chosen for its location. The building
soon proved insufficient for the purposes of
the school. Moreover, the fact that Plain-
field was "off the road," eight miles distant
from the nearest railroad station, was found
to be increasingly prejudicial as the stage
coach as a traveling conveyance became more
and more unpopular. This naturally led to
the agitation of the question of removal to
some location more easily accessible. While
the citizens of Plainfield, as might be ex-

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP.

221

pected, strenuously opposed the proposition,
facts and circumstances seemed, from year to
year, to strengthen the warrant to adopt such
a measure. Various places held out induce-
ments to the Trustees to be chosen as a new
location. Among these, Naperville, awake to
the fact that Northwestern College would
prove a valuable acquisition, proposed to give
$25,000 toward the erection of the buildings,
provided that town were chosen. In the
spring of 1870, nine years after the college
was opened at Plainfield, after a long and
animated debate, first on the question of
making the ohange, and second as to the pref-
erence between proposed places, the Board of
Trustees decided on a removal to Naperville.

The fall term of 1870 was opened in the
new building. The citizens of Naperville
manifested a fair appreciation of their newly
acquired privileges. The facilities of the
school were, in many particulars, consider-
ably enlarged, and Northwestern College en-
tered upon a new career of growth and pros-
perity. The history of its development will
best appear in the following reference to its
various interests.

Endowment. — From the opening of the
school, scholarships of various prices and of
different periods of validity were sold, with a
view to the establishment of an endowment
fund. By the addition of direct donations,
this fund increased from year to year with
varying degrees of rapidity, so that at the
present time (1882), it has reached the sum
of $90,000.

Faculty. — When the school was opened,
the faculty consisted of five teachers, viz.,
Profs. J. E. Ehodes, John E. Miller, S. W.
Marston, Mrs. Emily Huntington Miller and
Miss C. M. Harlacher. Bev. A. A. Smith,
A. M., was elected President of the college in
1861, but did not assume the position until
the fall of 1862. At the same time, H. C.

Smith, A. M., was appointed Professor of
Music. In 1863, Bev. F. W. Heidner, A.
M., was elected to the Professorship of the
German Language and Literature. In 1864,
upon the resignation of Prof. J. E. Miller,
Bev. John H. Leas, A. M., was made Profes-
sor of Ancient Languages. In 1868, upon
the resignation of Prof. J. E. Bhodes, H. H.
Bassweiler, A. M., was appointed Professor
of Mathematics and Natural Science. In
1869, Prof. J. H. Leas having resigned, H.
C. Smith, A. M., was made Professor of An-
cient Languages and Literature, and was suc-
ceeded in the Department ot Instrumental
Music by Miss Emma M. Corbin. Upon the
removal of the college to Naperville in 1870,
the faculty was materially increased by the
appointment of Bev. A. Huelster, A. M., as
Professor of Greek (Prof. Smith remaining
in charge of the Latin) ; C. F. Bassweiler, A.
M., as Tutor; Miss Nancy J. Cunningham as
Preceptress and Teacher of Drawing; Bev. J.
G. Cross, A. M., Principal of Commercial
Department; and Miss Minnie P. Cody as
Teacher of Instrumental Music. In 1871, J.
L. Bockey was added as assistant teacher in
the Commercial Department. In 1875, C.
F. Bassweiler was promoted as Adjunct Pro-
fessor of Mathematics. In 1876, G. W. Sind-
linger, A. M., was appointed Assistant
Teacher of Greek, and, three years later, he
succeeded Prof. A. Huelster as Professor of
that department In 1878, Miss Cunning-
ham resigned as Preceptress, and was suc-
ceeded by Miss Lizzie E. Baker, who served
one year, after which Mrs. N. J. Knicker-
backer, nee Cunningham, was re- appointed
Preceptress and Professor of History and
English Literature. In 1879, Prof. Cross,
of the Commercial Department, was succeed-
ed by F. W. Streets. In 1881, the Professor
of Mathematics and Natural Science resigned
the first-named department, and C. F. Bass-

222

HISTORY OF 1)U PAGE COUNTY.

weiler was made Professor of Mathematics.
In 1877, Miss Minnie P. Cody was succeeded
by Miss Rose M. Cody as Teacher of Instru-
mental Music, and in 1878, Prof. H. C. Smith
was placed in charge of this department.

At the present date, the faculty of North-
western College is constituted as follows:

Rev. A. A. Smith, A M., President, Pro-
fessor of Mental and Moral Science.

Rev. F. W. Heidner, A. M., B. L\, Profes-
sor of the German Language and Literature.

H. C. Smith, A. M., Professor of the Latin
Language and Literature.

H. H. Rassweiler, A.. M., Professor of Nat-
ural Science.

C. F. Rassweiler, A. M., Professor of Math-
ematics.

G. W. Sindlinger, A. M., Professor of the
Greek Language and Literature.

Mrs. N. J. Knickerbacker, Preceptress,
Professor of History and English Literature.

H. F. Kletzing, A. M., Assistant Teacher
of Mathematics.

J. L. Nichols, A. M., Teacher of Commer-
cial Studies and Penmanship.

H. C. Smith, Professor of Music.

Mrs. Jennie E. Nauman, Assistant Teacher
of Piano and Organ.

Miss Sadie Schutt, Teacher of Painting
and Drawing.

Students. — The attendance of students
from the beginning has been encouraging.
Notwithstanding the fact that, during the
history of the institution to this time, the
country has passed through at least two seri-
ous financial crises, and while others more
local and temporary circumstances have
affected the attendance of students at the
higher schools generally, the annual enroll-
ment at Northwestern College has not been
remarkably fluctuating. The attendance
during the last collegiate year (1881-82) was
about three hundred*

Graduates. — The graduates of the college,
now precisely 100 in number, are distributed
over the whole country. These, with the
hundreds who did not fully complete a course
of study, represent most of the professional
and industrial pursuits of life. As a class,
they are successful men and women, who, by
their integrity and industry, are reciprocat-
ing the honor bestowed on them by their
Alma Mater.

Departments and Courses of Study. — Be-
sides the regular collegiate or literary de-
partment, the college maintains a commercial,
a German, a music and an art department.
To meet all demands in different lines of
study, there are nine courses of study pro-
vided, viz., classical, Latin scientific, Greek
scientific, English scientific, pure German,
English German, commercial, music and art.

Patronage. — At first the patronage of the
college was limited to the territory of the
Illinois and Wisconsin Conferences. Now
the Illinois, Wiscoasin, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio,
Michigan, New York, Canada, South Indiana,
Des Moines and Kansas — eleven conferences,
are pledged to its support, and are represented
in the Board of Trustees. In the attendance
of students, all these territorial divisions, be
sides other States, are annually represented

Auxiliary Features. — As indicating the
general activity and practical spirit which
pervades the institution, mention may be
made of various organizations maintained un-
der the auspices of the faculty, but conducted
chiefly by the students. Among these are
four literary societies, for practice in public
speaking, debate and general parliamentary
procedure; a scientific association, for the
maintenance of a lively interest in the pur-
suit of scientific knowledge, building up the
college museum and providing occasional
lectures; two religious societies, the Young
Men's Christian Association and the Young

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP

223

Ladies' Christian Association, holding regu-
lar meetings for conference and prayer, fur-
nishing a reading room, and exerting a salu-
tary religious influence over the whole school.

Union Biblical Institute. — In the year 1875,
a theological school, under the name of Union
Biblical Institute, was opened in connection
with the college. Rev. R. Yeakel, formerly
one of the Bishops of the church, is Princi-
pal. This school provides a course of study
suitable for those who contemplate entering
the profession of the Christian ministry.

Church. — In 1870, a new congregation or
society, consisting of teachers, students and
citizens, was organized. Their Sabbath serv-
ices and Sabbath school have, from the begin-
ning, been held in the chapel of the college.
The Sabbath school of this congregation is
one of the largest and most interesting in the
whole denomination. The pastor is appoint-
ed annually by the Illinois Conference. The
pastors up to this time have been Rev. E. E.
Condo, Rev. W. W. Shuler, Rev. H. Messner,
Rev. W. H. Bucks and Rev. C. Schmucker.

Object and Outlook. — The object of the col-
lege is to provide for the young men and
women who are intrusted to its care and in-
struction the advantages of a thorough, lib-
eral education, under such moral and relig-
ious influences as to associate in its culture a
high degree of mental and moral develop-
ment, and the inculcation of such principles
and habits of thought as will best fit the
student not only for extensive usefulness in
life, but to meet successfully life's inevitable
vicissitudes, whether of prosperity or adversity.
The prospects for the future of the institution
are bright. With an increasing sentiment in
its favor among the people of the church under
whose immediate patronage it exists, and a
growing appreciation on the part of the gen-
eral public, Northwestern College is destined
to take a prominent place among the educa-

tional institutions of the West.— H. H Rass-
weiler.

congregational church.

This, with one exception, is the oldest
Congregational Church organized in the State.
The first organization of this character was
the church at Mendon, formed in February,
1833, and, on the 13th day of July follow-
ing, ' ' By a request of a number of persons
at Du Page to be organized into a Church of
Christ, the Rev. Jonathan Porter and Rev.
N. C. Clark, missionaries for this county, and
Rev. C. W. Babbitt, of Tazewell County, met,
and, after prayer and some appropriate re-
marks, proceeded to examine the credentials
of applicants." So reads the old record of
the first Congregational Church, but one, in
Illinois.

On this examination, the following mem-
bers were received: Israel P. Blodgett, Avice
Blodgett, Robert Strong, Caroline W. Strong,.
Constant Abbott, Isaac Clark, Clarissa A.
Clark, Leister Peet, Henry H. Goodrich,
Eliza S. Goodrich, Samuel Goodrich, Lydia
Goodrich, Pomeroy Goodrich, Lucy M. Good-
rich.

With these sixteen persons as members, the
organization was completed, and Isaac Clark,
Pomeroy Goodrich and Leister Peet were
chosen the Elders of the church. The form
of organization was at first Presbyterian, but
soon after, it was, by a unanimoiis vote,
changed to the Congregational, and the title
of Deacon substituted for that of Elder.

The record of the acts of these Christian
pioneers is exceedingly interesting. Their
earliest recorded resolutions provide for the
thorough distribution of tracts; the visitation
by the pastor and some member of the church
of all accessible families; and the imperative
necessity of attending all the stated meetings
of the church. It being declared the duty of
the Moderator to note all absentees and call

224

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

for satisfactory explanation at the first meet-
ing which they attended after the delin-
quency.

These resolutions well exhibit the deter-
mined spirit of loyalty to their principles
which distinguished these early Christians,
who thus "builded better than they knew. "
The spark they lighted has become a flame,
burning brightly to-day upon the altar they
erected so many years ago. They built the
first steeple upon these prairies, and, from
year to year, have not only increased their
membership, but have sent out to many later
organizations members who have carried the
same spirit. It may well be styled the parent
church of this whole region. Rev. N. C.
Clark, one of the organizers, was the first
pastor. The meetings were for some time
held in his house, and afterward, sometimes
in the " schoolhouse near Samuel Goodrich's,"
in the "schoolhouse in Naperville," and in
the houses or barns of different members.

The first money raised for the support of
the Gospel is spoken of in the minutes of a
meeting held early in 1834, when it was voted
to raise $100 for that purpose. At this time,
and for some years afterward, the church was
materially aided by the American Home Mis-
sionary Society.

Mr. Clark served as pastor until July, 1836,
when he was succeeded by Rev. E. Strong,
who remained about a year. After his de-
parture, Rev. Jeremiah Porter was regularly
installed as pastor, and served in that capac-
ity until July, 1840.

On November 5, 1841, at a church meeting,
it was resolved " that the church deem it ex-
pedient and proper to revive the ancient cus-
tom of annual thanksgivings; and that we
will observe a day of thanksgiving and praise
during the present autumn, which is here-
after to be appointed. " No record is made of
services held, but in the following year, 1842,

on December 2, it was resolved " that, as a
church, we observe Thursday, the 8th of De-
cember inst., as a day of thanksgiving, and
this community be invited to unite with us in
the public exercises of the day. This was
probably the first public celebration of this
custom in the county.

From 1840 to 1845, Rev. O. Lyman, Rev
J. H. Prentiss and Rev. E. W. Champlain
successively served as pastors. Rev. J. H.
Prentiss, was installed on the 12th of July,
1842.

On January 28, 1843, it was resolved
" That the style of this church hereafter be
' The First Congregational Church of Naper-
ville,' " and later, in 1845, . amongst some
changes made with a view of according more
fully with the statute in regard to church or-
ganization, the name of the society was de-
clared to be "The First Congregational
Church and Society of Naperville, " by which
name it is known to-day.

In September, Josiah Strong, John J. Fra-
zier, Pomeroy Goodrich, George Blackman
and Hiram Branch were elected Trustees.

As early as 1838, a resolution was adopted
to build a house of worship, and a committee
appointed to select a location. Naperville
was chosen as the place to build the church,
and the building used by the society at pres-
ent was erected in 1846, and, on the 27th day
of January, 1847, dedicated to the worship
and service of Almighty God. The land was
donated by Capt. Morris Sleight, on condi-
tion that no part of it ever be used as a bury-
ing-ground, and that upon the contemplated
house of worship a cupola for a bell be erected.

For eleven years the pulpit was filled by
Rev. Hope Brown, who was installed Novem-
ber 11, 1845, and resigned his pastorate in
October, 1856.

Since that time, the following ministers
have successively served the people as pastors :

V^fcLey^L^

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP.

227

Rev. E. Barber, 1856-59; Rev. C. P. Felch,
1859-64; Rev. E. I. Alden, 1864-66; Rev. J.
C. Beekman, 1866-68; Rev. J. W. Cunning-
ham, 1868-74; Rev. C. F. Reed, 1874-76;
Rev. J. W. Hartshorn, 1876-78 ; and the
Rev. J. H. Dixon, from 1879, and who is
still, at the present date, pastor.

From the beginning of the organization to
the present time, the society has had, alto-
gether, 346 members. The present actual
membership of the church is ninety- nine
members.

The present Deacons of the church are
Pomeroy Goodrich, one of the original six-
teen members; E. R. Loomis, H. W. Knick-
erbacker and C. H. Goodrich. There has
been a Sabbath school connected with the
church from a very early day. The present
Superintendent, H. H. Cody, has filled that
position for twenty-two years, having first
been elected April 7, 1860. The Sabbath
school services are held directly after the Sab-
bath morning services, and are attended by
about one hundred persons. The school is
supplied with a fine library, comprising sev-
eral hundred volumes. Mr. Eli Ditzler, the
Librarian, has served in that capacity for
about ten years. There are held two regular
Sabbath services, and, during the week, two
prayer meetings — the young people's meeting
on Tuesday evening, and the regular church
meeting on "Wednesday evening. For fifty
years, this beacon light has shed its rays over
this people. Its power has been felt not
alone within the limits of Du Page County.
There are churches in Western States that
owe much to its early influences. In North-
ern Dakota, in Southern Texas, in Western
wilds and in Eastern cities, are influences
working which can be traced directly to this
church. Yes, farther than this have its
teachings been carried, for in far-off Japan
the " old, old story " has been told to many

an eager listener by one who grew up within
the shadow of its walls, and sat, Sabbath after
Sabbath, in its pews, drinking in the blessed
truths which she has since carried across the
waters to the joy and salvation of many
precious souls.

No one can estimate the extent of the work
which has been done, but the results which
can be plainly seen are enough to encourage
its present supporters to put forth the most
earnest efforts in the future. — A. B. Cody.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The Episcopalians in this village have a
very beautiful house for public worship,
which has attracted the attention of the
brethren of surrounding parishes as being a
model in beauty and style. They likewise
have a rectory on an adjoining lot, built in a
style correspondiug with the church. The
lots on which these buildings stand are or-
namented with shrubs and trees, imparting
to the exterior a pleasing effect, to which the
interior of the church, in style, completeness
and furniture, fully corresponds.

Every organized church or society has a
history, but every one has not instituted con-
tinued and preserved records from which the
historian can write it. Not so with this
church. Its rectors aud officers have, from
time to time, furnished material from which
the following sketch is taken. The first serv-
ice of the Episcopal Church held in this vil-
lage was by the Rev. Andrew H. Cornish,
missionary of Joliette, November 16, 1838.
In the years 1839, 1840 and 1841, Mr. Cor-
nish officiated at irregular intervals. The
Right Rev. Philander Chase, D. D., first
Bishop of Illinois, made his first visitation
and officiated in public service May 27, 1839.
Previous to this and for several subsequent
years, there being no organization sufficient
to hold church people together, they sought

228

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

fellowship and worshiped with those de-
nominations having houses of worship till
June 4, 1850, when a parochial association
was organized by some thirty persons asso-
ciating themselves together by the name and
title of the Parish of St. John's Church, Na-
perville. In accordance with the purpose of
this association, July 22, 1850, a parish or-
ganization was accomplished. At this meet-
ing, the Rev. Daniel Brown, rector of St.
John's Church, Lockport, in this diocese,
presided, and Mr. James D. Wright was
chosen Secretary. Messrs. S. P. Sherwood
and Charles Earl were elected Wardens, and
Messrs. James F. Wight, Charles J. Sellen
and Delcar Sleight, chosen Vestrymen. This
organization may be considered a kind of
starting point, though it effected very little
in the establishment of a living church ; it
acted as an incentive to more frequent serv-
ices than would have been held had it not
been made. Meantime, worship was still
held with other denominations up to the year
1858, except occasionally, when some neigh-
boring rector or the Bishop of the diocese
visited this place and held service.

In the year 1858, some church ladies of
this village feeling deeply the deprivation of
the mode of worship to which they had been
accustomed in their beloved church, visited
Aurora and solicited Rev. V. Spalding, officiat-
ing rector there, to give the friends of the
church in this village service at stated times.
Mr. Spalding consented, and continued to do
so until he left Aurora, and here it should
not be omitted that the ladies in this church,
from its first organization, have been most
zealous and efficient workers. Without their
aid, the church and rectory could not Have
been built, at least so soon, and the church
could not have prospered at it has. For this
reason, one of the rectors who has had charge
of this parish, remarked that the church

ought to have been named St. Mary's Church,
instead of St. John's Church, of Naperville.

During the year 1858, the Rev. T. N. Mor-
rison, of Aurora, officiated occasionally.
During the years 1861 and 1862, Rev. Messrs.
Wilkinson and Gilbert, of Joliet, were en-
gaged to hold service at stated times.

The Rev. S. T. Allen, of Aurora, held serv
ice once every Sunday, from 1861 to 1865, in
houses of worship belonging to other denomi-
nations or in Mr. Sleight's hall. Mr. Allen
may be said to be the first rector of St.
John's Church, of Naperville, and during his
rectorship the church had prospered to such
an extent as to be troublesome to those de-
nominations which had generously granted to
churchmen the privilege of holding service in
the churches belonging to the denominations,
consequently they began to estimate the cost
of building a church of their own.

In 1864, Mr. Sleight presented to the
chureh the lot for the church building, and,
June 1, of the same year, the corner-stone
was laid by the Right Rev. H. J. Whitehouse,
Bishop of the diocese of Illinois.

January 1, 1865, the church was open for
the first service, the Rev. Mr. Allen officiat-
ing, and, April 24, of the same year, the
church was solemnly consecrated by Bishop
Whitehouse, assisted by the Revs. S. J. Allen,
Clinton Lock, of Chicago, and C. A. Gilbert,
of Joliet. Mr. Allen closed his labor here
by resignation. He was highly esteemed
and beloved by the members of the parish,
and zealously aided and encouraged them in
the building of the church, and he possessed
the business talent necessary to insure suc-
cess. The consecration service was the last
service in which he participated in this vil-
lage, and the members of the parish parted
with him with sincere regret.

June 14, 1865, an invitation was extended
to the Rev. J. H. Knowles to take charge of

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP.

229

the parish, which he accepted. Under his
charge, the church continued to prosper.
April 17, 1867, Mrs. D. Sleight presented to
the church a deed of the lot adjoining, on
which to erect a rectory. June 23, Mr.
Knowles tendered his resignation, which was
accepted with regret.

November 17, 1867, Eev. J. T. Chambers
received a call to the rectorship, which he
accepted, and held his first service on the
twenty-second Sunday after Trinity. During
his rectorship, the rectory was built, and oc-
cupied by the rector August 29, 1870. May
31, 1872, Mr. Chambers resigned. He was a
hard worker in the vineyard and a good man.

August 14, Rev. James Cornell was called
to the roctorship. and served as rector one
year and seven months, when he resigned.
Mr. Cornell was succeeded by the Rev. Wal-
ter F. Lloyd, who commenced his duties as
rector May 3, 1874, and resigned May 20,
1875.

July 1, 1876, Rev. William Allen Fisk,
having accepted of a call, entered upon his
duties as rector, it being the third Sunday
after Trinity. During his rectorship, the
church was enlarged so as to nearly double
its seating capacity. Work was commenced
on the enlargement of the church in June,
1878. It was finished and re-opened with
solemn service by the Bishop of the diocese,
on the 26th of November, 1878. Mr. Fisk
resigned on the 1st of November, 1880, and
was succeeded by the present rector, Rev.
Martin V. Averill, who accepted of a call and
officiated the first time July 31, 1881.

The church is out of debt, and the present
rector is highly esteemed by his parishion-
ers.

No history of this church would do justice
which did not speak of Miss Alethea Gibbs,
who may properly be called the Patron Saint
of St. John's Church of Naperville. She

not only contributed largely toward building
the church, and when the building and its
surroundings were complete, paid the last
few hundred dollars yet due, and, through
her generosity, the church was out of debt.
This made the amount paid into the building
fund by Miss Gibbs, $868. Miss Gibbs had
frequently expressed a desire to live to see a
church of her own faith built in Naperville.
She watched the progress of the building to-
ward completion with great interest, and
finally enjoyed the satisfaction of witnessing
the consecration of the church by her be-
loved and now departed Bishop. Soon after,
this Miss Gibbs was called to her final rest.

The number of baptisms in the church rec-
ord is 150; confirmations, 78; present com-
municants, 92; burials, 46; marriages, 19.

The cost of the rectory as first built was
$3,000; the cost of the addition, $2,200; the
cost of the rectory, $2,500. — Selinus M. Skin-
ner.

temperance work.

The loss of records and the death or re-
moval from the place of those engaged in the
early temperance work in Naperville make it
impossible to give more than a very general
outline of that work.

The first temperance organization, so far
as we have been able to learn, was known as
"The Sons of Temperance." It was formed
some time during the fall of 1850. For sev-
eral years it prospered greatly. At one time
it numbered over three hundred members,
and included among the number every promi-
nent business and professional man of the
town.

The Daughters of Temperance also had a
lodge, organized about the same time, and
published for some time a weekly paper de-
voted to the interests of the order. Who
the first officers of these two organizations
were, how long they flourished, how lasting

280

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

the effects of their labors, and what was the
cause of their decay, we have been unable to
discover. The Good Templars were the next
to take up the work in the temperance cause.
The lodge was first organized some time
during the war of the rebellion, the exact
date we have been unable to learn. Their
lodge has been in existence for nearly twenty
years, and has had a checkered experience;
seasons of great prosperity have been followed
by long periods of rest, during which its life
seemed extinct, but after a time it would re-
vive and again prosper. March 31, 1873,
this lodge suspended, and no meetings were
again held until March 1, 1878, when J. Q.
Detwile re-organized it, with C. Kendig, Fred
Long, David Frost, W. M. Hillegas, George
Porter, J. K. Lutz and several others as char-
ter members. Regular weekly meetings were
held by the lodge from this re-organization
until recently, when, owing to lack of inter-
est, it suspended active work, and is now en-
joying a season of rest. Dr. Ross, a lecturer
of some repute, delivered a series of lectures
on temperance during the winter of 1872-73,
and organized what was then called a Tem-
perance Alliance. The work of this organi-
zation consisted in securing signers to its
pledge by personal solicitation. Its exist-
ence, however, did not exceed two years, and
the effect of its work is not now apparent.

The Blue Ribbon Club was one of the
strongest organizations ever formed in Na-
perville. About the 1st of December, 1878,
Liberty Jones, a disciple of Francis Murphy,
commenced to labor in Naperville. His
efforts, however, were but poorly repaid for
some time. He finally succeeded, however,
in interesting in his work Hiram S, Cody, a
talented young lawyer of Naperville, and the
two together succeeded in organizing a club,
about January 1, 1879. Mr Cody was its first
President, and continued to hold the office

until his death, March 3, 1879. Mr. S. W.
Smith was elected to succeed him, and held
the office until March 9, 1880, when he re-
tired in favor of D. B. Givler. June 26,
1880, the club adjourned for the summer,
and, notwithstanding some well-directed ef-
forts at resuscitation, it has never been re-
vived. The club held weekly meetings for
more than two years, and at one time had
710 members. The effects of its work have
been lasting. September 13, 1881, the Na-
perville Temperance Alliance was organized,
Prof. H. H. Rassweiler being its first Presi-
dent, and A. B. Cody, its Secretary. The
object of the Alliance was to combine for
united action all other temperance bodies of
the place. It has a woman's section, a chil-
dren's sections and a voter's section, and is
to be a branch of a county organization of
the same general plan, which in turn is to
be an auxilliary of a State association. The
Alliance has held monthly meetings since its
organization, and, at the municipal elec-
tion, in May, 1882, secured sixty-nine votes
for its-ticket, which was run on a prohibition
platform. — H. H. Goodrich.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

As early as 1835, a Methodist Circuit,
where stated preaching was held as often as
once a month at appointed places, was formed,
including the whole of Du Page County as
now located. Rev. Wilder B. Mark was Pre-
siding Elder. The next year, Rev, John
Clark succeeded him. Preaching was now
sustained at Naperville, at intervals of two
weeks, till 1847, where a church was built on
land donated to the society by Morris Sleight.
Rev. O. Lyman was first pastor, who was suc-
ceeded by Rev. Hope Brown, who remained
with them till 1856, when he was succeeded
by Rev. E. Barber. In 1857, the church
membership was sixty-two.

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP.

231

BAPTIST CHURCH.

In 1843, there being a few Baptists at this
place, Rev. Morgan Edwards made an effort
to organize a church of that faith, which was
crowned with success. A society was formed,
and, though their numbers were small, they
began to build a house for worship on some
lots of ground of which they had not yet ob-
tained a deed. But before they had proceed-
ed far in their work, a personal difficulty
arose between the owner of the lots and one
of the members of the new church to be
erected on them, and he refused to give the
expected deed. Meanwhile, the foundation
had been partly laid, and the work in a good
state of progress. The builders now proposed
to remove their materials already on the
ground to another locality, but the captious
lot owner forbade.

This eccentric conduct on his part de-
manded prompt action on the part of the so-
ciety, and they, with the assistance of some
worthy citizens who made common cause
with them (despite threats of violence), trans-
planted the foundation stono and other ma-
terials on the ground to a lot which Lewis
Ellsworth donated to the society, and here
the church was erected and nearly finished
the next year. The Congregational society
occupied it on each alternate Sabbath for a
few months, Rev. R. B. Ashley, their first
pastor, preaching on the day unoccupied by
the Congregationalists. He was their pastor
till 1846, and during his term the church in-
creased in numbers from nine members at
its commencement to thirty-six. Rev. Allen
Glos became their next pastor, remaining
with them till July, 1848, at the expiration
of whose term the church numbered fifty six
members. Rev. S. Tucker, D. D., succeeding
him, held the charge till October, 1855, when
he left the church, which now numbered
ninety- six members. Rev. Ira E. Kenney

was the next pastor, whose term lasted but
eight months. The church was now in the
zenith of her prosperity. Their Sabbath
school numbered about fifty scholars. They
had enlarged and beautified their church, and
ornamented it with a belfry, in which a bell
was hung — the first that ever tolled the tid-
ings of the Gospel in "these valleys and
hills."

The doctrines of Spiritualism now subtly
crept into the church. Some members with-
drew, and held spiritual services elsewhere;
others dropped out silently as a flake of snow
falls from heaven. But still the main body
of the society held on and carried the burden,
with exemplary resolution, till all but a very
few had "stood from under."

Rev. George B. Simenson and Rev. E. W.
Hicks were the two last regular pastors, both of
whom were estimable men, but causes beyond
their control had contributed to reduce the
church in numbers. Students and temporary
supplies have preached to their congregation
from time to time since, till the winter of
1879, since which time the bell has hung in
silence on its pivots, and the path to the
church door has been overgrown with green
grasses.

GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH.

This is one of the largest and oldest con-
gregations of the Evangelical association in
the State of Illinois. The first two families
of this society emigrated from Pennsylvania
to Illinois, and settled in Naperville in the
year 1836. They were those of Conrad
Gross, the father of Daniel Gross, a promi-
nent resident of Naperville now, and Jacob
Schnaebli, of whose family there are also
representatives living in this county. In
1837, another group of four families, those
of Martin Escher, the father of George Esch-
er, John Rehm, who is still living in Naper-
ville, Adam Knopp and George Strubler,

282

HISTORY OF DV PAGE COUNTY.

whose sons are now leading citizens of Na-
perville and vicinity, followed, when the first
class was organized, by the Rev. Jacob Boos.
The meetings were held in the houses of Con-
rad Gross and John Rehm. In connection
with this, there was another class organized
at Desplaines, in Cook County, which consti-
tuted the first two Evangelical preaching
places in the State of Illinois. In 1838, sev-
eral other families arrived from Pennsylvania,
and the Rev. Jacob Boos was succeeded by
Rev. Einsel, who organized a class in Chicago
and preached in German in the City Hotel,
where* the present Sherman House stands.

In Naperville ser/ices were still held in
private houses and partly in the schoolhouse,
on Scott's Hill. In 1839, the Revs. Stroh
and Lintner were in charge of the now con-
siderably increased congregation, who resid-
ed in Naperville and in the surrounding
country, on* their farms, which studded the
most beautiful prairies in Northern Illinois.
The meetings were still held in private
houses and in the above-named schoolhouse.
In 1840, four more families arrived — Schroei-
gert, Youngheim, Bishop and Garlach. Up
to this time, all the families were European
Germans, except the last three named, who
were Pennsylvanians. This accession added
materially to the strength of the society, so
that the private houses and schoolhouse be-
came too small to accommodate the attendants
at the public services. This induced the
Revs. Hoffert and Kern to commence the
erection of the small frame church in the
western part of Naperville (now occupied by
the German Lutheran congregation of this
place) in 1840. This comfortable meeting-
house, as it was then regarded, was completed
in 1841, to the great joy of the earnest and
devoted membership. The Presiding Elder,
Father Zinser, who recently died at an ad-
vanced age, added much to the prosperity of

this and other societies that had now been or-
ganized.

In 1844, there was a remarkably large in-
crease of this society of Pennsylvania Ger-
mans from Pennsylvania. On the 1st of May,
there arrived fourteen families, among whom
were those of David Brown, father of Martin
Brown, now a prominent merchant and es-
teemed citizen of Naperville, of Adam Hart-
man, Joseph Bessler and Benjamin Frahlick.
Two weeks after, sixteen additional families
arrived, among whom were those of Sam
Rickert, Sam Tobias and Benjamin Hassler
and thirteen others, all of whom settled in
and near Naperville. The little frame church
now becoming too small, was enlarged by an
addition, in 1845, so as to accommodate the
faithful worshipers.

During the next thirteen years, many other
families followed their friends to the " beauti-
ful West" from Pennsylvania and Germany,
and the society increased numerically to such
an extent that even the enlarged frame church
became again too small; hence, the energetic
Rev. C. Augenstein and the zealous and elo-
quent Presiding Elder, Sam Baumgaertner,
induced the now numerous and prosperous
congregation to build the present substantial
and commodious brick church, at a cost of
about $6,000.

During the winter of 1858-59, while the
meetings were yet held in the incompleted
new church, the society enjoyed a glorious
revival, under the labors of Rev. Sam Dick-
over, assisted by Rev. G. Kleinknecht, when
many were converted and added to the
church, who are still useful members of the
same.

From that time to the present, the society
has enjoyed several marked revivals, as under
the ministry of the Revs. William Goessele
and Henry Rohland.

In the year 1870, by the removal of the

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP.

233

Northwestern College to Naperville, the so-
ciety gained several families from the Ger-
man members of the college faculty and valu-
able working force in the students and teach-
ers, especially in the Sabbath school, so that
the latter had for several years about four
hundred members. With the opening of the
college, in the fall of 1850, an English con-
gregation was organized in the college
chapel, which has drawn largely on the mem-
bership of the parent society. But while the
members of the mother church have been
somewhat diminished in numbers, the daugh-
ter has remarkably prospered, so that her
membership, up to date (1882), is about two
hundred.

During the revival under the Rev. H. Roh-
land, in 1877, the membership rose to over
four hundred, but through the death of aged
members, removals, and through the division
of the Sabbath schools and the passing over to
the English congregation of those who prefer
to worship in English, the membership of
the German and parent church has been
somewhat diminished, while, however, in
reality, the Evangelical Church membership
in Naperville, as a whole, has gained materi-
ally, numbering in all about 550.

The German congregation to which this
sketch is dovoted is in a prosperous condition,
and is at present under the faithful pastorate
of the Rev. J. G. Kleinknecht; but it has in
its ranks a large number of veterans of the
cross. A few years more will remove most
of them from the church militant to the
church triumphant, but those who will pass
away and those that remain have the pleasure
to know that their church, as one of the old-
est and largest, has, for many years, been a
blessing to a large portion of the inhabitants
of Du Page County by preaching and prac-
ticing the true religion of Jesus Christ. — F.
W. Weidnek.

