See other formats

Full text of "History of Dwight, from 1853 to 1894"

v^^t^/ 



ii 



S. 



/f- 



■,\\ii 



LIBRARY OF THE 

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 

AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 

IN MEMORY OF 

STEWART S. HOWE 

JOURNALISM CLASS OF 1928 

STEWART S. HOWE FOUNDATION 



977.361 
K629 
cop. 2 




^'=»V 




^^^y--"^ ^■ 



4^ 



i- 



.-*.- ir- 



^1 ^ 



■^k^ 



'^■^JY 



.»k//.> ifc- 






\1// 



.\l. 



V 



,v.*- "- 



-t':V 



m. 



■^ ■'<. 



>jiifc^^.^; 



?f 



^,1 



*. 



;;■ 



*r 'y/i'\^^ 



>>»*' 



Vfi\ -^ 



-)f 



^^ ;# 



.v*'* 



../^ 



^^ 



ti// 



V^>V' 



i 



M 



CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER I. 

PAGE. 
Early Settlement of Township, etc , 1 

CHAPTER n. 
Visit of the Prince of Wales 7 

CHAPTER HI. 
Early Settlement of the Village 16 

CHAPTER IV. 
Reminiscences of War Times 23 

CHAPTER V. 
In Times of Peace 36 

CHAPTER VI. 
The Past Ten Years 75 

CHAPTER VII. 
From '90 to '92— The Boom 83 

CHAPTER VIII. 
Lively Times, etc 89 



CHAPTER IX. 
Local Gossip, etc 

CHAPTER X, 

1894 Itemized.'... 

101 

CHAPTER XT 

Fraternal Organizations 

1 Uo 

CHAPTER XH. 
Our Public Schools 

CHAPTER XIH. 
Dvvight Guards and 10th Battalion, I. N. G.. by Col. J. B, Parsons 120 



CHAPTER XIV. 
Dr. Keeley's Double Chloiide of Gold.... 



131 



Personal Recollections. 

By Geo. T. Conant 

By E. H. Kneeland 

137 

By S. T. K. Prime 

143 

By W. H. Bradbury 

^ 146 

By .Vliss Sarah Snyder 

By James Smith 

149 

By an Old Settler 

^ ^ 149 

By Seth Clover 

^ ^ 150 

By D. Mc Williams 

151 

About 100 illustrations are distributed through this work. 



/ 7 ' 

HL 






6^ 



History of D wight, 



FROM 1853 TO 1894. 

^-^ Compiled and Published by Messrs. Dustin & Wassell, 

editors of DwiGHT Star and Herald. 



CHAPTER I. 



EARLY SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWNSHIP, ETC. 



[The reader should bear in mind that 
in many cases the matter for this his- 
tory was written in 1878 and people 
who are spoken of at that time may be 
deceased or moved away, but are spoken 
of in the present tense.— Ed.] 

There is nothing more astonishing to 
the professional traveler, or even to 
the staid "old fogy" New Englander 
who has never been beyond the shadow 
of his own sterile hills, than the start- 
ling rapidity with whi<.h the Great 
West has been developed and settled. 
As if by magic, towns, cities and vil- 
lages have sprung up from the rank 
prairie grass and unfolded in grandeur 
and magnificence. Yesterday, where 
the tall grass waved in the wind and 
myriad wild flowers bloomed, and 
spent 

"Their sweetness on the desert air;" 

to-morrow, as it were, finds a city or 
village laid out, and buildings going up 
at a rate to startle anybody but a wide- 
awake Westerner who has been born 
and bred to this spirit of enterprise, 



and views it as a matter of course. A 
conversation overheard on the train, a 
day or two ago, between a couple of 
old gentlemen, awakened this train of 
thought and called up these reflections. 
One of them was from Western New 
York and the other was a native of 
Massachusetts, but both now live in 
Illinois. Said one, "It is the most as- 
tonishing thing in the world, this amaz- 
ing growth and developement of the 
Western country." "Yes," said the 
other, "down East, where I came from, 
there is the old road along which we 
went to school, and the rock where we 
kicked oft' a toe nail; the chestnut 
stump that stood by the side of the 
road, etc. In ten years we find them 
just as they were in our school days. 
There is the rock where we stubbed 
our toe, and the old chestnut stump by 
the roadside; nothing is changed. But 
here in the West, what changes take 
place in that period! Let us be absent 
from our neighborhood for ten years, 



HISTORY OF DWir.IIT, ILLINOIS. 



aud when we return we find nothing 
familiar; everything — almost the face 
of nature itself— has changed." Thus 
it is, that where, a few years ago, was 
a wilderness, unbroken and undisturbed 
save by wild beasts, to-day are the most 
flourishing farms, villages, towns and 
cities. 

The iron road and the iron horse 
of George Stephenson were destined to 
alter not only the face of the country, 
but also its social position and materi- 
al wealth. It was during these times 
that Jas. C. Spencer, now of Wisconsin, 
and T. C. Meyer, formerly of New York, 
drove through this country surveying 
the present railroad from Chicago to 
St. Louis. For seven days they had to 
camp out in this immediate neighbor- 
hood, and during the journey Mr. 
Spencer had his legs so severely frosted 
that at one time it was feared amputa- 
tion would be necessary. But their 
efforts were ultimately crowned with 
success and in the summer of 1854 the 
first engine passed over che road. Mr. 
A. West, who died a number of years 
ago, helped to wood up that engine 
when it stopped here, and we find that 
it was appropiately named after the 
enterprising James C Spencer. At 
that time the town consisted of two 
small shanties and a tank for the en- 
gines. One of these shanties had been 
occupied by a man named Stevens, who 
butchered for the men working on the 
railroad, and the other had been occu- 
pied by a man named Morgan, who 
boarded them. Jas. Morgan afterwards 
resided in the neighborhood of Pontiac. 
Mr. Morgan has since lived on the Al- 
ton railroad, and has been most of tliis 
time in its employ, and is now section 
foreman at Stieator. 

In September Mr. .John Campbell 
erected a temporary building just 
south of tlie depot, as a railroad dining 



station. The noon train from Chicago 
stopped for dinner, aud the St. Louis 
train for supper. H. Cornell bought 
him out In the spring of 1855, and soon 
after the dining station was changed 
to Bloomington, and Mr. Cornell built 
the first hotel on the ground where his 
present one stands. 

That winter was one easily remem- 
bered on account of its intense cold and 
protracted length. A great storm burst 
over the country and snow fell till it 
covered the land two feet deep; the 
thermometer for a period of six weeks 
averaged from 25 to 30 deg. below 
freezing point; and the few residents 
in this locality felt the bitter weather 
in all its severity. The trains were 
snowed in for several weeks and the 
passengers were furnished food by the 
poor settlers. It became necessary to 
smash up the car seats to keep fires 
burning in the cars. It was during 
this great storm that quite a large del- 
egation of Illiniois legislators had been 
on a visit to Joliet to inspect the site 
for the removal of the state peniten- 
tiary trom Alton, and when returning 
were blockaded by snow about three 
miles southwest of Dwight for several 
days, and were finally taken to the 
farm house of Major Thos. C. Mc- 
Dowell, (now James Brown's resi- 
dence,) and from there to Morris in 
sleighs, reaching Springfield via La 
Salle, Bloomington and Decatur and 
for six weeks no trains were run from 
Bloomington to Joliet. Many farmers 
in the surrounding neighborhood lost 
their cattle, and thus they were cramped 
and hindered at the very commence- 
ment of tlieir pioneer life. The snow 
was on the ground till May when the 
farmers went to planting corn ; but by 
this time other families were moving 
into the settlement, and it soon became 
evident that a village was about to be 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



formed here. At this period the prai- 
rie was infested more or less with 
wolves, and when the settler looked out 
of his door in the clear bright morning 
light he could often see large herds of 
deer pasturing not far trom his little 
homestead. The locality now known 
as the town of I)wight was then a pre- 
cinct, and it was not till the 21st day of 
January, 1854. that the plats were laid 
out and the town in which we live and 
which many have learned to love, was 
created. 

Like all the prairie land, this town- 
ship was not settled for more than 
twenty years after settlements had 
been made in the groves of timber and 
along the water courses in the county, 
John Conant came from Rochester, 
Ohio, in 1854, and settled on the north- 
east quarter of Section 8, which is con- 
ceded to be the first settlement in 
Dvvight Township, outside of the vil- 
lage of the same name. lie put up a 
frame building, which is still standing 
in a good state of preservation, though 
its builder has "mingled with the clods 
of the valley." He died a few years 
ago, at an advanced age. Mr. Conant 
was the first Postmaster at Dwight, 
and the first Justice of the Peace after 
township organization. The next year 
Nelson Cornell came to the neighbor- 
hood and put up a house on Sec. 5. Thos. 
Little settled near Cornell soon after. 
He sold out, ten or twelve years ago, 
and removed to Wilmington, where at 
present he resides. 

The first sign of a town was indicat- 
ed by the elevation of a telegraph pole 
with an inverted tin pail nailed on the 
top. This served as a landmark and a 
guide to surveyors engaged in survey- 
ing the Chicago & Mississippi railroad, 
(now the C & A. road.) When the lirst 
few houses were built here, the neigh- 
boring farmers and residents styled the 



incipient village "Western New York;" 
but that name was soon destined to 
pass out of sight and give place to a 
better one. We have never been able 
to ascertain why the town was not 
named after its founder and original 
proprietor of the land, R. P. Morgan, 
jr., unless it was that Mr. Morgan was 
too modest and too generous to name 
it atter himself. 

Henry Dwight, jr., of New York, was 
a brother engineer of R. P. Morgan; he 
came out West and embarked and lost 
his then large fortune in the construc- 
tion of the railroad. He was a man of 
enterprise and great public spirit, and 
it was in his honor and to commemo- 
rate his deeds that R. P. Morgan 
gave his name to the town in which we 
live. 

It was on the 6th of August, 1853, 
that Mr. Morgan deeded the right of 
way to the Chicago & Mississippi Rail- 
road Company through the present site 
of Dwight, and other lands; reserving 
by covenant that "should he lay oft' the 
former tract, the present site of the 
town, into town lots, to make safe and 
suitable crossings wherever the line of 
said road intersects the streets that 
may be laid out on said road." And in 
consideration of the rightof way grant- 
ed, the company covenanted to "erect 
and keep up station houses and other 
necessary depot buildings," where they 
now stand, on the North east Quarter 
of Section Nine. Town Thirty, North, 
Range Seven, East of Third Principal 
Meridian. 

In the fall of 1853 Mr. Morgan caused 
the original town plat to be surveyed, 
and on the 30th of January, 1854, for- 
mally dedicated and recorded it in the 
following words; "To be known as the 
town of Dwight, and the streets and 
alleys described on the plot are hereby 
donated to the public." 



HISTORY OF DWKUIT, ILLINOIS. 



James McIldulT, in 1854, bought the 
northwest quarter of Section 18 on 
which he had some ten acres broken 
very soon after his purchase. This, it 
is claimed, was the first "breaking of 
prairie" in Dwight Township. He was 
a native of Pennsylvania, and came to 
his farm the next year after this plow- 
ing, and settled permanently. He oc- 
cupied his farm for a number of years, 
then removed to the village, where he 
served as Postmaster during the Presi- 
dential term of Andrew Johnson. He 
still lives in the village of Dwight, and 
served several terms as police magis- 
trate and justice of the peace. 

In 1855, James C. Spencer, of New 
York, began improvements on his farm 
adjoining the present village or Dwight. 
He was born on the Hudson Eiver, be- 
low the city of Albany, and was a 
lineal descendant of Hon. Ambrose 
Spencer, once Chief Justice of the State, 
and, through his mother, of George 
Clinton, first Governor of New York 
and Vice President of the United 
States, and of DeWitt Clinton, also 
Governor of New York and the pro- 
jector of the Erie Canal. He owned 
about 1,200 acres of land herein a body 
and came to the place as an engineer 
of the raihoad company. Mr. West, 
mentioned in this chapter as one of the 
early settlers of Dwight, broke the first 
prairie, on Spencer's farm. It was on 
this farm that the Prince of Wales 
made his headquarters for a few days, 
in 1800, as noticed further on in these 
pages. Mr. Spencer at present lives in 
Milwaukee, and is Vice President of 
the Davenport & Northwestern Kail- 
road of Iowa, and Consulting Engineer 
of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chica- 
go llailroad. 

Henry A. Gardner, then a resident of 
Joliet, who owned 1,000 acres of land 
east of the village, commenced im- 



provements on it this year. He was 
originally from MassachuseUs, and he 
and Spencer and E. P. Morgan, the lat- 
ter more particularly mentioned in the 
history of the village, were civil en- 
gineers in the employ of the "Chicago 
& Mississippi Railroad Company,'' as 
the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Road 
was then called. Mr. Gardner was em- 
ployed as rodman on the Great West- 
ern Railroad in 1836, under Morgan, 
and soon advanced to Junior Assistant. 
He w^as engaged, at different periods, 
as a civil engineer on the Hudson River 
Railroad, the Harlem Railroad and the 
Mohawk .fe Hudson River Railroad. In 
1845, he came West and accepted a pos- 
ition on the Illinois & Michigan Canal, 
and in 1853 was employed, as above 
stated, in constructing the Chicago, 
Alton & St. Lou's Railroad from Joliet 
to Blooraington. He located his lands 
near the present village of Dwight, 
when making the railroad survey, and 
also settled his family here. After 
spending some time on his farm, he was 
called to a position on the Hudson 
River Railroad. At the time of his 
death, July 26, 1875, he was chief En- 
gineer of the Michigan Central Rail- 
road. The following statement, made 
a short time before he died, shows his 
excellent business qualities: "I never 
had a bill, approved by me, returned 
for correction or explanation during 
my professional life." He has left be- 
hind him a family of able representa- 
tives. 

Another of the early settlers and sub- 
stantial men of the neighborhood was 
Renjamin Chester. He settled here in 
1860, and was originally from Connec- 
ticut, and sprung from a good old Rev- 
olutionary stock. He died in 1868, and 
his son, Wm. V. Chester, who appeared 
fully capable of the management of 
their large farm, followed his father to 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



tlie land of rest in October, 18(39, leav- 
ing a sister, Miss Hannah Chester, the 
only surviving member of this excellent 
family. 

C, Itoadnight, from the 'chalky cliffs' 
of Old England, settled 3 miles south 
the village in 1857, on what is known as 
the ''Davis Farm." A man of exten- 
sive means and of fine education, he 
soon obtained the pseudonym of "Sir 
Charles," a name that ever after clung 
to him among the democratic citizens 
of this "blarsted conntry." He under- 
took to farm on the English style, but 
it did not result very successfully. In 
this country, and particularly in the 
great "West, where there are men who 
own farms nearly as large as the British 
Empire, and on which there is annually 
wasted as much, perhaps, as is made on 
the largest English farms in a single 
year, there is little attention paid to 
scientific farming, and, indeed, in the 
great every-day rush, it seems that the 
farmers have actually no time to de- 
vote to the science of the business. Mr. 
lloadnight was, for a number of years, 
(General Freight Agent of the Chicago, 
Alton & St. Louis Railroad, a position 
he filled with entire satisfaction. 

This includes a number of the early 
settlers of the township outside of the 
village of Dwight. From this period 
forward, the inllux of emigrants was 
too rapid to further admit, of individ- 
ual notice in the history of the town, 
but there are those whose histories are 
identified with the village, and in that 
connection will receive proper mention. 
The country around the little village 
rapidly filled up, and the new railroad, 
when completed, was an inducement, 
to people in search of homes, to bring 
them to this section, and soon not a 
"forty" nor ''eighty'' was left unten- 
anted. 

Like ail portions of a new country 



the main historical importance centers 
in the cities or more important villages 
It is so In Uwight Township, and very 
few items of interest, beyond the mere 
fact of settlement, have occurred out- 
side of the village limits. There are, 
however, one or two instances that 
belong in the township history, and 
will be given in their proper order. 

Some notice of a murder that oc- 
curred but a few miles from the village 
of Dwight. and is a part of the history 
of this toft-nship, may be given in this 
connection. A Prussian nobleman, by 
name Alvin V. Panwitz, had settled a 
few miles from the village, where he 
was murdered on the 23d day of Janu- 
ary, 1872, by his German serving man, 
Frederick Schafer. Panwitz was a man 
who drank to excess, and on the day of 
his murder had drawn some money le- 
mitted to him from the old country, 
and as usual got drunk. Late in the 
evening, he and his man, together with 
Conrad Reinmiller, started for home in 
his sleigh, but owing to the violent 
quarreling of Panwitz and Schafer, 
Reinmiller left the sleigh. After they 
had arrived at home, it seems their 
quarrel was renewed, and while Pan- 
witz was lying on the bed, Schafer 
struck him with a monkey wrench sev- 
eral blows, which ultimately resulted 
in death. Ilis victim was buried in a 
compost heap near the stable and for 
three days Schafer hauled corn to 
Nevada, when, having aroused sus- 
picion against him, he dressed himself 
in his late master's clothes (whom he 
strongly resembled, it is said.) gathered 
up all the valuables he could get his 
hands on, and started with the team 
for Chicago. Detectives there were 
notified, and soon discovered him in a 
stable trying to dispose of the horses 
for a small amount. He was at once 
brought back to the village of Dwight, 



HISTORY OF D WIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



and after a preliminary hearing sent to 
Pontiac, where, in due time, he was 
tried and sentenced to eighteen years 
in the Joliet prison. 

In Dwight Township, as in all prai 
rie country, the people were often ex- 
posed to the terror and danger of prai- 
rie fires; many lost property, and came 
near losing their lives. Referring again 
to the history of Dwight, already 
quoted from, it says of these ter- 
rible fires: "Nelson Cornell was out 
hunting one day on the east side of the 
town, and when returning saw an im- 
mense prairie fire approaching. In or- 
der to save his life, he burnt the grass 
in the place where he was, and stood 
on the hot ground while the larger fire 
swept by him, nearly suffocating him 
with smoke and ashes." Thus the 
early settlers of the prairies were often 
in danger of losing, not only their prop- 
erty, but their lives. 

When the county was divided into 
election precincts, before township or- 
ganization, Robert Thompson, living 
in what is now Nevada Township, was 



a Justice of the Peace in this "Election 
Precinct," and was the first to exercise 
the functions of that office here. John 
Conant was the first Justice after town- 
ship organization. The first constables 
were B. Losee and W. H. Ketchum; the 
latter was also Collector, and Isaac G. 
Mott was the first Supervisor. The 
township officers in 1878 were as fol- 
lows; Hugh Thompson, Supervisor; 
John Thompson and W. H. Ketchum, 
Justices of the Peace; Joseph Ford, As- 
sessor; Joshua Sibley, Collector; C. M. 
Baker, Town Clerk, and Francis Carey, 
School Treasurer. 

The first birth in the township was a 
child of Thos. Wilson, the Railroad 
Agent, about 1854, and died in about 
six months, which was also the first 
death in the village. The second death 
was the wife of Alexander Gourley. 
She was taken sick and died at Mr. 
West's in 1855. She was buried in the 
German Settlement. The first marriage 
of which we have any account is Elon G. 
Ragan and Maria West, who were mar- 
ried February 19, 1856. 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



CHAPTER II. 



VISIT OF THE PRINCE OF WALES. 



One of the most important, and, per- 
haps, deserving of precedence, even 
among our republican people, who have 
little veneration tor royalty, but a good 
deal of curiosity perhaps, was the visit 
of the Prince of Wales to this country, 
in 1860. All who read the public jour- 
nals of the day are familiar with tbe 
main features of his tour of the United 
States, and it is only necessary to state 
here, that the Prince, en route from 
Chicago to St. Louis, stopped here for 
a few days shooting. From a work en 
titled "Past, Present and Future of 
Dwight," published by The Dwight 
Star, we extract of the royal visit. 
Speaking of the events of the year 1860, 
the author says: "This year was re- 
markable for nothing, as far as we can 
learn, except the visit of the Prince of 
Wales. The theory of the divine right 
of kings has long since been exploded, 
and is now thrown aside by all intelli- 
gent people. Yet, if the theory has 
gone, of the practices which it involved 
remains. There seems to be a natural 
craving in the minds of many to see a 
royal personage, even if it only be a 
second cousin. The strangest part of 
it is, that such a desire should be mani- 
fested in our own country, the acknow- 
ledged land of independence and the 
home of republican thought and feel- 
ing. It is true, however, that our coun- 
trymen, and women especially, have a 



great reverence for foreign nobility, 
and the visit of the Prince of Wales, 
and later the Duke Alexis, confirms 
the statement. That this state of things 
exists is not surprising, but it is sad. It 
would seem that if a tribute of praise 
or meed of honor is due to any man, it 
is to him who has wrought noble deeds 
for his country; it is to that man who, 
laying aside all selfish ambition and 
worldly fame, devotes his faculties, his 
energies, his life to the welfare of our 
common humanity. 

"During his progress through our 
country, the Prince of Wales met an en- 
thusiastic reception. His visit to this 
neighborhood was expected, and the 
residence of James C. Spencer was pre- 
pared for his visit. The household fur- 
niture was taken away, and special fur- 
niture, sent ahead by the Prince's party 
supplied its place. A crowd of citizens 
gathered on the edge of ihe railroad 
opposite Mr. Spencer's residence and 
waited for the Prince's arrival. It is 
mournful to be compelled to state that 
no triumphial arch had been reared; no 
town band was there with pleasant 
music, no leading citizen to present an 
address of welcome to the youthful 
scion of royalty. t- * * * 
About 27 minutes after 6 p- m on Sep- 
tember 22, 1860, the Prince of Wales ar- 
rived at this town. He was at once 



iiiSTony OF DwiGiiT. illi:nois. 



escorted to the residence of Mr. Spen- 
cer, where he remained during his stay 
here. He came to this neighborhood 
for the purpose of shooting, and had 
not been many minutes at the farm 
before he called loudly for his gun and 
announced his intention of having 
some sport that evening. He only shot 
one bird a little screech owl, and that 
was enough for the time being. The 
next day was Sunday, when the Prince 
and his suite attended divine service at 
the Presbyterian church. The sermon 
was preached by the Rev. P. D. Young. 
The Prince was much pleased with the 
service, and, in consequence, made a 
donation to the church. The next day, 
the party, numbering some twelve or 
fourteen gentlemen, commenced shoot- 
ing in downright earnest. One day 
they shot from the train, and had such 
success that over two- hundred quails 
and chickens were bagged. The Prince 
was then 19 years old, and liad a good 
appearar.ce. He was looking remark- 
ably well and enjoyed excellent health. 
His spirits were always good and his 
manner uniformly genial. He was 
very much pleased with our country, 
and expressed himself eminently satis- 
fied with his visit to Dwight. His stay 
wasshoit;he came on Saturday and 
went away on Wedne'iday. The last 
day he was liere, he planted an elm tree 
on Air. Spencer's farm, and it has now 
grown to large proportions. Those 
who are curious about such matters 
can walk up to the residence and see 
that elm tree for themselves. Mr. Alil- 
ler was living on the farm at the time 
of the Prince's visit, and has com- 
niunicatea many items of information 
to us." 

"The first night, one of the principal 
attendants on his Royal Higliness made 
an unpleasant and uncalled-for remark 
to Mr. Miller. That gentleman turntd 



ronnd quickly and said, 'If you'll just 
mind your business, I'll mind mine.' It 
is aiso related how Mr. Roadnight drove 
up one day in rattling style, and, sitting 
in his vehicle, called, 'Ho, therel' Xo 
reply was vouchsafed the challenge; 
and when it had been unsuccessfully 
repeated, the irate Englishman put his 
whip to his horses and told the Prince 
to 'go' somewhere, but history does not 
state positively the place. Mr. Miller 
says the party behaved themselves with 
great decorum during their stay, and 
bs the town is also reported to have 
done the same, we may safely congrat- 
ulate ourselves on having entertained 
the heir to the throne of England with 
satisfaction and credit. 

"As to the tree planted by his Royal 
Highness, and referred to in the fore- 
going extract, we had the curiosity nat- 
ural to a "Brother Jonathan" and paid 
the tree a visit. So impressed did we 
become v/ith its royal greatness, that 
we mechanically lifted our "tile" and 
bowed low to its waving branches, while 
with awe we plucked a leaf which we 
bore away as a relic. Spencer's place 
where the Prince was entertained, is or 
was known as "Renfrew Lodge", and is 
half a mile north of the village. 

The following recently appeared in 
the Youths Companion and will be of 
interest to all. 

A PRINCE ON THE PRAIRIE. 

l.Y GRACE GKEENWOOD. 

In the town of Dwight, Illinois.— a 
place of late years famous in connec- 
tion with the "gold cure" for dipsoma- 
nia, — there stands a certain commodi- 
ous cottage which has a bit of royal 
history attached to it. Uuderits mod- 
est roof tiie young Prince of Wales was 
entertained in 18(iO, while on a shoot- 
ing expedition — a pleasant little epi 
sode in his American tour. 




Col. Richard P. Morgan. 



David McWilliams, 





W. H. Bradbury. 



Geo. Conant. 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLOOIS. 



This house, standing on the edge of 
Grande Prairie, had been for some sea- 
sons occupied only as a hunting lodge 
by the owner, Mr. James Spencer, of 
Chicago, and his brothers, all ardent 
sportsmen. Often they had guests, in- 
cluding many English army officers and 
tourists who had brought letters to the 
Spencer family, and were eager for the 
sport then to be found on our plains as 
nowhere else. 

Mr. Spencer's tract of almost virgin 
praire, with the vast level stretches 
beyond it, constituted a natural game 
.preserve— if "preserve" that could be 
called which was open to the world 
and walled by the horizon only. 

The long bush grass of the prairie, 
with wild vines and flowers, afforded 
rare hiding-places for birds, and as 
proof of the then great variety of 
such game stands the record that on 
one day in October, 1858, the Spencer 
brothers and their guests killed prairie 
chicken, quail, snipe, woodcock, plov- 
er, wild geese, wild turkeys and ducks! 

In the early summer Mr. Spencer re- 
ceived from high social sources an inti- 
mation of the honor designed him. It 
was an invitation to invite the Prince 
of Wales and party to his modest lodge 
for a little shooting. It seemed that 
the fame of the American gentleman 
a courteous and considerate host and 
that of his shooting lodge for well- 
guarded privacy, as well as excellent 
sport, had been carried even to Wind- 
sor, 

When the plans for the visit of Al- 
bert Edward to America were being 
discussed, the boy pleaded for a little 
shooting on a Western prairie, as a re- 
lief from tiresome receptions and pa- 
rades. The queen and prince consort 
consented on condition that "Bertie" 
should be received at the Spencer 
Lodge for a few days in the month of 



August, and while there should be 
under the immediate personal care of 
his host. 

DRAWBACKS TO ENTERTAINING ROY 
ALTY. 

Mr, Spencer appreciated the compli- 
ment, but could not at first bring him- 
self to accept it. He was a quiet busi- 
ness man, averse to publicity. More- 
over, he shrank from the serious re- 
sponsibility of guarding the English 
heir-apparent, in house and hunting 
field, at a time when Irish Orangemen 
and Ribbonmen were rioting in Cana- 
da, and when Fenianism was being or- 
ganized in the States. 

Pressing letter and messages came to 
Mr. Spencer from English and Canadi- 
an friends interested in the prince's 
tour, but it was not until the lad him- 
self was hourly expected in Canada, 
with his heart set on prairie chickens, 
that, moved by a sportsman's sympa- 
thy, Mr, Spender's resolution gave 
away, and he set about the necessary 
and somewhat difficult arrangements 
for so unusual an event as a royal visi- 
tation in a primitive prairie town. 

There were those in this republican 
country who envied "the Spencers" the 
privilege of entertaining Queen Vic- 
toria's son, but the honor had its draw- 
backs. 

From the first, great care and man- 
agement had to be used to keep the 
time and the whereabouts of that little 
sporting frolic a profound secret, lest 
enterprising reporters from the big 
cities should be early on the field, 'lying 
low' in the prairie grass, or as ameteur 
sportsmen stalking the royal game. 

Again, the party was rather royally 
considerable for one republican family 
to look after. There were two "gover- 
nors'' of the prince, His Grace the Duke 
of Newcastle and General Bruce; Lord 
Lyons, British Minister to Washington ; 



10 



HISTOKY OF DWIGllT, ILLINOIS. 



the Earl of St. Germain; two extra lords, 
Eliot and Hinchingbrooke, college 
friends of the prince; two equerries, 
Major Teesdale and Captain Gray; one 
physician, Doctor Acland; a London 
Times reporter and an Illustrated Xews 
artist. Added to these were a lot of 
English servants, with special men for 
the hunting field. 

Dwight was then a small village, and 
nearly all supplies for the lodge had to 
be brought from Chicago, seventy-five 
miles away. Marketing would have to 
be done in the city every morning and 
sent down by an early train. 

Only a limited number of the royal 
party could be accommodated at the 
lodge. For the others, suitable quar- 
ters must be provided in the neighbor- 
hood. To look after the comfort of all, 
and to train and direct new servants, 
mostly rustic, Mr. Spencer found that a 
hostess would be indispensable. 

He was a single man? but happily he 
had a married sister who, though still 
very young, was equal to the emergen- 
cy, being a lady of rare executive abili- 
ty and fine social tact. This lady went 
down from her city home from time to 
time, and quietly put the lodge and its 
annexed cottages in order, as though 
for the coming of the ordinary guests 
of the shooting season. 

If people asked questions— well, the 
secret had to be kept. She knew that 
for these aristocratic guests no special 
etiquette was to be observed. While in 
the States they were to dispense with 
courtly form and ceremony, and to drop 
all lordly airs,— if they ever had any,— 
thus sparing our republican feelings, 
while gaining a good time for them- 
selves. 

The prince himself was kindly to shed 
his grandest titles,— about a score of 
them,— retaining only that of Jiaron 
Renfrew. To their American host the 



members of the party were to be sim- 
ply English gentlemen, mostly elderly, 
headed by a nice young collegian, the 
nicest and youngest of them all. 

PKINCE ALBERT EDWARD ARRIVES. 

In August the Prince of Wales 
reached Quebec, and was received with 
raptures and revels of loyalty. After a 
triumhpial progress through his moth 
er's dominions he neared the Land of 
Promise at Niagara, where he beheld 
tliat slender propechy of the g'-eat sus- 
pensiou-bridge— the wire of the rope- 
walker Blondin, with Blond in on it. 
Reaching the States, he naid brief visits , 
to Detroit and Chicago, unimportant 
towns, on his way to Dwight. 

Chicago was then in one of its trans 
ition states — rising from mire, as ten 
years later it rose from ashes. From 
the wonderful new waterworks, to 
which they had been conducted by the 
mayor and other othcials, the prince 
party were whisked off by Mr. Spencer 
to Dwight, by way of the Chicago, Al- 
ton & St. Louis Railroad. 

After reaching the lodge, most of the 
guests were content to rest on the piaz- 
za and enjoy the evening breeze from 
oft' that great prairie surging softly in 
the sunset light, like a sea of gold. Ra- 
the prince, intent on business, almost 
immediately called for his gun, and 
dashed out into the grounds. 

A valet, two gentlemen of the Spen- 
cer family and a lord or two, followed 
in hot and armed pursuit. Soon there 
was a cheerful popping of guns, and a 
whirring up and fiuttering down of hap- 
less birds, set upon when just about 
turning in for the night. The little 
party returned in the darkling twilight 
with some fine specimens of prairie 
chickens, Albert Edward wild with de- 
light over his share, and bound to have 
it cooked for dinner. 

Only the prince, his governors and 



IIISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLIIS^OIS. 



11 



physician had rooms at the lodge though 
all the gentlemen of the party met there 
for meals. When, an hour or two after 
dinner that evening, Mr. Spencer was 
preparing to couduct the two equerries 
to their quarters, — the cottage of the 
village schoolma.ster, just outside the 
lodge-gates, — the irrepressible prince 
asked permission to go also, and carry 
a lantern. 

Arrived at the house, they were all 
invited into the little parlor, where sat 
the schoolmaster and his wife— she 
rocking an obstinately wakeful baby. 
To the surprise of the young gentlemen, 
the royal arrival was still unknown to 
the dominie, who began questioning his 
neighbor as to the rum or that the young 
Prince of Wales was "going to shoot 
somewhere on some prairie in Illi- 
nois." 

"I do not expect him, for my part," 
said Mr. Spencer. 

"Well, so I thought," continued the 
schoolmaster; "he's too grand for a 
place like D wight, I suppose. I won 
der what sort of a young fellow he is 
anyhow. Not as handsome as his fath- 
er, judging by the pictures in the pa- 
pers. Pretty well educaced for a prince, 
I guess, but I don't suppose he knows 
much about the higher mathematics." 

During this conversation the subject 
of it was the only one of the visitors 
who perfectly kept his countenance— a 
royal lesson, early learned. When his 
equerries had rather hurriedly retired, 
he gravely took leave of Mr. Spencer, 
bidding the innocent schoolmaster and 
wife good night, and not forgetting the 
baby. But well away, he laughed heart- 
ily and long over his "lirst call in the 
States." 

The next day was Sunday. The en- 
tire party accompanied host and host- 
ess to church— a Presbyterian one, the 
first house of worship built at Dwight. 



To the surprise of some of his hearers, 
the republican pastor prayed for the 
Queen of England and the royal fami- 
ly. It was not democratic, perhaps, but 
it was Christian and hospitable, and 
may have given a certain comely youth 
in the Spencer pew a pleasant home feel- 
ing. 

In no other way was the presence of 
royalty and high nobility noticed in 
that simple "meeting-house" on the 
edge of the great prairie. After ser vi ce 
all passed out quietly and decorously — 
no staring, no delay, no hanging about 
the doors. Mr. Spencer has always 
been proud of the behavior of his neigh- 
bors on that occasion — so unlike that 
of fashionable New York worshippers, 
who a month or so later, almost 
mobbed the poor young prince in old 
Trinity. 

DAYS OF ROYAL SPORT. 

On Monday the carnival of sport 
began. Hunters and dogs were driven 
to grounds at some distance, where the 
party, increased by a number of famous 
American sportsmen familiar with the 
prairie, was divided into four detach- 
ments. 

The Prince of Wales, closely accom- 
panied by the Duke of Newcastle and 
Mr. Spencer, was to be always twenty 
minutes in advance of the others — a 
regulation thereafter sternly enforced 
by the two governors. This, boys, is 
the free and independent way in which 
a young crown prince goes a-gunning! 

The precaution was perhaps doubly 
necessary, for not only, in their excite- 
ment over novel game, might those 
young collegians. Lords Eliot and Ilin- 
chingbrooke, shoot a Utile wildly, but 
the prince himself, in his boyish eager- 
ness, might, while "putting up" a Hock 
of prairie chickens, bring down an 
equerry or two. 

As it was, he hit nothing but fair 



12 



IIISTOUY OF DWIGllT, ILLINOIS. 



game, and he hit that astonishingly of- 
ten. Mr. Spencer, who was one of the 
shots of America, and who recognized 
no royal road to the honors of the hunt- 
ing-field, was surprised at his exploits 
— almost as much surprised as the 
young fellow himself, whose skill, or 
luck, seemed to increase from hour to 
hour. Knowing he had to compete 
with the crack shots of the prairies he 
was put upon his mettle to prove him- 
self worthy his associates and oppor- 
tunities. 

It was a great day for international 
sport. The weather was perfect, the 
scent fine, the dogs of the lodge were 
pronounced admirable for training and 
intelligence, and all returned to their 
quarters in the evening safe and sound, 
laden with glory and game. 

Another time the party took a train 
to new and even richer hunting grounds 
where all day long the birds fell about 
them like autumn leaves before a gale 
The prince, being the young lion of 
England, was of course awarded a gen- 
erous share in this success. He was 
royally happy. At last he had found 
something in this big, rough New 
World worth coming for. 

However far they may have tramped 
through the thick prairie grass, under 
an August sun, it was a cheerful com- 
pany that sat down to dinner at the 
lodge— sat long and ate '-like hunters." 
Among the young men, seated by them- 
selves, there was usually going a good 
deal of "chaff.'' One of the college boys, 
being a stammerer, was too often the 
victim, but took all in good humor. 
The prince had to take his turn. 

One night, over the coffee, he was 
chaffed about a big lot of birds he was 
to send to England— it being insinuated 
that he made a miscount, to enhance 
that day's glory. Snatching a candle 
from a candelabra, he ran out to the 



game storehouse to go over them again, 
taking a witness with him, and soon 
returned triumphant, having gained 
one by the count. 

One evening there was even unusual 
laughter at that hilarious table over a 
cartoon in Harpers' Weekly, represent- 
ing young Albert Edward, returned lo 
Windsor, presenting a pretty Yankee 
bride to the queen. The prince, most 
amused of all, exclaimed, '"I'll send it to 
my mother!" 

Though these were merry fellows all, 
their merriment was restrained within 
certain bounds by refined taste and that 
respect for elders which is one of the 
finest characteristics of well-bred En- 
glish youth. It is only the exception 
we find pilloried in Punch. 

The elder members of the party are 
remembered by their entertainers as ex- 
ceedingly genial gentlemen— with per- 
hai'S the exception of the Duke of New- 
castle, who was usually haughty, re- 
served and austere enough to stand for 
the traditional type of a great English 
nobleman. With a stern sense of duty, 
and small sympathy with the light- 
heartedness and lightheadedness of 
youth- especially of youth under the 
shadow of the throne — he sometimes 
acted as a killjoy for his fun-loving 
charge, never hesitating to administer 
a reproof when he thought it would be 
wholesome. 

I remember hearing from the late Mr. 
Sumner an instance of this which oc- 
curred during a call on the royal party 
in Boston. In the course of a political 
talk between him and the I)uke of New- 
castle, the character and career of Mr. 
Gladstone coming under discussion, 
the Prince of Wales, who had been lis- 
tening quietly, broke in with, "Yes, 
Mr. Sumner, Mr. Gladstone is one of 
the foremost men in English poli- 
tics " 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



13 



"Tut, tut, toy! What do you know 
about English politics?" said the awful 
governor. 

What heir of an American railroad 
king would have stood such a snubbing V 
This heir of a hundred kings flushed 
and was silent. He "tOok it out,'' how- 
ever, the next night at a delightful 
ball, where he said to his pretty part- 
ner: . 

"I don't have half enough of this sort 
of thing, you know. I hope to come to 
America again some time, without my 
nurses." 

I believe there is a melancholy tradi- 
tion at West Point of the prince being 
sent to bed at the very hour he was ex- 
pected in the ball-room. 

To return to D wight. Whatever the 
fascination of the hunting field, the 
prince and his party observed with 
scrupulous punctuality the hour for 
dinner— always giving themselves time 
to dress properly for that solemn En- 
glish function. 

All seemed to keenly relish their re- 
pasts, and little wonder. There were 
two accomplished cooks in the kitchen, 
who prepared for them in many deli- 
cious ways the first venison of the sea- 
son and fatted prairie fowl, as well as 
the choicest fish and domestic meats. 
Of course the best vegetables and fruit 
in the market were provided, while 
fresh butter and eggs were made and 
laid for them daily. 

ret their anxious little hostess says 
she was "much comforted"' by hearing 
that the prince and his party after- 
ward declared the best dinners they 
had in America were at "the Spencer 
Lodge." 

The royal party took everywhere with 
them. their wines, as well as bath-tubs. 
The only, lights ever used about the 
Prince of Wales were wax candles — 
gas being considered unwholesome and 



oil lamps dangerous, as well as demo- 
cratic 

There were other precautions taken 
for the young man's safety — unobtru- 
ive, but never relaxed. At Mr. Spen- 
cer's place all looked after his comfort 
and security— men, women, small 
boys and those faithful guardians, the 
dogs. 

The only one of the household who 
was evidently free from care was the 
object of all this solicitude. He never 
seemed to feel his nearness to the 
grandest throne in the world. 

HOW THE PRINCE APPEARED. 

The family who entertained him at 
Dwight thirty-three years ago have 
still very clear recollections of his ap- 
pearence and manner. He was slight 
then, and had an abundance of soft 
brown hair. His face was as now, 
Guelphic of contour, but attractive in 
color and expression. His blue eyes 
beamed with good humor and a great 
joy in life. He seemed quite free from 
self-consciousness — was never brusque 
or impatient or arrogant toward his 
associates, while to laboring men and 
sarvants he was singularly considerate. 

Even at that early age he showed 
the fine social tact for which he has 
since been distinguished, and the mem- 
ory of names and faces which he seems 
to have wisely cultivated. 

In place of regal dignity he had the 
social defence of perfect courtesy. If 
he encountered rough men in the hunt- 
ing field, they were not rough to him 
nor were they unduly familiar, even 
when after handling his game, he 
stopped to wash his hands at the 
pump in the yaid, or when on the 
tramp, he laughed with them over 
some rediculous Western story. 

To this day he keenly enjoys Ameri. 
can humor, with all its absurdities and 



14 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



wild extravageneies. To those who 
knew him best during that visit he 
was always the same good-natured, 
unassuming Eng.'ish boy, and even now 
that he is more of a grand personage 
than ever, being a grand father and a 
'mighty hunter" — having chased tigers 
on elephant-back in India— they cannot 
believe that all the endearing traits of 
the lad who shot small game at Dwight 
with such content have dissapeared 
from the character of the man. 

The result of his last day's sport was 
so astonishing that the prince, over his 
huge pile of birds, lamented the necess- 
ity of moving on, saying, "I would like 
to stay here shooting for a month 
longer; its the only real fun I have had 
in America." 

That evening he almost overwhelmed 
his hosts with thanks for their kindness 
to "so troublesome a guest, and paid a 
grateful compliment to his young hos- 
tess, whose deft management had 
made them all so comfortable at the 
lodge. He ended by shyly placing in 
her husband's hand "a little souvenir" 
for her. 

It was a besutilul jeweled bracelet 
bearing his arms and motto. She re 
oeived also from him a fine engraved 
portrait bearing his autograph, and an 
album containing portraits of his fam- 
ily party. To Mr. Spencer he later 
sent a valuable token of rememberance. 
He was not mean— young Albert Ed- 
ward. 

On the last morning of his visit he 
planted a tree before the house, which, 
at the host's request he christened 
"Renfrew Lodge." Then with corteous 
adieux to all, not forgetting the dogs, 
he departed with his suit for St. Louis, 
from whence, that nigh, there came 
from him a homesick telegram . 

With the going of those pleasant 
guests silence settled on the lodge and 



a listless, let-down feeling on the hearts 
of Its inmates; yet they were not with- 
out comfort in the thought that their 
anxious care had kept all harm from 
that boyish, genial Baron Renfrew, heir 
to the throne of England and all her 
mighty dependencies. 



There are a few interesting items in 
connection with the visit of the prince 
we have secured that have never been 
published, which we present: 

James Spencer was an expert hunts- 
man and had a reputation far and wide 
and it might be said that his reputa- 
tion was one cause that brought the 
Prince to Dwight. Mr. Spencer accom - 
panied him on all his hunts and was 
very much pleased with him. The 
riding about the country was done in a 
two seated buggy belonging to Col. R. 
P. Morgan. The buggy was about the 
"finest in the land" at that time. Col. 
Morgan then resided and owned the 
residence (Hahn property) now occu- 
pied by the offices of the Keeley League, 
which was considered a very fine house 
in those days, and it was a common 
occurrence for deer and wolf to be close 
to the house, and we understand, in 
one instance deer was shot on the 
grounds. 

During the Prince's visit Col. Mor- 
gan entertained Lord Lyon, then 
British council to the United States, 
and the Duke of Newcastle, and rep- 
resentatives of the London Times. New 
York Herald and other large news- 
papers. 

The Prince gave a dinner once a day 
and Col. Morgan was always an hon- 
ored guest. The Prince at the time and 
after his departure made many gifts in 
rememberance of kindnesses shown 
him, one in particular that has been 
given us that deserves special mention. 
The prince called Col. Morgan into his 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



15 



room one day and presented him with 
handsome gold shirt buttons, sleeve 
buttons and vest buttons, saying in 
substance that he wished him to accept 
them as a slight token of his respect 
for him and for kindnesses extended to 
the royal party. The case containing 
the buttons presented to the Colonel 
bears the manufacturers' name as fol- 
lows: 

R. &S. Garrard & Co. 

Goldsmiths, Jewelers, Etc., 

to the Queen, 

His Royal Highness, The Prince Consort 

and all the Royal Family, 

Panton Street, London . 

A very fine photograph of the Prince 



was presented by him to Mrs. Morgan, 
which is now in the posession of Ed. 
Morgan, of Bloomington, 111. 

While the recollection of the oldest 
inhabitant does not recall the time 
when the Colonel was seen wearing 
these gorgeous gold trimmings of roy- 
alty, it is needless to say that he prizes 
them very highly. 

This chapter will close the reminis- 
censes of the royal visit and we shall 
now proceed with the history of more 
democratic people and things and prob- 
ably more interesting to our readers. 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



16 



CHAPTER III. 



EARLY SETTLEMENT OF THE VILLAGE. 



THE VILLAGE OF DWIGHT. 

"When flrst this village D. was thouglit. 
The friends of D. some others fought, 
To give a little name, and birtli 
To homes of clay, and joyous mirth. 
Tills settled, and a sign they placed 
To guide tlie weary wanderer to rest: 
A hickory ix)le of twenty-two feet, 
A rust pan did gracefully o'erleap." 

Dwight is situated on the main line 
of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Rail- 
road, at the junction of its Western Di- 
vision, and is about seventy miles from 
Chicago, and twenty miles from Pon- 
tiac, the county seat. It is a place of 
about 2,000 inhabitants, is the third in 
size, and one of the most important 
shipping points in the county. The 
repair shops and the round house of the 
Western Division of the Chicago, Alton 
& St. Louis Railroad are located here, 
as well as the headquarters of the bridge 
builders of the main line. The tank 
men were stationed here when 
they moved their headquarters to 
Bloomington. A large number of men 
employed by the two roads live in the 
village of Dwight, and have all their 
interests centering here. 

Dwight was surveyed by Nelsoii Buck, 
deputy County Surveyor, for Amos 
Edwards, the regular surveyor of the 
county, in the fall of 1853, for R. V. 
Morgan, Jr., Jas. C. Spencer, John 
Lathrop and J. and K. W. Fell, who 
owned the land on which it stands. The 



original town embraced the southwest 
quarter of the southeast quarter of Sec- 
tion 4; also the northwest quarter of 
the northeast quarter, and the northeast 
quarter of the northwest quarter of 
Section 9, Township 30 north. Range 7 
east of the Third Principal Meridian, 
and on the 30th day of January, 1854, 
was dedicated by Mr, Morgan, and the 
plat admitted to record. The following 
are his dedicating words: "To be known 
as the town of Dwight, and the streets 
and alleys described on the town plat 
are hereby donated to the public." It 
was named for Henry Dwight, of Xevv 
York, who was a capitalist, and furnish- 
ed the money to build the road from 
Joliet to Bloomington, known now as 
the Chicago, Alton &St. Louis Railroad. 
He is said to have lost a fortune in the 
construction of this road, and as a com- 
pliment to him, and in honor of his 
noble deeds, his name was given to the 
new village, which, in spite uf eltorts to 
change it, it has ever since borne. In 
this year (1858) considerable excitement 
was caused by an effort on the part of 
some citizens to change the name of 
our town. There was a leading politi- 
cian here named Tom Little, known 
more familiarly as "Jersey." He and 
some others (who formed a clique 
which he led) tried to have the name 
changed to "Beckman," the name of a 
county in New York State. R. P. 





Geo, Z. Flagler. 



James Smith, 




Nathan Baker. 

(arjd grandd-jild, ) 




W. H. Conrad. 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLIJ^OIS. 



17 



Morgan and his party worked for the 
name of "Dvvight," whilst a third party 
toiled in behalf of the euphonious ap- 
pellation "Dogtown." The excitement, 
we are told, was intense, and 11. P. 
Morgan's party were ultimately success- 
ful, winning their point by a single 
vote. 

We are told that the very first indi- 
cation of a town Was the raising of a 
telegraph pole, with a tin pan nailed 
on top, wh'ch served as a landmark and 
guide to the surveyors engaged on the 
Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Kailroad, or, 
as then known, the Chicago & Missis- 
sippi Railroad. The history of this 
great railroad, one of the leading roads 
in the State of Illinois, is so well known 
that any notice of it in these pages 
seems almost superlhious. The enter- 
prise was begun in 1853, under the 
style of the Chicago & Mississippi 
Railroad Company, with the intention 
of building a railroad from Joliet to 
Alton. The road was located by Oliver 
11. Lee, Chief Engineer of the compa- 
ny, and the work pushed forward under 
the supervision of Assistant Engineers 
R. P. Morgan, Jr., II. A. Gardner and 
Jas. A. Sp-ncer, with such vigor and 
dispatch that on the 4th day of July, 
1854, the first passenger train passed 
over the new road. Sinnce that event, 
its history is so familiar to all as to 
need no comment here. Suffice to say, 
it is one of the advantages that 
has made the village of D^ight what 
it is— a fact of which Its citizens are 
awiire. and appreciate accordingly. 

In 1809, the Western Division of the 
C. & A. R. R., which leaves the main 
line at D wight, was begun and com- 
pleted, and trains running over it in 
1870. This makes Dwight quite a rail- 
road center. 

The first house or cabin in the village 
of Dwight was built by a man from 



Morris, whose name is now forgotten. 
It was a frame building, 16x24 feet, one 
and a half stories high, erected on Lot 
8, Block 18, in 1853, and was built origi- 
nally for a store or a kind of supply 
depot for the railroad hands, and finally 
passed into the possession of Dr. Ilag- 
erty. 

The first permanent residence erect- 
ed in the village was by Augustus 
Wesi, on Lots 18 and 19, in Block 7, and 
was completed in June, 1854. Mr. West 
came to the State in 1853, and early in 
1854 came to Dwight, and beheld the 
sickly village of forty years ago 
grow up into a prosperous young 
city. 

In 1854, John Campbell put up a tem- 
porary eating house, which was the first 
place of public entertainment the vil- 
lage knew. The trains stopped at it 
for dinner and supper, which arrange- 
ment was continued until 1855, when it 
was purchased by Hiram Cornell, who 
came from J^ew Tork, and who con- 
ducted it as a hotel for some time. The 
following story is told of him during 
his first winter as "mine host." He had 
a barrel of whisky (without which the 
Western hotel was never found in those 
early days), and from some cause, 
wholly unaccountable, it "froze up" 
during the first cold snap, nor could he 
get it near enough to the fire nor the 
fire hot enough to thaw it out; and so it 
remained until Spring came with its 
warm days. Cornell remained in this 
little shanty until he built the "Dwight 
House," the first regular hotel in the 
village, in 1855. Since the erection of- 
this hostlery, many changes have taken 
place in the hotel business, as well as 
in all other lines represented in Dwight 
On the first of August, 1854. the rail 
road was opened through from St. Louis 
to Chicago, and it has ever since been in 



18 



IIISTUllY OF DWIUIIT, ILLINOIS. 



operation, excepting the period of snow 
blockade in the winters of 1855-0. 

The village tlius established was des- 
tined to grow. The sanguine expecta- 
tions of promoters are not always 
crowned with success, but it was evi- 
dent from the hrst that Dwight was 
going to be a village of some preten- 
sions. Gradually it settled up, first one 
and then another finding a home with- 
in its boundaries. 

It was not long before the population 
began to increase in another way, and 
ia January 1855 the first child was born 
here to a daughter of Mrs. N. Iliggs, of 
JDwight. Time passed quickly away, 
and the people were busy in improv- 
ing the town, and others kept moving 
in. 

The first regular store was bui.'t by 
David McWilliams, in 1855. It was 
painted white, and, like the telegraph 
pole surmounted by the tin pan, before 
alluded to, served as a way mark to all 
in search of the new village. It is said 
that the first sale made by Mr. McWil- 
liams, after opening a store here, was a 
lawn dress pattern, which the workmen 
presented to the wife of the Station 
Master of the railroad. Tlie store seems 
to have been a house of general accom 
modation, and was vised as a place of 
worship, and also as shelter for the new 
comers of those early times until they 
had found a permanent place to lay 
their heads. 

A few other stores were in operation 
and one hotel invited the attention of 
weary and hungering humanity. In 
neighborhoods contiguous to Dwight 
coal was found, and after years saw 
towns spring up which owed their ex- 
istence and sustenance to the coal beds. 
The more rapidly tiie surrounding 
country filled up the more rapidly musr 
the town grow. And it is not surpris- 
ing therefore that when the Prince of 



Wales visited theneighborhoodin 1800, 
but a few years after tbe formation of 
the town, it was a thriving village of 
about 400 inhabitants, and having 
about one hundred buildings. The re- 
porters ot that period who communi- 
cated information to the New York 
papers were gifted men, and spoke in 
high praise *)f the town, its surround- 
ings and its inhabitants. We are not 
surprised at this, for we liave always 
noticed that when a man speaks well 
of us, he is an intelligent and a gifted 
man. 

The year 1854 was a memorable one 
in our history; for with it came some 
of the most prominent men who have 
resided here. It was ni this year that 
John Conant, Esq. emigrated from 

Rochester, Ohio, accompanied by Geo. 
T. and Henry F. Lonant. The latter 
died herd Sept. 22, 1858. Mr. ('on- 
ant was a man of facts, a strong total 
abstinence man and a Congregation- 
alist by profession. He served that 
body as Clerk for thirteen years in ttie 
cliurch to which he belonged. He was 
an officer in the war of 181 2 and belonged 
to the same regiment as Grandfather 
Kockwell, but was not detailed for ser- 
vice, yet he helped the soldiers on their 
way to Boston. In politics he was' a 
strong Republican : but, like every right 
minded and honorable man, he always 
regarded the rights of others as sacred 
as his own. 

The following brief personnel of Mr. 
Conant we take from a sketcli of Sab- 
bath School Organization by David 
McWilliams, Esq.: "Father Conant was 
a man of large physical frame, weighing 
I should suppose at least 240 pounds, a 
large well proportioned man in all re- 
spects, possessedof more than ordinary 
talent, with a large share of good com- 
mon sense entering into all his plans, 
riain as to his appearance and with 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



19 



the modesty and diflidence of a bashful 
lad, it was ahvays very embarrassing 
for him to preside on any piblic occa- 
sion and for tliis reason declined to act 
as our first Sunday School Superinten- 
dent. He was our tirst Postmaster, 
first Justice of the Peace, and a man 
whose well balanced life was such as to 
command the respect, and veneration of 
all that knew him. He was a man well 
adapted for a new country: his parents 
having been pioneers in the Western 
part of Massachusetts when he was a 
mere lad, and when arriving at man- 
hood emigrated to the wilds of Ohio, 
wliich was a vast -wilderness at that 
time, and then when in the decline of 
life came to this new country and 
helped to mould its institutions." 

One of Mr. Conant's daughters had 
married Mr. Cutler, who resided in tiiis 
neighborhood. 

The cholera made its appearance this 
year and was anything but a welcome 
guest. One young man died, and a 
man who kept a shanty grocery moved 
to the German settlement, wliere it is 
said he died also. Mr. Colgate was 
taken with it, but Mr. Cutler took him 
to his house and attended to him,, so 
that he afterwards recovered. Mr. 
Cutler had had experience in this de- 
partment when he was steward in the 
i»eaf and Dumb Asylum of Columbus, 
Ohio. 

It was in this year too, that Major 
McDowell came to this town from IIol- 
lidaysburg, Pa. He had resided in that 
city for some time, where he had suc- 
cessfully carried on the banking busi- 
ness. He purchased several thousand 
acres of land in this vicinity, and became 
one of our most prominent and active 
citizens. He was a man of large heart 
and generous nature. When the coun- 
try was visited with that ever memor- 
able snow storm, which blocked up the 



trafhc on the railroad between this 
placeand OdeII,some liundredand fifty 
passengers were brought to this town 
for shelter and sustenance. Provisions 
were low at the time and the town was 
composed of only a few buildings 
There was the station house, John 
Campbell had a small eating house, Mr. 
West had a house, there was a small 
house where Dr, Ilagerty's family lived 
a small boarding house for railroad 
hands, and a grocery shanty with two 
families living in it; these composed 
the town of Dwight. Major McDowell 
promptly despatched his team to the 
town and took a number ot the ladies 
into his house, where he entertained 
them, and made them comfortable dur- 
ing the terrible storm. The above is 
spoken of in another place but this is a 
different account. 

The town n"as fast runmng out of 
provisions and famine stared them in 
the face; but the storm abating a little, 
word was sent to Morris, and the good 
people of that town sent two sleigh 
loads of provisions to the aid of the 
people. 

'Squire Mcllduff came from Cass- 
ville, Pa,, to this totvn in the same year 
as Major McDowell, and claims to have 
plowed the first furrow in Dwight. He 
also drove the first stock to this town. 
He afterwards built a small house on 
his farm and has been a resident of 
Dwight ever since. 

In 1855, the population of the little 
village was augmeuted by the arrival of 
Hiram Cornell and wife, George Flagler 
and family, , W. H. Clarkson and fami- 
ly, Isaac II. J5aker and family, David 
McWilliams, S. L. II. Ramsey and fam- 
ily in June; also Jeremiah Travis and 
family in August; and in the fall of 
the year Wm. II, Ivetchum and family, 
13. Losee and family, and Dr. J. H, 
Hagerty. The latter graduated at 



20 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



the University of Pennsylvania in 1852. 
and was a prominent physician, and 
practiced his profession here until 180:], 
from which time until his death, Sep- 
tember 1, 1873, he acted as consulting 
physician only. The others were of the 
solid citizens of the village. 

Dr. Hagerty was a man of cultivated 
refined tastes, and helped largely to 
build up the present educational sys- 
tem in Dwight, In the early days of 
his practice he had calls from all parts 
of the county and was in general re- 
quest . 

Hiram Cornell bought out John 
Campbell's eating house, and built the 
llrst hotel in the town, known as "The 
Dwight House." David McWilliams 
built his store in the same year. It was 
painted white, and when the farmers, 
coming from a distance caught sight of 
the white building, they made tracks ac- 
cordingly. Early in March of 1855 Mr. 
McWilliams began the erection of a 
building for a store, size 20z32, two 
stories high. A few loads of lumber 
were hauled on the vacant corner op- 
posite the Methodist church, on Mazou 
avenue, but it seemed so far away from 
the depot that he was prevailed upon 
to change his local ion to the place 
where the postoffice and bank building 
now stands. He soon added 40 feet in 
the rear of it, and 24 feet in the front, 
as well as filling up the sides. So his 
old store occupied 32x9(5 feet, and thus 
remained until 187(5, when he erected 
the building now occupied by McWil- 
liams «fc Smith, and soon after the old 
store was torn down and the pres- 
ent postofiice and bank building erected 
instead. The first article of merchan- 
dise sold by Mr. McWilliams in Dwight 
was a shilling lawn dress. The store 
served also as a place of worsliip, a 
shelter for new comers until they 
"pitched their tents,'' and, in fact, as 



a place of refuge in those early times. 

Prairie fires were frequent at this 
period, and many persons lost property, 
some nearly losing their lives. Nelson 
Cornell was out hunting one day on the 
east side of the town and when return- 
ing saw an immense prairie fire ap- 
proaching. In order to save his life he 
burnt the grass where he was and stood 
on the hot ground wJiile the larger fire 
swept past him, nearly suffocating him 
with smoke and ashes. 

The first Sunday School was organ- 
ized in April, 1855. John Conant was 
elected superintendent, but as he re- 
fused to serve, John Routzeng was 
elected in his place. 

The first appointment for a religious 
meeting in Dwight was in the house of 
Nelson Cornell. It was just before tlie 
great storm. A few people gathered 
but no preacher put in his appearance. 
Those who attended meeting at that 
time did so either at the log school 
house on che Mazon creek, or at Eber 
Stevens' barn. Local preachers or ex- 
horters supplied the congregation. 

The first public religious services 
held in this town were in a building 
afterwards occupied by J. J. Gore, on 
Lot 17 Block (j. It was used before the 
building was really finished, and thirty- 
seven persons attended the first school 
service on May 15, 1855. The following 
are all of the names of those present 
that we can now ascertain: D. McAVil- 
liams, Sec'y., John Conant, Mrs. Con- 
ant, Samuel Cutler, Mrs. Cutler, Henry 
Conant, Miss Meltina Earl, Henry and 
George Cutler, Robert Thompson and 
several members of his family, John 
Routzeng, Simeon Lutz, J. Travis, Au- 
gustus West, N. E. Lyman, and Asliley 
lientley. The first sermon actually 
reached in the town was preached over 
the store of D. McWilliams on the Sec- 
ond Sunday in June, 1855, by the Rev. 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



21 



A. D. Field, of the Koek River Confer- 
ence. While here that gentleman 
formed the first religious society in the 
town; it was composed of six mem- 
bers. 

'SVe take the following from the Liv- 
ingston county history of 1878, regard- 
ing churches: 

As already noted, the first sermon 
preached in Dwitfht. was by Rev. xV. D. 
Field, of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, in 1855. His circuit, known as 
the "Mazon Circuit," embraced all that 
tract of country soutu of the Illinois 
River, and extending from Morris to 
Avoca Township. The society was or- 
ganized with six members, viz : Simeon 
Lutz, .John Routzong, Isaac Baker, 
Isabella Baker, David Mc Williams and 
Jeremiah Travis. John Routzong was 
appointed leader of the class. The 
Rev. Mr. Field preached a few times 
during the summer, and at the next 
meeting of the Conference, two minis- 
ters were appointed to the "Mazon Cir- 
cuit," and Dwight became one of the 
regular preaching places. From this 
time forward, there was preaching ev- 
ery alternate Sunday ir^ the school 
house, then just built. In 1862, the so- 
ciety was struck off from the Mazon 
Circuit, and Rev. O. W. Pollard ap- 
pointed to the charges of Dwight, Odell 
and Pontiac. The society erected their 
first building in 1858, was dedicated in 
July of that, year by the Rev. Dr. Kid 
der, of Evanstou. About 1862 63, the 
society had so increased in numbers as 
to necessitate the enlargement of their 
building, and it was lengthened twenty 
tV.et, For nine years they worshiped 
in this building, when their present 
elegant church was erected, at a cost of 
$16,000, under the pastorate of Rev, E. 
D. Hall, and dedicated in October, 1867, 
by Rev, Dr, Eddy, then of Chicago. It 
is a handsomely finished edifice, is capa- 



ble of seating about 500 persons, and 
the society numbers 260 members, with 
Rev. C. W. Ayling as T^astor. The Sunday 
school of this society was organized at 
an early period, and is in a flourishing 
condition. Mr. McWilliams was the 
first Superintendent, a position he held 
for thirteen years in succession. The 
present Superintendent is Mr. Menee- 

ly. 

The Presbyterian Church society 
was organized in Dwight in 1856, the 
next year after the Methodist, The 
original members were three males and 
five females, and their first place of 
worship was the school house, in which 
they continued to hold their meetings 
until the next year, when the church 
now occupudby the Danish Methodists 
was erected, on lots donated by James 
C. Spencer and R. P, Morgan. This 
was the first church built in Dwight, 
and cost originally S2,620. The pulpit 
was filled by various ministers irregu- 
larly, until 1869, when Rev. L. F. Walk- 
er was called to the charge. In the 
Fall ot 1871, he was succeeded by Rev, 
W, L. Loyd, who filled the pulpit until 
1873, The Elders of the church were 
Hugh Thompson, Robert Thompson, 
James George, James Paul and John 
C. George, The property was sold by 
the association through S, T, K, Prime, 
about two years ago to the Danish 
Methodist society. Rev. Wilhelmsen 
is the pastor and the organization is in 
a flourishing condition. 

The next society organized was the 
Congregational. December 1, 1865, the 
first sermon was preached in this faith, 
by Rev. J. A. Montgomery, a student 
from the Congregational Seminary of 
Chicago. Their meetings were held in 
•'Gerson's Hall." On the 12th of Jan- 
uary, 1866, a 'council of delegates' from 
the neighboring churches was con- 
vened, and invited to give advice re- 



22 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



garding the permanent organization of 
a church, and eleven persons identified 
themselves with the congregation. In 
1867, an effort was made to build a 
church, the lots procured, and the build- 
ing commenced. In January, 1868, their 
present elegant church was dedicated, 
free from debt. The total cost of the 
building, grounds, etc., was $5,425. Rev. 
J. A. Montgomery was pastor from the 
first organization of the the church un- 
til 1873, when he accepted a call to 
Morris, and the pulpit was afterwards 
filled by Rev. W. C. Rogers and several 
others, with about one hundred and 
fifty members. It has a flourishing 
Sabbath school, with an attendance of 
about one hundred and fifty, of which 
Miss Florence Thompson is superinten- 
dent. The present pastor is Rev. E. F. 
Wright, who is accomplishing excellent 
work in this community. 

The Baptists made the next effort, 
but have not, from some cause or other, 
flourished as some of the other denom- 
inations have done. 

