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Past   and   Present 


OF 


Deivalb    County,    Illinois 


J3y    Prof.    Lewis   M.    Gross 


Assisted  by  an  Advisory  Board  consisting  or 
H::  W.    Fay,   G.    E.    Congaon,    F.  W.    Lowman   ana   Judge   C:    A.    Bishop 


VOLUME   I 


ILLUSTRATED    WITH    HISTORIC    VIEWS 


CHICAGO: 

THE  PIONEER  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

1907 

CHIK 


I ,'  R  K 

PUBL        .  JURY 

5361^17 

ASTOR.  LSNOX  ANO 

TILO»»  F'      *.  ATIONS. 

R  1912  L 


W 


.-„ 


*     "  *    .        ' 


THE  NEW  YORK  I 

PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


ASTOR,    LENOX 
TILPEN  FOUNOATlntm      \ 


HISTORICAL 


INTRODUCTION. 

The  history  of  DeKalb  county  is  the  story  cf 
(his  little  segment  of  our  country  and  concerns  the 
people  particularly  that  live  in  this  territorial  unit 
thirty-six  miles  long  and  eighteen  miles  wide. 

We  are  proud  of  the  achievements  of  the  men  and 
women  who  were  our  worthy  forebears  and  pion- 
eers who,  by  dint  of  courage  and  personal  sacri- 
fice, made  this  little  area  we  now  call  DeKalb 
county  to  "blossom  as  the  rose"  and  give  us  a  por- 
tion of  that  heroism  that  makes  us  even  as  good 
as  we  are.  The  task  we  assume,  to  record  the 
deeds  of  our  pioneers  whom  we  knew  face  to  face 
and  learned  from  them  their  interesting  story,  is 
a  pleasant  one,  but  not  so  easy  as  we  first  thought. 
To  sit  down  and  talk  with  the  few  who  still  remain 
of  that  few  who  left  the  old  eastern  home  between 
1835  and  1845  to  settle  here  is  pleasant  indeed,  but 
to  connect  those  incidents  and  make  a  complete 
story  is  quite  a  different  thing. 

Our  history  seems  readily  to  divide  itself  into 
two  periods :  Before  and  after  the  Civil  war.  This 
is  done  by  common  consent.  "Were  you  born  be- 
fore the  war?"  is  a  question  often  asked  of  the 
middle  aged  male  population.  If  an  old  settler, 
the  question  is:  "Did  you  settle  here  before  the 
war?"  It  is  an  appropriate  division  of  the  seventy- 
two  years  that  covers  the  time  since  our  first  per- 
manent settler,  Jack  Sebree,  of  Virginia,  raised 
his  log  cabin  on  the  banks  of  Little  Rock  creek  in 
what  is  now  Squaw  Grove  township,  in  the  fall  of 
1834,  for  in  those  years  from  '61  to  '65  our  coun- 


ty made  her  supreme  effort  in  the  gilt  of 
two  thousand  five  hundred  of  her  stalwart 
sons  to  the  "government  of  the  people,  by  the 
people  and  for  the  people  that  was  not  to  perish 
from  the  earth." 

It  is  the  period  "before  the  war"'  with  which 
we  wish  to  concern  ourselves,  and  it  is  of  course 
more  difficult  to  gather  data  for  this  period  be- 
cause we  know  it  second  hand.  We  will  more 
readily  see  the  difficult  nature  of  our  task  when  we 
know  how  few  records  were  kept,  and  even  those 
preserved  are  fragmentary.  Like  many  other  men 
of  meritorious  achievements  our  progenitors  did 
not  seem  to  think  their  actions  worthy  of  record, 
so  that  the  whole  amount  of  material  gathered  is 
really  an  infinitesimal  portion  of  what  really  did 
occur. 

Before  1840  not  one  family  in  ten  took  a  peri- 
odical regularly.  Fortunate,  indeed,  was  the  fam- 
ily that  had  a  weekly  paper,  and  that  was  read  and 
passed  to  the  neighbors  not  so  fortunately  situated 
until  it  was  unreadable;  and  it  is  further  to  be  de- 
plored that  matters  of  local  interest  were  not  re- 
corded, but  the  papers  of  a  half  century  ago  were 
full  of  foreign  news  that  did  not  reach  our  county 
until  it  had  many  months  before  passed  into 
history,  while  even  matters  pertaining  to  our  na- 
tional affairs  were  of  secondary  interest  to  the  pub- 
licist. 

To  secure  good  pictures  of  buildings,  such  a- 
first  homes  of  our  earliest  settlers,  our  first  school 
houses  and  places  of  worship,  the  old  mills  that 
were  once   numerous    and    furnished    lumber  and 


PAST    AND    PEESENT    OF   DE    KALI',    COl  NTY. 


flour,  and  also  of  our  early  settlers,  has  been  very 
unsatisfactory.  Photography  was  unknown  to  our 
first  pioneers  and  the  daguerreotype  was  expensive, 
and  added  to  all  this  there  were  many  old  people 
who  thought  it  wicked  to  have  their  pictures  taken. 
So  superstition  played  a  large  part  in  preventing 
is  t  lie  pleasure  of  looking  upon  likenesses  that 
would  now  give  us  such  pleasure. 

To  give  a  work  of  this  kind  to  our  satisfaction 
would  take  at  least  one  year,  but  these  few  facts 
have  been  gathered  in  my  more  than  two  score 
-'  of  existence  with  no  intention,  until  last 
December,  of  putting  them  in  book  form,  so  with 
apologies  above  offered  we  d  this  imperfect 

work  to  our  sturdy  pioneers. 

The  Civil  war  changed  former  political  alliance 
and  broke  political  parties  into  fragments  so  that 
when  the  war  closed  political  discussions  were 
founded  upon  questions  born  of  that  trying  period. 

It  seems  strange  now  in  contemplating  our 
county's  history  to  see  how  different  political  ele- 
is  and  governmental  ideas  were  represented  in 
our  earliest  settlements.  The  earliest  settlers  came 
from  the  southern  and  central  portions  of  our 
in  large  numbers  with  ideas  of  the  southern  civil- 
ization predominant,  and  while  the  New  England- 
er  wa  with  those  of  the  middle  states  who 

sprang  from  the  Puritans,  still  the  southern  ideas 
are  pre-eminent  and  show  themselves  in  the  county 
as  the  unit  of  government  while  the  old  demo- 
cratic party  of  before  the  war  was  the  predominant 
party  and  held  control  until  1856.  By  that  time 
n  emigrant  representing  the  civilization 
Plymouth  Bock  supplanted  the  political  ideas 
of  the  civilization  of  Jamestown  and  the  New 
England  township  becomes  the  unit  of  government 
and  the  republican  party  whose  cardinal  principles 
opposition  to  slavery  extension  which  in  time 
and  the  domiciling  of  every  man  in  his  own  home 
and  on  his  own  farm,  checked  the  extension  of 
slave  territory.  Every  change  of  location  exerts 
a  more  telling  effect  than  one  thinks  at  a  percursory 
glance.  The  men  from  the  northeast  portion  of 
ottr  country  did  not  at  once  affiliate  harmoniously 
with  the  men  from  the  south-land,  but  common 
dangers,  common  interests  draw  men  close  in  a 
common  bond  of  sympathy,  and  in  the  second  gen- 
eration they  are  one  in  association,  their  children 
intermarry  and  racial,  social  and  religious  differ- 
ences disappear.     We  can  readily  recall  instances 


where  children  of  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle 
married  those  of  the  most  stanch  abolitionist,  and 
denominational  rancor  cannot  withstand  the  in- 
roads of  the  American  social  life  as  exemplified  in 
America. 

EARLY  CONDITIONS. 

AYhen  the  white  people  first  came  to  the  terri- 
tory now  known  as  DeKalb  county  they  found  an 
ken  wilderness  consisting  mostly  of  prairie 
which  embraced  all  that  part  of  Franklin  south  of 
the  Kishwaukee  and  a  little  of  the  north  central 
of  the  town,  all  of  Kingston  township  south 
and  west  of  the  Kishwaukee  except  sections  1,  2. 
3,  4,  11  and  12 ;  that  part  of  Genoa  township  ex- 
cept sections  IS,  19,  30,  31,  33,  and  a  part  of  29; 
all  of  Sycamore  except  part  of  sections  2,  10,  11. 
and  parts  of  12  and  14;  all  of  Mayfield  west  of  the 
Kishwaukee  except  a  fringe  of  wood  along  its  west 
hank:  South  Grove  was  mostly  prairie  except  parts 
of  sections  10,  11.  14.  15  and  23:  Malta  township 
had  no  timber:  DeKalb's  prairie  land  covered  all 
its  territory  except  along  the  banks  of  the  Kish- 
waukee :  Cortland  had  timber  on  section  28  and 
his  10,  11,  12,  13,  14  and  part  of  15.  part  of 
2:;  and  all  of  24;  Pierce  had  one  small  grove  on 
i  '.•.':  Afton  and  Milan  were  all  prairie; 
Shabbona  except  Shabbona  Grove  on  sections  23, 
25,  26  and  27.  Paw  Paw  had  two  groves,  one 
on  sections  7.  18  and  lit;  Poss  Grove  on  sections 
10,  11,  14,  15  and  22 :  Victor  had  no  timber,  while 
Somonauk  was  covered  along  the  banks  of  Somon- 
auk  creek  on  either  side  with  a  large  area  of  for- 
est and  more  than  any  other  town  in  our  county 
has  retained. her  original  woods:  Clinton  had  one 
small  grove  which  has  become  historic  because  for 
many  years  in  this  pretty  grove  have  been  held 
the  Old  Settlers'  Picnics.  Squaw  Grove  and 
Papoose  Grove  in  Squaw  Grove  township  covered 
what  is  now  Hinckley  and  the  woods  on  section  30 
and  31  Squaw  Grove  township  are  a  continuation 
of  the  Somonauk  timber  belt.  These  groves  and 
tracts  of  timber  are  of  special  interest  to  us  as  they 
were,  except  in  one  instance,  Lost  Grove  on  section 
28,  Cortland,  found  near  the  running  streams  of 
water,  and  wood  and  water  being  the  mainstay  of 
the  pioneers,  they  made  their  earliest  homes  in 
the  woods  which  furnished  wild  game  in  abund- 
ance, and  the  streams  supplied  excellent  varieties 
of  fish.     Nearly  every  pioneer  was  an  expert  with 


PAST    AND    PP.ESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


the  muzzle  loading  rifle  and  an  adept  with   the 
anglers  tools. 

Many  settlers  who  came  in  the  '50's  thought  it 
unwise  to  locate  so  far  from  the  timber  and  creeks, 
and  as  late  as  1856  Judge  Hill,  Nicholas  Saum 
and  others  from  Kingston,  while  attending  a  re- 
ligious service  at  the  Vandeburg  school  house  in 
Mayfield,  thought  that  ultimately  that  portion  of 
the  prairie  so  far  from  wood  and  water  would 
again  be  a  common. 

They  lived  long  enough  to  see  their  dreams  van- 
ish, for  in  the  early  '70s  farmers  began  to  sink 
tubular  wells  which  are  now  indispensable  to  every 
farm,  and  about  the  same  time  the  hard  coal  base- 
burner  solved,  in  a  great  degree,  the  fuel  problem, 
and  today  first  class  farms  are  original  treeless 
wastes. 

In  the  middle  '60s  one  of  our  county  newspapers 
wrote  a  description  of  a  sample  of  anthracite  coal, 
but  speaks  of  its  cost  preventing  its  general  use. 
All  the  wood  consumed  in  our  county  in  1906 
would  not  pay  one-fifth  of  the  county's  hard  coal 
bill.  It  is  to  be  regretted,  however,  that  there  was 
such  a  waste  of  timber  in  our  earlier  years,  for  it 
would  serve  a  valuable  purpose  as  a  reservoir  of 
water  and  be  used  profitably  in  our  dome-tic  af- 
fairs. 

There  were  eight  saw  mills  along  the  Kishwau- 
kee  in  the  early  '40s.  One  south  of  the  old  town  of 
Coltonville,  Comb's  mill  built  by  William  A. 
Miller,  Millers  mill  on  the  I.  L.  Ellwood  farm. 
Kingston;  Gleason's  mill  just  in  the  east  edge  of 
Kingston,  Gault's  mill  near  the  east  line  of  A. 
J.  Lettow's  farm  in  Kingston;  Lee's  two  mills,  one 
on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  and  one  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river  near  the  mouth  of  Lee's 
slough:  Welty's  mill  on  sect  inn  21  near  the  east 
line  of  Franklin  and  Hicks'  mill  just  east  of  the 
Hicks'  mill  bridge.  All  these  mills  except  Welty's 
and  Comb's  mills  were  sawmills,  and  at  an  early 
period  Comb's  mill  served  the  double  purpose.  To- 
day they  are  all  gone ;  of  most  of  them  but  few- 
traces  remain. 

Many  of  the  houses  and  barns  of  forty  years 
ago  were  built  of  hard  wood  sawed  at  these  mills, 
and  in  many  instances  will  outlast  the  buildings 
erected  during  these  recent  years.  Until  the  St. 
Charles  mill  was  built  about  1840,  and  the  Big- 
Thunder  mill  at  Belvidere  about  the  same  time, 
our  pioneers  went  to  mill  at  Ottawa. 


The  Indian,  while  often  hostile  and  the  most 
fatal  foe  of  advancing  civilization,  taught  our 
pioneers  many  valuable  lessons  in  these  far-off  out- 
post of  our  country.  From  him  they  learned  the 
habits  of  the  game  in  wood  and  stream  and 
prairie;  they  adopted  his  mode  of  dress  and  in 
these  early  homes  were  the  household  utensils  com- 
mon to  the  red  men,  such  as  the  mortar  and  pestle 
for  grinding  corn,  the  stone  skinning  knife  and 
the  bone  fish-hook. 

The  earliest  permanent  settlers  in  Jamestowu 
colony  died  by  thousands  before  they  could  main- 
tain a  self-supporting  community,  for  they  stub- 
bornly tried  to  maintain  European  customs,  while 
our  forefathers  in  the  Mississippi  valley  by  adopt- 
ing Indian  habits,  generally  supplied  the  absolute 
necessities  of  life. 

It  was  Charles  Francis  Hall,  an  Arctic  naviga- 
tor, that  revolutionized  the  methods  of  the  seekers 
for  the  North  Pole.  When  he  planned  his  expedi- 
tion he  pursued  the  theory  "that  a  white  man 
could  live  where  a  savage  maintained  an  exisi 
ence."  Francis  Parkman,  our  ablest  and  most  ac- 
curate historian,  in  describing  the  white  hunter 
and  trapper  who  led  civilization  the  way  into  the 
wilderness,  bears  strong  testimony  to  the  fact  that 
a  child  of  civilization  upon  adopting  the  manners 
and  customs  of  savagery  and  living  with  savages, 
never  again  willingly  returns  to  civilization.  The 
children  captured  by  Indians  were  with  difficulty 
induced  to  return  to  their  homes,  and  in  many  in- 
stances went  back  to  the  homes  of  the  red  men. 
An  Indian  girl  will  attend  the  schools  of 
the  whites,  graduate  at  college,  but  on  returning 
to  her  Indian  home  when  the  torn  torn  is  sounded 
for  the  Indian  dance,  will  cast  oil'  the  habiliments 
of  civilization,  don  her  blanket,  paint  her  face 
and  obey  the  call  of  the  wild  as  did  her  ancestors 
before  the  advent  of  Columbus. 

DeKalb  county  is  a  part  of  northern  Illinois 
that  formerly  was  a  pari  of  Ouisconsin  ("Wiscon- 
sin) but  by  a  political  stratagem  played  by  Na- 
thaniel Pope,  our  territorial  delegate  at  the  time  of 
admission  into  the  Union  in  1818,  fifty-one  miles 
of  the  northern  portion  of  what  is  now  Illinois  was 
added  to  our  area,  and  Wisconsin  thus  lost  a  fertile 
portion  of  the  state  and  the  metropolis  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi valley — Chicago. 

In  the  British  Museum,  London,  is  found  a  rude 
diagram  of  the  Illinois  country,  made  by  Captain 


PAST    A  XL)    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


Philip  Pittman  in  1770,  and  is  described  as  fol- 
lows :  •"'The  country  of  the  Illinois  is  bounded  in 
the  west  by  the  River  Mississippi,  by  the  River 
Illinois  on  the  north,  by  the  Oubache  (Wabash) 
and  Miainas  on  the  south.""  and  the  eastern  border 
is  indefinite.  The  boundary  on  the  north  as  made 
by  Nathaniel  Pope  became  the  42-30'  parallel  of 
latitude.  All  our  county  except  the  four  south 
townships  and  the  three  south  rows  of  sections  of 
Squaw  Grove,  Clinton  and  Shabbona  was  formerly 
a  part  of  the  Wisconsin  territory.  What  an  amount 
of  good  energy  might  have  been  saved  for  us  in 
"County  seat  delirium"  if  the  northern  line  of  our 
stale  was  at  present  running  nine  miles  north  of 
the  south  line  of  our  county. 

The  effect  of  this  •'•land  grab"'  from  the  unor- 
ganized territory  of  Wisconsin  can  scarcely  be  es- 
timated unless  we  take  a  backward  look  into  our 
history:  The  position  of  Illinois  in  national  poli- 
tics often  turned  the  tide  in  the  control  of  na- 
tional affairs.  The  anti-slavery  cause  would  have 
been  hindered  materially  had  not  Illinois  cast  her 
strength  mi  that  side  of  the  question  ami  her  posi- 
tion was  determined  by  her  fourteen  northern 
counties.  In  187 (i  had  Illinois  not  had  those  fifty- 
two  miles  that  rightfully  belonged  to  Wisconsin 
included  in  her  area,  Tilden  and  not  Hayes  would 
have  been  honored  by  the  chief  magistracy  of  our 
republic.  This  portion  was  settled  by  people  from 
\.y\  England  and  from  those  states  in  the  middle 
east  that  were  settled  by  New  Englanders  and  in- 
herited from  her  ideas,  themselves  moulded  by  the 
Plymouth  Rock  civilization.  Without  the  four- 
teen counties  in  this  fifty-one  miles  of  Illinois 
territory  Abraham  Lincoln  could  not  have  carried 
Illinois,  and  without  such  strength  in  his  own 
-late,  he  could  not  have  secured  the  nomination 
in  ISfiO. 

Dick  Oglesby,  Oulloni.  Fifer  ami  other  repub- 
lican candidates  for  gubernatorial  honors  would 
have  failed  to  reach  the  coveted  prize  and  our  state 
Mould  have  been  a  more  uncertain  political  quan- 
tity than  either  Indiana  or  New  York. 

Gallant  Dick  Oglesby  in  an  address  delivered  in 
DeKalb  in  1894.  said:  'Timing  the  days  of  civil 
strife  when  the  national  and  state  administrations 
needed  the  approval  of  the  people  and  adverse 
judgment  was  pouring  in  upon  us  from  counties 
in  the  southern  part  of  Illinois,  how  we  looked  to 


the  northern  counties  to  throw  their  power  and 
influence  in  the  balance  and  they  never  deserted 
us." 

INDIANS. 

Indian  life  in  DeKalb  county  was  well  known  to 
early  settlers,  and  from  1835  to  1837  they  were 
friendly  to  the  whites  and  in  many  instances  were 
of  great  assistance  to  the  pioneer.  The  Indians  in 
this  locality  were  summoned  to  Fort  Dearborn, 
then  standing  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  where  ar- 
rangements were  made  to  remove  the  red  men  io 
the  west  of  the  Mississippi  river  and  upon  thdir 
removal.  1*37 — Fort  Dearborn  was  evacuated  by 
national  troops,  was  used  as  a  storehouse  and  soon 
fell  into  decay,  while  today  upon  its  site  stands 
W.  M.  Eoyfs  wholesale  grocery  and  one  must  draw 
strongly  upon  his  imagination  to  even  fancy  the 
spot  was  ever  used  to  hold  hack  the  savage  from 
destroying,  or  better,  retarding  the  westward 
march  of  civilization. 

Among  those  of  our  citizens  that  were  employed 
by  Uncle  Sam  to  remove  the  Indian  were  Norman 
Peters  and  Evans  Wharry.  After  1837  they  had 
no  regularly  established  homes,  except  at  Shabbona 
Grove,  and  even  at  this  place  they  would  not  be 
found  for  months  at  a  time,  and  at  one  time  re- 
mained in  the  west  for  three  years. 

Indian  axes,  skinning  knives,  pestles  for  grind- 
ing corn,  pipes,  spear  heads,  arrow  heads,  etc..  are 
found  even  at  this  late  date.  From  Indian  graves 
on  Stuart's  farm  east  of  the  village  of  Kingston 
have  been  taken  many  of  the  above  named  utensils. 
Early  settlers  of  Kingston  and  Coltonville  found 
dead  papooses  wrapped  in  hark  and  suspended 
among  the  limbs  of  large  forest  trees. 

While  taking  gravel  from  a  pit  on  the  Norton 
farm,  Shabbona.  the  skeleton  of  an  Indian  youth. 
presumably  a  child  of  Shabbona,  was  unearthed, 
and  on  the  J.  Y.  Stuart  farm  about  twenty-two 
years  ago  in  a  gravel  pit  some  parties  working  out 
their  poll  tax  found  the  skeleton  of  an  aged  In- 
dian, while  in  1889  just  north  of  the  Kirklaml 
bridge,  in  a  gravel  bed.  was  found  a  skeleton,  the 
skull  of  which  had  been  utilized  by  a  gopher  for  a 
nest  where  the  young  were  reared. 

From  these  incidents  we  assume  that  they  did 
not  always  use  regular  burial  places,  but  to  this 
dav  there  are  several  Indian  graveyards  that  are 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OF  DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


well  known  to  a  few  people,  notably  one  in  Shab- 
bona  Grove,  two  in  Kingston,  one  in  Franklin  and 
one  in  DeKalb  township  on  the  Adee  farm. 

When  the  little  tribe  in  Cortland  left  their  grove 
on  section  3  an  old  chief  refused  to  leave  the  graves 
of  his  fathers  and  a  rude  log  cabin  was  built  for 
him  and  provision  left  him,  but  a  few  months 
later  his  white  neighbors  found  him  lifeless  in  his 
hut.  The  site  of  this  cabin  is  pointed  out  today 
by  the  owner  of  the  farm.  In  1867  some  Pot- 
tawattomies,  former  residents,  were  making  a  visit 
to  their  old  homes  and  while  north  of  Sandwich 
an  Indian  buck  got  into  trouble  with  his  drunken 
mother-in-law  and  in  self-defense  sent  her  to  the 
"happy  hunting  grounds."  He  was  in  prison  ax 
Sycamore  for  some  months  and  upon  being  a 
"good  Indian"  while  "in  durance  vile"  was  given 
his  liberty. 

The  Indian  was  possessed  with  endurance,  would 
in  the  seasons  of  scarcity  of  game  go  for  weeks 
without  being  properly  fed,  but  as  an  athlete  in 
exercises  that  required  muscular  exertion,  such  ae 
wrestling,  he  was  not  a  success. 

An  incident  that  took  place  in  Sycamore  in  the 
later  '30s  illustrates  this  fact.  Uncle  "Ide"  Fair- 
do,  a  great  wrestler,  but  a  man  small  of  stature 
engaged  frequently  in  such  contests,  and  on  this 
occasion  after  he  had  thrown  "the  bully"  the  In- 
dians were  induced  to  try  their  muscle  on  Uncle 
Ide.  He  could  throw  an  Indian  as  fast  as  he  could 
get  up  much  to  the  amusement  of  the  whites  and 
the  Indians  themselves. 

They  had  an  orchard  at  Coltonville  and  corn- 
fields at  different  places  which  were  cared  for  bv 
the  women.  The  latter  were  slovenly  housekeepers 
and  poor  nurses  and  a  high  rate  of  mortality  ex- 
isted among  the  infants  especially. 

Early  settlers  have  seen  them  eat  their  game  raw 
and  have  witnessed  their  culinary  skill.  They 
cooked  game  whole  and  undressed.  If  it  chanced 
to  be  a  wild  fowl  no  feathers  were  removed  not 
was  it  drawn,  but  placed  whole  in  the  ashes.  Such 
a  menu  was  offered  to  Jack  Sebree  once,  when  call- 
ing upon  his  Indian  neighbors.  Their  hominy  was. 
however,  quite  palatable. 

The  numerous  collections  of  Indian  relics  now 
in  private  and  public  collections  do  not  pertain  so 
much  to  the  Indian  known  to  our  first  settlers  for 
their  implements  of  war,  hunting  and  those  of 
their   simple   domestic   arts  were  generally   those 


of  the  whites.  No  bows  and  arrows  were  used  by 
them  in  the  Black  Hawk  war  of  1832. 

Most  of  these  relics  are  at  least  two  centuries 
old,  and  men  who  have  given  much  time  and  study 
to  the  Indian  manners  and  customs  believe  them 
to  be  many  centuries  old.  They  had  adopted  many 
ideas  of  the  white  people,  wore  clothing  of  the 
whites  and  wore  but.  few  garments  make  of  skins 
of  animals. 

The  Indian  of  our  pioneer  days  had  degenerated 
to  a  great  extent,  were  in  many  instances  petty 
thieves,  and  when  liquor  was  obtainable  would  get 
drunk  very  often.  He  would  sell  anything  to  get 
"fire  water/'  and  one  was  known  to  have  offered 
his  child  for  a  bottle  of  whiskey,  and  his  love  for 
drink  contributed  largely  towards  his  degeneracy. 

In  this  county  the  Indians  used  ponies  and  were 
constantly  on  the  move,  and  Shabbona  and  his 
tribe  were  known  in  all  parts  of  our  county.  Men 
of  three  score  years  and  upwards  while  boys  in 
school  remember  of  the  tribe  in  their  wanderings 
and  school  was  dismissed  so  that  the  pupils  might 
see  the  old  chief,  for  he  was  respected  and  gener- 
ally treated  with  kindness  for  his  great  service  to 
the  whites  in  rescuing  many  from  the  savages  of 
Black  Hawk.  His  prominence  gives  him  conspicu- 
ous place  in  the  story  of  our  county,  and  as  he  was 
the  high  type  of  the  "good  Indian"  we  have  de- 
voted much  space  to  him  :  and  let  us  remember 
this  as  a  striking  relief  from  the  bloody  tale  told 
since  the  days  of  Columbus  to  our  own  time. 

THE  INDIAN  CHIEF  SHABBONA. 

BY   PKOF.   L.   A.   HATCH. 

The  Indians  have  gone  from  Illinois,  but  there 
are  many  people  living  today  who  remember  hav- 
ing seen  the  last  of  this  dusky  race  as  it  disappear- 
ed. With  them  have  gone,  never  to  return,  many 
of  the  primitive  conditions  that  once  existed.  It 
is  with  difficulty  that  the  present  generation  re- 
constructs in  image  form  and  scenes  and  condi- 
tions that  met  those  who  first  came  to  this  land  ae 
explorers  or  founders  of  homes.  Fortunately  we 
have  with  us  a  few  of  the  early  pioneers  from 
whose  lips  we  may  gather  a  few  of  the  fragments 
of  our  early  history.  These  should  be  collected  and 
retained  as  a  part  of  our  national  heritage.  It  will 
give  us  strength  to  look  back  upon  those  early  days 
and  to  recount  the  struggles  through  which  we 
have  come. 


10 


PAST    AXD   PRESENT    OF  DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


The  conflicts  which  took  place  between  the  red 
man  and  the  early  white  settlers  would  make  a 
long  story  were  all  told.  Were  we  to  write  this 
story  the  name  of  Shabbona  would  appear  in  many 
places.  Were  you  to  read  it  you  would  come  to 
love  the  man  and  to  respect  him  for  the  true  man- 
hood that  he  displayed  on  so  many  occasions.  Were 
you  to  go  to  the  early  settlers  who  knew  Shab- 
bona you  would  find  them  all  agreed  as  to  the  no- 
lnlity  of  Ins  character.  He  was  known  by  them 
all  as  "The  Friend  of  the  White  Man."  The  writer 
will  tell  the  story  as  he  gathered  it  from  those  who 
fcnew  him,  and  from  other  sources  that  will  be  in- 
dicated at  the  close  of  this  article. 

In  the  southern  part  of  DeKalb  county.  Illinois, 
is  found  a  small  village  that  has  been  named  after 
Shabbona.  Not  far  from  this  village  is  to  be  found 
a  grove  known  as  Shabbona  Grove.  It  was  at  this 
grove  that  Shabbona  and  his  people  made  their 
home  for  many  years.  Those  who  live  at  the  grove 
take  pleasure  in  pointing  out  the  spot  where  he 
pitched  his  wigwam.  It  was  a  beautiful  place  in 
those  early  days  nestled  on  the  banks  of  a  little 
stream.  It  was  a  small  clearing  in  the  wood  well 
protected  from  the  storms  that  raged  during  the 
winter.     In  the  early  years  of  his  I  his  grove 

it  was  the  home  of  his  whole  tribe,  which  by  the 
way  never  m  than  one  hundred  and 

thirty  souls.  After  the  government  moved  the  In- 
dians from  Illinois,  Shabbona  and  his  family  lived 
here  for  a  number  of  wars.  A  hollow  in  the 
ground  marks  ■  he  had  a  shallow 

well  from  which  he  obtained  water.  A  few  mounds 
mark  the  res!  of  a  number  of  his  family. 

You  are  told  that  a  house  was  built  for  the  old 
chief  by  the  white  settlers  who  thought  they  would 
show  their  appreciation  for  him  in  this  way.  This 
house  was  made  of  log-  Ee  never  lived  in  it,  so 
some  who  knew  him  say,  but  instead  used  it  as  a 
shelter  for  his  ponies  and  a  storehouse  for  his  pro- 
visions. At  times  some  of  the  younger  Indians  of 
the  tribe  used  this  cabin  as  a  place  of  shelter  but 
old  Shabbona  and  Coconoko.  his  wife,  always  pre- 
ferred to  live  in  the  tent  even  during  the  coldest 
weather  in  winter.  As  he  visited  his  white  friends 
li  was  almost  impossible  to  get  him  to  sleep  over 
night  in  a  house.  He  preferred  to  roll  up  in  his 
blanket  and  sleep  out  of  doors.  By  his  association 
with  the  whites  lie  acquired  much  from  them  but 


there  were  many  Indian  traits  and  customs  that 
he  retained  as  long  as  he  lived. 

At  one  time  the  grove  at  which  he  made  his 
home  was  one  of  the  finest  in  the  state  of  Illinois. 
It  covered  an  area  of  fifteen  hundred  acres.  In  it 
were  found  large  white,  bur,  and  red  oak.  Xo  better 
black  walnut  trees  were  to  be  found  anywhere  than 
were  found  bere.  Outside  of  this  grove  extended 
great  tracts  of  prairie  land  noted  for  their  fer- 
tility. Surrounded  by  this,  Shabbona,  the  Indian 
chief,  lived  and  ruled  his  little  kingdom.  Plenty 
surrounded  him  on  all  sides.  He  and  his  people 
visited  other  Indian  settlements,  of  which  there 
were  many  in  northern  Illinois.  Other  chiefs  and 
their  people  visited  him  and  lived  off  his  substance. 
His  word  had  much  weight  in  the  councils  with 
other  chief-.  He  was  one  of  the  great  chiefs  among 
the  chiefs. 

But  you  ask.  Who  was  this  Shabbona?  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Ottawa  tribe  of  Indians,  born  as 
the  best  authorities  think,  in  Ohio  somewhere  on 
the  Maumee  river.  He  was  the  grandnephew  of 
the  great  Indian  chief,  Pontiac.  He  lived  at  the 
time  of  Tecumseh  and  the  Prophet.  He  knew  them 
both  and  took  several  long  journeys  with  the  for- 
mer. For  a  time  he  was  a  friend  of  Black  Hawk. 
He  knew  Keokuk,  Big  Foot,  Sauganash,  Black 
Partridge,  Snachwine.  Wabansee  and  Eed  Jacket. 
He  probably  knew  Big  Thunder.  Spotka.  the  Pot- 
tawattomie  chief,  appreciated  his  worth,  and  as  an 
indication  of  his  appreciation  gave  his  daughter  in 
marriaee. 

The  name  of  this  chief  was  not  always  spelled 
by  writers  in  the  same  way.  The  following  spell- 
ings are  found :  Shabbona,  Chamblee,  Shaubeue. 
Shabone,  Shaubenay  and  Sliabehney.  Shabbona 
seem-  pelling  preferred.    The  old  chief 

liked   to   have   his  name  pronounced,  as  if  there 
hut  two  syllables  to  it.  and  to  pronounce  it  as 
if  it  were  spe         3        ney,  with  the  accent  on  the 
first  syllable. 

In  appearance  he  was  a  very  striking  character. 
He  would  be  singled  out  from  among  a  body  of 
Indians  because  of  the  native  dignity  of  the  man. 
He  was  five  feet,  nine  inches  in  height,  broad 
shouldered,  with  a  large  head  supported  by  a  heavy 
neck.  His  hands,  for  a  man  of  his  size,  were  small. 
His  body  was  long  so  that  when  he  rode  on  horse- 
back he  appeared  larger  than  when  on  foot.  He 
was  a  well   built   man.     When  a  young  man  he 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OP   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


11 


excelled  in  all  kinds  of  athletic  exercises.  As  a 
boy  he  was  the  picture  of  health.  He  was  always 
large  for  his  age.  When  a  young  man  he  weighed 
two  hundred  forty  pounds.  As  has  been  intimated 
he  was  very  muscular  and  capable  of  great  endur- 
ance. Until  his  last  illness,  which  occurred  in  his 
eighty-fourth  year,  he  did  not  know  what  it  was  to 
be  sick. 

One  in  speaking  of  him,  says,  "He  was  as  strong 
as  a  buffalo,  as  swift  of  foot  as  a  deer  and  as  gentle 
as  a  woman."  There  are  those  who  think  that 
Shabbona,  with  his  power  to  understand  men,  his 
soundness  of  judgment  in  dealing  with  matters 
that  pertained  to  his  race,  his  coolness  in  times  of 
danger,  his  loyalty  to  principles,  might  have  be- 
come one  of  the  great  men  of  the  world  bad  be  had 
opportunities  of  education.  He  possessed  those 
characteristics  that  made  him  a  leader.  People 
loved  him,  they  believed  in  him,  they  acted  upon 
his  suggestions. 

In  the  autumn,  it  was  the  custom  of  the  In- 
dians to  go  on  extended  hunts  in  order  that  food 
might  be  secured  and  prepared  for  the  winter. 
At  this  time  of  the  year  game  was  in  good  condi- 
tion and  the  fur  of  fur-bearing  animals  was  at  its 
best.  Sometimes  these  hunts  took  the  hunters  a 
long  distance  from  their  homes.  The  Indians  of 
certain  tribes  came  to  feel  that  they  owned  certain 
hunting  grounds  and  looked  upon  others  who 
might  hunt  upon  these  grounds  as  hostile  to  their 
interests. 

In  the  autumn  of  1800,  a  party  of  Ottawa  hunt- 
ers from  the  country  around  Lake  Erie  went  on  a 
hunting  expedition  into  what  is  now  known  as 
Illinois.  This  hunt  led  them  around  the  lower  end 
of  Lake  Michigan  to  the  present  site  of  Chicago. 
Here  they  felt  at  home  as  they  were  among  their 
friends,  the  Pottawattomies.  Among  those  who  was 
sent  on  this  hunt  was  a  young  man  known  as  Shab- 
bona— the  Shabbona  about  whom  this  article  tells. 
This  was  his  first  visit  to  Illinois.  When  the  hunt 
was  over  the  Indians  returned  to  their  homes  in 
the  Ohio  country.  Shabbona,  however,  did  not  re- 
turn, but  spent  the  winter  at  the  home  of  Spotka; 
the  chief  of  the  Pottawattomies  at  Chicago.  As 
has  been  stated  his  stay  with  this  chief  resulted  in 
Shabbona  receiving  Spotka's  daughter  in  mar- 
riage. Shabbona  was  already  a  chief  among  the 
Ottawas  and  his  marriage  to  the  daughter  of  .1 


Pottawattomie  chief  made  him  a  Pottawattomie, 
and  later  he  became  a  Pottawattomie  chief. 

By  his  sterling  qualities  he  won  the  respect  of 
his  new  brothers  and  as  has  been  indicated  became 
a  chief  among  them.  It  is  said  that  at  first  they 
were  inclined  to  feci  somewhat  jealous  of  Shab- 
bona and  as  a  result  said  some  things  of  him  that 
were  not  altogether  good.  Some  of  these  remarks 
came  to  the  cars  of  Shabbona.  It  made  him  feel 
sad  to  lieai-  these  things  for  he  had  tried  his  best 
to  please  those  with  whom  he  lived.  After  think- 
ing matters  over  for  a  time  he  decided  that  ne 
could  stand  it  no  longer,  so  one  morning  he  arose 
and  announced  to  his  squaw,  Coconoko,  that  lie 
was  going  to  go  back  to  his  people  to  live  among 
them.  Bidding  Coconoko  good-bye  he  mounted  his 
pony  and  rode  away  to  the  eastward.  He  rode 
and  thought  and  the  farther  he  got  away  from 
his  squaw  the  more  he  thought.  Before  night 
overtook  him  he  turned  his  pony  about  and  re- 
turned to  Pokonoka  to  live  with  her  during  the 
remainder  of  his  life  which  closed  fifty-nine  years 
after  this.  While  he  was  gone  Pokonoka  talked  to 
her  people  about  the  injustice  that  had  been  done 
Shabbona.  After  this  there  was  never  any  mire 
trouble  along  this  line  for  they  soon  came  to  ap- 
preciate his  worth.  It  was  not  long  after  this  that 
Shabbona  selected  Shabbona  Grove  as  his  home. 

From  1800  to  1807  Shabbona  traveled  much 
among  the  Indians  along  the  Illinois,  Fox  and 
Eock  rivers.  At  times  he  went  farther  to  the 
south,  also  up  the  Mississippi  and  into  Wisconsin. 
The  missionaries  among  the  Indians  often  secured 
him  to  guide  them  as  they  went  from  tribe  to 
tribe.  In  this  way  he  became  very  well  acquainted 
with  the  leading  chiefs  and  with  the  country  in 
which  they  lived.  It  is  said  that  he  could  mark  out 
a  trail  or  river  course  in  the  sand,  indicating  all 
of  the  landmarks,  so  that  it  was  easy  for  a  stranger 
not  acquainted  with  the  country  to  find  his  way. 
This  knowledge  of  the  country  and  acquaintance 
with  the  chiefs  was  a  good  preparation  for  the  later 
life  that  Shabbona  led. 

In  the  year  1807,  Shabbona  had  the  good  for- 
tune, if  looked  at  in  one  way,  and  bad  fortune  if 
looked  at  in  another  light,  to  become  acquainted 
with  Tecumseh — Flying  Panther — the  chief  of  the 
Shawnee  Indians,  who  was  a  man  of  many  high 
qualities,  impressive  manners  and  wonderful  nat- 
ural eloquence.    Tecumseh  was  a  little  older  than 


12 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


Shabbona  but  they  were  botli  comparatively  young 
men  at  this  time,  neither  being  over  thirty-five 
years  of  age.  The  two  chiefs  had  many  councils 
together.  Tecnmseh  saw  the  evil  influence  of 
whiskey  among  his  people  so  he  prohibited  its 
use.  This  and  other  tilings  he  did  left  their  im- 
press upon  Shabbona  for  good,  although  in  later 
years   Shabbona  was  known  to  imbibe  somewhat. 

In  the  year  lM<i.  (iciieral  Harrison  met  Tecum- 
seh  on  the  Wabash  in  council.  After  ibis  council 
Tecumseh  went  to  Shabbona's  village  and  persu- 
aded Shabbona  to  go  with  him  to  see  the  Indians 
of  northern  Illinois  and  Wisconsin  to  get  them 
to  join  in  concerted  action  in  driving  back  the 
whites  who  were  pushing  then-  settlements  forward 
into  their  hunting  grounds.  These  two  chiefs  went 
from  village  to  village  along  the  Illinois  and  Fox 
rivers.  Then  they  went  to  the  Winnebago  and  Me- 
nominee Indians  to  the  north.  Both  of  these  tribes 
fought  against  the  Americans  during  the  war  of 
1812.  Tecumseh  and  Shabbona  then  moved  to  the 
south  along  the  Mississippi,  visiting  the  Sauks  and 
Foxes,  meeting  Black  Hawk  and  Wapello,  the 
leading  chiefs.  At  Rock  Island  the  two  chiefs 
parted.  Tecumseh  going  farther  to  the  south 
along  the  Mississippi  and  Shabbona  returning  to 
his  home  in  DeKalb  county. 

In  the  summer  of  1811  Tecumseh  and  Shab- 
bona met  Genera]  Harrison  again  ai  Vincennes  in 
a  second  council.  After  a  wordy  conference  Te- 
cumseh withdrew  and  with  Shabbona  and  two 
Shawnee  chiefs  set  out  for  the  south  to  visit  the 
Creeks.  Cherokees,  Choctaws  and  Seminoles. 
While  absent  his  followers  were  defeated  on  the 
7th  of  November.  1811,  in  the  battle  of  Tippe- 
canoe by  General  Harrison. 

After  the  visit  to  the  south  Shabbona  returned 
again  to  the  grove.  It  was  while  here  that  he 
heard  of  the  declaration  of  war  with  England. 
There  was  a  plan  on  foot  to  attack  and  capture 
if  possible.  Fort  Dearborn  before  news  could 
reach  that  place.  Runners  came  to  Shabbona  tell- 
ing him  that  the  attack  was  to  be  made  and  that 
the  Pottawattomies  were  all  to  take  part  in  the 
war.  He  decided  that  he  would  not  go  to  the  at- 
tack on  Fort  Dearborn  as  he  had  many  friends 
there  among  the  whites.  Seeing  the  other  Indians 
going  he  mounted  his  pony  and  went  also.  Snach- 
wine  had  planned  and  carried  out  the  attack.  When 
Shabbona  arrived  he  was  shocked  to  see  what  had 


been  done.  Scattered  along  the  beach  of  the  lake 
lay  the  forty-two  (some  say  fifty-two)  bodies  of 
the  victims  of  the  massacre,  scalped  and  muti- 
lated, women,  children  and  soldiers  alike.  The 
body  of  Captain  Wells  lay  in  one  place,  his  head 
in  another  while  his  arms  and  legs  were  scattered 
over  the  prairie.  The  remains  of  Captain  Wells 
were  gathered  up  by  Black  Partridge  and  buried 
near  where  they  were  found,  while  the  bodies  of 
the  other  victims  were  left  where  they  fell  until 
the  rebuilding  of  Fort  Dearborn  in  1816 — four 
years  later.  Then  their  scattered  bones  that  had 
bleaching  in  the  sun  were  gathered  up  aud 
buried  by  Captain  Bradley. 

The  prisoners  were  placed  in  Kinzie*s  house 
where  Black  Partridge  and  Shabbona  tried  to  pro- 
tect them  with  their  braves.  Parties  of  Shawnee 
Indians  arrived  from  the  Wabash.  These  were 
thirsting  for  blood.  They  expected  to  arrive  in 
time  to  take  part  in  the  attack.  They  rushed  by 
Black  Partridge  and  Shabbona  to  get  at  the  pris- 
oners and  had  not  Saguanash  arrived  just  as  he 
did  their  lives  would  have  been  taken.  They 
would  have  shared  the  fate  of  the  others.  As  it 
was  they  were  saved  and  we  feel  grateful  for  the 
share  that  Shabbona  had  in  the  saving  of  their 
lives.  They  were  made  prisoners.  Part  of  them 
were  taken  to  St.  Joseph  and  to  Canada.  Others 
were  scattered  among  the  different  tribes  of  Pot- 
tawattomies but  in  time  they  were  sent  to  Detroit 
and  ransomed. 

After  the  massacre  of  Fort  Dearborn  Shabbona 
returned  to  his  grove  with  his  mind  made  up  to 
take  no  further  part  in  the  war.  In  the  fall  of 
1812  emissaries  from  Tecumseh  reached  Shab- 
bona's village  bearing  presents  and  the  wampum 
belt  asking  him  and  his  braves  to  join  with  him 
in  the  war.  Shabbona  was  deceived  into  believing 
that  the  Pottawattomies  and  many  others  of  thi 
tribes  in  Illinois  were  going  to  take  up  the  hatchet 
and  join  the  English  in  their  war  against  the 
Americans.  So  Shabbona  gave  up  the  winter  hunt 
that  he  had  planned  to  take  and  with  twenty-two 
warriors  left  for  the  seat  of  war.  On  his  way  so 
the  Wabash,  where  the  Shawnees  dwelt,  he  fell  in 
with  Black  Hawk  and  the  Indians  under  his  com- 
mand. The  Hawk  and  Shabbona  had  been  frienns 
for  many  years  and  sat  together  many  times  in 
council.  In  this  war  Shabbona  stood  next  in  com- 
mand to  Tecumseh.     At    Fort    Meigs    and   Fort 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


13 


Stephenson  the  Indians  were  badly  whipped  by  the 
Americans.  This  discouraged  Black  Hawk  and  his 
warriors  so  he,  with  them,  returned  to  his  home  on 
the  Mississippi.  Shabbona,  however,  remained  with 
Tecumseh  and  pushed  onward,  through  Indiana 
and  Ohio  into  Canada.  In  September,  1813,  the 
battle  of  the  Thames  was  fought  and  at  this  battle 
Shabbona  saw  his  friend  Tecumseh  killed  by 
Colonel  Richard  M.  Johnson.  Shabbona  being 
second  in  command  the  leadership  fell  upon  him 
The  battle  raging  with  fury  and  there  seemed  to 
be  no  chance  for  the  Indians  so  he  ordered  his 
braves  to  retreat,  which  they  did.  Shabbona  never 
expected  to  escape  from  the  conflict  alive.  It  is 
said  that  he  prayed  to  the  Great  Spirit  that  if  his 
life  was  saved  he  would  never  take  up  arms  again 
against  the  whites.  It  was  saved  and  from  this 
time  till  his  death  he  kept  his  vow.  For  this  stand 
he  lost  prestige  among  the  Indians.  In  derision 
they  called  him.  "Friend  of  the  White  Man." 

The  people  of  northern  Illinois  remember  Shab- 
bona not  for  the  part  that  he  took  in  the  war  of 
1812  but  for  what  he  did  after  the  war.  Until 
184!)  the  grove  in  DeKalb  county  was  his  home. 
True,  he  came  and  went  but  this  was  where  he 
lived  with  his  family  and  where  those  of  his  family 
who  had  died  were  buried.  The  white  settlers  did 
not  come  to  Illinois  in  very  large  numbers,  until 
after  the  Indians  were  moved  west  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, after  the  Black  Hawk  war.  When  Chi- 
cago was  laid  out  as  a  town  in  1830  there  were 
twelve  families  besides  the  garrison.  Three  years 
later  the  population  had  increased  to  550.  After 
the  war  of  1812  Shabbona  was  always  ready  to 
protect  the  settlers  in  and  about  Chicago. 

In  the  fall  of  1823  Fort  Dearborn  was  vacated 
and  troops  did  not  occupy  it  again  until  the  fall  of 
1828.  During  this  time  the  citizens  of  Chicago 
were  unprotected  except  by  the  friendly  Indians. 
All  went  well  until  the  Winnebagoes  took  up  the 
hatchet  against  the  whites  in  1827.  At  the  time 
Shabbona  went  to  almost  every  village  of  the  Pot- 
tawattomies  and  persuaded  them  to  remain  at 
home,  and  not  take  part  in  the  war.  He  told  the 
citizens  of  Chicago  that  he  would  station  his 
braves  there  and  defend  them  if  they  wished  him 
to  do  so. 

The  people  of  Chicago  requested  Shabbona  and 
Sauganash  to  visit  the  village  on  Big  Foot  lake 
(Lake  Geneva),  and  try  to  persuade  Big  Foot  tn 


not  go  to  war  with  the  whites.  The  two  rode  to 
the  village  on  horse  back.  Saguanash  did  not  en- 
ter the  village  but  took  a  position  so  that  he  could 
see  Shabbona  as  he  met  Big  Foot  and  his  braves. 
The  meeting  was  not  of  a  friendly  nature.  Shab- 
bona was  accused  of  being  a  friend  of  the  whites 
and  an  enemy  of  the  Indians.  Shabbona  tried  to 
convince  Big  Foot  that  the  war  with  the  whites 
meant  the  destruction  of  the  Indians.  The  war- 
riors collected  around  the  chiefs  as  they  carried  on 
their  conversation.  Big  Foot  became  enraged  and 
took  out  his  tomahawk  and  was  about  to  kill  Shab- 
bona but  was  prevented  from  doing  so  by  the  war- 
riors who  were  standing  about.  The  warriors  took 
away  Shabbona's  rifle,  tomahawk,  knife  and 
blanket  and  bound  him  with  buckstring  thongs 
after  which  he  was  led  to  an  unoccupied  tent  and 
placed  under  the  guard  of  two  warriors. 

Saguanash  saw  all  this  from  his  hiding  place  on 
the  bluff  that  overlooked  the  village.  When  it 
looked  as  if  the  fate  of  Shabbona  was  sealed  he 
mounted  his  pony  and  rode  to  Chicago  to  tell  the 
story  of  what  he  had  witnessed.  During  the  night 
the  Winnebagoes  held  council  and  it  was  decided 
that  it  was  not  safe  to  retain  Shabbona  as  a  pris- 
oner so  he  was  released  and  allowed  to  return  to 
Fort  Dearborn.  This  was  against  the  wish  of  Big 
Foot.  He  released  him  but  secretly  set  out  on  his 
trail  with  a  few  of  his  warriors  determined  to  kill 
him  if  possible.  Shabbona  suspected  something  of 
the  sort  and  urged  his  fleet  pony  forward  and 
made  his  escape.  Big  Foot  followed  him  for  many 
miles  but  finally  gave  up  the  pursuit.  This  visit 
of  Shabbona  to  the  village  of  the  Winnebagoes  re- 
sulted in  their  remaining  at  home  and  Chicago  was 
again  safe. 

For  several  years  preceding  1832,  the  Indians  of 
northern  Illinois  had  been  comparatively  quiet  as 
far  as  outward  signs  were  concerned,  but  there  was 
a  spirit  of  discontent  prevalent  among  the  Sauks 
and  Foxes.  They  could  not  get  over  feeling  that 
the  whites  were  aggressors  and  that  slowly  but 
surely  they  were  losing  their  land  and  being  driven 
into  the  west,  where  they  would  have  to  encounter 
new  enemies  in  new  fields.  This  was  not  alto- 
gether to  their  liking. 

While  the  Indians  wandered  about  from  place  to 
place,  they,  for  the  most  part,  had  a  home  other 
than  their  wig-warns.     Thev  disliked  to  leave  the 


14 


PAST    AND    PBESEXT    OF   DE   KALB    COUXTY. 


place  where  they  were  born,  especially  if  there  was 
a  good  prospect  of  their  never  seeing  it  again. 
d  times  there  centered  about  such  a  localitv  a 
history  and  a  body  of  traditions  that  tended  to 
make  it  well  nigh  sacred  to  them.  To  be  driven 
from  the  place  where  their  dead  for  generations 
had  been  buried,  engendered  a  just  hatred  for  the 
whites  that  has  not  been  easily  blotted  from  their 
memories. 

In  Illinois,  as  elsewhere,  the  Indians  and  whites 
have  not  mixed.  They  were  too  unlike  in  their 
modes  of  living  and  in  disposition  to  dwell  in  peace 
together.  Where  the  whites  settled  the  Indians 
gradually  disappeared.  For  the  most  part  they 
recognized  the  superiority  of  their  aggressors.  Oc- 
casionally we  find  a  character  like  Shabbona.  who., 
in  a  measure,  took  on  the  ways  of  the  whites  anl 
remained  among  them,  to  watch  with  interest  the 
changes  that  followed  their  coming. 

In  1832  Black  Hawk  and  the  Prophet  made  a 
desperate  effort  to  induce  the  PottaT  -  and 

Ottawas  to  join  with  the  Sauks  and  Foxes  in  a  war 
against  the  whites.    It  was  February  -    2  that 

a  great  council  of         S       s,  igoes 

and  Pottawattomies  was  held  at  Indian  Town. 
Many  chiefs  were  present,  among  them  Shabbona, 
who  at  this  time  was  fifty-seven  years  of  age.  The 
council  lasted  for  many  days  and  nights.  Eloquent 
appeals  were  made  by  Black  Hawk  to  induce  the 
other  tribes  to  unite  in  a  final  attempt  to  drive 
the  white  man  from  the  frontier.  It  was  evident 
that  if  such  an  attempt  were  not  made  in  a  short 
time  the  whites  would  become  so  numerous  that 
all  hopes  to  drive  them  back  would  be  fruitless. 
All  of  the  Pottawattomies.  but  one  tribe,  joined 
Shabbona  in  opposing  union  of  the  tribes  and  the 
council  finally  broke  up  without  effecting  a  union. 

At  this  time  Black  Partridge  and  Snaehwin?, 
the  peace  chiefs,  were  dead  and  Shabbona  stood 
next  in  power  among  the  Pottawattamie  chiefs. 
Ever  since  Shabbona  had  seen  his  friend  Teeumseh 
fall  in  battle  at  the  Thames,  he  had  been  a  mis- 
sionary for  peace  among  the  Indians.  He  had 
become  thoroughly  convinced  that  it  was  useless 
for  the  Indian  to  take  up  arms  against  the  whites. 

When  Black  Hawk  saw  that  he  could  not  get  the 
tribes  to  join,  he  went  back  to  bis  watch  tower  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Rock  river  determined  on  war  at 
any  cost.  He  then  went  across  the  Mississippi 
into  Iowa.     Here  he  remained  until  April,  1832, 


when  he  again  crossed  into  Illinois  and  moved  up 
the  Rock  river  valley  with  his  warriors.  He  moved 
on  until  he  came  to  a  point  about  twenty-five  miles 
above  Dixon  ferry  and  from  there  he  went  east  to 
a  grove  of  timber  which  has  since  been  known  as 
Stillman*s  Bun. 

At  this  point  Black  Hawk  did  not  meet  the 
warriors  he  had  expected  to  meet  in  council  with 
Black  Hawk  for  the  last  time.  It  was  here  that 
the  last  war  dance  took  place.  Black  Hawk  tried 
hard  to  get  Shabbona  to  join  with  him  for  he 
knew  that  if  he  secured  Shabbona,  practically  the 
whole  of  the  Pottawattomies  would  be  in  favor  of 
the  union  and  would  take  part  in  the  war.  Many  of 
the  Pottawattomies  were  doubtedless  waiting  for  a 
chance  to  kill  off  some  of  their  white  enemies.  A 
war  would  furnish  such  a  chance.  Sabbona  was  con- 
vinced that  Black  Hawk  was  determined  upon  war 
and  could  not  be  turned  from  his  purpose.  The 
Hawk  said.  "If  we  unite  our  forces  we  will  have  an 
army  like  the  trees  of  the  forest  and  will  drive  the 
palefaces  before  us  like  autumn  leaves  before  an 
angry  wind.''"  Shabbona  replied,  "The  army  of  the 
palefaces  will  be  like  the  leaves  on  the  trees  anl 
will  sweep  you  into  the  ocean  beyond  the  setting 
sun." 

Then  we  have  the  story  of  how  he  stole  away 
from  the  council  in  the  night,  with  his  son  and 
nephew,  to  warn  the  whites  of  their  imminent 
In  doing  this  he  took  his  life  in  his  hand, 
for,  to  fall  across  the  path  of  Black  Hawk  meant 
death,  for  he  had  refused  to  join  with  him  in  war 
and  had  gone  over  to  give  assistance  in  everv  wav 
to  the  enemy. 

This  meant  that  Shabbona  had  lost  caste  with 
many  of  the  Indian  tribes.  He  could  never  again 
meet  with  them  in  council.  He  must  be  alert  lest 
he  be  taken  by  his  enemy,  for  he  was  looked  upon 
as  a  traitor  by  the  Hawk  and  his  people.  He  must 
look  for  protection  from  the  whites. 

It  was  a  perilous  undertaking  to  warn  the  sefc- 
tlers  but  in  it  lay  their  only  s.  -aabbona's 

son  and  nephew  warned  the  settlers  along  the  Fox 
river  and  at  Holderman's  Grove.  The  settlers 
were  warned  as  far  east  as  the  DuPage  river  in 
DuPage  county.  The  whites  were  urged  to  go  to 
Ottawa  and  to  Fort  Dearborn  as  soon  as  possible 
so  as  to  escape  the  fury  of  Black  Hawk,  which  was 
sure  to  break  upon  them.  This  advice  they  fol- 
lowed.    Shabbona  warned  the  settlers  of  Bureau 


SCENE     ON     SOMONAUK     CHEEK     NEAR    THE    BLAGG     FARM     WHERE    IN- 
DIANS    GATHERED     IN     EARLY     TIMES. 


sag? 


PAST   AND    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


1? 


county  and  those  along  Indian  creek.  Some  of 
the  settlers  went  to  Hennepin,  some  went  to 
Peoria  and  others  went  to  Springfield.  Shabbona 
was  in  his  saddle  forty-eight  hours.  He  rode  nis 
pony  to  death,  took  off  the  saddle,  borrowed  an- 
other pony  of  a  settler  and  went  on  his  mission.  Li 
his  broken  English  he  told  the  settlers  to  go.  In 
some  cases  he  rode  back  to  warn  them  a  second 
time  and  even  begged  them  to  make  haste  to  leave. 
Often  times  in  the  past  the  settlers  had  Deen 
warned  of  impending  danger  and  Indian  hostili- 
ties, to  find,  after  fleeing  to  the  nearest  fort,  that 
the  alarm  was  without  foundation.  A  number 
were  inclined  to  look  upon  Shabbona's  warning  as 
a  false  alarm.  As  a  result  many  had  barely  time 
to  escape  Black  Hawk  and  his  warriors.  At  In- 
dian creek  no  attention  was  given  to  his  warning. 
The  Indians  found  the  people  of  the  settlement 
at  work  in  their  fields  and  about  their  homes  and 
in  a  short  time  thirteen  were  killed  and  two  girls 
were  taken  prisoners. 

Shabbona  had  sent  his  people  to  the  east  into 
Indiana  to  get  them  away  from  the  reach  of  Black 
Hawk.  After  the  war  they  returned  to  the  grove 
in  DeKalb  county.  .„_ :,.  ■  . 

You  are  familiar  with  the  story  of  Black  "Hawk 
after  this,  his  attempt  to  escape  to  the  north  and 
his  capture  by  the  troops  who  were  guided  in  their 
search  by  Shabbona.  With  his  capture  and  the 
removal  of  the  Indians  to  reservations  west  of  the 
Mississippi  river  the  terror  of  Indian  massacre  in 
Illinois  came  to  an  end.  There  soon  poured  into 
this  rich  prairie  state  a  host  of  pioneers  to  lay 
under  subjection  the  resources- of  the  wilderness  in 
the  building  of  their  homes. 

It  must  have  been  a  picturesque  gathering  in 
1835,  as  Pottawattomies  to  the  number  of  five 
thousand  assembled  for  the  last  time  in  a  body  at 
Chicago.  They  had  come  decked  with  all  then- 
most  showy  ornaments,  to  draw  their  pay  from  the 
government.  Pathetic  indeed  was  it  to  see  them 
in  their  last  dance,  displaying  as  they  did,  all  the 
savagery  of  savages.  On  that  August  day  the 
people  of  Chicago  saw  the  last  of  a  race  as  it  took 
its  departure,  worsted  in  the  struggle  for  existence, 
baffled  at  every  point,  and  made  to  retire  before 
the  progress  of  the  white  man.  To  us  the  stoiy 
of  the  red  man  in  Illinois  seems  a  long  way  in  the 
past  but  there  are  men  living  today  who  witness  "! 
his   departure. 


We  will  now  turn  our  attention  to  the  reserva- 
tion that  Shabbona  and  his  people  owned  for  a 
time.  In  a  treaty  made  at  Prairie  Du  Chien  in 
1829,  the  Pottawattomie  Indians  ceded  their  land 
in  northern  Illinois  to  the  United  States.  At  this 
time  two  sections  were  reserved  as  a  home  for 
Shabbona  and  his  family.  This  tract  of  land  in- 
cluded section  23,  and  the  west  half  of  section  25, 
and  the  east  half  of  section  26,  in  town  38,  ran"" 
3,  east  of  the  third  principal  meridian  at  Paw 
Paw  Grove.  The  tract  of  land  included  one 
thousand  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  must 
excellent  land  in  a  very  good  locality. 

In  October,  1832,  these  lands  were  again  re- 
served for  Shabbona  in  a  treaty  which  was  made  at 
Tippecanoe.  In  1833  it  was  provided  that  Shab- 
bona might  sell  his  land  if  he  felt  inclined,  but  for 
some  reason  in  183-1  this  privilege  was  taken  from 
him.  This  left  Shabbona's  laud  as  regular  reser- 
vation to  be  used  by  him  until  the  government  saw 
fiit  to  take  it  from  him.  At  any  rate  this  is  the 
way  the  matter  culminated  finally. 

When  the  Indians  were  removed  by  the  gov- 
ernment to  reservations  west  of  the  Mississippi 
river  the  Indians  of  Shabbona's  tribe  outside  of 
his  relatives  were  made  to  go  also.  This  was  a 
hard  blow  for  Shabbona.  lie  loved  his  grove  and 
the  graves  of  his  dead.  He  loved  his  people 
and  they  loved  him.  When  they  went  he  went 
with  them  to  see  that  they  were  well  located. 

From  1835  until  184!)  Shabbona  did  not  make 
the  grove  his  permanent  home.  He  went  to  the 
west  several  times  to  visit  his  friends  and  in  a 
few  instances  made  extended  visits,  but  he  al- 
ways returned  to  Illinois  and  to  his  reservation. 
The  people  were  for  the  most  part  glad  to  have 
him  return  and  visit  among  them.  His  genial  dis- 
position and  the  memory  of  what  he  had  dor.e 
for  them  made  the  people  reserve  a  warm  affec- 
tion for  Shabbona. 

About  1845  Shabbona  sold  part  of  his  land  to 
the  Gates  brothers.  He  was  not  aware  of  the 
fact  that  the  right  to  dispose  of  his  reservation 
had  been  taken  from  him.  The  Gates  brothers 
soon  sold  the  land  that  they  had  acquired  to 
settlers  who  bought  small  patches  principally  for 
the  wood.  Many  of  these  settlers  lived  on  the 
prairie  and  the  wood  was  of  much  value  to  them. 
It  is  said  that  during  Shabbona's  absence  from 
the  grove  the  surrounding  settlers  would  cut  the 


18 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALI!    COUNTY. 


best  timber  that  he  had  and  haul  it  to  their  homes. 
In  1849  while  Shabbona  was  away  the 
commissioners  of  the  general  office  decided 
Shabbona  had  forfeited  his  right  t< 
his  land  by  leaving  it  and  that  it  should  be  sold. 
The  men  who  purchased  the  land  from  the  Gates 
brothers  were  now  in  trouble.  All  of  Shah- 
bona's  reservation  was  to  be  sold  for  one  dollar 
and  twenty-five  cents  an  acre.  It  had  been  im- 
proved and  was  in  some  cases  worth  many  times 
this   amount.      The   people   of    Shabbona    Grove 

ted  two  of  their  citizens,  William  Marks  and 
Eeuben  Allen,  to  bid  in  the  land.  The  others 
went  along  to  see  that  these  men  had  a  chance 
to  monopolize  the  bidding.     Tli  one  hun- 

dred and  fifty  determined  men  in  the  party  ready 
to  use  force  to  carry  their  point  if  necess 
There  were  a  few  others  there  ready  to  bid  in 
the  land,  but  they  had  no  chance  to  do  so  and 
the  men  from  Shabbona  Grove  bought  the  land 
for  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  an  acre. 

Now  comes  the  sad  part  of  our  story.  Shab- 
bona had  been  in  the  west  on  an  extended  visit. 
He  returned.  ■  g  to  receive  the  remainder 

of  the  payments  due  from  the  Gates  brothers  and 
in  receive  the  rent  due  him  from  his  own  land 
that  had  been  rented.  This  happened  in  i 
It  was  night  when  he  came  to  his  grove,  tired 
from  his  long  journey.  With  him  were  his  peo- 
ple  numbering  something  less  than  twenty-five. 
They  camped  where  they  had  been  wont  to  camp. 
lor  their  tents,  and  a  few 
faggots  for  a  fire.  Imagine  their  surprise  in  the 
morning  when  the  man,  or  better,  the  brute,  who 
owned  the  land  ordered  him  with  curses  to  leave. 
The  man  was  brutal  in  his  treatment  of  Shabbona 
and  his  people.  One  writer  in  speaking  of  his 
treatment  says:     "Here  he  had   lived    for  many 

3,  and  here  were  buried  his  beautiful  twin 
3,  whose  graves  had  been  torn  by  the  ruthless 
plowshare  of  his  betrayers.  Painting  his  face 
black,  he  fell  prone  o"er  the  little  graves,  calling 
upon  the  great  spirit  for  strength  and  patience  to 
endure  his  great  affliction;  living  for  a  season  on 
bitterness  fed,  he  ate  not,  slept  not.  but  constantly 
beat  his  breast,  weeping  and  wailing  until  he  grew 
wan  and  weary,  then  his  powerful  intellect  wav- 
ered, tottered  and  fell,  and  he  wandered  forth 
without  object  or  aim  and  was  found  lyinsr  upon 
the  ground  away  up  on  Bock  creek,  in  Kendall 


county,  in  a  distracted  and  starving  condition  and 
was  brought  back  to  life  and  reason  by  some  good 
Samaritan." 

This  leave-  Shabbona  without  a  home.  11 
said  that  he  never  again  went  back  to  his  grove. 
It  is  said  that  once  a  year  the  squaws  used  to 
return  and  silently  find  their  way  to  the  place 
where  their  dead  were  buried  and  there  a  few  days 
were  spent  in  mourning,  as  n  were,  for  their  de- 
parted. They  had  very  little  to  do  with  the  peo- 
ple who  lived  at  the  grove  except  to  ask  for  a 
little  water  or  food.  When  their  season  of  mourn- 
ing had  passed  they  took  their  departure  as  silent- 
ly as  they  had  come  and  went  back  to  their  peo- 
ple. For  seven  years  following  his  return  to  Illi- 
nois he  spent  his  time  visiting  those  of  hi-  tribe 
who  had  moved  to  the  west  and  his  friends  in 
Illinois.  It  was  during  this  time  that  the  figure 
-  Shabbona  riding  his  pony  became  a  familiar 
sight  in  northern  Illiu  i  tally  in  and  about 

Chicago  and  to  the  south  as  far  as  and  even  be- 
yond the  Illinois  river.  lie  was  a  good  rider  and 
usually  rode  in  his  old  age,  for  we  must  remem- 
bbona  was  seventy-five  years  of  age 
when  he  was  driven  from  his  home  in  the  grove. 
He  did  not  care  much  for  the  roads  of  the  whites, 
but  would  take  the  trails  that  led  across  fields  and 
through  the  timbi  these  were  shorter.     The 

settlers  looked  for  him  every  spring  and  in  the 
fall.  If  he  did  not  pass  they  would  feel  that 
something  had  been  missed. 

Sometimes  Shabbona  traveled  alone  and  again 
he  traveled  with  a  part  or  all  of  his  family.  His 
squaw  always  rode  in  a  democrat  wagon,  sitting 
in  the  bottom  of  the  box.  filling  it  from  side  to 
side,  for  we  must  remember  that  she  weighed  in 
the  neighborhood  of  four  hundred  pounds.  She 
was  so  fat  that  it  was  with  difficulty  that  she 
could  get  up  alone  if  she  lay  flat  on  her  back. 
She  would  get  into  the  wagon  by  mounting  -i 
chair  and  rolling  over  into  the  box.  Her  children 
.  randchildren  usually  went  along  and  drove 
the  ponies.  Others  followed  on  foot  or  rode  their 
ponies.  If  Shabbona  happened  to  reach  the  home 
of  a  white  friend  late  at  night  he  was  always  very 
careful  lest  he  might  disturb  them.  In  the  morn- 
ing they  would  discover  his  presence  by  seeing  his 
ponies  grazing  about  or  by  finding  him  rolled  up 
in  his  blanket  on  the  porch  or  in  some  other  well 
protected  place.    Late  in  the  fall  of  the  year  when 


PAST    AND    PKESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


19 


tlic  weather  was  cold  Shabbona  rolled  up  in  his 
blanket  and  seemed  unmindful  of  the  weather  as 
lie  slept. 

Sometimes  he  would  stop  for  several  days  a1  a 
place,  visiting  his  white  friends.  His  nephews  am, 
boys  on  these  occasions  played  games  with  the 
children  of  the  white  people  and  all  seemed  to 
forget  their  race  differences  for  the  time.  There 
was  a  healthy  rivalry  in  their  sports  which  made 
their  coming,  from  time  to  time,  an  event  in  the 
minds  of  the  younger  people.  These  Indian  chil- 
dren were  well  behaved  as  they  had  received  tlv 
best  of  home  (raining  in  manners  from  the  hands 
of  Shabbona.  Some  of  the  frills  of  modern  civili- 
zation had  been  omitted  in  this  training  but  those 
principles  which  tend  toward  the  development,  of 
strength  of  character  had  received  attention. 

Shabbona  knew  his  place  and  was  always  care- 
ful to  never  do  anything  to  impose  upon  the  man-, 
ners  and  customs  of  the  whites.  When  he  came 
to  a  farmhouse  he  was  careful  to  use  his  own  cup 
in  drinking  instead  of  using  the  one  that  he  found 
at  the  well.  As  has  been  stated  it  was  with  diffi- 
culty that  he  could  be  induced  to  slay  over  nig] 
in  a  house  and  it  was  an  equally  diffieuH  matter  to 
gef  him  to  sit  down  to  eat  at  the  fable  with  the 
whites.  Occasionally  this  happened  with  his  more 
intimate  friends.  His  squaw,  we  are  told,  had  ro 
wait  until  she  had  been  waited  upon  by  Shabbona. 
and  orders  had  been  given  her  by  her  lord  to  begin 
the  process  of  eating.  The  Indians  were  very  foni 
of  the  cooking  of  the  whites.  It.  was  not  an  un- 
common thing  for  Coconoko  to  gather  up  all  that 
was  left  on  the  table  in  her  apron  and  store  it  away 
to  lie  eaten  on  their  journey  later.  The  bread  wa  = 
very  appetizing  to  them.  The  Indians  liked  the 
way  the  wdiites  cooked  meats.  Frequently  the* 
would  take  a  deer  that  had  been  killed  to  tin 
whites  to  be  cooked.  The  whites  were  glad  to  do 
this  to  please  them  and  to  receive  a  portion  of 
the.  vension,  or  whatever  it  might  be.   for  their 

trouble.     The  Indians  were  especially  f 1  of  the 

gravy  that  went  with  the  meat  as  if  was  returned 
to  them. 

As  Shabbona  traveled  about,  among  the  whites 
he  took  a  great  interest  in  what  they  were  do- 
ing. He  liked  to  watch  them  to  see  how  they  did 
things  and  in  this  way  he  learend  to  do  many 
things  as  the  whites  did  them.  At  his  home  in 
the    drove    he    had    fences    around    part    of    hi? 


ground  that  was  cultivated  to  keep  his  ponies 
from  destroying  his  crops.  He  had  learned  to 
cultivate  corn  in  very  much  the  same  way  that 
the  whites  did  at  that  time.  He  was  always  busy 
tinkering  around  at  something.  He  was  not  a 
lazy  Indian.  What  he  did  might  have  amounted 
to  more  than  it  did,  but  for  an  Indian  it  did 
very  well.  The  whites  respected  his  industry. 
They  liked  to  have  him  question  them  as  to  their 
ways  of  doing  things  and  were  glad,  for  the  most 
part,  to  help  him  to  acquire  their  ways. 

Shabbona  was  quite  a  hand  at  doctoring.  The 
whites  often  called  upon  him  to  help  them  with 
their  sick'.  Snake  lulo  ami  wounds  that  would  not 
heal  he  knew  how  to  cure.  He  went  to  the  woods 
and  on  the  prairie  and  there  gathered  his  medi- 
cines. His  own  good  health  and  the  good  health 
of  his  family  was  pretty  good  proof  of  Ills  ability 
along  this  line. 

People  may  wonder  how  Shabbona  and  his  peo- 
ple managed  to  live  after  they  were  driven  from 
i  heir  Grove.  He  was  a  good  hunter  and  gained 
much  in  this  way.  In  the  fall  of  the  year  he  went 
to  Chicago  and  his  friends  found  out  what  he 
lacked  in  the  way  of  clothing  and  food  for  the 
winter  and  among  themselves  supplied  his  want?. 
The  people  who  knew  him  in  many  parts  of  Illi- 
nois gave  1 1 1 in  things  as  he  visited  them,  but  in 
-pile  of  all  this  Shabbona  and  his  people  were 
badly  neglected  by  the  whites,  considering  what 
he  had  done  for  them.  After  Shabbona's  death 
those  who  remained  for  a  number  of  years  lived 
as  paupers  and  beggars  and  at  times  their  condi- 
tions were  pitiable. 

We  are  told  that  Shabbona  was  quite  anxious 
that  one  of  his  daughters  should  marry  a  white 
man  and  it  is  said  that  lie  offered  to  give  a  goodly 
sum  of  money  to  any  good  respectable  white  man 
who  would  marry  one  of  them.  No  one  seemed  to 
be  inclined  to  take  up  his  offer  as  the  daughter 
he  had  was  built  on  the  same  plan  that  her  mothei 
was. 

Shabbona  was  quite  a  public  character  and  0:1 
all  great  occasions  he  was  made  much  of.  He  was 
always  the  center  of  attraction  at  the  fairs.  He 
and  his  family  were  sure  to  attend.  He  appre- 
ciated very  much  the  honor  that  was  conferred 
upon  him  mi  such  occasions.  On  the  Fourth  of 
July,  lSo?,  there  was  a  great  celebration  at  Ot- 
tawa and  Shabbona,  his  squaw,  grandchildren  and 


20 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


children  were  there.  They  led  the  procession.  In 
the  evening  there  was  given  a  great  ball  which 
Shabbona  and  his  people  attended.  At  this  ball 
the  belles  of  the  town  came  out  in  their  finest. 
There  was  a  desire  to  know  who  of  them  excelled 
in  beauty  and  grace.  Shabbona  was  made  judge 
and  in  the  most  critical  manner  examined  each 
lady  in  the  contest  who  passed  before  him  for 
inspection.  He  was  called  upon  to  give  his  de- 
cision. Here  he  showed  his  sense  of  humor,  his 
insight  into  human  nature  and  his  appreciation 
of  his  wife.  Turning  to  Coconoko,  his  squaw,  he 
brought  his  hand  down  upon  her  well-rounded 
shoulder  and  said.  "Much,  heap,  big,  prettiest 
squaw." 

During  the  political  campaign  of  185S  Shab- 
bona was  present  on  the  platform  with  Lincoln, 
Douglas  and  Lovejoy  at  the  famous  debate  be- 
tween Lincoln  and  Douglas  at  Ottawa.  At  this 
time  he  was  eighty-three  years  of  age. 

Shabbona  traveled  much.  On  one  occasion  he 
went  to  Washington  and  while  there  met  Colonel 
Johnson  and  the  two  talked  over  the  battle  of  th- 
Thames  and  the  death  of  Tecumseh.  When  they 
parted  Johnson  gave  Shabbona  a  gold  ring  that 
he  wore  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

On  one  occasion  Shabbona.  with  a  white  man 
whose  complexion  was  almost  as  dark  as  that  of 
an  Indian,  was  introduced  to  General  Scott.  Gen- 
eral Sent!  took  the  white  man  to  be  Shabbona  and 
in  his  pompous  manner  began  to  tell  him  how 
much  he  appreciated  what  he  had  done  for 
whites  in  Illinois  during  the  Black  Hawk  war. 
Shabbona  stood  it  as  long  as  he  could  and  then 
pointing  to  himself  said  to  General  Scott.  "M 
Shabbona." 

The  Indian  in  Shabbona  displayed  itself  on  one 
occasion  at  Morris.  Illinois.  At  this  point  theio 
was  a  toll  bridge  across  the  river.  One  of  the 
citizens  of  Morris  had  taken  it  upon  himself  to 
pay  toll  for  Shabbona  and  his  people  whenever 
thev  wanted  to  cross  the  bridge.  The  toll  keeper 
kept  account  of  the  times  Shabbona  crossed  and 
interfered  with  his  crossing  in  no  way.  On  one 
occasion  there  was  a  new  toll  keeper  who  did  not 
know  of  this  arrangement.  Shabbona  appeared 
with  his  tribe  and  wanted  to  go  over.  The  toil 
keeper  would  not  let  him  cross  without  paying. 
Shabbona  turned  about  and  went  to  the  man  who 
was  looking  after  his  toll,  secured  a  note  from 


him,  returned  and  was  allowed  to  pass.  He  crossed 
to  the  end  of  the  bridge,  turned  about,  gave  a 
whoop,  and  crossed  and  recrossed  the  bridge  sev- 
eral times  to  show  the  toll  keeper  what  he  could  do. 

After  Shabbona  was  driven  from  his  Grove  he 
had  no  home  until  1857,  when  people  who  were 
interested  in  him  raised  a  sum  of  money  and  pur- 
chased a  home  for  him  of  twenty  acres  in  section 
20,  town  33,  range  6,  in  the  town  of  Norman, 
Grundy  county,  Illinois.  Here  they  built  a  house 
for  him  and  tried  to  provide  for  him.  He  lived 
here  until  his  death,  which  occurred  July  27,  1859. 
lie  lived  to  be  eighty-four  years  of  age.  He  was 
buried  in  a  lot  in  Evergreen  cemetery  near  Morris, 
Illinois.  This  lot  was  donated  by  the  cemetery 
association.  His  wife  lies  buried  in  the  same 
lot.  She  died  November  30, 1864.  Her  death  was 
pathetic.  While  crossing  Mazon  creek  in  her 
democrat  wagon  with  a  little  grandchild  in  her 
arms  the  wagon  was  upset  and  she  was  drowned, 
although  the  water  was  but  a  few  inches  deep. 
The  child  was  found  beneath  her.  It  was  also  dead. 
There  are  also  buried  in  the  lot  his  favorite  daugh- 
ter Mary,  his  little  granddaughters.  Mary  Okonio 
and  Met-weteh.  and  his  nieces,  Chicksaw  and  Soco. 
All  of  Shabbona's  people  who  remained  moved  out 
west  after  the  death  of  Coconoko. 

On  Friday.  October  23,  1903,  about  fifty  people 
gathered  in  Evergreen  cemetery  to  witness  the 
dedication  of  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  Shab- 
bona. Tbif  sists  of  a  huge  boulder  bearing  the 
simple  inscription,  -Shabbona,  1775-1859" — n 
fitting  mark  for  the  resting  place  of  one  of  Illinois* 
noble  men.  Shabbona  wanted  nothing  to  mark 
rave  for  he  said  that  the  life  that  he  lived 
should  be  his  only  monument.  It  was  largely 
through  the  instrumentality  of  P.  A.  Armstrong, 
of  Morris.  Illinois,  and  a  body  of  workers  that  this 
monument  was  erected. 


SOME   THINGS    1    REMEMBEB   OF   CHIEF 
SHABBONA. 

WRITTEN    BY    LAURA    ALLEN*    BOWERS. 

Sept.  1.  1902. 
The  first  thing  I  knew  about  Shabbona  my  fa- 
ther went  to  his  wigwam  to  buy  enough  trees  cf 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OP  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


21 


him  to  build  a  log  house.  He  told  him  who  he 
was,  then  Shabbona  introduced  himself  and  family 
thus: 

"THIS  ME  SHABBONA"  (laying  his  front 
finger  on  his  breast) . 

"THIS  ME  POKENOQUAY"  '  (meaning  hia 
squaw),  and  then  he  pointed  to  Siboquay  as  his 
pappoose  and  pointing  to  her  three  children, 
"THESE  ARE  MY  PAPPOOSE'S  PAP- 
POOSES."  The  introduction  over  my  father 
made  known  his  business,  but  the  old  chief  thought 
it  beneath  his  dignity  to  sell  trees  to  a  Shemoka- 
man,  and  would  not  let  him  have  a  single  tree. 
Consequently,  he  bought  the  trees  of  Peter  Miller, 
and  we  had  a  shanty  to  cover  our  heads  made 
from  them  in  which  we  lived  five  years. 

Shabbona  was  generous  with  the  white  people 
and  he  would  bring  a  quarter  of  a  vension  to  his 
neighbors  frequently,  and  once  in  a  great  while 
a  wild  goose  and  a  duck.  Often  he  would  go  from 
house  to  house  and  eat  with  any  one  that  would 
ask  him.  One  Saturday  he  came  to  our  house 
and  father  asked  him  to  sit  up  to  the  table  and 
have  some  breakfast.  He  looked  around  the  table 
and  made  the  remark,  "ME  NO  SEE  UM  ME  NO 
EAT  UM."  We  had  eaten  every  bit  of  bread 
that  there  was  in  the  house  for  our  breakfast  and 
were  going  to  bake  that  morning,  but  that  did  nor 
help  us  out  for  the  meal.  He  had  asked  Shab- 
bona to  eat,  so  I  frowningly  said  in  a  whisper,  "We 
have  not  a  particle  of  bread  in  the  house."  The  keen 
eyed  old  fellow  saw  the  maneuvering  and  said, 
"LAZY  SQUAW."  He  thought  I  did  not  want 
the  trouble  of  getting  his  breakfast,  but  father 
said  "Bake  him  some  pancakes."  So  I  did  and  ir 
proved  to  be  the  very  thing  he  liked  best,  and  I 
retained  my  good  name  in  his  opinion,  which  I 
have  valued  highly — being  only  about  sixteen  years 
old. 

The  Indians  in  those  days  would  not  work. 
They  would  hunt  and  the  squaws  did  all  of  the 
drudgery,  such  as  cutting  the  wood  and  hauling 
it  by  hand,  and  they  had  to  keep  the  fires  in  the 
wigwam  and  they  cooked  the  succotash  to  eat,  and 
the  corn  and  beans  were  some  of  their  own  plant- 
ing and  harvesting  the  summer  before.  The  In- 
dians furnished  the  meat  for  them. 

They  generally  had  a  tame  skunk  running 
around  for  a  pet,  and  they  would  play  with  them 
as  we  play  with  kittens.     The  government  gave 


each  of  Shabbona's  children  a  pony  and  they 
never  went  on  foot  anywhere.  They  never  pro- 
vided anything  for  the  ponies  to  eat  during  the 
winter,  so  the  ponies  had  to  steal  what  they  ate. 
As  none  of  us  had  barns  we  had  to  stack  the  hay 
outdoors.  The  ponies  used  to  eat  nights.  The 
boys  of  the  neighborhood  would  catch  them  and 
ride  them  down  as  far  as  Somonauk  creek,  ten 
miles  away.  They  would  drive  all  they  did  not 
ride  and  leave  them  in  the  woods  and  would  keen 
about  three  ponies  and  then  get  on  their  backs 
and  come  home.  In  about  three  days  old  Shab- 
bona would  come  along  and  ask,  "YOU  NO  SEE 
UM  PONIES  ?"    Then  we  would  innocently  ask, 

"How  long  they  been  gone,  Shabbona?"  and  ht 
would  say  "MAYBE  SNEE  DAYS.  ITE  KNOW 
KNOW";  but  they  always  managed  to  find  their 
way  back  in  a  few  days  and  then  there  would  be 
more  fun  for  the  boys. 

Shabbona  understood  the  geography  of  the 
United  States  and  Canada  to  perfection.  Just  give 
him  a  piece  of  chalk  and  start  him  on  some  stream 
or  lake,  say  Lake  Superior,  and  he  would  mark 
every  bit  of  water  and  tell  you  what  it  was  named 
and  what  the  Indians  called  it.  In  fact,  he  would 
mark  over  a  whole  floor  and  tell  us  just  where  the 
different  bodies  of  water  were  located.  One  time 
he  told  us  he  was  Tecumseh's  aid  and  saw  John- 
son kill  him  with  a  little  gun  that  went  "PING." 
My  brother,  Harvey  Allen,  was  there  when  he  was 
telling  it  and  he  said,  "Why  didn't  you  rush  in 
between  them  and  kill  Johnson?"  "OH,"  said 
Shabbona,  "TWO  BIG  MEN,  LET  UM  EIGHT." 
Then  he  shook  his  sides  with  silent  laughter  as 
though  he  always  liked  the  white  man  best.  He 
had  the  faculty  of  going  through  gestures  in  all 
his  talk  which  made  it  doubly  interesting  to  his 
hearers. 

The  Indians  made  maple  sugar  in  the  spring 
of  the  year,  and  old  Pokenoquay  superintended  the 
making  of  it.  She  would  sit  down  flat  on  the 
ground  near  the  boiling  kettle  and  when  the 
boiled  syrup  was  near  sugar  it  had  a  tendency  to 
run  over  into  the  fire,  and  to  prevent  such  a  catas- 
trophe the  old  squaw  chewed  fat  pork  and  would 
spit  the  grease  into  the  boiling  liquid,  and  it  would 
go  down  and  keep  so  until  old  Pokenoquay  had 
time  to  get  another  mouthful  to  deposit,  and  she 
would  keep  it  up  until  the  sugar  was  done. 


32 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KAl.K    COUNTY. 


For  a  few  years  the  w  hite  man  came  I 
the  east,  so  man)  in  aumber  and  all  wanted  a  few 
ai  res  of  timber  to  fence  their  farms  and  get  woo  i 
for  their  fires  that  Mr.  Warham  Gates,  of  Paw 
Paw,  bought  the  grove  of  Shabbona  and  he  pi  ■ 
suaded  Uncle  Sam  to  sell  it  at  one  dollar  and  a 
quarter  an  acre.    Then  poor  old  Shabbona  felt  as 

:\i   this  grove  was  no  longer  his.     Ee  << 
would   live  in  the  log  house  thai    Mr.  Gates  had 
built    for  him.     Be  wanted   to  go  away   (his  old 
place  is  uow   owned  by  William    Eusk),  and   m; 
brother  took  them  to  Chicago  in  a  double  wagon 
and   when  one  half  way  there  the)    stopped   and 
camped  out  all  night.     They  had  brought  a  hop 
with  them  and  proceeded  to  kill  and  dress  it   In- 
dian  fashion.     They   buill   a  big  fire  made 
rails   which   the)    took    Erom   the   farmers 
and  killed  the  hog  and   four  of  the   [m 

and  tossed  H  through  and  throug] 
the  blaze  until  every  bristle  was  singed  off.  Th  . 
then  took  oul   the  intestines  and  old  Pokenoqua) 

them  and  run  thi  m  humb  and 

fn.ni   finger  and  they  -  i     n  ithou 

a  particle  of  Main  having  been  on  them  until 
1 1 1 1 ■  \  were  in  the  kettle  over  the  fire  and  thai  was 
all   thej   had   for  their  supper.     Thi  d  my 

brothi  ew,  but  he  declined  il  for  he 

had  brought  his  own  lunch  with  him.     Then 

told  him  to  get  son i   thi    meat      i  hog, 

which  he  did,  and  after  taking  off  the  skin  and 
broiling  it  on  the  end  of  a  sharpened  stick  he  took 
some  of  the  butter  off  his  bis  uits  and  spread  it 
on  the  meat.     Be  called  it  is.     You  know 

the  Indians  never  eat  salt  on  an)  occasion.  When 
Shabbona  and  his  family  ram.-  back  to  their  | 
my  father  had  passed  away.  I  had  married  and 
I  had  never  seen  any  of  the  Indians  since  their 
return.  I  met  the  old  chief  just  turning  in  at  ou. 
bai '-.  gate.    Hi  and  sat  there  like 

si  statue.  1  hurried  up  to  him  and  held  out  mj 
hand  and  said.  "How  do  you  do  Shabbona";  and 
he  said,  "SHOW-IN"  (which  meant  no)  "ME 
NO  SB  \l'l'n\A."  "Yes,  you  are  Shabbona,"  1 
said.  "I  know  you.*'  Tie  still  kept,  his  face 
straight  and  kept  saying  "SHOW-IN"  for  five 
minutes  and  then  he  gave  in  and  said   I  was  right. 

ed  li  i  in  to  comi  into  the  house  where  my 
mother  was.  Ee  shook  hands  with  her  and  said. 
"ME  NO  SET-  UM  BIG  INJUN."  We  told  him 
In     was    dead,   hut    he   would    not   believe   it    and 


wanted  to  go  upstairs  to  see  if  we  were  fooling 
him,  so  we  gratified  him  and  at  last  convinced  him 
of  the  truth,  tie  seemed  to  feel  bad  and  kept 
saying,  "DEAD,  DEAD."  We  had  a  good  visit 
with  him,  but  he  wanted  to  bee  my  Indian  ami  I 
told  him  he  had  gone  east.  Then  he  laughed  and 
said,  "ITE  OTOW  KNOW  MAYBE,  [TE 
KNOW.  ME  NO  SEE  I  M." 

You  all  know   Shabbona  was  gone  from  hen 
fi  w  years  and  then  came  hack  thinking  it   would 

be  hi again,  but  he  didn't  like  it  lor  it  was  so 

changed.  Ee  felt  as  though  the  white  man  didn't 
want  him  here  an)  more,  and  he  went  to  Morri-j, 
Grund)  county,  and  died.  1  do  not  know  any  of 
the  date-  of  In-  going  awa)  or  the  death  of  him 
-  squaw,  Pokenoquay. 


THE  STONE  AGE. 


EV5     \\  .     II.    FAY. 


Undoubtedl)  for  thousands  of  years  the  red  man 
hunted    and    fished    in    the  country    that    is    now 

know  n  as  1  >e  Wall,  count) .     I  Inder  > ther  I i 

would  it  lie  possibl  in  account  for  the  number  of 
chipped  implements  left  in  the  Held-  the)  oc- 
cupied.     There    i-    i vidence    that    the)    built 

homes  and  it  is  probable  thai  fo]  oni  generation 
after  another  they  lived  in  wigwams  about  the 
same  as  they  occupied  when  our  forefathers  ap- 
peared on  the  scene  \~  Ear  back  a>  it  is  known 
tli  ■   men   hunted   and    fished   and    protei  ted    thi  ir 

camp   I ting  grounds    from    the  encroachments 

ronger  I  ribes.    '  lenerat  ions  of  this  life  seemed 
to  make  them   naturally  what    they  were,  expert 
marksmen,  rigilant    in  chase  and   skilled  defend- 
ers of  then-  wigwams.     It   was  natural   that    the 
drudgery  of  the  camp  was  left  to  the  squaws,  who 
tilled  the  crops,  carri  d  the  water,  and  did  all  the 
manual   labor  of  the  camp.     The  generations  of 
occupancy  will   never  be  known.     Archaeologists 
tell  of  a  battlefield  that  was  recently  discovered  in 
where   some   20,000   persons  were 
killed  in  a  hand  to  band  conflict.    The  skulls  were 
broken  in  with  stone  axes  and  chipped  arrows  and 
ra  pierced  the  hones.     Great  deposits  of  earth 
covered    the  scene  and   from   top   of  which   great 
had   grown.     Ti   seeme  to  dem<  that 

this  country  had  been  peopled  from  ten  to  twenty 
thousand  years. 


PAST   AND    PEESENT    OP    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


23 


The  number  of  chipped  implements  found 
yearly  in  De  Kalb  county  adds  evidence  to  this 
contention.  For  seventy-five  years  thousands  and 
thousands  of  leadened  balls  have  been  scattered 
over  the  fields  of  De  Kalb  county,  yet  it  is  only 
a  few  times  in  a  life  time  that  a  person  finds  one. 
On  a  southern  battlefield  where  a  million  shots 
were  exchanged  it  is  possible  to  pick  up  a  hand 
full  of  bullets,  but  scarcely  easier  than  to  find  the 
same  number  of  relics  of  the  stone  age  in  De 
Kalb  county. 

The  implements  found  here  consist,  in  the  main 
of  chipped  arrow  and  spear  points,  knives,  scrap- 
ers, drills,  picked  stone  axes,  cells,  hoe  points, 
scrapers,  band  ground,  carved  pipes,  gorgets,  cere- 
monial stones,  sinkers,  beads,  and  a  few  speci- 
mens of  broken  crockery. 

While  the  greatest  number  are  found  along 
streams  yet  frequently  far  out  in  the  prairie  many 
specimens  are  found.  Probably  the  most  highly 
prized  specimen  found   in  De  Kail)  county  is  an 


ARROW  IN  DEER  RIB,  FOUND  AT  SANDWICH. 

arrow  point  piercing  a  deer  rib.  found  by  Levi 
Erwin  near  Sandwich.  Mention  was  made  of  this 
specimen  in  the  Smithsonian  reports  of  1897.  In 
1900  Harry  Congdon  unearthed  a  bone  five  inches 
long,  in  which  was  embedded  a  chert  arrow.  It 
was  found  along  the  banks  of  the  Kishwaukee, 
near  Normal  Park,  De  Kalb.  Prof.  Dorsey  of  the 
Field  Columbian  Museum  pronounced  the  bone  the 
tibia  of  a  buffalo.  The  same  year  a  finely  chipped 
hook  was  found  near  Kapas'  fishing  grounds,  near 
Coltonville.  These  valued  specimens  are  a  part  of 
the  exhibit  at  the  De  Kalb  Normal  Museum.  This 
collection  consists  of  2,000  chipped  implements 
and  as  many  more  parts  of  implements  and'  chips. 
The  largest  collection  in  the  county  is  owned  by 
Mark  W.  Cole  of  Kingston,  and  contains  between 
ft, 000  and  10,000  pieces,  representing  about  every 
state  or  tribe  in  the  county. 

Other  collections  of  more  or  less  note  have  been 
collected  by : 


1  la  ( ionverse,  Sandwich. 
Dr.  J.  M.  Postle,  De  Kalb. 

Heckman,  Kingston. 

R.  G.  Davy,  De  Kalb. 
Win.  Allen,  Sycamore. 
A.  Cooper,  De  Kalb. 
Dr.   G.  D.  Carter,  De   Kail,. 
Amos  Johnson,  Malta. 
A.  E.  Jacobs,  Malta. 

How,  when  and  by  whom  were  the  arrows  made 
will  ever  be  veiled  in  mystery,  yet  much  is  known 


ARROW  IN  BUFFALO  BONE,  FOUND  AT  LE  KALB. 

of  the  industry.  Generations  ago  perhaps  thou- 
sands of  years,  hunters  in  their  efforts  to  secure 
a  thin,  hard,  sharp  point  for  the  arrows,  discov- 
ered that  stone  that  breaks  with  chonchoidal  frac- 
ture (as  glass  chips)  was  best  suited  for  the  pur- 
pose. A  fracture  out  of  the  flat  side  of  a  piece  of 
glass  will  make  a  chip  about  as  broad  as  it  is 
deep.  They  then  seemed  to  learn  that  a  fracture 
on  a  corner  would  make  a  long  thin  piece.  The 
ridge  along  the  back  of  the  piece  seems  to  keep 
it  from  breaking  out,  giving  a  piece  longer  than 
it  is  wide. 

This  is  called  a  flake  and  is  the  raw  material 
from  which  arrows  are  made.  It  usually  has  two 
or  more  fractures  on  one  side  and  one  on  the 
other.  They  are  seldom  found  and  while  thou- 
sands of  arrow  points  are  picked  up  there  will  be 
but  a  few  flakes  and  some  of  them  discards. 

The  next  element  of  arrow  manufacture  is  the 
chips.  They  are  of  the  same  form  as  the  flakes, 
but  are  smaller.  Ordinarily  they  are  the  pieces 
broken  from  a  flake  in  making  an  arrow.  A 
typical  chip  is  a  thin  piece  of  stone  with  from 
Ihree  to  six  fractures  on  one  side  and  but  one  on 
I  he  other. 

The  chips  are  the  evidences  that  locate  camps 
and   furnish  much  knowledge  of  Indian  customs. 

Rut  little  of  the  material  used  is  from  native 
stone.     As  there  are  chips  found  about  everywhere 


24 


PAST    AND    ITiESENT    OF    DB    KALB    CO!   ISTTY. 


from  hundreds  of  different  textures  of  stone  and 
comparatively  no  evidence  of  the  production  of 
the  flakes  in  the  prairie  country,  and  while  at 
the  various  chert  quarries  there  is  abundant  evi- 
dence of  flake  making  and  little  evidence  of  ar- 
row making  it  is  reasonable  to  conclude  thai 
pert  flake  makers  frequented  the  quarries  and 
undoubtedly  exchanged  arrow  Hakes  with  the  tribes 
Erom  De  Kalb  county  for  meat,  game,  Blrins  and 
other  products  of  the  prairies. 

K.  is  certain  that  the  chert  spades,  some  of  them 
from  6  to  1  l  inches  long,  came  from  the  quarries 
of  Union  county,  111.,  below  St.  Louis.  Tons  of 
iv 1 1 1 -e  and  discard  material  is  found  al  tins  place, 
mstrating  that  flakes  for  main  larger  as  well 
as  smaller  implements  were  got  out.  Chips  of 
chert  by  the  thousand  ound   all   over   the 

state  identical  to  that  of  the  quarries  ol  lTnion 
i  ounty. 

In  the  same  waj  i  nips  of  colored   Bin! 
chalcedony,    obsidian,    agate,    smokj     topaz    and 
quartzite,  less  frequently  found  her'-,  come  from 
,ii    the   Ro  a!  ither  dis- 

t.iin  places.  Nbl  oni  in  one  hundred  of  the  ar- 
rows found  here  appear  to  be  made  of  native 
stone.    At  about  anj  i  or  a  hun- 

md  ii"  two  -'"in  i"  come 
from  tli.  Bame  rock,  demonstrating  thai  consid- 
erable time  has  elapsed  Bince  the  chips  were  made, 
or  thai  they  were  very  dilif 

HuW        rO      FIND      THEM. 

Fii>t    learn   to  know    a  chip  when   you    see   it. 
Where  you  find  tl  numbers  it  in- 

thi       cation   of  a  i  si  udy   thi 

roundings  and  judge  where  would  be  the  natural 
hunting  grounds  or  burial    places.     Observe  the 

v  where  v 
has  washed  the  soil  away,  leaving  the  stones  on 
the   surface.     Ton  abrupl    a  washing  is  not   the 
bi   i  condition.    Visit  after  rains  imps  when 

een  plowed. 

By  this  method  of  observation  Indian  eai 
have  been  located  in  TV  Kalb  township  as  fol- 
lows: At  Ooltonville.  the  high  clay  bank  on  Ell- 
wood  farm.  J.  S.  Cusson'^  garden,  the  street  along 
the  Kishwaukee  west  of  the  shoe  factory,  the  I 
ard  vineyard,  the  Foster  farm  and  the  Normal 
rampus.     Tt  is  rarely  that  one  could  make  a  tour 


of  these  places  when  the  conditions  were  right 
without  picking  up  from  ten  to  fifty  relics  of  the 
stone  age.  The  same  conditions  appear  in  the 
other  townships,  especially  Sycamore  and  King- 
ston. 

Some  implements  that  are  found  in  abundance 

elsewhere  are  seldom  found  in  De  Kalb  county. 

Stone  axes,  pipes  and  brads  are  very  scarce,  pottery 

loin  found  and  copper  points  are  almost  un- 

known.      Although    located    in   the    natural   corn 

bell  then    seems  to  be  an  absence  of  mortars  and 

grinding  molds.    Ovens  are  scarce.    Very  lit- 

idence  of  molds  has  been  reported. 

01    D    i'i     K  mi;    OOUH  CI    lM'l  INS. 

The  most  noted  Indian  of  this  locality  of  later 
days  was  Shabbona,  the  great  friend  of  the  white 
man.  He  had  his  wigwam  at  Shabbona  drove. 
II;-  council  had  i'reat  weight  in  preventing  war- 
tare  between  the  two  races. 

Wau-ban-se,  almost  as  noted  as  Shabbona,  had 
acampal  Paw  Pa\i  grove.  This  celebrated  Indian 
figured  quite  prominently  in  the  In.;  torj  of 

Illinois. 

Nexl    tn   Shabbona    ami    Waubaunse   the    mosl 
is   Indian  who  lias  lived  in   !»'■  Kalb  count] 
in  later  days  3.     Be  was  chief  of  a  band 

of  I'.'ttav.  who  had  a  camp  on  the  high 

bank  of  the  Kiswauk©  in   the  southwest 

quart  if  1 '    Kalb  town-' 

field  where   Kapas  bad  In-   Eorty  tents  was  a 
wards  made  famous  by  tin-  conference  of  Lincoln, 
I       or  and   Davis  at  the  time  of  the  Black  Hawk- 
war  and  was  the  site  of  the  first  court  house  of 
1 1>     K.ii  iiity. 

Kapas9  followers  were  sturdy  types  of  the  race, 
cultivating  fields  of  corn,  maintained  a  maple 
sugar  bush  and  had  quite  a  trade  in  furs.  They 
carried  on  an  extensive  exchange  of  commodities 
with  tin-  trading  posts  of  Chicago  and  in  oonse- 
ce  were  well  clothed,  had  abundance  of  am- 
munition and  seem'  and  happy  people. 

There  was  the  besl  of  feel  een  the  tribes 

nf  Kapas  and  Shabbona  and  they  were  constantly 
associated  together  in  hunting  expeditions.  Shab- 
bona, who  had  a  greal  reputation  for  wisdom  and 
fairnrs-.  was  constantly  called  upon  as  an  arbi- 
trator of  contentions  thai  arose  in  the  Kapas  fol- 
lowers, and  his  decisions  wen-  considered  final. 


SCENE    OF    THE    MEETING    OF    THE     PRESIDENTS 
BLACK  HAWK    WAR. 


AT      THE      TIME      OF 


LIBRARY 


-  ,    _ENOX 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OP  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


it 


Although  an  Indian  of  great  force  of  charac- 
ter and  influence,  Chief  Kapas  had  his  weakness. 
Although  he  had  three  squaws  and  grown-up  chil- 
dren, he   was  sometimes  found  lavishing  his  at- 
tentions upon  the  favorite  squaws  of  his  brave  fol- 
lowers.    One  night  a  young  hunter  after  passing 
the  day  in  chase  returned  to  camp  and  found  his 
chief  occupying  his   wigwam  and   that  his  bride 
was  unfaithful  to  the   marriage  vows.     Without 
waiting  for  an  explanation,  he  drew  his  gun  and 
sent   a    bullet    into    Kapas'    brain.      The    assassin 
made  no  attempt  to  escape  and  on  the  following 
day  presented  himself  to  meet  his  fate.     In  the 
presence  of  the  entire  board  he  was  shot  through 
the  heart  by  the  son   of  the  chief.      Kapas  was 
buried  with  great  pomp  and  ceremony.     His  body 
was  placed  in  a  sitting  position,  and  around  him 
were  placed  his  rifle,  bow  and  flint  tipped  arrows, 
stone  axe,  pipe  and  tobacco,  blankets,  and  other 
articles  of  use  and  decoration.     Around  him  was 
built,  a  stockade  consisting  of  logs  built  after  the 
fashion   of  a  log  house  of  the  primitive   fathers. 
It   was   about   3x5   feet   and  about   5    feet  high 
In  this  burial  place  the  body  remained  after  the 
Indian  tribe  moved  west  of  the  Mississippi  river. 
It  was  on  the  Colton  farm,  north  of  the  Sycamore 
road  and  east  of  the  road  that  leads  north  to  :the_ 
Five  Corners,  and  was  seen  by  many  of  the  citi- 
zens of  De  Kalb  county  of  the  present  time. 

In  1846  the  skeleton  was  removed  by  Dr.  George 
Richards  of  St.  Charles  and  placed  in  the  museum 
of  his  medical  school.  For  many  of  the  facts  in 
regard  to  Kapas  we  are  indebted  to  Matson,  au- 
thor of  life  of  Shabbona. 

There  were  other  Indian  tribes  located  in  the 
groves  in  other  towns  (if  the  county,  but  their 
chiefs  seem  to  have  escaped  the  distinction  of  hav- 
ing their  names  perpetuated. 

NEIGHBORING     INDIAN     INCIDENTS. 

I 

These  incidents  of  Indian  history  happened  just 
outside  of  De  Kalb  county. 

Through  the  research  of  John  F.  Steward  the 
lost  battleground,  where  three  hundred  Fox  In- 
dian warriors,  with  women  and  children,  were  be- 
sieged by  1,300  French  and  Indian  allies,  1730, 
and  killed,  was  located  on  Fox  river  near  Piano. 
Mr.  Steward  made  trips  to  Europe,  examined  the 


maps  mi  record,  and  believes  that  he  has  positively 
located  the  scene  of  this  eventful  affair.  The 
grounds  answer  the  description  as  to  surroundings 
by  streams,  elevation  and  traces  of  a  stockade  and 
earthen  works  are  still  visible.  The  French  rec- 
ords tell  of  the  besieged  party  going  down  to  the 
stream  for  water  under  cover  of  a  row  of  ever- 
green trees,  and  a  few  of  these  trees  still  form  a 
line  from  the  hill  to  the  river.  In  1900  Mr.  Stew- 
ard erected  a  boulder,  upon  which  is  carved  the 
leading  facts  of  the  event. 

Just  south,  Paw  Paw  township,  on  Indian  creek, 
on  March  20,  1832,  the  Indians  killed  fifteen  per- 
sons, and  made  captive  Rachael  and  Sylvia  Hall, 
aged  17  and  15  years,  respectively.  They  were 
taken  to  Wisconsin,  but  were  released  after  several 
days  of  anxiety.  Rachael  afterwards  married 
William  Munson,  and  two  of  her  sons  and  grand- 
children now  reside  at  De  Kalb.  Sylvia  married 
W.  S.  Horn,  and  for  many  years  lived  m  Nebras- 
ka. A  monument  lias  been  erected  in  Freedom 
township  to  mark  the  burial  place  of  the  fifteen 
persons  killed. 

About  the  same  distance  from  the  Kingston 
line  occurred  the  Stillman  valley  battle  with  Black 
Hawk's  warriors,  in  which  eleven  men  were  killed. 
ftye  wounded,  with  a  loss  of  thirty-four  to  the  In- 
dians. In  1892  the  state  erected  a  monument  upon 
this  battlefield. 


THREE     PRESIDENTS     .MEET. 

At  the  time  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  in  which 
Abraham  Lincoln  participated,  there  was  a  notable 
conference  at  Coltonville.  At  the  meeting  there 
was  present  General  Zachariah  Taylor,  afterwards 
president;  Abraham  Lincoln,  afterwards  presi- 
dent, and  Jefferson  Davis,  later  secretary  of  war 
and  president  of  the  confederacy.  According  to 
Ida  Tarbell's  history  Lincoln  at  this  time  made 
two  tri]  s  across  De  Kalb  county. 


AN    HISTORIC  PLACE. 

In  my  wanderings  up  and  down 
I  found  a  spot  of  sacred  ground. 
Where  shrubs  and  trees  do  yet  abound. 


-> 


PAST   AND    PRESENT   OF  DE    EALB    COUNTY. 


It  ii lis  my  soul  with  thoughts  of  yore, 
With  thoughts  of  men  who've  gone  before. 
It  lies  just  west  of  Sycamore. 
T'was  here  in  eighteen  thirty-two, 
A  band  of  warriors  brave  and  true, 
A  council  held  i<>  plan  anew, 
To  save  the  -  ttlers  from  a  fate 
Thai  otherwise  might  overtal  i 

The  ]H"t rs  of  western  ,-iate. 

"I'was  at  the  time  of   I'dack  Hawk'.-  war. 

A  time  of  trouble  and  of  gore 

That  shall  return,  no,  never  more. 

The  leader  of  tin-  warrior  band 

Was  "Rough  and   Ready,"  with  bis  hand 

Mi   made  th(   aa1    ■       ndi  rstand. 

Zachary  Taylor  was  his  nan 

In  Mexico  he  won  a  Eame 

Thai  through  the  ages  .-hall  remain. 

The  Governor  was  also  here, 

His  name  was  Reynolds,  full  of  cheer, 

Por  set!  lers  thai  ar; 

Ami  here  was  Davis,  young  and  -'rung, 

re  he  took  the  cause  of  wrong 
[nstilled  bj   Calhoun  ami  1ns  throng. 
II,  n.  tun.  was  John,  surnamed  Dement, 
And   Lincoln  in  his  blue  jean-  wenl 

•it  here  on  str  -  bent. 

These  wen    tin    leaders  of  the  men 
\\  bo  homes  ami  lift  their  ken 

\\  1th  hopes  of  coming  back  again. 
'Twas  in  flu'  mi. nth  (we  call  it   May), 
I  ..    men  were  called  in  haste  away. 
For  man}  da  had  to  stay. 

plan!  in-  then  had  ii"t  begun, 
They  left  thi  tab    'lie  gun 

go  where  dut]  bad  i  an. 

Stam  -ill  ami  thill. 

Ahra'am   I.  n&  m   p  as  3Worn  in. 
Jeff  1  'at  i-  read  tl  i   oath  to  him. 

They   march'd   through  \* Is,   and   -v. 

and   lie' 
And  oft  went  hungry  from  their  meals. 

When  T  am  worn,  fatigued  and  sore. 
1  think  of  men  who've  gone  before, 
Whose  Lives  w<  Erom  limb  to  core. 

Our  lives  are  greater  far  than  trold, 
Or  idle  health,  or  pleasure  hold. 
They  reach  to  futures  yet  untold. 

G.  W.  .Tacobson. 


It  is  generally  stated  in  the  public  histories  of 
Wisconsin  and  Illinois  that  the  defeat  of  Black 
Hawk  opened  to  settlement  northern  Illinois  and 
the  southern  portion  of  what  is  now  Wisconsin. 
Unqualified,  this  statement  is  misleading;  indi- 
rectly, it  is  true  that  the  war  proved  a  powerful 
agent  in  the  development  of  this  region.  The  In- 
dian.- in  themselves  were  no  obstacle  to  legitimate 
settlement,  frontiers  of  which  were  far  removed 
Erom  Black  Hawk's  village,  and  need  not  to  have 
crowded  it  for  several  years  to  come.  Of  course, 
it  was  necessary  in  time  to  clear  the  path  for  civ- 
ilization. What  this  war  had  accomplished  in  the 
rritorial  development  was  to  call  national 
attention  in  a  marked  manner  to  the  attractions 
ami  resources  of  tins  pari  of  the  great  northwest. 
The  troops  acted  as  explorers  of  this  tract,  con- 
cerning  which  nothing  has  been  known  definitely 
among  the  white  men.  It  is  also  stated  that  the 
Sauk  Indians  had  not  inhabited  the  part  of  Illi- 
nois north  of  the  mouth  of  the  Kishwaukee,  and 
when  the  war  was  fought  and  they  were  followed 

Wisconsin,   it  is  ;  led   that   they  were 

unfamiliar  with  that  country  and  employed  Win- 
nebago  guides.      Immediately   after   the   war  the 
i  :■-  of  the  eastern  and  older  settled  middle 
filled  with   descriptions  more  or  fess 
full  of  the  scenes  and  possibilities  and  prospective 
■  in  the  Rock  River  valley,  of  the  proves 
and  i  on  every  hand  ami  el  the  dense  for- 

.-i-  of    Wiscon-m.     From  the  press  were  issued 

-  and   pamphlets  and  accounts  of  the  newly 
For  the  mosl  part  crude  pub- 
lication- abounding  in  error  and  today  unknown 

!..  the  historian,  bu1  it  is  true  that  they  did 
advertise  the  country  and  set  flowing  thither  the 
tide  of  emigration.  There  necessarily  followed  in 
dm-  time  the  opi  n  -ale  of  the  public  lands 

hitherto  reserved  and  the  properties  of  what  terri- 
tory remained  among  the  Indian  tribes  of  the 
district.  The  Winnebagoes,  hitherto  unfriendly, 
were   humbled    and  the  spirit,  of  miscbiefmaking 

d.  This  will  be  noticed  was  the  last  Indian 
uprising  in  the  northern  states  easl  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi river.  This  incidental  subduing  of  the 
Winnebagoes  and  the  broad  liberal  advertisement 
given  to  the  theater  of  disturbance  were  therefore 
the  two  practical  and  immediate  results  of  the 
Black  Hawk  war.  the  consequences  of  which  was 


PAST  AND  PEESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


29 


at  once  to  give  enormous  impetus  to  the  develop- 
ment of  the  state  of  Illinois  and  the  territory  of 

Wisconsin. 


THE    FIEST    WHITE   MEN    L\    THE 
COUNTY. 

This  part  of  Illinois  now  known  as  De  Kalb 
county  was  unknown  to  civilization  previous  to 
L832,  unless  it  was  an  occasional  hunter  or  trap- 
per. The  home  of  Shabbona  after  the  defeat  of 
the  British  and  Indians  at  the  battle  of  the 
Thames  in  October,  1813,  was  in  the  grove  that 
still  retains  his  name,  and  to  a  few  hunters  and 
trappers  only,  who  sought  his  protection,  this  por- 
tion of  our  country  was  known. 

The  army  under  General  Whiteside  marched 
from  Dixon  after  Stillman's  defeat  on  May  14 
1S32.  to  the  scene  of  battle,  buried  Captain  Ad- 
ams and  his  brave  men,  who  alone  stood  their 
ground  while  the  army  fled  utterly  routed  to 
Dixon.  From  Stillman's  field  the  army,  hearing 
of  the  massacre  at  Big  Indian  creek  in  what  is 
now  La  Salle  county,  marched  to  the  mouth  of 
Sycamore  creek — now  Kishwaukee — followed  the 
course  of  that  stream  to  what  is  now  Coltonville 
on  section  1,  De  Kalb  township,  having  passed 
through  what  is  now  Franklin,  Kingston,  May- 
field,  Sycamore  and  De  Kalb  townships.  Here  a 
council  of  war  was  held  at  which  General  White- 
side presided.  The  slight  elevation  just  east  of  the 
Coltonville  crossing  of  the  Kishwaukee  is  given  as 
the  particular  spot  where  this  famous  council  was 
held.  General  Zachary  Taylor,  then  colonel  of  a 
regiment  of  regular  troops,  had  a  seat  in  the 
council.  On  his  staff  were  Jefferson  Davis  and  Al- 
bert Sidney  Johnston,  the  lientenants.  Here, 
too,  was  Abraham  Lincoln,  then  captain  of  Illi- 
nois volunteers;  General  Bobert  Anderson,  later 
of  Ft.  Sumpter  fame ;  General  Harney ;  Governor 
Carlin,  William  Hamilton,  son  of  Alexander  Ham- 
ilton; and  Governor  Eeynolds. 

Zachary  Taylor  with  his  characteristic  energy, 
courage  and  a  desire  to  strike  the  enemy  until 
victory  or  defeat  resulted  urged  relentless  pursuit 
of  the  Indians,  and  he  was  thoroughly  disgusted 
when  the  deliberations  resulted  in  a  tie  vote  to 
pursue  the  Indians  under  Black  Hawk.  The  army 
marched  to  Shabbona  Grove,  committed  some 
depredations  on  friendly  Indians,  for  which  they 
were  compelled  to  make  restitution,  then  marched 


to  Ottawa  and  were  disbanded.  The  conduct  of 
the  volunteers  during  this  war  reflects  no  credit 
on  American  arms,  and  in  many  cases,  notably  at 
the  Battle  of  Bad  Axe,  fired  upon  helpless  women 
and  children,  killing  and  wounding  many.  The 
soldiers  from  southern  Illinois  saw  this  countrv 
north  of  the  Illinois  river  for  the  first  time  and 
resolved  to  make  their  homes  here  on  the  con- 
clusion of  hostilities. 

Near  the  village  of  Stillman  Valley  the  state 
has  erected  a  monument  costing  $5,000  to  the 
memory  of  Captain  Adams  and  his  ten  comrades 
who  alone  of  the  well  equipped  force  of  Stillman 
stood  their  ground  and  in  the  twilight  of  that 
eventful  evening  of  May  14,  1832,  added  new 
luster  to  American  arms  and  sealed  their  devotion 
to  home  and  country  with  their  lives. 

At  the  dedication  of  this  monument  Lieutenant 
Governor  L.  Y.  Sherman  was  orator  of  the  day 
and  F.  E.  Stevens,  the  historian  of  the  Black 
Hawk  war,  gave  an  account  of  the  battle.  The 
monument  was  unveiled  by  a  grand  niece  of  Cap- 
tain Adams  and  a  survivor  of  that  battle  honored 
the  occasion  with  his  presence. 

It  is  held  by  many  that  an  army  under  General 
Scott  passed  through  the  north  part  of  our  coun- 
iv.  and  as  proof  mention  the  fact  of  a  corduroy 
bridge  that  was  in  1836  still  in  existence  across 
a  little  stream  that  enters  the  Kishwaukee  just 
west  of  the  business  portion  of  Kingston.  That 
is  explained  to  our  satisfaction  in  this  way :  The 
army  of  General  Whiteside  in  their  march  from 
Stillman's  field  kept  on  the  south  side  of  the  Kish- 
waukee and  of  course  would  be  compelled  to  bridge 
streams  entering  the  Kishwaukee  if  they  were 
too  deep  to  ford,  and  that  spring  was  wet  and  the 
streams  were  high. 

General  Scott  in  his  autobiography  outlines  his 
march  as  follows :  From  Fort  Dearborn  to  Naper- 
ville,  from  Naperville  across  the  Fox  river  at  a 
point  near  the  site  of  Aurora,  from  Aurora  to 
Somonauk  creek  at  a  point  near  the  present  United 
Presbyterian  church  in  Somonauk  township, 
thence  to  the  present  Boss  Grove,' Paw  Paw  Grove 
to  Dixon's  Ferr}',  now  Dixon.  There  may  have 
been  many  a  detachment  of  his  army  in  this  vi- 
cinity, for  a  cannon  ball  was  found  on  the  bank 
of  the  Fox  river  just  north  of  St.  Charles  at  i 
point  given  by  settlers  of  1834  and  1835  as  the 
Scott  crossing. 


30 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALI!    COUNTY. 


Another  evidence  worthy  of  consideration  is  ihe 

well  tiffined  marks  of  an  encampment  seen  by  our 
early  settlers  near  the  mouth  of  Deer  creek  in  Ge- 
noa township.  And  finally  the  grave  of  a  soldier 
under  a  lonely  burr  oak  smith  of  Shattuck's  Grove 
in  Boone  county  and  only  a  few  rods  south  of  the 
present  Davis  church. 

It  has  been  told  us  by  early  settlers  that  the 
army  fearing  surprise  in  the  woods  marched  north 
in  the  point  mentioned  and  encamped,  and  here 
the  soldier  died  and  was  buried,  but  this  could 
only  have  been  a  small  portion  of  Scott's  army  in 
any  event,  and  it  is  certain  that  the  Scott  trail 
became  known  later  as  the  Galena  roarJ,  ovor 
which  the  Dixon  mail  route  was  established  be- 
fore there  were  any  permanent  settlers  in  our 
county. 

The  year  following  the  Black  Hawk  war  was 
one  of  quiet  so  far  as  settlers  were  concerned  and 
none  came  to  remain,  although  hunters  entered 
from  settlements  along  the  Illinois  river  and  no 
doubt  adventurous  prospectors  came  to  look  over 
the  land,  but  finding  the  Indians  not  friendly  and 
still  -ore  over  their  defeat  and  loss  of  land  by 
the  treaty  of  Prairie  du  Chien,  which  compelled 
their  removal  to  the  west  of  the  Father  of  Wa- 
ters, they  concluded  not  to  remain  among  them 
and  soughi  safety  hi  the  settlement  in  the  vicinity 
of  (  >ttawa. 

During  the  year  llv'vi  Lee,  Ogle.  Kendall.  Du 
Page,  La  Salle  and  Carroll  counties  had  permanent 
settlements  mid  it  was  ontj  a  question  of  a  few 
mi  mhs  later  that  plans  were  made  by  the  roving 
frontiersman  for  the  occupancy  of  the  land  wa 
now  know  as  De  Kalb  county. 

In  1834  a  number  of  prospectors  began  to  ex- 
plore tin-  section,  then  a  pari  of  La  Salle  county 
since  1831  and  previous  to  1831  pari  of  Peoria 
countj .  Those  who  came  to  look  over  the  land  with 
a  view  to  location  were  Hon.  Frederick  Love,  an 
honored  citizen,  prominent  in  the  early  days 
our  county.  lie  took  up  a  temporary  abode  on 
the  banks  of  the  Fox  river  and  returned  the  next 
year  and  located' permanently  on  the  farm  nov 
owned  by  his  grandson,  Frederick  Love.  "Hollen- 
beak.  wdio  had  been  driven  from  his  home  near 
Newark  during  the  Black  Hawk  war.  ci 
to  this  section,  passed  through  SomonauV 
and  Lost  Grove,  as  far  as  the  cBig  Woods 
in  Sycamore,  and   on  his  return   ma  im  in 


settler's  fashion  to  a  portion  of  the  fine  grove 
since  known  as  Squaw  Grove,  and  to  which  he 
gave  the  name  of  Squaw  Grove  because  of  the 
large  number  of  squaws  that  were  encamped  then. 
the  male  Indians  being  off  on  a  hunting  expedi- 
tion." 

Marshall  Stark  was  here  in  1834,  but  returned 
and  settled  the  next  year.  Hiram  Buell  passed 
through  this  section  to  the  present  site  of  Bock- 
ford.  Beuben  Boot  also  looked  over  the  possible 
sites  for  future  home  in  the  vicinity  of  Freehand 
Corners.  The  Dixon  mail  route  was  established 
and  followed  the  trail  of  Scott's  army  from  Ft. 
Dearborn  to  Dixon.  Along  this  route  on  section 
4.  Somonauk  township,  was  built  the  first  hou-e 
in  De  Kalb  county.  This  was  used  as  a  station 
along  the  mail  route  and  during  the  fall  of  1831 
was  occupied  by  a  man  named  Bobinson,  who  was 
the  first  white  temporary  occupant  of  a  cabin  in 
De  Kalb  county.  His  subsequent  history  is  un- 
known, but  from  men  who  passed  along  the  IHxon 
state  route  we  learn  that  he  lived  alone  and  led 
an  existence  much  as  the  Indians  around  him.  In 
1835  Reuben  Rooi  kept  tavern  in  this  cabin  and  a 
few  years  later  the  Beveridge  family,  afterward 
prominent  in  county  and  state  affairs,  purchased 
Hie  land  on  which  it  stood  from  a  man  named 
( laptain  William  Davis. 

John  Sebree  was  the  lir-t  permanent  settler  of 
the  county.  He  was  by  birth  a  Virginian.  He 
lirought  hi-  family  and  considerable  stock  and  in 
September,  1834,  took  up  In-  claim  on  section  15, 
Squaw  Grove  township.  Here  for  a  time  he  lived 
in  a  deserted  Indian  wigwam  and  later  built  a 
log  house  which  sheltered  not  only  his  own.  but 
the  families  of  many  settlers  who  came  later  until 
homes  could  be  provided.  It  served  as  a  hostelry, 
and  even  at  this  distant  day  some  remain  who 
shared  the  hospitality  of  "Jack"  Sebree. 

Here  he  left  his  wife  and  children  during  the 
winter  and  returned  to  his  former  home  for  sun- 
plies,  with  neighbors  no  nearer  than  Millington, 
teen  miles  away,  unless  we  mention  the  red 
men  who  apparently  were  not  hostile  to  this  hardy 
pioneer  woman  and  her  small  children. 

In  1835  the  stream  of  emigration  turned  toward 

that   part  of  Illinois  north   of  the  Illinois   river. 

The  white  covered  wagons  drawn  by  three  or  four 

ox  teams  might  he  seen  crossing  the  Fox  river  at 

-.  or  if  water  was  high  they  were  ferried 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY 


31 


over  ami  again  took  up  their  course  to  the  west- 
ward. In  these  wagons  were  the  families  and  all 
their  earthly  possessions.  In  them  they  cooked 
their  meals,  ate  and  slept  during  the  inclement 
weather,  but  in  pleasant  weather  they  often  slept 
under  the  trees  and  cooked  the  meals  outside.  In 
every  wagon  you  would  find  a  flitch  of  bacon,  some 
smoked  ham  and  corn  meal  flour  for  the  "Johnny 
Cake."  In  many  instances  the  settlers  drove  their 
cattle  and  an  occasional  porker,  not  too  fat  for 
travel  like  the  modern  improved  swine,  hut  a 
"razor  hack"  that  could  travel  as  fast  as  any  ani- 
mal in  the  procession.  Those  who  came  and  re- 
mained during  the  winter  of  1835  were  Lysander 
Darling,  Dr.  Norbo,  a  Norwegian,  after  whom  the 
grove  northeast  id'  Sycamore  was  named.  Mr. 
Charters,  Dr.  Lee,  Peter  Lamois,  the  Walrods. 
Woods  and  Marshall  Stark:  while  in  Squaw  Grove 
following  John  Sebree  came  his  brother  William 
and  his  family.  Samuel  Miller,  Jacob  Lee,  John 
Easterbrook  and  Daniel  Legget. 

At  Somonauk  were  Reuben  Root,  David  and 
William  Sly  and  Dr.  Arnold.  In  what  is  now 
Kingston  were  William  Miller.  Earmon  Miller, 
Judge  George  H.  Hill.  Robert  Robb,  Isaiah  Fair- 
elo.  Captain  Collier,  who  was  in  1835,  with  Ste- 
phen Mow  rv.  elected  justice  of  the  Kishwaukee 
district  of  La  Salle  county,  John  Aurner,  Hon. 
Levi  I.ee.  Jonas  Haight  and  James  Dibble.  In  Ge- 
noa were  Emery  Moore.  Samuel  Cory  and  Thomas 
Munnahan.  At  Shahbona  wen'  Edwin  and  David 
Town,  who  occupied  a  deserted  Indian  wigwam 
until  January  1.  1836,  when  they  raised  the  first 
house  in  what  is  now  Shabbona.  Jesse  C.  Kellogg 
raised  a  cabin  north  of  Sycamore  and  at  once  be- 
came a  prominent  factor  in  the  county.  In  Dc 
Kalb,  Frederick  Love,  Captain  Eli  Barnes.  John 
B.  Collins  and  Norman  Moore,  also  James  Paisley 
settled. 

Ira  Douglass,  John  Nichols,  John  Thorn  took 
up  claims  in  Mayfield.  South  Grove  was  settled 
by  William  Driscoll,  and  at  best  perhaps  three 
hundred  souls  wintered  at  different  groves,  hut 
many  retired  upon  approach  of  winter  to  eastern 
homes  or  more  thickly  settled  parts  of  the  coun- 
try. 

Many  took  up  claims  and  a  great  deal  of  trou- 
ble  followed.  As  the  claims  of  European  coun- 
tries overlapped  each  other,  so  the  indefinite  lines 
drawn  by  many  squatters  took  in  the  other  fel- 


low's property.  Some  took  a  claim  for  them- 
selves, for  a  brother,  a  sister  and  different  mem- 
bers of  his  family,  until  a  few  different  individuals 
in  some  cases  controlled  several  thousand  acres. 
Considerable  trouble  followed.  Fights  were  of  too 
frequent  occurrence.  Some  "swinish  claim  jump- 
ers" were  whipped  and  driven  away. 


JESSE     C.     KELLOGGS     REMINISCENCES     OF     ISORDER 
LIFE. 

A  true  picture  of  the  settlers'  condition  is  given 
f\  Deacon  Je.-se  C.  Kellogg  in  a  series  of  letters 
published  in  The  Sentinel  in  1855  and  dedicated 
to  the  settlers  id'  1835.  In  every  history  of  De 
Kalb  county  these  articles  have  furnished  the  basis 
of  the  material,  so  we  give  the  article  here  in 
total : 

REPUBLICAN      SENT]  \EL. 

Thursday,  March  29,  L855. 
REMINISCENCES    OF    BORDER    LIFE; 

ill! 

DE   KALB    TWENTY    YEARS  AGO. 

HY   "WIIOL.IATI." 

(To  the  -old  Settlers"  of  the  County  of  De 
Kalb,  a  few  of  whom  still  survive  to  rejoice  with 
me  iii  the  present  and  prospective  prosperity  of 
our  long  cherished  and  growing  county,  these  hasty 
|ieneilings  of  the  past  arc  most  affectionately  dedi- 
cated by  your  old  friend  and  fellow  citizen.) 

De  Kalb,  one  of  the  hundred  counties  of  the 
Prairie  state,  contains  eighteen  townships,  six  hun- 
dred and  forty-eight  square  miles,  being  more  than 
half  as  large  as  the  whole  state  of  Rhode  Island. 
The  territory  now  embraced  in  this  county  prior 
to  thi'  spring  of  1835  was  in  the  possession  of  the 

Pottawatt tes   of   the   prairie.     Whether  Joliet, 

Father  Hennepin  or  La  Salle  ever  visited  any  por- 
tion of  this  county  or  not  is  quite  uncertain.  In 
all  probability,  however,  very  few,  if  any,  white 
men  had  ever  looked  upon  the  unsurpassing  beauty 
of  its  island  groves  and  fertile  prairies  until  about 
the  time  of  the  defeat  of  General  Stillman's  army 
by  the  Indians  on  the  Kishwaukee,  near  the  nortti- 
west  corner  of  this  county  in  1832.     Volunteers 


32 


PAST   AND   PEESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


from  the  central  and  southern  portions  of  this 
state  and  others  engaged  in  the  Black  Hawk  war. 
returning  to  their  friends  after  the  "fuss."  were 
the  first,  no  doubt,  to  portray  in  glowing  colors 
"the  right  smart  chances  for  making  claims*'  in 
this  charming  region.  But  the  "fullness  of  times* 
had  not  as  yet  come.  True,  some  adventurous,  in- 
terloping borderer  with  "desire  may  have  desired" 
to  "extend  the  area  of  civilization  over  some  of 
the  big  trees  and  rich  acres,"  here  and  there  "lying 
and  being"  on  the  banks  of  the  "roaring  Kishwau- 
kee,"  but  then  he  knew  that  he  was  sure  to  be 
driven  off  by  the  ever  watchful  Indian  agent. 
Thomas  J.  V.  Owen,  backed  by  two  companies  of 
United  States  troops  from  Fort  Dearborn. 

There  were  several  Indian  villages  under  subor- 
dinate chiefs  within  the  limits  of  this  county. 
One  was  near  the  residence  of  George  H.  Hill  in 
Kingston,  one  near  John  Waterman's  in  Pampas, 
one  near  Calvin  S.  Colton  in  De  Kalb,  one  near 
the  old  farm  of  John  Eastabrooks,  deceased,  in 
Squaw  Grove,  and  near  the  grove  in  the  town  cf 
Shabbona  was  the  village  of  Shabbona.  one  of 
the  head  chiefs  of  the  Pottawattomie  nation. 

From  this  place,  after  the  surrender  of  General 
Hull.  Fort  Mackinaw  and  the  Chicago  massacre; 
Shabbona  and  his  braves,  accompanied  by  Waban- 
sia  and  his  warriors,  sallied  forth  to  join  the 
forces  of  Teeumseh  and  the  Prophet,  in  aid  of  the 
British  arms  against,  the  United  States  in  the  war 
of  1812. 

Poor  Shabbona!  Warned  by  the  Prophet  of 
the  Great  Spirit  of  the  encroachment  of  "Young 
America"  no  wonder  that  he  should  have  sought 
to  avert  the  calamity  and  crush  the  young  giant 
before  his  sacrilegious  foot  should  trample  over 
his  venerated  dead,  or  before  overawed  by  superior 
power  and  overcome  by  "fire  water"  in  a  moment 
of  weakness,  he  should  give  the  homes  and  hunt- 
ing grounds  of  his  fathers  to  satisfy  the  all-grasp- 
ing avarice  of  "Che-mo-ko-manu." 

It  having  been  noised  abroad  in  the  spring  cf 
1835  that  the  Indians  had  agreed  to  remove  west 
of  the  Mississippi  the  ensuing  autumn,  far- 
ther restraint  was  entirely  out  of  the  question. 
Although  the  monotonous  song  of  the  surveyor, 
"stake  stuck  and  tally"  had  not  yet  broken  the 
solitude  of  nature  in  those  regions,  nevertheless 
the  impetuous  "Sons  of  Japheth,"  like  hounds 
"straining  in  the  slips"  were  all  in  a  tip  toe  to 


"dwell  in  the  tents  of  Shem."  Having  learnel 
that  "delays  are  dangerous"  in  "claim  making  and 
pre-emption  fixins"  in  making  their  first  debut 
into  Chicago,  where  it  is  said  that  they  were 
severally  charged  one  shilling  for  the  privilege  cf 
leaning  up  against  a  sign  post  over  night  and  two 
shillings  for  the  "soft  side  of  a  white  oak  punch- 
eon"; down  came  the  settlers  upon  the  newly  ac- 
quired purchase  like  a  'thousand  brick."  each 
carving  out  and  appropriating  to  his  own  special 
use  and  benefit  a  most  bountiful  slice  of  very  fat 
prairie  with  an  abundance  of  good  timber  with 
which  to  cook  it. 

Soon  after  the  Indians  had  done  their  sugar- 
making,  when  the  groves  began  to  grow  leafy  and 
the  prairies  grassy,  as  the  sun  sank  low  in  the 
west  and  the  prairie  wolves  began  to  howl  and  the 
sandhill  crane  to  scream  and  poke  along  the  ponds 
and  "sloughs"  for  their  evening  meal  of  crawfish; 
a  close  observer  might  have  espied  afar  off  on  an 
Indian  trail  suspicious  looking  canvas,  supposed 
to  be  the  sail  of  a  "settler's"  wagon,  evidently 
nearing  some  grove  and  in  a  strait  to  get  "some- 
whar"  before  nightfall.  Presently  emerging  from 
the  dusky  prairie,  the  settler's  wagon,  propelled 
by  some  four  or  five  yoke  of  oxen,  canopied  with 
sundry  bolts  of  sheeting:  within  containing  th  ■ 
family  bedding,  clothing  and  provisions;  without, 
implements  of  cooking  and  husbandry,  chickens  in 
coop  and  pigs  in  pen,  backed  by  a  drove  of  cows, 
calves,  colts  and  other  young  stock  on  foot,  would 
loom  up  plainly  to  view,  "fetching  in"  near  some 
point,  bay  or  plum  thicket,  where  in  after  days 
"Bonnv  chiels  and  clever  hizzies"  were  to  lift  thj 
latch  and  force  the  way  to  a  happy  cabin  home. 
It  was  no  uncommon  thing  in  those  days  for  the 
mistress  of  the  wagon  to  "pail  the  keows"  in  the 
morning  and  place  the  milk  where,  by  the  inces- 
sant motion  of  the  wagon  during  the  day,  it  would 
churn  itself.  In  this  way  the  family  were  pro- 
vided with  a  constant  supply  of  good,  fresh  but- 
ter ;  and  old  chanticleer  and  his  dames  in  the 
coop  behind,  never  caught  napping  when  hens 
should  be  awake,  would  keep  up  the  laying  process, 
so  that  with  other  supplies  from  the  wagon  a  set- 
tler's wife  could  usually  "scare  up"  a  pretty  good 
meal  on  short  notice.  In  this  hitherto  neglectsd 
spot,  where  "full  many  a  flower"  was  "born  to 
blush  unseen  and  waste  its  sweetness  on  the  desert 
air,"  the  wean*,  yet  blithe  and  happy  groups  might 


JESSE  C.  KELLOGG. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE   KALI!    COUNTY. 


35 


have  been  seen  to  alight,  strike  a  fire,  prepare,  ani! 
after  craving  God's  blessing,  eat  their  frugal  meal; 
•when  guarded  by  a  watchful  dog  and  a  still  more 
■watchful  Providence  they  would  retire  for  needed 
repose  into  the  inmost  recesses  of  the  wagon  home. 
And  at  early  peep  of  dawn  one  might  have  seen 
the  anxious  settler  reconnoitering.  with  hurried 
steps,  grove  and  prairie,  when  after  being  '"de- 
tached here" — "countermanded  there" — bothered 
alt i lost  to  death  for  fear  that  among  so  many  good 
•chances  he  should  fail  to  secure  the  best,  at  last  he 
-would  bring  himself  to  the  ''sticking  point."  seize 
"the  axe  and  "blaze"  the  line  in  the  "timber"  and 
anon,  hitch  the  team  to  the  prairie  plough  and 
""mark  out  the  furrow  on  the  prairie." 

April  .->.  1855. 
"In  those  days  there  being  no  king  in  Israel 
-every  man  did  that  which  seemed  right  in  his 
own  eyes."  The  size  of  claims,  therefore,  varied 
from  two  eighty's  of  prairie  and  one  of  timber  in 
a  half  section  of  timber  and  a  tract  of  prairie  two 
miles  square.  Some  assumed  the  right  to  make 
and  hold  claims  by  proxy,  being  thereunto  duly 
authorized  by  some  brother,  sister,  uncle,  cousin, 
aunt  or  friend.  Meanwhile  new  settlers  poured, 
in  apace  astonished  to  find  the  choice  timber*antl 
prairie  "blazed"  and  "furrowed"  into  claims, 
whose  ample  acres  the  claimant  with  all  his  chil- 
dren, uncles,  aunts  and  cousins  to  the  '•third  and 
fourthgeneration" would  never  be  able  to  till  or  oc- 
cupy.  The  new  settler,  perplexed,  baffled  and  becom- 
ingmoreandmore  desperate  onfinding"God's  green 
earth"  thus  monopolized,  would  approach  his  more 
fortunate  neighbor  with  the  spirit  of  Abraham  to 
Lot — "Now  I  have  come  a  great  way  to  get  some 
of  this  timber  and  prairie  and  one  thing  is  certain. 
I  am  going  to  have  some.  There  is  enough  for 
you  and  me  and  our  boys.  Now,  don't  let  us  quar- 
rel. You  turn  to  the  right  and  I  will  turn  to  the 
left,  or  vice  versa."  Some  times  this  good  Scrip- 
ture and  consequently  good  common  sense  logic 
would  win.  but  in  other  cases  the  grasping  spirit 
of  the  borderer  would  stave  off  all  kind  of  di- 
vision oi-  compromise,  and  laying  his  hand  upon 
his  rifle  he  would  bluster  and  threaten  in  "great, 
swelling  words"  and  drive  away  the  stranger  from 
his  right.  Hereupon  arose  innumerable  disputes 
and  wrangles  concerning  the  size,  tenure  and 
boundaries  of  claims.  The  more  reflecting  among 
-the  settlers  saw  a   dark  cloud.  bi<r  with  the  ele- 


ments of  strife  and  social  disorder,  gathering  in 
the  not  very  distant  horizon,  whose  tornado  blasts 
threatened  soon  to  lay  waste  all  that  was  of  valuj 
in  the  rising  community.  There  was  no  municipal 
law  reaching  these  eases  and  if  there  had  been  the 
settlers  probably  would  have  been  none  the  better 
for  it,  for  it  is  believed  that  at  this  period  there 
was  neither  a  justice  nor  a  statute  book  north  of 
the  Illinois  river  and  west  of  Fort  Dearborn,  un- 
less we  except  Ottawa  and  Chicago.  Wrongs  and 
outrages  for  which  there  was  no  known  legal 
redress  were  being  multiplied.  Blackened  eyes, 
bloody  noses  and  chewed  ears  were  living  realities, 
while  the  dirk,  pistol,  rifle  with  something  like 
"cold  lead"  were  significantly  talked  of  as  likely 
to  bring  about  some  "realities"  which  might  not 
be  "living."  What  could  be  done  to  insure  do- 
mestic tranquility,  promote  the  general  welfare 
and  secure  to  each  settler  his  right?  Evidently 
but  one  thing.  Happily  some  had  seen  something 
in  the  New  Testament  about  those  who  are  with- 
out law  being  a  law  unto  themselves  and  settlers 
found  themselves  in  this  fix  exactly.  It  was,  there- 
fore* apparent  both  from  scripture  and  reason  that 
the  settlers  must  become  "a  law  unto  themselves" 
and  "Where  there  was  a  will  there  was  a  way." 
"A  settlers'  meeting"  at  a  given  time  and  place 
therefore  came  to  be  the  watchword  from  shanty 
to  wagon  until  all  were  alarmed.  Pursuant  to  this 
proclamation  a  heap  of  law  and  order  loving  Amer- 
ican citizens  convened  on  September  5,  183-"">.  at 
the  shanty  of  Harmon  Miller  standing  on  the  east 
bank  of  the  Kishwaukee,  nearly  opjtosite  the  pres- 
ent residence  of  William  A.  Miller  in  the  town  ot 
Kingston.  Happily  the  best  possible  spirit  pre- 
vailed. The  Hoosier  from  the  Wabash,  the.Buck- 
eye  from  Ohio,  the  hunter  from  Kentucky,  the 
calculating  Yankee,  brother  Jonathan's  "first 
born"  and  the  "beginning  of  his  strength."  im- 
pelled by  a  sense  of  mutual  danger,  hereby  sat 
down  in  grave  council  to  dictate  laws  to  Kish- 
waukee "and  the  region  lying  around  about 
through  all  the  coasts  thereof."  Hon.  Levi  Lee, 
now  chairman  of  a  committee  to  report  on  peti- 
tions for  the  "'Maine  Law"  in  the  legislature  of 
Wisconsin,  was  chosen  to  preside  over  this  august 
assemblage,  where  the  three  great  departments  of 
free  governments,  the  executive,  the  legislative  and 
the  judicial,  were  most  happily  united  and  Cap- 
lain  Eli  Barnes  was  appointed  secretary.     Gently 


36 


PAST   AND   PKESENT   OF  DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


glided  the  sometimes  turbid  waters  of  that  "an- 
cient river,"  the  sonorous  Kishwaukee,  as  speech 
after  speech  setting  forth  the  woes  and  wants  of 
the  settlers,  the  kind  of  legislation  demanded  by 
the  crisis,  went  the  rounds.    Even  those  who  were 
not  "used  to  talkin'  much  afore  folks"  evinced 
their    cordial    approbation    and    readiness    to    co- 
operate by  doing  up  an  amount  of  encoring  which, 
no  doubt,  really  did  "astonish  the  natives."     At 
last,  ripe  for  immediate  action,  a  committee  was 
selected  to   draft  and  present  to  the  meeting  a 
constitution   and  by-laws  by  which   the   "settlers 
upon  the  public  lands"  should  be  governed.    Aft'?! 
some  little  deliberation  back  of  the  shanty,  around 
the  stump  of  a  big  white  oak,  which  served  as  a 
writing  desk,  said  committee  reported  a  preamble, 
constitution  and  by-laws,  which  for  simplicity  and 
brevity  and  adaptation  to  necessity  it  would  be 
hard  for  any  modern  legislation  to  beat,    The  self- 
evident  truths  proclaimed  by  -Tefferson  in  the  im- 
mortal declaration,  it  is  believed,  were  for  the  first 
time  reiterated  on  the  banks  of  the  Kishwaukee 
and  had  there  been  a  little  more  time  for  reflec- 
tion and  preparation  the  top  of  some  settlers'  wag- 
ons  would    have   been   converted   into   the   "Star 
Spangled  Banner"'  and  thrown  to  the  breezes  of 
heaven  from  the  tallest  tree-top  in  the  grove.   The 
common  sense,  law  and  logic,  as  well  as  patriotism, 
contained  in  this  constitution   and  by-laws   were 
instantaneously  recognized  to  be  the  very  things 
demanded  by  the  crisis  and   were   adopted  witn 
unparalleled     enthusiasm,     each    subscribing    his 
name  thereto  with  his  own  hand,  thereby  pledging 
his  "life,"  "fortune"  and  "sacred  honor"  to  carry 
out  the  provisions  of  the  code.     It  is  not  known 
that  a  copy  of  this  singular,  unique  document  is 
now  extant,  and  still  there  may  be.     If  any  anti- 
quarian can  produce  it,  or  anything  like  it,  he 
will  confer  a  special  favor  on  his  humble  servant 
by  leaving  it  at  the  office  of  the  Republican  Sen- 
tinel.    It  shall  absolutely  be  deposited  with  the 
archives  of  some  antiquarian  or  historical  associa- 
tion and  preserved  as  a  "sacred  relic."'     As  nearly 
as  can  be  recollected  its  provisions  were  somewhat 
a9  follows:     A  prudential  committee  were  to  be 
then  and  there  chosen,  whose  duty  it  should  be 
"to  examine  into,  hear  and  finally  determine  all 
disputes  and    differences   then   existing  or  which 
thereafter  might  arise  between  settlers  in  relation 
to  their  claims,"  and  whose  decisions  with  certain 


salutary  cheeks  were  to  be  binding  upon  all  parties 
and  to  be  carried  out  at  all  hazards  by  the  three  de- 
partments of  government  consolidated  in  aid  of  the 
executive,  in  what  jurists  sometimes  dominate  the 
"posse  comitatus."  Each  settler  was  solemnly 
pledged  to  protect  every  other  settler  in  the  asso- 
ciation in  the  peaceable  enjoyment  of  "his  or  her 
claim  as  aforesaid,"  and  further  who  ever  through- 
out all  Kishwaukee  or  the  suburbs  or  coasts  there- 
of should  refuse  to  recognize  the  authority  of  the 
aforesaid  association  and  render  due  obedience  to 
the  laws  enacted  by  the  same  from  time  to  time 
"to  promote  the  general  welfare"  should  be  deemed 
a  heathen,  a  publican  and  an  outlaw  with  whom 
they  were  pledged  to  have  no  communion  or  fel- 
lowship. Thus  was  a  wall  affording  protection 
to  honest  settlers  built  in  troublous  times.  Hon. 
Levi  Lee,  our  present  worthy  county  judge, 
George  H.  Hill.  Captain  Eli  Barnes,  James  Green 
and  Jesse  C.  Kellogg  were  chosen  to  be  the  settlers 
committee,  and  who,  as  may  well  be  supposed,  had 
business  on  hand  for  some  time  in  order  to  re- 
store and  "ensure  domestic  tranquility"'  and  "pro- 
mote the  general  welfare."  The  thing  worked 
like  a  charm  and  the  value  of  these  associations 
in  northern  Illinois  to  the  infant  settlements  has 
never  been  overestimated.  Similar  associations 
were  formed  and  maintained  in  Somonauk  and 
other  portions  of  the  county,  until  the  lands  came 
into  the  market.  This  event  took  place  in  Chi- 
cago in  1843,  when  all  De  Kalb  county,  except  the 
north  tier  of  townships,  was  sold  to  the  highest 
bidder;  that  is.  so  far  as  "terra  firma"  is  con- 
cerned. The  moral  as  well  as  physical  power  of 
"Settlers  associations"  was  so  great  that  if  a  spec- 
ulator presumed  to  bid  on  a  settler's  claim  be 
was  certain  to  find  himself  "knocked  down  and 
dragged  out,"  and  had  the  land  officers  shown 
the  least  sympathy  or  favor  to  the  "rascal"  there 
can  be  no  doubt  but  what  an  indignant  and  out- 
raged yeomanry  would  have  literally  torn  the  land 
office  to  fragments  "in  less  than  no  time." 

After  a  long  period  of  unexampled  peace  and 
prosperity  it  was  found  that  this  living  in  a  "state 
of  nature"  was  liable  to  evils  for  which  the  "late 
session"  of  the  legislature  in  "Miller's  Shanty" 
had  no  adequate  remedy.  The  case  was  this:  A 
had  a  promissory  note  against  B  and  A  wanted 
his  pay.  B  was  not  exactly  prepared  to  "fork 
over"  and  beins  nettled  that  he  should  be  dunned 


PAST  AND  PEESEXT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


37 


had  the  audacity  to  imitate  to  A  that  it  might 
"trouble  him  to  get  it  anyhow."'  Kishwaukee  was 
then,  as  well  as  other  portions  of  the  county  "at- 
tached to  La  Salle  for  civil  purposes."  This  was 
a  "real  poser."'  "Claim  jumping"  had  been  pro- 
vided for.  but  this  appeared  to  be  a  novel  case. 
Finally  the  settlers  concluded  that  if  they  had 
come  to  share  the  inheritance  with  the  "Suckers"' 
they  must  do  as  the  Suckers  did  and  have  someone 
who  knew  something  about  the  "Justinian  code," 
the  "Commentaries  of  Blackstone  and  the  Statutes 
of  Illinois."  So  in  the  summer  of  1835  the  ex- 
igency of  the  case  having  been  duly  made  known 
the  county  commissioners  court  of  La  Salle  laid 
off  by  proper  metes  and  bounds  "Kishwaukee  pre- 
cinct," wherein  Joseph  Collier  and  Stephen  Morey 
were  duly  elected  "justices  of  the  peace,"  who  in 
due  time  were  inducted  into  office  before  Joseph 
Cloud,  clerk  of  the  county  commissioners  court  in 
Ottawa.  Here  may  be  traced  the  first  introduction 
of  civil  government  into  the  county  of  De  Kalb. 
Whether  these  worthy  "squares"  ever  "got  to  see 
a  copy"  of  the  Illinois  statutes  is  much  to  be 
doubted;  it  may  be  supposed,  however,  with  morj 
certainty  that  they  were  very  clever  men  and  with- 
al "right  smart"  and  "calculated"  to  do  "bout 
what's  right."  The  best  of  all  is  that  Mr.  B  on 
hearing  that  the  "squares"  had  got  back  from  Ot- 
tawa put  over  to  Mr.  A's  in  a  giffin',  laid  down 
the  "spelter"  and  "took  up  his  note'"  to  save  cost. 

The  Indians  were  still  lingering  among  tbe 
settlers,  rather  loth  to  leave  anyhow  and  some 
taking  advantage  of  their  "spiritual  informities" 
were  mean  enough  to  filch  away  his  pony,  rifle  and 
even  the  last  blanket  in  exchange  for  whiskey  or 
"good-ne-tosh."  As  Nebuchadnezzar,  after  being 
turned  out  to  grass  awhile,  "came  to  himself 
again,"  so  a  poor  Indian  after  a  drunken  debauch 
will  sometimes  come  to  himself  again  and  recoil 
upon  those  who  let  out  the  serpent  to  bite  him.  In 
many  things  shrewd  and  discriminating  they  know 
when,  where  and  how  to  render  tit  for  tat  and 
"quid  pro  quo."  One  instance  in  illustration 
where  they  "came  it"  over  "che-mo-ko-man"  will 
be  given. 

A  half  Yankeefied  Frenchman,  who  will  be 
called  Peter,  had  made  a  claim  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Kishwaukee,  near  where  Dr.  Harrington  e?w 
resides,  and  had  engaged  a  half  civilized  Indian 
bov  called   Shaw-ne-neese,  who  had    lived    some 


three  or  four  years  with  the  late  Hon.  James 
Walker  of  Walker's  Grove,  now  Plainfield,  in  Will 
county,  to  drive  his  breaking  team.  Now,  as  ill 
luck  would  have  it,  or  "somehownother,"  it  came 
into  their  heads  that  for  just  about  one  barrel  oc 
"good-ne-tosh"  each  on  their  return  to  Walker's 
Grove  might  astonish  the  settlers  with  a  nice  In- 
dian pony.  The  temptation  to  play  on  the  "Anglo- 
Saxon"  was  too  strong.  Shaw-na-neese,  who  had 
a  mother,  sisters,  etc.,  living  in  the  Big  Woods, 
near  where  Aurora  now  stands,  was  supposed  to 
be  well  acquainted  with  the  Indians  and  could 
talk  either  Indian  or  English.  So  off  goes  Peter 
for  the  whiskey,  never  once  'tinking'  of  the  foolish 
settler,  who  for  fun  set  a  fire  on  the  prairie  that 
burnt  up  his  own  stacks.  In  due  time  the  barrel 
of  good-ne-tash  was  regularly  set  up  in  the  cabin 
of  the  settler,  and  "where  the  carcass  is  there  will 
the  eagles  be  gathered  together.''  Shaw-na- 
neese  talks,  Indians  talk — ponies  plenty-good-ne- 
tosh  plenty-so  much  pony  so  much  good-ne- 
tosh.  Yes.  Humph!  The  doping  begins; 
the  che-mo-ko-man  adding  "Kishwaukee"  at  the 
bung  by  night  to  supply  the  deficit  made  by  the 
faucet  by  day,  until  there  was  a  moral  certainty 
of  perfecting  the  contract  as  to  measurement. 
After  the  barrel  was  pretty  much  delivered  of  its 
contents  and  the  sharpshooters  begun  to  hint  that 
it  was  time  for  them  "to  walk  up,"  that  is,  if  they 
could,  to  the  captain's  office  and  settle,  the  Indians 
being  really  drunk  or  appearing  to  be,  began  to 
grumble  about  Peter  cheating  them,  selling 
no  good  good-ne-tosh,  etc.  Explanation  was  at- 
tempted, but  the  thing  could  not  explained,  ex- 
postulation was  used,  but  in  vain.  "You  cheat 
poor  Indian,"  and  they  grew  madder  and  madder. 
Peter  and  his  comrade  began  to  have  fears  for 
their  personal  safety.  There  were  no  white  men 
near,  and  if  there  had  been  they  could  not  have 
expected  that  they  would  be  sustained  in  such  an 
enterprise,  when  all  of  a  sudden  the  terrific  war 
whoop  burst  from  the  whole  group,  and  drawing 
their  long  knives  they  rushed  upon  the  liquor 
dealers  like  so  many  fiends  from  the  pit.  Just  at 
this  moment  an  old  Indian  snatched  Shaw-na- 
neese  on  to  a  pony  behind  him  and  galloped  off 
at  the  top  of  his  speed,  for  what  has  since  been 
called  Charters  Grove.  But  alas  and  a  well  a-day 
for  unfortunate  Peter,  when  he  cried  there  was 
"none  to  deliver."     He  had  a  good  pair  of  legs 


38 


PAST    AXD    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


and  it  came  into  his  heart  that  "jess  now,"  if  ever. 
was  the  time  to  use  them,  and  bounding  somewhar' 
about  a  rod  at  a  jump  he  "cut  for  the  bush"  and 
the  Indians  after  him  pell  mell.  As  good  luck 
would  have  it.  however,  he  managed  to  conceal 
himself  in  the  thick  brush  and  elude  their  grasp, 
until  at  last,  giving  up  further  i  hase,  they  re- 
turned to  Peter's  shanty.  Here  they  soon  made  a 
finish  of  the  remainder  of  the  "poor  whisk}"  and 
appropriating  for  their  "own  special  use  and  bene- 
fits"' Peter's  bag  of  flour,  fry  pan  and  new  blue 
broadcloth  coat  they  vamoosed,  cutting  up  those 
dreadful  antics  which  savages,  thirsting  for  blood, 
alone  know  how  to  perform.  Peter's  predicament 
was  by  ii"  mean-  enviable.  He  knew  that  lie  was 
in  the  wrong,  for  "a  guilty  conscience  needs  no 
-■  r."  lie  had  time  to  think  and  he  did 
"tink."  He  had  time  fur  thought  and  he  "tought" 
"if  he  ever  Livi  to  _■  I  oul  of  ti~  scrape  he  sure  to 
quite  tarn  liquor  business  anyhow."  Afar  off  from 
the  bosom  of  the  thicket  lie  had  beheld  the  plunder 
of  his  shanty  and  the  subsequent  withdrawal  of  his 
onenii'  -  Me  had  no  doubt  but  that  they  had 
gone  for  reinforcements  and  would  soon  return 
and  murder  him.  Perhaps  they  were  still  laying 
in  ambush  to  "let  the  lite  nut  of  him." 
"finking"  discretion  to  tter  part  of  vale:. 

he  kept  still  until  it  began  to  grow  dark,  when 
what  should  he  hear  but  the  friendly  voice  of  his 
old  comrade  "Shaw-ne-neese"  cautiously  calling 
to  him  from  the  plundered  shanty  and  saying  to 
him  that  he  had  "i<  -i"  g  I  away  from  the  Indians, 
who  were  intending  to  come  and  kill  him  as  soon 
as  it  was  dark  and  he  was  advised  further  by  the 
redskin  nut  t"  make  hi-  whereabouts  very  public 
— was  assured  that  he  would  get  up  the  oxen, 
gather  up  the  fragments  that  remained,  hitch  on 
t.>  the  "truckle  truckles"  and  join  him  with  all 
possible  dispatch  in  flu?  grove.  Peter  and  his 
comrade  were  at  last  under  cover  of  night,  p 
ding  their  way  over  old  logs,  sloughs  and  brush 
to  tin  west  side  of  the  grove,  from  whence  in  a 
iin    and    Peter   in   his   shirt    - 

they   made   g I    their    retreat    toward    Walker's 

bich  they  had  the  good  fortune  to  reach 
the  next  day  drenched  with  mud  and  water,  and 
where  Peter.   -  hungry,  was  pre- 

pared to  do  up  any  quantity  of  muttering  and 
swearing  about  the  "tarn  Injuns."  Here,  among 
the  simple  children  of   nature,  behold   the   faint 


dawnings  of  a  more  perfect  day.  We  are  not  onlv 
indebted  to  them  for  the  knowledge  of  "sucker- 
tash"  and  "hominy"  but  for  what  they  taught  us 
in  getting  "shut"  of  the  liquor  dealer. 

April  19,  f  855. 
In  1836  the  county  of  Kane,  embracing  the  en- 
tire territory  now  included  in  De  Kalb,  was  or- 
ganized, and  Captain  Eli  Barnes,  representing  the 
interests  of  the  "Kishwaukee  country."  was  re- 
elei  ted  one  of  tin-  county  commissioners.  But  the 
settlers  in  the  Kishwaukee  country  still  felt  that 
they  were  "too  far  from  Canada'' —  that  is.  from 
a  county  seat.  It  needed  not  the  old  "Illinois 
Statutes."  one  of  whose  "Acts"  commenced  by 
saying,  "Whereas,  there  is  much  prairie  in  this 
-late"  to  convince  them  of  the  fact.  Timber  was 
abundant:  it  was  supposed  that  the  Kishwaukee 
and  its  tributaries  on  a  more  intimate  acquaint- 
ance would  be  found  to  be  abundant  in  "mill 
sites."  A  companj  of  capitalists,  known  after- 
ward as  the  New  York  Company,  had  already  laid 
out  a  town  on  the  east  fork  of  the  south  branch  of 
the  Kishwaukee  as  the  "Rapids"  between  Nor- 
wegian  and  Big  Grove.  The  agents  of  this  com- 
pany were  already  on  the  ground  building  a  dam 
and  erecting  a  sawmill.  A  cabinet  and  chair- 
maker  by  the  name  of  Crawford  had  erected  a 
large  factory  en  route  of  the  proposed  "race,"  the 
turning  lathe  of  which  was  to  be  propelled  by 
water  taken  therefrom.  Flouring  mills,  carding 
mills,  etc., were  soon  to  go  up.  Similar  preparations 
were  being  made  by  Uri  Osgood,  Levi  Jenk-  & 
Company  from  Joliet  on  the  "Eapids"  on  the  west 
fork  of  the  south  branch,  above  Coltonville.  Again 
it  was  obvious  that  the  great  thoroughfare  from 
Chicago  to  Galena  would  pass  directly  through 
villages  and  a  "State  Eoad':  from  Ottawa  to 
the  state  line  would  firing  all  the  north  and  south 
travel  from  Yandalia  to  Lake  Superior  directly 
through  the  Kishwaukee  valley.  But  what  should 
be  the  name  of  the  new  county?  Illinois  had  then 
her  Greene.  Schuyler  and  Putnam  counties,  and 
why  should  she  not  remember  the  brave  De  Kalb  ? 
In  the  winter  of  1836-1  the  legislature  being  in 
session  at  Yandalia.  therefore  the  Hon.  Henrv 
Madden,  representing  the  interests  of  the  settler* 
of  La  Salle.  Kane  and  sundry  other  counties  not 
then  "hatched."  caused  a  bill  to  be  passed  to  "cre- 
ate the  county  of  I '•  Kail."  from  the  west  half  of 
the  count;    of    Kane,   provided   that  the  majority 


PAST  AND  PEESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


39 


of  the  legal  voters  of  Kane  should  on  a  given  dav 
vote  for  such  new  county.  The  Geneva  influence 
being  then,  as  since,  perhaps,  the  controlling  one 
in  relation  to  the  county  seat  question  in  Kane  of 
course,  favored  the  measure,  lest  their  county  seat 
should  be  drawn  from  the  "river,"  and  it  carried. 
Therefore,  in  pursuance  of  organic  law  the  com- 
missioners' clerk  of  Kane  ordered  an  election  to 
be  held  at  the  house  of  Frederick  Love  for  the 
election  of  county  officers  in  the  new  county  of  Do 
Kalb,  July  3.  183T.  The  day  of  the  election  of 
county  officers  at  last  arrived.  The  settlers  £Cby 
the  grace  of  God,"  "free  and  independent"  "from 
Norcutt's  to  DriscolTs,"  were  seen  "flocking  to 
the  house  of  Frederick  Love"  and  certain  big  trees 
thereunto  belonging,  for  it  soon  became  apparent 
that  all  could  not  begin  to  get  in  at  once.  Let  it 
not  be  understood,  however,  that  there  is  any  de- 
sign to  speak  disparagingly  of  the  old  cabin  of 
"Judge  Love,"  for  it  was  a  very  respectable  look- 
ing shanty  for  those  days  and  within  and  without 
betokened  more  than  usual  thrift,  means  and  hos- 
pitality. There  were  some — alas !  the  truth  may 
as  well  be  told — too  many  for  the  security  of  well 
disposed  and  honest  settlers,  who  affected  utter 
contempt  for  all  "claim  associations."  calling  them 
"land  monopolies,"  declaring  that  one  settler  had 
just  as  good  a  right  to  cut  down  "Uncle  Sam's 
timber"  and  fence  up  his  prairie  as  another.  This 
might  have  been  true  in  the  abstract  and  yet  the 
first  claimant  and  occupant  entitled  to  the  prefer- 
ence to  just  so  much  as  was  needful  for  him  and 
no  more.  All  pre-emption  laws  are  based  on  tlrs 
principle:  "First  come,  first  served."  It  was 
clearly  seen  by  the  more  reflecting  that  if  the 
contrary  doctrine  should  prevail  that  all  security 
1.;  property  in  claims  would  be  at  an  end;  "domes- 
tic tranquility  could  not  be  insured,  nor  could 
the  "general  welfare  be  promoted."  Claim  as- 
sociations must  therefore  lie  maintained  and  theii 
authority  respected  or  society  would  be  dissolved 
into  original  chaos,  each  defending  himself  and  his 
by  his  own  right  arm,  that  is  if  he  was  able.  la 
what  way  can  the  reasonable  claim  of  the  settler 
be  best  secured  until  the  lands  shall  be  surveyed 
and  brought  into  market  was  then  the  all-ab- 
sorbing question.  Compared  with  this  the  quod- 
tion  whether  the  "hero  of  Tippecanoe"  or  the 
"Foxy  Dutchman  of  Kinderhook"  should  come  to 
the  presidential  chair  was  of  "no  account."     As 


to  a  "tariff  for  revenue"  or  a  "tariff  for  protec- 
tion" the  settlers  were  in  for  one  that  should  in- 
sure both.  In  a  word,  they  found  themselves  di- 
vided into  two  parties,  denominated  "Claim  jump- 
pers"  and  "Anti-claim  jumpers."  After  the  whit- 
tling,  log-rolling,  caucusing  and  liquoring  the  re- 
spective parties  rally  their  hosts  at  the  polls  and 
quietly  await  the  issue.  On  counting  the  votes  it 
was  found  that  the  ■■Anti-Claim  Jumpers"  ticket 
was  elected  by  a  very  handsome  majority.  Levi 
Lee.  Eufus  Colton  and  Bobert  Sterrett  were  elected 
county  commissioners;  Joseph  C.  Lander,  sheriff; 
Jesse  C.  Kellogg,  recorder;  and  thereupon  the 
county  commissioners,  elect,  immediately  retired 
to  the  house  of  Eufus  Colton,  where  "each  admin- 
istered the  oath  of  office  to  the  other,"  as  author- 
ized in  "The  act  to  create  the  county  of  De  Kalb, 
appointed  Jesse  C.  Kellogg,  clerk  of  the  county 
commissioners' court;  Eli  Barnes,  county  surveyor; 
and  Lysander  Darling,  county  treasurer;  ordered 
a  special  term  to  be  held  in  a  few  days  at  the  same 
place  to  lay  off  the  county  into  "justices'  districts 
and  election  precincts"  and  before  the  guns  of  the 
glorious  Fourth  came  booming  over  the  "land  of 
the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave"  De  Kalb  was 
a  "Sis"  in  the  sisterhood  of  counties  in  the  Prairie 
state.  Of  the  county  commissioners  Hon.  Levi 
Lee,  now  a  citizen  of  "Walworth  county,  Wiscon- 
sin, and  as  before  stated  a  member  of  the  legis- 
lature, alone  survives.  That  kind  hearted,  worthy 
old  settler,  Lysander  Darling,  county  treasurer, 
ami  it  is  believed  Joseph  C.  Lander,  the  first 
sheriff,  have  gone  down  to  the  grave.  Eufus  Col- 
ton, the  county  commissioner  in  the  central  part 
of  the  county,  was  a  native  of  New  England  and 
the  son  of  a  Congregational  minister.  Much  of  his 
early  life  was  spent  in  a  printing  office,  where  he 
acquired  the  business  tact  and  readiness  of  pen  fo? 
which  he  was  so  justly  celebrated.  For  several 
years  he  conducted  a  weekly  journal  called  the 
Woodstock  Observer  i  n  Windsor  county,  Ver- 
mont, was  the  first  probate  justice,  the  first  cleric 
of  the  circuit  court  of  DeKalb  county;  a  warm 
hearted  friend,  and  if  from  local  causes  ever  an 
enemy,  still  a  generous  one.  During  the  last  wars 
of  his  life  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church 
in  Sycamore  and  sympathizing  deeply  with  the 
"down  trodden  and  oppressed"  he  has  gone  down 
to  the  grave  and  his  remains  repose  in  hope  in 
the  Methodist  burial  ground  in  Sycamore.    Bobert 


■10 


PAST    AND    PKESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


Sterrett,  the  county  commissioner  from  Somonauk, 
was  by  birth  a  Pennsylvanian,  a  man  of  uncom- 
promising integrity,  and  one  always  knew  where 
to  find  him ;  he  was  shrewd  and  discriminating,  in 
politics  a  democrat :  in  religion  a  Calvinist  Baptist, 
in  claim  matters,  as  true  a  man  as  "ever  broKe 
bread."  Ee  lived  respected,  and  died  lamented. 
His  remains  sleep  quietly  in  bis  own  loved  Somo- 
nauk. Of  the  first  county  clerk  and  county  sur- 
veyor, nothing  need  be  said  as  they  are  "still  liv- 
ing characters,  known  and  read  by  all  men." 

April  26th,  1855. 
The  day  for  holding  the  special  term  of  the 
county  commissioners'  court  of  De  Kalb  county, 
having  at  length  fully  come,  self-made  and  con- 
stituted attorneys,  men  having  business  at  court, 
boys  and  loungers,  curious  to  see  the  "elephant" 
and  how  the  thing  worked,  were  seen  pouring  into 
the  village  of  Coltonville  from  all  directions.  This 
village,  being  a  common  center  between  Levi  Lee 
and  Robert  Sterrett.  really  in  advance  of  most  of 
the  prospective  paper  towns  of  those  days,  the 
powerful  competitor  with  Centerville,  Brush  Point, 
Genterville  and  Sycamore,  or  "Orange"  as  Syca- 
more was  first  called  for  the  county  seat,  then  con- 
sisted of  a  neat  hewed  "log  cabin"  with  "linters" 
and  fixtures,  standing  on  the  bluff,  southeast  of 
the  present  residence  of  C.  S.  Colton,  overlooking 
the  "Eapids"  on  the  west  fork  of  the  south  branch 
of  the  Kidiwaukee,  on,  or  near  the  site  of  the  old 
"Indian  Town"'  and  containing  under  one  roof,  a 
dwelling  house  for  a  large  family,  a  store,  a  post- 
office,  a  tavern,  a  justice,  a  physician  and  attor- 
neys' offices.  In  addition  to  the  ordinary  business 
it  so  happened  that  on  this  memorable  day  some 
two  or  three  sharply  contested  lawsuits  were  pend- 
ing before  "Justice  Colton,"  and  attorneys,  parties, 
constables,  jurors,  witnesses,  men  wanting  license 
to  keep  a  "quiet  and  orderly  house"  where  they 
could  get  their  neighbors  drunk  in  "pursuance  of 
law"  were  soon  seen  in  patient  "waiting  upon 
court."  anxious  to  have  their  business  done  up.  The 
county  commissioners,  from  the  "north  and  from 
the  south  country"  had  arrived.  The  county  com- 
missioners of  the  interior,  as  may  be  well  supposed, 
had  an  unusual  "press  of  business."  The  clerk, 
having  the  records  of  the  former  court,  in  the  top 
of  his  hat,  half  a  quire  of  fools  cap,  sundry  articled 
of  stationery,  and  some  of  Rogers'  best  cutlery  in 
his  (lockets,  was  already  seen  standing  at  the  door 


— there  being  no  room  for  him  in  the  inn— when 
the  whole  multitude,  within  and  without 

"Began  to  feel,  as  well  they  might, 
The  keen  demands  of  appetite." 

It  was  readily  perceived  that  if  the  good  land- 
lady was  to  get  dinner  for  seventy-five  or  a  hun- 
dred "hands"  that  she  would  need  what  little  elbow 
room  could  well  be  spared  in  the  kitchen,  and  how 
she  did  it  must  ever  be  to  some  an  incomprehen- 
sible mystery,  and  yet  she  did,  and  behold  it  was 
very  good.  One  thing  is  quite  certain  in  those 
palmy  days  the  prairie  grass  did  not  grow  under 
the  feet  of  that  landlady.  Business  being  urgent, 
however,  it  was  thought  best  to  locate  a  spare  table 
in  the  shade  on  the  north  end  of  the  house  and 
open  court  out  of  doors.  Sheriff  Lander  with  the 
assistance  of  the  bystanders,  having  set  the  table, 
and  given  it  a  business-like  aspect  and  the  Hon. 
Levi    Lee   having    produced    and   laid   thereon   a 

"bound   1 1.."  a   cast  of  Merchant's  Ledger  with 

the  old  accounts  torn  out,  the  best  that  could  be 
produced,  it  was  proclaimed  in  stentorian  tones 
at  last  that  "the  county  commissioners'  court  of 
DeKalb  county  was  in  session  and  ready  for 
business."  The  court  having  taken  a  recess  for 
dinner  and  again  resumed  business,  applications 
for  merchant  and  tavern  licenses  were  presented 
and  granted,  of  course,  on  the  condition  that 
the  applicant  file  a  bond,  pay  a  certain  sum  into 
the  treasury  together  with  the  sum  of  one  dollar 
for  the  use  of  the  clerk,  agreeably  to  "the  statute 
in  such  case  made  and  provided."  The  court 
also  proceeded  to  divide  the  county  into  justice 
districts  and  election  precincts  and  to  determine 
the  place  of  holding  elections  in  each  election 
precinct.  It  may  here  be  necessary  to  explain 
that  "justice  districts"  and  "election  precincts" 
though  not  necessarily,  yet  for  the  sake  of  con- 
venience, were  made  in  DeKalb  to  include  the 
same  territory,  it  being  the  object  of  the  first  to 
supply  the  people  with  the  necessary  justices  and 
constables,  and  it  being  the  object  of  the  second 

to  supply  tlie  sa with  convenient  places  for  the 

exercise  of  the  elective  franchise  in  all  elections 
for  county  and  state  officers.  This  mode  of  trans- 
acting local  business  with  such  amendments  and 
alterations  as  circumstances  from  time  to  time 
required,  was  kept  up  until  superseded  by  town- 
ship organization,  under  the  new  constitution, 
the  lines,   determining  the  bounds  of  these  sub- 


I 'AST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


41 


divisions — there  being  "no  survey  line"  in  the 
county — of  course,  were  sometimes  quite  uncer- 
tain. One  would  think  the  line  to  be  "hur"  an- 
other "thar,"  but  it  was  universally  conceded 
that  the  east  line  of  the  county  began  "somc- 
whar  near  the  Big  Slough  Bridge,  east  of  Win- 
slow  Norcutt's  or  where  Homer  Roberts  now  lives,'' 
consequently  quite  a  portion  of  Kane  county., 
sometimes  called  "Upper  Canada"  and  sometimes 
the  "Arab  Settlement"  were  "bone  of  our  bone 
and  flesh  of  our  flesh." 

In  relation  to  the  names  of  groves — Somonauk 
takes  its  name  from  the  creek  bearing  the  same 
name,  and  in  old  times  could  be  safely  spelt  in  any 
way  that  first  came  to  hand.  "Squaw"  Grove  has 
its  name  thus  because  it  was  much  frequented  by 
the  squaws  when  the  men  were  gone  on  their  hunt- 
ing excursions  and  "Pappoose  Grove"  because 
Pappoose  may  be  a  little  squaw.  "Ross  Grove" 
from  Joseph  Ross,  the  first  settler;  "Johnson's" 
from  Johnson,  the  first  settler,  "Paw-Paw"  from 
Paw-Paw  in  Michigan  or  some  other  place ;  "Lost 
Grove,"  because  it  seemed  to  have  strayed  away 
from  all  the  rest  of  the  groves  and  to  have  got  lost 
and  there  stopped.  The  chains  of  groves  southwest 
of  Sycamore,  united  by  isthmuses,  and  perhaps  by 
a  common  sympathy,  of  course,  would  be  called 
"Union  Grove."  Most  of  the  early  settlers  in  the 
grove  southeast  of  Sycamore,  having  come  from 
Ohio,  what  more  natural  than  that  it  should  re- 
ceive the  name  of  "Ohio  Grove"?  The  beautiful 
little  grove  a  little  northeast  from  Sycamore  was 
so  named  because  a  Norwegian  doctor  by  the  name 
of  Norbeau,  first  settled  there.  The  grove  furthev 
northeast  "Charters"  because  a  Frenchman  by  that 
name  was  its  first  settler,  and  the  grove  northwest 
of  Sycamore  "Big  Grove,"  because  when  compared 
with  other  groves  it  was  big.  "Hickory  Grove" 
north  of  Genoa  is  so  called  because  hickory  is  su 
abundant  there,  and  last  of  all  DriseolPs  Grove 
took  its  name  from  the  far-famed  Driscolls,  one  of 
whom  had  settled  here,  from  whence  he  was  kid- 
napped and  taken  to  a  little  grove  in  Ogle  county, 
by  a  company  of  lynchers,  where  he,  with  hid 
father,  after  undergoing  the  mock  forms  of  a  trial 
and  conviction,  were  shot,  dowTn  like  dogs  and 
tumbled  into  a  common  grave.  Humanity  shud- 
ders, at  the  thought  of  this  bloody  transaction.  It 
truth  it  might  be  said,  however,  that  the  hort<e 
stealing,  robberies  and  murders  of  the  "banditti" 


of  the  prairie,  had  become,  it  was  thought,  intol- 
erable. Yet  it  cannot  be  safely  argued  that  the 
end  "justified  the  means."  None  of  the  old  neigh- 
bors of  the  Driscoll,  shot  from  this  grove,  believed 
him  to  be  connected  in  any  of  these  enormities, 
though  his  father  and  relations  might  have  been. 
The  old  scripture  principle  that  "the  son  should 
not  bear  the  iniquity  of  the  father"  it  seemed,  was 
of  no  avail  to  him.  After  the  massacre  of  the 
Driscolls,  this  grove  took  the  name  of  "South 
Grove,"  because  it  lies  south  of  the  main  body  of 
timber  on  the  Kishwaukee,  which  name  it  still  re- 
tains. 


The  pioneers  located  on  the  southern  sides  of 
groves  in  sunny  exposures  beside  streams  and 
springs,  and  fenced  only  as  much  land  as  would 
suffice  for  a  little  corn  and  gave  themselves  up 
generally  to  the  pleasures  of  the  chase,  game  being 
abundant.  They  were  hardy  people,  fond  of 
pioneer  life,  regardless  of  the  forms  and  ceremo- 
nial restraints  of  advanced  civilization,  but  noted 
for  their  neighborly  kindness  and  hospitality. 

Many  of  them  moved  farther  west  when  too 
many  settlers  crowded  around  them  and  hunted 
game  on  "their  preserves."  Thus  many  who  came 
in  1835  left  no  record  of  their  stay  here,  and  we 
can  only  record  the  names  of  those  who  settled 
permanently,  and  even  many  of  those  who  were 
permanent  settlers  have  been  forgotten. 

In  1836  the  spring  did  not  open  propitiously 
for  the  new  settlers  in  the  Kishwaukee  district. 
All  the  timber  land  had  been  claimed  and  big 
prices  were  demanded  by  claimants  for  portions  of 
the  timber  not  already  occupied.  Every  item  of 
food  except  fish  and  game  was  scarce,  and  there 
was  no  mill  nearer  than  Green's  mills  at  Ottawa. 
Many  settlers  this  year  pounded  their  corn  in  In- 
dian mortars  with  pestles  and  no  wheat  flour  was 
obtainable  for  months  at  a  time.  The  decaying 
sod  and  sluggish  streams  and  standing  pools 
caused  nearly  every  one  to  shake  with  ague.  "Pov- 
erty, rags,  a  scarcity  diet  and  the  shakes  were  the 
fashion  of  the  times,"  and  medical  attendance  was 
in  some  cases  of  "fever  and  ague"  out  of  the 
question,  and  what  they  did  have  was  of  a  primi- 
tive character.  Some  of  the  people  who  could  get 
no  medical  attention,  had  Indian  medicine  men 


4".' 


PAST    AND    PEESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


try  their  skill  which  was  by  incantation  or  as  old 
settlers  afterward  expressed  it  "cured  by  po^ 
wow." 

Those  who  died  were  buried  in  coffins  made  by 
coopers  or  carpenters,  for  in  those  days  there  were 
many  pioneers  who  had  served  as  apprentices  and 
had  learned  trades.  Few  of  the  early  graves  are 
marked,  but  in  some  instances  the  first  burials 
Mere  the  beginning  of  some  of  our  cemeteries.  The 
burial  of  -Mrs.  Peyton  Russell  in  Kingston  in  1S3G 
marked  the  beginning  of  the  pretty  Kingston  cem- 
etery; thai  of  David  Hall  in  the  Genoa  cemetery. 

In  the  fall  of  1836  an  election  was  held  and 
Orange  precinct  with  "Syckamore,"  then  north  of 
the  creek,  as  the  voting  place,  and  Somonauk  pre- 
cinct then  included  all  of  what  is  now  the  south 
half  of  the  county,  were  parts  of  LaSalle  county. 
Van  Buren  had  two  hundred  and  thirty-five  and 
Harrison  ninety-three  rotes.  Dr.  Henn  Madden. 
the  democratic  candidate  from  Orange  precinct, 
defeated  his  whig  opponent  by  a  vote  of  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty-nine  to  one  hundred  and  forty- 
i.  August  1.  1836,  the  Orange  precind  elect- 
ed Mark  Daniels  justice  of  th<  and  Joel 
Jenks  constable. 

Henry  Madden,  of  Brush  Point,  uow  Mayfield, 
was  a  man  of  education,  intelligence  and  shrewd- 
ie--, and  represented  a  district  comprising  all  the 
territory  north  of  Iroquois  county  to  the  -rate  line, 
and  it>  western  boundary  was  the  Rock  river  and 
the  eastern  boundary.  Cools  county.  When  time 
came  for  him  to  leave  Vandalia  he  started  on 
horseback,  rode  to  Ottawa,  stayed  all  night.. 
passed  through  Bloomington,  Decatur,  following 
nearly  the  line  now  marked  by  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral Eailroad  after  he  left  Bloomington,  traveling 
over  two  hundred  miles. 

Tb.e  creation  of  a  new  county  was  urged  upon 
Dr.  Madden  as  Geneva  was  too  far  to  go  to  trans- 
act business  at  tin-  county  seat  ami  the  roads  were 
almost  impassable  ai  times,  and  there  were  no 
bridges  over  the  streams.  Another  fact  that  urge  I 
the  Kishwaukee  district  to  separation  was  the  far: 
that  some  villages  had  been  started  at  different 
points  and  the  town  boomers  hoped  the  county 
seat  mighi  be  a  factor  in  building  up  their  town. 

The  southerners  did  not  always  have  their  coun 
house  in  a  town,  and  the  southern  people  being 
in  a  majority  were  apt  to  try  to  locate  one  without 
regard  to  the  future  o  i    i  ity.     The 


chief  business  of  the  state  legislature  was  at  that 
id  to  create  new  counties,  and  if  many  of  the 
more  populous  communities  could  have  had  their 
way  one  hundred  and  two  would  not  be  the  number 
of  counties  at  present. 

The  year  lS3v  saw  a  large  addition  to  the  pop 
ulation  of  our  county  and  all  of  the  present  town- 
ships    were   settled   except    Malta.    Milan,    Afton, 
Pierce  and  Victor,  and  they  were  considered  un- 

■  rable  because  they  bad  no  timber  nor  running 
stn  ams  and  game  on  the  prairie  was  not  as  plenti- 
ful as  in  the  timber.  Many  of  our  first  settlers 
came  from  timbered  countries  and  those  who  first 
moved  upon  the  prairie-  were  thought  to  be  fool- 
hardy to  go  so  far  from  wood  and  water  and  the 
ection  afforded  by  the  woods  in  winter.  The 
bard  times  borne  by  the  settlers  during  1836  bad 
a  quieting  effect  upon  claim  jumpers  and  the} 
went  east  to  their  former  home-  oi  passed  on  to 
-  of  conquest. 

Sawmills  were  erected  along  the  banks  of  the 
Kishwaukee  and  for  a  time  the  people  purchased 
the  outpul  for  new  houses  as  Easl  as  lumber  i  ould 
he  manufactured,  and  to  this  day  there  are  many 
buildings  standing  made  from  our  hardwood  in- 
riot  -  to  our  state,  that  for  lasting  qualities  arc 
better  than  the  new   pine  lumber  of  this  day. 


On  the  4th  day  of  March.  1837,  the  act  for  the 
creation  of  the  county  of  De  Kalb  was  passed  and 
in  the  same  bill  the  counties  of  Stephenson,  Win- 
nebago and  Boone  were  created  if  this  should  be 
sanctioned  by  the  whole  body  of  voters  in  the 
espective  counties  from  which  they  were  de- 
tached. The  whole  act.  although  containing  somi 
irrelevant  matter,  is  here  driven: 

"AX     ACT     TO    CREATE    CERTAIN     COUNTIES    THERE- 
IN   NAMED. 

"Sec.    1.     Be   it  enacted  by  the  people  of  the 

State  of  Illinois  represented  in  the  General  Ass 
bly,    That   all    that   tract   of   country    within    the 
following  boundaries,  to  wit:  commencing  on  the 
northern  boundary  of  the  state  where  the  section 
line   between    sections    three   and    four,    in    town 


PAST    AND    PEESENT   OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


43 


twenty-nine  north,  range  five  east  of  the  fourth 
principal  meridian,  strikes  said  line,  thence  east 
on  the  northern  boundary  of  the  state,  to  the 
range  line  between  ranges  nine  and  ten  east,  hence 
south  on  sail  I  range  line  to  the  northern  boundary 
of  Ogle  county,  thence  west  on  the  northern 
boundary  of  Ogle  county  to  and  passing  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  county  to  the  line  between 
sections  thirty-three  and  thirty-four  in  township 
twenty-sis  north,  range  five  cast,  thence  north  to 
the  place  of  beginning,  shall  form  a  county  to 
be  called  Stephenson,  as  a  tribute  of  respect  to 
the   late   Colonel  Ren  jam  in   Stephenson. 

"Sir.  2.  That  the  boundaries  of  Winnebago 
county  shall  he  as  follows,  to  \vh  :  commencing 
on  the  state  line  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
county  of  Stephenson,  thence  easl  mi  the  state 
line  to  the  section  line  between  sections  five  and 
six.  in  township  forty-sis  north,  range  three  east 
of  the  third  principal  meridian,  thence  south  on 
said  section  line  to  the  south  boundary  of  town- 
ship forty-three  north,  range  three  east,  thence 
west  on  said  township  line,  to  the  third  principal 
meridian,  thence  north  on  said  meridian  to  the 
southeast  corner  of  town-hip  twenty-six  north, 
range  eleven  east  of  the  fourth  principal  meri- 
dian, thence  west  on  said  line  to  the  range  line 
between  ranges  nine  ami  ten  east,  thence  north  to 
the  place  of  beginning. 

"See.  :;.  And  that  all  that  tract  of  country  be- 
ginning at  the  northeast  corner  of  township  forty- 
six  north,  range  four  easl.  thence  south  with  the 
line  dividing  range  four  and  five  east,  to  the 
southwest  corner  of  township  forty-three  north, 
thence  west  on  said  line  to  the  southeast  corner 
of  Winnebago  county,  thence  north  to  the  place 
of  beginning  on  the  north  boundary  of  the  state, 
shall  form  a  county  to  be  called  P>oone  in  memory 
of  Colonel  Daniel  Boone,  the  first  settler  of  the 
State  of  Kentucky. 

"Sec.  4.  That  all  that  tract  of  country  begin- 
ning at  the  southeast  corner  of  township  thirty- 
seven  north,  range  two  east  of  the  principal  meri- 
dian, thence  north  to  the  northeast  corner  of  town- 
ship forty-two  north,  range  two,  east  of  the  third 
principal  meridian,  and  thence  along  the  northern 
boundary  of  township  forty-two  in  ranges  three, 
four  and  five,  east  of  the  third  principal  meridian, 
thence  south  on  the  southeast  corner  of  township 
thirty-seven  north,  range  five  east,  thence  west  on 


said  township  line,  to  the  place  of  beginning,  shall 
form  a  county  to  be  called  De  Kalb. 

"Sec.  5.  The  counties  of  Stephenson,  Boone 
and  De  Kalb  hereby  created  shall  be  organized 
in  the  following  manner,  to  wit :  for  the  purpose 
of  fixing  the  permanent  seat  of  justice  of  Stephen- 
son county,  the  following  persons  are  appointed 
commissioners,  viz  :  A'ance  L.  Davidson  and  Isaac 
Chambers,  of  Jo  Daviess  county,  and  Minor  York, 
of  Ogle  county,  who.  or  a  majority  of  them,  be- 
ing duly  sworn  before  some  justice  of  the  peace 
of  tins  state,  faithfully  to  take  into  view  the  con- 
venience of  the  people,  the  situation  of  the  settle- 
ments, with  an  eye  to  future  population  and  eligi- 
bility of  the  place  shall  meet  at  the  house  of  Wil- 
liam Baker,  in  said  county.  <>n  the  first  Monday 
in  May  next,  or  as  soon  thereafter  as  may  be.  and 
proceed  to  examine  and  determine  on  a  place  for 
the  permanent  seat  of  justice  for  said  county,  and 
designate  the  same:  Provided,  that  said  county 
seat  shall  be  located  on  lands  belonging  to  the 
United  States,  not  occupied  by  the  citizens  of 
said  county,  if  a  site  for  said  county  seat  on  such 
lands  can  be  found  equally  eligible,  or  upon  lands 
claimed  by  citizens  of  said  county:  but  if  said 
location  shall  be  made  upon  land  claimed  by  any 
individual  in  said  county,  or  any  individual  hav- 
ing pre-emption  right  or  title  to  the  same,  the 
claimant  or  proprietor  upon  whose  lands,  claim 
or  pre-emption  right  the  said  seat  of  justice  may 
be  located,  shall  make  a  deed  in  fee  simple  to  any 
number  of  acres  of  said  tract,  not  less  than  twenty 
to  the  said  county:  or  in  lieu  thereof  such  claim- 
ant or  owner  or  owners  of  such  pre-emption  right 
shall  donate  to  the  said  county  at  least  three  thou- 
sand dollars  to  be  applied  to  building  county 
buildings,  within  one  year  after  locating  id'  -aid 
county  seat,  and  the  proceeds  of  such  quarter 
section,  if  the  county  seat  shall  be  located  upon 
government  lands  as  aforesaid,  or  the  proceeds  of 
such  twenty  acres  of  land  if  it  be  located  on  lands 
claimed  or  owned  by  an  individual  or  individuals; 
or  the  said  three  thousand  dollars  in  case  such 
claimant,  or  owner  or  owners,  shall  elect  to  pay 
that  sum  in  lieu  of  the  said  twenty  acres,  shall  be 
appropriated  to  the  erection  of  a  sufficient  court 
house  and  jail:  and  until  public  buildings  are 
erected  for  the  purposes  the  courts  shall  be  held 
at  such  place  as  the  county  commissioners  shall 
direct. 


44 


PAST    AND   PEESEXT   OF   DE   KALB    COUXTY. 


"See.  6.  An  election  shall  be  held  at  the  house 
of  William  Baker,  in  said  county,  on  the  first 
Monday  of  May  next,  for  one  sheriff,  one  coroner, 
one  recorder,  one  county  surveyor,  three  county 
commissioners  and  one  clerk  of  the  county  com- 
missioners' court,  who  shall  hold  their  offices  until 
the  next  succeeding  general  election  and  until 
their  successors  are  elected  and  qualified;  which 
said  election  shall  be  conducted  in  all  respects 
agreeably  to  the  provisions  of  the  law  regulating 
elections:  Provided,  That  the  qualified  voters 
present  may  elect  from  among  their  own  number 
three  qualified  voters  to  act  as  judges  of  said 
election,  who  shall  appoint  two  qualified  voters  to 
act  as  clerks. 

"Sec.  7.  For  the  purpose  of  fixing  the  perma- 
nent county  seat  of  Boone  county  the  following 
named  persons  are  hereby  appointed  commission- 
ers, viz:  John  M.  Wilson  of  Will  county.  James 
Day  of  La  Salle  county  and  James  H.  Wood- 
worth  of  Cook  county,  who  or  a  majority  of  them 
being  first  duly  sworn  before  some  justice  of  the 
peace  of  this  Btate,  as  required  in  the  fifth  sec- 
tion of  this  act,  shall  meet  at  the  house  of  Simon 
P.  Doty,  in  said  county,  on  the  fourth  Monday 
in  April  next,  or  as  soon  thereafter  as  may  be. 
and  shall  proceed  as  is  required  in  the  fifth  sec- 
tion of  this  act.  to  locate  the  county  seat  of  said 
Boone  county. 

"Sec.  8.  For  the  purpose  of  fixing  the  perma- 
nent seat  of  justice  for  the  county  of  De  Kalb, 
Benjamin  Thruston  of  La  Salle  county,  James 
Walker  of  Cook  county  and  Germanieus  Kent  of 
Winnebago  county  are  hereby  appointed  commis- 
sioners, who  or  a  majority  being  first  duly  sworn 
before  some  justice  of  the  peace  of  this  state,  as 
is  required  in  the  fifth  section  of  this  act,  shall 
meet  at  the  house  of  Frederick  Love  in  said  coun- 
ty, on  the  first  Monday  in  June  next,  or  as  soon 
thereafter  as  may  be.  and  shall  proceed  in  all 
respects  as  is  required  in  the  fifth  section  of  this 
act:  provided,  That  the  qualified  voters  of  Kane 
county  shall  meet  at  the  usual  places  of  holding 
elections  in  said  county  on  the  first  Monday  in 
May  next  and  vote  for  or  against  the  county  of 
De  Kalb.  and  if  a  majority  of  said  voters  shall' 
be  in  favor  of  making  the  said  county,  then  the 
county  of  De  Kalb  shall  be  created,  but  if  it  shall 
appear  that  there  is  a  majority  against  the  divi- 
sion then  the  said  countv  shall  remain  as  it  now  is 


"Sec.  'j.  The  county  and  circuit  courts  of  said 
Boone  and  De  Kalb  counties  shall  be  held  at 
such  place  as  the  county  commissioners'  courts 
shall  respectively  appoint  until  the  county  build- 
ings are  erected  and  the  times  of  holding  the 
circuit  courts  in  the  counties  hereby  created  shall 
be  fixed  by  the  circuit  judges  in  whose  circuits  the 
counties  respectively  are  situated. 

"Sec.  10.  And  elections  shall  be  held  in  said 
Boone  and  De  Kalb  counties  for  county  officers  in 
the  following  manner,  viz:  In  the  county  of 
Boone,  at  the  house  of  Simon  P.  Doty,  on  the 
first  Monday  in  May  next,  and  in  the  county  of 
De  Kalb  at  the  house  of  Frederick  Love,  on  the 
first  Monday  in  July  next,  and  shall  be  required 
and  conducted  in  the  same  manner  as  is  pre- 
scribed in  the  sixth  section  of  this  act  when  the 
same  is  applicable. 

"Sec.  11.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  clerks 
of  the  county  commissioners'  courts  of  the 
counties  hereby  organized  to  give  notice  at  least 
ten  days  previous  to  the  elections  to  be  held  as  is 
above  provided  in  said  counties,  and  in  case  there 
shall  be  no  clerk  in  said  counties  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  clerk  of  the  commissioners'  court  of 
Winnebago  county  to  give  notice  of  the  elections 
to  be  held  in  the  counties  of  Stephenson  and 
Boone,  and  for  the  election  to  be  held  in  the 
county  of  De  Kalb  notice  shall  be  given  in  like 
manner  by  the  clerks  of  the  commissioners'  court 
of  Kane  county. 

"Sec.  12.  The  citizens  of  the  counties  here- 
by created  are  entitled  in  all  respects  to  the  same 
right  and  privileges  as  are  allowed  in  general  to 
other  counties  in  tbi>  stati . 

"See.  13.  The  counties  of  Stephenson  and 
Boone  shall  continue  to  form  a  part  of  the  county 
of  Jo  Daviess  until  organized,  and  when  organized 
according  to  this  act  shall  continue  attached  to 
the  county  of  Jo  Daviess  in  all  general  elections 
until  otherwise  provided  by  law.  The  county  of 
De  Kalb  shall  continue  to  form  a  part  of  the 
county  of  Kane  until  it  shall  be  organized  and 
shall  vote  with  the  county  of  La  Salle  in  all  gen- 
eral elections  until  otherwise  provided  bv  law. 

"Sec.  14.  The  commissioners  appointed  to  lo- 
cate said  countv  seats  shall  receive  the  sum  of  two 
dollars  per  day  for  each  day  necessarily  spent  by 
them  in  discharging  the  duties  imposed  on  them 
by  this  act,  to  be  allowed  by  the  county  commis- 


PAST   AND   PBESENT   OF  DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


45 


sioners  and  to  be  paid  out  of  the  county  treasuries 
respectively. 

"Sec.  15.  The  judges  of  elections  shall  deliver 
to  each  officer  elected  a  certificate  of  his  election. 
The  poll  books  shall  be  retained  by  them  until 
the  clerk  of  the  county  commissioners'  court  shall 
be  qualified,  and  then  deliver  the  said  poll  books  to 
such  clerk,  who  shall  make  and  transmit  to  the 
Secretary  of  State  an  abstract  of  the  votes  given 
at  such  election,  in  the  same  time,  manner  and 
form  as  is  required  of  clerks  of  county  commis- 
sioners' courts  in  elections  in  other  counties  in 
this  state. 

"Sec.  16.  After  the  election  of  county  officers 
as  herein  provided,  the  persons  elected  county 
commissioners  are  hereby  authorized  to  administer 
the  oaths  of  office  to  each  other  and  they  are 
severally  authorized  to  administer  the  oaths  of 
office  to  all  other  county  officers.  And  said  com- 
missioners shall  within  ten  days  after  their  elec- 
tion meet  together  as  a  court  and  lay  off  their 
county  into  justices'  districts  and  order  elections 
to  be  held  for  justices  of  the  peace  and  consta- 
bles at  a  time  to  be  fixed  by  them;  and  justices 
of  the  peace  and  constables  elected  and  qualified 
shall  hold  their  offices  until  others  are  elected  and 
qualified  under  the  law  providing  for  the  election 
of  Justice  of  the  Peace.  The  clerks  of  the  coun- 
ty commissioners'  courts  shall  deliver  to  each  per- 
son elected  justice  of  the  peace  and  constable  cer- 
tificates of  such  elections;  and  each  person  elected 
justice  of  the  peace  is  hereby  authorized,  upon 
executing  bonds  as  required  by  law,  to  enter  upon 
the  duties  of  his  office  and  to  exercise  and  perform 
all  the  duties  of  justice  of  the  peace  as  fully  as 
though  such  person  had  received  a  commission 
from  the  governor.  This  act  shall  be  in  force  from 
and  after  its  passage. 
"Approved  4th  of  March,  1837." 


The  year  1837  saw  the  population  of  this  section 
now  created  into  a  new  county  double,  all  alarm 
from  further  Indian  outbreak  had  forever  passed 
away.  In  this  section  east  of  the  Mississippi  north 
of  Florida  and  new  settlers  poured  into  every 
county  of  northern  Illinois,  all  of  which,  except 
Carroll.  Kendall,  Grundy  and  Lee,  were  organized 


and  in  running  order,  and  in  all  cases  were  still 
under  county  organization,  showing  plainly  the 
New  England's  township  government  did  not  ap- 
peal to  the  people,  the  majority  of  whom  were 
from  southern  states  or  of  southern  origin. 

This  year  saw  many  new-cowers  from  New  York 
and  New  England  and  they  established  private 
schools  in  more  spacious  homes.  Religious  so- 
cieties,  mainly  Methodists,  began  to  be  organized 
a  few  stores  were  opened  and  things  began  to  take 
on  the  airs  of  organized  society.  All  lived  along 
streams  in  the  woods  and  the  great  prairie  was 
still  unbroken,  but  all  were  hopeful  and  with  pa- 
tience and  fortitude  awaited  a  better  day. 

Mr.  Boise  in  his  history  says  that  the  year 
1837  was  noted  as  the  first  in  the  series  of  the 
regular  septennial  wet  seasons  that  have  recurred 
every  seven  years  since  that  time.  From  the  break- 
ing up  of  winter  until  late  in  autumn  it  rained 
nearly  every  day.  The  entire  country  was  flooded 
and  the  traveling  was  almost  impossible,  and  we 
must  remember  at  this  time  there  were  no  beaten 
roads  and  no  bridges,  and  we  can  in  a  degree  imag- 
ine the  inconvenience  to  those  who  were  compelled 
to  do  much  road  work.  It  had  been  stated  also 
that  the  Chief  Shabbona  had  predicted  this  wet 
season.  He  had  asserted  that  as  far  back  as 
Indian  tradition  reached,  every  seventh  year  had 
been  similarly  visited  with  a  superabundance  of 
rain — with  almost  constant  storms  and  floods  and 
swollen  streams.  Seven  years  before,  the  soldiers 
at  Ft.  Dearborn,  then  the  only  white  inhabitants 
of  the  country,  had  made  record  of  a  similar  year 
cf  constant  storms  and  floods;  and  it  is  certain 
that  on  every  succeeding  seventh  year,  such  sea- 
son,- have  recurred.  All  of  those  who  resided  in  the 
county  during  the  succeeding  four  septennial 
triades.  will  testify  that  in  1844,  1851,  1858  and 
1865,  were  each  seasons  of  extraordinary  moist- 
ure, and  noted  as  wet  summers.  A  wet  season  in 
the  early  days  was  exceptionally  inconvenient  and 
unhealthy.  When  water  fell  in  large  quantities  it 
would  lie  on  the  ground  until  absorbed  by  the  wind 
and  the  sun's  rays  which  caused  malaria  and 
fevers  so  common  in  pioneer  days.  At  that  time 
there  were  thousands  of  undrained  sloughs  and  in 
those  sloughs  dense  growths  of  vegetable  matter, 
and  unfortunate,  indeed,  was  the  person  whose 
home  was  located  near  one.  The  same  lands  that 
were  considered  too  wet  for  tillage  in  those  days 
is  sufficiently  dry  at  present,  even  without  drain- 


46 


PAST   AND    PRESENT   OE   DE   KALE    COUNTY. 


age.  During  the  dry  times  the  sod  would  be 
broken,  the  land  put  under  cultivation  and  the 
moisture  sink  rapidly  into  the  earth.  Notwith- 
standing the  difficulties  encountered  by  the  pio- 
neers in  183?.  several  hundred  emigrants  came 
from  their  eastern  home-  to  settle  here.  Many  of 
them  became  ill.  could  secure  but  Little  medical 
assistance,  and  before  the  winter  set  in  a  large 
number  had  died.     Added   to  the  inconveniences 

ioned  the  financial  crisis  swepl  ever  the  coun- 
try, which  perhaps  was  as  severe  as  any  in  our 
liistory.     After  the  bill  providing  for  the  exten- 

- of  the  charter  of  the  national  bank  had  been 

retoed,  millions  of  dollars  were  drawn  therefrom 
and  placed  in  "pet  hanks."  Money  became  plenti- 
ful and  the  wildest  speculations  were  indulged  in. 
Lots  were  laid  out  in  cities  and  towns  which  had 
no  inhabitants  and  were  sold  at  auct  ion  at  fabulous 
prices,  with  the  expectation  thai  the  tide  of  emi- 
gration turned  to  the  westward  would  till  these 
t<  wns  and  cities  which  existed  only  in  the  imagi- 
nation of  the  speculators.  To  add  to  this  scheme 
the  government  issued  paper  money  and  when  the 
time  i"  pay  this  interesl  on  the  public  debts  and 
the  revenue  nothing  but  specie  would  be  aco  p 
layment.     People  who  had   sold   their  eastern 

-  in  make  fortunes  in  the  west  could  no1  i 
obligations  and  the  financial  crash  came. 
"Confidence  was  now  gone,  and  with  it.  the  beauti- 
ful castles  they  had  buili  in  the  an-  vanish*  d  like 
the  mists  of  the  morning;  the  brilliant  bued  bub- 
bles burst  and  disappeared."  The  villages  laid  ou; 
at  this  time  in  our  country  were  Orange,  now 
Sycamore,  Coltonville,  Genoa,  and  one  near  Free- 
land  Corners  in  Somonauk  township.  Lots  had 
been  laid  out  in  these  embryo  <  illages  ami  peo- 
i  could  reside  on  them  for  the  mere  asking,  a- 
it  was  the  fond  hope  of  the  landowners  that  their 
respective  village  might  he  made  the  future  county 
seat.  The  village  of  Orange  was  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Ki-liwaukee  about  a  mile  north  of  Syca- 
more.    A  company  from  New  York,  C.  Sharer  X 

Mm .  composed  of  Christ  ian  Sharer,  capital- 
ist of  \,  w  Xbrk  city,  ('lark-  Wright,  Evans  Whai- 
rv.  and  Mark  Daniels,  built  a  dim  and  a  large 
mill  rate,  anil  commenced  a  factory  for  the  manu- 
facture of  furniture.  The  building  was  finished 
ami  a  saw  mill  was  operated.  Eli  .T.  Jewell  had  a 
wagon  shop  in  tin  grove  near  the  present  resi- 
dence hi  Fred  Van  Galder  and  also  kept  a  little 
store.      Charles   ami   James   Waterman    also   hip' 


a  store  in  this  village.  In  all  there  were  about  a 
half  dozen  houses.  At  Coltonville,  Rufus  C'olton 
owned  a  store  and  there  was  a  blacksmith  shop  and 
perhaps  four  or  five  other  houses.  The  Colton 
home  was  used  for  many  years  as  a  hotel.  Both 
Orange  and  Coltonville  were  aspirants  for  the 
county  seat.  On  the  first  day  of  May,  1837,  a  vote 
was  taken  in  Kane  count}',  of  which  we  were 
then  a  part,  in  set  nil'  the  territory  then  known 
as  De  Kalb  county.  Geneva  was  at  that  time  the 
county  seat  of  Kane,  hut  Aurora  looked  with  jeal- 
ous eve  upon  her  little  neighbor  on  the  north  an  1 
had  hopes  that  in  the  future  sht  might  lie  the 
capital. 

Geneva  favored  the  division  with  the  thought 
thai  that  would  settle  the  county  -eat  question. 
Tin  precincts  were  widely  scattered,  and  the  sheriff 
of  Kane  county  was  unwilling  to  post  the  requisite 
number  of  notices  in  various  precincts,  and  as  the 
weather  was  very  rainy  and  the  roads  almost  im- 
passable, be  felt  a  sigh  of  relief  when  Dr.  ftenrv 
Madden  volunteered  i"  post  notices  in  the  far  off 
districts,  with  an  eve  to  business,  for  in  the  dis- 
tricts that  were  unfriendly  to  the  division  he  saw 
1<.  ii  that  no  notice-  wiii'  posted,  hut  in  friendly 
districts  the  requisite  notices  were  posted 'in  due 

;    i-iin.    The  vote  -t I  as  follow-:     i  Mm  hundred 

and  -i  i  m  -i  in,,  for,  and  eighty-three  against,  di- 
vision. The  precinct  of  Somonauk  cast  her  forty- 
three  votes  solidly  for  division,  Orange  thirty-four 
for,  and  eight  against  division,  while  in  the  Kish- 
waukee  district  which  includes  the  territory  now 
known  as  Kine>toii.  Franklin.  South  Grove  and 
Mayfield  polled  her  vote  with  two  exceptions  for 
division.  In  due  time  the  county  clerk  of  Kane 
county  issued  a  call  for  an  election  to  he  held 
at  the  residence  of  Frederick  Love,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  choosing  three  county  commissioners,  one 
sheriff,  recorder,  surveyor  and  treasurer. 

The  election  was  held  on  Monday,  July  3,  1837. 
The  two  parties  which  is  as  well-known  are  in- 
dispensable to  every  well  arranged  and  conducted 
election,  went  by  the  name  of  Claim  Jumpers  and 
Anti-Claim  Jumpers  and  divided  on  the  question 
of  sustaining  or  abolishing  the  claim  associa- 
tion which  had  been  organized  the  previous  year. 
The  people  came  from  all  parts  of  the  county 
and  in  large  numbers.  With  thpir  wagons  and 
horses  distributed  over  a  large  space,  they  pre- 
sehted  the  appearance  of  an  animated  camp  meet- 


CHARLES  G.  CULVER. 


Dlf.  HENRY  MADDEN. 


MRS.  HENRY  MADDEN. 


E.  M.  KNAPP. 


T,.n8T°fi'    Lf 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OP  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


49 


ing.  After  the  usual  amount  of  log  rolling,  caucus- 
ing and  liquoring,  the  polls  were  opened,  the  votes 
cast  and  counted,  and  a  majority  of  two  to  one 
were  found  to  be  in  favor  of  the  Anti-Claim 
Jumpers  ticket,  which  was:  County  commis- 
sioners, Ruf us  Colton,  Robert  Sterrett,  Levi  Lee ; 
sheriff,  Joseph  C.  Lander;  recorder,  Jesse  C.  Kel- 
logg; surveyor,  Eli  Barnes;  and  treasurer,  Lysan- 
der  Darling. 

"They  were  a  most  able  and  honorable  body  of 
officials  and  laid  well  the  foundation  work  for  theL" 
successors.  Rufus  Colton  was  an  active,  stirring, 
shrewd  New  Englander,  formerly  editor  of  a  Ver- 
mont paper — a  warm  friend  and  a  fair,  uncom- 
promising enemy.  R.  Sterrett  of  Somonauk  was 
of  Pennsylvania  origin,  always  a  decided  democrat 
— honest,  reliable,  true  man.  Levi  Lee,  of  King- 
ston, was  a  shrewd,  intelligent  man,  active  in  the 
temperance  cause.  He  filled  many  public  offices, 
and  was  of  late,  a  member  of  the  legislature  of 
Wisconsin.  Jesse  C.  Kellogg,  the  recorder,  was 
of  Vermont  Puritan  stock,  has  been  for  thirty- 
three  years,  and  still  is  one  of  the  worthiest  citi- 
zens of  De  Kalb  county,  active  in  every  good  work, 
the  uncompromising  foe  of  all  wrong  and  oppres- 
sion. Captain  Barnes,  for  over  thirty  years  n 
venerated  citizen  of  this  county,  died  in  1867,  leav- 
ing a  large  family  of  descendants  here.  Sheriff 
Lander,  an  honest,  pleasant  old  Indianian,  had 
all  of  the  peculiarities  of  speech  and  dialect  of  the 
Hoosier  race.  Lysancler  Darling  was  a  pleasant, 
kind-hearted,  honest  popular  citizen,  said  to  be 
the  first  settler  in  Sycamore." 

At  these  early  elections  no  printed  tickets  were 
used  as  at  present.  Ira  Douglas  tells  us  that  hi* 
appeared  at  the  polls,  announced  his  name,  and 
then  stated  orally  his  preferences  for  the  different, 
offices  to  be  filled.  He  belonged  to  the  Anti- 
Claims  Association  and  voted  for  the  ticket  elected 
by  having  a  mark  placed  after  the  name  of  each 
candidate. 

At  the  close  of  these  events  it  was  thought  prop- 
er that  the  birth  of  the  new  county  and  the  elec- 
tion of  its  first  roster  of  county  officers  should  be 
celebrated  on  the  glorious  4th,  and  accordingly  on 
the  61st  anniversary  of  Amerian  independence 
some  three  or  four  hundred  early  settlers  assembled 
at  the  house  of  Ephraim  Hall,  who  had  erected  a 
new  house,  which  at  that  time  was  one  of  the  very 
best  in  the  county  and  still  stands  as  a  mark  of 


the  good  old  days,  where  the  honorable  Levi  Le=>, 
a  local  preacher  and  proprietor  of  Lee's  mill  de- 
livered the  oration,  which  for  force,  eloquence  and 
patriotism  was  considered  well  worthy  of  the  oc- 
casion. At  this  celebration  we  must  remember 
that  all  the  accompanying  nuisances  of  the  pres- 
ent day  celebration  were  wholly  absent.  People 
came  from  many  miles  around,  brought  their 
baskets  well  filled  with  luncheon  and  had  a  great 
picnic  dinner  in  the  grove.  It  is  probable  that 
at  this  time,  1907,  no  one  lives  in  the  county  who 
was  present  at  this  celebration. 

Matters  moved  rapidly  in  those  days  and  on  the 
11th  of  July  the  first  regular  session  of  the  coun- 
ty commissioners'  court  was  held  at  the  house  of 
Rufus  Colton.  This  was  rather  a  more  spacious 
house  than  the  ones  usually  occupied  by  the  early 
settlers;  it  being  eighteen  by  twenty-four  feet, 
made  of  hewn  logs  and  furnished  with  doors  and  a 
window  and  chinked  up  with  pure  mortar.  Thi 
day  of  their  meeting  being  fair  it  was  held  out 
doors  and  the  sheriff,  Joseph  C.  Lander,  made 
proclamation  and  they  at  once  proceeded  to  busi- 
ness. An  old  merchant's  ledger  was  used  as  the 
sole  heok  of  record  and  is  still  in  possession  of 
the  county  clerk  at  the  court  house.  The  first 
duty  performed  was  to  lay  the  county  off  in  five 
election  precincts  and  justices'  districts.  They 
were: 

First,  Kingston  district  and  precinct,  commenc- 
ing at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  county  running 
south  twelve  miles,  thence  northeast  crossing  thj 
Sycamore  river  so  as  to  include  Benjamin 
Stephen's  land,  and  then  north  to  the  county  line. 

It  was  ordered  that  elections  be  held  in  this  pre- 
cinct at  the  residence  of  Levi  Lee.  George  H. 
Hill,  John  Whitney  and  Jones  Hait  were  ap- 
pointed judges. 

The  second  was  Sycamore  precinct,  including 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  county,  and  extending 
as  far  south  as  Charter  Grove,  but  not  including 
the  present  village  of  Sycamore.  The  elections 
were  to  be  held  at  a  school  house  near  Lysander 
Darling's,  and  William  A.  Miller,  James  A.  Arm- 
strong and  Samuel  Cory  were  made  its  judges. 

The  third  was  named  Orange  district,  and  com- 
prised the  territory  south  of  the  Sycamore  district 
as  far  as  Lost  Grove,  in  the  present  town  of  Cort- 
land.    Elections  for  this  district  were  ordered  at 


50 


PAST   AND   PBESENT   OF  DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


Bufus  Colton's  house,  and  Frederic  Love,  James 
Boot  and  Eli  Barnes  were  made  judges. 

The  fourth  was  named  Somonauk  district,  and 
comprised  the  territory  south  of  Orange  district, 
ten  miles  in  width,  and  about  twenty  in  length 
to  the  south  line  of  the  county.  Elections  were 
ordered  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  Woodruff  and 
Lane;  William  Davis.  Frederic  A.  Witherspoon 
and  Simon  Price  were  made  judges. 

The  fifth  district  was  called  Paw  Paw.  and  com- 
prised the  southwest  portion  of  the  county.  No 
recorded  provision  was  made  for  elections  in  this 
district,  and  it  was  subsequently  abolished,  but 
afterward,  upon  the  indignant  protest  of  some  of 
its  people,  was  re-established. 

In  October  the  commissioners  that  had  been  ap- 
pointed by  the  legislature  to  fix  the  county  seat, 
met  at  the  house  of  Frederic  Love  as  directed  by 
the  law  of  organization.  The  home  of  the  Honor- 
able Frederic  Love  was  at  that  time  a  log  build- 
ing on  the  site  of  which  todai  stands  the  resi- 
dence of  his  grandson,  Frederic  1  ove.  They  were 
received  by  the  citizens  representing  the  three  com- 
peting points  with  all  of  that  cordiality  that  was 
to  be  expected  toward  men  upon  whose  decision 
Lmportanl  interests  depended.  Escorted  by  a  large 
number  of  residents  of  the  county,  and  men  who 
were  interested  in  the  decision  of  the  question, 
they  spent  most  of  three  days  in  riding  about  th 
region,  viewing  the  country  and  comparing  trie 
advantages  of  the  rival  locations.  There  seemed  u> 
be  little  to  choose  between  them.  One  of  the  com- 
missioners, Mr.  Walker  of  Plainfield,  had  been  a 
member  of  the  legislature  villi  Mr.  Madden.  II 
was  also  an  intimate  friend  of  Mr.  Harvey  Ma\- 
field.  who  had  recently  visited  this  section  of  th-j 
country  and  came  hack  with  a  glowing  account  of 
its  attractions,  and  of  the  advantages  of  the  pres- 
ent location  for  a  county  seat.  TTe  had  also  re- 
ported to  Walker  a  remark  said  to  have  been  mad" 
by  Madden  to  the  effect  tl  at  lie  had  secured 
Walker's  appointment  as  cdmmissioner,  and  e.x- 
pected  t<>  control  him  so  far  as  to  induce  him  to 
locate  the  county  seal  upon  his  own  claim  at  Brush 
Point.  This  naturally  aroused  opposition  in  the 
in  ind  of  Mr.  Walker. 

Much  to  Madden's  chagrin,  he  found  his  frier 
prejudiced  against  his  own  point  and  unable  to  see 
its  advantages.     The  inhabitants  of  the  little  col- 
lection of  losr  houses  on  the  bank  of  the  Kishwau- 


kee  north  of  the  present  county  seat  where  the 
village  had  been  laid  out,  had  become  convinced 
that  their  village  was  upon  ground  too  low  to 
secure  its  location  as  the  seat  of  justice,  and  they 
combined  to  assure  the  commissioners  that  the 
place  where  they  intended  the  village  should  he. 
was  on  the  higher  ground  upon  the  other  side  of 
the  stream. 

In  the  contest  which  followed  we  will  give  the 
reminiscences  of  Major  Evans  Wharry  who  partiei- 
paled  in  the  notable  event  and  was  the  person  more 
than  any  other  one  who  is  responsible  for  the 
present  location  of  the  city  of  Sycamore  and  the 
site  upon  which  the  court  house  now  stands. 

MAJOR  EVANS  WHARRY  S   REMINISEXCE. 

The  following  reminiscence  was  given  bv  Major 
Evans  Wharry  to  V.  Ilix.  in  March,  1S7!).  and  by 
the  hitter  prepared  for  the  "City  Weekly."  Leav- 
ing out  the  introductory  clause,  we  copy  as  fol- 
low-: The  Major  and  a  Mr.  Sharer,  botli  mem- 
ber- of  the  New  York  Land  Company,  came 
here  in  1836,  with  the  view  of  faking  up  a  large 
tract  of  land  in  the  interest  of  the  company.  They 
landed  in  Chicago  in  May,  1836,  and  after  remain- 
in-  in  thai  city  for  a  couple  of  weeks  started  for 
Galena,  by  way  of  Rockford.  Peaching  this  local- 
ity, they  met  with  Dr.  Madden,  formerly  a  resi- 
denl  of  Brush  Point.  Mayfield,  and  at  that  time 
a  member  of  the  Illinois  general  assembly.  Th  • 
project  of  the  formation  of  De  Kalb  county,  then 
a  part  of  Kane  county,  was  being  talked  up.  and 
the  Doctor,  being  favorably  impressed  with  the 
Major  and  the  mission  upon  which  he  was  bent. 
prevailed  upon  hini  to  stop  here  and  assist  him  in 
a  scheme  which  he  had  in  view,  which  was  no 
less  than  to  locate  a  shire  town  for  the  new  coun- 
ty. The  Major,  thinking  favorably  of  the  project, 
consented,  but  did  not  think  the  selection  of  a  site 
for  the  nr\\  county  seat  which  the  Doctor  made, 
a  good  one.    The  site  in  question  was  what  is  now 

the  Thomas  W 1  farm,  half  a  mile  north  of  the 

river  bridge,  and  formerly  well  known  a-  the  Clark 
Wright  place.  The  land  there  is  comparatively  low 
and  level,  and  as  the  Major's  eyes  took  in  the 
elevated  situation  south  of  the  river,  and  upon 
which  the  city  of  Sycamore  now  stands,  he  was  at 
once  of  the  opinion  that  it  should  have  been  se- 
lected.    But   the  Doctor  was   allowed    to  have  his 


PAST    AND    ntESENT   OF   DE   KAMI    COUNTY. 


51 


own  way,  and  the  Major  at  once  commenced  ini 
provements  on  the  quarter  section  chosen,  a  por- 
tion of  which  the  Doctor  was  to  have  for  his  in- 
fluence in  the  legislation  needed  to  locate  the  capi- 
tal town  of  the  count}'.  In  fact,  the  Doctor  am! 
Major  were  mutually  interested,  and  hoth  hoped 
to  realize  handsomely  out  of  their  venture  in  a 
pecuniary  way.  The  Doctor,  by  agreement  between 
the  two.  was  to  have  fifty  of  the  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres.  He  returned  to  Spring-held  to  see  to 
the  appointment  of  a  board  of  commissioners  to 
locate  the  county  seat,  and  the  Major  went  to  work 
in  the  interests  of  the  new  town,  and  had  the  same 
platted  and  placed  on  record  at  Geneva.  He  pur- 
chased Norwegian  Grove,  lying  a  little  to  the  east, 
paying  for  the  same  the  sum  of  four  hundred  dol- 
lars, and  removed  Dr.  Norbo,  a  Norwegian,  who 
gave  the  name  to  the  grove,  to  Geneva:  purchased 
two  or  three  teams  of  oxen,  erected  a  store  on  the 
premises  now  owned  by  Boswell  Dow.  He  also 
bridged  the  river,  constructed  a  dam,  cut  a  mill 
race  from  a  point  near  the  southwest  corner  of 
Norwegian  Grove,  through  the  lowlands  just  north 
of  the  river  bridge,  traces  of  which  remain  to  this 
day.  and  erected  a  sawmill,  and  sought  to  make  the 
place  a  prominent  one  for  those  days.  At  that 
time  the  old  state  road,  running  west  from  Gen- 
eva to  the  Mississippi,  ran  along  the  north  side 
of  Norwegian  Grove,  and  this  fact  may  have  had 
something  to  do  with  the  selection  of  Dr.  Madden 
as  a  member  of  the  legislature. 

While  the  Doctor  was  busy  in  the  legislature  the 
Major  was  busy  at  home.  Commissioners  favor- 
able had  been  selected  by  Madden  and  things 
promised  a  happy  termination.  The  Doctor,  how- 
ever, had  a  deeper  purpose  in  view  than  the  Major 
had  at  first  suspected,  but  which  soon  showed 
itself.  Madden  came  back  in  advance  of  the  com- 
missioners and  insisted  that  he  must  have  mon 
than  the  fifty  acres  at  first  agreed  upon.  At  this 
the  Major  was  taken  somewhat  aback,  but  finally 
consented  to  increase  the  number  of  acres  to  sev- 
enty-five, the  amount  of  land  the  Doctor  thought 
he  ought  to  have.  This  would  have  been  willingly 
acquiesced  in  by  the  Major,  but  just  upon  the 
eve  of  the  selection  of  the  site  by  the  commissioners 
the  Doctor  became  still  more  greedy  and  demanded 
one  hundred  acres.  Then  the  Major's  ire  was 
thoroughly  aroused,  and  in  the  height  of  his  in- 
dignation he  vehemently  told  the  Doctor  to  go  to 


gehenna;  that  he  would  never  give  him  that 
amount  of  land.  The  two  were  now  at  sword's 
points,  and  the  Doctor  at  once  set  about  to  secure 
the  location  of  the  county  seat  at  Brush  Point. 

Apprised  of  his  purpose,  the  Major  quietly  but 
actively  began  to  bestir  himself  to  defeat  the  Doc- 
tor, and  at  once  hired  riders  In  traverse  the  county 
to  enlist  the  citizens  in  his  behalf.  The  commis- 
sioners came,  two  of  them,  and  one  hundred  and 
fifty  men  from  all  parts  of  the  county  met  them 
upon  their  arrival.  The  place  of  meeting  was  at 
the  Major's  store.  The  day  was  spent  in  consulta- 
tion. There  were  several  parties  in  this  part  of  the 
county  who  had  a  location  for  the  county  seat  in 
view,  among  them  Captain  Eli  Barnes,  who  then 
owned  what  is  now  the  John  Burke  farm,  on  the 
De  Kalb  road.  There  was  where  the  Captain 
wanted  it  located.  Then  there  was  Mr.  Calvin  Col- 
ton,  of  Coltonville,  who  desired  its  location  at  his 
place.     Ami  it  was  wanted  by  a  party  from  Genoa. 

On  the  next  day.  the  interest  increasing,  there 
were  two  hundred  men  assembled  at  the  Major's 
headquarters.  The  party  was  mounted  on  horses, 
and  finally,  in  company  with  the  commissioners, 
they  all  started  out  to  inspect  the  different  compet- 
ing localities  for  the  county  seat.  They  crossed 
the  liver  and  halted  first  upon  the  site  the  Major 
had  all  the  time  favored  and  which,  after  his  quar- 
rel with  Madden,  he  determined  to  secure,  if  pos- 
sible, and  that  was  where  the  city  now  stands. 
Here  the  Major  pointed  out  in  eloquent  terms  the 
natural  advantages  of  the  place,  after  which  th? 
party  took  up  the  line  of  march.  It  was  a  jollv 
crowd  and  a  jolly  occasion.  There  was  running  of 
horses,  whooping  and  all  manner  of  fun  afloat. 
Peaching  the  Captain  Barnes  place  they  listened 
to  a  stump  speech  from  the  redoubtable  individ- 
ual and  then  struck  for  Coltonville.  This  localitv 
was  soon  inspected  and  away  they  broke  for  Bruah 
Point.  After  reaching  there  the  Major  invited  the 
party  to  ride  to  the  west  for  a  distance  of  about 
sixty  rods,  which  was  done,  and  they  found  them- 
selves in  the  middle  of  a  large  flat  covered  with 
water.  This,  the  Major  said,  was  the  place  the 
Doctor  had  selected  for  the  county  seat,  for  the 
reason  that  it  would  never  lack  a  supply  of  wate1". 
Then  a  derisive  shout  went  up  at  the  expense  of 
the  Doctor  and  the  party  took  up  the  line  of 
march  for  Genoa.  From  Genoa  they  finished  the 
circuit  by  bringing  up  at  the  Major's  store.     Here 


52 


PAST    AXD    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


a  further  confab  followed  until  finally  one  of  the 
commissioners,  Mr.  Walker,  told  the  party  to  go 
home,  but  to  return  on  the  morrow,  when  the 
county  seat  would  be  located. 

The  eventful  day  arrived  and  so  did  the  crowd. 
The  party  mounted  and  again  visited  each  and 
every  place  they  had  gone  to  the  day  previous, 
with  the  exception  of  Genoa.  The  commissioners 
said  that  Genoa  was  a  nice  place  but  too  near  the 
north  line  of  the  county  to  be  available.  Then 
Commissioner  Walker  spoke  and  informed  tin- 
crowd  that  with  the  concurrence  of  the  other  com- 
missioners (one  of  them  was  absent  in  St.  Louis), 
he  should  designate  the  place  selected  by  Major 
Wharry  for  the  capital  of  the  county.  The  other 
commissioner,  Mr.  Thurston,  who  was  in  close  con- 
fab with  Madden  at  the  time,  refused  to  concur 
with  Walker,  and  advised  that  the  absent  commis- 
sioner be  summoned.  He  was  asked  if  he  would  be 
present  providing  the  absent  man  could  be  got 
here  and  replied  that  he  would  not — that  he  would 
never  come  there  again.  This  exasperated  the 
Major  and  his  friends,  and  they  finally  made  him 
say  as  to  which  of  the  different  sites  visited  h-3 
preferred;  and,  being  considerably  frightened  by 
the  demonstration  made,  said  that  if  he  must,  he 
would  say  that  Wharry'  selection  seemed  the  most 
favorable.  The  matter  was  ended  by  Walker,  who 
stuck  a  stake,  painted  red  at  the  top,  near  where 
the  courthouse  now  stands,  and  the  crowd  drove 
it  four  feet  into  the  ground.  Afterwards  a  hickory 
pole  about  one  hundred  feet  high  was  raised  on 
the  spot  by  the  Major  and  his  friends,  where  it 
stood  with  colors  flying  from  the  top. 

Madden  continued  to  fisrht  against  the  location 
with  all  his  might,  but  the  people  of  the  countv 
came  forth  winners.  The  friends  of  the  Major 
here  were  aided  by  the  settlers  at  the  southern 
extremity  of  the  county  on  the  condition  that  the? 
former  should  aid  them  in  their  desire  to  be  set  off 
and  become  a  part  of  the  county  adjoining  them  on 
the  south,  which  was  agreed  to.  The  support  given 
to  the  Half-Shire  bill  some  years  apo  bv  the  peo- 
ple here  is  said  by  the  Major  to  have  been  in  con- 
squence  of  the  agreement  spoken  of.  but  how  this 
may  be  we  do  not  pretend  to  know  or  to  say. 

The  land  tract  located  by  Major  Wharry  and 
Mr.  ShaTer  in  the  interest  of  the  land  company, 
after  the  agreement  first  entered  into  by  Madden 
and  the  Major,  embraced  two  square  miles  of  land 


with  the  boundaries  as  follows :  Commencing  about 
one  quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  the  Roswell  Dow 
place,  the  west  line  was  run  to  the  south  two 
miles,  thence  to  the  east,  taking  in  a  portion  of 
Ohio  Grove,  and  which  also  included  the  old  Indian 
village,  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Tyler  farm ; 
thence  north  two  miles,  running  to  the  north  of 
Norwegian  Grove,  and  taking  in  the  same,  and 
thence  west  two  miles  to  the  place  of  beginning. 
It  will  thus  be  seen  by  those  familiar  with  the 
section  of  country  embraced  within  the  lines,  tha 
the  tract  included  the  quarter  section  upon  which 
the  county  seat  was  to  be  located,  and  which  is 
now  the  Thomas  Wood  farm.  The  Major  tells  U9 
that  the  tract  was  marked  out  with  a  plow,  four 
yoke  of  oxen  being  used  and  four  days  being  con- 
sumed in  the  undertaking. 

Of  course  the  old  town  north  of  the  river  was 
soon  abandoned  after  the  site  for  the  county  seat 
was  finally  determined  upon.  We  have  already 
spoken  of  Captain  Eli  Barnes-.  The  Captain  is 
accredited  with  building  the  first  house  in  Syca- 
more, the  same  being  the  present  City  Hotel, 
then  known  a=  the  Mansion  House.  Although  the 
first  constructed,  the  Barnes  tavern  was  not  the 
first  house  on  the  ground.  A  little  wooden  build- 
ing had  been  moved  here  from  the  old  Hamlin 
place,  south  of  here,  and  was  occupied  by  a  Dr. 
Bassett,  the  first  physician  of  the  place.  John  C. 
Waterman  and  Charles  Waterman  were  the  first 
merchants.  This  was  in  1839.  This  year  the  old 
courthouse  was  built,  which  stood  nearly  opposite 
the  present  one.  and  was  a  very  primitive  affair. 
The  next  year— 1840— the  village  consisted  of 
about  a  dozen  houses.  Among  other  residents  at 
the  time,  and  whose  names  are  familiar  to  many 
of  our  readers,  were  E.  S.  Jewell,  D.  Banister, 
Jesse  C.  Kellogg,  Carlos  Lattin,  L.  D.  Walrod' 
Jos.  Sixbury,  P.  Love,  and  Marshall  Stark.  The 
M.ivos  and  other  early  settlers  did  not  come  until 
a  year  or  two  later. 

By  the  way,  we  asked  the  Major  how  he  got  his 
title.  We  supposed  he  had  seen  actual  military 
service ;  participated,  perhaps,  in  the  Black  Hawk 
or  some  other  memorable  war,  and  were  anxious 
to  hear  him  recount  his  military  exploits-.  But  in 
this  we  were  disappointed.  He  was  only  Major  of 
a  company  organized  in  the  earliest  days  here  fo; 
protection  against  the  raids  of  the  banditti  of  the 
prairies,  who  infested  this  portion  of  the  west. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


53 


In  the  same  way  Marshall  Stark  got  to  be  colonel 
and  Eli  Barnes  captain.  Many  now  living  re- 
member seeing  Captain  Barnes  at  the  head  of 
Fourth-of-July  processions  in  Sycamore,  dressed  in 
uniform  with  sword  and  pistols,  and  mounted  on 
his  clumsily  caparisoned  steed.  We  remember  him 
well,  and  it  was  with  a  feeling  of  awe  that  we 
gazed  upon  his  stern  features,  and  heard  the  severe 
orders  as  they  issued  from  his  lips  to  those  under 
his  command.    He  has  long  since  been  dead. 

At  the  elections  for  years  there  were  no  election 
tickets  as  now.  A  man  appeared  before  judges  of 
elections,  first  gave  his  name,  then  his  choice  was 
announced  orally  by  him  and  written  down  on  a 
tallv  sheet. 


At  the  beginning  of  the  year  18.38,  the  ma- 
chinery of  the  county  was  fairly  set  in  working 
order  and  it  was  necessary  that  a  term  of  court 
should  be  held  for  the  trial  of  civil  and  criminal 
suits.  The  court  house  not  being  ready  for  oc- 
cupancy it  was  decided  to  hold  the  first  term  of 
the  circuit  court  at  the  residence  of  Rufus  Colton. 
The  first  grand  jurors  of  the  county  were  George 
H.  Hill,  Nathan  Billings,  William  A.  Miller,  Ly- 
sander  Darling,  John  Whitney,  John  Eastabrooks. 
William  Miles,  Henry  Madden,  Eli  Barne- 
Phineas  Stevens,  Alpheus  Jenks,  Russell  D.  Cross- 
ett,  John  Maxfield.  William  Davis,  Maltby  B. 
Cleveland.  D.  S.  Billiard,  Zachariah  Wood,  Ralph 
Wviuan,  Benjamin  Stephens,  Joseph  A.  Ann- 
strong,  Henry  B.  Barber,  Reuben  Nichols,  Justin 
Crafts.  Petit  jurors,  C.  W.  Branch,  E.  P.  White, 
Abner  Jackman,  Peter  Lamoise,  Clark  Wright, 
John  Elliott.  Clark  L.  Barber,  Joseph  A.  Me- 
Collum,  Russell  Huntley,  Ora  A.  Walker,  John 
Corkins,  Solomon  Wells,  H.  N.  Perkins,  Jacob 
Cox,  Lyman  Judd,  Henry  Durham,  P.  A.  Wither- 
spoon,  John  Sebree,  Marshall  Stark,  Jeremian 
Burleigh,  John  Riddle.  William  Russell,  Watson 
Y.  Pomeroy.  Ezra  Hansen.  As  the  coming  circuit 
court  was  expected  to  cause  an  unusual  demand 
for  stationery,  the  clerk  of  the  county  commis- 
sioner's court  was  authorized  to  purchase  two  dol- 
lars %vorth,  and  in  addition  was  voted  the  sum  of 
ten  dollars  to  pay  for  a  book  of  record. 

Three  tavern  licenses  were  granted  this  vear — 
one  to  Russell  Huntley,  at  what  is  now  the  city  of 
De  Kalb,  one  to  John  Eastabrooks  at  Squaw  Grove, 
and  one  to  H.  N.  Perkins  at  the  present  village  of 


Genoa,  and  to  guard  against  extortion  the  board 
enacted  that  the  rates  for  the  government  tavern 
keepers  for  the  ensuing  year  be  as  follows :  For 
each  meal  of  victuals,  thirty-one  cents;  for  lodg- 
ing each  person,  twelve  and  a  half  cents;  for  each 
horse  to  hay  over  night,  twelve  and  a  half  cents; 
for  each  bushel  of  oats,  seventy-five  cents.  These 
were  great  prices  in  those  days,  and  were  more 
than  were  usually  charged.  Two  years  later,  the 
price  of  a  dinner  in  De  Kalb  county  was  twelve 
and  a  half  cents,  and  a  man  was  boarded  for  a 
week  for  one  dollar.  The  total  of  the  county  tax 
levied  the  first  year  of  its  political  existence  was 
two  hundred  and  sixteen  dollars  and  fifty  cents, 
but  the  deputy  sheriff,  James  Phillips,  after  work- 
ing through  the  winter  was  unable  to  collect  more 
than  eighty-fouT  dollars  and  thirty-seven  cents.  In 
August  of  this  year  three  new  county  commis- 
si, mers  were  elected.  They  were  Eli  G.  Jewell, 
Burrage  Hough,  and  Henry  Hix.  They  were 
partisans  <>!'  the  Orange  people  in  the  county 
seal  contest,  and  ordered  that  the  October 
of  court  be  held  in  the  house  of  Captain  Eli 
Barnes,  which  was  then  supposed  to  be  under 
.mist ruction.  Captain  Barnes'  house  existed  only 
in  imagination  and  Mr.  Colton,  clerk  of  the 
circuit  court  had  made  all  processes  returnable 
at  his  residence.  The  ignus  fatui  was  still  dazzling 
before  his  eyes  and  he  hoped  still  with  the  aid  of 
Dr.  Madden  to  have  it  located  there.  At  this  time 
Coltonville  was  the  largest  village  of  the  county, 
it  had  a  store,  a  tavern,  a  blacksmith  shop,  a  doc- 
tor, a  lawyer,  and  some  of  its  citizens  were  plan- 
ning the  erection  of  a  distillery. 

Madden  and  Colton  both  being  sorely  vexed  at 
being  overruled  in  their  choice  of  a  county  seat, 
had  put  their  heads  together  to  procure  a  removal 
by  combining  against  Orange  the  two  parties  who 
favored  Brush  Point  and  Coltonville;  and  they 
managed  it  in  this  wise.  Mr.  Madden,  who  was 
still  a  member  of  the  legislature,  had  during  the 
last  winter's  session,  procured  the  passage  of  an 
act  providing  that  a  vote  should  be  taken  first  for 
or  against  the  removal  of  the  county  seat  from 
Orange.  It  was  presumed  that  the  two  partiesi  fa- 
voring Brush  Point  and  Coltonville  would  combine 
and  could  carry  this  measure,  for  removal.  In  that 
case  a  second  vote  was  to  be  taken  upon  Colton- 
ville or  Brush  Point,  and  the  place  receiving  the 
highest  number  of  votes  was  to  be  the  county  seat 


54 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


Madden  returned,  and  made  no  public  mention 
of  the  passage  of  this  act.  but  it  was  strongly  sus- 
pected by  the  Orange  men,  that  something  of  this 
kind  had  been  done,  and  was  to  ho  -put  through  on 
the  sly."  It  was  finally  discovered  in  this  way. 
A  certain  bachelor  of  Genoa,  Gleason  by  name,  who 
was  attached  to  the  Orange  party,  invaded  th 
Brush  Point  settlement  one  Sunday  night,  in 
search  of  a  wife.  From  his  fair  Dulcinea,  he 
learned  to  his  surprise,  that  on  the  next  Monday 
week,  an  election  was  to  be  held  in  that  settle- 
ment to  remove  the  county  seat.  Gleason  informed 
bis  friends  of  what  he  had  heard,  and  it  was 
agreed  that  the  Orange  men  should  meet  them  ,r 
the  polls  and  vote  the  removal  project  '!<>«  a.  J.  C 
Kellogg  and  E.  G.  Jewell  were  dispatched  south  in 
the  night  to  rouse  their  Eriends  in  Somonauk. 

In  due  time  the  polls  were  opened,  and  to  the 
surprise  of  the  Brush  Pointers,  were  opened  in 
those  precincts  opposed  to  the  change,  as  well  as 
those  which  favored  it.  The  unfairness  of  the 
sei  re1  conspiracy  was  so  apparent  that  in  Som- 
onauk precinct,  which  then  included  six  townships. 
forty-five  of  the  forty-seven  votes  cast  were  again 
removal.  The  project  was  voted  down  by  seven- 
teen majority,  in  the  whole  county. 

Coltonville  had  grown  since  the  summer  before 
when  the  first  term  of  the  county  commissioners 
court    was  held  there.     There  were   lour  or   five 

bouses  there  now.  but  how  the  crowd  of  | pie  that 

a—rmbled  on  this  memorable  occasion  was  pro- 
vided for  must  every  ever  be  a  mystery  to  futur 
generations.  The  first  term  of  the  court  was  held 
in  a  small  framed  house  one  story  and  a  half  in 
height,  which,  a  few  years  after,  was  moved  down 
to  Sycamore,  and  is  now  the  residence  of  W.  W. 
Bryant,  and  standing  nearly  opposite  the  Univer- 
salis! church.  Hon.  John  Pearson,  the  judge,  re- 
sided at  Danville,  Vermilion  county,  and  the  ex- 
tent of  his  circuit  may  be  judged  from  this  fact. 
lie  was  subsequently  removed  for  incompetence. 
Eufus  Colton  was  the  clerk,  and  Amasa  Hunting- 
ton states  attorney.  There  were  but  twenty  suits 
upon  the  docket,  none  of  them  sharply  contested 
cases.  The  first  suit  was  one  in  which  Erasmus  D. 
Walrod  was  plaintiff  and  Stephen  Harwood  was 
defendant,  but  before  the  trial  commenced  it  was 
settled  by  agreement  of  parties — a  good  first  ex- 
ample which  has  not  since  been  followed  so  close- 


ly as  would  have  been  to  the  advantage  of  the 
county. 

The  duty  of  the  twenty-four  grand  jurors  and 
the  states  attorney,  were  ended  when  they  had 
found  an  indictment  against  one  William  Taylor 
for  passing  counterfeit  money.  Taylor  was  sup- 
posed to  be  one  of  an  organized  gang  that  even  at 
i  In-  early  day  was  infesting  the  country,  and 
swindling  the  honest  i  ttizens.  Not  being  ready  Eo  ■ 
trial,  lie  was  retained  in  charge  of  the  county 
until  the  next  term.  After  being  comfortabh 
boarded  for  several  weeks  by  the  Barber  family 
the  county  commissioners  ordered  him  to  the  Will 
county  jail,  at  Joliet,  which  was  then  the  nearest 
available  place  of  confinement;  and  out  of  the 
scantily  furnished  treasury  of  the  county  they  paid 
forty-five  dollars  to  a  guard  for  conveying  him 
there.  When  he  was  next  brought  out  for  trial 
he  escaped  from  the  guard  ami  was  seen  no  move 
in  this  section  of  the  country  ;  and  when  in  addi- 
tion this  misfortune,  the  Will  county  jailor  sent  in 
a  bill  for  twenty-five  dollars  for  his  board,  it  bank- 
rupted the  treasury;  the  commissioners  indignant- 
ly refused  to  allow  it  and  demanded  the  items. 
Alter  this  dear  experience  in  the  capture  of  crim- 
inals it  became  the  policy  to  overlook  all  crimes 
that  were  aot  too  public  and  hienous,  and  when 

ffense  had  been  committed  that  could  not  be 

overlooked,  the  county  officers  sometimes  contrived 
that  a  hint  should  he  given  to  the  offender  that  he 
would  probably  he  arrested,  ami  that  it  would  be 
expedient  for  him  to  leave  the  country  before  that 
event  should  occur.  In  this  way  they  rid  them- 
selves of  the  elephant.  In  December  of  this  year, 
a  meeting  el1  county  commissioners  provided  for 
ascertaining  upon  what  section  of  land  the  coun- 
u  seat  had  Keen  placed.  The  county  had  not  yet 
been  surveyed  by  the  United  States.  Nobody  knew 
where  the  boundaries  of  the  county  were,  nor  were 
any  other  lines  definitely  ascertained.  It  wa- 
necessarv  that  the  county  should  first  make  ite 
pre-emption  claim  to  the  quarter  sect  inn  that  ths 
law  required  it  should  own.  a-  private  individuals 
made  their  claims,  and  then  should  survey  and  sell 
the  village  lots:  out  of  the  proceeds  of  which  sale 
the  public  buildings  were  to  be  erected,  guarantee- 
ing of  course  to  the  purchasers,  that  when  the  land 
came  in  market  the  county  would  purchase  ami 
pay  for  it. 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


:,:, 


For  this  purpose  the  commissioners  duly  author- 
ized and  directed  Eli  G.  Jewell  to  obtain  the  ser- 
vices of  a  surveyor  and  bring  a  line  or  lines  from 
some  survey  made  under  the  authority  of  the  ge 
eral  government  down  to  the  county  seat,  and  ther 
cause  a  number  of  town  lots  not  exceeding  eighty, 
to  be  laid  out,  platted  and  recorded,  the  expense 
of  which  survey  it  was  prudently  provided  should 
be  paid  out  of  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the  lots. 
At  this  term  the  rate  of  compensation  to  jurors 
was  fixed  at  seventy-five  cents  per  day,  but  at  this 
rate  was  found  to  cause  a  heavy  drain  upon  the 
treasury,  it  was  subsequently  reducted  to  fiftv 
cents. 

Frederic  Love  was  appointed  first  school  com- 
missioner for  the  county,  and  was  also  granted  a 
license  to  keep  a  tavern.  Love's  capacious  cabin 
was  as  public  a  place  as  any  in  the  county.  He 
called  it  Oenterville,  and  hoped  that  at  some  time 
it  would  become  the  county  seat.  Henry  iHirham 
of  Genoa,  was  granted  a  merchant's  license  at  this 
term  of  the  court.  A  few  years  later,  the  village 
at  that  point  had  become  the  largest  and  most, 
lively  in  the  county.  In  September,  1838,  Shab- 
bona,  the  old  Indian,  employed  James  S.  Water- 
man to  survey  the  two  sections  of  land  which  the 
government  had  granted  him  in  that  section  of 
the  country.  During  this  year  a  company  under 
the  name  of  Jenks  &  Company,  representing  con- 
siderable capital,  constructed  a  mill  upon  the  Kish- 
wakee,  in  the  present  town  of  De  Kalb  on  the 
land  now  occupied  by  Albert  Schryvers  farm,  and 
projected  a  village  which,  however,  was  never  built 
up.  The  large  barn  now — 1867 — standing  upon 
that  farm  was  one  of  the  first  framed  buildings  in 
the  county,  and  was  used  on  several  occasions  for 
the  religious  services  of  the  quarterly  meetings 
of  the  Methodists. 

The  year  1839  was  memorable  as  one  of  great 
suffering  among  the  new  settlers,  from  sickness. 
During  the  spring  and  autumn  Tivonths.  over  most 
of  the  county,  there  were  hardly  enough  of  the 
well  to  take  proper  care  of  the  sick.  Ague  and 
bilious  fevers  were  the  prevailing  diseases.  They 
resulted  from  the  close  proximity  to  the  groves  and 
streams  to  which  the  new  comers  all  built  their 
houses,  and  were  aided  by  the  insufficient  and  com- 
fortless little  dwellings;  also  by  the  bad  surface 
water  from  the  sloughs  which  they  used  in  the 
want   of   well    of   proper   depth    to    supply   water 


which  was  pure.  It  was  difficult  also,  to  secure 
medical  attendance  and  the  physicians  who  prac- 
ticed through  the  country,  rarely  had  a  sufficient 
supply  of  medicine.  A  citizen  relates  his  disap- 
pointment when  after  having  gone  shaking  with 
ague  seven  miles  on  foot  to  a  doctor  for  a  dose 
of  quinine,  the  doctor  told  him  solemnly,  "No 
young  man,  I  can't  let  you  have  it;  you  are  young, 
and  can  wear  out  the  disease.  I  must  save  my 
little  supply  for  cases  in  which  it  is  needed  to  save 
life,  for  I  don't,  know  when  I  shall  be  able  to  ob- 
tain any  more." 

Deaths  were  numerous,  and  the  few  carpenters 
in  the  country  who  were  able  to  work,  were  at 
times  busy  night  and  day  in  making  coffins.  It 
was  noticed  that  one  settlement  on  the  border  of 
the  county,  in  Franklin,  afterward  known  as  the 
Pennsylvania  settlement,  was  quite  free  from  the 
prevalent  diseases.  The  three  or  four  houses  that 
composed  this  little  village,  were  built  by  Dr. 
Hobart.  Albert  Fields,  and  William  Ramsey,  two 
miles  from  the  timbered  lands  and  in  the  middle 
of  the  prairie.  To  this  was  due  their  exemption 
from  disease. 

The  water  problem  in  a  new  country  seemed  to 
be  a  most  serious  one,  for  had  these  settlers  been 
provided  with  pure  water,  how  much  suffering  and 
death  might  have  been  avoided.  In  1839  there 
were  more  cases  of  typhoid  fever,  and  more  deaths 
resulting  therefrom  out  of  a  population  of  about 
twelve  hundred,  that  our  county  then  possessed, 
than  there  has  been  in  the  last  five  years  of  our 
history  and  with  a  population  of  over  thirty  thou- 
sand. 

Slough  wells  were  about  the  only  sources  of 
drinking  water.  Even  as  late  as  1842  Sycamore 
had  but  three  wells  fit  for  use.  Many  instances 
of  suffering  are  related,  and  the  medical  attend- 
ance was  of  little  service  and  difficult  to  get. 
Trained  nurses  were  unknown.  The  afflicted  were 
at  the  mercy  of  the  good  neighbors  and  a  new 
attendant  came  each  evening. 

Later  came  the  deep  bricked  well,  then  the 
tubular  well,  which  made  far  better  health  and 
disproved  the  old  theory  that  settlements  away 
from  running  water  were  impracticable. 

But  the  citizens  in  the  vicinity  of  the  countv 
seat  found  time  to  build  a  new  court  house.  The 
survey  lines  ordered  by  the'  county  commissioners, 
bad  been  brought  down  from  the  neighborhood  of 


56 


PAST   AND   PRESENT   OE   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


Roekford,  where  some  government  surveying  had 
already  been  done,  and  the  village  of  Sycamore 
was  staked  out.  The  inhabitants  of  this  place  for 
all  future  time,  may  thank  Captain  Eli  Barnes 
and  James  S.  Waterman  for  the  broad  streets  that 
now  add  so  much  to  the  beauty  of  the  village. 
To  many  of  the  people,  they  seemed,  at  the  time, 
unnecessarily  wide,  but  the  sensible  plea  that 
there  was  a  whole  continent  of  prairie  before  them, 
and  that  when  Sycamore  became  a  city  they  would 
be  needed  to  accommodate  its  business,  prevailed, 
and  they  were  laid  out  one  hundred  feet  wide. 
From  the  time  the  village  was  laid  out.  its  original 
name  of  Orange  was  dropped,  and  Sycamore 
adopted  by  common  consent. 

During  the  previous  winter,  Captain  Barnes  had 
got  together  materials  for  building  a  spacious 
tavern  at  the  new  county  scat,  ami  early  in  the 
spring  it  was  erected — the  first  building  put  up  in 
this  village.  It  is  still  standing,  directly  east  of 
the  public  square,  and  has  ever  since  been  oc- 
cupied as  a  hotel.  As  an  inducement  for  build- 
ing it,  ii  was  agreed  that  the  block  on  which  it 
stands  should  be  given  to  the  Captain,  free  of 
cost. 

This  hostelry  built  of  hewn  timber  in  1839  was 
the  first  frame  house  built  in  the  town  and  stood 
for  many  years  on  the  site  of  the  Sycamore  Car- 
negie Library.  Knur  year-  ago  it  iv;i-  removed  about 
about  one  hundred  feet  to  the  southeast  of  its  old 
site,  where  it  was  repaired  and  is  still  occupied  as  a 
hotel.  The  old  timbers  were  in  good  state  of 
preservation  and  the  "Old  Mansion  House,"  as  it 
w;is  once  called,  bids  fair  to  remain  another  seventy 
years  as  a  monument  to  Captain  Barnes,  for  this 
building  placed  Sycamore  more  firmly  "on  the 
map"  and  was  sought  by  the  weary  traveler  on  his 
search  for  a  home,  or  the  farmer  who  was  com- 
pelled to  market  his  produce  in  Chicago  by  mears 
of  ox  teams,  or  a  little  later  by  the  then  swiftest 
freight,  the  horse  team. 

For  years  this  was  called  "Barnes'  Folly,"  and 
was  supposed  to  be  unnecessary  in  so  small  a  town. 
After  this,  other  buildings  followed  so  that  we 
may  truthfully  say  that  Captain  Barnes  set  an 
example  that  was  followed,  and  for  fifty  years 
Sycamore  has  been  known  as  a  well-built,  pretty 
city. 

The  village  having  been  laid  out,  the  commis- 
sioners directed  Mr.  Jewell  to  proceed  to  sell  lots 


at  public  auction,  and  with  the  proceeds  to  con- 
tract for  building  a  courthouse  ami  jail. 

The  auction  was  held,  and  the  bidding  was 
spirited.  Some  fifteen  or  twenty  lots  were  sold  at 
prices  ranging  from  twenty  to  fifty  dollars.  Among 
the  purchasers  were  Frederick  Love,  J.  C.  Kel- 
logg, James  S.  Waterman,  Harvey  Maxtiehl.  Dan- 
iel Bannister.  Almon  Robinson,  Erastus  Barnes, 
and  Timothy  Wells. 

The  proceeds  of  the  sale  constituted  a  little 
fund  out  of  which,  some  of  the  materials  for  the 
courthouse  were  then  purchased.  Those  most  in- 
terested in  the  matter  then  took  teams  and  drove  to 
all  the  sawmills  in  the  country  round,  and  begged 
or  bought,  or  traded  for  the  necessary  lumber. 
The  labor  upon  the  building  was  done  by  voluntary 
contribution.  Everyone  could  do  something  and 
all  worked  with  a  will. 

By  the  time  fixed  for  the  June  session  of  the 
circuit  court,  a  two-story  building  twenty  by  thirty 
feet  had  been  enclosed,  and  the  county  commis- 
sioners, who  were  hastily  summoned  together,  or- 
dered their  clerk  of  the  court  to  notify  the  judge 
of  the  circuit  court  that  they  had  erected  a  court- 
house at  the  county  seat,  and  that  it  was  ready  foi 
i  ©  upancy,  and  requested  that  he  direct,  the  circuit 
clerk  to  keep  his  office  there. 

Captain  Barnes  served  the  order  upon  the  judgo 
now  sitting  in  court  at  Coltonville,  and  the  crowd 
of  attendants,  augmented  by  a  large  body  of  citi- 
zens assembled  to  see  what  action  would  be  taken 
upon  this  order,  awaited  with  great  interest  the 
argument  upon  the  proposition  to  remove  to  Svca- 
more.  When  the  judge  decided  that  the  court 
must  hi-  removed  thence  a  shout  of  triumph  went 
up  from  the  Svcamore  party,  while  the  opponents 
of  removal  were  correspondingly  depressed.  Judge 
Ford  took  his  record  under  his  arm,  States  Attor- 
ney Purple  bundled  up  his  papers,  the  sheriff,  the 
lawyers,  juries,  parties  and  witnesses  followed  suit. 
and  led  by  Captain  Barnes,  on  that  well-known 
spotted  horse  that  he  rode  upon  all  public  occa- 
sions for  more  than  twenty  years  later,  all  took 
up  their  line  of  march  through  the  thick  woods 
and  across  the  green  prairie,  to  the  new  seat  of 
empire  at  Sycamore.  The  assemblage  was  enter- 
tained at  a  grand  public  dinner  at  the  new  tavern, 
where  all  the  luxuries  that  the  country  afforded 
were  freely  provided  by  the  successful  party. 


CAPTAIN  ELI  BABNES. 


HON.  LEVI  LEE. 


CLEMENT  COMBS. 


LIC] 


OR,    LENOX 
M  FOUND^TI'JW.H. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


59 


When  the  court  repaired  to  the  new  courthouse, 
it  was  found  that  the  courthouse  was  ready  for 
occupancy,  was  rather  more  than  its  condition  war- 
ranted. It  had  a  frame,  a  roof,  and  some  siding 
upon  it,  but  there  were  no  doors  nor  windows,  and 
the  only  floor  was  some  loose  boards  covering  one- 
half  of  the  upper  story.  When  the  officers  of  the 
court  had  clambered  up  to  the  seat  of  justice  in 
the  second  story,  it  found  furniture  somewhat 
scarce.  A  tilting  table  was  the  judge's  desk,  and 
a  broad,  rough  board  was  provided  for  the  clerks 
and  attorneys  tables — et  preeterea  nihil.  It  was  a 
rough  and  primitive  arrangement  for  the  enter- 
tainment of  the  blind  goddess,  and  if  she  had  had 
her  ryes  about  her  she  would  have  fled  from  the 
spot  in  alarm.  A  question  arose  whether  process 
having  been  made  returnable  at  Coltonville,  suits 
could  lir  tried  at  another  locality,  and  except  a  few 
agreed  cases,  no  litigation  was  carried  on.  Wil- 
liam Taylor,  the  only  criminal,  having  fortunately 
run  away,  and  the  arrest  of  all  others  being  care- 
fully avoided,  there  was  no  use  for  a  grand  jury, 
and  it  bad  been  at  once  dismissed,  and  tile  court 
speedily  adjourned. 

The  commissioners'  court  at  the  June  session, 
divided  the  county  into  three  assessment  districts. 

The  districts  of  Franklin.  Kingston,  and  Kish- 
waukee  constituted  the  first,  and  of  this  J.  F.  Page 
was  chosen  assessor.  Sycamore,  Orange  and  Ohio 
districts  made  the  second,  and  of  this.  Austin  Hay- 
den  was  assessor.  Somonauk  and  Paw  Paw  made 
the  third,  and  of  this  Stephen  Arnold  was  asse"- 
sor.  The  three  assessors  were  each  paid  I'm'  three 
days"  service  in  assessing  the  entire  property  of 
the  county. 

At  the  August  election,  John  E.  Hamlin  was 
chosen  clerk  of  the  county  commissioners'  court, 
ami  Lysander  Darling,  county  treasurer,  in  place 
(if  George  H.  Hill.  William  M.  Maxfield  was 
chosen  county  collector.  Alpheus  Jenks.  recorder. 

In  this  year,  the  land  in  three  northern  town- 
>hi]i>  which  had  previously  been  surveyed  by  the 
United  States,  was  put  in  the  market.  It  was  a 
part  of  what  was  called  the  Rockford  or  Polish 
survey. 

The  United  States  government,  in  sympathy 
with  the  Poles  who  had  just  been  overwhelmed 
in  their  contest  for  their  independence  by  the 
power  of  Russia,  had  made  a  grant  of  a  large  tract 
of  land  on  the  banks  of  the  Rock  river  to  such  of 


that  nation  as  chose  to  settle  upon  it.  It  was  ac- 
cordingly surveyed  some  years  earlier  than  most 
of  this  part  of  the  state.  Very  lew  of  that  nation, 
however,  availed  themselves  of  this  privilege. 
Claims  bad  been  made  on  the  same  land  by  other 
and  earlier  settlers.  These  combined  to  drive 
away  the  new  claimants.  Numerous  little  stock- 
ade forts  were  built  with  loop  holes  for  muskets, 
and  a  determination  was  expressed  to  drive  the 
Polish  emigrants  out  of  the  country,  and  they  were 
entirely  successful.  They  never  occupied  their 
grant. 

At  Coltonville,  the  large  two-story  house  still 
standing  there  was  built  this  year  for  a  tavern, 
and  was  opened  with  a  grand  ball  in  the  autumn. 
Tn  make  a  sufficient  party,  the  whole  country  was 
summoned.  Some  twenty  of  the  guests  came  from 
Oregon,  thirty  miles  west,  and  as  many  more  froi: 
St.  Charles,  twenty  miles  to  the  east. 

We  have  had  the  pleasure  of  talking  with  one 
who  came  as  a  guest  and  this  was  at  the  time  re- 
garded as  the  most  notable  social  function  of  tlv 
county.  The  dance  lasted  all  night,  and  by  morn- 
ing light  many  had  become  intoxicated.  Whisky 
sold  for  a  cent  a  glass  at  the  tavern  bar,  but  on 
the  whole,  good  order  and  merriment  reigned  su- 
preme. The  music  was  the  best  ever  danced  to  at 
-that  time.     It  was  a  noted  event. 

In  the  summer  of  the  previous  year,  a  conven- 
tion was  held  at  Ottawa  to  nominate  candidates 
for  the  legislature.  Delegates  went  from  Orange, 
now  called  Sycamore,  to  see  that  men  favorable  to 
their  point  as  the  count v  seat  should  be  nominated, 
and  they  selected  William  Stadden  for  senator 
ami  J.  W.  Churchill  for  the  assembly.  But  they 
were  disappointed  in  their  men.  At  the  winter'- 
session,  another  act  was  passed  authorizing  a  vote 
upon  the  removal  of  the  county  seat. 

The  session  laws  in  these  times  were  not  circu- 
lated till  six  months  after  the  sitting  of  the  legisla- 
ture, and  before  any  opponents  of  removal  were 
aware  of  the  existence  of  such  an  act,  the  time  had 
arrived  for  a  vote  upon  the  question. 

A  poll  book  was  opened  at  Coltonville.  a  dozen 
\oies  or  so  were  cast  for  removal  to  that  place, 
and  the  terms  of  the  law  were  considered  to  be 
complied  with.  The  seat  of  justice  technically  was 
removed. 

But  Kellogg,  the  county  commissioners'  clerk, 
refused  to  deliver  the  books.     He  was  arrested  and 


60 


PAST    AXD    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


tried  before  Justice  Harvey  Maxfield,  and  after  a 
savage,  wordy  warfare,  was  discharged. 

The  total  receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  coun- 
tv  this  year  amounted  to  the  sum  of  tour  hundred 
and  fifty-two  dollars  and  fifteen  cents,  a  very  mod- 
erate amount  considering  that  a  courthouse  had 
heeii  constructed,  and  that,  although  built  from 
another  fund,  it  naturally  increased  some  of  the 
county  expenses. 

G  \Mi:  OF  PIONEEB  HAYS. 

The  boy  or  man,  as  he  scours  the  prairies,  the 
wnods  and  the  few  undrained  swamps  for  the  game 
that  is  now  so  scarce,  little  dreams,  perhaps,  of  the 
days  when  men,  not  now  fifty,  with  a  single  bar- 
reled muzzle-loading  shot  gun  or  rifle  did  not 
need  to  wear  out  much  boot-leather  to  bring  home 
enough  game  for  himself  anil  neighbors. 

The  writer  well  remembers  hearing  John  Mullen 
of  May  field,  tell  how  he  and  his  son.  Phillip,  killed 
seven  deer  before  breakfast  in  the  early  '50s.  Wild 
cats  were  numerous  in  the  woods  and  many  of 
them  were  killed  by  the  pioneers.  The  last  one 
killed  in  our  count]  so  Ear  as  we  know  was  killed 
on  the  farm  owned  by  Albert  < loir  in  Kingston 
township  in  1885. 

The  last  lynx  killed  in  our  county  was  in  Squaw 
Grove  in  May.  1867,  ami  previous  to  that  the\ 
were  dispatched  in  different  portions  of  the  county. 

Here  is  a  true  story  that  smacks  of  true  pioneer 
days :  At  the  Brush  Point  school  house  in  May* 
field  on  presidential  election.  November,  1856. 
Houton  Graham  appeared  with  a  heavy  Kentucky 
rifle  on  his  shoulder  to  vote  for  his  favorite  candi- 
date. Buchanan.  Many  of  his  admirers  called  him 
"Buekanan,"  and  some  abbreviated  it  to  "Buck.'; 
Houton  Graham  remarked  after  depositing  his  oal- 
lot  that  he  had  voted  for  "Buck"  and  now  he  would 
go  into  the  woods  and  kill  one :  which  boast  was 
faithfully  carried  out  and  on  the  next  day  "Uncle 
Hout"  had  venison  for  dinner. 

Who  of  the  old  residenters  does  not  remember 
the  millions  of  wild  pigeons  that  on  certain  days 
in  autumn  almost  darkened  the  sky  in  their  south- 
ward flight.  During  those  day-  the  greenest  huntei 
might  sit  hidden  within  shooting  distance  of  some 
dead  tree  in  the  woods  and  shoot  scores  of  them  in 
a  day.  Their  haunts  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee 
were  visited  bv  many  naturalists.     Audubon  tells 


us  that  hundreds  of  limbs  were  broken  beneath 
their  weight.  They  have  been  thought  by  many 
to  be  now  extinct,  but  their  breeding  places  are 
now  in  the  sparsely  settled  timberland  regions  of 
South  America,  and  they  have  again  appeared  m 
the  northern  portions  of  Wisconsin  and  Michigan. 

The  stately  sand  hill  crane  is  a  bird  of  the  past 
in  this  vicinity.  They  reared  their  young  in  the 
center  of  a  large  swamp  out  of  the  hunters'  reach 
ami  built  their  nests  in  a  conical  mound  made  oi 
rashes  and  swamp  grass,  and  when  hatched  took 
them  on  their  backs  to  the  shore.  The  sand  hill 
crane  stood  more  than  four  feet  when  full  grown, 
was  difficult  to  hunt,  and  when  wounded  would 
fight  desperately.  Their  flesh  was  considered  a 
great  delicacy.  They  would  light  on  a  high  knoil 
where  they  could  spy  the  approaching  enemy  and 
perform  some  queer  antics  which  some  have  called 
a  dance.  Tin  \  flew  at  great  height  and  were 
exceptionally  cautious,  so  that  few  indeed  are  the 
hunters  who  can  boast  of  having  killed  one. 

The  water  fowl  are  still  seen,  but  not  one-hun- 
dredth new  of  what  they  were  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury ago. 

In  the  middle  sixties  two  men  hid  in  some  wil- 
lows near  a  pond  on  the  farm  of  Win.  Wike  and 
during  one  afternoon  killed  ducks  enough  to  fill 
a  wash  boiler.     Now  Prof.  Stout  wears  out  tine 
pairs  of  boots  to  kill  one  poor  little  teal  duck. 

The  figure  four,  a  trap  devised  for  the  capture 
of  quail,  destroyed  its  tens  of  thousands,  and  not 
until  within  the  last  i'vw  years,  since  they  have 
been  protected  by  stringent  laws  and  the  game 
wardens  have  broughl  them  into  this  section  from 
Virginia,  has  the  familiar  whistle  of  "bob  white" 
be. mi  heard  as  in  days  of  old.  They  are  now  quite 
tame,  and  during  the  winter  feed  around  our  barns. 
The  crow  now  seems  to  be  the  most  dangerous 
enemy  of  the  quail  and  prairie  chicken.  They 
destroy  the  nests  in  large  numbers,  eating  the 
eggs  and  very  young  birds. 

Old  settlers  tell  us  that  after  grain  was  grown 
on  the  prairies  these  birds  rapidly  increased,  but 
as  soon  as  the  crow  in  large  numbers  appeared  ami 
the  hunters  from  city  and  town  would  camp  out 
and  destroy  hundreds  of  quail  and  prairie  chicken 
in  a  day  or  two,  they  rapidly  disappeared.  The 
crow  is  an  enemy  of  every  kind  of  bird  and  it  must 
and  is  being  reckoned  with,  for  in  many  counties 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


61 


a  bounty  is  given  for  the  destruction  of  this  pro- 
lific black  thief  of  the  winged  tribe. 

'The  streams  abounded  in  most  excellent  varie- 
ties of  fish,  such  as  pickerel,  bass,  catfish,  and  other 
kinds,  but  they  seined  and  speared  until  now  the 
"Izaak  Waltons"  must  be  patient  indeed  if  from 
our  Kishwaukee  we  can  even  secure  suckers  or  carp 
sufficient  for  our  dinner. 

The  days  of  hunting  for  any  game  are  practically 
over,  and  like  the  buffalo  that  once  roamed  over  a 
greater  portion  of  our  country,  the  remaining  va- 
rieties of  the  once  innumerable  beasts,  fowl  and 
fishes,  sought  by  the  hunters  of  the  past  are  fast 
disappearing  and  with  them  that  type  of  American 
known  as  the  hunter  and  trapper  with  many  traits 
of  the  Indian,  who  in  the  earlier  days  of  national 
life  made  a  soldier  unsurpassed  in  the  annals  of 
war  and  made  glorious  our  arms  in  the  Revolution, 
War  of  1812  and  the  War  with  Mexico. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  DeKalb  county  pioneers 
when  game  abounded,  many  are  the  exciting  inci- 
dents that  were  participated  in  by  hunters  long 
since  gone  to  "the  happy  hunting  ground." 

When  one  realizes  that  a  citizen  now  living  ha*, 
seen  as  high  as  thirty  deer  in  a  herd,  and  that  they 
were  as  numerous  almost  as  rabbits  are  now,  we 
can  see  how  rapid  was  the  wanton  destruction  of 
this  noble  game,  for  in  about  a  third  of  a  century 
after  Jack  Sebree.  our  first  permanent  settler, 
made  his  home  in  Squaw  Grove,  they  had  disap- 
peared. 

R.  F.  Watson  of  Franklin  and  Solomon  Wells 
and  William  Driscoll  killed  more  than  one  hun- 
dred of  these  animals,  and  at  times  counted  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  in  a  drove.  In  cold 
weather  when  snow  was  deep  the  deer  would  often 
mingle  with  the  cattle  and  feed  on  hay  and  grain, 
but  the  temptation  of  the  hunter  could  not  be 
resisted  and  his  fate  was  certain  on  such  occasions. 

We,  who  are  now  two  score  years  of  age,  can  well 
remember  how  many  of  the  barns,  granaries  and 
other  farm  buildings  were  ornamented  with  the 
antlers  of  the  deer,  and  they  were  exhibited  as  a 
testimonial  to  the  hunter's  skill — much  the  same 
way  in  which  an  Indian  warrior  wore  the  scalps  of 
victims  to  exhibit  his  military  prowess. 

During  the  severe  winter  of  1842  when  the 
ground  was  covered  for  months  with  deep  snow, 
and  deer  and  other  game  sought  the  barnyard  for 
food,  hundreds  of  deer  were  ruthlessly  destroyed. 


To  add  to  the  discomfiture  ef  this  timid  game, 
a  thaw  came  which  lasted  for  a  day  or  two,  and 
then  came  cold  weather,  making  an  icy  crust  over 
the  snow,  thick  enough  to  carry  a  man,  but  not 
sufficiently  thick  to  prevent  the  sharp  hoof  of  a 
deer  from  breaking  through. 

At  such  times  the  deer,  if  unmolested,  would 
make  paths  or  runways  leading  from  their  usual 
haunts  to  their  feeding  and  watering  places. 

The  morning  after  the  freezing,  W.  Scott,  who 
kept  some  hounds,  George  Wood,  Sr.,  A.  B.  Green, 
S.  Gregory  and  others  from  Genoa  started  for  the 
woods  west  of  town  and  in  what  is  now  Kingston, 
came  upon  their  doomed  quarry. 

The  fleet  hounds  soon  overtook  the  poor  animals 
plunging  through  the  crusted  snow  and  would  nab 
ami  harry  them  until  the  bulldog  would  overtake 
the  deer  and  seize  them  by  the  throat  and  soon 
end  the  struggle.  In  this  way  seven  deer  were 
dispatched  in  a  few  hours.  Another  early  Genoa 
hunter  well  remembers  how  the  wolves  would  easily 
kill  the  deer  at  such  times,  by  hiding  along  the 
runways  while  others  of  the  pack  would  chase  them 
into  the  pitfall. 

One  of  the  exciting  events  of  the  early  days  in 
Genoa  was  a  "wolf  hunt"  some  time  in  the  early 
'40s.  This  called  out  the  men  and  boys  generally. 
They  met  at  the  village  of  Genoa,  then  about  as 
large  and  enterprising  as  any  in  our  county,  and 
chose  a  leader  who  took  command.  Those  who  car- 
ried no  arms  took  horns  and  tin  pans  to  "stir  up 
the  animals."  They  formed  a  circle  many  miles  in 
circumference  and  began  marching  toward  the 
center  forming  a  corydon  of  men  on  horses  and  on 
foot,  making  enough  noise  for  an  Indian  war  dance 
while  the  unerring  rifle  was  doing  its  deadly  work- 
on  wolves,  deer,  an  occasional  wild  cat,  coons  and 
other  animals.  But  while  wolves  were  the  real  ob- 
ject of  this  gathering,  still  their  cunning,  which 
far  exceeds  that  of  the  fox,  prevented  the  hunters 
from  bagging  more  than  a  dozen,  but  the  families 
represented  by  the  hunters  in  this  expedition  had 
an  abundance  of  provisions  for  several  days. 