NAPERVILLE PRESS.

The newspapers of Naperville have been
published under circumstances adverse to
success. The earlier inhabitants of the vil-
lage and immediate vicinity, being largely
composed of Germans, were not interested in
the success of an English paper for the rea-
son that they could read it with difficulty and
understood less than they could read. Their
denominational paper was the source from
which they gleaned all the news they desired
to hear pertaining to this world or that to
come. The pioneer custom of exchanging
commodities of various kinds was practical to
an extent that took in the local newspaper, so
that one copy would go the rounds of an en-
tire school district, doing a great deal of good
to all readers, but impoverishing the pub-
lisher. Notwithstanding this custom has be-
come nearly obsolete, cases occur even in this
advanced day of civilization, independence
and prosperity. Then, again, being so near
the city of Chicago, the newspapers of Na-
perville, as well as those of other suburban
towns, have been compelled to eke out an
existence in the shadow of the metropolitan
press, circumscribing their patronage, belit-
tleing their importance and reducing their
source of revenue to a very limited circle.
The failures of earlier years may have been
partially the result of a lack of business tact
on the part of publishers, but undoubtebly
the foregoing were the chief causes that re-
sulted in so many wrecks.

In December, 1849, Charles J. Sellen is
sued the first paper published in Naperville,
or in the county, called the Du Paqe County
Recorder, and for nine months it had a flour-
ishing existence. The name was then
changed to the Democratic Plaindealer, and,
in connection therewith, a small weekly sheet,
called the Daughter af Temperance, both of
which soon followed in the wake of their

234

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

predecessors, and were numbered with things
past

The printing material, however, remained
in the village, and, in January, 1851, the Du
Page County Observer appeared under th8
management of Barnes, Humphrey & Keith.
But, notwithstanding the paper met the de-
mand of that early day, the former failures
had so weakened the confidence of the people
in the enterprise that the subscription list
never grew to paying proportions. In April,
1852, Mr. Gershom Matin purchased Mr.
Humphrey's interest in the paper, and con-
tinued it two years longer, in connection
with Barnes & Keith, when it, too, perma-
nently suspended publication.

With increased facilities, the Du Page
County Journal was started, in the fall of
1854, by Mr. Charles W. Keith, and was a
marked improvement on all that had gone
before. It changed hands rapidly, however,
from C. W. Keith to Keith, Edson & Co.,
from that firm to J. M. Edson, and then to
E. M. Day, under whose proprietorship the
Journal office, press, paper, type, materials,
furniture and all appurtenances and heredita-
ments thereunto belonging were swept down
the Du Page River by the freshet of Febru-
ary, 1857. Portions of the wood type, cases
and wooden furniture were carried scores of
miles on the cakes of ice and picked up by
astonished citizens who went to see the river
on a rampage. It was decidedly the most
disastrous "pi" that ever occurred in any
printing office in Du Page County.

The News Letter, published by E. H. Eyer,
came into existence shortly after the Journal
ceased to appear, but it, too, was destined to
failure after a prief career.

Next in order came the Sentinel, published
by D. B. Birdsall. Its existence terminated
some time during the year 1862, and was
succeeded, in August, 1863, by the Press,

under the management of R. K. Potter, Jr.,
who, in February, 1868, sold the outfit to D.
B. Givler.

Mr. Givler, shortly after taking charge of
the paper, changed its name from the Du
Page County Press to the Naperville Clarion,
so that the town in which it was established
would be represented in the title. In the
course of time the old type was exchanged
for new; the hand- press gave way to the cyl-
inder; improved jobbers were purchased, and
the entire apparatus of the original office
supplanted by new and improved material, so
that now it is safe to say there are few su-
perior printing offices in any suburban town
in this State. The Clarion is in every way
worthy of liberal support, the length of time
it has been successfully published being an
assurance of its permanency and a fixed in-
stitution of the town. — D. B. Givler.

NAPERVILLE SCHOOLS.

The first school ever taught here was in
the autumn of 1831, Leister Peet being teach-
er, and probably every child in the settle-
ment, which then comprised also the Scott
settlement at the fork, were the pupils —
twenty-two in number, full details of which
have already been given in preceding pages.

The Sauk war broke up this school, but
after the return of the settlers from their
temporary absence on account of the war,
Mrs. Hines and Mr. Hiram Standish both
taught in the same old log schoolhouse, built
before the war on a rise of ground, about
thirty rods west of Naper's log store. R.
N. Murray says he graduated at this school.
By the year 1835, the settlement had attained
proportions sufficient to warrant the erection
of a permanent frame building for school
purposes, and Joseph Naper circulated a sub-
scription paper to raise the means to pay for
it. Settlers had abundance of everything

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP.

235

but money, but this was wanting in sufficient
quantities to bring the enterprise to a suc-
cessful result, and in this emergency some of
the friends of the scheme contributed labor
or materials which was just as good as money,
for in those days when a public improvement
was to be made, there was no private pecu-
lation or friction or any subtle methods of
depleting the public treasury out of special
funds for special objects,

Col. Warren informs the writer that he
was then hauling salt from Chicago, and, the
subscription paper being presented to him,
on his arrival with a load of it, he rolled off
a barrel as his contribution to the desired ob-
ject. Its value was then $6. The building
was erected the next year, 1836, and was put
to immediate use; not for a school only, but
the early Gospel was dispensed from the ros-
trum in it designed for the pedagogue, and
it was, moreover, honored with judicial er-
mine, for here the Circuit Court held two or
three sessions. Its location was near the
present Congregational Church.

For some cause not known to the writer,
this schoolhouse was sold by the district, and
the school had to depend on such rooms as
were available in which to hold their ses-
sions. This unsystematic way of conducting
them was neither creditable to the educational
enterprise of the town, nor profitable to the
scholars, but ample amends in due time were
made for this, what might, with no misnomer,
be called a hiatus in Naperville schools, by
erecting an academy building, which was in-
corporated in 1851, where the higher branches
of science were taught by competent teachers.
Mr. N. F. Atkins was its first preceptor, who
was succeeded the next year by C. W. Kich-
mond, from the academy at Great Barrington,
Mass. Besides common branches of educa-
tion, the classical course of the best Eastern
academies were taught here, including, also,

music, drawing and painting. The attend-
ance was good, and the progress of the pupils
all that could be desired. Up to 1863, this
academy, together with the public schools
and a select school, in which the higher
branches were taught by Miss S. B. Skinner,
fully answered the requirements of the place.
But now the time had come when a public
graded school was a necessity as an advance
system of education within the means of every
one who felt ambitious to pursue the higher
branches of English education. No general
law of the State had yet been passed for the
organization of graded schools, which made
it necessary to get a charter for one ere it
could get its due proportion of the public
funds for its support. In 1863, Messrs. Val-
lette and Cody and R. N. Murray drew up
the required instrument which was sent to the
Legislature of the State, and received its le-
galized authority to act. The incorporate
act was known by the following style: The
Directors of the Naperville Graded School.
The school district had already bought the
academy building, which had been erected in
1851. J. L. Nichols was Principal in 1881
-82, and W. Knickerbocker, C. Wise and Peter
Thompson, Directors. Mr. Knickerbocker
was succeeded, July 3, by Casper L. Dilley.
Mr. Nichols having resigned for a professor-
ship in the Northwestern College, his place
was supplied, in 1882, by Levi M. Umbach.
The Principal, with four assistant teachers,
gives instruction in botany, history, Latin,
philosophy, geometry, algebra, physiology,
chemistry, civil government and the usual fun-
damental branches taught in normal schools.
The school justifies the expectations of the
parents and pupils, and is a model worthy of
imitation. It enrolls 302 pupils from a cen-
sus enrollment of 572 children and youths in
its district, which is No 7 in Naperville
Township.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The Village Council, after the fire in July,

1874, deemed it expedient to organize a fire
department, and, in September, 1874, ordered
the purchase of a hand- engine, hose cart and
hose. The committee purchased one Dutton
No. 3 hand-engine, one hose-cart and 700
feet of two and a half inch rubber hose.

Companies were organized to run and man-
age the same. On the 2d day of January,

1875, the Council passed an ordinance to
govern the fire department., and purchased a
hook and ladder truck, with twenty- four pails,
in September, 1875, and 300 feet more hose.
Total cost of apparatus, $2,800; fixing build-
ing to store apparatus, $300; expenses for
repairs and running the department, from
September, 1874, to July, 1882, about $550;
amount of property saved by reason of organ-
ized fire department during that time about
$20,000.

The following- named citizens have served
as Fire Marshal and assistant:

Marshals— Willard Scott, Jr., two terms;
B. B. Boecker, one and a half terms; J. J.
Hunt, two terms; A. McS. S. Biddler, two
terms.

Assistant Marshals — B. B. Boecker, three
terms; A. McS. S. Kiddler, M. Weismantel,
M B. Hasler, J. Egermann.

The Joe Naper Engine Company No. 1
was organized September 17, 1874. Number
of me/i allowed, 80; number of men in com-
pany (average), 35.

Foreman — Daniel Garst; J. Egermann,
two terms ; M. Weismantel, two terms ;
Xavier Kreyder, two terms; Jacob Heim, two
terms.

Assistant Foremen — Nicholas Yack, five
terms; Alois Schwartz; Joseph Yender, two
terms.

Second Assistant Foremen — K. W. Shel-
don, Sebastian Baun, seven terms.

Secretaries — W. Scott, Jr.; M. Weisman-
tel, two terms; B. Beidelman; two terms; C.
Bast, three terms.

Treasurers — Reuss, six terms; X. Krey-
deri, two terms.

Naperville Hose Company No. 1 was organ-
ized September 17, 1874. Number of men
allowed, 20; average number of men in com-
pany, 18. Officers of said company were as
follows :

Foremen — A. McS. S. Riddler, four terms;
Peter Babst, Hoi Seiber; Martin Becker, two
terms; Henry Seiber, Albert Yost

Assistant Foremen — Peter Nicholas, Peter
Babst, Hoi Seiber, Samuel Ney, Martin
Becker, S. S. Strouse, Charles Naper, George
Ehrhardt, B. J. Slick.

Secretaries — O. J. Wright, C. D. Kendig,
S. S. Strouse, A. McS. S. Riddler.

Treasurers — George Potter, Albert Yost,
Hoi Seiber.

Rescue Hook and Ladder Company No. 1
was organized on the 29th day of September,
1875. Number of men allowed, 20; average
number of men in company, 17. Officered as
follows:

Foremen — William Naper, two terms; V.
A. Dieter, T. W. Saylor, Charles Boettger,
Edward Stover, three terms.

Assistant Foreman — V. A. Dieter, two
terms; T. W. Saylor, Charles Boettger, Ed-
ward Stover, William P. Wright, three
terms.

Secretaries — J. H. Alexander, two terms;
J. H Chew, M. D., three terms; T. W. Say-
lor, Eli H Ditzler, W. W. Wickel.

Treasurer — M. B. Hastier, eight terms.

A new company called the Joe Naper
Engine Company was organized in May
or June, 1881, and discharged in May,
1882. John Ehrhardt, Foreman; John F.
Stroheckev, Assistant Foreman. — A. McS. S.
Riddler.

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP.

237

THE NAPERVILLE GUARDS.

A company of State militia was organized
at Naperville August 15, 1877, under the
general military law of the State. Samuel
W. Smith and William J. Laird, by direction
of H. H. Hilliard, Adjutant General of the
State, took the initiatory steps to form the
company out of the abundant material at
hand — the stalwart young men of Naper-
ville.

Mr. Smith was its Captain; Willard Scott,
Jr., First Lieutenant, and William J. Laird,
Second Lieutenant. Subsequently, Messrs.
Smith and Scott having resigned, a new elec-
tion was held, June 26, 1878, when William
J. Laird was elected Captain; E. Ingals,
First Lieutenant, and William P. Combs,
Second Lieutenant. Mr. Ingals next having
resigned, Mr. Combs was promoted to the
office of First Lieutenant, and Charles F.
Hfggins from Sergeant to Second Lieutenant
early in 1880. The succeeding July he died,
much regretted by the members of the com-
pany to which he belonged, and mourned by
his many personal friends and relatives.
Sergt. George Ehrhardt was then promoted
to fill his place, but was discharged, June 22,
1882. The company now numbers sixty-
nine men, all muscular and young, well armed
with breech-loaders, peaceable as citizens,
but formidable as foes whenever the State
demands their service. They drill four times
a year, preserving good order and good dis-
cipline, as reported by the Adjutant Inspector
of the State.

SOCIETIES.

Guttenburg Lodge, No. 331, I. O. O, F.—
Was organized at Naperville October 9, 1866.
Charter members : Charles Schultz, Martin
Straube, Daniel Garst, Joseph Eggerman,
Charles Boetiger, Jacob Hein, Xavier Kreyter,
Simeon Schupp. The lodge had forty mem-
bers at the end of its first yeai - , since which

time its meetings have been held once a week.
Its present officers are : Fred Fochs, O. M. ;
Adam Armbruster, U. M. ; Otto Siber, Schm;
John Oestereich, Schr.

Naperville Lodge, No. 81, I. O. O. F. —
Was organized October 17, 1851. The names
of the charter members were James D.
Wright, A. S. Sabin, William C. Mcintosh,
Sol W. Sonendecker, S. O. Vaughn. It has
been in successful operation ever since to the
present time, meeting once a week, except for
about three years during the war, at which
time the greater portion of the members were
in the field. Since peace was restored, the
lodge resumed its meetings, which are now
regularly held. Present officers : John Frost,
N. G. ; Charles Hunt, V. G.; A. McKillips,
R. S. ; D. Strubler, Treasurer; W. Marvin,
P. S.

Euclid Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, No.
13, was chartered October 3, 1851. The names
of the charter members were Aylmer Keith,
H. P. ; John Eddy, K. ; Harry T. Wilson,
Scribe. Present H. P. : J. J. Hunt.

Euclid Lodge, No. 65, A., F. & A. M., was
organized October 2, A. D. 1849, under the
dispensation of the Most Worshipful Master
William Lavely, Grand Master of the Most
Honorable Society of Free and Accepted
Masons in the State of Illinois. Charter
members: Lewis Ellsworth, John Kimball,
Nathan Loring, C. C. Barns. Officers: Ayl-
mer Keith, W. M.; Joseph Naper, Senior
Warden; Nathan Allen, Junior Warden.
Attested: William Mitchell, Grand Secre-
tary; W. Lavely, Grand Master; T. C. Ket-
cham, S. G. W.; W. C. Tobbe, J. G. W.
Present officers: J. B. Frost, W. M. ; S. A.
Ballou, Senior Warden; W. W. Wickel, Jun-
ior Warden; J. J. Hunt, Senior Deacon; J.
Solfisberg, Junior Deacon; J. Horn, Treas-
urer; C. P. Dorn, Secretary; S. Balliman,
Tiler.

238

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Willard Scott, Sr., and his son Thaddeus
opened a banking and exchange office, in con-
nection with their general store, in 1854,
and continued in said business until 1866.
Thaddeus died in 1866, and W. Scott, Sr., |

retired for a short time. "Willard Scott Jr., ;

' I
carried on the business with C. M. Castle

from 1866 to 1870. Then Willard Scott, |

Sr., again assumed the banking and exchange

office (which was removed to another building

and entirely disconnected from the store) I

with C. M. Castle until October 1, 1872. j

Then A. McS. S. Riddler was associated with \

him as Cashier until October 1, 1873, when

I
Mr. Jonathan Royce entered the firm, and

retired October 1, 1875, since which time Mr.

Scott has continued in the business until the

present time, with A. McS. S. Riddler as

Cashier. During all these years they have

had the confidence of the people, and not an

obligation has been presented that was not

paid promptly, nor have they ever had a

check or draft protested.

TILE AND BRICK MANUFACTURING.

The Naperville Drain-Tile and Brick Fac-
tory was established in 1871 by George Mar-
tin. It started with two hand machines,
there being but little demand for tile at that
time. Its utility has since been sufficiently
demonstrated and the demand for it has war- j
ranted the introduction of machinery pro- j
polled by steam power to supply the increas- i
ing orders which come in for it from the
country all around. Two steam tile and
brick machines are now kept running, with a
capacity of producing from eight to ten
thousand linear feet of tile per day, varying
in diameter from eight to fifteen inches. The
style of the firm is now Martin & Vanoven.

A quarry of magnesian limestone crops
out to the surface on the southwestern bank

of the river. It was first worked by George
Martin, but is now worked by Joseph Sals-
bury. The stone has been tested as to ex-
posure to frost and atmospheric changes, and
found to be equal in durability, if not super-
ior, to any in the country. It is soft when
quarried and hardens by exposure. The an-
nual production of the quarry is from five to
six hundred cords per annum.

BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGISTER.

Agricultural implement dealers — W. H.
Hillegas & Co., J. J. Hunt, Andrew Ory, D.
B. Hartronft.

Attorneys — Hiram H. Cody, John H. Bat-
ton, Jr., M. C. Dudley, H. H. Goodrich,
John Haight.

Bankers— Willard Scott & Co.

Bakers — Joseph Bapst, C. A. Nadelhafer.

Barbers — William McCauly, George
Knoch, Wert Bros., Andrew Kreyder.

Blacksmiths — Bauer Bros., Charles Hunt,
Abraham Hartronft, Heim & Stoner, Norman
Lent, Richard Swartz, Strausz & Getsch,
Daniel Strubler, J. F. Stroheker, David
Vance.

Brewers — John Stenger.

Butchers — William Hartronft, L. Halber-
stadt, Becker & McCain.

Boot and shoe dealers — Collins & Durran,
W. R. Steward.

Butter and cheese — rNaperville has two
butter and cheese factories. The oldest one
is run by Mr. George H. Hunt. He came to
Naperville in 1877, and made butter and
cheese in Mr. John Stenger's building, from
1877 to 1880; then he bought the grounds
and put up the factory be is now occupying.
In 1881, he paid to his patrons about $50,000
for milk, averaging $1.18 per 100 pounds.
The other butter and cheese factory is carried
on in Mr. John Stenger's building, by Messrs.
Eggerman & Bauer. They started October

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP.

239

1, 1881, and receive about 6,000 pounds of
milk now per day.

City Officers — President, Peter Thompson;
Trustees, Valentine A. Dieter, Michael
Schwartz, H. J. Durran, Louis Reiche;
Treasurer, Oliver Stutenroth; Clerk, S. M.
Skinner; City Marshal, William J. Laird;
Police Magistrate, David B. Givler; City
Weigher, Philip Beckman.

Carriage-makers — F. A. Saylor, Joseph
Hildenbrandt, William Shimp.

Carpenters — Alfred Shafer, Mathias Stev-
ens, Levi S. Shafer (proprietor of pianing-
mill).

Carpet weavers — Nicholaus Fons, Jacob
Stroheker, John Fuss.

Cigar makers and dealers — Hiram Ebright,
Henry Obermeyer, John Schloessler, Kline &
Bard, Charles Schulz.

County Judge — Robert N. Murray.

Dentists — C. P. Dorn, L. Eberhardt.

Druggists — H. C. Daniels, M. B. Powell,
Strayer, Wickel & Co.

Furniture dealers — Chas. Bapst, F. Long.

General stores — Martin BrowD, Ditzler &
Hosier, H. H. Peasly, Willard Scott & Co.

Gents' furnishing goods — Fred Kaylor.

Grocers — Joseph Bapst, Valentine Dieter,
Saul Drissler, John Drissler, John Marlin,
David Frost, Wm. Latshaw, Mrs. Linderman.

Grain and coal dealers — B. B. Boecker,
Elias Musselman.

Hardware dealers — J. J. Hunt, W. H.
Hillegas & Co., John Pfister, Sherer & Yost.

Harness -makers — John Herbert, R. H.
Wagner, Philip Beckman (dealer in hides
and leather).

Hotels — American House, B. F. Russell,
proprietor; Pre-emption House, Jefferson
Bush, proprietor; Washington House, Jacob
Keller, proprietor.

Jewelers — M. Weismantel, Collins & Dur-
ran.

Justices of the Peace — David B. Givler,
W. R. Steward, J. Haight, E. Musselman.

Livery stable keepers — B. F. Russell,
George Strubler.

Lumber dealers — E. F. Hartronft, Michael
Schwartz.

Marble works — Charles H. Kayler.

Merchant tailors — Theodore German,
George Reuss.

Milliners — Mrs. Butler, Mrs. Strebel, Mrs.
I Scott, Mrs. Blake.

Newspaper — Naperville Clarion, David B.
Givler, proprietor.

Notaries public — John H. Batten, Jr., M.
C. Dudley, Jasper L. Dille, Arthur Cody,
H H. Goodrich, J. J. Hunt, J. M. Vallette.

Nursery proprietors — Lewis Ellsworth,
Ernst Von Oven.

Painters — Walter Good, Fred Miller, Mar-
tin Straube.

Photographers — A. C. Kendig, L. Luplau.

Physicians — Bell & Nauman, H. C. Dan-
iels, M. R. Cullison, A. L. Freund, T.' J.
Sprague, S. S. Stayer.

Postmaster— Philip Strubler.

Real estate agent — A. McS. S. Riddler.

Restaurants — Ed Clemens, T. W. Saylor.

Saloon keepers — 'Adam Conrad, Thomas
Costello, J. Eggerman, Fred Fuchs, Jacob
Keller, Samuel Kreyder, John Ruchty, Xavier
Swein, O. A. Siebert, John Krieger.

Shoemakers — John Congrave, Xavier
Compte, George Ehrhardt & Bro., John
Ehrhardt & Co., George Friess, Martin, Fest,
Martin Scherff, Jacob Zimmerman.

Stone Quarries — Jacob Solfisberg, Mel-
chior Braun, Harry Norbury.

Tile and brick works — Martin & Von Oven.

Toys and notions — Mrs. Lindeman.

Undertakers — Charles Bapst, Fred Long,
Philip Orcutt.

Wagon-makers — A. Armbruster, Ferdinand
Mueller.

240

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

CHAPTER XI.

LISLE TOWNSHIP— THE FIRST SETTLER— HIS HARDIHOOD— THANKSGIVING— A FEMALE POW-WOW
—THE OLD GRIST-MILL— THE CHRONIC PIONEER— HIS GENEROSITY.

AS early as 1834, as the autumn hunter
crept along the fringe of the groves that
grew in patches on the east side of the East
Branch of the Du Page River, just above
the fork, if of a contemplative mind, he
could hardly help forgetting his search for
game to gaze on and admire the scene. An
even surface, graduating upward from the
stream, unbroken except in a few places by a
spring of living water or the channel of a
rivulet, dry, alluvial and fertile. Here were
patches of oak, hickory, black walnut and
other trees unscarred by the woodman's axe,
and here was a wealth in the soil waiting the
touch of the plow to yield " thirty, sixty or an
hundred fold."

All this had been abandoned by a people
who knew not how to utilize it, and here it lay
spread out before the first one who chose to
take it for a consideration so small that it
might be counted as nothing. He passes on —
the squirrels are busy at their nut harvest, the
wild ducks probe the bottom of the river with
their flat bills, the prairie chickens whirl past
him through the air, the sand-hill cranes are
seen in flocks at a long distance, and the deer
startle from the thickets of hazel brush before
his approach. Far beyond all these he sees a
new sight as he pursues his trackless way.
There is a log cabin, men and women, children
hop-skipping around as if a section of New
England had been cut out and planted here as
an experiment to see if it would grow. He
approaches nearer and he hears the convivial
shouts of the youngsters as they chase each
other around. Surfeited with — with — with —

Thanksgiving turkey ? Yes, why not ! It's
Deacon Pomeroy Goodrich's, and hadn't he a
right among other Yankee notions he brought
from New Hampshire to bring the institution
of Thanksgiving with him ? And who could
do it with more dignity than a deacon? Besides,
it was a kind of a relief to throw off the
deacon at least once in a while, and have a
good jovial time, and anybody who knew
Deacon Goodrich knew that he could put it on
again at a minute's notice if it was necessary to
apply the brakes to those within his moral at-
mosphere at least by example. He kept up this
anniversary as the years rolled along, and kin-
dred neighbors partook in his hospitalities. He
planted the institutions of New England here
first, and in his labor he was soon reinforced
by detachment after detachment from the
parent stem, among whom was Henry Good-
rich, his brother. But before we proceed
farther in this direction, let us first return to
the actual settler who drove the first stake into
the soil of what is now Lisle, whose name was
Bailey Hobson.

This intrepid pioneer, in May, 1830, left his
home in Orange County, Ind., on horseback,
bound for the prairie country in Illinois, of
which he had heard reports. He wended his
way through the forest path in an almost west-
erly course, till Fort Clark was reached, the
original French name of which was Opa. It
is now Peoria. At the time of Mr. Hobson's
arrival at the place, it was a county seat, where
courts were held. From thence he bent his
course northeastwardly to Halderman's Grove,
where a small settlement had been begun. Next,

LISLE TOWNSHIP.

241

after taking a look at the Fox River country,
he turned away from it, and made a claim a
few miles from the village of the Pottawato-
mies, which would be south of the present site
of Aurora. He then returned to his home by
the way he had come, reaching his destination
early in July. He had passed many nights in
his blanket on the ground, his faithful horse
hobbled and turned out to browse ; but this
was mere pastime to the trials in store for him.
On the 1st of September following, everything
was in readiness, and he started with his family
for the prairie home that he had laid claim to.
His means of travel was an ox team hitched
to a lumber wagon, which by day was a vehicle
of locomotion, and at night a domicile for his
family, consisting of three young children, one
of whom was a baby. Besides these was a
hired man — Mr. L. Stewart. After twenty-one
days of toiling through the wilderness path,
they reached Halderman's Grove, near where
Mr. Hobson had made a claim a few weeks be-
fore. Next a cabin was to be built for shelter
during the ensuing winter. Hay was to be cut
for his cattle, of which Mr. Hobson had thir-
teen head, besides a horse, the same on whose
back Mrs. Hobson had crossed several rivers
on the way, with her babe in her arms. Mr.
Hobson, with the aid of Mr. Stewart, after ac-
complishing all this, broke a few acres of prai-
rie and sowed winter wheat in it, to provide
food for the ensuing year. But his supplies for
the winter were getting low, and something
must be done immediately to replenish them.
There were sparse settlements to the east, and
Mr. Hobson started for them, and after many
wanderings found some pork for sale. This he
engaged, and returned to his family to get his
ox-team to transport it. He accordingly again
started on this mission, but after a few days'
absence the snow fell to such a depth that it
was impossible to travel, and after many vain
attempts to reach home with his team, he finally,
after nineteen days' absence, made the tour on

foot, but not without a strain of muscle that
would have overtaxed the powers even of the
average pioneer, with all his hardihood. At
home again, but not to rest, for there was noth-
ing there to winter on but some dry corn, and
a scanty supply of that. In this emergency,
he again started, through the deep snows, for
the pork he had bought, taking Mr. Stewart
with him. Before leaving, a good supply of
fuel was provided and brought into the house.
This done, the two men took their departure.
Two days after they had left, another snow-
storm came, more terrific than the first. The
cattle dared not venture from the grove, except
one cow, who naturally sought protection from
her friendly mistress, Mrs. Hobson, and coming
to her door pressed to come in. This could
not be allowed, and the poor brute laid down
in the snow, and died in a short time on the
spot. Mrs. Hobson covered her deep with snow,
lest she should bait the wolves to the place.
The spring was a few rods from the house, but
to this all egress was cut off, and Mrs. Hobson
melted snow for water, boiled her corn, and ate
the untempting food, with her little ones, in
solitude, day after day, till the return of her
husband. After the lapse of fourteen da}"s, he
came with relief. He had passed through dan-
gers and trials that had well nigh reached the
limits of human endurance, in his desperate
but vain attempts to contend against the forces
of nature, for the protection of his family.

We have now followed the adventures of this
heroic pioneer to where they were begun in a
previous chapter, which tells of his coming to
Du Page County, and here we will leave him
to note the progress of events.

The arrival of Deacon Goodrich at the
place was November 6, 1832. Bailey Hobson
was his nearest neighbor, but across the pres-
ent line of Will County was the Scott Settle-
ment, the nearest resident of which was Harry
Boardman, at whose home Mr. Goodrich and
family boarded the ensuing winter after their

242

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY

arrival. Theron Parsons had just come to the
place and made claims to land where Mr.
Goodrich now lives, which he relinqished
gratis to him, as he had seen other lands that
suited him better, to which he immediately laid
claim after having relinquished his first one.

In June, 1833, Luther and James C. Hatch
came to the present site of Lisle Station and
made claims. James C. is still living on the
same at the present time, where he is enjoying
a green old age. They were from Cheshire
County, N. H. Sherman King had preceded
them a few months, and was then living on his
claim near by. Benjamin Tupper and Mr.
Madison came the same year. Mr. Stout, from
Tennessee, was also here with his family. He
belonged to that race of chronic pioneers who
live and thrive best on the broad face of nature
" untarnished " to them by progressive society
with its infinitude of wants and refinements.
The limit of the Stouts' ambition was a log
cabin to live in, corn bread to eat and home-
spun clothes to wear. Of his worldly goods,
he was generous, and his heart was full of love
for mankind, and everybody respected him for
his sterling integrity as well as his generosity ;
but as the means of a better style of living in-
creased among the settlers, and wants kept
pace with these accumulating means, Mr. Stout
saw himself a kind of speckled bird of the
flock, and took his leave pleasantly and uncom-
plainingly for a newer country, where conditions
were on his plane. Allusion has already been
made to him in a chapter of pioneer history,
with a feeling more kind even than charity, for
the writer does not forget the hospitalities of
just such people extended to himself while in
his teens on the frontier.

In 1834, A. D. Chatfield and Thomas Gates
came to the place. The former still lives at
Lisle Station where he first settled.

The Indians frequently visited these early
settlers in a friendly spirit, but sometimes
made themselves offensive through their total

ignorance of the proprieties of civilized life.
In the spring of 1834, when the wet ground, as
well as the damp winds, made camping uncom-
fortable, a squad of squaws came to Mr. Good-
rich's door just at night. They did not ask
permission to stay, but planted themselves on
the floor of his house before the comfortable
fire and seemed quite contented. Mr. Good-
rich could not turn the wretches out in the cold,
and he and his wife went to bed, but not to
sleep, for, says Mr. Goodrich, " they kept up
such a pow-wowing all night as to set sleep at
defiance."

In 1834, a log schoolhouse was built, by
subscription, near where Lisle Station now is.
It, like many others of its kind, was also used
for a church, and Rev. N. Catlin Clark, a Con-
gregationalist minister, preached in it. Rev.
Jeremiah Porter, that venerable old pioneer
preacher who is still living, also preached occa-
sionally at the place. Soon afterward, a church
was built one and one-half miles east of the
present station, in which services were held by
Rev. Orange Lyman. But subsequently this
church was sold to the Lutherans, about the
time the railroad was laid out, who moved it
half a mile south of where it first stood. Serv-
ices were then held in a new schoolhouse, built
in 1837, till the Congregationalists built the
large church that now stands at the Station.

On March 14, 1835, Daniel M. Green and
Venelia, his wife, came to Section 26, with their
own team, from Ogden, Monroe Co., N. Y.
They arrived at the house of Mr. Strong, a
resident of the place, at midnight. The wolves
had followed them along the lonesome prairie
for the last three hours of their ride, and kept
up a yelping on either side, as if they were
hungry for their blood.

Besides those already mentioned, Mr. Green
reports the following residents at the place on
the arrival of himself and family : Jeduthan
Hatch, John Thompson, from New Hampshire ;
John Graves, who kept tavern, and now lives

yiy^^c^ <$u

LISLE TOWNSHIP.

245

in Lisle ; Martin and Stephen Pierce ; Thomas
Gates, from Ohio ; George and Charles Parmely,
from Vermont ; John Dudlej-, from Ogden, N.
Y. ; Russell Webster ; Isaac Clark ; Huchins
Orocker — a pretty old man, sociable when
he had plenty of tobacco, but in the slough
of despond without it ; Harmon and James
Carman, from New York, and Amasa Moore,
whose wife was sister to Miss Daphine P.
Ball, the first schoolmistress at the place.
She taught in a small log cabin built by
Deacon Goodrich near his own house, and
was paid by subscription from the neigh-
bors who patronized it, which meant everybody
near by. She subsequently taught in Naper-
ville. and to her are many men and women,
now in their maturit} r , indebted for their first
lessons, not only in scholastic science, but in
those courtesies which grace the social circle.
She is now the wife of Mr. Skinner, of Naper-
ville.

In 1836, a Sunday school was established at
the house of Mr. Green — Deacon Goodrich,
Superintendent.

Among others who came to the place that
year was Thomas Jellies, from England. The
next year, he built a schoolhouse at what is
now the village of Lisle, the best one in the
country at that time, and the same already
alluded to as a place of worship, as well as for
a school.

The very first preaching in what is now Lisle
was by Rev. Isaac Scarritt, who had settled in
the Scott settlement. It was of the Methodist
itinerant kind ; but Rev. C. Clark, already al-
luded to, a Congregationalist, soon after began
to preach at his own house, on the West Fork
of the Du Page, about a mile below Hobson's
Mill.