The German Lutheran Church was 
built in 1867, and cost .'$1,400; has about 
fifty members, and a flourishing Sunday 
school. Rev, Mr. Schieitweig, of Ca- 
yuga, was the pastor for a time. 

The German Evangelical Associa- 
tion, or Albright Methodists, have a 
handsome little frame church edifice, 
22x30 feet, which cost about !&1,500. The 



minister is Rev. Geo, Schwartz, and the 
society has a good membersliip. A 
Sunday school, with an attendance of 
about forty children, is carried on. 

The Danish Lutherans have a pretty 
little frame church, built a few years 
ago, which has a large and flourishing 
membership. The pastor is Rev. Bek- 
ker. 

There is also a Roman Catholic church 
m the village, with a membership 
of about fifty families. Their church 
is a neat and tasty little building, put 
up at a cost of about .§1,500, The pres- 
ent pastor is Father Moore. 

In 1858 a circumstance occurred 
which materially affected the interests 
of the town. For a period of several 
weeks it was cut off from all mail mat- 
ter and from all communication with 
the outside worla, except by way of 
Morris. The cause of this is to be 
found in the famous quarrel which ex- 
isted at that time between Governor 
Mattison under his lease of the Chica- 
go & Mississippi RailroHd, and Hamil- 
ton Spencer and the bondholders of the 
same road. The dilliculiy at flrsc ap- 
peared to be a serious one, and all 
tratlic was suspended daring the time 
above indicated. The difficulty ended 
by the road passing into tlie hands of 
the bondholders, an event which large- 
ly conduced to the welfare and prosper- 
ity of Dwight, 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT. ILLIJ^OIS. 



23 



CHAPTER IV. 



REMINISCENCES OF WAR TIMES. 



it is well known that politics and 
political sentiments have, such an effect 
on the raiuds of men, as to cause many 
to lose sight of the nobler intlaences 
which actuate-* our being. And in this 
ffrnat coLiitry which boasts of such an 
unrivaled tract of territory it is per- 
fectly natural that the people should be 
distinguished by such names as North- 
erners and Southerners. But when we 
come to consider that a great differ- 
ence existed between the two in thought, 
feeling, social law and commercial en- 
terprise, it is not to be wondered at 
that the harmony of Union was rough- 
iv shattered in the way it was. With- 
out entering into any lengthy discus- 
sion of this subject we may safely say 
that according to the old state of thingfi, 
Union could never have been success- 
fully maintained. But in the present 
aspect of affairs, with the new and 
grandest policy adopted, with the feel- 
ing of hearty sympathy which is rapid- 
ly gaining ground, we see a noble, a 
splendid future, not only for the South, 
but for the United States of America. 
Although the difficulties existing be- 
tween the Northern and Southern 
States had been rankling for years, and 
although it was evident to the far see- 
ing politician that war must necessari- 
ly follow, yet when the storm burst 
upon us in all its fury, the Xorth was 
comparitively unprepared for it. 



But if we were not in such thorough 
readiness as we might have been, one 
thing is certain, we had men enough, 
and men of the right stamp, too, to fight 
the battles of "Union" and "Freedom." 
When it became known, therefore, that 
the South had rebelled, and that the 
government was in need of recruits, the 
men from northern cities, towns, vil- 
lages and even farms laid down the im- 
plements of industry and took up the 
deadly weapons of war. 

Contemplating that eventful period 
in our national history, the mind is 
filled with many ideas of a painful 
character. Now that the flush of vic- 
tory and the bitterness of defeat have 
become things of the past, we may 
calmly and dispassionately consider 
one of the many phases of that terrible 
war. 

One of the most awful thoughts in 
connection with the subject, is that the 
hand of brother was raised against 
brother, father against son, and neigh- 
bor against neighbor. As we remem- 
ber that all the pleasant and beautiful 
feelings connected with happy social 
life were rudely dashed aside, and the 
tenderest and holiest ties that bind us 
together in brotherly love were fiercely 
broken, it brings before us a scene of 
fearful horror and profoundest woe. 

But while we mourn over the awful 
character and natural consequences of 



34 



HISTORY or D WIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



the Rebellion, we have reason to be 
grateful for its happy and beneficent 
results. There can be no doubt that 
war was necessary viuder the circum- 
stances, and there can be no doubt that 
it was necessary for this great country 
to purge itself of the cause of slavery, 
and show itself to the civilized world 
as the great, the glorious, the free Re- 
public of United America. 

At the very commencement of the 
war the town of D wight took a lively 
interest in the national proceedings. 
Our town has always been Republican 
and loyal, and in the hour of the Gov- 
ernment's need our citizens came boldly 
to the front at the call of duty. 

But during this period, however, a 
large amount of enthusiasm was de- 
veloped here, as in many other places 
as well;«and in the years 61-62 the inter- 
est and excitement which prevailed in 
the town, took a definite form, when 
some of our citizens cheerfully gave up 
the pleasures of home and nvjbly con- 
secrated themselves to the service of 
their country. It is something very 
worthy of note that the thirteenth 
military company to report in the state 
of Illinois was from Dwighi and vicin- 
ity and Col. Morgan and David Mc- 
Williams went to Springfield to tender 
the same to the governor. 

In the summer of this year Company 
B was organized, under the call of 
President Lincoln for six hundred 
thousand men, at Dwight, Livingston 
Co., 111., by Samuel T. Walkley, and was 
mustered into the service of the United 
States, at Pontiac, 111., on September 8, 
1862, forming a part of the 129th Regi- 
ment Illinois Volunteer Infantry. 

It must not be supposed that this 
Company contained all the men who 
went from Dwight. Some enlisted in 
other regiments, and fought bravely 
for their country. But as Company B, 



the only Volunteer Company organ- 
ized here, it is with that one this his- 
tory has to deal. 

A correct list of the officers and pri- 
vates, with an account of what become 
of each man, has never yet been pub- 
lished. 

The task of preparing such a list for 
publication has, however, now been 
successfully accomplished; and as it 
forms a most important and interest- 
ing part of the history of our town, we 
here present it to the reader: 



COMPANY "b'' 129th regiment, ILLI- 
NOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
REGIMENTAL AND STAFF OFFICERS. 

Henry Case, Colonel. 

A. J. Cropsey, Lieutenant-Colonel. 

Thomas H.Flynn, Major. 

H. C. Johns, Surgeon. 

Darius Johnson, 1st Ass't Surgeon. 

Wm. H. Walters, 2ud Ass't Surgeon. 

Thomas Cotton, Chaplain. 

John McWilliams, Quarter Master. 

Phil. D. Platteuburg, Adjutant. 

C OMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 

Samuel T. Walkley, Captain. 
George W. Gilchrist, 1st Lieutenant. 
Elihu Chilcott, 2nd Lieutenant, 

NON-COMMISSIONED. — SERGEANTS. 

Homer A. Kenyon, 1, assigned to duty 
in Inspector General's Department 8rd 
Div. 2nd Corp.— Keturned. 

William E. Swift, 2nd, discharged, 
Jan. 1, 1863. 

Northrup Riggs,3rd, promoted to 2nd 
Sergeant — Returned. 

Leander B. Morgan, 4th, discharged 
Jan. 29, 1863. 

Francis M. Angle, 5th, killed March 
19, 1864. at Averysboro, N. C. 

CORPORALS. 

Peter Garten, 1st. Returned. 
William R. Snyder, 2nd Returned. 




W. H. Kettham, 



Jacob Christman, 





E. H, Kneeland. 



Roger H. Mills. 



HISTORY OF DWiGHT, ILLINOIS. 



25 



Daniel W. Gallup, 3rd. Returned. 

August Jiecker,4th. Returned. 

John N. Staley, 5th. Wounded in 
right breast July 20, 1804, before At- 
lanta. 

Samuel Persels, Oth. Discharged 
March 2, 18(33. 

■John O. Collister, 7th. Died at Foun- 
tain Head, Tenn., Jan. 8, 18<)3. 

Charles G. Atwood, 8th. Died at 
Gallatin. Feb. 0,1863. 

MUSICIANS. 

AVilliam A. Randall, Fifer. Dis- 
charged April 26, 1863. 

Charles M. Rawlings, Drummer. Cap- 
tured in N. (\, and was afterwards ex- 
changed as a prisoner of war. 

NON-CO:\[MISSIO]SrED. 

(List at the close of the War.) 

SERGEANTS. 

Homer A. Kenyon, 1st. — Returned. 
Xorthrup Riggs, 2d.— Returned. 
Francis M. Angle, 3d.— Killed. 
Peter Garten, 4th.— Returned. 
Wm. R. Snyder, 5th. — Returned. 

CORPORALS. 

Daniel W. Gallup, 1st.— Returned. 

Samuel McGooden, 2d. — Returned. 

Henry Yanderburg, 3d —Shot in the 
leg, which was amputated. — Died at 
Yining station, Ga., July 20. 1864. 

August Becker, 4th — Mounted Scout. 
— Returned. 

John iST. Staley, 5th. —Mounted Scout. 
— Returned. 

Chas. A. Gwin, 6th.— Wounded at 
Resaca, Georgia. 

Joseph D. McDonald, 7th.— Returned. 

James Wilgus, 8th. — Returned. 

MUSICIANS. 

Charles M. Rawlings. — Drummer. — 
Returned. 

PRIVATES. 

Austin, Rufus H. Mounted scout. 
Returned. 



Bintenburger, Ludwig. Deserted 
Oct. 6, 1862. 
Borin. William H. Discharged ISIarch 

13. 1863. 
Broadbent, Joshua A. Discharged 

Feb. 16, 1S63. 

Bochtler, Joseph. Wounded. Ret. 

Beach, John F. Deserted from Nash- 
ville, Tenn. 

Butler, Charles S. Mounted Scout. 

Wounded in right knee in front of At- 
lanta. Returned. 

Barry, Martin. Returned. 

Broughton, James. Died at jSIitch- 
ellsville, Tenn., Dec. 8. 

Bennett, Edward C. Returned. 

Borer, Fidel. Mounted Scout. Re- 
turned. 

Bradbury, Wm. H. Chief Clerk in 

Gen. Judah's Headquarters, Dec. 3, 
1862. Returned. 

Brandenburger, Rudolph. Lost left 
arm July 20, 1864, in front of Atlanta. 
Returned. 

Caldwell, William I. Discharged 
March 16, 1863. 

Currier, Lewis. Returned. 

Cann, John. Mounted Scout. Lost 
right arm July 20, 1864, in front of At- 
lanta Returned. 

Charles, William. Discharged March 

11,1863. 
Dick, Anton. Discharged March 19, 

'63. 

Fuller, Richard. Hospital cook. Dis- 
charged from General Hospital. 

Flaherty, Thomas. Mounted Scout. 
Returned. 

Flynn, John. Returned. 

Fullerton. John. Mounted Scout. 
Wounded. Returned. 

Fuge, Patrick. Severely wounded in 
the thigh. March 19, 1864, at Averysboro, 
N. C. Returned. 

Griswold, David M. Discharged April 
26, 1863. 

Gwin, Charles A. Promoted to 6th 
Corporal. Returned. 



26 



HISTORY OF DAVIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



Gray, Samuel S. S. Died at Bowling 
Green, Ky., Nov. 30, 1863. 

Hoffman, William. Killed .Tune 15, 
1864. 

Hand, Ira W. Mounted Scout. 
Wounded in right thigh at the battle of 
Kenesaw Mountain Returned. 

Huntley, Asil. Returned. 

Hall, Benjamin W. Discharged on 
account of sickness. 

.Judd, Curtis J. Promoted to Ser- 
geant-Major. Returned. 

Ketchum, John L. Moun'ed Scout 
Wounded June 15, 1864. Died in Gener- 
al Hospital at Chacanooga, Tenn.,,June 
26, 1864'. 

Koehnlein, Charles. Regimental Car- 
penter. Returned. 

Lore, Robert C. Mounted Scout. Re- 
turned. 

Lower, Eli L. Returned. 

Legnor, .John. Discharged May 9, 
1863. 

Lewis, Henry A. Wounded in right 
leg July 20, 1864, before Atlanta. Died. 

McVVilliams, John. Discharged and 
appointed Quartermaster. 

McFee, Henry L. Appointed Wagon- 
Master Feb. 4, 1863. Discharged. 

McKenney, Edwin. Mounted Scout. 
Discharged. 

McGooden, Samuel. Promoted 2nd 
Corporal. Returned 

McDonald, Joseph D. Promoted 7th 
Corporal. Returned. 

McCartney, William. Returned. 

Mihm, Albert. Wounded in head. 
Died. 

Miller, (,;onrad. Deserted Oct. 6, 
1863. 

Morrison, David. Mounted Scout. 

Returned. 

Neiison, Peter I. Returned. 

Pfefferman, Stormens. Returned. 

Pratt, James R. Mounted Scout. 
Discharged. 

Pratt, William H. Discharged June 
2, 1863. 



Rawlings, Thomas E. Transferred 
to Telegraph Corps. Returned. 

Reinmiller, Carl. Returned. 

Randall, Jerry. Wounded on June 
22, 1864, and subsequently died. 

Rogers, John H. Discharged March 
13, 1863 Returned. 

Reed, George W. Mounted Scout. 
Captured, and exchanged as prisoner of 
war. Returned. 

Randall, George W. Died at Galla- 
tin, Tenn., Feb. 21, 1863. 

Sullivan, John. Deserted Sept. 25, 
'62. 

Stevens, Eugene R. Discharged from 
Gallatin, Tenn. 

Schneider, Ludwig. Discharged, 
March 2, 1863. 

Saddler, Nicholas. Returned. 

Shepherd, .James. Discharged March 
13, 1863. 

Schumm, John G. Mounted Scout. 
Returned. 

Smith, Manning. Returned. 

Shrimpton, Eber. Wounded on 
March 19, 1864. at Averysboro, N. C. 
Returned. 

Stahl, August. Mounted Scout. 
Killed June 15, 1864. 

Sanford, Israel J. Colonel's orderly 
Sept. 8, 1862, and subsequently dis- 
charged. 

Vandenburgh, Henry. Promoted 3rd 

Corporal. Died. 

Wvkes, Charles. Mounted Scout 
Died in hospital at Nashville, Tenn. 

West, AVareham E. Returned. 

Wilgus, James. Promoted 8th Cor- 
poral. Returned. 

Many of the above named soldiers 
have since died, moved away and quite 
a number prominent residents of 
Dwight and vicinity. 

The history of this company during 
the war is full of interest, and if our 
space would permit we would willingly 
give a detailed account of their wan- 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



27 



derings; but, as in many other instances, 
being compelled to condense our in- 
formation, we shall only give a brief 
resume of their adventures. 

xifter being mustered in at Pontiac, 
111., on September 8, 1862, they proceed- 
ed by rail to Jefferson ville, Ind., and 
then crossed the Ohio River to Louis- 
ville, Ky. From there they marched to 
Shelby ville, Ky., still marching toward 
Frankfort, Ky., which was reached on 
October 8th. 

On October llfeh the march was again 
continued, and on the 13th the small 
town of Rou^h-and-Ready was reached. 
October 17th they camped at Danville 
after a march of twenty miles. The 
next point was Harrisburg; from thence 
to Crab Orchard, back to Danville, 
thence to Harrodsburgh, back again to 
Danville, on to Perrysville, and at last, 
after a weary march tliey' reached Le- 
banon. A few days at this point, when 
they were ordered to Bowling Green, 
and then marched on to Mitchellsville, 
Tenn., where they remained some 
time. 

The occupation of the soldiers until 
February 2, 18(53, was guard and camp 
duty, foraging, skirmishing, etc. 

On February 2 they camped at South 
Tunnel, two miles north of Gallatin, 
Tenn. The next move was to Richland, 
from whence the whole regiment 
marched to Fort Thomas, which was 
reached on .June 22. Nothing of inter- 
est occurred until A-Ugust 21, when 
they marched to Nashville, where they 
remained, with occasional changes un- 
til February 24, 180-1, when at 8 o'clock 
in the morning they, in company with 
several other regiments, marched to 
Lavergne, a station on the Nashville & 
rUiatanooga railroad. 

From thence they marched to Mur- 
feesboro. Tenn. February 20 they left 
Murfreesboro and marched to Shelby- 



ville, thence to Tallahoma, on to Or- 
chard station, then Andrew station, 
passed through Stevenson, still on the 
maich to Bridgport, thence to Belle- 
ville, thence to Whiteside station and 
finally reached the Lookout Valley on 
March 10, after passing ihrough im- 
mense hollows and passes. 

On May 2 they received marching or- 
ders again, and at once proceeded to 
the front. 

On May 15 fighting began in real 
earnest in the neighborhood of Buz- 
zard Roost, and the men began to face • 
and to feel the stern realities of war. 

At Resaca they won their first laurels 
by nobly advancing on one of the ene- 
my's forts under a murderous fire. 
Urged on by their general, the line 
broken, they threw themselves on the 
enemy, and in a few moments dislodged 
him. 

The victory was grand, not, however 
without great loss. The regimental 
flag was riddled by seventy-five bullets, 
and the bearer was shot in the hand, 
and afterwards killed. The next fight 
occured on May 19 ai Cassville, where, 
after a brief struggle a victory was ob- 
tained. 

On May 25 the terrible battle at Dal- 
las or Burnt Hickory commenced. It 
was not, however, until the 29th that 
the engagement became general. The 
enemy were defeated 

On the 2d of June marching was re- 
commenced, and on the 13th Big Shaaty 
station was captured. From this time 
fighting was the order of the day, the 
enemy being gradually driven back. 

On July 20 another bloody battle was 
fought and victory gained at Peach 
Tree Creek. 

During the latter part of June the 
12S)th was at or near Kenesaw moun- 
tain, and while there the skirmish lines 
were so close together they had to be 



28 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



changed after dark and then at great 
danger. The cannonading during the 
nights at Kenesaw was a very fine 
sight. 

July 3 near Marietta the brigade was 
corraled in a peach orchard and a rebel 
battery opened on them and the boys 
all had a close call, and never will for- 
get the occasion. 

On July 22 the regiment arrived with- 
in 11^ miles of Atlanta. The bombard- 
ment of this city was now commenced. 
After a good deal of hard fighting tiie 
enemy evacuated the city, and on Sep- 
tember 1, 1864, the Union troops took 
possession of it. 

On September 16 marching was again 
resumed, and early in the morning 
they reached their former intrench- 
ments before Atlanta, where they en- 
camped. 

On October 1 they marched to the 
Chatahoochee River, where tents were 
pitched, log houses built and breast- 
works formed. 

On October 27 a mock election was 
held, when Lincoln received a large 
majority, the number being 386 for Lin- 
coln, 31 for McCtellan and 1 for Joe. 
Hooker. 

On November 13 marching was again 
resumed, and after a long, tedious and 
wearisome march, they arrived in front 
of Savannah. 

On December 21, after some hard 
lighting, this city was taken amid great 
r^oicing. 

On January 2*.) the march through 
South Carolina was commenced. 

On February ti Columbia, the capital 
of Georgia, was reached, and taken on 
the following day. 

On the 18tii the march was again re- 
sumed, and after passing over a long 
stretch of country, tlie enemy was met , 
at Ayerysboro, where some lighting and 
wiuniug was done as usual. 



The march was continued to Golds- 
boro, near which place they were allowed 
to remain and rest, altera mostditlicult 
and ardous march of live hundred 
miles. 

April 11th found them once more on 
the march, and at Smithfield heard the 
news of Lee's surrender at the Appoma- 
tox Court House. 

April 17, the rumor, afterwards con- 
firmed, of President Lincoln's assassi- 
nation, M'as current. The first news 
caused indescribable joy, the*second, 
indescribable sorrow. 

April 28, orders were alven to pre- 
pare to go North, and on the 30th, 
marching was accordingly commenced. 

On May 24, afier a rapid and some- 
what tiresome march, Washington was 
reached, and the men began to feel 
themselves g^t home once more. 

On June 7th, after a service of two 
years and nine months, all but a day, 
they were duly mustered out of the 
Ignited States service by Captain 
Beecher, Mustering Officer of the Divi- 
sion. 

June 11th, Chicago was reached. Here 
they were paid off after a little waiting, 
and taking the friendly cars, at last 
gave up the tedious, toilsome marcli- 
iugs, and soon arrived at home. 

Not all who went forth returned 
again ; some alas ! were laid low and this 
world knew them no more; others in 
hospital mourned the loss of limb or 
health. 

Hut as long as the great Republic 
lives; as long as Illinois maintains her 
loyal love of Union: so long will the 
glorious 129th, be remembered, and 
tlieir deeds enshrined on historic mem- 
ory. 

We have thus placed upon historical 
records not only the names of Companv 
IJ, but also a brief sketch of their 



IIISTOllY OF DWIGHT, ILLIXOIS. 



29 



marches, deeds and sufferings whilst 
they were absent from home. 

Such a chronicle, however brief, Is 
replete with interest, and we doubt not 
will touch a tender chord in many a 
heart, kindle feelings and awaken 
memories that have lain dormant for 
years. 

While their soldier brethren were 
thus away lighting the battles of our 
country, the enthusiasm at home was 
almost indescribable. The citizens as 
a rule felt themselves called upon to do 
something, and if they could not go to 
the war in person, they could at least 
help those who had thus devotedly sac- 
rificed comfort, friends and life in the 
cause of their common country. The 
feeling developed itself in the organiza- 
tion of societies of different kinds. In 
18f)3 we tiud a number of men gathered 
together in this town under the name 
of "The Union League." It was a po- 
litical organization, having political 
objects in view, yet at the same time, 
dispensing charity according to its 
means. In this neighborhood it num- 
bered over 200 members, and over 1000 
in the county. There can be no dcubt 
that the influence this society exerted 
over the people was immense. They 
helped to carry the elections; they 
worked ably in behalf of Kepublican- 
isra, and indeed acted as a sort of Home 
(iuard while their brethren fought on 
the distant battle field. 

Mr. S. T. K. Prime was the president 
and we expect in the next chapter to 
pul)lish a short review of those trouble- 
soine times at home from Mr. Prime 
himself. 

In the same year we find another so- 
ciety organized here, of a dilTerent 
character. It was composed of ladies 
and was called "The Ladies Loyal 
League." It was established on June 
5, ISUo, in II. Eldredge's house over his 



store. The parties who organized this 
effective bind of laborers were S. T. K. 
Prime, S. Cutler and J. G. Strong. The 
object of the society was to raise funds 
for hospital and sanitary purposes. The 
ladies met once in every two weeks for 
the space of two years, and during that 
time accomplished a large amount of 
good. 

TlTeir first purchase was that of a 
cow, which was sent to the hospital at 
Springfield for the benefit of the wound- 
ed soldiers there. 

The next step was to make weekly 
consigments of butter and vegetables 
to the same hospital. 

In the course of their labors this so- 
ciety raised over $700. Many means 
were resorted to; tableaux were per- 
formed, oyster suppers were given, and 
each attempt to raise money was cheer- 
fully responded to by the enthusiastic 
citizens. 

At no period of our history as a town 
have we enjoyed so much harmony and 
prosperity as during the period of which 
we are writing. 

The people seemed to be of one mind; 
popular thought and feeling ran in one 
direction and our town, always loyal, 
was, at this exciting and crucial period, 
devoted to the best interests of our 
country. 

We find the following named men 
were in other companies than "E" in 
the 129th 111. Ilegt.: 

Earl II. Kenyon, Co. A. 129th. 

Benjamin Thompson. 

The 129th was brigaded with the 102d 
and 105th 111. Inft. and the 70th Indiana 
and 79th Ohio. The brigade was com- 
manded by General "Pap" Ward, of 
Kentucky, who after was promoted, 
by General Harrison, afterwards presi- 
dent of the United States. The Colonel 
of the 102d was Colonel Smith, of the 
129th, Col. Case, 105th, General Daniel 



30 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



Dustin, of Sycamore, 111., 70th Indiana, 
(■olonel Beu], Harrison, 79th Ohio by 
Col. Doan. 

Many other brave soldiers went from 
this community, but we are unable to 
obtain their names. 

AVe are indebted to Colonel J. B. Par 
sons for the following list of soldiers 
from these parts who died through 
wounds, disease and other causes 'dur- 
ing the war and from disease since the 
war. We also give company and regi- 
ment, where and when they died, and 
where buried,as far as possible. 

ROLL OF HONOR. 

S. H. Kyle, Co. C, Eegt. 129th 111. Inf t., 
died at Bowling Green, Dec. 1, 1862 and 
buried in McDowell Cemetery 

H. A. Collister, I, 20th, Atlanta, July 
22, '64, Atlanta. 

B. J. Wait. D. 27th, Post Helina, Aug. 
20, '63, Post Helma. 

James Weldon, H, 55th, Shiloh, April 
20, '62, Viana, 111. 

J. L. Ketcham, B, 129th 111., Chata- 
noogo, June 25, '64, Chatanooga. 

E. B. Bartholic, I, 20th 111., Ft. Don- 
elson, Feb. 15, '62, Ft. Donelson. 

F. M. Angle, B, 129th 111., Taylors 
Creek, March 16, '65 Taylors Creek, 

Chanes Spencer, C, 129th 111., Bowl- 
ing Green, March 25, '62, Bowling 
Green. 

J, W. Kyler, D, 39th 111., Dwight, 111., 
Oct 24, '61, McDowell Cemety. 

Erastuss Stevens, D, 127th 111., 
Vicksburg, May 52, '63, Vicksburg. 

Samuel Saltmarsh, G, 3()th 111., Ken- 
esaw Mountain, June 19, '<)4, Kenesaw 
Mountain. 

Samuel Adams, D, 127th 111., Padu- 
6ah, Dec. 1, '63.Paaucah. 

Enos Morris, C, 129ih 111., Peach 
Tree Creek, July 20, '64, Preach Tree 

^Creek . 

F. L. Kimberk, I, 55th 111., Atlanta, 
July 22, "64, Atlanta, 



Henry Houston, A, 129th 111., Galla- 
tin, Feb. 14, '63, Gallatin, Tenn. 

Thomas Hughes, J, 5oth 111., Shiloh, 
April 6, '62, Shiloh. 

August Stahl, B, 129th 111., liesaca, 
June 20, '64, Resaca. 

J. P. Gantzert, F, 55th 111., Shiloh, 
April 6, '62, Shiloh. 

Israel Parker, 1>, 127th 111., Kenesaw 
Mountain, June 27, '()4, Kenesaw Moun- 
tain. 

C. H. Chandler, G 36th 111., Perry- 
ville, Oct. 14, '62, Perryville. 

Merwin McLane. D, 39th 111., Folly 
Island, July 3, '63, Folly Island. 

C. E. Atvvood, B, 129th 111., Gallatin, 

Feb. 6, '63. 
J. F. Bennett, D, 127th 111., Atlanta, 

July 28, '62, Atlanta. 

G. W. Randall, B, 129th 111., Gallatin, 
Feb. 21, '63, Gallatin. 

G. A. Sarvis, C, 129th 111., Peach Tree 
Creek, July 20, '64, Peach Tree Creek. 

D. D.Ellis, D, 39th 111., Deep Run, 
Aug. 16, '64, Deep Run, 

R. C. Parker, D, 127th 111., Yiana, 
Nov. 8, '63, Viana, 111. 

John Paxtou, D, 127th 111., Gardner, 
Dec, 29, '62, Gardner, 111. 

James McGinnis, D, 127th 111.. Dallas. 
May 30, '64, Dallas. 

William Clark, K, 14th 111. Cav., An- 

dersonville, August 9, '<>4, Anderson- 
ville. 
Edward Slattery, 1, 55th Hi., Shiloh, 

Avril 7, '^62, Morris. 

Patrick O'Neill, IT. 55th 111., Shiloh, 

April ('),' 62 Shiloh. 

E. I. Train, D, 129th 111., Chicago, 
Oct. 31, '62, Chicago. 

Amos Parker, D, 127th 111., Mulligan 
Bend, Nov. 14, '63, Mulligan's Bend. 

F. II, Chappel, D, 127th Goldsbnry — 
Goldsbury. 

William Peterson, D, 137th, 111., Al- 
tona, July 28, '64, Altona. 

Edwin McKinney. B, 129th 111, Bowl- 
ing Green, Sept. 2, '62, Bowling Green. 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLI:N0IS. 



31 



S. S. Gray, B, 189th 111., Bowling 
Green, Sept. 2, 'G:^, Bowling Green. 

Jerry Randall, B. 129th 111., Nashville, 
July 3, '(54, Nashville. 

J. 11. Corn well, G, 129th 111., Gallitin, 
Feb. 25, '03, Gallatin. 

Charles Wykes, B, 129th III, Nash- 
ville, Feb. 15, '64, Nashville. 

Frederick Rockwell^ I, 20th 111., Ft. 
Donelsou,Feb. 1(5, '(32, Ft. Donelson. 

L. Y. Flagler, I, 20th 111., Cairo, Oct. 
22- '61, Birds Point, Mo. 

E. H. Kenyon, A, 129th 111., Foun- 
tain Mead, Jan. 6, '(33, Fountain Head. 

Henry Yanderburg, B, 129th 111., 
Yining Station, July 29, '64, Yining Sta- 
tion. 

J O. Collister, B, 129th 111., Fountain 
Head, Jan. 8, '63, Fountain Head. 

I. G. Mott, K, 129th 111., South Tun- 
)ie], April 12, '(53, South Tunnel. 

William Hoffman, B, 129th 111., Ala- 
toona, June 15, '64, Alatoona, 

James Broughton, B, 129th Ill.,Mitch- 
ellsville, Dec. 8, '63, Mitchellsville. 

G. W. Randall, B, 129th 111., Gallatin, 
Feb. 21, '63, Gallatin. 

Henry Shafer, I, 20th 111., Big Black, 
Jan. 1,(54, Big Black, Miss. 

Aaron ^^an Pelt, D, 127th 111., Padu- 
cah, Dec. 1, '(53. Paducah. 

John Kennedy, H, 55th III., Shiloh, 
April 5, '(32. Shiloh. 

J. E. Still, D, 127th 111., Yicksburg, 
May 25, '(33, ^^icksburg. 

Charles Howland, D. 127th 111., Green- 
lield, Oct. 29, '(33, Greenlield. 

Harrison Miller, J, 20th 111., Ray- 
mond, May 12, '(33, Raymond, Miss. 

•Silas Bunker, , Shiloh, 

April (5, '(52, Shiloh. 

Felix Koehnlien. 

(r. T. Sillett, D, 127th 111., 

Henry Parker. D, 127th 111., 

Sept. 22, '03. 

Geo. Pearce,.., 104th 111., Kenesaw 
Mountain, June 27, '(34, Kenesaw Moun- 



tain. 

Kobt. Parker. 

T. J. Atwater, I. 20th 111. ? 

Gary Peterson. 

W. D. Lindsey, D, 127th 111., 

May 9, '73, 

Leander Ellis, I, 36th 111., Stone 
River, Stone Riyer. 

Patrick Welch. 

Joseph Shelly. 

H. H. At wood. 

S. W. Kenney. 

Robert Mease. 

Ralph Miller. 

George Brown, D, 127th, Jackson- 
ville, Jacksonville, 111. 

George Johnson. 

B. W. Hall, B, 129th 111,? 
Bruce Welsh. 

Elijah Parker, I, 46th 111., Dwight, 
111., Feb. 14, 1879, Conant Cemetery. 

Absalom Thomas ? 

Stanley Small, D, 127th 111., Dakota, 
Dakota, 

Franklin Small, G, 3(5th 111.? 

A, S. Green, B, 4th 111. Cav., Mem- 
phis, Tenn., 1863, Memphis, 

Tenn. 

I. H. Stevens. 

Geo. Austin, D, 127th 111., 

Jan. 31, '63 

G. R. Goodspeed, D, 127th 111., 

Jan. 14, '(33 

II. P, Brayton, D, 127th 111,, 

Jan, 8, '63 

Ashburv Preston, D, 127th 111,, 

.Jan. 28, '63 

E. H. Greene, D, 91st 111., Browns- 
ville, Texas, June 17, '64, Brownsville, 
Texas. 

C. S. Ingraham, D, 52d 111., Spring- 
field, March 2, '65, McDowell's Ceme- 
tery. 

G. O. Cutler, D, 39th 111., 

Sept, 11, '(33 

J, W, Phinney, D, 127th 111 

Aug. 1.3, '63 



32 



HISTORY OF DTTIGIIT, ILLI^'OIS, 



Cushman Small,. ., Sfith 111., Atlanta, 
Jan. .., 18»U, Mazoc, 111. 

Isaac Carson, G, 3(>tli 111., Danville, 
Ya., Feb. 16, '62, Viana, 111. 

11. E. Atwood, D, 127th 111., Yiana. 
discharged Jan, 20 '63 for disability. 

Joseph Avilmott, I,55thlll., Paducah, 
Ky., April 15, '62, Paducah, Ky. 

William Kirtan, 11, 17th 111. Cav., 
Glasgow, Mo., Aug, 17, '64, Glasgow, 
Mo. 

M. D. Scott, F, 138th 111., Dwight, 
March 6, '67, McDowell Cemetery, 

Orson Spencer, C, 129th 111., Nevada, 
Aug. 14, '66, McDowell Cemetery. 

Anton Dick, B, 129th 111., Dwight, 
Conant Cemetery, Dwight. 

E, H. Banks, G, 69th 111., Davis Is-' 
land, June 28, '62, Newburg, N. Y. 

Isaac Wheatley, D, 105th 111., Dwight, 
Oct. 2, 86, Union, 111. 

Abraham Fox, I, 47th 111., Round 
Grove, July 6, '83, Round Grove. 

W. T. Cumberland, 4th Independent 
Ohio Cav., Girard Kansas, Dec. 25, '78, 
Oak Lawn Cemetery. 

J. S. Harrison, C, 44th 111,, Dwight. 
March 31, '76, Oak Lawn Cemetery. 

Chas. Koehnlein, B, 129th 111,, Dwight, 
June 2, '84, Oak Lawn Cemetery. 

N. W. Davis, I, 20th 111., Vicksburg, 
Miss., July 7, '80, Vicksburg, Miss, 

S. H. Kenney, 4th U. S. Regulars, 
Chicago, Sept. 19, '87, Oak Lawn Ceme- 
tery. 

Hiram Miller, II, 32d 111., Dwight, 
April 57, '88, Oak Lawu Cemetery. 

Martin Kennedy, B, 12th N. Y., 
Dwight, May 14, '88, Dwight Catholic 
cemetery. 

J. C. Schneider, A, S(>th X. Y., Neva- 
da, 111., Feb. 3, '90, Oak Lawn. 

Xiles Christensen. ll, 89th 111., 
Dwight' Conant. V 

W. II. Gillispie, K, 34th 111,, Good- 
i'arm, Oak Lawn. 



Christopher Yates, H, 127th III., 1892, 
Oak Lawn, 

After the war tliere were many old 
soldiers who had served in regiments 
from other states, and from Illinois, lo- 
cated in Dwight, and were among our 
best business men. While this history 
is dealing with old soldiers and the pa- 
triotism of the community a short 
sketch of the Dwight Post No. 62(>, 
Grand Army of the Republic, Woman's 
Relief Corps and Sons of Veterans may 
be of interest. 

The old veterans of this community 
had been debating the proposition tO' 
organize for some years, but it was not 
until the 17th day of May, 1887, that the 
organization was completed For the 
information of all we will publish the 
proceedings of the first meeting in full, 
which gives the names of all members, 
the lirst officers, etc., as follows: 

Headquarters Post No. 626, G. A. R. 
Dwight, 111., May 17, 1887. 

Due application having been made 
and permission having been granted 
for the organization of a Post of G. A. 
R. at this place and a meeting having 
been called for that purpose. 

Said meeting was held at I. O. O. F. 
Hall in Dwight on Tuesday evening. 
May 17, 1887. 

The following named t>ersons an- 
swered to roll call; 

Spencer Eldredge, ,Jolin F. Scbnmm, 
Eugene R. Stevens, George W. Kyler, 
Christopher Yates, Josejih ]\IcBaker, 
Lawrence F. Abbot, ,lohn C. Lewis, 
John C. (ieorge, Jesse L. Slyder, James 
Williams, Moses McLean, Henry Fox, 
William B. lirown, Ira M.Parker, Mar- 
tin Seabert, John Buftham, James B. 
Parsons, Henry Spellman, Alfred O. 
Walso, Henry E, Russell, Alexander L. 
Leach, Martin AVilks, Lewis Seeger, 
Charles McClary, Thon^as (>ommeford., 





James Brown. 



John Vicke 



■y- 






.s 





David Riling, 



Geo. W. Boyer. 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



33 



William Constantine, Charles F. Shel- 
don, John Casey, Henry Turnbaugh, 
Frank W. Ford, Jeduthurn Weller, 
Simeon T. Lockhart, Stormens Pefter- 
man, Levi C. Webster, Ezra Harney, 
AVilliam II, Gillispie, Sypreon P. Small, 
William Browning, William McMa- 
hanna, Aaron Pricket, George W. 
Boyer. 

Who each having paid their fee were 
duly mustered in Post Xo. 626, opened 
by Comrades S. A. Oliver, Mustering 
Officer Bartleson Post Xo. 6, Joliet, as- 
sisted by John R. Lang, of Xo. 6, Bar- 
tleson Post, and the following officers: 

H. H. McDowell, S. V., Post No. 105, 
Pontiac. 

John A. Hoover, J. V., Post Xo. 105, 
Pontiac. 

Alvin Wait, Chap., Post No. 105, Pon- 
tiac. 

John T. Wilson, O. D., Post No. 105, 
Pontiac. 

Frank Hebert, O. G., Post No, 6, Jol. 
iet. 

George Eberhart, I. S., Post No. 6, 
Joliet. 

George A. P. Cummings, Adjt., Post 
Xo. 6, Joliet. 

Thompson Martin, Sgt. M., Post 305, 
Gardner. 

A. F. Small, Surg., Post Xo. 305, Gard- 
ner. 

John Hull, Q. M., Post Xo. 305, Gard- 
ner. 

Constituted the body of special meet- 
ing ot Dept. of 111. — for the purpose of 
mustering Post Xo, 626. 

After mustering, the election of offi- 
cers being in order, the following per- 
sons were elected, as Temporary Chair- 
man, John C. George; Adjutant, Spen- 
cer Eldredge. 

Nomination and election of officers 
being now in order, James B. Parsons 
was nominated and elected Post Com- 
mander by acclamation. The Post 



Commander having taken the chair, 
the following officers were elected for 
the remainder of the year as follows: 

Henry Fox, S. V. C; Eugene R. 
Stevens, J. Y. C; Laurance F. Abbott, 
Surg.; Moses McLane, Chap.; John 
Buftham, Q. M.; John C. Lewis, O. D.; 
Christopher Yates, O. G.; all being 
elected by acclamation and then duly 
installed, when the following officers 
were duly appointed- 

Spencer Eldredge, Adjt.; Frank AV. 
Ford, Sergt. M ; John C. George, Q. M. 
S.; who were then duly installed. 

Resolution by Comrade Fox for the 
appointment of a committee on by- 
laws. The Commander appointed 
Henry Fox, Spencer Eldredge, John C. 
Lewis, as such committee. 

The Commander, in behalf of Post 
626, G. A. R., tenders hearty thanks to 
visiting comrades for their presence 
and kindly assistance. 

Motion was made and seconded that 
this Post meet one week from to-night 
to complete organization and other bus- 
iness. Carried. 

The Commander appointed as a com- 
mittee the following comrades: John 
C. Lewis, John C. George, Henry Fox, 
Christopher Yates and Eugene R. 
Stevens, on Memorial services. 

There being no further business Post 
No. 626 was adjourned. 

Spenceu Eldkecje, Adjutant. 

At the second meeting the Post was 
named Dwight Post Xo. 626. Col. J. B. 
Parsons was reelected commander for 
three terms, when Henry Fox was elect- 
ed. This was followed by the election 
of Comrades John Buffham, ,1. C. Lewis, 
Wm. Brown, and at present the metho- 
dist minister, a very patriotic gentle- 
man, C. W. Ayling, is the commander. 

Comrade Simon Call was admitted as 
a member May 24, 1887. Samuel 11. 
Kinney, June 21, 1887. 



34 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



Thomas Weldon, Daniel J. (Jraham 
and Francis M. Davis were admitted 
July 19, 1887. 

Homer A. Kenyon August 16, 1887. 

Enoch Allen, C. E. Foesterling, J. N. 
Pearson, Sept. 20, 1887. 

Joseph L. Borer, Jan. 20, 1888. 

Thos. Huggins, March 20, 1888. 

The first decoration day proceeding 
the Post took part in was in May 1888, 
and the occasion was a grand one. 

The first inspection was held July 17^ 
1888, Captain Hoover, of Pontiac, was 
the inspector. Comrade Harry Mc- 
Dowell made a speech and a pleasant 
time enjoyed. Capt. Hoover also in- 
spected the Post in 1889 and 1890. 

Gideon R. Petry was admitted Feb. 
19, 1889. 

The installation in Jan. 1890 was 
made public and the Relief Corps and 
Sons of Veterans were present and 
were installed and a supper served af- 
terwards. 

G. A. Seymour joined in March, 1890. 

The Post, W. R. C. and S. of V. went 
to Morris Decoration Day, 1890, to as- 
sist in dedicating a grand.soldiers' mon- 
ument. 

Wm. I. Crittenden joined in Novem- 
ber. 1891. 

Martin Reinhart joined Feb. 16, 1892. 

Geo. W. Reed and D. B. Walker joined 
in May, 1892, 

James C. Parker joined October 18, 
1892. 

Samuel II. Howe joined in April, 
1892, by transfer. 

Curtis J. Judd, Manning Smith, A. 
G. Huey and Northrup Kiggs joined in 
July, 1893. 

It will be seen by the above that the 
membership of the Post from the first 
has been quite large. Many of the old 
comrades have died, and others moved 
away, and many are still with us. There 
are quite a number of old soldiers in 



this community who should join the 
Post. 

The Dwight Relief Corps was organ- 
ized in September, 1889, with a good 
membership, and they have accom- 
plished much good. Mrs. Henry Fox 
was president until January. 189'4, when 
Mrs. S. H. Howe was elected and holds 
the office at the present time. 

The Sons of Veterans was organized 
July 16, 1889, in Grand Array hall, there 
being sixteen members, Jos. K. Buff- 
ham was elected the IJrst captain, H. F. 
Boyer served two terms, W. G. Dustin, 
one, and Orville Brown is the present 
captain. The sons have always taken 
part in Decoration I)ay exercises and 
have shown their patriotism in many 
ways. Other sons in this community 
should join them. 

THE MILITIA. 

The actual soldiering of many during 
the war had made many anxious to play 
soldiers and in 1876 a militia company 
was formed. The main part of the fol- 
lowing we take from a recent history: 

Thevillage of Dwight is distinguished 
for the honor of having been military 
headquarters of the Tenth Battalion of 
Illinois National Guards, Lieut. Col. J. 
B. Parsons, commanding. The battal- 
ion was organized August 15, 1876, com- 
posed of companies from Dwight, Odell 
Pontiac, Streator, Joliet and Marseilles. 
The field officers elected then were J. 
B. Parsons, of Dwight, Lieutenant 
Colonel: L. C. Miles, of Streatoi, Major. 
Staff appointed: L. C. Mitchell, of Jol- 
iet, Surgeon; Rev. J. F. Culver, of Pon- 
tiac, Chaplain; J. B. Fithian, of Joliet, 
Adjutant, and C. J. Judd, of Dwight, 
Quartermaster. The battalion re- 
organized and some of the com- 
panies attached to other commands, 
while two new companies were 
added to the Tenth, whose headquar- 
ters still remain at Dwight. Under re- 



TTISTOUY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



35 



organization, it was composed of the 
following companies: Parsons Guards 
Co. E, (formerly Dvvight Guards;) Pon- 
tiac Guards, Co. A ; VVenona Guards, 
Co. B; Odell Guards, Co. D; Fairbury 
Guards, Co. C. The battalion officers 
were: J. B. Parsons, Dwight, Lieu- 
tenant Colonel, commanding; J. K. 
Howard, OdeJl, Major; H.E. W. Barnes, 
Fairbury, Surgeon; Kev. J. F. Culver, 
Pontiac, Chaplain; C. J. Judd, Dwight, 
Adjutant; Cadet Taylor, Wenona, Quar- 
termaster. The entire command, ex- 
cept the Wenona Guards, was cf Liv- 
ingston county. They were armed with 
the uniform breech-loading Springfield 
rifles, of the Prussian pattern. The 
companies were well drilled and ready 



to meet a foe at a moment's warning. 
The Dwight Guards, a company of 
the Tenth Battalion, was organized 
June 20, 1874, and its first officers were: 
J. B. Parsons, Captain; S. H. Kenny, 
First Lieutenant; S. M. Witt, Second 
Lieutenant. Upon the organization ot 
the battalion, Capt. Parsons was pro- 
moted to its command, and his old 
company, the Dwight Guards, by a 
company vote and as a token of es- 
teem for their late Captain, changed 
the name of the company to "Parsons 
Guards," which name was retained. 
Their officers afterward were as follows, 
viz.: S. H. Kenny, Captain; S. M.Witt, 
First Lieutenant; J, H. Lloyd, Second 
Lieutenant. 



3fi 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



CHAPTER V. 



!N TIMES OF PEACE. 



As was the case all over the country, 
times were lively in Dwight after the 
war. Many of the old soldiers came 
back, and others from different parts of 
the country came and settled in the 
pretty little prairie town. The busi- 
ness of the town picked up greatly and 
the town grew and was prosperous. 
There was plenty of money in the 
country in 1866— lots of greenbacks. 
The soldiers had been paid off, and 
other debts of the government paid in 
greenbacks and everyone had money. 
The business of the country achieved 
a yeritable boom and business was good 
until 1873, when there was a relapse, 
but the conditions were soon overcome 
by proper legislation of the party in 
power. 

AVhile we hear from old residents 
that there were many newcomers in 
Dwight in 1866-7-8, it is impossible to 
get all their names, and indeed the in- 
formation we can gain from histories 
or the people, is very vague regarding 
those prosperous times. The histories 
we have skip over this period with no 
particular notice. It was not until 
May 5, 1868, that the first newspaper 
was issued in Dwight and from tlie 
close of the war until that time we 
shall have to omit much of what we 
feel sure occurred of interest to all, 
simply because we have no data to go 



by. In the chapters that follow of 
personal reminiscences and biographies 
will be written much that will cover the 
omissions made in the history proper. 
We have in our possession, through the 
kindness of Mr. D. McWilliams, Dr. 
Keeley, Major Judd and others, many 
copies of newspapers of an early date, 
and also a very good history of the vil- 
lage, from 1872 to 1885, containing the 
history of local elections as far as ob- 
tainable, kindly furnished us by Hon. 
O. W. Pollard, which will appear in the 
history later on. From the first num- 
ber of "The Star," which was 6x9 inches 
in size, we quote Charlie Palmer's salu- 
tatory, as follows: 

"It has been rumored for some time 
past that Dwight was to have a large 
weekly newspaper, but as the expected 
Journal has failed to make its appear- 
ance and rather than have the communi- 
ty disappointed( V) I have concluded and 
do present herewith to the people of 
Dwight and vicinity, the initial number 
of the new Weekly Journal, which, with 
all proper deference and modesty, but 
with no small amount of agreeable an- 
ticipations, I have ventured to make to 
the people a small weekly offering which 
may be a source of satisfaction and de- 
light in hours snatched from the en- 
gagements of business and requirement 
of public life. With no intentions or 



IIISTOKY OF DWIGHT, ILLI^JOIS. 



37 



desires of creating undue expectations 
as to the future of this Journal, but 
merely in justice to myself, would say, 
that the flrst number is not as com- 
plete as 1 intended it should be. 

In conclusion permit me to say that 
Dwight may never have cause to be 
ashamed of the first number of "The 
Star." 

Later in the history we propose to 
"tell the story," of the newspaper busi- 
ness in Dwight to date, but in this and 
some chapters to follow, we shall make 
numerous quotations from this lively 
little paper which made its lirst appear- 
ance as above. 

"We learn that close after the war an 
effort in the line of temperance was 
taken in our midst, and that Mr. J. M. 
Smith, (of whom we shall speak more 
at length farther on) was one of only 
two members of the town board at that 
time and the village was carried for 
temperance. Under what kind of an 
organization the town was at that time 
we cannot learn, but it was a fact so 
we are informed. 

The first authentic report of munici- 
pal elections we take from "Fifteen 
Years of History" as follows: 

The municipal election of the spring 
of 1869 resulted in the triumph of can- 
didates who represented a constituency 
whose chief aim was to prohibit the 
sale of intoxicating liquors within the 
territory over which the village had 
jurisdiction. The members of the 
Board were J. G. Strong, president; W. 
A. Mott, J. M. Smith, Simon Wait. G. 
Z. Flager and Henry Eldredge. The 
other otllcers were L, G. Pearre, clerk; 
A. Bru baker, treasurer: J. M. Smith, 
poundmaster; C. M. Libby, constable 
and supervisor of streets. This Board 
represented a cause which was then un- 
popular. It was, because of this, ex- 
posed to such unfavorable criticism 



and compelled to encounter all through 
the year much opposition. While it 
was an office anything but pleasant to 
its occupant it was at that time one 
whose duties were such as to require 
much labor and time in their perform- 
ance. They discussed," carefully con- 
sidered and passed no less than twenty - 
six ordinances, all of which the clerk 
was required to record. These ordi- 
nances constitute the frame-work and 
contain the principal features by those 
which we have since been governed. A 
special charter had been previously ob- 
tained, distinguished as the "Princeton 
Charter," and the attempt was made to 
deal with the liquor traffic in accord- 
ance with its provisions. This led to 
the adoption of an ordinance en- 
titled "Liquor Selling," which is as fol- 
lows: 

"Section ]. Be ic ordained by the 
Town of Dwight, That any persons 
who shall sell, barter or exchange ale, 
porter, beer, wine, brandy, rum, gin or 
whisky, or any spiritous, vinous, malt, 
fermented, mixed or intoxicating liq- 
uor, or any mixture part of which is 
any of said liquors within the corporate 
limits of said town, or within one mile 
thereof, or who shall, upon the sale, 
barter or exchange of any goods, chat- 
tels, wares, merchandise, property, 
chose in action or upon any promise, 
contract or agreement, expressed or 
implied, deliver or furnish or cause to 
be delivered or furnished, or knowingly 
suffer to be taken or received any 
brandy, rum, gin, whisky, ale, porter, 
beer or wine or any other spiritous, 
vinous, malt, fermented, mixed or in- 
toxicating liquor or any mixtures part 
of which is any of said liquors, shall be 
considered and adjuged guilty of a 
nuisance, and every such person shall, 
upon conviction thereof, forfeit and 
pay to said town of Dwight the sum of 



:« 



IIISTOKY OF DW'ICJIIT, ILLINOIS. 



not less than lifty dollars nor more than 
one hundred dollars for each and every 
oftense, and be coraraitted to the coun- 
ty jail of Livingston county. Illinois, 
until such , tines and costs be paid or 
otherwise discharged by process of law. 

"Section 2. The giving away, Lyany 
person or persons within the corporate 
limits of said town or within one mile 
thereof, of any of the aforesaid liquors 
with a view to evade any of the penal- 
ties provided in Section 1 of this ordi- 
nance, shall be deemed and adjudged 
likewise guilty of a nuisance and be 
punished with a like fine and imprison- 
ment, in default of payment as is pro- 
vided in said Section 1. 

"Section 3. All penalties and fines 
provided for by this ordinance shall be 
recovered by an action of debt or by 
warrant and before the police magis- 
trate or justice of the peace of said 
town or county. 

"Section 4. This act shall take effect 
and be in force from and after its pas- 
sage and publication." 

The ordinance shows the radical uat- 
ureof atemperance reform then sought 
to be accomplished by resort to legal 
methods. Not only the selling, but the 
giving away of intoxicants to be used 
as beverages was prohibited by the en- 
actment of heavy penalties for so doing. 
We can imagine how emphatic were 
the terms used by those not favoring 
such a course in denouncing an attempt 
of this kind. 

Another ordinance entitled '*Sale of 
Li(iuor for Special Purposes" was passed 
the object of which was tohiake it con- 
venient to get all kinds of liquor need- 
ed for medicinal, mechanical and sac- 
ramental uses. G. W. (iilchrist was ap- 
pointed to see that demands of this 
nature were met. 

The president was authorized to se- 
cure the services of an attorney, the 



payment of whom should not, however, 
exceed two hundred dollars. Twenty- 
live dollars were voted L. G. Pearre for 
compiling ordinances, W. M. Bray ton 
and S. M. Wiit are appointed extra po- 
lice for August 12th and N. T. Gaylord 
and S. M. Witt for September t:Jth. 
Near the end of the September montli 
S. M. Witt succeeds C. M. Libby as 
constable and supervisor of streets, 
Joseuh Gerson was granted a billiard 
table license, C. L. Palmer authorized 
to publish thirty copies of ordinances, 
K. P. Morgan Jr., W. H. Bradbury and 
J. A. Turner appointed to assess dam- 
ages claimed by reason of the building 
of a certain walk, deeds for the two 
parks ordered prepared for the signa- 
ture of 11. P. Morgan. Jr . , the east park 
rented to W. H. Ketcham, he agreeing 
to keep fence in good repair and seed 
the ground. That tnere was consider- 
able litigation this year is evidenced by 
the fact that .1?.370.20 were collected in 
the way of fines and $219 were paid out 
as lawyer's fees. 

Among the local events of the year of 
1869 were the commencing of work on 
\he western division of the C. & A. 
railroad, the building of the engine 
house, the admission of L. G. Pearre to 
the bar, the entrance of the Dwight 
Star upon its third year in an enlarged 
form with its appearance much im- 
proved, the erection of a dwelling by 
Wm. Walker and one by Leander Mor- 
^'an, the refitting of J. A. Turner's 
hotel and an addition to that kept by 
Iliram Cornell, the construction of a 
fine residence by Kev. J. A. Montgom- 
ery, also by Dr. Baker, the departure of 
Father Dunn, of the Boman Catholic 
church, and the call extended to Rev. 
L. F. Walker by the Presbyterians, the 
removal of Col. B. P. Morgan, Jr., and 
family to Bloomington, the occurence 
of the great fire taking place at the 



IIISTOHY OF DWKillT. lLLi:N()iy. 



3U 



corner of Franklin Street and Mazon 
avenue, rlestroving fourteen buildings 
and entailing a heavy loss upon several 
of our citizens, the death of AV'm. Ches- 
ter and the marriage of Daniel Hurley 
to Margaret Sands and the much-talked 
of Kankakee & Illinois lliver railroad. 
1870-'71. 

The canvas of the election returns 
made this year possesses considerable 
interest as showing the reaction suf- 
ferred by the Trinceton charter move- 
ment and the relative strength of par- 
ties divided upon this single issue. 'J'he 
candidates and votes received t»y each 
are as follows: 

License— C. S. Xewell, 121;,!. 11. llag- 
erty, 120; L. F. Slyder, 118; U. C. Adams, 
120; G.M. Hahn. 119. 

Frohibition^O W. Follard, 27; O. 
I'otter, 2(5: Henry Flaherty, 27; J. B. 
Parsons, 2fi; N. Burnham, 26; David 
:N[cVVilliams, 25, J. C. Cook, 1. 

W. S. Sims, being on both tickets, 160 
votes. 

This gave the Anti-Princeton Char- 
ter ticket an average majority of nine- 
ty-three votes. It was, as it appears, 
almost a Bull Run defeat to the no-li- 
cense advocates. Prohibition legisla- 
tion had not proved a success This 
was not to be attributed to a lack of 
reasonable effort on ths part of those 
selected to lead in the battle or to their 
incompetency, but to the fact that the 
bulk of the community had, for a year 
or two preceding, acted more from 
impulse than from any well-settled 
principles concerning prohibition as the 
only method that promises to relieve a 
suffering people from the curse of 
drunkenness, and the disorders and 
oppressive taxation that always attend 
the traffic in intoxicating drinks. The 
other officers were L. G. Pearre, clerk: 
H. T. Newell, treasurer: John Devoe, 
poundmaster: J. C. George, constable: 



S. M. Witt, constable and street com- 
missioner; ,1. L. Dunlop, attorney. 
Having no power, as a Board, to nulify 
the charter under which, as a village 
organization, we were operating, there 
could be no repeal of its prohibitory or- 
dinance and a substitution of one au- 
thorizing the issuing of licenses for the 
sale of intoxicating liquors. A\'e have 
here presented the singular anomoly of 
a village having a prohibitory law and 
at the same time having a Board com- 
posed of members that had been elect- 
ed by a large majority and yet known 
to be strongly opposed to enforcing it. 
Whatever may have been the cause or 
causes, there is no denying the fact that 
this was at that time, with the greater 
part of the people, an obnoxious tem- 
perance law. This Board was not, how- 
ever, inclined to suffer liquor to be sold 
without let or hindrance, or to let the 
disorderly go unrebuked or unpunished. 
If opposed to prohibition, it was far 
from favoring free whisky. According 
to the views entertained it was far 
wiser to aim to regulate and tax what it 
seemed impossible to prohibit and 
thereby secure a handsome revenue to 
the village Chapter 5 of the ordi- 
nances was amended so as to read to- 
wit: ' 

"Section 4. The town constable shall 
arrest any persons whom he may lind 
drunk in the streets of the town or in 
way disturbing the quiet and peace of 
the town and detain such person until 
he can be taken before the police mag- 
istrate or other justice of the peace of 
said town for trial and punishment, as 
provided by the ordinances of said town. 

"Section 5. The town constable shall, 
upon view of the commission of any 
offence against the ordinances of said 
town, with or without process, arrest all 
persons engaged in the commission of 
such offence and take such person 



40 



niSTOUY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



before the police magistrate or other 
justice of the peace iu said town for 
trial and punishment or detain such 
person until he can be taken before the 
police magistrate or other justice of the 
peace as atoresaid." 

The amendment is pres^'nted, as it 
leads to an inference that the appear- 
ance of men upon the street in an in- 
toxicated condition was of such fre- 
quent occurence as to demand of the 
Board an act in the form of an ordi- 
nance, making it the duty of the vil- 
lage constable to arrest, with or with- 
out process, drunken or disorderly per- 
sons and taka them before a competent 
court. 

Chapter 8 of the ordinances, which 
made it unlawful to "sell, barter or ex- 
change or give away distilled, vinous, 
malt or fermented liquors,'' was amend 
ed, so as to make the penalty for each 
violation to be "not less than five dol 
lars nor more than fifty dollars" instead 
of "not less than fifty dollars nor more 
than one hundred dollars." 

This, of course, lessened the risk of 
dealing in liquors, but the dealers were 
given to understand that they must pay 
fines for the privilege of selling. If they 
would not do It voluntarily recourse 
would be had to law, as the prohibitory 
ordinance remained unrepealed. It 
amounted, virtually, to an unofficial 
permit to sell liquor with an implied 
agreement on the part ot the saloon 
keepers that they would pay fines in 
lieu of license fees. It is inferred, how- 
ever, that the fines were not paid as 
cheerfully as the board had a right to 
expect, as a resolution was carried by 
which the attorney was instructed to 
prosecute defaulting saloon keepers 
promptly once a month. Several suits 
were commenced and in the month of 
February settlement was made by the 
attorney with six saloon keepers for 



fines due, which the board voted to 
ratify. The license fee for operating 
billard tallies was fixed for .S5 a month, 
instead of $8, and licenses were issued 
to -Joseph Gerson and S. Goldsmith. 

During this year a census was or- 
dered and L. AV. P. Wilmot was en- 
gaged to perform the task. This report 
possesses some interest, as it indicates 
the size to which tlie village had at- 
tained, the number <if , buildings 
and inhabitants. It is as fol- 
lows: Number of inhabitants, l,0i4: 
dwellings, 212; families, 120; white 
males, 537, white females, .501; colored 
males, 4; colored females, 2; males for- 
eign born, 109; females foreign born. 
To; number attending school, 225; num- 
ber that cannot read, 11; number that 
cannot write, 37; number of electors, 
243. 

Under the head of local events men- 
tion may be made of J. C. Lewis's pur- 
chase of a fine residence; the birth of 
Jas. G. Strong, Jr.; the completion and 
occupancy of Wm. A. Sargeant's hard- 
ware store, also Wait's new store, both 
located on Chatham liow; the visit oi 
Gen, Grant and party, accompanied by 
Gov. Palmer, of this state, and the edi- 
tor of the Star to Chicago; the enlarge- 
ment of the Dwight Star into a four- 
column paper: tlie departure of liev. 
Jas. "\V. Haney, of the M. E. church, and 
the arrival of Eev. G. M. Irwin, his suc- 
cessor; the organization of the Dwight 
Temperance I'nion; the building and 
occupancy of a new brick store by John 
Potter; the death of Anna Y., eldest 
daughter of Mr. and JSIrs. J. I. Dunlop; 
the marriage of J. Sears and Mollie 
Coon ; the departure of 11, S, McIldufE 
with a view of locating in Missouri; 
the resignation of Rev. L. F. Walker, 
of the Presbyterian church; the Dwight 
Star's enlargement for the fifth time; 
the appointment of Col . E. P. Morgan, 




Four Generations of the Bartholic Family. 
(Col D B. Bartl]olic bears tl]e reputatioi] of being the oldest n]an iq Duuight 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



41 



Jr., to a place on the Board of llailroad 
(Commissioners; the election of Hugh 
Thompson to the othce of supervisor; 
and the closing out sale of W. H. Sar- 
geant to John Potter. The year had 
been a measurably prosperous one and 
all were very hopeful concerning the 
town's growth. Valuable improve- 
ments were talked of for the approach- 
ing summer. 

1871-'72. 

The election returns are presented in 
full that they may be compared with 
those of the previous year. The com- 
parison will show that though the no-li- 
cense party had been nearly over- 
whelmed the year before it comes for- 
ward to the polls with its numerical 
strength more than tribled. 

License— C. S. Newell, 92; J. H. Hag- 
erty, 82; W. S. Sims, (on both tickets), 
100;E.R. Stevens, 91; G. M. Hahn, 92; 
Daniel Smith, 87. 

Trohibition— O. W. Pollard, 81; D. 
McWilliams, 78: O. Potter, 80; J. C. 
Iletzel, 80; ,L B. Parsons, 79. 

This gave the successful party only 
an average majority of eight against 
ninety-three the preceeding election. 
This result indicates that there was a 
return of former sentiment in favor of 
prohibition, or at least a growing de- 
sire that there should be a more vigor- 
ous prosecution of those who persisted 
in selling ardent spirits without legal 
authority for so doing. 

The other ofiicers on the staff consist- 
ed of L. F. Slyder, clerk: II. T. Newell, 
treasurer; S. M. Witt, marshal; J. I. 
Dunlop, attorney; Wm. Taylor, pound 
master. The Board, as soon as it was 
fairly organized, instructed its attorney 
to institute proceedings at once against 
all persons guilty of selling intoxicat- 
ing liquors as a beverage within the 
corporate limits of the village. It took 
similar action in the early part of .Tuly 



following, making its instructions 
more imperative by adding that such 
persons "be prosecuted to the full extent 
of the law." Not being satisfied, evi- 
dently, with what it had done towards 
bringing guilty parties to an account, 
near the end of this same month it or- 
dered that its attorney "prosecute with- 
out further delay.'' The J5oard is 
found, in September, insisting that 
more must be done to remind saloon 
keepers that they were lawbreakers and 
that the community demanded that 
they should pay the penalty. Judg- 
ments were obtained agamst four sa- 
loon keepers. Another difficulty was 
now experienced in getting these par- 
lies to settle. Overtures were made 
which were probably accepted, though 
no minute is made of it. During the 
two years fines to the amount of 
$1,824.15 were collected. The records 
show nothing more that posseses any 
interest. 