Another  wolf  hunt  in  the  town  of  Pierce  was  or- 
ganized at  Grimm's  woods,  now  used  as  a  picnic 
ground,  in  the  early  '509  and  their  field  of  opera- 
tion was  the  prairie,  but  aside  from  one  or  two 
wolves  killed  the  expedition  accomplished  but  little 
aside  from  the  fun  and  noise.  The  prairie  was  not 
a  good  field  for  such  operations,  so  the  sons  of  the 


62 


PAST    AND    PKESEXT    OF   DE    KAI.it    COUNTY. 


prairie  resorted  to  traps  and  poison,  and  on  a  few 
01 1  asions  when  the  mother  wolf  betrayed  her  home 
unconsciously  while  robbing  the  barnyard  for  the 
sustenance  of  her  family,  the  young  ones  were 
dug  up  and  destroyed. 

The  wolf  is  still  here  in  large  numbers,  but  his 
home  is  now  in  the  woods,  but  he  is  seen  almost 
daily  by  someone;  and  as  his  enemies  increase  m 
numbers  his  cunning  increases  with  every  woli 
--  aeration.  They  are  too  sharp  to  be  poisoned, 
they  cannot  be  trapped,  nor  will  they  go  inside  ar, 
inclosure  of  woven  wire.  In  an  early  day  they 
made  the  night  hideous  with  their  howling,  now 
dangers  so  common  make  them  silent.  The  young 
wolf  is  schooled  by  the  mother  so  that  now  a  mod- 
ern wolf  is  a  veritable  Socrates  compared  with  the 
wolf  of  a  half  century  ago,  so  the  wolf  folk  im- 
prove the  same  as  the  human  race.  What  is  true 
of  this  game  is  true  also  of  the  wild  things  gen- 
erally. 


The  year  1840  found  DeKalb  county  increasing 
in  population  very  rapidly.  Those  who  now  came 
u.,v  generally  from  the  eastern  states.  The  tide 
of  emigration  from  southern  Illinois,  composed  oi 
people  from  Indiana.  Tennessee  and  Kentucky 
was  not  so  numerous  as  in  years  past.  The  year 
L840  was  known  as  one  of  bountiful  crops  and  the 
prairie  was  then  used  largely  lor  cultivation,  but 
the  grain  was  to  lie  harvested  by  means  of  cradles 
and  in  many  instances  threshed  out  on  threshing 
Boors,  horses  being  used  to  tramp  out  the  grain. 
Alter  all  this  labor  the  grain  must  be  hauled  to 
Chicago  usually  by  ox  teams  and  \\;:-  -old  for  from 
twenty  to  forty  cents  a  bushel.  And  the  man  con- 
sidered himself  extremely  lucky  if  after  this  jour- 
ey,  which  took  four  or  five  days,  he  found  him- 
self  possessed  of  enough  money  to  pay  his  expenses 
and  get  the  few  groceries  that  were  needed.  The 
people  from  the  southern  states  were  a  generous, 
hospitable  people,  but  many  of  them  lacked  the 
shrewdness  of  the  New  Englanders  and  other  citi- 
zens of  northern  origin. 

Schools  were  established  in  1837  in  private 
houses  and  perhaps  three  or  four  were  held  at 
different  places.  In  1S39  the  land  was  surveyed 
north  of  the  base  line,  which  includes  the  town- 
ships of  Franklin.  Kingston  and  Genoa.  This,  with 
some  territory  north  of  our  countv.  was  known 


as  the  Polish  survey  and  was  surveyed  for  the 
occupation  of  Polish  refugees,  but  the  Americans 
who  settled  here  took  pains  to  frighten  them  awav 
and  in  some  instances  established  cabins  whien 
served  as  forts  to  hold  the  territory  in  case  of 
trouble,  so  that  the  Polish  emigration  to  this  part 
of  the  country  amounted  to  but  little.  James  H. 
Furman.  who  was  afterward  editor  of  the  Sand- 
wich Gazette  and  had  come  from  New  York  in 
1840,  taught  school  in  what  was  then  known  as 
the  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  settlement  at 
Squaw  Grove.  There  was  one  frame  house  in  the 
settlement,  that  of  Jack  Sebree.  All  others  lived 
in  log  cabins.  "One  double  log  house  was  a  favor- 
ite resort  for  all  the  neighborhood  and  there  he 
spent  most  of  his  time.  Huge  roaring  fires  of  logs 
in  fireplace-  a1  each  end  of  the  room  could  hardly 
keep  the  winter  chill  out  of  the  ill  constructed 
dwellings.  At  night  they  slept  between  two 
featherbeds  as  was  the  custom  in  the  southern 
country  in  the  winter  time.  There  was  no  furni- 
ture to  speak  of — most  of  them  sat  upon  the  floor 
or  on  slab  benches  and  at  meal  time  went  out  of 
doors  from  the  sitting  room  to  the  kitchen,  where 
bountiful  meals  were  provided,  for  provisions  were 
abundant.  Tin-  women  of  these  homes  spun  and 
wove  woolen  garments  for  the  whole  family  beside 
doing  the  household  duties  and  caring  for  the 
dairy.  They  only  complained  that  their  husbands 
would  not  raise  flax  so  that  they  could  have  some 
tow  to  spin  when  there  was  no  other  work  to  do. 
There  was  a  settlement  of  southern  people  in 
Franklin  and  Somonauk  townships  and  in  Paw 
Paw  but  most  of  the  settlers  who  came  after  the 
'in-  were  from  New  York  and  New  England.*' 
The  country  was  still  overrun  with  horse  thieves 
and  counterfeiters.  There  being  no  jails,  the  labor 
of  confining  the  prisoners  in  sheriff's  houses  and 
other  places  as  could  be  found  was  so  burdensomi 
that  few  arrests  were  made  and  when  criminals 
were  imprisoned  the  great  effort  was  to  get  them 
to  run  away  so  as  to  relieve  the  county  from  the 
3i  of  their  keeping.  The  county  treasury 
was  usually  empty.  Countv  orders  were  issued  for 
all  expense  and  they  were  at  great  discount  but  as 
they  were  receivable  for  taxes  little  else  could  be 
collected  and  no  money  went  into  the  treasury. 

In  the  village  of  Sycamore,  the  county  seat,  the 
Mansion  House,  which  was  built  by  Captain  EH 
P>arnes  the  previous  year,  was  the  center  of  popu- 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


63 


lation  and  it  was  crowded  with  patrons.  In  one 
corner  of  this  building  was  a  store  kept  by  John 
and  Charles  Waterman,  who  moved  their  goods 
from  their  store  north  of  the  river,  where  the  ten  n 
had  first  been  started  and  where  in  a  little  log 
cabin  sixteen  by  eighteen  feet  they  had  first  estab- 
lished business.  The  hotel  was  crowded  with 
boarders,  mostly  young  men  who  had  come  west 
to  seek  their  fortunes.  Many  of  them  became  well 
known  and  prominent  in  the  history  of  the  county. 
Among  them  were  John,  James,  Robert  ami  Char- 
les Waterman,  afterward  not  only  prominent  in 
this  community  but  in  other  parts  of  the  Union, 
Robert  Waterman  becoming  governor  of  Califor- 
nia. Charles  Waterman  was  a  wealthy  merchant 
of  Rockford,  and  James,  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
was  the  wealthiest  man  in  DeKalb  county.  Here 
also  was  Reuben  Ellwood,  later  a  member  of  con- 
gress and  Dr.  Page,  Frank  Spencer,  Jesse  Rose, 
John  R.  Hamlin,  afterward  a  prominent  county 
official,  and  D.  P.  Young. 

"They  were  a  gay  set  as  full  of  pranks  ami  tun 
ami  practical  jokes  as  ever  a  dozen  wild  fellows 
eould  have  been.  For  some  reason  the  hotel  came 
lo  be  called  the  Nunnery  and  went  by  that  name 
for  many  years.  It  was  a  most  inappropriate  title 
for  there  was  nothing  more  like  a  nun  about  it 
than  the  one  hired  girl  in  the  kitchen,  [ndeed 
there  were  but  three  marriagable  women  in  the 
place  and  when  dances  were  held  the  country  was 
searched  for  miles  around  in  search  of  lady  part- 
ners." 

"The  school  was  kept  in  the  courthouse  by  a 
man  named  Dr.  Bill  and  it  was  well  attended, 
pupils  coming  from  three  or  four  miles  to  attend 
the  same."  This  year  was  known  as  the  great  cam- 
paign of  1840.  The  financial  depression  of  1837 
had  wonderfully  crippled  the  administration  of 
Van  Buren  and  democracy  seemed  to  be  at  a  low 
ebb.  Harrison  had  been  a  candidate  four  years 
previous  and  had  not  made  a  very  substantia]  run 
ami  political  sentiment  seemed  to  lie  greatly  di- 
vided. At  the  beginning  of  the  campaign  it  had 
been  stated  that  Harrison  was  an  old  pioneer  and 
great  favorite  for  political  preferment,  "preferring 
ti  remain  in  his  log  cabin  and  have  plenty  of  hard 
eider  to  drink."  This  was  taken  up  by  the  politi- 
cal adherents  of  Harrison  and  it  became  known  a^ 
the  log  cabin  and  hard  cider  campaign.  The 
political  enthusiam   which  swept  over  the  Union 


did  not  fail  to  reach  the  little  frontier  settlements 
of  DeKalb  county.  In  the  election  of  183G  there 
was  practically  no  organization  of  opposition  to 
democracy  in  what  is  now  DeKalb  county,  but  then 
a  precinct  of  Kane.  The  emigration  from  the  east 
brought  :n  a  large  number  of  whigs  and  they  de- 
cided to  hold  a  political  meeting.  Or.  Whitney  of 
Belvidere,  a  prominent  whig,  delivered  an  address 
before  a  great  whig  assembly  at  the  log  cabin  of 
Carlos  Lattin,  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  pres- 
ent Sycamore  National  Bank.  Political  enthu- 
siasm ran  high  and  for  the  first  time  the  democrats 
of  DeKalb  county  had  strong  opposition.  There 
was  a  procession  formed,  people  came  from  twenty 
and  thirty  miles  around  and  took  the  village  by 
storm.  Two  or  three  of  the  precincts  of  the  county 
gave  Harrison  a  majority  but  the  result  of  the  vote 
polled  is  as  follows:  Van  Buren,  democrat,  one 
hundred  and  ninety-seven;  Harrison,  Whig,  one 
hundred  and  ninety-seven;  Harrison,  whig,  one 
be  noticed  that  this  was  the  largest  proportional 
whig  vote  of  the  county  for  many  years  following. 
At  that  time  the  elections  were  held  more  than  one 
day  and  people  did  not  have  regular  tickets  but 
announced  their  preference  orally. 

The  stage  route  from  St.  Charles  to  Sycamore 
was  established  this  year  and  Timothy  Wells  and 
Charles  Waterman  were  proprietors  of  the  line. 
They  had  an  elegant  four  horse  coach  and  carried 
a  large  number  of  passengers  over  what  is  now 
the  old  state  road,  a  distance  of  fifty-five  miles. 
At  the  time  of  the  meeting  of  the  circuit  court 
one  hundred  ami  live  cases  were  disposed  of.  At 
this  time  DeKalb  county  had  no  lawyers  but  those 
present  who  took  part  from  other  counties  and 
afterward  became  famous  were:  J.  William  Scam- 
mon.  Norman  B.  Judd,  Norman  II.  Purple,  Judge 
Peters,  from  Peoria,  W.  D.  Barry  and  S.  S.  Jones 
from  St.  Charles,  Chapman  and  Allen  from  Ot- 
tawa, Nathan  Allison  from  Naperville  and  Asa 
Dodge  from  Aurora.  The  first  indictment  for 
selling  liquor  without  a  license  resulted  in  ac- 
quittal— a  precedent  that  has  since  been  most 
faithfully  followed.  The  county  commissioners 
this  year  created  twenty-four  road  districts  and 
raised  the  license  for  grocery  keepers  to  twenty- 
five  dollars.  It  must  be  remembered  at  this  time 
that  grocery  keepers  also  kept  liquor,  which  was 
sold  for  about  one-tenth  of  tin'  price  that  is  charged 


64 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


today  and  if  a  person  bought  a  large  quantity  of 
goods  "a  drink  of  liquor  was  thrown  in." 

Some  school  districts  were  organized  this  year 
and  trustees  were  appointed.  The  survey  of  1839 
had  made  three  townships  in  the  north  part  of  the 
county,  but  they  remained  unnamed  and  the  coun- 
ty still  remained  under  county  organization. 
Trustees  for  the  sale  of  school  lands  were  ap- 
pointed for  townships  37,  38  and  41  in  range  5, 
and  Squaw  Grove  was  the  first  town  to  dispose  of 
its  school  lands.  Had  the  sixteen  sections  of  the 
several  townships  of  the  county  been  retained  for 
school  purposes  the  revenue  raised  therefrom  at 
the  present  time  would  have  been  sufficient  to  pay 
the  running  expenses  of  all  the  district  schools  of 
the  county.  The  elections  were  held  at  private 
residences,  as  no  public  place  such  as  schoolhouses 
and  town  halls  had  been  built.  Dr.  Madden  of 
Brush  Point  was  again  a  member  of  the  legisla- 
ture and  he  secured  an  act  which  was  passed  Jan- 
uary 3d  of  this  year,  to  permanently  locate  the 
seat  of  justice  for  the  county  of  DeKalb.  The 
county  seat  which  had  been  maintained  at  Syca- 
more for  some  time  seems  to  have  been  removed 
from  Orange.  A  vote  of  a  dozen  or  so  who  had 
assembled  thought  it.  should  be  removed  to  Colton- 
ville, an  election  in  pursuance  of  the  law,  but  kept 
secret  from  the  great  mass  of  people.  This  scheme 
was  hatched  up  by  Dr.  Madden  and  as  session 
laws  were  not  in  possession  of  the  people  he  gave 
no  information  of  the  election.  When  the  final  act 
of  the  legislature  was  passed  great  excitement  pre- 
vailed. The  still  hunt  of  Dr.  Madden  had  leaked 
out  in  the  following  way:  A  young  man  by  the 
name  of  Gleason  had  been  calling  on  a  young  lady 
previous  to  the  election  and  he  was  informed  by 
her  that  Dr.  Madden  had  secured  the  county  seat 
for  Brush  Point.  He  was  a  partisan  of  Sycamore 
and  immediately  spread  the  alarm  and  Jesse  Kel- 
logg and  Evans  Wharry  were  sent  south  to  arouse 
the  voters,  and  when  the  final  vote  was  taken  it 
was  found  that  there  were  one  hundred  and  forty- 
three  votes  against  the  removal  of  the  seat  of 
justice  from  Coltonville  and  two  hundred  and  for- 
ty votes  in  favor  of  the  removal  of  the  seat  of 
justice  to  Oramre.  now  Sycamore,  showing  a  favor 
of  the  removal  of  the  seat  of  justice  from  Col- 
tonville of  ninety-seven  votes.  There  were 
also  cast  at  the  said  election  two  hun- 
dred and  seven  votes  in  favor  of  Orange  being  the 


seat  of  justice,  and  there  were  given  at  the  election 
one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  votes  in  favor  of 
Brush  Point;  showing  a  majority  of  seventy  votes 
in  favor  of  Sycamore  being  the  seat  of  justice.  We 
have  no  record  preserved  of  the  names  of  the 
men  who  cast  their  votes  which  must  have  been  a 
very  complete  poll  and  that  shows  less  than  four 
hundred  representing  the  entire  vote  of  the  county. 
"Morris  Walrod  was  at  this  time  sheriff  of  the 
county  and  a  very  efficient  officer  he  proved  to  be. 
To  induce  him  to  take  and  keep  open  the  hotel  at 
the  county  seat  he  was  promised  the  office  of 
sheriff,  and  the  horse  thieves  and  counterfeiters 
who  infested  the  county  found  him  a  dangerous 
foe.  It  was  during  this  year  that  he  arrested  one, 
Winthrop  Lovelace,  who  was  said  to  be  one  of  that 
gang  and  he  was  bound  over  for  trial.  Walrod 
kept  him  securely  ironed  by  day  and  tied  to  a 
bedpost  in  a  little  room  of  the  tavern  and  at  night 
he  was  securely  tied  to  Constable  Alvah  Cart- 
wright,  who  slept  by  his  side.  One  night  Cart- 
wright  attended  a  grand  ball  at  Coltonville,  which 
was  given  at  the  completion  of  the  Coltonville 
House,  which  still  stands,  and  coming  home  fa- 
tigued. Cartwright  slept  unusually  sound.  When 
he  awoke  his  prisoner  was  gone.  A  well-known 
citizen  and  suspected  associate  of  the  gang  is  sup- 
posed to  have  supplied  him  with  a  file,  with  which 
he  cut  his  bracelets  and  escaped.  But  as  he  fled 
northward  across  the  mill  dam,  w-hen  daylight 
came  he  was  discovered.  Parties  got  out  anil 
searched  the  country  for  it  was  certain  that  he 
could  not  have  gotten  out  of  Norwegian  Grove, 
the  hunt  lasting  all  day  without  success.  Toward 
evening  it  was  discovered  that  the  tall  grass  near 
the  mill  dam  had  been  parted.  The  trail  was  fol- 
lowed and  the  poor  wretch  was  found  sitting  in 
the  mill  pond  chilled  nearly  to  death.  It  took 
several  hours  of  smart  rubbing  to  revive  him. 
When  he  was  finally  brought  to  trial  he  escaped 
from  the  courthouse  probably  amid  a  crowd  of  his 
fellows  of  the  banditti  and  was  seen  no  more  in 
this  county.  For  many  years  it  was  the  custom 
of  the  sheriff  to  keep  his  prisoners  manacled  but 
to  board  them  at  the  same  table  with  his  travelers 
and  other  guests  of  the  hotel.  They  came  shuffling 
in  at  the  first  table  and  usually  took  the  head  and 
did  honors  to  the  other  guests  in  their  best  style. 
It  sometimes  astonished  strangers  but  was  con- 
sidered all  right  by  the  regular  boarders." 


PAST   AND    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


65 


The  county  was  divided  into  assessors  districts 
and  John  Riddle,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Franklin  was  appointed  assessor  of  district  No. 
1,  Frederick  Love  of  district  No.  2  and  Stephen 
Arnold  of  district  No.  3.  It  took  them  six  days- 
each  to  assess  the  county  and  as  the  result  a  tax  of 
three  hundred  and  thirty-four  dollars  and  seventy 
cents  was  collected.  Amos  Story  of  Sycamore  was 
collector  for  the  county  that  year. 

The  next  year  the  first  resident  lawyer  in  the 
county,  Andrew  J.  Brown,  was  admitted  to  prac- 
tice, the  county  commissioners  court  certifying 
that  he  was  a  man  of  good  moral  character.  He 
settled  in  Sycamore  but  most  of  his  practice  at  the 
bar  at  this  time  was  monopolized  by  Barry,  Dodge, 
Fridley  and  Champlin.  Andrew  J.  Brown  remained 
here  but  a  short  time  and  removed  to  Chicago, 
where  he  became  quite  distinguished.  He  lived  to 
an  advanced  age  and  died  in  1906.  Crothers  Cham- 
plin was  at  Coltonville  at  an  earlier  clay  according 
to  the  claims  of  some  and  remained  there  until  the 
county  seat  was  removed  to  Sycamore.  He  is  said 
to  have  been  a  man  of  considerable  ability  and  well 
read  for  one  of  his  age.  He  afterward  became  a 
partner  of  the  famous  T.  Lisle  Dickey  and  became 
quite  distinguished  at  the  bar.  The  county  com- 
missioners for  this  year  were  Sylvanus  Holcomb, 
Martin  M.  Mack  and  David  Merritt.  The  duty 
of  the  county  commissioners  still  seemed  to  be  the 
laying  out  of  public  roads  and  occasionally  sur- 
veyed for  a  school  district.  The  records  which 
are  kept  quite  complete  are  found  to  be  uninter- 
esting and  perhaps  three-fourths  of  all  of  their 
acts  were  concerned  in  the  matter  of  road  con- 
struction. The  great  state  road  from  Ottawa  to 
Beloit  was  laid  out  this  summer.  It  was  made 
eighty  feet  wide  and  is  described  as  entering  the 
county  at  Somanauk,  passing  Sebree's,  Esterbrooks 
and  Lost  Grove  to  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
public  square,  thence  to  H.  Durham's,  to  Deer 
Creek  and  Genoa  and  north  to  the  county  line. 

The  year  1841  was  also  a  good  year  so  far  as  the 
production  of  crops  was  concerned.  Houses  be- 
gan to  be  built  over  the  prairie  and  everything 
seemed  to  take  on  a  rather  prosperous  air.  About 
this  year  there  was  brought  into  the  county  a 
thresher  which  was  considered  far  in  advance  of 
the  flail  or  the  threshing  floor,  which  had  been  a 
common  use.  It  consisted  of  a  cylinder  set  in  a 
frame  which  threshed  out  the  grain  but  the  straw 


and  the  grain  came  together.  A  man  carried  the 
straw  away  with  a  fork  and  the  grain  was  run 
through  a  fanning  mill.  This  was  considered  a 
great  change  in  this  country,  when  wheat  seemed 
to  be  the  great  money  making  crop.  The  cradle 
was  still  used  for  cutting  the  grain  but  one  or  two 
reapers,  which  would  now  be  considered  very  rude 
in  their  construction  were  used  in  the  county. 
They  were  drawn  by  eight  oxen,  one  man  driving 
them  and  the  other  raking  off  the  grain.  By  this 
means  they  were  able  to  cut  from  six  to  eight 
acres  a  day. 

BANDITTI. 

The  history  of  DeKalb  county  in  those  early 
days  is  not  unlike  that  of  other  sections  of  our 
country.  The  lawless  element  always  seeks  the 
frontier,  as  they  are  generally  freer  from  detec- 
tion, and  are  brought  to  justice  with  greater  dif- 
ficulty than  in  older  settlements.  In  this  sec- 
tion of  the  country  in  the  later  '30s  and  early  '40s 
all  through  this  state  and  eastern  Iowa  were  or- 
ganized bands  of  thieves.  Some  of  these  were 
desperate  men,  who  were  driven  from  their  homes 
in  the  east  because  of  crimes  committed.  As 
there  was  but  little  property  in  those  early  days 
and  horses  were  extremely  valuable  as  a  means  of 
travel,  and  in  fact  were  the  only  means  of  com- 
munication, the  desperadoes  work  partook  of  the 
nature  of  horse  stealing.  It  is  due  largely  to  the 
men  of  DeKalb,  Ogle  and  Winnebago  counties  that 
this  rascality  was  brought  to  a  close  east  of  the 
Mississippi  valley.  The  story  has  been  frequently 
told  and  it  is  with  considerable  care  and  after 
personal  investigation  that  we  state  the  facts  that 
appear  below.  Great  injustice  has  been  done  in 
the  different  accounts  of  the  stories  of  the  banditti 
which  has  been  a  severe  infliction  to  those  who  sur- 
vive and  were  entirely  innocent  of  the  crimes  com- 
mitted. Mob  law  is  never  justifiable  and  in  this 
case  had  the  law  taken  its  course  and  the  men  put 
on  trial  their  innocence  could  have  easily  been  es- 
tablished. As  it  is,  even  the  excitement  of  that 
time  when  prairie  pirates  were  thirsting  for  blood, 
no  real  proof  was  ever  established  against  the  men, 
so  hastily  and  cruelly  executed  at  Washington's 
Grove,  June  29,  1841.  Tn  Brodie's  Grove,  which  is 
west  of  the  present  township  of  Malta  was  a  ren- 


66 


PAST    AND    FBESEXT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


dezvous  for  the  banditti.  Mr.  Benjamin  Worden, 
one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  DeKalb  county  dis- 
covered, what  was  known  as  the  "sink  hole,"  while 
in  search  of  some  cattle.  Into  this  the  horses  were 
taken  and  secured  during  the  day  and  at  night 
were  removed  to  stations  further  north,  as  the 
horse  thieves  found  an  excellent  market  for  their 
stolen  property  in  the  lumber  districts  of  Wiscon- 
sin. The  line  of  travel  was  usually  from  Brodie's 
Grove  to  Gleason's  at  Genoa.  Henpeck  now  Old 
Hampshire  Ln  Kane  county,  thence  north  through 
McHenry  county  into  Wisconsin.  Mr.  Boise  in  the 
ln-iory  of  DeKalb  county  gives  the  following: 
"Walking  over  the  prairie  in  search  of  cattle.  Mr. 
Worden  suddenly  found  the  ground  -ink  beneath 
lus  feet  and  he  precipitated  Into  a  large  cavity 
which  had  been  carefully  excavated,  then  covered 
with  planks  and  soil  and  carefully  turfed  over  with 
growing  grass  and  no  trace  of  excavation  could 
lie  -en.  Although  no  property  was  then  in  the 
cavern,  yet  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  destined 
was  evidenl  and  i t>  proximity  to  the  residence  of 
the  Brodies  indicated  the  origin  and  owner-hip  of 

this    place    of    conceal ut.       .Mr.     Worden    had 

brought  a  pair  of  line  horses  to  this  country  in 
L836  and  much  against  his  will  felt  forced  to  adopl 
the  prevalent  custom  of  concealing  in  the  barn 
to  guard  them.  The  elder  Brodie  discovered  that 
be  made  this  practice  and  innocently  asked  why. 
lie  answered  promptly  and  significantly  that  there 
were  many  thieves  and  he  feared  he  should  have 
them  stolen.  The  old  man  answered  him  thai  he 
had  taken  a  fancy  to  him  and  that  liis  horses 
should  not  be  stolen.  The  old  man  had  the  repu- 
tation  of  being  one  of  the  chiefs  of  the  gang  and 
Worden,  confident  of  his  sincerity,  considered 
them  -ale  a-  if  guarded  with  bars  of  steel.  The 
Brodies  were  continually  seen  going  and  coming 
and  almost  every  time  were  upon  a  new  horse, 
usually  a  very  line  animal  ami  people  were  gen- 
erally suspicious  of  them.  John  Brodie's  borne 
was  situated  in  the  grove  that  now  bears  his  name, 
from  the  fact  of  his  being  the  first  settler  in  that 
immediate  locality,  lb'  cam.'  there  from  Franklin 
county,  Ohio,  and  was  about  fifty-five  years  of 
age  when  he  built  his  cabin.  In  physique  he  was 
rather  under  medium  <ize.  a  very  low  forehead,  still' 
Mack"  hair,  small  black  eyes,  set  deep  in  bis  head. 
and  in  every  particular  bad  a  very  repulsive,  pi- 
ratical  look.     His  three  sons.  John.  Stephen  and 


Hugh,  were  of  romantic,  unsettled  natures,  of 
wreckless  habits  and  indifferent  to  all  social  ameni- 
ties  and  void  of  all  respect  for  the  material  rela- 
tion-. They  were  accounted  dare  devils  generally 
ami  were  both  feared  and  despised.  Hugh  Brodie 
was  a  very  large  man  and  had  nerves  of  steel  and 
never  knew  the  sensation  of  fear,  and  from  all  evi- 
dence- thai  could  lie  collected,  n  wa-  Hugh  Brodie 
that  was  one  of  the  two  who  stood  by  the  side  of 
the  assassin  of  Captain  Campbell.  It  can  lie  said 
for  the  Brodies,  however,  that,  they  were  com- 
panionable and  true  to  their  friends  and  had  many 
admirable  qualities,  ft  was  sometimes  very  diffi- 
cult to  detect  the  parties  who  were  in  sympathy 
with  the  banditti.  In  almost  every  instance  when 
ihe\  were  brought  to  trial  they  had  representa- 
tives  who  were  on  the  jury  and  conviction  seemed 
almost  impossible.  After  several  trials,  with  th? 
thefts  of  horses  increasing,  the  citizens  who  were 
law-abiding  organized  themselves  into  what  is 
known  as  the  Regulators  or  Lynching  clubs.  Oni 
wa-  organized  in  Sycamore  and  many  of  Syca- 
more's  leading  citizens  were  members.  There  were 
the  Walrods,  Watermans,  Henry  Furness,  John  B. 
Hamlin.  Marshall  Stark.  Carlos  Lattin  and  many 
others  well-known  to  this  community.  Another 
organization  wa-  in  the  northern  part  of  DeKalb 
county.  There  were  t wo  or  three  companies  from 
Ogle,  one  from  the  vicinity  of  Dixon,  several  in 
Mi  llenrv  and  two  in  Winnebago  county.  These 
regulators  or  lynchers  were  often  injudicious  as 
no  doubt  every  band  of  persons,  organized  for  that 
purpose,  usually  i>.  even  up  to  the  present  day. 
One  of  their  victims,  especially  a  person  by  the 
name  of  Daggett,  who  resided  near  Greenough"s 
Ford,  was  seized  and  upon  declaring  his  innocence 
and  begging  for  leniency  was  allowed  for  the  mo- 
ment to  escape,  but  finally  the  horse  for  which  the 
Regulators  were  hunting  was  found  and  one  of  the 
regulators  claimed  to  have  -ecu  Daggett  riding  it. 
Daggett  was  again  sought  for.  caught,  stripped 
and  brutally  whipped  with  ninety-six  lashes  on  his 
hare  back.  It  was  supposed  by  manv  that  he  was 
entirely  innocent  and  consequently  the  feeling  of 
hatred  increased  between  the  regulators  and  the 
banditti.  Anonymous  letter-  were  frequently  re- 
sorted to  and  on  them  w-ere  inscribed  the  skull  and 
i  ross  bones.  Such  a  condition  of  affairs  could  not 
last  long  without  being  brought  to  a  head  and 
trouble  occurred.     A  man  by  the  name  of  Long, 


BENJAMIN   WORDEX. 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


67 


captain  of  the  White  Eock  company  of  regulators 
had  a  mill  near  Stillmams  Run  and  was 
asked  anonymously  to  resign  his  position, 
which  he  refused  to  do.  A  few  days 
later  the  mill  was  burned  to  the  ground 
and  he  immediately  resigned  his  position  to  a  man 
named  Wellington  who  took  his  place.  Mr.  Well- 
ington was  not  equal  to  the  emergency  and  upon' 
receiving  a  letter  on  which  the  skull  and  crossbones 
were  inscribed  he  resigned,  and  John  Campbell,  a 
Scotchman  and  devout  Presbyterian,  was  chosen 
as  his  successor.  In  the  early  part  of  the  '40s  a 
challenge  was  sent  to  the  regulators  to  meet  a  com- 
pany of  bandits  in  a  duel  at  South  Grove,  and  the 
White  Pock  Company  to  the  number  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  marched  to  the  place  chosen  and  on 
their  approach  discovered  a  number  of  the  ruffians 
armed  as  if  inviting  an  attack.  When  within  a 
half  mile  they  baited  to  complete  arrangements 
for  the  duel.  Then  it  was  determined  to  send 
some  members  of  the  band  of  regulators  to  the 
bandits  for  a  parley.  The  bandits  informed  them 
that  if  they  would  give  them  a  little  time  to  go>txf- 
Sycamore  and  get  other  members  of  their  organi- 
zation they  would  be  ready  for  the  struggle.  The 
regulators  immediately  camped  on  the  ground 
awaiting  the  return  of  the  horse  thieves.  At  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  party  from  Sycamore 
returned  but  instead  of  bringing  his  company  of 
confederates  he  brought  Sheriff  Walrod,  Esquire 
Mayo  and  Judge  Lovell.  These  gentlemen  in- 
quired the  nature  of  the  strange  gathering  and  in 
reply  Mr.  Campbell  made  a  decided  and  effective 
answer,  every  word  of  which  fell  with  a  powerful 
force  against  the  dozen  men  suspected  of  being 
guilty  of  horse  stealing.  He  told  why  they  were 
there,  for  what  purpose  they  had  come  and  what 
they  intended  to  do  and  perhaps  injudiciously  told 
some  of  the  crimes  committed  by  the  Brodies  and 
by  the  Driscolls.  Enough  so  that  he  secured  their 
everlasting  enmity.  Before  the  party  from  Syca- 
more returned  they  informed  the  White  Pock  Reg- 
ulators that  if  they  needed  help  to  crush  the  or- 
ganization that  was  destroying  their  property  they 
could  rely  upon  at  least  a  hundred  good  and  will- 
ing men  who  belonged  to  the  Regulators  here.  The 
White  Rock  company  served  notice  on  the  sus- 
pected horse  thieves  to  at  once  leave  the  state. 
This  they  refused  to  do.  About  this  time  the 
bandits,  who  had  been  brought  to  trial   in  Ogle 


county  and  bad  been  confined  in  the  jail  at  Ore- 
gon and  tried  in  the  new  courthouse  thought  they 
would  teach  the  law  and  order  party  a  lesson  and 
burned  the  courthouse  to  the  ground.  The  citi- 
zens immediately  appeared  and  the  jail  was  saved 
and  the  prisoners  did  not  get  away.  The  trial  of 
the  suspected  parties  was  proceeded  with  and  the 
evidence  was  found  to  he  complete  and  conclusive 
but  as  usual  one  of  their  confederates  bad  secured 
a  place  upon  the  jury.  He  would  consent  to  no 
verilh  t  of  guilt.  Then  a  novel  method  of  securing 
a  verdict  was  adopted.  The  eleven  honest  jurors 
seized  the  refractory  twelfth  and  threatened  to 
lynch  him  in  tin-  jury  room  unless  he  gave  his  con- 
sent to  a  verdict  of  guilt.  The  rascal  gave  up  bis 
opposition,  the  verdict  of  guilty  was  received  and 
the  three  criminals  were  sentenced  to  imprison- 
ment for  a. year.  Willi  the  assistance  of  the  gang 
i  hev ':ill.:  however,  got  out  of  jail  and  escaped 
shorth  atleAyard.  From  all  evidence  gathered 
from  the  Mulfprds  they  were  quite  certain  that  one 
of  the  party  convicted  of  arson  was  an  accomplice 
of  the  Brffdies'to  secure  the  seven  hundred  dollars 
in  gold  from  the  Mulfords  shortly  after  the  burn- 
ing of  the  courthouse.  One  of  the  members  of  the 
banditti  was  severely  flogged  by  orders  of  Captain 
Campbell  so  that  the  wrath  of  the  element  soon 
broke  upon  his  head.  A  meeting  of  the  banditti 
was  called  in  what  is  now  South  Grove  township 
and  it  was  there  resolved  to  put  Captain  Campbell 
out  of  the  way.  In  the  summer  of  1841  Captain 
Campbell  bad  been  in  Rockford  to  attend  religious 
services  and  had  remained  over  night.  He  re- 
turned  to   his    Ik ■    in    White   Rock   about   noon 

Sunday.  During  the  afternoon  he  attended 
church  at  a  schoolhouse  a  mile  west  of  his  resi- 
dence, from  which  service  he  returned  about  five 
o'clock.  After  supper  Annas  Lucas  called  on  Mr. 
Campbell,  remained  about  an  hour  and  then  start- 
ed for  home.  Mr.  Campbell  was  lying  down  on  a 
lounge  to  rest  when  he  rose  and  started  for  the 
barn  which  stood  across  the  lane  from  the  house. 
In  the  lane  a  little  south  of  the  crossing  between 
the  barn  and  the  house  there  was  a  copse  or  bunch 
of  hazel  brush  which  was  in  full  leaf,  thick  enough 
to  hide  his  murderers.  His  assassin  rose  up  from 
behind  the  bunch  of  hazel  brush  and  said:  "We 
want  to  go  to  the  burned  mill,"  meaning  the 
"Long's"  mill,  "hut  we  have  lost  our  way."  Mr. 
Campbell  turned  toward  bis  inquisitor  and  said, 


68 


PAST    AXD    PKESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


"What  did  you  say?"  at  which  time  David  Dris- 
coll  raised  his  rifle  and  aimed  at  the  object  of  his 
wrath  and  sworn  vengeance,  shot  Campbell  in  the 
body  near  the  heart.  After  he  was  shot  Campbell 
re-entered  the  gate,  proceeded  fourteen  feet, 
blinded  by  approaching  death  occasioned  by  the 
shot,  and  fell  a  lifeless  corpse.  The  bandits  had  kept 
their  word.  After  the  shooting  the  murderers 
turned  and  started  in  a  southeasterly  direction, 
leaving  the  house  a  little  to  their  left.  As  Camp- 
bell fell,  his  wife  ran  to  him,  and  as  she  reached 
his  lifeless  remains  she  called  after  the  assassins 
and  said:  "Driscoll,  you  have  murdered  John 
Campbell."  A-  Mr-.  Campbell  uttered  this  ex- 
clamation Hugh  Brodie  made  a  temporary  halt 
and  pointed  his  nil''  toward  her.  but  lowered  it 
at  the  suggestion  of  David  Driscoll  without  tir- 
ing and  the  two  resumed  their  retreat  from  the 
scene  of  blood.  In  the  meantime  Martin  Camp- 
bell, aged  about  thirteen  years,  ran  around  the 
house,  seized  a  double  barreled  shotgun  and  aimed 
at  the  fleeing  murderers,  pulled  the  trigger  and 
both  caps  snapped.  The  gun  was  doubly  charged 
with  buckshot,  inn  having  been  loaded  for  some 
time  and  exposed  to  damp  ami  wet.  tailed  to  go 
off,  and  thus   the    murderers   goi    away.     Annas 

Lucas,  who  was  aboul  hundred  rods  from  the 

house  at  the  time  of  lie-  firing,  hearing  the  report 
of  the  gun  and  suspecting  trouble,  returned  and 
on  his  way  met  three  men.  whom  he  recog- 
nized as  Taylor  and  David  Driscoll  and  Hugh 
Brodie.  The  three  men  held  a  hurried  conversa- 
tion and  Lucas  for  a  time  feared  that  trouble  was 
in  store  for  him.  but  it  is  now  surmised  that  they 
thought  they  had  made  trouble  enough  and  would 
stop  their  murderous  work  by  killing  simply  the 
captain  of  the  band  of  Regulators.  Mr.  Lucas  as- 
sisted Mrs.  Campbell  in  caring  for  her  dead  hus- 
band, and,  being  a  carpenter,  made  a  casket,  in 
which  he  was  buried  two  days  later.  June  29.  1841, 
after  the  assassinal  ion. 

News  of  the  murder  spread  rapidly  and  the  Reg- 
ulators were  roused  to  fever  heat.  Upon  the 
burial  of  Mr.  Campbell  the  Regulators  met  and 
were  on  the  lookout  for  the  perpetrators  of  the 
crime.  The  air  was  full  of  threats  of  vengeance 
against  them,  and  nothing  but  the  lives  of  the 
murderous  element  could  pay  the  penalty.  The 
people  from  Sycamore,  Oregon  and  Rockford  hur- 
ried to  the  scene,  and  it  has  been  stated  that  Rock- 


ford  and   Sycamore  were  more  like  deserted  vil- 
lages than  hustling  little  towns,  which  they  were 
at  that  time.     A  little  after  sunrise  on  Monday 
morning  after  the  murder,  John  Driscoll,  father 
of  David  ami  Taylor  Driscoll.  was  arrested  in  Ogle 
county  by  the  sheriff,  at  the  home  of  his  son  Da- 
vid  near   Lynnville,   and  during  the  day  he  was 
taken  to  the  jail   at   Oregon.     David  had  made 
good  his  escape.    The  band  of  Regulators  next  ap- 
peared at  the  home  of  William  Driscoll  in  South 
Grove  and  arrested  him  and  his  younger  brother, 
Pierce,    and    took    them    to    Campbell's    home   in 
White    Rock.      When   William    Driscoll   was   cap- 
tured at  his  home  in  South  Grove  the  Regulator 
burned    tin-    home,    and    Mrs.   Driscoll,   who   was 
afterwards  known  as  Aunt  Peggy,  she  being  com- 
pelled to  live  in  one  of  the  outbuildings,  and  suf- 
fered greatly  in  consequence  of  this  rash  act.    No 
excuse  i  an  be  offered  for  thus  depriving  this  inno- 
eeiii    woman   and   her  children  of   a  home.     The 
Regulators  went  to  Oregon,  and  against  the  pro- 
testations  of  the  sheriff  and  the  admonitions  and 
warnings  of  Judge  Ford,  took  John  Driscoll  from 
jail  and  hurried  him  across  the  river  and  started 
toward  Washington  Grove.    It  has  been  stated  that 
at  a  meeting  of  the  bandits  in  South  Grove  it  was 
decided    to    kill    Phineas    Chaney    and    Captain 
Campbell,  and  it  is  true  that  the  party  of  bandits 
visited  the  home  of  Chaney  the  night  before  the 
murder  of  Campbell,  but  were  frightened  away  by 
the  dorrs  and  Chaney  was  now  ready  to  meet  his 
premeditated    murderers.      At    Daysville    a    tem- 
porary  halt  was  made  and  there  Obed  Lindsay  and 
Phineas  Chaney  interrogated  the  old  man.   He  ad- 
mitted  that  he  had  led  rather  a  dark  career  in 
Ohio,  but  had  been  guilty  of  no  crime  since  coming 
to  Illinois.     The  night  of  the  murder  John  Dris- 
coll remained  all  night  at  the  home  of  Benjamin 
Worden  and  said  that  he  wished  to  be  away  that 
night,  and  from  this  fact  it  was  supposed  he  had 
guilty  knowledge  of  the  premeditated  murder  of 
Campbell  and  Chaney.     The  horse  ridden  by  John 
Driscoll   from  Wordems  to  the  home  of  bis  son 
David   near  Lvnnville  had   a  broken   shoe.     The 
tracks  which  it  left  in  the  mud  made  him  easily 
traceable   to   that   point.      The   Regulators,    with 
William  and  Pierce  Driscoll,  soon  arrived  at  Wash- 
ington's  Grove.      About  five  hundred   men   were 
present.     John  Driscoll  has  been  described  to  us 
,i-    a   man   of   considerable  height,   over   six   feet. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT   OF   DE   KALE-    COUNTY. 


69 


slightly  inclined  to  corpulency,  and  weighed  about 
two  hundred  pounds.  He  was  all  muscle  and 
sinew  and  in  every  way  the  most  powerfully  built 
man  in  all  that  crowd  of  a  half  thousand  men. 
His  face  was  repulsive,  this  being  occasioned  by  a 
part  of  his  nose  having  been  bitten  off  some  years 
before.  His  hair  was  heavy  and  shaggy  and  his 
face  smooth  from  recent  shaving.  He  was  cool 
and  self-possessed  in  the  face  of  his  executioners. 
He  was  not  an  ignorant  man  nor  did  he  avoid 
generosity  and  charity.  There  were  many  kind 
acts  placed  to  his  credit  in  the  neighborhood 
where  he  lived.  In  one  instance  he  and  his  sons 
finished  plowing  and  planting  corn  for  the  wife 
ami  mother  whose  husband  had  died  in  the  midst 
of  planting  season.  Those  who  knew  him  say  that 
he  might  have  been  an  influential  and  useful  citi- 
zen in  any  community,  but  he  chose  otherwise, 
and  in  the  eyes  of  the  people  became  an  outlaw 
and  renegade  and  met  premature  death. 

William  Driscoll,  the  other  victim  of  the  Regu- 
lators, was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  what  is  now 
South  Grove  township,  and  for  years  the  grove  was 
called.  DriscolFs  Grove,  until  after  the  organization 
of  the  township,  when  it  was  called  South  Grove 
because  it  was  south  of  the  large  woods  of  Frank- 
lin and  Kingston  townships.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  about  forty-five  years  of  age.  rather 
above  the  average  height  of  man,  of  heavy  build 
and  very  muscular  and  probably  weighed  about  one 
hundred  and  eighty  pounds.  His  features  were  firm 
and  presented  a  peculiarly  heavy  appearance.  He 
was  of  that  type  of  man  that  could  face  any  ordi- 
nary danger  without  the  least  fear,  but  in  the 
presence  of  these  five  hundred  resolute  men,  de- 
termined to  hold  him  to  an  account  for  the  crime 
of  which  he  was  not  guilty,  and  the  memory  of 
wife  and  little  children  left  behind,  he  was  awed 
into  the  most  terrible  fear,  and  every  lineal  of  his 
face  showed  evidence  of  torture.  As  soon  as  the 
Regulators  gathered  at  Washington  Grove  a  law- 
yer named  E.  S.  Leland,  since  a  prominent  judge 
and  resident  of  Ottawa,  was  selected  to  conduct 
the  trial.  The  Regulators  were  ordered  to  form 
in  a  circle  around  a  large  black  oak  tree.  One 
hundred  and  twenty  of  them  thus  formed,  when 
Mr.  Leland  suggested  that  if  there  were  anv  men 
that  were  in  that  circle  that  were  objectionable  on 
any  account  that  challengers  be  selected  to  point 
them  out  and  have  them  removed.     Hnder  this 


ruling  the  number  was  reduced  to  one  hundred 
and  eleven  men.  Chairs  were  placed  within  the 
circle  and  occupied  by  the  prisoners,  justices  of 
the  peace,  etc.  The  witnesses  were  sworn  by  one 
of  the  justices  present  and  the  prisoners  arraigned 
for  trial.  William  Driscoll  was  arraigned  first 
and  asked  by  Leland  if  lie  had  ever  instructed  his 
brother  David  to  go  to  Captain  Campbell's  at 
twilight  in  the  evening,  pretend  to  be  lost,  then 
shoot  him  down  as  they  did  in  Iowa  on  a  certain 
occasion,  and  saying  "d — n  them"  (meaning  the 
Regulators),  "they  will  all  run  as  they  did  there." 
The  accused  answered  in  positive  language  that 
he  did  not.  The  trial  of  William  Driscoll  was  a 
farce  in  every  respect,  and  had  it  not  been  for 
some  hasty  language  used  by  him  shortly  after  the 
murder  of  Captain  Campbell,  it  is  doubtful  if  he 
had  ever  been  arrested.  The  old  man  Driscoll 
was  next  arraigned  and  questioned.  The  broken 
horse  shoe  track  mentioned  previously  was  charged 
against  him,  and  though  he  could  not  explain  how 
the  horse  got  from  the  home  of  Benjamin  Worden 
to  that  of  his  son  David  near  Lynnville,  it  must 
be  said  to  the  credit  of  John  Driscoll  that  no  evi- 
dence in  the  crime  of  which  these  men  were 
charged  was  substantiated.  It  was  supposed  that 
he  had  guilty  knowledge  of  the  tragedy  and  that 
he  had  gone  to  the  home  of  Mr.  Worden  so  that 
he  might  easily  prove  an  alibi.  The  men  who 
were  in  that  circle  of  one  hundred  and  eleven 
men  were  mainly  from  Ogle  county  and  many  were 
unacquainted  with  the  Driscolls.  After  the  trial 
had  lasted  about  an  hour  Leland  put  the  question, 
•'What  say  you,  gentlemen;  guilty  or  not  guilty?" 
Guilty  was  the  unanimous  response  of  the  one 
hundred  and  eleven  men  composing  the  jury  be- 
fore whom  John  and  David  Driscoll  had  been 
tried,  and  they  were  sentenced  to  be  hanged.  No 
evidence  could  be  found  against  Pierce  Driscoll 
and  he  was  released.  When  the  sentence  was  an- 
nounced the  condemned  men  begged  that  it  might 
be  changed,  and  that  they  might  be  shot  instead 
of  being  hanged  like  dogs.  A  motion  for  change 
of  sentence  was  submitted  to  the  men  who  pro- 
nounced them  guilty  and  the  request  of  the 
Driscolls  was  granted  with  but  few  dissenting 
voices.  It  has  been  stated  by  men  who  were  pres- 
ent and  with  whom  we  have  conversed  on  the  subJ 
ject  that  a  little  distillery  was  not  far  from  the 
scene  of  the  trial  and  that  a  barrel  of  whisky  was 


;" 


PAST   AND    PKESENT    OF   DE    KALI'.    COUNTY. 


brought  mit  for  the  men,  and  that  under  its  in- 
fluence to  a  large  extent  the  hasty  verdict  was 
brought  about,  and  in  that  whisky  drinking  age  it 
is  mil  improbable  that  the  firewater  added  largely 
tn  the  flame  of  prejudice  that  turned  against  the 
Driscolls.  At  this  point  of  the  proceedings  the 
old  man  Driscoll  was  taken  aside  by  Jacob  Marsh 
oi  Ogle  county  for  consultation  and  confession. 
At  the  end  of  the  conversation  Marsh  announced 
that  Driscoll  had  no  confession  to  make,  and  he 
1  that  the  crowd  be  not  too  hasty  in  the 
premises  and  that  time  he  allowed  the  men  to 
prepare  for  death.  A  respite  of  one  hour  was 
granted  for  that  purpose,  which  was  prolonged  for 
fully  two  hours.  Two  ministers  were  present  and 
prayed  with  tin'  convicted  nun.  to  one  of  whom 
it  is  said  William  Driscoll  showed  signs  of  peni- 
tence,  but  In-  never  made  any  confession  of  the 
crime,  and  so  far  as  is  known  died  an  innocent 
man.  At  the  expiration  of  the  linn  granted  the 
Regulators  from  Sycamore  who  were  well  ac- 
quainted with  William  Driscoll  began  to  clamor 
for  full  remission  of  the  penalty.  While  some 
others  favored  the  plan  to  remand  them  to  the  cus- 
tody of  the  officers  ami  thus  end  the  responsibility 
they  had  taken  upon  themselves.  In  tin-  midst 
oi  thesi  clamors  ami  suggestions  one  of  the  Reg- 
ulators from  Winnebago  county  made  an  address. 
saying  that  nothing  but  blood  would  palliate  the 
es  thai  had  linn  committed,  and  that  as  long 
as  the  outlaws  were  permitted  to  remain  upon 
earth  the  community  would  not  he  free  from  their 
depredations  and  crimes.  He  also  stated  that  the 
I  >i  iscolls,  if  not  the  centers  and  instigators  of  tlm 
untold  robberies  and  murders  that  had  been  com- 
mitted in  the  country,  were  at  leas!  accomplices 
and  shared  in  the  plunder.  He  maintained  that 
the  people  were  justified  in  taking  the  course 
they  had  and  that  their  safety  demanded  n  :  that 
the  murder  of  Campbell  must  lie  avenged  and  that 
those  who  planned  the  foul  deed  must  suffer  in 
their  stead,  and  urged  the  immediate  execution  of 
John  Driscoll  and  his  son  William.  As  the  ma- 
jority of  the  Eegulators  were  unacquainted  with 
the  men  convicted  of  the  crime,  and  the  weak- 
kneed  were  overpowered,  and  finally  threats  were 
made  to  any  who  dared  to  express  their  belief  that 
the  Driscolls  were  not  guilty  and  should  not  be 
executed.  The  party  of  one  hundred  and  eleven 
men  were  divided  into  two  companies.     One  was 


detailed  I"  the  execution  of  the  old  man  and  the- 
other  to  the  execution  of  William.  The  old  man 
was  led  forth  first,  his  eyes  were  bandaged  and  he 
was  made  to  kneel  upon  the  earth.  Without  any 
fear,  perfectly  calm  and  cool,  he  met  his  fate,  and 
at  the  signal  to  tire,  fell  to  the  earth  riddled  and 
shattered  to  pieces  with  the  charges  of  fifty-six 
rifles.  William's  late  came  next.  In  the  last 
hour  fear  overcame  him  and  the  recollection  of 
his  wile  and  family  of  small  children  no  doubt 
made  iiini  tear  the  fati  that  he  was  about  to  meet.. 
but  the  discharge  of  the  other  fifty-five  rifles  soon 
put  an  end  to  hi-  existence.  Spades  ami  >lm\els 
were  procured,  a  rude  grave  was  dug  on  the  spot 
where  they  were  killed,  and.  unwashed  ami  un- 
coffined,  ghastly  and  gory,  their  bodies  wen  mil,., I 
into  on,-  gTavi  together  and  covered  oyer.  It  has 
been  stated  that  six  weeks  later  their  bodies  were- 
takeii  up  by  their  friends  and  given  a  decent 
burial.  As  to  this  we  cannot  say,  but  there  is  one 
person  who  stated  that  In-,  with  one  of  the  rela- 
-.  two  days  after  tin-  execution  removed  the- 

of  William  Driscoll  to  his  farm  in  Smith 
Grove  and  buried  il  there.  It  has  been  stated  by 
people  who  lived  near  Washington  Grove  that  the 
bodies  were  afterward  taken  to  the  cemetery  at 
Payne's  Point,  but  this  question  will  perhaps  m  vei 
be  settled.  David  Driscoll  and  Bridge  made  their 
escape,  and  when  the  Regulators  went  to  the  house- 
of  Taylor  Driscoll  he  was  hidden  in  an  excavation 
underneath  it.  When  the  Regulators  had  gone  he 
left  his  home  and  went  south  to  the  Illinois  river 
in  Mar-hall  county,  and  it  is  said  thai  he  took 
refuge  with  a  man  named  Redden.  The  officers 
i,\  some  means  go!  on  his  track  and  chased  him  to 
his  hiding  plan-  and  found  him  concealed  in  Red- 
den'- house,  where  he  was  arrested  and  brought 
hack,  lie  was  taken  before  William  J.  Mix,  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  for  examination  as  being  an  ac- 
cessory to  the  crime,  but  for  want  of  sufficient  evi- 

was  discharged.  Taylor  Driscoll  was  again 
arrested  some  years  later  and  brought  to  Ogle 
county,  where  he  was  indicted  for  the  murder  of 
John  Campbell.  A  change  of  venue  was  granted 
and  the  case  sent  to  McHenry  county.  On  the 
first  trial  the  jury  disagreed  and  a  new  one  was 
granted.  In  the  second  trial  the  counsel  for  the 
defendant,  Mr.  Barry,  found  upon  cross-exam- 
ination that  Mrs.  Campbell  was  sure  that  Taylor 
Driscoll  was  the  man  who  had  shot  her  husband.. 


PAST    AND    PKESENT   OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


71 


It  happened,  however,  that  she  was  mistaken  in 
this.  It  was  proved  beyond  question  that  she 
could  not  identify  Pierce  Driseoll,  whom  she  had 
seen  a  few  weeks  before,  and  the  jury  decided  that 
if  she  could  not  recognize  Pierce  Driseoll  after 
she  had  seen  him  but  a  few  weeks  previous,  she 
might  possibly  be  mistaken  in  the  identification  of 
Taylor  Driseoll,  whom  she  claimed  she  had  not 
seen  since  the  death  of  her  husband,  and  the  jury 
gave  him  a  verdict  of  acquittal.  From  all  that  we 
can  learn,  however,  from  such  men  as  Annas  Lu- 
cas, Martin  Campbell,  son  of  John  Campbell,  who 
was  present  and  could  have  identified  David  Dris- 
eoll had  he  been  at  the  trial,  it  is  quite  evident 
that  David  Driseoll  and  Hugh  Brodie  were  the 
men  detailed  to  kill  Campbell,  and  that  it  was  a 
shot  from  the  rifle  of  David  Driseoll  that  sent 
Campbell  to  his  fate.  David  Driseoll  left  the 
state  and  was  never  seen  here  afterwards.  It  has 
been  stated  that  he  went  to  California  and  there 
lived  until  a  few  years  ago.  A  short  time  after 
the  execution  of  Driseoll,  the  Kockford  Star,  ed- 
ited by  Mr.  P.  Knappen,  under  date  of  July  1, 
1841,  said :  "A  short  time  since  we  received 
through  the  postoffice  a  copy  of  the  proceedings  of 
the  Ogle  county  lynchers  up  to  the  latest  date, 
embracing  the  following  resolutions :  "Eesolved, 
that  the  proceedings  of  the  Volunteer  Company  be 
published  in  the  Eockford  newspapers  once  a 
month.  Now  be  it  known  to  all  the  world  that  we 
have  solemnly  resolved  that  the  proceedings  of 
Ogle  county  or  any  county  volunteer  lynch  com- 
pany cannot  be  justified  or  encouraged  in  our  col- 
umns. The  view  we  take  of  the  subject  does  not 
permit  us  to  approve  the  measures  and  conduct  of 
the  said  company.  If  two  or  three  hundred  citi- 
zens are  to  assume  the  lynch  law  in  the  face  and 
eves  (if  the  laws  of  the  land,  we  shall  soon  have  a 
fearful  state  of  things,  and  where,  we  ask,  will  it 
end  if  mob  law  is  to  supercede  the  civil  law?  If 
it  is  tolerated,  no  man's  life  or  property  is 
safe.  His  neighbor,  who  may  be  more  popular 
than  himself,  will  possess  an  easy  and  ready  way 
to  be  avenged  by  misrepresentation  and  false  ac- 
cusation. In  short,  of  what  avail  are  legislative 
bodies  and  their  enactments?  We  live  in  a  land 
of  laws,  and  to  them  it  becomes  us  to  resort  and 
submit  for  the  punishment  and  redress  as  faithful 
keepers  of  the  law,  and  thus  extend  to  each  other 
the  protection  and  advantages  of  the  law.     Would 


not  this  course  be  much  more  satisfactory  and 
agreeable  in  a  Christianized  country  than  to  re- 
sort to  mob  law  and  repulse  every  attempt  to  de- 
prive a  fellow  citizen  of  the  precious  privilege 
granted  in  every  civilized  country — namely,  the 
right  to  lie  tried  by  an  impartial  jury  of  twelve 
good  men  of  his  county  ?  but  perhaps,  it  will  be  ar- 
gued by  some,  that  we  have  in  this  new  country 
no  means  or  proper  places  for  securing  offenders 
and  breakers  of  the  law.  To  it  we  answer,  then 
build  them.  The  time  already  spent  by  three  or 
four  hundred  men  in  this,  De  Kalb  and  Ogle 
counties,  at  three  or  four  different  times  and  from 
two  to  four  days  at  a  time  this  season  would  have 
built  jails  so  strong  that  no  man  or  dozen  men  on 
earth,  deprived  of  implements  with  which  to  work 
and  confined  in  them,  can  ever  escape,  and  guard 
them  sufficiently  strong  by  armed  men  outside  to 
prevent  assistance  from  rescuing  them  from  the 
arm  of  the  law.  We  wash  our  hands  clear  from 
the  blood  of  Lynch  law." 

In  the  same  number  of  the  Star  from  which  the 
above  is  quoted  there  appeared  two  communica- 
tions— one,  signed  Vox  Populi,  taking  a  strong 
ground  against  the  action  of  the  Eegulators  and 
pronouncing  them  a  banditti.  This  writer  says: 
"Banditti  like,  after  organization,  these  fiends  in 
human  shape  commenced  to  traverse  the  country 
for  plunder,  not  perhaps  of  valuable  goods,  but  the 
liberty  and  lives  of  their  fellow  citizens.  Every 
one  who  happened  to  fall  under  suspicion  of  one 
or  more  of  this  gang  was  at  once  brought  before 
their  self-constituted  tribunal,  where  there  was  no 
difficulty  in  procuring  testimony  for  convicting 
him  of  any  crime  named,  when  he  was  sentenced 
and  men  appointed  to  inflict  the  adjudged  pun- 
ishment which  in  the  embryo  existence  of  the 
'clan,'  from  twenty  to  three  hundred  lashes  were 
laid  on."  The  article  further  states:  "No  man 
pretends  that  John  and  William  Driseoll  had  com- 
mitted murder,  nor  can  they  say  they  merited  the 
punishment  they  received.  Even  had  they  been 
found  guilty  by  an  impartial  jury  of  their  coun- 
trymen of  the  crime  alleged  by  the  mob.  Nor 
had  unimpeachable  testimony  been  brought  to 
prove  them  guilty  of  that  for  which  circumstan- 
tial evidence  was  horribly  distorted  to  convict 
them,  the  punishment  would  have  been  but  three 
to  five  years  in  the  penitentiary.  Has  it  come  to 
this,  that  in  a  land  of  civilization  and  Christian- 


72 


PAST    AXD   PRESENT   OF  DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


ity.  blessed  with  as  wholesome  a  code  of  laws  as 
man's  ingenuity  ever  invented,  that  a  few  desper- 
adoes shall  rise  up  and  inflict  all  manner  of  pun- 
ishment, even  death,  upon  whomsoever  they  please? 
Shall  our  civic  law  be  sacrificed  and  trampled  in 
the  ilust  at  the  shrine  of  mobocracy?  Shall  the 
life  and  property  of  no  one  receive  protection  from 
the  civil  law.  but  both  be  subject  to  the  nod  of  an 
inconsiderate  and  uncontrollable  mob  ?"  The  Star 
editorial  already  quoted  and  the  communication  of 
Vox  Populi  only  maddened  the  Regulators  the 
more,  and  a  few  evenings  after  this  article  was 
issued  the  office  was  entered  by  unknown  parties 
and  the  type  in  forms  and  cases  pied — that  is, 
turned  out  on  the  floor  promiscuously — and  the  en- 
tire office  reduced  to  a  pile  of  ruins.  Knappen's 
hopes  were  blasted  and  he  shortly  afterward  sold 
the  wreck  to  John  A.  Brown,  and  the  publication 
of  the  paper  called  the  Piloi  was  commenced. 

The  crime  committed  at  the  home  of  William 
Mulford,  heretofore  mentioned,  is  now  supposed 
to  have  been  perpetrated  by  a  man  named 
Oliver  and  one  of  bis  accomplices.  Irving 
A.  Stearns,  who  was  found  in  Michigan  in  the 
penitentiary,  was  released,  brought  home  and 
turned  state"s  evidence,  and  Oliver  was  sent  to 
the  penitentiary  for  live  years.  He  afterward  re- 
joined his  wife  and  family  in  New  York.  \\  e 
learn  from  a  party  who  lived  in  New  York  that 
after  Oliver  returned  to  his  old  home  he  came  west, 
and  it  is  supposed  brought  home  with  him  an  im- 
mense amount  of  gold.  There  are  parties  who 
believe  that  this  gold  was  taken  from  DriscoU's 
Grove,  now  South  Grove,  and  after  the  execution 
of  the  men  a  party  traveling  through  the  woods 
found  the  place  there  where  the  ground  had  been 
freshly  dug  and  marks  on  four  trees  indicating 
that  the  spot  had  been  marked  for  some  purpose. 
Oliver  lived  a  rather  peculiar  life,  but  was  never 
guilty  of  any  crime  so  far  as  is  known,  and  at  his 
own  request  he  was  buried  in  his  every  day  clothes, 
a  hat  on  his  head  and  pipe  in  his  mouth.  He  was 
known  all  over  that  section  of  the  country  for  his 
many  peculiarities.  A  family  of  Aikens  was  sup- 
posed to  belong  to  the  bandits,  and  one  of  the  sons, 
with  Burch  and  Fox.  were  afterwards  appiehended, 
tried  and  convicted  of  horse  stealing  and  sentenced 
to  death  in  Warren  county.  It  is  said  that  Aiken 
went  west,  located  far  up  the  Missouri  river  and 
settled  down  to  industrial  pursuits,  and  to  all  ap- 


pearances led  an  honest  life.  Fox  and  Burch 
were  in  some  respects  the  most  cunning  and  vicious 
criminals  that  ever  lived  in  the  Mississippi  val- 
ley. They  were  guilty  of  the  murder  of  Colonel 
Davenport,  were  arrested  and  both  escaped,  and 
it  was  never  known  what  became  of  them.  So 
much  has  been  written  on  the  trial  of  the  Dris- 
colls  and  so  many  statements  have  been  given  that 
seem  to  be  contradictory,  that  we  have  with  great 
pains  ferreted  out  as  carefully  as  any  one  can  the 
circumstances. 

In  the  September  term  of  court  in  Ogle  county 
of  1841  an  indictment  was  found  against  the  one 
hundred  and  eleven  men  who  composed  the  jury 
and  were  the  executioners  of  John  and  William 
Driscoll.  The  case  was  entitled  the  People  versus 
Jonathan  W.  Jenkins.  Seth  H.  King.  George  D. 
Johnson.  Commodore  P.  Bridge,  Moses  Nettleton, 
James  (lark.  Lyman  Morgan,  William  Keys.  Wil- 
son Daily,  John  H.  Stevenson,  Zebulon  Bur- 
roughs. Andrew  II.  Hart.  John  V.  Gale,  George  W. 
Phelps.  Benjamin  T.  Phelps,  John  Phelps,  James 
C.  Phelps,  William  Wooley,  William  Knight,  Me~ 
ses  T.  Crowell,  Jacob  B.  Crist.  Edwin  S.  Leland, 
John  S.  Lord.  Caleb  Williamson.  Caleb  S.  Mar- 
shall. Philip  Spraker.  Richard  Chaney,  Simeon  S. 
Crowell,  James  W.  Johnson,  Alanson  Morgan.  Au- 
gustus Austin,  John  Austin.  Thomas  Stinson, 
Charles  Fletcher,  Aaron  Payne.  Spowk  Welling- 
ton. Jeremiah  Payne,  James  Scott.  Mason  Taylor, 
Harvey  Jewett,  John  Oyster,  Phineas  Chaney, 
Richard  Hayes,  Obed  Lindsay,  Amos  Rice.  Erastus 
Rice.  Sumner  Brown,  Jr.,  James  D.  Sanford,  Ja- 
cob Wickizer.  George  Young,  Thomas  0.  Young, 
Osburn  Chaney.  Rolf  Chaney,  Annas  Lucas.  Peter 
Smith,  Henry  Hill,  David  D.  Edington,  Andrew 
Keith,  John  B.  Long.  Orrin  B.  Smith.  David 
Shumway.  Horace  Miller,  John  F.  Smith.  Charles 
Latimer.  Jason  Mai-h.  Perley  S.  Shumway,  Al- 
fred M.  Jarboe,  Francis  Emerson.  Thomas  Emer- 
son, Abel  Smith.  Eliphalet  Allen.  James  Baker, 
Jarvis  C.  Baker.  Joseph  Jewell.  Jefferson  Jewell, 
Charles  Abbott.  Sidney  M.  Layton.  M.  Perry  Kerr. 
James  Harphan,  John  Coffman,  Anthony  Pitzer, 
Jonas  Scoffstalt,  Jacob  M.  Myers,  Samuel  Mitch- 
ell. John  Harmon.  John  Cooley,  William  Dewey. 
William  Wallace.  Robert  Davis.  James  Stewart, 
David  Wagner.  Aaron  Billig.  Joseph  M.  Reynolds. 
John  Kerr.  James  Hatch,  Albanon  W.  Rinker, 
David     Potter,     Martin     Rhodeamon.     Ralsamon 


PAST  AND  PBESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


73 


Thomas,  Benjamin  Worden,  John  McAlister,  John 
Beedle,  Ephraham  Vaughn,  Justus  Merrifield, 
Elias  Vaughn,  John  Adams,  Israel  Eobertson,  and 
George  \V.  Kinney,  indictment,  for  murder.  The 
case  was  called  for  trial  at  the  same  term  of  court, 
Judge  Ford  presiding,  at  which  the  indieiraent  was 
found.  Seth  B.  Farwell  appeared  for  the  people 
and  Messrs.  Peters,  Dodge,  Champion  and  Caton, 
afterward  a  prominent  judge,  for  the  defendants. 
The  jury  before  which  they  were  tried  was  com- 
posed of  S.  S.  Beatty,  S.  M.  Hitt,  James  C.  Hagan, 
Elias  Baker,  William  Carpenter,  John  Shoffstalt, 
James  B.  McCoy,  George  Swingley,  Eichard  Mc- 
Lean, William  Eenner,  Justin  Hitchcock  and  Hiram 
Weldon;  S.  M.  Hitt,  foreman.  When  arraigned 
for  trial  the  defendants  pleaded  not  guilijr  and 
the  trial  proceeded.  Most  of  the  time  occupied  in 
the  disposition  of  the  ease  was  consumed  in  call- 
ing Uie  names  of  the  defendants.  Several  wit- 
nesses were  called  on  the  part  of  the  prosecution, 
but  no  direct  evidence  was  adduced,  and  after  a 
brief  address  by  Prosecutor  Farwell  for  the  people 
and  Caton  for  the  defendants,  the  case  went  to 
the  jury,  and  without  leaving  their  seats  the  jury 
returned  the  verdict  not  guilty.  The  effect  pro- 
duced by  this  execution  upon  the  lawless  element 
was  salutary,  for  they  began  to  realize  that  the 
Regulators  were  in  earnest  and  if  the  courts  would 
not  do  justice  they  would  take  justice  into  their 
own  hands.  Looking  at  it  from  this  distant  point 
of  view,  after  the  most  rigid  examination  of  all 
evidence,  and  after  interviews  witli  persons  inter- 
ested, one  can  readily  see  the  mistakes  made  by 
both  parties.  The  Regulators  were  too  hasty  in 
inflicting  punishment  before  positive  proof  was 
obtained,  and,  as  there  were  many  of  them,  some 
of  them  perhaps  were  decidedly  arrogant.  No 
apology,  however,  can  be  made  for  the  banditti, 
who  rapidly  disappeared  from  this  section  of  the 
state  shortly  after  the  execution  at  Washington 
Grove.  It  has  often  been  asked  who  was  the  real 
murderer  of  Captain  Campbell.  As  has  been 
stated,  Taylor  Driscoll  was  put  on  trial  and  cleared 
by  the  jury  of  McHenry  county  citizens,  but  no 
doubt  David  Driscoll  was  guilty  of  the  crime  com- 
mitted. One  reason,  perhaps,  for  connecting  the 
Driscolls  with  the  banditti  was  the  fact  that  Dris- 
coll married  one  of  the  Brodies,  and  that  they 
were  frequently  visiting  back  and  forth,  but  so  far 
as  is  known  William  and  John  Driscoll  were  inno- 


cent men,  and  every  one  who  has  taken  pains  to 
investigate  the  questions  knows  this  to  be  a  fact. 
The  death  of  Martin  Campbell,  the  thirteen  year 
old  son  of  John  Campbell,  who  stood  by  his  father 
when  he  fell  at  the  hands  of  the  assassin,  occurred 
last  year.  The  facts  connected  with  this  circum- 
stance were  fully  recounted  and  substantiates  the 
facts  as  we  present  them. 


The  winter  of  1841-2  was  known  among  the  old 
settlers  as  one  of  great  severity.  The  first  snow 
fell  on  the  8th  of  November  and  remained  on  the 
ground  until  April  14.  With  the  exception  of  the 
usual  January  thaw  the  sleighing  was  excellent. 
The  thermometer  fell  to  about  forty  degrees  be- 
low zero  on  one  or  two  occasions.  For  a  winter  of 
such  severity  sufficient  provision  had  not  been 
made  and  forage  for  the  stock  became  very  scarce 
and  hundreds  of  horses,  hogs  and  cattle  died  o! 
starvation.  At  this  time  it  will  be  remembered 
that  most  of  the  young  stock  was  allowed  to  run 
out  during  the  winter  and  they  secured  their  liv- 
ing on  dried  prairie  grass  and  around  stacks  of 
straw.  Hay  this  year  sold  at  twenty  dollars  per 
ton  and  money  was  exceeedingly  scarce.  As  has 
been  mentioned  previously  in  the  article  on  gam^, 
in  the  early  days  when  snow  was  deep  deer  were 
easily  entrapped  and  could  be  slaughtered  with 
axes  and  clubs.  After  the  January  thaw  a  crust 
froze  over  the  snow,  which  would  support  a  man 
or  a  dog,  but  the  sharp  hoof  of  the  deer  would 
break  through  and  they  could  make  little  progress 
when  pursued  by  dog,  man  or  wolf.  They  came 
in  large  numbers  to  the  barnyards  and  would  feed 
with  the  stock  or  gnaw  the  barks  of  trees.  It  :s 
said  that  five  hundred  deer  were  killed  in  the 
northern  part  of  this  county  during  that  winter. 
While  this  was  a  severe  lesson  and  the  most  of 
the  people  subsequent  to  1841-2  built  better  houses 
and  were  generally  quite  prosperous,  so  that  there- 
after in  the  county's  history  no  great  suffering  has 
been  occasioned  by  extreme  cold.  The  year  1842 
opened  bright  and  prosperous  and  crops  were  sown 
in  good  season  and  produced  abundantly  at  har- 
vest time.  For  the  first  time  in  the  history  of 
Illinois  the  steel  scouring  plow  came  into  use  and 
proved  one  of  the  most  important  implements  ever 
invented  for  the  prairie  farmer.     Previous  to  this 


: 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


time  the  ground  had  been  "buggered  over"'  with 
an  old  east  iron  plow  or  some  strange  contrivance 
which  served  as  plow  share.  These  tools  could 
not  be  scoured,  but  must  be  cleaned  every  few 
rods,  so  that  they  were  quite  ineffective  for  the 
vork  required  of  them.  Nothing  but  the  fertility 
of  the  soil  on  the  prairie  enabled  the  settlers  to 
and  crops  with  such  culture.  The  prairie 
began  to  be  taken  up  quite  rapidly  and  with  the 
exception  of  four  townships  mure  than  half  of  the 
prairie  ana  was  occupied  by  claimants.  "During 
this  year  E.  L.  Mayo  was  certified  to  be  a  man  of 
!_r'»nl  moral  character  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
He  has  s  'fen  a  leading  lawyer,  lias  held  many 

public  offices  and  was  a  man  who  contributed 
largely  to  the  welfare  of  Sycamore."  Under 
of  .March  11.  1>4"2.  i-  the  following  official  record: 
'"This  day.  in  pursuance  of  an  act  entitled  an  art 
permanently  to  locate  the  seat  of  justice  of  the 
count;  "t  I'e  Kalb.  approved  January  30.  lS4o. 
the  commissioners  of  said  county  has  -  I  1  on2 
hundred  and  sixty  acre-  of  land  for  county  pur- 
-.  bounded  as  follows,  to  wit:  From  a  point 
which  bears  X.  54%  degrees  W.  in  R.  21  link- 
from  the  S.  W.  corner  of  M.  YValrod's  dwelling 
house  and  S.  ""  degrees  east  4  P..  22  links  from 
S.  E.  corner  of  Carlos  Lattin's  house,  running 
thenci  K".  9  degrees  E.  80  I,',  thence  S.  81  deg 
E.  160  R.  thence  S.  9  degrees  W.  160  R.  thence 
V  81  degrees  W.  160  R.  thence  X.  9  deg 
E.  v"  R.  to  the  place  of  beginning,  contain- 
ing 160  acres.        J.  S.  Waterman,  Surveyor." 

Lysander  Darling  as  treasurer  of  I>e  Kalb  coun- 
ty presented  the  following  account  which  is  inter- 
esting  as  showing  the  amount  of  taxes  then  col- 
lected : 

Amount  of  taxes  of  1839 $24    • 

Amount  of  taxes  of  1840 - 

Amount  of  taxes  of  1*41 328 

Fines  delivered  by  clerk 53.16 

Docket  fees  delivered  by  clerk 61.50 

Ti  illustrate  clearly  how  poor  the  people  of 
this  county  were  at  that  time  and  how  difficult  it 
was  to  raise  taxes  and  how  little  money  was  then 
in  the  country  we  will  append  below  the  list  of 
property  in  district  No.  2,  including  the  present 
townships  of  Cortland.  Sycamore.  De  Kalb.  May- 
field  and  parts  of  Genoa  and  Kingston  and  as- 
sessed by  Evans  Wharry  in  1839: 


: 


g  r- 


Phineas  Joslvn    $30  $120     $25  $63 

Daniel  Churchill   150  ...       12 

David   Churchill    T:i  100       15 

Harry  Joslvn   40       . .  12 

Arsa  Parker 100  

Henry  H.  Gandy 15  120       25  7" 

George   W.   Gandy.  . .      21  90       25  19 

Elias     Hartman     20  50        . .  39       $60 

Peter  Young   45  50  34 

Asace  Champlin   190  100       15  59 

Eli   W.   Brooks 40 

Powel   Crossett 27 

Widow   Crossett    lyo  100       10  16 

Anion   Booth    40         9 

Austin    Hayden     2S3  ...       20  33 

Zeanos   Churchill    ...     20       

Ca-tle  Churchill    ....      15       

Isaac    Gandy    15  so        S  17 

Marcems   Hall   77        18 

Samuel    Spring    125  60         5  52 

John   Waterman    110  120       20  62       500 

Ezra  A.  Hanson 300  ...       25  21 

Davis  Wood  20  100         5  31 

James  Lovel  86  ...         7  35         20 

John  Elliott    23  100        . .  55 

Mathew   H.   Pery 136  

Winslow  Nbrcutte   . .     2s  100       . .  118 

Ah  in    Dayton    12  80       ..  65 

Ralph  Wyman   50  30         5  57 

Silvanus    Hocum    ...      15  100       15  40 

Hiram  Buell 15 

Peter  W.  Walrod 71       63 

Pheneas  P.  Stevens..   200  ...       15  112 

George   Harrison    ...     50  60       

William  Townsend  ..   100  

Lyman    Barber    60 

Rufus     Colton     15  ...          S  72 

James    Cartwright 30 

Jacob  Jenks    13  80       . .  62 

Harry  B.  Barber 41  61  35 

Clark    L.    Barber 80       . .  30 

Rustle   Huntly    188  100       ..  151 

Win.  X.  Fairbanks...   150  

Solomon  Holister  ...     75       37 

James    Paistley    Ill  75         5 

Jacob   Cox    115        33 

Frederick  Love   100  2S0        . .  25 

James   Williams    ....     50       is 

Erastus   Hamlin    ....     50  ...          6  6 

Samuel  Thompson   .75  ...         5  27 

Eli    Barnes     11-  50         5  33 

Ora  A.  Walker   60  ...         5  12 

John   Maxfield   240  170       20  132 

Erasmus   C.  Walrod 10 

ph  Sixbury 100       ..  40 

Livington   C.   Walrod   . . .  120       . .  25 

Neal    Swaney    145  120 

Morris   Walrod    70  120         5  51 

Robert    Mitchell    75  150        .  .  77 

Henry  Madden   10  ...       20  9 

James  A.  MacCullom     70  100       15  71 

Isaac    MacCullom    .  .    135  ...       10  65 

Reuben    Xichols    ....      55  50        . .  10         30 

John  Xichols 5  . .          40 

Charles  Townsend 90       . .  50 

Marshall  Stark   131       113           9 

Harvey   Maxfield    ...   110  ...       15  S4 


400 


400 
300 


PAST   AND    PKESENT   OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


75 


Daniel   B.   Lamb 15  80         4         40  139 

Lewis   Love    25         50        75 

William  Bassett 50       . .          25        ...  75 

George  F.  Wilson...     15       ...         5       30 

John  J.&  C.  Waterman *150 

Eli  G.   Newell 15  40                 15       ...  70 

Clark  Wright 110  ...          5         84        ...  199 

John   R.   Hamlin 50        50 

Robert  Graham   45  80        .  .          90        ...  215 

John  Fryer   15  195        . .          69        ...  279 

I.  &  James  Robert 100       20         48  168 

*  One  store. 

I,  Evans  Wharry,  do  certify  the  within  assess- 
ment and  valuation  to  be  a  true  copy  and  correct 
to  the  best  of  my  abilities.  Evans  Wharry. 

Sycamore,  Dec.  5,  1839. 

The  number  of  property  owners  who  served  on 
juries  and  had  bills  against  the  county  paid  their 
taxes  with  county  orders.  This  was  about  the  time 
of  the  failure  of  the  State  Bank,  which  occurred 
m  February,  1848,  and  had  spread  devastation 
and  ruin.  Governor  Ford,  when  entering  upon 
his  duties  as  executive  of  the  state,  found  it  im- 
possible to  pay  the  interest  of  the  state  debt  In 
currency.  People  of  the  eastern  states  and  foreign 
countries  who  had  bought  some  of  the  bonds  taunt- 
ed this  state  as  a  repudiator  and  indeed  there  was 
a  large  part  of  the  population  in  favor  of  repudi- 
ating the  state  debt.  It  is  said  that  when  IllinoLj- 
ians  were  traveling  in  the  eastern  states  they 
were  ashamed  to  acknowledge  the  state  from  which 
they  came. 

•'Mr.  John  E.  Hamlin,  who  held  the  offices  oi 
clerk  of  the  county  commissioners  court,  recorder 
and  postmaster  and  out  of  the  whole  of  them 
managed  to  make  only  about  enough  to  pay  his 
board— cheap  as  boarding  was— at  the  June  term 
of  the  county  commissioners  court  of  this  year, 
was  granted  the  privilege  of  advancing  twelve  dol- 
lars to  purchase  a  book  for  records,  with  the  prom- 
ise that  it  should  be  paid  out  of  the  first  money 
Teceived  into  the  treasury.  Mr.  Hamlin,  always 
a  gentleman  of  genial,  kindly  temper,  a  universal 
favorite,  subsequently  became  a  wealthy  merchant 
of  Chicago,  and  still  later  removed  again  to  this 
county,  where  he  became  an  extensive  landowner, 
but  it  is  reported  that  about  this  time  he  was  ac- 
customed to  travel  through  the  county  to  collect 
deeds  for  record  and  urge  upon  those  who  had 
deeds  the  necessity  of  having  them  placed  upon 
record,  and  it  is  said  that  for  convenience  and 
economy  he  often  went  barefooted.  But  current 
rumors  are  not  alwavs  true.     Certain  that  all  of 


these  offices  at  that  time  were  not  enough  to  give 
one  man  a  living.  A  dozen  years  later  the  record- 
er's office  alone  constantly  employed  four  or  five 
men  and  was  reported  to  be  worth  eight  thousand 
dollars  a  year  to  the  fortunate  holder.  Such  facts, 
better  than  any  array  of  figures,  give  an  idea  of 
the  remarkable  growth  and  increase  in  the  popula- 
tion and  business  of  the  county.  The  elections  at 
this  period  in  the  history  of  the  county  were  gener- 
ally held  at  the  residence  of  some  citizen  centrally 
located  in  the  precinct  and  right  glad  was  he  after 
a  year  or  two  of  experience  of  the  annoyance  and 
trouble  of  such  gatherings  to  procure  the  removal 
of  the  place  of  election  to  some  other  location.  The 
place  of  election  in  Orange  precinct  was  at  this 
term  changed  from  the  residence  of  W.  A.  Fair- 
banks to  Calvin  Colton's  spacious  and  comfortable 
hotel,  and  in  Franklin  precinct  it  was  changed 
from  the  mill  of  Henry  Hicks  to  the  residence  of 
Theophilus  Watkins.  Martin  M.  Mack  was  re- 
elected county  commissioner  at  the  August  election 
of  this  year,  and  D.  W.  Lamb  was  made  county 
surveyor,  an  office  which  he  held  with  occasional 
intervals  during  the  next  twenty-two  years. 

"The  chief  matters  of  record  of  the  county  com- 
missioners court  still  continued  to  be  the  location 
of  the  new  roads,  but  about  this  time  their  breadth, 
which  had  hitherto  been  only  fifty  feet,  was  en- 
larged to  sixty-six,  and  in  some  cases  to  eight,' 
feet.  The  Oregon  state  road  was  laid  out  one 
hundred  feet  in  width.  The  circuit  court  this 
year  held  but  one  session  and  that  in  September. 
It  was  presided  over  by  John  D.  Caton,  one  of  the 
justices  of  the  supreme  court.  S.  B.  Farwell  was 
stale's  attorney,  J.  C.  Kellogg,  clerk,  and  Morris 
Walrod,  sheriff.  Among  the  leading  practitioners 
at  its  bar  were  T.  Lyle  Dickey,  E.  L.  Mayo,  B.  F. 
Fridley,  W.  I).  Barry,  N.  II.  Peters,  W.  R.  Croth- 
ers  and  A.  J.  Brown." 

The  elections  this  year,  as  previously,  w-ere  held 
in  private  houses.  No  public  buildings  of  any 
nature  were  found  sufficient  for  this  purpose.  One 
change  that  was  made  that  was  notable  was  the 
place  of  election  in  Orange  precinct  was  changed 
from  the  residence  of  W.  A.  Fairbanks  to  Calvin 
Colton's  comfortable  hotel,  which  at  that  time  was 
one  of  the  best  buildings  between  Chicago  and  the 
Mississippi  river.  In  this  election  Martin  Mack 
-ivas  re-elected  county  commissioner  and  Daniel 
W.   Lamb    was   made  county   surveyor,    an   office 


YG 


PAST    AND    PBESEKT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


which  he  held  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
The  work  of  Daniel  Lamb  will  ever  remain  as  a 
monument  to  his  skill  and  accuracy.  At  the  tim-i 
of  his  work  as  surveyor  he  perhaps  knew  every 
section  of  land  in  the  county.  He  was  a  man  .-f 
probity,  of  good  sense  ami  was  one  of  the  most 
useful  citizens  of  that  territory.  The  county  com- 
missioners court  were  still  busy  locating  new  roads 
and  an  inspection  of  their  records  still  showed 
that  about  three-fourths  of  all  their  business  per- 
tained to  the  making  of  roads  and  road  districts. 
This  year  they  widened  the  roads  laid  out  from 
fifty  to  sixty-six  feet  and  as  a  general  thing  the 
loads  of  this  county  to  this  day  are  of  that  width. 
In  one  or  two  cases,  notably  the  road  from  Ot- 
tawa to  the  state  line  on  the  north,  was  eighty  feet 
in  width.  The  Oregon  state  road,  of  which  State 
street  is  now  a  part,  was  laid  out  this  year  and 
was  made  one  hundred  feet  in  width  and  the  fact 
that  this  street  was  laid  out  in  such  proportions 
caused  other  streets  to  follow  their  example,  so 
that  at  the  present  time  Sycamore  has  as  wide 
streets  as  any  city  in  Illinois. 

The  session  "I  the  circuit  court  was  held  this 
year  and  was  presided  over  by  Judge  John  D.  Ca- 
ton,  one  of  the  justices  of  the  supreme  court.  S. 
B.  Earwell  was  state's  attorney,  dosse  E.  Kellogg 
circuit  clerk  and  Morris  Walrod  sheriff.  Among 
the  leading  practitioners  a1  the  bar  were  T.  Lyle 
Dickey,  E.  L.  Mayo,  who  came  to  Sycamore  thi< 
year,  B.  F.  Fridley.  \\ .  P.  Barry.  X.  H.  Peters 
from  Kane  anil  La  Salle  counties,  and  the  first  two 
lawyers  to  locate  in  our  county  were  AT.  K.  Croth- 
ers,  who  lived  at  Coltonville,  and  A.  J.  Brown, 
who  came  to  Sycamore  in  1841  and  became  the 
first  lawyer  of  the  county. 

In  1842  a  brickyard  was  established  on  w7hat  is 
now  the  Nelson  farm  in  Sycamore  and  the  first 
brick  houses  in  this  town  were  built  in  184G.  Th-J 
Mayo  house,  which  stood  on  the  present  site  of  th° 
Congregational  church,  was  the  first  brick  house 
built  in  what  is  now  this  town.  In  1842  Mrs. 
Boswell  Dow,  who  came  to  Sycamore  to  make  her 
home,  speaks  of  it  as  a  village  of  about  a  dozen  or 
fifteen  houses  with  three  good  wells.  The  Con- 
gregational people  of  this  locality  had  a  regularly 
established  minister  this  year  by  the  name  of 
"Wells,  and  the  mill  at  St.  Charles  was  finished, 
so  that  people  instead  of  going  to  Ottawa,  a  dis- 
tance of  forty  or  fifty  miles,  could  now  get  their 


wheat  ground  within  about  twenty-two  miles  of 
their  home.  This  was  considered  at  that  time  a 
great  boon  to  the  people  of  this  locality. 

In  1843  the  finances  of  this  countv  were  still 
in  a  deplorable  condition.  The  county  had  about 
nine  hundred  and  seventy-two  dollars  in  outstand- 
ing orders.  The  taxes  to  be  collected  would  pay 
about  half  of  them,  leaving  the  county  in  debt  for 
the  balance.  While  this  is  a  small  amount  now  ?t 
was  a  troublesome  load  for  the  young  county  to 
carry  and  more  complaint  was  made  of  this  four 
hundred  dollars  than  was  made  at  a  later  day 
when  the  countv  became  indebted  to  the  amount  of 
two  hundred  thousand,  and  it  can  be  said  that  the 
latter  amount  was  paid  with  greater  ease  than 
the  four  hundred  dollar  indebtedness  of  sixty-five 
years  ago.  A  tax  of  one  and  a  half  per  cent  was 
ordered  for  the  ensuing  year  and  the  county  clerk, 
Mr.  John  Waterman,  was  able  to  collect  nearly 
all  of  i  lie  tax,  but  the  most  of  the  amount  was  in 
juror-'  certificates  and  county  orders. 

"•The  land  in  the  central  towns  of  the  county 
came  in  market  during  this  year.  This  was  an  im- 
portant era  in  the  affairs  of  the  settlers.  Many 
had  for  years  previous  been  hoarding  the  monev 
that  they  had  been  able  to  save,  in  anticipation  of 
this  important  event.  From  the  old  stockings  and 
secrel  recesses  of  their  log  cabins  the  glittering 
was  drawn  out  and  they  started  in  a  strong 
company  for  the  land  sale  in  Chicago.  The  land 
was  sold  oil'  at  auction  and  from  each  neighbor- 

1 .1  one  trusty  man  was  selected  to  bid  off  the 

property  as  it  was  offered,  while  the  remainder 
-t ]  around,  armed  with  clubs  and  a  most  fero- 
cious aspect,  ready  to  knock  down  and  execute 
summary  vengeance  upon  any  speculator  who 
should  dare  to  bid  for  lands  that  had  been  claimed 
and  occupied  by  any  of  their  party.  Few  were 
bold  enough  to  attempt  it.  One  unlucky  fellow, 
who  committed  this  offense  through  mistake, 
thinking  that  he  was  bidding  upon  another  piece 
of  land,  was  seized  in  an  instant  by  the  crowd  of 
excited  squatter-sovereigns,  hustled  away  and  near- 
ly  torn  to  pieces  before  he  could  explain  the  occur- 
rence and  express  his  readiness  to  correct  the  mis- 
take. But  the  settlers  on  this  occasion  suffered 
more  from  the  depredations  of  pick-pockets  than 
from  anything  else.  Such  a  crowd  furnished  a 
harvest  field  for  these  gentry  and  several  of  our 
citizens   who   had    come   with    pockets   well    lined 


ASHEL  BYEKS. 


PAST   AND    PRESENT   OF   DE   EALB    COUNTY. 


79 


with  gold  found  them  emptied  when  they  wanted 
to  pay  for  their  land  and  were  obliged  to  go  home 

moneyless  and  landless.  It  was  a  severe  loss. 
5  ears  of  labor  would  be  required  to  replace  it.  and 
before  that  time  they  would  lose  their  land  and 
the  improvements  which  they  had  spent  years  in 
effecting.  Simultaneously  with  the  land  sale  a 
number  of  new  claim  associations  were  formed 
throughout  the  county  to  prevent  persons  who 
moved  in  from  purchasing  from  the  government 
lands  which  those  then  living  near  chose  to  claim 
by  plowing  around  them.  They  were  no  doubt 
useful  in  preventing  many  from  entering  farms  to 
which  the  expense  of  improvement  and  long  oc- 
cupation gave  the  squatter  an  equitable  title,  but 
I  hey  were  also  in  many  cases  a  means  of  injus- 
tice. .Men  banded  themselves  together  in  such  or- 
ganizations in  order  to  keep  by  the  force  of  mob 
law  other  settlers  from  occupying  and  holding 
lands,  while  they  themselves  held  tracts  of  enor- 
mous extent  and  paid  for  none  of  it." 

During  the  year  1843  several  mills  were  estab- 
lished in  the  northern  part  of  the  county  along 
the  Kishwaukee,  but  were  used  only  for  sawing 
lumber.  The  threshers  were  used  in  the  county 
quite  generally  this  year  and  the  crops  on  the 
whole  were  very  good,  but  the  thresher  instead  of 
being  like  the  ones  we  have  at  present  was  sim- 
ply a  cylinder  and  did  not  separate  the  grain  from 
the  straw.  The  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  upon 
which  the  county  seat  stood  had  been  located. 
winch  was  to  be  divided  into  lots,  now  came  in 
the  market  subject  to  entry.  This  land  had  been 
pre-empted  but  had  never  proved  up  its  pre-emp- 
tion right.  It  had  solemnly  bound  itself  in  giving 
deeds  to  the  lots,  to  acquire  the  deed  as  soon  as  the 
land  came  into  market,  but  now  that  this  time  had 
come  it  found  itself  destitute  of  money  and  utter- 
ly unable  to  borrow.  Any  speculator  was  at  lib- 
erty to  buy  and  take  the  best  of  titles  to  the  town 
by  paying  the  amount  of  a  dollar  and  a  quarter 
an  acre  for  it.  Pew  of  the  settlers  at  this  time 
had  money  enough  to  enter  their  own  claims  and 
none  were  willing  to  lend  money  to  the  county,  and 
in  this  dilemma  three  of  Sycamore's  loyal  citizens 
— Jesse  C.  Kellogg,  Carlos  Lattin  and  Curtis 
Smith  (who  was  prominent  years  afterward  in 
the  county  and  who  had  land  near  the  city) — fur- 
nished the  necessary  funds,  entered  the  land  in 
their  own  name  and  promised  to  wait  for  repay- 


ment until  the  time  in  which  it  was  supposed  the 
county  would  be  able  to  return  the  money.  This 
was  a  great  relief  to  the  finances  of  the  county 
and  to  the  inhabitants  of  Sycamore  and  it  is  a 
notable  fact  that  the  county  failed  to  get  back  the 
titles  of  some  of  the  parties  to  which  lands  were 
sold  and  finally  lost  a  part  of  the  land. 

About  this  time  the  county  had  a  suit  with 
Amos  Harman,  of  whom  it  required  to  open  the 
Ottawa  state  road,  and  was  defeated.  The  dam- 
ages assessed  against  the  county  were  thirty-five 
dollars  and  this  little  amount  nearly  bankrupted 
the  treasury,  and  again  some  of  the  loyal  citizens- 
of  the  county  stepped  forward  and  provided  for  the 
deficiency. 

The  election  of  justices  this  year  brought  some 
new  men  into  prominence — George  H.  Hill,  of 
Kingston;  Isaac  Cumpton,  Abner  Jackman,. 
James  Byers,  Aaron  Kandall.  Kimball  Dow, 
George  Flinn.  Russell  Huntley  and  Z.  B.  Mayo. 
The  election  of  county  commissioners  this  year 
followed  at  tlie  usual  date,  when  Sylvanus  Hol- 
comb  was  elected.  During  the  year  H.  M.  Per- 
kins built  a-  fine  large  hotel  in  Genoa,  which  was 
afterward  a  famous  resort  for  balls  and  parties,, 
and  many  notable  events  transpired  there.  Some 
of  the  people  who  now  live  here  remember  some- 
of  these  events. 

At  this  time  also  a  new  frame  schoolhouse  was 
built  in  Genoa,  which  at  that  time  was  the  best 
one  in  the  county.  It  still  remains  and  is  used  as 
a  part  of  a  livery  stable.  After  the  building  of 
the  sawmills  more  frame  buildings  were  erected 
and  the  homes  of  farmers  were  made  more  com- 
fortable. Prices  of  hard  wood  lumber  at  that  time 
were  about  one-fourth  what  is  now  charged  for 
pine  lumber.  During  this  year  Eeuben  Pritchard,. 
John  R.  Hamlin  and  B.  F.  Hunt  were  appointed 
commissioners  of  the  state  to  lay  out  the  Chicago 
and  Grand-de-Tour  state  road.  This  road  passes 
in  the  north  part  of  De  Kalb  and  Malta  townships 
to  the  west  line  of  the  county,  where  other  com- 
missioners of  the  county  laid  out  the  road  through 
that  county  and  so  on  to  the  river. 

During  the  year  1843  the  first  bridge  was  built 
across  the  Kishwaukee,  which  was  considered  a 
great  convenience  for  the  people  living  north  of 
Sycamore,  for  during  the  wet  seasons  there  were 
times  when  they  were  unable  to  ford  the  streams- 
and  in  eases  of  necessity  people  would  drive  as 


80 


PAST   AND   PEESENT   OF  DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


far  as  the  river  and  then  use  a  boat  to  the  other 
side  to  g^l  their  produce  and  return.  Some  who 
are  still  living  and  reside  in  what  is  Mayfield 
township  remember  well  how  they  hauled  their 
grisl  to  the  bank  on  the  creek,  ferried  across  and 
then  had  another  wagon  to  meet  them  on  the  other 
side  and  take  the  grist  to  mill. 

1S44  was  a  season  of  floods  in  the  early  part  of 
the  summer  and  during  the  harvesl  season  rains 
fell  almost  continuously.  Some  men  cut  and 
bound  their  wheat  when  they  were  compelled  to 
stand  ankle  deep  in  water  and  then  carry  it  out  on 
the  high  knolls  to  dry  before  stacking.  When  they 
took  their  grist  to  mill  over  almost  bottomless 
niads  they  had  to  drive  four  yoke  of  oxen  to  draw 
the  small  load.  Cattle  and  horses  feeding  on  the 
prairies  became  mired  and  numerous  calls  were 
made  for  teams  to  attach  long  ropes  and  chains 
to  them  and  draw  them  out.  All  the  bridges  which 
had  been  erected  over  the  streams  wire  carried 
away  by  the  floods.  The  Mississippi  river  was 
never  known  to  be  higher  and  steamboats  passed 
through  tin-  streets  of  St.  Louis.  Kaskaskia  and 
other  cities  along  the  river.  In  many  instances 
when  the  water  subsided  the  laud  was  covered 
with  sand  and  mud  so  that  it  ruined  the  land  for 
cultivation  for  a  time.  Added  to  this  difficulty 
many  of  the  grist  mills  of  Illinois  were  swept  away 
and  there  was  great  destitution  of  meal  and  flour. 

The  county  election  this  year  showed  the  democ- 
racy a  winner.  Carlos  Lattin  was  chosen  county 
treasurer,  Marshall  Stark  school  commissioner,  E. 
L.  Mayo  recorder,  A.  J.  Brown  probate  justice.  In 
later  vears  the  probate  justice  became  known  as 
countv  judge,  but  it  was  not  necessary  that  the 
county  judge  be  a  regularly  admitted  lawyer.  Mor- 
ris Wain  id  was  collector  of  the  county  and  W. 
H.  Beavers  was  elected  as  clerk  of  the  county  com- 
missions -  i  ourt. 

In  is ll  tin-  democracy  seems  to  have  firmly 
regained  its  hold  upon  county  affairs  and  Polk  re- 
ceived two  hundred  and  forty-two  votes,  Clay. 
whig,  one  hundred  and  forty-two  votes  and  Birney. 
free  <,,il.  one  hundred  and  thirty-one  votes.  An 
analysis  of  this  vote  shows  that  the  free  soil  candi- 
date received  a  heavy  vote  from  Brush  Point  settle- 
ment, from  the  precinct  of  Wooster.  now  Genoa, 
and  from  Somonauk.  Emigration  in  the  later  '30s 
and  early  '40s  was  largely  from  the  eastern  states. 
The  Scotch  Presbyterian  people  were  strong  anti- 


slavery  people,  as  were  the  people  from  Brush 
Point,  who  came  from  southeastern  Xew  York. 
and  the  people  of  Genoa  were  also  of  Xew  York 
origin. 

During  this  time  but  little  strife  was  made  for 
county  offices,  as  the  salary  was  scarcely  enough  in 
some  instances  to  buy  a  suit  of  clothes.  During 
this  year  settlers  began  again  to  come  into  the 
state,  and  as  the  timber  land  was  generally  owned 
at  this  time  by  sett  lei,-  already  here  the  new- 
1 1 miers  were  compelled  to  go  to  the  prairie.  Many 
felt  that  it  was  a  great  sacrifice  to  be  so  far  away 
from  the  timber,  but  in  this  time  has  proven  that 
the  settlers  on  the  prairie  became  the  most  pros- 
perous and  in  time  their  land  became  more  val- 
uable than  the  timber  land. 

While  the  year  1845  did  not  clear  up  the  finan- 
cial condition  in  Illinois  nor  in  De  Kalb  county. 
still  on  the  whole  the  people  were  getting  more 
prosperous  and  building  more  comfortable  homes, 
,md  there  was  less  talk  of  returning  to  their  old 
home  in  the  eastern  Mates.  Nearly  every  settler 
who  came  to  this  county  in  an  early  day  will 
speak  of  the  homesickness  of  those  who  came  from 
more  comfortable  homes  to  settle  in  the  wilder- 
iii--.  and  many  actually  died  from  sheer  home- 
-ii  kness. 

Schools  began  to  be  quite  generally  established. 
A  number  of  different  schools  will  be  treated  of 
more  fully  in  the  township  histories.  The  claim 
association  that  was  organized  in  1835  was  still 
in  existence,  and  they  were  sometimes  unjust  in 
their  dealings  with  those  seeking  for  land.  Set- 
tlers were  also  deterred  by  the  acts  of  the  claim 
organization,  who  banded  together  and  thxeatem  <1 
the  lives  of  any  who  should  enter  lands  around 
winch  any  of  their  gang  had  plowed  a  furrow, 
which  constituted  the  commonly  received  marks 
nf  a  claim.  An  incident  is  related  which  showed 
the  spirit  of  the  times.  Two  hoys,  afterwards  well 
known  in  the  county,  jumped  the  claim  of  a  neigh- 
bor and  settled  down  to  take  possession.  The 
claim  organization,  to  the  number  of  about  sixty, 
captured  the  boys,  formed  a  ring  around  them,  put 
them  on  trial  and  decided  to  give  them  a  severe 
thrashing  with  green  hickory  withes,  but,  seeing 
that  the  boys  were  well  frightened  and  punish- 
ment was  unnecessary,  some  of  the  more  generous 
hearted  in  the  circle  decided  to  give  the  bovs  an 
opportunity  to  escape,  and  while  engaged  in  con- 


PAST  AND  PBESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


81 


versation  allowed  large  gaps  to  remain  in  their 
lines,  and  the  boys,  seeing  their  opportunity,  pulled 
off  their  boots  and  made  for  the  woods,  and  were 
not  seen  for  several  days.  It  is  unnecessary  to 
state  that  they  never  afterwards  jumped  the  claim 
of  a  neighbor.  Most  of  the  settlers  here  in  1845 
seemed  more  anxious  to  leave  the  country  than  to 
remain  here.  A  letter  is  now  in  existence,  which 
was  written  by  a  homesick  family  to  their  old 
home  in  the  east,  stating  that  if  they  could  get 
what,  little  money  they  had  in  their  property  they 
would  return  to  their  old  home  and  remain  for- 
ever satisfied.  All  the  money  they  had  invested 
here  was  two  hundred  dollars.  This  same  family 
afterward  became  wealthy  and  almost  the  entire 
family  became  prominently  identified  with  the 
county's  history.  In  even-  new  country  there  is 
an  element  that  moves  in,  becomes  restless  and  dis- 
satisfied and  soon  move  out.  The  old  settlers 
whom  we  now  honor  as  our  pioneers  were  the  ones 
who  came  and  in  spite  of  all  the  disadvantages  of 
a  new  country  remained  to  make  this  county  one 
of  the  best  in  Illinois.  The  taxes  collected  this 
year  amounted  to  three  hundred  and  seventy-five 
dollars,  more  than  half  of  which  was  in  county 
orders.  Few  debtors  were  prosecuted  during  these 
times,  for  the  laws  of  this  state  seemed  to  favor 
the  debtors  and  render  it  almost  impossible  to  col- 
ic (  t  a  claim  by  legal  process. 

Eighteen  hundred  and  forty-five  seemed  to 
he  the  turning  point  in  the  country's  finan- 
cial condition.  War  is  generally  a  breeder 
of  good  times.  During  the  war  of  1812,  the 
war  with  Mexico  and  the  Civil  war.  prices  were 
high  and  people  received  valuable  remunera- 
tion for  their  labor.  Foreign  wars  have  also 
been  productive  of  wealth  on  this  side  of 
the  water.  The  prices  of  produce  for  sev- 
eral rears  previous  to  1845  averaged  about  as  fol- 
lows: Thirty-five  cents  a  bushel  for  spring  wheat, 
fifty  cents  a  bushel  for  the  best  winter  wheat,  one 
dollar  lo  a  dollar  and  seventy-five  cents  for  dressed 
pork ;  cows  brought  an  average  of  about  ten  dollars 
a  head  and  horses  were  nearly  as  high  as  at  pres- 
ent, as  they  furnished  all  means  of  communication 
and  were  our  railroads  and  telegraph  wires  and 
telephones. 

In  the  spring  of  1S46  prices  advanced  mater- 
ially. Wheat  sold  from  fifty  to  seventy-five  cents 
a  bushel ;  hogs  brought  from  two  and  a  half  to 


three  and  a  half  per  hundred,  and  all  kinds  of 
produce  on  the  farm  about  doubled  in  value.  In 
May,  184G,  the  president  called  upon  Illinois  for 
four  regiments  of  volunteers  to  proceed  to  Mex- 
ico and  support  the  army  of  General  Taylor.  The 
part  that  De  Kalb  county  took  in  the  Mexican 
war  will  be  treated  of  in  the  chapter  "De  Kalb 
County  in  War."  But  it  is  safe  to  say  that  this 
war  was  felt  very  lightly  in  this  section  of  the 
country,  as  it  took  but  few  De  Kalb  county  boys, 
and  the  war  from  the  very  start  was  one  of  great 
and  uniform  success.  At  the  March  term  of  the 
county  commissioners'  court.  Paw  Paw  election 
district  was  divided  by  the  creation  of  a  new  pre- 
cinct called  Shabbona.  It  comprised  the  territory 
"now  contained  in  the  four  townships  of  Shabbona, 
Clinton,  Milan  and  Afton.  Elections  were  ordered 
to  be  held  at  the  home  of  William  Marks.  In  the 
fall  of  this  year  Austin  Hayden,  of  what  is  now 
Cortland  township;  George  H.  Hill,  now  of  Kings- 
ton township,  and  Joseph  Newberry,  of  what  is 
now  Somonauk  township,  were  elected  county  com- 
missioners. James  Harrington,  school  commis- 
sioner; John  A.  Waterman,  county  treasurer;  E. 
L.  Mayo,  probate  justice;  Jacob  Simons  and  Wil- 
liam Fordham,  each  served  as  county  clerk.  The 
justices  of  the  peace  were  about  the  same  as  elect- 
ed two  years  previously,  with  the  exception  of  Jo- 
seph A.  Bilks,  Wheeler  Hedges,  Samuel  Stevens 
and  B.  F.  Johnson. 

The  good  times  of  184G  continued  and  increased 
in  184T,  and  the  indebtedness  of  the  county  was 
reduced  and  conditions  over  the  state  improved 
accordingly.  Banks  were  established  and  the  peo- 
ple of  the  state  were  getting  on  a  firm  financial 
footing.  Four  years  previous  the  state  officers 
were  sometimes  troubled  to  get  money  to  pay  their 
postage,  but  were  now  receiving  regular  salaries, 
which  were  promptly  paid.  Postage  up  to  this 
time  had  been  twenty-five  cents  for  each  letter,  but 
was  now  reduced  to  about  fifteen  cents,  and  it 
was  felt  that  almost  any  one  could  now  write  let- 
ters. In  the  early  part  of  the  century  postage  had 
been  as  high  as  fifty  cents,  and  many  people  living 
in  the  early  '40s  had  paid  that  amount.  One  of 
the  things  that  has  made  it  difficult  to  secure  rec- 
ords of  the  past  has  been  that  very  few  letters 
were  written,  but  one  thing  is  quite  certain,  if  a 
person  did  receive  a  letter  it  was  a  cherished  treas- 
ure and  generally  preserved,  and  in  many  of  the 


82 


PAST    AND   PBESENT   OF  DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


homes  of  our  county  today  we  will  find  letters 
written,  papers  folded  without  envelopes  and  closed 
with  sealing  wax.  and  a  charge  of  fifty  cents,  which 
has  been  marked  "paid"  on  the  back  of  the  back  of 
the  paper,  and  every  available  space  on  the  sheet 
is  occupied  with  writing. 

The  old  canal  from  the  lake  to  the  Illinois  river 
was  finished  and  some  of  the  people  in  the  south 
part  of  the  county  drew  their  grain  to  Ottawa  and 
Peru  and  put  it  on  canal  boats,  shipping  it  gener- 
ally to  Chicago,  but  in  some  instances  to  New  Or- 
leans. Specie  was  still  scarce  and  it  was  a  diffi- 
cult matter  to  pay  a  tax  of  front  five  to  ten  dollars, 
and  it  distressed  people  more,  those  small  sums. 
than  to  pay  forty  times  that  amount  at  present. 
The  collector  would  call  again  and  again  for  the 
taxes,  and  then  in  many  instances  the  property 
would  be  advertised  and  sold  for  the  collection  of 
taxes.  During  these  years  roads  were  lined  with 
teams  and  wagons  loaded  with  grain  and  the  tav- 
erns of  that  day  were  crowded.  Prices  were  rea- 
sonable. Fifty  cents  was  the  regular  charge  for 
supper,  lodging,  breakfast  and  feed  for  the  team. 
A  few  of  the  number  remain  who  hauled  grain 
in  Chicago,  and  they  tell  us  how  the  people  of 
the  neighborhood  would  generally  start  in  a  pro- 
cession, of  the  jolly  times  that  were  had  along  the 
mad  and  at  the  taverns,  where  they  were  com- 
pelled to  remain  over  night.  At  the  election  of 
this  year  William  Young  was  chosen  county  com- 
missioner. William  Beavers  clerk  of  the  county 
commissioners'  court.  Sheldon  Crossett  school 
commissioner,  E.  L.  Mayo  probate  justice,  Wil- 
liam Fordham  recorder,  William  Shepardson 
treasurer  and  E.  P.  Young  county  recorder. 

During  the  year  1847  the  first  allowances  for 
the  care  of  paupers  were  made,  and  although  this 
county  had  so  little  wealth  it  is  a  notable  fact 
that  previous  to  this  time  no  paupers  in  the  county 
had  been  reported. 

The  year  1S48  was  one  of  general  prosperity 
for  the  state.  The  constitution  made  at  (.he  or- 
ganization of  the  state  in  181S  had  proved  inef- 
ficient and  a  new  constitutional  convention  was 
called.  George  H.  Hill,  of  Kingston,  represented 
this  county  in  the  constitutional  convention.  In 
the  fall  of  that  year  it  was  submitted  to  the  peo- 
ple and  carried  by  a  large  majority.  The  county 
was  divided  into  more  election  precincts  and  jus- 
tice districts.    Settlers  were  rapidly  taking  up  the 


land  and  the  population  of  the  county  was  in- 
creasing. The  old  courthouse,  which  had  been 
built  in  1839,  was  a  shabby,  two-story  building, 
which  stood  until  recently  opposite  the  present  one, 
and  was  the  only  building  in  the  city  for  public 
use.  The  county  eked  out  its  petty  finances  by 
letting  it  for  various  use-,  a  charge  of  twenty-five 
cents  generally  being  made  for  each  evening.  The 
Congregational  and  Universalist  societies  held  re- 
ligious services  there,  it  was  occupied  during  the 
week  for  select  school,  which  was  taught  by  Bos- 
well  Dow,  and  the  Sons  of  Temperance  held  even- 
ing meetings.  Although  the  county  demanded 
better  buildings  and  better  protection  for  its  rec- 
ords, a  gnat  deal  of  opposition  was  encountered 
when  the  subject  of  a  new  building  was  discussed. 
People  had  just  escaped  from  an  indebtedness 
which  had  been  a  great  burden  and  were  wholly 
unwilling  to  take  upon  themselves  a  new  one. 
During  this  year  churches  were  built  in  various 
parts  of  the  county  and  religious  services,  which 
had  previously  been  held  in  private  houses,  were 
generally  transferred  to  the  school  houses,  which 
were  now  being  erected  quite  generally  and  were 
usually  frame  building.-.  Schools  at  this  time 
were  very  large  and  the  districts  averaged  about 
three  linns  the  size  of  those  of  the  present  day. 

In  1848  the  Mexican  war  had  been  closed  glo- 
riously and  the  United  States  had  added  a  half 
million  square  miles  to  its  territory.  The  people 
were  proud  of  the  veterans  of  the  Mexican  war, 
and  when  Zachary  Taylor  was  entered  as  the  whig 
candidate  for  the  presidency  against  Lewis  Cass,, 
the  democratic  candidate,  and  .Martin  Van  Buren, 
the  free  soil  candidate,  the  military  hero  again 
triumphed,  for  in  the  history  of  our  country  the 
'•uccessful  hern  of  a  successful  war  is  always  suc- 
ei'—  fill  in  a  political  contest  before  the  American 
people.  The  presidential  vote  in  this  county  is  as 
follows:  Cass,  democrat,  three  hundred  and  sev- 
en ly- four ;  Taylor,  whig,  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
three;  Van  Buren.  freesoil,  four  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-seven. In  this  election  Martin  Van  Buren 
car-ied  a  majority  of  the  precincts  of  the  county, 
and  beieafter  the  opponents  of  slavery  were  gen- 
erally in  the  majority. 

Threshers  used  this  year  were  called  separators, 
for  they  now  separated  the  straw  from  the  grain 
and  instead  of  threshing  one  hundred  bushels  a 
day,  as  with  the  old  thresher,  which  was  simply  a 


J^*r^W 

1 

m 

1 

loll.N    R.   HAMUX. 


THE  NEW  V      • 

PUBLIC!.  [] 


ASTC  - 
TILDEN  C0(JNQATI0N8. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


83 


cylinder,  fanners  were  now  able  to  thresh  five  hun- 
dred bushels  per  day.  and  consequently  "their  fields 
of  grain  rapidly  increased  in  size.  Reapers  came 
into  general  use  this  year  and  were  very  crude  af- 
fairs. They  were  very  heavy,  drawn  by  four  to 
six  horses,  or  in  some  instances  three  or  four  teams 
of  oxen,  but  they  were  able  to  cut  about  five  or 
six  acres  per  day.  One  man  rode  the  machine  and 
raked  off  the  gavels  rapidly  enough  for  four  men 
to  hind.  In  the  early  days  one  hinder  followed 
one  cradler.  so  this  was  a  vast  improvement  over 
previous  conditions. 

"The  county  commissioners  appointed  Messrs. 
E.  P.  Young,  Kimball  Dow  and  Jesse  C.  Kellogg 
to  contract  for  building  a  new  courthouse.  It  was 
to  be  placed  in  the  center  of  the  public  square,  to 
be  of  brick,  sixty  feet  long  and  forty  feet  wide, 
and  to  cost  not  exceeding  six  thousand  dollars. 
lint  this  was  to  be  done  only  upon  condition  that 
individual  citizens  should  contribute  fifteen  hun- 
dred dollars  of  this  amount.  This  they  were  au- 
thorized to  pay  in  notes,  two-thirds  of  which 
should  be  paid  November  1,  1S49.  and  one-third 
November  1,  1850.  And  the  order  of  the  com- 
missioners further  states  that  it  is  expressly  agreed 
that  in  case  the  county  seat  shall  ever  be  removed, 
the  county  shall  pay  hack  to  said  individuals  the 
amount  of  said  notes  with  interest.  It  was  ordered 
that  the  notes  be  registered  on  the  court  records 
and  be  evidence  of  the  liability  of  the  county  for 
the  repayment  of  this  advance. 

"At  the  same  term  another  order  was  passed  au- 
thorizing the  erection  of  a  jail  by  the  same  agents 
at  a  cost  not  exceeding  fifteen  bundled  dollars. 
Nothing  seems  to  have  been  done  under  this  or- 
der. An  active  canvass  of  all  those  who  felt  an 
especial  interest  in  the  prosperity  of  the  village 
now  rapidly  growing  at  the  seat  of  justice  was  now 
commenced  and  more  than  the  necessary  fifteen 
hundred  was  subscribed  as  a  free  gift  toward  the 
erection  of  the  present  handsome  courthouse.  The 
subscriptions  of  the  principal  donors  were  as  fol- 
lows: Harvey  G.  Barns,  $100  ;  Amos  Story.  $20  : 
John  Maxfielcl.  $40;  Thomas  Wolsey,  $20;  Kim- 
hall  Dow,  $50  ;  E.  P.  Young,  $150  ;  W.  H.  Beavers, 
$37  ;  W.  J.  Hunt.  $50  :  Ellsworth  Pose.  $25  ;  E. 
Hall,  $25  ;  Alonzo  Brown.  $20  ;  O.  P.  White.  $25  ; 
Z.  B.  Mayo,  $50;  E.  L.  Mayo,  $50;  John  Chat- 
field,  $20;  J.  S.  &  J.  C.  Waterman.  $150;  M. 
Stark,  $50:  O.  M.  Bryan.  $30;  Thomas  H.  Wood, 


$25;  E.  Wharry,  $20;  E.  G.  Jewell,  $20;  Darius 
Williams.  $25;  It.  Wyman,  $20;  William  Connell, 
$20:  .1.  ('.  Kellogg,  $25;  R.  Hopkins  and  W.  P. 
Dutton,  $15;  Decatur  Esterbroo'k,  $25:  A.  .lack- 
man,  $20;  Homer  Roberts,  $20;  Sylvanus  Hol- 
eomb,  $25;  W.  Fordham,  $30;  O.  W.  Kretsinger, 
$20. 

"The  agents  for  building  were  also  authorized  to 
sell  the  old  courthouse  anil  all  town  lots  owned 
by  the  county  at  auction,  and  that  the  proceeds 
were  to  be  applied  religiously  to  the  payment  of 
the  forty-five  hundred  dollars  of  county  orders  is- 
sued for  the  erection  of  the  new  building.  The 
lots  were,  however,  appraised  at  prices  varying 
from  ten  dollars  to  four  hundred."  Some  of  these 
warrants  are  still  in  existence  and  draw  ten  per  cent 
interest,  and  in  case  the  county  seat  should  ever 
be  removed  the  warrants  held  and  accumulated 
would  lie  exceedingly  valuable. 

THE  RESURRECTIONISTS. 

Another  type  of  criminality  was  rampant  in  the 
early  days  of  our  county's  history,  and  that  was 
the  crime  of  gfaye  robbing.  This  had  been  car- 
ried on  -I'm-  years  in  this  section  of  the  country 
and  many  were  the  bodies  stolen  from  graves  in 
De  Kalh  county  by  men  who  were  called  resurrec- 
tionists. In  the  early  days  no  arrangements  were 
made  with  hospitals  for  subjects  for  dissection  in 
medical  institutions  and  they  were  compelled  to 
resort  to  the  crime  of  body  snatching.  The  Med- 
ical Institution  at  St.  Charles,  organized  by  Dr. 
George  W.  Richards,  professor  of  theory  and  prac- 
tice of  medicine,  and  formally  president  of  the  La 
Porte  (Indiana)  Medical  School,  had  established 
a  summer  school  for  physicians  in  St.  Charles. 
\\\>  home  was  opposite  the  present  Cniversalist 
parsonage  in  that  city,  and  the  institution  in  which 
the  dissection  was  carried  on  was  a  stone  barn, 
which  has  since  been  torn  down.  Students  in 
those  days  came  to  college  poor  in  purse  and  were 
anxious  to  work  to  pay  their  way  through  school, 
and  as  bodies  were  constantly  needed  by  the  Med- 
ical Institution  they  naturally  sought  remuner- 
ative occupation  by  robbing  graves.  Two  or  three 
graves  of  honored  citizens  of  this  county  had  been 
examined  and  discovered  to  be  emptied  of  their 
precious  contents.  "Many  who  had  recently  lost 
friends  commended  the  painful  task  of  examining 


84 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


their  newly  made  graves,  while  many  friends  only 
refrained  from  it  lest  they  should  find  their  fears 
realized  and  that  the  outrage  so  hopeless  of  re- 
dress had  been  consummated.  The  irritation  and 
indignation  that  was  caused  by  this  feeling  may 
be  readily  imagined."  In  the  spring  of  1849, 
three  men  driving  a  pair  of  horses  attached  to  a 
sprint:  wagon  stopped  for  supper  at  the  Lovell 
tavern,  four  miles  east  of  Sycamore,  on  the  St. 
Charles  and  Sycamore  road.  While  eating  their 
supper  the  landlord's  daughter  overheard  some 
conversation  which  made  her  suspicious.  She  re- 
ported the  conversation  to  her  father,  who  went 
out.  and  found  the  implements  used  by  the  resur- 
rectionists secreted  in  the  bottom  of  the  wagon. 
Mrs.  George  M.  Km  von  had  been  but  recently 
buried,  ami  they  surmised  that  it  was  the  inten- 
tion of  tin  grave  robbers  to  secure  her  body  for 
the  dissecting  table,  and  it  was  also  known  that  a 
friendless  German  had  been  buried  in  the  south 
burying  ground  of  Sycamore,  now  the  present  site 
of  the  Methodist  parsonage,  and  it  was  supposed 
that  they  were  also  seeking  for  his  body.  This 
news  was  conveyed  to  Mr.  Harry  Joslyn,  and  he, 
with  Mr.  Lorenzo  Whittemore,  Kimball  Dow  and 
a  few  others,  armed  themselves  and  hid  near  the 
burying  ground,  with  the  hope  that  the  resurrec- 
tionists might  be  caught  robbing  the  grave.  Early 
in  tin-  evening,  not  long  after  dark,  three  men 
made  their  way  into  the  cemetery  and  immediatelv 
began  search  for  the  grave  of  the  German.  As 
♦  hey  approached  it.  the  men  in  hiding  noticed  that 
they  were  armed.  One  of  their  number  went  to 
the  wagon  to  secure  the  tools  necessary  for  digging. 
At  this  moment  one  of  the  party  in  hiding  was 
seized  with  a  fit  of  coughing,  which  alarmed  the 
grave  robbers  and  they  immediately  hurried  to 
the  wagon  and  drove  into  town.  The  party  in 
hiding  followed  them  into  the  village  and 
caused  the  arrest  of  the  resurrectionist  party. 
One  was  found  to  be  the  son  of  Dr.  Richards, 
president  of  the  Medical  Institution  at  St. 
( lharles.  Another  was  a  man  by  the  name  of  John 
Rude,  iiiid  the  name  of  the  other  was  unknown. 
There  not  being  found  sufficient  evidence  of  their 
guilt,  they  were  released.  The  parties  arrested 
were  thoroughly  alarmed  and  their  fright  was  not 
lessened  by  Waterman  answering  their  question  as 
to  what  would  be  done  by  them  by  the  promise  to 
shoot  them  in  the  morning.    It  was  supposed  that 


after  their  severe  fright  that  they  would  make  a 
hasty  retreat  for  St.  Charles,  but  they  recovered 
their  nerve,  and  although  they  started  directly 
east  for  their  home,  they  evidently  decided  that 
they  would  not  return  without  something  to  show 
for  their  nighfs  work.  Mrs.  George  M.  Kenyon 
was  buried  in  what  is  now  known  as  the  Ohio 
Grove  cemetery,  and.  dying  at  the  age  of  but  sev- 
enteen  years,  in  the  bloom  of  youth,  a  girl  well 
known,  great  sympathy  was  felt  for  the  young 
husband  and  her  immediate  family.  After  her 
burial  the  grave  was  watched  for  two  nights,  and 
it  was  supposed  that  all  would  be  well  hereafter. 
The  parties  watching  the  grave  of  Mrs.  Kenyon 
the  third  night,  left  shortly  after  midnight.  Two 
of  her  girl  friends  were  impressed  by  the  story  of 
the  grave  robbers,  which  had  been  circulated 
throughout  the  country,  laid  a  twine  over 
the  grave  and  fastened  it  at  each  side, 
covering  it  with  dirt,  so  that  if  it  were 
molested  it  could  easily  be  detected.  When 
the  relatives  arrived  at  the  grave  in  the  morning 
they  still  found  the  string  in  position,  but  some- 
thing made  them  uneasy,  and  after  hearing  the 
story  of  the  grave  robbers  being  in  Sycamore  they 
decided  to  investigate.  Upon  digging  down,  their 
fears  were  realized,  as  the  comb  of  the  deceased 
was  found  about  a  foot  below  the  surface.  Reach- 
ing the  coffin,  they  found  it  emptied  of  its  contents 
and  the  grave  clothes  alone  remained  within  it. 
The  lid  of  the  casket  had  been  broken  in  and  the 
body  taken  hastily  away.  News  of  this  crime 
spread  over  the  country  like  wildfire.  Mr.  David 
Churchill,  father  of  the  deceased,  was  a  man  well 
known  and  highly  respected,  and  the  circum- 
stance of  the  young  lady's  death  made  the  crime 
seem  doubly  terrible.  It  was  decided  before  any 
action  was  taken  in  the  matter  to  have  a  party  go 
to  Dr.  Richards  at  the  Medical  Institution  and  de- 
mand the  return  of  the  body.  ITpon  arriving  at 
St.  Charles  they  procured  a  search  warrant  anil 
went  to  the  institution,  and  while  on  their  way 
found  the  horse  belonging  to  a  Sycamore  physi- 
cian, who  had  doubtless  gone  there  in  great  haste 
to  inform  Dr.  Richards  that  he  had  better  be  on 
his  guard.  Upon  examining  the  dissecting  room 
they  found  fragments  of  human  bodies  and  skele- 
tons, but  none  corresponding  to  the  description  of 
Mrs.  Kenvon. 


PAST  AND  PEESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


85 


As   they   were   about   to   leave   the  building   Mr. 
Kenyon    discovered    upon    the    stone    nagging  *  a 
lock  of  hair  belonging  to  his  wife.     It  was  the 
precise    peculiar    shade    of    his    lost    wife's    hair, 
and  he  knew  it  in  an  instant.    It  was  not  sufficient 
evidence  to  convince  a  jury,  perhaps,  but  it  satis- 
fied him.    He  went  back  and  begged  piteously  for 
the  return  of  his  wife's  remains,  and  it  was  here 
that  Dr.  Richards  made  his  great  mistake  in  in- 
flaming the  searching  party.    He  said  to  Mr.  Ken- 
yon in  his  hour  of  sorrow:     "I  have  no  subjects 
now,  but  if  you  will  come  again  in  a  few  days  I 
will  have  a  lot  of  them,  and  from  your  way,  too." 
The  party  returned  to  Sycamore,  reported  to  their 
neighbors  what  had  transpired,  showed  the  friends 
the  lock  of  hair  belonging  to  Mrs.  Kenyon,  told 
of  the  insulting  remarks  made  by  Dr.  Eichards  to 
the  grieved  husband,  and  with  one  accord  the  citi- 
zens of  Sycamore  and  vicinity  volunteered  to  go 
next  day  and  recover  the  body  or  know  the  reason 
why.     A  large  part  of  them  were  young  men,  im- 
petuous and  ready  for  trouble,  but  the  older  men 
counseled  conservative  action.     A  committee  was 
selected  to  again  visit  Dr.  Eichards,  and  was  com- 
posed of  the  folowing  men:     Esquire  Currier,  of 
St.   Charles;  John  C.  Waterman.  William  Ford- 
ham,  Lorenzo  Whittemore  and  Kimball  Dow.  of 
Sycamore.      They    informed    Dr.    Eichards    what 
they  were  there  for,  told  of  the  party  that  was 
ready  for  action,  and  that  it  had  only  been  by  the 
intercession  of  their  friends  that  an  assault  had 
not  been  made  at  once.    They  still  found  Dr.  Eich- 
ards   defiant   and    impudent,   and   he   denied   any 
knowledge  about  the  body  sought  for,  and  said  per- 
haps the  students  might  account  for  it.    They  no- 
ticed also  that  Dr.  Eichards  and  some  of  the  stu- 
dents were  fully  armed  and  seemed  to  be  ready  for 
trouble  in  case  of  an  attack.     When  Mr.  Kenyon 
caught  sight  of  Eude,  who  had  been  detected  at 
Sycamore,  he  took  an  instinctive  aversion  to  him 
and  could  scarcely  be  restrained  from  shooting  him 
on  the  spot.    Nothing,  however,  was  gained  by  this 
parley.     The  crowd  had  increased  on  the  way,  so 
that  now  about  three  hundred  men  stood  in  front 
of  Dr.  Eichards'  house,  and  had  so  arranged  their 
party  that  escape  was  impossible.     Seeing  that 
trouble  was  in  store  for  them,  one  of  the  young 
men  of  the  institution  informed  them  that  he  had 
seen  a  corpse  answering  the  description  of  Mrs. 
Kenyon.      Upon    hearing    this    David    Churchill. 


father  of  the  deceased,  and  Mr.  Kenyon,  her  hus- 
band,  rushed  for  the  door  and   forced   it  partly 
open,  when  the  muzzle  of  a  gun  was  thrust  out 
and  fired.    Mr.  Churchill  pushed  the  barrel  of  the 
gun  downward,  so  that  no  one  was  injured.    This 
was  followed  by  a  shot  from  Mr.  Kenyon,  who  was 
armed  with  a  rifle.    He  fired  blindly  through  the 
door,  and  by  the  irony  of  fate  his  bullet  pierced 
Eude,  the  guilty  resurrectionist,  through  the  hips 
and  he  was  mortally  wounded.     An  assault  fol- 
lowed, and  all  the  windows  in  the  building  were 
broken  and  several  students  were  wounded  and  Dr. 
Eichards  was  struck  twice.    As  he  appeared  at  the 
door  and  made  a  sign  of  surrender  a  stone  struck 
him  in  the  temple  and  he  was  carried  back  sense- 
less.   The  friends  of  Eichards  feared  that  another 
attack  would  he  made  and  secured  the  services  of 
an   attorney,   A.   Barry,   who   promised   them   the 
body    would   be  returned,  and  he  instructed  Mr. 
Prescott,  a  relative  of  Mrs.   Kenyon.  to  go  to  a 
spot  two  miles  south  of  St.  Charles  on  a  farm  now 
owned  by  Mrs.  Harvey  Jones,  of  Sycamore.     And 
it  should  be  stated  in  passing  thai  a  constable  ap- 
peared on  the  scene  and  ordered  the  mob  to  cease 
firing,  and  at  that  juncture  Mr.  Barry,  an  attor- 
ney, since  well  known  in  this  county,  promised  the 
mob  that  he  would  return  the  body  the  next  morn- 
ing.    Mr.   Barn    and  a  student  named   Harvey, 
with  Mr.  Banister  and  Prescott,  of   St.   Charles, 
found  the  remains  buried  on  the  banks  of  the  Fox 
river  in  a  grove,  about  two  feet  deep,  wrapped  in 
a   blanket.      The    body   was    taken    to   the    river, 
washed  of  the  earth  that  adhered  to  it,  wrapped 
in  some  clothing,  placed  in  a  coffin  and  brought 
back  to  Sycamore.     A  second  funeral  service  was 
held  at  the  Methodist  church  at  Sycamore  and  a 
large  concourse  of  people  met  on  that    Sabbath 
day  to  consign  for  the  second  time  to  the  grave 
the  body  that  had  caused  so  much  excitement  in 
all  the  country  around.     It  has  been  stated  that 
the  body  was  taken  to  the  home  of  Mr.  Kenyon 
and  there  buried  under  his  window,  but  the  bodv 
was  buried  in  the  grave  from  which  it  was  taken 
and  a  tombstone  is  pointed  out  to  those  interested 
in  the  early  history  of  the  county,  and  many  are 
the  visitors  even  to  this  day  to  the  grave  which 
caused  so  much  turmoil  and  loss  of  life.     An  im- 
pression seems  deeply  founded  that  Dr.  Eichards 
was  on  the  whole  a  bad  man  of  the  criminal  type. 
and  thus  he  has  been  depicted  in  the  histories  of 


86 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    <)F    DE    KA1.B    COUNTY. 


De  Kalli  county  tn  the  present  time.  We  will  say, 
however,  that  l>r.  Richards  was  a  very  well  edu- 
cated gentleman,  and  at  the  time  that  he  was  shot 
ranked  as  high  as  any  other  physician  in  Illinois. 
Many  were  the  physicians  ol  Chicago  who  sought 

in-  i lsel.     Mrs.  Harvey  A.  Jones,  who  was  thru 

■  i  girl  ni'  ten  or  twelve  years,  ami  witnessed  the 
shooting  ami  know  Dr.  Richards  intimately,  as  he 
had  been  thou-  family  physician  for  roars,  say  that 
his  In. mi-  was  one  of  refinement,  that  he  had  trav- 
eled abroad  and  in  many  respects  was  regarded  as 
"in'  "!'  the  most  intellectual  men  of  tin-  community. 
It  i-  needless  to  say  thai  this  broke  up  the  organ- 
ized band  id'  resurrectionists,  ami  from  that  day 
tho  visitors,  even  to  this  day,  to  the  grave  which 
had  been  their  family  physician  for  years,  says  that 
I"  this,  with  one  exception,  crime  of  a  like  nature  in 
this  locality  has  been  unknown.  Rude  died  the  day 
following,  the  students  recovered,  while  Dr.  Rich- 
ards finally  died  from  tin-  effects  of  hi-  wounds  in- 
9i<  I'd  by  the  Sycamore  mob.  We  will  say,  however, 
thai  had  it  not  Keen  lor  the  impudence  of  Dr.  Rich- 
ards and  his  students  when  parties  were  searching 
lor  the  body  and  for  the  carelessness  with  which  the 
remains  of  the  dissected  bodies  were  handled,  this 
trouble  would  never  have  occurred.  Parties  still 
living  remember  well  how  Dr.  Richards  and  his 
student-  threw  the  remains  of  human  bodies  after 
dissection  into  the  river,  which  naturally  ext  iti  d 
a  spirit  of  opposition  to  their  wo.k.  The  account 
as  we  give  it  is  from  a  conversation  held  with 
George  M.  Eenyon  about  a  month  previous  to  his 
death,  with  Mrs.  Harvey  A.  Jones,  who  witnessed 
the  riot,  and  from  members  of  the  mob,  who  par- 
ticipated in  that  event. 


During  the  year  1849,  after  "old  was  discovered 

in  California  ami  was  found  in  such  abundance 
that  people  who  had  been  struggling  hero  to  make 
a  livelihood  and  secure  a  competency  felt  that  they 
were  going  at  rather  a  slow  pace,  and  with  dreams 
of  wealth  started  for  California,  some  across  the 
continent,  on  foot  and  with  team-,  while  others 
wctd  to  the  eastern  coast  and  to  tin-  citj  of  New 
Orleans  mi  the  south  and  took  shipping  by  way 
of  Panama  to  California.  A  great  many  suffered 
and  a  large  number  died  from  exposure  on  these 


trips,  and  especially  was  the  tropical  climate  of 
Panama  fatal  to  the  people  of  the  northern  clime. 
But  the  stories  of  the  old  'piers  are  of  great  inter- 
est, and  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California,  and 
the  producing  of  so  much  wealth,  had  a  wonderful 
effect  upon  the  business  life  of  this  and  European 
countries,  while  money  became  abundant  and  new 
business  enterprises  sprung  into  existence  like 
mushrooms.  A  large  number  returned  materially 
enriched  by  their  work  in  California  and  invested 
it  in  business  and  in  land.-.  Some  id'  the  large 
farms  of  this  county  are  still  in  possession  of  the 
families  of  those  men  who  went  fo  California  in 
1849,  while  many  of  the  business  enterprises  of 
Sycamore,  He  Kalb  and  Sandwich  had  their  be- 
ginnings in  wealth  accumulated  by  the  California 
gold  hunter.  On  the  whole  the  year  of  1849  was 
one  of  prosperity.  Crops  were  abundant  and  farm 
machinery  was  materially  improved.  Little  by  lit- 
tle the  farmers  began  to  move  from  the  timber 
and  running  streams  to  the  prairie.  Schools  were 
established  ami  the  whole  community  life  took  on 
the  an-  ..I  i  i\  ilization  of  older  states.  In  the  elec- 
tion of  1849  Marshall  Stark  was  chosen  sheriff, 
W.  II.  Beavers  county  clerk,  William  Pordham 
recorder,  Sheldon  Crossett  school  commissioner, 
and  E.  L.  Mayo  probate  judge.  These  elections 
took  place  early  in  August  and  were  under  the  op- 
erations of  the  old  constitution,  hut  the  constitu- 
tion of  1848  having  been  put  into  effect,  new  elec- 
tion- wiiv  held  in  November,  ami  Martin  Mack 
was  made  circuit  clerk  and  recorder.  V.  B.  Pres- 
cott  county  clerk.  William  Shepardson  county 
treasurer  and  James  TT.  Beveridge  and  George  H. 
Hill  county  justices  of  the  peace.  It  will  he  noted 
that  from  this  time  the  office  which  had  hitherto 
been  known  as  probate  justice,  whose  duty  if  was 
to  probate  estates,  w-as  now  called  probate  judge. 
and  I'..  !..  Mayo,  later  a  man  of  prominence,  was 
the  first  to  wear  the  title  of  county  judge.  At  the 
fall  election  seven  hundred  and  fifty  votes  were 
casl  in  favor  of  adopting  the  township  organiza- 
tion and  only  one  against  it.  The  counties  of 
northern  Illinois  this  year  generally  voted  to  !_rive 
up  the  county  organization,  and  adopt  township 
organization,  so  that  at  present  in  the  state  of  Illi- 
nois  there  are  hut  few  counties  remaining  under 
what  is  known  as  county  organizations.  For  many 
years  after  this  people,  especially  those  from  south- 
ern sfates.  advocated  the  return  to  the  county  or- 


MAIN     STREET,    DEKALB.     1862. 
IU'XTLEY  HOTEL,   DEKALB,  1840. 


ORIGIN  \l.    GLIDDEN      II"!  se,     1842. 
WIRICK   HOUSE,    EAST    PAWPAW,    1856. 


S8S" 


ENOX 
UQi£E*fOUNOATfON8. 


PAST   AND    PEESENT   OP   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


89 


ganization  plan,  as  it  was  less  expensive  than  town- 
ship organization. 

The  county  superintendent  of  schools,  who  had 
formerly  been  known  as  the  county  commissioner, 
was  paid  twenty-eight  dollars  for  his  services, 
which  consisted  mainly  in  holding  three  or  four 
examinations  yearly.  We  have  some  of  the  ques- 
tions propounded  by  the  county  superintendents 
of  those  days  for  teachers'  certificates,  and  we  find 
that  they  compare  very  favorably  with  many  of  the 
questions  given  at  the  present  time,  and,  barring 
the  matter  of  pedagogy,  physiology  and  other 
things  that  have  been  introduced  later,  they  gen- 
erally demand  a  fair  degree  of  scholarship  in  or- 
der to  pass  them.  The  county  judge  received 
seventy-five  dollars  for  the  performance  of  his 
duties  for  six  months,  making  a  total  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars  yearly.  The  county  commis- 
sioners at  the  December  term  appointed  William 
A.  Miller,  later  of  Kingston;  Robert  Sterritt,  later 
of  Somonauk,  and  William  J.  Hunt,  later  of  De 
Kalb,  to  divide  the  county  into  townships  in  prep- 
aration for  a  new  organization  under  the  township 
organization  law.  They  visited  the  different  sec- 
tions of  the  county,  heard  the  statements  of  those- 
who  were  concerned,  and  divided  off  the  county 
into  thirteen  different  townships,  named  as  fol- 
lows: (Refer  to  page  19  De  Kalb  Chronicle  Illus- 
trated Souvenir)  :  Genoa,  Kingston,  Franklin, 
Vernon,  Liberty,  Sycamore,  Richland,  Orange, 
Shabbona,  Clinton,  Squaw  Grove,  Somonauk  and 
Paw  Paw.  Most  of  these  names  are  still  retained 
by  the  townships  to  which  they  were  originally  as- 
signed, although  most  of  these  towns  have  been 
diminished  in  extent  by  the  creation  of  new  town- 
ships. Of  those  names  which  hav°  been  abandoned 
Vernon  belonged  to  the  present  town  of  South 
Grove,  Orange  to  De  Kalb  and  adjoining  territory 
on  the  south,  and  Liberty  to  Mayfield.  Richland 
afterward  became  Pampas  and  finally  Cortland, 
and  originally  included  Pierce  township.  The 
county  tax  of  18-49  amounted  to  two  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  eighty-three  dollars.  During 
this  year  Comb's  mill  put  in  the  machinery  neces- 
sary for  grinding  flour  and  thus  finally  flour  was 
produced  in  our  county,  and  it  must  be  remem- 
bered at  that  time  wheat  was  the  principal  crop. 
In  1849  a  field  of  twenty-five  acres  of  corn  was 
considered  a  curiosity.  While  oats  was  raised 
more   abundantly,   still    the    fields   of   that   grain 


were  small  and  the  wheat  fields  occupied  nearly 
three-fourths  of  all  the  cultivated  area.  Prices  of 
grains  and  farm  produce  generally  quite  materially 
advanced,  and  the  assessable  property  of  De  Kalb 
county  came  very  near  the  million  dollar  mark. 


OLD   MA?   OF   DEKALB   COUNTY 

1850 

In  the  spring  election  held  in  the  new  townships 
designated,  school  houses  were  the  voting  places. 
Supervisors  were  elected,  and  took  upon  them- 
selves the  duties  formerly  assigned  to  the  board  of 
county  commissioners.  In  many  of  the  townships 
there  was  quite  a  strife  to  see  who  should  be  the 
first  supervisor  from  the  respective  townships,  and 
the  board  was  constituted  of  the  following  named 
gentlemen:  Henry  Durham  represented  Genoa: 
John  Sheely,  Kingston ;  Clark  Bliss,  Franklin ; 
John  S.  Brown,  Vernon ;  Mulford  Nickerson,  Lib- 
erty :  James  Harrington,  Sycamore ;  D.  F.  Finley, 
Richland ;  Thomas  R.  Hopkins,  Orange ;  William 
Marks,  Sr.,  Shabbona;  Reuben  Pritchard.  Clin- 
ton ;  Abram  L.  Hemenway,  Squaw  Grove ;  Lyman 
Bacon,  Somonauk;  Pierpont  Edwards.  Paw  Paw. 
Dr.  James  Harrington  of  Sycamore  was  chosen 
chairman  and  the  first  act  passed  by  the  board  was 


90 


['AST    AM)    L'KHSKXT    OF    DE    KALI!    COVXTY. 


one  changing  the  name  of  Orange  to  De  Halb, 
Richland  to  Pampas,  Liberty  to  Mayfield  and 
Yernon  to  South  Grove,  other  towns  in  the  state 
had  already  appropriated  the  firsl  chosen  names, 
and  to  prevent  confusion  the  board  of  supervisors 
were  authorized  and  directed  to  selecl  others.  Hav- 
ing accomplished  this  duty,  the  board  at  once 
plunged  into  the  business  of  auditing  bills,  ar« 
raigning  delinquent  collectors,  appointing  places 
of  town  meetings  and  all  those  duties  which  have 
-i  in  i  engrossed  the  attention  of  that  body.  The 
work  on  the  new  courthouse  had  been  progressing 
rapidly,  but  was  nol  accomplished  at  the  first  ses- 
sion of  the  board,  and  their  meeting  was  held  in 
uli:ii  i-  in,\\  the  old  Congregational  church,  which 
was  undergoing  repairs.  One  of  the  duties  de- 
volving upon  thai  bodj  was  the  refusal  of  granting 
,,i  licenses  for  the  sale  of  liquor.  A  temperance 
society  had  been  organized  in  the  county  and  their 
representatives  were  allowed  to  speak  before  the 
board  and  liquor  licenses  for  taverns  was  refused 
by  unanimous  vote  «a<  7,500. 

When  the  county  courthouse  was  completed  it 
was  considered  a  magnificenl  structure,  being  built 
of  brick,  sixtj  feel  long  and  fort}  feel  wide,  and 
following  the  custom  thai  prevailed  at  thai  time 
at  the  inauguration  of  the  new  building  a  publiq 
ball  was  given  in  the  new  courthouse  in  February, 
L857,  and  was  a  notable  occasion.  The  company 
1 1 Erom  all  over  northern  Illinois. 

The  year  1851  was  known  as  a  year  of  much 
rain,  showers  lasting  nearly  all  summi  r.  The  firsl 
Sunday  in  April  one  of  the  mosl  furious  snow- 
storms ever  known  in  this  country  fell,  and  it  is 
said  that  more  than  fifteeen  inches  fell  in  the 
course  of  the  day.  On  Sunday  following  a  similar 
storm  came  with  equal  severity.  About  a  month 
after  the  snow  and  before  the  soil  had  become  suffi- 
ciently dried  for  farming  operations,  a  heavy  rain 
set  in  and  continued  with  but  occasional  intervals 
for  more  than  two  months.  Tt  is  related  that  at  one 
time  the  sun  did  no1  shine  through  the  clouds  for 

more  than  ten  days.     Plowed  ground  becam ■- 

ered  with  green  mold  and  the  wheal  crop  was  all 
scabbed,  and  little  or  none  was  raised  that  was 
really  tit  for  Hour,  and  in  some  cases  it  sickened 
ami  apparently  po  soned  those  who  were  com- 
pelled,  from  prevalent  destitution,  (o  use  it.  Tha 
lead-  became  impassible  and  continued  so  during 
the  most  of  the  year.     The  board  of  county  com- 


missioners had  done  little  more  than  to  lay  out 
roads  and  road  districts,  hut  had  done  nothing 
toward  their  improvement.  All  the  work  of  build- 
ing pike^  and  bridges  was  done  locally  under  the 
direction  of  road  masters.  Bridges  were  built 
.nil--  tin  streams  so  that  people  did  not  find  it 
necessary  to  remain  away  from  market  as  in  pre- 
\  inn-  years  on  account  of  high  water.  The  bridges 
were  built  of  wood  and  were  rather  crude  struc- 
ture- and   were   unable   to   resisl    the   \\ |-   that 

came,  and  it  can  he  truly  stated  that  had  all  tin 
money  that  has  been  expended  in  De  Kalb  county 
for  road  work  and  for  building  bridges  from  the 
date  of  its  organization  to  the  present  time,  much 
of  which  has  been  of  little  value,  there  could  have 
i hi  n  built  out  of  an  equal  amount  steel  bridges 
and  macadamized  roads  for  nearly  the  whole 
county. 

A  reference  to  taxes  levied  in  the  road  districts 
and  townships  and  aid  given  In  the  county  during 
these  year-  since  1845  will  prove  the  truth  of  this 
statement.  Although  people  generally  took  their 
produce  to  St.  Charles  they  found  even  that  dis- 
tance \<-ry  difficult  to  travel  in  years  like  185] 
and    it    became    evident    that    something    must    he 

i"  -.line  better  means  of  communication 
with  the  outside  world  and  transportation  of  the 
products  oi  tin-  country  to  market.  Heretofore 
all  the  g I-  -..I. I  111  -inn--  were  hauled  Erom  Chi- 
cago or  from  St.  Charles,  causing  great  incon- 
venience ami    a    large  expenditure  of   n ey  for 

the  merchants.  The  Chicago.  Burlington  &  Quincy 
was  now  in  process  of  construction  and  promised 
i  to  the  southern  portions  of  the  county.  The 
Galena  division  of  the  Northwestern  road  was  also 
being  built,  a  branch  of  which  was  extended  to 
St.  Charles,  which  was  then  a  very  flourishing  lit- 
tle city  ami  the  principal  market  for  all  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  county.  When  the  matter  came  be- 
fore our  people  to  bave  the  road  extended  through 
this  county,  touching  Sycamore,  the  people  were 
too  poor  to  aid  in  the  project.  The  plank  road 
was   established    from    Sycamore   to   St.    Charles. 

at  tin-  time  being  very  popular  throughout 
the  eastern  states  and  covered  most  of  the  dis- 
tance between  cities,  but  in  a  year  or  two  the 
plank  warped  and  the  road  became  almost  im- 
passible  and  the  planks  were  finally  confiscated  by 
the  people  living  along  the  road  and  the  project 
was  given  up.     This  was  to  be  a  toll  road   and 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OF   DE    KALI!    COUNTY 
ii Id  be  a  source  of 


91 


people  generally  supposed  it  w 
great  profit. 

In  184!)  a  road  was  commenced  between  Chicago 

and  St.  Charles  and  on  the  12th  of  December  of 
that  year  the  first  train  entered  that  city  and  the 
scream  of  the  locomotive  was  heard  lor  the  first 
time  in  the  Fox  river  valley.  In  August  the  Chi- 
cago ,V-  Galena  division  of  the  Northwestern  had 
completed  their  track  to  Elgin  and  had  changed 
their  route  from  St.  Charles  to  that  place.  The 
citizens  of  that  city,  seeing  that  the  salvation  of 
their  town  depended  upon  the  thoroughfare  which 
had  been  opened,  took  the  matter  in  their  own 
hands  and  ran  two  trains  a  .lav  from  their  town 
to  the  junction.  Ira  Minard  controlled  it  until 
October,  1856,  when  it  passed  into  other  hands. 
The  depot  stood  on  the  east  side  of  the  city  of 
St.  Charles  on  land  now  occupied  by  the  Free 
-Methodist  church.  In  Is:,:;  he  with  others  ob- 
tained a  charter  for  fhe  St.  Charles  &  Galena  Air 
Line  road,  into  which  the  charter  previously  grant- 
ed for  the  branch  track  was  merged.  .Minard  be- 
came president  of  the  company  and  a  heavy  stock 
was  taken  along  the  line.  The  Chicago  &  Galena 
road  commenced  with  the  ostensible  purpose  of  ex- 
tending  to  Galena  never  approached  nearer  that 
town  than  Freeport,  hut  from  there  depended  upon 
fhe  Illinois  Centra]  track.  In  an  evil  hour,  one,  E. 
C.  Litchfield  from  Cazenovia,  New  York,  ap- 
peared in  St.  Charles,  representing  that  he  and 
his  friends  possessed  sufficient  means  to  build  a 
railroad  through  if  he  was  allowed  to  take  a  con- 
trolling interest  in  the  stock.  He  was  permitted 
to  subscribe  for  it,  the  thoroughfare  was  com- 
mended and  graded  from  Chicago  to  St.  Charles, 
the  culverts  were  built,  also  the  piers  and  abut- 
ments for  the  bridge  across  Fox  river  and  the 
track  was  laid  for  nine  miles  from  Chicago.  Mi- 
nard had  staked  his  whole  fortune  of  eighty  thou- 
sand dollars  upon  the  enterprise,  while  hundreds  of 

1 r  men  had  taken  stock  for  all  they  owned.     It 

must  lie  understood  that  Litchfield  promised  that 
the  road  would  he  finished  and  that  it  should  not 
previously  pass  out  id'  his  hands  into  the  Galena 
0]  any  other  competing  line.  Never  was  a  vil- 
lainous scheme  more  successfully  executed.  When 
the  controller  of  the  stock  had  crippled  the  only 
man  who  had  any  power  to  oppose  him  and  was 
assured  that  any  opposition  to  his  own  designs 
would  result  in  that  man's  ruin  he  coollv  informed 


Minard  he  had  concluded  to  sell  his  stock  in  the 
Chicago  an. I  St.  Charles  Air  lane  to  the  Chicago 
&  Galena  C pany  and  promised  to  make  repara- 
tion for  any  personal   inconvenience  which  such  a 
course  might   occasion  him   if  he  would   raise  no 
objection,      lie   was   then    permitted    to   take  his 
choice  and   there  was  no  choice  to  take.     The   re- 
fusal  and   loss  of  his  property  could    not   help   his 
friends    who    were    already    ruined    nor    save    his 
town,  which  was  then  doomed,  and  he  accordingly 
took  the  course  which  any  other  sane  man  would 
have  taken.     The  road  en. led  at   the   lies  l'laines 
river  and  the  grading  upon  the  west  bank  of  the 
l''o\   river,  since  it   was  not  necessary   for  the  in- 
terest of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Company  to 
continue  it.     Seven  hundred  thousand  dollars  paid 
by  hard  working  farmers  and  industrious  mechanics 
across    the   country    was    lost   and    many    farmers 
were  reduced  from  wealth  to  poverty  and  the  use- 
less piers  stood  along  the  hanks  of  the  Fox  river 
as  a  monument  to  the  perfidy  of  Litchfield  until 
they  were  in  later  years  occupied  by  the  Chicago 
&    Croat    Western.      The    real    estate    of   the     St. 
Charles  &  Chicago  Air  Line  had  acquired  a  large 
amount  of  value,  especially  that  part  of  the  prop- 
erty which  was  to  he  used  for  depot  and  grounds 
in  Chicago  ami  therefore  the  railroad  property  of 
this  proposed  line  had  appreciated  enormously  in 
value.     There  was  more  than  enough  to  pay  for 
all   the  work   that   had    been   done  upon   the    road 
It  has  been  reported   that  Litchfield  and  Minard 
by  thus  selling  out  their  friends  made  a  profit  of 
over  four  hundred   thousand  dollars.     Tt  must    he 
said  in  passing  that  the  friends  of  Minard   think 
he  has  been  unjustly  blamed  for  his  course  in  the 
disaster,   but    it    is   sufficiently   apparent    that  he 
was  far  beneath  the  mark  of  innocence.     The  loss 
of  this  railroad  to  those  who  had  invested  was  the 
severest  blow  that  had  ever  visited  St.  Charles  and 
almost  annihilated  the  village.    Had  that  line  been 
built  through  what  is  now  Sycamore  and  Dixon  to 
the  river  it  is  possible  that  the  towns  of  Pe  Kalb, 
Cortland  and  Malta  would  never  have  been  built 
and   Sycamore   might   have   become    one    of    the 
largest  cities  of  northern  Illinois.     The  assessed 
valuation  of  the  property  of  Pe  Kalb  county  in 
1852  reached  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  above 
the  million  dollar  mark,  and  despite  railroad  disas- 
ters and  a  wet  year  the  people  were  growing  pros- 
perous and  the  prospects  that  the  ) pie  of  this 


,,o 


PAST    AXD    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


locality  would  soon  have  markets  by  railroads  had 
induced  many  people  from  eastern  states  and  also 
many  land  speculators  to  buy  the  wild  prairie. 
And  we  find  that  all  but  about  twenty  thousand 
acres  of  our  land  in  this  county  at  that  time  had 
been  purchased.  The  Chicago  &  Burlington  was 
completed  as  far  west  as  De  Kalb  county  and  al- 
though the  road  was  crude  in  its  construction,  mer- 
chants were  able  to  ship  their  goods  easily  and 
farmers  could  send  their  produce  to  market. 

The  elections  of  1852  were  very  exciting.  The 
county  was  overwhelmingly  democratic  in  politics,, 
but  there  was  a  very  strong,  active  freesoil  party 
and  a  sturdy,  enterprising  minority  of  whigs.  The 
omnibus  bill  of  1850,  with  the  fugitive  slave  law 
as  part  of  its  consideration,  had  created  great  op- 
position in  the  north.  The  democrat  party  could 
easily  pledge  itself  to  that  measure  as  its  great 
strength  lay  in  the  south.  The  whig?  in  conven- 
tion pledged  themselves  also  to  the  compromise 
of  1850,  which  drove  many  freesoilers  from  that 
party.  Franklin  Pierce  was  the  democrat  candi- 
date for  president  and  General  Winfield  Scott  can- 
didate of  the  whig  party.  The  whig  party  natural- 
ly found  its  candidate  opposed  to  the  compromise 
of  1850,  while  its  platform  favored  that  measure 
and  many  of  the  freesoilers  alluded  to  their  ludi- 
crous political  position  by  stating  that  the  candi- 
dates were  spitting  on  the  platform  that  their 
party  had  made.  In  this  county  five  hundred  and 
eighty-three  votes  were  cast  for  Franklin  Pierce, 
four  hundred  and  fifty-six  for  General  Scott  and 
three  hundred  and  fifty-five  for  the  freesoil  can- 
didate. This  ended  the  political  existence  of  the 
whig  party  in  De  Kalb  county.  That  party  gen- 
erally affiliated  with  the  republican  party,  which 
came  into  organized  existence  here  in  1854.  James 
H.  Beveridge,  a  merchant  at  Freeland  Corners,  in 
the  town  of  Somonauk.  was  the  first  nominee  of 
the  new  party  for  circuit  clerk  and  recorder,  was 
elected  and  held  the  position  in  this  county  until 
his  election  to  the  office  of  state  treasurer  in  the 
early  *G0s.  Joseph  Sixbury  was  chosen  county- 
treasurer,  Jacob  E.  Crossett.  school  commissioner, 
and  Herman  Furness,  sheriff.  Bills  for  tne  care 
of  paupers  were  paid  by  the  county  to  the  amount 
of  six  hundred  and  thirteen  dollars  and  the  ques- 
tion of  the  purchase  of  a  poor  farm  was  agitated 
at  the  meeting  of  the  board  of  supervisors. 


The  first  agricultural  society  of  the  county  was 
organized  and  held  a  crude  exhibition  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Sycamore  on  land  near  the  present  Patten 
factory.  It  has  been  stated  by  those  present  that 
the  entire  exhibit  consisted  of  one  old  white  bull 
chained  to  a  stake  in  the  center  of  a  vacant  lot, 
two  or  three  horses,  with  as  many  cows  and  colts, 
and  a  few  beets  and  pumpkins.  The  branch  of  the 
Northwestern  road  was  extended  to  Dixon  and  a 
train  was  run  into  that  city  before  midnight.  Jan- 
uary 1,  1854.  Under  the  provisions  of  the  charter 
the  road  was  to  be  completed  by  that  day,  but  for 
many  miles  of  its  course  there  was  no  grading,  the 
ties  were  laid  down  on  the  prairie  and  leveled  up 
with  stove  wood.  It  had  neither  station  house, 
freight  house,  engine  house  or  any  other  building. 
It  was  necessary  that  everything  should  be  built 
over  from  the  foundation,  but  the  road  gave  a 
powerful  forward  impulse  to  the  countrv.  It 
brought  a  market  to  the  produce  of  all  this  country 
to  the  doors  of  its  growers.  It  seems  incredible 
that  the  speculators  could  not  foresee  the  ad- 
vance in  the  intrinsic  value  of  the  land  which 
was  caused  by  this  revolution  in  affairs,  but  yet 
tracts  of  land  which  would  be  purchased  by 
land  warrants  at  seventy-five  cents  per  acre  still 
lay  open  to  entry.  Upon  the  completion  of  the 
railroad  to  this  county  the  people  began  to  enjoy 
-Mine  of  the  luxuries.  Tropical  fruits  such  as 
oranges  and  lemons  were  seen  for  the  first  time  in 
our  county. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  board  of  supervisors  this 
year  it  was  found  that  the  expense  accrued  by 
paupers  amounted  to  nearly  seven  hundred  dollars 
yearly  and  in  the  hopes  of  lessening  that  burden 
the  board  of  supervisors  decided  to  purchase  a 
county  poor  farm  upon  which  some  of  this  class 
■  it  unfortunates  could  be  made  useful  and  con- 
tribute to  their  own  maintenance.  By  order  of 
the  board  of  supervisors  Silas  Tappan  and  Jesse 
Tindall  were  appointed  to  purchase  such  a  farm, 
which  was  to  be  located  in  one  of  the  two  middle 
tiers  of  townships,  and  Mr.  Harrington,  who  was 
still  chairman  of  the  board,  advertised  for  a  loan 
of  three  thousand  dollars  with  which  to  purchase 
it.  In  September  the  farm  of  A.  H.  Cartwright 
en  the  road  between  Sycamore  and  De  Kalb  was 
purchased  for  this  purpose,  the  county  borrowing 
the  purchase  money  at  the  rate  of  ten  per  cent 
interest.     Applications  for  license  for  the  sale  of 


PAST   AND    PEESENT   OP  DE   KALB    COUNTY.  93 

liquor  were  again  made  at  this  session  of  the  board  ever  silenced  in  the  state  of  Illinois      But  two 

and  were  promptly  squelched  by  a  resolution  of-  towns  in  the  entire  county-Kingston  and  Pierce 

tered  by  Horace  Champion  and  was  carried  unani-  -voted  against  prohibition.    The  following  is  the 

mously.     De  Kalb  now  sprung  up.  but  two  years  vote  of  the  towns : 

previous  there  had  been  a  store,  a  tavern  and  a  For.              Against 

blacksmith  shop  and  now  took  on  the  village  airs  Shabto"   49 

and  the  name  of  "Buena  Vista,"  which  was  one  Pair  Pw' .'.'.     YYYYYYYYYYY.  90                    11 

of  the  fiercest  battles  of  the  Mexican  war  fousrht  iouth  Gr?ve 56  3 

by  old     Bough  and  Beady,"  was  given  this  town  Clinton  ]    6i  " 

and  it  retained  that  name  for  several  years  Senoa  64  -42 

a       ,     .  ,      '         ,  J  Pampas 136  10 

sandwich  also  became  a  village  and  was  called  Kingston 55  70 

Newark  Station.     The  editor  of  the  Sentinel,  the  Squaw  Grove' '. YYYYYY"        "  43                   3\ 

first  paper   published   in   the  county,   states   edi-  Mayfield YYYYY.  67  u 

tonally  that  he  visited  the  villages  of  Somonauk  Sycamore  '. ' '. '. '. '.  \  \  \  \  \  YYY.     "  207                    3g 

and  Newark  Station  and  in  his  letter  states  that  De  Kalb  YYYYYYYYYYY.  140  21 

Newark  Station,  now  Sandwich,  was  liable  to  be-  "^                 ~ 
come  a  strong  competitor  of  Somonauk  and  one  Majority  for  prohibition,  832. 
of  the  good  cities  of  this  county.     That  prophecy  During  the  '50s  De  Kalb  county  took  on  more 
has  been  fully  verified,  Sandwich  now  being  the  airs  of  civilization,   established  lodges    and    pro- 
third  city  in  population  in  De  Kalb  county.  moted  lectures  courses,  while  in  the  country  the 
Thus  in  1854  De  Kalb  county  had  railroad  sta-  schoolhouse  was  a  social  center,  in  which  debating 
tions  at  Somonauk,  Newark  Station,  De  Kalb  and  societies  were  held  and  many  of  the  public  and 
Cortland.     "On  the  31st  of  May,  1854,  appeared  local  questions  of  the  day  were  discussed  and  oc- 
in  Sycamore  the  first  number  of  the  first  news-  casionally  the  old   fashioned   spelling  school  was 
paper  ever  printed  in  De  Kalb  county.     The  first  indulged  in  and  its  accompaniment,  the  country 
number  of  this  paper  which  was  ever  printed  is  school  exhibition.     In  those  days  teachers  would 
now  in  the  possession  of  the  Sycamore  Library  and  ^11  the  Pupils  f°r  months  in  preparation  of  these 
it  is  a  valuable  relic.    It  was  called  the  Republican  sPeUin£  matches  and  the  best  spellers  of  several 
Sentinel   and   edited    and   published    by    H.     A.  districts  were  often  pitted  against  each  other  and 
Hough.     The  editor  announced  that  the  politics  the  one  wno  was  victor  in  the  contest  was  eonsid- 
of  the  paper  would  be    Eepublican    Democratic,  ered    a   veritable    Socrates.      Some   of   the    social 
which  sounds  oddly  enough  at  this  day,  but  before  functions  of  the  '50s  compare  favorably  with  those 
the  year  was  over  he  was  publishing  in  his  columns  Rt   the   present   time.       The    orthodox    churches, 
the  proceedings  of  the  conventions  of  two  parties,  especially  held  revivals  lasting  nearly  through  the 
the  Eepublican  and  the  Democratic.    The  Sentinel  en^Te  winter.    Hundreds  of  people  were  converted 
gave  a  vigorous  and  enthusiastic  support  to  the  and  enuren  membership  rapidly  increased.    While 
prohibitory  liquor  law  presented  to  the  people  of  in  *ne  c'ities  a  ^ew  church  edifices  were  erected, 
the  state  that  year  for  adoption  or  rejection,  and  stl11  tnere  was  Dut  one  m  tne  country,  and  that 
from  its  columns  one  would  have  inferred  that  the  was  tne  United  Presbyterian  church  of  Somonauk 
politics  of  the  county  that  season  hinged  on  the  township.     All  other  exercises  of  a  religious  nature 
question  of  prohibition.    And  indeed  the  people  of  were   llplcl    in   the   schoolhouses.  The   schoolhouse 
De  Kalb  county  went  into  this  canvass  with  deep  served  as  a  voting  place,  was  used  for  school  pur- 
earnestness.     On  the  29th  of  June,  1854,  a  Main  Poses-  fnr  religious  services,  funerals,  debates  and, 
Law  Alliance  was  formed  and  a  thorough  canvass  in  fact>  everything  of  a  public  nature, 
of  the  county  commenced.     It  cannot  be  stated  In  1  *•">•">  the  Crimean  war  broke  out  in  Europe, 
with  truth  that  there  was  an  unusual  amount  of  which  involved- the  nations  of  England,   France, 
drunkenness  in  our  county,  but  they  fought  the  Italy,  Enssia  and  Turkey.     This  was  one  of  the 
dragon  with  weapons  of  flaming  fire  and  if  it  had  later  struggles  to  put  Turkey,  known  as  the  sick 
depended  upon  the  vote  of  De  Kalb  county  the  man,  out  of  existence:  and  Eussia.  while  defeated 
vending  of  ardent  spirits   would  have  been  for-  in  her  attempt  to  Eussianize  Turkey,  still  fought 


04 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


vigorously  againsl  the  combined  nations  of  Eu- 
rope.  This  gave  a  wonderful  market  to  the  prod- 
ucts of  the  United  States.  Dressed  pork  sold  at  ten 
dollars  a  hundred,  live  pork  at  eight  dollars,  horses 
fit  for  cavalry  service  brought  an  immense  price, 
wheat  sold  for  a  dollar  and  a  half  a  bushel,  corn 
for  seventy-five  or  eighty  cents  and  wealth  was 
pouring  into  the  pockets  of  the  fanners.  But  in 
such  times  of  prosperity  few  are  looking  for  a 
reaction  and  many  who  had  paid  for  their  farms 
with  the  money  secured  for  one  crop  began  to  buy 
land,  giving  but  little  cash  down  and  in  some 
i  ases  their  personal  notes.  The  war  suddenly  came 
Pi  an  end  in  1851  and  the  grain  ami  stock  in  the 
hands  of  the  farmers  fell  rapidly  in  price.  Tim-.' 
\  ho  had  purchased  land  were  unable  to  meet  their 

obligations,    men    who    had    bought    g Is    at    the 

-tore-  on  "tick"  and  bad  put  everj  dollar  thej 
possessed  into  land  found  themselves  unable  to 
pay  their  debts.  Some  sold  out  what  they  bail  and 
left  in  the  uight,  while  merchants  failed  all  over 
the  country.  Some  of  the  large  institution-,  as 
well  as  banks,  failed  by  the  hundreds,  so  that  in 
L858  the  country  was  paralyzed  financially.  Not- 
withstanding these  hard  times  the  '50s  brought 
many  people  to  De  Kail,  county.  In  1856  more 
(ban  a  thousand  came  here  from  the  eastern  -Mi- 
ami foreign  countries  to  make  their  home-,  adding 
to  the  material  and  social  wealth  of  our  county. 
P>\  this  time  all  public  lands  were  sold  and  people 
bad    moved    out    on    the    prairie.       Instead    of    the 

schools  being  in  the  neighborb 1  of  woods  and 

streams  the  little  frami  boxes  dotted  the  prairies 
and  the  number  of  districts  during  tins  year  was 
as  large  as  that  of  any  later  year  in  our  county's 
history. 

In  lS-->4  a  barber  sel  up  -hop  in  Sycamore,  hut 
did  not  depend  upon  his  tonsorial  labors  alone, 
but  did  the  work  of  dentist.  In  looking  over  files 
of  the  papers  of  that  day  we  find  that  merchants 
were  trying  to  induce  the  people  to  use  kerosene 
oil.  telling  of  its  great  advantages,  of  its  economy 
and  how  much  better  light  it  gave  than  the  tallow 
candles  previously  used,  but  people  took  up  this 
illuminating  fluid  with  diffidence.  Kerosene  oil 
was  fifty  cents  a  gallon  and  was  thought  fo  he 
verv  dangerous  and  many  people  a  quarter  of  a 
centurv  later,  especially  old  people,  preferred  to 
r.sc  the  tallow  candle.  After  the  financial  crash 
following   1857   the  papers   are   full   of  tax   sales 


and  there  were  other  evidences  of  financial  dis- 
aster. In  the  '50s  sewing  societies  were  organized 
I  v  the  ladies  of  the  LTniversalist  and  Episcopal 
churches.  Tin-  was  considered  not  strictly  ortho- 
dox by  some  of  the  churches  and  it  was  many 
years  later  when  all  the  churches  had  aid  societies 
of  this  nature. 

A  hand  was  organized  in  Sycamore  in  L858, 
which  event  was  of  considerable  interest  to  the 
people  of  the  whole  county.  At  the  invitation  of 
the  people  of  Somonauk  a  benefit  concert  was  held 
and  wa-  \ei\  well  patronized.  They  extended 
their  visits  as  far  as  St.  Charles  mi  the  east  and 
Belvidere  mi  the  north.  In  1858  the  firs!  Teach- 
ers" County  Institute  wa-  held,  and  the  question 
tor  ih-i  U--IOH  ami  debate  wa-.  "Kesolved,  that  in 
Schools,  a-  Well  a-  In  Nature.  Order  Is  Heaven's 
First  Law.  and  the  First  Duty  of  the  Teacher 
Should  He  to  Have  Excellent  Discipline."  This 
was  discussed  through  the  entire  day  pro  and  con. 
and  many  of  the  teachers  wdio  participated  in  that 
discussion  afterwards  become  prominent  in  other 

vocal -   of   lift — some  lawyers,   physicians   and 

! I   public  affairs.     Tn  1854  there  was  held  at 

Sycamore  a  political  mass  meeting  of  such  a  pe- 
culiar nature  that  a  part  of  the  record  of  its  pro- 
eedings  are  worth  perpetuating.  In  some  respects 
\\  wa-  the  nio-t  notable  political  event  of  our  coun- 
ty. It  was  the  organization  of  a  new  party  out  of 
the  three  old  parties,  and  from  this  meeting  may 
be  dated  the  existence  of  the  republican  party  in 
lie  Kalh  county.  At  this  meeting  delegate-  were 
appointed  to  attend  a  republican  convention  called 

to  n I   at   Aurora.     These  delegate-  were  thus  ap- 

ioned  among  the  three  old  parties  represented 
\-  most  of  the  names  are  prominent  one-  in  our 
present  politics,  the  reader  may  be  interested  in 
seeing  their  former  affinities.  Democrats.  Horace 
W.  Fay,  G.  A.  Colton,  Joseph  Sixbury,  James  Har- 
rington and  Royal  Crossett.  Freesoilers,  Pier- 
pont  Edwards,  Stephen  Townsend,  Thurston  ('air. 
David  West,  .lame-  II.  Beveridge  and  E.  S.  Greg- 
ory. Whigs,  Reuben  Pritchard,  W.  J.  Hunt.  A.  J. 
Joslyn,  William  Byers,  Dr.  E.  Pose  and  John  N. 
Braddock.  This  convention  was  attended  by  many 
outside  of  the  regularly  appointed  delegates  and 
greai  enthusiasm  prevailed.  Opposition  to  the 
fugitive  slave  law  was  growing  rapidly  and  dur- 
ing this  period  the  operations  of  the  underground 
railroad   wen    extensive.     The  third  annual  Agri- 


PAST    AND    PWFSKNT    OF    1)K    KAMI    OOlNTY. 


95 


cultural  Fair  of  De  Kalb  County  was  held  on  the 
11th  and  12th  of  October  of  this  year.  It  was  a 
very  tamo  and  spiritless  affair,  only  twenty-six 
premiums  being  awarded  in  all,  and  these  being 
divided  among  eighteen  persons.  Those  of  our 
citizens  who  participated  in  the  demonstration 
were  mortified  at  the  poor  display  of  the  industry 
of  the  county,  and  at  the  close  of  the  fair  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Agricultural  Society  was  held,  at  which 
it  was  resolved  to  put  forth  every  effort  to  enlist  a 
deeper  interest  in  the  annual  fairs  among  the  farm- 
ers of  the  county,  and  from  the  success  which  has 
attended  subsequent  fairs  it  is  evident  that  their 
resolutions  were  carried  out  with  energy.  At  the 
county  election  this  year  William  Patten  of  Somo- 
nauk  was  chosen  representative  in  the  legislature, 
William  Phelps  of  Sycamore  sheriff,  and  Lorenzo 
Whittemore  coroner.  The  latter  held  office  for  a 
period  of  twenty  years.  John  Settle,  the  treasurer 
of  the  county  and  an  old  and  respected  citizen, 
died  on  the  22d  of  October  this  year  in  the  town- 
ship of  Pampas,  and  the  vacancy  in  the  office  oc- 
casioned by  his  death  was  filled  by  the  county  court 
by  the  appointment  of  Joseph  Sixbury. 

The  taxable  property  during  the  year  1854 
reached  the  magnificent  sum  of  one  million  nine 
hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  the  total  tax  levied 
was  twenty-five  thousand  three  hundred  and  sev- 
enteen dollars.  The  number  of  horses  in  the  county 
was  four  thousand  and  ninety,  the  number  of  cat- 
tle fifteen  thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty,  and 
sheep  eighl  thousand  five  hundred  and  eight.  It 
is  needless  to  state  that  of  this  tax  of  over  twen- 
ty-five thousand  dollars  was  collected  with  greater 
ease  than  the  tax  of  fifteen  years  previous  of  less 
than  four  hundred  dollars,  and  at  this  time  it  was 
no  burden  to  the  tax-payer,  while  in  the  year  1S40 
a  tax  of  five  dollars  meant  an  almost  unbearable 
burden.  "An  act  of  congress  passed  in  September, 
1850,  had  donated  to  certain  states  the  swamp  and 
overflowed  lands  within  their  borders  for  educa- 
tional purposes,  and  this  state  had  decided  to 
transfer  this  property  to  the  several  counties  to 
be  expended  at  their  discretion.  The  land  had 
been  surveyed  and  a  commissioner  of  drainage  ap- 
pointed as  early  as  1853.  A  special  session  of  the 
board  of  supervisors  of  this  county  was  held  in 
September  of  this  year  to  take  measures  to  dispose 
of  these  lands.  On  motion  of  Supervisor  William 
Patten  it  was  voted  that  the  net  proceeds  of  the 


-ale  of  these  lands  should  be  paid  to  the  county 
school  commissioner  and  by  him  to  the  township 
treasurers,  to  be  loaned  out  for  the  benefit  of  the 
school  fund,  in  the  same  manner  as  were  the  pro- 
ceeds of  the  sale  of  the  Kith,  or  school  section,  in 
each  town.  The  price  of  the  first-class  land  was 
fixed  at  six  dollars;  of  the  second-class  a1  three 
dollars  and  fifty  cents;  and  of  the  third  class  at 
one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents.  But  no  small 
amount  of  these  lands  had  been  purchased  of  the 
government  by  individuals,  before  the  report  of 
the  surveyor,  designating  the  lands  selected  as 
swamp  lands,  had  been  received  by  the  United 
States  authorities.  It  was  provided  that  titles  to 
these  lands -should  he  confirmed  to  the  original 
purchasers  upon  their  paying  the  county  the  pur- 
chase money  or  relinquishing  the  warrant  used  in 
the  entry,  it  being  understood  that  the  Ohiied 
States  would  refund  the  purchase  money  to  those 
who  had  thus  entered  them.  At  this  session  a  peti- 
tion was  received  for  the  organization  of  the  town 
of  Alton,  which  was  dulv  accepted." 

During  the  year  1S55  the  county  paid  its  in- 
debtedness on  the  poor  farm  and  owned  their  prop- 
erty, valued  then  at  about  five  thousand  dollars, 
and  il  held  also  a  count)-  bond  valued  at  one  thou- 
sand, one  hundred  and  thirty-five  dollars. 

About  this  lime  an  agitation  sprang  up  in  fa- 
vor of  building  a  branch  road  from  Cortland  to 
Sycamore,  and  as  the  county  seat  "bugaboo"'  was 
kept  rife  in  the  minds  of  some  of  the  Sycamore 
politicians  it  was  stated  that  if  Sycamore  could 
not  get  railroad  communication  with  the  outside 
world  it  would  lose  the  courthouse,  so  the  people 
put  their  hands  in  their  pockets  and  raised  a  sum 
necessary  for  the  building  of  that  road,  which 
later  became  known  as  the  Sycamore  &  Cortland 
Jerk  Water,  which  in  the  later  '80s  was  purchased 
and  is  now  owned  by  the  Northwestern  road. 
Twenty  thousand  dollars  was  raised  from  this  sale 
and  was  paid  into  the  school  fund  of  the  Sycamore 
district,  which  fund  is  kept  intact  and  the  interest 
raised  therefrom  goes  toward  the  support  of  the 
public  schools  id'  the  city. 

The  census  of  185.)  shows  Sycamore  as  having 
a  population  of  eight  hundred,  in  185G  De  Kalb 
five  hundred,  in  1857  Cortland  one  hundred 
and  eighty-six.  The  census  of  1855  shows  the 
following  population  :  Genoa,  eight  hundred  and 
ninety-five;  Kingston,  eight  hundred  and  seventy- 


9G 


PAST   AND   PEESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


four;  Franklin,  eight  hundred  and  thirty-seven; 
South  Grove,  four  hundred  :  Mayfield,  eight  hun- 
dred and  thirty-five;  Sycamore,  sixteen  hundred 
and  forty-six ;  Pampas,  eleven  hundred  and  eighty- 
two;  De  Kalb.  fifteen  hundred  and  eighty-eighl  ; 
Pierce,  six  hundred  and  twenty-seven ;  Squaw- 
Grove,  five  hundred  and  fifteen;  Clinton,  eight 
hundred  and  sixty-seven;  Shabbona,  nine  hundred 
and  sixty-sis  :  Paw  Paw.  nine  hundred  and  forty- 
four;  Victor,  three  hundred  and  ninety-nine;  So- 
monauk.  eleven  hundred  and  twenty-one;  total, 
thirteen  thousand,  six  hundred  and  thirty-six. 

In  1856  after  considerable  agitation  the  board 
of  supervisors  appointed  a  committee  to  solicit 
subscriptions  from  the  citizens  of  Sycamore  for 
the  erection  of  a  county  jail,  reported  no  success 
in  their  mission  and  recommended  that  the  county 
proceed  to  build  a  jail  without  their  aid.  After  a 
heated  discussion  and  considerable  filibustering  in 
opposition  the  board  appropriated  five  thousand 
dollars  for  this  purpose  and  appointed  John  S. 
Brown,  Dr.  James  Harrington  and  Alonzo  Ell- 
wood  a  building  committee.  Those  voting  in  fa- 
vor of  this  proposition  were  G.  H.  Hill  of  Kings- 
ton, .1.  S.  Brown  of  South  Grove.  William  Patten 
of  Somonauk,  I.  W.  Garvin  of  Genoa,  W  T.  Kirk 
of  Franklin,  H.  S.  Champlin  of  Pampas,  James 
Parker  of  Mayfield,  <'.  M.  Eumiston  of  Pierc 
and  James  Harrington  of  Sycamore.  Those  op- 
posed  were  T.  S.  Terry  of  Shabbona,  and  Alonzo 
Converse  of  DeKalb.  The  work  was  started  at 
once  and  after  a  period  of  twenty-one  years  De 
Kalb  county  had  its  first  jail.  Prisoners  had  been 
allowed  and  encouraged  to  escape  if  the  crime  of 
which  they  were  guilty  was  not  of  much  conse- 
quence, and  in  many  instances  when  the  county 
had  a  criminal  charged  with  murder,  forgery  or 
some  other  heinous  crime,  the  sheriff  or  his  deputy 
was  compelled  to  sleep  with  him,  having  the  hand 
of  tli.'  criminal  tied  to  that  of  the  sheriff. 

William  Fordham.  drainage  commissioner,  re- 
ported that  he  had  sold  lands  to  the  value  of 
twenty-three  thousand,  seven  hundred  and  eighty- 
three  dollars  ami  seventy-six  cents  and  received 
in  cash  fourteen  thousand,  five  hundred  and 
seventy-five  dollars  and  eighteen  cents,  and  in 
notes  nine  thousand,  two  hundred  and  sixteen  dol- 
lars and  fifty-eight  cents.  The  committee  report 
that  they  are  satisfied  with  the  course  of  Ford- 
ham  in  the  matter. 


The  town  of  Victor  was  organized  with  its  pres- 
ent boundaries  in  1852,  Afton  in  1853,  Pierce  in 
1853,  Malta  in  1856  and  Milan  in  1857.  Added 
to  the  calamity  of  1851  one  of  the  wet  seasons, 
which  seemed  to  have  appeared  every  seventh  year, 
set  in,  and  before  the  planting  season  arrived  floods 
of  rain  drowned  vegetation,  enveloped  the  country 
in  seas  of  mud  and  rendered  it  almost  impossible 
to  conduct  farming  operations  with  any  degree  of 
profit.  Wheat  which  was  raised  that  year  was 
not  very  marketable  and  the  crop  that  had  sold 
the  previous  year  at  one  dollar  and  a  half  a  bushel 
now  fell  to  forty  and  fifty  cents. 

The  Agricultural  Society  held  its  fair  north  of 
the  village  of  Sycamore  on  land  now  owned  by 
Frederick  Tomlin.  These  exhibits  began  to  at- 
tract considerable  attention  and  were  great  oc- 
casions in  this  county.  It  is  stated  that  five  or 
six  thousand  people  attended  on  special  occasions. 
The  December  session  of  the  board  of  supervisors 
changed  the  name  of  the  town  of  Aetna  to  Malta. 
'I  he  proposition  for  erecting  a  fireproof  building 
for  the  court  records  was  voted  down. 

The  True  Republican,  a  publication  still  in  ex- 
istence,  was  published  for  the  first  time  in  1858. 
The  Be  Kalli  Time*  came  into  existence  in  1850 
and  the  Prairie  Home  was  published  at  Sandwich. 
These  papers  were  edited  by  men  of  ability  and 
became  prominent.  It  was  found  that  during 
those  stirring  times  there  was  no  place  for  the 
neutral  paper  and  in  time  all  of  them  became 
identified  with  a  party.  During  the  year  1858  a 
tornado  swept  over  the  northern  portion  of  the 
county  during  the  month  of  April  and  destroyed 
broad  belts  of  timber  and  much  property,  but  no 
lives  were  lost.  The  total  tax  of  1858  was  sixty- 
nine  thousand,  nine  hundred  and  five  dollars,  of 
which  seventeen  thousand  was  state  tax,  seven 
thousand  school  tax.  eight  thousand  county  tax 
and  thirty-eight  thousand  town,  road,  bridge  and 
other  taxes.  The  total  value  of  property  of  the 
county  was  three  and  a  half  million. 

In  1859  at  the  county  convention  held  during 
this  summer  Hiram  Ellwood  was  nominated  for 
county  treasurer.  X.  S.  Greenwood  for  school  com- 
missioner and  J.  W.  Eeid  county  surveyor.  Mr. 
Roswell  Dow  was  a  candidate  for  the  nomination 
at  that  time  and  his  friends  discredited  the  meth- 
ods adopted  by  that  convention  and  urged  him 
to  become  an  independent  candidate.     Tip  to  that 


PAST  AND  PEESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


97 


time  this  was  the  most  sharply  contested  election 
ever  known  in  county  politics.  Ellwood  received 
nine  hundred  and  eighty-five  votes  and  Dow  nine 
hundred  and  sixty-two. 

The  year  of  1850  witnessed  the  passing  of  the 
Fugitive  Slave  Law  and  the  growing  opposition  to 
slavery.  Then  the  underground  railroad  began  to 
be  operated  and  a  chapter  bearing  on  this  subject 
is  thought  not  to  be  out  of  place  at  this  time. 

UNDERGROUND  RAILROAD. 

The  history  of  the  underground  railroad  in 
this  county  was  never  written  and,  in  fact,  it 
would  be  difficult  to  secure  a  good  history  of  the 
movement,  as  all  of  its  operations  were  supposed 
to  be  generally  conducted  in  a  secret  manner. 
Synopsis  of  the  underground  railroad.  "It  was  a 
strange  road.  It  had  neither  locomotive  nor  cars; 
it  ran  in  the  darkness  and  was  invisible.  Its  op- 
erations were  so  secret  that  people  called  it  the 
underground  railroad.  The  friends  of  this  mys- 
terious railway  declared  that  its  charter  came 
from  God  and  that  it  ran  from  the  northern  por- 
tion of  the  southern  states  to  Canada.  Its  officers 
were  largely  volunteers  and  its  route  was  that 
which  afforded  to  its  passengers  the  greatest  safe- 
ty— salary,  time,  if  not  paid  in  this  world  will 
surely  be  in  the  next;  running  expenses  donated. 
It  is  true  that  the  present  generation  knows  but 
little  of  the  moaning  of  the  term,  underground 
railway,  and  we  have  been  surprised  to  hear  peo- 
ple who  have  attained  their  majority  ask  if  there 
really  was  a  railroad  that  ran  under  ground.  It 
is  not  such  a  strange  question  in  view  of  the  fact 
that  we  may  have  so  many  city  railways  that  are 
now  operated  under  the  surface  of  the  earth.  The 
work  of  this  road  was  simply  to  aid  the  fugitive 
slaves  of  the  south  to  Canada,  where  freedom  was 
assured.  A  conductor  on  one  of  these  roads  not 
only  jeopardized  his  life  but  subjected  himself  to 
a  heavy  fine  and  imprisonment  under  the  fugitive 
slave  law  in  Illinois,  and  if  one  will  refer  to  the 
statute  books  that  were  printed  after  the  adoption 
of  the  new  constitution  of  1848  they  will  find 
heavy  fines  and  long  terms  of  imprisonment  for 
those  convicted  in  aiding  negroes  from  slavery  to 
freedom.  Some  of  the  citizens  of  De  Kalb  county 
who  aided  in  this  movement  were  the  Beveridges. 
of  Somonauk  township;  Deyeo,  of  South  Grove; 


David  West,  of  Sycamore;  Starr  Gregory,  of 
Genoa;  Niekersons,  Townsends  and  Nicholses  of 
Mayfield.  There  may  have  been  other  places  and 
perhaps  many,  but  these  homes  became  well-known 
and  have  been  remembered  by  the  people  who 
lived  at  those  times  as  the  principal  places  where 
this  business  was  carried  on.  The  only  passengers 
using  the  underground  railway  were  the  negro 
people  then  in  slavery  and  it  had  been  running 
years  before  Lincoln's  famous  proclamation  was 
signed  and  it  might  be  well  to  state  here  the  feel- 
ing of  Abraham  Lincoln  when  he  attached  his 
name  to  that  immortal  document.  After  he  had 
drafted  it  and  laid  it  aside  for  reflection  it  was 
brought  to  him  to  sign.  He  lifted  his  hand  to  the 
place  of  signature  and  then  it  fell  by  his  side. 
Again  he  lifted  it  and  again  it  fell.  Then  turning 
to  some  one  near  him  he  said,  "I  have  been  shaking 
hands  with  the  people  all  day  and  my  hand  is  very 
weak  and  shaky.  If  I  should  tremble  as  I  write 
my  name  on  this  paper,  which  will  be  handed  down 
in  history,  if  any  deed  of  mine  is,  all  the  wrorld 
will  say  'he  hesitated.''  "  He  lifted  his  hand  once 
more  to  the  place  of  signature  and  steadily  and 
firmly  wrote  the  A.  Lincoln,  with  which  all  the 
world  is  now  familiar.  Then  leaning  back  satis- 
fied hr  said,  "that  will  do."  Its  principal  stations 
were  through  Illinois,  Indiana  and  Ohio — the 
route  that  afforded  the  passengers  the  greatest  safe- 
ty— and  lay  through  the  anti-slavery  portions  of 
the  three  states  mentioned.  The  homes  of  aboli- 
tionists whose  aim  was  to  carry  fugitive  slaves 
from  one  station  to  another  with  safety  were  the 
stations  used.  It  must  be  remembered  that  it  was 
not  without  fear  and  trembling  that  many  of  the 
escaped  slaves,  who  started  on  their  perilous  jour- 
ney, for  if  they  were  captured  the  usual  penalty 
was  to  sell  the  escaped  slave  further  south.  The 
home  of  Deacon  West,  one  of  the  early  pioneers 
here,  whose  latchstring  was  always  out,  es- 
pecially to  the  poor  slaves  of  the  south,  came  to  be 
known  as  one  of  the  most  ardent  abolitionists  in 
this  section  of  the  country.  The  old  covered 
wagon  shown  in  the  picture  was  made  by  him  and 
used  as  a  car  in  the  running  of  the  underground 
railroad.  The  son  standing  beside  it  was  occasion- 
ally pressed  into  service  as  conductor  in  his 
younger  days.  The  wagon  and  its  history  is  known 
all  over  the  immediate  country.  It  is  now  past 
active  service  but  still  stands  on  the  premises  as 


98 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


..  souvenir  of  those  'lark  days.  Soon  after  their 
arrival  in  Illinois  in  the  early  morning  the  We&t 
children  had  their  first  sight  of  a  colored  person. 
He  was  in  the  house  only  long  enough  for  his  meals 
and  was  on  the  alert  every  moment  as  this  was  his 
-  cond  attempt  to  escape.  During  the  day  he  hid 
in  tin-  cornfields  anil  slept  in  the  barn  at  night. 
Finally  Mr.  West  took  bis  wagon  and  put  in  some 
ags  o  it,  covering  them  up,  with  the  negro 

hidden  somewhere  in  the  load,  started  for  the  next 
station  near  St.  Charles.  On  the  way  he  was 
stopped  and  asked  to  see  what  he  had  in  his  load, 
lie  told  them  that  was  his  business  and  whipped 
up  his  horse,  soon  turned  in  a  new  road  and  heard 
nothing  more  from  the  man  following  him.  A 
man,  woman  and  three  small  children  were  brought 
Tlie  children  were  kept  upstairs  most  of 
tin-  time  The  bahy  was  taken  sick,  however,  and 
the  children  were  sen!  down  stairs  t<,  stay  in  the 
kitchen.  Thej  were  rather  unruly  Inn  seemed  t" 
be  in  mortal  fear.  If  they  -aw  any  one  ap- 
proach the  liouse  they  would  ask  if  they  were  after 
and  if  they  were  told  ye.-,  they  would  fly 
under  the  bed  quick  as  a  flash  and  remain  as  quiel 
a-  mice.  After  that  Mr-.  West  knew  how  t"  man- 
age them.  They  were  taken  on  a-  soon  as  possible. 
Mr.  Wesl  had  no  trouble  conveying  In-  passengers 
to  tin  station  beyond  him  hut  could  not  always 
trace  them  to  their  journey's  end — Canada.  Once 
there  were  seven  grown  men  brought  there  ami  Mr. 
Wes1  was  away  from  home.  They  hid  through  the 
day  inn  Mr-.  West  got  a  little  nervous  over  so 
many  and  -tailed  ber  -on  off  with  them  about  mid- 
night, reaching  the  next  station  before  daylight, 
and  from  there  they  were  passed  on.  One  negro 
told  how  he  rubbed  onions  on  the  bottom  id'  his 
shoes  to  fool  the  hounds  hut  this  had  to  he  re- 
peated many  times  in  order  to  break  the  scent. 
Often  they  would  wade  in  streams  for  a  mile  or 
more.  or.  if  possible,  steal  a  mule  and  ride  for  some 
distance.  All  this  tended  to  baffle  the  dogs  in 
pursuit.  Once  the  presence  oi  two  runaways  hid 
fair  to  make  it  more  than  usually  interesting  for 
Mr.  West,  a-  a  southern  sheriff  was  on  his  trail  and 
the  pursuit  was  active  and  determined.  One  day 
the  sheriff  appeared  in  Sycamore  and  posted  a 
bill,  describing  the  two  slaves,  and  upon  it  was  an 
ten  thousand  dollars  for  their  apprehen- 
sion. II.  came  to  the  house  and  questioned  Mr. 
West  verv  closelv  hut  he  had  grown  skillful  in  giv- 


ing evasive  answers  if  he  chose  and  the  man  went 
away  no  wiser  than  when  he  came.  Later  the  men 
were  taken  on.  It  can  he  stated  at  this  time  that 
prominent  men  of  Sycamore  were  anxious  to  re- 
ceive part   of  the  ten   thousand   dollars   reward  of- 

i  and  tried  in  every  way  possible  to  assist  in 
the  capture  of  the  two  valuable  negroes,  but  upon 
being  informed  by  Sylvanus  Holcomb  that  Deacon 
West  was  skillful  with  a  rifle  and  could  hit  the  eye 
of  a  deer  at  long  range,  they  thought  best  to  re- 
turn r<>  Syeammv  and  give  up  the  matter  of  secur- 
ing the  ten  thousand  dollars  for  the  capture  of 
the  negroes.  Strange  a-  it  seems  to  us  now  nine- 
tenths  of  the  people  of  DeKalb  county  in  the  early 
'50s  were  opposed  to  the  plan  of  the  underground 
railway.  Once  in  the  early  '50s  two  negroes  ap- 
peared at  the  home  of  Mr.  Dey< f  South  Grove, 

who  was  a  well-known  conductor  on  tin-  under- 
ground railway  and  he  thought  best  nut  to  he 
caught  in  tran-porting  slaves  to  Canada,  so  he 
secured  the  services  of  his  hired  man.  Mr.  James 
Pureed,  now   a  resident  of  South  Grove,  and  somi 

during  the  night  started  him  for  the  home  oi 
Joshua  Townsend,  of  Mayfield,  with  these  direc- 
tions. "Look  neither  to  the  right  nor  to  the  left. 
It,,  n,,t  look  behind  you  or  you  will  become  a  pillar 
salt,  inn  drive  directly  to  Joshua  Townsend's 
house  and  hack  up  to  his  cellar  door."  Appearing 
there  -nine  time  after  midnight  he  found  Mr. 
Townsend  awaiting  him  according  to  the  directions 
of  Mr.  he.,-,,,  and  the  load  wa-  taken  out  and  hid- 
den in  the  cellar  and  Mr.  Purcell  invited  to  break- 
fast. At  another  time  Mr.  Deyeo  sent  Mr.  Ed. 
Becker,  now  a  resident  of  South  drove,  to  the 
of  William  Nickerson  with  runaway  negroi  - 
to  I"  -in  on  to  the  station  near  St.  Charles.  In 
the  city  of  Chicago  a  Dr.  Dyer  was  a  well-known 
conductor  of  the  underground  railway  and  he  was 
attacked  by  an  assistant  United  States  marshal. 
and  a  bloody  battle  ensued  on  In-  doorstep.  Dr. 
Dyer  was  wounded  but  he  killed  the  officer  and 
wounded  another.      Excitement  ran  high  hut  the 

ment  by  tin-  time  had  grown  rapidly  in  favor 
of  anti-slavery  and  he  escaped  without  punish- 
ment. Many  of  the  negro  men  and  women  that 
appeared  at  the  homes  of  these  abolitionists  in 
DeKalb  county  were  covered  with  stripes  from 
head  to  foot  and  had  suffered  untold  agonies   in 

ry.  After  the  publishing  of  Fncle  Tom's 
Cabin,  bv  Harriet  P>eecher  Stowe.  anti-slavery  -en- 


VEHICLE    USED    BY    DEACON     DAVID    WEST    TO    CARRY    ESCAPED    SLAVES    FROM 
HIS     HOME     TO     THE    ST.    CHARLES    STATION. 


5361!)? 


" 


A8T0H,    LENOX 

-JDATIOH8. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


lul 


timent  grew  apace  and  perhaps  more  than  any 
other  factor  this  book  secured  the  organization  of  a 
party  that  was  opposed  to  the  further  extension  of 
that  relic  of  barbarism — slavery. 

On  another  occasion  seven  fugitives,  man.  wife, 
and  children,  came  to  the  house  of  Deacon  Wesl 
when  he  was  away.  Mrs.  West  felt  some  hesi- 
tancy in  taking  them  in  in  the  absence  of  her 
husband,  but  the  children  urged  her  to  do  so. 
They  found  one  of  the  seven  a  white  girl.  At 
supper  time  the  old  folks  were  allowed  to  eat  first 
and  the  pretty  white  girl  and  the  children  had  to 
wait  with  the  other  members  of  the  family.  Sup- 
per over,  the  problem  arose  as  to  how  the)-  would 
keep  so  large  a  number,  but  by  making  beds  on 
the  floor  all  were  cornfortablv  entertained  for  the 
night.  Morning  came,  but  .Mr.  West  did  not,  and 
-lie  sent  her  >nii  over  to  Deacon  Kellogg,  who  was 
also  friendly  to  the  cause,  and  told  him  how  they 
were  situated.  He  said  he  would  lei  his  eldest 
son  go  and  take  his  team  and  .Mr.  West's  wagon, 
so  the  seven  were  loaded  up  and  started  for  the 
next  station  near  St.  Charles,  reaching  Dr.  Bart- 
lett's  soon  after  midnight  and  went  to  the  door 
and  knocked.  He  came  and  asked  what  was 
wanted  and  was  told  that  he  had  seven  fugitives. 
Mr.  Bartlett  said  that  he  understood  they  were 
coming  and  had  made  provision  for  them.  After 
putting  up  the  team  he  remained  all  night  at  the 
home  of  Mr.  Bartlett,  who  took  the  party  on  to 
Chicago,  where  thev  were  placed  on  a  boat  and 
taken  to  Canada.  About  a  year  later  a  letter  was 
received  from  the  young  lady,  who  was  then  aboul 
twenty  years  old.  In  the  meantime  she  had 
learned  to  read  and  write  quite  intelligently.  She 
said  they  were  happy  in  their  new  Canadian  home 
and  could  not  thank  us  enough  for  helping  them 
on  their  way  to  freedom.  The  exact  date  cannot 
be  remembered,  but  it  was  sometime  in  the  early 
'50s.  In  Mayfield,  where  a  branch  of  the  Wes- 
levan  church  had  been  organized,  one  of  whose  car- 
dinal principles  it  was  to  oppose  slavery,  there  was 
a  large  settlement  that  gave  much  time  and 
energy  in  the  assistance  of  slaves  on  their  way  to 
Canada.  These  abolitionists  advocated  emancipa- 
tion of  slavery  when  ministers  behind  pulpits 
denounced  it.  On  one  occasion  Ira  Nichols,  a 
pioneer  of  Mayfield,  was  on  his  way  to  St.  Charles 
with  a  load  of  grain,  among  the  sacks  of  which 
was   packed   a   negro   about   twenty-five   years   of 


age.     Mn  the  streets  of  Sycamore  was  the  owner 

with  the  deputy  United  State-  marshal  offering  a 
reward  of  live  hundred  dollars  for  any  one  who 
would  apprehend  the  slave  and  restore  him  to  his 
master.  Members  of  the  two  old  political  parties 
held  freesoilers  in  contempt  for  many  years,  and 
some  of  them  sneeringly  said  when  they  passed 
the  Brush  Point  settlemenl  that  they  rode 
through  it  as  quickly  as  possible  to  escape  the  smell 
of  tln>  negro.  This  kept  up  and  in  fact  grew  in  ef- 
fectiveness until  the  war  broke  out  in  1861.  After 
that  time  no  attempts  were  made  by  slave  owners 
te  follow  their  escaped  slaves  into  northern  terri- 
tory and  the  emancipation  proclamation  which 
has  been  mentioned  in  the  beginning  of  this  ar- 
ticle rather  closes  the  business  of  the  underground 
railway. 


POINTS  FROM  THE  SENTINEL,  THE 
FIEST  I'APER  PUBLISHED  IN  DF  KAMI 
( IOTINTY. 

J 

H.  A.  Hough,  on  May  31,  1854,  in  the  first 
paper  issued  to  the  people  of  the  county,  makes 
a  salutatory  address  to  his  prospective  patrons,  but 
so  far  as  county  news  is  concerned  we  find  but 
very  little  has  been  given.  In  it  we  find  some  news 
of  congress,  some  mi  the  Kansas  and  Nebraska  bill 
and  foreign  news  galore,  lint  so  little  of  county 
news  that  the  paper  is  not  so  valuable  as  one 
might  think.  The  county  was  then  nineteen  years 
old  and  many  of  the  old  settlers  were  still  alive, 
and  had  the  local  news  been  given  as  fully  as 
now  we  might  have  considerable  that  would  be 
of  interest.  There  are  many  topics  of  a  moral 
nature,  some  of  the  subjects  being  Our  Home, 
Solitude.  Early  Death,  Sabbath  Reflections,  etc. 

In  the  Sentinel  of  June  21st  the  opening  of 
the  Japanese  ports  by  Commodore  Perry  is  given 
and  a  whole  column  is  devoted  to  the  circumstances 
attending  the  Japanese  treaty.  Little  did  that  in- 
dividual think  that  in  less  than  fifty  years  Japan 
would  rise  to  be  of  world  power.  In  one  of  the 
issues  flax  culture  is  encouraged  and  from  the 
latter  '50s  until  the  prairie  sod  was  generally  sub- 
dued flax  became  quite  a  profitable  crop. 

In  the  early  '50s  cholera  swept  through  the  Mis- 
sissippi vallev  and  in  some  localities  many  deaths 
occurred  from  that  terrible  disease.     As  the  coun- 


102 


PAST    .VXD    PKESENT    OF   DE    KALI!    COUNTY. 


try  became  older  and  better  settled  so  many  of 
the  contagious  diseases  that  were  so  common  in 
the  early  '50s  are  practically  unknown.  In  1851 
the  Sentinel  makes  mention  of  the  seventeen- 
year  locusts,  which  came  in  large  numbers  and 
destroyed  considerable  vegetation. 

The  Fourth  of  July  celebration  of  1854  was  a 
memorable  occasion.  We  iv.nl  nf  Revolutionary 
soldiers  and  1812  soldiers  being  invited  to  join 
the  procession,  but  as  no  list  of  those  invited  ap- 
pear* we  presume  that  in  1854  the  Revolutionary 
soldiers  bad  stopped  marching  in  every  part  of 
the  Union.  A  number  of  toasts  were  responded 
to  l>>  some  of  the  Leading  citizens  of  Sycamore 
and  an  address  was  made  by  John  A.  Bross,  a 
prominent  republican  politician  of  Chicago.  A 
grand  banquel  was  spread  and  several  hundred 
sat  d"\\  n  to  partake  of  the  repast. 

In  an  article  of  August  L7th  the  editor,  II.  A. 
Hough,  made  a  pilgrimage  to  the  south  part  of 
the  county.  Passing  through  Cortland  be  speaks 
of  n  as  a  place  destined  al  no  distant  date  to 
make  a  thriving  town.  He  speaks  in  glowing 
terms  of  Somonauk,  which  at  that  time  contained 
a  depol  and  perhaps  fifteen  or  twenty  houses,  and 
also  mentions  a  new  church  thai  is  Well  under 
way.  In  passing  through  Victor  and  Paw  Paw 
he  speaks  of  the   fine  farm-  and   the  good   agri 

cultural  eondil -  oi  the  county.     When  arriving 

al  Paw  Paw,  presumedly  East  Paw  Paw.  he  speaks 
of  several  stores,  two  hotels  and  shops  and  from 

there  returns  by  way  of  Shabl a   Grove,  which 

he  mentions  as  a  thriving  village.  T.  J.  Carney, 
id'  Sycamore,  was  pastor  of  the  Universalis! 
church,  and  in  the  i>sue  of  August,  1854,  makes 
an  attack  upon  Spiritualism,  which  at  thai  time 
seems  to  have  many  adherents.  The  wife  of  T. 
.1.  Carney  was  the  author  .if  the  famous  poem, 
••Little  drops  of  water,  little  grains  of  sand." 

lion.  Joshua  R.  Giddings,  of  Ohio,  one  of  the 
leaders  of  the  anti-slaver:  element,  delivered  an 
Address  at  the  Anti-Nebraska  convention,  which 
lias  been  alluded  to  in  another  part  of  this  work. 
Mr.  Gidding's  oration  was  listened  to  with  a 
great  deal  of  interest.  Dr.  Madden,  of  Mayfield, 
presided  over  the  meeting  and  introduced  the 
speaker.  This  meeting  marks  the  organization  of 
the  republican  party.  Stephen  A.  Douglas  de- 
livered an  address  to  his  political  adherents  in 
this  city  in  August,  185  1.  Thus  this  section  of 
i  he  -late  early  became  the  political  battle-ground 


of  Illinois.  In  the  issue  of  September,  1854,  a 
number  of  extracts  are  given  from  the  address. 
His  article  on  the  know  nothing  and  the  republic- 
an parties  is  interesting  reading  at  this  late  date. 
The  address  was  delivered  in  the  old  courthouse. 
Later  in  the  year  of  1854  the  editor  resumes  his 
pilgrimage  about  the  county  and  visits  Genoa, 
which  he  describes  as  a  truly  delightful  spot  on 
the  face  of  this  earth.  .Speaks  of  it  as  being  lo- 
cated in  the  east  part  of  the  grove  near  the  Kish- 
wankee.  There  are  twenty  dwelling  houses  in 
the  village,  one  nice  church,  which  was  built  this 

year,  three  dry  g Is  stores  conducted  by  W.  H. 

Allen.  Israel  Dowd  and  Ball  Brothers,  two  black- 
smith shops,  one  carriage  and  wagon  shop,  one 
|i;uni  shop,  two  hoot  and  shoe  shops  and  two  ho- 
tel* conducted  by  II.  N.  Perkins  and  II.  Durham, 
one  broker's  office  and  one  sawmill,  which  was  no 
doiihi  located  just  west  of  the  village  on  the  Kish- 
waukee,  and  >avs  it  has  a  population  id'  about  one 
hundred.  The  shipments  of  grain  from  Genoa 
that  year  he  gives  at   thirty  thousand  bushels. 

At  the  democratic  congressional  convention  of 
is:,  i  linn.  Edward  L.  Mayo,  of  Sycamore,  was 
nominated  for  congress.  .Tames  II.  "Woodworth 
m;i-  nominated  by  the  republicans  as  a  candidate 
of  congress  ami  Etoberl  S.  Blackwell  was  the  can- 
didate of  the  whig  part}-.  H.  C.  Beard,  afterward 
county  superintendent  id'  schools,  was  nominated 
by  the  whig  party  for  representative.  Charles  0. 
1'xiyntoli.  of  Sycamore,  was  secretary  of  the  whig 
convention.  He  afterward  became  prominent  in 
the  democratic  party.  The  election  of  1S51.  while 
an  oil'  year  election,  was  one  of  considerable  in- 
terest.    W Iworih  carried  the  county  for  congress 

by  aboul  lifteen  hundred  plurality.  The  whig 
part}  made  a  very  poor  showing  and  disappeared 
from  the  political  arena  entirely.  On  November 
30  Editor  Hough  issues  a  letter  to  his  patrons 
and  to  the  people  of  De  Kalb  county  in  general 
appealing  for  support.  He  states  that  "his  ex- 
penses have  been  six  hundred  and  ninety-six  dol- 
lars and  ninety-nine  cent-,  and  his  receipts  four 
hundred  and  three  dollars  and  fifty-seven  cents, 
leaving  us  out  of  pocket  in  cash  two  hundred 
and  ninety-three  dollars  and  forty-two  cents.  Thus 
it  will  lie  Been  that  we  have  worked  for  glory  and 
are  out  two  hundred  and  ninety-three  dollars  and 
forty-two  cents  for  honors.  Now.  we  have  worked 
for  glory  so  long  that  it  comes  perfectly  natural, 
but    the   latter  statement,   to   say   the   least,  is   a 


PAST  AND  PEESEXT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


ioa 


doubtfu]  one.  With  our  books  no  one  has  any 
business  and  we  shall  not  at  this  time  make  an 
exhibit  of  them,  but  if  the  above  facts  produce 
nervousness  in  any  of  our  creditors  we  hope  they 
will  call  and  pay  their  bills.  We  are  prepared  to 
meet  all  demands."  At  this  time,  however,  about 
seven  hundred  dollars  was  due  Editor  Hough  and 
this  it  took  a  long  time  to  collect.  Thus  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  newspapers  of  the  county  today  pay 
far  better  than  the  pioneers  in  this  field  of  the 
early  '50s.  The  editor  again  takes  up  his  little 
journeys  over  the  county  and  visits  De  Kalb 
Center,  which  changed  its  name  from  Buena  Yista. 
He  speaks  of  the  prosperity  of  that  village,  says 
it  has  about  four  hundred  people,  a  large  steam 
mill  and  a  number  of  stores  and  mentions  quite 
a  number  of  the  business  men  of  that  time,  such 
as  B.  M.  Dayton,  A.  II.  Cartwright,  Eeuben  Hi- 
land.  Appleby.  Love.  (i.  A.  Colton  and  Dr.  Hy- 
slop.  In  describing  the  chief  parts  of  the  county 
he  does  not  neglect  his  home  city,  mentions  three 
churches,  the  pastor  of  the  Congregational  being 
Eev.  Darius  Gore ;  Methodist.  Rev.  D.  L.  Window, 
and  the  Universalist  church,  built  the  past  season, 
pastor  Eev.  T.  J.  Carney.  The  latter  church  is 
to  be  dedicated  January  11.  1854.  A  brick  school- 
house  has  been  erected,  which  is  the  best  one  in 
this  locality,  two  brick  blocks  have  been  erected, 
a  brick  tavern,  several  dry  goods  stores,  a  drug 
store  and  three  taverns,  being  kept  by  Messrs.  W. 
M.  Maxfield.  A.  Edson  and  Wadsworth.  A  car- 
riage and  wagon  shop  is  kept  by  Cobb  and  Pres- 
ton, and  there  is  also  a  blacksmith  shop,  shingle 
factory,  meat  market  and  seven  lawyers'  offices. 

The  paper  was  not  published  regularly,  as  an 
editorial  statement  will  show,  for  one  day  while 
they  were  getting  the  machinery  ready  expecting 
to  print  the  paper  another  eastern  mail  arrived 
with  news  from  the  seat  of  war.  Crimea,  and 
news  from  Washington,  and  the  machinery  was 
stopped,  additional  matter  put  in  type  and  the 
paper  issued.  A  lecture  was  delivered  by  Judge 
Depp,  of  Virginia,  which  created  considerable  ex- 
citement. Judge  Depp  had  been  a  slave  and  had 
become  free,  was  well  educated  and  a  speaker  of 
considerable  force  and  his  story  gave  quite  an  im- 
petus to  the  anti-slavery  cause  in  this  locality.  It 
was  thought  by  many  that  he  was  the  equal  of 
Fred  Douglas. 

The  year  I860  was  a  notable  one  in  the  his- 
torv  of  De  Kalb  countv.    The  years  from  1857  to 


1859  had  been  one  of  depression.  Added  to  these 
difficulties  the  weather  had  been  unpropitious. 
The  year  1858  had  been  one  of  flood  and  rain, 
while  1859  was  a  year  of  great  drought.  In  the 
year  of  1860  spring  opened  unusually  early.  Wheat 
was  sown  as  early  as  February.  The  drought  of 
i  lie  previous  year  had  drawn  the  moisture  of  the 
subsoil  to  the  surface  from  an  unusual  depth  and 
with  the  fructifying  substance  held  there  in  so- 
lution seemed  to  have  covered  the  whole  county 
with  a  coating  of  fertilizer.  The  average  yield  of 
wheat,  corn,  oats,  flax,  hay  and  barley  was  un- 
precedented. Even  to  this  day  the  year  1860  is 
known  as  the  year  of  the  great  crop.  Fruit  and 
vegetables  were  also  produced  in  great  abundance. 
It  seemed  to  be  a  year  of  general  prosperity  and 
during  the  early  autumn  crops  were  marketed  at 
prices  that  were  unusually  high  and  the  farmers 
who  had  been  debt  ridden  for  years  began  to  feel 
great  relief.  During  the  year  1860  was  one  of 
great  political  excitement.  In  1856  the  first  real 
opposition  to  the  slave  power  from  a  political 
standpoint  took  form  and  eleven  states  of  the 
Union  registered  their  disapproval  of  the  exten- 
sion of  slave  power.     The  political  excitement  of 

1860  was  even  greater  than  that  of  1840  and  much 
more  was  at  stake  for  the  nation.  Political  meet- 
ings were  held  early  in  the  season  and  continued 
at  almost  every  sehoolhouse  and  public  place  gath- 
ering during  the  fall.  The  republicans  were  or- 
ganized into  a  body  known  as  the  wide-awakes  and 
the  democrats  into  an  organization  known  as  the 
Douglas  enthusiasts.  One  of  the  most  notable 
gatherings  that  ever  occurred  in  this  county  was 
the  political  meeting  held  at  De  Kalb.  when  Cas- 
sius  M.  Clay,  of  Kentucky:  Isaac  N.  Arnold,  of 
Chicago,  who  was  at  that  time  congressman  from 
this  district:  John  F.  Farnsworth,  and  many  other 
eminent  speakers  wen'  present.  An  ox  was  roasted 
at  this  meeting  and  distributed  free  to  the  attend- 
ants. The  wide-awakes  in  uniformed  political 
body  with  torches  and  banners  attended  in  large 
numbers,  nearly  half  of  the  young  men  in  the 
county  being  members  of  this  organization.  Peo- 
ple came  from  other  counties  and  it  has  been  es- 
timated that  thirty  thousand  attended.  It  is  sate 
to  say  that  no  gathering  has  been  held  in  this 
county  -nice  that  equalled  this  in  size  and  enthusi- 
asm. 

The  vote  in  De  Kalb  county  on  the  presidential 
election  of  I860  was  the  largest  ever  polled  up  to 


104 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALI'.    COUNTY. 


this  date.  De  Kalb  count}-  gave  Lincoln  three 
thousand  and  forty-nine  rotes;  Douglas,  nine  hun- 
dred and  fifty.  The  republican  party  nomination 
was  by  this  time  considered  equivalent  to  an  elec- 
tion and  1800  marked  the  first  strife  for  republic- 
an nomination.  The  candidates  for  recorder  this 
year  were  Mr.  J.  H.  Beveridge,  who  had  filled 
the  office  eight  years;  Silas  Tappan.  of  Squaw 
Grove;  Roswell  Dow,  of  Sycamore,  and  C.  M. 
Brown,  of  Sycamore.  ('.  M.  Brown  was  the  suc- 
cessful nominee.  Thomas  S.  Terry,  of  Shabbona, 
was  chosen  representative ;  Baldwin  Woodruff,  of 
Clinton,  sheriff;  Lorenzo  Whittemore,  coroner. 
At  this  election  four  thousand  and  nine  votes  were 
given  in  favor  of  a  convention  to  form  a  new 
constitution. 

The  census  of  \>''<"  gave  the  different  towns  of 

the   county   a    population   of   over  nineteen   thou- 
sand,  distributed  as    follows:      Genoa,  one  thou- 
sand: Kingston,  one  thousand  and  sixty:  Franklin. 
nine  hundred  and   forty-three;  South  Grove,  sev- 
en hundred  and  eighty-seven;  Mayfield,  one  thou- 
sand and  forty:  Sycamore,  two  thousand  two  hun- 
dred  and   eighty;    Pampas,   one    thousand    three 
hundred  and  ten:  Malta,  six  hundred  and  twenty; 
Milan,  two  hundred  and  sixty-three;  Afton,  five 
hundred  and  forty-five;  Pierce,  nine  hundred  and 
fifty:  Squaw  Grove,  eigb.1  hundred;  Clinton,  nine 
hundred   and   ninety-seven:   Shabbona,   nine  hun- 
dred and  sixty-three:  Paw  Paw.  one  thousand  one 
hundred   and    seven;    Victor,   seven   hundred   and 
sixty-six;  Somonauk,  two  thousand  two  hundred 
and  forty:  De  Kalb.  one  thousand  nine  hundred. 
The  year  1865  was  one  of  general  gloom.     The 
war.  which  many  supposed  would  be  of  short  dura- 
tion, had  assumed  immense  proportions  and  battles 
larger  than  ever  had   been   fought  on   this  conti- 
nent were  transpiring  almost  weekly.     Thousands 
upon  thousands  had  lost  their  lives,  or  had  been 
crippled,  and  added  to  this,  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1862  the  Union  army  had  gained  no  decided 
advantage.     The  calls  for  troops  came  in   rapid 
succession  to  fill  up  the  depleted  ranks  of  our  de- 
feated armies  and  up  to  this  time  the  response  was 
generous    and    prompt.      Those    enlisting    in    the 
Western  Army  had  won  some  battles  that  had  a 
telling   effect    upon    the    rebellion,    such    as    Fort 
Donelson,  Shiloh.  Island  No.  10  and  the  capture 
of  Nashville.     The  call   for  troops  this  year  came 
in  the  midst  of  the  busy  labors  of  the  harvest  field 


and  eight  hundred  of  the  best  young  men  of  the 
countv  enrolled  themselves  on  the  roster  of  the 
army.  In  October  of  this  year  a  total  of  eleven 
hundred  and  thirty-three  men  was  enlisted  from 
this  county.  An  enrollment  made  at  this  time 
with  reference  to  those  subject  to  draft  showed 
that  only  thirty-three  hundred  remained  who  were 
able  to  do  military  duty.  The  enlistments  so  far 
were  distributed  as  follows: 

Number  Number 

enrolled.       io  service. 

Genoa    146  90 

Shabbona     257  123 

Paw  Paw 2S2  114 

Somonauk    624  234 

Clinton     250  93 

Squaw   Grove 253  97 

imore    574  179 

Franklin     208  64 

Malta    219  64 

Milan    96  27 

Mayfield    203  58 

South    l,rnU.    213  58 

Kingston     258  73 

D.    Kalb 429  107 

Pampas     383  88 

Victor     201  43 

Pierce    221  41 

\ii.n    120  16 

The  total  number  of  bounties  paid  from  the 
county  treasury  this  year  was  three  thousand  four 
hundred  and  sixty-six.  The  assessment  made  in 
1862  placed  the  total  value  of  property  in  De 
Kalb  county  at  two  million  seven  hundred  and 
twelve  thousand  dollars,  of  which  one  million,  nine 
hundred  and  seventy-five  thousand  dollars  was  in 
farms,  one  hundred  and  ninety  thousand  dollars 
in  town  property,  a  little  more  than  a  half  million 
in  personal  property.  The  actual  value  of  the 
last  class  was  probably  ten  times  and  of  the  for- 
mer classes  five  times  the  amount  for  which  they 
were  assessed.  The  returns  show  that  there  were 
ten  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty-four 
horses,  twenty-four  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
eighty-four  cattle,  sixteen  thousand  and  twenty 
hogs,  five  thousand  and  ninety-two  sheep  and  one 
hundred  and  thirty-eight  mules  owned  in  the 
county.  It  gave  a  comparative  idea  of  the  wealth 
,n  the  present  tune.  The  money  deposited  in  one 
of  the  half  dozen  hanks  in  De  Kalb  county  at  the 
present  time  is  as  much  as  the  assessed  valuation 
of  personal  property  in  1862. 

In  1861  the  Douglas  democrats  and  republican? 
had  formed  a  union  ticket,  the  republicans,  al- 
though four  to  one.  giving  the  democrats  half  the 
candidates  Dominated  in  the  convention.    The  No- 


PAST  AND  PEESENT  OP  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


105 


vember  elections  of  1862  were  fought  out  under 
part.v  organizations.  A  reaction  had  set  in  and 
the  opponents  of  the  war  were  making  themselves 
heard. 

W.  W.  Sedgwick  was  chosen  a  member  of  the 
legislature,  Henry  Safford  was  made  sheriff  and 
Jacob  R.  Crossett,  coroner.  At  the  autumn  ses- 
sion of  the  board  of  supervisors  the  claim  of  the 
county  against  the  United  States,  under  the 
swamp-land  grant,  was  offered  at  auction.  "W. 
T.  Kirk  offered  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  A.  K. 
Stiles  offered  nineteen  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  dollars,  Reuben  Ellwood  offered  two 
thousand  and  twenty  dollars,  W.  J.  limit 
offered  two  thousand  and  forty-five  dol- 
lars and  Benjamin  Page  two  thousand  and 
fifty  dollars,  all  upon  credit.  R.  Ellwood  then 
amended  his  bid  to  two  thousand  and  twenty  dol- 
lars cash,  and  it  was  struck  off  to  him.  Five 
supervisors  voted  against  the  proposition  to  sell 
and  their  written  protest  against  it  was  recorded. 
They  were  Messrs.  C.  Winne,  R.  M.  Pritchard,  T. 
J.  yandevere,  G.  W.  Culver  and  S.  Denton.  Soon 
after  it  was  reported  that  injustice  had  been  done 
to  the  county  by  this  sale  and  the  board  was  called 
together  for  an  investigation.  A  committee  of  the 
board  presented  an  elaborate  report,  giving  the 
full  history  of  the  swamp-land  matter,  which  was 
to  the  following  effect: 

They  report  that  in  1852  John  L.  Beveridge  had 
been  appointed  drainage  commissioner, with  author- 
ity to  drain  and  sell  the  swamp-lands,  but  that  he 
was  soon  after  succeeded  by  William  Pordham.  By 
April,  1853,  Mr.  Lamb,  the  county  surveyor,  had 
selected  as  swamp-lands  thirty-one  thousand  one 
hundred  and  fifty-three  acres,  but  none  of  these 
lands  had  been  conveyed  to  the  county  until  1858, 
when  only  five  thousand,  seven  hundred  and  forty- 
one  acres  were  conveyed,  the'  remainder,  about 
twenty-five  thousand  acres,  having  meanwhile 
been  sold  by  the  United  States  to  individuals.  The 
policy  of  the  United  States  in  regard  to  lands 
selected  as  swamp-lands,  but  which  it  had  thus 
sold,  was  to  return  to  the  county  the  money  paid 
in  cases  in  which  money  had  been  used  in  paying 
for  these  lands  and  to  give  land  warrants  in  cases 
in  which  the  lands  had  been  paid  for  in  warrants. 
The  United  States  had  accordingly  paid  into  the 
state  treasury  for  the  benefit  of  this  county  six 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-six  dollars  in 


money  and  a  claim  for  about  twenty  thousand 
acres  in  land  warrants. 

Mr.  Ellwood  had  gone  to  Springfield  immedi- 
ately after  the  sale  by  the  county  and  had  drawn 
six  thousand  five  hundred  and  forty-three  dollars 
and  nineteen  cents  in  money.  The  land  warrants 
had  not  yet  been  received.  Messrs.  Kirk  and 
Stiles  testified  before  the  committee  that  they  did 
not  know  that  the  money  was  at  Springfield  at 
the  time  of  the  sale.  Mr.  Ellwood  testified  that 
he  did  not  know  that  it  was,  but  supposed  that  it 
was  or  would  be  soon.  He  supposed,  however,  that 
it  was  a  smaller  amount.  He  offered  to  re-eonvey 
all  the  land  warrants  to  the  county  if  it  would 
pay  the  expenses  of  the  trip  he  had  made  to 
Washington  to  procure  them. 

For  the  land  sold  by  Fordham  nothing  had 
been  paid  into  the  treasury.  He  had  removed 
from  the  county  in  1855,  but  reported  that  he 
had  received  from  the  sale  of  these  lands  four- 
teen thousand  five  hundred  and  seventy-eight  dol- 
lars and  eighteen  cents;  that  he  charged  for  his 
services  three  thousand  four  hundred  and  fortv- 
three  dollars,  and  had  paid  for  ditching  six  thou- 
sand dollars,  leaving  five  thousand  dollars  in  his 
hands.  The  committee  thought  that  very  little 
of  this  ditching  was  ever  done.  He  had  soia  for 
the  county  eight  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thir- 
ty-one acres,  a.  large  proportion  of  which  was  land 
subsequently  sold  by  the  United  States  to  individ- 
uals. Upon  such  sales  the  county  had  been  com- 
pelled to  refund  to  those  who  purchased  from  it, 
and  already  raised  by  taxation  and  paid  over  six 
thousand  dollars  for  this  purpose.  The  county 
had  commenced  suit  against  Fordham" s  bondsmen, 
but  had  settled  it  for  thirteen  hundred  dollars. 

Thus  this  rich  heritage  intended  for  the  benefit 
of  the  county,  and  which,  had  it  been  retained 
and  wisely  managed,  would  not  have  been  worth 
more  than  half  a  million  dollars,  had  really  cost 
the  county  several  thousands  of  dollars  more  than 
it  had  received  from  it, 

The  year  1863  whs  pecuniarily  a  prosperous 
season  for  De  Kalb  county.  It  had  been  drained 
of  a  large  proportion  of  its  population  and  by 
this  time  nearly  two  thousand  men  from  this 
county  were  under  arms  and  some  farms  lay 
waste  and  unfilled  for  want  of  men  to  work  them. 
Yet  the  days  of  stump  tail  currency  had  passed 
and  the  country  had  been  put  upon  a  firm  finan- 
cial basis. 


106 


PAST   AND   PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


The  tai'itl'  bill  which  was  enacted  was  furnish- 
ing considerable  revenue  and  wise  national  legis- 
lation had  brought  the  currency  up  to  a  higher 
standard.  In  1S01  many  of  the  banks  of  issue 
were  in  the  southern  states  and  soon  failed,  leaving 
the  bank  currency  in  possession  of  the  owner  abso- 
lutely worthless.  The  newspapers  tried  to  post 
their  customers  as  to  the  solvency  of  certain  banks, 
but  they  failed  with  such  rapidity  that  it  was  im- 
possible to  do  so.  Many  a  farmer  came  to  town 
with  stump  tail  currency  in  his  pocket  to  pav  for 
produce,  finding  his  money  absolutely  worthless, 
but  in  1863  the  necessities  of  war  had  made  a 
market  for  the  productions  of  the  farmer  and 
higher  prices  were  received  than  ever  before.  The 
soldiers'  bounties,  the  county  indebtedness  and 
private  indebtedness  was  paid  for  with  consider- 
able rapidity. 

This  year  the  board  of  supervisors  made  an 
appropriation  of  four  thousand  five  hundred  dol- 
lars for  the  construction  of  an  extensive  fire- 
proof addition  to  the  courthouse.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  demands  made  upon  the  people  by  the 
great  rebellion  improvements  thai  were  more  sub- 
stantial than  had  been  made  heretofore  were  con- 
summated. De  Kalh  built  an  excellent  graded 
school  building  of  brick,  which  at  that  time  was 
the  best  building  of  its  kind  in  the  county.  Syca- 
more built  a  large  wooden  building  in  1863,  which 
still  remains  ami  i-  used  as  a  grade  building. 

All  over  the  county  churches  had  been  built, 
hedges  bad  been  planted  and  orchards  were  in 
bearing  and  it  is  safe  to  state  that  on  prairie  land 
of  this  county  in  1863  there  were  more  trees  than 
at  the  present  time.  In  1863  six  hundred  thou- 
sand more  troops  were  called  out  by  the  president 
for  various  terms  of  sen  ice  and  although  it  seemed 
impossible  that  so  many  could  be  raised  by  vol- 
untary effort,  yet  this  county  tilled  Iter  quota  and 
still  remained  free  from  the  terrors  of  the  draft. 

The  board  of  supervisors  offered  a  bounty  of 
one  hundred  dollars  to  each  recruit  from  this 
county  and  appropriated  twenty-five  dollars  for 
each  family  of  absent  soldiers  requiring  it.  Cap- 
tain E.  A.  Smith,  who  was  wounded  in  the  sieg 
of  Vicksburg  and  lost  an  arm  ami  was  wounded 
in  the  leg,  received  an  honorable  discharge  for 
disability  and  returned  to  his  home  in  Cortland. 
This  year  both  parties  resolved  upon  the  union  and 
a  convention  was  called  under  the  head  of  the  re- 
publican union  convention.    There  were  sharp  con- 


tests for  the  nomination  of  county  treasurer.  Mr. 
William  C.  Tappan.  of  South  Grove,  was  chosen 
on  the  sixth  ballot.  Some  of  the  friends  of  Cap- 
tain R.  A.  Smith,  who  was  a  candidate  for  the 
same  position,  believed  that  he  had  not  received  a 
square  deal.  E.  A.  Smith  came  out  as  an  inde- 
pendent candidate  and  was  elected  by  a  vote  of 
two  to  one  over  the  regular  nominee.  He  was 
afterward  re-elected  and  served  in  that  position 
for  eight  years.  Hiram  C.  Beard,  of  Victor,  who 
had  been  a  pioneer  school  teacher  in  different 
parts  of  the  county,  was  this  year  chosen  as  school 
commissioner,  lie  was  a  man  of  considerable 
ability  and  many  regarded  him  as  an  able  super- 
visor of  schools.  1).  W.  Lamb  was  elected  county 
treasurer.  The  county  indebtedness  this  year  for 
all  purposes  was  fifty  thousand  dollars.  The  jur- 
isdiction of  the  county  court,  which  had  previously 
extended  only  to  probate  matters,  was  this  year 
enlarged,  so  as  to  give  it  authority  to  try  civil  suits 
as  in  the  circuit  court.  In  place  of  the  allowance 
hitherto  paid  the  judge  he  was  now  remunerated 
with  a  salary  which  was  fixed  at  one  hundred  dol- 
lar- per  annum. 

The  high  prices  paid  for  sugars  and  syrups  had 
at  this  time  greatly  stimulated  the  culture  of  the 
sorghum  plant,  then  a  new  discovery,  and  large 
steam  factories  for  the  manufacture  of  sugar  and 
syrup  were  established  at  Sycamore  and  Sand- 
wich. Small  portable  machines  were  in  operation 
in  various  portions  of  the  county.  Isaac  Christ- 
man,  an  indefatigable  worker  and  pioneer  of  this 
branch  of  manufacture,  had  several  mills  in  opera- 
tion. 

The  year  1864  came  in  with  a  storm  more  ter- 
rible in  its  fury  than  the  oldest  inhabitant  bad 
ever  known.  This  has  since  been  known  as  the 
cold  New  Years  all  over  the  northern  part  of  the 
United  States.  Heavy,  lowering  black  clouds 
seemed  to  descend  in  a  mass  to  the  earth  in 
prodigious  drifts  of  snow,  which  were  driven  with 
great  force  l>\  a  powerful  south  wind.  The  coun- 
try was  buried  beneath  these  drifts  and  the  mur- 
cury  sank  to  forty  degrees  blow  zero.  The  severit) 
of  the  cold  was  intensified  by  a  fierce  gale,  which 
blew  for  three  days  with  great  fury.  Many  per- 
son- were  frozen  to  death  and  it  must  be  remem- 
bered that  the  home-  of  that  time  were  not  warm 
and  comfortable  as  at  present.  Many  horses,  (at- 
tic and  bogs  perished.     Tin-  commodious  barns  of 


PAST    AND   PKESENT   OF   DE    KALI!    COUNTY. 


107 


the  present  day  had  not  been  built  and  the  young 
cattle  were  allowed  to  run  out  all  winter  and  their 
only  protection  was  the  straw  slacks  or  in  some 
cases  growth  of  timber.  More  than  half  the  fowls 
in  the  county  wrere  frozen.  The  railroad  was 
blocked  up  and  multitudes  of  passengers  were  com- 
pelled to  remain  in  the  cars  for  several  days. 
Thousands  of  animals  in  the  course  of  transporta- 
tion upon  stock  trains  perished  and  were  brought 
to  market  a  stiff,  stark  frozen  mass.  Xone  who 
lived  through  that  fearful  storm  can  ever  forget 
its  terrors. 

This  year  an  extensive  fire  at  Sandwich  de- 
stroyed several  warehouses  and  other  buildings, 
creating  a  heavy  loss.  A  favorite  shade  tree  in 
this  county  had  always  been  the  rapidly  growing 
locust  and  thousands  of  acres  of  them  had  been 
planted  for  timber  and  as  screens  from  the  fierce 
winds  of  the  prairie.  During  this  year  they  were 
i  lest  roved  by  a  species  of  borer,  which  left  hardly 
one  tree  alive  in  the  country. 

The  rapid  rise  in  gold  caused  by  the  immense 
issues  of  bills  required  by  the  necessities  of  the 
government  this  year  caused  an  equally  rapid  ap- 
preciation in  value  in  all  kinds  of  property.  Money 
was  plenty,  trade  was  lively  and  every  one  seemed 
to  be  growing  wealthy.  Gold  rose  during  the  year 
to  two  dollars  and  forty  cents,  wheat  sold  at  two 
dollars,  corn  at  a  dollar  and  twenty  cents  and 
barley  at  one  dollar  and  ninety  cents  per  bushel. 
Those  in  trade  rapidly  made  money  by  the  inevita- 
ble rise  in  value  of  everything  they  purchased  and 
large  numbers,  attracted  by  the  profits  of  trade, 
moved  into  the  villages  and  filled  every  department 
of  business.  The  wheat  crop  this  season,  however, 
was  a  failure.  It  was  destroyed  by  the  chinch  bug. 
Tn  February  the  president  made  a  call  for  two 
hundred  thousand  troops  for  a  term  of  three  years, 
or  during  the  war.  In  April  came  a  demand  for 
three  hundred  thousand  more  for  one  hundred 
days.  The  supervisors  met  and  extended  the 
bounty  of  one  hundred  dollars  to  all  who  should 
enlist  upon  the  first  call  and  offered  thirty-five 
dollars  to  those  who  went  upon  the  second.  Two 
or  three  companies  were  raised  for  the  latter  term 
of  service  and  were  soon  garrisoning  the  forts  and 
guarding  the  communications  in  the  rear  of  our 
great  armies  of  veterans,  now  marching  under 
General  Sherman  upon  Richmond  and  Atlanta. 
The  repeated  calls  for  volunteers  had  exhausted 


the  supply  and  in  the  autumn  of  1864  the  long 

threatened  draft  came  upon  some  of  the  towns  of 
the  county. 

An  enrollment  was  made  and  the  official  state- 
ment gives  its  results : 

Towns.                          Quota.  Credits.  Deficit. 

Pampas    Us  101  17 

Shabbona     122  93  29 

Milan    37  31  6 

Malta    86  72  14 

South    Grove    !)4  76  is 

Franklin     90  75  15 

Kingston    100  70  30 

Mavfield     93  76  17 

De   Kalb    196  192  4 

Afton    si  66  15 

Clinton     102  84  IS 

Victor    87  79 

Somonauk     265  248  17 

Squaw    Grove    86  64  L9 

Pierce     92  75  17 

Paw  Paw    124  110  14 

Sycamore     250  291 

Genoa    100  85  15 

2,123  1,888  273 

The  people  of  Sycamore  found  to  their  sur- 
prise that  their  town  was  credited  with  forty-one 
more  men  than  their  quota  required.  This  was 
probably  due  to  the  fact  that  early  in  the  war 
men  from  other  towns  recorded  their  names  as 
coming  from  that  town,  thus  unwittingly  defeat- 
ing their  own  towns  of  the  proper  credit.  This 
created  a  great  deal  of  complaint  and  a  con- 
vention of  the  county  was  held  at  Cortland  to 
endeavor  to  devise  some  means  to  right  the  wrong, 
but  nothing  of  any  avail  could  be  done.  In  some 
of  the  towns  meetings  were  called  by  town  offi- 
cers, at  which  large  sums  of  money  were  voted  as 
a  tax  mi  the  property  of  the  town,  it  being  under- 
stood that  the  next  legislature  would  legalize  these 
irregular  taxes.  Money  was  advanced  by  citizens 
upon  these  promises  and  by  offering  large  bounties 
recruits  were  procured  and  the  draft  averted,  but 
in  others  the  conscription  came  and  fell  with  great 
severity  upon  many  citizens.  Tt  singled  out  many 
men  whose  absence  would  leave  their  families  des- 
titute and  dependent  and  who  in  some  cases  were 
obliged  to  pay  a  thousand  dollars  to  secure  sub- 
stitutes, but  most  of  the  drafted  men  went  willing- 
ly and  served  most  faithfully. 

At  the  election  in  the  autumn  General  F.  W. 
Partridge  was  elected  circuit  clerk  and  recorder: 
T.  V.  Randall,  of  De  Kalb,  representative  to  the 
legislature;  and  TT.  A.  Joslyn,  of  Sycamore,  sheriff. 
James  H.  BeVeridge  was  elected  state  treasurer — 
the  first  person  ever  elected   from  the  county  to 


108 


PAST    AND    PEESEXT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


anv  public  office  whose  duties  were  not  exercised 
entirely  in  the  county.  The  county  this  year  gave 
Abraham  Lincoln  two  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
eighty-five  votes  for  re-election  and  seven  hundred 
and  forty-one  for  General  George  B.  McClellan. 

The  Union  League,  a  secret  political  organiza- 
tii.n.  established  lodges  in  most  of  the  towns  of 
the  county  and  held  frequent  meetings.  The  char- 
ter of  the  Union  League  of  America,  of  Paw  Paw 
council,  Xo.  520,  reads  as  follows:  "To  all  to 
whom  these  presents  shall  come,  know  ye  that  we 
the  grand  council  of  the  Union  League  of  Amer- 
ica, for  the  state  of  Illinois,  do  grant  unto  Robert 
Hampton.  William  P.  Hampton.  John  B.  Hyde, 
Jesse  Cory.  n.  M.  Boardman,  D.  D.  McGibbeny 
and  X.  n.  Powers  ami  their  associates  of  this 
charter  constituting  them  a  council  to  be  known 
as  the  Paw  Paw  Xo.  520.  U.  L.  A.,  to  be  located 
at  Paw  Paw.  in  the  county  of  De  Kalb,  state  of 
Illinois.  Know  ye.  therefore,  that  this  charter 
gives  them  and  their  associates  that  may  become 
regular  members  of  this  League  full  power  to  re- 
ceive male  citizens  over  eighteen  years  of  age  and 
initiate  and  instruct  them  in  the  work  of  the  Union 
League  of  America  on  such  rules  and  terms  as  the 
constitution  of  the  League  will  permit.  Also  gives 
them  full  power  to  make  sucb  by-laws  as  they  can 
agree  upon,  provided  they  do  not  conflict  with 
the  constitutions  and  rules  of  the  grand  council. 
Also  gives  them  full  power  to  elect  such  officers 
as  they  think  worthy  and  suitable  for  the  good 
of  the  League.  Also  gives  them  full  power  to  send 
delegates  to  this  grand  council  as  provided  in  the 
constitution  of  the  same  and  gives  them  full  power 
to  perform  all  the  duties  of  the  council  of  the 
Union  League  of  America,  while  they  conform 
to  the  by-laws  and  rules  of  the  League. 

"In  witness  whereof  we  have  caused  this  charter 
to  be  signed  by  the  errand  president  and  grand 
secretary  of  the  Union  League  of  America  of  Illi- 
nois and  the  seal  of  the  errand  council  aforesaid 
to  he  affixed  thereto,  this  29th  day  of  April.  A.  D.. 
1863.  Signed  Mark  Banks,  srrand  president: 
George  H.  Harlan,  grand  secretary." 

It  will  lie  noticed  that  the  real  purposes  of  the 
League  are  not  set  forth  in  their  charter,  hut  they 
de\  ised  means  for  the  support  of  the  trovernment 
by  aiding  in  the  enlistment  of  officers  and  ^up- 
porting  such  measures  in  political  affairs  as  in 
their  judgment  gave  tic-  greatest  security  to  the 


Onion  cause.  It  is  not  necessary  to  state  that  an 
organization  of  this  character  met  with  consider- 
alili  (i]ipn>itiou,  hui  in  "in'  i  ountj  especially  thej 
performed  a  great  work. 

A  great  deal  of  excitement  was  caused  this  year 
against  the  railroad  companies  because  of  the 
high  prices  of  freight  and  a  vicious  system  of 
warehousing  and  grain  inspection.  A  convention 
was  held  at  De  Kalb  on  the  subject  and  a  commit- 
tee sent  to  confer  with  the  companies.  Some  un- 
important  concessions  were  made  to  the  demands 
of  the  public.  Captain  J.  M.  Hood,  of  Sycamore, 
was  appointed  United  States  consul  to  Siam — the 
first  foreign  appointment  received  by  a  citizen  of 
tlii-  county. 

During  the  winter  of  1864-5  a  bill  for  the  re- 
in. !\;il  of  the  count}  seat  from  Sycamore  to  De 
Kalb  was  introduced  into  the  state  legislature  by 
Mr.  Randall,  of  De  Kalb.  A  committee  of  the 
citizens  of  Sycamore  immediately  went  to  Spring- 
field and  endeavored  to  defeat  its  passage.  The 
number  of  names  upon  the  petition  to  its  passage 
and  the  remonstrance  against  it  was  greater  than 
the  number  oi  raters  in  the  county  and  many 
names  wi  re  those  of  persons  who  had  been  dead 
for  many  years.  After  an  exciting  discussion  of 
the  committee  to  whom  the  bill  was  referred  they 
reported  againsl  its  passage  and  the  opponents  of 
the  measure  returned  home.  The  bill  was  sub- 
sequently, however,  taken  up  by  the  house  and 
passed  to  a  third  reading  but  it  was  defeated  in  the 
house. 

Tn  1865  another  call  for  troops  was  made  and 
shows  the  following :  Afton  fifteen ;  Clinton  twen- 
ty ;  De  Kalb  twenty-seven;  Franklin  sixteen:  Ge- 
noa sixteen  :  Kingston  fourteen:  Mayfield  thirteen; 
Milan  three:  Malta  seven;  Pampas  twenty-three; 
Paw  Paw  twenty-six:  Pierce  seventeen;  Sycamore 
one;  Smith  Grove  sixteen:  Squaw  Grove  nine- 
teen;  Somonauk  forty-six;  Shabbona  twenty-two: 
Victor  seventeen.  Most  of  the  towns  since  the 
rail  was  made  had  partially  filled  their  numbers 
by  enlistments  of  citizens  and  raised  funds  by  tax- 
ation to  produce  substitutes  in  the  cities  and  else- 
where. Sycamore  had  raised  money  and  put  into 
the  service  twelve  men.  which  was  eleven  more 
than  its  quota.  From  four  hundred  to  six  hun- 
dred dollars  was  usually  paid  each  recruit.  In 
ral  towns,  however,  a  draft  became  necessary 
and    some  of  the   drafted  men   paid    nearly      one 


EA      S 


\  .rT, 


DK    KALM    AI'.OUT    lsiio. 


PAST  AND  PEESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


Ill 


thousand  dollars  for  substitutes.  To  meet  the  ex- 
pense caused  by  taxation  for  procuring  these  men 
the  taxes  levied  this  year  were  enormous,  the  per- 
centage levied  in  several  towns  of  the  county  for 
all  purposes  being  as  follows:  Paw  Paw  ten 
per  cent;  Shabbona  seven  per  cent;  Milan  six  and 
a  half  per  cent;  Malta  four  and  a  half  per  cent; 
South  Grove  six  and  a  half  per  cent ;  Franklin  five 
and  a  hall'  per  cent;  Victor  six  and  a  half  per 
cent;  Clinton  ten  and  a  half  per  cent;  Afton  six 
per  cent:  De  Kalb  seven  and  a  half  per  cent;  May- 
field  six  per  cent;  Kingston  six  per  cent;  Somon- 
auk,  seven  per  cent;  Squaw  Grove  six  and  a  half 
per  cent;  Pierce  seven  per  cent;  Cortland  six  and 
a  half  per  cent;  Sycamore  eight  and  a  half  per 
cent;  Genoa  six  per  cent. 

Great  relief  was  felt,  however,  as  the  war  was 
expected  to  lie  brought  to  a  close  speedilv.  The 
Confederacy  had  been  cut  m  two  by  the  march  of 
Sherman  to  the  sea,  at  Savannah.  Hood*s  army 
bad  been  destroyed  by  the  gallant  boys  under 
Genera]  Thomas;  Grant  was  holding  Lee  in  death 
grasp  at  Richmond,  and  at  last,  in  April  the  news 
that  Richmond  had  fallen  and  the  rebel  army  was 
flying  in  dismay,  and  later  of  the  surrender  of. 
Lee*s  army  was  received  by  the  people  of  the 
county  with  joy.  How  every  heart  rejoiced,  how 
every  eye  brightened,  how  every  household  was 
gladdened  by  the  delightful  assurance  that  the 
most  terrible  of  all  wars  was  ended,  and  gloriously 
ended,  that  the  last  loyal  son  of  De  Kalb  had  fal- 
len by  rebel  bullets,  that  the  husband,  the  father 
the  son  would  soon  be  home  again  on  a  long, 
perpetual  furlough,  that  the  cankering  fear  of 
the  lonely  watchers  at  home,  least  lie  should 
come  shattered  with  wounds  .  or  a  mangled,  loath- 
some corpse,  had  passed  away  forever.  None  can 
forget  the  glad  rejoicing  of  that  joyous  occasion. 
Hundreds  of  the  brave  boys  were  among  us  again 
and  were  received  with  that  glad  welcome  which 
their  sufferings  and  sacrifices  deserved.  The  to- 
tal of  all  men  furnished  by  the  different  towns 
will  be  given  in  the  township  history  and  the  losses 
from  each  town  will  lie  given  as  far  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained. With  the  close  of  the  rebellion  came  a  fall 
in  the  value  of  gold  and  a  consequent  fall  in  the 
prices  of  farm  products.  "Wheat  fell  to  seventy  cents 
a  bushel  and  this  was  a  criterion  of  the  value  of 
other  property.  Crops  were  verv  poor  and  the 
summer   of  1865  was  a  wet  season.      There  had 


been  a  drought  in  the  spring  but  at  harvest  time 
(he  Hoods  poured  down  destroying  large  portions 
of  the  ripened  grain  and  covering  the  country  with 
a  coating  of  slimy  mud,  so  deep  the  reapers  could 
not  operate  when  tins  was  attempted  in  the  inter- 
vals of  the  showers.  The  wet  season  continued 
during  the  fall.  At  the  autumn  elections  there 
was  no  opposition  for  the  election  of  county  of- 
ficers: General  Daniel  Dustin  as  county  clerk; 
Captain  E.  A.  Smith  as  treasurer;  M.  V.  Allen, 
a  wounded  soldier  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth, 
as  superintendent  of  schools;  D.  W.  Lamb  as 
surveyor.  The  only  contest  was  between  D.  B. 
•lames  and  Hon.  E.  L.  .Mayo.  James  winning  by 
a  small  majority. 

Notwithstanding  the  great  loss  of  life  occasion- 
ed during  the  war  the  county  showed  a  substantial 
increase  in  population.  Sycamore,  De  Kalb  and 
Somonauk  having  made  the  largest  increase,  the 
total  population  being  twenty-one  thousand,  one 
hundred  and  sixty-eight.  When  the  soldiers  re- 
turned to  their  homes  and  devoted  their  energies 
to  civil  pursuits  they  gave  new  life  to  all  branches 
of  industries.  Many  of  the  newly  returned  veter- 
.ans  crowded  into  villages  and  cities  and  filled  to 
repletion  every  branch  of  trade.  It  was  a  year  of 
general  prosperity.  In  anticipation  of  a  decrease 
in  prices  the  people  had  prudently  kept  out  of 
debt,  paid  cash  for  their  purchases,  foreseeing  and 
preparing  for  a  financial  storm  but  all  dangers 
from  its  effects  were  averted.  Notwithstanding 
the  great  expenditures  of  the  county  during  the 
war  improvements  in  every  line  continued. 
Some  of  the  elegant  churches  that  remain  to  this 
day  were  built,  notably,  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Sycamore,  which  was  considered  the 
finest  house  of  worship  in  the  county.  This  year 
two  hundred  Swedish  emigrants  from  the  land  of 
their  birth  settled  about  the  villages  of  De  Kalb 
and  Sycamore  during  the  summer,  Peter  Johnson 
being  tin'  first  Swedish  settler  in  the  county.  They 
were  a  sober,  industrious,  peaceful,  frugal  race  and 
considered  a  valuable  addition  to  the  population. 
The  German  population  was  considerably  in- 
creased by  emigrants  from  Germany,  who  settled 
in  Genoa.  Squaw  Grove  and  other  portions  of  the 
county.  In  August  of  this  year  a  desolating  hail 
storm  swept  through  the  northern  and  central  por- 
tions of  the  county,  beating  every  species  of  vege- 
tation   into  the  earth.     Farmers  had   commenced 


112 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


their  harvesting,  and  with  the  exception  of  the 
grain  which  stood  in  the  shock  every  acre  was 
rendered  utterly  worthless.  Thousands  of  acres 
of  corn  were  beaten  to  bare  stalks.  Hail  stones 
measuring  six  and  seven  inches  in  circumference 
fell  in  millions.  Children  were  knocked  senseless, 
pigs,  fowls  and  birds  were  killed  by  hundreds.  The 
loss  was  estimated  at  more  than  a  quarter  of  a 
million.  In  the  portions  of  the  county  where  hail 
did  not  fall,  drenching  rains  continued  for  several 
day-  and  threatened  the  destruction  of  the  ripened 
grain.  This  year  cholera  appeared  again  in  the 
United  State-  and  was  especially  contagious  in 
cities.  Feu  cases,  however,  were  found  in  this 
county. 

The  failure  of  the  Sycamore  Bank  on  the  2d  of 
November,  was  the  cause  of  a  greal  deal  of  embar- 
rassment  to  the  people  of  northern  l>e  Kalb 
county.  Hon.  James  II.  Beveridge,  its  president, 
and  William  J.  Hunt,  its  rice-president,  with 
B.  T.  Hunt,  its  cashier,  were  the  only  stockhold- 
ers. The  people  had  confidence  in  the  honesty, 
skill  and  integrity  of  the  two  former,  and  all 
classes  dealt  Ereelj  with  the  hank.  But.  upon  the 
failure  il  was  discovered  that  these  men  owned 
Km  eighl  shares  in  the  institution,  while  the  re- 
mainder was  in  the  hands  of  E.  T.  Hunt,  an  ami- 
able young  man  of  pleasanl  manners,  with  whom 
people  liked  to  do  business  but  whose  expensive 
habits  and  reckless  management,  together  with  a 
number  of  unfortunate  spa  illations,  had  sunk  the 
capita]  of  the  concern  and  brought  it  down  to 
ruin.  Mr.  Beveridge  had  for  three  years  been 
abseni  at  Springfield,  in  the  performance  of  the 
duties  of  his  office  ii-  state  treasurer.  A  public 
meeting  of  the  depositors  appointed  a  committee 
to  examine  its  affairs  and  thej  made  a  full  re- 
port. They  reported  its  debts  at  ninety-five 
thousand  dollars,  and  assets  at  less  than  ten  thou- 
sand dollars.  During  the  following  year  a  settle- 
ment was  made  with  its  depositors,  by  which 
they  received  fifty  per  cenl  of  their  claims. 

The  elections  of  1866  were  held  and  practically 
no  opposition  appeared  to  the  republican  ticket. 
William  Patten,  of  Somonauk,  was  chosen  state 
senator:  Robert  Hampton,  of  Paw  Paw.  repre- 
sentative; Mortis  ffolcomb,  of  Sycamore,  sheriff: 
Lorenzo  Whittemore,  of  Sycamore,  coroner;  and 
V.  D.  Miller,  of  De  Kalb,  surveyor.  The  total 
this   year  was  three  thousand,  the  smallest 


cast  for  many  years.  The  assessors  report  for  this 
year  valued  the  taxable  personal  property  of  the 
county  at  seven  hundred  and  fifty-four  thousand, 
seven  hundred  and  seventy-one  dollars.  The 
total  value  of  all  property  being  three  million 
sixty-eight  thousand  dollar-.  The  county 
tax  levied  was  seventy-six  thousand,  seven 
hundred  and  thirty-three  dollars  and  the  entire 
tax  of  the  county  for  all  purposes,  including  its 
indebtedness,  was  two  hundred  and  eight  thous- 
and and  thirty  dollars.  The  interest  on  this  in- 
debtedness w^as  paying  ten  per  cent,  as  was  also  the 
interest  on  the  indebtedness  of  the  several  town- 
ships. The  township  tax  had  never  been  so  high 
and  was  not  so  high  for  many  years  afterwards, 
and  it  can  he  added  that  this  tax,  burdensome 
though  it  was.  was  more  easily  borne  than  would 
have  been  a  tax  of  one  hundredth  that  amount 
several  years  previous. 

A  great  many  cases  of  destruction  of  sheep  by 
wolves  were  reported  and  the  supervisors  increased 
the  bounty  to  twenty  dollars  upon  each  animal 
killed,  with  the  prudent  proviso  that  as  some  had 
been  detected  in  the  profitable  business  of  keeping 
tame  wolves  and  raising  them  for  the  bounty,  no 
claim-  thus  originated  should  be  paid. 

The  business  interests  of  De  Kalb  county  have 
always  been  to  such  an  extenl  agricultural  in  their 
character  that  upon  the  abundance  of  crops  and 
enlargement  of  prices  all  of  its  pecuniary  pros- 
perity has  directly  depended  and  no  record  of  its 
history  for  1867  would  be  complete  without  men- 
tion that  this  was  the  third  and  most  fortunate 
of  years  of  great  prosperity  among  the  fanner-, 
and  consequently  with  all  classes  of  population. 
With  the  opening  of  spring  grain  commanded 
the  highesl  prices  ever  known  in  the  county, 
spring  wheat  readily  selling  at  two  dollars  and 
seventy-five  cents  per  bushel,  which  a  few  years 
previous  had  been  a  drug  at  fifty  cents.  Corn, 
which  six  years  before  had  been  burned  for  fuel, 
was  now  worth  a  dollar  and  twenty  cents  a 
bushel.  Cattle  and  other  farm  products  were 
equalh  high.  Beef,  which  five  years  before  re- 
tailed at  five  cents  per  pound  now  brought  twenty 
cents.  The  fanners  who  since  the  war  had  been 
expecting  a  decline  in  prices  had  consequently 
been  very  cautious  in  their  dealings,  now  began  to 
place  higher  value  upon  their  lands.  During  the 
war  no  considerable  rise  jn  the  value  of  real  estate 


PAST    AXI)    PliKSKXT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


113 


had  been  accomplished  but  now  there  was  a  ma- 
terial advance.  Prairies  about  Malta  and  Milan 
sold  readily  at  twice  the  prices  of  three  or  four 
years  before.  All  over  the  county  there  was  a 
similar  advance,  stimulated  by  a  promising  pros- 
pect for  a  very  large  crop  of  grain. 

HALF    SHIRE    BILL. 

During  the  spring  of  18137  a  new  method  orig- 
inated in  the  brain  of  sonic  of  the  men  interested 
in  retaining  the  county  seat.     (Tpnn  the  petitions 


central  portion  of  the  county  naturally  flowed  to 
the  railroad  towns  of  the   northern  and  southern 

ends   and    that    neither   De    Kalb    ■    Sycamore 

offered  a  convenient  place  for  the  transaction  of 
the  public  business  of  the  southern  portion  of  the 
county.  One  of  the  most  exciting  elections  ever 
held  in  the  county  followed.  To  oppose  this 
measure  the  citizens  of  De  Kalb  and  this  vicinity 
formed  a  stock  company  and  contributed  nearly 
five  thousand  dollars  to  establish  a  newspaper  of- 
fice in  that  town.        Aaron  K.   Stiles,  a     former 


THE  HALF-SHIRE  BILL  ILLUSTRATED. 


THE  COUNTY  UNDER  THE  HALF-SHIEE  LAW 


of  the  citizens  of  Sandwich,  which  had  now  be- 
come the  largest  village  in  the  south  part  of  the 
county,  Senator  William  Patten  had  during  the 
previous  winter  introduced  a  bill  in  the  legislature 
known  as  the  Half  Shire  Bill.  It  provided  for 
a  re-location  of  the  county  seat  at  Sycamore  and 
Sandwich.  The  latter  place  was  to  be  the  seat  of 
justice  of  the  six  southern  towns  of  the  county 
and  the  former  the  twelve  northern  towns.  It 
was  argued  in  its  favor  that  the  business  of  the 
county  dividing  the  thinly  settled  country  in  the 


county  clerk,  being  one  of  the  stockholders  now 
became  chief  editor  of  the  De  Kalb  County  News. 
He  was  a  man  of  remarkable  tact,  shrewdness 
and  energy  and  for  a  week  or  two  preceeding  the 
election  the  paper  was  issued  daily.  The  people 
and  the  papers  at  Sandwich  supported  the  move- 
ment. Meetings  were  held  at  almost  every  school- 
house  in  the  county  but  the  final  quietus  was  given 
to  the  measure  by  the  efforts  of  a  delegation  from 
the  southern  sections,  composed  of  Messrs.  Beard, 
Woodruff.  Pritchard.  McEwen  and  Ball,  men  who 


114                                    PAST    AND    PRESENT  OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 

commanded  the  full  confidenci :  of  i  he  people,  who      Genoa « 

,  .  ,,         , -i  J5\  c3niorc     '  *  " 

traveled  through  the  northern     portion     ot     the     Mayfield  20 

countv  undeterred  by  storms,  which  enveloped  the      Squaw  I  in  >ve  120 

,  ,  -,      j        Somonauk    

country   in   unfathomable  seas   of  mud.   and   ad-  

dressed   meetings   in   every   town,   beseeching   the  Total  majorities  for   1,03 

people  not  to  impose  this  measure  upon  them.  In  grains!  the  bill: 

the  De  Ealb  County  News  we  find  the  following      Franklin  ji* 

naming  head  lines:    "Half  Shire  Town,"  "A  Big  ^^^^^"[^^[""[^"YYYY/.Y.    128 

Thing  on  the  Ice,"  "The  County  Seat  on  "Wheels/5      Malta    17'-' 

"The  Court  House  on   Stilts,"  "The  Caravan  of  g^gg  YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY    L73 

Countv   Officers,"   "The     Traveling     Menagerie,"      Pierce   178 

"The  'rw..  corner  'Centers'  on  a  Rampage."  "The  Aft™      ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;-;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;  ™ 

I ,  r.  at  Double  Header."  "The  Big  Bat  in  the  Meal      Shabbona  ".'.'. 213 

Tub,"  "More  Tax,-  Demanded,"  "Half  shire  ^^^-yyy.yYY.YYY.YY.YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.  1" 

Swindle.''    "Ninety-two   Thousand    Dollars   for   a  

Court  House  at.  Sandwich"  "One  Hundred  Thou-  Total  majority  against  ■^::::-V;;;;;;;;::::Jg 

sand  Hollar-  for  a  Courl  House  at  Sycamore."  Eor  In  anot]l(,,.  paper  after  tne  defeat  of  the  bill 

the  firsl  time  in  the  history  of  political  affairs  of  fl  tomt,stone   is  erected  to  the  memory  of  Half- 

our  county  the  cartoonisl  took  a  hand  in  the  game  g}lire    wiiii;,,,,.     The   pall  bearers   are  given  as 

and  we  presenl  here  the  cartoon  thai  appeared  in  ,y,n,,u>:    \:„    Sedgwick,  Stinsbn,  Castle,  Simmons, 

the  D<    Kalb  County   News  a  few  days  previous  ;m(,  fiil.  Sycamore"  R.  Ellwood,  J.  S.  Waterman. 

to  the  election.  Partridge,  C.   Ellwood  and  Dustin.     Thus  ended 

Here   we  give  an   illustration  of  the  workings  the   g;a]f_Shire  mania,  which  for  a  time  created 

of   the   Half-Shire   law.     This   beautiful    engrav-  „,,..,,  (.xritl, ,,„.„,  all(1  ,„,„,],  hard  feeling. 
ing  was  made  on  a  shingle  by  our  devil,  who.  for 

the  preseni  ai  ts  as  Special  Artist  for  the  News.  We  

guarantee  it  true  to  life  in  every  particular.     To 
fully  appreciate  this   illustration    you    must   sup- 

th:     Half-Shire   bill    to   have  become  a   law,  The  year  1867  was  noted  as  one  in  which  mami- 

and  the  politicians  of  Sandwich  and     Svcamorc  faeturing  establishments  wore  first  erected  in  the 

to  be  fattening  from  the  countv  crib,  as  thev  will  county.       The  people  of  Sandwich  established   a 

be  sure  I Thev  have  this  little  seesaw    well  stock  comPaf>  "",l  a     caPltal  i°f  .  «™*r-*™ 

u11  thousand  dollars,  which  in  the  following  year  was 
to  going,  and   vou  ran  see  lor  voursell   the  plank: 

,     .  increased    to    one    hundred    and    fattv    thousand, 

thev   ride  upon.      Ihev  smoke  and   sing  a  merry  .    ■        . 

1  ,     ,                      ,.,■„.,.         .  for      the     manufacture     of     agricultural     ma- 

little  song,  which  goes  something  like  this:     As     q  a  ^  ^        ^  ( ^  ^^ 

Sycamore  goes  up  he  repeats  "Half-Shire  Town  of  ^    ^.^   ^    Svrai||0ro;   ,   pkning   im]1   and 

S3'ca '•''•"  ai1,1  as  Sandwich  goes  up  he  repeats  lnanufai.tm.v    for   doorS;    5ash  anrl   vdmds   at   De 

"Half-Shire  Town   of   Sandwich.       And   so  thev  Kalb  and  a  large  flouring  miU  at  the  rapidly  grow- 

-"  ■    ""■■     3          Town  of     Sycamore.-     "Half-  ^g  viUage  of  Malta.    Public  school  buildings  were 

Shire  Town  of  Sandwieh."  "Half-Shire  Town  of  r|(Ii!  |M  50rne  0f  the  villages  and  were  considered 

-  camore,"    "Half-Shire    Town      of      Sandwich."      .,,  ,,|;|,   , ,il(.  pride  ,,r  lh(,  local  community  of 

At  the  same  tin*  old  De  Kalb  county  has  been  rid-  Cortland  and  Malta,  each  erecting  a  new  graded 
den  until  there  is  no  mon  gr<  ase  on  his  hack  bone  school  building  this  year,  as  did  also  the  village  of 
and  the  old  Half-Shire  plank  squeaks  out  taxes!  Somonauk  and  the  city  of  Sandwieh.  The  plant- 
taxes!  !  taxes!  !  !  ing  of  hedges  for  the  prairie  farmers  continued  to 
Never  was  such  a  vote  polled  in  this  county.  We  attract  a  great  deal  of  attention  and  over  two 
will  be  unable  to  publish  the  official  returns  until  hundred  miles  of  osage  orange  hedge  was  set  out. 
next  week.  The  following  town-  gave  majorities  Farmers  had  been  troubled  considerably  with  the 
for  the  bill :  rail  fences,   which   were  continually  broken  down 


PAST   AND    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


115 


and  stock  would  get  in  the  growing  grain,  doing 
considerable  damage.  The  hedge  fence  was 
thought  to  be  the  only  thing  that  could  protect 
crops  from  the  stock.  The  County  Agricultural  So- 
ciety, which  held  its  fairs  at  Sycamore,  was  re- 
vived this  year  and  held  a  nourishing  exhibition. 
A  Farmers'  Club  was  also  established  and  held 
weekly  meetings  of  decided  interest  to  the  agricul- 
tural portions  of  the  community.  Some  of  the 
discussions  by  farmers,  well  known,  appeared  in 
the  old  files  of  the  papers  and  at  this  date  are  of 
considerable  interest. 

The  county  school  tax,  which  in  L840  was  but  a 
few  hundred  dollars,  Was  now  fifty-one  thousand, 
six  hundred  and  sixty-four  dollars. 

In  the  '60s  the  fair  at  Sycamore  assumed 
larger  proportions  and  their  annual  meetings  be- 
came exceedingly  popular.  Instead  of  holding 
their  meetings  northeast  of  town,  in  18G2  they 
purchased  land  west  of  the  city,  which  remained 
in  possession  of  the  Sycamore  Fair  Association 
until  that  organization  ceased  its  existence  in 
1888.  George  Dennison,  an  attorney,  who  had 
practiced  law  in  De  Kalb  in  1858,  was  appointed 
naval  officer  at  the  port  at  New  York,  with  a 
salary  of  seven  thousand  five  hundred  dollars. 
Flax  culture  was  carried  on  to  a  large  extent, 
the  crop  proving  valuable  on  account  of  the  price 
received  for  flax  seed  and  from  profits  derived  by 
the  sale  of  the  straw  at  the  flax  mills  located  in 
the  county.  In  1863  there  are  two  hundred  and 
twenty-three  cases  on  the  trial  calendar  of  the  cir- 
cuit court.  Litigation  seemed  the  order  of  the 
day  and  there  were  five  times  as  many  law  suits 
at  that  period  of  our  county's  history  than  we 
find  on  the  calendar  of  today.  The  planting  of 
willows  continued  and  in  the  early  '70s  many  miles 
of  willow  fences  might  be  found  in  De  Kalb 
county.  These  like  many  other  of  the  soft  woods 
planted  by  the  early  settlers  have  proved  them- 
selves a  nuisance  and  have  been  removed. 

Religious  discussion  was  rampant  in  many  sec- 
tions of  the  county.  One  that  deserves  especial 
notice  was  between  Rev.  A.  J.  Fishback,  of  the 
Universalist  church,  and  0.  I).  Mullis,  of  the 
Christian  church.  The  question  of  "Universal 
Salvation"  and  "Endless  Punishment"  was  dis- 
cussed at  the  court  house  for  a  week.  They  were 
largelv  attended,  people  coming  for  miles  around 
and    listening   with    ereat   interest,   and    from    all 


that  we  learn  at  the  present  time  we  judge  that 
they  were  interested,  listened  intently  and  came 
away  with  the  same  views  that  they  had  before  the 
discussion  was  projected.  A  similar  discussion 
took  place  in  De  Kalb  between  a  Wesleyan  Metho- 
dic minister  and  one  of  the  Adventist  denomina- 
tion. In  the  later  '60s  the  attendance  at  country 
churches  reached  the  high  mark.  Services  both 
morning  and  evening  were  largely  attended  and 
aside  from  services  in  the  churches  many  ap- 
pointments were  held  at  various  school  houses 
in  the  county.  The  early  settlers  having  come 
mainly  from  the  eastern  and  southern  states,  had 
organized  the  churches  they  attended  in  their 
earlier  homes.  In  the  '70s  there  began  to  be  a 
marked  falling  off  in  the  attendance  of  the  coun- 
try churches,  caused  by  the  removal  of  first  set- 
tlers to  homes  farther  west,  by  the  retirement  of 
fanners  to  cities,  who  had  secured  a  competency 
and  by  the  young  people  who  sought  employment 
in  factories  and  by  young  men  from  the  farms 
seeking  professional  careers.  Their  places  were 
supplied  by  foreigners  to  a  large  extent,  who  spoke 
different  languages  and  affiliated  with  the  churches 
with  which  they  were  allied  in  the  fatherland. 
Aside  from  this  there  seemed  to  be  a  general 
movement  toward  the  cities,  so  that  at  the  present 
time  the  majority  of  the  population  of  Illinois 
resides   in  cities  and    towns. 

PAW     PAW. 

Paw  Paw  township  forms  the  southeast  corner 
of  De  Kalb  county.  Having  the  advantages  in 
surface  and  soil  of  a  rolling  prairie,  it  has  the 
distinction  of  having  the  greatest  dumber  of  im- 
proved acres  of  any  township  in  the  county.  It 
has  twenfy-four  thousand  and  thirty-two  acres 
in  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Yen-  little  of  the 
township  is  too  flat  for  the  plow.  It  also,  having 
within  its  borders  three  valuable  and  beautiful 
woodlands  known  as  Ross  Grove,  Coon  Grove  and 
Paw  Paw  Grove,  naturally  attracted  those  seek- 
ing homes  in  the  west  at  a  very  early  dav. 

Paw  Paw  township  derives  its  name  from  one 
of  the  groves,  in  which  are  still  found  some  of 
the  once  numerous  paw  paw  trees  with  their 
peculiar  and  juicy  fruit.  The  Big  Indian  creek 
and  its  many  tributaries,  which  run  through  the 
township,  furnish  it  with  a  good  supplv  of  pure. 


116 


PAST    ANT)    PRESENT    OF    1)K    KALB    CofNTV. 


running  water.  Along  its  banks  were  once  the 
favorite  haunts  of  the  noble  red  man.  Here  the 
celebrated  Shabbona,  chief  of  the  Pottowattomies, 
with  bis  tribe,  was  accustomed  to  camp  when 
water  and  game  were  scarce  in  our  sister  township 
which  bears  this  heroic  chief's  name.  Here,  too, 
dwelt,  for  a  time  the  chief  Wabonsie,  whom  his- 
tory remembers  by  his  daring  deeds  and  bloody 
crimes  committed  while  on  the  warpath,  but  whom, 
rather  than  be  a  aeighbor  to  the  "pale  face"  dis- 
appeared  toward  the  setting  sun. 

Paw  Paw  township  became  the  permanent  home 
of  the  white  man  in  1834.  when  David  Towne  set- 
tled on  the.  southwest  quarter  of  section  19,  which 
is  now  the  home  of  Charles  M.  Smith.  Mr.  Towne 
arriveil  late  in  the  autumn  and  did  little  that 
winter  except  build  a  cabin  and  hunt,  the  latter 
being  no  great  task  at  that  time,  as  the  proves 
and  creek  bottoms  afforded  an  abundant  supply 
of  deer,  nrairie  wolves,  wild  cats  and  an  occasional 
hear,  also  wild  turkey-,  geese,  duck-,  prairie  chick- 
en-, etc.  Mr.  Towne  was  joined  this  winter  by 
his  brother  Russell  Towne.  to  whom  the  next 
spring  he  transferred  his  claim  for  the  considera- 
tion of  a  week's  work.  David,  previous  to  trans- 
ferrins his  claim  to  his  brother,  entered  a  claim 
in  Lee  county,  near  the  present  site  of  West  Paw 
Paw.  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

The  hot  days  of  July,  1835.  found  another  party 
of  weary  pioneers  camped  near  the  present  site 
of  Polio.  The  party  was  composed  of  Rev.  Benoni 
Harris,  a  Methodist  minister,  and  family:  his 
son.  Benjamin  Harris,  and  family.  John  Plass 
and  family;  Edward  Butterfield  and  family;  Jo- 
seph Harris  and  Louis  McDowell,  two  single  men. 
They  were  soon  followed  1>\  R.  Baldwin  and  Jo- 
seph Ross  and  family,  who  first  settled  near  the 
grove  which  now  bears  the  latter's  name. 