This old mill was far-famed, and thither came
people to it like pilgrims to Mecca, except that
they did not bow down before it on bended

knees. There was no mill north of it, not even
at Galena, which was then a gpod-sized town,
but obtained their meal and flour from St.
Louis, and Chicago received such supplies
from Detroit ; but the whole intervening inte-
rior had to pound their corn in mortars, grind
it in a coffee mill or bring it to Hobson's Mill.
Mr. Daniel Green ran the mill on shares dur-
ing the years 1836 and 1837, and the cash
receipts for meal sold were over $4,000 per
annum. Mr. Hobson could neither read nor
figure, but was good at mental reckoning. No
accounts were kept, not even a scratch to prove
the terms of their contract. There were the
receipts in cash, which would show for them-
selves, and it was as easy to divide them as to
divide a pint of peas. Mr. Hobson took three
parts, Mr. Green one. No expense for clerk
hire, paper, pens or ink. Subsequently, when
Mr. Green became Count} 7 Sheriff, Mr. Hobson,
his quondam friend, was the first to volunteer
to sign his bail bond, and it surprised the court
to see how prettily he wrote his name.

The name of Lisle was suggested by A. B.
Chatfield. It has nine schoolhouses and 576
persons between the ages of six and twenty-
one.

The village of Lisle is a station on the C,
B. & Q. R, R., in the midst of a region not sur-
passed in fertilit}' in the county. A combina-
tion of circumstances as to land ownership
and other causes have thus far stood in the
way of its growth up to the present time.
There is more milk shipped from this than an-
other station on the road, and the place is li-
able at any time to rally and become a thriving
village. Robert Dixon keeps a general store
here, J. R. McMillen is Station Agent and
Postmaster and Hart, Nagle & Long carry on
the blacksmith and wagon-making business.

The elevation of the railroad track at the
place is 115 feet above Lake Michigan.

246

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY

CHAPTER XTI.

YORK TOWNSHIP — ORIGIN OF ITS NAME — ITS EARLY SETTLERS — THE DESPLAINES BRIDGED-
SUNDAY SERVICE ON SLAB SEATS— THE PIONEER SCHOOL MISTRESS— THE WIDOWER'S
CABIN— PRAYING MATCHES— SUICIDE— BURSTING FORTH OF A SPRING—
ELMHURST— GERMAN EVANGELICAL SEMINARY— LOMBARD.

IT took ' its name from the State of New
York because its first settlers came from
there and planted its institutions in the new
prairie soil of the land of their adoption,
there to live and grow, which expectation has
been verified, perhaps, sooner than was ex-
pected, for they have lived to see villages and
railroads, schools and churches and farms with
luxurious houses on them and all the machin-
ery of old States in working order.

Elisha Fish was the first. He came in the
spring of 1833, and settled in what is now Sec-
tion 26.

In the spring of 1834, Winslow Churchill,
Jr., settled where Lombard now is.

Jesse Atwater and John Talmadge came in
1834, and it is probable that some other set-
tlers came in during the same year, among
whom were German settlers, spoken of under
the head of Addison. Of these the Graue
family who settled around Graue's Grove, close
to the line of Addison, might be mentioned.
In 1835, Jacob W. Fuller came to this settle-
ment from Broome County, N. Y., and settled
on what is now Section 27. He had five sons
— Benjamin, the oldest, Daniel, the third son,
and Morell and Lewis; the two youngest came
with him. The next year, 1836, George, the
second son of Mr. Fuller, came and settled on
Section 27, where he still lives. The youngest
brothers, Morell and Lewis, also now live in
York. Nicholas Torode, Sr., and Philander
Torode came and settled in Section 24 in 1835,
and John Bolander came about the same time,

and settled a few miles to the north of them.
Henry Reider came the same year.

The next year, Nicholas Torode, Jr., Peter
R., C. W. and David H. Torode, came to the
place, all these from Mount Vernon, Ohio, and,
Oriente Grant, from the Eastern States. Luther
Morton, David Talmadge, Edward Eldredge
and Sherman King, all came in 1836. The lat-
ter built a saw-mill the next year in the south
part of the present town, on Salt Creek. The
same year (1837), a settlement was begun at
what is now Elmhurst, by the arrival of John
Glos, Sr., with two other German families, the
fathers of whom had married his daughters.
His son, John Gloss, Jr., who is now a resident
of St. Charles, brought them to the place.

About this time, the farmers had begun to
raise something to sell. Chicago was their
only market, and, insignificant as it then ap-
peared, there were wholesale dealers there in
wheat, pork, hides and every substantial kind
of produce, and how to make the roads toler-
able to transport them thither was the problem
In this direction, the first thing to be done was
to build a bridge over the Desplaines River,
which was promptly done by the united efforts
of the settlers of York and Milton. It was
situated about where the present bridge at
Maywood now is ; and, let it not be forgotten
that the early settlers of Du Page County had
the honor of first bridging this turbulent stream.

The settlement thus begun, the next thing
was to have preaching on Sundays. Without
this consolation, their minds might wander, and

YORK TOWNSHIP.

247

their thoughts vanish into mystery, like their
vision, as they looked over the lonesome re-
moteness of the green below, and the blue above
losing themselves in each other's embrace in
the dim distance of the prairies ! Besides, the
Sunday exercises would help to keep the young
hearts of the boys and girls from getting home-
sick in thinking of youthful associations left
behind ! The old folks had less need for diver-
sion, for they had family cares ; but the young
were looking forward to them with pleasing
anticipations and felt the need of instruction.

The Methodists appear to have understood
this principle, and were generalby the first to
supply the demand. To this end. Rev. David
Colson, an itinerant of this circuit, visited the
place, and was invited to preach at the house
of John Talmadge. The date of his first advent
has not been preserved ; but it must have been
as late or later than 1837, as the seats provided
for the occasion were made of slabs sawed at
Mr. King's mill, just spoken of.

A schoolhouse was built in 1839, which was
considered as essential a piece of machinery
as the church, when everything has to be built
new, and the timber taken from the stumps.
Both go hand in hand, at least they did in the
early day, for the schoolhouse then was always
used on Sunday for a church, and this was, there-
by affording relief to the then scanty private
houses, where meetings were held. Miss C.
Barnes taught school in this house, but she was
not the first schoolma'am in the place. Miss
Mary Fuller has that distinction. Her school
was established in a private house, made vacant
by the suicide of an eccentric man named Elias
Brown. Yes, even in that primitive day there
was one moody sentimentalist wrought up to
the frenzy of self-destruction. He had come
to the place alone, made a claim and built a
comfortable cabin to receive his wife and chil-
dren, who were to follow as soon as suitable
preparation had been made to secure a home
for them.

Mr. Brown was a good worker and a zealous
man in prayer meetings. Often held them at
his lonesome cabin, which, though it lacked the
magic touch of the female hand to give it an
air of comfort, was nevertheless visited b} T the
neighbors in goodly numbers to hear Mr.
Brown's unctious prayers, as well as those of
others. Brown called these meetings praying
matches. Finally his face of nonchalance was
missed in the neighborhood, and on going to
his cabin to see what was the matter, he was
found dead with the cup of laudanum on the
table, from which he had taken the fatal
draught to relieve himself from some incubus
that had laid across his path, intolerable to him-
self, but unknown to the world. His sons soon
came to settle his small estate and returned.
The more common diseases that afflict new set-
tlements are fevers and chills, and in justice
to this country it is fair to assume that
the disease or the cause of it which terminated
fatally in Mr. Brown's case was contracted in
the East, through some social grievance not
common to pioneer settlements.

A small portion of Babcock's Grove lies in
York, around which the Churchills and the Bab-
cocks ha*d settled in 1833 and 1834, but, from
the most authentic accounts, their claims were
almost, if not entirely, made within the present
limits of Milton Township, and their history
has been given under that head.

In the spring of 1861, a copious spring of
water burst out of the ground, with a concus-
sion that made the ground tremble. It was
near the house of Robert Reed. The spring
empties into Salt Creek, about three miles
above Mr. Graues' grist-mill.

Walker's Grove, in the southwest part of
York, occupies land enough to make a full
section. John Walker settled here in 1835.

The large grove in the southeast part of
York, with one on its east line, a little to the
north of it, would make at least four sections
of land, which would, with the other groves,

248

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

give one-sixth as the proportion of prairie to
the timber in York.

Sections 25, 35, 36 and the diagonal halves
of Sections 24, 26 and 34 lie within the limits
of the Indian boundary lines, and were sur-
veyed at an early date and brought into market
in June, 1835.

It is impossible to give the dates of the early
roads of the country. Most of them had their
origin in a trail that marked the prairie by
travel between the most prominent points
known at the time.

According to a map of Cook and Du Page
Counties, drawn by James H. Rees, of Chicago,
in 1850, a road passed through this township
leading from Chicago to St. Charles ; another
from a steam mill where May wood, on the Des-
plaines, now is, to Warrenville, on the West Fork
of the Du Page ; another from the house of H.
Fischer, on Section 35, in Addison, to the saw-
mill on Salt Creek, in Section 36, thence to
Brush Hill ; and a short one leading from the
intersection of the St. Charles road with Salt
Creek down the stream to the Warrenville road,
at the junction with which Eldridge Post Office
is put down, Bingham's tavern on the St.
Charles road, on Section 12, and Cottage Hill
and Bates, on Section 2. These are all the
roads and names on Mr. Rees' map of 1 850.

The surface of the township is sufficiently
rolling for good drainage, but not as uneven as
some other townships in the count} 7 .

The dairy business is a prominent interest in
the township, but the raising of vegetables, es-
pecially potatoes, for the Chicago market, is an
increasing interest.

York has nine school districts and 875 per-
sons between the ages of six and twenty-one ;
$23 is reported as the value of her school li-
braries.

The old saw-mill on Salt Creek was burnt
down in 1848, and in 1852 a grist-mill was
built in its place by Fred Graue, or Gray (to
anglicize it), and W. Arche. It has recently

been remodeled by Mr. Gray by putting in a
Jonathan mill, with a capacity of 125 barrels
superfine flour per da} 7 . It runs by steam and
water power both. Mr. Gray was one of the
pioneer settlers of Addison, who came to the
place in 1834. He has been, for the sake of
convenience, compelled, though reluctantly, to
change his name from its pure German (Graue)
to Gray, on account of the faltering manner
with which Americans write or attempt to
spell it.

DRAIN TILE AND BRICK WORKS.

This establishment, owned by William Ham-
merschmit, is situated a mile south of Lom-
bard. It employs from ten to fifteen men, and
turns out from 60,000 to 70,000 feet of from
two to ten inches tile per month, with ma-
chine capacity for turning out from 125,000 to
150,000 feet per month. Capital invested,
$11,000. The steam power is furnished by a
25-horse-power engine.

ELMHURST.

This village or rather tavern stand, as it first
was, went by the name of Hill Cottage, a mis-
nomer one would say who came from a mount-
ainous or even a hilly region, yet it was really
a hill compared to any intervening lands be-
tween it and Chicago, being 106 feet above the
lake, the ground graduating upward all the
way till the place is reached.

Mr. J. L. Hovey came from Painesville, Ohio,
here and opened a taven in 1843. His place
soon presented attractions to the lonesome
inhabitants of the prairie around in those
days, and a request was made that he should
petition for a post office at his tavern stand,
which soon became the nucleus of a village.

John Wentworth then represented the dis-
trict in Congress, and to him the petition was
sent. The Postmaster General objected to the
name on the ground that already many names
of post offices began with hill, and suggested a
transposition of the name, making it Cottage

YORK TOWNSHIP.

349

Hill instead of Hill Cottage. This satisfied
the petitioners, and the village was " baptized "
accordingly. Not long afterward, Dedrick
Mong also opened a tavern, and soon afterward
a general store, the first ever established at
the place. It stood where the store now occu-
pied by Henry A. Glos stands.

The Chicago & North-Western Railroad came
through the place in 1849, and Mr. Mong was
employed by the company to tend the station.

The place now began to increase in numbers,
and another store was opened by Gerry Bates
on the spot now occupied by the post office.
Soon after this, wealthy men came from Chi-
cago, and the building of those palatial resi-
dences, for which the place is remarkable, was
begun. These beautiful homes are now shadowed
by an artificial forest of elm, maple, pine,
cedar and other trees, surrounded by ramparts
of arbor-vitae hedges, trimmed with linear pre-
cision, and during the sultr}' days of midsum-
mer these tree-clad recesses are as inviting as
they are ornate.

They are also glad retreats during the nip-
ping blasts of winter, toning down its severity
and taking off its keen edge. But their crown-
ing glory is at flood-tide during the full moons
of autumn, when the glitter of her rays mottles
the ground with radiance beneath the foliage of
the trees. These suburban delights cannot be
purchased at any price in large cities, and the
wonder is that more do not embrace the first
opportunity to secure them.

The railroad company named their station at
the place after the name of the post office —
Cottage Hill, but this was changed to Elm-
hurst, its present name, in 1869.

The place has a good public school where
both German and English are taught, but no
pupil receives instruction in German till first
taught to read and write English. Algebra and
other high branches of scholastic education are
also taught, besides the common routine of the
institution.

The town was platted May 25, 1854, by
Anson Bates, situated on the east half of the
northeast quarter of Section 2, Town 39, Range
11. Its elevation above Lake Michigan is 106
feet.

COLLEGE AT ELMHURST.

This institution is called the Elm hurst
Troseminar of the German Evangelical Synod
of North America. It was established by the
German Evangelical Synod of the Northwest
in 1869, and two years later was transferred to
the Synod of North America upon the union of
the two Synods in 1871.

The Troseminar is a preparatory school for
the Theological Seminary of Missouri, and, be-
sides preparing theological students for said
institute, it fits teachers for parochial schools
of the denomination, and admits a limited
number of pupils to a selected course.

When the school was founded in 1869, the
instructors and twelve pupils occupied the resi-
dence which was on the property at the time of
purchase. Two years later, a brick building
was erected, 75x40, and three stories high. The
number of pupils was increased threefold, and
the growth of the institution was so rapid that
five years afterward it was found necessary to
build again. A handsome structure, costing
$25,000 was then built, which proved no more
than sufficient to contain the increased number
that sought admittance, and since then the
growth of the school has increased steadily.

About 130 pupils can be accommodated, and
all the modern conveniences known to the best
architects have been adopted in the construc-
tion of the recitation, study rooms and dormi-
tories, and the methods of heating, lighting and
ventilation were carefullly considered.

In addition to the theological studies, there
are a classical course and complete courses in
the German and English languages. Music is
not neglected ; all are trained in vocal music,
and the theological students, as well as those
who are preparing to teach, are taught to play

250

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

on the organ and piano ; the teacher pupils, in
addition, are instructed in playing the violin.

The grounds cover about thirty acres, twenty
acres of which are devoted to a garden, where
the students find healthful and useful employ-
ment. Except the cooking and laundry work,
all the labor is performed by the pupils, who
are thereby kept from idleness and mischief.

The School Board consists of a sub-commit-
tee called Overseers, who report to the Direct-
ors, a committee who are responsible to the
Synod. The school has no endowment, depend-
ing mainly on free-will offerings for mainte-
nance.

The Inspector, or President, in addition to
the usual duties of such an office, exercises a
general supervision over all the interests of the
institution, for which he is personally responsi-
ble. The present Inspector, Rev. P. Goebel,
succeeded the late Rev. Philipp Meusch in
1880. The remaining members of the Facult}'
are : J. Lueder, Professor of Latin, Greek and
History ; W. J. A. Hogan, Professor in charge
of the Englisji Department ; H. Brodt, Profes-
sor of German and Pedagogy ; F. Berchtold,
Professor of Mathematics, Chemistry and
Physics ; G. Rosche, Professor of Music— J.
Lueder.

st. peter's church.

This belongs to the German Evangelical
Synod of North America in Elmhurst, and was
founded May 21, 1876. At this time the num-
ber of pupils in the college had increased to
an extent sufficient to warrant the building of
a church, to enlarge the sphere of its useful-
ness and turn its teachings in the minds of its
pupils in a proper direction. The first mem-
bers and founders of this church were those
who were residents of Elmhurst but had previ-
ously attended Immanuel Church at Addison.
During the first year of its existence, the profes-
sors in the college acted as pastors. Rev. Chris-
tian Beck was the first ordained pastor, holding
the position from April till October, 1877. Rev.

Frederick Boeber succeeded him till March,
1882, when Rev. Emil Keuchen, the present
pastor took the charge. A parsonage and
schoolhouse has been built adjoining the church,
and a parochial school is taught under its pat-
ronage. Fifty-four families constitute its mem-
bership, the younger children of whom attend
the school.

BUSINESS REGISTER OP ELMHURST.

Lumber, coal, grain, flour and feed, etc.
Brownell & Strange.

Dry goods and groceries (general store),
Henry L. Glos, Charles Most, August Grave.

Hardware and agricultural implements,
Adam S. Glos.

Hardware, stoves and tin shop, William
Most, Carl Bauer.

Blacksmiths and wagon-makers, Louis Bal-
geman and Louis Rakow; William Geise,
blacksmith; Henry Mbeller, wagon-maker.

Elmhurst Manufacturing Company, manu-
facturer of patent spoke driver and wagon
fixtures.

Elmhurst Creamery, Arthur Robinson, les-
see.

Harness-maker and saddler, Peter A. Wolf.

Boots and shoes and shoe-maker, Nick
Peter; D. Benjamin Miche, shoe-maker.

Butchers, Rudolph Kraemer, Edward Dul-
berg.

Tailors, John Barge, Henry Gehrke, Albert
T. Schultz.

Painters and paper hangers, Jacob Witten-
burg, Frank Blau, Julius Heegard.

Carpenters and joiners, Ernst Balgeraann^

Henry Battermann, William Hanabeth,

Baker, Arthur Silvers, Hermann Warnecke,
Hermann Conrad, John Hahn.

Masons, Henry Boettcher, Henry Morwitzer,
William Weigrafe.

Hotel and saloon, William Ohlerich.

Saloons, Christian Blievernicht, Franz Boed-
er, Christian Bell.

YORK TOWNSHIP.

251

Methodist Episcopal, Rev. J. A. Potter.

Evangelical Lutheran, Rev. E. Kenchen.

Roman Catholic, Rev. C. J. Neiderberger.

Physicians and surgeons, P. J. T. Fischer,
George F. Heidemann.

Postmaster, Jacob Glos.

Chicago & Northwestern Railway and Ameri-
can Express, Albert S. Brownell, Agent.

VILLAGE GOVERNMENT.

Trustees, Henry L. Glos, George Sawin, Chris-
tian Blievernicht, Peter A Wolf, Ernst Balge-
mann, Henry Hohman, Sr.

President, Henry L. Glos.

Clerk, William H. Litchfield.

Treasurer, George F. Heidemann.

Street Commissioner, Henry C. Holman.

EVANGELICAL SEMINARY AT ELMHURST, ILL.

President, Rev. Peter Goebel.
Professor, Rev. John Lueder.
Professor of English, W. J. H. Hogan.
Professor of Music, George F. Rosche.
Teachers, H. Brodt, Fred Berchtold.

CHURCHES.

Trinity Church. — This is located at York
Center, and was organized in 1868, when the
church was built. It was first a private school
— a branch of the Addison congregation.

Rev. Theodore Martens was the first pastor,
who was succeeded, in 1871, b}' Rev. C. A. T.
Selle, Professor in the Addison Seminary, till
1872, when Rev. G. T. H. Gotsch became pastor,
who holds the position to the present time.
Sixty families are connected with this church.
It has a parish school, numbering about fifty
scholars ; is connected with the church, in which
German and English are taught.

The York Center Methodist Church was orga-
nized in 1857. A church was built in 1859,
and dedicated June 5, the same year. It num-
bered about twenty-five members, at first com-
posed of Americans only. The German Lu-

therans bought a half interest in it in 1879, since
which time the Germans have increased in
numbers, while the Americans have diminished.

The' Catholic Church at Elmhurst. — This was
built in the year 1862, by Rev. P. Meinrad, a
Benedictine Father, and about twelve Catholic
families.

In 1864, the Redemptorist Fathers attended
this mission every second Sunday from Chicago
until 1876, when Right Rev. Bishop Foley ele-
vated it to a parish, appointing Rev. Charles
Becker as the first stationary pastor.

He was succeeded, in 1877, by Rev. M. Wolly,
and, in 1880, by the present pastor, Rev. C. J.
Niederberger, who has, hy Kis clerical bearing
in the execution of his duties as pastor, won
the esteem not only of his own flock, but of the
citizens of Elmhurst, who have verified this by
their contributions to improve the grounds of
the church and parsonage, with hedge rows and
trees and flowers, nor did the friends of the
church stop here. Two fine oil paintings, one
on each side of the altar, have also been con-
tributed by them. The subjects are the " Ma-
dona and the Infant Jesus," which is on the
left, and the other, " St. Joseph and the In-
fant Jesus," which is on the right. They were
painted by H. Kaiser, a pupil of the celebrated
M. P. Von Deschwandore, of Switzerland. Pict-
ures of the fourteen stations ornament the sides
of the church, and the recess, in which is the
altar, is tastefully adorned with sacred devices
appropriate to the place, and well calculated to
inspire the conscientious one who kneels be-
fore it with good resolutions. The number of
parishioners has now increased to sixty families,
one-third of whom are Irish and the other Ger-
man.

LOMBARD.

This is a pleasantly located village on the
eastern boundary of Babcock's Grove, which
name was first given to the place. Luther
Morton and Winslow Churchill, Jr., made
claims in 1834, where this village now stands,

252

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

sad built a log house. Mr. Morton bought his
land of the Government when it came into
market, and assigned his certificate to his
brother, Nathaniel B., in 1843, who sold out to
Reuben Mink in 1846, May 14, who in turn
sold out to Josiah Lombard, in 1867, who
changed the name to that which it now has.

John Rumble came to the place in 1843, and
Hiram Whittemore and Levi Ballou in 1846.
J. B. Hull came to the place and built a house
and store in 1848. He was also first Postmas-
ter, and when the railroad came through the
next year he was the station agent. Chauncey
Harmon was section boss on the road.

For many years previous to the completion
of the railroad, Babcock's Grove enjoyed a wide
reputation as a kind of center for a future vil-
lage when the country should become sufficient-
ly settled to require one. In 1851, there were
five frame houses and one store at the place,
besides the building owned by the railroad
company, which was a depot and hotel and
kept by Mr. Parsons.

It was platted by J. S. Lombard and others
April 28, 1868. Situated on parts of Sections
5, 6, 7, 8, and 18, Township 39, Range 11. Its
elevation above Lake Michigan is 127 feet.

Daniel Shehan came to the place in 1848,
and succeeded Mr. Hull as station agent, re-
taining the post till it was occupied by the
present agent.

CHURCH HISTORY OP LOMBARD.

The first church organization which made
the village of Babcock's Grove (now Lombard)
its center, was inaugurated on November 28,
1851. Rev. E. E. Wells, agent of the "West-
ern Home and Foreign Missionary Association,"
was present to give form to the enterprise. The
following nine persons were the original mem-
bers : Rev. Charles Boswell and wife, Mr. Will-
iam Emerson and wife, Mr. Phineas Ames and
wife (Mrs. Ames was a daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Emerson), Mrs. Pamela Filer, Mrs. Marga-

ret Dodge (wife of Mr. Pardon Dodge) and Mr.
Ebenezer Landers.

The Congregational Church ' of Babcock's
Grove, thus organized, stood firm and square,
not only upon the ancient foundations, but also
upon the live issues of tbe day. It opened its
fellowship to "all who love our Lord Jesus
Christ in sincerity, who have witnessed a good
profession before men and practically honor
their Master ; " but in welcoming to the Lord's
Supper all such believers, it said also : " Per-
sons engaged in the manufacture, sale or use of
intoxicating liquors as a beverage, slaveholders
and apologists for slavery are not included in
this invitation."

For several years, the Sabbath worship and
the Sabbath school, which was a year older than
the church, were held in the village schoolhouse,
a building about half-a-mile east of the present
Lombard Station, and now used as the dwelling
of Mr. D. Klussmeyer.

. In 1852, the little company was increased by
the addition of Mr. and Mrs. William Neff and
Mrs. Mary Miller (first wife of Mr. Thomas
Miller). Rev. James McChesney and wife, Mr.
and Mrs. Charles Mather and Mrs. Sarah E.
Somers (a daughter of Mr. William Emerson)
were added to it in February, 1855. In the
same month, the church at Danby (now Pros-
pect Park), which had been organized in Jan-
uary, 1850, was dissolved, and of its members,
Mr. Stephen Van Tassel and wife, Mr. Alfred
Standish and wife, Mrs. R. Rudock, Mrs. Mar-
tha Dean, Mrs. Fidelia Ober (wife of Mr. David
Ober), Mrs. Mercy Churchill, Mrs. Cornelia
Brooks and Mrs. H. Ackerman immediately
joined the church of Babcock's Grove.

In the autumn of 1856, the meetings began
to be held in the Baptist Church at Du Page
Center (now Stacy's Corners), in the township
of Milton, that point being more central for
the congregation as changed by the recent ad-
ditions. The church, however, still kept as a
preaching station its old place at " The Grove."

YORK TOWNSHIP.

253

The body had become strong enough in 1860
to consider the matter of " building meeting-
houses at Danby and Babcock's Grove." A re-
sult of this movement was the organization, in
February of that year, of the " Congregational
Society of Danby," for the purpose of erecting
a building and caring for the financial affairs of
the church. No corresponding work was ef-
fected at Babcock's Grove.

April 27, 1861, the church unanimously "re-
solved that this church shall hereafter be
known as the ' First Congregational Church of
Danby,' and its regular place of worship shall
be in that village."

Of the church whose history is here dropped,
Rev. Charles Boswell was the first pastor and
clerk. He died, in the pastorate, in 1852 or
1853. Rev. Harry Jones seems to have been
a preacher here, as well as at Danby, in 1853.
But Rev. James McChesney was pastor of the
church during the greater part of its existence,
remaining with it after its location at Danby.
He acted also as Clerk, and the public is in-
debted to him for the preservation of his faith-
ful records of the early times. The first Deacon
of the church was Mr. William Emerson, who
held that office until his death, which occurred
about 1856.

From 1861 to 1866, no church organization
existed in the village. The death or removal
of early supporters and the confusions incident
to the war conspired to prevent such work ; but
preaching was sustained pretty regularly and
the Sunday school was frequently in a vigorous
condition. Among its early Superintendents
were successively Rev. Mr. Boswell, Mr. W. Em-
erson, Mr. Phineas Ames, Mr. Adam Hatfield,

Mr. Seth Churchill, Mr. Davis and various

men who had acted as temporary preachers.

In 1859, the schoolhouse now in use was
built, and the congregation removed thither.

In the autumn of 1864 — since which time
the writer has been familiar with the town his-
tory — and the succeeding winter, Rev. Mr. Wa-

teman was Superintendent. J. T. Reade served
from March, 1865, to the close of 1866. This
brings the school inside the time when a more
permanent church force began to be operant.

During the years 1865-69, the population of
the village was increased by the coming of
many familes specialty interested in Christian
institutions and public-spirited in giving freely
for their support.

In the summer of 1866, Mr. (now Rev.)
James Tompkins, then a student of Chicago
Theological Seminary, had been preaching to
the congregation for several months, the meet-
ings being held in the schoolhouse. On the
26th of July of that year was formed

The First Church of Christ, Babcock's Grove,
and on August 2, a council of the neighboring
churches and clergymen met and gave it a
brotherly recognition. Six denominations
were represented in the original membership of
fourteen. It was, as it is claimed to be, a
Union Church of Evangelical Christians, and
at first kept free from all ecclesiastical connec-
tions. The persons thus allying themselves
were :

Joseph B. Hull and Fanny E., his wife; Isaac
Claflinand Mary W.,his wife; Josiah T. Reade
and Christia (now deceased), his wife; Allen
B. Wrisley and Lucy, his wife; Mrs. Clarissa
Frisbie (now deceased); Mrs. Margaret A. Mil-
ler (now deceased), second wife of Mr. Thomas
Miller; Mrs. Emily Fish ; Miss Lydia M. Hull
(now deceased); Miss M. Albina Harris (now
Mrs. Frank Hull); and R. Franklin Claflin.

The meetings continued to be held mostly in
the schoolhouse. But, in about two years from
its organization, the church having increased
well in numbers and means, a beautiful chapel
was erected on the lot at the northeast corner
of Main and Maple streets, the spot now oc-
cupied by the residence of Mrs. John Bracken.
It was dedicated on December 3,1868. This
building was destroyed by an incendiary
fire on the night of August 27, 1869.

•r>4

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Up to this time the church property had been
owned by the church itself, an incorporated
body. Immediate^ after the loss of its edi-
fice an " ecclesiastical society " was formed to
manage financial affairs. This body thought
best to change the church location, and there-
fore built its new house on North Main street.
This was used for worship till 1873.

The pastors of this church were: Rev. James
Tompkins, from its origin to May, 1869; Rev.
Osmar W. Fay, from June, 1869, to November
2, 1869; Rev. Henry T. Rose, from May, 1870,
to October, 1871; and after this Rev. Josiah A.
Mack, for a time not recorded exactly. The
first Deacon of this church was J. T. Reade,
and Isaac Claflin was its first Clerk.

The village, having been incorporated in
1809 as the " Town of Lombard," the church
underwent a corresponding change of name.

The First Congregational Church of Lom-
bard was formed October 22, 1869, with thir-
teen original members. With the exception of
three, they came directly from the "First
Church of Christ," and were as follows:

Nathaniel S. Cushing and Elizabeth B., his
wife; Newton Chapin and Caroline B., his
wife ; A. B. Chatfield and Emma L., his wife;
J. Benson Vallette and Ruth M., his wife; Mrs.
Margaret A. Miller (now deceased); Mrs. J. E.
Ambrose; Miss Eva C. Cushing; Noah Shep-
ardson; and Charles M. Lewis (now deceased).

An ecclesiastical society to work in connec-
tion with the church was also formed, and a
church building was immediately commenced
at the southwest corner of Main and Maple
streets. It was dedicated May 29, 1870, and
is still used as a place of worship.

On January 20, 1870, a council of Congre-
gational Churches and clergymen met and rec-
ognized this church as a member of Congrega-
tional sisterhood.

Rev. 0. W. Fay, having closed his connec-
tion with the older church, became pastor of
this immediately upon its organization, and

continued with it till 1872. The first Deacons
were N. S. Cushing and Newton Chapin. and
the first Clerk was J. B. Vallette.

The First Church, Lombard. — In 1873, the
impolicy of sustaining two churches of the
same general faith having been thoroughly dem-
onstrated, the two were discontinued, by agree-
ment, and on May 2 of that year, the present
organization, bearing the above name, was
formed. It is " Evangelical " in its creed, and
Congregational in its polity, and belongs to
Chicago Association. It occupies the " south
side " church, having sold the other building.

The church had no regular pastor until April,
1874. Rev. Charles Caverno then commenced
his work, in which he still continues. Nathan-
iel S. Cushing and Allen B. Wrisley were the
first Deacons. The first Clerk and Treasurer
was William L. Rogers (now deceased).

There are now eighty resident members.
The financial affairs are cared for by an allied
society of the usual form. Among the enter-
prises that look hither for their inspiration is
the church library, partly of religious, but
mostly of general literature, numbering about
eight hundred volumes, and now open to the
general public. — J. T. Reade.

BUSINESS MEN.

I. Claflin, real estate.

B. T. Teets & Sons, hardware.
August Koerber, miller.

C. Fabri, harness-maker.
R. Grunwald, shoe-maker.
P. Arnoldi, shoe-maker.

A. B. Wrisley, soap manufacturer.

W. Stuenkel, butter and cheese factory. He
receives 6,000 pounds of milk daily and makes
300 pounds of cheese; also 200 pounds of but-
ter daily.

A. E. and D. C. Hills, general store.

A. E. Hills, general auctioneer.

Gray & Malcomb, hardware and farm imple-
ments.

WINFIELD TOWNSHIP.

255

L. Marquart & Bros., general store, feed and
grain.

John Q. Reber, grocer.
E. M. Ackerman, butcher.
John Fischer, blacksmith and wagon-maker.
C. W. Oleson, physician and surgeon.
Joseph Gregory, carpenter and builder.
Richard Wells, ice cream and confectionery.
Dave Frank, mason and contractor.
Henry Assman, mason and contractor.
Levi Castleman, painter.

N. S. Cushing, retired.

Martin Hogan, section boss, Chicago & North
Western Railroad.

John Patterson, station agent, Chicago &
North Western Railroad.

Melvin Ballou, conductor, Chicago & North-
western Railroad.

0. F. Long, engineer, Chicago & North- West-
ern Railroad.

M. C. Carroll, fine groceries, flour, etc.

CHAPTER XIII.

WINFIELD TOWNSHIP— WARRENVILLE — WATER CRESSES — THEIR CONSEQUENCES— NEWCOMERS
AND DISTANT NEIGHBORS — PARTIES AND RAISINGS — RAILSPLITTING — FOURTH OF JULY
— THE SCHOOLGIRL'S HANDKERCHIEF— THE OLD SAW-MILL— THE HOTEL AND DANCING
HALL — WHAT WAS IN A TRUNK OF OLD PAPERS — CHURCHES— THE WARRENVILLE
ACADEMY— GARY'S MILLS— METHODIST CHURCH AT THE PLACE— A SHYLOCK MEM-
BER EXCOMMUNICATED— WINFIELD — TURNER JUNCTION —JOHN B. TURNER.