The search for locals belonging to this 
year has resulted in ascertaining the 
occurrence of some events, such as the 
building of fences around both parks; 
the marriage of Mr. H. Donaldson, of 
Gardner, to Miss Mary Banks of this 
place, and Mr. Stephen Hall to Miss 
Anna Austin; the taking possession of 
the McPherson House by John Stafford, 
one of the most enterprising and popu- 
lar landlords Dwight ever had; the 
marriage of Mr, J. M.Smith to Miss 
Octavia D. Burnham, of Normal, and 
that of Mr. Manning Smith and Miss 
Kate Baker; the celebration of the 
Fourth of July in the grove of W. S. 
Sims, J. I. Dunlop, Esq., acting as the 
president of the day, Hon. W. N. Pierce, 
of Grundy, being the orator and Miss 
Frank McClure the reader of the Dec- 
laration of Independence; one attract- 
ive feature consisting of a tastily-deco- 
rated liberty car, the goddess of liberty 



42 



HISTORY OF D WIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



being personated by Mrs. Thompson; 
the venture of Chas. Dittus in the hotel 
business by taking charge of the Dwight 
House, Hiram Cornell retiring; the re- 
engagement of Prof. C. I. Gruey as 
principal of the schools, and the great 
Sunday school picnic in Round Grove, 
in which all the Sunday schools of the 
townships of Broughton, Round Grove, 
Dwight and Union join. During this 
year J. C. Hetzel puts a brick addition 
to his store; Mr. Elisha B. Ketcham 
marries Miss Jennie Losee, Clark & 
Goedert take possession of their new 
shop; the new tirm of Thompson & 
Porter is announced ;the Renfrews com- 
pete with base ball clubs of other towns, 
some unknown person fires a bullet into 
the house of Wm. H. Conrad in the 
evening while the family are sitting at 
a table reading; Rev. W. L. Boyd, of 
Pennsylvania, receives a call to the pul- 
pit of the Presbyterian church, many 
of our citizens go to Chicago to witness 
the ruins and meetings are held to raise 
money, food and clothes for those who 
had lost their all in the great tire; 131- 
000 bushels of oats and corn shipped by 
our grain dealers; Henry Petitt is in- 
jured by the fall of a bank vault; Mr. 
Theodore Elcessor marries Miss Eliza 
Franklin; Azro Norton dies; Alvin V. 
Panwitz, a Prussian nobleman and ten- 
ant of R. C. Adams, is murdered by 
Frederick Shafer, both having been on 
a drunken spree; the tirms of Baker tS:; 
Smith, druggists, and Ford & Gilbert 
are dissolved; the dealers in agricultur- 
al implements, in their zeal to make 
sales, send out wagons at a distance of 
twenty-live miles with a view of check- 
mating each other indisposingof plows 
and cultivators; the C. & A. railroad 
threatens to remove the depot building 
one mile out of town in revenge for 
some adverse decision of the Supreme 
Court; the mother of L- G. Pearre ia 



removed by death ; Mr. Harvey Bent- 
ley, of Chicago, marries Mrs. Eliza. 
Patrick, and the lovely little daughter, 
Alsie, of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gard- 
ner, is taken away, being three and a 
half years old; the elaborate and inter- 
esting articles of S. T. K. Ptime, pre- 
pared expressly for the Star, were read! 
and appreciated; the sermons of the 
pastors received eulogistic notices and 
those laboring in the public schoot 
were frequently praised for their effi- 
ciency and faithfulness. The year wili 
be ?eniembered as one during which 
there was comparitively little sickness, 
and few deaths. 

1872-'7a 

C. S. Newell, president, G. M. Ilahn, 
W. S. Sims, J. H. Hagerty, Daniet 
Smith and E, R. Stevens, as trustees, 
were inducted into office by subscribing 
to the usual oath. Whether there was- 
another set of candidates is a Question, 
upon which the minutes throw no light 
as no record is made of any canvass of 
the election returns. 

From other sources, however, it has 
been ascertained that there was two 
tickets with results: 

New board — Curtis J. Judd, 50 votes: 
A. Brubaker, 48; Jesse DilSenbaugh, 49; 
Wm. Walker, 47; D. Mc Williams, 41; 
Hugh Thompson, 47. 

Old Board— Chas. S. Newell, 11(> 
votes; E. R. Stevens, 119; W. S. Sims, 
124; J. H. Hagerty, 118; I>aniel Smith, 
115;G. M. Ilahn, 117 

C. L. Palmer was elected clerk, S. M. 
Witt was made marshal, II. T. Newell, 
treasurer, and Wm. Taylor ponndmas- 
ter. It was voted to dispense witli an 
attorney. Lewis Kenyon was employed 
to collect a certain claim The question 
of sinking a well for the benelit of the 
farmers coming long distances to mar- 
ket their products and make their pur- 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLIJ^OIS. 



43 



chases, appears to have been agitated 
considerably, and resulted in the pre- 
sentation of a petition signed by fifty 
persons praying that some action be 
taken that would evenuate in securing 
a good artesian well. Later an oppor- 
tunity was offered, and the levy of a 
tax not exceeding $2,000 was author- 
ized. Nothing, however, exists to-day 
indicating that the contemplated pro- 
ject was ever accomplished. 

The contract to build a bridge across 
the creek where Franklin and James 
streets intersect each other, was let to 
A. C. Barnum for $26. The Legisla- 
ture of this state to be credited with 
enacting a wise law which was to go in 
force the first of July of this year. Any 
city or village could be incorporated 
under it by taking the prescribed legal 
steps. It sanctioned the local option 
plan as the wisest disposition to be 
made of the liquor traffic. The board 
issued a call for an election to be held 
the 23d of July, to ascertain by ballot 
whether our citizens would prefer to 
retain the organization they had or to 
become organized under this general 
act of incorporation, which would con- 
fer upon the trustees to be elected an- 
nually, the power to either prohibit or 
license the sale of intoxicants. Four 
votes against and seventy-two votes 
favoring a new organization was the 
result of this election. The Board pro- 
ceeds to exercise the powers which the 
new organization conferred. 

An official notice was served upon all 
who had heretofore engaged in liquor 
selling to desist until each should have 
put up an approved bond of $3,000, and 
shall have paid to the treasurer $200 as 
a fee. It was voted that all persons so 
complying should be given a license to 
sell for one year. Thus Dwight became 
a license town and the last vestige of 
the Princeton charter measures was 



blotted out. Every movement having 
moral as well as political ends, has its 
friends. So it was with this one, and 
there were those who mourned the 
death of this organization that at first 
had promised so much and were fear- 
ful of the results of the new departure 
in the way of treating the temperance 
question. The great State of Illinois 
lias been so well satisfied with the local 
option temperance law then enacted 
that it has been willing to let it remain 
unchanged. It is undoubtedly the best 
that can be had till the people all over 
the State are so thoroughly indoctri- 
nated with prohibition principles that 
it will not only make the enforcement 
of a prohibitory law possible, but prob- 
able. The minutes do not give the 
names of those who were granted li- 
censes, but the report of the finance 
committee shows that $832.50 for li- 
censes and $303.20 for fines were re- 
ceived. 

A thorough examination of all the 
ordinances and passing and publishing 
them with a view to their being pub 
lished in pamphlet form, in connection 
with the general act of incorporation, 
was a work done by this Board which 
entitles it to the gratitude of all suc- 
ceeding administrations. This year 
did nov pass without events worthy of 
being chronicled as reminders of past 
scenes. Strangers will read them with- 
out interest and perhaps without 
profit. Not so, however, with those 
who have by a long residence become 
identified with the history of Dwight. 
In these as well as in those of every 
other year may be traced the comical, 
the tragical and the serious. Henry 
Newell's house is entered by burglars 
causing the inmates no little fright; 
Jesse Slyder purchases Slyder & Co.'s 
bankrupt stock; W. II. Bradbury 
makes a trip to England; Dr. J. Payne 



44 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



opens a dental office; the McPherson 
House undergoes some valuable im- 
provements; a Grant and Wilson club 
is formed; Nathan Baker erects a two- 
story dwelling house; Kev. R G.Pearce 
is appointed to the pastorate of the M. 
E. church; Col. J. B. Parsons receives 
the first car of anthracite coal ever 
brought to town; Newell Bros, engage 
in the lumber business: Mr. Benj. B. 
Dow marries Miss Jennie Devoe, of 
Nevada; Smith »& Foesterliog build a 
two-story blacksmith shop with a pub- 
lic hall above; Burw^n Losee, one 
among the first settlers of the place and 
for several years constable, is suddenly 
killed by a runaway team while sitting 
on the porch in front of McWilliams -fe 
Judd's store; B. B. Dow while in the 
attempt to couple cars receives injuries 
requiring the amputation of one toe 
and two fingers; Mrs. H. A. Gardner 
removes to Joliet; the horses all over 
the county become unntted for service 
by a contagious disease called epizoo- 
tic; Mr. J. H. McDonald is made the 
husband of Miss E. J. George, and Mr. 
Geo. L. Taylor is united in marriage to 
Miss Emma C. Goodman; Samuel 11. 
Kenney obtains a pvatent for a car 
starter; Miss Frank McClure takes 
charge of one of the departments of 
the public school; Borin & Baker form 
a co-partnership for dealing in live 
stock; C. S. Newell goes to Joliet to en- 
gage in the manufacture of metallic 
cornices; during Christmas week corn 
brought 19 cents per bushel; a Christ- 
mas tree was erected on the lamp post 
of the McPherson House on whicii was 
hung a present for nearly every busi- 
ness man in Dwight, the gifts being of 
a character to cause a good deal of mer- 
riment; at the Christmas tree entertain- 
ment of the Congregational Church, R. 
H. Kneeland read an original poem. It 
is too good to be lost, and well merits a 



reproduction. It is given now as it 
was printed in the Dwight Star: 
I. 

Far to the south the genial sun 
Has his autumnal journey run, 
And irom tl\e groves wliere sumnter shone 
Tlie robin and the thrush are gone: 
And all the forests, brown and bare, 
Witli naked arms tlie tempests dare. 
The summer streamlet's noisy flow 
Is muffled deep In ice and snow; 
Its gentle murmurs low and sweet. 
Scarce heard beneath its winding sheet. 
The time of frosts and storms is here: 
Stem Winter rules our Northern spliere? 
A warrior grim and fierce is he. 
Who marches from tlie northern sea, 
And all our bills, and valts and glades, 
With conquering footsteps now invades; 
Anil soutliward still his cruel host 
Far towards the tropics hurls his frost! 
A monarch he of cruel soul. 
Who makes his throne beside the pole^ 
And guards it well from human touch, 
With bars no human can appro;»cli. 
No force that man has ever sent, 
Could scale his icy battlement. 

II. 
Again we hail the joyous morn 
On which a Hebrew child was bom- 
Unknown and lowly, yet wliose name 
Has filletl the world with more than fame. 
Poor, in a manger damp and cold. 
Yet never prince with hoards of gold— 
With realms on land and fleets at sea, 
Had fraction of such wealth as He. 
Tho' frail and weak, no potentate 
In ah the wide earth's mightiest state— 
Whose conquests made all others dim. 
Could match in royal i>ower with Him. 

III. 
Whence was His wealth— in secret mine 
For Hini did gems unnumbered shine? 
For Hinr alone in heai>s untold 
Had Nature store exhaustle.ss gold? 
No! no; all gems and gold al)«ve, 
Unmeasm-ed by aught else- His love. 
And he is rich who feels its tide— 
And i)<)or to whom it is denied— 
Tho' all the treasures of the seas, 
W^ith all the circling shores, were his. 

IV. 
Where was His ix)wer? Did .lesus boast 
Of marshalled lield and countless host? 
Or march in triumph o'er the plain 
Kxultaut at theheaiJs of slain? 
Where was his power? The fwce tliat lies 
In tender tones and tearful eyes; 
The forcv that fears no battlement. 
Because it is Onniiixitent. 
The love whose sweet inspiring breath 
Filled all His life, and crowned His death— 
in Oilvary's sult'ering and despair 
For those who slew Him breathed a prayer. 
'I he love that knew no change nor loss 
Froui 15<ithlehem's manger to the cross; 
That sought no sect, that luiew no creed, 
Itut hun»an guilt and human need. 
Such love t>e ours- we need it sore. 
In dying nuich— In hving more. 

v- 

It took Illin from His lowly bed. 
It poured its nuUance where His pathway 
Le«l, 



IIISTOlir OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



45 



It bore Him tliro' a life of poverty and scorn 
Ami robed Jiim in all fjlories on ascension 
I morn. 

VI. 

Draw near () man. and touch His garment's 

liem, 
And wear witli Him the jjHceless diadem; 
He, who, all hate and stUf has sacrificed, 
Lil^e Him, in love shall be imparadise. 
For His TKUK follower lives another Christ. 

Anything like a complete list of news 
items for this year will require the 
mentioning of other occurrences. Ed. 
Newell, son of C. S. Newell, goes to 
Springfield to act as page in the Senate; 
1). McWilliams rebuilds his banking 
oilice destroyed by lire over vault in 
burnt district. At this period the 
Grangers' movement was at its height, 
farmers' club meetings were frequent, 
but the effort to dispose of the middle- 
men was not a success; Hiram Cornell 
again becomes landlord of the Dwight 
House: Stafford's Minstrels give a per- 
formance which elicited enthusiastic 
and flattering comment, the troupe 
being composed entirely of home tal- 
ent; Pappy Howe dies at the age of 76 
years; B. B. Dow recovers from his 
severe injuries and takes charge of the 
railroad odice at Nevada, The pen of 
the chronicler is laid down to rest a 
week before beginning the next chap- 
ter. 

It is evident that there was but one 
ticket at this election, as the aver- 
age vote cast for the six successful can- 
didates was 106. In the absence of any 
statement to the contrary, it is fair to 
infer that either the community was 
pleased with the administration of af- 
fairs for the year just closed, or no other 
candidates were brought forward for 
the reason there was no probability of 
electing them. Unopposed and with 
the unanimous approval, it would 
seem, of all who voted, W. S. Sims, E. 
R. Stevens, II. C. Adams, II. Thomp- 
son, N. Tiiggs and John Stafford were 
elected village trustees. The honor of 



presiding was given to W. S. Sims. C. 
L. Palmer being elected clerk, held the 
office a portion of the year, and was 
succeeded by W. II. JJradbury. The 
other officers were James Mcllduff, po 
lice magistrate; S. M. Witt, marshal; J. 
B. Baker, treasurer, and Wm. Taylor, 
pound master. For the office of treas- 
urer there was quite a scramble. There 
being some fifteen hundred dollars in the 
treasury may have had something to 
do with the ardent desire to have the 
place. There were no less than four 
earnest and presistent applicants, one 
proposing to receive and disburse the 
village funds for nothing; two offered 
to do it for twenty-five dollars, aijd the 
other for what had been paid during 
the twelve preceding years, or what 
the law allowed, which was 2 per cent 
on all monies passing through the treas- 
urer's hands. Each applicant had his 
friends and able advocates. Button- 
holing, wirepulling, a free use of threats 
the art of persuasion, earnest pleadings, 
the usual tricks of factions, misrepre- 
sentation and abuse, in fact all the 
methods resorted to in fierce political 
contests were adopted. It was a State 
political campaign in miniature. One 
faction argued that it was the duty of 
the Board to run the affairs of the vil- 
lage on the most economical plan pos- 
sible; that a penny saved was as good 
as a penny earned, and threatened if the 
Board did not give the otlice to the 
man who would perform the duties for 
the least money, they would prosecute 
the members of the Board and seek to 
recover by law any amount that might 
be paid a treasurer in the way of com- 
pensation during the year. The other 
party, with equal warmth and deter- 
mination, argued that the principle of 
offering responsible, salaried offices, 
either national. State or those of a mu- 
nicipality, to the lowest bidder, was in 



46 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



itself wrong. It threw wide open the 
doors of political jobbery and bribery, 
and that this course, if followed would 
put all the offices in the hands of schem- 
ing and wealthy politicans, to the ex- 
clusion of the poor nran, however 
worthy and competent. Either from 
prejudice, inclination, favoritism, or 
through the influence of the latter ar- 
guments, Dr. J. B. Baker received the 
appointment, and was paid at the end 
of the year .361.50. 

It will be seen that no less than eight 
persons were authorized to conduct a 
saloon business. With striking con- 
sistency and commendable forethought, 
a coipmittee was appointed to procure 
plans and specifications for a brick cal- 
aboose, for where saloons exist jails be- 
come an absolute necessity. In Octo- 
ber the purchase of a pair of hand- 
cuffs, policeman's belt and club, for 
the use of the marshal, was ordered. 
The donation of Col. R. P. Morgan, .Jr., 
of thirty feet of ground for a street by 
the depot, connecting East and West 
streets, was accepted, and an ordinance 
making it a public thoroughfare was 
passed and ordered published. The re- 
ceipts for fines were .§18, and for li- 
censes .§2,272.80. No other matters of 
interest are to be discovered in the 
minutes for this municipal year. 

The principal local events are named 
about in the order of their occurence, 
though for want of space dates are 
omitted. The year is remarkable for 
the number of marriages. Kichard 
Rowe returns to Dwight and opens a 
Hour and feed store on Mazon avenue. 
Dr. Morgan builds a new dwelling on 
the same street. Cadwallader & Rhodes 
erect a new elevator. Mr. Geo. T. Pet- 
tett marries Miss Susan Baker. Mrs. 
Sorohoma Witt, mother of S. M. Witt 
and Mrs. J. (J. Strong, dies, aged 74 
years. Rev. F. H. Ilargreaves preaches 



a farewell sermon in the Presbyterian 
church, and accepts a call from the so- 
ciety in Union. J. A. Cavanaugh builds 
a new elevator at Nevada. Walter 
Bladen constructs an elevator, being 
the fifth one in town. The death of 
Cephas Foster occurs. Dr. C. C. Mc- 
Cabe delivers his popular lecture, en- 
titled, "Bright Side of Life in Libby 
Prison." Prof. Wilson is engaged for 
another year as principal of the public 
school. Mr. Frank W. Ford and Miss 
Mollie .J. Scott consent to a nuptial 
union. The friends of C. J. Judd give 
him a reception, presenting him with a 
fine picture. Dr. L. E. Keeley making 
the presentation speech. Little Willie, 
son of Nathan Baker, is removed by 
death. J. G. Strong erects a brick bank 
on East street, with offices in the second 
story. A farmers' picnic is held at S. 
T. K. Prime's. Daughter of W. S. 
Sims becomes sick unto death. Dr. J. 
H. Hagerty, after five and a half mouths 
illness, at the age of ^0, dies, causing 
universal mourning throughout the lo- 
cality where he was so well known. 
The Plymouth, Kankakee & Pacific 
Railroad Company, from which our 
people had anticipated so much, found 
to be insolvent, and like many other 
railroad bubbles, vanishes into thin air. 
George Z. Flagler engages in the lum- 
ber business. Mr. Robert Thompson 
and Miss Sarah Ilibbard, of Barnsville, 
Ohio, consent to be made one. Rey. 
Montgomery preaches his farewell ser- 
mon and accepts a call from Morris. 
Rev. Father Ilanley receives injures 
caused by a runaway team. Rev. R. G. 
Pearce, of the M. E. church, removes to 
Fairbury, and Rev. M. V. B. White 
succeeds him. The marriage of Mr. C. 
L. Palmer and Miss Mate E. McClare is 
announced by the papers with hearty 
congratulations from the editorial fra- 
ternity. Mr. Samuel Thompson and 



IIISTOHY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



47 



Miss Maggie Porter are joined in wed- 
lock. Meetings are held in many places 
by the anti monopolist party, under the 
leadership of S. T. K. Prime. Mr. Iler- 
mon Kenyon and Miss Emeline Davis, 
of Joliot, present themselves at Hy- 
men's altar. Mr. John D. Ketcham and 
Miss Lizzie Johnson take on them- 
selves the marriage vow. The village 
paper reports also the marriage of Mr. 
C. M. Baker and Miss Lizzie Weagley, 
and Mr. Jasper W. Philips and Miss 
Lucy E. Scammon. J. B. Parsons and 
J. C. Hetzel form a co-partnership and 
purchase the hardware stock of Orson 
Potter. Hon. Schuyler Colfax lectures 
under the auspices ol! the I. O. O. F. 
There appears in the Dwight Star a his- 
tory of Dwight, its past, present and 
future,' covering a period of twenty- 
years, from 18.54 to 1874, ably written, 
and afterwards printed in fine style in 
pamphlet form. C. J. Judd withdraws 
from the firm of McWilliams & Judd, 
and Manning Smith succeeds him, and 
the new firm of McWilliams & Smith 
occupy at once the just completed brick 
store, the largest and finest ever erected 
in the place. The Dwight Star swells 
and enlarges for the eighth time. Mr. 
John C. Poole and Miss Lillie D. Mott 
make mutual pledges, resulting in the 
tying of another nuptial knot, the same 
event happened to Mr, Garry Wallace 
and Miss Jennie Potter. Captain E.li. 
Stevens and Dr. Baker make a trip to 
Cuba. It remains to mention a sensa 
tion, caused by the finding of the dead 
body of one Peter C. Jensen, a Dane, in 
the stable of John Smith. So the year, 
like every human life, ends with a trag- 
edy. 

1874-7.5. 

During the winter the temperance 
question was earnestly and presistent- 
ly agitated. A number of public meet- 
ings were held in all the churches, at 



which its many phases were considered. 
Those favoring prohibition at this time 
were greatly in the minority. It had 
taken time to recover from the disas- 
trous effects of crushing defeats. They 
were conscience-striken that they had 
suffered their cause to be lost sight of 
altogether at the last election and now 
felt it to be a duty to form a party, 
though small, yet one which might in 
time, by the growth of a temperance 
sentiment, become sufiiciently strong 
to elect a board that would repeal all 
license ordinances and put a stop to all 
trafiic in intoxicants. 

The advocates of license had for two 
or three elections been enabled to pre- 
sent themselves as a solid phalanx at 
the polls, but now there was a division 
in their ranks which foreshadowed a 
defeat. One part favored a very high 
license and few saloons, which, it was 
thought, might be made respectable 
and acceptable even to the temperance 
people, save those who expected and 
exacted too much, and the other was in 
favor of making a saloon license the 
same it had been. The high license fac- 
tion, thinking it could control the vote 
of the entire party, put a set of candi- 
dates in the field who were in advance 
pledged to make the license fees very 
much higher than they had ever been. 
Those composing the rebellious and 
dissappointed element did not wheelinto 
line as had been anticipated, but gave 
the prohibition ticket the benefit of 
their votes, concluding they had rather 
take their chances of making illegal 
sales under a prohibition administra- 
tion than to be compelled to see the 
entire traffic go into the hands of a few 
who had made enough out of it to be 
abundantly able to pay, if required, 
one thousand dollars annually for the 
privilege of selling. The entire tem- 
perance ticket was elected, the candi- 



48 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



dates being O. W. Pollard, president; 
Oliver Slocum, Timothy Driscoll, Hugh 
Thompson, Isaac II. Baker and J. J. 
Gore, trustees; Willis Finch, clerk. The 
latter served only a part of the year 
and was succeeded by J. Coe. J. II. 
Coe was made marshal and served a 
few months, and on his resigning Elwell 
Collins was appointed to fill the vacan- 
cy made. W. J. M. Stevens was chosen 
poundmaster and J. I. Dunlop was em- 
ployed as attorney. Propositions for 
the treasureship were presented and 
much of the ground by way of discus- 
sion traveled over the year previous, 
was gone over again. Those taking an 
economical view to the exclusion of all 
other considerations were victorious. 
John Thompson was made treasurer on 
his own proposition to perform all the 
duties of the office for five cents. 
The victory of the real friends of tem- 
perance was more in appearance than 
in reality. The disaffected of the li- 
cense party who had been the means of 
giving them the election, were not dis- 
posed to assist in enforcing a prohibi- 
tory law, but, on the other hund, were 
determined to embarrass the Board in 
every possible way. They had not 
voted for the triumph of temperance 
principles, but simply to take revenge 
on some of the prominent leaders of 
the license cause, the one to which 
they had no intention of forsaking. A 
majority of all the voters were not in 
favor ,of closing all the dram shops. 
The temperance people were taken by 
surprise by seeing their ticket elected. 
They were not prepared for it and were 
in no condition to give a prohibition 
Board the support that was indispensi- 
ble to make it a success. 

The newly elected trustees found 
themselves in the pitiable plight of be- 
ing compelled to attempt to force upon 
the people not only what they did not 



want, but, moreover, what they were 
determined they wouldn't have. This 
year's administration, so far as temper- 
ance legislation was concerned, was a 
failure, as many at the start saw it 
must be. It served, however, one good 
purpose, in demonstrating the supreme 
folly of attempting to enforce a pro- 
hibitory temperance law unless there is 
public sentiment sufficiently strong to 
back it up. Temperance principles 
must first be enthroned in the hearts of 
the people before they can be success- 
fully crystalized into either a national, 
State or municipal law. 

The purchasing of 500 feet of hose, 
at a cost $582.50, was ordered, the citi- 
zens subscribing $199 for the purpose. 
A new hose cart and nozzle was added 
to the fire apparatus, and the calaboose 
was repaired. The ordinary expendi- 
tures for the year were $2,225.92. 

The local happenings of this year 
were quite numerous, and it would be 
an,agreeable work and easy task to ex- 
pand an account of these so as to oc- 
cupy several columns of closely printed 
matter, the absolute necessity of brevity 
forbids the attempt. Rigid adherence 
to the plan as originally contemplated 
will allow simply a mere reference to 
events, trusting to the reader's ability 
to recall all the' attending circum- 
stances. 

The Odd Fellows celebrated on Sun- 
day the fifty-lifth anniversary of the in- 
troduction of their order into this conn 
try, followed on Monday by festivities. 

F. B. Ilargreaves, ,Iames II. Funk 
and W. r>. Fyfe delivering addresses. 
Mr. Goedert is wounded badly in the 
head by tlie bursting of a grindstone. 
Dr. L. E. Keeley becomes the surgeon 
for the Chicago & Alton Railroad. 
The grangers establish an agency for 
shipping farming products and pur- 
chasing implements and goods, ap- 





Rev. C. W. Ayling. 



Rev. E. F. Wm 'ht. 




^i 




Rev. R. H, Wilhelmsen. 



Dr. C. H. Barr. 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



49 



pointing John Waters their agent. 
Mr. C, M. Baker marries Miss Nellie 
Adams. John C. Poole is injured on 
the railroad; the D wight Guards organ- 
ize, commissioned officers being J. B. 
Parsons, captain: S. H. Kenny, first 
lieutenant and S. H. Witt, second lieu- 
tenant. John Parsons and wife return 
from Kansas, after several years ab- 
sence. The D wight Star reaches its 
seventh vear. Wm. Scully, the English 
land owner, accompanied by John 
Scully, his nephew, visits his farming 
estate near this town, occupied by thir- 
ty-five tenants, making Henry Fox for- 
merly of Pulaski, his agent. C. F. 
Deihl is engaged as principal of schools 
at a salary of $1,350, his daughter as- 
sisting, he having had twenty-seven 
years experience an a teacher. Henry 
Shapland is killed by a stroke of light- 
ening. In the single month of June 
394 cars of grain and 18 cars of live 
stock are shipped from this point. On 
the 4th of July the Catholics hold a 
festival, realizing $360, and the Ger- 
mans hold a picnic in Hahn's grove. 
Kev. Hargreaves delivers a lecture on 
the "Pontiac Fire," and fiev. DeLong 
on the "Comet." W. H. Tison and 
wife, of Savannah, Ga., become the 
guests of D. McWilliams. Ten thous- 
and head of hogs shipped from Dwight 
in on one year. Chas. S. Newell, Ed. 
Gooding, E. R. Stevens, Mrs. C. S. 
Newell and Miss Alice Dwelley join in 
an excursion around the lakes, visiting 
Niagara Falls. Lou Trunnell com- 
pletes a miniature railroad engine. D. 
McWilliams and wife go to Eaton 
Rapids in search of health. Jesse 
Diffenbaugh erects a two-story brick 
dwelling. A military picnic and fire- 
men's tournament are held August 4th, 
old Capt. Rockwell, a veteran of the 
war of 1812, receiving marked attention. 
Hon. J. G. Strong, in behalf of the 



ladies, presents a banner to the Dwight 
Guards and F. B. Hargreaves replies 
for the latter, both addresses being of 
high order. Zane Turner is injured by 
the permature discharge of a cannon. 
Mr. John Graham marries Miss Armina 
Clarkson. Mrs. Parsons erects a new 
millinery store adjoining that of Henry 
Eldredge's. Obadiah Staley suffers the 
loss of an ear, and has his shoulder dis- 
located, by being caught in a thresher. 

F. B. Hargreaves makes his debut as a 
lawyer. Rev M. M. Longley is called 
to the pastorate of the Congregational 
church. Mr. Ilillersheim purchases 
half interest in the business of J. C. 
Hetzel. Newell, Judd & Sims form a 
co-partnership for conducting a lumber 
and grain business at Pontiac. Mr. 
John L. Gallup marries Miss Malvina 
C. Whitlock. The Catholic Total Ab- 
stinence Society parade the streets, 
listen to an address and hold a picnic. 
Cadwallader & Rhodes sell their ele- 
vator to VVm. B. Sargent for $3,600. L. 

G. Pearre and R. Speer Mcllduff form 
a partnership for the practice of law. 
W. H Robbins sells his business to J. 
Coe. Rev. M. V. B. White is seriously 
ill fur several weeks, his pulpit in the 
meantime being supplied by Rev. O.W. 
Pollard. Eugene Baker purchases the 
dwelling of Rev. Montgomery. Mr. 
Danforth Q. Jordan marries Miss Nellie 
Hobbs. Hon. J. G. Strong, senator, 
spends the winter in Springfield. Wm. 
S. Sims and family move to Pontiac. 
Miss Lulu Couse dies at the age of 18 
years. The grangers attempt to run a 
store and do away with the merchants 
and grain dealers fails. Leander Mor- 
gan takes charge of the Spencer farm. 
The marriage of Chas. M. Chase and 
Miss Isa H. Weymouth is announced. 
The arrivals at the McPherson for sev- 
eral months averaged eighty per week. 
H. A, Kenyon increases the number of 



50 



TIISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



papers taken 400 per cent, and pub- 
lishes a forty page book. A. L. Leach 
opens a new photographic .studio. An 
Old Times festival is held at the resi- 
dence of J. G. Strong, supper being 
served up in old style dishes, and the 
participants dressed in antique cos- 
tumes, so as to personate several char- 
acters of by-gone days. W, H. Bobbins 
builds a store at the south end of East 
street. The Militia Cornet Band and 
Amateur Minstrels give entertainments 
Conrad & Co. convert their cooper shop 
into a barrel, bucket and butter tub 
factory, putting in a new engine and 
suitable machinery. Col. R. P. Morgan, 
Jr., sell a quarter interest it his ele- 
vator to the railroad for $10,000. All 
the churches unite in union meetings, 
lasting seven weeks. The death of Mr, 
John Sargent, a thrifty farmer and well 
and favorably known, occurs. The 
principal of schools reports 175 males 
and 175 females enrolled as scholars, 
and an average attendance of 271 . The 
death of Dr. Morgan is reported. Mr, 
Levi Reeder joins Miss Adaline Young 
in marriage. The marriage of Mr. Ed- 
ward Merrill and Miss Alice C. Dwelly 
is also announced. The coal trade for 
the winter averages 100 tons per day. 
C. M, Bakar becomes the proprietor of 
a drug store. Frank W. Davis' letter 
from Cuba appears in the village paper. 
F, B. Hargreaves delivers a lecture en- 
titled "Gilded Edge.' H. A. Kenyon 
has a long seige of inflammatory rheu- 
matism. J, B, Parsons is elected sup- 
visor. 

1875-76, 

The temperance Board were, for rea- 
sons easily gathered from the preceding 
chapter, glad to vacate their seats and 
make room for those who had by a 
very large majority beeu elected to suc- 
ceed them. They had been asked to 
perform an impossibility, and because 



of their failure to do so had been ex- 
posed to the sneers' and scorn of the 
outspoken enemies of prohibition and 
were compelled to be content with the 
lukewarm and indifferent approval of 
its professed friends, Eugene Baker, 
president, R. C. Adams, E. R, Stevens, 
Benjamin Wait, Horace Cadwallader, 
and Alex. McKay, trustees, and C. M. 
Baker, clerk, were inducted into office 
by observing the usual forms. John 
Thompson was continued in the office 
of treasurer and W. J. M. Stevens in 
that of poundmaster, S. M. AVitt was 
appointed marshal, E. Collins, assistant 
marshal, Robt. Bell, street commission- 
er, O. Slocum, chief fire marshal, J. B. 
Parsons, first assistant and J, F. Skin- 
ner, second assistant. In August Thos. 
Weldon succeeds S, M, Witt as mar- 
shal. 

As so many of our citizens demanded 
the licensing of the sale of liquor, the 
Board proceeded to carry out their 
wishes in this respect. Saloon licenses 
were fixed at $300; fees for billiard, 
bagatelle, pigeon hole, pareppa and 
similar tables at $10, Licenses were 
granted to not less than eight saloons. 
This year's history of village affairs is 
remarkable — very much so for expendi- 
tures and improvements. In no previ- 
ous year had there been formed plans 
for the benefit of the public of such 
magnitude, and improvements made 
of such extent and involving such an 
outlay of money. They are startling 
when compared with those of either 
former or subsequent years. From the 
treasurer's report $10,681.70 were paid 
into his hands, and at the end of the 
year there was a balance on hand of 
only $434.65. which shows that the 
amount of $10,247.05 were paid out dur- 
ing the year; deducting from the latter 
amount $2,334.15 as rebate on taxes it 
leaves $7,912.90 as the amount actually 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLI:N0IS. 



51 



paid on account of expenses incurred. 
Add to this $1,998.00 for bonds and or- 
ders issued, which were reported un- 
paid, the sum obtained will be $9,910.90; 
deduct from this $662.01 of debts paid 
which had been contracted by the pre- 
vious Board, there remains $9,248.89 as 
the total outlay for the year for corpor- 
ation improvements and expenses, ex 
cepting $1,092.88 paid for roads and 
bridges in township. To meet the bonds 
and orders reported by the finance com- 
mittee as outstanding, there were un- 
collected lines, delinquent faxes and 
cash on hand in the aggregate amount- 
ing to $1,307. The receipts for saloon 
licenses were $2,283.30. This Board is 
to be credited with several valuable 
measures, among which was the estab- 
lishing of a tire department, resulting 
in the formation of the Good Will Fire 
Company, and the Hook, Ladder and 
Truck Company. A hook and ladder 
truck, hand engine, several hundred 
feet of hose, hook and ladder wagon, 
rdpe hooks, and rope ladder. &c., were 
purchased at a cost aggregating nearly 
$1,100 The fine and commodious 
building standing in the East Park, and 
since used as a council chamber, cala- 
boose and engine house, costing about 
$1,600, was constructed this year, and 
during the same period there were 9,700 
feet of sidewalk, thirteen hard wood, 
and six pine crossings built, 3,500 feet 
of ditching and 2,110 feet of grading 
done, besides many other minor im- 
provements, such as new street lamps, 
the procuring and framing ot the large 
map of the village, which now adorns 
the walls of the City Hall, &c. 

This year Dwight had one preacher 
to every .350 inhabitants, one doctor to 
every 320, one lawyer to every 350, and 
one saloon to every 250, showing that a 
higher estimate was put on a dram 
shop than either of the three profes- 



sions, and that the people then would 
sooner be deprived of either preacher, 
lawyer or doctor, in fact, all the three, 
than of the presence of a saloon. The 
standing disgrace and the blighting 
curse of a grog shop was not at that 
time as clearly seen as now. 

Work on J. C. Hetzel's new residence, 
fronting East Park, was commenced; 
Dr. L. E. Keeley purchases old town 
house for $130, to be moved and con- 
verted into a dwelling; Miss Anna 
Clark dies of consumption; the D wight 
Guards, in charge of Capt. J, B. Par- 
sons, go to Chicago to compete for a 
$150 banner, to be awarded to the best 
drilled company; in boring for water 
Geo, Conant obtains a gas well, which 
discharged sand and water at the rate 
of one gallon a minute; one thousand 
persons, it was estimated, visited this 
well in one day; Decoration Day was 
observed in West Park by appropriate 
and impressive services held on the 
afternoon of Sunday, May 30; the 
D wight Guards appeared in full uni- 
form on the march from their head- 
quarters, keeping step to the beat of 
the mufiled drums and the plaintive 
strains of the Dwight Cornet Band; the 
day was beautiful, and ihe attendance 
very large; the order of exercises con- 
sisted of music, unveiling of the mon- 
ument on which were inscribed the 
names of the many fallen heroes who 
went into their country's service from 
Dwight and adjoining towaships; the 
reading of the roll of honor by H. A. 
Kenyon, Esq., and intensely thrilling 
addresses by Revs. M. M, Longley, M. 
V. B. White. C. H. DeLong, and O. W. 
Pollard, and a poem by W. H. Brad- 
bury, Esq.; the addresses were what 
the occasion called for, eloquent trib- 
utes to the memory of the brave and 
patriotic dead, these carefully prepared 
orations, as they were historic as well 



52 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



as eulogistic, ought to have been pre- 
served, bat were not. 

The poem prepared expressly for the 
occasion, having been printed at the 
time, is now reproduced: 

Where Lookout Mountain lifts his head 

To gaze on lovely Tennessee, 
And Chicamauga's silver thread 

Gleams 'midst the rugged scenery: - 

Where Dallas' Woods grow green and brown, 
Beyond Burnt Hickory's fatal plain; 

And Kenesaw's twin summits frown 
O'er landscape marred with battle-stain:— 

Where Oostenaula's streams arise, 
And Chattahoochee's waters lave 

Bright banks where Georgia's beauty lies— 
The red mound marks the soldier's gravel 

Not there alone! But far and wide, 

From fair Virginia to the West, 
Our heroes' life-blood swelled the tide 

Poured at tlie Nation's grand behest! 

To them this monument is reared, 
An emblem of their scattered graves: 

Here let their memory be revered; 
Here let us mourn our fallen braves! 

These votive flowers and Emerald wreaths. 
Bedewed with tears and fraught with sighs 

Are tributes which the heart bequeaths— 
A sweet, yet sacred sacrifice. 

Let us rejoice that our brave boys 

Fell not in ways of smor crime; 
But boldly fighting for the cause 

Of home and country— death sublime! 

The South wind's fragrance— laden sighs 
Waft odors from tlie land of flowers. 

Where sleep our lieroes 'neath the skies 
Of summer Buns and vernal showers. 

These floral offerings catch the scent. 
And riclier grows the rare i)erfump,— 

(In fancy's thought together bent),— 
Like precious sweets of heavenly bloom. 

God heal the wounds of war-worn lands: 
The battle-blights, the scars of strife 

Are gently covered by His hands, 
'Till seared earth glows with wonted life. 

So doth He also heal our hearts 
With hopes of heaven beyond the tomb; 

The "oil of joy" for grief imparts,— 
"Garments of praise" for robes of gloom. 



"Beauty for ashes" shall be given; 

And fairer flowers and brighter wreaths 
ShaU deck the patriot's brow in Heaven 

Where Peace the sword forever sheaths! 

Oh, may our blood-bought Union stand! 

And never, never, shall it fall 
While Truth and Virtue fill the land 

And sweet Keligion binds us all! 

Capt, Wm. P. Bartholic and wife go 
to New Orleans; 0. S. Newell and fam- 
ily move to Joliet; the Congregational- 
ists give a strawberry festival, the table 
waiters dressing in the costumes of the 
different nations: Prof. Diehl is re-en- 
gaged as principal of the public schools; 
Mr. John A. Gallup, father of Daniel, 
Orrin and Ralph Gallup, dies, aged 
eighty years; Miss Mary Eldredge gives 
a musical concert, which was pro- 
nounced an enjoyable, refined and alto- 
gether recherche affair; the German 
Evangelical church, located on the cor- 
ner 01 Deleware and AVashinyton 
streets, was completed and dedicated; 
the Fourth of July was celebrated in 
superb style, Hon. J. G. Strong being 
president of the day, the Declaration' of 
Independence was read by Miss Franc 
McClure, an oration delivered by Hon. 
J. W. Strevelle, and the presentation of 
prizes awarded to the successful com- 
petitors in the various games was made 
by F. B. Hargreaves, Esq., in speeches 
brim-full of glowing rhetoric, wit and 
humor; L. B. Gleason, Esq., ot Good- 
farm, passes from earth; the M. E, 
church, after undergoing repairs 
amounting to $1,800, is re-opened with 
impressive services, Kev. Briggs, D. D., 
of Evanston, delivering the morning 
and evening sermons, assisted by Mr. 
Solomon Thatcher, of Chicago; this so- 
ciety was organized in June, 1855, with 
six members, David Mc Williams, Mr. 
and Mrs. Isaac Baker and Augustus 
West being four of the number; Mr. H. 
A. Gardner, father of George. Richard, 
Henry and James Gardner, and for 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



53 



many years a prominent railroad offi- 
cial, and whose family had for a long 
time resided one mile east of Dwight, 
comes to his death in Chicago; he is 
still remembered for his public spirit, 
great energy and many virtues; Hugh 
Thompson and Horace Cadwallader 
start on a trip to California; Symes, the 
butcher, falls into an unconcious state, 
from which he fails to recover; the 
Baptist hall is purchased by O. Slocum 
and converted into a dwelling; Mr. 
Bradford purchases Mr. Hillesheim's 
interest in the firm of J. C. Hetzel <& 
Co. ; the residences of Henry Fox, T. C, 
Cook and O. W. Pollard are completed 
and occupied; Rey. Havermale becomes 
the pastor of the M. E. church; the 
Western Postal Review, published by 
H. A. Kenyon, postmaster, makes its 
appearance; the bank of J. G, Strong 
suspends; John Geis, the cigar manu- 
facturer, takes possession of his new 
store; Mrs. Travis and Mrs. Wm. H. 
Ketcham are thrown fiom a buggy 
while out for a pleasure ride and barely 
escape serious injuries; J. M. Baker oc- 
cupies D. McWilliams' old store, put- 
ting in an assortment of furniture and 
doing the business of an undertaker; 
Rev. Dr. Rabe becomes a resident of 
Dwight, and takes charge of the Union 
Presbyterian church; Wm. Estes buys 
hardware stock and business of J. C. 
Hetzel; the Dwight Cornet Band meets 
weekly for practice and favors the vis- 
itots with ravishing music on many 
evenings during the summer months; 
Robt. S. Mcllduff, Esq., marries Miss 
Mary J. Paul; in December the village 
trustees take possession of the new 
town house; Drs. Andrews and Keeley 
amputate limb for Wm. Sharp; the ora- 
torio of Esther is given under the man- 
agement of Prof. Dangforth, several 
young gentlemen and ladies of our vil- 
lage taking part; Mr. L. D.Coppock and 



Miss Phoebe P. Riggs are united in 
marriage; Strong & Strong engage in 
insurance and real estate business; 
Benj. George, brother of James and 
John George, is removed by death; H. 
Cadwallader buys back the Farmers' 
elevator; a petition signed by twenty- 
eight merchants pray the Board to pass 
an ordinance protecting them from 
traveling auctions; Mr. Lorenzo A. 
Hamlin and Miss Mary A. Libby lock 
arms in matrimony , the Good Templars 
organize; A. H. Haynes purchases Sam 
Shiffer's livery and feed stable; mar- 
ried, at the M. E. church, Mr. James H. 
Foster and Miss Hattie L. Slyder and 
Mr. Myron Tambling to Miss Emma 
Slyder, attended by Miss Franc Mc- 
Clure as first bridesmaid and Miss 
Tambling as second bridesmaid. Dr. L, 
E. Keeley as first groomsman and Capt. 
J. B. Parsons as second groomsman; 
James II. Harrison, one of the early 
settlers, and for some time railroad 
agent, closes his earthly existence; W. 
H. Bobbins sells his store building to 
Charles Losee, and goes with his fami- 
ly to Fort Scott, Kan.; during the fall 
of this year our merchants did a more 
extensive business than ever before or 
since for a single season. 
1876-77. 
The officers this year were Eugene 
Baker, president; E. R. Stevens, W. A, 
Ketcham, R. C. Adams, A. McKay and 
William Walker, trustees; C. M. Baker, 
clerk; Thos. Weldon, marshal; Elwell 
('ollins,special policeman; John Thomp- 
son, treasurer: F. Rattenbury, pound 
master; O. Slocum, chief fire marshal; 
J. B. Parsons, first assistant and H. A. 
Kenyon second assistant, and J. I. 
Dunlap, attorney. Saloon licenses were 
fixed at .$300, and licenses were granted 
to ten in all— making three times as 
many saloons as bake shops, and three 
times as many grog shops as meat 



54 



HISTORY OF DAVIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



shops. Druggist's permits granted to 
C. M. Baker aud Geo. A, Seymour. W. 
J, Tait was employed as extra police. 
The purchase of a new hose cart was 
made. The gross receipts were ^5,841.- 
48; total expenditures for all purposes, 
$5,510.61; received from saloon li- 
censes, S2,G06.95, and from fines $114. 

In the marriage institution from 
which comes the home, lies the founda- 
tion of every benign, prosperous and 
stable government. Such is the case, 
not by accident, but by the appointment 
of man's all wise and benevolent Cre- 
ator, In this belief, Mr. Robert Mc- 
Kay and Miss Belle Porter, and Mr. 
William Douglas and Miss Mattie Staf- 
ford take upon themselves the marriage 
vow. The M. E. church gives a Cen- 
tennial tea party, many of the atten- 
dants dressing in accordance with ths 
fashions prevailing in 1776. Prof. 
Diehl, havH'g managed the education 
of the youth with so much satisfaction, 
is retained as principal of the schools. 
David Mc Williams goes to Baltimore, 
Md., on a six weeks' absence as a dele- 
gate to the General conference. This 
is the legislative body of the M. E. 
church, and to be made a member of 
which is the highest honor that can be 
conferred upon its laity. Its sessions 
are held quadrennially, at which time 
the bishops, editors, and missionary 
secretaries of this denomination are ap- 
pointed, also the managers of its great 
publishing houses. A number of our 
citizens visit the Centennial at Phila- 
delphia. A juvenile temperance soci- 
ety is formed. W. II. Bobbins returns 
to Dwight. Matthias Shi filer sells his 
property west of the Presbyterian 
cluircli to L. D. llutaii, aud witli his 
son John, moves to Kansas. An edu- 
cational column in the Dwight Star is 
conducted by Prof. C. F. Diehl. Thos. 
J. Joluison purchases the dwelling of J. 



D. Ketcham. Miss Caroline Chester, 
after a long illness, dies, aged 69 years. 
The annual school report shows 465 
pupils enrolled for the year. Mr. Mer- 
ret Carr marries Miss Alice Young, and 
Mr. George IST. Flagler, Miss Lettie 
Saltmarsh. At the age of 38 years, 
Mary E., wife of DeWitt Scutt, dies. 
Orson Potter's family move to Bloom- 
ington. Mr. Stephen Morrison, a na- 
tive of Maine, and a resident for sev- 
eral years, goes to "the undiscovered 
country from whose bourne no traveler 
returns." A county Sunday School is 
held in Dwight, J. F. Culver acting as 
its president. Grandmother Dunlop, 
who came to this place in 1857, a good 
woman and a stunch Presbyterian, after 
a pilgrimage of 86 years, departs for 
her home on high. W. H, Ketcham 
and Nettie, his daughter, visit the Cen- 
tennial. A. McKay receives injuries 
about the head, caused by a runaway 
team. A Hayes and Wheeler club is 
formed. Mr, I. George passes away. 
The Ancient Order of Hibernians cele 
brate, Daniel Smith puts a valuable 
addition to his house fronting Prairie 
avenue. Newell, Judd & Sims dispose 
of their lumber interests at Poutiac. 
A. E. Gould builds a Are proof store 
room back of his store, S. T. K. Prime 
becomes campaign reporter for the 
Chicago Tribune, The census of Dwight 
is taken, which shows a population of 
1,400, making an annual increase of 100 
for several consecutive years. The 
Congregational church undergoes re- 
pairs. Thomas Adams, formerly a far- 
mer in Highland, but at this time a res- 
ident of R. I., visits Dwight. Kep- 
plinger's large building is completed, 
and his hall dedicated to the public. 
The 10th Battalion meets at this point 
for a drill, and goes through the maneu- 
vers of a sham battle for the amuse- 
ment of the large crowd in attendance, 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLIJ^OIS. 



55 



Col. J. B. Parsons comrrauder in chief. 
The dwelling of J. H. Coe is destroyed 
by fire. Two men are sent to Joliet 
for a term of years for attempting to 
rob the store of McWilliams & Co., 
having been caught in the act by the 
night policeman, Elwell Collins. 

A. E. Harding, Esq., of Pontiac, mar- 
ries Mrs. Mary E Ilaynes, and H. E. 
Windsor, of Marshall, Michigan, Miss 
Mary Eldredge. H, A. Harris sells his 
stock of goods 10 Gagahan Bros. Hon. 
John A . Logan discusses the political 
situation, and the Lombard Glee Club 
favors the assembled audience with 
campaign songs. Mr. B. A, Buck and 
Miss Libbie Estes consent to pass under 
the matrimonial yoke. Mrs. Lettie 
Banks, the mother of Mrs. Leander 
Morgan, dies, having attained the re- 
markable age of 95 years. Wm. H. 
Amos opens a new hotel. Mr. DeWitt 
Scutt marries Miss Maria E. Collins, 
and Mr, E. W. Barkle. Miss Bettie Tut- 
tle. The name of S. T. K. Prime ap- 
pears as associate editor of the Western 
Postal lieview. The churches all join 
in holding union meetings, under the 
direction of C. M. Morton, Secretary of 
the Y. M. C. A., of Illinois. X great 
religious interest is awakened and so 
many people were in attendance that it 
was found necessary to hold overflow 
meetings. Members of the churches 
were sent out into the country daily to 
hold religious services in school houses 
and private dwellings. Rev. Longly, 
Ilavermale and DeLong, the regular 
pastors, protract the meeting some 
nine weeks at an expense of $353, and 
as a result all the churches receive val- 
uable accessions. 

The marriages of Mr. Frank Foltz 
and Miss Emma Foster, Mr. Lou Trun- 
uel and Miss Maggie McGonigal, Mr. 
Isaac Drew and Miss Sarah J. John- 
son, Mr. James Knox and Miss Mary 



Patterson are reported. Mr, S. T, K. 
Prime becomes editor of the agricul- 
tural department of the Chicago Trib- 
une. Edward, James and Nellie Mc- 
Williams return from school at Evans- 
ton. Jas. W. Sayers moves to New 
York state. Mrs. Harriet, the wife of 
Capt. Rockwell, born in 1890, falls 
asleep in death. John Campbell spends 
part of the year in Dwight. Edward 
McWilliams takes charge of Prime 
academy. Misses Nettie and Emma 
Ketcham give a New Year's party, the 
guests numbering thirty. W. J. Tait 
is added to the police force. Mr. D. 
Mason and Miss Loretta Pool marry. 
In the Lighting Bug, a manuscript pa- 
per edited by Miss Sarah Snyder about 
the year 1861, the following lines are 
found: 

As I was was walking out one clay, 

Auil thinking of a plan 
Whereby I might a process stay, 

I met a curious man. 

His face was sharp— his eyes were keen— 

His lips were firm and rigid! 
He was tlie strangest man I'll seen— 

He put me in a fidget. 

"Young man," the stranger said. 

"Tell me— and mind you tell me right- 
Where lies in trutli and verity 

The little town of Dwight?" 

With cheerfulness I pointed straight 

Over tlie shoulder right: 
"In that direction lies the great 

And growing town of Dwight!" 

'The church and mill's tall si)ires ex))lain 

Her upward asi)irations; 
While education rears her fame 

For all denominations." 

"The public parks" I said "denote 

The laws of liealth prevailing; 
While medicines and doctors too. 

Are ready for the ailing." 

"The taverns rear their spacious front 

For all wlu) seek their shelter, 
Tlie landlords, kind, as is thoAv wont. 

Will treat you well for 'spelter." 



56 



HISTORY OF D WIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



"The stores are large, and well filled up 

With everything required; 
The turnpike roads, and l)ridges too. 

Are much to be admired. " 

"Hold! Stop!" says he, "I've heard enough; 

I've been a luckless wight; 
I've struggled long thro' smooth and rough; 

But now I'll stop at Dwight. " 

"This is the place where enterprise 

Expends and is repaid; 
Where business grows and morals rise, 

And scliools are ready made." 

"What tho' times have been hard and dull. 

And things have not gone right; 
The season's bounteous lap is full 

Of blessings for your Dwight.'' 

He ceased. I pressed with warmth his hand 

And said: "I think you're right; 
You never will regret the stand 

That you will make at Dwight." 

Mr. Walbridge and Miss Jennie E. 
Ray take upon themselves the marriage 
obligations, likewise Freemonr, Vick- 
ery and Miss Nettie Johnson; also Mr. 
John Turnbaugh and Miss Mary Vir- 
ginia Springer. John Yickery meets 
with an accident, by which some in- 
juries were received. The Brass farm 
of 640 acres is sold to Mr. Davis, of 
Henry, for .$18,000. Mr. W. J. Thack- 
ery and Miss Nanna A. Foster, Mr. J. 
J. Knudsen and Miss Bine C. Mahler 
(Dewy,) Mr. Chauncey Keck and Miss 
Adelaide Cornell, Mr. Zane Turner and 
Miss Mary Burkhart are married. The 
Y. M. C. A. organize, and under the 
auspices of the same, Hon. Schuyler 
Colfax lectures. Rev. C. 11. DeLong 
preaches his farewell sermon, and 
severs his relation with the Presbyter- 
ian church. Mr. and Mrs. C. Bradford 
celebrate their china wedding. E, T. 
Miller purchases an interest in the bus- 
iness of Henry Eldredge. The death 
of Charles S. Newell occurs April 9, 
1877, and resolutions of respect were 
passed by the village Board and spread 
upon its record. He having been a 



trustee for several terms, and was quite 
prominent in town affairs. 
1877-78. 

As indicated in the last chapter the 
license party had ceased to be a unit. 
Some of its members, as the year before 
insisted upon a high license and few 
saloons as the only method by which 
liqaor traffic could be relieved of its 
objectionable and offensive features and 
made respectable. Others denounced 
what they were pleased to term a liq- 
uor monopoly, a wealthy saloon aris- 
tocracy, and contended with equal per- 
sistency for a low license and for the 
granting of the same to any and all 
wished to deal in ardent spirits. The 
only issue at this spring's election was 
whether a high or low license Board 
should be put in power. A thorough 
canvass was made by each faction and 
nearly the whole vote of the corporation 
was obtained, there being 243 votes 
polled. The fact that seven thousand 
ballots were printed shows that a vig- 
orous fight was arranged for. It de- 
volved upon Eugene Baker, president, 
and A. McKay, W. H. Ketcham, Henry 
Fox, O. Slocum, Chas. Crandall, trus- 
tees, to bear the burden of administrat- 
ing the affairs of the village for this 
year, and upon C. M. Baker as clerk to 
record the doings of the Board. To 
Wm. M. Stitt was given the office of 
marshal, H. Eldredge that of treasurer, 
Levi Wood was appointed poundmas- 
ter and F. B. Hargreaves as village at- 
torney. The names of John Shifter, E. 
Collins and Ab. Potter appear as bav- 
in served some portion of the year as 
night police. The election returns 
show tnat James Mclldutt" was re- 
elected to the office of police magis- 
trate. 

At no time have our people been so 
completely given up to the strange de- 
lusion that the sale of intoxicating 





James Kelaaher. 



Walter M. Weese. 





George L. Kern. 



E. T. Miller. 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



beverages was indespensable to the 
growth of the town, and that its pros- 
perity would always be increased in 
proportion to the number of saloons 
that could be maintained. It was hon- 
estly supposed that the liquor traffic 
in so many hands was sure to draw an 
immense trade that would enrich the 
merchants and make Dwight a lively 
and thriving place. Every well wisher 
of the town's present and future wel- 
fare should, it was urged, by his vote, 
if he had one, legalize the dramshop 
business and by his voice, pen and in- 
fluence, seek to encourage and foster 
it. Some fancied, because of the pres- 
ence ofeleven saloons, that our great- 
ness was assured and that we ought to 
proceed herewith and annul our vil 
lage charter and organize as a city, dis 
tricting the town into wards and elect- 
ing a bona fide mayor and aldermanic 
council. An election was ordered for 
Tuesday, Oct. l,and two sets ot ballots 
were prepared, one for and the other 
against a city organization. Twenty 
citizens said by their votes, let there be 
a change in our governmental machin- 
ery, and one hundred and twenty-eight 
said the present organization was good 
enough. 

This Board passed an ordinance tax- 
ing dogs one dollar per year, and one 
requiring all male citizens twenty years 
old and under fifty, paupers and idiots 
excepted, to labor on streets and alleys 
three days or pay in lieu thereof one 
dollar per day; also one providing for 
the payment of the fire company for 
drilling and keeping the fire apparatus 
in good condition. Shirts, belts and 
uniforms were purchased for the fire- 
men and a triangular fire alarm was 
mounted on a frame in the rear of the 
town house. This Board passed a com- 
pensating ordinance, which allowed 
each trustee $2 for every regular meet- 



ing attended. The repairing of the 
building of H. Cornell, partially torn 
down to stop the progress of the great 
fire on West street, was authorized. 
The receipts for fines were $69, and 
those for licenses were $2,597.50. The 
fiscal statement puts the expenditures 
at .$5,510.61. 

During the municipal year the fol- 
lowing marriages were published: Mr. 
J. AV. Watkins to Miss Emma C. Paul; 
Mr. rhas. M. Cyrus to Miss Columbia 
V Frame; Mr, Roger Mills to Miss 
Sarah Burns; Mr. Frank Brubaker to 
Miss Nettie Scutt; Mr. Edwin C. Kirk- 
endall to Miss Elizabeth Cornell; Mr. 
Alfred N. Chariton to Miss Georgia A. 
Boardraan; Mr. Theodore Lessor to 
Miss Kate Patterson; Mr. Samuel 
Thompson to Miss Eliza J, Wiley; Mr, 
John Darman to Miss Mary Congdon; 
Mr . Conrad Semental to Miss Christena 
Hahn; Mr. Orville M. Butterfield to 
Miss Lydia Susie Bell. 

The deaths reported were Mrs. Eliza 
Comissiong, aged sixty-two years; Mrs. 
Ward Kenyon, aged thirty-one; Mrs. 
Lucy A. Kenyon, aged thirty-three; 
David Barton, aged sixty-three; Mrs, 
R. P. Morgan, Mrs. Mary Ann Turn- 
baugh, aged fifty-one: Wm. Morris, 
aged sixtv; John W. Dunlop, aged fifty- 
three; .John B. Monahan, aged forty- 
two; Margaret Heinan. 

The building of L. D, Rutan, occu- 
pied by Gahagan Brothers, the millinery 
establishment of Mrs. H. Cornell, the 
Clifton Hotel, occunied by O. Lee, and 
other wooaen structures were destroyed 
by fire. At a military festival a sword 
is voted to Major C. J. Judd as a rec- 
ognition of his soldierly qualities, a 
parasol to Miss Nellie Hibbard as the 
handsomest woman present, a chromo 
to Miss Emma Strong as having the 
best arranged table, and a cane to C. L. 
Palmer as the handsomest man, presen- 



58 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



tation speeches were made respectively 
by H. A. Kenyon, J. G. Strong, and 
W. H. Bradbury. The Y. M. C. A. 
hold meetinsfs every Sunday. The name 
of the Dwight Guards is changed to 
that of Parsons Guards. The .Dwight 
Star enters upon its tenth year. Mrs. 
C. S. Newell returns to this place. The 
Dwight Commercial, edited by C. M. 
Cyrus, enters the field as the compet- 
itor of the Dwight Star. The Adams 
Cornet Band gives open air concerts. 
Col. J. B. Parsons celebrates his thirty- 
eighth birthday anniversary, the Par- 
sons Guards, Dwight Fire Company, 
Renfrew Hose Company, Hook and 
Ladder Company, Adams Cornet Band, 
and the City Council participating, and 
all East street being illuminated in the 
evening. Father Hanley bids adieu to 
his people. Thomas Flaherty seeks a 
place of business elsewhere. The Par- 
sons Guards are ordered to ]3raidwood 
to assist in quelling a riot. Rev. M.M. 
Longly, pastor of the Congregational 
church, preaches his farewell sermon. 
This society organized with eleven 
members in 1866, and at this time en- 
rolled 115 members. The Cemetery 
Association is formed, with H. A. Ken- 
yon as president. The Salem church, 
four miles north, is dedicated. Rev. 
Rogers is called to be pastor of the Con- 
gregational church. TheY. M. C. A. 
lease the Good Templars' hall for the 
winter. Miss Anna Kenyon is present- 
ed with a gold cross, set witli pearls, as 
a token of appreciation of her services 
as organist of the Congregational Soci- 
ety. Spencer Eldredge rents the big 
elevator, and engages in the grain bus- 
iness. William Walker's planing mill 
is destroyed by lire. Daniel Gallup sells 
his milk business to Isaac Austin. The 
remains of Samuel V. Vickery are 
brought from Kansas and buried in the 
new cemetery, his body being the first 



interred there. Daniel Gallup removes 
to Cambridge, Md. The Dwight Star 
for tlie ninth time appears in a new 
dress. J. P. Chase rents his farm and 
moves to Chicago. Xels Mickleson 
opens a grocery store near Iletzel's 
building. The Methodists give their 
pastor, Rev. E. P. Hall, a surprise par- 
ty, leaving $73. S. M, Witt is presented 
with an elegant silver watch and chain 
by the Hook and Ladder Company. 
The temperance wave strikes Dwight. 
R. W. Crampton is engaged to deliver 
several temperance lectures. George 
Woodford, of Pontiac, visits our com- 
munity, and by his public appeals and 
personal efforts succeeds in inducing 
seventy-five drinking men to reform. 
These, headed by a brass band, march 
to the M. E. church, where an enthusi 
• astic meeting is held. The Dwight Re- 
form Club is organized with Eugene 
Baker president, D. McWilliams treas- 
urer. Rev. Rogers, chaplain, H. A. Ken- 
yon, C. J. Judd and others executive 
committee, Henry Fox and others, fi- 
nance committee. During this great 
temperance revival more tlian 800 sign 
the temperance pledge. A. L. Thomp- 
son moyes to .:5teel City, Neb. A tem- 
perance lunch room is opened in Mc- 
Williams' old store, conducted by F. M. 
Chambers. The drama "Saved" is pre- 
sented in Kepplinger's hall by the Pon- 
tiac Dramatic Club, our ladies giving 
the members of the club a banquet. 

The Reform Club seek to purchase a 
library and establish a reading room, 
nearly $500 being subscribed for that 
purpose. The brick stores, with halls 
and offices above, of Miller Bros, and 
D. McWilliams are commenced. Rev. 
Omalvena closes his labors with the 
Presbyterian church. An anti-tobacco 
society is formed, with Rev. E. P. Hall 
president, and S. M. Witt vice-president. 
The Reform Club rent D. McWilliams' 



IIISTOUY OF DWiGIlT. 1LL1:N01S. 



59 



hall, and purchase fifteen dozen chairs; 
its meetings are made very interesting, 
and all are attended by large numbers. 
1878-79. 
As the time of the annual election of 
the village trustees drew near it became 
difficult to predict with any certainity 
who the successful candidates would 
be. There were three tickets, titled 
respectively "anti-license,'' "'people's" 
and "workingmen's," the last two rep- 
resenting the factions into which the 
lic-nse party had become divided. The 
winners for municipal honors were E. 
R, Stevens, Jno. Thompson, R. C. 
Adams, W. H. Ketcham, Wm. Walker 
and J. C. George. The new Board or- 
ganize by making ^ohn Thompson 
president. It fell to the lot of C. M. 
]5aker to see that the records were 
properly kept. Wm. M. Stitt was chosen 
marshal, and Ab. Potter night police. 
A. McKay, by the authority of the 
Board, assumed the responsibility of 
receivmg and disbursing the village 
funds. The title of chief tire marshal 
was conferred upon K. S. Sedgwick and 
that of tirst assistant upon J. B, Par- 
sous and second assistant upon H. A, 
Kenyon. Two petitions, signed by la- 
dies and children, were presented to the 
Board, one praying that no saloon li 
censes be granted, and that no billiard 
or pool table be authorized. Both of 
these petitions were summarily laid 
upon the table. For this action some 
were disposed to censure the Board in 
unmeasured terms; but not with much 
reason for so doing. These trustees 
represented a constituency, and this 
constituency favored the licensing of 
saloons and gaming tables. They, by 
refusing to grant the prayer of these 
well meaning and conscientious women 
and children, simply carried out the 
wishes of a majority of the voters and 
those to whom they were indebted for 



their election as trustees. This action 
of itself was no disrespect lo the pe- 
titioners, especially as it was known that 
the members of the Board were not ex- 
pected to do anything of the kind and 
were not personally in sympathy with 
the movement to either prohibit the 
sale of liquors or the operation of such 
tables as were named in the petitions. 
It would have been, however, wise and 
much more respectful, to have voiced 
a refusal to grant the requests made in 
polite and suitable language instead of 
tabling the petition in such an uncere- 
monious manner. 