Of  the  above  named,  Rev.  Benoni  Harris,  vol- 
umes might  be  written,  but  space  will  here  permit 
only  to  be  said  that  no  community  need  feel 
prouder  of  its  pioneers  than  doe-  Paw  Paw  town- 
ship of  this  venerable  man  of  God.  of  whom  it 
may  be  truthfullv  said:  "His  soul  was  spotless.'' 
He  never  ceased  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  naked 
country,  whose  fortune  was  "to  be  blessed  with 
such  a  man."  Although  seventv  years  of  age  when 
be  settled  in  this  township  we  find  him  for  the 
next  ten  years  preaching  to  and  teaching  the  good. 


the  bad,  the  white  and  red  man  alike  with  untir- 
ing energy.  His  wife,  Thankful  Harris,  the  first 
on  whom  death  called  in  this  new  settlement,  was 
buried  in  1836  on  what  is  now  the  Atherton  farm, 
section  19.  Mr.  Harris  traveled  but  a  few  more 
miles  on  the  rough  highway  of  life  and  was  laid 
to  rest  beside  her  in  1845.  About  one  hundred 
and  fifty  yards  west  of  the  farm  house  of  William 
Atlnrton  stands  side  by  side  two  small  marble 
shafts,  one  of  which  bears  this  inscription:  "My 
Beloved  Wife,  Thankful  Harris."  The  other 
has  Masonic  emblems  and  the  name  "Benoni  Har- 
ris. At    Rest." 

Edward  Butterfield  continued  to  reside  in  this 
township  until  1852,  when  he  removed  to  Iowa, 
returning  two  years  later.  He  died  in  1854.  The 
first  white  child  born  in  this  settlement  was  Caro- 
line Towne  daughter  of  Russell  and  Roxana 
Towne,  in  1830.  S.  1).  McDowell,  becoming  tired 
of  a  lonely  life  of  "single  blessedness."  married 
Miss  Delilah  Harris,  youngest  daughter  of  Rev. 
Benoni  Harris  in  1836.  This  was  the  first  mar- 
riage in  the  township.  To  them  the  following 
year  was  born  a  daughter.  Mary  E..  the  second 
white  child  born  in  the  county. 

Among  those  who  came  to  the  township  in  1836 
were  Asahel  Baldwin,  William  Rogers,  Joseph  Al- 
cot,  dob  Morgan  and  T.  Bannigan.  Asahel  Bald- 
win was  the  first  tavern  keeper  and  postmaster  at 
I 'aw  Paw  Grove.  After  a  few  years  he  removed  to 
Missouri.  William  (Bill)  Rogers  settled  on  the 
present  site  of  East  Paw  Paw  and  built  the  first 
house  in  this  village  in  1837.  He  conducted  his 
house  as  a  tavern,  known  as  the  Paw  Paw  House, 
until  1842,  when  he  sold  to  J.  Wirick  and  went 
west.  The  old  Wirick  House  was  for  years  a 
flourishing  tavern  and  many  a  tired,  hungry  and 
dirty  traveler  was  refreshed  under  its  roof.  Jacob 
Wirick   was   proprietor  for  fourteen  years. 

Paw  Paw  in  early  days  was  headquarters  for 
crimes  and  dishonorable  deeds,  which  gave  the 
community  an  unenviable  reputation.  This,  how- 
ever, was  no  fault  of  the  majority  of  the  in- 
habitants, but  misdemeanors  were  committed  by 
a  small  band  of  men  supposed  to  have  consisted 
of  Wyram,  better  known  as  "Bogus"  Gates.  "Bill" 
Rogers,  John  Bryant  and  others,  whose  many  un- 
derhanded and  suspicious  acts  branded  them  as 
members   of   a   horse   thieving  and   counterfeiting 


PAST     VXD    PRESENT    OF    \>V.    k.\I.P,    I  01   vn  , 


117 


gang.  They  often  had  large  sums  of  money  in 
their  possession  which  could  be  accounted  for  in 
no  other  way  than  by  their  own  manufacture.  At 
one  time  part  of  the  gang  was  imprisoned  for 
horse  thieving,  the  two  stolen  animals  being  found 
in  the  Gates  barn.  They  escaped  from  the  peni- 
tentiary, however,  and  lived  for  many  years  to 
commit  deeds  of  atrocity.  As  the  country  became 
more  thickly  settled  the  marauders  lived  very  un- 
comfortable lives  and  took  up  the  western  march 
to  the  newer  country,  where  there  were  less  nu- 
merous objections  to  their  way  "I  gaming  a  liveli- 
hood. 

In  early  days,  before  banks  with  their  safety 
deposit  vaults  had  found  their  way  to  De  Kalb 
county,  it  sometimes  happened  that  the  settlers 
accumulated  good  round  sums  of  money  and  these 
for  safe  keeping  were  buried  deep  in  the  ground 
in  some  unfrequented  spot.  Years  after  the  "wild 
cat"  days  had  passed  a  sum  of  eight  hundred  dol- 
lars was  found  by  Harris*  Breese  and  a  companion 
buried  in  a  place  near  where  a  fence  had  been 
built. 

But  few  settlements  were  made  until  1842,  when 
settlers  came  quite  rapidly,  among  the  earliest  of 
whom  was  Jacob  Wirick  and  family.  Of  Mr.  Wi- 
riok's  family  of  ten  children  but  one,  Nancy,  wife 
of  H.  S..  Dickinson.  J.  P..  remains  in  the  town- 
ship. To  Mrs.  Dickinson  the  writer  is  indebted 
fnv  the  early  history  of  Paw  Paw  township.  She 
has  been  a  continued  resident  of  Paw  Paw  town- 
ship for  over  fifty-six  years  and  recalls  the  early 
history  of  this  township  with  a  vividness  as  though 
it  were  but  a  fortnight. 

Among  those  who  made  Paw  Paw  township  their 
home  within  the  next  five  years  were:  Marcus 
and  Eli  Bartlett.  Alonzo  M.  La  Porte,  Dennis 
Connell,  Thomas,  William.  James  and  Bobert  Har- 
per, James  McFarland,  Vincent  Breese,  Almond 
Lake  and  Bobert  Hampton.  We  are  indebted  also 
to  Bobert,  Hampton  for  the  assistance  of  his  diary 
and  excellent  memory  for  information  regarding 
the  early  history  of  this  township.  Although  Mr. 
Hampton  at  this  writing-  is  seventv-seven  years 
of  age,  he  walks  with  much  of  the  elastic  step 
which  characterized  him  among  the  early  settlers. 
Daily  may  he  be  seen  astride  his  favorite  horse 
going  to  his  nearest  postoffice.  East  Paw  Paw.  or 
more  properly  called  Paw  Paw  Grove,  for  his  mail. 


and  cordial  is  his  greeting  to  all  whom  In-  may 
meet. 

Up  to  December,  1846,  there  had  been  no 
schoolhouse  erected.  Benjamin  Harris,  however, 
had  kept  a  private  school  at  his  home  since  1836. 
Now  all  felt  the  need  of  better  >chool  facilities,  and 
the  1st.  day  of  December,  1840.  found  the  youth 
for  miles  around,  with  Thomas  Burns  as  master, 
assembled  in  the  first  schoolhouse  built  in  Paw- 
Paw  township,  on  the  aorth  side  of  Ross  Grove. 
This  edifice  of  learning  was  made  of  logs  split  and 
set  upon  end.  chinked  and  plastered.  The  first 
frame  Echoolhouse  was  built  in  1850  and  is  now 
a  part  of  the  residence  of  William  Stone.  East 
Paw  Paw. 

A  stock  company  was  organized  and  built  a 
seminarv  al  East  Paw  Paw  in  1855,  but  the  move- 
ment did  not  prove  a  success  that.  time,  so  the 
building  was  sold  to  the  school  district.  In  1868 
a  new  and  better  seminary  was  built  and  the  school 
started  once  more,  as  the  East  Paw  Paw  Teachers' 
Institute  and  Classical  Seminarv.  In  less  than 
two  years  this  tine  building  was  destroyed  by  lire 
and  the  district  turned  the  old  building  over  to 
the  seminary.  Tt  continued  for  several  years  un- 
der the  above  name  and  no  school  in  this  section 
of  the  state  has  turned  out  a  better  class  of  gradu- 
ates. Among  those  who  were  fortunate  enough 
to  receive  the  advantages  of  this  school  are  clergy- 
men, lawyers,  editors  and  teachers,  of  whom  any 
community  may  justly  be  proud. 

The  fire  that  occurred  in  1870  put  a  damper 
on  the  school  for  a  time,  but  it  was  not  lasting 
and  in  a  few  years  it  was  better  than  ever  before. 
For  many  years  a  paper  called  ''The  Students' 
Offering"  was  published  in  connection  with  the 
school  and  from  its  columns  and  the  memory  of 
some  of  the  old  pupils  we  are  enabled  to  record 
many  facts  of  interest,  In  1860  D.  D.  McGibeny, 
with  his  wife,  both  graduates  of  Alfred  University, 
started  west  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a 
school.  For  two  years  t li -\  followed  their  chosen 
line  of  work  in  Wisconsin,  but  the  war  had  such 
a  depressing  influence  that  they  were  forced  to 
abandon  it.  Mr.  McGibeny  took  up  the  insurance 
business,  and  while  following  this  work  became 
acquainted  with  William  E.  Rosette,  one  of  the 
trustees  of  the  East  Paw  Paw  graded  schools,  and 
was  engaged  as  teacher,  which  position  he  held  for 
vears.     He  was  about  to  leave  to  follow  his  long 


118 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


cherished  plan,  when  the  idea  struck  Paw  Paw 
people  that  they  might  build  up  such  an  institu- 
tion there  and  retain  Professor  McGibeny.  Hence 
the  seminary  was  built  through  much  difficulty  and 
untold  work  and  planning  on  the  part  of  Pro- 
fessor McGibeny.  The  building  committee  con- 
sisted of  D.  D.  McGibeny,  C.  C.  Breed,  Robert 
Bampton,  D.  R.  Fuller  and  .).  0.  Stanton.  For 
a  few  years  school  was  beld  in  the  unfinished 
building  and  just  as  it  was  completed  the  hand 
of  an  incendiary  reduced  it  to  ashes.  From  that 
time  until  the  close  of  the  life  of  the  institution 
school  was  held  in  the  old  building. 

The  first  corps  of  teachers  consisted  of  Pro- 
fessor McGibenj  and  wife,  S.  N.  Fish.  M.  D.,  and 
J.  0.  Stanton.  McGibeny  and  Stanton  did  most 
of  the  teaching.  Some  of  the  ether  early  teachers 
were  Ernest  C.  Eaton,  Mattie  J.  Fish.  Ellen  Per- 
sons, James  W.  Shank-.  Leroj  M.  Averill,  W.  II. 
Conn.  C.  E.  Rosette,  Leroj  S.  Norton,  Charles 
Smolt  and  W.  N".  Low.  The  course  of  study  con- 
sisted of  Greek,  metaphysics,  natural  sciences. 
French,  drawing,  oil  and  photograph  painting. 
Latin,  mathematics,  German,  physiology  and  the 
laws  of  health,  vocal  and  instrumental  music,  etc., 
and   the  common   branches  of  education. 

The  Philogean  society,  Philosophian  Lyceum,  the 
Philorhetorian    Debating   Club   and    the    Natural 

History  society  kept  up  the  social  life  of  the  scl I. 

The  fourth  anniversary  was  held  on  the  Fourth 
of  July.  1873,  and  a  good  program  given.  An 
alumni  was  kept  up   for  a   number  of   years. 

Among  the  people  living  in  various  parts  of  the 

United     States    who    wel'e    once    students    here    are 

Ellen  Gates  Rawdon.  Palo  Alto.  California:  Lu- 
cinda  Helm  Sherwood,  Chicago,  [llinois;  Celia 
Norton  Husk.  Shabbona,  Illinois;  Ella  Sherwood 
Holmes,  Shabbona,  Illinois;  James  W.  Shanks. 
Simpson,  Kansas:  Eliza  Burke  Shanks.  Simpson. 
Kansas;  Lucy  Peace  Boston,  Rollo,  Illinois;  Nancy 
Weddell  Powers,  Polio.  Illinois;  Charles  V.  Wed- 
dell,  Rollo,  Illinois:  Edwin  Gates,  Pawpaw,  Illi- 
nois: Polly  Robinson  Gates.  Pawpaw,  Illinois; 
Frank  Sherwood.  Silverton,  Colorado;  Ezra  Helm. 
Cedar  Rapids.  Iowa;  A.  M.  Robbins,  Ord,  Ne- 
braska: Cynthia  Haskell  Robbins,  Ord.  Nebraska; 
Leroy  S.  Norton,  Jackson.  Michigan;  Jennie  Wa- 
ters Norton,  Jackson,  Michigan;  Ira  E.  Stevens, 
Shabbona,  Illinois:  Murray  L.  Stevens.  Shabbona, 
Illinois:   Dr.   Frank   Stevens.   Lincoln.   Nebraska: 


Maggie  Kittle  Schem  erhorn,  Hoyt,  Kansas;  Mary 
Miller  Steward.  Chicago,  Illinois;  Lizzie  Alexan- 
der Allen.  Aurora.  Illinois;  Grace  Brown  Case, 
Aurora,  Illinois;  Ralph  Brown.  Waterman.  Illi- 
nois; Judson  Persons,  Manson,  Iowa;  Newell  Per- 
sons, Manson,  Iowa;  Morton  Persons,  Manson, 
Iowa:  Eugene  Persons,  Chicago.  Illinois;  Ellen 
Persons  Adams,  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa;  Jabez  Adams, 
Fort  Dodge,  Iowa:  Amelia  Persons  Merrill.  Rock 
Island,  Illinois:  Rev.  Frank  Merrill.  Rock  Island. 
Illinois:  Frank  Olmsted,  Shabbona  Grove.  Illinois; 
Lottie  Whit  ford  Young,  Ottawa.  Kansas:  Sarah 
Whitford  Christie,  Omaha.  Nebraska:  Dr.  William 
Christie.  Omaha.  Nebraska:  Amelia  Dickey,  Shab- 
bona, Illinois:  Frank  Barber.  Franklin.  Nebraska: 
i  rette  Turpening  Bennett,  Paw  Grove.  Illinois; 
Emma  Pierce  Barnes,  Memphis,  Missouri;  Orton 
A.  Barnes,  Memphis.  Missouri:  Philip  Pierce. 
Paw  Grove,  Illinois;  Lydia  Hamilton  Dalton, 
Pawpaw.  Illinois:  Ella  Smith  Swarthout  Thomp- 
son, Paw  Crove.  [llinois;  Nettie  Swarthoui 
Thompson.  Dixon.  Illinois;  Libbie  Knell  Lover- 
"i-r.  Shabbona,  Illinois;  Albert.  Hinds.  Jr..  Chi- 
cago. Illinois;  William  Mercer,  Shabbona,  Illinois: 
Ella  Lattin  Mercer,  Shabbona.  [llinois;  William 
Terry.  Portland,  Oregon;  Sarah  Storey  Greene. 
Scranton,  [owa;  John  J.  Quilhot,  Shabbona.  Illi- 
nois:    Lewi-    Card.    Shabbona,    [llinois;     Martin 

G lyear,   De   Kalb.  Illinois;  Ella   Rosette  G 1- 

year,  De  Kalb,  [llinois;  Jay  Clapsaddle,  Shabbona, 
Illinois;  Delos  Clapsaddle,  Clear  Lake.  Iowa:  Ella 
Quinn  Terry.  Champaign,  [llinois;  Jessie  Morse 
Norton.  Shabbona.  Illinois;  Dr.  Bayard  Holme-. 
Chicago,  Illinois:  Clinton  Rosette.  De  Kalb,  [lli- 
nois; Alfa  l.aClan-  Rosette,  De  Kalb.  Illinois: 
\iina  Taylor  Marble.  Paw  Grove.  Illinois;  Jennie 
Taylor  Franz.  Paw  Grove,  Illinois:  Bertha  Beitel, 
Roekford.  Illinois:  Mattie  Fish  King.  Benson. 
Vermont;  Frank  Rogers.  Pawpaw.  Illinois;  Frank 
Bryant,  Cottage  Grove,  Illinois;  Belle  Miller 
Greene,  Iowa:  Gertrude  Town  Beggs  (deceased), 
Denver,  Colorado;  Gueley  Greene,  Iowa:  Dr.  J.  O. 
Stanton  (deceased).  Iowa;  Mary  Buckley  Stanton 
(deceased).  Iowa:  Dr.  Boardman,  Walnut.  Illi- 
nois: Mila  Euestis  Boardman.  Walnut.  Illinois; 
Baker   Fletcher.   Sandwich,   [llinois. 

A  seminary  having  been  built  at  South  Pawpaw 
on  the  In  between  De  Kalb  and  Lee  counties. 
and  another  at  West  Pawpaw,  a  few  miles  distant, 
a  rivalry  sprang  up  ami  they  eventually  destroyed 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 


T) 

PI" 


.RY 


_TlltlC.N  FOIIM    ATION3. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OE    I)E    KALB    COUNTY. 


121 


each  other.  As  the  patronage  was  insufficient  to 
support  them  they  finally  became  common  schools. 
The  first  church  was  built  at  Ross  Grove  in  1861, 
the  second  near  the  present  site  of  Rollo,  and  the 
third  at  East  Pawpaw. 

Pawpaw  township  sent  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
seven  men  to  the  Civil  war.  There  were  but  four 
townships  in  De  Kalb  county  which  sent  more 
men  to  the  front.  Fifteen  of  her  citizens  are 
known  to  have  lost  their  lives  during  that  struggle. 
Three  of  these  belong  to  the  Hyde  family,  a  family 
still  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  town.  John 
Densmore  Dole  killed  at  Stone  River,  a  bullet 
piercing  his  brain.  He  had  stooped  to  relieve  a 
wounded  soldier  and  while  doing  this  service  lost 
his  life.  His  grandfather  was  killed  at  the  battle 
of  Bunker  Hill,  while  giving  a  drink  to  a  wounded 
comrade.  The  bod)'  was  recovered  through  the 
entreaties  of  his  mother  to  General  Rosecrans 
and  he  was  buried  in  the  South  Pawpaw  cemetery. 
Pawpaw  not  only  gave  one  hundred  and  thirty^ 
seven  men  to  the  Civil  war,  but  sent  two  to  the 
war  with  Mexico  :  Alonzo  LaPort  and  Peleg  Sweet. 
If,  sent  three  soldiers  to  the  Spanish-American 
war:  Clarence  Dunton,  Benjamin  Atherton  and 
C.  Goble. 

Hon.  Robert  Hampton,  one  of  the  honored  citi- 
zens of  De  Kalb  county,  came  to  Pawpaw  in  the 
early  '40s.  He  served  his  township  many  years 
as  supervisor,  was  elected  county  treasurer  and 
member  of  the  state  Legislature.  His  son,  R.  F. 
Hampton,  prominent  in  town  affairs,  also  served 
his  town  four  years  as  supervisor.  Other  men 
prominent  in  political  affairs  of  Pawpaw  were 
H.  M.  Boardman.  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in 
this  work;  Jesse  Cory  and  his  son  David,  who 
were  both  prominently  identified  with  the  affairs  of 
their  town  and  county.  Simeon  E.  Hyde  was 
prominent  as  a  financier,  was  a  man  well  known 
in  La  Salle  and  De  Kalb  counties,  while  his 
son,  George  Hyde,  is  at  present  serving  his  town 
as  supervisor.  Alonzo  LaPort,  a  veteran  of  the 
Mexican  war.  owning  a  thousand  acres  of  land  in 
his  town,  was  one  of  its  early  ,pioneers,  serving 
his  town  faithfully  in  many  capacities,  and  is  at 
present  a  resident  of  West  Pawpaw.  His  son. 
Frank  LaPort,  is  a  large  landowner  and  suc- 
cessful business  man  and  is  well  known  throughout 
the  countv. 


The  supervisors  from  this  town  arc:  Pierpont 
Edwards,  William  Shepherdson,  Robert  Hampton, 
A.  Dole,  N.  H.  Powers,  S.  E.  Shepherdson,  Cor- 
nelius W.  Quilhot,  Henry  M.  Boardman,  John 
Harper,  Alonzo  LaPort,  James  Harper,  David 
Cory,  Frank  Hampton  and  George  Hyde. 

SHABBONA. 

Although  the  village  of  Shabbona  has  been 
founded  for  twenty-six  years,  it  is  of  recent  origin 
when  compared  with  other  portions  of  the  town- 
ship. At  no  time  in  the  history  of  the  place 
has  it  had  a  "boom,"  but  the  steady,  healthy 
growth  has  brought  about  changes  which  seem 
marvelous  when  compared  with  the  condition  of 
the  country  as  seen  by  the  early  inhabitants  of 
fifty  years  ago. 

Before  white  people  took  up  their  westward 
march,  what  is  now  known  as  Shabbona  township 
was  a  portion  .of  fertile  land,  the  northern  part 
•composed  of, ,'Heautiful  prairie,  while  the  south- 
ern'division  waS' covered  with  heavy  timber.  Here 
Chief  Shabbona  of  the  Pottawattomie  tribe  of  In- 
dians and  about  fifty  of  his  followers,  many  of 
them  members  of  his  own  family,  were  living 
a  peaceful  life  in  their  wigwams,  cultivating  small 
patches  of  corn,  beans,  pumpkins,  etc.,  making 
sugar  from  the  maple  trees,  but  depending  mainly 
upon  hunting  for  their  living.  A  most  elaborate 
sketch  of  Chief  Shabbona  appears  in  the  history 
of  the  county  proper. 

In  1R40  Shabbona  came  back  to  his  old  reserva- 
tion and  lived  for  a  time,  but  the  series  of  wan- 
derings had  begun  which  finally  broke  up  the  band, 
only  a  few  of  the  immediate  family  remaining  with 
the  old  chief.  Finally  a  few  friends  purchased 
twenty  acres  of  timber  land  in  Grundy  county  to 
be  used  as  a  home  for  Shabbona,  and  here,  in  1859, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years,  he  died  and  was 
buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Morris.  There  is  now 
a  movement  on  foot  to  erect  a  suitable  monu- 
ment over  his  last  resting  place.  Nothing  is  now 
left  here  as  a  memorial  of  the  chief  and  his  tribe 
except  a  few  relics  and  keepsakes  among  some 
of  the  oldest  families,  but  a  prettv  open  clearing 
on  the  farm  owned  by  William  Husk  is  pointed 
out  as  a  spot  where  the  old  Shabbona  house  stood. 
This  was  a  comfortable  log  house  built  by  David 
Norton.    John    Palm    and    others    under   contract 


122 


PAST   AND    PBESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


with  Wyram  Gates,  better  known  by  tin-  suggestive 
title  of  "Bogus,"  who  agreed  to  provide  this  house 
in  the  settlement  with  the  Indians  and  the  gov- 
ernment when  Mr.  Gates  bought  the  large  tract 
of  land  claimed  by  the  red  men.  It  was  never 
occupied  by  them  as  a  residence,  but  as  a  store- 
house, they  preferring  wigwams,  and  was  acci- 
dentally burned  down  several  years  ago. 

The  remnant  of  this  tribe  so  friendly  to  the 
whites  is  new  living  on  a  reservation  near  Topeka, 
Kansas. 

The  white  settlers  began  in  the  late  '30s  to 
wend  their  way  from  the  east.  and.  bringing  all 
they  possessed  in  prairie  schooners,  located  at  the 
various  parts  of  the  t<>\\  osbip,  to  make  i  heir  future 
hemes.  'The  immi  ase  tract  of  high,  rolling  prairie, 
well  watered  and  drained  by  the  Big  Indian  creek 
into  the  Fox  river  at  the  south  and  the  Kishwaukee 
at  the  north,  was  \er\  attractive  t<>  the  early  emi- 
grants en  aCCOUnt  el'  the  excellence  of  the  land, 
it-  dry  and  healthy  location,  and  the  quality  ami 
quantity  of  timber  in  the  grove.  They  buill  log 
houses  and  ai  mice  engaged  in  farming.  N"e\i 
rear's  day.  1836,  was  celebrated  by  the  erection 
el'  the  first  white  man's  dwelling.  Edmund  Town 
and  David  Smith,  who  had  lived  in  the  wigwams 
which  the  Indian-  had  temporarily  abandoned, 
built  tin'  iir-i  log  house  of  the  settlement,  which. 

afterward  grew  !■>  lie  one  of  the  mosl   il ishing 

in  the  county.  Among  the  firsl  to  locati 
were  . I, .mi-  Miller,  II.  I-:.  Allen.  William  White, 
Coleman  Olmstead,  Sr.,  Coleman  Olmstead,  dr.. 
Lewi-  Olmstead,  Nathan  Olmstead.  Mo-,-  Poster, 
William  Marks.  Sr.,  Edmund  Town.  Ira  Park. 
Dexter  Horton,  "Mother"  Horton,  Miles  Horton, 
William  Olmstead  and  Jefferson  Sturtevant.  Rev. 
Gammon  and  many  others  soon  followed.  The 
first  effort  outside  of  the  attempt  t<>  produce 
something  on  their  farms  and  thus  supply  their 
physical  necessities  was  the  desire  to  organize 
some  form  of  town  government.  In  pursuance  of 
this  idea.  Shabbona  became  one  of  the  thirteen 
towns  of  the  county,  and  William  Marks  was 
elected  to  be  the  first  supervisor  in  the  year  1850. 
and  the  other  necessary  officers  were  soon  after 
elected. 

By  the  topography  of  the  township  the  present 
site  of  the  village  of  Shabbona  Grove  was  natur- 
ally selected  as  an  embryo  town.  Nestling  on  the 
southern  edge  of  the  timber,  it  at  once  afforded 


sngge.-tions  of  many  cozy  homes  safely  sheltered 
from  the  wintry  blasts  which  swept  down  from 
across  the  bleak  prairie.  And  here  also  was  a 
stage  station,  kept  first  by  L.  P.  Sanger  and 
shortly  afterward  by  William  Marks,  who  was 
also  postmaster.  The  stage  line  was  owned  by  a 
stock  company  and  was  called  the  Chicago  & 
Galena  line.  1'.  \  .  Quilhot  was  one  of  the  drivers, 
and  the  passengers  consisted  mainly  of  miners 
and  those  connected  with  the  lead  mines  of  Galena, 
which  were  in  a  flourishing  condition.  He  was 
also  a  driver  on  a  north  and  south  line  in  the 
\ieimty  of  Princeton,  where  the  travelers  were 
office  holders  on  the  way  to  and  from  Springfield. 
George  Shaw  was  also  a  well  known  stage  driver 
of  that  time.  Many  other  small  branches  of  busi- 
ness  began  to  open  at  this  little  settlement  and  as 
the  wants  and  means  of  the  people  increased  busi- 
ness became  lively.  William  Marks  added  a  small 
stock  of  general  goods.  Samuel  Curtis  opened  a 
drug  and  grocery  store.  Reuben  Thailand  ran  a 
blacksmith  shop,  ami  a  sawmill  was  owned  and 
operated  by  Olmstead  Brothers.  The  town  had  a 
steady  growth  in  early  years,  but  being  late  in 
securing  a   railroad  lapsed  into  gradual  decay. 

The  first  religious  services  were  held  at  the 
house  of  Nathan  Olmstead.  The  first  Methodist 
servile-  were  held  at  the  house  of  Coleman  Olm- 
stead  in  the  fall  of  1841.  Meetings  were  held 
in  tin'  house  in  thi  winter  and  in  the  barn  in 
the  summer,  Rev.  Mr.  Morrison  officiating.  The 
Methodists  erected  the  first  house  of  worship  in 
1864  in  the  village  of  Shabbona  Grove.  The  first 
services  held  then  in  were  the  funeral  services  of 
Mr-.  M.  V.  Allen.  September  21,  1864.  A  Union 
church  was  built  about  the  same  time,  but  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  the  first  dedi- 
cated. The  first  Congregational  church  of  Shab- 
bona  was  organized  September  10.  1854,  anil  until 
I  si;:,  held  services  in  the  school  house  at  Shabbona 
Grove.  Rev.  Stephen  Battes  was  the  first  pastor. 
'flic  present  ( 'on  g  1 1  g  a  i : ,,  i  i;i  1  church  in  the  village 
of  Shabbona  was  dedicated  November  6,  1879. 
This  church  is  at  present  the  largest  religious  or- 
ganization in  the  township. 

The  first  school  in  the  township  was  taught  in 
the  winter  of  1842-3,  at  the  house  of  William 
C  Olmstead.  William  Curtis  was  the  teacher. 
Me  received  twelve  dollars  and  fifty  cents  a  month 
and    hoarded    himself.      The    school    was    on    the- 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF   DE   KALI;    COUNTY. 


123 


subscription  plan  and  the  Olmstead  families  fur- 
nished the  greater  number  of  pupils.  The  first 
schoolhouse  was  built  on  the  west  side  of  Indian 
creek  on  the  north  side  of  the  road.  It  was  used 
for  religious  purposes  as  well  until  the  church 
buildings  were  erected.  The  house  was  of  logs 
and  erected  in  the  fall  of  1843.  Eliza  Horton 
was  the  first  teacher  in  this  house. 

The  first  cemetery  was  located  near  the  center 
of  section  25.  Mrs.  Lyman  was  the  first  interred. 
She  died  in  1840  or  1841.  A  dozen  bodies  were 
probably  buried  there.  The  ground  was  soon 
abandoned.  The  first  regular  cemetery  was  estab- 
lished on  the  farm  of  David  Smith  on  section  27. 
The  first  decoration  of  soldiers'  graves  was  con- 
ducted by  Rev.  Fletcher  Pomeroy,  in  June,  1877. 

In  its  best  days  Shabbona  Grove  contained  three 
general  stores,  a  tin  shop,  a  boot  and  shoe  shop, 
two  hotels  and  two  churches.  A  large  business 
was  transacted. 

The  last  payment  to  the  Indians  in  De  Kalb 
county,  and  doubtless  in  the  state,  was  made  in 
1835  on  section  35. 

The  early  settlers  of  Shabbona,  like  the  pioneers 
of  other  sections,  believed  whisky  to  be  indispen- 
sable in  house  or  barn  raisings.  When  Edmond 
Towne's  house  was  raised  a  flask  of  whisky  was 
found  secreted  near  by,  supposed  to  have  been 
the  property  of  the  Indians.  It  was  confiscated 
and  added  zest  to  the  occasion.  For  the  next  few 
years  it  was  the  custom  to  have  a  good  supply  at 
such  gatherings.  This  practice  was  continued  until 
the  raising  of  Coleman  Olmstead's  barn  (the  first 
frame  barn  in  the  township)  in  the  spring  of 
1842.  Mr.  Olmstead  refused  to  furnish  whisky, 
at  which  innovation  there  was  a  bitter  protest. 
He  substituted  a  warm  supper,  with  good  coffee, 
which  was  voted  satisfactory.  From  that  time  a 
warm  meal,  with  coffee,  took  the  place  of  whisky 
at  such  gatherings.  About  two  miles  west  of 
the  town  of  Shabbona  is  what  is  known  as  the 
English  settlement.  It  was  begun  in  the  fall  of 
1851,  when  five  young  Englishmen,  Septimus  Sto- 
rey, Thomas  Wright,  William  Cutts,  George  Glos- 
sop  and  Joseph  Dillans  took  up  government  land. 
The  first  house  was  built  by  Mr.  Glossop,  and 
here  the  entire  party  kept  bachelors*  hall  until 
they  could  build  homes  of  their  own.  The  place 
was  headquartei-s  for  the  subsequent  immigrants 
from   England   and   soon   quite  a  colony  of   their 


fellow  countrymen  had  collected,  among  the  first 
being  Robert  Mullin,  Reuben  Challand,  John  Ken- 
nedy, Thomas  Dalton,  James  Hutton,  the  descend- 
ants of  many  of  whom  live  on  the  homestead  farms. 
The  first  schoolhouse  was  built  in  1851  ami  was 
taught  by  .Mis.  Witherspoon.  They  built  a  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  in  the  year  1869  and  later 
a  cemetery  was  established  directly  east  of  it. 

The  village  of  Shabbona  was  surveyed  and  plat- 
ted in  1S72  on  section  15.  A  village  had  been 
platted  at  the  junction  of  the  C.  &  I.  and  C,  B. 
&  0-  roads,  about  a  half  mile  west,  tu  which  was 
given  the  name  of  Cornton.  A  temporary  depot 
had  been  constructed,  John  Ray  and  William  Husk 
had  opened  a  mercantile  business,  and  others  had 
been  started  or  were  in  contemplation.  The  site 
was  favorable  and  the  only  thing  that  was  required 
to  make  it  the  regular  station  of  the  railroad  was — ■ 
a  donation  of  some  of  the  land  to  interested  rail- 
road men.  This  some  of  the  proprietors  refused 
to  do;  therefore  a.  removal  was  determined  upon 
and  Cornton  was  doomed.  The  first  building 
erected  in  tin?  present  village  of  Shabbona  was 
by  W.  H.  Ray.  the  present  editor  of  the  Shabbona 
Express.  William  Husk  then  removed  his  store 
building  from  Cornton  and  opened  the  first  mer- 
cantile establishment  in  the  village.  A.  S.  Jackson 
removed  here  from  Shabbona  Grove  and  com- 
menced business.  In  1873  M.  V.  Allen  opened 
a  drug  store.  Thomas  Padget  and  J.  M.  Bean 
began  business  and  were  the  second  to  represent 
tlie  mercantile  interests  of  the  place.  W.  F.  Heeg 
in  the  winter  of  1872-3  opened  a  stock  of  fur- 
niture and  is  still  in  business.  The  first  exclusive 
hardware  store  was  started  in  1873  by  Crapser, 
Coleman  &  Company.  Other  branches  of  business 
followed  from  time  to  time  until  at,  present  Shab- 
bona has  a  population  of  nearly  nine  hundred. 
It  has  more  miles  of  cement  walks  than  any  other 
town  of  its  size  in  flie  county,  there  being  but  a 
half  mile  of  board  walk  in  the  town.  The  presenf 
school  building  was  erected  in  1876  and  occupied 
in  the  fall  of  that  year.  S.  B.  Hallock  was  prin- 
cipal and   Miss   Viola  Thomas  assistant. 

The  land  claimed  by  the  early  settlers  came  into 
the  market  in  1843,  at  Dixon.  Illinois.  Main 
had  saved  just  enough  to  pay  for  the  claim  on 
which  they  had  settled.  Fearing  thai  land  specu- 
lators would  be  present,  they  went  to  Dixon  one 
hundred  and  fifty  strong,  armed  with  clubs  and 


124 


PAST    AND   PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


pistols,  to  prevent  others  from  bidding  on  the 
land  aside  from  the  two  men  selected,  who  were 
William  Marks  and  Reuben  Allen.  Arriving  at 
Dixon,  they  found  men  prepared  to  purchase  their 
lands  and  they  arranged  to  seize  any  such  bidder 
and  drown  him  in  the  Rock  river.  The  resolute 
set  ni'  this  body  of  men  overawed  all  opposi- 
tion, and  tiny  secured  their  lands  at  a  dollar  ami 
a  quarter  an  acre. 

Shabbona    furnished    one    hundred    ami    thirty 
fin-  the  preservation  of  the  Union  during  the 
Civil   war.  and  she   raised  in   taxes  and  bounties 
twelve  thousand  two  hundred  and  ninety-one  dol- 
lars.   A  large  number  <>f  the  soldiers  from  Shab- 
bona  enlisted   under  the  valiant    Captain  G.   W. 
Kittell,  of  the  Fifty-eighth  Illinois,  ami  Captain 
Thomas  Terry,  of  the   I  Ine    Eundred   and   Fifth. 
Captain  Terry  had    served  as  a   member  of   the 
legislature,  had  been   for  years  supervisor  of  the 
town  and  had  served  in  the  Mexican  war.     Cap- 
tain   Terry    died    in    Earlville    in    the    later    "60s. 
Captain  .Martin  V.  Allen,  who  succeeded  him,  losl 
an  arm  in  the  service.     Upon  his  return  to  the 
county  he  was  i  l©  b  ■    to  the  office  of  count]  super- 
intended of  schools.    Sergeanl  Thomas  E.  Ta 
of  thr  same  company,  a  native  of  Scotland,  Losl 
his  life  in  the  servio  ,  al  the  age  "1'  forty-one.     D. 
\\ .  Jackson,  of  thr  same  company,  died  at  Bowl- 
ing Green,  aged  twenty.     Sergeant  J.  M.  Dobbin, 
of   the   Thirteenth    Illinois,   died    of   wound- 
ceived    at   the    assault    of    Vicksburg       Sergeant 
George  C.  Harper  served  honorably  I'm-  three  years 
in  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  and  subsequently 
lost  his  life  at  Fort  Harper,  while  in  the  Seventh 
Regulars,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three.     John   M<- 
Farland.  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth,  died  at 
Frankfort,  Kentucky.     Henry  Davis,  of  the  Tenth 
Infantry,  died  at  St.  Louis.     Oliver  Pattee,  of  the 
Fifty-second,   died   at    St.    Joseph.      Lyman    Kil- 
boura,   of   the   One   Hundred   and   Fifth,   dud   at 
Resaca.     Corporal  Philip  Howe,  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Fifth,  died  of  wounds  received  at  Etesai  .1 
W.   E.   Grover.  of  the   One  Hundred    and   Fifth, 
was  killed  at  Dallas.  Georgia,  while  carrying  off  a 
wounded  comrade  from  the  skirmish  line     James 
M.   Round,  of  the  Fifty-eighth  Illinois.  William 
T.  Williams,  of  the  Fifty-eighth  Illinois.  George 
Flick.  John  A.  Muzzy.  Byron  Nichols.  Nelson  Fil- 
kins. 


The  supervisors  of  Shabbona  were  William 
Mark-.  Isaac  Comstock,  Thomas  S.  King.  H.  E. 
Allen.  D.  D.  Stevens,  0.  Norton,  P.  V.  Quilhot. 
Frederick  Ball.  Benjamin  S.  White.  Giles  M.  Alex- 
ander. John  II.  Woodbury,  Septimus  Storey. 
Henry  Clapsaddle,  R.  Youngren,  L.  C.  Burke, 
Lewis  Olmstead  and  John  Middleton. 

MI  LAX. 

Milan,  the  infant  township  of  the  county,  came 
into  existence  in  1857.     Previous  to  this  time  it 
had  heen  a  part  of  Malta  and  Shabbona.     There 
are  no  natural  groves  within  its  border  and  conse- 
quently it  was   one   of   the   latest  to   he   settled. 
Lewis  McFwen  was  the  first  settler  of  the  town. 
He  came   from    New   York   state  originally,   had 
been  to  California  in  search  of  gold,  and  came  to 
Milan    township,    where    he    resided    until    18G9. 
Being  the  pioneer  of  the  township,  coming  there 
in  1852,  he  saw  the  growth  of  the  town.     He  did 
not   long  remain  as  the  only  white  inhabitant,  for 
other   claimant-   came    for   settlement — Benjamin 
Banfield,  Reuben  Dodd  and  Gurdon  Hewitt.    The 
latter  hail  purchased  land  warrants  for  eighty  cents 
an    acre    and    entered    nine    sections    in    one    day. 
This    land    he    afterward    sold    at    from    eight    to 
thirteen  dollars  an  acre,  which  made  his  invest- 
ment a  most  profitable  om-.     The  firs!  -dioolhouse 
was  built  in   1855  in  the  .enter  of  the  town,  but 
previous  to  this  the  educational  mean-:  of  the  chil- 
dren had  been  supplied  at  improvised  schoolrooms 
in    private   houses.      The   township   felt  the   need 
of  a   public  building  for  public  meetings  and  in 
the  summer  of   1868  a  two-story  frame  building 
was   erected,   known   as  the   Milan  Town   House. 
The  lower  storj    is  u-r,}  for  a  school  room,  while 
the  upper  story  is  used  as  a  town  hall  and  a  place 
of  worship.     There  are  at  present  nine  districts  in 
the  township.     Milan  did  not  become  thicklv  pop- 
ulated   because    there    are    no    villages   within    its 
borders  and  no  railroads  nearer  than  the  Xorth- 
western.    There  are  no  postoffices  in  the  township. 
Milan   in  the  early  part  of  its  history   possessed 
much  wet  land,  which  was  unsuitable  for  farming 
purpose-.     About  twelve  years  ago  a  drainage  dis- 
trict was   organized  and  the  wet  portion  of  the 
township    was    made    tillable.      Thousands    upon 
thousands  of  rods  of  tile  have  been  laid  in  this 


PAST    AND    PEESENT   OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


125 


township,  until  at  the  present  time  Milan  possesses 
as  little  wet  land  as  any  township  of  the  county. 

In  1854  Theodore  Berg  and  Ira  Oleson  came 
into  this  town,  and  being  of  Norwegian  birth, 
others  of  that  nationality  followed,  until  at  pres- 
ent they  form  the  larger  part  of  the  population  of 
Milan.  Others  who  followed  the  two  first  men- 
tioned gentlemen  in  Milan  were  the  Sandersons, 
Oaklands,  Grovers,  Eames  and  Kettlesons.  The 
Norwegian  element  of  Milan  is  prosperous,  thrifty, 
generally  adherents  of  the  Lutheran  faith.  They 
make  a  splendid  addition  to  the  citizenship  of  the 
county.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war 
Milan,  out  of  a  population  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty,  gave  thirty-eight  soldiers  to  the  Union  army 
and  raised  several  thousand  dollars  in  taxation 
and  bounties.  Among  the  men  of  prominence 
who  have  resided  in  Milan  is  Lewis  McEwen,  god- 
father of  the  town.  Captain  A.  L.  AVells.  Captain 
Howard,  George  Cox,  who  served  as  county  clerk, 
and  S.  P.  Armstrong,  who  served  his  county  for 
fourteen  years  in  the  office  of  circuit  clerk  and 
recorder  and  twenty  years  as  county  surveyor. 
Those  who  have  served  the  town  as  supervisors 
are:  Lewis  McEwen,  who  served  eleven  years; 
John  Banfield,  A.  L.  Wells,  E.  E.  Colby,  Captain 
L.  A.  Howard,  and  S.  M.  Sanderson,  who  has 
served  thirteeen  years  and  is  still  a  member  of  th  ■ 
board  in  that  township. 

MALTA. 

What  has  been  responsible  for  Malta's  growth 
was  also  responsible  for  her  lack  of  growth  when 
other  parts  of  the  county  were  being  settled  in 
the  '30s  and  '40s — her  topography.  The  country 
presented  a  broad  expanse  of  prairie  land  with 
no  timber  and  as  the  early  settlers  depended  on 
the  groves  for  material  for  their  log  houses,  this 
was  a  consideration  not  lightly  overlooked,  and  it 
was  not  until  the  year  1851  that  government  land 
was  entered  by  home  seekers.  Ezekiel  Whitehead 
was  the  first  comer  and  he  was  followed  soon  after 
by  G.  C.  Shepherd,  H.  A.  Mix,  Mark  Howard  and 
others. 

The  billowy  prairie  lands  which  retarded  early 
settlement  formed  the  most  important  factor  of 
growth,  for  the  grain  raisers  found  them  very 
oroductive.  In  three  years  after  the  first  settle- 
ment was  made  the  farmers  petitioned  the  Galena 


division  of  the  Northwestern  road,  which  by  this 
time  had  been  built  as  far  west  as  Dixon,  to  estab- 
lish a  station  as  a  shipping  point  to  accommodate 
them.  The  road  granted  the  request  and  named 
the  place   .Malta. 

Previous  to  this  the  land  had  been  partially 
controlled  by  De  Kalb  township,  but  in  1856  it 
was  found  to  have  population  enough  to  form  a 
township  itself  and  the  board  of  supervisors  ac- 
cordingly organized  it  under  the  name  of  Milton. 
which  was  subsequently  changed  to  Etna  and 
finally  to  Malta,  the  name  of  its  business  center 
that  had  sprung  up.  E.  Whitehead  represented 
his  town  on  the  board  of  supervisors  in  185G  and 
today  the  men  who  uphold  Malta's  interests  at 
the  sessions  at  the  county  seat  are  B.  B.  Smiley 
and  T.  W.  Dodge. 

The  village  of  Malta  was  surveyed  and  platted 
in  August,  1856,  and  the  first  house  was  erected 
that  fall  by  J.  M.  Orput,  who  opened  a  stock  of 
staple  and  fancy  groceries  and  also  dealt  in  lumber, 
coal  and  grain.  The  following  spring  he'  formed 
a  partnership  with  John  Atwood,  now  one  of  the 
leading  merchants  of  De  Kalb,  and  the  business 
continued  until  the  fall  of  1857,  under  the  name 
of  Orput  &  Atwood.  dry  goods  Inning  beeen  added 
to  the  grocery  stock.  This  was  the  beginning  of 
the  business  of  Malta,  which  now  occupies  a  prom- 
inent feature  of  the  town. 

The  postoffice  was  established  in  the  winter  of 
185G,  with  W.  F.  Shedd  as  first  postmaster.  With 
a  scries  of  changes,  F.  D.  Pease  now  has  charge, 
with  Miss  Nettie  Pease  as  deputy. 

One  of  the  early  industries  of  the  place  was  the 
making  of  flour,  etc.,  from  the  grains  and  cereals 
raised  in  such  abundance,  and  as  early  as  the  year 
1857  a  steam  grist  mill  was  built  by  Clement  & 
Dod.cre.  The  financial  crisis  of  1857  affected  this 
industry  as  it  did  business  all  over  the  countrv 
and  the  mill  failed  to  meet  the  expectations  of 
its  proprietors.  After  four  years  of  existence  it 
burned  and  the  people  felt  the  need  of  a  substi- 
tute and  as  soon  as  the  war  closed  a  subscription 
was  taken  and  another  mill  erected  by  Caleb 
Peters.  For  many  years  it  did  a  good  business, 
but  now  elevators  take  care  of  the  vast  amount 
of  grain  brought  to  the  place.  Malta  is  acknowl- 
edged to  be  the  best  grain  market  in  the  county 
and  regardless  of  the  condition  of  the  roads  (in 
bad    weather   the   fertile   condition    of   the   snil    is 


126 


PAST   AND   PKESENT    OF  DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


just  as  evident  in  the  highways  as  it  is  in  the 
Farm  land  a  rod  distant)  grain  wagons  come  from 
all  directions  ami  arc  unloaded  at  the  elevators. 
Until  tliis  year  one  elevator,  run  by  J.  C.  Pierce, 
lias  had  the  handling  of  all  grain  shipped  and  un- 
like most  merchants  who  have  the  monopoly  of 
a  business,  Mr.  Pierce  has  given  the  best  possible 
prices.  But  the  traffic  was  more  than  he  could 
handle,  it  sometimes  being  necessary  for  the  farm- 
ers to  stand  in  line  nearly  all  day  before  they 
could  be  waited  upon.  The  old  mill  was  pur- 
chased by  a  Chicago  commission  firm,  Van  Wie  & 
Xoorehead.  in  1898,  fitted  up  with  all  of  the  latesl 
appliances  as  an  elevator,  and  is  now  in  successful 
operation. 

With  the  large,  rich  farming  community  about 
if.  the  village  of  Malta  has  substantia]  support  in 
its  growth.  The  town  was  incorporated  in  1869; 
the  firs!  election  resulted  in  making  (;.  W.  Smiley 
presidenl  of  the  village  board;  C.  Anderson.  .1.  \  . 
Willrett,  James  Welch.  S.  T.  Wright,  trustee-: 
.1.  ('.  Westgate,  police  justice ;  and  W.  H.  Scofield, 
constable.  Since  that  time  the  town  has  been  a 
thriving  little  plan'. 

Among  the  early  settlers  who  helped  to  make 
Malta  what  she  now  i-.  were:  P.  Pendegrass, 
S.  T.  Wright,  Chauncey  Eooker,  now  dead.  .1.  ( '. 
1'ieree.  1».  A.  Smith,  now  in  Nebraska,  W.  S. 
Wolston,  living  at  preseni  in  Iowa.  D.  F.  Pease. 
Henry  Claxton,  one  of  the  oldesl  residents  of 
Malta  at  present,  T.  S.  and  G.  A.  Ingersoll,  Cap- 
tain John  Sergeant,  Captain  0.  W.  Corbett,  Henry 
Madden,  Mrs.  Francisco  and  a  number  of  others. 
While  these  were  some  of  the  prominent  peopli 
>>i  early  days  their  usefulness  in  many  instances 
is  not  yet  a  thing  of  the  past,  for  several  are  in 
business  there  now. 

But  it  is  the  farmers  round  about  Malta  who 
now  play  an  important  part  in  her  every  day  life. 
Among  the  principal  farmers  who  own  or  work 
farms  are  P.  F.  Delhridge.  M.  Eedmond.  Charles 
Doane,  J.  E.  Doane,  August  Anderson,  Mrs.  C.  W. 
Smiley.  William  Malia.  H.  IT.  Harrington.  L. 
Farley,  Joseph  Greek.  Thomas  Delbridge,  T.  .T. 
Tindall  and  scores  of  others,  having  farms  ranging 
from   sixty    to  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres. 

Mr.  Mames  Orpul  built  the  first  house  in  the 
village  of  Malta  in  tin'  fall  of  1856  ami  carried  a 
stock  of  groceries.  He  also  dealt  in  lumber,  coal 
and  grain,  buying  the  first  grain  shipped  from  this 


station.     Shedd  &  Fuller  erected  a  warehouse  in 

1856.  The  present,  hotel  was  built  in  1858.  The 
first  hardware  store  was  started  by  J.  R.  Evans  in 
1858.  Henry  Madden  was  the  first  druggist.  The 
first  blacksmith  was  John  Schultz ;  the  first  wagon 
maker  was  Walter  Tenia  :  the  first  furniture  dealer 
was  William  Lebrant;  the  first  shoemaker  was 
John  Swanson,  and  the  first  harness  maker  was 
J.  0.  Westgate.    The  first  sehoolhouse  was  built  in 

1857,  and  in  18T3  the  present  building  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  six  thousand  dollars. 

The  Baptists.  Methodists  ami  Congregationalists 
have  built  churches,  which  still  have  regular  ser- 
vices. The  Episcopalian  and  Uuiversalist  churches 
have  ceased  to  hold  service. 

Those  who  have  served  a-  supervisors  of  this 
town  are  George  W.  Smiley.  G.  A.  Ingersoll,  Dan 
F.  Pease,  Albert  McCrea,  Alfred  Ball.  Jacob  V. 
Willret,  Charles  W.  Ilaish.  B.  W.  Smiley.  Frank 
I'ease.  Edward  Bone,  Ben  F.  Hurt.  Those  who 
have  served  a-  supervisors  from  the  township  are 
E.  E.  Whitehead,  T.  ('.  Wetmore,  Dr.  Henry  Mad- 
den, M.  C.  Dedrick,  who  served  more  than  twenty 
years.  G.  W.  Smiley,  William  IT.  Wollston.  Daniel 
['ease.  A.  W.  Townsend  and  T.  W.  Dodge. 

Malta  sent  ninety-four  men  to  serve  in  the  Civil 
wa  i'. 

Tin'  village  of  Malta  wa-  visited  in  1ST2  by  a 
destructive  fire  in  the  business  portions.  This 
pan  of  the  village  was  again  rebuilt  of  wood  and 
remained  intact  until  the  fire  of  1894,  when  the 
business  portion  of  Malta  sull'ered  heavy  loss. 
The  lire  started  at  half  pasl  ten  and  the  nighl 
being  dark  and  threatening,  few  people  were  on 
the  streets.  The  fire  started  in  the  store  of  Mr. 
Haish  by  an  explosion  of  a  kerosene  lamp.  The 
fire  spread  rapidly  and  in  less  than  two  hours  thir- 
teen buildings  were  consumed  and  the  loss  esti- 
mated at  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars. 

The  buildings  consumed  were  ('.  W.  llai-h's 
double  store,  the  Hopkins  buildings,  occupied  by 
Oscar  Scott.  W.  L.  Stevens'  store,  Samuel  Veale's 
store,  occupied  by  Badgley  &  Jacobs,  druggists, 
W.  E.  Harp's,  John  Ball's,  F.  Barker's,  George 
Burke',-,  the  Wright  building  and  the  D.  F.  Tease 
-tori'.  Messages  were  sen!  to  De  Kalb  for  assist- 
ance, but  upon  the  arrival  of  the  De  Kalb  firemen 
they  found  the  De  Kalb  engine  would  not  fit  the 
engine  house  connections  and  it  was  impossible 
to  get  any  water  from  that  source.    The  fire  fight- 


PAST  AND  PEESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


127 


ing  was  kept  up  by  the  bucket  brigade.  A  drench- 
ing rain  set  in.  which  helped  stop  the  spread  of 
the  fire,  but  caused  great  loss  to  parties  having 
good?  uncovered.  The  town  was  rapidly  rebuilt 
with  brick  structures,  and  mi  the  whole  the  [ire, 
which  was  considered  at  the  time  a  great  catastro- 
phe,  has   proved  a  benefit  to   the   village. 


SOUTH    GEOVE. 


South  Grove  was  na «l  Driscoll's  Grove  be- 
fore the  township  organization  of  the  county  in 
1850.  It  was  then  .ailed  Vernon,  and  finally 
South  Grove,  as  it  was  the  firsi  grove  south  of 
the  large  woods  along  the  Kishwaukee  in  the 
north  part  of  the  county.  'Die  first  settlers  of 
tlie  large  woods  along  the  Kishwaukee  in  the 
north  part  of  the  county.  The  first  settlers  of 
this  township  were  Solomon  Wells,  Nathaniel 
Hatch  and  William  Driscoll.  David  Driscoll  took 
up  a  claim  in  1836.  The  farm  occupied  by  Wil- 
liam Driscoll  is  now  owned  by  his  son  Decatur. 
The  farm  of  Solomon  Wells,  which  was  bought 
of  the  Driscolls,  is  now  owned  by  George  Adee. 
The  Nathaniel  Hatch  farm  is  the  one  now  owned 
by  William  Masterson.  Benjamin  Worden  settled 
on  his  homestead  about  1838.  The  Orputs  settled 
Orput's  Grove  in  1839,  where  are  now  the  James 
Gibson  and  Robert  Byers  homesteads.  Barnabas 
Hatch  and  Dexter  Beeman  came  in  1810.  In  18  11 
James  Byers,  Sr.,  came  with  his  wife  and  family 
of  three  sons  and  two  daughters  from  Delaware 
county.  New  York.  They  located  on  the  farm 
which  is  now  owned  by  William  Byers.  The  next 
war  came  Jesse  Tindall  and  family,  in  1843  Jon- 
athan Adee.  and  in  1844  Matthew  Thompson 
with  their  large  families  settled  on  farms  now 
owned  by  their  descendants.  Henry  and  Oliver 
Safford  came  from  Massachusetts  in  1845  and 
located  where  John  Masterson  now  lives.  Oliver 
went  to  California  and  Henry  afterward  owned 
the  farm  which  is  now  James  Casey's.  John  S. 
Brown  came  from  Michigan  in  1846,  and  located 
on  what  is  now  the  Asa  Byers  homestead,  .lames 
Gibson  and  wife  came  from  Scotland  in  1848  and 
purchased  the  Orpttt  farm  some  years  later.  In 
1851  James  and  Thomas  Renwick  worked  for 
•lames  Byers.  Sr.,  and  a  few  years  later  bought 
of  Henry  Mix,  a   land   speculator,   the  land   now 


owned    In    .lame-   1,'enwiek.  Daniel    McMurchy   and 
Robert  Hutchinson. 

The  land  was  unsurveyed  when  first  settled  and 
a  "claim"  was  held  by  staking  out  the  land  and 
plowing  a  i'linou  around  it.  or  by  blazing  in  the 
grove.  The  Driscolls  claimed  about  three  hun- 
dred  acres  of  the  grove  and  later  settlers  respected 
their  claim  and  purchased  of  them  ••claim  rights," 
and  in  addition  paid  the  governmenl  on.'  dollar 
and  a  quarter  per  acre  after  the  land  was  sur- 
veyed. James  Byers,  Sr..  bought  of  them  for 
three  hundred  dollars  the  right  to  seventy  acres  of 
timber  and  as  much  prairie  as  lie  chose  to  plow 
around. 

In  1842  or  1843  the  governmeni  survey  was 
made  and  the  land  put  in  the  market.  The  land 
office  was  located  at  Dixon.  John  Dement  was  re- 
ceiver. It  was  a  very  anxious  time  for  the  set- 
tlers who  had  no  money  to  pay  for  their  land,  so 
they  banded  together  against  would-be  purchasers 
and  agreed  to  protect  each  others"  rights  from  ttie 
"land  sharks,"  who  would  rob  them  of  their  homes. 
There  was  no  "ciaim  jumping'"  in  South  Grove, 
so  the  argument  of  fists,  firearm-  and  tar  were  not 
used  here,  as  in  some  localities. 

Alter  the  .Mexican  war  land  warrants  wi'i-c  is- 
sued, giving  each  soldier  otic  hundred  and  sixty 
neie-  ol'  bind  to  lie  located  wherever  he  chose. 
These  could  at  one  time  be  bought  in  the  market 
for  oil"  hundred  and  twelve  dollars,  making  land 
very  cheap,  seventy  cents  an  acre.  The  first  set- 
tlers came  in  their  wagons.  The  journey  from 
New  York  took  four  weeks,  the  family  walking 
m iieh  of  the  way  to  spare  the  horses. 

Tin'  Frink  and  Walker  line  of  four-horse  stages 
ran  from  Chicago  to  Galena  daily,  the  lead  mines 
being  then  a  craze.  These  stages  brought  the 
mail  to  the  postoffice  at  the  home  of  James  Byers, 
Sr..  who  was  first  postmaster.  His  first  year's  sal- 
ary was  the  magnificent  sum  of  two  dollars  and 
sixty-four  cents.  The  office  supplied  the  country 
for  fifteen  miles  around.  The  papers  that  came 
were  the  Chicago  Democrat,  edited  1>\  John  Went- 
worth,  Greeley's  New  York  Tribune,  and  the  only 
magazine  was  Godey's  Lady's  Book.  The  post- 
master's children  read  everything  that  came  to  the 
office,  except  the  letters,  and  the  penwritten  post- 
marks of  these  served  a-  lessons  in  geography,  but 
letters  were  few.  for  the  postage  was  twenty-five 
cents. 


128 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


The  first  religious  services  in  the  town  were 
held  by  Rev.  Isaac  Norton,  a  Freewill  Baptist  min- 
ister. For  tin-  sum  <>f  thirty-five  dollars  Mr.  Nor- 
ton agreed  to  hold  services  twice  a  month  fur  one 
war.  commencing  in  the  'all  of  1842.     Levi  Lee, 

who  has  been  menti id  prominently  in  the  county 

history;  was  the  first  Methodist  preacher  to  hold 
religious  services  in  South  Grove.  The  class  was 
organized  in  1842,  which  continues  in  existence. 
Services  wi  re  held  I'm-  a  time  in  the  South  Grove 
schoolhouse  and  tor  the  last  few  years  at  Clare 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  This  church  organi- 
zation is  made  up  of  four  smaller  congregations — 
the  Mayfield  Town  Hall  charge,  the  South  Grove 

„e.  the  one  of  the  Clark  schoolhouse,  ate 
Episcopalian  appointment  held  at  the  Clare  school. 
Tli.  -.     constitute   one    excellent    church    society, 
which  everts  a  splendid  influence  over  the  circuit. 

The  first  school  was  taught  in  the  winter  of 
1841-2  by  -lame-  By<  rs,  Sr.,  in  a  small  room  in  his 
cabin.  The  pupils  came  from  distances  of  five  or 
sis  miles.  The  text-1 ks  used  were  tic  Elemen- 
tal spelling  book,  Daboll's  arithmetic.  English 
reader,  geography  and  a  copj  book  and  any  other 
text-books  the}  happened  i"  have.  They  paid  tui- 
tion in  corn,  potatoes  and  pork.  In  1842-3  the  in- 
habitants clubbed  together  and  built  a  log  school- 
house  by  voluntary  labor  in  the  center  of  the  grovi 
Mr.  Byer's  salarj  original!;  was  in  !»■  ten  dollars 
a  month  and  hoard  himself,  and  ow  ing  to  the  gn  at 
scarcity  <•<  rnonej  took  In-  paj  a-  above  stated. 
The  young  men  ami  women  about  the  Grove  will 
never  forget  thai  school — ho^  the  kind,  genial 
voice  of  the  teacher,  softening  down  its  rugged 
Scotch,  cheered  them  over  the  frightful  alps  of  -a. 
h.  al.."  and  -tun  limes  one  are  two." — how  the 
eyes  were  always  blind  to  any  fun  anil  the  laugh 
was  ever  a-  long  and  loud  as  that  of  the  merriest 
urchin.  No  wonder  thai  those  boys  and  girls,  a 
portion  of  them,  "played  the  mischief  with  some 
of  the  teachers  who  succeeded  this  model  one. 

The  first  public  schoolhouse  was  erected  in  the 
grove.  It  was  of  Logs,  hut  nicely  built,  and  con- 
sidered quite  a  capacious  one;  though  it  was.  after 
a  lime,  pretty  well  filled  with  its  sixty  scholars.  It 
was  twenty  by  twenty-two  feet  and  well  lighted, 
having  a  window  live  or  six  panes  in  width  and  two 
in  height  at  each  end  of  the  building.  Mr.  H.  C. 
Beard  and  Mr.  T.  K.  Waite  of  Sycamore  were 
anion"  the  successful   teachers   in  the  loo-  school- 


house.  The  second  schoolhouse  was  built  on  a 
line  sile  donated  to  the  district  by  Mr.  James 
Bvers,  Sr..  in  1854,  and  in  1868  another — a  very 
pleasant  and  commodious  one,  the  former  having 
been  destroyed  by  fire — was  erected  in  the  same 
place. 

The  first  building  was  of  logs,  made  without 
nails,  doors  of  ""shakes"  pinned  together  and  were 
opened  with  latch  strings  hanging  from  the  wooden 
latch.  The  chinks  were  stopped  with  clay.  The 
first  dwellings  had  puncheon  floor.-  hut  the  school- 
bouse  floor  was  of  boards.  These  were  obtained 
by  drawing  loos  to  Levi  Lee's  sawmill  on  the  Ki-h- 
waukee,  near  Kingston,  eighteen  miles,  where  they 
were  -awed  into  hoards.  Half  the  board-  were 
paid  for  sawing.  The  shake  shingles  were  made 
with  an  ax.  wedge  and  throw;  they  were  held  in 
phue  on  the  roof  by  poles.  The  -eats  were  slabs 
with  sticks  lor  legs.  There  was  a  window  on  each 
sidi  of  the  house.  The  chimneys  were  then  made 
of  two  boxes,  the  smaller  inside  and  the  space  be- 
tween Idled  with  mud.  When  the  mud  was  dry 
and  hard  the  inside  box  was  burned  and  the  chim- 
ney was  complete.  The  first  comers  used  a  fire- 
place, very  apt  to  smoke,  but  the  schoolhouse  was 
warmed  by  a  box-shaped  iron  stove. 

The  girls  wore  dresses  of  linsey  woolsey  and 
looked  as  pretty  as  their  granddaughters  do  in 
their  silk-.  One  girl's  best  dress  was  made  of 
white  sheeting,  colored  with  black  walnut  hark. 
I  i  dye  was  not  a  success  ami  the  children  made 
fun  of  it.     The  boys'  suits  were  of  a   cheap  gray 

cotton    E Is    called    ■"bard    times    cloth."      Their 

coats  were  ••W.IIIIIMU--I -."  a  loose  blouse  affair, 
coming  well  over  the  hips  and  belted  around  the 
waist.  The  feet  w.ae  dressed  with  moccasins  made 
of  sole  leather.  Sylvester  Sutton  made  them. 
Some  wore  shoes  made  by  the  traveling  cobbler. 
Hats  were  home  made  of  coon  or  rabbit  skin  or 
cloth. 

The  evening  entertainments  were  the  spelling 
schools,  in  which  contests  the  girls  usually  won. 
hut  they  took  no  part  in  the  debates  on  the  ques- 
tion whether  fire  or  water  was  the  stronger  ele- 
ment, or  whether  there  was  more  pleasure  in  an- 
ticipation or  in  participation.  The  judges  chosen 
to  decide  the  "weight  of  argument'"'  were  William 
T.  Adee.  John  Orput,  William  Byers  and  others 
of  the  older  boys.  There  were  singing  schools,  too. 
ami  after  houses  were  large  enough,  parties.     The 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


L29 


schoolhouse  served  also  as  a  place  for  religious 
meetings,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Norton  of  honored 
memory  was  the  first  minister.  The  first  funeral 
in  town  was  that  of  the  little  daughter  of  James 
Byers,  Sr.  The  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by 
Rev.  Levi  Lee.  The  interment  was  on  the  east 
side  of  the  grove  and  the  land  was  afterward  do- 
nated to  the  town  for  a  cemetery  by  James  Byers. 
Sr.  Many  years  afterward  the  South  Grove  church 
was  built  at  Dustin  and  it  has  since  served  as  the 
place  of  worship  for  people  of  all  denominations. 

The  food  for  the  settlers'  first  year  was  mostly 
cornmeal,  pork  and  potatoes.  A  pound  of  tea 
lasted  a  family  a  year.  The  next  year  wheat  was 
raised.  It  was  ground  at  St.  Charles,  thirty  miles 
distant.  The  fruits  found  in  the  woods  were  crab- 
apples,  plums  and  gooseberries. 

The  wheat  was  cut  with  a  cradle  and  tramped 
out  by  horses  on  a  cleared  place  on  the  prairie  and 
was  cleaned  from  chaff  by  pouring  in  the  wind. 
It  was  drawn  to  Chicago,  a  round  trip  of  five 
days.  A  load  of  forty  bushels  sold  for  forty  cents 
a  bushel,  half  cash  and  half  trade.  The  hotel 
charges  were  fifty  cents  for  supper,  breakfast  and 
lodging  and  hay  for  two  horses,  dinner  a  shilling, 
so  that  the  farmer  could  at  best  bring  home  not 
more  than  five  or  six  dollars  in  cash  and  cheap 
cloth,  leather  for  shoes,  salt  and  a  few  groceries. 

The  first  hotel  in  town  was  kept  by  Solomon 
Wells,  later  by  Jonathan  Adee  on  the  now  George 
Adee  farm.  There  were  no  taxes  on  land  until  it 
was  surveyed,  and  only  a  small  tax  on  personal 
property.  Money  was  scarce;  labor,  grain,  pork 
and  potatoes  served  instead.  The  wages  in  harvest 
were  two  bushels  of  wheat  a  day,  or  about  fifty 
cents.  When  wheat  became  a  cash  article  there 
was  money  to  pay  the  government  for  land. 

The  first  plows  used  were  made  by  C.  W. 
Branch,  father  of  Hiram  Branch,  of  Kingston. 
The  mold  board  was  made  of  straps  of  iron  about 
two  inches  wide  with  spaces  of  the  same,  width. 
The  woodwork  was  made  by  Nathaniel  Hatch, 
who  hewed  the  timber  for  a  beam  and  carefully 
selected  crooked  sticks  in  the  grove  for  handles. 
Four  yoke,  of  cattle  were  used  to  break  the  tough 
prairie  sod.  The  first  reaper  was  a  McCormick 
bought  by  John  S.  Brown  and  James  Byers,  Sr., 
for  one  hundred  and  thirty  dollars,  in  1847  or 
1848. 


In  1853,  when  it  was  rumored  that  a  railroad 
would  lie  built  through  the  town,  speculators  pur- 
chased nearly  all  (if  the  government  land  left,  but 
the  railroad  failed  to  materialize.  The  purchasers 
entered  with  land  warrants  and  bought  for  eighty 
cents  pei-  acre  land  now  worth  sixty  and  sixty-five 
dollars  per  acre. 

In  is.")!  Ichabod  Richmond,  an  erratic,  enter- 
prising genius,  built  a  sawmill  and  grist  mill  on 
Owen's  creek,  section  26,  but  a  quantity  id'  water 
sufficient  to  operate  it  was  not  found,  except  in 
case  of  a  freshet.  A  similar  experiment  was  made 
by  Barnaby  Hatch  further  down  the  stream. 

The  history  of  this  fertile  region  is  interwoven 
with  many  romantic  and  even  tragic  incidents.  It 
is  said  that  "Brodie's  Grove,"  situated  near  the 
west  line  of  what  is  now  the  town  of  Dement,  was 
the  rendezvous  of  an  organized  band  of  bandits. 
Benjamin  Worden  lias  related  that  about  the  year 
1840  he  had  a  fine  team  of  horses,  considered  in 
those  days  very  valuable  property,  and  nightly 
slept  in  his  stable,  much  against  his  will,  in  order 
to  protect  himself  from  horse  thieves.  "<  >ld  Brodie" 
had  taken  a  fancy  to  Worden,  and  hearing  of  this 
practice  inquired  the  reason  why.  Worden  respond- 
ed that  there  were  many  thieves  about  and  he  feared 
that  his  horses  would  be  stolen,  whereupon  the  old 
man  informed  Ben  that  lie  need  have  no  fears,  as 
his  property  was  safe.  "Uncle  Ben"  did  not  doubt 
Ins  sincerity.  However,  walking  across  the  prairie 
one  day  he  discovered  a  cavity  carefully  dug  out 
and  covered  with  boards  and  nicely  arranged  sods. 
so  that  no  trace  of  a  cave  could  be  found.  Its 
nearness  to  this  lonely  grove,  together  with  the 
foregoing  incident,  proved  to  his  mind  conclu- 
sively that  this  was  a  place  of  concealment  for  the 
booty  of  those  daring  marauders,  who  as  history 
further  states,  "roamed  the  billowy  prairies  in 
those  early  days  as  pirates  rove  the  seas."  This 
and  other  stories  and  a  record  of  the  tragic  fate  of 
many  will  he  found  on  the  pages  of  current  history. 

Many  incidents  are  cited  which  show  the  skill, 
daring  and  courage  of  the  pioneer  women,  amid 
prairie  fires  and  attacks  from  wolves  and  the  red 
man,  for  at  that  time  the  howl  of  the  wolf  was 
nightly  heard  and  the  Indian  trail  was  here  found, 
the  chief  Big  Thunder,  with  his  braves,  making  the 
surjounding  woodland  the  place  'of  temporary 
abode. 


Kio 


PAST   AXD   PRESENT    OF    DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


To  those  who  are  as  yet  unfamiliar  with  the 
many  beauties  of  their  own  county,  and  especially 
this  favored  spot,  the  picturesque  town  of  South 
Grove  will  offer  a  pleasing  panorama.  The  land 
is  pleasantly  undulating;  the  undersoil  seems 
adapted  for  the  drainage  of  the  surface  and  vege- 
tation i-  early  and  of  rapid  growth.  There  is 
scarcely  an  acre  of  waste  land  within  its  borders. 
More  n  heat  is  grown  here  than  in  any  other  town- 
ship except  Pierce.  The  highest  point  of  land  be- 
tween Chicago  and  the  Mississippi  river  is  in  the 
southern  part  of  South  Grove.  Owen's  creek,  a 
beautiful  stream  of  water,  i  rosses  the  entire  length 
of  the  town  on  its  way  to  the  Kishwaukee,  through 
prairie,  woodland  and  meadow.  In  it-  course  the 
stream  widens  several  times,  forming  small  lakes, 
and  mimic  harbors,  its  clear  water  contrasting 
beautifully  with  the  darl  green  foliage,  and  is  not 
only  a  delight  to  him  who  finds  "tongues  in  trees 
and  books  in  running  brooks,"  but  also  to  the  devo- 
tee of  [saak  Walton.  In  the  grove  wild  fruits  and 
Hi. wer>  of  all  kinds  abound  :  the  plum,  thorn  apple, 
gooseberry,  tin  violet,  spring  beauty,  mandrake 
ami  maidenhair  fern. 

The  township  was  organized  in  ls-">o  and  John 
s.  Brown  was  elected  first  supervisor,  lie  was  fol- 
lowed by  William  M.  Byers,  ami  some  descendant 
of  this  gentleman  has  filled  the  office  at  intervals 
up  i"  tin'  present  time.  A  great  camp  meeting 
was  held  at  tlir  grove  in  I860,  at  which  leading 
ministers  from  abroad  addressed  vast  audiences, 
ami  much  religious  interest  was  aroused.  At  a 
much  earlier  day  there  were  occasional  religious 
revivals,  which  were  remarkable  for  the  great 
earnestness  exhibited  by  the  converts  among  that 
primitive  population,  and.  it  may  be  added,  by 
extraordinary  and  exciting  scenes  in  their  meet- 
ings. ViiiuTig  mam  aneedutes  -till  related  with 
great  gusto  is  the  following:  A  very  worthy  but 
previously  profane  convert  rising  to  his  feet  to 
urge  hi-  hearers  to  greater  zeal  and  earnestness  in 
religious  duty,  fell,  unconsciously,  into  his  old 
mode  of  expression  and  exclaimed:  "Brethren,  I 
like  to  see  a  man.  if  he  pretends  to  be  a  num.  to 
be  a  h — 11  of  a  man:  and  if  be  pretends  to  be  a 
Christian  to  be  a  h — 11  of  a  Christian."' 

Hotels  are  things  of  the  past,  but  they  were  "in- 
stitutions" in  their  day  when  the  St.  Charles  and 
Oregon  State  Road,  running  through  South  Grove 


nearly  at  its  center,  was  the  great  highway  of  the 
region  and  traveled  by  teams  heavily  loaded  with 
grain,  even  from  so  far  west  as  the  Mississippi 
river.  One  of  the  hotels,  that  which  stands  on  the 
farm  of  Mr.  Masterson,  and  occupied  by  him  as  a 
dwelling  house,  was  kept  for  a  while  by  Mr.  Bee- 
man.  It  is  still  in  a  good  state  of  preservation. 
especially  the  hall,  which  was  dedicated  to  the 
goddess  Terpsichore;  and  many  a  resident  of  De 
Kalb  county  will  remember  as  long  as  he  lives  the 
pleasant  gatherings  at  Beeman's  when  what  was 
wanting  in  elegance  was  made  up  in  merriment. 
The  other  was  kept  by  Mr.  Adee  near  the  grove, 
and  it  is  imi  to  be  wondered  at  that  that  gentle- 
man i-  11- ■  w  so  well  off  in  life  when  it  is  remem- 
bered how  exorbitant  were  his  charge- — fort]  or 
forty-five  cents  being  required  for  only  supper. 
lodging,  breakfast  ami  hay  fur  a  span  of  horses  or 
a  yoke  of  oxen. 

But    while    the    hotels    Wile    so    Well    ]  iat  I'l  illizeil    il 

was  a  hard  time  for  the  farmers.  Again  and  again 
the  teamster-  who  had  taken  tin'  leads  of  grain — 
the  product  of  the  whole  season's  hard  toil-  over 
that  long,  weary  way  to  Chicago,  Mould  not  bring 
back  money  enough  even  to  pay  their  trifling  bills 
— a  few  groceries,  a  little  bundle  of  cloth,  perhaps 
a  pair  or  two  of  cheap  shoes,  besides  food  for  their 
families,  being  all  the  avails  of  a  year's  hard  smug- 
glings. But  the  men  and  women  of  this  region 
put  their  shoulders  to  the  wheel  and  called  upon 
the  gods,  and  by  and  by  Hercules  came  in  the  form 
of  a  railroad. 

During  the  rebellion  South  Grove  furnished  one 
hundred  and  three  volunteers  and  raised  for  the 
war  eleven  thousand,  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven  dollars.  Mr.  John  S.  Brown,  in  1862, 
raised  a  company  of  soldiers  for  the  Fifty-second 
Regiment.  He  was  made  captain.  The  Safford 
brothers  both  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fifth,  both  were  wounded  ami  both  made  cap- 
tains. Henry  was  afterward  elected  sheriff  of  this 
county,  in  1868.  While  these  officers  served  their 
country  in  a  more  public  capacity  than  did  the 
privates,  their  services  are  remembered  with  no 
more  gratitude  than  is  due  the  boys  in  blue  in  the 
common  ranks. 

With  the  coming  of  the  railroad,  or  its  near 
prospect,  there  was  a  rush  of  settlers,  the  Curriers, 
McClellans,    Beckers,    Rickards,   Masons.   Doanes, 


PAST    AND   PRESENT   OF   DE    KALB   COUNTY. 


131 


McKenzies  and  Christmans  were  among  the  num- 
ber who  came  and  most  of  their  descendants  still 
own  property  in  town.  Mrs.  S.  S.  Currier,  who, 
with  her  husband,  came  to  South  Grove  in  1S53 
from  New  Hampshire,  was  for  many  years  promi- 
nently connected  with  the  literature  of  New  Eng- 
land, furnishing  many  articles  of  the  best  publi- 
cations of  her  day.  She  was  the  author  of  "Alice 
Tracey,  or  Through  the  Wilderness,"  "By  the 
Sea"  and  "The  Trapper's  Niece."  She  died  in 
1895.  Hugh  McQueen  came  from  Scotland  in 
1868.  He  was  a  true  type  of  the  Scotch  Presby- 
terian Christian,  one  of  the  type  that  has  made 
"Old  Scotia  loved  at  home,  revered  abroad." 

Although  in  early  days  there  was  a  prospect  of 
a  railroad,  it  was  not  until  1887  that  it  became  a 
Teality.  It  was  then  built  by  the  Chicago  &  Great 
Western  Company  and  passed  from  east  to  west 
through  South  Grove.  A  station  was  established 
near  its  western  border  named  Esmond,  and  the 
postofnees  of  Deerfield,  Prairie  and  Dustin  were 
merged  into  the  Esmond  postoffice,  with  Martin 
Kennedy  as  postmaster.  He  held  the  office  until 
the  republicans  came  into  power,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  William  McKenzie,  the  present  in- 
cumbent. Kennedy  Brothers,  Messrs.  Daniel  and 
Martin,  opened  the  first  store  and  until  very  re- 
cently continued  as  proprietors.  They  have  now- 
sold  their  stock  of  goods  and  Will  McKenzie  is  the 
only  merchant  in  the  town.  Kennedy  Brothers 
.started  the  first  elevator  and  are  successfully  op- 
erating the  same.  A  very  pretty  church  was 
built  two  years  ago  and  the  population  of  the 
little  town  has  now  grown  to  about  a  hundred 
people,  making  their  livelihood  through  deals  with 
the  farmers  who  have  made  South  Grove  one  of 
the  most  prosperous  farming  communities  of  the 
county.  The  I.  I.  &  M.  Railroad  runs  through  a 
section  of  South  Grove. 

The  first  supervisor  of  the  town  was  John  S. 
Brown,  in  1850;  William  M.  Byers,  1851-2;  Jesse 
Tindall,  1853-4;  John  S.  Brown,  1855-6;  James 
Byers,  Jr.,  1857-8;  John  S.  Brown,  1859;  W.  T. 
Adee,  1860-1 ;  William  M.  Byers,  1862-3 ;  George 
A.  Gilis,  1864-5;  James  Byers,  Jr.,  1866-7;  A.  C. 
Thompson,  1868-71;  William  M.  Byers,  1872-5; 
James  Gibson,  1876;  Henry  Christman,  1877-8; 
James  Byers,  1879-1904;  M.  McMurchy,  1904-07. 


FRANKLIN. 

Franklin,  the  northwest  township  of  the  county, 
has   more   streams   of   running   water   and   more 
timber  than  any  other   township   of  the  county. 
The  townships  of  Franklin,  Kingston  and  Genoa, 
that  of  the  northern  tier  of  the  count}',  was  in- 
eluded  in  the  Polish  survey  and  put  on  the  mar- 
ket several  years  earlier  than  the  twelve  towns 
south  of  it.     This  accounts  for  the  fact  that  the 
survey  of  lands  do  not  coincide  with  those  of  the 
towns  below  it.     The  settlement  of  Franklin  be- 
gan in  1836  and  it  is  now  believed  that  the  first 
settlers  of  Franklin  were  Andrew    and    William 
Miles  and  Samuel  Corey.     When  they  came  to 
Franklin  that  part  of  the  township  known  now 
as  the  Suter  fami  was  still  occupied  by  a  small 
settlement  of  Pottowattomie  Indians.     Here  they 
ground  their  corn  and  had  their  place  of  worship. 
They  had  a  totem  pole  surmounted  by  an  idol, 
where  they  had  their  religious  offices.     This  idol 
was  in  the  possession  of  Ebe  Lucas'  family  for 
many  years.    The  other  settlers  that  came  into  the 
town  this  year  and  the  year  following  were  Daniel 
Gilchrist,  T.  H.  Humphrey,  Theophilus-  Watkins, 
Samuel,  Charles  and  Henry  nicks,  Andrew  Brown, 
Harry  Holmes.  Allen  Gardner,  W.  T.  Kirk,  a  Mr. 
Owen,  from  whom  Owen  creek  takes  its  name,  B, 
M.  Dean,  John  McDowell,  Alvah  and  James  Ben- 
nett, Daniel  Cronkhite,  Martin  M.  Mack,  Spence 
Myers,  Ira  Dibble  and  Squire  J.  M.  Riddle.     In 
1837  the  Hicks  brothers  built  a  mill  near  what 
was  known  afterward  as  the  Hicks  ford  and  later 
this  locality  is  spoken  of  as  the  Hicks'  Mill  coun- 
try.    In  1837  those  who  came  suffered  from  the 
financial    depression   that  was   general    over   the 
country  and  when  that  land  came  into  the  market 
they  were  unable  to  pay  the  dollar  and  a  quarter, 
an  acre,  so  their  claims  were  purchased  by  Dr. 
Hobert  in  1842.     Around  Hicks'  Mill  sprang  up 
quite  a  village.  There  were  stores  and  blacksmith 
shops  and  it  bid  fair  to  be  one  of  the  thriving 
burgs  of  the  county.     Dr.  Hobert  at  the  time  of 
the  purchase  of  the  Hicks'  claim  was  a  man  of 
considerable   wealth.      He   was   president   of   the 
Claims  Association  of  that  locality  and  was  promi- 
nent in  town  and  county  affairs.    Thoroughly  edu- 
cated and  enthusiastic  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, he  was  a  man  of  fine  appearance,  possessed 
great  ambition  and   acquired  a  large  amount  of 


132 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALE    COUNTY. 


property,  bill  to  the  surprise  of  ;ill  who  knew  him 
died  of  delirium  tremens  in  the  earlj  '50s.  Eicks' 
Mil]  postoffice  was  instituted  in  1841,  with  Samuel 
Hick-  ,i-  postmaster,  and  the  receipts  of  that  office 
for  that  year  were  seven  dollars  and  seventy-two 
cents.  Blood's  Point  was  also  an  early  postoffice, 
a  place  well  known  over  the  country,  as  it  was 
just  across  the  line  in  the  county  of  Boone,  and 
many  of  the  settlers  had  that  as  their  place  of 
business.  Lacey  postoffice  was  established  on  the 
east  side  of  tin-  town  and  remained  quite  a  village 
until  the  building  of  the  railway  in  1876.  The 
Lacey  postoffice  the  B.rs1  year  of  its  existence  shows 
an  income  of  a  dollar  and  twenty-four  cents. 

The  first  marriages  recorded  in  this  locality  were 
•  Ion,-  Abernethy  ami  Betsey  Rand,  Miles  Abern- 
etby  and  Lucy  Hatch.  Daniel  Hatch  ami  Miss 
Abernethy.    The  firsl  school  was  taught  by  Bi 

Hand  in  a  lot;  scl Ihouse  on  -  ction  20,  in   1842, 

and  tin-  has  long  since  been  replaced  by  a  more 
pretenl  ious  building. 

Thomas  W.  Humphrey,  who  came  to  this  town 
at  an  early  day.  was  a  prominent  citizen  and 
lawyer  and  a  man  of  education  and  refinement. 
He  died  at  nn  early  age  in  1844.  His  eldest  son, 
General  T.  W.  Humphrey,  was  at  thai  tunc  eighl 
win-  of  age.  Martin  M.  Mack  was  the  county 
commissioner  and  a  man  well  known  throughout 
the  county.  \V.  T.  Kirk  was  one  of  the  large 
land-owners  of  this  township  and  at  one  time 
had  in  his  possession  fifteen  hundred  acres,  lie 
served   In-  town   many  years  as  supervisor.     The 

people  in  the  neighborh 1   of   Sicks'   Mill   were 

generally  from  the  southern  states,  especially  Ken- 
tucky and  Tennessee,  while  those  who  came  at  a 
later  day  were  from  the  New-  England  ami  middle 
-tat-.  Dr.  Basset!  was  the  first  physician,  lie 
subsequently  removed  to  Sycamore  ami  was  one 
of  the  early  physicians  of  that  township. 

The  tornado  of  Is:,:;  -truck  the  township  of 
Franklin,  passing  through  Kingston.  It  picked 
up  the  housi  ol  John  Young,  first  lifted  it  up. 
shattered  it.  and  it  was  carried  off  in  pieces  which 
were  never  found.  Mrs.  Young  was  instantly 
killed.  It  next  struck  the  residence  of  Ira  Dean, 
and  a  lady  relative  visiting  there  had  her  hack 
broken  and  died  soon  afterward.  Two  boys  at 
the  house  were  Mown  out  of  tin'  window,  but 
were  nut  -,  •  r  i  o  1 1  - 1  v  hurt.  Many  other  houses  and 
barns  were   unroofed    and    destroyed.      A   similar 


storm  passed  through  the  town  in  I860,  striking 
Franklin  near  the  Kishwaukee  river.  When  the 
tornado  struck  the  river  it  scooped  the  water  out, 
leaving  its  bed  dry  for  an  instant.  It  then  pass  d 
through  the  timber  and  took  everything  before  it. 
making  a  roadway  of  ruin  about  twenty  rods  in 
width. 

The  village  of  Kirkland  was  platted  in  lsOi  anil 
has  grown  to  he  one  of  the  thriving  towns  of  the 
county.  It  has  a  population  of  between  eight  or 
nine  hundred,  has  a  splendid  graded  school,  of 
which  Professor  I.  F.  Conover  i-  superintendent. 
The  first  church  was  built  in  this  village  in  1S85. 
The  Methodist  church  service  was  held  in  the 
public  school  building  until  L886,  when  the  pres- 
ent edifice  was  completed.  The  Swedish  Lutheran 
church  was  built  in  1888,  and  the  Congregational 
church  bought  this  >i\  years  later.  The  hotel  is 
owned  and  operated  by  J.  1>.  Morris,  present  coro- 
ner of  the  county.  Aside  from  being  a  well  built 
town.  Kirkland  can  boas!  of  the  largest  sheep 
-'nil-  on  the  Milwaukee  road  between  Chicago 
and  the  mountains.  They  are  owned  and  operated 
by  John  McQueen,  and  have  a  capacity  of  one  hun- 
dred thousand  -keep.  The  town  i-  well  supplied 
with  stores  of  everj  nature  and  ha-  been  -nice  i t -« 
organization  a  prominent  railroad  center. 

Pairdale,  formerly  known  as  Fielding,  was 
platted  in  1876  ami  for  a  time  was  much  larger 
ami  more  prosperous  than  Kirkland.  The  first 
building  in  this  town  was  ere,  ted  by  Lewis  Keith 
and  he  carried  a  line  of  general  merchandise.  L. 
W.  King  started  the  first  drug  store.  Henry 
O'Rourke  built  the  first  building.  The  Methodist 
church,  which  stood  about  three  miles  west  of  the 
village,  was  moved  into  Fairdale  soon  after  it  was 
-tailed  nml  a  new  building  now  replaces  tin-  old 
one  and  is  one  of  the  most  spacious  Methodist 
churches  in  the  county.  After  Kirkland  became 
a  coaling  and  watering  station,  where  all  trains 
stopped,  it  grew  rapidly,  outstripping  Fairdale  on 
the  west,  anil  owing  to  its  splendid  railroad  service 
does  a  freight  business  and  the  percentage  of  busi- 
ness i-  of  greater  proportions  than  many  town- 
four  time-   it-  size. 

Franklin  furnished  ninety-nine  men  for  the  na- 
tion during  the  Civil  strife,  and  of  the  number 
entering  the  service  quite  a  number  became  promi- 
nent. Among  that  number  was  Thomas  W.  Hum- 
phrey,  who.    being   left    an   orphan   at   the   age   of 


.rtv-flvr  miles 
,n<l  morning  he 


X0N31    'HOJ.Sy' 


were  no1  si 
barns   were   u« 


PAST   AND    PBESENT   OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


135 


eight  years,  struggled  with  the  hardships  of  fron- 
tier life  and  began  at  a  very  young  age  to  operate 
the  farm  owned  by  his  mother.  lie  acquired  an 
excellent  education  for  Ins  circumstances,  worked 
his  way  through  the  Beloit  College,  became  deputy 
circuit  clerk  of  De  Kalb  county,  married  at  twen- 
ty-one, and  during  the  same  year  purchased  the 
Humphrey  homestead.  He  was  always  a  bold, 
brave,  venturesome  youth,  whose  integrity  and 
manliness  of  character  made  every  one  his  friend. 
For  years  he  taught  country  school  during  the 
winter  and  in  1861  crossed  the  plains  to  California 
and  on  the  expedition  heroically  rescued  an  emi- 
grant and  his  family  from  a  tribe  of  hostile  In- 
dians. Eeturning  in  1862,  he  raised  a  company 
of  volunteers  from  the  borders  of  De  Kalb,  Boone 
and  McHenry  counties.  Many  of  the  boys  enlist- 
ing in  his  regiment  had  been  his  students  in  the 
country  school.  This  company  was  made  a  part 
of  the  Ninety-fifth  Illinois  Infantry  and  Mr. 
Humphrey  was  elected  major.  He  devoted  himself 
with  energy  and  ardor  to  the  profession  of  arms 
and  soon  held  a  commanding  position  in  the  regi- 
ment. He  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  lieu- 
tenant-colonel for  meritorious  service  and  upon 
the  resignation  of  Colonel  Avery  was  made  colo- 
nel. He  took  part  in  1 1 1 < ■  stunning  of  Vicksburg 
on  the  19th  and  22d  of  May,  1863,  was  wounded 
on  the  first  day,  but  continued  at  the  head  of  the 
regiment.  On  the  22d  lie  was  ordered  to  lead  his 
regiment  across  a  bridge  in  the  face  of  an  enfilad- 
ing fire  from  the  enemy.  He  put  himself  at  the 
head  of  the  regiment  and  was  one  of  the  three  who 
finally  passed  over.  He  took  refuge  behind  a 
hill  and  while  here  was  stunned  by  the  explosion 
of  a  shell  and  was  reported  killed,  but  during  the 
night  crawled  back  to  camp.  Horace  Greeley  in 
his  valuable  work,  "A  Great  American  Conflict."  in 
giving  his  report  of  the  disastrous  battle  of  Gun- 
town,  where  Colonel  Humphrey  lost  his  life,  says: 
"The  command  of  the  expedition  in  pursuit  of 
Forest  was  given  to  General  Sturgis  in  spite  of 
the  fact  that  he  had  proven  himself  an  incom- 
petent officer."  He  speaks  in  highest  terms  of 
Colonel  Humphrey.  The  army  were  compelled  to 
march  on  double  quick  during  the  sultry  forenoon 
of  June  10th  and  were  completely  exhausted  on 
reached  the  place  of  battle.  Instead  of  waiting  for 
his  artillery  and  organizing  his  army  for  a  gen- 
eral movement.  General  Sturgis  ordered  one  regi- 


ment to  charge  at  a  time.  When  the  orders 
reached  Colonel  Humphrey  he  suggested  to  Gen- 
eral Sturgis  that  it  would  be  better  to  wait  until 
he  could  be  supported  by  the  regiment  but  that  he 
was  there  to  obey  orders.  Without  any  further 
conversation  he  headed  his  regiment  for  the 
enemy  and  was  one  of  the  first  to  lose  his  life.  He 
was  mortally  wounded,  placed  in  an  ambulance, 
and  carried  twelve  miles  to  the  rear,  but  before 
reaching  the  destination  he  died  from  loss  of 
blood,  occasioned  by  the  jar  of  the  ambulance. 
His  body  was  then  taken  in  charge  by  one  of  his 
;i  ids.  placed  in  a  single  buggy  and  taken  to  Mem- 
phis, a  distance  of  sixty  miles.  There  the  body 
was  embalmed,  placed  in  a  steel  casket  and  sent 
to  his  home  in  Franklin.  His  brevet  as  brigadier 
general  was  issued  two  days  previous  to  his  death 
and  reached  his  home  in  Franklin  while  his  body 
was  a  corpse  at  the  old  homestead.  At  the  time 
of  his  death  General  Humphrey  was  twenty-nine 
years  of  age  and  no  man  in  De  Kalb  county  had 
a  brighter.mihtary  future.  Beneath  the  old  wal- 
nuts and  oaks  of  the  family  home  the  largest  con- 
course that  ever '  assembled  at  a  funeral  in  De 
Kalb  gathered  to  do  honor  to  the  memory  of  the 
martyred  hero.  The  funeral  was  conducted  by 
Major-General  Stephen  Ilulhert,  of  Belvidere,  who 
escorted  the  remains  from  Memphis  to  Franklin. 
The  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  W.  A.  Atch- 
ison, the  Methodist  preacher,  who  was  chaplain  of 
one  of  the  regiments  that  went  to  the  front  in 
1861.  The  Thomas  W.  Humphrey  post,  G.  A.  P., 
was  organized  in  Kirkland  in  1885,  with  the  Hon. 
Charles  F.  Myer  as  commander.  Franklin  sent 
John  B.  Nash,  who  became  captain  in  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fifth;  Lieutenant  Hiram  Harring- 
ton, who  died  during  the  war;  Lieutenant  Samuel 
Munson,  John  M.  Schoonmaker  and  John  W. 
Burst,  all  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  Illinois 
Infantry.  Lieutenant  Burst  entered  the  Fifteenth 
Infantry,  but  lost  his  sight  while  on  duty  in  Mis- 
souri, by  the  poison  of  a  scorpion.  After  nearly 
six  months'  blindness  he  recovered,  and  full  of 
ardor  for  the  great  cause  re-enlisted  in  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fifth,  and  after  two  years'  faithful 
service,  in  the  battle  of  New  Hope  Church,  lie  lost 
his  leg  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell.  His  leg  was 
amputated  in  the  field  hospital  and  the  next  day 
he  was  taken  across  the  mountains  forty-five  miles 
to  Kingston,  Georgia.     The   second  morning  he 


136 


PAST    AXD    PEESEXT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


was  placed  on  a  train  in  the  freight  ear  and  taken 
to  Chattanooga.  On  arriving  there  he  was  at 
once  carried  into  the  receiving  tent  and  the  wound 
was  examined.  Gangrene  had  set  in  and  he  was 
ordered  to  the  gangrene  morgue.  Another  am- 
putation was  promptly  made,  but  the  wound  did 
Mil  heal  and  a  third  amputation  was  made  after 
i  rival  at  home  about  the  middle  of  July.  1864. 
II.  was  commissioned  captain  but  never  mustered 
in.  the  commission  being  received  after  the  loss  of 
his  leg.  Major  Burst  was  appointed  postmaster, 
in  1866,  at  Sycamore,  and  entering  the  railway 
mail  service  was  appointed  in  1881  by  Governor 
Oglesby  as  warehouse  registrar  and  at  the  request 
of  Jeremiah  Husk,  secretary  ol  agriculture,  was 
appointed  inspector  of  emigration  in  Chicago. 
In  1894  he  was  quartermaster  general  of  the  G. 
A.  E.  In  the  fall  of  1896,  during  the  famous 
free  silver  campaign,  he  was  one  of  a  party  or- 
ganized by  General  Alger  and  composed  of  Gen 
erals  Howard,  Sickles,  Stuarl  and  Marden  and 
Corpora]  Tanner.  They  made  a  tour  of  thirteen 
states  in  the  interest  of  William  MeKinley.  After 
McKinley  became  presidenl  Major  Bursi  was  again 
appointed  inspector  of  emigration  in  Chicago, 
which  office  he  is  still  holding. 

The  others  who  lost  their  lives  and  who  enlisted 
for  service  in  the  war  from  the  town  of  Franklin. 
we  give  the  following:  Thomas  W.  Humphrey, 
Hiram  S.  Harrington,  W.  Miles,  Wesley  Witter, 
John  Stokes.  Eustus  Lusher,  Henry  Kline.  Alonzo 
Randall,  J.  II.  Strawn,  W  .1..  Foss,  C.  E.  Foss,  A. 
G.  Foss,  S.  L.  Cronkhite,  [saac  Weaver,  Perry  C. 
Rowan.  Danford  Gorham,  J.  G.  Griffin  and  John 
Eckert. 

In  18(36  the  Methodist  church  was  built  at 
Charter  Oak.  when-  a  postoffice  had  been  main- 
tained for  many  years.  After  the  building  of  the 
railway  and  the  building  up  of  Kirkland,  the 
Methodist  church  was  organized  there.  People 
gradually  removed  from  this  locality  into  Kirk- 
land. so  that  at  present  the  memberships  of  the 
Bethel  church  in  Mayfield  and  of  the  Charter  Oak 
church  have  been  taken  out,  the  members  uniting 
with  the  organization  at  Kirkland.  The  Baptist 
church  of  Sycamore  was  organized  in  this  town- 
ship in  1S50.  In  1004  the  T.  I.  &  M.  road  was 
built  through  the  town  of  Franklin,  touching 
Kirkland  on  the  south. 


The  citizens  of  Franklin  who  are  well  known 
outside  of  the  limits  of  their  town  are  I.  1!.  Drake. 
who  was  a  farmer  on  section  29,  served  his  town 
several  vears  as  supervisor.  J.  W.  Ellithorpe, 
farmer  and  storekeeper  east  of  the  present  village 
of  Fairdale.  He  was  a  man  of  good  ability  and 
was  at  one  time  mentioned  prominently  as  a  can- 
didate for  senator,  and  bad  it  not  been  for  the 
treachery  of  some  of  the  politicians  of  his  own 
town  might  have  been  nominated. 

Hon.  C.  F.  Myer  was  born  in  Germany  and 
came  to  Franklin  in  1862.  Before  a  year  had 
passed  he  had  become  proficient  in  the  English 
language  and  was  teaching  a  district  -ehool.    He 

enlisted  in  the  regiment,  returned 

in  Franklin  ami  married  a  daughter  of  John  M. 
Sehoonmaker  ami  engaged  in  fanning.  Mr.  Myer, 
being  a  man  of  splendid  attainment-,  succeeded 
well  in  business,  served  as  town  supervisor  for 
many  terms  and  in  many  other  capacities.  In  1892 
he  served  in  the  legislature  at  Springfield  ami  is 
at  present  visiting  his  mother,  who  still  live,-,  in 
•  (ermany. 

<;.  W.  Ault.  a  producl  of  De  Kalb  county,  bum 
in  Mayfield  township,  attended  district  and  graded 
schools,  served  as  clerk  in  the  bank  at  Kirkland, 
then  assistant  cashier  and  finally  became  a  partner 
with  D.  B.  Brown,  upon  whose  death  he  succeeded 
to  the  business  and  i-  a1  present  managing  one 
of  the  strong  financial   institutions  of  the  county. 

.Mr.  Ault  is  a  mi f  but   thirty-eight  years  ami 

hi-  sound  business  judgment  and  his  success  a-  a 
financier  speaks  well  of  his  uncommon  ability  in 
this  direcl  ion. 

The  sons  of  Daniel  Gilchrist,  one  of  the  early 
pioneers,  Warren,  and  Charles,  have  been  promi- 
nent in  township  affairs.  Warren  served  nearly  a 
quarter  of  a  century  in  the  office  of  assessor,  was 
a  man  respected  and  liked  by  every  one.  He  died 
on  his  farm  about  ten  years  ago.  Charles  Gilchrist. 
is  a  bachelor  and  leads  rather  a  retiring  life:  is  a 
man  well  read  and  is  of  that  nature  that  to  know 
i m iin.it' I \  is  but  to  respect.  Few  men  with  the 
opportunities  for  an  education  that  was  offered  him 
in  pioneer  days  are  better  posted  on  current,  affairs 
than  is  Mr.  Gilchrist.  The  only  fault  that  we  can 
fined  with  Charles  is  that  his  beautiful  home  east 
of  the  village  was  not  shared  by  a  mistress  that 
might  have  added  sunshine  and  made  this  bachelor 
even  more  happy  and  contented  than  he  now  is. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALR    COUNTY. 


137 


Another  gentleman  in  thi  town  of  Franklin  that 

deserves  special  mention  is  the  genial  Scotch  gen- 
tleman, Jolm  McQueen.  Born  on  the  other  side 
of  the  water,  he  had  attained  his  majority  when 
lie  left  Anld  Scotia's  shore  for  the  hind  of  promise. 
He  at  present  conducts  the  largest  sheep  industry 
in  this  section  of  the  country.  He  at  presenl  owns 
the  sheep  sheds  which  have  a  capacity  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  thousand  sheep.     In  addition  he  is 

tl wner  of  fifteen  hundred  acres  of  land  in  the 

vicinity  of  Kirkland,  which  is  used  during  the 
summer  and  fall  for  feeding  the  vast  numbers  of 
sheep  that  are  brought  to  Kirkland  from  the  west 
and  are  here  prepared  for  final  marketing.  This 
industry  naturally  gives  employment  to  a  large 
number  of  people  and  gives  a  splendid  demand  for 
the  produce  of  the  farm.  Two  families  of  this 
township  deserve  especial  mention  and  have  con- 
tributed  largely  in  the  building  up  of  this  com- 
munity. W.  T.  Kirk,  prominent  in  town  and 
county  affairs  and  at  one  time  the  largest  land- 
owner in  the  township,  settled  here  in  1837.  He 
had  a  large  family  of  children,  who  were  engaged 
in  business  in  Kirkland  at  different  times.  Wil- 
liam Rowan,  progenitor  of  the  Rowan  family,  set- 
tled here  in  the  early  '10s.  He  had  a  large  family 
of  sons,  who  had  attained  their  manhood  when 
they  came  to  Franklin  township.  Boyd  D.  Rowan 
was  one  of  the  successful  financiers  of  De  Kalb 
county  and  organized  the  present  Kirkland  Rank. 
Stephen  G.  Rowan  was  prominently  identified  with 
the  public  affairs  of  Franklin  township.  He  reared 
a  family  of  five  children,  who  are  making  excellent 
success  in  life.  Bainbridge  Dean  in  his  life  time 
was  the  owner  of  the  "Prairie  Home"  farm  of  six 
hundred  acres,  was  supervisor  of  his  town  for 
many  years  and  in  company  with  Boyd  Rowan 
established  the  bank  now  owned  by  G.  W.  Ault. 

VICTOR. 

i 
Victor,  one  of  the  younger  townships  of  the 
county,  was  at  first,  a  part  of  the  town  of  Clinton. 
The  first  settlers  who  came  to  this  section,  now 
known  as  Victor,  were  Jeremiah  Mulford,  first 
postmaster  under  Van  Ruren  and  who  named  the 
post-office  after  his  favorite  president.  During  the 
same  year  W.  H.  Keene,  Aruna  Reckwith,  James 
Green,  Newton  Stearns,  Peleg  Sweet,  George  N. 
Stratton,  Simon  Suydam,  IT.  C.  Beard  and  W.  R. 


Prescott  took  up  claims  in  this  locality,  and  during 
the  next  li\e  years  all  of  the  land  of  the  town- 
ship was  entered.  The  completion  of  the  C.  B. 
&  Q.  Railroad  and  the  establishment  of  a  station 
at  Somonauk  proved  advantageous  to  this  section 
and  the  next  year  settlers  came  in  rapidly  and 
soon  all  the  rich  prairie  was  filled  with  thrifty, 
industrious  people.  Many  Germans  and  Irish  were 
among  the  number  and  also  quite  a  colony  of  Xor- 
wegians.  Also  W.  H.  Keene  and  grandmother. 
Hopestill  Fritz,  who  died  a  few  years  after  com- 
ing to  Victor,  at  the  age  of  ninety  years.  It  was 
a  pleasant  memory  of  her  life  time,  which  she 
used  to  frequently  relate  that  "Shortly  after 
Washington  had  crossed  the  Delaware  into  Penn- 
sylvania the  general  and  his  staff  stopped  at  the 
home  of  her  father  to  get  a  drink.  She  hastened 
in  the  house,  brought  out  some  milk  and  supplied 
the  general  and  his  staff  to  their  heart's  content." 
Hopestill  Fritz  was  buried  in  the  Suydam  ceme- 
tery, and  owing  to  her  splendid  patriotism  and 
her  memories  of  "the  father  of  his  country,"  her 
grave  is  decorated  each  year  with  flowers  such  as 
are  strewn  over  the  graves  of  the  boys  who  served 
in  the  later  wars  of  the  republic. 

Victor  is  not  crossed  by  any  railroads  and  is 
exclusively  an  agricultural  township,  there  being 
no  villages  or  towns  within  its  borders,  and  there 
is  no  postoffice  in  this  section  at  the  present  time 
since  the  inaguration  of  the  rural  mail  route.  The 
Suydam  church  was  built  by  the  Methodists  in 
the  early  '70s  and  is  the  only  house  of  worship  in 
the  i own.  Services,  however,  are  held  by  the 
Methodists  in  the  Green  town  schoolhouse.  This 
schoolhouse,  one  of  the  best  country  school  build- 
ings in  the  count  v.  was  erected  for  the  double  pur- 
pose of  school  and  church  service. 

After  Victor  was  given  a  separate  organization 
in  1853  Benjamin  Darland  was  elected  its  first  su- 
pervisor. The  northeastern  part  of  the  town  was 
settled  largely  by  United  Presbyterians  and  among 
the  number  were  J.  C.  Beveridge.  who  served  the 
town  many  years  as  supervisor  and  for  over  thirty 
years  was  school  treasurer.  Hiram  Loucks  served 
his  town  for  years  as  supervisor  and  was  after- 
wards elected  a  member  of  the  legislature.  Hiram 
C.  Beard,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  town, 
taught  the  first  public  school  in  South  Grove,  the 
first  public  school  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  served 
as  supervisor  of  the  town  for  several  years  and  was 


138 


PAST    AND    PEESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


elected  county  superintendent  of  schools  during 
the  war.  Mr.  Beard  was  an  excellent  educator, 
was  progressive  in  his  ideas  and  the  men  who 
were  associated  with  him  in  the  management  of 
school  affairs  pronounced  him  an  excellent  official. 
Wallace  Moore,  a  resident  of  Victor,  enlisted  as  a 
volunteer  in  the  Civil  war  and  lost  an  arm  in  the 
service.  He  was  elected  county  clerk  in  1869  and 
served  till  1872,  dying  in  office.  The  supervisors 
of  Victor  were:  Benjamin  Darland,  one  year; 
Samuel  Lord,  one  year;  George  N.  Stratton,  three 
years;  H.  C.  Beard,  four  years;  J.  C.  Van  Der- 
veer,  two  years;  H.  C.  Beard,  1867-8;  William  H. 
Prescott,  three  years ;  J.  C.  Beveridge,  in  all  about 
seven  years;  Hiram  Loucks,  T.  J.  Warren,  Silas 
D.  Wesson.  William  Montague,  X.  -1.  Sawyer  and 
Alvin  Warren. 

S.  D.  Wesson  enlisted  in  the  Eighth  Illinois 
Cavalry  and  was  with  thai  regiment  to  the  close 
of  the  war.  Mr.  Wesson  is  a  speaker  of  consider- 
able force,  has  the  wit  of  the  son  of  Erin  and  is 
known  as  the  "'[ t  laureate." 

Simon  C.  Suydam,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
township,  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-six 
years  and  six  months  and  in  1899  had  his  pho- 
tograph taken  with  his  four  succeeding  genera- 
tions. Mr.  Suydam  remembered  well  the  sun 
of  the  French  and  Indian  war.  his  Life  covering  a 
greater  part  of  the  period  of  the  United  S 
history.  Victor  furnished  one  hundred  and  three 
men  for  the  Civil  war  and  raised  ten  thousand, 
eight  hundred  and  fifty-eight  dollars  for  use  in 
that  conflict.  Some  of  those  who  perished  in  the 
strife  were  Ferdinand  Van  Derveer,  B.  T.  Pi 
C.  T.  Bond.  ('.  B.  Suydam.  These  with  about  fif- 
teen others  constitute  the  sacrifice  during  the 
strife,  to  say  nothing  of  those  who  remained  and 
lost  their  health. 

CLINTON. 

Being  one  of  the  inland  towns  with  but  scanty 
inducements  in  the  way  of  timber  and  water  for 
the  early  settler,  the  now  prosperous  township  of 
Clinton  was  late  in  being  settled.  It  was  not  until 
the  year  1835  that  the  first  white  man  made  this 
place  his  home,  and  it  wa9  several  years  later  be- 
fore any  considerable  number  of  people  had  taken 
up  their  abode.  A  small  grove  about  one  hun- 
dred acres  in  extent  occupies  the  southwest  corner 


of  the  present  township.  In  bygone  days  a  portion 
of  the  Pottowattomie  tribe  of  Indians  lived  here, 
but  in  1832  when  Black  Hawk  was  captured  the 
band  left  this  domain,  only  visiting  it  occasionally 
on  hunting  expeditions  and  living  here  long 
enough  to  cultivate  the  corn  that  they  raised. 
Three  wigwams  which  they  used  while  so  em- 
ployed were  left  uninhabited  a  greater  part  of  the 
year. 

It  was  into  one  of  these  vacant  wigwams  that 
Oliver  P.  Johnson,  a  daring  young  man  of  twenty- 
three  years,  brought  his  wife  and  young  baby, 
April  22,  1835,  and  they  lived  in  the  deserted 
Indian  home  until  a  log  house  could  be  built.  Into 
the  newly  made  home  they  moved  and  for  three 
years  had  only  the  Indians  and  wild  beasts  for 
neighbors.  They  endured  privations  of  every  kind. 
but  held  their  claim  and  made  the  beginning  of 
the  present  Clinton  township.  Among  the  other 
early  settlers  were  W.  B.  Fields,  Parker  Thomas. 
Alexander  McXish.  Silas  Hines,  John  and  James 
Walker.  Preston  Curtiss,  William  Eobertson,  C. 
B.  Whitford,  Shelbume  and  Tracy  Scott.  Felix 
and  Baldwin  Woodruff.  Sylvester  and  Elbert  Hall, 
\ .  S.  and  T.  J.  Greenwood,  Benjamin  Matteson, 
William  Sherman.  J.  L.  Bailey,  J.  L.  Mighell, 
Wiiiiev  Hill,  John  Secor.  Later  on  came  Messrs. 
Phillips,  Congdon,  Humphrey,  Brown,  Roberts, 
■  ton  and  a  hosl  of  others  who  are  at  present 
reckoned  among  the  old  settlers. 

Clinton  as  a  civil  township  was  organized  in 
1850  and  it  then  included  a  part  of  the  townships 
of  Victor  and  Afton.  Beuben  Pritchard  was  the 
first  supervisor  and  held  this  responsible  position 
at  intervals  for  sixteen  years.  In  1853  the  town- 
ship assumed  its  present  proportions.  It  took  its 
name  from  the  almost  universal  wish  of  the  early 
settlers,  the  majority  of  whom  came  from  New 
York. 

Clinton  was  known  as  a  flourishing  farming 
district  for  many  years  before  it  was  known  as 
anything  else.  In  March  of  1872  the  village  of 
Waterman  was  surveyed  and  platted  by  County 
Surveyor  S.  T.  Armstrong,  from  land  owned  by 
Humphrey  Roberts  and  additions  from  the  Rob- 
erts. (Jreelv  and  Congdon  farms  have  since  been 
made. 

The  village  was  named  in  honor  of  T>.  B.  Water- 
man, general  solicitor  of  the  C.  &  I.  Railroad,  and 
as  soon  as  the  depot  was  located  the  present  town 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


130 


of  Waterman  commenced  to  thrive.  David  Chap- 
man erected  the  first  house  in  the  spring  of  1872 
and  about  the  same  time  Martin  Fancher  erected 
a  small  house  and  conducted  the  first  general  store. 
Among  the  other  pioneer  merchants  were  A.  Brad- 
bury, Coy  &  Giles,  Humphrey  &  Sampson,  deal- 
ers in  lumber;  David  Orr,  hardware;  Alexander 
Wallace,  furniture;  J.  B.  Griffith,  harness;  Mrs. 
Austin,  milliner:  E.  Dean,  meat  market;  George 
Wakefield.  grain  and  coal:  Newell  Persons  wagon 
maker;  Richard  Anderson,  blacksmith;  John  M. 
St.  John,  barber. 

From  the  time  of  its  first  appearance,  in  1872, 
Waterman  has  never  had  a  boom,  but  the  growth 
has  been  a  steady  one  and  is  still  continuing.  The 
business  street  reveals  the  fact  that  the  merchants 
are  a  wide-awake  set,  who  endeavor  to  please  their 
customers  by  keeping  a  large  assortment  of  sea- 
sonable and  up-to-date  goods. 

The  first  school  is  supposed  to  have  been  taught 
by  H.  C.  Beard  in  1847,  and  from  this  beginning 
the  educational  interests  developed  into  nine  school 
districts,  one  of  which,  the  village  school,  is  graded. 
Its  history  dates  back  to  the  year  1856,  when  Miss 
Reynolds  was  the  teacher,  in  a  small  frame  build- 
ing formerly  used  as  a  dwelling.  Two  years  later 
a  schoolhouse  was  built  and  Miss  Tilda  Kirkpat- 
rick  first  occupied  it  as  teacher.  The  building 
stood  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  south  of  the  pres- 
ent one  and  continued  to  do  service  until  1875, 
when  the  one  standing  today  was  erected. 

The  building  is  a  two-story  frame  structure  sit- 
uated in  a  quiet  and  healthful  part  of  town.  It 
became  a  graded  school  in  1876,  with  Charles  W. 
Rolph  as  its  first  principal.  It  continued  for  a 
number  of  years  with  only  two  rooms.  In  1887 
a  third  teacher  was  added.  At  present  it  consists 
of  the  primary,  intermediate  and  high-school  de- 
partments. By  alternating  and  combining  classes 
a  large  amount  of  the  higher  branches  can  be 
completed,  thereby  making  this  school  rank  well 
with  other  schools  of  more  grades.  The  principal 
and  his  assistants  have  all  had  normal  training 
and  several  years'  experience  in  teaching.  They 
bring  into  their  work  earnestness  and  thoroughness 
and  are  making  the  school  second  to  none  in  the 
county.  The  school  is  being  more  closely  graded 
and  a  course  of  study  is  being  prepared  for  it. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  teachers  of  Water- 
man public  schools  since  1876:     1876,  Charles  W. 


Bolph,  first  principal;  Sarah  ('.  Anderson,  first 
primary  teacher;  1877,  C.  W.  Curtis,  principal, 
four  months;  Ella  B.  York,  principal  and  pri- 
mary; Sarah  C.  Anderson,  primary;  1878,  C.  W. 
Curtis,  principal;  Ella  R.  York,  primary;  E.  M. 
Hicks,  primary;  187!),  ('.  \V.  Curtis,  principal; 
Kittie  Decker,  primary;  1880,  C.  W.  Curtis,  prin- 
cipal; Kittie  Deckei'.  primary;  Susie  Poland,  pri- 
mary; 1881,  D.  D.  Kail,  principal,  three  months; 
Harriet  Norton,  principal  and  primary:  Finette 
Norton,  primary;  1882,  Harriet  Norton,  princi- 
pal; Finette  Norton,  primary;  1883,  Frank 
Hutchinson,  principal;  Finette  Norton,  primary; 
1884,  W.  F.  Weston,  principal;  Finette  Nor- 
ton, primary;  18S5,  A.  J.  Long,  principal: 
Ellen  Hopkins,  primary;  1886,  N.  A.  Graves, 
principal;  J.  F.  Van  Vorhies,  principal: 
Emma  Warren,  primary;  Carrie  Graces,  pri- 
mary; Nellie  Fulle,  primary;  1887,  N.  A. 
Graves,  principal;  Belle  Wheeler,  intermediate; 
Ida  M.  Sage,  primary;  18S8,  same  as  1887;  1889. 
M.  M.  Young,  principal ;  Phoebe  Allbee,  intermedi- 
ate; Ida  M.  Sage,  primary;  1890.  J.  H.  Clark, 
principal;  Minnie  Tucker,  intermediate;  Ida  M. 
Sage,  primary;  1S92,  J.  H.  Clark,  principal;  Hat- 
tie  C.  Spencer,  intermediate;  1893,  G.  L.  Spalding, 
principal;  Charles  E.  Husk,  principal;  Minnie 
Tucker,  intermediate ;  Ida  .  M.  Sage,  primary ; 
1894,  Lester  Bartlett,  principal ;  Minnie  Tucker, 
intermediate;  Ida  M.  Sage,  primary;  Jennie  Flan- 
ders, primary;  1S95,  Lester  Bartlett,  principal; 
Carrie  Wormley,  intermediate ;  Mildred  Gray,  pri- 
mary; 1896.  P.  W.  Warner,  principal;  Carrie 
Wormley,  intermediate;  Mrs.  Carrie  Warner,  pri- 
mary; 1897,  P.  W.  Warner,  principal;  Blanche 
Wormley,  intermediate;  Mrs.  Carrie  Warner,  pri- 
mary; Mertie  Kirk,  primary;  1898,  J.  B.  Wallace, 
principal;  Harriet  Brainerd,  intermediate; 
Frances  Merk.  primary. 

Waterman  lias  reason  to  feel  proud  of  its  public- 
spirited  men  and  the  work  they  have  done  for 
their  town.  The  town  board  expends  time  and 
energy  in  looking  after  the  interests  that  will 
promote  the  growth  of  the  place. 

The  fire  protection  of  the  village  has  always 
been  adequate  to  all  needs  and  the  town  has  never 
suffered  a  disastrous  fire.  Several  have  started  in 
the  business  center,  but  they  have  been  discovered 
and  extinguished  before  any  considerable  amount 
of  damage  has  been  done.   A  gasoline  engine  with 


140 


FAST    AXD    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


hose  carl  form  the  main  part  of  the  fire  outfit, 
and  water  is  obtained  from  the  town  pump,  which 
has  a  supply  coming  from  five  hundred  feet  below 
ground.  The  town  is  also  supplied  with  a  system 
e-f-  water  works  erected  by  a  combination  of  pri- 
vate parties  and  a  stuck  company,  and  a  large 
elevated  lank  holds  the  supply.  Private  residences 
and  public  places  are  furnished  with  city  water  at 
a  n inal  cost. 

Croquet,  tennis  and  base  ball  occupy  consider- 
able of  the  leisure  time  of  many  Waterman  people, 
and  although  the  former  two  games  are  some- 
what on  the  wane  there  is  much  interest  in  the 
latter.  One  thing  that  makes  the  latter  game  still 
popular  is  that  Waterman  is  the  home  of  several 
■  rack  players.  Frank  Griffith,  who  was  at  one 
time  known  in  more  than  a  local  \\a\  as  the  left 
hand  pitcher,  passed  all  of  Ins  life  at  Waterman. 
On  account  of  an  injury  a  few  years  ago  he  is 
now  unable  to  play,  but  the  enthusiasm  is  -till 
kept  up. 

Waterman  was  the  only  small  town  in  this  vi- 
cinity of  the  state  that  followed  the  idea  pro- 
mulgated by  larger  places,  that  of  holding  a  mini- 
ature world's  fair.  The  summer  of  L894,  a  year 
after  the  World's  Pair  closed,  the  place  united  in 
making  a  world's  Pair  on  a  slightly  -mallei-  scale 
than  was  the  one  at  Jackson  Park  the  previous 
year.  The  relics  that  were  collected  were  intense- 
ly interesting  and  many  of  the  articles  which 
iln  \  exhibited  bad  had  a  place  in  the  big  fair. 
Tlie  young  people  who  had  charge  of  the  enterprise 
deserved  the  praise  which  they  received  for  so 
successfully  planning  and  executing  the  affairs, 
and  the  churches  were  richer  by  quite  a  sum  as  a 
result.  It  was  held  two  days  and  one  night  in 
the  Masonic  Hall,  which  had  keen  divided  into  two 

I Hi-  ami  streets  in  such  an  artistic  manner  a-  to 

he  scarcely  recognizable.  Everything  imaginable 
was  on  exhibition  ami  for  those  to  whom  curios 
were  uninteresting  a  refreshment  hall  and  Japa- 
nese tea  room  were  most  welcome  additions  to  the 
fail'  proper. 

A  custom  which  was  not  only  followed  that  year, 
Juit  has  keen  one  of  annual  occurrence  for  the 
past  twenty-two  years,  is  the  old  settlers'  meetings 
or  reunions,  which  are  held  the  first  Wednesday  in 
September  in  Johnson's  or  1'ritchard's  grove,  the 
place  where  the  Johnsons  and  Pritchards  first  lo- 
cated.    This   reunion   brings   together   all    of   the 


earl]  settlers  of  the  county  from  the  north,  south. 
east  and  west.  It  is  the  custom  for  whole  families 
to  pile  into  their  carriages,  wagons,  or  whatever 
conveyance  they  possess  and  start  early  in  the 
day  for  the  grove.  The  forenoon  programme  con- 
sists of  the  greeting  of  old  friends,  and  as  this  oc- 
casion is  an  opportunity  to  meet  the  friends  of 
long  ago.  as  well  as  the  new  ones,  everybody  is 
there.  Such  a  lot  of  handshaking  and  "Do  you 
remembers"  are  exchanged  that  day  that  the  re- 
union has  come  to  he  looked  upon  as  one  of  the 
most  enjoyable  holidays  of  the  year.  The  first  re- 
union was  held  in  1876  and  then  the  programme 
consisted  chiefly  of  a  picnic.  Every  family  brought 
a  lunch  basket  containing  dinner  enough  foi 
double  the  number  in  their  own  keeping,  so  that 
old  time  friends  spread  their  dinners  together  on 
the  ground  or  on  the  planks  which  formed  the  tem- 
porary -eats.  Now-  the  order  of  the  day  is  more  on 
the  plan  of  a  celebration,  and  the  program  from 
year  to  year  is  in  the  hands  of  an  organization,  of 
which  S.  I).  Wesson  i-  thi'  president.  Some  oratoT 
i-  engaged  to  make  a  speech,  reminiscences  by  the 
pioneers  are  given,  vocal  and  hand  music  inter- 
spersed throughout  the  day.  and  an  exciting  hall 
game  usually  played.  Thus  in  the  history  of 
Waterman  comes  an  incident  of  interest  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  country. 

In  the  line  of  societies,  Waterman  is  not  behind 
the  times.  Iter  churches  will  be  given  space  in 
the  chapter  set  aside  for  them,  hut  these  societies 
form  only  a  portion  of  the  social  life.  Secret  so- 
cieties form  another  part.  The  Masons  are  the 
pioneers  in  the  secret  society  line,  having  founded 
their  organization  in  is;  4.  They  built  the  Ma- 
sonic Hall,  a  two-story  frame  building,  twenty- 
six  by  sixty  feet,  that  they  might  have  a  place  for 
meeting,  and  the  building  has  since  served  as  a 
public  hall.  It  is  often  the  scene  of  many  a  pleas- 
ant dance  and  entertainment  by  both  home  and 
traveling  talent.  During  the  winter  a  dramatic 
club  is  usually  organized  and  by  combining  talent 
and  hard  work,  they  have  given  very  creditable 
plays.  Other  secret  societies  are  doing  all  in  their 
power  toward  the  upbuilding  of  the  town  in  a 
social  and  material  way,  hut  evidences  in  the  latter 
are  more  marked  with  the  Masonic  than  any  other 
organization. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


141 


In  her  quiet  and  yet  progressive  way  the  little 
town  of  six  hundred  inhabitants  is  in  the  ascen- 
dency. Many  of  her  young  people  are  attending 
high  educational  institutions,  some  are  gracing  the 
professions  and  others  are  holding  positions  of 
trust  at  home  and  abroad.  The  men  and  women 
who  have  made  the  town  and  have  built  up  the 
farming  community  can  now  rest  from  their  la- 
bors and  hear  the  verdict  of  ''Well  done." 

The  town  of  Clinton  sent  one  hundred  and 
eleven  men  into  the  service  to  suppress  the  re- 
bellion. They  appropriated  by  contribution  and 
luxation  thirteen  thousand,  seven  hundred  and 
forty-six  dollars  for  war  purposes.  Among  those 
from  Clinton  who  lost  their  lives  in  the  war  were 
Jonathan  Morris,  Egbert  Matteson,  M.  C.  Kirk- 
patriek,  Seeley  Simpson.  Henry  Kellogg,  James 
Lowe,  Ashael  Childs,  C.  Pose,  Jr.,  Corydon  Heth, 
Alfred  Hodgekin.  Charles  Nears  and  E.  A. 
Pritchard.  The  latter,  a  captain  in  Company  H, 
of  the  Thirteenth  Infantry,  was  a  bright  example 
of  the  Christian  soldier,  lie  came  to  Clinton  in 
1845,  studied  law  at  Aurora  and  Cincinnati,  prac- 
ticing in  Aurora.  He  left  his  young  family  at 
I  ho  outbreak  of  the  war,  served  three  years  most 
honorably  in  the  gallant  old  Thirteenth,  and  par- 
ticipated in  every  one  of  its  battles.  He  lost  his 
health  in  the  service,  fell  a  victim  of  consumption 
and  just  when  the  people  of  DeKalb  were  about 
to  eled  him  to  an  honorable  city  office  he  died  of 
that  dread  disease.  His  brother,  Pueben  Pritch- 
ard, was  a  man  of  more  than  local  prominence, 
served  his  town  six  years  as  supervisor  and  was  a 
member  of  the  legislature  from  this  district. 
Charles  Wesley  and  William  Wallace  Marsh  set- 
tled in  Clinton  and  have  gained  both  fame  and 
fortune  by  the  invention  of  the  famous  Marsh 
harvester. 

N.  S.  and  Charles  F.  Greenwood  were  early 
settlers  of  this  township,  both  served  as  supervisor, 
while  N.  S.  was  county  school  commissioner, 
Charles  F.  county  treasurer  and  afterwards  state 
senator. 

J.  D.  Poberts,  a  resident  of  Clinton,  and  one  of 
the  boys  raised  in  that  community,  is  a  remark- 
able example  of  the  successful  financier,  lie  has 
been  engaged  in  farming  all  his  life  and  with  but 
little  assistance  from  outside  owns  over  three  thou- 
sand acres  of  land  in  Illinois.  James  McCleery 
was  a  man  of  honor  and  integrity.     Had  a  happy 


disposition  ami  keen  wit,  but  was  a  sound  man 
in  public  and  business  affairs  and  was  an  exem- 
plary man  in  the  homo  and  a  true  Christian.  The 
supervisors  from  this  town  have  been  Reuben 
Pritchard.  James  R.  Eastman,  Arunah  Hill, 
Cyrus  B.  Whitford,  <>.  A.  Tubbs,  N.  S.  Greenwood, 
W.  ('.  Macey,  J.  P.  MighelL  Robert  Humphrey, 
George  Greenwood,  Edwin  Fraser,  Charles  Green- 
wood, James  McCleery,  Humphrey  Roberts,  Wil- 
liam Randall  and  Wilder  Potter. 

In  1855  the  Methodist  Episcopal  class  was  or- 
ganized, which  was  named  the  Twin  Grove  class. 
and  in  1867  a  church  was  erected  on  the  Harvey 
Fuller  farm,  north  of  town.  In  the  winter  of 
1873  it  was  removed  to  the  village  of  Waterman. 
The  Baptist  church  was  organized  in  1856.  the 
church  was  erected  in  1872.  The  Presbyterian 
church  has  been  organized  since  the  building  of  the 
village  of  Waterman. 

AFTON. 

The  early  history  of  Afton  is  not  filled  with 
Indian  atrocities,  as  it  had  neither  Indians  nor 
people  for  them  to  harass,  in  early  days.  After 
the  wooded  portions  of  the  county  were  settled,  the 
prairie  land  of  Afton  began  to  be  populated.  W. 
R.  Campbell  claiming  the  honor  of  being  the  first 
settler.  He  was  soon  followed  by  John  A.  Hay- 
den,  to  whom  the  credit  is  given  for  naming  the 
town.  The  head  waters  of  Little  Rock  creek  are  in 
this  township,  and  while  working  along  its  banks, 
Mr.  Hayden  was  constantly  reminded  of  the  song. 
"Flow  Gently  Sweel  Alton."  and  persisted  in  call- 
ing the  stream  "Sweet  Alton."  The  name  always 
clung  to  the  land. 

While  the  place  was  sparsely  peopled  the  coun- 
try was  included  under  the  government  of  DeKalb 
and  of  Clinton,  and  while  in  this  condition  was 
settled  by  Daniel  Washburn,  Timothy  Pierson, 
John  McGirr,  Benjamin  Muzzy,  Charles  Ward, 
Francis  Bemis,  Alexander  Folger,  T.  R.  Elliott, 
Michael  Fennin,  Patrick  Brock.  William.  Osborn 
and  Sanford  Tyler.  Silas  Tappan.  E.  Noble  and 
Mr.  Farrell. 

By  the  time  the  year  of  1853  had  been  ushered 
in.  the  community  decided  to  be  organized  into 
a  township.  Ezekiel  Noble  prepared  the  petition 
and  circulated  it.  There  were  twenty-one  signers 
of  the  petition,  but  only  nine  of  them  were  legal 
voters.    The  others  became  voters  before  the  spring 


143 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


election.  The  first  election  was  held  in  the  house 
of  S.  A.  Tyler,  April,  1856.  Ezekiel  Noble  was 
elected  supervisor;  Sanford  A.  Tyler,  town  clerk; 
Clark  Glidden,  assessor  and  collector;  Timothy 
Pierson  and  Orson  Pearl,  justices  of  the  peace. 

About  that  time  the  school  lands  of  the  town 
were  placed  on  the  market  and  sold  to  settlers, 
making  the  school  fund  of  the  town  about  seven 
thousand  dollars,  which  now  remains  intact. 
About  this  time  the  town  was  divided  into  two 
school  districts.  The  east  half  was  the  first  dis- 
trict,  the  west  half  the  second  district.  The  east 
half  was  taxed  to  build  a  schoolhouse,  costing  five 
hundred  dollars.  The  contract  was  Lei  to  E.  Noble, 
and  the  building  was  completed  to  hold  school  dur- 
ing the  winter  of  1856.  The  next  year  the  town 
was  divided  into  nine  districts  of  four  sections 
each,  and  has  remained  so  up  to  the  pn  sent  time, 
with  few  changes.  The  settlers  flowing  in  rapidly, 
the  schoolhouses  were  built  in  the  center  of  each 
district,  as  circumstances  required.  The  center 
schoolhouse  is  a  neat  building,  standing  near  the 
A  Eton  center  church. 

The  church  was  built  in  1867,  mainly  through 
the  efforts  and  monej  furnished  bj  William  Wat- 
son, others  contributed  somewhat  t<>  its  erection, 
and  now  the  entire  surrounding  country  helps  in 
its  support.  It  is  of  an  Advent  denomination, 
but.  being  the  only  church  in  the  township,  is  nat- 
urally attended  by  all  of  the  people  with  religious 
inclinations.  \  cemeb  ry  lias  been  established  near 
the  church. 

The  early  settlers  were  rapidly  reinforced  by 
newcomers,  so  that  by  the  time  the  war  broke  out 
the  following  families  hail  taken  up  their  abode 
in  Afton:  J.  W.  Ward.  C.  W.  Broughton,  John 
Jones.  John  1'.  Newhall,  Clark  Glidden,  Mr. 
Lawther,  B.  Pierce.  L.  DeForest,  M.  DeForest, 
John  Pooler.  E.  L.  Mosher.  TT.  P.  Bollins.  William 
Watson,  E.  .1.  Farmer,  the  Makarrolls,  James 
White.  Sr.,  James  White.  Jr..  H.  Kingsley,  James 
Carter.  Richard  Boyce,  J.  .1.  Pent.  Dana  Earl. 
Judge  Parks.  D.  B.  Striker.  Daniel  Lattin.  Ed- 
ward Boland.  John  and  Martin  Lyons,  John  Mc- 
Dole.  John  and  Reward  Sturtevant,  Walker  Bent. 
Benjamin  Mosher,  Orson  and  Julius  Pearl,  Alex- 
ander Gamble.  T.  Knights.  Xewell  Thompson, 
Harrison  Burt.  0.  M.  Tanner.  George  King. 
Erastus  Dean.  Enoch  Darwell,  Moses  Chambers 
and   Enos   Morrell.      Eighty-one  men   were  fur- 


nished during  the  war  and  the  township  paid  boun- 
ties to  the  amount  of  twenty  thousand  dollars. 

Afton  was  known  only  as  a  farming  community 
until  1884,  when  the  Northern  Illinois  branch  of 
the  Northwestern  road  was  built  diagonally 
through  the  township  and  a  station  begun.  It  was 
named  Elva  in  honor  of  Elva  Glidden  Bush,  wife 
of  William  II.  Bush,  of  Chicago,  a  daughter  of 
Hon.  J.  F.  Glidden,  of  DeKalb.  The  station  is 
scarcely  more  than  a  shipping  point  and  a  mail 
office,  although  it  contains  a  creamery  and  a  gen- 
eral store.  It  being  on  a  branch  line  of  the  main 
railroad  and  near  the  large  town  of  DeKalb,  it 
will  probably  never  grow  to  any  great  proportions. 

The  growth  and  the  changes  since  the  town  was 
first  inhabited  are  not  marked,  but  they  are  numer- 
ous, and  the  old  settlers,  with  few  exception^ 
either  passed  to  their  long  home  or  have 
moved  to  the  west  or  east,  or  to  the  cities,  to  take 
their  ease  during  tic  remainder  of  their  days, 
and  their  places  are  occupied  by  sons  or  tenants, 
as  the  case  may  lie.  The  only  persons  now  living 
in  Alton  township  of  the  early  settlers  are  J.  W. 
Ward.  Michael   Pennin  and  E.  Noble. 

The  principal  offices  of  the  township  have  been 
held  as  follows:  Supervisors,  E.  Noble,  C.  W. 
Broughton,  Henry  Kingsley,  S.  W.  Patten.  John 
Ryan  and  I.  Woods;  town  clerks.  S.  A.  Tyler, 
Julio-  C.  Pearl,  0.  W.  Baker.  Xewell  Thompson. 
S.  W.  Patten,  E.  (inn-.  Martin  Lyons.  Bernard 
Lyons,  J.  W.  Ward,  E.  L.  Mosher,  E.  Noble,  Grant 
1-'..  Mosher.  Other  offices  were  filled  by  too  many 
different   ones  to  mention. 

DE  KALB  TOWNSHIP. 

The  first  -  ttlement  in  Dp  Kalb  Township  was 
made  on  Section  One,  in  what  is  now  commonly 
known  as  Coltonville.  Like  the  settlements  of 
other  localities,  these  pioneers  came  to  the  streams 
and  wood-  to  make  their  homes.  The  first  settlers 
of  the  township  were  John  B.  Collins  and  Norman 
O.  Moore.  Collins  settled  on  a  farm  later  owned 
by  Captain  Burpee  and  Moore  made  a  claim  a 
mile  or  two  north  of  him.  The  spring  of  1835  is 
•j i ven  as  the  date  of  their  coming,  but  before  the 
close  of  that  year  others  had  settled  near  the 
Pottawatomie  Village,  located  on  Section  One.  A 
man  by  the  name  of  McClellan  made  a  claim  to 
the  south  end  of  the  grove,  which  was  afterward 
sold  to  Russell  Huntley.    The  central  part  of  the 


EIEST    INDUSTRY    IN   DE   KALB.   "THE  OLD  MILL  SITE.' 


fTH!   :  •  ■>         RK 
'OBI  ,ry 


JIBES  FOIiNpATIOW9i 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    I»K    KAMI    COUNTY. 


II.-. 


Grove  was  claimed  by  .lames  Cox  and  .lames 
Paisley,  and  (lie  former  located  Ids  cabin  en  the 
farm  now  owned  l.\  ('.  W .  Marsh. 

As  has  been  stated  in  a  previous  chapter  of  the 
County  History,  in  1832  the  army  under  General 
Whiteside,  numbering  about  twenty-two  hundred, 
consisting  of  one  regiment  of  regulars  and  tin.' 
balance  of  volunteers,  marched  from  Stillman's 
Run  to  the  month  of  the  Kishwaukee,  thence  fol- 
lowing the  south  side  of  that  stream  to  the  Potta- 
watomie village  mi  section  one.  where  they  camped 
and  found  some  of  the  plunder  taken  from  Still- 
man's  men  by  the  savages.  The  Indians  had  been 
taken  from  this  locality  in  about  1S35,  lint  many 
marks  are  found  today  of  their  village.  When  the 
white  men   first   came   to   Coltonville  they   found 

a  burying  ground  where  many  Indians  had  1 a 

buried,  while  a  number  of  papooses  were  wrapped 
in  bark  and  suspended  among  the  branches  of 
the  trees.  It  has  been  stated  that  a  company  of 
United  States  mounted  troops  at  about  1835 
escorted  the  Indians  from  this  village  to  Paw  Paw 
grove  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  county,  pre- 
paratory to  removal,  and  it  is  also  stated  that  this 
same  company,  while  marching  to  their  destination, 
camped  on  the  site  of  the  present  village  of  De 
Kalb.  "While  here  one  of  their  number  attempted 
to  desert  ami  he  paid  McClellan  a  sum  of  money 
to  secrete  him  ;  but.  being  threatened  by  the  officer 
in  command.  McClellan  gave  him  up  again  and  he 
was  tied  to  the  rear  of  the  army  wagon  and 
dragged  on  foot  through  the  remainder  of  the 
route.  The  neighbors,  indignant  at  McClellan*s 
treachery,  threatened  to  lynch  him  and  he  was 
obliged  to  fly  the  country  to  secure  safety." 

In  the  autumn  of  1835,  Messrs.  Jenks  &  Com- 
pany claimed  tin'  land  known  later  as  the  Schrv- 
ver  farm.  Here,  a  little  later,  they  dammed  the 
creek,  built  a  mill  and  projected  a  town  in  the 
vicinity.  The  streams  were  much  larger  then 
than  now  and  it  was  thought  that  the  water  power 
would  be  of  permanent  value,  but  a  dry  summer 
or  two  convinced  them  of  their  mistake  and  they 
never  completed  their  proposed  village.  The  mill 
was  sold  and  repaired  and  the  dam  enlarged  and 
instead  of  using  the  overshot  wheel  they  used  the 
turbine.  The  same  mill  was  used  until  the  later 
forties,  when  it  was  abandoned  and  taken  down. 
The  site  of  the  old  mill  is  now  owned  by  George 
Clark. 


By  way  of  explanation  we  will  state  thai  the 
timber  land  of  DeKalb  township  naturally  divided 
itself  into  three  parts.  'Flic  South  Grove,  or  Hunt- 
ley's Grove,  was  separated  from  the  Central  Grove, 
later  called  Union  Grove,  by  a  gap  extending  east 
and  west  over  the  present  site  of  the  Norma] 
bridge.  Another  gap  was  found  on  the  land  owned 
by  Phineas  Stevens  and  extending  westward,  and 
for  a  long  time  these  settlements  were  known  by 
the  names  Huntley's  Grove,  Union  Grove  and  Col- 
tonville. The  latter  became  the  more  populous 
settlement  and  had  a  village  that  was  aspiring  to 
be  the  county  seat  and  in  fact  the  first  court,  held 
in  the  county  after  its  organization  was  held  at 
that  place. 

Mr.  Eufus  Colton  and  Phineas  Stevens  came 
here  at  a  very  early  date  and.  as  both  bad  means, 
immediately  began  to  improve  their  village.  In 
(be  later  thirties  there  was  a  store,  blacksmith  shop 
and  a  post-otlice.  tbe  receipts  of  which  in  1839  were 
$32.84,  which  were  tbe  largest  receipts  of  any  office 
in  the  county  up  to  that  date. 

Mr.  Phineas  Stevens  built  a  distillery,  which 
was  located  on  what  is  now  the  Henry  Groves 
farm.  This  was  operated  for  several  years  but  did 
not  prove  a  very  paying  investment.  It.  was  built 
of  timber  sawed  at  tbe  old  mill,  which  has  just 
been  mentioned. 

Eufus  Colton  built  a  large  hotel,  the  dedication 
of  which  has  been  mentioned  in  the  County  His- 
tory, and  this  was  for  many  years  the  most  pre- 
tentious building  in  the  county. 

A  mail  route  ran  from  Sycamore,  through  Col- 
tonville, on  to  Dixon  in  183(3. 

To  show  how  valuable  the  timber  lain!  was  at 
that  dale  and  how  little  the  pioneers  valued  the 
prairie,  we  will  give  the  following  incident.  Mr. 
Russell  Huntley,  representing  a  company  of  capi- 
talists who  designed  to  build  mills  and  carry  on 
fanning  and  if  possible  lay  out  a  town,  moved  to 
I  be  siuilli  end  of  the  grove  and  bought  the  claim 
id'  Jesse  Root.  This  was  the  period  of  wild-cat 
money  and  it  was  very  plentiful  and  every  one 
lad  some  scheme  to  acquire  wealth.  Mr.  Huntley 
bough!  all  of  the  southern  part  of  the  grove,  pay- 
ing for  tbe  same  fifty-three  hundred  dollars.  This 
purchase    embraced    about    live    hundred    acres    of 

ii I  land  and  as  much  of  the  prairie  as  he  chose 

tn  call  his  own.  "As  it  seemed  desirable,  however, 
that  each  should  know  where  his  line  was.  he  made 


146 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


an  agreement  with  the  Brady's  of  Brody's  Grove, 
about  ten  miles  west  of  him,  that  the  division  line 
between  them  should  he  half  way  between  the  two 
groves ;  and  he  made  a  similar  verbal  arrangement 
with  inhabitants  of  Shabbona  Grove  on  the  south." 

In  the  summer  of  1836,  the  first  election  held 
in  the  county  was  at  the  home  of  Captain  Eli 
Barnes,  on  land  now  owned  by  Henry  Groves. 
Voters  came  from  all  parts  of  the  county-  It 
was  an  election  for  justice  of  the  peace  and  we 
must  remember  at  this  time  that  the  available 
settlements  of  what  is  now  DeKalb  county  were 
known  as  the  Kishwaukee  district  and  were  a  part 
of  La  Salle  count}''.  Stephen  Mowry  and  Captain 
Collier  were  elected  justices  and  received  their 
commission  from  the  governor,  countersigned  by 
a  county  officer  from  La  Salle  county.  Mr.  Samuel 
Miller  of  Squaw  Grove,  relates  that  ten  dollars  was 
sent  down  to  him  by  one  of  the  candidates  to  pay 
him  for  bringing  up  ten  voters  and  that  these 
voti  re  carried  his  election.  Mr.  Boies  says,  in  his 
history,  that  this  was  probably  the  first  $10  spent 
to  cany  an  election  in  this  county,  but  not  the 
last  by  thousands. 

Hard  times  followed  the  period  of  wild-cat 
money  and  the  people  grew  very  poor  and  in  1843, 
when  the  land  that  has  just  been  described  came 
into  market,  Mr.  Huntley  offered  large  portions 
of  it  for  $1.25  an  acre.  Some  of  this  land  is  where 
the  city  of  DeKalb  now  stands.  For  twenty  years 
he  kept  an  excellent  tavern,  built  of  logs,  and  in 
busy  seasons  of  travel  it  was  continually  crowded 
by  teamsters  who  came  from  as  far  west  as  the 
Mississippi  river  and  were  on  their  way  to  Chi- 
eago  with  grain.  A  good  picture  of  this  hotel  will 
be  found  in  another  portion  of  the  work.  As  it  did 
not  pay  at  all  times  to  haul  the  grain  to  Chicago, 
thousands  of  bushels  of  wheat  were  fed  to  cattle 
without  threshing.  The  people  of  this  locality  did 
not  thrive  materially  until  the  railroad  was  built 
in  1853. 

Another  settler  who  came  into  the  county  in 
1835  and  was  prominently  identified  with  the 
county  history  was  Frederick  Love,  who  settled  in 
the  timber  on  the  land  now  owned  by  his  grand- 
son, Frederick  Love.  Those  who  came  in  1836 
were  Jacob,  Joel  and  Alpheus  Jenks,  David  Wal- 
rod,  Samuel  Thompson,  Solomon  Hollister  and 
Levi  Barber,  with  his  two  eldest  sons,  Harry  and 
Lyman.     Clark  Barber  came  a  few  months  later. 


The  older  Barber  made  claim  on  section  15  and 
Clark  L.  Barber  made  his  claim  on  land  adjoining. 
Here  he  built  a  log  house,  the  chimney  being  made 
of  slicks  plastered  with  mud,  the  roof  of  "shakes" 
split  from  oak  timber,  and  the  floor  of  puncheon. 
Clark  Barber  was  married  in  May,  1839,  to  Mary 
M.  Spring,  and  this  house  was  their  home  in 
with  their  oldest  daughter  Louise,  now  Mrs.  Jacob 
Crawford  of  DeKalb,  was  born  in  1840.  This 
old  place  was  known  far  and  near  as  the  Barber 
farm. 

W.  R.  Thompson  also  came  in  1836  and  pur- 
chased a  farm  on  which  was  a  little  log  house.  It 
Mas  surveyed  afterwards  as  section  one  and  was 
located  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Kishwaukee 
from   Coltonville. 

.The  marriage  of  Russell  Huntley  and  Selina 
A.  Goodell  took  place  September  25th,  1838,  and 
was  the  second  marriage  in  the  township,  the  first 
being  that  of  Harry  Barber  and  Rachel  Spring, 
October  5th,  1837,  and  their  daughter  Amelia  was 
born  in  1838.  Previous  to  this,  however,  a  child, 
the  first  born  in  the  township,  came  into  the  home 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  N.  C.  Moore. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  the  son  of  Ora  A. 
Walker,  in  August.  1837,  and  three  weeks  later 
M  re.  Ruth  Cartwright  passed  away. 

The  first  physician  was  Dr.  Bassett,  who  first 
came  to  Coltonville  and  later  removed  to  Syca- 
more. 

Rufus  Colton  kept  the  first  store  in  what  is  now 
DeKalb  township,  the  business  being  carried  on  at 
Coltonville  as  early  as  1837. 

The  first  revival  of  religion  was  held  in  a  large 
barn  on  the  Schryver  farm  in  the  summer  of  1837 
and  was  conducted  by  Jacob  Jenks. 

The  first  attorney  was  Mr.  A.  R.  Crothers,  who 
located  at  Coltonville  in  1837.  By  many  he  is  said 
to  have  been  the  first  lawyer  to  reside  in  the 
county. 

The  first  election,  after  the  vote  to  set  DeKalb 
county  apart  as  a  separate  organization,  was  held 
at  the  home  of  Frederick  Love.  The  first  regular 
commissioners'  court  was  held  at  the  home  of 
Rufus  Colton,  and  continued  to  be  held  at  that 
place  until  the  county  seat  was  located  at  Syca- 
more. Frederick  Love  also  kept  a  tavern  and 
his  home  was  large  and  spacious  for  that  time 
and  Mr.  Love  hoped  that  sometime  the  county  seat 
might  be  located  on  his  farm. 


/- 

- 


F<  All 


ASTOH 


J&Sg* 


PAST   AND   PBESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


147 


Another  early  marriage  was  that  of  Cornelia 
Spring  to  Lyman  Barber  in  1838.  Thus  we  have 
three  brothers  married  to  three  sisters,  which  trans- 
ferred the  hardships  of  pioneer  life  into  pleasure. 

The  first  school  in  the  township  was  held  at 
Coltonville,  in  a  house  erected  for  that  purpose  in 
the  summer  of  1838.  Miss  Barber  taught  the 
summer  term  and  a  Mr.  Lawrence  the  winter  term. 
Dr.  E.  P.  Wright  also  taught  a  term  here.  The 
Honorable  Thomas  Ford,  afterwards  governor  of 
Illinois,  was  the  presiding  judge  who  held  the  first 
term  of  court  in  DeKalb  county.  Mr.  George 
Clark,  at  present  a  resident  of  DeKalb,  is  our  au- 
thority for  stating  that  the  first  school-house  erect- 
ed in  DeKalb  township  for  school  purposes  still 
stands  on  the  farm  owned  by  Charles  Adee  in 
Coltonville.  It  stood  just  east  of  the  house  erected 
by  Mr.  Colton  and  has  now  been  moved  about 
fifteen  rods  to  the  southwest  and  is  at  present  a 
granary. 

As  late  as  1839  Mr.  Calvin  S.  Colton  located 
near  his  brother  Eufus  in  Coltonville,  and  he 
states  that  as  many  as  fifty  bodies  of  papooses 
were  suspended  in  a  horizontal  position  among 
the  branches  of  the  trees,  for  it  was  the  custom  of 
the  Indians  to  dispose  of  bodies  of  dead  children 
by  covering  them  with  bark  and  suspending  them 
from  the  branches  of  the  trees. 

In  early  days  fruit  was  scarce  but  many  of  the 
pioneers,  coming  from  New  York  state  where  trees 
were  plentiful,  adopted  the  custom  of  their  native 
state  and  set  out  orchards.  The  first  was  set  out 
by  Eli  Barnes  in  1839  and  in  the  following  year 
one  was  started  by  William  E.  Thompson.  We 
have  no  record  left  of  an  orchard  being  planted  be- 
fore that  time. 

Wanton  Barber  came  to  DeKalb  in  1840  and  has 
for  a  number  of  years  been  the  oldest  resident 
of  that  town,  still  residing  within  its  borders. 

Few  settlers  came  in  1840  and  1841,  but  in  the 
spring  of  1842  a  native  of  New  Hampshire, 
Joseph  F.  Glidden,  came  to  DeKalb  and  pur- 
chased of  Eussell  Huntley  400  acres  of  land  just 
west  of  the  Grove,  on  which  he  erected  a  log  cabin, 
where  for  several  years  he  kept  an  excellent  tav- 
ern. Besides  farming  and  acting  as  landlord 
Mr.  Glidden  drove  a  stage  and  carried  the  mail. 
Joseph  W.  and  Steven  H.  Glidden  bought  adjoin- 
ing tracts  of  land  and  for  several  years  the  three 
brothers  were  in  company  in  the  farming  business. 


Joseph  W.  did  considerable  literary  work  and  arti- 
cles from  his  pen  are  found  in  many  DeKalb  homes 
to  this  day.  He  died  on  the  old  home  farm.  The 
people  of  DeKalb  still  remember  Steven  as  a  great 
lover  of  horses,  always  having  a  great  number 
of  racers  on  his  farm.  He  died  in  1876.  Joseph 
F..  the  first  to  come  here,  has  been  of  so  much 
benefit  to  this  town  that  it  is  with  feelings  akin 
to  reverence  that  the  people  of  DeKalb  speak  of 
him.  It  was  he  who  invented  barbed  wire,  fur- 
nished a  home  for  the  Normal  school  and  has  done 
a  number  of  minor  good  deeds. 

The  settlement  in  1844  was  enjoying  quite  rapid 
growth.  James  Duffy  and  his  sons  came  in  this 
year  and  located  on  tbe  prairie  one  and  one-half 
miles  south  of  the  Phineas  Stevens  farm,  and  in 
1849  they  bought  the  old  Duffy  homestead  two  and 
one-half  miles  south  of  the  present  city  of  DeKalb. 

Myron  H.  Dermeter  lived  in  a  little  shanty  on 
the  Batherick  claim.  This  and  the  Duffy's  were 
the  only  buildings  standing  out  from  the  timber 
between  Huntley's  tavern  and  Shabbona  Grove. 
H.  B.  Curler,  who  .came  here  in  1856,  says  that 
but  two  trees  were  then  growing  between  those  two 
places. 

In  1844,  Jared  and  Clark  Carter,  father  and  son, 
came  here  and  camped  for  a  while.  In  1845  they 
worked  the  old  Whitmore  farm,  in  1846  the  old 
Love  farm  and  in  1849  they  purchased  a  claim 
of  Asa  Palmer,  having  a  little  log  cabin  and  into 
this  the  family  moved.  This  is  the  old  Carter 
homestead,  located  three  and  one-half  miles  south- 
west of  DeKalb. 

John  Breckhart  was  another  pioneer  of  1841. 
Ee  bought  a  little  log  house  in  the  timber,  just 
south  of  the  Bemus  store  on  First  street. 

Christopher  and  Wilson  Love  came  in  this  year 
and  they,  like  others,  made  their  first  stopping 
place  near  Frederick  Love's  and  have  since  been 
instrumental  in  the  permanent  growth  of  De- 
Kalb. 

This  same  year  L.  B.  King,  a  Baptist  minister, 
located  here.  He  was  the  only  circuit  preacher  of 
this  denomination  in  this  section  and  held  meet- 
ings in  the  old  Huntley  tavern.  He  was  the 
father  of  W.  B.  and  Charles  King. 

The  log  tavern  conducted  by  Eussell  Huntley 
had  done  good  service  and  in  1845  was  replaced 
by  a  little  frame  hotel,  known  as  the  Eagle  Hotel, 
which,  though  extensively  added  to  and  repaired, 


148 


PAST    AXD   PRESENT    OF    DE    KALI'.    COUNTY. 


lias  gone  down  through  the  generations  as  the 
Eagle  Hotel,  which  -till  stands  but  has  been  re- 
moved to  another  part  of  the  city.  It  was  on  the 
site  now  occupied  by  the  First  National  bank.  The 
hotel  was  not  large  and  many  of  the  teamsters  and 
traveler?  were  obliged  to  sleep  in  the  stable. 

This  was  the  beginning  of  the  present  village  of 
DeKalb.  The  firs!  store  kept  in  what  is  now  the 
city  of  DeKalb  was  by  Mr.  Goodell  and  B.  Ruby, 
who  was  a  physician.  Dr.  F.  B.  Wright  was  the 
first  practicing  physician  in  the  village.  James 
Goodell  and  Caroline  Batherick  were  the  first  to 
be  married  in  the  village. 

Huntley's  Grove  settlement  did  not  grow  until 
the  survey  of  the  railroad  and  a  year  later,  when 
the  first  train  pulled  into  the  village,  may  really 
be  said  to  be  the  beginning  of  DeKalb  as  a  city 
of  life  and  industry.  Jacob  Haish  states  that  he 
boarded  the  train  near  what  is  now  Maple  Park 
and  told  the  conductor  he  wished  to  go  to  Hunt- 
leys  Grove.  Keeping  watch  along  the  road  he- 
saw  hut  little  signs  of  the  village  and  finally  was 
told  by  the  conductor  that  he  had  arrived  at  his 
destination.  He  state-  a!  that  time  there  was  a 
store,  a  blacksmith  simp  and  a  few  residences. 

There  was  n..  established  cemetery  in  DeKalb 
countv  in  its  early  days  and  it  was  the  custom  of 
the  people  to  bury  their  dead  on  their  own  home 

places   and   Mr.    <i lell's   little   boy   was   buried 

under  the  north  end  or  very  near  where  the  Chron- 
icle building  now  stands.  Various  other  prom- 
inent place*  about  the  town  mark  the  resting 
places  of  the  pioneers,  and  others  were  buried 
where  it  was  most  convenient  and  safe,  were  taken 
up  in  later  days  and  interred  in  cemeteries. 

Early  in  1850,  Mr.  Basil  Ruhy  built  a  little 
frame  house  divided  into  two  apartments:  one  end 
he  and  his  family  used  tor  a  dwelling  and  the 
other  for  a  drug  and  notion  -tore.  It  was  located 
a  few  feet  east  of  the  present  Ruby  residence.  The 
building  now  stands,  having  been  moved  to  the 
east  side  of  First  street,  a  little  to  the  south  of  its 
original  location.  Small  as  these  buildings  were, 
they  were  sufficient  for  mercantile  and  residence 
purposes.  The  pride  of  the  town  in  early  days 
was  a  two-story  building  erected  by  Alvah  Cart- 
wright.  It  was  plastered  inside  and  out  with  mor- 
tar and  then  traced  and  painted  to  resemble  brick. 
This   beautiful    structure   of   pioneer   days    stood 


near  the  west  end  of  the  Holmes  livery  stable  of 
to, lav  and  in  it  a  general  store  was  conducted. 

Buildings  for  church  services  were  not  avail- 
aide  in  early  days  and  the  religious  meetings  were 
held  in  homes.  The  first  meeting  in  DeKalb  was 
at  the  residence  of  Dr.  Basil  Ruby  in  1850.  The 
preacher  was  from  Sycamore  and  came  at  the  invi- 
tation  of  Dr.  Ruby.  Two  years  later  a  class  was 
organized  at  the  home  of  Rev.  Mr.  Brown  and 
from  this  small  beginning  the  Methodists  formed 
one  of  the  largest  organizations  of  any  religious 
fcy  in  the  city. 
The  school,  which  takes  perhaps  as  dear  a  place 
as  the  church  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  who  have 
made  DeKalb  county,  was  naturally  an  institution 
of  early  days.  In  1850  the  first  school-house  was 
built.  It  was  14x14  and  the  seats  were  made  of 
split  logs  with  holes  bored  in  them  and  sticks  driv- 
en in  for  leg-.  The  first  teacher  was  Jonathan  Stone. 
He  was  killed  by  lightning  in  1857.  Elder  Gam- 
hie,  a  Baptist  minister,  also  preached  in  this  lit- 
3i  hool-house,  which  was  built  in  the  timber 
on  the  site  of  the  present  Bemis  residence  on 
South  First  -tieei. 

DeKalb  was  organized  in  1850  as  a  township. 
It  was  first  called  Orange  and  included  parts  of 
Malta  and  Afton  townships.  In  1851.  Ezekiel 
Whitehead  settled  in  that  portion  of  the  town  and 
began  the  settlement  of  what  is  now  Malta.  In 
1851  tin'  village  of  DeKalb  had  29  people.  A 
tailor  shop  was  opened  in  this  year  by  John  P. 
Jones    and    was    located    in    the    upper    part    of 

lell's  store.     One  of  the  old-time  lawyers  was 

Eli  B.  Gilbert,  who  moved  to  DeKalb  from  Syca- 
more  in    1852   and  bought   of   Eewis   Huntley   a 
piece  of  ground  on  which  was  a  little  house  used 
corn-crib.     Mr.  Gilbert  was  elected  first  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  in  1853  and  built  a  building  with 
the  slahs  nailed  upright  in  the  corner  of  his  lot. 
The  law  was  administered  to  the  citizens  in  that 
office  until    I860,  when   Mr.   Gilbert  built  a  two- 
frame  house  on  Main  street,  now-  owned  by 
Mi-.  Owen  Beaubean.     The  upper  story  was  used 
as    a    justice    office   until    Mr.    Gilbert's   death    in 
August,  1895.    The  old  homestead  is  still  occupied 
by    Mrs.    Gilbert.      The   first   butcher   shop   was 
opened    in    1852   by   John   Till,  and  the  first  tin 
p  in  the  -.     i        tr  by  Peter  Johnson.     Peter 
Johnson  was  the  first  Scandinavian  to  come  into 
1 1  i  countv. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


149 


The  right  of  way  was  given  the  North  Western 
road  and  in  many  instances  the  people  gave  splen- 
did donations  aside  from  the  free  right  of  way. 

For  many  years  this  little  town  was  called  Buena 
Vista,  in  honor  of  one  of  the  principal  battles  of 
the  War  with  Mexico,  which  was  then  fresh  in  the 
minds  of  the  people.  The  battle  of  Buena  Vista 
was  fought  February  23d  and  23d  between  20,000 
Mexicans  under  Santa  Ana  and  a  force  of  little 
more  than  5,000  under  Gen.  Zach  Taylor.  In 
that  battle  Jefferson  Davis,  B.  E.  Lee,  Ulysses  S. 
Grant,  Albert  Sydney  Johnson,  General  Bragg 
and  a  host  of  others  who  became  prominent  in  the 
Civil  war  took  part. 

The  first  grist-mill  was  built  in  the  year  1853 
by  a  man  named  Brooks.  It  was  erected  on  what 
is  now  Seventh  street  on  the  ground  where  the 
C.  &  N.  W.  in  after  years  had  their  yards  for 
loading  stock. 

In  1853,  a  second  frame  school-house  was  built 
on  the  present  site  of  the  Congregational  church. 
A  lot  was  purchased  for  $15  and  the  building 
was  21x42.  There  was  not  money  enough  to  com- 
plete the  building  and  two  or  three  dances  were 
held  in  it,  the  money  thus  raised  being  devoted  to 
the  cause  of  education. 

In  1854,  the  Methodists  and  Baptists  erected 
little  places  of  worship.  The  first  Methodist  church 
stood  on  the  present  site  of  W.  H.  Fay's  residence. 
Two  years  after  its  erection  it  was  sold  to  the 
Adventists  and  in  1879  the  large  brick  edifice, 
known  as  the  First  Methodist  church,  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  $10,000,  and  in  1885  the  Baptists 
replaced  their  wooden  church  by  a  fine  brick  build- 
ing. 

As  the  early  buildings  of  the  village  of  DeKalb 
were  largely  of  wood  they  would  naturally  form 
food  for  a  destructive  fire,  and  in  1870  a  large  por- 
tion of  the  city  was  burned  to  the  ground.  This 
was  a  blessing  in  disguise  and  Phoenixlike,  on  their 
ashes  have  arisen  many  substantial  brick  build- 
ings of  the  city.  One  of  them  was  the  Haish 
three-story  brick  building  called  the  Bee  Hive 
block,  in  which  was  the  Barb  City  bank. 

In  1854,  a  great  small-pox  plague  raged  the 
county  and  nearly  depopulated  DeKalb.  Mrs. 
Norris  Sweet  died  November  14th  and  Mr.  Sweet 
and  Bussell  Huntley  together  selected  the  spot 
where  she  was  to  be  buried.  It  was  upon  an  open 
prairie  but  is  now  known  as  the  beautiful   Ever- 


green cemetery,  and  a  person  has  only  to  consult 
the  headstones  to  see  how  many  dead  of  our  old 
settlers  are  sleeping  in  this  silent  city.  That  same 
year  the  ladies  of  DeKalb  met  and  organized  the 
DeKalb  Center  Sewing  society,  having  for  its 
object  the  procuring  of  means  for  the  purchase  and 
care  of  grounds  for  burial  purposes.  They  pur- 
chased about  four  and  one-half  acres,  the  same  as 
stated  above.  This  is  the  oldest  cemetery  in  the 
township. 

The  pioneer  lodges  of  the  place  are  the  Ma- 
sonic and  Odd  Fellows  and  the  first  DeKalb  band 
were  all  organized  in  1854.  The  first  murder 
which  blots  DeKalb's  fair  history  occurred  in  1854. 
It  was  a  drunken  row  and  occurred  in  a  frame 
shanty  on  the  present  site  of  Benjamin  White's 
residence.  Three  or  four  Irishmen  who  had  been 
laboring  on  the  railroad  had  been  drinking  whisky 
and  got  in  a  dispute.  One  of  their  number  grabbed 
a  chair  on  which  was  a  tub  of  water  filled  with 
clothes  an  hit  his  companion  over  the  head,  break- 
ing his  neck. 

The  school  building  erected  in  1861  was  built 
of  brick  and  at  that  time  was  considered  one  of  the 
fine  school  buildings  in  this  part  of  the  state. 

The  village  was  incorporated  under  the  general 
act  of  1856  and  in  1861  by  special  charter,  which 
made  the  Board  of  Trustees  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Supervisors.  William  Allen  was  the  first  to  fill 
the  position. 

The  hardware  store  which  I.  L.  Ellwood  oper- 
ated was  the  first  exclusive  store  of  its  kind  in 
DeKalb.  It  was  run  by  Ellwood  and  J.  D.  Lott 
and  was  a  two-story  frame  building,  joining  the 
Cartwright  and  Hayden  store.  In  1869  Mr.  Ell- 
wood built  a  two-story  brick  building  now  occupied 
by  Mrs.  John  Burt,  and  the  frame  store  was 
moved  across  the  street,  It  was  later  occupied  and 
owned  by  Harry  White,  who  used  it  as  a  meat-shop. 

In  1860  a  Catholic  church  was  built,  which  was 
occupied  over  forty  years.  The  present  edifice 
was  built  at  a  cost  of  about  $25,000  and  is  the 
largest  church  building  in  the  county.  The  parish 
comprises  the  largest  church  organization  in  the 
county. 

In  1858  the  Swedish  Lutherans  erected  a  church 
edifice  and  organized  a  society.  This  has  grown 
to  be  a  society  of  600  members  and  has  a  new 
modern  church  edifice.  Aside  from  the  Swedish 
Lutheran   church   there   have   been   organized    the 


150 


PAST    AX  1 1    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


Swedish  Congregational,  Swedish  Baptist  and  a 
Mission  church,  which  are  separated  from  the  main 
body  of  Lutherans. 

In  1860  an  agricultural  fair  was  established 
and  ground  bought  of  J.  F.  Glidden,  which  was 
used  as  a  race  track  and  ball  park  and  is  now  a 
pari  of  the  Normal  School  grounds.  At  one  of 
these  fairs,  at  a  later  period,  occurred  the  tragic 
death  of  Michael  McMann.  He  was  assisting 
Professor  Donnelson,  who  was  making  a  balloon 
ascension.  The  balloon  was  inflated  and  the  or- 
der given  to  let  go.  when  in  some  way  McMann 
was  caught  by  the  rope  and  drawn  up  by  the  leg. 
The  onlookers  were  fascinated  as  well  as  horri- 
fied by  the  sight;  when  up  many  hundred  feet,  by 
what,  seemed  an  almost,  wonderful  act,  he  pulled 
himself  up  to  the  basket,  but  only  for  a  moment, 
when  his  hold  relaxed  and  he  came  down  to  the 
ground,  making  several  revolutions  in  his  descenl 
and  striking  on  his  head  and  shoulders.  Almost 
ever/)  1 e  in  his  body  was  broken. 

The  great  political  meeting  of  I860  has  been  al- 
luded to  in  the  history  of  the  county.  That  meet- 
ing, notwithstanding  that  the  county  has  double 
the  population  that  it  had  in  1860.  remains  the 
largest  assembly  ever  gathered  in  the  county. 

DeKalb  furnished  223  men  for  the  Rebellion. 
They  were  mainlj  attached  to  the  13th,  i\M.  52d 
and  58th  Illinois  regiments. 

The  first  newspaper  was  establshed  in  DeKalb  in 
1859- 

In  ISM,  the  Honorable  J.  F.  Glidden  received 
his  first,  patent  on  his  celebrated  barb  wire,  entered 
into  partnership  with  Col.  I.  L.  Ellwood,  com- 
menced the  manufacture  of  Glidden  wire,  which 
article  has  become  a  household  word  in  all  civil- 
ized lands.  They  firs!  commenced  to  manufacture 
in  a  little  frame  building  which  stood  where  the 
Holmes  livery  stable  now  is.  Mr.  Glidden  re- 
mained in  business  only  two  years,  selling  out  to 
I.  L.  Ellwood.  who  in  1879  built  the  old  Superior 
shops.  The  business  was  carried  on  here  for  sev- 
eral years,  when  it  was  finally  moved  into  two 
immense  factories,  one  fronting  on  Fourth  and 
the  other  on  Tenth  street.  Mr.  Ellwood  retained 
a  controlling  interest  in  these  institutions  until 
189S,  when  they  were  bought  by  the  American 
Steel  &  Wire  company,  and  now  form  one  of  the 
plants  of  that  powerful  trust. 


In  1874,  Jacob  Haish  commenced  making  his 
celebrated  barb  wire  in  a  little  building  where  his 
lumber  yard  now  is.  Mr.  Haish  and  his  friends 
claim  that  he  was  the  first  in  the  field  of  inven- 
tion and  for  years  a  suit  between  Haish  and  the 
barb  wire  combine  was  carried  on  until  it  reached 
the  Supreme  court  and  a  decision  was  given  in 
favor  of  the  Washburn  &  Moen  Manufacturing 
company.  His  institution  has  continually  grown 
until  it  has  become  one  of  the  large  barb  wire 
factories  of  the  country.  The  building  of  these 
two  factories  and  the  growing  of  the  barb  wire 
institution  have  proved  a  great  boon  to  the  city 
of  DeKalb. 

In  1891,  the  DeKalb  County  Fence  company 
began  in  a  small  way  to  make  woven  wire  on 
the  north  side  of  the  railroad  track.  They  enlarged 
their  quarters  in  1894  and  have  kept  enlarging 
until  at  present  their  plant  covers  thirty-one  acres 
of  ground.  They  now  occupy  the  Abram  Ellwood 
factory  and  have  in  their  employ  more  than  three 
hundred  men.  Their  product  is  shipped  through 
the  United  States  and  many  foreign  countries 
and  they  cannot  supply  the  demand.  E.  F.  Shella- 
berger  is  president  of  the  DeKalb  County  Fence 
company. 

The  Flectric  Light  and  Power  company  was 
started  in  1893  by  S.  E.  Bradt  and  .John  Glidden. 
They  are  working  under  twenty  year  franchise. 

In  1891  the  Wells  Shoe  factory  was  established 
in  DeKalb  and  has  been  continually  growing  and 
at  present  employs  four  hundred  hands  and  has  a 
capacity  of  three  thousand  pairs  of  shoes  daily. 
This  has  proved  to  be  one  of  the  strong  manu- 
facturing industries  of  the  county. 

The  Barb  City  Manufacturing  company  was  in- 
stituted in  1895.  A  portion  of  the  plant  they 
occupy  was  originally  built  by  Ed.  Beers,  who 
manufactured  plows  in  1871.  The  company  man- 
ufactures many  kinds  of  farming  implements  and 
at  present  is  very  prosperous,  giving  employment 
to  several  hundred  men. 

DeKalb  has  generously  given  large  bonuses  to 
manufacturing  companies  and  at  present  has 
grown  so  as  to  have  a  population  of  nine  thousand 
people.  The  last  achievement  in  this  line  was  the 
locating  of  the  Piano  Manufacturing  company, 
which  employs  three  hundred  hands. 

The  building  of  the  Normal  has  been  one  of  the 
things   that   has   made  DeKalb    famous.      Tt    was 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


151 


located  largely  through  the  efforts  of  Col.  I.  L. 
Ellwood  and  through  the  generosity  of  Joseph 
Glidden. 

Hiram  Ellwood  was  one  of  the  first  citizens  of 
DeKalb  to  be  honored  by  a  county  office  and  was 
elected  in  1859  and  again  in  1861.  Before  this 
time  the  county  officers  received  but  a  small  sal- 
ary and  there  was  not  much  contest  as  to  who 
should  hold  the  position.  In  1864  I.  V.  Randall 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature.  In  1868 
Hon.  C.  W.  Marsh  was  elected  representative  and 
served  several  terms. 

Daniel  D.  Hunt  was  elected  representative  in 
1886,  served  two  terms  at  representative  and  in 
1890  was  elected  state  senator.  After  his  retire- 
ment to  his  farm  he  became  a  heavy  stockholder 
in  the  New  Era  Publishing  Co.,  publishers  of 
the  New  Era  readers  and  other  school  text 
books. 

S.  0.  Vaughn  was  a  man  who  held  local  office  for 
nearly  a  half  century.  He  was  a  Mason  of  the 
thirty-third  degree,  a  P.  M.  of  the  the  Blue  lodge, 
H.  P.  of  the  chapter,  E.  C.  of  the  Sycamore  com- 
mandery  and  I.  commander-in-chief  of  the  con- 
sistory and  grand  H.  P.  of  the  general  grand 
chapter  of  Illinois.  Except  General  Dustin  was 
the  only  grand  presiding  officer  of  any  of  the  grand 
bodies  of  the  state  of  Illinois  elected  from  our 
county.  In  1867  the  Freeport  consistory  absorbed 
the  DeKalb  consistory,  as  the  buildings  were  not 
large  enough  and  the  territory  too  small  to  sustain 
a  Masonic  body  of  such  proportions  as  the  con- 
sistories of  the  county  have  become. 

In  1884  the  political  meeting  was  held  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Democratic  party  at  DeKalb  and 
attracted  about  30,000  people.  At  one  time  there 
were  thirty-three  bands  playing  on  Main  street. 
The  orators  were  Henry  Watterson,  Gen.  John 
M.  Palmer  and  ex-Governor  McDonald  of  Indiana. 
Fourteen  cattle  were  roasted  at  what  is  now  Nor- 
mal Park,  and  other  edibles  were  sent  in  by  Dem- 
ocratic organizations  throughout  the  country  and 
distributed  free.  One  thing  that  will  be  remem- 
bered about  this  day  is  the  stormy  weather.  It 
began  to  rain  in  the  morning  and  continued 
through  the  day. 

The  men  from  the  township  who  have  held  the 
position  of  supervisor  were  Thomas  M.  Hopkins, 
Joseph  F.  Glidden.  Alonzo  Converse,  Lo  Huntley. 
Marcus  White,  E.  P.  Young,  Hiram  Ellwood,  Sila? 


Tappan,  H.  Thompson,  Lewis  McEwen,  D.  D. 
Hunt,  V.  A.  Glidden.  Those  who  have  held  that 
position  from  the  city  as  assistant  supervisors 
were  W.  Hallen,  Silas  Tappan,  L.  Morse,  S.  O. 
Vaughan,  E.  B.  Gilbert,  W.  C.  Tappan,  Harvey 
Thompson,  William  A.  Miller  L.  M.  McEwen, 
William  H.  Record,  J.  S.  Russell,  A.  W.  Fisk,  B. 
White,  H.  B.  Gurler,  J.  J.  Johnson. 

MAYFIELD. 

The  township  of  Mayfield,  while  not  the  first 
one  permanently  settled  in  our  county,  is  ante- 
dated by  but  few  townships,  notably  Squaw  Grove, 
Somonauk,  Kingston,  Sycamore  and  perhaps  Shab- 
bona.  The  early  history  of  this  township  is  full 
of  interest,  and  while  the  last  of  the  first  settlers 
who  located  here  previous  to  1837  have  passed 
away,  still  it  was  from  the  lips  of  these  hardy  pio- 
neers who  did  so  much  for  the  prosperity  of  their 
descendants  and  gave  those  who  follow  them  a  rich 
legacy  of  good  deeds  and  sterling  attributes  of 
character,  we  have  many  interesting  anecdotes. 
The  settlements  in  Mayfield  were  made  in  the 
woods  and  along  the  streams,  and  the  first  settler 
was  without  doubt  Ira  Douglas.  Others  came  in 
the  same  year,  namely :  John  Tower,  John  Thorn, 
Morris  and  Erasmus  D.  Walrod,  Robert  Graham, 
Samuel  Gilbert,  James  McCollum  and  Hon.  Henry 
Madden.  These  settlers  found  that  Mayfield  had 
been  occupied  by  the  Indians  previous  to  their 
coming  but  at  that  time  no  Indians  were  residing 
permanently  in  the  township.  The  village  of  Col- 
tonville  in  DeKalb  township,  immediately  south 
of  the  Mayfield  line,  was  the  permanent  residence 
of  the  Indians  and  when  the  settlers  came  they 
found  in  the  neighborhood  one  hundred  Indians 
residing  in  the  grove  near  the  present  Adee  farm. 
Near  the  south  line  of  the  township  was  buried 
the  old  Indian  chief,  Capas.  Capas  had  been  slain 
in  an  encounter  with  the  Indians  and  his  remains 
were  buried  in  a  stockade  covered  with  timber. 
He  was  found  in  a  sitting  posture  with  pipe,  arms 
and  everything  necessary  for  life  on  the  happy 
hunting  ground.  Sometime  in  the  early  '40s  his 
remains,  with  the  bullet  that  caused  his  death, 
were  taken  by  Dr.  Richards  of  the  old  St.  Charles 
Medical  School.  Along  the  banks  of  the  Kish- 
waukee  many  implements  used  by  the  Indians  in 
warfare  and   domestic  life  have  been  found   and 


152 


PAST    AXD    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


thinly  scattered  over  the  prairie  the  plowman 
found  arrow  and  spear  heads.  About  thirty  years 
ago  Wallace  Bacon  found  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  John  Dick  a  large  arrow  head  firmly  imbedded 
in  a  largo  bone.  Later  research  and  knowledge 
leads  us  to  believe  Unit  it  was  the  bone  of  a 
buffalo.  Near  the  Mayfield  town  hall  the  writer 
in  I87'i  picked  up  a  portion  of  an  elk's  horn, 
which  tells  us  definitely  of  the  fauna  of  the  earlier 
davs.  Mayfield  in  the  days  of  her  early  settle- 
ment wns  covered  by  al t  five  thousand  acres  of 

timber.  The  remainder  was  gently  undulating. 
unbroken  prairie,  tinted  during  the  spring,  sum- 
mer and  early  autumn  with  the  various  shades  of 
the  wild  flower.  In  the  early  springtime  it  was 
covered  with  yellow  buttercups;  then  came  the  lady 
slippers;  later  it  was  flecked  with  the  deep  scarlel 
prairie  lily.  In  summer  il  was  a  purple  sea  of 
wild  flos  :  then  came  the  prairie  flowers  of  autumn, 
yellow  and  sombre. 

After  the  organization  of  the  township  it  was 
called  Liberty,  but  owing  to  its  exuberance  of 
wild  flowers  in  the  spring  her  first  supervisor, 
Mulford  Nlckerson,  following  the  suggestion  of  his 
daughter,  Eunice,  who  was  a  teacher  of  the  earlier 
days,  named  the  township  Mayfield.  The  early 
settlers  of  Mayfield  were  at  Pleasant  II  ill.  Ilrush 
Poinl  and  mi  the  south  side  of  the  town  near  Col- 
tonville.  The  early  settlers  Eound  an  abundance 
of  game  and  during  the  winter  season  were  never 
without  sufficient  food.  The  winter  of  1810  had 
destroyed  the  buffalo  and  elk.  so  that  it  was  a 
great  exception  if  any  ill'  these  animals  were  seen 
east  nf  the  Mississippi  river  after  that  time.  Deer 
was  found  in  great  abundance.  John  Mullen,  the 
pioneer  of  the  town,  said  that  one  morning  during 
the  winter  nf  the  earl]  '40s  he  killed  seven  deer 
before  breakfast,  ami  as  late  as  November  I.  1856, 
Eouton  Graham  appeared  at  the  old  Brush  Point 
schoolhouse  ami  with  his  rifle  on  his  shoulder  to 
east  his  vote  for  "Buck,"  as  be  called  Buchanan, 
said  be  would  kill  a  buck  before  supper,  which 
boast  he  successfully  carried  out.  A  quarter  of 
a  century  ago  there  were  no  name  laws  in  force 
and  quail  ami  prairie  chicken  were  trapped  during 
the  winter  season  by  the  thousands.  When  the 
snow  was  deep  and  the  winter  severe  the  wild  fowl 
would  frequent  barnyards  ami  grain  stacks,  for 
during  those  early  years  the  bum  of  the  thresher 
was  heard  all  winter.     Prairie  wolves  were  heard 


every  night  and  hunger  often  drove  them  to  the 
haunts  of  man  lor  food.  In  the  autumn  the  wild 
fowl  covered  every  pond  and  stream  and  in  those 
times  the  tiller's  spade  had  not  destroyed  their 
marshy  hiding  places,  and  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  William  Wike,  two  of  the  pioneers  in  the  fall 
of  1865  hid  in  some  willow  bushes  and  without 
changing  position  killed  enough  water  fowl  to  fill 
a.  bushel  basket.  Wild  pigeons  at  this  season  came 
in  such  numbers  that  in  their  southward  flight 
they  would  keep  up  their  continuous  procession 
for  days  and  were  so  thick  that  they  would  darken 
the  sun.  Pigeon  potpie  was  very  common  at  this 
time,  for  the  person  who  could  point  a  gun  heav- 
enward was  sure  of  a  game  dinner.  The  sand 
bill  crane  was  a  gamy  fowl  ami  nf  delicious  flavor, 
but  tiny  tlew  at  greal  heights  and  when  on  the 
ground  were  hard  to  approach  and  the  aspiring 
hunter  alter  shunting  one  was  a  mighty  Nimrod. 

Eowever,  this  beautiful  prairie  was  not  free 
from  the  primal  curse.  The  beneficent  sun. 
which  kindle-  into  being  so  many  forms  of  life, 
fails  not  to  engender  venom  and  death  from  the 
slime  of  the  pestilential  swamp  and  marsh  and 
mam  were  the  ague  and  fever  stricken  victims  of 
early  days.  On  the  prairie  and  along  the  streams 
the  rattlesnake  ran-  out  his  sharp  warning, 
winch  no  man  would  dare  to  contemn.  Roderick 
Carnes,  while  breaking  a  piece  of  prairie  sod 
about  sixty  years  ago.  in  finishing  bis  field  dis- 
patched about  twenty-live  rattlers,  .lames  Robert 
(irahain  and  David  Tower,  settlers  who  came  to 
Mayfield  in  18:36  and  1838,  respectively,  have  told 
that  rattle  snakes  were  as  common  in  their  boy- 
I I   a-   -arti  r  snakes  of  today. 

Before  Mayfield  was  known  as  a  township  Dr. 
Henry  Madden,  of  Brush  Point,  had  been  elected 
first  representative  of  this  district  to  the  legisla- 
ture, which  was  during  the  lime  the  portion  now 
De  Kalb  county  was  a  part  of  Kane  ami  the  meas- 
ure of  setting  apart  the  territory  now  Do  Kalb 
was  presented  and  passed  through  his  efforts.  Dr. 
Madden  was  a  great  reader,  a  man  well  educated 
for  those  times,  ami  seems  to  have  been  well 
known  throughout  northern  Illinois.  lie  served 
his  county  and  his  locality  in  many  different  posi- 
tions, lie  later  moved  h>  Malta,  dying  there  in 
1867.  The  town  was  kept  in  a  broil  for  many 
years  by  claim  jumpers,  but  when  the  claim  wars 
wrre    settled    by    the    perfection    of     their     titles 


MAYFIELD  PIONEERS. 


^vogS 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


155 


through  purchase  from  the  government  and  the 
claims  of  the  rival  point  for  the  seat  of  justice 
had  been  disposed  of,  the  settlers  of  the  town 
moved  on  the  even  tenor  of  their  way  with  per- 
fect quiet.  The  old  settlers  gradually  acquired 
the  comforts  of  life,  the  outlying  territory  became 
settled  and  the  township  increased  in  wealth  and 
population. 

The  first  religious  service  in  Mayfield  was  held 
in  the  log  cabin  of  Ira  Douglas  some  time  about 
the  year  1837,  and  for  years  afterward  until  the 
Pleasant  schoolhouse  was  built  in  the  early  '40s. 
In  1844  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  church  separated 
from  the  Methodist  Episcopal  and  a  society  of 
that  denomination  was  organized.  For  a  time  it 
had  its  class  meetings  and  religious  services  in  pri- 
vate residences  until  the  building  of  the  Brush 
Point  schoolhouse,  when  their  services  were  held 
there  until  1862,  when  the  Wesleyan  Methodist 
church  was  erected.  One  of  the  foundation  prin- 
ciples of  this  church  was  opposition  to  slavery  and 
in  the  earlier  days  previous  to  the  war  this  re- 
ligious organization  was  the  strongest  in  this 
township  and  it  was  the  members  of  this  religious 
organization  was  the  strongest  in  this  township 
and  it  was  the  members  of  this  religious  organiza- 
tion that  conducted  the  workings  of  the  under- 
ground railway.  Those  who  were  now  known  to 
have  been  active  in  assisting  slaves  to  Canada  and 
freedom  were  Joshua  Townsend  and  his  sons,  Ste- 
phen and  Charles ;  Mulford  Nickerson  and  his  son, 
William  A.  Nickerson;  Peter,  John  and  Ira  Nich- 
ols. At  the  time  these  men  were  active  in  this 
work  they  were  regarded  by  many  as  lawbreakers, 
but  in  the  line  of  all  that  has  happened  we  are 
proud  of  the  fact  that  these  men  had  the  cour- 
age of  their  convictions  and  did  so  much  for  the 
freedom  of  humanity.  William  A.  Nickerson,  who 
still  lives  in  Grand  Traverse  county,  Michigan, 
at  the  age  of  ninety-seven  years,  was  one  of  the 
foremost  citizens  of  Mayfield.  He  represented  his 
town  several  years  as  supervisor,  was  prominent 
in  county  affairs  generally,  and  for  years  a  locaT 
preacher.  The  Townsends  came  into  Mayfield  in 
1840  with  the  exception  of  Charles,  who  came  in 
1837.  Joshua  Townsend  was  a  man  beyond  middle 
life  when  he  came  here,  but  his  son  Stephen  wag 
a  very  active  and  public-spirited  man,  one  of  the 
foremost  organizers  of  the  freesoil  and  afterward 
one  of  the  republican  party  of  this  county.     He 


was  a  man  of  more  than  average  intelligence, 
genial  and  pleasant  and  was  a  man  of  almost  boy- 
ish enthusiasm.  Very  few  men  have  exerted  a 
larger  influence  over  the  community  in  which  he 
lived  than  Stephen  Townsend.  The  Nichols 
moved  to  Mayfield  in  1837,  John  Nichols  having 
moved  here  two  years  previous.  They  were  active 
in  the  organization  of  the  Wesleyan  church,  were 
prominent  in  underground  railroad  circles  and 
contributed  a  great  deal  to  the  social  and  religious 
life  of  the  community.  In  the  early  '40s  among 
the  many  that  came  to  Mayfield  were  the  Smith 
brothers,  Spafford  and  Curtis.  Spafford  became 
a  wealthy  landholder,  later  retired  from  active 
business  and  lived  in  Sycamore  until  the  time  of 
his  death.  Curtis  Smith  served  the  town  and 
county  faithfully,  was  supervisor  for  many  years 
and  in  the  early  days  was  a  prominent  leader  in 
whig  politics.  He  afterward  became  allied  with 
the  republican  party  and  was  active  in  its  coun- 
cils. He  was  a  ready  debater,  a  man  very  well 
read  and  of  great  intelligence.  Harrison  Mackey 
came  to  Mayfield  in  1839,  was  a  successful  finan- 
cier and  died  on  the  farm  he  bought  from  Uncle 
Sam,  at  an  advanced  age.  Joseph  Collier  came 
in  1835  and  first  settled  in  Kingston.  He  after- 
ward took  up  a  claim  in  Mayfield  and  was  living 
there  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1837.  Mr.  Col- 
lier had  been  a  captain  of  militia  in  the  state  of 
Ohio  and  he.  with  Stephen  Moury,  of  Coltonville, 
was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  when  this  county 
was  still  a  part  of  La  Salle.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  of  the  early  settlers  who  died  in  De  Kalb 
county. 

The  Methodists  held  religious  services  in  the 
Partridge  schoolhouse,  Pleasant  Hill  schoolhouse 
and  the  Vandeburg  schoolhouse  for  many  years, 

but  in  1860,  under  the  leadership  of  Rev.  ■ 

Webster,  who  was  pastor  of  the  Kingston  circuit, 
which  then  included  the  Methodist  appointments 
in  Mayfield  and  Kingston,  two  churches  were 
built.  One  known  as  the  Pleasant  Hill 
church  on  the  Kingston  side  of  the  base  line  on 
land  now  owned  by  Charles  Nichols,  section  35, 
Kingston.  Another  known  as  Bethel  church  was 
built  on  the  north  side  of  section  1,  Mayfield. 
When  Rev.  Webster  announced  his  first  service  on 
the  site  of  what  later  became  Bethel  church,  he 
stated  that  he  would  preach  on  the  devil's  pre-emp- 
tion on  a  certain  Sunday.     On  the  day  appointed 


15G 


PAST   AND   PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


hundreds  of  people  came  to  hear  the  sermon  and  he 
announced  to  them  that  he  would  build  a  church 
on  this  spot.  He  was  a  man  of  great  energy,  doing 
considerable  of  the  work  himself.  His  son  after- 
ward became  a  candidate  for  United  States  senator 
and  is  iii  present  contemplating  entering  the  race 
in  opposition  to  A.  J.  Hopkins.  The  Vandeburg 
schoolhouse  was  for  years  one  of  the  points  of 
the  township,  where  many  public  meetings  were 
held,   the   Methodist,   Adventist   and   Baptist  de- 

ni nations   having   services   there    at    different 

times,  and  it  was  the  scene  of  the  old  Durgeon 
sinking  schools,  which  were  held  there  in  the  win- 
ter of  L854,  people  attending  from  miles  around. 
Some  men  and  women  approaching  the  three 
score  and  ten  of  life  slide  how  they  walked  five 
or  six  miles  weekly  to  attend  these  singing  schools. 
The  Brush  Point  schoolhouse  was  until  1860  the 
election  precinct  of  Mayfield.     Political  meetings 

were  held  here  ill  the  early  days.     The  whigs.   I'ree- 

soilers  and  democrats  had  political  meetings  there 
until  1848.  In  1856  a  great  republican  rally  was 
held  there,  hundreds  attending  from  Sycamore, 
De  Kalh  and  other  places.  In  I860  the  township 
elections  were  held  at  Partridge  schoolhouse  and 
that  was  the  scene  of  political  meetings  and  elec- 
tions from  I860  until  iS",  I.  when  Mayfield  built 
the  present  town  hall.  The  Wesleyan  society  men- 
tioned previously  has  since  been  converted  into  a 
Congregational  organization,  and  at  present  a  min- 
ister of  that  denomination  holds  regular  services 
there.  In  1864  or  L865  a  sectarian  spirit  ran  high 
and  religious  dissensions  were  the  order  of  the  day. 
An    Adventist    preacher — Harry    McCullock,    and 

Charles  Sherw 1.  of  the  Christian  faith,  held  a 

debate  which  lasted  for  ii  period  of  a  week.  As  is 
usual,  both  sides  of  the  contest  thought  their  speak- 
ers were  victorious,  for  years  these  denominations 
held  services  in  the  We&leyan  church,  and  as  is  the 
ease  with  union  churches  generally,  a  collision 
came  and  the  Adventist  and  Christian  denomina- 
tions built  what  was  known  as  Christian  chapel 
a  mile  west  of  the  present  Wesleyan  church.  In 
about  1878  the  two  denominations.  Adventist  and 
Christian,  no  longer  continued  their  sen  ices  and 
the  church  was  moved  away  and  is  now  used  as 
a  farm  building.  The  denominational  bitterness 
engendered  at  this  time  was  injurious  to  the  re- 
ligious and  social  life  of  Mayfield.  Tf  we  were  to 
discuss  the  matter  with   members  of  the  various 


denominations  we  would  hear  three  sides  of  the 
question.  Whatever  the  merits  of  the  case  might 
have  been  it  is  safe  to  say  that  on  the  whole  the 
results  were  injurious.  Some  families  embittered 
by  religious  dissensions  moved  away  from  the  town 
and  so  far  as  we  are  able  to  observe  the  spirit  of 
( 'hristian  fellowship  w as  never  so  strong  after  these 
days  of  rancorous  religious  dissension. 

Ii  has  been  stated  that  the  first  school  in  May- 
field  was  taught  by  Lucy  Stewart  in  Hodge's 
house,  known  later  as  the  Carlisle  place,  about 
ii  mile  south  of  the  Ira  Douglas  farm  on  the. 
Pleasant  Hill  road.  Others  state  that  the  first 
school  was  taught  by  Fanny  Clark,  in  the  log 
cabin  located  on  the  farm  afterward  owned  by 
Mason  McClelland. 

Mayfield  furnished  two  soldiers  for  the  war 
with  Mexico — one  George  Dennis,  who  still  lives 
in  Iowa.  Thi'  name  of  the  other  we  have  been 
unable  to  ascertain.  In  the  breaking  out  of  the 
rebellion,  Mayfield  furnished  troops  regularly  at 
each  call  and  during  the  war  furnished  one  hun- 
dred and  three  men.  It  raised  over  twelve  thou- 
-iiiul  dollars  in  bounties  for  the  soldiers.  Those 
who  died  in  the  service  of  their  country  were  J. 
P.  Young.  W.  11.  Decker.  G.  G.  Farwell.  J.  Pat- 
ter-on. Turner  Wing,  Alonzo  Houghton.  William 
Stevenson,  Joseph  Piper,  Samuel  Piper,  Edward 
Howe,  Elias  Gobel,  Marvin  Dennis  and  William 
Kerr.  About  twenty  others  were  seriously  wounded 
and  some  crippled  for  life.  Tints  of  the  one  hun- 
dred and  three  men  furnished  more  than  a  third 
n lie  killed  or  disabled. 

Tn  tlie  early  days  of  the  pioneers  of  Mayfield 
prairie  fires  were  common.  Beginning  in  the  town- 
ship of  South  Grove  they  would  generally  sweep 
over  the  prairie,  much  of  which  was  uninhabit- 
able. On  one  occasion  while  Mr.  J.  IT.  Dick,  a 
pioneer  of  the  early  'Hi-,  was  lying  ill  and  un- 
conscious with  typhoid  fever,  being  attended  alone 
at  night  by  his  wife,  a  prairie  tire  broke  out.  which 
threatened  to  destroy  their  home.  This  being 
sometime  after  midnight  we  can  easily  realize  the 
terror  felt  by  the  lone  woman  in  the  care  of  her 
sick  husband.  A  catastrophe  was  only  evaded  by 
the  prompt  assistance  of  the  neighbors,  who, 
knowing  of  her  helpless  condition,  responded  and 
thus   saved   their  lives  and  property. 

The  Walrods  settled  in  Mayfield  at  an  early 
dav  and  Erasmus  Walrod  was  elected  sheriff  and 


PAST    AND    PEESENT   OF   DF    KALB    COUNTY. 


151 


was  afterward  a  prominent  citizen  of  Sycamore. 
.lames  Sivwright,  Sr.,  came  to  Mayfield  in  1842, 
took  up  his  land  from  the  government,  served  his 
township  for  years  as  supervisor,  was  prominent 
in  county  and  religious  affairs,  and  at  the  time 
of  his  death  was  serving  as  coroner  of  De  Kalh 
county. 

In  1887  the  Great  Western  was  built  through 
the  township  of  Mayfield  and  the  village  of  Clare 
subsequently  sprung  up.  While  of  no  great  pro- 
portions the  village  does  a  large  shipping  busi- 
ness and  is  a  great  convenience  to  the  farmers  of 
that  locality.  Three  years  ago  the  C.  I.  &  M. 
passed  through  Mayfield  and  the  station  known 
as  Wilkinson  was  established.  In  185G  a  settle- 
ment .if  Pennsylvania  Germans  was  established  in 
the  north  part  of  the  town.  They  purchased  homes 
ami  afterward  became  thrifty  fanners.  Among 
the  number  were  if.  Ault,  William  Younkin,  Wil- 
liam  Remala.  J.  K.  and  William  Cross  and  the 
Eotes.  As  soon  as  the  prairie  became  settled  and 
people  began  to  realize  that  the  prairie  land  was 
much  better  than  timber  land  for  general  farming 
purposes  and  after  the  timber  was  cut  off  main 
Swedish  families  settled  in  the  timber  belt  of 
Mayfield,  at  first  buying  little  patches,  building 
homes,  clearing  the  land  ami  adding  continually 
to  their  holdings  until  they  have  become  pros- 
perous citizens.  Among  the  number  of  Swedish- 
Americans  in  Mayfield  who  have  become  prosper- 
ous and  useful  citizens  are  Frank  Gronberg,  John 
Johnson,  Frank  Peterson  and  John  Israelson.  The 
supervisors  of  Mayfield  were:  Mulford  Nickerson, 
1850;  Willis  Lott,  1851;  James  Sivwright,  1852; 
Agrippa  Dow,  1853-51:  James  Parker,  1855: 
Henry  Madden,  1856;  W.  A.  Nickerson,  1S57-58; 
A. B.Crippen,  1859-60;  .lames  Sivwright,  1801-62; 
T.  Wynkoop,  1803-04:  Curtis  Smith.  1865-72;  E. 
P.  Safford,  1873-1 G;  Nelson  Sivwright,  1817-79; 
Nelson  Sivwright,  l.ssl ;  E.  P.  Safford,  1882; 
H.  0.  Whittemore,  1883-84;  Nelson  Sivwright, 
1885:  H.  O.  Whittemore,  1886;  Oscar  Smult, 
1886-89  ;  James  Sivwright,  1890-94;  Edwin  Town- 
sen. I.  1895-1901;  F.  S.  Ault,  1901-05;  George 
Dick,  1906-07. 

KINGSTON. 

Kingston,  one  of  the  first  settled  townships  in 
the  county,  was  the  home  of  a  considerable  por- 


tion of  the  tribe  of  Pottawattomie  Indians  until 
1835.  Here  they  had  erected  their  wigwams  in 
the  timberland  along  the  Kishwaukee,  and  obtain- 
ing fish  from  this  stream  and  game  from  the 
fields  and  forests,  the  meat  question  was  easily 
settled.  The  fertile  land  bordering  the  Kishwau- 
kee was  made  by  the  squaws  into  most  productive 
corn  fields  and  in  the  contentment,  of  their  bar- 
barous customs  they  existed  in  this  township  until 
the  command  came  from  the  Finited  States  govern- 
ment for  them  to  move  west.  The  land  they  va- 
cated  was  quickly  usurped  by  the  white  people  who 
had  come  from  the  east  in  search  of  a  desirable 
location  for  future  homes.  They  found  their  way 
to  this  beautiful  piece  of  natural  woodland  by  fol- 
lowing a  trail  which  a  detachment  of  General 
Scott's  army  had  made  when  it  crossed  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  country  during  Black  Hawk's  war. 
The  road  for  many  years  was  known  as  "Scott's 
trail."  and  it  now  is  called  the  "State  road."  This 
detachment  of  Scott's  army  camped  over  night 
near  the  northern  boundary  of  Kingston,  and 
while  there  some  of  their  number  died.  They  were 
buried  under  a  burr  oak  tree  just  north  of  the 
county  limits  not  far  from  the  Davis  church. 

Kingston,  offering  the  natural  advantages  of 
timber  and  water,  was  early  selected  as  a  most  de- 
sirable spot  by  many  of  the  first  residents  of  the 
county.  Thomas  Eobb  is  thought  to  have  been 
the  first  to  make  a  settlement  and  he  took  up  a 
claim  in  1835.  Mr.  Eobb  was  a  soldier  of  the 
Black  Hawk  war  and  it  was  during  his  service  in 
this  conflict  that  he  saw  the  possibilities  of  this 
part  of  the  country.  He  was  soon  after  followed 
by  Harmon  and  William  Miller,  John  Judd,  Isaiah 
Fairclo,  Lyman  Judd,  Joseph  Collier,  Nathan 
Billings,  John  Friel,  Louis  Driggs,  George  H. 
Hill,  James  Green,  Benjamin  Schoonover,  Levi 
Lee  and  others.  These  stanch  pioneers  had  come 
to  make  De  Kalb  county  their  home,  and  they 
made  the  best  of  the  hardships  of  all  kinds  that 
attended  the  lives  of  the  early  settlers. 

George  Hill  was  an  early  justice  of  the  peace 
and  performed  the  ceremony  that  united  in  mar- 
riage Zalmon  Young  and  Sarah  Brown,  October  5, 
1837.  Theirs  was  the  second  license  issued  in  De 
Kalb  county.  In  the  same  year  William  Miller 
raised  ten  acres  of  corn,  the  largest  crop  in  the 
county.  Mr.  Miller  continued  to  live  on  his  farm 
until  1873,  when  he  removed  to  De  Kalb,  and  the 


158 


PAST    AXD    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALIS    COUNTY. 


Miller  farm  is  now  known  far  and  wide  as  a  most 
desirable  spot  for  summer  picnics  and  camping 
parties. 

George  H.  Hill's  home  was  on  the  hank  of  the 
Kishwaukee,  north  of  the  residence  where  he  lived 
at  the  time  of  his  death.  Finding  a  knoll  suit- 
able for  the  location  of  Ins  home,  he  erected  a  log 
cottage,  but  in  1836  it  was  burned  down  by  In- 
dians and  it  was  then  learned  that  the  house  was 
located  on  an  Indian  cemetery.  The  Kingston 
postoffice  was  established  in  lS.'il  at  tin-  residence 
of  Hon.  Levi  Lee,  who  lived  near  the  mouth  of 
Lee's  urn.  Eere  1m-  had  built  a  mill,  and  a  store 
had  been  erected,  and  for  a  tunc  this  bid  fair  to 
make  a  good  inland  village.  Other  mills  were  lo- 
cated  along  the  si  nam  in  this  tow  nship,  one  on  tin1 
farm  now  owned  h\  <;.  W.  Ault.  known  as  SI 
mill,  and  one  on  the  Hill  farm,  known  as  Gaultfs 
mill,  ami  one  at  the  big  bend  of  tin-  river  in  the 
edge  of  Genoa  township,  known  as  Gleason's  mill. 
They  were  all  sawmills  and  the  timber  suitable  for 
lumber  was  soon  cut  oil'  and  one  by  one  these  mills 
ceased  to  operate.  A  village  sprung  up  known  as 
Stuartsville  about  a  mile  wesl  of  the  present  vil- 
lage el'  Kingston,  ami  continued  its  existence  until 
the  building  of  the  Chicago.  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul 
Railroad  in  1876. 

The  firs!  religious  services  held  in  the  township 
of  Kingston  were  in  private  residences,  and  Rev. 
Levi  Lee  was  the  drsl  to  conducl  that  service,  and 
it  i~  now  supposed  that  the  first  service  was  held 
in  the  home  of  Thomas  Robh.  These  services 
continued  to  he  held  in  private  houses  until  the 
erection  of  a  schoolhouse  in  the  early  '40s,  near 
the  present  site  of  the  graded  school.  The  firsi 
school  was  taught  by  Harriet  Russell  and  was  a 
private  institution,  being  supported  by  the  citizens 
of  the  community  and  was  what  was  known  in  that 
time  as  a  "subscription  school."'  King-ton  being 
well  supplied  with  timber  and  water,  the  settlers 
soon  began  to  come  in  and  it  became  one  of  the 
most  populous  townships  in  the  county.  The  saw- 
mills gave  work  to  a  large  number  of  men.  Aside 
from  this  there  were  many  springs  along  the  river, 
and  here  the  early  pioneers  made  their  hone-. 
When  the  settlers  first  arrived  in  this  township 
1 1 1<  \  found  that  the  Indians  had  an  encampment 
on  the  low  land  of  the  farm  now  owned  by  G.  W. 
Ault  and  a  cemetery  on  the  site  of  Judge  Hill's 
first  cabin  and  one  on  the  farm  owned  by  Ed  Stu- 


ait.  The  cemetery  em  Stuart's  farm  has  been  one 
of  considerable  interest,  and  many  Indian  graves 
have  been  opened  and  skeletons  and  Indian  relics 
have  been  taken  therefrom.  Some  of  these  are 
now  in  possession  of  Dr.  Hill,  of  Genoa.  Tradi- 
tion say-  that  the  Indian  councils,  from  which 
Shabbona  retired  to  notify  the  settlers  ol  an  in- 
tended attack,  was  held  in  Kingston  township. 
Levi  Lee  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  prominent 
citizens  of  He  Kalh  county,  lie  was  a  man  that 
«;i>  highly  respected  and  regarded  by  every  one. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  three  county  commission- 
ers elected  in  js:i?  and  held  various  official  po- 
-n  ions  in  the  county.  The  land  which  he  had 
taken  up  became  the  subject  of  dispute  and  finalh 
cost  Mr.  Lee  nearly  his  whole  fortune.  He  moved 
t"  Elkhorn,  Wisconsin,  in  the  later  '50s.  dying 
there  some  fifteen  years  later. 

The  postoffice  was  established  in  north  Kingston 
in  the  later  30s,  and  Charles  \V.  Branch,  for 
ears  a  prominent  citizen  of  Kingston,  was  the 
firsi  postmaster.  In  the  list,  of  old  postoffices 
given  by  John  Wentworth,  we  find  that  the  in- 
eome  of  this  office  was  in  1853  si\  dollars  and 
eighty-four  cents  and  the  salary  of  the  Kingston 
postoffice  at  the  home  of  Hon.  Levi  Lee  in  1841 
was  the  magnificent  sum  of  four  dollars  and  thirtv- 
one  cent-. 

Among  tin-  earl]  settlers  who  came  were  the 
Fosters.  Captain  .1.  W.  Poster  enlisted  in  the 
Forty-second  Illinois  Infantry  and  at  the  time  of 
bag  the  wound  which  caused  his  retirement 
from  the  service  was  holding  the  position  of  cap- 
tain ol  '  '  Mm.  (  .  When  he  came  to  Kingston 
he  remembers  well  tin'  Indian  burial  places  and 
-tates   that    the  bodies  of  about  a  half  dozen  pa- 

i ses   were  wrapped   in  bark  and  suspended  in 

trees.  The  settlers  of  this  community  were  com- 
pelled to  go  to  Ottawa  to  mill  and  to  take  their 
produce  to  Chicago,  and  during  the  early  history 
of  the  county  many  were  the  hardships  endured 
by  these  pioneers.  A  little  incident  occurred  in 
early  '40s  which  illustrates  to  what  straits  the 
early  inhabitants  were  reduced  and  what  hard- 
ships the  early  pioneers  were  compelled  to  endure. 
The  neighborhood  in  which  Mr.  Joseph  Arbuekle 
lived  ran  short  of  flour  and  some  of  the  neighbors, 
with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foster,  held  a  counsel  and 
talked  the  situation  over,  and  as  the  nearest  mill 
was  at  St.  Charles  and  Mr.  Arbuekle  was  the  onlv 


PAST   AND    PEESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


159 


one  that  had  a  team,  it  was  decided  that  he  should 
take  the  grist  to  mill  for  the  neighborhood,  but 
they  found  he  had  no  pants  suitable  to  wear,  as 
the  weather  was  decidedly  cold.  Mrs.  Foster  had 
some  wool,  and  the  women  of  the  neighborhood 
gathered  and  picked  and  carded  it,  and  as  fast  as 
it  was  carded  there  neighbors  brought  it  to  Mrs. 
Arbucklc  to  spin,  which  was  in  the  neighborhood 
of  a  mile  from  the  Foster  residence.  After  the 
cloth  had  been  spun  into  rolls  it  was  again  re- 
in rued  to  Mrs.  Foster  to  do  the  weaving,  and  they 
began  in  the  early  morning  to  cut  the  cloth  and 
sew  the  pieces  together  for  the  garment,  and  when 
early  morning  came,  Mr.  Arbuckle,  equipped  with 
a  warm  pair  of  trousers,  made  his  way  to  St. 
Charles,  waited  lor  his  grist  and  returned  after 
an  absence  of  over  three  days,  but  the  neighbor- 
hood had  plenty  of  flour  from  that  time  on  till 
spring. 

On  another  occasion  George  Hill  and  the  Fos- 
ters were  visiting  at  the  home  of  Arbuckles,  and 
as  was  the  custom  of  the  early  settlers  when  visit- 
ing, they  started  to  get  supper  for  the  guests,  but 
finding  that  the  corn  meal  had  run  low  and  that 
some  dried  com  was  in  the  oven  ready  to  be 
shelled  and  taken  to  mill,  the  men  resolved  to  pre- 
pare the  meal  necessary  for  the  Johnny  cake  at 
once,  so  one  party  shelled  the  corn,  another  turned 
the  coffee  mill,  and  in  about  thirty  minutes 
enough  corn  meal  flour  was  had  for  the  necessary 
Johnny  cake,  and  those  who  partook  of  that  re- 
past state  that  they  never  enjoyed  an  evening 
meal  better. 

The  winter  of  1842  caused  considerable  suffer- 
ing among  the  early  inhabitants  of  Kingston. 
Snow  came  early  in  the  fall  and  remained  until 
spring,  except  the  period  of  the  January  thaw. 
The  people  had  plenty  of  provision,  as  game  was 
driven  to  the  barnyard  for  food,  and  during  that 
year  many  of  the  deer,  that  were  then  so  plentiful 
in  thai  section  of  the  country,  were  killed,  and 
from  that  time  on  deer  was  a  rare  game  in  this 
locality. 

The  timber  along  the  stream  furnished  many 
sites  for  the  early  camp  meeting  and  for  the  Sun- 
day-school picnics.  In  that  early  day  before 
churches  were  numerous  the  camp  meeting  was  a 
necessity,  and  they  would  last  sometimes  for  over 
four  weeks,  at  which  time  thousands  of  people 
would  come  from  different  parts  of  the  country. 


Many  of  the  early  settlers  were  converted  at  these 
meetings  and  allied  themselves  with  the  different 
churches.  The  writer  well  remembers  the  Sun- 
day-school picnics  held  in  Poust's  woods  in  the 
later  '60s  and  early  "IDs,  and  remembers  the  great 
numbers  who  were  present  on  those  occasions. 

George  H.  Hill,  aside  from  being  one  of  the 
early  justices,  served  his  town  as  supervisor  for 
many  years  previous  to  the  organization  of  the 
board  of  supervisors,  was  one  of  the  county  com- 
missioners and  was  elected  county  judge  in  1852 
and  served  two  terms.  He  also  served  a  term 
as  county  treasurer.  He  was  elected  a  delegate  to 
the  constitutional  convention  of  1848.  Judge  Hill 
was  a  man  of  splendid  ability,  was  a  stalwart  re- 
publican, was  known  through  the  county  for  his 
candor,  intelligence  and  integrity,  and  at  the  time 
that  he  was  in  the  full  strength  of  his  manhood 
no  citizen  of  Dc  Kail)  county  would  wield  a  wider 
influence  in  her  political  councils.  He  was  very 
patriotic  and  during  the  war  made  great  efforts 
for  the  enlistment  of  troops  and  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Home  Guard.  He  died  at  an 
advanced  age,  in  1890,  on  the  farm  he  had  taken 
from  the  government  in  1835. 

Some  time  in  the  '50s  a  large  distillery  was 
built  by  the  Ball  brothers  in  the  east  part  of  the 
township,  north  of  the  creek,  in  heavy  timber. 
For  a  time  this  institution  employed  a  large  num- 
ber of  men  and  manufactured  considerable  liquor 
and  fed  hundreds  of  cattle,  but  in  the  early  '60s 
it  was  presumed  that  a  murder  was  committed 
there  and  trouble  was  made  for  the  authorities. 
Some  were  arrested,  but  upon  examination  no 
guilt  was  proven,  the  institution  was  closed  and 
stood  for  many  years  until  lorn  down  lately.  In 
1863  Kishwaukee  lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  No.  402, 
was  instituted  and  held  forth  in  the  Wyllys  build- 
ing in  Stuartville  until  Kingston  was  started,  when 
the  building  was  moved  to  that  town.  This  lodge 
had  for  many  years  jurisdiction  of  all  the  town- 
ship of  Kingston  and  the  township  of  Franklin, 
part  of  South  Grove  and  May  field,  and  was  ex- 
ceedingly prosperous  and  had  about  eighty  mem- 
bers, when  in  1891  the  Kirkland  lodge  was  or- 
ganized, which  took  away  more  than  half  of  its 
jurisdiction.  In  1884  Gilbert  Barnes  post,  No. 
395,  G.  A.  E.,  was  organized,  with  twelve  mem- 
bers. The  charter  members  were  J.  W.  Foster, 
S.  S.  Eussell,  James  Mackey,  S.  D.  Whitney,  B.  P. 


160 


PAST    AND    PHESFXT    OF    DK    KALB    COUNTY. 


Penney,  H.  M.  Stark,  Eenry  Bacon,  0.  II.  Taplin, 
A.  .1.  .Miller  and  A.  II.  Clark.  While  the  number 
of  members  has  dei  ceased  at  the  present  time,  still 
this  is  one  of  the  mosl  enthusiastic  posts  in  the 
county  and  exercises  a  patriotic  influence  over  the 
rising  generation.  Kingston  sent  one  hundred 
and  five  men  to  the  Civil  war.  Among  those  who 
attained  prominence  in  the  service  were  Colonel 
Lorenzo  II.  Whitney,  Lieutenant  William  Whit- 
ney, both  id'  the  Eighth  Illinois  Cavalry:  Lieuten- 
ant William  Hill,  of  the  Ninety-fifth  Infantry; 
Lieutenant  John  Eeckman,  of  the  Ninety-fifth 
Illinois  Infantry;  Captain  .1.  W.  Foster,  of  the 
Forty-second  Infantry.  He  was  desperately 
wounded  and  reported  dead,  hut  survived  to  suffer 
the  horrors  of  a  rebel  prison.  Stories  of  his  im- 
prisonment, escape,  recapture  and  final  flight  to 
the  Union  line-  is  of  thrilling  interest.  Lieuten- 
ant Gilbert  Barnes,  of  the  Forty-second  Illinois. 
lost  his  life  early  in  the  service,  lie  was  a  young 
man  of  considerable  prominence,  well  educated, 
and  had  a  brigb.1  future.  Eis  death  occurring 
early  in  the  war  created  a  deep  impression.  Barnes 
post  i-  Darned  in  his  honor,  of  the  one  hundred 
and  five  who  entered  lie  3ervice  twenty- 
nine  lost  thru'  lives.  Three  of  them  were 
sons  of  John  Russell,  namely:  Wesley  D., 
of  the  Thirteenth  Infantry:  Richard  W.,  id' 
the  Forty-second  Illinois,  ami  I 'avid  F.. 
of  the  Ninety-fifth  [nfantry.  John  Russell  fur- 
nished five  son-  to  the  Union  cause,  losing  three 
on  the  field  of  battle,  while  one  was  desperatebj 
wounded.  The  loss  of  three  brighi  young  men  in 
the  flower  of  young  manh I  caused  the  prema- 
ture death  id'  their  patriotic  mother.  Richard  W. 
Atwood,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth,  lost  an 
arm  and  leg  at  Dalton,  Georgia,  dying  two  weeks 
later.  Ira  G.  Burzell,  of  the  Eighth  Illinois  Cav- 
alry, Ma-  drowned  in  the  Mississippi,  and  Aiba 
Lankton,  of  the  Ninety-fifth,  died  in  the  hospital 
at  Vicksburg.  The  other-  from  this  township  who 
lost  their  lives  in  the  .  re  John  Swanson. 

David  Bear,  Levi  Sherman,  Lieutenant  Gilbert 
Barnes,  Abner  Westbrook,  dame-  Collier,  Frank 
Arntz,  J.  B.  Blake.  Abner  Dalby,  Prison  Brainerd, 
Henry  Potter,  William  H.  Branch,  E.  II.  Branch, 
William  Davis,  Lewis  Miller.  William  Middleton, 
Andrew  Raymond,  George  \\er-.  Thomas  Burch- 
tleld.  C.  M.  Brown.  Isaac  Kettle,  George  Palmer, 
and  Frank  HcMahon. 


In  1860  the  Pleasant  Hill  church  was  built  on 
the  south  line  of  the  township,  which  has  been 
mentioned  in  the  history  of  Mayfield.  In  1876, 
upon  the  platting  of  the  village  of  Kingston,  Ly- 
man ami  James  Stuart  paid  for  the  removal  of 
the  church  to  its  present  site  in  Kingston.  In  the 
later  '80s  a  Baptist  church  was  organized  and  an 
edifice  erected.  In  1881  the  Kingston  grade 
school  building  \\a-  erected  at  a  cost  of  three 
thousand  three  hundred  dollars.  J.  G.  Lucas,  now 
county  superintendent  of  Boone  county,  was  its 
first  principal.  The  schoolhouse  was  burned  in 
1895  ami  the  present  beautiful  edifice  erected. 
The  Kingston  school  has  an  alumni  that  has  fur- 
nished many  teachers,  professional  and  business 
men  to  tin-  pail  of  the  country. 

"In  the  year  1852  a  catastrophe  occurred  in 
this  township,  which  cosl  the  lives  of  three  young 
men.  Rue!  Layton,  William  Hicks  and  Doras  Hol- 
lenbeck,  at  Stuart's  mill.  Kingston.  When  the 
river  was  high  there  was  a  heavy  flow  of  water 
over  the  top  of  the  dam.  and  at  such  times  there 
was  a  swirling  movement  of  the  waters,  where 
the  overflow  struck  the  water  below  the  dam  that 
made  it  impossible  for  a  small  boat  to  cross  the 
disturbed  part  of  the  water  without  being 
swamped.  Such  were  the  conditions  on  the  3d 
of  February.  18.V.'.  when  the  young  men  under- 
took to  cross  the  river  in  a  small  boat  and  were 
drowned.  Rue!  Layton  was  in  the  employ  of 
1 1  nam  Stuart  in  the  mill,  and  a  part  of  his  duty 
wa-  to  lake  people  across  the  liver  in  the  time  of 
high  water,  a-  there  wa-  no  bridge  near  and  that 
was  the  only  means  id  crossing  at  such  times. 
His  parents  lived  near,  and  with  them  boarded 
Seymour  Eicks,  a  brother  of  William  Hicks.  Hi- 
ram Stuart  resided  mi  the  south  side  of  the  river, 

and    with    him    boarded    William    Eicks,    a    -i - 

maker  by  trade,  who  in  the  previous  year  had 
built  a  shop  a  mile  south  of  the  mill,  and  with  his 
brother,  Seymour  links,  working  with  him.  began 
business  there,  lie  had  been  away  for  a  few  day- 
on  a  visit  to  an  uncle,  who  lived  near  Waukegan, 
and  had  just  returned  befotv  William  was 
drowned.  William  had  gone  almost  immediately 
to  hi-  shop  and  Seymour  had  stopped  at  his 
fathers  over  night  in  order  to  acquaint  his  people 
with  the  incidents  of  his  visit.  Doras  Eollenbeck 
lived  with  his  parents  one  mile  west  and  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  north  of  the  mill  and  had  been 


PAST   AND    PBESENT   OP  DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


161 


at  the  shoe  shop  to  see  about  a  pair  of  boots  and 
was  on  his  way  home,  accompanied   by  William 
Hicks  as  far  as  Mt.  Stuart's,  where,  finding  Mr. 
Stuart's   people   absent   it   is   presumed   he    went 
along  with  Layton  to  ferry  Hollenbeck  across  the 
river.     Mr.  Stuart's  people  not  being  at  home  at 
just  that  time,  no  one  heard  the  talk  of  the  young 
men  or  knew  of  their  plans.     All  three  were  seen 
by   Layton's   mother   on    the   way    from    Stuart's 
house  to  the  boat.     No  one  saw  them  in  the  boat 
and  their  absence  was  not  noted    until   the  next 
morning,    when    Seymour    Hicks   went    from    his 
father's  house  to  the  shop,  some  three  miles  away, 
and  found  the  door  locked.    His  fears  were  aroused 
and  he  went  to  Stuart  and  found  him  very  angry 
on  account  of  the  absence  of  Layton  and  the  morn- 
ing's work  not  done.     Then  lie  went  to  Mr.  Lay- 
ton's,  but  he  learned  nothing  more  than  that  Mrs. 
Layton  had  seen  the  three  going  toward  the  boat 
the   evening  before.      The   boat  was  gone  and   it 
was  also  reported  that  the  three  young  men  were 
missing.     Then  came  the  report  that  a  boat  had 
been   found    three-quarters   of  a   mile    down    the 
river  turned  bottom  side  up.     By  this  time  there 
was  quite  a  gathering  of  people,  a  general  alarm 
was  given,  and  soon  many  from  miles  away  hurried 
to  the  place,  all  anxious  to  aid  in  the  recovery  of 
the  bodies.    By  the  next  morning  there  were  hun- 
dreds of  people  lining  the  banks  of  each  side  of 
the    river,  searching   for   the   bodies.     That   day, 
February  5,  the  body  of  William  Hicks  was  found 
some  forty  rods  below  the  dam  at  a  bend  in  the 
river,  caught  in  some  brush  and  one  boot  showing 
partly   above   the   surface.     The   water  had  been 
slowly  falling,  which  had  exposed  a  portion  of  the 
foot.      On   the   6th   the   body   of   Hollenbeck   was 
found  some  distance  farther  down  the  river,  and 
it  was  not  until  the  7th   that  the  body  id'  Ruel 
Layton  was  recovered  about  a  mile  below  the  dam. 
The  prevailing  opinion  seemed  to  be  that  Layton 
in  managing  the  boat  steered  across,  or  too  close 
to,  a  portion  of  the  swirling  water  and  that  the 
boat  was  capsized,  throwing  them   into  the  most 
dangerous  part,  where,  hampered  by   their  heavy 
wilder    clothing,    their    bodies    were    hurled    and 
tossed  until   life   was  extinct.     Layton   had  taken 
several  people  across  the  river  during  the  day  and 
had  said  to  some  of  them  that  he  could  take  the 
boat   across   the    swirling    water   safely,   but    had 
been  prevented  from  doing  so.     It  was  from  the 


talk  he  bad  with  those  whom  he  had  taken  across 
during  the  high  water  that  the  opinion  was  formed 
that  the  dreadful  accident  had  happened  as  given 
above.  The  young  men  were  good  swimmers  and 
had  the  boat  been  overturned  below  the  swirl  of 
the  water  if  would  seem  as  though  they  would 
have  been  able  to  save  themselves  by  swimming 
ashore.  The  sad  ending  of  the  lives  of  these  three 
young  men  east  a  heavy  gloom  over  the  com- 
munity and  the  bereaved  families  had  the  sincere 
sympathy  of  all.'' 

In  1853  a  tornado  passed  over  the  townships  of 
Franklin  and  Kingston,  doing  an  immense  amount 
of  damage.  This  tornado  caused  a  severe  loss  of 
property  to  the  settlers,  who  had  just  built  their 
new  homes.  In  1860  a  tornado  of  much  greater 
Eorce  swept  over  the  town.  It  wa.-s  first  seen  as  a 
black  cloud  in  funnel  shape  sweeping  along  at  the 
rate  of  a  mile  a  minute.  Huge  trees  were  taken 
up  in  the  air  and  carried  off  like  straws.  A  house 
belonging  to  Isaac  McCoy  was  torn  in  fragments 
and  not  a  stick  of  it  was  left  in  its  former  posi- 
tion. Even  the  stones  of  its  cellar  were  carried 
off.  It  had  been  occupied  by  a  Mr.  Weaver,  but 
fortunately  was  not  occupied  at  that  time.  The 
earth  in  the  course  of  (he  tornado  was  swept  and 
hollowed  out  so  that  it  resembled  the  bed  of  a 
rapid  river.  Large  stumps  were  torn  out  by  the 
roots.  Mr.  Luke  Penwell,  seeing  its  approach,  ran 
to  avoid  it,  but  being  caught  seized  a  sapling,  to 
which  he  clung  with  the  energy  of  despair,  while 
the  wind  whipped  his  legs  around  his  head  with 
great  violence. 

Some  time  in  the  later  '8Cte  the  Illinois  Central 
passed  through  this  township,  and  along  its  line 
is  the  little  village  of  Colvin  Park,  which  makes 
an  excellent  shipping  station  for  the  farmers  in 
the  northern  part  of  this  township.  The  Stuart 
family  came  to  this  township  in  1S39,  bringing 
with  them  some  property,  and  became  some  of  the 
most  substantial  business  men  of  that  section. 
James  and  Lyman  Stuart  platted  the  village  of 
Kingston  in  1876  and  built  the  first  house  there 
and  organized  the  lirst  business  enterprise.  Their 
competing  point  was  started  at  Chaplinville  and  a 
splendid  two-story  brick  building  and  a  large  mill 
with  four  buhrs  were  erected,  this  costing  forty 
thousand  dollars. 

A  Catholic  church  was  also  built  by  Mr.  Chap- 
man and  a  store  by  Mr.  Aurner,  but  the  village  of 


162 


PAST    AXD   PEESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


Kingston  had  its  depot  about  a  half  mile  west  and 
Genoa  being  two  and  a  half  miles  east,  its  business 
enterprise  soon  died  out  and  at  present  nothing 
remains  but  the  buildings  to  tell  of  its  past  glory. 
"William  Miller,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  county, 
camp  in  is3i;,  Jlarman  Miller  preceding  him  one 
year.  He  became  the  owner  of  about  thirteen  hun- 
dred acres  of  land,  which  is  now  in  possession  of 
Mrs.  J.  L.  Ellwood,  his  daughter.  In  183?  Mr. 
Miller  planted  ten  acres  of  corn,  which  up  to  that 
time  was  the  largesl  field  in  com.  He  was  promi- 
nent in  political  affairs  of  Kingston  and  on  his 
farm  was  held  the  firsi  election  in  the  township. 
The  stump  which  served  as  a  table  in  this  pre- 
cinct was  pointed  out  until  about  twenty-five  years 
ago.  Since  that  time  the  land  has  been  cleared. 
He  built  a  mill  known  as  Millers  sawmill  south 
of  his  residence  and  for  years  did  a  thriving  lum- 
ber business.  The  following  named  persons  have 
served  as  supervisors  of  this  township:  John 
Sheeley,  one  year:  C.  W.  Branch,  one  year;  Wil- 
liam Miller,  one  year;  Judge  HOI,  four  years; 
George  Ellwood,  one  year;  Dr.  .lame-  McAllister, 
two  years;  Philip  Heckman.  two  years;  Judge 
Hill,  one  year:  Charles  W.  Branch,  six  years; 
John  L.  Hoag.  two  years;  Sylvester  Mead,  two 
years;  Leroy  Benson,  two  years;  Aaron  Clark, 
four  years;  II.  EL  Miller,  seven  years;  J.  D. 
Brown,  two  years;  M.  W.  Cole,  four  years;  Hiram 
Branch,  four  years,  and  D.  B.  Arbuckle,  who  is 
serving  at  the  present  time.  Nearly  all  of  the 
old  settlers  and  their  descendants  have  died  or 
moved  to  other  localities,  and  the  majority  of  the 
farms  are  now  owned  by  those  who  came  at  a 
later  day.  In  the  later  '70s  the  Germans  began  to 
settle  the  timbered  portion  in  the  north  part  of 
the  county  and  now  form  a  progressive  part  of 
that  population.  In  1888  they  built  the  German 
Evangelical  church.  Of  those  who  have  been  quite 
prominent  in  local  affairs  of  this  community  are 
Michael  Schandelmeier,  William  Aves,  William 
Puis,  George  Sexauer.  L.  A.  Koeller. 

SANDWICB    AND    SOMONAUK. 

The  history  of  Somonauk  township  is  in  some 
respects  the  earliest  historj  of  the  county.  Old 
settler-  who  rely  largely  upon  memory  do  not 
agree  as  to  the  first  settlement  of  the  county,  but 
preponderance  of  evidence  is  in  favor  of  the  fad 
that  the  first  temporary  abode  by  white  man  m 


what  is  now  De  Kail)  county  was  on  Somonauk 
creek  near  the  site  of  the  present  U.  P.  church, 
while  the  firsi  permanent  settlement,  was  in  Squaw 
Grove  township.  Reuben  Eoot  was  the  first  per- 
manent settler  in  what  is  now  Somonauk  township 
and  he  lived  in  the  shack  built  by  a  Mr.  Bobinson 
in  1834.  The  early  history  of  the  township  of 
Sandwich  and  Somonauk  especially  the  earlier 
half  century  is  given  in  the  reminiscences  of  the 
Eon.  M.  B.  Castle,  which  we  give  here.  The 
iscences  are  not  given  verbatim,  as  Mr.  Castle 
touches  frequently  upon  the  story  of  other  town- 
5,  hut  all  matter  pertaining  to  Somonauk 
township  and  its  early  settlers  is  given  verbatim. 
\-  frequently  happens,  when  two  cities  are  near 
eai  b  oth<  r  so  thai  they  become  rivals  in  trade,  they 
watch  each  other  with  jealous  eyes.  Especially 
is  this  true  when  the  two  cities  belong  to  the  same 
political  unit.  Two  of  the  townships  of  this 
countj  which  are  thus  situated  have  not  always 
had  harmonious  internal  political  relations.  The 
1 1. Millie  in  Franklin  between  Fairdale  and  Kirk- 
am  1  was  settled  by  giving  Fairdale  a  separate 
election  precinci.  Somonauk  had  maintained  its 
election  precinct  for  years,  but  the  strife  grew  out 
of  the  division  of  the  political  fund  of  the  town- 
ship,  and  the  distribution  of  the  funds  raised  by 
taxation.  After  numerous  petitions  and  counter 
petitions  and  legal  entanglements,  out  of  the 
township  of  Somonauk  were  carved  two  political 
townships,  in  Somonauk  retaining  the  old  name, 
while  the  new  was  given  the  name  of  Sandwich, 
county  which  are  thus  situated  have  not  always 
The  early  history  of  these  two  townships  is  indent- 
ical  up  to  the  period  of  division.  After  the  build- 
ing of  the  C,  B.  &  Q.  railroad,  Somonauk  was 
established  and  grew  rapidly.  The  organization 
of  the  churches  has  been  given  in  a  previous  chap- 
ter, but  in  the  early  '90s  the  Baptist,  Presbyterian 
and  Methodist  churches  consolidated  under  the 
name  of  the  Union  Congregational  church,  and 
built  a  beautiful  and  commodious  church  edifice. 
The  Lutheran  and  Evangelical  societies  were  or- 
ganized and  maintain  church  services  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  A  Catholic  society  was  organized  in  the 
later  '50s  by  a  priest  from  Naperville,  who  held 
services  in  private  houses  or  in  the  hotel  of  the 
village,  where  the  Catholics  would  assemble  to  do 
their  daily  duty,  have  their  children  baptized  and 
receive  the  sacrament  of  the  church.    In  1863  they 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


163  • 


purchased  a  hall  and  in  1866  built  a  frame  church 
forty  by  eighty.  This  building  was  destroyed  by 
fire  in  1S68.  This  was  replaced  by  a  building  of 
brick  of  the  same  dimensions,  and  at  a  later  period 
an  addition  was  built  to  the  church.  Rev.  C.  J. 
Huth  was  the  first  resideni  priest  of  Somonauk, 
and  remained  there  for  sixteen  years.  Father 
11  uih  was  popular  not  only  with  the  members  of 
his  congregation,  but  with  the  whole  community, 
and  when  he  was  transferred  from  this  appoint- 
ment the  Protestants  had  a  public  meeting  and 
made  him  a  valuable  present. 

The  schools  of  Somonauk  were  established 
shortly  after  the  building  up  of  the  village  and 
the  Somonauk  graded  school  building  was  one 
of  the  first  erected  in  the  county.  About  four 
years  ago  the  present  new  brick  structure  was 
completed.  Warren  Hubbard  has  been  superin- 
tendent of  the  Somonauk  schools  for  a  period  of 
seventeen  years.  Aside  from  A.  J.  Rlanchard  he 
ha-  served  continuously  at  one  point  in  the  county 
Longer  than  any  other  individual.  Mr.  Hubbard 
is  a  Hue  type  of  the  Christian  gentleman,  genial, 
active,  brighi  and  one  of  the  excellent  school  men 
of  northern  Illinois.  Somonauk  maintains  two 
excellent  financial  institutions:  One  known  as  the 
Somonauk  Bank,  managed  by  Wright  &  Stevens. 
and  the  other  the  State  Bank,  of  which  Joseph 
Antoine  is  president  and  C.  White  cashier.  Frank- 
lin Dale  erected  the  first  store  building  in  the 
village  and  opened  a  stock  of  general  merchandise 
and  became  the  pioneer  merchant  of  the  place. 
Mr.  Hess  was  the  second  and  opened  a  store,  which 
is  at  present  managed  by  his  two  sons,  Henry 
and  George.  The  Somonauk  Reveille  first  made 
its  appearance  in  1875  and  is  in  existence  at  the 
present  time. 

Since  1872,  since  Somonauk  has  been  a  separate 
voting  precinct,  she  has  furnished  the  assistant 
supervisor  of  the  township.  The  first  was  Edward 
Hoxey.  next  Thomas  J.  Wright.  John  Clark, 
Charles  Merwin,  Charles  S.  Lewis,  Carter  Wright, 
Peter  McClelland,  who  served  for  a  period  of 
twelve  years.  He  was  followed  by  Isaac  Hay  and 
he  by  Henry  Hess,  who  was  serving  at  the  time 
of  the  division  of  the  township.  The  supervisors 
for  the  old  town  of  Somonauk  have  been  Lyman 
Bacon,  William  Patten.  J.  H.  Furinan,  H. 
Latham,  Dr.  C.  Winne,  E.  W.  Lewis,  W.  W. 
Sedgwick,   W.   L.    Simmons,   Hiram   Loucks   and 


Dr.  Winne,  who  has  now  served  longer  than  any 
other  supervisor  from  this  township.  He  was 
serving  at  the  time  of  the  town-hip  division  and 
ably  opposed  the  separation.  Since  that  time  he 
has  represented  the  town  of  Sandwich. 

The  graded  schools  of  Sandwich  have  had  W. 
W.  Woodbury  for  city  superintendent  during  a 
period  of  fourteen  years.  He  was  connected  with 
the  schools  previous  to  this  time  and  was  princi- 
pal of  the  grammar  school.  Sandwich  maintains 
a  four-year  high  school  course  and  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  strong  schools  of  the  county. 

The  Sandwich  Manufacturing  Company  is 
known  over  the  civilized  world  and  sends  its 
finished  product  to  South  America,  Europe  and 
Asia.  This  was  one  of  the  first  strong  establish- 
ments built  up  in  the  count)'.  It.  stands  as  a 
monument  to  August  Adams,  its  founder.  Its 
employees  arc  well  paid  and  are  capable  men, 
who  have  served  their  town  and  county  in  re- 
sponsible positions.  The  Enterprise  Manufactur- 
ing Company  was  established  at  a  later  date  and 
is  at  presenl  in  a  prosperous  condition.  The  old 
township  of  Somonauk  has  a  splendid  war  record, 
furnished  three  hundred  and  eleven  men  for  the 
suppression  of  the  rebellion  and  raised  nearly 
twenty-eight  thousand  dollars  to  meet  war  ex- 
penses. Captain  L.  II.  Carr  was  among  the  first 
Hoops  of  Illinois  to  occupy  the  strategic  position 
of  Cairo,  and  was  one  of  the  first  companies  raised 
in  the  state  under  the  first  call  of  the  president. 
The  gallant  officer  who  responded  so  readily  to  the 
call  of  the  nation  in  danger  met  his  death  from  a 
bullet  of  a  sharpshooter  at  the  siege  of  Island 
No.  10.  Frederick  W.  Partridge,  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, and  a  student  in  the  law  office  of  Franklin 
Pierce,  postmaster  of  Sandwich  in  1860,  raised  a 
company  in  Sandwich,  became  its  captain,  was 
twice  wounded,  rose  to  the  command  of  the  regi- 
ment and  at  the  close  of  the  war  was  breveted 
brigadier  general.  He  was  elected  circuit  clerk 
and  recorder  and  became  a  resident  of  Sycamore. 
After  his  return  as  minister  to  Siam  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  several  positions  of  honor  and  trust 
by  Presidents  Hayes  and  Garfield.  Colonel  Isaac 
Rutishowser,  of  Somonauk,  a  native  of  Poland, 
ami  his  brother  Carl,  did  gallant  service  in  the 
Civil  war.  The  latter  attained  the  rank  of  colonel. 
The  Beveridges  were  residents  of  Somonauk  and 
came  to  this  county  in  a  very  early  day.     They 


164 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   UE   KALB    COUNTY. 


were  Scotch  Presbyterians  and  of  strong  anti- 
slavery  faith.  They  maintained  a  station  on  the 
underground  railway  here  and  assisted  many  a 
negro  to  freedom.  As  stated  in  another  part  of 
this  work,  dames  H.  and  John  L.  became  promi- 
nent in  affairs  of  state,  the  former  serving  as 
state  treasurer  and  the  latter  as  governor.  Their 
father,  George  Beveridge,  and  their  noble  mother, 
were  among  the  organizers  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian church. 

The  village  of  Sandwich  was  organized  and  in- 
corporated  in  1859 — thai  of  Somonauk  in  1856. 

One  of  the  churches  of  this  county  which  de- 
serves  special  mention  is  the  United  Presbyterian 
church  in  the  township  of  Somonauk,  about  three 
miles  north  of  the  village  of  Somonauk.  It  may 
be  of  intei'e.-i  to  know  that  in  L858  the  Associate 
Presbyterian  and  Associate  Reformed  Pres- 
byterian churches  formed  a  union.  Since 
that  time  the  organization  to  which  this 
church  belonged  has  been  known  as  the  United 
Presbyterian  church.  About  the  year  1831  Mr. 
George  Beveridge  of  Washington  county.  New 
York,  came  to  this  place,  and  after  some  time  and 
in. i  .i  few  privations  secured  a  home.  In  1842  lie 
broughl  his  family  to  Ins  new  home.  About  the 
same  time  other  families  came  from  the  same 
place  and  settled  in  the  neighbor! I.  These  peo- 
ple wishing  to  enjoy  church  privileges,  began  to 
arrange  the  establishment  of  their  church  home. 
In  August,  1842,  Rev.  James  Templeton  visited 
and  preached  for  them.  Also  Rev.  dames  Smith 
and  Rev.  George  Vincent  preached  for  them  during 
the  fall  and  winter.  In  1843  Rev.  R.  Pollock, 
Rev.  [saa<  Law,  Rev.  !>'.  W.  French  were  sent  by 
the  board  of  home  missions  to  preach  for  them. 

On  March  18,  1846.  the  Associate  Congregation 
of  Somonauk,  1  >e  Kalh  county,  Illinois,  was  organ- 
ized h\  Rev.  R.  W.  French,  in  the  home  of  Mr. 
George  Beveridge,  near  where  the  church  building 
is  located.  Messrs.  William  Patten  and  David  M. 
Dobbin  were  elected  ruling  elders.  There  were 
twenty-one  charter  members,  of  whom  only  one  is 
now  living — Mr.  John  Walker  of  Sandwich,  Illi- 
nois. Rev.  R.  W.  I-" tench  was  pa-tor  of  the  congre- 
gation from  1848  until  June.  I860;  Rev.  W.  T. 
Moffett,  D.  D.,  from  April  2.  1861,  until  Xo- 
vember  27,  I8?"i  :  Rev.  D.  S.  Kennedy.  D.  D.,  from 
September  5,  1878,  until  November  14.  lSrt.T;  Rev. 
A.    G.    Bastings,    from    January    27.    1895.   until 


Augusi  \'!i.  1903;  Rev.  J.  A.  Speer  has  been  pas- 
tor since  June  17,  190  I. 

All  the  former  pastors  and  members  were  in- 
vited to  return  ami  join  in  the  celebration  of  the 
semi-centennial  anniversary  of  the  organization  ot 
the  congregation.  All  the  pastors  were  present  ex- 
cept Rev.  W.  T.  Moffett,  I).  D.,  who  had  removed 
io  a  distant  field  of  labor  in  Kansas. 

Rev.  Alexander  Gilchrist,  D.  D.,  a  son  of  the 
congregation,  was  present  and  gave  an  address. 
A  paper  was  read  by  Rev.  A.  (..  Hastings.  gi\in<;  a 
hi-ton  of  the  "congregation  and  review  of  its 
growth  from  the  time  of  its  organization.  Mem- 
bership  at  that  time  was  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
five.  The  closing  exercises  were  in  charge  of  the 
Young  IVoph/-  Society.  Rev.  Jesse  Johnson  of 
Muskingum  College,  Ohio,  gave  the  address  of  the 

evening.     Sons  of  tl ngregation  who  entered 

the  ministry  are:  Rev.  William  J.  McAllister, 
Rev.  s.  j.  Stewart,  Rev.  Russel  Graham,  D.  D., 
Rev.  John  Mahaffey,  Rev.  Jesse  Beitel,  Rev.  Ar- 
i  bii   Graham,  Rev.  Andrew-  Randh  s. 

SQUAW    GROVE. 

Squaw  Grove  jvas  the  first  settled  township  in 
De  Kalh  county.  Much  of  the  storj  of  this  town- 
ship has  been  told  in  the  history  of  the  county, 
so  matters  pertaining  to  its  early  settlement  are 
found  in  the  chapter  "Early  Settlement-"  in  the 
lore  part  of  this  work.  We  have  also  noted  in 
that  chapter  Mr.  Hollenbeek,  who  lived  near  Ot- 
tawa, came  as  far  north  as  what  is  now  the  town 
of  Sycamore  and  laid  a  claim  to  Squaw  Grove,  a 
part  of  which  remains  west  of  the  presenl  village 
of  Hinckley.  This  was  the  Bret  claim  laid  in  the 
county  and  it  is  now  thi  Oscar  Tanner  farm.  It 
was  through  the  representations  of  .Mr.  Hollen- 
beek that  the  Sebrees,  a  family  of  Virginia  origin, 
came  here  to  look  over  the  country  and  settled. 
The  Sebrees.  upon  arriving  at  Squaw  Grove,  which' 
had  been  given  that  name  by  Mr.  Hollenbeek. 
found  unoccupied  wigwams  and  occupied  them 
until  a  log  house  could  be  built.  The  wife  of 
John  Sebree.  the  first  settler,  was  left  during  the 
winter  of  1834-5  alone  with  her  young  children 
while  he  went  to  his  eastern  home  to  secure  teams. 
wagons  and  apparatus  necessary  for  the  improve- 
ment of  their  new  home.  The  home  of  Wm.  Se- 
bree was  the  birthplace  of  Martha,  the  first  white 


past  and  present  of  de  kalb  county. 


165 


child  bom  in  De  Kalb  county.  She  married  Mr. 
J.  Jackson.  Her  death  occurred  in  1907.  At  this 
time  the  nearest  neighbor  of  Mrs.  Sebree  lived 
at  Millington,  seventeen  miles  away.  The  new- 
comers lived  in  the  most  primitive  manner.  Most 
of  them  had  cattle,  horses  and  swine.  The  Se- 
hrees  rejoiced  in  a  pair  of  hand  millstones,  with 
which  the  settlement  all  ground  their  corn.  They 
made  clothing  from  the  wool  of  the  sheep.  For 
three  years  the  only  plow  of  the  place  was  owned 
by  Sebree  and  was  made  with  a  wooden  mold 
board.  The  work  of  the  prairie  consisted  in  sow- 
ing oats  and  planting  sod  corn,  and  in  the  fall  of 

1836  Samuel  Miller  went  with  four  yoke  of  cattle. 
carrying  thirty  bushels  of  oats  to  Chicago.  These 
he  sold  for  fifty  cents  a  bushel,  returning  with 
salt  and  boots  enough  for  the  men  of  the  settle- 
ment. The  nearest  neighbor  on  the  north  was 
on  the  banks  of  the  Kishwaukee  and  in  1835  these 
people  from  Squaw  Grove  went  to  the  home  of 
William  A.  and  Ilarinan  Miller  and  helped  the 
former  raise  his  log  cabin.     The  first  tax  paid  in 

1837  in  this  town  was  by  Samuel  Miller,  who 
paid  sixty-two  and  a  half  cents.  The  first  death 
in  this  community  was  the  energetic  and  indus- 
trious mother  of  John  Sebree.  The  first  school 
was  taught  in  Jacob  Lee's  house  by  a  lady  named 
Jane  Sanford,  in  the  summer  of  1840,  and  M.  P. 
Cleveland  succeeded  her  the  following  winter. 
This  has  been  a  matter  of  dispute  as  to  who 
taught  the  first  term  of  school,  Mr.  Cleveland  or 
Miss  Sanford.  but  all  agree  that  it  was  taught  in 
1840  in  Mr.  Jacob  Lee's  house.  Squaw  Grove  was 
the  first  to  sell  her  sixteenth  section  of  land  for 
school  purposes.  Two  years  later  a  log  school- 
house  was  built  in  the  grove  and  Mr.  Alby,  now 
deceased,  made  the  window  frames  for  the  same. 
The  first  school  money  was  drawn  by  Mr.  Cleve- 
land out  of  the  public  funds,  while  the  first  wages 
paid  were  by  private  subscription  and  the  first 
school  was  known  as  the  subscription  school.  The 
house  occupied  by  John  Sebree  and  the  first  per- 
manent home  in  the  county  was  located  a  few  rods 

west  of  the  horn icupied  by  his  son.  W.  Marsh 

Sebree  until  the  last  two  or  three  years. 

Those  who  followed  Mr.  Sebree  and  Samuel 
Miller  were  William  Leggett,  M.  P.  Cleveland, 
Watson  Y.  Pomeroy,  John  Boardman  and  Jacob 
Lee.  Mr.  Cleveland  located  at  Pappoose  Grove, 
the  present  site  of  the  village  of  Hinckley.    John 


Eastabrook  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  He  lo- 
cated on  the  north  side  of  Squaw  Grove  in  the 
home  later  occupied  by  Mr.  Tanner,  where  he  re- 
mained until  Ins  death  in  1850.  Ee  was  accom- 
panied to  this  state  by  his  son  Decatur  and  his 
daughter  Mary.  His  wife  and  the  remainder  of 
the  family  came  the  following  year.  Decatur 
Eastabrook  removed  to  Carroll  county,  where  he 
still  resides.  When  Mr.  Eastabrook  came  to  the 
county  he  brought  with  him  two  large,  powerful 
dogs.  When  the  men  were  away  from  the  house 
the  dogs  would  allow  no  one,  especially  the  In- 
dians, to  come  near  the  house  unless  called  off  by 
Miss  Eastabrook. 

Samuel  Miller  and  John  Sebree  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives  on  land  which  they  took 
up  from  the  government.  Mr.  Pomeroy  subse- 
quently became  a  Methodist  preacher  and  until 
a  few  years  ago  was  active  in  the  service  in  Illi- 
nois. 

W.  A.  Pay  located  on  section  29  in  the  Somo- 
nauk  tin. I.e.-,  a  part  of  which  extends  to  this 
township.  All  the  settlers  of  1835  have  passed 
away  except  W.  Marsh  Sebree.  who  still  resides  at 
Hinckley,  and  is  hale  and  hearty.  When  Marsh 
Sebree  came  to  Squaw  Grove  he  was  less  than  two 
years  old  and  consequently  is  the  oldest  living 
settler  who  has  resided  continuously  in  the  county. 
His  father,  John  Sebree,  died  in  18:3.  In  his 
early  life  he  had  spent  some  years  in  teaming 
ami  in  floating  on  the  Mississippi  river.  In  the 
fall  of  1834  he  started  from  his  home  in  Indiana 
with  his  wife  and  one  child,  making  the  journey 
to  De  Kalb  county  with  a  team  and  one  cow.  On 
his  way  he  worked  for  a  time  near  Bloomington, 
picking  corn  on  shares,  which  served  him  well 
when  he  reached  his  pioneer  home.  Their  first 
shanty  in  Squaw  Grove  had  a  fire  place  built  of 
sticks  and  mud  and  the  floor  was  covered  with 
hay.  This  caught  fire  on  one  occasion,  but  did 
no  damage  save  the  fear  of  utter  ruin  to  the 
establishment.  He  built  a  log  house  later,  which 
was  quite  substantial.  He  cut  the  first  hay  crop 
in  the  county.  After  he  had  established  himself 
he  left  his  wife  and  one  child  and  proceeded  to 
Bloomington  to  bring  the  corn  he  had  earned  on 
his  way  here.  During  this  time  Mrs.  Sebree 
lived  on  cornbread,  the  meal  of  which  was  made 
by  hand.    They  lived  in  this  house  for  twelve  years 


166 


PAST    AND   PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


and  kepi  a  sorl  of  hotel,  as  there  was  no  other 
place  for  prospectors  and  land-lookers  to  obtain 
lodging.  Frequently  the  floor  of  the  little  log 
house  was  covered  with  the  sleeping  forms  of  tired 
travelers. 

The  first  physician  to  permanently  locate  in 
the  township  was  Dr.  Winslow,  who  located  about 
two  miles  from  the  presenl  village  of  Hinckley. 
Around  Hie  home  of  John  Seiner  and  a  little  to 
tin-  north  had  sprung  up  quite  a  village.  A  school- 
house  had  bei  u  l mill;  and  the  attendance  was  as 
large  as  that  of  any  other  district  school  id'  tlni 
county.  A  Methodist  church  had  been  erei  ted, 
which  was  moved  to  Hinckle]  in  is;:;,  when  the 
( '..  B.  a  Q.  road  passed  through  this  county,  mak- 
ing the  villages  of  Hinckley,  Waterman  and  Shab- 

i a   possible.     For  years  Mr.   Frank   Merrill  and 

11.  P.  Wagner  were  merchants  in  the  old  village 
of  Squaw  Grove,  notwithstanding  the  inconven- 
ience "i  securing  their  goods,  which  in  earl] 
were  mainly  hauled  by  team-  Prom  Chicago  ami 
later  from  Aurora  and  Somonauk.  This  town  in 
the  '50s  began  to  be  settled  by  a  number  of  Ger- 
mans. Among  them  came  William  Leifeiht,  C. 
Eartman,  James  Morsch,  F.  Granarl  and  A.ugusl 
Bastian.     Mosi  of  tie  se  were  emigrants  from  Ger- 

many,  « ho  ca here  poor  and   bj    indust  ry  and 

economy    have    purchased    manj    oJ    the   beautiful 

li is  of  Squau  Grove  township,  so  that  at  present 

the  Germans  have  the  majority  of  the  population 
of  the  town. 

In  the  early  '90s  they  erected  our  of  tie'  larj 

churches  in  the  county.     The  mbership  of  the 

Lutheran  society  at  this  town  is  nearly  four  hun- 
dred. The  church  is  modern  in  everj  respi  et  and 
has  a  valuable  church  organ,  which  cost  over  a 
thousand  dollars.  They  have  another  society  in 
the  town  of  Hinckley  known  as  the  Evangelical 
church.  Aside  from  the  churches  mentioned  there 
is  a  Methodist  church,  which  wi-  erected  in  the 
present  village  about  twelve  years  ago,  and  a 
Baptist  and  a  German  Methodisl  church. 

Hinckle\  i-  a  thriving  town  and.  being  in  a  rich 
grain  producing  section,  ha-  a  large  farm  trade. 
They  have  two  large  elevators,  two  hanks,  one  a 
private  bank,  managed  bj  II.  I'.  Wagner,  and  the 
other  a  stale  bank,  of  which  William  Yon  Ohlen 
is  president  am!  .lames  I'ogue  cashier.  From  the 
rude  log  house  built  in  the  grove  in  1838  has 
grown  a  large  graded  school  containing  five  room-. 


There  is  no  town  in  the  county  that  has  a  greater 
wealth  or  capital  than  the  village  of  Hinckley. 
The  Hinckley  Tile  Works,  which  were  established 
many  years  ago.  is  the  leading  manufacturing  in- 
dtistrv. 

PIERCE. 

Congressional  township  39  north,  range  5  east, 
is  known  a-  the  civil  township  of  Pierce,  so  named 
in  honor  of  Franklin  Pierce,  who  at  the  time  of 
its  organization  was  just  inaugurated  as  president 
of  the  United  States.  It  is  hound  on  the  east  by 
Kane  county,  on  the  north  by  Cortland  township, 
on  the  south  b\  Squaw  Grove  ami  on  the  west  by 
Alton.  The  headwaters  of  the  Big  Rock  creek 
are  in  this  township.  It  is  a  prairie  country,  the 
northern  half  being  undulating,  while  {lie  south- 
ern half  is  rather  flat.  It  has  been  an  excellent 
wheat  country  in  the  past,  and  in  1870  it  pro- 
duced more  of  that  cereal  than  an\  other  town- 
ship iii  the  ( ounty. 

Elder  Nathan  Wilcox  has  the  honor  of  being 
i  he  firsl  lo  locate  in  what  is  now  the  township  of 
Pierce.  Ih'  located  in  the  north  part  of  the  town- 
ship in  1847.  I  luring  that  year  John  Lesher,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Jacob  E.  Plapp,  a 
native  of  Germany,  came  ami  -elected  their  future 

I les.     Lesher  selected  the  southeast  quarter  of 

section  24.  lie  buill  a  substantia]  frame  house, 
lived  there  until  is:,:;,  when  he  sold  out  and  re- 
newed to  Iowa.  He  now  lives  in  Dubuque.  Plapp 
selected  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  24,  but 
did  not  pennanentlj  settle  until  about  two  years 
lie  died  on  the  homestead  in  January, 
L885. 

In  1848  Michael  Welsh,  a  native  of  Ireland. 
came  and   entered   land  on  section   11.   improved 

farm  and  there  lived  until  he  died. 

Jacob  Lint  ner  came  from  Lake  county,  Illinois, 
and  located  on  section  25.  He  was  born  in  Dau- 
phin county.  Pennsylvania,  in  1799.  His  wife 
was  Frances  Shaffner,  also  of  the  same  county 
and  state.  In  1828  the}  settled  in  Richland  coun- 
tv.  Ohio,  where  they  remained  until  1814.  when 
they  settled  in  Lake  county,  Illinois.  Mr.  Lintner 
died  on  tin-  old  homestead  in  1850.  His  widow 
successfully  managed  the  farm  until  her  death, 
March  33.  1883.  They  had  eight  children,  only 
one  of  whom  is  now  a  resident  of  the  township — 
Mrs.  Ferderick  Hoffman. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


167 


There  were  a  number  of  arrivals  in  1849,  among 
whom  were  Henry  Earner,  Christian  Meyer, 
George  Eberly,  David  Gerlach,  Bernard  Milna- 
mow,  Thomas  Gormley,  Malachi  Henaughan,  John 
Allen  and  Josiah  Jacob.  Earner  was  from  Penn- 
sylvania. He  settled  on  section  27  and  died  there. 
Meyer  also  settled  on  section  27.  He  now  resides 
in  Sandwich.  Eberly  was  also  from  Pennsylvania. 
He  located  on  section  26.  He  died  here.  His  son 
George  now  lives  on  the  same  section.  Gerlach 
chose  for  his  home  a  portion  of  section  24.  He  is 
now  dead,  but  has  two  sons  living  in  the  township, 
Samuel  on  the  homestead  and  Anderson  on  section 
14.  Henaughan  located  on  section  10.  He  is  now 
dead.  Two  sons  survive  him.  who  yet  reside  in 
the  township.  Milnamow,  Allen  and  Gormley  all 
yet  reside  in  the  township.    All  are  Irishmen. 

Among  other  pioneers  of  the  township  were  Levi 
and  Moses  Hill.  Thomas  Hallornn.  1'.  lloran.  P. 
Dunn,  L.  Hennegan.  John  Ferriek,  the  Butlers 
and  Dillons. 

Pierce  township  has  for  its  settlers  many  sturdy 
sons  of  "Erin,"  who  have  served  their  town  and 
county  well,  many  of  whom  have  attained  promi- 
nence outside  of  this  town  and  county.  The  same 
is  true  of  the  Germans,  who  came  here.  They 
make  most  excellent  citizens,  have  established  pub- 
lic schools  and  churches,  where  their  language  is 
spoken.  The  Evangelical  church  service  is  now 
conducted  in  the  English  language. 

Pierce  township  was  first  included  in  Somonauk 
precinct,  subsequently  in  Orange  precinct,  then  in 
Eichland.  Until  1853  the  north  half  was  at- 
tached to  Squaw  Grove,  and  the  south  half  to 
Cortland  township.  In  that  year  it  was  organized 
as  a  civil  township. 

The  first  school  in  the  township  was  taught  by 
William  J.  Bates,  in  1S50,  on  section  8.  The 
schoolhouse  was  made  of  split  poles.  Mr.  Bates 
taught  twenty-one  terms  in  that  district.  In  re- 
lation to  the  present  status  of  the  public  schools 
of  the  township,  the  following  items  are  gleaned 
from  the  report  of  the  county  superintendent  of 
public  schools  for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1884: 
There  were  four  hundred  and  sixty  persons  in 
the  township  under  twenty-one  years  of  ase,  of 
whom  two  hundred  and  ninety-six  were  over  six. 
Of  this  number  two  hundred  and  seventy-two 
were  enrolled  in  the  public  schools.  There  were 
eight  districts,  each  having  a  frame  schoolhouse, 


the  total  value  of  which  was  estimated  at  six 
thousand,  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  Each 
district  bad  school  over  one  hundred  and  ten  days 
during  the  year,  in  which  twenty-four  teachers 
were  employed,  receiving  an  average  monthly  sal- 
ary of  thirty-four  dollars  anil  forty-three  cents, 
the  highest  being  forty-live  dollars  and  the  low- 
est twenty-live  dollars.  The  tax  levy  was  two 
thousand,  two  hundred  and  twenty  dollars. 

Elder  Wilcox  was  probably  the  first  to  preach 
Christ  and  Him  crucified  in  the  township.  There 
were  in  188.5  two  church  organizations — the  Evan- 
gelical Association  and  the  Lutherans. 

The  first  meetings  of  those  holding  the  view«  of 
the  Evangelical  Association  were  held  at  the 
house  of  John  Lesher.  about  1849,  near  the  county 
line.  The  people  of  Kane  and  De  Kalb  counties 
met  together  to  worship  in  private  houses  on  both 
sides  of  the  line  for  some  years.  Eevs.  Hall. 
Eockuts  and  Weldy  were  the  first  preachers.  John 
Shoop  was  the  first  class  leader  and  Jacob  Lint- 
ner  exhorter.  Among  the  first  members  were 
David  Gerlach  and  wife ;  Benjamin  Moss  and  wife  ; 
John  Shoop  and  wife ;  George  Eberly  and  wife ; 
Jacob  Lintner  and  wife;  John  Kuter  and  wife; 
J.  F.  Plapp  and  wife;  John  Bartmeis  and  wife; 
John  Schwitzer  and  wife:  Valentine  Hummel  and 
wife;  Christopher  Hummel  and  wife;  John  Lesher 
and  Peter  Hummel.  About  1850  a  church  build- 
ing was  erected  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
■.'I.  H  was  replaced  in  the  early  '90s  by  one  of 
the  most  spacious  and  beautiful  churches  now  in 
the  country  districts  of  our  county.  The  first 
church  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Esher  of  Chicago. 
The  society  owns  a  parsonage  conveniently  located 
near  the  church.  There  are  now  one  hundred  and 
fifty  members  connected  with  the  society.  Peter 
Hummel,  Jacob  Kunes  and  Oscar  Ramer  are  the 
classleaders  :  Andrew  Gerlach.  Thomas  Shoop.  Fred 
Lontz  and  George  Schule,  stewards:  Peter  Hum- 
mel, Fred  Lentz.  George  Earner,  George  Schule 
and  J.  Kuter.  trustees.  Eev.  Jacob  K.  Sehultz 
is  the  present  pastor.  Services  are  held  in  Ger- 
man and  English.  A  Sabbath  school  is  connected 
with  the  church. 

The  first  meetings  of  the  Lutheran  church  were 
held  at  tin1  schoolhouse  in  district  No.  2.  in  1870, 
and  were  conducted  by  Eev.  John  Andreas,  from 
Somonauk.  An  organization  was  effected,  em- 
bracing the  families  of  Henrv  Rath    Peter  Conse, 


168 


PAST   AXD    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


Charles  Dellenbach,  Joseph  Dellenbach,  Detnst. 
George  Motz,  Frank  Redelperger.  August  (on-.. 
Henry  Schmidt,  Henry  Anspaeh,  Eartman  Schule 
and  William  Nehring.  The  society  met  for  wor- 
ship in  the  scl Ihouse  until  1872,  when  a  neat 

frame  church  building  was  erected  on  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  33,  which,  together  with 
the  furniture  eosl  two  thousand,  four  hundred  dol- 
lar-. There  are  now  twenty  families  belonging  to 
the  society. 

Piereeville  postoffice  was  established  in  1854, 
with  Moses  Hill  as  postmaster.  His  commission 
was  dated  Pebruar}  21,  1854.  The  office  was  at 
his  house,  which  was  on  the  route  from  Sycamore 
to  Cortland.  .Mail  was  received  from  each  direc- 
tion twice  a  week.  In  1851  Mr.  1 1 1 11  resigned, 
after  which  time  various  persons  held  the  office 
until  1879,  when  Mr.  Hill  was  reappointed.  Ee 
served  until  George  Schule  was  appointed  and  the 
offic    was  discontinued  in  1892. 

The  first  birth  in  the  township  was  that  of  a 
child  of  John  Lesher,  m  1849.  The  second  birth 
was  that  of  Man  Jane  Meyer,  daughter  of  Chris- 
tian Meyer,  born  October  6,  1850.  She  is  now 
the  wife  of   Valentino   Hummel. 

The  lii-t  death  was  thai  of  Jacob  Lintner.  He 
was  first  buried  on  his  farm,  but  his  remains  were 
subsequently  removed  and   interred  in  the  ceme- 

ter\    <d  the    Evangelical    Association. 

One  hundred  men  were  furnished  by  the  town- 
ship to  aid  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion  and  eleven 
thousand  dollars  was  ra 

The  supervisors  of  Pierce  township  were:  H. 
S.  Champlin,  C.  M.  Eumiston,  R.  Milnamow,  S. 
Denton.  T.  Gormley,  V  C.  Cottrell,  G.  W.  Slater. 
('.  M.  Humiston,  P.  W.  Gallagher,  John  Walsh. 
3ST.  B.  Sheldon,  Charles  A.  Eubbard,  James  D. 
Gormley,  A.  G.  Smith  and  J.  D.  Gormley,  1886- 
1907. 

One  of  the  places  of  interest  in  Pierce  township 
i-  the  Grove  known  as  Grimm's  woods.  Ithasbeen 
the  scenes  of  many  picnic  parties  and  for  a  period 
of  sixteen  years  the  school-  of  the  township  have 
formed  a  Picnic  Association  and  hold  their  an- 
nual picnics  at  this  place  regularly.  Miss  Nellie 
Davidson,  who  taughl  school  in  this  township  for 
mam    pears,  organized  the  above  a>sociation. 

Pierce  is  the  only  township  of  De  Kalb  county 
that  remains  democratic,  and  but  one  during  her 
whole  history  has  she  givi  n  a  republican  majority 


for  a  presidential  candidate.  The  only  log  house 
remaining  in  the  township  is  on  Mrs.  Rhoda  Wil- 
son's  farm,  and  it  has  been  in  constant  use  until 

the  last  year  or  two. 

i 

CORTLAND. 

BY    ItiiN.    DWIGHT    CROSSETT,    1899. 

The  settlemeni  of  this  township  dates  hack  to 
1835,  when   George  Gandy,    Isaac  Gandy,   David 

W 1,    Henry    Smith.    Akin    Dayton.    Ralph    Wy- 

man,  John  Champlin.   Peter  Young,  Elias   Hart- 
man.   Russell   Crossett,  Hale  Perry.  John,  James' 
and    Perry   Elliott,  the  Springs,  Norcutts,  Kites, 
Lowries  and  Osg I-  settled  near  the  Ohio  grove. 

These  Earmers  all  coming  from  Ohio,  gave  the 
grove  its  name.  Of  those  old  settlers  only  one  is 
now  living,  John  Elliott,  who  lives  in  Ohio.  Rus- 
sell  Crossetl  was  the  first  person  who  was  buried 
in  Ohio  Grove  cemetery.  In  the  year  1837  Mr. 
Eenry  II.  Gandy  tame  to  join  them,  walking  all 
the  way  from  Ohio,  to  the  home  of  Mr.  Elliott  in 
Ohio  Grove.  On  his  way  into  Michigan  City.  In- 
diana,  he    found   three  dollars  and  bought  him  a 

pair  of  I ts,  the  firsi  he  ever  had,  and  wore  them 

to  finish  bis  journey.  Liking  the  country,  he  sent 
for  his  wife.  Mrs.  Lucinda  Gandy,  who  came  here 
in  the  fall  of  is:;;  with  a  brother  of  Mr.  Gaudy's. 
driving  a  four  ox  team  and  leading  one  horse. 
She  is  now  living  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
two  years.  She  is  the  oldest  settler  now  living  in 
•he  town-hip  of  Cortland,  and  without  a  doubt, 
he  Kalb  county,  ami  her  son.  Francis  M.  Gandy. 
who  was  born  .June  -y, .  1845,  is  the  oldest  settler 
living  in  the  township,  who  was  born  here.  They 
buill  a  log  house  and  made  their  chairs  and  tables 
from  the  trees.  This  farm,  where  Mrs.  H.  H. 
Gandy  still  resides,  and  the  farm  of  Mrs.  George 
M.  Kenyon,  are  the  only  farms  in  the  town-hip 
that  has  not  changed  hands. 

The  early  settlers  knew  something  of  the  hard- 
ships of  the  old  times,  having  to  make  their  rude 
implements  to  start  farming.  The  plow  was  all 
of  wood  except  a  cast  iron  point:  the  drags  were 
made  of  trees,  with  wooden  pointed  teeth  in  them. 
These,  together  with  a  cradle  and  scythe,  were  the 
only  implements.  Zenos  Churchill,  one  of  the 
pioneers,  devoted  his  time  to  making  the  wooden 
plows.     The   log  houses  in   Ohio   Grove  and    the 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


169 


one  built  by  the  Roberts  brothers  in  1845,  at  Lost 
Grove,  were  about  the  only  houses  in  the  township 
at  that  time.  These  early  settlers  bad  to  haul 
their  wheat  to  Elgin  to  be  made  into  flour.  Their 
only  means  of  marking  the  corn  ground  was  by 
driving  an  ox,  dragging  a  log  chain  across  the 
field,  later  using  a  single  shovel  plow,  then  a  corn 
marker,  then  our  present  check  rower.  II.  II. 
Gandy  hauled  the  lumber  from  Chicago  to  build 
his  first  barn,  fifty  years  ago,  which  is  yet  in  con- 
stant use. 

Those  were  days  of  hardship  to  the  pioneer  wife, 
she  having  to  pick  the  wool  and  make  it  into 
woolen  clothes  for  the  family,  spinning  and  weav- 
ing the  flax  to  make  linen  cloth,  bleaching  the  rye 
to  make  bonnets  and  hats — indeed,  all  their  clothes 
were  home  made,  even  to  their  shoes.  Mrs.  H.  H. 
Gaudy,  who  has  lived  in  this  township  sixty-one 
years,  well  remembers  the  Indian  camp  not  more 
than  a  mile  from  their  home,  and  she  tells  that 
when  Mr.  Elliott  came  here  in  1835  he  often  saw 
the  Indian  papoose  in  a  box,  nailed  to  a  tree,  this 
being  their  way  of  burial. 

In  those  days  there  was  no  observance  of 
Thanksgiving  day  and  but  few  Christmas  gather- 
ings, their  holiday  gatherings  being  wool  picking 
bees,  quilting  bees  and  corn  husking  bees.  If  any 
one  was  able  to  hire,  the  wages  were  from  twenty- 
five  to  fifty  cents  per  day.  The  only  difference  in 
money  was,  they  used  the  silver  sixpence  and  silver 
shilling.  A  good  cow  could  be  bought  for  ten 
dollars.  Sixty-three  years  ago  hogs  were  unknown 
in  this  township,  Mr.  Peter  Young  owning  the  first 
hog,  and  he  did  not  have  corn  to  fatten  it,  so  he 
Id  Mr.  George  Gandy  fatten  it  on  shares.  Only  a 
few  horses  were  in  the  township  then.  A  few  of 
the  pioneers  brought  two  or  three  with  them,  but 
used  oxen  almost  entirely  for  farming. 

Dwight  Crossett,  the  school  teacher  and  farmer, 
took  up  his  abode  in  Cortland  in  early  days,  and 
as  his  recollections  of  forty  years  of  residence  are 
indicative  of  what  has  transpired  there  in  the  last 
half  century,  we  give  to  our  readers  the  pictures 
as  worded  from  the  gallery  of  his  memory.  He 
says:  I  arrived  in  Cortland  township  in  Octo- 
ber, 1851,  finding  ii  possessed  by  the  Churchills, 
Cheasbros,  Elliotts,  Daytons,  Springs,  Joslyns, 
Lovells,  Kenyons,  Meekers,  Gandys,  Goulds.  Reeds, 
Clarks,  Youngs,  Palmers.  Smiths,  McAlpins, 
Wards.  Hopkins.  Burrs,  Arnolds,  Crossetts.  Cham- 


plins,  Dows,  Mattesons,  Holdridges  and  others  that 
T  do  not  just  call  to  mind.  They  were  enjoying  a 
veritable  boom.  They  had  gone  through  the  long 
period  of  hauling  their  wheat  to  Chicago,  some  of 
them  for  twenty  years  or  more,  and  getting  home 
from  their  marketing  with  very  little  money,  but 
now  their  tribulation  was  happily  ended. 

They  had  a  market  at  their  door,  the  railroad 
being  built  to  Roehelle,  and  on  account  of  the  Cri- 
mean war  wheat  was  worth  a  dollai  and  a  half  per 
bushel,  and  they  could  raise  good  crops  of  wheat. 
Land  had  quadrupled  in  value  during  the  preced- 
ing year,  money  was  plenty  and  good,  everybody 
had  dried  "applesass"  for  breakfast,  sugar  in  their 
tea,  and  they  were  the  best  feeling  people  on  the 
face  of  the  earth. 

There  were  six  schoolhouses  in  the  township,  the 
same  little  church  near  Ohio  Grove  that  now 
stands,  Cortland  village  being  then  in  embryo, 
there  being  a  small  railroad,  freight  and  office 
building  there,  a  small,  dashboard  front  store,  in 
which  Hod  Champlin  had  a  stock  of  general  mer- 
chandise, with  J.  H.  Rogers,  the  Sycamore  vefc- 
eran  merchant,  as  general  manager,  and  three  or 
lour  other  small  buildings. 

By  the  fall  of  1856  Cortland  had  grown  to  be 
the  best  business  point  between  Chicago  and  Ro- 
ehelle. Two  hotels  had  all  they  could  attend  to ; 
there  were  five  warehouses  for  handling  grain, 
two  large  lumber  yards  that  sold  all  the  lumber 
consumed  in  five  or  six  townships,  Sycamore  in- 
cluded. It  was  in  fact  a  lively  business  town.  The 
leading  firms  at  that  time  were  Champlin  &  Wal- 
rod,  grain ;  Walrod  &  Boynton,  general  merchan- 
dise: Smith  &  Brown,  general  merchandise;  A.  L. 
Lovell  did  a  very  large  lumber  business;  Tucker, 
boots  and  shoes;  Woodly,  shoe  shop;  T.  Ricker, 
shoe  making,  with  wagon  and  blacksmithing  shops. 
The  town  also  was  headquarters  for  many  carpen- 
ters and  masons,  Joe  Adams,  John  Harkness,  Abe 
Head,  Harvey  Jones,  Adam  Mather  and  many 
other  carpenters  lived  here,  while  Parke  Brothers 
were  the  chief  masons. 