AS we drink at the fountains of nature,
how little do we know of her subterra-
nean secrets. In arid deserts, and sometimes
even in fruitful countries of considerable ex-
tent, no living springs are found, but they
occur along the banks of the Du Page River
at many places, and in profusion at Warren-
ville. Here they burst out of the ground un-
tarnished with the tincture of lead or iron
pipes — the bane of water in all large cities —
and in their pebbly -bottomed rivulets a tangle
of water-cresses overspreads their trickling
courses to the river. It is said that where
speckled trout are found in the streams of a
country, no fever and ague exists there. This
does not go to show that trout are an antidote to
the ague. Nor is it claimed that water-cresses
make pure water, but it is claimed that pure
cold water makes water-cresses, the same as a
healthful, well-drained country abounding in
mountain torrents makes speckled trout. Both
the trout and water- cresses are refined produc-

tions in animal and vegetable life from the
laboratory of nature, the handiwork of her
geological composition whose formula is a
sealed book to us.

The delightful springs attracted the attention
of the first settlers at what is now Warren ville
and its vicinity, and the following are their
names in the order in which the}' came : Eras-
tus Gary, now living at Wheaton ; Jude P.
Gar}-, who died in 1881 on his farm, and The-
ron Parsons, all came in 1832 and made claims.
Alvah Fowler and Col. J. M. Warren, both of
whom now live in Warrenville, came and made
claims in the spring of 1833. Ira Herrick and
Jacob Galusha, neither now living, came the
same year, and made claims near Warrenville.
Israel Lord and Alfred Churchill both came to
the vicinity and made claims in 1834.

These were the true pioneers of what is now
Winfield Township. To add to these names
those who arrived soon afterward would multi-
ply words without knowing where to stop, as

256

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

so many settlers soon followed them. Daniel
Warren, a native of Massachusetts, had settled
at Naperville in 1833. His family consisted of
a wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Morton,
and the following children : Philinda H., who
married Alvah Fowler, of Warrenville ; Louisa
G., who married Frederick Bird, and then Silas
E. Warren as her second husband ; Julius M.
Warren, after whom Warrenville was named,
and who now lives at the place ; Sally L., who
married A. E. Carpenter, brother of Philo Car-
penter, of Chicago; Harriet N., who married
C. B. Dodson, of Geneva ; Maria and Mary
(twins), the former of whom married S. B.
Cobb, of Chicago, and the latter Jerome Beech-
er, of the same place ; and Jane, who married
N. B. Curtis, of Peoria.

In the spring of 1834, Alvah Fowler, together
with a large number of adventurers, made a
tour of discovery to the north up the Desplaines
River. After leaving the present site of May-
wood, no white settlers were found, but the am-
ple groves on its banks were alive with Indians,
whose wigwams seemed to be omnipresent. At
Half Day's village, in the present county of
Lake, were forty or fifty families housed in their
rude huts, killing the hours after the time-
honored custom of their race, whose wants are
limited according to their disinclination to work.
There was a large burying-ground at the place,
and a white flag flying over it as a sacred charm
to honor the dead.

To the north, there were no neighbors but
the Meachams, the Dunklees, the Churchills and
the Babcocks. At Brush Hill and at Downer's
Grove, were settlements, and at Naperville,
which was at their doors, comparatively speak-
ing, and was the parent colony of all. To the
west was the Fox River Valley, where clusters
of houses had already been put up at Elgin, St.
Charles, Geneva and Aurora, and near the pres-
ent site of Batavia Mr. Dodson had a saw-mill
on a western tributary of the river. All these
settlements seemed like neighbors together.

They visited each other at parties, and assisted
each other at raisings. The latter was one of
the olden-time institutions, now almost obsolete,
but then in the heyday of its glory, and, while
it served a practical purpose, it also toned up
the social feeling and became the means by
which distant neighbors could form a knowl-
edge of each other's character and a measui*e of
their merits on general principles.

After Col. Warren had made his claim in
1833, he returned to his native place, and the
next year (1834) on coming back he found two
new-comers. Grant Goodrich had come to the
place and made a claim of 200 acres on the
west side of the river, intending to make a
farm. He hired sixteen acres of ground "broke,"
and in the programme took off his broadcloth
coat, rolled up his sleeves and, with the assist-
ance of Sidney Able, went to work at splitting
rails to fence it. Here were two men, the one
destined to become Judge of the Superior Court
at Chicago and the other its Postmaster, maul-
ing an iron wedge into an oak log by alternate
strokes, not for amusement, but to make rails to
fence in a corn-field. But these hours of labor
were not without relief. Fourth of July came,
and something must be done to leaven the vir-
gin soil with patriotism, and Naperville was the
" stamping ground " for all such gatherings.

The morning came. There were no bells to
ring They did not need any such stimulent
to set their patriotic blood to tingling in their
veins. When the crowd had assembled, young
Goodrich was honored with an invitation to
read the Declaration of Independence, and he
soon became the most conspicuous man in the
crowd. The next thing was to get a copy.
Here was the fatal balk, for none could be
found in all Naperville, and faces all round be-
gan to look rueful, till a sweet little girl stepped
forward and offered her pocket handkerchief,
on which this immortal document was printed,
justly proud of the service she had rendered
to the convention. Young Henry B. Blodgett,

WINFIELD TOWNSHIP.

257

the son of the stalwart blacksmith, now Judge
of the court of the United States, at District in
Chicago, then thirteen years old, sat near the
honored elocutionist of the day, and paid
strict attention to the words. Let us return to
business. CoL Warren wanted to buy out the
claim of Mr. Goodrich. He contemplated build-
ing a saw-mill, and needed the land on both
sides of the river whereupon to build his dam.
Mr. Goodrich's hands were blistered splitting
rails, and he was in a suitable frame of mind
to sell. Col. Warren paid him 50 cents per
hundred for the rails he had split, and a rea-
sonable price for the breaking, and he quit-
claimed to him.

Col. Warren erected his house the same sea-
son, hauling the lumber for it from Dodson's mill.
This was the first frame house ever built at the
place. His eldest sister kept house for him.
The next } r ear he built a saw-mill, and the place
became a lively resort for mechanics, teamsters
and farmers, as soon as the mill began to turn
out lumber, a material so much needed in the
country. A house was soon erected, where the
strong men who rolled the logs to the saw car-
riage with "cant-hooks " boarded, and in the
upper story of it a room was finished off for a
school, and here the lady who subsequently be-
came Principal of the academy at the place,
Mrs. Holmes, taught its first school.

The next year, 1836, a schoolhouse was built
by subscription. It is now remodeled into a
private dwelling and occupied by Joseph Hud-
son. A post office was established at the place
in May, 1838, Col. Warren, Postmaster, who
kept the office at his house. He is Postmaster
at the present time.

The same year, 1838, he built a fine hotel and
spacious hall in it for dancing. It was pat-
ronized b} r the elite of Chicago as well as
Naperville and the Fox River towns, and here
it was that John Wentworth made his debut
into social circles, and the lady who first initiat-
ed him into the graceful motions of the cotil-

lion, still calls to mind the pleasing remin-
iscence. No more refined and truly aesthetic
circles than these dancing and private parties
have ever graced the elegant drawing rooms of
even Chicago since that eventful period.

Their influence has elevated the aims in life
of many a man and woman now in the best
ranks of society, and perhaps some of them
in, their twilight hour of life, in thinking of
old scars in their hearts not yet quite healed
over, can fix their dates in Col. Warren's old
dancing hall.

Amidst a trunk full of old Warrenville pa-
pers from which scraps of history have been
gathered by the writer, the following verses at-
tracted his attention, and are here inserted to
show the sentiment of the times. Their author
is unknown. Perhaps he gave them to some
inamorata who lost them and they fortunately
found a place among these old musty records,
to be rescued from oblivion in the pages of
this book •

" fly to the prairie, sweet maiden, with me,
'Tis as green, and as wild, and as wide as the sea,
O'er its emerald bosom the summer winds glide,
And waves the wild grass like the vanishing tide.

" Let us hie to the chase, lovely maiden, away,
And follow the fawns as they gambol and play,
On the back of the courser so lithe and so free,
While circling and bounding o'er heather and lea.

" The woodman delights in his trees and his shade,
But the sun leaves no tinge of the cheeks of his maid
His flowers are blighted, its colors are pale
And weak is the breath when their perfumes exhale.

" Soft zephyrs ere play in the prairie breeze,
And furrow the grasses like waves of the seas,
And waft o'er the landscape its sweets from the West.
Aromas delicious, with fragrance possessed.

" fly to the prairies, sweet maiden, with me,
Each flower here dimples and blushes for thee,
And nightly the moon in her star-studded sky
Twinkles love in her ray while the katydids cry.

" There is nothing to cloy in the wilds of the West,
Each day hath its pleasures where love is confessed,
My cottage now empty is waiting for thee,
Will you come to my bower and share it with me ?"

258

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

The same cooling springs now lave the banks
of the river that then did, and the same water-
cresses bathe their roots in their pools. They
might have had something to do with the fine
sentiments that then lived and grew there. If
so, their mission may not yet be ended. This
we will leave to the future, while the progress
of events is continued.

The village of Warrenville was platted by
Julius M. Warren May 7, 1844. He was then
a Representative of his district, and again in
1850.

Since the era of railroads, it has lost its
equilibrium with other towns in the scale of
progress ; but the end is not yet.

That a brighter prospect will yet open before
it seems certain, as the magnitude of Chicago
will create a demand for its beautiful grounds for
residences, and a way to reach them bj* railroad.

The following is a list of the business men of
the place :

Cheese factory — Consumes 8,000 pounds of
milk ; makes 200 pounds of butter, and 500
pounds of cheese daily. R. R. Barnard is pro-
prietor.

The Warrenville Grist and Merchant Mill
was built by Smith & Fowler in 1847.

It came into possession of Lamb & Co. in
1857 ; was burnt August 11, 1879 ; was rebuilt,
and commenced running in March, 1880. It
is a full roller mill, using the celebrated Gratiot
Conical Vertical Gradual Reduction Machine.
Uses 500 bushels of wheat, and manufactures
100 barrels of flour per day. Brands-r-Peace-
Maker and Reliable.

Blacksmiths— J. M. Hollister, J. W. Watson,
George F. Ressequie.

Merchants — C. A. Bowen, J. D. Hawbecker.

Boot and shoe-maker — D. Stafford.

Notary Public — J. Hudson.

Justice of the Peace — A. T. Jones.

House painter — Henry W} 7 man.

Carpenter — L. V. Ressequie.

Clergyman — Rev. — . Adams.

WARRENVILLE ACADEMY.

This institution, while in its prime, was to
the country around what Oxford is to the En-
glish Church to-day. The old building now
stands a silent monument of its once beneficent
mission. To the teachings within its walls
many retrospections of youthful ambitions
revert back with pleasing emotions from men
and women now mature with life's experiences.
Who can tell its history best ? thought I, while
looking at the untrodden grass that has en-
croached upon the threshold of its door.

For the necessary information I wrote to its
early Principal, and the following is her reply,
together with her historical sketch, which is
better than any other one could write, for who
else could measure the value and rehearse the
story and make it live again, at least in mem-
ory, as she has done it in her own unaffected
style :

" Rockford, July 7, 1882.

" Mr. Blanchard : I send you a brief, and,
I feel, quite imperfect, manuscript. It may,
however, serve as the basis of a better article.
I found it difficult to get statistics ; dates may
not be correct. I wrote to some who were as-
sociated with me during the years I was en-
gaged there, but the answers were not satisfac-
tory, so I have given you the best I have at
hand.

'• You will see that I have not written this to
be recognized as its author, only to give the
facts in my possession as the groundwork of
what you may' say on the subject.

" Yours very respectfully,

" S. W. Holmes.

"In the settlement of every new country, one
of the first objects of the settlers seems to be
to organize some effective system of education.
In Du Page County, Warrenville aimed to take
the lead in that direction. As early as 1843-
44, two schools were opened in Warrenville,
one under the auspices of the Baptist denomi-
nation with the design of founding a collegiate

WINFIELD TOWNSHIP.

259

institution, the other under the supervision of
Misses H. W. Bryant and S. Warren. Both
these schools nourished for a time, and did
good work, but both, for some reason, were
given up. After that time, several teachers
had commenced operations there, but had
abandoned the project and gone into more
promising fields of labor. In 1850, the good
people of Warrenville and vicinity, aided by
strong, earnest friends from Chicago, who were
desirous of sending their children to some
healthy country place to be educated, succeeded
in raising an amount necessary for the erection
of a suitable building for the accommodation
of a school. The institution was duly in-
corporated by an act of Legislature, a Board
of Directors was chosen, the financial and edu-
cational charge was intrusted to Mrs. S. W.
Holmes. The school was opened in September
1851. Competent teachers were secured. Mrs.
Holmes converted her own home into a board-
ing-house for pupils from abroad. The patron-
age was fair. The number of pupils taught in
the school for the next four or five } 7 ears was
between one and two hundred each year. In
1855-56, B. P. Taylor was engaged to take
charge of the male department of the institu-
tion, and a fine class of young men were sent
out from Chicago to fit for college under his
instruction. This measure promised well, but
owing to Mr. Taylor's resignation, proved an
unfortunate one for the material interests of
the school. After some delay, a gentleman was
found to supply Mr. Taylor's place, but the
delay was fatal. Mrs. Holmes, although ably
assisted by Mr. C. Howes and Miss M. C.
Knight, feeling that it would be difficult to tide
the school over the crisis, resigned her position.
The Directors took the finances in charge, and
the school passed into other hands. The fort-
unes of the school for the next three or four
years were fluctuating, when Mrs. Holmes was
recalled, and, assisted by Mrs. M. V. Bull,
again took charge of the institution. Mrs.

Bull remained about two years, and was suc-
ceeded by Miss M. C. Knight. Under their
supervision, the school was brought up to its
former standard, but the demand for increased
facilities were greater than the ladies in charge
could supply, and the school was again aban-
doned. During these many years, hundreds of
pupils went out from this school to take their
places in the active arena of life, with a broader
outlook, with higher aims and nobler ambitions.
The course of instruction they had received
aimed to develop thought- power, to quicken
mental activity, to rouse latent energy, and
give the self-reliance necessary for the cumula-
tive responsibilities that lay before them. So
far as it accomplished this purpose, its brief
existence became a moral force, whose power
must be enduring. At the opening of the civil
war, many students went out from that school
and took their places in the ranks of the Union
army. Ashley Carpenter, Joseph Monk and his
brother Corelle, Ferdinand and Daniel Fowler,
William Ray, Alvord Drullard were, within a few
months, brought back and consigned to their
final rest in the village cemetery. Dr. J. M.
Woodworth, Gen. F. A. Starring and his brother,
Capt. William Starring, followed the fortunes of
the war to its close. Dr. Woodworth has since
died at the post of duty in Washington. The
mission and influence of this school may still
be traced by the life-record of those who were
its members, as every seed dropped in the fer-
tile soil of the young heart germinates and
bears fruit, ' it may be a hundred fold,' ac-
cording to the strength of the germ and the
favoring influence of its environments, so that
the social and educational force which gave to
Warrensville an impetus for a few years, may be
repeated from new centers which trace their life-
threads back to a starting-point in that village
school."

CHURCHES.

Baptist Church. — As early as 1834, steps
were taken to organize a Baptist Church, so

800

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

sa3's the record, but in 1836 measures were
taken to organize a society, and a church was
established numbering sixteen members, Rev.
L. B. King, pastor. He was succeeded by A.
B. Hubbard, Joel Wheeler, A. J. Joslyn, P.
Taylor, Joel Wheeler, S. P. Holt, Freeman and
H. Wescott. The society first worshiped in a
private house, and next in a schoolhouse, till
this church was built, in 1857, which is a com-
modious edifice, on a beautiful site, and im-
parts to the town an air of propriety. Mrs.
Alvah Fowler is now the only remaining one
living of the original sixteen who formed this
church.

Methodist Episcopal Church. — This denomi-
nation has a fine church, eligibly located, at
which regular preaching is sustained, and also
a flourishing Sabbath school. Rev. J. R. Wel-
burn is its present Pastor.

Gary's mills.
Just above the southern line of Section 15
in the present township of Winfield, the West
Fork of the Du Page River presents unusual
attractions. Its banks are firm on both sides,
and graduate upward, without marshy inter-
vals. The current of the river is active, and
afforded a mill site of fair promise. There
was then much valuable timber in the adjacent
groves, and the three Gary brothers, Erastus,
Jude and Charles, jointly erected a saw-mill at
the place in 1837, which then gave a reasona-
ble assurance of becoming the most important
town in the county except Naperville. A post
office was soon organized at the place, Charles
Gary, Postmaster. A store was next estab-
lished, kept by William Gary, the present
banker in Wheaton. A schoolhouse was built
which proved more permanent than anything
else built there, as it is still standing and in
use. The inevitable church organization came
in with the rest, and this spot became the
nucleus around which the Methodism of the
immediate country first planted its principles

into the soil, " to use a figure." It was under
the charge of Rev. Washington Wilcox, who
rode the Du Page Circuit (as this region was
then called), and preached to the new congre-
gation in the schoolhouse at Gary's Mills every
fourth week. Erastus, Jude and Charles Gary,
Warren L. and Jesse C. Wheaton, Hezekiah
Holt and family, William Ainsworth, Peter B.
Curtis and family, Nat. Brown, Mrs. Woodard
and a few others were members. A black-
smith shop next came in, where Mr. Foster,
like others at the place, " struck while the iron
was hot," and Gary's Mills became a center at
which covetous eyes looked with regret that
they had not made early claims there. The
old settlers of Turner Junction and Wheaton
for several years received their letters there.
It also became the place where camp-meetings
were held, and the groves near by, which were
then vocal with singing, are now solitudes.

When this place was in the heyday of its
glory, the church there may claim the honor of
having first established a principle worthy of
imitation. The case was this : One of its mem-
bers, Nat. Brown, held a deed for forty acres
of land near the place, ten acres of which he
was justly bound, by the rules of Claim Socie-
ties, to deed back to Mrs. Woodard, whose
claim, before the surveys were made, covered
the said ten acres. This he refused to do, and
in this resolution he had the law on his side,
but not the higher law of justice. The matter
came before the church, and he still refused to
relinquish the land. Here was a dilemma — a
brother refusing to do an act of simple justice
because the law did not compel him to do it.
'Tis true, he might some time repent of this sin,
but repentance without restoration was but a
skin-deep disguise, and if such repentance
could not be verified by restitution when the
land was worth but $3 per acre, as at pres-
ent, would it be likely to come with this
vouchsafe when the land had increased in
value to five or ten times that amount, as

DEITRICK GRAUE

WINFIELD TOWNSHIP.

263

such men as the Wheatons, Garys, Curtises
and Holts must have thought a probability ?
Any expectation of a remote restitution was
not to be thought of, and Mr Brown was ex-
communicated by a clear vote of the church.

The name of Gary's Mills is still familiar,
though the mills, having executed their mis-
sion, which was to saw into lumber all the use-
ful timber near by, have been suffered to decay.
The dam has gone with the floods, and the mill
has been entirely demolished by the ravages of
time, though the most of the private dwellings
at the place still stand there, tenanted by till-
ers of the soil.

The West Fork of the Du Page passes through
the eastern portion of Winfield Township. Its
banks graduate upward in the form of rolling
lands on both sides, beyond which are exten-
sive lands sufficiently rolling for drainage, all
of which are fertile and well suited to dairy
business or the growth of cereals.

There are eight schools in the township, in-
cluding the graded school at Turner's Junction,
and 782 persons between the ages of five and
twenty-one years.

TURNER JUNCTION.

A brief biographical sketch of the gentle-
man for whom this village was named cannot
fail to be of interest to every reader, the more
so on account of the high standard of integrity
he ever maintained through a long and useful
life:

John B. Turner was born in Colchester, Del-
aware Co., N. Y., January 14, 1799. His father
died when he was two years of age ; his mother
when he was fourteen. He was adopted by
Mr. and Mrs. Powers at eleven years of age.
Mr. Powers purchased a farm in Martin, Sar-
atoga Co., N. Y., upon which he labored for
nine years. In 1819, he married Miss Martha
Volentine, formed a copartnership with Joshua
Parmelee, who had married the twin sister of
his bride. They successfully prosecuted the

agricultural labors upon the Volentine farm for
five years. In 1835, Mr. Turner embarked in
railroad enterprise ; he first contracted to build
seven miles of the Ransom & Saratoga Railroad.
In the same year, he constructed a part of the
New York & Erie Railroad. In this work he
continued until the crisis of 1837, then he en-
gaged in the work of building the Genesee
Valley Canal. In 1841, he contracted to grade
seven miles of the Troy & Schenectady Rail-
road. In 1843, he came to Chicago, and in
1847, was appointed Acting Director of the
Galena & Chicago Union Railroad Company,
which had been chartered in 1836. In 1848, he
accompanied B. W. Raymond to New York,
and by his previous experience in railroad
building, and having examined the surveyed
route of the Galena & Chicago Railroad, aided
very much in the sale of the bonds and stock of
the Galena & Chicago Railroad ; work com-
menced March, 1848, and track laid to Free-
port, 121 miles. In 1853, the Dixon Air Line
was commenced, and the same year he organ-
ized the Beloit & Madison Railroad Company.
He resigned the Presidency of Galena, Chicago
& Northwestern Railroad Company. In 1858,
as a citizen of Chicago, he was not forgetful of
her local prospects and interests ; was a Direc-
tor in Boards of Water Commissioners ; organ-
ized the North Side Horse Railroad Company.
His wife, mother of his six children,, died in
1853. Two years after, he married Miss Ade-
line Williams. Among the many whose names
Chicago is proud to honor and perpetuate, none
are more deserving than that of John B. Turner,
with a record of more than seventy years, and
a character unstained by the many corruptions
of the present age. His declining years were
spent amid the sunshine of life, sincerely
mourned by his many friends, among whom
he was universally respected and beloved. He
died on the 26th day of February, 1871.

Many years before it was supposed that a

thriving village was to spring up here, the

264

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

land on which it now stands had been taken up
in claims by settlers expecting to make farms
of it.

The claim covering the present village was
brought by Capt. Alonzo Harvey. Among the
early residents at or near the place were James
Conley, from Mount Morris, N. Y., who is still
a citizen of the town. Sherman Winslow was
his nearest neighbor to the east. Next in the
same direction was George W. Easton. Job A.
Smith, Thomas Brown and William Ribley
were not far away in the same direction.

South of him were Warren Towne and Will-
iam Bailey, and north, John Barre.

When the railroad came through the place
in 1849, Michael McDonald came from Chicago
and opened a general store, but subsequently
sold out to his brother Joseph, who in turn
sold the same to Joel Wiant in the spring of
1857. The place at this date, says Mr. Wiant,
consisted only of a post office, kept by C. D.
Smith; a blacksmith shop, by Mr. Foster; a
doctor's office and about two hundred inhabit-
ants all told.

James M. Dale was station agent. Mr. Con-
ley, in 1848, bought eighty acres of land where
the graded school now stands, for $3 per acre,
which is now worth $10 a front foot in lots.

Mr. A. Archer owned ninety-six acres near
the center of the town. He did not like rail-
roads, and refused either to give or even to sell
the right of way through it, but would sell the
whole tract for $530.00. The railroad company
bought it ; a few years later it became worth
from $200 to $300 per lot.

The Galena & Chicago Union Railroad Com-
pany platted the town, and recorded it Sep-
tember 29, 1855.

It is situated on the northwest quarter of
Section 10, Township 39, Range 9, and its ele-
vation above Lake Michigan is 182 feet. By
the last census the village contained 1,125 in-
habitants, having attained these numbers not
by a spasmodic but a steady growth.

The machine shops and other buildings of
the Chicago & North- Western Railroad Com-
pany consist of a freight-house, built in 1856;
two water tanks, one built in 1862, the other in
1865; round-house, built in 1864; rail mill and
depot, both built in 1869; junction round-
house and repairs shops, repairs engine tools
and machinery; at rail mill, rails are cut,
straightened, drilled and reslotted; twent}'-
horse power engine at round-house, and em-
ploys thirty-two men; at rail mill, uses forty-
horse power engine, and employs eleven men.
Foreman of shop and rail mill, David Hanney.

SCHOOLS OP TURNER JUNCTION.

Its pioneer school was taught in a log house
situated on property now owned by E. Carey.
Miss Sarah Carter was its first teacher, but in
1856 school was kept in a small building
standing on the spot now occupied by the Con-
gregational Church, when Miss Arvilla Currier
taught. She is now the wife of Charles M.
Clark, a well-known citizen of the place. The
next year a two story schoolhouse was built on
North street, in the eastern part of the town,
in which the school was continued for sixteen
3 T ears. When the present building for the
graded school was finished, which was in 1873,
John Tye, William Ripley and Charles M. Clark
were Directors, and also constituted the build-
ing committee. The entire cost of the build-
ing was $23,502.50. It contains four rooms —
being one for each department ; a recitation
room, a library room and lecture room in the
basement.

The course of study includes only English
branches, but classical and foreign languages
are taught outside of the regular course.

Miss H. F. Yakeley has been Principal for
seven years. Miss Lizzie Davis, Miss Addie
Everden, Miss Louisa Anthony and Miss
Annie Lockwood are the names of the teachers.

Under the charge of the Principal, the school
has won distinction in the county for its good

WINFIELD TOWNSHIP.

265

discipline. And here it is due to its credit to
state that Mr. Clark, who has been Director
ever since 1872, gives Miss Yakeley credit for
managing the school with so much discretion
as to leave him little care to distract his atten-
tion from his daily routine of other responsi-
bilities. It is also due to the credit of Miss
Emma Davies, who formerly had charge of the
Primary Department, to say that her system of
training and gymnastic drilling of the little
ones under her charge won the admiration of
all who beheld it. The School Board of
Rockford, who came to the place to witness it,
pronounced hers the best drilled class in the
State.

A library of 300 volumes has been provided
for the school, from the proceeds of its exhibi-
tions. The average attendance is about 250,
from an enrollment of 300.

CHURCHES.

Methodist Episcopal Church. — " Just when the
church at Turner was built the records do not
show, but believed to have been during 1857
and 1858. The parsonage was built some ten
years later.

" In all this work Charles Gary was a leading
spirit. His house was a preaching place in
1835. He was many years a class leader ;
March 23, 1850, licensed to preach ; four years
later, assistant preacher ; and in 1861 ordained
Deacon. To his long and faithful services, as
much as to any other, is due the establishment
of Turner Methodist Episcopal Church.

" Most of the fathers have passed to their re-
ward. As far as we can learn, only Erastus
Gary and Edward D. Wheedon remain of those
who composed the quarterly conference of the
original Du Page Circuit.

" Turner now stands in the front rank of vil-
lage churches on Chicago District. During the
last year, 123 different names were on her reg-
ister, twenty-one were baptized and $198.58
contributed for benevolent purposes."

Rev. William H. Holmes is the present pas-
tor of the church. He has recently written a
"History of Early Methodism in Du Page
County and Adjacent Territory," from which
the above sketch has been copied verbatim.

German M. E. Church. — The Methodist Epis-
copal Church of the Germans was organized in
the spring of 1864 by about a dozen men. Rev.
John G. Keller came from Aurora to preach
every Sunday, services being held in the Ger-
man language at the Methodist Church already
organized by the American portion of the
community, where English services were
held.

The name of the present pastor is Jacob
Shafer, who resides also in Aurora, and preaches
once in two weeks in the German language to
this church, in the house owned by their Amer-
ican brethren.

German Evangelical Church. — The German
Evangelical Protestant Church was established
in the summer of 1870, and the church edifice
finished the same j^ear. Mr. John M. Faessler
was appointed on the building committee, in
connection with Rev. Julius Schumm.

Mr. Schumm was pastor nearly two years
when he was succeeded by Rev. Gustave Koch.
He was succeeded by Rev. Jacob Furrer, who
remained nearly two years, when the pulpit was
supplied for about a year by theological stu-
dents from the Melancthon College in Elmhurst.
Rev. Fredrick Boeber was the next ordained
pastor, who remained about a year. Rev. Hen-
rich Wolf came next, and remained about three
years, and was succeeded by Rev. William Hat-
tendorf, the present pastor.

The church is out of debt and in a flourish-
ing situation.

A parsonage was built in 1881 and a German
school in attachment to it. The school is taught
b} _ the minister.

Congregational Church. — On May 17, 1856,
this church was organized with the following
members : Dr. J. McConnell, John L. Haga-

266

HISTORY OF DU PAQE COUNTY.

done, Margaret Hagadone, Mary Town. Rev.
Lot Church as pastor, assisted by the Rev. Mr.
Watkins from Vermont, adopting the Constitu-
tion, Discipline and Articles of Faith of the
Fox River Union, Dr. J. McConnell and J. L.
Hagadone its first Deacons. The next minister
called was Rev. Mr. Champlin, who preached
off and on until the church was re-organized
March 30, 1867, finding at that time only
seven members remaining, and all of them
females. A meeting was called by the Rev. J.
E. Roy, who was then acting as Home Mission-
ary, for the purpose of organizing and building
a church on the lot given by J. B. Turner,
where the present church remains at present,
with the following members : W. J. Wilson,
Mrs. H. M. Nelson, Mr. Esbon Morrill and wife,
Mrs. Charlotte Delton, Dr. H. C. French, Msr.
Julia A. French, making in all fourteen mem-
bers. Steps were then taken to build a house
of worship, Rev. J. E. Roy supplying the pul-
pit, preaching in the Methodist Episcopal
Church until the church was built, which was
dedicated March 8, 1868, out of debt. Rev. J.
D. Davis was called from the Chicago Semi-
nary, who preached six months during vaca-
tion (was then a student), after which Rev. I.
B. Smith was called, and preached about two
years. The Rev. A. R. Thain was called, and
preached three years. Rev. Mr. Fox was the
next pastor, who preached one year. After
that, the Rev. H. M. Skeels was called, and
preached five years. The present pastor is
Rev. E. L. Hill. The church has a member-
ship of eighty members, with the present offi-
cers, T. Brown, C. K. Sanders and E. Boynton,
Trustees ; Watson and Manvill, Deacons ; W.
J. Wilson, Clerk, with a large Sunday school of
over one hundred members, with a good libra-
ry, and the following officers : W. J. Wilson,
Superintendent ; R. T. Robinson, Assistant ;
T. Evendon, Librarian ; J. Grove, Clerk ; Mrs.
C. K. Sanders, Treasurer. — W. J. Wilson,
Church Clerk.

CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Services are held once in two weeks by Rev.
Dominick Spellman, who resides at Aurora.

LODGES.

Amity Lodge No. 472, A., F. & A. M., was
chartered October 3, A. D. 1866, A. L. 5866.

Charter Members : John H. Lakey, Joseph
McConnell, Richard W. Bushnell, Joel Wiant,
H. H. Ketcham, John Mc Williams, John Tye,
F. F. Loveland, J. Newbarger, William Ripley.
Jr., M. Fessler, A. H. Wiant, G. McAuley and
Thomas Wiant. The following brethren were
installed as the officers at that time. John H.
Lakey, W.M.; Joseph McConnell, S. W.; Rich-
ard W. Bushnell, J. W.

After -changing places of meeting several
times, this lodge finally secured a nicely-fitted
and well-adorned hall in Casper Voll's brick
block, which was subsequently destroyed by
fire, the lodge losing everything, but were
happily insured for money enough to enable
them to furnish another hall on a more limited
scale, but comfortable and convenient, with all
the requisite appurtenances. The present offi-
cers are G. M. D. Gregory, W. M.; James T.
Hosford, S. W.; Robert T. Robertson, J. W.;
Lyman C. Clark, Chaplain ; Henry Bradley,
Treasurer ; Wiliiam P. Reed, Secretary ; John
McWilliams, S. D.; Joseph A. Norris, J. D.;
George Cary, S. S.; James Funston, J. S.; Ed-
ward Morgan, Tiler.

LIST OF BUSINESS MEN AND HOUSES.

Thomas Hosford, Mayor.
John C. Neltner, general store.
Wiant & Stevens, general store.
J. E. West, general store.
Reed & Stark, general store.
Charles Norris, furniture.
0. C. Woodworth, groceries.
Prof. Crossman, groceries.
T. V. Otis, hardware and tin.
C. W. Gary, hardware and tin.

WINFIELD TOWNSHIP.

267

Mrs. George Briggs, restaurant.

Clinton Neltner, restaurant and bakery.

Thomas Barfleld, restaurant.

Mrs. F. Coart, milliner and dressmaking.

Miss S. Dempsey, milliner and dressmaking.

L. Kenspergher, shoemaker.

Charles J. Schlupp, shoemaker.

Joseph Schalz, shoemaker.

Frederick Thoro, saloon.

Crist Wahl, saloon.

Mrs. Hahn, saloon.

Frank Whitton, butcher.

Charles Gorham, stock-buyer.

Abram Pierson, stock-buyer.

Weger & Bradly, graiu and stock-buyers.

Benjamin Howarth, livery and sale stable.

John Sargent, livery and sale stable.

John E. Standize, farm machinery, etc.

Charles Clark, lumber, coal, lime, salt, etc.

Frederick Weger, jeweler.

Henry Boyer, barber.

Joseph Brown, barber.

William Ripley, hotel.

David Springer, hotel.

Benjamin Whitmarsh, boarding house.

E. T. Wilcox, ptrysiciau and surgeon.

A. C. Cotton, physician and surgeon.

G. L. Madison, physician and surgeon.

E. L. Hill, Congregational pastor.
W. H. Holmes, Methodist pastor.
William Hottendorf, German Evangelical

Church pastor.
Father Dominick Spellman, Catholic priest.
Conrad Jaeger, blacksmith.
Charles Jourdon, blacksmith.