During this administration the fine 
iron bridge spanning the creek at the 
East side school house was built. The 
records show nothing more outside of 
the usual routine of business. The ex- 
penditures are placed at S4,2H3.03. • 

The year of Dwight under considera- 
tion was in several respects one of the 
happiest aid brightest in its history, 
Al no time has there been such an ef- 
fort to break the usual distressing 
monotony of village life by the multi- 
pllcdlion of social gatherings and the 
preparation of numerous public enter- 
tainments. The Good Templars' or- 
ganization, connected with which were 
many choice young men and women, 
was in a very prosperous condition. 
The Bed Ribbcn Club, then in a highly 
flourishing state, had a large member- 
ship, among which were skillful musi- 
cians, poets, able writers of prose, am- 
ateur dramatists and actors, accom- 
plished readers and entertaining 
speakers. The Friday night literary 
exercises given in the hall of the Re- 
form Club and On special occasions in 
that of Good Templars' will never be 
forgotten by those that attended them 
Amusing, delightfully entertaining, 
and of an elevated and elevating tone, 
tlieir beautiful effects and influence for 



60 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



good can hardly be estimated. They 
served an excellent purpose in develop- 
ing and utilizing for the good of the 
public the more than ordinary talent 
which has never been the good fortune 
of Dwight to possess. These were green 
oases in the dreary march of life. They 
were looked forward to with delight, 
and they are now looked back to as the 
most pleasant episodes of the life spent 
in the little prairie town, whose history 
is well worth preserving, because of 
the noble spirits who have participated 
in its affairs. It would be a delightful 
service to put in the way of republica- 
tion the many literary gems prepared 
for the entertainments referred to and 
other occasions belonging to this year. 
The necessity of hydraulic condensation 
in preparing these chapters forbids it. 
Room, however, will be given for a 
few. Those of Wm. H. Bradbury, the 
poet laureate of Dwight, are too good 
to be lost. Below will be found his 
poem entitled "The Tide of Bloom:" 

From the tropical climes, rich in boundless pro- 
fusion 
Of color and verdure and sweet i)erf ume, 
Sweeps up toward the north with a welcome in- 
trusion, 
The freshet of flowers— the great tide of bloom 1 

Led on by the sun, like the waters of ocean, 
It joyfully follows its God in its course; 

Ihro' the higher zones circling in fragrant de- 
votion. 
Now creeping in softness— now rolling in force. 

Upward and onward, with colors all glowing. 
The blooming tide tumbles o'er orchard and 
lea; 
And out In advance is the dashing spray throw- 
ing 
A beautiful robe o'er the naked peach tree. 

While northward away! are the early tints trend- 
ing. 
Here fuller and richer the young blossoms 
shine; 
The almond Uowers clustering round slender 
boughs bending. 
And delicate lilacs of fragrance divine! 



The hyacinths, tulips and bleeding hearts fol- 
low— 
And drink from the current their own vivid 
hues. 
As warmer streams shoot from each valley and 
hollow, 
And purple and yellow and crimson diffuse. 

As the sun beckons on,— mounting higher and 

higher, 
The floral tide deepens in color and tone; 
'Till the laughing land, decked in her gorgeous 

attire. 
Flames forth as the bride of the tropical zone. 

Carnations and pansles, and llllles and roses,— 
Verbenas, sweet-williams and peonies red,— 

Steeped in the bloomy flood, each flower dis- 
closes 
Its beauty and fragrance— so soon to be shed . 

With the sun at Its highest, the tide at its turn- 
ing. 

Sweet-peas and tube-roses exhaling perfume, 
And scarlet and crimson in dark bushes burning. 

And gardens aflame, mark the zenith of bloom 

The gay gladiolus, with ruddy sword waving 
O'er rich portulances of carmine and eold, 
In the high flood of summer their petals now 
laving, 
Suffused with deep color, their brilliance un- 
fold. 
But the ebbing tide tells toward the end of Seiv 
tember 
The tale of lost beauty too soon on the wane; 
Yet asters and zenias may bid us remember 
The brightness of summer, lamented in vain. 

While the tide's at the flow let us seize on the 
treasure. 
Enjoy Its rare colors and richest perfume; 
The beaufy of nature was made for our pleasure. 
How thankful we are for the great "Tide of 
Bloom." 

Dwight was then favored with an 
organization of the Woman's Christian 
Temperance Union, also a juvenile so- 
ciety, both of which held their meetings 
in Red Ribbon hall. 

The Reform Club purchase a piano . 
A. Dernbach occupies his new barber 
shop on West street. S. T. K. Prime 
reports the condition of crops in differ- 
ent parts of the country for the benefit 
of the readers of the Dwight Star. Wm. 
Scully, the great Irish land owner, visits 
this place. Joe Mason, a grand good 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



HI 



fellow, leaves the employ of A. E. 
Gould and seeks a situation elsewhere. 
The Parsons Guards appear in new 
uniform, consisting- of light blue 
pants, dark blue blouse and cap. The 
Red Ribbon Club elects a detective 
committee for the purpose of prosecut- 
ing saloon keepers who sell to minors 
or persons while in an intoxicated con- 
diton. Several were detected, found 
guilty and fined. The Congregational 
society make great preparations for a 
Fourth uf July festival and literary 
entertainment, occupying the halls of 
the Reform Club and several oHices 
on the same lioor, the latter were 
converted into a temporary art gal- 
lery. Eloquent addresses were de- 
livered by C. L. Palmer, 11. B. Har- 
greaves and others, which were pub- 
lished afterward. On this occasion 
Miss Anna Kenyon, the church organ- 
ist, was presented with a rocking 
chair and three tidies of patch work 
composed of ninety blocks, on each 
of which was the name of some lady 
member of the society. Rev. Rogers 
makes the presentation speech and 
H. A. Kenyon responds. The p6em of 
Wm. 11. Bradburj, read on this occa- 
sion, many will be glad to see in type 
again: ^ 

DWIGHT IN 1928. 

Dropped from above by the big balloon 
Tliat rushes by each afternoon, 
A stranger came from a distant land; 
His hair was bleached and his face was tanned, 
At tlie City Hotel he touched a spring 
Wliich wrote his name in a twinl<le-ing. 
A glance at the open register's date 
Sliowed Nineteen Hundred and Twenty-eight. 
And now you'll wait awliile before 
I'll tell you the name the stranger bore— 
For I didn't loolc at tlie book very close; 
It was not good manners, just under his nose. 

After dinner lie sat in liis clialr, 
And picked his teetli with an anxious air. 
"What a conductor," muttered the man; 
"1 wanted to go to IJloomington, 



But he dropped me here, did the young galoot. 
And sent me down In a parachute. 
I thought I was nearing a forest of trees. 
And never expected streets like these; 
And such big buildings— I can't tell 'em, 
Hid by the cotton wood, maple and ellum." 

All looked strange, but still there were 
Tokens of things familiar. 
"This can't be Dwiglit!" at length he cried; 
"That's what tliey call it," quick replied 
Tlie host, who smiled as Landlords do, 
As he marked tlie room Two hundred and two. 
"AVell!" said the guest, "I once lived here, 
In times gone by, full fifty year. 
Then I was young and spry, and gay. 
Now I am old and turning gray. 
Nobody knows me, but I once knew 
Lots of men here." The landlord grew 
Quite interested, and he said: 
"Tlie men you knew are probably dead. 
Cliarley Stafford— A fat old person— 
Once kept this liouse, then called the McPher- 

son. 
A merchant owned it— a rich old chap 
Whose property covered half the map 
Of what was known as the village once. 
(He always watched for the main chance,) 
He left to the church several millions. 
And the Methodists called him 'Saint McWil- 

liams . ' 

Gould, Hetzel and Eldredge followed suit: 
Plodding merchants of good repute. 
About Dr. Keeley? tlie actual fact is 
That lie got rich on his country practice. 
I knew him well 1 By the old stone mill 
He grew quite fat, and never was ill." 
"Enough of him!" said the stranger guest. 
"Tell us something about the re-St, 
.ludd and Parsons and Strong and Brad., 
Bakers and Thompsons and Kenyon and Cad." 
"Well! (ieneral Parsons of the millish 
Kept his command in good condish; 
But he lost his life in a Commune riot. 
Since which he's been remarkably ([uiet. 
His name appears in the Patriot's list- 
Brave boy, was .Jim! and very much missed. 
Major .Judd married a prim old maid 
Wlio brushed his clothes and combed his head. 
Of this great State he was Adjutant General. 
And all the trooi)s here went down to his fu- 
neral. 

Strong grew rich and jolly again. 
And died a stout old congressman . 
Brad, wrote poetry more and more. 
And got to be a terrible bore; 
Died of Astronomy on the brain— 
•His loss was i>\ir eternal gain!' 



G2 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



Postofflce KenyoD kept that place 
And always won the political race. 
Cad. went west for change of air, 
And died a Kansas millionaire. 
Bakers and Thompsons spread all over. 
Children and g-rand-children thick as clover. 
Palmer, the printer, went last week; 
Died of enlargement of the cheek, 
Which began growing in early youth- - 
Plain to all but himself, forsooth!" 

"Give us a rest," said the man; "1 think 
It is just about time to take a drink . " 
"No liquors now for inhibition. 
We're living under Prohibition 
To distil or not; that was the question 
Decided at last fall election . 
None to be made or sold or drank. 
For all of which we have to thank 
The Red Ribbon flag that's now unfurled 
O'er the soberest country in all the world. ' 
The guest, disguised, turned his eyes. 
And saw some bottles with surprise. 
"Oh," said the landlord, with a laugh, 
"That's nothing but our Phonograph; 
The bottled talk of great men gone,— 
Sweet souvenirs! Shall I open one?" 
He drew the cork and it went round; 
Forth from the inside came a sound- 
Rapid and rasping— as Ions as he'd let it. 
"That's what I'm telling you; don't you forget 

it!" 
Have I no rights here? that's what I meant; 
Royal old rooster!— don't care a cent. 
"Hold!" said the guest. "That's our friend Joe, 
I've heard of him oft— he wasn't slow!" 
The landlord then, with purpose cniel, 
Opened a bottle marked Neilsen & Newell. 
O'ercome with memories the guest shed tears, 
Rushed from the room and stopped his ears, 
A bottle of "Lewis" lay up on the rack, 
Beady for use when he got back. 

After supper he strolled around 
And viewed the once familiar ground. 
The mill was mossy with decay, 
And dwarfed liy buildings tall and gay. 
The "Strips" were parks with iron gates. 
The railroads ran not a train but "freights" 
For passenger trafflc went by balloon, 
Night and morning and afternoon. 
Large as cathedrals loomed the churches. 
With grand and towers and spacious porches. 

Oaklawn Ciroimds were green and sweet. 
Offering a calm and cool retreat. 
Distance a mile from the city limits, 
Time by the air car, just three minutes. 
Here, midst the fragrance of flowers rare 
Slabs and obelisks pierced the air. 



Former inhabitants all were there. 
Sleeping beneath the solemn trees, 
'Till God shall show them His mysteries! 
Town Boards, School Boards, Supervisors. 
Profligate and stingy iliisers; 
Lazy folks and early risers ; 
Mother and daughter, father and son, 
Gathered together, one by one ! 
Epitaphs gave of the dead below 
List of virtues set up for show. 
Phonographs treasured the precious tones 
Of old John Smith and young Bill Jones. 
Photographs shown on the face of each tomb. 
Glowing with faces of life like bloom. 
Said the guest, quoting against his will, 
"The dead, the dead, are living still." 

He saw his relations scattered around 
In every part of the burial ground . 
Sabbath School teachers of goodness and truth. 
And Pollard the faithful old friend of Youth, 
Playmates of childhood, all dead long ago: 
Lay xmder the grass where the roses blow. 
He thought of them, and of by-gone years, 
And his heart dissolved in a flood of tears. 

Hastening back to the City Hotel, 
He asked the amount of his little bill- 
"Now," said he, "Landlord, here's your money; 
Put your mouth to the telephunny. 
And tell the night watchman to check the bal- 
loon up, 
And I'll start off as soon as its moon up. " 
He mounted the tower for his midnight trip. 
And soon was scooped by the big air ship. 
I looked at his name in the book again, 
And read "Bones Thompson, from Japan." 

George Woodruff, the father of the 
Eed Ribbon Club, delivers an address. 
Nathan Raker and wife make a trip to 
Ohio and Pennsylvania. Rev. Mont- 
gomery spends a Sunday with liis old 
parishoners. Mr. Carl Miller marries 
Miss Delia Hainsfurther. Meetings 
are held and entertainments given in 
behalf of yellow fever sufferers. 244 
kegs of beer are shipped into this place 
during the month of August by saloon 
keepers. Mr. George K. Chase marries 
Miss Ella E. Buel. R. Gallup and fam- 
ily return from their visit to the east 
shore of Maryland. The marriage of 
Mr. AI. T. Jones and Miss Mary Wil- 
liams occurs. Mrs. J. M. Baker is 
struck by the engine of an incoming 



II 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



63 



train, resulting in lier death. Horace 
Cadwallader, at 32 years of age, dies at 
Sterling, Kan., where he had gone in 
search of health. He was a man of 
sterling integrity, fine business qualifi- 
cations, and highly esteemed by all who 
knew him. 

A. Course dies at Salina, Kansas, 
being 48 years of age. He was former- 
ly a resident of our village. Rev. B. F. 
Tallman becomes pastor of the M. E. 
ciiurcli. Sixty bodies are removed 
from the old cemetery to Oaklawn. 
Mr. tl. E. Good and Miss Lizzie Alli- 
son are joined in wedlock. Mrs. Eva 
Maria Hahn, mother of G. M Hahn, 
passes into the beyond. H. A. Kenyon, 
postmaster, occupies new rooms in the 
new brick building on East street. C 
.]. J add writes from Fueblo, Colorado, 
several instructive and interesting let- 
ters for the Star. The Exchange Bank, 
now Bank of Dwight, takes possession 
of new quarters. The remains of Frank 
AV. Davis, in charge of C. J. Judd, are 
brought from Pueblo, Colorado, for in- 
terment at Oaklawn. He died Decem- 
ber, 7, 1878, of nervous consumption, at 
the age of 31 years. He was a young 
man of extraordinary business talent 
and enterprise. F. B. Hargreaves lec- 
tures in a large number of places dur- 
ing the winter. Mr. and Mrs. D. Mc- 
Williams visit the East. Mr. and Mrs. 
CM. Baker celebrate their fifth wed- 
ding anniversary. Francis Carey, whose 
poetical talent was in much demand 
for both solemn and festive occasions, 
contributes the following at an enter- 
tertainment given by the Reform Club: 

THE OLD maid's STORY. 

In imagination, not long since, I lifted tlie 

latch 
And had a nice cliat with a tunny old hatch. 
Since then I have another call made, 
This time on a good-natured, good-looking old 

maid. 



We tall<ed, I should thinl<, for nearly two hours, 
'Bdut her l)lr(is. and her cats, and lier flowe^rs. 
Tlieu I ventured to ask lier would she tell me 
Wliy so long she continued an old maid to be? 

Her answer was, "Some folks might, I'm afraid, 
Call me a crabbed and cross old maid. 
Because at thirty I cannot claim 
Somebody's care and somebody's name. 

"Of l)eax I've had plenty, but never the one- 
Some folks say I'm too cross to be won; 
But old maids never think it too late 
If only at last they lind the riglit mate. 

"And I'm sure I'd rather an old maid be 
Than marry any man that ever I see; 
For tliey are awkward and homely and cross, 
And never so happy as when they can l)oss. 

"They pretend to be loving, and gentle, and 

sweet. 
And make pretty bows as they pass on the 

street; 
But when tliey'reat home, I do declare, 
They're selfish, and ugly, and cross as a bear. 

"'Tis true there is once in a while a man 
That seems to be nearer perfection's plan; 
But all such are spoken for already, you see. 
And only the crooked ones left for me. 

"Well, I'm not discouraged at all with life. 
E'en though I may never be somebody's wife. 
I believe when for true love you are mating, 
It pays to wait, though long be the waiting. 

"And if I never find tlie right one, you see, 
I'll die an old maid as sure as can be; 
Xo one shall say, 'She has gone the woods past, 
And taken a crooked old stick at last.' 

"But if the right one should e'er come along. 
At tlie wedding I'll bid them sing the sweet 

song. 
Beginning, 'This is the way I long have sought, 
And mourned because I found it not." 

The letters of H. A. Kenyon, written 
during his sojourn in the West, are 
published and read with pleasure. The 
Odd Fellows conduct the funeral of W, 
T. Cumberland. Robt. Thompson dies, 
aged 72 years. He came to this coun- 
try in 1854, was supervisor for eight 
years, and was the first Justice of the 
Peace of Dwight, being elected to this 
ottice in 1855. Wm. Estes celebrates 
his birthday anniversary, Francis Carey 
furnishing an appropriate poem. The 



64 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



Knights of the Round Table celebrate 
their tenth anniversary at the McPher- 
son, several local bards in their numer- 
ous productions appearing at their best 
Miss Julia Gould visits Mrs, Patrick, 
at Martinet, Wis. J. A. Turner dis- 
poses of his worldly effects and takes 
up his residence at Fort Hays, Kansas. 
R. S. Mcllduff purchases the house of 
Eugene Baker, Bert Adams goes to 
Watertown, N. Y,, on a visit. John 
Watson, a fine genial gentleman, meets 
his death, Mr. Frank B. Chester mar- 
ries Miss Emma T. Strong. The mar- 
riages of Mr. David Duncan and Miss 
Julia Potter and Mr. .James B. Austin 
and Miss Nettie Boyer are also reported. 
Miss Marion F. Kenyon dies en-route 
home from Colorado, where she had 
been taken by her father in the hope of 
saving he'' life, aged 17 years. Her 
amiable character, and the sad circum- 
stances connected with * her death, 
caused great mourning in the commun- 
ity where her short life had been spent 
J. M. Gibbs sells his farm and seeks a 
home m the growing West. Mr. Henry 
Bloom marries Miss Eliza Kern, and 
Mr. Darwin Stevens Miss Cynthia A. 
Harrison. Thus it is seen that the 
year was very fruitful of events, some 
that were indeed sad, others that caused 
much joy to many hearts. 
1879-80. 
By the then residents of Dwight the 
discussions and addresses during the 
winter of 1879 will probably never be 
forgotten. The entire community was 
aroused upon the question of temper- 
ance as never before. The persistent 
agitation of the temperance question 
which had been kept up for several 
months, and the new discovery of the 
right of the village to control the sale 
of alcoholic stimulants as a majority 
voted, resulted in the election of a pro- 
hibition Board, consisting of David Mc- 



Williams president, J. C. Hetzel, Hugh 
Thompson, A. McKay, John Tierney 
and Spencer Eldredge. On these men 
was imposed the unpleasant task of 
seeking to make Dwight a temperance 
town by the enactment and enforce- 
ment of a prohibitory law. There was 
a general feeling that at last the dark 
night of drunkenness had dissappeared 
and the day of prohibition had dawned, 
and that it would be a long time before 
its sun would set. 

J. G. Strong was elected clerk, but on 
moving to Yankton, Dakota, was suc- 
ceeded by S. W. Strong. S. M. Witt re- 
ceived the appointment of marshal, 
Henry Eldredge, treasurer aud J. £. 
Hutchinson that of poundmaster. J. 
H. Coe was made night police, and was, 
after a few months, compelled to resign 
on account of poor health, and was suc- 
ceeded by E. Collins. Saloon keepers 
were officially notified that their li- 
censes had, upon the organization of 
the new Board, expired and that they 
would not be renewed. A prohibitory 
ordinance was passed and duly pub- 
lished. 

The year, it will be seen, was quite 
eventful. Mr. Manning Smith occupied 
the Slocum house. Fred Rhodes was 
successful in passing an examination in 
his legal studies preparatory to an ad- 
mission to the bar, O. W. Pollard was 
elected president of the Red Ribbon 
Club and Albert Calkins secretary. D. 
McWilliams added a two-story bay- 
window to the south side of his resi- 
dence. Silas Adams was made conduc- 
tor of the accommodation. Wm. Fox 
went to Lincoln to accept a position in 
the land office of Wm. Scully's agent. 
The Red Ribbon Club adopted a new 
constitution and by-laws. Rev. J, N. 
Hill was installed as pastor of the 
Presbyterian church. Rev, Rabe de- 
livering the charge. W. II. Bradbury 




Chas. L, Romberger. 



Frank L. Smith. 




Wm. H. Ketchain. 



J. C. Lewis, 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



65 



prepares the following poem for an en- 
tertainment given by the Reform 
Club: 

In humanity's history and in our own lives 

We liud tliere is sometliing tliat always con- 
trives 

To pierce thro' our armor, iu the slang of the 
day, 

To sell us for nothing or "give us away." 

When Satan beguiled our grandmother Eve, 
And told a false tale "with intent to deceive," 
She longed to Ivnow secrets, like girls of our day. 
And thus curiosity "gave her away." 

When Abel's success roused the anger of Cain, 
[Xo chance had poor Abel to rise and explain] 
The murderer's hand was uplifted to slay. 
And passionate jealousy "gave him away." 

King Pharoah was greedy of slaves and power 
Just as the South was and is to tliis hour: 
Kut the water, went back on him one fatal day: 
'Twas the avarice of tyrants that "gave him 
away." 

The noble and valiant had eacli their beguiler— 
Cleopatra for Anthony— for Sampson Delilah; 
Aspasia for Pericles— all fell a prey 
To the sweet snares of beauty that "gave them 
away." 

The Romans who conquered almost the known 

world. 
From the top peak of fame to the bottom were 

hurled. 
Refinement and luxury with tliem liad full sway. 
But indolent lu.xiiry "gave them away." 

The (Jreeks and Egyptians, Assyrians and Jews, 
The great Aryan races and ancient Hindoos, 
Once proud in their might, now are prone in de- 
cay; 
'Twas the death of their virtues that "gave them 
away." 

But amongst our own folks: That young fellow 

there 
Is smart and good looking, and got up with care. 
He is puttingon style— just mark the display! 
For i)ride and conceit join to "give him away." 

That young woman, too— (young lady I meani— 
Is pretty— she knows it and likes to be seen ; 
She dresses and powders, looks smiUug and 

gay; 
Alas! 'tis her vanity that "gives her away." 

The business man also, is greedy of gain. 
And nothing attracts that does not contain 
A dime or a dollar, or a promise to pay; 
We know it is avarice tliat "gives him away." 



'the loafers we see are the other extreme; 
They lounge about town or sit still in a dream, 
With cigars in their moutlis every hour 'in the 

day; 
'Tis tobacco and laziness "gives tliem away." 

But the eliief of all causes productive of ills 
Is tl>e drinking of liquors that ruins and kills. 
We may do wliat we please, or debate as we 

may. 
Yet whiskey's the worst thing to give us away. 

And now my few verses approacli termination; 
They have not come up to my own expectation; 
But I shall feel satisfied if you'll only say 
That they are not so bad as to "give me away." 

On Sunday morning, June 8th, a 
great fire occurred, destroying Diften- 
baiigh & Co.'s elevator and every build- 
ing frum Heizel's corner on East street 
to Miller Bros, brick building. It 
originated back of McKay's harness 
shop, but how remains a mystery. The 
total loss was put at .$43,350. George 
KeppJinger started a new foundry. 
Fred Rhodes accepted a position in the 
freight office of the C. & 0. railroad, 
Pueblo, Col. Fourth of .July was cele- 
brated; S. T. K. I'rime acted as presi- 
dent of the day, Rev. .1. X. Hill de- 
livered an oration and Francis Carey 
read a poem, which is here reproduced: 

Let the flags unfurled to the breezes fly! 
'Tis America's day--grand Fourth of July! 
Birthday of a nation great and free, 
Rocked iu the cradle ot liberty. 

Let tile nation rejoice from east to west- 
Home of freedom and land of the blest; 
Tlie noi th and the south tlieir homage pay, 
Unite to lionor this glorious day. 

Let men of wealth and men of toil. 
Where'er their homes on this fair soil, 
Rejoice in the freedom our fathers gave. 
That knows no master anil no slave. 

Ah who can fitly words employ 
To fully tell a nation's joy? 
For pe()i)le meet this day to celebrate 
In every hamlet, town and State. 

With flags and drums and cannon's roar, 
Th(^ crowds collect from sliore to shore. 
With pealing bells and merry shout 
The day's rtuig in and day's rung out. 



m 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS" 



And thousands have met in other lands, 
From Britain's Isle to Africa's sands, 
To tell their friends round all the earth 
Their love for this land of home and birth. 

And cliildren's childreu in their day 
Will join as now their love to pay 
To those who e'er for freedom fought. 
And untold blessings with it brought. 

Thus we may prize what to us is given. 
Best, freest land this side of heaven . 
Our homage witli our tlianlts arise 
Lllce sweetest incense to the slties. 

On the same day the Presbyterians 
gave a festival and the people were 
favored with a presentation of "Pina- 
fore " Eev. Rogers preached his fare- 
well sermon. The Good Templars gave 
a lawn social on the grounds of J. G. 
Strong. The Pinafore Company visited 
Odell and Pontiac upon invitation to 
do so from leading citizens of those 
places. Miss Mate Magee was invited 
to a position in a store in Joliet. Frank 
Chester returned from a visit to New 
York, Jasper Philips sold his farm 
and moved to Nebraska. Leander Mor- 
gan made a visit to New York to greet 
the friends of his youth. Wm. Estes 
sold his stock of hardware to J. W. 
Strevell. Howara Slauson, Edward 
Adams, Thos. Mcllduff and Harry Dif- 
fenbaugh attended school at Cham- 
paign University. A. McKay occupied 
a new brick harness shop. S. W. Strong 
and L. G. Pearre formed a law partner- 
ship. The ladies of the M.E. Church 
gave a harvest home supper, Dr, Kee- 
ley improving the occasion by tender 
ing a banquet to the members of the 
Pinafore Company. I. H. Baker & Son, 
Miss Lizzie Burger and Thos. Liddi- 
cott took possession of new brick 
stores erected on the burnt district on 
East Street. Rev. Dr. Hartley accepts 
a call to the pastorate of the Congrega- 
tional church. Rev. B. F. Tallman is 
returned as pastor of the M. E. church. 
Misses Stella and Mary Dow left for a 



home in Cedar Falls, Iowa. An at- 
tempt was made to burglarize the house 
of J. Christman. A lyceum course was 
arranged, consisting of ten or more en- 
tertainments. Mrs. T. M. Wright re- 
turned from a visit to Pennsylvania. 
D. G. Henshaw, night operator, moved 
to Streator. Mr. and Mrs, S, M. Witt 
celebrated their fifteenth marriage an- 
niversary and were made the recipients 
of numerous presents, Alfred Miller 
purchased the dwelling of Dr. Keeley. 
J. C. Hetzel's brick stores are con pleted. 
N, Mickleson occupying the one on the 
north and E. M. Merrill the one on the 
south. Francis Carey bought a resi- 
dence of A. E. Gould. Rev. Dr. C. 
Hartley delivers a series of lectures. 
J. C. Hetzel opened a new bank. J. I. 
Dunlop died of consumption. He was 
a man of good natural talent, a lawyer 
of no mean abilities, and, had he been 
favored with early educational advan- 
tages, would have risen to a place among 
the most eminent of the legal profes- 
sion. His death was regretted by many. 
RoUa Calkins accepted a position with 
Maxwell & Co., Bloomington. W. H. 
Bradbury left, after a residence of sev- 
eral years, for his new home at Topeka, 
Kansas. His pen was a potent force 
for good and his place has never been 
filled in this community. A banquet 
was given in his honor by the County 
Bar Association. James Dunlop ob- 
tained a clerkship in a store at Eddy- 
ville, Iowa. S. T. K. Prime commenced 
his valuable book entitled "The Model 
Farmers and Their Methods, "doing the 
work principally in Chicago. Joseph 
Baker entered the employ of D. Mc- 
Williams & Co. The marriages of Mr. 
Frederick Gillispie and Miss Nellie A. 
Lees, and Mr. Michael Kime and Miss 
Eliza Schumm were reported. The 
fortieth birthday of L. G. Pearre was 
celebrated. William Ketcham cele- 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



67 



brated his nineteenth birthday and 
Misses Emma and Nettie presented 
him with a gold watch chain. Wm. 
Stitt moved r,o Kansas. Mr. B. C. Sin- 
clair and Miss Melinda Lee were mar- 
ried. The Dwight-Chenoa Mining 
Company was organized. Leander Mor- 
gan celebrated his sixty-fifth birthday. 
Eugene Baker moved to Chatsworth. 
This gentleman for a number of years 
took an active part in village affairs 
and his removal was much regretted by 
the citizens. 

1880-81. 

The friends of temperance had a 
strong desire to try, at least for another 
year, the plan of prohibiting the sale of 
liquors. If all had not been accom- 
plished that was expected in demon- 
strating the practicability of prohibi- 
tion, yet it was reasonable to hope more 
could be done in the year to come. One 
short year, it was urged, was not a fair 
trial of this method ot dealing with the 
liquor traffic. The license party on the 
other hand, argued that as under every 
prohibition administration a good deal 
of liquor had been sold clandestinely 
in spite of all the efforts of the village 
officials, to prevent the same, it were 
tar better to license saloons outright 
and secure thereby a handsome revenue 
that could be used in building side- 
walks, in paying the salary of a mar- 
shal, the cost of litigation and the 
usual expenses of a well regulated 
municipality. Both parties made every 
possible exertion to win and much ran- 
cor and bitterness entered into the con- 
test. As was the case the year previous, 
many of the ladies became deeply in- 
terested and on the day of the election 
took possession of the fire engine room, 
where free lunches were furnished till 
near the time of closing the polls. The 
canvas of the votes showed that Ilenrj 
Fox, president, John Geis, Wm. Doug- 



las, Geo. Z.Flagler, Orrin Gould and 
Wm. Walker, trustees— the candidates 
of the license party — had been elected. 
Of all the defeats experienced by the 
friends of prohibition this one was the 
most dissappointing and galling. A 
large audience gathered at the appoint- 
ed time and place. Several addresses 
were made, the aim of which was to 
reconcile the afflicted to the situation 
of affairs till the new year should close, 
and to encourage them to hope that by 
a patient and preservering use of proper 
means their day of triumph would 
surely return. 

O. W. Pollard made a sarcastic ar- 
raignment of the liquor traffic and in- 
dicated how Dwight, by licensing sa- 
loons, was to become responsible for a 
share of its baneful effects by ironically 
suggesting a series of open letters to be 
authorized, properly signed and pub- 
lished by the incoming Board as repre- 
senting a majority of the voters of the 

village. 

1881-82. 

The work of creating a temperance 
sentiment in a community where the 
liquor traffic has been legalized for 
years sufflcientlv strong to warrant suc- 
cess in an attempt to enforce a prohibi- 
tory law. is one that requires time, 
patience and perserverance. The first 
efforts, as the experience of every lo- 
cality where a temperance reform on 
this line has been attempted shows, 
will probably fail. There were four 
trustees to be elected— one more than 
there would have been had not Mr. 
Wm. Douglas changed his residence. 
Two of the old license board, Henry 
Fox and .John Geis, held over in ac- 
cordance with the provisions of a new 
State law. O. W. Pollard, DeWitt 
Scutt, Henry Eldredge and James B. 
Parsons were the successful prohibition 
candidates, receiving an average ma- 



•68 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



jority of 38 votes. C. J. Judd, on the 
same ticket, was elected clerk. The 
new Board organized by making O. W. 
Pollard its president. S. M. Witt was 
appointed marshal and E. Collins night 
police. David McWilliams offering to 
perform the duties of treasurer and 
allow the village one-tenth of one per 
cent on all disbursements for the privi- 
lege, was appointed to this office. 

The M. E. church built a new parson- 
age, opposite the residence of O. W. 
Pollard, on Prairie Avenue. S. T. K. 
Prime established his Crop Bureau in 
Dwight. M. Kern opened a grocery on 
West Side. Miss Mary Dow took charge 
of Prime Academy. The Commence- 
ment week of the High school was 
made unusually interestmg, Rev. G. 
Huyser lectured on Sunday evening 
and Dr. Adams on Tuesday evening; on 
class day an original poem was read by 
Miss Edith Kneeland; the graduate's 
program consisted of an essay on "The 
Difficulties of Life," by Anna Baker, 
an oration on "Thrift," by John P. Mc- 
Williams, an essay on "The Good and 
the Beautiful," by Alice Rattenbury, 
an oration on "Labor the Basis of all 
True Progress," by Fred Wood, an 
essay on "After Many Days," by Alice 
Paul, an oration by Edith Kneeland on 
"Student's Privilege," and an address 
and presentation ol diplomas by Prof. 
Hubbard. Miss Kneeland's class day 
poem, written in view of a tree plant- 
ing ceremony, is reproduced: 

May these young roots grow deep and wide. 
These branches spread on every side, 
And year l^y year tlie perfect stem 
Still liigher lift its diadem. 

Here future birds on airy wing 
Shall build their suiunier nests and sing; 
Sunbeam and shadow play "hide and go seek" 
Thro' the summer day— thro' the summer week, 
Wliile soft June l)reezes shall join their play 
And romp thro' the foliage the livelong day. 



Not always, not always, the simbeam warm 
Shall smile on these branches— in the cruel 

storm 
Of the lonely night they shall writhe and twist. 
These boughs shall be drenched in the winter's 

mist; 
December winds go moaning low 
Thro' branches loaded with ice and snow. 

But where is the prophet, whose words shall re- 
veal 
The burdens of woe, and the treasures of weal. 
Which the restless years in their flight shall 

bring 
To this young group? 
They shall go as others have gone before 
In youth, in mid-life and gray fourscore. 
Some struggle with grief, some rise unto fame. 
Some be loaded with honors, some die without 
name. 

When fifty eventful years are jiast. 
And the one or the two who linger last, 
With cheeks where time has laid his linger. 
With heads where all the winters linger, 
With tremulous hands and footsteps slow 
Among life's early scenes shall go. 

They will come to this memorial tree 
And perhaps may remember you or me— 
The eyes may be dim, but this group shall seem 
As it stands to-day in this spring-time scene. 

D. McWilliams having been appoint- 
ed a delegate to the World's Conference 
of the M. E. Church, which was to be 
held in London, accompanied by liis 
wife, visited England, Ireland and 
Scotland and many parts of the Conti- 
nent. H. T. Xewell offered to the pub- 
lic his new and valuable book of "Sta- 
tistics and Common Facts." John 
Tierney tendered his resignation as 
Road Master on the C. & A. R. R., and 
was succeeded by Timothy Dnscoll. 
Union meetings were held in the park 
during the warm weather. Geo. Tay- 
lor sold his Iligliland farm and pur- 
chased a farm of Wm, Rhodes, one 
mile south of town, paying 87,200. 
Joseph Salzer accepted a position with 
Miller Bros. Mr. James Goodman and 
Miss Jennie Hess were married. Wm. 
Prime attended school at Mt, Forrest, 
John P. McWilliams at Evanston, and 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



69 



Harry Diffenbaugh at, Champaign. A 
memorial service was lield iu the West 
Park in honor of the dead President, 
James A. Gartield, the preparations 
/or which were elaborate and in excel- 
lent laate and the occasion drew to- 
gether an immense audience, Col. R. P. 
Morgan, Jr., acted as chairman of the 
day. Miss Artie Pollard personated the 
Goddess of Liberty, and Father Hal- 
pin and Capt. J. I'. Rowell delivered 
eloquent addresses. Ella Strong, of 
Yankton, visited our place. Major 
Paul s family occupied residence 'west 
of Congregational Church. \'r. \Vm. 
Eaton and Miss May Ross were united 
in the bonds of wedlock. Mrs. Lewis 
Keuyon spent the winter east. Rev. 
Lee became pastor of the Congrega- 
tional Church. .John Vickery visited 
the home of his boyhood in England. 
K. S. Sedgwick sold his residence to 
Nelson Mickleson,- preparatory to his 
removal to Kansas. Lucy Barnum took 
charge of the Riling school. S. T. K. 
Prime occupied one of the houses of 
L. G. Pearre during the winter. J. H. 
Turner was badly scalded by the blow- 
ing out of a plug in a steam boiler in 
Conrad's planing mill. The L. £. Kee- 
ley Co. began shipping their cure for 
drunkenness and the opium habit to 
Australia. Evans Owens left for his 
new home in Colorado. T. C. Cook re- 
turned from a visit to Ohio with a new 
wife. Mrs. Ilagerty spent the winter 
among friends in the east. Thomas 
Mcllduff returned home from Lead- 
ville, Col. Mr, Edward Adams and 
Miss Lizzie M. Baker were marriec;!. 
Mrs, Mary Pay fair, an old resident, 
was found dead in her bed, having lived 
to the dge of 70 years. The marriages 
of Mr. Corydon Gould and Miss Mary 
E. Buren, and Mr. Chester Smith and 
Miss Mattie Johnson were reported. 
The small pox made its appearance, 



which created great alarm, several 
houses were quarantined and a pest 
house was put in order on the out- 
skirts of the village, there were several 
victims, two of whom died. Col. R. P. 
Morgan, Sr., at the ripe age of 9.S years, 
passed away, he had in the course of an 
eventful life been identified with nearly 
all the great railroads of the country. 
Nelson Cornell died, aged 62 years, he 
came to Dwiglit in 1854 and occupied 
a position, for a number of years, with 
the C. & A. R. R., he took and com- 
pleted successfully, several large con- 
tracts for grading, the last one being a 
contract with the 1. 1 & I. railroad, 
the anxiety and li^bor attending which 
probably caused his death. Mr. Wm. 
Wykes and Miss Carrie Clarkson mar- 
ried. Chas. Crandall receives injuries 
by attempting to alight from a train. 
I. N. Gray wrote a number of practical 
articles which were published in the 
D wight Star. Mr. Frank Gibbons and 
Miss Ella Stapleton were united in 
marriage. Rev. John Ker, of Ireland, 
occupied the pulpit of the M. E. church. 
E. Barr, of Goodfarm, died of heart 
disease, he had been a resident of 
Goodfarm for many years and had 
taken a prominent part in its affairs. 
His death was much regretted. Allen, 
a promising lad, son of Mr. and Mrs. 
•A. G. Potter, came to his death after a 
short illness. Mr. Mart S, Hazleton 
and Miss Jennie French were joined in 
marriage. Eugene Seymour was seri- 
ously injured by the accidental dis- 
charge of a pistol in his own possession. 
Col. R. P. Morgan, Jr., returned from 
a business trip to Colorado and New 
Mexico. Mrs. Theodore EUsessor was 
removed by death. Mr, and Mrs. John 
B. Weagley celebrate their golden wed- 
ding. The community was plunged 
into deep distress by the sudden and 
accidental death of Wm. H. Ketcham, 



70 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



hfc was born in 1821, came toDwight in 
1855, held offices of trust during nearly 
all these years, was a prominent mem- 
ber of the Odd Fellows and had a host 

of friends, 

1882-83. 

The campaign preceding the election 
which marks the beginning of this 
year, was in a number of respects more 
exciting and interesting than any for^ 
mer ones had been. It was opened by 
the publication of some circulars, suc- 
ceeding each other at weekly intervals, 
the design of which was to present in 
the briefest manner possible some of 
the reasons why prohibition, which has 
been made silch a success in suppres- 
sing liquor selling, preventing any pub- 
lic exhibition of drunkenness and in 
securing quiet and good order, should 
be tried another year. Some persons, 
in the interest of the license party, ven- 
tured to publish a circular which was 
intended as a reply to the little temper- 
ance sheets, and to set forth some rea- 
sons why prohibition should be aban- 
doned and the liquor traffic reopened. 
This printed document was entitled 
"Common Sense," and was the first 
venture of the kind the license party of 
Dwight had ever made; and, as a mat- 
ter of history, it may be stated the at- 
tempt has never since been repeated. 
This printed effort of the friends 
of license incited the mana- 
gers of the temperance movement to 
publish a twelve column paper, bearing 
the name "Good Sense." A number of 
copies were issued, and during the week 
prior to the election it made its appear- 
ance daily. On the evening previous 
to the day of election the license party 
gathered at the hall to listen to an ad- 
dress by Judge Lynch, of Lincoln, 
while an audience filled the M. E. church 
on which occasion addresses were de 
hvered by F. M. Fanning, Ilevs. P. A. 



Pool and W. E. Miller, and H. A. Ken- 
yon, O. W. Pollard and others. C. J. 
Judd, I. H. Baker and R. P. Morgan, 
the prohibition candidates, were elected 
by an average majority of 27 votes. O. ^ 
W. Pollard, Col. J. B. Parsons and 
Dewitt Scott having been elected for 
the long term, held over. Hugh Thomp- 
son, on the prohibition ticket, was 
elected clerk, receiving twenty-six 
more votes than the opposing candi- 
date. The new Board organized, mak- 
ing O. W. Pollard its president. S. M. 
Witt was continued in theMarshalship 
and Elwell Collins retained as night 
police. David McWilliaras was ap- 
pointed treasurer and L. G. Pearre was 
employed as village attorney. Frank- 
lin street was extended to the 1. 1. & L 
railroad. An ordinance prohibiting 
the use of toy pistols and percussion 
caps for the amusement of children, 
was passed. Measures looking to the 
removal of the Lig elevator and thereby 
lessening the fire risks, were adopted. 
At a request of a majority of the tax 
payers, Philip Weicker was allowed 
.$200 as damages sustained by the tear- 
ing down of his residence with a view 
of stopping the further progress of the 
great fire on West street. S. M. Witt' 
resigning, in the fall, his position, E. 
Collins was appointed to succeed hira. 
During the winter the scarlet fever 
prevailed, several deaths resulting 
therefrom and its presence caused con- 
siderable alarm. The extent of the 
disease was greatly exaggerated in other 
localities, and many persons were de- 
terred, through fear, from coming to 
the place to transact business, where- 
upon the Board authorized the issuance 
of 500 circulars setting forth the facts. 
The expenditures for the year were 
$3,119.64. Mr. Luther Benson, of Ind., 
the author of "Fifteen Years in Hell," 
and at that time a popular temper- 



HISTORY OF DWiGIlT, ILLOOIS. 



71 



anch orator, lectured in the M. E. 
church. The Ladies Society of the 
Presb> terian church organized, Mrs. S. 
T. K. Prime, President; Mrs. Jas. Paul, 
Sec; and Mrs. J. C. Lewis, Treasurer. 
Union services of the several churches 
were held in West Park on Sunday af- 
ternoon during the summer months. 
John P. Campbell married Mrs. Tait. 
Lucy Barnum gave an exhibition at 
the close of her school at Prime Acad- 
emy. Edward Cline succeeded C. M. 
Baker in the drug "business. Rev. 
Father Halpui, after a residence of five 
years, dissolved his connection with 
the Catholic society of this place, his 
departure was much regretted by all 
our citizens. The 3-1 offices were 
moved to Kankakee. An Archery club 
was formed, quite a number joining. 
Col. .J 13. Parsons resigned his position 
in the army. Chas. Stevens' dwelling, 
in Goodfarm, was destroyed by fire. In 
August the a:reat fire on West street 
occurred. Amos' hotel, Spey's bakery, 
Kern's building, Kern & Scott's gro- 
cery stock, Koehler's building, Dern- 
bach's barber shop and Geis' cigar shop 
were destroyed. Philip Weicker's store 
and dwelling was torn down to arrest 
the progress of the fire. The two ele- 
vators and the freight ho ise, water 
tank and depot of the C. & A, R-. R. 
were all on fire at the same time. It 
required great exertion on the part of 
the citizens to save these buildings and 
to prevent the destruction of all the 
business houses of the village. The 
Renfrews played a match game of ball 
with the tleds, of Streator. Charlie 
Fenn accepted a position with Miller 
Bros L. G. Pearre was nominated by 
the democrats for the office of county 
judge. S. M. Witt was elected sheriff. 
Chas. Payfare moved to Joliet. Fran- 
cis Carey rented his house to Adam 
Dernbach and with his family moved 



to Chicago. Mike Kern erected a brick 
building on the burnt district. Mr. W. 
A. Chamberlain married Miss Emma 
Ketcham. W. H. Amos and family 
moved to Gliddon, Iowa. Edward and 
Xellie McWilliams made a trip to Eu- 
rope, spending most of the summer on 
the continent. Johnnie Fenn, a very 
promising young man, was accidentally 
killed by the caving of a sand bank. 
Co^. Wyatt, of Lincoln, delivered a tem- 
perance lecture in West park. S. M. 
Witt moved to Pontiac to enter upon 
his duties as sheriff, and was succeeded 
in the marshalship by E. Collins. John 
Geis purchased the residence property 
of T. W. Wright. Rev. Wm. R. Scott, 
of the Presbyterian church, preached 
his farewell sermon. Mr. Edward T. 
Metz married Miss Buranna Losee. 
Rev. Lee, of the Congregational church, 
resigned his charge and moved to Jol- 
iet. Mr. U. Gault married Miss Alice 
Hamrick. Orrin Gould died at the age 
of 73 years, he came to this place in 
1855, was a man of industrious and 
temperate habits, upright in all his 
dealings, and during his residence here 
held several offices. S. W. Strong re- 
ceived the appointment of deputy 
sheriff and changed his residence to 
Pontiac. Col. J. B. Parsons sold his 
coal and ice business to J. D. Ketcham. 
Theodore Clark died of consumption, 
J. H. Lloyd sold his farm and moved 
to Missouri, where he engaged in a 
general mercantile business. Pollard 
& Buck dissolved partnership and the 
latter continued the hardware business. 
Eleven deaths resulted from the scarlet 
fever scourge; Miss Nellie Gallup, a 
beautiful and popular young lady, and 
Miss Laura Thompson, a graduate of 
our high school, and four of the family 
of T. J. Johnson were of the number. 
Mertie Clarkson, Sophia Hanson, Capt. 
John Stafford, Mrs. Francis Carey and 



72 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



Mrs. Mart Hazleton were removed by 
death. The Methodists held a memorial 
service in memory of the scholars of 
the M. E. church Sunday school who 
had died as a result of the epidemic 
and other causes. The Good Templars 
disbanded after several years of efficient 
work in the interest of the temperance 
cause. Mr. Lawrence .Roe married 
Miss Gorden, and B. H. Groll married 
Miss Hannah Kleppine. The firm ^f 
Goi-e, Losee & Austin dissolved. The 
National Fire Escape Co. organized 
with a capital stock of iSlOjOOO, the ob- 
ject being to introduce Dr. Payne's fire 
escape. The Presbyterians gave an en- 
tertainment, the principal feature of 
which was the broom brigade, Dr. L. 
F. Abbott located in Dwight. Levi 
Reeder leased the Cornell house and 
livery stable. Hiram Cornell took 
charge of a hotel 'in Braidwood. The 
marriage of Mr. Alvi Barnum and Miss 
Nellie Stormer was reported. D. D. 
Lewis retired from a position as clerk 
in the store of D. Mc Williams after a 
continous service of over 23 years. 
Waters & Hawthorne dissolved part- 
nership. I. H. Baker retired from the 
furniture business after an experience 
of a quarter of a century. John Gallup 
purchased Mr. Huey's interest in the 
tile factory. A. Dernbach purchased 
Tierney's residence property on Frank- 
lin street. J. A, Spencer introduced 
his new hay press. Mr, and Mrs. D. 
McWilliams visited the Hot Springs, 

Ark. 

1883-84. 

The temperance party felt so confi- 
dent of a victory at the spring election 
for this year, that many public meet- 
ings for the purpose of agitating the 
question were thought not to be nfeces- 
sary. It was assured that a large ma- 
jority of our citizens were so well satis- 
lied with the manner in which the 



affairs of the village had been adminis- 
tered, that no change wotild be desired. 
The license party, on the other hand, 
adopted the plan, from which it never 
entirely deviated, save in one instance, 
which was to make a quiet and thor- 
ough canvass, yet at the same time to 
appear to have no particular interest 
in the results. They sought to keep 
the temperance people quiet by appear- 
ing indifferent themselves. The results 
of the year previous, as set forth in a 
former chapter, had convinced them 
that in a bold and candid discussion 
they had no shadow of success. The 
sly and deceptive scheme came very 
near giving them the victory. For 
once, at least, the friends of temperance 
were caught napping, and not till the 
opening of the polls on the day of the 
election did they begin to realize to 
what an extent they had been deceived 
by the seeming unconcern and inactiv- 
ity of the enemy. One of the prohibi 
tion candidates was defeated and the 
other two, J. J. Gore and Hugh-Thomp- 
son, were elected by bare majorities of 
one and two votes. The license jjaity 
achieved a partial triumph in ttie elec- 
tion of C. D, Chalfant as village trustee. 
Harry Diffenbaugh, who ran on the 
temperance ticket for clerk, was elected. 
The board, as organized, stood as fol- 
lows: R. P. Morgan, Piesideut: C. J. 
Judd, I. H. Baker, J. J. Gore, Hugh 
Thompson, C. D. Chalfant, Trustees. 

Elwell Collins was employed as Mar- 
shal; A, McKay received tiie appoint- 
ment as treasurer and L. G. I'earre w^s 
engaged as village attorney. 

The year's administration was a suc- 
cess. Good order prevailed and no lit- 
igation was found necessary. The big 
elevator was declared a nuisance and 
its removal was demanded. The ex- 
penditures for the year were ^Sl,705.13, 
the smallest amount of any other year. 




Ed. Mezget 



Dwight C. Morgan. 




Ed. Losee. 



Orville Brown. 



HISTOBY OF DWIGHT, ILLIISUIS. 



73 



The treasurer reported cash on hand to 
the amount of $2,035.64. Bert Adams 
became cashier in People's Bank. L. 
J. Trunnell took charge of the McPher- 
son House. Henry Eldredge sold out 
his business. Rev. P. Leenhouse 
became pastor of the Presbyterian 
church. The Star closed its fifteenth 
year, only omitting six issues for this 
Jong period. Mr. Wm. Spencer mar- 
ried Miss Delia Morrison, John P. 
Weagley came to his death, aged 73 
years, having been a member of the M. 
E. church over 60 years. Mrs. McGov- 
ern passed away. A.B, Dunlap organized 
the McDowell Cemetery Association. 
L. G. Pearre was appointed Master in 
Chancery. .las. Egbert Clarkson was 
removed by death. Mr Freeman 
Spencer married Miss Carrie Parker. 
Henry Eldredge, after having resided 
in Dwight twenty years, left the place 
for a permanent home elsewhere; he 
was a valuable citizen, had been school 
director several times, a member of the 
village Board, town treasurer, and was 
an active and useful member of the 
Congregational church and carried 
away with him the best wishes of the 
many who had known him. Mrs. Frank 
Chester bade her friends adieu and 
sought a home at St, Marys, Kansas. 
Wm. Chamberlain occupiea a house of 
Mrs. Wm. Ketcham. Prof. Hubbard 
having closed his fifth year as principal 
of our schools, departed to take charge 
of the Washington schools. Carl Mil- 
ler left for a trip to Europe, in search 
of health. Prof. H. D. Fisk was en- 
gaged to teach our youth. The Pres- 
byterians gave a Gypsy Operetta, 
Thos, Liddicott sold his residence prop- 
erty to G. L. Kern. Henry A. Elkins, 
the famous artist, made this place his 
home for several weeks, giving a select 
few the benefit of his marvelous skill 
in painting, J. Knudsen purchased the 



Ilibbard-Thompson property. A Mc- 
Kay sold his harness business to Leach 
& Reeb. The M. E, church celebrated 
the Fourth of July on an extensive 
scale; Rev. C. O. McCuUoch delivered 
the address, Harry Diffenbaugh read 
the Declaration of Independence and 
the ladies conducted a fair and festival 
during the day and evening, the gross 
receipts amounted to $265. Mrs. Goe- 
dart's house was burglarized of $25. 
Mr. T. C. Chandler married Miss Lettie 
Lewis. D. D. Lewis was summoned 
from earth; he was born in Poughkeep- 
sie, N. Y,, Oct. 25, 1819, came to this 
place as early as 1857. "In him the com- 
munity lost a good man, a sincere friend 
and a valuable citizen." Thos, Liddi- 
cott moved to Beatrice, Neb, Aggie 
Mcllduff visited Denver, Carrie Smith 
went to Pueblo, A. B, Dunlap was 
suddenly taken from earth; he was 
born in Steubenville, Ohio, Sept, 25, 
1832, came to this locality in 1852 and 
was much respected for his sterling 
good qualities. Capt, Wm, Bartholic 
celebrated his 27th wedding anniver- 
sary and was presented with a gold- 
headed cane by the members of the 
Round Table. Henry Morgan visited 
the east. Hugh Thompson and family 
departed for Raymond, Dakota. John 
Smith delivered a lecture which was 
much praised as a literary and orator- 
ical effort. The school directors and 
their wives, and all the teachers visited 
the Joliet prison. The Congregational 
Sunday school held a picnic, clam bake 
and fish chowder in Leander Morgan's 
grove. Cora Walker and Edith Knee- 
land attended school at Normal and 
Wm. Gore and John Smith at Abing- 
don, The remains of Cory Houston 
were brought here for burial. A ban- 
quet was given at the McPherson in 
honor of H. T. Newell on the eve of his 
departure, with his family, for a resi- 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



dence in Los Angeles, Cal.,he had been 
a resident of the place twenty-five 
years. Dr. Rabe purchased tne resi- 
dence property of H. T. iSTewell. Wm. 
Walker's planing mills were enlarged 
for the manufacture of Spencer's hay 
presses. Rev. Jameson occupied the 
house of Mrs. S. Morrison. John Mc- 
Williams accompanied the family of 
H T. Newell to California. Rev. E. S 
Wilson became pastor of the M. E, 
church, Rev. P. A. Cool moving to 
Galva, 111. Chas. Fallis, after studying 
medicine at home for two years, attend- 
ed lectures at the Physicians and Sur- 
geons College, Chicago. Major Judd 
and family took up their abode with 
Mrs. Gardner at the Gray mansion. 
Daniel Smith came to an accidental 
death at Streator; he was 58 years old 
and came to Dwight in 1857, and the 
records show that he had been a mem- 
ber of the village board; he was a 
peacable, kind man and much respect- 
ed. John A. Fikes sold his farm and 
moved to Kansas. J. W. Watkins and 
Bert Adams purchased the banking 
business of J. C. Iletzel. Mr. Samuel 
Wilkinson married Miss Maggie BaKer. 
L. G. Pearre was killed by a collision 
of railroad trains; his death produced 
great sorrow, having been a popular 
member of the county bar for several 
years. The village records contain the 
following preamble and resolutions: 

Whereas, Our Heavenly Father has 
taken from us our fellow-citizen and 
friend, Lemuel G. Pearre. 

His life, as a husband, father, citizen 
and friend was characterized by those 
sympathies and acts which are only 
found in a good husband, a good father, 
a good citizen and a good friend. He 
had, at a comparitively early period of 



his life, attained to high position as a 
lavvyer and public officer, and also in 
public estimation, for his professional 
and ofiicial merit and personal worth: 
Therefore, be it 

Resolved, By the Board of Trustees 
of the Village of Dwight this expres- 
sion of our regard for him be placed 
upon the Village records, and published 
in the Dwight Star, and a copy fur- 
nished the bereaved wife and family. 

Rev. Leenhouse, of the Presbyterian 
church, resigned his charge. The M. 
E. church became lighted with a new 
set of chandeliers. J. ^Y. Watkins 
purchased the Judd cottage, on Morgan 
avenue and J. R. Oughton ttie Little 
property. Alvin Small died, aged 79 
years. Charles L. Romberger, an at- 
torney, located in Dwight. The Con- 
gregational church held a series of pro- 
tracted meetings. Mr. Samuel Boyer 
married Miss Jennie Lower. Dr. M. 
Palm became a citizen of this place. 
Mr. WillE. Pringle and Miss Allie Rat- 
tenbury were joined in marriage, also, 
Mr. W. M. Mullen and Miss Maggie 
Dunlop, also. Dr. Langhaus and Miss 
Ollie Pearre. Samuel Lower, after sev- 
eral years of residence in Cabery, re- 
turned to this place. Joe Salzer severed 
his connection with the firm of Miller 
Bros. The remains»of Albert Calkins 
were brought from Bloomington to this 
place for burial. He was an exemplary 
young man and his death -was the cause 
of much sorrow to his acquaintances. 
The remains, also, of William Kelagher, 
an old resident who died in Texas, were 
brought to tills, his old home, for inter- 
ment. D. McWilliams was nominated 
as Presidential Elector by the State Re- 
publican Convention. AV. S. Metz, Esq., 
of Odell, delivered a line temperance 
lecture in the M E. church. 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



<D 



CHAPTER VI. 



THE PAST TEN YEARS. 



1884.85. 
As the term of three corporation 
trustees expired, and as two selected 
for the long term at the beginning of 
the year previous had moved to other 
localities, it devolved upon the citizens 
to elect five new trustees. C. J. Judd, 
C. M. Baker, Edward McWilliams, J. 
B. Parsons and O. ^y. Pollard, all pro- 
hibition candidates, were elected by a 
handsome average majority of twenty- 
seven votes. C. L. Palmer was elected 
clerk. The board organized by making 
O. W. Pollard president. John G. Fox 
was employed as village marshal. A. 
McKay received the appointment as 
treasurer. Some suits were instituted 
during the year against parties for sell- 
ing intoxicating liquors, though such 
attempted violations were few in num- 
ber. Under the supervision of J. B. 
Parsons, chairman of the committee on 
streets and alleys, a number of valuable 
improvements were made. The old 
fences about the two parks were taken 
down and new ones erected instead. 
The trees in the West Park were 
trimmed. A fine lot of substantial 
hitching- pAsts, with railings attached, 
were put up at convenient places. The 
town house was painted within and 
without, several streets were graded, 
and many new ditches made; !i?l,971.37 
were expended on streets and alleys. 



The total expenditures for the year 
were .f 2,904.72. To Geo. A. Seymour a 
permit was granted to sell intoxicating 
liquors for medicinal and mechanical 
purposes. The usual routine business 
was transacted, outside of which noth- 
ing or any importance was done which 
has not been already mentioned. 

T. C. Cook ended his earthly pilgrim- 
age. He came from New York State, 
had been a resident of Uwight for sev- 
eral years, and was a man of indus- 
trious and economical habits. John 
Grosh also died. He was an old resi- 
dent, haVing lived in this part of the 
county thirty years, and in the village 
twenty years. He was a German by 
birth, aud possessed the frugal habits 
characteristic of his race. E. L. Wil- 
son accepted a position with Miller 
Bros. Judd Williams erected a large 
livery barn south of Water's brick shop, 
J. C. Lewis' birthday anniversary was 
celebrated by a surprise party gotten up 
by his wife and daughter liertie. Rev. 
.Jameson severed his relation as pastor 
of the Congregational church and de- 
parted for Huron, Dakota. Prof. H. D. 
Fisk was engaged for the second year 
as principal of the schools. Dr. Bab- 
bage married Miss Amelia Simmons. 
Sarah (Tarkson opened a select school 
in the basement of the M. E. church. 
The commencement exercises of the 



76 



HISTORY OF D WIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



high school were pronounced excellent, 
equaling, if not surpassing, former ones. 
The graduates were four in number. 
Jennie Ilattenbury delivered the salu- 
tary and an essay on "Beauty of Mind 
Endures Forever." Annie Fox chose 
for her subject, "He Helps the World 
who Helps Himself." Effie Baker se- 
lected as a theme, "The Mould of every 
Man's Fortune Lies in his own Hands." 
Jennie Payne discoursed upon, "What 
Shall the Harvest be '?' ' Prof. Hubbard 
delivered an address on "Our Public 
Schools," and Prof. H. D. Fisk, as prin- 
cidal, addressed the graduates and pre- 
sented the diplomas. Dr. M. Houston 
located permanently in the place. Mr. 
D. D. Schott married Miss Addie V 
Potter Chas. Koehnlein died while 
temporarily residing in Dakota, and his 
remains were brought here for burial. 
Mrs. Silas G. Adams was suddenly 
called from earth. She had many 
friends, and her death caused much 
sorrow. The remains of the wife of J. 
B. Travis were brought here for inter- 
ment. She had lived in the place at an 
early day and was favorably known by 
the first settlers of this locality. John 
Vickery was injured by a runaway 
team. Mrs. M. I. Txacy Cutler deliv- 
ered a lecture in the M. E. church to a 
large audience on "Women Under the 
Christian Dispensation." The Fourth 
of July was celebrated on a grand scale. 
There was a liberty car containing thir- 
ty-six young ladies, and several hand- 
somely decorated wagons representing 
the different business houses. A spacious 
stand was erected on the grounds of 
East school-house. Music was fur- 
nished by the Dwight Cornet Jiand and 
Glee Club. 

D. McWilliams acted as president of 
the day. Prof. H. D Fisk read the de- 
claration of Independence, and Bev. E. 
S. Wilson delivered the oration. The la- 



dies of the Congregational church ran 
a dinner and refreshment room, realiz- 
ing as net proceeds .§100. The Odd 
Fellows arranged for an excursion over 
the 3-1 railroad to Kankakee. Mr. Wm. 
Goldencrown married Miss Maggie 
Banks. Henry Hollmeyer purchased the 
Spencer residence. John P. McWilliams 
returned from California after a year's 
absence. Mrs. Dr. McLean was ad- 
judged insane, and was taken to the 
Kankakee asylum. A company was 
organized to manufacture and sell 
Iluey's patent pyrometer, an instru- 
ment for registering the heat in either 
tile or brick kiln. The Morgan Joint 
Co. organized for putting on the mar- 
ket Col. Morgan's patented rail coup- 
ling. Rev. Barnes was called to the 
Congregational church. Julia Gould 
visited friends on the Pacific Slope. Dr. 
Palm returned from a visit east, 
bringing with him a new wife, and de- 
cided to make the pla'ce a permanent 
home. Mrs. Maggie J. AVilkinson, the 
daughter of Isaac II. and Isabella 
Baker, died after an illness of several 
months duration. Mrs. E. D. Green, 
after attaining a good old age, passed 
into the beyond. Mr. W. T. Prime 
married Miss Alice Paul. Chas. L. 
Romberger entered the marriage state 
and occupied a cottage on Seminole 
street west of Prairie avenue. Mr. 
John II. Biles joins in marriage Miss 
lielle Cameron. Mrs. Delia Spencer 
died in Chicago, and her remains were 
brought here for burial. Mr. Wm. C. 
JJartholic Avas married to Miss An- 
geline E. Robinson. From the Star of- 
fice the first number of the Congrega- 
tional review was issued, under the 
management of Revs. Longley and 
Smith. Rev. Barnes preached the 
Thanksgiving sermon, all the churches 
joining in the service. E. D. (Jreen 
terminated his long life. Frank J^ar- 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



nam, while out hunting, received an 
ugly wound in his shoulder and breast 
by an accidental discharge of a gun. I). 
AVcWilliams, as a delegate, attends the 
Baltimore Centennial of the M. E. 
church. The Methodists provide a 
Christmas entertainment for the Siui- 
day school children. The Odd Fellows 
gave an entertainment, part of which 
consisted of an address by J. H. Funk. 
The Dwight Chautauqua Literary and 
Scientific Circle was formed, and O. W. 
Pollard was chosen president and John 
P. McWilliams secretary. The death 
of Hannah Chester at Pueblo, Col., 
was announced. Mr. Nelson Mickelson 
was married to Miss Maggie Smith. 
Chas. Fenn returns from Poughkeepsie, 
after several mf)nths attendance at a 
commercial college. The marriage of 
Mr. Silas G. Adams and Miss Susan 
Goedert was reported. The School 
News, an educational journal, edited by 
Professors Fisk and Tombaugh, was is- 
sued from the office of the Star. Mr. 
Joseph Salzer and Miss* Lizzie Christ- 
nfan Avere joined in wedlock, and a 
similar event happened to Mr. Edward 
Darman and Miss Dunlap; also to Mr. 
li. F. Doherty and Miss Bertie Lewis, 
and to Mr. 1). P. Mills and Miss Sarah 
C. Boyer, and to Mr. John A. Perry 
and Miss Annie P. Cameron. 

The winter was pronounced the cold- 
est known in this latitude. The roads 
leading into town and the railroads 
were blockaded with drifts of snow to 
such an unusual de])th as to make 
traveling impossible for several days in 
succession. The destruction of the or- 
chards, as a consequence, was very 
great. Edward Bunting and Miss Ann 
Essington took upon themselves the 
marriage vow. Mrs. Judd Williams 
died of heart disease. AVm. E. Fenn 
purchased the S. Eldridge property. I. 
C. Magee and Bichard .Shapland. with 



their families, sought new homes in 
the West. The friends and members 
of the Congregational society visited 
Braidwood as the guests of Mrs. Hiram 
Cornell. The Methodists conducted a 
protracted meeting of several weeks* 
duration. C. J. Judd rented the old 
Strong residence. The roof of the old 
stone tank was burned on Sunday. H. 
A. Kenyon completed his sixteenth 
year as postmaster. Rev. Barnes de- 
livered a temperance lecture at a union 
service held in the M. E. church. The 
ladies of the Congregational society 
tendered Mrs. Jordan, on the eve of her 
departiu-e for Bloomington, a compli- 
mentary banquet at the residence of E. 
C. Adams, and presented her with an 
elegant easy chair as a token of the 
high esteem in which she was held. The 
marriage of Len Hahn and Miss Sophia 
Seagert took place at the German Luth- 
eran church. David McWilliams and 
wife visited in New Orleans. Eugene 
Flagler and John Potter, Jr., purchased 
the hardware store of John Potter. Dr. 
H. G. Thole, after a long illness came 
to his death. He had for a number of 
years been a practicing physician of the 
homoepathic school, and made a suc- 
cess of his profession. The young peo- 
ple, prior to the spring election, held 
a temperance meeting, the several 
churches joming. C. R. Tombaugh, 
John Smith and Wm. II. Ketchem ora- 
ted, and Misses Kelly and Conant read 
appropriate selections. Several young 
ladies organized an anti-slang society. 