The  Ohio  Grove  church  was  then,  as  it  has  ever 
been,  the  central  place  for  a  large  part  of  the  peo- 
ple of  the  township  to  congregate.  They  had  re- 
vival meetings  there  every  winter,  and  it  was  dur- 
ing one  of  these  meetings  that  the  modern  idea  of 
worship  was  put  forth — at  least  it  is  where  I  first 
heard  it.     Several  srood  brothers  and  sisters  had 


170 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


tearfully  told  their  experiences,  and  the  young 
preachers  in  embryo  had  vied  with  each  other  in 
their  speeches,  when  old  Uncle  John  L.  Cheasbro, 
the  father  of  all  the  Cheasbros,  arose  in  his  place. 
He  was  a  very  large  and  wonderfully  clean  man, 
and  was  now  dressed  in  a  fine  new  suit  of  broad- 
cloth, had  just  finished  a  nice  new  house:  in  fact, 
hail  jumped  in  two  years  from  a  pinched  condition 
to  affluence,  and  this  was  his  speech:  "I  prom- 
ised the  Lord  a  good  many  years  ago  that  when  1 
got  able  I'd  serve  Him.*'  The  gist  of  the  remain- 
der of  the  speech  was.  he  felt  the  time  had  arrived 
and  he  stood  ready  and  intended  to  carry  out  his 
part  of  the  contract. 

Champlin's  Hall,  built  in  the  summer  of  L856, 
witnessed  many  memorable  scenes.  When  it  was 
finished  it  was  dedicated  with  a  'lance,  and  what 
a  company!  "Hod,"  as  everybody  called  him.  was 
the  leading  citizen,  McCormick's  general  agent  for 
a  large  territory,  an  all-round  hustler,  political 
boss,  a  good  promiser,  very  hospitable,  ami  had  lots 
of  friends  all  over  the  country,  particularly  in 
Sycamore,  and  they  were  all  at  his  dedication 
dance.  J.  S.  ami  .1.  c.  Waterman,  ( '.  0.  and  .T.  H. 
Boynton,  General  Winters,  Dr.  Bryan,  two  or 
three  Ellwonds.  Harm  Paine  and  almost  all  Syca- 
more who  danced  were  there.  There  were  enough 
brains  and  beauty  at  thai  dance  1o  creditably 
grace  the  inauguration  of  the  governor  of  the 
3tate.  It  was  no  dignified  walk  around.  Gid  Wal- 
entt  fiddled  and  the  company  danced.  The  only 
thing  I  have  seen  in  thirty  years  thai  compared 
with  that  dance  was  .lush  Whitcomb's  cotillion 
party  in  the  "Old  Homestead." 

There  was  no  daily  paper  then.  The  Chicago 
Democrat  once  a  week  and  the  De  Kalb  County 
Sentinel  comprised  the  literarj  outfil  of  most 
houses,  but  religious  discussion  was  rampant  in 
e\er\  -hoc  shop,  store,  and  on  the  street.  People 
weri  long  on  doctrine  in  those  days  and  had  de- 
cided opinions  on  the  question  of  universal  salva- 
tion and  everlasting  damnation.  The  tension 
finally  go1  so  high  thai  an  arrangemenl  was  made 
to  have  an  exhaustive  discussion  of  the  whole  sub- 
ject in  Champlin's  Hall  h\  the  leading  champions 
of  the  two  ;ides  in  this  section  of  the  country. 
The  1'niversalists  summoned  Elder  Sanborn,  a 
Sycamore  preacher,  to  uphold  salvation.  Eldred 
Coltrin,  a  powerful  Freewill  Baptisl  preacher  from 
Blackberry,  was  chosen  to  refute  the  arguments  of 


this  adroit  and  plausible  emissary  of  Salan.  The 
school,  which  was  held  in  the  hall  with  a  daily  at- 
tendance of  seventy-five  pupils  was  dismissed,  a 
timekeeper  and  referee  were  agreed  upon  and  the 
champions,  each  finally  idolized  by  their  support- 
ers, went  at  it.  Hod  Champlin,  old  Uncle  John 
Waterman,  old  Uncle  Phin  Joslyn,  Nathan  Peck 
and  others  giving  aid  and  comfort  to  Sanborn; 
Deacon  A.  V.  L.  Smith,  Dave  Champlin.  John 
Eaton,  Edwin  Burr  and  a  score  of  others  standing 
grim  and  determined  by  the  heavy  Baptist;  nor 
did  they  lack  for  an  audience.  The  hall  was  filled 
to  suffocation  morning,  afternoon  and  evening  for 
the  larger  pan  of  a  week,  many  coming  ten  or 
twelve  miles,  and  still  these  champions  kepi  hurl- 
in-  text  and  argument,  hour  and  hour  about,  the 
audience  excited  to  a  high  pitch  throughout.  Both 
sides  won.  and  it  could  have  been  proven  at  any 
time  twenty-five  years  after  the  discussion  took 
place.  I  doubl  if  such  a  discussion  was  adver- 
tised for  a  month  now  whether  if  would  be  at- 
tended l>,  a  -con-  of  people. 

Iii  the  summer  of  1859  or  1860  a  mass  meeting 
was  called  to  assemble  in  this  old  hall  to  give  ex- 
pression  to  the  deep  indignation  felt  by  the  eom- 
miinin  over  the  border  ruffian  outrages  in  Kansas. 
Dr.  Dustin,  D.  B.  James,  General  Winters,  Chaun- 
re\  Ellwood  and  pretty  much  every  Sycamore  ora- 
tor vied  with  each  other  in  denunciation,  when  the 
chairman  called  Dave  Champlin,  a  freshly  or- 
dained  freewill  Baptisl  preacher  of  Cortland.  He 
was  a  man  with  a  swinging  style  of  gail  and  ora- 
tory, he  saw  his  opportunity  to  discounl  the  Sy&a- 

i talenl  and  embraced   ii  :  he  commenced  his 

speech  h\  saying  in  the  most  solemn  and  impress- 
ive manner:  "Mr.  chairman.  1  feel  that  this  is 
a  time  when  every  prayiif  man  oughter  pray  (then 
raising  his  arm  above  his  head  and  bringing  n 
tlow  n  w  ith  all  the  emphasis  possible),  and  evo.^ 
swearin'  man  oughter  swear."  This  was  a  cul- 
mination 1 1 'a  i  broughl  down  the  house  in  thunder- 
ous style,  ami  1  venture  to  saj  was  the  only  thing 
uttered  at  the  meeting  that  has  gone  into  history. 

One  re  "1,1  ball  scene  and  we  will  consign  the 

old  room  that  was  such  an  important  part  of 
Cortland  to  a  receptacle  of  trumpery.  In  the 
summer  of  1861  John  (lark,  an  educate!  man, 
born  in  England,  who  had  been  railroad  station 
agent  ami  afterward  bookkeeper  for  Champlin  & 
Walrod,  the  father  of  Mrs.  A.  I,.  Smith,  after  mak- 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


171 


ing  a  short  speech  in  favor  of  unholding  the  gov- 
ernment, stepped  to  the  table  and  signed  his  name 
to  the  volunteer  list,  the  first  man  in  the  township 
to  perform  the  patriotic  act.  Anson  Smith,  Smith 
Courtwright,  Theodore  Loiing,  Ransom  Burleigh 
and  two  or  three  others  soon  followed,  all  going 
into  the  Thirteenth  Regiment. 

In  the  fall  of  1862  I  was  sought  out  by  the  poli- 
ticians of  the  count)',  made  a  candidate  and  elected 
by  the  people  to  the  office  of  superintendent  of 
schools,  a  Douglas  democrat  being  considered  very 
nearly  as  good  as  a  republican.  The  managers 
wanted  to  make  a  union  ticket,  and  after  a  great 
deal  of  search  to  find  a  school  master  who  was  a 
democrat,  Hod  Champlin  happened  to  think  of 
me,  and  I  was  elected  solely  because  I  was  a  dem- 
ocrat, and  I  remember  of  no  democrat  who  lias 
been  eligible  to  county  office  since.  I  received  the 
records  and  papers  from  my  predecessor,  Nathan 
Greenwood,  in  a  shoe  box,  which  I  took  home  and  I 
think  installed  under  the  bed,  room  being  scant 
inside  my  house.  I  will  frankly  say,  if  that  office 
had  been  destroyed  by  fire  at  any  time  while  in 
my  possession  I  don't  believe  the  educational 
standard  would  have  been  lowered  more  than  one 
inch,  while  if  a  conflagration  should  consume  the 
office  now,  after  being  elevated  so  many  times,  it 
would  be  like  taking  the  educational  bowels  right 
out  of  the  county. 

But  when  one  ridicules  the  schools  of  1862  in 
De  Kail)  county  they  are  making  a  great  mistake. 
They  were  full  of  pupils,  full  of  life  and  energy, 
taught  by  manly  men  and  womanly  women,  capa- 
ble and  having  the  disposition  to  do  good  work. 
McGibeny  and  wife  of  Paw  Paw,  Gilbert  Hough 
and  Elizabeth  Bark  of  Somonauk,  the  Dunbar 
girls  of  Afton,  Hicks  brothers  of  Kingston,  Ed 
Safford,  J.  T.  Becker,  Mrs.  .J.  T.  Becker.  Eph- 
raim  Shurtliff,  Susan  Harrington,  Ed  and  Charles 
Waite,  [saac  Jones.  E.  L.  Mayo,  the  doctor.  John 
Pratt,  the  attorney — these  were  among  and  a  fan- 
sample  of  the  teachers  who  had  charge  of  the 
schools  at  that  time. 

The  most  unique  and  picturesque  character  in 
the  township  was  my  nearest  neighbor,  Rudolphus 
Burr.  He  came  from  the  state  of  New  York  along 
in  the  forties,  was  a  man  of  good  academic  edu- 
cation, a  very  independent  thinker,  who  associ- 
ated little  with  his  neighbors,  thoroughly  honest 
in  wrord  and  action,  and  lived  mostly  on  horseback. 


Along  in  the  sixties  he  sent  in  his  hid  for  carrying 
the  mail  from  Cortland  to  Sandwich,  three  round 
trips  a  week ;  he  got  the  contract  easily,  as  his  bid 
was  very  low,  and  when  he  got  rigged  up  for  his 
enterprise  the  turnout  was  worth  seeing.  He  had 
a  brace  of  little  yew-necked  bay  horses,  an  old 
democrat  spring  wagon  with  a  home  made  cover, 
an  overcoat  made  out  of  the  hide  of  a  brindle 
steer  that  had  not  been  tanned,  which  made  a  fine 
contrast  to  his  long  white  beard;  but  the  mail  had 
to  go  through  storm  and  blizzard,  and  if,  during 
the  four  years  of  his  contract,  it  failed,  it  was 
after  a  heroic  attempt  to  get  through.  He  used 
to  go  to  Cortland  the  night  before  the  trip  and 
get  the  mail  bag,  and  leave  Ins  horses  harnessed 
for  an  early  start  the  next  morning.  One  morn- 
ing I  heard  him  calling  long  before  my  time  of 
getting  up.  and  on  asking  him  what  the  matter 
was  he  said  his  horse  was  in  the  well.  I  hurried 
to  his  barn  and  found  one  of  his  horses  with  the 
harness  on  in  the  bottom  of  the  seventeen  foot  well. 
The  old  man  could  not  wait  to  see  the  horse  out  of 
the  well,  but  harnessed  another  horse  and  took  the 
mail,  leaving  the  neighbors  to  get  the  horse  out.  if 
they  could.  That  was  the  kind  of  service  the  good 
people  of  Piercevile.  Squaw  Grove  and  Freeland 
Corners  got  from  government,  contractors  then. 
The  old  man  used  to  take  his  dinner  with  him  and 
always  took  a  bottle  of  smartweed  tea  to  wash 
down  the  lunch,  ami  he  thoroughly  believed  the 
smartwood  tea  preserved  him.  Honest,  old  man! 
Just  think  of  a  government  contractor  drinking 
smartwood  tea  as  a  beverage  !  One  grandson,  Wil- 
bur P.  Raymond,  inherited  his  genius  for  the  mail 
service,  and  is  a  very  proficient  mail  clerk  on  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railway.  Pie  is  now 
handling  letters  on  the  road  between  Caledonia 
and  Spring  Valley. 

What  of  the  main  business  of  the  people — farm- 
ing—from 1854  to  1809?  From  1854  to  toward 
1870  the  system  was  raising  grain  and  selling  it 
at  the  railroad  station  ;  prices  fell  in  1856,  a  money 
panic  in  1857  made  them  go  still  lower:  still,  on 
the  "hole,  lots  of  money  came  into  the  hands  of 
the  farmers.  What  became  of  it?  It  is  safe  to 
say  that  not  five  per  cent  of  it  is  in  sight  today, 
for  after  paying  what  Mr.  Altgeld  calls  the  fixed 
charges  it  was  mostly  spent  in  pine  boards  to  make 
the  buildings,  which  were  then  considered  comfort- 
able, but  have  since  been  discarded  or  turned  to 


172 


I 'AST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    EALB    COUNTY. 


inferior  uses,  in  board  fences  long  since  broken 
up  ami  decayed,  in  frail  and  ornamental  trees 
and  expensive  farm  machinery,  which  was  not 
taken  care  of.  Looking  back  from  this  date  the 
whole  svstem  of  farming  and  homemaking  seems 
to  have  been  one  great  waste.  Cattle  and  horse- 
raising,  swine  growing  and  dairying,  have  all  had 
a  g 1  share  of  attention  since  1870,  till  the  busi- 
ness of  the  township  bas  been  for  the  past  fifteen 
years,  and  new  is,  principally  dairying  and  hog 
raising,  the  milk  largely  being  made  into  butter 
at'Delana's  factories,  the  balance  being  shipped  to 
( Ihicago. 

(hit  of  all  the  years  - (thing has  evolved.  Vet 

small  children  bave  grown  into  teachers,  preach- 
ers, members  of  congress,  railroad  managers,  prom- 
inent business  men  and  g I  citizens,  filling  places 

of  trust  and  responsibility  in  this  and  other  states. 
The  record  in  this  respect  has  been  good.     Daniel 

Boynton,  win rer  wenl  to  school  anywhere  but 

in  Cortland,  wenl  to  Chicago  as  an  errand  boy  in 
the  office  of  a  fast  freight  line,  and  was  general 
manager  id'  the  Wisconsin  Central  Railway  when 
he  died  ten  years  ago.  Everybody  knows  the  ca- 
reer id'  A.  .1.  Hopkins.  He  was  polished  off  a 
very  little  at  a  kind  of  bran  bread  institution  over 
in  Michigan,  which  may  accounl  for  his  vagaries, 
but  hi-  sterling  qualities  were  absorbed  from  the 
soil  of  Cortland.  Will  McAlpin,  quite  a  fellow  in 
his  line,  a  natural  mathematician,  was  born,  nour- 
ished and  matured  here.  Professor  A.  X.  Talbot 
of  the  Slab'  University  is  a  sprout  of  the  soil. 
Carlin  Joslyn  of  Deer  Lodge,  Montana,  a  very 
successful  business  man.  and  bis  brother,  a  lawyer 
of  Minneapolis ;  Clarence  Burdick,  long  and.  popu- 
lar passenger  conductor  on  the  Alton  railroad;  Dr. 
Postle,  of  Hincklej  ;  Professor  Lewis  and  Lawyer 
Rogers,  of  Sycamore;  Lawyer  Julius  Matteson,  of 
De  Kail i.  were  all  born  and  schooled  in  Cortland, 
besides  the  -cure-  of  boys  in  the  commoner  walks 
of  life,  who  are  a  credit  to  their  town. 

A  few  more  facts  of  interesl  concerning  Cort- 
land's history  before  we  close.  The  fr-t  log  school- 
house  in  the  township  «a>  in  the  Ohio  Grove,  with 
Harrv  Joslyn  as  teacher,  be  receiving  about  twelve 
dollars  per  month  and  boarding  around  the  dis- 
trict.    Mr.  Joslyn  is  now   living  in  Sycamore. 

The  first  postoffice  in  the  township  was  estab- 
lished in  the  Ohio  Grove  in  the  year  1841.  Mr. 
Samuel    Spring   being    postmaster,    receiving   two 


dollars  and  twenty-two  cents  that  year.  In  1847 
Homer  Roberts  became  postmaster,  receiving  seven 
dollars  ami  eleven  cents.  In  1849  he  received 
fourteen  dollars  and  fifty-nine  cents,  and  in  1851 
seventeen  dollars  and  nine  cents.  In  this  same 
year  another  postoffice  was  established,  called  Lost 
Grove  postoffice,  on  Luce"s  corner-,  with  Chauncey 
Luce  as  postmaster,  receiving  twenty  dollars  and 
seventeen  cents.  This  postoffice  was  continued  un- 
til 1855,  when  Cortland  station  had  its  first  post- 
otlice.  paying  thirty-seven  dollars  and  fifty  cents. 

Tin'  village  settlement  was  not  begun  until  1853, 
wln-n  tin:  Chicago  A  Northwestern  Railroad  was 
built  through  tins  part  of  the  county.  It  was 
then  called  the  Dixon  Air  Line.  Prior  to  the 
opening  of  this  road  the  name  of  the  township 
was  Richland,  then  Pampas,  and  in  the  year  1868 
tin'  legislature  changed  the  name  of  the  township 
from  Pampas  to  correspond  with  that  of  the 
town,  namely,  to  Cortland. 

.Air.  Marcenus  Hall  erected  the  first  house,  using 
it  as  a  boarding  house.  It  still  remains,  being 
now  the  Haley  and  Murphy  houses.  Mr.  Horace 
(  liamplin  built  a  warehouse,  standing  when'  our 
feed  mill  now  stands.  Business  was  exceedingly 
good  now  that  the  railroad  was  built,  and  there 
were  sixteen  grain  buyers  at  one  time  in  Cort- 
land. Farmers  from  Belvidere  and  Shabbona 
Grove  hauled  their  grain  here,  thinking  this  a 
great  advantage,  for  before  this  their  market  place 
i  .i-  (  ln<  ago.  An  amusing  incident  is  told  by  one 
old  farmer,  who,  coming  into  Cortland  with  a 
load  of  grain,  found  that  at  least  forty  loads  were 
in  line,  waiting  their  turn  to  unload.  He  saw 
one  farmer,  in  haste  to  unload,  pull  out  from 
the  middle  of  the  line  and  drive  directly  to  the 
warehouse.  This  was  all  done  quietly,  and  two 
of  the  men  jumped  from  the  front  wagons,  and 
just  as  quietly  turned  his  horses  around,  and  soon 
he  was  at  the  foot  of  the  line. 

It  was  in  one  room  in  this  warehouse  that  the 
firsl  school  in  the  village  was  kept,  with  Helen 
I  rossett  and  Fanny  Thrasher  a-  teachers.  Soon 
a  log  schoolhouse  was  built  near  the  south  cor- 
poration line.  Soon  after  this  a  frame  one  was 
built  on  the  north  side  of  town,  where  Mrs.  John 
YVnodley's  house  now  stand-.  That  same  building 
is  now  Mr.  T.  W.  Jordan's  general  merchandise 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


173 


store.  Church  services  were  held  in  the  old  log 
schoolhouse  until  June.  1864,  when  our  present 
Methodist  church  was  completed.  Our  graded 
school  building  was  built  in  the  year  1868.  The 
log  schoolhouse  does  service  now  as  a  barn  on  what 
was  known  as  Mr.  De  Witt  Joslyn*s  farm. 

A  hotel  was  built  by  Mr.  Ludwigson  and  man- 
aged by  the  Raymond  brothers.  A  brewery  was 
built,  as  were  also  several  general  merchandise 
stores,  Horace  Champlin  and  James  Waterman 
being  the  pioneers  in  this  trade  in  1854. 

When  the  Sycamore  and  Cortland  road  was  com- 
pleted all  travel  from  the  northern  portions  of  the 
county  went  to  the  county  seat.  This  was  built 
in  1861.  At  first  it  was  only  a  car  drawn  by 
horses,  but  it  is  now  a  line  four-mile  railroad  in 
good  condition.  Soon  after  this  a  large  flouring 
mill  was  built  by  Lovell.  Smith  &  Croof,  the  town 
giving  a  bonus  of  two  thousand  dollars.  The  first 
justice  of  the  peace  was  Mr.  Amos  Brown,  now  a 
resident  of  De  Kalb.  The  first  person  buried  in 
the  Cortland  cemetery  was  Mrs.  Cynthia  Bates, 
mother  of  Mr.  William  J.  Bates,  who  was 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Cortland,  re- 
siding here  over  fifty  years.  Mrs.  Gershom  Hold- 
ridge  and  Mrs.  Wayne  Holdridge  have  lived  in 
Cortland  over  fifty  years.  At  that  time  not  a 
house  was  in  the  township  of  Pierce. 

The  record  of  Cortland  in  the  war  for  the  union 
is  honorable  in  the  extreme,  one  hundred  and 
thirty-four  having  enlisted  from  the  township, 
and  sixteen  of  that  number  laid  down  their  lives 
for  their  country:  Ruthven  Russell,  Alonzo  Rus- 
sell, Eoliert  Close,  W.  Stark,  Charles  Plapper, 
Spafford  Deford.  John  Young,  Charles  F.  Ban- 
nister, Charles  V.  Peek,  Oliver  Wilson,  Emor] 
Marshall,  George  H.  Gould,  T.  D.  Packard,  W.  H. 
Rose  and  Morris  E.  Wilson.  The  township  raised 
twelve  thousand,  one  hundred  and  three  dollars 
for  war  purposes. 

The  early  days  of  the  town  were  the  most  pros- 
perous, for  its  proximity  to  Sycamore  and  De 
Kalb.  the  county  seat  and  factory  center,  impeded 
its  progress,  and  Cortland  today  is  much  the  same 
as  it  was  twenty  years  ago.  The  trades  are  repre- 
sented  by  one  butcher  shop,  one  creamery  receiving 
seven  thousand  pounds  of  milk  a  day,  two  black- 
smith shops,  one  shoe  shop,  one  barber  shop,  a 
feed   mill,   two   general  merchandise   stores,    coal 


and  lumberyards  and  three  restaurants.  Two 
churches,  one  Methodist  and  one  of  the  Latter 
Day  Saints,  grace  the  town.  It  has  a  fine  public 
school  building  of  three  rooms  and  for  several 
years  W.  W.  Coultas  has  been  the  efficient  prin- 
cipal. The  village  has  encouraging  prospects  of 
being  a  station  on  the  proposed  Geneva  Lake,  Syca- 
more &  Southern  Electric  railway.  It  has  a  popu- 
lation of  four  hundred  inhabitants. 

Cortland's  early  days  were  her  best  days,  but 
no  better  people  lived  then  than  now,  and  the  little 
town  of  four  hundred  inhabitants  contains  many 
congenial  people,  whose  quiet  and  uneventful  way 
of  living  brings  more  enjoyment  than  is  the  lot 
of  those  in  more  hustling  places. 

A  small  stable  covered  with  slough  grass,  with 
the  tilled  fields  in  all  shapes,  following  the  dry 
ground,  looking  as  though  the  fanner  was  trying 
to  draw  a  map  with  his  plow — this  prospect  has 
been  transformed  into  square  corn  fields  flanked 
with  square  fields  of  clover  and  grass  and  adorned 
with  substantial  houses  and  bams,  the  houses  lit- 
erally filled  with  newspapers  and  other  litera- 
ture. Instead  of  discussing  universal  salvation 
and  everlasting  damnation,  it's  "what  shall  be 
done  with  the  Philippine  islands?"'  The  change 
in  Cortland  township  is  truly  wonderful. 

Supervisors  from  Cortland  township:  David  F. 
Finley,  1850-52:  Austin  Hayden.  1853;  David  F. 
Finley,  1854;  Horace  S.  Champlin.  1855-8;  Alon- 
zo L.  Lovell,  1S59-61  ;P.  S.  Coolidge,  1862;  Jacob 
R.  Crossett,  1863-65;  Edwin  Gilson,  1866;  John 
Wright,  1867-8;  A.  Y.  L.  Smith,  1871-2;  Dwight 
Crossett,  1873-4:  William  Raymond,  1875-;;: 
Dwight  Crossett,  1878-81;  Theodore  Balis,  1882-9; 
Thomas  Holland,  1889-1902;  Byron  Williams, 
1902-06  ;  John  Francisco,  1907. 

The  village  of  Cortland  was  incorporated  in 
1866.  The  president  of  the  board  of  trustees,  by 
virtue  of  his  office,  is  also  a  member  of  the  board 
of  supervisors.  Those  who  have  served  are  the 
following :  T.  T.  Peck,  John  King.  B.  McGough. 
Jabez  Gwinup,  John  King,  Nathan  Peek,  John  T. 
Woodley,  George  W.  Savery.  John  T.  Woodley. 
John  King,  William  Bates  and  Thomas  Jordan. 
This  township  was  first  called  Richmond.  It  was 
changed  to  Pampas  by  J.  E.  Crossett,  an  early 
county  school  commissioner,  from  the  resemblance 
of  its  prairies  to  the  pampas  of  South  America. 


174 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


SYCAMORE. 

The  story  of  the  township  in  which  the  county 
-i-;ii  is  located  is  generally  in  a  large  measure  the 
history  of  the  county.  Sycamore  was  not  settled 
first,  but  probably  third.  Squaw  Grove  and  Somo- 
nauk  settlements  preceding  it  by  a  few  claims. 
The  first  settler  of  Sycamore  township  was  prob- 
ably Lysander  Darling.  lie  located  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  Charles  Davy  on  the  Genoa  and 
Sycamore  road.  Another  early  settler  here  was  a 
Mr.  Charters,  a  frontiersman,  who  located  in  the 
grove  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town,  and  from 
him  the  name  of  Charters  Grove  was  taken.  Peter 
Lamoy,  a  man  of  splendid  ability,  was  one  of  those 
of  a  class  now  almosl  extinct,  who  roamed  upon 
the  frontiers  of  civilization,  and  he  made  his  home 
here  for  a  time.  The  storj  of  Peter  Lamis  and 
of  his  selling  liquor  to  the  Indian-  is  given  in  the 
reminiscences  of  Jesse  lv  Llogg.  Marshall  Stark- 
settled  here  in  1835,  and  in  1836  served  as  one  of 
the  first  county  jurors  from  Kane  county.  Others 
who  followed  in  the  year  1835  were  Jesse  C.  BLel- 
logg,  Edward  F.  White.  Carlos  Lattin,  who  had 
settled  temporarily  in  the  30utb  part  of  the  state, 
removing  to  De  Kalh  count]  this  year,  and  took 
possession  of  a  claim,  including  -i  side  of 

the   presenl    siti    of  what    is  now    Sycai v.     He 

built  the  firsl  house  in  what  is  now  Sycamore,  of 
logs,  on  Mam  street,  on  the  presenl  site  of  the 
Sycamore  National  Bank.  This  was  his  home  for 
ten  years,  and  in  1841  he  erected  a  brick  house  on 

High  street,  which  1 ccupied  for  ten  years,  and 

in  the  later  "."iOs  his  iv-  .Ion,,  was  a  large  frame 
house  on  the  cornel  oi  Somonauk  and  High  streets, 
where  hi-  daughter,  Mrs.  F.  E.  Stevens,  now  re^ 
sides. 

Those  who  came  thi    nexl    were   Christian 

Sharer,  a  wealthy  Ww  Yorker,  who  in  company 
with  Evans  Wharry,  Clark  White  and  Mark  Dan- 
iels, tinder  the  Brm  name  of  C.  Sharer  &  I 
pany,  claimed  two  square  miles  of  land,  running 
from  Marshall  Stark's  land  on  the  north  to  the 
south  line  of  the  tow  oship.  At  this  time  the  town- 
ship had  no1  been  laid  oul  nor  the  county  surveyed, 
but  tlie\  struck  out  the  sup]  osed  lines  w  il 
teams  and  plow.  This  company  dammed  the  Kish- 
waukee  river,  built  a  mill,  enclose:!  with  a  highj 
heavy  rail  fence  a   trad    -  wide  and   two 

miles  long,  whose  wesl   line  was  on   what   is  now 


Somonauk  street,  and  prepared  to  build  a  town. 
This  was  in  the  days  of  inflated  paper  currency 
and  '  ■boomed  towns"  were  laid  out  in  every  part  of 
the  Mississippi  valley.  The  old  town  nortli  of  the 
creek  consisted  oi  two  or  three  log  cabins.  In  one 
Esquire  Eli  (..  Jewell  kept  a  blacksmith  and 
wagon  shop  and  J.  C.  and  Charles  Waterman  a 
store.  In  1837,  after  the  county  seat  contest, 
which  is  given  in  the  reminiscences  of  Evans 
Wharry,  were  settled  and  the  present  court  house 
site  was  located,  the  town  was  removed  from  north 
ol  the  river  to  the  present  site  and  laid  out  by 
Evans  Wharry  and  .lames  Waterman.  The  latter 
was  a  surveyor.  An  early  resident  of  the  village 
was  Captain  Eli  Barnes,  who  built  the  first  frame 
house  in  the  town,  which  was  known  for  years  as 
the  City    Eotel  and  stood  on  the  site  of  the  Syca- 

i e   Library.     It  was  later  purchased  by  F.  B. 

Town-end  and  removed  across  the  street,  repaired 
and  still  is  occupied  as  a  hotel.  The  second  frame 
house  in  the  town  had  been  removed  from  the 
Hamlin  farm  and  was  occupied  by  Dr.  Barrett,  the 
firsl   physician  of  the  place.     It  stood  until  1855, 

where  D.  B.  Ja a  subsequently  built  a  handsome 

residence,  and  was  then  burned  down  on  suspicion 
thai  it  had  been  used  for  the  sale  of  liquor.  The 
old  court  house  was  built  in  1839  nearly  opposite 
the  presenl  structure  and  in  1840  the  little  village 
consisted  of  a  dozen  houses  scattered  over  consid- 
erable land  without  fences  and  with  but  one  well, 
t  aptain  Barnes'  hotel  was  one  of  the  best  hostel- 
ries  wesl  of  Chicago  and  for  years  was  called  the 

Man- Eouse.      Dr.    Norbro    removed    to    St. 

Charles  in  I83"t  and  Mr.  charters  left  about  the 
same  tune  and  at  present  it  is  not  known  where 
Lysander  Darling  located  after  leaving  Sycamore. 
Edward  White  had  located  his  claim  on  land  now 
owned  by  A.  F.  Park  and  for  a  time  that  was  one 
of  the  places  of  interest  in  the  county.  The  first 
religious  •  tereises  of  the  town  were  held   in   the 

li ■  of  Mark  Daniels  and  the  Methodist  society 

which   was  thi    nucleus  of  the  presenl    Methodisl 

nization  in  this  city  was  formed.     The]   held 

ces  for  years  at  the  home  of  Edward  White. 

who  was  the   firsl   Methodist  class  leader  oi    the 

town.      The    firsl    log   school    house   was   built    in 

183*3  on  the  farm  afterwards  owned  by  Dr.  Ja 

!       ington,  and  here  during  the  summer  of  that 

year  .Miss  Mary   Wood   taught  the  first  school  in 

the  township. 


o[.I>   LOG    EOTJSE  OF  EPIIIIAIM    [I  ALT. 


FIKST  ENGTJSTE  THAT   RAX    IXTo  SYCAMOKE,    1859. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


177 


Jesse  C.  Kellogg,  who  became  prominent  in 
county  affairs,  taught  the  winter  term  of  1837-8 
and  religious  exercises  from  this  time  forward 
were  held  in  the  sehoolhouse.  The  first  child 
born  in  the  township  was  Caroline  White,  who 
was  born  August  31,  1836;  the  first  boy  was  Mar- 
cus Walrod,  born  in  1838.  The  first  wedding  was 
that  of  Daniel  Lamb  and  Julia  Maxfield,  March 
16,  1838.  and  the  first  death  that  of  Mrs.  Lorinda 
(Wood)  French.  May  29,  1837.  Mark  Daniels 
was  the  first  postmaster  in  the  town,  receiving  his 
appointment  in  1837,  the  salary  being  sixteen  dol- 
lars and  eighty-eight  cents. 

After  the  organization  of  the  county  the  first 
Fourth  of  July  celebration  in  our  history  took 
place  at  the  tine  new  log  house  of  Ephraim  Hall. 
At  this  time  Mr.  Hall's  residence  was  no  doubt 
one  of  tin'  very  best  in  the  county.  A  picture  of 
this  building,  which  still  stands,  will  lie  found  in 
this  history,  and  an  account  of  the  celebration  is 
given  in  the  county  history  proper. 

Mr.  Lattin  was  not  married  until  1839,  so  he 
and  Marshall  Stark  kept  "old  bach"  together. 
"Carlos''  never  liked  housework,  and  after  eating 
a  meal  the  two  would  try  a  game  of  old  sledge  to 
see  who  would  be  kitchen  maid,  and  as  Marshall 
proved  the  shrewdest  player,  poor  Carlos  generally 
had  to  wash  the  dishes,  much  to  his  discomfort. 
So  passed  the  days,  and  in  their  declining  years 
they  loved  to  live  them  over  and  over  again,  not- 
withstanding all  the  privations  endured,  and  al- 
though their  last  days  were  spent  in  plenty  and 
amid  all  the  luxuries  of  life,  their  happiest  days 
were  the  struggling  days  of  their  pioneer  life. 

Another  old  settler  in  the  north  part  of  the 
town  was  Edward  Jackman,  whose  son  Kendall 
later  removed  to  Genoa  and  still  lives  at  an  ad- 
vanced old  age,  and  is  prominent  in  Genoa's  polit- 
ical and  social  life.  The  Clark  Wright  farm  now 
owned  by  F.  B.  Townsend  was  first  selected  as  the 
proper  site  for  a  county  seat,  a  change  afterward 
being  brought  about  by  disagreement  between  Dr. 
Henry  Madden  and  Evans  Wharry,  so  that  to  Ev- 
ans Wharry  particularly  we  are  indebted  for  the 
selection  of  the  present  site  of  our  court  house. 

In  1839  Sycamore  had  grown  to  be  a  village  of 
a  dozen  houses,  but  most  of  its  inhabitants  boarded 
in  the  Mansion  House,  a  portion  of  which  was 
also  used  as  a  store.  Those  who  came  in  1838  and 
1839,  who  afterwards  were  prominently  identified 


with  the  interests  of  the  town  and  county,  were 
Joseph  Sixbury,  Timothy  Wells,  Sylvanus  Hol- 
comb,  Clark  Wright,  E.  D.  Robinson,  E.  P.  Young, 
Deacon  Harry  Martin. 

The  Walrods  came  to  this  town  in  1839,  but  had 
settled  previously  at  Union  Grove  on  land  which 
is  now  in  Do  Kalb  township.  Those  who  came 
and  settled  outside  of  the  village  were  Ralph  Wy- 
man,  Amos  Storey,  Benjamin  Evans  and  Elihu 
Wright.  After  locating  the  county  seat  Eli  G. 
Jewell  was  required  to  sell  at  auction  certain  lands 
of  the  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  which 
had  been  donated  to  the  county.  Twenty  lots 
were  sold  at  from  fifteen  to  twenty  dollars,  the 
size  being  twenty  by  thirty  feet,  and  the  first  ses- 
sion of  the  court  was  held  here  in  1839.  After 
the  first  court  house  was  built  the  first  school 
taught  in  the  village  by  Dr.  Bills  in  the  second 
story  of  the  court  house,  and  it  was  occupied  for 
several  years  and  the  first  public  school  house  was 
built  here  in  1853. 

The  Congregational  society  was  organized  here 
in  1840  and  held  meetings  in  the  court  house.  Mr. 
Charters  built  his  log  house  on  land  now  owned 
by  Elijah  Garvin.  Eli  G.  Jewell  located  first  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  James  Divine,  and  the  ex- 
act site  of  Dr.  Norbo's  house  is  now  known.  Other 
stores  were  opened  here  in  the  early  '40s  and  Syca- 
more became  quite  a  business  center.  In  1842 
Sycamore  had  doubled  the  number  of  houses  of 
1839  and  had  three  wells,  but  much  sickness  pre- 
vailed on  account  of  the  surface  water,  which  many 
were  compelled  to  drink  from  the  shallow  wells 
provided  at  that  time.  One  of  the  pioneers  who 
still  lives  at  an  advanced  age  remembers  that  dur- 
ing her  first  visit  here  nearly  half  of  the  people 
were  sick  from  fever  and  ague.  The  life  of  the 
town  centered  around  the  Mansion  House,  and 
many  social  events  patronized  for  many  miles 
around  occurred  there.  In  the  early  '40s  two 
cemeteries  were  laid  out,  one  known  as  the  Metho- 
dist cemetery  on  the  site  of  the  Methodist  parson- 
age on  Somonauk  street  and  the  other  located  on 
East  State  street.  These  were  occupied  until  about 
1865,  when  the  bodies  occupying  these  old  ceme- 
teries were  taken  up  and  removed  to  beautiful 
Elmwood  cemetery,  southeast  of  town. 

During  the  '40s  the  early  band  of  pioneers  were 
reinforced  by  the  Mayos,  Hosea  Willard.  George 
Weeden,  James  Harrington,  J.  C.  Waterman,  C.  0. 


178 


I 'AST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


Boynton,  J.  R.  Hamlin,  George  Holcomb,  Edwin 
P.  Rose,  Dr.  <).  M.  Bryan,  Dr.  Page,  Judge  D.  B. 
James  and  others,  who  put  their  shoulders  to  the 
wheel  and  gave  new  life  to  the  little  village.  In 
the  '50s  came  Daniel  Pierce,  General  Dustm. 
George  P.  Wild,  J.  H.  Rogers,  Dr.  \Y.  W.  Bryant, 
Moses  Dean.  James  KHIum.  E.  V.  Dutton,  Lu- 
ther  Lowell,  E.  L.  Divine,  Harmon  Paine,  Horatio 
James.  The  Ellwood  family,  Reuben  ami  Chaun- 
cey,  came  first  in  1837,  remaining  well  into  the 
'in-,  when  they  Left  their  interests  here  for  a 
while  ami  returned  to  New  York,  returning  early 
in  the  '50s.  They  were  accompanied  by  their 
parents,  their  broth  rs,  ^.lonzo  and  J.  E.  The 
additions  of  the  '50s  were  strong  in  the  new  life 
and  vigor,  and  with  the  capital  they  brought  with 
them  belped  the  \  illage  over  mam  rough  places. 
-Yi  \\nn;i.  [N  18  Hi. 
I 
I 
Svlvanus    Holcomb 


o 


('.    Lattiri* 


.!.  Sixbury' 


*]  >.  Bannisti  i 

—    *Mansion  11 

*J.  t  .  \\  aterman    : 

0 

o 

z     *                     * 

^                      — 

*E.  1'.  Young 

~ 

—  -   '■  ? 

♦Court   House  .-.i^'- 

>    -  -•- 
•/.  — .  — 
■/.  - 

—  Z  -  ,  - 


sii. 


West 


On  a  beautiful  Sabbath  morning  in  the  year 
1836.  in  the  month  of  June,  might  have  been  seen 
a  few  humble  worshipers,  gathering  at  the  home 
of  one  Mark  Daniels,  who  lived  about  one  mile 
north  of  this  city  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
Philo  Van  Galder,  nearly  opposite  the  residence 
of  Ered  Van  Galder  in  Sycamore  township.  There 
were  then  only  three  Methodist  families  in  the 
community — the  Whites,  the  Daniels  and  the 
Walrods.       Two     of     these     brethren,     longing 


to  he, ii'  again  a  gospel  sermon  and  wor- 
ship to  Cod.  went  to  Kingston  ami  found 
a  mill  Levi  Lee  — a  local  preacher,  who 
rami'  and  preached,  it  being  the  first  service  held 
in  this  place  at  this  time.  His  texl  was,  "Have 
faith  in  God."  Mr.  Lee  was  owner  of  Lee*s  mill 
and  one  of  the  first  county  commissioners  and  a 
prominent  and  influential  citizen  of  that  early 
time.  At  that  lime  there  were  missionaries,  Wil- 
liam Royal  ami  Samuel  Pillsbury,  sent  out  to  look 
over  the  ground  and  plan  the  work  oi  the  church. 
These  nun  organized  the  first  class,  composed  of 
the  following  named  persons:  Edward  White, 
win,  was  appointed  class  leader:  Mary  While,  his 
wife;  Mail  Daniels  and  wife;  Peter  Walrod  and 
wife,  making  six  in  all.  In  the  following  Septem- 
ber there  was  held  the  first  quarterly  meeting  serv- 
ice, Stephen  1!.  Beggs  taking  charge.  At  that 
meeting  occurred  the  lir>t  baptismal  service,  he- 
me- thai  ol'  Caroline  White,  infant  daughter  of 
Brother  and  Sister  White.  In  a  few  months  a  log 
■rl I  house  was  built,  in  which  was  held  the  reg- 
ular church  service,  which  occurred  once  in  four 
weeks.  This  log  3chool  house  was  built  on  the 
farm  now  owned  bj  Lewis  Lloyd.  By  this  time 
Sycamore  was  included  in  the  circuit,  which  ex- 
tended to   Rockford  on  the  north,  Mourn   Morris 

on    the    west,    S iauk    on    the   south,    and   St. 

Charles  on  the  cast.  The  first  parsonage  wa-  built 
about  1840  on  Brother  White's  farm,  four  miles 
north  of  tow  iron  the  farm  now  owned  by  Captain 
A.  F.  Park.  At  that  time  some  of  the  pastors  of 
the  church  were  Stephen  R.  Beggs,  who  lived  at 
Plainfield,  Illinois,  dying  at  the  advanced  age  of 
ninety  years,  Revs.  Wiley.  Frink,  Decker.  Lattin. 
Blessed,  indeed,  was  the  work  of  the  Lord  in  the 
heart-  of  these  devoted  soldiers  of  the  cross,  and 
bishop,  presiding  elder  and  pastor  together  en- 
joyed 1 1^  hospitality  of  the  old  log  cabin  and  the 
schoolhouse  with  the  same  pleasure  as  the  palace 
ol  the  present  day.  Then  it  was  common  to  enter- 
tain sixteen  in  a  home  of  only  two  rooms  when  at- 
tending the  quarterly  meeting  service,  and  great 
blessings  attended  their  meetings.  In  184.J  preach- 
ing appointment  was  removed  from  the  school- 
house  to  the  old  courthouse  in  Sycamore,  a  frame 
building  situated  on  State  street,  opposite  the  pres- 
ent courthouse  building.  At  this  time,  although 
Sycamore  was  a  town  of  few  inhabitants,  intoxi- 
cants were  sold  in  hotels  and  many  people  were  very 


PAST     VXD    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


179 


wicked.     Dr.  Luke  Hitchcock  was  presiding  elder 
and  S.  E.  Beggs  pastor.     These  men  were  earnest 
shepherds  of  the  people  and  felt  deeply  the  need  of 
a  revival  of  religion.     They  began  the  work  and 
the  holy  spirit  came  in  saving  power  to  the  people. 
Man]  people  flocked  from  miles  around  to  hear  the 
word  of  light  by  those  who  were  saved  of  the  Lord. 
Among  those  brought  to  Christ  at  that  revival  of 
religion  were  our  beloved   Brother    Sixbury    and 
wife,   Brother  Carlos   Lattin   and   wife,   Brothers 
David  and  Daniel  Walrod  and  wives  and  others. 
These  men  were  afterward  among  the  most  useful 
and  efhcienl  class  leaders  in  the  church,  and  some 
of  them   are   now   in   Heaven.     This  was  the  be- 
ginning   id'   better   and   more   prosperous  days  in 
Methodism.     In  1847  a  new  church  edifice  thirty- 
seven    l'\    forty    feel    was  built  upon   the   present 
church  site,  the  land  being  given  by  Brother  Car- 
los Lattin.    This  church  still  stands  and  is  used  as 
a  part  of  a  livery  barn  by  Helson  &  Walrod.  Many 
blessed  revivals  attended  the  work  of  the  ministry 
and  church,  and  as  the  years  passed  by,  one  marked 
with  special  power  occurred  in  the  year  1855,  un- 
der the   pastorate  of  Revs.  Tascar  and  Higgins, 
when  the  church  was  crowded  nightly  for  weeks 
and  more  than  a  hundred  souls  entered  into  tin- 
service  of  the  Lord,  some  of  whom  today  are  m 
the  ministry  of  the  church.     Pastors  in  the  years 
following   were    Revs.    Comb,    Searl,   Brown   aad 
Thayer.    In  the  year  1850  the  first  parsonage  was 
sold  and  a  new  one  was  built,  winch  still  remains 
on  the  lot  adjoining  the  church  edifice  and  in  later 
years  the  pastor's  present  home  was  built  on  beau- 
tiful Somonauk  street.    After  two  or  more  decades 
of  years  from  the  date  of  the  building  of  the  first 
church  and  the  society  had  been  greatly  blessed 
and  prospered,  the  present  church  edifice  was  erect- 
ed.     As  I  recall  those   few  incidents  of  the  early 
days  of  the  history   of   the  church,   my   thoughts 
turn  to  those  beloved  elders,  pastors,  leaders  and 
stewards  of  the  church  who  lived  among  us  as  cit- 
izens but  were  loyal  to  the  Lord  their  King,  and 
who  now  reign  with  Him  in  Glory.    Let  us  cher- 
ish their  memory,  emulate  with  them  good  works 
and  win  with  them  the  crown. 

When  the  Methodist  church  was  completed  in 
1847  it  was  the  first  church  edifice  in  the  city  and 
perhaps  the  second  one  built  in  the  county.  Little 
can  we  now  realize  how  much  the  building  of  this 
church  meant  by  way  of  personal  sacrifice  to  its 


members.     One  member  subscribed  five  hundred 

dollars,  others  sums  varying  from  that  amount 
down  to  fifty,  while  the  outside  public  who  were 
anxious  to  see  a  church  built  here  did  considerable. 
One  member  of  the  church  at  the  present  time  pos- 
sesses more  property  than  the  whole  Methodist  con- 
gregation in  the  early  '40s. 

In  1S40  the  Methodist  conference  for  this  sec- 
tion of  the  statr  was  held  at  Mount  Morris  by 
Bishop  Scott  and  some  of  the  presiding  elders  fol- 
lowing the  trail  from  Chicago  stopped  for  break- 
fast at  the  residence  of  Brother  Edward  White. 
They  traveled  on  horseback,  and.  compared  with 
means  of  travel  at  this  time,  great  inconvenience 
wa-  suffered  by  those  pioneers  of  the  church. 

The  second  church  edifice  built  in  this  town 
was  the  First  Congregational  church,  located  on 
land  given  by  Captain  Barnes,  on  the  southwesi 
corner  or  Main  and  Exchange  streets.  This  build- 
ing was  commended  at  an  earlier  date  than  the 
Methodist  church  and  was  not  completed  until 
L850.  At.  a  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  Con- 
gregational church  called  in  1848  they  resolved  to 
make  an  estimate  of  all  the  personal  property  of 
the  several  members  and  to  assess  the  property  by 
two  outside  parties.  This  assessmeni  was  made 
by  Carlos  Lattin  of  the  Methodist  society  and 
Stephen  Townsend  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist 
society  of  Mayfield.  In  making  this  assessment 
they  deducted  the  amounts  owed  by  the  several 
members  from  the  total  valuation,  ami  the  tax 
levied  from  this  assessment  was  a  tenth  of  their 
entire  property.  The  assessment  made  is  now  in 
possession  of  Emily  Wood,  of  Sycamore,  and  it 
gives  tin'  members  the  property  valuation  as  fol- 
lows, describing  all  kinds  of  property,  real  and 
personal:  David  West,  thirteen  hundred  and  ten 
dollars;  Harry  Martin,  six  hundred  and  fifty-six 
dollars;  Jesse  Kellogg,  nineteen  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-nine dollars;  Ellsworth  Rose,  two  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars;  .Tames  N.  Hammond,  eleven  hundred 
and  seventy-eight  dollars:  Charles  J.  Robinson, 
eight  hundred  dollars;  John  F.  Snow,  thirty-five 
hundred  and  ninety-one  dollars :  C.  M.  Brown, 
eight  hundred  dollars  :  Alexander  Crawford,  eight- 
een hundred  and  eighty-four  dollars;  Aaron  West, 
nine  hundred  and  ninety-two  dollars;  Clark 
Wright,  twenty-three  hundred  and  ninety-four  dol- 
lars ;  Ashael  Stow,  two  hundred  dollars.  In  this 
wav  fifteen  hundred   and  ninetv-five  dollars  was 


180 


FAST    AND    PBESEXT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


raised  by  the  congregation,  while  those  outside  the 
church  contributed  liberally,  thus  after  six  years 
of  struggle,  toil  and  sacrifice,  the  first  Congrega- 
tional society  had  an  ample  house  of  worship. 

The  third  church  organized  was  the  Universal- 
ist.  They  first  met  in  1845  and  held  meetings  in 
the  first  court  house.  The  church  grew  larger 
and  in  1854  built  a  brick  house  of  worship  on  Main 
street,  in  the  house  now  owned  by  Mr.  Steriker. 
The  next  society  organized  was  in  1855,  and  in 
1851  the  first  St.  Peters  Episcopal  church  was 
built  on  land  donated  by  James  S.  Waterman.  In 
1879  the  present  stone  structure  and  rectory  was 
built,  the  church  being  donated  by  James  S.  Wat- 
erman. The  Baptisi  church  first  held  services  in 
Franklin  and  South  Grove  townships  and  little 
more  than  a  half  century  ago  moved  to  Sycamore. 
Their  present  elegant  modern  structure  was  erei  ted 
nine  years  ago. 

The  Swedish  Evangelical  Luthernan  church  was 
organized  in  1859.  The  first  meetings  were  held  in 
the  old  school  house  in  1858.  Rev.  E  Carlson 
was  the  first  preacher  and  organizer  of  the  church. 
They  later  erected  a  frame  church  at  a  cosl  of 
about  sixteen  hundred  dollars.  Swedish  emi- 
grants, however,  were  coming  in  large  numbers 
and  settling  in  Ohio  Grove  and  in  the  east  part 
of  Mayfield  and  the  wesi  parts  of  Sycamore  town- 
ship, while  a  large  number  of  their  nationality 
became  residents  of  the  city  of  Sycamore  In 
1870  Christine  Nilson,  the  sweet  singer  of  Sweden, 
:  use  of  relatives  living  here  came  to  Sycamore 
and  sang,  so  that  the  people  of  her  country  strug- 
gling in  a  foreign  land  might  have  a  church  build- 
ing adequate  to  the  needs  of  the  large  and  grow- 
ing congregation.  The  concert  was  held  in  the 
Methodist  church,  tickets  were  live  dollars  each, 
and  the  house  was  crowded,  hater  in  the  evening 
-he  sang  in  Wilkin's  Hall  to  the  people  of  her  own 
nationality  and  in  her  native  language.  The  pro- 
ceeds of  this  entertainment  gave  them  sufficient 
funds  to  build  a  large  wooden  church,  which  was 
used  until  1896,  when  the  magnificent  stone  edi- 
fice at  the  corner  of  Somonauk  and  Charles  streets 
was  dedicated. 

The  first  Catholic  church  was  built  in  Sycamore 
in  i860,  and  about  four  years  ago  the  present  mag- 
nificent structure  was  erected.  This  parish  ex- 
tends over  a  large  area  and  has  a  membership  of 
over  six  hundred.     A  Wesleyan  Methodist  church 


was  built  in  the  early  '70s.  A  Free  Methodist 
church  was  built  in  1878.  The  German  Lutheran 
society  purchased  the  old  Congregational  church 
and  the  latter  denomination  built  their  beautiful 
edifice  on  Somonauk  and  High  streets.  The  Swed- 
ish Baptist  church  was  built  in  1892. 

Sycamore  has  in  a  measure  been  an  intellectual 
center  for  many  years,  and  after  the  James  block 
was  erected  in  1858  they  began  to  maintain  a  lec- 
ture course,  which  was  kept  up  at  different  inter- 
vals for  many  years.  The  first  year  of  the  course 
Horace  Greeley,  Bayard  Taylor  and  Charles  Sum- 
ner delivered  lectures  in  the  new  building. 

The  merchants  of  Sycamore  in  the  early  history 
of  the  town  were  compelled  to  send  to  Chicago  for 
their  supplies.  Fpon  the  completion  of  the  Great 
Western  road  they  brought  their  supplies  from 
Cortland  overland.  This  consumed  much  time  and 
was  ver\  expensive.  In  1859  the  Sycamore  &  Cort- 
land road  was  built,  at  a  cost  of  about  seventy-five 
thousand  dollars,  which  was  paid  by  the  citizens  of 
Sycamore  and  vicinity,  and  it  was  not  until  the 
early  '60s  that  engines  began  to  be  used  over  this 
road  in  the  transportation  of  freight.  For  many 
years  the  goods  were  placed  on  cars  and  hauled 
from  Cortland  to  Sycamore  by  horses.  The  people 
in  those  earlier  days  traded  in  Sycamore  for  miles 
around.  The  trade  extended  to  the  west  and  north 
for  a  distance  of  nearly  twenty-five  miles,  and  on 
the  east  half  way  to  St.  Charles.  It  extended  in 
a  southerly  direction  half  way  to  Sandwich. 

In  1869  the  Marsh  Harvester  Manufacturing 
Company  was  organized  and  established  here  and 
their  extensive  plant  for  years  employed  hundreds 
of  men.  The  E.  Ellwood  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany was  organized  in  1875.  The  village  of  Syca- 
more was  incorporated  in  1858.  For  ten  years  the 
village  government  existed,  when  the  people  or- 
ganized under  a  civil  government.  A  special  char- 
ter was  procured  and  approved  by  the  governor, 
March  4.  1869,  Eeuben  Ellwood  being  elected  first 
mayor.  The  Wilkins  block  was  erected  in  1864, 
and  for  a  time  was  considered  the  best  business 
block  in  the  county.  This  was  destroyed  by  fire 
in  1902  and  on  that  site  now  stands  the  Daniel 
Pierce  building. 

In  the  winter  of  1842-3  E.  L.  Mayo  continued 
the  school  work  of  this  village  and  was  succeeded 
by  Sheldon  Crossett  in  1843-4.  School  was  held 
generally  in  the  court  house,  hut  often  in  private 


THE  BLOCKADE  AT  SYCAMOEE  DURING  GREAT  SNOW- 
STORM OF  1881. 


I 

US  K  J. 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


183 


residences,  and  in  1846-7  Charles  Eobinson  taught 
school  in  the  old  Deacon  Martin  house  on  the 
south  side  of  West  State  street.  He  was  succeeded 
at  this  place  by  Mr.  Eoswell  Dow.  and  he  received 
the  magnificent  sum  of  fifteen  dollars  a  month. 
The  directors,  Joseph  Sixbury  and  Sparock  Well- 
ington, for  the  next  term  offered  him  twelve  dol- 
lars a  month,  assuring  him  that  he  should  not  have 
over  thirty  pupils.  Mr.  Dow  agreed  to  teach  the 
school  for  twelve  dollars  a  month,  provided  that 
he  should  have  pay  in  proportion  for  all  over 
thirty.  School  opened  and  the  number  of  pupils 
steadily  increased  until  the  roll  showed  an  attend- 
ance of  sixty-four.  In  18-18-9  Mr.  Dow  organized 
a  select  school  in  the  old  court  house  building, 
afterwards  in  the  Sons'  of  Temperance  hall,  and 
later  in  the  Universalist  church.  The  school  was 
held  for  several  years  in  a  house  standing  at  the 
southeast  corner  of  Main  and  Ottawa  streets. 

hi  the  winter  of  1853--1  Hannah  Dean  taught 
school  in  a  house  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Ruel  Da- 
vis, but  in  1853  steps  were  taken  for  the  erection 
of  a  school  house,  the  first  in  the  village. 

A  lot  was  secured  on  the  northeast  corner  of 
California  and  Exchange  streets,  Hannah  Dean 
was  the  first  principal  in  the  new  schoolhouse.  The 
population  of  the  village  increased  and  a  four- 
room  structure  was  erected  in  1850  on  the  site  of 
the  old  building.  In  1863  the  schoolhouse  was 
burned  and  the  directors  erected  a  school  building 
during  the  sirmmer  and  fall  of  that  year  at  a  cost 
of  fifteen  thousand,  five  hundred  dollars.  It  was 
constructed  of  wood,  had  eight  large  rooms,  the 
requisite  cloak  rooms,  recitation  rooms,  apparatus 
room,  the  superintendent's  office  and  a  large  as- 
sembly hall.  For  years  this  was  the  best  school 
building  in  this  part  of  the  state.  The  attendance 
rapidly  increased,  tuition  pupils  attending  for 
miles  around.  By  1876  the  attendance  had  so  in- 
creased that  a  room  in  the  basement  of  the  Metho- 
dist church  was  used  as  a  primary  schoolroom.  In 
1887  a  two-room  building  was  erected  in  the  west 
part  of  town.  In  1880  another  ward  school  was 
built  on  the  southeast  side  of  the  town,  and 
an  addition  was  built  to  the  central  school. 
In  1898  a  new  ward  school  was  built  in 
the  south  part  of  the  town  and  the  present  high 
school  building  was  erected  north  of  the  central 
school  building.  The  high  school  course  was  ex- 
tended to  a  period  of  four  years  and  the  pupils 


graduating  from  this  institution  were  admitted 
to  universities  without  examinations.  Mrs.  Abbie 
L.  Waterman,  by  her  will,  gave  for  the  founda- 
tion of  a  school  for  girls  the  family  residence  on 
Somonauk  street,  together  with  sixty  acres  of  land, 
on  which  suitable  buildings  for  the  institution's 
purpose  were  erected  in  1889.  She  also  gave  as  an 
endowment  a  well  stocked  farm  of  five  hvtndred 
acres  adjoining  the  school,  Waterman  Block,  con- 
sisting of  the  three  best  located  stores  and  office 
building  in  Sycamore,  and  valuable  Chicago  prop- 
erty. Rev.  B.  F.  Fleetwood  was  appointed  rector 
upon  its  organization  and  is  at  present  still  at  the 
head  of  the  institution. 

During  the  year  1907  Sycamore  has  added  to 
her  industrial  institutions  the  Hardware  Supply 
Factory,  Borden's  Condensed  Milk  Factory  and 
the  Turner  Brass  Works,  and  is  at  present  grow- 
ing in  population  and  wealth.  The  Sycamore  Pre- 
serve Works  was  established  in  1881  and  its  capa- 
city has  been  continually  increased,  until  at  pres- 
ent it  is  one  of  the  largest  institutions  of  the  kind 
in  northern  Illinois. 

F.  C.  Patten  Manufacturing  Company  now  oc- 
cupies the  old  R.  Ellwood  Manufacturing  plant 
and  the  Marsh  Harvester  Building  and  employs  a 
large  number   of   men. 

Sycamore  being  the  county  seat,  has  during  her 
career  had  as  residents  men  of  ability  and  influ- 
ence. The  majority  of  the  De  Kalb  county  bar 
resides  here,  and  in  earlier  days  the  financiers  of 
the  county  found  Sycamore  a  great  convenience 
as  a  business  center.  Among  the  earlier  business 
men  were  James,  Charles,  John  C.  and  John  A. 
Waterman,  J.  H.  Rogers,  G.  P.  Wild,  John  Hark- 
ness,  Reuben  Ellwood,  member  of  congress  in 
1880-84;  Chauncey,  Alonzo  and  Ed.  Ellwood.  Dan- 
iel Pierce,  Moses  Dean  and  Harmon  Paine.  H. 
H.  Mason  and  C.  0.  Boynton  came  here  ai  an 
early  day  and  established  a  brokerage  firm  and 
were  men  of  wealth  and  splendid  business  ca- 
pacity. Of  the  men  in  political  life  who  attained 
to  more  than  local  prominence  were  Jesse  Kellogg, 
John  R.  Hamlin.  Marshall  Stark,  Dr.  James  Har- 
rington. J.  K.  Stiles,  and  the  Ellwoods.  Those 
who  achieved  distinction  as  military  men  and  at- 
tained the  rank  of  brevet  brigadier  general  were 
Daniel  Dustin,  E.  F.  Dutton.  Charles  Waite,  F. 
W.  Partridge,  who  formerly  resided  in  Sandwich 
but  a  resident  of  Sycamore  at  the  time  of  receiving 


18-1 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


his  rank,  John  L.  Beveridge,  who  was  an  early 
resident  of  Sycamore,  but  removed  to  Evanston  in 
1854  and  entered  the  war  from  that  place,  became 
a  brevet  brigadier  general  and  was  afterward  gov- 
ernor of  the  state  of  Illinois.  Charles  W.  Stol- 
brand.  who  was  conducting  an  abstract  office  at 
the  time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war,  or- 
ganized a  company  of  artillery,  and  rose  to  the 
rank  of  full  brigadier  and  in  1866  received  the 
rank  of  brevet  major  general.  He  was  educated  at 
a  military  academy  in  Sweden  and  at  once  be- 
came a  valuable  officer  and  at  the  close  of  the 
war  was  chief  of  the  artillery  of  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee. 

Those  who  attained  prominence  in  the  legal 
profession  will  be  treated  of  in  a  separate  article 
entitled  the  Bench  and  Bar,  and  those  who  were 
foremost  in  the  medical  profession  in  a  chapter  en- 
titled Medicine  and  Surgery. 

Those  who  have  been  appointed  as  consuls  to 
foreign  countries  were  Captain  Hood  and  General 
F.  W.  Partridge,  the  latter  serving  for  several 
years  as  minister  to  Siam.  Sycamore  gave  three 
hundred  and  seven  men  for  the  suppression  of  the 
rebellion.  Out  of  this  number  about  sixty  lost 
their  lives  and  a  large  number  returned  maimed 
and  crippled. 

The  supervisors  of  the  township  have  been  Dr. 
James  Harrington  from  its  organization  in  1850 
to  1856.  He  was  succeeded  by  E.  L.  Mayo  and 
Mayo  was  succeeded  b]  Daniel  B.  James.  Dr.  Har- 
rington again  serving  in  1859,  1860  and  1861; 
Roswell  Dow  in  1862,  1863  and  L864  :  Samuel  Al- 
den  two  years:  Henry  Wood  one  year;  X.  S.  Cot- 
trell  one  year;  Henry  Wood  one  year:  John  B. 
Smith  two  years:  E.  B.  Shurtleff  two  years:  Mar- 
shall Stark  from  1878-85;  II.  C.  Whittemore,  who 
is  serving  at  present,  has  held  the  position  for 
twenty-two  years.  Those  who  have  held  the  posi- 
tion of  assistant  supervisor  are  E.  L.  Mayo.  C. 
M.  Brown.  Alonzo  Ellwood,  0.  0.  Boynton, 
Charles  Kellum.  Luther  Lowell.  Beuben  Ellwood, 
Moses  Dean,  Captain  R.  A.  Smith.  W.  W.  Marsh. 
Henry  C.  Whittemore,  Byron  F.  Wyman,  Edwin 
Waite  and  F.  B.  Townsend. 

GENOA. 

Genoa  township  lies  in  the  extreme  northeastern 
part  of  the  county.  Kane  county  forming  its  east- 


ern boundary  and  McHenry  its  northern.  Genoa 
belongs  to  the  original  Polish  survey  and  that 
with  the  two  townships  lying  west  and  north  of 
the  base  line  was  the  first  land  to  be  surveyed  in 
the  county.  The  town  is  watered  by  the  Kishwau- 
kee  on  the  west  side  and  Coon  creek  on  the  east 
side.  The  first  white  inhabitant  of  the  town  was 
Thomas  Madison,  a  native  of  Ohio.  This  was  in 
1836,  and  during  this  year  he  was  followed  by 
H.  X.  Perkins,  Samuel  Corey.  Thomas  Munnehan 
and  Henry  Durham,  and  to  these  men  Thomas 
Madison  sold  his  claim  of  two  sections  of  land 
for  twenty-eight  hundred  dollars.  Mr.  Madison, 
being  a  natural  frontiersman,  went  farther  west. 
The  cabin  of  Thomas  Madison  was  on  the  site  of 
Perkins  Hotel.  The  first  store  kept  in  Genoa  was 
opened  by  Henry  Durham  in  the  Madison  cabin. 
He  was  a  shrewd,  sharp,  energetic  citizen  and  lived 
m  Genoa  for  nearly  thirty  years  and  died  there, 
having  accumulated  considerable  fortune  by  trade, 
by  hotel  keeping  and  land  speculation.  The 
inhabitants  mentioned  were  soon  followed  by  Dan- 
iel 11.  Whittemore.  Henry  Preston.  E.  1'.  Clea>oU. 
Samuel  Stevens,  Jeremiah  and  Putney  Brown.  E. 
S.  Gregory,  Ephraim  Hall.  A.  M.  Hollenbeak  and 
Dr.  P.  M.  I'age.  the  latter  the  first  practicing  phy- 
sician in  the  town.  In  the  spring  of  1838  Genoa 
was  quite  a  populous  center  and  was  larger  than 
any  other  village  in  the  county.  During  the  spring 
of  this  year  H.  V  Perkins"  house  was  entered  by 
a  part  of  the  banditti,  who  robbed  him  of  three 
hundred  dollars.  He  had  good  evidence  that  it 
was  taken  by  the  Brodies  of  Brodies  Grove  ami 
their  accomplices,  who  were  understood  to  be  con- 
led,  rated  with  Daniel  II.  Whittemore  and  E.  P. 
Gleason,  of  Genoa,  but  no  prosecution  was  made. 
nor  was  the  money  recovered. 

Luring  this  year  James  S.  and  Charles  Water- 
man opened  a  stock  of  goods  and  carried  on  a  very 
successful  business  for  some  time.  Daniel  Ball 
opi  in-, I  the  third  store  and  Mr.  Amsden  the  fourth. 
A  very  large  business  was  transacted  by  some  of 
these  dealers,  one  person  stated  that  the  Water- 
mans  reported  a  sale  of  ninety  thousand  dollars 
per  year.  Joseph  Malthy  opened  the  first  black- 
smith shop  here  about  1-840.  Mr.  Preston  was  the 
first  wagon  maker  and  E.  S.  Gregory  and  Jere- 
miah Brown  were  the  first  shoemakers.  S.  O.  Pike. 
wlio  settled  in  Sycamore  during  the  latter  years 
of  his  lite,  claims  to  have  built  the  first  wagon  in 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


185 


the  county  at  his  home  in  Genoa  township  in  184?. 

In  1837  when  the  commissioners  were  examin- 
ing a  site  for  the  county  seat  they  decided  that, 
Genoa  was  too  far  from  the  center,  but  Genoa  was 
a  valuable  aid  to  Sycamore  in  the  contest  of  Syca- 
more, being  the  nearest  town  to  that  point.  In 
183S  a  Fourth  of  July  celebration  was  held  in 
Genoa,  which  was  the  second  one  held  in  the 
county,  of  which  we  have  any  record.  George  H. 
Hill,  afterward  county  judge,  delivered  an  oration 
to  an  audience  of  over  a  thousand  people.  They 
came  to  this  celebration  from  Rockford,  Aurora 
and  St.  Charles  and  from  all  the  surrounding 
country,  and  it  must  be  remembered  that  at  this 
time  Genoa  was  as  promising  a  town  and  had  a 
population  equal  to  the  other  towns  named.  Bel- 
videre  at  the  time  contained  only  two  houses. 
Judge  Hill  was  at  this  time  a  man  of  less  than 
thirty  years,  was  possessed  with  great  natural  abil- 
ity, had  a  better  education  than  boys  generally  at 
that  period,  and  was  a  speaker  of  considerable 
power  and  many  are  those  present  who  have  testi- 
fied to  the  ability  of  Judge  Hill  on  this  occasion. 

Two  men  of  Genoa  by  this  time  had  acquired 
considerable  notoriety.  One  was  Daniel  T.  Whitte- 
more.  and  the  other  E.  P.  Gleason,  both  now 
known  to  be  members  of  the  banditti  and  asso- 
ciates of  the  Brodies  and  other  outlaws  who  in- 
fested the  country  at  that  time.  After  the  Per- 
kins robbery  both  men  were  under  suspicion  ami 
Daniel  Whittemore  soon  left  the  country,  dispos- 
ing of  his  claim  to  E.  P.  Gleason.  and  when  last 
heard  from  was  residing  in  California.  Gleason 
in  his  subsequent  career  kept  up  the  reputation 
which  he  had  established  from  the  beginning. 
While  boarding  at  Perkins'  log  tavern  soon  after 
his  arrival  a  carpet  sack  was  found  in  his  posses- 
sion well  filled  with  counterfeit  money  and  the 
fact  that  h  had  plenty  of  money  on  hand  and  was 
a  man  of  considerable  property  at  that  time  was 
easily  accounted  for.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  ap- 
pearance, agreeable  manners,  fair  in  his  dealings 
with  his  neighbors  and  generally  liked,  and  con- 
sequently had  a  host  of  friends  who  were  ever 
ready  to  take  his  part.  In  the  ordinary  affairs  of 
life  he  never  tried  to  pass  counterfeit  money,  but 
he  manufactured  it  and  wholesaled  it  to  his  con- 
federates. In  1839  one  of  his  associates,  a  travel- 
ing confederate,  was  arrested  in  Chicago  and  dur- 
ing his  confinement  confessed  his  guilt,  implicat- 


ing one  of  the  chiefs  of  the  gang.  Gleason  was 
arrested,  but  although  the  testimony  of  this  wit- 
ness had  been  promised,  when  the  trial  came  on  he 
could  not  be  procured  and  Gleason  was  liberated. 

Not  long  after  a  message  was  again  sent  from 
Chicago  saying  that  if  our  officers  would  again  ar- 
rest Gleason  the  evidence  against  him  should  be 
forthcoming.  Three  or  four  deputies  were  now 
commissioned  to  go  to  Genoa  and  effect  his  arrest. 
They  reached  his  place  at  midnight  and  after 
watching  until  dawn  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing 
him  come  to  his  door,  when  they  approached  and 
captured  him.  But  Gleason  hospitably  insisted 
that  his  captors  should  stop  and  get  breakfast 
before  they  went  away  and  they  consented.  In  the 
meantime  he  took  them  out  in  his  garden  to  show 
them  his  fine  crop  of  corn,  of  which  he  was  justly 
proud.  In  an  instant  he  had  disappeared  in  the 
tall  corn  and  I'm-  several  years  after  was  not  seen 
in  the  country. 

Several  years  after,  when  the  evidence  had  again 
become  unattainable,  Gleason  came  back  and  start- 
ed business  again.  He  had  a  store,  sawmill  and 
tine  farm,  all  in  full  operation,  and  had  married 
a  respectable  young  woman  of  the  neighborhood. 
A  few  years  after  he  became  ill  and  a  traveling 
doctor  named  Smitch,  who  boarded  in  his  family 
and  was  reported  to  lie  attached  to  his  wife,  attend- 
ed him.  He  grew  worse  without  any  evident 
cause.  After  eating  one  day  of  some  porridge 
prepared  by  his  wife  and  the  doctor  he  complained 
that  it  did  not  taste  just  right,  but  ate  heartily 
and  soon  after  died  in  convulsions  and  delirium. 
Not  long  after  his  burial  the  Doctor  and  Mrs. 
Gleason  were  arrested  on  a  charge  of  murdering 
him  by  poison.  The  body  was  exhumed  and  the 
contents  of  the  stomach  examined  and  a  special 
term  held  for  their  trial,  but  the  evidence  of  guilt 
was  insufficient  and  they  were  discharged.  The 
Doctor  and  Mrs.  Gleason  soon  afterward  married, 
moved  to  La  Salle  county,  where  the  Doctor  died 
under  circumstances  that  led  to  the  suspicion  that 
be  had  been  poisoned.  His  wife  soon  after  died 
very  suddenly.  Such  was  the  miserable  end  of 
one  who  was  undoubtedly  a  leader  in  the  crime 
that  had  disturbed  the  early  settlers  of  this  coun- 
ty. He  escaped  the  punishment  of  his  crime  against 
the  law  only  to  meet  a  more  terrible  fate.  An 
old  settler  who  recently  visited  here  remembers 
seeing  a  cabin  on  what  is  now  known  as  Fishtrap 


1-''. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALI!    COUNTY. 


about  is  in.  .i< T..--  in  May  field  township.  There 
was  found  no  regular  path  Leading  to  the  cabin 
and  it  is  supposed  thej  came  by  different  routes 
so  as  tn  leave  ao  tracks  of  their  going  and  coming. 
Many  are  satisfied  thai  much  of  the  counterfeit 
money  found  in  possi  ssion  of  ideason  was  made  at 
this  point  and  ii  was  known  by  his  neighbors  that 
he  spent  many  nights  away  from  home,  returning 
before  daybreak. 

The  lii-i  religious  services  were  held  in  the 
house  of  II.  X.  Perkins,  services  being  conducted 
by  Rev.  Ora  Walker  in  the  winter  of  1837-8.  Rev. 
Mr.  Gaddis  was  the  second  preacher  in  the  town- 
ship. 

In  1837  a  mail  route  was  established  from  St. 
Charles  through  Genoa  and  a  postoffice  was  opened 
by  Horatio  M.  Perkins.  This  office  Mr.  Perkins 
held  foT  forty-seven  consecutive  years,  resigning 
in  1884,  when  hi-  grandson,  II.  A.  Perkins,  was 
appointed.  » renoa  reci  ived  its  name  from  Thomas 
Madison,  who  named  ii  Genoa  in  honor  of  his  na- 
tive town  in  Now  York.  In  isis  Genoa  still  had 
as  large  trade  as  anj  other  town  in  the  county. 
It  had  two  well  limh  taverns  along  the  stage  line 
from  Elgin  to  Galena.  These  b,otels  did  an  excel- 
lent business.  Aside  Erom  thai  thej  were  »n  al 
social  centers.     Balls  were  frequently  held  there 

and  tin'  young   i and    ■. < •  1 1 1 1 1^   ladii  -   tu  ri    came 

from  miles  around  ami  danced  until  the  wei  -mall 
hours  of  the  morning.  No1  only  were  these  events 
of  social  Lnteresl  bu1  thej  proved  profitable,  for 
Mr.  Perkins  reports  having  taken  in  as  high  as 
two  hundred  ami  twenty-five  dollars  in  one  night. 
In  1854  the  Genoa  Anti-Horse  Thief  Association 
was  organized,  the  process  of  la\(  bi  ng  too  slow  for 
practical   purposes,  so  the  gooi     peopL  Genoa 

abandoned    the    red    tape    forms   and    the    ) pie 

started  out  on  a  plan  to  proteel  themselves.  So 
successful  were  thej  in  this  enterprise  that  after 
it-  organization  bul  one  horse  ever  came  tip  miss- 
ing and  thai  h  as  found  after  a  1  i  h  and  an 
expenditure  of  two  hundred  dollars. 

The  !ii-i  si  hool  was  held  in  1838  and  was  taught 
by  Mary  Ann  Hill.  The  site  of  the  first  institu- 
tion of   learning   was   al t    three-quarters   of  a 

mile  south  of  the  presenl  village.     The  Methodist 

services  wen    held   in  the  sel Ihouse  until  1854, 

when   the   Genoa    Methodist   church   was   erected, 
which  at  that  time  was  the  finest  church  ed 
in  the  countv.     In  L861  the  Ney  church  was  i  rei  t- 


ed  near  the  north  line  of  the  town  on  land  donated 
In  Daniel  Buck.  The  original  subscription  List  is 
in  our  possession  and  it  shows  how  anxious  these 
pioneers  were  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel.  Dan- 
iel Buck  contributed  a  thousand  dollars  aside  from 
the  site,  while  others  gave  sums  that  seem  to  us 
almost  incredible  when  considering  the  small 
amount  of  property,  from  which  these  sums  were 
taken. 

In  1850  tin-  village  of  Genoa  was  platted,  but 
had  not  attained  much  size  and  prominence  until 
the  building  of  the  railroad  in  1876.  Since  this 
time  Genoa  has  had  a  rapid  growth  ami  at  presenl 
lias  a  population  of  two  thousand.  On  the  east 
side  of  the  town  in  the  settlement  -tailed  by 
Padgetl  Eodgeboom  and  George  Moore  a  villago 
was  erected  along  the  Milwaukee  road  called  New 
Lebanon,  which  ha,-  a  postoffice,  store,  elevator  ami 
butter  factory  anil  makes  an  excellent  shipping 
-tat  ion  lor  the  people  on  this  side  of  the  town. 
\  large  number  of  Germans  ha\e  settled  hen'  and 
have  buill  an  excellent  German  Lutheran  church 
in  Genoa  ami  maintain  a  parochial  school.  Among 
i  In  leading  I  fermans  n  ho  have  been  suci  essful  in 
the  building  up  of  this  community  and  securing 
I'm-  themselves  a  competency  in  this  life  are  John 
Becker,  John  Lambke,  Chris  ami  John  Ault.  Au- 
gusl  Japp,  Joseph  Dunevan,  H.  Kreuger  ami   M. 

Eousl In  the  latter  '50s  a  large  number  of 

I''  mi--.  Ivanians  settled  in  the  north  a-t  part  of  the 
town.  Among  the  number  were  the  Kitchens,  Cor- 
sans,  Eichlers,  Kitchens  and  Spencers.  In  187"!  the 
Genoa  graded  school  was  built  and  the  school  was 
organized  by  David  S.  Gibbs,  the  first  principal. 
I  sis  years  this  institution  was  the  only  graded 
scl 1  in  the  north  part  of  the  county,  pupil-  at- 
tending from  Melleiiry  and  Kane  counties  and 
for  a  distance  of  ten  or  fifteen  miles  around.  Pro- 
fessor  Gibbs  was  raised  in  Franklin  township  near 
Blood's  Point,  wa-  a  schoolteacher  in  his  early 
days  .mii!  afterward  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war.  His 
work  was  of  a  lasting  character  and  he  and  his 
wife.  Julia,  have  left  an  impression  on  young 
heart-  that  will  last  when  their  monuments  shall 
have  crumbled  into  dust. 

Genoa  furnished  the  Union  army  with  one  hun- 
dred and  nine  men,  and  at  the  time  of  the  first 
enrollment  for  a  draft  had  already  sent  out  sixty- 
eight  per  ('tit  of  her  arms  bearing  population. 
<»f   those   who   lost   their   live;   in   the   war   were: 


FIEST  SCHOOL  HOUSE  IX  GENOA. 


TV 


t"W 


F^nr^i?? 


A!  i 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


isu 


J.  II.  Chase,  who  died  at  Kansas  City,  Missouri, 
June  11, 1865;  E.  M.  Gillett,  Alexandria,  Virginia, 
April  9,  1862;  Ellis  Buck,  Washington,  1).  C, 
April  28,  1861;  A.  II.  Bruzell  who  was  lost  off 
steamboat  Olive,  below  St.  Louis,  on  the  Missis- 
sippi, June  28,  1865;  Augustus  Martin,  at  Genoa, 
February  13,  1863 ;  Sergeant  J.  H.  Depue,  March 
21,  1864;  J.  S.  Bailey  at  Chicago,  Illinois,  Oc- 
tober 1,  1862;  J.  II.  Burroughs,  at  New  Albany, 
Indiana,  December  21,  1862. 

The  supervisors  of  the  town  are:  Henry  Dur- 
ham. 1850;  G.  F.  King,  1851;  I.  W.  Garvin,  1852; 
A.  M.  Hollenbeck,  1853-1;  I.  W.  Garvin,  1855; 
Jesse  Doud,  1856;  Daniel  Buck.  1857;  John  Heth, 
1861-2;  J.  L.  Brown,  1863;  Daniel  Buck,  1864-5; 
Henry  N.  Perkins,  1866-9;  A.  H.  Pond,  1870-3; 
John  Heth,  1874;  Jeremiah  L.  Brown,  1875;  John 
Heth,  1876;  Henry  N.  Perkins,  1877-80;  A.  H. 
Pond,  1881-3;  Kendall  Jackman.  18S4;  D.  S. 
Brown  ;  J.  E.  Stott ;  J.  Siglin,  and  F.  Duval. 

DE    KALB    COUNTY   IN    WAE. 

When  the  war  with  Mexico  broke  out  in  1S45, 
De  Kalb  county  was  then  very  sparsely  settled, 
having  a  population  of  less  than  three  thousand. 
Illinois  furnished  six  regiments  of  troops  and  De 
Kalb  county  more  than  a  score  of  soldiers.  A 
company  of  soldiers  from  Belvidere.  headed  by 
Captain  William  Shepherd  marched  from  that 
city  to  Sycamore  and  encamped  for  the  night. 
As  they  came  marching  into  the  little  village  they 
were  headed  by  a  fife  and  drum  corps.  At  that 
period  martial  music  was  not  frequently  heard  on 
the  frontier,  and  it  created  considerable  excite- 
ment. The  boys  built  bonfires,  made  speeches  and 
played  the  martial  music  until  late  in  the  night. 
This  so  stirred  the  American  blood  of  1776  and 
1812  that  in  the  morning  the  force  was  consider- 
ably increased.  With  this  additional  re-inforce- 
ment  they  marched  on  to  Dixon  and  from  there 
to  the  river,  where  they  took  ship  tor  Alton  and 
were  enrolled  with  the  Second  Regiment  of  Illi- 
nois Volunteer  Infantry.  The  soldiers  from  De 
Kalb  county  in  this  company  are  given  in  the  Ad- 
jutant's Report  of  Belvidere,  and  no  mention  is 
made  of  the  fact  that  part  of  the  companv  were 
residents  of  De  Kalb  county,  but  several  are 
known  who  have  resided  here  both  before  and 
after  the  Mexican  war.  Among  the  number  were 
George  Dennis  and  Peter  Murray  of  Mayfield. 
and  Leroy  Benson,  of  Kingston  township  and  per- 


haps  Francis   Russell,   whose  residence   is   in   De 

Kalb  county.  The  same  is  true  of  the  soldiers 
of  the  Mexican  war  from  which  county  who  en- 
listed in  the  First  Illinois  Regiment  of  Volun- 
teer Infantry.  Among  the  number  are  Alonzo 
Laporte,  of  Paw  Paw;  Peleg  Sweet,  later  a  resi- 
dent of  Victor;  and  Theron  Potter,  later  a  resi- 
dent of  Sandwich.  Alonzo  Laporte  still  resides 
in  West  Paw  Paw.  George  Dennis  is  a  resident 
of  Iowa.  The  company  belonging  to  the  Second 
Illinois  suffered  heavy  loss,  losing  more  than  half 
their  number.  They  are  buried  at  Monterey,  Ja- 
lapa,  City  of  Mexico,  Vera  Cruz  and  Pueblo,  more 
dying  from  disease  contracted  in  that  tropical  cli- 
mate of  Mexico  than  from  the  bullets  of  the 
enemy. 

Edwin  H.  Fay,  who  still  lives  in  Hinckley, 
went  from  this  county  into  the  Sixteenth  Kentucky 
Volunteer  Infantry;  William  Cone  into  the  First 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  and  David  Tawn  en- 
listed from  Paw  Paw  into  the  same  regiment. 

The  period  in  our  county's  history  that  reached 
the  high  tide  of  patriotism,  self-sacrifice  and  he- 
roism was  that  from  1861  to  1865.  The  emi- 
grants from  eastern  homes  had  by  this  time 
become  well,  and  comfortably  domiciled  in  their 
new'  homes,  had  attached  to  the  new  west  and  were 
reaching  out  for  opportunities  of  education  and 
refinement  which  comes  after  years  of  toil  and 
hardship.  The  real  temper  of  love  of  country  in 
the  American  people  had  not  been  put  to  the  se- 
verest test  since  the  days  of  1776,  unless  we  take 
into  consideration  the  war  of  1812  (and  that  one- 
sided, short,  decisive,  but  brilliant  struggle  with 
our  weak"  sister  republic — Mexico — which  in  its  in- 
ception does  not  reflect  great  credit  on  the  nation's 
moral  tone,  for  it  was  waged  to  extend  an  insti- 
tution, already  condemned  by  the  civilized  na- 
tions of  the  world)  no  real  trial,  such  as  was  oc- 
casioned by  the  Civil  war  had  come.  Foreign  na- 
tions firmly  believed  that  a  clash  of  arms  between 
sections  of  our  country  would  cause  our  national 
fabric  to  fall  and  had  openly  prophesied  such  a 
catastrophe.  The  real  wealth  and  inexhaustible 
resources  of  our  country  were  not  appreciated  and 
the  most  optimistic  American,  had  he  been  told 
in  1861  that  the  struggle  then  in  its  inception, 
would  mean  the  expenditure  of  over  five  billion 
dollars  of  national,  state,  county  and  individual 
wealth,  but  would  have  been  paralyzed  with  such 
an  apparently  hopeless  prospect. 


190 


PAST    AND    PEESENT    OF   DE   KALE    COUNTY. 


Every  step  of  this  struggle  Led  into  unknown 
and  untried  policies  of  linanee  and  legislation. 
Private  expenditures,  luxuries  for  the  sick  and 
wounded,  bounties  for  the  soldier,  and  all  of  those 
tilings  done  from  the  humanitarian  standpoint 
to  alleviate  the  suffering  and  sorrow?  that  were 
rolled  upon  this  nation  in  its  days  of  travail  can 
never  be  known.  Two  million  men  for  the  flo- 
tilla and  the  field,  and  the  thousands  essential  for 
the  maintenance  of  this  mighty  host  in  arms 
were  drawn  from  the  occupations  of  peace 
and  productiveness,  and  those  left  at  home  must 
continue  the  work  of  those  in  public  service  and 
in  addition  support  those  armies,  navies  and  all 
things  else  that  were  necessary  to  the  mainte- 
nance of  an  indissoluble  nation. 

The  county  had  been  shaken  to  its  foundations 
by  the  great  political  eontesl  of  L860  and  people 
svere  apparently  hopelessly  di\  Lded  «  lien  the  conti  si 
came  a  few  months  later,  but  everything  moved 
with  rapidity.  Threats  of  secession  were  now  car- 
ried to  a  reality.  Our  national  life  was  in  jeop- 
ardy.  Political  divisions  began  to  subside. 
Finally  the  flag  of  our  lathers  was  fired  upon. 
Then  the  great  love  of  country,  which  in  many 
seemed  to  lie  dormant,  was  aroused.  Stephen 
A.  Douglas,  who  bad  apparently  trifled  with 
dangers  during  a  brilliant  political  career,  now 
came  out  strongly  for  the  suppression  of  re- 
bellion. His  Sunday  night  conference  with  Presi- 
dent Lincoln,  his  recommendations  and  promised 
loyal  support,  stimulated  the  martyred  president 
to  determined  activity,  and  a  brighter  day  dawned 
upon  the  administration  which  from  the  begin- 
ning had  been  enveloped  in  deep  gloom.  The 
Douglas  democracj  responded  to  the  patriotic 
spirit  of  its  great  leader  and  they  rallied  to  the 
support  of  the  crowning  act  of  a  brilliant,  na- 
tional career  and  his  position  in  1861,  the  sup- 
port of  Lincoln's  administration  cannot  be  fully 
estimated.  His  death  at  only  forty-eight  years 
of  age  in  this  great  national  crisis  was  a  truly 
national  calamity.  The  firing  on  Fort  Sumter 
awakened  the  country  from  the  delusion  that  seces- 
sion was  simply  a  threat  to  curb  the  growing 
sentiment  against  slavery  in  the  north  and  sati- 
ate political  revenge.  The  call  to  arms  came, 
the  flag  unfurled  over  public  buildings  and 
seemed  to  produce  an  effect  that  was  electrical. 

The  best  young  men  came  forth  to  do  service. 
Some  institutions  of  learning  found     it     impos- 


sible to  continue  their  school  work.  The  instruc- 
tor became  au  officer  and  led  his  men  to  the  scene 
of  conflict.  Within  three  days  from  the  first  call 
for  troops  J>c  Kalb  county  had  men  at  Cairo 
ready  for  duty.  Professor  A.  J.  Blanchard,  then 
principal  of  an  academy  in  Vermont,  organized 
a  company  and  was  soon  at  Washington  for  de- 
fense of  the  capital.  The  Sycamore  high  school 
closed  a  month  before  the  end  of  the  school  year 
because  so  many  of  the  boys  had  enlisted.  The 
north  became  a  vast  camp  of  preparation,  the 
military  spirit  was  high  and  the  people  fondly 
hoped  for  immediate  termination  of  the  conflict. 
The  township  taxes  levied  and  raised,  together 
with  personal  expenditures,  amounted  to  a  quarter 
of  a  million  dollars,  while  our  total  wealth  was 
not  :i  sixth  of  what  it  is  now,  and  our  popula- 
tion a  little  more  than  half  of  what  it  is  today. 
(Mil  of  our  little  more  than  sixteen  thousand  peo- 
ple we  sent  nearly  3,000  to  the  field.  The  draft 
was  resorted  to  in  a  few  townships.  Eevenue  was 
collected  on  many  articles,  drugs,  notes,  mort- 
gages and  many  other  necessaries  of  life,  but  the 
burdens  in  many  cases  were  imposed  by  popular 
vote  and  most  cheerfully  borne;  and  as  is  the  case 
generally  in  such  a  crisis  the  "money  shark"  was 
Loudest  in  his  complaints  and  too  often  disloyal. 
The  most  precious  sacrifice,  however,  was  in  the 
lives  and  health  of  her  quota  of  gallant  boy3. 

When  the  call  for  seventy-five  thousand  volun- 
teers appeared  April  15,  great  excitement  pre- 
vailed throughout  this  section  of  the  country,  as 
well  as  other  parts  of  the  Union.  Shortly  after 
this  came  the  attack  on  the  Eighth  Massachu- 
setts, while  passing  through  Baltimore,  and  the 
first  blood  of  the  war  on  both  sides  was  shed.  In- 
stead of  seventy-five  thousand  troops  being  re- 
eived  in  response  to  the  call,  three  hundred  thou- 
sand volunteers  offered  themselves  for  the  service 
of  their  country  and  they  came  marching  forth  to 
the  tune  of  "John  Brown's  Body."  During  the 
ensuing  weeks  there  were  tender  partings  of 
sons  from  parents  and  sweethearts.  Though  the 
terms  of  enlistment  were  commonly  short  it  was 
still  believed  on  both  sides  that  the  war  would 
be  a  matter  of  not.  more  than  one  hundred  days 
or  so.  If  either  party  had  foreseen  four  or  five 
years  of  continuous  and  terrific  fighting  between 
armies  aggregating  two  million  men,  and  with 
losses  altogether  near  seven  hundred  thousand, 
the  emotions  of  those   parting  would  have  been 


SOLDIEES'  MONUMENT. 


JS^NFri^Ox 


^ons. 


PAST    AM)    PKESEXT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


193 


more  poignant  still,  but  in  these  first  weeks  there 
was   displayed  a  kind  of  sentiment  which   could 
only  belong  to  the  early  stages  of  the  war.     There 
had  as  yet  been  no  gaps  made  in  the  family  cir- 
cles of  the  nation ;  there  were  no  wrongs  to  avenge, 
no  sufferings  to  requite;  the  harsher  aspect  of  the 
struggle  had  not  yet  come.     There  was  only  the 
exultation  of  fighting  for  one's  country,  the  pa- 
thos of  saying  good-lay,  the  hope  of  glory,  the  glow 
of  facing  untried  dangers.     The  boys  left  their 
classes  in  the  colleges,  and  in  the  public  schools, 
the    farmers,    mechanics    and    artisans    left    their 
work,  clerks  laid  down  their  bargains  on  the  coun- 
ter, the  merchant  raised  a  company  or  regiment 
and  put  himself  at  its  head.     Gentlemen  of  leis- 
ure found  at  last  opportunity  for  action,  which 
they   had    missed    all    their   lives    without   know- 
ing what  ailed  them;     ne'er-do-wells    and     black 
sheep  started  to  the  front  with  the  determination 
to  prove  that  there  was  stuff  in  them  after  all. 
They  all  went  into  camp,  green,  loose,  awkward. 
The  men  were  independent,  free  and  easy ;  the  of- 
ficers men  of  education  and  refinement,  unused  to 
the  exigencies  of  military  discipline,  asked  their 
rank  and  file   (with  many  of  whom  perhaps  they 
had   been  acquainted   in   the   walks  of  peace)    to 
"please   step    this   way,"    "kindly   present    arms." 
and  so  on  ;  but  such  softened  words  wore  away  be- 
fore long,  and  when  the  first  three  months  again 
came  back  to  their  native  villages  they  were  hard- 
ly recognizable,   for  the  gawky  citizens   who   had 
gone  forth  so  lately.    Their  figures  were  wiry  and 
erect,  their  lean  faces  were  tanned  by  the  suns  of 
Virginia.     They  walked  in  pairs  or  threes,  with 
a  long,  springy,  measured  step  of  war;  they  were 
now  disciplined   soldiers  who  had  shot  and  been 
shot  at,  had  faced  death,  had  obeyed  orders,  had 
made  a  part  of  battles.     The  difference  was  won- 
derful   and    it   never    wore    away.       Many    who 
marched   forth   returned   no   more   forever;   those 
who  came  back  were  changed:  there  were  empty 
places  in  almost  every  household  as  the  years  went 
by;  and  the  family  group  around  the  hearth,  if 
it  were  still  full,  never  looked  the  same  as  before; 
There  was  another  spirit,  another  feeling  in     it. 
Everywhere  you  saw  the  badge  of  mourning ;  wom- 
en,  old   and  young  in  black  gowns,   with     crepe 
veils;  it  was  a  sight  so  common  that  one  ceased 
to   notice  it.     And   the   talk   was   all   campaigns, 
battles,  generals,  captains,  regiments,  charges,  re- 


treats, victories,  defeats.  The  war  correspondents 
of  that  day  were  few  but  the  newspapers  were  ab- 
sorbing reading  nevertheless  and  they  had  news 
to  tell.  There  were  the  black  head  lines;  the  col- 
umns of  terse  narrative;  the  lists  of  dead  and 
wounded — hut  these  soon  had  to  be  given  up  save 
for  the  names  of  leading  officers;  what  should  a 
newspaper  do  with  the  loss  of  forty  or  fifty  thou- 
sand which  some  of  the  great  battles  brought? 
Short  or  long,  those  lists  of  dead,  wounded  and 
missing,  were  as  trying  to  the  women's  hearts  at 
home  as  was  the  charge  that  caused  them  to  the 
soldiers  who  faced  the  guns.  Yes,  far  more  trying, 
for  the  charge  was  made  in  hot  blood  and  there 
was  excitement  with  glory  to  win  and  only  one's 
own  death  to  face ;  but  the  lists  were  read  at  home; 
cold  and  trembling  fingers  held  the  paper;  the 
eyes  were  painfully  strained;  the  lips  parted;  the 
face  pale,  and  the  heart  stood  still  or  leaped  by 
turns.  There  was  no  excitement  to  sustain  the 
wife  and  mother;  no  glory  to  gain,  and  the  death, 
if  it  came,  came  not  to  her  but  to  him  she  loved 
best.  No  adequate  history  could  ever  be  written 
of  the  women  of  the  Civil  war,  but  it  is  strange, 
indeed,  that  no  great  sculptor  or  architect  has 
been  commissioned  to  erect  some  mighty  monu- 
ment to  commemorate  forever  in  enduring  marble 
or  bronze  her  heroism,  her  sacrifices  ami  her 
achievements." 

How  do  the  excitements  of  our  earlier  settlement, 
its  claim  wars,  its  county  seat  wrangles,  its  eon- 
test  with  the  banditti,  its  war  upon  grave  robbers, 
its  political  and  social  excitements,  all  pale  and 
lose  their  interest  when  compared  with  the  story 
of  the  grand  heroism  displayed  by  her  sons  upon 
a  hundred  fields  of  battle. 

In  the  four  years  of  the  Civil  war  is  comprised 
more  of  our  county's  real  history,  more  true  hero- 
ism, more  adventure,  more  romance,  more  gal- 
lantry, valor,  everything  that  dignities  and  en- 
nobles the  characters  of  this  people  than  all  the 
remaining  portions  of  its  career.  What  gallant 
and  honorable  service  the  soldier  boys  of  De  Kalb 
county  performed  for  their  country.  Xot  one  of 
the  great  battles  of  the  long  and  bloody  war  was 
fought  in  which  the  sons  of  De  Kalb  did  not  bear 
an  honorable  part. 

De  Kail)  county  boys  opened  the  first  battle  in 
the  seven  days'  fight  on  the  Virginia  peninsula 
and  were  the  first  to  attack  Lee's  rebel  hosts  at 


194 


FAST    AXD    PIJFSF.XT    OF    ]>K    KALB    COUNTY. 


Gettysburg.  Somi  Loaded  their  guns  for  the  first 
time,  while  under  the  fire  of  Fort  Donelson.  They 
swept  with  the  great  Sherman  on  the  grand 
march  to  the  sea.  Thej  were  the  heroes  of  the 
day  on  the  first  assaull  on  Vicksburg.  They  bore 
a  most  honorable  part  in  its  final  capture.  The} 
saved  by  gallanl  charge  the  defeat  of  Banks  on 
the  Red  river.  They  were  first  at  the  capture  of 
Mobile.  In  the  campaigns  in  Missouri,  Arkansas, 
Tennessee  and  in  the  cast,  indeed  wherever  a  rebel 
army  was  to  be  found,  there  were  men  of  De  Kalb 
couni     to  meet  them  in  the  deadly  conflict. 

De  Kalb  county  furnished  one  brevet  major 
general  in  the  person  of  Charles  Stolbrand,  five 
brevet  brigadier  generals  in  the  persons  o  Da 
Dustin,  Charles  Waite,  Everell  F.  Dutton,  F.  \Y. 
Partridge  and  Thomas  W.  Eumphrey.  They  fur- 
nished seven  colonels  and  lieutenanl  colonels,  about 
double  that  amount  of  majors  and  over 
captains. 

When  the  firsl  company   of  soldiers  iva 

I    /.  B.  May.i  the  ladies  of  Sycamore  purchased 
and    made   the   uniforms  for  the  soldiers.     'I 

vi  a   not  skilled  in  armj  regulation  suits,  bul  made 

a  very   presentable  c pany.     The  work   of    the 

women  of  De  Kalb  count}  deserves  most  honorable 
mention.  Aid  societies  were  organized  in  every 
township   of   the   countj    and    furnisl  spital 

supplies,  clothing  and  food  for  the  so 
purchased    and    presented    flags    to    many    of   the 
organizations  I             i  I   from  this  county  and  the 
spirit  of  true  heroism   was  as  strong  in  them  a- 
in  the  boys  on   the   field.     Those   were   da 
great    sorrow.      Those    present    when    those    com- 
panies of  the   One    Hundred   and    Fifth   man 
from  this  county  will   aevei     orget    the  sad   part- 
ings of  the  boys  with  thi  ir  families.     During  the 
war  we  read  accounts  like  the   following:     "Died 
at  his  heme  in  Mayfield  of  illness  contracted  in  the 
war.  Turner  Wing,  aged  eighteen  years  and  eighl 
months."     "Killed  at   tl  of  Shiloh,  one  of 

the  gallant  officers  of  the  Fifty-second  Illinois  Vol- 
unteer Regiment.  Captain  E.  C.  Knapp,  aged  I 
ty-nine  years."  "Killed  a1  Stone  River,  December 
31,  1862,  John  Densi •■  Dole,  of  the  Thirty- 
fourth  Infantry,  aged  twenty-one  years."  "Joseph 
Petrie  at  Corinth,  aged  si  enteen  years."  Thus 
we  can  get  a  definite  idea  of  the  age  of  the  sol- 
diers who  constituted  the  army  of  the  Union  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war.     In  passing  through  the  great 


mil I  cemeteries  of  the  southland  we  find  the 

age  of  the  average  soldier  a  little  more  than  twen- 
ty, and  after  a  day  spent  in  the  great  national 
eei -m  at  Chattanooga,  where  seventeen  thou- 
sand soldiers  lie  buried,  we  noticed  but  one  who 
had  attained  the  age  of  forty  years. 

At  meetings  of  the  board  of  supervisors  of  De 
Kalb  county,  at  town  meetings  and,  in  fact,  in 
nearly  all  of  the  public  gatherings,  questions  per- 
taining to  the  war' were  discussed  and  measures 
devised    for  the  termination  of  the  rebellion.     It 

■  aim  to  give  a  complete  list  of  all  the 

soldiers  who  went  to  the  war  from  this  county. 
Where  full  companies  were  organized  in  this  coun- 

■    the  differenf  regiments  we  find  little  diffi- 
culty   in  i tes,    but   many   men    from 

thi-  count  _  intents  raised  in  other 

parts  of  the  state,  especially  Chicago,  so  that  it 
would  be  an  extremely  difficult  task  to  give  the  list 
compl 

The  political  affairs  of  both  town  and  county 
pertain  largely  to  math  rs  growing  out  of  problems 
conci  rning  the  war.  Special  town  meetings,  spe- 
cial  meetings  of  the  board  of  supervisors  are  of 
frequent  occurrence.  One  meeting  of  the  super- 
appropriated  *'.'.000.00  to  families  deprived 
of   their   supporl    because  of   father,    husband   or 

-on.  upon   w  I i  a   widowed  mother  depended  for 

support,    had    gone    to   the   front.  The   men   who 

d    in   public  capacities,  whether  in  county  or 

ship  affairs,  deserve  unstinted  praise  for  the 
ipori  of  every  feature  of  service  that 
strengthened  the  national  cause:  and  had  every 
county  north  oi  Mason's  and  Dixon's  line  been 
a-  loyal  and  patriotic  as  De  Kalb  county  the  war 
would  not  have  cos!  one-third  as  much  of  blood  and 

ii  re  ii-  v  ii  -  oi  i  asioned  bj  this  cruel  war. 

TENTH    ILLINOIS    INFANTRY. 

Oil  I'WY     II. 
-I  KGEANTS. 

Daniel  R.  Ballou,  Sandwich,  promoted  first  lieu- 
ti  mint. 

Franklin  Munson,  Sandwich,  promoted  first 
lieutenant. 

Eubert  Carwer,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  Au- 
gust,  28,  '64. 


PAST   AND    PBESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY.  195 

Edward  Hoag,  Sandwich,  died  February  6,  '62.  Hinkins,  Andrew,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  Au- 

Charles   Kenrill    Sandwich,   mustered   out   Au-  gust  28,  '64. 

gust  28,  '64.  Hart,  Henry,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  August 

2S,  '64. 

corporals  Hammer,  Francis,  Sandwich,  discharged  March 

11,  '62. 

M.  E.  Van  Nostrand,  Sandwich,  re-enlisted  as  Ise'  Heni7>  Sandwich,  re-enlisted  as  veteran, 

veteran.  Judd,  Albert,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  August 

George    Woodward,    Sandwich,    promoted    first  28'  '64' 

lieutenant.  Lacey,  Michael,  Sandwich,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

John  Culver,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  August  MiUer,  George  C,  Sandwich,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 

28,  '64'.  eran- 

Cornelius  Haggerty,  Sandwich  died  August  31  Miller,  James.  Sandwich,  mustered  out  August 

•62.  »8,  '64. 

Miller,   William,   Sandwich,  mustered   out   Au- 

privates.  Sust  28>  '64- 

Mullin,  Nathaniel,  Sandwich,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 

Brucham,  William.  Sandwich,  mustered  out  Au-  ' 

gust  28  '64  Eose,  Andrew-  Sandwich,  mustered  out  June  15, 

'  '65 
Baldwin,  John,  Sandwich,  discharged  March  9,  ' 
'Q2  Sanders,   Milton,   Sandwich,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
Baldwin,   Kipps,   Sandwich,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran Snyder,  Augustus,  Sandwich,  died  March  4,  '64. 

Banfield,  John,  Sandwich,  re-enlisted  as  veteran.  ,    StaU'  J°V  Sandwich-  mustered  out  August  28, 

Baker,  Thornton,  Sandwich,  discharged  Mav  26, 

'62.  Stipp,  Herman,  Sandwich,  died  November  6,  '62. 

Colgrove,  Franklin,  Sandwich,  re-enlisted  as  vet-  3f  St'  Lorenzo-  Sandwich-  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

eran  Whitney,  Edward,  Sandwich,  deserted  November 

Corke,  Thomas,  Sandwich,  re-enlisted  as  veteran.  "  ' 
Canham,  William,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  Au- 
gust  28,    '64.  VETERANS. 

Davis,  Washington,  Sandwich,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. Baldwin,  Kipps,  Sandwich,  died  July  20,  '64, 

Drujar,  William,  Sandwich,  died  February  25,  from  wounds. 

'64.  Banfield,  John,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  July  4, 

Estabrook,  Edwin.  Sandwich,  re-enlisted  as  vet-  '65,  as  corporal, 

eran.  Colgrove,  Franklin,  Sandwich,  discharged  June 

Frorget.  Henry,  Sandwich,  discharged  Novem-  23,  '65,  for  disability, 

her  20,  '63.  Corke,  Thomas,  Sandwich,  transferred  to  non- 

Fuhr.   Adam,   Sandwich,  mustered   out  August  commissioned  staff. 

28,  '64.  Davis,    Washington,    Sandwich,    mustered    out 

Faxon.  Samuel,  Sandwich,  re-enlisted  as  veteran.  July  4,  '65,  as  corporal. 

Gilbert,  Franklin,  Sandwich,  discharged  March  Estabrook,  Edwin,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  July 

12,  '62.  4,  '65,  as  corporal. 

Godfrey,  Charles,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  Au-  Faxon,   Samuel,   Sandwich,  mustered  out  July 

gust  28,  '64.  4,  '65,  as  sergeant. 

Hamlin,  Charles,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  Au-  Hammer,  Francis,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  July 

gust  28.  '64.  4,  '65. 

Hamlin.  William  H.,   Sandwich,  mustered  out  Lacey,  Michael.  Sandwich,  mustered  out  July  4, 

August  28,  '64.  "65.  as  sergeant. 


196 


PAST    AMI    PPESFAT    OF   UK    KALB    COUNTY. 


Miller,  James.  Sandwich,  mustered  out  July  4, 
'65,  as  sergeant. 

Nanslat,  Eugene,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  July 
4,  '65.  as  sergeant. 

Eose,  Andrew.  Sandwich,  wounded. 

Stipp,  Herman,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  July  4. 
'65,   as   sergeant. 

Van  Nostrand.  M.  P..  Sandwich,  transferred  to 
non-commissioned  staff. 

Wait,  Lorenzo.  Sandwich,  transferred  to  non- 
commissioned staff. 

RECRUITS. 

Coster,  Nicholas,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  Sep- 
tember 5,  '6  I. 

Davis,  Eenry,  Sandwich,  died  May  S.  '62. 

Dobbin,  David,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  Septem- 
ber 27,  '64. 

Estabrook  Adelbert,  Sandwich,  mustered  out 
July  4,  '65. 

Gletty,  George,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  Decem- 
ber 28,  '64. 

Gletty,  Jacob,  Sandwich,  died  January  29,  '62. 

Hough,  George  A..  Sandwich,  discharged  Jan- 
uary  19,  '63. 

Holden,  William,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  De- 
cember 28,  '6  I. 

Hoefner,  Antonio.  Sandwich,  transferred  to  Mis- 
sissippi Marine  Brigade. 

Latham.  Thomas  A..  Sandwich,  mustered  out 
December  28,  '64. 

Morrison,  Thomas.  Sandwich,  transferred  to 
Mississippi    Marine   Brigade. 

Seaton,  Leonard  B.,  Somonauk,  mustered  out 
July    I.  '65. 

Tronslatt,  Eugene,  Sandwich,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. 

The  Tenth  Illinois  Infantry  was  one  of  the 
six  regiments  called  for  by  the  governor,  formed 
April  16,  1861.  The  regiment  was  first  engaged 
in  the  siege  of  New  Madrid,  lost  their  captain. 
Lindsey  II.  Carr,  and  two  men  killed  of  the 
Sandwich  company.  They  were  next  engaged  at 
[sland  No.  10,  took  part  in  the  movements  of 
Pope's  army  on  the  advance  on  Corinth,  had  a 
brisk  fight,  forced  a  passage  through  four  miles 
of  swamp,  losing  several  men;  garrisoned  Fort 
Xegley  for  a  time  and  was  then  assigned  to  the 


Army  of  the  Cumberland  in  General  Thomas 
Corps.  They  were  at  the  siege  of  Knoxville  and 
were  in  the  army  furnishing  relief  to  General 
Burnsides.  They  re-enlisted  as  veterans  in  1864 
and  moved  with  Sherman's  army  toward  Atlanta. 
Had  a  stubborn  fight  at  Buzzard's  Boost  and 
Eesaca,  and  were  present  at  the  fall  of  Atlanta; 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain 
and  were  then  attached  to  the  army  under  Thomas, 
following  Hood  northward.  They  again  joined  the 
army  under  Sherman,  fought  at  the  battle  of  Ben- 
tonville,  and  were  with  the  army  at  Baleigh  when 
the  war  closed.  On  the  4th  of  June  they  proceeded 
to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  were  mustered  out 
of  service  on  the  4th  of  July,  1865,  and  received 
final  discharge  and  payment  July  11,  1865. 

THIRTEENTH    ILLINOIS    INFANTEY. 

CAPTAINS. 

E.  F.  Hutton. 
P.  A.  Smith. 

F.  W.  Partridge. 
X.  P..  Mayo. 

T.  B.  Loring. 
A.  J.  P.rinkerboir. 
( (eorgc   1 1.  (  arpenter. 
Richard  A.  Smith. 

FIRST     LIEUTENANT. 

George  A.  Daboll. 


-I  COND     III  I  TENANT. 

Henry  T.  Porter. 

SERGEANTS.    COMPANY      E. 

E.  W.  Dewey,  Sandwich,  deserted  January  1. 
'63. 

B.  W.  Clifford.  Piano,  promoted  second  lieuten- 
ant. 

Zenas  S.  Harrison.  Sandwich,  discharged  No- 
vember 3.  '61,  for  disability. 

William  Wallace.  Sandwich,  promoted  second 
lieutenant. 


PAST   AND   PKESENT    OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY.  197 

corporals.  Orr,  Alfred  B.,  Somonauk,  discharged  Septem- 

ber 8,  '63,  for  disability. 
James  M.    Dobbin,  Preeland,  died  January  12,  Palmer,  Camillas  L.,  Squaw  Grove,  died  June 

'63,  of  wounds.  16,  '63. 

William  E.  Underwood,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  Patch,  William  B.,  Clinton,  deserted  March  10, 

January  8,  '65,  as  sergeant.  '62. 

Pierce,  Benjamin.  De  Kalb,  died  January  7,  '62. 
musicians.  Potter,  Thomas  B.,  Somonauk,  killed  at  Chicka- 

saw Bayou,  December  29,  '62. 
E.  T.  Bowers,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  June  18,  Stewart,  Daniel,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  June 


'64. 


18,  '64. 


S.  W.  West,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  June  18,  Van  Velzer,  Lucien  L.,  De  Kalb,  deserted  April 

'64.  2i>  '62- 


Wilcox.  Otis.  Sandwich,  deserted  July  4,  '61. 


PRIVATES. 

Ankle.  Henry,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  June  18, 
'64. 


RECRUITS. 


Alger,   William    H.,   Somonauk.   transferred   to 


Bashew,  Joseph  M.,  Sandwich,  died  January  21,  Co^f^  l>  fifty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry. 

*0'3    of      o  nds  Mullm,  John,  Sandwich,  prisoner,  mustered  out 

-c-  i     T      •      c            ri                         i       a.   t  May  30,  '65,  as  corporal, 

fsish.   Lewis,  .Squaw  Grove,  mustered  out  June  jL       '        ■              l 

ls    -|;|       ,          .     ,  rrapp,  Frederick,  Somonauk,  died  March  7, '63. 

Brainard,   Jacob,   Squaw   Grove,  mustered    out 

June  18,  '64.  company    f. 

Brookins,   James.    Squaw   Grove,   mustered   out 

June  18,  '64.  sergeants. 

Doolittle,  Marcus  B..  Sandwich,  died  March  7, 

'g3  John  S.  Harroun,  Sycamore,  absent;  not  mus- 

Fitch,  Albert  C,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  June  tered  m. 

jg    '54  Azro  A.  Buck,  Sycamore,  promoted  captain. 

Dermis,  Lewis,  Sandwich,    prisoner,    mustered  Lorenzo  H.  Whitney,  Sycamore,  discharged  Sep- 

out  June  10,  '65.  tember  10^  '61- 

Joles,  William.  Sandwich,  mustered  out  June  18,  Enos   c'hl»'diill,   Cortland,   mustered  out   June 


'64. 


18,  '64. 


Judge,  Michael,  Somonauk.  mustered  out  June  Porter  D-  Hal1-  Cortland,  absent,  wounded  since 

ig    q_i  November.  '63. 

Kelly,  James,  Somonauk.  mustered  out  June  18. 

'64.  CORPORALS. 

Kouth,  Michael,  Somonauk,  deserted  July  4,  '61. 

Liter,    Nicholas.    Squaw    Grove,    mustered    out  B-vron  P-  ^^  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June 

June  18,  '64.  1S-  ''64>  as  first  sergeant. 

Tu-n        >T-  i    ,        0            n                         -,  Kansom   F.   Burleigh,   Svcamore,  mustered  out 

Miller,   Nicholas,    Squaw   Grove,   mustered   out  ,         ,„   ,.                       ,      ' 

T  •      10  ,,,                     ,                   .  June  lb.   b4.  as  sergeant. 

June  18,    64,  as  corporal ;  was  a  prisoner.  ,„.,,.         '     _    .° 

„r  „.       .     ,          „-,.,,.,,,        ,-,,.,  William   S.   Smith,   Svcamore.   died   September 

Mullm,  Andrew.  Sandwich,  killed  at  Chickasaw  -,q    •/., 

Bayou,  December  29,  '62.  ^ -.        -,  w   ,-.,         0                               ,       .  , 

Ldward  W.  Olney,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June 

Mattison.  Joseph   D.,   Sandwich,  mustered  out  ig,  '64,  as  sergeant 

June  18,  '64.  Thomas  Hogan,  Sycamore,  died  May  25,  '63,  of 

Nicholas,  Thomas,  Somonauk,  died  August  16,  wounds. 

'63.  Wesley  D.  Bussell,  Sycamore,  died  June  26,  '63. 


198               PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 

privates.  Harrison.  Charles,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 

25,  '64. 

Allen,    William.   Sycamore,  mustered  out  Jun<  Hartinan.    Philo    D.,    Sycamore,    mustered    out 

is.  '64.  June  18,  '64. 

Atwood,  Morris,  Sycamore,  discharged  Septem-  Hevenor.  Reuben  M.,  Malta,  mustered  out  June 

ber  9,  '63,  for  disability.  18,  '64. 

Babcock.   Isaiah.  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June,  Hill.  John.  Malta,  deserted  April  28,  "63. 

'6  1.  Houghton.  Alonzo,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 

Bradley,  Daniel,  Sycamore,  prisoner,  mustered  25,  '64. 

out  Ma\  8,  "65.  Keppell,  [saac,  Kingston,  died  May  17.  'til. 

Bryant,    Samuel    T..    Sj'camore,    mustered    out  Kerr.   William  C,  Sycamore,   died  January  5, 

dune  IS.  '64.  '63,   of  wounds. 

Burgess,   Lewi-.   Cortland,   discharged  January  Loring,  Theodore.  Cortland,  promoted  lieuten- 

1.  '62.  ant. 

Barton.  Anthony,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June  Losee,  Joshua,  De  Kalb,  prisoner,  mustered  out 

L8,  64.  June  6.  '65. 

Barnes,    Daniel   A.   A.   B..   Sycamore,   mustered  McLaughlin,  Thomas.  Sycamore,  deserted  Feb- 

out  June  18,  '64.  ruary  28,  '63. 

(an-.  George,  Sycamore,  prisoner,  mustered  out  Milligan.  Robert,  Sycamore,  deserted  April  28, 

June  <;.  '65.  '63. 

Campbell,  George.  Sycamore,  prisoner,  mustered  Mulligan,  Albert,  Sycamore,  mustered  out.  June 

..ut    June    '65  is.  '64 

Caswell,   Charles   II..   Sycamore,   mustered   out  Myers,   Frederick  C,  Sycamore,  veteran,  pris- 

June  Is.  '64.  oner,  mustered  out  June,  '65. 

Clarke,   John.    Cortland,    discharged    I'ecember  Nagreen,  Joseph.  Sycamore,  absent,  sick  since 

10,  '61.  October  21.  '63. 

Clewson,   Leonard   S.,   Sycamore,   mustered  out  Nichols.  John  W.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  May 

June  18,  '64.  30.  '65,  a?  sergeant. 

Coogle,   John.    Sycamore,   deserted    August    18,  Norris,   Sylvester  W.,   Sycamore,  mustered  out 

'61.  June  18, '64 

Courtwright,    Cyrenus    S.,    Cortland,    mustered  Oleson.  Hans.  Cortland,  died  November  2.  '63, 

out  June  Is.   ill.  of  wounds. 

Crosby,    Charles    I.'..    Sycamore,    mustered    out  Orr,  Thomas  J..  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June 

June  18.  '64.  18.  '64. 

Culver,   Harlan.   Cortland,   discharged  January  Orritt.  John.  Malta,  discharged  November,  '62, 

1.  "02.  for  disability. 

Deily,  Jacob  S.,  Sycamore,  wounded  since  De-  Partridge.  Zelotes  B.,  Sycamore,  discharged  May 

cember  29,  "62.  6.  '63. 

Depue.  Nicholas,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June  peck.  Charles  V.,  Sycamore,  killed  af  Ringgold, 

18,  '64,  as  corporal.  November  27,  '63. 


'62. 


Dolan.  Thomas.   Sycamore,  discharged  July   1.  Phelps.   William    A..    Sycamore,   mustered    out 


June  18,  '64. 


Fidermont.    Samuel.    Sycamore,    mustered    out  Potter.  Seneca,  Sycamore,  discharged  July  25. 

June  18,  '64.  »g2,  for  disability. 

Candy.  Wayne,  Cortland,  discharged  May  4.  '63,  Ramer.  Henry,  Pierce,  mustered  out  June  18, 

for  disability.  '64. 

Goodrich.  George.  Cortland,  died  February  16.  Robbins.  Alfred.  Sycamore,  discharged  October 

'63.  28,  "65. 

Greene,  Andrew  J..  Svcamore.  died  October  2.  Russell,   Gustavus    F..   Cortland,   mustered   out 

'62.  June  18.  '64. 


PAST   AND    PRESENT   OF  DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


199 


Siglin,  Jacob,  Sycamore,  discharged  September 
12,  '61. 

Secord.   Francis,   Sycamore,   sick  since  October 

I,  '63. 

Smith,  Henry,  Pierce,  killed  at  Ringgold,  No- 
vember 27,  '62. 

Smith,  James  M.,  Sycamore,  deserted  May 
31, '62. 

Smith,  Oliver  W.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June 
18, '64. 

Spiking,  John  H.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June, 
'64. 

Stafford,  Seymour,  Sycamore,  transferred  to  In- 
valid Corps. 

Stark,  W.  H.  Cortland,  died  December  15,  '61. 

Thompson,  Julius,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out 
June,  '64. 

Waldron,  John,  Sycamore,  discharged  December, 
'62,  for  disability. 

West,  Asa  P.,  Sycamore,  discharged  June  6,  '63, 
for  wounds. 

Willis,  Moses  B.,  Sycamore,  discharged  August 

II,  '62. 

Wing,  Vintner  B.,  Sycamore,  died  September, 
'62,  of  wounds. 

Young,  John,  Sycamore,  died  January  13,  '64, 
of  wounds. 

VETERANS. 

Harrington,  Nelson  H.,  Sycamore,  corporal, 
transferred  to  Fifty-sixth  Infantry. 

Houghton.  Alonzo.  Sycamore,  transferred  to 
Fifty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry. 

Myers,  Frederick,  Sycamore,  transferred  to 
Fifty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry. 

Orvis,  Charles  W.,  Sycamore,  transferred  to 
Fifty-sixth  Illinois,  prisoner,  mustered  out  June, 
'65. ' 

RECRUITS. 

Adams,  John,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June  18, 
'65,  as  corporal. 

Burbank,  Elbert,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June 
IS, '64. 

Burbank,  Horace  C,  Sycamore,  transferred  to 
Invalid  Corps,  September,  '63. 

Berogan,  John,  Pierce. 


Brown,  George,  Cortland,  prisoner,  mustered  out 
June  6,  '65. 

Freeman,  William,  Sycamore,  deserted  July 
31,  '61. 

Gould.  Benjamin  L..  Cortland,  discharged  Jan- 
uary, '63,  for  disability. 

Harrington,  Nelson  R.,  Sycamore,  re-enlisted  as 
veteran. 

Kingsley,  Albert  F..  Sycamore,  promoted  cor- 
poral. 

Lawrence,  John  M.,  Cortland. 

Nichols,  Stephen,  Sycamore,  discharged  Febru- 
ary, '63,  for  disability. 

Orvis,  Charles  W.,  Sycamore,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. 

Patten,  David  H.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June 
18,  '64. 

Russell,  Alphonso,  Cortland,  killed  December 
29,  '63,  at  Chickasaw  Bayou. 

Sprague,  Edward  F.,  Sycamore,  transferred  to 
Fifty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry. 


Upon  the  4th  of  May  the  president  made  a  new 
call  for  forty-two  thousand  more  men  to  serve  three 
years  and  Illinois  was  given  the  privilege  of  fur- 
nishing six  regiments  of  them.  Then  began  such 
a  scrambling  for  the  privilege  of  forming  a  part 
of  these  regiments  as  was  probably  never  seen  be- 
fore in  any  country.  Places  were  sought  in  these 
regiments  with  as  much  avidity  as  civil  offices  are 
now  struggled  for.  All  manner  of  schemes,  com- 
binations and  strategems  were  used  to  affect  the 
minds  of  the  authorities  so  as  to  gain  the  boon  of 
a  place  in  these  regiments. 

A  convention  of  claimants  for  this  honor  in  this 
congressional  district  was  held  at  Geneva  and 
everyone  who  had  any  influence  or  acquaintance 
with  any  person  in  authority  was  urged  to  attend 
and  secure  a  recognition  for  these  companies.  The 
convention  accomplished  nothing,  but  soon  after  an 
order  was  procured  for  the  creation  of  one  regi- 
ment, the  Thirteenth  Illinois,  in  this  second  con- 
gressional district.  Of  its  ten  companies,  one  from 
Sycamore  and  one  from  Sandwich  were  fortunate 
cm  mgh  to  secure  a  place  and  a  right  to  serve  their 
country.  Most  of  the  companies  had  been  filled  up 
to  the  number  of  one  hundred  privates,  besides  the 
officers,  when  an  order  came  from  the  war  depart- 


200 


PAST    AXD   PBESEXT   OF  DB    EALB    COUNTY. 


ment,  still  bent  on  diminishing  the  force,  to  re- 
duce the  compnny  to  eighty-four  privates. 

This  was  a  .-ore  disappointment  to  those  who 
were  excluded.  In  some  of  the  companies  the  men 
drew  lots  to  determine  who  should  remain  and  in 
others  by  some  kind  of  authority  the  married  men 
of  the  company  were  forced  to  fall  out  of  the 
ranks  and  stay  at  home,  the  single  men  only  being 
accorded  the  privilege  of  remaining.  It  is  also  a 
noteworthy  fact  that  many  men  purchased  the 
right  of  those  who  had  been  fortunate  enough  to  be 
accepted;  paying  from  twenty  to  fifty  dollars  for 
the  privilege  of  taking  their  places. 

The  Sycamore  company  had  for  several  weeks 
been  drilling  daily  under  charge  of  Z.  B.  Mayo,  a 
decrepit  old  soldier,  who  had  seen  service  in  the 
Mexican  war.  and  many  will  recollect  how,  being 
without  arms,  they  daily  went  through  the  manual 
in  the  streets  of  Sycamore  with  broomsticks  and 
hoe  handles. 

When  the  permission  was  really  gained  to  join 
the  regiment  the  people  of  the  place,  anxious  to  do 
something  for  these  men,  assembled  in  the  court- 
house and  the  ladies  busily  employed  them- 
and  their  sewing  machines  in  making  uniforms. 
The  citizens  were  ignorant  of  any  army  regula- 
tions of  clothing,  but  gray  was  thought  to  be  a  de- 
sirable  color  and  the  boys  were  equipped  in  full 
suits  of  gray,  the  gifts  of  the  ladies  and  gentlemen 
of  the  place.  With  a  vague  idea  that  each  com- 
pany required  a  banner  a  beautiful  silk  flag  was 
prepared  and  presented  to  our  company  by  one  of 
the  young  ladies  before  an  immense  i  rowd  gath- 
ered to  witness  the  novel  scene. 

On  the  9th  of  May,  1861,  the  Thirteenth  Regi- 
ment was  organized  at  (amp  Dement,  Dixon,  and 
on  the  24th  it  was  mustered  into  service.  It  is 
said  to  have  been  the  first  regiment  to  organize 
under  the  president's  call  for  three  years'  men  and 
the  first  to  enter  the  United  States  service.  The 
regiment  remained  at  Dixon  for  a  few  weeks  en- 
gaged in  improving  its  drill  and  discipline  and  here 
lost  its  first  man.  Sergeant  Berry,  a  young  gentle- 
man of  fine  promise,  who  was  shot  by  one  of  the 
sentinels.  The  regiment  was  soon  ordered  to 
Caseyville,  Illinois,  and  in  July  moved  forward  to 
Rolla,  Missouri,  an  important  strategic  point,  the 
termination  of  a  railroad  and  the  depot  of  sup- 
plies. It  was  the  first  regiment  to  cross  the  Mis- 
sissippi river  and  move  into  the  hostile  region  of 


Missouri.  While  at  this  point  Captain  Z.  B.  Mayo 
resigned  his  captaincy  and  was  succeeded  by  First 
Lieutenant  E.  F.  Dutton. 

Engaged  in  this  duty  until  October  25th,  the 
regiment  was  then  ordered  forward  to  join  the 
army  which  was  forming  under  Fremont  at 
Springfield,  in  southwestern  Missouri.  The  troops 
were  still  comparatively  unused  to  long  niarehes, 
yet  they  were  urged  forward  with  great  rapidity, 
marching  on  the  second  day  thirty-four  miles 
and  reaching  Springfield,  a  distance  of  one  hun- 
dred miles,  in  four  days.  General  Fremont,  learn- 
ing the  speed  on  which  it  had  come  to  his  assist- 
ance, named  it  his  "Flying  Infantry"  and  noting 
its  superior  discipline  assigned  it  the  highest  post 
of  honor  and  danger  in  his  army. 

A  young  man,  Henry  Holt,  bugler  of  Major 
Power's  Cavalry,  attached  to  the  Thirteenth  Regi- 
ment, was  complaining  of  feeling  rather  ill  when 
the  quartermaster.  Captain  Henderson,  who  had  a 
passion  for  aughtlike  fun,  proposed  to  bury  the 
musician  and  in  the  spirit  of  merriment  seized  a 
spade  and  after  measuring  the  complainer  dug  a 
grave  of  his  exact  proportions.  The  bugler 
laughed,  as  did  his  companions,  at  the  humor  of 
the  officer  and  soon  after  went  away  to  discharge 
some  duty  with  which  he  had  been  entrusted 
About  nine  o'clock  the  same  evening  Holt  was  sit- 
ting with  seven  or  eight  of  his  company  about  a 
camp  fire  within  a  few  feet  of  the  grave  when 
someone  pointed  to  it  and  remarked  in  a  tone  of 
badinage:  "Come,  Harry,  get  ready  for  your 
funeral."  The  youth  looked  over  his  shoulder  at 
the  gloomy  cavity  in  the  earth,  put  his  hand  to  his 
head  and  fell  from  his  stool.  His  companions 
laughed  at  the  little  piece  of  acting,  as  they  sup- 
posed it.  and  were  surprised  that  he  did  not  rise 
from  the  earth.  They  went  to  him.  asking,  "Are 
you  asleep.  Harry?"  He  made  no  answer  and  yet 
his  eyes  were  open.  They  shook  him  in  vain.  His 
friends  grew  alarmed.  One  placed  his  hand  upon 
Harry's  heart.  It  was  still.  He  was  dead.  He  had 
perished  of  a  stroke  of  apoplexy  and  was  buried  at 
midnight  in  the  grave  made  for  him  in  jest  by  a 
merry  hearted  friend.  And  so  the  droll  jest  was 
drowned  in  the  hollow  sound  of  the  earth  upon  a 
rude  coffin  and  solemnly  waking  the  stillness  of 
the  night-morn  amid  the  solitude  of  a  broad  prairie 
of  the  southwest. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


•Ml| 


On  the  14th  of  March,  1862,  it  passed  over  the 
battle  field  of  Wilson's  Creek  and  on  the  17th 
camped  on  the  battle  ground  of  Pea  Eidge.  The 
ground  was  strewn  with  shot,  shell  and  other  re- 
mains of  the  conflict.  The  odor  of  the  decaying 
bodies  was  still  extremely  offensive.  In  one  spot 
the  bodies  of  seventy  hostile  Indians  lay  festering 
in  corruption.  There  was  such  a  bitter  feeling  to- 
ward the  savages  who  had  scalped  and  plundered 
our  men  that  they  were  refused  interment. 

On  the  18th  the  regiment  joined  Curtis'  army, 
but  next  day  moved  back  again  some  ten  miles, 
Price  being  reported  within  twenty  miles  with 
fifty  thousand  men.  But  Price's  army  was  too 
badly  shattered  by  its  late  terrible  conflict  to  dare 
to  attack  us.  The  Thirteenth  lay  encamped  till 
the  8th  of  April  and  then  commenced  a  long, 
tedious  and  laborious  movement  across  the  country 
to  Helena,  Arkansas.  No  one  who  was  engaged 
upon  that  terrible  march  can  ever  forget  its  pain- 
ful weariness,  the  cold,  the  hunger,  the  drenching, 
chilling  rains,  the  dangers  from  flooded  rivers,  the 
perils  from  hovering  guerillas  and  armed  bands  of 
the  enemy,  the  destitution  from  scanty  rations  and 
at  times  from  thirst.  Terrible  sufferings  were 
caused  during  the  latter  part  of  the  march  by  this 
cause.  The  weather  had  become  intensely  warm, 
streams  were  very  rare,  the  rebel  inhabitants  filled 
up  and  destroyed  their  wells  upon  their  approach 
and  the  troops  of  the  Thirteenth  were  often  with- 
out water  for  a  day  at  a  time.  Men  could  be  seen 
struggling  along  in  the  intense  heat,  their  tongues 
swollen  and  hanging  out  of  their  mouths.  Yet 
guards  of  United  States  troops  were  sent  forward 
every  day  to  guard  every  rebel's  house  that  was 
passed  and  prevent  foraging  upon  the  inhabitants. 
The  march  lasted  for  more  than  three  months  and 
it  was  not  till  the  last  of  July  that  the  army 
reached  the  Mississippi  at  Helena  and  again  was 
furnished  with  the  necessaries  of  existence  from 
the  stores  of  the  United  States. 

On  the  22d  of  December  the  regiment  with  an 
immense  fleet  moved  down  the  Mississippi  and  on 
the  26th,  under  convoy  of  the  gunboats,  moved  up 
the  Yazoo  river  to  the  attack  on  the  city  in  the 
east.  On  the  morning  of  the  27th  the  whole  army 
was  drawn  up,  the  Thirteenth,  in  Steele's  division 
on  the  left.  During  the  afternoon  the  rebel  pickets 
were  driven  in  and  the  regiment  went  into  camp 
for  the  night  in  a  furious  rainstorm.    In  the  morn- 


ing the  regiment  was  engaged  in  skirmishing  and 
during  the  afternoon  a  dashing  charge  was  made 
upon  a  rebel  battery  by  the  Thirteenth  and  Six- 
teenth Illinois  under  General  Wyman.  He  had 
placed  himself  at  the  head  of  the  Thirteenth  and 
the  regiment  was  moving  on  the  battery  and  had 
arrived  at  a  small  bayou,  silenced  the  rebel  guns 
upon  the  opposite  side  and  lay  down  and  began 
bring  on  the  sharpshooters  who  swarmed  in  the 
woods.  As  General  Wyman  rose  up  to  move  among 
his  men  he  was  struck  by  a  rebel  bullet  in  the  right 
breast  and  mortally  wounded.  The  fall  of  the 
General  was  a  terrible  shock  to  the  regiment.  Sev- 
eral officers  rushed  to  his  assistance,  but  he  cried : 
"For  God's  sake  leave  me  and  attend  to  the  men." 
The  regiment  remained  there  some  time  and  were 
subsequently  moved  to  another  part  of  the  field. 
At  this  time  Porter  D.  West  and  Isaiah  Babcock 
of  Company  F  were  severely  wounded.  That  night 
the  men  lay  on  their  arms  in  line  of  battle,  desti- 
tute of  blankets,  although  the  water  was  freezing. 
On  the  29th  occurred  the  grand  desperate  charge 
upon  the  rebel  works  on  Chickasaw  Bayou,  in 
which  the  regiment  lost  one-third  of  its  number. 

About  nine  o'clock  a  line  was  formed  for  an 
assault  upon  the  batteries.  They  stood  on  emi- 
nences, in  horseshoe  form  and  in  the  terrible  abyss 
into  which  shot  and  shell  from  three  sides  were 
pouring  the  regiment  was  formed  for  a  charge. 
There  were  three  brigades  and  the  Thirteenth  was 
in  the  brigade  under  command  of  General  Frank 
P.  Blair.  Most  of  this  brigade  was  composed  of 
new  troops,  so  that  the  veterans  of  the  Thirteenth 
were  required  to  lead  the  charge.  Into  all  this  ter- 
rible storm  of  shot  and  shell  the  Thirteenth 
marched  without  faltering.  They  captured  two 
lines  of  rebel  rifle  pits  and  when  they  reached  the 
third  line  very  few  remained  of  this  brigade  but  a 
scattered  remnant  of  the  Thirteenth.  They  were 
now  within  thirty  rods  of  the  fortifications.  Of 
the  six  hundred  men  who  started,  one  hundred  and 
seventy-seven  were  either  killed,  wounded  or  cap- 
tured. Of  sixty-three  men  of  Company  F,  twenty- 
two  were  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  Captain 
B.  A.  Smith,  who  had  gallantly  led  his  company  to 
their  third  rifle  pit,  lost  his  arm  while  in  the  ad- 
vance, but  bound  it  up  and  continued  with  the 
troops  until  the  charge  was  over.  But  the  Thir- 
teenth were  the  heroes  of  the  day.  They  fought 
with  magnificent  bravery,  reckless  of  all  danger. 


202 


PAST   AND   PRESENT   OF  DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


No  sooner  were  their  lines  formed  than  they  fell 
before  the  pitiless  storm  of  shot  and  shell  like 
grass  before  the  scythe  of  the  mower,  yet  they  held 
their  positon  like  Spartans,  although  exposed  to 
this  terrible  fire  from  batteries  against  which  their 
own  fire  was  harmless.  The  colors  of  the  regiment 
were  left  upon  the  field  of  battle  and  afterwards 
sent  as  a  trophy  to  Richmond.  They  lay  there  till 
the  final  capture  of  the  city,  when  they  were  found 
by  one  of  the  first  Union  troops  who  entered  and 
were  thrown  to  the  breeze — the  first  Union  flag 
that  had  been  seen  in  that  rebel  capital  since  the 
fall  of  Sumter. 

From  Jackson  the  regiment  moved  upon  Vieks- 
burg and  engaged  in  tin'  siege  of  that  place  until 
its  final  fall  on  July  4,  1863.  In  the  trenches  in 
the  deadly  assault  in  the  dangers  and  sufferings  of 
that  long  siege  the  Thirteenth  bore  its  full  share, 
and  Vieksburg  was  also  inscribed  upon  its  banners 
and  its  list  of  triumphs.  For  a  few  weeks  the  regi- 
ment was  rested,  encamped  upon  Black  river  in  the 
rear  of  Vieksburg.  There  George  Carr  and  Sam- 
uel Bryant  were  captured  by  the  enemy  and  for 
iii;iii\  long  months  endured  the  horrors  of  captivity 
in  rebel  prisons.  Then  under  the  greai  Sherman 
it  moved  on  to  Chattanooga.  Arriving  at  Bridge- 
port, on  the  Tennessee  river.  Colonel  (iorgas  turned 
over  the  command  to  Lieut  nam  Colonel  Partridge 
and  departed  on  recruiting  service,  appearing  no 
more  with  the  regimen!  until  after  its  active  cam- 
paigns had  ceasi  d. 

In  Lookout  Mountain  the  regiment  was  placed 
in  the  command  of  Fighting  Joe  Hooper  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  memorable  capture  of  Lookout 
Mountain,  and  on  the  25th  in  the  still  greater  vic- 
tory of  Mission  Ridge,  where  the  Thirteenth  cap- 
tured more  prisoners  of  the  Eighteenth  Alabama 
Regiment  than  it  had  men  of  its  own  and  carried 
off  in  triumph  from  the  field  of  battle  the  flag  of 
that  regiment. 

The  Thirteenth  upon  that  bl ly  day  at  Chicka- 

mauga  was  the  first  to  engage  the  enemy  and  the 
last  to  leave  the  field.  It  was  sent  forward  over  an 
open  plain  to  seize  an  important  position.  Of 
their  service  on  this  occasion  General  Osterhaus 
officially  says:  "The  Thirteenth  Illinois  executed 
the  order  in  magnificent  style.  They  charged 
through  a  hailstorm  of  balls  and  gained  the  posi- 
tion assigned  them,  held  it.  although  the  enemv 
poured  a  murderous  fire  into  their  brave  men.  both 


from  the  gorge  above  and  the  hill  upon  the  right." 
The  rebels  rallied  and  made  a  desperate  charge 
upon  its  position,  but  the  charge  was  repelled  with 
heroic  courage.  General  Hooker  says :  "The  posi- 
tion was  heroically  taken  and  held  by  that  brave 
regiment,  it  all  the  time  maintaining  its  position 
with  resolution  and  obstinacy.  It  has  never  been 
my  fortune  to  serve  with  more  zealous  and  devoted 
soldiers.'*  Xo  small  praise,  this,  from  the  most 
famous  fighting  general  of  the  war. 

Manv  instances  of  individual  heroism  upon  this 
oi  ea-ion  might  be  related.  Patrick  Riley,  the  color 
bearer,  while  carrying  the  flag  across  the  open 
plain  was  struck  in  the  breast  and  fell  to  the 
ground,  the  flag  bespattered  with  blood,  hut  he  still 
held  it  firm  and  erect  until  his  successor  wa6 
obliged  to  wrench  it  from  his  dying  grasp  and 
pass  on.  The  regiment  gained  undying  fame  by 
its  valor  at  this  fight,  but  it  was  at  a  fearful  cost. 
It  lost  in  dead  and  wounded  one-seventh  of  the 
entire  loss  of  the  desperate  battle,  but  the  victory 
was  won  and  Cleburne  driven  from  his  position. 

Among  its  dead  was  Major  1).  R.  Bushnell  and 
of  Us  wounded  were  Colon  4  Partridge,  Captain 
Walter  Blanchard  and  Captain  James  M.  Beards- 
lev.  Major  Bushnell  was  a  citizen  of  Sterling,  one 
of  the  noblest  and  manliest  of  all  our  citizen  sol- 
diers. His  loss  was  sadly  deplored.  Captain 
Blanchard,  who  subsequently  died  of  his  wounds, 
was  an  aged  man.  a  judge  of  Du  Page  county 
court  and  president  of  the  Naperville  Bank.  He 
had  two  ^ons  in  the  army,  but  endured  all  the 
hardships  of  the  service  with  a  heroism  that  noth- 
ing could  overcome. 

On  the  L7th  of  April,  when  the  time  of  the  regi- 
ment would  have  expired  in  a  week,  it  was  posted 
at  Madison  Square  in  Alabama.  The  rebel  Roddy's 
command,  outnumbering  it  five  to  one.  came  upon 
it  disguised  in  the  blue  uniforms  of  our-own  army 
and  completely  surprised  and  surrounded  it.  The 
n  L'linent  at  that  this  had  only  three  hundred  and 
fifty  men  fit  for  duty.  The  rebels  had  three  pieces 
of  artillery  and  fifteen  hundred  cavalry  and  infan- 
try. After  two  hours'  hard  fighting  against  these 
odds  the  regiment  was  obliged  to  abandon  the  sta- 
tion, fighting  its  way  through  its  foes,  losing  sixty- 
six  men  prisoners  in  their  hands.  The  enemy's 
loss  as  reported  by  flag  of  truce  was  sixty  killed, 
wounded  and  missing. 


PAST    AND   PRESENT    OP   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


203 


In  the  summer  of  1864,  worn  down  with  hazards 
and  hardships  of  three  years  of  very  active  service, 
having  traveled  through  seven  southern  states, 
marched  more  than  three  thousand  miles,  fought 
twenty  pitched  battles  and  innumerable  skirmishes, 
the  scarred  and  war-worn  veterans  of  the  Thir- 
teenth Illinois  came  back  to  their  homes  and  were 
received  with  a  welcome  such  as  their  heroism  de- 
served. 

A  large  number  of  the  regiment  re-enlisted  and 
were  consolidated  with  the  Fifty-sixth  Illinois  In- 
fantry, being  there  known  as  Company  I,  and  for 
another  year  they  fought  the  rebellion  till  its  close. 
Of  the  remainder  of  the  regiment  full  one-half 
subsequently  re-enlisted  in  other  regiments  and 
again  took  the  field.  The  regiment  entered  the 
service  with  one  thousand  and  ten  men.  It  re- 
ceived fifty-five  recruits,  but  when  mustered  out 
its  whole  force  was  five  hundred.  It  had  lost  from 
the  various  casualties  of  war  five  hundred  and 
sixty-five  men. 

TWENTY-THIRD   ILLINOIS    INFANTRY. 

Benoit,  Charles.  Somonauk. 
Gibson,  Peter,  Somonauk. 
Hartley,  Robert  M.,  Sandwich. 
Holland,  James,  Somonauk. 
Marble,  Thornton,  Somonauk. 
Rolf,  Andis,  Somonauk. 
Schilling,  Thomas,  Somonauk. 


Griffin,  John  J.,  Mayfield. 
Hancock,  Samuel  P.,  Kingston. 
Hepling,  John. 
Hollister,  Joseph,  Kingston. 
Jecklin,  Phillip,  Kingston. 
Jonty,  George,  Kingston. 
Miller,  Andrew  J.,  Kingston. 
Wooster,  Matthew,  Kingston. 

THIRTY-FIRST  ILLINOIS  INFANTRY. 

Campbell,  Javis,  Kingston. 
Bootz,  Joseph,  Kingston. 
Wright,  John,  Kingston. 

THIRTY-SECOND   ILLINOIS   INFANTRY. 

Anderton,  Benjamin,  Franklin. 

Calhoun,  John  A. 

Clark,  Alanson. 

Cowser,  David  M. 

Fuller,  John  M. 

Fuller,  Nathan. 

Fuller,  Samuel. 

Jones,  George. 

Kiplinger,  Lewis. 

Palmer,  John  R.,  Franklin. 

Sturgis,  James  B.,  Franklin. 

Vanwinkle.  Athcrton.  Franklin. 

White,  John  IT..  Franklin. 

Wolgamot,  Hiram. 


TWENTY-FOURTH   ILLINOIS    INFANTRY. 


THIRTY-FOURTH   ILLINOIS   INFANTRY. 


Bastian,  Lewis,  Somonauk. 

Heucke,  Robert. 

Herring,  Henry. 

Hess,  George  J. 

Niedam,  Conrad,  Somonauk. 

Schultz,  Rudolph. 

THIRTIETH   ILLINOIS   INFANTRY. 

Biggerstaff,  Charles.  Franklin. 
Brandon,  Thomas  F. 
Campbell.  Thomas.  Kingston. 
Clark,  Aaron  H.,  Kingston. 
Cleaver,  Charles  W.,  Kingston. 
Corkill,  James,  Kingston. 
Gibbs,  David,  Franklin. 


Bollis,  Daniel  W.,  Franklin. 
Brewer,  Eugene,  Paw  Paw. 
Conn,  Spencer,  Paw  Paw. 
Crumb,  Columbus  W.,  Franklin. 
Dole,  John  Densmore.  Paw  Paw. 
Eaton,  Charles  M. 
Eaton,  Orris  D.,  Paw  Paw. 
Hunt,  Robert  J.,  Paw  Paw. 
Hunt,  Charles  W. 
Jeffs,  Henry  A..  Franklin. 
Robbins,  Daniel  F.,  Clinton. 
Stevens,  Andrew  R.,  Franklin. 
Talbot,  James,  Paw  Paw. 
Tiffetts,  Josiah  0.,  Paw  Paw. 
Wells,  Abner  R.,  Paw  Paw. 
Young,  Daniel  C,  Paw  Paw. 


204  PAST   AND   PEESEXT 

THIRT1  -SIS  I  H     ILLINOIS    INFANTRY. 

Green,  John.  Somonauk. 
Lipsky,  Alexander. 
Metabach,  Henry  J. 
Tomlin.  Alfred,  Sandwich. 

Wilson.  Arthur  W;,  Clinton. 

THIRTY-SEVENTH     ILLINOIS     INFANTRY. 

Garland,  Manley,  Kingston. 

THIRTY-NINTH    ILLINOIS  INFANTRY. 

Helm.  W.  N,  Shabbona. 

FORTY-SECOND     ILLINOIS     INFANTRY. 
I  OMPANY      K. 

CAPTAINS. 

Jesse  D.  Butts,  De  Kalb,  resigned  April  8,  '62. 
Joseph    W.    Poster,    De    Kalb,   honorably   dis- 
charged May  15,  '65. 
Eoberl   Rainey. 
Joseph  Hudson. 

FIRST   LIEUTENANTS. 

Joseph  AV.  Foster,  De  Kail.,  promoted. 

James  X.  McClellan,  Soutb  Grove,  term  expired 
February  20,  '65. 

Jeremiah  G.  Beard,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  as 
sergeant  December  16.  '65. 

-i  i  OND   LIEUTENANTS. 

Gilbert  8.  Banns.  Kingston,  died  October  24, 
'61. 

James  X.  McClellan,  South  Grove,  promoted. 
Abram  0.  Garloek.  Kingston. 
James  Briden. 

SERGEANTS. 

James  X.  McClellan,  South  Grove,  promoted 
second  lieutenant. 

Shuin    W.    King.   De  Kalb,   killed   at   Chicka- 

maiiu':)   September  ".'".  '63. 


OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 

. I  nines  H.  Dupee,  Sycamore,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. 

Perry  Rowan,  Franklin,  killed  at  Stone  River 
December  31,  '62. 

CORPORALS. 

Moses  L.  Benies.  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  Septem- 
ber 16,  '64,  as  private. 

Charles  H.  Stuart,  Kingston,  mustered  out  Sep- 
tembi  r  16,  '6  !. 

Roberl  Lenox.  De  Kalb,  discharged  November 
15,  "63,  for  disablity. 

John  Lundall,  De  Kalb,  transferred  to  Veteran 
Reserve  Corps  March  15, '65. 

I.  man  II.  Needham,  De  Kalb.  died  in  Ander- 
sonville  prison  September  1,  '64. 

Orlando  M.  Benson,  killed  at  Stone  River  De- 
cember  31,  '62. 

Hem\  1'..  Curler,  De  Kalb,  discharged  Novem- 
ber 1  I.  '62,  for  disability. 

Stephen  Olney,  Kingston,  discharged  February 
1  l.  '63,  for  disabilty. 

MUSICIANS. 

Ethan  Allen,  Sycamore,  discharged  March  26. 
'62,  lor  disability. 

Ephraim  II.  Hornbeek.  Mayfield,  deserted  No- 
«r  7,  '61. 

PRIVATES. 

Austin.  Amasa  C. 

Arst.  Frank,  Kingston,  died  at  Chattanooga 
March  13/63. 

Alba,  George,  Pampas,  deserted  July  3,  *G2. 

Aurner,  William  P..  Kingston,  mustered  out 
September  16,  '64. 

Bate-.  Stephen  II..  Kingston,  discharged  May 
12, '62,  for  disability. 

Barber.  Daniel.  De  Kalb.  mustered  out  Septem- 
ber 16,  '64. 

Brainard,  Anson.  Kingston,  died  at  St.  Louis 
December  11.  '64. 

Benies.  Aaron  B.,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  Sep- 
tember 16,  '64. 

Brown.  James  VV\.  Lie  Kalb,  mustered  out  Sep- 
tember 18,  '64. 

Brigham,  Artimus,  Somonauk,  re-enlisted  as 
veteran. 


PAST   AND    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY.  205 

Brigham,  Jeremiah  G.,  Somonauk,  re-enlisted  as  Lender,  Peter,  Kingston,  mustered  out  Septem- 

veteran.  ber  16.  '64. 

Collier,  John,  Kingston,  died  at  Evansville,  Id-  Martin,  Daniel  G.,  Afton,  discharged  January 

dana,  June  11,  '62.  16,  '64. 

Connaughton,  Thomas,  Kingston,  deserted  June  McCan,  John  P.,  Cortland,  mustered  out  May 

11,  -'62.  12, '65. 

Connaughton,  Roger,  Kingston,  deserted  June  MeGlin,  Edward,  Afton,  deserted  June  11,  '62. 

11?    62.  Miller,   August,  Afton.  transferred  to  Sappers 

Conner,  Alanson,  Malta,  discharged  January  19,  and  Miners  August  29,  '61. 

'63,  for  disability.  Mott,   William,   Sycamore,   discharged   July    5, 

Campbell,  David,  Milan,  missing  after  the  battle  '64,  for  disability, 

of  Chickamauga.  Perry,  Henry,  Sycamore,  discharged  July  8,  '62, 

Decker,  William  H.,  Kingston,  died  at  Farming-  for  disability, 

ton  May  29.  '62,  pclTV,  William  N..  Sycamore,  died  at  St.  Louis, 

Dairs,  William,  Kingston,  died  at  Tipton,  Mis-  Missouri,  May  23.  '62. 

souri,  December  4,  '61.  Perry,  Hale,  Sycamore,  died  at  Nashville,  Ten- 

De  LaTour,  George  W.,  Milan,  transferred  to  nessee,  November  10,  '62. 

Company  B.  Peterson,   John,   De   Kalb,   died   at    Smithton, 

Edmonds,   John    D.,    Milan,    killed    at    Chicka-  Missouri,  January  6,  '62. 

mauga  September  20,  '63.  Patterson,  John  W..  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  Sep- 

Edmunds.  Edward  B.,  Milan,  re-enlisted  as  vet-  tember  16,  '64. 

CTan-  Redding,  John,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  Septem- 

Fish,  Mortimer  A..  Sandwich,  mustered  out  Sep-  ber  16,  '64. 

tember  16,  64.  Roleson,  Lewis,  Kingston,  transferred  to  Sap- 
Fish,  Enos,  De  Kalb,  died  at   Smithton,   Mis-  pers  and  Miners  August  29,  '61. 

souri,  January  11,  '62.  Russell,  Robert  W.,  Genoa,  discharged  December 

Fish,  Chester,  De  Kalb,   transferred   to   Fifty-  26,  '62,  to  enlist  in  Sixteenth  U.  S. 

fifth  Illinois  Infantry  September  5,  '61.  Rogers,  Richard  S.,  South  Grove,  transferred  to 

Fowler,  Jay,  De  Kalb,  transferred  to  Veteran  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  July  15,  '64. 

Reserve  Corps  February  22,  '64,  Rostrop,  J.  Peters,  De  Kalb,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
Frost,  George  R.,  Clinton,  transferred  to  Sap-  <?ran. 

pers  and  Miners  August  29,  '61.  St  roup.  Julius.  De  Kalb.  discharged  November 

Garlock,  William  E.,  De  Kalb,  discharged  April  25>  '62>  to  enlist  iu  Fourth  u-  S-  Cavalry. 

26  '64,  as  sergeant  wounded  Stephenson,    Francis,   De   Kalb,   mustered    out 

Green,  Israel  J.,  Sandwich,  transferred  to  Vet-  SePtember  1G-  '64- 

eran  Reserve  Corps  February  10,  '64.  Snell>  Benjamin,  Mayfield.  deserted. 

Gorham,   Edward,   South  Grove,  re-enlisted   as  ~3'    <jl" 

veteran.  Sams.  Henry,  Mayfield,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Hanson,  Peter,  South  Grove,  mustered  out  Sep-  Shannon,   Gilbert,   South   Grove,  mustered  out 

tember  16,  '64.  September  16.  '04. 

Hanncgar,   Nathaniel,   De  Kalb,  mustered  out  Stout-  Aaron-  De  Kalb>  discharged  January  13, 

October  IT.  '64.  '62.  for  disability. 

Hendrickson,  Oscar,  De  Kalb,  re-enlisted  as  vet-  Tibbetts,  Aaron  G..  Kingston,  discharged  July 

eran.  12,  '62,  for  disability. 

Hodges,  John  H.,  mustered  out  September  16,  Tyler,  William  P.,  De   Kalb,   died   at  Tipton, 

'64.  Missouri,  December  31,  '61. 

Kimball.  Lorenzo,  De  Kalb,  discharged  Novem-  Taylor.  Joseph,  Mayfield,  re-enlisted  as  veteran, 

ber  25,  '62,  to  enlist  in  Fourth  U.  S.  Cavalry.  Vanarsdale,  Elias  M.,  Mayfield. 

Kennady,  Melvin,  Squaw  Grove,  missing  after  Vandeburgh,     Addison,     Mayfield,     discharged 

battle  of  Chickamauga.  February  11,  '62,  for  disability. 


206 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


Van  Ness.  Oscar.  AI'toD.  discharged  January  26. 
'62,  to  enlist  in  Sixteenth  TJ.  S.  A. 

Walrod,  Charles,  Afton,  discharged  March  24. 
'62,  for  disability. 

Wright,  Benjamin,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  Sep- 
tember 28,  '64. 

Wright,  George  H.,  De  Kalb,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. 

Wright.  William.  De  Kalb.  mustered  out  Sep- 
tember 16,  '64. 

Wittemore,  Anson  W..  De  Kalb.  discharged 
.March  26,  '62,  for  disability. 

Wilson,  Charles  S..  Somonauk,  mustered  out 
September  16,  '64. 

Yarwood,  N.  B..  Kingston,  discharged  December 
26.  '62,  to  enlist  in  Sixteenth  I".  S.  A. 

VETERANS. 

Beard,  Jeremiah  G.,  De  Kalb.  mustered  out  De- 
ci  mber  L6,  '65,  as  first  sergeant. 

Brigham,  Artemus.  Victor,  mustered  out  De- 
cember 16,  '65,  as  sergeant. 

Depue,  James  EL,  Sycamore,  first  -■  rgeant,  died 
at  home  March  22,  '6  l. 

Edmonds,  Edmond  I!..  I  >e  Kalb.  mustered  out 
December  16.  '65,  as  corporal. 

Nichols,  Charles,  De  Kalb.  mustered  out  Decem- 
ber 16.  '65,  as  corporal,  wounded. 

Sams,  Henry,  De  K'alb.  mustered  out  December 
16,  '65. 

Taylor,  Joseph,  Mayfield,  mustered  out  Septem- 
ber 16,  '65,  wounded. 

Wright.  George  II..  De  Kalb.  mustered  out  De- 
cembi  r  16,  '65,  as  sergeant,  wounded. 

The  Forty-second  Illinois  Infantry  was  organ- 
ized at  Chicago,  one  company  being  from  De  Kalb 
county,  and  was  first  commanded  by  J.  L.  Butts, 
saw  service  at  Island  No.  10.  joined  the  army  un- 
der Pope  and  moved  to  Fort  Pillow,  saw  the  siege 
of  Corinth,  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Farmington 
and  led  the  advance  in  pursuit  of  Beauregard's 
army.  Also  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Columbia, 
Tennessee,  sustaining  heavy  loss:  was  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Stone  River  and  again  suffered  a  loss 
of  over  two  hundred  men:  was  in  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga,  losing  one  hundred  and  fifty  men; 
was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge,  ]«.-i n- 
forty-five  men;  re-enlisted  as  veterans  in  1864; 
entered   the    Atlanta    campaign :   was   engaged   at 


Resaca,  New  Hope  Church,  Pine  Mountain,  Kene- 
saw  Mountain,  Peach  Tree  Creek  and  Atlanta;  was 
in  the  army  under  Thomas  and  was  engaged  at 
Spring  Hill  and  Franklin,  again  sustaining  a  loss 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  men;  was  in  the  battle 
before  Nashville,  utterly  defeating  Hood's  army  ; 
was  mustered  out  December  16,  1865. 

FORTY-THIRD    ILLINOIS    INFANTRY. 

Montgomery,  Robert.  Franklin. 
Pearson.  Elfred,  Franklin. 
Rich.  James.  Franklin. 

FORTY-FIFTH     ILLINOIS    INFANTRY. 

Aiken,  William.  Kingston. 
Branch.  William. 
Foss.  Charles  E.,  Franklin. 
Hall,  Charles  A..  Franklin, 
b'ublston.  Hugh  A..  Cortland. 

FORTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    INFANTRY. 

Butterfield.  Gilford  L.,  Paw  Paw. 
Clark.  Daniel.  Paw  Paw. 
Crocker,  Freeman  F..  Paw  Paw. 
Dow,  John  W..  Paw  Paw. 
Hicks.  Willard  .T..  Kingston. 
Mely,  James. 
Smith,  John.  De  Kalb. 
Tearney,  Edward,  Clinton. 
Terry,  V.  J..  Paw  Paw. 

FORTY-EIGHT     ILLINOIS    INFANTRY. 

Simonds,  Henry. 

FIFTY-SECOND      ILLINOIS      [NFANTRY. 
COMPANY     C. 

OFFICERS — CAPTAINS. 

John  S.  Brown.  Smith  Grove,  resigned  February 
is.  '62. 

E.  W.  Knapp,  Sycamore,  killed  at  Shiloh. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

Edward  M.  Knapp.  Sycamore,  promoted. 


COL.  T.   W.    II  CM  I'll  WHY. 


iPUB/.ir  i 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


209 


Erskin  M.  Hoyt,  Sycamore,  resigned  July  15, 
'62. 

Oscar  W.  Phelps,  Sycamore,  resigned  January 
12,  '63. 

Albert  C.  Perry,  Sycamore,  promoted  major. 

Alexander  B.  Boss,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 
6,  '65. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

Erskin  M.  Hoyt,  Sycamore,  promoted. 
Oscar  W.  Phelps,  Sycamore,  promoted. 
Albert  C.  Perry,  Sycamore,  promoted. 
John  Purcell,  South  Grove,  mustered  out  as  ser- 
geant, July  6,  '65. 

ENLISTED    MEN. 
SERGEANTS. 

Lewis  A.  Jones,  Sycamore,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 
Alonzo  J.  Foster,  De  Kalb. 
Ralph  Vanhouten,  De  Kalb. 
Jerry  C.  Marvin,  Sycamore. 
Alonzo  E.  Carr.  Genoa. 

CORPORALS. 

William  H.  Simmons,  Sycamore. 

Michael  Courser,  Sycamore. 

Frederick  J.  Craft.  Sycamore,  re-enlisted  as  a 
veteran. 

Leonard  J.  Stults.  De  Kalb. 

Albert  C.  Perry,  Sycamore,  promoted  sergeant 
and  second  lieutenant. 

Alexander  B.  Boss,  Sycamore,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. 

William  Fountain,  De  Kalb,  discharged  Novem- 
ber 19,  '64,  term  expired. 

Charles  White,  Sycamore,  discharged  November 
19,  64. 

MUSICIANS. 

C.  B.  Hoadley,  drummer. 

Gorarn  B.  Smith,  De  Kalb  county  (Company 
H.) 

PRIVATES. 

Abom.  Bobert  S.,  Sycamore,  deserted  December 
12,  '63 ;  deranged. 


Adams,  John  Q.,  Sandwich. 
Ames,  Sherman,  South  Grove. 
Arnold,  Bloomer,  Sandwich. 
Arnold,  James,  South  Grove,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. 

Austin,  James,  Squaw  Grove. 
Baine,  John. 
Baker,  James  0. 

Bartholomew,  Charles,  Somonauk. 
Bellinger,  George,  Sandwich. 
Bemander,  Charles,  Sycamore. 
Black,  Alva  M.,  South  Grove. 
Bowley,  William,  Huntley. 

Bowman,  Edward,  South  Grove,  re-enlisted  as 
veteran. 

Boylen,  Thomas,  South  Grove,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. 

Brisbin,  Philander,  South  Grove,  re-enlisted  as 
veteran. 

Brown,  John  J.,  De  Kalb. 

Burns,  Michael,  Sycamore,  discharged  Novem- 
ber 19,  '64;  term  expired. 
Campbell,  Henry,  Sycamore. 
Car-bra-,  William"."" 
Carver,  Henry,  Sycamore. 
Catlin,  J.  A.,  Squaw  Grove. 
Cheasbro,  Joseph  M.,  Sycamore,  re-enlisted  as 
veteran. 

Cheits,  George. 

Chien,  John,  South  Grove,  deserted  December 
10/61. 

Clemmense,  Eli,  Sycamore,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. 

Clemmense,  James,  Sycamore,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. 

Cochran,  Eugene  0. 

Couts,  Henry. 

Davenport,  William,  De  Kalb,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. 

Deane,  David,  South  Grove. 

Deyoe,  William  P.,  South  Grove. 

Dickson.  Sheriden,  Sycamore,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. 

Gage,  Hiram,  Sycamore. 

Gamage,  Alden  B.,  Malta,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Garey,  James,  De  Kalb,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Gibbins,  George,  Sycamore. 

Gieger,  George,  South  Grove,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. 

Goran,  Smith  B.,  De  Kalb  county. 


210 


PAST   AND   PRESENT   OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


Gould,  Luther  C,  Sycamore. 

Grout,  Henry  P.,  Sycamore 

Hall.  Reuben  G..  Sycamore. 

Hall,  William  A..  Sycamore. 

Halwaick,  Sidney  \\ ..  Malta,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. 

Hoaglen,  Michael,  South  Grove,  discharged  No- 
vember 19,  '64:  term  expired. 

Hobin,  Austin. 

Kanterberger.  John. 

Kittle,  James,  Sycamore. 

McCarty,  Allen.  Smith  Grove,  discharged  No- 
vember 19,  '64;  term  expired. 

McCurdy,  Charles  W..  Sandwich. 

Maranville,  Irving,  De  Kalb. 

Milen,  Patrick,  South  Chicago,  discharged  at 
Geneva,  Illinois. 

Morehouse,  Charles,  Malta. 

Motson,  Norman,  Squa^  Grove. 

Mudge,  Austin.  Sandwich. 

Mullen.  Martin,  South  Grove,  transferred  to 
Company  E  January  1,  '62. 

Odell.  Truman  ( '..  Sycamore. 

Parke,  Isaac. 

Pattie.  Oliver. 

Penney.  Frederick,  South  Grove. 

Percell,  John.  South  Grove,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. 

Petrie.  James,  Sycamore. 

Petrie.  Joseph.  Sycamore. 

Phelps.  Oscar  W..  Sycamore,  promoted  sergeant, 
then  second  lieutenant. 

Pierce.  Charles  J..  Genoa,  discharged  November 

19,  '6  I  ;  term   expired. 

Ramsey,  Fred  W. 

Ehoades,  Henry.  DeKalb.  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Rogers.  Albert.  Sycamore,  discharged  Novem- 
ber 1!*.  '04 ;  term  expired. 

Rowley,  Harrison. 

Rowley.  William  C. 

Sawles,  Charles. 

Scully.  James,  South  Grove,  transferred  to  Com- 
pany E.  January  1,  '62. 

Seeley.  Oscar.  Pampas. 

Smith.  John.  South  Grove,  discharged  December 
16,  '61. 

Stanley.  Charles  M..  Sycamore,  re-enlisted  as 
veteran. 

Taylor,  Daniel.  DeKalb,  re-enlisted. 

Taylor.  Philander.  DeKalb. 


Taylor.  William.  DeKalb. 

Thomas.    Leroj     E.,    South    Grove,    discharged 
November  19,  '6  I  ;  term  expired. 
Thompson,  Harrison. 
Thompson,  William. 
Vanhouten,  Bradford,  DeKalb. 
Vauhouten,  Bradley.  DeKalb. 
\  aughan,  Delevan  H. 
Vaughan,  Delos  E. 
Walker.  George,  Sycamore. 
Warenville,  Irving. 
William-.  Chester  E. 
Wills.  Stephen  A.,  De  Kalb  county. 
Winchester,  Samuel  E..  Squaw  Grove. 
Zaelkie,  Gustave. 

VETERANS. 

Arnold.  James.  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July  6, 
'65. 

Brisbin,  Philander.  Sycamore,  mustered  out 
July  6,  '65. 

Bowman.  Edward,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 
6,  '65. 

Boylen.  Thomas.  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 
6,  '65,  as  corporal. 

Cheasbro,  Joseph  M.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out 
Jul)   6,  '65,  as  sergeant. 

Clemmens,  Eli,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 
6,  '65. 

Clemmens,  James.  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 
il.  '(').") :  absent  without  leave. 

Davenport.  William.  Sycamore,  mustered  out 
July  6,  '65. 

Dickson,  Sheriden,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 
ti.  '65. 

Gamage,  Alden  1!..  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 
ti.  '65,  as  sergeant. 

Gary,  James,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 
6,  '65. 

Geiger,  George,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July  6, 
'65,  as  corporal. 

Hall.  William.  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 
6,  '65. 

Eatch,  Daniel  P..  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 
6,  '65. 

Hill.  John.  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July  6,  '65  ; 
was  prisoner. 

Halwick.  Sydney  W..  Sycamore,  killed  on  skir- 
mish line  August  20,  '64. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT   OF   DE   KALI',    colXTY. 


211 


.Tones.  Lewis  A.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 
6,  '65,  as  corporal. 

Lawless,  Charles,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 
(1.  '65,  as  corporal. 

Purcell,  John,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July  6, 
'65,  as  first  sergeant. 

Rhoads,  Henry,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 
6,  '65. 

Ross,  Alexander  B.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out 
July  6,  '65,  as  first  lieutenant. 

Stanley,  Charles  M.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out 
July  15,  '65;  was  prisoner. 

Taylor.  Daniel,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 
6.  '65. 

Whitehead,  Malvin  B..  Sycamore,  mustered  out 
July  6,  '65. 

RECRUITS. 

Black.  David  T.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 
6,  '65. 

Campbell,  Andrew  J..  Sycamore,  mustered  out 
July  6,  '65. 

Congdon,  William,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 
6,  '65. 

Cunningham,  Michael.  Sycamore,  mustered  out 
July  6,  '65. 

Hall,  Reuben  G.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 
0,  '65. 

Hampton.  Benjamin  M..  Sycamore,  mustered 
out  July  6,  '65. 

Morgan,  John  R.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 
6,  '65. 

Nagle.  William,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 
G,  '65. 

The  Fifty-second  Illinois  Infantry  was  organ- 
ized at  Geneva,  Kane  county,  Illinois,  by  Colonel 
Isaac  G.  Wilson.  Henry  Stark,  of  Sycamore,  was 
major,  as  was  also  Albert  C.  Perry,  of  Sycamore. 
They  went  into  quarters  at  Benton  Barracks,  St. 
Louis,  Missouri.  They  embarked  for  Fort  Don- 
elson,  arrived  the  18th  of  February,  and  were 
sent  with  prisoners  to  Chicago.  March  13th  left 
for  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  and  were  assigned 
to  the  Third  Brigade  under  Colonel  Sweeney.  The 
regiment  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  battle  of 
Shiloh.  April  6  and  7,  and  lost  one  hundred  and 
seventy  men  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing. 
Major  Stark  commanded  the  first  day  and  Cap- 
tain Brown  on  the  second :  was  at  the  battle  of 


Corinth  and  again  sustained  heavy  loss;  saw  serv- 
ice at  Iuka,  and  at  Pulaski,  Tennessee,  did  provost 
duty.  In  May,  1864,  they  entered  upon  the  At- 
lanta campaign.  The  regiment  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Snake  Creek  Gap,  Resaca,  Dallas, 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  and  took  part  in  the  battles 
before  Atlanta.  They  were  with  Sherman  on  the 
march  to  the  sea  and  in  the  campaign  of  the  Caro- 
linas,  participating  in  the  battle  of  Bentonville, 
and  were  at  Raleigh  when  the  war  was  brought  to  a 
close. 

FIFTY-THIRD  ILLINOIS  REGIMENT. 

Avery.  Alonzo  E..  Paw  Paw. 
Borin,  John  T.,  Clinton. 
Boston,  James,  Somonauk. 
Burkhardt,  Nicholas,  Clinton. 
Chapman,  Orris,  Paw  Paw. 
Claud,  Prosper,  Somonauk. 
Cox,  Peter,  Clinton. 
Davenport,  William,  Clinton. 
Dine,  John  W.,  Clinton. 
Duncan,  Harrison,  Clinton. 
Eaton,  Clark,  Paw  Paw. 
Ellis,  Dennison,  Paw  Paw. 
Firkins.  William,  Paw  Paw. 
Gandy,  John  E.,  Clinton. 
Griffin,  James  A.,  Clinton. 
Halleck,  Frank  P.,  Paw  Paw. 
Haskell,  Orson,  Paw  Paw. 
Haskell,  Orville,  Paw  Paw. 
Kidd.  Albert  J.,  Paw  Paw. 
Mitchell.  Zaehariah,  Somonauk. 
Owen,  Morgan,  Clinton. 
Potter,  John,  Somonauk. 
Sullivan,  John,  Somonauk. 
Williams.  Horatio,  Somonauk. 
Woods.  David  M.,  Clinton. 

FIFTY-FIFTH  ILLINOIS  INFANTRY. 

Atwood,  Amos  C,  DeKalb. 
Averill,  John  Q.,  Mayfield. 
Branfield,  Francis,  Milan. 
Bridge,  Edward,  Malta. 
Connaughton,  Roger,  DeKalb. 
Connaughton,  Thomas,  DeKalb. 
Crooker,  Charles  A.,  Paw  Paw. 
Cross,  Dewitt  C.  De  Kalb. 


2  1 2 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OE  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 

COMPANY  C. 


Downing.  Reuben,  DeKalb. 
Farwell,  George  G..  Mayfield. 
Foley,  George,  DeKalli. 
Gammon,  J.,  Malta. 
Graves,  Joseph  F.,  DeKalb. 
Huntington,  E.  D..  Malta. 
Keyes,  William  A.,  DeKalb. 
Lawson,  Lawrence,  DeKalb. 
Lindsay,  Charles,  .Malta. 
Lindsay,  Oliver,  Mayfield. 
Muzzey.  Caleb  \\\.  DeKalb. 
McCarthy,  Alexander,  Mayfield,  died. 
Patterson.  Joseph,  Mayfield,  'lied. 
Piper.  Joseph,  Mayfield,  died. 
Piper.  Samuel,  Mayfield,  died. 
Ploquett,  Henry,  Mali;.. 
Robinson,  William,  Milan. 
Smith.  Ashael  C.  Mayfield. 
Stevenson.  William.  Mayfield,  died. 
Tuitt,  Walter.  Malta. 
Walrod,  Horace,  Mayfield. 
Welch,  Edward.  Malta. 
Wells,  Charles  <'..  Milan. 
Wing,  Turner.  Mayfield. 
Wooley,  A.  M..  Mayfield. 

FIFTY-SEVENTH    ILLINOIS    INFANTRY. 

Balch.  William.  Somonauk. 
Carr.  Robert,  Somonauk. 
Cushman,  Wesley,  Squam  Grove. 
Eddy.  Charles  II..  Squav.  Grove. 

Ferguson.  John.  Somonauk. 
Smith.  James  P.,  Somonauk. 
Whitmore,  James,  Somonauk. 
Pose.  Alphonso.  Sycamore. 

FIFTY-EIGHTH     ILLINOIS     INFANTEY. 

OFFICERS. 

LIEUT]  N  WT-i  OLONEL. 

Isaac   Putishauser.   Somonauk,    honorably    dis- 
charged January  27.  '65. 

COMPANY  B. 
FIRST  LIEUTENANT. 

Job  Moxom.  DeKalb,  wounded,  resigned  March 
2.  '6.3. 


CAPTAIN. 

George    W.    Kittell,    Shabbona,    mustered    out; 
time  expired. 

FIRST   LIEUTENANTS. 

Sanford    W.    Smith,    Shabbona.    resigned    May 

10,  '62. 

llenrv  Smith.  Shabbona.  transferred  as  consoli- 
dated. 

COMPANY   E. 
FIRST  LIEUTENANT. 

Karl  A.  Rutishauser,  Somonauk,  died  of  wounds 
St.  Louis,  Ma\  is.  '62. 

-I  i  OND  LIEUTENANT. 

Joseph  Stauffer,  Somonauk.  resigned  Mm 
21.  '62. 

ENLISTED   MEN. 

i  OMPANY  A. 

IiECRIITS. 

Losle,  William.  Cortland,  sergeant,  killed  at 
Shiloh,  April  6,  '62. 

Packard,  Dwight,  Cortland,  killed  at  Shiloh, 
April  6,  '62. 

Packard.  W.  <>..  Cortland,  discharged  lor  disa- 
bility. 

c  oM  PANY   C. 
SERGE  \NTS. 

Henry  Smith.  Shabbona.  promoted  second  lieu- 
tenant. 

Charles  0.  Whcaton.  Shabbona,  discharged  foi 
wounds  received  at  Shiloh. 

Josiah  C.  Wright,  Shabbona.  discharged  April 
10, '63.  for  disability. 

James  M.  Pound.  Shabbona,  died  July  29.  '62. 

Franklin  0.  Stephens,  Shabbona.  discharged 
June  17.  '62,  for  disability. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


213 


CORPORALS. 

Cyrus  A.  Nelson,  Shabbona,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. 

Levi  W.  Park.  Shabbona.  deserted  January 
31,  '65. 

William  F.  Williams,  Shabbona,  died  June  13, 
'62,  of  wounds. 

Lyman  Grover,  Shabbona,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. 

PRIVATES. 

Armstrong,  Porter,  Cortland. 

Baker.  John  L.,  Shabbona,  discharged  for  disa- 
bility. 

Blair,  Labon,  Shabbona,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Ball,  Daniel  F..  Shabbona,  deserted  at  Camp 
Douglas,  Illinois. 

Club,  Charles,  Shabbona. 

Cook.  Henry  H.,  Shabbona,  transferred  Janu- 
ary 4,  '64,  to  Battery  H,  First  Missouri  Light  Ar- 
tillery. 

Curtis,  Elijah,  Shabbona,  mustered  out  Febru- 
ary 7,  '65,  as  sergeant. 

Cornish,  John  W.,  Shabbona,  transferred  Feb- 
ruary 1,  '64,  to  Battery  H,  Missouri  Light  Artil- 
lery. 

Davis,  Harvey  M.,  Shabbona. 

Davis,  Joseph,  Shabbona,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Damuth,  George,  Jr.,  Shabbona,  re-enlisted  as 
veteran. 

DeWnlf.  William.  Shabbona. 

Downs,  Joe,  Shabbona. 

Flick,  George,  Shabbona,  deserted  at  Camp 
Douglas,  Illinois. 

Filkins,  Nelson,  Shabbona,  died  at  St.  Louis. 
May  21,  '62. 

Gates,  Charles,  Shabbona. 

Goodell,  Henry  C,  Shabbona,  discharged  as  a 
minor. 

Grover,  Lyman,  Shabbona. 

Grover,  James,  Shabbona. 

Hamlin,  John  A.,  Shabbona.  discharged  May 
20,  '62. 

Hamlin,  Horace  A.,  Shabbona. 

Hamm,  George,  Shabbona. 

Hinds,  William  W.,  Shabbona,  deserted  July 
1,  '62. 

Harris,  Orange  P.,  Afton. 


Horton,  William.  Shabbona,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. 

Hunt,  Theodore  H.,  Shabbona,  discharged  for 
disability. 

Johnson,  Charles,  Shabbona,  discharged  August 
2.5,  '62.  for  disability. 

Kelly,  James,  Shabbona,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Kennicott,  Daniel,  Shabbona. 

Kettle,  John  L.,  Shabbona. 

Lumbkins,  Josiah,  Shabbona,  deserted. 

Muzzy,  John  A.,  Shabbona,  died  at  Browns- 
ville, Mississippi,  March  6,  '64. 

Morris,  John,  Shabbona,  mustered  out  Decem- 
ber 17,  '64. 

Moxom,  Job,  DeKalb. 

Nichols,  Byron,  Shabbona,  died  at  Paducah, 
Kentucky,  January  1.  '64. 

Norton,  Francis,  Shabbona. 

Palm,  Dennis  G..  Shabbona. 

Perkins,  George,  Shabbona.  re-enlisted  as  a  vet- 
eran. 

Price,  Richard  C,  Shabbona,  deserted. 

Paisley,  Sylvester,  DeKalb. 

Paisley,  William,  DeKalb. 

Rose,  William  H.,  Shabbona. 

Rutishauser,  Isaac.  Somonauk. ' 

Ruddy,  Anthony,  Sahbona,  deserted  December 
1,  '62. 

Scott.  Miles  D..  Shabbona,  deserted. 

Simpson.  William.  Shabbona.  transferred  Feb- 
ruary 14.  '64,  to  Battery  I\.  First  Missouri  Light 
ArtilliT\ . 

Simpson,   Elmer  G.,   Shabbona. 

Shehan.  Timothy,  Shabbona,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. 

Smith.    Joseph,    Shabbona. 

Todd,  Owen,  Shabbona,  detached  in  First  Mis- 
souri Light  Artillery. 

Tompkins.  John.  Shabbona,  deserted. 

Town.  Daniel,  Shabbona. 

Town,  Eussell,   Shabbona. 

Hnwin.  William,  Shabbona.  deserted  July  20, 
1862. 

Van  Deventer,  Erwin,  Shabbona,  captured  at 
Shilo,  April  6,  '62. 

Van  Voltenburg,  John,  Shabbona,  mustered  out 
February   7,   '65. 

Wigton.  Charles  C,  Shabbona. 

Williams.  John,  Shabbona. 

Williamson,   William,      Shabbona.     transferred 


214                                     PAST    AND   PRESENT  OF   DE    KALB   COUNTY. 

January  4.  '64,  to  Battery  H,  First  Missouri  Ar-  Miller,     Eenry,     Somonauk,    died    at    Macon, 

tiilery.  Georgia,  September  24,  '62,  a  prisoner. 

Witherspoon,  Edmund.  Shabbona,  mustered  out  Seidel,  Rudolph,  Somonauk.  deserted  June  20, 

Withers] a,    Frederick,   Shabbona,   discharged  '62. 

February  7,  '65.  3    ler,  Gustavus,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  Feb- 

as  a  minor.  ruary   7,  "65. 

Whitbeck,  James,  Shabbona,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. PRIVATES. 

Woodward.  William,  Shabbona,    deserted    July 

20.  '62.  Anders,  Charles,  Somonauk.  discharged  for  dis- 

Weston,  Edson  H..  discharged  June  20,  '62.  for  a^ty. 

disability.  Bice,  Joseph,  Somonauk. 

Nelson,    Cyrus    A..    Shabbona,    sergeant   trans-  Biehlman,    Samuel.    Somonauk,    mustered    out 

ferred  to  Company  C,  as  consolidated.  February  7.  '65. 

Clapsaddle,  Eenry  1...  Shabbona.  tran-ferred  to  Bootz.   Joseph,    Somonauk.   mustered   out   Feb- 

Company  C  as  consolidated.  ruary  ".  '65. 

Dugan.  James,  Shabbona.  discharged  November  Conway,   Denis,  Somonauk,  died  at  Camp  But- 

;.  '63,  for  disability.  ler.  Illinois. 

Lilly.  Charles,   Shabbona.  discharged  June  1".  Doolev.    William,    Somonauk.    discharged     De- 

'62,  for  disability.  cember  2.  '62,  for  disability. 

Martin.  Daniel.  Shabbona.  discharged  January  j}u],    Henry,  Somonauk. 

20.  '62;  minor.  Gerold,   John,    Somonauk,   discharged   January 

Price.  George  \\.  Shabbona.  mustered  out  Feb-  j    -,;i    ,,,  re-enhst  in  First  Missouri  Artillery, 

man-  T.  '65.  Graf,    Samuel,    Somonauk.   mustered   out    Feb- 

Rowe.    William    II..    Shabbona.    transferred    to  nl;lrv    -     ■,,.-, 

Company  C  as  consolidated.  Goodrich.    Christopher.    Somonauk.    discharged 

Wright,  Eugene.  Shabbona.  f0I  disability. 

Haskin,  .lame-.  Somonauk,  discharged  for  dis- 

COMPANY  D.  ability. 

Ilecker.   Anton.  Somonauk.  discharged  for  dis- 

Brigham,  John,  Somonauk.  mustered  out  Feb-  ability. 

ruary  r.  '65.  Henry.  William.  Somonauk.  discharged  for  dis- 

Xiellv.  Simon,  Somonauk,  killed  at  Shilo.  April  ability. 

g    '62  Kn— man.    Louis,   Somonauk,   deserted   October 

i:,.  '62. 

company  E.  Lavasin,  Joseph,  Somonauk. 

Miller.  Henry.  Somonauk. 
Rutishauser,  Carl.  Somonauk. 
Seidel,  Rudolph.  Somonauk. 

Duft.     Henrv.     Somonauk,     died     at     Macon.  Siler,  Gustavus,  Somonauk 

rgia,  October  i:,  '62,  while  prisoner.  Staler,   George    Somonauk. 

Haibacl,  Philip,     s iauk,     deserted     from  Steinbiss    Frederick,  Somonauk.  deserted  Feb- 

r.         t>  ±i       tit  ruary   15.    63. 

Camp  Butler.  Illinois.  Thompson,   William.    Somonauk.   mustered   out 


SERGEANTS. 


CORPORALS. 


February   : .  '65. 

Wehrle,  Friedrich,  Somonauk. 


RECRUITS. 


Savasin.  Joseph.  Somonauk,  deserted  February 
15,  '63. 

Wehrle.  Friedrich,  Somonauk.  discharged  for 
disability.  Bprk-  Louis,  Somonauk.  died  at  Camp  Butler, 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


215 


Illinois,  May  5,  '63. 

Bradley,  Edward,  Somonauk,  died  in  rebel 
jtrison. 

Frank.  Philip,  Somonauk.  re-enlisted  as  veter- 
an. 

COMPANY    G. 
PlilVATES. 

Albright,  Adelmar,  Cortland,  deserted  June  '62. 

Art.lip,  Edward,  Cortland,  deserted  January  25, 
'63. 

Artlip,  John,  Cortland,  discharged  July  5,  '62, 
for  disability. 

Bennett.  Joseph,  De  Kalb. 

Croft,  James,  Somonauk,  deserted  May  1,  '"62. 

Chamberlain,  Ebenezer  L.,  Somonauk,  dis- 
charged June  2,  '62,  disability. 

Erkhort,  Daniel,  Cortland,  deserted  February  6, 
"62. 

Grey,  Stephen,  Pierceville,  deserted  September 
1,  '62. 

Griffith,  Horace,  De  Kalb. 

Ilaish,  Christian,  Somonauk. 

Bays,  John,  De  Kalb. 

Hogan.  William.  Clinton,  transferred  to  Com- 
pany I,  January  5,  '62. 

Hooker,  Lewis  A.,  De  Kalb. 

Johnson,  Stephen,  Pierceville,  discharged  Jan- 
uary 'G2,  for  promotion  as  hospital  steward,  H. 
S.   A. 

Johnson,  Sylvester  M.,  Squaw  Grove,  trans- 
ferred to  Company  B  as  consolidated. 

Labrant,  Charles.  Pierceville,  died  at  St.  Louis 
May  12,  '62,  from  wounds. 

Labrant,  Jonathan,  Pierceville,  mustered  out 
Februarv  7,  '65,  as  corporal. 

Ott.  John  P.,  Genoa. 

Paisley,   Sylvester,   Genoa. 

Parker,  John  C,  Genoa. 

Ramer,  Philip,  Pierceville.  discharged  October 
13.  '62,  for  disability. 

Raymond,  Henry  E.,  Cortland,  discharged  No- 
vember 14.  '62.  for  disability. 

Smith,  Moses,  Pierceville,  discharged  January 
8,  '6.3,  disability. 

Walker,  William  P.  J.,  Clinton,  mustered  out 
February  7,  '65 ;  was  prisoner. 

Wells,  Royal,  Pierceville,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Williams,  Henrv,  Somonauk. 


COMPANY  H. 

Schwartz,  Michael,  Clinton,  deserted  April  6, 
'62. 

Schefnerr,  Alonzo.  Clinton,  mustered  out  April 
17,  '65. 

COMPANY    1. 

Chamberlain,  Daniel,  Somonauk.  transferred  to 
Company  G,  January  5,  '65. 

Fargo,  William  P.,  De  Kalb,  transferred  to 
Comapny  G,  January  5,  '62. 

Griffith,  Horace,  De  Kalb,  transferred  to  Com- 
pany G.  January  5,  '62. 

Hooker,  Lewis  H.,  De  Kalb,  transferred  to  Com- 
pany G,  January  5.  '62. 

Parker,  John  C,  De  Kalb,  transferred  to  Com- 
pany G,  January  5,  '62. 

Paisley,  Sylvester,  De  Kalb,  transferred  to  Com- 
pany G.  January  5.  '62. 

Turner,  Henry,  De  Kalb,  transferred  to  Com- 
pany G,  January  5,  '62. 

Walrod,  Charles,  De  Kail),  transferred  to  Com- 
pany G,  January  5,  '62. 

RECRUITS    TO    THE    FIFTY-EIGHTH. 

Davis,  Harvey  M..  Shabbona. 
Dewolf,  William  W.,  Shabbona. 
Gates.   Charles.   Shabbona. 
Grover,  Lyman,  Shabbona. 
Ham.  George.  Shabbona. 
Hamlin,  Horace  A..  Shabbona. 
Henness,  John  H..  Franklin. 
Horton,  William.  Shabbona. 
Kennicott.  Daniel.  Shabbona. 
Kettle,  John  N.,  Shabbona. 
McFalls.   Berl   D..    Franklin. 
McNabb.  David.  Franklin. 
Norton,  Francis,  Shabbona. 
Palm.  Dennis  G.,  Shabbona. 
Perkins,  George.  Shabbona. 
Rowe.  William  H..  Shabbona. 
Simpson.   Elmer  D..   Shabbona. 
Smith,  Joseph,   Shabbona. 
Town,  Daniel,  Shabbona. 
Town.  Russell.  Shabbona. 
Whitbeck.  James,  Shabbona. 
Williams.  John.   Shabbona. 
Wright.  Eugene.  Shabbona. 


216 


I'AST    AX]>    PRESENT    OF    DE    KAEB    COL'NTY. 


The  Fifty-eighth  was  recruited  at  Camp  Doug- 
las, Chicago,  February  18,  1862;  was  immediately 
furnished  with  arm-  and  started  from  Cairo 
-  midnight  with  orders  to  proceed  up  the 
11  to  Smithland,  Kentucky,  thence  up  the 
berland  to  Fort  Donelson;  was  assigned  to 
the  Second  Division  under  General  C.  F.  Smith: 
from  Fort  Donelson  proceeded  up  the  river  to 
Pittsburg  Landing,  proceeded  to  change  arm-. 
secure  transportation  and  in  every  way  com- 
pleted the  organization.  On  Monday,  the  1-  o 
April,  they  were  awakened  by  heavy  firing  from 
the  front,  foughi  the  firsl  day  at  Shiloh,  the 
menl  standing  alone,  resisting  charge  after  ch 
made  b\  the  determined  foe.  To  prevent  being 
flanked  the  order  was  given  to  fall  back  to  the 
Ih'ou  of  the  bill  in  the  rear.  Arriving  there  they 
found  the  enemy  in  the  rear  on  all  sides  and  the 
en1  <  ■  posed  to  a  continue  is  e.  '  >rders 
were  given  to  go  forward  and  cu1  its  way  out, 
which  could  ha  i  done  with  less  I"--  than  was 

suffered  afterward-  in  the  southern  prison.  Many 
of  i hu  :n  were  captured  a  few  minutes  before  siv 
o'clock  the  firsl  day.  The  I"--  in  this  engagement 
was  frightful,  amounting  in  killed,  wounded 
prisoners,  more  than  four  bundled  and  fiftj  men. 
more  than  three-fourths  taken  prisoners  were 
wounded  and  only  two  hundred  and  eighteen  were 
left  to  surrender.     Thi  I  holding  its  | 

tion   so   long  was  undoubtei  s^reai    measure 

the  sal  hi  'in  of  the  armj      Suffi     ag  all  the  hard- 
ships and  privation  which  the  rebel-  knew  so  well 
how   to   inflict   upon   their  helpless    victims     the 
prisoners,  or  what  was  left  of  them,  one  hundred 
and    thirty    men.    were    paroled    and    allowed    ' 
north.    The  few  men  lefl  in  camp  were  stri  i 
ened  bi   men  returning  from  the  hospital  and 
as    rei  ruits   and    participated    with   credit    in    tin 
skirmishes  and  battle-  consequenl   to  the  siege  of 
Corinth;  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  luka.  was 
sent   in  ('amp  Butler  for  the  p  recruit- 

ing and  guarding  rebel   pi  They  after- 

ward garrisoned  Mound  City,  Illinois,  and  Pa- 
ducah,  Kentucky.  Thej  were  engaged  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Pleasant  Hill  under  General  Banks,  where 

thej    signally  defeated  tl nemy.     They  charged 

the  enemy  on  the  second  day.  poured  upon  thi  m 
an  enfilading  lire,  which  at  once  turned  their 
Hank.  Following  up  this  charge  the  Fifty-eighth 
captured  nne  hundred  and   fifty  prisoners  and   re- 


captured   a    battery,   belonging     to     the     United 

States  First  Artillery,  which  had  been  taken  fi 

General  Banks"  troops.  In  this  enagement  the 
loss  was  heavy.  The  utmost  gallantry  was  shown 
by  both  officers  and  men  and  to  the  Fifty-eighth 
is  due  the  i  red.il  of  having  given  the  first  check 
to  the  foe,  having  taken  five-sixths  of  the  pris- 
oners captured  during  the  engagement.  This  regi- 
menl  was  mustered  out  .ii  Montgomery,  Alabama. 
April  6,  1866,  and  ordered  to  Springfield  for  final 
payment   and   discharge. 

SIXTY-FIFTH     ILLINOIS     INFANTRY. 

ri;i\  vi  r.s. 

Van    Amberg,  James,   Sycamore. 

Atw 1.  Hosea  W.,  Sycamore. 

Coles.  William  T..  Sycamore. 
( look,  U  i-le\    II..  Sycamore. 

Fannio,  Jol  n,  v  i  a re 

Griff,  Joseph,   Malta. 
Holderness,   George   G.,    Malta. 
London,   Abraham    I...  Sycamore. 

on,   Lew  i-.  s ,,  eamore. 
Lyons,  Benjamin,  Sycamore. 
Muzzey.  Benjamin.  De  Kalb. 
Knapp,  Alvirus,  Si  i  a  n 
Petrie.  John   I.'..  Sycamore. 
Putnam,  <  Ihristopher  \V..  Sycamoi 
Robbins,  Francis,  De  Kalb. 

Sepp.    ('barb-.    S\can 

-  PPj  George  B.,  S  i  in 
Winans,  Edward  R.,  Sycamore. 

Thi    Sixty-fifth   Regiment  was  known  as  the 
Scotch  Regiment  and  was     organized     at     Camp 
Douglas,  Chicago.  Illinois,  in  the  spring  of  1362 
■     Colonel   Daniel  Cameron.     This  regiment   wa- 
il   to    Martinsburg,    Virginia,  and   briga 
with    the    One    Hundred    and    Twenty-fifth    New 
York    in    Artillery    M.    Second    Illinois    Artillery 
i    Colonel   Miles.     When   Colonel   Miles  sur- 
rendered at  Harper's   Ferry,  the  Sixty-fifth  were 
made  prisoners  by  the  enemy.     On  the  succeed- 
iii  was  paroled  and  sent  to  Chi- 
wbere  it  remained  until  April.  1863,  when, 
being  exchanged,   it    moved   to  the  Army  of  the 
Eastern   Kentucky,   served    during  the  campaign 
in    East    Tennessee,   taking   part  in  battles  from 
November   25-29    in   defense  of   Knoxville.     The 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


217 


enemy  under  Longstreet  was  repulsed  with  great 
loss.  After  a  severe  winter  and  campaign,  the 
Sixty-fifth  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran  organization. 
They  then  joined  General  Sherman's  Army  and 
engaged  in  the  battle  of  Kenesaw  and  Lost  Moun- 
tains. On  the  19th  of  June  the  advance  was 
checked  by  a  deep  and  almost  impassable  creek, 
the  enemy  disputing  the  passage  of  the  only  bridge 
with  the  artillery. 

Volunteers  being  called  for  about  fifty  men 
of  the  Sixty-fifth  Illinois  stepped  forward  and 
charged  across  the  bridge,  driving  the  enemy 
back  and  holding  the  position  until  the  remain- 
der of  the  regiment  crossed.  They  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Jonesboro  and  pursued  Hood's 
army  from  Atlanta  to  Rome.  Kingston,  Resaca, 
Altoona  and  Gaylesville.  The  Scotch  regiment 
was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Franklin  and  suffered 
severe  loss  but  more  than  two  hundred  dead  and 
wounded  rebels  covered  the  ground  in  front  of  the 
Sixty-fifth  Illinois.  This  regiment  captured  the 
colors  of  the  Fifteenth  Mississippi  Infantry.  Dur- 
ing the  night  it  fell  back  to  Nashville.  December 
15  and  16  the  regiment  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Nashville,  afterwards  pursued  Hood's  army  to 
Clifton,  Tennessee,  where  the  regiment  remained 
until  January  15,  1865.  They  then  took  boat 
from  Clifton,  Tennessee,  to  Cincinnati,  thence  by 
rail  to  Washington  and  Annapolis  and  embarked 
for  Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  landed  at 
Federal  Point.  February  7,  and  engaged  in  heavy 
skirmishing  there,  crossed  the  Cape  Fear  river 
and  flanked  the  enemy  out  of  Fort  Anderson.  On 
the  20th  it  fought  the  enemy  at  Smithtown 
Creek,  capturing  three  pieces  of  artillery  and 
three  hundred  and  fifty  men.  The  regiment  then 
inarched  to  Goldsboro,  North  Carolina,  where  it 
remained  until  the  surrender  of  Johnston's  army. 
On  July  13,  1865.  the  regiment  was  mustered  out 
and  arrived  in  Chicago  the  latter  part  of  the 
month,  reeciving  final  payment  and  discharge  July 
26,  1865. 

SEVENTY-FIFTH     ILLINOIS     INFANTRY. 

Allen.  Alonzo  E..  Franklin. 
Harvey,  Asa  M.,  Franklin. 
Neiver,  George  W.,  Franklin. 
O'Neil,  Aaron.  0. 
Timothy,  Charles  D..  Franklin. 
Vanorsdale.  Emanuel,  Franklin. 


EIGHTY-NINTH     REGIMENT. 

Smith,  Legrand,  Somonauk. 
Warner,  Henry  H.,  Victor. 
Potter,  Nelson.  Victor. 
Dale,  Arthur,  Victor. 

NINETY-SECOND      ILLINOIS      INFANTRY. 

Shepherd.  David  N.,  Malta. 
Kelly,  Patrick,  Malta. 

NINETY-FIFTH      ILLINOIS      INFANTRY. 
OFFICERS. 

Thomas  W.  Humphrey,  Franklin. 

PRIVATES. 

Arbuckle.  Benson  B.,  Kingston. 
Bell.  George  M.,  Kingston. 
Brainerd,  Eli,  Kingston. 
Garland,  W.  H.,  Franklin. 
Gleason,  Charles  II.,  Kingston. 
Heckman.  John,  Kingston. 
Hudson,  Hiram,  Kingston. 
Lankton,  Abry,  Kingston. 
Morrison,  John,  Franklin. 
Mullen,  Charles  C,  Genoa. 
Perry.  William   P..  Kingston. 
Potter,  Henry  L..  Kingston. 
Randall,  Melvin  A.,  Franklin. 
Robb,  Washington,  Kingston. 
Robbins.  James  S..  Kingston. 
Russell.  Sylvester  S.,  Kingston. 
Saum,  William  M.,  Kingston. 
Walter.  William  H.,  Genoa. 
Ward.  Joseph  H.,  Franklin. 
Wilkie.  David.  Kingston. 
Hardy,  Sanford,  Genoa. 

THE    ONE   HUNDRED    AND    FIFTH. 

Sketch  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  Regiment 
Illinois  Infantry  Volunteers,  from  its  Organiza- 
tion in  the  Fall  of  1862  Until  its  Final  Dis- 
charge from  the  United  States  Service  in  1865. 

In  response  to  the  call  of  President  Lincoln  for 
six  hundred  thousand  more  men  to  aid  in  putting 


218 


PAST   AXD    PRESENT   OF  DE   KALB   COUXTY. 


down  armed  rebellion  against  the  Xational  Gov- 
ernment, the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  Regiment, 
Illinois  Infantry  YJimteeers.  was  formed,  em- 
bracing ten  companies,  of  which  six  were  composed 
of  volunteers  from  De  Kalb  and  four  from  Da 
Page  counties  respectively. 

We  have  given  the  record  of  this  regiment  more 
complete  because  the  only  full  account  of  the  rec- 
ord made  by  this  gallant  body  of  De  Kalb  county 
boys  has  been  given  by  H.  L.  Boies  in  his  Historv 
of  DeKalb  County. 

There  are  regimental  histories  of  the  other  regi- 
ments which  are  before  us,  so  it  is  with  pleasure 
that  we  acknowledge  our  dependence  upon  Mr. 
Boies"  history  for  this  account  of  the  105th  Illi- 
nois Volunteers.. 

The  men  were  enlisted  in  July  and  August, 
L862,  and  went  into  camp  at  Dixon,  Illinois,  on 
the  29th  day  of  the  latter  month,  where  they  ren- 
dezvoused until  the  preliminaries  incident  to  effec- 
tive organization  were  gone  through  with.  All  the 
line  officers  were  elected  by  the  unanimous  vote 
of  the  respective  companies  and  each  of  the  field 
and  staff  officers  received  every  vote  in  the  entire 
regiment. 

The  regiment  was  mustered  into  service  Septem- 
ber 2,  1862,  with  nine  hundred  and  fifty-four  men. 
Colonel  Daniel  Dustin  having  been  by  its  wisdom 
and  with  enthusiasm  elected  and  welcomed  as  its 
commanding  officer.  The  colonel  entered  the  serv- 
ice in  August.  1861,  in  the  Eighth  Illinois  cav- 
alry, as  captain  of  Company  L,  which  was  raised 
in  De  Kalb  county.  He  had  been  promoted  majoi 
and  served  with  his  regiment  in  the  campaign  on 
the  peninsular. 

For  lieutenant-colonel  and  major  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Fifth  selected  Henry  F.  Yallette  of  Du 
Page  county,  and  Everell  F.  Dutton,  of  De  Kalb. 
the  latter  having  been  Brsi  lieutenant  of  Company 
F  in  the  Thirteenth  Illinois  Infantry,  volunti  — . 
which  company  also  recruited  in  De  Kalb  county 
ii  April.  1861.  He  had  been  promoted  captain 
of  his  company  in  August.  1861,  and  was  with 
the  Thirteenth  in  all  the  severe  marches  through 
Missouri  and  into  Arkansas  under  General  Curtis. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Yallette  had  not  before  been  in 
the  service.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Yallette  and 
Major    Dutton    are    in    stature    something    over 

e  and  six  feet  respectively:  the  former  of 
light     frame,     the    latter    large    and     command- 


ing. Both  are  active  in  their  movements 
the  major  being  particularly  noted  for  those 
qualities  characteristic  of  the  dashing  soldier. 

The  regiment  was  mustered  in  by  Captain  Barri, 
of  the  regular  army,  at  Dixon,  as  before  indicated. 
Companies  A.  C,  E,  G.  H  and  K  being  recruited 
from  De  Kalb  county  and  companies  B,  D,  F  and 
I  from  Du  Page.  The  following  were  the  officers 
mustered  at  the  time  of  organization : 

FIELD  AXD  STAFF. 

Colonel Daniel  Dustin 

Lieutenant  colonel   Henry  F.  Yallette 

Major   Everell  F.  Dutton 

Adjutant William  X.  Phillips 

Quartermaster   Timothy  Wells 

Su  rgeon Horace  S.  Potter 

Assistant  surgeon  Alfred  Waterman 

Chaplain Levi  P.  Crawford 

i  OMPANY  A. 

( laptain Henry  D.  Brown 

First  lieutenant    George  B.  Heath 

Sei  ond  lieutenant Robert  D.  Lord 

COMPANY  B. 

I  aptain Theodore  S.  Rogers 

I'ii -i  lieutenant Lucius  B.  Church 

Si  i  ond  Lieutenant Willard  Scott,  Jr. 

COMPANY  C. 

<  laptain   '. .  .Alexander  L.  Warnei 

l'li-i  lieutenant  George  W.  Field 

Second  lieutenant   Henry  B.  Mason 

COMPANY  D. 

Captain Amos  C.  Graves 

First  lieutenant   William  H.  Jeffries 

Second  lieutenant   Luther  L.  Peaslee 

COMPANY  E. 

<  laptain Thomas  S.  Ferry 

Fust  lieutenant    Marvin  Y.  Allen 

Second  lieutenant    Albert  C.  Overton 

COMPANY   F. 

('aptain Seth  F.  Daniels 

First  lieutenant Samuel  Adam? 

Second  lieutenant   Porter  Warner 

COMPANY   G. 

Captain    John  B.  Xash 

First  lieutenant Richard  R.  Woodruff 

Second  lieutenant   John  M.  Smith 

COMPANY  H. 

Captain    Eli  Hunt 

First  lieutenant James  S.  Forsythe 

Second  lieutenant   Charles  G.  Culver- 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


219 


COMPANY   I. 

Captain Enos  Jones 

First  lieutenant William  0.  Locke 

Second  lieutenant Augustus  H.  Fischei 

COMPANY  K. 

Captain Horace  Austin 

First  lieutenant   Nathan  S.  Greenwood 

Second  lieutenant Almon  F.  Parke 

The  men  were  here  inducted  into  the  A.  B.  C 

of  the  service  by  the  officers,  according  to  "tac- 
tics," taking  the  first  position  of  the  soldier  and 
going  through  the  first  exercises  of  squad  drill. 

About  the  time  the  boys  began  to  experience  the 
sensations  peculiar  to  raw  recruits,  just  entering 
on  a  change  of  life  and  diet,  the  regiment  was  or- 
dered to  Camp  Douglas,  Chicago,  where,  from  the 
8th  to  the  last  of  September,  it  was  busily  en- 
gaged in  securing  clothing,  camp  and  garrison 
equipage.  While  at  Camp  Douglas  the  regiment 
was  numerously  visited  by  its  friends,  who  came 
to  see  how  the  boys  looked  "in  camp,"  and  to  ex- 
change a  few  more  words  of  parting. 

.  The  regiment  was  presented  with  a  beautiful 
stand  of  colors,  by  Hons.  T.  B.  Bryan  and  H.  C. 
Childs.  of  DuPage,  upon  wnose  folds  were  in- 
scribed, in  golden  letters,  "Strike  together" — words 
destined  to  become  actualized  in  the  conduct  or 
the  men  before  the  enemy. 

On  the  30th  of  September,  1862,  under  orders 
from  the  governor  of  Illinois,  the  regiment  left 
Chicago  for  Louisville,  arriving  there  October  2d. 
At  Jeffersonville,  Indiana,  the  men  were  armed 
with  the  "Austrian  rifled  musket,"  an  inferior 
weapon.  Reporting  to  General  Dumont,  the  regi- 
ment was  attached  to  a  division  then  under  his 
command  and  to  a  brigade  under  the  command  of 
Brigadier  General  W.  T.  Ward. 

At  this  point  the  trials  and  hardships  of  active 
soldiering  began,  as  the  boys  of  the  new  regiment 
were  immediately  called  upon  to  execute  a  forced 
march  to  Shelbyville.  Ky.,  carrying  knapsack? 
heavily  stuffed,  four  days  rations  in  haversacks, 
musket  in  hand,  and  sixty  rounds  of  ammunition. 
Leaving  Louisville  on  the  day  following  their  ar- 
rival at  that  point,  the  regiment  arrived  at  Shel- 
byville on  the  4th  of  October,  having  marched 
about  thirty-six  miles  in  twenty-four  hours.  For 
green  troops  who  had  never  marched  a  day  or  an 
hour  before,  this  was  a  hard  beginning.  Although 
only  the  first,  it  was  the  last  march  of  some  of  the 


men.  Left  Shelbyville  on  the  8th  and  entered 
Frankfort  at  4.  a.  m.  on  the  9th.  The  movement 
was  made  with  the  entire  division. 

The  105th  (and  the  division)  remained  ar 
Frankfort  seventeen  days,  during  which  time  it 
was  engaged  in  guard  and  picket  duty,  with  oc- 
casional slight  skirmishing  with  the  enemy,  per- 
forming drill  duty  daily,  and  executing  a  counter 
raid  upon  John  Morgan  and  his  command,  march- 
ing to  Lawrenceburg  and  returning  to  Frankfort. 
a  distance  of  about  twenty-eight  miles  in  about 
twenty  hours. 

Frankfort,  the  capital  of  Kentucky,  was  an  in- 
teresting point  to  the  soldiers  who  were  so  fortu- 
nate as  to  rest  there.  It  is  situated  on  the  east 
bank  of  the  Kentucky  river,  sixty  miles  above  its 
entrance  into  the  Ohio.  The  site  of  the  town  is  a 
deep  valley,  surrounded  by  precipitous  hills.  The 
iivcr  flows  in  deep  limestone  banks,  the  quarries 
of  which  yield  a  fine  stone  or  marble  of  which  many 
of  the  houses  are  built.  It  contains  a  State-hous3: 
Court-house  and  other  official  buildings,  with  many 
handsome  private  dwellings  and  a  population 
of  some  three  or  four  thousand.  In  the  beautiful 
cemetery,  near  the  city,  are  the  gTaves  of  many 
of  Kentucky's  prominent  dead;. many  soldiers  of 
the  Mexican  war,  and  the  tomb  of  Daniel  Boone 
the  old  pioneer. 

Here  the  regiment  became  thinned  out  somewhat 
by  diseases  peculiar  to  camp  life.  Many  had  to 
be  left  behind  when  the  i-egiment  moved  on  for 
Bowling  Green,  which  it  did,  together  with  the 
division,  on  the  26th  of  October,  arriving  at  that 
point  November  4th.  The  boys  still  unused  to 
military  duty,  and  poorly  prepared  to  endure  i 
forced  march  of  so  great  length,  were^  neverthe- 
less, rushed  through  on  foot — as  from  Louisville 
to  Shelbyville,  with  heavy  loads — a  distance  of 
154  miles,  in  ten  days.  The  weather  was  warm 
and  the  roads  dusty  during  the  latter  part  of 
the  march,  which  added  greatly  to  its  trials.  Think 
of  a  column  of  troops,  already  jaded,  with  ex- 
hausted and  chafed  bodies,  literally  enveloped  in 
dust,  so  that  one  man  could  not  see  three  ranks 
ahead  of  him,  much  less  distinguish  one  comrade 
from  another ! 

The  night  before  they  started  upon  this  march 
a  furious  snow-storm  visited  Frankfort  and  neigh- 
borhood, making  the  pulling  down  of  tents  and  the 
packing  of  camp  equipage  in  the  morning,  a  cold 


220 


PAST    AXD   PEESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


and  cheerless  task.  The  troops  left  Frankfort  In 
three  inches  of  snow,  but  with  confidence  in  their 
ability  to  endure  any  hardships  after  undergoing 
the  severities  of  the  forced  march  from  Louisville 
to  Shelbyville.  Leaving  Frankfort  on  the  26th,  ss 
before  mentioned,  the  command  moved  about  twen- 
ty miles  and  camped  at  Salt  river.  On  the  27th. 
passed  through  a  small  place  called  "Dogwalk."' 
On  the  28th,  passed  through  Johnsonville.  and 
Chaplin  Hill,  camping  at  Sugar  Grove.  Passed 
through  Bloomfield  and  Bardstown  on  the  29th, 
camping  one  mile  beyond  the  latter  place.  Peach- 
ed New  Haven  on  the  30th,  and  on  the  31st  passed 
near  Hodgkinsville,  and  the  birthplace  of  Abraham 
Lincoln.  November  1st,  reached  Bacon  Creek  sta- 
tion, on  the  Louisville  and  Nashville  Railroad, 
leaving  the  sick  and  sore  to  be  sen!  forward  by  rail. 
November  2d.  passed  through  Mumfordsville  and 
crossed  Green  river,  camping  at  Eorse  Cave.  Tin 
Cave  was  numerously  visited  by  the  soldiers  an.* 
pronounced  a  very  interesting  natural  curiosity,  [t 
lies  deep  down  in  the  bowels  of  the  earth,  with  j 
round  entrance  like  the  mouth  of  Jonah's  Whale. 
In  its  interior  is  a  stream — a  deep,  small,  silenl 
vein  of  pure  water,  coursing  beyond  the  vision  of 
the  seers  of  Horse  Cave  village.  On  the  3d,  pa 
ii.  ii-  the  I ;i n Kins  Mammoth  Cave,  camping  within 
a    day's    march    of   Bowling   Green.      Arrived   a: 

Bowling  G n  on  the  -1th.  camping  at  Lost  River. 

several    miles   southwest   of   the  town.     A   small 
-i  nam.  losing  itself  in   the  broad  mouth  of  an- 
other of  Kentucky's  underground  passages,  was  th 
of  this  encampment. 

As  already  indicated,  this  was  a  hard  march. 
The  officers  and  men  endured  it  with  commend- 
able patience,  arriving  at  their  destination  ex- 
hausted and  footsore. 

Eere  the  regiment  remained  one  week,  drilling 
daily.  On  the  9th,  the  division  was  reviewed  by 
Major  General  Rosecrans.  Riding  up  to  the  105th 
during  the  review,  the  General,  after  being  saluted, 
sai.l :  "Men  of  the  105th.  when  yon  go  into  battle, 
fire  deliberately  and  aim  low.  Remember,  that  il 
.  ai  h  of  you  hits  a  man  you  will  kill  and  cripple 
a  great  many.  Tt  is  a  short  lesson,  and  I  hope 
\..u  will  remember  it." 

The  boys  enjoyed  the  brief  res!  at  this  point, 
iin.l  under  direction  of  their  good  Colonel  and 
faithful  officers,  rapidly  improved  in  the  school  of 
the  soldier. 


Here  we  had  an  opportunity  of  entering  and 
exploring  Lost  River  Cave.  One  day  a  party 
equipped  with  candles  and  matches,  penetrated  far 
into  the  interior,  crawling  through  circular  open- 
ings to  its  series  of  chambers,  or  tracing  the  mean- 
dering passage  which  holds  in  everlasting  embrace 
the  little  river  that  is  "Lost."  The  chambers  near 
tin'  entrance  to  the  Cave  are  oblong,  witn  arched 
ceilings,  and  barely  admitting  a  man  in  uprigut 
posture.  They  are  empty  and  unornamented.  But 
the  passage  in  which  the  stream  flows  is  broad, 
and  high  enough  to  admit  the  tallest  man,  the 
ceiling  in  dome-like  form,  rising  in  many  places 
so  high  as  to  render  its  outlines  scarcely  visible 
without  the  aid  of  strong  lights.  For  two  hundred 
yards  the  party  picked  their  way,  now  and  then 
climbing  over  rocky  places,  and  on  bare  ground 
i  re  iding  tin-  narrow  shore.  The  sound  ..f  \..u-e- 
\ibrated  with  thrilling  effect  in  the  deep  recesses 
.  E  the  dark  cavern. 

The  pleasant  encampment  at  Lost  River  ende  1 
on  the  morning  of  November  11th,  the  division 
having  been  ordered  to  Scottsville,  the  county  seal 
of  Allen  county,  a  small  town  of  about  two  hun- 
dred inhabitants.  The  regiment  arrived  on  the 
evening  of  the  12th.  and  camped  near  the  town. 
Until  the  25th,  the  regiment  remained  at  this 
point,  engaged  in  drill  and  guard  duty.  Here 
the  troops  were  required  to  turn  out  at  5  o'clock 
in  the  morning  and  stand  at  arms  until  sunrise 
Tin-  was  a  precautionary  practice 

The  boys  by  this  time  spent  nearly  all  the  mone\ 
they  had  received  on  entering  the  service,  and  were 
compelled  to  use  postage  stamps  as  currency.  In 
trading  with  the  most  ignorant  of  the  name- 
about  Scottsville.  they  passed  old  stamps  and  labels 
for  money.  For  instance,  a  "one  cent"  pain  killer 
label,  from  a  bottle  of  Perry  Davis'  or  anybody 
else's  -|" ii  iii..  would  pass  i|uite  readily  for  a  "one 
dollar."  Thus  many  seen  red  the  luxuries  of  the 
country  thereabouts,  such  as  pies,  cakes,  eggs,  or 
anything  else  eatable. 

"While  here,  the  105th,  together  with  a  section  of 
a  battery,  executed  a  sort  of  mock  battle,  the  for- 
mer manoeuvering  and  charging  before  the  latter 
while  firing  blank  cartridges.  The  battle  was 
spirited,  and  admirably  conducted  by  Colonel  Du=- 
1  in  and  the  commanding  officers  of  the  battery. 

The  first  changes  among  commissioned  officers 


PAST   AND   PEESENT   OF  DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


221 


occurred  November  and  December,  1862,  as  fol- 
lows : 

Captain  Horace  Austin,  Company  K,  of  De- 
Kalb,  resigned  November  26th,  First  Lieutenant 
Nathan  S.  Greenwood,  of  Clinton,  succeeding  as 
captain. 

Adjutant  William  N.  Phillips,  of  Wayne,  Dili 
Page,  resigned  December  2nd;  Sergeant  Major 
David  D.  Chandler,  of  DeKalb,  succeeding  as  adju- 
tant. 

Chaplain  Levi  P.  Crawford,  of  Sandwich,  De- 
Kalb, resigned  December  24th;  Daniel  Chapmai 
succeeding  as  chaplain. 

Second  Lieutenant  Eobert  D.  Lord,  of  Geneva 
Company  A,  resigned  December  17th;  Sergeart 
William  B,  Thomas,  of  Sycamore,  succeeding  as 
Second  Lieutenant, 

First  Lieutenant  Kichard  B,  Woodruff,  Com- 
pany G,  of  Sycamore,  resigned  December  24th; 
Second  Lieutenant  John  M.  Smith,  of  Burlington. 
Kane  County,  succeeding  as  first  lieutenant. 

Captain  Eli  L.  Hunt,  Company  K,  of  Sandwich, 
resigned  December  17th;  First  Lieutenant  James 
S.  Forsythe,  of  Somonauk,  succeeding  as  captain. 

Captain  Enos  Jones,  Company  I.  of  Milton,  Du- 
Page,  resigned  December  17th;  First  Lieutenant. 
William  0.  Locke,  of  Addison,  succeeding  as  cap- 
tain. 

In  the  above  instances,  promotions  were  made 
according  to  rank  in  the  filling  of  vacancies. 

On  the  25th  moved  to  Gallatin,  Tennessee,  ar- 
riving on  the  26th.  Gallatin  is  a  pleasant  place, 
of  about  two  thousand  inhabitants,  the  county  seat 
of  Sumner  county,  on  the  Louisville  and  Nash- 
ville, twenty-five  miles  north. 

The  brigade  to  which  the  regiment  was  attached 
embraced  the  following  regiments:  70th  Indiana, 
105th,  102d,  129th  Illinois  and  79th  Ohio.  About 
the  10th  of  December,  the  brigade  was  ordered  into 
winter  quarters  at  Gallatin,  except  the  105th. 
which  on  the  11th  moved  to  South  Tunnel,  six 
miles  north  of  Gallatin,  relieving  an  entire  brigade 
of  Ohio  troops,  under  command  of  General  Stead- 
man.  Here  the  regiment  remained  until  the  1st 
of  February,  1863,  except  Company  A,  Captain 
Brown,  which  was  stationed  during  the  winter  a1 
a  railway  bridge  half  way  between  the  tunnel  and 
Gallatin,  during  which  time  constant  scouting  duty 
was  performed.  Much  sickness  prevailed,  and 
many  deaths  occurred.     The  camp  was  located  on 


high,  but  soft  ground,  near  the  mouth  of  the  tun- 
nel— really  on  the  side  of  a  mountain,  whose  lofty 
summit  overlooked  the  camp  and  railway  station 
to  the  north.  This  position  was  the  scene  of  much 
suffering,  and  varied  and  wearisome  duties.  The 
regimental  Surgeon  H.  S.  Potter,  and  Assistant 
Surgeon  George  W.  Boggs,  though  among  the  best 
medical  officers  of  the  department,  could  hardly 
stem  the  tide  of  disease,  which  seemed  to  sweep 
through  the  camp  at  times  with  the  fatality  of  an 
epidemic.  The  chief  Surgeon  himself  narrowly  es- 
caped death  by  disease. 

First  Assistant  Surgeon  Alfred  Waterman  had 

I n  assigned  to  the  smallpox  hospital,  at  Bowling 

Green,  immediately  after  the  arrival  of  the  regi- 
ment at  that  point.  This  was  the  scene  of  his  own 
severe  illness,  as  well  as  important  service.  Ee- 
mained  there  until  about  the  18th  of  February, 
1863,  when  he  returned  to  the  regiment,  then  at 
Gallatin.  He  escaped  the  horrors  of  South  Tun- 
nel, but  not  the  horrors  of  Bowling  Green,  which 
seemed  to  be  all  hospital  and  nothing  else.  The 
regiment  lost  a  few  men  there. 

Eight  here  let  us  remark  concerning  the  chief 
surgeon  of  the  105th,  and  the  assistant  surgeons, 
that  in  the  exigencies  of  every  situation  they  wen 
found  to  be  men  of  sterling  integrity  and  large 
capacity.  Surgeon  Potter  was  a  gentleman  of  fine 
sensibilities,  and  on  all  occasions  manifested  a  will- 
ingness to  go  to  the  end  of  his  powers  of  endur- 
ance in  order  that  nothing  it  was  possible  for  him 
to  do  might  be  left  undone. 

First  Assistant  Surgeon  Waterman,  an  officer 
of  stronger  physical  powers  and  great  activity,  af- 
terward became  chief  surgeon,  filling  up  the  meas- 
ure of  his  duties  in  whatever  sphere  he  was  called 
to  act. 

Second  assistant  surgeon — afterward  first  assist- 
ant— George  W.  Boggs,  a  young  officer  of  decided 
skill,  filled  his  position  in  the  most  creditable 
manner. 

Grim  death  bore  away  from  that  mountain 
height  at  South  Tunnel  many  a  gallant  soldier, 
and  some  friends  visiting  the  regiment  from  homes 
in  the  North,  arrived  after  their  boys  had  been 
buried.  Henry  S.  Kingsley,  an  honorable  and 
talented  young  member  of  Company  F.  Captain 
Daniels'  company,  died  of  typhoid  fever.  His 
father,  Eev.  Mr.  Kingsley,  hearing  of  his  sickness, 
came  all  the  way  from  Cook  countv.  III.,  to  Galla- 


822 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALF.    COUNTY. 


tin.  Tenn.,  only  to  learn  that  his  boy  was  dead 
and  buried  some  hours  before  his  arrival. 

The  regiment  was  ordered  back  to  Gallatin, 
February  1,  1863,  where  it  remained  with  the  bri- 
gade until  the  last  of  .May.  On  the  14th  day  of 
March,  Companies,  D,  I-'.  II  and  G  were  detailed 
as  provosi  guard,  and  performed  that  duty  credit- 
ably, making  friends  of  the  citizens  of  Gallatin  by 
their  steady  habits  and  good  behavior. 

Dp  to  this  period — May.  1863 — the  regiment 
had  Lost  205  men,  died  and  discharged  on  account 
of  disability.  But  for  the  exposure  and  the  severe 
marches  it  had  undergone^  the  larger  portion  of 
those  who  died  and  those  discharged,  would  have 
been  numbered  among  the  effective  force  of  the 
oi  ganization. 

During  the  sis  months  stop  at  Gallatin  and  the 
Tunnel,  cinlmg  the  1st  of  June,  1863,  the  regi- 
ii  1. 'in  performed  a  greal  amount  of  hard  labor. 
constructing  earthworks,  scouting,  clearing  the 
country  of  bushwhacker-,  gathering  forage,  horses, 
etc.,  and  capturing  rebels.  Major  Dutton  had 
ge  of  all  the  scouts  -fifty  from  each  regiment 
of  the  post — riding  night  and  day  for  weeks 
through  the  c Ltry,  ai  one  time  ( -May  1!'  |,  mak- 
ing quite  a  capture  of  prisoners  on  the  south  side 
of  the  Cumberland  River,  attended  with  a  skirm- 
ish, during  which  a  Lieutenant  Record,  of  the  70th 
Indiana,  was  wounded.  At  another  tune  the  Major 
captured,  and  brought  in.  seventy-eight  bales  of 
cotton,  from  across  the  river,  fifty  horses  and 
mules,  and  several  rebel-. 

The  Gallatin  printing  office  was  place. 1  in  charge 
of  Private  Ogden  Whitlock  of  Company  F.  105th, 
by  Major  Scarritt,  provost  marshal  under  General 
Paine,  post  commander.  Private  Whitlock  acted 
as  post  printer,  turning  out  a  large  amount  cf 
Government  printing  in  the  shape  of  job  work, 
and  together  with  Sergeant  .T.  E.  Ilarroun,  of  the 
102d  Illinois,  as  senior  editor,  and  Privates  Bell 
and  Patrick,  of  the  I02d,  and  Company  A.  105th. 
respectively,  published  a  well-filled  ami  well- 
edited  six  column  weekh  paper  called  the  Courier, 
which  enjoyed  a  circulation  of  1,200,  having  main- 
northern  exchanges,  and  receiving  complimentary 
notices  from  such  paper-  a-  the  Indianapolis  Daily 
Journal,  Gazette,  Weekly  Chicago  Covenant,  Syca- 
more Republican,  Wheaton  Illinoian,  Xashville 
Tenn..  Daily  Union,  Elgin,  111..  Gazette,  Salem, 
0.,  Republican,  Aledo.  111..  Eecord  and  many  other 


prints;  al-o  a  sarcastic  notice  from  the  Louisville 
Journal. 

We  have  not  yet  mentioned  the  fact  of  the  disso- 
lution of  lien.  Dumont's  division  to  which  the 
[•eiriiucnt  wa-  assigned  at  Louisville.  On  the  7th 
day  of  December,  1862,  the  39th  brigade,  which 
was  in  the  division,  and  commanded  by  Colonel 
M e.  of  the  104th  Illinois  Volunteers,  was  cap- 
tured at  Ilartsville.  Tenn.  This  event  seemed  to 
disgrace,  or  at  least,  was  disastrous  to  the  division, 
a.-  immediately  thereafter,  one  brigade — the  40th 
— was  assigned  to  General  Reynolds,  and  Ward's 
brigade  assigned  to  General  E.  A.  Paine,  com- 
mander of  the  post  at  Gallatin. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Vallette  filled  the  position 
of  provosi  marshal  for  some  time  at  Gallatin,  and 
Captain  A.  C.  Graves  of  Company  P.  hail  charge 

bf  provosi   guard. 

Many  of  the  officers  and  men  received  leave  of 
absi  ace  Erom  that  point,  visiting  their  homes  ami 
returning  to  the  regiment,  bearing  letters  and 
packages  to  those  who  remained  with  the  com- 
mand. 

Second  Lieutenant  Wm.  P.  Thomas,  promoted 
from  first  sergeant,  Company  A,  was  assigned  to 
i  in  position  of  A.  A.  G.,  on  Stall'  id'  General  W. 
T.  Ward,  commanding  the  brigade,  then  called  the 
8th,  a  position  which  he  tilled  with  credit  to  him- 
self, reflecting  honor  on  the  105th.  He  was  after- 
ward confirmed  a-  a  -tail  officer  by  authority  of 
the  president  of  tin-  United  States,  which  posi- 
tion be  retained  during  the  remainder  of  his  term 

ol     -en  iee. 

First  Lieutenant  L.  B.  Church,  promoted  from 
- I  lieutenant  Company  B.  afterwards  pro- 
moted i<>  captain — was  detailed  on  tin  -tall  of 
General  Ward  as  A.  I>.  ('..  and  subsequently  on 
the  stall'  of  General  Paine,  as  A.  D.  ('..  which  po- 
sition he  assumed  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the 
commanding  ofiBcers  in  particular  ami  the  com- 
mand in  general.  Lieutenant  Church  was  an 
officer  ami  gentleman  of  more  than  usual  popular- 
ity, on  account  of  In-  uniform  conviviality  and 
bis  wonderful  talent  for  singing.  He  has  charmed 
the  senses  of  thousands  in  and  out  of  the  army 
by  his  magic  voice.  To  the  105th  be  was  a  tow-»r 
of  strength:  as  a  natural  born  singer,  he  pos- 
5i  ssed  in  ample  measure  the  power  to  soothe  and 
thrill  with  concordant  sounds  the  spirits  of  its 
every    member.      Stand  him   on   a  barrel   in   the 


PAST   AND   PKESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


223 


streets  of  Gallatin  or  in  any  of  the  camps,  and 
he  would  bring  every  regiment  and  every  detach- 
ment within  the  radius  of  a  mile  inside  the  circle 
of  his  song  vibrations.  "The  Sword  of  Bunker 
Hill,"  "Bed,  White  and  Blue,"  "Old  Shady,"  and 
other  popular  airs  were  rendered  with  great  en- 
ergy and  effect. 

The  105th  was  distinguished  for  its  musical 
characters — perhaps  more  than  any  other  regiment 
in  the  whole  department.  Colonel  Dustin,  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel  Vallette,  Major  Dutton,  Assistant 
Surgeon  Waterman,  and  Lieutenant  Heath,  of 
Company  A,  were  singers  also.  They  participated 
in  the  exercises  of  a  grand  concert  given  at  Galla- 
tin by  a  combination  of  singers  and  musicians  of 
the  8th  brigade,  on  the  evening  of  April  22,  1863. 
The  entertainment  was  a  splendid  affair,  and  had 
to  be  repeated  the  second  evening  following.  The 
Gallatin  Courier  in  making  an  extended  notice  of 
the  concert  of  the  22d,  said :  "The  entertainment 
was  a  highly  successful  one  in  all  respects,  and 
will  be  remembered  as  one  of  the  brightest  inci- 
dents in  the  army,  long  after  the  scenes  through 
which  we  are  passing  have  flown."  Among  the 
line  officers  and  enlisted  men  there  were  also 
many  singers,  and  good  musicians. 

The  Begimental  Band,  with  Drum-Major  Mor- 
rel  Fuller  and  Fife-Major  Walter  Van  Velzer  at 
its  head,  became  justly  noted  in  the  army  for 
clever  manipulations  on  the  drum  and  fife.  Be- 
ing expert  performers  on  the  violin  also,  these 
gentlemen  added  its  charms  to  the  list  of  "regi- 
mental blessings."  By  means  of  industrious  appli- 
cation during  their  term  of  service,  they  advanced 
to  a  stage  of  development  which  gave  them  de- 
cided character  as  individuals  and  made  the  regi- 
ment proud  of  them  as  its  principal  musicians. 
The  entire  company  of  musicians  attained  to  a 
high  degree  of  efficiency,  the  band  as  a  whole  be- 
ing excelled  by  none,  and  above  the  average  in  all 
respects  of  most  regimental  bands  in  the  army. 

Private  Luther  L.  Hiatt,  Company  F,  the  pre- 
scription clerk  in  the  regimental  hospital,  a  most 
exemplary  young  soldier,  and  a  veritable  musician, 
frequently  furnished  a  guitar  accompaniment  to 
the  violins  and  fifes,  the  whole  making  up  an 
excellent  combination,  fully  deserving  the  title 
of  the  "105th  Illinois  String  Band." 

The  old  105th  owes  much  of  its  character  and 


popularity,  as  a  whole,  to  the  rare  musical  power 
of  those  above  indicated. 

Under  the  able  management  of  Colonel  Dustin, 
the  regiment  rapidly  attained  to  a  degree  of  effic- 
iency in  drill  and  discipline.  In  the  manual  of 
arms  the  105th  already  began  to  excel,  and  in  the 
drill  grounds  the  men  were  readily  wielded  in  the 
school  of  battalion.  The  colonel  early  taught  the 
rules  of  health  in  his  advisory  speeches  to  the  regi- 
ment, and  fully  set  forth  the  duty  and  great  ad- 
vantages of  education  in  all  things  pertaining  to 
the  service.  Few  regiments  perhaps  were  organized 
with  such  entire  unanimity  of  feeling  as  existed  in 
the  105th,  and  that  continued  to  prevail  from 
this  lime  to  tbe  end  of  the  war. 

About  the  time  the  regiment  returned  to  Galla- 
tin from  the  Tunnel,  Surgeon  Potter  was  detailed 
to  act  as  brigade  surgeon,  First  Assistant  Surgeon 
Waterman  shortly  afterward  taking  his  place  in 
the  regiment  as  acting  chief  surgeon. 

While  at  Gallatin  and  the  Tunnel  the  following 
additional  changes  occurred  among  commissioned 
officers. 

Captain  Alexander  L.  Warner,  Company  C,  of 
Sycamore,  resigned  February  17,  1863,  First 
Lieutenant  George  W.  Field,  Sycamore,  succeed- 
ing as  captain.  Captain  Field  afterward  resigned 
July  11,  1863,  First  Lieutenant  Charles  G.  Cul- 
ver, of  Company  H,  being  promoted  to  the  cap- 
taincy of  Company  C.  Captain  Thomas  S.  Terry, 
Company  E,  of  Shabbona,  resigned  March  16, 
First  Lieutenant  Marvin  V.  Allen,  Shabbona,  suc- 
ceeding as  captain.  Second  Lieutenant  Porter 
Warner,  Company  F,  York,  DuPage,  resigned 
April  17.  First  Sergeant  Wm.  M.  Tirtlot  suc- 
ceeding as  Second  Lieutenant. 

On  the  9th  of  April,  1863,  while  acting  as  Pro- 
vost guard.  Private  Isaac  Elsie,  Company  C,  Cap- 
tain A.  C.  Graves,  was  accidentally  shot  dead  by 
a  pistol  in  the  hands  of  a  comrade.  This  was  one 
of  the  saddest  occurrences  that  happened  to  the 
provost  guards  at  Gallatin. 

The  regiment  was  paid  off  about  the  middle  of 
April,  at  which  time  the  boys  were  ready  to  fully 
appreciate  those  fine  greenbacks,  having  not  so 
favorable  an  opportunity  of  passing  old  pain-killer 
labels  and  postage  stamps  as  at  Scottsville. 

Captain  J.  S.  Forsythe,  Company  H,  added  a 
Mr.  Samuel  Taylor,  citizen  of  Sumner  county, 
Tenn.,  to  his  gallant  family  of  boys,  being  prob- 


224 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


ably  the  only  regular  enlistment  in  the  regiment 
''from  a  quarter  leasl  expected"  during  its  cam- 
paigning in  the  enemy's  eountry. 

Colored  inhabitants  in  the  country  about  Galla- 
tin— then  called  "contrabands"  by  the  soldiers, 
came  in  daily  to  the  Post,  many  of  whom  were  em- 
ployed in  the  hospitals,  ami  on  the  streets  and 
alleys,  cleansing  the  town.  Colonel  1!.  .1.  Sweet, 
commanding  at  Fori  Thomas,  near  the  railway 
depot,  employed  a  number  at  the  fort;  ami  when 
I".'  man]  accumulated  thej  were  shipped  t"  the 
ronl  and  se1  i"  work  there. 

There  were  periods  of  gloom  among  the  people 
generall]  wljile  tic  brigade  was  lying  at  Galla- 
tin, the  militan  situation  Easl  an. I  West  being 
unsatisfactory,  and  reported  dissatisfaction  in  the 
North  gave  rise  t<>  the  painful  reflection  that  a 
"fire  in  the  rear"  was  aboul  to  be  threatened.  Bui 
to  fighting  men  tin-  prospeci   had   no  terrors,  as 

the]   were  ans -  t"  finish  disloyalt]   in  front  or 

rear,  never  counting  the  cost.  It  was  this  spirit, 
gaining  asci  ndam  j  among  tl  e  troops  of  the  W  est, 
which  finally  manifested  itself  in  the  bold  move- 
nieiit    thai    resulted,    together    with     the    master 

-i  rakes  in  the   East,   in  tl mplete  triumph  of 

national  arm-.  Notwithstanding  the  dark 
times,  more  or  less  intensified  since  the  starting 
nut  of  the  105th  in  1862,  the  -pirn  of  the  troops. 
although  depressed,  never  despaired,  and  thi 
of  May,  1863,  broughl  new  \  ictoj  I  and 
West,  when  depression  gave  waj  to  revivifying 
hope.    This  was  the  beginning  of  the  end. 

imong  the  happiesl  of  mortals  were  the  poor, 
humble  "contrabands."  Apparently  oblivious  to 
the  effects  »  hi<  li  made  the  hearl  of  the  soldier  sad, 
they  enjoyed  their  sports,  their  dances,  their  out- 
gambols.  The\  rejoiced  in  perpetual  youth; 
ter  looking  forward  nor  backward,  bul  living 
in  the  hour — ready  for  any  fate.  Verily,  the 
eloquence  of  life  abode  in  the  bosom  of  the  blai 

The  garrison  at  Gallatin  was  subjed  to  alarms 
Erom  John  Morgan's  raiders,  occasionally,  when 
the  army  wagons  would  be  quickly  interlocked  in 
the  streets,  forming  a  barricade.  But  John  never 
came  near  eno  igh  to  see  thi  se  formidable  obstruc- 
tions. An  offended  Tennessei  poetess,  and  a  hater 
of  the  Provosl  Marshal — Major  Scarritt,  really  a 
wonderfully  austere  man — made  the  following  al- 
lusion to  lip  -i'  alarms,  in  a  parody  "li  ""Maryland. 
My  Maryland": 


"The  Yankees  they  get  scared  at  night, 

Blockade  the  streets  with  all  their  might  ; 

Wbuld'st  knew  the  eause — old  S t's  tight. 

Gallatin!     My  Gallatin." 

<  in  the  1st.  of  June,  1863,  the  regimenl  and 
brigade  were  transferred  from  Gallatin  to  La- 
vergne, by  railroad,  t"  a  point  aboul  twenty  miles 
southeast  of  Nashville,  on  the  Nashville  and  Chat- 
tanooga Railroad.  Here  the  regimenl  was  en- 
gaged  in  guarding  and  drilling.  Early  one  dark 
morning  tie  camp  was  alarmed,  and  the  105th 
sprang  to  their  guns  at  the  eall  of  Colonel  Dustin. 
whose  \oiee  sounded  out  clearly  through  the  dark- 
ness, •"line  hundred  and  fifth!  fall  in!  quick!" 
Bui    the  alarm    proved    falsi',  and    the   troops   were 

ordered  to  their  quarters. 

Some  tedious  drill  exercises  were  gone  through 
with  here  daily,  closing  in  the  evening  with  dress 
parade. 

'I'he  regiment,  alter  stopping  at  Lavergne  one 
month,  was  ordered  to  Murfreesboro,  hut  returned 
i"  Lavergne  the  [asl  of  July,  and  from  thence  to 
the  city  of  Nashville,  "n  the  L9th  day  of  August, 
relieving  a  brigade  of  troops  under  command  of 
Genera]  Morgan.  Here  the  105th  was  placed  in 
charge  of  Fori  Negley,  being  quartered  inside  the 
works.  The  regimenl  was  on  constant  duty  here 
until  it>  final  departure  from  Nashville,  guarding 
the  city  and  Fort  Negley,  and  being  under  a  sys- 
tem of  daily  drill. 

Destined  to  remain  at  Nashville  about  six 
month-  (arriving  there,  as  above  stated.  An. 
19,  1863,  and  remaining  until  February  "?4.  1864,) 
tin'  regimenl  had  time  to  perfect  iself  in  drill,  and 
many  acquaintances  in  the  city.  It  was  its 
good  fortune  to  exi  hangi  the  inferior  Austrian 
musket,  with  which  it  had  been  armed,  for  the 
Springfield  rilled  musket,  a  nicer  and  more  serv- 
iceable weapon. 

The  brigade  was  attached  to  the  Eleventh  Army 
Corps.  Major-General  0.  0.  Howard,  command- 
ing,  while  at  Nashville. 

Many  officers  ami  men  were  detailed  from  the 
regimenl  for  special  duty.  Major  Dutton  was  de- 
tailed by  order  from  Washington,  on  the  Board 
to  examine  applicant-  for  positions  a-  officers  in 
colored  regiments,  remaining  on  that  Board  from 
October  or  November,  LSG3.  until  the  opening  of 
the  Atlanta  Campaign,  May.  1804.  As  an  evi- 
dence that  the  105th  were  well  drilled,  some  thirty- 


CAPT.  R.  A.   SMITH.  SERG.   DEXTER   WESSON.  CAPT.  H.  C.  WHITTEMORE. 


A.   S.  K1NSLOE. 


JOHN    BECKER. 


E.    P.   SAFFORD. 


JOHN    CULVER. 


REV.    N.    W.    HERMANS. 


ELIJAH   CURTIS. 


vi,i 


"-ENOx 


PAST   AND   PBESENT   OF  DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


227 


three  of  its  members  passed  a  satisfactory  exam- 
ination, and  most  of  them  were  commissioned  and 
did  good  service  as  officers  in  colored  regiments. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Vallette  was  detailed  on 
court-martial  for  some  time;  also  Captain  A.  C. 
Graves,  Company  D,  and  Captain  John  B.  Nash, 
Company  G.  Captain  S.  F.  Daniels  had  previous- 
ly been  detailed  as  Acting  Commissary  of  Subsist- 
ence at  brigade  headquarters.  Acting  Surgeon 
A.  Waterman  was  detailed  in  a  small-pox  hospital. 

Many  enlisted  men  were  detailed  as  clerks  at 
the  different  headquarters  in  the  department,  fill- 
ing important  places. 

The  following  changes  occurred  among  commis- 
sioned officers:  First  Lieutenant  Henry  B.  Ma- 
son, of  Sycamore,  Co.  C,  resigned  September  6, 
1863,  Second  Lieutenant  John  W.  Burst,  of 
Franklin,  succeeding  as  First  Lieutenant.  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant  Hiram  S.  Harrington,  of  Frank- 
lin, Co.  G,  resigned  August  2,  1863,  while  the 
regiment  was  stationed  at  Lavergne,  and  died  soon 
after  his  return  home.  Sergeant  James  S.  Has- 
luirgh  being  brevctted  Second  lieutenant  June 
7th. 

While  at  Nashville  the  regiment  was  numerous- 
ly visited  by  its  friends  from  the  north,  several  of 
the  officers'  wives,  and  the  wives  of  some  of  the 
enlisted  men  being  among  the  guests  of  the  regi- 
ment. While  visiting  at  this  point  in  company 
with  her  mother,  a  little  daughter  of  Chief  Sur- 
geon (Acting  Brigade  Surgeon)  H.  S.  Potter. 
died.  Colonel  Dustin  and  stall',  the  line  officers 
and  many  soldiers  of  the  105th,  together  with  a 
regular  escort,  attended  the  funeral,  accompanying 
the  remains  to  the  cemetery  and  depositing  them 
in  a  vault.  She  was  a  child  of  some  twelve  sum- 
mers, of  almost  angelic  brightness,  the  pride  of 
a  father's  and  mother's  heart.  Said  she.  shortly 
before  the  moment  of  dissolution:  "If  I  die  will 
I  see  anybody?"  to  which  question  the  hearts  of 
those  around  her  intuitively  answered  "yes."  The 
attendant  circumstances;  the  time,  place,  man- 
ner of  services,  interment ;  the  character  of  the 
mourners  and  sympathizers — all  together  made 
the  occasion  one  of  peculiar  interest,  and  long  to 
he  remembered  for  its  intensified  sadness.  How 
much  is  wrapped  up  in  the  human  heart  may  be 
estimated  by  those  who  participated  in  the  solemn- 
ities of  that  occasion,  and  through  their  sympa- 
thetic relations  with  the  near  bereaved  were  made 


to  feel  the  uses  of  adversity.  Perhaps  the  recol- 
lection of  similar  bereavements,  more  directly  con- 
cerning themselves,  gave  a  finer  point  to  the  pains 
of  the  heart. 

Among  the  sober  experiences  in  the  military 
school  at  Nashville  was  that  of  brigade  drill.  The 
evolutions  of  a  brigade  are  similar  in  detail  to 
those  of  a  battalion,  a  much  larger  plat  of  ground 
being  required  in  the  execution  of  the  movements 
of  the  former.  In  these  movements  General 
Ward's  brigade  presented  a  scene  of  considerable 
activity  and  interest,  on  the  flats  in  the  southeast- 
ern suburbs  of  the  city.  It  was  a  pleasure,  often- 
times, for  the  regiments  to  drill  together;  to  re- 
ceive instruction  with  each  other  from  the  same 
teacher,  and  perfect  themselves  by  united  prac- 
tice. Never  were  men  more  agreeably  associated 
in  any  cause. 

General  Ward  to  us  presented  the  appearance 
of  a  rather  short  and  chubby  Kentuckian  of  fifty 
years,  quite  unprepossessing,  yet  it  appears  in  it 
without  some  qualifications  that  made  him  popu- 
lar and  respected  throughout  his  command.  As 
a  speaker  he  made  up  for  the  lack  in  looks  by  his 
singular^  suavity  and  eloquence;  and  it  is  said  he 
displayed  fine  sensibilities  in  the  care  of  his  com- 
mand. Many  of  the  boys  of  the  brigade  declared 
that  the  general  was  an  old  granny;  but  he  was 
generally  called  "Old  Pap  Ward,"  or  "Pappy 
Ward."  To  many  he  was  a  grim-looking  old  Gen- 
eral. 

At  a  general  meeting  in  the  capitol  at  Nash- 
ville, largely  attended  by  citizens  and  soldiers,  on 
the  night  of  the  8th  of  January,  in  honor  of  the 
battle  of  New  Orleans,  Governor  Andrew  John- 
son, Colonel  Dustin  and  others,  made  appropriate 
speeches.  The  gentlemen  named  were  the  princi- 
pal speakers;  their  eloquent  consideration  of  the 
gallant  repulse  of  the  British  by  the  Americans 
under  General  Jackson,  supplemented  by  patriotic 
stirring  Up  tlie  hearts  of  the  people  to  a  sense  of 
the  importance  of  preserving  our  national  life. 
Expressive  resolutions  were  adopted. 

A  distressing  occurrence  on  the  night  of  the 
14th  of  February  sent  a  thrill  of  excitement 
through  the  camp  on  the  following  morning  as  it 
awoke  to  a  knowledge  of  the  shocking  details. 
Sergeant  Taylor,  of  Company  E,  Captain  M.  V 
Allen,  commander,  had  been  found  in  the  railroad 


22S 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


cut,  dead,  appearances  indicating  that  he  was  the 
victim  of  a  most  foul  murder. 

On  the  23d  of  February,  1864,  orders  were  re- 
ceived at  regimental  headquarters  to  be  ready  to 
march  the  following  morning.  So,  at  four  o'clock 
the  regiment  arose  at  the  sound  of  drums  and 
fifes,  took  a  last  breakfast  at  its  pleasant  old  camp 
at  Fort  Negley,  bade  farew-ell  to  Nashville  at 
eight  o'clock,  and  with  General  Ward  at  the  head 
of  the  brigade  and  Colonel  Dustin  at  the  head  of 
the  regiment,  the  march  for  Wauhatchie  Valley 
was  commenced,  the  column  moving  out  of  town 
on  the  Murfreesboro  pike.  The  following  is  a 
brief  diary  account  of  the  march: 

February  24th. — Moved  about  ten  miles,  the 
weather  being  pleasant,  marching  agreeable. 
Turned  into  camp  about  three  o'clock,  afternoon. 
B  had  lively  time  catching  rabbits.  The  nu- 
merous camp  fires  of  the  brigade  made  a  cheering 

Qg   >IL_rllt. 

25th. — Started  at  earlj  dawn.  Arrived  at 
Stewart's  Creek,  where  part  of  the  lie.',]  regiment, 
of  the  brigade,  was  stationed.  Camped  here  at 
.■in  o'clock,  marching  about  ten  miles. 

26th. — Arrived  at  Murfreesboro  at  twelve 
o'clock — camped. 

27th.  Moved  about  thirteen  miles,  camping  at 
"'(•leek  afternoon.  After  tic  tents  were 
pitched,  Private  0.  Whitlock,  Company  F,  while 
resting  before  the-  tire  at  regimental  headquarters. 
by  chance  espied  a  sack  of  coined  silver  on  the  sur- 
Eaci  of  id'  ground  immediately  between  his  feet. 
It  had  been  partially  worn  away  from  long  ex- 
posure to  the  elements,  leaving  the  treasure  bared 
to  attract  the  passerby.  The  lot  embraced  twenty- 
five  dollars  American  money,  including  one  spu- 
rious half-dollar.  It  was  distributed  among  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  regiment. 

28th. — Moved  about  seventeen  miles,  passing 
through  Shelbyville  at  noon,  and  camping  five 
null-  beyond  at  half-past  two  o'clock.  The  peo- 
ple of  Shelbyville  seeme/1  glad  to  see  the  "Yan- 
kees." 

29th. — Moved  about  fourteen  miles,  through 
alternate  rain  showers,  turning  into  camp  near 
Tullahoma  at  three  o'clock.  This  day's  march 
was  very  severe  on  account  of  rain,  mud  and  cold. 
In  the  evening  the  rains  turned  into  the  consist- 
ency of  sleet,  making  it  very  difficult  to  start  fires, 
the  country  being  bare  of  fence*    the  soldier's  fa- 


vorite fuel.  Great  logs  had  to  be  cut,  and  tree 
tops  used  for  kindling,  and  some  '"'comparative 
freezing*'  was  endured  before  the  camp  was  made 
comfortable.  The  men  slept  hard,  or  hardly  slept, 
this  night. 

March  1st. — Weather  wet  and  cold — inarch  not 
continued.  A  portion  of  the  division  train  stuck 
in  the  mud  during  the  storm — considerable  suffer- 
ing— some  of  the  buys  sick. 

'.''I. — The  march  continued  at  8  o'clock. 
Weather  clear,  roads  muddy.  Camped  near  Elk 
river  bridge,  after  proceeding  about  nine  miles. 

3d. — Moved  at  seven  o'clock — weather  pleas- 
ant— roads  more  passable.  Passes  through  De- 
chard,  on  the  X.  &  C.  P.  P..  turning  into  camp 
at  foot  of  Raccoon  mountains,  beyond  Cowan,  at 
two  o'clock,  afternoon.  Distance  marched,  ten 
miles. 

4th. — Ascended  the  mountains,  and  after  pro- 
ceeding several  miles  on  the  wrong  road,  the  col- 
umn was  turned  and  marched  down  a  deep  ravine 
to  the  right  one.  Reached  Tautalou  three  o'clock, 
afternoon,  a  point  on  the  railroad  ninety-four 
miles  from  Nashville.  Heavy  rain  fell  in  the 
night. 

oth. — Owing  to  the  failure  of  the  teams  to  reach 

camp   last   night,   consequent  on  the   blunder   of 

-tutting  on  the  wrong  road  yesterday,  the  march 

not  continued  until   noon.     Distance   made. 

tr  miles. 

6th.  -  -Moved  at  early  dawn.  Pleasant  weather, 
i  toads.  Distance  about  twelve  miles.  Ar- 
rived near  Stevenson,  Ala.,  at  two  o'clock.  Troops 
\  ed  their  mail  matter. 

Tth. — Passed  through  Stevenson,  proceeded  to 
a  point  within  sight  of  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  and 
|  ed.  Distance  twelve  miles,  turning  in  at 
twelve  o'clock. 

sth. — Remained  in  camp. 

9th. — Resumed  the  march  at  daylight,  passing 
through  Bridgeport  and  across  Tennessee  river, 
reaching  Shell  Mound  at  noon.  Took  dinner  near 
the  mouth  of  Nick  O'Jack  Cave,  one  of  the  out- 
cropping curiosities  of  nature.  The  boys  briefly 
explored  the  interior  of  the  cave  entrance.  It  was 
found  to  exceed  Lost  River  Cave  at  Bowling 
Green  in  the  spaciousness  and  grandeur  of  its 
i°;es.  During  the  war  the  Lafayette  Courier 
gave  the  following  account  of  the  rather  thrilling 
exneriencp  of  two  Indiana  soldiers  in  this  cave: 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


"While  General  Joe  Reynolds'  division  was  en- 
camped near  Nick  O'Jack  Cave — about  ten  miles 
from  Bridgeport,  on  the  Tennessee  river — two  of 
the  boys  of  the  72d  Indiana  regiment  who  en- 
tered the  cave  on  a  "reconnoitering  expedition" 
lost  their  way  in  the  mazes  of  the  cavern  and 
were  unable  to  get  out.  They  remained  in  the 
cavern  two  days  and  nights,  and  were  finally  res- 
cued from  a  horrible  death  by  means  of  a  brass 
band  playing  through  the  long  ventilated  cham- 
bers. The  lost  men,  hearing  the  music,  were  en- 
abled to  find  their  way  with  some  difficulty  to  their 
companions.  During  their  wanderings  they  had 
stumbled  upon  the  bodies  of  two  men,  who  were 
afterwards  searched  for  and  brought  forth  from 
what  had  been  a  living  tomb.  They  proved  to  be 
two  rebel  soldiers  in  uniform,  one  wearing  that  of 
a  lieutenant,  the  other  in  a  private  dress.  They 
appeared  to  have  been  dead  some  time,  yet  their 
bodies  were  in  a  most  complete  state  of  preserva- 
tion." 

10th. — Continued  this  march  at  nine  o'clock. 
Weather  warm  after  a  night  of  rain.  Roads  very 
rough  and  hilly,  the  marching  rapid  and  exhaust- 
ing. Passed  Whiteside  Station  and  Sand  Moun-- 
tain.  Distance  about  sixteen  miles,  passing 
through  romantic  country,  arriving  in  Wauhat- 
chie  Valley  and  at  the  end  of  the  tedious  march. 
Major-General  <>.  <).  Howard  came  out  and  met 
the  brigade. 

The  next  day  (March  11th)  the  regiment  was 
assigned  a  position  on  a  hill-slope  in  Lookout  Val- 
ley, near  Wauhatchie  Station,  there  to  rest  and 
make  ready  for  a  grand  movement  against  the 
Confederate  Army  under  General  Joe  Johnston. 

The  march  from  Nashville  to  Lookout  Valley 
was  accomplished  in  sixteen  days,  inclusive  of  two 
whole  days  on  which  no  progress  was  made.  The 
grounds  of  the  105th  at  that  point  were  laid  out 
with  nice  precision,  and  the  camp  tastefully  orna- 
mented with  evergreen  boughs  throughout.  The 
individual  members  of  the  regiment  visited  the 
lofty  heights  of  Lookout  Mountain,  from  the 
highest  point  of  which  the  territory  of  seven  states 
can  he  seen.  The  eye  rests  upon  a  landscape  to 
the  north  embracing  the  Cumberland  Mountain 
range,  stretching  from  the  left  of  the  Valley  to  the 
northeast,  until  its  outlines  blend  with  the  color 
of  the  far  horizon ;  the  waters  of  the  Tennessee 
next  from   the  foot  of  Lookout,  closely  hugging 


the  great  range,  winding  along  for  many  miles,  is 
finally  lost  among  its  spurs;  then  further  east  is 
presented  an  expanse  of  diversified  scenery,  includ- 
ing Chattanooga  city,  fields,  hills,  valleys  and 
woods,  the  smoke  of  the  distant  towns  rising  above 
the  country  at  various  points.  On  the  whole  the 
view  is  one  of  indescribable  grandeur. 

The  brigade — now  called  the  first — had  been 
transferred  to  the  11th  A.  C,  under  General  How- 
ard, as  before  stated,  and  was  reviewed  in  the  val- 
ley by  Generals  Howard  and  Hooker  on  the  19th 
«il'  March. 

On  the  22d  of  March  a  rare  effect  in  the  shape 
of  a  snow  storm  was  produced  by  nature's  untiring 
forces.  Commencing  in  the  night  the  fall  of  snow 
continued  until  noon  of  the  following  day,  cover- 
ing the  ground  to  the  depth  of  one  foot.  For  the 
i  line  and  place  this  was  something  extraordinary. 
Sometimes  the  weather  was  quite  cold,  at  others 
disagreeable. 

Adjutant  David  D.  Chandler,  one  of  the  most 
energetic  and  best  looking  in  the  Eleventh  Corps, 
having  been  on  duty  constantly,  here  received  the 
favor  of  a  detail  for  the  purpose  of  repairing  to 
the  north  to  secure  instruments  for  the  Brigade 
Band.  He  performed  the  duty,  not  failing  to  re- 
turn to  the  regiment  in  time  to  enter  on  the  At- 
lanta campaign.  In  every  battle  and  under  the 
harrassing  daily  skirmish  fire  of  the  opposing 
forces,  during  that  campaign,  this  officer  proved 
himself  to  be  one  of  the  best  to  endure  and  to  dare. 
Second  Lieutenant  A.  H.  Fisher,  of  Company  I, 
Captain  J.  0.  Locke,  filled  the  adjutant's  office 
until  the  return  of  the  adjutant,  on  the  1st  of 
May. 

One  of  the  thrilling  incidents  connected  with 
the  camp  in  the  valley  was  that  of  a  large  forest 
tree  blowing  down  during  the  prevalence  of  high 
winds  in  the  evening  of  March  28th.  The  tree 
fell  across  several  of  the  tents  of  Companies  D  and 
I,  crushing  them  to  the  ground.  Beyond  the 
smashing  of  a  few  simple  articles  of  furniture,  no 
further  damage  was  done,  as  fortunately,  for  the 
moment,  the  tents  were  unoccupied. 

While  in  the  valley  drill  duty,  inspection  and 
reviewing  was  the  order  of  the  day.  On  the  13th 
of  April  the  regiment  was  visited  by  Major-Gen- 
eral Joe  Hooker,  and  during  the  night  Colonel 
Dustin  and  the  regiment  were  serenaded  by  the 
79th      Ohio     regimental      band.      Major-General 


230 


PAST  AXI)  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


George  H.  Thomas  reviewed  the  brigade  the  fol- 
lowing day. 

About  the  middle  of  April  the  military  desig- 
nation was  changed,  and  from  that  time  until  the 
close  of  the  war  the  command  was  known  as  the 
First  Brigade,  Third  Division,  Twentieth  Army 
Corps,  then  under  General  Hooker.  On  the  18th 
of  April  .Major-General  George  II.  Thomas,  com- 
mander, Army  of  the  Cumberland,  embracing 
Hooker'-  corps,  honored  the  camp  of  the  105th 
with  his  presence.  The  regiment  participated  for 
the  first  time  in  division  drill  on  the  21st. 

On  the  22d  bhe  band  of  the  33d  Massachu- 
setts regiment  of  the  division,  very  friendly  to  the 
L05th,  paid  the  camp  at   visit  and  treated   it  to 

- e  excellent  music.     The  105th  officers  visited 

the  33d  on  the  26th  of  April. 

Among  the  officers  sick  or  disabled  at  this  point 
were  Colonel  Dustin,  Acting  Brigade  Surgeon 
Potter,  Captain  T.  S.  Rogers,  Company  B.  and 
Captain  S.  !•'.  Daniels,  Company  F,  the  latter  Inn- 
ing accidentally  broken  his  Leg  below  the  knee 
while  engaged  in  a  game  of  ball.  The  captain, 
although  anxious  to  enter  with  his  company  on  the 
approaching  campaign,  was  prevented  from  doing 
so  in  consequence  of  the  severity  of  his  wound, 
lie  was  sent  to  Camp  Dennison  at  Coin  minis.  Ohio. 
where,  as  soon  as  his  condition  would  allow,  be 
was  detailed  for  duty  as  post  commissary,  we  be- 
lieve, remaining  at  Columbus  during  the  balance 
of  his  term  of  sen  ice. 

"While  in  camp  at  Wauhatchie.  or  soon  after,  the 
following  additional  changes  occurred  among  com- 
missioned officer- : 

First  Lieutenant  William  H.  Jeffers,  Company 
D,  Downer's  Grove,  resigned  May  5th,  1864,  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant  Luther  L.  Peaslee.  Naperville, 
succeeding  as  first  lieutenant.  Lieutenant  Jeffers 
resigned  in  order  to  take  a  position  as  major  in  a 
colored  regiment. 

Second  Lieutenant  John  II.  Swift,  Company  D. 
resigned  March  16th,  Sergeant  Jacob  Ostrander, 
of  Paw  Paw,  being  breveted  as  second  lieutenant, 
June  7.  1865. 

First  Lieutenant  Samuel  Adams.  Company  F. 
Wayne,  DuPage,  resigned  April  13th,  Second 
Lieutenant  William  M.  Tirtlot,  Milton,  succeed- 
ing as  first  lieutenant. 

Captain  John  B.  Nash,  Company  G,  Franklin. 
resigned  July  17,   1864.     First  Lieutenant   John 


M.  Smith.  Burlington,  was  promoted  captain  but 
not  mustered. 

On  the  25th  of  April  the  colonel  received  or 
ders  to  prepare  for  active  service  in  the  field. 

The  regiment  and  brigade  again  participated 
in  division  drill,  near  General  Hooker's  head- 
quarters, April  28th,  going  through  the  motions 
of  a  battle,   tiring  blank  cartridges. 

Receiving  marching  orders  on  the  1st,  and  on 
the  2d  of  May,  1864,  the  march  for  the  immedi- 
ate front  commenced.  Here  was  the  opening  of 
one  of  the  boldest  and  most  remarkable  campaigns 
ever  engaged  in  by  any  army,  and  whose  end  re- 
sulted in  the  complete,  great,  glorious  triumph 
of  the  national  arms. 

Some  of  the  Confederates  are  reported  as  after- 
ward declaring  that  "Old  Sherman  ascended  Point 
Lookout  and  gave  the  command,  attention — cre- 
ation! by  kingdoms  right  wheel — march!"  And 
then  it  was  reported  that  after  General  Johnston 
had  followed  his  retreating  policy,  during  the  cam- 
paign, the  Confederates  declared  "that  their  arm\ 
was  commanded  by  'Old  Billy  Sherman.'  that  thev 
invariably  moved  when  Sherman  gave  the  com- 
mand, and  Johnston  only  superintended  the  de- 
tails of  the  movement." 

As  indicated  above,  the  regiment  and  brigade 
broke  camp  and  commenced  the  march  at  six 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  moving  around  Point  Look- 
out, passing  Chattanooga,  through  Rossville, 
over  the  Chickamauga  battle-ground,  camp- 
ing near  Lee's  and  Gordon's  Mills — distant  from 
the  camp  at  Wauhatchie  about  nineteen  miles. 

tin  the  3d  of  May  the  entire  regiment  was  de- 
tailed for  picket  duty,  the  command  remaining  at 
this  point  until  the  following  morning,  when  the 
march  was  resumed :  proceeding  about  twelve 
miles,  camped  near  Ringgold,  Ga.,  within  a  few 
miles  of  rebel  pickets.  Remained  in  camp  on 
5th.  On  the  6th  marched  a  number  of  miles, 
camping  near  where  the  rebels  captured  and  mur- 
dered a  number  of  national  pickets  belonging  to 
the  92d  Illinois  regiment. 

On  the  7th  marched  rapidly  and  a  considerable 
distance.  Passed  through  Nick  O'Jack  Gap,  driv- 
ing the  enemy's  picket-.  Camped  in  the  woods  in 
line  of  battle,  southeast  of  Taylor's  Ridge,  a  pre- 
cipitous ran-''  of  hills.  Remained  in  camp  on  the 
8th.  Considerable  skirmishing  in  front,  at  Rocky 
Face  or   Buzzard's    le>o-t.     Brigade  still  quiet  on 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


231 


the  9th,  rcaily  for  battle.  The  roar  of  cannon  and 
rattle  of  musketry  heard,  and  the  wounded  of 
General  Geary's  division  being  brought  to  the  rear. 
Advanced  four  miles  on  the  10th,  camping  at 
cross-roads.     Here  visited  by  a  hard  rain. 

On  the  11th  the  corps,  or  the  greater  part  of  it. 
arrived  at  Snake  Creek  Gap.  halted  and  built  a 
double  road  several  miles  long,  in  about  as  many 
hours,  the  regiment  assisting  in  this  work.  While 
this  was  being  done  several  members  of  the  10th 
made  a  detour  upon  the  top  of  the  high  ridge 
which  shut  in  the  command  on  the  right  as  it 
passed  into  the  long,  deep  gap.  The  sight  from 
so  lofty  a  point  of  the  country  was  only  rivaled 
by  a  similar  one  which  they  had  witnessed  at  Point 
Lookout.  On  the  13th  and  14th  of  May  the  army 
moved  forward  slowly,  skirmishing  heavily  and 
fighting  considerably  on  the  latter  date,  the  enemy 
making  a  stand  in  and  around  Eesaca.  On  the 
loth  the  first  brigade,  supported  by  the  balance  of 
the  division,  made  a  fierce  and  determined  charge 
upon  a  peculiarly  strong  position  of  the  enemy, 
near  Eesaca,  capturing  four  pieces  of  artillery 
with  caissons  complete.  The  pieces  were  marked 
"Atlanta  and  Augusta  arsenal,"  and  weighed 
about  1,200  pounds  each. 

The  battle  was  especially  terrific,  the  rebels  hav- 
ing a  cross-fire  upon  our  force  of  grape,  canister 
and  musketry.  Captain  T.  8.  Rogers,  with  Com- 
pany B,  were  deployed  as  skirmishers,  covering  the 
front  of  the  brigade.  The  battle  commenced  about 
midday  and  lasted  till  late  in  the  afternoon.  The 
regiment  entered  this  fight  on  the  '"double-quick," 
with  fixed  bayonets  and  a  prolonged  shout.  The 
battle-line  was  deliberately  formed  behind  the 
brow  of  a  hill,  beyond  which  intervened  a  sort  of 
irregular  ravine,  next  the  slope  of  the  command- 
ing hills  or  ridges,  on  whose  summits,  well  forti- 
fied, the  enemy  was  thickly  arrayed.  Colonel 
Dustin  led  his  men  right  into  the  spirit  of  the 
conflict,  and  notwithstanding  it  was  the  first  time 
the  regiment  had  been  under  fire,  the  officers  and 
men  bore  themselves  bravely  and  well.  It  was  a 
dreadful  day's  work.  The  number  of  casualties 
was  about  fifty  in  the  regiment  ere  it  came  nut  of 
the  strife.  The  names  of  the  killed  and  wounded 
will  be  found  appended  to  this  sketch.  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Vallette  was  severely  disabled  by  a 
bursting  shell,  which  necessitated  his  retirement 
from  the  service.     Captain  W.  0.  Locke,  of  Com- 


pany I,  and  First  Lieutenant  W.  M.  Tirtlot,  of 
Company  F,  were  wounded.  Young  Arthur  P. 
Rice,  id'  Company  F,  the  bravest  of  the  brave,  fell 
inside  the  rebel  fort.  He  was  the  first  boy  in 
Wheaton  to  mount  the  stand  at  the  call  of  Cap- 
tain Daniels  for  the  service  of  his  country. 

In  his  official  report  of  this  battle  Colonel 
Dustin  pays  the  following  tribute  to  the  officers 
and  men  of  the  regiment : 

"At  a  time  when  for  several  hours  so  terrible  a 
shower  of  musketry,  shot  and  shell  was  being 
poured  upon  us  from  the  rebel  fort  and  rifle-pits, 
the  coolness  and  bravery  of  the  officers  in  repeat- 
ing commands,  correcting  imperfections  in  the 
lines  and  pressing  it  forward  was  observed  by  me 
with  great  pride  and  satisfaction,  and  was  only 
equaled  by  the  splendid  manner  in  which  the  men 
overcame  all  obstacles,  obeyed  promptly  all  or- 
ders, ami  at  last  gallantly  threw  themselves  high 
up  into  and  under  the  rebel  fortifications." 

The  brigade  stood  at  arms  most  of  the  night, 
prepared  to  repel  a  night  attack.  An  attack  be- 
ing made,  as  anticipated,  it  was  successfully  re- 
pulsed. 

During  the  night  the  rebel  army  retreated  hast- 
ily, leaving  their  exceedingly  strong  works  at  Res- 
aca.  On  the  morning  of  the  16th  the  army  started 
in  pursuit;  the  first  brigade  being  left  behind  to 
bury  their  dead,  did  not  follow  until  evening, 
marched  twelve  miles  after  dark,  coming  up  to  the 
balance  of  the  division  late  in  the  night.  On  the 
18th  moved  to  within  four  miles  of  Cassville.  on 
the  Adairsville  and  Cassville  road,  the  advance 
of  the  third  division  driving  the  rebel  rear  guard 
before  it  a  distance  of  five  miles. 

Colonel  Dustin  gives  the  following  account  of 
the  operations  of  the  19th  of  May  in  his  official  re- 
port: 

"On  the  morning  of  the  19th  our  brigade  was 
ordered  forward  on  the  Cassville  road  supported 
by  other  troops.  The  105th  was  ordered  to  take 
the  advance.  Companies  H  and  I  were  deployed 
as  skirmishers  under  Captain  Forsythe;  one  com- 
pany under  Captain  M.  Y.  Allen  being  left  in 
charge  of  the  ammunition  train.  The  balance  of 
the  regiment  constituted  a  support  to  the  skirmish 
line.  Thus  formed,  our  brigade  moved  rapidly- 
forward  and  the  skirmishers  were  soon  encoun- 
tered and  by  a  rapid  skirmish  fire  they  were  driven 
beyond   Two  Pun   Creek   and   to  within  one  mile 


.,.,, 


PAST    AXD    PRESENT   OF  DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


and  a  half  of  Cassville,  during  which  time  the  ut- 
most regularity  and  good  order  was  observed  both 
by  our  skirmishers  and  reserves.  At  this  point  was 
developed  a  large  force  of  rebel  cavalry,  and  we 
were  ordered  to  halt.  Very  soon  the  enemy  opened 
a  battery  upon  us  in  our  front  from  which  we 
were  under  a  severe  fire  for  some  two  hours.  We 
were  then  ordered  to  move  further  to  the  right, 
connecting  with  our  third  brigade,  in  whose  front 
the  enemy  seemed  to  be  massing  troops  prepara- 
tory to  a  general  engagement.  But  our  artillery 
just  ai  this  time  opened  with  deadly  effect,  scat- 
tering the  rebels  in  all  directions.  This  was  fol- 
lowed up  immediately  by  a  grand  advance  of  the 
entire  Twentieth  Corps.  The  grand  column  moved 
forward  in  excellent  order,  with  colors  flying, 
through  large,  open  fields,  crossing  Two  Run 
Creek  and  then  ascending  a  thickly  wooded  hill. 
On  reaching  the  top  of  the  hill  the  artillery  again 
tool,  position  and  opened  fire  in  good  order,  and 
tint-  the  region  of  Kingston  and  Cassville  was 
effectually  cleared  of  rebel  soldiery  and  the  day"- 
work  for  the  19th  was  done." 

A  concentration  of  the  troops  occurred  here  on 
the  evening  of  the  19th,  lying  over  till  the  23d  to 
rest,  the  enemy  retiring  in  the  interim. 

<)n  the  day  following  the  buttle  of  Resaca.  Ma- 
jor-General Butterfield,  commander  third  divis- 
ion, issued  the  following  congratulatory  order: 

"Headquarters  Third   Division,  Twentieth   Army 
( lorps, 
Near  Resaca,  Ga.,  May  16,  1864. 

"General  Orders.  Xo.  4. 

"The  major-general  commanding  feels  it  a  duty, 
;i-  well  as  a  pleasure,  to  congratulate  the  division 
upon  its  achievement  yesterday.  The  gallant  as- 
sault and  charge  of  the  first  brigade,  capturing 
four  guns  in  the  enemy's  fort;  the  brave  support 
of  the  assault  by  a  portion  of  the  second  brigade 
on  the  left,  with  the  glorious  repulse  it  gave  twice 
its  force,  proves  the  division  worthy  a  high  name 
and  fame.  Let  every  one  endeavor  by  attention 
to  duty,  obedience  to  orders,  devotion  and  cour- 
age, to  make  our  record  in  the  future  as  in  the 
past,  such  that  the  army  and  the  country  will  be 
proud  of  us. 

"P>\    command  of  Major-General  Butterfield. 
John  Speed.  Captain  and  A.  A.  G." 
General  Sherman  in  his  report  of  the  operations 


of  his  army,  referring  to  the  eventful  days  at  Re- 
saca, says: 

"Nothing  saved  Johnston's  army  at  Resaca  but 
the  impracticable  nature  of  the  country,  which 
made  the  passage  of  troops  across  the  valley  almost 
impossible.  This  fact  enabled  his  army  to  reach 
Resaca  from  Dalton,  along  the  comparatively  good 
roads  constructed  beforehand,  partly  from  the  top- 
ographical nature  of  the  country,  and  partly  from 
the  foresight  of  the  rebel  chief.  At  all  events,  on 
the  l-lth  of  May  we  found  the  rebel  army  in  a 
strong  position,  behind  Camp  Creek,  occupying 
the  forts  at  Resaca.  and  his  right  on  some  high 
chestnut  hills  to  the  north  of  the  town.  I  at  once 
ordered  a  pontoon  bridge  to  be  laid  across  the 
Oostenaula  at  Lay's  Ferry,  in  the  direction  of  Cal- 
houn, a  division  of  the  sixteenth  corps,  command- 
ed by  Genera]  Sweeney,  to  cross  and  threaten  Cal- 
houn; also,  the  cavalry  division  of  General  Gar- 
rard to  move  from  its  position  at  Villanow,  down 
towards  Rome,  to  cross  the  Oostanaula  and  break 
the  railroad  to  below  Calhoun  and  above  King- 
ston if  possible,  and  with  the  main  army  I  pressed 
against  Resaca  at  all  points.  General  McPherson 
got  across  Camp  Creek  near  its  mouth,  and  made 
;i  lodgment  close  up  to  the  enemy's  works,  on  hills 
that  commanded,  with  short  range  artillery,  the 
railroad  and  trestle  bridges,  and  General  Thomas 
pressing  close  along  Camp  Creek  Valley,  threw 
General  Hooker"s  corps  across  the  head  of  the 
creek  to  the  main  Dalton  road  and  down  to  it 
close  on  Resacs. 