F. A. Elsemis, wagon-maker.
Herain Vergil, carpenter and joiner.
Albert Hills, carpenter and joiner.
John Norris & Son, carpenter and joiner.
Robert Norris, carpenter and joiner.
Augustus Norris, carpenter and joiner.
Henry Keller, carpenter and joiner.
Anthony Deitch, carpenter and joiner.
Anthony Gertz, carpenter and joiner.

James Fisk, carpenter and joiner.

M. Kipp, carpenter and joiner.

Nelson H. Lyon, painter and glazier.

William Foster, painter and glazier.

Crist Wahl, Jr., painter and glazier.

John Groves, painter and glazier.

Charles Goodin, painter and glazier.

John C. Neltnor, nurseryman, etc.

D. Wilson, glove and mitten manufacturer.

Andrew Murphy, stone and brick mason.

John S. Barber, stone and brick mason.

Frank Donehoe, stone and brick mason.

John Almindinger, stone and brick mason.

Dr. W. J. Wilson, general insurance agent.

L. C. Clark, life insurance agent.

Albert Wiant, Government gauger.

L. H. Manville, mail agent.

John E. West, music teacher, etc.

James Lenwyck, railroad blacksmith.

Thomas McGraw, railroad blacksmith.

S. P. Tillotson, railroad carpenter.

M. A. Heiser, boiler-maker.

Robert Robertson, machinist.

John Maiden, machinist.

John Neibergher, machinist.

Capt. D. Hull, machinist.

Cheese factory, 5,000 pounds of milk re-
ceived daily; 400 pounds of cheese and 150
pounds of butter made daily. John Newman,
proprietor.

TURNER RESIDENTS DOING BUSINESS IN CHI-
CAGO.

Albert Wiant, Government gauger.

L. H. Manville, mail agent.

L. C. Clark, life insurance agent.

Clarence Bradty, clerk.

Henry Boyer, Jr., clerk.

D. Ahern, salesman.

John McWilliams, salesman.

Dr. A. Colton, physician, etc.

John E. West, music teacher.

N. Allen.

C. K. Saunders.

•■><•>*

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

PUBLICATIONS.

The Fruit and Flower Grower and Vegetable
Gardener, published quarterly, three numbers
in one, by John C. Neltner, Turner Junction,
111.

Turner Junction News, published weekly, by
J. Russell Smith.

WINFIELD.

This town grew up as a station on the old
Galena & Chicago Union Railroad, which
passed through the place in 1849, and John
Hodges was the first station agent. A store
was soon after opened at the place, by Andrew
Vandusen, who also kept a tavern. January
25, 1853, a plat of the village, made by James
P. Doe, was recorded as the village of Frede-
ricksburg, situate upon Sections 12 and 13,
Town 39, Range 9. The present depot was
built in 1854, at which time there was an ex-
tensive brewery at the place, and a lumber
yard — the latter kept by John Collins. Much
freight at that time came to and from the place,
to and from Naperville, it being their nearest
railroad point. Gilbert S. Higgins is the pres-
ent Postmaster ; Adalbert Jewell, station agent,
and the following are the names of the present
business firms, etc. :

General stores, George Fehrman & Son ; M.
Hills.

Tavern, John Casper.

Insurance agent and Notary Public, Jacob
Miller.

Tailor, Nicholas Berker.

Blacksmith, Henry Hamschmidt.

Carpenter, William Hastert.

Wagon-maker, Valentine Weinrich.

Boot and shoe-maker, Anton Schmitt.

Winfield Creamery, consumes 6,000 pounds
of milk, manufactures 120 pounds of butter and
425 pounds of cheese daily on an average.

Parish priest, Rev. John Wiedenhold.

Church of St John the Baptist. — This church
was built in 1867 by the people of Winfield. It
was first attended to by one of the Benedictine
Fathers, from St. Joseph's Church, Chicago,
until 1869, March 1. After this date, Rev.
Father John Wiederhold was appointed as pas-
tor of this church, who keeps the pulpit there
up to this time. The parish numbered, at its
beginning, about thirty families, but at present
the number is about eighty-five. In course of
time, the church, being only 45x30 feet long and
twenty-seven feet high, became too small for the
still growing congregation, and in 1879 they
found it necessary to enlarge the church to the
extension of 100 feet. In February, 1880, it
was completed, and duly blessed on the 2d of
that month by Very Rev. J. McMullen.

CHAPTER XIV.

WAYNE TOWNSHIP — PIONEER LIFE OF ITS SETTLERS — CORNER ON WHISKY AND ITS RESULT-
INDIAN BURIAL — INDIAN IMPORTUNITY — WOLVES ON THE RAMPAGE — GOING TO
MILL— FATHER KIMBALL — PIONEER SCHOOL— GIMLETVILLE— ITS HOPES
DASHED TO THE GROUND — HILLOCKS, SPAS AND RIVULETS
—WAYNE STATION — RELICS OF THE STONE AGE.

THREE years before the battle of Tippe-
canoe was fought by Gen. Harrison, Rob-
ert Y. Benjamin was born. His father, Daniel
Benjamin was a brave old pioneer who had set-
tled on the north side of the Little Scioto Riv-
er, in Ohio, opposite where Columbus now is,

and here was the place* then amidst Indian
alarms and the rough-and-tumble conditions of
border life, where he raised his family, one of
whom, Robert Y., is now a citizen of Wayne —
the first who came to the place and settled — in
mind and body still sound, and seventy-four.

WAYNE TOWNSHIP.

269

Daniel Benjamin, the father, with his four sons
— Andrew, John Joseph and Robert Y. — and
about ten other families, all came to the place
together with their own teams, from Ohio, ar-
riving at what is now Wayne on the 12th of
Ma}, 1834. All these families, except the
Benjamins and Joseph Vale, whose family was
one of the party, settled on the Fox River.
But Robert Y. was attracted to the place where
he still lives by the famous spring that gushes
out of the ground from beneath the shadow of
the beautiful grove at the place, and there he
set down his stakes ; moreover, he says his wife
was tired of traveling and liked the location.
This is a point in favor of female counsel,
and poorer ones have been made in favor of
female suffrage, for Mr. Benjamin and his wife
made a success of their attempt.

The rest of the family settled not far distant,
on claims from nature's amplitude of prairie
and grove as free as it was inviting. Besides
the Benjamin's Mr. Vale also settled, a little to
the west of them. Among the necessities which
he brought to the new country in his wagon
was a barrel of whisky (a questionable one) of
which Mr. Benjamin says he never gave away a
drop. He was the only one of the company
who laid in a stock of this emollient, and ma}'
be regarded as the first monopolist that ever
practiced that modern art in Wayne. Here he
he had a corner on whisky, and shortly after the
settlement of the place, a band of 300 Pottawat-
omies came to the grove and encamped. He
was now bull in the whisky market, having it
all his own way. At whatever price he sold it,
Mr. Banjamin says, a riot among the Indians
was soon manifest, and one of their number
was killed.

Next came the interment of the fallen sav-
age. He was dressed up in his best blanket
and leggings, and placed in a sitting position on
the ground, his body erect, his head upright
and ornate with feathers. Thus tableaued his
friends cut some saplings from the grove and

built a pen around him, cob house fashion, and
left him provided with a bow and arrow, and
an extra pair of leggings for future use in the
happy hunting grounds. His frail tomb was on
Mr. Benjamin's land and was frequently visited
by him out of curiosity. He did not disturb
the corpse

" In the grave where an Indian had laid him,"

but the prairie wolves had no respect for In-
dian rites, and soon pressed between the poles
that illy protected his clay, and made many a
late supper from it under cover of night. Sub-
sequently the Vale boys set the skull up for a
target to shoot at. The wolves carried away
the rest of the bones to their lair for Christmas
toys for their j'oung whelps to play with.

" Alas, poor Yorick !"

Mr. Giles Billings and John Laughlin came
to the settlement the following autumn, and
soon after him John Rinehardt, Mr. Simpson
and Patrick Scott. The next year, 1835, an
officer appeared at Mr. Benjamin's house ; he
was from an obscure town in the east, named
Chicago, the same slab city through which Mr.
Benjamin had passed the year before, and had
then failed to attract his favorable notice, but
now the place was coming up in the scale. A
grand jury was to be impaneled there, and Mr.
Benjamin was wanted to sit as one of its mem-
bers. The officer served the summons, mount-
ed his horse and vanished in the tall prairie
grass, and Mr. Benjamin set about getting
ready to obey the call. The next morning he
started on foot, keeping his course due east by
the compass. The soil was spongy, and noon
found him toiling through the trackless flats
that border the east margin of Salt Creek. He
was hungry, but relief soon came. It was roast
potatoes and a cup of tea, on which he dined at
the hospitable home of Maj. Giles, who lived
two miles west of the Desplaines River, with
his latch string always hanging on the outside
of the door. This was the only house on his
way to Chicago, along what was then known

270

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

as the St. Charles trail. On Mr. Benjamin's
return he took the precaution to fill his pockets
with ginger snaps or some other kinds of bak-
er)' delectables, which Chicago had then begun
to make for Indian traffic or hungry footmen,
who had long stretches of prairie marsh to
cross.

Of other settlers whose pioneer experiences
represented the times, were the families of Solo-
mon Dunham and Edmund Bartlett.

Both were from the State of New York, and
both arrived at Chicago in company with each
other, on the 24th of March, 1835, in their own
teams all the way. Here they rented a small
house on Randolph street, not far from the
store of Mr. Dale, the pioneer store-keeper of
Chicago. The house was a log cabin, with but
one room, over which was a loft, reached by a
ladder through an aperture in its loosely laid
floor. Into this cabin, the two families were
crowded as a temporary abode, while the two
heads of them — Mr. Dunham and Mr. Bartlett
— started with the team westward to hunt up a
location on which to settle.

Mrs. Dunham had two children, and Mrs.
Bartlett six, making, with themselves, ten in
the family after their husbands had started on
their mission. The two men threaded their
winding way around the sloughs till they reached
the fertile prairies on the fringe of the timber
that skirts the eastern banks of Fox River, just
west, of the present site of Wayne Station, and
here they each bought claims to lands. Mr.
Bartlett still lives on the same now ; but Mr.
Dunham died in 1865. Having set their stakes
here, the two pioneers returned to their families
in Chicago ; paid up the rent of their wretched
tenement ($1.25 for the ten days they had
occupied it), and all started together for their
new homes. On arriving there, the first thing
to be done was to build a house, and, of course,
a log house, for they had neither means nor
material to build a frame ; and Mrs. Bartlett
says the one she and her family lived in was

very small. The bed was in one corner, and
the fire-place in one end, with the chimney out-
side, and yet she sometimes played the hostess
to travelers overnight, who managed to find a
spot on the floor not occupied by trundle beds,
on which they could stretch out full length,
with perhaps a horse saddle for a pillow, or
some other makeshift.

The first year the) 7 raised nothing, and Mr.
Bartlett was obliged to go to Chicago with his
team for provisions, a trip which required three
days' time. While thus left alone, except with
the children, one night an Indian came to her
door, entered without knocking, according to
their custom, and threw his baggage down in
one corner of the room, " Me stay all night !
Me good Indian ! Me no hurt you !" said
the red intruder, and all her entreaties could
not dissuade him from his purpose. Mrs. Bart-
lett had to accept the situation, and laid down
on her bed, while her red guest snoozed himself
to sleep, not ten feet away from her.

He was a good Indian who wanted a night's
rest, and why should ■ he sleep outdoors when
there was a house to sleep in, reasoned the hon-
est child of nature ; and let us be charitable
enough toward him to believe that had he un-
derstood the improprieties of his demands as
civilians do, he would not have insisted on
lodging in the house when a woman was alone
in it. On another occasion, when Mrs. Bartlett
was also alone, a young red rascal came rush-
ing into her cabin, crying out, " Bad Indian
coming ! Kill ! " and immediately fled into the
adjacent grove. Sure enough there were five
Indians rapidly approaching her house, on the
well-frequented Indian trail that passed it, as
hard as they could gallop on their ponies. On
arriving, the)' could easily see that she was ter-
rified at their presence, and the first thing they
did was to allay her fears by pulling off some
of their trinkets and giving them to her chil-
dren, and otherwise exhibiting tokens of kind-
ness. This done, they inquired for the first

WAYNE TOWNSHIP.

271

Indian who had visited her, and she told them
the course he had taken, and that he had called
them bad Indians. At this they laughed heart-
ily, and informed her that they were following
him to get a pony he had stolen. They then
left in hot pursuit of the fugitive. Sometimes
large numbers of Indians would encamp near
the house and remain a day or two, but never
did an} r harm, except to sometimes take what
salt they wanted to eat wherever they could
find it ; but to do them justice, Mrs. Bartlett
says that if they ever took any they soon
brought its equivalent in value in fish caught
from the Fox River or venison shot from the
groves, and many a quarter of this delicious
meat did the Indians present her family. The
Indians were very fond of Mrs. Bartlett's bread,
and one day, seeing two loaves of it on her
table, took one of them, and gave her a butcher
.knife in return, saying at the same time, " Me
got two knives, you got two loaves. Me give
you one knife and take one loaf." She found
the knife very useful, and kept it many years.
Mrs. Bartlett said nothing against the Indians,
but felt glad when the}' were removed. The
country was alive with wolves for the first
few years, and they continually came howling
around the house like thieving dogs after
bones, and it was no unusual thing for them
to come to her door at night and quarrel
together over bacon rinds or other food thrown
out.

The early settlers here took their first corn to
mill at Bailey Hobson's grist-mill, near Naper-
ville, usually carrying it in a bag slung across
the back of a horse.

It was a lonesome way, and the wolves often
followed the horse and rider all the way home,
if late in the evening ; and sometimes, if they
came too close, the rider took out one of the
stirrups of the saddle to defend himself with
in case of an attack, which weapon would be
quite effective for close quarters, the iron stir-
rup with the straps attached to it working like

a slung-shot. On one occasion, one of the early
settlers, late in the afternoon, while returning
from some distant place with his horses and
wagon, was followed by a pack of these hungry
prowlers, who actually tried to leap into the
hind end of his wagon, and might have done it
had he not repelled their charge with his whip.
There are yet a few of these animals sneaking
about in the groves adjacent, and six of them
were killed in 1881.

In the spring succeeding the first winter
spent at this new settlement, there was a great
want of potatoes, and one of the settlers was
sent with a team to the Wabash River in Indi-
ana, to get seed to plant, which was the nearest
place where they could be bought. During
their first year at the place, they had been de-
prived of this healthful- esculent, and when
they finally got a supply, no table delicacy
could be more delicious. Daniel and Mark
Dunham, both now well-known residents of the
vicinity, are sons of Solomon Dunham, who
came with Mr. Bartlett, but, as before stated,
Mr. Solomon Dunham is not living, and Mr.
Bartlett, though living, feels the effect of eighty-
one 3'ears, and has forgotten much of his long
and eventful life, but his wife is in the full vigor
of her mental and physical powers, though the
mother of ten children, and a monument of the
health-giving air of Du Page County, and to
her is the writer indebted for the foregoing
pioneer reminiscences. Ira Albro, a present
resident of Wayne, came to where he now lives
in the autumn succeeding the arrival of Mr.
Dunham and Mr. Bartlett, and shared the laud-
able ambitions with the toils of pioneer life
with the peers of his age.

Samuel Brand, Mr. Styles, Mr. Whaples
(father of Mrs. F. Hull, of Wheaton), Daniel
Roundy (uncle of Capt. Roundy, of Winfield),
Samuel Talmadge, the Whittacres, the Ker-
shaws, Mr. Hemingway, W. Hammond, Ezra
Gilbert, J. V. King, Charles and Wesley Gra}-,
Reuben Walpole, Joseph Davis, W. Farnsworth,

272

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

Joseph McMillen (who established the first post
office at the place at McMilleu's Grove, Daniel
Lyman, John Smith (father of Mrs. Colvin, of
Wheaton), Luther F. Sanderson, Horace Reed,
Aaron Wood, James McCabe, Mr. Hilling
(who subsequently died of cholera at St.
Charles), Orin Higgins, Thomas Morgan, Lu-
ther Pierce, Joel Wiant and James Davis all
came to the settlement between the years 1 835
and 1837.

In the latter part of 1837, William Kimball,
a native of Vermont, came to the place. He
was a Methodist class leader and preacher " to
the manner born," and here was a field for his
clerical learning. He built a log cabin for a
family domicile ; but, in default of any other
place for divine worship, it became also a rally-
ing place from whence to dispense the Gospel,
and thither settlers gathered, even from five or
six miles distant on foot, on horseback, and
with ox teams, to hear Father Kimball preach.
He, with the assistance of his neighbors, built
a log schoolhouse the next year, which served
also for a church, thereby giving the family of
Elder Kimball, consisting of a wife and eleven
children, more sea-room at home on Sundays.
John Kershaw, brother of A. Kershaw, of
Wayne, was the first male teacher in this pio-
neer temple of science, and Miss Julia Talmadge
was the first female teacher. She now lives in
Aurora, the wife of Mr. Weaver.

It was an event of no small magnitude when
this school was established, and its reputation
might be envied by some of our modern col-
leges. It was a subscription school, and was
patronized for a radius of four or five miles,
some distant ones taking board near by to avail
themselves of its teachings. This settlement
then belonged to the Du Page Circuit, as the
Methodists had named it. After the original
Fox River Circuit had been divided into two.
Elder Wilcox was the first circuit preacher sent
here by the Presiding Elder, and Rev. — . Gad-
ding the second. Rut before either of these

came, Father Kimball had led the way as al-
ready stated.

The first hopes of a village in this region
found a rallying point at Wayne Centre. Will-
iam K. Guild, now a citizen of Wheaton, settled
there in 1839. The incipient town was on the
old army trail, and the land around was at-
tractive. A store was opened at the place by
Abner Guild and James A. Nind, in 1844,
and, the inevitable blacksmith shop, by
John Sherman, about the same time, who
was succeeded in the muscular art by E.
Eckhart.

Wayne Centre had by this time outgrown her
nickname of Gimletville, and the prospect was
reasonable that she might become a moderate
sized village, like her nearest neighbor to the
south— Naperville. Under this impression, she
must have a church. According^, one was
organized, first as a branch' of the St. Charles
Church, which was Congregational, that being
the religion that most of the settlers had brought
with them to the place. It became an inde-
pendent organization soon afterward, and held
services in the schoolhouse till 1852, at which
time they had completed a church of their
own, its membership numbering thirty. Rev.
Ebenezer Raymond was their first settled
pastor, who was succeeded by Rev. L. E.
Sykes. Rev. E. W. Kellogg was the next
pastor, who was succeeded by his son, L. H.
Kellogg.

The influence of the railroad which pierces
the central portions of the county was now
fully demonstrated. It had been running three
years, and while towns on its line were growing,
those remote from it were decaying. Under
these discouragements, the church in Wayne
was sold and removed to a society in Rartlett,
just over the line in Cook County, in 1879,
and Wayne Centre preserves nothing of its
early hopes but its name.

The township of Wayne is in the extreme
northwestern part of the county, and is known

WAYNE TOWNSHIP.

273

by Congressional description as Township 40,
Range 9. Its surface is quite diversified, being
rather more uneven than that of any other
township in the county. It has a large num-
ber of living springs, several small groves of
timber and many transplanted trees and or-
chards, giving its whole area the appearance of
a timbered country.

The West Fork of the Du Page River has its
main source in the northeastern corner of the
township, and waters its eastern portions, but
a small head tributary of this stream flows from
Bloom ingdale. The little inlets and springs
from which this stream is made up are nu-
merous, and present a pleasing landscape as
they creep along beneath a tangle of vegetation
toward the larger channel, which is more con-
stant here, near its fountain-head, than it is
farther down in extreme low water. A saw-
mill was erected on it, on Section 14, by Jonas
Blank in 1849, who died with typhoid fever
soon afterward.

The farms are large, and those who own
them may generally be called wealthy. Fine
blooded cattle, horses and sheep are a specialty
with them, but milk and the dairy business is
a growing interest.

The Chicago & St. Paul Railroad touches its
northeastern corner, and the Chicago & North-
western Railroad passes through its southwest-
ern portions, and from the elevations of their
tracks, reported by the engineers of the two
roads, the average elevation of the surface of
the township above Lake Michigan is estimated
by the writer to be about one hundred and
seventy feet.

By the school report of 1882, it has eight
school districts and 351 persons between the
ages of six and twenty -one years, of whom 218
are enrolled in school lists. Its contiguity to
Elgin makes villages unnecessary in the town-
ship, and there are none except a small one
named Wayne Station, on the Chicago & North-
western Railway.

It sprang into existence when the railroad
passed through in 1849, at which place Solo-
mon Dunham was the first Postmaster, and
Egbert Adams opened the first store, which
was in the same building now occupied by H.
Campbell.

The following lists show the business men in
the place, in 1870 and 1882 :

BUSINESS MEN OF WAYNE IN 1870.

Dry goods and groceries, Campbell &
Brother, Adam M. Glos.

Carriage factory, John Arndt.

Boots and shoes, Hiram Adams.

Blacksmiths, Vincent Smith, Hasbrook Lo-
zier.

Tin and hardware, James Campbell.

Pressed hay, Case & Arndt.

Postmaster and station agent, A. D. Trull.

BUSINESS MEN OP WAYNE IN 1882.

Dry goods and groceries, Adam M. Glos,
H. Campbell.

Wagons and carriages, John Arndt.

Boot and shoe maker, Peter Carlson.

Blacksmiths, William Eggleston and Has-
brook Lozier.

Tin shop, James Campbell.

Station agent, H. W. Hubbard.

Postmaster, A. D. Trull.

American Express Agent, Adam M. Glos.

Justice of the Peace, Adam M. Glos.

Cheese factory, three miles east of station,
owned by C. W. Gould, of Elgin.

It is due to science to state that Adam M.
Glos has been collecting Indian relics for the
past thirty years in Du Page and Kane Coun-
ties, a great many from Wayne, W infield and
Naperville Townships, which consists of stone
arrows, all sizes and patterns ; also stone axes
in great variety, and many other relics of the
stone age. Mr. Glos has explored a great
man}' mounds along the Fox River Valley,
none being found in Du Page County.

274

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

There is a Congregational Church at Wayne
Station, for which thanks are due to William
Sayer.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

This was organized February 18, 1871. Five
members withdrew their names from the Wayne
Centre Church, and with the aid of thirteen on
profession of faith it was organized, with a
membership of eighteen in number, as follows :
Simeon Barber, Hulda L. Barber, Albert W.
Moffatt, Alice Moffatt, Elizabeth Smith. By
profession : Julia Trull, Cordelia Pratt, Ro-
land Hall, Esther Hall, Rhoda Wolcott, Catha-
rine Dolph, Nancy Dolph, Harriett Lozier, Mary
Smith, John Arndt, Ellen Arndt, Janette Pix-
ley and Robert Carswell.

ONTARIOVILLE.

This is a station on the Chicago and St. Paul
Railroad, about one-half of which is in Wayne,
situated on Section 1.

It was platted by William Leesburg April
7, 1874. It affords excellent facilities for
shipping the produce of Wayne to Chicago,
especially milk, which is an increasing interest
in the vicinity. The following is a list of the
business men of the place :

E. Bartlett, station agent and lumber dealer.

M. Debker, Postmaster and general store.

Fred Freeman, blacksmith.

Fred Olendorf, general store.

C. Ackerman, cheese factory.

C. Humbrocht, hotel.

CHAPTER XV.

BLOOMINGDALE TOWNSHIP— INDIAN BURYING-GROUNDS— THE MEACHAMS— PIONEER BURIALS-
EARLY ROAD DISTRICTS— SCENE IN A SUNDAY SERVICE— TRAGICAL TERMINATION OF A
LAW SUIT — SCHOOL DISTRICTS —PETRIFACTIONS — BLOOMINGDALE VILLAGE-
CHURCHES— BUSINESS MEN OF BLOOMINGDALE— ROSELLE— ITS BUSINESS
MEN— MEACHAM— STRANGE PHENOMENON ON KELLEY'S FARM.

f| THIS is the central northern township of

Da Page County, situated in Township

40, Range 1. Its average elevation above
Lake Michigan is above that of any other
town in the county, as is shown by its being
the sources of both the forks of the Du Page
River, and also the source of a western tribu-
tary of Salt Creek.

Its general elevation above Lake Michigan
is estimated to be about 180 feet, except in
its lower portions. A beautiful grove occu-
pies the southern parts of Sections 10, 11
and 12 and the northern portions of Sections
13, 14 and a corner of 15. This grove at-
tracted the attention of the aboriginal inhab-
itants of the country as a refuge to fly to
during the nipping frosts of winter, and also

the heat of summer, and here they made
offerings to appease the supposed wrath of
the Great Spirit, and here their rights of
sepulture were devoutly performed in their
own barbaric way, evidences of which are
still extant and afford speculations for the
archaeologist. Their name for the grove was
Penneack, which in their tongue was the
name of an esculent root which they used Eor
food and which grew there. What the root
was the writer does not know. It might have
been ginseng. The Indians in their straits
have often lived on worse fare than this.
Whatever the root was, the Indians made an-
nual autumn harvests of it for two or three
years after white settlements had begun at
the place which was on the 11th day of

BLOOMINGDALE TOWNSHIP.

275

March, 1833, when Silas, Henry and Lyman
Meacham, three brothers from Rutland
County, Vt., built a log cabin there. They
had traversed the broad face of the country
that intervened between this spot and their
home with their own teams.

The ground was covered with snow, and
everything on the broad face of nature
around, except the grove, looked desolate and
forbidding, but here was a glad retreat and
here their stakes were set.

The Meachams were men of broad-gauge
charity — could fellowship their red neighbors
and lived on good terms with them for the
few years that they remained at the place
previous to their removal, and the trust and
confidence extended to them was never dis-
honored. Their nearest neighbors were the
settlements of Jude Gary, Lyman Butterfield
and H. T. Wilson, near the present corners
of Milton, Winfield and Lisle Townships —
a distance of about ten miles. The follow-
ing autumn after their first settlement, Mrs.
Lyman Meacham died. There was no ma-
terial at hand wherewith to make her coffin,
except the wagon box. This was taken apart,
and the boards of which it was made recon-
structed into a coffin to receive the remains
of her who had come to the place in the ve-
hicle, so soon to serve her for this last
purpose. In the autumn of the same year,
Maj. Skinner came to the new settlement,
and a young mechanic came with him, whose
name has not been preserved, but he died
shortly after his arrival, and was buried
in a coffin made of boards riven from a forest
tree and dressed with a plane.

The next years, 1834 and 1835, Daniel D.
Noble, Capt. E. Kinney, Isaac Kinney, Noah
Stevens, David Bangs, Elias Maynard and
Harry Woodworth came to the place. Cupid
came soon afterward as a regular immigrant
to settle in the country, and drove the first

stake of his claim through the heart of young
Noble, healing the wound by making a simi-
lar impression on Miss Sybil Stephens, and
the priest did the rest by the usual ceremo-
nial. No wedding cards were printed.

As settlements increased, public highways
were necessary. The old army trail road,
which passed along in its westerly course
south of the grove, was older than history,
for, when Scott's army traveled over it, the
track had hitherto been known as an Indian
trail, leading from Chicago to the great Win -
nebago village, where Beloit, Wis., now
stands. But this road only went in one di-
rection, and roads leading to neighboring
settlements were soon projected by the au-
thorities of Cook County, in which this set-
tlement then was. Road districts were laid
out, and this settlement and the settlements
at Warrenville were in the same district, un-
der the charge of an official who was called a
Roadmaster.

The neighbors all agreed pretty well to-
gether, but still the inexorable law demanded
that they must have a Justice of the Peace
to settle difficulties that might arise, and
Lyman Meacham was elected to this honor-
able office at their voting-place, which was
Elk Grove, about six miles to the northeast,
in the present town of the same name in Cook
County.

In 1836, Peter Northrup, now a resident of
Wheaton, came to the place, and the same
year Deacon Elijah Hough and family Ro-'
selle, one of his sons, since so widely known,
was then a youth of sixteen, and Cornelia A.,
his daughter, a girl of ten years. She is now
the wife of Hackaliah Brown, of Wheaton.

Moses B. Elliott came the same year, and
large numbers soon came in to avail them-
selves of the advantages of the healthy loca-
tion and cheap lands that abounded here,
among whom was L. E. Landon, now a citizen

276

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

of Wheaton, and Waters Northrup, now liv-
ing in Bloomingdale. Deacon Allen Hills
came in 1840, with his four sons — Erasmus
O. and Nubria, who are now living at Chicago;
Hileman, who still lives at Bloomingdale, and
H. B., who died at Wheaton in 1881. Be-
sides these was one daughter — Almeda, who
married T. R. Stevens, an early settler at the
place, and the same year Dr. Parker Sedg-
wick and S. P. Sedgwick, his son, now a
physician in Wheaton, and Hiram Cody,
father of Judge Cody, of Naperrille, came to
this settlement.

We have now a thriving colony of relig-
iously inclined men, among whom were two
Deacons, and, of course, divine services
promptly came in, and the following descrip-
tion of one of them, written by Mr. Bronson
Hills, and published, before his death, in the
Wheaton paper, is a spirited description of
one of them:

" Sunday was quite generally observed by
the settlers attending meeting at the little log
schoolhouse. We must go, of course, with
the rest to see what is done. * * The
• seats have no backs. They are made of logs
split and turned the flat side up, the face of
them bearing the marks of the ax with which
they were scored and hewed. Twenty or
thirty, including children, constitute the au-
dience, with an addition of about as many
dogs as men. Curiosity to see our new
neighbors is the principal item of interest
now, especially to see the young ladies. That
trim-looking girl, with large gray eyes and
jet black hair, is not handsome, but there is
something peculiar about her looks that in-
duces one to look that way again. * *
But it is meeting time. Call in your wan-
dering thoughts. The minister has come and
is reading the opening hymn. A. venerable
gray- haired man arises and announces 'Mear'
as the tune to be sung. He seems to be cast-

ing about for a key to the tune. He has no
tuning-fork, but very soon we hear a hum — m.
Satisfied he is right, he commences the
hymn; all join in singing with a gusto, when
lo! half way through the first line the leader
stops. The audience sing on, but he has
gone back for a better pitch, and, starting
the piece again, he is coming on with a
choir of one. The girls blush, the boys
giggle, the elderly and pious people trying
all the while to look grave. The situation
calls for a compromise. For the sake of
charity, the audience yield, go back and join
him, for his deafness was the cause of the
jargon. The sermon was passably interest-
ing, and was only disturbed by a dog fight or
two."

Every one familiar with pioneer life will
acknowledge the fidelity with which Mr. Hills
has described the early meetings, but there
was purpose in these first ministers, deacons
and laymen, not lacquered with pretentious
formula. Virtue had a high standard then,
but desperate motives, as if by some freak
of the moral law, lurked in the secret re-
cesses of a few moody hearts and soon cul-
minated in a scene of blood.

THE KENT TRAGEDY.

Dr. Meacham, the first settler at the pres-
ent site of Bloomingdale, in 1833, made a
claim on what became Sections 14 and 15,
built a house on Section 14, and leased both
sections to Milton Kent, who came to the
place in 1835 from the State of New York.
While Mr. K^nt held this lease, he had made
a claim in Sections 10 and 11, but erected
his buildings on the land he had leased of
Mr. Meacham. They consisted of a frame
house and barn designed for tavern-keeping,
occupying but a small portion of the leased
land, which portion Mr. Kent said that
Meacham had given him. Before the expira-

BLOOMINGDALE TOWNSHIP.

27?

tion of the lease, Mr. Kent had sold the
land, or rather, his claim to it, to George W.
Green, of Chicago.

At the expiration of the lease, which was
in 1837, Mr. Green demanded possession of
the property of Mr. Kent, which was refused.
As already stated, Kent had erected his tav-
ern buildings on the property, which, if not
at the time in dispute, was liable to be, inas-
much as he had only a lease of the premises.
Albeit, let it not been forgotten that none of
the parties yet held any claim to the property,
which the United States Government recog-
nized, but the State of Illinois had passed an
act guaranteeing to those who first took pos-
session of public lands and made improve-
ments on them, could hold them, provided
they paid for them at government price when
offered for sale.

Meacham now, in order to fulfill his con-
tract of sale with Green, was obliged to bring
a suit of ejectment against Kent, which he
did, and the court confirmed the title to
Meacham, who held the improvements, also,
that Kent had put on the land, consisting of
the tavern buildings.

The next thing was to dispossess Kent.
This was done in the spring of 1840 by the
Sheriff of Du Page County, who called in to
bis assistance several men, of whom Thomas
Muir, a young Scotchman living in the neigh-
borhood, was one. In giving the writer in-
formation of the affair, Mr. Muir speaks of
the two accomplished and beautiful daugh-
ters of Mr. Kent and the unpleasant task al-
lotted to him in removing their toilet furni-
ture from their rooms, they, meantime, pleas-
antly inviting him to join them in a game of
ball, but the law was inexorable, and he, im-
pervious to their attractions, obeyed the or.
ders of the Sheriff.

The ejected family now moved their goods
to a grove about thirty rods distant, and

piled up the furniture for a sort of wall and
overspread these walls with canvas to make
a temporary habitation. Night came on with
its glooms, and the Kents determined on ven-
geance.