The successful candidates in the elec- 
tion of village trustees for the year 
18K5 r. were O. W. Pollard. A. Brubaker 
and R. P. Morgan, Jr. C. L. Palmer 
was elected clerk, and Spencer Eldredge 
was elected police magistrate. O. W. 
pollard, president; Edward McWil- 
liams, Chas. Baker, R. P. Morgan, Jr., 
('..]. Judd. A. Brubaker and C. L. Pal- 



78 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



mer, clerk, constituted, the board for 
the year named. John G. Fox served 
as marshal, and Alex. McKay per- 
formed the duties of treasurer. 

The board granted Miller Bros, per- 
mission to erect wooden buildings in 
fire limits. A very strict amendment 
to Chapter 50, regulating the selling of 
liquor by druggists, was passed. The 
fire ordinance was amended so that 
wooden buildings could be erected on 
lots from 1 to 12 in block 15, provided 
they were covered by corrogated iron. 
Eesolutions instructing street and alley 
committee to keep the well back of the 
Mc^'illiams block in good condition. 
The appropriation for this year was 
83,000. It was durmg 1885 that one 
Jidius T. Edwin came to town, rented 
the Gould store, now owned by Phillip 
"Weicker, and opened a peddlers outfit 
of jewelry, silverware, etc.. etc. Edwin 
procured a license from the village 
clerk. After thi^, however, the mer- 
chants of the village came to the con- 
clusion that their rights were being 
trespassed upon, and they made a com- 
plaint to the village board, who then 
closed Edwin up. This seems to have 
aroused Edwin's ire and he sued O. W. 
Pollard, Richard P. Morgan, Jr., Curtis 
J. Judd, Ed. McWilliams. Chas. L. 
Palmer and John G. Fox, all village of- 
ficers, for .S10,000 damages. The case 
was tried in the circuit court in August 
and the officers were beaten, but not 
badly. Edwin got one cent damages, 
and costs were put upon the defend- 
ants. The defendants, however, were 
virtually acting for the village, and the 
village paid the costs, which amounted 
to about SoO(). The occurrance caused 
considerable excitement at the time, 
and Avas the soiirce of m\ich amuse- 
ment and chafiing at the expense of the 
men sued. They only did what they 
thought was for the best interests of 



the home merchants — they were pro- 
tectionists. 

There was .S2,053.4y cents in the treas- 
ury at the close of the year. The prin- 
cipal local events we are forced to omit^ 
being unable to find any record, the 
files of all newspapers published in 
Dwight. having been destroyed by the 
fire of October, 1891. 

Miss Minnie Cook, of Wilmington, 
111., was united in marriage to Dr. C. H. 
Barr, March 11, 1884, at the brides 
home. 

One happy marriage left out in the 
regulay place occurred in 1879, that of 
Miss Dora Carr to "Wm. Losee. 

1886-7. 

At the spring municipal election, the 
no-license candidates were elected by 
an average majority of about thirty. E. 
T. Miller, .John Leach and Frank Ford 
were elected trustees, Geo. Baker» 
clerk; John Thompson, police magis- 
trate. The newly elected officers were 
qualified byXotary Public J. C.IIetzel. 
The new board was composed of Presi-* 
dent, O. W. Pollard; Trustees, Morgan, 
Brubaker, Ed. McWillams. Miller, 
Leach and Ford. A. McKay was elect- 
ed treasurer again. Elwell Collins was 
elected marshal for the year. The last 
circus of any note visited Dwight in 
August of this year. At a meeting of 
the village board held August 18, extra 
police were ajjpointed, on account of 
the large amount of fruit and melons, 
etc.. being stolen from our citizens. 
82,000 was appropriated for the ex- 
pense of the village this year. A. McKay 
resigned Nov. 9, 188t), he having been 
elected coimfy treasurer, and AV. IL 
Ketcham was appointed in his stead. 
The Edwin case, spoken of in the last 
chapter was supplemented by a case 
for damages instituted by Mrs Edwin, 
the man's wife, for damages. This was 



HISTORY OF DWJCxIIT, ILLI^■OIS. 



settled by paying her attorney's fees 
and the costs of the case. In April L. 
A. Xaftziger was appointed treasurer, 
AV. II. Ketcham having moved to 
Kansas. There was !i?2,2l)ii left in the 
treasury this year. This was a remark- 
ably quiet year. We are at a loss for 
the local events for the same rea- 
son as last year. 

Mr. Isaac AVheatley died on Oct. (>, 
188H. He was an excellent citizen, and 
served faithfully in the 105th Illinois 
''Volunteer Infantry during the war. 

1887-8-9-90. 

At the spring election two no-license 
aldermen were elected by only two ma- 
jority—a very close call, and one of the 
candidates, A. 13rubaker, was defeated 
by Geo. X. Flagler by five majority. 
The candidates were: Xo-license — A. 
Brubaker, J. A. Spencer, C. M. Baker. 
License — John Geis, John Dennehe, 
Geo. N. Flagler. John Smith was the 
no-license candidate for clerk and de- 
feated Jas. Kelagher by 10 majority. 
The board was composed of C. M. 
Baker, president; trustees. Leach, 
Ford, E. T. Miller, Spencer, Flagler. 
This election was the closest for a num- 
ber of years, and only spiirred the no- 
license people on to renewed action. J. 
11 Parsons was elected village treasurer 
this year,and immediately qualitied and 
presented his bond. James B. Austin 
was elected marshall for the yea. The 
('. c^ A. road was granted permission to 
erect their present water tank. John II. 
Smith resigned as clerk to take effect 
July 1, he moving to Kansa.s J. W. Bak- 
er was elected by the Board to serve out 
the unexi)ired term of Mr. Smith. This 
year the 4th of July was celebrated in 
a gorgeous manner. There was quite a 
number of cases of scarlet fever in town- 
in August and the board ordered the 
names of the atHicted to be published 



in the Uwigiit Stau as a precautionary 
measure. The amount appropriated 
this year was !?2,500. A tire company 
of twenty members was organized this 
year. Isaac Perry was elected lirst as- 
sistant chief and Phillip Eyer second 
assistant. During the year the present 
hose carts and hook and ladder truck 
were purchased, and one double crank 
hand engine, 300 feet of hose, rotary 
steam pump, and everything complete 
for a very good fire outfit. The total 
cost was !?1,945. 

The handsonxe Ilagerty block was 
built in 1889, which was certainly a very 
valuable improvement to Dwight. The 
first stone sidewalk in Dwight was laid 
by the Hagerty brothers at this time. 

During this year, our quiet village 
was thrown into a frenzy by a murder. 
Otto Boigk shot A. Strufe in the lat- 
ter"s home in Dwight. Boigk was a^ 
son-in-law of Strufe's, and he and the 
father-in-law did not get on the best, 
on account of family troubles. Mrs. 
Boigk went home to live and Boigk 
went to see her but was refused admit- 
tance. He went away and purchased a 
revolver at one of the hardware stores 
and went to the house again. It was at 
this time, during a quarrel, that Boigk's 
anger overcame him, and he shot Strufe 
in the stomach. From the wound re- 
ceived Strufe died the next day. 
Boigk attemi)ted to escape, but was 
caught by John Lightholder near Odell 
and brought back. Lightholder got a 
reward of .S25. Boigk was given a pre- 
liminary hearing before Squire Thcmip- 
son and bound over to the grand jury 
and taken to the county jail in Pontiac. 
The trial was reached later, and lioigk , 
was convicted of manslaughter and sen- 
tenced to two years in Joliet peniten- 
tiary. Some thought the sentence light 
while others thought otherwise. 

The vole in the spring election of 



80 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



1888 resulted in the election of C. J. 
Judd, no-license, for president of the 
the board, by a majority of four votes, 
over Eugene Flagler— 12)5 to 122. D. B. 
Stevens and Jessie Dieffenbaugh, no 
license, defeated John Dennehe and 
John Geis, and as between W. H. Tay- 
lor, no-license, and Chas. Crandall, the 
result was a tie— 125 each. The latter 
was decided by drawing lots — Crandall 
winning. For clerk L. A. Naffziger de- 
feated J. C. Buchanan by eleven ma- 
jority. The new board now stood four 
no-license and two for license, with a 
no-license president. This was the 
closest call in a number of years before 
or since. This was the first election un- 
der the changed state law, and the 
president of the board was elected di- 
rect by the people instead of by the 
trustees, and the board was increased 
to seven thereby, and C. J. Judd was 
the first president of the village. Jas. 
B. Austin was again elected marshal, 
police and night watchman, and he was 
required to clean crossings and light 
the lamps— all for $40 a month. J. B. 
Parsons was again elected treasurer. 
This year one of the excitable events 
was the row the marshal had with John 
Murphy. Murphy sued Austin and a 
bill for costs of .$220.85 was not allowed. 
$2,600 was the amount appropriated 
for the year. During tnis year the li- 
cense was given free in many cases 
where the entertainments were given 
iinder the auspices of home societies. 
It was during this year that the present 
license ordinances— Chapters 63 and 64 
—were passed. There were $2,539.10 
left in the village treasury at the end 
of the fiscal year. 

At the si)ring municipal election in 

1889 the vote cast was larger and 
showed the population of Dwight was 
increasing rapidly. The total vote cast 
was 272. C. J. Judd, no-license, and 



Eugene Flagler, license, were the can- 
didates for president again, the former 
receiving 141 votes and the latter 128. 
For trustees Jens Knudsen, F. A. 
Lakin and L. H. Martin — no-license — 
opposed Jared Williams, John Geis, 
and "NVm. Walker — license. The 
former were elected by from ten to 
twelve majority. It was a hard fought 
battle. The no-license candidate for 
clerk, L. A. Naffziger, was defeated by 
L. D. Plummer, the vote standing 133 
to 136. The new board was as follows: \ 
President, C. J. Judd; trustees, D. B. 
Stevens, Jessie Diffenbaugh, Charles 
Crandall, Jens Knudsen, F. A. Lakin, 
L. H. Martin; clerk, L. D. Plummer. 
This was really the last hard fought 
election for license. The business of 
the village went along about as usual. 

It was during this year that L. D. 
Plummer, who had been forman with 
the North Star, started the Dwight 
Herald, which liourished for a while. 
C. A. Stuck had purchased the Dwight 
Star the year before and had changed 
the name to North Star, which was not 
relished by many of our citizens, and 
Plummer was requested to change the 
name of his paper and he did. from 
Dwight Herald to Dwight Star and 
Herald, at the same time assuming the 
original volume and number, it being- 
claimed that Stuck had no right to it 
after having dropped the original name 
Chas. Palmer, the original owner and 
founder of the Dwight Star, was of the 
same opinion and wrote a long letter 
requesting Plummer to make the 
change and thereby pepetuate the 
original name. As before stated this 
was done, and thus the ])resent name. 
We make this statement so that many 
who have wondered at the C(mibination 
of names may understand the circum- 
stances. 

L. A. NalTziger was a]ii)()inted village 




Hagerty Block, East Side. 




Dwight Passenger Depot. 

(Keeley ffall in ttje distance, ) 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



81 



treasurer, and James B. Austin was 
again elected marshal, etc. During this 
year the business of the Leslie E. 
Keeley Co. forged ahead wonderfully, 
and ])eople generally, after viewing the 
results, began to have confidence in 
the great discovery of our townsman, 
which was destined to revolutionize the 
world on the question of inebriety be- 
ing a curable disease. The company 
built a line fire-firoof vault and made 
other improvements during the year. 
Only 81,800 were appropriated for the 
maintenance of the village this year, 
there being a large balance in the treas- 
ury. II. L. Ilagerty laid a stone side- 
walk in front of the handsome Ilagerty 
block, which was built the year prior. 
]Mrs. II. Cornell built an addition to her 
hi)tel i)roperty on West street. The 
question of electric lights was first 
brought up this year. There were 
!s;2, 181.55 remaining in the treasury at 
the end of fiscal year in 1890. 

As the time came around for the 
village election in 1890, a daily paper 
was issued under the management of 
'"NV. (i. Dustin, who had previously edit- 
ed the Dwight Star and IIe.iald with L. 
I). Plummer. The paper was called The 
Messenger and was condixcted on a more 
conservative plan than muicipal election 
papers had been in former years. The 
management proved to the voters that 
it was for their financial as well as moral 
interests not to have saloons in our 
midst. There was no personal abuse and 
the paper received a warm support 
from the business men. The result was 
that there was a small landslide, every 
no-license candidate being elected by 
about sixty majority. C. J. Judd's care- 
ful management of municipal affairs 
made him the logical candidate for 
president. John Geis was nominated 
in op])osition. The former was elected 
by fifty one majority. Jesse Diffen- 



baugh, J. B. Bell and S&muel Lower 
were the no-license' candidates for 
trustees, against Ed. Dittus, Daniel 
Morris and 11. E. Seigert. The former 
were elected by 5t), 59 and 55 majorities, 
respectively. Andrew T. Doherty was 
elected clerk over Geo. L. Kern by 73 
majority. This was the last village 
election where the lines were tightly 
drawn on the license or no-license ques- 

. tion, many of the best men in the license 
party acknowledging that Dwight was 
much better oft' without saloons, and at 
the present time many of our influen- 
tial citizens who were formerly license 
men, are now staid workers on the 
other side, and never want to see 
Dwight cursed with saloons. As soon 
as this fact was apparent the no-license 
men joined hands with them and a 
number have served the city faithfully 
and well as trustees. John Thompson 
was again elected police magistrate. 
His majority was 73. This board went 
to work with a will. The village was 
fast becoming a city and must assume 
city ways. Improvements were needed. 
The old fashioned oil street lamps didn't 
give near as good lights as they used to, 
and something had to be done. The 

. new board was: president, ('. J. Judd; 
trustees, J. B. Bell, Jesse Diflenbaugh, 
Jens Knudsen, F. A. Lakin, Samuel 
Lower and L. H. Martin. L. A. Naffzi- 
ger was again appointed treasurer, and 
Jas. B. Austin marshal. Decoration day 
was duly celebrated, probably more 
generally than heretofore on account of 
a Post of the (irand Army of the Re- 
l)ublic being organized; also a Sons of 
Veterans Camp and Woman's Relief 
Corps. The village board attended in 
a body. Rev. Eignus delivered a s])len- 
did oration, after which the procession 
marched to the different cemetries and 
decorated the graves of the fallen 
heroes. The matter of sewers for Dwight 



\ 



82 



HISTORY OF D WIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



first came up at a meeting of the tillage 
board, July 22, 1890. A petition by C. 
L. Rbmberger and. others, asking an ap- 
propriation of $500 to defray the ex- 
pense of surveys, etc., was read. It was 
also about this time that the question 
of electric lights and water works be- 
gan to be agitated, and action regarding 
the sewer matter was deferred. August 
21, 1890, a public meeting was held, 
which unanimously decided, "That it is 
thfe public sentiment of this meeting 
that an electric light system be adopted 
for the village of Dwight." At a meet- 
ing of the village board August 2r>, a 
resolution was passed au.th'brizing the 
judiciary committee to make a contract 
for electric street lighting for five 
years, the cost not to exceed .f 720 a 
year. The resolution was passed. This 
year .$2,900 was appropriated for the 
city's needs. September 12 propositions 
were received by the village board from 
electric light companies. The Thomp- 
son-Houston company got the contract, 
and an ordinance was passed Sept. 23, 
giving a franchise for five years. The 
Star and Herald ofiice was moved 
to the Zimmerman building on Mazon 
avenue and the building from which 
the office was moved was sold ,by the 
Leslie E, Keeley Co., and moved to 
Seminole street where it now stands. 
Dec. 9 The Leslie E. Keeley Co. made 



application to the board for a permit to 
build a brick hotel on "West street (the 
present Livingston ). The permit was 
granted and work commenced almost 
immediately, and hurried to a finish. 
This might have been said to have been 
the commencement of Dwight's first 
and last "boom." A strong petition 
was presented to the board to do away 
with requiring home entertainments to 
pay license, but it came to naught. The 
franchise for electric lighting was as- 
signed to II. E. Seigert, Feb. 10, 1891. 
The balance on hand at the end 
of the fiscal year was $2,445.35. At 
this time in the "History of D wight," 
we arrive at the time when all was ex- 
citement and bustle. The remarkable 
success of the Keeley tceatment was 
known the world over, and our city 
was filled with strangers. As we have 
previously written, we were vinable to 
get many of the local events of the past 
fev/ years on account of all files of local 
papers being destroyed by fire Oct. 10, 
1891. In Nov. 1890 A. E. Zimmerman, 
a printer who had been employed by C. 
A. Stuck, got possession of the D wight 
Star and Herald ofiice, and we have 
the files from that time and therefore 
give the principal local events from 
that time to Jan. 1, 1895— certainly the 
most important history of our city. 




HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLIJJOIS. 



83 



CHAPTER Vll. 

FROM NOV. 1890 TO JAN. I, 1892. CULLED FROM DWIGHT STAR AND 

HERALD. 



The tirst issue of the Star and 
Herald under the management of A . 
K . Zimmerman was Nov. 15, 1890. In 
October 1S90 Dr. Houston and family 
moved to Joliet, Dr. Qakshett buying 
his practice in Uwight. The C. & A. 
did a business of $74,000 from their 
Dwight ollice. Robt. Mayes looses two 
fingers while running a circular saw in 
Joliet. The K. P. annual ball Thanks- 
giving was a great success. The coal 
shaft ghost stalked through Dwight. 
Miss Jones gives an elaborate enter- 
tainment under the auspices of theG. 
A. R. John II. Finch, of Nevada, 
half brother of Freeman Spencer, died 
at the age of 22 . The Ys gave a very 
tine entertainment consisting of fan 
and maypole drill, recitations and 
music. "NV. G. Dustin superintended 
tlie drill, and after the entertainment 
the young ladies presented him with a 
liandsome rocker. Orrin Gallup sells 
Ills Union farm to Matthew Ross. J. 
(r. Strong sells 210 acres known as the 
Ilurlbut farm. Steven Knudsen buys 
the, Duesler farm in liound Grove. 
Will Losee buys a three legged chicken. 
(Jene Baker, formerly of Dwight, is 
elected county treasurer. Frank Stuck, 
brother of the editor of the North Star, 
met a horrible death at the 8-1 crossing. 
He jumped from tlie Hummer, which 



was going about thirty miles an hour, 
and was drawn under the wheels and 
instantly killed. Miss Katie Williams 
and W. H. Luther were married Nov. 
25, 1-890. Rev. F. W. Merrell preached 
the Thanksgiving sermon. Henry Turn- 
baugh and family moved to Iowa. 
John C. George luoved to Pontiac, hav- 
ing been elected county clerk. Katie 
Ida McCarter dies at the age of 15 
years. A lecture course under the aus- 
pices of the Y. P. S. C. E. was a fea- 
ture of the winter's entertainments. 
Dr. Hansen, of Chicago, ojiened the 
course with a very interesting lecture . 
Rev. Dr. McClish delivers his splendid 
lecture on "Man" at M. E. church. 
Henry C. Hollmeyer diedj at the age of 
(55 years and 11 days. Mrs. Lillian Ray 
Stuck, wife of the editor of the North 
Star, dies at the age of 2t) years, John- 
nie George goes to work for his father 
in the county clerk's otlice. L. D. Plum- 
mer tinds employment in Chicago and 
moves to that city. Sadie Earnhardt 
dies at the age of 5 years and 7 months. 
S. T. K. Prime meets with a great re- 
ception during liis visit east. James 
Paul, an old and respected citizen, died 
quite suddenly Dec. (>, 1890, at the age 
83. Lillie Kate Harding dies at the age 
of 7 years. N. N. Mickelson builds a 
handsome new residence. The Christ- 



84 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLIXOTS. 



mas holidays in 1890 were duly cele- 
brated in Dwight, and prosperity and 
good will seemed to predominate. 

The year 1891 is one which will long 
be remembered by the residents. It 
was this year that the little prairie city 
sprang into prominence the world over 
on account of the great discovery of 
Dr! Leslie E. Keeley. "Dwight" and 
"Keeley" became household words and 
the fame of our honored townsman was 
great. The year was the time of 
many of the substantial improve- 
ments and remarkable growth in popu- 
lation. Many sensible acts and many 
foolish ones adorn the history of the 
year. The results of the boom were 
good and bad. Many people made mon- 
ey, and some lost. The fault lay with 
the "boom," and no individual should 
be charged up with any bad results. It 
was like all booms. Some people lost 
their heads and their pocket-books, 
others, more cool-headed and exper- 
ienced, took advantage of circumstan- 
ces and made money. The price of 
property went away above reason and 
still there were plenty of buyers and 
sellers. The last owner got left for the 
time being. After the boom subsided, 
as it were, peoi)le began to count the 
cost, but found it not great. "While a 
few individuals lost, Dwight had about 
700 more poptilaticm, and was much im- 
])r()ved by the addition of fine brick 
blocks, an elegant depot, ojiera house, 
hotels and many handsome, modern, 
comfortable dwellings. Public impi'ove- 
ments, such as water works, electric 
lights, etc., were here to stay. So much 
for 1891 in this line. 

Among the many interesting items we 
note the following. Col. and Mrs. J. li. 
Parsons celebrated their tenth wedding 
anniversary. J. ('. Lewis' mother dies 
in New York. Leta Sheldon, of Cam- 
pus, dies. "Xationa! Keeley Club" 



organized, and constitution and by- 
laws adopted. This was probably the 
first real organization, although the pa- 
tients had organized locally at "NV. M. 
Weese's blacksmith shop some time be- 
fore. The objects are to more closely 
ally the patients and help in lifting up 
fallen humanity. Under the name of 
"Keeley League" it is now one of the 
solid temperance organizations of the 
world, and the membership numbe/s 
about 25,000. Thus another national 
organization sprung into existence from 
our prairie city. The masonic installa- 
tion and banquet was a g^eat affair this 
year. Early in the year the electric 
light was turned on for the first time in 
Dwight, and it was highly appreciated 
after using the old oil street lamps for 
years. Howard Iluey was made agent 
of the C. A. road liei-e. Mrs. Steven A. 
Goodman died Jan. 12 of heart disease. 
A successful revival was held in the M. 
E. church in January. The first ])ublic 
joint installation of the G. A..II., W. 
Pi. C. and S. of V. took place in Jan- 
uary and was very successful. The or- 
ganizations . have followed the same 
course since, and are in splendid condi- 
tion at the close of this history. The 
Star and Hekald publishes inter- 
views with citizens regarding electric 
lights and they are considered good. 
Albert Fisk and Miss lowing were mar- 
ried Jan. 23. Len Ilahn and Gus Keim 
dissolve partnership in the meat busi- 
ness, and the latter returns to his ohl 
home in Ottawa, 111. J. C. Lewis buys 
the lletzel ]iro]:erty. "\V. G. Dustin 
purchased a half interest in the Stak 
AND Heuai.d Feb. 15, 1891, and became 
editor, which position he has held ever 
since. Frank Punting and Gertrude M. 
llaynes were united in marriage Feb.lo. 
Thomas Gogley and Lizzie Hanlon were 
married. D. McWilliams jmrchased 
the .lames C. Spencer farm just in the 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 85 



edge of Dwight, containing 473 acres, 
for .$25,000 cash. It is known as the 
"Prince of Wales farm." F. A. Haise 
buys the Cleveland property and erects 
a handsome residence. The order of 
Eastern Star becomes an important so- 
ciety of Dwight. Mrs. Anna K. Rutan 
and "W. E. Finch were married in Chi- 
cago. Miss Maggie Sloan dies Feb. 17. 
Mrs. De Voir, of Bloomington, and Dr. 
M. McLane were married. The first 
annual "write-up" of Dwight appeared 
in the Star and Herald of Feb. 20. 
The issue consisted of twelve pages 
and nearly every business man of 
Dwight was represented. Five thous- 
and of these papers were sent over the 
country, and attracted much attention 
to Dwight. The edition was illustrated. 
The "Accommodation" only runs to 
Dwight. Simon Nelson freezes to death 
while intoxicated. Memorial services 
to the memory of W. T. Sherman were 
held in M. E. church in February. 
Robt. Martin moves to town. B. A. 
Buck purchases the Kenyon homestead 
property. Losee & Brown purchased 
the business of Will Losee. Albert 
Barr and Chet Gould open a steam 
laundry next to the Star and Her- 
ald office. The Chicago Tribune be- 
gan to open its columes to any one who 
has taken the Keeley cure to testify to 
the facts regarding the the cure. Dr. 
Milton R Keeley and Miss Jennie 
Buckingham were married Tuesday, 
March 10, at the home of the bride's 
parents at Decatur, 111. Annie Lower 
and Kate Brown form a partnership for 
dressmaking. Mr. Steven Parmenter 
dies suddenly. Will Losee buys a half 
interest in Hans Rosendall's cigar 
store. Augusta Kern and F. B. Dough- 
ty marry. "Daniel Gallup dies at l^omo- 
na, Cal. Mrs. Leach, mother of John 
Leach, dies March 27. Sarah Rielly and 
Gus Lawson are married. Lida M. 



Menaugh and T. E. Gillispie follow 
suit. Roller skating was a "craze." 
Mrs. Lizzie Travers, only daughter of 
Geo. Kepplinger, dies. A public meet- 
was held April 10 to agree or disagree 
on a union ticket for municipal elec 
tion, which was productive of much 
good. W. G. Dustin was chairman. 
Remarks were made by Col. R. P. Mor- 
gan, Major C. J. Judd, Rev. F. W. Mer- 
rill, C. A. Stuck, G. S. Baker, J. P. Mc- 
Williams. A. R. Zimmerman, Jesse 
Diefenbaugh, Dr. Rabe, John Geis, J. 
B. Bell, James Kelagher and others. 
The meeting resulted in there being on- 
ly one ticket in the field, as previously 
stated in this history. The spring 
township election resulted in the elec- 
tion of E. T. Miller, clerk; James Kel- 
agher, assessor; Mr. Young, collector; 
Geo. B. Ketcham, road commissioner; B. 
A. Buck, school trustee. At the munici- 
pal election the following officers were 
elected unanimously: John Thompson, 
president; W. H. Taylor, D. B. Stevens, 
and John Leach, trustees; Andrew 
Doherty, clerk. Dr. Palm was elected 
president of the school broard and John 
Pettett, John Geis and J. R. Oughton 
members. Sam Lower demolishes the 
old blacksmith shop on Mazon avenue 
and erects the handsome Pennsylvania 
House. Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Lakin 
move to Sandwich, 111. W. H. Cool is 
made C. & A. agent at Dwight. Thos. 
Weldon purchases the Deale property 
on Seminole street. Major C. J. Judd 
retires from the village board, having 
served faithfully in every capacity for 
ten years. The first banquet ever given 
under the auspices of the Bi-Chloride of 
Gold Club was in an Alton dining car 
April 20, 1891. Miss Kunigunda Euzner 
and Carl Tock were married April 19. 
Hetzel & Romberger dissolved partner- 
ship, and the Hetzels, who were so long 
residents of Dwight, left for their fu- 



86 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



ture home in Englewood, III. Geo. V>\ 
Patton delivers the annual address to 
the Odd Fellows . Real estate transfers 
were made right and left at right and 
left prices. Edward Kemeys Henry is 
buried in Dwight April 28. Miss Em- 
ma T. Patterson dies at the age of 20 
years. Hershal Hagerty weighs mail 
for the government. James Austin re- 
tires from the office ' of marshal 
and Robt. Orr took his place and occu- 
pies the position yet. The handsome 
"Livingston*' was opened in May. De- 
Witt Miller and Ame Orr open a res- 
taurant. Edward and James McWil- 
liams cross the ocean. David McWil- 
liams breaks ground for his handsome 
residence. The Leslie E. Keeley Go's 
offices are moved into the opera house, 
which they purchased, and J. D. 
Ketcham purchased the former office, 
and ground was broke for the present 
handsome laboratory. Dwight base ball 
team defeated the Wilmingtons. The 
Keeley League meets in Kepplinger's 
hall in May. Mrs. J. M. Reeder died 
and is buried in Highland township. O. 
B. Stanton buys the lease of The 
Livingston of L. J. Trunnell. The 
graduating class motto tor "Itl was 
'•Purity," and the names of the gradu- 
ates were as follows: Misses Maggie 
Kern, Mildred Gould, R. May Morris, 
Minnie E. Rarr, Marcella Ferguson and 
Mr. Fred de Clercq. Prof. Fisk was 
principal and Miss Krohn assistant. 
Rev. P. M. France presented the diplo- 
mas. May 28 a business men's meet- 
ing was held in the town house and a 
permanent committee consisting of the 
following gentlemen as representatives 
of the people were elected: C. L. Rom- 
berger, chairman; J. C. Lewis, S. T. K. 
I'rime, R. A. I'.uck and David McWil- 
liams. This committee accomplished 
much good for Dwight, and their suc- 
cessful efforts we;e highly appreciated. 



The next evening a monster meeting 
was held in Kepplinger's Hall presided 
over by S. T. K. Prime. Among the 
speakers were Dr. Keeley and Hon. O. 
W. Pollard. This was the most en- 
thusiastic meeting ever held in Dwight. 
It's final results were good, but nothing 
as to what was expected. A permanent 
JJusiness Men's Association was organ- 
ized in May. Another important meet- 
ing was held about this time, the re- 
sults of which will stand as monument 
for all time to come. We refer to the 
visit of the Chicago & Alton railroad 
officials and a meeting of prominent 
citizens with them in their private car. 
The officials present were T. R. Rlack- 
stone, president; C. H. Chappell, gen- 
eral manager; T. M. Bates, superinten- 
dent of transportation; K. F. Rooth, 
chief engineer; O. M. Richards, superin- 
tendent; John R. Drake, director. The 
citizens of Dwight present were the 
citizens committee as previoiisly men- 
tioned and Dr. Leslie E. Keeley, Major 
C. J. Judd, J. R. Oughton, Hon. O. W. 
Pollard, Col. R. P. Morgan and W. G. 
Dustin. Th3 permanent result of this 
meeting is the handsome new depot. 
There is none nicer in the state. Deco- 
ration Day was duly celebrated. Rev. 
P. M. France delivered the address. 
Miss Edith Kneeland and Dr. O. P. 
Hanson marry. Miss Kate Steichen 
and N. L. Mamer do the same thing. 
Friday night, June 12, was the great 
"JoUilication" in west side park. The 
citizens committee make their report, 
tiie thirty one acre park was pre- 
sented and the band played "Annie 
Hooney," and everybody was happy. 
Dwight had been in an uproar some 
time. Outsiders tried every way to get 
The Leslie F. Keeley Co. to move away, 
but the company purchased the Ilahn 
farm, the McPherson house i)roperty 
and other places, and the people made 



HISTORY OF DWJGIIT, ILLI>J0IS. 



87 



up their minds the company would 
stay. John Stern dies suddenly June 8. 
At a meeting of the village board June 
9, a resolution was passed asking (Jeo. 
('. Morgan to come to Dwight. He 
came and presented his views on water 
works, which would have been adopted 
and saved the people lots of money, only 
for the seltish motives of some of those 
interested in making some money 
out of the town. The Illinois legisla- 
ture appropriated $2,500 to the Keeley 
Institute for the use of afflicted people 
who were unable to pay for treatment. 
Eeligious services were held Sunday 
mornings in June by the Keeley League 
for the first time. This beautiful cus- 
tom has been continued ever since. Dr. 
and Mrs. Leslie E. Keeley sailed for 
Europe June 24. Hon. J. C. Nicolay, 
of Washington, D. C, visits Dwight. 
The Keeley League occupy Presby- 
terian church. Sam Boyer starts a liv- 
ery. ( 'arl Miller and Ben Weber visits 
faderland. The sub-district convention 
Epworth League met here. Hamilton 
Spencer meets sudden death in Chicago 
by being struck by a cable car. Mrs. 
Robert Mays died June 19, after a long 
illness. Miss Delia Butler and Frank 
Currier, Mrs. Kate Brown and F. L. 
Evans, John Weicker and Maggie 
Euzner get married all in one week. 
Fourth of July was celebrated on a large 
scale and the city was literally tilled 
with people. Col. Nate A. Reed, Jr., 
delivered a patriotic address. The 
merchants display was the finest ever 
in Dwight. Hunt Cutting opens a cigar 
store. Miss Lula Harris and Everett 
Kenyon marry in July. Mr. James 
Chariton dies suddenly July 14 at the 
age of 83. O. ^y. Pollard attends the 
funeral of his mother in Rhode Island. 
Bishop Merrill addressed the Keeley 
League July 12. James (roodman erects 
a fine residence on Mazon avenue which 



was afterwards purchased by Rev. E 
F. Wright, who resides there now. 
Ketcham & Smith, two young Dwight 
men, become large and enterprising real 
estate dealei^. They moved into their 
present handsome office in July 1891, 
and have built up a large business in 
real estate in all parts of the country. 
John P. McWilliams lays out Renfrew 
addition to Dwight into blocks and lots. 
Elsie Potter and Harry Harrison marry. 
Will Ketcham builds a handsome resi- 
dence in Renfrew — his present home. 
Andrew Baker dies in August. Walter 
Scott goes into the ice business. W. E. 
Fenn builds a tine residence on W^au- 
pansie street. Mrs. Walter Maitland, 
mother of Dan Shearer, and Samuel 
Louden, died in September, the former 
at the age of 72, and the latter at 92. 
Rev, France leaves Dwight for Linden, 
Whiteside county, where he accepted a 
pastorate. He will do good wherever 
he goes. Hahn Bros, sell their meat 
business to Rowe & Horr. Morris' bar- 
ber shop is burglarized in September. 
Tuesday morning, Sept. 8, Prof. H. D. 
Fisk passed away. He was a splendid 
man. His widow and family reside in 
Dwight yet. Mrs. Ellen Gould dies in 
California in September. John H. Smith 
marries Miss Lucy Aumann in Kansas. 
A. T. Jones erects a fine residence on 
Deleware street. Rev. A. M. Conard 
comes to Dwight M. E. church, and 
Rev. F. W. Merrill goes to Rock Island. 
Miss Mary Weller and Frank Lower are 
married in September. Mr. and Mrs. 
Thos. Weldon celebrated their twenty- 
fifth anniversary of their wedding Sept. 
13. Rev. Flavius Brobst visits Dwight 
and speaks to the Keeley League. J. D. 
Bevans opens a clothing store for Mc- 
Williams & Smith. James Harrison, 
of Goodfarm, dies Sept. 19, at the age of 
71. Miss Amelia Portz and Levi Mc- 
Lane wed. Col. A. C. liabcock, of 



88 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



Chicago, visits Dwight and the Keeley 
Institute, and was very much pleased 
with his visit. Harry Lawrence opens a 
cigar store. The proprietors of the 
Star and Herald purchase the Gardner 
Journal. J. R. Oughton pays !$39,000 
for the Mills section. Saturday morn- 
ing, Oct. 10, the last great fire in Dwight 
took place. The fire caught in the en- 
gine hose back of the old Kepplinger 
block about 9:30 o'clock, and as all the 
buildings in the row were wooden struc- 
tures, everything was gone in about two 
hours. Following were the losers: Star 
Herald, North Star, Geo. Kepplinger, 
Thos. Perry, Barr & Dame, Mrs. 
Koehnlein, M. Rinehart, Mrs A. Strufe, 
John Crocker, Leslie E. Keeley Co., 
Ketcham & Smith, Mrs. Gertie Kayler, 
John Thompson, Jens Jacobsgaard, 
Sam Lower. It was not long before the 
present Kepplinger block, Mazon, Deif- 
enbaugh, Mrs. Koehnlein, Strufe house 
were erected, as at present — a grand im- 
provement on the old tumble down 
buildings. The Star and Herald moved 
into Williams' carpenter shop, bought 
a new outfit and never missed an issue. 
Albert W. Barr died Oct. 11 at the age 
of thirty-two. James Funk, the well- 
known politician, moved to Iowa. Mrs. 
Alice J. Carthy and Oscar Mulford, 
Miss Hattie Garrett and AVm. Mikesell 
are married in October. The Empire 
Steam Laundry goes into business on 
Mazon avenue. Martin Seabert erects 
a fine residence on Mazon avenue, where 
he resides at present. Major Mc- 
Claughry visits the Institute. Dan 
Morris' new home in Renfrew is finished 
and occupied. Witt & McKay go into 
the restaurant business. Miller Bros, 
are robbed two consecutive Saturday 
nights in November. J. R. Oughton's 
brother dies in Chicago. The club 
reaches the 2,000 mark in January. Tlie 



Keeley League is incorporated. Robt. 
Willmot erects a cottage on Delaware St. 
The Star and Herald ottice is moved to 
East Delaware street. Miss Katie 
Doherty and Geo. E. Goebel are mar- 
rie in Joliet in November 1891. Trustee 
Jesse Diffenbaugh resigns at a meeting 
in November. Miss Grace Kneeland 
and T. W. Davis were married Thanks- 
giving day. R. H. Mills suffers a pain- 
ful accident by catching his hand in a 
cornsheller. John Dunlap goes into the 
laundry business. J^Irs. Dr. Broughton 
and family arrive in Dwight in Decem- • 
ber. Thos. Blair & Co. were a new 
plumbing firm. Grandma Louden dies 
in December at the age of 87. Patrick 
Burke dies from the effect of injuries 
received in a runaway. Mrs. Cynthia 
Potter dies age of 75. McConnell »fc 
Real purchase Judd Williams livery 
business. C. A. Stuck moved to Odell 
in December. Frank Reser moves here 
from Gardner. The Keeley Co. erects a 
handsome modern building corner of 
Washington and Chippewa streets for 
the accommodation of lady patients. 
Mrs. Dr. Oakshett dies Dec. 12. Dr. 
Keeley delivers an address at the Audi- 
torium in Chicago Dec. 18. The last 
Star and Herald in the year was a large 
one and assisted greatly in advertising 
Dwight. Wm. H. Gillispie died Dec. 12 
at the age of 58 years. II. H. Cutting 
sells his cigar store to Sargent & Bas- 
sett. A brass band is organized. Lit- 
tle Mary Ethel Adams dies. 

The year we are about to close— 1891 
— will be remembered by the residents 
of Dwight as long as they live. AN'e 
have included such news as was at our 
disposal in as compact a form as pos- 
sible, and if we have left out anything 
of importance the reader will have to 
forgive us and make the best of it, the 
same as we have tried to do. 








Frank A. Haise. 



Geo. N. Flagler. 





D. B. Stevens. 



John Geis. 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



89 



CHAPTER Vlll. 
1892. 



The year 1892 was ushered in with as 
bright i)rospects as it was ever the for- 
tune of any eity to possess. Business 
was good in all its branches among our 
merchants, and the business of The 
Leslie E. Keeley Co. had become very 
large, and there were over one thousand 
patients here for treatment. The world 
had become convinced of the genuine- 
ness of the cure. Dr. Keeley had fought 
the same battle that all advanced scien- 
tific men have to fight, but not like 
some of them, he had lived to realize 
his dreams and see his great discovery 
accomplishing the desired results. Dr. 
and Mrs. Keeley came home from 
Europe in November, and when they 
arrived in Dwight a sight met the doc- 
tor's eyes that we feel sure he never can 
forget. Over one thousand m'en met 
him at the depot and gave such a wel- 
come as few men ever received. lie 
had worked for years on his great dis- 
covery and spent many anxious years 
in watching its etfect. Let us draw a 
curtain over his feelings at this time. 
One tiling Dr. Keeley did discover very 
quickly, and that was there was no 
sewerage and no more prospect of any 
,than when he went away. And it was 
])]ain to him that with our ])opulation 
almost doubled, with tl;e same sanitary 
conditions in existence as before the 
increase, that serious results would fol- 



low. Something had to be done. Prom,- 
ises had been broken. Shortly after 
this branch institutes were started. An- 
other citizens' committee consisting of 
IL P. Morgan, Chas. L. Romberger, W. 
H. Ketcham, C. J. Judd and J. C. 
Lewis was appointed to co-operate with 
the village board, and an elaborate re- 
port was made which is undoubtedly 
still on tile. Dr. Keeley and a party of 
friends visit Bloomington. Among the 
new residences in Renfrew are those of 
M. r. Starrett,W. II. Howe, Jet Weller. 
Phillip Miller erects a tine house on 
Franklin street. Chas. L. Romberger 
issues a very good map of Dwight. Dr. 
L^bellar, dentist, locates here. Sewerage 
and arc electric light ordinances are 
passed by the village board early in 
January. Miss Nora Grittith and N. 
Portertield were married. W. E. Austin 
purchases the meat market of Rowe & 
Ilorr. The first test of the new water 
works was made January 12. C. A. Hill 
A: Co. go into the restaurant business- 
Dr. Keeley lectures in Milwaukee. Mr. 
and Mrs. Joe Miller celebrate the 
eleventh anniversary of their wedding. 
The 'Tlummer" commences to sto]) at 
Dwight. ]SIrs. Nelson Cornell dies at 
Moberly, Mo., Jan. 3, at the age of 68. 
The Dwight express otlice is robbed of 
.'#3,000 Jan. 20. Edward Young passes 
away at the age of 73. A fire depart- 



90 



HISTORY OF DVVIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



ment is organized with Dr. Milton E. 
Keeley as chief. Fire districts were es- 
tablished as follows: 1st. All that por- 
tion of the city south of Mazon avenue 
and east of Prairie avenue. 2nd. All 
that portion west of Prairie and south 
of Mazon. 3rd. North of Mazon and 
west of Prairie . 4th. North of Mazon 
and east of Prairie. The districts are 
the same now. Miss Emma Clarkson is 
married at Denver to Eugene Kreigh. 
Dr. Keeley speaks in Kansas City . Wm. 
Bartholic builds a handsome residence 
in Renfrew. Captain Harry Insley 
purchased the right of the Keeley reme- 
dies for Colorado. Nathan Baker was 
elected collector to till the unexpired 
term of Mr. Young, deceased. Grand- 
ma Martin dies in Indiana at the age of 
7»>. Mrs. Ann Standen-Pettitt died .Tan. 
26 at the age of 76. Miss Eva Brown 
and Mr. Reed, of Chicago, are united in 
marriage Jan. 26. Geo. Kern's store is 
burglarized. Hill iS: McCabe get the 
sewer contract. Mr. Henry Pettitt fol- 
lows his beloved wife to the great be- 
yond at the age of 78. An article in the 
Star and Herald in February gives com- 
plimentary notice of new residences on 
Waupansie street: Philip Weicker, O. 
C. Jensen, F. A. liaise, D. B. Stevens^ 
Ed. Harrison, J. S. Fitield, W. E. Fenn' 
the Typewriters Home and the Roe 
and Wilson residences. They all added 
greatly to Dwight's beauty. Keeley In- 
stitutes were established in Russia 
Sweden and Norway. Dr. Keeley si)eaks 
in Philadelphia. Mr. and Mrs.Wm.Mil- 
ler lose a ten year old son by death. J. 
R. Oughton buys the Durston and 
Hinkey farms 760 acres. The Danish 
society erect a new parsonage in Feb- 
ruary, and Rev. Hekker is installed as 
regular pastor anil is here yet. During 
the week commencing Feb. 15, was 
held the first national meeting of what 
is now the Keeley League. The Dwight 



Star and Herald, with commendable 
enterprise, issued a daily paper during 
the week, which was profusely illustrat- 
ed and contained the report of the con- 
vention and the usual local news. There 
were present many brilliant men and 
the convention was a success. Col. Nate 
A. Reed, Jr., well known in Dwight, 
establishes the Banner of Gold, a liter- 
ary paper devoted to the Keeley cure 
and Keeley League. A co-operation 
creamery company, was organized. It 
is still running under the supervision of 
a competent man, Mr. Lowe. Miss 
Carrie Kime and James Semark were 
married in February. Dr. Palm and 
family move east. They returned, how- 
ever, and are now permanent residents, 
Dr. Palm being health officer. S. T. K. 
Prime was called to Washington, D. C, 
in February to testify before the senate 
committee in relation to dealing it fu- 
tures. Mr. I'rime is acknowledged to 
be one of the best posted men in Amer- 
ica and his writings and crop informa- 
tion furnished newspapers has made 
his name and that of Dwight known 
for years all cn^er this country. Sam 
Houston leaves Dwight and never came 
back. The Keeley League adopts the 
present club button. The League com- 
mences to give entertainments and 
is ably assisted by home talent. This 
feature is continued to the present time 
with great success. Stevens & l^osee 
erect a frame business building corner 
Prairie avenue and Delaware streets. 
The Leslie E. Keeley Co. receive favor- 
able proi)ositions to move away. The 
special assessment feature of the sewer- 
age matter causes considerable dissatis- 
faction. The Leslie E. Keeley Co. erect 
a handsome two story brick business 
block on West street, which is at i)res- 
ent occui)ied by J.C.Lewis, Barr iV: 
Davis, Dr. ]iarr and C. L. Romberger. 
The Artesian Laundry, near Spencer's 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



91 



hay press factory, is a new business 
venture. It is at present owned by 
Wright & C"o. .John Heimer and Mary 
Comisky are married. Dr. Keeley lec- 
tures at Joliet. August Michales and 
Miss Barbara Junsie are married in 
March. Lewis Pfefferman and Miss 
Hannah Finnegan, of Hound Grove, 
marry. Palmer & Smith buy out 
Stevens & Losee's meat business. Rev, 
II. M. Cole accepts the pastorate of the 
Congregational church. The Benedicta 
Literary society gave a fine literary en- 
tainment at high school building. The 
Star and Herald contains a complimen- 
tary notice of the improvements on 
different streets. The St. Louis Lim- 
ited was put on the C. & A. road but 
D wight was not in it. It never stopped 
here. The North Star, owned by C. A. 
Stuck, moved to Odell and since then 
there has been but one printing office in 
Dwight — the Star and Herald. The 
authorities inspect the new passenger 
station. The enterprising residents of 
Mazon avenue extend water mains as 
far west as the school house. II. T. 
Loper leases the Mazon and starts a 
very fine restaurant. Frank Haise 
moves into his handsome new residence 
in March. A. Brubaker builds a hand- 
some home next to the liaise residence 
and moves in later. E. D. Gregg, a pros- 
I)er()us farmer of Round Grove, moves 
to Dwight. Mrs. Elizabeth Wilson dies. 
Dr. Florence Thompson graduates from 
the Chicago dental college. She is now 
having a prt)S[)erous practice in Dwight. 
Mr. McCaulley goes into the jewelry 
business. A. J. Diefenbach & Co. open 
their new tonsorial parlors on Mazon 
avenue. Mrs. Thos. Harford falls and 
breaks one of her arms. Mrs. .Jno. W. 
Northrop gives a concert in Kimball 
hall in Chicago for the benefit of the 
Keeley League. The money made did 
much good and provided many a man 



with necessaries while in Dwight. Miss 
Johanna Crandall dies. She was a sis- 
ter of Chas. Crandall. Miss Hattie Jef- 
fries, aged 10, dies. The Dwight amuse- 
ment club is formed. The township 
caucuses were held with the following 
results: Democratic— Supervisor, J. 
Thompson; town clerk, Fred Liggitt; 
assessor, James Kelagher; collector, 
Nathan Baker; commissioners, Jacob 
Christman, John Gammil; trustees, J. 
M. Burnham and G . S. Baker. Repub- 
lican—Supervisor, R. H. Mills; town 
clerk, E. T. Miller; assessor, Roscoe 
Gould; collector, Robt. Dunlap; com- 
missioners AV. II. Taylor, Thos. AVeldon; 
trustees, G. Brown and G. W. Boyer. 
Following were the winners after a hot 
contest: Supervisor, John Thompson; 
clerk, E. T. Miller; assessor, Kelagher; 
collector, Dunlap; commissioners, Tay- 
lor and Weldon; trustees. Brown and 
Boyer. Carl Reinmiller and Miss Ella 
Butler are married at the residence of 
O. W. Pollard. The question of a new 
crossing occupied the minds of the peo- 
ple. General Daniel Dustin, father of 
the editor of the Star and Herald, dies 
at Carthage, Mo., March 30. Albert 
Bros, open a meat market. Harrison & 
Curtis buy out Stevens & Losee's gro- 
cery. The Dwight high school celebrate 
Arbor Day. A lawn tennis club is 
formed with Prof. C. E. Schlabaeh 
president. The first anniversary of the 
club was celebrated April 1. Rev. De- 
Witt Talmage visits Dwight in com- 
pany with Dr. Keeley, and speaks to 
the patients April 20. Mr. and Mrs. F. 
A. liaise celebrate the tenth anniver- 
sary of their wedding. At the spring 
municipal election two tickets were 
j)laced in the field -a "Citizens" and 
"Anti-license." Henry Fox headed the 
former and Chas. L. Rombergerthe lat- 
ter. Mr. Roniberger was elected by an 
overwhelming majority and made as 



92 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLIINOIS. 



good, if not the best president the board 
ever had. He was an inveterate worker 
and his work was well done. The can- 
didates for trustees on the former ticket 
were J. Kelagher, J. Stewart and E. T. 
Miller. They were defeated byB. A. 
Buck, John Geis and ({. N. Flagler and 
F. A. liaise defeated H. McLane for 
clerk. This was a splendid business 
board throughout. A Brubaker was 
elected president of the school board, 
and N. N. Mickelson and E. T. Miller 
members. J. Guardenier's jewelry store 
was robbed in April . The Xorth Star 
for a short time came to Dwight after 
removal, but in the latter part of April 
gave up the ghost. Dr. Barr moves into 
the new Keeley block, and W. J. 
Ilagerty and Alex. McKay start a fine 
restaurant in the Ilagerty block. J . A, 
Webster buys out Walter Scott's coal 
business. The Star and Herald prints 
the portraits of the mayor and new 
board of trustees. The arc electric 
lights are turned on and work like a 
charm. Mr. Wheeler, republican can- 
didate for governor of Iowa, visits Jas. 
Brown's fine farm looking for blooded 
horses. He found them. Mr. Reinhart 
opens a pop factory. A. Brubaker is 
elected village treasurer. Little Jennie 
Mills, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. II. 
Mills, died May 2. J. W. P^pperson dis- 
appears. Dr. W. L. liarnes, dentist, lo- 
cates here. The delegate train from 
Chicago to the republican state conven- 
tion stopped at Dwight about thirty 
minutes and visited the Keeley Inst - 
tute. and were much pleased with what 
they saw. Dr. and Mrs. Leslie E. Keeley 
left Dwight May 18 for a tour in Europe. 
The fourth anniversary of the Y. AV. ('. 
T. II. was celebrated at the home of the 
Misses Filieid. A brilliant reception 
was given at the new cliili hall and (he 
Uahn residence the new home of the 
Dwight Keeley League. Dr. H. Brougli- 



ton is presented with a handsome 
charm. Dr. Keeley lectures in Brook- 
lyn just before sailing for Europe. Mr. 
Addison Wood died May 14. .Jacob 
L. Peterson and Miss Annie K. 
Peterson wed in May. Chris. Skafgaard 
was married in Chicago in May. Bailey 
Gower and D. B. Walker announce 
themselves as candidates for the nomi- 
nation for legislature in the Star and 
Herald. The contract for the present 
handsome opera was let in May. Austin 
(iibbons becomes a candidate for the 
office of member of the state board of 
equalization. The Leslie E. Keeley Co. 
lent the new village board 84,000 to help 
them pay running expenses, and charged 
no interest. Frank L. Smith announces 
himself a candidate for the nomination 
as circuit clerk. He made a short, 
hustling canvass, and was only defeat- 
ed by a small majority in the convention. 
Dr. W.H.Weld and Miss Millie WinkJer 
are married in June. X.Nomenson opens 
a grocery store in Frank Ford's build- 
ing. A good male quartet take the 
name of "Dwight Star and Herald 
Quartet," S. T. K. Prime is banquet - 
ted at the Mazon. J. C. Lewis moves 
his jewelry store to Keeley block. 

The 12th annual commencement ex- 
ercises of Dwight high school are held 
in M. E. church June 2. The grad- 
uates were Misses Bessie Baker. M. 
I'^tta ('aider, Fannie Connor and Clay 
1). Parker and Chas. A.Simmons. Prof. 
Schlabach ])resented the diplomas. The 
motto was "Rowing, not Drifting." 
The class day exercises were also very 
interesting. Geo. Reed buys the Em- 
l)ire Laundry from Dame i^ Dunlaji. 
Decoration Day was duly celebrated in 
Dwight and there was a large turn out. 
Kev. Conaid delivered the address. Mrs. 
Mary II. Hunt, the great temi)erance 
advocate and W. C, T. LI", lady visits 
Dwight ami sjjcaks to the League. \V- 



HISTORY OF DWIGITT, ILLINOIS. 



93 



(J. pustin, Frank Smith and A. K. Zim- 
merman attend the national rejjublican 
convention at ^linneapolis in June. An 
ordinance was published in the Star 
and Herald in .June creating and defin- 
ing the othce of street commissioner. 
J)\vight C. Morgan and Miss Minnie B. 
Dart are married in California .June 20. 
Col. K. r. Morgan and family were 
])resent. Mrs. .1. C. Lewis died June 25 
after a long illness. P^ngineer Bellows 
is killed by an accident on the branch 
and Fireman James Reeder was badly 
injured. The latter recovered and is 
now residing in Lacon. The Star and 
Herald issues a red, white and blue 
Fourth of July edition. 

The Fourth of July was celebrated 
with great pomp in 1892. Hon. John I. 
Blair was the orator, and the eagle was 
tiunied loose in good old style. Col. R., 
P. Morgan is engaged by the railroad 
commissioners of California for an im- 
])ortant missicm. Howard W.« Kelly 
and Miss Josephine M. Kennedy are 
married at the residence of Joseph 
Burnham in July. James Prickett and 
Miss Gertrude Jeffries marry in July. 
Mrs. Chas. M. liaker returns after a se- 
vere sickness in Milwaukee and Chica- 
go. The summer of 1892 was excessive- 
ly warm, the thermometer often reach- 
ing 100 in the shade. The Knights of 
Pythias picnic at Wilmington in July. 
Rev. R. Wilhelmsen, a progressive 
Danish minister, organized a Danish M. 
K. society in Lwight. and purchased 
the old Presbyterian church. Tlie so- 
ciety is in a nourishing condition and 
Rev. Wilhelmsen is still the beloved 
pastor. Hon. H. K. Wheeler, of Kan- 
kakee, republican candidate for con- 
gress, visits Dvvight. A. W. Kern and 
Peter Kern i)urchase the grocery busi- 
ness of Geo. L. Kern. The latter pur- 
chases the restaurant business of Milt 
Witt. Chas. L. Romberger, the enter- 



j)rising real estate dealer, moves into, 
his present handsome otlice in Keeley 
block. Miss Calahan and Mr. McCarty 
marry in July. The Renfrew Lodge 
stock farm, owned by John P. McWil- 
liams, becomes an imj)ortant business 
feature of Dwight. A Cincinnati fea- 
male base ball club play with the 
Dwights and beat them. Frank Losee 
hangs himself in J. D. Ketcham's barn 
while temporarily insane. The Dwight 
Investment Company was formed in 
August by about a dozen of Dwight' s 
enterprising citizens. They purchased 
the buildmg owned by the Empire 
Steam Laundry company and trans- 
form it into a fine hall, which is still be- 
ing used for dancing parties, etc. Mr. 
and Mrs. John R. Oughton sail for 
Europe August 19 and spent several 
months abroad. John Pettitt goes to 
Denver with the St. Bernard drill corps 
and enjoyed a splendid visit. Zimmer- 
man & Dustin sell the Gardner Journal. 
R. C. Adams, an old and highly respect- 
ed citizen of Dwight, died in August, 
Frank L. Rozelle conducts a revival in 
M. E. church in August. Professor 
Schlabach moves to DeWitt, Iowa, and 
enters a school there. He was subse- 
quently elected couTity superintendent 
of schools, which position he now occu- 
j)ies. Chas. L. Romberger and F. W. 
^'ickery attend the Knight's conclave 
at Denver with the Joliet commandery. 
S. T. K. Prime addresses a hard roads 
ct»nvention in Des Moines, Iowa. Dr. 
Bennett, author of "Sweet Bye and 
Bye,"' visits Dwight and gave the his- 
tory of the beautiful hymn in Congre- 
gational church to a large audience. 
Mr. John Conrad dies in August at the 
residence of his brother, W. II. Conrad. 
McConnell and Real dissolve j)art- 
nership, the former retiring. J. A. 
Hayes commences injunction j)roceed- 
ings against the Dwight sewer. The 



94 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILL[>;OI.S. 



case was won and lost by the city and 
finally Mr. Hayes came out ahead. 
Among the improvements during the 
summer, the Star and Herald of Aug- 
ust 27 notes those of J. B.France, A. 
Brubaker, Tock Bros., Peter Beuhler, 
Miller Bros, store and W. H. Conrad. 
H. T. Loper sells the Mazon restaurant. 
Dr. and Mrs. Barr visit relatives in the 
east. Mrs. J. P. Weagley, mother of 
Mrs. D. McAVilliams, Mrs. C. M. Baker 
and Mrs. F. Connor, passed away in 
August at the age of 82. Miss Anna 
Jeannetta Koehnlein and Chas. B. El- 
liott, of Chicago, are married Sept. 1. 
Miss Sophia Rhode and Geo. Sayers are 
married at Verona. Miss Anna M. 
Beier and Jens Knudsen were married 
the latter part of August. Jas. B. Aus- 
tin and family move to Nebraska in 
September. Liggitt & Fenn dissolve 
partnership. Dr. and Mrs. Leslie E. 
Keeley arrive home from Europe in 
September and receive a warm recep- 
tion. 

Sept. 15, 1892, the second meeting of 
what is now known as National Keeley 
Leagvie met in Dwight for a four days 
session. The meetings were held in the 
new opera house, it being the first 
meeting ever held* in that handsome 
building. S. T. K. Prime delivered the 
welcoming address. Dr. Leslie E. Kee- 
ley, Hon. John V. Farewell, Opie R^d, 
Vol. Nate A. lieed, Jr., Albert Hyde. 
Charles Eugene lianks, John I. Gillis- 
pie, Judge Arnold and many other 
prominent gentlemen delivered address- 
es, and letters of regret were read from 
Miss Frances AVillard, Gov. Jos. Fifer, 
Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage, Mayor Wash- 
burne, R. W. McClaughry, (Jov. Peck, 
of Wisconsin, and many others. The 
Star and Herald issued a daily. 

Col. J. B. Parsons attends the nation- 
al G. A. R. encampment at AVashing- 
ton, D. C. Miss Anna Nelson and Ed. 



Hahn are married in September. The 
Haney family had a reunion at the 
handsome new residence of Geo. S. 
Baker in August. Dwight Lodge Mod- 
ern Woodman organized in September 
and are nourishing at this time. John 
Dillon opens the new opera house with 
"A Model Husband." Every seat in 
the house was taken. Hon. A. J. Les- 
ter, of Springfield, delivers a republican 
speech, and the republicans organize a 
marching club and visit neighboring 
towns during the campaign. The demo- 
crats organize a campaign club. Miss 
Kate Lyons and Cameille Ribordy are 
married in October. The Congrega- 
tional society purchase a new pipe or- 
gan. Dr. H. S. Tanner, the world re 
nowned faster, visits Dwight and speaks 
to the Keeley League. The "Doll 
Drill" was a very pretty home enter- 
tainment in October. Senator J. G. 
Strong, of Kansas, visits his daughter, 
Mrs. Frank Chester. Mrs. J. L. Mc- 
Kinley commits suicide while insane. 
Francis Murphy, the great temperance 
advocate, visits Dwight as a guest of 
Dr. Keeley. Hon. R. S. Mcllduff, Hon. 
C. Snow and C. S. Darrow deliver polit- 
ical speeches in October in Dwight. 
Congressman Payson speaks in Dwight. 
Mrs. Blackmore, of Pontiac, inspects 
the Dwight Relief Corps. Miss Lillie 
Abbaduska and Frank Barnum were 
married in Odell in October. Mr. and 
Mrs. Walter M. Weese visit relatives in 
Canada. Henry Slauson, who came to 
Dwight in the fifties, passed away early 
in November. Miss Jennie Simmons 
and Chas. V. Herr are married in Chi- 
cago in October. All was excitement 
during the month of October and up to 
election day in November. Both great 
]»olitical parties did their best and the 
result was the will of the majority and 
had to be satisfacory. Everything, al- 
most, went democratic. Tlie Woman's 



HISTORY OF D WIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



95 



Auxiliary Keeley League was organ- 
ized in Dwigiit in November. Miss 
Delia Pearre and Theodore Hayes 
were married Nov. 2. Miss Maud Smith 
and Jas. McKay were married in No- 
vember in Pontiac. Miss Kate Long 
and John Thompson are married in 
Joliet in November. Christopher Yates, 
the well-known veterinary surgeon, died 
in November. Steven Goodman's little 
daughter, Ilattie, also died. Quite a 
number of aspirants for the postotiice 
commence operations. The 3-1 express 
messenger is robbed of 82,000. P^ E. 
Fenn iK: Co. and Sargent & Bassett 
trade businesses. L. A. Nalfziger was 
appointed special assessment collector. 
S. T. K. Prime was made general west- 
ern secretary of the National League 
for good roads. Col. R. P. Morgan 
makes a report on all railroads in Cali- 
fornia and receives great praise from 
the state authorities. The Star and 
Herald issues a large holiday number 
in December. A charming merchant's 
carnival was given in the opera house 
in December for the benefit of the high 
school. Miss Mildred Kabe and Leon- 
ard Ilowlett were married Dec. 23 at 
the home of the bride. They still reside 
here and Mr. Howlett is a valued em- 
ploye of The Leslie E. Keeley Co. The 



fire company was called out on account 
of a fire in the coal houses back of the 
Keeley League hall, which was quickly 
extinguished. The "malt" cases at- 
tract considerable attention. "Malt" 
proved to be beer in disguise, and 
Mayor Romberger and the town board 
were elected on a strict no-license tick- 
et. The parties selling the stuff were 
arrested and the first cases were ap- 
I)ealed, but the mayor kept right after 
them until no bonds could be gotten and 
the law breakers were glad to quit. L. 
B. Rake and family move to Iowa. The 
military drill given in the opera house 
in December was one of the prettiest 
entertainments ever given in Dwight 
and was repeated later on. Mr. John 
Ferguson, of Campus, formerly of 
Dwight, died on Christmas day. Christ- 
mas entertainments were given in Con- 
gregational, M. E. and other churches, 
and the holidays seemed to be happily 
passed in Dwight. John Thompson's 
house caught fire and was nearly de- 
stroyed. Miss Eebecca Burkhart and 
George Hoffman were married in De- 
cember. Wykes & Co. go into the ice 
business. M. H, Coole, fromerly Dwight 
agent for the C . & A, railroad, died at 
a hospital in Chicago. The year 1892 
ended with the people of Dwight, gen- 
erally, prosperous and happy. 




96 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



CHAPTER IX. 
1893. 



The year 1893 opened with bright 
* prospects but no "boom" on. Although 
there was not that wild demand for 
property which there was previously, 
the price was found to have increased 
nearly double what it was three years 
before, and for desirable property, re- 
mains about the same to this day— 1895. 
In two years our little prairie village 
has blossomed into a city in importance 
and the main business streets, with the 
handsome buildings and new passenger 
station presented a prosperous appear- 
ance, and many were the compliments 
paid D wight by people passing through 
on the Alton trains. In the night the 
streets were almost as light as day, and 
the hundreds of electric lights in The 
Leslie E. Keeley Co.'s buildings and 
other business houses, gave our city the 
look of prosperity and enterprise. The 
effects of the '-boom" were still bad, 
but those who were unfortunate braved 
it through and during the whole time 
there was not a business failure. 

Among the more important things 
which transpired in .January was tiie 
great interest taken by the ])eople 
in getting factories to locate here, and 
encouraging some coal company to sink 
a shaft here. J. A. Hayes, a ])rosperous 
farmer living in the edge of (Jnuuiy 
county, thought he had coal under his 
land and the b\isiness men raised mon- 



ey and assisted him in prospecting, but 
it came to naught. Hon. O. W. Pollard, 
who had been very sick for some time, 
recovered so much that he was 
able to be out, and his many friends 
were much gratified. Early in the year 
Col. and Miss May Morgan and Mr. 
and Mrs. Dwight Morgan returned to 
Dwight after a long sojourn in Cali- 
fornia. The Dwight Star and Herald 
otlice moves into the present commo- 
dious quarters, adds an eighteen horse 
power boiler and a steam heatmg appa- 
ratus and becomes one of the leading 
country printing plants in the state. 
Mrs. Martha E. Dunlap dies in Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn. Mrs. Wm. Khoiles, an old 
resident of Dwight died at Eldorado 
Springs, Mo. Miss (Jrace (ireg(»ry and 
F. W. Liggitt are married at Normal. 
111., the home of the bride. I\Irs. Ida 15. 
Cole is appointed national secretary of 
the national W. A. K. L. AV. J. Ilagerty 
and Alex. McKay dissolve i)artnership. 
Miss Maggie Lawler and Wm. Christian 
are married. .James Hrown jiurchases 
2."),(K)0 bushels of corn for feeding i)ur- 
po-es. Erasmus (Joukl dies in Kansas. 
The W. A. K. L. receive a benefit from 
the production of "Young Mrs. Win" 
tlirop." Peter (Intel is killed by an Al- 
ton train about a mile and a half south 
of Dwight. Early in .January about 
forty witnesses from Dwight attend tlie 




Postoffice Force During the Boom. 