General  Schofield  came  up  on  his  left,  and  a 
heavy  battle  ensued  during  the  afternoon  and 
evening  of  the  loth,  during  which  General  Hooker 
drove  the  enemy  from  several  strong  hills,  cap- 
tured a  four-gun  battery  and  many  prisoners. 
That  night  Johnston  escaped,  retreating  south 
across  the  Oostanaula." 

The  following  letter  was  written  by  the  captain 
of  the  rebel  battery  which  the  105th  assisted  in 
capturing  at  Resaca.  It  appears  the  captain  de- 
signed sending  it  to  his  wife  by  a  wounded  rebel, 
but  the  latter  was  taken  prisoner  and  the  letter 
fell  into  the  hand-  of  ;i  member  of  the  105th.  We 
Lri\e  it  verbatim  et  literatim: 

"Resecm.  Ga.,  May  15. 
"My  dear  wife 
"John   Thompson    is    going    home   to    Cassville 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF  DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


233 


wounded  I  thought  I  would  drop  you  a  line  by 
him 

"The  Yankees  charged  on  my  battery  this  P  M 
and  captured  2  sections  of  it  and  many  of  our  men 
and  attendants  were  wounded. 

"It  was  as  daring  an  exploit  as  when  my  broth- 
ers was  charged  at  antietam  Va  by  Co  new  york 
Reg. 

"They  threw  themselves  into  the  front  as  uncon- 
scious of  danger  as  ducks  into  a  pond. 

"I  tell  you  and  will  to  stow  away  every  thing  of 
value  fearing  we  shall  have  to  fall  back  from  here 
if  we  do  the  yankees  will  get  every  thing  in  reach. 

"We  had  to  fight  hookers  command  here  or  else 
the  battery  never  would  have  whipped  them  here 
if  it  had  not  been  for  Hookers  command 

"They  all  wore  a  star. 

"If  we  hold  our  ground  here  I  will  see  you  ere 
long. 

"I  want  you  to  send  sis  and  James  to  grand  Pas 
and  you  go  to  uncle  Johns  Take  all  the  things 
you  can 

"I  must  close  as  the  train  will  leave  immedi- 
ately your  husband  Unto  Death  w  w  c 

"P  S  our  position  here  was  very  good  but  we 
have  to  fall  back  keep  up  good  courage.  I  hope 
what  I  have  said  will  not  prove  discouraging  to 
you.    w  w  c." 

The  term,  "Ward's  Ducks"  originated  from  the 
captain's  allusion  to  the  men  of  the  first  brigade 
in  the  fourth  paragraph,  "throwing  themselves 
into  the  front  as  unconscious  of  danger  as  ducks 
into  a  pond." 

After  two  days'  rest  near  Kingston,  the  ad- 
vance was  resumed  on  the  23d,  proceeded  some 
eight  or  ten  miles,  crossing  the  Etowah  and 
bivouacking  in  the  woods  beyond.  On  the  24th 
marched  to  and  beyond  Burnt  Hickory,  threw  up 
breastworks  and  bivouacked.  On  the  25th  marched 
back  through  Burnt  Hickory  and  changed  course 
somewhat,  but  still  advancing.  At  about  three 
o'clock  the  division  met  the  enemy  in  considerable 
force,  and  a  sharp  engagement  occurred — the  Sec- 
ond and  Third  brigades  formed  the  first  line,  and 
the  First  brigade  the  second.  The  105th,  together 
with  the  brigade,  being  thus  under  fire,  from  close 
proximity  to  the  front  line,  although  not  actively 
engaged,  suffered  severely,  the  number  of  casual- 
ties being  fourteen  wounded.  First  Lieutenant 
J.  W.  Burst,  of  Company  C,  had  his  right  leg  shot 


away  by  a  rebel  shell.  He  was  a  good  officer,  and 
his  loss  was  regretted  by  his  company  and  the  regi- 
ment. Adjutant  Chandler  was  also  stunned,  be- 
ing grazed  by  a  shell  or  grape  shot,  on  the  neck 
and  shoulder. 

On  the  26th  the  regiment  and  brigade  laid  be- 
hind breastworks  under  fire.  On  the  27th  the 
brigade  was  ordered  to  advance  a  few  rods  in  front 
of  the  breastworks  and  throw  up  another  line  of 
works.  This  was  done  under  a  severe  fire  from 
the  rebel  sharp-shooters.  The  casualties  in  the 
105th  amounted  to  fourteen,  including  two  com- 
manding officers,  several  of  the  men  being  killed. 
On  the  28th  they  lay  behind  the  new  works  which 
had  cost  the  regiment  so  much  to  build  the  day 
before.  On  the  29th  the  brigade  was  relieved  and 
moved  back  out  of  range,  after  being  under  fire 
for  nearly  four  days.  But  the  105th  was  not  to 
rest  long.  The  major  portion  of  the  regiment 
was  detailed  for  skirmish  duty  on  the  31st.  On 
the  1st  of  June  skirmishers  and  regiment  were  re- 
lieved and  ordered  to  march  and  overtake  the 
brigade,  which  had  moved  around  on  the  left  of 
the  lines.  A  five-mile  march  after  dark  brought 
the  tired  and  worn  men  of  the  105th  up  with  the 
brigade,  when  the  men  laid  down  on  their  arms. 
On  the  following  day,  June  2d,  took  up  a  position, 
after  moving  several  miles  preparatory,  as  was 
thought,  to  a  general  engagement — covering  the 
flank  and  supporting  the  left  of  the  Twenty-third 
corps  under  General  Schofield.  About  dusk  the 
105th  regiment  was  thrown  out  on  the  extreme 
left  as  flankers,  and  was  furiously  shelled  while 
performing  this  duty.  Two  companies  were  thrown 
out  from  the  regiment  as  pickets  and  skirmishers 
under  Major  Dutton.  Here  the  regiment  lost  its 
able  and  greatly  esteemed  chief  surgeon,  Horace 
S.  Potter,  then  acting  brigade  surgeon.  He  was 
struck  by  a  shell  on  the  head,  the  frontal  bone 
being  crushed  in  or  torn  from  the  skull.  Surgeon 
Potter  was  selecting  grounds  for  a  field  hospital, 
when  the  missile  of  death  took  effect.  Quarter- 
master Timothy  Wells,  who  was  with  him  at  the 
time,  had  the  remains  immediately  taken  off  the 
field  and  carried  to  the  rear.  S.  W.  Saylor,  leader 
of  the  brigade  band,  and  a  kinsman  of  Surgeon 
Potter's,  secured  a  leave  of  absence  and  took  the 
body  home.  On  Sunday,  the  5th,  Chaplain  Champ- 
lin  preached  a  sermon  in  memory  of  Surgeon  Pot- 
ter.    The  entire  regiment  listened  attentively  to 


art  i 


PAST    AXI)    PBESENT    OE  DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


the  chaplain's  well-chosen  words,  and  all  felt  more 
or  less  keenly  a  loss  which  could  never  be  fully 
repaired  in  the  person  of  any  other  medical  offi- 
cer. 

Horace  S.  Potter  was  born  in  Chautauqua  coun- 
ty, New  York,  about  1834,  and  came  to  Illinois 
in  l.SMs,  his  family  having  settled  in  Warrenville. 
DnPage  county,  remained  there  until  1867,  study- 
ing medicine  with  Dr.  L.  Q.  Newton,  a  prominent 
physician  of  that  place,  and  graduated  at  lowa 
State  University.  From  Warrenville  moved  to 
Danby,  same  county,  in  1851,  practicing  medicine 
until  May,  1856,  when  he  moved  to  Chicago, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  his  profession,  previous 
to  entering  the  public  service  as  chief  surgeon  of 
the  105th  regiment. 

Contrary  to  anticipations,  no  general  engage- 
ment came  off  on  the  2d,  and  on  the  3d  the  Twen- 
tieth . \ ii 1 1 \  Corps  moved  around  and  beyond  the 
enemy's  right,  and  camped  about  three  miles  from 
Ackworth.  remaining  until  the  6th,  when  the  com- 
mand moved  forward,  passing  on  the  right  of  Big 
Shanty  to  near  Golgotha  church,  where  the  entire 
i  orps  took  up  a  prominenl  position  in  line  of  bat- 
tle' and  immediately  threw  up  intrenchments. 

From  tins  time  to  the  15th  were  lying  quietly 
behind  breastworks  with  no  enemy  close  enough  to 
skirmish  with. 

On  the  LOth  the  Fourth  Corps  took  position  in 

front  of  the  breastworks,  moving  away  the  nexl 
morning  when  the  Firsl  division  of  the  Twontictl 
Corps  moved  up  and  occupied  their  place.  While 
here  a  heavy  rain,  commencing  in  the  night  on 
the  8th  and  continuing  until  the  11th.  gave  the 
troops  a  severe  drenching.  On  the  12th  heavy 
cannonading  was  heard  on  the  right  and  left. 

On  the  15th  broke  up  camp  and  moved  together 
with  the  corps  beyond  Golgotha  church,  encounter- 
ing the  enemy  m  a  very  strong  position.  The  com- 
mand marched  up  in  line  of  battle,  the  105th  un- 
der Major  Button  was  thrown  forward  to  support 
the  skirmishers  which  covered  the  front  of  the 
brigade.  The  skirmishers,  with  the  105th  close 
behind,  advanced  promptly,  soon  followed  by  the 
other  regiment-  of  the  brigade  in  line  of  battle, 
when  they  were  crowded  forward  until  the  ene- 
my's intrenchments  were  in  full  view,  and  his 
skirmishers  driven  back  close  to  their  main  works. 
A  spirited  engagement  was  going  on.  the  hardest 
of  the  fighting  occurring  on  the  right  and  left  of 


the  line.  The  regiment,  however,  was  under  a 
terrible  skirmish  fire,  which  amounted  to  little 
less  than  an  engagement.  Brisk  firing  was  kept 
up  until  dark,  when  light  lines  of  works  were 
thrown  up.  On  the  16th  the  brigade  advanced 
and  constructed  strong  breastworks,  in  the  face  of 
the  enemy's  sharpshooters,  suffering  a  loss  of  nine, 
and  one  killed.  The  enemy  shelled  the  regiments 
after  dark,  after  which  the  brigade  was  relieved 
and  ordered  behind  a  second  line  of  works  to  the 
rear.  During  the  night  the  enemy  retired,  leaving 
the  strongest  line  of  fortifications  the  boys  had 
yet  seen.  The  casualties  of  the  105th  on  the  15th 
and  16th  were  nineteen. 

On  the  morning  of  the  17th  the  national  troops 
entered  the  rebel  entrenchments  and  marched  on. 
coming  up  with  the  enemy  in  the  afternoon. 

The  division  moved  about  two  miles,  entering  a 
large,  open  field,  when  it  was  formed  into  two 
lines  and  plunged  into  a  thick  wood  on  the  right, 
moving  along  until  it  came  in  contact  with  the 
Twenty-third  Corps,  still  further  to  the  right.  Be- 
ing then  moved  to  the  left,  emerged  into  the  open 
field,  wlnie  the  division  was  massed.  Here  the 
regiment  camped. 

On   the    18th   the  cai aeers   kept  up  a   heavy 

firing.  The  enemy  moved  back  and  took  up  a 
strong  position  on  the  top  of  Kenesaw  mountain, 
near  Marietta,  extending  his  line  about  due 
north  and  south.  Our  army  followed  him  up 
drove  him  hack  considerably  on  the  19th,  and 
pressed  him  on  the  20th  and  '.'1st. 

From  the  18th  to  the  21sl  inclusive,  the  troops 
received  a  thorough  drenching  from  a  series  of 
heavy  showers.  Remained  encamped  on  the  18th. 
On  the  19th  moved  forward  through  rain  and 
mud.  crossing  two  fords,  the  men  getting  thor- 
oughly wet  to  the  knees.  Bain  came  down  in  tor- 
rents during  the  passage  of  the  first  stream.  In 
the  evening  went  into  line  between  the  Fourth 
Corps  on  the  Left  and  the  Twenty-third  Corps  on 
the  right.  On  the  20th  and  21st  severe  skirmish 
firing  was  kept  up  while  perfecting  the  lines.  On 
the  22d  the  brigade,  in  conjunction  with  other 
troops,  advanced  the  lines  and  built  breastworks 
under  a  brisk  fire.  The  regiment  suffered  a  loss 
of  ten — one  commissioned  officer  accidentallv 
wounded,  two  men  being  killed,  and  seven  severely 
wounded.     Regiment  was  relieved  in  the  evening: 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY 


235 


moved  some  distance  to  the  right,  and  bivouacked 
for  the  night. 

The  division  on  the  23d  was  again  placed  in 
the  front  line  on  the  right  of  the  corps,  connect- 
ing with  the  left  of  the  23d  corps.  The  regiment 
was  assigned  a  position  very  near  the  battle- 
ground, and  where  they  were  burying  rebel  dead 
who  fell  before  the  works  the  day  before.  Very 
heavy  cannonading  was  heard  on  Kenesaw  moun- 
tain. On  the  24th  the  brigade  lay  behind  a  third 
line  of  works,  at  rest,  and  remained  there  until 
the  night  of  the  26th,  when  it  was  moved  to  the 
front  line  or  works,  relieving  Colonel  Coburn's 
Second  brigade,  of  the  Third  division.  Here  the 
works  of  the  opposing  forces  were  within  short 
musket  range,  and  the  men  were  obliged  to  keep 
their  heads  down  to  save  them  from  perforation. 
It  was  thought  the  enemy  was  meditating  an  at- 
tack at  this  point,  but  on  the  night  of  the  3d  of 
July  he  fell  back,  yielding  up  his  whole  position 
around  Marietta,  and  on  the  commanding  heights 
of  Kenesaw. 

This  alternative  of  the  rebels  was  impelled  by 
a  brilliant  flank  movement  by  the  flanking  army 
under  Major  General  McPherson. 

The  First  brigade  was  relieved  on  the  night  of 
the  29th  (June)  by  the  Third  brigade  of  the 
division,  and  moved  back  from  the  front  line  of 
works.  On  the  evening  of  July  1st  the  First  brig- 
ade  relieved  the  Second  brigade  behind  the  second 
line  of  works.  Nothing  of  moment  occurred  until 
tic  Mil  of  July,  when,  leading  the  van,  the  First 
brigade,  headed  by  Brigadier  General  Ward,  com- 
manding division  in  absence  of  Major  General 
Butterfiekl,  and  Colonel  Ben  Harrison,  of  the 
70th  Indiana,  commanding  brigade,  advanced 
into  the  strong  works  of  the  enemy,  the  latter 
having  retreated  during  the  night,  as  mentioned 
above.  The  Third  division  advanced  on  the  Mari- 
etta road  in  the  direction  of  the  town,  the  head  of 
the  column  encountering  the  rebel  rear  near  that 
place,  who  opened  vigorously  with  shot  and  shell. 
A  section  of  artillery  was  immediately  detached 
from  Captain  Smith's  battery,  under  his  charge. 
The  First  brigade  supported  the  guns  while  the 
gallant  captain  silenced  the  rebel  artillery.  The 
105th,  being  posted  immediately  in  the  rear  of 
the  battery,  was  exposed  to  a  perfect  storm  of 
shot  and  shell  from  the  enemy's  guns,  but  escaped 
with  onlv  one  man  killed  and  two  wounded.    Sev- 


eral of  the  battery  boys  were  badly  mangled  by 
rebel  shells.  The  division  left  the  main  pike  and 
advanced  in  the  direction  of  the  Chattahoochie 
river,  scouring  the  woods  in  a  rather  zigzag  man- 
ner until  sundown.  The  4th  of  July  found  the 
regiment  and  division  encamped  about  four  miles 
from  Marietta,  on  a  high  open  field,  in  sight  of 
rebels  and  rebel  works.  Here  rested  until  after- 
noon, unfurling  the  national  colors  in  honor  of 
the  day.  After  dinner  a  march  through  woods 
and  fields  brought  the  command  to  a  deserted 
farm,  wrell  shaded  and  supplied  with  water.  For- 
tunately, the  105th  was  assigned  a  camping  ground 
contiguous  to  an  apple  orchard,  the  trees  of  which 
wore  hanging  full  of  fruit.  The  harvest  was  not 
long  suffered  to  remain  ungarnered,  and  the  hum- 
ble collations  of  the  boys  were  materially  im- 
proved that  night  with  what  they  were  pleased  to 
call  "apple  jack." 

On  the  5th  moved  about  six  miles,  arriving 
within  two  miles  of  Chattahoochie  river  and  meet- 
ing the  enemy's  pickets.  Regiment  shifted  its 
position  on  the  6th  and  went  into  camp.  An  order 
was  issued  for  the  command  to  rest  as  much  as 
possible  during  the  time  it  might  remain  quiet. 
The  entire  corps  rested  until  the  afternoon  of  the 
17th,  when  orders  were  received  to  cross  the  river. 
It  was  late  in  the  night  before  the  corps  bivouacked 
on  the  other  side.  The  105th  was  immediately  de- 
tailed for  picket  duty — a  severe  task  to  perform 
after  a  tedious  march  of  some  ten  miles. 

During  the  temporary  rest  enjoyed  by  the  105th, 
as  above  indicated,  Colonel  Dustin  received  a  leave 
of  absence  for  twenty  days,  starting  for  his  home 
in  Sycamore  on  the  13th.  Major  E.  F.  Dutton 
succeeded  Colonel  Dustin  in  the  command  of 
the  regiment,  and  Senior  Captain  H.  D.  Brown, 
of  Company  A,  assumed  the  duties  of  the  Major. 

The  command  moved  a  few  miles  on  the  18th, 
reaching  a  point  on  the  Marietta  and  Decatur 
road,  within  one  and  a  half  miles  of  Howell's 
mills,  which,  on  the  20th,  was  the  immediate 
scene  of  the  memorable  and  brilliant  engagement 
and  victory  of  the  First  brigade,  in  the  great  bat- 
tle of  Atlanta.  Here  the  brigade  rested  on  the 
19th.  and  on  the  20fh  moved  forward  and  formed 
in  line  of  battle  on  the  south  side  of  Peach  Tree 
creek,  comprising  a  portion  of  the  force  which 
closed  up  a  gap  existing  in  the  lines,  and  which 
the  rebels  were  seeking  with  desperate  eagerness. 


236 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


They  found  it,  but  too  late  to  answer  the  purpose 
of  victory.  The  102d  Illinois,  79th  Ohio  and 
129th  Illinois  formed  the  first  line,  connecting 
with  the  second  line,  distant  from  the  first  some- 
two  hundred  yards.  Between  two  and  three 
o'clock,  afternoon,  the  pickets  on  the  crest  of  a 
hill  in  the  brigade  front  commenced  firing,  the 
enemy  charging  over  the  open  field  in  his  front 
several  lines  deep.  The  lines  of  the  division  im- 
mediately advanced  in  splendid  order  up  the  hill, 
when,  on  gaining  the  crest,  they  were  so  close 
upon  the  rebels  that  several  regiments  were  inter- 
mingled. 

Major  E.  F.  Dutton,  in  absence  of  Colonel 
Dustin,  commanded  the  regiment,  assisted  by 
Senior  Captain  IT.  D.  Brown,  the  former  acting 
as  lieutenant-colonel,  the  latter  as  major.  The 
second  brigade,  having  moved  obliquely  to  the 
left,  and  the  first  line  of  the  First  brigade  to  the 
right,  the  front  of  the  105th  was  nearly  uncov- 
ered. Seeing  the  enemy  coining  in  large  num- 
bers down  the  slope  of  the  sei  ond  hill,  Major  Dut- 
ton ordered  the  men  to  open  fire,  which  was 
promptly  done,  the  regiment  advancing  in  good 
order  after  a  brief  halt  on  the  hill.  The  battle 
now  raged  furiously,  the  troops  of  the  regiments 
giving  not  an  inch  of  ground,  but  advancing, 
standing  right  up  to  the  work.  Soon  the  masses 
of  rebels,  after  making  a  brave  fight,  indeed,  fal- 
tered, and  the  national  troops  drove  them  back 
over  the  second  hill  and  open  field,  the  105th 
reaching  the  summit  almost  simultaneously  with 
the  troops  of  the  first  line,  from  which  point  the 
regiment  poured  several  volleys  into  the  disor- 
d<  red  and  retreating  ranks  of  the  enemy.  The 
lighting  continued  until  dark,  when  the  regiment 
and  brigade  commenced  throwing  up  breastworks, 
and  were  busy  at  this  work  until  nearly  morning. 

.Major  Dutton,  in  his  report  of  this  engagement. 
complimented  the  bravery  and  endurance  of  the 
subordinate  officers  and  men  of  the  regiment,  and 
they  in  turn  complimented  the  gallantry  and  dash 
of  the  major.  Captain  II.  D.  Brown,  acting  ma- 
jor, with  an  air  of  coolness  and  firmness,  assisted 
in  pressing  forward  the  line,  and  Adjutant  D.  D 
Chandler,  always  at  hi-  post,  constituted  the 
third  person  in  the  regiment's  executive  trinity. 
The  splendid  conduct  of  these  officers  on  the  field 
was  the  subject  of  enthusiastic  comment  on  a1' 
sides,  after  the  battle.     Tile  line  officers  were  un- 


usually enthusiastic,  and  led  the  men  forward 
with  the  one  idea  that  a  victory  was  to  be  gained. 
And  the  men  went  in  to  win,  even,  if  it  were 
necessary,  to  close  in  hand-to-hand  struggle, 
which  indeed  was  done. 

Among  the  trophies  of  the  regiment  was  one 
beautiful  stand  of  colors,  said  by  prisoners  to 
have  I  "■longed  to  the  12th  Louisiana  regiment, 
together  with  several  swords  and  belts.  The  col- 
ors were  captured  by  Sergeant  Melvin  Smith  and 
George  F.  Cram,  of  Company  F.  and  which  cap- 
lure  was  reported  in  the  paper  as  "glory  for  the 
105th." 

The  colors  of  the  105th  were  pierced  with  bul- 
lets, one  shot  going  through  the  flag  staff.  The 
relics  taken  by  the  regiment  were  sent  to  the 
headquarters  of  the  army,  with  the  request  that 
they  he  placed  in  the  State  archives  at  Spring- 
field. 

The  casualties  were  fifteen,  six  men  being  killed 
or  mortally  wounded,  and  it  was  miraculous  that 
i  Ih  regiment  did  not  suffer  a  loss  of  five  times  that 
number  in  so  long  and  hard-fought  a  battle,  and 
the  only  manner  of  accounting  for  so  providential 
an  escape  was  that  most  of  the  time  the  enemy 
were  posted  on  the  hill  above  the  105th,  and  in 
firing  down  the  hill  their  shots  were  almost  in- 
variably too  high. 

After  the  strife  bad  died  away  and  the  moon  had 
risen  on  the  scene,  an  inspection  of  the  grounds 
in  front  of  the  regiment  and  brigade  was  made. 
The  sight  was  fearful.  Dead  and  dying  rebels 
lay  in  all  attitudes  of  suffering  and  death.  The 
youth  and  the  middle-aged  lay  in  their  gore  in 
groups  or  scattered  about  where  they  had  fallen. 
Two  dead  rebels  were  noticed  lying  side  by  side. 
The  arm  of  one  was  stretched  upward  and  the 
lingers  pointing  to  the  moon,  as  though  he  would 
indicate  to  his  comrade  the  way  to  the  abodes  of 
peace.  Among  the  rebel  wounded  there  was  a 
young  girl  only  nineteen  years  of  age.  A  ball  had 
struck  her  ankle  and  she  was  obliged  to  have  her 
foot  amputated.  She  bore  her  suffering  heroic- 
allv.  ami  stated  she  had  been  in  the  service  twenty- 
eight  months.  Many  interesting  incidents  oc- 
cured.  which  if  detailed  would  fill  pages  upon 
pages  of  history.  A  member  of  the  regiment  casu- 
ally surveyed  the  battle-grounds,  now  inside  the 
lines,  and  offered  refreshments  to  the  suffering 
and  dying.     To  inquiries  as  to  the  extent  of  in- 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


231 


juries,  such  answers  as  "Yes,  I  can't  live  till  morn- 
ing" issued  from  tremulous  lips,  when  life's  fitful 
fever  was  nearly  over.  On  the  faces  of  the  dead 
the  usual  expression  of  placid  repose,  fear,  agony 
or  fierce  despair  lingered,  and  altogether  the  scene 
was  one  no  pen  could  portray. 

The  morning  of  the  21st  dawned  on  one  of  the 
greatest  victories  of  the  war,  and  the  footing  of 
the  national  army  on  the  south  side  of  Peach  Tree 
creek  was  equally  as  secure  as  its  footing  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Chattahoochie  river. 

Lieutenant  Willard  Scott,  Jr.,  of  Captain  Rog- 
ers' company,  with  a  small  party,  buried  the  dead 
rebels  on  the  morning  of  the  21st. 

During  the  battle  General  Ward,  commanding 
the  division,  had  made  his  headquarters  in  the 
valley,  near  the  creek,  at  a  point  that  commanded 
a  view  of  the  ground  where  his  division  fought 
The  old  general  was  reported  as  being  in  an  ec- 
stacy  of  delight  when  the  First  brigade  entered 
the  contest.  "See  my  old  Iron  Brigade,"  said  he, 
striking  his  fists  together.  "See  my  old  Iron 
Brigade — see  them  go  in — the  best  d — d  brigade 
in  the  service !"  The  brigade  preserved  an  un- 
broken line  throughout  the  fight.  The  entire  corps 
was  elated  with  the  victory,  it  being  gained  in 
open  field,  the  advantages  greatly  in  favor  of  the 
enemy. 

General  Hooker  rode  along  the  lines  the  morn- 
ing of  the  battle,  receiving  the  enthusiastic  cheers 
of  the  soldiers.  He  afterward  issued  a  congratu- 
latory order. 

General  Hood,  who  commanded  the  Confeder- 
ates, is  reported  as  having  remarked  to  his  men 
as  they  were  about  to  move  to  the  attack,  that 
they  were  going  out  to  "gather  acorns;"  alluding 
to  the  soldiers  of  the  14th  corps,  who  wore  a  badge 
representing  an  acorn.  Their  purpose  was  to  break 
through  on  the  left  of  that  corps,  supposing  they 
would  meet  nothing  more  than  a  line  of  skirm- 
ishers in  their  front.  They  were  not  less  surprised 
than  disappointed,  however,  to  find  themselves 
among  the  "stars." 

After  the  burial  of  the  rebel  dead  by  the  army 
on  the  21st,  the  clearing  of  the  battle  field — col- 
lection and  turning  over  of  ordinance  and  other 
property — the  troops  advanced  on  the  morning  c-f 
the  22d  toward  Atlanta,  the  enemy  having  fallen 
back  and  established  himself  behind  the  inner  de- 
fenses around  the  city.     About  one  mile  from  tro 


battle-field  of  the  20th,  a  strong  line  of  works 
were  found,  the  second  line  of  city  defenses,  which 
the  enemy  did  not  stop  to  occupy. 

Having  proceeded  several  miles,  the  sound  of  op- 
posing skirmishers  warned  the  troops,  who  were 
marching  by  the  flank  toward  the  city,  that  the 
"Johnnies"  were  about  to  make  further  resistance. 
The  regiments  were  immediately  formed  in  battle 
line  and  marched  forward  to  within  sight  of  the 
rebel  defenses,  when  a  halt  was  ordered  and  strong 
earthworks  thrown  up.  The  country  through  which 
this  short  advance  was  made  was  prolific  of  black- 
berries, which  were  left  to  the  "bummers."  After 
the  brigade  was  halted  the  105th  found  itself  on 
the  crest  of  one  of  the  numerous  hills  for  which 
the  face  of  that  region  is  noted.  This  position 
proved  to  be  the  most  exposed  of  any  regiment  in 
the  brigade,  it  being  elevated  and  directly  opposite 
a  rebel  battery.  The  boys  quickly  constructed  earth- 
works here  in  order  to  protect  themselves  from  the 
harrassing  fire  of  the  enemy.  A  battery  was  placed 
immediately  behind  the  works,  which  made  the  po- 
sition of  the  105th  an  interesting  one.  So  soon  as 
the  guns  were  in  position  a  deliberate  fire  was 
opened  on  the  opposing  battery,  which  elicited  im- 
mediate reply  from  the  latter.  For  a  while  the 
boys  of  the  105th  found  it  behooved  them  to  "lie 
down"  and  "grab  a  root"  until  the  novelty  of  the 
situation  wore  away.  After  dark  the  rebels  made 
two  dashes  into  the  pickets  in  front  of  the  bri- 
gades. And  so — on  the  22d  of  July,  1S64,  the 
siege  of  Atlanta  commenced. 

The  position  of  the  command  here  was  about  one 
or  two  miles  northeast  of  the  Georgia  railroad 
which  connects  Atlanta  with  Marietta  and  Chatta- 
nooga. A  direct  forward  movement  would  have 
brought  the  brigade  into  the  northern  suburbs  of 
the  city.  On  the  23d  the  enemy  shelled  the  regi- 
ment and  battery  at  intervals  all  day  and  at  night. 
Next  day  the  same,  the  battery  replying  occasion- 
ally. The  pickets  were  again  alarmed  in  the 
evening.  The  same  routine  of  artillery  firing  and 
dashing  among  the  pickets  was  gone  through  with 
on  the  25th. 

The  picket  line  in  the  brigade  front  was  some- 
what in  advance  of  the  line  on  the  right  and  left. 
A  deep  ravine  running  from  the  enemy's  works 
traversed  the  left  of  the  brigade  line,  and  led  into 
the  rear  of  the  picket  reserve  post.  The  line 
might  have  been  flanked  here  had  the  rebels  been 


338 


PAST    AXD    PRESENT   OF  DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


disposed  to  attempt  it.  This  made  this  advanced 
position  one  demanding  constant  and  close  watch- 
fulness. The  rebels  made  a  strong  dash  on  that 
part  of  the  line  on  the  night  of  the  24th,  when  a 
heavy  lire  of  musketry  took  place  Lieutenant 
Trego,  of  the  102d  Illinois,  was  in  charge  of  the 
outposts  at  that  time,  several  of  his  men  becoming 
frightened,  fled  to  the  rear,  but  the  Lieutenant 
rallied  the  balance  and  under  the  enemy's  fire  gal- 
lantly urged  them  to  stand  firm,  which  they  did. 
Soon  the  rebels  were  repulsed,  after  which  the 
Lieutenant  found  that  the  reserve  posl  had  been 
abandoned  by  all  but  Lieutenant  Willard  Scott  of 
the  105th,  and  a  few  men.  It  appears  that  two 
('ivy  lines  of  rebels  were  repelled  by  a  skirm- 
ish line,  which  had  been  ingloriously  deserted  by 
the  most  of  the  supporting  force. 

The  lines  were  advanced  and  new  entrenchments 
made  during  the  first  three  days.  <  >n  the  night 
of  the  26th  the  division  moved  back  some  distance 
in  reserve,  the  105th  occupying  some  abandoned 
works.  On  the  28th  orders  were  recei  ed  to  move 
around  t'>  the  right  of  the  general  line  for  the  pur- 
pose of  supporting  General  Howard's  forces,  who 
had  become  heavily  engaged  with  the  enemy,  but 
ire  the  command  had  arrived  within  support- 
ing distance,  word  was  sent  to  return  to  camp:  the 
rebels  having  already  been   successfully  repulse!. 

During  the  battle  on  the  extreme  left  on  the 
22d,  the  noble  commander  of  the  army  of  the  Ten- 
oi  ssee,  fell — James  B.  McPherson.  That  com- 
mand had  constituted  the  flanking  army,  and  on 
the  way  from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta  applied  the 
key  to  the  locks  of  rebel  positions.  The  news  of 
Mi  Pherson's  death  was  received  along  the  lines 
amnl  expressions  of  disappointment  and  with  feel- 
ings  of  sorrow. 

Genera]  Hooker  called  the  officers  of  the  Third 
Division  together  on  the  29th,  and  bade  them 
farewell,  informing  them  that  he  had  been  ill 
used,  and  could  no  longer  remain  in  command  of 
the  Twentieth  Corps.  The  officers  and  men  re- 
luctantly parted  with  the  dashing  old  general,  who 
had  seemed  every  way  worthy  of  his  "stars." 

On  the  20th  the  Third  division  moved  around 
to  the  right  some  six  miles,  to  support  other  move- 
ments and  to  protect  the  flank  of  the  army  near 
the  Montgomery  and  West  Point  Railroad.  The 
brigade  supported  a  division  of  the  Fourth  corps, 
under  General  Jefferson  C.  Davis,  while  the  latter 


took  up  a  new  position.  Moved  in  rear  of  that 
division  and  constructed  breastworks  at  a  right 
angle  with  the  mam  line,  protecting  the  flank  and 
rear.  Remained  here  doing  picket  duty  and  work- 
ing on  fortifications  until  the  2d  of  August,  when 
the  command  moved  back  along  the  left  of  the 
lines,  and  on  the  3d  relieved  the  First  division  of 
the  Fourteenth  corps,  behind  the  front  line  of 
works,  and  near  the  Georgia  railroad:  the  left  of 
the  105th  rested  on  the  railroad  track. 

The  next  day  (4th),  Colonel  Dustin  arrived 
from  leave  of  absence  in  improved  health,  and  as- 
-lined  command  of  the  regiment.  His  return  was 
hailed  with  delight  by  all.  especially  as  he  brought 
with  him  numerous  packages  for  distribution 
among  the  officers  and  men.  from  the  friends  of 
the  regiment.  Major  Dutton  and  Captain  Brown 
were  on  the  4th  mustered  in  as  Lieutenant  Colonel 
and  Major,  respectively,  having  been  previously 
recommended  for  those  positions.  The  promotion 
in  the  field  of  those  brave  and  popular  officers 
gave  greal  satisfaction  to  the  regiment,  as  experi- 
ence had  developed  in  them  rare  executive  power-, 
and  good  soldierly  qualities. 

The  regiment  remained  in  the  trenches  until  the 
nighl  of  the  25th,  when  the  entire  corps  fell  hack- 
to  the  Chattahoochee  river,  and  the  main  arm) 
moved  to  the  right,  seizing  upon  the  only  railroad 
left  to  the  rebels  which  resulted  in  the  capture  oi 
Atlanta. 

While  lying  in  the  trenches  before  Atlanta  the 
energies  of  the  troops  were  severely  tested  In  the 
hard  labor  necessary  for  the  construction  of  heavy 
works,  abattis,  etc.  A  battery — being  portions  of 
Captains  Smith  and  Geary's — was  located  behind 
the  fortifications  with  the  105th  regiment,  and  the 
hoys  in  addition  to  strengthening  their  work-  were 
detailed  to  assist  the  battery  men  in  building  extra 
h  orks  for  the  better  protection  of  the  gunners  from 
the  shells  of  the  rehel  guns.  A  strong  fortifical  ion, 
aliniii  six  feet  high,  was  constructed  with  logs  and 
dirt,  in  the  form  of  a  semi-circle,  long  enough  to 
receive  four  guns  with  ease,  the  officers  and  men 
of  the  regiment  detailed  for  the  purpose,  working 
at  night  in  order  to  avoid  the  fire  of  rebel  sharp- 
shooters. The  battery  frequently  opened  on  the  re- 
bel defense-,  which  were  in  plain  view,  making  the 
regiment  "bob"  their  heads  down  occasionally,  as 
the  fragments  of  rebel  iron  came  s<  reaming 
through  the  air  in  close  proximity  to  their  respeo- 


PAST   AND    PKESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


239 


tive  persons.  Now  and  then  a  shell  would  burst 
immediately  over  the  ''bummer's"  quarters,  fur- 
ther to  the  rear,  sometimes  disturbing  the  equili- 
brium of  that  class  of  "bummers"  who  would  like 
to  "get  through  safe  if  they  could." 

Amid  the  perils  of  the  situation  there  were  al- 
ways found  a  few  humorous  spirits  whose  forte 
seemed  to  be  to  relieve,  by  some  timely  joke  or 
"flash  of  merriment,"  the  pains  of  the  hour.  Many 
a  poor  despairing  mother's  boy  would  have 
never  seen  his  earthly  home  again  had  he 
not  been  made  to  forget  his  troubles  by  the 
wit  or  facetiousness  of  these  happy  fellows. 
In  the  different  companies  of  the  regiment 
were  many  such  characters.  No  difficulties 
overcame  them;  they  were  constitutionally  cheer- 
ful, and  capable  of  extracting  good  cheer  out  of 
every  occasion.  Endurance  was  born  of  cheerful- 
ness, and  so  they  fainted  not. 

On  the  9th,  the  guns  along  the  lines  opened  and 
kept  up  a  steady  fire  nearly  all  day,  on  the  rebel 
defenses  and  the  city.  The  rebel  battery  replied 
in  the  evening  to  the  salutations  of  the  guns  of 
Captains  Smith  and  Geary.  Almost  constantly, 
day  and  night,  the  regiment  was  exposed  to  the 
fire  of  sharp-shooters,  the  balls  falling  all  about 
the  grounds  behind  the  works,  now  and  then  strik- 
ing a  man.  In  this  way  Corporal  J.  L.  Gage,  of 
Company  H,  Captain  J.  S.  Forsythe,  was  mortally 
wounded  on  the  12th,  and  a  faithful  colored  cook 
of  Company  K,  Captain  A.  F.  Parke,  instantly 
killed  while  eating  his  dinner,  on  the  14th. 
( )n  the  morning  of  the  13th,  Second  Lieutenant 
August  H.  Fischer  of  Company  I,  a  most  excel- 
lent young  officer  and  esteemed  comrade,  was  killed 
on  the  skirmish  line  in  front  of  the  works.  His 
less  was  deeply  felt  by  all  the  officers  and  men 
of  the  regiment;  especially  by  the  members  of 
Company  I,  who  had  shared  the  dangers  of  conflict 
by  his  side,  and  respected  him  for  his  bravery. 
Lieutenant  Fischer  will  be  remembered  for  his 
genial  temper,  his  unswerving  fidelity,  and  nisi 
self -sacrifice. 

On  the  evening  of  the  16th,  while  superintend- 
ing some  work  near  the  fortifications  before  his 
company  (E),  Captain  Martin  V.  Allen  was 
severely  wounded  in  his  right  arm,  by  a  bullet 
from  a  sharpshooter.  A  number  of  men  were  mort- 
ally wounded  on  the  skirmish  line. 


The  skirmish  line  was  in  such  close  proximity  to 
the  enemy  that  the  men  had  to  exercise  the  ut- 
most caution,  and  expend  much  labor  in  building 
rifle  pits  for  the  security  of  the  pickets  and  skirm- 
ishers. The  enemy  seemed  to  take  especial  excep- 
tions to  the  operations  of  the  men  at  this  point  la 
the  lines,  and  kept  up  a  steady,  severe,  and  aimost 
incessant  fire  for  several  weeks.  Being  accus- 
tomed  to  take  shelter  behind  certain  houses  near 
their  own  lines,  they  gained  some  advantage  in  fir- 
ing upon  our  men.  Efforts  had  been  made  with 
the  rebel  pickets  to  stop  this  firing  by  mutual 
agreement,  without  success.  On  the  night  of  the 
18th  Coraoral  Herman  Furness,  of  Company  C, 
and  two  comrades  of  the  105th,  equipped  with 
combustible  material,  proceeded  cautiously  out  and 
set  three  of  the  buildings  on  fire,  burning  them  to 
the  ground.  It  was  well  and  bravely  done,  after 
which  picket  firing  was  finally  stopped  by  mutual 
consent. 

Just  back  of  the  lines,  several  thirty-two  pound 
parrot  guns  were  operated  almost  continually  night 
and  day,  for  some  weeks,  shelling  the  city  of  At- 
lanta and  the  rebel  defenses.  Occasionally  shells 
from  these  guns  would  prematurely  explode  before 
reaching  our  own  lines,  the  pieces  scattering  in  all 
directions  among  the  men  of  the  105th,  causing 
some  annoyance,  but  no  one  was  hurt  by  them. 
With  additional  danger  it  was  amusing  to  hear 
the  boys  crying,  "Hello  !  fire  in  the  !"  "Lie  down  !" 
"Grab  a  root!" 

On  the  night  of  the  25th,  the  command  with- 
drew from  behind  the  works — the  brigade  band 
playing  "Yankee  Doodle"  and  other  airs  by  way 
of  a  parting  courtesy  to  the  "Johnnies."  During 
the  night,  as  if  suspecting  the  troops  were  retiring 
from  their  front,  the  rebel  pickets  fired  at  the 
105th  skirmishers  occasionally,  and  inquired,  "Are 
you  there?"  To  which  inquiry  they  received  a 
ready  affirmative,  "Yes,  we  are  here."  Whereupon 
the  rebels  would  respond,  "We  just  wanted  to  be 
sure  about  it — don't  want  you  to  get  away  without 
our  knowledge  of  the  fact."  While  this  conversa- 
tion was  going  on  the  whole  army  was  moving 
from  behind  the  works,  and  the  rebels  soon  found 
themselves  outwitted.  The  105th  pickets  failed  to 
get  the  order  to  retire  during  the  night,  and  re- 
mained at  their  several  posts  until  about  daylight 
in  the  morning,  long  after  the  troops  and  other 
pickets  had  gone. 


240 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OF   DE    K ALB    COUNTY. 


The  command  moved  back  to  the  Chattahoochee 
river,  after  being  on  the  road  all  night,  arriving  at 
early  dawn.  On  the  26th  bivouacked  on  the  south 
side  of  the  river,  and  on  the  27  th  crossed  the  river 
and  took  up  a  position  near  the  railroad  track, 
between  the  33d  -Massachusetts  and  129th  Illinois 
regiments,  where  the  105th  went  into  camp.  Here 
the  regiment  with  axes  and  hatchets  hewed  out  a 
fine  camping  place  in  the  woods.  Together  with 
the  balance  of  the  brigade  the  105th  guarded  army 
supplies,  ammunition  and  corps  teams. 

On  the  morning  of  the  2d  of  September,  Briga- 
dier General  Ward,  division  commander,  entered 
the  city  with  a  portion  of  the  Third  division,  and 
the  mayor  formally  surrendered  to  him  all  that 
was  lei  i  of  Atlanta.  The  regiment  was  moved 
back  to  the  south  side  of  the  river,  near  the  rail- 
road bridge,  where  it  remained  in  camp  until  the 
morning  of  the  16th  of  September,  when  all  the 
regiments  of  the  brigade  except  the  105th,  moved 
to  Atlanta  and  rejoined  the  division,  the  105th 
recrossing  the  river  and  camping  close  to  the  rail- 
road track  a  fewT  hundred  yards  from  the  river. 
Here,  again  the  boys  fitted  up  good  quarters,  and 
thoroughly  policed  their  camp  grounds,  which 
were  located  pleasantly,  facing  an  almost  unob- 
structed view  of  the  Chattahoochee  river  and  val- 
ley for  a  distance  of  about  eight  miles. 

With  the  capture  of  Atlanta,  what  is  called  the 
•■Atlanta  campaign."  ended.  The  entire  army  had, 
amid  tempests  of  fire  which  burst  forth  at  various 
points,  and  under  a  steady  rain  of  bullets  for  four 
long  months,  swept  majestically  down  from  Chat- 
tanooga to  Atlanta,  over  mountains,  rivers,  and  a 
continuous  succession  of  hills  and  ravines.  The 
country  between  the  two  places  named,  constituted 
one  great  battle-field  for  upwards  of  a  hundred 
miles.  While  in  camp  on  the  south  side  of  Chatta- 
hoochee river  on  the  10th  of  September,  the  fol- 
lowing congratulatory  order  of  the  major  genernl 
commanding  was  read  to  the  105th.  while  on  dress 
parade  for  the  first  time  in  four  months.  General 
Sherman  in  general  terms  summed  up  the  achieve- 
ments of  the  army,  thanked  the  officers  and  men 
for  their  indomitable  courage,  their  perseverance 
and  fidelity,  and  paid  an  eloquent  tribute  to  the 
memory  of  fallen  comrades. 

From  the  16th  of  September  to  the  14th  of  No- 
vember the  105th  remained  encamped  at  Chatta- 


hoochee river,  near  the  railroad  bridge,  as  already 
mentioned. 

Colonel  Dustin  was  placed  in  command  of  the 
first  brigade  on  the  18th  of  September,  Colonel 
Harrison  having  been  ordered  to  Indiana  on  spec- 
ial business.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Dutton  succeeded 
in  command  of  the  105th.  Subsequently  General 
Ward  received  leave  of  absence  of  thirty  days, 
when  Colonel  Dustin  succeeded  that  officer  in  com- 
mand of  the  division.  Colonel  Smith  of  the  102d 
Illinois  commanding  the  brigade. 

The  changes  occuring  among  the  commissioned 
officers  during  the  campaign  and  while  the  regi- 
ment rested  at  Chatta] :hee  river,  were: 

Lieutenant  Colonel  II.  F.  Vallette,  Xaperville, 
DuPage  county,  resigned  .Line  18,  1864;  Major 
E.  F.  Dutton,  DeKalb  county,  succeeding  as  lieu- 
tenant colonel;  mustered  August  4,  1864. 

Captain  H.  D.  Brown,  Company  A,  Sycamore, 
was  promoted  major  June  18th,  mustered  Augu-t 
4th;  First  Lieutenant  George  B.  Heath  succeeding 
as  captain. 

First  Assistant  Surgeon  Alfred  Waterman,  War- 
renville,  promoted  chief  surgeon,  June  2d;  Second 
Assistant  Surgeon  George  W.  Boggs,  Naperville, 
hi ■■  eeded  as  first  assistant  surgeon. 

Captain  Theodore  S.  Rogers,  Company  B,  Na- 
perville, resigned  September  30,  1864;  First  Lieu- 
tenant Lucius  B.  Church,  Winfield,  succeeding  as 
captain.  Lieutenant  Church  had  been  detailed  at 
Gallatin  on  General  Paine's  staff,  where  he  re- 
mained after  the  regiment  moved  from  that  point. 
Subsequently  he  was  detailed  as  post  quartermas- 
ter, and  ordered  to  Paducah,  Kentucky,  where 
he  remained  during  the  balance  of  his  term  of  ser- 
vice.  Second  Lieutenant  Willard  Scot!  was  com- 
missioned  firs!  lieutenant,  September  30,  1864,  but 
fur  some  unaccountable  reason  not  mustered  until 
•Line  1.  1865,  within  six  days  of  the  muster  out  of 
the  regiment.  Although  entitled  to  enjoy  such 
rank  from  every  consideration  of  merit  and  capac- 
ity, he  sustained  his  original  position  in  Company 
B,  until  the  end  of  the  war.  being  the  only  officer 
in  the  regiment  remaining  with  it  to  the  end. 
whose  services  had  not  been  officially  acknowledged 
and  rewarded. 

First  Lieutenant  John  W.  Burst,  Company  C, 
Franklin,  honorably  discharged,  October  in,  1864, 
on  account  of  wounds  received  at  Burnt  Hickory, 
May    25th.      First    Serjreant   Isaac    S.    Brundag.-1 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


241 


Cortland,  promoted  first  lieutenant,  October  18th. 
First  Lieutenant  William  M.  Tirtlot,  Company  F, 
honorably  discharged,  November  28,  1864,  on  ac- 
count of  wounds  received  at  Eeseca,  May  15th. 
First  Sergeant  Melvin  Smith,  Winfield,  promoted 
first  lieutenant,  April  13th,  not  mustered  untu 
March  30,  1865. 

Captain  John  B.  Nash,  Company  G,  FranKlin, 
lesigned  July  17,  1864.  First  Lieutenant  John  M. 
Smith  commissioned  captain,  but  not  mustered. 

First  Lieutenant  Harvey  Potter,  Company  H, 
Ashburv,    DeKalb,    resigned    August    17,    1864 
First   Sergeant  Frank  II.   Cole,   Somonauk,  suc- 
ceeding as  first  lieutenant. 

Captain  William  0.  Locke,  Company  I,  Addi- 
son,  DuPage,  honorably   discharged,    August   25, 

1864,  on  account  of  wounds  received  at  Reseca, 
May  15th;  First  Lieutenant  George  A.  Bender, 
Chicago,  mustered  as  captain,  October  15th. 

First  Sergeant  Henry  Eeinking,  Company  I, 
Addison,  commissioned  second  lieutenant  June  7, 

1865,  vice  Second  Lieutenant  Augustus  H.  Fischer, 
killed  at  Atlanta,  August  13,  1864. 

On  the  9th  of  September,  the  news  of  the  death 
of  that  famous  guerilla  chief,  John  Morgan,  wa^ 
reported  in  camp,  which  proved  to  be  a  true  report, 
notwithstanding  many  "grape-vine"  dispatches 
were  being  received  among  the  boys  during  the 
resting  spell  of  the  army  at  Atlanta  and  vicinity. 
The  same  day  a  report  that  the  guerilla  Wheeler 
had  cut  the  railroad  communications  of  the  armv 
between  Atlanta  and  Chattanooga  also  proved 
true,  but  the  only  ill  effects  experienced  was  the 
temporary  stoppage  of  the  army  mails,  which  sev- 
ered the  sympathetic  lines  between  the  boys  in 
camp  and  friends  at  home. 

A  report  of  casualties  pertaining  to  the  105tn 
was  made  out  on  the  10th  of  September,  embracing 
the  names  of  officers  and  men  killed,  wounded  and 
missing  during  the  Atlanta  campaign,  showing  the 
following  numbers:  Commissioned  officers  killed. 
two;  wounded,  thirteen;  enlisted  men  killed,  forty- 
one;  wounded,  one  hundred  and  three;  missing, 
two ;  total  casualties,  officers  and  men,  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-one. 

The  number  of  officers  and  men,  embracing  the 
whole  belonging  to  the  regiment,  present  and  ab- 
sent, on  the  30th  of  April,  1864,  amounted  to  six 
hundred  and  seventy-four;  on  the  10th  of  Sep- 
tember, five  hundred  and  eighty-seven.  On  the  for- 
mer  date   that   number  was   situated   as   follows : 


Present,  officers  and  men,  for  duty,  four  hundred 
and  forty  six;  on  special  or  daily  duty,  seventy- 
two  ;  sick  twenty-seven,  five  hundred  and  forty-five. 
Absent,  on  detailed  service,  eighty-six;  with  leave, 
seven;  sick,  etc.,  thirty-three;  without  authority, 
three,  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine;  present,  for 
duty,  two  hundred  and  sixty  three;  on  special  oi 
daily  duty,  forty-two;  sick,  thirty-two,  three 
hundred  and  thirty-seven.  Absent,  on  detached 
service,  ninety-six;  with  leave,  twelve;  sick, 
one  hundred  and  forty-two — two  hundred  and 
fifty;  present  and  absent,  live  hundred  and  eighty- 
seven. 

The  effective  force  of  the  regiment  on  the  30th 
of  April,  1864,  or  just  before  the  opening  of  the 
campaign,  embracing  commissioned  officers  and 
enlisted  men,  was  four  hundred  and  forty-six.  On 
the  10th  of  September  or  just  after  the  close  of  the 
campaign,  two  hundred  and  sixty-three. 

The  1st  of  October,  the  First  brigade  returned 
from  garrison  duty  at  Atlanta  and  took  up  posi- 
tion on  the  4th,  near  the  railroad  bridge  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river.    Just  now  the  main  army 
was  on  the  lookout  for   General  Hood's  torces, 
who  seemed  disposed  to  punish  General  Sherman 
by  making  a  formidable  raid  on  the  railroad  in 
his  rear.     Cannonading  was  heard  on  the  2d,  in 
the  direction  of  Sandtown,  south  of  the  railroad 
bridge,  and  there  was  considerable  activity  mani- 
fest among  the  troops.     The  two  long  wagon  and 
railroad   bridges  were   partially   undermined   and 
carried  away  by  high  water,  when  pontoons  were 
immediately  thrown  across  the  river,  over  which 
General  Howard's  command  crossed  on  the  4th, 
passing  the  camp  of  the  105th  on  their  way  for 
the  raiders.     Five  companies,  comprising  the  left 
wing  of   the   105th,   were   stationed   in   a   strong 
earth   fort  opposite   the   camp   on  the   6th,   and 
heavy  details  made  for  work  on  the  fortifications 
Two  guns  were  placed  in  this  fort  and  two  in  a 
fort  near  the  camp.     After  a  few  days  of  hard 
toil,  during  which  the  boys  completed  the  work  on 
the  forts  and  surrounded  them  with  heavy  abattis, 
the    men    announced    themselves    ready    for    the 
"Johnnie    Hoods."      But    beyond    the    occasional 
dashes  of  marauding  parties  at  different  points  on 
the  road  near  this  section,  nothing  transpired  to 
disturb  the  quiet  of  the  brigade. 

During  the  passage  of  General  Howard's  troops 
General  Sherman  and  a  portion  of  his  staff,  who 


242 


PAST    AND    PBESEXT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


were  accompanying  them,  dined  at  regimental 
headquarters  by  invitation  of  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Dutton.  The  general  was  then,  to  the  casual  ob- 
server, an  ordinary  appearing  man.  of  medium 
height,  slender,  unstately  and  wiry.  He  seemed 
absorbed  and  nervous.  Stepping  up  to  the  tent 
door,  without  ceremony,  he  remarked  inquiringly, 
"Ts  this  the  place?"  and  in  he  strode,  taking  a 
seat  at  the  table.  In  military  campaigning  he  was 
entirely  unassuming  in  his  manners,  but  eminently 
practical,  and  seemingly  oblivious  to  everything 
save  the  work  of  the  time.  As  an  operator  in  th2 
field  this  plain  man  is  one  of  consummate  skill, 
Atlanta  is  a  fitting  commentary  on  his  genius. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Dutton  received  leave  of 
absence  on  the  28th  of  September,  and  started  for 
his  home  at  Sycamore  on  the  !>th  of  October,  Major 
Brown  succeeding  to  the  command  of  the  regiment. 
Several  officers  receiving  leave  of  absence  were  de- 
tained at  camp  until  the  railroad  bridge  was  re- 
paired, admitting  the  passage  of  upward  bound 
trains   from  Atlanta. 

Captain  C.  6.  Culver.  Company  ('.  and  First 
Lieutenant  Melvin  Smith,  Company  F.  with  a  de- 
tachment of  men,  on  the  3d,  acting  under  impera- 
tive orders,  destroyed  a  bridge  over  a  creek  at  an 
important  point  several  miles  down  the  river,  re- 
maining there  on  the  lookout  for  guerrillas  two 
days.  Scouting  and  foraging  parties  were  sent 
nut  frequently  from  the  brigade.  An  orderly  on 
duty  at  brigade  headquarters  was  killed  by  .i 
guerrilla  while  bearing  a  dispatch  to  Atlanta,  on 
the  11th. 

The  danger  to  this  position  contingent  on  the 
movements  of  Hood's  forces  being  passed,  the  left 
wing  of  the  regiment  was  moved  back  from  tha 
fort  to  the  main  camp,  on  the  17th.  On  the  19th, 
a  train  of  cars  was  partially  burned  by  guerillas 
on  the  road  between  Marietta  and  Chattanoochee 
river. 

The  regiment  received  eight  months  pay  on  the 
19th. 

A  train  on  its  way  to  Atlanta  was  molested  by 
guerillas  on  the  20th.  producing  quite  a  panic 
among  a  number  of  unarmed  men,  some  striking 
for  the  woods  and  running  several  miles  back  to 
camp.     This  was  a  little  rebel  victory. 

The  regiment  received  an  elegant  new  statin  of 
colors  on  the  21st. 


Major  Brown  was  sent  into  the  country  on  the 
24th  in  charge  of  a  foraging  party  of  some  tire 
hundred  and  fifty  men  and  a  long  train  of  wagons. 
After  three  days  absence  he  returned  with  men 
and  train  intact,  having  loaded  his  wagons  with 
corn  and  provisions.  On  the  second  day  out  the 
party  was  attacked  several  times  by  guerillas,  and 
the  major  narrowly  escaped  being  shot.  Amoflg 
the  articles  secured  by  foragers  in  large  quanti- 
ties were  corn,  pumpkins  and  sweet  potatoes,  which 
taken  with  '"Tiard  tack''"  and  coffee,  was  deemed 
a  healthful  combination  for  the  disters  of  the 
First  brigade — the  mules  generally  eating  the 
corn. 

(in  the  29th  the  regiment  received  orders  to 
>end  back  all  surplus  baggage,  preparatory  to  en- 
tering upon  another  active  campaign.  Several 
absentees  arrived,  reporting  for  duty. 

Brigadier  General  Ward  arrived  from  the  North. 
where  he  hail  been  on  leave  of  absence,  and  re-as- 
sumed command  of  the  Third  division  on  the  31st. 
Soon  after  his  return,  November  9th,  Colonel 
Dust  in  was  placed  in  command  of  the  Second 
brigade  of  the  Third  division,  formerly  command- 
ed by  Colonel  John  Coburn,  of  the  33d  Indiana. 
This  command  Colonel  Dustin  retained  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  Colonel  Dutton  then  took  per- 
manent command  of  the  regiment.  Since  the 
battle  of  Atlanta,  on  the  20th  of  July,  the  lieu- 
tenant-colonel rose  still  higher  in  the  estimation 
of  the  men.  and  was  deemed  an  officer  fit  to  suc- 
ceed  the  colonel  as  regimental  commander. 

Adjutant  D.  D.  Chandler,  of  the  10.3th.  was 
mentioned  by  Colonel  Dustin,  and  also  by  General 
Ward,  in  connection  with  a  position  mi  their  re- 
spective staffs.  No  officer  was  more  assiduous  in 
his  duties,  and  none  filled  their  offices  with  more 
credit  than  this  officer. 

General  Thomas'  headquarter  train  passed  the 
camp  of  the  105th  on  the  31st,  en  route  to  Chat- 
tanooga. As  General  Hood's  command  had  now 
struck  out  for  Nashville,  General  Thomas  moved 
to  that  point  to  receive  him. 

On  the  -"ith  of  November  the  regiment  received 
marching  orders  and  was  prepared  to  move  on 
short  notice,  but  the  orders  were  countermanded. 
Considerable  speculation  as  to  where  General 
Sherman  would  go  next  was  indulged  in  by  the 
troops,  but  all  in  vain.  Such  information  was 
"contraband    of    war."      But   everv    soldier    knew 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


243 


the  army  was  soon  to  enter  upon  a  long  and  rapid 
inarch.  Accustomed  to  march  together  and  to 
"strike  together,"  its  future  movements  were  des- 
tined to  be  executed  expeditiously  and  success- 
fully. Sherman's  men  had  finally  attained  to  that 
degree  of  boldness  and  endurance,  in  their  educa- 
tion and  experience  as  soldiers,  as  to  be  regarded 
by  the  rebels  and  the  world  quite  invincible. 

The  last  train  of  cars  passed  up  the  road  north- 
ward on  the  15th,  when  the  troops  of  the  Fif- 
teenth corps  tore  up  the  track  from  Marietta  to 
Chattahoochee  river,  the  men  of  the  105th  assist- 
ing in  the  work  on  the  15th.  The  railroad  bridge 
was  destroyed  in  the  evening.  On  the  14th  the 
regiment  finally  broke  up  camp  and  started  at  six 
o'clock  for  Atlanta,  destroying  the  remainder  of 
the  track  on  the  way.  Regiment  camped  one  mile 
beyond  the  city,  ready  to  enter  upon  the  grand 
march  commenced  by  Sherman's  expedition  on  the 
following  day. 

General  Sherman's  forces  embraced  the  Four- 
teenth, Seventeenth  and  Twentieth  Army  Corps, 
making  over  50,000  men,  besides  9,000  picked 
cavalry  under  Kilpatrick.  They  were  supplied 
with  thirty  days'  rations  for  man  and  beast.  With 
a  scout  system  and  courier  line  complete,  this  com- 
bination swept  across  the  State  of  Georgia  with 
the  force  of  a  mighty  whirlwind,  destroying  rail- 
roads, bridges,  mills,  cribs,  gin  houses,  cotton 
screws,  gins,  etc.,  carrying  off  stock,  provisions  and 
negroes.  The  station  houses  along  the  railroads 
were  burnt,  and  hundreds  of  unoccupied  buildings 
of  all  kinds  destroyed,  together  with  large  quanti- 
ties of  lumber,  fences,  cotton  and  every  kind  of 
property  calculated  for  the  comfort  of  rebels  and 
the  use  of  rebel  armies.  The  country  was  rich, 
and  provisions  abounded.  The  troops  subsisted 
on  fresh  pork,  sweet  potatoes,  flour  and  meal,  with 
all  the  concomitant  luxuries;  among  which  may 
be  mentioned  turkeys,  chickens,  ducks,  molasses, 
sugar,  etc. 

The  expedition  being  set  in  motion  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  15th  of  November,  the  Twentieth  Corps 
moved  out  with  its  long  wagon  train  on  the  De- 
catur pike  in  the  direction  of  that  place.  The 
First  brigade  fell  into  the  column  at  noon.  Be- 
ing in  the  rear  of  the  corps  and  behind  the  train, 
the  marching  was  during  the  day  and  night  slow 
and  tedious.  About  thirty-four  hours  of  such 
marching  brought  the  command   to   its  first  en- 


campment, at  a  point  on  the  Atlanta  and  Augusta 
Railroad  called  Iithonia,  having  crossed  a  branch 
of  Ocmulgee  river,  near  Decatur,  and  passed  Stone 
mountain.  The  railroad  was  destroyed  as  the  col- 
umn advanced. 

Atlanta  was  left  partially  in  flames.  During 
the  night  of  the  15th  the  consuming  elements  cast 
a  glare  of  red  to  the  heavens,  grandly  contrasting 
with  the  surrounding  gloom.  Thus,  the  horrors  of 
the  torch  were  added  to  the  powers  of  the  sword, 
and  Atlanta  brought  to  a  fiery  judgment. 

The  march  was  resumed  at  early  dawn  on  the 
17th,  the  First  brigade  in  advance  of  the  column. 
Marching  rapidly,  the  brigade  made  some  twenty 
miles,  foraging  off  the  country  as  it  passed.  For- 
agers brought  to  camp  sweet  potatoes  in  abund- 
ance, shotes,  chickens  and  honey.  Fine  country, 
watered  by  numerous  streams. 

Moved  fifteen  miles  on  the  18th,  arriving  at  the 
fair  village  of  Social  Circle,  on  the  railroad,  at 
noon.  Passed  through  Rutledge  station  before 
evening.  Camped  beyond  at  seven  o'clock.  The 
progress  of  the  troops  not  yet  impeded.  Fair 
weather. 

On  the  19th  moved  seven  miles,  the  First  brig- 
ade being  in  the  rear.  Passed  through  the  large 
and  beautiful  town  of  Madison,  on  the  railroad, 
the  county  seat  of  Morgan  county.  Camped  sev- 
eral miles  beyond  on  the  Milledgeville  pike.  Great 
activity  among  the  foragers  and  "bummers."  At 
Madison  the  soldiers  were  received  with  joy  by  the 
blacks.  The  whites  looked  on  in  silence.  The 
regiment  entered  the  town  with  flag  unfurled. 
The  word  among  the  negroes,  old  and  young,  as 
the  column  was  passing  through  the  streets,  was 
"Is  you  gwine?"  One  answer,  as  overheard  by  a 
number  of  the  105th,  was  "Gwine?  I'se  already 
gone !"  Indeed,  many  followed  the  army  from 
this  point,  men,  women,  children  and  babies.  The 
women  carried  their  bundles  on  their  heads,  their 
children  on  their  backs  and  in  their  arms — as,  for 
instance,  a  wench  following  the  105th  with  a  huge 
bundle  of  clothes  and  traps  on  her  head,  arms  full 
of  babies  and  one  child  on  her  back !  She  wanted 
to  see  good  old  "Mass  Linkum."  They  advised 
her  to  return  to  her  old  haunts,  but  the  spirit  of 
resolution  said  "nay."  Evidently  her  life  was  set 
upon  a  cast,  and  she  would  stand  the  hazard  of  the 
die.    What  became  of  the  poor  soul  is  not  known. 


■.'I  I 


PAST    AM)    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


i)ii  the  20th  marched  at  five  o'clock,  morning. 
Weather  cloudy  and  damp:  considerable  rain  last 
night.  Distance  marched,  about  twelve  miles. 
( lamped  within  two  miles  of  Eatonton,  a  pleasant- 
looking  town  of  about  1,800  inhabitants.  Fine 
country. 

The  weather  very  wet  and  disagreeable  on  the 
21st.  Troops  marched  under  heavy  and  steady 
rain  part  of  the  day,  literally  wading  single  file, 
through  mud.  Passed  through  Eatonton.  from 
which  place  a  railroad  called  the  Eatonton  branch 
runs  down  through  Milledgeville,  connecting  at 
Number  Seventeen  with  the  Georgia  Central  Kail- 
road,  passed  through  a  small  place  called  Fairfield. 
on  the  railroad.  Camped  at  dusk.  Marched  rap- 
idly on  Milledgeville.  Entered  the  place  in  good 
order  at  4  p.  m.,  with  colors  flying  and  bands 
playing.  The  colored  population  received  the 
troops  with  great  satisfaction  as  usual.  Camped 
in  the  city  limits. 

Remained  in  camp  at  this  point  on  the  23d.  In 
the  evening  the  regiment  was  detailed  to  assist  in 
destroying  rebel  property.  Several  thousand  stands 
of  arms,  and  a  large  amount  of  ammunition  was 
committed  to  the  flames.  Also,  twenty  casks  of 
salt  thrown  into  the  river. 

Resumed  the  march  at  dawn  on  the  •■24th.  cross- 
ing the  Oconee  river  northeasl  of  town.  On  the 
road  all  day  and  night,  the  teams  beim:  delayed 
by  bad  roads.     Camped  at  three  o'clock  a.  m. 

On  the  25th  moved  only  five  miles,  starting  at 
noon,  the  brigade  in  the  rear.  The  rebels  burned 
a  number  of  bridges  ovei  swampy  ground  and 
streams,  the  column  being  delayed  until  the  road 
was  repaired.  Heard  cannonading  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  other  columns.  Columns  passing 
through  swampy  country:  enemy  seeking  to  re- 
tard the  progress  of  the  tioops. 

Passed  over  regular  Georgia  swamps  on  the 
26th ;  marching  rapidly  after  noon,  arrived  at 
3  rsville,  a  small,  dull  place,  at  about  1  p.  m.: 
105th  camped  close  to  the  town:  Wheelers  cav- 
alry hovering  about  in  front.  Skirmishing  for 
two  days — several  killed.  Sandersville  is  near  the 
Georgia  Central  rail  mad.  in  Hancock  county.  The 
business  portion  of  the  town  was  sacked,  of  course, 
the  troops  of  the  column  in  turn  helping  them- 
selves, to  whatever  they  wanted  from  the  stores. 
In  some  of  the  towns  goods  had  been  removed  in 
order  to  prevent  them  from  falling  into  the  hands 


of  the  Yankees.  In  Madison  the  stores  were  found 
empty  and  deserted. 

Left  Sandersville  at  8  o'clock,  on  the  27th, 
marching  rapidly  to  the  railroad,  which  the  col- 
umn crossed,  moving  some  distance  on  the  wrong 
road.  General  Slocum  righted  the  column,  after 
parading  up  and  down  the  road  several  times  in 
a  swearing  mood.  Arrived  at  Davisboro,  on  the 
railroad,  at  sundown,  regiment  camping  in  a  pea- 
nut patch.  Here  the  boys  met  troops  of  one  of 
the  other  corps.  Everybody  seemed  to  be  in  ec- 
stacies.  The  foragers,  sent  out  daily  from  the  reg- 
iment, were  gathering  in  the  very  fat  of  the  land. 
The  "bummers,"  wha  roamed  unrestrained  over 
the  country,  were  filling  their  pockets  with  treas- 
ure- and  dressing  themselves  up  in  broadcloth 
clothes.  In  short,  the  boys  felt  "bully."  They 
aeted  on  the  hypothesis  that  "all  is  fair  in  love 
and  war." 

Citizens  in  the  country  were  in  the  habit  of 
secreting  goods,  and  burying  valuables,  to  keep 
them  from  the  raiders,  but  the  "Yankees"  espied 
them  out.  Most  everything  was  overturned  in 
smoke-houses  and  kitchens,  during  the  search  for 
edibles;  the  foragers  for  the  yards  and  kitchens, 
and  the  "bummers"  for  the  parlors,  bed-rooms 
and  bureau  drawers.  Let  the  reader  imagine  a 
bouse  full  of  forage  and  pleasure-seekers,  activelv 
manipulating  the  effects  of  the  premises,  and  some 
idea  of  a  raid  in  war-times  may  be  gained.  This 
is  tlie  unavoidable,  natural  consequence  of  war. 
"Those  who  take  up  the  sword  must  perish  by  the 
sword." 

<)n  the  '.'Mb  left  Davisboro  at  11  o'clock,  mak- 
ing a  rapid  march  toward  Louisville,  a  point 
twelve  miles  northeast  of  Davisboro.  Arrived 
within  seven  miles  of  the  town  and  camped  early 
in  the  afternoon.  The  early  halt  at  this  point  was 
oci  asioned  by  the  burning  of  bridges  over  swamps 
and  across  a  branch  of  the  Ogeechee  river,  near 
Louisville. 

During  the  day  Captain  ('.  G.  Culver,  Company 
('.  in  charge  of  a  foraging  party  from  tlie  regi- 
ment, curried  the  war  to  ex-Governor  Herchel 
Van  Johnson'-  residence,  divesting  his  cupboard 
of  many  goodly  meats.  The  "bummers"  took  his 
damask  curtains. 

The  road  having  been  repaired,  the  column 
moved  forward  on  the  20th.  the  first  brigade  start- 
ing at  one  o'clock,  afternoon.     The  105th  and  a 


PAST    AND   PEESENT    OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


245 


part  of  the  102d  Illinois  were  thrown  forward  i 
mile  on  the  double-quick  to  protect  the  pontoon 
train,  reported  to  have  been  attacked  by  guerrillas. 
On  arriving  near  the  wagons  they  were  found  safe, 
the  enemy  having  been  easily  dispersed.  Crossed 
river  branch,  passed  through  Louisville,  and 
tamped  at  dusk  three  miles  beyond  the  town. 

Remained  in  camp  on  the  30th,  the  bad  state 
of  the  roads  in  the  swamps  evidently  being  the 
cause  of  the  delay.  Foragers  were  sent  out  from 
the  regiment,  coming  in  close  proximity  with 
guerrillas;  but  enough  forage  was  gathered  be- 
fore the  party  returned  to  camp. 

On  the  1st  of  December  resumed  the  march  at 
ten  a.  m.,  moving  in  single  file  by  the  train,  the 
swampy  country  not  admitting  the  passage  of 
troops  and  the  train  together  in  many  places.  The 
work  of  getting  the  trains  over  the  roads  was  ac- 
complished with  difficulties.  Arrived  in  camp  at 
nine  p.  m. ;  distance  about  seven  miles. 

The  guerrillas  attacked  the  mounted  men  of  the 
first  brigade,  and  after  a  brisk  skirmish  fight  the 
latter  fell  back  to  the  column,  losing  several  men. 

November  2d,  a  clear  sky  and  balmy  atmosphere 
— characteristic  of  fall  weather  of  old  Georgia ! 
The  command  marches  "IV,  full  of  inspiration  of 
good  weather,  starting  at  eleven  a.  m.  and  turning 
into  camp  at  eleven  p.  m.,  tired  and  hungry. 
Distance  fourteen  miles. 

On  the  3d  proceeding  a  few  miles  through 
swamps,  the  column  emerged  into  a  beautiful  pine 
forest,  near  the  line  of  the  Savannah  and  Augusta 
Railroad.  Here  the  first  brigade  left  the  column, 
and,  after  a  rapid  march  of  four  miles  northward, 
struck  the  railroad  at  a  point  forty-five  miles  from 
Augusta  and  thirteen  miles  from  Millen  Junction. 
After  destroying  several  miles  of  railroad  track 
and  a  large  quantity  of  lumber,  moved  down  the 
track  and  rejoined  the  column.  Arrived  in  camp 
about  one  a.  m.,  after  a  tedious  night  inarch 
through  muddy  swamps,  woods,  rain  and  pitch 
darkness. 

On  the  4th  marched  ten  miles,  passing  through 
several  swamps  and  pine  forests.  Country  well 
supplied  with  good  water.  Cannonading  heard  in 
the  direction  of  Millen  Junction. 

The  whole  country  over  which  the  army  passed 
seemed  to  be  disfigured  by  fire — houses,  fences, 
woods  and  grass  burning  in  all  directions.  Imme- 
diately along  the  line  of  the  marching  column  the 


fences  were  consumed  by  the  fiery  element,  and 
during  the  long  night  marches,  on  either  side,  the 
roads  were  arrayed  with  lights.  Frequently  the 
tired  trampers  were  deceived  by  the  fires;  calcu- 
lating that  they  were  drawing  near  where  the  ad- 
vance had  already  gone  into  camp.  But  usually 
a  long  series  of  lights  intervened  ere  the  object  of 
desire  was  reached. 

On  the  5th  moved  about  eight  miles,  passing 
the  first  division  encamped.  Turned  in  at  three 
p.  m.  here  to  await  the  arrival  of  General  Geary's 
command.  The  advance  skirmished  with  the  ene- 
my, pressing  him  right  along.  Passed  more 
swamps.  Twelve  miles  to  nearest  point  of  Savan- 
nah river. 

Moved  forward  to  within  nine  miles  northwest 
of  Springfield,  on  the  6th,  and  camped  at  sun- 
down. The  road  obstructed  by  felled  trees,  but 
quickly  removed  or  evaded. 

Captain  Culver,  in  charge  of  a  small  party, 
captured  a  smart-looking  rebel  second-lieutenant. 

On  the  7th  pushed  rapidly  on,  the  first  brigade 
in  advance  of  the  corps.  Moved  five  miles,  when 
the  head  of  the  column  paused  on  the  borders  of 
a  huge  swamp,  the  road  here  being  blockaded  by 
trees.  Before  the  pioneers  cleared  and  repaired 
the  road  the  brigade  passed  over.  Stripped  of  all 
encumbrances,  the  command  moved  briskly  for- 
ward, four  miles,  and  occupied  Springfield  with- 
out opposition.  Here  turned  in  and  awaited  the 
arrival  of  the  column. 

Springfield  is  the  county  seat  of  Effingham 
county,  probably  twenty-five  miles  from  Savannah; 
a  small,  dingy-looking  place  among  the  swamps. 
The  citizens — mainly  women — had  buried  many 
valuables  in  the  yards,  but  the  soldiers  exhumed 
them.  Fine  dishes,  silver  spoons,  articles  of  cloth- 
ing and  other  things  too  numerous  to  mention 
were  carried  off  by  the  boys.  One  man  dressed 
himself  up  as  a  lady — his  toilet  rather  rudely 
"performed." 

A  member  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  en- 
tered a  doctor's  office  in  quest  of  some  improved 
liquors,  of  which  he  was  passionately  fond.  He 
unwittingly  seized  upon  a  bottle  marked  "Vimim 
Antimonia"  (wine  of  antimony,  an  emetic),  tak- 
ing it  for  a  superior  quality  of  wine.  In  the  ardor 
of  self-congratulation  at  his  success,  he  imme- 
diately partook  of  the  precious  fluid.  But,  alas 
for  the  infelicitous  effects  of  vinum  antimony — as 


246 


PAST   AND    PRESENT   OF   DE    KALB   COUNTY. 


a  beverage — upon  the  human  organism,  ere  mam- 
moments  "Jonah"'  was  heaved  out  on  dry  land. 

Remained  in  camp  throughout  the  day  on  the 
8th.  During  this  pause  the  foragers  and  "bum- 
mers" had  an  interesting  time  looking  over  the 
country  and  overhauling  "other  folks'  things." 
Several  miles  away  a  dwelling,  well  stocked  with 
household  effects,  among  which  was  a  pianoforte 
and  a  large  collection  of  books,  became  the  scene 
of  spoliation.  The  foragers  from  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Fifth  found  it  deserted  by  its  occupants. 
and  full  of  men  ransacking  the  rooms,  drawers, 
and  scattering  the  books  and  pictures  about  the 
doors,  and  even  in  the  yard.  This  is  what  war 
brings  alike  to  the  innocent  and  the  guilty. 

At  sundown  the  regiment  and  brigade  fell  into 
the  rear  of  the  column,  and.  amid  the  glare  of 
burning  buildings.  mn\ed  slnwh  mil  of  the  town. 
Ui'T  a  wearisome,  jogging  march  all  night  and 
after  broad  daylight,  paused  fifteen  minutes  for 
breakfast.  Cannonading  heard  in  the  night  in 
the  direction  of  the  river. 

On  the  9th  the  column  was  cm  the  road,  moving 
along  all  day  and  until  late  in  the  night;  no  sleep 
for  forty  hours.  The  advance  of  the  corps  cap- 
tured two  small  earthworks,  located  several  miles 
north  of  the  railroad.  Works  defended  by  four 
hundred  men.  with  three  pieces  of  artillery. 

The  first  brigade  in  advance  of  the  tenth,  the 
One  Hundred  and  Fifth  at  the  head  of  the  bri- 
gade. Marched  up  to  within  four  and  a  half 
miles  of  Savannah,  meeting  the  enemy's  pickets 
before  the  defenses  around  the  city.  The  brigade 
was  immediately  deployed  in  the  line  on  the  right 
of  the  main  pike  and  near  the  Savannah  and 
Charleston  Railroad,  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth 
holding  a  position  on  the  right  of  the  line  in  the 
brigade.  There  was  some  fighting  on  the  right 
by  the  troops  of  the  Seventeenth  Corps. 

The  march  was  concluded  on  the  twenty-sixth 
day  out  from  Atlanta.  The  siege  of  Savannah 
commenced,  lasting  ten  days. 

On  the-  llth  and  12th  the  regiment  shifted  its 
position  tunc  during  the  establishment  of  the 
lines. 

The  Second  clivi>ioii.  Fifteenth  Corps,  charged 
and  captured  Fori  McAllister,  with  all  its  men  and 
armament,  on  the  13th.  thus  opening  a  base  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Ogeeehee  river,  at  Ossabaw 
Sound.     Official  notice  of  the  capture,  and  conse- 


quent opening  of  communication  with  the  national 
fleet,  was  received  along  the  lines  on  the  15th. 

On  the  16th  and  17th  the  regiment  threw  up 
a  I  eavy  line  of  works,  and  on  the  night  of  the 
20th  a  line  was  thrown  up  on  the  skirmish  line. 
On  the  night  of  the  18th  Captain  J.  S.  Forsythe. 
( lompany  H,  in  charge  of  ten  men,  was  sent  out  on 
a  reconnoisance  to  ascertain  the  position  of  the 
enemy  in  front  of  the  brigade.  He  proceeded  to 
within  twenty  yards  of  the  enemy's  lines,  en- 
countering a  deep  swamp.  He  observed  their 
fires  and  heard  them  talk:  after  drawing  their 
lire,  he  returned  with  his  party,  having  accom- 
plished all  that  was  desired. 

\o  casualties  occurred  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fifth  while  laying  before  the  city.  The  enemy 
kept  their  guns  at  work,  and  occasionally  a  shell 
would  burst  over  the  camp,  the  missiles  scattering 
among  the  boys,  but  no  one  was  hurt. 

During  the  march  several  men  were  missing 
Captain  George  A.  Bender,  Company  I,  was 
wounded  in  the  back  and  ankle  severely,  while 
working  on  the  railroad  between  Chattahoochee 
river  and  Atlanta,  on  the  15th  of  November. 

While  before  the  city  the  army  subsisted  on  rice 
and  stale  fresh  beef — a  rather  slim  diet.  The 
former  was  taken  from  mills  in  large  quantities 
and  hulled  by  the  soldiers. 

As  the  army  was  about  to  make  a  general  as- 
sault upon  the  defenses  the  enemy  evacuated  the 
city,  and  in  the  words  of  the  editor  of  the  daily 
(Savannah  i  Republican,  it  was  surrendered  to  "a 
magnanimous  foe."  The  army  entered  the  city 
on  the  '21st  inst. 

A  large  amount  of  cotton,  hundreds  of  guns 
and  other  property  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  na- 
tional authorities  with  the  fall  of  Savannah. 

The  troops,  in  ecstacies  over  the  victorious  cul- 
mination of  the  campaign,  left  their  entrench- 
ments early  Wednesday  evening,  the  21st,  and 
marched  forward  to  behold  their  capture — Sa- 
vannah ! 

The  firs!  brigade  was  assigned  to  a  pleasant 
camping  ground  in  the  western  suburbs  of  the 
city  on  the  21st.  and  there  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fifth  rested  until  the  beginning  of  the  campaign 
of  the  Carolina-. 

The  spirit  of  speculation  was  rife  during  the 
first  days  of  the  occupation  of  the  national  troops. 
Soldiers   from   all   regiments  were  to  be  seen  on 


PAST   AND    PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


247 


the  sidewalks,  and  even  the  middle  of  the  streets, 
trafficking  in  tobacco  and  other  articles  which 
had  been  easily  obtained  in  the  confusion  incident 
to  the  transfer  of  the  city  to  national  authority. 
Greenbacks  rose  suddenly  in  Savannah.  Fair 
damsels  sat  at  their  windows,  with  sweet  corn- 
bread  and  biscuits,  for  greenbacks,  and  little  rebel 
bojs  paraded  the  streets  with  cigars,  for  green- 
backs. The  greenback  fever  was  communicated 
to  the  various  camps  and  the  soldiers — especially 
the  "bummers" — fell  to  playing  "chuckaluck"  for 
greenbacks.  In  a  few  days  a  general  order  had 
In  be  issued  restraining  the  excessive  indulgence 
in  "chuckaluck,"  etc. 

Confederate  currency  went  down  immediately 
and  thr  citizens  of  Savannah  sold  their  share  of 
it  at  a  great  discount,  for  greenbacks,  to  those 
who  desired  to  purchased  for  relics  or  novelty. 
Siime  parted  with  it  reluctantly,  evidently  still 
being  fondly  joined  to  their  idols. 

At  the  close  of  the  campaign  Major  Brown, 
who  had  commanded  the  regiment,  complimented 
the  officers  and  men  for  their  good  conduct 
throughout;  their  rapid  and  steady  marching; 
their  willingness  to  facilitate  the  passage  of  the 
teams  over  the  roads,  and  for  the  alacrity  with 
which  they  responded  to  all  details. 

On  the  26th  of  December  orders  were  received 
to  prepare  for  another  campaign.  A  little  curious 
to  know  what  point  they  were  to  "go  for"  next, 
the  officers  and  men  set  about  the  work  of  prepa- 
ration promptly.  They  easily  pursuaded  them- 
selves that  the  rebellious  soil  of  South  Carolina 
would  be  their  next  field  of  operations,  and  they 
were  elated  with  the  idea  of  punishing  that  con- 
stitutionally hot-tempered  region. 

The  First  brigade  was  reviewed  on  the  29th 
of  December  by  Colonel  Smith,  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Second  Illinois,  commanding  tem- 
porarily. Thr  Twentieth  Corps  was  reviewed  by 
General  Sherman  on  the  30th  in  the  streets  of 
Savannah. 

On  the  morning  of  the  31st  the  third  division 
left  camp,  crossed  the  river  to  Hutchinson  Island, 
opposite  the  city,  and  immediately  proceeded  to 
the  channel  about  a-  mile  distant,  next  to  the 
South  Carolina  side.  The  weather  was  unfavor- 
able— the  low  ground  and  muddy  roads  rendering 
it  impracticable  to  proceed  with  the  work  of 
pontooning,  the  channel  being  broad  and  the  wa- 


ters  boisterous.  The  second  and  third  brigades 
were  ordered  back  to  town  to  remain  until  opera- 
tions lor  crossing  could  be  resumed  as  soon  as  the 
weather  would  permit.  The  first  brigade  remained 
on  the  island.  A  few  shots  were  exchanged  with 
Wheeler's  men,  who  were  on  the  other  side.  A 
man  in  Company  A,  Corporal  Spafford  R.  De- 
t'onl,  was  mortally  wounded  atncl  died  the  next 
day.  This  was  Hie  first  fatal  thrust  from  South 
Carolina.  A  gun  was  planted  and  a  few  shells 
sent  over,  when  the  boys  had  the  satisfaction  of 
witnessing  a  stampede  of  rebel  cavalry. 

The  entrance  of  tie  new  year.  1865,  into  the 
annals  of  time  and  the  entrance  of  the  first  bri- 
gade into  the  state  of  South  Carolina  came  to- 
gether. January  1st  the  brigade  crossed  from 
Hutchinson  Island  to  the  South  Carolina  side 
in  small  boats  and  barges;  proceeded  some  five 
or  six  miles  into  the  country  and  camped  al  a 
line  but  deserted  place  of  a  Dr.  Cheever,  formerly 
a  wealthy  South  Carolinian.  The  Doctor  (now 
deceased)  had  realized  as  high  as  $700,000  an- 
nually on  bis  rice  plantation  through  which  the 
brigade  marched.  The  mansion  is  a  very  large 
two-story  gothie  and  elaborately  finished.  Many 
of  the  plants  and  shrubs  remain,  fitting  remind- 
ers of  former  elegance  and  refinement.  Brigade 
headquarters  were  situated  here.  Major  Brown, 
commanding  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth,  used 
the  overseer's  house  for  regimental  headquarters 
a  building  of  no  mean  pretensions  even  for  an 
overseer.  All  the  other  buildings  were  pulled 
down   for  worn!. 

While  encamped  near  Cheever's  farm  the  good 
chaplain  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth.  Daniel 
Chapman,    resigned,    January    8th,    and    left    for 

Ins  In •.     On  the   loth   the  regiment   shifted   its 

position  in  order  to  enjoy  better  grounds  and 
more  room  than  was  possible  in  the  old  fortifica- 
tions. On  the  night  of  the  Kith  a  wagon-load  of 
shell  oysters,  fresh  from  Hie  coast,  was  issued 
to  the  regiment.  On  the  1 7th  the  division  moved 
on  and  occupied  Hardeeville,  a  point  twenty  miles 
from  Savannah  on  the  Charleston  and  Savannah 
Railroad.  While  here  the  troops  were  treated  to 
four  days  incessant  rain.  On  the  20th  the  camp 
nf  tic  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  was  so  nearly  in- 
undated that  it  became  necessary  to  move  if.  At 
this  place  the  regiment  received  one  hundred  and 
forty-three   new   Springfield    guns  with   accouter- 


248 


PAST    AXD    PRESENT   OF    DE    KALB   COUNTY. 


menu,    which    were    distributed    among    all    the 
companies. 

Captain  Martin  V.  Allen,  Company  E,  was 
honorablv  discharged  Januan  v'o.  1m;.">.  mi  ac- 
count of  wounds  received  before  Atlanta. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Dutton.  Surgeon  Water- 
man and  Lieutenant  John  Ellis,  Company  K,  ar- 
rived on  the  22d  Erom  tin  North,  where  they 
had  been  on  leave.  The  Lieutenant  Colonel 
brought  through  two  large  boxes  and  several  va- 
lises of  articles  from  the  friends  of  the  regiment, 
which  were  received  with  great  satisfaction;  much 
credit  being  due  that  officer  Eor  their  safe  arrival 
to  these  apparently  godless   regions. 

At  Hardeeville  Lieutenant  Colonel  Button  re- 
lieved Major  Brown.  In  this  new  and  dangerous 
march  the  line  military  abilities  of  the  Lieutenanl 
Colonel  were  particularly  desirable  and  his  char- 
acteristic   dash,    coupled    witli    the   coolness   and 

fidelity   of   the    major,    was   worthy    of   the    g 1 

cause  for  which  it  was  being  exercised. 

The  last  drill  of  tin'  first  brigade  came  off  on 
the  25th  of  January  while  at  Hardeeville.  Here 
the  boys  of  the  various  regiments  joined  in  the 
work  of  burning  more  buildings.  A  church  edi- 
fice was  destroyed  by  fire. 

On  the  29th  the  troops  moved  for  Robertsville. 
the  third  division  in  rear  of  the  first.  Marched 
rapidly  about  fifteen  miles,  camping  at  sundown. 
On  the  30th  a  live-mile  march  brought  the  com- 
mand to  Robertsville,  where  it  tinned  into  camp 
at  noon. 

Finally,  from  Robertsville,  the  grand  move- 
ment commenced  in  earnest.  After  remaining 
at  that  place  two  days  the  Twentieth  Corps 
"launched  out**  further  into  the  native  regions 
of  "Secessia"  on  the  morning  of  February  2,  i860, 
in  the  order  of  march  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee, 
Fifteenth  and  Seventieth  Corps,  were  on  the  right. 
the  Army  of  Georgia.  Fourteenth  and  Twentietl 
Corps  on  the  left  ami  the  Cavalry  Corps  ^t i  11  fur- 
ther to  the  left.  The  corps  moved  on  roads  parallel 
with  each  other  in  live  columns. 

The  troops  set  out  with  the  feeling  that,  inas- 
much as  more  campaigning  and  raiding  was  nec- 
essary to  close  up  the  rebellion,  they  were  re- 
joiced to  know  that  South  Carolina  was  to  be  the 
field  of  operations,  and  they  resolved  that  she 
should  be  pretty  thoroughly  overhauled  and  that 
rebellion  should  soon  "play  out"  all  around.    The 


"bummers"  especially  resolved  themselves  into  a 
"committee  of  the  whole  on  the  State  of  Carolina*' 
and  determined  to  "go  it  on  their  own  hook,'* 
as  they  did  through  Georgia — only  more  so. 

(in  the  morning  of  the  2d  the  Twentieth  Corps 
moved  forward,  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  regi- 
ment in  advance  of  the  column.  The  regiment 
soon  run  against  rebels.  At  two  o'clock,  after- 
noon, as  the  column  was  approaching  the  small 
town  of  Lawtonville  the  advanced  two  companies 
were  suddenly  fired  into  by  a  strong  force  of 
Wheeler's  cavalry.  Immediately  two  more  com- 
panies of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  were  de- 
ployed ;i-  skirmishers  and  advanced,  but  the  en- 
emy being  found  strongly  posted  behind  barricades 
ami  a  line  of  thick  woods  bordering  a  marshy 
creek,  the  entire  regiment,  together  with  two  com- 
panies from  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Ninth 
Illinois,  on  its  left,  was  deployed  and  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Hut  ton  in  charge  ordered  to  advance. 
Willi  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade  in  sup- 
porting distance  the  skirmishers  deliberately  ad- 
vanced across  the  open  fields  on  either  side  of  the 
road  miller  m  heavy  fire,  driving  the  enemy  out 
of  hi-  works  to  the  suburbs  of  the  town.  The 
skirmishers  kept  up  a  sharp  fire  at  the  rebels  as 
they  advanced  and  by  a  slight  wheel  to  the  right 
and  another  advance  on  the  run  through  the 
swamp  and  timber,  in  which  was  a  dense  growth 
of  underbrush  and  running  vines,  the  enemy's 
position  was  Hanked  and  the  rebels  were  driven 
through  ami  a  mile  beyond  the  town.  Some  artil- 
lery was  u -I'd  with  good  effect. 

The  fight  was  almost  wholly  made  by  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fifth.  The  advance  was  conducted 
with  order  and  decision  and  of  course  with  suc- 
cess.  The  regiment  and  two  additional  compa- 
nies deployed  made  a  line  about  one-fourth  mile 
in  length,  which  as  it  coolly  moved  forward,  fir- 
ing, presented  the  appearance  of  men  going 
through  the  evolutions  of  skirmish  drill.  There 
weie  eight  casualties  in  the  regiment  and  six  men 
had  their  clothes  pierced  with  bullets.  Colonel 
Dutton  and  Lieutenant  Melvin  Smith,  command- 
ing t  ompany  F.  were  among  the  lucky  ones  who 
were  simply  wounded  in  the  clothes.  Several  of 
the  enemy's  dead  were  left  in  the  bands  of  the 
regimen!  or  brigade  and  it  was  ascertained  that 
several  in-'ie.  with  their  wounded,  were  carried 
off  In  them. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF   BE   KALB   COUNTY. 


24P 


It  was  afterward  learned  that  the  whole  of 
Wheeler's  rebel  cavalry,  three  or  four  thousand, 
were  posted  at  Eawtonville  and  that  they  were 
determined  to  stoutly  resist  the  passage  of  our 
troops  at  the  swamp  near  the  town.  The  enemy 
retreated  during  the  night,  while  the  first  brigade 
camped  on  the  famous  little  battle-field  at  Law- 
tonville. 

The  march  was  resumed  in  the  morning  at  10 
o'clock,  the  regiment  in  the  rear  of  column.  Be- 
yond the  town  a-  large  and  elegant  dwelling  was 
passed.  The  house  was  splendidly  furnished  with 
rich  carpets,  a  library  of  books,  piano  forte  and 
furniture  of  the  number  one  kind.  The  grounds 
were  laid  out  tastefully  and  highly  ornamented 
with  various  kinds  of  shrubbery.  This  was  the 
property  of  a  rebel  officer  and  had  been  the  head- 
quarters of  the  rebel  General  Wheeler.  Ere  the 
rear  of  the  column  had  arrived  it  was  discovered 
thai  the  house  was  on  fire.  It  seems  it  had  beeii 
fired  in  accordance  with  orders  given  by  proper 
authority. 

The  column  proceeded  on  the  Barnwell  road 
nine  miles  and  camped  at  Crossroads. 

On  the  4th  moved  ten  miles.  Good  weather, 
country  higher :  well  supplied  with  water.  For- 
age in  abundance.  The  foragers  and  "bummers" 
in  high  spirits.  All  the  country  for  a  space  of 
about  sixty  miles  being  overrun  by  the  army  as 
it  sweeps  on.  The  boys  bring  into  camp  at  night 
bacon,  sweet  potatoes — or  "yams" — chicken,  fresh 
pork,  molasses,  butter  and  many  other  eatables. 
The  "bummers"  help  themselves  to  any  kind  of 
valuables  within  reach,  people  burying  their  jew- 
elry,    watches,  money,  etc. 

Sunday,  5th  February.  Wea-ther  delightfully 
clear  and  mild.  The  first  brigade  moved  out  in 
advance  of  division,  guarding  wagon  train.  Pro- 
ceeded ten  miles,  camping  near  Fifteenth  Corps. 
Better  country. 

On  the  6th  weather  cloudy  and  raining.  Moved 
out  late  in  the  morning.  Crossed  Combahee  river, 
passing  through  rebel  fortifications,  from  whence 
the  Fifteenth  Corps  had  driven  the  rebels. 

Private  Jenkins,  of  Company  I.  with  a  com- 
rade from  another  regiment,  while  foraging  moved 
ahead  of  the  column  and  at  sundown  found  them- 
selves very  near  the  camp  of  tbe  rebel  General 
Wheeler.  Having  been  unsuccessful  in  foraging 
they  determined   not  to   return  to  camp   without 


some  trophy.  A  rebel  lieutenant  and  sergeant, 
having  ridden  out  of  their  camp,  came  near  the 
boys,  who  demanded  their  surrender.  With  re- 
luctance they  complied,  were  made  to  dismount 
and  deliver  up  their  revolvers  and  sabers.  Jen- 
kins and  his  comrade  mounted  their  horses,  re- 
quiring  the  "Johnnies"-'  to  walk  into  the  "Yankee" 
camp,  which  they  did  in  "good  order."  This  was 
a  "feather  in  Jenkins  cap." 

On  the  8th  the  command  reached  the  Charles- 
ton and  Augusta  Railroad  near  Grahams,  captured 
two  prisoners  and  destroyed  the  track,  heating 
many  of  the  rails  red  hoi  and  winding  them 
around  the  trees. 

On  moved  our  boys,  weary  hul  triumphant, 
through  varying  weather,  cold,  stormy  and  sleet} 
on  one  day,  mild  and  charming  with  the  beau- 
ties of  a  southern  spring  on  the  next.  We  passed 
through  Williston  February  11th,  forded  the  icy 
cold  South  Edisto  river  on  the  12th,  near  which 
Lieutenant  John  Ellis,  of  Company  C,  while  in 
charge  of  a  foraging  party  captured  three  rebel 
soldiers.  The  14th  and  15th  the  rain  froze  as 
it  fell,  making  most  uncomfortable  marching  and 
wretched  camping.  The  brigade  also  met  with 
some  resistance  from  the  retreating  enemy.  We 
camped  in  sight  of  Columbia,  the  capital  of  South 
Carolina,  on  the  16th,  and  after  some  cannonad- 
ing and  skirmishing  passed  the  city  on  the  17th. 
the  army  burning  a  portion  of  it. 

The  whole  surface  of  the  country  seemed  on 
fire  and  the  s ke  was  dense  enough  to  lie  un- 
comfortable. Crossed  the  Saluda  river  on  a  pon- 
toon bridge  on  the  18th  and  were  stationed  as  a 
guard  to  protect  the  pontooners  until  the  bridge 
was  removed.  By  this  time  our  "bummers"  were 
elegantly  arrayed  in  broadcloths  and  satin  and 
marched  in  carriages  more  or  less  elegant,  drawn 
by  confiscated  steeds.  Happy  "bummers"  !  Scour- 
ing the  country  in  advance  of  and  around  the 
army  they  formed  a  protective  force  of  real  serv- 
ice in  furnishing  information  and  preventing  at- 
tack. 

Reached  Broad  river  on  Sunday,  the  19th;  and 
here  orders  were  received  to  prepare  for  a  contin- 
uation of  the  campaign  for  forty  days.  All  un- 
necessary baggage  must  be  thrown  aside,  and  even 
the  wall  tents  abandoned.  Reluctantly  the  boys 
unburdened   their   wagons,   loaded  with  captured 


250 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OF  DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


valuables,  and  the  wagons  subsequently  carried 
only  army   supplies. 

The  troops  had  now  worn  out  their  shoes  and 
man)  were  hallo-,  ragged,  barefoot  and  dirty, 
too,  for  the  soap  had  become  exhausted.  "Forty 
days  more/5  and  "what  will  Old  Bill  do  when  the 
soles  of  our  feet  give  out  too?''"  was  the  question, 
but.  they  soon  recovered  from  their  dissatisfaction 
and  moved  on  jolly  and  contented.  We  guarded 
the  pontooners  at  Broad  river,  and  marched  all 
of  the  Qighl  "I  the  20th,  arriving  at  Winnsboro, 
where  we  passed  in  review  before  Generals  Sher- 
man and  Slocum.  The  One  Hundred  and  Fifth 
led  the  advance  on  the  22d,  encountering  But- 
ters' rebel  cavalry  ami  driving  them.  Private 
Fischer,  ol  Company  11.  here  captured  a  prisoner 
with  two  horses  ami  equipments.  General  Slier- 
man  was  at  our  division  headquarters  today  and 
while  there  received  uews  of  the  capture  of 
Charleston.  Crossed  the  Wateree  river  at  mid- 
niglit  and  were  thoroughly  drenched  with  a 
shower. 

(in  the  24th  we  passed  over  a  wretched  cordu- 
roy mad,  which  had  been  built  by  our  pioneers 
from  small  pines  that  worked  the  mud  beneath 
into  a  batter  which  gushed  up  in  fountains  as  our 
mules  drew  the  heavy  wagons  over  their  rough 
surfaces. 

Right  here  let  us  give  due  credit  to  these  faith- 
ful dumb  brutes — unhonored  heroes  whose  toils, 
laceration-  and  starvations  were  so  seldom  thought 
of,  yet  whose  services  were  as  indispensable  as  our 
own.  and  whose  bones  lie  bleaching  on  all  the 
battle  fields  of  the  South,  together  with  those  of 
our  own  comrades. 

On  the  25th  Captain  Culver  with  his  forging 
party  dashed  into  Lancaster,  fifteen  miles  aside 
from  our  column — the  first  to  enter  that  city. 
lie  secured  a  large  supply  of  dried  fruit  and  other 
luxuries.  We  camped  for  a  day  at  Hanging  Eock 
waiting  for  the  Fourteenth  Corps  to  come  up  the 
river.  This  rock  was  so  named  from  the  fact  that 
the  British  here  hung  six  American  soldiers  after 
one  of  the  battles  of  the  Revolution.  Hard  march- 
ing for  the  next  week;  from  ten  to  seventeen  miles 
a  day.  much  of  it  being  done  in  the  night.  On 
the  Ith  of  March  we  crossed  into  North  Carolina 
and  rested  on  Sunday  at  Colonel  Allston's  planta- 
tion, where  we  were  delighted  with  the  luxury  of  a 
supply  of  soft  soap.   On  the  9th  reached  a  country 


devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  tar  and  turpentine 
— a  wilderness  of  lofty  pines.  Immense  quantities 
of  this  material  were  set  on  lire  and  huge  columns 
of  black  smoke  rising  from  the  forests  told  that 
lava-like  streams  of  tar  or  rosin  were  burning  like 
the  emissions  of  a  volcano.  On  the  SJth  a  heavy 
thunder  storm — a  muddy  stream  forded  and  no 
fresh  provisions — for  the  first  time  since  we  lett 
Robertsville  we  lived  on  hard  bread.  On  the  11th 
the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  was  detailed  to  work 
on  tin  road  and  several  miles  were  corduroyed. 
In   camp   at   Fayetteville  on  the   12th  and   from 

here  we  sent  letters  h e  and  were  reviewed  by 

Genera]  Sherman,  passing  through  and  camping 
a  short  distance  out.  On  the  16th  we  fought  the 
battle  of  Vverysboro.  when  that  engagement  took 
place.  The  first  brigade  was  deployed  on  the  left 
of  the  forces  engaged,  the  left  wing  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fifth,  under  Captain  Forsythe,  be- 
ing deployed  as  skirmishers  in  front  of  the  bri- 
gade, while  the  right  remained  in  column  in  rear 
of  the  left  of  the  brigade.  An  advance  was  im- 
mediately made,  under  heavy  skirmish  fire,  for 
about  live  hundred  yards  to  the  enemy's  works, 
when  a  charge  was  ordered;  at  the  same  time 
the  right  wing  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth,  un- 
der Lieutenant  Colonel  Dutton,  was  ordered  to 
the  extreme  left  and  forward  to  protect  the  flank 
and  strengthen  the  skirmish  line.  It  moved  as 
directed  with  alacrity  and  cut  off  from  retreat  and 
captured  a  twelve-pounder  Napoleon  gun,  which 
the  colonel,  with  some  of  his  gallant  men,  turned 
on  the  enemy,  giving  him  half  a  dozen  shots  in  his 
disordered  and  retreating  ranks.  The  works  were 
charged  and  carried  in  splendid  style,  when  the 
line  halted  till  other  troops  were  brought  to  con- 
nect with  the  left,  prior  to  another  advance.  When 
i  he  brigade  advanced  again  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fifth  moved  in  the  second  line,  the  whole  line 
pressing  up  within  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of 
the  enemy's  main  line  of  works,  under  a  heavy  fire 
of  small  arms  and  cannon.  Here  the  regiment 
and  brigade  bivouacked  during  the  remainder  of 
the  day  and  night,  throwing  up  a  line  of  works 
during  a  rain  storm.  The  battle  on  the  right  was 
- issfully  waged  and  in  the  night  the  enemy  re- 
treated— well  whipped. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Dutton,  assisted  by  Major 
Brown  and  Adjutant  Chandler,  was  equal  to  ever] 
emergency.     Captain    Forsythe  handled   the  skir- 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


351 


mish  line  with  admirable  success  and  the  line  offi- 
cers and  men  displayed  their  usual  courage  and 
fidelity.  Adjutant  Chandler  had  the  front  of  his 
hat  torn  by  a  bullet,  narrowly  escaping  with  his 
life. 

The  regimen!  lust  sis  killed  and  sixteen  wound- 
ed, according  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  Dutton's  re- 
port. Among  the  former  was  the  gallant  orderly, 
Linus  Holcomb,  of  Company  A;  Captain  G.  B. 
Heath,  whose  life  gradually  ebbed  away  after  he 
was  brought  from  the  gory  Held  of  battle. 

Surgeon  Waterman  again  bad  his  hands  full  in 
caring  for  the  wounded.  His  skill  was  measured 
by  the  sad  duties  of  the  hour  and  not  found  want- 
ing. 

In  a  large  dwelling  in  rear  of  the  field  where 
the  brigade  fought  a  hospital  was  located,  where 
the  wounded  wen'  being  dressed.  There  was  nu- 
merous amputations — the  yard  being  strewn  with 
legs  and  arms  and  the  dead  ami  dying  were  lying 
around — a  dreadful  wreck  of  human  forms. 

The  casualties  in  the  division  numbered  two 
hundred  and  fifty-six:  First  brigade,  eighty- 
three;  .Second  brigade,  fifty:  Third  brigade,  on,» 
hundred  and  twenty-three.  The  loss  of  the  even- 
ing was  heavy.  The  troops  buried  one  hundred  of 
the  killed  rebels. 

Before  the  battle  a  party  of  thirty  foragers 
from  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth,  preceding  the 
column,  charged  on  one  of  the  enemy's  earth- 
works, driving  him  out  and  killing  one  man — a 
very  creditable  affair. 

The  regiment  did  their  duty  nobly,  and  in  token 
of  their  gallantry  at  this  point  and  in  the  Atlanta 
campaign.  Colonel  Button,  their  commander,  re- 
ceived from  the  President  the  appointment  of 
Brigadier  General  by  brevet,  the  appointment  dat- 
ing from  the  date  of  the  battle. 

On  the  19th  the  battle  of  Bentonville  occurred 
at  which  we  were  assigned  position  on  the  left. 
We  threw  up  earthworks  in  double-quick  time,  but 
the  attack  was  made  in  the  night,  and  our  line  u  a  ■ 
not  assaulted.  The  rebels  were  defeated  with 
fearful  slaughter. 

Resumed  our  march  on  the  22d  and  crossed  the 
Neuse  river  on  the  next  day.  Here  we  met  Gen- 
era] Terry's  eastern  troops,  whining  because  they 
had  been  without  communication  and  no  mail  for 
a  week.  We  consoled  them  by  telling  them  we 
had  been  in  the  same  condition  fifty-one  days. 


We  arrived  at  Goldsboro  on  the  24th,  ami  our 
long  march  for  the  time  was  ended.  We  bad 
marched  five  hundred  miles  in  fifty-five  days,  rest- 
ing only  six  days:  had  crossed  twelve  large  rivers 
and  numerous  smaller  streams.  The  foragers  of 
our  regiment  had  captured,  on  the  march,  twenty 
tons  of  meat,  ten  tons  of  flour,  and  sweet  potatoes, 
with  other  luxuries,  to  an  extent  that  cannot  be 
estimated.  All  of  the  officers  with  their  men  by 
turns  participated  in   the  work   of   foraging. 

At  Goldsboro  the  regiment  was  newly  equipped, 
and  that  portion  of  "Sherman's  greasers,"  as  the 
eastern  troops  contemptuously  (ailed  us.  put  on  a 
better  appearance.  The  "bummers,"  who  were 
flush  of  funds,  having  "cramped"  watches,  jewelry, 
and  money  .luring  the  raid,  donned  the  best  attire 
and  patronized  the  "sutlers"  shops  extensively. 

On  the  29th.  and  again  on  the  5th  of  April, 
parties  of  our  regiment  were  sent  on  foraging 
expeditions,  taking  forage  from  within  two  miles 
of  the  fortified  lines  of  the  enemy,  but  losing  sev- 
eral men  captured  and  one  killed. 

On  the  6th  of  April  news  was  received  of  the 
capture  of  Richmond,  and  the  joy  of  our  boys 
may  be  more  easily  imagined   than  described. 

On  the  10th  we  found  another  campaign  begun. 
We  moved  to  Smithfield.  where  the  surrender  of 
Lee's  army  was  announced.  We  were  after  Johns- 
ton's army,  and  on  the  13th  we  reached  Raleigh 
in  the  pursuit.  Here  reports  were  circulated  of 
Johnston's  surrender,  and  amid  the  joyful  excite- 
ment came  the  heart-rending  tidings  of  the  assas- 
sination of  President  Lincoln. 

On  the  22d  the  Twentieth  Corps  were  reviewed 
in  Raleigh,  and  on  the  14th  it  became  known  that 
Johnston  had  surrendered  his  army  upon  terms 
that  were  not  approved  by  the  President,  ami  that 
we  were  about  to  "go  for"  "Johnston's  Johnnies" 
again.  Next  day  we  marched  thirteen  miles  on 
the  road  to  Holly  Springs,  hut  on  the  day  follow- 
ing we  remained  in  camp,  as  Grant  and  Sherman 
bad  gone  forward  to  meet  the  rebel  general  and 
have  a  new  conference.  On  the  24th  we  joyfulbj 
marched  back  to  Raleigh,  elated  with  the  assurance 
that  Grant's  negotiations  had  been  successful — 
that  satisfactory  terms  of  surrender  had  been 
made — and  that  the  great  war  was  substantially 
at  an  end. 

Xow  "on  to  Richmond." 


252 


PAST    AND   PRESENT   OF  DE   KALB   COUNTY 


We  marched  gaily  along,  blessed  with  warm. 
bright  beautiful  weather,  pleasantly  greeted  by 
the  people  on  the  route,  full  of  gratification  at 
the  glorious  termination  of  the  war. 

We  passed  Williamsborough,  crossed  the  Roan- 
oke into  Virginia,  crossed  again  the  Meherin  and 
the  Nottaway  rivers,  and  on  the  9th  of  May  rested 
a  day.  two  miles  from  Richmond.  On  the  11th  we 
passed  through  Richmond;  well  treated  by  the 
le.  <  »n  the  12th  crossed  the  Chickahominy 
swamp;  on  the  14th  crossed  the  Little  and  North 
Anna  rivers,  and  received  orders  to  burn  no  more 
fences.  The  young  daughters  of  the  Old  Do- 
minion greeted  us  with  waving  handkerchiefs,  and 
the  colored  people  were  everywhere  jubilant.  On 
the  15th  we  camped  on  the  Chancellorsville  battle 
ground  where  human  bones  and  skulls  lay  bleach- 
in-  in  the  -im. 

•  Mi  the  17th  we  were  near  Manassas  Junction, 
and  on  the  18th  passed  through  Fairfax  Sta1 
i  rossing  the  far-famed  Bull  Run.  a  broad  shallow 
stream  of  pure  water  with  a  hard  gravelly  bottom. 
On  the  I'Mh  camped  three  miles  from  Alexandria 
where  we  remained  till  on  the  24th,  we  took  part 
in  the  grand  military  pageani  ai  Washington. 
Here  Major  Brown.  Captain  Church,  and  Assist- 
ant Surgeon  Beggs  joined  the  regiment,  having 
bei  ii  absent  on  leave  and  detached  service. 

The  army  of  the  Potomac  was  reviewed  by  the 
President  and  Cabinet  on  the  23d,  and  General 
Sherman's  army  on  the  24th,  the  streets  lined  with 
immense  crowds  of  people  who  greeted  us  with 
constant  cheers  and  waving  handkerchiefs.  The 
Washington  papers  especially,  commended  the 
drill  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth,  and  the  ladies 
favored  us  with  a  shower  of  bouquets.  We  camped 
four  miles  out  of  the  city  until  the  6th,  employing 
our  time  in  visiting  Washington,  and  on  the  7th 
of  June,  1865,  were  mustered  out  of  the  service. 

On  the  8th  we  took  cars  for  Chicago,  arriving 
at  Pittsburg  about  2  a.  m..  where  we  were  met 
by  a  brass  band  and  a  committee  of  citizen-,  es- 
corted to  the  City  Hall  and  entertained  with  ample 
refreshments.  Generous,  thoughtful  Pittsburg: 
long  will  you  be  remembered  for  your  kindness  to 
the  war  worn  and  weary.  What  a  contrast  we 
met  in  Chicago.  We  arrived  at  the  same  hour. 
It  was  dark  and  raining:  no  one  met  as  or  could 
tell  us  where  to  go.  The  officers  were  in  a  train 
behind,  and  Sergeant  Major  Whitlock,  who  found 


himself  the  ranking  officer,  could  not  find  a  place 
to  put  his  men.  They  could  not  be  admitted  to 
the  Soldiers'  Home,  to  the  barracks,  nor  anywhere. 
The  officers  soon  arrived  and  found  that  no  notice 
had  been  taken  of  their  telegram  advising  the 
coming  of  the  regiment.  The  boys  "adjourned" 
to  the  Illinois  Central  depot,  where  a  friendly 
policeman  suffered  them  to  lie  on  the  floor  till 
morning.  Then  we  started  for  the  dirty  barracks, 
to  which  we  were  finally  ordered,  at  Camp  Fry. 
As  we  marched  through  the  same  streets  through 
which  three  years  before  we  had  gone  out  one 
thousand  strong — our  regiment  now  reduced  to 
hardly  half  that  number,  was  ordered  off  the 
walk  into  the  streets  by  the  police.  The 
policemen  were  pushed  aside  with  hearty  soldierly 
denunciations  of  all  policemen  and  Chicago  gen- 
erally. 

At  Camp  Fry  we  were  detained  by  Paymaster 
Maybourn   until  June    17th,  when  as  each  i 
pany  was  paid,  it  left  the  barracks  immediately. 

The  warm  welcome  which  we  all  received  as 
we  leached  our  homes  did  much  to  remove  the 
unfavorable  impression  produced  by  the  shameful 
treatment  that  we  met  in  Chicago. 


ONE    Iir.MiKKIi    WD    FIFTH    INFANTRY 
REGIMENT. 

THREE   1  I    UJS'   SERVICE. 

Non-commiss d  Staff. 

SERGEANT   MAJORS. 

David  D.  (handler.  De   Kalli.  promoted  adjutant. 
Jonathan  <;.  Vallette,  Milton,  discharged  July  6, 

1864,   to   accept    commission    in   the   volunteer 

service. 
0     en   Whittack,   Milton,   mustered   out  June  ?, 

1865. 

QUARTERMASTER  SERGEANTS. 

George  W.  Burpee,  Rockford. 
Henrv  W.  Kellogg,  Mayfield,  mustered  out  June 
7,  1865. 

i  OM  \1  [SS  \l:Y    SERGEANT. 

Clinton  Beach,  Winfield,  promoted  first  lieutenant 
and  quartermaster  in  I'nited  State>  colored 
troop-. 

HOSPITAL    STEWARDS. 

George  W.  Beggs,  Naperville,  promoted  assistant 
surgeon. 

on  Dockstader,  Sycamore   discharged  April  8, 
1863. 


PAST   AND   PKESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


253 


John  B.  Belfarge,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  June  7,  Bailey,  John  S.,  Genua,  died  Oct.  2,  1862;  wounds. 

18G5.  Burroughs,  James  H.,  Genoa,  died  at  New  Albany, 

principal  musicians.  l~nd.,  Dec.  24,  1862. 

Moull  Fuller,  DuPage  county,  mustered  out  June  Church,   Samuel,    Genoa,   mustered   out   June    7, 

7,  1865.  1865;  was  prisoner. 

Walter  Van   Vetzger,    DuPage   county,   mustered  Carr,    Patrick,    Sycamore,    discharged    Jan.    19, 


out  June  7,  1865. 

ENLISTED  MEN  OF  COMPANY  A. 

FIRST  SERGEANT. 

William  R.  Thomas.  Sycamore,  promoted  second 
lieutenant. 

SERGEANTS. 

Linus  Holcomb.  Sycamore,  first  sergeant,  died 
March  16,  1865 ;  wounds. 

Alonzo  E.  Carr,  Genoa,  transferred  July  25,  1864. 

Henry  H.  Slater,  Geneva,  promoted  first  lieuten- 
ant. 

Chauncey  E.  Sixbury,  Sycamore,  mustered  out 
June  7,  1865,  as  first  sergeant;  commissioned 
second  lieutenant,  but  not  mustered. 

CORPORALS. 

Menzo  W.  Garnet,  Sycamore,  captured  March  11, 

1865. 
Henry   W.   Kellogg,   Mayfield.  promoted   quarter- 
master sergeant. 
Wentworth    Sivwright,     Mayfield,    mustered     out 

June  7.  1865,  as  private. 
Dewitt  C.  Green,  Genoa,  discharged  May  10,  1865, 

as  sergeant;  wounds. 
Simon  Dockstader,   Sycamore,   promoted   hospital 

steward. 
Oscar  ('.  Churchill,  Cortland, 'discharged  April  25, 

1865. 
Jared  J.   Burdick,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  June 

7,  1865. 
Reuben  J.  Holcomb,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June 

7,  1865,  as  sergeant. 

PRIVATES. 

Allen,    Benjamin,    Geneva,    discharged    July    16, 

1863;  disability. 
Allard,  William  A..  Sycamore,  died  at  Dallas,  Ga., 

May  29.  1864 :  wounds. 
Buck,    William,    De    Kalb.    discharged    Feb.    16, 

1863 ;  disability. 
Black,   Nirum,   Cortland,   mustered    out   June   7, 

1865,  as  corporal. 
Bowers,  Hiram  W.,  Batavia.  mustered  out  June      Jones,  Charles  L..  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June 

7,  1865,  as  coroporal.  7,  1865. 


1863;  disability. 
Cheesbro,  Oliver  B.,  Cortland,  discharged  May  5, 

1865 ;  wounds. 
Carr,    Edwin,    Mayfield,    mustered    out    June    7, 

1865. 
Cummins,  Warren,  mustered  out  June  7,  1865. 
Canady,  David  N.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June 

7.  1865. 
Culver,   Jefferson  H.,   Cortland,   discharged   Jan. 

19,  1863;  disability. 
Deford,  Spafford  B.,  Cortland,  died  Jan.  1.  1865; 

wounds. 
Donahue,  Patrick.    Kingston,  mustered   out  June 

21,  1865. 
Dennis,  George  W.,  Jr.,  Mayfield,  discharged  May 

1.  1863;  disability. 
Easha,  Joseph,  Kingston,   mustered  out  June   7, 

1865. 
Goble,  Elias,  Mayfield,  died  at  South  Tunnel,  T., 

Dec.  21.  1862. 
Goble,  John  J.,  Mayfield,  mustered  out  June  7, 

1865,  as  sergeant. 
Goble,  William  H.,  Mayfield,  mustered  out  June 

7,  1865. 
Gregory,  Cozier,  Genoa,  discharged  Feb.  22,  1863; 

disability. 
Harsha,  Eugene  K..  Cortland,  mustered  out  June 

7,  1865. 
Hutchinson,  Nicholas  A.,  Genoa,  discharged  Sept. 

30 ;  wounds. 
Hathaway,  Harrison,  Cortland,  mustered  out  June 

7,  1865. 
Howe,  George  E.,  Mayfield,  died  at  Chattanooga. 

Aug.  15,  1864;  wounds. 
Hendrick,  Nelson  F.,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  June 

14.  1865. 
Hollenback,  Alfred  S..  Genua,  mustered  out  .June 

7,  1865. 
Holcomb,  Oscar,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June  7, 

1865. 
Jellison,  Alexander  M.,  Genoa,  mustered  out  June 

7,  1865. 


254                                     PAST    AM)    PRESENT  OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 

Johnson,  Chauncey,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June  Phelps,  .lames  M.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June 

7,  1865.  ^.  1865,  as  corporal. 
Kellogg,    Herman    A..    Sycamore,    mustered    out  Peary,  Nehemiah,  Genoa,  transferred  to  engineer- 
June  7,  1865.  ing  corps,  August  11,  1864. 
Kunyler,  Jean,   Kingston,   mustered  out  .Tune  7,  Palmer,   ('lark.  Mayfield,   mustered   out   June   7, 

1865.  1865. 

King,  Lucius  A..  Cortland,  mustered  out  June  7.  Patterson,   George,   Genoa,   mustered  out  July   8, 

1865.  1865. 

Kenyon,  Henry,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June  7.  Robinson,  Cyrus  II..  Kingston,  mustered  out  June 

1865.  7,  1865. 

Kane,  William,  Geneva,  discharged  Jan.  19, 1863 ;  Rhinehart,    Joseph     B.,    Mayfield,    mustered    our 

disability.  June  7,  1865. 

Kesler,  John,  Geneva,  discharged    Dee.    7,    1862;  Rodabaugh.  Samuel  B.,  Genoa,  mustered  out  June 

disability.  7,  1865. 

Leonard,    Patrick,  Sycamore,   mustered   out   June  Raymond,  Oliver  B.,  Mayfield. 

7,  1865,  as  corporal.  Smith.  Marvin  A..  Kingston,  mustered  out  dune 

Lewis,  Myron  W.,  Genoa,  mustered  out  dun.-  7,  7,  1865. 

1865.  Smauson,  John,   Cortland,  died   Aug.   12,    1864; 

Moyier,  George,    Mayfield,  mustered  out  dune  7,  wounds. 

1865.  Shaw,  Cheney  L.,  Cortland,  mustered  out  dune  7, 

Moore.  Philip.  Genoa-,  mustered  out  June  7.  1865.  1865,  as  sergeant. 

Marshall,  Julian  E.,  Cortland,  died  at  Bardstown,  Scott,   Allien.   South   Grove,   mustered    oul    dune 

K\..  Dec.  6,  1862.  7,  1865. 

Martin.  John,  Genoa,   discharged    May    1.    1863;  Safford,  Edward   I'..  Sycamore,  promoted  captain 

disability.  Fourteenth   I '.  S.  colored  troops.  Xov.   1.  lsi;:i. 

Martin,    Augustus,    Genoa,    discharged     May    -I.  Settle,  William  II. ,  Genoa,  mustered  out  June  :. 

L863;  disability.  L865. 

McNaughton,  William,  Genoa,  discharged  Dec.  29,  Schwirk,  Joseph,   Sycamore,  died    at    Scottsboro, 

1862  :  disability.  Ala.,  Pec.  7,  1862. 

Norris,  George  E.,  Sycamore,  discharged  April  8,  Smith.  Chauncey,    Mayfield,  discharged    Feb.   22, 

1863;  disability.  L863;  disability. 

Ousterhaut,    Franklin    A.,    Mayfield,    transferred  Spanton.  Thomas.   Plato,    mustered    out    June    7. 

July  25,   1864.  1865. 

Olin.  Nathaniel  J.,  Cortland,  mustered  out  July  ^          _  James    s v,.:! ,,,, , r, ._  mustered  out  dune  7. 

1-  1865.  l865 

Pond.  Americus  II..  Genoa.  .         . ,,                     .                       .,     .  ,,      ,  .,,  , 

.,     „  ,,                            T  spancill.    George,    Sycamore,    accidentally    knlea 

Patterson.   Francis.   Mavfield.   mustered   out   June  r 

7.  1865.  Sept              ,:>' 

'.„",„                         ,  Smith,    Ashael    C,    Genoa,    discharged    April    8, 
Petrie,  Samuel,  Sycamore,  transferred  to  engineer- 

L863;  disability, 
tng  corps,  Angusl  15,  1865. 

...         ,  „        ,.    10„0  Tewksburrv,    Russell    P..    Sycamore,    discharged 

Pierce,  James,  Genoa,  discharged   Dec.  28,  186o;  -      .., 

,.    .  ...  April  2,  1863  :  disabilitv. 
disability. 

.  ,       '  ,     ,    ,     _                   ,             .  ,  Westbrook,     Samuel     I)..     Svcamore,    discharged 

Patrick.  Albert  J..  Sycamore,  absent,  sick,  mus-  ... 

April  8,   1863  :  disability. 
teren  out  of  regimi  nt. 

Phelps.  James  A..  Cortland,  mustered  oul  dune  7.  ^affiles,  Sylvanus,  Geneva,  died  at  Chattai ga, 

1865.  A"-''-  ,S,;1- 

Peters.  Warren  F.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June  West,   Elias    C,    Geneva,    mustered    out    dune    7. 

7.   1865.  1865. 

Phelps,  Edgar  M..  Sycamore,  mustered  oul  dune  Wilcox,   Aziel,    Svcamore.  mustered   oui   June   7. 

;.  1865.  1865. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    ()E  DE    KALB   COUNTY.                                     255 

Wright,  Wentworth,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June  John  Fowler,  Shabbona,  died  at  Louisville,   Ky., 

7,  1865,  as  corporal.  Oct.  27,  1862. 

Wilson,  John,   South  Grove,   mustered   out   June  privates. 

'>  1°lj0-  Ames,  John,   Shabbona,  mustered  out    June    7, 

Woodward,  William.  South  Grove,  discharged  Oct.  liSG:,_  ag  eorporalj  wounded. 
12,  1862  ;  minor. 


Anderson,  Augustus,  Paw  Paw,  mustered  out  June 

7,  1865. 

Bowker.  William.    Paw   Paw,  mustered    out  June 
.lone.-.    George    \\  ..    transferred    to    Company    l\.. 

„.    ,         ,,     T„.       .     -r    „  7,  181)0.  wounded. 


RECRUITS. 

Croft,  James,  mustered  out  June  7,  1865. 


Sixteenth  Illinois  Infantry. 
Kemp,  John,  deserted  July  10,  1863. 
Rouse,   William    II..   mustered  out  June  7,   1865. 
Settle,  Oscar  D..  Cortland,  transferred  to  Company 


Belden,  John  A.,  Paw  Paw.  mustered  out  June  7. 

1865. 

Bandfield,  Benjamin,  Paw  Paw,  discharged  Jan. 

15,  1863,  disability. 

K.,  Sixteenth  Illinois  Infantry.  _  ,  ,    ,  .    '  „         ,        ,    -,   c, 
,,...      »!_:_    n      r.-^i— j     I.„..^„ »       B*ker,  Artemus  A..   Paw    Paw,  deserted  Sept.   3, 


Weedon,   Alvin    G.,    Cortland,   veterinary    recruit 
transfern 
Infantry. 


1862 
transferred  to  Company    K,  Sixteenth  Illinois       „    ,      "  TX     „        ^  ,        ,   , 

T   ,  Cook,  George  H.,  Paw  Paw,  transferred  to  engi- 


UNDEK    COOK   OF    A.    D. 

Beard,  Henry,  absent,  sick,  mustered  out  of  regi 
ment. 


FIRST    SERGEANT. 


neer  corps,  Aug.  15,  1864. 
Cheney,  <>]o  P..  Paw  Paw.  mustered  out  June  7, 

1865. 
Cross.  Charles   ('..   Shabbona,  mustered   out  June 

ENLISTED  MEN  OF  COMPANY  C.  '•  1865- 

Challand.  Charles,  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June 

7,  1865. 

John  H.  Swift,  Paw   Paw.  promoted  second  lieu-  Crimj  Levi<  Shabbona,  discharged  Jan.  14,  1863, 

tenant,  disability. 

sergeants.  Dyas,  Moses,   Shabbona,  died   at  Bowling  Green. 

Jonathan  R.  Marryatt,  Shabbona.  promoted   first  Ky.,  Dec.  2,  1862. 

sergeant,  then  first  lieutenant.  Damon.  Solon  W.,  Shabbona,  absent,  wounded,  at 

Thomas    George    Taylor,    Shabbona.    accidentally  muster  out  of  regiment. 

killed,  Feb.  15,  1864.  Damon,  George  H.,  Shabbona,  discharged  June  9, 

Thomas  J.    Pierce,  Wyoming,   died   at   Nashville,  1863,  disability. 

Tenn..  March  3.  1864.  Davenport,  William  IP.  Shabbona,  mustered  out 

William  H.  0.  Stevens,  Shabbona.  mustered   out  June  7,  1865,  as  corporal. 

June  7,  1865,  as  private.  Davis,  Albert.  Shabbona.  discharged  Aug.  4,  1863, 

corporals.  disability. 

William  R.  Low.  Shabbona.  discharged  .March  23,  Dennison,  John  M..  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June 

1863,  disability.  7,  1865. 

Jacob  Ostrander,  Paw  Paw,  mustered  out  June  T.  Devendorf,  Augustus,  Shabbona.  died  at  Murfrees- 

1865.    as    first    sergeant,    commissioned    second  boro,  Tenn.,  July  10,  1863. 

lieutenant  but  not  mustered.  Fermen.  James  B..  Shabbona.  mustered  out  June 

Darius  Horton,  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June  7.  7,  1865. 

1865,  as  sergeant.  Fowler,  James,  Shabbona,  discharged   March  23. 

William  E.  Grover,  Shabbona,  sergeant,  killed  at  1865,  disability. 

Dallas,  Ga.,  May  27.  1864.  Fripps,  Byron  D.,  Shabbona,  discharge.!  April  11 

John  Thompkins,  Shabbona.  mustered  out  June  7.  1863,  disability. 

1865,  as  private.  Glen,  John,  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June  7,  1865. 

David    N.    Jackson.   Shabbona.   died    at   Bowding  Gerard,  George  W.,  Shabbona.  mustered  out  June 

Green,  Ky.,  Nov.  19,  1862.  7,  1865. 

Chauncy  Condy,  Shabbona.  mustered  out  June  7,  Goodyear,  Nelson.  Shabbona.  mustered  out  June 

1865,  as  private,  wounded.  7.  1865. 


256                                     PAST    AND    PRESENT  OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 

Griffith,  Henry  S.,  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June  Merwin,  Samuel.  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June  7, 

7,  1865,  as  sergeant.  L865. 

G Lyear,  Joseph  T.,  Shabbona,  died  at  Bowling  Mott,  Jacob.  Shabbona,  died  at  Louisville,  Ky., 

Green,  Ky..  Nov.  21,  1862.  Aug.  5,  1865;  wounds. 

Howes.  Philip,  Shabbona,  corporal,  died  May  31,  Morey,  Hiram,  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June  7, 

1864,  wounds.  1865. 

Hamlin.    John    A..    Shabbona,   did    at    Gallatin,  Matteson,  Egbert  J.,  Shabbona,  died  at  Louisville, 

Tenn.,  Dec.  10,  1862.  Ky..  Not.  19,  1862. 

Hinds,  Austin  F.,  Shabbona.  mustered  out  June  MeCormick,    Thomas,    Shabbona,    mustered    out 

;.  i860.  June  7,  1865,  as  corporal. 

Hayes.  John  M.,  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June  T.  MeCormick,  John.  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June 

L865.  •■  1865. 

Harper,  George  C,  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June  Marble,  Edmund  D.,  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June 

', .  1865,  as  corporal.  "•   1865. 

Hunter,  Robert,  Shabbona,  deserted  Jan.  1,  1863.  McClymonds,  Thomas  <;..  Shabbona.  mustered  out 

Howes,  Moses,  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June  12,  Jim.'  , .  1865. 

1865.  Mi  Parland,  John,  Shabbona,  died   at   Frankfort, 
Halk,    Elijah,   Shabbona,   mustered   out  June   7,  Ky.,  Oct.  27,  1862. 

1S65.  McFarland,  Walter  S..  Shabbona,  discharged  June 

Hatch,    Charles.    Shabbona.    .lid    ai     Nashville,  17,  1863;  disability. 

Trim..  Julv  14.  1804;  wounds.  Norton,  Sidney,  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June  7. 

[vers,    Thomas.    Shabbona,    discharged    June    20,  1865. 

1863;  disability.  Nicholson,   Patrick.   Shabbona,  deserted   Sept.  2, 

Jordan.  James,  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June  ',.  1862. 

L865;  wounded  twice.  Nicholson,  John,  Shabbona.  died  at  Chicago.  Sept. 

Eennicutt,    La.   Jr..    Shabbona,   discharged    Jan.  '-"•'•  1862. 

II.  1863;  disability.  Newton,  ('has.  W.,  Shabbona,  mustered  oui  June 

Kilbourn,  Lyman,  Shabbona,  killed  ai  Resaca,  Ga.,  "•■  1865,  as  corporal. 

\l:i\    ii.  1864.  Nichols,  Hamilton.  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June 

Kelly,   Daniel  A.,  Shabbona,  discharged   Dec.  31.  ••  1865. 

1862;  disability.  Pattee,  Albion,  Shabbona.  mustered   out   June   7, 

Lanaghan,  Michael,  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June  1865;  wounded. 

-     1865.  Perkins,  John.  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June   7, 

Lake.    Hurbert    F.,    Shabbona,   died    at    Bowling  L865,  as  sergeant. 

K.      Dec     .„    ,  Palm.  David,  Shabbona.  died  at  Bowling  Green, 

x      ,                            ,                             ,  Ky.,  Dec.  2.  1S62. 

Lander-.  Ebenezer,  Shabbona,  mustered  oui  June  n     ,  .,     _,,        „.     _,    ,,           ..  ,        .x    .    ... 

Randall,  (has.   \\ ..  shabbona,  died  at  Nashville. 

"'    lM"'-  Tenn.,  March  1.  1S64. 

Lamkins,  Josiah  B..  Shabbona,  deserted   Nov.  21,  sil „,,.,,„_   Seekj   Shabbona,   killed   near    Atlanta., 

|N(;'2-  Ga.,  Aug.  5,  1864. 

Lamkins,  Sidney  G.,  Shabbona,  died  at  Louisville,  Scott,    Miles.    Shabbona,   mustered   out   June    7, 

Ky.,  Oct.  29,  186  1865. 

Morrison,  William,  Shabbona,  killed  near  Atlanta.  Sutliff,  John  IL.  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June  7, 

Ga.,  Aug.  5,  1864.  ,.,;:,;  WOunded. 

Morrison,  George,   Shabbona,  mustered  out  June  Spaulding,  James,  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June 

1,  L865.  -,  is,,.-, 

Minnihan,  Michael,  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June  Swanson,   Charles  J.,   Shabbona,     mustered     out 

;.  L865,  as  sergeant.  June  7,  1865.  as  corporal. 

M    llins,  John.  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June  7.  Sherrill,  Aaron  E.,   Shabbona,  died   at   Gallatin, 

L865;  wounded.  Tenn..  .March  3,  1863. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT   OF  DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


257 


Stansbury,   Tishe,   Shabbona,  mustered  out  June 

7,  1865. 
Van  Patten,  Abram,  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June 

7,  1865,  as  corporal. 
Watson,  Robert  T.,  Shabbona.  mustered  out  June 

7,  1865. 
Watson,    William,    Jr.,    Shabbona.    mustered    out 

June  7,  1865. 
Wright.  William.  Shabbona,  died  May  25,  1864; 

wmmds. 
Wilson,  Alfred  B.,  Shabbona,  mustered  out  June 

7,  1865,  as  corporal. 

RECRUITS. 

Alford,  Martin  S.,  Shabbona,  transferred  to  Com- 
pany A,  Sixteenth  Illinois  infantry. 

Donaldson,  Reuben,  Shabbona,  transferred  to 
Company  A,  Sixteenth  Illinois  infantry. 

Donaldson,  Russell,  Shabbona,  transferred  to 
Company  A,  Sixteenth  Illinois  infantry. 

Edmonds,  John,  Shabbona,  transferred  to  Com- 
pany A,  Sixteenth  Illinois  infantry. 

Ellis,  Josiah,  Shabbona,  transferred  to  Company 
A,  Sixteenth  Illinois  infantry. 

Ford,  Lyman  W.,  Shabbona,  transferred  to  Com- 
pany A,  Sixteenth  Illinois  infantry. 

Harper,  Andrew  G.,  Chicago,  transferred  to  Com- 
pany A,  Sixteenth  Illinois  infantry. 

Jordan,  William,  mustered  out  June  7,  1865. 

McCooley,  John,  mustered  out  June  7,  1865. 

Sherwood,  Theodore  J.,  Shabbona,  transferred  to 
Company  A,  Sixteenth  Illinois  infantry. 

Williams,  George,  mustered  out  June  7,  1865. 

ENLISTED  MEN  OF  COMPANY  G. 

FIRST   SERGEANT. 

Hiram  S.  Harrington,  Franklin,  promoted  sec- 
ond lieutenant. 

SERGEANTS. 

William  S.  Taylor,  Sycamore,  discharged  Feb.  19. 
1863;  disability. 

John  M.  Schoenmaker,  Franklin,  discharged  for 
promotion  as  first  lieutenant  in  IT.  S.  C.  T., 
June  27,  1864. 

Samuel  H.  Williamson,  Flora,  promoted  first  ser- 
geant, then  first  lieuter    nt. 

John  T.  Becker,  South  Grove,  commissioned  first 
lieutenant,  but  not  mustered;  mustered  out 
May  26,  1865,  as  first  sergeant;  wounded. 

CORPORALS. 

Henry  Romyen,  Tecumseh,  Mich.,  discharged  Julv 
6,  1864,  for  promotion  as  captain  in  U.  S.  C.  T. 


DeForest  P.  Bennett,  Monroe,  discharged  Aug.  4, 

1863;  disability. 
John  Fox,  Franklin,  discharged  March  17,  1863; 

disability. 
James  R.  Williamson,  Flora,  mustered  out  June 

7,  1865.  as  sergeant;  wounded. 
William  C.  Fay,  Squaw  Grove,  mustered  out  June 

7,  1865. 
Parker  M.  Banks,  Franklin,  mustered  out  June  7, 

1865,  as  sergeant;  wounded. 
Wesley  Witter,  Monroe,  died  at  Flora,  111.,  Dec 

25.  1862. 
James    Hasburg,    Burlington,    commissioned    sec- 
ond lieutenant,  but  not  mustered;  mustered  out 

June  7.  1865,  as  sergeant. 

MUSICIAN. 

Samuel  C.  Perry,  Burlington,  died  at  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  Dec.  28,  1862. 

PRIVATES. 

Burpee,  George  W.,  Rockford,  promoted  quarter- 
master-sergeant. 
Banks,  Benjamin  F.,  Franklin,  discharged   April 

10,  1865;  wounds. 
Barker,  Anson  B.,  Burlington,   died  at  Bowling 

Green,  Ivy.,  Dec.  4/ 1864. 
Barker,  William   L.,   South  Grove,  mustered   out 

June  7,  1865,  as  corporal. 
Bradburn,  Nathan  E.,  Burlington,  transferred  to 

engineering  corps,  July  25,  1864. 
Bock,    William,    Burlington,    died    at    Gallatin, 

Tenn.,  March  28,  1863. 
Baker,    Richard    A.,    Squaw    Grove,    discharged 

March  30,  1863,  to  enlist  in  Mississippi  Marine 

Brigade. 
Burbig.  Theodore,  Belvidere,  mustered   out  June 

7,  1865;  wounded. 
Barber,  William  H.,  Malta,  mustered  out  June  7, 

1865,  as  corporal. 
Bennett,  William   S.,  Franklin,  died  at  Gallatin. 

Tenn.,  March  24,  1863. 
Barnard,  John,  Hampshire,  mustered  out  June  8. 

1865. 
Caspares,  Nathan  S.,  Franklin,  died  at  Nashville, 

Tenn.,  June  10,  1863. 
Coster,   Melvin,   Squaw   Grove,   died   at  Bowling 

Green,  Ky.,  Dec.  12,  1862. 


558                                     PAST   AND    PRESENT  OF    DE    KALI'.    COUNTY. 

Calkins,  Allen  S.,  Burlington,  mustered  out  June  .Miller.  Lester  1.,  .Monroe,  supposed  killed  May  15. 

7,  1865.  1864. 

Collins,  George  \V..   Plato,  mustered  out  June  7,  Moon.  Curtis  P.,   Franklin,  mustered  out  .June  ? 

1865,  as  corporal.  1865. 

Carlisle,   Hiram.   Burlington,    died    at    Bowling  Miller,  John  H.,  mustered  out  June  7,  1865. 

Green,  Ky.,  Dec.  6,  1862.  Miller.  Charles  ML,  died  at  Chattanooga,  .Line  1L 

Cline,   Henry,  Franklin,  died  at  Gallatin.  Tenn.,  1864;  wounds. 

Dei.  22,  1st',:.  Maek.  Walter  S.,  Franklin,  mustered  out  June  7, 

Casterline,    Andrew    J.,    Franklin,    mustered    out  1865. 

June  7,  1865.  Morgan,    Harvey    M.,    Burlington,    mustered    out 

Chapman,  Charles  W.,  Burlington,  discharged  Jan.  June  7,  1865,  as  corporal. 

12,  1863;  disability.  McLelland,    William    P.,    Burlington,    discharged 

Cougle,  William  A..  Virgil,  mustered  out  June  7.  March  11.  1863,  to  enlist  in  Mississippi  Marine 

1865.  Brigade. 

Davenport,  James.  De  Kalb,  transferred  to  invalid  McLelland,  George  W.,  Burlington,  mustered  oul 

corps,  July  13,  1864.  June  :.  1865. 

Davis,  Egbert  V..  Burlington,   mustered  out  June  Maltby,  Charles  A.,  Burlington,  transferred  to  in- 

7   1865.  valid  corps,  Oct.  20,  1864:  wounded. 

Dean.  Charles  E.,  Franklin,  mustered  out  June  7.  Patten.   Byron  A..  South  Grove,  discharged  June 

1865.  12,  1865  ;  wounds. 

Early,  Henry,  Squaw  Grove,  discharged  Jan.   11.  I'lanty.   Julius,   Hampshire,   transferred   To   eugi- 

1863;  disability.  neer  corps,  July  25,  1864. 

Ellis,    Linneaus,    Virgil,    mustered    out    June    7.  Perry,  Myron  C,  Burlington,  mustered  out  June 

1865;  wounded.  7,  1865. 

Eddy,  William   H.    L.,   Burlington,    mustred   out  Pritchard,  Hiram  F.,  South  Grove,  mustered  out 

June  7,  1865,  as  corporal.  June  7,  1865. 

Fritz,  Christopher,  Franklin,  mustered  out  June  Simmons.  William  II.,  Sycamore,  discharged   Feb. 

7,  1865.  7,  1863 ;  disability. 

Foss,   William    L..   Franklin,  killed  near  Atlanta  Strawn,  Charles  A.,  Franklin,  mustered  out  June 

Ga..  Aug.  16,  1864.  7,  1865;  wounded. 

Fish,  Daniel  W.,  Burlington,  discharged  Dec.  14,  Southard.  Daniel  1L,  Franklin,  deserted  Oct.  29, 

1862;  disability.  L862;  since  enlisted  in  Fourteenth  Illinois  Cav- 

Gorham.    Danford,    Franklin,    died   at    Nashville  airy. 

Tenn.;  Jan.  18,  1864.  Samis,  Elijah,  Burlington,  died  at  Gallatin,  Tenn.. 

Gibson.    Emory   M..   South   Grove,   mustered   out  Dec.  6,  1862. 

June  7.  lsii5.  Sylvester,  Lewis.  Squaw  Grove,  mustered  out  June 

Gordon.  George  N.,  Monroe,  mustered  out  June  7,  1865. 

7,   1865.  Stoker,  John  T.,  Gridley,  died  at  Bowling  Green 

Holdridge,  Daniel,  Burlington,  mustered  out  .Turn  Ky. :  Nov.  23,  1862. 

7.  1865,  as  corporal;  wounded.  Smith,   William  M..  Burlington,  discharged  July 

Hinsdale,  William.  Squaw  Grove,  absent,  sick  it  9,  1864.  to  accept  promotion  as  second  lieuten- 

niuster  out  of  regiment.  ant  in  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  D".  S.  C.  T 

Ingalls.  William  N.,  Burlington,  died  at  Gallatin.  Strub,  Peter,  Cortland,  absent,  sick  at  muster  otr! 

Tenn.,  Dec.  13,  1862.  of  regiment. 

Jones.   Francis  A.,  Franklin,  mustered  out  June  Thomas,  Samuel  K..  South  Grove,  discharged  Feb 

7.  1865;  wounded.  19,  1863;  disability. 

Lusher,  Anstice,  Franklin,  died  at  Bowling  Green.  Taplin.  Orville  H..  Flora    mustered  out  June  7. 

Ky.,  Nov.  22,  1862.  1865;  wounded. 

McKee,  Alfred  R.,  Flora,  died  at   Gallatin.  Tenn..  Thomas.  David  E.,  Franklin,  mustered  out  June 

Dee.  18,  1862.  7,   L865. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


259 


Wylde,  Thomas  W.,  Franklin,  discharged    Mann 

L7,   1863;  disability. 
Williams.  Charles  W..  Squaw  Grove,  mustered  out 

June  7.  1865,  corporal:  wounded. 
Wylke.  Herman,  Franklin,  mustered  out  June  7, 

L865. 
Williamson,  Thomas  E.,  Flora,  mustered  out  June 

7.  1865,  as  sergeant;  wounded. 
Young.  Martin.  Burlington,  died   at   South   Tun- 

nell,  Tenn..  July  11,   1863. 

RECRUITS. 


Isaac    Scoggin,    Asbury,    mustered    out    June     7, 

1865,  as  sergeant. 
Joseph  P.   Fulton,   Freeland,  appointed   hospital 

steward  United  States  army. 
Israel  S.  Clark,  Somonauk.  mustered  out  June  7, 

18(55,  as  private. 
Jesse   L.   Gage,   Sandwich,   died    Aug.    12,    1864; 

wounds. 
Andrew  A.  Beveridge,  Sandwich,  discharged  iCc. 

18,  1862;  disability. 
Thomas  Mason,  Sandwich,  discharged  Sept.  28,  for 

promotion. 


Hapgood,  Julian  W.,  mustered  out  June  7.  1865 
Bailer,  Gabriel,  Flora,  mustered  out  June  7,  1865. 
Strawn.  Joseph  H..  Sycamore,  killed  at  Peach  Tree 

Creek.  July  20,  1864. 
Witler,   Oliver   P.,   mustered   out   June    7.    1865; 

wounded  twice. 

UNDER     COOKS     OF     A.     D. 

Battie,  Bird,  mustered  out  June  7,   1865. 
Battie,  Mat,  absent,  sick  at  muster  ou'   of   regi- 
ment. 

ENLISTED   MEX   OF  COMPANY  H. 

FIRST     SERGEANT. 

Walter  B.  Walker.  Sandwich,  discharged  Sept.  30. 
1862 ;  disability. 

SERGEANTS. 

Harvey  Potter,  Somonauk.  promoted  second  lieu- 
tenant, then  first  lieutenant. 

George  Dean,  Asbury,  mustered  out  June  7,  18G5. 
as  first  sergeant;  commissioned  second  lieuten- 
ant, but  not  mustered. 

Wallace  W.  Moore.  Freeland,  discharged  May  5 
1865 :  wounds. 

Frank  H.  Cole,  Somonauk.  promoted  first  ser- 
geant, then  first  lieutenant. 

CORPORALS. 

A.    G.   White,    Sandwich,   mustered    out   June    7. 

1805,  as  sergeant. 
.Allen  Edgerly,   Sandwich,  mustered  out  June  7. 

1865,  as  sergeant. 


PRIVATES. 

Baker.    Thornton,    Sandwich,    discharged   Jan.    I 

1863;  disability. 
Blackwood.   Bulled    ('..    Victor,   died   at   Gallatin, 

Term.,  Feb.  22.  1863. 
Brown.   Robert,    Freeland.   mustered   out  June   7, 

1865. 
Bishop,  Warren  F..  Sandwich,  mustered  out  June 

7,  1865  :  wounded. 
Bullock,  Ruston  J.,    Victor,  discharged   Jan.   10. 

1863:  disability. 
Blackwood,    William.    Sandwich,    transferred     'o 

engineering  corps  Aug.  1  I.  1864. 
Breecher,  Jacob,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  June  7. 

1865,  as  corporal. 
Coon,  H.  J..  Freeland.  discharged  Jan.  13,  1863: 

disability. 
Corke,  James,  Asbury.  mustered  out  June  7,  1865. 
Corke,  Jesse.  Asbury,  discharged  February.  1863: 

disability. 
Carpenter,  Henry,  Squaw   Grove,  absent,  sick  a: 

muster  out  of  regiment. 
Carr.    H.    H.,    Sandwich,    mustered    out    June    7, 

1865. 
Davis.   David.    Sandwich,   mustered   out   June    7, 

1865. 
Devine,  Michael,  Freeland,  mustered  out  June  7, 

1805. 
Eames,  Mott  V..  Sandwich,  corporal,  transferrel 

to  V.  R.  C.  Jan.  2.  1865. 
Eckhart,   Lewis.   Clinton,   mustered  out  June    7, 

1805. 
Fish,  W.  J.  M.,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  June  7, 

1805. 


260                                    PAST    AND    PRESENT  OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 

Forsyth,   Andrew   C,   Somonauk,    mustered    out  McBride,    Samuel,    Sandwich,    discharged    April 

June  7,  1865,  as  corporal.  24,  1863 ;  disability. 

Ferguson,  Robert,  Freeland,  transferred  to  engi-  Martin,  David.  Sandwich,  mustered  out  June  7, 

neering  corps.  Aug.  15,  1864.  1865. 

Freeland,  E.  K.,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  June  7,  Mitten,  Samuel,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  June  7, 

1865.  1865. 

Gurnsey,  Samuel,  Sandwich,  died  at  South  Tun-  Miles.   Joseph.   Sandwich,   discharged    March    5. 

nel,  Tenn.,  Dec.  27,  1862.  1863 ;  disability. 

Graves,  William  II..  Sandwich,  died  at  South  Tun-  Mead.  Jonathan,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  June  7. 

nell.  Tenn.,  Dec.  29,  1862.  1865. 

Grear,  A.  L.,  Asbury,  killed  at  Peach  Tree  Creek.  Merwin  .  George  B.,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  June 

duly  20,  1864.  7.  1865,  as  corporal. 

Graham,  Andrew  II..  Freeland,  mustered  out  June  McAllister,  William  J.,  Sandwich,  mustered  out 

;.  1865,  .i-  sergeant.  June  7.  1865 

Husted,    Peter,   Sandwich,   mustered   out   July   3.  Miller.  William.  Sandwich,  transferred  to  V.  R.  C 

1865.  Jan.  2,  1865. 

Howard,  .Tame-  A..  Somonauk.  mustered  out  Oct.  Nichols,  George.  Sandwich,  mustered  out  June  21, 

9,   1865.  1865. 

Henry,    .F"lm    V.,    Somonauk,    discharged    March  Poplin.  Jesse  F.,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  June  7, 

28,  1864,  for  promotion  R.  Q.  M..  Seventeenth  1865;  wounded. 

Illinois  cavalry.  Piatt,    David,    Sandwich,    mustered    out  June   7, 

Hamlin.  Almon,  Sandwich,  sergeant,  transferred  1865. 

to  V.  R.   C.   May    15,    1864,    on    account    of  Rogi  rs,  Stephen,  Sandwich,  discharged  June  15,' 

wounds.  1864 ;  wounds. 

Hall,  Zera  W.,  Sandwich,  died  at  Gallatin.  Tenn..  Piddle,   r.    P...   Sandwich,   mustered   out  June   7. 

March  28,  1863.  1865. 

Hall,    Harlow,  Sandwich,   mustered  out   May  19.  Rumsey,    Robert,    Sandwich,   discharged   May   9. 

1865,  as  corporal.  1865;  wounds. 

Hall.   William   T..   Sandwich,   d               d    Dec.   4  Samples.  Nelson.  Sandwich,  deserted  Sept.  8,  1862. 

1862;  disability.  Enlisted  in  cavalry:  deserted:  was  arrested  and 

Harrington,  George,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  June  shot. 

'■  ] "' '  '  Springer.  Thi            Sandwich,  mustered  out  June 

Kirkpatrick,  P.  1>..  Sandwich,  mustered  out  .Turn.  7    [865   as  corporal. 

.'•      "  ''.'■  ''~  '"''I01"'1  '      ,.,,.,                       ,  Smith.  Stephen.  Sandwich,  mustered  out  June  7, 

Kirkpatrick,   M.   <  ..   Sandwich,  discharged   April  ]si;- 

16.  1863;  disability.  ..  .       '    „,,  ., 

,-.,,,                      ,    .  ,  Skinner.  Eldndge,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  June 

Kirtland.  Jerome,  Sandwich,   wounded,  absent  at  ~   ««                      1              j    t 

7,  1865,  as  corporal :  wounded. 

muster  out  1  ent. 

_.        .,.,,„,.,,.-,               .    .„     -r-  Schroeder.  William.  Sandwich,  mustered  out  June 

King.  Michael.  Sandwich,  died  at  Louisville.  Ivy.  ~    .,g»- 

\"ov.  15,  1863. 

^   ,-,       J  „„,.,,.   ,       T      .     .„     _  Stall.  J.  W..  Sandwich,  discharged  Feb.  3,  1863: 

liedder,  H.  I...  Sandwich,  died  al  Louisville,  Ky.;  disabilitv 

Jnly  8,  I  _      ,  "      '  ' 

Lamb'.  Stillman  C,  Sandwich,  discharged  May  21  S™^>    IsaaC'    Sandwich'   mustered   ™t   J™    * 

is,;::;    disability.  65 ;  prisoner  war. 

Mills.  Benjamin,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  June  7,  s,'-y"--  A-  ^  ••  Sandwich,  died  at  Bowling  Green, 


1865. 


Kv..  Dec.  18,  1862. 


Morgan,   E.   H.,   Sandwich,   discharged    May   20,  Tomlin,   George.    Sandwich,    discharged    Oct.    13. 

1864  :  disability.  1864-  a^  corporal:  disability. 

McCauley,  M.,  Sandwich,  discharged  Nov.  4, 1864 ;  Tracy,  Charles,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  June  7. 

wounds.  1865. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KAMI    COUNTY. 


26] 


Wells,  Leonard  B.,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  June  Alberl    IJ.    Rolph,   De    Kalb,    discharged   Dec.    2. 

7,  1865.  1863,  as  first  sergeant. 

Woodward,  R.,  Sandwich,  mustered   out  June  7,  Byron  S.   Barnes,  Clinton,  mustered  out  June  7, 

1865,  as  corporal.  1865,  as   private. 

Whitmore,    Charles   W.,    Sandwich,  mustered   out  Fordys  A.  Gates,  Pierce,  died  at  Gallatin,  Tenn.. 

June  :.  L865.  Feb.  13,  1863. 

Wagner,  Homer  A.,  Sandwich,  discharged  Feb.  6.  Almon  M.  Ingalls,  Clinton,  mustered  out  June  7, 

1863 ;  disability.  1865,  as  sergeant. 

White,  William  C,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  June  Wilbur  Ears.  Afton,  mustered  mil  June  7,  1865, 

7,  1865.  as  private. 

Wilcox,    0.    A.,    Sandwich,    discharged    April    17,  Delano  M.   Williams.  Clinton,  discharged  Jan.  3 

1863;  disability.  L863;  disability. 
Wright,  Carter  E.,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  May 


20,  1865. 


MUSICIANS. 


RECRUITS. 


Elijah  Fields,  Clinton,  mustered  out  June  7,  1865. 
Burgin,  Jesse,  Victor,  mustered  out  June  7,  1865.      Thomas  Green,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  June   7, 


Taylor,   Samuel,   Gallatin,   Tenn.,   transferred   to 
Company  C,  Sixteenth  Illinois  infantry. 


I  si;:,. 


WAGONER. 


under  cook  of  a.   d. 

Polk,  Peter,  Nashville.  Tenn..  mustered  out  June 
7,  1865. 


William  B.  Aldrich,  De  Kalb,  discharged  Dec.  21, 
1862;  disability. 


PRIVATES. 


ENLISTED   MEN   OF  COMPANY   K. 


FIRST      SERGEANT. 


Almberg,  Andrew,  De  Kalb.  absent,  sick  at  muster 

out  of  regiment. 
Akerman.  August,  Clinton,  mustered  out  June  7, 

1865.' 

John   Ellis,  Clinton,  promoted  second  lieutenant,      Alford,  Bucll  G.,  Clinton,  absent,  sick  at  muster 

then  lirst  lieutenant.  out  of  regiment. 

Albert,  Henry,  Afton,  mustered  out  June  7,  1865. 

sergeants  Allen,    Ira,    Clinton,    transferred    to    engineering 

corps  July  2,  1864. 

-v  rn  -ir  •  T.A    tv    17-  li.   j:  j-   i      Bathrick,  Bvron,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  June  7. 

Emerson  1.  Knights,  De  Kalb,  first  sergeant,  died 

1865. 

Bowerman,  Freeman,  Milan,  mustered  out  June  7, 

1865. 
Belfrage,   John    B.,   De   Kalb.   promoted   hospital 

steward. 
Chandler.  David  D.,  De  Kalb,  promoted  sergeant 

major. 
Carlton,   Ezra  D.,  De  Kalb,  discharged  Jan.  30. 

1862:  disability. 
Carlton.  David  IT.,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  June 


at  Gallatin,  Feb.  28,  1863. 
George  G.  Congdon,  Clinton,  discharged  March  25 

1863 :  disability. 
Charles   H.    Salisbury    De    Kalb,    mustered    out 

June   7,    1865,   as   first   sergeant,   commissioned 

second  lieutenant,  but  not  mustered. 
Joel   A.  Gleason,   Clinton,   mustered  out  June   7. 

1865.      . 

CORPORALS. 


June  14,  1865. 
Truman  Pritehard,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  June      Cardell,   John,   De   Kalb.   mustered   out  June    7 

7,  1865,  as  sergeant.  1865. 

Jerome  Perry,  Clinton,  mustered  out  June  7,  1865,      Campbell,  James  W.,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  June 

sergeant:  wounded.  7,  1865. 


262 


PAST    AXU    PRESENT   OF   DE    KALI!    COUNTY. 


Duffy,  Christopher,  Clinton,  mustered  out.  June  ~ 

I860,  as  corporal. 
Dunbar,    Eugene   W.,    De    Kall>.  discharged    April 

24.  1863;  disability. 
Denison.  Eugene  I!..  Alton,  mustered  out  June  7 

1865,  as  corporal. 
Dufl'y.  Joseph,  A.fton,  mustered  out  June  7,  I860. 
Dunbar,  Solomon  T..  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  Jun< 

i .  L865  ;  wounded. 
Elliott.   Charle-.    Alton,   killed  at    Kenesav    Mt.. 

June  22.  1864. 
Eaton,  Joseph  1;..  De  Kalb,  died  at  Bowling  Green, 

Ky..  Nov.  16,  1862. 
Poote,  Ebenezer,  I  >o  Kalb,  mustered  oul  June  '. 

1865. 
Flanders,   Charles    M.,  Clinton,  discharged   April 

1 1,  L863  :  disability. 

;.   1865. 
Fullerton.  ('.  Taylor,  Clinton,  mustered  ou1  Juno 
Gamble,  Alexander,  De  Kail.,  died  at  South  Tur- 

nell,  Tenn.,  Feb.  3,  L863. 
Gardner,  Horace,  Clinton,  mustered  out  June   ', . 

L865  ;  wounded  twice. 
Garlock,  Joseph  \V..  Alton,  transferred  to  Missis- 
sippi Marine  brigade  Jan.  19,  1863. 
Grei  n.  John  A..  Victor,  discharged  June  3,  1865 

wounds. 
Gibson,  James,  Clinton,  died  at  Kingston,  June  1. 

l  864 ;  wounds. 
.Hayman,  Alexander,    Alton,   mustered  oul    Juni 

;.  1865. 
Houghton,  J      1  i!i.  ' '    Kalb,  mustered  out  June  7, 

1865 
I  law  lev.  .Matthew  S..  De  Kalb.  discharged  Jan.  11, 

1863;  disability. 
Hughes,    Elias,    Clinton,    mustered    nut    June    < 

1m;:,. 
Hall.  John.  Milan,  deserted  Sept.  10,  1862. 
Huffman,  John.  De  Kalb,  killed  at  Averysboro, 

X.  C,  March  16,  1865. 
Handy,   Jerome.    Clinton,   mustered   out   June    T 

I860  :  wounded. 
Johans.  John  P.,  Alton,  killed  at  Resaca  May  15 

1864. 
Johnson.  John.    De    Kalb,   mustered  out  June    " 

1865. 
Kellogg,  Henry,  Clinton,  died  at  Gallatin.  Tenn.. 

Dec.   12.      1862. 
Kruetsfield,    Peter  T..  Alton,  mustered  out  June 

:.  i860. 


Kimball,   Joseph    A.,    Clinton,    transferred    to    V. 

R.  C,  March  13,  1864. 
Lindsay.  Jeremiah   P>..   Malta,  deserted   Sept.   30, 

L862. 
Lamb.  John  E.,  Victor,  wounded,  absent  at  mus- 
ter out   of   regiment. 
Low.    James.    Clinton,    died    at    Gallatin,    Tenn.. 

March  :;.   1863. 
MeCollum,   Joseph    \V..    l>c    Kalb,    mustered    out 

June  7.  1865,  as  corporal. 
Milton.  George,   Milan,  killed  at  Pine  Hill,  Ga 

June  15,  1864. 
Martin.  J.  Wesley,  Milan,  deserted  Sept.  15,  1862 
McCabe,  James.  De  Kalb.  discharged    March   1!. 

1863;  disability. 
Morrill.  Jonathan  M.,  Clinton,  died  at  South  Tun- 

nell.  Tenn..  Jan.  26   1863. 
Manning,    Luke.   Clinton,    mustered   oul    June   7, 

ISC,;. ;  wounded  three  tunes. 
Martin.  Thomas  II..  Alton,  corporal,  transferred 

to  engineering  corps  March  13.  1864, 
Meiinis.  William  W.,  Clinton,  absent,  sick  at  mu- 
ter out  of  regiment. 
Nichols.  Edwin.  De  Kalb.  accidentally  killed.  June 

5,  1864. 
Newton,  George,  De   Kalb.  mustered  out  June  1, 

1865. 
Olverson,    Lewis,    Afton,   died    March    25,    1865; 

wounds. 
Parr.  Edwin,  Clinton,  discharged  Dec.  26,  1862: 

disability. 
Pearson.  Edward.  Clinton,  mustered  out  June  22, 

I860  :  wounded. 
Peterson.  Lewen,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  June  ' 

1865. 
Palquert.   Liven.  Mayfield,  mustered  out  June  T 

I860. 
Purcell.    Thomas.    De    Kalb,    died     at     Gallatin. 

Tenn..  April  17,  1863. 
Philips.  William  EL,  De  Kalb.  mustered  out  June 

T.  1865. 
Preston,   Stephen  F..   De   Kalb.  deserted  Oct.  29. 

1862. 
Smith,    Andrus.    Clinton,   mustered   out   June    ?. 

1865 ;  wounded. 
Seeley,  Anson.  Clinton,  discharged  May  15.  1863: 

disability. 
Schroeder.    Charles    \\.    Clinton,    transferred    10 

engineering  corps  July  2,  1864.    . 


AUGUSTUS  ADAMS. 
Senator,  1S54  to  1858 


WM.   PATTEN. 
Senator,   1866  to   1870. 
Representative,  '54  to   '56 — '58   to  '60. 


C.   W.   MARSH. 

Senator,   1870   to   1872. 

Representative,    1868    to    1870. 


M.  B.  CASTLE. 
Senator,  1872  to  187S. 


CHAS.    F.    GREENWOOD. 
Senator,   1886  to   1S90. 


DANIEL  D.  HUNT. 

Senator,  1890  to   1902. 

Representative,    18S6   to    1890. 


HENRY    B.    MADDEN. 

First    Representative, 

1836   to    1S38— 1842   to    1844. 


THOMAS   S.  TERRY. 
Representative,    I860    to    1S62. 


H.  W.  FAY. 
Representative,  1848  to  1850. 


'"'"<«$§ 


Asr0f    , 

i'r'' 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


265 


Safford,    Charles  B.,   Malta,   detached   at   muster 

out  of  regiment. 
Scott,  George  H.,  Afton,  mustered  out  June   7, 

1865,  as  corporal. 
St.  Leger,  Kichard  V.,  Afton,  discharged  May  15. 

1863;  disability. 
Sullivan,  John,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  June   7. 

1865. 
Telford,    Robert,    Clinton,    discharged     Jan.     12. 

1863 ;  disability. 
Thompson,  Robert,  De  Kalb,  discharged  March  7. 

1865;  disability. 
Townsend,  Robert,  Milan,  mustered  out  June  7, 

1865;  wounded. 
Unwin,   Emanuel,   Victor,   mustered  out  June   7, 

1865. 
Wheeler,  Dempster,  De  Kalb,  killed  near  Marietta, 

Ga.,  July  3,  1864. 
Woodruff,  Felix,  Victor,  discharged  June  3,  1865. 
Wakefield.  Geo.  W.,  Clinton,  mustered  out  June  7, 

1865,  as  corporal. 
Wakefield,  Horace,  Clinton,  mustered  out  June  7, 

1865;  wounded. 
Walker,   Robert.    Clinton,    mustered    out   June   7, 

1865,  as  corporal. 
Whitmore,  Thomas  C.  De  Kalb,  discharged  Apiil 

24,  1863 ;  disability. 
Wheeler,  William,  Clinton,  mustered  out  June  7. 

1865;  wounded. 
Wiltberger,    William    H..    Clinton,    mustered    out 

June  7,  1865.  as  corporal. 
Whitmore,  Silas  A..  De  Kalb,  died  Gallatin,  Tenn.. 

Feb.  10,  1863. 

KKCRUITS. 

Lamb,  Curtis  A.,  Victor,  transferred  to  Company 

A,  Sixteenth  Illinois  infantry. 
Pearsons,   Judson   M.,    Shabbona,    mustered    out 

June  7,  1865. 

UNDEK     COOK     OF     A.     n. 

Fisher,  Wyatt,   killed   at   Atlanta,   Ga..   Aug.    16, 
1864. 

ROSTER    OF    OFFICERS. 

COLONEL. 

Daniel  Dustin,  Sycamore,  promoted  brevet  briga- 


dier general,   March   16,   1865.     Mustered   out 
June  7,  1S65. 

LIEUTENANT    COLONELS. 

Henry  F.  Vallette,  Naperville,  resigned  June  18, 

1864. 
Everell    F.    Dutton,    Sycamore,   promoted    brevet 

brigadier  general,  March  16,   1865.     Mustered 

out  June  7,  1865. 

MAJORS. 

Everell  F.  Dutton,  Sycamore,  promoted. 
Henry  D.  Brown,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June  7, 
1865. 

ADJUTANTS. 

William  N.  Phillips,  Wayne,  resigned  Dec.  2,  1862. 
David  D.  Chandler,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  Jun3 
7,;1865. 

',  QUARTERMASTER. 

Timothy  Wells,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June  7, 

.    1S65-; 

SURGEONS. 

Horace  S.  Potter,  Chicago,  killed  in  battle  June 

2,  1864. 
Alfred  Waterman,  Warrenville,  mustered  out  June 

7.  1865. 

FIRST     ASSISTANT     SURGEON. 

Alfred  Waterman,  Warrenville,  promoted. 
George  W.  Beggs,  Naperville,  mustered  out  June 
7.  1865. 

SECOND    ASSISTANT     SURGEON. 

George  W.  Beggs,  Naperville.  promoted. 
i 

CHAPLAINS. 

Levi   P.   Crawford,   Sandwich,   resigned    Dec.   24, 

1862. 
Daniel  Chapman,  resigned  Jan.  8,  1865. 

COMPANY     A — CAPTAINS. 

Henry  D.  Brown,  Sycamore,  promoted  major. 
George  B.  Heath,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June  7, 
1865. 


266 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


FIRST     LIEUTENANTS. 

George  B.  Heath,  Sycamore,  promoted. 

Henry  II.  Slater,  Genoa,  mustered  out  June  ". 
I860. 

SECOND     l.Ii:i  TENANTS. 

Robert  D.  I  ord,  Genoa,  resigned  Dec.  17,  1862. 

W.  Robert  Thomas,  Sycamore,  promoted,  by  presi- 
dent, A.  A  (...  July  15,  1864. 

Chauncey  E.  Sixbury,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  as 
sergeant  June  7.  1865. 

COMPANY    (' — CAPTAINS. 

Alexander  L.  Warner,  Sycamore,  resigned  Feb.  IT. 

1st;:;. 

George   W.    Field,   Sycamore,   resigned    .Inly     11. 

1863. 
Charles  G.  Culver,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  Jui 

;.   1865. 

I  [EST    LIEUTES  LNTS. 

George  W.  Field,  Sycamore,  promoted. 

Benry    B.    Mason.    Sycamore,    resigned    Sept.    C> 

1863. 
John   W.    Burst,   Franklin,   honorably  discharged 

Oct.  19,  1864. 
Isaac  S.  Brundage,  Cortland,  mustered  out  June 

1.  1865. 

SECOND     l.li:i    I  I  \  IMS. 

Benry  I!.  Mason,  Sycamore,  promoted. 
John  W.  Burst,  Franklin,  promoted. 
Charles    D.  Jackson,  Sycamore,   mustered   out   as 
sergeant  June  7,  1865. 

COMPANY    E — CAPTAINS. 

Thomas  S.  Terry,  Shabbona,  resigned  March   16 

1863. 
Martin  V.  Allen.  Shabbona,  honorably  discharged 

Jan.  20,  1865. 

FIRST     LIEUTENANTS. 

Martin  V.  Allen.  Shabbona,  promoted. 
Albert    C.    Overton.    Shabbona,    honorably    dis- 
charged Aug.  13,  1864. 


Jonathan  D.  Marryott,  Shabbona,  mustered  out 
June  ;.  1865. 

SE(  OND     LIEUTENANTS. 

Alberi  C.  Overton,  Shabbona,  promoted. 

John  H.  Swift,  Paw  Paw.  resigned  March  16. 
1864. 

Jacob  Ostrander,  Paw  Paw,  mustered  out  as  ser- 
geant June  7,  1865. 

COM  PAX  Y   G — CAPTAINS. 

John  I'..  Nash,  Franklin,  resigned  July  17.  1864. 

John  M.  Smith.  Burlington,  honorably  discharged 
as  first  lieutenant  Dec.  24,  1864. 

Samuel  If.  Williamson,  Flora,  commission  re- 
turned :  canceled. 

I  [RSI      LIEUTENANTS. 

Richard  I.'.  Woodruff,  Sycamore,  resigned  Dec.  24 
1862. 

John  M.  Smith.  Burlington,  promoted. 

Samuel  II.  Williamson.  Flora,  mustered  out  June 
I.    L865. 

John  T.  Becker,  South  Grove,  mustered  out  as 
first  sergeant  May  26,  I860. 

SECOND     LIEUTENAN  Is. 

John  M.  Smith.  Burlinton,  promoted. 

Hiram  S.  Barrington,  Franklin,  resigned  Aug.  2. 

1863. 
James  S.  Basburgh,  Burlington,  mustered  out  as 

-cic.ant  June  ;.  1865. 

I  OMPANY    II — CAPTAIN-. 

Eli  Hunt,  Sandwich,  resigned  December  17.  1862. 
James  s.  Forsythe,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  Jum 
T.  1865. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

James  S.  Forsythe,  Somonauk.  promoted. 
Charles   G.   Culver,   Sandwich,   promoted   captain 

( 'ompanv  C. 
llarxev    Potter.  Ashhtirv.  resigned  Aug.  17.  1861 
Frank  H.  Cole.  Somonauk.  mustered  out  June  7. 

1865. 


PAST   AND    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY 


2G< 


SECOND     LIEUTENANTS. 

Charles  G.  Culver,  Sandwich,  promoted. 
Harvey  Potter,  Ashbury,  promoted. 
George  W.  Dean,  Freeland,  mustered  out  as  ser- 
geant  .lune  7,  1895. 

COMPANY   K — CAPTAINS. 

Horace  Austin,  De  Kalb,  resigned  Nov.  26,  1862 
Nathan   S.   Greenwood,  Clinton,  resigned  Dec.  2 

1862. 
Aluion  F.  Parke,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  June  7 

1865. 


Hill,  Abraham,  Sandwich. 
Hill,  Washington  I.,  Sandwich. 
Homan,    August,    Somonauk. 
Hunt.  Sampson.  Sandwich. 
Ismond.   George  L.,   Sandwich. 
Kanedy,  Henry   W.,   Sandwich. 
Mead,  Levi,  Somonauk. 
Pattee,  Delos,   Sandwich. 
Wilcox.  John.  Somonauk. 

ONE    HUNDRED    AND    THIETY-SECOND    ILLINOIS    IN- 
FANTRY. 

COMPAN1       F. 


FIRST     LIEUTENANTS. 


SI  RGEANTS. 


Nathan  S.  Greenwood,  Clinton,  promoted. 

Almon  F.  Parke,  De  Kalb,  promoted. 

John  Ellis,  Clinton,  mustered  out  June  7.  1865. 


SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 


Almon  F.  Parke,  De  Kalb,  promoted. 
John  Ellis,  Clinton,  promoted. 
Charles  H.  Salisbury,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  as 
sergeant  June  7,  1865. 


William  Raymond,  Cortland,  mustered  out  Oc- 
tober  17/64. 

Jackson  Denyo,  Cortland,  mustered  out  Octo- 
ber 17,  '64. 

Eli  H.  Burdick.  Cortland,  mustered  out  Octo- 
ber 17,  '64. 

William  H.  Beavers,  Sycamore,,  mustered  out 
October  17,  "64. 

Marg  G.  Collson,  Cortland,  mustered  out  Octo- 
ber 17.  '64. 


ONE     HUNDRED     AND     EIGHTH     INFANTRY. 

Smith.  William.   Kingston. 

ONE    HUNDRED    AND    THIRTEENTH    INFANTRY. 

Brainard,  William,  Clinton. 
Battles,  Patrick,  Clinton. 

ONE    HUNDRED    AND    TWENTY-SEVENTH    INFANTRY. 

Baker.  Alonzo,  Cortland. 
Beecham,  William,  Squaw  Grove. 
Cole.  Warren,  Sandwich. 
Courtwright,  Samuel,  Sandwich. 
Dannewitz,  Henry.  Somonauk. 
Dentzee.  Andrew,  Somonauk. 
Hammond,  Nelson  E..  South  Grove. 
Hand,  John  J.,  South  Grove. 
Hart.  Henry  W.,  Sandwich. 
Hart,  J.  C,  Sandwich. 
Heminway,  William,  Squaw  Grove. 


CORPORALS. 

Charles  L.  Flower,  Cortland,  mustered  out  Oc- 
tober 17.  '64. 

Ethan  P.  Allen.  Sycamore,  mustered  out  Octo- 
ber 17.  '64. 

John  Young,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  October 
1".  '64. 

Fervis  Potter.  Paw  Paw.  mustered  out  October 
17.  "64. 

James  H.  Council.  Chicago,  mustered  out  Octo- 
ber 17.  '64. 

Eugene  H.  Jarvis,  Cortland,  mustered  out  Oc- 
tober 17,  '64. 

Charles  W.  Bellis,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  Oc- 
tober 17.  '64. 

Walter  Olmstead.  Genoa,  mustered  out  October 
17.  "64. 

MUSICIANS. 

William  H.  Deily,  Sycamore,  mustered  out 
October  17.  "64. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT  OF   DE    KALI!    COUNTY. 

William  H.  Willmarth,  De  Kalb  county,  mus-  Johnston,  James  B.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  Oe- 

tered  out  October  17,  '64.  tober  IT,  '64. 

Kellogg,   Homer   \V..    Sycamore,   mustered   out 

privates.  October  17,  '64. 

Lester.  Almiraem.  Sycamore,  mustered  out  Oc- 

Burgess,  Lewis  (wagoner),  Cortland,  mustered  tober  17,  '64. 

out  October  IT,  '64.  Linderman,  Levi,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  Oc- 

Atwood,  Morris,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  Octo-  tober  17,  '64. 

ber  IT.  '63.  Lindsay,  William.  Sycamore,  mustered  out  Oc- 

Allen,   Benjamin,   South   Grove,   mustered   out  tober  17,  '64. 

October  IT,  "64.  Lloyd.    Louis,    Malta,     mustered    out    October 

Artlepp.  Homer,  Cortland,  mustered  out  Octo-  IT,  '64. 

ber  IT,  '64.  Lott,  Frank  W.,  Courtland,  mustered  out  Oc- 

Anderson,  Frank,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  Octo-  tober  17,  '64. 

ber  IT,  '64.  Marshall,  Lucius  W.,  Cortland,  mustered  out  Oc- 

Brown,  Depue,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  October  tober  17,  '64. 

IT.  '64.  Mason,  Seth  M.,  South  Grove,  mustered  out  Oc- 

Brown,  Herbert  E.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  Oe-  tober  17,  '64. 

tober  IT.  '64.  Partridge,  Zelotes  B.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out 

Beeson,  William  H..  Sycamore,  rejected.  October  IT.  '64. 

Cobb,  Henry,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  October  Perry,  Ambrose  S..  Sycamore,  mustered  out  Oc- 

17,  '64.  tober  17,  '64. 

Crosby,  William.  Svcamore.  mustered  out  Octo-  Reet  John,   Cortland,    mustered    out    October 

ber  IT.  '64.  17,  '64. 

Davis,  Orville,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  October  Richmond,  Merwin,  Lodi,  mustered  out  October 

IT.  V,;  17,  '64. 

Dayton,  Lewis,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  October  Smith,   Charles.    Sycamore,   mustered   out   Oe- 

1T.  '64.  tober  17,  '64. 

Fields,  Delancey.  Cortland,  mustered  out  Octo-  Smith.  Enoch.  De  Kalb.  mustered  out  October 

ber  17, '64.  IT.  '64. 

Flood.    Matthew,  Lodi,  mustered    out    October  Snyder.  William.  Sycamore,   mustered  nut  Oc- 

1T.  '64.  tober  IT,  '64. 

Gilbert,    Leonard.    South   Grove,   mustered   out  Spring.   Herbert.   Sycamore,  mustered  out   Oc- 

October  IT.  '64.  tober  17,  '64. 

Granger.  Eugene.  Sycamore,  mustered  out  Oc-  Stephenson.    Charles.    Sycamore,   mustered    out 

tober  17,  '64.  October  17,  '64. 

Greenfield.    Squire  I..   De   Kalb.   mustered   out  Stanton.  Oliver  J..  Paw  Paw.  mustered  out.  Oc- 

October  17,  '64.  tober  17,  'Ci. 

Haish,  Christian.  Cortland,  mustered  out  Octo-  Stone,  Almond  D..  South  Grove,  mustered  out 

ber  17,  '64.  October  17.  '64. 

Haish.  Henry  W.,  Cortland,  mustered  out  Oc-  Talbot.  William.  Sycamore,  mustered  out  Oc- 
tober 17.  '64.  tober  17.  "64. 

Hampton,  AVilliam  S..  Paw  Paw,  mustered  out  Tewkesbury.    Charles,    South    Grove,    mustered 

October  17,  '64.  out  October  17,  '64. 

Hathaway.  William  O,  Cortland,  mustered  out  Tewkesbury,    Warren    F..    Sycamore,    mustered 

October  17.  '64.  out  October  17,  '64. 

Hibbard,  Alfred.  Sycamore,  mustered  out  Oc-  Warren.  Daniel  F..  Sycamore,  mustered  out  Oc- 
tober 17.  '64.  tober  IT.  '64. 

Holcomb,  Orator.  Sycamore,  mustered  out  Oc-  Warren,    George    M..    Sycamore,    mustered    out 

tober  17.  '64.  October  17,  '64. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   I)E   KALI'.    COUNTY. 


269 


Wilkins,  Joseph,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  Octo-      one    hundred    and    forty-seventh    infantry. 
ber  17.  '04. 

Willis.  Henry  B.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  Oc- 
tober IT,  "04. 

Williams,    Theodore,    Sycamore,    mustered    out 
October  17,  '64. 

Wright,  George,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  Octo- 
ber 17,  '64. 


ONE     HUNDRED     AND     THIRTY-FOURTH      INFANTRY. 

Southworth.   George,   Franklin. 

ONE     HUNDRED     AND     THIRTY-EIGHTH      INFANTRY. 

Spear,  Horatio  P.,  Paw  Paw. 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FORTIETH   INFANTRY. 

Banfield,  William,  Milan. 
Clisbee,  James  M„  Franklin. 
Golding,  Robert  P.,  Paw  Paw. 
Leach,  Delos  D.,  Franklin. 
Leach.  Mathias.  Franklin. 
Spence,  Thomas,  Paw  Paw. 
Town,  Adelbert,  Paw  Paw. 

ONE     HUNDRED    AND     FORTY-FIRST    INFANTRY. 

Emmons,  Darius,  Sandwich. 
Fraser,  Ira  M.,  Sandwich. 
Hatch,  Charles  A.,  Sandwich. 
Kennedy,  Burr  A.,  Sandwich. 
Lowe,  Robert  J..  Sandwich. 
Rogers,   Daniel    H.,    Sandwich. 
Walker,   Warren.   Sandwich. 


Buck,  A.  A.,  Sycamore. 

ONE     IirVDRED     AND     FIFTY-FIRST     INFANTRY. 

Schaffner.  Louis,  Pampas. 
Thayer,  Moses  A..  Pampas. 

ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTY-THIRD    INFANTRY. 


Carter,  John,  Pampas. 
Lacount,  Levigh,  Pampas. 
Sheely.  Harvey,  Pampas. 


ONE      HUNDRED      AND      FIFTY-SIXTH     ILLINOIS     IN- 
FANTRY. 
SERGEANTS. 

Eugene  Fuller,  Somonauk,  promoted  first  lieu- 
tenant. 

Edmund  B.  Newton,  Somonauk,  mustered  out 
September  20,  '65,  as  private. 

James  C.  Darnell,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  Sep- 
tember 20,  '65. 

Henry  Wright,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  Sep- 
tember 20,  '65. 

CORPORALS. 

Warren  Walker,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  May 
16,  '65. 

Homer  A.  Wagner,  Somonauk,  mustered  out 
May  20,  '65. 

George  A.  Smith,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  July 
29,  '65,  as  private. 

William  T.  Shiland,  Somonauk.  mustered  out 

ONE      HUNDRED      AND      FORTY-SECOND      INFANTRY.        AuSust    18>     65- 

David  O.  Cole,  Somonauk,  absent,  sick  at  mus- 
ter out  of  regiment. 

Henry  C.  Medebach,  Somonauk,  mustered  out 
August  1,  '65. 


Ehler,  William,  Somonauk. 
Medebach,  H.   C,  Somonauk. 
Middleton,  Charles,  Somonauk. 

ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FORTY-SIXTH    INFANTRY. 

Cox,  Eugene,  Somonauk. 
McCaddey,  Patrick,  Somonauk. 
Sweet,  John,  Sandwich. 


MUSICIANS. 


William  Corke,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  Sep- 
tember  20,   '65. 

James  M.  Skinner,  Somonauk,  mustered  out 
September  20,  '65. 


370 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


PRIVATES. 

\i!;iin-.  Marcellus  D.,  Sononauk,  mustered  out 
September  20,  '65,  as  sergeant. 

Armstrong,  John  J..  Somonauk,  mustered  oul 
September  20,  '65,  as  corporal. 

Bishop,  Orin  S.,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  Sep- 
te :r  20,  '65. 

Burk,  Robert  E.,  Somonauk,  mustered  out 
September  20,  '65. 

Campin,  Sylvester,  Somonauk,  mustered  oul 
September  20,  '65. 

Cathey,  William  (  '..  Kingston. 

Covell,  Simeon  I...  Somonauk,  mustered  oul 
September  20,  '65. 

Daniels,  Harmon,  Somonauk,  died  at  Memphis 
lugusj  27,  '65. 

Deem,  ll<  in\  ]•!..  Somonauk,  mustered  out  Sep- 
r  20,  '65. 

Dennewitz.  Henry,  Somonauk,  mustered  oul 
Sept  mber  20,  '65. 

Hamlin,  Benjamin,  Somonauk,  mustered  out 
September  20,  '65. 

Harrison,  William  H.,  Somonauk,  mustered  oul 
embei  20,  '65. 

Hicks,  William  F..  Pierce. 

Hartshorn,  Manly  \\\.  Somonauk,  mustered  out 
September  20,  '65. 

Hough.  Calvin.  Somonauk,  mustered  out  Sep- 
tember 20,  '65. 

Hough,  Martin  L.,  Somonauk,  mustered  out 
September  20,  '65. 

Jacobs,  John,  Somonauk.  mustered  oul  Septem- 

i  20,  '65. 

Leavitt.  Levi.  Somonauk,  nmstered  oui  Sep- 
tember 20,  '65. 

Manning,    Henry,    Soi tauk,    absent,    sick    at 

mustering  out  of  regiment. 

Manning,  John  C,  Somonauk,  mustered  out 
September  20,  '65. 

Miller.  Henry,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  Sep- 
tember  20,  '65. 

Morrison.  John,  Kingston,  mustered  oul  Sep- 
tember 20.  '65. 

Owen.  William  1!..  Somonauk,  mustered  oui 
September  20,  '65. 

Rogers,  Daniel  II..  Somonauk,  mustered  out 
September  20,  '65. 

Smith.  Albert,  Somonauk,  promoter  principal 
musician. 


Smith.  Clark  A.,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  Sep- 
ii  mber  20,  '65. 

Seaton,  Nelson  J.,  Somonauk,  mustered  oul  Sep- 
tember 20,  '65. 

Snyder,  Gabriel,  Pierce,  mustered  out  September 
20,  '65. 

Solan,  Thomas  R.,  Kingston,  mustered  out  Sep- 
tember 20,  '65. 

Toole,  John,  Kingston,  mustered  out.  Septem  .<t 
20,  '65. 

Tripp,  John  M..  Somonauk,  mustered  oul  Au- 
gust 1,  '65. 

Van  Derveer,  Ferdinand,  Somonauk.  died  at 
Louisville,  Kentucky.  March  30,  '65. 

Van  Fleet.  Victor  D.,  Somonauk,  mustered  out 
Septe  nber  20,  '65,  as  corporal. 

Wagner,  G 'ge,  Somonauk.  died  at  Nashville, 

Tennessee,  May  1.  '65. 

Weisbeck,  Heinrich,  Somonauk.  mustered  put 
Si  ptember  '?(».  '65. 

Wilder.  Alexander,  Somonauk,  mustered  out 
September  20,  '65. 

The  remainder  of  the  company  were  from  other 
counl  ii  3. 

IIIIKIi      CAVALRY. 

Hunt  J.  Spafford,  Sycamore. 

FOURTH      CAVALRY. 


COMPAN1      C. 

Barlow,  Stephen  A..  Paw  Paw. 
Boston,  Robert,  Somonauk. 
Brewer.  Sylvanus.  Somonauk. 
Brown,  Julius  O.,  Paw  Paw. 
Butterfield.    William.    Somonauk. 
Case,  Charles  E..  Somonauk. 
Dole.  Griffin  H..  Somonauk. 
Eaton,  Hayard  C,  Somonauk. 
Frank.   Charles   R..   Somonauk. 
Goodi  II.  Wallace.  Somonauk. 
Green,  Jeremiah  V..  Paw  Paw. 
Hill.  Peter  <  >..  Somonauk. 
Hough,  Jeremiah,  Somonauk. 
Hubbell,   William    A..    Paw   Paw. 
Hunter.   William.   Somonauk. 
Hyde,  Corbin  K..  Somonauk. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OP   DE   KALB   COP X TV.  271 

OFFICERS     OF     COMPANY     B. 


Hyde,  Edwin  B.,  Somonauk. 
Hyde,  Elliott,  Somonauk. 
Hyde.  Herbert  H.,  Somonauk. 
Hyde.  Licurgus,  Somonauk. 
Jones.  Henry,  Somonauk. 
Lobdell,  Sylvanus.  Somonauk. 
McClurg,  John,  Taw  Paw. 
Martin.  Henry,  Somonauk. 
Mead.  Erastus  J.,  Paw  Paw. 
Miller,  Frederick.  Squaw  Grove. 
Miller,  Sylvester  P.,  Somonauk. 
Mills,  John  H.,  Paw  Paw. 
Morehouse,  Jesse  W.,  Somonauk. 
Montanya,  Edward,  Somonauk. 
Nelson,  Ole,  Somonauk. 
Norton.  Alexander  H.,  Somonauk. 
Robinson,  John  S..  Paw  Paw. 
Boot.  Eugene,  Somonauk. 
Ruland,  Egbert.  Paw  Paw. 
Siler.  Theodore,  Somonauk. 
Stevens,  Jacob,  Somonauk. 
Stevens.  Silas  B.,  Somonauk. 
Wales.  Henry  B.,  Somonauk. 

SIXTH     ILLINOIS     CAVALRY. 


Brown,  George.  Victor. 


THE    EIGHTH    CAVALRY    REGIMENT. 
CO  II PA  NY     A. 

Harvey  A.  Humphrey.  Franklin,  first  lieuten- 
ant, promoted  captain  company  P. 

Shields,  Joseph,  Franklin,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Burmier.  John.  Franklin,  mustered  out  July  17. 
'65,  as  teamster. 

Fisher.  Charles.  Franklin,  mustered  out  July 
17,  '65,  as  corporal. 

Hoffman.  Valentine  B.,  Franklin,  mustered  out 
July  17.  '65.  as  corporal. 

Smith,  Leonard  G.,  Cortland,  promoted  second 
lieutenant. 

Grashaber.  Franklin,  Franklin,  prisoner  of  war. 

Phillips.  Joseph,  Franklin,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. 

Stevens.  Isaac  W.,  Franklin,  mustered  out  July 
17,  '65. 


CAPTAINS. 

Lorenzo  H.   Whitney,    Kingston,   resigned  July 

15,  '65. 

John  G.  Smith,  Sycamore,  died  of  wounds  June 

16,  "63. 

John  A.  Kelley,  Sycamore,  term  expired  Sep- 
tember 18,  '64. 

George  W.   Corbitt,   Alton,  mustered  out  July 

17,  '65. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

John  G.  Smith.  Sycamore,  promoted. 
John  A.  Kelley.  Sycamore,  promoted. 

SECOND    LIEUTEXAXTS. 

Jacob  M.  Siglin.  Sycamore,  resigned  July  15. 
'62. 

S.  Spencer  Carr.  Genoa,  promoted. 
George  W.  Corbitt,  Afton,  promoted. 

FIRST     SERGEANT. 

John  A.  Kelley.  Sycamore,  promoted  second 
lieutenant. 

Q.     M.     SERGEANT. 

J.  J.  Woodruff,  Clinton,  discharged  October  14, 
'62,  disability,  and  died. 

SERGEANTS. 

E.  B.  Wright.  Genoa,  mustered  out  September 
28.  '64. 

J.  William  Moody,  Burlington,  discharged  Jan- 
uary 16,  '62,  disability. 

W.  H.  Whitney.  Kingston,  discharged  April  17, 
'62,  disability. 

CORPORALS. 

Spencer  S.  Carr,  Genoa,  promoted  second  lieu- 
tenant. 

Adin  F.  Cowles,  Genoa,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 
George  M.  Roe,  Shabbona,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 


272  PAST    AND    PRESENT   OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 

George  W.  Corbitt,  Afton,  re-enlisted  as  veteran.  Hall.  George,  Sycamore. 

E.  H.  Burdiek.  Sycamore,  discharged  December  Haskins,  Elmer,  Sycamore,  died  at  Alexandria. 

28, '62,  disability.  February  15,  '62. 

Holderness.  Elisha.  Malta,  discharged  November 
privates  8>  '62;  disability. 

Hitt,  Wesley,  Genoa,  discharged  April  17,  '62; 

Allen.  Abner,  Genoa,  died  at  Alexandria.  Va..      dlBablllty- 


February  9,  '62. 

Blakesly,  James  N..  Sycamore,  mustered  out 
September  28,  '64. 

Baxter,  Charles,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  Septem- 
ber 27,  '64. 

Bannister,  Charles  F.,  Malta,  died  at  Alexan- 
dria. April  El.  '62. 

-d  i         t        u     a  j-    i.        j   -hir       ie        New  J-ork,  Mav  10,  '62. 

Bebee,   Joseph,    Sycamore,   discharged    May    lo,  _  _ '        J_    '      „     ,.    ,  ,  _ 

,  Losee,  Ruins,  He  Kalb,  discharged  December  28, 

Bailev.  William.  Clinton,  mustered  out  Septem-  '       "  _.,,.'         _      _  „  ,     ,    ,, 

,       9_    ,_.  Mace.   William.   J)e  Kalb.   corporal,   killed    No- 

•d  oi.  u  i  o     o  v  j  vember  5,  '62,  .it  Barber's  Cross  Roads. 

Boon,  fehubal  S„  Sycamore,  re-enlisted  as  vet-  „.„       _    '  _  _  ,,     , 

Miller,  Solomon.  Dekalb,  deserted,  August  30, 


Howe,  James  M.,  Mayfield,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
eran. 

Derrick.  William,  Clinton,  mustered  out  Sep- 
tember 28,  '64. 

Hill.  Henry,  Clinton,  mustered  out  September 
28,  '64. 

[ngals,  Charles.  Burlington,  died  on  the  road  to 


eran 

Bell,  James  M.,  Clinton,  re-enlisted  as  veteran 


'62. 


n  n-       n   rr    a              '            r  j.  j           i  Macliu,  James,  DeKalb,  mustered  out  Septem- 

Collms.  C.  U.,  Sycamore,  re-enlisted  as  veteran.  r 

Cook,  S.  W.  L.,  Genoa,  transferred  to  V.  R.  C,  J  '   ^ 

Mar^b  14    'P4  Morse  (  .  Wesley,  Milan,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Caless,  John,  Sycamore,  re-enlisted  as  veteran.  O'Connor,  Daniel,  Genoa,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Close/Robert,  De  Kalb.  re-enlisted  as  veteran.  Parkhurst,  A.  It,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  Sep- 

Campbell.  William    L.,   De   Kalb.  re-enlisted  as  tember  28>   '''■ 

veteran  Porter,  George,  Sycamore,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Chambers.  A.  B..  De  Kalb.  killed  at  Mechanics-  Partlow,  James  F,  Burlington,  discharged  April 

ville,  June  26, '62.  l7'  >62>  disability. 

Cutshaw.  B.  P.,  Burlington,  re-enlisted  a*  vet-  1Vrrv-    Ge0rSe    W"'    Burhngt°n,    mustered    out 

eran.  September  28,  '64. 

Doney.  Davis  S..  Genoa,  transferred  to  Invalid  Pittenger,    Reuben    S.,    Burlington,    discharged 

Corps  ^'lv   '•    ''•' ;  disability. 

Dennis,  Lyman.  Mavfield.  mustered  out  Septem-  P"'n"    Washington  P.,  Afton.  discharged   May 

ber  28,  '64.  s-  '^ '■  lability 

Davis,  Samuel,  Shabbona,  re-enlisted  as  veteran.  Peavey,  Ira    W..  Genoa,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Parrel,  Edward,  Afton.  died  at  Alexandria.  Va.,  Reeves-    Eobert    L>    Burlington,    mustered    out 

February   21,   '62.  September  28,  '64. 

Farnan,   Simon,  Sycamore,  mustered    out   Sep-  Shurtleff,  W.  H..  Genoa,  re-enlisted  as  veteran, 

tember  28  '64.  Thomas,  Julius  0.,  Clinton,  discharged  May  15, 

Fradenburg,  Garritt,  Sycamore,  discharged  Sep- 

tember  18   '64.  Weaver.  Isaac.  Sycamore,  died  at  Camp  Califor- 

Freeman,  Watson,  Genoa,  re-enlisted  as  veteran,  nia,  January  21,  '62. 

Fancher,  Martin.  Clinton,  discharged   April   fi.  Wilcox,  Daniel.  Genoa,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 
'64;  wounds. 

Fra.ser,   Thomas.  Sycamore,   re-enlisted   as  vet-  veterans. 
eran. 

Gillott.    Robert   M.,    Genoa,    corporal,    died    at  Bell,  George  H.,    Sycamore,    mustered    out    as 

Alexandria,  April  12.  '62.  sergeant,  July  17,  '65. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY.  273 

Bell,  James  M.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July  Peavey,   Ira  W.,   Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 


17,  '65. 


Boon    Shubal  S,  Sycamore,  corporal,  absent  at  Roe,  George  M.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 

muster  out.  11,00. 

Banner    George   P     Burlington,  mustered   out  Remington,  Danus  H.,  Sycamore,  sergeant. 

July  17,  ;G5,  as  corporal.  Reynolds,  Andrew  A.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out 

Corbitt,    George    W.,    Sycamore,    promoted    2d  July  17,  '65,  as  sergeant. 

,.     ,         ,  Shurtleif,  W.  H..  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 

Collins    Charles   H.,    Sycamore,    mustered    out  17,  '65. 

T  ,  .  17   lG5  Starkey,    Simon    P.,    Sycamore,    mustered    out 

Crouk    Cyrus  H.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July  July  16,  '65,  as  farrier. 

|;    ,,-,    ;|S  sergeant.     '  Wilcox,   Daniel,   Sycamore,  mustered  out   July 

Cowles,  Adin  F..  Sycamore,  transferred.  17,    ('5- 

Close,  Robert  J.,  Sycamore,  died  at  Washington,  Weed,  John.  Burlington,  commissioned  2d  lieu- 
March  13,  '64.  tenant- 

Campbell.  W.  L.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July  recruits. 
17,  '65,  as  bugler. 

Callies.  John.  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July  17, 

'65    as  corporal  Albert-    William    T>    Sycamore,    deserted    Sep- 

Dewitt,  Hiram  S.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July  tember  27,  '62. 

17,  '65.  as  sergeant.  Baker,  Fred  W.,  Genoa,  transferred  to  Co.  D. 

Dunning,    Dyer    D.,    Sycamore,    promoted    ser-  Banner,   George,  Genoa,  re-enlisted  as  veteran, 

geant,  then  2d  lieutenant.  Brooks,  Rufus,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July  17, 

Dake,  Oliver  S.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July  ,gg 

17,  '65.  Butler,  W.  A.,  Cortland,  mustered  out  July  17, 

Davis,    Samuel,    Sycamore,   mustered    out    July  >65 

17,  '65.  Buck,  Ellis.  Genoa,  died  at  Washington,  April 

Fraser,  Thomas,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July  2g  ,g4 

17,  '65.  Campbell.  George  N.,  De  Kalb,  discharged  Jan- 

Fassett,  Ceylon  A.,  Sycamore,  hospital  steward.  uary  -,_  -(;4 .  disability. 

Freeman,  Watson  L.,   Sycamore,  mustered  out  Campbell,  George  N.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out 

July  17, '65.  July  17, '65. 

Graves,  Martin,   Sycamore,  mustered  out  July  Denton,  Isaat'  G->  Afton,  mustered  out  July  17 

17,  '65.  '65. 

Hokes,  Harrison,  Sycamore,  promoted  1st  ser-  Davis,  Reed,  Burlington,  mustered  out  June  22. 

geant,  then  1st  lieutenant.  'g5 

Howe,  James  M.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July  Disbrow,  Edward,  Alden,  died  at  Fairfax,  De- 

17,  '65,  as  sergeant.  cember  13,  *64. 

Hollister,  Henry,  DeK!alb,  mustered  out  July  17,  Everetts,   Aranthus,   Burlington,   mustered   out 

'65,  as  corporal.  july  i?;  '65. 

Maynard,   James   M.,   Sycamore,   mustered   out  ]7raser,    Alexander,   Sycamore,   discharged  July 

July  17,  '65,  as  sergeant.  lr_  >fi2  ;  disability. 

Morse.  Charles-  W.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July  Freeman.  Wilbert  S.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out 

17,  '65,  as  blacksmith.  July  17,  '65,  as  bugler. 

McGregor,  George,  Sycamore,  killed  at  Monoc-  Fleet,   Charles,   Afton,  mustered   out  June   27, 

acy,  July  9,  '64.  '65. 

O'Connor,  Daniel,  Sycamore,  killed  at  Cockeys-  Gregory,  William.  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 

ville,  July  18,  '64.  17,  '65. 

Porter,   George,   Sycamore, .  mustered   out  July  Hyland,  George  G.,  DeKalb,  died  at  Washing- 

iy    '65  ^on>  September  5.  '64. 


274                                     PAST    AND    PRESENT  OF    DE    KAMI    COUNTY. 

Hollister,  Henry  1>..  De  Kalb,  re-enlisted  as  vet-  Bacon,  Lawrence  T..  Somonauk.  discharged  May 

ran.  1,  '62  :  disability. 

Hatch.    Simeon    P.,    Burlington,   mustered    out  Dean,  DeGrass,  Victor,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

July  17    '65  Dutton,    Whitney,    Somonauk.   discharged   Sep- 

Percival,  Johnson,  Clinton,  mustered  out  July  tember  29, '62 ;  disability. 

17   '65.  Greenville,     Charles,      Victor,     re-enlisted     as 

Percival,   Stephen',  Clinton,   mustered  out  July  veteran. 

17  *65.  Hall,    Jacob    M.,    Somonauk.    killed    at    Hazel 

Partlow,  Calvin,  Burlington,  mustered  out  July  River,  October  17,  '63. 

17,  '65.  Kennicott,  I ia .  Victor,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Reeves.  John  \V..  Burlington,  mustered  out  July  Mead,  Chauncey,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  Sep- 

17,  '65,  as  corporal.  tember  28,  '64. 

Roach.  John,  Genoa,  mustered  out  July  17.  '65.  Moore,   Wallace  M„   Victor,  discharged   May  9, 

Starkey,  Henry  S.,  Genoa,  re-enlisted  as  veteran.  '62;  disability. 

Snyder.  S.  S..  Cortland,  mustered  out  July  17.  Scoville,  Fred  E.,  Victor,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

''65.  Suydam,  Cornelius  I«..  Victor,  died  at   Adexan- 

Thomas,  [saac  E.,  Cortland,  mustered  out  duly  dria,  January  27,  '<>2. 

17,  '65.  Suydam,  Simon,  Victor,  mustered  out  Septem- 

Thomas,  Edwin  J.,  Cortland,  discharged  Janu-  ber  28,  '64. 
ary  29,  '65 ;  disability.  Stockham,  Hewitt  ('..  Victor,  re-enlisted  as  vet- 
Van  Amburg,  Matthew,  Sycamore;  mustered  out  eran, 
July  17,  '65.  Tripp,  Calvin,  Somonauk,  mustered  oul  Septem- 

Weed,  John  J.,   Burlington,  re-enlisted  as  vet-  ber  28,  '64. 

eran.  Van    Fleet.   Alfred,   Victor,  re-enlisted   as  vet- 

Westbrook,  Charles,  Genoa,  mustered  out  July  eran. 

17, '65,  as  corporal.  \ 'hees,   Peter,   Victor,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Willard,  William,  Victor,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

COMPANY   I. 

Aldrich,  Charles,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  duly  veterans. 
17,    '65. 

Gates  Orlando  L.   Shabbona,  mustered  out  July  Beckwith,  John  S.,  Victor,  mustered  out  Julj 

17, '65.  17>'65- 

Rockwell.    Hamlin    J.,    Somonauk,    discharged  Brown.   Allen.    Victor,    mustered   out   July    17, 

July  19,  '62,  for  promotion  in  colored  regiment.  '65,  as  sergeant. 

Winans,    Wesley   J.,    Somonauk,   mustered    out  Bond.   Charles   T.,    Victor,   died   at   Pittsburg. 

July  17.  '65.  March  16,  '64. 

Dean,  DeGrass,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  August 
3,  '65. 

Brown.  Charles   D.,    Victor,  sergeant,   mustered  K.mnicott,   ira,  Victor,  mustered  out  July   17, 

out  September  28, '64.  '65- 

Wesson,  Silas  D.,  Victor,  corporal,  re-enlisted  as  Scoville,  Fred   E.,   Victor,  mustered    oul    July 


veteran. 


17,  '65 


Gould.   George.    Victor,   corporal,   mustered   out  Van    Fleet.   Alfred.  Victor,  mustered   out  July 

September  28,  '64,  as  private.  17.  '65. 

Beckwith,  John,  Victor,  re-enlisted  as  veteran.  Voorhees,    Peter.    Victor,    mustered    out    July 

Bond,  Charles.  Victor,  re-enlisted  as  veteran.  17.    65. 

Bullock,  Daniel.  Victor,  mustered  out  Septem-  Wesson,    Silas    ]>..   Victor,   mustered    out   July 

her  28,  '64,  as  corporal.  17.  '65,  as  sergeant. 

Burnham,  Samuel  M.,  Victor,  discharged  March  Williard.  William.  Clinton,  mustered   out  July 

:8,  '62;  disability.  17.  '65. 


W.   W.   SEDGWICK. 
Representative,    1S62    to    1864. 


I.   V.    RANDALL. 
Representative,    1864    to    1866. 


ROBERT  HAMPTON. 
Representative,    1866    to    1S6S. 


LEWIS   McEWEN. 
Representative.    1870    to    L872. 


R.    M.    PRITCHARD. 
Representative,    1S70    to    1872. 


WM.    M.    BYERS. 
Representative,    1S76   to    1S80. 


HENRY    WOOD. 
Representative,    1880   to    1884 


II     M.    BOARDMAN. 
Representative,    1882    to    1884 


1 1  IRA. M   LOUCKS. 
Representative,    1880    to     L882 


IpUB!  ARY 


ASTOK,    LENOX 
Til  DENFCX)ND*TION8._ 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY.  27? 

RECRUITS.  SERGEANT. 

Baker,  George  L.,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  July  James  F.  BeTry,   Sycamore,  promoted  2d  lieu- 

17,  '65.  tenant. 

Bigelow,  W.  H.,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  July 

17    '6g.  CORPORALS. 

Bennett,  James,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  July 

17,  '65.  William  S.  Thompson,  Dement. 

Baker,  John  T.,  Somonauk,  killed  at  Frederick,  Sidney  S.   Sessions.   Sycamore,   Sergeant,  acci- 

July  8,  '64.  dently  killed,  May  15,  '62. 

Brown,  Alden,  Victor,  re-enlisted  as  veteran.  Edward  J.  Blanehard,  Mayfield,  died  at  Alex- 

DeForest,  William,  Afton,  died  at  Camp  Stone-  andria,  February  12,  '62. 
man,  D.  C,  November  9,  '64. 

Graham,  Forrester,  Sandwich,  deserted  October  privates. 
6,  '02. 

Huntington,  Averell,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  Albro,    Simeon,    South    Grove,    mustered    out 

July  17,  '65,  as  bugler.  September  28,  '64. 

Kirkpatrick,  Isaac,  Somonauk,  discharged  July  Burzell,  Arick  H.,  Genoa,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

22,  '62 ;  disability.  Butler,    Thomas,    South    Grove,    re-enlisted    as 

Kimball,  Nathan  G..  Somonauk,  transferred  to  veteran. 

Co.  G.  Carr,  James  H.,  Franklin,  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Mack,  Samuel  J.,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  July  Carr.    Winslow    A.,    Sycamore,    re-enlisted    as 

17,  '65,  as  corporal.  veteran. 

McBrayton,    George,    Somonauk,   mustered   out   ,     .  Cole,  Amos  R., .  mustered  out  September 

July  17,  '65,  as  corporal.  28,  '66,  as  corporal. 

Pelling,  William,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  July  Countryman,    James,    Franklin,    re-enlisted    as 

17,   65.  veteran. 

Ryan.   Horton,   Afton,   mustered   out   July    17,  Depue,  James  S.,  Sycamore,  discharged  Decem- 

'65.  her  23,  '61. 

Ryan,  John,  Afton,  mustered  out  July  17,  '65.  Dixon,    Joseph    E.,    Sycamore,    re-enlisted    as 

Wilson,    James    H.,    Somonauk.    mustered    out  veteran. 

July  17,  '65.  Edson,  Samuel  L.,  Sycamore,  transferred  to  In- 
valid Corps,  February  7,  '64. 

company  l.  McKinney,    A.    C,    Sycamore,    re-enlisted    as 

veteran. 

Daniel  Dustin,  Sycamore,  promoted  major.  Rosbach,  William  H.,  Sycamore,  re-enlisted  as 

John  M.  Waite,  Sycamore,  promoted.  veteran. 

James   F.  Berry,   Sycamore,  term   expired  De-  Stevens.  Judson  A..  Genoa,  promoted  2d  lieu- 

cember  28,  '66.  tenant. 

Young,    Walter    W.,    Mayfield,    re-enlisted    as 
veteran. 

John  M.  Waite,  Sycamore,  promoted.  veterans. 

second  lieutenant.  Butler,   Thomas   L.,    Sycamore,   transferred   to 

IT.  S.  Navy,  September  21,  '64. 

John  M.  Waite.  Sycamore,  promoted.  Burzell,  Arick  H.,  Genoa,  sergeant,  drowned  in 

q.  M.  sergeant.  Mississippi  river,  June  28,  '65. 

Phillip  McRae,  Sycamore,  discharged  and  pro-  Crosby,    James    A.,    Sycamore,   absent,   sick   at 

moted  2d  lieutenant  in  17th  Cavalry.  muster  out  of  regiment. 


first  lieutenant. 


PAST    AND   PRESENT 


ran.  James  II..  Franklin,  mustered  out  July 
17,  '65,  as  sergeant. 

Can-.  Charles  M.,  Franklin,  mustered  ou1  July 
1 ;.  65,  as  farrier. 

Dixnn.  Joseph  E..  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July 
1 ;.  '65,  as  si  rgeant. 

McKinney,  Artemus,  Sycamore,  mustered  out 
July  17,  '65,  as  corporal. 

Rosbach,  Wallace  II..  Sycamore,  mustered  out 
July   17,  '65. 

Waldron,  Isaac  \\.  Sycamore,  see  Co.  B. 

Young,  Walter  W.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out 
July  1 '.  '65,  as  bugler. 

RECRUITS. 

Adam.-.  Eli,  Pierce,  mustered  out  July  17,  '65. 
Blakely,  John,   Pierce,   mustered   oul   July    17, 


'65. 

Crosby,  Jane-  \..  Sycamore,  re-enlisted  as 
veteran. 

Carr,  J.  A..  Franklin,  killed  at  Whit,-  Plains  in 
a  charge  '  October  11,  '64. 

Logan  Elias,  Cortland,  mustered  out  July  17, 
'65. 

Nichols,  GeoKge  A..  Malta,  re-enlisted  as 
veteran. 

Porter,  Leroj  I...  Sycamore,  discharged  March 
l".  '62. 

Waldron,    [saac    X..    Sycamore,    re-enlisted    as 

veteran. 

I  OM  P  \XY    M. 

Brownell,  Joseph  0..  Somonauk,  mustered  out 
July  13,  '65. 

Leason,  William.  Somonauk.  mustered  oui  July 
13,  '65. 

Overocker,  M.  I'..  South  Grove,  mustered  oul 
September  28,  '64,  as  corporal. 

William-.  Joseph,  Somonauk,  mustered  out  June 
21,  '65. 

Yalding,  Herman.  Sycamore,  mustered  oul  June 
3,  '65. 

Crouk,  Eugene,  Somonauk,  veteran,  deserted. 

Douglas,  Edward  A..  DeKalb. 

Kelly,  Thomas,  Cortland,  deserted. 


OF    DE    KALB   COUNTY. 

NINTH     [LLINOIS    CAVALRY. 

Goble,   George   I...   Mayfield. 
[ngham,  N.   !>..  Cortland. 
Mullin.  Harker  C,  Mayfield. 
Nichols,  S.  L.,  Mayfield. 
Olin.  David.  Mayfield. 
Townsend,  Edwin,  Mayfield. 
<  larpenter,  \V.  D.,  Mayfield. 
Earner,  I  lharles  M.,  Shabbona, 
I  Ihurchill,  William.  Franklin. 
Hudson,  Pliny.  Victor. 
1  Carman,  ( lharles  I'..  Victor. 
Hough,  Seth  B.,  Victor. 
Husted,  George  II..  Victor. 
Ladd,  Alfred,  Pawpaw. 
Streator,  Volney,   Franklin. 
Cooley,  Smith  P..  Kingston. 
Watson,  Robert,  Franklin. 
Warren,  Daniel  •;..  Sycamore. 
Westbrook,  Aimer.  Kingston. 
Othman,  Abott,  Kingston. 
Willis.  A.  S..  Kingston. 
•  lorham,  Arthur,  Kingston. 
Patten,  James  R.,  Kingston. 
Tibbetts-,  William.  Kingston. 

FOURTEENTH    [LLINOIS  CAVALRY. 

Captain,  M.  D.  Burpree,  l>e  Kalb. 
Graves,  <  lharles,  !»••  Kalb. 

Harrison,  lain d,  De  Kalb. 

Harrison,  Uriah,  I  >e  Kalb. 
Hough,  Warren,  De  Kalb. 
Hyslop,  <  >nn.  De  Kalb. 
Hatch.  Alberl   R.,  De  Kalb. 
Rector,  John,  De  Kalb. 
Rowlin,  John,  1  >e  Kalb. 
Sew anl.  Robert,  De  Kalb. 

Si  Ott,  .lame-    I..   I  le    Kalb. 

Scribner,  Alba  M.,  De  Kalb. 
White.  William.  De  Kalb. 
Young,  John.  De  Kalb. 
Chamberlin,  Orman,  Sycamore. 
Finnon,  Mark.  Sycamore. 
Granger,  Henry  J.,  Sycamore. 
Mullin.  Obadiah,  Sycamore. 
Mullin.  William.  Sycamore. 
( (strander,  Hiram.  Svcamore. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OE    DE    KALB   COUNTY.  279 

FIFTEENTH    ILLINOIS   CAVALRY.  FARRIERS. 

Dvnan.   Daniel,   Somonauk.  Horace  Tennant,  De  Kalb.   mustered  out   No- 
Harvey,   William  H.,  Somonauk.  vember  23,  '65. 

McCurdy,  Charles,  Somonauk.  Benjamin    F.   Ilarroun,  Sycamore,  mustered  out 

Surby,  James,  Sandwich.  August  8,  '65. 

Collier,  Abel,  Sandwich.  buglers. 
Duff,  Nathan,  Sandwich. 

Carroll.  .Michael.  Sandwich.  \\\  H.  Lindsay,  Mayfield,  absent,  sick  at  muster 

Lowell,  John,  Sycamore.  out. 

Meyer,  August,  Clinton.  Charles   A.   Brett,   De   Kalb,   mustered   out   as 

private. 

ENLISTED      MEN      OF      DE      KALB      COUNTY,     SEVEN- 
TEENTH    ILLINOIS  CAVALRY.  SADDLER. 

sergeant  MAJOR.  Joseph  Cheesbro,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  June 

5,  '65,  private. 
John    V.    Henry,    Somonauk,    promoted    from 
L05th   Illinois  Infantry.  privates. 

privates.  Ames.   Oliver,   Malta,    mustered   out    November 

23,  '65. 
Charles  Price.  Sandwich,  died  at  Weston,  Mo.,  Beardsley,   Elijah.   Mayfield,  mustered  out  No- 

September  18,  '64.  vember  23,  '65. 

Edward  Baker,  Squaw  Grove,  deserted  Septem-  Beemis.  Henry,  De  Kalb.  mustered  out  Novem- 

ber 10, '65.  I«  i- 23,  '65. 

company  c.  Benedict,  Alfred  N.,  Cortland,    mustered    out 

November  83,  '65. 
Charles    Chapel,    South    Grove,    mustered    out         Cunningham,  Thomas,  Pierce,  died  at  De  Kalb, 
November  23.  '65.  April  <i.  '64. 

Croff,    Cyrus   E.,   Cortland,   mustered   out   No- 
sergeants,  vember  23,  '65. 

Collson,  M.  E.,  Cortland,  mustered  out  Novem- 

Joshtia   R.    Nichols,   Mayfield,   promoted  as   2d      ner  23,  '65. 
lieutenant.  Carver,  Charles  B..  Malta,  died  in  Lee  county 

Charles  Goodrich,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  No-      Illinois.  August  10,  '64. 
vember  23,  '65,  private.  Courser,   Milton,   Sycamore,   mustered  out  No- 

Daniel  II.  Lindsay.  Mayfield,  mustered  out  No-      vember  23,  '65. 
vember  24,  '65,  private.  Churchill,  Menzo,  Cortland,  mustered  out   No- 

vember 23.  '65. 
corporals.  Colton,  John  A..  Genoa,  promoted  1st  lieuten- 

ant. 

George  L.  Eisher.  Sycamore,  mustered  out  July  Dowd,  Frank,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  November 

20,  '65.  '  23,  '65. 

John  A.  Trade,  Mayfield,  mustered  out  Xovem-         Downs,  Charles  M..  Cortland,  mustered  out  No- 
ber  23,  '65,  private.  vember  23,  '65. 

Jonathan  Houghton.  De  Kalb.  mustered  out  No-  Daily,  Francis,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  Novem- 

vember  23,  '65,  private.  ber  23,  '65. 

Charles  H.  Green,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  No-  Gardner,  Alfred,  Sycamore,  died  at  St.  Joseph, 

vember  23,  '65,  private.  August  10,  '64. 


880                                       PAST    AND    PKESEXT  OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 

Gardner,  James,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  No-  Baker,  Alonzo  L.,  Shabbona,  mustered  out  No- 
vember 23,  '65.  vember  23,  '65. 

Gage,  Amaza,  Squaw  Grove,  mustered  out  No-  Freer,  E.  T.,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  July  5,  '65. 

vember  23  '65.  Griffin,   Justus,   Alton,  mustered    out    October 

Harding,    Zora,    Alton,    mustered   out   Novem-  4.  '65. 

ber  23.  '65.  Haish,  Abram,  Pierce,  mustered  out  November 

Holderness,  J.  C,  Malta,  mustered  out  Novem-  23,  '65. 

ber  23  '65.  Labrant,  L.,  Pierce,  mustered  out  November  23. 

Ingham,  Ellis.  Cortland,  mustered  out  Novem-  '65,  as  sergeant. 

ber  23   '65.  Patridge,  Zelotas,  Pierce,  mustered  out  October 

Johnson,  Charles,  De   Kalb.  mustered  out  No-  4.  '65. 
vember  23  '65.  Ramer,  Anthony,  Pierce,  mustered  out  as  corn- 
Lamb,  James,   Sycamore,  died   at   Alton.  July,  pany  quartermaster  sergeant. 
'64.  Schoonover,  John   A.,  De  Kalb,   mustered  out 

Losee,  Rufus,  De  Kalb,  mustered  out  November  Jul}   5,  '65. 

33    '65.  Townsend.    Solomon.    Somonauk,   mustered   out 

Moxom,  P.  S.,  De  Kalb.  mustered  out  November  November  23,  '65. 
23,   '65. 

Muzzey,  Era  C,  De  Kail),  mustered  out  Novem-  company  d — sergeants. 
ber  ■!■,.  '6:,. 

Pn..-.  Rensellaer,  De  Kalb.  died  at  Alton,  Illi-  John    M.   Osborn,   Clinton,  mustered   out  as  a 

aois,  June  '64.  private. 

Peterson,  Anderson,  detached  at  muster  out  of  John   F.  T.  .1.   MeKinney,  Clinton,  discharged 

regiment.  October,  '6  I. 

Perkins.  John  X..  Sycamore,  mustered  out  No-  Harrison    S.    Andrews.    Clinton,   mustered    out 

vember  23,  '65.  December  20,  '65. 

Beid.  Henry,  De  Kalb,  died  duly  20,  '64.  privates. 

Boger-.   Charles,   Sycamore,   mustered  out  No- 
vember 23.  '65.  Bechtel,   Samuel,   Sandwich,  mustered  out  De- 

Sipp.    Samuel    I...    Malta,     deserted     November  cember  2D.  '65. 
1.  '65.  Cunningham.  J.ihn.  Clinton,  mustered  out  De- 
Stewart,    James    II..    Sycamore,    mustered    out  cember  20,  '65. 
November  23,  '65.  Field,  Robert,  Clinton,  mustered  out  December 

Wager,  Ira.  De  Kalb.  mustered  out  May  25.  '65.  20,  '65,  a-  corporal. 

►Whitmore,  Charles.  De  Kalb.  mustered  out  No-  Gorham,   Ed.    E.,  Sandwich,  mustered  out  De- 

vember  23.  '65.  cember  20,  '65. 

Van  Olinda,  E.  E..  Somonauk.  mustered  out  Lillard,  Joseph  1*"...  Clinton,  mustered  out  De- 
November  23,  '65.  cember  20,  '65. 

Ledbetter,  dob.  Clinton,  mustered  out  December 

RECRUITS.  .„,     ,g5 

Beardsley,    Earl    A..    Somonauk,   mustered    out  Morse,  William   IP.  Clinton,  mustered  out  De- 

V ,\ ember.  23.  '65.  as  sergeant.  cember  20.  '65. 

Bur"-.."    Uberl    Somonauk   absent,  sick  at  mus-  Polan,  Samuel.  Clinton,  mustered  out  December 

ter  out.  '-'"-  '65. 

Brookins.  James.  Somonauk.  mustered  out  No-  Snowball,  Charles,  Kingston,  mustered  out  De- 
cember 23,  '6  cember  20,  '65. 

Brown.  Hamilton.  Victor,  mustered  out  Novem-  Wimer,  John  1!..  Clinton,  mustered  out  Decem- 
ber 23.  '65.  ber  20,  '65,  as  quartermaster  senreant. 

Beardsley,  W.  H.,  Victor,  mustered  out  Novem-  Williams,  Lewis,  Clinton,  mustered  out  Decem- 
ber 23.  '65.  ber  20,  '65,  as  ijiiartermaster  sergeant. 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


281 


Clemmens,  A.  J.,  Clinton,  mustered  out  Decem- 
ber 20,  '65. 

COMPANY     E. 

Emerson,  Freeman,  Sycamore,  discharged  for 
disability. 

Banfield,  Benjamin.  Malta,  dishonorably  dis- 
charged. 

Depue,  Richard  D.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  De- 
cember 16,  '65. 

Gear,  Benjamin,  ( 'ortland,  mustered  out  De- 
cember IS,  '65. 

Siglin,  Isaiah,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  Decem- 
ber 18,  '65. 

Siglin.  Joshua,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  De- 
cember 18,  '65. 

Tenscott,  Richard.  Sycamore,  mustered  out  De- 
cember 18,  '65. 

Van  Deusen,  John  A.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out 
December  18,  '65. 

Wright,  Halbert,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  De- 
cember 18,  '65,  as  corporal. 

Hubner,  Charles,  mustered  out  October  3,  '65. 

COMPANY     H. 

Bailey  Austin  K..  Genoa. 

Bailey,  Frank  H.,  Genoa. 

Chase,  Jacob  H.,  Genoa,  died  at  Kansas  City, 
July  11.  '65. 

Dewberry.  Joseph.  Paw  Paw.  deserted  Septem- 
ber 11,  '64. 

Hill,  George,  Genoa,  mustered  out  October  20. 
'65. 

COMPANY     I. 

Stewart,  Morris,  Pierce,  mustered  out  October 
9,  '65. 

Depue,  Nicholas.  Genoa,  mustered  out  October 
9,  '65. 

Norris,  S.  W.,  Sycamore,  mustered  out  October 
9,  '65. 

After  the  victory  of  Antietam  in  1863,  which 
defeated  Lee's  army,  great  depression  again  per- 
vaded the  north  because  Lee  had  been  allowed  to 
escape.  Colonel  John  F.  Farnsworth,  who  was 
then  acting  as  brigadier  general  of  cavalry,  was 
authorized  by  the  war  department  to  raise  a  first 


brigade  of  that  arm  of  the  service.  Colonel  Farns- 
worth recommended  that  Major  John  L.  Beveridge 
of  the  Eighth  Cavalry  raise  one  regiment  in  his 
own  home  at  Illinois.  Captain  J.  D.  Butts,  who 
had  resigned  as  captain  of  the  Forty-second  In- 
fantry on  account  of  illness  and  Jasper  Waite  of 
Sycamore,  who  had  left  college  to  do  his  share 
in  the  defense  of  the  country,  and  Sergeant  Phillip 
McRae,  of  May  field,  who  had  seen  service  in  the 
Eighth  Illinois  Cavalry,  assisted  in  raising  one 
company.  Many  of  the  horses,  costing  twice  the 
government  price,  had  been  purchased  and  given 
to  the  young  troopers  by  their  friends  at  home. 
They  proceeded  to  Jefferson  Barracks,  twelve  miles 
below  St.  Louis,  where  their  outfit  was  completed. 
They  proceeded  to  Alton  and  for  a  time  acted  as 
guard  over  the  rebel  prison  at  that  city.  Their 
first  encounter  was  with  the  guerilla,  "Bill"  An- 
derson, who  was  defeated  and  in  this  engagement 
Henry  Reed  of  De  Kalb  lost  his  life — the  first 
casualty  in  the  regiment.  This  band  of  guerillas 
was  attacked  again  by  the  Seventeenth  Cavalry 
at  Fayette  and  were  again  defeated.  They  pro- 
ceeded to  Pilot  Knob  and  again  engaged  a  force 
of  Confederates  near  Cuba,  defeating  it.  Its  next 
service  was  in  the  famous  movement  known  as  the 
Price  Raid,  in  which  the  regiment  lost  five  hun- 
dred horses  from  utter  exhaustion,  and  in  which 
at  one  time  they  were  for  fifty-six  hours  in  the 
-addle,  with  orders  to  lose  not  even  time  enough 
in  water  horses,  but  press  on  the  enemy  at  every 
hazard.  The  regiment  was  again  engaged  at 
Boonesville,  attacked  and  surprises  the  rebel  force, 
which  were  defeated  with  great  loss  to  them,  while 
many  were  wounded  on  our  side.  They  were  next 
engaged  at  Hickman,  where  they  defeated  a  rebel 
force  of  cavalry.  They  were  next  engaged  at  the 
battle  of  Mine  Creek,  capturing  the  rebel  generals 
Marmaduke  and  Cabel,  with  a  thousand  prisoners 
and  ten  pieces  of  artillery.  Again  the  regiment 
were  in  the  saddle  for  fifty-six  hours  in  pursuit 
i if  the  enemy,  which  again  caused  a  great  loss  of 
horses.  Jack  Houghton,  of  De  Kalb,  one  of  the 
best  soldiers,  once  carried  his  saddle  fourteen  miles 
before  he  got  another  horse.  In  forty-three  days 
this  gallant,  regiment  had  marched  one  thousand 
miles  and  lost  six  hundred  horses.  Less  than  one 
hundred  and  fifty  mounted  men  came  back  from 
that  terribly  destructive,  continuous  pursuit  of 
this  untiring  foe.     At  Wittsburg  the  rebel  general 


282 


PAST    AND    PBESENT   OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


Thompson  surrendered  to  General  Dodge  a  force 
of  six  thousand  Confederates  and  the  Seventeenth 
escorted  the  prisoners  to  the  Union  lines.  This 
was  the  last  of  the  rebellion  for  the  Seventeenth. 
In  the  winter  of  1865-6  the  regiment  was  mustered 
out  at  Fori  Leavenworth  and  returned  to  their 
homes.  The  servici  performed  by  the  Seventeenth 
has  been  a  most  honorable  one;  their  record  may 
well  inspire  its  members  with  pride. 

I  '.ITAIX    stolbrand's  batalliox. 

l.I.Elfl     BELONGING    TO    THE   SECOND  ARTILLERY 
u  GIMENT. 

J.  (  .  .1.  Stolbrand,  ( 'aptain. 
Frederick  Sparrestrom,  First   Lieutenant. 
J.  W  Lowell,  Second  Lieutenant. 
William  C.  Whitney.  Third  Lieutenant. 
Knott  Smith.  Fourth  Lieutenant. 

[TON-COW  MISSIONED    OFFICERS. 
MOUNTED     SERG1   \XTS. 

S.  F.  Durkey. 

I  >r.  .'.  Ingalls. 

J.  W.    Ri 

Edward  W  el  ster. 

Eli  M.  I, 

<  "tvdon  Heth. 

J.  W.  B.  Fort. 

Charles  W.  Greenwood. 

CORPORA1S. 

Benjamin  I-'.  Sherl  orn 
Bery  Welch. 
Eobert  E.  Disbrow. 

Eollin  Y.  Harmon. 
Ashael  Crocker. 
Samuel  E.  ( lurtiss. 

PRIVATES. 

Austiss.  Frank  B. 
Bailey.  Bussell 
Berrv.  .John. 


lira. It.  William  H 
Brown.  William 
Childs,  Ashael  E. 
( Ihurchill,  Samuel 
i  llothier,  Salmon 
( lomstock,  Hezekiah 
Cummings,  ( '.  M. 
I  larland,  John 
Davis,   Samuel 
1  >orsi  ii.  i  ri  Mi-ge 
Ekvall,  Leonard 
Esbryon,  Joseph 
Ferris,  E. 
Fisher,  Henry 
Fleming,  James. 
Forbes,  William. 
Golden,  Justus. 
Gore,  ( Ihester. 
Gould,  Thomas. 
Ball,  Alfred. 

Hai  'm. in.  i ge  T. 

Hatliway.  Nathan    R. 
Eolland,  ( lharles. 

ad,   Samuel   J. 
James,  Samuel. 
Johnson,  Ebenezer. 
Kellogg,  William   F. 
Kingsbury,  William. 
Ladd,  i  Jeorge. 
Lindebeck,  Frans. 
Loveridge,  Jefferson. 
Low,  Johnson. 
McAllister,  Elvin. 
McKarrell,  William  G. 
Mel  fuire,  William. 
Mathiason,  C. 
Milberge,  Charles  J. 
Minis,  James. 
Nail,  John  A. 
Oakley,  Ira  W. 
< »'( lonnell,  Martin. 
<  >lmsti  ad,  John  < '. 
Padgett,  Robert  M. 
Ransom,  Amos  I '. 
Eeed.  William  M. 
Bice.   Asa. 

ards,  Thomas. 
Rosi    Corydon. 
Scot!    Dennis. 


PAST    AND   PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


238 


Scott,   II.   11. 
Shurburn,  Albert. 
Slate.  Charles. 
Smith.  Skilton. 
Siii  nor,   Frank. 
Sylvus,  Frank. 
Telford.  William  C. 
Videll,  S. 
Walker.  Jefferson. 
Westgate,  J.  C. 
Whitmore,  Harrison. 
Wilkie,  Emory. 
Williams.  Joseph  T. 
Winter.  William. 
Woir.  John. 

ONE      HUNDRED     AND      FORTY-SEVENTH      INFANTRY. 
COMPANY     F. 

Captain.  Azra  F.  Buck,  Sycamore. 
First  Lieutenant,  Jonathan  F.  Dow,  Sycamore. 
First  Sergeant.  Philo  D.  Hartman,  Sycamore. 
Sergeant,  Henry  Cobb,  Sycamore. 
Sergeant,  Herbert  E.  Brown,  Sycamore. 
Corporal.  Frank  J.  Harrington,  Sycamore. 
Corporal.  Jesse  T.  Graves.  Sycamore. 
Corporal.  Ferdinand  Dow,  Sycamore. 
Musician,  John  Henderson,  S3'camore. 
Wagoner,  Marvin  Richmond,  Sycamore. 

PRIVATES. 

Anderson.  Frank,  Sycamore. 
( 'lements,  John.  Sycamore. 
Davis.  Gustavus,  Sycamore. 
Dupue,  Joseph  D.,  Sycamore. 
Esterbrook,  Carlos  II..  Sycamore. 
Esterbrook,  James  S.,  Sycamore. 
Hall,  Marcus,  Cortland. 
Harlow,  Orson,  Sycamore. 
Harding,  George,  Sycamore. 
Holliday,  Hailey.  Sycamore. 
Harned.  Frank.  Cortland. 
Jarvis,  Eugene  II..  Malta. 
Jones.  Oliver,  Malta. 
Jones,  Adolphus,  Sycamore. 
Lindell.  John.  Sycamore. 
Hallen.  Gustus.  Svcamore. 


Nelson,  Peter,  Pierce. 
Mason,  John,  Sycamore. 
Marshall,  Lucius  Wl,  Cortland. 
Maxfield,  Adolphus,  Sycamore. 
Peters.  Colton,  Sycamore. 
Rose,  George  W.,  ( iortland. 
Snyder,  Charles,  Pierce. 
Stark,  Jefferson,  Sycamore. 
Scott,  Goodrich,  Cortland. 
Tunned  ill'.  Merritl  J.,  Sycamore. 
Tindall,  James  B.,  Sycamore. 
Tewksberry,  Warren  F.,  Sycamore. 
Wilson,  (lark.  Cortland. 
Wilmarth.  Emory  F.,  Cortland. 
Wright,  Frank  F.,  Sycamore. 
Watson.  Ira,  Svcamore. 


company    c. 


Gunderson.  Thon 


Shabbona. 


When  the  war  closed  and  again  the  boys  in 
blue  took  up  the  pursuits  of  industry  there  was 
a  feeling  of  relief  from  the  stern,  cruel  demands 
of  Avar,  for  all  had  felt  its  iron  hand  most  keenly, 
and  some  were  to  feel  its  pangs  down  to  the 
grave,  for  the  vacant  chair,  the  newly  made  mound 
and  the  little  headstone  on  which  the  national 
emblem  and  arms  were  carved  would  ever  be 
a  silent  witness  of  the  sacrifice  that  had  been 
laid  upon  the  altar  of  the  country.  With  the  feel- 
ing that  they  had  borne  a  glorious  part  in  the 
war  that  had  ended  gloriously  the  soldier  doffed 
the  uniform  for  the  somber  garb  of  labor  and  in 
a  few  weeks  the  farm,  factory,  store,  desk  and 
even  pulpit  responded  to  the  returned  soldier. 
The  boys  were  not  the  same.  In  their  demeanor 
they  were  changed.  Their  experience  had  matured 
these  youths  into  confident  manhood.  They  had 
been  placed  in  positions  of  responsibility.  The 
average  age  of  all  commissioned  officers  was  less 
than  thirty  years.  Political  parties  gave  them 
preferment.  A  successful  soldier  has  ever  been 
a  favorite  in  American  politics.  The  majority  of 
the  men  who  have  held  county  offices  from  1862 
to  the  present  time  were  soldiers.  Grand  Aim; 
posts  were  organized  and  in  this  county  ten  posts 
were  established,  three  of  which  have  been  aban- 
doned and  consolidated  with  others.  Regimental 
reunions,  county  campfires  and  the  open  meetings 


■284 


PAST    AXD   PRESENT   OF  DE   KALB    COI'XTY. 


of  posts  have  been  attended  by  thousands  and  the 
lessons  of  patriotism,  the  scenes  of  army  life  and 
the  meaning  of  those  days  from  '61  to  '65  have 
been  indelibly  impressed  upon  those  who  follow 
them.  Fifty-five  regiments  of  Illinois  had  men 
from  De  Kalb  county  under  their  standards.  Com- 
pared with  other  nations  and  with  earlier  days 
of  the  republic  our  nation  has  been  most  generous 
tn  her  soldiery.  All  who  were  incapacitated  for 
labor  have  been  pensioned.  Under  the  act  of  1894 
all  soldiers  and  sailors  in  service  during  the  war 
and  attaining  the  age  of  02  years  received  $8  per 
month;  65,  $10  per  month;  70  years,  $15;  75 
years.  $20. 

In  1896  the  beautiful  soldiers'  monument,  the 
gift  of  the  county  of  De  Kalb  "to  the  boys  who 
fought  that  this  nation  under  God  should  have  a 
mi  \\  birth  of  freedom,"  was  dedicated  with  appro- 
ceremonies.  Ex-Governor  Hoard,  Wiscon- 
sin, and  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Fallows,  Chicago,  were 
tl rators  of  the  day.  The  De  Kalb  county  camp- 
fire  will  be  held  a1  Kingston  in  Stuart's  Grove, 
September,  this  year.  The  soldiers  believe  that 
owing  to  their  declining  years  and  decrease  of 
members  this  will  be  the  last  one  held  in  our 
county. 


NOTABLE  EVENTS. 


The  lir-t  cheese  factor)  in  the  United  States 
was  established  in  1S">1  in  New  York  and  tin- 
industry  grew  rapid!)  and  many  farmers  em- 
barked in  the  dairy  business.  This  rapid!)  extend- 
ed tn  Ohio  and  later  to  Illinois.  In  the  early  his- 
tory of  our  country  almost  the  entire  bu 
the  farmer.-  was  to  raise  grain.  After  the  farmi  rs 
in  De  Kalb  county  saw  the  need  of  diversified 
farming  and  the  need  of  fertilizing,  the)  gradually 
embarked  in  the  stock  business  and  the  firs!  cheese 
factories  were  built  in  the  county  in  the  later  V'11-. 

The  airs  of  civilization  are  generally  taken  on 
slowly  and  the  collar  as  worn  by  gentlemen  of  tho 
present  day  was  nut  a  verj  common  article  of  ap- 
parel in  the  early  days  of  the  county.  In  1853, 
after  the  paper  collar  came  in  use  generally  the 
De  Kalb  county  citizen  could  adorn  himself  at 
little  cost.  Tailoring,  which  has  always  been  a 
trade  that  has  had  considerable  business,  was  not 
so  necessary   after  the  establishmeni    of   clothing 


stores  and  gradually  the  old  trades,  such  as  shoe- 
making,  carpentering,  coopering  and  harness  mak- 
ing were  supplanted  by  the  industrial  machine, 
which  could  do  the  work  of  many  men  at  much 
less  cost. 

After  the  organization  of  the  Associated  Press 
in  1855  all  the  larger  periodicals  of  the  country 
received  dispatches  from  different  parts  of  the 
world  and  the  daily  became  a  valuable  adjunct 
of  the  business  men.  During  the  Civil  war  daily 
numbers  of  papers  were  issued  at  the  exciting 
times  and  people  in  the  smaller  towns  and  even 
in  the  country  began  to  look  for  the  daily  paper. 
At  present  since  the  organization  of  the  rural  mail 
route  almost  every  progressive  business  man  and 
farmer  has  a  daily  periodical  come  to  his  door. 
When  De  Kalb  county  became  prosperous  frequent 
calls  were  made  upon  her  charity.  In  the  later 
'50s  and  early  "60s  and  anti-slavery  people  of  the 
north  and  especially  of  De  Kalb  county  sent  thou- 
sand of  dollars  to  "bleeding""  Kansas.  As  the 
country  became  developed  the  machinery  which 
had  been  used  for  almost  thousands  of  years  was 
rapidly  displaced  and  the  inventions  of  the  last 
half  ceiiturx  have  been  more  advantageous  than 
all  that  have  preceded  them  in  the  world's  history. 
In  1871,  alter  the  great  Chicago  fire,  thousands 
of  dollars  and  large  amounts  of  clothing  and  pro- 
visions were  forwarded  to  that  city.  During  the 
ae  in  Ireland  and  in  other  parts  of  the  world 
the  people  of  De  Kalb  county  have  responded 
with  great  generositv. 

In  186*3  at  the  time  of  the  Fenian  rebellion  in 
Canada  many  of  De  Kalb  countv.  sympathizing 
with  their  countrymen  across  the  bonier,  organized 
to  give  assistance  with  the  hope  that  in  the  tur- 
moil thai  would  follow  Ireland  might  be  liberated 
from  the  British  empire.  In  some  parts  of  the 
Union  organized  bands  of  Fenians  marched  to  the 
Canadian  border  and  had  some  conflicts  with  Ca- 
nadian troops,  but  the  standing  armies  of  Great 
Britain  and  America  soon  brought  the  rebellion 
to  a  close. 

People  began  to  travel  extensively  after  the 
building  of  the  railroad  and  after  they  had  at- 
tained a  certain  degree  of  wealth.  In  the  later 
'40s  and  early  "50s  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Sycamore  township  during  a  period  of  ten  years 
made  three  visits  to  his  old  home  in  New  York, 
taking  with  him  different  members  of  the  family. 


PAST   AND   PKESENT   OP  DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


285 


This  was  considered  a  great  luxury  and  many  re- 
garded him  as  quite  a  traveler.  It  is  safe  to  say 
that  of  the  old  settlers  who  came  in  the  '30s  and 
'40s  few  have  ever  visited  the  scenes  of  their  early 
childhood. 

In  the  later  '60s  and  early  '70s  the  wheat  crop 
suffered  in  this  locality  from  the  depredations  of 
the  chinch  bug  and  finally  wheat  culture  nearly 
ceased  in  De  Kalb  county.  At  the  present  it  is 
safe  to  say  that  there  are  less  than  a  thousand 
acres  of  cultivated  wheat  within  our  borders. 
Farmers  who  in  early  times  raised  immense  fields 
of  wheat  now  give  more  space  to  the  crops  of  corn, 
oats  and  hay,  which  are  the  staple  crops  of  the 
country.  From  the  earliest  days  of  De  Kalb  coun- 
ty life,  until  in  the  '80s  great  amounts  of  grain 
were  shipped  from  this  locality.  During  the  days 
of  wheal  growing  teams  would  arrive  at  the  ele- 
yator  early  in  the  morning  and  come  in  constant 
procession  during  the  entire  day,  the  firms  of  De 
Kalb  county  paying  out  millions  of  dollars  during 
the  year.  At  present  stock  feeding  consumes 
most  of  the  grain  raised  and  aside  from  oats  very 
little  grain  is  now  shipped  out  of  the  county.  The 
elevators  still  do  a  profitable  business,  but  arc 
largely  engaged  in  selling  feed  for  the  dairies  and 
many  who  are  engaged  in  the  business  have  now 
combined  the  coal  and  lumber  trade,  so  that  in 
smaller  towns  there  are  none  doing  an  exclusive 
grain  business. 

In  1870  temperance  societies  were  organized 
throughout  the- Union  and  De  Kalb  county  had 
at  one  time  about  forty  organizations.  The  work 
of  the  temperance  lecturer  at  those  times  was  to 
make  the  business  of  the  liquor  dealer  and  the 
drunkard  ludicrous.  Many  who  were  speakers  wei-e 
reformed  drunkards  and  when  it  came  to  imitat- 
ing drinking  men  in  their  address  they  came  to 
be  experts.  The  temperance  wave  which  swept 
over  the  country  at  this  time  was  of  little  lasting 
benefit.  In  some  towns  under  the  excitement  of 
the  moment  the  liquor  business  was  banished  for 
a  time,  but  main1  did  a  profitable  business  on  the 
sly  and  •'blind   pigs"  were  common. 

In  1 S 7  f '.  the  red  ribbon  movement  received  con- 
siderable interest  in  this  county  and  many  so- 
cieties were  organized  which  died  out  after  a 
period  of  two  or  three  years.  Lasting  benefits 
along  the  line  of  temperance  were  not  fully  real- 


ized until  the  organization  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 
and  the  promotion  of  the  teaching  of  temperance 
with  regard  to  its  effects  upon  the  mind  and 
system  in  public  schools.  This  has  now  become  a 
state  law  and  in  every  school  of  the  county  scien- 
tific temperance  is  taught.  In  1869  an  organiza- 
tion known  as  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry  was  or- 
ganized ami  gradually  spread  over  the  Mississippi 
valley  and  later  became  known  as  the  Grange. 
One  hundred  organizations  were  in  existence  in 
1872  and  1873.  This  was  a  rebellion  against  tho 
liquor  dealer  and  societies  were  organized  to  deal 
directly  with  the  wholesaler.  Grange  stores  be- 
came popular,  but  they  were  managed  by  people 
who  had  little  experience  in  mercantile  lines  and 
they  soon  failed.  The  organization  in  South  Paw- 
paw7 remained  in  existence  until  1894.  Some  of 
the  good  effects  of  this  movement  were  the  ques- 
tions discussed  for  the  betterment  of  the  social 
and  educational  life  of  the  farmer.  In  some 
localities  libraries  Mere  established  and  many  pa- 
pers were  read  and  speeches  were  made,  dealing 
with  the  education  id'  the  farmer's  boy  and  the 
farmer's  girl.  Out  of  this  movement  grew  some 
spasmodical  legislation  of  the  "long-haired"  type. 
Men  were  sent  to  the  legislature  of  the  state  and 
some  even  to  congress  who  were  wholly  inex- 
perienced in  the  legislating  business. 

In  1890  a  movement  of  a  similar  nature  but 
some  what  more  conservative,  under  the  name  of 
Farmers'  Alliance,  grew  up  in  this  state  and  at  one 
time  exercised  considerable  power.  In  the  State 
Legislature  (if  Illinois  three  members  of  the 
Farmers'  Alliance  held  the  ballots  of  power  when 
it  eame  to  election  of  United  States  senator.  They 
finally  cast  their  votes  and  influence  for  John  M. 
Palmer,  securing  his  election.  At  the  present 
time  Farmers'  Institutes  have  been  instituted  and 
have  been  supported  by  wise  legislation.  These 
institutes  are  held  in  each  county  ami  last  for 
several  days.  Discussions  in  improved  methods 
of  farming  and  better  social  conditions  and  better 
educational  facilities  are  also  made  strong  features 
at  their  deliberations.  This  is  the  same  movement 
and  one  which  has  accomplished  lasting  benefits. 
The  state  legislature  of  Illinois  and  many  other 
states  of  the  Union  have  an  agricultural  course 
in  connection  with  their  college  course.  Many 
who    graduate    from     the     literarv    and    scientific 


286 


PAST    AND    PBESENT   OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


(•nurses  of  college  afterward  take  the  agricultural 
ourse  and  return  to  life  mi  the  farm,  taking  with 
them  improved  ideas  ami  exert  an  influence  which 
Ls  wholesome  anil  beneficial  to  progressive  farm 
lite.  When  our  pioneers  came  to  De  Kail >  county 
they  brought  with  them  lew  of  the  luxuries  of 
life,  and  musical  instruments,  except  the  old  fash- 
ioned "fiddle/3  were  unknown  in  the  count)'.  One 
mI'  the  early  inhabitants  of  Sycamore  well  remem- 
bers when  the  Srsl  melodian  was  brought  to  this 
town  ami  was  considered  almost  a  musical  wonder. 
In  the  assessor's  list  of  the  early  '60s  we  find  that 
in  some  townships  no  musical  instruments  are 
given  at  all.  while  in  others  two  or  three  were 
fortunate  enough  to  have  a  melodian.  Soon  the 
organ  became  common  ami  was  purchased  and 
placed  in  many  homes  not  only  in  the  cities  ami 
towns  hut  of  the  farming  population.  At  presenl 
tin-  improved  piano  is  found  as  frequently  as 
the  organ  fifteen  years  ago  and  many  are  tic 
skilled  musicians  of  De  Kalh  county  at  the  present 
time.  Musical  organizations  in  almosl  ever)  town 
and  city  have  done  much  for  the  ethical  life  of 
our  people.  In  the  eit\  schools  especially  trained 
musicians  are  teaching  the  children  to  read  musio 
and  to  sing.  Tn  many  of  the  country  schools  under 
the  guidance  of  teachers  who  had  musical  ability 
much  has  been  accomplished  in  training  the 
musical  in-tinei  of  tl  e  child.  Sometimes  we  hear 
especially  older  people  speak  of  the  good  old  times. 
We  believe  that  the  patriotic  spirit  of  the  Civil 
war  was  greater  than  during  the  Revolution  and 
we  believe  also  thai  the  days  of  1SG1  to  1865 
proved  the  patriotism  of  the  people  to  a  greater 
degree  than  during  the  straggle  for  independence. 
Tn  that  war  two  hundred  and  thirty-one  men  en- 
listed to  serve  under  the  Father  of  his  Country. 
Tlie  number  who  deserted  is  ten  tunes  the  propor- 
tionate number  that  deserted  during  the  Civil  war. 
In  so  main  of  our  histories  of  thi  Revolution  wo 
read  of  the  militia  that  often  threw  awaj  their 
loaded  muskets  and  ran  without  firing  their  gun. 
While  it  is  true  that  tie  Continental  soldier  en- 
dured more  hardships  and  was  as  good  a-  ever 
shouldered  muskel  or  drew  a  -word,  -till  a  greater 
proportion  of  patriotic  soldiers  of  the  Civil  war 
exists  than  of  the  Revolution.  So  in  our  school 
eminent.  School  is  controlled  so  much  more 
easily,  feuds  arising  between  teacher  ami  pupils 
are    the    exception     at    the    present     time.      No 


teacher  at  the  present  time  is  hired  foi  his  mus- 
i  ular  ability  hut  for  those  good  traits  of  character 
and  for  the  qualities  of  head  and  heart  and  for 
ability  to  instruct. 

The  yellow  fever  plague  that  broke  out  in  the 
southern  states  had  drawn  heavily  on  the  charity 
of  He  Kalh  county  and  many  thousands  of  dollars, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  supplies  sent,  have  been 
given  to  the  suffering  southland.  The  forest  fires 
of  the  north  have  appealed  to  the  charitable  in- 
stini  ts  of  our  people  and  those  appeals  have  always 
been  responded  to  generously.  Contagious  diseases 
which  often  broke  out  in  earlier  times  and  devas- 
tated whole  communities,  and  those  diseases  which 
are  of  an  epidemic  nature  and  are  so  fatal  to 
children  are  almost  a  thing  of  the  past.  N'othing 
shows  the  advancement  of  our  civilization  better 
or  more  effectually  than  improvements  in  the  med- 
ical science.  In  every  organized  city  there  is  a 
health  department  under  whose  intelligent  direc- 
tion main  of  the  diseases  which  are  caused  by 
neglect  of  sanitary  conditions  are  prevented.  In 
ls;i  the  Colorado  potato  hug  appeared  in  this 
locality  and  wrought  great  havoc  in  that  branch 
of  farming  industry.  They  have  continued  their 
ravages  from  time  to  time  in  different  parts  of 
the  country,  so  that  many  thousands  of  bushels 
.if  potatoes  havi  been  destroyed.  Those  insects 
thai  are  pests  in  the  producing  of  crops  are  dealt 
with  under  the  instruction  of  the  department  of 
agriculture  and  the  havoc  caused  heretofore  has 
been  in  a  great  measure  prevented.  Tn  1 ST2  the 
epizootic  disease  known  before  the  Christian  era 
among  horses  broke  out  in  De  Kalh  county,  caus- 
ing great  loss  to  the  farming  community.  This 
raged  during  the  winter  of  1872-3  and  the  spring 
of  is;:;,  .ind  in  one  township  alone  about  a  hun- 
dred horses  perished,  to  say  nothing  of  those  that 
wen-  disabled  for  a  long  time.  Farm  machinery 
has  been  improved,  so  at  the  present  time  the 
binder  does  the  work  in  the  grain  fields  where  all 
the  cereals  are  harvested,  the  corn  cutter  cuts  and 
shock-  the  corn,  hayloaders  do  the  work  heretofore 
done  by  two  or  three  men.  the  harrows  that  were 
formerly  ten  feet  wide  have  been  succeeded  by 
the  four-horse  harrower  twenty-four  feet  in  width, 
which  makes  the  cultivation  of  one  hundred  and 
-i\t\  acres  of  land  possible  for  one  man  except 
during  the  busiest  times.  In  the  early  day  the 
farmer  carried   a  sack  of  grain  on  his  back  and 


H.  C.  WHITTEMORE. 
Representative,    1884    to    1886. 


C.   F.   MEYER. 
Representative,    1892    to    1894. 


HIRAM  HOLCO.Ml; 
Minority    Representative,    lssij-lsss. 


DWIGHT  CROSSETT. 
Minority    Representative.    1888-1890. 


J.   B.  CASTLE. 
Representative.    1902    to    1906. 


JAMES  BRANEN. 

Minority  Representative, 

1N1I4    to    1900 — 1904    to    190(i. 


G.  M.  TINDALL. 
Representative,    1900    to    1908. 


newyorkJ 
■'ICLIBRARV 


'',    LENOX 

rioNS. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALI!    COUNTY. 


289 


sowed  by  hand — now  the  sixteen-foot  seeder  does 
the  work  of  four  men.  When  the  first  separators 
were  used  in  this  county  it  was  considered  a  splen- 
did day's  work  to  thresh  six  hundred  bushels  of 
grain.  Now  with  the  present  threshers,  run  by 
engine,  four  thousand  bushels  of  grain  have  been 
known  to  have  been  threshed  daily.  The  rural 
mail  routes  bring  the  mail  of  the  farmer  to  his 
door  every  morning,  including  the  daily  paper,  and 
the  farmer  is  as  familiar  with  the  market  as  the 
men  of  the  city.  The  telephone  is  in  all  parts  of 
the  county  and  no  one  need  be  without  communi- 
cation with  the  outside  world  if  he  desires  it  and 
is  willing  to  pay  eighteen  dollars  a  year  for  that 
service.  Labor  troubles  have  never  caused  any 
disorder  in  our  county.  In  1877,  during  the  great 
railroad  strike,  the  militia  of  DeKalb  county  were 
called  out  by  the  governor  to  serve  at  Braidwood. 
No  lives  were  lost  and  in  a  short  time  the  strug- 
gles dispersed  without  bloodshed.  The  weather, 
which  is  a  source  of  morning  inquiry  to  the  aver* 
age  citizen,  has  played  freaks  from  the  beginning 
of  time,  hi  1872  it  was  very  cold  and  snow  fell 
in  great  quantities,  making  many  of  the  roads  im- 
passable.  In  1878  was  the  hottest  weather  known 
in  this  locality  for  a  long  period.  For  days  at  a 
time  the  thermometer  stood  at  one  hundred  de- 
grees in  the  shade.  Farmers  were  compelled  t<> 
do  their  work  of  the  fields  by  moonlight  and  in 
the  cities  thousands  of  cases  of  sunstroke  occurred. 
In  the  year  1881  during  the  month  of  March  one 
of  the  great  snowfalls  occurred,  which  blocked  the 
railroads  for  weeks,  and  for  days  made  it  impos- 
sible for  people  to  receive  their  mail,  even  at  points 
near  cities  and  towns.  There  were  places  in  De 
Kalb  county  where  the  drifts  are  known  to  have 
been  eighteen  feet  high.  Many  of  them  remained 
along  the  hedges  and  willow  rows  until  late  in 
the  month  of  May.  One  instance  during  this 
storm  will  show  the  great  inconvenience  to  which 
the  average  citizen  was  put  during  the  time  that 
communication  with  the  outside  world  had  ceased. 
William  Wike  of  Mayfield  lost  a  little  boy  nearly 
three  years  of  age.  Two  days  later  the  time  was 
set  for  the  funeral.  Snow  fell  in  such  quantities 
that  no  exercises  were  held,  and  the  next  day  was 
again  set  for  the  funeral  services.  On  this  day 
one  of  the  infant  twins  died  and  the  storm  con- 
tinued. Two  days  later  the  second  twin  passed 
away  and  it  was  one  week  before  the  people  of  the 


community  were  able  to  carry  the  remains  of  the 
three  little  children  to  the  cemetery,  and  services 
were  held  early  in  the  spring,  when  the  roads  had 
become  again  passible.  For  nearly  a  month  no 
trains  passed  on  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St. 
Paul  railroad  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county. 
The  citizens  of  De  Kalb  county,  like  those  from 
other  parts  of  the  Union,  have  been  excited  by 
stories  of  gold  and  discovery  of  new  territory  and 
have  emigrated  largely  at  these  times.  During 
the  gold  excitement  of  1849  and  1850  about  five 
hundred  people  left  this  county  for  the  Golden 
Gate.  Nearly  all  who  left  at  that  time  in  one 
way  or  another  were  benefited  financially.  In  the 
early  '60s  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  gold 
was  discovered  near  Pike's  Peak  and  again  the 
spirit  of  emigration  prevailed.  "Pike's  Peak  or 
bust"  was  the  motto  of  many  young  men  of  this 
community.  Those  who  went  to  Pike's  Peak  at  that 
time  were  not  so  successful  as  the  49ers,  and 
many  returned  with  considerable  experience  and 
but  little  gold.  Again  in  187. j  and  1876  gold  was 
discovered  in  the  Black  Hills  and  again  emigra- 
tion drifted  westward.  The  citizens  of  De  Kalb 
county  have  settled  in  almost  every  state  of  the 
Union.  Former  citizens  of  Sycamore  are  now 
known  to  have  homes  in  every  state  and  territory 
of  this  country.  To  show  how  our  people  have 
emigrated  at  different  times  and  how  they  move 
away  from  the  old  home  tree,  in  the  story  of  the 
town  of  Pawpaw,  which  was  told  in  1899,  we  have 
given  a  partial  list  of  former  Pawpaw  citizens, 
who  are  in  other  parts  of  the  Union.  This  will 
give  us  an  idea  of  how  widely  our  people  have 
become  distributed. 

In  1868  General  Grant,  the  hero  of  the  Civil 
war.  was  nominated  for  the  presidency  and  it  is 
needless  to  say  that  with  his  military  prestige  he 
was  elected  by  an  overwhelming  majority.  At  this 
time  Charles  W.  Marsh  of  De  Kalb  county  was 
elected  state  senator,  E.  M.  Pritchard,  Lewis 
McEwen  of  De  Kalb  county  were  elected  mem- 
bers of  the  house;  W.  II.  Moore,  a  one-armed 
soldier,  county  clerk ;  General  E.  F.  Dutton  cir- 
cuit clerk;  Captain  B.  A.  Smith  county  treasurer; 
Captain  E.  P.  Safford,  sheriff;  Luther  Lowell, 
county  judge;  and  H.  P.  Hall,  who  had  served  in 
the  civil  war  from  the  state  of  Vermont,  county 
superintendent.  By  1872  the  opponents  of  the 
republican  party  of  the  Grant  administration  or- 


390 


PAST    AXD   PEESEXT    OF   DE    KALB    COTTXTY. 


ganized  a  movement  under  the  head  of  liberal 
republicans.  They  nominated  Horace  Greeley  for 
the  presidency  and  Gratz  Brown  for  vice  president. 
A  number  of  the  stanch  republicans  deserted  the 
ar    ticket     and     supported    this    movement. 

\i cumber  was  Chauncey  Elhvood.  who 

was  nominated  by  the  liberal  republicans  and 
afterward  endorsed  by  the  democrats  of  the  state 
senate.  A  campaign  ensued  and  much  political 
bitterness  seemed  manifest.  The  regular  repub- 
lican ticket,  however,  swept  not  only  the  United 
State-  but  I  )e  Kalb  county:  ('.  M.  Conrad,  county 
clerk;  E.  F.  Dutton,  circuit  clerk  and  recorder: 
Daniel  Dustin,  county  treasurer;  1!.  J.  Holcomb, 
sheriff;  Luther  Lowell,  county  judge.  H.  P.  Hall 
was  re-elected  county  superintendent  of  schools. 
The  haul  times  of  the  earlj  '70s,  which  always 
creates  dissatisfaction  for  the  reigning  political 
power,  caused  a  large  number  of  those  who  had 
formerlj  allied  themselves  with  the  republicans  to 
suppori  the  democratic  ticket.  The  campaign  of 
Tilden  and  Hendricks  was  carried  on  with  great 
excitement  and  much  political  animosity.  The 
regular  marching  clubs,  which  were  instituted  in 
this  country  in  the  campaign  of  I860,  was  carried 
to  perfection  during  this  campaign.  Those  who 
lived  in  De  Kalb  county  will  n  -   I  the  long 

period  of  uncertainty  that  loll, .wed  that  election. 
The  county  officers  elected  at  this  time  were: 
t  .  M.  Conrad,  county  clerk ;  George  <  .  Cox,  circuit 
clerk:  Robert  Roberts,  county  treasurer ;  R.J.  Hol- 
comb, sheriff;  G.  S.  Robinson,  a  Vermonter,  who 
had  moved  to  Smith  Carolina  at  tne  breaking  out 
of  the  rebellion,  became  a  citizen  of  Sycamore  and 
was  elected  county  judge:  and  S.  L.  Graham  was 
elected  countj   superintendent  of  schools. 

In  the  latter  '60s  a  political  scrimmage  that 
■  reated  considerable  interesi  occurred  in  Lie  Kalb 
county,  when  R.  L.  Divine,  one  of  the  leading 
lawyers  of  northern   Illinois  m    a  candidate 

for  congress.  The  opposition  nominated  William 
Harrington,  a  Methodist  minister,  who  was  at  the 
time  serving  as  presiding  elder.  Again  the  stump 
speeches  were  held  in  the  schoolhouses  of  the  land 
and  at  the  close  of  the  eontesl  Rev.  Harrington, 
who  received  the  indorsement  of  De  Kalb  county, 
was  defeated  in  tli  convention.  In  1868  Hon.  R. 
Ellwood  received  the  endorsement  of  his  county 
but  was  not  successful  in  congress.  The  admin- 
istration of  Rutherford  R.  Haves  was  remarkably 


successful  and  he  did  much  to  allay  the  bad  feeling 
which  still  existed  between  the  north  and  the  south 
and  under  his  judicious  management  of  national 
affair.-  the  country  again  prospered  and  by  1880 
the  republican  party  was  again  strong  in  the  con- 
test.  At  this  time  much  interest  was  manifest  in 
the  caucuses  previous  to  the  convention,  as  people 
now  regarded  the  republican  nomination  as  equiva- 
lent to  an  election.  The  only  exception  by  this 
time  had  been  the  election  of  Captain  R.  A.  Smith 
over  Mr.  Tappan.  the  regular  nominee  for  treas- 
urer. George  S.  Cox,  who  had  served  one  term  as 
circuit  clerk  and  had  made  himself  extremely 
popular  with  the  farmers,  was  a  candidate 
for  re-election.  General  Dustin,  the  pride 
nf  the  soldiers  of  De  Kalb  county,  a 
speaker  of  force  and  a  man  well  known. 
was    Mr.    Cox's   antagonist.      Mr.    Cox's    political 

-  had  been  so  well  laid  that  the  political  man- 

-  of  affairs  found  that  it  was  a  great  under- 
taking to  bring  about  his  defeat.  The  matter  was 
not  settled  when  the  delegates  appeared  at  the 
convention.  Everything  was  uncertain  and  much 
depended  upon  the  nomination  of  the  circuit  clerk. 
Mr.  I ».  .1.  Carnes,  candidate  for  state'-  attorney, 
was  withdrawn  and  J.   B.  Stephens,  of  De  Kalb. 

supporl  of  the  Sycamore  delegation. 
R.  .1.  Holcomb,  who  had  served  for  seven  years 
as  sheriff,  was  withdrawn  and  Sycamore's  sup- 
port was  given  to  L.  P.  W I,  of  Genoa.    At  that 

John  Syme  was  a  candidate  for  representa- 
tive. When  the  balloting  commenced  Cos  had  more 
rotes  than  any  of  the  other  candidates,  Dustin 
second  in  the  li-t.  Mr.  Winslcfl  of  Squaw  Grove 
had  five  and  A.  S.  Kinsloe  of  Malta  five  votes.  On 
the  twenty-second  ballot  Dustin  was  nominated  by 
a  majority  id*  a  half  vote.    The  other  men  nomi- 

!  in  the  convention  at  this  time  and  elected 

were:    Ira  Roberts,  county  treasurer:  L.  P.  W 1, 

sheriff.     Mr.  Cox  announced  himself  as  an  inde- 

lent  candidate  and  made  a  desperate  effort  to 

it   the   regular   nominee,   but    was    unable   to 
turn    the   tide    of   republicanism    and    the   entire 
ticket    from    president    down    fo   county   sun 
elected.     Hiram  Loucks,  of  Sandwich,  and  Henry 
\V I,  of  Sycamore,  were  elected  members  of  the 

.it  ure.    The  off-year  elections  gave  C.  M.  Con- 
rad   tlie   office  of   county    clerk:    Robert    Roberts, 
county  treasurer;  L.  P.  Wood,  sheriff;  S.  B.  Stu 
-nil.  county  judge;  George  I.  Talbot,  enmity  super- 
intendent of  schools;  and  S.  T.  Armstrong,  county 


LAST    AX  1 1    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


291 


surveyor.  In  1884  H.  M.  Boardman  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  legislature  and  Henry  Wood  was 
re-elected  for  the  same  position.  Henry  Wood 
was  succeeded  by  William  M.  Byers  of  South 
Grove,  who  served  from  1876  to  1880.  In  1884 
the  presidential  campaign  which  landed  Grover 
Cleveland  in  the  presidential  chair  was  opened 
with  great  activity.  General  Dustin  was  nomi- 
nated for  circuit  clerk  without  opposition  ;  Charles 
P.  Greenwood  of  Clinton  was  nominated  for 
county  treasurer.  ]n  1880  C.  M.  Conrad  was  a 
candidate  for  the  fourth  term  and  was  opposed 
by  ('.  P.  Greenwood  and  A.  S.  Kinsloe.  county 
clerk,  <).  S.  Holcomb,  sheriff.  Luther 
Lowell  was  a  candidate  for  re-election  and 
opposed  by  Charles  A.  Bishop.  George  I. 
Talbot  was  a  candidate  for  count}  superintend- 
ent of  schools  without  opposition.  After  a  close 
contest  in  the  caucuses  ('.  M.  Conrad  was  nomi- 
nated for  county  clerk  and  Luther  Lowell  for 
county  judge.  Judge  Bishop  and  his  friends  ap- 
pealed from  the  decision  of  the  county  convention 
and  he  became  an  independent  candidate,  the 
democrats  making  no  nominations.  This  was  one 
of  the  bitterest  political  contests  in  the  historj  of 
the  county.  Judge  Bishop  succeeded  in  defeating 
the  regular  nominee  by  about  two  hundred  and 
fifty  majority.  This  was  the  second  time  in  the 
history  of  the  county  when  regular  nominations  of  a 
republican  county  convention  had  been  defeated 
at  the  polls.  The  presidential  election  again  saw 
General  Dustin  a  candidate  without  opposition 
for  circuit,  clerk  and  recorder.  D.  D.  Hunt  was 
candidate  for  representative.  Regular  nominees 
from  Benjamin  Harrison  to  county  surveyor  were 
elected  by  large  majorities.  The  off  year  of  1890 
showed  the  democrat  pendulum  swinging  again 
toward  the  descendeney.  After  a  bitter  contest 
D.  D.  Hunt  was  nominated  for  sheriff;  A.  S. 
Kinsloe  nominated  without  opposition  for  county 
clerk ;  John  T.  Becker,  after  strong  opposition, 
became  a  nominee  for  county  treasurer:  A.  M. 
Ostrander  nominee  for  sheriff.  Judge  Bishop 
was  nominated  without  opposition;  Lewis  M. 
Gross  nominated  for  county  superintendent  of 
schools  after  a  close  contest  with  the  incumbent  in 
i he  office,  George  I.  Talbot.  M.  L.  Oleson  of 
De  Kalb.  of  Swedish  birth,  was  defeated  in  the 
convention  for  county  treasurer,  There  was  much 
dissatisfaction  in  republican  circles  and  the  demo- 
crats, independents   and   Scandinavians  formed   a 


political  coalition  and  nominated  the  following 
ticket:  John  McNamara  was  a  candidate  for  cir- 
cuit clerk  against  S.  T.  Armstrong,  who  was  nomi- 
nated to  till  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation 
of  General  Dustin,  who  had  been  appointed  by 
his  comrade-in-arms,  Benjamin  Harrison,  to  the 
position  of  sub-treasurer.  Fred  Brown  of  Water- 
man was  a  candidate  for  county  clerk  against  A.  S. 
Kinsloe.  Mr.  Weeks  was  candidate  id'  the  coali- 
tion for  treasurer;  Charles  Peterson,  for  sheriff: 
Mr.  Randall,  of  Sandwich,  for  county  judge;  and 
George  I.  Talbot  for  county  superintendent  of 
schools.  The  campaign  was  carried  on  amid  much 
excitement  and  a  great  deal  of  political  bitterness 
was  engendered.  The  regular  ticket,  however, 
proved  a  winner  at  the  polls  by  reducer]  ma- 
jorities. In  1892  S.  T.  Armstrong  was  unopposed 
for  county  clerk.  IL  S.  Early  was  nominated  for 
state's  attorney  and  M.  1  lines  nominated  for  coro- 
ner. In  this  contest  Grover  Cleveland  defeated 
Benjamin  Harrison,  but  the  remainder  of  the 
republican  ticket  was  elected.  ('.  K.  Meyer  was 
elected  member  of  the  bouse.  In  189-1  the  repub- 
lican nominees  for  county  offices  were  nominated 
practically  without  opposition :  A.  S.  Kinsloe, 
county  clerk:  A.  L.  Wells,  county  treasurer:  J.  M. 
Shaffer,  sheriff;  C.  A.  Bishop,  county  judge; 
Lewis  M.  dross,  county  superintendent  of  schools. 
D.  D.  Hunt  was  elected  state  senator.  The  panic 
of  189:;,  which  lasted  until  1897,  again  caused  a 
tidal  wave  in  favor  of  republicanism,  and  William 
McKinlev  was  elected,  carrying  some  of  the  south- 
ern states,  while  S.  T.  Armstrong  was  elected  for 
county  clerk:  II.  S.  Early,  for  stale's  attorney; 
J.  I ).  Morris,  coroner. 

IXVEXTIOX     OF     THE     MARSH      HARVESTER. 