Besides the father, who was a stanch
old man, F. L. Kent, his son, and James
Wakeman, who had married one of his daugh-
ters, and a Mr. Turnbull, who subsequently
married another of them, were all in council
together. A quit-claim was drawn up, ready
for Green to sign, and they intended to force
him to do it by violence, and to execute this
purpose appeared at his door the following
night, which was Saturday. Green had taken
immediate possession of the house from which
Kent had been driven, and here the battle
was to be fought First, one of them rapped
at the door to gain admission- This being
refused, the door was burst open. Green
was armed with a rifle, pistol and butcher
knife. The first weapon was fired off, but it
barely missed the neck of elder Kent. The
men were now in the house, and the elder
Kent grappled with Green. He snapped his
pistol at him, but the hammer in the scuffle
rubbed against his person and did not strike
the cap with sufficient force to explode it.
Next came the knife. Green stuck it into
Kent's heart, and he reeled back outdoors,
exclaiming, "I am a dead man! " Instantly
young Kent grappled with Green, but soon
he loosed his hold, for his antagonist thrust
the same dagger into his back that had just
killed the father. Green in his turn now re-
ceived a blow over the head with a pistol,
which brought him down and the conflict
ended. Young Kent was not dangerously
wounded. One of the party was left with
the old man, who was not vet dead, while the
other seized Green, conducted him to the
camp of the Kents, presented the quit-claim
to him and he signed it; he was then brought

278

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

back and left on the doorsteps of his house;
his wife had fled to the neighbors to give the
alarm, and they soon returned with her to
the late scene of conflict. Roselle Hough
helped dress the wounds of young Kent, and
others helped nurse Green. Happy would it
have been for Mrs. Green had her husband
been killed in the encounter, for he gave her
poison a few years later, and was tried and
condemned to be hung for the crime, but he
anticipated the hangman a few days by hang-
ing himself in his cell.

He is said by those who knew him to have
been totally depraved to all sense of right,
cruel to his wife, whom every one who knew
esteemed, and unmerciful to everybody.
That he once charged a spring with arsenic
and poisoned three innocent children to drive
their father away is well known, and Thomas
Muir, by mistake, became one of fhe victims
of this diabolical crime, barely escaping with
his life.

Good fellowship is almost always at flood
tide in all new counties. Leaving one's old
home for a new place where new associations
are to be made, stimulates better emotions in
average individuals and improves them in all
the social accomplishments that make up a
neighborhood. But there are some, even
among pioneers, who take council only with
sinister motives, and regard others with whom
they may come in contact as instruments by
which they may improve their own standing
pecuniarily, which to them is the only meas-
ure by which anything can be gauged. Any
consideration that cannot be measured by
money, or its equivalent, is a myth to them.
When two such persons are pitted against
each other, the result is always hostile.
Neither have learned how to offset aggressive
action with discriminative prudence, but act
only on impulses, and those selfish and evil
ones.

These unfortunate people generally mani-
fest about as much prudence as a hen that
attacks a bull dog in defense of her chickens,
or a partisan politician who often persists in
running for a courted office, when ordinary
reflection ought to convince him that the peo-
ple don't want him elected. When two such
persons are brought into relations with each
other, the result may be a tragedy, as it was
in this case. Neither of the men engaged in
it were accounted idiots, but yet it cannot be
denied that when men do common -place kind
of acts, or business, with as little foresight
as they did criminal acts, they are ac-
counted fools. It hardly need be told that
the court did not regard the quit-claim that
Green had signed to the property on that
fatal night as binding.

There are still many persons living in the
neighborhood who were residents of the place
at the time this tragedy occurred, and the
shock it made to the public sense of justice
is still fresh in their minds, though great
moral, religious and physical changes have
since had place. Of the two former, the
clerical Sunday service is an index. Of the
physical changes that have come over the
face of nature, the drainage of low lands and
dimunition of streams is a marked one. On
the little rivulet then called Sbaw's Creek,
which took its rise just south of Meacham's
Grove, Hiram Gooding erected a saw-mill in
1844. It worked about three months annual-
ly, but now there is not water enough in the
little wet-weather brook to propel a saw
mill, except during some excessive fall of
rain sufficient to cause a flood. Fine fish
were caught in this brook in the early day,
such as pickerel and bass.

As late as 1850, the southern and western
portions of Bloomingdale Township were but
sparsely settled, but the road from Chicago
to Galena passed along the northern portions,

• „*

BLOOMINGDALE TOWNSHIP.

281

and was one of the principal thoroughfares
leading to the West, and at that time was of
as much local importance as a railroad is in
our day, and it gave promise of future wealth,
which would have been realized but for the
railroad system, which subsequently drew
this trade and travel into other localities.
The Chicago Pacific (now the Chicago & St.
Paul Eailroad), which was finished through
the northwestern part of this township in
1873, sets it now on an equal footing with
its adjoining ones, as the railroad facilities
for easy marketing.

There is no waste land in the township,
but all of it high, rolling and fertile, afford-
ing excellent dairy farms, to which interest
there seems to be a tendency. There are
twelve school districts, and, by the school
census, 366 persons between the ages of six
and twenty-one years. Schools are sustained
on an average of between seven and eight
months in the year.

There is a cheese factory in the southeast-
ern part of the township which consumes
4,000 pounds of milk and makes 135 pounds
of butter and 280 pounds of cheese daily.
William Rathge and Fred Stuenkel, proprie-
tors.

The Coverdale Creamery, in the southwest
part of the township, does a similar amount
of business.

Many petrifactions of nuts and various veg-
etable forms are found in the creek that runs
along the northern fringe of Meacham Grove.

The village of Bloomingdale grew into ex-
istence as a convenience for the surrounding
farmers — a depot from whence their wants
for store goods could be supplied. It was
first called Meacham' s Grove, and, being on
the early stage road from Chicago to Galena,
and eligibly located on the border of the
grove, it had a fair prospect of becoming a
large village.

In 1843, there lived at the place H. Meach-
am, Deacons Hough, Hills and Stevens;
Moses Hoyt, who kept tavern; Levi H. Kinne,
F. Kinney, W. Northrup (Postmaster), H.
Woodruff, James Vint, Hileman Hills, Nu-
bria Hills, sons of Deacon Hills, together with
others sufficient to make a good beginning
for a town. A mile to the east, Mr. Tupper
kept another tavern. The site of the town is
said to be the most elevated land of any vil-
lage in the county, being 190 feet above
Lake Michigan. The plat of the town bears
date of January 11, 1845, H. S. Hills, pro-
prietor — situated on the northwest and north-
east quarters of Section 15, Township 40,
Range 10. About thirty-five families live in
the village. An excellent spring of pure
water breaks out of the ground just west of
the village, at which place Col. Hoyt kept his
famous tavern.

The Congregational society of Blooming-
dale was established August 22, 1840, and
held their services in a log schoolhouse at
the southeastern extremity of Meacham' s
Grove, by which name the village was first
known. Rev. D. Rockwell and Rev. Flavel
Bascom, who at this time live in Hinsdale,
officiated at the ceremonies of organization.

Mr. Rockwell was ordained as first pastor
and remained over this charge till 1842, when
he was succeeded by H. Colton for one year;
B. W. Reynolds, for two years; L. Parker,
for four years; N. Shapley, for one year; L.
Parker again, for three years; D. Chapman,
for one year; H Judd, for one or more years,
who was succeeded by others not known to
the writer. The society built a new church
in 1851, and, June 13, 1852, it was dedicated,
but the limits of their prosperity was reached
not long after the new church edifice was oc-
cupied. Death removed some, and others
went West, while none came forward to take

their places. This decimating process went

282

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

on till 1879, when the church was sold to the
Lutherans. Between two and three hundred
members in all have been enrolled on the
books of this church, which had a Sabbath
school numbering once fifty, and a library of
300 books.

The Baptist Church of Bloomingdale was
organized in 1841 by Bev. Joel Wheeler. It
first numbered ten members. The next year,
a revivalist named Morgan Edwards came to
the place and preached with effect. Six new
members were added to the church, but no
regular preaching was held till Bev. P. Tay-
lor, of Babcock's Grove, supplied them each
alternate Sunday.

In 1848, the society commenced building
a church. The frame was erected and the
question arose whether the site of the place
chosen was destined to be the true center of
the town. This question hung in suspense,
and the prairie breeze whistled through the
naked scantlings and rafters of the unfinished
edifice while this question was being settled
by the events of time. m Finally, the locality
was not considered a good one, the work was
abandoned, another site selected and a church
built in 1849. Prosperity rewarded tbeir
efforts, the church proved too small for their
increasing numbers, and the society sold it
for a schoolhouse and built a larger one in
1855, at which time they had over one hun-
dred members. Bev. P. Taylor was the first
settled pastor of the church, who remained
with them until the church was built which
they now occupy. The number of their
members is now about fifty. The church has
regular preaching and a Sabbath school.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Bloomingdale was organized in 1878, and
the next year occupied the church which they
bought of the Congregationalists. Bev. Gus-
tavo Lambrecht was their first pastor, who
was succeeded by Bev. A. B. Mysch, the

present pastor. About thirty-five families
belong to this society.

The following is a list of the business and
professional men of Bloomingdale Village :

Brown & Verbeck, proprietors of the Bloom-
ingdale Flax Mill, consumes 1,000 tons of
flax straw and manufactures 600 tons of tow
annually; the firm employs eight man; T. C.
Byan, cheese factory, employs three men,
consumes 8,000 pounds of milk, makes fifteen
cheeses and 240 pounds of butter daily; bed
spring factory, by A. B. Kinne, makes 500
bed springs annually; John Beurmaster, tai-
lor; Bobert Gates, C. Eden, wagon-makers;
John Shank, George Wallis, William Sleep,
Elijah Bond, blacksmiths; O. A. Verbeck,
Bradford Hills, carpenters; Henry Bohler, A.
Backhouse, shoe shop; Boger Ryan, Charles
Hills, Josiah Stevens, artesian well-borers;
Thomas Saureman, harness shop; Hills &
Deibert, general store; J. B. Dunning, Post-
master ai-d general store; Henry Vanderhoof,
physician; G. W. Bobinson, Baptist clergy-
man; A. B. Mysch, Lutheran clergyman;
William Bathge, Notary Public ; Bobert Gates,
Henry Woodruff, Justices of the Peace; Jo-
siah Stevens, Charles Pierce, Constables;
Henry Holstine, grist-mill, propelled by wind-
power, manufacturers of flour and grinds feed.

The village of Boselle, situated in the
northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of
Section 3, Township 40, Bange 10, was plat-
ted and recorded October 5, 1874, by Bernard
Beck. The following is a list of its business
men:

Hattendorf & Bagge, general store and
agricultural implements; M. Seeker, general
store; Illinois Linen Company, manufactory
of linen fabrics, ropes, twines, etc. ; a grist-
mill with three run of stones for flour and
feed, Henry Holstine, proprietor; Budolph
Milton, blacksmith; grain elevator, by Fred-
erick Langhurst; meat market, by J. Theo-

BLOOMINGDALE TOWNSHIP.

283

bald ; wholesale meat market, by Fred Golt-
ermann; lumber yard, by Frederick Thies;
hardware and tin shop, by Henry Williams;
H. A. Seeker, hotel; Henry Eincke, hotel;
Henry Sumner, keeps the depot; J. H. C.
Hattendorf, Postmaster; a public school;
Henry Woodworth, Justice of the Peace; Jo-
seph Fidler, carpenter; John D. Behrer,
boots and shoes; George Steging, harness
maker.

The elevation of the place is 190 feet
above Lake Michigan.

Meacham is a station on the Chicago, St.
Paul & Pacific Railroad, in Section 1, in
Bloomingdale Township. It has one general
store, kept by James Pierce, who also keeps
the depot and is Postmaster. The Methodist
Church at the place was first organized as a
class meeting by Rev. J. C. Stoughton, in
1851. Elizabeth Pierce, Mary Ann Battin,
Grace Lawrence and Mr. and Mrs. B. B
Miller were the members. They met in the
old schoolhouse. Here their services were
held, including their Sunday school, which
was organized in January, 1858. The next
year their church was finished and regular
preaching has been sustained in it till the
present time. The church when first organ-

ized numbered only six members. Now it
numbers thirty-six and is under the pastoral
charge of Rev. T. C. Warrington.

Mr. Rufus Blanchard:

Agreeable to your request, 1 give you herewith a
statement as to a strange phenomenon that occurred
on my land in Bloomingdale in August, 1856.

Observing that one of my fences was prostrated,
I examined the breach, and found that one of the
posts had been shattered into splinters from below
the second board above the ground, including the
portion of it set in the ground. The portion of
the post above where the bottom board was nailed
to it was whole, without the marks of violence, but
the lower board nailed to it was somewhat shattered.
The strangest part of the whole was that in the
identical hole made in the ground in which the post
had stood, a deep incision was made as if, by some
violent operation of nature, something had perfo-
rated it from below up, the evidence of which
theory being found from the abundance of dirt
thrown out and scattered for three or four rods all in
one direction — probably owing to the wind. The
splinters of the lower part of the fence post were
also scattered the same as the dirt which had been
thrown out of the hole. I ran a pole about ten feet
long down the hole, but could find no bottom, nor
could I hear pebbles strike any bottom as I dropped
them down. The hole was about six inches in
diameter, and as clean a cut as could be bored with
an auger. Daniel Kblley.

Subscribed and sworn to before me, a Notary
Public, the 13th day of September, 1882.

W. L. Gut, Notary Public.

-•• •-^Aocj5>>

feAj n h »-

®J*

284

HISTORY OF T>V PAGE COUNTY.

CHAPTER XVI.

ADDISON TOWNSHIP— THE MOUNTAIN DAISY— INDIAN ENCAMPMENT— THE ARMY TRAIL— THE SOL-

DIER'S GRAVE— THE LOG CABIN— HOME TALENT— THE GERMAN VANGUARD— THE PIONEER

TAVERN— THE OLD GALENA TRADE-SALT CREEK-FRANCIS HOFFMAN, A LAY PREACHER

—THE VILLAGE OF ADDISON— THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL TEACHERS' SEMINARY

—THE ORPHAN ASYLUM— PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS MEN OF ADDISON

—ITASCA— ITS BUSINESS MEN— LESTER'S— BENSENVILLE— SCHOOLS.

r |^HE mountain daisy is a handsome white
*■■ flower, about the size of the old-fash-
ioned bell-buttons that were fashionably used
on boys' blue satinet roundabouts in the early
part of the present century, and discontinued
about the year 1835. This daisy was cer-
tainly more ornamental than useful. But
what had it to do with the history of Addi-
son? Let us speculate. The daisy was so
tenacious of life that it was more difficult to
kill than blue grass. Wherever it took pos-
session of the land, it outrivaled every other
kind of vegetation, and rendered it almost
valueless for meadow or pasturage. It grew
in several of the town's east of the Merrimack
River, in the vicinity of Concord, N. H., es-
pecially in Stoddard and Hillsboro, and forced
many of the inhabitants away from their
mountain homes to seek more fruitful locali-
ties, where a better reward met the hands of
the husbandman. The writer came from this
part of New Hampshire, and speaks from his
own knowledge. At Hillsboro lived Heze-
kiah Duncklee, and from this place he emi-
grated in the summer of 1833. If the mount-
ain daisy drove farmers away from the place,
perhaps their gorgeous beauty gave them a
taste for the ornamental, and may not have
served a vain purpose. Mr. Duncklee, having
crossed the Green Mountains, arrived at Pots-
dam, in the State of New York, safely, where

he was joined by Mason Smith, and the two
started together for the West.

Their road lay along the old historic
grounds of Fort Stanwix (now Rome), thence
across the Genesee River at Rochester and
Buffalo, at which place they took a boat for
Detroit, where they bought a horse and wag-
on, and pursued their journey across the State
of Michigan to Chicago, which they reached
on the 3d of September. They rested here
five days, and again started westwardly for
the Desplaines River, crossing it at the pres-
ent site of Maywood, from which place a well-
traveled road bore westwardly across an ap-
parently boundless prairie. But, before
starting on this road, they encamped for the
night in the country so strange to the visit-
ors. The low, flat prairie, and the sluggish
river that drained it, were the least of their
surprises. The Pottawatomies still owned
the entire country to which they were emi-
grating, and 300 of their number were as-
sembled on the river bank here. It was a
picture rarely to be looked on to see these
natives just preparing to leave their homes to
make room for the new-comers, for they (the
Indians) were now bending their course to
Chicago to attend the treaty there, destined
to convey Northern Illinois east of Rock
River to those who had already taken pos-
session of the choicest portions of it before

(T=s

ADDISON TOWNSHIP.

285

the bargain was made to sell it, and Mr.
Duncklee and Mr. Smith were two more of
this class on whom the Indians could look in
no other light than that of intruders.

The next morning they resumed their jour-
ney, following the trail over which Scott's
army had passed eleven months before. It
has since been put down on early maps as the
Elgin road. It enters the present township
of Addison at its extreme southeast corner,
and leads thence to the village of Addison,
on Salt Creek, and this was the location of
the road which the travelers took.

Toiling along their way in this narrow
path between two oceans of green, they came
to a grave where one of the soldiers who came
the year before, under command of Gen.
Scott, to defend the country from the Sauks,
had found his last resting-place, and the
first grave of a white man in Addison Town-
ship. Farther along, at Salt Creek, were the
tent poles still standing as the army had left
them. They crossed the stream and encamped
for the night on the prairie, amidst the lul-
laby din of reptile life. But soon these soft
voices of the night were drowned by the
sharp yelp of the numerous wolves that hung
around the camp attracted by the scent of
strange animal life in their midst, but too
formidable for them to attack. Pushing for-
ward the next; morning, they reached the
settlement which the Meachams had made six
months before. Here two men in pursuit of
a home met three who had already laid claim
to one in the verge of a grove that now bears
their name — Meacham' s Grove. Six months'
experience in a country, wild as nature could
make it, was productive of much practical in-
formation. Everything was to be built new,
and the problem was how to begin. The
Meachams gave the new-comers the benefit
of their experience, and the result was that
they proceeded back to a grove on Salt Creek,

north of where they had crossed this stream,
and, on the 12th of September, selected a lo-
cation on the northern verge of a grove, to
which the name of Duncklee' s Grove has
since been given. Mr. Dunckley's claim was
on what became Sections 10 and 1 5 when the
country came to be surveyed. It consisted of
suitable portions of prairie and timber, as
first claims always did till timber lands had
all been taken possession of.

The first thing to be done was to build a
house. This was no difficult task to accom-
plish where there was plenty of timber, and
all the tools required were an ax, hammer,
saw, and adze to smooth the surface of the
floor, which was made of split logs, flat side
upward, called puncheons, besides which a
frow, with which to rive out clapboards for
the roof, was necessary. The whole was fin-
ished in two weeks, and occupied by the first
freeholder of Addison Township. Mr. Dunck-
lee' s family arrived the next year, 1834, in
August, at the new home, amidst the growing
crops that had rewarded the labors of this
pioneer farmer. The following June, on the
18th, was born a daughter, Julia A., who, at
her maturity, became the wife of Frederick
E. Lester. She was the first white child born
in Addison, and became the first school-
teacher at the place, from which we must in-
fer that Addison was rather tardy in estab-
lishing schools, or wished to wait till they
could grow a teacher on their own soil. Set-
ting this down to their love of home talent,
if the latter was the case, we will pass on to
the next thing done here in a similar direc-
tion. This was to plant apple seeds, which
Mr. Duncklee did in 1836, and his orchard
grew from this seed, as the first school-teacher
had grown on the fuitful soil of Addison.
Both were a success. Miss Julia taught a
good school, and the orchard of Mr. Dunck-
lee bore fruitfully, affording a handsome in-

HISTORY OF DV PAGE COUNTY.

come for its fruit in a few years after it was
planted. In tho summer subsequent to Mr.
Duncklee's first arrival, there came to the
place and settled a Mr. Perin, who*took sick
and died in a few weeks, his being the first
death in Addison, except the unfortunate sol-
dier whose grave was seen by Mr. Dunck-
lee, as already told.

Early in the summer of the same year
1834, Ebenezer Duncklee, brother to Heze-
kiah, came and made a claim adjoining him
and Richard Kingston. Thomas H. Thom-
son, James Bean, Demerit Hoyt and D. Par-
sons, all from the Eastern States, came and
made claims, mostly at the southern side of
the grove.

Thus far, the settlement was exclusively
American, but close upon their heels, or per-
haps ere the last of the above-mentioned had
settled, there came to the place the vanguard
of the German immigration destined to ap-
propriate the lands of what, since that time,
became Addison Township. This vanguard
was William Henry Bosque, Barney H. Fran-
zen, Frederick Graue (with his family of five
stalwart young men — Dedrick, Frederick, Jr.,
Luderwich, Heinrich and August — and one
daughter, Willemine, to help the mother gar-
nish the house and the manners of the boys).
The main settlement of these Germans was
at a small grove, in what is now Section 34,
ever since called Graue's Grove; but some of
the Graue family settled in what is now York.
Willemine was soon married to Frederick
Kraige, who also settled near by. Banhard
Koeler, who came with Mr. Graue, and Ded-
rick Leseman, all came the same year, and
Young Germany took deep root at the place.
Besides all these, Thomas Williams and E.
Lamb, from New York State, came in 1834.
The next year, 1835, Edward Lester, with
his five sons — Marshall, John, Daniel, Fred-
erick and Lewis — came to the place from the

State of New York; also two brothers, Charles
H. and Hiram Hoit, and George Rouse, came
from the Eastern States, and Young America
seemed to hold her own with Young Ger-
many, but soon again the latter, coming in
great force, took the lead. J. H Schmidt,
and his son, H. Schmidt, Jr., and Mr. Buch-
ols, who was subsequently killed at the rais-
ing of Mr. Plagge's log cabin in 1838, all
came in 1835, and the next year, Henry D.
Fischer, J. L. Franzen, B. Kaler, D. S. Dun-
ning, Frederick Stuenkle, the Banum broth-
ers, J. Bertram, S. D. Pierce, 0. W. Martin,
B. F. Fillmore, came to the settlement; and
the next year, 1837, Conrad Fischer, father
of Henry D., also Frederick J. and August,
two of his brothers, and William Asche, came
to the place.

The famous old tavern known as the Buck-
horn was opened the same year, by Charles
Hoit. It stood on the Galena road, two miles
west of Salt Creek. It did a thriving busi-
ness, the farmers to the west as far as Rock
River being guests at the place on their way
to and from Chicago to market their produce.
Teams also came from Galena, loaded with
lead, a heavy article to pull through the
sloughs that intervened between the two
places. As prices range now for every kind
of supply, a teamster would find his bills
payable larger than his bills receivable, if he
had lead given to him free, and hauled it to
Chicago to sell at the going price, if he paid
common hotel fare and allowed the customary
rates for the use of his horses and pay for his
own time; but conditions were different then.
His horses bated on the prairie for rough feed,
and ate their allowance of corn or oats from
the feed trough attached to the wagon, which
was brought from the farm from whence they
came. The owner of the team slept in his
wagon, except in very cold weather, and
brought a portion of his food from home, pat-

ADDISON TOWNSHIP.

287

ronizing the tavern for only an occasional meal,
or for hay for his horses, when the prairie
did not furnish grass, which was from the
time of its being burnt over in the fall till
the following June.

It was about this time that Salt Creek re-
ceived its name. A teamster named John
Reid, from Oneida County, N. Y., was em-
ployed to haul lead from Galena to Chicago,
and on one of his trips, loaded back with salt,
and, in crossing this stream, got " stuck " in
the mud. The water was high, flooded his
load and melted it away ere he could get help
to pull it out. The consequence was that the
creek ran brine for a few hours, and received
a name which is also a memento of the early
toils of the teamster.

Everything was cheap then, and a hotel or
anything else could be carried on at but tri-
fling expense. If the income was small, the
outgoes were still smaller. Ten cents for the
hay for a horse during the night, and 15 cents
or 20 cents for a meal for the teamster, were
ordinary charges.

All other charges were proportionate, in-
cluding the expense incurred for dispensing
the early Gospel. Divine services were held in
schoolhouses, or sometimes in private houses.

The Germans who settled this township
were Lutherans. Rev. Koschon was their
first preacher. Services were sometimes held
in the house of Mr. Schmidt. He remained
pastor for about two years, when his place was j
supplied by Francis Hoffman, the same who
subsequently opened a bank in Chicago in
connection with Mr. Gelpke. He now owns
the model farm of the State of Wisconsin.
Mr. Hoffman was schoolmaster, as well as
preacher, and the old log cabin where he gave
the rudiments of science to the young gener-
ation of his time stood where the house of
Lewis Schmidt now stands, in Addison Vil-
lage.

The village of Addison is situated on Sec-
tions 21 and 28, on the east side of Salt
Creek. Its elevation above Lake Michigan
is about one hundred and twenty feet.

It was one of the early settlements of the
township, and, as these settlements progressed,
became a central point for a village, post
office and stores to accommodate them. But
the chief elements of a village in the place
are its educational institutions, the history
of which, together with that of the church,
will constitute substantially the history of the
village itself.

GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHEEAN CHURCH.

The first German settler came to Addison,
then known as Duncklee's Grove, in 1834.
As long as a public ministry was not estab-
lished with them, they would assemble on
Sundays for prayer and devotional reading
at their own homes, going the rounds in the
neighborhood. Later, they had occasional
visits of clergymen. In November, 1842, a
congregation was organized, about twenty
families joining, some of Reformed, some of
Lutheran persuasion. Accordingly, they
adopted the name of the German Reformed
Lutheran Congregation. Forty-eight acres
were purchased as a site for a church, parson-
age and cemetery. The membership increas-
ing, a Lutheran minister, Rev. E. A. Brauer,
was called in November, 1847, and by a unani-
mous vote it was resolved no longer to be a
mixed, but a truly Lutheran Church. The
new name, the German Evangelical- Lutheran
Congregation, was adopted. In the follow-
ing year, the Reformed members severed their
connection and organized a new church, re-
ceiving from the Lutheran congregation
$170 in return for their former contributions,
and $65 for their share of church property.

Following is the confession of faith of the
congregation, as contained in Section 2 of its

288

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

constitution: "As such (a Lutheran Church)
the congregation professes the holy and di-
vine word of the Old and the New Testa-
ments, as the doctrine of the same is laid
down in the public confessions of the Evan-
gelical Lutheran Church, viz. , the three ec-
umenical symbols, the unaltered Augsburg
confession, the apology of the latter, the
Smalealdian Articles, the two catechisms of
Luther, and the Formula of Concord. By
the rule of these confessions, since they are
taken from the Word of God, all doctrinal
and religious disputes that may arise in our
midst shall be decided."

The congregation now owns a large brick
church, 42x85 feet, steeple 150 feet high,
which was dedicated to its sacred purposes
December 11, 1861. It was built, furnished
and provided with pipe organ at an expense
of about $12,000. Adjoining the church is
a spacious parsonage, valued at nearly $4,000.

The members are scattered over a district
fourteen miles long and twelve miles wide.
The congregation is subdivided into four dis-
tricts, three of which support one school each,
and one two schools, one of the latter graded
into three classes. All expenses for support
of church and schools are provided for by
voluntary contributions of the individual
members, now numbering over two hundred
families.

The pastors in charge from 1847 were:
Eev. E. A. Branor, till 1856, when he accept-
ed the call of the Lutheran congregation at
Pittsburgh, Penn. ; Eev. A. G. G. Francke,
till January 3, 1879, when he was called off
by death; Rev. T. I. Grosse, who is still
pastor at present.

The congregation strictly insists on having
the children of its fold instructed and edu-
cated in the parochial schools of the four dis-
tricts, presided over by six male teachers and
one female teacher. The number of pupils

at present is about three hundred and fifty -
five. Both the English and the German lan-
guages are means of instruction, it being the
earnest desire of the congregation that their
children, whilst retaining their mother
tongue, should master the ruling language of
the country. The teachers now in charge of
the schools are: West District, Mr. H. Bart-
ling (since 1849), Mr. C. Greve, Miss B.
Heidemann, Mr. A. Meder; East District,
Mr. H. Cluever; North District, Mr. E. Rosen;
South District (Elmhurst), Mr. A. Bader. —
H. Bartling.

GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN TEACHERS' SEM-
INARY.

The German Evangelical Lutheran Teach-
ers' Seminary at Addison, Du Page Co., III.,
is an institution for educating Evangelical
Lutheran parochial teachers. In the year
1855, several Lutheran pastors and teachers
in Milwaukee privately opened this normal
school there. Two years later, they offered
the institution to the German Evangelical
Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other
States. The offer was accepted, and the sem-
inary next located at Fort Wayne, Ind., in
close connection with the Concordia College,
another of the several institutions of the
synod. A Professor was appointed by the
synod, who became at the same time Director
of the Seminary Department, and who was
assisted in his special work by the Professors
of the college. In 1861, a second Professor
for the seminary was called. In 1863, it was
thought expedient to accept an invitation
from the German Evangelical Lutheran Con-
gregation at Addison, 111., to permanently
locate the seminary in their midst. One year
after this, the necessary buildings for sixty
scholars and two Professors, with their fami-
lies, were erected, viz. , a main building; 64x-
40 feet, containing basement, two stories,

ADDISON TOWNSHIP.

289

and a high and airy dormitory, and, north
and south from it, two wings, each 32x15
feet, built of brick, and at a cost of upward
of $16,000. Later, as the number of stu-
dents increased, two other large wings were
added, first one to the north and then one to
the south, each at the cost of about $10,000.
The entire length of the building is now
about 208 feet. The faculty at present con-
sists of six regular Professors — E. A. W.
Krau88, C. A. T. Selle, Karl Brauer, C.
Hentzschel, Th. Brohm and E. Homann —
two of whom teach almost exclusively music
— singing, violin, piano, organ. Two of the
six have their dwellings in the main build-
ings; here, also, the Steward, Mr. V. von
Dissen, resides, who has to provide the stu-
dents with their board. Four Professors are
supplied with spacious and comfortable frame
houses. The present number of students is
about one hundred and thirty, all males. In
the course of five years, they are taught all
the branches necessary to qualify them to
become teachers, both in the German and
English languages, and, besides, such
branches as are requisite for a good general
education. The parochial school, which is
quite near, affords them the necessary oppor-
tunity for practical exercises in teaching.
By the liberality of the synod, they receive
their tuition and lodgings gratuitously; the
members of the congregation supply them
with clean linen, and for board they have to
pay but very little, since numerous friends
from far and near send large quantities of
provisions to the seminary kitchen. The
annual number of alumni varies from twelve
to twenty-five. As they did come here from
all parts of the Union, not to speak of those
that came directly from Germany, so they re-
ceive calls from almost all parts of the United
States, and many more are wanted than the
institution can furnish. The Board of Su-

pervisors for the seminary consists at present
of Revs. T. J. Grosbe and H. Wunder, and
Messrs. E. H. W. Leeseberg, Henry Oehler-
king and T. C. Diener. — C. A. T. Selle.

THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN ORPHAN
ASYLUM.

This asylum is situated in the immediate
vicinity of the German Evangelical Lutheran
Teachers' Seminary, and of one of the paro-
chial schools of the German Evangelical Lu-
theran Congregation of Addison. It is the
joint property of twenty-three Lutheran con-
gregations and societies in Northern Illinois,
eight of which large congregations are in
Chicago. This association commits the gen-
eral management of its business to a board of
seven persons, elected for a term of three
years. The members now constituting the
board are: Rev. T. J. Grosse, of Addison,
President; Prof. C. A. T. Selle, oE Addison,
Vice President; Rev. F. M. Grosse, of Har-
lem, Secretary; Mr. H. Bartling, of Addison,
Cashier; Mr. E. H, W. Leeseberg, of Addi-
son; H. C. Zuttermeister, of Chicago; I. O.
Piepenbrink, of Crete, 111., Trustees. The
orphan house is under the superintendence
of Mr. and Mrs. John Harmening, assisted by
Mrs. Nickel, one baker and five servants.

According to its constitution, the Orphan
House Association proposes to provide for
and to educate orphans and half orphans that
are intrusted to the same to such purpose by
their guardians or by surviving parent, or that
God sends by other ways. The association
educates the children in the full truth of the
Divine Word, as this truth is intrusted to the
Lutheran Church, and thus endeavors to lead
them to the Lord Christ and to heaven ; but
it is also earnestly solicited to prepare its
wards for a blessed and hopeful life in this
world, that may redound to the honor of our
own great God. In order that this purpose

290

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY

may be accomplished as far as possible, chil-
dren must be committed to the care of the as-
sociation till they are eighteen years of age.
Up to the time when they are confirmed, they
stay in the orphan house, and after confir-
mation, the association, through its officers,
provides suitable situations for them — to
work as servants, to learn a trade, to pursue
studies with the view to serving the church,
it being understood, however, that the asso-
ciation retains the exclusive control of the
children up to the completion of their eight-
eenth year. Whenever it is necessary and
practicable, the assoication provides for the
support of its wards also, after this period.
Orphans are received irrespective of previous
creed of parents, or of creed of surviving
parent. (Constitution, Section 4.)

In 1873, forty acres were bought for $4, -
425. A little house on this property was oc-
cupied as a temporary home by the Superin-
tendent and six orphans, and was dedicated
October 11, 1873. In 1874, the east wing of
the present home (one and a half stories
high, 65x38 feet, extension 30x28 feet) was
erected, at a cost of $6,814. 27. It was ded-
icated October 28, and, at that date, harbored
eighteen orphans. In 1878, the main build-
ing, 50x50, two stories, was built, and was
dedicated November 7. This part cost $5,-
122.25.