Joe Miller 




Carl Miller. 



TTISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



97 



sewer trial at I'ontiac. A very heavy 
snow storm the first week in January. 
The sewer case was won by the village 
for the time being. Miss Minnie Ahern 
and Frank L. Smith are married Feb. 8. 
The night before Mr. Smith was ten- 
dered a reception at the Scott House by 
many of his bachelor friends. Miss 
Lizzie liurkhart and Martin Hoffman 
are married Feb. 8. Louis Falk gave a 
concert at Congregational church for 
the benefit of the organ fund. Little 
Mamie Lightholder dies. Mrs. Wm. 11. 
(Jillispie dies Feb. h. L. Hake and fam- 
ily move to Iowa. Aaron Prickett 
moves to Iowa. Mayor Romberger 
makes a successful stand against the 
malt venders in Dwight and cleaned 
tliem out in good order. After the 
second arrest tliey could not get bonds 
and were forced to get out of town or 
settle uj) at any cost. McWilliams «.K: 
Smith's store is burglarized. The 22nd 
day of February is celebrated in a lit- 
ing,i)atriotic manner by the high school. 
Miss Maggie A. Austin and liobert 
Mayes are married Feb. 20. John \\. 
Oughton's tine imported dog. Heather 
Lad, takes first premium at the Chica- 
go Kennel Club bench show. This was 
followed by a steady run of win- 
nings in the dog shows of the country. 
At the j)resent time -1895 Mr. Ough- 
ton has one of the first and most valu- 
able kennels in America in Dwight. 
They are under the charge of Ame Ovv. 
On another page we present a i)icture 
of Heather Lad, the .'Sn.OOO dog. 

The churches celebrate Temperance 
Sunday api)ropriately the last Sunday in 
February. Oregg ..^ Starrett go into 
the feed business at the old Hart stand. 
Later Mr. (Iregg sold out to Martin 
Seabert, and at present— 1H95 the firm 
is Starrett «.K: Seabert. George Fox dies 
in Kansas. A barn in the rear of Dr. 
Palm's house on Chippewa street is de- 



stroyed by fire. March 9, in the 
evening, Mr. and Mrs. Spencer El- 
dredge tendered a reception to Mr. 
Eugene \'. Debs, who was about 
to leave for his home in Terra Haute, 
Ind., after having taken the bichloride 
of gold treatment. This was before Mr. 
Debs was leader of the greatest railroad 
strike ever known. One of the guests 
of the evening was the acccomplished 
literary light, Eugene Field, who was 
here for the tobacco treatment. The 
latter took part in an entertainment at 
Congregational church and a club en- 
tertainment about this time, reciting 
some of his pretty poems. Col. Richard 
P. Morgan and Dwight C. Morgan are 
appointed consulting engineers by the 
Railway and "Warehouse Commissioners 
of Illinois. Miss Bessie Huey and H. 
F. Adams are married March 22. Mar- 
shall P. AVilder. the great lecturer, visits 
Dwight and gives an entertainment. 

At the township caucuses held the 
following were nominated: Republican 
—clerk, E. T. Miller; assessor, R. 11. 
Mills; collector, Thos. Harford; com- 
missioners, Frank Chester and AVm. 
Christiansen; justices, M. Wilkison and 
Henry McLane; constables, Thos. Jen- 
kins and O. C. Jensen; trustee, Jno. R, 
Radclitte. Democratic clerk, E. T. 
Miller; assessor, James Kelagher; col- 
lector, Benj. Bell; commissioners, Peter 
Ileinen and AVm. Christiansen; justices, 
J. B. BarthandAVm. Lester; constables, 
Thos. Jenkins and Chas. Hearing; trus- 
tee, Jno. R. Radclifte. Following were 
the winners: clerk, E. T. Miller; asses- 
sor, Jas. Kelagher; collector, Thos. Har- 
ford; commissioners, Frank Chester 
and AA'^m. Christiansen; justices, M. AVil- 
kison and Henry McLane; constables, 
Thos. Jenkins and O. C. Jensen; trus- 
tee, Jno. R. Radclitte. The Star and 
Herald publishes an interesting letter 
from S. T. K. Prime from California. 



98 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



Father Halpin dies at Odell. John 
Stack dies. 

Following were the nominations for 
the municipal election in April 1893. 
Citizens — H. Fox, president; J. AV. Sar- 
gent, A. M. Bartholic, E. P. Hahn, trus- 
tees; G. L. Kern, clerk. Anti-License 
— Chas. L. Komberger, president; D. B. 
Stevens, Roger Mills, Geo. S. Baker, 
trustees; F. A. Haise, clerk. The cam- 
paign was a hot one, and wiiile not 
divided exactly on the license question, 
there was a feeling that it would be 
safer to elect the straight anti-license 
ticket, and there were some men on 
the citizens ticket who had been li- 
cense men heretofore. The principal 
question was, however, that of public 
improvements and how they should be 
made and paid for. Mr, liomberger 
had made a splendid oflicial but the 
taxes and special assessments had been 
levied under his administration and he 
was blamed by many who did not want 
license but were simply dissatistied. 
Mr. Romberger did not want the office, 
but after accepting the nomination 
made the run but was defeated by II. 
Fox by twelve majority. The remain- 
ing part of the anti-license ticket was 
elected by good majorities. Miss Cora 
McCarty dies. J. E. Schobey dies at 
his home in Union Hill. X. X; Mickel- 
son purchases the Dwight Art Com- 
pany. John D.Ketcham dies. A.Row- 
ley also dies. Miss Xora A. Taylor and 
AV'm. H. Ketcham were married April 
19. The Keeley League Club house is 
burned. Rev. AVilson, a former ])ast()r 
of Congregational clnn-ch, is frozen to 
death in the west. Patrick Confrey 
dies in May. Dwight Driving Park 
Association organizes. An interesting 
letter is published in the Star and Her- 
ald regarding S. T. K. Prime's visit t<> 
California. Miss Lavinia W. McKay 
and J. A. Spencer were married May 17. 



Mrs. C. A. Staley dies. Mrs. Jacob Bur- 
ger dies. Mrs. Metske passes away. 

May 1, of 1893. the "Great White 
City'' opened in Chicago, and Dwight 
people generally visited some time dur- 
ing the six months. The Star and Her- 
ald published many interesting articles 
regarding the grand exhibit. Mr. and 
Mrs. AV. J. Ilagerty lose a little girl 
baby. Mrs. (reorge Short dies. Deco- 
ration Day is duly celebrated. The 
commencement exercises were held in 
the opera house the evening of June B. 
The graduates were Misses Addie Femi, 
M. Mabel Thompson, Dora Kern, John 
O'Malley and Frank Ford. The first con- 
vention of Illinois State Keeley League 
and Auxiliary meets in Dwight in June. 
There were delegates present from all 
over the state and an excellent time en- 
joyed. Mrs. AV. AV. AVood died in June. 
Miss Lucy Stockwell and J. C. Lewis 
are married in June in Minneapolis. 
The Keeley League conduct the Fourth 
of July celebration this year, and it was 
a grand success. Hon. Thos. AV. Golden, 
of Janesville, Wis., was the orator of 
the day. Miss Mattie E. AVright and 
B. M. Chubb are married in July. Ex- 
alderman Benj. Bell dies July 20. Rev. 
J. A. Fisher becomes pastor of Con- 
gregational church. Geo. Burns dies. 
•Edward Murphy, son of Francis Mur- 
phy, visits Dwight and sjieaks to the 
League. Count Fr. Berg and son, of 
Sagnitz, Riga, Russia, visits Dwight- 
Miss Linna E. Seabert and AVillard S. 
Brown are married Sunday. Aug. t), in 
Chicago. Aliss Sarah M. Clarkson and 
Dr. Chas. H. (rarduer are married Aug- 
ust 13. Fred Steffin's barn burns for 
the third time. Steven Knudsen, of 
Round Grove, is accidently killed. Aug. 
20, 1893, J. F. AVassell purchases the 
interest of A. R. Zimmerman in the 
Star and Herald, and the busmess con- 
tinued to flourish under the lirm name 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



99 



of Dustiu tlv: AVassell. Henry KIdriclge 
(lies very suddenly in Chicago. The 
third annual convention Keeley League 
met at Central Music hall in Chicago 
in September. They were welcomed 
by Mayor Carter Harrison, and all vis- 
ed world's fair on "Keeley" day. D wight 
l)ostotllce was burglarized. Kev. C. W. 
Ayling comes to the M. E. church in 
J) wight in September 1893. Miss Mary 
Terwilliger' and Orville Brown are 
married Oct. 5. Miss Frances Costello 
and Havid McKenzie were married Oct. 
4. Miss Nettie Cunliffe and Frank 
Stevens were married at the residence 
C. W. Ayling. S. T. K. Prime and Major 
C. .1. Judd make a tour of the east. Dr. 
C. H. IJarr and Walter M. Davis form a 
l^artnership in the drug business under 
the tirm name of Barr & Davis. Col. K. 
P. Morgan is appointed one of the re- 
ceivers of the Northern Pacific railroad, 
and took active management of the 
l)roperty. Miss A. M. Anderson and O. 
P. Anderson are married. October Ki 
the horrible accident occurred at Em- 
ington by the explosion of dynamite, in 
which tive men lost their lives and sev- 
eral were injured. Those killed were 
Chris. Eyer, one of the well-knowii tirm 
of Eyer Bros., deep well sinkers, and 
and Dan Eyer, a brother, and Fred 
Eyer, a cousin, and James Cornwall, of 
Dwight, and C. E, Fowler, of Eming- 
ton. Chris. Shearer, a cousin of the 
Eyers, from Olney, John Brown, James 
and ^\'m. AVylly and John Kennedy, of 
Emington, were badly injured. Many 
business houses and residences were 
badly damaged. A recei)tion was given 
to Piev. C. W. Ayling and family l)y the 
M. E. congregation. Miss Nellie E. 
.leffries and E.G. Philli])s, of Janes- 
ville. Wis., are married Oct. If). Many 
old Dwightites visit Dwight during 
the summer, having come to Chicago to 
visit the great fair, also many eastern 



relatives of people here come west. 
MissErminia Elfrieda Baker and Dr. 
"William I^eonard Barnes were married 
Oct 21) as the home of the bride. They 
now reside in Syracuse, N. Y. Joel B. 
Luther purchases the hardware busi- 
ness of ^y. J. Sargent ilv: Son. Louis 
Schaeifer, of Chicago, an experienced 
hotel man, takes charge of the Living- 
ston. He is still a resident of Dwight. 
Miss Inga Jacobsen and S. S. Green, of 
Chicago, are married November 4. 
Word was received of the marriage of 
Miss Estella Krohn, a former teacher 
in the Dwight schools to E. J. Healy. 
Rev. Fisher resigns the pastorate of 
Congregational church. He is now pas- 
tor of the First Congregational church 
in South Omaha. Sunday, Nov. 19, the 
Cohmibia hotel on Mazon avenue was 
burned. It was the property of B. K. 
Grithth. James Goodman gets his fin- 
gers mashed while coupling cars The 
"Temple of Fame" was given by the 
ladies of Congregational church. John 
Pettit had a piece of tin extracted frcmi 
one of his legs, which had been imbed- 
ded there for seventeen years. Miss 
Josephine Lembrich and Anton Deifen- 
baugh are married in November. The 
AV. A. K. L. give a fair in December 
one evening and cleared over )in200. The 
Dwight Star and Herald issues a hand- 
some holiday edition, presenting many 
half-tone portraits of citizens and ])ic- 
tures of residences and public buildings. 
There was a geat demand for the paper, 
and thousands of them were sent away. 
Miss Anna McClary and W. O. Cook 
are married Dec. 20. The Christmas 
holidays were celebrated in a beautiful 
manner by the churches and the W. A. 
K. L. The usual trees and entertain 
ments were given, and the W. A. K. L. 
looked after the poor by having a tree 
a( the club house and invited all the 
poor children, and distributed hundreds 



100 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLi:sOIS. 



of warm shoes, stockings, cloths, etc., 
and the local members of the Keeley 
League sent the little ones to the 
Ketcham house for dinner. The Star 
and Herald published a series of Christ- 
mas stories for the little ones which 
were of much interest. Philip Clover's 



family have a re-union. Sad news was 
received of the death of Mrs, P, M, 
France, wife of a former pastor of the 
Congregational church. The year 1893 
closed with "Peace on earth and good 
will to man." 





HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



101 



CHAPTER X. 
1894. 



This year opened with everyone in 
our community as prosperous as could 
be expected considering that the times 
were what is termed "hard." The liber- 
ality of Dwight citizens generally was 
displayed during 1S93 and 1894 in a 
manner very creditable. No one suf- 
fered in our midst and never will if the 
])eople know it. As the writer has said 
many times, "Dwight generally has the 
most liberal people he ever saw." Mr. 
and Mrs. (". M. Baker celebrate the 
twentieth anniversary of their wedding. 
Mr. Richards, of Streator, buys the 
Payne farm. Hon. O. W. Pollard. Hon. 
David McWilIiams, Miss Artie Pollard 
and Mr. and Mrs. P. E. Miller visit in 
California. Anton Deifenbach pur- 
chases the Livingston tonsorial parlors 
of (Jus Levi. An article was published 
in the Star and lleiald showing that 
The Leslie E. Keeley Co. was paying 
one-third of the whf)le tax in Dwight 
townshij). The Dwight Cornet liand is 
organized with Prof. Evans as leader 
and instructor. Miss Marcella Ferguson 
and .John Kennedy were married Jan- 
uary 31. The Dwight (1. A. R. Post 
jtresented the Dwight Sons of Veterans 
Cam]) with a handsome silk Hag in 
February. Miss Susan Real and Ed. 
Christman are married Feb. <>. Miss 
Nora Burke and Simon Rhode Feb. 5. 
S, Bergman, biother of Dr. Bergman, 



died in February. Dr. Milton Keeley is 
made surgeon of the Fifth Regiment, I. 
N. G., with the rank of Major. Miss 
Lulu Cole passes away Feb. 11, after a 
long illness. Mrs. Henry Burke dies 
Feb. 14. The Dwight high school cele- 
brated Washington's birthday. Miss 
Anna Chalmers and .lohn L. Burnham 
are married Feb. 21. Dr. C. H. Jiarr is 
appointed surgeon of the Alton road. 
James Kelagher is appointed postmas- 
ter the last of February. His portrait 
will be found elsewhere in this work. 
Peter Sands dies March 5. Miss Jennie 
Briibaker and C. T. Ingraham are mar- 
ried March 7. Dwight Morgan finishes 
his first report of the railroads of Illi- 
nois. The sad news is received of the 
accidental death of Wm. A. Chamber- 
lain in Kansas. The remains were 
brought to Dwight for interment. Wm. 
E. Austin is found dead in bed, sup- 
j)osed to have died of heart disease. 
Herman Overbeck dies suddenly. J.D. 
Rutan dies in Iowa. Edwin Mezgar & 
Co. purchased the elevator so long run 
by Jesse Deifenbach. Edward O. Reed 
annoiuices himself in the Star and Her- 
as a candidate for the rei)ublican nomi- 
nation for sheriff. He afterwards re- 
ceived the nomination and was elect- 
ed by a large majority. Hahn Bros, 
make improvements in their elevator. 
Miss Carrie M. Branson and James E. 



102 



HISTORY OF DWiGiiT, illi:nois. 



Gregory are married in Pontiac March 
27. A new train is put on the Alton 
between Bloorolngton and Jollet. Rev. 

E. F. "Wright is engaged as pastor of 
the Congregational church, which posi- 
tion he still holds, and is beloved by his 
tiock. 

As municipal election time came 
around there were two parties in the 
held. Neither one was for license, but 
one ticket was under the name of 
"Anti-License," and the other "("iti- 
zens"." The caucuses were held and the 
following nominations made : Anti- 
License— F. A. liaise, president ; Eu- 
gene Flagler, John Oeis, L. A. Naffzi- 
ger, trustees ; Frank L. Smith, clerk. 
Citizens'-II. Fox, president ; Samuel 
McLane, Ed. IIahn,M. Starrett, trustees; 
Henry McLane, clerk. After a sharp 
canvass the following were elected : 

F. A. Haise, president ; Samuel Mc- 
Lane, L. A. Naffziger, Eugene Flagler, 
trustees ; Frank Smith, clerk. The 
board was an t^xc^llent one and did 
good work. 

The township nominations were made 
as follows : Democratic W. H. Ketch- 
am, supervisor ; (ieorge Baker, town 
clerk; L. J. Trunnell, assessor; J. 
Diefenbaugh, collector ; Jacob Christ- 
man, commissioner; J. Gammel. 
trustee, liepublican— R. H. Mills, su- 
pervisor ; E. T. Miller, clerk ; AVm. R. 
Brown, assessor ; L. Heeder, collector ; 
AVm. Christensen. commissi(Mier : A. P. 
Conant, trustee. The whole liepublican 
ticket was elected by an average ma- 
jority of 118. Mrs. Mary Ivens. mother 
of liert Ivens. died in Chicago and was 
buried in Dwight. Claude ^V. Thomp- 
son, son of Mr. and Mrs. William K. 
Thompson, of Union, dies in April. 
Nicholas Minster, father of Mrs. (ieo. 
L.Kern, dies at his home in Ottawa. 
James Kelagher takes the postottice and 
appoints .lolui Dolierty chief deputy. 



Dick Thornton goes into partnership 
with DeWitt Miller in the restaurant 
business. Capt. Geo. H. Wentz, former 
sheriff of Livingston county, dies. Miss 
Maggie Kelly and Joseph J. Ribordy 
and Miss Lizzie Kelly and John F. 
Comeford were married in April. Miss 
Maggie Morrissey and James Haggerty 
are married. 

The spring school election in 1894 was 
the tirst one in some time that had 
caused much excitement. Two cau- 
cuses were held, the tirst one nomi- 
nating Col. R. P. Morgan for president 
of the Board of Education, and .Mrs. C. 
M. Baker and Mrs. A. (i. Iluey for 
mem.bers of the board. The other caii- 
cus nominated A. Brubaker for i)resi- 
dent and John Pettett and AV. II. Doty 
for members. Then some friends of V. 
S. Wright nominated him, and there 
were three tickets in the field. The 
ladies took advantage of their rights 
and turned out in great numbers and 
voted. The result was the election of 
A. Brubaker. John Pettett and Mrs. C. 
M. Baker. There were 522 votes cast 
in three hours. Some of the old mem- 
bers of the town board were sued for a 
bill by the Massac Iron company. The 
case was afterwards settled. The Star 
and Herald commences to publish the 
contents of this history. The Dwight 
Odd Fellows celebrate their seventy- 
fifth anniversary of the order. Thos. 
Morrissey dies in April. The Scott 
House is moved to the grounds where it 
is at present located. Dr. AV. II. Weld 
located in Dwight for the ])ractice of 
medicine. Later he moved to Council 
IJlul'l's, Iowa. The Moody quartette 
gave an entertainment in the Congrega- 
tional church. The Dwight school gave 
a very excellent exhibit of jiractical 
work which was of very much interest. 
At the first meeting of^ the new board 
liohert Oi-r was' reappointed marshal 



HISTORY OF DWKHIT, ILLINOIS, 



in:? 



and street commissioner, "Wm. Miller 
ni^lit watchman, Dwight Mills engineer 
and }i. B. Buck village treasurer. 
Commander Ayling. Comrades Wil- 
liams, Parsons and Mesdames AV. (i. 
Dustin, Williams and Austin visit 
Kockl'ord as delegates to the state en- 
campment of G. A. 11. and W. R. C. 
The second-hand store is robbed. Mrs. 
G. W. Boyer celebrates her sixty-sixth 
natal day, May IL Prof. W. T. Wilson 
resigned the superintendency of the 
Dwight schools. Prof. J. H. Meneely 
was engaged in his stead. He is the 
present superintendent and is an excel- 
lent instructor. His portrait Avill be 
found in this book. 

C. li. Tombaugh for county -superin- 
tendent of schools, Col. J. B. Parsons 
for county treasurer, Fred Duckett for 
county clerk, C. M. Barickman for 
judge, O. F. Avery for judge, C. H. F. 
Carrithers for judge, announce their 
wishes in the Star and Herald. "Ye 
Okie Folks" ■■ concert, given at M. E. 
church, was a very entertaining affair. 
Decoration Day was celebrated as never 
before in Dwight this year. Kev. E. F. 
Wright i)reached the memorial sermon 
and Rev. C. AV. Ayling delivered the 
oration in Oak Lawn cemetery. There 
were thousands of people present frcmi 
miles around. Mrs. Robert Liggett 
dies at her home in Normal, May 2. 
The funeral was held in Dwight, her 
home for so many years. Mr. and Mrs. 
Henry Miller lose a little child by death. 
The fourteenth annual commencement 
of Dwight high school was held in the 
oi)era house. ••Light" was selected as 
the motto, and the graduates were : 
Misses Alary Fitield. Marie K. Petersen 
and Emma A. (Jroll. Pr(jf. Nilson ccm- 
' ferred the diplomas. ,].M. Owen dies 
after a severe illness. Children's day 
was appropriately celebrated by the 
churches. Gen. Smith I). Atkins visits 



Dwight. Dr. Leslie F. Keeley, Major 

C. J. Judd, Mrs. Dr. Blaine, Mrs. Dr. 
Barr, Mrs. AV. (i. Dustin, Mrs. AV. T. 
Prime, Mrs. Anna Barr, Mrs. Gertie 
Kaylor, Judge AV. S. Arnold, AV. T. 
Prime, J. J. Miller, AVillard S. Brown 
and AV. G. Dustin attend the state con- 
venti(m Keeley League at Bloomington- 
Mrs. Alf. Baker celebrates her tifty- 
fourth natal day, June Ki. Mrs. Sarah 
Sterrett dies sviddenly June 22. Her re- 
mains were taken to Pittsburg. Jesse 
Slyder visits his son in Denver. The 
Star and Herald issues another patri- 
otic, red, white and blue paper in honor 
of July 4. A. B. Conant receives a very 
severe kick from a horse. Bert Ivens 
and family move to Chicago. The 
great strike is on and for a few days no 
trains moved. The whole country was 
paralyzed, and the result was the great- 
est strike ever known. The hardware 
store of B. A. Buck was burglarized. 
Miss Nellie Cunliffe and Alex. Cupples, 
of Chicago, were married June 27. July 
4 was celebrated in the grand old way in 
1894. The city was crowded with people 
and everybody stayed in Dwight whether 
they wanted to or not, for the great strike 
was on and no trains were moving. The 
parade was very nice, there being sev- 
eral hundred school children in line, each 
carrying tiags. The president of the 
day was Mayor F. A. Haise, Marshals 

D. B. Stevens and Edr McAVilliams. 
Misses Lizzie AVinkler, Emma Barr and 
Myrtle AVheatley represented red, white 
and blue, on horseback. Rev. C. AV. 
Ayling was the speaker and delivered a 
splendid address. The exercises jjassed 
off' very pleasantly from early morning 
to late at night. About 7 o'clock in the 
evening John (Jeis's cigar store caught 
lire, but was immediately squelched by 
the lire company and the great worth 
of the water works was once more dem- 
onstrated. Miss Estella J. Flagler and 



104 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



Everett B. Lewis were marriedJune 30. 
Mrs. John Thompson passes away July 
7, after a long illness. B. A. Buck at- 
tends the Democratic congressional 
convention at Streator, where Hon. 
Robert Gibbons was nominated. The 
Leslie E. Keeley Co. purchases the J. A. 
Hayes farm for .S21, 000 and sells it to 
J. 11. Ought on for .$14,000, and thus the 
sewer question was settled forever. The 
following gentlemen attended the Re- 
publican county convention as dele- 
gates : C. L. Romberger, R. H. Mills, 
Ed. McWilliams, Will Bartholic, Thos. 
Weldon, Joseph Burnham, Frank L. 
Smith, J. C. Lewis, E. II. Kneeland, Or- 
ville Brown, Ame Orr, Martin Seabert, 
H.F. Adams, Lee Reeder,R. I). Gregg. 
As is well known I) wight's candidate. 
Col. J. B. Parsons, was nominated at 
this convention and subsequently 
elected county treasurer by a large ma- 
jority. D. McWilliams, C. L. Romber- 
ger and W. G. Dustin attend the con- 
gressional convention at Streator. 
Capt. T. C. FuUerton was nominated 
for congress and afterward died sud- 
denly, and Hon. Walter Reeves, of 
Streator, was nominated and duly 
elected. Col. Parsons, J. F. Wassell, 
Frank Smith and W. (}. Dustin attend 
the Republican State convention at 
Springtield. Jacob Christman has two 
horses killed by lightning. The Star 
and Herald publishes a very interesting 
Jetter written by C. J. Judd from Nan- 
tucket, July 28. Mrs. Morrison, mother 
of Mrs.C. (i. Barr, dies July 2t). Fol- 
lowing were the delegates elected to the 
Democratic county convention : S. T. 
K. Prime, John Thompson, L. J. Trun- 
nell, Peter Ileinen, J. Christman, I'hil 
Shrimpton, D. C. Morgan, M. C. Star- 
rett, Geo. N. Flagler, John (Jeis and 
John Korrect. They were instructed 
for H. F. Mcllduff forjudge and .John 
C. fieorge for clerk, (two former Dwight 



men) and carried their point, but the 
candidates were defeated at the polls. 
R. H. Mills and W. G. Dustin attended 
the senatorial convention at Wenona. 
Miss Louise de Clercq and Samuel C. 
Jennings were married August 1. Miss 
Louise McWilliams spends several 
months abroad. Major ]Milton Keeley 
is called out with his regiment during 
the great strike. Dr. and Mrs. Leslie 
E. Keeley enjoy a pleasant trip to 
Alaska. II. A. Kenyon accepts the po- 
sition of manager of the Leslie E. Kee- 
ley Co.'s business. Mr. Leonard IIow- 
lett erects a handsome house on Mazon 
avenue. Mrs. Charles L. Romberger 
comes home in August after a severe 
illness in Chicago. II. W. Reed, son-in- 
law of Mrs. Koehnlein, dies in August 
in California. Dwight Mills resigns in 
August and Freeman Spencer is ap- 
pointed engineer of the water works. 
Major R. W. Hendershot, the original 
dnuiimer boy of Shiloh, visits Dwight 
and gives an entertainment. Austni 
Gibbons, W, H. Ketcham and PI T. 
Potter attend the Democratic senatorial 
convention at Minonk. Congressman 
Thomas J. Henderson, of Bureau 
coxinty, and Judge Henry Mayo, of La 
Salle county, candidates for congress, 
visit Dwight. The Dwight (iun Club 
is organized August HJ, and the follow- 
ing otlicers were elected : President. .1. 
l\. Oughton ; vice president, H. F. 
Adams ; secretary and treasurer, C. W 
Bower ; executive committee, George 
Tate, Robert Orr and the otlicers named; 
ca])1ain. Doc llause. The club is in a 
nourishing condition and hold regular 
shoots. Prof. J. II. Meneely, of Dwight, 
was granted a })er])etual certilicate for 
teaching. Miss Fowler, of Evanstoii. 
occupies the ]M. F. church pulpit with 
ability Sunday, August I'.». .1. A. Web- 
ster and family left for their old home 
in New York to reside thei'e permu- 










;ii 





Robert Thompson. 



Levi Reeder. 





W. H. Taylor. 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



103 



nently. Col. R. P. Morgan makes val- 
uable improvements in his beautiful 
home. The Congregational Sunday 
School picnic in Vickery's grove was a 
very pleasant affair in August. The 
Dwight Board of Education issue a 
pamphlet of rules and regulations. 
They have been a source of much good. 
The Star and Herald presents views of 
the Dwight school houses. They are 
also presented in this work. Miss Artie 
F. Pollard and Mr. W. N. Fisher were 
married September 6, at the home of 
Hon. O. "NV. I'ollard. They reside at the 
home of the groom in Attleboro, Mass. 
R. D. Gregg sells his farm one mile from 
Dwight to Dr. Palm for $111 per acre. 
Uncle James Smith visits relatives and 
friends in the east, Jesse Slyder visits 
his son in Denver; E. H. Kneeland 
visits Niagara Falls; Thomas Fallis 
visits his old home in Ohio; all old 
and honored citizens. Dr. Leslie E. 
Keeley, Major C. J. Judd, Judge W. A. 
Arnold, J. J. Miller, and "W. G. Dustin 
attend the National Keeley League con- 
vention at Colorado Springs and enjoy 
a splendid visit. A man named Sulli- 
van, from Chicago, was run over by the 
cars and lost an arm. The lllini Club 
was organized September 11, and has 
conducted a course of lectures since, 
which have been a source of much in- 
terest to the club and citizens generally. 
Prof. J. H. Meneely was elected chair- 
man and Will J. Leach secretary. The 
Modern Woodmen of Dwight, Gardner, 
Mazon and Verona have their lirst an- 
nual picnic six miles north of Dwight 
and enjoyed a very pleasant day consid- 
ering the weather. State Chaplain E. 
F. Wright, of Dwight, delivered a line 
oration. Miss Jean Cantner and Judge 
AV. A. Arnold were married September 
19, at the home of the bride at Monti- 
cello, 111. They reside in Dwight at 
this time. L. A. Rutan, of Staplehurst, 



Neb., visits his old home here. Frank 
Travis, formerly of Dwight, is killed 
by the cars in Chicago. Mrs. J. A. 
Austin passes away September 18, after 
a long illness. Miss Eliner Jensen and 
Herbert Palmer, of Janesville, Wis., are 
married September 18. They reside in 
Janesville. Miss Kate Foersterling and 
Henry Seagert are married September 
16. They reside in Dwight. Dr. Keeley 
lectures in Tabor Opera House in Den- 
ver and meets with an ovation. Rev. 
C. W. Ayling attends the M. E. confer- 
ence and is returned to Dwight, which 
was a gratification to his many friends 
in Dwight. He is here at the close of 
this history— 1895. A large number of 
Dwightites go to Pontiac to listen to 
Senator Cullom speak. Also a number 
go to Peoria or Springtield and hear Gov- 
ernor McKinley, of Ohio. The Dwight 
Amusement Club give the "event of 
the season" in Lyceum hall in Septem- 
ber. Quite a number of Dwight Dem- 
ocrats go to Chatsworth to hear Mr. Mc- 
Veagh, of Chicago, speak, and to Strea- 
tor to listen to Vice-President Steven- 
son. John McWilliams takes some of 
his best horses to the state fair and cap- 
tures some prizes. The barbers decide 
to close up Sundays. D. McWilliams 
takes a pleasure trip to Maine and other 
eastern states. He gives .^10,000 to the 
church extension fund of the M. E. con- 
ference. James xVustin visits Dwight 
from his home in Nebraska. AV. H. 
Bradbury, of Topeka, Kansas, visits 
Dwight and meets his old friends. His 
portrait will be found m this history. 
Mrs. Elizabeth Lyle Saxon lectures in 
Dwight in October. Mrs. Wm. Reeder 
passes away October 8 after a long ill- 
ness. Mrs. Paulsen and Patrick Coyne 
wed in October. Miss Ellen O'Connor 
and George Mullen are married in Chi- 
cago October 7. W . G. Dustin was 
elected one of the vice-presidents of the 



10 i 



IIISTOllY OF DWIGIIT. ILLI^UIS. 



Illinois State Eepublican League. Hev. 
E. F. Wright is elected chairman of the 
Congregational association of this dis- 
trict. Mr. and Mrs. II. McLane visit in 
Nebraska. The sixth annual reunion 
of the 129th Illinois volunteer infantry 
was held in Fairbury. Major Judd is 
the historian and reads a splendid pa- 
per. H. A. Kenyon and X. Riggs are 
also present from Dwight. '1 he Star 
and Herald published a full report. On 
the evenmg of October 18 Thomas 
Comeford, an old resident, lost his life 
while crossing the Chicago & Alton 
railroad tracks on Chippawa street. 
He was in a milk wagon at the time. 
The funeral was largely attended, the 
G. A. R., of which the deceased was a 
member, attended m a body, also the 
Sons of Veterans and the Woman's Re- 
lief Corps. Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Prime 
celebrated the tenth anniversary of their 
wedding October 15. Capt. Gibbons 
speaks in the opera house. Hon. Wal- 
ter Reeves and Hon. George Torrance 
speak in the opera house. The C. &. A. 
have quite a serious wreck near the hay- 
press factory. A number of freight cars 
are smashed. J. I). McCarty is quite 
badly injured and dies October 20. The 
family moved here from Odell. The 
widow subsequently started the Home 
Bakery in Dwight. Harry Diffenbaugh, 
of Washington, Kansas, visits his 
father and friends here in October and 
November. The general election cam- 
paign in Dwight was quiet and good 
natured. The result was about the 
same all over the country—a Rei)ubli- 
can land slide. The village was divided 
into two voting precincts for the first 
time and nearly OOO votes were cast. 
Major McClaughry delivers his cele- 
brated lecture on "Crimes and Crimin- 
als," November 8, under the auspices 
of the mini Club. The grandest camp- 
(h-e ever held in this part of the country 



was held in Dwight, November 13. 1894. 
It was held in the opera house, which 
was crowded. National Commander 
Thomas G. Lawler, of Rockford, and 
Quartermaster (Jeneral J. W. Rurst, of 
Sycamore. Capt. O. F. Avery and W. 
H. .Jenkins, of Pontiac, and Mr. and 
Mrs. I iickett, of Forest, were present. 
The program was excellent and the 
speeches full of patriotism. The camp- 
fire was repeated shortly after with 
marked success. After the camp-fire 
the citizens of Dwight gave the distin- 
guished visitors a banquet at the Liv- 
ingston, at wliich one hundred plates 
were spread. Col. R. P. Morgan acted 
as loastmaster. 

Miss Mary Triplett, of Budd, and 
Emil Karmie, of Nevada, were married 
at the M. E. parsonage November 10. 
II. T. McLane sends the Star and Her- 
ald an interesting letter from Nebraska. 
The Congregational Association held a 
fellowship meeting in I wight and meet 
with much success. One of the nu)St 
important transfers made in this local- 
ity was brought about. Major C. J. 
Judd purchased the well. known Ber- 
tholy Home of S. T. K. Prime and son. 
and they in turn purchase the elegant 
home of Major Judd in Dwight, the 
latter having moved to Chicago with 
his family. H. A. Kenyon j)urchased 
the handsome property known as the 
"typists home." Spencer P^ldridge pur- 
chases the G. S. Baker home on Chij)- 
]iewa street. The district convention 
of the Epworth League was held in 
Dwight in November, and many were 
present from neighboring counties and 
towns. The meeting was a very inter- 
esting one. Among the distinguished 
visitors was Bishoji Merrill. The fam- 
ily of Henry Tonibaugh in Iowa sulTei- 
from the effects of a cyclone. 

The Star and Herald announces that 
all the paper will be printed at home. 



IIISTOKY OF UWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



105 



which is a sure sign of jjrospeiity. The 
(iun Club held a very interesting shoot 
Thanksgiving day. A township Sun- 
day Scliool convention was held in 
Dwight December 9, and was very suc- 
cessful. Miss Martha McAllister and 
Henry Christman are married in Odell 
November 30. Mrs. Mary Foot and 
Jared A\'illianis were married at the 
bride's home in Missouri, November 27. 
JMartni Wilks, an old and respected cit- 
izen and (J rand Army man. dies No- 
vember 27. Frank McAllister, of Odell, 
formerly of L) wight, passed away in 
Odell December 3. The Star and Her- 
ald publishes a series of letters from 
Pontiac. which create much interest. 
Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Boyer return from 
several months" visit to their old home 
and neighborhood in Pennsylvania. 
Rev. F. W. Merrill, a former pastor of 
the M. l"! church, now (1895) at Roch 
Island, delivered his lecture, "Dreams 
and Dreamers," at .M. E. church. The 
reverend gentleman received a warm 
reception here. 'J he first annual tourn- 
ament of the Dwight Gun Club was 
held December 27 and 28 and was a suc- 
cess. Miss Clara A. Hibner and Peter 
J, Young are married at the home of 
the bride December 17. The doll fair 
given by the Y. W. C T.U. atM. E. 
church, was a very pretty and success- 
ful affair Freden Lodge, 1). B, give 
tiieir anual masquerade with their usual 
sjilendid succsss The Alton railroad 
issue an order that no man who works 
for them shall go in a saloon or drink 
intoxicants Sarah Knudsen and Hans 
C. Sorensen, Miss Anna K. Oleson and 
and Andrew Rock, and Miss Jennie 



Mahannah and Ed. Pfeff'erman are mar" 
ried in December. '1 he 1. 1 & I com- 
mence moving passenger trains and 
carrying mail in December, and their 
efforts meet with Mattering success. A 
pretty cantata, "King Winter,"' was 
given at the M. E. church for Christ- 
mas The Congregational church also 
had a very pleasant entertainment, and 
all the churches celebrated the holi- 
days for the children in some manner 
I)leasing to all. Revs. Swanson, of 
Odell, and Wright, of Dwight, Congre- 
gational pastors, commence the publi- 
cation of a handsome monthly news- 
paper, called The Outlook. Miss Ste- 
vens and Mr. H I). Gillispie are mar- 
ried in December and afterwards visit 
in Kansas. Many young people going 
to school away and people employed in 
other places, came home during the 
holidays , and the "gladdest of the year" 
seemed to be spent appropriately by all. 
AVe now near the close of this history, 
having given the important historical 
facts as far as was in our power to do 
so. It is not necessary for us to state 
that we have not gotten everything that 
happened encased between these covers, 
or even all the important events. I here 
were some years it was impossible for 
us to get any reliable information, 
and we simjjly repeat that we have done 
the best we could, and submit our work 
for your kind consideration Many in- 
teresting •'])ersonal recollections"" will 
follow, and other matter. 
Yours truly, 
Di SPIN A: Prime, 

Publishers. 



106 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



CHAPTER XI. 
FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS. 



ladies' benevolent society. 

In Dwight, 111., ia the afternoon of 
Tebruary 2, 1880, fifteen ladies met with 
Mrs. Hetzel in her home to organize a 
society to be known as the Ladies' Be- 
nevolent Society of the Congregational 
Church. The plan of organization was 
this : A lady could become a member 
of this society on the payment of an 
initiation fee of 25 cents, and pledge 
herself to assist in whatever work the 
society should engage. Torecompence 
her for three hours' work per week, 
receive credit for five cents, and if she 
should be absent, or present, and work 
for herself, she must pay a fine of 5 
cents to the society. 

The object of this society in the 
minds of all, was to do that work, 
for aid of the church, which presented 
itself. The first object in the minds of 
some, was to raise funds to purchase a 
bell for the church. The charter mem- 
bers were the following ladies : Mes- 
dames Adams, Brubaker, Cornell, Cad- 
wallader, Cary, Eldridge, S. Eldridge, 
Estes, Hartley, McClure, Newell, Jor- 
den, Parsons and Pool. Mrs. Hartley 
was elected president; Mrs. Jorden, 
secretary; Mrs. Hetzel, treasurer. The 
latter retained the office ten years, and 
on her retiring Mrs. Adams was elected 
and still continues in office. 

In these years many ladies have 



joined the society and have withdrawn 
only to engage in work in new fields, 
while but three have severed the tie to 
join the society angels. For the first 
years of its existence this society fol- 
lowed so close the scriptural injunction, 
"Let not thy left hand know what thy 
right hand doeth," that they kept no 
records, save of moneys raised and ex- 
pended. Nothing was said of the 
money given to buy back the cow taken 
from a poor woman for debt, nor of the 
boxes of clothing sent to sufferers from 
fire, tlood and famine, and yet each box 
represented money as well as hours and 
days of weary work, and often a great 
sacrifice of strength. Not one word as 
to where applied. In 1886 the ladies, 
believing their business policy to be 
defective, appointed a committee to 
draft a constitution. The report of 
this committee, by a full vote, was 
adopted. Since which time one hour 
each week is devoted to business which 
is duly recorded for future reference — 
a great help to poor memories. Now, 
the fifteenth year of this society's ex- 
istence has nearly closed. Fifteen years 
organized to aid tlie cause of Christ, 
Let us see if it has, and how it has, met 
its obligations. You will say, on lirst 
thought, that it has failed in one of its 
first objects. It has purchased no bell. 
We declare that in these fifteen years 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



lo-; 



it has purchased many bells, the tones 
of which are not audible to human ears, 
tor, only by God, and the angels, are 
they heard. 

These ladies seem never to shrink 
from any strain to nerve or muscles, 
but take up with clieerfulness what- 
evei work is offered them, from the 
scrubbing of the church to the tying of 
eighteen comforts for one of our lead- 
ing mercliants. During these years, 
and by these means, have they been 
enabled to help at different times to 
pay the pastor's salary, and for six years 
paid ail the incidental expenses of the 
church, contributed quite a sum to the 
organ fund, and last, but not least, 
paid many old debts, of their own 
choice, although in no way were they 
responsible for them. The society's 
membership has never exceeded thirty- 
five, and yet it has raised in these years 
$2,520.42. The greatest amount ever 
raised in one year being $282 54, and 
the least $72.95. Along with this hard 
work has come much of brightness and 
pleasure, as the vearly anniversaries 
show, at which times the honorary 
members of the society (namely, the 
husbands) are invited to a great spread 
and the hours are spent in feasting and 
merriment. The present list of oflticers 
are the following ladies : President, 
Mrs. J. C. Lewis ; vice-president, Mrs. 
B. A. Buck ; secretary, Mrs. John 
Koehler ; treasurer, Mrs. A.E.Adams. 
Executive Committee— .Mesdaraes Ba- 
ker, Spencer. Doty, Adams and Buck. 

Oa these ladies you may call if you 
have any piece of work you want done, 
from that of the artist to the cook or 
nurse. 



prosperous condition. It was organ- 
ized in May, 1889, with a membership 
of sixteen. Since that time the inter- 
est has been constantly increasing, new 
members being added until there are 
now enrolled fifty-eight. Meetings are 
held once a month, at which very in- 
teresting and instructive papers are 
read on different fields of missionary 
work, and thus the members are all in- 
terested in the work of helping send 
the gospel to foreign lands, the purpose 
of the organization' $l'i5 being sent 
this past conference year. The officers 
are as follows : President, Mrs. Man- 
ning Smith ; first vice-president, Mrs. 
Darwin Stevens; second vice-president, 
Mrs. John Leach ; corresponing secre- 
tary, Mrs. Frank liaise ; recording sec- 
retary. Miss Luella Stevens ; treasurer, 
Mrs. p'rank Bell. 



MISSIONARY SOCJIETY. 

The Dwight Auxiliary of the Wo- 
man's Foreign >^Iissionary Society of 
the M. E. church is at present in a very 



EASTERN STAR. 

Dwight Chapter No. 166, of the order 
of the Eastern Star, was organized Oc- 
tober 31, 1890, with thirteen charter 
members. 

This order was instituted to afford a 
larger reign of peace and love upon 
earth, to erect a shrine where the bur- 
dened heart could pour out its sorrows 
and distress find relief. 

The Eastern Star is closely related to 
the Masonic fraternity, and although 
related to it by the dearest ties, yet it is 
no part of the ancient order. But 
woman's heart beats responsive to the 
same inspiration that prompts man to 
noble deeds, and seeks through the 
Eastern Star to become a co-worker 
with the Masonic brotherhood. And it 
is for this purpose that we assemble in 
our chapter room. 

During the t\\e years of our exist- 
ence many pleasant evenings have been 
spent together, several banquets spread 
and picnics enjoyed, each one binding 



108 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILH:N0IS. 



the sisters more closely together. 

The officers have secured for them- 
selves an elegant set of robes, vehich 
adds greatly to the Interest of the v^ork. 

We congratulate ourselves upon hav- 
ing in our number one proficient in 
drill work as Brother John Pettett, 
who, with untiring zeal, has taken 
much pride as well as given much la- 
bor in drilling a Floral Team, "second 

to none in the state.'' 
Death has entered our chapter room 

and severed two of the ''links in our 
golden chain." Thus twice has this 
order been called upon to perform our 
beautiful funeral ceremonies, the 
floral star being formed at the graves 
of Sisters Alice Oakshett and Johanna 
Crandall. Two have gone from us by 
demit to other fields of labor, making 
the present membership forty-two, 
with peace and harmony prevailing. 
The stated time of meeting is the sec- 
ond Friday of each month. The offi- 
cers are. Worthy Matron Margret 
Leach ; Worthy Patron, Rev. C. W. 
Ayling ; Associate Matron, Emma Tay- 
lor ; Secretary, Nora Goodman ; Treas- 
urer, Delia Miller ; Conductress, Anna 
E. Buck ; Assistant Conductress, Ella 
Doty ; Warder, Matilda Pettett; Guard, 
Mr. Petersen ; Adah, Anna Bovik ; 
Ruth, Maggie Palm ; Esther, Rose Mil- 
ler ; Martha, Estella Baker ; Electa, 
Lucy Crandall; Chaplain, Nellie Rom- 
berger. A Stak. 

ILLINI CLUB, NO. 950, LYCEUM LEAGUE 
OF AMERICA. 

This society enjoys the aistinction of 
being the latest organization, of a so- 
cial or literary character, in Dwight. 

The idea of having a boys' literary 
society, modeled after those in our col- 
leges and academies, originated and has 
long been a pet project in the minds of 
some young men of the village, and, at 
the beginning of the present school 



year, these boys, with the help of the 
principal of the Dwight schools, suc- 
ceeded in bringing together seventeen 
young men who organized themselves 
into a literary society, their purpose, as 
declared in the preamble of their con- 
stitution, being to give the members of 
the order a thorough drill in parlia- 
mentary procedure and the art of pub- 
lic speaking, and to create and encour- 
age among themselves an interest in the 
principal questions of the day. Later 
the society was organized into a local 
lodge of the Lyceum League of Amer- 
ica, of which the Hon. Theodore Roose- 
velt is the national president, adopting 
as their distinguishing title the old In- 
dian name for lUiMois— Illini. 

The Illini has met with nothing but 
the best wishes and encouragement of 
our people, the Sons of Veterans kindly 
allowing them the use of their hall for 
a month free of charge. In return the 
society has given the people of Dwight 
and vicinity a course of five lectures, 
which, if not delivered by the most em- 
inent men in the profession, has cer- 
tainly offered, for the money invested, 
extraordinarily generous returns. 
Whether or not the society will realize 
the hopes of its founders, it is yet too 
early to determine, but certain it is 
that, interfering with no other occupa- 
tion of its members, it has given them 
something to occupy their spare time, 
and from which they may derive both 
pleasure and profit. The ultimate suc- 
cess of the project means a step for- 
ward in the practical education of 
America's future voters. 

Following are the officers ; President, 
John Goodspeed ; vice president, Chadz 
Bell ; recording secretary, Charles J. 
I*erry : corresponding secretary, Will 
J. Leach; treas. Will Geis ; marshal, 
Howe Parker. 

All visitors are welcome. ^ 



HISTORY OF D WIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



109 



Y. P. S. C. E, 

The Young People's Society of Chris- 
tian Endeavor of the Congregational 
church, of Dwight, was organized Feb- 
ruary 12, 1887. The late Prof. H. D. Fisk, 
was the first president, Rev. Mr. Wil- 
son, pastor. The Endeavor society has 
for its motto, "For Christ and the 
Church,'" and its object, to help young 
people to live nearer to Christ, to assist 
the pastor of the church in his work, in 
every way possible and to promote the 
principles of good citizenship. Also 
seeks to cultivate a spirit of friendli- 
ness and sociability among its mem- 
bers, and kindness to strangers. 

Our society now has forty members. 
The officers are elected semiannually, 
in January and June. Those for the 
current half year are : Pastor, Rev. E. 
F. Wright ; president, Mrs. J. A. Spen- 
cer ; vice-president, Mary Nelson ; 
treasurer, Mrs. J. L. YanEman ; cor- 
resp-^-nding secretary, Bessie Baker ; 
recording secretary, Alida A. Martin. 

We welcome all to our meetings at 
6:4,5 Sunday evenings. The society is 
now organizing a good citizenship class. 
All who will, who are interested in the 
welfare of their country and in devel- 
oping a higher degree of social life, are 
invited to join, whether they are mem- 
bers of the society or church or not, 

REBEKAIIS. 

Prairie (^ueen Lodge Daughters of 
Rebekahs, Xo. .370, 1. O. O. F , was or- 
ganized in Dwight, HI., January 29. 
1895. 

The officers of the current term are : 
P. N. G., Henry Fox; N. G., Miss Nora 
Goodman ;Y. G., Miss M.F. Pettett; Sec- 
retary, Mrs. F. F. Starrett : Treasurer, 
Mrs. N. A. Ketcham; Deputy for G. M. 
Mrs. H. A. Fox; W.,Miss M. E. Reader; 
C, Miss N. C. Taj lor; Chaplain, John 
Geis : R. S. N. G., John Pettett ; L. S. 



N. G., Mrs. E. Chamberlin ; R.S.V. G.' 
Miss P. E. Fox ; L. S. V. G.. Miss E. 
Baker ; O. G., J. K. Buff ham ; 1. G., W. 
J. Taylor. 

The object of the Rebekah Degree 
Lodge is, to assist the Odd Fellows in 
preparing and maintaining homes for 
their widows and orphans, taking care 
of the sick and to promote the fra- 
ternal and social feelings among its 
members. 

This degree was presented to the 
Sovereign Grand Lodge of the United 
States by Schuyler Colfax and adopted 
in September, 1851. 

It has long been considered among 
men that by far the best part of our 
physically developed humanity, are the 
women, and it is no wonder that a fra- 
ternity like Odd Fellowship, recogniz- 
ing women's great mission, and the 
aptness of the association to her nature, 
should pro v^ide a degree especially for 
her. 

The objects, aims, principles and 
teachings of the order are such that, 
when fully understood, they will cap- 
tivate woman. Lodges of Odd Fellows 
are formed, and in them men are 
banded together to do what it is nat- 
ural for women to do. The leading 
principles of the order are but the in- 
ate principles of women's nature. 

The acknowledged motto of the or- 
der of Odd Fellows is "Friendship 
Love and Truth." The order teaches 
that no one has a right to live simply 
for himself. No one has a right to en- 
joy the blessings of the common Father 
alone. Selfishness, the great sin of our 
humanity, should be avoided, and be- 
nevolence, the great principle of the 
fraternity, should be practiced. 

The great corner-stone of Odd Fel- 
lowship is fraternity, a true fraternity 
in the family of man. On this corner- 
stone, as a solid basis, the whole super- 



no 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLI2sOIS. 



structure securely rests, and will con- 
tinue to rest until time shall be no 
more. The maxim of Odd Fellowship, 
"We visit the sick, relieve the dis- 
tressed, bury the dead and educate the 
orphan,' has touched the feelings and 
stirred up the tender hearts of women ; 
and the work of the order has exhib- 
ited to our American women and to 
the women of the world, what our or- 
der is accomplishing. 

I cannot tell why the degree was 
called llebekah, except it was because 
of the circumstance recorded of Re- 
bekah, so much like the practical work- 
ings of Odd Fellowship. 

EMBLEMS OF THE DEGREE. 

As life is passing, we are taught by 
the emblem of the "Beehive" indus- 
triously to do the work of life, and for 
the purpose of helping each other we 
are banded together in our lodges. 

The emblem of the "Moon and Stars" 
is intended to represent good life which 
does not come to anyone as a matter of 
course, but is the result of divine favor 
attending our earnest efforts to do 
good. 

The emblem of the "Dove" tells us 
that we, too, may have the visits of 
that comforting messenger typified by 
Noah's dove. We may learn in its 
blessed inlluence on our hearts that the 
waters of Jehovah's wrath are as- 
suaged, and that in the salvation pro- 
vided, so beautifully typified by the 
ark, the offender may be reconciled to 
the offended. A Rebekaii. 



woman's auxiliary keeley league. 

The Woman's Auxiliary Keeley 
League, No. 1, of Dwight, was first or- 
ganized in February, 18'.»'2, by a few 
earnest women who were at that time 
taking treatment. It was then called 
the B. C. of Gold Club of Dwight. Only 



ladies who had, or were taking the 
treatment, were eligible to member- 
ship. Their object was to bmd to- 
gether in one fraternal bond all the 
women who had taken the Keeley cure, 
and assist worthy applicants who were 
unable to do so. Their motto was 
"Charity," and the first money they ex- 
pended was to pay for a berth in a 
sleeping car for a patient who was re- 
turning home and was unable to pro- 
cure it herself. 

The Ladies B. C. of G. Club, of 
Dwight, was the first organization of 
women in the Keeley work. In the 
formation of the Woman's Auxiliary 
Keeley League, the club was merged 
into it, but retained the original Xo. 1, 
three of its workers becoming charter 
members in the Auxiliary. Of the 
three one is dead, one withdrawn to 
join elsewhere, and one is still an hon- 
ored member. The first elected officers 
were : President, Mrs. Kate Shaffer ; 
vice-president, Mrs. Barber; secretary, 
Mrs. Carrie Lounsberry. 

In November, 1892, the present Aux- 
iliary was organized by Mrs. Ida B. 
Cole. Mrs. Dr. Blaine was elected pres- 
ident and Mrs. Dr. Barr. secretary. 

The object of the W. A. K. L. is to 
further the cause of temperance, and 
especially to aid in curing the inebriate 
of the disease of alcoholism and others 
in the use of opium and other drugs. 
To teach the youthful of the land to 
avoid the drink and drug addictions, 
and by all means possible, with the 
blessing of God, promote the purity and 
good order of society. 

The motto is "Not willing that any 
should perish." 

Since the organization in November, 
18'.>2, there has been collected from dif- 
ferent sources SfiSo.DO. There is at 
present .i?1819 remaining in the treas- 
ury. The balance has been expended 




Heather Lad. 

J. R. Oughton's $6000 Gordon Setter, took first in every bench 
show in the United States in 1893-94. 



IlISTOUY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



HI 



for curing patients and defraying the 
necessary expenses of running the Aux- 
iliary. >[eetings have been held every 
■week until the present time. lleguJar 
meetings the 2d and 4th Tuesdays in 
every mouth in Odd Fellows' hall. 

Every one is welcome. 

Mrs. Dr. Barr, who has been an un- 
tiring worker since the Auxiliary was 
first organized, is the president. 

avoian's kelief corps. 

One of our eflicient philanthropic or- 
ganizations is the Woman's Ilelief 
Corps, auxiliary to the Grand Army of 
the Republic. Its especial object is 
to aid and assist the members of this 
organization, to cherish and emulate 
the deeds of the brave defenders of our 
nation, and perpetuating the memory 
of their heroic dead. To maintain true 
allegiance to the United States, incul- 
cate lessons of patriotism and love of 
country among our children, and in the 
communities in which we live, and en- 
courage the spread of universal liberty 
Hud equal rights to all. This is a plat- 
form broad enough, not only for the 
mothers, wives, daughters and sisters 
of the Veterans, but for all loyal women 
who would perpetuate the principles 
for which the association stands 
pledged. 

D wight Woman's Relief Corps was 
organized in 1889 with Mrs. Hattie A. 
Fox as president. Their numbers were 
few but their zeal was always alive and 
much good has been done in a quiet 
.way, not only in our own community, 
but aid has been given to the various 
Soldiers' Homes throughout the state. 
The contingent expenses are met out of 
the general fund, the "relief fund" be- 
ing established for the benelit of the 
Veterans. The "line of blue," each 
year growing shorter, has tenderest 



sympathy as well as aid in the Wo- 
man's Relief Corps. 

The olllcers for the ensuing year are : 
President, Mrs. Kate A. Dustin ; vice- 
presidents, Mrs. Ella Wheatley and 
Mrs. E. L. Huey ; treasurer, Mrs. Lucie 
Lewis ; chaplain, Mrs. Lizzie Ayling; 
conductor, Miss Emma Buffham ; 
guard, Miss Myrtle Wheatley. 



YOUNG WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPER- 
ANCE UNION, 

This branch of the Y's, as they are 
commonly called, was organized May 
7, 1887, composed of the young ladies 
of Dwight, and has ever been a flour- 
ishing, prosperous society. The mis- 
sion of this organization is to help the 
needy, visit the sick and aged, cheer- 
ing them with fruit and flowers, send- 
ing money to hospitals, etc. The pres- 
ent oflicers are : President, Miss Kittle 
Martin , first vice-president, Miss Le- 
narFifield ; second vice-president. Miss 
Aline Ohenowith ; recording secretary. 
Miss Nellie Hade : corresponding sec- 
retary. Miss Mae Morgan : treasurer, 
Miss Mary Fifleld ; superintendent 
flower mission, Miss Lena Fifleld ; su- 
perinrendent of literature, Miss Ella 
Fenn. 



EP WORTH LEAGUE. 

The Epworth League is an organiza- 
tion of the young people of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal church. Its object is to 
promote intelligent and vital piety in 
the young members and friends of the 
church ; to aid them in the attainment 
of purity of heart and constant growth 
in grace and to train them in works of 
mercy and help. 

Its motto is, "Look up, Lift up." The 
Dwight Chapter of the Epworth League 
was organized about five years ago, and 
now has a membership of seventy-six 
actiye, twenty-three associate and eight 



112 



HISTORY OF DAVIGUT, ILLI^^OIS. 



honorary members. The present presi- 
dent is Mr. D. B. Stevens. 

The work of the League is carried out 
through six departments: 1. Depirt- 
ment of Spirituil Work, Supeniiteiient 
Mrs. D. B. Stevens. '*. Mercy aud ilelp, 
Saperinteudent, Miss Xellie McWil- 
liams. 3. Literary \Vork,Superiiite'id- 
ent, Miss Louise Me Willi ims. 4. So- 
cial Work, Superiulendeut Mrs. Man- 
ning Saaith, 5. Correspon lence. Miss 
Lilly Conrad. 6. Finaiice, Mr. OrviUe 
Browii. Devotional rasetiugs are held 
each Sabbath evening bffoe the regu- 
lar preaching services. The regular 
business meetings are held the first 
Tuesday evening of each month and at 
the close of each a literary progra n or 
social is given. All are most cordially 
invited to attend the different mee ings. 



KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. 

Hebron Lodge, No. 175, K. P., was 
instituted January 18, 1888, with 
twenty-five charter members, as follows: 
C. H. Barr, Eugene Flagler, John Geis, 
John Leach, George L. Kern, Adam 
Dernbach, L. D. I'lummer, G. X. Flag- 
ler, James S. Goodman, John Matzen, 
Frank Reeb, B. O. Goodman, W. 1\ 
Prime, G. B. Goodman, A. W. Kern, T. 
J. Graham, J. T. Buck. Henry Groll, O. 
C. Jensen, I. L. Perry, Wm. C. Bar- 
tholic, Dwight P. Mills, John Pettett. 
The first Chancellor Commander elected 
was Eugene Flagler. 

The present officers are as follows : 
C. C, Wm. T. Prime ; V. C, A. J. Dief- 
enbach : Prelate, P'rank Reeb ; M. of 
F., Simon P. Klitz ; M. of E., John 
Leach ; K. of R. and S., Geo. L. Kern ; 
M. of A., Chris. Skaifgard ; 1. G., L. II. 
Martin ; O. G., Jack Hudson ; M. of 
W., S. Jt»hns()n. 

The lodge reached at one time a mem- 
bership of eighty-seven, but owing to 
one death and several moving away we 



have a membership at present of sixty- 
one. The lodge has paid out a large 
amount for relief and sick benefits, as 
that is one of the grand principles of 
the order. The meeting nights are i 
every Wednesday evening at 8 o'clock, 1 
above treatment hall, and they extend 
fraternal greeting to visiting brothers. 



INDEPENDENT ORDER MUTUAL AID. 

This mutual insurance organization 
had its birth in Dwight, March 17, 1879, 
when about thirteen among our best 
citizens got together and decided to do 
something to protect their families after 
demise. Deputy Grand President W. 
A. Halstead was present and installed 
the lodge, and the following officers 
were elected : C. D. Chalfant, presi- 
dent ; A . M. de Clercq, vice-president ; 
R F. Mcllduff, recording and financial 
secretary ; Ed. M. Merrill, treasurer. B. 
A. Buck was elected the first repre- 
sentative to the grand lodge, and was 
also elected the last one in 1894. We 
understand there has only been one 
death loss in the Dwight lodge, that of 
Mr. de Clercq. Several original mem- 
bers have died, but have let their pay- 
ments lapse and lost then- insurance. 

The officers elected at a recent meet- 
ing in 1894 are as follows : W. G. Dus- 
tin, president ; L. Reeder, vice-presi- 
dent ; George 8. Baker, recording and 
financial secretary ; B. A. Buck, treas- 
urer. The lodge now has a member- 
ship of thirty. J| 

DWaaiT GUN C5LU15. 

This organization came into existence 
August Ifi, 1894, and has fiourishedever 
since. The first meeting was held as 
above in the town house, S. T K. Prime 
in the chair, and C. V. Bower, secretary. 
The objects of the club are principally to 
promote field sports and protect game 



TII6T0RY OF DWKJllT, ILLINOIS. 



113 



birds, which is very creditable, indeed. 

The officers elected, which are still 
holding their positions, are : J. K. 
(.)ughton, president ; II. F. Adams, vice- 
president ; C. \'. Bower, secretary and 
treasurer ; L. S. Hause, captain ; J. K. 
Oughton, C. V. Bower, L. S. Ilause, 
Geo. Tate and liobt. Orr, trustees. 

The first shoot was held October 18. 
November 21) there was a match shoot 
between Henry Atkinson and Ame Orr, 
the latter winning. The first annual 
tournament was held iJecember 27 and 
28. The weather was very bad and the 
outside attendance small, but the club 
cleared about $25. 

In November a special meeting was 
held and President J. R. Oughton 
kindly oft'ered to erect a club house and 
rent it to the club for .f 10 a year, which 
was accepted. 

There has been a constant improve- 
ment in shooting among the members. 

There is a membership of thirty the 
1st of .January, 1895. The shoots are 
held on the Oughton farm, just south of 
town. 



MASONIC. 

The Masonic fraternity was organ- 
ized in D wight March 1, 18t)2, when 
Livingston Lodge, U. D., was formed, 
with the following otticers, viz. : E. N. 
Jencks, W. M. ; C.S. Newell, secretary; 
AV. L. Gross, senior warden. October 
8, 1862, the lodge received a charter, is- 
sued by F. M. Blair, grand master of 
Masons in Illinois, and countersigned by 
II. G. lleynolds, grand secretary. The 
lodge has a large and increasing mem- 
bership of excellent citizens, and is one 
of the solid orders of our city. The 
following otticers were elected for 1895 : 
W, M., Andrew Hansen ; S. W., A. Bo- 
vik ; .1. W., G. Z. Flagler ; secretary, 
Frank Ford ; treasurer, ,Ioe Miller. 



MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA. 

The above fraternal insurance order 
was organized in Dwight in September, 
1892, in Keeley hall, by Deputy Head 
Counsel Griggs. There were thirty- 
two charter members. The first otiicers 
elected were W. G. Dustin, V. C. ; A. 
Bovik, A. ; ,Jas. Ubellar, B. ; W. H. 
Doty, clerk ; A. K. Zimmerman, W.; J. 
Burns, S. The order has flourished and 
new members have joined right along, 
until the membership early in 1895 
reaches nearly 100. Deputy Head Coun- 
sel Martin, of Aurora, did excellent 
work at this time. The officers at pres- 
ent 1895— are John Leach, V. C. ; Wm. 
Thornton, A. ; .[. France, B. ; W. H. 
Doty, clerk ; A. G. Fisk, escort ; M. J. 
Bagnell, watchman ; I. N. Peterson, 
sentry ; W. G. Dustin, A. Bovik) 
Frank Reeb, managers. 



DANSKE BRODERSAMFUND, FREDEN 
LOGE, NO. 34 

The above lodge was instituted in 
Dwight, October 12, 1889. They meet in 
Sons of Veteran hall, and their organi" 
zation is growing and is in excellent 
condition. The first otticers elected 
were as follovvs: E. P., J. Jacobsen ; 
P., H. C. Hansen ; V. P., J. J. Smith ; 
S., L. P. Klitz; T., Jens Schott ; G., 
Chris. Skafgaard; I. G., F. H. Frand- 
sen ; O. G., P. H. Gantzel. The pres- 
ent officers are as follows : E. P., J. E. 
Petersen ; P., J. P. Jensen ; V. P., P. 
Johansen ; R, S., N. T. Nommensen ; 
F. S., O. C. Jensen ; T. S. P. Klitz ; G., 
N. K. Nelson ; I. G., P. Olsen ; O. G., 
J . Jacobsen ; trustees, J. P. Hansen, F. 
Frandsen, Ed. Smith. 