One  of  the  inventions  of  a  De  Kalb  county  man 
deserves  special  mention,  as  it  was  one  of  those 
inventions  that  revolutionized  the  harvesting  of 
u;ain.  Some  time  in  18.58  Mr.  W.  W.  Marsh. 
who  was  then  a  resident  of  Clinton  township, 
while  binding  in  the  held,  found  that  if  the 
gavels  of  grain  were  near  him  so  that  time  was 
saved  in  passing  from  one  gavel  to  the  other 
he  could  bind  a  bundle  in  the  time  it  took  for  a 
reaping  machine  to  gather  one  and  deliver  it  on 
the  ground.  This  matter  was  discussed  at  the 
table  and  the  next  day  the  experiment  continued 
until  this  fact  was  assured.  The  Marsh  brothers, 
W.    W.   and    ('.    W..   then   attempted   to  construct 


■".'•.' 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


a  machine  that  would  cut  the  grain  and  carry 
i'  in  a  place  where  men  standing  on  the  machine 
could  bind  the  grain.  This  apparatus  was  at 
first  put  on  behind  the  reaper,  which  lost  the 
Marsh  Brothers'  lawsuit  with  McCormicks,  and 
the  binding  tables  were  afterward  put  on  the  side 
of  the  machine.  The  elevator  which  carried  the 
grain  from  the  platform  to  the  binding  table 
was  an  idea  originated  wholly  by  the  Marsh 
Brothers.  When  the  first  machine  was  ready 
it  was  started  in  timothy,  which  went  up  the  ele- 
vator heads  first  and  soon  clogged  the  machine. 
They  tin  n  secured  some  bolting,  nailed  it  on  the 
elevator  pulley-,  which  were  of  wood,  and  ex- 
perimented until  the  elevator  ran  without  any 
trouble  and  delivered  the  grain  to  the  binding 
table  in  horizontal  position.  The)  thencul  an  eight 
u  re  piece  almost  without  stopping,  two  men  bind- 
ing the  grain  on  the  machine,  where  heretofon 
,11,  n  were  required  to  find  the  same  amount  while 
,,u  the  ground  in  the  gavel.  Thej  soon  found 
themselves  able  to  bind  four  hundred  bundles  per 
hour  from  a  five  Eoot  machine.  After  the  ex- 
periments were  carried  on  to  a  successful  termina- 
tion, they  built  a  factor]  at  Piano,  and  for  a 
time  manufactured  their  machines  at  that  point. 
In    1869   the   Marsh    Barvester   factorj    was  buill 

in    Sycamore    and    continued    with    great    si -- 

until  the  invention  of  the  Appleb]  binder.  Ml 
the  binders  at  present  use  the  same  principl 
the  elevation  of  the  grain  us  was  invented  by 
Marsh,  and  had  the  Marsh  Brothers  put  the  \]>- 
,]  hinder  on  their  machine,  the  splendid  repu- 
n  of  the  Marsh  harvester  would  have  brought 
success  to  this  company. 

The  Marsh  Brothers  have  invented  and  manu- 
factured  wind  mills,  plows,  cultivators,  wire 
stretchers,  com  cutters,  corn  huskers,  etc.  One 
incident  which  was  a  memorable  one  to  Mr. 
W.  W.  Marsh  is  worthy  of  special  note,  as  it  was 
a  momentous  occasion  for  De  Kalb  county,  as  well 
as  a  central  figure  therein.  The  test  of  the  Marsh, 
harvester  took  place  on  the  Clark  Barber  farm. 
north  of  Di  Kalb,  in  the  presence  of  thousands 
of  spectators.  Nearly  every  reaping  machine 
known  was  in  the  contest,  among  which  were  the 
pioneer  wire  and  cord  binders,  both  of  which  at 
that  time  proved  failures.  The  Marsh  machine 
erted  the  value  of  the  principles  upon  which  it 
is  based  and   achieved  a  complete  triumph.     Mr. 


Marsh  occupied  the  platform  alone  and  in  fifty 
minutes  bound  the  grain  cut  on  an  acre,  accom- 
plishing the  work  with  utmost  ease.  All  binders 
have  used  this  principle  to  the  present  time,  and 
this  invention  with  the  invention  of  barb  wire  by 
Joseph  Glidden  were  events  of  world  interest. 
De  Kalb  county  claims  the  honor  of  being  the 
home  of  the  Marsh  brothers  and  Joseph  Glidden. 
Sketches  of  the  lives  of  these  men  and  details 
of  their  work  along  mechanical  and  industrial 
Lines  are  given  in  the  biographical  part  of  this 
work. 

Mil       HISTORY    OF    THE    BARB    WIRE    INDUSTRY     AS 
TOLD    BY   COL.    I.   L.    ELLWOOD. 

In  1873  we  had  a  little  county  fair  down 
lure  about  where  the  Normal  school  now  stands 
and  a  man  by  the  name  of  Rose  that  lived  in 
Clinton  exhibited  at  that  fair  a  strip  of  wood 
about  an  inch  square  and  about  sixteen  feet  long 
and  drove  into  this  wood  some  sharp  brads  leaving 
the  points  stick  out  for  the  purpose  of  hanging 
ii  on  a  smooth  wire  which  was  the  principal  fenc- 
n-  material  at  that  time.  This  strip  of  wood 
so  armcl  to  ban?  on  the  wire  was  to  stop  the 
cattle  from  crawling  through.  Mr.  Glidden,  Mr. 
Ilai-h  and  myself  were  at  that  fair  and  all  three 
of  us  stood  looking  at  this  invention  of  Mr.  Rose's, 
and  I  think  that  each  one  of  us  at  that  hour  con- 
;  the  idea  that  barbs  could  be  placed  on  the 
wire  in  some  way  instead  of  being  driven  into  the 
strip  of  wood.  Mr.  Glidden,  Mr.  Haish  and  my- 
self, each  one  returned  to  our  places  of  business 
with  an  idea  of  constructing  a  barb  wire.  Mr. 
Haish  made  what  is  known  as  the  Haish  barh. 
and  Mr.  Glidden  what  is  known  as  the  Glidden 
barb.  I  did  not  succeed  in  attaching  barbs  to 
wire.  !mi  conceived  the  idea  ,,f  putting  barbs  into 
hoop  iron,  a  thin  hoop  iron  having  a  twist  in  it. 
md  thin  cutting  out  with  a  die  a  sort  of  a  -tar 
shaped  barb  which  1  slipped  into  this  hoop  iron 
so  it  would  not  slip  out.  The  public  did  not  seem 
io  appreciate  it  as  much  as  T  did  and  I  soon 
abandoned  that,  and  the  principal  reason  for  aban- 
doning it  in  its  early  stage,  although  T  sold  quite 
i  rood  deal  of  it  and  shipped  some  to  Iowa  and 
other  states,  is  that  my  wife  and  myself  were  out 
riding  one  Sunday  afternoon  and  Mr.  Glidden 
had  succeeded  in  putting  up  some  fencing,  his 
stvle  of  fencing,  by  the  side  of  the  road  where 
we  were  riding.     I  think  it  was  about  the   first 


PAST  AND  PKESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


293 


that  was  ever  put  up.  I  got  out  of  the  buggy 
and  was  looking  at  this  when  my  wife  remarked 
to  me  that  she  thought  it  was  a  better  invention 
than  mine  because  it  would  not  rust  out  quick.  I 
was  somewhat  offended  by  the  remark  that  she  had 
made  that  any  one  had  a  better  invention  for  barb 
wire  than  I  did  and  during  the  rest  of  the  drive 
home  tiiere  was  very  little  conversation.  But  it 
set  me  to  thinking  and  I  did  not  sleep  much  that 
night.  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that  I  had  better 
have  an  interest  with  Mr.  Glidden.  Next  morning 
he  came  into  my  place  where  I  was  keeping  a  re- 
tail hardware  store,  and  he  wanted  to  know  of  me 
what  I  thought  about  his  invention.  I  told  him  I 
wanted  to  buy  an  interest  in  it.  The  proposition 
was,  if  I  would  pay  one-half  the  expense  that  he 
had  been  to  and  I  would  agree  to  take  the  man- 
agement of  the  business  he  would  sell  me  one- 
half  interest.  We  figured  up  and  the  one-half 
interest  came  to  $265.  I  paid  him  the  $265  and 
without  the  assistance  of  a  lawyer  or  any  one 
drew  up  the  assignment  to  me  for  one-half  in- 
terest. The  next  morning  I  had  him  at  the  depot 
ready  to  go  to  Washington  to  secure  the  patents. 
At  this  time  the  patent  had  been  rejected.  When 
we  got  to  Washington  Mr.  Haish  did  not  appear. 
Now  there  is  one  can  tell  how  close  those  two 
men  were  in  their  inventions,  but  the  energy  that 
was  shown  by  Mr.  Glidden  and  myself  and  per- 
sonal explanations  to  the  Commissioner  of  Pat- 
ents we  succeeded  in  getting  the  Glidden  Patent 
after  it  was  once  rejected.  We  returned  to  our 
offices.  Mr.  Glidden  went  home  and  wont  into 
his  tool  shop,  such  as  most  farmers  have,  and 
took  an  old  coffee  mill  and  by  using  the  shaft  in 
that,  and  the  crank  on  the  shaft,  and  him  taking 
a  piece  of  wire  and  putting  it  through  this  shaft 
and  his  wife  turning  the  crank  he  made  wire 
barbs,  which  afterward  he  slipped  on  to  the  wire 
and  then  placed  another  wire  along  the  side  and 
twisted  it  and  made  what  substantially  is  today 
the  Glidden  barb  wire.  Of  course  at  that  time  it 
was  very  rude  wire  with  barbs  perhaps  an  inch  or 
inch  and  a  half  long,  a  number  nine  wire,  weigh- 
ing three  or  four  pounds  per  rod  and  such  as  had 
been  used  in  the  ordinary  smooth  wire  fence. 

Mr.  Glidden  manufactured  a  few  spools  of  wire 
by  making  the  barbs  as  stated  above  by  hand 
and  then  some  boys  climbing  a  ladder  or  tree,  and 
slipping  those  barbs  on  to  the  wire  in  bunches 


and  then  stretching  the  wire  out  and  placing  an- 
other one  by  the  side  of  it.  and  placing  the  barbs 
six  inches  apart  and  twisting  it  by  hand.  About 
this  time  I  entered  into  partnership  with  Mr. 
Glidden  and  we  rented  a  little  building  upon 
Main  street.  In  the  summer  of  '74,  I  think,  the 
number  of  boys  employed  in  the  manufacture  of 
the  wire  was  six,  and  those  boys  were  obliged  to 
grease  this  wire  in  order  to  have  the  barbs  slip  on 
it.  I  remember  one  day  that  there  were  five  of 
these  boys  passing  by  the  bank  of  Jim  Pott,  who 
was  banker  here,  and  I  made  the  remark  to  him, 
"There  goes  the  factory  hands  of  Do  Kail)."'  He 
laughed  at  them,  as  they  were  all  covered  with 
grease.  I  said,  "Some  day  De  Kalb  will  be  like 
Gloverville,  New  York,  a  Barb  City  or  City  <>( 
Barb  Wire,"  and  that  has  been  carried  out  pretty 
thoroughly  from  that  day  to  this.  The  building 
we  were  in  belonged  to  Mr.  Wagner  and  was  lo- 
cated about  where  Home's  livery  barn  is  now. 

Now  as  to  the  future  of  barb  wire  from  that 
time  to  this  it  is  pretty  well  known.  We  built  a 
factory  the  next  year,  in  '75,  opposite  the  Glidden 
House  next  to  the  railroad  and  I  think  we  built 
that  160  feet  long  and  put  in  an  engine.  Mr. 
Glidden  and  Mr.  Phin  Vaughn  planned  and  built 
all  the  machinery.  They  made  a  frame  to  put  a 
spool  in  and  twist  the  wire  by  a  belt  from  the 
pulley,  and  at  that  time  we  were  probably  manu- 
facturing a  carload  a  day — ten  tons.  The  winter 
of  '75  we  built  an  addition  on  to  this,  which  was 
about  160  feet  long,  forty  feet  wide,  two  stories. 
All  barbs  at  that  time  were  put  on  by  hand,  ma- 
chinery pulling  a  lever  and  twisting  the  barb 
on  the  wire.  In  '76  we  were  using  so  much  wire 
that  it  attracted  the  attention  of  the  wire  mills. 
Mr.  Washburn  of  the  firm  of  Washburn  and 
Moen  came  to  De  Kalb  to  see  what  we  were  do- 
ing with  all  this  wire  and  at  once  commenced 
negotiating  to  buy  Mr.  Glidden  and  myself  out. 
Mr.  Glidden  sold  his  interest.  I  did  not.  Mr. 
Glidden  sold  for  $60,000  cash.  I  gave  him  $20,- 
000  for  his  interest  in  the  book  accounts  at  that 
time,  and  in  the  sale  he  received  a  royalty  of 
twenty-five  cents  per  hundred  pounds  on  all  wire 
that  Washburn  &  Moen  or  myself  or  any  licensee 
might  manufacture.  This,  of  course,  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  was  a  very  large  income  to  Mr.  Glid- 
den. But  in  the  meantime  litigation  was  com- 
menced against  the  infringements,  and  there  was 


['AST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB   COUNTY 


probably  spent,  well  al  Least,  $600,000  to  $700,000 
on  each  side  in  thai  great  law  suit.  It  lasted  for 
three  years. 

Q.  Mr.  Glidden  had  protected  this  patent  from 
infringement  all  this  time? 

A.  Yes,  thai  is,  Washburn  &  Moen  had  bought 
Mr.  Glidden  out  and  they  had  the  patent  to  pro- 
tect. 

After  we  got  into  this  litigation  we  found 
an  old  patent  called  the  Thorn  Wire  Hedge  Pat- 
ent that  had  some  eight  or  ten  years  to  run,  but 
had  uever  been  used  to  an)  extent.  The  nearesl 
we  could  get  to  this  patent  was  a  piece  of  metal 
with  a  hole  punched  through  it.  two  -harp  points, 
and  then  slipped  on  to  the  wire,  a  small  wire. 
was  called  the  Kelly  Patent  and  patented  by  a 
man  by  the  nam.'  of  Kelly.  He  made  it  simply 
for  the  purpose  of  keeping  cats  from  off  his  roof, 
but  never  used  it  as  fencing.  It  was  an  impor- 
tant patent  and  Washburn  &  Moen  bought  if.  and 
bought  a  great  many  other  patents  and  we  got  a 
gn  at  many  patent-  ourselves.  I  remember  one 
patent  we  purchased  was  one  of  the  best  that  was 
ever  issued.  1  employed  a  man  by  the  name  ot 
Stover.  He  was  a  bright,  energetic  man.  a  skilled 
mechanic.  I  made  a  contract  with  him  to  the 
effect  if  he  would  manufacture  a  machine  thai 
would  put  barbs  on  wire  automatically  and  wire  on 

S] Is  I  would  pay  him  a  certain  royalty  on  what 

was  made  on  his  machine,  lie  got  up  a  machine; 
I  «ns  only  paying  him  two  and  a  half  cents 
per  hundred  pounds,  hut  I  found  that  I  wa-  mak- 
ing Stover  a  wealthy  man  fast  and  the  result  was 
I  bought  him  out  of  tin-  contract,  in  fact,  that 
purchase  made  Mr.  Stovet  rich,  hut  everything 
that  he  had  done  lor  us  was  strictly  in  accord- 
ance with  tie-  contract  and  hi-  machine  gave  per- 
te,  i    -hi  isfaction. 

The  litigation  mentioned  previously  contin- 
ued, 1  think,  three  or  four  years,  and  was  finally 
di  i  -led  in  favor  of  Washburn  &  Moen  by  the 
Federal  court,  then  the  parti.-  having  infringe- 
ments came  in  and  settled,  and  took  license,  and 
barb  wire  went  on  and  has  increased  in  tonnage, 
[   ma\    sa\    from   that   day  to  this. 

In  regard  to  the  prosperity  of  he  Kail,  owing 
to  the  manufacture  of  barb  wire  Mr.  Glidden  and 
Mr.  Haish  are  the  two  men.  to  put  it  comparative- 
ly, who  planted  the  acorn  that  made  the  oak  of 
Dp  Kalb.     A   settlement   was  made  by  Washburn 


&  Moen  and  myself  with  Mr.  Haish  that  was 
satislai  t..i  \  to  Mr.  Haish  and  ourselves,  and  well 
understood  by  the  licensees,  but  later  by  techni- 
calities in  the  law  the  licensees  took  an  advantage 
of  ceasing  to  pay  the  future  amount  of  royalty 
owing  to  the  settlement  with  Mr.  Haish.  conse- 
quently royalties  were  reduced  year  after  year 
until  finally  they  were  reduced  to.  1  think,  two 
and  one-half  cents  per  hundred  pounds  and  "after 
this  reduction  the  licensees  founded  what  they 
called  The  Columbia  Patent  Company  and  pro- 
i  ,  i,  d  the  patent  from  Washburn  &  Moen  and  my- 
self and   paid  royalty  into  the  1'atont   Company. 

AIm.iii  LS8t1  ..r  1885  we  built  large  factories 
nearer  the  \erth  Western  depot  and  in  aboul  l's*l 
we  built  the  wire  mill.  In  building  the  wire  mill 
Mr.  Glidden  and  my  brother  Hiram  each  took  a 
quarter  interest  in  the  wire  and  nail  mill.  Aboul 
1895  I  boughl  Mr.  Glidden  and  my  brother  both 
,,iit  i ti  the  wire  mill.  Originally  Washburn  & 
Moen  of  Worcester  conducted  the  wire  business  of 
the  ea-t  and  1  had  control  of  the  western  states 
nnd  territories,  the  profit  of  each  i  ohcern  to  he  di- 
rided.  Aboul  the  year  L890  Washburn  A  Moen 
and  myself  dissolved  partnership.  1  taking  the 
western  plants  ami  the)  keeping  the  eastern  plants. 
In  the  year  1898  the  American  Steel  &  Wire  Com- 
i  in,  was  formed.  They  took  in  then  about  60 
,,i  65  per  cent  of  the  leading  manufacturers  at 
that  time  In  the  year  1899  the  American  Steel 
g  Wire  ot  New  Jersey  was  organized  and  took 
in  practically  all  of  the  wire  manufactures  all 
over  the  United  State-.  This  company  was 
merged  into  the  Hnited  Stat.-  steel  cor- 
poration, and  became  one  of  its  subsidiary  com- 
panies April  1.  L901.  The  De  Kalb  plants  be- 
long to  the  American  Steel  &  Wire  Company. 
Its  employes  at  this  time  number  750  men.  The 
pa\  roll  during  1906  wa-  $525,000.  Shipping  dur- 
ing L906,  the  largest  during  its  organization,  was 
82,223  tons.  Of  tin-  tonnage  there  were  shipped 
nail-.  -.".1.111111  tons,  and  barb  wire  24,000  tons,  the 
balance  what  is  called  Ellwood  fence  and  kindred 
products. 

The  total  tonnage  of  barb  wire  of  Hnited 
States,  including  the  product  of  the  independent 
manufacturer-,  during  L906  was  266,000  ton-. 
This  is  the  largest  year's  production  of  barb  wire 
.,f  United  States.  Fifty  to  sixty  thousand  tons 
-I'  tin-   product  was  exported.     The  total  number 


PAST    A\"I>    PRESENT    OF   DE    KAMI    COUNTY. 


295 


of  employes  of  United  States  corporations  dur- 
ing 1906  was  202,45'!  men.  The  number  of  men 
employed  in  the  different  subsidiary  companies 
of  the  corporation  who  are  employed  in  the  manu- 
facture of  materia]  for  export  are  about  10,000 
men.  The  total  value  of  exports  for  the  year  1906 
was  fifty  million  dollars.  The  total  tonnage  of 
wire  products  in  the  United  Stales  in  1906  was 
1,900.000  tons.  Of  this  amount  the  American 
Steel  &  Wire  Company  produced  1,500,000  tons. 
This  tonnage  is  given  as  an  illustration  of  the 
increase  in  demand  from  year  to  year  as  regard- 
ing the  price  that  it  was  sold  at.  Mr.  Glidden 
and  myself  and  Mr.  Haish  in  the  early  times 
were  selling  barb  wire  at  eighteen  cents  per  pound. 
When  the  American  Steel  &  Wire  was  formed. 
capita]  $40,000,000,  of  accumulative  seven  per 
cent  preferred  stock  and  $40,000,000  of  common 
stock,  when  this  company  was  formed  we  were 
selling  at  about  $7.00,  the  private  concerns  at 
about  $7.00  per  hundred  pounds.  After  the  forma- 
tion of  the  American  Steel  &  Wire  it  was  reduced 
to  $5.00  per  hundred.  When  the  United  States 
Steel  Company  bought  the  American  Steel  &  Wire 
the  price  was  about  $4.00  per  hundred.  The 
United  States  Steel  Co.  has  reduced  the  price,  T 
think,  to  about  $3.00  per  hundred.  Now  this  is 
accounted  for  by  the  concentration  of  capital  and 
being  able  thereby  to  produce  wire  and  nails  from 
the  ore  beds  to  the  consumer,  and  to  me  it  seems 
strange  that  the  public  should  have  so  much  feel- 
ing  against  corporations  and  trusts  and  the  con- 
centration of  capital,  that  is  the  greatest  power 
on  earth  of  developing  the  countrv  and  reducing 
the  price  to  the  consumer. 

With  the  above  statements  we  think  it  is  com- 
mendable to  the  consolidation  and  to  the  trusts 
that  since  they  were  formed  they  have  increased 
wages  for  labor  over  30  per  cent  and  bave  also 
reduced  prices  to  consumers  to  the  amount  of 
500  per  cent. 

All  the  barb  wire  that  has  been  produced  would 
put  a  fence  around  the  earth  seventeen  wires  high. 

SCHOOLS. 

Soon  after  the  first  settlers  arrived  in  "De  Kalb 
county  they  began  to  look  after  the  educational  as 
well  as  the  religious  welfare  of  their  children. 
Tublic  schools  at  the  time  of  settlement  in  this 


county  were  not  thoroughly  established  throughout 
the  Union.  We  are  informed  that  about  this  time 
the  chaplain  of  the  Pennsylvania  legislature  arose 
in  his  place  one  morning  during  the  heated  discus- 
sion on  the  establishment  of  the  public  schools  in 
that  state  and  used  the  following  startling  lan- 
guage in  his  prayer:  "]  pray  God  that  he  will 
deliver  the  commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  from 
the  damning  influence  of  the  public  schools,"  and 
it  was  then  that  Thad  Stevens,  one  of  the  younger 
members  and  advocates  of  the  public  school  sys- 
tem, arose  in  his  place  and  said  ""that  this  was 
(iod's  day  but  not  the  chaplain's."  and  made  a 
fierv  address,  which  carried  conviction  and  carried 
the  measure  through  the  legislature,  which  pro- 
moted the  public  school  system  of  the  state  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  subscription  schools  were  com- 
mon in  all  parts  of  the  Union  outside  of  New  Eng- 
land and  the  thinly  settled  portions  of  the  west  as 
early  established  the  subscription  schools  in  Illi- 
nois. The  settlers  who  came  into  Illinois  from  the 
southern  states  were  not  strong  advocates  of  pub- 
lic schools  like  the  people  from  New  England  and 
the  middle  states.  After  the  advent  of  the  settlers 
from  New  England  and  the  middle  and  central 
states  schools  were  rapidly  established. 

The  first  one  of  which  we  have  any  definiti  rec- 
ord was  taught  in  the  house  of  Thomas  Brook,  on 
section  22,  Somonauk  township,  and  the  first 
school  house  was  of  logs  and  erected  m  1837,  on 
the  same  section.  Charles  Eastabrook  taught  the 
school  in  this  bouse  the  following  winter.  Others 
were  established  this  year  in  Sycamore  ami  was 
taught  bv  Mary  Wood  and  later  by  Jesse  C.  Kel- 
logg. The  wage.-  received  were  about  five  dollars 
a  month,  and  from  what  we  can  learn  by  tradition 
we  understand  that  Mary  Wood  received  two  dol- 
lars and  a  half  a  month  for  her  labor.  In  some  in- 
stances if  a  teacher  were  a  man  of  a  family  be  re- 
ceived perhaps  ten  dollars  a  month,  but  took  part 
of  his  pay  in  supplies  for  the  family.  Money  at 
tins  time  was  scarce  and  schools  were  taught  for 
a  few  months  during  the  year,  the  summer  term 
lasting  generally  two  months  and  the  winter  term 
three  and  m  some  instances  four  months.  As  the 
settlers  came  in  and  the  population  increased 
schools  were  generally  removed  from  private 
houses  into  buildings  built  by  the  public.  In  the 
history  of  South  Grove  township  we  have  given 
,i  vivid  picture  of  one  of  these  early  school  build- 


396 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


in.-  and  n-  arrangement  for  the  accommodation 
of  the  pupils.  The  transition  from  the  log  school 
house  to  the  present  school  house  of  brick,  stone 
and  plate  glass  indicates  in  a  material  way  the 
changes  three-quarters  of  a  century  have  brought 
in  the  educational  interests  of  the  county.  Most 
of  the  families  who  settled  here  in  the  early  days 
were  young  people  or  couples  who  had  not  reached 
prime  of  life,  for  the  wealth  of  the  fertile 
plains  of  Illinois  brought  with  it  too  many  hard- 
ships i"  make  it  attractive  to  the  older  people  and 
lure  them  away  from  their  eastern  homes  of  com- 
fort. Thus  it  was  in  pioneer  days  large  families 
■  i  i  liildren  brought  to  the  attention  of  their  par- 
ents the  serious  question  of  schools. 

D'pon  the  organization  of  the  county  Frederick 
Love  was  appointed  first  school  commissioner. 
Be  served  from  1838  to  1S42.  He  received  about 
twenty-five  dollars  for  his  services  per  year,  and 
his  main  duty  was  to  look  after  the  sale  oJ 
si  fciool  laud-.  The  office  of  school  commissioner 
had  largely  to  do  with  the  sale  of  public  lands  and 

handle  the  public  monej   for  scl 1  purposes,  and 

they  Lore  that  title  under  the  administrati I 

Marshall  Stark.  James  Harrington.  Sheldon  t  ros- 
sett,  J.  !■'.  Crossett,  and  \.  S.  Greenwood. 

Dr.  James  Harrington  was  a  man  of  consider- 
able ability,  had  educational  advantages  and  pat- 
terned largely  after  the  school  system  of  New 
York,  where  he  had  taught  previous  to  studying 
medicine  in  that  state.  Some  of  the  questions 
propounded  to  the  teachers  at  this  time  will  give 
some  idea  of  the  educational  situation  of  those 
earlier  times.  One  question  that  «;b  asked  a 
teai  her  upon  examination  was  "Will  you  be  con- 
fined i"  a  text-book  in  teaching  any  branch,  or,  in 
other  words,  do  you  think  a  class  has  been  well 
conducted  when  nothing  has  been  done  but  to  ask 
and  answer  the  questions  of  a  text-book?"  In 
most  of  the  schools  reading,  writing,  arithmetic 
and  spelling  were  taught.  In  very  few-  school  of 
the  early  days  did  pupils  pursue  such  branches  as 
grammar,  geography,  history  and  the  studies  of 
the  present  time.  It  is  not  beyond  the  memory  of 
the  writer  to  hear  people  argue  that  as  their  chil- 
dren were  not  expecting  to  be  tea.  hers  that  the 
grammar,  history,  geography,  physiology  and  stu- 
dies of  modern  schools  w^ere  whollv  unnecessary. 
"I  tin  -ehonls  as  late  as  the  70s  grammar, 
arithmetic  graphy  had  not  been  taught.    In 


the  winter  the  large  boys  came  to  school  after  the 
work  was  done  and  they  worked  vigorouslv  at  read- 
ing, writing,  ciphering  and  spelling.  Boys  at- 
tended district  school  frequently  after  they  had 
attained  their  majority.  People  now  forty  years  old 
can  remember  the  large  number  of  ''big  boys" 
that  were  present  during  the  winter  term.  It  was 
not  thought  manly  by  many  of  these  same  big 
boys  to  attend  school  in  the  summer  time.  The 
summer  school  was  thought  lit  for  the  small  chil- 
dren and  the  girls.  Many  who  taught  school  were 
themselves  poorly  educated  and  had  nothing  more 
than  the  advantages  of  the  district  school.  In  the 
'50s,  'GOs  and  earlier  '70s  the  custom  of  hiring  a 
woman  for  the  summer  and  a  man  for  winter 
prevailed.  The  summer  term  was  generally  short. 
the  winter  term  in  rare  instances  covering  a 
period  of  four  months.  The  pupils  scarcely  got 
acquainted  with  the  teacher  before  the 
school  was  handed  over  to  a  new  teacher. 
Finally  the  school  year  was  divided  into 
the  spring,  summer  and  winter  terms,  the 
spring  term  covering  a  period  of  two  months, 
summer  term  two  months,  and  the  winter  term  two 
and  a  half  to  three  months,  and  in  rare  instances 
four  months,  and  in  many  districts  three  teachers 
were  employed  during  the  year. 

\-  previously  stated,  many  large  boys  attended 
Si  tool,  and  in  those  pioneer  days  were  in  some 
cases  quite  unruly.  "No  lickin'  no  l'arnin' "  was 
the  prevailing  sentiment,  and  sometimes  the  doc- 
trine ended  in  a  catastrophe  for  the  teacher.  In 
almost  any  school  district  of  the  countv  if  we 
could  talk  with  pupils  who  attended  thirty,  forty 
and  fifty  years  ago,  we  would  hear  a  catastrophe 
of  this  kind  where  the  big  boys  put  the  school  mas- 
ter  out,  while  in  other  instances  if  we  were  to  talk 
with  the  teachers  of  those  times  we  would  find 
that  the  only  virtue  they  would  mention  in  their 
own  experience  as  teacher  would  be  the  fact  that 
they  were  able  to  "lick  the  whole  pack."  In  those 
days  if  a  school  became  decidedly  unruly  the  di- 
rectors would  look  over  the  community  and  select 
for  the  teacher  a  man  with  physical  qualifications 
rather  than  mental,  with  the  instruction  that  he 
should  open  school  and  be  boss  and  maintain  order. 

In  noticing  some  of  the  programs  of  the  teach- 
ers' institutes  of  the  '50s  we  find  questions  like  the 
following  for  discussion :  "In  nature,  as  well  as 
civilization,  order  is  Heaven's  first  law.  and  it  is 
necessary    that    the    teacher    maintain    order    and 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY 


291 


strict  discipline  before  they  can  be  successful  teach- 
ers." In  the  later  '50s  in  the  school  taught  in  May- 
field  the  teacher  had  a  class  in  grammar,  which  for 
those  days  was  famous  for  its  ability  to  parse,  an- 
alyze and  diagram,  and  teachers  came  from  all 
around  to  hear  the  class  at  work.  Still  it  is  safe  to 
say  that  a  majority  of  the  community  were  much 
opposed  to  the  grammar  class,  as  it  took  time  from 
studies  that  they  regarded  essential.  When  the 
graded  schools  were  established  and  the  children  of 
the  country  began  to  attend,  boys  generally  found 
themselves  in  a  predicament.  They  were  all  right 
in  arithmetic  but  woefully  deficient  in  grammar. 
Even  as  late  as  the  early  '80s  Professor  A.  J. 
Blanchard,  superintendent  of  the  Sycamore  schools, 
gave  the  pupils  of  the  country  schools  ranking  ac- 
cording to  examinations  in  language  and  grammar. 
Teachers  of  the  early  days  spent  much  of  their 
time  in  cyphering  with  the  older  classes.  There 
seemed  to  be  no  exercise  of  the  school  of  sufficient 
importance  to  prevent  the  teacher  from  doing  a 
sum  for  the  pupil  when  requested.  In  many  in- 
stances if  the  teacher  were  hearing  a  recitation  in 
reading  or  spelling,  the  pupil  for  whom  the  sum 
was  being  done  could  hear  the  class  recite.  In 
other  cases  teachers  would  allow  the  class  to  go  on 
as  best  they  could  and  give  his  attention  to  the 
difficult  sum.  After  the  State  Normal  school  was 
established  and  the  influence  of  that  normal  be- 
gan to  be  felt  some  of  the  teachers  regarded  the 
"doing  of  sums"  as  time  wasted,  and  instead  of  do- 
ing the  work  for  the  pupil  would  ask  judicious 
questions  and  leave  the  pupil  to  think  his  way 
through  the  difficulty.  Many  a  teacher  with  mod- 
ern ideas  was  bitterly  criticised  by  the  patrons  be- 
cause they  would  not  stop  and  "'do  sums,"  as  in 
times  past.  Well  do  we  remember  the  first 
normal  teacher  who  came  to  teach  in  a 
Mayfield  district  where  we  attended  later  when  a 
little  boy.  The  directors  believed  in  her  and  per- 
haps one  or  two  other  families  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, but  the  majority  of  the  community  were 
against  the  modern  ideas  that  she  had  acquired  at 
normal.  She  introduced  reading  charts,  outlined 
maps  were  purchased  upon  her  recommendation, 
and  she  attempted  to  beautify  the  schoolhouse  and 
ground.  Much  of  this  was  considered  a  wasteful 
expenditure  of  money,  and  before  the  term  closed 
a  rebellion  broke  out.  But  many  of  the  same  "reB- 
els"  were  glad  to  acknowledge  the  efficient  work  of 


this  teacher  in  after  years.    In  fact  the  school  was 
given  an  impetus  which  was  of  lasting  benefit.   By 
1S60  nearly  all  the  log  houses  were  replaced  by 
frame  buildings.    These  were  built  in  the  form  of 
a  rectangular  box,  the  ceiling  was  low,  the  windows 
were  on  three  sides  and  stove  in  the  middle.    The 
buildings  were  sided,  lathed  and  plastered  and  in 
winter  were  very  cold.     Unfortunately  the  office 
of  county  superintendent  was  made  of  a  political 
nature  and  when  nominations  were  bestowed  for 
other  offices  "geography"  counted  for  considerable 
in  the  nomination  of  superintendent.    Mr.  Dwight 
Crossett,  who  succeeded  N.  S.  Greenwood,  and  was 
on  the  whole  a  bright  man  and  an  efficient  superin- 
tendent for  that  day,  says  that  when  they  made  up 
the  Union  ticket  he  was  put  on  from  the  fact  that 
he  was  a  democrat.     H.  C.  Beard,  who  followed 
Mr.  Crossett,  was  a  teacher  of  considerable  ability, 
visiting  the  schools  and  accomplishing  considera- 
ble in  the  way  of  preparing  excellent  programs  for 
teachers  at  the  institutes.    During  his  administra- 
tion he  secured  the  services  of  Dr.  Richard  Ed- 
wards, afterwards  president  of  the  Normal,  and 
state  superintendent  for  one  term.     He  taught  in 
all  the  branches  at  the  institute  and  was  the  only 
instructor.     For  this  he  received  the  magnificent 
sum  of  thirty  dollars.     The  total  expenses  of  the 
office,  including  help  at  the  institute  was  one  hun- 
dred and  forty-two  dollars  and  forty  cents  in  1864, 
and  Mr.  Beard  received  for  his  services  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-five  dollars  and  eighty-nine  cents 
and  commissions  of  fifty-two  dollars  for  twenty- 
six  days'  visitation.    In  the  fall  of  1864  on  the  re- 
publican ticket  at  the  nomination  at  the  conven- 
tion the  patriotic  people  of  De  Kalb  county  wished 
to  reward  the  soldiers  who  had  suffered  on  the  field 
of  battle   and   Lieutenant   Pritchard  by  common 
consent  was  to  receive  the  nomination.     Owing  to 
failing  health  he  was  compelled  to  withdraw,  and 
Captain  M.  V.  Allen  of  Shabbona,  a  wounded  sol- 
dier, was  given  the  nomination  without  opposition. 
Mr.    Allen   had    had   no    experience   whatever   in 
teachers'    work    and    after    attending    a    summer 
school  of  normal  for  a  period  of  two  weeks  he  be- 
gan operations.     At  that  time  the  county  superin- 
tendent received  a  better  salary  and  the  office  was 
made  much  more  lucrative,  nine  hundred  dollars 
being  voted  extra  by  the  board  of  supervisors,  so 
that  in  all  Captain  Allen  received  about  a  thousand 
dollars  a  vear. 


898 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OE    DE    KAMI    COUNTY. 


He  was  succeeded  by  Professor  II.  P.  Hall,  who 
was  elected  in  the  fall  of  1868.  Mr.  Hall  was  a 
collegiate  and  had  received  splendid  educational 
opportunities  in  his  New  England  home.  He  had 
iei  n  citj  superintendent  of  the  Sycamore  schools 
and  from  this  time  on  educational  affairs  prog- 
ressed  rapidly.  Mr.  Hall  made  a  special  effort  to 
prepare  the  teachers  in  grammar,  history  and  geog- 
raphy. His  institutes  were  exceptionally  valuable 
along  this  line.  He  visited  the  school-  of  De  Ivalb 
county  regularly  and  did  much  to  secure  better 
primary  work  in  the  district  schools.  At  the  time 
he  began  his  work  of  superintendent  he  lound 
many  teachers  using  the  old  a  b  c  method,  and  he 
did  a  great  deal  to  put  an  end  to  this  old-fashioned 
way  of  teaching  the  children  to  read.  It  was 
through  hi<  efforts  that  many  of  the  trees  which 
adorn  country  schoolyards  were  planted.  All  this 
met  with  considerable  opposition.  The  teachers  of 
muscle  alone  did  not  fare  well  in  their  examina- 
tions before  Professor  Hall.  He  found  many  of  the 
men  teaching  school  would  sit  with  feet  upon  their 
desk,,  chew  tobacco  and  use  the  stove  as  a  cuspidor. 
It  is  needless  to  saj  that  he  made  an  enemy  of  that 
type  of  teacher.  Mr.  Hall  received  a  regular  sal- 
ary and  held  the  office  for  a  period  of  eight  years. 
Much  of  the  opposition  created  by  Mr.  Hall  among 
the  patrons  of  the  schools  of  this  county  is  to  his 
credit,  and  many  who  opposed  his  views  at  that 
time  now  admit  the  error  of  their  way.  The  ma- 
jority of  the  people  of  this  county  think  H.  P.  Hall 
was  in  advance  of  his  time. 

After  the  nomination  of  8.  L.  Graham,  the 
county  hoard  of  supervisors  passed  an  act  which. 
though  honestly  done  by  many  of  that  body,  pro  i  d 
strous  to  the  schools  of  the  county.  The  -al- 
ary was  reduced  from  fourteen  hundred  dollars  to 
four  hundred  dollars  and  the  matter  of  school  vis- 
itation was  taken  out  of  the  hands  of  the  superin- 
tendent, so  that  during  the  administration  of  Mr. 
Graham  no  school-  were  supervised  at  all.  Mr. 
Graham  was  compelled  to  teach  school,  keep  store 
and  occupy  himself  in  other  lines  of  work,  as  the 
salary  was  not  sufficient  for  honorable  living.  He 
was  a  graduate  of  Wayne-burg  College,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  accession  to  the  office  of  county  super- 
intendent was  twenty-six  years  of  age.  His  work 
as  principal  of  the  Malta  schools  had  been  handled 
satisfactory  and  he  was  known  as  a  young  man  of 
ability,  and  had  an  opportunity  been  given,  as  had 
been  given  bis  predei  —  >rs,  II.  P.  Hal]  and  X.  V. 


Allen,  his  services  as  county  superintendent  might 
have  been  more  effectual  than  they  were. 

Mr.  George  I.  Talbot,  a  graduate  of  the  State 
Normal,  and  principal  of  the  Shabbona  schools, 
was  appointed  by  the  board  of  supervisors  in  lvV. 
served  one  year,  wdien  he  was  elected  for  a  term  of 
four  years.  The  schools  had  not  been  supervised 
during  the  term  of  Mr.  Graham;  the  county  board 
by  this  time  had  realized  the  mistake  they  had 
made  and  the  injustice  done  Mr.  Graham,  and  re- 
stored the  -alary  to  its  former  position.  At  the 
time  of  his  accession  to  office  Mr.  Talbot  was 
twenty-eight  years  of  age.  He  entered  upon  his 
work  with  characteristic  energy  and  fought  out 
many  of  the  problems  which  have  made  for  the 
betterment  of  the  educational  system  of  the  count). 
Mr.  Talbot  was  opposed  to  the  old  idea  of  a  woman 
for  the  summer's  teacher  and  a  man  for  the  win- 
ter's teacher,  and  he  made  an  effort  to  secure  a 
longer  term  of  service  for  the  teacher.  Some  of  the 
'moss  backs"  who  had  taught  in  the  winter  and 
worked  on  the  farm  in  the  summer  time  soon  lound 
themselves  without  positions.  His  examinations 
were  thorough  and  modern  and  in  line  with  the 
ideas  of  his  tune.  1 1 1-  m-titute-  were  exceptionally 
valuable  and  the  day  meetings  which  he  held  in 
different  parts  of  the  county  did  much 
for  a  better  educational  spirit  all  along 
the  line  oi  educational  work.  He  was 
one  of  tin-  educators  of  the  state  who 
aed  tin  original  course  of  study,  which  was 
adopted  for  district  school  work  throughout  Illi- 
nois. He  brought  to  his  institutes  some  of  the 
best  educators  of  that  time,  among  them  Dr.  Hew- 
itt Neppers,  Professor  Powell,  later  supervisor  of 
the  public  schools  of  tlie  District  of  Columbia,  and 
teachers  of  drawing,  physiology  and  the  elementary 
scienci  -.  The  pupils  of  the  country  school,  upon 
compli  tion  of  their  course  of  study,  in  passing  on 
final  examination  were  given  certificates  which  ad- 
mitted them  to  an\  high  school  in  the  county. 

According  to  the  course  of  study  the  examina- 
tion- for  Hi'  district  pupils  wen  jiven  in  Febru- 
ary and  in  May  and  the  final  examination-  later 
in  the  year.  Bi  tor,  the  administration  of  Mr.  Tal- 
bot mam  ••(  tl  e  pupils  had  received  no  educational 
advantages  beyond  the  district  school.  He  encour- 
aged  the  prospei  I  i  teacher  to  attend  normal  anil 
make  preparation.  The  days  of  the  discussion  of 
the  old  question,  "Is  Teaching  a  IV  --  ■  .."  had 
passed. 


JOHN  WILLISTON  cooK. 


Sffil!/ 


aSS, 


PAST   AND    PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


301 


Mr.  Talbot  was  succeeded  m  office  in  1890  by 
Lewis  M.  Gross,  of  KirMand.  At  the  time  of  his 
election  he  was  serving  as  principal  of  the  Kirk- 
land  school  and  27  years  old.  Having 
taught  under  Mr.  Talbot,  and  having  had  the 
advantages  of  his  institutes  and  teachers'  meet- 
ings, he  naturally  followed  the  course  outlined 
by  his  proderrssm-.  Under  bis  encouragement  th» 
attendance  at  the  norma]  school  from  the  county 
was  increased,  the  pupils  passing  from  the  coun- 
l  it  schools  to  the  high  schools  largely  increased  in 
number.  The  institutes  continued  to  be  exception- 
ally valuable,  and  under  Ins  administration  the 
si  rvices  of  such  men  as  State  Superintendent  Raab, 
Dr.  Cook,  F.  T.  Oldt,  of  Dubuque,  and  men  from 
the  leading  universities  of  the  Mississippi  valley 
were  secured.  The  reading  circle  work,  which  had 
been  started  in  the  state  in  1884,  .vas  continued, 
and  Mr.  Oross  became  a  member  of  the  State 
Teachers'  Heading  Circle  board,  and  was  its 
manager  five  years,  which  planned  the  pro- 
fessional reading  for  the  teachers  of  Illi- 
nois. In  the  summer  of  1899  he  called  a  conven- 
tion of  directors  and  established  county  uniform- 
ity of  text-books.  Mr.  Gross  found  it  necessary  in 
the  improvement  of  school  conditions  to  have  the 
co-operation  of  the  directors,  and  directors  meet- 
ings were  held  in  different  parts  of  the  county. 
Sehoolbouses,  outbuildings  and  grounds  were  very 
much  improved.  The  new  sehoolbouses  built  were 
models  of  convenience,  comfort  and  beauty. 
This  made  county  uniformity  of  text-books  possi- 
ble, which  removed,  in  a  great  measure,  the  bur- 
dens from  the  tenants'  children,  who  are  compelled 
to  move  frequently  from  one  district  to  another. 

During  his  administration  teachers  were  nearly 
all  hired  by  the  year.  During  the  latter  part  of 
his  term  of  sixteen  years  the  Normal  School  was 
established,  which  proved  of  great  assistance,  and 
Superintendent  Gross  immediately  worked  with  the 
normal  faculties  for  the  perfection  of  the  school 
system.  Institutes  which  had  been  held  in  public 
school  buildings  of  Sycamore,  De  Kalb,  Sandwich 
and  Genoa,  were  then  held  annually  at  the  Normal, 
and  the  Normal  faculty  were  the  instructors.  This 
gave  a  wide  range  of  studies  for  the  teachers  of  the 
county,  and  as  they  were  held  during  the  summer 
school,  the  faculty  did  the  instructing  for  the 
amount  of  the  institute  fund  on  hand. 

Mr.  Gross  was  succeeded  bv  W.  W.  Coultas,  in 


190G.  At  the  time  of  his  election  Mr.  Coultas  was 
forty-five  years  of  age  and  was  principal  of  the 
Malta  school. 

Some  of  the  school  men  who  have  been  regarded 
as  landmarks  in  educational  work  are  A.  J.  Blanch- 
ard.  of  Sycamore,  who  for  twenty-five  years  was 
superintendent  of  the  Sycamore  graded  schools. 
He  was  superintendent  of  the  Academy  of  Ver- 
mont until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war,  when 
he  took  a  company  from  his  school  and  entered  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  resigned  on  account  of 
ill  health  and  came  to  Sycamore  in  1862,  served  a 
period  of  five  years,  then  for  five  years  was  super- 
intendent of  the  Litchfield  and  Rochelle  schools, 
and  was  again  employed  as  city  superintendent  by 
the  board  of  education  of  Sycamore  and  served  in 
this  capacity  for  twenty  years.  Under  A.  J. 
Blanchard  the  first  graduating  exercises  of  the 
public  schools  of  the  county  were  held  in  1876. 
The  course  of  study  at  that  time  covered  a  period 
of  three  years.  This  plan  was  followed  by  the 
other  schools  of  the  county  and  in  the  later  '70s 
DeKalb  and  Sandwich  had  commencement  exer- 
cises. In  1881  the  Genoa  school  had  commence- 
ment exercises  under  the  direction  of  Professor  D. 
M.  Gibbs,  which  was  soon  followed  by  the  smaller 
o-raded  schools  of  the  countv,  so  at  this  time  in  the 
schools  of  Fairdale,  Kirkland,  Kingston,  Malta, 
Cortland.  Shabbona,  Waterman,  Hinckley  and  So- 
monauk  courses  of  study  ranging  from  two  to  four 
years  have  been  laid  down  and  commencement  ex- 
ercises held  accordingly.  Seven  years  ago  the 
course  of  study  in  the  Sycamore  graded  schools, 
under  the  direction  of  Superintendent  J.  L.  Adee, 
were  extended  and  covered  a  period  of  four  years. 
This  was  followed  by  De  Kalb,  by  Genoa  and  by 
Sandwich.  These  schools  had  been  on  the  credited 
list  at  the  University  of  Illinois  and  the  leading 
colleges  of  the  Mississippi  valley.  Aside  from 
Latin  no  languages  were  taught  in  public  schools 
until  seven  years  ago,  when  German  was  added. 

In  1902  township  high  school  was  organized  in 
Do  Kalb.  but  not  until  after  four  elections  were 
held.  This  is  the  first  township  high  school  in  the 
county  and  is  the  only  one  at  present.  Movements 
to  organize  high  schols  in  two  other  townships 
have  been  defeated.  The  red  letter  day  in  the 
school    history    of    lie    Kalb    countv    occurred    in 


302 


PAST    AND    PKESENT    OF    DE    KA.LB    COUNTY. 


'.  when  the  [llinois  Normal  was  established 
and  opened  for  work  al  De  Kalb.  Previous  to 
this  time  the  teachers  who  desired  normal  train- 
ing were  compelled  to  attend  the  State  Normal  at 
Blooinington,  bul  under  an  act  passed  bj  the 
slature  in  189"  three  other  aormals  were  pro- 
vided— one  ai    <  harleston   and   one  at    De    Kalb. 

Dr.  Cook  was  for  many  years  professor  of  math- 
ematics  at  the  old  normal  and  was  for  years  its 
i.  -ident.  Thr  school  ha-  been  organized  along 
lines  of  study  by  this  famous  educator,  and  is  to- 
day one  of  the  best  normal  schools  in  the  Missis- 
sippi valley.  Dr.  Cook  was  elected  president  of 
the  National  Teachers'  Association  at  the  animal 
teacher-'  meeting  in  Boston,  in  1902.  Professor 
John  A.  Keith,  a  graduate  oi  the  old  normal  and 
later  a  student  at  Yale,  was  one  of  the  valuable  as- 
sistants called  by  Dr.  Cook  to  the  chair  of  peda- 
gogy and  psychology.  Dr.  Charles  McMurray,  a 
prominent  author  of  books  treating  of  the  method 
of  teaching  and  some  valuable  school  text-hooks, 
was  for  years  an  instructed  in  this  institution.  An- 
:  assistant  of  Dr.  Cook  was  Newell  D.  Gil- 
bert, who  is  an  instructor  of  the  Normal  and 
many  years  city  superintendent  of  schools  in  Di 
Kalb.  As  a  city  superintended  Professor  Gil- 
bert  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  in  the  state. 
Ee  has  heen  succeeded  by  Professor  Hatch  and 
will  hereafter  devote  his  time  to  the  work  oi  the 
Normal  School.  Professor  Charles  occupies  the 
chair  of  biology,  and  Lida  1!.  McMurray  is  super- 
visor of  primary  work.  Professor  Page  occupies 
the  chair  of  history. 

Prof.  s.  F.  Parsons ipies  the  chair  of  mathe- 
matics. There  are  fifteen  members  of  the  faculty 
in  all.  and  many  courses  an-  offered  to  the  student. 
The  school  has  increased  in  attendance  regularly 
every  year  since  its  inception.  The  influence  upon 
the  teaching  force  in  De  Kalb  county  and  Illinois 
has  heen  marked.  Even  during  tin  short  career  of 
this  school,  teacher-  graduating  here  have  b» 
prominent  and  are  well  known  in  the  professional 
ranks  of  the  Mississippi  valley. 

The  establishment  of  the  State  Normal  in  De 
Kalb  was  an  epoch  in  the  history  of  this  county 
and  was  a  ben>  faction  to  all  of  northern  Illinois 
and  a  monument  to  the  men  who  conceived  the 
idea,  and  by  I  ilth  and  labors  mad 

sible. 


EAKDY    POSTOPPICES. 

In  the  fall  of  1884  Hon.  John  Wentworth  was 
invited  to  deliver  an  address  at  the  Farmers'  pic- 
nic at  Sycamore.  He  could  not  attend.  The  fol- 
lowing letter  he  wrote  to  Mr.  lli\.  editor  of  the 
"City  Weekly": 

I  was  prevented  by  unforeseen  circumstances 
from  attending  the  Farmers'  picnic  in  your  coun- 
ty. As  ,i  sort  of  text  to  -peak  from  and  to  con. 
verse  upon  in  private  conversation.  1  collected  the 
following  list  of  the  early  postmasters  in  De  Kalb 
county,  with  their  compensation.  With  every  one 
of  these  gentlemen  I  was  personally  acquainted 
ami  at  nm-t  of  their  houses  I  have  visited.  Prob- 
ably not  ;i  half  dozen  of  them  are  now  living: 

John  Wentwoeth. 
i-:;t 

Mark    Daniels    $16.88 

natik     Reuben  Root     15.34 

Paw    Paw  Grove \sahel   Baldwin   2.87 

Coltonville     Rufus  Colton  12.84 

i    H.  N.  Perkins 13.84 

Pav    i  'aw  Gri  ive Wm.  Rogers   13.84 

Somi  maiik     John   Eastabrooks    22  52 

1843 

a    I.   X.    Perkins 17.46 

Hick's   Mill   Henry  Hicks   7.72 

Kmg-ton    Levi    Lee    4  :;l 

Ohio  Grove  .Samuel  Spring   

mauk     David  Merritt  

more     John  R.  Hamlin  59.00 

- 

a    H.    X.    Perkins    39  91 

Hick's    Mill    D-    M.    Gilchrist    9.93 

mauk     David    Merritt    

South    Grove      James   Byers    2.64 

Sycamore     Jesse    C.    Kellogg 

i-t:. 

Calvin    S.    Colton -47 

a    1.    X.   Perkins 27.61 

link-'    Mill    M.    M.    Mack Xo  returns 

Kingston    Jonas  Haight   1.53 

Shabbi  Win    A.  Langer 

more     Jesse  < '    Kellogg 91  45 

1-47 

a    H.   X.   Perkins •    6 

Hicks'  Mill   Martin  M.  Mack 19.48 

Kingston    Jonas    Haight    I4j(> 

New    Lebani  >n    Peter   S.    Pratt 7  11 

Grove    Homer  Roberts 9.19 

South  Grove  lames   Byers    7.16 

Sycamore     Zelotes  B.   Mayo    

l-4'.l 

Point  S    V.  W.  Scott 10.31 

onville     Calvin  P.  Colton 7.28 

De   Kalb  Center    Russell    Huntley    1.18 

(,.  no;,      R     W.    Waterman    

Hicks'  Mill    Morgan   Losee    14.35 

Kingsti  n    George  H.  Hill 8.58 

R.   B.  Thomas 1.24 


PAST    .VXD    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALIS    COUNTY. 


303 


Line     Joseph  Shaw  7.48 

New   Lebanon    John  A.  Oakley 12.91 

Ohio   Grove    Homer   Roberts    14.5(1 

Ross  Grove  Wheeler   Hedges    1.09 

Shabbona  Grove   Wm.  Marks  42.75 

Somonauk   David    Merritt    70.95 

Smith  Grove  James   Byers    8.63 

Sycamore     Z.    B.    Mayo    195.32 

is:,  i 

Blood's    Point    S.   V.   W.   Scott 

Buck's  Branch   C.   B.   Rhodes 

De  Kalb  Center Russell   Huntley    

I  >orset  Wm.  Robinson   

Genoa     Norman    Durham    

Hicks'  Mills   S.  P.  Harrington   

Kin-  ston    Geo.  H.   Hill   

La   Clare    Dan'l    Robinson    

Line  Joseph  Shaw   

Lost   Grove  Chauncey  Luce   

New   Lebanon    Allen    Bigelow    

Ney   C.  Goddsill  No  r 

Ohio  Grove Homer   Roberts    .  .  . 

Ross    Grove    Moses  Bartlctt    .... 

Shabbona   Wm.    Marks    

Si  imonauk   David  Merritt   

Svcamore     J.  C.  Waterman   .  .  . 

Williamsburg    John  F.  Snow 

Van   Buren    Jeremiah    Mnlford 

Williamsburg    John  F.  Snow  ....". 

1853 

Blood's   Point    R.   W.   Humphrey 

Busk's    Branch    C.   P..   Rhodes    

De  Kalb  Center  Russell  Huntley   .  .  . 

Dorset    Wm.   Robinson    .... 

Genoa    John  H.  Ball  

Hick's  Mills   S.    p.    Harrington.. 

Kingston    Geo.  H.  Hill 

Line     S.   Baker    

Lost  Grove   Chauncey    Luce    .  .  . 

New   Lebanon    Allen   Bigelow    .... 

Ney     I.    P.  Kellogg 

North   Kingston    Chas.   W.    Branch.. 

Ohio   Grove    Homer  Roberts    .  . . 

Ross    Grove    Geo.   V.   Miner 

Shabhona  Grove    Samuel    Curtis    .... 

Somonauk   Alex.  Patten    

South   Grove    James   Byers    

Squaw  Grove   Wm.    C.    Tappan    .  . 

Sycamore     Wm.   P.  Dutton.  . .  . 

Van  Buren   Jeremiah  Mulford   . 

Williamsburg    John  F.  Snow 


17.85 
12.33 
27.83 
11.64 
115.29 
34.07 
1(5.  SS 
.  19.06 

8.69 
20.17 
17.61 
eturns 
17.09 
25.09 
61.71 
81.45 
50.61 

3.57 
17.84 

4.27 


56 

07 
10 
63 
27 
62 
01 
59 
53 
15 
09 
84 
.99 
90 
13 
74 
64 
55 
,31 
.55 
.34 


Blood's   Point    .... 

Brush  Point*  

Cortland  Station  . 
De  Kalb  Center.  . . 
De   Kalb   Center.  .. 

Dorset    

Dorset     

East  Paw  Paw   . . . 

Genoa     

Hicks'    Mills    

Kingston    

Lacev    

La   Clare   

New   Lebanon    .... 

Ney   

North    Kingston    

North  Pierce,  discontin'd 

Ohio   Grove    

Pierceville   

Ross  Grove    

Ross    Grove    

Sandwich     


1855 

John    Lee    15.20 

Harrison  Mackey 6.99 

Chauncey  Luce  37.16 

Smith   D.   Baldwin   32.12 

Elijah    Gifford    104.23 

Win.   Robertson    5.68 

Alex.  McNish   5.63 

A.  B.  Breese 59.62 

Wm.   A.   Allen 73.04 

G.   A.   Gillis 42.85 

George    H.   Hill 17.22 

Tames  Rowin  •-'.">. 47 

Timothv  Goble    33.35 

Allen  Bicrelow   26  ?3 

L.   P.  Kellogg 13.76 

Chas.   W.    Branch 14.14 

Jan.  3,   1855 66 

Homer   Roberts    15.38 

Moses  Hill   10.64 

Charles   Davis    21.67 

H.   H.   Clark 7.90 

Robert   Patron    104.06 


Shabbona  Grove    Geo.   W.   Kittell 45.71 

Shabbona  Grove    Wm.    Marsh,  Jr 42.51 

Shabbona  Grove    Samuel    Curtis    22.17 

Somonauk   Depot    Alex.  R.  Patten 69.25 

South    Grove    Henry  Safford    23.40 

Squaw  Grove    Wm.  C.  Tappan 23  52 

Svcamore     W.  P.  Dutton 391.14 


'Changed  July  1.    1854,  to  Somonauk  Depi 

To  the  foregoing  the  editor  of  the  "City  Week- 
ly" appended  the  following  in  the  spring  of  1885: 

Mi  will  be  observed  that  in  giving  the  following 
list  of  early  postmasters  in  this  county,  with  whom 
he  was  acquainted,  he  expresses  the  thought  that 
probably  not  half  a  dozen  of  them  are  now  living. 
Well,  we  have  taken  some  pains  to  inquire,  and 
arc  able  to  say  that  from  fifteen  to  twenty  still 
survive.  We  personally  know  that  the  following 
are  alive:  H.  X.  Perkins,  Peter  S.  Pratt.  Geo.  11. 
II ill.  S.  P.  Harrington,  Richard  W.  Humphrey, 
Leander  P.  Kellogg,  W.  P.  Dutton,  Moses  Hill. 
John  Lee,  Wm.  A.  Allen,  James  Rowen  and  Henry 
Safford.  We  will  add  one  more  name  to  Mr. 
Wentworth's  list,  which  he  doubtless  overlooked — 
thai  of  Dr.  1.  W.  Garvin  of  this  city,  who  at  quite 
an  early  day  was  postmaster  at  New  Lebanon. 
Those  whom  we  do  not  know  among  the  survivors, 
hut  are  informed  that  they  still  live,  are  Geo.  \V. 
Kittell,  Moses  Bartlett,  X.  Durham  and  Russell 
Huntley.  Still  others  of  them  may  he  alive,  and. 
presumably,  are,  but  they  are  verj  Eew.  The  names 
and  location  of  tin1  list  of  offices  are  familiar,  with 
the  exception  of  Ijine  ami  Williamsburg. 

"A  reference  to  the  compensation  received  by 
the  several  postmasters  named  would  indicate  that 
some  of  them  served  out  of  a  pure  love  of  country, 
the  same  as  the  soldier  who  fought  to  save  the 
Union.  There  was  .lames  livers,  of  South  Grove, 
who,  owning  more  land  than  he  could  look  over 
from  any  given  point,  consented,  in  consideration 
of  the  magnificent  sum  of  $2.64,  to  perform  the 
duties  of  postmaster  for  the  year  1843.  Peter 
Pratt,  who  lives  on  the  interest  of  his  money,  was 
willing  to  lie  posi  master  for  $7.11  in  the  year 
1847.  We  suppose  the  reason  that  the  North 
Pierce  postoffice  was  discontinued  in  1855  was 
that  the  postmaster  wrote  to  Washington  saying 
that  if  he  couldn't  get  more  than  a  IU\  eenl  -alary 
he  would  ho  obliged  to  resign,  and  did  resign.  At 
the  same  time  when  you  get  over  at  Ney  and  down 
to  Hicks'  Mills,  you  are  confronted  with  the  start- 
ling announcement  that  there  were  absolutely  no 
returns:  hut  in  the  face  of  this  poor  Mr.  Goildsill 


304 


PAST  .VXD  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


and  poor  Mr.  Mack  worked  right  along,  fortified, 
doubtless,  with  the  hope  of  reward  in  the  here- 
after, if  not  here.  They  must  have  been  good 
men.  We  suppose  they  all  voted  for  'Long  John' 
for  Congress,  and  that  if  they  had  not  he  would 
hav<>  removed  every  last  one  of  them,  even  those 
who  looked  and  hoped  and  prayed  for  a  salary, 
which,  alas,  never  came." 


REMINISCENCES      \-     BELATED    BY    HOX.    M.    B. 
CASTLE    IN     1882. 

The  count]  oJ  De  Kalb  was  the  last  to  feel  the 
impulsi  ol  emigration  because  it  was  divided  by 
no  large  river,  rather  furnishing  the  high  land 
where  the  feeders  of  the  Fox  and  Rock  rivers  had 
their  rise. 

Nearly  twenty-eighl  years  ago  there  was  little 
land  thai  could  I"-  sold  for  twenty  dollars  per 
acre,  which  was  in  the  central  townships  where 
plentj  was  to  be  had  afterward  for  five  dollars 
per  acre,  the  presenl  price  of  wild  land  a  thousand 
miles  west  and  northwest.  This  section  had  passed 
through  many  vicissitudes,  which  had  been  the 
scene  of  many  stirring  adventures  and  bloody  con. 
tests.  On  the  4th  day  of  March.  1837.  the  gen- 
eral assembly  of  the  state  of  [llinois  passed  an 
act  for  the  creation  of  the  county  of  De  Kalb 
from  the  counties  oi'  Stephenson,  Winnebago  and 
r.'iniie.  this  county  being  named  in  honor  of  the 
gallant  German  baron,  De  Kalb,  who  came  to  this 
country  to  serve  in  the  war  of  the  devolution  and 
died  in  that  service. 

It  seems  incredible  that  less  than  fifty  years  ago 
this  section  was  inhabited  almost  entirely  by  In- 
dians, the  troops  stationed  at  Chicago  being  or- 
dered  to  keep  the  whites  from  encroaching  on 
their  land.  In  1835  these  roving  tribes  began  to 
feel  the  pressure  of  civilization  and  prepared  to 
move  beyond  the  Mississippi.  All  who  came  were 
not  peaceable  settlers.  About  1840  this  section 
became  the  home  of  the  most  wreckless  bandits 
that  ever  infested  any  new  country,  particular 
attention  being  paid  to  hoi-,  Mealing.  Only  about 
forty  years  ago  the  banditti  of  the  prairies  were 
a  band  of  as  desperate  outlaws  at  now  continue 
depredations  in  the  fastnesses  of  the  Rocky  moun- 
tains, and  they  held  high  carnival  on  these  lands, 
intimidating  settlers  and  destroying  much  prop- 
erty.    Well  remi  mb  ng  the  old  settlers  of 


this  county  is  the  Indian  chief,  Shabbona,  of  the 
Pottawattamies.  The  town  of  Somonauk  in  which 
we  live  occupies  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
county.  Later  all  the  eighteen  townships  of  De 
Kalh  county  were  laid  out  by  government  survey 
into  a  six-mile  square  and  was  well  watered  and 
well  timbered.  In  it  was  erected  the  first  house 
in  the  county,  a  small  log  house  built  in  1834  on 
the  bank  of  the  Somonauk  creek  and  on  the  great 
arterj  of  navel  between  Chicago  and  Galena,  on 
what  i-  known  as  the  Beveridge  farm,  west  of 
Freeland.  It  was  used  as  a  tavern,  being  occu- 
pied  h\  Mr.  Robinson,  afterward  by  John  Root 
ami  later  1>\  John  Esterbrook.  father  of  Mrs.  B.  F. 
Hummel,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  much  in- 
formation, and  Mrs.  J.  F.  Latham. 

In  1835  the  timber  on  Somonauk  creek  served 
to  attract  settlers,  among  whom  were  Dr.  Arnold, 
father  ol  1.  M.  Arnold.  Joseph  Sly,  Thomas 
Bn  oks  and  Simon  Price,  whose  children  are  most 
respected  em/ens  of  this  section  today.  In  1839 
v.'  i,  about  thirty  houses  in  the  township, 
Imt  c\er\  war  witnessed  new  additions.  The  main 
arterj  of  travel  was  the  road  from  Little  Rock 
to  Freeland  Corners  and  over  the  coast  road  went 
the  -low.  heavy  stage  coach,  the  only  means  of 
travel  between  Chicago  and  Galena.  Little  Rock 
was  tii'-  ino-t  important  town  upon  the  north,  it 
s  a  town  of  considerable  business  and  the 
-t  low  n  in  this  -ection  west  of  Aurora  and 
west  of  the  river.  All  along  this  road  were  little 
taverns,  tin-  township  having  three  within  six 
miles,  while  several  houses  opened  their  hospitable 
doors,  if  it  had  a  door,  to  the  pilgrim  and  stranger. 
In  1835  John  Esterbrook,  with  his  family,  settled 
in  Squaw  Grove,  afterward  buying  half  of  the 
Beveridge  farm.  In  1838  B.  F.  Hummel,  husband 
of  Mrs.  B.  F.  Hummel  of  this  city,  moved  from 
Pennsylvania,  building  the  first  frame  house  be- 
tween Somonauk  and  Squaw  Grove,  keeping  tavern 
in  a  log  barn  until  they  could  build  a  house.  This 
house  is  now  owned  by  Nat  Wilson  and  has  been 
used  as  a  house  until  within  the  last  few  years. 
Mrs.  Hummel  still  owns  a  part  of  the  original 
claim,  living  on  it  until  last  spring.  Captain 
Davis  was  here  at  that  time  and  as  we  have  pub- 
lished a  sketch  of  his  life  before,  it  is  familiar  to 
our  readers. 

David  Merritt  and  Francis  Devine  both  took 
claims  in  18.37,  Mr.  Merritt  beinsr  the  first  of  the 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


30£ 


hundreds  of  settlers  then  taking  claims  in  the 
timber  in  the  belief  that  the  prairies  were  worth- 
Jess.  David  Merritt  became  one  of  the  leading 
citizens,  started  a  store  at  Freeland  Corners  and 
afterward  sold  to  A.  E.  Patten,  who  continued  the 
business  until  it  was  moved  to  Sandwich,  where 
J.  H.  Culver  went  into  business  with  Mr.  Patten. 
Mr.  Patten  soon  sold  his  interest  to  G.  W.  Culver. 
These  men  carried  on  a  large  and  successful  mer- 
chandising enterprise  for  many  years  and  lived 
in  this  city.  Mr.  Devine  lived  to  a  good  old  age, 
bringing  up  a  large  family  of  sons  and  daughters. 
The  homestead  is  now  owned  by  two  daughters, 
the  sons  owning  fine  farms  on  the  original  claim. 
Mr.  Frank  Dale  was  one  of  the  early  settlers, 
taking  up  a  large  body  of  land,  which  he  disposed 
of  to  various  parties.  He  is  still  living  in  the 
town  of  Victor.  In  early  life  he  studied  for  the 
ministry  and  was  one  of  the  early  pioneer  preach- 
ers of  this  section,  having  a  marked  influence  on 
its  morals.  H.  Sane  and  Mr.  Bennett  opened  a 
hotel  on  what  is  now  the  Dewey  farm.  This  was 
one  of  the  leading  hotels,  supposed  to  be  the  head- 
quarters for  some  of  the  prominent  men  of  the 
territory.  Many  of  the  wayside  taverns  of  that 
day  bore  a  questionable  reputation. 

In  1839  the  first  manufacturing  establishment 
was  erected  by  Bobert  Sterritt,  being  a  sawmill 
on  Somonauk  creek,  west  of  J.  H.  Latham's  farm 
and  just  below  the  bridge  on  the  cross  road  run- 
ning west  to  S.  D.  Culman's.  This  was  looked 
upon  as  a  marvel  of  convenience  and  enterprise, 
as  indeed  it  was.  That  old  mill  has  been  removed 
but  a  few  years,  the  writer  having  eaten  picnic 
dinners  under  its  moss-grown  roof.  Then  the 
town  began  to  fill  up.  as  there  came  the  Lathams, 
Witherspoons,  Joels,  Persons,  Hyats,  Davises, 
Dales,  Merritts  and  Devines  on  the  east,  and  on 
the  west  the  Burchmans,  Pierces.  Brookses,  Pop- 
lins, Rhodes,  Harmans,  Dobbins.  Blisses  and 
Townsends,  most  of  whose  names  are  household 
words,  the  writer  having  intimate  acquaintance 
with  their  children,  who  are  active  men  and 
women  of  today.  Those  were  days  of  privation, 
the  nearest  market  being  Chicago,  where  every- 
thing had  to  be  hauled  over  roads  almost  im- 
passible for  a  month  at  a  time.  In  1843  the  land 
sale  was  held  in  Chicago.  Before  that  all  lands 
were  held  on  claims,  but  those  titles  were  respected 
because  they  must  be.     Every  man  recognized  the 


rights  of  his  neighbor  under  penalty  of  "Judge 
Lynch,"  and  money  was  hard  to  get  and  many 
had  to  sacrifice  improvements  because  they  could 
not  pay  for  the  claim.  We  have  often  heard  Hon. 
William  Patten,  who  was  one  of  the  pioneers 
though  not  of  the  first,  tell  that  David  Merritt, 
who  was  the  first  postmaster  elected  at  Freeland 
Corners,  was  in  the  habit  of  carrying  all  the  mail 
to  religious  meetings  in  his  hat,  but  it  was  fre- 
quently very  hard  work  to  receive  the  twenty-five 
cents  necessary  for  postage. 

The  township  saw  a  greater  improvement  from 
1840  to  1851,  when  the  C,  B.  &  Q.  Railroad  was 
built,  when  its  great  prosperity  came  with  the 
rush  of  the  steam  engine.  The  history  of  the 
county  can  easily  be  divided  into  three  epochs: 
that  of  the  Indian,  being  a  barbaric  one;  that  of 
the  pioneers,  toilsome,  lonely,  enjoyable,  though 
but  half  civilized ;  and  that  of  the  railroad,  full 
of  enterprise,  push  and  enlightenment  but  having 
as  many  cares  and  as  much  hard  work  as  the 
second  and  far  more  than  the  first.  With  the 
advent  of  the  railroad  came  stations  with  shipping 
outlet  for  the  country.  There  was  one  at  Piano, 
four  miles  east,  and  one  at  Somonauk,  three  miles 
west  of  this  city.  The  only  prominent  farmers 
here  where  Sandwich  now  stands  were  Robert  and 
William  Patten,  Joseph  and  Hubbard  Latham, 
Joseph  Weeks  and  J.  H.  Furman,  with  others 
equally  strong  on  the  north,  and  Almon  Gage, 
Captain  Davis  Washington,  Isaac  and  James 
Walker,  Thomas  Furman  and  Andrew  Brodie, 
with  others  of  influence  on  the  south,  all  deter- 
mined to  push  through  a  station.  After  much 
persuasion  the  railroad  company  decided  to  make 
this  a  flag  station,  that  is,  a  station  where  trains 
could  stop  if  flagged,  and  upon  that  Almon  Gage 
had  a  town  laid  out  and  with  great  liberality  of- 
fered good  lots  to  all  who  would  build  on  them, 
and  many  accepted.  A.  R.  Patten,  who  was  then 
doing  a  prosperous  business  at  Freeland.  built  a 
house  and  store  in  Sandwich.  James  Clark  built 
the  first  hotel,  located  on  the  corner  where  Klein- 
smid's  ?tore  now  stands,  and  Merlin  Carpenter 
built  a  house  in  connection  with  Chester  Wilcox 
and  started  a  first-class  repair  shop,  blacksmithing 
and  manufacturing,  Mr.  Carpenter  being  the  most 
expert  plow  workman  in  this  section  and  Mr.  Wil- 
cox equally  expert  in  other  things.  Mr.  Carpenter 
is  still  a  resident  of  our  city,  while  Mr.  Wilcox  is 


306 


PAST    ANH    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALI'.    COUNTY. 


i  prosperous  farmer  in  Squaw  Grove.  The  estab- 
lishment of  tin-  station  has  always  seemed  to  the 
>le  ill  Somonauk  station  to  be  an  affront  per- 
sonal  to  them.  They  have  believed  thai  if  Sand- 
wich had  not  been  located  here  this  population 
and  all  other  pan-  of  the  town  would  take  their 
"ii  a1  Somonauk  brewery  instead  of  patronizing 
Chicago  hi  Milwaukee.  After  the  establishment 
of  the  station  business  men  began  to  come  in  rap- 
idly. Henry  F.  Winchester  came  from  Palmyra, 
\<-u    York,  and  started  a  lumber  yard,  selling  an 

immense  i >unt  of  material  t"  the  country  about. 

George  W.  and  James  Culver  succeeded  to  the 
iir-i  store  and  for  a  long  time  were  the  leading 
in.  rehants.  Mr.  \\  inchi  ster  had  a  house  n 
\V.  I..  Simmons'  warehouse  im«  stands.  This  was 
in  1856,  when  M.  B.  ('astir  became  a  citizen  of 
the  little  town  and  later  had  his  office  with  Mr. 
\\  inehester.  Among  the  relics  down  easl  that 
Mr.  Castle  brought  with  him  was  an  old  white 
;  at.  Stepping  in  the  office  one  day  Mr.  Win- 
chester spied   Mr.  Stone  in   Ins  door  and   ta 

Mr.  Castle's  hat   pul   i1  on  his  head  and  hall I 

to  tin    grocer,  "I   say,   Perley,  what  will  yon  ask 
in   till    this  hat   with    lemonade?"     "Tw 
cents,"   replied    Mr.   Stun,'.     The  hat    was   taken 
filled  with  lemonade  b\  the  vender  and  every 
man  and  boy  was  invited  to  take  a  drink   from 
the  brim  of  the  hat.    Suddenly  the  hat  was  sli] 
mi  the  head  of  one  of  the  citizens,  the  lemonade 
trickling  down  over  the  clothes  of  the  victim.  b>' 
it  would  nut  do  to  gi  t  angn  at  a  joke,  even  thougn 
inn  a  practical  one.     It  may  be  well  to  state  that 
the   hat    was   no1    presentable  after   the  exei 
closed. 

George    Kleinsmid    opened    th<  Hardware 

store  in  the  firsi  brick  building,  now  occupied  by 
Mr.  i.'ainev  as  a  drug  store.  Thomas  Dean  started 
a  harness  shop  in  1855  in  the  building  now  owned 
U  Dr.  David,  west  of  the  Sandwich  Bank.  David 
Burkharl  filled  the  wants  of  the  citizens  for  time 
eternity,  being  engaged  in  selling  furniture 
and  undertaking,  but  his  son  H.  R.  had  not  then 
learned  and  turned  his  attention  to  the  art  of 
embalming,  as  the  people  did  not  then  care  foT 
so  many  luxuries  as  in  this  day.  Tin-  busini 
Mr.  Burkharl  has  met  with  increased  sued  —  .  He 
still   lives  in   the  enioymenl   of  the  fruits  of  his 

:.  a  hale  and  heart  \    man.     .1.  R.  Carr  was 
of  the  first,  if  not  the  verv  first,  merchant  of  the 


place.  His  store  was  in  the  row  of  wooden  build- 
ing -until  hi  the  Sandwich  Bank  and  his  residence 
where  Henry  Henniss  now  lives.  He  was  a  gentle- 
man of  g 1   habits  and  an  excellent  story  teller 

and  for  years  was  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of 
tin-  community,  running  a  large  bank  here  but 
finally  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  made  his  home. 
Sidne\  J.  Smith  started  the  first  drug  store. 
George  Ii.  Hollenbeck  was  one  of  the  early  mer- 
chants who  occupied  half  of  the  double  store  on 
.Alain  street,  where  Mr.  Brooks'  warehouse  now 
stand-,  lie  was  a  man  of  the  strictesl  probity, 
carefully  minding  his  own  business,  so  carefully 
that  frequently  when  a  customer  came  in  to  pur- 
ehase  goods  he  would  ask  if  they  saw  anything  on 
the  shelves  they  wanted:  if  they  did  he  would 
take  it  down,  if  not  they  could  go  elsewhere. 

We  have  been  requested  to  continue  our  remi- 
niscences and  as  the  former  paper  was  received 
with  -ii  much  favor  will  do  as  much  as  time  will 
permit.  Las1  week  we  stated  on  authority  on  tie 
histon  of  lie  Kail,  countj  that  the  c.  |;.  &  Q. 
Railroad  was  built  in  1851.  We  have  keen  in- 
formed thai  it  was  an  error,  that  the  road  was 
buill  to  Aurora  in  Is.'.-.'  am!  was  built  in  1853 
through  tin-  township.  When  the  writer  settled 
here  in  1856  there  were  one  hundred  and  fifty 
people  at  this  station.  I..  D.  and  S.  Ilunuston 
wen-  numbered  among  the  early  business  men  of 
Sandwich,  and  Almon  Gage  owned  the  site  where 
Sandwich  was  laid  out.  He  was  one  of  the  mosl 
active  in  getting  the  flag  station  located  here  and 
during  his  life  took  an  active  interest  in  its  affairs. 
He  was  a  man  of  more  than  average  ability,  care- 
ful and  shrewd  in  all  his  business,  a  mosl  invet- 
hater  of  -ham.  and  always  readv  to  aid 
industry  and  intelligence.  He  became  quite 
wealthy,  which  enabled  him  to  aid  deserving  and 
industrious  people.     All  he  asked  was  for  the  man 

"I i  he  favored  to  he  true  to  his  word  and   try 

to  succeed,  when  his  counsel  and  cash  were  ready 
to  assist.  Although  a  money  lender  for  many 
years,  he  was  not  hard  on  his  debtors.  Only  last 
week  one  who  borrowed  largely  of  him  was  ]>re- 
sented   by  him   with  eighty  dollars  on  settlement 

because  he  had  I n  unfortunate.    This  man  will 

revere  thi  memory  of  Almon  Gage,  and  this 
is  not  a  -ingle  instance  of  hi-  good  deeds.  G.  P. 
II. u  opened  the  firsi  arroi  i  i  •  store.  He  was  a 
practical    tailor,    coming    wesl     from    New    York 


PAST   AX  I>    PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


307 


city,  living  for  some  time  as  Oswego,  Illinois, 
where  he  knew  all  the  great  men  of  a  former  gen- 
eration, that  being  then  a  prominent  county  seat. 
Among  the  pioneers  of  this  city  was  A.  J.  Thomas. 
When  he  first  saw  the  town  in  185(1  he  was  in 
the  employ  of  the  railroad  as  a  watchman  and 
man  of  all  work.  A.  C.  Frick  was  the  first  station 
agent.  He  was  a  wiry  German,  fully  Yankeeized. 
As  agent  of  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  he  was  a  success.  Their 
interests  were  his  first  thought  and  besides  being 
an  excellent  railroad  man  he  was  an  excellent 
citizen.    He  has  since  gone  to  his  rest. 

The  first  minister  in  the  county  was,  as  usual, 
a  .Methodist  minister,  Rev.  William  Royal,  who 
was  living  until  a  recent  date,  as  Dr.  Goodfellow 
informs  us.  The  Methodist  church  was  organized 
here  in  1836  and  was  ministered  to  by  a  lung  list 
of  preachers,  the  Rev.  J.  MeCansland  being  the 
first  one  stationed  here.  He  was  an  ordinary 
preacher  but  was  an  active  worker,  keeping  nib 
people  together  and  having  the  faculty  of  making 
them  pay  for  their  belief.  He  built  the  Methodist 
church  here  and  one  at  Asbury,  and  had  enough 
business  ability  to  beat  Henry  F.  Winchester  out 
of  several  hundred  dollars  in  a  business  deal. 
Another  minister  among  the  pioneers  was  H.  F. 
Shankland,  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church. 
He  was  a  gentleman  of  ability  but  his  health 
would  not  permit  him  to  preach,  so  he  came  here, 
finally  entering  into  co-partnership  with  Robert 
Patten  and  Stephen  Fuller  in  an  investment  that 
was  never  paying  to  anyone  and  which  was  burned 
down  years  after.  Mr.  Shankland  was  held  in 
highest  esteem  by  all.  Mr.  Patten  was  the  owner 
of  a  large  farm  just  north  of  his  brother  William 
and  being  in  comfortable  circumstances  removed  to 
this  place  and  engaged  first  in  the  building  of  a 
mill,  in  which  he  lost  considerable  money,  selling 
out  to  engage  in  the  harness  trade,  which  he  car- 
ried on  for  several  years  until  failing  health  com- 
pelled him  to  remove  to  Kansas,  where  years  after- 
ward he  died  and  where  his  wife  and  daughter 
Hettie  are  now  the  only  living  members  of  the 
family.  Mr.  Robert  Patten  was  an  eccentric  man 
on  many  questions,  having  such  a  strong  love  of 
justice  that  he  would  not  give  up  his  opinions  no 
matter  how  unfavorable  others  might  think  of  his 
position.  During  the  war  he  was  a  democrat 
where  the  whole  population  was  republican.  He 
possessed  a  generous  spirit  and  sought  to  forgive 


"tilers  as  soon  as  he  would  ask  others  to  forgive 
him.  He  died  a  very  happy  Christian  at  his  Kan- 
sas home  some  years  ago. 

The  first  church  built  in  Sandwich  was  the 
Baptist,  that  denomination  being  the  strongest  in 
this  vicinity.  It  was  built  by  subscription,  the 
whole  country  contributing,  the  plan  being  that 
it  should  be  used  by  all  denominations.  Indeed 
some  who  came  desired  it  should  be  kept  as  a  sort 
of  free-for-all  church,  rather  than  be  attached  to 
any  denomination.  It  was  a  plain  church  but 
quite  good  enough  and  quite  large  enough  for  the 
needs  of  the  people,  but  it  did  not  long  remain  so, 
the  influx  of  population  demanded  more  kinds  and 
more  room.  As  has  been  stated,  the  Methodist 
people  built,  in  1856  and  churches  prospered. 
There  was  a  very  small  nucleus  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  at  Freeland  organized  in  1851  with 
nine  members  but  which  had  met  with  but  little 
growth  up  to  this  time.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Langdon, 
Mrs.  Samuel  Bacon  and  Mrs.  Hunt  took  letters 
to  organize  a  new  church  in  July,  1855,  the  re- 
moval being  effected  in  May,  1856,  all  joining  the 
Rev.  A.  Johnson's  church  at  Freeland.  The  Rev. 
Henry  Burgin  who  had  a  farm  on  the  west 
preached  occasionally,  but  by  this  charge  a  new 
pastor  was  desired  and  it  was  not  long  before  the 
man  was  found.  The  Rev.  Levi  P.  Crawford,  who 
had  just  entered  the  ministry,  was  sent  out  pros- 
pecting by  the  Home  Missionary  Society  and  con- 
cluded to  cast  his  fortunes  with  this  flock,  coming 
here  in  1856.  Mr.  Crawford  had  a  marked  influ- 
ence on  the  community.  A  sketch  of  his  life  will 
be  in  place.  He  was  of  Scotch  descent,  raised  in 
Illinois,  educated  by  his  own  exertions,  over  six 
feet  tall,  strong  and  athletic  as  an  ancient  gladia- 
tor. He  was  not  only  willing,  but  could  turn  his 
hand  at  any  labor.  He  went  into  the  woods  and 
got  his  own  fuel,  and  when  a  man  was  needed  in 
harvest  or  any  other  time  he  could  work  in  the 
field.  He  came  here  and  built  up  a  gospel  work  at 
five  hundred  dollars  a  year,  two  hundred  dollars 
of  which  was  to  be  met  by  the  Home  Missionary 
Society  and  the  balance  by  the  church,  if  they 
could  raise  it,  which  resulted  in  him  receiving  for 
the  first  year  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  On 
this  he  not  only  lived  but  commenced  to  build  a 
house,  which  he  completed  in  1857,  a  large  share 
of  the  work  of  the  carpenter,  mason  and  labor  be- 
ing done  by  his  own  hands.     When  he  left,  years 


' 


PAST    AMi 


RESENT   OF    DE    KALB   COUNTY. 


after,  he  sold  the  place  for  thirteen  hundred  dol- 
lars and  it  i-  now  occupied  by  William  Hall.  The 
Presbyterian  society  worshiped  for  a  time  in  the 
academy,  but  Mr.  Crawford  thought  they  could 
build  a  church  and  they  did,  though  it  drew  heav- 
ih  on  the  little  congregation.  Mr.  Crawford  was 
one  of  the  most  enthusiastic  men  of  this  section 
and  when  the  war  broke  out  went  to  the  fronl  as 
chaplain.  When  he  returned  he  again  took  charge 
of  the  church,  but  after  a  time  left  it  to  become 
pastor  of  the  church  at  Lincoln,  and  later  went  to 
the  far  off  regions  of  Los  Angeles,  California.  Be- 
fore he  came  here  he  bought  on  faith  property  in 
Chicago,  paying  or  promising  to  paj  seven  hun- 
dred dollars  for  it.     Later  this  was  valued  al  ten 

thousand  dollars  and   this  was  not   all  of  his  g I 

fortune,  as  he  inherited  some  forty  acres  of  valu- 
able land  in  the  vicinity  of  that  Queen  city  and  is 
imw  able  to  afford  a  more  extravagant  style  of  liv- 
ing than  was  necessary  in  the  earl)  days.  The 
Congregational  church  was  organized  in  1857,  a 
societj  was  moved  from  Little  Rock  here  during 
that  year,  and  among  the  early  members  were 
Judge  S.  B.  Stevenson,  Hon.  W.  W.  Sedgwick  and 
John  Langdon.  Thej  were  joined  l>\  others  and 
the  society  flourished,  the  services  being  held  in 
a  small  chapel.  Their  church  is  now  used  b]  the 
German  Baptisl  people.  Rev.  .lame-  Kilborne 
was  pastor  of  the  Srs1  Baptist  church  and  was  the 
opposite  of  Rev.  Crawford  in  every  respect.  Be 
was  a  thin,  -pair  man.  of  excellent  Christian  char- 
ai  ler  and  here  by  good  example  he  became  a  power 
n  building  up  a  moral  element.  Rev.  Crawford 
was  of  the  western  type,  positive,  aggressivi  and 
athletic.  Rev.  Kilborne  was  of  the  old  fashioned 
New  England  elass.  with  an  entire  absence  of 
physical  endurance}  always  ready  for  tin-  coming 
of  the  Lord,  willing  to  sit  down  ami  wait  until 
the  Lord's  time,  lie  w;i-  a  highly  respected  pas- 
tor. In  speaking  id'  Rev.  (  rawfoi-d's  ministerial 
we  stated  thai  hi  went  to  Lincoln,  Illinois. 
We  might  state  that  he  was  |  astor  of  the  church  at 

S ii.-i n ,.,   bi  fori    he  went  to  Lincoln,  and  that  he 

helped  to  build  the  i longn  gational  church  and  par- 
sonage, and  with  the  aid  of  the  people  built  up 
a  flourishing  society.  A  history  ■■!'  the 
churches  of  the  early  time-  would  be  very  inco  n- 
plete  without  mentioning  the  first  church — thai  - 
the  United  Presbyterian,  at  Freeland  Corner-. 
This  society   was   the   outgrowth   of   the  earnest, 


zealous  Christian  life  of  one  lady,  Mr-.  Beveridge. 
Removing  here  at  an  early  day.  brought  her  re- 
ligion along,  and  through  her  influence  this  church 
soon  look  root  to  become  the  largest  and  most 
prosperous  society  in  the  township.  It  is  not  only 
the  largest  in  tin-  town,  hut  it  is  the  largest  and 
most  influential  in  that  connection  in  the  state, 
their  means  and  benevolence  being  almost  beyond 
belief  in  a  country  congregation.  The  people 
worshiped  in  a  little  building  lor  some  time,  add- 
ing to  it  a-  their  congregation  increased,  until  a 
few  years  ago  the]  erected  a  very  handsome  house 

of  worship.     Prom  this  society    has  g forth  a 

-leai  many  strong  men.  It  has  given  main  stal- 
wart citizen-  to  several  of  our  western  growing 
towns.      It    has    furnished    several    minister-,    one 

state  senator, state  treasurer  and  one  com  mor 

of  the  state — a  splendid  record  for  the  Christian 
influence  of  a  devoted  woman  in  an  obscure  settle- 
ment. 

Ill    1N.">"    there   came   to   the   village   of    Sandwich 

William  M.  Dempster,  a  gentleman  who  had  been 

connected  with  the  pre.--  and  who  thought  this 
little  town  should  have  a  representative  journal. 
and  he  was  the  citizen  to  attend  to  that  want,  so 
he  canvassed  the  citizens  and  found  everybody 
ready  to  -a\  a  good  word  and  concluded  to  start 
business.  He  rented  the  third  story  oJ  what  is 
now  the  Commercial  Hotel,  purchased  a  small  but 
excellent  outfit  on  credit  ami  started  a  paper.  He 
was  a  flatulent  gentleman,  and  a-  such  a  one  would 
he  like|\  to  do.  he  built  without  being  sure  of  his 
foundation,  so  that  after  six  months  the  People's 
Press  vanished  as  man}  others  have  done,  and  Mr. 
Dempster  also  resolved  to  leave,  and  did  so,  leaving 
many  unpaid  hills. 

The  next  newspaper  was  established  by  Israel 
Xeatteson,  a  retired  Congregational  minister.  He 
had  started  a  nursery  where  Rev.  Pahs  now  lives, 
and  having  a  little  leisure  time  thought  he  would 
do  a  little  printing.  He  purchased  a  lew  type  and 
got  out  a  paper,  which  was  continued  until  his 
stepson,  James  Eigby,  could  learn  the  trade,  and 
the  paper  was  then  issued  ever}  two  weeks,  and 
finally  each  week,  so  that  it  was  a  success.  James 
II.  Sedgwick  afterwarl  purchased  a terest,  sell- 
ing later  to  Furman,  and  during  the  war  it  be- 
i  ame  a  paying  financial  investment. 

One  of  the  early  physicians  was  Dr.  Lovell. 
father  of  Dr.  Robert  Lovell.  who  had  an  office  in 


SAM  I"EL  MILLEE. 


.1011 X   S.   SEBREE. 


MRS.  MAKTHA  JACKSON. 


MR.   AND   MRS.  GILBERT   HOUGH. 


Ml,'.  AND  MI!S.  WILLIAM  SEBREE. 


».    LENOX 


PAST   AND   PEESENT   OF  DE   KAL.B    COUNTY. 


311 


the  corner  of  the  Donoganna  Hotel,  where  Klein- 
smid's  hardware  store  now  stands.  He  was  of  the 
eclectic  school  and  was  thought  by  his  patients  to 
be  a  good  physician.  His  death  occurred  a  few 
years  ago.  During  these  years  Sandwich  had 
many  doctors,  some  making  a  very  brief  residence, 
others  remaining  for  years.  Among  the  number 
was  Dr.  Merriem,  who  came  here  long  before  the 
town  was  located,  and  being  a  young  man  of  de- 
cided ability  he  enjoyed  a  very  large  practice,  but 
he  left  in  the  first  years  of  the  California  excite- 
ment and  crossed  the  plains.  He  there  became  con- 
nected with  a  huge  enterprise,  but  was  over- 
whelmed by  fire  and  flood  and  then  returned  to 
his  old  home,  but  not  with  his  early  prestige.  He 
left  here  and  engaged  in  a  drug  business  and  later 
died.  It  was  but  a  few  weeks  ago  that  the  news 
was  received  that  the  son  of  Dr.  Merriem  commit- 
ted suicide  at  Piano.  Having  spoken  of  two 
schools  of  medicine,  we  might  be  thought  partial 
not  to  mention  the  homeopathic,  although  it  had 
no  practitioner  here  until  the  town  had  put  on  the 
garments  of  mature  years.  Dr.  David  studied 
with  the  lamented  Dr.  Clark  and  was  the  first  of 
his  school  to  locate  here.  He  came  to  be  one  of 
the  most  sought  after  in  his  profession.  The  first 
dentist  was  Dr.  Hale,  who  came  when  the  people 
of  this  town  were  too  young  to  need  repairs  in  his 
line  to  any  extent,  and  yet  Dr.  Hale  lived  and 
thrived,  and  after  making  a  little  money  removed 
to  a  more  promising  locality.  Mr.  Burk  kept  the 
first  restaurant.  The  strongest  intoxicants  sold  by 
him  were  Burk's  beer — sweet  and  hard  cider — but 
the  last  was  too  strong  for  the  temperate  element 
of  the  community,  so  a  committee  waited  on  him 
and  requested  that  the  sale  of  it  be  discontinued. 
Mr.  John  Hubbard  headed  the  committee,  which 
was  met  with  courtesy  by  Mr.  Burk,  who  informed 
them  that  he  was  working  for  a  living,  selling  can- 
dies, peanuts,  cigars  and  small  groceries,  and  that 
he  would  accede  to  their  request  to  discontinue  the 
sale  of  hard  cider,  but  the  temperance  people  must 
not  forget  to  trade  with  him  when  wanting  goods 
in  his  line.  Not  so  plausible  was  Mr.  C.  Buob, 
who  started  the  first  saloon  east  of  the  Sandwich 
House.  He  was  young,  with  an  ambition  to  make 
money,  and  so  while  his  place  had  a  bad  reputation 
lie  could  see  no  reason  why  the  Yankees  need 
meddle  with  what  a  man  wanted  to  drink,  but  the 
threats  made  against  Mr.  Buob  resulted  in  him 


giving  up  his  trade  after  having  a  long  and  bitter 
contest,  and  he  soon  afterward  moved  away.  Look- 
ing back  over  nearly  twenty-seven  years  spent  in 
this  city,  during  which  time  the  temperance  senti- 
ment has  predominated,  the  writer  believes  he  can 
see  the  effects  of  temperance  on  the  rising  gener- 
ations. He  knows  of  many  towns  the  same  size 
where  the  leading  citizens  are  heavy  drinkers  and 
where  many  families  mourn  the  loss  of  the  head 
through  strong  drink  and  the  parents  are  today 
battling  with  this  evil  in  their  children. 

The  people  of  today  could  scarcely  be  made  to 
believe  that  as  late  as  1860  the  best  farms  in  this 
section  would  scarcely  bring  twenty  dollars  an 
acre,  and  other  land,  fairly  improved  for  the 
times,  could  be  bought  for  fifteen  dollars  per  acre. 
The  writer  has  been  offered  farms  in  this  county 
as  low  as  five  dollars  per  acre  and  has  bought  and 
sold  in  this  township  at  fifteen  dollars.  We  look 
upon  the  rapid  settlement  of  some  sections  as  phe- 
nomenal, and  it  is  true,  but  scarcely  more  so  than 
in  this  county,  where  in  1843  the  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  upon  which  our  county  seat  is  located 
was  subject  to  entry  and  was  entered  by  three  citi- 
zens of  the  county,  they  trusting  the  county  for 
their  pay.  The  year  1856  was  a  fairly  prosperous 
one,  and  all  the  products  brought  good  prices. 
During  the  last  years  of  the  '50s  labor  of  all  kinds 
was  low,  as  we  have  seen,  the  best  laborers  asking 
employment  at  one  dollar  a  day  and  finding  little 
at  such  starvation  prices,  but  living  was  cheap, 
corn  being  twelve  and  fifteen  cents  a  bushel,  wheat 
forty  to  sixty  cents,  but  after  all  people  adapted 
themselves  to  the  times  and  everybody  was  happy. 

In  1861  the  war  came  and  with  it  an  impetus  to 
every  department  of  work  and  business.  Speak- 
ing of  the  war  reminds  lis  that  Sandwich  had  the 
honor  of  having  the  first  uniformed  company  to 
the  front  raised  in  the  state.  Immediately  on  ar- 
rival of  the  news  of  the  firing  on  Fort  Sumter  and 
the  need  of  men,  a  meeting  was  called  for  volun- 
teers and  the  call  met  a  ready  response.  .  As  soon 
as  it  was  known  that  a  company  was  going  from 
here  under  command  of  L.  H.  Carr,  a  veteran  of 
the  Mexican  war,  a  meeting  of  those  willing  to 
assist  was  called.  J.  H.  Carr,  who  had  erected  a 
large  store,  placed  it  at  the  disposal  of  the  citi- 
zens and  then  on  a  quiet  Sabbath  day  gathered  the 
men  and  women  of  the  little  village  to  uniform  the 
brave  company  who  were  to  march  so  soon  to  the 


312 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OF  DE   KALE    COUNTY. 


from.     Sewing  machines  ami  willing  hands  were 
set   i"  work,  so  that  at   the  arrival  of   the  train 
which  was  to  hear  them  away  all  were  fitted   with 
cheap  clothes,  but  they  presented  quite  a  soldierlj 
appearand'.      It   was  a  busy  time,  war  was  a  new 
factor  and  none  could  surmise  how  long  it  would 
be   before  the  soldiers  would  return,  and   as  the 
iiruK   made  soldiers  marched  out  every  head  was 
bowed   in   grief.     Captain    L.   H.    Caxr  might  be 
called  a  native  of  this  county.     Ee  came  to  Sand- 
wich and  engaged  in  the  grain  trade.     He  was  a 
public  spirited  and  enterprising  business  man.    His 
counsel  and  cash  were  ever  at  the  disposal  of  his 
friends,  and  because  of  these  plea-ant  qualities  lie 
was  not  a  successful  accumulator  of  wealth.    With 
the   lirst  call   to  arms  lie  enlisted,  and  when   the 
ranks  were  full  In-  experience  in  military  affairs 
and  the  general  favor  in  which  he  was  held  placed 
him  at  the  head  of  the  company,  so  eagerly  forc- 
ing itself  into  service.    This  company  went  to  Chi- 
.  thence  to  Cairo,  where  tiny   were  placed  on 
guard     over     the    city,     which     was     in     hour- 
ly    expectation      of      invasion      from      without 
and      insurrection      from      within.       Tin-     com- 
pany    became    a    part    of    the    old    Tenth    Reg- 
iment,   doing    valiant    duty.      Captain    Carr    »;b 
killed  by  a  sharpshooter  at  Island  No.  in.     li  was 
the  lirst  company  to  enter  tin-  field,  so  it  was  with 
the  last  mustered  out.    Organized  as  three  month-" 
men  m  April.  1861,  it   was  reorganized  as  three 
years'  men  in  the  Onited   Stat.-  servici    in  July. 
and  when  the  term  of  enlistment  was  out  in  1864, 
re-enlisted  as  veterans,  following  Sherman  in  his 
proud   march  to   the  sea.      How  long  ago   this  all 
■    to  us   who  participated   in   it.  and  yet   we 
have  men  on  the  young  side  of  life  who  were  sol- 
diers in  this  strife,  ami  the  few  who  went  out  in 
this    company    remained    until    its    discharge    in 
1865.     Among  those  honored  names  are:     Captain 
D.   E.   Ballon,   a    prosperous    fanner   of    Kendall 
county,  who  went  out  as  sergeant  and  returned  as 
captain;  F.  A.  Munson,  who  also  went  out  as  ser- 
geant and  returned  with  the  same  rank:  Edward 
Hovell.  who  died  in  the  service  in   1862;  George 
Woodward,  now  foreman  of  a  large  lumber  firm  in 
Moline.    Illinois:   John    M.    Culver,    a   merchant: 
Thomas    Corke,   a    musician,   and   Edward   Ester- 
brook.    Alas !  alas  !  how  many  events  of  those  days 
are  brought  to  mind  when  we  mention  these  names. 
M.  B.  Castle  was  the  first  hanker  in  this  locality 
and  continued  in  husiness  until  the  time  of  his 


death.  S.  B.  Stiuson  was  the  lirst  attorney.  One 
of  the  largest  manufacturing  industries  of  the 
county  and  the  pioneer  in  this  field  was  the  Sand- 
wich Manufacturing  Company,  organized  by  Au- 
gustus Adams  A:  Son-.  It  is  now  a  stock  com- 
pany, with  L.  W.  Simmon.-,  president:  G.  W. 
Culver,  vice-president :  J.  B.  Adams,  secretary  and 
treasurer;  W.  C.  Phelps,  assistant;  It.  A.  Adams. 
superintendent;  C.  II.  Lowe,  buying  and  shipping 
clerk:  .1.  W.  Sweet,  bookkeeper;  1-..  M.  Hills,  ad- 
vertising clerk:  II.  L.  Hills,  traveling  agent,  and 
J.  H.  Kearns,  assistant.  The  Sandwich  Manufac- 
turing Company  is  now  extending  its  operations 
and  getting  into  the  harness  for  winter  work. 
They  find  their  business  constantly  increasing  with 
each  year  and  need  to  improve  their  machinery 
and  increase  their  force.  In  the  machinery  room, 
under  the  charge  of  Motte  Maine-.  tlie\  are  now 
employing  about  thirty  men.  with  the  probability 
of  having  to  increase  to  forty  soon.  They  are  now 
at  work  at  corn  -heller-.  In  the  molding  room, 
m  charge  of  John  Ledoyt,  there  are  about  thirty 
men.  and  they  are  molding  and  casting  four  and  a 
half  tons  of  iron  per  day  into  the  various  patterns 
required  for  this  business.  Everything  moves 
there  with  the  precision  of  clock  work.  The  genial 
Sam  Mitten  bas  charge  of  the  furnace.  One  of 
the  most  curious  engines  is  used  for  making  ma- 
chine keys.  There  is  no  other  one  like  it  in  the 
world,  and  as  a  consequence  this  company  sells 
quantities  of  their  key-,  supplying  among 
other-  the  McCormick  factory,  to  which  they  have 
just  shipped  two  ton-.  One  machine  does  the 
work  of  eight  men  and  doe-  it  much  better.  The 
elevators  are  superintended  by  J.  B.  Doan.  who 
has  long  been  in  the  emploj  of  this  company. 
Away  in  one  corner  i-  a  quiet  room  where  Robert 
Jenks  and  S.  Perrago  amuse  themselves  in  making 
patterns,  and  here  day  after  day  these  men  delve 
in  this  most  important  position,  where,  if  they 
make  an  error  all  subsequent  labor  is  worthless, 
hut  they  make  none. 

The  Enterprise  Company  is  under  the  manage- 
ment  of    I.    I.     Rogers,   president;  .1.    II.   Culver. 

resident:  G.  R.  Wallace.  Henry  Packer.  Wil- 
liam Davis.  William  Marks  and  F.  Baldwin.  B.  F. 
Latham  is  secretary  and  William  Radley  assistant. 
Mr.  Packer  is  the  genial  superintendent  of  the 
place.     All  who  have  been  residents  of  this  place 

.ir-  know  of  the  ability  of  Mr.  Packer,  which 


PAST    AM)    Ph'FSFXT    OF    ]>K    KALI!    COUNTY. 


313 


lias  been  put  to  practical  use  by  this  enterprising 
company.  It  has  twenty-five  men  employed,  with 
the  intention  of  increasing  during  the  winter.  Ben 
Latham  is  still  secretary,  assisted  by  William  Lad- 
ley,  and  miller  the  care  of  these  gentlemen  every- 
thing will  be  kept  in  good  order.  'The  company 
has  just  shipped  one  of  their  wind  mills  to  Brazil, 
being  the  second  sent  to  this  country,  and  these 
are  the  forerunners  of  a  large  trade.  The  com- 
pany is  now  building  the  A.  11.  Packer  sheller 
and  are  now  giving  their  attention  to  the  manu- 
facture of  harh  wire.  Burr  Kennedy  has  had 
charge  of  the  blacksmith  shop  since  it  started,  and 
still  retains  the  position.  T.  W.  Beale  is  the  pat- 
tern maker,  while  Porter  Barnes  has  charge  of  the 
paint  room  and  (i.  Wallace  is  engineer. 

Some  years  ago  \i.  W.  Love  in  the  examination 
of  the  Marsh  harvester  saw  where  he  thought  he 
could  make  a  decided  improvement,  and  after  some 
time  he  brought  out  a  new  harvester,  being  inter- 
ested in  this  with  T.  L.  French.  He  had  acquired 
large  experience  and  a  large  trade  in  these  ma- 
chines, and  he  succeeded  the  Sandwich  Enterprise 
Company  in  the  organization  of  the  Earvester 
Company.  This  business  is  very  intimately  con- 
nected with  the  Sandwich  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany. The  Harvester  Company  control  the  terri- 
tory, while  the  Sandwich  Manufacturing  Company 
look  after  the  machines  and  repairs. 

The  city  of  Sandwich  perfected  an  organization 
November  111.  1872.  The  mayor  elected  was  W. 
W.  Sedgwick.  The  aldermen  were  II.  A.  Adams, 
Jones,  Brigham,  Wallace.  Enos  Loan  and  M.  B. 
Eames. 

The  Lathams  early  settled  in  this  community. 
Joseph  Latham,  father  of  Thomas  and  Hubbard 
Latham,  was  of  Connecticut  birth  and  had  been 
long  engaged  in  the  fish  business  in  New  York. 
He  was  a  man  of  superior  business  ability  and  at 
times  held  controlling  interest  in  the  Fulton  mar- 
ket, the  great  fountain  of  supply  for  Xew  York 
city.  The  Latham  family  first  came  to  Bristol  in 
the  '30s  and  visited  Somonauk  to  attend  a  camp 
meeting  on  Somonauk  creek.  and  was 
told  that  a  claim  was  for  sale.  Here 
Mr.  Latham  found  the  first  camp  meet- 
ing lie  had  ever  seen,  about  a  mile  and  a  quar- 
ter north  of  this  city.  Dr.  Arnold  was  one  of  its 
leading  spirits.  Satisfied  with  the  location  and 
land  lie  purchased  the  claim  in  1838,  turning  the 
horse  that  he  had  ridden  in  as  part  of  the  purchase 


price.  Alter  this  Mr.  Latham  returned  to  Xew 
York  lor  his  family  and  to  close  up  business.  He 
induced  his  brothers,  Joseph  and  Hubbard,  to  ac- 
company him.  The  emigration  here  brought  Cap- 
tain Pratt.  J.  H.  Furman  and  many  others.  Mr. 
Latham  started  for  the  Pacific  coast  during  the 
sold  excitement  of  ]S4!)  and  after  a  trip  of  six 
months  their  ox  teams  at  last  were  on  the  shores  of 
the  Pacific.  There  he  spent  live  years,  returning 
home  considerably  enriched.  He  save  his  farm  to 
the  family  and  again  returned  to  California  on  a 
trip  lasting  seven  years.  Other  members  of  the 
family  visited  California  and  accumulated  con-id- 
erable  property.  One  of  the  brothers  started  to 
this  locality  from  Albany.  New  York,  by  way  of 
the  Erie  canal  to  Buffalo,  thence  took  a  high  pres- 
sure steamer,  named  General  Wayne,  for  Chicago. 
The  trip  lasted  two  weeks.  At  Chicago  they  hired 
a  three-horse  team  to  bring  them  to  Somonauk, 
where  they  landed  on  the  22d  day  of  September, 
1838.  About  the  first  week  Mr.  Latham  helped 
mud  up  a  log  house  for  the  winter  and  assisted  in 
building  a  stick  chimney.  The  winter  was  passed 
in  making  preparation  for  the  next  summer's 
fanning,  getting  out  tools,  etc.  Some  of  the 
amusements  for  the  boys  up  Somonauk  creek 
were  the  hunting  of  the  wolf,  the  deer,  the  prai- 
rie chicken,  and  occasionally  a  horse  race.  Besides 
there  was  the  usual  enjoyment  of  parties  in  "stay- 
ing up  with  the  girls,"  but  these  were  rather 
scarce.  The  leaders  of  society  among  the  young 
ladies  were  the  two  daughters  at  Mr.  Potter's,  two 
.at  Esterbrooks,  at  Squaw  Grove,  Miss  Beveridge, 
the  two  Harman  girls,  two  at  Piersons,  the  three 
daughters  of  Mr.  Lay,  three  Purmans,  three  at 
Clark's,  Miss  Fay  and  .Miss  Price,  making  quite  a 
society  of  young  people. 

In  order  to  market  the  grain  the  settlers  took 
the  usual  trip  to  Chicago.  On  one  occasion  when 
they  had  got  to  the  Halfway  House,  the  flat  was 
covered  with  water  and  the  barn  floor  was  also 
covered  with  ten  inches  of  water  where  the  horses 
stood  through  the  night,  and  from  there  to  Chi- 
cago they  waded  through  mud  and  water,  selling 
their  grain  at  thirty-seven  and  a  half  cents  a  bush- 
el, bringing  back  a  load  of  goods.  These  trips 
consumed  five  or  six  days.  The  custom  of  this  sec- 
tion was  to  carry  your  own  lunch  and  feed  for  the 
horses,  paying  for  nothing  but  lodging,  supper  and 
breakfast,  with  the  horses  to  hay. 


314 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


Mr.  Israel  Rogers,  another  of  the  pioneers  of 
this  community,  eame  here  in  184%)  and  the  next 
year  bought  fortj  acres  of  land  for  fifty  dollars 
and  pre-empted  one  hundred  and  twenty.  When 
the  time  expired  to  prove  his  pre-emption  claim 
he  was  still  unable  to  pay  for  it  aad  got  his  hired 
man  to  pre-empt.  When  this  time  expired  hi 
gathered  together  his  wheat  saved  for  that  pur- 
posi  .  and  just  as  be  was  ready  to  start  to  Chicago 
with  it  there  came  a  hard  rain,  rendering  the 
mads  impassable.  He  started  on  foot,  leaving  hi: 
team  and  wheal  to  billow,  and  with  his  papers 
made  his  way  to  Chicago  to  the  bank  of  R.  D. 
Swift  1"  borrow  the  thirty  dollars  required  until 
his  wheat  could  get  in.  Here  he  got  a  loan  of 
thirty  dollars  by  turning  over  to  Mr.  Swift  ins 
claim  OD  the  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  all  to 
be  forfeited  if  he  did  not  redeem  in  ten  days,  he 
to  pay  a  dollar  a  day  for  the  use  of  the  thirty  dol- 
lar^ In  eight  days  the  wheat  was  in  and  sold,  and 
Mr.  Rogers  repaid  the  thirty  dollars  and  was  in 
undisputed  possession  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
ai  res.  The  next  year  he  ran  two  breaking  teams 
and  began  to  get  ahead.  Four  years  after  be  pur- 
chased another  eighty  and  has  continued  to  pur- 
chase since,  until  he  now  own-  eight  hundred  acres 
of  land  here,  bavin-  given  away  two  farms  to  his 
children  here  and  one  to  a  son  in  Iowa.  Besides 
this,  he  owns  four  hundred  acres  in  Ford  county, 
Illinois,  with  large  landed  interest-  in  Iowa.  Mr. 
Eogers  long  ago  adopted  the  faith  of  the  Latter 
Day  Saints,  and  because  of  bis  shrewd  business 
ability  he  has  been  placed  in  the  responsible  posi- 
tion of  bishop  of  that  church.  Mr.  Rogers  has 
ever  faithfully  performed  bis  duties,  and  that  he 
has  been  willing  to  aid  with  Ins  counsel  and  means 
is  also  true.  The  writer,  when  carrying  on  his 
business  amid  adversities  from  184S  to  1851,  Mr. 
Rogers  came  to  him  unsolicited  and  told  him  if  he 
needed  aid  he  would  lend  it.     The  time  has  never 

ie  when  the  help  was  needed,  but  it  speaks  just 

as  forcibly  for  the  generous  nature  of  the  man  as 
if  it  had  been  granted. 

Almon  Gage,  one  of  the  best  known  of  our  citi- 
zen- and  the  original  founder  of  Sandwich,  at- 
tained his  full  maturity  before  he  got  the  western 
fever,  being  forty  years  old  when  he  decided  to 
move.  At  that  time  he  was  living  in  Wyoming 
county,  New  York,  where  he  had  accumulated 
quite  a  property,  enough  to  purchase  a  farm,  all 


of  which  was  swallowed  up  by  unfortunate  en- 
tloi-ement  for  friends.  This  proved  to  be  a  bless- 
ing in  disguise,  as  it  determined  him  on  the  re- 
moval, so  he  packed  his  family  and  goods  on  one 
of  the  prairie  schooners  of  the  day  and  started 
overland  for  his  new  home.  He  located  in  the 
town  of  Somonauk.  his  brother  Alvirus  having 
preceded  him.  His  family  consisted  of  wife  and 
three  children:  Alinann,  now  living  here  but  en- 
gaged in  business  in  Chicago;  Jesse,  the  unfor- 
tunate victim  of  a  rebel  bullet  in  the  late  war:  and 
Eliza,  now  the  wife  of  George  W.  Davis.  When 
he  directed  his  course  to  Somonauk  he  scarcely  ex- 
pected to  locate  there,  but  finally  decided  to  do  so 
and  j purchased  a  claim  of  A.  Grover  for  five  hun- 
dred dollars,  besides  securing  from  the  government 
one  hundred  acres,  so  that  he  had  two  hundred 
ai  res  of  valuable  land,  on  which  the  city  was  after- 
ward located.  He  was  a  good  business  man  and 
was  far  sighted,  undertaking  enterprises  while 
others  doubted. 

August  Adams,  aside  from  his  business  connec- 
tions, was  nominated  and  elected  for  state  senator, 
and  in  1855  voted  for  Lyman  Trumbull,  who  was 
elected. United  States  senator.  Mr.  Lincoln  was 
the  candidate  of  the  whigs,  and  General  Shields 
of  the  democrats.  Mr.  Lincoln  withdrew  when 
he  only  lacked  six  votes  of  the  election  and  urged 
his  friends  to  support  Lyman  Trumbull.  Mr. 
Adams  was  opposed  to  the  Kansas  and  Nebraska 
bill  and  later  became  a  stalwart  republican.  As 
it  was  in  the  olden  times,  he  was  esteemed  and  it 
wa-  an  honor  to  be  associated  with  a  man  like  Mr. 
Adams.  He  had  nine  children,  all  sons  but  one, 
a  flower  plucked  in  infancy.  These  men  have 
grown  to  be  considered  among  the  most  useful  and 
respected  of  their  localities.  Mr.  Adams  is  always 
to  be  found  on  the  side  of  the  weak,  always  -land- 
ing manfully  against  vice,  always  upholding  the 
best  interests  of  the  times  in  his  community  and 
in  the  nation. 

Wells  A.  Fay  eame  to  this  state  in  1836  from 
Onondaga  county.  New  York,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  years,  following  his  friend.  John  T.  Carr.  who 
came  and  looked  up  a  location  for  the  family,  com- 
ing by  lake  and  canal  to  Detroit.  He,  in  company 
with  several  others,  hired  a  conveyance  to  take 
them  across  the  state  of  Michigan,  reaching  Chi- 
cago in  September,  1836.  Starting  out  from  Chi- 
cago, he  reached  Holderman's  Grove,  then  the  post- 


PAST   AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY 


315 


office  for  this  region,  where  twenty-five  cents  had 
to  he  paid  for  a  letter,  and  making  his  departure 
he  swam  the  Fox  river  two  miles  below  Miiling- 
jton,  and  Mr.  Carr,  looking  out  fur  a  claim  having 
timber,  finally  located  it  on  Somonauk  creek,  mi 
his  present  farm.  That  fall  his  father  and  the 
family  came,  but  the  father  died  in  Chicago  from 
exposure  incident  to  the  journey  at  that  inclement 
season  of  the  year.  Mr.  Fay  commenced  a  home 
immediately  on  his  location  of  land,  doing  such 
work  as  he  could  find,  such  as  splitting  rails  in 
the  fall,  in  the  winter  teaching  school,  and  the 
next  spring  he  commenced  active  work  on  the 
farm,  taking  his  mother,  then  sixty-three  years  ola, 
as  matron  of  the  establishment,  and  a  niece,  two 
years  old,  afterwards  Mrs.  John  Merritt.  In  1842 
Mr.  Fay  married  Harriett,  eldest  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel H.  Lay.  The  first  house  Mr.  Fay  built  in  the 
fall  of  1836  was  a  primitive  log  house,  in  which 
he  lived  about  six  years,  building  twice  since,  erect- 
ing the  present  house  in  1856.  Mr.  Fay  has  in  his 
home  farm  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  under  the 
best  improvement,  which  he  is  still  managing  per- 
sonally. When  he  came  to  this  locality  he  had 
not  money  enough  to  pay  his  way,  being  compelled 
to  walk  part  of  the  distance  from  Chicago  to 
Holderniairs  Grove.  The  last  night  out  he  stopped 
at  a  little  town  called  Shanahan,  almost  worn  out 
with  his  walking,  having  been  turned  away  from 
three  places  before  he  could  find  a  place  to  stop 
over  night.  When  he  commenced  he  had  no  means 
and  had  to  get  a  day's  work  so  he  could  get  along 
until  he  could  raise  a  crop.  He  worked  for  a 
farmer,  taking  his  pay  entirely  in  breaking,  and 
by  that  means  he  got  five  acres  broken  the  first 
season.  While  he  was  away  from  home  his  mother 
;iik1  niece  would  not  see  a  neighbor  for  over  a 
week.  He  has  been  especially  active  as  a  Christian 
worker,  always  being  on  the  side  of  good  morals, 
and  the  fruits  of  his  good  judgment  have  developed 
into  Christian  workers  in  his  children. 

REMINISCENCES    OF     L.     P.     KELLOGG. 

L.  P.  Kellogg  contributes  the  following  as  his 
experience  of  pioneer  life:  "Tie  came  to  Illinois 
in  the  fall  of  1844  and  spent  the  first  winter  in 
the  town  of  Harmony.  MeHenry  county,  moving 
mi  his  farm  in  Genoa  township  in  the  giving  of 
is  15.  where  he  broke  enough  lain!  for  temporary 
use.  spending  the  remainder  of  his  time  in  team- 


ing. Hi'  used  to  make  the  trip  to  Chicago  with 
anything  he  could  procure,  returning  with  mer- 
chandise and  immigrants.  His  hotel  was  where 
night  overtook  him  on  the  way.  He  generally  did 
his  teaming  with  horses,  but  at  times  drove  from 
three  to  five  yoke  of  oxen.  He  was  married  Jan- 
uary 20,  1847.  The  week  after  his  marriage  he 
went  to  move  a  family  from  near  Belvidere  to 
near  Ottawa  and  came  near  losing  his  life.  He 
started  with  four  horses,  but  only  got  home  with 
two.  After  reaching  Ottawa  he  concluded  to  take 
back  with  him  a  load  of  coal.  There  was  no  well 
defined  wagon  road,  but  only  an  Indian  trail 
to  follow.  In  crossing  a  slough  on  his  return  the 
wagon  broke  through  the  ice  and  settled  in  the 
water  and  earth  up  to  the  hub.  He  could  not  get 
out  without  unloading  and  had  to  carry  the  entire 
load  by  hand  a  distance  of  ten  rods.  His  fingers 
were  all  bleeding  and  he  suffered  intensely  from 
the  cold,  but  there  was  no  help  for  it;  the  work 
had  to  be  done  and  there  was  no  house  within 
twenty  miles.  He  left  the  coal  and  drove  hard 
to  make  some  house  to  shelter  himself  and  team, 
but  too  late.  One  of  those  winter  blizzards  came 
on  with  hail  and  rain.  His  team  could  not  follow 
the  trail  and  it  was  soon  so  dark  that  it  was 
impossible  to  see  anything.  There  was  no  cover 
on  his  wagon  to  shelter  himself,  nothing  for  his 
team  to  eat,  the  winds  howling  like  demons  and 
he  lost  in  the  wilderness.  He  concluded  his  best 
course  was  to  unhitch  his  team,  tie  each  horse  to 
a  wagon  wheel  and  wait  till  the  coming  of  the 
morn.  His  team  was  tired  out,  the  trail  was  lost 
and  it  would  have  been  folly  to  attempt  traveling 
any  more  that  night.  Covering  the  horses  as  best 
he  could,  he  then  took  the  end  gate  out  of  his 
wagon  and  holding  it  before  him  to  break  the 
force  of  the  wind  he  walked  around  the  wagon 
the  entire  night.  The  night  was  a  long  and  hard 
one,  but  hope  was  kept  alive  within  him  by  think- 
ing of  his  newly  wed  wife  at  home.  Two  of  his 
horses  died  before  morning,  chilled  to  death. 

On  this  trip  he  passed  near  the  old  log  house 
on  Indian  creek,  where  twenty-one  white  women 
and  children  were  massacred  by  the  Indians.  This 
trip  was  only  one  out  of  many  hard  ones  that  he 
experienced  while  following  teaming.  He  lost  five 
horses  in  the  first  four  years.  Once  when  the 
thermometer  registered  forty  degrees  blow  zero  he 


316 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KAI 


COUNTY. 


Ia\  out.  wandering  on  the  open  prairie  the  entire 
night,  having  lost  his  way  in  one  of  those  blizzards. 
He  did  not  dare  to  stop  walking,  nor  give  way  to 
the  desire  for  sleep,  for  he  well  knew  that  death 
would  follow. 

Thinking  a  good  dog  would  be  some  comfort 
to  his  wife  when  he  was  away,  he  bought  a  young 
pup  and  took  him  home,  but  one  night  the  wolves 
came  up  to  his  house,  carried  him  off  and  killed 
him. 

Mr.  Kellogg  took  up  his  claim  on  section  ■'!. 
Genoa  township  in  1845,  where  he  still  lives.  He 
says  that  although  he  has  had  a  hard  time  in  life, 
he  has  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  he  was 
never  sued  nor  sued  any  man  in  his  life,  lie  has 
tried  to  live  in  peace  with  his  neighbors,  enjoying 
their  respect  and  esteem.  In  1855  he  experienced 
religion,  since  which  time  he  has  tried  to  live  a 
consistent  Christian  life,  although  connected  with 
no  religious  society.  The  Bible  is  his  dailj  stud] 
and  daily  he  gathers  his  household  around  him  and 
idlers  up  prayer  and  praise  to  God. 

SIXTY  YEARS  AGO. 

HISTORICAL   ADDRESS    HI     HON.    S.    I'..    STINSON. 

In  thi'  month  of  June,  1851,  jusl   16  years  ago, 

I  left  a  temporary  home  in  Troy,  New  York,  to 
which  place  I  hail  come  three  years  before  from 
the  home  of  my  childhood  among  the  lulls  of  the 
Granite  stale.  With  no  certain  i ►< niit  of  destina- 
tion in  view,  hut  fully  determined  to  make  for  my- 
self a  home  somewhere  in  the  Great  West,  which 
at  that  time  was  already  attracting  the  attention 
of  the  somewhai  over-populated  East,  1  purchased 
a  ticket  by  railway  to  Buffalo,  beyond  which  no 
railroad  had  then  been  constructed.  A  voyage  of 
li\c  days  by  the  good  steamer  ••Illinois."'  as  I  well 
remember  the  name,  took  us  the  length  of  noble 
Lake  Erie,  more  than  350  mile-  up  the  Detroit 
river,  past  the  citj  of  thai  name,  then  not  as  large 
as  Aurora  now  is.  through  Lakes  St.  Clair  and 
Huron,  through  the  Straits  of  Mackinac,  past  the 
old  fort  on  the  island  of  the  same  name,  then 
maintained  by  the  government,  whose  white  walls 
fairly  glistened  in  the  rays  of  the  rising  sun. 
whilst  we  lay-to  long  enough  to  discharge  and  re- 
ceive freight  and  passengers,  and  to  lay  in  a  good 
supply  of  Mackinaw  trout  for  breakfast:  then  on 


over  the  waters  of  beautiful  Lake  .Michigan  for 
another  day  and  night,  when  in  the  quiet  of  a 
Sunday  morning  we  made  our  landing  at  Milwau- 
kee, a  In  tic  city  of  20,000  inhabitants  then,  hut  a 
very  ambitious  and  hopeful  rival  of  the  city  of 
Chicago,  distant  about  SO  miles  up  the  lake,  and 
then  containing  a  population  by  the  census  of  the 
preceding  year — 1850 — of  a  little  less  than  30,000. 
After-  two  or  three  days  spent  in  Milwaukee  and 
vicinity,  1  took  a  steamer  again  for  Chicago,  where 
I  lauded  on  the  20th  day  of  June.  Here  I  found 
a  hustling  little  city,  somewhat  larger  than  Aurora 
now  is.  hut  having  great  expectations,  which,  as 
we  all  know,  have  been  realized  far  beyond  their 
wildest  dreams.  It  is  scarcely  possible  to  make 
real  to  the  mind  the  wonderful  transformation  in 
the  space  of  li;  years  which  has  taken  place  in  the 
then  little  city  by  the  lake.  Its  area,  then  a  few 
Mil  ion.-  of  land  clustered  about  the  mouth  of  the 
river,  now  covers  more  than  is;  square  miles.  Its 
population  then  30,000  and  now  nearly  2,000,000 
of  people.  Of  railroads  Chicago  then  had  only  a 
line  of  |o  miles,  extending  to  Aurora,  with  a 
short  branch  to  St.  Charles,  a  single  track  of  strap 
tad-,  that  i-  a  strip  of  iron  about  like  a  heavy 
wagon  lire,  spiked  down  upon  pine  timbers  resting 
upon  iio-.-  ties,  and  this  was  the  only  railroad 
linn  existing  in  the  great  State  of  Illinois,  except- 
ing another  line  of  about  50  miles  of  the  same 
style  of  construction  extending  from  Springfield 
to  Naples  on  the  Illinois  river. 

Today  Chicago  has  more  than  thirty  great  trunk 
Inn-  of  railway,  extending  to  all  parts  of  our 
great  country  and  the  State  of  Illinois,  instead  of 
its  then  ninety  miles  of  strap  railroad,  and  single 
track  at  that,  has  more  than  16,000  miles  of  rail- 
road, mostly  double  track  and  built  of  the  heaviest 
"T"  rails,  and  with  a  total  population  then  of 
851,000,  our  state  has  now  reached  the  astonish- 
ing number  of  more  than  4,000,000  of  people,  with 
a  still  larger  percentage  of  increase  in  wealth  and 
all  material  resources. 

But  to  resume  my  history:  After  a  short  stay 
mi  Chicago,  where  T  missed  the  chance  of  becom- 
ing a  millionaire  by  not  knowing  just  what  corner 
lots  contained  gold  mines,  and  not  having  the 
money  to  buy  them  if  they  had  been  pointed  out 
to  me  by  the  unselfish  land  agent.  I  found  myself 
i he  owner  of  80  acres  of  land  in  the  county  of 
Kendall,  three  mile-  north  of  the  site  where  now 


C.    W.    BRANCH. 

JUDGE   GEORGE    II.    HILL. 


JOSEPH   ARBl'CKLE. 
PHILIP    IIKCKMAN. 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY 


319 


stands  the  beautiful  town  of  Piano,  but  Piano  had 
not  then  been  thought  of.  Instead  of  that,  Marcus 
Steward,  with  his  strong  sons,  Lewis  and  George, 
and  Cornelius  Pfenning  and  his  stalwart  sons  were 
cultivating  their  fruitful  acres,  little  dreaming 
that  they  would  ere  long  be  in  demand  for  a  town 
site.  But  in  the  summer  of  1853  the  engineers 
and  track  builders  came  upon  the  ground  for  the 
construction  of  an  extension  of  the  railroad  from 
Aurora  westward.  In  a  short  time  the  road  was 
completed  to  Mendota,  and  such  an  impetus  was 
given  by  it  to  business  of  all  kinds,  that  in  the 
spring  of  1856,  I  was  able  to  sell  the  little  farm 
for  which  I  had  paid  $6  an  acre,  for  ?30  per  acre, 
and  a  similar  increase  in  values  had  taken  place 
all  along  the  line.  I  never  acquired  much  of  a 
reputation  as  a  farmer  while  living  on  this  eighty 
acres,  which  I  carried  on  for  four  years,  but  in 
the  summer  of  1853,  when  the  railroad  track  had 
reached  Big  Rock  creek  east  of  Piano,  before  the 
bridge  was  completed,  I  shipped  1,000  bushels  of 
oats  to  Chicago,  which  was  the  first  grain  shipped 
to  Chicago  from  Kendall  county  by  the  C,  B.  &  Q. 
railroad,  and  realized  a  nice  profit  by  having  it  in 
the  market  before  the  new  crop  began  to  move.  I 
was  able  to  do  this  by  arranging  for  the  threshing 
very  early. 

In  the  summer  of  1856  I  removed  to  Sandwich, 
which  had  then  just  got  fairly  under  way  as  a  lit- 
tle village,  having  been  delayed  in  starting  by  the 
fact  that  the  railroad  company  had  made  no  pro- 
vision for  a  town  between  Piano  and  Somonauk 
But  by  the  efforts  of  the  business  men  at  Newark, 
and  the  farmers  in  that  region,  aided  by  the  per- 
severing labors  of  Wm.  Patten,  Washington  Walk- 
er, Lindsay  Carr,  Jas.  H.  Furman,  Almon  Gage, 
Capt.  Wm.  Davis  and  other  farmers  living  in  the 
vicinity,  the  railroad  authorities  were  induced  to 
establish  a  flag  station  here.  After  a  time  they 
became  satisfied  that  the  business  at  this  point 
would  justify  establishing  a  regular  station,  which 
they  did,  calling  it  "Newark  Station,"  the  village 
of  Newark  across  the  river  then  being  the  largest 
and  best  business  town  in  all  this  region,  and  the 
main  business  of  the  new  railroad  at  this  point 
coming  from  that  town. 

But  the  idea  of  being  a  tail  to  Newark's  kite  did 
not  quite  suit  the  enterprising  people  who  had  se- 
cured the  station,  and  they  cast  about  for  a  name 
to  please  them  better. 


When  the  first  village  plat  was  made  by  the 
county  surveyor,  Horace  Fay,  whom  many  here 
will  remember  as  an  excellent  surveyor  and  a  very 
worthy  man,  the  name  "Almon"  was  given  to  the 
embryo  village,  in  honor  of  Almon  Gage,  who 
owned  the  farm  upon  which  was  located  the  prin- 
cipal part  of  the  first  survey.  Mr.  Gage,  how- 
ever, was  too  modest  to  allow  this,  and  there  being 
some  delay  in  placing  the  plat  on  record,  the  re- 
sult was  the  substitution  of  the  name  of  Sand- 
wich, but  in  the  meantime  a  deed  had  been  given 
by  Jacob  Hall  to  the  Baptist  church  for  the  two 
lots  now  occupied  by  them,  in  which  the  lots 
were  described  as  in  the  village  of  "Almon,"  and 
the  county  records  show  the  deed  thus  at  the  pres- 
ent time. 

The  adoption  of  the  name  Sandwich  has  been  a 
matter  of  considerable  discussion  and  explanation, 
and  I  will  venture  to  give  the  facts  as  I  learned 
them  from  those  most  active  in  selecting  the  name. 
It  appears  that  during  the  year  1850  it  came 
into  the   mind   of   Dr.   A.   L.   Merriam,  who  had 
been  practicing  as  a  physician  for  some  years  in 
this  region,  with  his  residence  on  the  Dr.  Arnold 
place,  and   who  was   a  man  of  large  intelligence 
and  great  force  of  character,  as  well  as  an  excel- 
lent physician,   that  the  settlers   in  this  vicinity 
were   not    sufficiently    appreciated    and    accommo- 
dated by  the  Post  Office  Department,  it  being  nec- 
essary for  them  at  that  time  to  go  to  what  is  now 
known  as  Freeland   Corners  for  their  mail,  and 
having  a  slight  personal  acquaintance  with  Long 
John  Wentworth,  as  he  was  familiarly  known  and 
who  was  then  the  Member  of  Congress  from  this 
District,  which  by  the  way  then  took  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  State,  as  far  south  as  Blooming- 
ton,  and  even  beyond,  the  doctor  secured  the  requi- 
site number  of  names  on  bis  petition  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  postoffice,  and  adroitly  suggested 
that  it  was  the  unanimous  wish  of  those  who  would 
be  the  patrons  of  the  postoffice  that  the  name  of 
the  office  should  be   Sandwich,  in   honor  of  the 
town  of  that  name  in  New  Hampshire  where  Mr. 
Wentworth  was  born.     Mr.  Wentworth,  very  nat- 
urally  feeling  flattered  by   the  compliment,   and 
desiring  also  to  serve  his  esteemed  constituents, 
very  readily  secured  the  location  of  the  office  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  Little  Red  School  House,  which 
was  then  the  chief  mark  of  civilization  on  the  site 
of  the  future  city. 


120 


PAST    A\H    PRESENT    OF    DE    KAMI    COUXTY. 


A  mail  route  was  established  and  a  postmaster 
a] inted.  and  the  Sandwich  postoffice  fully  in- 
stalled. But  like  many  other  '"'well  laid  schemes  o' 
mice  and  men."  the  projeel  soon  failed,  the  new 
ostoffice  languished  for  wanl  of  patrons,  and  after 
a  career  of  about  six  months,  during  which  time 
the  total  receipts  of  the  office  amounted  to  the 
munificent  sum  of  seventy-five  cents,  an  extin- 
guisher came  in  the  shape  of  aji  order  from  the 
Post  Other  Department,  which  I  now  hold  in  my 
hand,  directing  the  discontinuance  of  the  office. 
You  see  the  paper  is  yellow  with  age.  Subse- 
quently and  in  the  year  1855,  when  the  railroad 
station  had  been  established  and  there  began  to 
be  a  nucleus  of  population  requiring  postoffice  fa- 
cilities, "U  application  to  the  Department  the  de- 
funct postoffice  was  revived  under  the  former 
name  and  Kohl.  Patten  was  appointed  postmas- 
ter. This  in  brief  is  the  history  of  the  name  of 
our  little  city. 

A  lew  years  ago  I  si 1  on  the  top  of  Red  Hill, 

near  the  head  of  Lake  Winnipiseogee,  in  V  n 
Hampshire,  at  an  elevation  of  2,000  feet,  and 
iooked  down  upon  the  old  town  of  Sandwich,  with 
iis  three  pretty  villages  nestling  among  the  hills, 
and  remarked  to  m\  wife,  who  stood  by  my  side. 
that  I  thought  neither  mother  no]  daughter  need 
bi    ashamed  of  each  other. 

So  far  a-  it  is  now  possible  to  determine,  the 
first  permanent  settler  in  the  township  of  Somo- 
nauk  and  probably  in  what  i>  now  De  Kali,  county, 
wa-  Reuben  Hoot,  who  came  from  the  Mate  of 
\e«  York  originally  and  located  on  what  is  now 
know  ii  as  the  (apt.  Davis  farm,  in  February.  1835. 
At  this  time,  and  for  several  years  later,  no  sur- 
i  -  oi  the  land  had  been  made  by  the  govern- 
ment, and  Mr.  Hoot  held  what  was  then  known, 
in  the  parlance  id'  the  settli  rs,  a-  a  "claim  which 
was  usualh  made  by  blazing  a  line  through  the 
timber,  of  chipping  oil'  the  hark  of  trees  alone  the 
course,  and  running  a  furrow  or  two  around  so 
much  of  the  adjoining  prairie  land  as  the  claim- 
ant thought  he  wanted,  it  being   i; mmorj   idea 

among  the  firsl  settlers  that  only  so  much  of  the 
prairie  land  as  lay  near  to  tie'  timber  would  evei 
he  taken  up  or  cultivated,  and  that  the  remainder 
would  always  lie  open  a-  a  range  ''or  cattle.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  of  1835  Capt.  Wm.  Davis  came 
into  the  vicinity  and  taking  a  fancy  to  Mr.  Hoofs 
claim  succeeded   in  negotiating  a  purchase  of  it. 


and  went  into  possession,  when'  he  continued  to 
reside  tor  nearly  sixty  years,  or  until  his  death  a 
lew  years  sin,,..  Mr.  Root,  who  seems  to  have  been 
of  a  roving  disposition,  moved  up  the  creek  to 
the  claim  which  was  afterwards  known  as  the 
George  Beveridge  faun,  and  a  few  years  later  re- 
moved from  the  state  to  seek  a  still  newer  settle- 
ment in  the  far  wot.  lie  was  the  first  postmaster 
as  well  as  the  tirst  settler  in  the  township.  Next 
to  Mr.  Root  in  the  order  of  time  and  probably  only 
a  month  or  two  later  came  Wm.  Poplin  and  his 
wife,  who  took  up  their  claim  on  the  west  - nie  of 
the  Somonauk  creek  in  March.  1835,  and  are  still 
living  upon  the  same  premises,  at  present  the  old- 
est  in  point  of  residence  of  the  "old  settlers"  of 
the  township.  Their  daughter  Harriet,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  II.  ('.  Cotton  and  is  now  deceased, 
wa-  the  first  white  child  born  in  the  township. 
January  25th,  1836,  and  George  W.  Davis,  son  of 
Captain  Wm.  Davis,  now  residing  in  Sandwich, 
was  the  tirst  male  child  horn  in  the  township,  un- 
li  3S  a  -on  ,,('  Burrage  Hough,  who  lived  on  the 
place  now  owned  by  John  J.  Armstrong,  north  of 
the  Fraser  farm,  could  dispute  the  claim  with  him, 
hut  the  most  of  the  evidence  seems  to  he  rather  in 
favor  of  George.  During  the  same  season  of  1835 
a  considerable  number  of  settlers  came  into  the 
township,  among  them  Amos  Harmon  and  wife, 
with  rpiite  a  number  of  girls  and  boys,  whose 
daughter  Fannie  was  the  tirst  one  to  die  in  the 
township,  September  11.  1836,  and  whose  son, 
David  F.  Harmon,  is  still  living  with  us  on  the 
old  farm,  hale  and  hearty,  in  the  seventy-second 
-ear  of  his  age.  It  is  claimed  and  probably  with 
truth  that  Amos  Harmon  broke  up  tho  first 
prairie  sod,  hut  that  Simon  Price  and  William 
and  Joseph  Sly  were  the  only  ones  to  raise  a  i 
that  \ear.  the  crop  consisting  of  course  of  sod 
com.  as  no  other  wa-  possible  in  the  tough  prairie 
sod. 

In  addition  to  those  already  named.  William  and 
Thos.  Brook.  Major  Dennis,  and  probably  some 
other-  came  in  the  same  year.  Elizabeth  Brook. 
daughter  of  Thos.  Brook,  and  Israel  Potter  were 
the  first  persons  to  he  married  in  the  township, 
that  interesting  event  occurring  in  the  fall  of  1-  !6 
Major  Dennis,  who  wa-  tlen  a  single  man.  his  sis- 
ter. 1 1 , . w  Mr-.  Jacob  M.  Hall,  who  is  still  living 
n  Sandwich  at  the  aire  of  eighty-two  years.  Ma- 
jor  Dennis,    Sr.,   came    in    two    year?    later    from 


AST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALI'.    COUNTY. 


32] 


Massachusetts  with  the  resl  of  his  family,  includ- 
ing Avery  Townsend  and  family,  Mrs.  Townsend 
being  his  daughter,  and  mw  living  with  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  James  Warner,  at  the  very  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety-four  years,  being  as  1  sup- 
pose the  oldest  person  now  living  in  the  township. 
Mrs.  Townsend  and  Mrs.  Brook  both  draw  pen- 
sions, their  husbands  having  beei.  in  the  war  of 
1812.  Another  daughter  of  Major  Dennis,  Sr., 
the  wife  of  Oapt.  Wm.  Davis,  died  three  years  ago 
at  the  age  of  ninety-two  years.  This  family  of  six 
sisters  is  a  remarkable  instance  of  longevity,  the 
combined  ages  of  the  six  (reckoning  Mrs.  Davis 
at  the  age  when  she  died  and  the  five  sisters  now 
living  in  our  midst,  Mrs.  Nancy  Townsend,  Mrs. 
Charlotte  Brook,  Mrs.  Lurana  Hall,  Mrs.  Mary 
Perry  and  Miss  Ruth  Dennis,  at  their  present 
ages)  being  509  years,  or  an  average  of  nearly  85 
years,  an  instance  of  longevity  which  it  would  he 
difficult  to  parallel  in  any   family  in  the  state. 

Major  Dennis,  Jr..  not  long  after  making  his 
claim  and  erecting  his  humble  cabin,  married  Mary 
Harmon,  a  daughter  of  Amos  and  sister  of  David 
E.  Harmon,  who  still  survives  as  his  widow,  and 
has  continued  to  reside  with  her  son,  Wm.  A. 
Dennis,  on  the  farm  which  her  husband  pre-empt- 
ed, and  where  she  has  resided  for  about  sixty  years. 

It  is  related  of  Major  Dennis,  while  yet  a  young 
man  (and,  by  the  way,  "Major'*  was  his  name  and 
not  a  title)  that,  he  said  he  should  never  marry 
until  he  found  a  young  woman  "who  combed  her 
hair  before  breakfast.'-  While  working  for  Amos 
Harmon  he  noticed  that  the  daughter  Mary  filled 
this  requirement,  and  soon  after  the  young  people 
made  it  up  between  them  and  a  wedding  followed 
as  stated.  There  may  be  nowadays  young  men 
who  are  thinking  what  Major  Dennis  spoke  aloud. 
Girls,  allow  me  to  whisper  in  your  ears:  "It's  a 
good  thing  to  comb  your  hair  before  breakfast." 

Jacob  M.  Hall  came  in  at  a  very  early  day.  but 
for  a  time  lived  as  a  single  man  with  Isaac  Pot- 
ter, just  over  the  line  of  our  township  in  the  pres- 
ent town  of  Northville,  and  afterwards  in  the  fam- 
ily of  ('apt.  Davis,  and  in  the  year  1842  married 
Lurana  Dennis,  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Davis,  as  already 
indicated,  and  settled  upon  the  farm  where  he  re- 
sided at  the  time  of  his  death  a  few  years  ago, 
although  most  of  the  farm,  inclu  iii,g  his  resi- 
dence, had  become  a  part  of  the  city  of  Sandwich. 
Albert  Grover  came  in  about  the  same  time  and 


took  up  the  farm  afterwards  owned  by  Almon 
Gage.  Mr.  Grover  and  family  removing  from  this, 
section,  but  his  widow,  now  Grandma  Burt,  after- 
wards returned  and  still  has  her  home  among  us 
and  is.  I  believe,  on  the  grounds  with  us  today. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  north  part  of  the 
township  was  made  on  what  has  been  known  as 
the  George  Beveridge  farm,  and  probably  the  first 
cabin  erected  in  the  township  was  near  when  the 
Galena  road  crosses  Somonauk  creek  and  was  oc- 
cupied by  one  Robinson  in  the  winter  of  1834-35, 
who  disappeared  soon  after  and  the  claim  became 
the  property  of  Reuben  Root  in  the  summer  of 
1835,  as  before  stated.  This  claim  was  purchased 
in  1838  by  George  Beveridge,  who  came  from 
Washington  county,  New  York,  and  was  a  man  of 
sterling  principles  and  stalwart  character.  Mrs. 
Beveridge  was  also  a  woman  of  superior  intelli- 
gence and  great  decision  of  character,  and  much 
of  the  high  mental  and  moral  qualities  and  honor- 
able position  in  life  of  their  sons,  Gov.  John  L. 
Beveridge  and  Hon.  James  H.  Beveridge,  wdio  be- 
came State  Treasurer  of  Illinois,  may  be  traced  to 
the  influence  and  training  received  from  their 
mother.  The  eldest  daughter,  Jeannette,  the  wife 
of  James  Henry,  is  still  living  in  our  vicinity,  quite 
advanced  in  years,  whilst  the  youngest  daughter, 
Agnes,  widow  of  Alex.  R.  Patten,  whose  early 
death  was  greatly  lamented  by  all  who  knew  him,  is 
enjoying  her  gracefully  declining  years  in  the  home 
of  one  of  her  sons,  in  the  great  metropolis,  which 
has  attracted  and  absorbed  into  its  busy  life  so 
many  of  the  bright  and  active  sons  of  the  early 
settlers. 

It.  is  not  unsuitable  in  this  connection  to  recall 
the  fact  that  the  humble  home  of  George  Bever- 
idge near  the  ford  on  Somonauk  creek  was  one  of 
the  stations  on  the  "Underground  Railroad"  from 
the  South  to  Canada,  where  many  a  panting  fugi- 
tive from  bondage  was  safely  conducted  to  a  place 
of  freedom.  The  story  is  told,  and  with  all  the 
marks  of  truth,  that  one  evening  during  the  period 
of  intense  agitation  on  the  subject  of  slavery  a 
gentlemanly  stranger  called  at  the  house  and  re- 
quested shelter  for  the  night.  Something  led  the 
family  to  suspect  that  he  was  a  detective  searching 
for  evidence  of  their  connection  with  the  crime  of 
aiding  slaves  to  their  freedom.  Finally,  seeking 
an  opportunity  of  privacy,  he  asked  directly  of 
Mrs.   Beveridge  if  she  bad  not  at  times  secreted 


322 


PAST    ANT)    PRESENT    ()E    DE    KALB    COUXTY. 


fugitive  negroes.  "Yes,"  said  she,  "and  in  spite 
of  your  oppressive  laws  I  will  do  it  again  whenever 
I  have  an  opportunity."  Instead  of  immediately 
arresting  her,  as  she  had  expected,  the  stranger 
laughed.  It  turned  out  that  he  was  an  eminent 
physician  from  Quincy,  just  across  the  river  from 
Missouri,  engaged  in  establishing  stations  on  the 
line  of  the  Underground  Railroad,  and  during  the 
subsequent  years  there  was  a  frequent  stoppage  of 
trains  at  this  station. 

During  the  first  year  of  the  settlement  in  1835, 
or  very  soon  thereafter,  all  the  claims  along  the 
creek,  which  were  especially  sought  on  account  of 
the  timber  and  water,  were  taken  up,  and  in  1839 
there  were  thirty  families  settled  in  the  township. 
Those  on  the  east  side  of  the  creek  were  Burrage 
Hough,  Frank  Dale,  Joseph  Slye,  Frederick  With- 
erspoon,  Hubbard  Latham  and  his  brothers.  Jo- 
seph and  Thomas  Latham,  Harvey  Joles,  George 
Pierson,  Capt.  Win.  Davis,  Alvin  Hyatt,  David 
Merritt,  Stephen  Arnold,  Francis  Devine  and  Pe- 
ter Eummel,  whose  widow  still  lives  upon  the  old 
farm  at  the  age  of  86  years,  and  possibly  a  few 
others.  On  the  west  side  of  the  creek  were  Mr. 
Burchirn,  Simon  and  Owen  Price,  Thos.  Brook, 
Win.  Poplin,  Conway  B.  Rhodes,  Amos  Harmon, 
Lucius  Frisbee,  Avery  Townsend  and  Otis  Bliss,  of 
whom  only  Wm.  Poplin  and  Thomas  Latham  are 
now  living,  but  a  considerable  number  of  their 
children  and  grandchildren  are  now  living  in  our 
midst  and  are  with  us  here  today  to  do  honor  to 
the  memory  of  the  first  settlers.  During  the  same 
year.  1839,  Robert  Sterritt  built  a  saw  mill  upon 
the  creek,  on  premises  now  owned  by  S.  D.  Cole- 
man, which  was  the  only  mill  run  by  water  power 
ever  operated  in  the  township  and  long  since  went 
to  decay.  Up  to  this  time  the  settlers  drew  their 
logs  mostly  to  Steward's  mill  on  Big  Rock.  Many 
of  the  first  frame  houses  were  covered  with  black 
walnut  siding  and  had  battened  doors  of  the  same 
material.  This  was  the  case  with  the  bouse  first 
occupied  by  myself  and  family  in  Little  Rock- 
township  in  1852. 

At  this  time,  1S39,  there  were  two  Public  Houses 
on  the  Galena  road,  one  of  them  kept  by  Peter 
Hummel,  the  father  of  J.  M.  Hummel,  "our  Jult  ," 
who  in  his  earlier  years  contributed  so  much  to 
the  amusement  of  the  devotees  of  Terpsichore  and 
in  later  years  lias  done  so  much  to  render 
and  agreeable  the  otherwise  hard  and  exhausting 


labors  of  the  farm,  by  the  distribution  of  labor- 
saving  machinery  and  implements  among  the 
toiling  farmers.  , 

Speaking  of  labor-saving  machinery,  by  the  way, 
I  think  I  will  give  a  little  of  my  experience  in  the 
early  day  along  this  line.  Coming  west  as  I  did 
in  June.  1851,  out  of  a  law  office,  after  three  years 
of  student  life,  and  going  within  a  few  days  into  a 
corn  field  to  trudge  eight  or  ten  hours  a  day  be- 
hind a  double-shovel  plow,  you  will  not  think  it 
strange  that  when,  during  the  following  winter,  I 
learned  that  there  was  a  man  by  the  name  of  Dun- 
das  on  Big  Rock  who  was  making  a  corn  culti- 
vator to  be  mounted  on  wheels,  with  a  seat  for 
the  driver  and  a  canvas  overhead  to  keep  off  the 
sun,  I  was  not  slow  in  getting  over  to  Big  Rock 
and  interviewing  the  maker  of  that  wonderful  ma- 
chine. The  long  and  short  of  it  is  that  I  bar- 
gained for  one  of  those  machines  for  the  coming 
season,  not  knowing,  however,  where  I  was  to  get 
the  SIS  to  pay  for  it,  and  I  became  the  envy  of  the 
lazy  portion  of  my  neighbors,  and  the  pity  of  the 
others,  who  in  derision  called  my  machine  the 
"Dundas  Aggravator."  And  in  truth  it  was  a  most 
outlandish  looking  affair,  with  its  outer  shovels 
firmly  bolted  to  the  axletree  and  its  inner  ones  at- 
tached to  a  pair  of  wabbling  uprights  and  having 
about  as  much  resemblance  to  the  beautiful  and 
perfectly  working  riding  cultivator  of  today  as 
the  ox  cart  in  which  the  future  Judge  Caton  used 
to  ride  to  church  in  the  early  days  over  in  Ken- 
dall county  had  to  the  elegant  carriages  in  which 
most  of  you  who  are  here  came  to  this  Old  Settlers' 
Picnic. 

Resuming,  however,  the  thread  of  this  brief 
history  of  the  early  settlement  of  our  goodly  town- 
ship, it  has  been  ascertained  that  the  first  post- 
office  was  established  in  1837  under  the  name  of 
Somonauk,  with  Reuben  Root  as  postmaster,  the 
office  being  at  his  cabin  near  the  ford  of  Somonauk 
creek  on  the  Galena  road,  up  to  this  time  the  set- 
tlers being  obliged  to  go  for  their  mail  to  Holder- 
man's  Grove,  a  distance  of  about  twelve  miles,  on 
the  south  side  of  Fox  river.  The  name  of  Somo- 
nauk was  adopted  by  the  settlers  for  the  postoffice, 
it  being  the  Indian  name  of  the  creek,  which  bi- 
sects the  township,  and  when  that  came  to  be  or- 
ganized a  few  years  later  the  same  name  was  wisely 
retained.  Whilst  not  an  especially  elegant  word  in 
foi  mi  ami  sound,  it  is  yet  unique  and  not  uneupho- 


^ 

A                                         & 

■>. 

B^  f  ^ 

^m 

'   L               »l    ••"*'     If"     -  f 

~             1 

la 

"'.  \    ■ •  :  • 

7*  # 

1 

^flh 

SOLDIERS   LEAVTXG  DE  KALB  FOR  SPANISH-AMERICAN  WAR. 


PUS,  I . 


-s^iS.1 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE   KALI'.    COUNTY. 


323 


nie.  and  our  sister  town  of  Sycamore,  in  the  north 
part  of  the  county,  has  shown  its  good  taste,  as 
well  as  kindly  feeling,  by  naming  its  most  beauti- 
ful street  after  our  town,  and  tins  town  and  that 
street  are  doubtless  the  only  portions  of  the  green 
earth  that  bear  this  name,  and  possibly  this  area 
may  become  even  less  in  the  neai  future,  if  some 
things  happen  that  may  happen. 

The  first  school  in  the  township  appears  to  have 
been  taught  by  Lucius  Frisbee  in  the  winter  of 
1S3G-37  at  the  house  of  Thos.  Brook,  on  the  west 
side  of  the  creek,  with  about  a  dozen  scholars.  The 
first  school  house  was  of  logs  and  was  built  in  the 
limber  on  the  claim  of  Mr.  Witherspoon,  as  near 
as  I  can  learn,  and  was  used  also  for  religious 
meetings. 

The  first  religious  service  probably  was  held  by 
a  transient  Methodist  minister  at.  the  house  of 
Simon  Price  in  the  winter  of  1835-36,  and  a  Meth- 
mlist  class  was  organized  in  1836  by  Rev.  Wm. 
Royal,  a  half  dozen  or  more  good  women  com- 
posing it,  the  men  apparently  being  too  much  oc- 
cupied by  their  labors  to  give  suitable  attention  to 
this  matter  at  that  time.  I  have  not  been  able  to 
ascertain  with  certainty  when  the  first  church 
building  was  erected  in  the  township.  It  may 
have  been  that  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church, 
which  was  erected  in  1849,  on  the  site  of  their 
present  beautiful  edifice,  but  it  is  probable  that  the 
building  now  occupied  for  school  purposes  in  the 
Coleman  district  and  which  was  originally  a  Wes- 
leyan  church,  was  built  a  few  years  earlier.  For 
the  first  few  years  religious  services  here,  as  in 
all  new  settlements,  w-ere  held  in  the  school  houses. 

The  first  store  seems  to  have  been  started  in 
1847  by  Wm.  H.  Beavers  at  the  cross  roads  now 
known  as  Freeland  Corners,  and  after  passing 
through  several  hands  into  those  of  Alex  R.  Pat- 
ten, was  removed  to  Sandwich  in  1854,  soon  after 
which  George  and  James  H.  Culver  became  the 
owners  arid  conducted  it  successfully  for  many 
years. 

Joseph  Hamlin  was  the  first  blacksmith  to  start 
a  shop  in  the  town,  which  he  did  also  at  the  Cor- 
ners, at  an  early  day. 

The  first  physician  to  locate  in  the  township 
was  Stephen  Arnold,  in  1836,  a  good  man,  who 
combined  with  his  labors  as  a  farmer  and  as  a 
physician    those    also    of    a   local    preacher.      His 


farm  of  320  acres  comprised  a  large  part  of  what 
is  now  the  north  part  of  the  city  of  Sandwich. 

Many  more  details  in  regard  to  the  early  settle- 
ment of  the  town  might  be  given  did  time  allow, 
and  it  would  be  of  especial  interest  to  many  pres- 
ent were  there  time  to  speak  at  length  in  regard 
to  the  early  days  of  Sandwich,  in  addition  to  what 
I  have  said  in  another  part  of  this  paper,  but  all 
that  must  be  reserved  for  some  other  occasion,  or 
may  be  spoken  of  by  others  present  who  are  famil- 
iar with  the  facts. 

I  cannot  dismiss  the  old  settlers  of  Somonauk 
without  a  further  brief  tribute  to  their  memory, 
ami  cannot  better  express  it  than  by  using  the 
words  of  another  in  part :  The  settlers  were  poor. 
Their  dwellings  were  nearly  all  of  logs,  roofed 
with  shakes  and  floored  with  puncheons.  Many 
of  them  were  ill-constructed,  cold  and  comfortless. 

To  add  to  their  discomfort,  the  season  was  sick- 
ly, and  in  many  of  the  little  cabins  the  puncheon 
lb  mi-  was  at  times  covered  with  the  beds  of  the 
sick,  leaving  hardly  enough  well  persons  to  care 
I'o rthe  sick.  Almost  all  suffered  with  ague  and 
in  most  of  the  settlers,  accustomed  as  they  had  been 
•  at.  least  to  the  comforts  of  life,  their  lot  seemed 
hard  indeed.  Nothing  they  produced  was  saleable 
for  money  except  winter  wheat,  ami  although  their 
crops  of  this  were  good  it  yielded  them  little  after 
the  heavy  expense  of  drawing  to  the  Chicago  mar- 
ket. 60  miles  distant  over  the  almost  trackless  prai- 
rie,  and  through  unbridged  streams  and  sloughs, 
ami  when  the  government  land  sale  came  on  in 
1843,  and  the  claims  must  lie  paid  for  or  lost,  the 
settlers  were  completely  drained  of  their  small 
savings,  and  many  of  them  were  compelled  to  bor- 
row at  excessive  rates  of  interest  or  arrange  with 
their  somewhat  more  fortunate  neighbors  or  a  Chi- 
cago capitalist  to  enter  their  land  for  them,  taking 
contracts  for  deeds  when  they  should  he  able  to  pay. 
But  during  all  these  trials  and  difficulties  the  set- 
tlers maintained  kindly  feelings  with  each  other, 
the  well  ones  caring  for  the  sick,  and  those  having 
a  little  means  assisting  those  who  lacked ;  and  not- 
withstanding their  privations  and  hardships  the 
survivors  of  those  times  almost  uniformly  tell  us 
that  those  were  the  happiest  days  of  their  lives. 
As  a  rule  they  were  men  of  sturdy  honesty,  of  fru- 
gal and  industrious  habits,  leaving  to  their  de- 
scendants the  priceless  legacy  of  a  good  name,  as 
well  as  the  broad  acres,  which  by  their  persevering 


326 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF  DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


labors  they  had  wrested  from  a  state  of  nature, 
and  had  made  beautiful  and  fruitful  as  the  "Gar- 
den of  the  Lord." 

We  who  have  entered  so  largely  into  the  results 
of  their  labors  and  sacrifices  and  have  benefited  so 
much  from  them,  do  well  on  such  occasions  as  this 
to  recall  their  memories  and  bestow  the  tribute  of 
out  gratitude  and  kindly  remembrance. 

THE  BENCH  AND  BAH. 

Judicial  proceedings  began  very  early  in  the 
history  of  I>e  Kalb  county,  and  through  a  long  and 
mosi  honorable  career  they  have  b  en  condi 
upon  a  plan  thai  has  hi  en  at  once  the  prid' 
our  citizens  and  the  envy  of  surrounding  juris- 
diction. Tin-  story  of  our  courts  has  added  lustre 
to  De  Kalli  county  history  and  honor  to  a  high 
calling. 

The  Hi  -:  3ession  of  the  court  was  held  al  the 
house  of  Rufus  Colton  in  Coltonville,  on  the  9th 
day  of  i  Ictoto  r,  1 338,  Judge  John  Pearson 
presiding.     Tin     firs!    suil    was   thai    of    Erasmus 

Walrod  vs  Stephen  Shern I.     This  case  was  an 

il  from  a  justice  court,  and  the  judgment  of 
the  lower  courl  wat  I 

on  the  dockei  ai  this  term.     Tl     J    i     term 
of  the  circuit  courl  convened  ai  Coltonville,  with 
Judge  Thomas    Ford   presiding.     While  the  i 
was  in  session  the  hoard  of  county  commissioners 
ordered    its   clerk   to   notify   the  Judge  thai 
new  court  house  was  ready.     Captain   Eli   B: 

•d  the  no  in   the  Judge.     Judgt    I  ord 

decided  thai  the  courl  musl  remove  to  Sycamore. 
According  to  Boise,  "Judge  Ford  look  his  record 
under  his  arm.  state-  Attorney  Purple  bundled 
up  his  papers,  the  sheriff,  lawyers,  jurors,  parties 
and  witnesses  followed  suit,  and,  led  by  Capt. 
Barnes  on  thai  well  known  spotted  horse  that  he 
rode  upon  all  public  occasions  for  more  than 
twenty  years  later,  all  took-  up  their  line  of  march 
through  the  thick  woods  and  across  the  green 
prairies,  to  the  new  seat  of  empire  at  Sycamore." 
Judge  Ford  presided  at  each  session  of  the  circuit 
court  from  1839  to  IS  11  inclusive.  He  was  fol- 
lowed by  Hon.  J.  D.  Caton  of  Chicago,  from  1842 
to  IS  19.  Judge  T.  Lyle  Dickey  of  Ottawa,  fol- 
lowed in  ls."iO.  Tie  was  succeeded  by  Judge  Isaac 
G.  Wilson  of  Geneva,  in  1851.  Hon.  Allen  C. 
fuller,  of  Belvidere,   nexl    discharged    I 


of  that  office.  He  remained  on  the  bench  but  a 
short  time,  however,  resigning  to  receive  the  ap- 
pointment of  Adjutant  General,  and  Hon.  T.  D. 
Murphy  of  Woodstock,  was  elected  to  succeed  him 
in  1862.  He  was  re-elected  June  27,  1867,  and 
served  until   1879. 

By  the  act  of  1877,  three  judges  were  elected 
to  each  circuit,  and  Judges  Clark  W.  Upton  of 
Waukegan,  Isaac  G.  Wilson  of  Geneva,  and  Chas. 
Kelluiu  of  Sycamore,  were  commissioned  for  this 
circuit  :  the)  were  followed  by  Geo.  Brown  of 
Whcaton.  II.  1 1.  Willis  of  Elgin,  and  Chas.  A. 
Bishop  ol  Sycamore,  who  are  still  on  the  bench. 

Every  bar  has  a  number  of  natural  born  lead- 
er- of  men.  advocates  skilled  trial  lawyers,  bril- 
liant orators,  and  DeKalb  county  bar  form  no 
prions.  The  firs!  law  yer  to  take  up  the  prac- 
f  his  profession  in  DeKalb  county  was  Mr. 
Crothers,  who  located  in  Coltonville  when  the  vil- 
lage was  laid  oul  in  L837,  and  remained  until  the 

hi     seal   was   removed   to  Sycamore,  when  he 

moved  to  Ottawa,  where  he  became  associated  with 
T.  Lyle  Dickey.  Mr.  Crothers  was  a  man  of 
natural  abilities  and  desired  a  wider  field 
for  work.  Andrew  J.  Brown  was  the  second 
lawyer  to  locate  in  DeKalb  county,  lie  was  soon 
follow,  d  Messrs.  Masters,  Favor,  E.  1..  Mayo,  and 
W.  .1.  Iliini.  E.  L.  Mayo,  however,  was  the  only 
one  of  them  to  practice  law  successfully,  the  others 
either  giving  up  their  profession  and  entering 
other  lines  of  business  or  moving  to  some  other 
location.  The  names  of  memberE  of  the  bar  dur- 
ing the  earlier  history  are  John  L.  Bi  .-  idge,  who 
is  located  in  Sycamore  and  opened  a  law  office  in 
1849,  but  removed  to  Evanston  in  1854,  ho  was 
afterward  governor  of  Illinois:  Jacob  A.  Simon, 
who  removed  in  the  60's  to  Missouri  Valley,  Iowa: 
A.  ( '.  Allen,  who  in  the  second  decade  of  our 
county's  history  had  a  larger  practice  than  any 
lawyer  in  the  county:  1>.  P>.  James,  /dolus  B. 
do.  William  Fordham,  0.  S.  Webster,  A.  C. 
Bryant,    Gilberl    \\  inters,    Volney    Owen,    I 

Balliette.    F.    P.    Partridge.    Mr.    McBr Q,    Geo. 

Kretsinger,  J.  TT.  Sedgwick.  L.  F.  Hay,  J.  J. 
McKinnon,  T.'.  L.  Divine,  J.  Frank  Meeker,  0.  J. 
Bailey  and  A.  C.  Babcock.  Among  the  members 
prising  the  bar  during  the  las!  three  decades, 
are  from  Sycamore:  Luther  Lowell,  Chauncey  Ell- 
wood.  George  S.  Robinson,  H  A.  Jones.  George 
Brown.   Frank   E.    Stevens.   D.   J.    Carnos.   J.   B. 


PAST  AND  I'h'KSKNT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY, 


327 


Stephens,  G.  H.  Denton,  J.  L.  Pratt,  J.  H.  Ken- 
yon,  Chas.  A.  Bishop,  George  W.  Dunton,  J.  J. 
Flannery,  W.  C.  Kellum.  L.  F.  Hodge,  A.  H. 
Waterman.  H.  S.  Earley,  C.  D.  Sogers,  Walter 
Langlois,  Thos.  W.  Cliffe,  Adam  C.  Cliffe,  J.  W. 
Cliffe,  J.  N.  Finnegan.  H.  T.  Smith,  John  Fais- 
sler  and  E.  M.  Burst;  from  DeKalb,  E.  B.  Gilbert, 
Thos.  M.  Hopkins,  W.  L.  Pond,  W.  L.  Eathbone, 
I.  V.  Randall,  D.  E.  Reed,  C.  A.  Boise,  J.  E.  Mat- 
teson,  A.  G.  Kennedy,  H.  W.  Prentice  and  J.  S. 
Orr;  from  Sandwich,  E.  G.  Coe,  W.  W.  Sedgwick, 
S.  B.  Stinson,  J.  I.  Montgomery,  J.  B.  Castle, 
Eugene  Randall  aud  John  W.  Bice;  from  Genoa, 
G.  E.  Scott  and  A.  S.  Hollenbeak,  and  from 
Somonauk,  C.  B.  Olmstead. 

Among  the  members  of  the  DeKalb  county  bar 
who  have  served  as  county  judges  are :  Hon.  E. 
L.  Mayo,  three  terms,  being  elected  in  1849,  serv- 
ing till  1857;  Judge  George  PI.  Hill  of  Kingston 
(who  was  not  admitted  to  the  bar)  presided  on 
the  bench  till  1861,  when  E.  L.  Mayo  served 
another  term;  Hon.  D.  B.  James,  who  served  from 
1865  to  1869 ;  Hon.  Luther  Lowell,  whose  term 
extended  from  1869  to  1877;  Hon.  Geo.  S.  Rob- 
inson, who  served  from  1877  to  1882,  resigning 
on  account  of  business  which  needed  his  attention 
in  Vermont.  In  July.  1882,  Hon.  S.  B.  Stinson 
of  Sandwich,  was  appointed  by  Governor  Cullom 
to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  Judge  Robinson,  and 
was  elected  at  the  following  election,  but  he  was 
compelled  by  poor  health  to  resign  the  judgeship 
in  February,  1883,  and  April  3,  1883.  Judge 
Luther  Lowell  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy; 
(*.  A.  Bishop  served  from  1886  to  1897:  W.  L. 
Pond,  present  county  judge,  was  elected  to  fill 
vacancy  caused  by  Judge  Bishop"s  resignation  in 
1897,  and  was  re-elected  in  1898. 

As  a  learned  profession,  the  law  is  justly  ranked 
foremost  in  our  county,  and  the  story  of  the  men 
who  have  made  its  history  in  DeKalb  county  is 
the  story  of  men  who  have  been  foremost  in  our 
history  and  progress.  Among  some  of  the  most 
influential  are  the  following  with  a  short  sketch 
of  their  lives : 

Richard  L.  Divine  was  born  September  27, 
1832,  in  Fallsburg,  Sullivan  county,  N.  Y.  He 
was  educated  in  the  common  and  a  select  school 
He  studied  law  for  a  time  in  Monticello.  N.  Y., 
and  aftetrwards  with  Hon.  E.  L.  Mayo  in  Syca- 
more, and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  this  state 


in  March,  1860,  and  practiced  in  Sycamore  until 
he  died,  in  August,  1882.  He  had  a  large  prac- 
tice, although  he  devoted  a  part  of  his  time  to  the 
banking  business,  in  which  latter  business  he 
accumulated  a  fortune.  He  was  a  man  of  strong 
will,  wonderful  energy  and  great  application,  and 
as  a  trial  lawyer  ranked  with  the  best  in  this  part 
of  the  state.  He  was  a  Republican,  but  did  not 
give  much  attention  to  politics  or  society.  He  de- 
voted his  energies  to  the  law  and  to  his  banking 
business,  in  each  of  which  he  was  very  successful. 

Hon.  Luther  Lowell  was  born  May  14,  1827, 
at  Brookfield,  Orange  county,  Vermont.  He  is  a 
graduate  of  Middleburg  College.  Vermont,  and 
spent  his  younger  years  in  teaching.  He  came 
to  Sycamore  in  1856,  studied  law  with  the  firm 
of  Mayo  &  James,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1857.  He  commenced  practice  in  partnership 
with  his  preceptors,  and  afterwards  at  different 
times  was  in  the  firms  of  James,  Lowell  &  Ell- 
wood,  Lowell  &  Sedgwick,  Lowell  &  Meeker,  Lowell 
&  Carnes  and  Lowell  &  Pond.  As  mentioned  in 
another  part  of  this  article,  he  was  for  many 
years  county  judge,  an  office  for  which  he  was 
by  nature  peculiarly  fitted,  and  he  brought  the 
probate  practice  in  that  court  to  a  high  standard 
of  excellence.  He  was  for  several  years,  master 
in  chancery  of  the  circuit  court  of  this  county, 
where  again  his  habits  of  thought  and  business 
methods  made  him  a  valuable  and  efficient  officer. 
He  was  never'  engaged  extensively  in  litigated 
business,  and  was  not  what  is  termed  a  jury  advo- 
cate, but  in  chancery,  probate  and  office  business 
he  ranked  with  the  best  lawyers,  not  only  of  this 
county,  but  of  this  part  of  the  state.  He  is  still 
living  at  Sycamore,  but  because  of  poor  health 
has  retired  from  practice. 

Eli  B.  Gilbert  was  born  in  Laurens,  Osage 
county,  N.  Y.,  April  12,  1822,  and  died  in  De- 
Kalb August  30,  1895.  He  had  an  academic 
education.  He  came  to  DeKalb  county  in  1847 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1858,  and  practiced 
law  in  DeKalb  until  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1895.  He  did  a  large  office  business, 
and  was  for  many  years  justice  of  the  peace  in 
DeKalb.  He  never  sought  or  enjoyed  the  con- 
tests incident  to  the  practice  of  a  trial  lawyer, 
but  was  regarded  as  a  good  counselor,  and  was 
highly  esteemed  at  the  bar  and  in  the  community 
in  which  be  lived. 


PAST    AND    PKESENT    OF    DE    KAMI    COUNTY 


Ira    Vail    Randal]   was   born  at    Mount    Holly, 
Vermont,    March    2,    1820,   and   died   in   DeKall» 
January   12,    L897.     He  had   an  academic  educa- 
d   to  the  bar  at  Rutland,  Ver- 
,    in    1847.     In    L856    he   came    to   DeKalb, 
where  he  practiced  bis  profession  until  his  death. 
In  In-  later  years  he  was  not  in  very  active  prac- 
of    Eailing   health.       At   an  earlier 
■    prai  i  ii  ■■  and  a  good  reputation 
as  a  trial  lawyer.     Ee  was  a  man  of  verj  gentle- 
manly   demeanor.     A    Republican   in  politics  and 

d   considerable 
of  his  time  to  public  speaking  on  various  topics. 

1  ■  rge  S.  Robinson  was  born  June  2  i.  L82 1. 
in  Derby,  Orleans  county,  Vermont,  and  died  in 
Sycamore  in  1894.  Was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1846  in  Vermont.  Ee  spent  a  pan  of  hi>  earlier 
years  in  teaching,  and  practiced  Ids  profession  for 
ral  years  in  the  south.  In  1866  he  moved  to 
Sycamore  and  entered  into  a  partnership  with 
Charles  Kellmn.  which  lasted  four  years.  Ee 
afterwards  i  ed    here    until    1887,    when    he 

was- elected  county  judge,  n  i   held  five 

years.     Ee  also  held  thi   office  ol  master  in  ehanc- 
i  ry  Eor  a  number  of  years,  ai  or  many  years 

Board  of  Charities.     J 
Robinson   was  a  gentleman   in  ever)    respect   and 
very  highly  esteemed  in  the  community  when-  he 
resided     Ee  had  a  large  acquaintance  among  the 
public  men  of  this  state,  all  of  whom  held  hin 
high    regard.     Ee    was    a    very    p  mblic 

speaker  and  filled  every  office  to  which  he  was 
called  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  sal 
of  the  people.  Ee  uevi  r  entered  largely  into 
what  is  known  as  jury  business,  hut  gave  his  at- 
tention to  other  branches  of  his  profession  ai 
his  private  business,  which  in  later  rears  became 
quite  extensive,  and  was  always  a  much  esteemed 
and  res  member  of  the  bar. 

Edward  L.  Mayo  was  born  April  7,  1807,  in 
Moretown,  Washington  county,  Vermont,  and 
di.-d  tfovembi  r  16,  1877,  at  DeKalb,  Illinois.  Re 
had  an  academic  education  and  studied  law  at 
Montpelier,  Vermont,  and  was  there  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1835.  In  is n  he  came  to  Sycamore 
and  was  in  practice  there  until  a  few  years 
fore  In-  death,  for  several  ding  ih  ■  office 

of  county  judge,  as  will   be  seen  by  reference  to 

article.     Ee  ranked  hish  an 
the  lawyers  of  this   part  of  the  state  during  his 


active  business  years.  Law  books  were  then  not 
numerous  and  the  practice  did  not  involve  large 
interests.  Ee  had  no  taste  for  speculation,  but 
had  a  fine  legal  mind  and  was  an  excellent  law- 
yer, both  from  the  lawyer's  and  layman's  stand- 
point, lie  never  acquired  a  large  property,  lie- 
cause  there  was  qo  opportunity  except  in  specula- 
tion and  investments  to  acquire  one  in  this  county 
in  his  profession  m  his  day.  but  he  left  an  enviable 
ation  at  the  bar  that  will  long  survive  him. 
Charles  Kellum  was  born  in  Dimock,  Susque- 
hanna county,  Pa.,  Mar.  h  16,  1821.  He  is  a 
educated  man  and  lias  an  academic  education. 
Ee  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  LaPorte,  Indiana, 
and  came  to  Sycamore  in  lsl'J.  where  h,  en-;iL'<  d 
in   the  pi  on,  a  part  of  the 

rms  of  kellum  &  Robinson,  Kellum 
&  Balliet,  Kellum  &  Carnes  and  Kellum  &  Steph- 
ens. Ee  was  three  times  elected  circuit  judge  of 
■  judicial  circuit,  as  note,]  [n  another  place  m 
this  article,  and  was  at  one  time  state's  attorney 
for  the  circuit,  when  the  duties  of  the  state's  at- 
torney extended  to  the  who],-  circuit  instead  of 
being  confined  to  this  countj  as  now.  For  many 
years  he  was  engaged  in  substantially  all  the  im- 
portant active  litigation  of  this  county.  He  ex- 
celled as  a  jury  advocate  and  was  what  is  known 
among  lawyers  as  a  "legal  mind."  Few  men  have 
50  broad  comprehension  and  clear  expression  of 
propositions  of  law  as  Judge  Kellum.  He  was 
tin  ideal  trial  judge.  In  the  days  of  his  active 
practice  the  amounts  involved  in  litigation  were 
small.  Ee  was  always  moderate  in  his  charges 
of  fees,  and  never  engaged  in  sp  i  illation  and 
business,  in  which  field  many  lawyers  of  his  day 
acquired  wealth.  Ee  is  a  Republican  in  pol 
but  not  a  politician,  and  successive  elections  to  the 
■thee  of  circuit  judge  were  due  entirely  to  the 
m  in  which  he  was  held  as  a  lawyer  and  a 
man  by  the  bar  and  the  people  of  the  circuit.  lie 
i-  still  engaged  in  the  practice.,  though  not  ac- 
tively. 

Stephen  I!.  Stinson  was  born  October  ".  1820. 
in  Boston.  Mass..  and  died  in  Sandwich,  111.,  in 
18S9.  IF-  was  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College. 
Was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Albany,  X.  Y..  in 
In  1856  he  came  to  Sandwich,  where  he 
practiced  his  profession  until  the  time  of  his 
.  in  1899.  being  at  one  time  countv  judge  of 
this  county,     lie  never  engaged  in  litigated  prac- 


PAST    AND    PBESENT    OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


329 


tice  to  any  great  extent,  but  was  a  good  office 
lawyer  and  safe  adviser,  and  as  such  a  very  val- 
uable man  to  the  community  in  which  he  lived. 
He  was  very  much  esteemed  by  the  other  mem- 
bers of  the  bar  and  was  very  much  of  a  gentleman 
with  literary  taste  and  tendencies  that  impelled 
him  to  a  quiet  life  rather  than  to  the  active  bustle 
of  such  professional  work  as  the  country  afforded 
in  his  younger  days. 

Chauncey  Ellwood  was  born  December  14, 1816. 
in  Minden,  Montgomery  county,  N.  Y.,  and  died 
at  Sycamore,  Illinois,  in  1897.  He  had  an  aca- 
demic education;  was  admitted  to  practice  in 
Illinois  in  1858,  and  practiced  at  Sycamore  a  few 
years  in  the  firms  of  James.  Lowell  &  Ellwood 
and  Owen  &  Ellwood.  He  was  by  nature  a  busi- 
ness man  more  than  a  lawyer.  He  took  an  active 
interest  in  public  affairs  and  field  many  public 
offices.  His  private  business  was  always  large, 
and  he  acquired  a  considerable  fortune  in  its 
management.  Though  for  more  than  twenty-five 
years  lief  ore  his  death  he  did  not  practice  his  pro- 
fession, he  always  took  a  great  interest  in  the  bar 
and  attended  its  meetings,  and  was  much  esteemed 
by  the  members  of  the  bar,  as  well  as  by  the  com- 
munity generally. 

Harvev  A.  Jones,  nestor  of  the  DeKalb  county 
bar,  is  of  Scotch  and  Irish  and  Welch  descent, 
opened  his  eves  first  in  the  Hoosier  state  in  1837, 
and  was  a  boy  of  the  farm.  He  entered  Wabash 
College  and  two  years  later  Lombard  University. 
He,  like  most  lawyers  of  his  day,  began  his  active 
work  for  himself  as  a  pedagogue.  He  studied 
law  with  Hon.  A.  M.  Harrington,  Geneva,  III, 
and  finally  graduated  from  Law  Department  of 
the  Michigan  University.  Mr.  Jones  first  formed 
a  partnership  with  Hon.  Dan.  B.  James,  which 
lasted  three  years.  In  1880  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  C.  A.  Bishop,  which  continued  until 
the  latter  became  county  judge,  and  at  present  he 
is  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Jones  &  Bogers. 
Mr.  Jones  is  distinctly  a  trial  lawyer,  a  tireless 
worker,  and  an  antagonist  at  the  bar  whom  the 
opponents  always  consider  dangerous.  His  suc- 
cess as  a  practitioner  in  the  appellate  and  supreme 
courts  has  been  marked.  Mr.  Jones  is  an  om- 
nivorous reader,  a  staunch  Bepublican.  a  presi- 
dential elector  in  1888,  was  a  strong  advocate  of 
temperance,  and  strange  perhaps  to  many  it  may 
seem,   but  no   less   true,   a   tbeologian.     He   once 


preached  a  sermon  of  such  force  and  power  that 
even  the  speaker  himself  was  surprised  at  the 
religious  fervor  created.  Mr.  Jones  has  fought 
his  way  to  prominence  and  now,  in  his  three  score 
and  ten  years,  enjoys  the  fruits  of  his  successful 
struggle. 

Thos.  M.  Cliffe,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Cliffe  Bros.,  was  born  in  I860,  educated  in  the 
Sycamore  schools,  graduating  in  1883.  He  en- 
tered the  office  of  Jones  &  Bishop,  and  later 
graduated  from  the  Union  Law  School.  Chicago. 
He  immediately  demonstrated  his  ability  as  a 
trial  lawyer  and  at  present  has  no  superior  at 
this  bar.  He  has  also  shown  marked  ability  as  a 
criminal  lawyer  and  has  won  many  notable  cases. 
He  is  an  effectual  campaigner,  and  has  done  loyal 
service  for  the  Bepublican  party.  At  present  he 
is  master  in  chancery.  Mr.  Cliffe  is  still  a  young 
man,  with  a  bright  future  that  will  answer  to  his 
bidding. 

Geo.  W.  Dunton  of  the  firm  of  Carries  &  Dun- 
ton,  was  born  in  Belvidere.  111.,  in  1854,  was  a 
student  of  the  Belvidere  schools  and  at  the  age 
of  17  entered  the  University  of  Iowa,  graduating 
in  1875.  He  entered  Union  College  of  Law  in 
Chicago  and  two  years  later  was  admitted  to  the 
bar.  His  father  was  a  man  of  splendid  business 
capacity.  Mr.  Dunton  inherits  those  qualities 
and  his  career  as  a  business  man  has  been  as  suc- 
c<  ssful  as  his  work  at  the  liar.  He  is  a  man  of 
Xew  England  heritage,  possesses  those  qualities  of 
thrift  and  industry  common  to  many  descendants 
of  those  states,  poor  in  soil,  but  rich  in  a  vigorous, 
honorable  manhood. 

In  the  firm  he  has  assisted  to  prominence  he  was 
known  as  the  silent  member,  not  often  taking 
part  in  trial  cases.  His  work  was  none  the  less 
efficient,  however.  He  is  a  deep  and  thorough 
student  and  goes  to  the  bottom  of  whatever  he 
turns  his  hand  to.  As  a  counselor,  a  business  law- 
yer, a  man  of  profound  mind  and  strong  character 
he  has  no  superiors  in  our  part  of  the  state. 

D.  J.  Carnes,  one  of  the  foremost  practitioners 
of  his  profession  in  Northern  Illinois,  is  of  New 
England  origin,  having  the  blood  of  the  three 
vigorous  races  that  constitute  the  nationalities 
of  the  British  Isles:  but  for  over  two  centuries 
his  immediate  ancestors  have  been  residents  of 
the  land  of  the  Puritans  and  Mr.  Carnes  himself 
exhibits  a  trulv  Now  England  flavor. 


0 


PAST   AND    PRESENT   OF   DE    KALB   COUNTY. 


Jlr  \iiib  born  and  reared  on  a  "Vermont  farm," 
where  a  lazy  man  finds  life  unbearable,  and  no 
doubt  his  habits  of  industry  and  thoroughness  were 
firmly  founded  during  this  period  of  his  life. 

Jh-  educational  training  after  leaving  school 
was  for  the  profession  of  teaching  and  he  gradu- 
ated from  the  Vermont  State  Normal,  then  fol- 
lowed that  vocation  until  he  entered  the  law  of- 
fice of  Hon.  Charles  Kellum,  being  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1875.  He  formed  a  partnership  with 
Mr.  Kellum  and  later  with  Judge  Lowell.  He 
next  became  associated  with  the  firm,  known  so 
long  and  favorably  as  Carni  -  &  Dunton. 

Mr.  Carnes5  advance  in  his  profi  ssion  was  rapid 
and  he  soon  took  front  rank  at  the  De  Kalb  county 
bar,  and  soon  appeared  in  other  counties  and  in 
the  Appellate  and  Supreme  courts,  so  the  fi< 
his  practice  is  as  extensive  as  any  lawyer  in  our 
part  of  the  state.    He  is  a  forceful  speaker,  a 

soner,  has  a  philosophic  mind  and  a  quick  per- 
ception, is  a  strong  trial  lawyer  and  a  good  i 

Hi    succeeds  well   in   many  different  lines 
of  legal  work  so  thai  no  particular  line  of  practice 

special  emphasis.     He    - 
man  of  probity,  well   read,  and  -  th     true 

genius  of  a  typical  Yankee. 

MEDICINE    Wl>  SUEGEEY. 

The  various  branches  of  medical  science  are 
well  and  abb.  represented  in  De  Kalb  county. 
Front  the  daj  when  Old  Shabbona  and  his  herbs 
the  practice  of  this  noble  calling  in  this 
county,  it  has  been  r<  pres  nted  by  a  lot  of  sterling. 
self-sacrificing  men.  and  at  no  time  did  it  stand 
higher  in  the  estimation  of  our  people  than  at 
the  present  time. 

In  general,  this  is  a  healthy  locality,  no  viru- 
lenl    epidemics   are    recorded    in    its   history,   but 
what  ever  emergencies  have  arisen  they  have 
met  by  our  physicians  and  conquered. 

The  progress  we  are  making  in  all  matters  sani- 
tary which  tend  to  prolong  life  and  happiness,  is 
largely  due  to  the  leadership  of  our  learned  doctors 
of  medicine.  The  illustrations  which  accompany 
tin's  sketch,  while  they  do  not  exhaust  the  list  of 
those  who  have  and  are  practicing  medicine  in 
the  county,  are  fairly  representative  of  the  men 
who  stand  in  the  foreground  of  one  of  the  most 
advanced    of   our   learned   professions. 


Dr.  Horatio  F.  Page,  the  first  permanently 
located  doctor  in  Sycamore,  was  born  at  Hawley, 
Franklm  county,  Massachusetts,  September  22, 
1811.  His  parents,  Levi  and  Cynthia  Macomber 
Page  were  both  natives  of  Massachusetts,  and  they 
gave  their  son  the  advantages  oi  a  good  education. 
He  studied  with  Dr.  Winslow,  in  Charlemont, 
Mass.,  three  years  and  finished  his  studies  at  Wil- 
liamstown,  Mass.  In  1831  or  '38  he  came  wesl  to 
DeKalb  county,  locating  in  Genoa,  where  he  re- 
mained for  about  a  year  and  in  1838  or  '39  settled 
permanently  at  Sycamore.  A  few  years  later  he 
went  back  east,  and  in  1849  was  married  to 
Eliza  A.  Pratt  at  Pittsfield,  Mass.  They  lived 
congenially  t<  _  and  she  died   in   1889.     Dr. 

Page  »as  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church, 
a  Republican  in  politics  and  a  straightforward 
He  was  the  firsi  physician  of  Sycamore 
and  lived  on  what  is  now  the  C.  0.  Boynton  place. 
lie  practiced  medicine  at  the  county  seat  from 
I  until  three  months  before  his  death,  which 
occurred  -Tune  23,  1873,  when  he  was  62  years  of 
age. 

Dr.  Stephen  Newell  Fish  was  for  many  years 
the  most  celebrated  physician  in  southwestern 
DeKalb  county.  His  practice  extended  through 
the  territory  between  Ross  and  Melugin's  Grove 
and  from  Milan  to  Earlville.  He  was  of  Vermont 
parentage,  possessed  an  academic  education  and 
was  a  graduate  of  Rush  Medical  College.  His 
was  Miss  Libbie  Cory,  of  Pawpaw.  Two  hoys 
were  born  to  them,  both  of  whom  sleep  by  the  side 
of  their  father  in  the  cemetery  at  Pawpaw.  In 
early  day-  everybody  knew  Dr.  Fish  and  loved 
him   for  his  sterling  worth. 

Another  of  the  old  time  physicians  of  the  smith 
part  of  the  county  was  Col.  Ryan  of  the  75th  011- 
-  \  i  i  rs.  He  began  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine in  that  section  in  the  early  50's,  and  when  the 
war  broke  out  he  went  to  the  front  with  his  regi- 
n  ent,  and  when  he  returned  settled  at  Amboy, 
where  he  died.  Many  old  settlers  of  south  De- 
Kalb county  well  remember  the  kindly  ministra- 
tions of  Dr.  Evan. 

Dr.  Orlando  M.  Bryan,  lately  deceased,  was  for 
Mars  a  prominent  physician  of  Sycamore  and  one 
of  the  pioneer  medicine  men  of  the  county.  He 
first  saw  the  light  of  day  in  Fairfield.  Herkimer 
county,  New  York.  Juh  6,  1823.  Mini  was  a  son  of 
Dr.   M.   L.  and    Phcebe    (Whiteside)    Brvan.     He 


PAST   AND   PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


33] 


received  a  common  education  of  medicine,  finish- 
ing his  education  and  receiving  his  degree  at  the 
University  of  New  York  City  in  1844.  At  the 
age  23  years  he  came  west  and  located  near 
Sycamore.  Later,  in  the  year  of  1849,  he  was 
married  to  Jane  Leslie  Voorhees,  daughter  of 
James  and  Martha  Voorhees  of  Onondago  county, 
New  York,  and  to  them  six  children  were  born. 
Jane  Leslie,  the  only  survivor,  is  the  wife  of 
Elthom  Rogers.  Dr.  Bryan  did  much  toward  the 
growth  of  Sycamore,  the  town  which  ho  grew  up 
with.  He  gave  his  undivided  attention  to  his 
medical  duties  until  1861,  and  then  served  during 
the  war  as  physician  and  surgeon,  receiving  his 
discharge  in  1866,  at  Santa  Fe,  N.  M.,  while  he  had 
the  rank  of  colonel,  by  brevet.  Giving  up  the  army 
life,  lie  resumed  practice  in  Sycamore  and  min- 
istered to  the  i'ni's  id  fleshly  ills  until  failing 
health,  in  1873,  compelled  him  to  seek  another 
climate,  and  during  the  last  years  of  his  life  he 
passed  the  winters  in  California.  He  died  in 
1892. 

Dr.  Ellsworth  Rose  was  born  in  Sherburne, 
Chenango  county,  N"ew  York,  March  26,  1811,  and 
died  in  Sycamore,  111..  January  1!',  1892,  in  his 
81st  year.  He  was  educated  for  the  medical 
profession  at  Willoughby  Medical  College,  Ohio, 
and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Evans, 
Erie  county.  New  York.  He  removed  to  Sycamore 
in  184:!  and  was  for  many  years  in  successful  prac- 
tice of  his  chosen  calling.  All  lines  of  reform 
found  in  him  a  warm-hearted,  clear-headed  and 
earnest  advocate.  He  was  true  to  his  convictions 
when  adherence  to  them  might  mean  loss  fof 
popularity  and  friends.  He  bad  an  unusual 
knowledge  of  human  nature  and  correct  judgment 
of  character.  His  judicial  cast  of  mind  would 
have  made  him  eminent  as  a  consulting  jurist  if 
he  bad  chosen  the  legal  profession.  It  may  he 
worthy  of  note  that  Dr.  Rose  ;nul  Dr.  O.  M.  Bryan, 
wlio  were  in  contemporary  practice  in  Rvcamore 
from  an  early  date,  both  died  in  the  same  year. 

Dr.  Leslie  M.  Hoyt  was  born  November  29. 
1858,  at  tlv  old  Hoyt  homestead  six  miles  west 
of  Sycamore.  He  is  the  son  of  Lewis  Hoyt  and 
grandson  of  Lewis  S.  Hoyt,  who  settled  in  DeKalb 
county  in  1850.  Dr.  Hoyt's  early  life  was  spent 
on  the  farm;  he  was  educated  at  the  public  school 
nnd  the  Sycamore  High  school,  and  in  1880  ho 
ertered     Rush     Medical     College.    Chicago,    from 


which  institution  he  graduated  in  1883.  Dr. 
Ilovt  Srst  located  at  Muskegon,  Mich.,  where  he 
was  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion, giving  more  especial  attention  to  the  branch 
of  surgery.  On  November  25,  1885,  he  married 
Inez  P.  Colton  at  De  Kalb,  111.,  and  in  the  same 
year  removed  with  his  wife  to  Smith  county,  Kan- 
sas, where  he  remai 1  until  1893,  engaged  in  the 

general  practice  of  medicine,  when  he  returned  to 
Illinois,  where  he  again  entered  Rush  Medical  Col- 
lege, devoting  an  entire  year  to  the  advanced  study 
of  his  profession,  locating  in  the  city  of  Sycamore 
in  1894,  where  he  had  a  well  established  and 
profitable  clientage.     He  died   in    1901. 

The  earliest  settlers  in  Sycamore  found  Dr. 
Norbo,  a  Norwegian,  living  in  a  hut  on  the  north 
side  of  Norwegian  Grove,  hence  the  name  of  the 
grove.  We  know  nothing  of  his  connection  with 
the  medical  profession,  except  that  he  was  spoken 
of  as  Dr.  Norbo.  He  passed  on  to  the  farther 
west  as  settlers  came.  The  romance  of  his  life — 
if  there  was  a  romance  to  it — and  why  he  chose 
a   hermit  life  may  never  be  known. 

Dr.  William  Wallace  Bryant,  one  of  the  pioneer 
physicians  of  Sycamore,  located  there  in  October, 
1856.  He  was  born  October  31.  1832.  at  dies- 
b  rfield,  Mass.,  and  was  married  in  September, 
1856,  to  Cordelia  Sheldon.  Four  children  have 
been  given  them,  the  oldest  of  whom,  Charles  H.. 
is  now  a  doctor.  Dr.  Bryant  was  thirty  years  a 
resident  of  Sycamore.  He  was  a  believer  in  the 
Universalist  Church  and  a  staunch  Democrat. 

The  Rev.  J.  M.  Woodman,  M.  D..  came  as  pas- 
tor of  the  Ohio  Grove  Baptist  Cbunh  about  1849. 
and  united  with  his  preaching  services  the  prac- 
tice of  the  medical  profession.  He  took  up  his 
residence  on  the  south  line  of  the  city  of  Sycamore 
carried  on  a  farm  and  built  a  church  on  Main 
Street,  in  which  he  held  part  of  the  services 
of  the  Ohio  Grove  church.  He  was  in  Sycamore 
some  five  years  and  his  push  and  enterprise  gave 
him  a  prominent  place  as  a  citizen  during  his 
stay.  About  1880  bis  address  was  Chieo,  Cali- 
fornia, and  he  was  of  some  note  as  an  author  and 
lecturer. 

Dr.  Nahum  E.  Ballon  was  born  in  New  York  of 
New  England  parentage,  received  a  good  educa- 
tion and  finally  studied  medicine  and  practiced 
in  New  York  until  be  came  to  Sandwich  in  1856. 
He    took   a    po^t-graduate    course    at    the    Buffalo 


332 


PAST    AMI    PRESENT    OE    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


Medical  College,  and  became  eminently  prepared 
for  his  profession.  He  was  a  student  of  natural 
history,  a  man  of  literary  acquirements,  was  a 
member  of  the  American  and  British  Societies 
for  the  Advancement  of  Science,  and  in  1884  he 
was  given  a  Fellowship  in  the  lioyal  Meteorolog- 
ical Society  of  Great  Britain.  He  was  appointed 
custom  house  officer  in  the  Niagara  district  by 
President  Fillmore,  and  United  States  Pension 
Surgeon  by  President  Lincoln.  His  interest  in 
local  affairs,  however,  never  waned,  and  he  was 
active  in  everj  good  work,  His  library  was  per- 
haps the  best  owned  by  a  private  individual  in  this 
county.  Men  of  his  ability,  training  and  stud- 
ious habits  find  no  avenue  of  learning  closed  1" 
them.     Dr.  Ballon  died  about  fifteen  years  ago. 

Dr.  'has.  Winnie  is  a  Pennsylvanian  by  birth, 
and  received  his  education  in  that  stale.  He  then 
took  a  course  in  medicine  and  surgery  and  came 
to  DeKalb  county  where  he  practiced  his  profes- 
sion in  Sandwich.  He  enlisted  at  the  outbreak 
of  the  Rebellion  and  became  a  surgeon  with  the 
rank  of  colonel.  At  tin  close  of  the  war  he  again 
practiced  medicine  and  later  retired  to  enter  the 
drug  business.  He  is  now  retired  from  active 
business.  Dr.  Winnie  has  served  many 
as  supervisor  of  his  town,  is  a  forceful  speaker,  a 
man  clear  brained,  honorable  and  upright. 

\h\  F.  L.  Mayo  was  born  in  Sycamore,  Til.. 
June  16,  1843,  and  lived  with  his  parents  until  he 
reached  his  majority.  He  received  a  common 
school  education  at  Sycamore,  and  read  medicine 
under  the  guidance  of  Dr.  Bryant,  and  later  Dr. 
Garvin.  In  1864  he  entered  Bush  Medical  Col- 
lege and  received  his  diploma  from  that  institu- 
tion four  years  later.  In  1875  he  moved  to  De- 
Kalli.  where  he  has  since  resided  and  has  the  large 
practice  of  an  experienced  and  successful  physi- 
cian.  He  was  married  January  1.  1ST'?,  to  Alice 
L.  Ballon,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  P.  Bal- 
lon. Sr.,  and  to  them  two  children,  Ross  E.  and 
Alice  1...  were  horn.  The  doctor  and  his  wife 
lived  most  happily  together  until  her  death,  in 
1880.  Four  years  afterward  he  was  married  to 
Irene  Robinson,  who  was  born  in  'Malta.  Tn 
April  of  1897  he  was  married  to  Miss  Harriet  M. 
Ellwood,  and  site  now  lives  in  her  handsome  stone 
house  in  DeKalb.     He  died  in  1905. 

Dr.  J.  X.  Norse  was  one  of  the  early  physicians 
of  Shahhona  and  practiced  his  profession,  learned 


at  a  homeopathy  school,  for  a  number  of  years. 
Previous  to  his  location  at  Shabbona  he  was  a  doc- 
tor in  DeKalb.  His  wife  dying  at  Shahhona  he 
wen!  to  Colorado,  where  he  practiced  medicine 
and  was  remarried.  He  suffered  from  a  cancer 
of  the  optic  nerve,  and  it  was  removed,  but  he 
failed  to  recover.  He  died  at  Rocky  ford.  Colorado, 
June  I.  1899,  leaving  three  grown  children,  Mrs. 
\V.  .1.  Norton  of  Shabbona,  Mrs.  Emma  Morse 
of  Waterman  and  Willi-  Norse  of  Colorado. 

Dr.  John  A.  Badgley,  who  since  L880  his  been 
Hie  of  the  prominent  residents  of  Malta,  was  born 
at  Newark.  111.,  in  1S.">:>.  His  parents.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  J.  P.  Badgley.  were  natives  of  Ohio,  who 
settled  in  Kendall  county  in  1850.  The  subject 
of  tin-  sketch  received  a  common  school  educa- 
tion at  Tampico  and  Sterling.  111.,  and  graduated 
in  medicine  at  Bush  Medical  College,  Chicago, 
lie  was  married  at  Tampico.  April  24,  1880.  to 
Miss  Hi rdie  Bastian.  who  is  still  living.  She  is 
a  daughter  of  V.  S.  and  Ann  F.  Bastian  and  a 
sister  of  A.  W.  and  Fred  K.  Bastian  of  Fulton, 
Til.  She  traces  relation  on  her  mother's  side  to 
.lames  K.  Polk.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Badgley  have  two 
children.  Birdie  J.  and  Ha  G.  Dr.  Badgley  lo- 
cated  in  Malta  in  1880.  where  he  practiced  medi- 
cine  for  ten  years.     1' ■   health  compelled   him 

to  abandon  his  profession  for  four  years,  during 
which  time  he  was  in  the  drug  business  with  B.  B. 
SinileN  and  in  the  furniture  and  drug  business 
with  A.  K.  Jacobs  .4'  Malta.  In  1804  he  resumed 
his  medical  practice  and  now  enjoys  an  extensive 
patronage.     He   is   now   practicing  in  DeKalb. 

Dr.  C.  F.  Husk,  the  first  child  born  in  the 
presenl  village  of  Shahhona.  111.,  came  into  this 
world  December  19,  1872.  lie  is  the  eldest  son 
of  William  and  Celia  Norton  Susk,  pioneers  of 
Shahhona  township.  He  was  educated  at  the 
Shabbona  and  Aurora.  111.,  schools  and  received 
his  degree  in  medicine  at  the  Chicago  College  of 
lh\  Mcian-  and  Surgeons  in  1808.  He  imme- 
diately commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  as 
physician  and  surgeon  for  a  mining  company  in 
Tepezala,  Mexico,  where  he  is  now  located.  He 
was  married  in  Clinton  township  to  Corona  B. 
Kirkpatrick  in  December  of  1898. 

Dr.  Charles  B.  Brown  of  Sycamore,  one  of  the 
members  of  the  pension  examining  hoard,  was 
born  December  25,  1847,  at  Niagara  Falls.  Can- 
ada.     His    lather  and   mother  were  horn   in  Eng- 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


333 


land,  and  came  to  this  country  in  18G4,  locating 
at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  He  received  a  common  school 
education  in  Canada,  and  after  finishing  school 
located  in  Buffalo,  X.  Y..  in  1804.  He  went 
into  a  dental  office  in  Buffalo,  where  he  worked 
for  ten  years,  then  graduated  from  the  University 
of  Buffalo  in  1876.  The  following  year  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Annette  A.  Bacon,  at  Rochester, 
the  place  where  she  was  born  and  always  lived. 
In  1878  they  came  to  Sycamore,  which  place  has 
since  been  their  home.  They  have  two  children. 
Marguerite  B.  and  Gertrude  II.,  both  born  in 
Sycamore.  Dr.  Brown  is  one  of  the  prominent 
physicians  of  his  town  and  has  performed  many 
grave  surgical  operations  with  success.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  American  Medical  Association  and 
holds  the  office  of  local  surgeon  of  the  Chicago 
Great   Western  road. 

Dr.  0.  P.  Wilson  of  Shabbona  is  a  native  of 
Canada.  He  was  born  in  the  Province  of  Ontario, 
March  25,  1861,  and  lived  with  his  parents  who 
were  natives  of  Ontario,  until  they  came  to  this 
country  in  1869.  They  located  in  Benton  county, 
Iowa,  moving  to  Scranton,  Iowa,  in  1874.  Later 
the  doctor  came  to  this  county.  Dr.  Wilson  re- 
ceived a  high  school  education  ami  graduated 
from  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of 
Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor. 

The  promoter  of  the  Sycamore  Emergency  Hos- 
pital, Dr.  Letitia  A.  Westgage.  was  horn  October 
29,  1866,  at  Triumph,  La  Salle  count  v.  Illinois. 
Her  parents,  David  W.  Westgage.  born  in  La 
Salle  county.  Illinois,  and  Martha  A.  Gibbs  West- 
gage,  born  in  Adams  county,  Illinois,  came  to 
this  county  from  a  farm  near  Mendota  in 
1891,  and  located  at  Sycamore,  bringing  their 
family  with  them.  Dr.  Westgage  received  her 
education  at  the  Mendota  East  Side  High 
School,  where  she  graduated  June  5,  1885, 
as  the  valedictorian  of  her  class.  Prom  there  she 
went  to  Knox  College,  Galesburg,  and  entered  the 
Northwestern  University  Woman's  Medical 
School,  Chicago,  in  1889.  graduating  with  high 
honors  March  28.  1892.  She  won  the  first  prize 
in  a  competitve  examination  in  microscopy  and 
chest  and  throat  diseases.  Since  graduating  she 
has  practiced  medicine  in  Sycamore,  where  she 
established  the  first  hospital  in  DeKalb  county, 
in  the  spring  of  1897.  calling  it  the  Sycamore 
Surgical  Hospital.     She  was  the  promoter  of  the 


Sycamore  Hospital  Association,  which  was  incor- 
porated June  9,  1899,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$5,000.  Dr.  Westgage  is  a  member  of  the  Fox 
River  Valley  Medical  Society,  the  Illinois  State 
Medical  and  the  American  Medical  Societies. 

Dr.  George  N.  Lucas  of  Malta,  was  born  in 
Quakerville,  Inch,  March  25,  1860,  a  son  of  George 
Lucas  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Emily  Henderson 
Lucas  of  Vermillion,  Ind.  He  lived  with  his  par- 
ents until  thirteen  years  of  age,  since  which  time 
he  has  taken  care  of  himself,  worked  his  way 
through  college,  and  won  an  enviable  reputation  as 
a  physician  and  surgeon.  On  coming  to  Illinois  he 
located  in  Elgin,  where  hi'  worked  in  the  hospital 
for  about  five  years,  and  then  entered  the  watch 
factorv.  being  employed  there  for  four  years.  He 
gave  up  this  work  to  enter  the  College  of  Physi- 
cians and  Surgeons  in  Chicago,  from  which  insti- 
tution he  received  his  degree  in  medicine.  His 
common  school  education  was  obtained  at  the  Leb- 
anon, Ind.,  High  school.  March  25,  1888,  he  was 
married  at  Elgin  to  Lucy  E.  Blackburn,  who  was 
born  at  Manchester,  111.  They  are  the  parents  of 
two  hoys,  Frank  B.  and  Edwin  A.,  who  live  with 
their  parents  at  Malta.  He  settled  in  DeKalb 
county  in  1895,  locating  at  Malta,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  He  is  of  the  Republican  persua- 
sion in  politics.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Baptist  church,  but  since  coming  to  Malta 
have  affiliated  themselves  with  the  Congregational 
church.  He  is  now  employed  tit  the  Elgin 
Asylum. 

Dr.  Chauncey  H.  Wilder,  a  DeKalb  boy  who 
has  grown  to  be  one  of  the  successful  physicians 
of  the  place,  was  born  in  Lexington,  Mo.,  Octo- 
ber 21.  1865.  His  parents,  Chauncey  H.  and 
Elizabeth  Hurlbert  Wilder,  were  natives  of  Ver- 
mont, and  both  died  when  their  little  son  was 
but  two  years  of  age.  He  was  taken  into  the 
home  of  his  uncle.  Martin  Van  B.  Wilder,  at 
DeKalb.  and  grew  to  manhood  under  this  careful 
family  training.  He  is  justly  proud  of  the  record 
of  his  ancestors,  which  he  traces  to  the  year  1497, 
when  one  of  the  family  obtained  a  land  grant  from 
King  Henry  VII.  His  grandfather  was  in  the 
war  of  1812  and  his  great  grandfather  was  a 
revolutionary  soldier.  The  doctor  has  never 
served  in  a  war,  but  he  has  a  fine  collection  of 
old  guns,  historic  swords,  flags,  etc.  His  early  life 
was  spent  in  securing  a  fundamental  education  at 


334 


PAST    AND   PRESENT    OF  DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


the  DeKalb  public  school  and  afterward  at  the 
normal  school  in  Valpariso,  Ind.  In  1886  he 
went  to  California,  where  he  followed  the  mercan- 
tile business  in  grocery  and  meat  stores.  He  was 
married  in  1890  at  Nevada  City,  Cal.,  to  Adella 
Aplin.  Her  father  was  a  doctor,  a  graduate  of 
the  Royal  College  of  England  at  Manchester,  and 
was  loyal  to  the  British  government  until  he  came 
to  this  country  in  1850.  He  was  a  chemist  and 
assayist.  Shortly  after  Dr.  Wllder's  marriage 
they  removed  to  Illinois  and  the  doctor  took  a 
course  in  medicine  at  the  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons,  Chicago,  receiving  his  degree  April 
2,  1895,  and  coming  directly  to  DeKalb,  where 
he  has  since  successfully  practiced  medicine.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican  and  one  of  the  pro- 
gressive men  of  the  community.  One  son,  Chaun- 
cey  S.,  brightens  his  home.  He  at  present  resides 
in    California. 

Dr.  James  Cation  Duncan.  DeKalb's  homeo- 
path physician,  was  born  m  Ottawa,  Waukesha 
county.  Wisconsin,  March  '■'>,  1851.  His  parents 
Thomas  and  Eliza  Cation  Duncan,  were  born  in 
Fife  and  Kenross  Shire,  Scotland,  and  came  to 
this  country  in  1843,  locating  in  Waukesha  count] , 
Wisconsin,  and  then  removing  to  [owa,  Theyafti  r- 

ward  Ci to   [llinois  and   lived   with   their  son, 

Dr.  Duncan,  at  Mendota,  where  then-  deaths  oc- 
curred. Dr  Duncan  received  his  education  at 
the  Milieu.  Wis.,  and  Osage,  [owa,  schools,  and 
graduated  in  medicine  in  Chicago.  He  was  mar- 
Tied  April  8,  1880,  to  Nettie  M.  Patchen,  at  Osage, 
Iowa.  Her  father  is  numbered  among  the  un- 
known dead  who  gave  their  lives  for  their  country 
in  the  Civil  war.  and  her  mother  was  afterward 
remarried  twice,  dying  and  leaving  a  three-year 
old  daughter.  Lillian  Walthy  Abbott,  who  has 
since  made  her  home  with  Dr.  Duncan's  family. 
After  receiving  his  medical  degree  the  doctor 
commenced  practicing.  He  was  located  for  some 
time  at  La  Moille.  111.,  and  moved  from  that  place 
to  DeKalb  October  15,  1S9i'>.  and  has  built  up  a 
good  practice.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  and  believes  in  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party.  He  is  the  father  of  four  sons, 
Clifford  James,  who  graduated  from  the  National 
Medical  College,  Chicago,  in  the  spring  of  1899, 
and  is  associated  with  his  father  in  business.  How- 


ard William,  who  is  studying  pharmacy,  David 
Edgar  and  Thomas  Roy.  All  of  the  boys  live  at 
home. 

Dr.  James  S.  Rankin,  a  rising  physician  of 
DeKalb,  was  born  in  Plainwell,  Mich.,  April  15, 
1871,  and  received  a  public  school  education  at 
Richland,  Mich.,  attended  the  normal  school  at 
Clarion,  Pa.,  graduated  from  the  Chicago  College 
of  Pharmacy,  and  received  his  medical  degree 
from  the  Northwestern  University  Medical  School. 
His  parents,  J.  M.  Rankin,  M.  D.,  and  Harriet 
Sharp  Rankin,  were  natives  of  Clarion,  Pa.  His 
mother  died  shortly  after  her  son  was  born,  and 
his  father  is  living  in  Richland,  Mich.  Dr. 
Rankin,  after  graduation  from  the  school  of  phar- 
macy, was  a  pharmacist  at  Kalamazoo,  Mich., 
from  189(i  to  1892,  and  after  graduating  in  medi- 
cine served  as  house  physician  at  Mercy  Hospital, 
Chicago,  from  1895  to  1896,  and  located  in  De- 
Kalb, April,  1897.  March  30,  1898,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Clara  Louise  Tyler,  daughter  of  Sanford 
A.  and  Sarah  Louisa  Taylor  Tyler,  pioneers  of 
the  county.  Previous  to  her  marriage  she  suc- 
cessfully held  for  many  years  the  position  of 
stenographer  for  the  Superior  Wire  Company, 
De  Kalb.  The  doctor  is  a  Republican  and  public 
spirited  young  man. 

Dr.  J.  E.  Palmquist,  the  Swedish  doctor  of 
DeKalb,  is  the  son  of  Frank  and  Matilda  Palm- 
quist  of  Bureau  county.  Illinois,  natives  of 
Sweden,  who  came  to  this  country  thirty-five  years 
ace. 

Dr.  Merrit  F.  Potter,  for  many  years  a  prac- 
ticing physician  in  Hinckley,  was  conspicuous  for 
bis  ability  and  striking  personality.  He  was  a 
man  of  massive  proportions,  physically  and  ment- 
ally, and  while  thoroughly  versed  in  the  science 
of  his  profession  was  a  master  of  much  besides. 
His  investigations  covered  a  large  field,  but  he 
was  especially  fond  of  literature  and  was  an  en- 
thusiastic student  of  Shakespeare.  His  delinea- 
ii. ui-  of  Shakespearian  characters  and  rendition 
..!'  favorite  passages  will  long  be  remembered  by 
those  fortunate  enough  to  have  heard  him.  He 
was  an  ardent  supporter  of  all  that  tended  to  ele- 
vate the  community  where  he  lived,  and  was  withal 
a  noble  specimen  of  broad-minded,  sympathetic, 
stalwart  manho.nl. 


TO  THE  READER 

In  making  due  acknowledgement  for  assistance  rendered  in  the 

preparation  of  this  work.  I  must  first  state  thai  Boie's  History  of  De 
Kalb  county.  1868,  The  De  Kalb  Chronicle  Souvenir  Edition,  1899, 
and  the  files  of  The  True  Republican,  1854  to  1907,  have  been  drawn 
upon  extensively.  Reminiscences,  published  at  different  times,  are 
given  here  in  full.  The  almost  unlimited  number  of  interviews  with 
pioneers  and  their  descendants  have  furnished  much  interesting 
material.  Professor  Batch,  II.  W.  Fay,  J.  B.  Castle.  E.  A.  Hix,  A.  W. 
Dibble,  Henry  X.  Perkins  and  llosea  Willard  have  given  me  special 
aid.  Scores  of  pioneers  who  settled  here  from  1834  to  1845  gave  me 
many  tilings  of  interest  during  the  closing  years  of  their  lives,  but  I 
took  no  notes  of  those  incidents  then,  and  have  relied  upon  my  memory 
i'i  giving  them  here.  Born  and  reared  in  De  Kalb  countv ;  indebted  as 
I  am  to  her  generosity  for  so  much;  I  could  dedicate  this  work,  which 
lias  been  a  labor  of  love,  to  no  other  than  those  of  her  pioneers  who 
made  our  county  one  of  which  we  may  well  be  proud. 


THE  NEW  Y( 

PUB/JC  i. 


AS 
TlLDi 


VL.ilL^^-J^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


ISAAC  LEONARD  ELLWOOD. 

Great  Leaders  are  few.  The  mass  of  men  seem 
content  to  remain  in  the  positions  in  which  they 
are  placed  by  birth,  circumstance  or  environment. 
Laudable  ambition,  ready  adaptability  and  capacity 
for  bard  work  are  essential  elements  of  success  and 
in  none  of  these  requirements  has  Isaac  L.  Ell- 
wood  ever  been  found  lacking,  it  is  not  a  matter 
of  marvel,  therefore,  that  he  occupies  a  pre-emi- 
nent position  among  the  builders  of  De  Kalb 
county,  for  the  real  promoters  of  a  county's  growth 
and  greatness  are  they  who  found  and  conduct 
its  prosperous  business  enterprises.  In  this  con- 
nection the  name  of  Mr.  Ellwood  is  inseparably 
interwoven  with  the  annals  of  De  Kalb.  As  a 
manufacturer  of  barbed  wire,  as  a  capitalist  and 
as  a  political  leader,  he  has  won  not  only  state 
but  national  reputation:  but,  moreover,  he  is  en- 
titled to  distinction  as  one  whose  success  has  not 
been  allowed  to  warp  his  finer  sensibilities  or 
crush  out  the  kindly  impulses  of  nature.  On  the 
contrary  his  prosperity  has  been  to  him  the  means 
of  enlarged  opportunity  and  endeavor  in  behalf 
cf  his  fellowmen  and  his  worth  in  these  particulars 
is  proven  by  the  consensus  of  public  opinion. 

A  native  of  New  York,  Mr.  Ellwood  claims  Salt 
Springville,  Montgomery  county,  as  the  place  of 
his  nativity,  while  the  date  is  August  3,  1833. 
Tradition  has  it  that  the  ancestry  is  traced  back 
to  Thomas  Ellwood,  the  noted  Quaker,  who  was 
born  near  London  in  1639  and  who  was  disin- 
herited by  his  father  because  of  his  religious  be- 
lief.    He  received  his  education   principally  from 


the  poet  .Milton,  and  it  is  to  Thomas  Ellwood 
that  we  are  indebted  for  the  poem,  Paradise  Re- 
gained. After  having  written  Paradise  Lost. 
Milton  submitted  it  to  Ellwood  for  criticism. 
After  commending  it  the  latter  said,  '■Thou  hast 
said  much  here  of  Paradise  Lust,  but  what  bast 
thou  to  say  of  Paradise  Pound?"  Milton  said  it 
was  this  question  that  first  suggested  the  writing 
of  the  latter  poem.  The  name  of  Thomas  Ellwood 
is  an  honored  one  among  Quakers.  His  autobi- 
ography has  been  reproduced  in  this  country,  and 
the  Quaker  poet,  John  G.  Whittior,  honored  his 
memory  with  a  memoir.  He  was  incorruptibly 
pure  and  unimpeaehably  brave  and  for  his  faith  he 
suffered  outrage  and  injustice  with  saintly  patience 
and  manly  strength.  The  Ellwood  coat  of  arms, 
found  upon  the  panels  of  an  old  castle  in  Eng- 
land and  described  in  several  published  works 
on   heraldry,   has   the    motto.    Fide   el    Sedulitale. 

There  is  some  doubt  as  to  the  authenticity  ol 
this  tradition  concerning  the  ancestry  of  the  fam- 
ily, for  Thomas  Ellwood  in  his  autobiography 
does  not  speak  of  having  any  children  and  his 
only  brother  died  young,  so  that  it  is  probable 
that  if  the  Ellwoods  in  this  country  descended 
from  that  family  their  ancestors  must  have  been 
an  uncle  of  Thomas  Ellwood. 

There  is.  however,  authentic  record  concerning 
the  establishment  of  the  family  in  America  by 
Richard  Ellwood.  who  with  his  wife  and  two  chil- 
dren came  to  this  country  in  1748  and  settled 
in  the  Mohawk  valley,  near  St.  Johnsville.  Two 
years  later  he  built  a  stone  residence  on  what 
was  then  known  as  the  King's  Eoad.     It  is  still 


340 


PAST    AND   PBESEXT   OF  DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


standing  in  a  good  state  of  preservation  near  the 
line  of  the  New  York  Central  Railroad.  The 
lower  story  was  built  for  defense  and  the  onlv 
openings  in  the  walls  beside  the  strong  door  were 
portholes  which  are  still  to  be  seen,  as  well  as 
bullet  marks  in  the  woodwork.  Richard  Ellwood 
died  a  few  years  later,  leaving  four  sons,  Richard, 
Isaac,  Benjamin  and  Peter.  There  were  also  two 
daughters,  one  of  whom  married  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Scruten,  and  the  other  a  Van  Allen. 
Various  members  of  the  family  have  figured  prom- 
inently in  the  history  of  the  country  in  connec- 
tion with  business  interests,  military  circles  and 
public  life. 

Isaac  Ellwood,  the  grandfather  of  Colonel 
Ellwood,  died  about  six  miles  from  Fort  Plane 
on  a  farm  which  he  settled,  being  then  between 
sixty  and  seventy  years  of  age.  He  had  three 
sons,  one  of  whom,  John  Ellwood,  died  in  Oneida. 
Nrew  York.  Another  of  the  sons  was  Abrara 
Ellwood,  father  of  our  Bubject.  He  married  Sarah 
Belong,  a  daughter  of  .lame-  Delong,  a  native 
df  France,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  seven 
sons,  namely:  Chauncey,  deceased,  who  at  one 
time  was  mayor  of  Sycamore:  Reuben,  formerly 
Mire  and  a  member  of  congress,  also  de- 
ed; Alonzo,  who  was  state  grand  master  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  a 
merchant  of  Sycamore  but  has  passed  away:  Liv- 
ingston, who  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine 
and  surgei  a1  Schenectady,  New  York,  until  his 
i;  Hiram,  ai  one  time  mayor  of  De  Kalb, 
now  deceased;  .lame-  E.,  ex-postmaster  of  Syca- 
more; ami  [saac  1...  nf  this  review.  There  were 
also  three  (laughters:  Mrs.  Livingston  YValrod 
came  with  her  >ister  .Mr-.  Joseph  Sixbury  to  De 
Kalb  county,  Illinois,  in  1835  and  they  resided 
here  until  their  deaths.  Mrs.  Alida  Young  also 
died  ai  De  Kalb. 

The  parents  were  people  of  moderate  means 
who  gave  to  their  children  only  such  educational 
advantages  as  the  public  schools  of  the  period 
and  place  afforded.  Ambitious  to  earn  his  living 
at  an  early  age,  Mr.  Ellwood  was  employed  to 
drive  a  team  on  the  Erie  canal  at  a  salary  of  ten 
dollars  per  month.  Subsequently  he  secured  a 
clerkship  ami  was  employed  as  a  salesman  until 
his  eighteenth  year,  hut  the  discovery  of  gold  in 
California  materially  affected  his  plans  and  he 
made  his  way  to  the  "golden  west."  hoping  that 


some  of  the  prizes  of  wealth  might  be  won  by  him 
that  he  might  thereby  avoid  the  long  and  arduous 
struggle  that  is  usually  required  to  achieve  finan- 
cial success.  It  was  in  the  year  1851  that  he 
journeyed  to  California,  spending  four  years  in 
that  state.  His  experiences  on  the  coast  were 
varied.  Sometimes  successful,  sometimes  other- 
wise, he  continued  there,  clerking  for  a  time  in 
Sacramento,  and  by  careful  and  frugal  living 
acquiring  the  capital  that  enabled  him  to  start 
in  business  for  himself.  The  Jar  west,  however, 
i-  not  the  field  in  which  he  wished  to  enter  upon 
his  mercantile  career  ami  it  was  in  1855  that  he 
became  proprietor  of  a  little  hardware  store  in 
De  Kalb.  The  most  promising  feature  in  the 
business  life  of  the  young  merchant  was  that  he 
had  come  to  a  full  realization  of  the  fact  that 
there  is  no  royal  road  to  wealth.  Ages  ago,  the 
;  sage.  Epicharmus,  said:  '"Earn  thy  reward: 
the  gods  give  naughi  to  sloth,"  and  this  saying 
has  found  verification  in  all  the  years  winch  have 
since  intervened.  It  has  been  again  proven  au- 
iln  nticallv  by  Mi'.  Ellwood,  who  put  forth  unfal- 

ig  and  determined   effort,   making  the  little 
mercantile  venture  a  successful   one  ami  branch- 

ou1   into  other  fields  of  industry  as  opportu- 
nity   offered.     He    established    a    hardware    store 
and  bis  fair  dealing,  reasonable  prices  and  earnest 
to   please  his  patrons  gained   him    a  con- 
rowing  trade  which  enabled  him  to  carry 
on  a  business  throug  ucceeding 

twenty  Mars.  He  also  began  auctioneering  in 
the  locality  and  his  keen  thought,  ready  com- 
prehension  and  the  quickness  with  which  he 
grasped  a  sit  nation  won  him  success  in  this  under- 
taking and  gained  him  a  reputation  that  caused 
his  services  to  be  in  demand  in  distant  parts  of 
the  stat.   as  well  as  in  his  home  locality. 

Upon  the  broad  prairies  of  the  west,  where  the 
land  «as  so  rich  and  arable,  the  agriculturist 
met  with  one  seemingly  insurmountable  difficulty. 
Land  was  comparatively  cheap  and  productive 
ami  they  secured  large  farms,  and  in  order  not  to 
overstep  the  bounds  of  another's  property  and  to 
keep  their  stock  from  the  crops  they  must  have 
fences.  The  broad  prairie  offered  little  lumber 
for  this  purpose  and  it  was  found,  too,  that  board 
and  rail  fences  were  being  continually  broken 
down.  The  old  saying  that  necessity  is  the  mother 
of    invention    again    found    exemplification,    for 


a 


ASTOR,    LENOX 
FOUNOATION& 


PAST   AND    PRESENT    OF  DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


343 


Joseph  P.  Glidden,  recognizing  the  situation,  in- 
vented what  is  today  known  the  world  over  as  the 
Glidden  barb  wire.  Mr.  Ellwood  assisted  in  ob- 
taining patents  and.  forming  a  partnership  with 
Mr.  Glidden,  became  owner  of  a  half  interest  in 
the  invention.  The  business  was  established  under 
somewhat  trying  circumstances,  as  people  weve 
loath  to  accept  the  new  fencing  material,  but  time 
proved  its  value  and  the  trade  rapidly  increased. 
In  1876  Mr.  Glidden  sold  his  interest  to  the  Wash- 
burn &  Moen  Manufacturing  Company,  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  they  together,  after  a  litigation  of 
some  years,  granted  licenses  to  various  factories. 
Through  Mr.  Ellwood's  influence  and  foresight 
most  of  the  underlying  and  first  patents  on  barb 
wire  and  machinery  for  making  the  same,  were 
combined  together,  enabling  him,  with  the  assist- 
ance of  others,  to  build  up  one  of  the  largest  and 
most  successful  business  enterprises  in  the  history 
of  this  country.  For  forty  years  farming  was 
carried  on  in  this  section  of  the  United  States 
with  the  same  need  of  fencing  material,  yet  not 
until  the  year  mentioned  did  any  one  take  ad- 
vantage of  the  opportunity  to  give  to  the  world 
this  most  important  invention.  For  a  time  Mr. 
Ellwood  was  associated  in  the  manufacture  of 
barb  wire  with  J.  F.  Glidden  and  afterward  with 
the  Washburn  &  Moen  Manufacturing  Company, 
of  Worcester,  Massachusetts.  This  connection 
continued  for  some  time  but  Mr.  Ellwood  later 
became  sole  owner  and  manager  of  the  large  man- 
ufacturing establishment  at  De  Kalb,  doing  busi- 
ness under  the  firm  name  of  the  I.  L.  Ellwood 
Manufacturing  Company.  When  he  was  asso- 
ciated with  Mr.  Glidden  he  was  placed  in  charge 
of  the  business  management  of  the  firm  and  to 
his  tact  and  business  ability  may  be  attributed 
in  no  small  measure  the  success  of  the  enterprise. 
From  time  to  time  improvements  have  been  made. 
Countless  objections  were  urged  against  the  new 
fencing  material  but  this  was  to  be  expected,  for 
no  successful  invention  ever  came  at  once  into 
general  use.  Its  utility,  however,  was  soon  dem- 
onstrated and  the  sales  increased  rapidly  after  a 
time.  The  fencing  began  to  be  used  not  only  by 
the  farmers  but  by  the  railroads  as  well,  and 
although  the  railroad  corporations  were  loath  at 
first  to  accept  the  invention,  later  thousands  of 
miles  of  their  roads  were  enclosed  with  barb  wire 
fence.     In  order  to  turn   out  tin's  material   at  a 


lower  cost  it  was  seen  that  it  was  necessary  to  have 
automatic  machinery,  which  was  secured  through 
the  efforts  of  Mr.  Ellwood.  This  machine  was 
made  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the  raw  wire  from 
the  coil,  barb,  twist  and  spool  it  ready  for  use, 
and  in  perfecting  this  invention  more  than  one 
million  dollars  were  spent,  but  the  result  was  at 
length  attained  and  one  machine  was  able  to  do  the 
work  of  eight  men  and  do  it  more  perfectly.  The 
works  of  the  I.  L.  Ellwood  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany grew  to  be  very  extensive  and  the  mam- 
moth buildings  were  supplied  with  every  device 
for  perfect  workmanship  known  to  the  business. 
While  others  engaged  in  the  manufacturing  of 
barb  wire  it  is  a  widely  recognized  fact  tlnough- 
out  the  country  that  this  industry  owes  its  suc- 
cessful establishment  to  Mr.  Ellwood.  His  pride  in 
its  success  comes  not  from  the  pecuniary  reward 
that  it  has  brought  to  him  but  from  the  means 
it  has  afforded  him  for  benefiting  others. 

Realizing  that  it  would  be  an  advantage  to  the 
increasing  business  affairs,  Mr.  Ellwood  established 
a  wire  drawing  plant  at  De  Kalb.  At  about  the 
same  time  he  commenced  the  extensive  manufac- 
ture of  wire  nails  and  woven  wire  fencing.  These 
two  departments  have  grown  and  have  become 
large  enterprises  in  the  United  States,  also  adding 
much  to  the  manufacturing  interests  of  the  county. 
Mr.  Ellwood  has  sold  his  interests  in  the  De  Kalb 
factories  to  the  American  Steel  &  Wire  Company, 
which  has  since  successfully  conducted  the  same. 

Having  so  successfully  fought  countless  com- 
mercial battles,  he  turned  his  attention  toward 
intellectual  conquests.  Recognizing  the  great  need 
of  a  school  for  training  teachers  in  the  center  of 
a  locality  containing  the  best  high  and  graded 
schools  of  the  state,  Mr.  Ellwood  spent  several 
months  at  Springfield  and  was  largely  responsible 
in  1895  in  securing  the  passage  of  a  bill  through 
the  legislature  providing  for  the  Northern  Illinois 
State  Normal  School.  He  was  made  one  of  the 
trustees  and  assisted  materially  in  locating  this 
institution  at  De  Kalb.  He  has  taken  great  pride 
in  the  school,  has  officiated  since  its  founding  as 
one  of  its  trustees  and  has  helped  it  in  financial 
and  other  ways.  When  the  school  was  located 
here  he  had  the  I.  L.  Ellwood  addition  platted 
and  built  thereon  several  club  houses  and  resi- 
dences for  the  accommodation  of  the  school  peo- 
ple.    The  addition  was  presented  to  his  children 


344 


LAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   BE    KALB    COUNTY. 


with  the  understanding  that  they  would  put  down 
cemenl  walks,  a  paved  street,  a  sewer  system  and 
set  out  shade  trees,  making  it  one  of  the  most 
desirable  residence  parts  of  the  city.  Through 
his  efforts  in  this  direction  this  addition  has  be- 
come one  of  the  prides  of  De  Kalb. 

On  the  27th  of  January,  1859,  Mr.  Ellwood 
v,  as  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Harriet  Miller, 
at  the  home  of  William  A.  Miller,  of  De  Kalb. 
Unto  them  were  born  four  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ti  rs,  as  follows:  William  L.;  Mrs.  Harriet  Mayo; 
Mrs.  Mary  Lewis:  Mrs.  Jessie  Bay,  of  Denver. 
Colorado;  and  E.  Perry  Ellwood.  Two  sons  died 
in  infancy  and  Mrs.  Lewis,  the  wife  of  John  li. 
Lewis,  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  work,  has 
also  passed  away.  The  eldest  son,  William  L.; 
was  for  several  years  engaged  in  importing  and 
breeding  French  draft  horses,  making  annual 
trips  to  France  and  personally  attending  to  the 
purchase  and  selection  of  his  stock.  He  has  entire 
charge  of  the  Ellwood  stock  farms,  located  in  the 
vicinity  of  De  Kalb  and  containing  thirty-four 
hundred  acres  of  land  all  in  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation and  supplied  with  all  the  modern  improve- 
ments for  stock-raising.  In  addition  to  the  De 
Kalb  county  farms  Mr.  Ellwood  has  four  hun- 
dred thousand  acres  of  land  in  Texas  that  is 
rapidly  developing  and  becoming  yearly  more 
valuable. 

Politically  Mr.  Ellwood  has  always  been  an 
earnest  republican  and  is  thoroughly  informed 
concerning  the  questions  and  issues  of  the  day. 
He  has  always  been  a  liberal  contributor  to  cam- 
paign funds  and  his  influence  has  always  been 
sought  in  political  matters.  On  the  5th  of  June, 
1902,  he  was  made  a  member  of  the  railroad  and 
warehouse  commission  of  Illinois  and  served  for 
fcur  years.  He  was  on  the  staff  of  Governor 
Tanner  and  of  Governor  Yates  and  by  reason  of 
this  service  received  the  title  of  colonel. 

Colonel  Ellwood  has  for  years  maintained  a 
hospitable  home  at  De  Kalb,  where  he  has  en- 
tertained  many  of  the  leading  personages  of  the 
state  and  nation.  His  residence  is  located  in  the 
midst  of  large  and  well  kept  grounds.  There  is 
a  deer  park  in  connection  and  the  conservatory 
contains  a  rare  collection  of  plant  life.  Mrs.  Ell- 
wood is  an  enthusiastic  collector  of  rare  and  inter- 
esting objects  and  has  established  a  museum  in 
which  the  trophies  of  her  travels  and  research  are 


safely  displayed.  The  Ellwoods  also  maintain 
a  splendid  home  at  Palatka,  Florida,  and  pass  the 
winter  months  in  the  south. 

A  contemporary  biographer  has  spoken  of  him  as 
a  man  of  fine  personal  appearance  and  command- 
ing presence,  and  one  whose  ambition  has  been  to 
acquit  himself  of  life's  duties  honorably  before  all 
men,  to  improve  his  capabilities  and  to  become  of 
use  in  the  world. — and  this  he  has  certainly  done. 
He  is  today  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent, men  that  the  middle  west  has  produced. 
Strong  in  his  honor  anil  his  good  name,  strong  in 
Ins  ability  to  plan  and  perform,  unfaltering  in 
support  of  the  principles  which  he  has  formulated 
to  govern  his  life,  he  has  achieved  what  may  well 
be  termed  a  brilliant  success.  The  mere  acquisition 
of  wealth  is  an  asset  which  counts  comparatively 
little  after  all.  but  when  it  is  accompanied  by 
sterling  traits  of  character  the  record  is  one  which 
may  well  elicit  admiration  and  respect  and  consti- 
tute an  example  well  worthy  of  emulation. 

Colonel  Ellwood  is  a  man  that  wealth  cannot 
spoil  and  the  associations  of  early  pioneer  days  are 
thedearesttohim.  In  the  generous  acts  that  he  per- 
forms,which  are  many. he  is  reticent  and  the  world 
will  never  know  the  abundance  of  his  good  works. 
\-  a  speaker  he  i-  forceful,  hut  he  cannot  give  his 
characteristic  energy  to  a  cause  unless  he  believes 
m  the  justice  of  the  sentiments  he  utters.  No 
man  is  held  in  higher  esteem  in  this  part  of  our 
state  and  his  friends  have  mentioned  him  promi- 
nently for  congressman  and  governor,  but  his  as- 
pirations do  not  lie  in  that  direction.  Wherever 
he  is  known  he  is  admired  for  his  social  life,  his 
love  of  home  and  friends  and  neighbors.  The  city 
of  De  Kalb,  his  home  for  half  a  century,  can 
testify  to  the  good  work  he  has  done  in  building 
up  a  community  that  shall  rise  up  in  days  to  come 
and  call  In-  memory  blessed. 


JAMES  B.  POGUE. 


Prominent  among  the  business  men  of  De 
Kalb  county  is  James  B.  Pogue,  cashier  of  the 
Hinckley  State  Bank  and  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Pogue  &  Son.  dealers  in  coal  and  lumber. 
He  possesses  untiring  energy,  is  quick  of  percep- 
tion, forms  his  plans  readily  and  is  determined  in 


PAST    AND    PEESENT    OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


345 


their  execution,  and  his  close  application  to  busi- 
ness and  his  excellent  management  have  brought 
to  him  the  prosperity  which  is  today  his. 

A  native  of  Illinois,  Mr.  Pogue  was  born  on  a 
farm  near  Oswego  in  Kendall  county,  March  38, 
1858,  and  is  a  son  of  Matthew  J.  and  Sarah  E. 
(Gibson)  Pogue,  who  were  born  in  Ohio  and 
were  married  in  Ilillsboro,  that  state  in  185U. 
Coming  to  Illinois,  the  father  purchased  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  in  Kendall  county  and  for  some 
years  devoted  his  time  and  attention  to  agricultur- 
al pursuits,  but  in  1874  removed  to  Oswego  and 
embarked  in  the  coal  and  lumber  business,  which 
he  carried  on  until  1901  under  the  firm  name  of 
J.  M.  Pogue  &  Sons. 

James  B.  Pogue  was  reared  and  educated  in  his 
native  county  and  on  starting  out  in  life  for  him- 
self was  employed  as  a  drug  clerk  in  Oswego  for 
two  years.  In  1879  he  joined  his  father  in  busi- 
ness as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  M.  J.  Pogue  & 
Sons  and  in  1884  bought  out  the  business  chang- 
ing the  name  to  the  Pogue  Brothers  Lumber  Com- 
pany. They  also  opened  an  office  at  Hinckley 
and  now  have  yards  both  at  Paw  Paw  and  Water- 
man in  addition  to  those  already  established. 
Our  subject  has  not  confined  his  attention  alone 
to  this  enterprise  but  in  1904  became  interested 
in  the  banking  business,  becoming  cashier  of  the 
Hinckley  State  Bank,  which  is  now  occupying  an 
elegant  new  building,  thoroughly  up-to-date  in 
its  appointments.  The  bank  is  now  in  a  prosper- 
ous condition,  doing  a  large  amount  of  business 
and  it  has  always  followed  a  safe,  conservative 
policy  that  lias  won  the  confidence  of  the  public 
and  secured  for  it  a  liberal  patronage.  Mr.  Pogue 
is  also  secretary  of  the  Hinckley  Grain  Company, 
a  stock  company,  which  was  organized  in  1907 
and  lias  an  elevator  at  Hinckley  with  a  capacity  of 
one   hundred    thousand   bushels. 

In  1884  Mr.  Pogue  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Anna  -T.  Sliepard.  daughter  of  J.  C.  and 
Hannah  S.  (Farley)  Sliepard,  of  Kendall  county. 
Two  children  bless  this  union.  Mabel  E.  and 
Ralph  .T.,  both  at  home.  The  republican  party- 
lias  always  found  in  Mr.  Pogue  a  stanch  supporter 
of  its  principles  and  for  the  long  period  of  twenty- 
three  years  he  has  most  acceptably  filled  the  office 
of  town  clerk  of  Hinckley.  As  a  public  spirited 
and  enterprising  man  he  has  been  prominently 
identified  with  the  upbuilding  of  the  town  during 


his  residence  here  and  ne\cr  withholds  Ins  support 
from  any  measure  which  he  believes  will  prove  of 
public  beneht.  As  a  business  man  he  stands  de- 
servedly  high  in  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens 
and  he  has  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  with 
whom  he  is  brought  in  contact  either  in  commer- 
cial or  social  relations. 


JOHN  P.  CITATFIELD. 

John  P.  Chatlield.  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness at  Sycamore  as  a  partner  in  the  firm  of 
Sivwright  &  Chatfiehl.  was  born  in  He  Kalb  county 
in  1849,  his  parents  being  John  and  Julia  Ann 
I  Eolmes)  Chatfield.  The  father  arrived  in  this 
county  in  1841.  He  was  born  in  London,  Eng- 
land, in  1801,  and  for  seven  years  sailed  before 
the  mast,  finally  becoming  first  mate.  For  three 
years  he  was  on  a  whaler.  When  thirty  years  of 
age  he  took  passage  on  a  sailing  vessel  which 
weighed  anchor  at  Liverpool  and  dropped  anchor 
in  the  harbor  of  New  York.  Several  years  later 
In'  made  his  way  westward  to  Chicago  and  soon 
afterward  purchased  a  claim  in  what  is  now  Syca- 
tnore  township,  De  Kalb  county,  Illinois.  Event- 
ually he  became  the  owner  of  a  well  developed 
farm  of  three  hundred  and  forty-three  aires,  all 
of  which  is  now  owned  by  our  subject  with  the 
exception  of  a  sixty  acre  tract.  With  character- 
istic energy  the  father  began  to  transform  the  raw 
prairie  into  well  cultivated  fields,  adding  modern 
improvements  and  continuing  the  work  of  develop- 
ing his  place  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  March,  1890.  He  was  well  known  as 
a  successful  farmer  and  stock-raiser.  His  politi- 
es I  allegiance  was  given  to  the  republican  party, 
of  which  he  was  a  stalwart  advocate. 

His  wife  was  born  in  the  state  of  New  York 
in  ISIS  and  in  early  girlhood  was  taken  to  Erie, 
Pennsylvania.  Her  father,  a  paper  manufacturer 
for  some  time  in  Meadville.  Pennsylvania,  after- 
ward removed  to  Chicago  and  later  to  St.  Charles, 
Illinois,  where  he  took  charge  of  the  Butler  paper 
mill  as  foreman,  continuing  in  that  position  up 
to  the  time  of  his  death  in  1845.  John  Chatfield 
and  Julia  Ann  Holmes  were  married  in  St. 
Charles,  after  they  took  up  their  abode  in  a  little 
log   cabin   on   the   claim,    living   in    true   pioneer 


346 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


style  in  the  early  days.  Inn  as  the  years  passed 
enjoying  the  comforts  which  were  secured  through 
the  enterprise  and  efforts  of  Mr.  Chatfield.  He 
was  a  man  of  scholarly  attainments,  being  a  grad- 
uate of  Yale  College  and  spoke  fluently  French, 
Greek,  Italian  and  Latin.  He  belonged  to  that 
class  of  representative  men  who  infused  into  the 
upbuilding  of  the  middle  west  the  culture  and 
learning  of  the  older  east  as  well  as  the  business 
ability,  and  thus  transformed  the  western  wilavr- 
ness  into  a  district  justly  noted  for  its  intellectual 
prowess  ami  accomplishments.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Chatfield  passed  away  in  the  city  of  Sycamore, 
the  latter  dying  in  1887. 

John  E.  Chatfield,  their  only  child,  remained 
upon  the  home  farm  until  his  mother's  death  in 
1887,  after  which  he  took  up  his  abode  in  the  city 
of  Sycamore,  where  he  engaged  in  clerking  in  a 
grocery  store.  Today  he  is  owner  of  a  half  inter- 
es(  in  the  same  store  and  as  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Sivwright  &  Chatfield  is  accounted  one  of  the 
enterprising  merchants  of  the  city.  They  carry 
a  large  and  carefully  selected  line  of  goods,  and 
the  tasteful  arrangement  of  their  store  with  mod- 
erate prices  and  fair  dealing  have  secured  to  the 
firm  a  very  gratifying  and  liberal  patronage.  Mr. 
Chatfield  leases  the  farm  and  derives  therefrom 
a  good  income. 

In  Sycamore  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
John  1\.  Chatfield  and  Miss  Clarinda  Phelps,  who 
was  born  in  Pe  Kalb  county.  Illinois,  in  1859.  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  Phelps,  an  early  resident  of 
the  county,  who  remained  here  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1882  when  he  was  about  sixty- 
eight  years  of  age.  He  sailed  for  nine  years  on 
the  Great  Lakes,  rising  from  cabin  boy  to  first 
mate.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Porcas  Campbell,  survived  him  until  1894  and 
died  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  They  came 
to  the  middle  west  from  the  vicinity  of  Syracuse. 
Xew  York,  and  for  some  years  after  their  arrival 
Mr.  Phelps  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  rented 
land  but  afterward  bought  a  farm  in  Sycamore 
township  and  there  made  his  home  until  he  wja 
called  to  his  final  rest.  He  took  an  active  and 
helpful  part  in  the  early  pioneer  development  of 
this  portion  of  the  state  and  was  well  known  as 
a  frontier  settler.  The  Phelps  family  numbered 
eleven  children.  Those  still  living  are:  Mrs. 
Al'inzo   Gordon,   of   Kane   county,   Illinois:   Mrs. 


Lyman  Ewings,  also  of  Kane  county:  James,  a 
veteran  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  Illinois 
Infantry  and  now  a  retired  farmer  living  in  Rock- 
ford.  Illinois:  Benjamin,  who  is  shipping  clerk  in 
tlie  People's  Furniture  Store  at  Omaha,  Nebraska; 
Mrs.  Hiram  Ewings  and  .Mrs.  Myron  Corser,  who 
are  residents  of  Cherryvale,  Kansas;  Mrs.  Nyron 
Black,  of  Arkansas  City,  Kansas:  ami  Mrs.  J.  0. 
Westlake.  of  Sycamore. 

Unto  Mr.  ami  Mr-.  Chatfield  has  been  horn  a 
son  and  daughter.  Leslie  J.,  twenty-four  years  of 
age.  now  a  member  of  the  grocery  linn,  was  mar- 
ried October  2,  1906.  to  Jennie  Pee.  of  Rochelle, 
Illinois.  Ethel,  nineteen  years  of  age,  is  a  music 
teacher  who  is  enjoying  special  advantages  under 
the  instruction  of  Professor  Lewis.  The  family 
residence  is  a  fine  home  which  was  erected  in 
March.   1903,  by   Mr.  Chatfield. 

In  Iris  political  views  he  is  a  stalwart  republican 
and  fraternally  lias  been  connected  with  the  Odd 
Fellows  societj  since  the  10th  of  October,  1876. 
He  is  now  noble  grand  of  Sycamore  lodge  and 
for  the  past  twelve  years  has  affiliated  with  the 
Modern  Woodmen,  also  belonging  to  the  Knights 
of  the  Globe  and  the  Yeomen,  while  his  wife  is 
connected  with  the  Rebekah  degree  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. Both  are  esteemed  as  people  of  genuine 
worth,  having  a  wide  and  favorable  acquaintance 
in  Sycamore  and  De  Kalb  county,  and  Mr.  Chat- 
field is  numbered  among  the  early  settlers,  for 
during  fifty-eight  years  he  has  lived  in  this  county, 
witnessing  its  growth  and  progress  along  lines 
which  have  brought  it  forth  from  pioneer  condi- 
tions and  secured  for  it  all  of  the  advantages  and 
opportunities    of   an    advanced    civilization. 


GENERAL  DANIEL  DUSTIN. 

General  Daniel  Dustin,  whose  life,  "grand  in 
its  simplicity."  was  one  which  conferred  honor  and 
dignity  upon  the  city  and  state  which  were  his 
home,  lived  for  many  years  in  Sycamore.  Through- 
out Illinois,  however,  he  was  known  and  respected 
and  his  business  life  and  military  and  political 
service  characterized  by  all  that  is  just  and  up- 
right gained  for  him  a  measure  of  trust,  good 
will  and  love  such  as  is  accorded  few  men.  He 
was  horn  in  Topsham.  Orange  county,  Vermont. 


^CX^^^o  sa^z^J 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


349 


October  5,  1820,  his  parents  being  John  Knight 
and  Sallie  (Thompson)  Dustin.  The  father,  a 
native  of  Atkinson,  New  Hampshire,  was  born 
January  24,  1784,  while  the  mother's  birth  oc- 
curred in  Newbury,  Vermont,  January  15,  1788. 
They  were  the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  eight 
of  whom  reached  adult  age  and  were  married. 
John  K.  Dustin,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  died  in 
Topsham,  in  August,  1858,  having  for  many  years 
survived  his  wife,  who  passed  away  there  Decem- 
ber 14,  1829. 

The  Dustin  family  comes  of  Scotch  and  En- 
glish ancestry,  the  line  being  traced  back  to 
Thomas  and  Hannah  Dustin.  of  Haverhill,  Massa- 
chusetts, who  were  married  in  1677.  The  latter 
was  a  daughter  of  Michael  and  Hannah  Emerson, 
and  was  born  at  Haverhill,  Massachusetts,  De- 
cember 23,  1657.  She  was  the  heroine  of  an  ex- 
ploit famous  in  the  early  annals  of  New  England. 
She  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians  in  an  at- 
tack on  Haverhill.  March  16,  1698,  at  which  time 
her  nurse  and  an  infant  were  also  captured,  but  the 
child  was  soon  afterward  killed.  Mrs.  Dustin  was 
taken  to  an  island  in  the  Merrimac  river,  after- 
ward known  as  Dustin's  Island,  with  twelve  In- 
dians. One  night,  with  the  aid  of  the  muse  ami  a 
white  captive  buy.  she  killed  all  the  Indians  when 
they  were  asleep,  save  a  squaw  and  a  hoy  who  es- 
caped, returning  thence  to  Haverhill  with  their 
scalps.  Nathaniel  Dustin,  paternal  grandfather  of 
the  General,  was  born  September  8,  1756,  and 
married  Judith  Knight,  whose  birth  occurred  May 
2,  1756.  He  died  March  3,  1815,  his  wife  sur- 
viving until  the  3d  of  June,  1842. 

General  Dustin  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth  in  his  native  county  and  after  master- 
ing the  common  branches  of  learning  in  the  sub- 
scription schools  he  attended  the  famous  old  acad- 
emy at  Newbury,  Vermont.  Intending  to  make 
the  practice  of  medicine  his  life  work,  he  after- 
ward began  study  to  that  end  in  Topsham,  con- 
tinuing his  reading  at  a  later  day  in  Corinth,  Ver- 
mont. He  also  attended  three  full  courses  of  lec- 
tures at  Dartmouth  College,  in  Hanover,  New 
Hampshire,  at  a  time  when  Oliver  Wendell 
Holmes  was  professor  of  anatomy  there.  Follow- 
ing his  graduation  on  the  18th  of  November,  1846. 
Dr.  Dustin  located  for  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  Corinth,  and  succeeded  in  gaining  a  good 
patronage  there.    During  his  residence  in  Corinth 


he  was  married  at  Topsham,  in  1846,  to  Miss  Isa- 
belle  Taplin,  a  daughter  of  Colonel  Gouldshum 
Taplin,  of  Corinth,  Vermont.  By  this  union  there 
were  three  children:  Emma,  the  wife  of  William 
Myers,  of  Carthage,  Missouri ;  Electa,  the  wife  of 
Walter  Waterman,  a  grocer  of  Sycamore;  and  Wil- 
liam (4.,  who  is  editor  of  a  paper  at  Dwight,  Illi- 
nois, and  also  postmaster  of  that  city.  In  August. 
1850,  a  few  months  after  Dr.  Dustin  left  Vermont 
for  the  gold-fields  of  California,  his  wife  died. 

It  was  in  the  spring  of  1850  that  the  Doctor, 
hoping  to  more  readily  acquire  a  competence  than 
he  could  in  following  his  profession,  sailed  from 
New  York  on  the  steamer  Georgia,  which  weighed 
anchor  on  the  13th  of  March.  A  landing  was 
made  at  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  where  a  num- 
ber of  slaves  were  brought  aboard.  This  was  his 
first  glimpse  of  slavery  as  it  then  existed  in  the 
south,  but  the  incident  was  one  which  he  never 
forgot  and  it  proved  the  foundation  upon  which 
rested  his  strong  opposition  to  slavery  in  later 
years.  From  Charleston  he  went  to  Panama, 
crossed  the  isthmus,  re-embarked  and  arrived  at 
San  Francisco  in  the  middle  of  June,  1850.  He 
traveled  with  several  companions  who  formed  a 
partnership.  They  took  with  them  a  dredging 
machine  with  which  to  wash  the  gold  from  sub- 
merged bars,  but  sold  the  machine  on  their  arrival 
at  a  large  profit. 

Dr.  Dustin  went  first  to  Benecia  and  subse- 
quently to  Sacramento,  entering  upon  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  the  latter  place..  Later  he 
went  to  the  mining  region  at  Hangtown,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  search  for  gold  and  finally  drifted 
into  the  French  corral  in  Nevada  county.  There 
he  met  the  lady  who  afterward  became  his  wife. 
They  were  married  at  Spring  Valley.  California. 
October  18,  1854.  The  lady  bore  the  maiden  name 
of'  Elmira  Paul  v.  and  was  a  native  of  Lebanon, 
Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Aaron  Pauly.  also  born  in 
that  state,  while  his  father  emigrated  from  western 
Germany  to  America  in  the  early  part  of  the 
century.  Aaron  Pauly  wedded  Lydia  Birdsall,  a 
native  of  Wilmington,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Zada  (Hinnian)  Birdsall,  their  only 
child  being  Mrs.  Dustin.  Following  her  mother's 
death,  her  father  married  again  and  in  1849  went 
to  California,  where  in  1852  he  was  joined  by  his 
second  wife  and  his  children.  Aaron  Pauly  was  a 
merchant,  tailor  in  Cincinnati.  Ohio,  but  on  the 


350 


PAST    AND    PBESENT    <>F    DE    KALB   COUNTY. 


coast  engaged  in  general  merchandising  until  1884. 
when  he  retired  from  business,  his  death  occurring 
in  San  Diego,  California,  in  1890.  By  his  second 
marriage  Dr.  Dustin  had  one  child,  Zada,  now  the 
wife  of  John  C.  Craft,  cashier  ot  tne  Bankers  Na- 
tional Bank,  of  Chicago. 

After  locating  in  Nevada  county,  California.  Dr. 
Dustin  engaged  in  merchandising  and  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession,  his  services,  however,  being 
in  demand  in  surgical  cases  than  in  the  ad- 
ministration of  medicine,  owing  to  the  lawlessness 
of  the  times,  which  caused  many  personal  injuries 
igh  cutting  and  shooting.    He  also  gave  some 
i lion   to   surface   mining,   which   he   followed 
with  fair  success    II     i  -      inured  prominently 

in  political  affairs,  and  in  1855-56  represented 
Nevada  county  in  the  stati    L<  gislature. 

Feeling  that  he  had  sufficient  experience  in  Cali- 
fornia life.  Dr.  Dustin  determined  to  return  to  the 
east,  but  instead  of  going  to  his  old  home  in  New 
England  he  located  in  Sycamore,  Illinois,  where 

lecame  associated   with  J.   E.  and  Cham 
Ellwood   in    the    mercantile   business,   continuing 
with  them  until  after  the  inauguration  of  hostili- 
letween  the  north  and  south.     From  the  time 
that  he  first  -aw    slaves  at  <  ston  until  the 

outbreak  of  the  war  his  sympathy  with  the  op- 
pressed race  hail  steadilj  grown.  He  believed,  too. 
in  the  indivisibility  of  the  Onion  and  enlisted 
in  the  Eighth  Illinois  Cavalry,  being  commissoned 
captain  bj  Governor  Yates,  January  3,  1862,  to 
take  rank  from  the  1st  of  September.  1861.  In 
1862  he  was  promoted  major,  ranking  from  the 
8th  of  January  of  that  year.  In  .March  his  regi- 
ment joined  in  the  general  advance  on  Manassas 
under  command  of  General  Sumner  and  in  the 
early  spring  of  that  year  at  four  different  times 
the  Eighth  Illinois  Cavalry  drove  the  enemy  across 
the  Bappahannock.  The  regiment  also  did  im- 
portant service  at  Gaines  Mill  and  Malvern  Hill, 
the  advance  on  the  second  occupying  Malvern  Hill 
and  with  Benson's  Battery  of  the  United  States 
Artillery  bore  the  brunt  of  the  fight  and  brought 
up  the  rear  of  the  retreating  Union  forces  at  Bar- 
rett's Ford  and  at  Chickahominv.  At  the  open- 
ing- of  the  seven  days"  fight  Major  Dustin  was  in 
command  of  a  squadron  of  the  Eighth  on  the  ex- 
treme right  of  the  Union  line  and  where  the  rebel 
troops  first  encountered  the  Union  army.  The  first 
volley  of  musketry  on  the  first  day  of  that  memor- 


able succession  of  engagements  was  fired  at  Major 
Dustin,  his  orderly  and  tin-  captain  of  his  com- 
mand by  the  advance  guard  of  the  enemy  at  close 

.  the  captain  being  shot  down  by  the  Major's 
side. 

In  July.  1862,  Major  Dustin  resigned,  re- 
turned home  and  assisted  in  raising  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Fifth  Begiment  of  Illinois  Infantry. 
which  was  mustered  into  service  September  2,  Is'  12 . 
at  Dixon.  Illinois.  Major  Dustin  received  the 
commission  of  colonel  October  I.  L862,  ami  was 
1 'lined  in  command  of  the  regiment.  Soon  after- 
ward the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  joined  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland,  with  which  it  remained 
throughout  the  war.  In  the  spring  of  1864  with 
the  One  Hundred  and  Second  and  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-ninth  Illinois,  the  Seventieth  Indiana 
and  the  Seventy-ninth  Ohio,  the  regiment  formed 
Brigade,  Third  Division  of  the  Twentieth 
Army  Corps.  After  the  Atlanta  campaign  Colonel 
Oust  in  was  placed  in  command  of  the  Second  Brig- 
ie  division  and  corps  and  remainad 
its  commander  during  the  war.     lie  accompanied 

ral  Sherman  on  his  march  to  the  sea  and  after 
the  battle  of  Averysboro,  North  Carolina,  he  was 

tted  brigadier  general,  a  promotion  which  was 
well  merited.  His  commission  was  received  April 
''.  lMi6,  ranking  from  March  16,  1865,  and  came 
to  him  in  recognition  of  his  gallant  and  valorous 
service  in  the  campaign  in  Georgia  and  in  South 
ilina.  Marching  with  his  brigade  to  Washing- 
ton he  participated  in  the  grand  review,  and  on 
the  7th  of  June.  1865,  was  mustered  out.  returning 
home  with  a  record  which  reflected  credit  upon  the 
military  history  of  Illinois  during  the  darkest 
hour  in  the  annals  of  the  countrv. 

General  Fhistin,  however,  was  not  permitted  to 
retire  to  private  life,  for  soon  after  his  return 
home  he  was  nominated  for  civic  honors  and  on  the 
republican  ticket  was  elected  county  clerk,  in  which 
position  he  served  for  four  years.  He  was  after- 
ward county  treasurer  for  two  years,  and  in  1880 
"a-  elected  circuit  clerk,  filling  the  office  by  re- 
election for  ten  years,  or  until  he  resigned  to  ac- 
cept President  Harrison's  appointment  on  the  2d 
of  May,  1890,  to  the  position  of  state  treasurer  of 
the  United  States  treasury  at  Chicago.  In  that 
capacity  he  served  with  marked  ability  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  Carthage.  Missouri. 
March  30.  1892.  while  vi  iting  his  daughter  there. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


351 


General  Dustin  was  ever  deeply  interested  in 
the  welfare  of  the  soldiers,  and  during  the  con- 
struction of  the  Soldiers  and  Sailors  Home  at 
Quincy  he  was  president  of  tire  board  of  trustees 
and  served  as  one  of  its  members  until  his  de- 
mise. His  opinions  carried  weight  in  the  councils 
of  the  republican  party  and  his  influence  was 
strongly  felt.  Twice  he  was  the  choice  of  De  Kalb 
county  in  the  republican  conventions  for  con- 
gressional honors,  but  withdrew  in  favor  of  per- 
sonal friends.  He  attained  high  rank  in  Masonry, 
having  been  initiated  into  Sycamore  lodge,  No. 
134,  May  6,  1859.  He  took  the  chapter,  council 
and  commandery  degrees,  served  as  the  highest  of- 
ficer in  all  these  organizations,  and  in  1872  was 
elected  eminent  commander  of  the  grand  com- 
mandery of  the  Knights  Templar  of  Illinois.  He 
was  also  appointed  representative  of  New  Jersey 
in  the  Illinois  grand  lodge.  He  attained  the 
thirty-second  degree  of  the  Scottish  rite  and  for 
twenty-five  years  was  a  sublime  prince  of  the 
Royal  Secret,  He  held  membership  in  the  Congre- 
gational church,  of  which  organization  his  wife 
and  daughter  are  also  members.  Mrs.  Dustin  still 
occupies  her  pleasant  home  in  Sycamore,  where  she 
has  many  friends. 

The  announcement  of  the  death  of  few  people 
has  caused  such  uniform  sorrow  and  regret  as  was 
felt  in  Sycamore  and  throughout  Illinois  when  it 
was  heard  that  General  Dustin  had  passed  away. 
His  was  a  most  imposing  funeral  service.  He  had 
lived  quietly  and  unostentatiously  in  his  life,  but 
in  his  death  his  many  friends,  comrades  and  com- 
panions honored  him  as  he  deserved  to  be  hon- 
ored and  at  his  grave  the  Knights  Templar  formed 
a  triangle  around  his  bier  with  the  Grand 
Army  posts  in  a  square  outside  and  fol- 
lowing the  discharge  of  ten  volleys  over 
the  grave  taps  were  sounded,  indicating  that 
General  Dustin  had  entered  upon  a  sleep 
which  knows  no  waking  in  this  life.  From 
all  over  the  state  came  men  prominent  in  the  vari- 
ous walks  to  pay  their  last  tribute  of  respect  to  a 
loved  comrade  and  friend.  A  message  was  received 
from  Benjamin  Harrison,  then  president  of  the 
United  States,  with  whom  General  Dustin  had 
served  while  in  the  army,  and  also  from  Congress- 
man Hopkins.  The  life  of  General  Dustin  was 
noble  and  quiet,  yet  full  of  good  deeds,  leaving  be- 
hind a  memory  which  overflowed  with  charity  and 


a  record  that  is  as  clean  as  the  untrodden  snow. 
General  Dustin  was  the  soul  of  honor,  was  gen- 
erous to  a  degree  that  prevented  the  accumulation 
for  self,  to  which  men  of  his  energy  and  ability 
too  often  aspire.  No  plea  of  a  man  in  need  couid 
be  refused  by  him.  His  soldiers  have  so  often  re- 
in a  iked  that  he  would  give  his  last  dollar  to  a  des- 
titute comrade.  He  was  the  true  type  of  the 
Christian  gentleman.  Stern  in  discipline,  but 
when  that  military  morale  so  necessary  to  success 
was  accomplished  he  was  as  gentle  as  a  child.  His 
hold  upon  the  hearts  of  men  in  the  camp,  field 
and  civil  life  marked  him  for  preferment  because 
of  his  great  sympathy  and  love  for  humanity. 
Had  his  talents  been  employed  in  the  forum  he 
would  have  been  as  forceful  as  in  the  field,  for 
when  his  heart  was  stirred  and  his  sympathies 
aroused  in  a  just  cause  he  spoke  with  a  fervency 
and  energy  that  stirred  men.  His  almost  boyish 
enthusiasm  made  him  a  favorite  of  young  men. 
He  could  not  be  half  hearted.  Such  men  were  the 
strong  support  of  Sherman  and  Grant  in  war. 
Such  men  in  halls  of  state  were  the  strong  right 
arm  of  Abraham  Lincoln  in  those  troublous  times 
of  1861  to  1865.  No  man  was  more  devotedly 
loved  in  De  Kalb  county,  while  in  his  home  city, 
to  those  who  met  him  daily,  he  was  an  object  of 
veneration;  and  no  man  has  added  gretter  luster 
to  this  county's  history  than  did  this  noble  patriot. 
One  of  his  last  acts  was  characteristic  of  his 
patriotism  and  the  deep  attachment  which  he  ever 
felt  for  his  country.  While  upon  his  death  bed  he 
asked  that  the  flag  be  brought  to  the  bedside,  and 
then  turning  to  those  around  him  requested  that 
three  cheers  be  given  for  Old  Glory,  and  when  he 
was  lowered  to  his  last  restoing  place  there  was 
wrapped  about  him  this  same  silken  emblem  of 
the  country,  which  he  had  so  loved  and  which  he 
had  served  so  faithfully. 


LEWIS  M.  GPtOSS. 

Lewis  M.  Gross,  the  fourth  child  of  William  and 
Harriet  (Ault)  Gross,  was  born  in  May  field  town- 
ship, De  Kalb  county,  on  the  11th  of  June,  1863. 
He  lived  the  life  of  a  country  lad.  attending  the 
district  school  and  working  on  his  father's  farm. 
At  fifteen  his  summer  work  at  school  terminated. 


352 


PAST    AND    PEESENT    OF    DE    KALB   COUNTY 


Later,  however,  he  attended  the  Sycamore  high 
school,  of  which  he  is  a  graduate  of  the  class  of 
L885.  Ee  taught  for  one  year  in  the  district 
school  and  for  two  years  was  principal  of  the 
Cortland  school  and  for  two  years  of  the  Kirkland 
school.  During  the  summer  months  he  attended 
different  summer  schools,  receiving  special  train- 
ing, and  lias  completed  <i ulit  extensive  courses 
in  United  States  history  in  the  Chicago  Uni- 
versity. In  1890  he  was  elected  county  super- 
intendent of  schools  in  De  Kalb  county  and  by 
re-election  was  continued  in  the  office  for  sixteen 
years.  The  schools  made  substantial  progress 
under  his  direction,  and  that  the  public  recog- 
nized his  ability  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  he 
was  so  long  continued  in  the  position.  From 
1900  until  1906  he  was  a  member  of  the  Illinois 
State  Teachers'  Reading  Circle  board  and  for 
five  years  was  its  manager.  He  has  thus  gain  d 
recognition  in  education  circles  as  a  foremost 
repn  sentative  of  the  work  in  the  state,  and  is  par- 
tieularly  well  known  as  one  whose  historical  knowl- 
edge is  far  above  the  average. 

Mr.  Gross  is  a  Mason  of  the  thirty-second  de- 
gree and  also  affiliates  with  the  Modern  Wood- 
men and  the  Odd  Fellows,  lie  was  reared  a 
Methodist  and  is  a  supporter  of  that  denomina- 
tion. Be  belongs  to  the  [llinois  and  National 
Eistorical  societies  and  is  deeply  interested  in  the 
research  and  investigation  which  are  promoting 
a  knowledge  of  American  history,  both  in  its  local 
and  national  phases.  At  the  present  writing,  in 
L907,  he  is  engaged  in  business  in  Sycamore. 


HON.  CHARLES  A.  BISHOP. 

Hon.  Charles  A.  Bishop  is  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished members  of  the  Illinois  bar,  wdio  since 
1886  has  been  continuously  upon  the  bench,  first 

as  itv  judge  until  1897  and  since  that  time  as 

circuit  judge.  He  is  a  man  of  fine  physique,  be- 
ing six  feet  four  inches  in  height  and  well  pro- 
portioned, and  his  stature  is  indicative  of  his  char- 
acter, for  in  his  life  he  has  displayed  a  breadth  of 
view  together  with  high  and  honorable  purposes 
and  principles  that  have  everywhere  commanded 
for  him  the  trust  and  admiration  of  his  fellow- 
men. 


His  life  record  began  in  Nova  Scotia,  September 
26,  1854.  Ins  parents  being  Adolphus  and  Joanna 
(Willett)  Bishop.  The  family  was  represented  in 
New  England  at  an  early  period  in  the  colonization 
of  the  new  world,  but  more  recent  generations  were 
natives  of  Nova  Scotia.  John  Bishop,  Sr.,  after 
the  French  were  expelled  from  Nova  Scotia,  upon 
invitation  of  Governor  Lawrence,  was  one  of  the 
colonists  who  took  possession  of  the  land  previously 
occupied  by  the  French-Canadians.  Many  there 
were  who  went  from  the  British  colonies  along  the 
Atlantic  shore  to  different  parts  of  Nova  Scotia 
and  John  Bishop,  Sr.,  removed  from  Connecticut 
to  Horton  about  the  year  1762,  accompanied  by 
bis  lour  sons.  Colonel  John  Bishop,  Captain  Wil- 
liam Bishop  and  Peter  and  Timothy  Bishop.  The 
line  of  descent  is  traced  down  through  Captain 
William  Bishop.  Sr..  and  Captain  William  Bishop. 
Jr.  Judge  Bishop  is  the  possessor  of  the  sword 
worn  by  his  great-grandfather,  Captain  William 
Bishop,  Jr.,  at  the  time  he  was  captured  by  an 
American  privateer  in  Minas  Basin.  He  was  cap- 
tain of  a  company  of  militia  and  when  he  saw  the 
privateer  coming  up  the  bay,  got  some  of  his  men 
together,  manned  a  vessel  that  w-as  faulty,  and 
went  out  to  give  battle  to  the  privateer.  They  were 
soon,  however,  captured  and  placed  in  iroi>>  in 
the  hold  of  the  privateer.  Captain  Bishop,  during 
the  first  night,  succeeded  in  getting  out  of  his 
irons  and  releasing  his  men  and  conceived  the 
idea  of  capturing  the  crew  of  the  privateer.  Be- 
ing physically  a  giant  in  strength  he  went  on  deck, 
followed  by  his  crew,  armed  with  whatever  they 
could  get.  Captain  Bishop  grappled  with  the 
guard,  fell  on  the  deck  holding  the  man  over  him, 
and  when  the  crew  of  the  vessel  tried  to  bayonet 
him  lie  would  shield  himself  with  the  guard  by 
moving  him  from  side  to  side.  The  struggle  was 
short.  The  crew  of  the  privateer,  being  taken  by 
surprise,  were  soon  captured  and  Captain  Bishop 
and  his  crew  had  control  shortly  of  the  vessel, 
which  they  brought  into  port,  where  Wolfville, 
Nova  Scotia,  now  is.  and  the  sword  worn  by  him  on 
that  occasion  has  been  handed  down  to  the  oldest 
in  the  family  and  is  now  in  possession  of  Judge 
Bishop. 

Gordon  Bishop,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject. 
who  was  born  in  Nova  Scotia  and  spent  his  entire 
life  in  Kings  county,  where  through  the  period  of 
his  manhood  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits.   He 


the  new  york) 
PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


ASTOh,    LENOX 
TllDCN  FOUNDATIONS. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


married  Louisa  Oakes,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  eight  children :  Eunice  Ann,  Mary  Eliza. 
Adolphus,  Edward,  James  L.,  Allen,  Ainsley  and 
Charles  A. 

Of  this  number  Adolphus  Bishop  was  born  in 
Kings  county,  Nova  Scotia,  May  26,  1829,  and  he. 
too,  has  made  farming  his  life  work,  his  home  be- 
ing at  Grand  Pre,  Nova  Scotia.  He  wedded  Jo- 
anna Willett,  who  was  born  at  Annapolis,  Nova 
Scotia,  August  27,  1833,  the  marriage  being  cele- 
brated at  Horton,  on  the  30th  of  March,  1852. 
The  wife  died  November  3.  1801.  Their  children 
were  Charles  Alford,  David  Averd  and  Franklin 
Willett.  but  the  last  named  died  July  4,  1894. 
The  second  son  is  living  at  Truro,  Nova  Scotia. 
For  his  second  wife  Adolphus  Bishop  chose  Mary 
E.  Willett  and  they  had  two  children :  Ernest  A.. 
who  died  in  infancy ;  and  Nellie  May,  who  passed 
away  December  1.  1896,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years.  The  mother  was  called  to  her  final  rest 
October  3,  1890,  and  since  that  time  Adolphus 
Bishop  has  married  Louise  Faulkner. 

At  the  usual  age  Judge  Bishop  became  a  student 
in  the  public  schools  of  Nova  Scotia  and  supple- 
mented his  preliminary  intellectual  training  by 
study  in  the  academy  at  Arcadia,  and  afterward  in 
the  academy  at  Mount  Allison,  Sackville,  New- 
Brunswick,  where  he  pursued  a  special  three  years' 
course.  Entering  the  field  of  educational  work,  he 
was  for  two  years  principal  of  the  high  school  at 
Sackville  and  then  made  his  way  to  Illinois,  ar- 
riving in  Sycamore  on  the  1st  of  June,  1878.  D 
was  his  desire  to  become  a  member  of  the  bar,  and 
after  reading  in  the  office  and  under  the  direction 
of  H.  A.  Jones,  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in 
June,  1880.  His  success  came  soon,  because  his 
equipment  was  unusually  good.  He  thoroughly 
mastered  the  fundamental  principles  of  the  law 
and,  added  to  this,  was  a  fine  presence  and  a  habit 
of  clear  thought  and  logical  reasoning  which  gave 
adequate  expression  in  the  presentation  of  his 
cause  before  the  courts.  He  entered  into  practice 
with  his  preceptor  under  the  firm  name  of  Jones 
&  Bishop,  a  relation  that  was  maintained  until  the 
19th  of  October,  1886. 