From October 11, 1873, when the home
was opened, till June 28, 1882, 154 children
were received, of which 106 are still in the
institution; five died, ten were returned to
their relatives, twenty-nine serve on farms
and in families, and four aro now preparing
for service in the church — two at the Addison
Teachers' Seminary, two at Concordia Col-
lege, Fort Wayne, Ind.

The orphans attend the graded school (three
classes) of the German Evangelical Lutheran
Congregation. Here they are instructed in

the Lutheran faith, German and English lan-
guages, and in all common branches.

Funds and endowments there are none.
The institution depends for its support on
voluntary contributions. The cash amount
of these was, in 1873, $3,070.06; in 1874,
$6,095.03; in 1875, $2,870.24, in 1876, $3,-
367.82; in 1877, $3,893.85; in 1878, $5,815.-
23; in 1879, $5,090.39; in 1880, $4,762.19;
in 1881, $4,808.60. The many donations of
clothing, provisions, etc., are an essential
source of income. — H. Bartling.

immanuel's church.

The Immanuel's Church of the German
Evangelical Synod was founded in Addison
in 1859, under the pastoral charge of Eev.
C. Braemer. He has been succeeded by
Revs. C. F. Warth, Phillip Albert and Gus-
tavus Lambrecht, the latter being the pres-
ent pastor. The present membership of this
church is ninety families.

The following are the professional and
business men of Addison:

Rotermund & Weber, general store.

F. Triechler, general store.

H. Overcamp, blacksmith.

Charles Harloff, wagon- maker.

J. G. Franke, M. D.

Charles Shulle, meat market.

Henry Schneider, hotel.

Charles Strauchild, harness -maker.

John Giehls, custom tailor.

W. Golterman, custom tailor.

W. Licht, boot and shoe maker.

F. Tuon, wood -turner.

W. Holstein, carpenter and builder.

H. Hoefener, mason and plasterer.

Louis Stuenkel, cheese factory — 7,000 to
8,000 pounds of milk daily.

Rev. J. Grosse, Evangelical Lutheran
Church.

H. Bartling, Postmaster and school teacher.

ADDISON TOWNSHIP.

291

Cristian Grerie, school-teacher.

C. Kraus, Director of Addison Seminary.
• C. Hantchell, Professor of Addison Semi-
nary.

E. Sella, Professor of Addison Seminary.

C. Brauer, Professor of Addison Seminary.

Th. Brolnm, Professor of Addison Seminary.

E. Homann, Professor of Addison Seminary.

J. Harmening, Orphan Father — 110 or-
phans there at present.

W. Leseberg, Justice of the Peace and
Notary Public.

Itasca is a pleasant village on the Chicago
& St. Paul Railroad, at its crossing of a trib-
utary to Salt Creek. Here Dr. Elijah Smith
settled in 1841, and still lives at the place.
He platted the town May 14, 1874. The
banks of the stream that passes through it
are firm, and graduate upward from it od
both sides. Its elevation above Lake Mich-
igan is 170 feet. Dr. Smith gave the rail-
road the right of way to build the road
through the place, and $400 toward building
the depot.

There are two theories as to the origin of
the name Itasca. If it has an Indian deriva-
tion, it is from the Ogibwa dialect — la, to
be; totash, the female breast; hence, the lake
from which the Mississippi draws its first
source is called Itasca, and this town is
named after it.

Another theory gives the name a Latin or-
igin — Veritas caput, true head, Itas, in the
first word, and ca, in the last, being used to
signify that Itasca Lake is the true head of
the Mississippi River. Which of these is
the true root of the word the writer is unable
to determine.

The following are the business men of
Itasca:

Elijah Smith, physician.

A. G. Chessman, steam power for grain
elevator, cheese box and tub factory.

Henry F. Lawrence, general store.

A. G. Chesman, Postmaster.

Chessman & Cramer, carpenters and build-
ers.

Henry Ahlenstorf, boots and shoes.

Ernst Schroeder, blacksmith and wagon -
maker.

Lewis Magers, grain elevator, coal and
lumber.

William Baruth, general store.

Henry Dragermuller, blacksmith and wag-
on-maker.

August Hartman, meat market.

Hendricks Bros., proprietors of cheese and
butter factory; 5,000 gallons of milk used
daily; 200 pounds of butter and 400 pounds
of cheese, daily production.

Henry Senne; agricultural implements.

John Holland, mason.

Haberstich Godleib, flax-dresser.

M. & W. Browne, depot masters.

Salt Creek, or Lester's, is a station on the
Chicago & St. Paul Railroad, at its crossing
of Salt Creek. It is yet very new, and has
but one store, which is kept by F. E. Lester,
who is Postmaster at the place.

It has a cheese factory, owned by Mr.
Lester.

BENSENVILLE — BY HERMAN H. KOBTHAUER.

The present site of Bensenville, located in
Sections 13, 14 and 23, was purchased by
Dedrich Struckmann, T. R. Dobbins and Col.
Roselle M. Hough, of John Lemarche, in
1872; shortly after, Hough's interest (one-
fourth) was purchased by Frederick Hener
and Henry Korthauer.

The purchase was subdivided in 1874, two
years after the Chicago & Pacific Railroad
was built, and a post office obtained, Henry
A. Glos being appointed Postmaster. It had
already become an incorporated village, its
plat recorded bearing date of October 10, 1873.

292

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

In 1879, the Chicago & Pacific Company
becoming insolvent, the road was purchased
by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail-
road, a change greatly beneficial to the north-
ern portion of the county; new steel rails
were substituted for the old track, the road-
bed raised, new buildings erected and in-
creased facilities given.

The water supply being insufficient, the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Company
contracted with W. H. Gray, of Jefferson,
Cook Co. , 111. , a professional borer of arte-
sian wells, for an artesian well. Work was
commenced August 1, 1881, and, after five
months' continuous labor, day and night, and
an expense of $5, 000, it was sunk to the depth
of 21,198 feet 8 inches, the greater portion
of the distance being through solid rock.

The water obtained, on analysis, proved to
be almost chemically pure.

It rises thirty-eight feet above the surface,
and has a temperature of sixty- eight degrees
Fahrenheit, flowing about one hundred gal-
lons per minute.

The village has about two hundred and fifty
residents, the majority of whom are German.

This is the largest village in the town of
Addison, and the most important station be-
tween Chicago and Elgin.

The location is high, and an abundance of
good water is found at a depth of about
twenty feet.

The dairy interests of Bensenville and vi-
cinity are by far the most important. Over
three hundred thousand gallons of milk are
shipped annually to Chicago, and double that
amount is manufactured into butter and
cheese. During 1881, 150,000 pounds of
butter and nearly 400,000 pounds of cheese
were made here.

Bensenville is the home office of the Ad-
dison Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company.

This company was incorporated on the 3d

of March, 1855, for a term of twenty-five
years, Diedrich Struckmann, Henry Roter-
mund, Frederick Schmidt, John E. Kiessling
and John H. Franzen being the charter mem-
bers.

The first officers were: William Roter-
mund, President; Benjamin F. Filmore, Sec-
retary ; Henry Rotermund, Treasurer ; Dr.
A. W. Heise, D. Struckmann, Frederick
Schmidt and H. Rotermund, Directors.

In March, 1879, the charter was extended
thirty years, or to 1909.

Since the establishment of the company,
business has increased steadily from year to
year, all losses have been promptly paid, and
the affairs managed satisfactorily to the mem-
bers.

There are now in force 2,022 policies,
insuring $2,338,352 of property.

The present assets are over $125,000.

A general meeting of the members occurs
annually, on the second Saturday in January.

The quarterly meeting of Directors is held
on the second Saturday in January, April,
July and October.

The officers for the current year (1882) are:
Henry Bosenberg, President; Herman H.
Korthauer, Secretary; Barney L. Franzen,
Treasurer; H. Bosonberg, B. L. Franzen,
Henry L. Glos, L. Wolf, Phillip Bohlander,
John Longguth and Henry Kolze, Directors.

The first church in Addison Township was
organized in 1837 by Rev. E. Benberger.

For three years, the services were held in
a small log house on Louis Schmidt's farm.

In 1840, Rev. F. A. Hoffmann assumed
charge; there being no house provided for
the pastor, he was obliged to live with the
members, moving weekly from house to house.
During 1840, a frame building was erected
near the present site of the Evangelical Lu-
theran Church, where services were held un-
til 1847.

ADDISON TOWNSHIP.

293

In 1847, Kev. Hoffmann severed his connec-
tion with the church, and Rev. Ernest
Brauer, a Lutheran minister, was installed,
with the understanding that the services were
to be conducted as formerly to suit both fac-
tions of the congregations, one portion of
which was Lutheran and the other Reformed
Lutheran.

About six months after, it became evident
that the union services could not be contin-
ued; accordingly, a division took place, the
Lutherans retaining possession of the church,
and the Reformed Lutherans, twenty-one in
number, organizing under the name of the
Evangelical St. Johanne's Society."

The names of the first members were Henry
Hoppenstadt, Fred Federke, Barney H.
Landmeier, J. H. Schoppe, J. G. Landmeier,
Fred Heine, H. Kolze, Fred Volberding, G.
Eitermann, W. Niemeyer, John H. Franzen, J.
H Korthauer, H. Kirchhop, Christian Dunter-
mann, J. B. Schoppe, H. Volberding, John
Franzen, H. Hartman, J. H. Duehna, G. H.
Frazen, F. Dierking.

A church was built in the winter of 1849-
50, in Section 12. The first pastor of the
new congregation was Rev. Wucherer, who
died one year after taking charge. He was
succeeded by Rev. Ulrich Moecklin, who re-
mained until his death, which occurred in
1868. Rev. Peter Lehmann then assumed
charge, and was their pastor until 1880.
Under his pastorate, a handsome church, a
parsonage, schoolhouse and a dwelling for
the school teacher was built, eighteen acres of
land purchased,' besides expending a large
sum in beautifying the church grounds and
cemetery.

Rev. Mr. Lehmann resigned in 1880,
and was succeeded by Rev. Bower, who
is the present pastor. The church is in
a flourishing condition, having over 400
members.

The following is a list of the business and
professional men:

C. A. Franzen, lumber, grain, coal, flour
and feed.

P. J. Tiedemann, dry goods, groceries,
crockery, etc.

Christian Hiebenthal, Postmaster, grocer-
ies, boots and shoes.

Hermann H. Korthauer (Notary Public),
stoves, agricultural implements and general
hardware.

Henry Ernsting, merchant tailor.

Herman Fiebrandt, tinner, also dealer in
hardware, etc.

Louis Markmann, hotel.

Christian Koch, hotel.

Louis Schroeder, blacksmith.

Charles Martin, blacksmith.

Charles Sandhagen, wheelwright.

Henry Wellner, furniture, burial cases.

Frank Ort, harness, saddles, etc.

Christian Bauche, mason.

Henry Schmidt and Louis Biermann,
manufacturers of tow.

August Seuf, butcher.

Frank Hornbostle, butcher.

William Struckmeyer, butter and cheese.

Gustaf Gutche, shoemaker.

Frederick H. Bates, M. D., physician and
surgeon.

A. D. Swenson, V. S., veterinary surgeon.

The town of Addison occupies the extreme
northeastern corner of Du Page County. Its
surface is generally quite level, but its drain-
age good, as its elevation is sufficient to make
it so. Its soil is of the best quality, produc-
ing corn, oats and other cereals in great abun-
dance. But the dairy business is getting to
be its chief agricultural interest. The ex-
tensive groves of this town have been, and are
still, of great value to the farmers, affording
abundance of lumber for fencing, as well as
a large supply of fuel. They have also

294

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

served a valuable purpose in modulating
the extremes of summer and winter, and
have proved a substantial inducement to
settlers.

There are now five school districts in the
town, in each of which good schoolhouses

have been built, which, together with the lit-
erary institutions of the village of Addison,
place the town high in the scale of scholastic
education. The school census shows the num-
ber of persons between the ages] of six and
twenty-five in the town to be 525. "r*

PAET II.

IOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

PART II.

Biographical Sketches

1STAPEEYILLE TOWNSHIP.

FRANCIS P. ABBOTT, farmer, P. 0. Na-
perville, is a native of Ireland, born in the year
1832, and received but a limited schooling. In
1851, he came to the United States, and in
October of that year to Du Page County, 111.,
and worked on a farm by the month for two
years and four months for one man, and then
some six years he lived with his mother and
sister, and worked at odd jobs. He then
rented a place, and began farming on his own
account, renting some eight years. He then
bought a place of his own, and in 1868 came
to his present place, which contains 100 acres
located three and one-half miles northwest of
Naperville. March 29, 1864, he married Miss
Tamar Simpson, a native of New York. She
came to Du Page County with her parents.
By the marriage there are two children — Arthur
E. and Nora M. He is Republican in politics.

MARTIN BROWN, merchant, Naperville, is
a native of Lancaster County, Penn., born Au-
gust 3, 1831, and is the third in a family of five
children born to David and Mary (Fry) Brown,
natives of Lancaster County, Penn.; their
parents were also born in Lancaster County ;
David and Mary were married in Lancaster
County, where she died in 1838, leaving five chil-
dren, all of whom are now living, and grown up.

About 1839, David married Elizabeth Clinson,
a native of Lancaster County. He was a black-
smith by trade, but during the last nine years
of residence in Pennsylvania he followed farm-
ing. In 1844, he came, with his family, in
company with thirteen other families, to Naper-
ville, 111., the company being induced to settle
in this neighborhood by Bishop Seibert, of Lan-
caster County, who had traveled as missionary
in this vicinity. The party bought land here,
and Mr. Brown farmed until about 1867, when
he sold his place. In 1 865, he engaged in mer-
cantile business with his son, Martin, and was
connected in mercantile business in all about
five years, and lived retired thereafter until his
death, November, 1875. Mrs. B. is living here
in Naperville. Five children, all of whom are
living. He served as Road Commissioner in
Naperville Township; also Assessor. Was a
member of the Evangelical Church. Our sub-
ject lived at home until the spring of 1851,
when he went to Chicago and engaged as clerk
in the general goods business, wholesale and
retail, where he remained two years. He then
determined to go to California, and went via
New York and Nicaragua route, arriving at
San Francisco March 24, 1853. Remained a
little over two years, engaged in mining, and

BIOGRAPHICAL:

had fair success. Returned to Naperville, and
worked on the farm for four years. He had
sent money home, which was invested in land,
and had to wait until he improved it in order
to realize upon it, which he did, and in 1860
engaged as clerk for Mr. Yount, and continued
about two years. He then, with his father,
bought out the business of Mr. Yount, and
continued about two years, when Mr. Brown,
Sr., withdrew and Mr. E. Holler became
a partner, and continued Ave years, Mr. M.
Brown being the sole proprietor since. In
1856, he married Miss Catharine C. Rickert,
a native of Pennsylvania, who died in October,
1869, leaving three children — Emma, Lincoln
and Mary. In 1871, he married Miss Mary A.
Barr, a native of Pennsylvania, who has borne
two children — Clarence and Irvin. Has been
connected with the Evangelical Church since
1843.

B. B. BOECKER, grain and coal dealer,
Naperville, is a 'native of Prussia, born in
1840, and lived in his native land about twenty
years ; received a fair education, including a
high school course. At the age of sixteen,
he began clerking, and at nineteen he went
into the army and served as volunteer one
year. In 1860, he came to the United States
and vicinity of Naperville, where a friend lived,
and worked several years on a farm. He then
went to Germany and married Miss Annie
Ohn ; returned to Naperville and farmed two
years. He then sold his farm and engaged
in the lumber business and hay press ; con-
tinued nine years ; sold out and bought his
present business ; has served as Alderman and
Mayor, and is now the Supervisor of Lisle
Township. He deals in grain and coal, and is
doing a very thriving business. He has three
children —Theodore, Adolphine and Arnold.
He is a Democrat.

D. C. BUTLER, clerk, with W. Scott & Co.,
Naperville, was born in Burlington, Vt, in
1825, son of Roswell and Ruth (Worden) But-

ler, natives of Vermont, in which State they
were married. Roswell Butler was engaged in
the lumber business and conducted a farm. He
was also interested in a paper-mill and a flour-
mill ; he died about the year 1830 ; his wife
came West about 1849 or 1850, and lived in
Naperville with her sister, Mrs. H. L. Peaslee,
until her death, which occurred about the year
1868. The subject of this sketch received a
common school education, and afterward took
an academic course. In May, 1838, he came
to Naperville with his brother-in-law, Mr. H. L.
Peaslee, and assisted in the latter's store till
1840, when he returned to Vermont and at-
tended school two years. He then moved to
Chicago, where he clerked in a grocery store
two years ; thence to Naperville, and again en-
gaged with Mr. Peaslee, remaining with him
until he sold out his business, about the year
1853, and continuing on five years longer in the
same store in the employ of Mr. Peaslee's suc-
cessor. In 1858, he formed a partnership with
H. L. Peaslee, and conducted a general store
for a year. In 1861, he engaged as Sutler in
the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, but afterward sold
his business at Washington, D. C, to Col. Bev-
eridge. and returned to Naperville and engaged
in the hardware business two years. He after-
ward engaged as clerk for Robert Naper for
two years, and for two years longer with Na-
per's successors, then as book-keeper for the
Chicago Ale and Malt Company four years.
He then returned to Naperville, clerked two
years in grocery business for L. G. Kent, and
then engaged with W. Scott & Co., with which
firm he has since been employed. In 1851. he
married Freedom Herrick, a native of Vermont,
who came to Naperville with her mother about
the 3 r ear 1849. Mr. Butler has been School
Trustee two terms, and was President of the
Board of Naperville for the year 1862.

DR. J. A. BELL, of the firm of Drs. Bell
& Nauman, Naperville, is a native of Morgan
County, Ohio, born March 19, 1838 ; came to

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP.

Illinois with his parents about the year 1853,
and settled in Knox County. He received his
education at Hedding Seminary, of Abingdon,
Knox County, and began reading medicine in
1858 with Dr. Andrew McFarland, Superintend-
ent of the Insane Asylum of Jasksonville, 111.,
under whose tuition he remained until 1861.
In that year, he enlisted in the Tenth Illinois
Infantry ; was detailed as Assistant Surgeon
in the general hospital at Cairo ; served in that
capacity and on detached duty until December,
1861 ; then served in the field until August,
1862, when he resigned his position and re-
turned to Jacksonville ; thence he went to
Cambridge, 111., where he practiced his profes-
sion until 1866, and in 1868 came to Naperville,
where he has since been engaged in the practice
of medicine ; since he came to Naperville, he
has taken the degree of M. D. at the Hahne-
mann Homoeopathic Medical College of Chicago.
In 1861, he married Miss Elizabeth Eagle, a
native of England, who came to the United
States with her parents, and settled in the vi-
cinity of Jacksonville, 111. From this union
two children have been born. The Doctor is a
member of the Illinois State Institute of
Homoeopathy.

BISHOP BARTHOLOMEW, farmer, P. %
Warrensville, is a native of Whitehall, Wash-
ington County, N. Y., and was born in the year
1817 ; he was raised on the farm, and received
a common school education. In 1837, he came
West ; he went on the Erie Canal to Buffalo, to
Detroit by the lakes, and, in company with sev-
eral others, drove by team to Lake Michigan,
thence to Chicago by boat ; he had $75 when
he landed in Chicago, and felt that he would
not give his $75 for the town. He footed it to
Naperville, and stopped with Mr. Z. Jones, who
was formerly neighbor with him East. In
1838, he married Elmina Jones, daughter of
Mr. Z. Jones. She died about 1848. After
his marriage, he farmed on shares a number
of years, and then bought a place adjoining his

present place, but afterward traded for his
present place, where he has lived for the past
twenty-eight years. In 1850, he married Miss
Asenath McFerren, a native of Vermont ; they
were married in New York, and came here to
Du Page County. They have two children —
Henry and Nettie. By the first marriage there
were three children — Susan, Darius and Emma.
He owns 200 acres of land located on river,
three miles of Naperville. He is a Republican.

AMOS BUTZ, farmer, P. 0. Naperville, is a
native of Lehigh County, Penn., born in the
year 1811, was raised on the farm and received
a common-school education. At the age of
twenty-two, he married Esther Wenner, a native
of Lehigh County, Penn. He lived at home
until he was twenty-seven years of age, and then
bought a place of his own, which he farmed
until 1845 ; he then came West by team to
Illinois, and stopped about a month at Naper-
ville, where he bought his present place, and,
except three years' residence in Naperville, has
lived here since. He owns 116 acres, located
one and a half miles northwest of Naperville.
He is a Republican, and has served as School
Director in his district for some ten or twelve
years. By the marriage there have been six
children, five of whom are living — Abigail,
George, Owen W., Aaron, Eva Louise, Anna
Eliza. He is a member of the Evangelical As-
sociation since 1835.

PHILIP BECKMAN, harness, hides and
leather, Naperville, is a native of Bavaria, born
in 1836, and received a common-school educa-
tion up to the age of thirteen ; then apprenticed
to his trade, and served three years, and came
to America and stopped nearly two years in
Cleveland ; thence to Chicago, where he worked
for about five years. In 1859, he came to
Naperville, worked as jour until April, 1864, for
Martin Ward, when he bought him out, and
continued to the present time. He married
Miss Elizabeth Pfeiffer in Chicago, in 1858, a
native of Germany. They have eight children

BIOGRAPHICAL:

— Pauline, Carl, Mattie, Ellen, Libbie, Lula,
Bernice and Philip, Jr. Is a Republican.

ANTONI BAPST, retired blacksmith, Na-
perville, was born September 25,1817, in Alsace,
Germany ; is a son of Joseph and Ursal Bapst.
He came to this county in 1846, and worked
at the blacksmith's trade at Naperville, which
he began at the age of sixteen. In 1862, he
abandoned the business and moved on his
present farm of eighty acres, near the village,
in Naperville Township. He was for a few
years engaged in a grocery store in Naperville ;
was married in 1849 to Caroline Cooney, who
blessed him with nine children, viz. : Mary,
Fannie, Joseph, Antoni, Carrie, Frank, Louisa,
Annie and Helen. He and wife are the arti-
ficers of their own fortune, having started their
married life with $20. They are members of
the Catholic Church.

HON. HIRAM H. CODY, P. 0. Naperville,
is a native of Vernon Center, Oneida Co., N. Y.
He was born June 11, 1824, and is the son of
Hiram Cody and Huldah, nee Hitchcock. His
paternal grandparents, Samuel Cody and Su-
sannah, nee Carroll, were among the pioneers
of Oneida County. The former was a soldier
in the Revolutiona^ army ; the latter, with
pardonable pride, traced her lineage to Charles
Carroll, of Carrollton. His maternal grand-
parents, David Hitchcock and Mercy, nee Gil-
bert, formerly of Connecticut, but during many
years residents of Hamilton, Madison Co., N.
Y., were universally respected for their many
virtues. Hiram's parents took a deep interest
in his early eduaction, and intended to give
him the advantage of a thorough course of study
in Hamilton College, five miles from their home.
Their design was that he should enter the legal
profession, and in all his instruction, both at
school and under private tuition, this purpose
was kept in view, and, being well known to him,
made a very deep impression upon his hopes
and aspirations for the future. A sad disap-
pointment, however, awaited him. His father,

who was engaged in mercantile business, was
by a sudden reverse of fortune compelled to re-
sume the occupation of his early life, that of
shoemaking. Hiram, the eldest of the five
children, then about sixteen years of age, was
expecting to enter an advanced class in college
the following year, instead, however, he volun-
tarily left his school and assisted his father in
the support of the family, pursuing his studies
afterward to some extent under private instruc-
tion. This circumstance, though it seemed a
great calamity, and the destroyer of his highest
hopes and aspirations proved to him a blessing
in disguise, by inducing his removal to the
West and settlement in Illinois. In 1843, with
his father's family, he removed to Lisbon, Ken-
dall Co., 111., and one year later the family set-
tled at Bloomingdale, Du Page County. In
1847, Mr. Cody removed to Naperville, having
beenjelected Clerk of the County Commissoners'
Court of Du Page County. Two years later,
upon the adoption of the constitution of 1848,
he was nominated b} r acclamation, and in 1849
elected the first County Clerk of said county,
and during the six years he held the office
he applied himself to the study of law. and
finally, was admitted to the bar, after which
he retired from public life and devoted him-
self to his profession. Politically, his views
were Democratic, but during the war of the re-
bellion his earnest efforts and eloquent appeals
in behalf of the Union cause will ever be re-
membered by his fellow-citizens, and it was to
these that Du Page County was largely indebt-
ed for her brilliant record made during the war.
In 1861, in a convention assembled without
distinction of party, he was nominated and af-
terward almost unanimously elected County
Judge of Du Page County. In 1869, he was
elected a delegate to the Constitutional Con-
vention, and was one of its most useful mem-
bers, being elected by votes irrespective of
party. He acted with a small number of inde-
pendents who in the convention really held the

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP.

balance of power, which they so used that party
spirit was more nearly banished from that as-
sembly than from any deliberative legislative
body that ever convened in Illinois. He was
the chairman of the important committee on
Revision and Adjustment. In 1874, he was
elected to succeed the Hon. S. Wilcox as Judge
of the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Illinois (com-
posed of the counties of Kane, Du Page and
Kendall) by the largest majority ever given in
the circuit, every town in his own county giv-
ing him a majority, and in the three south
towns, which have been his home since 1847,
out of a total vote of 1,021 he received 1,007.
During his official term as Circuit Judge, the
Appellate Court was organized and the State
redistricted, the counties of Lake, McHenry,
De Kalb and Boone being combined with Kane,
Du Page and Kendall, forming what is now
known as the Twelfth Judicial District. At
the end of his term, the Republicans of the new
circuit held a convention and nominated a party
ticket for the three Judges then to be elected,
which resulted in the retirement of Judge Cody
from the bench, though he was largely sup-
ported as an independent candidate b}' those who
were opposed to making political nominations
for judicial offices. Although the district had
a Republican majority of about 12,000, and
was well organized, the Judge lacked but about
2,000 votes of being successful against the
regular party nomination. Immediately after
the election in 1879, he commenced the practice
of his profession in Chicago, having formed a
copartnership with Messrs. B. H. and N. E.
Gary, the firm being as Gary, Cody & Gary,
and having an extended and rapidly growing
practice. In the fall of 1880, Judge Cody was
nominated by the Democrats first for the office
of State Senator for the Fourteenth Senatorial
District, and soon after for Representative in
Congress for the First Congressional District,
both of which nominations he declined. As a
Judge, he was peculiarly free from prejudices,

and his thorough investigation of the law, his
clear perceptions and his careful, deliberate
and correct opinions made for him a most en-
viable reputation at home or abroad. During
his whole term as County Judge, no appeal was
ever taken from his decisions, and of the ap-
peals taken during his term as Circuit Judge
over 81 per cent were affirmed by the Supreme
Court. Judge Cody was married, December
31, 1846, to Miss Philomela B. Sedgwick,
daughter of Parker Sedgwick, M. D., formerly
of Lowell, Oneida Co., N. Y., but since 1843 a
resident of Du Page County, 111., where he is
widely known as an eminent and successful
physician. Mrs. Cody is a lad} r of intelligence
and refinement, esteemed for her earnest piety
and her true womanly qualities ; a devoted
wife and fond mother. They have from early
life both been members of the Congregational
Church.

HARLOW CROSIER, farmer, P. O. Naper-
ville, 111., is a native of Berkshire County,
Mass., born in the year 1812 ; was raised on
the farm and received a common-school edu-
cation. At the age of twenty, he apprenticed
to the carpenter's trade, and the next year be-
gan drawing wages. In 1837, he went to Ohio
and clerked in a tavern in Mentor, and in 1839
he married Miss Mary S. Nowlen, a native of
New York, and soon after the marriage came
to Naperville, 111., and the next year began
farming near the village, and about two years
later came to his present place, where he has
lived since. During his residence here, he has
worked alternately between farming and build-
ing, he having built most of the buildings in
this vicinity. By the marriage there were six
children, of whom five are living. Mr. Crosier
is a Republican in politics. He owns eighty-
six acres, located on the railroad, three miles
west of Naperville.

NATHANIEL CRAMPTON, farmer, P. O.
Naperville, was born in Connecticut in 1815 ;
was raised on the farm, received a verv limited

BIOGRAPHICAL:

education,|and at the age of twelve years moved
to Benson, Vt., with his parents. On attaining
his majority, he came West, and stopped with
Robert Strong, who lives in Will County, 111.,
near the Du Page County line. Here he re-
mained for a time, assisting in the erection of
a barn ; then went to St. Charles and took a
claim, which he sold^ next season ; then came
to this county. Here he bought for $400 a
claim of 160 acres, located four miles west of
Naperville, on the Naperville & Oswego road,
where he lived until 1878, when he retired from
farm life and moved to Naperville, where he
has since resided. On the farm is a fine grove,
which Mr. Crampton set out about the year
1870. In 1839, he married Lucy Dudley, a
native of Connecticut. They have had five
children, three of whom are living, viz. : Mil-
ton, Rosetta and May. Mr. Crampton is a
zealous member of the Congregational Church ;
has held the office of Supervisor for his town-
ship and President of the Du Page County
Agricultural Society.

EDGAR G. CRANE, farmer, P. 0. Eola,
111., is a native of Naperville Township, Du
Page Co., 111. He was born in the year 1837,
and is the third of seven children born to David
and Catharine W. (Stolp) Crane, who were na-
tives of Wayne County, N. Y. They came West
in 1835, and settled on the present place, where
he lived until his death, June 2, 1849. Mrs.
Crane lived on the place a number of years,
when she married Mr. Edgar Gallowa}', and
moved to Wayne County, N. Y., where she now
lives. Our subject was raised on the farm ; he
received a common-school course of study. On
becoming of age, he went by team to California,
and lived there and in Oregon for seven years.
He was principally engaged in mining. In

1866, he returned home, and, in the spring of

1867, went to Montana and mined for a year and
a balf ; he then returned and bought out the
heirs to the place. In January, 1869, he mar-
ried Miss Salinda M. Griswold, a native of

Wayne County, N. Y. By the marriage there
have been five children, of whom three are liv-
ing — George S., Edith May and Charles F. He
owns 243 acres located on the west county line,
three miles northeast of Aurora.

W. M. CRAMPTON, farmer, P. O. Naper-
ville, is a native of Du Page County, 111., born
in the year 1844, and is the third of five chil-
dren born to Nathaniel and Lucy H. (Dudley)
Crampton. Our subject was raised on the pres-
ent place, and received a common-school and
academic course of study. In 1862, he entered
the Post Quartermaster's Department as clerk,
and was located at Springfield, Mo. In 1864,
he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth
Illinois Infantry, Company D, and became Ser-
geant of his company, and served until the close
of the war, when he came home and occupied
one of his father's farms, adjoining the present,
and farmed there until 1873, when he went by
railroad to California, and lived there for five
3 T ears, during which time he was engaged as a
clerk with the Central Pacific Railroad Com-
pany, and located at Oakland and San Fran-
cisco, though he always lived in the latter
place. He then returned East, and occupied
the present place, where he has lived since. In
1869, he married Miss Minnie A. Kimball, a na-
tive of Wisconsin ; she came to Naperville, 111.,
with her parents. By the marriage, there are
two children — Genevieve and Florence. Mr.
Crampton is Republican in politics. In Janu-
ary, 1882, he was elected President of the Du
Page Count} r Agricultural Society.

M. C. DUDLEY, attorney, Naperville, is a
native of Oswego, N. Y., born October 7, 1820,
and is the fifth of a family of nine children
born to Asa and Levina (Olcott) Dudley, who
were natives of Vermont and Connecticut. In
May, 1839, he with his family, wife and five chil-
dren, came West and settled in Bloomingdale
Township, where one of his married daughters,
Mrs. Kent lived. He occupied a piece of land
and took the claim and bought of Government,

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP.

and farmed the same. Mrs. D. died in winter
1862-3, after which he lived with his children,
and in 1868 died at the home of his daughter,
near Norwood Park, in Cook County. He was
aged eighty-three, and was one of the early
County Collectors ; was a Baptist. Our sub-
ject was educated in New York, principally.
He early began clerking in a general merchan-
dise store. At first, when he came West, he
assisted on the farm, and began teaching ; he
then worked about two years in a store at
Peoria, when he returned home and married
Miss Lucinda Willey, a resident of Du Page
County ; then entered a claim and followed
farming until 1853, when he was elected County
Clerk, and served until 1861. During the
latter part of his term he, in company with
David Hate, engaged in general merchandising
in Naperville, firm of M. C. Dudley & Co., and
continued until about 1868, when the business
was closed up. In 1869, Mr. D. was elected
County Judge, serving until 1873, since which
time he has practiced his profession. During
his terms of office, he read law, and was ad-
mitted to practice. While County Judge, he
was appointed Master in Chancery. His busi-
ness is principally in that and the County
Court. He has had born to him five children,
three of whom are dead, the other two, daugh-
ters, are living, Ida and Eva. He is a Baptist
and a Republican.