PACIFIC ENCAMPMENT, NO. 120. 

The warrant for the charter of the 
above organization was issued on the 
8th day of October, 1880, by AValter E. 
Carlin, grand patriarch of the jurisdic- 



114 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLl^^OIS. 



tion of Grand Encampment of Illinois, 
attested by J. C. Smith, grand scribe. 

Pacific Encampment was instituted 
October It), 1880, by J, C. Smith, grand 
scribe, assisted by Vermillion Encamp- 
ment, No. 54, of Pontiac. The follow- 
ing are the charter members, to-wit : 
H. Fox, J. J. Gore, A. McKay, Benj. 
Waite, by cards. By initiation, to-wit : 
W. H. Ketcham, Sr., J. C. Lewis, Mar- 
tin "NVilks, Moses Wilkison, Thomas 
Liddicott, Chas. Stevens, M. J. Cullen, 
John Leach, DeWitt Scvitt, W. H. Con- 
rad. 

The otficers elected were J. J. Gore, 
C. P. ; A. McKay, H. P. ; DeWitt Scutt, 
S. W. ; J. C. Lewis, scribe ; W. H. 
Ketcham, Sr., treasurer ; Thos. Liddi- 
cott, J. W. ; H, Fox, grand representa- 
tive. 

The officers elected for 1895 for Pa- 
cific Encampment, No. 126, I. O. O.F., 
are as follows : C, P., A. Comer; H. 
P., S. A. Goodman ; S. W., G. L. Tay- 
lor ; scribe, E. A. Radcliff ; treasurer, 
W. H. Conrad ; J. ^\., Geo. Peterson ; 
sentinel, Geo. Donigan. 

Trustees— J. A. Pettett, S. A. Good- 
man, M. Wilkison, M. C. Starrett, Geo. 
Robinson. 

Moses Wilkison, representative to 
Grand'Encampment of Illinois. 



ODD FELLOWS. 

Dwight Lodge, No. 513, I. O. O. F. 
was instituted in Dwight by Jas. S. 
Hunter, of Odell, D. G. M., May 22, 
1873, and is probably the richest and 
strongest society in Dwight. The first 
Noble Grand was C. C. Gilbert, and M. 
W. Tambling, secretary. In October 
of the same year a charter was issued 
by G. M. Bross, grand master, to the 
following charter members : C. C. 
(Albert, W. S. Sims, M. W. Tambling, 
John L. Clark, Thomas Weldon, Hugh 
Stevens and K. P. l^tley. The society 



afterwards purchased land and erected 
the Dwight o'pera hou.se, now used for 
a treatment hall by the Leslie E. Keeley 
Co. They sold the property during the 
boom for a good price, and have the 
money well invested. The present of- 
ficers are as follows : Deputy Grand 
Master, G. L. Taylor ; Representative 
Grand Lodge, J. Stewart ; Past Grand, 
A. Comer; N. G., E. A. Radcliff ; V. 
G., Wm. J. Taylor ; secretary, J. Knud- 
sen ; treasurer, Chas. Waters ; R. S. N. 
G., J. Geis ; L. S. N. G., S. A. Good- 
man ; warden, Geo. Donigan ; conduc- 
tor, J. W. Koehler ; R. S. S., Frank N. 
Smith ; L. S. S., Geo. Peterson ; R. S. 
V. G , Jos. K. Bufliham ; L. S. V. G., 
James Seabert. 



ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS. 

The above organization was organ- 
ized February 4, 1894. This order has 
fifty members and meets the second 
Sunday of every month. The officers 
are as follows : President, John Den- 
nehe; vice-president, James West ; sec- 
retary, Thos. Dennehe ; recording sec- 
retary, Lawrence Fay ; financial secre- 
tary, William West ; sergeant at arms, 
David Coughlin ; door keeper, Daniel 
Ilurlay. 



G. A. R., W. R. C. AND S. OF V. 

The history of these organizations 
Avill be found in another part of this 
book. 



A. P. A. 

The above lodge was organized in 
Dwight in 1894, and is said to have a 
large membership. 



KEELEY LEAGUE. 

The organization of the Keeley 
League and its advancement is noted 
at length through the latter years of this 
history. 





Miss Sarah Snyder. 

(First Teact]er in Divigtit, 



Prof. J. H. Meneely. 

(Freserjt Priqcipal of Duuiqljt Schools ) 




Hon. 0. W. Pollard. 



John Leach. 



insTOIIY OF DWICIIT, ILLINOIS. 



iirj 



CHAPTER Xll. 

DWIGHT PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 



"While there has been much said in 
this little work regarding our schools, 
the improvements made and important 
changes, the history would be unfin- 
ished without giving the best record 
obtainable of the teachers and members 
of the school board from early times. 
It is due the members of the board and 
the teachers that to say our schools 
stand second to none of the size of the 
place in the state. There is one thing 
that even those who were instrumental 
in bringing about, now condemn, and 
that is having two schools. The mis- 
take was made in purchasing two build- 
ing sites instead of one central location 
where a building could have eventually 
been erected that would be a credit to 
the city. 

By inquiry and through the kindness 
of 1). McWilliams, E. T. Miller and 
others, we have been enabled to get to- 
gether considerable information regard- 
ing our schools, which will certainly in- 
terest all our citizens. 

The lirst school liouse was built in the 
fall of 1855 at a cost of .^275 and served 
three years as a school house, church 
and public hall. It was lC)x2i and stood 
about tifteen rods east of the residence 
of D. McWilliams and is now the L of 
Col. .T. IJ. Parsons residence on Mazon 
avenue. 

The school directors were D. McWil- 



liams, .leremiiah Travis and Xelson 
Cornell. 

Sarah Snyder was the first teacher, 
followed by Clara Colister and Amerila 
Crowel. The former is, January 1, 
1S*J5, a resident of Streator and in ex- 
cellent health. Her portrait is presented 
in this work and we feel sure will be of 
much interest to all who are acquainted 
with the lady. 

The town grew rapidly, and in the 
spring of 1857 it was found necessary to 
build a larger school house. All agreed 
that the house must be built, but the 
location cost many heated discussions. 
At the election the "East Side" party 
gained the day by three votes~-104 or 
105 votes being cast. A person going 
from the main part of town to the site 
of the new house was obliged to wade 
through slough grass as high as a man's 
head. In 18(54 an addition to the east 
side building was made. It was 2(5x28 
and cost nearly !?1,500. The play 
ground in which this building stands is 
the best in the county. In 1870 the two- 
story brick on the west side was erected 
at a cost of about .'?5,0(X). Notwith- 
standing the fact that it seats 150 pu- 
I)ils, in 1880 the board of directors was 
obliged to rent a room in the M. E. 
church which served as a school room 
for one primary grade up to the fall of 
188(i, when a larger and more commo- 



lie. 



IIISTUUY OF DWJGIIT, JLL1N.UIS. 



dious, better lighted room was secured 
in the Presbyterian church. A bell 
weighing 304 pounds and costing .'i?r22 20 
was purchased for the east side building 
in 18t)l . 

The following named men have filled 
the position as principal of the Dwight 
schools : 

SALARY 
PER MO. 

1857-1858— Edwin Lathrop, 2 yr . ..$ 40 

1858 — L. W. P. \Mlmot and 

wife, 3 mo — 

1859 — S. G. (xlenn, 5 mo BO 

18(»0--18P)1"-D. S. Eyer, 1 yr. 4 mo. . . 45 

18t)l-18»J3— O. F. Pearre, 2 yr 35 

18()3-18()5— L. W. P. AVilmot, 2 yr. . 75 
18(35-181)8— W. II. Gurney, 3 yr, $:;0, 

$(55 and 85 

18(58-1870— B. M. Moore, 2 yr 100 

1870-1871— L. F. Walker, 1 yr 100 

1871-1872— C. J. Gruey, 1 yr 80 

1872-1874— W. S. Wilson, 2 yr 100 

1874-1878— C. F. Biehl, 4 yr., $100, 

$120, $120 and 95 

1878-1883— Jesse Hubbard, 5 yr. . . . — 

1883-1890— H. D. Fisk, 7 yr — 

1891-1892— C. E. Schlabach, 1 yr . . . . — 

1892-1894— W. T. Wilson, 2 yr — 

1894-1895— J. II. Meneely, present 

teacher, Jan. 1, 1895 — 

Edwin Lathrop, after vvards super- 
visor of Ptound Grove township, was 
the tirst male teacher employed in the 
schools of the town. He was informed 
while attending an institute in Pontiac 
that his salary ($40 per month) was the 
highest received by any teacher in the 
county . 

S. G. Glenn received $(50 })er month, 
but had to pay an assistant who heard 
recitations in what is now the cloak 
room of the east side primary.* 

Mr. Glenn has since been president of 
a Florida railroad, and afterwai-ds a 
prominent man in one of the leading 
insurance companies. (). S. M'escott, 
principal of the North Division Higii 
School in Chicago, was Mr. Glenn's as- 
sistant, receiving a sahiry of $19 per 
month. During the summer Mr. Wes-. 
cott worked at Ihc carpenter trade and 



never failed to attend Sunday School on 
the Sabbath. The teacher of his class 
happened to be the minister, and as 
ministers are supposed to know more 
or less about Greek, what more natural 
than that the teacher quote a little 
Greek occasionally for the benefit of his 
class? One unlucky Sabbath the min- 
ister, in order to prove a point under 
discussion, a quotation as he said, from 
the Greek Testament, whereupon to his 
great disgust, Mr. Wescott drew from 
his pocket a Greek Testament and pro- 
ceeded to read. The minister was 
never known to quote Greek again 
while he remained in the place. 

O. F. Pearre is still spoken of as an 
excellent teacher, and he undoubtedly 
did good woi'k. He was re-employed 
at the end of his second year but re- 
signed to accept the otlice of county 
superintendent, to which he had been 
elected. Mr. Pearre is a well known 
lawyer of Pontiac and has gained no. 
little local fame as a poet 

W. II. Gurney is a brotlier-in-!aw of 
Mr. Pearre's, marrying Miss Alden. The 
lady of his choice was one of his teacli- 
ers, but she gave up school work after 
she was married. During Mr Gurney's 
reign the anti-declamation disease 
broke out with all the virulence of mod- 
ern times. 

Several of the boys, who are now 
jtrominent business men of the town, 
tried to throw the principal over the 
bakister simply because he sought to 
persuade them that declamations and 
essays were a part of their school work. 

C. F. Diehl continued in school work 
and for two or tluee years was the prin- 
cij)al of the Abingdon |)ublic schools in 
this state. He was also i)rincii)al of tlie 
Ashton schools in Lee county. 

Jesse Hubbard, who carries oif tlie 
])rize for the greatest number of years as 
l)rinci|ial at tluit lime, was the man who 



IIISTOllY OF DWICllT, ILLIXOI; 



ir 



jilaced the I) wight schools on a safe and 
sure footing. During his administra- 
tion the school was graded, an excellent 
course of study adopted, teachers stim- 
vUated to more thorough work, a library 
was secured and last, but not least, the 
boys and girls found that the teachers 
must be obeyed. liisintluence was felt 
outside of scliool, and after a year or 
two, shade trees and picnet fences nour- 
ished in the neighborhood of the school 
buildings as they never had done before. 
Mr. Hubbard was afterwards superin- 
tendent of the Pontiac public schools. 

Kobert 8. Mclldufi', one of the leading 
lawyers in the county, and ex-states at 
torney, served as principal two or three 
different times, when sickness or a wed- 
ding kept the regular principal away. 

Prof. II. D. Fisk maintained the dig- 
nity of the Dwight schools and was be- 
loved by his pupils. His health failed, 
however, and during the last months of 
his principalship he was unable l,o at- 
tend to his duties, although his last 
thouglits were of the school, and only a 
few hours before his death he requested 
to be taken to the school His death is 
spoken of in the history proper. Mrs. 
II. 1). Fisk is a teacher in the schools 
January 1, iSUo. Prof. Fisk was prin- 
cipal longer than any other person. 

Prof. V. E. Schlaboch, who succeeded 
Prof. Fisk, only remained one year. He 
afterwards moved to Iowa and was 
elected county superintendent of schools 
which position he held January 1, 1895, 

Prof. W. T. Wilson succeeded Prof. 
Schlabach and remained two years. lie 
is at present, 1895, we understand, at- 
tending s -hool .in Chicago. It is the 
opinion of all that Mr. Wilson has a 
bright future befoi-e him. 

Prof. J. II. Meneely is the present 
princijial. January 1, 1895, is a splendid 
instructor, a public-spirited citizen. He 
holds a i)erpetual certificate and is a 



constant student himself and up-to- 
date on all modern ideas in teaching. 
He is ambitious and will some time, we 
expect, occui)y a very high position 
among the advanced educators of the 
country. He is a young man and cer- 
tainly has a bright future. 

Names of those who have served as 
teachers since 185('), and the date, show- 
ing when they entered the school : 

Sarah Snyder, 1857, taught (> years. 
* Mrs. Lathrop, 1858, taught 1 year. 

O S. Wescott, 1859, taught 1 year. 

Miss Bennett, 1859, taught 1 year. 

Miss Crist, 18iJ0, taught 1 year. 

Mrs. Wilmot, 18(53, taught 1 year. 

Hattie Newell, 18i)4, taught 2 years. 

Miss Alden, 18!)5, taught 1 year. 

Miss Hobbs, 18t)r), taught 2 years. 

Miss F. J. Ketcham, 181)7, taught 3 
years. 

Miss J. C. Wright, 18f)7, taught 3 
years. 

George Winans, 18(58, taught 1 year. 

Mai-y Whitlock, 181)8, taught 1 year. 

Olive McClure, 18()8, taught 1 year. 

Kobert S. Mclldulf, 18()9, taught 2 
years. 

Mary J. Paul, 18159, taught 2 years. 

Emily Haney, 18l>9, taught 2 years. 

Miss M. E. cMcClure, 1870, taught 4 
years. 

Lizzie Weagley, 1870, taught 2 years. 

Alice Dwelley, 1870, taught 3 years. 

Laura Rodman, 1870, taught 5 years. 

Mary Sumner, 1872, taught 2 years. 

Marietta Baldwin, 1873, taught 1 year. 

Mary E. Haines, 1873, taught 3 years. 

Miss Diehl, 1874, taught 4 years. 

Franc McClure, 1874, taught 3 years. 

Nettie Ketcham, 1874, taught 3 years. 

Ella Mills, 1874, taught 3 years. 

Emma Paul, 1875, taught 2 years. 

Agnes C. Mcllduff, 1875, taught 21 
years.* 

Mrs. T. M. ^Vright, 187(5, taught 3 
years . 



118 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



Jennie Bradbury, 1877, taught 3 years. 

Lucy M, Banks, 1877, taught 8 years. 

Mrs. C. M. Cyrus, 1877, taught — 
years. 

Emma F. Baker, 1877, taught l'.» 
years.* 

II. Belle Mc(;innis, 1877, taught 8 
years. 

Emma Rodman, 1878, taught 2 years. 

Clara Dunlop, 1871>, taught 1 year. 

Sarah Crawford, 1879, taug'ht 1 year. 

Mattie B. Paul, 1880, taught 7 years. ■ 

Josie McHugh, 1881, taught 1 year. 

Mary E Uow, 1881. taught 2 years. 

Addle Northam, 1881, taught 1 year. 

Georgiana Scott, 1883, taught — years. 

Ilattie Strawn, 1884, taught — years. 

Mrs. H. D. Fisk. 1883, taught —years.* 

Isabel Phillips, 18S4, taught — years. 

C. R. Tombaugh, 1884, taught 1 year. 

Jennie Payne, 1884, taught 1 year. 

T. J. Haney, 1885, taught 1 year. 

Clara E. Fisk, 1885, taught 2 years. 

Louisa H. Bartlett, 1885, taught 2 

years. 
John H. Smith, 18S6, taught 3 years. 

Minnie Ahern, 188(i, taught 4 years. 

Lucy Barnum, 188B, taught 2 years. 

Lucy Banks, 188t), taught 2 years. 

Samuel Houston, 1887, taught 4 years. 

Minnie Ilollmeyer, 1887, taught 1 year. 

Ella New, 1888, taught 1 year. 

Lillie Conrad, 1889, taught (> years.* 

Mrs. Hubbard, 18iMJ, taught 2 years. 

Mrs. II. B. Rishell, 1891, taught 1 year. 

Jas. T. Rishell. 1891, taught 1 year. 

Mrs. 11. 1). Fisk, 1892.* 

Mary H. (Joul(^ 1892, taught 2 yeare. 

Nellie Hade. 1892.* 

C. K. Swanson, 1892, taught 1 year. 

Addie liarr, 1893.* 

Miss Chenowith, 1893.* 

,]. II. Meneely, 1893.* 

C.W. Allen, 1894.* 

*Teaeliiii^'.Iiiniiiiry l. isor,. 

JIKill SCllOOI. A SSI .SI' A NTS, 

Alice (Jraves, 1879, taught 1 year. 



Margaret Sudduth, 1880, taught 1 
year. 

Mary E. Bradford, 1881, taught 2 
years. 

Lidia A. Kelly, 1883. taught three 
years. 

S. Estella Krohn, 1889, taught 2 years. 

Anna L. Glidden, ISiKJ, taught 2 years. 

Miss Palmitier, 1892, taught 2 years. 

Jean Pettett, 18W.* 



*Teachini; January 1, 1895. 

Agnes C. Mcllduff, Emma F. Baker, 
H, Belle McGiimis, LucyM. Banks and 
Mattie B. Paul have taught the greatest 
number of years. The lir'st two named 
are still employed in the school. 

Names of those who have served their 
country faithfully in the capacity of 
school director and board of edu.cation : 
D. McWilliams, J. B. Travis, 
Geo. Whitlock, Nelson Cornell, 
Oren Gould, Robt. Young, 

Henry Eldridge, Chas. S. Newell. 
W. H. Ketcham, S. L. D. Ramsey, 
AValter Baladen, J. G. Strong, 
John Sherrill. Dr. J. II. Hagerty, 

James Mcllduff, W. S. Sims. 
A. E. Gould, Jesse Diftenbaugh, 

S. M. AVitt, Eugene Baker, 

A. McKay, O. W. Pollard. 

J. J. (k>re, C. J. Jvidd, 

]i A. Buck, R. P. Morgan, Jr.. 

J. C. Lewis, John C. (ieorge. 

Dr. M. Palm, E. T. Miller.* 

John A. Pettett,* N. N. Mickelson,* 
(reorge S. I>aker, John Leach, 
John Dennehe. John Geis, 
L. .I.Trunnell. .1. R. Oughtim. 

A. Rurbaker,* Dr. C. H. Rarr,* 

L. 11. Martin,* JNIrs. C M. Raker.* 



♦Board of Edncation .laniiary 1, 1805. 

Mrs. C. .M. Raker was the first lady 
ever elected on the board, and made a 
splendid oflicial. 

11 has not been custumai'y to re-elect 
a man alter he served one term. In 



-»f^W 







■ i».»ji|ii I . ■ IT, ^^^.^W 

■VMMi-iJ. IMMAtMo. llTllBIM 

Pf?^"^'^ '•"'■^*«st.«r iiiSi^jj^Kr- ■•'"-"* S( 



mr-M 







West Side School 




East Side School. 



HISTORY OF DWKJIIT, ILLINOIS. 



119 



many cases the retiring director was 
urged to allow his name to go before the 
people for re-election, but he preferred 
to draw his princely salary and mod- 
estly retire. In thirty-two years but 
three men have served two full terms. 

The marked success of D. Mc Williams, 
II. Eldridge, Jesse Diffenbaugh, Rich- 
ard P. Morgan, .Jr., C. J. Judd, Eugene 
Baker, S. M. AVitt, A. McKay, O. W. 
Pollard and others, in business, or in 
the held of politics, has led many to be- 
lieve that the office is a guarantee to 
wealth or fame, or both. 

(JEADUATES 

CLA.Sri 1880. 

Allie Eldridge, Charles Fallis, 
Charles Ehodes. 

CLASS 1881. 
Alice Kattenbury, Alice Paul, 
Anna Baker, J. P. McAVilliams, 

Edith Kneeland, Fred AVood. 

CLASS 1882. 
Nora Goodman, John Smith, 
Mary Marshall, Frank Thole, 
Laura Thompson. 

CLASS 1884. 
Effie E. Baker, Annie E. Fox, 

Jennie Rattenbury, Jennie Payne, 

CLASS 1885. 
Erminie Ahern, Frank L. Smith, 
Frank AVilson, Ella Conant, 

Mary Longe, Mary Cusick. 

CLASS 188f). 

Louise McAA''illiams, Cora Adams, 
A'erna Koehnlein, Eugene (ieorge, 
Samuel Houston, 



CLASS 1887, 

Lilly B. Conrad, Nellie AVeldon, 
Mary O'Malley, Julia O'Malley. 

CLASS 1888. 

Jennie Cad wallader, Alice Perry, 
Lilla Koehnlein, Anna Dunlop, 
Luella Stevens, Minnie Lower, 
Aura Gallop. 

CLASS 1889, 



D. C. Morgan, 
Fred Smith, 
Louise de Clercq, 
Nellie Jeffries, 



Charles A'ickery, 
Nellie Doherty, 
Bessie Iluey, 
Henry AVood. 

CLASS 1890, 



John George, AValter O'Malley, 

Jennie Koehnlein, Alice Longe, 
Dell Pearre, Mary Conrad, 

CLASS 1891. 

Minnie E, Barr, Mildred C. Gould, 
E. May Morris, Fred B. de Clercq, 
Marcella Ferguson, Maggie E, Kern. 

CLASS 1892. 
Bessie A, Baker, Fannie Conner, 
Clay D, Parker, M. Etta Calder, 
Charles A, Simmons, 

CLASS 1893. 
Addie B, Fenn, Dora E. Kern, 
M.Mabel Thompson, Frank E. Ford, 
John O'Malley. 

CLASS 1894. 
Mary Fifield, Emma Groll, 

Marie PeterseiL 



120 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLIJ^OIS. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



THE DWIGHT GUARDS AND THE lOTH BATTALION, I. N. G. 



RECOLLECTIONS BY COLONEL J. B. PARSONS. 



June 20, 1874, an independent com- 
pany of state militia was organized at 
Dwight and was designated The Dwight 
Guards . 

J. B. Parsons was elected captain, S. 
H. Kenney first lieutenant and S. M. 
Witt second lieutenant. 

The company was composed of about 
forty men, quite a number of whom had 
seen service in the late war. 

The oflticers were duly commissioned 
by John L. Beveridge, then gov- 
ernor of Illinois, E. L. Iliggins being at 
that time adjutant general of the state. 
The Dwight Guards was the first mili- 
tary company organized in the county, 
in fact there were then but three or four 
other companies of militia in the state, 
but soon after this time considerable in- 
terest was manifested in militia matters. 

The first arms issued to the Dwight 
company were fifty of the old muzzle- 
loading Enfield muskets, with equip- 
ments, all of which had done service in 
the late war. 

Our first quarters were in Smith's 
hall over J. J. Smith's shop on Mazon 
avenue. 

At that time the state was without 
militia law and without fiuids to pay 



any expense in the militia line. During 
the month of July, 1874, the company 
purchased neat uniforms with their per- 
sonal funds, and the ladies of Dwight 
presented them with a very nice bunting 
riag. The company took considerable 
interest in their meetings and drill and 
soon assumed quite a military bearing 
and became somewhat proficient in 
drill. 

In August of that year the company 
made arrangements for a military drill 
and sham battle to be held in Dwight on 
the 14th of that month. This being a 
novel thing and other attraction being 
added, all of which were well adver- 
tised, the event was a great success as 
to numbers and I think the crowd has 
seldom been exceeded in Dwight. 

The Fairbury military company, which 
had been organized that month, was on 
hand in force, a cannon was obtained 
from Gardner and a quantity of blank 
ammunition was secured. The Pontiac 
fire dei)artment was kindly present with 
their new fire engine. The cornet band 
was engaged and the usual side shows 
were on hand. The celebration was 
held at the east side school grounds and 
the sham battle took place (m the open 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



121 



lield on the east side of the school 
grounds. The day was splendid, and 
everything went well unti4 afternoon, 
then accidents seemed to be the order. 
Seats fell and one man had a leg broken. 
During the rapid firing at the time of 
the sham battle Zane Turner had his 
arm badly shattered by a premature dis- 
charge of the cannon, he being one of 
the gunners. A little later the lire en- 
gine was withdrawn by the fire com- 
pany from the school grounds to East 
street to give an exhibition in throwing 
water, the engine being placed at the 
large well at the north end of Strong's 
warehouse to procure water. The ex- 
liibition was proceeding nicely, but the 
water was such that it foamed and was 
not properly indicated by the steam 
gauge. Soon a loud report was heard, 
the engine had blown up. The crown 
of the engine was blown about forty 
feet into the air, the tire fiew in all di- 
rections, setting tire to the warehouse 
and all was excitement. Fortunately 
the result was not as serious as would 
have been expected, but two or three 
members of the tire company were 
slightly burned or scalded, the tire at 
the warehouse was soon extinguished, 
and strange, to say, none of the crowd 
was seriously hurt, but the accident 
tended to dampen the festivities of the 
day. While the day in many respects 
was a great success still the accidents 
were of much regret. 

About the middle of May of the fol- 
lowing year the Dwight (Juards were 
invited and attended a soldiers" and 
sailors* reunion at Chicago. We were 
furnished quarters at the hotels and 
had a very enjoyable time. 

On Saturday, May 30, 1875, occurred 
the first memorial services ever held in 
Dwight, and I believe about as success- 
ful as any that has svicceeded it. The 
services were held in the ^Vest Park, a 



large wooden monument nicely covered 
having been erected on which was dis- 
played the names of all soldiers who en- 
tered the service from Dwight and who 
had given their lives in defense of their 
country. 

A procession was formed at 2 p. m. 
at Smith's hall on Mazon avenue headed 
by the Dwight ct)rnet band followed by 
the Dwight Guards escorting soldiers of 
the late war, they being followed by the 
secret societies of Dwight and many 
citizens in the procession, the procession 
movmg to the West Park with the band 
playing a dirge, the Dwight Guards at 
reversed arms. 

The president of the day was liev. M. 
M. Longley ; vice-presidents, Hon. J. 
G. Strong, C. J. Judd, E. R. Stevens, 
Mrs. W. H. Ketcham, Mrs. W. H. Brad- 
bury, Mrs. I. N. Gray, Mrs. R. Springer, 
Mrs. R. M. Gardner, Mrs. J. H. Coe, 
Mrs. J. G. Strong and Mrs. J. M. Baker. 

COMMITTEE OF AKRANOEMEXT8. 

Capt, J, B. Parsons, Hon. J. G. Strong, 
Joseph Baker, H. A. Kenyon, Mrs. W. 
II. Ketcham, S. W. Strong, Capt. J. B. 
Baker, Mrs. AV. II. Bradbury, Mrs. I. N. 
Gray, Mrs. R. Springer, Mrs. R. M. 
(iardner, Mrs. J. II. Coe, Mrs. J. G. 
Strong and Mrs. J. Baker. 

ORDjat OF EXERCISES. 

Music— Old Hundred. .Choir and Band 

Invocation Rev. C. II. DeLong 

Reading of the Scriptures 

Rev. M. V. B.White 

Introductory Remarks President 

Unveiling of Monument 

Four Young Ladies 

Music Band 

Readingof Roll of Honor..!!. A. Kenyon 

Music Band 

Prayer Rev. M. M. Longley 

Memorial Poem W. II. Bradbury 

Music Choir 

Address Rev. O . W. Pollard 

Music Band 



oo 



HISTORY OF D WIGHT, ILLI^NOIS. 



Address Rev. W. Xeitz 

Music Choir 

Address Rev. C. H. DeLong 

Music Band 

Closing Address. . .Rev. M. V. B.White 

The procession then proceeded to the 
cemeteries and decorated the soldiers' 
graves, the benediction being pro- 
nounced by Rev. W. Xeitz. 

On June 8 Gen. Ducaf, of Chicago, 
was appointed brigadier-general of the 
state militia. On July 14, 1875, the 
Dwight guards accepted an invitation 
from the Morris Grays to attend a 
celebration at Morris. The visit was 
much enjoyed by the D wight company. 
The Morris Grays had been organized 
in December prior. 

In August, 1875, the Dwight Guards, 
with the Dwight band, attended the 
county fair at Pontiac and remained 
over until the following day to attend 
the soldiers' reunion which was ad- 
dressed by (rovernor Beveridge, Col. 
Fort and others . 

A company was organized in Pontiac 
in the fall of 1875 and assigned to the 
tenth battalion, II. B. Reed, captain; 
James Fenton, first lieutenant, and C. 
Clary, second lieutenant. By December, 
1875, about tifty companies of militia 
had been organized throughout the 
state, and it had become necessary to 
consolidate them into battalions or reg- 
iments, hence an order was issued on 
the 21st day of December of that year 
by tlie adjutant general forming seven 
battalions and regiments. By this or- 
der the First and Second regiments were 
composed of the several companies 
which had been organized in Chicago, 
and the Third regiment was composed 
of tlie following companies : The Ster- 
ling City (Uiards, Rockford (Juards, 
Sycamore Union (iuards. La Salle Light 
(luards, Morris Guards, Dwight Guards, 
Streator Veteran Guards, Boone County 



Guards and the Bohemian Rifles of 
Chicago, An election has held at Ster- 
ling in January, 187(), which resulted in 
the election of Captain J. "NV. R. Stam- 
baugh, of the Sterling company, as col- 
onel of the regiment. At this meeting 
Upton's Military Tactics were adopted. 
A committee on the style of uniform 
for the regiment was appointed consist- 
ing of the commanding officers of each 
company, J. B. Parsons being named as 
chairman. Also a committee on seciu;- 
ing a proper and efficient militia law for 
the state was appointed consisting of 
Captain R. A. Smith, Captain J. B. Par- 
sons and Captain J. B. Day. 

In March, 187ti. the Dwight Guards 
received from the state sixty new 
breech-loading Springfield rifles, calibre 
45, with proper accoutrements Tlie 
company felt much pleased with them, 
as they were a modern and superior 
arm and the first received by the state . 
The company purchased new caps and 
made other additions to their uniforms, 
which, with their new arms and excel- 
lent drill, gave them a fine appearance. 
In July the Dwight Guards went to 
Joliet and took part in a sham battle at 
the fair grounds. 

August 1, 187H, an order was issued 
by the adjutant general consolidating 
the following companies which should 
constitute the Tenth battalion : 

Dwight Guards, Captain J, B. Par- 
sons ; Streator A'eteran Guards, Captain 
J. W. Landis; Pontiac (iuards, Captain 
II, B. Reed ; Joliet Citizens' ('orps, Cap- 
tain D. C. Hayes ; Odell (Juards, Ca])- 
tain J . K. Howard. 

All election of officers was ordered 
held at liwight on the 15th of August 
and the following officers were elected 
and commissioned : .T. H. l^arsons, 
lieutenant colonel ; L. C. Mills, major ; 
L. C. Mitchell, surgeon ; J. F. Culver, 
chaplain; and the following staff' offi- 




Col. J. B. Parsons. 



John Pettett. 





Chas. Waters. 



Eugene Flagler. 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



123 



cers were appointed: J. B. Fithian, 
adjutant, and C. J. Judd, quarter- 
master. The several companies were 
designated as follows : Company A, 
Pontiac Guards ; company B, Joliet 
Citizens' Corps ; company C, Streator 
Guards ; company D, Odell Guards ; 
and ccmipany E, Dwight Guards. Ad- 
ams' cornet band of Dwight was as- 
signed to the Tenth battalion. It was 
an excellent band and always cheerfully 
responded to calls from the Tenth bat- 
talion. The band was then composed 
of the following members : R. C. Ad- 
ams, Eugene Flagler, C. M. Baker, John 
Poole, Henry Morgan, Del Wait, E. 
Foesterling, Lewis Williams, Ed. Ad- 
ams, George Morgan, Ilerschel Hagerty 
and S. M. Witt. 

A battalion drill was held on Septem- 
ber 28 at Renf re vv Lodge, Dwight, by 
all of the companies of the battalion, 
the adjutant general of the state being 
present, the drill closing with a sham 
battle. 

During the fall of 1876 the Catholic 
church of Dwight held a fair and of- 
fered a fine silk flag, nicely mounted, as 
a prize to the best drilled militia com- 
pany. This flag was secured by the 
Dwight Guards. 

November 25, 1876, the Marseilles 
Light Guards, Captain J. B. Preston 
commanding, were assigned to the 
Tenth battalion and designated as com- 
pany F. 

In the sprmg of 1877 the Dwight 
Guards built an armory 22x50 on the 
east side of AVest street, near Mazon 
avenue, at a cost of about $400. Hav- 
ing several carpenters in the company 
they did the greater part of the work 
themselves. This building gave them 
a good room for their meetings and for 
their drill in the manual of arms, stor- 
age of arms, camp equippage, etc. 
After the company was disbanded 



the armory building was sold to Charles 
Waters for a hardware store. 

May 30 the Dwight company took 
part in the memorial services at Joliet. 

On July 1, 1877, a new militia code or 
law went into effect. This law had 
been passed by the general assembly of 
1877 and duly approved by S. M. Cul 
lom, then governor. The provisions of 
this law were the first encouragement 
the militia of Illinois had received. The 
active militia was designated the Illi- 
nois National Guard, each company to 
consist of a captain, a first and second 
lieutenant, five sergeants, eight corpor- 
als with not less than forty nor more 
than 100 non-commissioned officers and 
privates. It provided for enrollment for 
five years, annual parades and encamp- 
ments, arms and armories, fines and 
court martials and appropriations which 
authorized a levy of one-twentieth of 
one mill on a dollar upon all the taxable 
property in the state, this to be set aside 
as a military fund. At this time there 
were about 5,000 men in the Illinois 
State Guard, about one-half of whom 
were well uniformed and equipped. 
The law provided for brigade and di- 
vision organization. J. T. Torrence 
was appointed by the governor brigadier 
general commanding the First brigade 
to which we were attached, and Gen. 
A. C. Ducat was appointed major gen- 
eral to command the division. 

About the middle of July Adjutant 
J. B. Fithian resigned and Reed Jones 
was appointed to fill the vacancy. 

A general reorganization of the state 
militia under the new law was ordered, 
but about this time strikes and rioting 
had become somewhat general through- 
out the state, and during the last of 
July, 1877, intense excitement existed 
throughout the country. The people 
then, for the first time since the war, 
realized the necessity of armed bodies 



124 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



of troojjs. During the spring of 1877 
the miners at Braidwood came out 
on a strike, and by the middle of July 
were carrying things with a high hand. 
Trouble was expected there. Orders 
were issued to hold the members of the 
Tenth battalion well in hand and have 
all armories guarded. A supply of 
ammunition had been ordered for all 
the companies, but the sending of the 
same was delayed from day to day by 
general headquarters. About the 22nd 
of July the sheriff of Will county and 
his deputies were driven out of Braid- 
wood. Then the colored miners left 
for safety,, going in a body, some to 
Wilmington and some to Dwight. 

On the 23d I received an order from 
the adjutant general of the state to 
have my command ready for duty, and 
another dispatch the same day that am- 
munition would be sent to-morrow. Ef- 
forts were being made by the state to 
procure a supply from Rock Island. A 
vast number of orders was received by 
telegraph until the 28th. In the mean- 
time the trains had all stopped running. 
The sheriff of Will county had called on 
the governor for help and advised on 
the 26th that not less than 1,000 well 
armed men be sent to Braidwood. Fin- 
ally, on the evening of the 27th of July 
I received orders from Major General 
Ducat to concentrate my command at 
Dwight by noon on the day following, 
and proceed to Braidwood, he" to leave 
Chicago with six companies of the First 
regiment and the Third regiment in time 
to form a junction with me at that point. 
Orders were telegraphed to the several 
companies of my command to proceed 
to Dwight by special trains which should 
reach here before noon on the 28th. 
This they did promptly. The Joliet 
company was ordered to remain on 
duty at the state prison to prevent any 
possible trouble from the prisoners at 



that place, and the Marseilles com- 
pany was ordered to proceed to Joliet 
and connect with the special train with 
the troops from Chicago. 

A special train Avas provided at 
Dwight to take the Tenth Battalion 
to Braidwood, but there was some 
delay in getting started, one rea- 
son being that our promised ammu- 
nition had not arrived. One or two 
of the companies had a few rounds, but 
it could not be divided up to advantage 
with other companies as their arms 
were not all of the same style and cali- 
bre. In the meantime the troops from 
the north had reached Joliet and taken 
on two guns of King's Battery, it hav- 
ing been reported that the miners 
at Braidwood, who numbered about 
2,500, had procured a field piece. This, 
however, did not prove true. During 
the latter part of the afternoon we left 
Dwight for Braidwood. We left the 
train about one-half mile from the town 
and proceeded to march toward the 
place. We soon ascertained that the 
troops from the north had preceded us 
into the town and that the miners had 
offered no resistence and that the hon- 
ors of a bloodless victory belonged to 
the troops which had come from the 
north. We then marched to the rail- 
road roundhouse, put on a camp guard 
and quartered in the roundhouse for 
the night. On Sunday, tlie day follow- 
ing, the houses of the place were 
searched and all arms found were con- 
fiscated, receipts being given the own- 
ers for the same. The colored miners 
which had gone to Dwight and Wil- 
mington wished to return tt) Braidwood 
and asked protection from General 
Ducat, which was granted them on their 
arrival. 

On Sunday tlje Joliet company was 
Avithdrawn from the prison and joined 
us at Braidwood. 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS, 



125 



On Tuesday, the 31st, General Ducat 
with his troops returned by special train 
to their homes, he leaving me in com- 
mand with the Tenth battalion. 

The command was then divided, 
some of the companies being encamped 
in the town and others being withdrawn 
to a coal shaft near the outskirts of the 
place. Matters remained quiet and no 
outbreaks occurred. 

On the 2nd of August Governor Cul- 
lom visited us. Matters were duly can- 
vassed and he returned to Springfield 
that evening. 

That day the Pontiac, Streator, Joliet 
and Marseilles companies were relieved 
and returned to their homes. 

In a few days the arms which had 
been taken from the miners were re- 
turned to them. 

Tents were provided and a temporary 
issue of blankets was made by Quarter- 
master Judd to the Dwight and Odell 
companies. 

Matters continued quiet, the usual 
guard and picket duty was performed, 
and company drill was held daily. On 
the 8th of August orders were received 
for the command to return home leav- 
ing Quartermaster Judd in charge to 
report matters to the adjutant general 
and adjust state accounts. This would 
seem like leaving a comrade in the 
hands of the enemy, but as usual he 
proved eqvial to the occasion. 

The following day the balance of the 
command, consisting of the Dwight and 
Odell companies, returned home. Thus 
ended the "Braidwood War." Many 
things had happened which at the time 
or afterward seemed very amusing, but 
this would not seem strange under all 
the circumstances. Lieutenant Judd 
attended to the detail work of adjust- 
ing the quartermaster's account for the 
battalion ; also the muster and pay rolls 
for settlement by the state. This he 



did in a very proficient manner, but, for 
lack of funds, the troops were not paid 
for their services until May, 1879. The 
pay was the same as for troops in the 
regular service. The pay for company 
E was from July 23 to August 15 inclu- 
sive, and amounted, for a private sol- 
dier, to $11.35. 

August 18, 1877, the La Salle Light 
Guards, Captain W. G. Coulter com- 
manding, were detached from the Third 
regiment and assigned to the Tenth 
battalion and designated company G, 
but this order was soon afterward re- 
voked by the adjutant general. 

August 23 the Wenona Guards, Cap- 
tain O. M. Southwell commanding, 
were assigned to the Tenth battalion 
and designated company H. On the 
same date the Ottawa Guards, Captain 
Edward H. Smith commanding, were 
attached to the Tenth battalion and 
designated company I. 

The following roster will give as near 
as I am able to obtain, the names of the 
member of the Dwight Guards in the 
fall of 1877. Many others had been 
members of the company prior to this 
and subsequent to this, but I regret 
that I am unable to give a complete list 
of such names : 

Samuel H. Kenney, captain. 

Silas M. Witt, first lieutenant. 

James H. Lloyd, second lieutenant. 

Frank B. Chester, first sergeant. 

Sergeants — Richard Roe, Hans Mad- 
sen, Samuel Foster, James Kelagher, 
George W. Kyler. 

Corporals— James M. Dunlap, George 
W. Gaghagan, Levi Wood, Charles M. 
Mackley, John M. Kenney, Charles 
Kingman, Jonah G. Winters, Daniel D. 
Lewis. 

Musicians— James Riggs and Iler- 
schel L. Ilagerty. 

Privates— Isaac Alyea, Michael II. 
Blair, John Byrns, John W. Baker, 



126 



HISTOKY OF DWIGHT, ILLr:NUIS. 



Eolla D. Calkins, Daniel F. Chariton, 
John Cornlusen, Patrick Conefry, David 
Duncan, Louis Engelbert, John S. 
Gaghagan, Smith Gillen, Stephen A. 
Goodman, James S. Goodman, Andy 
Irving, Ole H. Jensen, Frank L. Lewis, 
Jabez Luther, William Morris, William 
T. Magee, Alfred Miller, Charles Miller, 
Egbert Miller, Eli Mullen, James Mor- 
ris, Henry T. Melhviish, George Mc- 
Neill, Henry Parker, John Perry, 
Charles Rice, Joseph Riling, Lawrence 
Roe, Charles Staley, Arial R. Stevens, 
Samuel L. Slyder, William Sherwood, 
Henry C. Sims, James K. Short, Henry 
Thompson, William Thackery, Marion 
C. Wood, Steven W. Winters, Thomas 
H. Walker, Ralph Walker, James N. 
White, Charles Walso, William Wink- 
ler. 

Major L. C. Mills resigned and his 
resignation accepted about the middle 
of August. The batallion was now 
composed of companies enough to be 
entitled to regimental organization. An 
order was issued to that effect and an 
election ordered to be held at D wight on 
the 3d day of September, 1877, to elect 
field officers for the regiment. This 
election was held with the following 
results : 

J. B. Parsons, colonel. 

J. W. Preston, lieutenant colonel. 

B. E, Robinson, major. 

This election was properly certified to 
and duly forwarded, but before com- 
missions were issued the point was 
raised that some of the ballots had been 
cast by proxy. Up to that time the cus- 
tom had been that where a company 
was represented, three votes might be 
cast by the officers present from each 
company when they held proxies for 
any commissioned officers of their com- 
pany that might not be present. The 
matter being brought to the attention 
of the adjutant general, he then ruled 



that by reason of these proxies the elec- j 
tion was void and commissions were 1 
withheld. 

In September a company was again 
mustered at Fairbury, L. J. Secrist 
commanding. September 24, 1877, an 
order was issued which revoked the 
former order for a regimental organiza- 
tion and restored again the Tenth bat- 
talion with the following companies 
consolidated : Dwight Guards, Odell 
Guards, Pontiac Guards, Wenona 
Guards and Fairbury Guards. An 
election was called to be held at Dwight 
on the 5th day of October, 1877, to elect 
field officers for the same. This resulted 
in the election of J. B. Parsons, lieuten- 
ant colonel ; and Captam J. K. Howard 
of the Odell company, major, and they 
were duly commissioned. The follow- 
ing staff officers were appointed : 

H, E. W. Barnes, captain and assist- 
ant surgeon. 

J. F. Culver, Captain and chaplain. 

C. J. Judd, lieutenant and adjutant. 

Cadet Taylor, lieutenant and quar- 
termaster. 

The following non-commissioned staff 
was appointed : 

C. C. Strawn, sergeant major. 

C. D. Parker, quratermaster sergeant. 

Ricliard Roe, commissary sergeant. 

Phillip Wade, hospital steward. 

Geo. W. Kyler, color sergeant. 

J. H. Gaff, ordinance sergeant. 

E. W. Mcintosh, drum-major. 

P. A. Trowbridge and T. A. Daniels, 
principal musicians. 

Letters designating the companies 
were revised as follows ; 

A, Pontiac company. 

B, Wenona company. 

C, Fairbury company. 

D, Odell company. 

E, Dwight company. 

The commissioned officers in these 
companies, as then or afterwards com- 
missioned, were as follows : 




fOJI.(//V/r/^/^ f//( Cc cMf 



The Leslie E. Keeley Co.s Office and Laboratory. 




Livingston Hotel. 




Women s Home. 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



127 



Company A — Captains, B. E. Robin- 
son and F. J. Maxwell; lirst lieuten- 
ants, D. M. Lyons, R. J. Johnson and 
James Fenton ; second lieutenant, J. C. 
Keach. 

Company B— Captains, O. M. South- 
well, S. B. Patch and Samuel Brown ; 
tirst lieutenants, S. B. Patch, P. Beck- 
with and R. F. Beecher ; second lieu- 
tenants, P. Beckwith, Samuel Brown 
and Cadet Taylor. 

Company C — Captains, L. J. Secrist, 
J. M. Wright. J. W. Morris and J. S. 
De Wolf ; lirst lieutenants, J. M. 
AVright. J. W. Morris, J. S. Ue Wolf and 
Henry Bennett ; second lieutenants, 
John W. Morris, J. S. DeAVolfand 
Henry Bennett. 

Company D — Captains, J. F. Trow- 
bridge, F. N. Hossack and F. M. 
Penny; tirst lieutenants, E. M. 
Yaughan, A. R. Hoke and C. M. De 
Yinney ; second lieutenants, J. L. 
Trowbridge, F. M. Penny and P. A. 
Trowbridge. 

Company E — Captains, S. H. Kenney 
and S M. Witt ; lirst lieutenants, S. M. 
\\ itt and F. B. Chester ; second lieu- 
tenants, J H. Lloyd and G. W. (iagha- 
han. 

The new militia code provided for 
payment by the state for an annual pa- 
rade and drill for three days, but owing 
to the expense incurred by the state 
from the recent riots, such parade was 
not ordered, but an inspection was or- 
dei-ed held by each company at their 
headquarters. In April, 1878, forty 
members of the Dwight company gave 
a power of attorney to M. C. Lilly & 
Co., Columbus, Ohio, for pay due them 
from their Braidwood campaign for 
forty national guard uniforms which 
they received the latter part of May. 
Several others were soon ordered, so 
that the company spent at that time a 
little more than 8*'»0() for uniforms. 



The average attendance at each drill 
of company E, as certified to by Cap- 
tain Kenney, at their semi-monthly 
drills from July, 1877, to April, 1878, 
was fifty-one officers and men. 

In June, 1878, the Livingston County 
Agricultural Society, through their of- 
ficers, invited the Tenth battalion to 
hold their annual drill at their new 
grounds, Yermillion Park, at Pontiac, 
July 3rd, 4th and 5th, quarters, rations, 
etc., to be furnished by them. The in- 
vitation was accepted and the attend- 
ance was large. A sham battle was 
quite a drawing feature, the Joliet bat- 
tery with their guns and the entire Tenth 
battalion taking part. On July 13 a 
social organization of company E was 
perfected, calling themselves Parsons' 
Guards. S. H. Kenney was elected 
president ; S, M. Witt, vice-president ; 
J, M. Dunlap, secretary ; C, M, Mack- 
ley, treasurer. In October rifle practice 
was ordered held by all the companies 
of the command, Brigadier General Vt,\ 
E . Strong being then general inspector 
of rifle practice. Company E received 
this year for hall rent, lights, fuel, in- 
surance and for other expenses about 
.S370 from the state. 

November ly, 1878, the Bloomington 
Guards, Captain A. L. Heywood com- 
manding, were assigned to the Tenth 
battalion and designated company F. 
Their commissioned officers at that time 
or during the service of this company 
with the Tenth battalion were as fol- 
lows : 

Captains— A. L. Heywood and J. F. 
Heft'erman. 

First Lieutenants— John Roberts, I). 
D. Butler, J. F, Helferman and L. C, 
Garver. 

Second Lieutenants— I). D. Butler, 
(i. M. Lathrop and Henry Rieb. 

February 21, 1871», Captain O. M. 
Southwell, commanding company B, 



128 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



died. Captain Southwell was an excel- 
lent officer and his death caused much 
regret in the command. 

.July 1, 1879, a new militia code went 
into effect. This required that no com- 
pany should be composed of less than 
fifty and not more than 100 men. The 
total number of national guards in the 
state not to exceed 8,000 men. The en- 
listments to be five years, levying a tax 
of one tenth of one mill on a dollar on 
all the taxable property of the state and 
quite a number of other important 
changes were made. 

In July, 1879, Captain Kenney asked 
for the discharge of forty-six members 
of company E by reason of expiration 
of term of service. The application was 
forwarded, approved and the members 
honorably discharged. During this 
month Lieutenant Judd was commis- 
sioned captain and adjutant of the bat- 
talion. 

Under the provisions of the military 
code $500 was allowed this year to each 
brigade headquarters and !$200 to each 
regiment and battalion headquarters for 
current expenses of the same. 

August 23, 1879, Lieutenant S. M. 
Witt was elected captain of the D wight 
company, vice Captain Kenney, whose 
time of service had expired. Captain 
Witt was afterwards elected sheriff of 
Livingston County in November 1882. 

In August, 1879, orders were issued 
from general headquarters for the First 
brigade to assemble at South Park, 
Cook county, on the 3rd day of Septem- 
ber for a four-day brigade encampment 
and drill. The brigade was then com- 
posed of one battalion of cavalry, three 
regiments of infantry, five battalions of 
infantry and three batteries. This com- 
mand, with which we were connected, 
reported at Chicago at the old base ball 
park on the lake front about noon on 
the 3rd, then moved in regular order, 



commanded by Brigadier General J. T. 
Torrence, passing the exposition build- 
ing where we were reviewed by Gov- 
ernor Cullom, marching thence to South 
Park where quarters and subsistance 
were furnished by the state, transpor- 
tation to Chicago being furnished free 
by the various railroad companies. The 
services of the men were without pay 
for the four days" encampment. Com- 
pany, battalion and brigade drills were 
the order ; also a sham battle near the 
lake front on a grand scale. The en- 
campment was enjoyed by all and of 
much benefit to the command. The 
drill and sham battle took place on part 
of the ground on which the World's 
Fair has since been held. The follow- 
ing named officers then constituted the 
brigade staff : 

Lieutenant Colonel George R. Can- 
non, assistant adjutant general. 

Lieutenant Colonel Elijah B. Sher- 
man, judge advocate. 

Lieutenant Colonel Samuel B. Apple- 
ton, inspector of rirte practice. 

^lajor Wiley S. Scribner, assistant in- 
sjiector general. 

Surgeon Fernand Ilenrotin, brigade 
surgeon. 

Captain Frank G. Iloyne, assistant 
quartermaster 

Captain Elliott Durand, assistant 
commissary of subsistance. 

First Lieutenant Edward T. Sawyer, 
aid-de-camp. 

First Lieutenant James J. Ilealey, 
aid-de-camp. 

The following officers were in com 
mand of the various organizations com- 
posing the brigade. 

First battalion, cavalry. Major D. 
Welter. 

Second regiment, infantry, Colonel 
James (iuirk. 

Third regiment, infantry. Colonel C. 
I\I. Brazee. 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



129 



First regiment, infantry, Colonel E, 
D. Swain. 

Battery C, First artillery, Major M. 
Young. 

Battery 1), First artillery. Major E. 
P. Tobey. 

Battery A, First artillery, Captain E. 
Winter. 

Tenth battalion, infantry. Lieutenant 
Colonel .T. B. Parsons. 

Ninth battalion, infantry, Lieutenant 
Colonel M. II. Peters. 

Twelfth battalion, infantry, Lieuten- 
ant Colonel J . B. Fithian. 

Sixth battalion, infantry. Lieutenant 
Colonel W. II. Thompson. 

Sixteenth battalion, infantry. Major 
S. W. Scott. 

In October ten rounds of ammunition 
was ordered issued to each man for tar- 
get practice by Colonel .lames A. Shaf- 
fer then inspector of rifle practice. 

November 10, 1879, H. II. McDowell 
was appointed and commissioned cap- 
tain and assistant inspector of rifla 
practice. The same date A. (i. Good- 
speed was commissioned captain and 
chaplain of the battalion. 

March B, 1880, the battalion was in- 
spected by W. S Scribner, major and in- 
spector general of the First brigade. 
The Dwight company was inspected on 
Friday evening, March 20. Company E 
was paid this year for expenses as pro- 
vided by the militia code, .i?325. 

In August, 1880, the Wenona Fair 
xVssociation, through its proper oflicers, 
extended aii invitation for the Tenth 
battalion to meet with them at the time 
of holding their fair in September, the 
association to furnish quarters and ra- 
tions for the battalion. Accordingly 
orders were issued for the battalion to 
meet at Wenona on Tuesday, Septem- 
ber 28, for annual encami)ment and 
drill. The battalion band accompanied 
us and all the companies reported with 



full ranks. We remained for two days 
entertaining the crowd each day with a 
sham battle. No expense to the state 
was incurred other than the use of 
about forty tents. 

The levy of this year of one-tenth of 
one mill on the taxable property of the 
state raised about !B70,000, three-fourths 
of which was apportioned to the Illinois 
National Guard for militia expenses 
under the provisions of the military 
code. 

In February, 1881, the battalion was 
inspected at their various company 
headquarters by Major Eliott Durand, 
then inspector general, First brigade. 

In April, 1881, company A, at Pon- 
tiac, disbanded and all members honor- 
ably discharged. 

Early in July Adjutant General H. 
Ililliard resigned and General Isaac H. 
Elliott was appointed his successor in 
otlice by Governor CuUom. 

In July, 1881, the Fairbury and Bloom- 
ington companies received new breech- 
loading Springfield muskets. 

On July 4, 1881, the Dwight Guards 
went to Kankakee and took a promi- 
nent part in the Fourth of July celebra- 
tion in that city. 

On the fith, 7th, 8th and 9th of Sep- 
tember the Tenth battalion, by invita- 
tion, attended the fourth annual en- 
campment of the Illinois soldiers' and 
sailors" reunion at Bloomington. This 
encampment was attended by com- 
panies B, 1), E and F, taking with them 
the Tenth battalion band. On the 8th 
the encampment was visited by General 
U. S. Grant and other notables. A 
sham battle was held in the fair 
grounds ; also a so-called street fight 
by all the tpoops present, through sev- 
eral of the streets of the city. Trans- 
portation and quarters were furnished 
by the reunion committee. 

In September orders were issued re- 



130 



IIISTOllY OF DWIGIIT, ILLI^JUIS. 



quiring the Illinois National Guard to 
pay fitting tribute to our martyred Pres- 
ident James A. Garfield, that all colors 
be draped and all officers wear the usual 
badge of mourning for thirty days. 

In March, 1882, Adjutant General El- 
liott issued an order which, with the ex- 
ception of three regiments of infantry, 
reorganized and consolidated the entire 
Illinois National Guards. Prior to this 
there were seventeen regiments and 
battalions of infantry, one battalion of 
cavalry and four battalions of artillery 
in the state. This order placed together 
the companies at Streator, Sublet, We- 
nona, Dwight, Joliet, Ottawa, Bloom- 
ington and Piper City, which should 
comprise the Fourth regiment, infantry, 
I. N. G. 

An election for field officers was or- 
dered held at Ottawa, with the follow- 
ing result and commissions were duly 
issued : Colonel, J. B. Fithian ; lieu- 
tenant colonel, J. B. Parsons ; major, J. 
F. Hetterman. 

In August the following correspond- 
ence took place which explains itself : 

DwioHT, 111., Aug. 7, 1882. 
I, H. Elliott, Adjutant General I. N . G., 
Springfield 111. 

General : — I hereby very respectfully 
tender my resignation as lieutenant col- 
onel Fourth regiment, infantry. 

Having now served the state for eight 
years at a considerable sacrifice as an 
officer in the Illinois National Guard 1 
beg leave to report that my business is 
such that I cannot longer attend to tlie 
duties devolving upon me as such. 
Very respectfully yours, 
,1. ]i. Parsons. 
Lieut. Col. 4th Reg., Inft, I. N. G. 



Fourth regiment, infantry, I. N. G., 
tenders his resignation on account of 
imperative business reasons. It is ac- 
cepted to take effect from this date. 

Colonel Parsons has served in the 
Illinois National Guards eight years, 
and has proved himself well worthy of 
the rank he bore. 

It is with regret that the governor 
and commander-in-chief accepts the 
resignation of such an excellent officer 
and tried veteran as Colonel Parsons. 
By order commander-in-chief, 
I. H. Elliott, 
Adjutant General. 



General IlEAD(irARTEKs, ) 

Illinois National (J hard, [- 

Springfield, 111., Aug. 14, 1882. \ 

Special Order / 

No. 57(5. \ 

Lieutenant Colonel -T. 15. Parsons, 



This severed my connection with the 
Illinois National Guard. 

The Dwight Guards were disbanded 
and all members honorably discharged 
from the service in November, 1882. ^ 

During the organization of the 
Dwight Guards I believe they retained 
the confidence and respect of the people 
of the community, and I am sure the 
same feeling existed towards the other 
companies of the Tenth battalion in the 
communities in which they were lo- 
cated. I think that the members of the 
command and others had many reasons 
to feel as they did, that the Tenth bat- 
talion compared very favorably with 
the best then in the state. I'ersonally I 
have always felt under many obligations 
to the commissioned officers and all 
men of the command for their partial- 
ity and cheerful performance of duty. 

As memory goes back over the inter- 
vening time I am made sad by the 
thought that such excellent officers and 
companionable gentlemen as Major 
Howard, who died at Odell, July 12, 
1882. and Captain Kenney, who died in 
Chicago, September lit, 1887. and others, 
and so many of the members of the old 
Tenth battalion have since crossed 
over the river. 





p 


1 


J% 




^K' ^^ 


ij 


P^^HP^ ; 1 


K 


\' "^-^ ^ \ 


l&i 


■ -1- 


■ 



^Oc^^^^k^ 







HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



131 



CHAPTER XIV. 



DR. LESLIE E. KEELEY'S DOUBLE CHLORIDE OF GOLD. 



The notable event connected with the 
history of Dwight, 111., the one which 
has given its name such an universal 
iniblicity throughout the civilized world, 
dates from April, 1880. 

At this time Leslie E. Keeley, M. D., 
a physician and surgeon in general 
practice, and also surgeon of the Chica- 
go & Alton railroad, announced to the 
world that after years of scientific re- 
search and practical experiments, the 
fact had developed that drunkenness 
and the use of opiates which had here- 
tofore been recognized as vicious habits, 
if not crimes, were diseases only, and 
as such amenable to medical treatment 
and cure. 

He was fair to the world and ethical 
to the profession, for he announced the 
means he employed, to- wit : the chlo- 
ride of gold and sodium ; and to show 
his faith in his work and the honesty 
of his purpose, he invited one hundred 
physicians to test the worth thereof and 
prove or disapprove his position by the 
success with which they should meet 
through its use in their own private 
practice, he furnishing them his remedy 
free, and enjoining only that it should 
be used in such cases as in their judg- 
ment were curable, taking all physical 
and moral conditions into consideration. 

During the year following this oifer 
over BOO pairs of Dr. Keeley's remedies 



were contributed for this purpose, and 
their use was followed by reports of the 
most favorable and flattering results. 
At this time the remedy was only for 
internal use by the stomach. Later, by 
further experiments, he discovered a 
solution to be used in connection there- 
with, hypodermically, and which has 
since been employed in his Institute 
treatment. In addition to the diseases 
above named. Dr. Keeley's remedies are 
prepared for neurasthenia, or nerve ex- 
havistion and the tobacco habit, and 
have proved as effectual in such cases 
as in those of alcohol and opium. 

The method of treatment to-day is 
conducted upon the same lines as orig- 
inally claimed by him as the true and 
practical method, with the exception, 
of course, of the added improvements 
that must necessarily come from years 
of practice, study and the handling of 
thousands of cases. Under his methods 
the marked innovation of treating per- 
sons afflicted with these diseases is at a 
first glance startling. There is an en- 
tire absence of every objectional fea- 
ture of the old style inebriate asylum or 
sanitarium, it being substituted by an 
institute or home, where only voluntary 
patients are received; where i)atient 
and physician meet upon the ground of 
a mutual concession of responsibility, 
and where the afflicted one occupies the 



132 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



position of a temporary resident of the 
city, wherein the institute or home may 
be situated, free to go and come where 
and when he chooses ; the only require- 
ments being to observe regularity in the 
taking of the internal remedy, as pro- 
vided, and reporting punctually four 
times a day at office assigned for the 
hypodermic treatment. 'This mutuality 
fixes the patient's earnestness on a cure, 
and places him on the same basis as any 
other invalid who may be sojourning at 
a summer resort with his family physi- 
cian, seeking quiet and freedom from 
disaase, or rest for over-wrought nerves. 
The theory is that the remedies, as here 
administered, do what locks and straps 
and straight- jackets and bars have 
never done ; that a sick man needs 
physical treatment, not physical re- 
straint ; the invalid, the nurse and not 
the jailor. Places of confinement, 
.guards, hospital wards, etc., etc., are 
unknown at Keeley Institutes, and in 
the light of this great discovery, are but 
relics of past barbarism. The object of 

this treatment is not to confine a man 
in the fear that he may do himself or 
others bodily harm ; but to restore him 
to immediate normal physical condi- 
tion, capable of occupying position as a 
man among men, either in profession, 
trade, business or society. 

The established success of the work 
progressed, and in April, 1886, The 
Leslie E. Keeley Co., was incorpor- 
ated, with Leslie E. Keeley, M. D., 
president ; John R. Oughton, vice-pres- 
ident and chemist, and Curtis J. Judd, 
secretary and treasurer, and these mem- 
bers still retain their several positions. 
During eighteen months of 1885 and 
1886, the institute treatment at Dwight 
was discontinued, and a thorough term 
of experimental work was employed 
under Dr. Keeley's personal direction, in 



still further investigations, and in June, 
1886, the Institute was reopened with 
improved remedies and the added hy- 
podermic, with such success and world- 
wide results as have since been unpre- 
cedented m any feature of medical 
science. 

The establishment of State Institutes 
throughout the United States and 
abroad, followed, and at present date 
number more than one hundred, all of 
which are under the supervision of com- 
petent and experienced managers, and 
in charge of physicians thoroughly in- 
structed at Dwight in the methods and 
administration of the remedies. 

The remedies are a secret preparation 
and will doubtless remain so, as Dr. 
Keeley's devotion of an average busi- 
ness man's lifetime to his work should 
entitle him to a just consideration of 
his wisdom in such protection from the 
manipulations of inexperienced people, 
as publicity of the formulae of this most 
valuable world-discov'cry would endan- 
ger. 

The most wonderful results are ac- 
complished by the use of his methods 
and remedies. They, the company, owe 
the world no apology, yet an explana- 
tion for the purpose of information may 
be in order. During the past fifteen 
years, over 225,000 inebriates have been 
cured of drunkenness and kindred dis- 
eases, and to-day there is not a hamlet 
in the land that has not its staunch sup- 
porters of the cure in one or more Kee- 
ley graduates or friends into whose 
lives its blessing has not come. There 
is not a scientist or divine, who has 
given it his personal attention and ex- 
amination, who is not its strong advo- 
cate and su{)porter. There is not a re- 
former of the day, who has gone into a 
thorough investigation of its merits, 
who does not hail it as the human 
agency that is to lift up, carry forward 




A 


— ^s. 


tjfr^ftb^ 


% 


€ 


^ 


^^^^K^~ 


i^W 


^!^!9H' 


/ 


/ 





Dr. J. E. Blaine. 



Dr. M. R. Keeley. 





Dr. R. Broughton. 



Dr. W. M. Brown. 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



133 



and save their impossibilities. There is 
not a home in which its work dwells 
that is not blessed, nor a community 
that is not better for its coming. Our 
government recognizes in it a protec- 
tion for its wards, as well as a saving of 
its wealth. Our veterans hail it as the 
joy of their declining days. States have 
adopted it as a corrective, if not a sani- 
tary, measure ; and what speaks vol- 
umes for it is that wherever it has been 
introduced it has never failed in ac- 
complishing all that is claimed for it. 