In  that  year  Judge  Bishop  was  a  candidate  be- 
fore the  republican  convention  for  the  nomination 
of  county  judge,  but  wras  defeated  through  political 
combinations.  He  then  announced  himself  as  an 
independent  candidate,  and  that  he  had  a  strong 


personal  following  and  that  the  general  public 
placed  the  utmost  confidence  in  his  professional 
ability  and  integrity  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  he 
received  majorities  in  fourteen  of  the  eighteen 
townships  of  the  county  and  became  county  judge. 
Four  years  later  he  was  nominated  in  the  repub- 
lican convention  by  acclamation  and  again  received 
endorsement  at  the  polls.  A  similar  condition  oc- 
curred in  1894  and  he  served  on  the  county  bench 
until  1897,  when  he  resigned,  having  been  nomi- 
nated for  circuit  judge  from  the  twelfth  district 
on  the  3d  of  February,  1897.  When  the  state  was 
re-districted  he  was  again  chosen  for  the  office  ami 
now  presides  over  the  sixteenth  district,  compris- 
ing De  Kalb,  Kane,  Du  Page  and  Kendall  e< uni- 
ties. He  has  made  an  excellent  presiding  officer  in 
both  the  county  and  circuit  courts.  He  is  particu- 
larly free  from  judicial  bias,  is  an  able  exponent 
of  the  law  and  recognizes  with  peculiar  clearness 
and  accuracy  the  relation  of  the  principles  of  juris- 
prudence to  the  points  in  litigation.  His  decisions 
therefore  have  been  strictly  fair  and  impartial  and 
have  received  the  endorsement  of  the  bar  as  well 
as  the  laity. 

On  the  25th  of  August,  1880,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  Judge  Bishop  and  Parmelia  Wharry,  of 
Sycamore,  a  daughter  of  Major  Evans  and  Martha 
(Smith)  Wharry.  Her  girlhood  days  were  spent 
in  Sycamore,  her  native  city,  and  her  education 
was  completed  in  Wellesley  College,  in  Massachu- 
setts. Her  death,  which  occurred  April  13,  1889, 
was  the  occasion  of  most  sincere  regret  to  a  very 
large  number  of  friends.  On  the  25th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1890,  Judge  Bishop  wedded  Martha  E.  Stuart. 
a  daughter  of  Charles  T.  and  Nancy  D.  (Hutch- 
ins)  Stuart.  Her  paternal  grandparents  were 
Nathan  and  Boxanna  (Phelps)  Stuart.  Her  fa- 
ther was  born  April  13,  1819,  and  departed  this 
life  October  13.  1892,  survived  by  his  widow  and 
a  daughter  and  son,  Mrs.  Bishop  and  Charles  II. 
Stuart.  The  maternal  grandparents  of  Mrs. 
Bishop  were  Solomon  and  Nancy  (Dillingham) 
Hutchins,  and  to  the  same  family  belonged  Gov- 
ernor  Paul  Dillingham,  of  Vermont.  Judge  and 
Mrs.  Bishop  have  become  parents  of  a  son  and 
daughter:  Stuart  A.,  born  August  21,  1892:  and 
Marian  O.,  born  January  7,  1S96. 

The  Judge  and  his  wife  attend  the  Congrega- 
tional church.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Syc- 
amore lodge.  No.  134,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. :  Sycamore 


356 


PAST    AND   PRESENT.  OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


chapter,  No.  I'1.  R.  A.  M.:  Sycamore  commandery, 
Xo.  15,  K.  T. ;  and  of  Oriental  Consistory,  Valley 
of  Chicago,  and  to  Medinah  Temple.  .Nobles  of  the 
Mystic  Shrine;  and  is  a  past  high  priest  of  Syca- 
more chapter  and  past  eminent  commander  of 
Sycamore  commandery.  He  is  likewise  a  member 
of  De  Kalb  lodge..  No.  765,  13.  P.  0.  E. :  Sycamore 
lodge,  No.  I1'"'.  J.  0.  0.  !•' :  the  Ellwood  encamp- 
ment of  Odd  Fellows;  and  also  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  The  Judge  and  his  wife 
are  most  prominent  socially,  while  the  hospitality 
of  their  home — warm  hearted  and  generous — is 
greatly  enjoyed  by  their  many  friends. 


ADOLPH   PETERSON. 

\dolph  Peterson  is  a  mason  contractor  of  De 
Kalb  who  came  to  America  in  1861  and  has  since 
remained  in  this  country,  feeling  a  most  loyal  at- 
tachment to  it-  institutions  and  its  plan  of  gov- 
ernment. He  found  here  the  business  opportuni- 
ties which  he  soughl  and  which,  by  the  way,  are 
always  open  to  determined,  ambitions  young  men, 
and  by  the  improvement  of  these  he  has  earned 
a  comfortable  living  and  a  goodly  competence. 
Mr.  Peterson  was  born  in  Sweden  on  the  19th 
of  April.  1843.  his  parents  being  Peter  -Magnus 
and  Christine  Ellis,  who  spent  their  entire  lives 
in  Sweden,  the  father  following  the  occupation  of 
farming  in  order  to  provide  for  the  support  of 
his  family.  The  children  were:  Charles,  who 
lived  for  ten  years  in  this  country,  where  he  en- 
gaged  in  business  as  a  carpenter  contractor,  but 
now  follows  farming  in  Oelland.  Sweden  :  P.  A., 
superintendent  of  a  large  furniture  factory  in 
Rockford.  Illinois;  Adolph,  of  this  review;  Mrs. 
Homer,  of  Oak  Park :  Mrs.  Shogeen,  of  Sunrise. 
Minnesota  :  and  Mrs.  Johnson,  of  Smolen,  Sweden. 

Adolph  Peterson,  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth, 
was  reared  in  his  native  country,  acquired  a  com- 
mon-school education  there  and  afterward  worked 
on  his  fathers  farm  until  eighteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  began  learning  the  mason's  trade,  which 
he  has  since  pursued,  being  engaged  in  that  line 
for  five  years  in  his  native  country.  He  then  re- 
solved to  come  to  America,  attracted  by  the 
broader  business  opportunities  of  the  new  world, 
and  on  the  5th  of  May,  1S07.  he  sailed  for  this 


country,  reaching  De  Kalb  on  the  28th  of  the 
same  month.  He  has  since  lived  in  this  county 
and  has  been  continuously  connected  with  the 
mason's  trade  in  the  city  of  De  Kalb,  taking  many 
contract  jobs  during  these  years.  That  he  has 
prospered  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  he  now 
owns  his  residence  in  the  city  and  other  property. 
Hi-  life  has  been  one  of  continuous  activity,  in 
h  Inch  has  been  accorded  a  due  recognition  of  labor. 

While  in  Sweden  Mr.  Peterson  belonged  to  the 
militia  of  his  native  country.     In  politics  he  has 

in  a  republican  since  becoming  a  naturalized 
American  citizen  and  has  been  somewhat  active 
in  local  political  circles,  serving  for  two  years  as 
alderman  of  the  third  ward  of  De  Kalb  and  at 
all  times  standing  as  stalwart  champion  of  the 
principles  and  platform  of  his  party.  He  be- 
longs i"  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity,  his 
membership  being  in  lodge  No.  215,  and  he  is  also 
connected  with  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  with  tne 
Swedish  Benefit  Association,  while  his  religious 
faith  is  indicated  by  his  membership  in  the  Swed- 
ish Lutheran  church. 

Mr.  Peterson  was  married  February  26,  1869, 
in  De  Kalb,  to  Miss  Minnie  Lundberg,  who  was 
born  in  Sweden.  March  14,  1844.  Her  parents 
John  and  Christine  Lundberg,  both  natives 
of  that  country  and  in  their  family  were  four 
children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Peterson  is  the  youngest. 
By  her  marriage  she  became  the  mother  of  two 
sons:  Theodore  B.,  born  December  28,  1S70; 
and  Elmer  S..  horn  March  1,  18T6.  The  wife  and 
mother  died  February  1.  189S,  since  which  time 
}Jr.  Peterson  lived  alone  in  his  own  home  at  \  >. 
5 1 1  Pine  street.  He  is  a  self-made  man  who  came 
to  America  without  any  knowledge  of  the  English 
language  but  has  through  his  business  integrity 
and  diligence  gained  a  goodly  property,  has  edu- 
cated his  children  and  has  become  a  substantial 
citizen  of  1  >e  Kalb. 


GEORGE  KNELL. 


George  Knell,  who  resides  on  a  farm  adjoining 
the  village  of  Shabbona,  was  born  in  the  county 
of  Kent,  England.  December  17,  1828,  and  has 
therefore  passed  the  seventy-eighth  milestone  on 
life's   journey.     His   father,   Mathew   Knell,   was 


AlioUMF    PETEESON. 


THF  NEW  YORkI 

P'-'P.MC  LIBRARY 


1 


PAST   AND    PEESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


359 


born  in  England,  where  he  followed  the  occupa- 
tion of  fanning,  but  was  never  a  landowner.     He 
died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-four  years,  while 
his  wife  passed  a  way  at  the  very  advanced  age  of 
ninety-four  years,  about  six  years  ago.     She  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Elizabeth  Reynolds  and  was 
also  a  native  of  County  Kent,  England.    After  los- 
ing  her   first   husband    she   became    the    wife    of 
Austin  Owen.    By  her  first  marriage  she  had  two 
children,    the  younger   being   James    Knell,   who 
lives  in  England.     By  her  second  marriage  there 
were  two  daughters,  who  are  also  residents  of  Eng- 
land, while  another  daughter  and  son  are  deceased. 
George  Knell  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  in  his  native  country,  residing  in  England 
until  he  was  twenty-four  years  of  age.     He  was 
married   on   the   19th  of   October,   1852,  to   Miss 
Harriet  Hooper,  whose  birth  occurred  in  County 
Kent  in  1826.     Her  father,  William  Hooper,  wis 
also  born  in  that  county  and  followed  the  occu- 
pation of  farming  as  his  life  work.     He  died  at 
the  age  of  eighty-one  years.     His  wife,  Elizabem 
May  Hooper,  was  born  in  County  Kent  and  her 
death  occurred  when  she  had  reached  the  age  of 
eighty-four  years.    They  had  a  large  family  but  all 
are  now  deceased  with  the  exception  of  one  daugh- 
ter who  is  still  living  in  England  and  Mrs.  Knell. 
Following  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knell 
started  for  the  United  States  and  were  six  weeks 
and  three  days  on  the  water  as  passengers  on  the 
sailing  vessel  Prince  Albert.    They  landed  at  New 
York  city  and  with  a  friend  went  to  Cleveland, 
Ohio.     Mr.  Knell  worked  on  a  farm  in  Cuyahoga 
county,  Ohio,  for  sixteen  months  and  in  ihe  fall 
of  1854  drove  across  country  with  a  team  to  Illi- 
nois.   Pie  located  in  Paw  Paw  township,  De  Kalb 
county,  near  the  Grove,  and  rented  a  small  tract 
of  land.     In  the  fall  of  1857,  he  rented  a  part  of 
Pierpont    Edward's   farm,   whereon   he   lived    for 
a  year,  and  in   1858  rented  another  farm,  upon 
which  he  lived  for  two  years.     On  the  expiration 
of  that  period,  he  purchased  forty  acres  in  the  same 
neighborhood  and  also  bought  the  house  upon  Mr. 
Edward's  farm,  which  he  had  removed  to  his  own 
tract  of  land.  There  he  lived  until  the  springof  1856. 
when  he  sold  that  property  and  took  up  his  abode 
in  Shabbona  township.    He  owns  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  on  section   32  and   devoted 
his  time  and  energies  to  its  cultivation  for  eleven 
years,  after  which  he  established  his  home  on  his 


present  farm,  adjoining  the  village  of  Shabbona. 
He  has  become  one  of  the  extensive  landowners 
of  the  county,  possessing  eight  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  acres  of  land,  which  he  purchased  from 
time  to  time.  This  is  very  valuable  and  he  is 
now  the  largest  taxpayer  in  the  township. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knell  was  born  one  daugh- 
ter, Elizabeth  II.,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Ohio 
in  1853  and  who  is  now  the  wife  of  George  Lover- 
ing,  a  merchant  of  Shabbona.  He  was  born  in 
Boone  county,  Illinois,  in  1851,  and  since  1876 
has  been  engaged  in  business  in  Shabbona.  Unto 
him  and  his  wife  have  been  born  two  children, 
Mrs.  W.  J.  Olmstead,  of  Shabbona  township;  an  i 
William  K..  sixteen  years  of  age. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knell  were  reared  in  the  Episco- 
pal faith,  but  have  attended  different  churches 
since  coming  to  De  Kalb  county.  Mr.  Knell's 
early  political  allegiance  was  given  the  republican 
_party-and  he  afterward  became  a  supporter  of  the 
greenback  party,  the  principles  of  which  he  still 
advocates.  For  several  years,  however,  he  has  not 
voted  or  taken  any  active  part  in  political  inter- 
ests. He  never  aspired  to  office  and  has  filled  io 
position  save  that  of  school  director.  He  has  dis- 
played good  business  qualities,  is  far-sighted,  has 
made  judicious  investments  and  has  become  a 
large  property  holder. 


DAVID  WADDELE. 


David  Waddell,  who  is  now  living  practically 
retired,  although  he  engages  to  some  extent  in 
gardening,  is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war  and  as 
such  well  deserves  mention  in  this  volume,  for 
as  long  as  memory  remains  to  the  American  peo- 
ple they  will  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude  which  can 
never  be  repaid  to  the  loyal  sons  of  the  nation 
who  fought  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union  on 
southern  battle-fields. 

Mr.  Waddell  was  born  in  Belmont  county,  Ohio, 
September  13,  1839.  His  father,  David  Waddell. 
Sr.,  also  a  native  of  Ohio  was  born  in  1800  and 
lived  and  died  in  the  state  of  his  nativity.  He 
first  married  Isabelle  Frizzell  and  after  her  death 
he  wedded  Euphemia  Garrett,  whose  birth  occur- 
red in  Loudoun  county.  Virginia,  in  1809.     The 


3G0 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    I>F    KALI!    eol'XTY. 


father  was  a  farmer  and  throughout  his  entire 
life  provided  for  his  family  by  following  that 
occupation.  There  were  five  children  born  of  his 
first  marriage  and  seven  of  the  second  marriage, 
of  which  number  David  Waddell  was  the  fifth  in 
order  of  birth.  Four  of  the  number  are  now  de- 
ceased.  Two  of  the  brothers,  Joseph  and  Marion. 
were  soldiers  of  the  <  'i\  il  war. 

David  Waddell  of  ibis  review  was  reared  to 
farm  life  in  Belmonl  county,  Ohio,  early  becom- 
ing familiar  with  all  the  duties  and  labors  tint 
fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agriculturist.  He  was  a 
young  man  of  twenty-two  years  when  he  offered 
his  services  to  the  government,  enlisting  on  the 
Oth  of  November,  1861,  as  a  member  of  Company 
H.  Sixty-fifth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  This 
command  was  assigned  to  the  Western  Army.  Mr. 
Waddell.  however,  was  detailed  for  special  duty 
in  connection  with  the  building  of  corduroy  roads 
and  pontoon  bridges  in  Kentucky.  On  the  20th 
of  September,  1862,  he  was  honorably  discharged 
because  of  disability  and  remained  at  home  until 
1864,  when  he  re-enlisted,  ibis  time  becoming  a 
member  of  Company  F,  One  Eundred  and  Sev- 
enty-second Regiment,  for  one  hundred  days"  serv- 
ice. Again  he  remained  at  the  front  until  hon- 
orably discharged  and  he  once  i 'e  enlisted  April 

10.  1865,  continuing  at  the  froni  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  when  in  September.  1865.  he  was  mus- 
tered out.  He  did  active  service  in  Kentucky, 
Tennessee.  Maryland,  Virginia,  Delaware  and 
Ohio  and  participated  in  the  capture  of  Morgan 
when  he  made  his  raid  through  the  Buckeye  state. 
Whether  on  the  firing  hue  or  on  the  lonely  picket 
line  he  was  always  faithful  to  his  duty  and  he  is 
now  one  of  the  honored  veterans  of  the  war  who 
has  every  reason  to  feel  proud  of  what  he  did  in 
defense  of  the  Union. 

Mr.  Waddell  came  to  De  Kalb  county  in  ISfir. 
locating  at  Sandwich,  Illinois,  where  he  remained 
for  one  year.  TTe  then  came  to  De  Kalb  and  was 
employed  mi  a  farm  near  the  city.  Later  he 
worked  in  the  barb  wire  factory  at  a  time  when 
barbs  were  put  on  by  hand.  As  the  years  have 
passed  he  has  saved  from  his  earnings  a  goodly 
property,  which  now  yields  him  a  fair  income  and 
largely  releases  him  from  the  necessity  for  further 
labor,  but  indolence  and  idleness  are  utterly  for- 
eign to  his  nature  and  he  therefore  engage-  to 
some  extent  in  gardening.     TTe  owns  some  lots  in 


the  city,  together  with  his  residence — a  beautiful 
homi — at   \o.  739  South  Fourth  street. 

Mr.  Waddell  was  married  in  Belmont  county, 
Ohio.  March  27,  L896,  to  Mrs.  Margaret  Leyster 
Wallace.  11  is  political  support  is  given  the  repub- 
lican party  and  he  is  a  member  of  Merritt  Simonds 
post,  No.  283,  6.  A.  R.  His  life  in  both  its  mili- 
tary and  civic  relations  has  been  honorable  and 
upright  and  he  has  justly  earned  the  high  regard 
of  his  friends  and  neighbors,  who  entertain  for 
him  a  warm  measure  of  affection  and  who  give 
him  their  good  will  and  confidence. 


LAWKI.Ni  E  F.  P.  BROCK. 

Lawrence  P.  P.  Brock,  a  farmer  residing  in 
Alton  town-hip.  was  horn  in  Paterson,  New  Jer- 
sey. December  10,  1S53.  His  parents  were  Pat- 
nek  and  Catherine  (Eitzpatrick)  Brock,  natives 
of  Ireland.  The  father  crossed  the  Atlantic  to 
Brooklyn,  .New  York,  when  he  was  a  mere  boy, 
and  there  lived  for  several  years  and  then  moved 
in  Paterson,  New  Jersey,  where  he  made  his  home 
until  1854,  when  he  came  to  De  Kalb  county, 
Illinois,  settling  in  Afton  township.  Securing 
kind  he  engaged  in  fanning  and  was  blessed  with 
prosperity,  continuing  actively  in  the  business 
until  1893,  when  he  retired  to  private  life  and 
removed  to  De  Kalb,  where  he  now  re-ides  at  the 
age  of  ninety  years.  Hi-  wife  died  in  De  Kalb, 
September  '.'i.  1894,  aged  sixty-one  years.  II 
never   had    cause   to   regret   his   determination   to 

seek  a  1 te  in  the  new  world  for  here,  a-  the  years 

passed  by,  he  won  success  through  his  unfaltering 
industry  and  perseverance. 

Lawrence  F.  }'.  Brock  pursued  his  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  Afton  township.  Being  of 
a  literary  turn  of  mind  and  naturally  studious 
he  spent  his  leisure  hours  in  reading  the  produc- 
tions of  the  most  famous  authors  of  both  ancient 
and  modern  times.  He  is  a  well  informed  man. 
possessing  a  knowledge  unequaled  by  many  men 
who  have  had  the  advantage  of  a  college  course. 
His  entitre  life  has  been  devoted  to  general  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  which  he  carries  on  along  prac- 
tical and  scientific  lines.  He  owns  and  operates 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  1, 
and  also  owns  eightv  acres,  which  he  rents,  on  tic 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


3G1 


same  section.  All  is  well  improved  and  till- 
able and  his  fields  bring  to  him  rich  harvests  in 
return  for  the  care  and  labor  he  bestows  upon 
them. 

On  January  25,  1876,  Mr.  Brock  was  married 
to  Miss  Sarah  Murray  who  was  born  in  Miami 
county.  Ohio,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Patrick  and 
Sarah  Murray.  Her  father  came  to  De  Kalb 
county,  Illinois,  in  1861.  He  died  April  18,  1880, 
but  the  mother  is  living  with  her  son  Peter  in 
De  Kalb.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brock  have  become  the 
parents  of  four  children :  Catherine,  born  August 
4,  1878;  Sarah,  born  October  2,  1880;  Martin, 
born  May  16,  1885;  and  John,  born  October  2:5. 
1887. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Brock  was  originally 
a  democrat  and  supported  that  party  until  Presi- 
dent McKinley's  first  administration  since  which 
time  he  has  given  his  allegiance  to  the  republican 
party.  His  fellow  townsmen,  recognizing  bis 
worth  and  ability,  have  frequently  called  him  to 
public  office.  He  has  served  as  tax-collector  for 
two  years  and  has  been  school  director  for  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century,  still  filling  that  position.  He 
and  bis  wife  are  members  of  the  Catholic  church 
of  De  Kalb  and  he  is  interested  in  all  that  per- 
tains to  the  general  welfare  and  stands  loyal  in 
support  of  many  measures  for  the  material,  intel- 
lectual and  moral  progress  of  the  community. 


JOSEPH   F.    AIlIXKi;. 

Joseph  F.  Aurner,  who  is  engaged  in  general 
farming  on  sections  22  and  27,  Kingston  town- 
ship, has  an  excellent  property  of  one  hundred  and 
ten  acres  adjoining  the  corporation  limits  of  the 
village  of  Kingston.  There  he  has  well  developed 
fields  and  raises  good  grades  of  stock.  Every- 
thing about  his  place  is  neat  and  thrifty  in  ap- 
pearance and  indicates  his  careful  supervision. 

Mr.  Aurner  was  born  upon  the  farm  which  ad- 
joins his  present  property,  his  natal  day  being 
October  18.  1853.  His  father.  Leonard  Aurner. 
a  native  of  Ohio,  was  there  reared  and  having 
reached  man's  estate  he  wedded  Margaret  Dibbell, 
a  native  of  Delaware  county.  New  York.  They 
were  married,  however,  in  St.  Joseph,  Michigan, 
and   in   1847  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  in  De 


Kalb  county,  where  Mr.  Aurner  pre-empted  and 
bought  land  and  opened  up  the  farm  that  is  now- 
owned  and  occupied  by  his  son  William.  His 
remaining  days  were  given  to  general  agricultural 
pursuits  and  he  spent  his  last  years  here,  passing 
away  in  1900,  at  the  very  venerable  age  of  ninety 
years.  He  bad  long  survived  his  wife,  who  died 
in  1865. 

Joseph  F.  Aurner  is  one  of  a  family  of  five  sons 
and  two  daughters,  and  four  of  the  brothers  and 
his  sisters  are  yet  living.  No  event  of  special  im- 
portance occurred  to  vary  the  routine  of  farm  life 
for  him  in  his  boyhood  days.  He  worked  in  the 
fields,  aided  in  the  care  of  the  stocK  and  pursued 
his  education  through  the  months  in  which  school 
was  held,  attending  at  Kingston,  Sycamore  and 
De  Kalb.  When  not  busy  with  his  text-books  his 
labors  were  devoted  to  the  work  of  the  fields  and 
he  remained  upon  the  home  farm  until  twenty- 
two  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Chicago.  There 
he  engaged  in  the  real-estate  and  other  business 
for  eight  years.  Returning  to  Kingston,  he  lo- 
cated on  the  farm  where  lie  now  resides.  This 
was  in  the  year  1893  and  he  has  since  successfully 
carried  on  general  agricultural  pursuits. 

On  the  25th  of  December  of  the  same  year  Mr. 
Aurner  made  further  arrangements  for  having  a 
home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage  to  Miss  Lizzie 
Uplinger,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  was 
brought  to  Illinois  in  her  childhood  days  by  her 
lather,  John  Uplinger,  who  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Kingston  township  in  18(56.  Mrs.  Aurner  was 
reared  and  educated  here  and  came  as  a  bride  to 
the  farm  upon  which  she  is  now  living.  Mr. 
Aurner  has  since  greatly  improved  his  place,  has 
made  additions  to  the  barn,  has  remodeled  the 
house,  has  planted  much  fruit  and  has  fenced  his 
fields  with  woven  and  barb  wire.  He  has  also 
tiled  the  land,  thus  enhancing  its  productiveness, 
and  has  altogether  made  a  valuable  place.  In  con- 
nection with  the  tilling  of  the  soil  he  likewise 
raises  and  feeds  stuck,  keeping  hogs  and  cattle. 
He  handles  largely  the  shorthorn  cattle  and  owns 
a  fine  pure  blooded  registered  male  and  some  high 
grade  cows.  He  is  now  feeding  a  number  of  steers 
for  the  market  and  his  stock-raising  interests  are 
proving  profitable. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Aurner  have  one  daughter.  Edith 
Y.,  who  is  a  student  in  the  high  school.  The  par- 
ents   are    members    of    the    Methodist    Episcopal 


362 


PAST    AND   PKESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


church  and  are  active  and  earnest  workers  in  Us 
behalf,  Mr.  Aurner  serving  as  assistant  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  school  for  some  time  and 
now  as  one  of  its  teachers.  Politically  he  is  a  stal- 
wart republican  but  has  never  sought  for  nor  con- 
sented  to  hold  office,  save  that  for  one  term  he 
served  on  the  village  board.  He  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  the  I  Hobe  and  is  well  known  in  Kings- 
ton and  throughout  the  county.  The  greater  part 
of  his  life  has  here  been  passed,  his  residence 
covering  most  of  the  period  since  1853.  He  has 
then-fore  seen  the  many  changes  that  have  occur- 
red as  the  county  has  thrown  off  its  pioneer  con- 
ditions and  taken  on  the  evidences  of  an  advanced 
and  modern  civilization.  In  his  business  affairs, 
too,  lie  has  been  active  and  energetic  and  is  today 
enjoying   richly   merited  success. 


JOSEPH  FAKWELL  GLIDDEN. 

Joseph  Farwell  Glidden,  "the  grand  old  man 
of  De  Kalb  county."  who  considered  the  pursuits 
of  private  life  as  abundantly  worthy  of  his  best 
efforts,  won  honor,  fame,  success  and  the  plaudits 
of  the  world,  and  yet  caring  little  for  these,  he 
concentrated  his  interests,  energies  and  attention 
upon  his  home  county,  labored  persistently  for  its 
advancement  and  growth  and  at  the  same  time 
promoted  private  business  interests  which  have 
made  the  name  of  De  Kalb  famous  throughout 
the  world.  This  is  pre-eminently  the  age  of  inven- 
tion, and  America  has  been  foremost  in  giving 
to  the  world  the  great  time  and  labor  saving  de- 
viees  which  have  revolutionized  trade  and  manu- 
facture. The  subject  always  closest  to  Mr.  Glid- 
den's  heart,  however,  was  agriculture  and  it  was 
for  the  improvement  and  the  attainment  of  perfec- 
tion along  that  line  that  he  lived  and  labored. 
His  life  record  covered  almost  ninety-four  years 
and  the  world  was  enriched  not  only  by  his  efforts 
in  the  business  but  by  a  memorable  showing  forth 
of  the  utmost  fidelity  to  principle  and  to  the  high- 
est standard  of  human  conduct. 

Mr.  Glidden  came  of  a  family  distinctly  Amer- 
ican in  both  its  lineal  and  collateral  branches  for 
many  generations.  He  was  born  January  18, 
1813,    in    Charlestown.     Sullivan    county,    New 


Hampshire,  a  son  of  David  and  Polly  (Hurd) 
Glidden,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  old 
Granite  state,  in  which  they  were  also  married. 
During  the  infancy  of  their  son  Joseph  they  re- 
moved to  Orleans  county,  New  York,  where  they 
remained  until  1844,  when  they  started  for  the 
middle  west,  then  largely  a  frontier  district.  After 
a  short  residence  in  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  they 
came  to  De  Kalb  county,  spending  their  remain- 
ing days  in  the  home  of  their  son.  Joseph  F. 

Beared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  Mr.  Glidden 
ever  maintained  the  deepest  interest  in  everything 
connected  with  farm  life  and  he  found  his  great- 
est pleasure  in  his  agricultural  labors,  delight- 
ing in  the  growth  that  was  everywhere  manifest 
in  his  fields  and  taking  also  the  greatest  pride 
in  his  stock-raising  interests.  His  boyhood  and 
youth  made  him  familiar  with  farm  work  of 
various  kinds,  for  through  the  summer  months 
he  assisted  in  the  plowing,  planting  and  harvest- 
ing, while  in  the  winter  season  he  mastered  the 
branches  of  learning  taught  in  the  common  schools 
until  his  early  scholastic  training  prepared  him 
for  more  advanced  work.  He  studied  algebra  and 
the  classics,  hoping  that  he  might  have  the  op- 
portunity of  pursuing  a  collegiate  course  but  this 
plan  was  finally  abandoned.  He  was,  however,  for 
a  time  a  student  in  Middlebury  Academy,  in  Gene- 
see county,  and  in  the  seminary  at  Lima.  New 
York. 

He  then  engaged  in  teaching  for  a  few  years  but 
regarded  farming  as  a  more  congenial  occupa- 
tion and  rented  land.  He  had  no  money  to  buy 
but  he  knew  that  in  the  Mississippi  valley  there 
stretched  acre  after  acre  of  broad  prairie  uncul- 
tivated, which  would  respond  readily  to  the  care 
and  labor  bestowed  upon  it  and  with  the  hope  of 
securing  a  farm  of  his  own  he  came  to  Illinois 
in  the  fall  of  1S42.  Leaving  the  Empire  state, 
he  proceeded  to  Detroit  with  two  threshing  ma- 
chines of  primitive  construction  and  spent  thirty 
days  on  the  wheat  farms  of  Michigan,  operating 
his  threshers  with  the  assistance  of  his  brother 
Willard  and  two  other  men.  He  subsequently 
shipped  his  machines  to  Chicago  and  thence  to 
De  Kalb  county,  where  he  followed  threshing  for 
two  years.  In  this  way  he  gained  some  capital 
and  the  winter  following  his  arrival  saw  the  ful- 
fillment of  his  hope  of  one  day  owning  a  farm  of 
his  own.    He  purchased  six  hundred  acres  of  land 


i  ARY 


ASTOH,    LENOX 
•    TILDEN  FOUNDATIONS. 


J 


<  &(.  cLi/y\^ 


IRS  .  J.  F.  GLIDDEN 


THENE" 


■ 


PAST   AND   PEESENT    OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


3G7 


on  section  32,  De  Kalb  township,  a  mile  west  of 
the  village  and  at  once  began  to  develop  and  im- 
prove this. 

The  city  of  De  Kalb  was  then  a  small  town  of 
a  few  log  cabins  and  unpretentious  dwellings.  It 
was  destined  to  become  through  the  efforts  of  Mr. 
Glidden  a  manufacturing  center  of  much  impor- 
tance, its  trade  interests  reaching  out  to  all  parts 
of  the  world.  For  many  years  after  his  arrival, 
however,  his  time  and  energies  were  concentrated 
upon  the  task  of  breaking  the  sod  and  bringing 
the  fields  under  cultivation  and  up  to  the  time 
of  his  death  he  retained  the  ownership  of  his  first 
farm,  making  it  his  homestead  property  and  hav- 
ing for  it  the  deepest  attachment.  As  the  years 
passed  by  he  added  to  it  all  modern  conveniences 
and  accessories,  transforming  it  into  a  model 
form  property.  His  progressive  spirit  was  the 
stimulus  which  awakened  in  others  a  desire  for 
advancement  and  improvement,  and  he  exerted  an 
influence  immeasurable  upon  the  agricultural  life 
of  this  part  of  the  state.  Eealizing  that  real- 
estate  is  the  safest  of  all  investments  and  finding 
great  pleasure  in  the  improvement  of  farms  and 
the  co-operation  with  nature,  which  is  the  life  of 
the  agriculturist,  he  kept  adding  to  his  property 
until  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  the  owner 
of  sixteen  hundred  acres.  He  was  also  interested 
in  raising  fine  stock  and  splendid  specimens  were 
seen  upon  his  Illinois  farms,  while  in  connection 
with  H.  B.  Sanborn  he  was  the  owner  of  a  cattle 
rsnch  in  Texas,  where  they  herded  about  sixteen 
hundred  head  of  cattle.  They  owned  two  hundred 
and  eighty  sections  of  land,  covering  two  hundred 
and  eighty  square  miles  of  territory  and  requiring 
one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  of  fencing.  After 
developing  this  property  to  a  large  extent  Mr. 
Glidden  gave  it  to  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Bush. 

Had  he  dune  nothing  else  save  to  extend  his 
realty  holdings  and  cultivate  his  own  farms,  Mr. 
Glidden's  life  would  be  considered  a  success  such 
as  would  entitle  him  to  more  than  passing  men- 
tion in  a  volume  of  this  character.  But  the  world 
knows  him  as  the  inventor  of  the  barbed  wire, 
and  his  name  figures  in  connection  with  that  of 
Fulton.  Whitney,  Morse,  Bell,  McCormick  and 
others  as  one  of  the  foremost  inventors  of  the 
age.  The  lack  of  timber  in  Illinois  made  lumber 
for  fencing  very  expensive  and  how  to  obtain 
fencing  material   at  a  low  price  was   a   problem 


which  presented  itself  to  many  without  solution. 
Some  attempted  to  obviate  the  difficulty  with  only 
partial  success.  As  early  as  1867  barb  wire  had 
been  invented,  but  it  was  imperfect  and  further 
study  and  labor  were  required  to  make  it  a  mar- 
ketable commodity.  Mr.  Glidden  was  a  practical 
agriculturist.  His  own  broad  acres  required  fenc- 
ing and  occasioned  his  study  of  the  subject.  Care- 
ful thought,  investigation  and  experiment  fol- 
lowed, and  October,  1873,  he  applied  for  a  pat- 
ent, which  was  granted  the  next  spring.  He  did 
not  here  end  his  labors  but  continued  his  work  of 
improvements  and  tested  the  utility  of  his  inven- 
tion by  the  use  of  his  fencing  on  his  own  farm. 
The  barbs  were  cut  by  hand  and  afterward  tha 
parts  of  an  old  coffee  mill  were  extemporized  as 
a  machine  for  coiling  them  about  the  wire.  When 
a  piece  twenty  or  thirty  feet  long  had  been  barbed, 
a  smooth  wire  was  placed  beside  it  and  one 
end  was  fastened  to  a  tree  and  the  other  at- 
tached to  the  axle  of  a  grindstone,  which  by  turn- 
ing with  a  crank  gave  it  the  required  twist.  Hav- 
ing secured  his  patents  Mr.  Glidden  entered  into 
partnership  with  I.  L.  Ellwood,  a  hardware  mer- 
chant of  De  Kalb  and  a  practical  man  of  affairs, 
who  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  business  manage- 
ment and  operations  were  begun  under  the  firm 
name  of  Glidden  &  Ellwood.  There  is  no  doubt, 
however,  that  Mr.  Glidden  was  the  inventor  of 
the  perfected  barb  wire  now  in  use.  He  applied 
for  his  patent  in  1873.  His  claim  was  acknowl- 
edged and  lie  secured  it.  He  sold  his  interest  in 
187<i  but  continued  to  draw  his  royalties  until 
1891.  He  was  the  inventor  of  all  essential  feat- 
ures of  barb  wire  machines  now  in  use.  and  to  him 
was  due  the  credit  for  giving  to  the  people  of 
the  west  a  cheap  and  serviceable  substitute  for  the 
stone,  rail  or  wooden  fences  once  in  use.  As  time 
passed  the  business  grew  and  was  removed  from 
the  farm  to  the  village,  where  a  small  factory 
was  established,  and  here  the.  improvement  was 
made  of  using  horse  power  to  do  the  twisting, 
the  barbs  being  slipped  on  to  one  end  of  the  wire 
and  then  placed  the  proper  distance  apart  by  hand. 
Tn  1875  the  company  built  the  first  part  of  the 
old  brick  shop,  put  in  a  small  steam  engine  which 
was  made  to  do  the  twisting,  and  Mr.  Glidden 
and  P.  W.  Vaughn  obtained  a  patent  for  some 
devices  for  barbing  and  spooling  that  proved  of 
efficient  aid  to  the  workmen. 


168 


PAST    AND   PEESENT    OF   DE    KALI',    COUNTY. 


In  1876  Mr.  Glidden  sold  his  interest  in  the 
business  to  the  Washburn  &  Moen  Manufacturing 
Company,   of   Worcester,    Massachusetts,   and   the 

effectiveness  and  utility*  of  the  new  invention  hav- 
ii.g  been  fully  demonstrated  the  business  increased 
with  astonishing  rapidity.  Mr.  Glidden  realized 
a  fortune  from  his  invention,  obtaining  a  large 
royalty  until  1891.  Business  cares,  however,  he 
never  laid  aside.  Indolence  and  idleness  were 
utterly  foreign  to  his  nature,  and  he  devoted  many 
hours  each  day  to  the  superintendence  of  his  busi- 
ness interests.  He  was  the  owner  of  the  De  Kalb 
Boiler  Mills,  was  vice  president  of  the  De  Kali- 
National  Bank  from  its  organization  in  1883,  and 
was  proprietor  of  the  Glidden  House,  making 
a  very  genial  and  popular  landlord.  He  was 
ever  willing  to  aid  the  industrious  and  his  indus- 
tries were  such  as  promoted  the  public  prosperity 
as  well  as  advanced  individual  success. 

His  deep  interest  in  public  affairs  and  the  wel- 
fare of  the  community  was  shown  by  his  liberal 
donation  of  sixty-four  acres  of  land  to  the  Normal 
School,  provided  the  institution  was  located  in 
De  Kalb.  This  land  was  a  part  of  his  old  home- 
stead and  had  been  entered  by  him  from  the  gov- 
ernment when  Indians  still  crossed  it  with  their 
trails.  At  the  suggi  stion  of  Jacob  Haish.  and  in 
the  presence  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  citi- 
zens, Mr.  Glidden  broke  the  soil  with  a  lead  pencil 
preparatory  to  building,  as  this  little  utensil  was 
considered  emblematic  of  literature  and  educa- 
tion. He  always  voted  the  democratic  ticket  and 
was  loyal  and  stanch  in  support  of  the  principles 
of  his  party,  on  whose  ticket  he  was  elected  county 
sheriff  in  185?.  being  the  last  democratic  official 
of  the  county. 

Mr.  Glidden  was  twice  married.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1837,  in  Clarendon,  New  York,  to  Clarissa 
Poster,  and  when  he  started  westward  he  left  his 
wife  and  two  children  in  Xew  York,  but  both  if 
the  latter  died  before  Mrs.  Glidden  came  to  the 
west.  She  died  in  Ogle  county  in  June,  1813,  and 
a  daughter  born  at  that  time  died  in  early  infancy. 
The  children  of  that  marriage  were  Virgil,  Homel- 
and Clarissa.  In  October,  1851.  in  Kane  county. 
Illinois.  Mr.  Glidden  wedded  Lucinda.  daughter  of 
Henry  Warne,  and  they  had  one  daughter,  Elva 
Frances. now  the  wife  of  W.  H.  Bush. a  merchant  of 
Chicago.  Mrs.  Glidden  died  in  1895.  Mr.  Glidden 
was  a  man  of  domestic  tastes  and  his  home  was  to 


him  the  dearest  spot  on  earth.  The  interests  of  his 
wife  and  daughter  were  ever  paramount  with  him. 
and  friendship  was  always  inviolable.  Few  men 
had  more  devoted  friends  than  he,  and  none  ex- 
celled him  in  unselfish  devotion  and  unswerving 
fidelity  to  the  worthy  recipients  of  confidence  and 
friendship.  While  his  invention  won  him  world 
wide  fame,  these  qualities  gained  him  the  respect 
and  warm  regard  of  all  whom  he  met  personally 
and  as  one  of  Illinois'  most  prominent  and  worthy 
citizens  he  was  numbered. 

Full  of  years  and  honor  Joseph  F.  Glidden 
passed  to  his  final  rest,  after  he  had  reached  the 
ninety-third  milestone  on  life's  journey.  The  fu- 
neral service  was  one  of  the  most  memorable  ever 
held  in  the  history  of  this  part  of  the  state.  The 
great  majority  of  the  citizens  of  De  Kalb  county 
knew  him  personally  and  all  recognized  the  value 
of  his  service  to  the  county  and  honored  him  for 
what  he  had  done.  Men  and  women  from  every 
walk  of  life  came  to  pay  their  last  tribute  of  re- 
spect and  many  distinguished  citizens  from  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  state  attended  the  obsequies.  Tiie 
world  knew  him  as  a  manufacturer,  his  fellow 
townsmen  knew  him  as  a  man  of  faultless  honor 
and  of  faithful  friendship.  Sometimes  brusque 
in  manner,  he  had  the  kindly  spirit  that  responded 
readily  to  every  call  of  distress,  to  every  demand 
upon  his  sympathy. 

Isaac  Ell  wood  in  speaking  of  his  relation  with 
]\l  r.  Glidden  through  the  many  years  of  a  busi- 
ness partnership,  said :  "In  all  those  years  there 
never  was  a  word  of  dispute  between  us.  I  re- 
member his  many  deeds  of  chanty  for  the  poor. 
How  often  I  remember  when  men  that  were  work- 
ing for  us  would  come  in  and  want  to  draw  then- 
salary  or  a  portion  of  it  before  the  month  was 
out.  They  would  always  go  to  Mr.  Glidden  and 
he  would  say,  'Why  let  him  have  it.  If  he  don't 
pay  it  I  will."  He  had  the  deepest  interest  in  those 
v  ho  worked  for  him  and  in  return  received 
their  unfaltering  devotion  and  loyalty."  It  was 
well  known  that  he  would  not  sell  an  acre  of  land 
or  a  head  of  live  stock.  He  had  the  deepest  at- 
tachment for  the  old  home  farm,  on  which  ?o 
many  years  were  passed  and  the  development  of 
which  was  one  of  his  greatest  sources  of  delight, 
and  when  it  was  desired  that  a  portion  of  this? 
farm  be  purchased  for  normal  uses.  Mr.  Ellwood 
approached  him  reluctantly,  knowing  his  feeling 


MRS.ELV  A  G.BU5H 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF  DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


371 


upon  the  subject.  It  was  to  him  parting  with 
a  treasure  most  dear,  something  above  a  moneyed 
value  and  with  the  deepest  emotion  lie  replied  to 
Mr.  Ellwood  when  asked  concerning  the  purchase. 
"I  won't  sell  it,"  but  after  a  few  minutes  thought 
he  held  out  his  hand  and  said,  "I  will  give  it  io 
you."  And  he  did.  He  gave,  moreover,  gener- 
ously and  freely  to  the  support  of  not  only  educa- 
tional institutions  but  to  charities  and  churches 
as  well.  His  own  philosophy  was  broad.  He  was 
actuated  in  all  that  he  did  by  a  humanitarian 
spirit  that  recognized  individual  responsibility  and 
duty  but  it  was  not  this  alone  that  prompted  his 
beneficence.  It  was  a  real,  deep  and  sincere  inter- 
est in  his  fellowmen,  his  neighbors  and  friends — 
those  among  whom  he  had  lived  and  labored  for 
so  many  years,  while  between  him  and  them  there 
was  an  interchange  of  genuine  regard,  affection 
and  good  will.  As  the  day  with  its  morning  of 
hope  and  promise,  its  noontide  of  activity,  its 
evening  of  successful  and  accomplished  effort  end- 
ing in  the  grateful  rest  and  quiet  of  the  night,  so 
was  the  life  of  this  man. 


ARCHIE  GOODWILLIE  KENNEDY. 

Archie  Goodwillie  Kennedy,  city  attorney  and 
one  of  the  leading  lawyers  of  De  Kalb,  was  born 
in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  24th 
of  August,  186G.  His  parents  were  David  S.  and 
Nancy  W.  (Kelly)  Kennedy.  The  father  was 
born  in  Mahoning  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  April. 
1835,  and  was  a  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Reid)  Kennedy.  He  was  educated  for  the  min- 
istry and  was  graduated  from  Westminster  Col- 
lege at  New  Wilmington,  Pennsylvania,  after 
which  he  was  ordained  as  a  preacher  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  church.  His  first  charge  was  at 
Midway,  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
later  he  was  called  to  the  church  of  his  denomina- 
tion at  Sewickley,  Pennsylvania.  In  1878  he  ac- 
cepted the  pastorate  of  the  church  at  Somonauk, 
Illinois,  where  he  filled  the  pulpit  for  fifteen  years, 
or  until  the  time  of  his  retirement  from  the  active 
work  of  the  ministry  in  1893.  He  then  removed 
to  Chicago  but  in  1898  returned  to  De  Kalb 
county,  and  while  building  a  residence  on  the  farm 
which  he  owned  here  he  passed  away  in  the  month 


of  May.  He  was  an  active  republican  in  politics 
and  always  kept  well  informed  on  the  questions 
and  issues  of  the  day.  He  was  a  most  zealous 
advocate  and  consecrated  worker  in  the  churcii 
and  after  his  retirement,  while  living  in  Chicago, 
assisted  in  the  establishment  of  a  mission  church 
there.  He  possessed  a  studious  nature  and  dispo- 
sition and  was  a  well  read  man  acquiring  an  ex- 
tenive  knowledge  of  medicine  and  doing  much 
work  in  connection  with  medical  practice  among 
his  parishioners.  His  life  was  indeed  actuated  by 
a  spirit  of  helpfulness  and  kindliness.  He  was  it 
once  gentle — the  gentleness  of  courtesy  and  cul- 
ture, the  strength  of  high  purpose,  honorable  prin- 
ciple and  fidelity.  His  wife,  who  was  bom  in 
1  in  liana  county,  Pennsylvania,  about  183G,  was 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Moore)  Kelly. 
Her  father  was  a  farmer  of  her  native  county  and 
died  at  an  early  age  as  a  result  of  an  accident. 
Her  mother  afterward  lived  with  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kennedy  and  passed  away  in  De  Kalb  county  >'n 
1879.  Mrs.  Kennedy  still  survives  her  husband 
and  is  now  residing  in  Oak  Park,  a  suburb  of 
Chicago. 

Their  family  numbered  ten  children,  of  whom 
seven  are  yet  living:  Sarah  E.,  the  wife  of 
Thomas  C.  Hare,  a  resident  of  Allegheny  City, 
Pennsylvania;  Harry,  of  Chicago,  Illinois;  Reid, 
who  is  living  at  Homestead,  Pennsylvania; 
Archie,  of  this  review;  Tillie,  at  home;  Annie 
M.,  the  wife  of  James  A.  Kleinsmid,  of  Aledo. 
Illinois;  and  Thomas  W.,  of  Mayville,  Wisconsin. 
Archie  Gr.  Kennedy  spent  his  youth  in  his  par- 
ents' home  and  pursued  his  education  in  the 
graded  schools  of  Sewickley,  Pennsylvania,  and 
in  the  district  schools  of  De  Kail)  county,  after 
which  he  entered  the  high  school  at  Sandwich, 
Illinois.  Later  he  became  a  student  in  the  Illi- 
nois State  Normal  School,  at  Normal,  Illinois, 
and  subsequently  attended  Monmouth  (Illinois) 
College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  June. 
1892.  He  had  determined  upon  the  practice  of 
law  as  a  life  work  and  the  same  year  he  entered 
the  law  office  of  Carnes  &  Dunton,  at  Sycamore, 
After  thorough  preliminary  reading  and  study  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  on  the  15th  of  June,  1895. 
subsequent  to  which  time  he  remained  in  the  De 
Kalb  office  of  his  preceptor  until  the  following 
January,  when  he  formed  a  law  partnership  with 
W.  L.  Pond  and  continued  in  practice  in  De  Kalb. 


372 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


In  is:i;.  when  Mr.  Pond  was  elected  county  judge, 
the  partnership  was  dissolved  and  Mr.  Kennedy 
has  since  been  alone.  In  1900  he  was  elected  to 
the  office  of  state's  attorney  of  De  Kalb  county, 
which  office  he  ably  filled  for  four  years.  He  is 
the  present  city  attorney  of  l>e  Kalb,  to  which 
position  he  was  elected  in  1905,  and  he  is  regarded 
a>  one  of  the  ablest  members  of  the  I>e  Kalb  coun- 
ty bar.  Earnest  effort,  close  application  and  th-2 
exercise  of  his  native  talents  have  won  him  pres- 
tige as  a  lawyer  and  his  practice  is  now  extensive 
ami  of  an  important  character.  He  is  known  for 
the  wide  research  and  provident  care  with  which 
he  prepares  Ins  cases  and  his  devotion  to  his 
clients'  interests  is  proverbial.  In  the  discharge  of 
the  official  duties  entrusted  to  him  he  has  displayed 
rare  zeal,  ability,  unwavering  fidelity  and  sterling 
integrity  which  inspires  uniform  confidence  and 
respect. 

On  the  16th  of  January,  1899,  occurred  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Kennedy  and  Miss  Katherine 
Fuller,  a  daughter  of  William  Fuller,  now  de- 
ceased, formerly  a  prominent  farmer  of  De  Kalb 
township.  In  politics  Mr.  Kennedy  is  a  stanch 
republican,  interested  in  the  growth  and  success 
of  his  party  and  taking  an  active  part  in  advanc- 
ing it-  welfare.  Moreover,  as  a  citizen  he  is  in- 
tensely patriotic  and  public-spirited,  and  his  la- 
bors have  been  an  element  in  promoting  the  wel- 
fare of  De  Kalh. 


WILLIAM  FRASER. 


William  Fraser  is  one  of  the  prosperous  and 
progressive  fanners  of  Sandwich  township,  owning 
and  cultivating  a  farm  of  nearly  one  hundred  and 
fifty  acres  on  section  23.  This  is  a  valuable  and 
richly  improved  tract  of  land  pleasantly  and  con- 
veniently located  about  two  miles  from  the  city 
of  Sandwich.  The  owner  is  one  of  De  Kalb 
county's  native  sons  for  his  birth  occurred  in 
Sandwich   township  on  the  1st  of  April,  1854. 

His  father,  William  Fraser.  was  a  native  of  the 
state  of  New  York,  horn  in  Washington  county. 
April  29,  1816,  and  the  grandfather.  Isaac  Fraser. 
was  of  Scotch  lineage,  representing  a  family 
founded  in  America  in  early  colonial  days.     Wil- 


liam Fraser,  Sr.,  was  reared  in  the  county  of  his 
nativity  and  was  there  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Faxon,  also  a  native  of  New  York,  born  in  181  It. 
On  leaving  the  Empire  state  in  1843.  William 
Fraser  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Kendall  county, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  for  a  few  years.  He 
then  removed  to  De  Kalb  county  about  1854  and 
purchased  a  farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  in  Sandwich  township.  This  was  a  well 
improved  property,  upon  which  stood  a  good  log 
house  and  other  outbuildings.  He  later  bought 
more  land  and  upon  that  farm  he  reared  his  fam- 
ily while  giving  his  time  and  attention  to  the 
development  and  further  improvement  of  the 
fields.  He  was  a  diligent  and  enterprising  man 
and  as  the  years  passed  by  he  gained  a  desirable 
measure  of  prosperity.  He  died  in  the  spring  of 
1892  and  is  still  survived  by  his  wife,  who  resides 
with  a  son  on  the  old  homestead,  being  a  hale 
and  heart}'  lady  of  eighty-seven  years.  She  had 
a  family  of  thirteen  children. 

William  Fraser  of  this  review  was  reared  upon 
the  old  home  farm  and  mastered  the  common 
branches  of  Fnglish  learning  as  a  student  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  He  remained 
with  his  father  and  assisted  in  the  work  of  the 
home  farm  until  after  he  had  attained  man's 
estate.  He  was  then  married  in  Sandwich  town- 
ship mi  the  22d  of  February.  1876,  to  Miss  Lillian 
Bark,  daughter  of  William  Bark,  of  Freeland. 
Mrs.  Fraser  was  born  and  reared  in  Sandwich 
township  and  after  her  marriage  went  with  her 
husband  to  the  Fraser  farm,  of  which  Mr.  Fraser 
took  charge  and  carried  on  the  work  for  five  years, 
lie  afterward  lived  for  three  years  in  Squaw 
Grove  township,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  of 
eighn  acre-,  giving  his  energies  to  its  further 
development  until  about  1884.  lie  then  sold  out 
and  bought  the  farm  where  lie  now  resides,  be- 
coming owner  of  one  hundred  and  forty-seven 
acres.  He  has  since  added  to  and  rebuilt  the  resi- 
dence, has  tilled  and  fenced  the  fields  and  has 
cleared  twenty-five  acres  of  timber  land.  He 
has  also  set  out  considerable  fruit  and  now  has 
a  valuable  and  desirable  farm,  from  which  he  an- 
nually gathers  good  crops.  In  addition  to  rais- 
ing the  cereals  best  adapted  to  soil  and  climate 
he  feeds  hogs,  cattle,  sheep  and  horses,  making, 
however,  a  specialty  of  hogs  and  sheep.  He  iS 
much  interested  in  the  development  of  agricultural 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    (IF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


373 


affairs  and  is  now  serving  on  the  board  of  the 
Sandwich  Fair  Association. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fraser  has  been 
blessed  with  a  son  and  daughter:  Alfred  L.,  who 
is  now  a  practicing  lawyer  in  Chicago;  and  Ethel 
L.j  who  lias  engaged  in  teaching  and  is  now  a 
student  in  the  Northern  Indiana  Normal  College 
at  Valparaiso.  Politically  Mr.  Fraser  is  independ- 
ent, supporting  the  man  whose  qualifications  make 
him  the  best  candidate.  He  has  never  sought  or 
desired  office  for  himself,  preferring  to  give  his 
undivided  time  and  attention  to  his  farming  inter- 
ests. He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  lodge  at  Sand- 
wich and  his  son  is  also  a  Mason,  holding  mem- 
bership in  the  blue  lodge,  the  commandery  and 
Oriental  consistory  in  Chicago.  Mr.  Fraser  of 
this  review,  affiliates  with  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge 
at  Sandwich  and  has  served  through  all  the  chairs 
and  is  a  past  grand,  while  his  wife  and  daughter 
are  connected  with  the  Eebekah  degree.  He  is 
very  prominent  in  Odd  Fellowship  and  has  rep- 
resented the  local  organization  in  the  grand  lodge. 

Mr.  Fraser's  memory  goes  back  to  an  early 
period  in  the  history  of  the  county  wdien  condi- 
tions of  life  were  very  different  from  those  of 
the  present  day.  He  has  driven  a  six-yoke  ox 
team  to  a  breaking  plow.  Today  there  is  prac- 
tically not  an  ox  team  in  use  in  Illinois.  The 
crude  farm  machinery  of  the  early  days  has  been 
replaced  by  more  modern  cultivators,  threshers, 
reapers  and  binders,  and  Mr.  Fraser  has  at  all 
times  kept  pace  with  general  progress  along  agri- 
cultural and  other  lines  and  is  recognized  in  Sand- 
wich and  the  southern  part  of  the  county  where 
he  is  well  known,  as  a  man  of  good  business  abil- 
ity  and   exemplary   character. 


C.  G.  CHELLGREEN. 


C.  G.  Chellgreen,  a  practical  butter  maker,  Is 
the  junior  partner  of  the  firm  of  Anderson  & 
Chellgreen,  who  own  and  operate  four  creameries 
— one  at  Kingston,  one  at  Herbert,  one  at  Blood's 
Point  and  one  at  Williamson.  The  creamery  at 
Kingston  was  purchased  on  the  1st  of  April,  1906. 
and  since  that  time  they  have  made  Kingston 
their  headquarters.  The  business  has  become  a 
paying  industry  and  is  carefully  conducted. 


Mr.  Chellgreen  is  a  native  son  of  Illinois,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Knox  county  on  the  8tii 
of  December,  1874.  There  he  was  reared  and 
his  education  was  completed  in  the  high  school  at 
(ialesburg.  He  afterward  engaged  in  the  business 
of  making  butter,  learning  the  trade  at  the  Al- 
toona  creamery,  where  he  served  a  three  years' 
apprenticeship.  He  afterward  went  to  Woodhull 
and  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Anderson 
under  the  firm  style  of  Anderson  &  Chellgreen. 
They  purchased  the  Woodhull  creamery  and  car- 
ried on  business  there  for  two  years,  after  which 
they  went  to  Belvidere  in  1901,  purchasing  a 
creamery  at  that  place.  They  also  bought  a  cream- 
ery at  Herbert  and  the  next  purchase  was  at  Wil- 
liamson. In  1906  they  became  proprietors  of  a 
creamery  at  Kingston,  as  before  stated.  All  four 
of  their  creameries  are  supplied  with  modern  and 
up-to-date  machinery  of  first  class  construction, 
and  the  business  is  carried  on  along  progressive 
lines.  The  combined  output  of  the  four  cream- 
eries is  nearly  twenty  thousand  pounds  of  butter 
per  day.  They  also  ship  large  quantities  of  cream 
daily  and  the  business  is  id'  a  character  that  makes 
it  the  leading  industrial  concern  of  the  commun- 
ity, furnishing  an  excellent  market  for  the  farm- 
ers who  sell  to  them  the  milk  produced  upon 
their  farms. 

Mr.  Chellgreen  was  married  at  Woodhull. 
Henry  county.  Illinois,  in  September,  1900,  to 
Miss  Emma  Olson,  of  that  place,  a  daughter  of 
S.  T.  Olson,  an  old  soldier  of  Woodhull,  who 
served  throughout  the  Civil  war  in  an  Illinois 
regiment.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chellgreen  have  one 
daughter,  Leona. 

Mr.  Chellgreen  votes  with  the  republican  party 
where  national  issues  are  involved  but  at  local 
elections  casts  an  independent  ballot  and  has  never 
been  an  office  seeker,  preferring  to  give  his  undi- 
vided time  and  attention  to  his  business  affairs. 
His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church  and 
he  belongs  to  Kirkland  lodge.  No.  857,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.  He  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  Illinois 
and  is  a  typical  resident  of  the  middle  west,  alert 
and  enterprising.  He  possesses  good  business 
ability  and  is  now  closely  identified  with  the  indus- 
trial and  commercial  interests  of  De  Kalb  county, 
where  he  has  established  a  business  that  has 
reached  extensive  proportion.  He  is  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  the  trade  in  every  particular  and 


:;:  i 


PAST   AND   PRESENT   OF  DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


as  he  places  upon  the  market  a  product  of  highest 
grade  he  finds  a  ready  sale  for  the  output  of  the 
four  cream  eries  belonging  to  the  firm. 


HON.  GEOEGE  MONROE  TINDALL. 

Hon.  George  Monroe  Tindall,  representing  the 
thirty-fifth  district  of  Illinois  in  the  forty-fifih 
general  assembly  and  also  one  of  the  prominent 
representatives  of  extensive  agricultural  interests 
in  De  Kalb  county,  his  home  being  in  South  Grove 
township,  was  born  in  that  township.  November 
17,  1850.  His  father.  Jesse  Tindall.  was  a  native 
of  New  Jersey,  in  which  state  lived  the  paternal 
grandparents.  He  was  born  January  20,  1812, 
and  was  married  August  9,  1832.  to  Mary  Rarber. 
who  was  born  in  New  York.  July  20.  1814,  and 
was  a  representative  of  an  old  family  of  that  state. 
The  father,  who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  i 
i  i  linois  in  1841  and  firs!  located  in  Ogle  county, 
a  year  later,  in  1842,  east  in  his  lot  with  the 
iir-i  settlers  of  De  Kalb  county,  where  he  took  up 
considerable  land  from  the  government,  the  deed-; 
to  which  were  signed  by  James  EL  Polk  and  Mil- 
lard Fillmore.  He  was  thus  an  active  factor  in  the 
mation  of  wild  land  for  the  purpose  of  civil- 
ization and  he  took  an  active  part  in  promoting 
-  arly  progress  of  the  i  ounty.  He  died  on  the 
8th  of  July.  1880.  and  his  wife,  who  long  survived 
him,  passed  away  January  1.  1906.  They  were 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  all  of  whom  lived 
to  be  over  fifty  years  of  age,  and  seven  of  the 
number  of  still  living. 

George  Monroe  Tindall.  after  acquiring  his  pre- 
liminary edeueation  in  the  common  schools  of  De 
Kalb  county,  continued  his  studies  in  Beloit,  Wis- 
ii.  and  later  was  graduated  from  the  high 
school  at  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  subsequent  to 
which  time  he  spent  one  year  as  a  student  in  the 
Michigan  State  University.  He  has  always  been 
identified  with  agricultural  interests  and  is  today 
the  owner  of  five  hundred  and  eighteen  acres  of 
valuable  land  in  South  Grove  township,  much  of 
which  was  deeded  to  his  father  by  the  government 
in  early  pioneer  times.  He  stands  for  progressive 
farming,  and  his  property  is  splendidly  equipped 
with  every  convenience  and  accessory  incident 
the  model  farm  of  the  twentieth  century.    He  has 


spli  ii'lid  buildings  upon  his  place,  including  ample 
shelter  for  grain  and  stock,  and  there  are  to  be 
found  in  his  barns  and  pastures  high  grades  of 
cattle,  horses  and  hogs.  Mr.  Tindall  gives  general 
supervision  to  the  work  which  is  carried  on  within 
the  boundaries  of  his  farm  and  he  has  been  a 
leader  in  progressive  agricultural  development. 

In  South  Grove  township,  on  the  20th  of  June, 
1877,  Mr.  Tindall  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Martha  A.  Richards,  who  was  born  near  Rock- 
ford,  Illinois,  on  the  25th  of  October,  1853,  and 
is  the  second  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  three 
children,  her  parents  being  James  and  Lucretia 
(Ward)  Richards,  both  natives  of  New  York.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Richards  came  to  Illinois  in  1849  and 
were  early  and  prominent  settlers  of  this  section 
of  the  state.  Locating  at  Esmond,  De  Kalb  county, 
about  1868.  The  father  was  a  well  informed  man, 
keeping  well  posted  on  the  events  of  the  day. 
political  situations,  etc.  He  died  on  the  30th  of 
April,  1901,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years,  and 
bis  wife  died  in  March,  1895,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
five.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tindall  have  four  children: 
Roy,  born  October  5,  187S;  Laura  A.,  December 
21,  1880;  Cora  May.  January  23.  1883;  and  Floyd 
George,  September  18,  L888.  Mr.  Tindall  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  church,  in 
the  work  of  which  they  are  deeply  interested,  <o;i- 
tril ittting  generously  to  its  support. 

In  politics  Mr.  Tindall  is  a  republican  and  has 
figured  prominently  in  public  life,  having  filled 
several  of  the  offices  of  his  township,  while  in 
1906  he  was  elected  to  represent  the  thirty-fifth 
district  in  the  legislature  and  is  now  a  member  of 
the  forty-fifth  general  assembly  of  Illinois.  He 
brought  to  bear  upon  his  official  duties  a  sense  of 
conscientious  obligation  and  a  high  standard  of 
citizenship  in  his  relation  to  what  he  owes  his  con- 
stituents and  the  community  at  large,  and  to  the 
various  questions  that  have  come  up  for  settle- 
ment he  has  given  earnest  consideration,  while 
his  support  or  opposition,  as  the  case  may  be,  has 
been  prompted  by  a  feeling  of  intense  patriotism 
£>nd  most  earnest  desire  for  the  best  interests  of 
the  commonwealth. 

In  his  business  career,  too,  Mr.  Tindall  has  made 
a  creditable  record.  Inheriting  one  hundred  acres 
of  land,  he  has  increased  his  holdings  by  careful 
management  and  judicious  investments  until  lie 
i--  now  the  owner  of  five  hundred   and  eighteen 


GEORGE  M.  TINDALL. 


|THE  NEW  YORiF] 

PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


A8T0R,    LENOX 
.TILDE*  FQtmnA-r^^ 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF   BE   KALB    COUNTY. 


37? 


acres,  constituting  a  valuable  property.  In  all  of 
his  business  transactions  he  has  been  thoroughly 
reliable,  never  taking  advantage  of  the  necessities 
of  others  but  winning  prosperity  through  keen 
discernment  and  recognition  and  utilization  .if 
opportunity.  He  is  indeed  one  of  the  most  popu- 
lar and  most  highly  esteemed  residents  of  De  Kalb 
county. 


WILLIAM  JAMES  BAGG. 

William  .James  Bagg,  a  partner  in  the  plumb- 
ing business  of  Marvin  &  Bagg  at  De  Kalb,  was 
born  in  Flint,  Michigan,  August  10,  1874,  his 
parents  being  John  and  Sarah  (Buckrell)  Bagg, 
both  of  whom  were  born  in  England,  the  former 
in  the  year  1837  and  the  latter  in  1839.  The 
father  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  came  to  the 
United  States  when  nineteen  years  of  age.  Mis. 
Bagg  came  later  and  they  were  married  in  this 
country,  after  which  they  took  up  their  abode  in 
Canada.  Thence  they  made  their  way  to  Flint, 
Michigan,  soon  after  the  Civil  war,  and  there,  re-, 
sided  until  1880,  when  they  removed  to  Muskegon, 
Michigan,  where  they  spent  their  remaining  days, 
the  father  dying  in  1887  and  the  mother  in  1889. 
In  their  family  were  seven  children,  of  whom 
William  J.  is  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth. 

Mr.  Bagg  of  this  review  was  a  young  lad  at 
the  time  of  his  parents'  removal  to  Muskegon, 
and  his  education  was  therefore  pursued  in  the 
public  schools  of  that  place.  He  started  in  busi- 
ness life  as  an  employe  of  the  car  shops  there 
and  after  a  year  entered  the  planing  business.  He 
then  took  up  the  plumbing  business  which  he  has 
since  followed,  and  in  1897  came  to  De  Kalb  where 
he  worked  at  the  plumber's  trade  until  June, 
1906,  when  he  entered  into  partnership  with 
Arvine  W.  Marvin,  under  the  firm  style  of  Marvin 
&  Bagg.  This  connection  has  since  been  main- 
tained and  the  firm  has  already  built  up  a  good 
business  which  many  an  older  established  house 
might  well  envy. 

Mr.  Bagg  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fratern- 
ity and  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge.  In  politics 
he  is  an  independent  republican.  He  was  married 
in  De  Kalb.  June  24.  1903.  to  Miss  Nettie  May 
Weeden,  who  was  born  in  De  Kalb.  February  37. 


1882,  a  daughter  of  Lucian  and  Olive  (Seaman) 
Weeden.  Mrs.  Bagg  was  the  younger  of  two  chil- 
dren. Her  parents  are  old  residents  of  De  Kalb 
county,  the  mother  having  been  born  there,  and 
are  prominent  and  well-to-do  people.  The  home 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bagg  has  been  blessed  with  one 
son  Warren  James,  who  was  born  August  13,  1904. 
Starting  out  in  life  in  an  humble  position,  Mr. 
Bagg  has  steadily  made  advancement  and  is  now 
controlling  a  good  business  of  his  own,  his  life 
record  proving  that  honesty  is  the  best  policy  and 
that  success  is  the  reward  of  well  directed  labor. 
He  is  a  citizen  of  high  character  and  pleasing 
social  qualities  and  has  gained  many  friends  dur- 
ing the  period  of  his  residence  in  De  Kalb. 


ALVIN   P.  BURNHAM. 


Aii&'hg  the  retired  citizens  of  Sandwich  is  num- 
b'efecf  Alvin  P.  Burnham,  who  through  a  long 
period  was  actively  identified  with  agricultural 
]>urMiLts  in  De  Kalb  county.  During  his  earlier 
years  he  worked  earnestly  and  persistently  in  the 
acquirement  of  a  competence,  and  that  his  labors 
were  richly  rewarded  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that 
he  is  now  the  owner  of  a  well  improved  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  situated  on  sec- 
tion 21,  Victor  township,  and  from  this  property 
he  now  derives  an  income  sufficient  to  enable  him 
to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  well  earned 
ease.  He  has  now  passed  the  seventy-first  mile- 
stone on  life's  journey  and  since  1868  has  Deen  a 
resident  of  De  Kalb  county,  while  since  1901  .ie 
has  made  his  home  in  Sandwich. 

The  Burnham  family  comes  of  English  origin, 
having  been  established  in  America  in  the  sev- 
enteenth century,  when  four  brothers  emigrated 
to  the  new  world,  one  of  whom  located  in  Massa- 
chusetts, a  second  in  New  Hampshire,  a  third  in 
New  York,  and  the  fourth,  of  which  branch  our 
subject  is  a  descendant,  located  in  the  state  of 
Maine.  The  paternal  grandfather,  Moses  Burn- 
ham, was  a  pioneer  of  Androscoggin  county, 
Maine,  where  he  established  a  home  in  the  wilder- 
ness and  there  reared  his  family.  It  was  his  son, 
Bani  Burnham.  who  became  the  father  of  our 
subject.      The    latter    was   born    in    Androscoggin 


378 


PAST    AND   PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


ccunty  in  1799,  and  was  there  reared  and  married 
to  Miss  Eliza  Haskell,  likewise  a  native  of  that 
county  and  a  daughter  of  Squire  Haskell.  Their 
family  numbered  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  all 
of  whom  reached  mature  years,  the  family  record 
being  as  follows :  J.  H.,  who  spent  his  entire  life 
in  the  Pine  Tree  state,  where  his  death  occurred; 
Emma  H.,  who  became  the  wife  of  Frederick 
Lakin,  of  Maine,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Sand- 
wich; Octavia,  the  deceased  wife  of  J.  M.  Smith, 
of  Dwight,  Illinois;  Alvin  P.,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  record ;  Sumner,  who  served  in  the  Civil 
war  as  a  member  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourth 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  killed  at  the  battle 
of  Hartsville,  Tennessee,  in  1864;  and  John,  who 
was  likewise  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  war,  serving  in 
a  regiment  from  Maine,  and  whose  death  occurred 
from  disease  contracted  while  in  the  army.  The 
father  came  with  his  family  to  De  Kalb  county, 
Illinois,  one  of  his  sons  having  previously  located 
here.  He  passed  away  in  Dwight.  in  1871,  nt 
the  home  of  a  daughter,  while  his  wife  survived 
him,  her  death  occurring  in  1890. 

Alvin  P.  Burnham,  the  second  son  and  fourth 
child  of  his  father's  family,  was  born  near  Port- 
land. Maine.  May  1">.  1836.  His  early  education 
was  acquired  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
state,  this  being  supplemented  by  a  course  of  study 
ic  North  Bridgeton  Academy.  He  remained  un- 
der the  parental  roof  until  he  had  reached  the 
age  of  nineteen  years,  when, attracted  by  the  oppor- 
tunities "f  the  new  and  rapidly  developing  west, 
he  decided  to  come  to  Illinois,  and  accordingly, 
in  1855,  he  made  his  way  to  Leland,  this  state, 
where  he  secured  employment  at  farm  labor,  being 
thus  engaged  for  four  or  five  years,  working  for 
various  farmers  of  that  locality.  During  this  time 
he  carefully  saved  his  earnings  so  that  he  was 
enabled  to  establish  a  home  of  his  own  and  begin 
life  upon  an  independent  business  career.  In  the 
fall  of  1860,  therefore,  he  chose  as  a  companion 
and  helpmate  for  life's  journey.  Miss  Cynthia  P. 
Morton,  the  wedding  being  celebrated  in  La  Salle 
county.  She  was  likewise  born  in  .Maine,  but  was 
reared  from  an  early  age  in  Lynn,  Massachusetts, 
where  she  also  pursued  her  education.  Her  father. 
George,  Morton,  came  from  the  east  to  La  Salle 
county  in  1856.  and  in  that  county  the  daughter 
engaged  in  the  profession  of  teaching,  so  continu- 
ing until  the  time  of  her  marriage. 


Following  his  marriage  Mr.  Burnham  located 
on  a  tract  of  rented  land  in  La  Salle  county,  op- 
erating the  same  for  four  or  five  years,  when  he 
removed  to  Livingston  county  and  purchased  a 
farm  comprising  one  hundred  and  six  acres,  which 
he  cultivated  until  1868,  in  which  year  he  came 
to  De  Kalb  county  and  purchased  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  situated  on  section  21, 
Victor  township.  The  land  was  but  partially  im- 
proved when  Mr.  Burnham  located  thereon,  but 
he  at  once  undertook  the  work  of  further  improv- 
ing the  tract,  soon  placing  his  land  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  He  likewise  built  many 
fences,  and- erected  two  good  residences,  barns  and 
other  outbuildings,  while  he  set  out  many  shade 
and  ornamental  trees,  which  add  to  the  attractive 
appearance  of  the  place.  In  addition  to  carrying 
on  general  agricultural  pursuits,  Mr.  Burnham 
also  made  a  specialty  of  breeding  and  dealing  in 
standard-bred  horses,  mostly  English  draft  horses, 
and  for  many  years  followed  that,  business,  in 
which  lie  met  with  very  desirable  success.  He 
worked  hard  to  acquire  a  good  property  and  a  com- 
petence, and  all  that,  he  today  possesses  is  due  to 
In-  own  svell  directed  labors  and  hi-  careful  man. 
agement.  After  active  connection  with  farming 
and  stock-raising  pursuits  for  forty-six  years,  Mr. 
Burnham  retired  from  business  life,  and  in  1901 
n  moved  to  Sandwich,  where  he  now  resides  with 
In-  daughter,  his  wife  having  passe, 1  away  Oc- 
tober 22,  1897.  He  still  retains  possession  of  his 
landed  interests,  from  which  he  derives  an  in- 
come sufficient  to  supply  him  with  all  of  the  com- 
forts and  conveniences  of  life. 

TJnto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burnham  was  born  a  daugh- 
ter, Clara  M.,  now  the  wile  of  Charles  G.  Arnold. 
a  native  of  De  Kalb  <  ounty  and  a  man  of  excellent 
business  qualifications.  Mrs.  Arnold  was  provided 
with  liberal  educational  advantages,  having  grad- 
uated from  the  high  school  at  Leland. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Burnham  is  a  repub- 
lican, having  been  identified  with  the  party  since 
its  organization.  In  1872  he  was  elected  assessor 
of  Victor  township,  in  which  capacity,  through  re- 
election, he  continuously  served  for  more  than 
twenty-six  years,  while  for  a  long  period  he  also 
served  on  the  school  board,  the  cause  of  education 
finding  in  him  a  warm  and  stalwart  friend.  He  is 
a  man  of  high  and  honorable  principles,  being  well 
known   not  only  in   Sandwich  but  throughout  De 


PAST   AND   PEESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


379 


Kalb,  as  well  as  La  Salle  county.  He  has  now- 
passed  the  seventy-first  milestone  on  life's  journey 
and  is  well  entitled  to  the  rest  which  he  is  now 
enjoying,  for  his  early  years  were  fraught  with 
toil  and  his  efforts  have  been  crowned  with  a  grat- 
i lying  measure  of  prosperity. 


SIMEON  VAN  DUSEN. 

Simeon  Van  Dusen  is  a  retired  farmer  residing 
a1  Xo.  230  East  Sycamore  street,  where  he  has 
made  his  home  for  the  past  four  years.  He  was 
born  in  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  April  11,  1833, 
and  was  ten  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Illinois, 
settling  in  De  Kalb  county.  He  is  therefore  num- 
bered among  its  pioneer  residents,  his  memory 
forming  a  connecting  link  between  the  primitive 
past  and  the  progressive  present.  He  was  reared 
to  farm  life,  aiding  in  the  labors  of  the  fields 
through  the  summer  months,  while  in  the  winter 
seasons  he  attended  the  public  schools.  He  con- 
tinuously resided  upon  the  old  homestead  farm 
until  his  removal  to  Sycamore,  and  he  brought  the 
place  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  adding  to 
ie  many  modern  equipments  and  improvements, 
•such  as  are  an  indication  of  progressive,  practical 
and  successful  farming. 

On  the  18th  of  March,  1858,  Mr.  Van  Dusen 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Sibley,  a 
daughter  of  Harris  and  Lavina  (Snow)  Sibley. 
She  was  born  in  Clarendon,  New  York,  April  14, 
L840,  and  when  but  five  years  of  age  was  brought 
by  her  parents  to  Illinois,  the  family  home  being 
established  at  St.  Charles.  Kane  county.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Dusen  have  been  born  two  sons 
and  a  daughter.  William,  the  eldest,  now  operat- 
ing his  father's  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  in  Syca- 
more township,  married  Miss  Cora  Listy,  who  was 
born  in  De  Kalb  county.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren— Simeon,  Delia  and  Guv.  Frank  Van  Du- 
sen, living  in  Sycamore,  married  Miss  Susie  Ben- 
nett of  De  Kalb  county,  and  has  two  children. 
Laura  and  James.  Frank  Van  Dusen  is  employed 
at  the  electric  plant.  The  only  daughter.  Delia, 
died  December  12,  1882,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four 
years.  She  had  married  Ed  Benwick.  who  resides 
at  De  Kalb.  and  she  left  a  son.  Edwin,  who  has 


Im-cu  reared  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Dusen.  Since 
attaining  his  majority  he  has  married  Lizzie  Bea- 
ecke,  who  was  born  in  De  Kalb  county  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Emil  Benecke,  a  tailor  of  Sycamore 
and  a  resident  of  the  city  for  the  past  twenty  years. 
Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Benwick  now  reside  with  his  grand- 
parents, Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Dusen. 

Mr.  Van  Dusen  gave  his  political  allegiance  to 
the  whig  party  early  in  life,  thus  following  in  his 
lather's  political  footsteps.  On  the  dissolution  of 
that  party  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  new  repub- 
lican party,  of  which  lie  has  since  been  an  earnest 
advocate.  Since  attaining  his  majority  he  has 
almost  continuously  served  in  public  office,  being 
constable,  road  commissioner  for  twelve  years,  and 
school  trustee  of  Sycamore  township  for  thirty- 
three  Mars,  and  is  still  serving  in  that  position, 
lie  became  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  society 
in  1875  and  is  identified  with  both  the  lodge  and 
encampment  at  Sycamore,  having  practically  filled 
all  of  the  chairs  in  the  local  organization.  He  also 
joined  the  Rebekah  degree.  Mr.  Van  Dusen  has 
now  passed  the  seventy-fourth  milestone  on  life's 
journey,  and  he  well  merits  the  rest  which  has  been 
vouchsafed  to  him,  for  through  a  long  period  he 
was  an  active,  energetic  farmer  and  one  whose 
business  record  was  characterized  by  all  that  is 
straightforward  and  honorable.  Few  men  have 
more  intimate  knowledge  of  the  history  of  the 
county  or  have  longer  witnessed  its  growth  and 
progress  than  he,  and  he  relates  many  interesting 
incidents  concerning  the  early  days  when  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state  was  largely  an  unsettled  district, 
the  prairie  land  having  been  unclaimed  and  uncul- 
tivated, while  only  here  and  there  was  a  settlement 
to  give  evidence  that  the  tide  of  emigration  was 
flowing  westward. 


AMEIL  GEOBGE. 


Ameil  George,  living  in  Clinton  township  upon 
a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  on  section  25,  was  born  in 
Victor  township,  this  county,  February  5,  1869. 
His  parents  were  natives  of  France  and  came  to 
the  United  States  in  1860.  The  father  was  mar- 
ried three  times,  and  by  the  first  union  had  four 
children — Frank.  Ameil.  Ellen  and  Edward,  de- 
ceased.    Bv  the  second   marriasre  there  was  ore 


380 


PAST    AXD   PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


child  that  died  in  infancy,  and  by  the  third  mar- 
riage there  was  a  daughter.  Anna,  who  is  now  liv- 
ing   with  her  father  in  Somonauk,  Illinois.     The 

er  has  lost  his  third  wife  and  makes  his  home 
with  his  youngest  daughter,  having  retired  from 
active  business  cares. 

Mr.  George  of  this  review  was  reared  to  the  life 
of  the  agriculturist,  early  becoming  familiar  with 
the  duties  and  labors  that  constitute  farm  work. 
Having  arrived  at  years  of  maturity,  he  wedded 
.Mary  Kukuk  and  they  became  the  parents  of  four 
children — Myrtle,  horn  March  G.  1804:  Margarel 
August  4.  1895;  Clarence,  May  14.  1897.  and  Or- 
igin. January  16,  1901.  Having  lost  his  first  wife, 
Mr.  George  has  since  married  Mary  Faivre.  who 
was  born  in  May  township.  Lee  county.  Illinois. 
December  5,  1867.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
France  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1857,  lo- 
cating  in  Lee  county.  Illinois.  In  their  family 
w.re  twelve  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  George  is  the 
eldest,  the  others  being  Delphine;  Frank:  Joseph- 
ine; one  who  died  in  infancy:  Louis:  Constant: 
.Joseph;  Paul  and  Andrew,  who  died  in  infai 
Tillie.  who  is  living;  and  Albert,  the  youngest,  who 
died  October  7,  1892.  The  second  marriage  of  Mr. 
_•  was  celebrated  on  the  29th  of  May,  1905, 
and  by  this  union  there  has  been  born  one  son. 
Joseph,  whose  birth  occurred  March  19,  1906. 
The  family  home  is  upon  a  good  farm  of  eighty 

-  of  rich  and  productive  land  on  section  25, 
Clinton  township,  and  to  its  further  development 
and  improvement  Mr.  George  gives  his  time  and 
attention.  In  politics  he  is  a  democrat,  and  both 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
church. 


IIOX.    JOHN    LOWEIE    BEVERIDGE. 

John  Lowrie  Beveridge.  who  served  as  governor 
of  Illinois  from  1873  until  1876,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Greenwich.  Washington  countv.  New 
York,  July  6,  1824.  and  is  a  son  of  George  and 
Ann  Beveridge.  His  paternal  grandparents  were 
Andrew  and  Isabelle  Beveridge,  who  emigrated  to 
this  country  from  Scotland  prior  to  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  and  settled  in  Washington  countv. 
Xew  York,  where  they  were  married.  In  their 
family  were  eight  sons,  the  youngest  of  whom 
lived  to  be  sixty  vears  of  age.     On  the  maternal 


side  Mr.  Beveridge  is  also  of  Scotch  descent,  his 
grandparents.  James  and  Agnes  Hoy.  having  come 
to  this  country  from  Scotland  after  the  close  of 
the  war  for  independence,  and  they.  too.  located 
in  Washington  countv.  Xew  York.  Their  eldest 
child  was  horn  while  crossing  the  Atlantic.  The 
parent-  of  Mr.  Beveridge  were  members  of  tliQ 
Associate  church,  a  seceding  Presbyterian  ho 
and  lived  earnest  Christian  lives. 

Mr.  Beveridge  received  a  good  common-school 
education,  but  his  parents,  who  could  obtain  a 
livelihood  only  by  economy  and  industry,  could 
not  send  him  away  to  college.  He  was  reared  upon 
a  farm  and  was  in  his  eighteenth  year  when  the 
family  removed  to  De  Kalb  county.  Illinois,  when 
this  section  of  the  state  was  sparsely  settled.  At 
that  time  Chicago  contained  less  than  seven  thou- 
sand inhabitants.  Here  he  worked  at  farm  labor 
anil  taught  school  during  the  winter  months  to 
supply  the  means  for  an  education.  In  the  fall 
of  1842  he  attended  one  term  at  the  academy  at 
Granville,  Putnam  county,  Illinois,  and  subse- 
quently several  terms  at  Rock  River  Seminary,  at 
Mount  Morris.  Ogle  county.  Illinois,  completing 
the  academic  course.  At  this  time,  the  fall  of 
1845,  his  parents  and  brothers  were  anxious  to 
have  him  go  to  college,  even  though  he  had  not 
money  sufficient,  but  not  willing  to  burden  the 
family  he  packed  his  trunk  and  with  only  forty 
dollars  in  money  started  south  to  seek  hi>  for- 
tune. Poor,  alone,  without  friends  and  influence, 
he  thus  entered  upon  the  battle  of  life.  He  first 
taught  school  in  Wilson,  Overton  and  Jackson 
counties.  Tennessee,  in  which  experience  he  un- 
derwent considerable  mental  drill  in  book  study 
and  in  the  ways  of  the  world.  He  read  law  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  while  in  the  south,  but 
did  not  learn  to  love  the  institution  of  slaverv.  al- 
though he  admired  many  features  of  southern 
character. 

Returning  north  in  December.  1847.  Mr.  Bev- 
eridge was  united  in  marriage  January  20,  1848, 
to  Miss  Helen  M.  Judson.  in  the  old  Clark  Street 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Chicago,  her  fa- 
ther being  pastor  of  the  same  at  that  time.  That 
spring  he  returned  with  his  wife  to  Tennessee. 
where  two  of  his  children.  Alia  May  and  Philo 
Judson,  were  horn. 

In  the  fall  of  1849.  through  the  mismanage- 
ment  of  an  associate,  he  lost   what  little  he  had 


1 


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^^^Cl^^C   if ^e^i/^i^i^A^ 


THr  NEW  YORK] 

!C  LIBRARY 


'«(    LENOX 
,  TILPEN  FOUNOATinma 


PAST   AND    PRESENT   OF   DE    KALB   COUNTY. 


383 


accumulated  and  was  left  in  <lebt.  but  was  soon 
able  to  pay  off  all  the  indebtedness  and  then  re- 
turned to  De  Kalb  county,  Illinois,  entering  upon 
the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Sycamore.  On 
his  arrival  here  his  cash  capital  consisted  of  only  a 
quarter  of  a  dollar  and  besides  this  he  had  only 
a  scanty  supply  of  clothing  and  bedding  for  him- 
self and  family.  Ee  borrowed  a  little  money. 
practiced  law.  worked  in  public  offices,  kept  books 
for  some  of  the  business  men  of  the  town  and 
did  some  railroad  engineering  until  the  spring  of 
1854.  when  he  removed  to  Evanston,  but  recently 
laid  out  under  the  supervision  of  the  Northwest- 
ern University,  a  Methodist  institution,  of  which 
his  father-in-law  was  then  financial  agent  and 
business  manager.  Here  Mr.  Beveridge  prospered 
and  in  1855  opened  a  law  office  in  Chicago. 

On  the  12th  of  August.  1861.  his  law  partner. 
General  John  F.  Farnsworth.  secured  authority  to 
raise  a  regiment  of  cavalry  and  authorized  Mr. 
Beveridge  to  raise  a  company  for  it.  which  he 
succeeded  in  doing  in  a  few  days,  of  course  him- 
self enlisting.  This  regiment  rendezvoused  at  St. 
Charles,  Illinois,  was  mustered  in  September  18, 
and  on  its  organization  Mr.  Beveridge  was  elected 
second  major.  On  the  11th  of  October  it  was  at- 
tached to  the  Eighth  Cavalry  and  to  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  He  served  with  the  regiment  until 
1863,  participating  in  some  forty  battles  and 
skirmishes,  being  at  Fair  Oaks,  tire  seven  days' 
tight  around  Richmond,  Fredericksburg.  Ohancel- 
lorsville  and  Gettysburg.  He  commanded  the  regi- 
ment the  greater  part  of  the  summer  of  1863  and 
it  was  while  lying  in  camp  that  year  that  he  origi- 
nated the  policy  of  encouraging  recruits  as  well 
as  the  fighting  capacity  of  soldiery  by  the  whole- 
sale furlough  system.  It  worked  so  well  that 
many  other  officers  adopted  it.  In  the  fall  of 
1863  he  recruited  another  company  and  in  the 
following  January  was  commissioned  colonel  of 
the  Seventeenth  Illinois  Cavalry  and  skirmished 
around  in  Missouri.  In  1865  he  commanded  vari- 
ous sub-districts  in  the  southwest.  He  was  mus- 
tered out  on  the  6th  of  February.  1866,  and  re- 
turned to  his  home. 

Mr.  Beveridge  then  resumed  the  practice  of  law 
in  Chicago  but  without  a  library  and  no 
college  education  and  no  political  experi- 
ence except  to  lead  others  into  office.  In 
the      fall      of      1866      he      was      elected      sheriff 


of  Cook  county,  serving  one  term,  and  on  his  re- 
tirement from  that  office  devoted  his  attention  to 
the  practice  of  law  again.  In  November.  1870,  he 
was  elected  state  senator  and  the  following  fall  was 
elected  congressman  at  large.  In  November,  1872. 
he  was  made  lieutenant  governor  on  the  ticket  with 
Governor  Oglesby.  and  when  the  latter  was  elected 
to  the  United  States  senate  Mr.  Beveridge  became 
Governor  January  21,  1873.  The  principal  events 
during  his  administration  were:  The  completion 
of  the  revision  of  the  statutes  begun  in  1869.  the 
partial  success  of  the  "Farmers  Movement,'" 
"Haine's  Legislature"  and  Illinois'  exhibit  at  the 
centennial. 

After  his  retirement  from  that  office  Mr.  Beve- 
ridge became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Beveridge  & 
Dewey,  bankers  and  dealers  in  commercial  paper  at 
Xo.  71  Dearborn  street,  Chicago,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1881  was  made  assistant  United  States  treasurer 
with  office  in  the  Gevernment  building.  He  con- 
tinued to  make  his  home  in  Evanston  for  manv 
years  but  now  resides  in  Los  Angeles,  California. 
For  years  he  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  most 
prominent  and  influential  men  of  Illinois. 


MATHEW  O'MALLEY. 

Mathew  O'Malley  owns  and  conducts  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty-five  acres  in  De  Kalb  town- 
ship, his  place  being  located  on  sections  24  and  25. 
His  farm  is  a  good  property  and  in  its  supervision 
Mr.  O'Malley  displays  practical  and  progressive 
methods.  He  is  one  of  Illinois'  native  sons,  hav- 
ing been  horn  in  Will  county,  September  17,  1854. 
His  parents  were  Dominick  and  Judith  (Duffy) 
O'Malley,  natives  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1849,  settling  in  Wisconsin,  where 
they  lived  for  a  short  time.  They  afterward  re- 
moved to  Dixon,  Illinois,  and  Mr.  O'Malley  worked 
on  the  construction  of  the  Great  Western  Railroad. 
He  afterward  went  to  Kane  county,  this  state, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  and  subsequently 
took  up  his  abode  at  Maple  Park,  Kane  county, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1904.  His  wife  bad  passed  away  two  years  prior 
to  that  time. 

Mathew  O'Malley  is  indebted  to  the  public- 
school  svstem  of  this  state  for  the  educational  priv- 


38  I 


PAST   AND   PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


ilcges  he  enjoyed.  lie  worked  for  his  father  until 
twenty-eight  years  of  age,  and  early  became  fa- 
miliar with  all  the  duties  and  labors  connected 
with  the  life  of  the  agriculturist,  He  has  always 
followed  farming  and  is  now  the  owner  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty-five  acres  in  De  Kalb  township, 
which  he  has  supplied  with  the  latest  improved 
machinery  and  all  modern  equipments,  which  he 
utilizes  in  successfully  carrying  on  his  farm  work. 

In  1SS8  Mr.  0"Malley  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Catherine  Kervin.  and  they  have  five  chil- 
dren— William,  who  was  born  July  22,  1892,  and 
who  is  now  a  high-school  student  in  De  Kalb; 
Frances  D.,  who  was  born  January  19,  1894 ; 
Mary,  who  was  born  March  8,  1896;  Mathew,  bom 
December  26,  1898:  John,  born  March  9,  1900. 
'I'lir  three  younger  children  are  in  the  district 
school. 

Mr.  O'Malley  has  always  been  a  democrat,  and. 
while  not  a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office  seek- 
ing, he  yet  keeps  well  informed  on  questions  and 
issues  of  the  day.  He  has  served  as  school  director 
for  the  past  two  years  and  is  still  in  office.  Both 
he  and  Ins  wife  are  communicants  of  the  Catholic 
church  of  DeKalb. 


ARVINE  W.  MARVIN. 

The  business  interests  of  De  Kalb  find  a  worthy 
representative  in  Arvine  W.  Marvin,  senior  part- 
ner of  the  firm  of  Marvin  &  Bagg.  plumbers.  A 
native  of  Saxeville.  Wisconsin,  he  is  the  son  of 
Seth  and  Sarah  (Billings)  Marvin,  both  natives 
of  the  state  of  New  York.  After  living  for  some 
time  in  the  state  of  Wisconsin,  the  father  brought 
his  family  to  Illinois  in  1866,  settling  in  Oregon, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He  is  a  car- 
penter by  trade,  and  throughout  his  life  has  been 
identified  with  building  operations.  At  the  time 
of  the  Civil  war  he  espoused  the  union  cause  and 
served  for  three  years  and  three  months  in  defense 
of  the  stars  and  stripes,  with  a  Wisconsin  regi- 
ment. There  were  three  children  in  his  family,  of 
whom  one  is  now  deceased. 

Arvine  W.  Marvin  pursued  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Oregon,  Illinois,  and  Mount  Mor- 
ris College,  Illinois.  His  collegiate  work  being  fin- 
ished,  he   began    following   the   plumber's    trade. 


which  lie  had  learned  during  the  periods  of  vaca- 
tion and  in  the  interval  between  his  public  school 
and  college  courses.  It  had  been  in  this  way  that 
lie  had  earned  the  money  necessary  for  his  educa- 
tion. He  spent  several  years  in  Chicago,  thence 
went  to  Oregon,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  for  a 
time,  and  about  fourteen  years  ago  came  to  De 
Kalb  in  the  same  business.  In  1906  he  started  in 
business  on  his  own  account  with  Mr.  Bagg,  form- 
ing ilic  presenl  firm  of  Marvin  &  Bagg.  They 
have  met  with  success  even  beyond  their  expecta- 
tions, have  received  liberal  support  from  the  pub- 
lic and  are  doing  a  good  plumbing  business.  They 
are  recognized  as  reliable  merchants  in  their  line 
and  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  trade  as  prac- 
tical workmen  enables  them  to  carefully  direct  the 
labors  of  those  whom  they  employ. 

Mr.  Marvin  was  married  in  Baraboo,  Wisconsin, 
in  1896,  to  Miss  Mary  Carroll,  a  native  of  De 
Kalb.  Her  father  was  Mike  Carroll,  a  native  of 
Ireland,  and  the  mother  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Anna  Harris.  She,  too,  was  born  on  the  Emerald 
isle,  and  both  parents  are  now  deceased.  Unto  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Marvin  has  been  born  a  son,  Seth  C. 
whose  natal  day  was  June  28,  1902.  Mr.  Marvin 
belongs  to  Bacon  camp.  No.  173,  S.  V.,  and  in 
politics  he  is  a  republican,  but  his  close  applica- 
tion to  business  leaves  him  little  time  for  political 
work. 

He  has  advanced  by  his  own  efforts  and  is  to- 
dav  regarded  as  an  enterprising  and  substantial 
business  man,  who,  while  carefully  controlling  his 
individual  interests,  also  finds  time  to  keep  well  in- 
formed on  the  questions  of  the  day  and  to  keep  in 
touch  with  the  trend  of  modern  thought  and  im- 
provement. 


SAMUEL  M.  SANDERSON. 

Samuel  M.  Sanderson,  who  resides  on  section 
30,  Milan  township,  is  the  owner  of  four  hun- 
dred acres  of  well  improved  land,  which  is  kept 
under  the  highest  state  of  cultivation.  He  was 
born  in  La  Salle  county,  Illinois,  July  31,  1853, 
and  is  the  son  of  Sander  H.  Sanderson,  a  native 
of  Norway,  who  came  to  the  United  States  with 
his  father,  Henry  Sanderson,  who  located  in  La 
Salle  county,  Illinois,  being  among  the  first  of  tin- 
Norwegian  nationality  to  locate  in  that  county. 


PAST    AND   PEESEXT    OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


385 


Sander  H.  Sanderson  was  the  oldest  of  a  family 
of  six  children,  all  of  whom  had  to  walk  Hie 
greater  part  of  the  way  from  Chicago  to  La  Salle 
county.  In  that  county  he  married  Ann  Moland, 
a  native  of  Norway,  who  came  to  this  country  in 
childhood.  The  occupation  in  which  Mr.  Sander- 
son engaged  in  La  Salle  county  was  that  of  a  farm- 
er, and  on  his  removal  to  De  Kalb  county,  in 
1803,  he  continued  that  vocation,  purchasing 
eighty  acres  of  unimproved  land,  to  which  he  later 
added  another  eighty  acres,  giving  him  a  fine  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  excellent  prairie 
Jand.  lie  became  quite  a  prominent  man  in 
Milan  township  and  served  ten  years  as  justice  of 
the  peace  and  also  held  other  official  positions, 
lie  was  very  helpful  to  the  Norwegians  settling  in 
his  neighborhood  and  did  them  many  a  good  turn. 
He  died  in  Milan  township  in  1883,  while  his  wife 
I  (receded  him  only  about  one  week. 

Samuel  M.  Sanderson  was  the  second  in  order 
of  birth  in  the  family  of  five  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters  who  grew  to  mature  age,  all  of  whom  are  yet 
I  iving  and  are  married.  One,  Ole,  died  in  infancy. 
Our  subject  was  reared  in  De  Kalb  county  and 
educated  in  the  common  schools,  attending  during 
the  winter  months  and  assisting  his  father  in  the 
farm  work  at  other  seasons  of  the  year.  He  re- 
mained with  his  father  until  he  reached  his  ma- 
jority and  later  formed  a  partnership  with  him 
and  engaged  in  the  general  mercantile  business 
at  Lee  for  five  years,  during  which  time  he  re- 
ceived a  good  business  training. 

In  La  Salle  county,  Illinois,  September  10, 
1874,  Mr.  Sanderson  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Betsy  K.  Halverson,  a  native  of  La  Salle 
county  and  a  daughter  of  Knute  Halverson,  who 
was  born  in  Norway  and  was  likewise  one  of  the 
early  Norwegians  locating  in  La  Salle  county.  Im- 
mediately after  his  marriage  Mr.  Sanderson  rented 
a  farm  and  later  purchased  eighty  acres,  where  lie 
now  resides,  and  to  which  he  added  eighty  acres 
adjoining,  making  him  a  fine  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres.  The  place  was  partially  im- 
proved when  he  purchased,  but  he  has  remodeled 
the  house  and  erected  various  outbuildings,  and 
is  now  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers  in  the 
township.  He  is  also  a  stockholder,  secretary  and 
manager  of  the  Lee  Creamery  Association,  an  en- 
terprise which  has  been  quite  successful,  and  has 


been  cashier  of  the  Lee  State  Bank  since  its  or- 
ganization on  the  14th  of  November,  11)04. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sanderson  twelve  children 
have  been  born,  six  of  whom  died  in  infancy  and 
early  childhood.  The  living  are  Harvey  C,  San- 
der E.,  Eva  A.,  Kinnie  0..  Lester  E.  and  Vira  M. 
Politically  Mr.  Sanderson  is  a  republican  and  lias 
given  his  support  to  that  party  since  1876.  He 
has  taken  quite  an  active  part  in  local  politics. 
and  >was  elected  and  served  one  term  as  township 
collector,  and  in  1895  was  elected  supervisor  of 
his  township,  has  been  re-elected,  and  is  now  serv- 
ing his  sixth  term.  He  has  made  a  very  faithful 
and  efficient  officer,  rendering  complete  satisfac- 
tion to  his  constituents.  His  influence  has  always 
heen  in  favor  of  good  schools,  and  to  that  end  he 
has  given  much  of  his  time  as  a  member  of  the 
school  board  and  clerk  of  his  school  district.  He 
and  his  wife  are  earnest  and  consistent  members 
of  the  Lutheran  church.  His  life  has  been  an 
active  one  and  his  friends  are  many,  not  only  in 
Milan  township  but  throughout  De  Kalb  and  Lee 
count  Les. 


THOMAS  T.  WILSON. 

Thomas  T.  Wilson  owns  and  cultivates  eighty 
acres  of  land  on  section  20,  Victor  township,  con- 
stituting one  of  the  well  improved  farms  near  Le- 
land.  It  is  about  three  miles  from  the  village,  and 
the  well  tilled  fields  and  improvements  upon  the 
place  indicate  the  progressive  spirit  and  untiring 
energy  of  the  owner,  who,  since  1855,  has  been  a 
resident  of  De  Kalb  county.  He  is  of  English 
birth,  the  place  of  his  nativity  being  Cambridge- 
shire, while  his  natal  day  was  March  8,  1834.  His 
father,  James  Wilson,  was  also  born  in  Cambridge- 
shire, wdiere  he  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth.  He 
afterward  married  Sarah  Thornhill,  an  English 
lady,  and  following  that  important  event  in  his 
life  gave  his  attention  to  general  agricultural 
pursuits. 

Thomas  T.  Wilson  was  reared  to  the  age  of 
eighteen  years  upon  the  farm  on  which  his  birth 
occurred.  He  then  determined  to  establish  his 
home  in  the  new  world,  for  he  had  heard  many 
favorable  reports  concerning  its  superior  business 
opportunities    and    advantages.      Accordingly    he 


386 


PAST   AND   PKESENT    OF    DE    KALB   COUNTY. 


sailed  for  the  United  States  iu  1853  in  company 
with  an  uncle,  John  Wilson,  who  was  an  old  resi- 
dent of  Jamestown,  New  York,  having  come  to 
the  United  States  in  1834.  He  had  been  on  a 
visit  to  England,  and  on  his  return  his  nephew 
accompanied  him  to  the  United  States.  Thomas 
T.  Wilson  continued  to  reside  in  the  state  of  New 
York  for  about  two  years  and  then  came  westward 
to  Illinois  with  three  other  young  men.  Their 
destination  was  I  )e  Kalh  county,  and  here  Mr. 
Wilson  went  to  work  as  a  farm  hand  by  the 
month,  being  thus  employed  for  several  years.  In 
L851  he  went  to  Kansas,  where  he  continued  until 
1859.  For  one  year  of  that  time  he  was  in  a 
.store  in  Atchison.  Returning  to  Illinois  in  1859, 
he  again  worked  at  farm  labor  by  the  month  until 
is; ii.  when  he  began  tanning  on  his  own  ac- 
count. 

(in  the  3d  of  May.  1877,  Mr.  Wilson  was  united 
in  marriage  in  Victor  township.  l)e  Kalh  county, 
to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Bend,  who  was  born  in  Lincoln- 
shire, England,  and  in  her  childhood  days  was 
brought  to  the  United  Stales  by  her  parents.  They 
located  on  the  rami  which  Mr.  Wilson  had  pre- 
viously purchased,  ami  Ins  undivided  time  ami 
energies  were  devoted  to  the  work  of  the  farm, 
lie  drained  the  land  by  the  judicious  use  of  tile, 
fenced  the  fields,  erected  a  comfortable  residence, 
built  good  barns  and  outbuildings,  se1  out  an  or- 
chard, ami.  in  fact,  made  the  farm  what  it  is  to- 
day— a  valuable  property,  equipped  with  all  mod- 
ern accessories.  Mr.  Wilson  also  raises  a  good 
grade  of  full-blooded  shorthorn  cattle  and  also 
some  high  grade  hogs,  and  annually  places  a  large 
number  on  the  market,  lie  is  a  member  of  the 
Victor  Township  Mutual    Insurance  Company. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  have  been  born  two 
daughters:  Sarah  Matilda  and  Esther  Jane,  the 
latter  now  at  home.  The  former  is  the  wife  of 
William  0.  Parks,  a  resident  of  Wright  county. 
Iowa,  and  they  have  four  sons  and  two  daughters. 
Politically  Mr.  Wilson  is  a  republican,  and  cast 
liis  first  presidential  vote  for  John  C.  Fremont  in 
1856,  while  in  1860  lie  supported  Abraham  Lin- 
coln. He  has  been  a  member  of  the  school  hoard 
for  two  or  three  years,  hut  has  never  sought  or 
desired  the  honors  and  emoluments  of  political 
office.  He  came  to  De  Kalh  county  fifty-two  years 
ago,  and  during  the  years  of  his  residence  here 
he  has  not  only  been  prosperous  in  his  undertakings 


hut  has  also  contributed  to  the  agricultural  inter- 
ests of  the  community.  He  started  out  in  life 
empty-handed,  but  possessed  strong  purpose  and 
unfaltering  determination,  and  upon  these  quali- 
ties as  a  foundation  lie  has  builded  the  super- 
strucl  are  of  his  success. 


HERBERT    WELLS    FAY. 

Herbert  Wells  Fay,  editor  of  the  Be  Ealb  Re- 
view, was  born  February  28,  1859,  in  Squaw 
Grove  township.  De  Kalh  county.  Illinois,  and  i> 
the  son  of  Edwin  Horace  and  Ann  (Haywood) 
Fay,  extended  mention  of  whom  is  made  on  an- 
other page  of  this  work.  Mr.  Fay  is  a  grandson 
of  Horace  W.  Fay,  the  second  member  of  the  legis- 
lature from  De  Kalh  county,  and  his  sketch  is  also 
to  he  found   in  this  work. 

Eerberl  Wells  Fay  grew  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive township  and  received  his  primary  education 
in  the  district  schools.  Later  he  attended  Mon- 
mouth College  three  years,  taught  school  one  term, 
and  in  Issn  engaged  in  the  newspaper  business  at 
Hinckley.  After  seven  years'  work  on  the  Hinck- 
ley Review,  he  sold  out  and  moved  to  De  Kalh. 
[llinois.  In  March,  1887,  lie  purchased  a  half  in- 
terest in  the  Be  Kalh  Review.  For  nineteen  years 
lie  conducted  the  paper  in  partnership  with  I  >. 
W.  Tyrrell.  On  January  in.  1906,  the  entire 
plant  was  destroyed  by  the  burning  of  the  Haish 
Opera  House  Block.  Mr.  Fay  bought  the  interest 
of  lii-  partner  and  -nice  March  15.  1!(06.  lias  been 
the  sole  proprietor.  The  new  plant  was  located 
in  the  Glidden  House  basement.  The  paper  has 
the  largest  advertising  and  subscription  patron- 
age of  any  paper  of  the  county. 

At  Hinckley.  Illinois.  September  24.  1884,  Mr. 
Fay  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Yella  Au- 
gusta Sebree,  also  a  native  of  Squaw  Grove,  horn 
December  21.  18f,4.  She  is  a  daughter  of  W.  M. 
Sebree,  the  oldest  living  settler  of  De  Kalh  coun- 
ty. They  are  the  parents  of  one  son.  Earl  Owen 
Fay.  born  October  24.  1885.  He  is  a  graduate  of 
the  De  Kalh  public  schools  and  has  taken  two 
years  at  Madison  University.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Sigma  Xu  fraternity.  For  the  past  year 
he  has  been  associate  editor  of  the  Dr  Kalh  Re- 
view. 


LENOX 
TILCEN  FOWDVTH 


PAST   AND    PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


389 


Fraternally  II.  VV.  Fay  is  a  member  of  the 
Chicago  Press  Club,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Royal 
Arcanum,  Modern  Woodmen  and  Knights  of  the 
Globe.  But  it  is  not  to  his  newspaper  work  that 
Mr.  Fay  has  achieved  his  greatest  notoriety.  Soon 
after  the  Civil  war  when  only  two  weekly  news- 
papers of  the  United  States  regularly  published 
portraits  of  noted  men,  Mr.  Fay,  who  has  a  collect- 
or's instinct,  conceived  the  idea  of  saving  and 
classifying  the  portraits.  He  seemed  to  foresee 
the  demand,  and  now  when  nearly  every  publica- 
tion in  the  land  publishes  cuts  he  has  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  the  portraits.  He  has  made  a 
specialty  of  historical  characters  of  this  and  other 
countries,  and  his  list  of  rulers,  statesmen,  jurists, 
authors,  scientists,  artists,  musicians  and  invent- 
ors is  very  complete.  The  collection  includes  over 
fifty  thousand  photographs,  steel  prints  and  etch- 
ings of  prominent  persons.  He  is  the  owner  of  the 
McNulty-Butler  negative  of  Lincoln,  the  only 
well  known  original  negative  now  in  existence  west 
of  the  Allegheny  mountains.  His  Lincoln  collec- 
tion has  been  exhibited  at  the  Chicago  Press  Club, 
Chicago  University.  Champaign  University,  Oak 
Park.  Racine,  Wisconsin  and  Evanston  University. 
It  consists  of  two  hundred  sittings  of  Lincoln  as 
follows:  Fifty,  eight  by  ten  portraits  of  Lincoln 
scenes:  one  hundred,  ten  by  twelve  inch  portraits 
of  the  same  nature ;  one  hundred  and  fifty  cab- 
inet portraits  of  Lincoln ;  seventy-five  various  Lin- 
coln scenes  ;  twenty-five  views  of  cabinet  ministers  ; 
two  hundred  and  fifty  pictures  connected  with 
Illinois  and  Lincoln's  part  in  the  Civil  war:  and 
two  hundred  other  pictures  connected  with  Lin- 
coln history. 

In  connection  with  A.  F.  Rowley,  the  photog- 
rapher, lie  has  assisted  in  getting  together  a  large 
collection  of  character  pictures,  representing  every 
conceivable  idea,  such  as  illustrating  poems,  sto- 
ries, scientific  and  anthropological  articles,  ani- 
mals, game,  agricultural  and  dairy  subjects  and 
all  conceits  for  striking  advertising.  In  this  col- 
lection  is  about  a  hundred  pictures  of  birds  and 
birds'  nests  of  De  Kalb  county.  Samples  of  this 
work  have  regularly  appeared  in  the  Inland  Print- 
er. "Western  Publisher  and  National  Printer  Jour- 
nalist, and  have  attracted  the  notice  of  the  art 
critics  of  two  continents. 

Under  a  full  page  cut  of  the  McNulty-Butler 
original  portrait  of  Lincoln  the  McClure's  Maga- 


zine of  June,  1895,  says :  "There  are  in  existence 
but  few  original  negatives  of  portraits  of  Lincoln. 
Brady  made  a  number,  which  he  sold  to  the  gov- 
ernment :  and  the  portraits  of  Lincoln  commonly 
seen  are  copies  from  one  or  another  of  these,  of 
the  well  known  Hesler  picture,  wherein  Lincoln  is 
shown  without  a  beard.  The  above  is  from  a 
photograph  by  McNulty,  taken  at  Springfield. 
Illinois,  just  previous  to  Lincoln's  departure  for 
Washington  in  January,  1861.  It  is  accounted 
about  the  truest  portrait  of  Lincoln  ever  made. 
His  friends  at  home  esteemed  it  so  highly  that 
they  chose  it  as  a  model  for  a  painting  for  the 
Illinois  State  House.  The  original  negative,  an 
old  fashioned  wet  plate,  is  very  well  preserved 
and  is  now  in  the  historical  collection  of  H.  AY. 
Fay,  Esq..  De  Kalb,  Illinois,  by  whose  kind  per- 
mission the  present  reproduction  is  made." 

On  the  back  of  one  of  the  McNulty  photographs 
Leonard  W.  Yolk,  the  great  sculptor,  wrote  the 
following:  "This  photograph  of  Abraham  Lin- 
coln, one  of  the  first  with  a  beard.  I  regard  as  one 
of  the  best,  if  not  the  best,  as  I  remember  him 
after  he  allowed  his  beard  to  grow. 

"Leonard   W.  Yolk. 

"Chicago,  March  13.  189:;." 

The  Chicago  Evening  Journal  of  April  25, 
1895,  says:  "Herbert  Y\Tells  Fay,  of  De  Kalb, 
Illinois,  is  well  known  to  the  journalistic  profes- 
sion of  the  United  States  as  a  'historical  portrait 
collector."  and  probably  has  the  largest  private 
collection  of  photographs  of  noted  people  in  the 
world.  He  has  portraits  of  fifty  thousand  persons 
in  stock,  which  includes  two  hundred  different  sit- 
tings of  Lincoln  and  twenty-five  of  Longfellow, 
while  he  is  the  owner  of  the  McNulty  original 
photograph  of  Mr.  Lincoln.  In  conducting  his 
portrait  loan  agency  Mr.  Fay  is  a  regular  con- 
tributor to  many  of  the  leading  magazines  of  the 
country.  He  has  devoted  twenty-five  years  to 
making  this  collection.''  Five  hundred  pictures 
from  this  collection  were  used  in  the  American 
edition  of  the  Encyclopedia  Brittanica.  Five  hun- 
dred pictures  were  reproduced  by  the  Who-When- 
What  Company. 

The  New  York  Times  of  January  31.  1894. 
says :  "Mr.  Herbert  W.  Fay,  of  De  Kalb,  Illinois, 
has  made  a  fad  of  collecting  famous  men's  por- 
traits and  now  has  fifty  thousand  of  them.  Many 
of  them  came  onlv  after  a  long  search  and  per- 


3  HO 


PAST   AND   PRESENT   OF  DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


sisteiit  importunity,  and  some  of  them  are  very 
scarce,  if  they  can  be  duplicated  anywhere.-'  These 
pictures  passed  through  the  office  fire  of  1906 
and  many  thousands  were  destroyed.  For  the 
past  year  the  collection  has  been  housed  in  a  fire- 
proof vault  at  the  new  Review  office. 

In  addition  to  his  work  as  a  collector  of  pictures 
Mr.  Fay  has  made  a  study  of  the  relics  of  the  stone 
age  of  Do  Kalb  county  and  has  picked  up  many 
thousand  specimens.  He  got  together  the  col- 
lection of  two  thousand  pieces  in  the  museum  of 
the  Northern  Illinois  State  Normal  School  at  De 
Kalb. 

Mr.  Fay  is  of  an  artistic  temperament  and  is 
quick  to  detect  the  worthy  elements  and  foretell 
the  demand.  In  making  his  collections  of  emi- 
nent people  he  has  done  a  valuable  service  for 
mankind  and  the  worth  of  his  work  is  recognized 
by  the  leading  magazines  and  periodicals  of  the 
country,  as  well  as  by  individuals.  Today  his  col- 
lection is  almost  valueless  and  besides  any  valua- 
tion that  has  been  placed  upon  it  it  indicates  the 
artistic  taste  of  the  owner  and  also  his  compre- 
hensive knowledge  of  history  and  of  the  events 
which  have  made  the  originals  of  his  portrait- 
famous. 


HON.  WILLIAM  P.  DUTTON. 

The  name  of  Dutton  has  figured  prominently 
in  connection  with  the  history  of  Sycamore  and 
De  Kalb  county  from  an  early  period  in  the  de- 
velopment of  the  city,  and  no  history  would  be 
complete  without  mention  of  the  different  repre- 
sentatives of  the  name  who  have  been  so  closely 
allied  with  its  business  interests  and  with  its  prog- 
ress and  growth  along  material,  intellectual  and 
moral  lines. 

The  Hon.  William  P.  Dutton  was  a  native  of 
Charleston.  New  Hampshire,  born  August  1.  1817. 
He  was  reared  to  manhood  in  the  state  of  his  na- 
tivity and  entered  business  life  as  an  agriculturist. 
In  1835  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lu- 
cinda  J.  Blood,  who  was  also  born  in  Charleston, 
her  natal  day  being  January  28,  1818.  For  nine 
years  thereafter  they  remained  residents  of  New 
Hampshire,  Mr.  Dutton  devoting  his  time  and  en- 
ergies to  general  farming,  but  the  opportunities  of 


the  new  and  growing  west  attracted  him,  and  in 
1844  he  came  to  Illinois,  settling  first  in  St. 
Charles,  Kane  county.  He  afterward  removed  to 
Du  Page  county  and  thence  came  to  Sycamore, 
De  Kalb  county.  Here  he  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising, continuing  in  the  trade  until  1857,  and  he 
was  also  the  proprietor  of  the  Sycamore  House, 
the  leading  hotel  of  the  city.  His  force  of  char- 
acter and  ability  made  him  a  prominent  factor  in 
the  development  of  the  new  town  and  he  exerted 
widely  felt  influence  in  public  life.  During  the 
administration  of  President  Pierce  he  held  the 
office  of  postmaster  at  Sycamore. 

Mr.  Dutton  was  reared  in  the  Jacksonian  school 
of  politics  and  from  his  earliest  manhood  was  plain 
and  outspoken  in  his  political  views.  He  had  no 
sympathy  with  the  doctrines  advocated  by  the 
abolition  party  and  during  the  agitation  of  the 
free  soil  question  he  went  to  Kansas  to  vigorously 
denounce  those  principles.  He  confidently  ex- 
pei  ted  to  be  confirmed  in  his  views  and  felt  that 
the  labor  of  his  investigation  there  would  undoubt- 
edly strengthen  the  party  and  give  prestige  to  the 
political  attitude  which  he  advocated.  But  while 
William  P.  Dutton  was  fearless  in  the  support  of 
what  he  believed  to  be  right,  he  was  also  a  man 
amenable  to  reason  and  open  to  conviction.  When 
he  met  face  to  face  the  condition  which  existed 
in  Kansas,  saw  the  misery  of  the  people  and  the 
trouble  broughl  about  by  the  slavery  conditions 
he  experienced  a  complete  change  of  opinion  and 
openly  and  unhesitatingly  declared  himself  in  fa- 
vor of  the  free-state  idea,  which  he  had  previously 
bo  vigorously  condemned.  This  course  caused  him 
to-losr  Ins  political  position — the  postoffice  at  Syc- 
amore. Being  then  at  liberty  he  at  once  changed 
his  place  of  residence,  removing  to  Kansas.  Ee 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Stanton,  then  Sykes  county, 
and  at  once  entered  heartily  into  the  work  of  up- 
holding a  ""free  Mate."  Within  a  year  after  his 
arrival  he  was  chosen  treasurer  of  the  countj  and 
was  later  re-elected,  serving  for  two  terms.  In 
1859  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  constitutional 
convention  which  assembled  at  Wyandotte,  and 
took  an  active  part  in  framing  the  organic  law  of 
the  state.  In  1861,  when  Kansas  was  admitted  to 
the  Union,  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  his  county,  the 
name  of  which  had  then  been  changed  to  Miami, 
and  for  the  better  performance  of  his  duty  he 
removed  to  Paola,  the  county  seat,  where  he  con- 


W.  P.  DUTTOK. 


s~ 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OP   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


393 


tinued  to  reside  until  1873.  In  1863  he  was  chosen 
for  a  second  term  as  sheriff  and  did  much  to  main- 
tain law  and  order  during  the  hazardous  period  of 
the  Civil  war.  He  was  a  strong  supporter  of  the 
administration  and  served  on  the  governor's  staff 
in  Kansas  during  the  period  of  hostilities  between 
the  north  and  the  south. 

When  he  felt  that  Kansas  no  longer  needed  his 
aid  Mr.  Button  returned  to  Illinois  and  from  1873 
until  187G  was  again  engaged  in  general  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  In  the  latter  year,  however,  he 
once  more  located  at  Paola,  Kansas,  where  he  re- 
sided until  his  death  in  1888.  His  wife  had 
passed  away  in  Sycamore,  June  15,  1875. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  P.  Dutton  were  born 
three  children:  Everell  Fletcher;  Emma,  the  wife 
of  Aaron  K.  Stiles,  of  Chicago;  and  Charles  E., 
of  Oakland,  California.  Wherever  known  Hon. 
William  P.  Dutton  commanded  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  those  with  whom  he  came  in  contact 
by  reason  of  his  unfaltering  fidelity  to  duty  and 
his  stalwart  support  of  his  honest  convictions.  He 
possessed,  moreover,  natural  ability  and  qualities 
that  well  fitted  him  for  leadership,  and  in  the 
east,  in  De  Kalb  county,  in  Kansas,  and  wherever 
known  he  made  many  warm  friends. 


GENERAL  EVERELL  FLETCHER  DUTTON. 

On  the  list  of  the  distinguished  dead  of  Illinois 
appears  the  name  of  General  Everell  Fletcher  Dut- 
ton, whose  valor  and  loyalty,  together  with  his  con- 
sideration for  his  men,  made  him  an  ideal  soldier. 
In  business  he  was  equally  prominent,  and  though 
he  won  a  measure  of  success  that  raised  him  far 
above  the  majority  of  mankind  financially,  his 
business  methods  were  ever  so  straightforward  and 
reliable  and  his  wealth  so  honorably  used  that  the 
most  envious  could  not  grudge  him  his  prosperity. 
He  stood  for  all  that  is  upright,  just  and  true  in 
man's  relations  with  his  fellowmen.  and  his  life 
was  inspiring  and  helpful.  He  taught  not  by  in- 
junction and  dictation  but  by  example,  inference 
and  suggestion,  and  so  endeared  himself  to  the 
hearts  of  those  who  knew  him  that  his  death  was 
mourned  by  thousands  of  friends  throughout  the 
land. 


General  Dutton  was  born   in   Sullivan  county, 
New  Hampshire,  January  4,  1S38,  the  elder  son  of 
Hon.  William  P.  Dutton  and  was  but  eight  years 
of  age  at  the  time  of  the  removal  of  his  parents  to 
Sycamore.    The  family  had  already  been  residents 
of  Illinois  for  two  years  at  that  time.     His  educa- 
tion was  pursued  in  the  public  schools  of   Syca- 
more,  at    Mount   Morris,    Illinois,   where   he    re- 
mained for  a  year,  and  at  Beloit,  Wisconsin,  where 
he  also  continued  his  studies  for  a  year.     When 
not  occupied  with  his  text-books  he  assisted  his 
father  in  the  store  and  postoffice.     The  year  1857 
witnessed  the  removal  of  the  family  to   Kansas, 
where  he  assisted  his  father  in  the  work  of  the 
farm  until  1858.     He  then  returned  to  Sycamore 
and  accepted  the  position  of  deputy  clerk  under  the 
Hon.  A.  K.  Stiles,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
April,   1861.     He  had  watched  with  interest  the 
progress  of  events  in  the  south,  had  received  di- 
rect reports  from  his  father  concerning  the  diffi- 
culties that  arose  over  the  admission  of   Kansas 
and  N'ebrasi*^-a-'s  free  states,  had  noted  the  threats 
of  secession  and  had  resolved  that  if  an  attempt 
was  made  to  overthrow  the  Union  he  would  stand 
loyally  for   its  support.     Accordingly   the  smoke 
from    Fort    Sumter's    guns   had   scarcely    cleared 
away,  when,  on  the  1st  of  April,  he  responded  to 
President  Lincoln's  call  for  aid  and  was  mustered 
into  the  state  service  at  Dixon,  Illinois,   on  the 
10th  of  May,  and  into  the  United  States  service 
on  the  24th  of  May.    His  company  became  a  part 
of  the  Thirteenth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  and 
Z.  B.  Mayo  was  elected  captain  of  the  company, 
which  was  known  as  Company  F,  while  Mr.  Dutton 
was  chosen  first  lieutenant.     On  the  16th  of  June 
the  regiment  went  to  Caseyville,  Illinois,  to  look 
after  the  secession  element  at  that  place,  and  on 
the  6th  of  July  moved  on  to  Rolla,  Missouri.     In 
August,    1861.    Lieutenant  Dutton   was   promoted 
to  the  command  of  his  company.   Captain  Mayo 
having  resigned.    The  regiment  remained  at  Rolla 
until  the  last  of  October,  and  in  addition  to  regu- 
lar military  service  did  cavalry  duty,  looking  after 
guerillas  and  bushwhackers  in  that  section  of  the 
country.    From  Rolla  the  Thirteenth  Illinois  pro- 
ceeded on  forced  marches  to  Springfield,  Missouri, 
making  the  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  in  four 
days,  and  were  placed  in  General  Fremont's  com- 
mand, under  whom  the  regiment  remained  until 
that    general    was    superseded.      On   the   6th   of 


394 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


March;  LS62,  the  Thirteenth  was  ordered  back  to 
Rolla.  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  General 
Curtis  and  was  then  sent  to  Pea  Ridge,  Arkansas, 
marching  at  the  rate  of  twenty-five  miles  per  day. 
The  men  suffered  nival  hardships,  being  compelled 
to  subsist  for  days  on  parched  corn  and  whortle- 
berrii  -.  The  campaign  down  Ihc  White  river  was 
especially  hazardous  and  severe,  the  troops  suffer- 
ing from  cold  and  lack  of  food  and  then  changing 
to  intense  heat,  with  no  water  except  from  the 
Cyprus  swamps,  abounding  with  reptiles  and  filth, 
many  of  the  wells  being  poisoned  as  the  troops 
approached.  After  three  months'  experience  of 
ibis  character  the  regiment  reached  Helena  on  the 
1Mb  of  duly  with  half  of  its  number  ill. 

In  August,  1861,  Captain  Dutton  was  sent  home 
ill  and  while  there  was  commissioned  major  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry,  which  he  assisted  in  raising  in  De  Kail) 
and  Ihi  Page  count ies.  On  the  22d  of  September 
he  svas  transferred  to  that  command  by  order  of 
the  -  '  i'  fary  of  war  and  proceeded  with  his  regi- 
ment a    tew    day-   later  to    Louisville,    Kentucky,, 

where  it  was  assig 1  to  the  army  under  GenieSal 

Rosi  hi-,  then  in  camp  near  Bowling  Green.  \©h  ' 
the  1  1 1 1 1  of  November,  the  brigade  to  which  the 
One  Hundred  and  Fifth  Illinois  was  attached  was 
ordered  to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  November  2u 
marched  to  Gallatin,  Tennessee,  where  it  went 
into  winter  quarters.  On  the  1Kb  of  December 
the  regiment  was  removed  to  Tunnel  Hill,  where 
it  remained  until  February  1.  1863,  when  it  joined 
the  brigade  at  Gallatin,  continuing  there  until 
the  el, .-e  of  spring.  During  these  six  months  of 
arduous  campaigning  Major  Dutton  had  charge  of 
the  scouts  of  the  brigade,  some  two  hundred  and 
fifty  in  number,  and  was  almost  constantly  in  the 
saddle.  On  the  1st  of  June.  1863,  the  regiment 
proceeded  to  Lavergne,  and  a  month  later  to  Mur- 
freesboro,  whence  it  was  afterward  ordered  back  to 
Lavergne,  and  on  August  19  entered  Fort  Negley, 
at  Nashville,  where  it  remained  until  February, 
1864. 

While  at  Xashville  Major  Dutton  was  made  a 
member  of  the  board  constituted  by  the  war  de- 
partment for  the  purpose  of  examining  and  as- 
signing officers  to  the  regiments  of  colored  men. 
remaining  on  that  duty  until  May  1,  when  he  re- 
joined his  regiment,  which  was  then  assigned  to 
the    First    Brigade.    Third    Division.    Twentieth 


Army  Corps,  commanded  by  General  Joseph  Hook- 
er, in  which  it  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
In  the  battle  of  Resaea  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fifth  took  a  distinguished  part,  and  for  its  gal- 
lantry was  especially  complimented.  In  the  cam- 
paign through  Georgia  and  the  Carolinas  the  regi- 
ment also  won  the  most  favorable  distinction  for 
its  gallantry  and  achievements  and  in  the  war 
reports  had  favorable  mention.  From  July  13 
to  August  4  Major  Dutton  had  command  of  the 
regiment,  Colonel  Dustin  being  absent.  During 
(his  period  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek  was 
foughi  July  20,  in  which  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fifth  was  heavily  engaged  and  had  the  honor  of 
capturing  the  flag  of  the  Twelfth  Louisiana  Regi- 
ment. The  brigade  was  then  commanded  by  General 
Harrison,  afterward  president  of  the  United  States, 
who  was  a  close  personal  friend  of  General  Dutton. 
as  they  slept  together  under  the  same  tent  many 
nights  while  in  the  service.  The  record  of  the 
regiment  during  the  entire  Atlanta  campaign  was 
especially  brilliant,  taking  part  in  the  battles  of 
\eu  Hope  Church,  Golgotha 
and  Atlanta.  Early  in  August, 
lsci.  Major  Dutton  was  promoted  to  lieutenant 
colonel  and  soon  afterward  to  the  colonelcy,  his 
senior  officer.  Colonel  Dustin,  having  been  ap- 
pointed brigadier  general.  From  Atlanta  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fifth  marched  with  Sherman  to  the 
sea  and  from  Savannah  through  the  Carolinas  to 
Goldsboro  and  Raleigh,  thence  through  Richmond 
to  Washington,  participating  in  the  battles  of 
Lawtonville,  Smith's  Farm  and  Averyboro,  the  lat- 
ter being  fought  March  15,  1865.  During  this  last 
engagement  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  drove  the 
enemy  from  its  works  and  captured  two  twelve- 
pound  guns,  which  Colonel  Dutton  and  some  of 
his  men  turned  and  fired  on  the  retreating  enemy 
For  gallantly  and  meritorious  service  in  the  cam- 
paign in  Georgia  and  the  Carolinas.  and  for  dis- 
tinguished service  at  the  battle  of  Smith's  Farm. 
North  Carolina.  Colonel  Dutton  was  brevetted 
brigadier  general  of  the  United  States  Volunteers 
with  rank  from  March  15,  1865.  He  was  mus- 
tered out  at  Washington.  June  7,  1865,  after  a  con- 
tinuous service  of  four  years  and  two  months. 
Many  incidents  were  related  concerning  General 
Dutton's  personal  bravery  and  also  his  care  of  his 
men.  George  F.  Cram,  editor  of  Cram's  Magazine 
was  a  member  of  General  Dutton's  regiment  and 


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PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNT?. 


399 


one  of  his  close  friends.  At  the  time  of  the  Gen- 
eral's death  he  wrote:  "There  are  many  of  the 
members  of  the  '105th'  still  living  who.  as  well  as 
the  writer,  will  remember  the  incident  that  oc- 
curred during  one  of  the  almost  daily  battles  of 
the  Atlanta  campaign.  The  '105th'  was  ordered 
forward  in  line.  Eising  from  a  little  ravine  we 
found  ourselves  nearly  upon  the  enemy's  rifle  pit, 
our  position  being  such  we  were  iufiladed  by  their 
fire.  Never  did  the  'zip'  of  rifle  balls  sound  more 
angrily !  Our  boys  were  dropping  all  along  the 
line,  and  instinctively  we  sought  the  ground  and 
hugged  it  as  closely  as  possible.  The  order  came  to 
'move  by  the  left  flank.'  Obeying  this  would  have 
meant  marching  by  the  flank  directly  upon  the 
flaming  rifle  pits.  General  Dutton  knew  its  exe- 
cution was  impossible.  Not  a  man  would  have 
been  left  alive.  Some  one  had  blundered.  He 
sent  word  back  of  the  situation.  Again  the  order 
came,  'Move  by  the  left  flank.'  It  was  perempt&y. 
and  could  not  be  misunderstood.  Standing  erect, 
unmindful  of  bullets,  sword  in  hand,  General  Dut- 
ton shouted:  'Boys,  the  order  is  forward  by  the 
left  flank;  take  care  of  yourselves.'  And  we  did; 
ten  seconds  later  we  were  behind  a  low  ridge  which 
offered  a  slight  protection  and  waiting  develop- 
ments. Officers  were  sent  forward  and  the  situ- 
ation finally  comprehended.  The  writer  was 
within  a  few  feet  of  General  Dutton,  and  will  never 
forget  the  impression  made  by  his  bravery.  There 
is  scarcely  a  man  of  the  '105th'  who  can  not  re- 
member some  pleasant  incident  on  picket  or 
skirmish  line,  or  in  the  camp  that  has  ever  en- 
deared to  him  the  memory  of  General  Dutton." 

When  the  war  was  over  General  Dutton  quietly 
resumed  the  pursuits  of  civil  life,  returning  to 
Sycamore,  where  in  1868  he  was  elected  clerk  of 
the  circuit  court  of  De  Kalb  county,  in  which  ca- 
pacity he  served  for  eight  years.  In  the  winter  of 
1877,  during  the  session  of  the  general  assembly 
of  Illinois,  he  was  elected  clerk  of  the  house,  and 
in  1878  was  chosen  clerk  of  the  northern  grand 
division  of  the  supreme  court  of  Illinois,  in  which 
capacity  he  remained  until  December  1,  1884,  dis- 
charging his  duties  in  such  a  manner  as  to  win  the 
admiration  of  the  court  and  bar.  He  always  re- 
garded Sycamore  as  his  home,  and  in  1883  he  be- 
came one  of  the  large  stockholders  of  the  Sycamore 
National  Bank,  and  succeeded  to  the  presidency 
upon  the  death  of  J.  S.  Waterman,  first  incumbent 


in  that  office.  General  Dutton  continued  at  the 
head  of  the  institution  until  his  own  demise  on  the 
8th  of  June,  1900.  He  had  made  a  study  of 
monetary  matters  and  his  judgment  was  highly  re- 
spected in  financial  and  commercial  circles.  He 
also  made  judicious  investments  in  property  and 
along  other  lines,  and  as  the  years  passed,  owing 
to  his  capable  management  and  keen  business  dis- 
cernment, he  became  one  of  the  wealthy  residents 
of  De  Kalb  county.  He  never  selfishly  hoarded  his 
wealth,  however,  for  his  own  use,  but  was  generous 
to  those  who  needed  assistance  and  gave  substantial 
aid  to  many  plans  and  measures  for  the  public 
good. 

The  marriage  of  General  Dutton  was  celebrated 
on  the  31st  of  December,  1863,  at  Sycamore,  Illi- 
nois, when  Miss  Rosina  Adelpha  Paine  became  his 
wife.  She  was  a  native  of  Herkimer  county,  New 
York,  and  a  daughter  of  Harmon  and  Clarinda 
(Van  Home)  Paine,  the  former  born  in  German 
Flats,  Herkimer  county,  July  25,  1822,  while  the 
latter  was  born  at  Springfield,  New  York,  Febru- 
ary 26,  1824.  In  1853  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Paine  became 
residents  of  Sycamore,  and  for  many  years  the 
father  conducted  Paine's  Hotel  at  this  place.  Her 
great-grandfather,  Thomas  Van  Home,  served 
with  the  rank  of  lieutenant  in  the  American  army 
in  the  war  for  independence  and  Mrs.  Dutton,  by 
virtue  of  this  has  become  a  member  of  the  Daugh- 
ters of  the  Revolution.  Unto  General  and  Mrs. 
Dutton  were  born  two  sons,  George  Everell  and 
William  Paine. 

In  politics  General  Dutton  was  always  a  stal- 
wart republican,  and  he  and  his  wife  held  member- 
ship in  the  Universalist  church,  in  which  they  took 
an  active  and  helpful  part.  Mrs.  Dutton  still  re- 
sides in  their  home  in  Sycamore,  which  is  one  of 
the  beautiful  residences  of  the  town,  adorned  with 
many  attractive  works  of  art  gathered  by  herself 
and  husband  on  their  trips  to  Europe.  General 
Dutton  was  always  deeply  interested  in  community 
affairs  and  in  the  social  life  of  the  town.  He  was  a 
good  musician  and  his  fine  bass  voice  added  to  the 
pleasure  of  many  a  social  and  public  occasion.  He 
held  membership  with  various  societies  and  organ- 
izations, including  the  Military  Order  of  the 
Loyal  Legion  and  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Repub- 
lic. The  funeral  services  held  at  his  home,  on  the 
10th  of  June,  1900,  were  attended  by  his  Grand 
Army  post  in  a  body  and  also  by  many  comrades 


400 


PAST   AND   PBESENT   OF   DE    KALB   COUNTY. 


from  elsewhere,  and  the  Loyal   Legion  of  Chicago. 
Perhaps  no  better  estimate  of  the  life  and  char- 
acter  of   General   Dutton   can  be   given  than  by 
quoting  from  the  article  by  George  F.  Cram,  and 
which    includes    the    resolutions   of    the   bank    of 
which  the  General  was  president.    Mr.  Cram  said : 
"General  Dutton  was  a  man  of  energy,  force  and 
rare  judgment.    He  bad  a  strong  personality.    II  is 
opinions,  always  logical,  carried  conviction  to  all 
who  listened  to  them.    Always  noted  for  his  individ- 
uality, he  drew  around  him  an  ever  increasing  cir- 
cle of  friends.    At  a  meeting  of  the  directors  of  tne 
Sycamore   National   Bank,   before   taking   up   any 
business,  the  board  unanimously  passed  the  follow- 
ing resolution:     'Ever  loyal,  ever  just,  ever  gener- 
ous, his  memory  will  be  loved  and  bis  loss  mourned 
by  every  one  who  knew  him.'     'This  resolution  is 
passed  for  the  purpose  of  spreading  upon  the  rec- 
ords of  this  bank  where  it   may  be  preserved   so 
long  as  this  bank  has  an  existence,  an  expression 
of  sorrow  for  the   loss,  and   a  tribute  of  respeel 
to  the  memory  of  General  Everell  F.  Dutton.     He 
was  a  director  of  the  bank  from  July  ?,  1883.  and 
president  from  August  11.  1883.  filling  both  posi- 
tions from  those  dates   till   his   death,   which   oc- 
curred at  two  o'clock  fi.  in.,  .lime  8,  1900.    He  was 
the  second  president,  succeeding  James  S.  Water- 
man, upon  the  death  of  the  latter.     A-  president 
for  almost  seventeen  years  he  gave  to  the  manage- 
ment of  the  bank  much  of  his  time  and  much  careful 
attention,  and  under  his  wise  and  prudent  manage- 
ment the  business  of  the  bank  has  expanded  and 
prospered.    He  was  an  able  financier,  prudent  and 
conservative,  but  not  to  the  extent  of  timidity,    lie 
had  courage  to  act  when  his  judgment  approved. 
In  liis  intercourse  with  his  co-directors,  the  officers 
of  the  bank,  its  customers  and  the  public  generally, 
he  has  always  been  kind  and  courteous.    His  asso- 
ciates in  the  bank  mourn  his  departure  and  feel 
that  by  his  death  they  have  lost  not  only  a  wise 
counsellor,  an  efficient  and  trusted  leader,  but  also 
a  dear  friend.'      General   Dutton  was  a   brilliant 
conversationalist   and   a  man   who  had  developed 
excellent  social  qualities.     His  mind,  active  and 
alert,  was  broadened  by  study,  business  associations 
and  travel,  so  that  this  self-made  man  became  one 
of  broad  culture.     The  journeys  of  General   and 
Mrs.  Dutton  covered  nearly  all  of  this  country. 
Europe  and  the  Mediterranean  countries  of  Africa 
and  Asia,  inoludinp-  the  Holy  Land.     The  Dutton 


home  was  one  of  true  hearted  hospitality,  and  the 
courtly  bearing  of  the  General,  together  with  his 
cordiality,  made  every  one  feel  happy  and  at  ease 
while  they  were  guests  there.  The  social,  busi- 
ness and  home  life  of  this  patriot  will  ever  be  a 
sweet  memory  to  those  who  knew  him  best.  We 
mourn  the  loss  of  our  General,  but  feel  that  our 
sorrow  is  softened  by  the  memory  of  the  days  when 
his  humanity  as  well  as  his  noble,  manly,  soldierly 
qualities  won  our  love  and  respect." 


GEOEGE  EVEEELL  DUTTON. 

George  Everell  Dutton.  capitalist,  lumber  mer- 
ehant  and  banker,  residing  at  Sycamore,  is  the 
representative  in  the  present  generation  of  a  fam- 
ily whose  name  has  ever  been  an  honored  one  here 
and  his  record  also  reflects  credit  upon  the  family 
history.  He  is  the  elder  of  the  two  sons  of  Gen- 
eral E.  F.  and 'Eonna  Dutton.  His  brother.  Wil- 
liam Paine,  now  associated  with  him  in  business 
interests,  was  graduated  from  Harvard  University, 
where  be  completed  the  law  course  in  1898.  Fit  a 
tune  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in  Chicago. 
but  is  now  in  Winnipeg,  Canada,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacturing  and  wholesaling  of 
lumber,  owning  a  large  mill  near  Winnipeg,  to- 
gether with  valuable  timber  concessions  in  Mani- 
toba.  He  owns  seventy-five  million  feet  of  raw 
timber  and  the  mill  turns  out  one  hundred  thou- 
sand   feet   per  day. 

George  Everell  Dutton  was  born  in  Sycamore, 
De  Kalli  county.  Illinois,  pursued  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  ami  In-  more  specific- 
ally literary  course  in  Lombard  University,  at 
Galesburg,  from  which  institution  he  was  gradu- 
ated with  the  class  of  1889.  His  life  record  stands 
in  contradistinction  to  the  generally  accepted  fact 
that  the  sons  of  wealthy  men  are  never  successful 
in  business.  Mr.  Dutton,  on  the  contrary,  is  well 
known  as  a  man  of  marked  energy,  displaying  ex- 
cellent capability  and  management  and  keen  dis- 
cernment in  investments.  Upon  his  father's  death 
he  succeeded  to  the  presidency  of  the  Sycamore 
National  Bank,  filling  the  office  until  1901.  His 
investments  also  have  reached  over  the  line  in  Can- 
ada, where  he  operates  with  his  brother.  William 
I'.  Dutton,  a  line  of  retail  lumber  yards  along  the 


«m 


^     . 


EARMON    PAINE. 


ffRE  NEWYO 

OllDI  Tf1  T  TDD 


■ 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


405 


Canadian  Pacific  and  Canadian  Northern  Pail- 
roads.  The  headquarters  of  the  retail  yards  are 
also  at  Winnipeg. 

George  E.  Button  is  also  interested  in  a  lram- 
the  Citizens  State  Bank  at  Tracy,  Minnesota, 
vice  president  of  the  Lidgerwood  National 
Bank  at  Lidgerwood,  North  Dakota,  and  a 
large  stockholder  in  several  other  banking 
institutions  in  the  United  States  and  Can- 
ada. He  also  owns,  together  with  his  mother 
and  brother,  some  ten  thousand  acres  of 
finely  improved  land,  principally  in  southwestern 
Minnesota  and  in  the  eastern  part  of  North  and 
South  Dakota.  Mr.  Dutton  takes  great  pride  in 
these  farms,  personally  spending  much  time  during 
the  year  with  his  overseers  going  over  the  places 
and  endeavoring  to  have  the  work  carried  on  along 
lines  consistent  with  the  best  farming,  thus  keep- 
ing the  land  always  in  the  highest  state  of  culti- 
vation  and   productiveness. 

Mr.  Dutton  was  married  to  Miss  Jennie  M. 
Wellings,  of  Potsdam,  New  York,  and  they  have 
two  daughters,  Marion  L.  and  Rose  I.  Theirs  is 
a  beautiful  home,  attractive  by  reason  of  its  warm 
hearted  hospitality  as  well  as  its  rich  and  tasteful 
furnishings  and  its  architectural  beauty.  Polit- 
ically Mr.  Dutton  is  a  republican.  He  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  Sycamore's  most  prominent  busi- 
ness men  and  is  well  liked  by  all  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contact,  his  warmest  friends  being  num- 
bered among  those  who  have  known  him  from  hia 
boyhood  to  the  present  time. 


DAVID  DEPUE  BROWN. 

David  Depue  Brown,  whose  active  business  life 
made  him  one  of  the  valued  citizens  of  De  Kalb, 
where  he  is  now  living  retired,  was  born  in  Bel- 
videre,  New  Jersey,  August  24,  1845,  being  the 
second  in  order  of  birth  of  the  three  children  of 
Caleb  M.  and  Catherine  (Depue)  Brown,  and  now 
the  only  survivor.  The  others  were  Benjamin  and 
Catherine.  The  father  was  born  in  Chester,  New 
Jersey,  in  1818,  being  descended  from  ancestry 
who  came  to  this  country  from  England  at  an  early 
period  in  the  colonization  of  the  new  world  and 
located  in  New  Jersey.  In  the  county  of  his  na- 
tivity the  father  was  reared,  acquiring  his  educa- 


tion in  the  public  schools,  and  early  in  life  he  de- 
termined upon  a  mercantile  career.  For  some 
years  he  engaged  in  business  in  Belvidere,  New 
Jersey,  after  which  he  removed  to  Newark,  that 
state,  and  became  a  dominant  factor  in  mercantile 
circles  in  that  city,  the  extent  and  importance  of 
his  operations  giving  him  a  position  of  promi- 
nence. While  residing  there  lie  served  as  captain 
of  a  fire  company,  while  Ex-Governor  Ward  was 
captain  of  a  rival  company  in  the  same  city. 

In  1842  Mr.  Brown  removed  to  the  middle  west, 
locating  in  Sycamore,  De  Kalb  county,  Illinois, 
among  its  pioneer  residents.  Again  he  engaged  in 
merchandising,  in  which  he  continued  until  1865, 
when  he  disposed  of  his  store  and  turned  his  at- 
tention to  the  stave  and  heading  business,  being 
connected  therewith  in  Indiana  and  Kentucky  un- 
til 1871,  when  he  returned  tn  Sycamore,  where  he 
lived; retired  until  his  death,  which  occurred  March 
24,  1873.  He  served  for  one  term  as  county  re- 
corder of  De  Kalb  county  in  the  early  '60s,  being 
elected  upon  the  republican  ticket.  His  early  po- 
litical allegiance  was  given  to  the  whig  party.  He 
'  eeame  a  stanch  abolitionist  and  was  one  of  the 
active  movers  in  the  underground  railroad,  his 
home  being  a  station  on  that  famous  line.  Nat- 
urally when  the  republican  party  was  formed  to 
prevent  the  further  extension  of  slavery  he  joined 
its  ranks  and  became  one  of  its  stalwart  adherents. 
He  was,  moreover,  an  active  and  faithful  member 
and  worker  in  the  Congregational  church  and 
built  the  house  of  worship  in  Sycamore,  giving 
the  congregation  their  own  time  to  repay  him. 
For  many  years  he  served  as  an  officer  in  the 
church  and  put  forth  earnest  and  effective  effort 
for  its  upbuilding  and  the  extension  of  its  influ- 
ence. He  was  one  of  the  best  known  men  of  De 
Kail)  county,  honored  and  respected  by  all. 

His  wife,  who  was  born  in  Belvidere,  New  Jer- 
sey, was  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  Depue,  who 
came  of  Huguenot  ancestry,  the  line  being  traced 
back  to  Nicholas  Dupui,  who  married  Katharina 
Renard.  Nicholas  Dupui  came  to  this  country 
from  Artois,  France,  in  1662,  and  settled  in  New 
York  city.  His  son  Mose,  born  in  1657.  married 
Marie  Wynkoop,  and  had  a  son,  Benjamin  Dupui. 
who  was  born  in  1695.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Schoonmaker,  September  3,  1719,  and  died  in 
1765.  Their  son,  Benjamin  Dupui,  was  born  in 
Esopus.  now  Kingston,  New  York,  in  June.  1729, 


406 


PAST    AND   PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


and  removed  to  Lower  Mount  Bethel,  Northamp- 
ton county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1765,  his  death  there 
occurring  September  26,  1811.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  first  Batallion  of  Associaters  of  Northamp- 
ton county'  and  was  a  member  of  Captain  John 
Arudt's  company,  which  was  engaged  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Long  Island  and  of  Fort  Washington,  and 
was  one  of  the  thirty-three  members  who  rallied 
next  day  at  Elizabethtown.  He  served  thereafter 
ir  the  war  as  commissary.  He  was  elected  a  dele- 
gate from  bis  county  to  attend  a  convention  at 
Philadelphia  to  apportion  the  delegates  to  be 
elected  throughout  the  province  of  Pennsylvania, 
meeting  in  the  convention  at  Philadelphia  to  frame 
a  constitution  for  the  commonwealth  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  to  draft  certain  rules  governing  the 
same.  He  was  elected  from  his  township  to  the 
committee  of  safety  and  served  for  some  years  as 
justice  of  the  peace  in  his  township.  He  was  after- 
ward commissioned  a  justice  of  the  conn  of  com- 
mon pleas  of  Northampton  county.  Pennsylvania, 
serving  for  seven  years.  He  married  Caterina  Van 
Campen,  a  daughter  of  Colonel  Abraham  Van 
1  ampen,  a  granddaughter  of  Jan  Van  Campen. 

Abraham  Depue,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Caterina 
(Van  Campen)  Depue,  was  born  September  •.,^. 
1765,  and  died  October  25,  1851.  He  married 
Susanna  Hoffman,  January  5.  1792.  Their  son. 
Benjamin,  born  September  1,  1796,  married  Eliz- 
abeth Ayres  and  died  Juni  L8,  1884.  They  were 
the  parents  of  Catherine  Depue.  who  became  the 
wife  of  Caleb  M.  Brown  and  the  mother  of  our 
subject.  After  her  death  the  father  married  Louise 
A.  Jackson,  by  whom  he  had  two  children — Fred- 
erick, deceased,  and  Marshall,  who  is  engaged  in 
the  wholesale  commission  business  in  Chicago. 

David  Depue  Brown  was  reared  at  the  family 
home  in  Sycamore.  His  birth  had  occurred  dur- 
ing his  mother's  visit  to  the  cast.  Through  the 
period  of  his  childhood  and  youth  ho  was  closely 
associated  with  De  Kalb  county.  His  education 
was  largely  acquired  in  the  public  schools,  and  he 
also  spent  one  year  in  the  Presbyterian  Institute. 
at  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  but  because  of  trouble  with 
his  eyes  was  compelled  to  discontinue  his  studies 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  years.  Returning  home,  he 
began  work  in  the  dry-goods  store  of  Rogers  & 
Wild,  of  Syracuse,  under  whom  he  received  his 
mercantile  training.  He  was  thus  engaged  until 
the   7th  of  May.   1864,  when,  in  response  to  his 


countiy's  call  for  aid,  he  enlisted  in  Company  F. 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-second  Illinois  Infantry, 
for  one  hundred  days'  service.  He  was  at  the 
front  until  the  17th  of  October  of  that  year,  when 
he  received  an  honorable  discharge. 

Mr.  Brown  then  returned  home  and  for  eleven 
years  thereafter  was  employed  in  the  mercantile 
establishment  of  George  P.  Wild.  In  1S75  he 
removed  to  De  Kalb  and  entered  into  partnership 
with  C.  A.  Tyndall,  in  the  conduct  of  a  dry-goods 
and  boot  and  shoe  store  under  the  firm  style  of 
Tyndall  &  Brown.  A  year  later  Mr.  Brown  pur- 
chased his  partner's  interest,  carrying  on  the  busi- 
ness alone  until  18S5.  when  he  disposed  of  the 
store  and  tinned  his  attention  to  the  lumber  and 
coal  trade  in  partnership  with  Philip  Young,  do- 
ing business  under  the  firm  name  of  Brown  ,.V 
Young.  This  relation  was  maintained  until  1892, 
when  Mr.  Brown  sold  out  to  his  partner  and  with- 
drew from  the  business.  He  then  accepted  a  po- 
sition with  the  Superior  Barb  Wire  Company,  su- 
perintending the  construction  of  the  upper  mill, 
and  later  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  shipping  de- 
partment,  remaining  in  that  company  until  L902, 
■Alien  be  retired  from  business  life  on  account  of  ill 
licalth. 

On  the  ah  of  February.  1872,  Mr.  Brown  wa- 
married  to  Miss  Alice  E.  Ellwood.  a  daughter  of 
Hiram  and  Sarah  (Dygert)  Ellwood.  They  now 
have  two  children — Zaida  E..  a  graduate  of  the 
De  Kalb  high  school,  and  Louise,  who  was  grad- 
uated from  the  De  Kalb  high  school  and  later  a 
student  in  La  Salle  Seminary,  at  Auburndale. 
Massachusetts,  from  which  she  graduated  in  June. 
1902. 

Mr.  Brown  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity  since  1866.  now  affiliating  with  De  Kalb 
lodge,  No.  144,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  De  Kalb  chapter, 
rJo.  52,  B.  A.  M. :  Sycamore  cominandery.  No.  15, 
K.  T..  in  which  he  has  a  life  membership:  Orien- 
tal consistory,  A.  A.  S.  R.,  with  which  he  has  been 
connected  since  1869,  and  with  Medinah  Temple 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  also  belongs  to  Merritt 
Simonds  post,  No.  283,  G.  A.  B.,  of  which  he  was 
commander  one  term,  and  to  De  Kalb  lodge.  No. 
765,  B.  P.  O.  E. 

His  political  allegiance  is  given  to  the  repub- 
lican party,  and  for  one  term  he  served  as  alder- 
man of  De  Kalb.  In  18S5  he  was  elected  mayor 
of  the  city  and  filled  the  position  for  four  eonseer- 


PAST   AND   PEESENT    OF   DE   KALE    COUNTY. 


407 


five  years.  His  efforts  in  behalf  of  good  streets 
and  good  sidewalks  and  his  active  work  for  the 
improvement  of  the  city  along  other  lines  caused 
him  to  be  brought  forward  again  in  1S96  as  a  can- 
didate for  the  office  of  chief  executive,  and  he  was 
once  more  elected,  serving  at  this  time  for  four 
consecutive  terms  of  two  years  each.  During  his 
administration  the  streets  were  all  paved  or  ma- 
cadamized, stone  or  cement  sidewalks  were  laid 
and  the  work  of  substantial  development  and  prog- 
ress was  carried  forward.  He  was  the  champion 
of  many  measures  for  progress  in  all  those  linos 
which  are  a  matter  of  civic  virtue  and  of  civic 
pride.  His  administration  was  thoroughly  prac- 
tical as  well  as  progressive.  He  brought  to  the 
discharge  of  his  duties  the  same  keen  insight,  ex- 
ecutive force  and  discrimination  which  had  char- 
acterized him  in  business,  and  it  is  a  uniformly 
conceded  fact  that  De  Kalb  has  had  no  better 
mayor  than  David  Depue  Brown. 


AETHUR  H.  FRASEB. 

An  excellent  farm  of  two  hundred  and  fifteen 
acres  pays  tribute  to  the  care  and  labor  of  Arthur 
H.  Fraser.  It  is  part  of  the  old  family  home- 
stead and  is  situated  on  section  14,  Sandwicn 
township,  about  two  and  a  half  miles  from  the 
city  of  Sandwich.  The  land  has  long  been  in  the 
possession  of  the  Fraser  family  and  its  rich  fer- 
tility is  due  to  the  labor  and  care  of  those  who 
have  borne  the  family  name.  It  was  upon  this 
farm  that  Arthur  H.  Fraser  was  born  on  the  16th 
of  September,  1865,  being  the  thirteenth  child  in 
the  family  of  William  Fraser,  Sr.  He  is  a  brother 
of  William  Fraser,  Jr.,  whose  sketch  appears  else- 
where in  this  volume.  His  eldest  brother,  Ira 
Fraser,  grew  to  manhood,  enlisted  for  service  in 
the  Civil  war  and  died  while  doing  military  duty. 
Horace  reached  mature  years,  married  and  died, 
leaving  a  family.  Two  of  the  children  died  in  in- 
fancy. Horton  was  married  and  died  upon  the 
old  farm.  William,  mentioned  elsewhere,  was  the 
next  son  of  the  family.  The  daughters  were  Caro- 
line, wife  of  J.  Armstrong  of  Sandwich;  Mary, 
who  married,  but  is  now  deceased;  Martha,  wife 
of  William  Potter  of  Livingston,  Montana;  Edith, 
wife  of  Pernett  Potter,   a   farmer    of    La    Salle 


county ;  Addie,  deceased ;  and  Lola,  who  died  when 
one  year  of  age. 

No  event  of  special  importance  occurred  to  vary 
the  routine  of  farm  life  for  Arthur  H.  Fraser  in 
Ins  boyhood  and  youth.  He  worked  on  the  home 
farm  during  the  periods  of  vacation  and  acquired 
a  good  education  in  the  common  schools  and  as  a 
student  in  the  Sandwich  high  school.  He  remained 
with  his  father  until  the  latter's  death  in  1892  and 
then  took  charge  of  the  farm  and  business,  in- 
heriting that  part  of  the  old  homestead  upon  which 
stood  the  buildings.  He  has  since  erected  a  new 
barn  and  has  otherwise  greatly  improved  the  prop- 
erty, having  fenced  the  fields,  planted  fruit  trees 
and  made  many  valuable  improvements.  Annually 
he  gathers  good  crops  as  a  reward  for  the  care  and 
labor  he  bestows  upon  the  place  and  also  meets 
with  a  goodly  measure  of  success  through  buying 
and  feeding  cattle.  He  is  now  feeding  fifty  head 
of  steers  and  also  feeds  a  large  number  of  hogs 
annually. 

Mr.  Fraser  was  married  in  Somonauk,  Illinois, 
in  1892,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Devine,  who  was  born 
and  reared  in  the  county  and  is  a  daughter  of  Ed- 
ward Devine,  one  of  the  old  settlers.  Mr.  and  Mrd. 
Fraser  lost  their  first  born,  Isabella,  who  died  when 
an  infant  of  ten  months.  Their  son,  Oliver  Fraser, 
is  now  a  student  in  the  home  schools.  The  wife 
and  mother  is  a  member  of  the  Somonauk  Catholic 
church.  Politically  Mr.  Fraser  is  independent, 
voting  regardless  of  party  ties.  He  is  not  deeply 
interested  in  politics  save  that  he  desires  that  hon- 
orable, trustworthy  men  should  fill  the  public  of- 
fices, but  throughout  the  community  he  is  known 
for  his  genuine  personal  worth  and  his  business 
reliability.  He  and  his  wife  represent  one  of  the 
old  pioneer  families  and  as  such  deserve  mention 
in  this  volume. 


CHASE  ELIPHALET  GLIDDEN. 

Chase  Eliphalet  Glidden,  now  living  retired  :-n 
De  Kalb,  was  born  in  Paw  Paw,  Michigan,  May 
17,  1854.  His  parents,  James  Bardwell  and 
Juliet  (Baird)  Glidden,  were  natives  of  Claren- 
don. New  York,  and  the  former  was  born  May  10. 
1819,  while  the  latter  was  born  May  1,  1821.  The 
father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  in  1850 


408 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


closed  out  his  business  interests  in  the  east  and  re- 
move! to  Paw  Paw.  Michigan,  where  he  resided 
for  ten  years.  In  1860  he  made  his  way  to  De 
Kalb  county.  Illinois,  and  settled  on  a  farm  on 
section  21,  De  Kalb  township,  and  afterward  re- 
moved to  section  10,  Afton  township,  becoming  one 
of  the  enterprising  agriculturists  of  that  locality. 
His  oldest  son.  Orson  T.,  was  one  of  the  home 
guards  at  Detroit,  Michigan,  during  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion. 

C.  E.  Glidden  was  only  six  years  old  when  he 
accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to  this 
county.  He  obtained  bis  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  De  Kalb,  graduated  from  the  high 
-  ' I.  and  afterward  turned  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing, with  which  he  had  become  familiar  in  bis  boy- 
hood days.  In  1888  he  began  the  manufacture  of 
felt  goods  and  ten  years  later,  in  1898,  went  to  the 
Klondyke,  where  he  remained  for  five  years.  He 
experienced  many  hardships  such  as  arc  always 
met  with  in  a  new  mining  district.  He  made  bis 
headquarters  a1  Dawson  City  and  owned  some 
valuable  claims  in  that  locality.  He  was  in  the 
mountains  of  Alaska  where  he  could  sec  the  sun 
continuously  for  twenty-four  hours.  Some  marv  ■!- 
ous  effects  arc  thereby  produced  and  he  will  long 
remember  the  beauty  and  grandeuT  of  the  scenery. 
as  well  as  the  privation-  ami  hardships  with  which 
he  met  in  the  Ear  northwest.  In  the  fall  of  1903 
be  returned  to  De  Kalb  ami  entered  into  the  real- 
estate  business,  since  which  time  be  has  dealt  more 
or  less  in  property,  but  is  really  living  retired,  re- 
ceiving- his  income  from  bis  investments.  He  is 
now  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  )f 
land  in  Afton  township,  which  constitute  an  ex- 
cellent farming  property,  and  also  some  real  es- 
tate in  Canada. 

On  the  25th  of  October,  1882.  at  Dixon.  Illi- 
nois. Mr.  Glidden  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Anna  Florence  Webster,  who  was  born  in  Polo. 
Illinois.  February  33,  1854.  She  is  the  daughter 
of  Virgil  B.  and  Alzira  (Cutts)  Webster,  both  of 
whom  are  natives  of  the  state  of  Xew  York.  Her 
father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  Mrs.  Glidden 
was  second  in  the  family  of  five  children,  while  Mr. 
Glidden  was  the  youngest  of  four.  They  became 
the  parents  of  four  children:  Winifred  A.,  born 
August  23.  1883;  Josephine  F..  born  April  25. 
1886;  Anna  L.,  born  September  16,  1888;  Chase 
E.,  born  August  16,  1891.     The  wife  and  mother 


was  called  to  her  final  rest  October  17,  1895. 

In  politics  Mr.  Glidden  is  independent  and  has 
never  been  a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office  seed- 
ing. He  is  not  remiss  in  the  duties  of  citizenship, 
but  prefers  that  others  should  occupy  public  posi- 
tions. He  now  resides  at  Xo.  129  College  avenue 
and  is  well  known  in  the  county.  He  is  a  lover  of 
society  and  bis  friends  know  that  in  his  grasp 
and  greeting  there  is  always  a  welcome.  He  is 
genial,  companionable  and  entertaining,  and  asso- 
ciation with  him  means  pleasure  and  expansion. 


LEWIS  M.   MoEWEN. 


Eewis  M.  McEwen,  deceased,  was  numbered 
among  the  prominent  and  influential  citizens  of 
De  Kalb  county,  taking  quite  an  active  part  in 
business  and  political  affairs  in  early  life.  He 
was  born  in  Crawford,  Orange  county,  Xew  York. 
on  the  28th  of  September,  1827,  and  was  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Ann  Eliza  (Terwilliger)  McEwen,  also 
natives  of  Xew  York  and  of  Scotch  and  Holland 
descent,  respectively. 

At  the  age  of  thirteen  years  Mr.  McEwen  lost 
bis  father.  He  continued  to  live  with  his  mother 
to  the  age  of  eighteen,  when  he  started  out  to 
face  life's  battles  unaided  and  unarmed  save  for 
Ins  indomitable  determination  to  succeed.  He 
made  his  way  to  Xew  York  city,  where  he  secured 
employment  in  a  morocco  manufactory.  He  there 
remained  until  after  the  discovery  of  gold  in  Cali- 
fornia, when  he  determined  to  cast  in  his  lot  with 
the  thousands  of  others  who  were  going  to  the 
mining  districts  of  the  Pacific  coast.  Accordingly, 
in  1849,  he  started  for  the  far  west,  sailing  on 
the  30th  of  January  on  board  the  vessel  Orpheus 
which  rounded  Cape  Horn  and  after  a  voyage  of 
five  months  reached  San  Francisco  harbor  in  July. 

Mr.  McEwen  engaged  in  mining  in  California 
for  about  three  years  and  in  the  spring  of  1852 
started  on  the  return  trip  to  Xew  York  city,  going 
by  way  of  the  isthmus  and  arriving  in  Xew  York 
in  May.  Later  he  spent  several  weeks  in  visiting 
friends  and  then  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Milan 
tewnship.  De  Kalb  county,  where  he  entered  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land,  which  was  the 
first  land  claimed  in  the  township.     On  this  tract 


c^Ut 


& 


th;  ork 

PUBLiC  LIBRARY 


ASTOR,    LENOX 
TILDEN  FOUNDATIONS. 


PAST    AM)    PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


411 


Mr.  McEwen  built  a  frame  house,  in  which  he  kept 
bachelor's  hall  for  some  time  while  cultivating 
and  improving  his  property.  After  a  time  he  re- 
placed the  original  building  by  a  comfortable 
frame  structure,  bringing  his  business  materials 
from  Aurora,  twenty  miles  distant. 

On  the  14th  of  October,  is:,;,  Mr.  McEwen  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Ward,  who 
was  born  at  Highgate,  Franklin  county,  Vermont. 
October  25,  1833,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
six  children,  five  of  whom  are  still  living,  namely: 
Frances  E.,  at  home ;  Flora  H.,  the  wife  of  Charlas 
H.  King,  of  De  Kalb ;  Hon.  Willard  M.  McEwen, 
judge  of  the  superior  court  of  Chicago;  Dr.  Er- 
nest L.  McEwen,  also  of  Chicago :  and  Harry  YV. 
McEwen,  an  attorney  of  De  Kalb.  Anna,  a  popu- 
lar and  successful  teacher,  died  s e  years  ago. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  McEwen  continued  to 
engage  in  agricultural  pursuits  for  some  years  and 
added  eighty  acres  to  his  original  purchase,  becom- 
ing owner  of  a  valuable  property  of  four  hundred 
acres.  In  1869  he  left  the  farm  and  removed  to 
De  Kalb,  and  in  1879  joined  George  Terwilliger 
in  a  coal  and  lumber  business,  with  which  he  was 
identified  for  some  time,  when  he  withdrew,  spend- 
his  remaining  days  in  retirement. 

Politically  Mr.  McEwen  was  a  supporter  of  the 
republican  party  and  was  a  recognized  leader  in 
public  affairs  in  his  community.  He  was  the  first 
supervisor  of  Milan  township  and  served  in  that 
office  through  the  entire  period  of  his  residence  in 
the  township  save  for  one  year.  He  was  also 
supervisor  of  De  Kalb  township  for  seven  years, 
and  in  1870  was  elected  to  represent  his  district 
iii  the  state  legislature,  serving  his  constituents 
ably  and  well.  For  several  years  he  was  a  member 
of  the  board  of  trustees  of  De  Kalb  and  in  later 
life  served  as  city  attorney.  From  an  early  period 
in  the  development  of  the  county  he  was  one  of 
it:,  most  prominent  and  honored  citizens,  doing 
much  for  its  growth  and  improvement,  and  in  his 
death,  which  occurred  January  9,  1905,  the  county 
lost  one  of  its  most  valued  and  worthy  representa- 
tives. 

Personally  Mr.  McEwen  was  inclined  to  b^ 
somewhat  austere  and  reserved  in  manner,  but  on 
occasion,  with  those  he  knew  well  and  liked,  he 
could  be  the  most  companionable  of  men,  bright, 
witty  and  delightfully  entertaining.  His  fund  of 
reminiscences  of  the  early  days  of  the  county  was 


inexhaustible.  He  knew  all  the  men  of  those  times, 
was  connected  with  every  important  movement 
and  to  hear  him  describe  in  his  keen  incisive  man- 
ner the  happenings  of  those  far  off  days  was  in- 
teresting and  instructive,  as  many  of  the  younger 
men  of  De  Kalb  well  know.  By  reason  of  his  great 
natural  ability,  reinforced  by  much  reading  and 
deep  study  and  his  exceptional  grasp  of  affairs 
he  was  one  of  the  chosen  leaders  of  his  time  and 
be  it  said  that  it  never  was  recorded  of  him  that 
he  was  recreant  to  any  trust.  Among  those  who 
knew  him  best  his  friendship  was  highly  prized 
and  a  high  value  placed  upon  his  counsel.  He 
lived  a  long  and  useful  life,  tilling  out  the  full 
measure  of  his  days,  active  and  vigorous  to  the 
last,  a  striking  example  of  what  can  be  accom- 
plished by  dauntless  determination  and  sturdy  en- 
deavor. In  going  the  way  of  all  the  old  pioneers 
he  leaves  behind  him  an  impress  on  the  affairs  of 
his  time  which  shall  be  his  most  enduring  monu- 
ment. 


SHERMAN  T.  COLBY. 


Sherman  T.  Colby,  a  farmer  residing  on  section 
:',:'..  Milan  township,  was  born  February  19,  1865, 
in  Shabbona  township,  his  parents  being  Edward 
B.  and  Deborah  (Simpson)  Colby,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  the  state  of  New  York.  The  father 
came  to  De  Kalb  county  in  the  "50s.  settling  on 
a  tract  of  land  of  eighty  acres  in  Shabbona  town- 
ship, which  he  cultivated  until  1869.  He  then 
sold  that  property  and  bought  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  in  Milan  township.  This  he  continued 
to  farm  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1889. 
lie  was  married  in  this  county  about  1863  to  De- 
borah  Simpson,  who  is  now  living  in  Lee. 

The  educational  advantages  which  were  afforded 
Sherman  T.  Colby  in  his  boyhood  days  were  those 
offered  by  the  district  schools.  He  has  been  a 
farmer  throughout  his  entire  life  and  was  early 
trained  to  the  work  of  field  and  meadow.  After 
starting  out  in  life  on  his  own  account,  he  rented 
the  land  which  is  today  his  property.  Upon  this 
farm  he  located  in  1888  and  in  1893  bought  the 
place,  which  is  considered  one  of  the  best  farm 
properties  of  the  neighborhood,  while  Mr.  Colby  is 
numbered  among  the  enterprising  farmers  of  the 


412 


PAST    AM)    PRESENT   OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


township.  Whatever  success  he  has  achieved  is 
attributable  entirely  to  his  own  labors  and  Ids  life 
<j|  industry  has  been  followed  by  a  goodly  measure 
of  prosperity. 

On  the  7th  of  March.  1888,  at  Shabbona,  he  was 
married  to  .Miss  Lillie  Hurst,  daughter  of  Levi 
and  Sarah  (Burden)  Hurst,  who  were  farming 
people  and  early  pioneers  of  this  county.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Colby  have  been  horn  six  children: 
William  C.  horn  May  1,  1889;  Wilbur  E.,  born 
October  4,  1891;  Charles  L.,  born  October  25, 
1895;  Edgar  S..  born  January  27,  1899;  Hazel, 
bcrn  December  24,  1901;  and  Helen  <)..  born  Sep- 
tember  I.  1905,  all  ye1  al  home. 

Mr.  Colby  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  sup- 
port of  the  republican  party  and  has  always  heen  a 
firm  advocate  of  the  party  platform.  In  1893  he 
was  elected  assessor  of  Milan  township,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  five  consecutive  years  and  was  re- 
elected in  the  spring  of  1906.  He  was  census 
enumerator  in  1890  and  at  various  times  has  served 
as  school  director.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
<  'oiigregatioiial  church  at  Shahhona  and  he  be- 
longs to  the  Modern  Woodman  camp,  No.  198,  at 
Lee. 


DEXTER  SEVEEY. 


Comparatively  few  settlers  who  lived  in  De  Kalb 
county  a  half  century  ago  or  more  are  now  found 
within  its  borders.  Mr.  Severy,  however,  has  lived 
here  for  fifty-three  years  ami  has  not  only  wit- 
nessed its  growth  and  development,  hut  has  borne 
his  part  in  the  work  of  progress,  especially  along 
agricultural  lines,  and  the  visible  evidence  of  his 
life  of  thrift  and  industry  is  found  in  a  valuable 
farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  which  he 
now  owns.  1 1  is  home  is  within  two  miles  of  the 
village  of  Leland  on  section  33,  Victor  township. 

Mr.  Severy  is  a  native  of  Maine.  In-  birth  having 
occurred  in  East  Dixfield,  March  2,  1820.  His 
father,  Jacob  Severy,  was  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts, in  which  state  he  spent  his  boyhood  and 
youth,  after  which  he  married  Rebecca  Stevens 
Worcester,  of  Oxford,  Massachusetts.  She  be- 
longed to  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  the  old  Ba\ 
state,  it  having  been  established  at  Marblehead  in 
earlv   davs.     Jacob    Severv    followed    farming   in 


Maine.  He  cleared  a  tract  of  land  in  the  midsi 
of  the  forest-  of  three  or  four  hundred  acres,  and 
thus  opened  up  a  new  farm. 

It  was  upon  that  farm  that  Dexter  Severv  was 
reared,  after  which  he  went  to  Massachusetts, 
where  he  speni  seven  years.  He  first  came  west  in 
1851,  traveling  by  rail  to  Buffalo  and  by  the  Great 
Lakes  to  Chicago,  while  he  walked  from  Elgin  to 
De  Kalb  county.  Illinois.  From  here  he  went  by 
team  to  Janesville,  Wisconsin,  where  he  spent 
about  a  month  in  prospecting.  In  those  days  one 
traveled  on  the  railroad  by  day  only.  In  1854  Mr. 
Severy  again  came  to  Illinois  and  established  his 
home  upon  the  frontier  in  De  Kalb  county,  be- 
coming closely  allied  with  the  early  interests  of  this 
part  of  tin'  state.  He  had  been  married  in  Massa- 
chusetts, September  15,  1848,  to  Miss  Susan  Han- 
son, a  native  of  Vermont.  With  his  wife  he  came 
to  De  Kalb  county,  first  purchasing  land  in  Som- 
onauk  township,  where  he  followed  farming  for 
th ice  years.  He  had  a  fine  place  there,  but  sold 
out  and  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on 
section  33,  Victor  township.  Of  this  he  broke 
one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  the  first  year  with 
ox  team-,  lie  surrounded  the  fields  with  fences, 
plowed  the  prairie  and  built  a  fair  house  the  first 
season.  As  the  years  passed  by  he  continued  the 
work  of  general  development  and  improvement 
upon  his  farm,  prospered  in  his  undertakings  and 
as  his  financial  resources  increased,  added  to  his 
I  roperty  from  time  to  time  until  he  now  owns 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  and  at  one  time 
had  four  hundred  acres.  He  put  up  a  good  barn 
and  has  since  erected  two  houses  upon  the  place, 
now  occupying  the  last  one  he  built.  -  The  build- 
ings are  substantial  structures  of  convenient  ar- 
rangement and  are  always  kept  in  good  repair.  He 
uses  the  latest  improved  machinery  to  facilitate 
the  work  of  the  fields  and  everything  about  the 
farm  is  indicative  of  the  careful  supervision  and 
practical  methods  of  the  owner.  He  also  made  a 
business  of  raising  and  feeding  stock  and  his 
raised  Holstein  cattle,  having  one  hundred  head  of 
iiLii-tered  Holsteins.  He  had  carried  on  an  ex- 
tensive dairy  and  cheese  manufacturing  business, 
this  proving  a  large  element  in  his  success,  and.  in 
Eact,  in  all  the  branches  of  his  business  he  has  met 
with  gratifying  prosperity.  He  has  set  out  a  fine 
grove  and  a  large  orchard  on  his  farm  and.  in  fact. 
there  i-  not  a- tree  on  the  place  which  he  bas  not 


PAST    AM)    PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


413 


planted.  As  the  years  have  passed  by  he  has 
raised  timber  for  himself  and  tenant.  He  lias 
worked  continuously  and  energetically  to  acquire  a 
competence  and  his  labors  have  been  rewarded  with 
a  goodly  measure  of  success,  so  that  for  the  pasl 
twenty-six  years  he  has  not  been  very  active  in 
business  life,  leaving  the  work  largely  to  other.-. 

In  1879  Mr.  Severy  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  in  the  month  of  Sep- 
tember of  that  year.  They  had  two  sons.  Eenn 
A.,  an  active  and  prosperous  business  man  of 
Sandwich ;  and  Charles  A.,  who  for  years  had 
charge  of  the  farm.  Pie  was  born  May  29,  1856. 
was  reared  upon  the  old  homestead  and  acquired 
his  education  in  the  district  schools  and  in  the 
village  school  of  Leland.  He  was  married  in  La 
Salle  county,  December  4,  1880.  to  Miss  Anna  H. 
Harkisen,  of  La  Salle  county,  and  she  died  De- 
cember 8,  1891,  leaving  two  daughters:  Edna 
M.,  now  the  wife  of  Levi  Olson,  of  La  Salle  county  ; 
and  Fern,  a  young  lady  at  home.  Charles  A. 
Severy  was  again  married  September  29,  1895,  in 
Sandwich,  his  second  union  being  with  Mary 
Steenus,  who  was  born  in  Norway,  but  reared  in 
La  Salle  county. 

Both  Dexter  and  Charles  A.  Severy  are  stanch 
advocates  of  the  republican  party  where  national 
issues  are  involved,  but  cast  an  independent  local 
ballot  supporting  the  candidates  best  qualified  for 
office.  Charles  A.  Severy  is  a  Master  Mason,  be- 
longing to  Leland  lodge,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
are  affiliated  with  the  Eastern  Star  lodge,  of  which 
Mrs.  Severy  is  an  officer.  Dexter  Severy  is  an 
active  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
He  has  lived  in  the  county  for  more  than  fifty 
years,  his  son  Charles  throughout  his  entire  life, 
and  their  efforts  have  been  a  factor  in  the  substan- 
tial development  and  improvement  of  this  part  of 
the  state.  Hie  father  has  seen  the  Indian  chief, 
Shabbona,  whose  friendliness  to  the  whites  found 
practical  demonstration  in  the  warning  which  he 
gave  them  at  the  time  of  the  Black  Hawk  war. 
The  events  which  are  matters  of  history  to  othi  r 
people  are  matters  of  practical  experience  to  Mr. 
Severy,  for  he  has  been  a  witness  of  them  and  so 
is  familiar  therewith.  He  has  lived  to  see  greal 
changes  here  and  at  all  times  has  advocated  pro- 
gressive measures,  while  throughout  his  entire  life 
he  has  kept  in  touch  with  the  advancement  which 
has  been  made  along  agricultural  lines.     His  life 


has  been  a  busy,  active,  honorable  one.  and  his 
many  good  qualities  have  gained  for  him  the 
friendship  and  regard  of  those  with  whom  he  his 
come  in  contact. 


WILLIAM  BUCK. 


William  Buck  owns  and  operates  fifty-six  acres 
of  land  in  De  Kalb  township,  and  the  farm  is  neat- 
ly kept,  while  all  of  the  buildings  upon  the  place 
are  in  a  state  of  good  repair.  A  native  son  of  New 
England,  he  was  born  in  Bethel,  Windsor  county, 
Vermont,  April  14,  1832,  his  parents  being  Ira 
and  Mary  (Carpenter)  Buck,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Windsor  county  and  spent  their  entire 
lives  in  the  Green  Mountain  state.  There  William 
Buck  was  reared  and  after  acquiring  a  common- 
school  education  he  learned  the  trade  of  cabinet- 
making,  which  he  followed  in  the  principal  cities 
of  the  east  until  the  year  1857,  when  he  came  to 
Sycamore,  believing  that  he  might  have  still  bet- 
ter business  opportunities  in  the  middle  west.  Ar- 
rived in  De  Kalb  county,  he  continued  to  follow 
Ids  trade  until  1870,  when  he  returned  to  Vermont, 
where  lie  was  again  employed  in  that  way  for  five 
years.  Then,  on  account  of  ill  health,  he  was 
compelled  to  give  up  indoor  work  and  once  more 
came  to  the  west,  locating  on  the  farm  on  which 
In'  now  resides.  As  a  mechanic  lie  ranked  sec- 
ond to  none  in  De  Kalb  county,  and  his  home  >s 
now  decorated  with  magnificent  wood  carvings  ex- 
ecuted by  his  own  hand. 

On  the  5th  of  September,  1861,  Mr.  Buck  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Peasley,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Stephen  and  Cynthia  (Sholds)  Peasley,  pio- 
neer settlers  of  De  Kalb  county.  The  father  died 
September  12,  1888,  while  the  mother's  death  oc- 
curred in  December,  I860.  The  marriage  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Buck  has  been  blessed  with  six  children — Liz- 
zie L..  who  was  born  January  26,  1862,  and  died 
January  25,  1872;  Charles  S..  who  was  born  Oc- 
tober 5,  1865,  and  passed  away  on  the  1st  of  July, 
L872;  Cynthia,  who  was  born  May  12,  1864,  and 
died  on  the  12th  of  August  of  the  same  year; 
Frank  W.,  who  was  born  October  5.  1867,  and  is  a 
carpenter,  making  his  home  with  his  father;  Hat- 
tie  Belle,  who  was  bom  December  15.  1870,  and 
died  duly  5,  1872;  and  Aaron  Fred,  who  was  horn 


414 


PAST    AM)    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


September  25,  1876,  ami  is  a  carpenter  at  Kock- 
l'onl,  Illinois. 

When  age  conferred  upon  him  the  right  of  fran- 
chise William  Buck  proudly  cast  his  first  presiden- 
tial  vote  in  support  of  James  Buchanan.  Since  that 
time,  however,  he  has  been  an  ardent  advocate  of 
republican  principles  and  has  kept  well  informed 
•  in  the  questions  ami  issues  of  the  day.  He  has 
been  school  director  at  various  times,  but  otherwise 
has  nnt  held  office.  In  matters  of  citizenship,  how- 
ever,  he  lias  ever  been  loyal  ami  progressive.  In 
I  >ii'.'  he  was  enrolled  as  a  musician,  belonging  to 
the  Din-  1 1  iiin  I  ill  I  and  Fifth  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, enlisting  at  Sycamore  in  Company  A.  Eis 
constitution,  however,  was  not  strong  enough  to 
enable  him  to  stand  tin1  strain  of  active  service,  so 
after  remaining  at  the  front  for  over  a  year  he 
was  honorably  discharged  and  returned  to  his  fam- 
ily in  Sycamore.  For  a  year  thereafter  he  was 
unable  to  do  any  business  because  of  his  impaired 
health,  hut  finally  he  recuperated  and.  complain- 
ing not  at  the  sacrifice  he  had  been  compelled  to 
make  to  his  country,  he  again  took  up  business 
cares  and  has  since  been  an  active  factor  in  indus- 
trial and  agricultural  interests  in  the  county.     He 

now  belongs  to  Potter  post.  <;.  A.  R.,  at  Syca re, 

and  is  much  interested  in  its  work  and  its  pur- 
poses, while  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Women's 
Belief  Corps.  They  are  both  highly  esteemed  peo- 
ple and  well  deserve  mention  in  tin-  volume. 


MERRIT  J.  SIMONDS. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at  Cowlett, 
Rutland  county.  Vermont.  Februarj  24,  1841,  and 
ejeu  to  young  manhood  on  the  farm  adjoining 
the  village  now  a  part  of  the  city  of  DeKalh.  His 
boyhood  days  were  spent  upon  the  farm  and  in 
attendance  at  private  and  public  schools  until 
the  date  of  his  enlistment  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States  army.  His  attributes  are  besl  de- 
-i  ribed  by  one  of  his  earliesi  associates,  who  speaks 
of  him  in  highest  praise  as  being  of  the  highest 
type,  embodying  the  best  Christian  virtues,  with 
a  nobility  of  character  thai  bespeaks  a  pure  mind. 
But  just  at  the  point  where  his  manhood  was 
nearing  completion  and  the  scope  of  his  life's 
work  was  unfolding  before  him.  he  was  impelled 


by  the  patriotic  instincts  of  his  heart  and  the 
lofty  ideals  he  had  encouraged  to  give  himself  to 
his  country's  services. 

To  this  end  he  joined  Company  K  of  the  Forty- 
second  Regimenl  of  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry 
about  August  2.  1862.  He  passed  through  the 
various  campaigns  of  that  regiment,  performing 
hi-  duties  in  the  most  honorable  manner — no  mat- 
ter how  laborious  or  dangerous  the  service,  he  was 
always  ready  for  duty.  Even  in  the  most  strenu- 
ous days  of  active  warfare,  with  days  and  nights 
of  constant  vigilance  and  hand-to-hand  contests 
with  the  enemy  his  zeal  never  flagged,  but  the 
-train  upon  his  nervous  system  was  so  intense 
that  upon  the  insistence  of  the  surgeon  in  charge 
he  was  ordered  to  the  hospital  then  located  at 
Stone  River,  near  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee,  wdiere 
the  famous  battle  was  fought  by  General  Rosecrans 
and  where  gallant  Phil.  Sheridan  won  fame.  But 
hospital  life  was  very  irksome  to  one  of  his  tem- 
perament. Be  chafed  under  it  exceedingly.  The 
\iriter  had  thi-  pleasure  of  visiting  him  while. 
there  and  found  him  eating  his  heart  out  for  fear 
of  being  accused  of  cowardice  by  his  comrades. 
He  was  continually  beseeching  the  commander  in 
charge  to  -end  him  to  the  front  to  his  company. 
Although  luit  illy  prepared  physically  to  stand  the 
-tie--  and  storm  of  battle,  hi-  wishes  were  granted. 
He  was  ordered  to  his  regiment  and  company  just 
in  time  to  engage  in  that  awful  slaughter  at 
Chickamauga,  where  he  was  wounded  unto  his 
death,  and  thus  departed  a  choice  life,  a  brave 
soldier,  a  remembered  hero,  a  Christian  spirit. 
While   above   the   din    and    strife    of    contending 

arii 
I'he  soughing  pines  chanted  their  requiem  to  the 

patriotic  dead. 

The   <i.    A.    R.    post    of    1  )e    Kalb   is   named    in 

ho ot'    this    gallant    youth,    who    at    the    age   of 

twentv-two  died  for  his  countrv. 


JOEL  II.  SIMONDS. 


It  is  imperative  that  mention  should  be  made 
of  Joel  H.  Simonds  in  the  history  of  De  Kalb 
county,  for  he  located  here  in  1846  when  the  dis- 
trict was  still  on  the  frontier  and  there  were  many 
evidences  of  pioneer  life.     His  birth  occurred  in 


JZlstsC 


WYORK 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    I)E    KALB    COUNTY. 


411 


Pawlet,  Rutland  county,  Vermont,  on  the  27  th  of 
June,  1814.  His  grandfather  and  his  father  both 
bore  the  name  of  Joel  Simonds  and  the  latter  was 
a  well  educated  man,  locally  prominent  in  his  com- 
munity. He  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  in 
other  offices  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight 
years. 

Joel  H.  Simonds  of  this  review  was  reared  to 
farm  life  and  acquired  a  public  school  education. 
He  was  one  of  nine  children,  three  sons  and  six 
i laughters,  all  of  whom  lived  to  adult  age  and  mar- 
ried, but  all  have  now  passed  away  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  youngest.  Dr.  Justin  F.  Simonds. 
who  was  born  in  1826,  served  as  a  surgeon  in  the 
( 'ivil  war  and  is  now  in  the  pension  department  at 
Washington,  D.  C. 

After  arriving  at  years  of  maturity  Joel  H. 
Simonds  was  married  in  1840,  in  Poultney,  Ver- 
mont, to  Miss  Minerva  Dayton,  of  Middletown. 
that  state.  She  was  born  in  1812  and  resided  in 
the  Green  Mountain  state  until  the  removal  to  the 
west.  While  living  in  Xew  England  Mr.  Simonds 
served  as  a  member  of  the  Vermont  militia.  In 
1846  he  made  arrangements  to  come  to  the  Missis- 
sippi valley,  journeying  by  team,  by  canal  and  the 
Great  Lakes  to  Chicago.  In  the  summer  of  that 
year  he  continued  on  his  way  to  De  Kalb  county 
and  settled  four  miles  north  of  Sycamore.  There 
he  began  farming,  establishing  a  home  amid  the 
pioneer  settlers  who  were  reclaiming  this  region  for 
the  uses  of  cultivation.  On  the  9th  of  November, 
isis.  hi'  was  called  upon  to  mourn  thi'  less  (if  his 
wife,  whii  died  on  that  day.  There  were  three  chil- 
dren by  that  marriage:  Mary  J.  and  Merritt  J.. 
twins:  ami  Helen  S.  The  elder  daughter  is  the 
wife  nf  Horace  D.  Hunt,  while  Helen  is  the  widow 
of  Joseph  E.  Evans.  Merritt  was  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga  and  died  in  a  hospital  one 
month  later  of  wounds  received. 

Mr.  Simonds  continued  to  live  upon  his  first 
farm  until  1850,  when  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Almira  Hollister,  who  was  born  February 
17,  1805,  in  Groton,  Xew  York.  She  came  from 
that  state  to  Illinois  in  1841,  here  joining  her  three 
brothers,  Amos,  Solomon  and  Hugh  Hollister,  who 
had  previously  located  in  De  Kalb  county.  She. 
too,  took  up  a  claim  from  the  government,  for 
which  she  paid  a  dollar  and  a  quarter  per  acre,  and 
at  the  time  of  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Simonds  she 
owned  about  one  hundred   and   sixty  acres  which 


she  had  secured  from  the  government.  The  first 
house  built  thereon  stood  until  fourteen  years  ago, 
when  it  was  moved  away  and  a  new  one  built  on 
the  same  site,  being  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Evans. 
The  farm  extended  to  what  is  now  Ninth  street, 
in  the  eastern  part  of  De  Kalb. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simonds  were  worthy  pioneer 
people.  When  they  came  to  the  west  there  were 
many  traces  of  Indian  occupancy  still  in  this 
county.  The  Black  Hawk  war  had  occurred  in 
1832,  but  it  was  some  years  after  before  the  In- 
dians ceased  visiting  this  part  of  the  state  and 
there  were  left  evidences  of  their  former  residence 
here.  The  land  was  largely  wild  and  uncultivated, 
much  of  it  still  being  covered  with  its  native  prairie 
grasses  or  with  the  original  forest  growth.  The 
streams  were  unbridged  and  few  roads  had  been 
laid  out.  Some  of  the  now  thriving  towns  and 
villages  had  not  yet  been  founded  and  the  cities  of 
Sycamore  and  De  Kalb  were  then  little  hamlets, 
containing  but  few  homes  and  fewer  business 
houses.  The  most  far-sighted  could  not  have 
dreamed  of  the  changes  which  would  bring  about 
the  present  state  of  development  and  advancement 
in  De  Kalb  county.  There  were  many  log  cabin 
homes,  jn  which  were  to  lie  seen  the  old  fireplaces 
and  the  houses  were  largely  lighted  by  candles, 
while  the  work  of  the  fields  was  done  with  very 
crude  machinery.  The  life  of  the  agriculturist 
was  a  much  more  arduous  one  than  at  present,  for 
he  did  much  of  his  work  by  hand,  and  instead  of 
riding  over  the  fields  on  the  plow  and  cultivator  he 
tramped  across  the  furrows,  largely  scattered  his 
grain  by  hand  and  tied  his  sheaves  without  any 
sel  f-1  ii ml i ng  machinery. 

Mi-,  and  Mis.  Simonds  lived  upon  the  farm 
which  she  had  entered  from  the  government  and 
his  labors  resulted  in  transforming  the  once  wild 
trad  into  richly  cultivated  lu-U\^.  They  were 
worthy  people,  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  them 
because  of  their  many  good  qualities.  Mrs. 
Simonds  died  at  the  old  home  in  November.  1875. 
in  the  faith  of  the  Congregational  church,  of  which 
-he  was  long  a  devoted  member.  Mr.  Simonds  sur- 
vived for  about  two  years  and  passed  away  on  the 
6th  of  August.  1877.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church  and  took  an  active  and  helpful 
part  in  its  work,  doing  all  in  his  power  to  promote 
its  growth  and  extend  its  influence.  His  life  was 
honorable  and  upright  and  all  who  knew  him  re- 


418 


PAST   AND    PRESENT   OF    DE    KAMI    COUNTY. 


spected  him.  llis  Labors  iu  behalf  of  the  county's 
development  and  progress  were  far-reaching  and 
beneficial  and  he  was  numbered  anient;  that  class 
of  enterprising  agriculturists  whose  efforts  consti- 
tuted the  foundation  Cor  the  county's  present  de- 
velopment. Both  he  and  his  wife  were  most  highly 
esteemed  and  they  left  behind  them  many  warm 
friends.  Their  memory  is  yet  cherished  by  those 
who  knew  them  and  as  worthy  pioneer  people  the} 
deserve  mention  m  this  volume. 


DANIEL  PIERCE  WILD. 

Honored  and  respected  by  all.  there  is  no  man 
who  occupies  a  more  enviable  position  in  financial 
and  business  circles  in  Sycamore  than  Daniel 
Pierce  Wild,  not  only  by  reason  of  the  success 
which  he  has  achieved  but  also  on  account  of  the 
straightforward  business  principles  he  has  ever 
followed.  He  was  born  in  Sycamore,  October  11. 
L870,  a  son  of  George  I',  and  Sarah  (Pierce) 
Wild,  who  are  represented  on  another  page  of  this 
volume.  The  family  is  descended  through  his 
paternal  grandmother  from  Roger  William-.  M>. 
Wild  being  a  representative  in  the  seventh  gen- 
eration. 

Pursuing  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Sycamore,  he  was  graduated  from  the  high 
school  in  the  class  of  1888  and  then  entered  Lom- 
bard College  at  Galesburg,  Illinois,  where  he  pur- 
sued the  scientific  course  and  was  graduated  in  the 
-  of  1892.  He  then  accepted  a  clerical  posi- 
tion in  the  banking  house  of  Daniel  Pierce  \ 
Company  and  in  1891  was  admitted  to  a  partner- 
ship. When  the  business  was  incorporated  under 
the  name  of  the  Pierce  Trust  &  Savings  Bank, 
July  1,  1904.  Mr.  Wild  was  elected  a  director  and 
vice  president  and  has  since  been  thus  associated 
with  the  financial  interests  of  the  county,  lie  = 
likewise  the  owner  of  considerable  real  estate 
in  and  near  Sycamore,  together  with  large  tracts 
of  land  in  Wisconsin  and  North  Dakota.  He 
holds  stock  in  several  corporations,  manufactur- 
ing and  otherwise,  and  altogether  hi-  business  in- 
terests are  extensive  and  important,  making  Inn 
one  of  the  foremost  representatives  <>(  business 
life  in  De  Kalb  county. 


While  all  these  things  have  made  considerable 
demand  upon  his  time  and  attention  Mr.  Wild 
has  nevertheless  found  opportunity  to  aid  in  mat- 
ters of  public  moment  and  has  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  i  lie  Sycamore  board  of  education  and  vice 
president  of  the  Sycamore  Chautauqua  Associa- 
tion, of  which  he  was  one  of  the  promoters.  He 
has  always  been  interested  more  or  less  actively 
in  politics  and  is  a  champion  of  republican  prin- 
ciples. He  holds  membership  in  the  Sycamore 
Commercial  Club,  id'  which  he  is  now  treasurer, 
and  he  is  a  member  of  three  Masonic  bodies,  al-  i 
tin-  Mystic  Shrine,  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks  and  the  Phi  Delta  Theta,  a  college 
fraternity.  A  member  of  the  Universalis!  church, 
he  i-  serving  as  its  treasurer  and  is  very  active 
m  church  and  Sunday  school  work. 

Mr.  Wild  was  married  in  Sterling,  [llinois,  in 
the  First  Presbyterian  church,  on  the  nh  of  Sep- 
tember, 1895,  to  Miss  Mary  Katherine  Dillon,  a 
daughter  of  W.  M.  Dillon,  manufacturer  of  smooth 
and  barbed  wire  fencing.  Their  children  are: 
Margaret  Dillon,  Sarah  Pauline  and  Katherine 
Virginia  Wild.  Their  home  is  the  center  of  a 
cultured  society  circle  and  is  justly  noted  for  its 
gracious  hospitality.  Mr.  Wild  has  spent  his  en- 
tire life  in  Sycamore  and  the  friends  of  his  boy- 
hood have  remained  the  friends  of  his  manhood — 
a  fact  which  indicates  that  his  life  has  been  well 
spent.  In  business  he  has  been  careful,  conserva- 
tive vet  progressive,  and  has  won  a  gratifying 
measure  of  prosperity,  while  at  all  times  he  has 
found  opportunity  to  co-operate  in  those  move- 
ments and  measures  which  work  for  public  good. 


(,  II.  I.  IS  BROTHEKS. 


Tli,  firm  of  (iillis  Brothers — George  and  Irvin 
W. — own  and  operate  two  hundred  acres  of  land  in 
South  Grove  township,  all  richly  cultivated  and 
well  drained.  The  entire  tract  is  tillable  and 
everything  about  the  place  is  indicative  of  the 
careful  supervision  and  practical  and  progressive 
methods  of  tin-  owners.  Upon  the  farm  only  a 
(t'Y,-  rods  apart  are  two  comfortable  and  commodi- 
ous dwellings,  which  the  brothers  occupy,  and 
there  they  enjoy  those  interests  which  fall  to  the' 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    <>F    DE    KALE-    COUNTS 


Hit 


lot  of  the  thrifty  and  up-to-date  farmer  of  the 
present  age. 

George  Gillis,  the  senior  partner,  was  born  June 
30,  1863,  on  the  old  family  homestead  in  South 
Grove  township,  on  which  he  yet  resides,  the  par- 
ents  being  G.  A.  and  Amy  T.  (Irvin)  Gillis,  both 
natives  of  the  state  of  New  York.  Coming  to  Illi- 
nois in  18.51,  G.  A.  Gillis  located  in  South  Grove 
township,  De  Kalb  county,  where  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land,  and  his  mother  kept  house  for 
him  until  1855,  when  he  returned  to  New  York 
and  was  married.  He  brought  his  bride  to  the 
home  be  bad  prepared  for  her  in  this  county  and 
a.;  the  years  passed  he  kept  adding  to  his  land  until 
at  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  four  hundred 
ami  eighty  acres  in  Malta,-South  Grove  and  Cres- 
tun  townships.  He  continued  to  carry  on  the  oc- 
cupation of  farming  throughout  life  and  passed 
away  in  189.5.  Mrs.  Gillis  still  survives  and  now 
makes  her  home  with  her  son  Irvin. 

George  Gillis  acquired  a  common-school  educa- 
tion and  throughout  his  entire  life  has  followed 
general  agricultural  pursuits.  He  early  became  fa- 
miliar with  the  duties  and  labors  that  are  incident 
to  the  development  of  a  farm  and  since  taking 
charge  of  the  property  he  has  displayed  a  strong 
and  stalwart  purpose  and  unflagging  energy — 
qualities  which  have  brought  him  a  measure  of  suc- 
cess that  is  most  gratifying.  He  was  married  Octo- 
ber 27,  1887,  to  Miss  Amy  Rand,  a  daughter  of 
Henry  Rand,  a  farmer  of  South  Grove  township. 
Unto  this  marriage  have  been  horn  three  children: 
Laura  Amy,  now  attending  the  high  school  of  De 
Kalb;  Alice  Mildred,  a  student  in  the  district 
school ;  and  George  Henry,  at  home.  The  parents 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
at  Esmond  and  Mr.  Gillis  is  now  serving  as  one 
of  its  trustees.  In  the  work  of  the  church  they 
are  deeply  interested  and  their  efforts  in  its  be- 
half have  been  far-reaching  and  beneficial.  Mr. 
Gillis  is  a  republican  in  his  political  views  and 
has  served  as  school  director  for  nine  years. 

Irvin  W.  Gillis,  the  junior  partner  of  the  firm, 
also  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day  on  the 
old  homestead,  having  been  born  March  31,  1870. 
He,  too,  attended  the  district  schools,  and  for  three 
years  he  worked  in  the  machine  shops  at  De  Kalb. 
but  with  the  exception  of  that  period  has  always 
remained  upon  the  farm,  doing  his  full  share  in 
the  wiiilc  of  plowing,  planting  and  harvesting  and 


also  in  caring  for  the  stock.  The  brothers  are  both 
energetic  business  men.  thoroughly  conversant 
with  the  needs  of  the  farm  and  carrying  on  their 
work  in  a  manner  that  has  brought  them  a  gratify- 
ing measure  of  success. 

In  1893  Irvin  W.  Gillis  was  married  to  Naomi 
Kuter,  who  died  in  1903,  and  on  the  2d  of  Octo- 
ber, 1906,  he  wadded  Ella  Decker,  of  South  Grove. 
His  political  support  is  given  to  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  republican  party  and  he  belongs 
to  the  Masonic  lodge  at  Creston  and  also  to  the 
chapter.  He  is  likewise  connected  with  the  Mystic 
Workers  of  De  Kalb,  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
faithful  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Esmond.  The  families  are  both  widely 
and  favorably  known,  occupying  an  enviable  posi- 
tion in  social  circles,  and  the  brothers  are  repre- 
sentative business  men  who,  in  their  farming  oper- 
ations, display  qualities  which  always  lead  to  suc- 
cess. 


WTLMER  R.  JOSLYN'. 


Wilmer  R.  Joslyn,  editor  and  publisher  of  the 
Kirldand  Enterprise,  has  been  a  resident  of  Illi- 
nois since  1863,  and  for  some  years  has  been  closely 
identified  with  the  interests  and  upbuilding  of 
Kirkland.  A  native  of  Chippewa  Falls,  Wiscon- 
sin, he  was  born  December  12,  1861,  one  of  the 
five  children  of  Waldo  W.  and  Anna  M.  (Dig- 
gins)  Joslyn.  The  father,  a  native  of  Waitsfield. 
Vermont,  came  to  Illinois  when  a  young  man  and 
was  married  in  McHenry  county,  this  state,  to 
Anna  M.  Diggins,  who  was  born  in  that  county. 
He  followed  the  occupation  of  farming  and  later 
removed  to  Wisconsin,  where  he  carried  on  agricul- 
tural pursuits  for  several  years.  He  then  re- 
turned to  McHenry  county,  where  he  purchased 
a  farm,  upon  which  he  resided  until  recent  years, 
but  now  makes  his  home  in  Marengo  at  the  age 
of  seventy-three  years.  His  wife  died  in  1888. 
when  forty-eight  years  of  age.  Four  of  their  chil- 
dren still  survive. 

Wilmer  R.  Joslyn,  the  second  in  order  of  birth, 
was  reared  to  farm  life  and  acquired  his  elemen- 
tary education  in  the  public  schools,  after  which  he 
attended  Cornell  College  at  Mount  Vernon,  Iowa, 
from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  due 


420 


PAST    AND   PRESENT    OF   DE    KALI'.    COUNTY. 


course  of  time.  He  then  returned  to  Illinois  and 
engaged  in  teaching  country  schools  for  three 
years,  alter  which  he  was  principal  of  graded 
schools  I'm'  ten  years,  proving  a  capable  educator 
w  In i  imparted  with  readiness  an  clearness  to 
others  the  knowledge  that  hi'  had  acquired.  Later 
he  purchased  a  half  interest  in  a  paper  published 
at  Marengo,  McHenry  county.  Illinois,  there  re- 
maining for  two  years,  after  which  he  sold  out  and 
rami-  tu  Kirklaml  mi  the  1st  of  June,  1900.  He  has 
since  engaged  in  the  publication  of  the  KirJcland 
Enterprise  and  has  secured  I'm'  the  paper  a  liberal 
patronage  in  its  circulation  and  advertising  de- 
partments. He  keeps  abreast  with  the  progress  that 
has  characterized  journalism  in  the  last  quarter  of 
a  century  ami  uives  to  his  patrons  an  interesting 
sheet  devoted  to  the  dissemination  of  local  and 
general  news. 

Mr.  Joslyn  is  a  member  of  Boyd  T>.  lodge,  No. 
857,  A.  F.  &  A.  M..  of  which  he  served  a-  sei  re- 
tary  for  three  years.  He  and  his  wife  hold  mem- 
bership in  the  Eastern  Star  chapter,  in  which  Mrs. 
Joslyn  has  been  an  officer  I'm'  six  years.  He  is 
likewise  a  charter  member  of  the  Mystic  Workers 
ami  is  in  thorough  sympathy  with  the  principles 
and  purposes  of  these  different  fraternal  organiza- 
tions. In  politics  Mr.  Joslyn  has  always  been  i 
republican  and  for  one  year  was  village  clerk. 
He  prefers  to  advance  the  interests  of  the  city, 
however,  not  in  political  office,  hut  as  a  private 
citizen  and  through  the  columns  of  his  paper, 
and  it  is  known  that  his  support  can  always  be 
counted  upon  for  any  measure  that  he  deems  will 
prove  of  general  benefit. 


.1.  s.  RUSSELL. 


Among  the  prominent  and  representative  citi- 
zens of  l)e  Kalb  is  numbered  J.  S.  Russell,  who  is 
now  engaged  in  the  insurance  and  real-estate  busi- 
ness at  that  place  and  has  also  served  as  justii  ■  o 
the  peace  for  almost  a  quarter  of  a  century.  A 
native  of  Indiana,  he  was  horn  in  Warren  county, 
between  Williamsport  and  West  Lebanon,  Sep- 
tember  25,  1834,  and  i.-  a  son  of  John  and  Mary 
A.  (  Fleming)  Russell,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Ohio.  His  paternal  grandparents  were  Law- 
rence and   Mary    (Huff)    Russell,  who  were  from 


Virginia  and  were  of  Scotch  descent.  It  was  in 
1789  that  the  grandfather  removed  to  Ohio  and 
took  up  his  residence  in  Gallipolis,  where  the 
father  of  our  subject  was  horn.  Later  the  family 
removed  to  Indiana  and  settled  mi  the  Wabash 
river,  becoming  pioneers  of  that  locality.  Indians 
were  still  quite  numerous  ami  for  a  time  the 
grandfather  rented  land  from  a  chief  but  after- 
ward purchased  the  property.  He  finally  sold  his 
farm  m  thai  state  ami  in  1842  came  to  Illinois  and 
bought  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land 
in  Kingston  township,  DeKalb  county,  which  be- 
came tin'  homestead  of  the  family.  Here  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  called  to  his  final  rest  io 
1856.  He  was  a  worthy  type  of  the  pioneer  and 
aided  in  the  development  of  three  states. 

It  was  during  his  boyhood  that  the  father  of  our 
suhject  accompanied  his  parents  mi  their  remova 
to  Indiana,  where  he  grev  to  manhood  amid  pi'  • 
neer  scenes.  There  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Mi-  Mary  A.  Fleming  ami  they  made  their  home 
near  Williamsport.  Indiana,  for  some  years,  own- 
ing a  farm  of  one  hundred  ami  forty  acres,  where- 
on mir  subject  was  bora.  When  the  son  was  four- 
teen years  old  the  father  decided  to  try  his  for- 
tune on  the  frontier  of  Illinois  and  brought  his 
family  to  DeKalb  county,  purchasing  four  hun- 
dred acres  of  wild  land  in  Kingston  township,  to 
the  improvement  and  cultivation  of  which  he  de- 
voted his  energies  throughout  tin'  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  broke  the  land  ami  transformed  it  into 
productive  fields,  and  in  connection  with  general 
farming  devoted  considerable  attention  to  the  rais- 
ing of  thoroughbred  Devonshire  cattle.  After  a 
useful  and  well  spent  life  he  passed  away  on  the 
11th  of  October,  1899,  honored  and  respected  by 
all  who  knew  him.  Tn  his  family  were  seven  chil- 
dren and  four  of  his  son-  were  valiant  defenders 
of  the  Union  during  the  dark  days  of  the  Civil 
war  and  all  laid  down  their  live-  mi  the  altar  of 
their  country.  The  children  were  as  follows:  J. 
S..  of  this  review:  W.  !>..  who  was  a  member  of  the 
Thirteenth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  and  died  of 
sickness  while  in  tin-  army;  I!.  W.,  who  was  a 
member  of  the  Forty-second  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry and  was  killed  at  Stone  River;  S.  S..  who 
was  a  member  of  the  Ninety-fifth  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry  and  died  after  his  return  home:  D. 
F..  who  was  also  a  member  of  the  Ninety-fifth  Reg- 
iment  and  died  of  sickness  while  in  the  anuv:  M 


.1.  S.  RUSSELL. 


te£NEWYOR 

UCLIBRAR 

I   TH.E 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALE-    COUNTY 


423 


D..  now  ii  resident  of  Los  Angeles,  California:  Re- 
becca A.,  the  wife  of  Jonathan  Holton  living  at 
Woodward,  Iowa;  and  Sarah  J.,  wife  of  C.  W. 
Lance,  a  resident  of  Perry,  Iowa. 

Reared  amid  frontier  scenes  and  environments, 
J.  S.  Russell  began  his  education  in  an  old  time 
log  school  house  with  its  primitive  furniture 
puncheon  floor  and  huge  fireplace  at  one  end. 
Here  he  pursued  his  studies  during  the  winter 
months,  while  during  the  summer  season  he  aided 
in  the  arduous  (ask  of  breaking  the  wild  prairie 
land  and  cultivating  the  fields.  While  his  brothers 
entered  the  army  his  services  were  needed  at  home. 
Feeling  the  need  of  a  better  education,  lie  earned 
the  money  needed  to  attend  college  and  from  1.855 
until  1851  was  a  student  at  Mt.  Morris.  Illinois, 
pursuing  a  regular  course. 

In  1858  Mr.  Russell  married  Miss  Margaret 
Cooper,  a  daughter  of  John  Cooper.  Her  parents 
both  died  of  cholera  when  she  was  quite  young  and 
she  was  reared  by  an  uncle,  William  Cooper,  who 
was  born  in  Ireland,  which  was  also  the  birthplace 
of  her  father.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell  have 
been  born  three  children:  J.  Alva  married  Sarah 
Sager  and  is  now  engaged  in  farming  in  Afton 
township.  Arthur  R.  is  a  graduate  of  the  De  Kail) 
high  school  and  is  a  civil  engineer  by  profession. 
He  is  in  partnership  with  his  father  and  is  also 
serving  as  city  engineer  and  as  water  commissioner 
of  De  Kalli.  He  married  Miss  Margaret  J.  Ken- 
nedy and  they  make  their  home  in  De  Kalb.  Mabel 
C.  has  now  served  as  deputy  circuit  clerk  for  nine 
years. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Russell  located  on  n 
farm  and  for  nine  years  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits. He  then  purchased  a  livery  stable  in  DeKalb. 
which  he  conducted  for  fifteen  years,  and  on  sell- 
ing out  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
in  Afton  township,  turning  his  attention  to  the 
real-estate  and  insurance  business  in  DeKalb. 
which  he  still  carries  on  in  connection  with  his 
son  Arthur  R.  under  the  name  of  J.  S.  Russell  & 
Son.  He  is  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixtv- 
two  acres  of  land  in  Kingston  township — a  part 
of  the  old  homestead.  In  business  affairs  he 
steadily  prospered  and  lie  owes  his  success  in  life 
to  his  own  well  directed  efforts  and  good  manage- 
ment. The  republican  party  finds  in  him  a  stanch 
supporter  of  its  principles  and  he  has  ever  taken 
an  active  interest  in  public  affairs,  serving  as  th? 


first  president  of  the  DeKalb  board  of  education 
and  filling  that  office  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
was  also  president  of  the  city  council  one  term  and 
while  tilling  that  position  was  supervisor  ex-officio. 
Foi-  tiie  long  period  of  twenty-three  years  he  has 
most  acceptably  filled  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace  and  his  decisions  have  always  been  most  fair 
and  impartial  for  he  has  an  excellent  understand- 
ing of  tie  law.  lie  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  is  also  connected  with  the 
Masonic  lodge.  No.  288,  at  Genoa.  He  has  traveled 
considerably  throughout  the  United  States  and 
Canada,  having  visited  twenty-one  -tales,  and  hf 
has  a  broad  knowledge  of  men  and  affairs.  For 
almost  two-thirds  of  a  century  he  has  now  made 
his  home  in  DeKalb  county  and  he  can  relate  many 
interesting  incidents  of  pioneer  life  when  the  deer 
still  roamed  the  prairies  and  wolves  came  prowling 
about,  the  cabin,  making  the  night  hideous  by  their 
howling.  The  stock  had  to  be  carefully  guarded 
and  there  were  many  hardships  and  privations  to 
he  endured  by  the  early  settlers. 


M  HP  PITT  P.  EVANS. 


Morrill  P.  Evans,  alderman  from  the  fourth 
ward  of  De  Kalb  and  supervisor  of  farming  inter- 
ests in  the  county,  was  born  July  1,  1871.  a  son 
of  Joseph  R.  and  Helen  S.  (Simonds)  Evans. 
The  father  was  horn  in  Shenandoah  county.  Vir- 
ginia. February  26,  1825,  his  parents  being  Rob- 
ert and  Catherine  (Richards)  Evans.  The  grand- 
father, a  native  of  Wales,  came  to  this  country 
with  his  parents  about  1807,  being  at  that  time 
three  years  of  age.  Having  arrived  at  years  of 
maturity,  he  wedded  Catherine  Richards,  a  native 
>f  Virginia  and  a  representative  of  one  of  the 
wealthy  and  influential  families  of  Shenandoah 
county. 

Joseph  R.  Evans  was  reared  under  the  parental 
roof  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen  years  he  went  to  Columbus,  Ohio, 
and  during  the  succeeding  twelve  years  his  time 
was  divided  between  his  native  state  and  the  Buck- 
eye state.  In  1850  he  started  for  California,  but 
on  reaching  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  accepted  a 
position  there  and  assisted  in  the  building  of  the 
first  railroad  across  the  isthmus.  He  was  a  man 
of  abilitv  and  resource  and  was  made  a  foreman  on 


424 


PAST    AND   PRESENT   OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


the  construction  of  the  road,  remaining  there  at  .1 
good  salary  until  he  became  ill  with  chagres  fever 
when  he  was  brought  home,  it  was  thought,  to  die. 
However,  he  recovered  and  in  1855  he  made  his 
way  westward  to  Illinois,  after  which  he  spent 
his  remaining  days  in  the  counties  of  Cook,  Kane. 
Will  and  De  Kalb.  He  located  permanently  in  tic- 
last  mentioned  in  1879,  residing  here  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  March  1.  1897.  He  was  a 
tinsmith  by  trade,  but  engaged  in  various  business 
enterprises  and  the  latter  years  of  his  life  were 
devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits.  In  politics  he 
was  a  stanch  republican,  hut  was  never  an  offici 
seeker,  although  he  served  for  a  few  years  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board  in  Malta,  Illinois.  He 
took  the  Royal  Arch  degrees  in  Masonry  and  was 
one  of  the  well  known  and  esteemed  citizens  o1 
De  Kalh. 

In  1850  Joseph  II.  Evans  wedded  Mary  Hutch- 
inson, of  Virginia,  by  whom  he  had  three  chil- 
dren: Horatio  B.,  now  living  in  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois; Nettie,  in  De  Kalh:  and  Charles  I!.,  in  Chi- 
cago. The  wile  and  mother  died  in  October,  1868. 
and  on  the  23d  of  J L870,  Mr.  Evans  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Helen  S.  Simonds,  of  Rutland  county. 
Vermont,  a  daughter  of  Joel  H.  and  Minerva 
(Dayton  )  Simonds,  who  on  coming  to  the  wesl 
located  in  Sycamore,  this  county,  their  daughtei 
Helen  being  at  that  time  about  three  years  of  age. 
In  1850  Mr.  Simonds  removed  with  his  family  io 
De  Kalh.  settling  on  tin'  present  Evans  home  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  where  he  contin- 
ued to  reside  to  the  lime  of  his  death  in  1877. 
when  lie  was  sixty-three  years  of  age.  TI is  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Evans,  is  Mill  living  and  is  now  sixty- 
three  years  of  age.  She  well  remembers  when  De 
Kalb  was  a  mere  village  of  only  a  few  houses,  one 
general  store,  one  drug  store,  a  blacksmith  shop 
and  a  log  school  house. 

Merritt  J.  Simonds.  a  brother  of  .Mis.  Evans, 
was  a  member  of  the  Forty-second  Illinois  Regi- 
ment of  Volunteers  and  was  wounded  and  captured 
at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga.  He  lay  on  the  bat- 
tle-field, however,  for  one  week  before  being  given 
attention,  when  lie  was  taken  to  the  hospital,  where 
he  died  from  the  effects  of  his  injuries  three  week- 
later.  The  Grand  Army  post  at  lie  Kalb  was 
named  in  his  honor.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  and  a  much  respected  young 
man.     The  members  of  the  Simonds   family  are: 


Mary  .1..  now  the  wife  of  Horace  1).  Hunt,  of  De 
Kalh:   Merritt   J.,  twin  brother  of  Mary  J.;  and 

Helen    S. 

The  members  of  the  family  of  Joseph  R.  and 
Helen  S.  Evans  are:  Merritt  I!.,  of  this  review: 
Vernon  S..  a  resident  of  Evansville,  Indiana: 
Grace  A.,  the  wife  of  Benjamin  A.  Swindell,  of 
In-  Kalh:  Herbert  A..  Howard  I),  and  Lloyd  II..  of 
De  Kalh.  Merritt  R.  Evans  was  reared  at  home. 
acquiring  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
He  Kalh.  and  from  an  early  age  he  was  his  father's 
assistanl  in  the  farm  work.  As  early  as  his 
twenty-first  year  he  practically  had  entire  man- 
agement of  the  farm  and  since  that  time  he  has 
been  iii  control  of  the  business.  Hi-  political  sup- 
I " ■  it  is  given  to  the  republican  party  and  in  1902 
he  was  elected  alderman  from  the  fourth  ward 
and  ha-  twice  been  returned  to  the  office,  so  that  he 
i-  now  serving  for  the  third  consecutive  term. 

Mr.  Evans  belongs  to  De  Kalb  lodge.  No.  111. 
A.  F.  &  A  M.;  to  De  Kalh  chapter.  I!.  A.  M. , 
and  to  Normal  chapter  of  the  Order  of  the  Eastern 
Star.  His  name  is  on  the  membership  rolls  of 
Barb  City  camp.  M.  W.  A.:  and  De  Kalb  lodge, 
No.  31,  of  tli,  Mystic  Worker^  of  the  World.  He 
likewise  belongs  to  the  De  Kalb  Commercial 
Club.  He  i-  well  known  in  the  city  and  county 
where  his  entire  life  has  been  passed  and  where 
he  has  so  directed  hi-  efforts  as  to  win  the  respeel 
and  confidence  of  his  fellow  men.  He  belongs  to 
one  of  the  old  families  of  the  county  and  is  a  rep- 
n  sental  i\ e  citizen  here. 


JUDSOX  BRENNER. 


Judson  Brenner,  the  wise  use  of  whose  native 
powers  and  energies  has  gained  him  distinction 
in  commercial  circles  and  won  him  promotion  un- 
til he  today  occupies  the  responsible  position  of 
genera]  manager  for  the  lie  Kalb  Fence  Company 
and  the  I'nion  Fence  Company,  was  born  in 
Youngstown,  Ohio,  dun.-  27,  1862.  His  parents, 
John  and  Kate  (  Welk )  Brenner,  are  still  living 
and  have  resided  continuously  on  the  old  home- 
stead since  1863.  The  father  was  born  in  Baden. 
Germany,  February  1".  1836,  and  the  mother's 
birth  occurred  in  Xew  Middletown,  Ohio,  June 
'."i.  L841.  Mr.  Brenner  engaged  in  the  nursery 
business  until  1865  and  from  that  year  until  1882 


rst&4^6f 


thf  new  york] 
PUBLICLIBRARY 

ASTOR,    LENQX 
JILDEN  FOUNOATIOMtt 


PAST    AM)    PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


427 


was  superintendent  of  the  Mahoning  cemetery. 
About  1871  he  embarked  in  the  marble  and  gran- 
ite business  and  a  little  later  became  identified 
witli  the  general  contracting  business,  in  which 
he  is  still  engaged.  Although  he  had  only  been 
a  resident  of  the  United  States  for  two  year.-,  he 
valiantly  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Union  at  the 
time  of  tlie  Civil  war  and  fought  in  defense  of 
the  old  flag. 

Judson  Brenner,  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  tit- 
teen  children,  attended  the  schools  of  Youngs- 
town,  Ohio,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Raven 
High  School  at  that  place  in  the  class  of  1881. 
He  entered  business  life  as  a  bookkeeper,  in  which 
capacity  he  served  for  eleven  years  in  Pittsburg 
and  Beaver  Falls,  Pennsylvania.  In  January, 
1891,  he  became  associated  with  E.  F.  Shellaberger 
as  traveling  salesman  for  the  De  Kalb  Fence  Com- 
pany and  in  November  of  that  year  removed  to 
De  Kalb.  where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He 
continued  in  that  capacity  nntil  the  following 
September,  when  he  took  charge  of  the  corre- 
spondence and  also  became  general  sales  manager 
at  the  office.  At  the  same  time  he  was  elected 
secretary  of  the  company  and  in  1896  he  wag... 
elected  treasurer  of  the  Union  Fence  Company, 
after  which  he  took  charge  of  the  general  office 
business  of  both  companies.  Thus  he  advanced 
step  by  step  until  July,  1902,  when  he  was  made 
general  manager  of  both  the  De  Kalb  Fence  Com- 
pany and  the  TTnion  Fence  Company,  which  is 
his  present  business  connection.  In  this  capacity 
he  is  one  of  the  foremost  representatives  of  in- 
dustrial and  trade  interests  in  De  Kalb.  Notably 
prompt,  energetic  and  reliable,  he  forms  his  plans 
readily  and  is  determined  in  their  execution.  He 
is  watchful  of  every  indication  pointing  to  success 
and  has  wrought  along  modern  business  lines, 
keeping  in  touch  with  the  trend  of  progress  and 
improvement  which  are  so  noticeable  in  manufac- 
turing circles.  Moreover,  he  figures  in  financial 
circles  as  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  Com- 
mercial Trust  &  Savings  Bank  of  De  Kalb  and  is 
a  stockholder  and  director  thereof.  He  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Belmont  Park  Cemetery 
Association  of  Youngstown,  Ohio,  and  is  now  one 
of  the  trustees.  He  is  likewise  heavily  interested 
in  real  estate  in  Chicago  and  Youngstown,  Ohio, 
having  made  judicious  and  extensive  investments 
in  property  . 


On  the  14th  of  October,  1886,  Mr.  Brenner  was 
married  to  Miss  S.  Grace  Abbott,  who  was  born  in 
Rome,  Xew  York,  November  22,  1863,  her  parents 
being  Willis  G.  and  Eliza  G.  (Ward)  Abbott. 
Unto  this  marriage  four  children  have  been  born. 
Frederica  Floy.  Ralph  Abbott.  Collis  Howard  and 
Bearl  Wood  lock. 

In  politics  Mr.  Brenner  is  a  stalwart  republic- 
an, unswerving  in  his  allegiance  to  the  party  and 
its  principles.  He  has  studied  closely  the  ques- 
tions and  issues  of  the  day  and  has  become  thor- 
oughly convinced  that  the  platform  and  the  policy 
of  the  party  are  most  conducive  to  good  govern- 
ment and  the  welfare  of  the  people.  He  has 
served  as  president  of  the  board  of  education  and 
as  president  of  the  board  of  health,  and  is  never 
remiss  in  the  duties  of  citizenship.  On  the  con- 
trary, he  has  labored  effectively  and  earnestly  for 
the  welfare  and  progress  of  the  community,  al- 
though he  does  not  seek  the  honors  and  rewards 
of  office  precognition  of  his  public  service.  Per- 
haps Mr..  Brenner  takes  a  greater  interest  in  the 
schools  of  De  Kalb  than  in  anything  else  outside 
his .  hontss.  He  has  presented  to  them  two  splendid 
pojicbtiiiris  of  natural  manufactured  products  of 
all  countries  secured  through  the  United  States 
consuls,  and  a  mineral  collection  secured  by  Mr. 
Brenner  in  his  travels.  The  first  of  these  was 
burned  just  three  weeks  after  it  was  presented, 
but  has  since  been  practically  replaced.  He  has 
also  given  them  a  collection  of  mounted  game 
birds  of  North  America  and  in  every  way  possible 
manifests  a  sincere  desire  to  further  the  school  in- 
terests of  I),.  Kalb.  He  is  a  collector  and  has  a 
representative  collection  of  various  curios  peculiar 
to  the  cities  and  localities  he  has  visited.  He  has 
also  a  fine  collection  of  coins  and  the  finest  collec- 
tion of  fractional  currency  extant.  All  these  are 
accessible  to  the  children  of  the  schools  at  all 
times. 

Mr.  Brenner  has  attained  high  rank  in  Masonry, 
being  a  past  master  of  De  Kalb  Eodge,  No.  144, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Past  High  Preist  of  De  Kalb 
Chapter,  No.  52,  R.  A.  M. ;  Past  Commander  of 
Sycamore  Commandery,  No.  15,  K.  T. :  Past 
Worthy  Patron  of  Normal  Chapter,  No.  357.  ( ). 
E.  S. ;  and  a  member  of  Van  Rensselaer  Lodge  of 
Perfection  ;  the  Chicago  Council  of  the  Princes  of 
Jerusalem;  Gourgas  Chapter  of  the  Rose  Croix 
and    Oriental    Consistory,    S.    P.    R.    S.      He   has 


428 


PAST    AND    PEESENT    OF    DE    KAIJ!    COUNTY. 


thus  attained  the  thirty-second  degree  of  the 
Scottish  Kite.  Moreover,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Grand  Council  of  the  Order  of  High  Priesthood 
in  Illinois;  of  Aryan  Grotto,  No.  18,  M.  0.  V.  P. 
E.  E.;  Medinah  Temple,  A.  A.  0.  N.  M.  S.:  Boyal 
Order  of  Scotland;  and  St.  Johns  Conclave  (pre- 
mier). No.  1.  K.  of  P.  C,  of  Constantine. 

The  advantages  and  privileges  which  Mr.  Bren- 
ner received  in  his  youth  were  rather  limited,  but 
he  has  been  a  keen  observer  and  through  observa- 
tion  and  extensive  travel  has  become  a  splen- 
didly informed  man.  who  keeps  fully  abreast  of 
the  times.  Honesty,  method  and  the  lessons  im- 
pressed upon  his  mind  in  youth  were  never  forgot- 
ten, but  were  put  into  actual  practice  in  business 
life.  His  fidelity  and  his  capability  soon  won 
recognition,  so  that  he  early  filled  responsible  posi- 
tions with  large  concerns  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
while  in  the  employ  of  these,  he  was  marked  as 
a  man  who  could  he  relied  upon  and  he  has  been 
found  trustworthy  at  every  test.  He  enjoys  the 
unbounded  confidence  of  those  who  know  liim 
best  and  in  a  business  way  his  acquaintance  ex- 
tends to  all  parts  of  the  Tinted  States.  Socially 
he  is  prominent  in  his  home  city  and  wdierovor 
known.  He  is  one  in  whom  nature  and  culture 
have  vied  in  making  an  interesting  and  entertain- 
ing gentleman,  while  the  development  of  his  pow- 
ers with  which  nature  endowed  him  has  made  him 
a  conspicuous  figure  in  business  circles. 


HOPATTO  A.  PERKIXS. 

Among  the  prominent  and  influential  citizens 
of  Genoa  none  stand  higher  in  public  esteem  than 
Horatio  A.  Perkins,  who  is  now  engaged  in  the 
hardware  business  in  partnership  with  E.  C. 
Posenfeld.  He  has  spent  his  entire  life  here,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Genoa,  January  !».  1857, 
and  he  is  a  son  of  Henry  N.  Perkins,  a  native 
of  New  York,  whose  sketch  appears  on  another 
page  of  this  volume.  In  1837  the  father  was 
brought  by  his  parents  to  Illinois,  the  family  be- 
coming pioneer  settlers  of  De  Kalh  county,  where 
he  grew  to  manhood  upon  a  farm.  On  starting 
out  in  life  for  himself  he  followed  agricultural 
pursuits  until  185(1.  when  he  removed  to  Genoa 
and  embarked  in  merchandising.     Here  he  mar- 


ried Miss  Margarel  A.  Stiles,  a  native  of  Vermont, 
wild  died  in  1880,  at  the  age  of  forty-two  years, 
lie  is  now  seventy-three  years  of  age  and  since 
1892  has  lived  retired,  enjoying  a  well  earned  rest. 

Horatio  A.  Perkins  is  the  only  son  in  a  family 
of  four  children  ami  spent  the  first  seven  years 
of  his  life  upon  the  farm.  The  family  then  re- 
moved to  Genoa  and  he  attended  the  public 
schools,  luit  much  of  his  time  was  spent  behind 
the  counter  in  his  father's  store,  where  he  early 
became  familiar  with  business  methods.  Having 
received  a  good  practical  training  lie  embarked  in 
general  merchandising  on  his  own  account  in  1880 
.niil  carried  on  business  along  that  line  for  five 
years.  About  this  time  he  was  appointed  post- 
master under  President  Garfield  and  filled  that 
office  for  five  years.  He  next  embarked  in  the 
hardware  trade,  to  which  he  has  since  devoted  his 
time  and  energies,  carrying  a  large  and  complete 
stock  of  shelf  ami  heavy  hardware  and  making  a 
specialty  of  furnaces  and  heating  apparatus.  He 
is  an  expert  tinner  and  has  built  up  a  good  busi- 
ness. Alter  being  in  business  alone  for  about  ten 
years  lie  admitted  Mr.  Eosenfeld  to  a  partner- 
ship and  they  now  enjoy  an  excellent  trade. 

On  the  31st  of  October,  1885,  was  celebrated  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Perkins  and  Miss  Sarah  Holroyd. 
a  native  of  Genoa  and  a  daughter  of  Stephen  V 
Holroyd,  who  was  born  in  England  and  coming 
to  America  settled  in  De  Kalb  county  in  183S. 
here  following  farming  throughout  the  remainder 
of  his  lite.  Her  father  died  at  the  ripe  old  age 
of  eighty-two  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Perkins  have 
two  children:  Irma  and  Horatio,  dr..  who  are 
now  attending  school.  The  family  have  a  nice 
home,  well  ami  tastefully  furnished.  Mi-.  Perkins 
occupies  the  lower  half  of  a  good  two-story  brick 
store  building,  the  second  story  of  which  is  used 
as  a  -oi  iei\  hall,  and  is  owned  by  the  Odd  Fellows 
lodge,    No.   763,  of  <lenoa. 

By  his  ballot  he  supports  the  men  and  meas- 
ures of  tlie  republican  party  and  he  has  taken 
quite  an  active  and  prominent  part  in  public 
affairs.  Besides  serving  as  postmaster  he  has  filled 
the  office  of  township  clerk  for  twenty-one  years; 
was  village  clerk  several  years:  village  trustee  six 
years:  mayor  two  years:  a  member  of  the  board 
of  education  ten  years;  and  clerk  of  the  school- 
board  at  the  present  time.  All  of  his  official  duties 
have  been  most  faithfully  and  capably  discharged 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


429 


and  won  for  him  the  commendation  of  all  con- 
cerned. Fraternally  he  is  an  honored  member  of 
camp  No.  63,  M.  W.  A.,  of  Genoa. 


VICTOR  HERBERT  LIXDBERG. 

Victor  Herbert  Lundberg,  in  charge  of  the  gen- 
eral delivery  at  the  postoffice  in  I)e  Kalb,  was 
born  in  this  city,  January  8,  1880.  His  parents 
are  John  G.  and  Minnie  (Bruhn)  Lundberg,  the 
former  horn  in  Sweden.  June  27,  1854,  and  the 
latter  a  native  of  Tama.  Iowa.  The  father  came 
t'i  America  in  1STG  and  took  up  his  abode  in  De 
Kalb,  Illinois,  where  he  established  a  tobacco 
and  notion  store,  which  he  is  still  conduct- 
ing. He  has  won  a  creditable  place  among  the 
merchants  of  the  city  and  is  now  widely  and  favor- 
ably known  in  business  circles.  Unto  him  and  his 
wife  were  born  seven  children,  of  whom  Victor 
Herbert  Lundberg  is  the  oldest.  The  family  lias 
for  many  generations  lived  in  Sweden  and  the 
grandfather,  J.  Lundberg,  was  inspector  of  the 
estate  of  Count  Stackelberg  for  over  a  half  cen- 
tury, and  J.  G.  Lundberg,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, now  has  in  his  possession  a  gold  medal  which 
was  awarded  the  grandfather  for  faithfulness  and 
efficiency  during  that  long  service  in  Sweden. 

Victor  H.  Lundberg  at  the  usual  age  entered 
the  public  schools  and  passed  through  the  succes- 
sive grades,  finishing  his  education  in  the  high 
school.  He  afterward  worked  in  the  office  of  a 
shoe  factory,  where  he  remained  for  two  years, 
after  which  he  spent  six  months  at  high  school 
and  then  accepted  a  position  as  general  utility 
clerk  in  the  postoffice  of  De  Kalb.  In  180?  he 
made  a  visit  to  Sweden,  the  native  land  of  his 
ancestors,  and  remained  there  three  months.  The 
trip  was  thoroughly  enjoyable  and  pleasing,  but 
he  realized  fully  that  the  labor  conditions  in  this 
country  are  preferable,  and  was  glad  to  return 
to  the  business  life  of  the  new  world.  He  is  now 
in  charge  of  the  general  delivery  at  the  postoffice 
in  De  Kalb  and  his  faithfulness  and  energies  are 
recognized  in  the  office. 

On  the  18th  of  June,  1903,  in  De  Kalb,  Mr. 
Lundberg  was  married  to  Miss  Edith  Howell,  who 
was  born  in  New  York  November  111,  1879,  the 
daughter   of   Charles   and    Lorano    Howell.      The 


father  was  born  in  the  Empire  state.  Mrs.  Lund- 
berg was  the  only  child,  her  mother  having  died 
when  she  was  two  months  old.  She  has  become 
the  mother  of  one  daughter,  Eleanor  Lundberg, 
who  was  born  March  24,  1904.  The  young  couple 
reside  at  No.  564  Main  street  east,  and  are  popu- 
lar in  the  city  where  they  have  always  lived,  having 
a  large  circle  of  warm  friends  here. 

Mi-.  Lundberg  is  well  known  in  fraternal  and 
military  relations,  being  now  a  drum  major  in 
the  Illinois  National  Guard,  while  formerly  he 
was  sergeant  of  Company  A,  Third  Regiment. 
He  affiliates  with  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Arken 
Union  and  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church.  He  exercises  his  right  of  franchise 
in  support  of  the  republican  party.  He  is  inter- 
ested in  matters  of  general  improvement  and  gives 
his  co-operation  to  many  movements  for  material, 
social,  intellectual  and  moral  progress  in  his  native 
city. 


ARTHUR  L.  PARES. 


Arthur  L.  Parks,  a  farmer,  stock-raiser  and 
breeder  of  Victor  township,  lives  on  section  28 
dnd  has  an  excellent  property,  which  is  known 
a>  the  Willow  Dale  stock  farm.  It  was  upon  this 
place  and  in  the  house  in  which  he  now  resides 
that  Mr.  Parks  was  born  April  3,  1S69.  His 
f ether,  Edward  Parks,  was  a  native  of  New  York, 
born  near  Lockport,  and  after  spending  his  youth 
in  the  Empire  state  came  west  to  Illinois  when 
a  young  man,  casting  in  his  lot  with  the  early 
settlers  of  De  Kalb  county.  He  was  accompanied 
by  two  brothers  and  he  purchased  raw  land,  which 
he  brought  under  the  plow  and  transformed  into 
rich  and  productive  fields.  In  the  course  of  time 
he  owned  a  good  farm  and  was  recognized  as 
one  of  the  foremost  agriculturists  of  the  com- 
munity. 

Edward  Parks  was  married  in  this  county  to 
Miss  Margaret  Gould,  a  native  of  Prince  Edward 
Island  and  took  his  bride  to  his  farm,  where  he 
continued  to  till  the  soil  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  likewise  opened  up  the  farm  upon  which  his 
son  Arthur  now  resides,  owning  two  hundred  and 
thirteen  acres.  It  remained  his  place  of  residence 
until  189G,  when  he  removed  to  Franklin  county, 


430 


PAST    AND   PEESENT    OE    DE    KALI!    COUNTY. 


Kansas.  He  purchased  and  still  owns  a  fami 
of  nearly  twelve  hundred  acres  there,  being  one 
of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  that  part  of  the 
state.     He  hist  his  wilr  September  29,  1906. 

Arthur  L.  Parks  was  one  of  a  family  of  six 
sons  and  one  daughter,  all  of  whom  are  yet  living. 
Xo  event  of  special   importance  occurred  to  vary 

the  routine  of   farm   life  for  him  in  his  boy] d 

days.     He  was  educated   in  the  common  schools 

at  Leland  ami  when  not  busy  with  his  text-1 1  - 

his  time  ami  energies  were  largely  devoted  to  gen- 
era] agricultural  pursuits.  He  rented  land  and 
farmed  the  place  fur  several  Mar-  before  his  mar- 
riage  ami  in  fact  throughout  his  entire  life  has 
bent  his  energies  to  the  work  of  tilling  the  soil. 

As  a  companion  ami  helpmate  fur  life's  journey 
Mr.  Park-  chose  Ella  Bend,  one  of  Victor  town- 
ship's native  daughters.  She  was  reared  here  and 
they  were  married  on  the  12th  of  February,  1894. 
Her  father  was  Lewis  Bend,  one  of  the  early 
settlers  who  came  here  from  England.  Following 
his  marriage  Mr.  Parks  engaged  in  farming  on 
his  father's  land  ami  afterward  purchased  the 
property,  continuing  its  cultivation  fur  four  years, 
when  he  sold  out  and  hought  the  old  homestead, 
to  which  he  removed  in  1902.  With  characteris- 
tic energy  he  began  its  further  cultivation  ami 
improvement  and  his  labors  have  been  productive 
of  excellent  results.  He  nidi  and  fenced  the  land 
and  has  greatly  augmented  the  fertility  of  the  soil 
through  the  rotation  of  crops,  lie  has  also  en- 
gaged in  raising  pure  blooded  shorthorn  cattle, 
beginning  tin-  business  in  1903.  He  now  has  a 
herd  of  thirteen    pure   blooded   animals   and   also 

has   some   pure   hi led    Jersey   Duroc   hogs   and 

Shropshire  sheep.  His  stock-raising  interests 
constitute  an  important  branch  of  the  business 
and  his  careful  management,  keen  discernment 
and  unfaltering  energy  have  made  him  a  prosper- 
ous farmer. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Park-  have  been  born  three 
children:  Shelby  II..  Aha  M.  and  Ada.  all  of 
whom  are  at  home.  Politically  Mr.  Parks  is  a 
republican,  having  always  supported  that  party, 
and  is  now  a  highway  commissioner,  having  filled 
that  office  for  two  years.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  school  board  and  is  district  clerk.  Through- 
out his  entire  life  he  has  been  a  resident  of  the 
county  and  has  witnessed  the  transformation  which 
has  been  wrought   in  the  conversion  of  once  wild 


hind  into  valuable  farms.  He  stands  for  advance- 
ment in  all  lines  of  public  interest  and  among 
hi-  acquaintances  are  many  who  entertain  fol- 
ium the  highest  regard. 


AMos    W.    TOWNSEND. 

Amos  \V.  Townsend,  a  pioneer  of  He  Kalh  coun- 
Ly,  came  to  Mayfield  township  with  his  father 
Stephen  Townsend,  in  1840,  and  at  the  age  of 
i  ighl  years  began  life  a-  the  boys  of  that  period 
were  compelled  to  do  in  surrounding-  where  lux- 
ury was  unknown.  Beginning  life  in  such  en- 
vironments develops  a  man  physically  and  mental- 
ly and  gives  a  certain  cast  of  character  to  men  of 
his  time  that  has  made  for  the  betterment  of 
those  wlm  come  in  contact  with  them,  and  for 
those  who  follow  in  their  footsteps  a  splendid  ex- 
ample of  -elf-sacrifice  and  energy  which  exert-  a 
lasting  influence. 

Mr.  Townsend  was  a  native  of  New  York, 
born  in  the  town  of  Neversink,  Sullivan  count}. 
September  23,  1832.  The  family  records  give  ac- 
count of  his  great-grandfather.  Charles  Town- 
send,  who  lived  for  some  years  in  Sussex  county 
New  York,  but  who  spent  his  last  days  in  Sullivan 
county,  that  slate,  where  he  passed  away  at  an  ad- 
vanced age.  At  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary 
war  he  espoused  the  cause  of  the  colonists  and 
served  in  the  militia  of  New  York.  His  wife  was 
a  Miss  Hall. 

Their  son,  Joshua  Town-end.  was  bom  in  Deck- 
ertown,  Sussex  county,  New  York.  July  II.  lis;. 
and  having  arrived  at.  years  of  maturity,  wedded 
Phebe  Porter,  whose  birth  occurred  at  New  Hav- 
'  ii.  Connecticut,  February  17,  1787.  The  year  1840 
witnessed  their  arrival  in  Mayfield  township,  De 
Kalh  county.  Illinois,  and  since  that  time  mem- 
bers of  the  Town-end  family  have  figured  promi- 
nently in  the  development,  upbuilding  and  prog- 
ress of  the  county.  Joshua  Town-end  departed 
tin-  life  April  17.  1861,  while  his  wile  survived 
until   April   28,   L867. 

Stephen  Town-end.  son  of  Joshua  Townsend 
and  father  of  Amos  W.  Townsend,  was  born  in 
Sullivan  county.  New  York,  in  the  town  of  Never- 
sink.   June    30,    1807,    and    was   there   married   to 


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PHF  NEW1 

I  [BRARY 


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ATIONS. 


PAST   AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALI!    COUNTY 


43,r 


Miss  Anna  Denman,  whose  parents  were  William 
and  Anna  (Boorrnan)  Denman,  the  former  born 
in  Ditchling,  Sussex  county,  England.  November 
12.  L763,  while  the  latter  was  born  in  Sheddom, 
Kent  county,  England,  August  i,  1772.  Crossing 
the  Atlantic  to  the  United  States  they  became  resi- 
dents of  the  town  of  Neversink,  Sullivan  county. 
New  York,  where  the  death  of  Mr.  Denman  oc- 
curred December  10,  1858,  while  his  wife  passed 
away  June  5,  1842.  Their  daughter  Anna  be- 
came the  wife  of  Stephen  Townscnd,  of  whom  ex- 
tensive mention  will  be  made  in  the  Mayfield 
township  history  in  another  part  of  this  work, 
and  in  the  year  1840  this  worthy  couple  estab- 
lished their  home  upon  a  farm  which  Mr.  Town- 
send  purchased  in  Mayfield  township.  De  Kalb 
county,  Illinois.  For  some  years  he  successfully 
carried  on  general  agricultural  pursuits.  He  died 
at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years,  while  his  wife 
reached  the  very  advanced  age  of  ninety-three  and 
spent  her  last  years  in  Sycamore. 

Amos  W.  Townsend  was  a  youth  of  about 'eight.: 
years  when  brought  by  his  parents  to  De  Kalb 
county.  Thus  he  was  reared  amid  the  wild  scenes 
and  environments  of  a  frontier  locality.  His  un- 
cle had  arrived  in  the  county  in  1837.  In  the 
party  that  made  the  trip  in  1840  three  genera- 
tions of  the  family  were  represented  and  all  lo- 
cated in  De  Kalb  county.  The  journey  westward 
was  made  with  teams  and  covered  several  weeks. 
for  they  journeyed  after  the  slow  manner  of  the 
times  and  over  roads  which  were  often  in  poor 
condition.  Amos  W.  Townsend  had  already  spent 
a  year  or  two  in  the  schools  of  the  east  and  in  this 
county  continued  a  student  in  the  district  schools 
for  a  time,  while  later  hi'  had  the  advantage  of 
instruction  in  Wheaton  Academy,  now  Wheaton 
(Illinois)  College.  He  had  early  become  familiar 
with  the  duties  and  labors  of  the  field  and  before 
he  had  attained  his  majority  he  began  farming 
on  land  belonging  to  his  grandfather,  there  re- 
maining up  to  the  time  of  his  marriage. 

On  the  15th  of  October.  1857,  in  Sycamore, 
Mr.  Townsend  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss 
Eleanor  Pierce,  whose  sketch  appears  on  another 
page  of  this  work.  At  the  time  of  their  marriage 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Amos  W.  Townsend  took  up  their 
abode  a  few  miles  north  of  Malta  upon  a  farm 
which    Mr.    Townsend    purchased    and    which    re- 


mained their  home  fur  nineteen  years.  He  was 
very  successful  as  an  agriculturist.  In  the  fall 
of  1876,  because  of  the  death  of  the  mother  of 
Mrs.  Townsend,  they  removed  to  a  farm  one  mile 
west  nf  Sycamore  to  make  a  home  for  Mrs.  Town- 
send's  father,  Mr.  Pierce.  In  addition  to  giving 
bis  personal  attention  to  the  management  of  his 
farm  interests,  Mr.  Townsend  soon  became  inter- 
ested in  the  banking  house  of  Daniel  Pierce  &  Co. 
as  junior  member  of  the  firm  and  contributed  in 
no  small  degree  to  the  success  of  that  institution. 
Me  was  a  capable  business  man.  alert  and  enter- 
prising, seldom  at  error  in  matters  of  business  judg- 
ment, and  carried  forward  to  successful  com- 
pletion whatever  he  undertook.  He  was  just  in  his 
relations  to  all  and  demanded  the  same  treatment 
for  himself.  He  was  never  known  to  take  advant- 
age of  another  in  trade  transactions  and  through- 
out his  entire  life  maintained  an  unassailable  repu- 
tation for  business  probity. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Town-end  was  al- 
ways, sift  earnest  republican  and  had  firm  faith  in 
the  ultimate  triumph  of  the  principles  of  his 
party,  believing  them  most,  conducive  to  good  gov- 
ernment. He,  however,  never  sought  or  desired 
public  office  and  only  served  in  the  position  of 
supervisor  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  friends 
and  neighbors.  He  was  content  to  aid  in  matters 
of  public  progress  as  a  private  citizen  and  gave 
endorsement  and  hearty  co-operation  to  many 
movements  for  the  general  good.  Wherever 
known  he  was  honored  because  of  his  well  known 
ability  and  the  strict  integrity  of  bis  character, 
and  thus  when  his  death  occurred  on  the  25th  of 
August,  1887,  it  brought  a  feeling  of  uniform 
sorrow  and  deep  regret.  His  best  traits  of  char- 
acter were  reserved  for  his  family,  however,  and 
he  found  his  greatest  happiness  in  providing  for 
the  welfare  and  comfort  of  his  wife  and  children. 


MPS.    ELEANOR    P.    TOWNSEND. 

Mrs.  Eleanor  P.  Townsend.  the  wife  of  Amos 
\V.  Townsend,  and  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Phoebe 
(Brundage)  Pierce,  was  born  February  10,  1830, 
at  Neversink.  Sullivan  county,  New  York,  and 
in    1855   came  to   Illinois   with   her    parents,   who 


436 


past  and  present  of  de  kalb  county. 


settled  in  Sycamore.  Her  father  was  one  of  the 
prominent  men  of  northern  Illinois,  of  whom  ex- 
tended mentioned  is  made  on  another  page  of 
this  work.  .Airs.  Townsend's  early  girlhood  was 
spent  in  Sullivan  county  and  she  attended  a  pri- 
vate academy  at  Liberty,  New  York.  She  was 
sixteen  years  of  age  when  she  came  to  Sycamore 
and  soon  after  she  entered  Miss  Sill's  Seminary 
at  Rockford,  Illinois,  where  she  completed  her 
education. 

On  the  15th  of  October.  1857,  Eleanor  Pierce 
gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Amos  W.  Townsend 
and  the)  became  the  parents  of  five  children: 
Frederick  B.,  now  president  of  the  Pierce  Trust 
&  Savings  Bank,  of  whom  mention  is  made  else- 
where in  this  work :  Jennie,  the  wife  of  Charles 
A.  Webster,  of  Galesburg,  Illinois;  Anna,  who  he- 
came  the  wife  of  Frank  E.  Claycomb,  of  Mon- 
mouth, Illinois,  and  died  April  8.  1892;  Georgia, 
the  wife  of  Captain  John  E.  Vates,  of  Boise  City, 
Idaho;  and  Mary,  who  became  the  wife  of  William 
R.  Tapper,  and  died  at  Riverside,  Illinois,  August 
7,  1902. 

Mrs.  Townsend  was  at  once  an  acknowledged 
leader  in  religious,  social  and  school  affairs.  She 
was  the  organizer  of  the  Universalis!  society  at 
Malta,  which  continued  its  existence  during  her 
residence  in  that  place.  She  also  served  as  school 
director  while  a  resident  of  the  Malta  district  and 
so  far  as  we  can  learn  was  the  first  woman  in 
De  Kalb  county  to  act  in  that  capacity.  Upon 
her  removal  to  the  Pierce  farm  near  Sycamore 
she  became  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  Syca- 
more Universalist  church.  Her  interest  in  the 
church  deepened  with  increasing  years  and 
her  spiritual  life  brightened  as  ill  health  pre- 
vented her  from  participating  actively  in  the  re- 
ligious life  of  the  church.  She  was  prominent 
in  Universalist  circles  of  the  state  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  was  one  of  the  trustees  of  Lombard 
College,  at  Galesburg.  as  well  as  one  of  its  most 
liberal  supporters.  She  was  the  donor  of  the 
Townsend  prize  contest,  a  leading  feature  in  con- 
nection with  the  college  oratorical  work,  and  did 
everything  in  her  power  to  advance  the  interest  of 
Lombard,  which  is  a  Universalist  institution.  She 
was  also  a  member  of  the  executive  board  of  the 
National  Woman's  Centenary  Association  of  the 
Universalist   church.     Her  allegiance  to  the  Uni- 


versalis! faith  dated  back  to  her  youth  and  she 
left  a  liberal  endowment  to  the  church  of  Syca- 
more, of  which  she  was  a  constant  attendant  and 
chief  supporter  during  her  life  here.  Always 
ready  to  perform  any  service  in  its  behalf,  willing 
tn  take  up  the  work  patiently  ami  cheerfully  when 
others  hail  let  it  fall,  she  saw  in  the  duties  of  the 
offices  which  she  was  called  upon  to  fill  a  sacred 
obligation,  therefore  she  performed  them  conscien- 
tiously ami  faithfully.  She  was  indeed  a  power  in 
i  be  church,  devoted,  resourceful,  energetic,  a  nat- 
ural leader,  greatly  beloved  by  those  with  whom 
she  labored  and  guided  at  all  times  in  hei  work 
by  the  highest  ideals. 

Mrs.  Townsend  found  greatest  delight  in  bav- 
N  her  children  and  grandchildren  with  her  and 
many  were  the  happy  hours  spent  by  them  around 
her  genial  hearthstone.  She  possessed  many  admir- 
able traits  df  character.  Her  treatment  of  others 
was  invariably  characterized  by  generous  consider- 
ation. She  was  a  lady  of  most  kindly  spirit  and 
generous  disposition;  charity  and  benevolence 
were  among  her  strong  traits,  her  ever-ready  sym- 
pathy  was  always  touched  by  a  tale  of  sorrow  or 
distress  and  she  was  quick  to  do  everything  in  her 
power  to  relieve  the  grievous  burdens  that  others 
were  bearing.  She  approached  those  whom  she 
aided  not  with  any  sense  of  condescension  but  as 
a  friend  whose  spirit  found  its  best  expression  in 
giving  aid  to  others.  She  recognized  the  truth  of 
universal  brotherhood  and  individual  obligation, 
but  it  was  not  any  sense  of  duty  which  prompted 
her  beneficence  but  a  heart  which  beat  with  ready 
sympathy  and  kindliness  for  all.  She  passed 
away  on  the  20th  of  December,  1904,  and  the 
memory  of  her  noble  life  is  a  sacred  treasure  to 
all  who  knew  her  and  remains  as  a  blessed  bene- 
diction to  her  many  friends. 


W.  E.  CHERRY. 


W.  E.  Cherry  is  one  of  the  best  known  residents 
"i  Cortland  and  no  history  of  the  village  would  be 
complete  without  mention  of  his  life.  He  was 
born  at  Auburn,  New  York,  August  23.  1830. 
His  father.  Cyrus  J.  Cherry,  was  drowned  in  a 
Wisconsin     lake     while     hunting   ducks,    and    the 


FAST  AND  PKESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


13^ 


mother  was  left  with  a  family  of  six  children,  of 
whom  W.  E.  Cherry  was  the  eldest  son,  although 
there  were  two  older  sisters.  In  1841  the  family 
left  Auburn,  New  York,  and  Mr.  Cherry  has  since 
lived  in  different  places  in  Missouri,  Wisconsin 
and  Illinois,  finally  settling  at  Batavia  in  the 
year  when  Abraham  Lincoln  was  first  elected  pres- 
ident. He  made  his  way  to  Chicago  on  the  same 
train  which  bore  some  of  the  delegates  to  the  ra- 
publican  national  convention  of  1800,  and  while 
in  the  city  he  heard  Owen  Lovejoy  speak  in  the 
wigwam  there.  He  also  heard  William  H.  Seward 
address  a  crowd  on  the  streets  during  the  days  of 
the  convention   upon   the  subjects   at   issue. 

As  stated.  Mr.  Cherry  after  coming  to  Illinois, 
established  his  home  at  Batavia,  Kane  county, 
where  he  lived  for  a  number  of  years,  removing  to 
Malta  township,  De  Kalb  county,  on  the  14th  of 
April.  1879.  Since  that  time  he  has  made  his 
home  within  the  holders  of  the  county,  finally  re-i 
moving  to  Cortland  in  "potato  digging  time"  in 
1888. 

Mr.  Cherry  was  married  in  early  manhood  to 
Miss  Sarah  Barker,  of  Missouri,  who  was  three 
days  his  junior.  They  had  no  children  of  their 
own  but  reared  an  adopted  son  and  daughter: 
Frank  Cherry,  now  living  in  Cortland;  and  .Mrs. 
Clara  A.  Gerber,  now  a  resident  of  Independ- 
ence. Missouri.  Mr.  Cherry  has  always  regarded 
them  as  his  own  children  and  neither  of  them  ever 
knew  any  other  place  as  home  or  any  other  father. 
Having  lost  his  first  wife,  Mr.  Chery  was  married 
to  Miss  Catherine  Burt,  of  Batavia,  Illinois,  on 
the  8th  of  June,  1871,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  six  children:  Mary  Maud,  who  was  born  Sep- 
tember 1.  1875,  and  died  March  12.  1881;  Zoe 
Ellen,  born  February  20,  1877;  Enos  Burt,  who 
was  born  November  19,  1879,  and  died  April  28, 
1880;  William  Enos,  born  June  1,  1886;  Celia 
Maria,  born  June  4,  1888;  and  Harry  Edward, 
born  December  12,  1891. 

Mr.  Cherry  worked  for  many  years  as  a  wagon 
blacksmith  and  the  last  contract  which  he  had  was 
to  iron  five  thousand  wagons  for  the  Newton 
Manufacturing  Company  of  Batavia.  He  suffered 
from  ill  health  at  different  times  for  many  years 
but  at  last  received  much  aid  from  the  Vienna 
Medical  Institute  of  Chicago,  and  at  the  age  of 
seventy-six   years    he    is    aide    to    attend    to    some 


lniHiicss.  distributing  family  medicines  among  his 
customers,  including  some  of  the  best  families  of 
De  Kalb  county.  He  compounds  his  own  medi- 
cines and  obtains  a  good  income  from  their  sales. 
Not  only  does  he  sell  in  Cortland  but  also  lias 
mail  and  telephone  orders  for  his  remedies. 

The  family  have  a  pleasant  home  in  Cortland 
and  a  notable  event  in  the  family  history  is  the 
fact  that  the  mother  of  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cherry 
were  members  of  their  household  for  many  years. 
When  they  were  married  Mrs.  Cherry's  mother, 
Mrs.  Mary  L.  Burt,  became  a  member  of  the 
family  and  remained  here  until  her  death  on  the 
3d  of  August,  1IHM),  having  lived  with  them  all 
the  time  and  in  fact  having  never  been  separated 
from  her  daughter  for  any  length  of  time  during 
her  entire  life.  Mr.  Cherry's  mother,  Mrs.  Han- 
nah Wilcox  Cherry,  had  been  with  them  for 
twenty-five  years  when  her  death  occurred  January 
9,  190(3,  at  the  very  extreme  old  age  of  ninety-e i  e  1 1 1 
wars.  She  would  often  fast  and  would  neither 
drink  tea  nor  coffee.  She  was  very  discreet  and 
her  temperate  way  of  living  was  undoubtedly  a 
factor  in  her  longevity.  Her  death  was  apparently 
without  pain.  The  family  had  noticed  that  her 
strength  was  failing  but  she  had  no  disease  and 
her  death  was  simply  the  wearing  out  of  the 
tissues,  occasioned  by  old  age,  for  she  lived  to  be 
almost  a  centenarian.  Mrs.  Burt  was  past  eighty- 
nine  years  of  age  when  she  was  called  to  her  final 
rest.  The  family  bad  been  a  most  pleasant  house- 
hold and  the  friends  often  spoke  of  the  Cherry 
residence  as  the  Old  Ladies'  Home.  A  great  many 
people  came  to  visit  the  two  dear  old  mothers,  who 
remained  so  long  to  grace  the  household  and  who 
both  now  lie  buried  in  the  family  plat  in  Malta 
cemetery.  Mrs.  Mary  Ball  Burt  was  a  distant 
relative  of  Mrs.  Mary  Ball  Washington,  the 
mother  of  George  Washington,  the  father  of  his 
country.  The  genealogy  of  the  Ball  family  has 
been  published  and  a  copy  of  it  is  to  be  found  in 
the  Cherry  family  library. 

Of  the  younger  generation  of  the  family  we 
make  mention  as  follows.  The  daughter,  Zoe,  on 
the  4th  of  May.  1896,  became  the  wife  of  Edwin 
F.  King,  who  was  horn  August  29,  1869.  They 
had  two  children:  Bernice,  who  was  born  Feb- 
ruary  6,  and  died  February  12,  1899;  and  Dor- 
othy, born  February  1,  1900.     Miss  Celia  Cherry 


438 


PAST    AND   PRESENT    OF    DE    KALI;    COUNTY. 


was  married  October  13.  1905,  to  A.  B.  Steuben, 
who  was  born  May  37,  1881.  Their  marriage  had 
been  planned  as  a  home  affair  but  the  young  couple 
took  the  matter  into  their  own  hands  and  it  is  now 
a  matter  of  record  that  theirs  was  the  first  auto- 
mobile elopement  to  occur  in  De  Kalb  county. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cherry  are  very  hospitable  people 
and  it  is  their  feeling  and  that  of  their  children 
that  'There  is  no  place  like  home."  They  delight 
to  entertain  their  many  friends:,  who  are  frequent 
visitors  at  the  family  residence. 


J.  M.  JOHNSON. 

.1.  M.  Johnson  i-  successfully  engaged  in  the 
operation  of  a  valuable  farm  of  three  hundred 
acres  in  De  Kalb  township  and  also  devotes  con- 
siderable attention  to  stock-raising.  In  the  con- 
trol of  his  business  affairs  be  displays  an  aptitude 
for  successful  management,  combined  with  unfal- 
tering energy.  He  was  born  in  Afton  township, 
August  ;.  L865,  a  son  of  N'T  M.  and  Anna  John- 
son, ami  lias  spent  his  entire  life  in  this  county. 

The  father  was  a  native  of  Sweden  anil  in  early 
life  came  tn  ibi'  United  Stair-,  taking  up  hi-  resi- 
dence in  De  Kalb,  Illinois,  in  1853.  After  seven 
years  spent  in  that  city  he  removed  to  Ut<>n 
township,  where  he  lived  tor  three  years,  and 
then  became  a  resident  of  De  Kalb  township,  sei 
fling-  on  a  tract  of  land  of  eighty  acres  on  section 
'.  lie  purchased  that  place  and  kept  adding 
thereto  until  his  farm  comprised  three  hundred 
acres.  Later  be  bought  fouT  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  land  in  Nebraska,  lb-  success  was  nota- 
ble from  the  fact  that  when  he  came  to  America 
be  had  very  little  capital,  but  he  possessed  what 
was  still  better — energy  and  a  determination  to 
succeed.  As  the  years  passed  by,  through  bis 
industry,  frugality  and  wi-e  investment  he  pros- 
pered and  at  his  death,  which  occurred  Januan 
6,  1886,  lie  was  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  of 
the  county.  His  wife  died  in  Tie  Kalb  on  the 
18th  of  March.  1907,  after  a  short  illness.  She 
was  also  a  native  of  Sweden  and  crossed  the  At- 
lantic in   1854,  landing  in   Boston,  Massachusetts. 

Tn  his  boyhood  days  .1.  M.  Johnson  attended 
the  public  schools  of  the  county,  and  under  his 
parents'  instruction   be  also  learned  tn   read  and 


write  the  Swedish  Language.  He  is  today  a  well 
informed  man.  keeping  in  touch  with  the  trend 
■  if  modern  thought  as  manifest  in  business  and 
political  circles.  The  occupation  in  which  he  was 
reared  he  has  made  his  life  work  and  as  he  car- 
ries forward  the  work  of  field  and  meadow-  he  is 
n ting  with  very  desirable  success.  He  is  en- 
gaged in  the  cultivation  of  three  hundred  acres  of 
land  in  De  Kalb  township  and  is  also  treasurer 
of  a  company  which  owns  a  full-blooded  Perch- 
eion  Imrse  for  breeding  purposes.  He  is  likewise 
engaged  in  the  raising  of  Poland  China  hogs  and 
his  business  in  its  various  departments  is  proving 
profitable,  while  in  the  county  Mr.  Johnson  is 
classed  with  the  leading  farmers  and  stock-raisers. 

On  the  9th  of  January.  1897,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Johnson  and  Miss  Anna  Nel- 
son, who  i-  a  native  of  Sweden,  born  December 
'.'I.  1866.  Her  parents,  both  natives  of  Sweden. 
are  now  deceased  and  never  came  to  the  United 
States.  .Mr-.  Johnson  crossed  the  Atlantic  in 
1888.  She  had  four  brothers  and  three  sisters, 
of  whom  two  are  yet  living  in  Sweden  ami  throe 
came  to  the  new  world.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson 
have  four  children:  Effie  E..  born  November  8, 
t89'3  :  Harold  C...  March  31.  1899;  Elva  L..  June 
6.   L901  :  and  Agnes,  January  IT  1903. 

Mr.  Johnson  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  church  and  he  is  a  member  of 
tie  Modern  Woodman  camp,  No.  16,  ami  the  Elks 
lodge,  Xo.  765,  at  De  Kalb.  He  is  also  vice  presi- 
d(  nt  of  the  Swedish  Republican  Club  of  De  Kalb 
and  is  one  of  the  prominent  supporters  of  the 
party,  having  always  voted  that  ticket  and  labored 
for  its  success.  He  is  now-  assistant  supervisor  of 
De  Kalb  township  and  for  three  years  has  been 
school  director.  He  has  figured  prominently  in 
local  political  circles  and  exerts  considerable  influ- 
ence among  tin-  Swedish-American  residents  of  tin 
township  and  city  of  De  Kalb. 


ANDREW  H.   OLMSTED. 

Although  starting  out  in  life  in  a  humble  finan- 
cial position  Andrew  II.  Olmsted,  of  Genoa,  has 
through  his  own  persistency  of  purpose  and  un- 
faltering  energy  gained   a   gratifying  measure  of 

ecess  which  now  classes  him  among  the  wealthy 
ret ned   farmers  of  De  Kalb  county,  where  he  has 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


439 


extensive  landed  possessions  aggregating  seventeen 
hundred  acres,  all  of  which  is  in  one  body,  while 
he  also  owns  six  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land 
in  Logan  count)-,  Kansas. 

Mr.  Olmsted  was  born  in  Delaware  county,  New- 
York,  January  18,  1833,  a  son  of  Caleb  and 
Samantha  (Wager)  Olmsted,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Delaware  county.  The  young  couple 
there  began  life  on  a  farm  and  four  children  came 
to  bless  their  home.  In  1844,  the  father  removed 
with  his  family  to  Illinois,  making  the  journey 
by  canal  and  lake  to  Chicago,  whence  they  made 
their  way  to  St.  Charles,  and  on  to  Genoa,  locat- 
ing on  a  farm  three  miles  east  of  the  latter  city, 
lie  pre-empted  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
'land  and  opened  up  a  line  farm,  which  now  con- 
stitutes a  portion  of  the  farm  owned  by  the  sub- 
ject of  this  review.  He  later  secured  another  tract 
of  land  situated  on  section  lit.  He  improved  his 
farm  with  a  good  house  and  barn,  hauling  the 
lumber  used  in  their  construction  from  Chicago 
on  a  sled.  He  likewise  set  out  a  good  orchard 
and  made  his  home  on  the  farm  for  many  years, 
but  his  last  days  Were  spent  in  Genoa,  where  his 
death  occurred  in  1887,  being  survived  by  his  wife 
for  only  a  few  months. 

Andrew  II.  Olmsted  was  reared  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  early  becoming  familiar  with  the  work 
of  the  fields.  He  was  a  little  lad  of  only  nine 
years  when  his  parents  removed  to  tin-  Male  from 
New  York,  and  as  his  age  and  strength  permitted 
he  assisted  his  father  in  the  arduous  task  of  devel- 
oping and  cultivating  new  land.  At  one  time,  in 
connection  with  a  cousin,  he  was  engaged  in  break- 
ing land  for  others,  owning  a  large  breaking  plow 
and  eight  yoke  id'  oxen,  and  in  this  way  broke 
hundreds  of  acres  of  new  land.  He  remained 
under  the  parental  roof  until  he  had  reached  the 
age  of  twenty-five  years,  when,  in  December.  1860, 
in  Genoa,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eebeeea  Jane 
Eiklor,  a  native  of  Huron,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter 
of  Frederick  Eiklor,  who  removed  from  the  Buck- 
eye state  to  Illinois  at  an  early  day.  thus  becom- 
ing one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this  state. 

Following  his  marriage  Mr.  Olmsted  located 
on  a  farm  on  section  17,  Genoa  township,  this 
tract  comprising  eighty  acres  of  partially  improved 
land.  He  broke  the  land  with  an  ox  team  and 
in  due  time  erected  a  substantial  house,  good  barns 
ami    outbuildings,    the    lumber    for    this    purpose 


being  hauled  from  Chicago.  He  has  since'  added 
to  hi>  possessions  from  time  to  time  until  he  is 
today  the  owner  of  seventeen  hundred  acres  of 
land,  which  is  divided  into  six  farms,  all  adjoin- 
ing, and  he  now  has  six  sets  of  good  buildings, 
so  that  his  place  presents  the  appearance  of  a 
little  village.  He  also  owns  six  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  land  in  Logan  county,  Kansas.  When 
Mr.  Olmsted  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account 
he  incurred  an  indebtedness  of  six  hundred  dol- 
lars, on  which  he  paid  interest  at  the  rate  of  ten 
per  cent.  He  soon  discharged  this  obligation  and 
worked  his  way  upward  as  the  years  passed  by 
until  he  has  become  one  of  the  largest  landowners 
of  1  )e  Kalb  county,  his  success  being  due  to  his 
untiring  energy  and  the  assistance  of  his  estima- 
ble wife,  who  has  indeed  proved  to  him  a  valuable 
ami  worthy  helpmate.  Mr.  Olmsted  was  actively 
identified  with  agricultural  pursuits  until  1885, 
when  he  removed  to  Genoa,  where  he  built  a  nice 
residence,  and  here  he  has  since  made  his  home, 
merely  giving  supervision  to  his  landed   interests. 

I'nto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born 
three  daughters  but  the  youngest.  Elite,  died  at 
the  age  of  two  years,  while  the  surviving  daugh- 
ters are:  Cora  May,  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  Robin- 
son, of  Genoa;  and  Ada  Maud,  the  wife  of  Charles 
Mi-own.  a  banker  of  Genoa. 

Mr.  Olmsted  is  a  stanch  advocate  of  republican 
principles,  casting  his  first  presidential  ballot  for 
John  ('.  Fremont  in  1856,  and  he  has  supported 
each  candidate  of  the  party  since  that  time.  He 
has  never  been  active  as  an  office  seeker,  for  his 
extended  business  interests  have  fully  claimed  his 
time  and  attention.  Mrs.  Olmsted  holds  member- 
ship with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr. 
Olmsted  has  made  his  home  in  De  Kalb  county 
for  six  decades  and  during  that  time  has  seen  a 
wonderful  transformation  in  this  section  of  tie- 
state,  for  when  he  arrived  here  the  town  of  Genoa 
was  still  a  thing  of  the  future  and  there  were 
but  eight  or  ten  buildings  in  the  entire  township. 
Soon  other  settlers  located  here,  farms  were  devel- 
oped and  improved  and  the  thriving  little  town 
of  Genoa  sprang  into  existence  and  today  De  Kalb 
county  ranks  among  the  foremost  sections  of  the 
state,  while  in  this  work  of  improvement  and 
progress  Mr.  Olmsted  has  not  only  been  a  witness 
hut  has  been  an  active  participant  so  that  he  can 
now  look  with  just  pride  upon  the  work  that  has 


440 


PAST   AND    PRESENT    OE   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


here  been  accomplished.  His  life  is  another  proof 
of  what  determination  and  energy  has  to  do  with 
success,  for,  though  starting  out  in  the  business 
world  with  no  capital  and   with  an  indebtedness 

he  has  gradually  worked  his  way  upward  until  he 
i-  now  classed  with  the  wealthy  and  substantial 
residents  of  tins  part  el'  the  state. 


HORACE    WRIGHT    FAY. 

Horace  Wright  Fay.  second  representative  in 
the  legislature  from  De  Kalb  county,  soldier  in  th  \ 
Civil  war  and  county  surveyor,  was  horn  August 
11,  1801,  in  New  York  state.  He  was  the  sixth 
in  direct  descent  from  John  Fay.  who  was  born 
in  England  in  L6  is.  and  who  came  to  America  and 
died  in  Marlboro,  Massachusetts,  in  L690.  The 
record  of  succession  is  as  follows:  John  Pay's 
son,  born  in  160!).  at  Marlboro,  died  in  1741  at 
Westboro,  .Massachusetts;  Deacon  James  Fay,  who 
was  born  in  1707,  in  Marlboro,  and  died  in  1777, 
resided  at  Westboro,  Grafton  and  Hardwick; 
Daniel  Fay.  burn  in  1728,  at  Westboro,  Massa- 
chusetts, died  in  1815  at  Hardwick,  Massachus- 
etts; Jonathan  Fay,  born  in  1774  at  Hardwick, 
was  Iniri.-il  at  Siptaw  I. row.  1  >e  Kalb  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1837;  and  Horace  W.  Fay  is  subject  of 
ibis  sketch.  Three  generations  of  his  family  have 
since  resided  in  lie  Kalb  county,  making  a  record 
of  nine  generations  in  America  in  about  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty-six  years. 

About  183?  Horace  W.  Fay  came  to  De  Kalb 
county,  Illinois,  and  in  conjunction  with  his 
brother,  Wells  A.  Fay,  who  came  to  the  county 
in  1836,  bought  land  in  Squaw  Grove  township. 
Their  aged  father  and  mother  started  overland 
from  the  east  to  make  their  home  witli  them,  but 
the  father  died  en  route  while  in  Chicago,  Jan- 
uary 12,  1837.  Their  mother,  Rhoda  (White) 
Fay,  lived  many  years  in  Squaw  Grove  town- 
ship. Horace  W.  Fay's  brothers  and  sisters  are 
as  follows:  Boswell  Fay.  who  died  about  1870, 
in  Squaw  Grove  township :  Roxana  Carpenter, 
grandmother  of  Mrs.  Henry  A.  Adams,  of  Sand- 
wich; Horace  Wright  Fay,  of  this  sketch,  who 
died  ai  Vicksburg,  Mississippi:  Austin  Fay,  who 
was  killed  in  the  Mexican  war:  Maryetta  Barnes, 
who  died  at  Ottawa:  Wells  Alvirus  Fay,  who  set- 


tled   in  Squaw  Grove  township  in  1836,  and  died 
at  Hinckley,  Illinois,  in  1879. 