ELI H. DITZLER, Naperville, of the firm
of Ditzler & Hosier, dealers in general mer-
chandise, was born in Stark County, Ohio, in
1841, second child of a family of four born to
Jonathan and Esther ( Alspaugh) Ditzler, natives
of Pennsylvania. Jonathan Ditzler, who was a
carpenter by trade, removed with his family to
this county in 1844 or 1845, and settled in
Naperville, where he followed his trade until
his death, which occurred September 18, 1880.
His wife is still living on the old homestead.
Our subject received a fair education, and at
the age of fifteen engaged as clerk in the gen-

eral store of W. Scott & Co., where he remained
until 1861. In that year, he enlisted in Com-
pany E, Eighth Illinois Cavalry. He served three
years, during which time he participated in the
battles of Beverly Ford, Rappahannock Station,
Fair Oaks. Gettysburg, Boonesboro, and all the
other engagements in which his regiment took
part. During his last year of service, he was
detailed as Orderly to Gen. Chapman. In Oc-
tober, 1864, he returned to Naperville and re-
sumed his former occupation until February,
1867, when he formed a partnership with
Joseph Hilligas in a general merchandising
business. In 1870, Mr. Hilligas sold his in-
terest in the business to Alvin Scott, who, in
1873, sold to Mr. Hosier, the business being
since conducted under the firm name of Ditzler
& Hosier. In the spring of 1882, he was ap-
pointed Treasurer of Lisle Township; has
served as Village Treasurer for some time. In
1870, he married Celia A. Babcock, a native of
Ohio, and at the time of her marriage a res-
ident of Cook County, 111., who has borne him
six children, viz.: Hugh W., H. lone, Wenona
A., Guy E., Lyman B., J. Elmo and Bell Eloise.
Mr. Ditzler is a Republican, and polled his first
vote while in the army.

XAVIER DRENDEL, farmer, P. O. Naper-
ville, is a native of Alsace, France, now Ger-
man}-, and was born in the year 1829. He was
brought up a farmer, and received a common
school education. He came to the United
States of America in the year 1846. with his
parents. Xavier and Theresa (Rhode) Drendel ;
they were natives of France, and settled in
Milton Township, Du Page Co., 111., and they
lived there a number of years, and then moved
to a farm near by, located in Lisle Township,
where he died February 15, 1872. Mrs. Dren-
del owns the old homestead in Lisle, and lives
with her son-in-law, Mr. Swartz. Our subject
was seventeen years of age when his folks
came to the United States of America ; he lived
at home with his parents until he was twenty-

BIOGRAPHICAL:

five years of age, when he went to California
and lived there two years ; he followed mining,
and met with fair success ; he went via Pana-
ma, and returned by the Nicaragua route. In
the fall of 1857, he married Miss Elizabeth
Winkler, a native of Alsace, France ; she came
to the United States of America with her parents
in 1845, and settled in Will County, 111. By
the marriage there have been eight children,
seven of whom are living, four boys and three
girls. After his marriage, he lived on the old
homestead, and in 1869 came to his present
place, and has lived there since. He owns 200
acres of land located two miles west of Naper-
ville. He is a Democrat.

R. H. DICKINSON, farmer, P. 0. Naper-
ville, is a native of Otsego County, N. Y., born
in the year 1834 ; he was raised on the farm
and received a common school education, and
taught a short period, on becoming of age. He
began business on his own account as news
man, and two years later he became Deputy
Route Agent on the Syracuse, Binghamton &
New York Railroad, which position he held
until 1861, when he enlisted in the Twenty-
seventh New York Volunteer Infantry, Com-
pany D, and served two years. He was in the
first battle of Bull Run and Gaine's Mills. After
his first year's service he was detailed as Mail
Agent under Gen. Slocum. After he was mus-
tered out, he remained with the command as
News Agent a number of months. He returned
home and engaged with the United States Ex-
press Company and resided in Binghamton,
and in the spring of 1868 came West prospect-
ing, and in August following located on his
present place. In 1863, he married Miss Edna
R. Bennett, a native of Broome County, N. Y.
They have two children — Lewis E. and Lee A.
He owns 100 acres located on the railroad, two
miles west of Naperville.

JOHN DRISSLER, grocer, Naperville, is a
native of Lehigh County, Penn., born in 1813.
His parents were poor and his education was

limited to one month's attendance at the dis-
trict school. When about twelve years of age,
began working among his neighbors. When
he became eighteen years of age, he appren-
ticed to the blacksmith trade, at which he
served two years and a half; then engaged in
farming a few years, after which he followed
teaming about ten years. In 1845, he came to
Naperville, where he worked a farm on shares,
and also engaged in teaming to Chicago. From
1851 to 1865, he was engaged in the furniture
business, keeping also a stock of groceries, and
in 1865 sold out the furniture stock, and en-
gaged in the grocery business exclusively. In
1876, he sold out his business, and in 1880
opened his present place, where he has since
been engaged in the grocery trade. In 1835,
he married Mary Gilbert, a native of Pennsyl-
vania, who died March 8, 1872, leaving one
child — William, now a member of the police
force in Chicago. In May, 1874, he married
Mrs. Mary Raisley, formerly Miss Mary Stucker
a native of Pennsylvania. She is the mother
of five children, one boy and four girls, b} T her
first marriage. Mr. Drissler is an adherent of
the Republican part}*.

GEORGE EHRHARDT, boots and shoes,
Naperville, of the firm of Ehrhardt & Brother,
dealers in boots and shoes, was born in Alsace,
France, now German}'. He was apprenticed
to the shoemaker's trade at the age of fifteen,
and served three years. He then worked at his
trade till twent}' years of age, when he entered
the French Arm}-. While in the arnry, he
worked at his trade for his regiment, remaining
till 1852, when he emigrated to the United
States. In the spring of 1853, he came to
Naperville, where he has since remained, en-
gaged in the boot ane shoe business, in part-
nership with his younger brother, Jacob, whose
sketch appears elsewhere in this work. In
1858, he married Louisa Kagler, a native of
Alsace, France, now Germany, who has borne
him two children — Julia and Carolina. Mr.

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP.

Ehrhardt is a Democrat and a member of the
Lutheran Evangelical Church.

JACOB EHRHARDT, boots and shoes, is
a native of Alsace, France, born in 1831. At
the age of fifteen, he was apprenticed to the
shoemaker's trade, at which he served three
years. He then worked with his father until
1854. In that year, he emigrated to the United
States, and joined his brother, George, in Na-
perville, with whom, after working a few years
at his trade, he entered into partnership in the
boot and shoe business. In 1864, the brothers
built a store in Naperville, where they have
since carried on a retail boot and shoe busi-
ness, doing a good trade. He married, in 1868,
Mary Catherine Sturm, a native of Alsace.
From this union three children have been born,
viz. : Emilia, Minnie and Henry. Mr. Ehr-
hardt has held the office of City Trustee. He
is a Republican and a member of the Lutheran
Evangelical Church.

JOHN EHRHARDT, of the firm of J. Ehr-
hardt & Co., manufacturers and retail dealers
in boots and shoes, is a native of Alsace, France
(now Germany), born September 12, 1841. His
father was a shoemaker, and subject learned
that trade, beginning when fourteen years of
age. In 1859, subject came to the United
States, and settled in Naperville, where his
brothers, who had preceded him, then lived.
He worked at his trade with his brother till
July, 1861, when he enlisted in Company C,
Seventh Illinois Infantry, was chosen Corporal
of his company, and remained in service until
the close of the war. He participated in
the engagements of Fort Donelson, Pittsburg
Landing, Corinth, was in the Atlanta cam-
paign, the "march to the sea" and through
the Carolinas, and was with Gen. Corse at Ala-
toona Pass. In 1865, he returned to Naper-
ville, worked at his trade till 1873 ; then opened
a shop and engaged in business, in company
with Mr. Gushart. In 1867, he married Maria
Nadelhoffer, who was born in Alsace and came

to the United States in 1860. They are the
parents of two children, one of whom is liv-
ing, viz., Maria S. Mr. Ehrhardt is a member
of the German Lutheran Church. He is a Re-
publican.

HON. LEWIS ELLSWORTH, agriculturist,
P. 0. Naperville, is a son of Nathan and Bet-
sey B. (Palmer) Ellsworth. He was born at
Walpole, N. H., July 22, 1805, and lived in his
native State until his eighteenth year, when he
moved to Rutland County, Vt., where he learned
the tailor's trade. In 1827, he went to Troy,
N. Y., and engaged in the merchant tailoring
business. In 1836, he sold his business and
made a trip West, buying an improved Govern-
ment claim of some four or five hundred acres,
and in 1837 he opened a general store in Na-
perville. During this year, he also built a
frame house on his land, and occupied the
same with his family in October. In 1848, he
sold his general store business, and in 1850 en-
gaged in the nursery business, which he has con-
ducted until the present time. In Decembei',
1828, he married Miss Chloe M. Skinner, a na-
tive of New Lebanon, N. Y. She died October
16, 1876. Of the five children, two are living.
In 1839, Mr. Ellsworth was elected the first
Probate Judge of Du Page County, and served
four years. He is deeply concerned in the sub-
ject of agriculture, and from its earliest days
in Illinois he has taken a leading part. He was
one of the incorporators of the Union Agricult-
ural Society (which was the first held in
Northern Illinois) and subsequently became its
Vice President and President. He was one of
the organizers of the county society and also
one of the constituent members of the State
Agricultural Society organized at Springfield
in 1853, and served as its President during the
years 1859-60 ; also at present a member of
the State Board of Agriculture.

WILLIAM FEY, farmer, P. O. Naperville,
was born October 7, 1819, in Schuylkill County,
Penn. ; is the son of Rudolph and Eve (Snyder)

BIOGRAPHICAL:

Fey. natives, the former the same county as
the subject, and the latter Bucks County.
They were the parents of five children, viz. :
William, George, Joseph, Paul and Lewis. The
father was a weaver by trade ; the parents
were Lutherans. Mr. Fey had some school
advantages and has always been a farmer ; was
married, in 1841, to Esther Hoy, the union re-
sulting in eleven children, all of whom are liv-
ing — Albert, Henry, William, Lydia (Mrs.
Abert Rickert, who died December 11, 1877),
Laura (Mrs. Charles Lefler), Elizabeth (Mrs.
Henry Houser), Emma (Mrs. Joseph Good),
George, Lewis, Morgan and Anna. Our sub-
ject came to Illinois in 1854, settling at Naper-
ville, and soon after rented a farm in Lisle
Township. In 1855, he bought 145 acres, a
part of his present farm of 251, on which he
settled and has remained since. He started
with scarcely anything but stout hands and a
willing heart, having experienced many hard-
ships in Pennsylvania. He has been no office
seeker, yet has served in some of the smaller
offices. He has always been a temperance ad-
vocate, and has reared his large family without
the use of coffee or tea. He nor none of his
boys ever used tobacco, a very rare case
indeed. The family are members of the Evan-
gelical Association at Naperville ; vote the Re-
publican ticket.

THOMAS FINLEY, dealer in ice, Naper-
ville, was born in Massachusetts in 1822. Is
the second child of a family of seven children
born to Alexander and Elizabeth (McCray) Fin-
ley, natives of the North of Ireland. Alexander
Finley, subject's father, came to the United
States with his wife and one child about the
year 1821, landed at Boston, Mass., and settled
in Meadville, Penn. In 1839, came to Naper-
ville, where he followed farming, and died in
1856 ; his wife died in 1858. Subject received
a common-school education, and lived with his
parents on the farm till 1850, when he organ-
ized a company of thirteen men, and went by

the overland route tp California, where he re-
mained four years engaged in mining. He then
returned home, but soon after started on his
second trip to California, taking with him forty-
four horses, of which number he had but seven
when he reached his destination, the rest hav-
ing either died or been stolen on the way.
After remaining in California three years en-
gaged in mining, he returned home in 1857,
bought a farm in York Township, this county,
occupied it three years, then sold it and bought
a place near Warrenville, this county, where
he farmed for six } 7 ears, then sold out and came
to his present place, where he has since fol-
lowed farming. In 1875, he built an ice-house,
and has since been engaged in the ice business.
In 1858, he married Mrs. Butterfield, formerly
Miss Ann Bennett, a native of this county, her
father being one of the pioneer settlers ; they
have a family of three children — Charles H.,
Samuel A. and Frances. Mr. Finley is a
supporter of the Democratic party.

JOSEPH S. FERRY, farmer, P. 0. Aurora.
111., is a native of Washington County, N. Y.;
he was born in the year 1829, and is the young-
est of three children born to Sylvanus and
Rhoda (Wilson) Ferry ; they were natives of
Massachusetts and New York. He was a tan-
ner, and moved to New York when a young
man, and married there. In the spring of 1835,
they moved to Terre Haute, Ind., and occupied
a place belonging to his brother-in-law, and
worked at his trade in the town. In 1838, they
moved to Warrensville, in Du Page Co., 111.,
and rented his brother-in-law's (Joseph Wilson's)
place. The next year he bought a claim, and
soon afterward Mr. Ferry died. The family
continued on the place until about 1845, and
Mrs. Ferry lived with her son thereafter until
her death in 1879. Our subject was raised on
the farm, and received but a limited course of
study in the district schools. When he was
sixteen years of age, he bought, with the help
of his uncle, fifty -three acres of land, and, with

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP.

his mother and sister, occupied the place, which
he farmed with a yoke of oxen. About 1850,
he sold the place and bought 120 acres close
by, and farmed it until 1 868, when he moved to
Aurora to obtain school facilities for his family,
and lived there six years, during which time he
built and sold property. He then came to his
present place, and has lived here since. He
owns 600 acres, which is divided into three ad-
joining farms, located two and a half to three
miles east of Aurora. In 1855, he married Miss
Sophronia B. Kenyon, a native of Washington
County, N. Y. She came to Du Page Count} 7 ,
111., with her parents about 1853. They have
three children — Adelaide, Jennie and William.
Mr. F. attributes his success to industry and
economy. He is a Republican in politics.

ROBERT FREEMAN, retired, Naperville,
was born in Meadville, Penn., February 21,
1809. He learned the trade of carpenter and
joiner, and in 1833 moved to Chicago, where
he followed his trade for ten years, after which
he moved to his farm, located in Du Page and
Will Counties, part of which he had bought as
early as 1837. He followed farming until
1876, when he built his present elegant brick
residence. Mr. Freeman has been thrice mar-
ried—in 1841, to Miss Adaline Bordman, a na-
tive of New York ; she died September 10,
1859 ; of their children, two are living —
Mrs. Emma M. Wescott, of Naperville, and
Eliza Jane Morris, of Keya Paha, Nebraska.
He married, December 11, 1861, Miss C. J.
Dewey, a native of New York ; she died
March 14, 1866, leaving two children— Arthur
R. and Ella O, living at home. The present
Mrs. Freeman, formerly Mrs. Brown, is a na-
tive of Du Page County, 111.; her maiden name
was Miss F. B. Wescott. By the present mar-
riage there is one child— Jessie. Though not
an office holder, Mr. Freeman has been an act-
ive partisan, an Old-Line Whig, a strong anti-
slavery man, and a Republican in politics. In
1820, he became a Presbyterian and continued

in his faith until he came to Naperville, when
he joined the Episcopalian Church, in the af-
fairs of which he has taken an active interest
D. N. GROSS, merchant, Naperville, is a na-
tive of this count} 7 , born in Lisle Township
December 11, 1837, and is the sixth child of a
family of seven born to George Conrad and
Salome (Dather) Gross, natives of Bavaria,
Germany, he born in Limberg, in July, 1796,
she in Giersbach, July 13, 1804. George Con-
rad Gross was married in his native land, May
28, 1825, where two of his children were born.
In 1832, he, with his family, emigrated to the
United States, and located in Pennsylvania,
where he followed farming until 1835 ; then
came to Illinois and settled on a farm in Lisle
Township, this county, where he lived until
1844, when he moved to a farm in the town of
Naperville, where he died in March, 1850. His
widow, a number of years after his death, mar-
ried Jacob Snibley, and lived in Lisle Town-
ship until her death in May, 1864. Our subject
began working for himself at the age of fifteen,
and lived with his brother. When seventeen
years old, he was apprenticed to the carpenter
and joiner trade, and served with the late John
Collins, of Naperville, three and one-half years,
and, having learned his trade, worked with his
employer until the breaking-out of the late
war. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Corn-
pan}- E, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, was detailed
as Orderly to Gen. Sumner, and served until
Jnne 30, 1862, when he was wounded in the
battle of White Oak Swamp, Va., and remained
in the hospital in Baltimore until December 13,
1862, when he was discharged, the severity of
his wound having necessitated the amputation
of his foot. During his term of service, he par-
ticipated in the engagements of Yorktown,
Williamsburg, on the Chickahominy, Fair Oaks,
Savage Station, being wounded the last day of
the Seven Days' fight. Mr. Gross was an eye
witness of the naval battle between the Merri-
mac and the Monitor. On deing discharged,

BIOGRAPHICAL:

he returned to Naperville. Ill 1863, was
elected County Treasurer. Was elected to that
office three terms, but, owing to the removal of
the county seat, served but five years. In
1869, he received the appointment of Postmas-
ter, which position he held until the spring of
1882, when he bought a mercantile business in
Brownsville, Mo., which he conducts at the
present time, though he still retains his resi-
dence in Naperville. He married, January 4,
1864, Mary E. Dudley, a native of Lisle Town-
ship, this county. They have five children —
Bertha C, Cheeny C, Dean D., Mary S. and
Fred A., and also living with the family, Ade-
line M. Smith, an adopted child of Mrs. Dud-
ley. Mrs. Gross' sister, now a missionary, will
also become one of the family. Her mother,
whose maiden name was M ary Barrows, organ-
ized and taught the first public school in Chi-
cago.

HOWARD H. GOODRICH, attorney, Na-
perville, is a native of this county, born in Lisle
Township September 25, 1852, was raised on
the farm, and attended the district schools till
he was seventeen years of age, when he en-
tered the Beloit, Wis., College, which he at-
tended one 3 r ear, then, upon the removal of the
Northwestern College to Naperville, he entered
that institution, where he completed his classi-
cal course, graduating in 1876 with the degree
of M. A., and the honor of valedictorian of
his class. After his graduation he taught dis-
trict schools one term. In the spring of 1877,
he began reading law with Judge H. H. Cody,
and the same year attended the Union College
of Law, Chicago ; in 1879, he passed an exam-
ination b} 7 the Appellate Court, and was ad-
mitted to the bar by the Supreme Court in ses-
sion at Mount Vernon, 111. In 1880, he received
the degree of A. M. Began the practice of his
profession at Naperville, and soon after entered
into partnership with Samuel W. Smith, who
however withdrew from the partnership Janu-
uary 1, 1882, and went to Iowa. Mr. Goodrich

is the eldest child of a family of four born to
Charles H. and P. Jane (Turner) Goodrich.

FRANK S. GETSCH, of the firm of Strauss
& Getsch, manufacturers of the Naperville.
plows, Naperville, is a native of this county,
born in Milton Township in October, 1850,
third child of a family of six children born to
Anthony and Philisitus (Hilts) Getsch, resi-
dents of this county ; subject was raised on
the farm, and at twelve years of age hired
out by the month, and worked on the farm of
L. Meacham a year and three months : thence
to Kankakee County, III., where he worked on
a farm for a year. He then returned home,
where he remained a year ; then in 1865 en-
listed in Company H, Twenty-third Illinois In-
fantry, and remained in service till the close of
the war ; then came home, and worked on a
farm till 1866, when he went to Danby (now
Prospect Park). There he apprenticed to the
blacksmith trade, at which he served three
j-ears and four months, then came to Naper-
ville, where he worked in the fork shops; worked
a year in plow works in Chicago, also a } 7 ear in
South Elgin Fork Shops, and finally in 1876,
became partner in present business. In May,
1876, he married Frances Bapst, a native of
Naperville ; they have two children, viz., Will-
iam and Edwin.

DAVID B. GIVLER, editor Clarion, Naper-
ville, is a native of Ashland Count} 7 , Ohio ; born
November 20, 1841, and is the fifth in a family of
seven children born to Solomon and Leah
(Brown) Givler. They were natives of Lan-
caster County, Penn.; he was a farmer and
moved to Ohio, settling on a farm in Wayne
County ; thence to Ashland County, where thej r
farmed until 1851 ; then came to Illinois, and
settled on a farm in the vicinity of Naperville,
where he lived until his death, in December,
1868. He took an active interest in politics,
and was a Republican ; member of the Evan-
gelical Church. Mrs. Givler is living in Na-
perville with her son, David B. Our subject

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP.

was raised on the farm, where he lived until
1861, when he enlisted in the Seventh Illinois
Infantry, Company C ; served during the war ;
was in the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donel-
son, Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Alatoona Pass
and the Atlanta campaign, and was with Sher-
man at the surrender of Johnston. He returned
in 1 865, and farmed for one year; he then worked
as clerk in the grain warehouse at Naperville
one year. In 1868, he bought the Du Page
County Press, and has published since, having,
in 1869, changed the name to the Naperville
Clarion. January 24, 1864, he married Miss
Abbie Matter, a native of Pennsylvania. (Mr.
G. married while home from the army on fur-
lough.) They have six children, three sons and
three daughters. Mr. G. has served as Justice
of the Peace, Police Magistrate, Collector, etc.,
etc.

t WALTER L. GOOD, Naperville, house and
carriage painter, is a native of Lehigh County,
Penn., born in 1843 ; son of Charles and Mary
Ann (Miller) Good, natives of Lehigh County,
Perm., and who were the parents of eleven
children, subject being the third. Charles
Good, subject's father, was raised on a farm ;
learned the tailoring trade. In 1846, he came
to Naperville, where he learned the painter's
trade, which he followed until his death, which
occurred in Naperville in the spring of 1867 ;
his widow married Mr. Jacob Trumbauer, and
now resides in Polo, Ogle County, 111. Walter
L. was raised in Naperville, received a fair ed-
ucation, and, when eleven years of age, began
working with his father at the painter's trade,
remaining till he was seventeen years of age.
He then went to Chicago, where he worked for
three years ; then enlisted in Company H,
Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry ; was chosen Cor-
poral ; afterward promoted to a Sergeancy, and
mustered out after a two years' service. His
regiment operated principally in Missouri, and,
though in no pitched battles, was constantly
employed among the guerrillas ; was ten weeks

on the Price raid, fighting in the battles of Lex-
ington, Independence and others. At the end
of his service, he returned to Naperville and
worked at his trade, with his father, until the
death of the latter, since which time he has
worked on his own account. In 1867, he mar-
ried Sarah Rickert, a native of Geneva, 111.,
who has borne him one child — Charles W. Mr.
Good has held the office of Village Trustee for
some time ; he is a Republican.

MICHAEL HINES, Naperville, Justice of
the Peace, was born in Londonderry, Ireland,
April 9, 1803, son of Michael and Jane (Walk-
er ) Hines, who emigrated to Canada and set-
tled on a farm near the Vermont State line.
At the age of eighteen years, our subject was
apprenticed in Montreal, Canada, to his trade,
and served three years. He then worked for a
time at Grand Isle, in Lake Champlain, and
in Vermont. In 1834, he came West, stopped
in Chicago about a year, and, in 1835, came to
Naperville, and engaged in business in part-
nership with a friend, Samuel Talmadge. He
afterward bought out Talmadge's interest, and
continued business alone, being very success-
ful; he built several stores on water street,
which were swept away in the ice gorge during
the big flood, his loss being over $10,000. He
married Lucetta Stephens daughter of Capt.
John Stephens, who was one of the old pioneers
of this count}', and who served during the
Black Hawk war ; they have had five children,
of whom three are living — Thomas S., agent of
the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad at
Moline, 111. ; has been in the employ of that com-
pany since his discharge from the army ; he
served three years in the Eighth Illinois Cav-
alry ; Mrs. Holman,of Creston, Iowa ; and Mrs.
Smith, of Naperville. In March, 1850, he started
by the overland route for California, in company
with Stephen J. Scott, and accomplished the
journey in four months and seventeen days.
After mining for two years in California, he re-
turned home via the Isthmus of Panama and

BIOGRAPHICAL:

New York ; while on the way, he bought a par-
rot in the city of Menargo, said to be at that
time forty- two years old. This parrot lived
with the family in Naperville till it died, in
1882, being, therefore, seventy-two years old ;
Mr. Hines has had it stuffed. Mr. Hines has
been Presidentofthe Board of Village Trustees ;
was two years Trustee, and is now serving his
third term as Justice of the Peace ; he is a
Democrat. While living in Chicago, he bought
a block of land on La Salle street, containing
one-half acre, for $150, and sold it the follow-
ing year for $1,150.

JAMES J. HUNT, hardware and agri-
cultural implements, Naperville, is a native of
Crawford County, Penn.; was born in the year
1824, and is the fourth child in a family of nine
children born to James N. Y. and Sarah (Jewell)
Hunt, natives of Vermont. He, a blacksmith,
moved, when our subject was six years of age,
to Erie, Penn. Our subject received a common-
school education ; at eighteen, went into his
father's shop, and at nineteen he visited the
West, spending one summer in Naperville ;
then returned home. He married Miss Nancy
Converse, a native of Erie County, Penn., in
1843 ; she died in 1872, in Colorado, where she
had gone for her health. After his marriage,
he lived in Erie one year, then came, in fall of
1844, with his father, mother and six children
to Naperville. Subject worked one year here
in plow shop, and. in 1846, opened a blacksmith
shop upon the present site of his store, and con-
tinued about twelve years. Soon after coming
here, his father and mother moved to De Kalb
County, where they died. He was elected
Sheriff in 1856, and has served one term since.
He engaged in the livery business as early as
1855, and was identified with the business until
about 1861. He then sold out his business, en-
listed in the Thirteenth Infantry, and was
elected Captain of a company. [He had pre-
viousty held the office of Captain of a militia
company of Naperville^ which he had raised.]

He took his company to Dixon, 111., where he
turned his office over to Judge Blanchard. He
had held the office of Major in militia of Penn-
sylvania, where he raised a company. He re-
turned home from Dixon and raised another
company, and notified G-ov. Gates, who an-
swered that he should disband. He bought
new stock, having sacrificed his property to go
to the army, and continued the livery business
about one year. About 1861, he engaged in his
present business, buying a small stock of goods
from another man. The business was small,
and his sons conducted the same, but when the
war was over he engaged regularly in the busi-
ness, which at first was principally a tin shop,
but gradually grew to what it is now. In 1858,
he built the present building, where he carries
on business. He was formerly a Whig, but is
now a Republican. Has had nine children, four
of whom are living. He was married, Septem-
ber 3, 1874, to Miss Lucia A. Davis, a native of
New York ; no children from second marriage.
The four children living are Frank W., partner
with his father ; Charles C, in father's store ;
James E., now in Dakota ; Eva E., at home.
Mr. Hunt has been Justice of the Peace and
Police Magistrate over twenty years ; during
the entire time, never had a verdict changed by
Circuit Court, nor lost a prisoner during his
term as Sheriff. He has liberally supported
the enterprises of this community.

GEORGE H. HUNT, proprietor Naperville
Creamery, is a native of Madison County, N.
Y.; he was born March 6, 1847 ; his father,
Anson Hunt, was a farmer, and George was
raised on his father's farm, and received a dis-
trict school and academic course of study, ob-
taining a good commercial education. In 1864,
his father engaged in the creamery business,
his being the first creamery in Madison County.
Our subject assisted in his father's business.
At the age of twenty he married Miss Estella
Tuttle, of Madison County, N. Y, and after the
marriage he began as foreman in a creamery,

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP.

and continued in that employ in Madison and
Boone Counties until 1873, when he took a trip
West, stopping one year as an officer in the
State Reform School of Wisconsin, at Wauke-
sha. He then engaged as foreman of C. W.
Golds' Creamery at Elgin, 111., where he re-
mained for three years, when in 1874 he came
to Naperville and rented a building, and con-
ducted a creamery for three years, then built
his present factory, 36x60 feet and two stories
high, and, being built after his own direc-
tions, is a model of convenience. Mr. Anson
Hunt died here in Naperville in 1878. Mrs.
Hunt, formerly Miss Lydia Wilcox, is living
here with her son.

N. B. HOSLER, general store, Naperville, is a
native of Lancaster County, Penn., born in 1831,
fifth child of a family of six born to Benjamin
and Elizabeth (Beamerderfer) Hosier, both na-
tives of Lancaster County, Penn. Jacob Hosier,
the father of subject, moved to Schuylkill
County, Penn., in 1831, where he engaged in
farming. In 1844, came to this county, and
followed farming till 1870, when he retired from
active life, and died in 1879 ; his wife died in
1866. Subject worked on the farm till 1857,
when he married Abigail Butts, a native of
Lehigh County, Penn., who died in the fall of
1870, leaving seven children, six of whom are
living at home. After his marriage he rented
a farm, which he worked three years. In 1866,
he engaged as clerk with Mr. M. Brown, of
Naperville, with whom he remained until the
spring of 1869 ; then engaged in general mer-
chandising in Bloomingdale, this count}', for
two years, and in 1872 became partner in the
business in which he is at present engaged.
He ran a threshing machine sixteen years, was
also engaged in buying produce for a number of
years.

W. H. HILLEGAS, of Hillegas & Co., hard-
ware, agricultural implements, etc.. Naperville,
is a native of Pottsville. Schuylkill County,
Penn. ; born in 1840, and is the seventh in a

family of eight children born to Joseph and
Sarah Willtrout Hillegas ; they were natives of
Berks and Schuylkill Counties, Penn. He was
a gunsmith by trade, which he followed up to
about 1840, since which he has been farming.
In 1856, the family came to Naperville and
bought a farm one mile west of the village,
and occupied the same, where our subject lived
for two years. He then engaged as a clerk
with Mr. A. Friedly, in the hardware business,
at Naperville, and continued with him until
1867, when, in com pan}- with Mr. Louis Reiche,
bought the business, and has conducted the
same since, firm being W. H. Hillegas & Co.
In 1865, Mr. Hillegas enlisted for one year, or
during the war, in the One Hundred and Fifty-
sixth Regiment Illinois Infantry, Company D ;
was Orderly Sergeant, and served until dis-
charged in September following, and returned
to Naperville and took his position in the store.
In 1862, he married Miss Mary Hartman, a
native of Lancaster County, Penn., born 1840,
and came to Du Page County, 111., with her
parents when she was two years of age. The} T
have three children, viz., Ida May, Charles W.
and Harvey H. Is a Republican, and a mem-
ber of the Evangelical Church since 1857, tak-
ing an active interest in the Sabbath school, of
which he has been Secretary a number of years.
HERMAN HAMMERSCHMLDT, farming,
P. 0. Naperville, is a native of Westphalia,
Prussia ; he was born in the year 1830. He
received, in addition to a common school educa-
tion, two years' attendance at college. When he
was eighteen years old, he came with his brother
to the United States, and bought a farm in
Naperville Township, Du Page Co., 111., and
some eight years later Herman bought his
present place and has lived here since. In
1856, he married Miss Emma Van Oven, a
native of Westphalia, Prussia. She came to
the United States with her married sister in
1852. By the marriage there have been ten
children. He is a Republican, and has served

it;

BIOGRAPHICAL:

New York ; while on the way, he bought a par-
rot in the city of Menargo, said to be at that
time forty-two years old. This parrot lived
with the family in Naperville till it died, in
1882, being, therefore, seventy-two years old ;
Mr. Hines has had it stuffed. Mr. Hines has
been President of the Board of Village Trustees ;
was two ) r ears Trustee, and is now serving his
third term as Justice of the Peace ; he is a
Democrat. While living in Chicago, he bought
a block of land on La Salle street, containing
one-half acre, for $150, and sold it the follow-
ing year for $1,150.

JAMES J. HUNT, hardware and agri-
cultural implements, Naperville, is a native of
Crawford County, Penn.; was born in the year
1824, and is the fourth child in a family of nine
children born to James N. Y. and Sarah (Jewell)
Hunt, natives of Vermont. He, a blacksmith,
moved, when our subject was six years of age,
to Erie, Penn. Our subject received a common-
school education ; at eighteen, went into his
father's shop, and at nineteen he visited the
West, spending one summer in Naperville ;
then returned home. He married Miss Nancy
Converse, a native of Erie County, Penn., in
1843 ; she died in 1872, in Colorado, where she
had gone for her health. After his marriage,
he lived in Erie one year, then came, in fall of
1844, with his father, mother and six children
to Naperville. Subject worked one year here
in plow shop, and, in 1846, opened a blacksmith
shop upon the present site of his store, and con-
tinued about twelve years. Soon after coming
here, his father and mother moved to De Kalb
County, where they died. He was elected
Sheriff in 1856, and has served one term since.
He engaged in the livery business as early as
1855, and was identified with the business until
about 1861. He then sold out his business, en-
listed in the Thirteenth Infantry, and was
elected Captain of a company. [He had pre-
viously held the office of Captain of a militia
company of Naperville: which he had raised.]

He took his company to Dixon, 111., where he
turned his office over to Judge Blanchard. He
had held the office of Major in militia of Penn-
sylvania, where he raised a company. He re-
turned home from Dixon and raised another
company, and notified Gov. Gates, who an-
swered that he should disband. He bought
new stock, having sacrificed his property to go
to the army, and continued the livery business
about one year. About 1861, he engaged in his
present business, buying a small stock of goods
from another man. The business was small,
and his sons conducted the same, but when the
war was over he engaged regularly in the busi-
ness, which at first was principally a tin shop,
but gradually grew to what it is now. In 1858,
he built the present building, where he carries
on business. He was formerly a Whig, but is
now a Republican. Has had nine children, four
of whom are living. He was married, Septem-
ber 3, 1874, to Miss Lucia A. Davis, a native of
New York ; no children from second marriage.
The four chil