As in all things that are directed by 
human thought or controlled by human 
judgment, we expect failures ; yet, in 
this they are not in the cure, but in the 
patient to maintain same. This asser- 
tion has been proven in hundreds of 
cases of alleged failures, that upon ex- 
amination the patient himself admitted 
that it was his own fault and that he 
returned to the use of alcoholic liquors 
or the drugs, not because he felt he 
needed them or even craved them, but 
from a foolish whim to test his cure, to 
see what effect they would have upon 
him, or to quiet the banterings of fool- 
ish friends and prove to them that he 
had not lost his manhood in taking the 
treatment, that he was still a free moral 
agent, etc., and could now indulge or 
let it alone as he saw tit, with the inev- 
itable result—failure— forgetting that 
the wood, once charred, will take the 
tlame quicker than that unburned. The 
treatment, again, is not intended to 
make men — only cure them. No sys- 
tem of medication thus far discovered 
can put a heart or soul or brains into a 
man. This remedy can and does cure 
the physical man of his physical malady 
and leaves him normal— as he was be- 
fore he ever indulged— barring added 
age and mjuries brought on through 
his excesses. If the patient is naturally 
a mental or moral failure, this treat- 



ment cannot correct this, and should 
not be held responsible if such a man 
acts out his nature and lives out his 
narrow or vicious life. In the loss of 
such, the world loses nothing, but gains 
everything. When a man takes this 
cure he owes it the same allegiance that 
he does the Church or State. He must 
obey and follow the lessons, teachings, 
principles and laws if he would be a 
sober man, a consistent churchman and 
a good citizen. This treatment cures 
beyond a question, yet a man can drink 
again, even as he can sin again after 
Divine forgiveness. He is still a free 
agent to commit physical and moral 
suicide if he so wills ; but the act must 
be deliberate and premeditated. 

It is eminently fair to judge a work 
by its returns for good or evil. The 
records of the different Keeley Insti- 
tutes show that in the flf te en years last 
past there have been 225,000 of our fel- 
low citizens who have admitted their 
inability to cope with the narcotic or 
alcoholic diseases, or appetites, or 
whatever you choose to call them ; that 
they were enslaved by chains that all 
earthly help had failed to sunder. Dr. 
Keeley's discovery dawned upon the 
world as a bow of promise ; as a forlorn 
hope they reached out to it and found 
relief. What if a small percent have 
again fallen V They are only sufficient 
in number to prove the general rule of 
cure. The very large proportion who 
are permanently cured are good, earnest 
men, bread-winners to our nation, to 
say nothing of the hopes and loves and 
lives that are twined around theirs, of 
souls that it has made possible to save. 
Does this mean nothing to the world 
from the economist's view? Does it 
mean nothing to the Church and State? 
There is food for thought here. The 
structure that is being reared is to make 
men stronger physically, better mental- 



134 



HISTORY OF DWiGIIT, ILLI^NOIS. 



ly and purer morally. The question is 
not, are we working according to any 
faith ; but are we saving men V If this 
treatment had saved but one of the vast 
number who have sought it, the world 
would be the better for its discovery. 

There is another fact that marks the 
growth and success of this treatment 
and of these remedies as something 
phenomenal, and it is this : Since its 
work has proven its worth, and within the 
five years last past, hundreds of different 
so-called liquor and opium "cures"' have 
sprung into life that were never heard 
of, or in fact existed, before ; yet claim- 
ing to be "the original Gold Cure," or 
an "improvement on the Keeley Cure," 
or "the Bi-Chloride of Gold Cure," or 
some such bastard growth that must 
add to their illegitimacy, and to draw 
the attention of their dupes to the words 
"Gold Cure" or "Dwight" or "Keeley," 
names that have become household 
words the world over, synonyms of sal- 
vation in thousands of homes, the 
crowning halo of a student's life. What 
a prostitution of sacred things to serve 
a damnable purpose, giving poison in 
the sacred chalice to the kneeling peni- 
tent at the altar of his hopes. "What 
lesson can we draw from this ? That 
the Keeley work and the Keeley reme- 
dies are genuine and all that is claimed 
for them. Imitations are not copied ; 
you never heard of a copying after or 
imitation of one of these imitators, for 
each recognizes in the other as great a 
fraud as in itself, and yet while they 
may liourish for a few days, or months 
at most, their fate always will be as it 



always has been, sure and certain, their 
masks are being daily torn away and 
the world is beginning to see them and 
know them in their true light. Not so 
with the Keeley work. For fifteen years 
has it stood the test of trial, experiment, 
sarcasm, vituperation and criticism. It 
has built up the wealth of the land in 
money and men ; it gives value received 
in that you could not purchase from 
the patient for thousands of dollars 
what he pays one hundred for ; it has 
made numberless happy homes through- 
out our land, exerting an inrtuence 
in harmony with all temperance or- 
ganizations and churches, working for 
the greater good to humanity. It places 
men in physical condition to be morally 
better ; it turns the fiow of money from 
the saloon till into the home ; it gives 
strength to the weak, courage to the 
disheartened, hope to the hopeless. It 
has not only made two blades of grass 
to grow where was only one, but it has 
made the barren desert of thousands of 
lives to blossom as the rose. 

The gentlemen who form the com- 
pany known as The Leslie E. Keeley 
Co., Dr. Leslie E. Keeley, Major 
C. J. Judd and Mr. J. R. Oughton, are 
all old residents of Dwight, and are a 
prominent part of its history, both be- 
fore and after the discovery and remar- 
kable success financially and for man- 
kind. There has been no perceptible 

change in these men, except that they 
are busier, but socially they are just the 
same genial and interesting compan- 
ions, and the old "History of Dwight" 
will have no more interested readers 
than they. 




H. A. Kenyon. 



m]h'... 





A. C. Lonergan, M. D. 



Leonard Hewlett. 



HISTORY OF D WIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



135 



Personal Recollections, 



BY GEORGE T. CONANT. 



STARTING FOR THE WEST. 



Jklarch 20, 1854, in the town of Roch- 
ester, Lorain county, Ohio, at the home 
of John Conant, a council was held by 
.James Lynch, Geo. T. Conant and 
Henry Conant, agreeing to go in com- 
pany to the West and settle on the wild 
prairie of Illinois. Having but a scant 
knowledge of these prairies of the West 
some wild speculations were made as to 
how the prairie looked. Lynch, who 
was fresh from the "ould sod,"' sug- 
gested, if there were no stumps, 
who -'tuck" them out? Did the Indians 
pull them V "Shure" what would they 
do that for? And were there any 
fences, or the "loike"? "Be gob, 
George," says Lynch, "are there any 
houses on thepraires, or do they live in 
holes in the ground T And, so, many 
were the questions asked by one or the 
other of the Gallant Three, who de- 
cided to start the next week for the 
AVest, if preparations could be com- 
pleted. Each one must have a good 
rifle for protection in that wild country, 
for killing game on which to live, if 
they must, until a crop was raised, as 
they expected to be real farmer boys. 

The mother of the Conant boys sug- 
gested, "that we take with us some 
sweet corn, lettuce and beets," and ihe 
father said, "you had better take some 
pumpkin seed and beans." Thus you 
see he remembered his old New J]iigland 
home— pumpkin pie and bean s()U[i. 



Everything having been planned and 
arranged, the route laid out and a letter 
written to Mrs. Cutler, a sister of two 
of the boys who lived in Grundy county, 
111., and whose place is now occupied by 
Mr. Louis Zauble, in Goodfarm, we 
started. This was our point of destin- 
ation. So, on the 5th of April we put 
our traps in a lumber wagon and drove 
twelve miles to the nearest railroad. 
After waiting five hours the train came 
in sight, and we were told to "hurry on 
board," for they would not stop but a 
minute. Well, we got off safely and 
landed in Toledo sometime between 
midnight and morning, tinding the train 
for Chicago had gone, and that we must 
wait until afternoon for a train. Such 
waiting three green boys never saw ! 
liut time passed and we finally got 
started again. The next day at dark 
we landed in Chicago. 

After tramping for a time we found 
a tavern, not a hotel as now, where we 
stayed over night. At 10 o'clock the 
next day we boarded the Rock Island 
train for Morris, at which place we 
landed safe and sound and were told the 
best place to stay was a tavern down on 
the canal, kept by Landlord Prindell, a 
very talkative individual, who found 
out all about us as fast as he could. 
Lynch remarked : "He must be a rela- 
tive he is so interested in us." And he 
knew everybody in the county, where 



13(5 



HISTORY OF DAVIGIIT, ILLI^'OIS. 



they came from and what they expected 
to do, and I guess he got the same from 
us, for we spoke of going on that night. 
"Oh I" says the landlord, ''that would be 
impossible ; you would get lost, for to 
get across the river you would not know 
which path to take, and besides we 
should stay and hear a woman lecture, 
"one of the smartest in the state." 

I thought, perhaps, the hotel bill was 
what he wanted, but as he offered to 
furnish us tickets for the lecture we 
concluded to stay, finding the name of 
the lecturer to be Mrs. H. M. T. Cutler, 
our sister, whom I had not seen for six 
years, but said nothing to Mr. Prindell. 
He was so excited over the lecture, and 
having strangers to escort, stopping to 
introduce his young men to two or three 
who were a trifle late, the lecture was 
just beginning as we went in, and as 
all the back seats were taken, we went 
to the front, but were not given time to 
take our seats before the lecturer got in 
something not in the program, for we 
got a free introduction to all in the 
house, even the landlord had to shake 
hands with his guests. The lecture 
went on, but I heard some remark, "It 
wan't as good as last night." Well, 
all things have an ending and so did that 
evening and night. 

Early the next morning leaving our 
belongings, except rifles and a few 
traps, we started for the south part of 
the county, twenty miles away. We 
were to inquire for a man by the name 
of Saltmarsh, after going a few miles. 
We tramped on and on. Lynch said : 
"We had gone ten good Irish miles, 
shure, let the distance be what it is, in 
this bare-headed country." 

Then we tried our best to remember 
the name we were to inquire for, but 
with no amount of thinking could we 
recall the name, but shortly we came to 
a shanty house, and proposed we in- 



quire and see if we could iind out any- 
thing, but as we turned up to the house 
a man came out. Soon as he turned 
toward us Lynch whispered, "George, 
his nose is smashed, shure ; he's the 
man we could not think of." And he 
was correct in his guess . 

We received all the information nec- 
essary, got a drink of water, devoured 
our lunch, and after exchanging stories 
with Saltmarsh, started on, and went 
more than ten .of those Irish miles, be- 
ginning to wonder where we should stay 
that night. But as we skirted the tim- 
ber along the river Mazon, we heard the 
noise of some one pounding. We halted, 
then went a short distance into the 
wood. There we found a man shaving 
shingles for a house. He said he was 
going to build down at the new station 
in Livingston county. That man was 
Mr. W^est, who built a house In Dwight 
and lived in it so many years. He told 
us where to go, and went a short dis- 
tance to point ovit Mr. Cutlers house, 
and said to us : "Right over there lives 
Eber Stevens, and next his brother 
Erastus," and also said '"you have got 
almost done • your tramp for to-day. 
How far have you comeV"' "Morris." 
"■'vhy," he said, "that isour postortice." 
"Be gorry," says Lynch, "I don't want 
any letter if I have to go after it." 

Finally we landed at the Cutler man- 
sion, three tired and homesick boys. 
The next morning at sunrise from this 
mansion we beheld the great ocean 
prairies of Illinois for the first time, 
and as a "quill" of the time has poetized. 

"When lirst the vill;i;ie 1), was tlioiiglit, 
Thii frieuds of 1>. some otliers fouglit, 
To give a little name and birth 
To homes of clay and joyous mirth. 

This setlled, and a sii;n tliey i)laced 
To ttnide the weary wanderer to rest ; 
A hickory pole of twenty-two feet, 
A rusty pail did j;racefidly o'erlea])." 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLI:N0IS. 



137 



BY Y\. ^. Kl>I"SYll.RliD. 



The period of time covered by this 
sketch begins in September, 1860. 
Dwight was then a small station on the 
C. & A. railroad. That artery of com- 
merce had then, for some years, been 
pulsating regularly between Chicago 
and St. Louis. The spire of the Pres- 
byterian church (now the Danish M. E.) 
and the smoke from the iron chimney 
of the stone mill could be seen from a 
long distance, and the shade trees not 
being grown, the village itself was also 
visible far across the naked prairie. 
Several farms near by were occupied, 
yet in some directions the prairie was 
open to the village streets. In nearly 
all directions the houses of settlers 
could be seen, but there were wide 
stretches of open country between. 
From' the tops of the swells of the prai- 
rie, in clear weather one could always 
see a human habitation, but on the 
lower lands would sometimes travel 
miles seeing none. In the spring he 
would often see acres purple with wild 
violets or spider lilies, or blushing with 
wild roses ; while in autumn nearly the 
whole landscape would be aglovv with 
a variety of yellow flowers, in many in- 
stances the stems rising eight or ten 
feet. Beautiful, indeed, was the wild 
prairie in summer. Imagine yourself 
out on a treeless expanse, with few 
signs of human occupation anywhere, 
but a seemingly measureless sea of ver- 
dure stretching away in all directions, 
sometimes deer in twos or threes feeding 
quietly or hurrying away at your ap- 
proach, with occasionally grouse or 
wild ducks springing almost from your 
horse's feet, and you will have an im- 
perfect idea of what might be seen in 
the vicinity of Dwight in 18t)0. But the 



first severe frost changed all this sud- 
denly and completely. The landscape 
put on a dull, monotonous hue of dead 
vegetation. Then the hunter would get 
in his work. During the day the (Jeer 
lies close in his covert, usually in the 
coarse grass around the sloughs. To 
find him the hunter would stick a match 
in the grass to windward of him, and 
going himself to leeward of the slough 
be ready to take the deer when the fire 
drove him up. If one had no property 
in danger the prairie fires were very 
beautiful. 

About 3 or 4 o'clock one afternoon in 
the fall of 1861 a fire was started near 
the middle of the line which bounds 
Dwight and Union townships. A fair 
breeze was blowing from a little north 
of west. When a fire was started at a 
single point it speedily took the form of 
a capital letter V with its point for- 
ward, the side fires burning more slowly. 
The point of this fire drove across the 
middle of section 8 of the town of 
Broughton. 

It passed about three-quarters of a 
mile north of my house. "With the 
snapping and crackling and hissing of 
burning stems and weeds, mingled with 
the roar of fiame, it sounded very like 
the roar of a long train of cars. The 
wind subsided at evening, and after 
dark there were two nearly parallel 
chains of side fire, each nearly ten miles 
long, the riames leaping two to six feet 
high on the uplands and of coxirse 
higher in the lowlands where the grass 
was ranker. In the morning the whole 
wide prairie lay blackened and crisp 
under the tread of the fire fiend. In 
winter when the shelterless prairie was 
covered with snow and ice it wore a 



138 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



look of bleakness and desolation no 
where else to be found this side the 
arctic zone, 

I settled in Broughton in April, IStU- 
There were inconveniences of course, 
but for the young, the healthy and the 
strong I could hardly say hardships. 
Youth and health cannot be unhappy 
long at a time. The breaking out of 
the war increased the inconveniences 
greatly. Take for instance the matter 
of fuel. The issues of western banks 
(west of Ohio) were largely secured by 
bonds of the southwestern states which 
went into rebellion. Of course western 
money became worthless and went out 
of use. In February, 1862, I drew a 
load of ear corn into Dwight, and could 
not get a cent of money for it. I could 
get \2}4 cents per bushel in dry goods, 
groceries or lumber, but that was not 
fuel and coal was cash. One Thursday 
morning, long before day, a neighbor 
and myself started for Streator. Xo, 
Streator was not then thovight of, but 
for the coal banks at the Vermillion 
river. There were no shafts sunk at 
that time, but the coal was mined from 
seams which cropped out from the 
banks of the river and the creeks adja- 
cent. We took plethoric lunch baskets, 
plenty of horse-feed and blankets, for 
we expected to be gone two days. AVe 
also took an ax and matches and some 
extra sacks of corn, but no money. 
Arriving at the river, we found, after 
gome time, a miner who wanted our 
corn to feed the mules which he used 
about the mine. By that barter we 
each got a little more than half a 
wagon-boxful of "slack." The miner 
dealt fairly with us ; he brought out of 
the mine an excellent quality of slack. 
It was nightfall when we reached the 
edge of the timber. AVe had no money 
to pay a farmer for a bed and stable- 
room so we turned into athick grove of 



oaks where we found a large log, be- 
side which we built a fire, fed our 
horses, ate our suppers and spread our 
blankets. There were plenty of stars, 
and it was freezing some, but there was 
an ominous whispering in the tree tops. 
AA'^ith the first light we w> re on the road, 
there was a brisk, chilly wind from the 
south and the sky was angry. A very 
few miles brought us to the prairie 
which stretched, almost without a 
house, nearly to the Alazon timber, two 
miles west of Dwight. 

Soon the rain began to fall, our ice 
bridges became treacherous and our 
progress was slow. By the time we 
reached the school-house near the 
Mazon timber, it was very dark, and, 
driven by the south wind, very large 
snow Hakes, feathery and soft, were fall- 
ing thick and fast. AVe drove our teams 
close in the lee of the school-house, fed 
them well and put all the blankets on 
them and went into the house. The 
room was warm, for there had been 
school and there was still fire in the 
stove. AVe filled the stove with slack 
and soon had it red. AVe lay down on 
the seats in our wet clothes and waited 
for daylight. 

In the morning the sun shone bright- 
ly and it was still thawing though the 
wind was very chilly and our clothes 
were damp. The ice bridges were badly 
rotted and the work was severe on the 
teams. A few miles southeast of the 
village we came to what was then called 
the Koadnight slough, a shallow stream 
ten or fifteen rods wide. AVe broke a 
roadway through the ice, doubled teams 
and went through nicely with the first 
wagon. Returning ft)r the second load 
we perpetrated the folly of putting the 
younger and sillier team in the lead. 
About mid-stream i hey refused to go 
further, began to "act up," got tangled 
in their harness and soon all four horses 




Scene in Keeley Traetment Hall 




Keefey League. 

{Forn]er Club Mouse. ) 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



139 



were down at once in about two and a 
half feet of water. There were some 
very wet and chilly men and horses be- 
fore Ave got out of tliat scrape. "We ar- 
rived at home about 4 p. m. Saturday. 

In the fall when the roads were dry, 
the weather cool and the moon near its 
"full," several neighbors would go to- 
gether for coal and have a jolly time 
even if they did "camp out," 

In September of 1801 three gentlemen, 
one of them a clergyman of my ac- 
quaintance from La Salle county, the 
other two young friends of his from 
"down east," drove up to my door and 
asked if there were any deer ni the vi- 
cinity, saying they had been told there 
were, but they had not seen one and 
they had been hunting a week. It was 
late in the afternoon and I told them to 
come the next morning at 8 o'clock and 
I thought I could gratify them with the 
sight of one or two. They came at the 
hour appointed, and I mounted one of 
my horses and led the way. Less than 
a mile from my house and a short dis- 
tance northeast from where the village 
of Emington now stands, I dropped 
back a little and told them to look sharp 
for they might start one almost any 
minute. Not many rods further a doe 
sprang up within a very few feet of 
their off fore wheel, dashed ahead a 
few bounds and started up a second 
one. They together ran four or five 
rods to the right and put up a third, 
and the three went east. "There's 
your deer, gentlemen," I shouted. Not 
a shot was fired, and in a very few min- 
utes we could see the graceful, beauti- 
ful creatures tossing their white flags a 
couple of miles away. 

Deer soon became scarce, but ducks, 
geese and "sand hiU" cranes tarried 
longer, often in great multitudes. The 
latter were fine game, keen-eyed and 
warv as the wild deer himself. 



Some of them spent the summers here 
in solitary pairs, nesting (like the mal- 
lard duck) in the tall grass in the vicin- 
ity of the ponds. They got their food 
mainly by wading in the ponds and 
shallow streams. When the corn was 
nearly ripe they would frequent the 
fields, and were often very destructive, 
especially in the '"sod corn." About 
3 o'clock in the afternoon a solitary 
flock of perhaps half a dozen would ap- 
pear slowly fanning the air with their 
solemn wings, their long necks thrust 
straight out ahead, and their equally 
long legs straight out behind. Select- 
ing some part of the cornfield most re- 
mote from buildings, they would ap- 
proach perhaps within twenty rods, 
slowly settle down and when about 
twenty-five feet from the ground their 
heads would go up and their feet down 
and they would let themselves down 
easily to the ground. Their motions 
were awkward, certainly, but seemed 
to answer their purposes very well. 
Standing perfectly still their first busi- 
ness was to reconnoiter ; they looked 
keenly in all directions, especially into 
the field for some lurking enemy. Very 
slowly they walked back and forth 
along the edge of the field, gradually 
nearing it, till they reached it, then 
they stripped down the husks in strings 
and their strong beaks shelled off the 
grains of corn with little ditficulty. But 
before this time they were very likely 
to be joined by other flocks which came 
sailing over. If the first ones were in 
or near the grain the newcomers would 
omit the preliminary examination and 
alight \Aith them. 

Jiy 4 o'clock there were often several 
flocks flying in the vicinity, and they 
would alight directly in the field with 
the ones already feeding Even when 
thus feeding it wasdiflicult to approach 
them near enough to get a shot. They 



140 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



stood lip so tall, and \\ ere so suspicious 
and ever alert one must be adroit to 
succeed. And, besides, their feathers 
were very strong and quite a defense 
against ordinary sized shot. Their 
heads w ere perhaps their most vulnera 
ble part, but they v\ ere tenacious of life. 
A good way to get one shot was to go 
about 2 o'clock into a field they fre- 
quented and build an ambush by thrust 
ing cornstalks into the ground very 
near together and lie very still when 
you sa V the first flock coming. To lie 
in such a place and see a fiock of tv\ enty 
coming straight for you, till you could 
see the glitter of their eyes not five rods 
a.vay, then rise, and while the air is full 
of the clamor of struggling wings, as 
they turned, rake the line. You might 
call that sport. But I al « ays found the 
"sport" seriously impaired by the 
thought of the poor things which were 
wounded and escaped. If a wing was 
broken and a covert was near the bird 
must be secured at once or he was lost 
for he was a very crafty skulker. In 
catching him one needs to be very care- 
ful for he would let drive that long, 
sharp bill straight for the eyes of his 
enemy. One must grasp him by the 
neck and break it at once. They v\ ould 
w eigh from eight to thirteen pounds, 
and in the fall when living on grain 
were excellent eating. If a man of me- 
dium height were to take a bird of av- 
erage size by the feet and sling him 
over his shoulder its beak would drag 
upon the ground. In the spring or fall 
they would often congregate in large 
numbers upon some sunny slope and 
have a general jubilee. There, very 
often more than 500 and very likely 
more than twice that number in a sin- 
gle flock, covering in lose order, per- 
haps, three or four acres. Suddenly a 
few would spring up from the ground 
several feet, then others and others. At 



times the whole fiock would be in vio. 
lent agitation, all jumping, flapping 
their wings and shouting at once, and 
the tumult could be heard for miles. I 
never knew whether those occasions 
were festive or political in their nature, 
but to a looker-on some of the exhibi- 
tions seemed ludicrous. But as much 
might be said of the festivities of some 
other bipeds. 

The prairie wolf lingered till late in 
the seventies, perhaps in some localities 
even later. He was destructive to 
poultry, young pigs and lambs, but I 
never knew of his injuring a human be- 
ing. 

In the winter of IHtjO-Ol, near sun- 
down one day, a wolf struck up a howl 
perhaps forty yards from my door. My 
wife, who was in the yard, mocked him 
and he immediately howled again and 
came nearer, she replied again and an- 
other wolf turned up in another direc- 
tion and she mocked iriM ; very soon a 
third joined in and they made quite a 
chorus. But they would not come 
nearer than twenty rods, and my shot 
gun would not reach them. 

One winter I hung a piece of fresh 
beef by the side of the chamber win- 
dow outside to keep it fresh as long as 
as we might. One night, soon after, I 
was awakened by footsteps breaking 
through the snow crust. I stepped 
quietly outside and around the corner 
of the house, and at the farther corner 
I saw the head and shoulders of a wolf. 
My gun stood just behind the d()or,both 
barrels loaded with buckshot. When J 
returned with it he was disappearing in 
the cornfield several rods away. The 
night was moonless and cloudy, but 1 
let drive both barrels at the black spot 
in the cornstalks. For an hour or more 
at intervals he made night hideous. In 
the morning I could easily track him by 
his blood on the snow. About fifteen 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLI^JOIS. 



141 



rods away he had stopped to dress his 
wounds. He bled considerably. I 
tracked him nearly half a mile and then 
he went upon the prairie where the 
grass was burnt otf and there was no 
snow and I could track him no further. 
Perhaps the rattlesnake was about as 
interesting as any animate thing we 
had to deal with. It was spotted, of a 
dark brown color, seldom more than 
thirty inches in length, capable of some 
very quick motions, yet a slow traveler 
and terribly armed. AVe never knew 
when or where to look for him, yet we 
frequently met him. Our first buildings 
were usually temporary ones. ]My wife 
found and killed a rattlesnake on her 
pantry tloor. When binding grain I 
took one up with the bundle in my 
hands A neighbor was once helping 
me to stack hay. While I drove the 
load to the stack he lay down upon it, 
and when I got upon the stack he took 
up a small forkful and there, just under 
it, and under where he had lain, was a 
very tine, large one. If there were any 
in the fields we were very apt to find 
them when plowing. In the spring of 
18B2 I was plo.vingthe "breaking" of 
the year before. The day w as vs arm, 
my boots w ere burdensome and galled 
my feet so badly I thre jv them in the 
shade and w ent barefoot. It v\ as a great 
improvement. The bottom of the fur- 
ro -v v\ as moist and cool and soft as vel- 
vet. There v\ as one place w here the 
gophers and ground squirrels had 
honeycombed the ground, and there I 
heard the well knoAU alarm. The mid- 
dle horse of the team in v\ alking over 
him had disturbed him, and there he 
lay in no amiable mood, not more than 
a foot from my bare ankle I procured 
a stick, dispatched him and v\ ent on 
thinking I was glad that one was out 
of the way. The very next furrow, at 
about the same place, my plow dropped 



down into a gopher's run, and the dirt 
came rolling over the top of the mould- 
board and a rattler sung out loud and 
distinct. I stopped short with uplifted 
foot, unvN illing to put it down till I 
should see where. And it was well, 
too, for it would have fallen upon a 
splendid fellow nearly as large as my 
wrist though not more than twenty 
inches in length. I became suddenly 
reconciled to my boots. Of course, it 
w as a standing rule to kill every one we 
found. One day I found one in the 
grass and dared not take my eyes off 
him for fear I should lose him. What 
should I do? I had no stick nor gun. 
How could I kill him? The only pos- 
sible thing I could think of w as my 
pocket-knife. I lifted my boot a little 
side wise till I saw his head just at the 
edge of the sole. I took my knife and 
cut it off. It was convenient and ef- 
fectual, and that was my usual method 
of proceeding afterward. 

The early summer of 1863 was full of 
dark and gloomy forebodings. Grant 
had long been hammering away at 
A'icksburg, and many believed he was 
overmatched and must retreat. The 
scheme of a Northwestern Confederacy 
w as talked of some a hat openly. There 
■n ere known to be sympathizers w ith the 
rebellion in our midst. It was said 
there w as a lodge of a secret disloyal 
society called "Knights of the Golden 
Circle" in Dwight. There were whis- 
perings of an outbreak in Chicago, and 
it was understood thatthat would mean 
"business" throughout the state. A 
celebration w as announced for July 4 at 
Dwight. Things looked dark indeed. 
Lee was at Gettysburg, a great battle 
was in progress and reports of the re- 
sult were conflicting. New York was 
known to be under the feet of a dis- 
loyal mob. Very many of those capa- 
ble of bearing arms were gone with the 



ri2 



HISTORY OF D WIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



129th regiment from the vicinity of 
Dwight, and the disloyal element very 
thinly disguised their pleasure at the 
prospect of disaster to the Union 
arms. At the east side school house a 
speaker's stand was erected, shaded by 
green branches brought from the tim- 
ber. The trees in the yard were but re- 
cently planted. On the Fourth the 
meeting assembled with a good brass 
band in attendance. The day was 
bright and pleasant. I do not remem- 
ber who was orator or president or 
marshal, but one thing I do remember 
distinctly. "When the orator had been 
speaking some time a disi^atch was 
handed him which he immediately 
read : 

"Lee is in full retreat from Gettys- 
burg.'' 

The band struck up a patriotic air, 
and after a few minutes, the speaker 
proceeded. Soon he was interrupted by 
another dispatch, this time announcing 
that there was no doubt Grant that day 
was taking his dinner in Vicksburg. I 
shall not try to describe the revulsion of 
feeling. The band played the Star- 
Spangled Banner and every loyal heart 
responded. With many the news was 
received with caution and allow^ance, 
as being "too good to be true." 

The time covered by this sketch can 
hardly be said to belong to the days of 
the pioneer, yet the conditions which 
beset the settler then, were very differ- 
ent from those which surround the citi- 
zen to-day. The furrow of the break- 
ing plow, shallow and smooth as it was, 
formed the boundary line between two 
mighty epochs. From the gleaming 
coulter it rose in a long and graceful 
curve and fell inverted beside the plow- 
man's feet — a new leaf turned in the 
history of this state. The story of the 
generations who trod these virgin 
plains, what empires they reared and 



defended, how they lived, where they 
fought and when they died, that story 
will never be read because it was never 
written. 

The pioneers are all gone, the early 
settlers with whitening "lieads ai-e rap- 
idly following. A few more years and 
their labors, their methods, their diffi- 
culties, their names will be forgotten. 
But their's was a grand work. At their 
coming the yells of contending savages 
gave place to the laughter and shouts 
of school children at their play. Where 
they heard the dismal howl of the 
coyote, we hear the voice of Sabbath 
singing. Their footprints were the 
seeds of empire, for, under the starry 
flag America is destined by the force of 
her beneflcient example to rule the 
world. 

Uufurl the flag and lift it high. 

Tell the admiring natiDiis why 

It is the hope of every heart, 

The pride of every eye. 

From cruel Asia ions exiled, 
From Afric's desercs parched and wild. 
From Europe huutea and pursued 
Into the new world's solicuda 
Behind the rami)artN of rhe sea 
■ Foiuiiug, despairing. 
Freedom tinned at bay. 

Slie took her bugle from lier breast 
And blew a long, awakeniug blast— 
If HERE none answered, 'twas her last. 
Frem rocky slope and wooded glen 
Sprang forth a band of patriot men ; 
She fired tliem with undying zeal ; 
They walled her round with bristling steel, 
No craven heart, no nerveless hand, 
Id all that strong, devoted band. 
But they were hardy, true and brave 
As e'er to kings defiance }.'ave. 
Or struck the fetters from a slave. 
And loud the virgin forests rang 
Witli answering echoes as they sang. 

The (ioddess looked wliere shone on liigli 
The brightest cluster of the sky, 
And saw across oppression's night, 
The crimson streams of coming light. 
New courage kindled in her eyes- 
She tore the vision from the skies, 
And cried in rapture "Tins shall be 



f 


^^ 


1 




4^ 


Mw 



S. T. K. P 



rime. 




Win. G. Dustin. 



Wm. T. Prime. 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



143 



Hencefortn the ensign of the free ; 

Beneath its folds shall freemen stand 

For liberty, and native land ; 

Nor leaden rain, nor iron hail, 

Nor shrieking shot, nor screaming shell, 

Nor all the eugln'ry of hell 

Against their valor shall prevail." 

O, patriots hope ! O, freeman's pride ! 
In many a conflict torn and tried, 



In blood of brave hearts sanctified. 
Float on ! float on with ever widening sway. 
Spread out thy fadeless splendor to the day. 
Till every tribe its own tliy stars shall call— 
Till every throne shall crumble— every fetter fall; 
Till all mankind from wasting war shall cease, 
And In thy sheltering shadow find perpetual 
peace. 



BYS.T, K. PRIME. 



Why dig up the dead past V Still we 
all do it in many ways. One of the 
saddest things in life is reading old let- 
ters. To a sensitive nature they are 
simply harrowing and are nothing but dry 
leaves. The reminiscences of Dwight 
that I now write are mostly from mem- 
ory. It is true that I have no end of 
"records'" of what has been done here 
in this beautiful village, and who 
were the actors and the different parts 
they have played . The History of Dwight 
gives you that in all its details and I am 
very willing to go down to posterity wi^h 
the part in which I have played. 

Let me tell you of one of my first 
recollections. It was of "The Dwight 
Flouring Mill Ball." Are you aware 
of the fact that our stone mill 
was erected by public subscript- 
ions? Kichard P. Morgan was its 
founder and one of the largest con- 
tributors toward its erection. We (that 
was the handful of people who were 
then here) thought that it would be a 
good idea to give a ball and incite all 
the country around to see what the 
founders and benefactors of Dwight had 
done to help them develope this almost 
unoccupied country. This was our first 
"oasis" of a public ciiaracter. The mill 
was finished in the spring. Tliere were 
no sidewalks here and we generally 



tried to "keep in the middle of the 
road." Oh what a wet season that 
spring was. Such mud! So deep! So 
sticky! The only way you could get 
around at all was in a box-wagon or a 
buck-board In those days that was a 
great vehicle. The night of the ball 
came as nights do, irrespective of 
Aveather(!)— you like it or not. Our 
roads were simply impassable for pedes- 
trians. "The managers" of the ball 
were in despair. A supper had been 
ordered at the "Cornell House " Music 
from Joliet. We expected to see the 
farmers pour into the town. The only 
thing that did pour was the rain. It 
was simply a sea of mud. We reached 
the mill however. The people came, 
but not "in carriages." AVe "pulled 
up" to the mill in double box- wagon 
dra \ n by four horses. The band 
played "Annte Laurie." The grand 
march was led by Mr. and Mr^. 
R. P. Morgan. The dance went on 
un'il midnight. The people all became 
acquainted and voted that this was "the 
best time they had ever had in Dwight." 
They told the truth for it was the first 
entertainment of a public or social 
character ever held in Dwight. 

DWKiirr AGIUCULTUKAL SOCIETY. 

The next green spot in my memory of 
the early days of Dwight's development 



144 



TILSTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



Avas that of the "Dwight Agricultural 
Society." Of course that had to be 
green. That was the sole object of the 
society to make green things and the 
more we could induce to grow with our 
then raw and crude methods the better. 
The most of us that belonged to it were 
quite green ourselves. Still we thought 
we knew it all. The sequel was a sad 
one. We were strangers to our callmg 
and had to pay very dear for our experi- 
ence. Still I would not have missed 
those Saturday afternoons m the old 
wooden school for all that I learned 
since from an agricultural standpoint. 
Henry A. Gardner was president of the 
society. He was a tall, thin man with 
a blue, piercing eye, and long straight 
hair. He was a typical pioneer of the 
west. He did not live long with 
us or mingle much with the people. 
Still he always seemed happy upon his 
farm at Oak Lawn. One of the members 
of the society was Jacob R. Reese. He 
was a great worker, an odd genius, but 
withal a good fellow. He lived opposite 
the "Gardner Farm." He always made 
farming pay for he would not spend a 
dollar unless he dug it out of the 
ground. Reese belonged to a rich 
Philadelphia family, was a civil en- 
gineer by profession, and only lingered 
with us for a few years. He sought 
other and more congenial pastures 
which were more to his tastes and tem- 
perament. JaredR. Moss, "Squire Moss" 
as he was generally known, was 
an active and valuable member. He 
was a short, thick-set man, and lived 
where "Bill" Taylor now lives. The 
'Squire was the best practical farmer 
that we had In those days. His crops 
were always good, his hogs and cattle 
were always fat and no one ever seemed 
to get such good prices for his "^tuff" 
as Squire Moss. Very few of us remem- 
ber my old friend and neighbor, Alfred 



H. Pavison, another valuable man who 
never failed to be present with us. He 
was the dearest male friend I ever had_ 
We went to school together. We grew 
up together. We parted in 1 858. The 
dear fellow followed me very shortly 
(in 1860) to Dwight and bought what was 
known as the "MottFarm." Here he 
lived and moved. He was greatly be- 
loved by every one who knew him. He 
was naturally a very delicate man, born 
and reared in the lap of luxury the 
privations and wants of his life here 
came very hard upon him. He was a 
model citizen. Honest, upright, a typi- 
cal American gentleman. He delighted 
in the improvement and cultivation of 
the soil so far as his weak frame would 
permit. I shall never forget "Pat 
Fuge." He was a man of great 
originality of character. Full of bright 
Irish wit. It was no trouble for him 
to make two blades of grass gro a where 
one never grew before. We all looked 
up to him as an oracle. When he 
opened his mouth and spoke we all 
swallowed his utterances without the 
aid of any fluids. 

Lewis Kenyon was another member. 
An active, energetic and a useful man to 
us in those days. He was an excellent 
talker and always added vim and had 
very good ideas of how and what crops 
we ought to grow. Eugene R. Stevens 
belonged in those days to what the 
aborigines called, "city farmers " If he 
could not make crops grow the way he 
wanted them to it was not for want of 
the money he spent for labor, machinery 
tools and fertilizers. His farm , was 
always in good order and everything 
around him bore the look of prosperity. 
"Capt. Stevens" was a character. From 
one of the oldest and best families in 
New York City, he literally left 
all of his household gods behind 
him, came AVest, and for many 



HISTOUY OF DWIGIIT, ILLII^OIS. 



145 



years spent his money like water 
in the development and im pro vent of 
this now one of the most fertile 
and best farming areas in the world. 
Modesty prevents me telling you 
who was the secretary of the Dwight 
Agricultural Society, but take pleas- 
ure in chronicling the name of the 
assistant secretary, Edward O'Neil. 
And on this hangs a tale which 
I think I have never told although 
some of these reminiscences may prove 
to be 1 ke the aroma of a moss-covered 
bucket. One dark stormy December 
night in the "<50's" 1 was trying to keep 
warm out on the farm with coal that 
had' been hauled twenty miles. In those 
days coal was a luxury. AVe watched 
the decrease of a coal pile something 
akin to the anxiety of a man who is 
always looking for something he never 
gets. "Hauling coal" meant not going 
down to "(i. Z. Flagler's" but going 
"over to Streator."' Sometimes staying 
several nights. Broken wagons, knocked 
up horses, men cross, ugly and fatigued 
and not fit for work for two days after 
the trip. Often we could not go at 
all on account of the roads. Then 
we burned corn-cobs and anything we 
could put our hands upon, liut to re- 
sume. Dark night— coal scarce— knock 
at the door. " v ho comes there V 
"Stranger." "What do you want?"' 
"Food and shelter."'— "Enter"— A tall, 
gaunt, young man with pleasing man- 
ners and smiling face stood before me. 
The story he told was substantially 
this: "I have been traveling for a long 
time in search of work but as yet have 
not found it. 1 am an Irishman, A 
medical student graduate of a college 
in London. 1 am hungry, houseless 
and homeless. I could not refuse him 
food or shelter. In the morning he was 
anxious to work. In those days labor- 
ers were very scarce, I soon found, 



however, that he was unused to exposure 
or the hard drudgery of the farm. But 
the fellow was honest, willing and 
anxious to work whatever his hand 
could find to do. This he did to my 
entire satisfaction. I soon discovered 
that he was an educated man and it was 
a hard job to know what to do with 
him. In those days I wrote more or 
less for "The Press" and he gave me 
very valuable assistance in the prepara- 
tion of my work. Poor fellow, he went 
to the "war" served his adopted coun- 
try faithfully and died from the effects 
of disease and exposure while at the 
"front." The minutes of the Dwight 
Agricultural Society are all written by 
Edward O'Neil, and whenever I look 
over them they are among some of my 
pleasantest recollections of Dwight. 

Good old Robert Thompson was also 
a member of our society. What a sturdy, 
honest farmer he was. Always active 
in every good word and work for the im- 
provement of the town, v\ hat a to v\ er of 
strength he was in the Presbyterian 
church and this whole county never had 
a more active and hard working mem- 
ber of the Democratic party. His death 
was a severe loss to this whole com- 
munity. 

Richard P. Morgan needs no eulogy 
from me, was here from the found »tion 
of the town to the present time. Was 
there ever any good word or work in 
which he v\ as not thoroughly identi- 
fied? Morgan always took a very 
active part in all of our doings. 
I ought not to forget the name of Wm. 
P. Chester, another member. Poor fel- 
low, he died young. The model farmer, 
the model man in every respect of this 
whole region at that time . Look at the 
farm he made and what a property he 
left to his heirs. Jesse Slyder was in 
those days a great and very successful 
farmer. He sold his possessions long 



146 



HISTORY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



ago and has for many years lived and 
enjoyed among us the fruits of his la- 
bors. I also recall the names of A. B. 
Case and Robert Young, Both labored 
with us in the cause of improvement 
for our country's good. The largest 
proportion of the names I have but 



briefly mentioned have gone to the land 
of their fathers. I think I can truth- 
fully say that all the members of the 
Dwight Agricultural Society did not 
live in vain but that the fruits of their 
labors have and still do follow them. 



BY. W. ^. BRRDB\3^Y. 



The early settlers of Dwight will re- 
member the singing school in 1859 and 
1860, ably conducted by O. S. West- 
cott, generally called "Professor," a 
talented and well-educated young man 
from Connecticut or Rhode Island, who 
also taught classics and mathematics at 
the frame school house east of the Ma- 
zon bridge. The class consisted of 
grown and married people as well as 
young folks. Mr. and Mrs. Henry El- 
dredge, Mr. and Mrs. Case and their 
daughter. Major Judd and the Turner 
girls, Mr. Bradbury, Mr. J. C. Hetzel 
and Dr. Ilagerty were among the pu- 
pils. Case & Hagerty at that time had 
just started the stone grist mill, and Dr. 
Hagerty was postmaster. The singing 
book used was "The Jubilee." Miss 
Case, a handsome and brilliant girl, 
with a strong mezzo-soprano voice of 
great purity, became quite proficient. 
Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge also became good 
singers, the lady having a very sweet 
soprano voice. Some of these after- 
ward formed the choir of the Presbyte- 
rian church, then under the pastorate 
of the Rev. Young, and had the honor 
of singing at the morning service at- 
tended by the Prince of Wales and his 
suite in the summer of 18f)0, when Rev. 
Young preached the sermon. Mr. and 
Mrs. Eldridge were the most regular 
members of the choir. Mr. Case, Mr. 



Bradbury and Dr. Hagerty were also 
members. Mrs. Graves played the or- 
gan. A glee club of similar composi- 
tion was organized under Prof. West- 
cott, and practiced chiefly at the house 
of Mr. Eldredge. At the presidential 
contest in 1860 they did much of the 
campaign singing on the Republican 
side, being all members of that party. 

At that time also a semi-military com- 
pany of Republicans, styled "Wide- 
A wakes," and ably drilled by Mr. Case. 
They were partially uniformed, carried 
torches and illuminated the streets on 
dark evenings, with brilliant maneu- 
vers and parades, winding up on one 
occasion with an oyster supper at Mr. 
Turners boarding house. In fact 
oyster suppers, with palatable "trim- 
mings" of all kinds, were frequent oc- 
currences in connection with gatherings 
and exhibitions in those picturesque 
and happy days, as Major Judd can tes- 
tify. "The Turners" came afterwards, 
when Grant was first elected. 

In 1859 or 18»)0 Mrs. H. M. T. Cutler, 
the talented sister of George Conant, 
gave a series of well attended lectures 
on Physiology, illustrated by a manni- 
kin, showing the interior of the human 
body. 

A lyceum or literary society was 
formed in the autumn of 1859 or 18(50. 
This was started and fostered, in a great 




Wiilard S. Brown. 

(Secretary Keeley League,) 








Senator Shelby M. Cullom. 





Danish M. E. Church. 

(Fornqerly Presbyterian. ) 



Mickelson Block. 

(Formerly Parsons Block. ) 



i 



IIISTOIIY OF DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. 



147 



measure, by John Eaton, an original, 
liumorous, comic story-telling genius. 
He was a carpenter by trade and a man 
of good executive ability in many di- 
rections. Meetings were held in the 
school house, speeches were made, de- 
bates conducted, essays read by the 
members, affording instruction and en- 
tertainment to a promiscuous audience. 

Not far from this time, and I think 
in connection with this or some other 
literary association, "The Lightning 
Bug" appeared. This was a manu- 
script periodical containing contribu- 
tions from members on various subjects. 
Its first editor was Miss Sarah A. Sny- 
der, now of Streator, and I think Mr. 
AV. II. Bradbury had charge of it after- 
wards. At any rate, these parties, es- 
pecially Miss Snyder, contributed, con- 
tributed largely in prose and verse and 
made the paper interesting and spicy. 
It was read and circulated at the 
weekly meetings. 

There was another literary associa- 
tion, or "Mutual Admiration Society," 
as Prof. Westcott sometimes called 
them, formed after the war, consisting 
of Dr. Keeley, J. G. Strong, S. T. K. 
Prime, AV. II. Bradbury, the young 
Congregationalist minister, C. L. 
Palmer, of '-The Star," and many oth- 
ers, both ladies and gentlemen. Meet- 
ings were held at private houses once a 
week, when essays, readings, criticisms, 
etc., formed the program. I think the 
talented and cultured Mc lure girls 
took a prominent part at those meet- 
ings. 1 hey certainly gave many ex- 
cellent readings and recitations about 
this time. 

The literary, dramatic, musical and 
social tastes of the people found vent in 
many other societies and exhibitions. 
Mrs, Eldredge"s energy and ability, 
among her other achievements, started 
and conducted a "sociable," which was 



held at private houses of Congrega- 
tionalists principally. The meetings 
were very pleasant and provided more 
rational entertainment than was usually 
to be found outside. The Eev. F. B. 
Ilargreaves attended many of these 
meetings, 

AVe remember the musical cantata 
of Queen Ester, given in excellent style 
by local talent drilled by a traveling 
professor. It was in 1873 that Dr. 
Keeley conceived the idea of a dramatic 
entertainment for the benefit of the 
yellow fever sufferers in the south. In 
this his wonderful organizing ability 
appeared in selecting and drilling a lot 
of green amateurs, of whom the writer 
was one. The plays went off very well 
and drew spectators from Odell and 
Pontiac. The sum realized was about 
8110. 

AVe all surely recollect the immortal 
"Pinafore," for the production of which 
in very good form we were indebted to 
Dr. Keeley. No one else would have 
attempted either of these achievements. 
He had the ability to select the per- 
formers and assign their parts and the 
patience to see that the whole business 
was thoroughly mastered. The conse- 
quence was the successful performance 
of a brilliant operatta, reflecting much 
credit on the singers as well as the 
management. 

The "Bound-Table" at the McPher- 
son House was another social feature 
of some interest, where the boarders, 
especially at dinner time, were Col. Par- 
sons, Dr. Keeley, Major .Tudd, Air. and 
Mrs. C. L. Palmer, Reuben Potter 
AV. II. Bradbury and Salmon Tuttle, 
the banker. Bets won and lost at this 
table were i)aid by the inevitable oyster 
suppers, which were duly celebrated 
"in song and story." 

The writer does not remember that 
there were more than two representa- 



148 



HISTORY OF DWKIIIT, ILLINOIS. 



tives of the colored race at Uwight. 

Shortly after the war "Xigger Jim" 
and John Cook the barber, appeared 
among us. The former was a tall, stal- 
wart, black fellow, who sometimes be- 
came aggressive when he was a little 
full and fancied his rights as a citizen 
were infringed upon. He was a good 
checker player, and on one occasion 
beat the village champion two games 
out of three. Kising from his seat he 
exultingly exclaimed : "Twenty-six 
years a slave, and cum to dis country 
and beat a man at his own game !" 
The champion's reply was more forci- 
ble than polite. 

Josh, the barber, was a character also, 
and a very humorous one. He was a 
good mimic, and his account of the hair- 
cutting done for Mrs. W., the wife of 
one of the resident clergymen, was "too 
funny for anything." What the young 
gentleman and lady said at this terrible 
ordeal and the tones in which their 
dread and final resignation were ex- 
pressed would have been heartrending, 
if Josh's imitation had not been so ex- 
cruciatingly ludicrous. "The barber 
knew his business," and he "cut it 
curly," and thus redeemed himself from 
being "the most cruelest man of the 
age !" 

Josh's narration of how he sold to a 
very economic but wealthy gentleman 
now living in California, an ordinary 
hair brush at a good round figure, was 
richly worth hearing. The gentleman 
was smitten with the brush and Josh 
worked him accordingly. He used to 
regale his customers with these side- 
splitting stories. He was a small, slen- 
der fellow, a good barber and died of 
consumption. Dr. Keeley attended him 
professionally at one time. 

■•^■- ■ — - — 

BY MISS SAKAII SNYDER. 

Miss Sarah Snyder, the first regular 



schoolma'm in the Dwight schools, has 
kindly consented to furnish the follow- 
ing. Miss Snyder's father settled in 
Dwight in 1856, and was at one time 
justice of the peace for twelve succes- 
sive years. He svibsequently removed 
to Streator, and was police magistrate 
there until his death, Aug. 13, 1876. 
Miss Snyder resides there now and fur- 
nishes this interesting piece of history : 
Perhaps it will be interesting to some 
to know what kind of sleighs were used 
in Dwight. It w as is in the winter of 
1856 our broad prairies were covered 
with the pure, beautiful snow, unbroken 
for miles by not a tree or shrub. Invi- 
tations were out for a social party at 
Mr Nelson CornelFs. The gentlemen 
were in a dilemma ; how should they 
manage to get the ladies there V One 
great, broad-shouldered, generous- 
hearted fellow suggested they carry us 
on their backs, for then there was not a 
sleigh in all of Dwight, and there was 
no time to order from Chicago. So this 
time "necessity being the mother of 
invention," dry goods boxes and crock- 
ery crates were brought into requisition. 
The gentlemen, with the aid of chairs, 
most gallantly assisted us to mount to 
the top of the sleighs, which were about 
four feet deep, and down we sprang 
among the robes where we were packed 
almost as closely as the goods they for- 
merly contained when sent from Bos- 
ton or New York. I think there were 
no runners to the sleighs, but they 
seemed to glide over the glistening 
snow like boys' barrel staves down a 
toboggin slide. It was a jolly Metho- 
dist crowd. At first we sang old-time 
hymns, then "Uncle Tom," "Nelly 
Ely" and other popular airs of the day. 
In our hiliarity we were lost on the 
great prairie, at night, without a com- 
pass, not even a fence or road or stream- 
let to guide us. Our host and hostess 



HISTORY OF D WIGHT, ILLIMOIS. 



149 



had given up all hopes of our coming ; 
finally they said they heard noises in 
the distance and could not distinguish 
whether it was human voices or the 
howling of wolves, I think it was both. 
They immediately put out a signal 
light to direct us, vvhich w^e soon saw in 
the distance and was not long in reach- 
ing our destination where a bountiful 
repast was in readiness for us, to which 
we did ample justice, for we had talked 
and laughed, sang and hurrahed till we 
were almost as hungry as the ravenous 
wolves that, were following close on our 
trail. Time sped quickly and jjleasantly 
into the small hours of morn' when we 
returned to our homes in much less 
time than we v. ent. 

Soon after elegant sleighs and bells 
were seen and heard in our little village. 
Yet no sleigh-riding party, I venture to 
assert, was ever more thoroughly en- 
joyed by all than the first wild and ro 
mantic one in the winter of 1856 



BY JAMES SMITH. 

Mr. James Smith came to Dwight in 
1801 from Rochester, N. Y. Was born 
in Connecticut, April 23, 18 Hi. Farmed 
around Dwight for a number of years. 
Jos. McPherson and Jas. Smith built the 
first warehouse in Dwight, which stood 
nearly opposite the site of the present 
C. & A. depot, east, where they did a 
prosperous business. 

Mr. Smith was a member of the first 
village board of Dwight, which con- 
sisted of two members for two years. 
Henry Eldridge was his colleague, and 
the board was straight temperance. 

Mr. Smith moved into Dwight in 18*)(). 
He says, as he looks around him at this 
late date, he sees lots of temperance 
people who were on the other side in 
early days. Mr. Smith is about 80 years 
of age, and two years ago took a trip 
east which he enjoyed greatly. 



Through the kindness of Dr. Leslie 
E. Keeley we present the following: 

The following dramatic programme 
was handed us by an old settler who 
has kept "tab" of Dwight doings for 
more than a third of a century. It is a 
treasure that will bring to mind one of 
the most interesting times of the old 
days, when Gerson's Hall was an entity 
and its owner a very much pronounced 
personage in our town affairs. The pro- 
gramme will bring back a flood of mem- 
ories to many who are now gray-haired, 
but who at that time were filled with 
"Life's ambition in young blood ex- 
pressed." The dramatic person* were 
all young farmers living in and about 
Dwight. Mr. L. Bataille ( Duke of Glos- 
ter) was a callow Frenchman who 
worked for a Mr. Mathieson a few miles 
southwest of Dwight. Mr. N. G. Skeels 
worked on Mr. Nelson Cornell's farm 
near by. Geo. Kyler (King Henry the 
VII) worked on his father's farm close 
to town, and afterwards on the C. & A. 
R. R. braking, till he left some time ago 
for the old home in Eastern I'ennsylva- 
nia. George visited us last summer, 
and his noble bearing showed kingly 

stock. Mr. A. Wildman (Lord Stanley) 
helped our only liveryman, Hiram Cor- 
nell, as a general roustabout in his hotel 
and stable. A. Matthews (Duke of Nor- 
folk) worked with the (Earl of Oxford) 
Cal. . I ones, on a rented farm of Mr. 
McWilliams' a few miles south of town. 
J. Jones (Lieutenant of the Tower) 
worked ten miles northeast of town on a 
farm. A. Kimberk, who took the 
character of Tirrell, was also a tenant 
of David McWilliams' a couple of miles 
north of I >wight. E. J. Jackson andE. 
Holmes (Catesby and Ratclifi) worked 
on farms in Highland Township. 

The programme is a chef-d';euvre of 
skilled composition. Captain Stephens, 
of old time memory, Charley Newell, 
Mr. Moore, the school principal, and 
Major .John Campbell worked hard upon 
it to make it attractive, and as it stands, 
with the materials to work upon, we 



150 



IIL:?TOilY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



pronounce it unrivalled as a master- 
piece: 
DV^IGHX THEATRE! 

MAN AGliRS, 
L. Bateiille N. Q. Skeels 

FIRST APPEARANCE OF 

THE DWIGHT DRAMATIC COMPANY, 

AT 

OERSON'S HALL! 

Tuesday Eve., June 23, 1868. 

First /Appearance of L. B/fT/flLLE, 

Who, after an absence of one year from the 
stage, reappears before the piiblii; in tliree 
great characters He has received the 
most iiuboiinded applause and most 
flattering encomiums from both 
the pie>s and public, sup- 
ported by tlie 

Yourjg and Talaqted N. G. 8KEELS, 

Late of Debar's Opera House. St. Louis 

PROGRAMME— PART FIRST. 

Selections from Sliakspeare's Sublime Tragedy 
of '"Richard the Third." 

Duke of Gloster (afterwards Richard the 

Third) L. liATAILLE 

Earl of Riclimoud N. G. Skkkls 

King Henry the VII ft. Kyler 

Lord Stanley A. Wildman 

Duke of NorfolK A. Matthews 

Earl of Oxford C . VV alker 

Lieutenant of the Tower .J. Jones 

Tirrell A. Kimberk 

Catesby J. .Jackson 

Ratcliff E . Holmes 

Comic Song— "Paddy's Dream A . Kimberk 

PART SECOND. 

Tyrone Power Side-Splitting Farce of the 
"OMNIBUS." 

PatRooney L. BATAILLE 

Mr. Ledger N. G. Skeels 

Mr. Dobbs G. Kyler 

Master Tom Dobbs C . Walker 

Farmer Boy A. Wildman 

Julia Ledger Miss Jones 

> 

The whole to conclude with BATAILLE'S great 

Extravaganza, entitled, 

"The Emancipation Jiil^ileel" 

Black Syren, (with dance; L. Bataille 

Pompey, (with song) A. Kimberk 

Wool N. G. Skeels 

And the entire strength of the company. 

9 

Doors open at 7 o'clock, i)erformaoce to com- 
mence at 8. Front seats reserved for ladies. 
Good Music in attendance. Tickets. iV) cents to 
be had at the principal stores in town and at the 
door. 

Dwight "Courier" Print— Smith & Rutan. 



D. McWilliams says: The first per- 
manent residence was erected by Mr. 
West, on lots 18 and l'.», block 7, 
where the John D. Ketcham property 
now stands. Mr. \N est died in 1889. He 
was a brother-in-law of iviartin Wilks. 

The house that Dr. Hagerty first oc- 
cupied was on lot 8 block 18, where the 
Hagerty block now stands. 

Among the first buildings erected was 
one by J. J. Gore on lot 17 block 6, where 
Geo. Petersen's residence no \ stands. 

Robt. Young, oneof the earlier timers 
V. as a brother of Brighara Young, and 
a quite popular man in his day. 



Geo. Z Flagler and others of the set- 
tlers of 1855, claim to have plo * ed the 
first furrovv in this locality, and that it 
was along near the' creek north of to n. 
The histories we have had a cess to say 
that 'Squire Mcllduff was the first to 
plow any amount of ground. The ques- 
tion of v\ ho v\ as first cuts no figure. It 
w as surely done by some one and was 
follow'. ed by others until nearly the 
w hole country v. as under cultivation at 
some time. 



Mr. Seth Clover tells a story regarding 
one of the hunting trips of the Frince of 
Wales w hile in this section. The Prince 
v\ as out w ith his party in Eound Grove 
one day and were hunting along the 
genuine Gooseberry creek w hen some 
of the party spied a fiock of ducks in 
the creek. As the party m ere out for 
game somi one mimediately fired a shot 
into the fiock. The ducks, ho v\ ever, 
seemed more surprised than scared and 
s vN am out of the w ater and scampered 
up the bank. It turned out that there 
v^ as a log cabin close by surrounded by 
thick timber and not observed by the 
Prince's party, and the ducks proved to 
be tame ones. The lady of the house, 
Mrs. Eunice Pratt, heard the shots and 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



151 



came down to the creek with blood in 
her eye. As soon as she spied the 
royal party siie let loose at them and 
gave them such a tongue lashing as they 
never had before. Royalty was not in 
it for once and the party took a good 
look around before they shot into Hocks 
of ducks again. 



HY D. MCWILLIAMS. 

The Chicago & Alton R. R. built 
under a charter granted to the Chicago 
& Mississippi R. R. was completed to 
Springfield, 111., in 1852. The follow- 
ing year it reached Bloomington, and 
the year 1854 saw its completion to 
Joliet, connecting by steamboat from 
Alton to St. Louis, and rvinning on the 
Rock Island Railroad from Joliet to 
Chicago. The country was very sparcely 
settled, Bloomington being about the 
only point of any size north of Spring- 
field. The second week in August 1854 
the road was opened for through traflic 
from Chicago to St. Louis. A few days 
thereafter the writer passed through 
Dwight, which was surrounded on all 
sides with tall prairie grass, and but 
few houses in sight. On the present 
town site was a small depot, a small 
16x24 1% story building, where the 
Hagerty building now stands, a small 
one story house on the corner north- 
east of the Methodist church, the 
house so long occupied by Mr. A. West, 
and a blacksmith shop just west of the 
Presbyterian church, was all there was 
where Dwight now stands. Supper 
was being served in the depot building, 
as it served as a dwelling as well a de- 
pot, and those connected with the rail- 
road service lived there, and it was the 
only place where a person could get a 
night's lodging or a meal of victuals. 
There were roads running to the west, 
northwest, northeast and east to the 
different settlements that had been 



made previous to the building of the 
railroad. 

The following named persons are all 
that constituted the actual settlers of 
the village of Dwight previous to the 
spring of 1855: 

Augustus West and family. 

John Rontzong and wife. 

Simeon Lutz and wife. 

James Morgan and wife. 

Thos. C. Wilson and wife. 

E C. Stevens and wife. 

James S. Harrison. 

The families who had settled in the 
adjoining country to Dwight, especially 
in Livingston county were as follows: 

John Conant and family }{ mile 
west. 

Nelson Cornell and family }{ mile 
northwest. 

Thomas Little (unmarried) one mile 
west. 

R. S. Bishop on the farm now of 
Peter Hansen. 

Robt. Thompson on the farm now of 
Peter Hansen. 

John Rainey on the farm now of Jno- 
R. Martin. 

James George on the farm now of 
John Stewart. 

Thos. C. McDowell on the farm now 
of Jas. Brown. 

S. H. Kyle on the farm now of J. 
Roirdan. 

James Henry on the farm now of D. 
McWilliams. 

No settlement nearer than five mile- 
grove south, none southeast except the 
Broughtons in Broughton township. 
To the east near Round Grove were 
Stephen Potter, Wm. Cook, and Mr, 
Gibson. To the northwest in Grundy 
county Samuel Cutler on the farm 
now owned by Louis Zabel. 

Erastus Stevens on the farm now 
owned by Nicholas Morrisey. 

.John Henry on the farm occupied by 



152 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLINOIS. 



his son and widow. 

Eber Stevens and mother on the farna 
still owned by him. 

Addison Wood on the farm now 
owned by M. Cusick. 

Wm. Mason where Michael Kime 
now resides, and to the northeast were 
some ten or twelve f amiles in the "Ger- 
man Settlement." 

Immigration came in quite rapidly 
during 1855, and the growth and im- 
provement of the country continued 
steady after that period. The first two 
seasons we had fair crops, and after 
that for several years we suffered great- 
ly on account of the great rain-fall and 
"hard times" followed and a great many 
who had purchased their farms upon 
credit were compelled to give them up. 
When the civil war began the enlist- 
ments were so numerous, that help 
could hardly obtained and a consider- 
able amount of land that had been cul- 
tivated remained vacant and unoccupied 
for some time, as prices of grain were 
so low there was no particular object 
in raising it. 



ILLT7SXRATIONS. 

The publishers of the "History of 
Dwight" have taken considerable pains 
to get the portraits of many of our 
prominent citizens of this neighbor- 
hood. We have asked many more for 
their photographs but have not received 
them, for reasons best known to them- 
selves. We also give many views of 
business houses and the Chicago & Al- 
ton Passenger station. 

Among the portraits are the follow- 
ing: 

Geo. Conant. 

Four generations of the Bartholic 
family. 

David Mc Williams. 

Col. R. P. Morgan. 

Dr. Leslie E. Keeley. 



Major C. J. Judd. 
John R. Oughton. 
E. H. Kneeland. 
David Riling. 
James Bro a n. 
John Vickery. 
James N. Smith. 
Col. J. B. Parsons. 
James Kelagher. 
S. T. K. Prime. 
William T. Prime. 
Wilham G. Dustin. 
Frank L. Smith. 
Wm. H. Ketcham Jr. 
Wm. H. Ketcham Sr. 
Robert Thompson. 
Levi Reeder. 
B. A. Buck. 
E. T. Miller. 
John Pettett. 
Dr. C. H. Barr. 
Dr. J. E. Blaine. 
Homer Kenyon. 
Dr. R. Broughton. 
Dr. Wm. Brown. 
Dr. A. C. Lonergan. 
Leonard Howlett. 
Frank A. Haise. 
D. B. Stevens. 
Geo. Z. Flagler. 
Geo. N. Flagler. 
Eugene Flagler. 
Chas. AVaters. 
Ed. Losee. 
Orville Brown. 
Wm. H. Taylor. 
Jos. Miller. 
Carl Miller. 
Willard S. Brown. 
Chas. L. Romberger. 
Nathan Baker. 
Prof. J. H. Meneely. 
Miss Sarah Snyder. 
Dwight Morgan. 
W. H. Conrad. 
Rev. R. Wilhelmsen. 
Rev. E. F. Wright. 



HISTORY OF DWIGIIT, ILLI^^OIS. 



153 



Rev. C. W. Ayling. 

Jacob Christman. 

Ed. Mezger. 

W. H. Bradbury. 

Roger H. Mills. 

Geo. W. Boyer. 

Geo. L. Kern, 

"Walter M. Weese. 

J. C. Lewis. 

O. ^Y. Pollard. 

John Leach. 

The portraits are most of them made 
from late photographs and will un- 
doubtedly be highly appreciated by the 
buyers of the history. 



The history is not as complete in 
many parts as we desired, but we be 
lieve all the readers will appreciate the 
circumstances under which the work 
was issued and give us credit for doing 
the best we could taking all things 
under consideration, especially the 
price. The publication commenced 
under the firm of Dustin & Wassel 
and closes under the management of 
Dustin & Prime. We close the volume 
by returning our sincere thanks to the 
many kind friends who have assisted us 
in different ways, and extend our kind- 
est wishes for your future welfare and 
prosperity. Publishers. 



[THE END.] 



^'I" 




1 j| 






n:^ 


# 
#. M 




^^^..^ 






^;"" ^ 




iVijv 






S^ "IV 


' ^^1 




)i^-; 


X^v^^l^^ fll 


^i^ 
P 






K^' 


^%.-.<^^ ^*v 


'^J^^l 


^ 




1^ 


%> 


r^l^^ 






A^;^.^': 


1 

i 

1 



/f\0 






^^^^t' 



*^- 



^. 



V 



W ''^,^ 



■fc* :•«>''' 



^ 



'^ 



T'i^^, 



3?^,.< ti^ 



y 



^^ 






* vt' 



r^ 



iV-*^ 



-/•' 
.'/»♦>