Tin'  subject  of  this  sketch  was  first  married  to 
Roxana  Eaton.  Onto  this  union  were  born  live 
children:  Edwin  Horace  Fay.  soldier  in  the  Mex- 
ican war.  now  at  Hinckley.  Illinois,  father  of  H. 
W.  Fay,  of  De  Kalb:  Mahala  Hough,  wife  of  the 
first  editor  of  De  Kalb  county;  Mary  Juliet  Car- 
penter, wife  of  Ex-Senator  Carpenter,  of  Kansas; 
Rhoda  S.  Merritt,  firsl  wife  of  John  Merritt,  of 
Clinton  township:  and  Frances  Cordelia  Snow, 
wife  of  Owen  Snow,  of  Brecksville,  Ohio.  About 
L834  Mr.  Fay's  wife  died  and  later  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Allida  Adams,  who  died  on  the  Beitel 
farm  in  Squaw  Grove  township  about  1847.  They 
had  one  child,  Julia  Cordelia  Bates,  who  lived  for 
many  years  at  Hartford,  Connecticut.  While  a 
member  of  the  state  legislature  in  1848-1850  li- 
nn i  and  married  Mis.  Margaret  Stipp,  now  living 
in  Milwaukee.  Wisconsin.  She  had  two  children. 
Herman  Stipp.  who  served  as  a  soldier,  and 
Georgia  Hamlin.  The  children  of  the  third  mar- 
age  are  as  follows:  Mrs.  Alice  Wilson,  of  Free- 
land,  Illinois;  Walter  Fay,  who  was  killed  in  the 
railway  service  at  Boone,  [owa,  m  L898;  Frank 
Leslie  Fay,  <>(  Rapid  City,  South  Dakota;  and 
Perley  S.  Fay.  a  railroad  man  of  Milwaukee,  \\  is- 
i  onsin. 

In  1853  Mr.  Fay  was  elected  surveyor  of  De 
Kalb  i"iiiit\  and  served  until  1858.  He  ran  lines 
ii|miii  almost  every  quarter  section  id'  the  county 
and  platted  Sandwich,  Malta  and  parts  of  De 
Kalb.  He  was  one  of  the  civil  engineers  of  the 
Illinois  ami  Michigan  Canal.  Horace  W.  Fay  an- 
swered  his  country's  call  in  1861  and  went  to  the 
front  in  Colonel  Richard  Oglesby's  regiment.  He 
enlisted  at  Birds"  Point.  Missouri,  December  2, 
1861,  a-  principal  musician  in  the  Eighth  Regi- 
ment, Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  a  period  of 
three  years.  He  was  discharged  to  receive  the 
appointment  as  chaplain  in  the  First  Mississippi 
Heavy  Artillery,  December  7,  1863.  He  saw  ac- 
tive service  at  Shiloh  and  was  at  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg and  died  in  the  service  at  that  place  April 
18,  1864.  His  remains  were  buried  in  the  soldier's 
cemetery  at  Vicksburg. 

Mr.  Fay  was  a  delegate  to  the  first  republican 
convention  of  Do  Kalb  county.  There  had  been 
a  -'■  at  upheave]  of  political  affiliations  in  the 
county   in    1854.     The  pioneers  bad   been  divided 


s? 


tf—L,  d    CX 


'Pr  q}< 


°a~> 


ASTOH,    LEN0X 
jr"-0ENFOONoAT,n,,? 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


443 


into  three  parties,  democrats,  whigs  and  free  soil- 
ers,  but  upon  the  founding  of  the  republican  party 
it  became  apparent  that  this  organization  repre- 
sented the  views  of  the  great  body  of  De  Kalb 
county  citizens.  On  September  14,  1854,  a  mass 
convention  was  held  in  Sycamore  to  select  repre- 
sentatives to  attend  the  republican  convention  at 
Aurora.  The  delegates  selected  were  chosen  from 
the  old  parties  as  follows :  democratic,  Horace 
W.  Fay:  G.  A.  Colton,  Joseph  Sixbury,  James 
Earrmgton  and  Royal  Crossetl  ;  Eree  soilers,  Pier- 
pont  Edwards,  Stephen  Townsend,  Thurston  Carr, 
David  West,  James  H.  Beveridge  and  E.  S.  Greg- 
ory;  whigs,  Reuben  Pritchard,  W.  J.  Hunt,  H.  \. 
Joslyn,  William  Byers,  Dr.  E.  Rose  and  John  N. 
Braddock. 

The  veteran  surveyor  was  a  familiar  figure 
among  the  pioneers  of  De  Kalb  county.  Boundary 
lines  were  being  constantly  established  and  he 
came  in  contact  with  about  every  family.  He 
was  a  devout  Christian  gentleman  and  officiated 
as  an  itinerant  minister  and  preached  in  nearly 
all  the  log  school  houses  of  the  county.  He  was 
an  accomplished  musician  and  scholar  and  taught 
singing  and  district  schools  in  pioneer  days.  He 
took  an  active  part  in  political  matters  and  his 
name  is  associated  with  many  of  the  early  im- 
portant meetings  of  the  county. 


HIRAM  OSTRANDER. 


Hiram  Ostrander  is  one  of  the  honored  veterans 

of  the  Civil  war  and  is  now  serving  for  the  third 
term  as  commander  of  Potter  post,  No.  12, 
G.  A.  R.,  at  Sycamore.  He  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Butternut,  Otsego  county,  New  York,  July  9, 
1833,  his  parents  being  Hiram  and  Adelia  (Cal- 
kins) Ostrander,  who  were  likewise  natives  of 
New  York.  The  father  was  a  cooper  by  trade 
and  later  followed  the  printing  business  in  the 
east.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Minnesota, 
where  he  engaged  in  newspaper  work  and  resided 
there  until  the  death  of  his  wife,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Michigan,  spending  his  last  days  in 
the  home  of  a  daughter.  His  wife  passed  away 
at  Hokah,  Houston  county,  Minnesota.  She  w.is 
the  mother  of  five  children.  One  son,  James 
Ostrander,  is  now  a  resident  of  Hokah,  Minnesota. 


He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  participating 
in  the  Indian  campaigns  on  the  frontier. 

Hiram  Ostrander  acquired  a  limited  education 
in  the  public  schools  but  early  began  to  earn  his 
living  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years  was  em- 
ployed to  drive  the  stage  over  the  mountains  in 
New  York.  He  worked  in  that  way  for  about 
one  year  and  during  the  succeeding  year  was  em- 
ployed as  a  farm  laborer  at  live  dollars  per  month. 
He  afterward  worked  on  a  dairy  farm  near  Colum- 
bus, New  York,  until  1853,  when  he  came  to  the 
middle  west  by  way  of  Ypsilanti,  Michigan.  The 
first  year  in  De  Kalb  county  he  drove  the  stage 
from  Sycamore  to  Cortland  for  at  that  time  the 
railroad  had  not  been  built.  He  afterward  worked 
on  the  Hamlin  farm  on  the  De  Kalb  road,  taking 
care  of  the  horses.  In  1SG0  he  made  a  trip  to 
California  on  horse  back  and  was  five  months  and 
five  days  on  the  way.  He  spent  some  time  in 
the  Sacramento  valley,  but  when  he  heard  of  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  he  wished  to  join  the 
army  as  an  Illinois  soldier  and  returned  on  horse 
back  to  De  Kalb  county.  Mr.  Ostrander  proved 
his  loyalty  to  the  old  flag  by  enlisting  in  October, 
1862,  as  a  member  of  the  Eighteenth  Illinois 
Cavalry.  At  Peoria  this  regiment  was  consoli- 
dated with  the  Fourteenth  Illinois  and  Mr.  Ostran- 
der, who  was  serving  as  a  private,  was  put  on 
detailed  duty  in  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  North  Car- 
olina-and  West  Virginia.  At  the  close  of  the  war 
he  was  mustered  out  at  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
August  25,  1865,  having  done  his  full  duty  as  a 
soldier  and  shown  himself  most  faithful  to  the 
stars  and  stripes. 

When  the  war  was  over,  Mr.  Ostrander  returned 
to  De  Kalb  county  and  there  engaged  in  farming 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  then  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  the  city  of  Sycamore,  since  which  time  he 
has  been  engaged  in  training  and  taking  care  of 
horses.  He  is  now  past  seventy-three  years  of 
age,  is  still  acttive  and  alert  and  is  today  taking 
care  of  a  number  of  horses  for  F.  B.  Townsend. 
In  1891  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  the  county  and 
served  four  years.  His  early  political  support 
was  given  to  the  whig  party  but  for  many  years 
he  has  been  an  ardent  republican,  in  thorough 
sympathy  with  the  principles  of  that  party.  He 
served  for  one  term  as  alderman  of  Sycamore. 

Mr.  Ostrander,  while  waiting  at  Peoria  to  be 
mustered   into   the   United   States   service   at  the 


-14-1 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


time  of  tlic  Civil  war.  returned  to  Sycamore  and 
on  the  2nd  of  January,  1SG3,  was  married  there 
to  Miss  Ruth  E.  Foster.  He  then  left  his  bride  to 
go  to  the  front.  Mrs.  Ostrander  is  a  daughter  of 
William  Foster,  a  native  of  the  Empire  state,  who 
came  to  Illinois  in  1846  and  in  18.36  became  a 
resident  of  Sycamore.  He  was  a  well-to-do  farmer 
and  his  old  homestead  is  the  present  residence 
of  our  subject.  He  died  twenty-one  years  ago 
at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years  and  is  still  sur- 
vived by  his  widow,  who  in  her  maidenhood  was 
Jane  Keyes.  Mrs.  Foster  is  a  native  of  New  York 
and  on  the  15th  of  March,  1907,  she  attained  the 
age  of  ninety-two  years.  With  the  exception  of 
her  eye-sight,  she  retains  her  faculties  unimpaired 
and  in  fact  enjoys  remarkable  health  for  one  of 
her  age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ostrander  became  the  par- 
ents of  two  children,  but  Cora  Ma\  died  at  the 
age  of  three  years  and  the  other  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Ostrander  has  long  been  a  prominent  and 
influential  member  of  the  Grand  Army  post  at 
Sycamore  and  for  fourteen  years  served  as  quar- 
termaster, while  at  the  present  time  he  is  serving 
his  third  term  as  its  commander.  He  delights 
in  recalling  reminiscences  of  the  tented  field  and 
the  experience  which  came  to  him  when  he  wore 
the  blue  uniform  of  the  nation  and  defended  its 
starry  banner.  He  has  always  been  a  temperate 
man.  having  never  spent  five  cents  in  a  saloon; 
he  never  took  but  one  chew  of  tobacco  and  for 
several  years  he  has  not  smoked.  His  life  has 
indeed  been  exemplary  in  these  respects  and  those 
who  know  him  admin1  him  because  of  his  fidelity 
to  principh  s. 


CHARLES    MORTON. 


Nature  was  lavish  to  De  Kalb  county  in  her 
bestowal  of  opportunities  for  successful  agricul- 
tural development.  The  land,  once  wild  and  un- 
improved, responds  readily  to  the  care  and  culti- 
vation bestowed  upon  it  and  firings  forth  rich 
and  abundant  harvests.  It  also  makes  excellent 
pasture  land  for  stock  and  the  raisin."  of  horses, 
cattle  and  bogs  constitutes  an  important  industry 
in  the  business  life  of  this  portion  of  the  state. 
Mr.  Morton  has  taken  advantage  of  the  opportuni- 
ties offered  along  agricultural  lines  and  has  met 


with  gratifying  success  in  raising  grain  and  stock 
as  i-  indicated  in  his  ownership  of  an  excellent 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  on  section 
28,  Victor  township.  He  also  owns  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  15,  the  same 
township.  Both  are  well  improved  properties  and 
the  enterprise  and  labor  of  Mr.  Morton  are  indi- 
cated thereby.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1856,  locat- 
ing in  La  Salle  county,  and  to  De  Kalb  county  in 
1863,  bringing  to  the  west  a  spirit  of  enterprise 
and  determination  that  enabled  him  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  the  conditions  which  here  existed  and 
to  shape  opportunities  to  his  own  use. 

Mr.  Morton  was  born  in  Portland,  Maine,  on  the 
19  of  February,  1839.  his  parents  being  George 
and  Mary  S.  (Purnton)  Morton,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Plymouth.  Massachusetts,  and  the  latter  a 
native  of  the  Pine  Tree  state.  Following  their 
marriage  they  lived  for  a  time  in  Lynn.  Massa- 
chusetts, and  in  1856  came  to  Illinois,  settling 
i  i  La  Salle  county,  where  they  remained  until 
1863  and  then  came  to  De  Kalb  county.  Both 
the  father  and  mother  spent  their  remaining  davs 
ir.  Victor  township.  In  their  family  were  six 
children. 

Charles  Morton,  the  second  in  order  of  birth. 
was  reared  in  Massachusetts  to  the  age  of  seven- 
teen years,  enjoying  the  advantages  afforded  by 
the  good  schools  of  that  state.  After  acquiring 
a  high-school  education,  he  came  to  the  west  when 
a  young  man  and  remained  with  bis  father  until 
In-  marriage.  It  was  on  the  23d  of  December, 
1869,  in  De  Kalb  county,  that  he  wedded  Miss 
Lucy  Davis,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Victor 
township,  a  daughter  of  Allien  Davis,  who  arrived 
ii:  this  county  in  1844  from  Canada  and  was  a 
native  of  New  York.  Her  mother,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Martha  Robinson,  was  a  native 
oi  Canada.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morton  located  on  the 
farm  where  thej  now  live  in  1870  and  he  has  since 
erected  a  neat  and  substantial  residence  as  well  as 
a  good  barn  and  corn  cribs.  He  has  put  up  a 
wind  pump,  has  set  out  an  orchard,  has  tenccd 
bis  fields  with  hedge  and  woven  wire.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  home  place  of  one  hundred  and  thirty 
a<  res  he  has  purchased  a  quarter  section  of  land 
not  far  distant  and  this  he  now  rents.  Both  places 
are  well  improved  properties  and  Mr.  Morton  is 
yet  active  in  the  management  and  control  of  the 
home   place,   raising  good   crops  and   also  raising 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


■115 


and   feeding  considerable  stock  annually   in  con- 
nection with  his  son  Harry  G. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morton  have  been  born  three 
children:  Harry  G.,  who  assists  in  the  operation 
of  the  home  farm  ;  Edith  L.  and  Eunice  L.,  both 
at  home.  Mr.  Morton  is  a  believer  in  democratic 
principles  and  has  generally  voted  the  party  tick  'I 
in  national  elections,  but  in  1904  supported  Theo- 
dore Roosevelt.  At  the  local  elections  he  does 
not  consider  himself  bound  by  party  ties  and  gives 
his  support  to  the  candidate  whom  he  thinks  best 
qualified  for  office.  He  is  a  believer  in  the  Uni- 
versalist  faith.  Mr.  Morton  has  lived  in  the  county 
from  an  early  period  and  has  seen  and  shaken 
hands  with  the  old  Indian  chief  Shabbona.  There 
were  many  evidences  of  Indian  occupancy  at  the 
time  of  his  arrival  in  the  state  but  the  white  man 
was  busy  with  the  work  of  reclamation  and  the 
labor  which  he  has  wrought  in  the  passing  years 
has  so  changed  De  Kalb  county  that  it  bears  little 
resemblance  to  the  district  into  which  Mr.  Morton 
made  his  way  so  long  ago. 


ADOLPHUS  MELANCTHON  JOHNSON. 

Adolphus  Melanethon  Johnson  is  one  of  De 
Kalb  county's  native  sons  but  is  of  Swedish  line- 
age and  possesses  many  of  the  sterling  character- 
istics which  have  ever  been  attributed  to  the  Swed- 
ish people.  His  parents  were  Magnus  and  Chris- 
tine (Johnson)  Johnson,  who  came  from  Sweden 
to  De  Kalb  county  in  1854,  being  early  residents 
of  this  part  of  the  state.  The  father  was  bom 
in  Smolen,  November  16.  1833,  and  died  in  De 
Kalb  township  on  Christmas  day  of  189?,  after 
a  residence  of  more  than  four  decades  in  this 
county.  His  wife,  also  a  native  of  Smolen,  was 
born  April  1G,  1836,  and  died  in  De  Kalb  town- 
ship, February  1,  1902.  They  were  people  of 
genuine  personal  worth,  active  and  energetic,  and 
the  father  gained  a  goodly  measure  of  success  in 
his  farming  operations. 

Adolphus  M.  Johnson  was  born  on  the  old  fam- 
ily homestead,  June  3,  1864,  and  was  graduated 
from  the  public  schools  of  Milan  township,  De 
Kalb  county.  He  then  went  to  Elburn,  Illinois, 
where  he  attended  school  for  a  time  and  subse- 
quently went  to  Geneva,  Illinois,  where  he  com- 


pleted his  education.  Having  put  aside  his  text- 
books, he  accepted  a  clerkship  in  a  general  store 
m  Geneva,  where  he  remained  for  two  vears.  He 
next  went  to  Chicago,  where  for  a  year  and  a 
half  he  was  identified  with  the  Phoenix  Incan- 
descent  Light  Company,  after  which  he  returned 

to  De  Kalh.  where   for  three  sine ling  years  he 

was  in  the  employ  of  Jacob  Ilaish.  Desiring  that 
his    labors    should    more    directly    benefit    himself. 

lie  began  farming  on  his  own  ace. t  in  1901,  and 

purchased  ninety  acres  of  land  in  De  Kalb  town- 
ship, which  he  still  owns  and  operates.  His  farm 
is  equipped  with  modern  accessories  and  he  has 
placed  his  fields  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
so  that  he  derives  therefrom  a  good  annual  income. 
On  the  15th  of  January,  1890,  Mr.  Johnson  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Tillie  Elizabeth  John- 
son, and  they  have  become  the  parents  of  five 
children:  Effie,  Earl  Evans,  Hiram  Harold,  Ver- 
non Webster  and  Abner  Marion.  The  family  cir- 
cle yet  remains  unbroken  by  the  hand  of  death. 
The  parents  are  members  of  the  Swedish  Luth- 
eran church  at  De  Kalb  and  Mr.  Johnson  affil- 
iates with  the  Modern  Woodmen  camp  there.  In 
his  political  belief  he  is  a  republican.  His  en- 
tire life  has  been  passed  in  this  county  and  the 
fact  that  many  of  his  stanchest  friends  are  those 
who  have  known  him  from  his  boyhood  days  to 
the  present  is  an  indication  that  his  has  been  an 
honorable  and   upright   life. 


LEE  R.  HUDGENS. 


Lee  R.  Hudgens  is  one  of  the  successful  and 
up-to-date  farmers  of  Sandwich  township,  whose 
property  comprises  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres 
of  land  on  section  23  within  a  half  mile  of  the 
corporation  limits  of  the  city  of  Sandwich.  By 
birth,  by  training  and  preference,  he  is  a  western 
man  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  enterprise  ami 
progress  which  have  ever  been  the  dominant  fac- 
tors in  the  development  of  this  section  of  the 
slate.  He  was  horn  in  La  Salle  county,  July 
1.  1861. 

His  father,  Augustus  P.  Hudgens,  was  a  native 
of  Louisiana,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  New 
Orleans  about  1824.  The  grandfather.  Dr..  John 
Hudgens.  was  of  English  ancestny,  being  descended 


446 


PAST   AXD   PRESENT    OF    DB    KALB    COUNTY. 


from  one  of  the  passengers  of  the  Mayflower.  He 
died  of  yellow  fever  in  New  Orleans,  after  which 
his  wife  and  son,  Augustus  P.  Hudgens,  removed 
to  Boston,  Massachusetts,  making  their  home  with 

the  mother's   | pie.     Augustus  P.  Hudgens  was 

reared  therefore  in  Boston  and  in  1848  came  west- 
ward to  Illinois,  settling  in  Newark.  There  he 
engaged  in  merchandising  for  a  few  years  and 
was  regarded  as  one  of  the  intelligent,  enterpris- 
ing and  progressive  business  men.  He  married 
Mi-  Annis  Potter,  a  native  of  New  York  and 
daughter  of  Darius  Potter,  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  La  Salle  county,  living  on  the  Fox  river. 
Mr.  Hudgens  purchased  government  land  at  Le- 
land,  Illinois,  becoming  owner  of  about  two  hun- 
dred acres,  upon  which  he  opened  up  his  farm 
and  there  reared  and  educated  his  children.  He 
developed  the  property  and  at  length  sold  that 
farm,  after  which  he  spent  three  winters  in  Flor- 
ida. He  died  at  the  home  of  a  son  in  Chicago, 
December  12,  189G.  His  wife  departed  this  lit'..' 
at  her  home  in  Sandwich  in  1901.  Mr.  Hudgens 
was  prominent  and  active  in  community  affair-, 
serving  as  trustee  of  schools  and  as  supervisor  for 
a  number  of  years.  He  was  well  known  as  a  man 
whose  natural  and  acquired  talents  well  fitted 
him  for  leadership  and  throughout  the  community 
in  which  he  lived  he  was  honored  and  respected. 

Lee  R.  Hudgens  is  one  of  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren, five  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  four 
sons  and  three  daughters  are  yet  living.  The 
oldest  brother,  Milton  D.  Hudgens,  is  a  resident 
of  Indianapolis,  Indiana.  Seymour  I.  Hudgens 
ij  now  a  practicing  lawyer  in  Boston,  Massachus- 
etts, and  is  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College.  Dana 
C.  is  a  graduate  of  the  State  University  of  Cham- 
paign and  is  now  an  architect  and  mechanical  en- 
gineer of  Chicago.  The  sisters  are:  Hulda  J.. 
living  in  Sandwich:  Augusta,  wife  of  Joseph  Skin- 
ner of  Bedford :  and  Olive,  who  is  with  her  sister 
in   Sandwich. 

In  taking  up  the  history  of  Lee  R.  Hudge.ts 
we  present  to  our  readers  the  life  record  of  one 
who  is  widely  and  favorably  known  in  this  part 
of  the  state.  He  was  reared  in  La  Salle  county 
and  after  acquiring  hi-  preliminary  education  in 
the  common  schools,  became  a  student  in  the  Sand- 
wich high  school.  He  remained  with  his  father 
until  he  had  attained  his  majority  and  afterwai  ! 
engaged  in  operating  the  home  farm  for  four  or 


live  years.  He  was  married  in  Sandwich  on  the 
29th  of  January,  1885,  to  Miss  Mary  D.  Can', 
who  was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  that  citj 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Captain  Lindsey  Carr.  who 
was  a  soldier  of  the  Rebellion,  commanding  a 
company  as  its  captain  until  killed  at  Island  No. 
in  in  18G2.  He  had  a  brother  who  is  a  noted 
artist  and  has  a  studio  in  New  York  city.  He 
was  seni  by  the  government  to  Cuba  during  the 
Spanish-American  war  to  do  work  there  and  is 
well  known  in  art  circles.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hudgens  have  been  born  two  children:  Lue  and 
Mitt,  both  at  home. 

In  1902  Mr.  Hudgens  purchased  the  farm  upon 
which  he  now  n  sides.  It  is  an  excellent  property. 
well  improved.  He  rents  much  of  the  land,  while 
he  gives  his  attention  to  the  raising  and  feeding 

■  attle  and  other  live  stock.  He  feeds  and  ships 
about  three  carloads  of  fat  cattle  each  year  and 
also  about  two  carloads  of  hogs.  He  is  a  very 
successful  feeder  and  also  makes  a  business  of 
liuying  and  shipping  horses,  to  which  work  ne 
has  given  his  attention  for  several  years.  He 
well  known  in  La  Salle,  De  Kalb  and  Kendall 
counties  as  a  prominent  live-stock  dealer,  conduct- 
ing a  very  successful  business.  Politically  Mr. 
Hudgens  is  a  stanch  republican  and  has  never 
sought  nor  desired  office.  Mrs.  Hudgens  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Sandwich.  Both 
are  highly  esteemed  throughout  the  community 
and  have  a  circle  of  friends  that  is  limited  only 
by  the  circle  of  their  acquaintance.  Mr.  Hudgens 
has  been  a  resident  of  the  state  throughout  his 
entire  life.  He  has  traveled  quite  extensively 
in  other  states  but  regards  Illinois  as  the  best  of 
all  and  is  fully  satisfied  with  the  advantages  and 
productiveness  of  the  Fox  river  valley. 


HENRY  BENJAMIN  GTJRLER. 

Henry  Benjamin  Curler,  dairyman,  author 
and  lecturer  on  dairy  topics  and  a  man  of  state 
and  national  reputation,  was  born  May  21,  lsl" 
at  Chesterfield,  Cheshire  county.  New  Hampshire. 
and  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Harriet  (Hopkins) 
Curler.  The  father  was  also  a  native  of  Cheshire 
county,  born  at  Nelson.  October  25,  1807.     The 


^rr^.^/u^L. 


PAST   AND    PKESENT    OF   DE    KALI!    COUNTY. 


449 


paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Thomas 
Gurler,  who  removed  to  Nelson  in  1772  and  was 
accompanied  by  his  widowed  mother,  his  father 
having  been  lost  at  sea.  He  was  a  sea  captain 
whose  home  was  at  Marblehead,  Massachusetts. 
The  family  on  the  Gurler  side  originally  came 
from  Wales.  Thomas  Gurler  married  Susanna 
Farwell,  a  relative  of  ex-Senator  Charles  Farwell, 
of  Illinois,  and  J.  A.  Farwell,  the  great  merchant 
of  Chicago.  They  reared  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren, nil  nl'  whom  grew  up  and  occupied  promi- 
ment  stations  in  life.  Five  of  them  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  five  remained  in  New  Hampshire.  It. 
was  in  1856  that  Benjamin  Gurler,  his  wife  and 
four  children  came  to  this  state  and  settled  on 
section  32,  De  Kalb  township,  De  Kalb  county. 
Fur  thirteen  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  augers  and  bits  and  then  followed  farm- 
ing until  1886,  when  he  removed  to  De  Kalb  and 
died  there  in  1SS9.  His  children  were  Henry 
B. ;  George  H. ;  Mrs.  Sarah  M.  Snow;  Mary  J., 
who  died  a  few  years  after  coming  to  Illinois; 
and  Mrs.  Lizzie  Coey,  who  was  born  in  this  state 
in   1860. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  Henry  B.  Gurler" 
lived  with  his  parents  and  assisted  in  carrying 
on  the  farm.  He  improved  his  spare  moments 
in  study  and  prepared  for  teaching  school  and 
taught  two  terms.  In  July.  1861,  he  enlisted 
under  Captain  .1 .  D.  Butts  in  the  Forty-second 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  and  saw  service  in 
Missouri,  Kentucky,  Alabama  and  Mississippi.  At 
Iuka,  Mississippi,  in  September,  1862,  he  was 
mustered  out  and  returned  to  De  Kalb  where  he 
clerked  for  Atwood  Brothers  ami  Flinn  &  Hyde. 
In  May,  1864,  however,  he  re-enlisted  and  joined 
Company  K,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-second 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Colonel  Pickett, 
of  Chicago.  He  was  elected  second  lieutenant  of 
his  company  and  saw  service  in  Kentucky  and 
Missouri,  being  mustered  out  at  Chicago  in  1864. 

After  returning  to  De  Kalb  in  October,  1864, 
Mr.  Gurler  bought  out  Mr.  Hyde  of  the  firm  of 
Flinn  &  Hyde,  and  about  a  year  later  his  brother 
George  H.  purchased  the  interest  of  Mr.  Flinn. 
the  firm  becoming  Gurler  Brothers.  They  dealt 
in  groceries  and  farm  products  and  carried  on 
business  on  the  present  site  of  the  Barb  City  Bank. 
After  two  years  the  junior  member  purchased 
the  store. 


In  1868  Henry  B.  Gurler  removed  to  the  old 
homestead  and  that  same  year  bought  the  Clover 
Dairy  Farm,  where  he  carried  on  the  experiments 
that  have  made  him  famous.  In  1870  he  located 
on  the  farm  and  started  his  experimental  work. 
At  first  he  had  but  twenty  cows,  which  were 
doubled  in  a  couple  of  years,  and  his  first  year's 
work  averaged  only  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds 
of  butter  per  cow.  He  realized  that  the  farm  was 
not  paying  properly  on  the  outlay  and  effort  and 
he  set  out  with  a  scientist's  instinct  to  work  out 
a  plan  for  improving  conditions.  This  was  be- 
fore the  days  of  the  Babcock  test  and  each  cow's 
milk  was  kept  separate  and  the  cream  churned  by 
itself.  In  this  tedious  way  he  weeded  out  the  un- 
profitable cows  and  in  twenty-four  months'  time 
he  had  raised  his  annual  average  to  two  hundred 
and  sixty-eight  pounds  of  butter  per  cow.  He  left 
the  farm  in  1881  and  in  the  spring  of  that  year 
IT.  B.  and  G.  H.  Gurler,  under  the  firm  of  Gurler 
Brothers,  built  the  De  Kalb  creamery.  During 
the  next  few  years  they  bought  the  creameries  at 
Malta,  Five  Corners,  Hinckley  (with  H.  H.  Hop- 
kins), Shabbona  Grove  and  built  the  creamery 
at  Shabbona. 

Gurler  Brothers  were  the  first  in  the  world  to 
buy  milk  by  the  Babcock  test,  Professor  Babcock 
of  the  Agricultural  College  of  Madison,  Wiscon- 
sin, having  devised  a  plan  by  chemical  action  and 
centrifugal  force  to  separate  the  butter  fat  from 
the  milk.  A  small  sample  was  taken  from  each 
customer's  milk  daily  and  the  test  was  made  once 
a  week.  This  proved  the  best  way  to  get  the 
value  of  the  milk.  In  1896  the  firm  of  Gurler 
Brothers  was  dissolved  and  the  creameries  were 
divided.  H.  B.  retaining  the  De  Kalb  and  Five 
Corners  creameries. 

At  this  time  H.  B.  Gurler  turned  his  attention 
toward  producing  certified  milk.  For  years  he 
had  carried  on  experiments  and  was  getting  hii 
farm  and  herd  ready  for  doing  this  work.  He  was 
encouraged  in  the  enterprise  by  the  leading  phv- 
sicians  of  Chicago  to  produce  a  milk  perfectly 
pure  for  them  to  prescribe  for  the  infants  and 
invalids  that  came  under  their  care.  He  was  one 
of  the  first  to  have  his  cows  tested  for  tuberculo- 
sis by  the  state  veterinarians.  He  fitted  up  his 
stables  with  cement  floors  and  mangers,  provided 
white  suits  for  his  employes,  established  a  sys- 
tem of  ventilation,  a  sanitary  bathing  plant,  and 


450 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


every  precaution  was  taken  to  make  the  milk  pure. 
In  November,  1895.  he  commenced  shipping  the 
certified  milk  to  Chicago.  At  first  the  business 
was  aided  by  physicians  prescribing  the  milk  to 
patients.  The  industry  has  grown  until  he  is  now 
doing  a  business  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  per  year. 

In  11)00  Major  Alvord  of  the  United  States 
dairy  division  of  trie  department  of  agriculture  at 
Washington,  D.  ('..  solicited  Mr.  Gurler  to  furnish 
photographs  showing  in  detail  the  plans  at  his 
farm  and  furnish  samples  of  the  milk  for  the 
Paris  Exposition.  The  milk  was  seventeen  days 
in  transit  and  kept  sweet  four  days  after  its  ar- 
rival. The  French  chemist  would  not  believe 
thai  it  had  not  been  doctored  until  it  was  ana- 
lyzed. Mr.  Gurler  was  awarded  a  gold  medal  at 
that  exposition.  His  work  has  given  him  a 
national  and  international  reputation  and  he  has 
been  visited  by  people  from  all  over  the  world  by 
those  interested  in  advanced  dairy  work,  having 
visitors  from  England,  Germany,  Japan,  New  Zen- 
land  and  Russia. 

Mr.  Gurler  has  served  as  president  of  the  Na- 
tional Butter,  Cheese  &  Egg  Association:  treas- 
urer of  the  National  Dairy  Union,  the  organiza- 
tion that  secured  the  passage  of  the  oleomargarine 
law.  lie  was  president  of  the  Illinois  State  Dairy- 
man's Association  two  terms  and  while  in  that 
position  he  assisted  in  getting  through  the  state 
board  of  agriculture  a  resolution  that  was  the 
first  step  toward  getting  national  legislation 
against  oleomargarine  being  sold  as  butter.  He 
has  also  been  elected  president  of  the  National 
Dairy  Show  of  Chicago. 

In  1891  Dean  Henry  of  Wisconsin  University 
induced  him  to  take  elm  rue  of  buttermaking  in 
the  first  dairy  school.  Following  this  Mr.  Gurler 
continued  in  the  same  work  in  Vermont  for  two 
terms  and  three  terms  in  the  Pennsylvania  State 
Agricultural  College.  There  was  a  demand  for 
a  practical  work  on  dairying  and  in  1894  he  was 
induced  to  publish  a  book,  entitled  Curler's  Amer- 
ican Dairyman,  which  has  been  used  as  a  text- 
book in  the  leading  schools.  The  following  words 
of  praise  are  from  ex-Governor  Hoard,  of  Wis- 
consin : 

"One  of  the  most  notable  things  in  connection 
with  practical  dairying  during  the  present  (1895) 
year  is  the  publication  of  a  practical  treatise  on 
that  subject  by  a  man  of  wide  experience,  trained 


judgment  and  skilled  common  sense.  It  treats 
everj  phase  of  the  question  from  the  breeding 
and  selection  of  the  cow  to  the  final  marketing 
of  the  finished  product.  *  *  *  "We  have  read 
the  book  with  great  care — much  of  it  more  than 
once — and  the  more  we  read  it  the  better  we  like 
it.  As  a  literary  production  it  is  almost  equal  to 
Grant's  Memoirs,  so  unaffected  is  its  diction,  so 
direct  and  simple  it-  sentences,  so  candid  in  every 
utterance.  He  writes  of  what  he  knows,  of  what 
he  has  seen  and  tried,  and  unlike  many  writers 
of  books,  he  has  the  rare  gift  of  omitting  the 
superfluous  and  uncertain.  Having  been  in  per- 
sona]  business  contact   with  every  branch  of  the 

subject  for  many  years — growing  the  fodder.  E I- 

ing  and  milking  the  cows,  creaming  the  milk  and 
churning  and  marketing  the  butter  in  the  privab 
dairy  and  in  the  creamery — his  experience  as  an 
instructor  in  the  dairy  schools  of  Wisconsin.  Ver- 
ni'iiit  and  Pennsylvania  has  taught  him  what  to 
say  and  how-  to  say  it.  The  result  is  that  lie  lias 
given  us  the  best  book  on  dairying  that  was  ever 
written,  not  too  learned  or  too  technical  for  the 
beginner,  nor  too  verbose  or  commonplace  for  the 
si  ientist,  the  expert  or  the  editor.  The  publishers 
(J.  H.  Sanders  Publishing  Company.  Chicago) 
have  done  their  part  well,  as  well  in  the  matter 
of  price  (one  dollar)  as  in  typography  and  press 
work.  At  least  ten  thousand  dairy  farmers  and 
butter  makers  should  read  this  book  during  the 
coming  winter." 

This  book  won  the  commendation  of  the  dairy 

authorities  of  tw ntinents  and  Mr.  Curler  has 

been  in  constant  demand  as  a  lecturer  on  dairy 
subjects  at  institutes  and  agricultural  schools.  In 
this  capacity  he  has  appeared  in  Canada  and  at 
least  twenty  of  the  states.  Dean  Waters,  of  Co- 
lumbia College  at  Columbia,  Missouri,  has  said 
of  him:  "That  no  other  man  in  the  world  has 
done  so  much  for  dairying." 

iiii  the  27th  of  March.  L867,  Mr.  Gurler  was 
united  in  marriage  to  .Miss  Salenia  Iiolfo.  a  daugh- 
ter of  George  Polio,  and  to  them  were  horn  three 
children:  Stella  Frances,  now  the  wife  of  Franz 
Lundberg,  who  sitae  1894  has  been  associated  with 
Mr.  Gurler  in  dairy  work:  Lulu  May,  the  wife  >f 
E.  P.  Ellwood,  youngest  sun  of  Isaac  L.  Ellwood; 
and  Hazell,  who  died  March  34.  1885,  at  the  age 
of   four  years  and    four  months.      The  mother  of 


PAST    AXD   PEESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


451 


these  children  died  January  11,  1902,  and  Mr. 
Hurler  was  again  married  October  .3,  11)01,  his 
second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Cora  Dodge,  widow 
of  Lucian  Dodge.  She  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Cora  Tiffany  and  is  a  daughter  of  Vester  and 
Louisa  Tiffany. 

Mr.  Gurler  was  a  charter  member  and  first  com- 
mander of  Merritt  Simond  post,  G.  A.  1!.,  at  De 
Kalb.  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order. 
Politically  he  lias  officiated  with  the  republican 
party.  He  is  an  enthusiastic  sportsman  and  has 
hunted  deer,  bear  and  lynx  and  has  at  his  home 
a  room  filled  with  highly  prized  trophies  of  his 
capture.  In  all  of  his  research  Mr.  Gurler  has 
made  money  making  secondary  consideration,  and 
while  he  has  been  moderately  successful  in  a  finan- 
cial way,  he  has  built  up  a  name  and  will  leave 
i  heritage  to  the  world  that  cannot  be  valued  in 
gold  and  silver.  After  half  a  century  of  activity 
in  the  community,  yet  vigorous  in  mind  and  body, 
in  the  midst  of  friends  who  recognize  his  services 
to  the  world,  he  is  now  more  fully  enjoying  the 
satisfaction  that  comes  as  the  heritage  of  a  noble 
.■mil  well  spent  life. 


CHARLES  G.  HOUGHTBY. 

Charles  G.  Houghtby,  becoming  a  resident  of 
De  Kalb  in  early  boyhood  days,  has  since  made 
his  home  here  and  is  now  owner  of  an  excellent 
farming  property  of  two  hundred  and  forty-three 
acres  in  Shabbona  township.  He  was  burn  in 
Lincolnshire,  England.  August  6,  1850,  his  par- 
ents being  John  and  Margaret  (Gibson)  Hought- 
b\ .  of  whom  mention  is  made  on  another  page 
of  this  work  in  connection  with  the  sketch  of  their 
son.  John  Houghtbv. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of  Charles 
G.  Houghtbv  we  present  to  our  readers  the  life 
record  of  one  who  is  widely  and  favorably  known 
in  this  locality.  He  was  reared  to  farm  life  and 
attended  the  common  schools.  Eor  twelve  years 
hi  was  bookkeeper  for  his  father  who  acted  as 
foreman  of  a  large  estate  in  England.  On  the 
1st  of  May.  1869.  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  to 
Canada,  ami  two  years  later  engaged  as  a  sailor 
on  the  lakes  and  made  a  trip  to  Chicago.  Being 
pleased  with  this  part  of  the  country  he  left  the 
boat  at  Milwaukee  and  made  his  wav  to  Earlville, 


Illinois,  where  he  arrived  with  a  cash  capital  of 
thirty  cents.  Tin-  made  employment  an  immedi- 
ate necessity  and  he  went  to  work  for  a  fa  run".' 
named  Herberl  Hyde.  The  next  winter  was  spent 
in  the  woods  of  Canada,  after  which  he  came  to 
De  Kalb  and  went  to  work  on  a  farm  for  George 
Spray,  in  Shabbona  township,  in  1882  the  father 
and  sons  purchased  a  tract  of  land  and  later 
Charles  G.  Houghtby  of  this  review,  bought  one 
hundred  and  fifty-eight  acre-  of  that  tract,  upon 
which  he  has  since  made  his  home.  The  place 
had  hut  few-  improvements  upon  it  when  il  came 
into  his  possession.  He  has  added  to  it  a  dwell- 
ing, has  erected  a  large  barn  and  other  outbuild- 
ings for  the  shelter  of  grain  and  stock,  and  has 
laid  many  rods  of  tile,  thus  draining  the  land  and 
adding  to  its  productiveness.  He  now  owns  two 
hundred  and  forty-three  acres  which  have  been 
converted  into  rich  and  productive  fields  which 
yield  to  him  large  crops  annually.  He  carries  on 
general  farming  and  is  meeting  with  much  success 
in  his  work. 

In  1881  Mr.  Houghtby  was  married  to  Etta 
Abel,  a  native  of  Shabbona  township,  daughter 
of  Ezra  Abel,  now  deceaseed.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Houghtby  have  been  born  ten  children:  Ezra, 
Arthur.  Ernest,  Alice,  Margaretta,  Marion.  Esther. 
Grace,  Susan  ami  John.  Of  this  number  Marion 
is  deceased,  while  the  others  are  yet  at  home.  Mr. 
Houghtby  ami  his  family  attend  the  Congrega- 
tional church  of  Shabbona.  He  is  a  republican 
and  is  serving  his  fifth  year  as  school  director. 
Coming  to  De  Kalb  county  empty-handed  he 
steadily  advanced  from  an  humble  financial  posi- 
tion to  one  of  affluence  and  his  success  has  been 
wrought  along  honorable  and  modern  lines  of 
agricultural  development. 


FBEDKIMCK 


BEXT. 


Frederick  J.  Bent  owns  and  operates  a  farm  of 
forty  acres  in  Afton  township  and  is  well  known 
in  that  part  of  the  county,  for  his  birth  occurred 
in  Alton  township.  January  1,  1865,  and  he  ha- 
-pent  much  id'  his  life  in  that  locality.  lie  is  the 
,. blest  child  of  John  J.  and  Harriett  (White) 
Bent,  the  former  born  at  Watertown,  New  York, 
July  3,  1831,  and  the  latter  on  the  loth  of  April. 


452 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALI'.    COUNTY. 


L838,  ni  Wrentham,  Massachusetts.  In  his  boy- 
hood days  the  father  made-  his  way  to  Aurora. 
Illin<>i>.  where  he  remained  until  his  marriage, 
when  he  removed  to  Afton  township,  where  he 
farmed  until  his  death  in  1SS5.  His  wife  sur- 
vived linn  for  about  nine  years,  passing  away  in 
1894.  One  son  of  the  family,  Clinton  A.  Bent, 
is  now  principal  of  the  schools  at  Castle  Bock, 
Colorado. 

A  common-school  education  fitted  Frederick  J. 
Bent  for  the  practical  duties  of  life  and  he  re- 
ceived ample  training  in  farm  work  under  the 
direction  of  his  father,  whom  lie  assisted  in  the 
labors  of  field  and  meadow.  He  continued  upon 
the  home  farm  until  1896,  when  he  wen 
Boulder.  Colorado,  where  he  took  up  farming  and 
stock-raising,  continuing  in  business  there  until 
1900,  when  he  returned  to  Afton  township  and 
bought  eighty  acres,  comprising  the  old  Bent 
homestead.  He  has  since  sold  one-half  of  this 
but  is  still  the  owner  of  fort]  acres  of  rich  and 
arable  land,  in  addition  to  which  he  has 
hundred  acres  near  Brighton,  Colorado. 

On  the  22d  of  January,  L893,  .Mr.  Bent  was 
married  to  Mi-  Anna  E.  Barclay,  a  resident  of 
Washington,  D.  C.  and  a  daughter  of  Frederick- 
Barclay,  who  at  present  is  in  government  employ 
at  the  nation's  capital.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bent  at- 
tend and  support  the  Methodist  church  and  he 
gives  bis  political  allegiance  to  the  republican 
party.  He  has  aever  sought  to  figure  prominently 
in  public  life  but  has  not  been  remiss  in  the  duties 
of  citizenship,  while  giving  the  greater  part  of 
his  time  and  attention  to  his  farming  interests 
He  is  well  known  in  De  Kalb  county  and  especially 
in  Afton  township,  where  the  greater  part  of  his 
life  has  been    passed,   and   his   friends  are  many. 


EVERETT     \<i|;m  AN. 


Everett  Norman  is  one  of  the  active  business 
men  of  Kirkland,  where  he  has  resided  for  twenty- 
six  years,  while  bis  connection  with  De  Kalb 
county  dates  from  1865,  making  him  therefore 
one  of  its  early  settlers.  A  native  of  England, 
he  was  born  in  Yarmouth.  County  Suffolk,  about 
thirty  miles  from  London,  on  the  10th  of  April. 
1836.     His  father.  Edward  Norman,  also  a  native 


oi  Suffolk  county,  was  there  reared  and  was  mar- 
ried. Mr.  Xonnan  was  a  gardener  and  fruit 
grower  and  emigrated  to  the  new  world  in  1845. 
thinking  to  enjoy  better  business  opportunities 
on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  lb'  firsl  settled  in 
Canada,  where  he  remained  for  four  years,  and 
then  removed  to   Wayne  county.  New  York. 

Evereti  Norman  was  reared  m  the  place  of  his 
nativity  to  the  age  of  nine  years  and  then  ac- 
companied  his  parents  to  the  new  world.  At  an 
early  age  he  began  providing  for  his  own  sup- 
port. He  followed  any  occupation  that  would 
yield  him  an  honesi  living  and  as  the  year-  passed 
by  made  progress  in  his  business  life.  He  was 
married  in  Canada  in  1854,  when  a  young  man 
of  eighteen  years,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Maria  Lan- 
don,  who  was  born  in  Canada  and  was  in  her 
.  ighteonth  vear  al  the  time  of  her  marriage.  Mr. 
Xorman  afterward  worked  by  the  month  in  order 
to  provide  for  his  family.  He  remained  a  resident 
of  the  east  until  1871,  when  he  came  to  Illinois, 
settling  in  De  Kalb  county.  He  located  first  on 
a  farm  at  Shabbona,  where  he  worked  by  the 
month  for  two  years  and  then  removed  to  Kirk- 
Land,  where  be  rented  a  farm  which  he  cultivated 
for  ten  years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period 
he  took  up  In-  abode  in  the  village  of  Kirkland. 
where  he  established  a  trading  business,  which  he 
conducted  with  success  for  eleven  year-,  when  he 
sold  out  and  opened  a  restaurant  and  boarding 
house,  lb  continued  in  that  line  for  four  years 
and  then  purchased  where  he  w<\\  resides.  For 
the  past  five  years  he  has  conducted  a  fertilizing 
plant  and  he  is  well  known  in  Kirkland  and 
throughout  the  surrounding  district. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Norman  have  been  born 
four  children.  Mary  is  the  widow  of  John  Moore 
and  resides  at  Hawkeye,  Fayette  county.  Iowa. 
She  has  a  family  of  seven  daughters.  Lucy  Ann 
-  i he  widow  of  S.  (i.  Rowan,  of  Kirkland.  Hattie, 
the  youngest,  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Riddell,  of 
Kirkland.  ami  they  have  four  children,  one  of 
whom  is  the  wife  of  Maurice  Haite.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Xorman  have  altogether  eleven  grandchildren  and 
six  great-grandchildren.  They  lost  a  son,  Charles 
Norman,  who  reached  adult  age  ami  was  married 
but  is  now  deceased,  dying  May.  1902.  aged  thirty- 
six  years.     He  left  a  wife  and  three  children. 

Politically  Mr.  Norman  is  a  republican.  He 
has  never  -ought  or  desired  office  but   served  for 


PAST   AND    PEESBNT    OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


453 


our  term  as  school  trustee.  He  and  his  wife  arc 
members  of  the  Congregational  church,  and  he 
was  one  of  the  early  members  of  the  Woodmen 
camp  at  Kirkland.  He  has  seen  this  town  develop 
from  a  crossroads  village  of  only  three  buildings 
and  has  witnessed  the  progress  of  the  county  along 
agricultural  lines,  seeing  the  entire  countryside 
converted  into  rich  and  productive  farms.  His 
life  has  been  one  of  activity  and  he  is  well  known 
in  the  locality  here  he  lives. 


CHARLES  E.  WILSON. 

Charles  E.  Wilson  is  one  of  the  prosperous 
farmers,  stock  raisers  and  feeders  of  Sandwich 
township.  He  lives  upon  a  neat  and  well  im- 
proved farm  of  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  on 
section  2,  and  his  activity,  his  trustworthiness  in 
business  and  his  helpful  interest  in  all  that  per- 
tains to  the  county's  welfare  and  improvement, 
have  made  Ed  Wilson,  for  so  he  is  called  by  his 
many  friends,  a  valued  resident  of  this  county. 
He  has  lived  in  the  county  since  1843,  having 
been  brought  thither  by  his  parents  when  a  little 
lad  of  about  two  years.  He  was  born  in  Onondaga 
county,  New  York,  July  19,  1841. 

His  father,  William  Wilson,  was  a  native  of 
Paisley.  Scotland,  and  was  there  reared  to  the 
age  of  seventeen  years  when  he  ran  away  from 
home,  and  got  aboard  a  man-of-war,  on  which 
he  came  to  the  United  States.  He  at  first  made 
his  home  in  New  York  and  was  there  married 
to  Miss  Melinda  Burchim,  a  native  of  the  Em- 
pire state,  born  in  Cattaraugus  county.  Mr.  Wil- 
son was  a  cooper  by  trade  and  secured  emplov- 
ment  at  the  salt  works,  where  he  manufactured 
barrels  for  several  years.  Attracted  by  the  op- 
portunities of  the  new  and  growing  west  where 
land  values  were  comparatively  small  and  where 
competition  was  not  so  great,  he  came  to  Illinois 
with  his  family  in  1843,  settling  in  De  Kalb 
county  in  the  neighborhood  where  his  son  Ed  now 
resides.  Here  he  secured  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  and  opened  up  a  new  farm,  turn- 
ing the  first  furrows  in  the  fields,  and  after  break- 
ing the  sod,  he  planted  the  seed  which  in  the 
due  course  of  time  brought  forth  good  crops.  In 
1852  he  went  to  California  and  there  died  several 


years   later.      His   wife,   however,   remained   with 
her  children  in  this  county. 

Ed  Wilson  was  reared  to  manhood  in  De  Kalb 
county  amid  the  usual  scenes,  environments  and 
experiences  of  life  on  the  frontier.  Because  of  hi° 
fathers  early  death  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own 
resources  at  a  tender  age  and  is  largely  a  self- 
educated  as  well  as  a  self-made  man,  having  had 
little  opportunity  in  his  youth  to  attend  school. 
His  minority  was  largely  a  period  of  earnest  and 
unremitting  toil  but  he  thereby  became  a  self- 
reliant  young  man — and  the  spirit  of  self-help 
is  the  source  of  all  genuine  worth  in  the  individual. 

In  1868  Mr.  Wilson  chose  a  companion  and 
helpmate  for  life's  journey,  being  married  on  the 
21st  of  October  of  that  year  to  Miss  Alice  Fay, 
daughter  of  Horace  Fay,  for  many  years  county 
surveyor  here.  Mrs.  Wilson  is  a  native  of  De 
Kalb  county  and  her  education  was  acquired  in 
the  public  schools  while  spending  her  girlhood 
under  the  parental  roof.  Prior  to  his  marriage 
Mr.  Wilson  had  saved  money  sufficient  to  enable 
him  to  purchase  the  farm  upon  which  he  now 
resides.  He  at  first  bought  eighty-six  acres  of 
land,  to  which  he  has  since  added  a  tract  of  fifty- 
four  acres.  Following  his  marriage  he  brought 
his  bride  to  his  new  home  and  with  characteristic 
energy  began  to  cultivate  and  develop  the  land. 
He  built  here  a  new  residence,  also  put  up  good 
barns  and  outbuildings  and  now  has  his  place 
enclosed  with  woven  wire  fences.  The  land  is 
well  tilled,  whereby  its  productiveness  has  been 
greatly  enhanced,  and  in  fact  the  Wilson  property 
is  said  to  be  the  best  improved  farm  in  Sand- 
wich township.  It  is  indeed  the  visible  evidence 
of  the  labor  of  Mr.  Wilson  and  is  a  monument  to 
his  diligence  and  persevering  spirit  which  he  has 
every  reason  to  be  proud  of.  He  started  out  in 
life  without  a  dollar  and  is  today  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  the  community.  He  has 
made  a  business  of  raising  and  feeding  hogs  and 
has  at  times  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred 
and  fifty  fat  hogs  upon  his  place.  He  also  raises 
high-grade  horses  and  is  a  partner  in  a  company 
that  owns  a  fine  imported  Clydesdale  for  breeding 
purposes. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  has  been 
blessed  with  six  children:  who  are  still  living: 
Edna,  now  the  wife  of  Albert  Kutzner,  a  farmer 
of  Somonauk  township ;  Charles  E.,  who  follows 


454 


PAST    AXD    PKESENT   OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


farming  in  Big  Kock  township;  Myrtie,  the  wife 
of  .John  Schults,  a  fanner  of  Sandwich  township; 
Wells  F.,  who  carries  on  business  as  a  barber  at 
Manhattan,  Illinois:  Mollie.  the  wife  of  Harry 
Striker,  a  druggist  of  Chicago :  and  Glenn,  yet 
i.t  home.  They  also  lost  their  first  horn.  Willi1, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  six  years,  while  Willis  died 
in  infancy. 

Mr.  Wilson  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  republican  party,  having  voted  for 
each  presidential  candidate  at  the  head  of  the 
ticket  since  In1  cast  his  first  ballot  for  Abraham 
Lincoln  in  1864.  He  has  served  on  the  school 
board  but  lias  never  been  an  office  seeker,  his  time 
and  attention  being  fully  occupied  with  his  busi- 
ness interests.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  church,  while  Mr.  Wilson  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Modern  Woodmen  (if  America  and  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen.  He  is  i 
pioneer  settler  and  has  witnessed  the  greater  pact 
of  the  county's  development,  his  memory  forming 
a  connecting  link  between  the  primitive  past  and. 
progressive  present  with  all  its  evidences  of  mod- 
ern civilization.  Ho  has  followed  the  old  break- 
ing plow,  driven  several  yoke  of  oxen,  and  has 
lived  to  see  the  introduction  of  the  modern  riding 
plow  turning  broad  furrow-  and  greatly  lessen- 
ing the  arduous  labors  of  the  farm.  He  has  seen 
(he  building  of  railroads  through  the  county,  has 
witnessed  the  introduction  of  the  telephone  and 
telegraph,  and  has  seen  the  primitive  log  house 
replaced  by  the  substantial  modern  structures  and 
the  methods  of  teaching  have  been  as  greatly  im- 
proved as  the  buildings.    At  all  times  he  has  st 1 

for  advancement  and  in  bis  own  life  proves  the 
force  and  value  of  enterprise  and  unfaltering 
labor,  showing  that  success  is  ambition's  answer. 


CAPTAIN  ALMON  F.  PABKE. 

Captain  Almon  F.  Parke,  a  well  known  pioneer 
settler  of  De  Kalb  county  and  one  of  the  few  re- 
maining veterans  of  the  Civil  war,  makes  his  home 
on  a  farm  on  section  s.  Sycamore  township,  his 
postoffice  being  Genoa.  Captain  Parke  was  born 
on  a  farm  in  Evans  township.  Erie  county,  New 
York.  January  2.*>.  1838,  a  son  of  Larmon  Z.  and 
Martha  W.   (Eenton)   Parke,  the  former  born  in 


1800  and  the  latter  in  1799.  The  paternal  grand- 
father. Reuben  Parke,  was  born  June  10,  1772,  and 
died  in  Indiana,  at  the  advanced  age  of  about 
ninety  years.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Elizabeth  R.  Ford  and  was  a  sister  of  Captain 
Almon  Ford,  who  was  a  captain  in  the  war  of  1812. 
She  was  born  in  Connecticut,  and  her  death  oc- 
curred at  Captain  Parke's  residence  in  Sycamore 
township,  in  De  Kalb  county,  the  burial  taking 
place  on  the  ninety-tilth  anniversary  of  her  birth. 
The  son.  Larmon  Z.  Parke,  learned  the  trade  of 
a  carpenter  and  joiner,  and  for  many  years  con- 
tinued operations  along  that  line,  but  later  learned 
the  mason's  trade  and  followed  that  until  he  suf- 
fered a  stroke  of  paralysis  during  the  war.  For 
many  years  be  made  his  home  on  a  small  tract  of 
hind  near  De  Kalb  but  his  last  days  were  spent 
in  that  city,  his  death  there  occurring  September 
1  1.  1885. 

Captain  Parke  was  a  youth  of  eighteen  years 
when,  in  185(5,  he  accompanied  his  parents  from 
hi*  native  state  to  Illinois.  His  education,  begun 
in  the  east,  was  continued  in  the  De  Kalb  schools 
until  he  had  completed  the  high-school  course, 
■  after  which  he  attended  Mount  Morris  Seminary. 
He  is  one  of  a  family  of  four  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, all  of  whom  reached  years  of  maturity,  but 
the  only  other  surviving  member  of  the  family 
is  a  sister.  Mrs.  J.  D.  l.ott.  who  resides  in  Chi- 
cago. 

Following  the  completion  of  his  education. 
Captain  Parke  was  engaged  for  one  year  in  teach- 
ing school.  He  then  learned  the  brick  and  stone 
mason's  trade  under  his  lather,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years  began  work  in  this  connection  on 
Ins  own  account.  During  this  time  the  Civil  war 
had  been  inaugurated  and  be  had  watched  with 
interest  the  course  of  events.  Believing  that  he 
owed  bis  first  duty  to  his  country.  Almon  F.  Parke 
then  a<-i>ie(l  in  organizing  a  company  and  was 
mustered  into  service  at  Dixon.  Illinois.  Septem- 
ber 2.  1862,  as  second  lieutenant  of  Company  EL 
One  Hundred  and  Fifth  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry. He  went  with  his  regiment  to  Camp 
Douglas.  Chicago,  whence  it  was  sent  to  Kentucky. 
thence  to  Nashville  and  went  into  winter  quarters 
:it  South  Tunnel  near  the  latter  city.  While  in 
camp  at  the  latter  place  Mr.  Parke  became  ill  of 
typhoid  fever,  remaining  in  a  hospital  at  Gallatin. 
Tennessee,   for  two  months.      When   he  had  suffi- 


■MM 


A3T0H,    LENOX 


°JZ^  Jz 


Juan  M  ^A_ 


THE  NEW  YORK 

L1C  LIBRARY 


■ 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


459 


ciently  recovered  to  take  his  place  on  the  field  he 
was  assigned  to  duty  with  the  pioneer  corps  and 
sent  to  Murfreesboro.  Within  three  months  after 
being  mustered  into  service  our  subject  was  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant  and  while 
on  duty  with  the  pioneer  corps  the  captain  of  his 
company  resigned.  He  was  then  commissioned  to 
take  his  place  and  was  ordered  back  to  take  com- 
mand of  his  company.  Soon  after  being  commis- 
sioned captain,  our  subject  joined  his  company  at 
Nashville  and  with  his  regiment  went  to  Wau- 
hatchie  Valley,  while  in  the  spring  of  1864  he  en- 
tered on  the  Atlanta  campaign.  He  participated 
in  every  battle  during  the  campaign  and  al- 
though he  had  some  narrow  escapes,  being  once 
shot  through  the  coat  and  his  scabbard  once  struck 
with  a  minie-ball,  he  was  never  wounded.  Fol- 
lowing the  Atlanta  campaign,  the  Twentieth  Army 
Corps,  of  which  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  Illi- 
nois Regiment  formed  a  part,  was  given  a  rest  at 
Atbinta. 

Receiving  word  that  his  father  was  ill.  Captain 
Parke  then  secured  a  leave  of  absence  for  seven 
days,  which  he  spent  at  home,  and  upon  returning 
for  active  duty  with  his  regiment  he  found  that 
it  had  gone  on  the  march  to  the  sea.  He  got  as 
far  as  Nashville,  then  went  to  Chattanooga,  but 
found  that  he  could  not  get  through.  He  was 
then  assigned  to  the  command  of  a  company  .it 
the  former  city,  and  for  a  time  was  under  General 
Thomas,  while  later  he  was  under  General  Har- 
rison. After  Sherman  reached  the  sea,  Captain 
Parke  was  relieved  from  duty  in  Tennessee,  where 
he  had  been  serving  on  the  military  commission, 
trying  criminal  cases.  When  the  commission  dis- 
solved he  received  an  order  to  report  to  his  com- 
mand at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  and  while  on  his 
"way  to  that  city  he  learned  of  the  assassination  of 
President  Lincoln.  From  Raleigh  his  regiment 
marched  through  Virginia  on  its  way  to  Washing- 
ton, and  after  participating  in  the  grand  review  in 
that  city,  his  regiment  was  ordered  to  Chicago, 
where  it  was  mustered  out  of  service  on  the  7th 
of  June,  1865. 

Following  the  close  of  hostilities  Captain  Parke 
returned  home,  having  made  a  most  creditable  mil- 
itary record.  He  then  resumed  his  work  as  a 
mason  in  Sycamore  and  De  Kalb,  and  as  he  pros- 
pered in  his  undertakings  and  his  financial  re- 
sources permitted,  he  invested  his  money  in  a  tract 


of  land  in  Afton  township,  but  continued  to  work 
at  his  trade  until  1869,  while  during  this  time  he 
also  carried  on  the  work  of  the  farm. 

On  the  1st  of  September,  1870,  occurred  the 
marriage  of  Captain  Parke  and  Miss  Ruth  Hall, 
who  was  born  on  a  farm  in  De  Kalb  count  v.  a 
daughter  of  Ephraim  Hall,  whose  birth  occurred 
in  Wallingford,  Connecticut,  March  15,  1808.  He 
located  in  De  Kalb  county  in  1836,  and  his  death 
here  occurred  when  he  lacked  but  one  week  of  hiv- 
ing attained  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years.  Fol- 
lowing his  marriage  Captain  Parke  located  on  his 
farm,  where  he  continued  operations  until  1873. 
when  he  disposed  of  that  property  and  removed 
to  his  present  farm  on  section  8,  Sycamore  town- 
ship, which  at  that  time  comprised  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  and  which  was  deeded  Mrs.  Parke 
by  her  father.  In  addition  to  this  property  the 
captain  owns  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  forty- 
four  acres  in  Boone  county,  Illinois,  which  is  now 
occupied  by  his  son.  In  1881  Captain  Parke 
erected  a  modern  brick  residence  on  his  homestead 
property  and  also  built  good  barns  and  outbuild- 
ings, necessary  for  the  shelter  of  grain  and  stock. 
•  He  tiled  his  land  and  set  out  a  good  orchard,  and 
altogether  his  place  constitutes  one  of  the  valuable 
and  well  improved  farms  of  this  portion  of  the 
state.  He  has  ever  followed  the  most  practical 
and  progressive  methods  of  farm  work  and  his 
labors  have  been  rewarded  by  rich  crops. 

Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born 
two  sons  and  four  daughters  who  are  still  living, 
while  one  is  deceased.  The  living  members  of  the 
family  are:  Nelson  R.,  who  resides  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Boone  county;  Henry  H.,  who  graduated 
from  the  literary  department  of  the  University  of 
Michigan  and  for  a  time  he  engaged  in  teaching  in 
West  Virginia,  but  is  now  operating  one  of  his 
father's  farms;  Mary,  the  wife  of  Harry  W. 
Frantz,  a  resident  of  Chicago;  Mila  and  Ruth, 
both  attending  the  Chicago  University;  and 
Eleanor  G.,  a  young  lady  at  home. 

Politically  Captain  Parke  was  formerly  an  ad- 
vocate of  democracy,  casting  his  first  presidential 
ballot  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in  1860.  He  now 
votes  an  independent  ticket,  supporting  men  and 
measures  rather  than  adhering  strictly  to  party. 
He  is  a  believer  in  good  schools  and  has  done  much 
for  the  improvement  of  the  educational  interests 
of  this  part  of  the   state,  having  served  on  the 


460 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


school  board  for  many  years,  while  for  several 
years  he  also  acted  as  district  clerk.  He  was  for- 
merly a  Mason,  belonging  to  the  lodge  and  chap- 
ter, but  since  the  war  has  not  been  identified  with 
any  fraternal  organization.  Captain  Parke  has 
been  a  resident  of  De  Kalb  county  for  more  than 
a  half  century,  during  which  time  he  has  been  as 
loyal  to  its  interests  as  he  was  during  the  dark 
days  of  his  country's  history,  when,  on  southern 
battle-fields  he  defended  the  stars  and  stripes.  He 
is  numbered  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this 
county  and  is  also  one  of  its  i'rw  remaining  veter- 
ans of  the  Civil  war. 


M  VGNUS  FABIAN  CARLSON. 

Magnus  Fabian  Carlson,  well  known  in  business 
circles  as  a  photographer  in  Sycamore,  his  native 
city,  was  born  September  23,  1862.  His  father. 
Magnus  Fabian  Carlson,  was  a  Dative  of  Sweden 
and  in  1853  came  to  the  United  States,  settling  in 
Sycamore.  He  was  a  cabinet-maker  by  trade  and 
followed  that  pursuit  in  Sycamore  Eoi  some  time, 
bul  later  followed  the  carpenter's  trade  and  did 
some  contracting.  Ee  was  married  when  he  came 
to  Sycamore  and  he  and  his  wife  were  the  first 
married  Swedish  couple  Living  in  that  city.  At 
the  time  of  their  arrival  the  Northwestern  Rail- 
road extended  only  to  De  Kalb  and  there  they 
remained  for  a  time  but  not  liking  the  town,  they 
came  overland  to  Sycamore  to  remain  temporarily 
it  being  their  intention  to  go  to  Rockford.  Mrs. 
Carlson,  however,  was  so  well  pleased  with  Syca- 
more that  she  prevailed  on  her  husband  to  remain 
and  he  continued  a  resident  of  that  city  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  August  16, 
1862.  In  that  year  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the 
Civil  war,  but  becoming  ill,  he  died  before  the 
company  went  to  the  front.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church,  was  a  republican 
in  politics  and  was  a  respected  man.  In  his  busi- 
ness life  he  was  meeting  with  success,  while  all 
who  knew  him  entertained  a  warm  regard  for  him 
because  of  his  fidelity  and  honorable,  manly  princi- 
ples. His  wife,  Mrs.  Anna  Carlson,  was  born  in 
Sweden  and  they  were  married  there.  Her  death 
occurred  July  9,  1904,  when  she  was  seventy-eight 
vears  of  age.    She  was  a  woman  of  strong  person- 


ality and  lovable  disposition.  Her  home  was  ever 
open  for  the  reception  of  people  from  her  native 
land  until  they  found  a  place  for  themselves. 
Some  years  before  her  death,  one  hundred  and  fifty 
of  her  friends  and  those  whom  she  had  befriended, 
gave  a  most  delightful  entertainment  for  her  in 
the  nature  of  a  surprise  party  which  was  a  testi- 
monial of  their  esteem. 

In  the  family  were  five  children:  Edith,  wife 
or  D.  A.  Giles,  a  resident  of  Albert  Lea,  Minne- 
sota, where  she  died  in  1894;  Carl  E.,  who  is 
clerking  in  Sycamore;  Andrew  J.,  who  is  in  busi- 
m  Bottineau,  North  Dakota,  and  was  chief  of 
peliee  at  that  place  in  former  years;  .John  \\\,  an 
iron  molder  at  Batavia,  Illinois :  and  Magnus  F., 
of  this  review. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of  Magnus 
F.  Carlson  we  present  to  our  readers  a  life  record 
of  one  who  is  well  known  in  Sycamore.  He  en- 
tered the  public  schools  here  at  the  usual  age  and 
passed  throitgh  the  successive  grades  until  he  be- 
came a  high  school  student.  He  then  entered  a 
store  as  a  clerk  and  was  employed  there  for  about 
ten  years.  Later  he  learned  photography  and 
bought  out  a  business  in  1893.  He  has  since  con- 
ducted his  photograph  gallery  with  success.  He 
has  a  well  equipped  studio  and  utilizes  the  latest 
processes  in  carrying  on  his  art.  The  results  ob- 
tained are  usually  acceptable  and  his  patronagi 
is  now  gratifying. 

In  April  of  1889  Mr.  Carlson  was  married  to 
Miss  Charlotte  V.  Shurtleff,  daughter  of  Ephraim 
and  Susan  Shurtleff,  of  Sycamore.  The  Shurt- 
lcffs  are  an  old  American  family,  which  was  rep- 
resented in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Mrs.  Carlson 
was  born  in  Sycamore  township  in  1867.  A  sketch 
of  her  father  will  be  found  elsewhere  'in  this 
volume. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carlson  were  bom  two  chil- 
dren :  lone  E.,  born  April  3,  1890 ;  and  Frank  S., 
born  March  7,  1895.  Mrs.  Carlson  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Carlson 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees.  lie  is  likewise  identi- 
fied with  the  Knights  of  the  Globe  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Eastern  Star 
lodge,  of  which  Mrs.  Carlson  is  a  past  worthy 
matron.  In  politics  Mr.  Carlson  is  a  republican 
but  does  not  seek  nor  desire  office,  preferring  t» 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


461 


give  his  time  and  attention  to  his  business  inter- 
ests, in  which  he  is  meeting  with  well  merited 
success. 


ANDREW  HARMAN  KYLEN. 

Andrew  Harman  Kylen,  who  is  engaged  in  busi- 
ness in  De  Kalb  as  a  mason,  landed  in  America 
with  a  cash  capital  of  only  thirteen  dollars.  He 
was  an  emigrant  from  Sweden  and  though  his 
financial  resources  were  limited,  he  possessed  un- 
tiring energy  and  determination.  These  qualities 
enabled  him  to  succeed  where  others  of  less  reso- 
lute spirit  would  have  failed.  As  the  years  have 
passed  by  lie  lias  worked  his  way  upward,  and  in 
late  years  has  enjoyed  a  goodly  measure  of 
prosperity. 

Mr.  Kylen  was  born  in  Sweden,  May  20,  1850. 
his  parents  being  John  H.  and  Louise  (Calholm) 
Kylen.  also  natives  of  Sweden.  The  father  died 
in  1857  and  the  mother,  reaching  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-six  years,  passed  away  in  1903. 

Andrew  H.  Kylen,  the  youngest  of  a  family 
cf  three  children,  was  only  seven  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  his  father's  death.  He  pursued  his 
education  in  Sweden,  completing  his  studies  in 
1866,  and  two  years  later,  when  only  eighteen 
years  of  age,  came  to  the  United  States,  landing 
at  New  York  with  but  thirteen  dollars  in  his 
pocket.  With  that  meagre  capital  in  his  posses- 
sion he  started  out  to  seek  work  and  for  six  years 
was  employed  in  New  York.  In  1874  he  arrived 
in  Malta,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  for  six  years, 
and  in  1880  came  to  the  city  of  De  Kalb,  where 
he  has  since  lived.  After  leaving  school  he 
learned  the  mason's  trade,  which  he  has  followed 
throughout  his  entire  life,  and  at  the  present  writ- 
ing is  closely  associated  with  building  operations 
of  that  character  in  De  Kalb. 

On  the  4th  of  November,  1870,  Mr.  Kylen  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  C.  Swanson,  who 
was  born  in  Sweden.  October  1,  1848.  Her  par- 
ents were  Swante  and  Christina  Margreta  (Ro- 
man) Swanson,  both  of  whom  were  natives  jf 
Sweden  but  are  now  deceased.  In  their  family 
were  seven  children  of  whom  Mrs.  Kylen  is  the 
youngest.  Three  of  the  daughters  came  to  Amer- 
ica, while  the  others  lived  and  died  in  Sweden. 


Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kylen  have  been  born  six 
children:  Mrs.  Hulda  Thompson,  born  December 
8,  1871 ;  John  W.  Kylen,  bom  September  3,  1873; 
Mary  Louise,  born  September  25,  1875;  Ray 
Oakley,  born  April  3,  1882 ;  and  two  now  deceased 
The  daughter,  Mary  Louise,  is  the  wife  of  F.  L. 
Gilbert,  of  Madison,  Wisconsin,  who  for  two  terms 
served  in  the  office  of  district  attorney  and  is  now 
attorney  general  of  that  state.  The  two  children 
who  have  passed  away  were :  Walter  Eugene,  who 
was  born  December  18,  1877,  and  died  April  13, 
1881 ;  and  Dora  May,  who  was  born  October  31, 
1879,  and  died  April  8,  1881.  The  son  John  was 
a  soldier  in  the  Spanish-American  w7ar  and  as  a 
member  of  Company  M,  Third  Illinois  Regiment, 
went  with  General  Miles  to  Porto  Rico.  The 
troops  landed  at  Ponce  and  were  on  guard  duty 
there.  John  Kylen  remained  at  the  front  until 
after  peace  was  declared  and  then  returned  home 
with  his  regiment. 

Mr.  Kylen  and  his  son  are  both  stalwart  repub- 
licans and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Fraternal  Trib- 
unes. The  family  home  is  at  No.  319  North 
street,  De  Kalb,  and  Mr.  Kylen  and  the  members 
of  the  household  are  well  known  in  this  city.  He 
has  made  rapid  and  substantial  progress  since 
coming  to  America  for  when  he  arrived  in  this 
country  he  was  unacquainted  with  the  English 
language  and  knew  practically  nothing  of  the 
methods  and  customs  of  the  people.  He  readily 
adapted  himself  to  the  changed  labor  conditions 
and  proved  his  willingness  to  work  by  close  appli- 
cation and  untiring  diligence,  and  as  the  years 
have  gone  by,  he  has  been  generally  successful. 
He  now  belongs  to  the  Masons  Union,  a  strong 
labor  organization,  of  which  he  is  at  the  head. 
At  this  writing  he  is  acting  as  financial  secretary, 
while  his  son  is  corresponding  secretary.  Mr. 
Kylen  has  occupied  this  position  since  the  organ- 
ization of  the  union  in  1902. 


J.  C.  HENDERSON. 


The  work  of  his  home  farm  makes  steady  de- 
mands upon  the  time  and  energies  of  J.  C.  Hen- 
derson, an  agriculturist  residing  on  section  29, 
Milan  township.  He  is  one  of  the  native  sons  of 
the  county,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Clinton 


462 


PAST    AXD    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


township  on  the  loth  of  May,  1864.  His  par- 
ents, Samuel  and  Frances  (Lackey)  Henderson. 
were  natives  of  Perry  county.  Pennsylvania,  the 
former  born  May  30,  1837,  and  the  latter  October 
21,  1S39.  They  were  married  in  that  state,  whence 
they  came  west  about  1S5S  and  took  up  their  abode 
upon  a  farm  of  forty  acres  in  Clinton  township, 
De  Kalb  county,  Illinois,  being  early  settlers  of 
this  locality.  Hero  Mr.  Eenderson  carried  on  gen- 
eral agricultural  pursuits  until  the  spring  of 
1865,  when  he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  on  section  29,  Milan  township, — the  farm 
now  owned  and  operated  by  his  son  J.  C.  Hender- 
son. When  he  located  thereon  not  a  furrow  had 
been  turned  upon  the  place  and  his  nearest  neigh- 
bor was  a  mile  and  a  half  away.  The  father  con- 
tinued the  improvement  and  cultivation  of  that 
farm  until  1884,  when  he  purchased  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  in  Shabbona  township  just  east 
of  Lee,  cultivating  that  tract  with  good  success 
until  1903,  when  he  removed  to  Lee  and  there  he 
and  his  wife  are  now  living  retired.  He  was  for 
many  years  closely,  actively  and  honorably  asso- 
ciated with  farming  interests  and  is  now  living 
in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his  former  toil. 
"While  a  resident  of  Milan  township  he  served  as 
school  trustee,  school  director  and  road  commis- 
sioner at  different  limes.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
are  active  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Lee  and  lie  has  been  a  member  of  the 
board  of  trustees  since  the  church  was  erected 
in  1877. 

J.  C.  Henderson  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools  of  Milan  township  and  remained  at  home 
with  his  father  through  the  period  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth.  After  he  attained  his  majority  he  con- 
tinued en  the  old  homestead,  managing  the  farm 
until  1903,  when  he  purchased  the  property.  Ha 
has  here  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  good  land 
that  responds  in  golden  harvests  to  the  care  and 
labor  he  bestows  upon  it. 

On  the  20th  of  September,  1887.  Mr.  Hender- 
son was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  M.  Mullins.  i 
daughter  of  George  and  Mary  (Bostock)  Mullins. 
who  were  of  English  extraction.  Her  father  was 
born  May  3.  1842,  and  was  only  ten  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  De  Kalb  county.  He  now  owns 
land  both  in  this  and  I.e..  counties  but  makes  his 
home  in  the  latter  county.  Mr.  Mullins,  who  came 
to  I>e  Kalb  county  in  1865,  was  born  November  1. 


1848,  and  died  August  13.  1886.  Unto  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Henderson  have  been  born  six  children: 
George  S.,  born  August  34.  1888,  who  is  now  in 
school  in  Dixon.  Illinois;  Mary  F..  who  was  born 
March  1.  1890,  ami  is  a  student  in  Aurora.  Illi- 
nois: Lester  .1..  who  was  born  July  1^.  1892; 
Delia  S..  who  was  born  March  26,  1894;  Miles 
Ellis,  born  May  8,  1903:  and  Villa,  born  July 
30,  1906. 

The  parents  and  four  eldest  children  are  mem- 
bers  ol  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  for 
the  past  eight  year-  Mr.  Henderson  has  served  as 
one  of  the  church  trustees.  He  takes  an  active 
and  helpful  part  in  the  church  work  and  his  in- 
fluence i-  ever  given  on  the  side  of  right,  justice 
and  truth.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henderson  are 
members  "J'  the  Mystic  Workers  at  Lee  and  he  is 
also  connected  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  camp 
at  that  place.  In  politics  he  is  an  earnest  prohibi- 
tionist. He  believes  in  the  practice  of  temperance 
not  only  in  the  use  of  spirituous  liquors  but  in 
oil  his  habits.  He  uses  no  tobacco  and  is  careful 
not  to  abuse  nature's  laws.  At  the  present  time 
he  is  serving  his  township  as  road  commissioner 
and  is  also  school  director,  having  acted  in  the  lat- 
ter capacity  for  twelve  years.  Religiously,  politi- 
cally and  socially,  and  in  business  life  as  well,  his 
has  been  an  example  which  might  be  profitably 
followed  by  all  who  have  true  regard  for  the  value 
of  character  and  a  desire  that  the  human  race 
shall  lie  uplifted. 


EDWARD  L.  MAYO.  M.  I). 

Dr.  Edward  L.  Mayo,  whose  life  of  high  pur- 
poses and  large  usefulness  made  him  one  of  the 
best  loved  citizens  of  De  Kalb,  passed  away  March 
2.  1905,  when  in  his  sixty-second  year.     A  native 

son  of  the  county,  he  was  born  in  Syci re,  or 

the  16th  of  June.  1843.  and  was  a  son  of  Judge 
E.  L.  Mayo,  one  of  the  leading  pioneer  residents 
of  this  part  of  the  state.  At  the  usual  aire  the  son 
began  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  town,  where  he  passed  through  successive 
grades,  saining  a  good  English  education  to  serve 
as  the  foundation  for  later  acquired  professional 
knowledge. 


p83 


hi, 


GAf^O 


V  IP. 


THE  NEW  YORK" I 

-'-IC  LIBRARY 


JH£ 


PAST   AND    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


467 


When  he  had  attained  his  majority  he  took  up 
the  study  of  medicine  in  1864  in  the  office  of  Dj\ 
Bryant,  while  subsequently  he  continued  his  read- 
ing with  Dr.  Garvin  as  his  preceptor.  Entering 
Push  Medical  College,  of  Chicago,  he  won  the  de- 
gree of  M.  D.  in  that  institution  in  1868  and  lo- 
cated for  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Malta,  where  he  was  not  long  in  securing  a  liberal 
and  gratifying  patronage.  There  he  remained  for 
about  seven  years  or  until  1875,  when  he  sought 
the  broader  field  of  labor  offered  at  De  Kalb  and 
resumed  his  chosen  life  work  in  that  city.  Public 
opinion  was  never  divided  upon  the  question  of 
his  ability  or  fidelity  to  the  onerous  and  responsi- 
ble duties  which  rest  upon  the  physician  and  sur- 
geon. For  twenty-five  years  he  enjoyed  a  very 
■extensive  and  growing  patronage  and  he  was. 
moreover,  a  thorough  business  man.  He  never 
refused  to  respond  to  the  call  of  the  sick  room, 
even  when  the  response  occasioned  much  personal 
discomfort  and  inconvenience.  He  was  a  success- 
ful physician,  easily  the  dean  of  his  profession  in 
the  county,  and  his  prominence  and  the  attend- 
ing honors  which  accompany  pre-eminence  in  that 
high  calling  were  honestly  and  fairly  won  through 
keen  intelligence,  hard  work  and  persistent  appli- 
cation. He  continued  in  active  practice  until  the 
later  years  of  his  life,  when  his  own  impaired 
health  caused  his  retirement. 

Dr.  Mayo  was  first  married  in  1872,  to  Miss 
Alice  Ballou,  a  daughter  of  W.  P.  Ballou,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  two  children  :  Eoss  E. ;  and 
Alice  L.,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Robert  Stahl. 
Mrs.  Mayo  died  September  28,  1880.  In  1897  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Harriet  M.  Ellwood,  daugh- 
ter of  Colonel  I.  L.  Ellwood.  A  few  years  ago  lie 
erected  a  fine  new  residence  at  the  corner  of  Main 
and  First  streets,  where  an  air  of  culture  and  re- 
finement prevailed  and  where  a  spirit  of  warm  hos- 
pitality brought  delight  to  their  many  friends. 
Unto  this  marriage  was  born  one  son.  Edward. 

Because  of  impaired  health  Dr.  Mayo  spent  the 
winter  seasons  during  the  last  four  years  of  his  life 
in  the  south.  He  was  for  some  time  in  Florida 
but  after  the  Christmas  holidays  went  to  Los  An- 
geles. California,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and 
son.  for  the  improvement  of  his  health.  He  was 
not  benefited,  however.  Longing  for  home  scenes, 
amid  which  so  many  years  of  his  life  of  useful- 
ness had  been  passed,  being  strong  upon  him.  the 


return  journey  was  made  and  for  two  weeks  after 
his  arrival  in  De  Kalb  his  life  was  prolonged,  but 
on  the  2d  of  March,  1905,  he  passed  away.  At  his 
death  one  who  knew  him  well,  wrote :  "Dr.  Mayo 
lived  a  life  of  honor  and  great  usefulness.  In  his 
private  life,  the  life  he  lived  by  his  own  hearth- 
stone, the  life  that  his  family  and  close  friends 
knew,  he  was  the  ideal  husband,  father  and  host. 
Cheery,  gentle  and  hospitable,  his  home  was  a  ha- 
ven of  comfort  for  those  who  entered  it.  Dr.  Mayo 
won  his  spurs  by  hard  and  faithful  work  and  in 
his  many  years  of  toil  among  the  high,  the  low, 
the  rich  and  poor,  he  won  that  confidence  in  his 
patients  that  few  physicians  are  capable  of  win- 
ning, and  today  many  hundreds  weep  with  those 
who  mourn  for  the  man  who  in  their  darkened 
homes  has  brought  comfort,  healing  and  sym- 
pathy. When  business  cares  were  put  aside  the 
Doctor  sought  his  home  eagerly  and  of  the  hap- 
piness he  found  there  he  gave  right  royally  to 
those  about  him.  His  tenderness  and  devotion 
to  his  wife  and  children  are  sacred  memories  now. 
The  love  he  gave  them'  was  of  the  sort  poets  sing.'"' 
The  salient  characteristics  of  his  life  were  evsi 
such  as  won  him  honor  and  regard.  He  had  a 
great  appreciation  for  good  traits  in  his  friends 
and  had  the  faculty  of  bringing  out  the  best  there 
was  in  them.  He  knew  men,  knew  them  well,  and 
had  faith  in  them.  His  life  was  indicative  of  the 
fact  that  humanitarianism,  honesty  and  prosper- 
ity are  not  antagonistic  forces.  He  won  a  goodly 
measure  of  success  and  at  the  same  time  mani- 
fested a  spirit  of  helpfulness  and  kindliness  that 
was  entirely  opposite  to  all  self-centered  interests. 


E.  A.  MUZZEY. 


E.  A.  Muzzey.  a  shoemaker  of  De  Kalb.  resid- 
ing at  No.  401  Gurler  street,  was  born  in  Kane 
county,  Illinois,  October  14,  1843.  He  acquired 
a  common-school  education  and  afterward  learned 
the  shoemaker's  trade,  which  he  has  made  his  life 
work,  conducting  a  shop  in  De  Kalb  until  1862, 
when  he  went  to  Nebraska,  where  he  also  followed 
his  chosen  occupation.  Upon  his  return  to  this 
state  he  established  a  shop  on  West  Main  street  in 
De  Kalb,  where  he  has  since  remained,  being  the 
oldest  and  best  known  shoemaker  of  the  citv.    He 


468 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


is  indeed  an  excellent  workman  and  has  received 
a  liberal  patronage  in  his  line,  his  success  being 
well  merited. 

On  the  26th  of  November,  ISM.  occurred  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Muzzey  and  Miss  Ollie  Depew, 
a  resident  of  Oe  Kalb.  Unto  them  have  been  born 
eight  children:  James  Edwin,  who  is  now  a  shoe- 
maker in  St.  Louis,  Missouri;  Mrs.  Edith  Ander- 
son; Benjamin,  who  served  through  the  Spanish- 
American  war  and  is  now  a  street  car  conductor 
in  Chicago;  Carrie,  at  Amboy,  Illinois ;  Mrs.  Anna 
Erickson,  of  Chicago;  Bertha,  who  is  a  teacher 
in  the  schools  of  De  Kalb;  Gertrude,  a  student  in 
the  Normal  School;  and  Ruth,  who  is  attending 
the  public  schools. 

Mr.  Muzzey  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  tlie  men  and  measures  of  the  republican 
party.  He  owns  a  comfortable  home  at  No.  -101 
Curler  street  and  is  pleasantly  located  in  life.  He 
has  always  been  an  active,  industrious  man.  and 
whatever  success  he  has  achieved  is  due  to  his  own 
efforts.  All  who  know  him  entertain  for  him  warm 
regard  because  his  life  has  been  in  conformity 
with  honorable,  manly  principles. 


HENRY  J.  BUCKARDT. 

The  success  which  Henry  J.  Buckardt  has  at- 
tained is  due  to  his  enterprise,  strong  determina- 
tion and  business  ability,  and  he  is  now  classed 
with  the  representative  farmers  of  Victor  town- 
ship, where  he  owns  and  operates  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres.  This  is  known  as  the 
old  Buckardt  homestead  and  is  a  well  improved 
and  valuable  property.  The  house  which  is  now 
his  place  of  residence  was  the  one  in  which  he  first 
opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day  on  the  4th  of 
April,  1869.  His  father.  John  Buckardt,  was  a 
native  of  Germany,  born  in  1825,  and  having  at- 
tained manhood  in  that  country,  where  he  wj- 
also  married,  he  emigrated  to  the  new  world,  be- 
coming a  resident  of  Somonauk,  Illinois,  about 
1859.  He  was  a  mason  by  trade  and  followed  that 
pursuit  in  De  Kalb  county  for  about  five  vears. 
He  then  rented  land  and  began  farming.  After 
three  years  spent  in  that  way  he  purchased  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  where  his  son  now  resides 
and  opened  up  and  improved  this  property,  becom- 


ing in  the  course  of  years  a  prosperous  agncui- 
turist  of  his  community.  He  had  been  married 
in  Germany,  in  1849,  in  Miss  Caroline  Gruel,  a 
native  of  that  country. 

Henry  J.  Buckardt  is  the  youngest  of  four  liv- 
ing children.  No  event  of  special  importance  oc- 
curred  to  vary  the  routine  of  farm  life  for  him 
in  his  boyhood  days.  He  worked  in  the  Gelds 
from  the  time  of  early  spring  planting  until  croos 
were  harvested  in  the  late  autumn  and  through 
the  winter  months  he  attended  the  public  schools. 
He  was  married  in  Somonauk.  on  the  27th  of 
March.  1894,  to  Mis-  Leona  Kohler,  who  was  born 
and  reared  in  Alsace,  Germany,  and  after  their 
marriage  they  took  up  their  abode  on  the  old  home 
farm,  which  has  since  been  their  place  of  resi- 
dence.  Mr.  Buckardt  has  further  improved  the 
property,  has  built  a  good  barn,  corn  crib  and 
chicken  house  and  otherwise  has  done  much  to 
make  Hie  farm  the  present  excellent  property 
which  it  is  today.  He  raises  some  stock  and  :s 
numbered  among  the  progressive  agriculturists 
of  the  township. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buckardt  have  been  born 
three  sons  and  two  daughters:  Lillie  M..  Artie  E.; 
Elmer  J..  Lizzie  L.,  and  Lloyd  Henry.  Mr.  Buck- 
ardt was  reared  in  the  Lutheran  church  and  be- 
longs to  that  faith,  while  his  wife  is  a  communi- 
cant of  the  Catholic  church  at  Somonauk.  He  is 
;i  stalwart  republican  in  politics,  though  not  an 
office  seeker,  and  the  only  office  he  has  ever  held 
has  been  that  of  member  of  the  school  board.  He 
belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge  of  Somon- 
auk and  he  is  interested  in  all  that  pertains  to- 
the  material,  intellectual,  social  and  moral  prog- 
ress of  the  community.  That  his  life  has  been 
honorable  and  straightforward  is  indicated  by  the 
fact  that  many  of  his  stanchest  friends  are  num- 
bered among  those  who  have  known  him  from  his 
boyhood  days  to  the  present  time. 


MRS.  I.IDA  B.  McMURRY. 

Mrs.    Lida    B.   McMurry,   a  teacher,  who  since 

L! has  been  connected  with  the  Normal  School 

of  De  Kalb,  save  for  the  period  of  one  year,  is 
perhaps  more  widely  known  outside  of  the  city  be- 
cause of  her  authorship  of  six  volumes  which  have 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALE    CoI'XTY. 


469 


been  widely  sold  and  which  have  brought  her  mer- 
ited renown  as  a  writer.  She  was  born  in  Kiantone. 
New  York,  February  6,  1853,  and  in  the  paternal 
lice  is  a  direct  descendant  of  John  and  Priscilla 
Alden  and  Miles  and  Barbara  Standish.  Her 
older  brother,  Isaac  Eddy  Brown,  has  been  state 
secretary  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion of  Qlinois  for  over  twenty-five  years,  and  her 
younger  brother,  Dr.  Elmer  E.  Brown,  is  United 
States  commissioner  of  education.  Her  father. 
Russell  McCary  Brown,  was  born  at  Locke  Hol- 
low, Cayuga  county,  New  York,  June  13,  1823, 
and  in  that  state  married  Electa  Sherman,  whose 
birth  occurred  September  13,  1827.  He  came  to 
Illinois  in  1864,  settling  in  Bradford,  Lee  county, 
and  there  engaged  in  farming.  He  died  in  Octo- 
ber, 1888,  and  his  wife  passed  away  on  the  9th  of 
February,  1900.  In  their  family  were  four  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Mrs.  McMurry  is  the  second  in  or- 
der of  birth.  Her  father  had  four  brothers  in  the 
Union  army  during  the  Civil  war,  two  enlisting 
with  him  as  sharpshooters  in  1861  and  remaining 
in  the  service  until  discharged  on  account  of  ill 
health. 

Lida  Brown  began  her  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Chautauqua  county.  New  York, 
and  afterward  attended  the  State  Normal  School 
nf  Normal,  Illinois,  from  which  she  was  graduated 
in  the  class  of  1874.  She  is  a  lady  of  broad 
scholarly  attainments  and  has  always  been  a 
student,  constantly  adding  to  her  knowledge 
through  reading  and  investigation.  At  the  age  of 
sixteen  years  she  began  teaching  school  and  taught 
at  Sublette,  Illinois,  two  years  prior  to  entering 
the  Normal  and  two  years  after  leaving  that 
school.  For  one  year  she  was  connected  with  the 
high  school  of  Areola  and  one  year  with  the  graded 
country  school  at  Clear  Creek,  Illinois. 

She  was  married  at  Normal.  Illinois,  July  7, 
1872,  to  William  P.  McMurry.  who  was  bom  in 
Indiana,  October  26,  1852,  a  son  of  Franklin  and 
Charlotte  McMurry,  also  natives  of  Indiana.  He 
is  the  oldest  of  their  family  of  five  children  and  is 
a  farmer,  now  living  in  Garden  City,  Kansas. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McMurry  were  born  two  chil- 
dren: Fred  Russell,  born  July  7,  1879  :  and  Ka  -1 
Franklin,  bom  October  31,  1880. 

In  1884  Mrs.  McMurry  resumed  teaching,  for 
seven  years  being  connected  with  the  public  schools 
at  Normal.     Tn  1891  she  became  a  teacher  in  the 


Normal  School  of  that  place,  with  which  school  she 
was  connected  for  nine  years,  and  in  1900  came  to 
De  Kalb  to  accept  a  posit  ion  in  connection  with  the 
Normal  School  of  that  place.  She  has  here  re- 
mained continuously  since  that  time,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  period  of  one  year,  when  she  was  out 
on  account  of  ill  health.  She  has  made  a  reputa- 
tion as  one  of  the  able  educators  of  the  state  and 
has  followed  practical  progressive  methods,  and 
under  her  guidance,  the  schools  of  which  she  has 
had  charge  have  made  substantial  advancement. 
She  holds  high  ideals  in  connection  with  her  work 
and  labors  toward  an  advanced  standard.  She  is 
a  woman  of  action  rather  than  theory  and  is  quick 
to  notice  and  utilize  opportunities  for  improving 
the  schools,  rendering  her  labor  of  the  utmost  value 
to  those  who  come  under  her  instruction.  Aside 
from  her  teaching  she  has  displayed  marked  liter- 
ary ability  and  has  attained  a  national  reputation 
as  an  author,  having  brought  forth  six  volumes, 
including:  Classic  Stories  for  Little  Ones;  Robin- 
son Crusoe  for  Girls  and  Boys;  Nature  Study  for 
Primary  Grades;  Our  Language  Book;  Tree-tops 
and  Meadows  (a  collection  of  poems)  :  and  Songs 
of  Mother  and  Child.  In  the  last  two  she  was  as- 
sisted by  Mrs.  Agnes  Cook  Gale.  Mrs.  McMurry 
belongs  to  the  State  Congress  of  Mothers,  of  which 
she  is  honorary  vice  president. 

When  fifteen  years  of  age  she  became  a  member 
of  the  Congregational  church  but  for  some  time 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church.  Her  in- 
terests center  in  those  lines  which  tend  to  benefit 
humanity  and  the  cause  of  educational  and  re- 
ligious work,  scientific  investigation  and  esthetic 
culture  have  therefore  received  her  co-operation 
and  endorsement. 


EDGAR  E.  ARNOLD. 


Among  the  residents  of  Sandwich  township  who 
are  successfully  carrying  on  the  work  of  breeding 
and  dealing  in  live  stock  and  developing  the  fields 
according  to  modern  methods  of  farming,  is  num- 
bered Edgar  E.  Arnold,  whose  home  is  on  section 
2,  Sandwich  township.  Here  he  has  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-four  acres  and  he  breeds  high- 
grade  cattle.  He  also  raises  Duroc  Jersey  hogs. 
Oxford    sheep,    fancy    chickens,    principally    Ply- 


470 


PAST    AXD    PKESEXT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


mouth    Bock,    white    Wyandotte,    rose    comb    and 
brown  leghorn  breeds. 

Mr.  Arnold  is  ;i  native  son  of  De  Kalb  county. 
In-  birth  having  occurred  in  Victor  township  on 
the  10th  of  February,  1SG4.  He  is  the  son  of 
All.  ml  Arnold,  a  native  of  Lincolnshire,  England, 
who.  leaving  his  native  country  when  a  young 
man.  emigrated  to  America.  He  resided  for  sev- 
enteen months  in  Tompkins  county.  New  York, 
then  came  westward  to  the  Mississippi  valley,  set- 
tling in  Kane  county.  Illinois,  about  1853.  After 
two  or  three  years  he  removed  to  De  Kalb  county 
and  opened  up  a  farm  in  Victor  township.  Not  a 
furrow  had  been  turned  or  an  improvement  made 
upon  the  land  on  which  he  located,  so  with  ox 
teams  he  broke  the  sod  and  in  the  due  course  of 
time  planted  seed  and  gathered  rich  crops.  This 
was  one  of  the  firs!  settled  farms  of  the  locality. 
He  bought  more  land  until  he  owned  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acre-,  constituting  a  valuable  property, 
and  upon  that  place  reared  his  family  and  spent 
Lis  active  business  life.  In  the  evening  0f  hie  days, 
however,  he  removed  to  Somonauk.  there  to  enjoy 
a  well  earned  res!  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1899.     Hi-  wife  survives  and  is  still  living  in 

■ 

Somonauk. 

Edgar  E.  Arnold  was  reared  in  the  usual  manner 
of  farm  lads  and  was  educated  in  the  Suydam  dis- 
trict school.  He  worked  in  the  fields  when  not 
busy  with  his  text-books  and  after  attaining  his 
majority  began  farming  on  his  own  account,  rent- 
ing land  in  Victor  township  for  seven  years. 

It  was  in  Victor  township  on  the  10th  of  July. 
1886,  that  Mr.  Arnold  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Alvina  M.  Von  (Men,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  that  township.  The  young  couple  began 
their  domestic  life  upon  a  rented  farm  and  Mr. 
Arnold  thus  continued  to  carry  on  agricultural 
pursuits  until  1894,  when  he  bought  eighty  acres 
of  the  farm  upon  which  he  is  now  living.  He  has 
since  added  to  the  property  by  additional  purchase 
and  has  greatly  improved  it  in  general  appearance 
and  in  its  productiveness.  He  has  fenced  and  tiled 
the  land  and.  in  fact,  has  made  it  what  it  is  to- 
day, one  of  the  well  improved  fanning  properties 
of  the  district.  He  has  been  raising  fine  stock, 
including  Duroc  Jersey  hogs,  for  six  years,  and 
also  pure  blooded  sheep,  now  having  a  fine  flock. 
He  has  made  exhibits  at  the  county  fairs,  in  which 
he  has  carried  off  numerous  premiums,  and  is  well 


known  throughout  this  part  of  the  state  as  a 
breeder  of  and  dealer  in  live  stock.  He  makes  a 
business  of  feeding  hogs  for  the  market,  shipping 
one  or  two  carloads  per  year,  and  is  also  well 
known  as  a  fancier  of  fine  poultry,  making  a  spe- 
cialty of  raising  Plymouth  Eocks,  white  Wyan- 
dottes,  rose  combs  and  brown  leghorns. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arnold  are  the  parents  of  a  daugh- 
ter. Myrtle  May.  The  family  is  well  known  in 
the  community  and  the  hospitality  of  the  best 
homes  of  the  township  is  extended  the  members 
of  the  household.  Mr.  Arnold  was  reared  in  the 
faith  of  the  republican  party  and  has  never  had 
occasion  to  sever  his  allegiance  thereto,  for  he  be- 
lieves that  its  platform  contains  the  best  elements 
of  good  government.  He  fully  understands  the 
principles  of  high  tariff,  reciprocity  and  sound 
money  and  is  a  public-spirited  citizen,  but  not  an 
office  seeker.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with 
Sandwich  camp.  M.  W.  A.  Many  of  the  native 
sons  of  the  county  have  become  successful  business 
men  here  and  to  this  class  belongs  Mr.  Arnold, 
who  throughout  his  entire  life  has  lived  in  De 
Kalb  county,  many  of  his  stanchest  friends  being 
those  who  have  known  him  since  his  boyhood  days. 


CHARLES  J.  PETERSON 

Charles  J.  Peterson,  to  whom  has  been  vouch- 
safed an  honorable  retirement  from  business  life,  is 
now  living  in  Kirkland,  but  for  thirty-seven  years 
la  was  one  of  the  active,  energetic  and  prosperous 
farmers  of  De  Kalb  county.  He  established  his 
home  within  the  borders  of  this  county  in  1869. 
being  at  that  time  a  young  man  of  twenty-six 
years.  His  birth  occurred  in  Sweden  on  the  8th 
of  June,  1843,  and  be  was  there  reared  to  the  age 
of  twenty-six.  acquiring  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  country.  He  had  no  knowl- 
edge of  English  when  he  came  to  the  new  world, 
but  has  mastered  the  language  through  contact 
with  his  fellow   citizens  here. 

Mr.  Peterson  was  married  in  1869  to  Miss  Anna 
Gustava  Axelson  and  the  wedding  journey  of  the 
young  couple  i  onsist  d  of  a  trip  to  the  new  world. 
They  arrived  in  De  Kalb  county  on  the  1  1th  of 
June,  having  landed  in  Xew  York  on  the  8th  of 
June,  which  was  the  twenty-sixth  anniversary  of 


PAST   AND    PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


471 


Mr.  Peterson's  birth.  The  first  year  was  spent  as 
a  farm  hand  in  Winnebago  county  until  the  month 
of  November,  when  he  removed  to  De  Kalb  county. 
Here  he  was  employed  at  farm  labor  by  the  month 
for  four  seasons,  during  which  time  he  saved  his 
earnings,  which  he  then  invested  in  a  good  tract  if 
land  at  Charter  Oak.  This  he  cleared,  fenced  and 
improved,  making  his  home  thereon  for  four  years 
01  until  the  fall  of  1876,  when  he  sold  the  prop- 
erty. He  then  rented  three  hundred  and  three 
acres  of  land  in  Franklin  township,  continuing 
thus  to  carry  on  agricultural  pursuits  for  twelve 
years,  after  which  he  purchased  another  tract  of 
land,  upon  which  he  erected  good  barns  and  other 
outbuildings.  He  also  fenced  and  tiled  the  place, 
which  is  pleasantly  located  about  three  and  a  half 
miles  north  of  Kirkland.  He  made  of  this  a  valu- 
able farm,  bringing  the  fields  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation,  so  that  he  annually  harvested  rich 
crops.  He  used  the  latest  improved  machinery  in 
carrying  on  the  work  of  the  fields  and  he  kept 
•everything  about  his  place  in  neat  and  thrifty  con- 
dition. Upon  the  farm  he  remained  until  1903. 
and  as  the  years  passed  by  he  advanced  steadily 
on  the  highroad  to  success,  so  that  although  he 
commenced  life  a  poor  boy,  with  no  assistance  from 
family  or  friends,  he  is  today  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial residents  of  the  county,  living  a  retired 
life  and  enjoying  the  comforts  and  many  of  the 
luxuries  which  money  can  secure. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peterson  have  been  born 
three  daughters :  Evelina,  the  wife  of  J.  A.  Ben- 
son, a  contractor  and  builder  of  Kirkland;  Anna 
L.,  the  wife  of  August  Lundberg,  a  prominent 
business  man  of  Kirkland ;  and  Rose  Ella,  a  young 
lady  at  home,  who  formerly  engaged  in  teaching  in 
this  county. 

Mr.  Peterson  has  been  a  life-long  republican, 
unfaltering  in  his  allegiance  to  the  party.  He  has 
never  sought  office,  however,  as  a  reward  for  party 
fealty  and  the  only  positions  in  which  he  has 
served  are  those  of  township  trustee  and  member 
of  the  school  board.  He  and  his  wife  hold  mem- 
bership in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  the 
children  are  members  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
church.  Having  long  resided  in  the  county,  Mr. 
Peterson  has  witnessed  the  development  and 
growth  of  Kirkland  and  has  borne  his  full  share  in 
agricultural  development  of  this  part  of  the  state. 
He  deserves  much  credit  for  the  success  he  has 


achieved  and  his  life  is  an  excellent  illustration 
of  what  may  be  accomplished  through  determina- 
tion and  energy. 


.].  A.  BENSON. 


J.  A.  Benson,  well  known  in  business  circles  in 
Kirkland  as  a  contractor  and  builder,  having  car- 
ried on  operations  there  for  over  twenty-three 
years,  was  born  in  Sweden,  August  17,  1859.  The 
days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  passed  in  that 
country  and  there  he  learned  his  trade,  but  he 
heard  favorable  reports  concerning  the  business  ad- 
vantages of  the  new  world  and  he  resolved  to  profit 
by  these.  Accordingly  in  1883  he  made  his  way 
across  the  Atlantic  and  went  to  Minneapolis  and 
thence  to  the  Dakotas,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
railroad  work.  Later  he  was  in  Wisconsin  and 
subsecruently  in  Iowa.  During  the  winter  of  1884 
he  was  at  Rockford  and  afterward  came  to  Kirk- 
land, where  he  began  contracting  and  building. 
Here  he  has  since  remained,  closely  identified  with 
building  operations  in  this  town  and  in  Genoa. 
He  erected  the  shoe  factory  at  the  latter  place 
and  in  Kirkland  he  has  built  the  Swedish  and 
Congregational  churches,  together  with  various 
business  houses  and  residences,  including  a  num- 
ber of  brick  structures.  He  always  faithfully  exe- 
cutes the  terms  of  a  contract  and  his  reliability 
as  well  as  his  skillful  handiwork  has  been  a  strong 
element  in  his  success. 

On  the  22d  of  April,  1891,  Mr.  Benson  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Evelina  E.  Peterson,  who  was  born  in 
De  Kalb  county,  Illinois,  of  Swedish  parentage. 
They  now  have  two  daughters,  Blanche  and  Luella, 
who  are  students  in  the  home  school. 

Politically  Mr.  Benson  is  an  earnest  republican, 
having  firm  faith  in  the  principles  of  the  party, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  he  has  served  on  the 
township  board.  He  has  likewise  been  township 
trustee  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  various  county 
and  judicial  conventions.  He  and  his  wife  hold 
membership  in  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church  and 
he  is  a  member  of  its  official  board.  He  is  like- 
wise affiliated  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  Amer- 
ica and  the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters,  and 
cf  the  latter  he  has  been  secretary  and  treasurer. 
He  is  a  man  of  energy  and  determination  and  in 


i;-.' 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


all  life's  relations  has  maintained  a  high  standard 

i  I    conduct,   thus   justly   meriting   the   confidence 
which  is  so  uniformly  accorded  him  in  this  county. 


SAMUEL  ELLSWORTH  BRADT. 

Prominent  among  business  men  of  De  Kalb 
is  Samuel  Ellsworth  Bradt.  who  throughout  his 
life  has  iiiiii  closely  identified  with  the  his 
of  the  city,  while  his  name  is  inseparably  con- 
rieeted  with  its  manufacturing  and  financial  rec- 
ords. The  banking  interests  are  well  represented 
by  him,  for  he  is  vice  president  of  the  First 
National  Bank,  one  of  the  leading  moneyed  insti- 
tutions of  this  part  of  the  state,  and  also  director 
of  the  Commercial  Trust  aid  Savings  Bank  of 
De  Kalb.  He  is  a  man  of  keen  discrimination 
and  sound  judgment  and  his  executive  ability  and 
excellent  management  have  brought  to  the  con- 
cerns with  which  he  has  been  connected  a  high 
degree  of  success.  He  is  one  of  De  Kalb's  native 
sons,  born  on  the  22d  of  October,  1861,  his  par- 
ents being  Andrew  and  Amy  Ann  (Sweet)  Bradt. 
in  whose  family  of  nine  children  three  are  yet 
living,  namely:  Charles  F. :  Lulu,  the  wife  of 
Professor  S.  F.  Parson  of  the  Normal  School  of 
De  Kalb:  and  Samuel  E.  The  history  of  the 
parents  is  given  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 

At  the  usual  age  Samuel  E.  Bradt  entered  the 
public  schools,  wherein  he  pursued  his  studies 
until  lie  had  completed  the  high-school  course.  At 
the  age  of  seventeen  he  began  his  business  carei  i 
as  an  employe  of  the  firm  of  Bradt  &  Shipman, 
glove  jobbers.  He  had.  however,  prior  to  this 
time  spent  many  leisure  hours  in  the  house  and 
had  largely  become  familiar  with  the  business,  so 
that  when  he  entered  upon  formal  connection 
therewith  as  an  employe  he  took  charge  of  the 
receiving  and  shipping  rooms.  A  few  years  later 
he  was  made  a  member  of  the  firm  and  about  that 
time  the  scope  of  the  business  was  enlarged  by 
the  establishment  of  a  department  for  the  manu- 
facture of  gloves.  The  business  has  grown  under 
the  direction  of  Mr.  Bradt  of  this  review  until 
it  is  one  of  the  important  manufacturing  inter- 
ests of  De  Kalb.  At  one  time  an  annual  business 
of  four  hundred  thousand  dollars  was  transacted, 
the  firm  owning  and  operating  in  addition  to  the 


lie  Kalb  plant  a  glove  fastener  factory  in  Glovers- 
ville,  New  York.  This,  however,  was  sold  to  the 
trust  in  1901.  In  1S!'1  a  franchise  was  secured 
for  an  electric  light  plant  and  the  De  Kalb  Elec- 
tric Company  was  organized  by  J.  W.  Glidden, 
s.  E.  r.i;clt.  C.  E.  Bradt  ami  M.  D.  Shipman. 
The  plant  was  erected  on  its  present  location  and 
il  i  lnisiiie-s  was  successfully  conducted  until  l'Jol, 
when  these  gentlemen  sold  their  controlling  inter- 
ests in  the  plant  and  the  De  Kalb  Sycamore  Elec- 
tric Company  was  organized.  Mr.  Bradt  of  this 
review  had  been  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
other  company  and  after  the  organization  of  the 
new  company  he  was  made  a  member  of  its  board 
of  directors.  In  August.  1906,  the  original  mem- 
sold  their  entire  holdings  to  the  De  Kalb  ' 
Sycamore  Traction  Company.  In  the  meantime 
Mr.  Bradt  had  been  associated  with  a  wa_ionniak- 
ing  enterprise  and  in  1902  he  sold  his  interests  in 
that  to  the  Sycamore  Wagon  Works.  On  the  1st 
of  February,  1905,  he  was  elected  vice  president 
of  the  First  National  Bank,  in  which  capacity  he 
has  since  been  associated  with  the  institution. 
Such  in  brief  is  the  business  history  of  Mr.  Bradt, 
but  it  tells  little  of  the  enterprise  and  sagacity 
which  he  has  always  manifested,  of  the  unfalter- 
ing diligence  which  he  has  brought  to  bear  in 
the  conduct  of  his  business  affairs  and  of  the 
straightforward,  honorable  policy  he  has  ever  fol- 
lowed. These,  however,  are  known  to  his  fellow. 
townsmen.  He  has  wrought  along  modern  lines 
and  his  success  therefore  has  been  assured. 

On  the  23d  of  December,  1890,  Mr.  Bradt  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Bertha  Glidden.  a 
daughter  of  Willard  and  Mary  C.  (McConnell) 
Glidden.  of  De  Kalb.  They  became  parents  of 
s-\  children,  of  whom  four  are  yet  living:  Marion. 
Andrew    G..    Elizabeth    and    Charles    W. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Bradt  has  always  been 
an  earnest  republican  and  has  served  for  several 
years  as  a  member  of  the  school  board,  acting  in 
that  capacity  at  the  present  time.  At  this  writing 
he  is  also  commissioner  of  highways,  having  filled 
the  office  for  ten  years,  during  which  period  he 
was  instrumental  in  building  macademized  road 
in  the  country,  agitating  the  question  and  carry- 
ing it  forward  to  its  consummation.  At  all  times 
he  stands  for  progress  and  improvement  along 
practical  lines  and  his  efforts  have  been  of  marked 
value  to  the  county.     Socially  he  is  connected  with 


. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


475 


De  Kalb  lodge,  No.  765,  B.  P.  0.  E.  He  belongs 
to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  is 
an  official  member,  and  at  various  times  he  has 
served  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school, 
taking  a  deep  and  helpful  interest  in  church  work 
in  its  various  departments.  In  manner  he  is  cour- 
teous and  affable,  in  disposition  kindly  and  gener- 
ous, and  withal  is  a  true  gentleman.  He  com- 
mands the  respect  and  admiration  of  those  with 
whom  he  comes  in  contact  and  has  won  a  large 
circle  of  friends. 


JOHN  A.  HENDERSON. 

John  A.  Henderson,  who  is  one  eof  the  active 
and  enterprising  farmers  of  Victor  township,  also 
engaged  in  the  breeding  of  pure  blooded  short- 
horn cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs,  has  by  his 
labor  and  diligence  gained  a  place  among  the  fore- 
must  agriculturists  of  this  part  of  the  county.  He 
today  owns  an  excellent  property  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  which  is  well  improved  and  valu- 
able farming  land.  He  was  born  in  Victor  town- 
ship, November  18,  18G2.  His  father,  James  W. 
Henderson,  was  a  native  of  Perry  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, born  in  1833,  and  there  he  was  reared  to 
manhood.  Seeking  a  home  in  Illinois  he  made 
hiswaytoDeKalb  county  about  1853  and  was  first 
employed  at  farm  labor  by  the  year.  Here  he  won  a 
companion  and  helpmate  for  the  journey  of  life, 
being  married  to  Miss  Eliza  Hippie,  who  was  also 
a  native  of  the  Keystone  state.  When  his  labors 
had  brought  him  sufficient  capital  Mr.  Hender- 
son purchased  land  in  Victor  township,  becoming 
owner  of  two  hundred  acres,  which  lie  tilled  and 
improved,  making  it  a  valuable  place.  He  worked 
diligently  and  persistently  to  acquire  a  competence 
and  thus  provided  a  good  living  for  his  familv, 
whom  he  reared  upon  the  old  homestead  farm. 
There  his  death  occurred  July  29,  1898,  when  he 
was  sixty-two  years  of  ago.  and  the  community 
mourned  the  loss  of  one  of  its  representative  and 
valued  citizens.  His  widow  still  survives  him,  now 
in  her  seventieth  year,  and  resides  with  her  son,  J. 
Frank. 

The  family  numbered  eight  children,  of  whom 
seven  are  living,  three  sons  and  four  daughters. 
John  A.  Henderson,  the  third  in  order  of  birth, 


was  reared  on  the  old  homestead  farm  and  acquired 
a  common-school  education,  after  which  he  at- 
tended the  high  school  at  Paw  Paw.  He  was  earlv 
trained  to  the  work  of  plowing,  planting  and  har- 
vesting and  gave  his  father  the  benefit  of  his  ser- 
\  ices  until  after  lie  had  attained  his  majority.  He 
made  preparations  for  having  a  home  of  his  own 
b\  his  marriage  on  the  loth  of  December,  1884,  in 
Adams  township.  La  Salle  county,  to  Miss  Mary- 
Cooper,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  La  Salle 
county,  a  daughter  of  T.  W.  Cooper,  a  na- 
tive of  the  state  of  New  York,  who  became  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  Illinois.  He  was  actively 
identified  with  its  improvement  in  pioneer  times 
and  assisted  in  building  some  of  the  railroads. 

Mr.  Henderson  started  out  in  married  life  with 
eighty  acres  of  the  place  on  which  he  now  resides. 
This  he  began  to  farm  and  as  opportunity  offered 
he  bought  more  land  from  time  to  time  until  he 
now  has  two  hundred  and  forty  acres.  He  has 
erected  a  pleasant  two-story  residence  and  a  good 
barn  on  the  home  place  and  also  a  barn  across  the 
road  on  another  eighty-acre  tract.  He  has  fenced 
his  fields  with  woven  wire,  which  precludes  the 
possibilities  of  the  hogs  getting  to  the  crops,  and 
he  has  tiled  the  land,  thus  adding  greatly  to  its 
productiveness.  He  has  a  farm  elevator,  has  a 
gasoline  engine  for  furnishing  power  to  the  pump 
and  feed  mill,  and  upon  his  place  is  found  all  the 
modern  machinery  which  facilitates  the  work  of 
the  fields.  He  also  raises  and  feeds  hogs  for  the 
market  and  for  twelve  years  he  has  raised  pure 
blooded  shorthorn  cattle  and  later  Poland  China 
hogs.  He  makes  exhibits  at  the  county  fairs  and 
has  won  a  number  of  premiums.  He  is  now  well 
known  as  a  breeder  and  dealer  in  pure-blooded 
stock  and  his  sons  also  raise  pure  blooded  Lanshang 
chickens  and  silver  gray  dorkings,  keeping  two  in- 
cubators. His  farm  in  its  various  departments  is 
proving  profitable,  owing  to  his  untiring  care, 
labor,  good  management  and  sound  judgment. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henderson  have  four  sons:  Elmer 
J.  and  Frank  IT.,  who  are  in  partnership  with  their 
father  in  the  raising  of  fine  stock,  making  a  spe- 
cialty of  sheep;  and  Melvin  and  Donald  Cedric, 
who  are  at  home.  The  parents  are  active  and 
faithful  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  of  which  Mr.  Henderson  is  serving  as  a 
trustee.  In  politics  he  has  been  a  life-long  repub- 
lican, but  has  never  sought  or  desired  office,  al- 


476 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


though  he  believes  firmly  in  the  principles  of  the 
party  and  endorses  its  policy  at  the  polls.  He 
stands  as  one  of  the  prominent  representatives  of 
progressive  farming  in  this  county  and  his  life 
has  been  one  of  activity  and  usefulness,  crowned 
with  a  gratifying  measure  of  success. 


JOHN  M.  KAISER,  M.  D. 

There  is  perhaps  no  one  who  comes  into  such 
close  contad  with  humanity  as  does  the  physician, 
and  if  he  is  able  and  honorable  in  his  chosen  calling 
and  possesses  sympathy  as  well  as  a  kindly  courage 
in  the  performance  of  his  duties  there  is  no  one 
more  uniformly  respected  and  beloved.  This  ;s 
true  of  Dr.  John  M.  Kaiser,  now  the  oldest  prac- 
ticing physician  of  Somonauk,  where  he  has  lived 
for  twelve  years,  while  for  nine  years  he  was  an 
active  practitioner  in  La  Salle  county.  He  dates 
his  residence  in  Illinois  from  1886  and  his  birth 
occurred  in  Ontonagon  county.  Michigan,  on  the 
28th  of  August,  1860.  His  father.  John  M. 
Kaiser,  was  a  native  of  Germany  and  after  spend- 
ing his  boyhood  and  youth  in  that  country,  where 
he  wedded  Margretta  Stahl,  also  a  native  of  the 
fatherland,  he  emigrated  to  the  new  world  about 
1848,  settling  in  Cleveland.  Ohio.  He  was  a 
watchmaker  and  jeweler  and  became  an  expert  in 
that  line.  He  followed  his  line  of  trade  in  Cleve- 
land. Ohio,  and  latei  removed  to  northern  Michi- 
gan, taking  up  his  abode  at  Rockland.  There  he 
carried  on  business  as  a  watchmaker  and  jewelei 
for  a  number  of  years,  after  which  he  took  up  his 
abode  in  St.  Joseph.  Missouri,  where  he  continued 
in  the  same  line  up  to  the  time  <>i  his  death,  which 
was  occasioned  by  an  accident  in  1892.  His  wife 
still  survives  him  and  makes  her  home  in  St. 
Joseph. 

Dr.  Kaiser  is  the  only  son  in  a  family  of  six 
children.  He  was  reared  in  Michigan  to  the  age  of 
twenty  years  and  pursued  a  good  education  in  the 
high  school  and  in  the  Christian  Brothers  Col- 
lege at  St.  Joseph  and  Bryant's  Business  College. 
His  parents  removed  to  Missouri  in  1876  and  the 
Doctor  joined  them  there  in  1880.  It  was  in  that 
state  that  he  studied  medicine  under  Drs.  Geiger 
and  Simmons,  while  subsequently  he  pursued  a 
course  of  lectures  at  the  St.  Joseph  Medical  Col- 


legi  and  the  Ainsworth  Medical  College.  He  en- 
tered the  institution  in  1881  and  was  graduated 
therefrom  with  the  class  of  1884.  He  afterward 
served  as  assistant  city  physician  for  one  year 
through  an  epidemic  of  smallpox.  In  January, 
1886,  he  came  to  Illinois,  settling  first  at  Earl- 
ville,  La  Salle  county,  where  he  continued  in  the 
active  practice  of  medicine  until  1894.  He  then 
came  to  Somonauk.  where  he  has  since  remained, 
building  up  a  large  practice  here.  Be  pursued  a 
post-graduate  course  of  study  in  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri, in  1884,  and  has  always  remained  an  earnest 
and  discriminating  student  in  the  -<  iem  e  of  medi- 
cine, keeping  in  touch  with  the  trend  of  modern 
thought  through  investigation  and  experiment.  J!e 
is  a  member  of  the  County  Medical,  the  North 
<  'entral,  the  State  and  the  American  Medical  Asso- 
ciations and  also  the  State  Medical  Society  of 
Missouri. 

Dr.  Kaiser  was  married  in  Lcland.  Illinois, 
April  26,  1888.  to  Miss  Emma  Betting,  who  was 
born  in  Chicago,  hut  was  reared  in  Aurora  and 
Leland,  Illinois.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Ambrose 
Betting,  an  old  settler  of  Illinois  oi  German  birth, 
who  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
Aurora  and  built  the  first  mill  there  and  in  other 
ways  contributed  to  the  substantial  development 
and  progress.  Unto  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Kaiser  have  been 
burn  three  children:  Oscar  A..  Margretta  and 
Karl. 

In  his  political  views  Dr.  Kaiser  gives  his  sup- 
port to  the  democratic  party  national  questions  and 
issues  are  involved,  but  at  local  elections  casts  an 
independent  ballot.  He,  however,  supported 
President  Roosevelt  in  1906.  He  has  served  as 
mayor,  as  a  member  on  the  board  of  health,  and 
is  now  a  member  of  the  school  board.  His  fellow 
townsmen,  recognizing  his  worth  and  ability,  have 
called  him  to  office  and  he  has  discharged  his 
duties  with  a  promptness  and  fidelity  that  is  above 
ion.  Dr.  Kaiser  is  prominent  in  Masonry. 
having  taken  degree  of  the  Meridian  lodg 
Earlville,  the  chapter  at  Sandwich,  and  Aurora 
commandery,  thus  becoming  a  Knight  Templar. 
He  has  filled  all  the  chairs,  including  that  of  mas- 
tec  of  the  blue  lodge,  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Eastern  Star  lodge,  in  which  Mrs. 
r  has  been  worthy  matron.  Dr.  Kaiser  is 
a  very  progressive  citizen — a  typical  American  in 
his  alert,  enterprising  spirit,  alwavs  looking  for- 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


47r 


ward  to  the  future  for  opportunities  and  utilizing 
each  advantage  of  the  present  moment,  not  only 
for  his  own  benefit,  but  also  for  the  interest  of  the 
village  and  community  in  which  he  makes  his 
heme. 


CLIFFORD  SIMONDS  HUNT. 

Clifford  Simonds  Hunt,  who  is  conducting  a  coal 
and  elevator  business  in  De  Kalb  and  also  deals 
in  live  stock,  was  born  in  this  city,  January  22, 
1873.  His  paternal  grandfather  was  Charles  Sey- 
mour Hunt,  a  native  of  Orleans  county,  New 
York,  born  September  3,  1811.  Tie  wedded  Mary 
Ann  Woodard,  also  a  native  of  the  same  county. 
Their  son,  Horace  D.  Hunt,  was  born  in  Ashtabula 
county,  Ohio,  July  15,  1838  and  became  a  farmer 
and  stock-buyer.  He  was  brought  to  Illinois  by 
his  parents  when  only  three  months  old.  the  family 
home  being  established  in  Fulton  county,  whence 
he  came  to  De  Kalb  county,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  wedded  Mary  J.  Simonds,  who  was 
born  in  Vermont,  February  24,  1841,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  seven  children,  namely: 
Myrtie  Minerva,  born  May  8,  1862;  Mary  Agnes, 
January  29,  1864;  Seymour  Merritt.  August  16 
1867 ;  Willis  Joel,  December  31,  1869 ;  Clifford 
Simonds,  January  22,  1873;  Edwin  Stanley,  Octo- 
ber 12,  1874 :  and  Roy  Dayton,  March  5,  1878.  An 
uncle  of  our  subject,  Merritt  James  Simonds,  who 
was  a  twin  brother  of  Mrs.  Hunt,  was  in  the  war 
of  the  Rebellion  and  died  in  the  hospital  from  a 
wound  received  in  active  service. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of  C.  S.  Hunt 
we  present  to  our  readers  the  life  record  of  one 
who  is  widely  and  favorably  known  in  De  Kalb. 
He  was  educated  in  the  city  schools  and  after 
passing  through  consecutive  grades  was  graduated 
from  the  high  school  in  the  year  1891.  Later  he 
worked  upon  a  farm  and  subsequently  was  em- 
ployed in  the  office  of  the  American  Express  Com- 
pany for  thirteen  months.  He  was  for  nine 
months  with  the  I.  L.  Ellwood  Manufacturing 
Company,  after  which  he  engaged  in  farming  and 
also  bought  stock  for  several  years  or  until  Au- 
gust, 1902,  when  he  entered  the  grain  and  coal 
business.  In  this  line  he  still  continues.  He 
owns  forty-five  acres  of  choice  land  in  the  city  and 


he  has  an  elevator  and  a  coalyard  in  De  Kalb.  He 
also  continues  to  buy  horses  and  other  live  stock 
and  is  an  excellent  judge  of  the  value  of  domestic 
animals,  so  that  he  is  able  to  make  judicious  pur- 
chases and  profitable  sales.  He  has  an  extensive 
patronage  in  coal  and  grain,  operating  largely  in 
those  lines  and  thus  meeting  witli  well  deserved 
success. 

Mr.  Hunt  was  married  at  De  Kalb  on  the  9th 
of  May,  1894,  to  Miss  Jennie  E.  Wright,  who  was 
born  near  the  city,  October  12,  1875.  Her  parents 
were  Carlton  W.  and  Velna  (Balis)  Wright,  the 
former  born  in  St.  Charles,  Illinois,  in  1845,  and 
the  latter  a  native  of  Vermont.  Mr.  Wright  is  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunt  have 
become  the  parents  of  four  children,  all  born  in 
De  Kalb,  namely:  Horace  Wright,  born  July  30. 
1899:  Helen  Velna,  September  8,  1901:  Charles 
Carlton  May  25,  1904;  and  Harriet  Easton,  July 
18,  1906.  The  family  home  is  pleasantly  located 
on  East  Main  street,  De  Kalb,  and  its  hospitality 
is  one  of  its  most  attractive  features.  The  family 
have  many  friends  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunt  are 
much  esteemed  throughout  the  community. 

In  politics  Mr.  Hunt  is  an  earnest  republican 
and  served  for  one  term  as  township  collector,  but 
has  never  been  anxious  to  hold  office,  preferring  to 
give  his  undivided  attention  to  his  business  affairs, 
which  are  industriously,  honorably  and  therefore 
successfully  conducted.  He  is  a  Mason,  belonging 
to  lodge  No.  144,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  he  also  holds 
membership  relations  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
lodge  at  De  Kalb,  the  Modern  Woodmen  camp 
and  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


JOHN  C.  JAKES. 


John  C.  Jakes  is  well  known  in  industrial  circles 
in  De  Kalb,  being  foreman  of  the  cooperage  de- 
partment of  the  American  Wire  &  Steel  Company. 
It  was  in  Leicestershire,  England,  on  the  3d  :>f 
September,  1872,  that  lie  first  opened  his  eyes  to 
the  light  of  day,  his  parents  being  George  and 
Mary  (Chapman)  Jakes.  The  subject  of  this  re- 
view is  the  only  member  of  the  family  now  liv- 
ing in  the  United  States.  He  was  reared  in  his 
native  country  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.    He  began  business  life  in  the  ticket  office 


PAST   AND    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


of  the  London  &  Northwestern  Railroad  at  East 
Norton,  England,  remaining  in  the  employ  of  that 
company  for  about  four  years. 

Attracted  by  the  broader  business  opportunities 
of  the  new  world,  he  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1892.  He  had  an  uncle,  John  Jakes,  living  jn 
Henry,  Marshall  county,  Illinois,  and  for  about 
three  years  the  nephew  made  his  home  with  his 
uncle,  working  on  a  farm  for  one  year.  He  after- 
ward  visited  the  western  country  and  in  1896  came 
to  De  Kalb,  where  he  secured  a  position  with  the 
Crescent  Manufacturing  Company,  manufacturers 
of  nail  kegs.  Two  years  later  he  was  transferred 
to  Sterling  as  manager  of  the  Sterling  plant  ami 
in  July,  1901,  returned  to  De  Kalb  to  take  char-'' 
i  E  the  De  Kalb  plant,  of  which  he  was  superin- 
tendent until  1902,  when  this  plant  was  sold  to  the 
American  Steel  &  Wire  Company.  Mr.  Jakes'  was 
retained  as  manager,  which  position  he  is  now  fill- 
ing. He  possesses  excellent  mechanical  ability 
and  inegenuity,  is  firm  yet  considerate  of  the  men 
em  ployed  under  him,  and  thus  is  well  qualified 
fur  the  position  he  is  now  filling.  He  belong-  to 
tie  Modern  Woodman  camp  of  Sterling  and  in  his 
political  views  is  a  republican. 

On  Christmas  day,  1895,  was  celebrated  the  mar- 
riage of  John  C.  Jakes  and  Etta  E.  Swaney,  of 
Clear  ('reek.  Putnam  county,  Illinois.  They  have 
become  the  parents  of  live  children:  Clinton. 
Harold.  Maurice.  Marie  and  Elsie.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Jakes  have  many  friends  in  De  Kalb  and  he  is 
widely  recognized  as  one  of  the  skilled  mechanics 
of  the  city. 


CHARLES  0.  BOYNTON. 

Charles  0.  Boynton,  of  Sycamore.  Illinois,  is 
a  self-made  man  in  the  best  sense  of  the  term. 
The  family  are  of  English  descent  but  were  prob- 
ably descendants  of  the  Norman-French  in  earlier 
generations.  The  earliest  member  of  the  family 
known  in  England  was  Bartholomew  de  Boynton, 
of  Boynton,  lord  of  the  manor,  in  1607.  As  the 
name  would  indicate  Norman-French  origin,  it 
is  more  than  likely  that  some  of  the  ancestors  came 
over  with  William  the  Conqueror.  The  familv  is 
extensive  in  England,  where  some  of  its  members 
for  many  generations  have  held  positions  of  honor 


and  trust.  The  first  of  the  name  in  America  v  ere 
William  and  John  Boynton,  who  came  from  York- 
shire. England,  in  1638,  one  settling  in  Massa- 
chusetts and  the  other  in  Vermont.  Our  subject 
is  a  descendant  of  the  latter. 

Of  the  immediate  ancestors,  Abraham  Boynton, 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  is  the  earliest  of  whom 
anytliing  definitely  is  known.  He  was  probably 
born  in  Vermont,  where  it  is  known  that  most 
of  his  life  was  spent.  In  1S28  he  moved  with  his 
son  John  to  Tompkins  county,  New  York,  and 
there  died  at  an  advanced  age.  He  married  a  Mies 
Marsh  and  became  the  father  of  twelve  children, 
of  whom  John,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Rockingham,  Windham  county, 
Vermont,  a  short  distance  above  Bellows  Falls, 
July  2,  1798.  He  there  lived  until  1828,  when  he 
removed  to  Tompkins  county.  New  York.  In 
early  life  he  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade, 
and  although  his  school  advantages  were  meager, 
he  was  possessed  of  a  clear,  strong  mind,  and  was 
n  great  reader  and  student.  Being  of  a  thrifty  dis- 
position, he  accumulated  enough  from  the  pro- 
ceeds of  his  trade  to  enter  upon  mercantile  pursuits 
in  McLean,  New  York.  Success  crowned  him  in 
that  work  and  from  his  profits  he  purchased  land 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  possessed  of  large 
farming  interests.  By  William  H.  Seward,  who 
was  then  governor  of  New  York,  he  was  appointed 
judge  of  the  circuit,  court  and  served  with  distinc- 
tion. He  was  a  man  whose  opinions  had  great 
weight  with  all  who  came  in  contact  with  him. 
His  death  occurred  April  28.  1869,  at  his  home  in 
Tompkins  county.  New  York.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried, his  first  union  being  with  Elizabeth  Davis, 
of  Rockingham,  Vermont,  who  was  of  a  familv 
known  for  their  mental  and  borlilv  vigor,  manv  of 
them  being  distinguished  in  professional  and  busi- 
ness life.  She  was  one  of  twelve  children.  One 
of  the  number  served  two  terms  as  mavor  of 
Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Betsey  Davis,  as  she  was  called, 
was  born  in  1797.  and  died  in  1834.  in  the  prime 
of  life.  leaving  six  children,  two  of  whom 
are  yet  living:  Laura.  Carr.  of  Jersey 
City:  and  Lydia  Jarvis.  of  Elgin.  Illi- 
nois. The  father  married  a  second  time.  Miss 
Ann  Fitts.  by  whom  two  children  were  born,  one 
surviving,  Edward,  now  engaged  in  business  in 
Svcamore. 


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0~-^^T^2^7  ^-*  — £ 


THE  NEW  YORK 

PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


ASTOR,    LENOX 
.TIIDCN  FOUNDATIONS 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OP  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


483 


Charles  0.  Boynton  was  born    in  the    town    of 
Rockingham,    Windham    county,    Vermont,    July 
19,     1826,     and    was     but    two    years     of    age 
when  his  parents  removed  to  Tompkins  county, 
New    York.      He    there    grew    to    manhood    and 
•attended    the    district    schools    and    the    Homer 
Academy    until    the    age    of    sixteen    years.      He 
remained  at  home,   assisting  in  the  work  of  the 
farm,  and   also  in  the  store  at  McLean,  until  he 
attained   his   majority.     In   September.    1847.   he 
■came  west  to   Chicago,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  in  his  own  name,  although  the 
store  was  partly  owned  by  another  person.     Clos- 
ing out  his  interests  there,  in  February,  1849,  he 
came  to  Sycamore,  where  he  opened  a  general  store 
and  continued  for  three  years.    Seeing  a  better  op- 
portunity in  financial  fields,  he  secured  funds  in 
the  east  at  the  low  rate  of  interest  prevailing  there 
and  loaned  in  the  west  at  a  higher  rate.    He  con- 
tinued in  that  business  for  some  twenty  years  and 
by  good  management  prospered  beyond  the  usual 
success  of  men.    In  1871  he  engaged  in  the  bank- 
ing business,  as  a  junior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Divine  &  Boynton,  but  after  one  year  sold  his  in- 
terest and  has  since  been  interested  in  land  specu- 
lations.    He  now  owns  some  six  thousand  acres, 
of  fine  timber  land  in  Arkansas,  covered  with  hard- 
wood timber,  much  of  it  being  walnut.     On  his 
land,   among   other  large  trees,   there  is   a   black 
walnut  tree  eight  feet  in  diameter.     On  the  prop- 
erty he  has  lately  erected  a  large  mill,  with  the 
capacity  of  about  twenty  thousand  feet,  the  lumber 
from  which  he  sends  to  the  best  markets  in  the 
south  and  west.    He  also  owns  about  fifteen  thous- 
and acres  in  Iowa.  Minnesota.  North  and  South 
Dakota    and    Kansas.     He   also   owns   some     two 
thousand  acres  of  farming  land  in  northern  Illi- 
nois, the  garden  spot  of  the  great  central  valley. 
Mr.  Boynton  was  married     in     Ledyard.     New 
York,    November    26.    1861.    to    Miss   Lucetta    P. 
Stark.    To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boynton  have  been  born 
four   children,   one  of   whom    died      in     infancy. 
Charles  Douglas  resides  in  St.  Louis,     and     has 
charge  of  a  large  lumber  interest  in  the  state  of 
Arkansas.    Mary  is  the  wife  of  Frederick  B.  Town- 
send.     Elmer  resides  in  Sycamore.     Mr.  Boynton 
was  formerly  a  Mason  and   Odd   Fellow  but  has 
been  demitted  from  each  order.     In  politics  he  is 
a  democrat  but  independent  of  party  lash,  always 
refusing  to  give  support  to  candidates  not  credit- 


able to  party.  Under  the  old  organization  he 
served  as  chairman  of  the  city  board,  and  has  been 
a  member  of  the  board  of  supervisors.  He  never 
received  a  dollar  from  his  parents,  although  he  was 
given  the  help  of  his  father's  credit  in  starting 
in  business.  All  that  he  has  was  acquired  by  his 
own  brain  and  energy,  and  his  success  has  been 
marvelous  when  compared  with  others  who  have 
started  out  in  life  well  equipped  with  funds  and 
given  many  opportunities.  Few  attain  his  success 
in  material  wealth.  Mr.  Boynton  has  one  of  the 
best  residences  and  grounds  in  De  Kalb  county. 
He  also  built  and  presented  to  his  daughter  the 
house  adjoining  the  one  in  which  he  lives,  and 
both  together  make  a  desirable  addition  to  any 
community. 

Mrs.  Boynton  is  a  daughter  of  Paul  and  Paulina 
(Billings)  Stark,  both  of  Tunkhannock,  Penn- 
sylvania, the  latter  being  one  of  a  family  of  ten 
children.  Paul  Stark  was  born  in  1802.  and  died 
in  1873,  in  Ledyard,  New  York,  to  which  place  he 
had  moved  on  retiring  from  active  life.  The 
first  American  ancestor  was  Aaron  Stark,  who  re- 
sided near  the  head  of  Mystic  river,  and  whose 
death  occurred  in  New  London.  Comiecticut,  in 
1685.  He  was  elected  freeman  in  1666,  at  Ston- 
ington.  Connecticut.  His  son  William  died  in 
1730.  William's  son,  Christopher,  removed  to 
Wyoming  valley  in  1760.  and  died  in  1771.  His 
son  William  moved  from  Dutchess  county  and  lo- 
cated on  Tunkhannock  creek,  where  he  died  in 
1795.  His  son.  Nathan  Stark,  served  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution. 

Samuel  Billings,  the  great-grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Boynton,  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war  in  Cap- 
tain Ransom's  Company  and  was  in  the  battles  of 
Brandywine  and  Germantown.  Samuel  Billings 
had  a  son  in  the  fort  at  Wilkesbarre,  during  the 
Wyoming  massacre  of  1778.  Another  ancestor  of 
Mrs.  Boynton.  Marshall  Dixon,  was  a  private  in 
Colonel  Crane's  regiment  under  Captain  Lawrence, 
of  Hornellsville,  in  Steuben  county.  New  York. 
He  was  wounded  in  the  right  hip.  June  24,  1779, 
at  Georgetown,  fought  in  the  battle  of  Brandywine 
and  Yorktown  anil  was  under  fire  eleven  days  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  Delaware  in  1777,  in  the  army 
under  Washington,  was  made  a  prisoner  and  after- 
ward was  exchanged.  He  also  served  in  the  war 
of  1812  and  was  at  the  battle  of  Lundy's  Lane. 
Anothpr  ancestor  was  also  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 


484 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


Independence,  Nathan  Stark,  who  served  under 
Captain  David  Hicock  and  in  Captain  James 
Vandeburg's   regiment. 

Mrs.  Boynton  was  educated  at  Wyoming  Semi- 
nary, in  Wilkesbarre,  and  removed  with  her  parents 
to  Ledyard,  New  York.  Mrs.  Boynton  was  the 
first  regent  of  Sycamore  chapter  of  the  Daughters 
of  the  Revolution,  and  is  prominent  in  the  Order 
of  the  Eastern  Star.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Epis- 
copal church  and  donated  Guild  Hall  to  that  so- 
ciety. 

Mrs.  Boynton  has  traveled  extensively  and  in 
company  with  Mrs.  Eleanor  Townsend  visited  the 
British  Isles;  later  in  company  with  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  F.  B.  Townsend,  visited  the  West  Indies 
spending  a  greater  portion  of  the  winter.  Again 
she  went  abroad,  visiting  the  Holy  Land,  Italy 
and  the  Mediterranean  countries.  She  has  just 
returned  from  an  extensive  visit  to  eastern  Asia, 
spending  the  last  winter  in  Japan  and  China.  The 
Boynton  home  has  been  a  social  center  and  many 
are  the  brilliant  functions  held  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boynton. 


JOHN  EDWARD  JOHNSON. 

John  Edward  Johnson,  of  De  Kalb,  a  traveling 
salesman,  representing  in  northern  Illinois  and 
central  Iowa  the  shoe  firm  of  R.  P.  Smith  &  Sons 
Company,  was  born  in  Sweden,  October  15,  1859. 
His  father,  Charles  J.  Johnson,  is  also  a  native 
of  that  country,  born  August  25,  1827.  and  having 
arrived  at  years  of  maturity  he  wedded  Marie  C. 
Anderson  who  was  born  in  Sweden,  January  13, 
1828.  They  became  the  parents  of  seven  children, 
of  whom  J.  E.  Johnson  is  the  third  in  order  of 
birth.  In  the  year  1869  the  father,  leaving  his 
native  country,  sought  a  home  in  the  new  world 
and  when  he  had  made  preparations  for  the  recep- 
tion of  his  family  he  was  joined  by  his  wife  and 
children  in  1870.  He  is  still  a  resident  of  De 
Kalb — a  venerable  and  honored  citizen — but  hi* 
wife  passed  away  in  June.  1899. 

John  Edward  Johnson  began  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  Sweden  and  continued  his 
studies  in  the  public  schools  of  De  Kalb  after  the 
arrival  of  the  family  in  the  new  world,  he  being 


at  the  time  about  eleven  years  of  age.  When  he 
Lefi  school  he  entered  the  factory  of  Jacob  Haish 
in  the  manufacture  of  barb  wire,  being  thus  en- 
gaged for  some  time.  In  1875  he  went  to  Iowa. 
where  he  remained  from  March  until  October, 
when  he  returned  to  Illinois,  settling  at  Sterling. 
There  he  continued  until  April,  1876,  when  he 
once  more  came  to  De  Kalb  and  again  secured  em- 
ployment  in  the  Haish  wire  factory,  where  he  con- 
tinued until  1881.  He  afterward  spent  one  year  m 
the  barb  wire  factory  of  I.  L.  Ellwood,  and  in 
1882  he  entered  the  employ  of  S.  L.  Graham,  con- 
tinuing with  Mr.  Graham  and  afterward  with  C. 
A.  Reed  &  Company  until  1892.  In  that  year  he 
went  upon  the  road  as  a  traveling  salesman  for  the 
Leonard  Atkinson  Company,  dealers  in  shoes, 
representing  that  house  until  its  retirement  from 
business  in  1896.  In  the  latter  year  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  R.  P.  Smith  &  Sons  Company,  shoe 
merchants,  as  a  traveling  salesman,  and  is  still 
connected  with  that  house,  his  district  being  north- 
ern Illinois  and  central  Iowa.  He  is  well  known  to 
the  trade  in  the  designated  portions  of  the  two 
states  and  has  worked  up  a  liberal  patronage, 
which  makes  him  one  of  the  valuable  salesmen  of 
the  firm  which  he  represents.  Whatever  success  he 
has  achieved  is  attributable  to  his  own  labors,  for 
he  started  out  in  life  empty-handed  and  his  in- 
dividual worth  and  determination  have  been  the 
qualities  which  have  gained  him  recognition  and 
won  him  a  goodly  measure  of  success. 

On  the  8th  of  November,  1882,  in  De  Kalb,  Mr. 
Johnson  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Anna  L. 
Nelson,  who  was  born  in  Sweden,  July  10,  1863. 
Her  father  was  Nels  Nelson,  who  was  also  a  native 
of  Sweden,  as  was  the  mother,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Betsy  Benson.  The  parents  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1869.  In  their  family  were  eight  children, 
of  whom  Mrs.  Johnson  is  the  sixth  in  order  of 
birth,  and  by  her  marriage  she  has  become  the 
mother  of  three  children,  but  Carl  Edward,  the 
first  born,  whose  natal  day  was  April  25,  1884, 
died  on  the  23d  of  Ma  v.  1886.  The  daughters  are 
Esther  Louise,  born  January  29.  1886:  and  Jessie 
Elizabeth,  l»>rn  April  12.  1893.  The  family  have 
an  attractive  home  at  No.  404  South  Fifth  street 
and  there  are  seen  many  evidences  of  the  love  of 
education  and  of  music,  which  are  dominant  traits 
in  the  family.  Socially  the  Johnsons  are  promi- 
nent in  the  communitv. 


'PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


AbTOK,    LENOX 
TILDEN  FOUNDATIONS. 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


487 


In  his  political  views  Mr.  Johnson  is  an  earnest 
republican  and  for  one  term  has  served  as  alder- 
man of  De  Kalb.  He  belongs  to  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  lodge,  No.  215,  and  his  kindly,  charitable 
spirit  is  indicated  by  his  membership  in  the  Swed- 
ish Benevolent  Society,  while  he  also  belongs  to 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  church. 


.1  AMI'S  M.  WILSON. 


James  M.  Wilson,  who  is  one  of  the  few  remain- 
ing first  settlers  who  came  to  De  Kalb  when  the 
work  of  development  and  progress  had  scarcely 
been  begun  within  its  borders  and  is  now  num- 
bered among  the  prosperous  farmers  and  stock- 
raisers,  has  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  which  pays  tribute  to  the  care  and  labor 
he  bestows  upon  it.  It  is  situated  on  section  2, 
Sandwich  township,  and  there  Mr.  Wilson  resides 
amid  pleasant  surroundings.  He  came  to  the 
county  in  1843,  at  which  time  he  was  a  little  lad 
of  six  years,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Syra- 
cuse, New  York,  March  11.  1837.  His  father, 
William  Wilson,  brought  the  family  to  the  west 
in  1S43.  Amid  pioneer  surroundings  James  M. 
Wilson  was  reared,  attending  the  common  schools 
in  his  youth  though  he  is  largely  self-educated. 
In  1859  he  made  an  overland  trip  across  the  plains 
with  ox  teams  to  California,  being  five  months 
upon  the  way.  It  was  a  long  and  arduous  trip 
across  the  high  steppes  of  sand  and  through  the 
mountain  passes,  but  he  at  length  reached  the 
Golden  state  and  remained  upon  the  Pacific  slope 
for  about  three  and  a  half  years,  spending  his 
time  largely  in  teaming  while  in  the  far  west. 
He  then  returned  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of 
Panama  and  New  York  city  and  from  the  latter 
point  by  rail  proceeded  westward  to  his  home, 
arriving  in  the  fall  of  1863. 

It  was  not  long  after  this  that  Mr.  Wilson 
purchased  a  farm  of  eighty  acres.  It  was  new 
land  as  yet  uncultivated  but  he  brought  the  fields 
under  the  plow,  continuing  to  carry  on  the  farm 
work  for  over  a  year.  On  selling  that  property 
he  bought  an  improved  farm,  fenced  and  tiled  his 
land  and  tilled  the  fields.  In  connection  with 
raising  the  cereals  best  adapted  to  the  soil  and 
climate,  he  has  raised  pure  blooded  Hereford  reg- 


istered cattle  and  high  grade  hogs.  In  both 
branches  of  his  business  he  has  met  with  success 
and  is  now  comfortably  situated  in  life. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  married  first  in  18(35  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Hanlin,  who  was  born  in  Cattaraugus 
county,  New  York,  but  was  reared  in  this  county. 
She  died  in  1871,  leaving  a  daughter,  Cora,  who 
is  now  the  wife  of  Lars  Anderson,  of  St.  Cloud, 
Minnesota,  by  whom  she  has  one  daughter.  Mr. 
Wilson  was  again  married  in  1872  at  Sandwich, 
the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Jane  Dimond, 
who  was  born  in  Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  daugh- 
ter of  William  H.  Dimond,  who  came  west  in 
1863,  settling  where  Mr.  Wilson  now  resides. 
There  were  two  children  by  this  union :  Frank, 
who  is  married  and  has  three  children,  Claud, 
Mildred  and  Clarence,  and  operates  the  old  home 
farm ;  and  Linna,  who  is  the  wife  of  Harry  Bart- 
lett,  a  farmer  of  Squaw  Grove  township,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Bubie  and  Forrest  La  Verne. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
Abraham  Lincoln  in  1864,  Mr.  Wilson  has  been 
a  stalwart  advocate  of  the  republican  party.  His 
wife .  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
Sandwich.-  They  are  a  most  highly  esteemed 
couple,  enjoying  the  warm  regard  of  many  friends. 
Mr.  Wilson  has  seen  the  county  change  and  de- 
velop from  a  wilderness  to  a  richly  improved  dis- 
trict, has  helped  break  many  an  acre  of  the  virgin 
prairie  soil  with  ox  team,  and  has  seen  the  coun- 
try side  bloom  and  blossom  as  the  rose,  owing 
to  the  care  and  labor  bestowed  upon  it  by  the 
agriculturists.  When  he  came  here  in  early  youth 
much  of  the  land  was  still  unclaimed,  there  were 
no  railroads,  streams  were  unbridged  and  the 
timber  uncut.  Into  the  wilderness  of  the  west, 
however,  there  came  men  of  resolute  purpose  who 
reclaimed  this  district  for  the  use  of  the  white 
race  and  Mr.  Wilson,  as  the  years  have  gone  by, 
has  borne  his  full  share  in  the  labor  necessary 
to  make  the  county  what  it  is  today. 


WILLIAM  McDERMOTT. 

William  MeDermott,  who  is  conducting  a  retail 
store  for  the  sale  of  wines  and  liquors  in  De  Kalb, 
is  a  native  of  Dutchess  county.  New  York,  born  on 
the  15th  of  October,  1858.    His  parents  were  Tim- 


488 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


othy  F.  and  Margaret  (Riley)  MeDermott'.  men- 
tion of  whom  is  made  in  connection  with  the 
sketch  of  his  brother,  T.  F.  MeDermott,  on  an- 
other page  of  this  work.  William  MeDermott 
was  only  a  year  old  when  brought  by  his  parents 
to  Illinois,  the  family  home  being  established  in 
Lee  county,  where  he  was  reared.  His  education 
was  acquired  in  the  district  schools  and  in  the 
Eochelle  public  schools,  also  spending  one  winter 
in  a  public  school  on  West  Jackson  street  in  Chi- 
cago. He  remained  upon  the  home  farm  until  his 
twenty-second  year,  when  he  took  a  trip  to  the 
west,  spending  twelve  or  fifteen  months  in  vari- 
ous localities  in  the  western  states.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Illinois  and  engaged  in  the  saloon  busi- 
ness in  Eochelle.  In  1892  he  disposed  of  his 
business  there  and  came  to  De  Kalb,  where  lie 
opened  a  saloon,  with  which  he  has  since  been  con- 
tinuously identified,  having  a  good  patronage 
which  is  bringing  to  him  a  fair  measure  of  finan- 
cial success. 

On  the  7th  of  July,  L892,  Mr.  MeDermott  was 
married  to  Miss  Susan  A.  Riley,  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Catherine  (Mead)  Riley,  of  Rochelle. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  MeDermott  have  one  daughter,  Ger- 
trude Mildred.  They  are  communicants  of  the 
Catholic  church  and  his  social  relations  embrace 
connection  with  De  Kalb  lodge,  No.  215,  K.  P. 


J.  P.  REDMOND. 


The  history  of  the  farming  interests  of  Milan 
township  would  be  incomplete  without  mention  of 
J.  P.  Redmond,  who  for  more  than  a  third  of  r. 
century  has  carried  on  general  agricultural  pur- 
suits in  De  Kalb  county.  He  now  lives  on  a  farm 
cf  two  hundred  acres  on  sections  25  and  26,  Milan 
township,  and  in  the  operation  of  his  land  dis- 
plays practical  and  effective  methods  which  pro- 
duce good  results  as  seen  in  the  abundant  harvests 
which  he  annually  gathers. 

Mr.  Redmond  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  his 
birth  having  occurred  at  Penn's  Park  in  Bucks 
county  in  1856.  His  parents  were  Murt  and 
Elizabeth  (Harris)  Redmond,  the  former  a  native 
of  Ireland,  born  in  1826.  When  twenty-four  years- 
of  age  he  came  to  the  United  States  and  estab- 
lished his  home   at    Penn's   Park.   Pennsylvania, 


where  in  1855  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Harris.  He  then  cultivated  a  small 
farm  and  it  was  upon  this  place  that  his  eight 
children  were  born.  Attracted  by  the  opportuni- 
ties of  Illinois  he  came  with  his  family  to  De  Kalb 
county  in  the  spring  of  1872,  settling  in  Malta 
township,  where  he  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  good  land.  The  care  and  labor  that 
he  has  since  bestowed  upon  this  place  have  made 
it  a  valuable  farm.  The  father  continued  actively 
in  its  development  until  1885,  when  he  retired 
from  business  and  took  up  his  abode  in  De  Kalb 
to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  former  toil. 

J.  P.  Redmond,  the  eldest  of  his  father's  fam- 
ily, was  a  youtlrof  sixteen  years  at  the  time  of  the 
n  moval  to  Illinois.  In  his  youth  he  attended  the 
district  schools,  but  not  content  with  the  educa- 
tional advantages  there  offered  he  embraced  the  op- 
portunity of  spending  several  terms  in  the  higher 
graded  schools  of  De  Kalb  and  the  Metropolitan 
Business  College  of  Chicago.  When  twenty-two 
i  ars  of  age  he  began  teaching  and  followed  that 
profession  for  three  years  and  later  for  several 
winter  terms.  He  proved  a  capable  educator,  im- 
parting readilj  and  concisely  to  others  the  knowl- 
edge he  had  acquired  and  also  maintaining  excel- 
lent discipline,  without  which  the  educational 
work  of  the  most  learned  is  rendered  of  no  avail. 

In  June.  1887,  Mr.  Redmond  was  married  to 
Miss  Catherine  Lyons,  daughter  of  John  Lyons, 
a  prosperous  farmer  of  De  Kalb  township,  now 
living  retired  in  Aurora,  Illinois.  Unto  this  mar- 
riage were  born  five  children:  John.  Elizabeth. 
.Mien,  Ruth  and  William.  All  are  still  living,  but 
the  wife  and  mother  passed  away  February  27. 
1902,  her  death  being  deeply  regretted  by  many 
friends. 

Mr.  Redmond  resided  in  Malta  township  until 
1895,  when  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Milan 
township  and  has  since  cultivated  his  farm  of  two 
hundred  acres,  which  he  has  greatly  improved.  The 
fields  have  been  drained  through  the  judicious  use 
of  tile  and  upon  his  place  is  a  fine  orchard  and 
many  beautiful  shade  trees.  The  buildings  are 
substantial  and  well  kept  and  the  farm  constitutes 
one  of  the  attractive  features  of  the  landscape.  Mr. 
Redmond's  life  has  been  characterized  by  unfal- 
tering diligence  and  perseverance.  He  early  dip- 
played  the  remarkable  strength  of  his  character  in 
his  determination  to  secure  a  more  advanced  edu- 


PAST  AND  PEESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


4S9 


cation  than  the  district  schools  afforded.  In  his 
farming  operations  he  has  not  been  content  to  fol- 
low the  lead  of  others,  but  has  worked  our  pro- 
gressive lines  for  himself  and  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful in  raising  the  crops  best  adapted  to  soil 
and  climate.  He  also  keeps  good  grades  of  stock 
upon  his  place. 

Mr.  Eedmond  votes  independently  of  party  ties, 
but  keeps  well  informed  on  questions  and  issues 
of  the  day  and  is  never  remiss  in  the  duties  of  citi- 
zenship. The  cause  of  education  finds  in  mm  a 
stalwart  champion  and  warm  friend  and  he  has 
done  much  for  the  interest  of  public  schools.  In 
his  social  relations  he  is  connected  with  the  De 
Kalb  lodge  of  Knights  of  Pythias  and  with  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  His  life  has  been 
honorable,  his  actions  manly  and  sincere,  and  the 
worth  of  his  work  is  shown  in  the  excellent  re- 
sults he  has  attained. 


JAMES  E.  KIEENAN. 

This  well  known  business  man  of  Genoa  is  a 
native  of  De  Kalb  county,  born  in  Kingston  town- 
ship on  the  13th  of  August,  1864.  and  is  a  son  o! 
William  and  Anne  (Merriman)  Kiernan,  both 
natives  of  Ireland.  The  father  was  born  in  1825 
and  immediately  after  his  marriage  sailed  for 
the  new  world,  landing  in  this  country  in  1853. 
He  at  once  proceeded  westward  to  Illinois  and 
took  up  his  residence  in  De  Kalb  county,  wheie 
he  was  employed  at  farm  labor  for  a  time.  He 
subsequently  bought  a  tract  of  land  in  Kingston 
township  and  later  added  to  his  original  purchase 
until  he  owned  two  hundred  and  eighty-five  acres 
of  fine  farming  land,  all  of  which  lie  accumulated 
by  hard  labor,  having  nothing  to  start  with  but 
excellent  health.  He  continued  to  actively  en- 
gage in  agricultural  pursuits  until  1893,  when  he 
removed  to  Genoa  to  spend  his  last  days  in  ease 
and  retirement  after  forty  years  of  strenuous  farm 
life.  He  died  on  the  18th  of  June,  1906,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-one  years,  having  long  survived  his 
wife,  who  passed  away  February  9,  1882,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-nine  years.  They  were  highly  re- 
spected people,  loved  and  honored  by  all  who 
knew  them.  In  their  family  were  six  children, 
four  of  whom  are  still  living. 


James  E.  Kiernan  is  the  oldest  son  and  he  was 
reared  in  much  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads 
of  his  time  with  rather  limited  school  privileges, 
completing  his  education  by  one  year's  attendance 
at  the  Genoa  schools.  After  laying  aside  his  text- 
books he  remained  with  his  father  on  the  farm, 
aiding  in  the  work  of  improvement  and  cultiva- 
tion for  several  years  after  reaching  man's  estate. 
In  1885  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Emma 
Holsker,  a  native  of  this  county  and  a  daughter 
of  John  Holsker,  who  was  of  German  birth  and 
settled  here  in  1860.  Mrs.  Kiernan  died  after  a 
protracted  illness  December  1,  1902,  at  the  age 
of  forty-three  years,  leaving  four  children,  namely : 
Nellie  is  now  the  wife  of  Ole  W.  Taylor,  who  is 
with  her  father  in  the  implement  business  in 
Genoa,  and  they  have  two  children,  Evelyn  and 
Gladys.  Dela  is  the  wife  of  Harland  Fisher,  of 
Cherry  Valley,  Illinois.  Lawrence  and  Anna  are 
still  at  home  and  are  attending  school.  Mr. 
Kiernan  was  again  married,  June  22,  1904,  his 
second  union  being  with  Miss  Mary  Casey,  of 
Burlington,  Illinois,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Casey, 
now  deceased,  who  was  a  prominent  farmer  of 
Burlington,  Kane  county. 

Mr.  Kiernan  continued  to  reside  upon  his 
father's  farm  until  1891,  when  he  removed  to 
Genoa  and  established  his  present  business  as  a 
dealer  in  all  kinds  of  agricultural  implements, 
pumps  and  steam  fitting.  He  is  agent  for  the 
Advance  threshers,  engines  and  shredders,  which 
he  has  handled  for  fifteen  years,  his  sales  in  this 
line  alone  amounting  to  about  fifteen  thousand 
dollars  annually.  He  started  in  business  in  a 
small  way  but  has  gradually  built  up  an  excellent 
trade  which  now  amounts  to  between  twenty-five 
and  thirty  thousand  dollars  annually.  His  busi- 
ness is  not  confined  alone  to  De  Kalb  county  but 
he  endeavors  to  make  sales  wherever  he  hears  of 
a  prospective  purchaser.  Besides  farm  imple- 
ments he  handles  buggies,  wagons,  etc.,  and  also 
the  International  Harvester  goods,  and  besides  his 
store  building  he  has  a  commodious  warehouse. 
He  erects  windmills,  lays  piping  and  does  plumb- 
ing and  is  regarded  as  one  of 'the  most  energetic 
and  reliable  business  men  of  his  part  of  the  county. 
He  owns  and  manages  the  old  home  farm,  which 
is  operated  by  a  tenant,  and  is  also  interested  in 
valuable  lead  mines  at  Galena,  Illinois.  He  has 
always  been  a  very  busy  man,  is  thoroughly  up-to- 


490 


PAST    AND    PEESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


date  and  progressive  and  the  success  that  has  come 
to  him  is  but  the  merited  reward  of  honorable 
effort.  Mr.  Kiernan  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Catholic  church  and  fraternally  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  Modern  "Woodmen  of  America, 
having  been  advisor  of  the  camp  at  Genoa  for  one 
year.  Politically  he  is  identified  with  the  repub- 
lican party. 


C.   A.   ANDERSON. 


C.  A.  Anderson  is  senior  partner  of  the  firm 
of  Anderson  &  Chellgreen.  engaged  in  the  cream- 
ery business  at  Kingston.  He  is  a  practical  but- 
ter maker  and  the  enterprise  which  he  is  now 
conducting  is  bringing  to  him  a  gratifying  measure 
of  success  because  of  his  able  management  and 
practical  methods. 

ill-.  Anderson  is  a  native  of  Sweden,  in  which 
country  he  was  reared  upon  a  farm.  He  lost 
his  mother  when  a  lad  of  about  ten  years  and 
by.  his  father's  death  was  left  an  orphan  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  years.  He  is  the  only  son  in  a 
family  of  three  children.  His  sister  Hannah  is 
now  acting  as  his  housekeeper,  while  his  isister 
Anna  has  resided  in  Chicago  for  twelve  years. 
He  acquired  a  good  common-school  education  in 
his  native  country  and  also  attended  school  in 
Kane  county,  Illinois,  to  some  extent  but  is  really 
self-educated  in  English. 

He  emigrated  to  the  new  world  when  a  young 
man  of  eighteen  years  of  age  and  came  direct  to 
this  state,  settling  in  Kane  count}-,  where  he  se- 
cured employment  in  a  creamery.  He  there  re- 
mained for  several  years,  thoroughly  acquainting 
himself  with  butter  making  and  the  creamery 
business  and  when  he  had  become  an  expert  in 
that  line  and  had  saved  from  his  earnings  a  fair 
capital,  he  embarked  in  business  on  his  own  ac- 
count, purchasing  a  creamery  at  Altoona,  Knox 
county.  He  conducted  the  business  successfullv 
for  four  years  after  which  he  sold  out  there  and 
bought  a  creamery  at  Blood's  Point  and  Herbe-t 
in  1902.  He  then  took  active  management  of 
the  business  and  later  bought  the  creamery  at 
Williamsville,  McHenry  county,  Illinois.  In  1906 
he  purchased  and  took  charge  of  the  creamery 
at  Kingston,  since  which  time  the  firm  has  made 


this  their  central  business  point,  still  owning  all 
the  other  creameries  mentioned,  however.  He 
and  his  partner  have  built  up  a  large  and  success- 
ful business  and  during  the  year  of  1906  their 
sales  amounted  to  over  one  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars. They  make  large  quantities  of  butter,  supply 
the  local  trade  and  ship  from  fifty  to  sixty  thou- 
sand pounds  of  butter  each  month.  They  also 
ship  large  quantities  of  cream  direct  to  the  Chicago 
market  and  from  the  beginning  their  trade  has 
constantly  increased.  Both  these  gentlemen  are 
good  business  men,  wide-awake  and  enterprising, 
and  carry  to  a  successful  completion  whatever  they 
undertake. 

Mr.  Anderson  started  out  in  life  as  a  poor  young 
man  without  a  dollar  and  through  his  own  labor, 
diligence  and  enterprise,  has  accumulated  a  com- 
petence that  now  classes  him  with  the  substantial 
residents  of  De  Kalb  county.  He  is  well  known 
in  De  Kalb,  Kane  and  adjoining  counties,  includ- 
ing all  the  northern  section  of  Illinois,  and  sus- 
tains an  unassailable  reputation  as  a  business  man 
of  strong  purpose,  laudable  ambition  and  honor- 
able methods. 


CHARLES  ELLIOTT  BEADT. 

From  an  early  period  in  the  history  of  De  Kalb 
and  its  business  development  the  name  of  Bradl 
has  figured  prominently  and  honorably  in  con- 
nection with  commercial  interests  and  Charles 
Elliott  Bradt  of  this  review,  by  his  life  work,  has 
added  new  luster  to  the  record  through  the 
achievement  of  success  along  manufacturing  lines 
and  in  banking  circles  as  well.  A  native  of  Glov- 
ersville,  New  York,  he  was  born  February  27. 
L852,  and  is  a  son  of  Andrew  Bradt,  the  veteran 
merchant  of  De  Kalb.  who  is  now  living  retired  in 
this  city  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  The  son 
was  about  three  years  of  age  at  the  time  of 
his  parents'  removal  to  Illinois  and  in  De  Kalb 
he  was  reared,  passing  through  successive  grades 
in  the  schools  until  he  became  a  high-school  stu- 
dent, while  later  he  studied  in  the  Northwestern 
University  at  Evanston.  He  then  returned  to  De 
Kalb  and  in  1871  became  associated  with  his  father 
in  the  wholesale  glove  business  under  the  firm  style 
of  A.  Bradt  &  Company.    In  1872  M.  D.  Shipman 


y^^^C 


J2tE£!l!£HNpAT!0Ne. 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


493. 


became  a  member  of  the  firm  and  Andrew  Bradt 
withdrew,  at  wbich  time  the  firm  style  of  Bradt 
&  Shipman  was  assumed  The  new  firm  also  began 
the  manufacture  of  gloves  and  in  this  connection 
built  up  one  of  the  leading  industries  of  De  Kalb. 
When  S.  E.  Bradt  became  a  member  of  the  firm 
the  old  style  of  Bradt  &  Shipman  was  retained. 
They  not  only  continued  in  the  manufacture  of 
gloves  as  well  as  in  the  wholesale  trade  but  also 
had  a  plant  for  the  manufacture  of  glove  fasten- 
ers in  Gloversville,  New  York.  Their  business 
interests  became  extensive,  the  volume  of  their 
trade  reaching  about  four  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars annually.  As  this  enterprise  proved  success- 
ful they  embarked  in  other  lines,  Mr.  Bradt  be- 
coming associated  with  the  De  Kalb  Electric  Com- 
pany, with  which  he  was  identified  up  to  the  time 
of  the  reorganization  and  sale  of  the  plant  in 
1902  to  the  De  Kalb  &  Sycamore  Electric 
<  'ompany. 

Charles  E.  Bradt  was  also  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  firm  of  Shipman,  Bradt  &  Company  for 
the  manufacture  of  specialty  wagons  and  for  some 
twelve  or  fifteen  years  did  an  extensive  business, 
after  which  they  sold  their  interests  to  the  Syca- 
more Wagon  Works.  In  1902  C.  E.  Bradt  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Commercial  National 
Bank  and  at  that  time  was  elected  vice  president 
and  also  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors,  in 
which  capacities  he  has  since  served.  He  is  like- 
wise a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  De  Kalb.  His  business 
interests  have  been  synonymous  with  the  growth 
of  the  city  and  his  labors  have  been  an  element 
in  making  De  Kalb  one  of  the  leading  manufac- 
turing and  commercial  centers  in  the  state  outside 
of  Chicago. 

In  September,  1884,  occurred  the  marriage  of 
C.  E.  Bradt  and  Miss  Alice  Hopkins,  a  daughter 
of  Thomas  M.  Hopkins,  one  of  De  Kalb's  promi- 
nent lawyers,  now  deceased.  They  are  prominent 
in  the  social  circles  of  the  city  and  their  own  home 
is  delightful  because  of  its  attractive  hospitality 
as  well  as  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  it  presents 
all  of  the  comforts  and  conveniences  that  wealth 
can  secure  and  refined  taste  suggest.  Mr.  Bradt 
is  vice  president  of  the  De  Kalb  Commercial  Club 
and  chairman  of  the  executive  committee.  This 
club  has  been  an  important  element  in  the  growth 
and  development  of  De  Kalb  and  in  years  past  Mr. 


Bradt  I. as  been  one  of  the  most  active  citizen-  in 
securing  new  industries  for  his  home  town  and 
thus  promoting  its  growth  and  prosperity.  It  may 
be  justly  said  that  scarcely  a  man  has  done  more 
to  further  the  welfare  of  De  Kalb  than  he  and 
his  efforts  have  ever  been  of  a  most  practical  char- 
acter. He  is  a  man  of  action  rather  than  of  the- 
ory and  while  others  have  discussed  ways  and 
means  he  has  reached  conclusions  and  has  carried 
out  his  plans,  accomplishing  results  almost  immed- 
iately, and  time  has  proven  the  merit  of  these.  He 
is  always  well  poised,  is  a  man  of  keen  discrimina- 
tion and  is  seldom,  if  ever,  at  error  in  matters  of 
business  judgment. 

Mr.  Bradt  belongs  to  De  Kalb  lodge,  No.  1 14. 
A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  De  Kalb  chapter,  B.  A.  M. ;  and 
to  Alida  Young  commandery,  K.  T.,  of  Sycamore; 
also  tn  Medina  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  in 
Chicago.  He  is  likewise  a  member  of  De  Kalb 
Lodge,  No.  765,  B.  P.  0.  E.,  and  he  belongs  to 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  is 
serving  as  tin  officer.  His  political  allegiance  is 
given  to  the  republican  party  and  lor  several  years 
he  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board,  the 
cause  of  education  finding  in  him  a  warm  friend. 
As  a  citizen  he  is  public  spirited  to  an  eminent 
degree,  deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  of  his 
community  and  the  prosperity  of  the  town  in 
which  the  greater  part  of  his  life  has  been  passed. 
All  who  know  him  entertain  for  Mm  respect,  while 
those  who  come  within  the  closer  circle  of  his  ac- 
quaintance find  him  a  genial  gentleman  aud  de-- 
light  in  his  companionship. 


ALLEN  B.  TAYLOR. 


Allen  B.  Taylor,  foreman  for  the  Haish  Manu- 
facturing Company  at  De  Kalb,  is  a  native  of  the 
Empire  state.  He  was  born  in  Wolcott.  New  York. 
August  12,  1856,  his  parents  being  Dexter  and 
Harriett  (Rice)  Taylor,  who  were  natives  of  Vic- 
tory, New  York.  The  father  followed  merchan- 
dising in  the  east  and  in  1884  came  to  Water- 
man, Illinois,  where  he  established  a  general  store, 
successfully  conducting  it  until  his  death  in  1892. 
His  wife  survived  him  for  about  ten  years,  pass- 
ing away  in  1902.  The  daughter  of  the  family, 
Mrs.  Cora  Gatchy,  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Gatchy,  a 


494 


PAST   AND    PEESBNT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


general  medical  practitioner  of  Chicago,  living 
in  Morgan  Park,  a  suburb  of  that  city. 

Allen  B.  Taylor  was  educated  m  the  common 

schools  of  Wolcott,  New  York,  and  clerked  in  his 
father's  store  until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age. 
He  then  learned  the  trade  of  carriage-painting, 
which  he  followed  in  the  east  for  a  time,  while 
later  he  clerked  in  his  father's  store  in  Waterman, 
Illinois.  In  1S8S  he  removed  to  De  Kalb,  where 
he  followed  his  trade  until  about  eight  years  ago, 
when  he  took  charge  of  the  painting  department 
for  the  Haish  Manufacturing  Company.  He  has 
since  been  with  the  company  as  one  of  its  most 
trusted  and  capable  employes,  being  thoroughly 
conversant  with  his  part  of  the  business. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1876,  Mr.  Taylor  was 

'  married  to  Miss  Eliza  Williams,  who  was  bora 
at  Port  Byron,  New  York,  May  20,  1855.  and 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Lorena  (Shaw)  Williams. 
Her  father  was  a  cooper  by  trade  and  never  came 
to  Illinois.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  have  two  sons: 
1  ester,  who  was  born  April  25,  1883,  and  follows 
the  cooper's  trade;  and  Clyde,  who  was  born  May 
15,  1890,  and  is  now  a  high  school  student.  They 
also  have  an  adopted  daughter,  Edith  Howell, 
whose  mother  was  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Taylor.  She  is 
iii >w  the  \\  ife  of  Victor  H.  Lundberg,  a  postal  clerk 
hi  De  Kalb. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  are  devoted  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  De  Kalb.  Mr. 
Taylor  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodman  camp, 
also  the  Yeoman  lodge  of  De  Kalb.  His  political 
support  is  given  the  democracy  and  he  is  snare 
drummer  in  the  Third  Regiment  band  of  De  Kalb. 
He  has  always  been  interested  in  music  and  has 
continuously  been  a  member  of  some  band  organ- 
ization of  De  Kalb  since  locating  in  that  city. 
He  owns  his  residence  at  No.  318  South  Sixth 
street  and  also  has  other  real  estate  here. 


GEORGE  ALFORD  THOMPSON. 

George  Alford  Thompson,  who  for  many  years 
has  been  extensively  engaged  in  dealing  in  horses, 
although  one  of  the  more  recent  arrivals  in  De 
Kalb.  is  widely  known  in  the  city  and  through- 
out the  comity.     He  was  horn  in  Rockdale  town- 


ship. Ogle  county,  Illinois,  September  23,  1870. 
His  father,  Henry  Thompson,  was  a  native  of 
Port  Hope,  Canada,  born  in  1829  and  having  ar- 
rived at  years  of  maturity  he  married  Mary 
Amanda  Dean,  who  was  born  in  New  Castle,  On- 
tario in  1836.  By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer  and 
stock-grower.  On  coming  to  Illinois  in  1861  he  set- 
tled at  Mount  Morris  and  for  many  years  was  a 
resident  of  Ogle  county.  His  death  occurred  in 
that  county  in  1900,  while  his  wife  passed  away  in 
Rochelle,  Illinois,  in  1876.  In  their  family  were 
eight  children,  of  whom  two  died  in  infancy, 
while  the  others  reached  adult  age,  George  A. 
Thompson  being  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth. 
The  ancestry  of  the  family  can  be  traced  farther 
baek  than  the  parents.  It  is  definitely  known 
that  the  grandparents  in  the  paternal  line  were 
natives  of  Canada  and  were  of  Scotch  descent. 
They  came  to  Illinois  in  1861  and  spent  their 
remaining  days  at  Mount  Morris.  The  Deans  were 
also  of  Scotch  lineage  and  the  maternal  grand- 
parents of  Mr.  Thompson  lived  and  died  in 
Canada. 

In  the  common  schools  of  Rochelle,  Illinois, 
George  Alford  Thompson  acquired  his  early  edu- 
cation. After  leaving  school  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enteen years  he  began  buying  horses  and  has 
continued  in  the  business  to  the  present  time.  He 
is  a  most  excellent  judge  of  horses,  seldom,  if  ever, 
at  error  in  estimating  the  value  of  an  animal. 
He  began  working  for  Strauss  &  Hexter  of  New 
York,  horse  dealers,  and  was  with  them  until  the 
15th  of  September,  1906,  since  which  time  he  has 
carried  on  business  on  his  own  account.  He  main- 
tained his  residence  in  Rochelle  until  1890,  when 
he  went  to  Xew  York  city,  where  he  remained 
for  two  years,  and  he  afterward  located  at  Rock- 
ford,  Illinois,  for  a  year.  He  then  again  went  to 
New  York  city,  where  he  spent  another  year,  after 
which  he  came  to  De  Kalb.  where  he  has  since 
made  his  home. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  married  at  Madison,  Wis- 
consin, June  10,  1901,  to  Miss  Hulda  Kylen,  who 
was  bom  in  New  York  city,  December  8,  1872. 
By  this  marriage  there  are  two  children:  Lewis 
Kylen,  born  March  10,  1903;  and  Mary  Louise, 
bom  April  13,  1905.  In  politics  Mr.  Thompson 
is  a  republican  and  he  belongs  to  Elks  lodge, 
No.  765,  while  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Episco- 
pal church. 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


495 


Mr.  Thompson  is  one  of  the  best  known  horse- 
men in  the  state,  having  made  the  business  a  life 
study  as  well  as  a  life  work,  and  many  interest- 
ing experiences  have  come  to  him  in  this  way. 
While  at  Minneapolis  he  bought  a  trotting  horse 
for  twenty-five  hundred  dollars  which  was  entered 
in  a  race  the  same  day  and  upon  which  he  won 
two  thousand  dollars,  while  later  in  the  season  the 
horse  won  five  thousand  dollars  more,  after  which 
he  was  sold  for  five  thousand  dollars.  W.  L. 
Ellwood  was  Mr.  Thompson's  partner  in  this  deal. 
Mr.  Thompson  is  a  natural  born  horseman,  is 
thorough  in  business,  honest  and  prompt  in  every 
transaction,  and  has  maintained  a  reputation  for 
reliability  which  has  gained  him  almost  unlimited 
bank  credit. 


CHARLES  H.  VORIS. 


Charles  H.  Voris  is  owner  of  a  good  farm  of 
eighty  acres  on  section  12,  Sandwich  township, 
and  also  operates  the  old  homestead  adjoining, 
which  belonged  to  his  father.  It  is  pleasantly  and 
conveniently  located  within  four  miles  of  Sand- 
wich so  that  the  advantages  of  the  city  are  easily 
accessible.  Mr.  Voris  first  opened  his  eyes  to 
the  light  of  day  in  Squaw  Grove  township  on  the 
5th  of  January,  1848.  His  father,  William  Voris, 
was  a  native  of  Rockland  county,  New  York,  born 
May  5,  1820,  who,  when  a  young  man,  came  west- 
ward arriving  in  De  Kalb  county,  Illinois,  about 
1S39.  He  was  afterward  married  at  Little  Rock, 
Kendall  county,  to  Miss  Nancy  Stone,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  having  been  born  in  Bradford 
county,  February  22,  1820.  There  she  was  reared 
to  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  spending  her  girl- 
hood days  in  the  home  of  her  father,  Daniel  Stone, 
who  removed  to  Illinois,  April  25,  1839,  settling 
in  Kane  county.  Mr.  Voris  was  a  farmer  and 
tilled  the  soil  for  several  years  in  Squaw  Grove 
township.  He  afterward  opened  up  a  new  farm 
near  Little  Rock.  After  the  discovery  of  gold  in 
California  he  made  an  overland  trip  with  ox  teams 
to  that  state,  hoping  to  gain  success  in  that  rich 
mining  region.  After  spending  two  years  in  the 
mines  there  he  returned  by  way  of  the  Isthmus 
of  Panama  to  New  York  and  thence  again  to  Illi- 
nois.    After  living  for  some  time  upon  his  farm 


near  Little  Rock  he  bought  the  property  which 
adjoins  the  Voris  farm,  becoming  its  owner  in 
1865.  Upon  that  place  he  spent  his  remaining 
days  carrying  on  active  work  of  tilling  the  soil 
for  many  years.  He  was  a  respected  and  honored 
citizen  and  died  in  August,  1901,  his  death  re- 
gretted by  all  who  knew  him.  His  widow  still 
survives  and  is  a  well  preserved  lady  of  eighty- 
nine  years. 

Charles  H.  Voris  is  one  of  four  sons  who  reached 
adult   age   and   he   and   his   brother    Eugene    are 
now  the  living  representatives  of  the  family,  the 
latter    now    residing    in    Greene    county,    Iowa. 
Charles  H.  Voris  was  reared  to  manhood  on  the 
old   homestead   and   when   he   had   mastered    the 
common  branches  of  learning  in  the  public  schools 
he   attended   the  Jennings   Seminar)'   at   Aurora, 
Illinois,  and  subsequently  engaged  in  teaching  for 
three  terms.     He  has,  however,  made  farming  his 
real  life  work  and  his  early  training  in  his  boy- 
hood days,  well  qualified  him  for  the  duties  which 
devolved  upon  him  in  this  connection.     Desirous 
of  establishing  a  home  of  his  own  he  was  married 
in  Somonauk  township  on  the  14th  of  February, 
1872,  to  Miss  Sarah  Ella  Wilmarth,  who  was  born 
and  reared  here,  her  father  being  Leander  Wil- 
marth, one  of  the  early  settlers  of  De  Kalb  county 
and  a  native  of  Troy,  New  York.     He  came  west 
in  1832 — the  year  of  the  Black  Hawk  war — and 
was  one  of  the  first  to  penetrate  into  what  was 
then  the  wilderness  of  De  Kalb  county.    The  foot 
of   white   man   had   scarcely   ever   trod   upon   its 
prairies  and  the  timber  districts  were  as  yet  un- 
touched by  those  who  desired  to   use  the  native 
forest  growth  for  fuel  or  for  lumber.     Mr.  Wil- 
marth pre-empted  land  which  he  opened  up,  cul- 
tivating a  farm  for  a  number  of  years  or  until  he 
sold  it  preparatory  to  removing  to  Nebraska.     In 
the  western  state  he  remained  for  a  number  of 
years  but  eventually  returned  to  De  Kalb  county 
and  died  while  at  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Voris. 
Following  their  marriage  our  subject  and  his 
wife  lived  for  nine  years  upon  a  farm  near  Big 
Rock  in  Kane  county  and  later  took  up  their  abode 
upon  the  farm  where  they  now  reside.    Mr.  Voris 
has  built  many  rods  of  fence  and  laid  many  rods 
of  tile  and  has  otherwise  developed  and  improved 
the  property,  adding  to  the  productiveness  of  the 
fields  by  the  most  modern  methods  of  farming. 
He  also  raises  good  stock  and  both  branches  of 


496 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


his  business  are  thriving  profitably.  As  the  years 
have  passed  by,  three  children  have  come  to  bless 
the  home :  Fred,  a  young  man  who  is  now  assist- 
ing in  operating  the  farm;  Jennie,  the  wife  of 
Frank  Bartholomew,  of  Lisbon,  Illinois;  and 
Nellie,  also  under  the  parental  roof. 

Mr.  Voris  votes  with  the  republican  party.  He 
was  elected  and  is  now  serving  for  the  third  term 
as  road  commissioner  and  has  likewise  been  town- 
ship school  trustee.  He  is  a  believer  in  good 
schools  and  teachers  so  that  he  has  done  his  ut- 
most to  advance  the  cause  of  education.  In  local 
political  circles  he  has  taken  an  active  interest 
and  has  been  a  delegate  to  county  conventions. 
His  entire  life  has  been  passed  in  this  part  of  the 
state  and  the  experiences  of  pioneer  life  are  familiar 
to  him,  for  in  the  early  days  he  aided  in  breaking 
the  virgin  sod  with  a  big  plow  and  several  yoke 
of  oxen.  He  planted  the  first  seed  in  the  field 
and,  as  the  years  passed,  continued  as  an  active 
factor  in  the  development  and  progress  of  the 
county,  winning,  as  the  days  have  gone  by,  a  good 
measure  of  prosperity  and  gaining  a  place  among 
the  substantial  agriculturists.  He  has  seen  the 
little  log  cabins  replaced  by  substantial  residences, 
the  villages  transformed  into  thriving  cities,  and 
the  county  become  dotted  here  and  there  with 
churches,  schools  and  other  evidences  of  modern 
civilization.  He  can  remember  the  time  when  it 
was  not  a  difficult  task  to  know  all  the  settlers 
of  the  township  but,  while  his  acquaintance  is  yet 
a  wide  one,  the  growth  of  the  county  has  rendered 
it  impossible  to  recognize  all  the  travelers  upon 
the  road.  There  are  few  indications  of  the  old 
time  pioneer  life  but  within  the  memory  of  Mr. 
Voris  are  stored  many  interesting  incidents  of 
the  early  days. 


CHARLES  H.  CROSBY. 

Charles  H.  Crosby,  deceased,  was  a  man  who 
in  all  life's  relations  manifested  sterling  traits  of 
character  that  found  evidence  in  uprightness  in 
business,  in  kindly  consideration  in  social  rela- 
tions and  in  unfaltering  fidelity  and  devotion  to 
his  family.  "When  he  passed  away,  therefore,  on 
the  3d  of  April,  1893,  the  community  mourned 
the  loss  of  one  of  its  representative  men. 


A  native  of  Belvidere,  Illinois,  Mr.  Crosby  was 
born  February  27,  1844,  his  parents  being  Fred- 
erick and  Parmelia  (Sweet)  Crosby.  The  father 
was  born  in  the  state  of  Massachusetts,  where  he 
learned  and  followed  the  miller's  trade,  removing, 
however,  to  Belvidere,  Illinois,  at  an  early  period 
in  its  development.  In  fact,  he  was  one  of  its 
pioneer  residents  and  there  remained  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  November  20,  1846.  He  was 
at  that  time  only  about  thirty-one  years  of  age,  his 
birth  having  occurred  at  Dudley.  Massachusetts. 
May  30,  1815.  The  ancestry  of  the  family,  how- 
ever, can  be  traced  back  through  several  genera- 
tions, for  the  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Nathaniel  Crosby,  the  great-grandfather  Rev. 
Pearson  Crosbj  and  the  great-great-grandfather 
was  Stephen  (  i  "-by. 

In  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city  Charles 
II.  Crosby  acquired  his  education  and  there  en- 
ti  red  business  life  as  a  clerk  in  a  store.  He  ar- 
rived in  Sycamore  in  1872  to  engage  in  business 
on  his  own  account  as  a  dealer  in  men's  furnishing 
goods,  and  I'm-  twenty-one  years  he  was  thus  asso- 
ciated with  the  commercial  interests  of  the  city, 
continuing  in  trade  until  his  demise  on  the  3d  of 
April,  1893.  As  a  business  man  be  was  energel  ic 
and  determined  and  his  enterprise  and  diligence 
proved  the  strong  points  in  his  success.  Men  who 
knew  him  respected  and  honored  him  because  of 
li is-  fidelity  to  honorable  business  principles  and  he 
left  behind  him  a  very  extensive  circle  of  friends. 

While  still  residing  in  Belvidere  Mr.  Crosby 
was  married  in  October.  1870,  to  Miss  Mary  E. 
Wing,  a  native  of  Cortland,  New  York,  ami  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Johnson)  Wing, 
the  latter  a  da  lighter  of  Samuel  Johnson  and  a 
native  of  Xew  York.  Joseph  Wing  was  likewise 
born  in  the  Empire  state  and  his  parents  were 
David  and  Desire  (Vincent)  Wing.  The  ancestrj 
of  the  family  can  lie  traced  back  to  John  Wing's 
widow  and  children,  natives  of  England,  who  in 
company  with  her  father.  Rev.  Stephen  Batchlor, 
braved  tin-  dangers  of  an  ocean  voyage  in  the  year 
1633  and  at  length  landed  at  Boston.  Massachu- 
setts. Subsequently  they  removed  to  Lynn,  being 
among  its  early  colonial  residents.  Mrs.  Crosbj 
was  the  second  in  a  family  of  seven  children  and 
by  her  marriage  became  the  mother  of  one  daugh- 
ter and  one  son.  but  the  latter.  Harrell,  died  De- 
cember  8.    1893.      The   daughter.   Grace,   is   with 


CHARLES  H.  CROSBY. 


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499 


her  mother  in  Sycamore,  and  both  ladies  are  mem- 
bers  of  the  Congregational  church,  in  the  work 
of  which  they  are  actively  and  helpfully  inter- 
ested. 

Mr.  Crosby  held  membership  with  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  was  in  thorough 
sympathy  with  the  beneficent  principles  of  that 
organization.  His  political  allegiance  was  given 
to  the  republican  party  and  for  several  years  he 
served  as  city  treasurer  of  Sycamore.  In  com- 
munity interests  he  was  deeply  concerned  and  his 
efforts  were  an  element  in  the  growth  and  progress 
of  the  city,  while  his  co-operation  was  never  with- 
held from  any  movement  that  he  deemed  would 
prove  of  public  benefit.  His  good  qualities  were 
many,  his  faults  were  few,  and  he  left  behind  a 
memory  which  is  still  cherished  and  honored  by  all 
who  knew  him. 


ALFRED  NELSON,  D.  V.  S. 

Dr.  Alfred  Nelson,  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
veterinary  surgery  at  De  Kalb,  was  born  in  Swe- 
den, February  12,  1850.  His  father  was  Nels  John 
Peterson.  The  son  was  reared  in  that  country  and 
at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  went  to  Stockholm, 
where  he  began  work  as  an  apprentice  at  the  car- 
penter's trade.  While  there  employed  he  attended 
the  veterinary  institute  at  night,  receiving  instruc- 
tion from  Professor  Bragg,  whose  acquaintance  he 
had  previously  formed.  He  was  well  educated, 
was  an  earnest  and  discriminating  student  and  a 
fine  mathematician.  The  family  were  in  limited 
financial  circumstances  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
years  he  had  to  begin  providing  for  his  own  sup- 
port. Later  he  joined  a  civil  engineering  corps 
and  for  four  years  was  employed  in  surveying  on 
canal  and  road  work,  while  for  one  year  he  was 
superintendent  in  the  pineries. 

In  1872  Dr.  Nelson  came  to  the  United  States, 
hoping  that  he  might  enjoy  better  business  op- 
portunities in  the  new  world.  He  located  in  De 
Kail),  Illinois,  where  he  began  work  as  a  farm 
hand.  In  1874  he  accepted  a  position  with  the 
engineering  force  on  the  construction  of  the  Chi- 
cago, Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad,  but  after 
three  months  he  returned  to  farm  work,  which  he 
followed  for  about  nine  years.     The  foreman  of 


the  railroad  construction  work  paid  him  the  high- 
est wages  of  any  man  on  the  force  and  regretted 
his  departure  but  Dr.  Nelson  found  agricultural 
pursuits  more  congenial. 

On  the  31st  of  December,  1880,  occurred  the 
marriage  of  Dr.  Nelson  and  Miss  Anna  Louise 
Vickell,  a  native  of  Sweden.  On  the  9th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1881,  Dr.  Nelson  entered  the  employ  of 
Colonel  I.  L.  Ellwood,  taking  charge  of  a  farm  of 
twelve  hundred  acres.  For  twenty-two  years  he  was 
superintendent  of  farming  interests  and  also  did 
veterinary  work.  In  February,  1903,  he  removed 
to  De  Kalb  and  on  the  3d  of  February,  1904,  was 
given  a  state  license  to  practice  veterinary  surgery, 
since  which  time  he  has  devoted  his  undivided  at- 
tention to  his  profession.  Dr.  Nelson  built  his 
own  residence  as  well  as  two  other  residence  prop- 
erties in  De  Kalb,  which  he  now  owns. 

Unto  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Nelson  have  been  born  ten 
children:  Lorena,  deceased;  Harry,  who  is  living 
in  De  Kalb;  Hilma  and  Ella,  both  of  whom  have 
passed  away;  Emil,  who  is  die  reamer  for  the 
American  Steel  &  Wire  Company  at  De  Kalb ; 
Ellen,  Oscar  W.,  Edith,  Ruth  and  John  LeRoy, 
all  at  home. 

Dr.  Nelson  is  a  republican  in  politics  but  has 
refused  all  offices.  He  is  one  of  the  best  known 
of  the  Swedish  residents  of  De  Kalb  and  is  a  versa- 
tile man,  who  exercises  considerable  influence  in 
the  community,  especially  among  people  of  his  own 
nationality.  He  may  truly  be  called  a  self-made 
man,  for  he  started  out  in  life  at  a  very  early 
age  and  has  since  been  dependent  upon  his  own 
resources,  his  laudable  ambition  and  sterling  pur- 
pose being  the  strong  elements  that  have  enabled 
him  to  advance  in  the  business  world. 


JAMES  FRANK  HENDERSON. 

James  Frank  Henderson,  living  on  section  2fi, 
Victor  township,  has  won  more  than  local  reputa- 
tion as  a  breeder  and  raiser  of  pure  blooded  short- 
horn cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs.  He  owns  and 
operates  a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  which  is 
the  old  J.  W.  Henderson  homestead.  It  was  upon 
this  farm  that  his  birth  occurred  on  the  8th  of 
February.  1869.  Here  he  was  reared  and  the 
common  schools  afforded  him  his  educational  priv- 


500 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


ileges.  In  the  summer  months  he  aided  in  the 
work  of  the  fields,  assisting  his  father  until  the 
latter's  death,  when  he  took  charge  of  and  has 
since  carried  on  the  home  farm,  remaining  *>s 
manager  for  seventeen  years.  Within  this  period 
he  has  built  a  large  new  barn  and  corn  cribs,  has 
divided  the  place  into  fields  of  convenient  size 
by  woven  wire  fences  and  in  190G  he  plaed  tile  to 
the  value  of  fourteen  hundred  dollars  upon  his 
land.  In  all  of  his  work  he  is  methodical,  ener- 
getic and  practical  and  carries  forward  to  success- 
ful completion  whatever  he  undertakes.  In  con- 
nection with  the  tilling  of  the  soil  he  raises  stock 
and  fattens  and  ships  a  carload  of  hogs  annually. 
He  has  also  been  engaged  in  the  breeding  and 
raising  of  shorthorn  cattle  for  twelve  years,  having 
pure  blooded  registered  cattle  and  Poland  China 
hogs. 

Mr.  Henderson  was  married  in  Sandwich.  Illi- 
nois, January  25,  1895,  to  Miss  Emma  Arnold, 
who  was  born  in  De  Kalb  county,  a  daughter  o! 
Alfred  Arnold.  They  now  have  two  children: 
Mabel  Irene  and  James  W.  Henderson. 

Mr.  Henderson  exercises  his  right  of  franchise 
in  support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  repub- 
lican party  but  the  honors  and  emoluments  of 
office  have  had  no  attraction  for  him.  as  he  has 
preferred  to  concentrate  his  time  and  energies 
upon  his  business  affairs.  Hi-  wife  is  a  member 
of  the  Suydam  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
is  an  interested  and  active  worker  in  the  church 
and  Sunday  school,  having  a  class  in  the  latter. 
Mr.  Henderson  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen 
camp  at  Somonauk.  Having  spent  his  entire  life 
in  this  locality,  he  has  a  wide  acquaintance  and 
his  salient  characteristics  are  such  as  have  gained 
for  him  the  friendly  regard  and  good  will  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  been  associated  through  either 
business  or  social  relations. 


WILLIAM  MABSHALL  SEBREE. 

It  is  fitting  that  the  people  who  enjoy  in  the 
fullest  measure  the  privileges  of  civilization  should 
honor  the  memory  and  review  the  fame  of  the 
sturdy  pioneers  who  suffered  the  privations  of 
pioneer  life  that  a  wilderness  might  be  trans- 
formed into  cultivated  fields  and  lav  the  founda- 


tion of  a  civilization  that  is  the  pride  of  the  pro- 
gressive  world. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  oldest  living 
r  of  DeKalb  county.  For  seventy-three  years 
he  has  resided  within  sight  of  the  first  settlement. 
On  November  25,  1834,  in  company  witn  nis 
parents.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  S.  Sehree,  and  a  young 
lad  named  Johnson  Boyles,  aged  eight  years,  he 
came  acress  the  country  in  a  prairie  schooner  from 
Bloom ington.  Illinois.  They  made  the  first  per- 
ment  settlement  in  the  county  at  Squaw  Grove. 
On  arriving  at  the  grove  Mr.  Sebree  made  a  tem- 
porary home  from  materials  left  by  the  Indians- 
and  proceeded  to  make  a  log  cabin  in  which  to 
shelter  his  family  from  the  winter's  storms.  Their 
supply  of  provisions  became  nearly  exhausted  and 
it  became  necessary  for  Mr.  Sebree  to  leave  his 
brave  wife  and  the  two  children  and  go  to  Bloom- 
ington  to  gel  grain  he  had  raised  during  the  sum- 
mer and  lay  in  a  stock  of  supplies.  During  his 
absence,  from  January  until  April,  the  three  white 
residents  of  DeKalb  county  spent  many  anxious 
and  lonely  moments.  The  first  permanent  resi- 
dence of  the  county  was  located  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  15. 
Squaw  Grove  township.  The  site  is  today  marked 
by  an  orchard.  It  is  south  of  the  Chicago  and 
Indiana  Railroad  tracks,  easl  of  Little  Rock  > 
and  west  of  the  Sandwich-Cortland  road. 

In  April.  1835,  Mr.  Sebree  returned  and  was 
accompanied  by  Samuel  Miller,  wife  and  child. 
Mr.  Miller  located  and  lived  on  land  that  is  now 
within  the  corporate  limits  of  Hinckley.  His 
son.  Arch  •'.  Miller,  lives  just  north  of  the  village 
of  Hinckley.  In  October.  1S35,  John  S.  Sebree*s 
older  brother.  William  J.  Sebree*.  and  wife  ar- 
rived, accompanied  by  their  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Robert  Sebree.  William  J.  located  on  section  0. 
on  the  William  Miller  farm,  and  the  father  set- 
on  the  Slater  farm  just  south  of  Hinckley. 
During  the  year  David  Leggett  settled  on  the  Lee 
farm  jusi  west  of  the  grove.  The  year  1835  closed 
with  five  white  families  in  Squaw  Grove  township 
— the  three  Sehrees,  the  Millers  and  the  Leggetts. 

They  were  joined  in  1836  by  John  Easterbrook, 
George  Lee,  Wells  A.  Fay.  and  in  183?  the  Wards, 
Hummels.  Horace  W.  Fay.  Bernard  Albee,  the 
Clevelands  and  Pomeroys  joined  the  colony. 


*Boies'    History    and    other    volumes    erroneously    give    William 
Sebree   credit    for  being   the   first    DeKalb   county    settler. 


k 


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THr  NEW  YORK  I 

LIC  LIBRARY 


ASTOR,    LENOX 
JTUDCr. ■FQuSQATlnMB 


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503 


There  were  two  camps  of  Indians — one  north, 
near  where  the  schoolhouse  was  located;  the  other 
south,  near  the  gravel  pit,  south  of  the  Chicago 
and  Galesburg  Eailroad  and  west  of  Little  Book 
creek.  The  hunters  were  then  away,  leaving  the 
squaws  to  take  care  of  the  camp,  and  from  this 
circumstance  it  was  called  Squaw  Grove.  The 
little  grove  just  east  was  called  Papoose.  Chief 
Shabbona,  with  a  band  of  some  three  hundred 
Indians,  were  located  at  Shabbona  Grove  and  fre- 
quently visited  their  pale-face  friends. 

The  Sebrees  tell  some  interesting  legends  of 
their  Indian  neighbors.  The  braves  lived  in  wig- 
wams. They  tilled  a  little  ground  but  depended 
chiefly  on  hunting,  trapping  and  fishing  for  sub- 
sistence. The  corn  was  a  small  variety,  after  the 
Yankee  kind.  Each  hunter  had  a  pony  and  a  gun 
those  days,  but  they  still  dexterously  used  bows 
and  flint-point  arrows.  The  boys  would  put  pen- 
nies on  a  post  and  if  the  Indian  struck  tile  coin 
with  an  arrow  he  claimed  it.  It  rarely  took  bur 
a  single  shot.  Fish  were  secured  mainly  byjspear- 
ing  them  at  night.  If  an  Indian  hunter  sought  in-  - 
marriage  the  hand  of  a  dusky  maiden  he  would.' 
hitch  his  pony  in  front  of  her  wigwam.  If  she 
came  out  and  petted  the  animal  the  wedding  was 
consummated.  If  she  did  not,  he  was  obliged  to 
look  in  other  tepees  for  a  life  companion.  Tho 
Indians  were  residents  here  for  several  years  but 
finally  were  moved  farther  west. 

William  Marshall  Sebree  was  born  in  Floyd 
county.  Indiana,  February  7.  1833.  and  when  a 
year  old  was  brought  to  DeKalb  county.  His 
schooling  was  limited  to  a  few  winter  terms  in  a 
log  schoolhouse.  Until  he  reached  his  majority 
he  assisted  bis  father  in  the  farm  work.  On  the 
20th  of  September,  1855,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Bosetta  Donaldson,  a  native  of  Steu- 
benville.  Ohio.  She  was  born  May  23.  1837,  and 
was  the  daughter  of  James  and  Jane  (Cone)  Don- 
aldson. In  1840  the  mother  moved  to  Elgin. 
where  she  educated  her  two  daughters. 

For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sebree 
occupied  a  part  of  the  old  Sebree  homestead  and 
later  be  engaged  in  the  creamery  business.  They 
were  the  parents  of  five  children,  one  of  wdiom  is 
deceased.  The  living  are:  Alice,  the  wife  of  P. 
F.  Slater,  a  retired  farmer  of  Hinckley;  Nellie 
Augusta,  the  wife  of  H.  W.  Fay.  editor  of  the 
DeKalb  Countv  Review:  Effie,  wife  of  A.  J.  Cos- 


ter, liveryman  and  landowner  of  Hinckley;  and 
Bay  M.,  proprietor  of  the  Hinckley  Steam  Laun- 
dry. There  are  five  grandchildren:  Boy  Slater; 
Mrs.  Elva  Slater  Earner;  Earl  Fay;  Jane  and 
Helen  Sebree.  Donald  Coster,  born  April  16, 
1893,  died  February  14,  1902. 

Since  the  death  of  his  wife  in  1902  Mr.  Sebree 
has  lived  in  retirement  and  is  enjoying  the  fruits 
of  an  active  and  prosperous  life. 


l.'ALPU  J.  SENSOE. 


Balph  J.  Sensor,  proprietor  of  the  Glidden 
House  at  De  Kalb,  has  during  much  of  his 
business  life  been  connected  with  hotel  inter- 
ests until  he  has  thoroughly  acquainted 
himself  with  the  demands  of  the  public  and  has 
proved  hi  in  self  a  popular  host.  He  was  born  in 
Byron.  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  July  24,  1851.  His 
parents  were  James  B.  and  Susan  (Coup)  Sensor. 
-The r father  was  born  in  Belief onte,  Pennsylvania, 
March  15,  1822,  and  died  at  Byron,  Illinois,  Sep- 
tember 12,  1893.  His  life  was  devoted  to  mer- 
chandising. 

Entering  the  public  schools  at  the  usual  age. 
Tialph  J.  Sensor  passed  through  successive  grades 
until  he  had  completed  the  high-school  course  ai 
Byron,  while  later  he  became  a  student  in  Alle- 
gheny College  in  Pennsylvania.  Taking  up  the 
study  of  law,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Illinois  bar 
at  Ottawa  in  1889  and  continued  in  general  prac- 
tice until  1900,  being  located  at  Bockford,  Illi- 
nois, and  at  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania.  Since  1900 
he  has  been  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  conduct- 
ing hotels  at  Atlantic  City,  New  Jersey;  Wash- 
ington, I).  C. :  Oakland.  Maryland :  and  Watch 
Hill,  Bhode  Island;  all  these  being  resort  houses 
well  patronized  by  tourists  during  the  season.  He 
is  now  proprietor  of  the  Olidden  House  at  De 
Kalb  and  is  conducting  a  first  class  hostelry,  hav- 
ing everything  modern  about  his  place  and  putting 
forth  every  effort  in  his  power  for  the  comfort 
and  convenience  of  his  patrons. 

Mr.  Sensor  gives  his  political  allegiance  to  the 
republican  party  and  was  clerk  of  the  circuit  court 
in  Ogle  county.  Illinois.  I'rom  1884  until  1888. 
Otherwise  he  has  never  heen  an  office  seeker,  yet 
has  ever  kept  well  informed  on  the  questions  and 


504 


PAST    .VXD    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


issues  of  the  day  and  stands  for  progress  and  im- 
provement in  all  lines  of  citizenship. 

On  the  3d  of  May,  1893,  at  Roekford,  Illinois, 
was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Sensor  and 
Miss  Marian  I.  Mead.  They  now  have  an  inter- 
esting little  daughter,  Helen  Sensor,  born  Janu- 
ary 22,  1896.  During  their  residence  in  De  Kalb 
they  have  gained  many  friends  and  the  hospitality 
of  the  best  homes  of  the  city  is  freely  accorded 
them.  Mr.  Sensor  is  a  courteous,  genial  gentle- 
man, who  started  out  in  life  to  win  and  has  suc- 
ceeded in  business  because  of  his  firm  determina- 
tion and  his  unfaltering  diligence.  He  seems  well 
qualified  by  nature  for  the  business  which  he  is 
now  conducting,  for  he  has  the  ability  to  readily 
understand  men,  is  usually  correct  in  his  judg- 
ments and,  moreover,  possesses  in  himself  qualities 
of  sociability  and  reliability  which  at  once  com- 
mand respect  and  good  will. 


FREDERICK  B.  TOWNSEND. 

Frederick  B.  Townsend  has  for  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  century  figured  in  connection  with  the 
banking  house  of  which  he  is  now  president  and 
which  is  conducted  under  the  name  of  the  Pierce 
Trust  &  Savings  Bank.  This  is  one  of  the  strong- 
est financial  concerns  of  the  county  and  the  safe, 
conservative  policy  inaugurated  by  his  grand- 
father. Daniel  Pierce,  of  whom  mention  is  made 
on  another  page  in  this  volume  and  who  was  its 
founder,  has  been  maintained  by  him.  Mr.  Town- 
send  claims  no  special  credit  for  this  or  for  what 
he  has  accomplished  in  the  business  world,  yet 
the  characteristics  of  a  substantial,  trustworthy 
and  enterprising  financier  are  his:  moreover,  he 
has  successfully  operated  extensive  agricultural 
interests  and  in  municipal  affairs  has  proven  his 
loyalty  and  progressiveness.  Therefore,  while  he 
seeks  nor  desires  no  public  notoriety,  his  fellow 
townsmen  grant  his  right  to  be  ranked  with  the 
foremost  citizens  of  Sycamore. 

The  name  of  Townsend  is  too  well  known  in 
De  Kalb  county  to  need  encomium  here.  The 
grandparents  and  great-grandparents  of  Frederick 
B.  Townsend  settled  in  Mayfield  township  in  1840. 
At  that  time  Amos  W.  Townsend,  of  whom  ex- 
tensive mention  is  made  on  another  page  of  this 


work,  was  but  eight  years  of  age.  The  last 
named  became  a  farmer  of  Malta  township  and 
it  was  upon  the  stock  farm  of  his  father  that  Fred- 
rick B.  Townsend  spent  the  first  seventeen  years 
of  his  life  in  a  manner  not  unlike  that  of  most 
farm  lads  of  the  period.  He  was  a  district-school 
student  in  his  early  boyhood  and  later  continued 
his  studies  in  the  high  school  of  Sycamore,  prior 
to  matriculating  in  Lombard  University,  at  Gales- 
burg,  Illinois,  where  he  devoted  four  years  to  tti3 
master}'  of  a  scientific  course.  He  further  pre- 
pared for  business  life  as  a  student  in  the  East- 
man Business  College,  at  Poughkeepsie,  New 
York,  where  he  pursued  a  full  course  and  then 
returned,  well  qualified  by  mental  discipline  for 
the  active  affairs  of  a  business  career.  He  nas 
since  been  identified  with  banking. 

\t  that  time  Mr.  Townsend  entered  the  bank- 
ing house  of  Daniel  Pierce  &  Company,  which 
had  been  founded  by  his  maternal  grandfather 
and  of  which  his  father  had  in  later  years  become 
a  partner.  Here  he  applied  himself  to  the  mas- 
tery of  tlio  hanking  business  in  principle  and  in 
detail.  Eventually  he  became  managing  partner 
and  is  now  president  of  the  institution  which  has 
been  re-organized  under  the  name  of  the  Pierce 
Trust  &  Savings  Bank,  and  which  from  the  be- 
ginning has  maintained  a  place  among  the  strong- 
est moneyed  concerns  of  this  section  of  the  state. 

This  does  not,  however,  limit  Mr.  Townsend's 
business  activity  for  he  is  one  of  the  foremost 
representatives  of  agricultural  interests,  having 
the  management  of  twenty-five  farms  in  De  Kalb 
county,  which  belong  to  the  Daniel  Pierce  and 
Townsend  estates,  together  with  five  thousand 
acres  of  land  in  Iowa,  belonging  to  the  Daniel 
Pierce  estate,  and  large  tracts  of  land  along  the 
Red    River   of   the    Xortli. 

On  the  18th  of  February,  1890.  Mr.  Townsend 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Mis-;  Mary  Boynton,  a 
daughter  of  Charles  0.  Boynton,  whose  sketch 
appears  on  another  page  of  this  volume.  She  was 
born  in  Sycamore.  February  23,  1864,  and  began 
her  education  in  the  schools  of  that  place,  later 
attending  St.  Mary's  Ladies  Episcopal  School  it 
Knoxville,  Illinois.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Epis- 
copal  church  and  is  also  connected  with  the  Order 
of  the  Eastern  Star  and  the  Daughters  of  the 
American  Revolution.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Townsend 
have  two  children:     Charles  Bovnton,  born  .Tan- 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OP  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


505 


uary  1,  1892 ;  and  Eleanor,  born  December  8, 
1896. 

Not  alone  in  business  circles  has  Mr.  Townsend's 
life  been  of  signal  benefit  to  the  community  for 
in  the  realm  of  political  activity  he  has  also  done 
capable  service  for  the  public  good.  He  was 
reared  in  the  faith  of  the  democratic  party  and 
his  mature  judgment  sanctions  that  political  be- 
lief. His  fellow  townsmen  have  called  him  to 
various  public  offices.  In  1889  he  was  elected 
alderman  of  the  second  ward  and  was  annually 
re-elected  until  1893.  In  the  spring  of  1894  he 
was  elected  mayor  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of 
the  late  Dr.  George  W.  Nesbitt  and  in  1895  and 
1897  was  re-elected,  so  he  served  for  a  third  term, 
being  chosen  to  the  office  in  a  republican  city  while 
a  candidate  of  the  democracy.  The  fact  of  his 
being  twice  re-elected  is  an  indication  of  his  busi- 
nesslike and  progressive  administration.  In  1892 
he  was  presidential  elector  on  the  Cleveland  ticket. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Townsend  is  a  Mason,  belong- 
ing to  the  lodge  and  chapter,  to  Sycamore  com- 
mandery,  No.  15,  K.  T.,  and  to  Medinah  Temple 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine  at  Chicago.  His  entire  life 
has  been  passed  in  De  Kalb  county  and  few,  if 
any,  have  more  friends  than  has  Frederick  B. 
Townsend  who  has  gained  that  warm  personal  re- 
gard which  arises  from  true  nobility  of  character, 
deference  for  opinions  of  others,  kindliness  and 
geniality. 


A.  H.  WOBDEN. 


The  prosperity  which  has  rewarded  the  earnest 
effort  and  untiring  industry  of  A.  H.  Worden  in 
former  years  now  enables  him  to  live  retired  on 
his  well  improved  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  22,  South  Grove  township.  He 
has  now  passed  the  seventy-fourth  milestone  on 
life's  journey,  having  been  born  in  Delaware  coun- 
ty, New  York,  on  the  10th  of  February.  1833. 
a  son  of  David  and  Hulda  (Hull)  Worden.  The 
father  was  a  sawmill  man  of  Delaware  county, 
New  York,  until  1835,  in  which  year  he  took  up 
his  abode  at  Pine  Creek,  Ogle  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  conduct  of  a  sawmill  for 
six  years,  subsequent  to  which  time  he  removed  to 
Coldwater,  Michigan,  where  he  conducted  a  simi- 


lar business,  being  thus  engaged  until  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  February,  1843. 
His  wife  passed  away  in  December  of  the  previous 
year. 

A.  H.  Worden  was  but  two  years  of  age  when 
he  was  brought  from  his  native  place  to  this  state, 
and  he  afterward  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
various  removals  in  this  state  and  to  Michigan. 
He  pursued  his  studies  in  the  schools  of  Coldwater, 
Michigan,  and  there  remained  until  he  was  a 
young  man  of  twenty-one  years,  when,  in  1854, 
•he  removed  to  De  Kalb  county,  Illinois,  locating 
in  South  Grove  township,  where  he  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits,  operating  rented  land  dur- 
ing the  succeeding  decade.  During  this  period  lie 
worked  diligently  and  energetically,  carefully  hus- 
banding his  resources,  so  that  at  length  he  was 
enabled  to  purchase  a  farm  in  South  Grove  town- 
ship, and  this  has  continued  to  be  his  home  to 
the  present  time.  He  has  tiled  his  land,  which 
now  makes  it  very  arable,  and  in  1892  he  erected 
a  commodious  and  modern  residence,  while  in 
1904  he  built  a  good  barn,  so  that  his  place  is  now 
a  well  improved  and  valuable  property.  He  was 
for  many  years  actively  engaged  in  general  agri- 
cultural pursuits  and  as  the  years  passed  he  pros- 
pered in  his  undertakings,  thereby  acquiring  the 
competence  that  now  enables  him  to  rest  from 
further  labor,  and  he  now  leaves  the  work  of 
the  farm  to  his  son,  although  still  retaining  his 
residence  thereon. 

Mr.  Worden  was  married  on  the  21st  of  March, 
1856,  to  Miss  Adaline  Mason,  who  was  born  in 
Hillsdale,  Michigan,  but  at  the  time  of  her  mar- 
riage was  a  resident  of  South  Grove  township,  this 
county.  Their  home  has  been  blessed  with  a 
son  and  daughter:  James  H.,  who  is  now  operat- 
ing the  home  farm ;  and  Addie,  the  wife  of  Peter 
Hoke  of  Maywood.  Jarvis  Mason,  Mrs.  Worden's 
father,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  county, 
having  located  in  South  Grove  township  in  March, 
1846.  He  was  born  in  Herkimer  county,  New 
York,  in  1801,  and  died  in  Shelby  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1876.  In  his  native  state  he  married 
Achsah  Squires,  who  was  born  in  Massachusetts 
in  1801,  and  also  died  in  Shelby  county,  Illinois, 
in  1879. 

Mr.  Worden  has  always  supported  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  republican  party,  having  cast  h;s 
first    presidential    ballot    for    Abraham    Lincoln. 


506 


PAST    AND    PEESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


While  keeping  well  informed  on  politieal  ques- 
tions and  issues  of  the  day  he  has  never  been  active 
as  an  office  seeker,  preferring  to  do  his  duty  as 
a  private  citizen.  The  family  attend  and  support 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Clare,  and  are 
highly  respected  in  the  community  where  they 
reside.  Mr.  Warden,  although  starting  out  in  a 
humble  capacity,  worked  his  way  steadily  upward 
toward  the  goal  of  success  until  he  is  today  classed 
among  the  well-to-do  citizens  of  South  Grove 
township. 


BYl.'ON    SNOW. 


Byron  Snow,  deceased,  was  for  many  years  an 
honored  resident  of  De  Kalb.  He  was  born  in 
Keene,  New  Hampshire,  on  the  13th  of  December, 
1837,  and  was  brought  to  Illinois  by  his  parents 
in  1839,  the  family  driving  across  the  country 
from  the  old  Granite  slate.  Here  he  was  reared 
amid  the  scenes  and  environments  of  pioneer  life 
and  when  the  country  became  involved  in  civil 
war,  with  patriotic  spirit  he  offered  his  services 
to  the  government,  enlisting  as  a  soldier  of  Com- 
pany H,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Eegi- 
ment  of  Illinois  Volunteers.  Third  Division,  Sev- 
enteenth Army  Corps.  He  joined  the  boys  in 
blue  in  August,  1862,  and  served  for  three  years 
or  throughout  the  remainder  of  the  war.  He 
participated  in  the  following  battles:  Port  Gib- 
son on  the  1st  .it  May.  1863  ;  the  siege  of  Yieks- 
burg,  including  the  assault  on  the  enemy's  works 
on  the  22d  of  May  and  Port  Hill  on  the  26th  of 
June,  L863 ;  and  was  also  in  the  Monroe,  Louis- 
iana, and  Brownsville.  Mississippi,  campaigns, 
which  occurred  in  August  and  October,  respect- 
ively, of  the  same  year.  Later  he  was  at  Yazoo 
City  and  in  the  battle  of  Benton,  Mississippi,  in 
May,  1864,  under  General  McArthur.  He  like- 
wise took  part  in  the  Jackson  campaign  and  in 
the  battle  at  Jackson  Crossroads  in  July,  1SG4. 
and  in  the  White  Biver  and  Memphis  expeditions 
in  October  of  the  same  year.  With  his  regiment 
he  participated  in  the  campaign  against  Mobil, 
and  Montgomery,  Alabama,  in  March  and  April. 
1865.  under  General  Canby,  a  military  movement 
which  included  'he  siege  of  Spanish  Fort  and 
the  storming  and  capture  of  the  enemy's  works 


April  8,  1865.  He  marched  by  land  and  proceeded 
by  water  a  distance  of  forty-one  hundred  miles 
and  was  engaged  in  fourteen  skirmishes,  ten  bat- 
tle- and  two  sieges  of  forty-seven  days  and  nights 
and  thirteen  days  and  nights,  respectively,  thus 
being  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy  for  seventy- 
six  days  and  sixty-nights.  He  was  with  the  regi- 
ment during  nearly  all  of  the  time.  During  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg  three  guns  were  disabled  in 
his  hands  by  the  enemy's  bullets  during  one  day 
and  a  few  days  before  the  surrender  of  that  strong- 
hold he  was  sent  out  three  nights  with  three  com- 
panions to  recorrnoiter  on  the  enemy's  camp,  think- 
ing the  army  would  evacuate.  He  often  went  so 
near  the  lines  that  he  could  distinguish  the  voices 
and  understand  what  was  said.  Several  times  his 
hat  and  clothing  were  pierced  by  bullets  and  a 
lock  of  his  hair  was  shot  away  at  Champion  Hill. 
At  one  time  he  was  so  ill  that  his  discharge  was 
procured  and  offered  him  but  he  steadfastly  re- 
fused it  and  remained  to  see  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  among  the  bravest  of  the  brave  and  would 
not  leave  the  front  until  victory  perched  on  the 
Union  banners  and  the  stars  and  stripes  floated 
over  the  capital  of  the  southern  confederacy,  but 
he  was  modest  in  his  statements  of  what  he  did. 
IVeling  that  he  merely  did  his  duty.  The  country, 
however,  acknowledge-  its  indebtedness  and  the 
feeling  throughout  the  north  for  the  soldiers  who 
were  at  the  from  was  expressed  in  Washington 
by  a  banner  which  was  swung  over  Pennsylvania 
avenue  at  the  time  of  the  grand  review  and  which 
bore  the  legend:  "The  only  debt  which  our  coun- 
try cannot  pay  is  the  debt  which  she  owes  to  her 
soldiers." 

When  the  war  was  over  Mr.  Snow  returned  to 
his  home  in  De  Kalb  county,  and  on  the  21st  of 
December,  1865,  in  Keene,  New  Hampshire,  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Margaret  Gurler. 
For  many  years  theirs  was  a  most  happy  and  con- 
genial married  life.  Mrs.  Snow  is  also  a  native 
"f  Keene.  born  October  13.  is  11.  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Benjamin  and  Harriet  Piske  (  Hopkins) 
Gurler.  Her  ancestry  can  be  traced  back  to  an 
early  period  in  the  history  (if  Massachusetts,  where 
I'"  Qjamin  Curler,  the  great-grandfather,  was  born, 
while  Thomas  Gurler.  the  grandfather,  was  a 
native  of  Marblehead,  that  state.  A  removal  of 
i  lie  family  to  the  old  Granite  state  caused  Nelson. 
New  Hampshire,  to  become  the  birthplace  of  Ben- 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


50; 


jamin  Gurler,  whose  natal  day  was  October  24. 
1806.  In  early  life  he  was  engaged  in  business 
as  a  manufacturer  of  bits  and  augers  and  he  after- 
ward followed  the  occupation  of  farming.  He 
married  Miss  Harriet  Fiske  Hopkins,  who  was 
born  in  Colerain,  Massachusetts,  October  29, 
1817,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Richard  Hopkins, 
whose  birth  occurred  in  Chesterfield.  New  Hamp- 
shire, in  1787,  while  his  father,  Richard  Hopkins, 
Sr.,  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  Richard  Hop- 
kins. Jr.,  wedded  Emeline  Lewis,  likewise  a  native 
of  Chesterfield,  and  it  was  their  daughter  Harriet 
who  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Benjamin  Gur- 
ler. On  the  12th  of  October,  1856,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gurler  came  to  De  Kalb  county,  settling  in  De 
Kalb  township.  The  railroad  had  been  completed 
to  the  city  of  De  Kalb  only  a  short  time  before. 
In  their  family  were  five  children,  of  whom  Mrs. 
Snow  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth,  the  others 
being  Henry  B.,  George  H.,  Mary  J.  and  Lizzie  J. 

In  the  common  schools  of  Keene,  New  Hamp- 
shire, Mrs.  Snow  acquired  her  early  education. 
which  was  continued  at  Sugar  Grove,  Illinois,  and 
later  at  Clark  Seminary  in  Aurora,  now  known 
as  Jennings  Seminary  from  the  fact  that  Mr. 
Jennings  gave  to  the  institution  a  large  sum  of 
money.  Mrs.  Snow  was  a  teacher  after  leaving 
the  seminary  and  prior  to  her  marriage,  and  proved 
one  of  the  competent  educators  of  an  early  day. 
She  has  always  lived  in  De  Kalb  since  coming 
west  with  the  exception  of  two  years  spent  in  Sugar 
Grove,  Kane  county.  After  their  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Snow  bravely  took  up  their  life  work. 
His  health  had  been  greatly  impaired  by  his  army 
service  and  he  could  do  but  little  work  of  a  manual 
character,  but  through  honesty,  industry  and  sacri- 
fice and  the  splendid  assistance  of  his  estimable 
wife  he  prospered. 

There  were  four  children  came  to  bless  their 
home:  Perley  Duane,  born  November  19,  1866; 
Zada  Margaret,  who  was  born  August  17,  1869, 
and  is  now  the  wife  of  Edward  B.  Kough;  Helen 
Z.,  who  was  bom  March  8,  1870.  and  married 
William  C.  Glidden,  who  died  February  17,  1902; 
and  Burton  B.,  bom  November  24,  1873.  There 
are  now  five  grandchildren:  Donald  McCullough 
Snow  born  April  30,  1902,  is  the  son  of  Perley 
Snow,  and  the  children  of  Mrs.  Glidden  are  Zada 
Marie,  born  February  21,  1896:  and  Varnum  Far- 
well,   born    June   28,    1901.       Beatrice     Margaret 


Snow,  born  May  18,  1895;  and  Byron  Duane 
Snow,  born  December  31,  1896,  are  the  children  of 
Burton  Snow.  Two  granddaughters  have  passed 
away :  Dorothy  L.  Kough,  who  was  born  Sep- 
tember 27,  1898,  and  died  April  1,  1902;  and 
Helen  Gurler  Kough,  who  was  born  September 
L5,  1905.  and  died  December  15,  1906. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Snow  occurred  on  the  12th 
of  February,  1897,  and  was  deeply  deplored,  not 
only  by  his  immediate  family  and  relatives  but 
by  many  friends  who  had  learned  to  esteem  and 
respect  him.  Thus  passed  away  one  of  the  hon- 
ored veterans  of  the  Civil  war  but  a  part  of  his 
life  work  will  endure  forever  in  the  Union,  which 
owes  its  present  strength  and  stability  to  the  labors 
of  the  boys  in  blue.  For  many  years  Mrs.  Snow 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps, 
has  served  as  president  of  the  local  organization 
four  years  and  department  officer  for  the  same 
length  of  time.  She  has  also  been  a  member  of 
of  the  Woman's  Club  since  its  organization  and  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Science  church.  She  is 
a  most  estimable  lady  of  marked  strength  of  char- 
acter and  of  strong  native  intelligence,  who  was 
of  the  greatest  assistance  to  her  husband  and  who 
has  ever  been  most  devoted  to  her  family. 


ALBERT  CARLSON. 


Albert  Carlson,  foreman  of  the  nail  department 
for  the  American  Wire  &  Steel  Company  at  De 
Kalb.  in  which  connection  he  is  well  known  in 
industrial  circles,  was  born  in  Sweden,  October 
15.  1867,  and  it  is  a  notable  fact  that  a  large 
majority  of  the  most  competent  and  efficient  work- 
men employed  in  the  mills  at  this  place  are  of 
Swedish  birth.  His  parents  were  Carl  P.  and 
Johanna  Johnson,  in  whose  family  were  eight 
children,  four  of  whom  came  to  the  United  States, 
namely:  Charles,  a  resident  of  De  Kalb;  Chris- 
tine, the  wife  of  Andrew  Bergstrom,  of  De  Kalb; 
Hulda,  the  wife  of  Andrew  Anderson,  of  the  same 
city  ;  and  Albert,  of  this  review. 

Albert  Carlson  was  reared  at  home  and  pursued 
his  education  in  the  common  schools  and  in  the 
technical  schools  of  his  native  country,  pursuing 
a  course  in  mechanics.  In  1887  he  emigrated  to 
tin'  United  States,  attracted  by  the  broader  busi- 


508 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


ness  opportunities  of  the  new  world.  He  located 
in  De  Kalb,  Illinois,  and  sought  and  obtained 
employment  in  the  barb  wire  mills  owned  by  I.  L. 
Ellwood  &  Company.  He  operated  a  barb  wire 
machine  for  six  years,  when  the  nail  machines 
were  installed  and  Mr.  Carlson  was  placed  in 
charge  of  one  of  these  because  of  his  recognized 
ability  in  mechanical  lines.  After  a  brief  period 
he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  belt  man  of  the 
shops  and  in  1902  he  was  advanced  to  the  position 
of  foreman  of  the  nail  department,  in  which  ca- 
pacity he  has  since  served,  proving  most  compe- 
tent in  his  position. 

On  the  31st  of  July,  1897,  Mr.  Carlson  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Nellie  Lesander,  a 
native  of  Sweden,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
one  child,  Ethel  Albina  Natalia.  The  wife  and 
mother  died  February  4,  1904,  and  on  the  6th  of 
June,  1906,  Mr.  Carlson  was  married  to  Misfi 
Lydia  Otilia,  a  native  of  De  Kalb,  whose  parents 
were  Andrew  and  Carolina  Anderson,  natives  of 
Sweden,  whence  they  came  to  America  in  the 
year  1880. 

Mr.  Carlson  is  a  member  of  De  Kalb  lodge, 
No.  13,  of  the  North  Star  Benefit  Association, 
and  he  also  holds  membership  in  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  church.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican 
and  he  is  one  of  the  well  known  Swedish- Amer- 
ican residents  of  De  Kalb,  possessing  the  sterling 
traits  of  his  race — industry,  native  intelligence 
and  honesty.  He  has  made  a  creditable  position 
in  the  business  world  and  is  well  qualified  for  the 
responsibility  that  devolves  upon  him  in  his  pres- 
ent connection. 


JOHN  W.  BLEE. 


John  W.  Blee.  of  Sandwich,  a  lawyer  of  dis- 
tinctive ability  representing  important  interests. 
his  practice  extending  to  all  the  state  and  federal 
courts,  is  also  a  stockholder  and  officer  in  various 
corporate  interests,  wherein  his  executive  force 
and  wise  counsel  have  been  a  stimulating  influence 
and  an  element  in  its  success. 

A  native  of  Pennsylvania,  he  was  born  in  Mon- 
tour county.  September  29,  1*4'.'.  and  was  a  sorj 
of  Joseph  M.  and  Euphemia  H.  (Sproule)  Blee. 
who  were  likewise  natives  of  the  Keystone  state, 


The  father  devoted  his  time  and  energies  to  farm- 
ing in  Pennsylvania  and  also  continued  in  that  oc- 
cupation, following  bis  removal  to  Illinois  in  1854. 
On  coming  to  this  state  he  located  in  Wyoming 
township,  Lee  county,  where  he  made  his  home 
throughout  his  remaining  days.  He  had  a  very 
wide  and  favorable  acquaintance,  being  classed 
with  the  representative  agriculturists  and  known 
also  as  a  man  of  genuine  personal  worth.  The 
cause  of  education  found  in  him  a  stalwart  cham- 
pion and  his  efforts  were  directly  beneficial  in 
promoting  the  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  No 
plan  or  movement  for  the  general  welfare  failed  to 
receive  his  endorsement  and  co-operation  and.  in 
fact,  lir  was  widely  recognized  as  a  leader  in  the 
work  i if  advancement  and  upbuilding.  He  was. 
moreover,  prominent  in  political  circles,  was  a 
stanch  Douglas  democrat  and  his  opinions  carried 
weight  in  the  councils  of  his  party.  He  served  as 
a  member  of  the  convention  which  nominated 
Stephen  A.  Douglas  for  president  in  1860  and  was 
a  most  ardent  admirer  of  "the  little  giant  of  Illi- 
nois." The  kindliness  of  his  nature  is  indicated 
by  the  fact  that  he  was  a  great  favorite  with  chil- 
dren. He  possessed  superior  social  qualities,  wan 
an  excellent  conversationalist  and  this  rendered 
him  a  favorite  in  all  circles.  His  death  was  caused 
bj  a  runaway  accident  January  16,  1873.  when 
he  was  about  fifty-five  years  of  age.  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  March  12,  1S18.  Mrs.  Blee  long  sur- 
vived  her  husband,  spending  her  last  years  in 
Santa  Ana,  California,  where  she  died  March  13. 
l!»i|.  She  was  born  May  30,  1819,  and  was  there- 
fore about  eighty-five  years  of  age  at  the  time  of 
her  demise.  A  life-long  member  of  the  Presb} 
terian  church,  she  was  deeply  interested  in  its  work 
and  in  many  benevolent  and  charitable  movements 
and  her  kindly  disposition,  generous  spirit  and 
broad  sympathy  made  her  loved  by  all  with  whom 
-lie  came  in  contact.  Her  grandfather  Sproule 
came  to  this  country  in  1770,  as  a  voting  man.  and 
located  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business.  He  married  Euphemia 
Marshall,  a  relative  of  Chief  Justice  Marshall. 
The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  served 
in  the  war  of  the  Revolution  and  from  silver 
earned  as  a  soldier  he  had  a  spoon  manufactured, 
which  is  now  in  the  possession  of  our  subject  and 
was  made  about  1787.  Of  the  four  children  born 
to  Joseph  M.  and  Euphemia  H.  Blee.  Teressa   A. 


THE  NEW  YORK 

PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


A3TOR,    LENOX 
TILDEN  FOUNDATIONS. 


PAST   AND    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


511 


is  the  wife  of  W.  C.  Bryant  and  resides  in  Santsi 
Ana,  California.  Charles  M.  resides  in  Los  An- 
geles, California.  James  H.  resides  on  the  old 
home  farm  in  Lee  county,  Illinois. 

John  W.  Blee,  the  other  member  of  the  family, 
spent  his  youth  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer 
lads  of  the  period.  He  was  about  five  years  of 
age  when  taken  by  his  parents  to  Lee  county  and 
when  not  busy  with  his  text-books  his  attention 
was  given  to  the  work  of  the  home  farm.  During 
the  war  he  offered  his  services  to  the  government 
in  defense  of  the  Union,  but  on  account  of  his 
youth  was  rejected.  Desirous  of  acquiring  a  more 
advanced  education  than  the  district  schools  had 
afforded,  he  became  a  student  in  the  academy  at 
Mendota,  Illinois,  in  1865  and  devoted  three  years 
to  preparation  for  college.  He  afterward  matricu- 
lated in  the  University  of  Chicago  and  when  he 
had  been  a  student  there  for  two  years  he  took  up 
the  work  of  teaching  and  also  became  connected 
with  the  field  of  journalism,  at  the  same  time  pur- 
suing his  studies  in  civil  engineering.  He  was 
employed  along  that  line  for  one  year  under  the 
city  engineer  of  Chicago  and  afterward  on  the  con- 
struction work  of  a  railroad,  but  being  unable  to 
meet  the  demands  made  upon  him  physically  by 
that  work  he  determined  to  enter  upon  the  prac- 
tice of  law  and  in  the  spring  of  1872  began  study- 
ing toward  that  end.  He  entered  the  law  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Michigan,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  the  class-  of  1874,  and  in  June 
of  the  same  year  was  admitted  to  practice  before 
the  supreme  court  of  Illinois. 

Mr.  Blee  was  for  four  years  a  member  of  the 
Chicago  bar,  after  which  he  returned  to  Lee 
county,  where  he  remained  until  1880,  engaged  in 
active  practice.  He  next  opened  an  office  in  Earl- 
ville  and  the  same  year  entered  the  service  of  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  as  real- 
estate  and  right-of-way  attorney.  While  living  in 
Earlville  in  1880  he  established  and  published  the 
Earlville  Leader  and  for  a  number  of  years  was 
correspondent  to  the  leading  daily  papers  of  Chi- 
Chicago.  He  continued  as  real-estate  and  right-of- 
way  attorney  with  the  Burlington  and  other  rail- 
way companies  until  1893,  when  he  was  appointed 
special  examiner  and  attorney  for  the  department 
of  the  currency  by  Hon.  James  H.  Eckels,  who 
was  comptroller  of  the  currency  under  President 
Cleveland.     His  chief  took  the  position  a  compar- 


atively unknown  man,  but  left  it  after  the  expira- 
tion of  his  four  years'  term  one  of  the  best  known 
financiers  in  the  United  States.  When  he  died 
recently  he  was  president  of  the  Commercial  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Chicago.  Mr.  Blee  served  during 
Mr.  Eckels'  entire  term  and  traveled  nearly  one 
hundred  and  ninety  thousand  miles  by  rail,  visit- 
ing and  looking  after  insolvent  banks,  his  work  be- 
ing largely  in  that  line. 

Following  his  retirement  from  the  office  he  lo- 
cated in  Sandwich,  where  he  has  had  a  large  and 
distinctively  representative  clientage.  While  he 
engages  in  the  general  practice  of  law  he  has  madp 
somewhat  of  a  specialty  of  corporation  law  and 
for  some  years  has  been  special  attorney  for  thr 
Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad  and  i< 
now  confidential  attorney  in  connection  with  then- 
lines  now  building  from  Evarts,  South  Dakota,  to 
Seattle,  Washington.  He  is  likewise  attorney  for 
the  St.  Paul  Coal  Company.  He  has  become  con- 
nected with  a  number  of  corporate  interests  as 
stockholder  and  official,  being  president  of  the 
Farmers  &  Miners  Bank  at  Ladd,  Illinois,  presi- 
dent of  the  State  Bank  at  Cherry,  Illinois,  a  di- 
rector and  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Northern 
Illinois  Telephone  Company  and  a  stockholder  in 
the  Sandwich  Manufacturing  Company.  He  does 
not  devote  much  time  to  his  outside  interests,  but 
has  them  well  in  hand  and  possesses  the  keen  dis- 
cerument  and  business  discrimination  which  en- 
ables him  to  readily  understand  the  conditions 
that  exist  and  the  possibilities,  so  that  he  forms 
his  plans  readily  and  sees  to  it  that  they  are  care- 
fully executed.  He  possesses  one  of  the  best  se- 
lected law  libraries  in  the  county  and  with  its 
contents  is  largely  familiar.  He  has  always  been 
a  close  student  of  the  profession  and  has  a  broad 
and  comprehensive  understanding  of  the  princi- 
ples of  jurisprudence,  especially  in  those  depart- 
ments of  law  to  which  he  has  directed  his  atten- 
tion in  his  practice.  He  has  engaged  in  promot- 
ing some  extensive  railroad  improvements  and  has 
assisted  in  placing  investments  for  New  York  and 
Chicago  capitalists. 

On  the  17th  of  November,  1887,  Mr.  Blee  was 
married  to  Miss  Helen  M.  Ingersoll,  a  daughter  of 
Cornelius  J.  and  Esther  L.  (Waterman)  Ingersoll, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Oneida  county,  New 
York.  They  were  married,  however,  at  Lisbon. 
Illinois,  where  they  resided  on  a  farm  until  the 


512 


PAST   AND    PEESENT    OF  DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


time  of  the  father's  death  in  1867.  The  mother 
soon  afterward  removed  with  her  family  to  Sand- 
wieh.  where  she  yet  resides,  and  she  is  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Congregational  church.  Mrs.  Blee's 
only  sister  is  Mrs.  Harriet  Cooper,  wife  of  I.  M. 
Cooper,  of  Sandwich,  while  here  eldest  brother.  E. 
L.  Ingersoll.  resides  in  Sandwich,  and  Charles  at 
Fail-bury,  Nebraska  where  he  is  engaged  in  the 
Bock  Island  Railway  service.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blee 
have  become  the  parents  of  two  children,  twins, 
Gerald  J.  and  Gladys  E..  who  were  born  December 
17.  1888,  and  were  graduated  from  the  high  school 
of  Sandwich  in  the  class  of  1907. 

Mr.  Blee  is  a  valued  member  of  several  fraternal 
organizations.  He  has  attained  the  Knight 
Templar  degree  in  Masonry  and  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  likewise  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  and  to  the  Odd  Fellows 
lodge  at  Sandwich,  of  which  lie  is  a  past  -ram] 
and  past  chief  patriarch.  His  wife  is  very  active 
in  the  Eebekah  branch  of  Odd  Fellows,  in  which 
she  has  served  for  many  years  as  secretary,  has 
been  representative  to  the  grand  bulge  and  is  now 
serving  as  noble  grand.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blee  attend 
the  Presbyterian  church  and  contribute  generously 
to  its  support,  although  they  are  not  members. 

Eecognized  as  a  leader  of  the  democracy  in  De 
Kalb  county,  Mr.  Blee  has  put  forth  earnest  and 
effective  effort  in  advocacy  of  its  principles.  He 
has  delivered  many  campaign  addresses  and  is  al- 
ways listened  to  attentively  because  none  doubt  his 
earnestness  and  loyalty  to  his  principles,  while  his 
logical  utterances  many  times  carry  conviction  to 
the  minds  of  his  hearers.  He  served  as  a  delegate 
in  every  democratic  state  convention  from  1874 
until  1894,  inclusive,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the 
national  convention  of  his  party  in  1884  and  an 
alternate  in  1888  and  1892.  In  18SG,  in  the  Lee 
Whiteside  district,  he  received  the  nomination  of 
his  party  for  legislative  honors  and  in  1890  made 
the  race  for  congress  against  General  T.  J.  Hen- 
derson in  tlic  did  seventh  district,  but  as  the  re- 
publicans have  an  overwhelming  majority  in  those 
districts  he  was  not  elected.  He  has,  however, 
been  more  successful  in  his  business  and  profes- 
sional career.  Keen  and  clear  headed,  always  busy, 
always  careful  and  conservative  in  financial  mat- 
ters, moving  slowly  but  surely  in  every  transac- 
tion, he  has   few  superiors  in   a   steady   progress 


which  invariably  reaches  the  objective  point.  In 
early  life  he  was  known  as  a  candid,  earnest,  sub- 
stantial and  reliable  young  man  and  student  and 
has  maintained  that  character  to  this  day.  He  has 
never  aimed  at  ephemeral  brilliancy  or  signal 
monetary  results  but  at  a  thoughtful  and  careful 
avoidance  of  fatal  mistakes  and  at  permanent 
achievements.  He  has  succeeded  in  all  respects 
which  constitute  success  as  an  attorney  at  law,  a 
result  attained  by  a  devotion  to  his  profession  and 
close  attention  to  his  business.  The  outcome  is 
not  the  result  of  chance,  but  eventuates  from  his 
native  abilities,  which  he  has  cultivated  and  given 
direction  to.  and  he  has  made  good  use  of  his  op- 
portunities. In  the  walks  of  life  where  intelli- 
gence, honor  and  manliness  are  regarded  for  what 
they  are  worth,  he  has  by  the  practice  of  these 
virtues  attained  an  honorable  position  at  the  bar 
and  in  the  community  and  won  the  respect  of  all 
who  know  him. 


THOMAS  H.  DUELAND. 

Thomas  H.  Durland.  who  i?  now  living  retired 
at  No.  429  South  Fourth  street  in  De  Kalb,  en- 
joying the  fruits  of  his  former  labor,  is  a  native 
of  the  state  of  New  York.  He  was  born  March 
16,  1846,  in  Brooklyn,  Long  Island,  and  is  the 
son  of  Peter  and  Lucretia  (  Palmer)  Durland.  He 
is  descended  from  an  old  New  England  family. 
His  father  was  born  in  Stonington.  Connecticut, 
in  1821,  and  followed  the  occupation  of  farming 
in  the  east.  In  the  early  '40s,  however,  he  started 
for  the  middle  west,  settling  in  St.  Louis,  where 
he  died  in  1849.  He  had  two  daughters.  Frances 
and  Phoebe,  both  now  deceased. 

Thomas  H.  Durland  was  very  young  when  taken 
by  his  parents  to  St.  Louis  and  in  the  public 
schools  of  that  city  he  obtained  his  education.  He 
started  in  business  life  as  a  clerk  in  a  grocery 
store  and  remained  in  St.  Louis  for  about  twelve 
years  thereafter,  when  he  removed  to  Chicago, 
where  he  resided  for  thirty  years.  He  was  em- 
ployed in  various  ways  in  that  city,  chiefly,  how- 
ever, in  packing  houses  and  at  carpentering.  Ee 
came  to  De  Kalb  in  1892  and  has  since  lived  in 
quiet  and  honorable  retirement,  having  saved  from 
his  earnings  in  former  years  sufficient  to  provide 
him  with  the  necessities  and  comforts  of  life.    His 


PAST  AND  PKESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


5l:J 


mother  remained  with  him  until  her  death,  which 
occurred  in  1895. 

On  the  16th  of  April,  1885,  Mr.  Durland  was 
married  to  Miss  N.  A.  Palmer,  who  was  born  in 
New  Hartford,  New  York.  The  residence  which 
they  occupy  is  the  property  of  Mr.  Durland  and 
is  one  of  the  best  homes  on  South  Fourth  street 
In  polities  he  has  always  been  a  republican  since 
age  conferred  upon  him  the  advantage  of  fran- 
chise, but  he  has  never  been  an  office  seeker,  pre- 
ferring to  give  undivided  attention  to  his  business 
affairs.  His  life  has  been  quietly  and  unevent- 
fully passed,  though  his  history  contains  results 
which  show  his  true  worth  of  character  and  that 
the  only  honorable  success  is  that  which  is  won 
by  the  individual. 


SAMUEL  LAMONT. 


The  growth  and  development  of  a  city  alwavs 
depend  upon  the  enterprise  and  progressive  spirit 
of  its  leading  residents,  in  which  connection  Mr. 
Lamont  is  well  known  as  one  of  the  wide-awake 
and  progressive  men  of  Kirkland.  In  former 
years  he  was  actively  engaged  in  farming  in  Ogle 
and  De  Kalb  counties  and  he  is  numbered  among 
the  old  settlers  of  this  part  of  the  state,  for  he 
took  up  his  abode  in  Illinois  in  1861.  He  was 
at  that  time  only  six  years  of  age,  having  been 
born  in  Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  April 
9,  1855. 

His  father,  Samuel  Lamont,  was  a  native  of 
Scotland,  where  he  was  reared  and  married,  the 
lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Agnes  McLymont, 
also  a  native  of  Scotland.  Mr.  Lamont  became 
well  known  as  a  stockman,  dealing  largely  in  sheep 
in  his  native  country.  He  came  to  the  new  world 
in  the  '40s,  settling  in  Chautauqua  county,  New 
York.  There  he  learned  the  tanner's  trade  and 
followed  the  business  for  some  time.  He  came 
to  the  west  in  1861,  settling  in  Ogle  county,  Illi- 
nois, after  which  he  opened  up  a  new  farm,  spend- 
ing his  remaining  days  there.  For  a  long  period 
his  time  and  energies  were  devoted  to  tiie  tilling 
of  the  soil  and  the  improvement  of  the  place,  upon 
which  lie  resided  until  his  death  on  the  10th  of 
November,  1903.  His  widow  still  survives  him 
and  resides  upon  the  old  homestead  with  some 
of  her  children. 


Samuel    Lamont    was    largely    reared    in    Ogle 

county,  Illinois,   where  he  enjoyed  varied  scl I 

privileges.  Having  arrived  at  years  of  maturity 
he  was  married  in  that  county,  in  October.  1881, 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Bump,  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
who  was  reared  in  that  state,  in  New  York  and 
in  Michigan.  Following  his  marriage  Mr.  Lamont 
settled  upon  a  rented  farm,  which  he  cultivated 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  then  removed  from 
Ogle  county  to  De  Kalb  county  in  189!>  and  for 
two  years  carried  on  farming  here.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Ogle  county,  where  lie  again  -pint  two 
years,  and  thence  once  more  came  to  De  Kalb 
county,  following  farming  in  South  Grove  town- 
ship until  the  fall  of  1906,  when  he  purchased 
a  lively  barn  and  has  since  been  identified  with 
the  business  life  of  Kirkland.  He  has  a  number 
of  good  horses  and  vehicles  of  different  kinds  and 
is  well  prepared  to  carry  on  business  in  this  line, 
lie  was  formerly  engaged  in  raising  and  feeding 
stock,  including  horses,  cattle  and  hogs,  and  is 
the  years  pass  by  he  is  meeting  with  creditable 
success. 

In  1895  Mr.  Lamont  lost  his  wife,  who  passed 
away  in  De  Kalb  county.  They  were  the  parents 
of  four  children:  Arthur  W.,  who  assists  his 
father  in  business;  Bert,  who  is  also  with  his 
father:  and  Mabel  and  Kessie,  who  are  at  home 
and  have  charge  of  the  household. 

Mr.  Lamont  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  republican 
party,  but  would  never  consent  to  become  an  office 
holder.  He  attends  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  contributes  to  the  support  of  all  the 
churches  of  the  village.  Almost  his  entire  life 
has  been  passed  in  this  state  and  he  is  thoroughly 
identified  with  the  interests  of  the  middle  west, 
rejoicing  in  what  has  been  accomplished  and  bear- 
ing his  full  share  as  a  citizen  in  the  work  of  public 
improvement. 


GEOEGE  PECKMAN. 


An  excellent  farm  property  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  known  as  the  old  Henry  Peckman 
homestead,  pays  tribute  to  the  care  and  labor  lie- 
stowed  upon  it  by  George  Peckman  of  this  re- 
view,  who   is   an   active    and    progressive    farmer 


514 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


and  stock-raiser.  His  place  is  pleasantly  anil 
conveniently  situated  about  two  and  a  half  miles 
from  Somonauk.  Here  he  was  born  on  the  3d  of 
January,  1866,  his  father  being  Henry  Peckman. 
whose  birth  occurred  in  Germany  in  1831.  In 
that  country  be  was  reared  and  when  a  young 
man.  hearing  of  the  more  favorable  opportunities 
and  advantages  of  the  new  world,  he  crossed  the 
Atlantic  in  1852  and  at  once  made  his  way  to 
De  Kalb  county,  Illinois.  Here  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Catherine  Hance,  a  Germany  lady,  who 
was  born  and  reared  in  Alsace.  Mr.  Peckman 
rented  land,  on  which  he  engaged  in  farming  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  wben  his  labors  bad 
brought  him  sufficient  capital  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  where  his  son  now  resides  and  three  years 
later  bought  an  adjoining  tract  of  eighty  acres, 
so  that  he  owned  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres. 
This  he  placed  under  the  plow,  put  a  good  house 
and  barn  upon  it  and  otherwise  improved  the 
property.  He  likewise  owned  another  farm  of 
nearly  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  He  was  a 
stock  raiser  and  feeder  and  was  well  ksown  as  a 
leading  stockman  and  prosperous  farmer.  He 
deserved  much  credit  for  what  he  accomplished 
and  justly  won  the  proud  American  title  of  a  self- 
made  man,  for  when  lie  came  to  the  new  world 
he  had  little  capital  and  by  his  own  determina- 
tion and  energy  worked  his  way  steadily  upward 
to  success.  He  died  here,  August  26,  1902,  ami 
his  wife  passed  away  August  21.  1895.  Then' 
family  numbered  four  sons  and  three  daughters. 
who  are  yet  living. 

(ieorge  Peckman,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  was  reared  to  manhood  on  the  old  home- 
stead farm  and  was  educated  in  the  district  school 
near  by.  He  remained  with  his  father  through 
the  period  of  his  minority  and  greatly  aided  him 
in  the  work  of  developing  and  improving  the 
property.  As  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's 
journey  he  chose  Miss  Lillian  Banzet,  to  whom 
he  was  married  in  La  Salic  county,  Illinois,  De- 
cember 16,  1801.  She  was  born  in  that  county, 
acquired  a  liberal  education  and  successfully  en- 
gaged in  teaching  prior  to  her  marriage.  Her 
parents  were  Charles  anil  Louise  Banzet.  early 
settle)-  of  La  Salle  county  and  of  French  an- 
cestry. The  young  couple  began  their  domestic 
life  upon  a  farm  in  Somonauk  township,  where 
Mr.  Peckman  carried  on  general  agricultural  pur- 


suits for  eleven  years.  He  first  rented  land  and 
later  bought  property  there.  Subsequently  he 
sold  out  and  purchased  the  old  homestead  farm, 
which  he  has  since  tiled  and  fenced,  enclosing 
the  fields  with  woven  wire.  He  has  greatly  im- 
proved the  property  according  to  modern  methods 
of  farming  and  has  developed  a  valuable  place, 
which  in  its  neat  and  thrifty  appearance  gives 
proof  of  the  care,  cultivation  and  practical  methods 
of  the  owner. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peckman  have  a  daughter,  Hazel, 
who  is  now  a  student  in  the  schools  of  Somonauk. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Congregational 
church  at  Somonauk  and  Mrs.  Peckman  takes  a 
very  active  part  in  the  work  of  the  church  and 
Sunday  school  and  is  a  member  of  the  Ladies  Aid 
Society.  Politically  Mr.  Peckman  is  a  stalwart 
democrat  and  has  served  as  highway  commissioner 
of  Somonauk  and  has  also  been  an  election  judge. 
He  is  a  man  whom  to  know  is  to  respect  and 
honor,  for  in  all  business  relations  he  has  been 
found  straightforward  and  honorable,  while  in 
every  relation  of  life  he  has  manifested  those 
sterling  traits  of  character  which  in  every  land 
and  clime  command  confidence  and  awaken  regard. 


WILLIAM     GROSS. 


William  Gross  was  born  in  Luzerne  county, 
Pennsylvania,  near  the  city  of  Wilkesbarre,  De- 
cember 5.  1835.  His  parents  were  George  and 
Mary  (Keithline)  Gross.  At  the  age  of  two  and 
a  half  years  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Muncy 
township.  Lycoming  county,  Pennsylvania,  where 
his  father  purchased  a  hill  farm,  which  he  carried 
on  in  connection  with  his  work  as  a  blacksmith 
until  his  death,  in  1845,  at  the  age  of  less  than 
thirty-eight  years.  His  wife,  being  Left  alone  with  a 
family  of  six  children,  the  youngest  an  infant,  car- 
ried on  tin,'  farm  with  the  aid  of  a  nephew.  William 
Kemala,  and  her  -on-,  until  1855,  when  she  sold  the 
farm  and  decided  to  move  to  Illinois.  Her  sons, 
William  and  Joseph,  spent  the  summer  of  1855  in 
Stephenson  county,  during  which  time  they  visited 
in  De  Kalb  county.  Both  boys  suffered  from  se- 
vere sickness  and  returned  to  Pennsylvania  in  the 
fall  of  1S55.     The  next  spring  the  family  moved 


WILLIAM  GEOSS. 


I  THE  NEW  YOR  k) 


A8T0R,    LENOX 
«Ht^I2UNDAT(0Nff. 


•      \ 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


517 


to  De  Kalb  county,  where  the  mother  purchased 
sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  5,  May  field  town- 
ship. 

William  Gross  attended  the  country  schools  of 
his  native  township,  clerked  in  a  store  for  a  time, 
and  upon  coming  west  in  company  with  his  brother 
Joseph  bought  sixty  acres  of  land.  In  1863  he 
sold  his  interest  and  bought  eighty  acres,  which 
was  known  as  his  homestead  and  to  which  he 
removed  in  1865.  He  was  married  in  1858  to  Har- 
riet Ault.  and  to  them  were  born  eight  children: 
Laura  M.,  wife  of  Charles  Townsend ;  M.  F.,  who 
resides  on  the  old  homestead ;  Nora,  wife  of  E.  E. 
Johnson,  of  Sycamore ;  Lewis  M.,  who  resides  in 
Sycamore ;  Amanda  J.,  wife  of  E.  L.  Nichols,  of 
Iowa:  George,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years; 
Mary  C,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven;  and  Alice, 
who  resides  in  Sycamore.  Nora  and  Alice  were 
for  years  teachers  of  the  district  and  graded 
schools  of  Sycamore,  Alice  still  teaching  in  her 
home  city.  Amanda  was  for  years  a  teacher  of 
the   graded   schools  of   Kingston. 

To  the  original  eighty  acres  Mr.  Gross  added 
from  time  to  time,  until  at  the  time  of  his  death 
he  was  owner  of  two  hundred  acres  of  land.  He 
removed  from  the  farm  in  1886,  when  his  son  M. 
F.  assumed  charge  of  the  old  homestead.  His 
death  occurred  May  3,  18S6.  His  wife  Harriet 
died  in  1870.  He  was  married  in  1872  to  Julia 
Fague,  who  died  in  18'.)S.  William  Gross  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  served 
his  town  and  community  in  different  capacities  and 
for  fourteen  years  was  teacher  of  the  Bible  class  of 
the  Wesleyan  Methodist  church.  He  was  a  success- 
ful farmer  and  a  man  known  for  his  integrity,  a 
useful  citizen  in  all  walks  of  life. 


JOHN  MINOR.  CRISTMAX. 

John  Minor  Cristman,  who  during  his  residenc: 
in  De  Kalb  has  been  employed  in  connection  with 
the  manufacture  of  barb  wire,  was  born  in  Cort- 
land township,  this  county,  on  the  25th  of  August, 
1863.  His  grandfather,  John  J.  Cristman,  was 
born  April  15,  1799,  in  the  Mohawk  valley  in  the 
state  of  New  York  and  died  March  16.  1866.  His 
wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Rachel  Eyga- 
broat,  was  born  in  the  same  place  July  20,  1803, 


and  died  November  7,  1834.  He  afterward  came 
to  Illinois  a  little  later  than  1852  and  spent  iiis 
remaining  days  in  De  Kalb  county.  The  parents 
of  our  subject  were  John  and  Philany  (Pooler) 
Cristman.  The  father  was  born  in  Jordanville, 
New  York,  May  25,  1825,  and  the  mother  in 
German  Flats,  Herkimer  county,  New  York,  July 
9,  1835.  Mr.  Cristman  was  a  farmer  and  black- 
smith and  in  the  year  1852  he  brought  his  family 
westward  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Cortland  town- 
ship, De  Kalb  county,  upon  a  farm  which  re- 
mained his  home  until  his  death.  He  was  killed 
by  accident  in  a  threshing  machine  on  the  9th  of 
October,  1863,  when  his  son  John  was  but  six 
weeks  old.  He  was  a  republican  in  polities,  was 
prominent  in  county  affairs  in  his  day  and  served 
for  a  time  a  highway  commissioner. 

Mr.  Cristman  of  this  review  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  native  township  and 
in  the  public  schools  of  De  Kalb,  and  after  putting 
aside  his  text-books  he  worked  for  his  mother 
on  the  home  farm,  being  thus  employed  for  about 
five  years.  He  then  came  to  De  Kalb  and  began 
work  in  the  manufacture  of  barb  wire,  in  which 
he  has  since  continued,  becoming  very  proficient 
in  that  line  as  a  machine  operator,  so  that,  he  is 
now  an  important  employe  in  the  factory.  He 
has  been  on  the  police  force  of  De  Kalb  for  one 
year  but  otherwise  has  held  no  public  office.  His 
political  allegiance,  however,  is  given  to  the  re- 
publican party  and  he  keeps  well  informed  con- 
cerning the  questions  and  issues  of  the  day,  as 
every  true  American  citizen  should  do. 

Mr.  Cristman  was  married  in  Cortland  town- 
ship, February  26,  1885,  to  Miss  Vida  Gaudy, 
who  was  born  in  that  township,  September  10, 
1865.  Her  father,  Joseph  Gandy,  is  a  native  of 
Union  county,  Ohio,  born  November  1,  1834.  Hi' 
was  brought  to  Illinois  by  his  parents  in  1S37, 
the  family  being  established  on  a  farm  in  Cort- 
land township.  His  father,  Henry  H.  Gandy. 
was  born  in  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  April  16, 
1810,  and  died  February  10,  1893,  on  the  farm  on 
which  he  located  in  1837  when  this  was  a  wild 
and  unimproved  district,  few  settlers  having 
located  within  the  borders  of  the  county.  Joseph 
Gandy  was  reared  amid  the  scenes  and  environ- 
ments of  pioneer  life.  Having  arrived  at  years 
of  maturity,  he  was  married  in  Cortland  town- 
ship, on  the  9th  of  October,  1859,  to  Miss  Mary 


518 


PAST    AND    PEESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


Jane  Parker,  who  was  born  in  Hillsdale  comity, 
Michigan,  December  10,  1839.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  Abel  Parker,  who  was  born  in  the  state  of  New 
York,  December  14,  1800,  and  died  in  Camden, 
Hillside  county.  Michigan,  in  1851.  His  wife, 
who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Climena  Pease,  was 
born  in  the  state  of  New  York,  July  4.  1813. 
and  died  in  California  township.  Branch  county, 
Michigan,  on  December  13,  1879.  Mr.  Parker 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  His  family  numbered 
live  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Cristman  was  the 
fourth  in  order  of  birth,  the  others  being  Douglas, 
born  July  18,  1860;  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Davis,  borr 
July  24,  1862;  Mrs.  Ada  Benwiek,  born  January 
29,  1864  :  and  Henry  Harris,  born  April  9.  1874. 
ilr.  and  Mrs.  Cristman  have  many  warm  friends 
in  De  Kalb  and  throughout  the  county,  where  they 
have  spent  their  entire  lives.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  belonging 
to  Barb  City  camp,  X".  46,  in  which  he  holds  the 
office  of  venerable  consul,  having  occupied  tln- 
chair  for  six  years.  He  has  taken  the  degrees  of 
the  subordinate  lodge  and  of  the  uniformed  rank 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  his  membership  being 
in  lodge  No.  215.  He  has  the  high  regard  of  his 
brethren  of  these  fraternities  and  is  an  exem- 
plary representative  of  the  orders. 


BENJAMIN   BENSON. 

Benjamin  Benson,  living  on  section  33,  Victor 
township,  is  one  of  the  prosperous  and  up-to-date 
fanners  and  stock-raisers  and  his  place  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  gives  evidence  of  his  care- 
ful supervision  in  its  neat  and  attractive  appear- 
ance. It  is  situated  on  section  33.  about  three 
miles  from  Leland.  Mr.  Benson  was  born  in  La 
Salic  county.  Illinois.  November  19,  1S6L 

His  father.  Swen  Benson,  was  a  native  of  Nor- 
way, born  in  1833.  He  was  reared  to  manhood 
there  and  came  to  the  new  world  about  1855  but 
did  not  tarry  long  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  He 
made  his  way  into  the  interior  of  the  country, 
working  by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand  for  several 
years  in  La  Salle  county.  Illinois.  Thus  he  gained 
a  start  in  America  and  whatever  success  he  en- 
joyed and  achieved  is  attributable  entirely  to  his 


own  efforts,  lie  was  married  in  La  Salle  county 
to  Miss  Ann  Olson,  who  was  born  in  that  county, 
the  daughter  of  Michael  Olson,  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  the  county.  He  developed  a  new  farm 
there  and  in  early  days  hauled  grain  to  Chicago 
with  ox  teams.  Swen  Benson  continued  to  en- 
gage in  farming  in  La  Salle  county  for  a  number 
i  if  years  and  later,  when  his  capital  had  substan- 
tially increased  as  a  result  of  his  earnest  labor, 
lie  purchased  land  in  Paw  Paw  township,  De  Kalb 
county,  and  settled  thereon.  At  one  time  he  owned 
three  hundred  and  sixty  acres  which  he  fanned 
and  improved.  He  later  bought  a  farm  in  Victor 
township  and  thus  owned  two  good  properties 
comprising  five  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  For 
many  years  he  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  suc- 

--ful  and  substantial  agriculturists  of  the  county 
and  his  life  record  could  well  serve  as  a  source 
of  inspiration  and  encouragement  to  others,  show- 
ing what  can  be  accomplished  by  determined  spirit 
ami  unfaltering  enterprise.  He  reared  his  fam- 
ily upon  the  place  and  spent  his  last  days  here, 
continuing  an  honored  and  valued  citizen  until 
death  claimed  him  in  the  year  1900.  He  had 
then  survived  his  wife  about  fifteen  years,  she 
having  died  in  1885.  Their  family  numbered 
three  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom  were 
d  in  La  Salle  county  and  educated  in  the 
district   schools. 

Benjamin  Benson  remained  with  his  father  until 
he  had  attained  his  majority  and  in  retrospect  one 
can  see  him  as  he  trudged  off  to  school — a  farm 
boy  in  liis  youth,  early  becoming  acquainted  with 
the  duties  and  labors  that  fall  to  the  lot  of  the 
agriculturist.  lie  hail  received  ample  training  in 
farm  work  when  he  started  life  on  his  own  account. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's  jour- 
ney Mr.  Benson  chose  Miss  Emma  Anderson,  whom 
he  wedded  in  Leland.  Illinois,  on  the  9th  of  Jan- 
uary. 1890.  She  was  born  in  La  Salle  county. 
where  her  girlhood  days  were  passed.  The  young 
couple  began  their  domestic  life  upon  the  Ben- 
son homestead  farm,  where  they  lived  for  two  or 
three  years,  after  which  Mr.  Benson  purchased 
the  farm  upon  which  he  now  resides.  With  char- 
acteristic energy  and  enterprise  he  began  the  fur- 
ther development  and  improvement  of  this  prop- 
erty and  has  wrought  a  noticeable  transformation 
in  the  appearance  of  the  farm.  He  erected  a  good 
two-story  dwelling,  which  is  neatly  furnished  and 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


519 


is   one   of   the   attractive   homes   of   the   locality. 
There  is  also  a  large  barn,  tool  house  and  granary 
upon  the  place,  a  wind  pump  and  feed  mill,  and 
the  fields  are  enclosed  with  woven  wire  fence.    The 
land  has  all  been  well  tiled  so  that  there  is  a  good 
system  of  drainage  and  everything  about  the  farm 
bespeaks  the    enterprise,    care    and    labor    of    the 
owner.      Mr.    Benson   also   has   another   well   im- 
proved farm  in   Paw   Paw  township,  comprising 
ninety  acres,  which  he  now   rents  out.     In  con- 
nection with  tilling  the  soil  he  raises  and  feeds 
stock  and  feeds  a  large  number  of  hogs  for  market 
annually.     He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  First  Na- 
tional  and  the  Farmers  &   Merchants   Banks   of 
Leland  and  is  a  prosperous  agriculturist  and  suc- 
cessful business  man,  who  carries  forward  to  com- 
pletion whatever  he  undertakes  and  has  gained  a 
high   standing  in  the  business  world  because  of 
his  diligence,  perseverance  and  keen  discernment. 
In  1897  Mr.  Benson  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  first  wife,  who  died  on  the  27th  of 
August  of  that  year.     Their  living  children  are: 
Rosa   Anna,   Sophus   Ernest   and   Burton   Elmer. 
Mr.  Benson  was  again  married  in  Leland  on  the 
15th  of  December,   1898,  his   second  wife  being 
Cora  Anderson,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife.     Politi- 
cally he  is  a  republican.     He  is  much  interested 
in  the  schools  and  has  served  on  the  school  board. 
He  attends  the  Methodist  church  and  his  influence 
is  given  in  behalf  of  all  progressive  public  move- 
ments   which    tend    to    promote   intellectual    and 
moral  progress  and  uplift  the  legal  and  political 
status   of   the   community. 


WALLACE    A.    HINES. 

Wallace  A.  Hines,  who  carries  on  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising  on  section  3.  Victor  town- 
ship, is  one  of  the  native  sons  of  the  county,  his 
birth  having  occurred  on  the  1st  of  November, 
1870,  in  the  township  where  he  yet  resides.  Like 
many  of  the  worthy  and  representative  citizens  of 
the  locality,  he  comes  of  German  ancestry.  His 
father,  John  Hines,  was  a  native  of  Germany 
and  when  a  lad  of  twelve  years  crossed  the  Atlantic 
lo  the  United  States,  making  his  way  at  once  to  Do 
Kalb  county,  Illinois.  He  cast  in  his  lot  with  the 
early  settlers  of  this  portion  of  the  state  and  bore 


his  full  share  in  the  work  of  development  and  im- 
provement. He  married  Miss  Ada  Abell,  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  who  was  reared,  however,  in  this 
state.  In  order  to  provide  for  his  family  Mr. 
Hines  followed  farming  and  became  a  prosperous 
agriculturist.  For  a  long  period  he  carried  on 
general  agricultural  pursuits,  but  is  now  retired 
from  active  business  life  and  is  enjoying  a  well 
earned  rest  at  the  age  of  sixty-mne  years.  His 
wife  died  in  1896. 

Wallace  A.  Hines,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  was  reared  upon  the  old  homestead  farm 
and  the  public  schools  of  the  neighborhood  af- 
forded him  his  educational  privileges.  When  not 
busy  with  his  text-books  he  worked  in  the  fields 
and  remained  with  his  father  until  twenty-one 
years  of  age.  Soon  afterward  he  started  out  in 
life  on  his  own  account.  He  was  married  here 
on  the  30th  of  December,  1891,  to  Miss  Tillie 
Henderson,  a  native  of  the  county,  born  in  Victor 
township,  and  sister  to  J.  A.  and  J.  F.  Henderson, 
who  are  mentioned  on  another  page  of  this  work. 
Mrs.  Hines  was  reared  in  Victor  township  and  pur- 
sued her  education  in  the  district  schools. 

Following  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hines 
took  up  their  abode  upon  his  father's  farm  and  in 
1897  he  purchased  his  present  property,  locating 
thereon  in  1900.  With  characteristic  energy  he 
began  to  cultivate  and  develop  this  land  and  in 
1902  built  a  large  barn  upon  the  place.  He  has 
since  erected  a  commodious  and  attractive  two- 
story  dwelling,  thoroughly  modern  in  all  its  equip- 
ments and  supplied  with  water  works  and  fur- 
nace heat.  It  is  indeed  one  of  the  modern  homes 
of  the  locality  and  is  richly  and  tastefully  fur- 
nished. Mr.  Hines  has  upon  the  place  all  the  ac- 
cessories and  conveniences  of  a  model  farm,  in- 
cluding ample  shelter  for  grain  and  stock.  His 
fields  are  enclosed  with  woven  wire  fences  stretched 
upon  cedar  posts  and  the  land  is  well  tiled.  In 
fact,  he  stands  as  a  prominent  representative  of 
modern  progressive  farming  and  is  methodical 
and  systematic  in  all  that  he  does.  He  raises 
good  stock,  having  a  high  grade  of  horses,  cattle 
and  hogs  upon  his  place,  and  in  his  business  af- 
fairs shows  a  keen  discernment  and  ready  enter- 
prise that  have  enabled  him  to  work  his  way  stead- 
ily upward  to  success. 

Mr.   Hines  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  republic- 


520 


PAST   AND   PHESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


an  party  and  keeps  well  informed  on  the  ques- 
tions and  issues  of  the  day.  as  every  true  Ameri- 
can citizen  should  do.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  are 
greatly  esteemed  for  their  many  good  qualities  of 
heart  and  mind.  They  have  always  resided  with- 
in the  borders  of  this  county  and  the  circle  of 
their  friends  is  only  limited  by  the  circle  of  their 
acquaintances.  In  business  affairs  Mr.  Hines 
bears  the  reputation  of  being  thoroughly  reliable 
and  trustworthy  under  all  circumstances  and  in 
all  conditions  and  has  never  been  known  to  take 
advantage  of  the  necessities  of  another  in  a  trade 
transaction. 


MADISON  I).  SIIIPMAN. 

Everywhere  in  our  land  are  found  men  who 
have  worked  their  own  way  from  humble  begin- 
nings to  leaderships  in  commerce,  the  great  pro- 
ductive industries,  the  management  of  financial 
affairs  and  in  controlling  the  veins  and  arteries 
of  the  traffic  and  exchanges  of  the  country.  It 
is  one  of  the  glories  of  our  nation  that  it  is  ;>o 
and  it  should  be  the  strongest  incentive  and  en- 
couragement to  the  youth  of  the  country.  Prom- 
inent among  the  self-made  men  of  Illinois  is 
Madison  I).  Shipman,  a  man  honored,  respected 
and  esteemed  wherever  known  and  most  of  all 
where  he  is  best  known. 

Mr.  Shipman  was  born  in  the  state  of  New 
York,  June  11,  1848,  his  parents  being  Joseph 
A.  and  Hannah  A.  (Hunter)  Shipman.  of  whose 
family  of  live  children  only  two  are  now  living, 
the  daughter  being  Mrs.  Martha  J.  Macklin,  the 
widow  of  William  Macklin.  of  De  Kalb.  The 
lather  was  born  in  1812  in  the  Empire  state,  to 
which  his  lather  had  removed  from  the  vicinity 
of  Litchfield,  Connecticut.  The  family  had  been 
established  in  New  England  at  an  early  period  it 
the  colonization  of  the  new  world.  In  early  life 
Joseph  Shipman  adopted  the  medical  profession. 
being  niie  of  five  brothers  who  became  physicians. 
In  1853  he  removed  to  the  middle  west,  settling 
in  Bureau  county.  Illinois,  and  in  1868  he  came 
to  De  Kalb,  where  he  practiced  for  five  years.  He 
then  removed  to  Atkinson,  Henry  county,  Illinois, 
and  later  to  Prairie  City,  Illinois,  where  he  died 


in  1886,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  While 
never  active  to  any  extent  in  public  life  as  an 
office  holder,  he  yet  served  as  postmaster  under 
President  Lincoln  in  the  town  of  Milo,  Bureau 
county.  He  was  an  active  worker  in  the  Congre- 
gational church,  taking  a  deep  interest  in  the 
growth  of  the  church  and  the  extension  of  its 
influence  and  contributing  generously  of  his  means 
to  its  support. 

The  boyhood  days  of  Madison  D.  Shipman  were 
quietly  passed  under  the  paternal  roof,  unmarked 
by  anv  event  of  special  importance.  His  early 
education  was  acquired  in  the  district  schools  of 
Bureau  county  and  was  continued  in  the  high 
school  of  De  Kalb  and  in  the  Northwestern  Uni- 
Vi  rsitv.  at  Evanston,  Illinois.  He  afterward  be- 
came associated  with  C.  E.  Bradt  of  De  Kalb  in 
the  conduct  of  a  wholesale  glove  business.  This 
was  in  1872  and  the  enterprise  was  successfully 
conducted  for  six  years.  Later  the  firm  engage.! 
in  the  manufacture  of  gloves  in  De  Kalb,  and 
afterward,  about  1882,  established  factories  in 
(iloversville,  New  York,  operating  the  plants  at 
both  places  in  the  manufacture  of  gloves,  mittens 
and  glove  fasteners,  their  business  reaching  large, 
profitable  and  gratifying  proportions.  About  1889 
S.  E.  Bradt  was  admitted  to  a  partnership  and 
the  business  was  continued  by  the  new  firm  until 
1902.  In  that  year  the  Gloversville  factory  was 
si  Id.  the  fastener  plant  being  sold  to  the  United 
States  Fastener  Company,  Mr.  Shipman  and  h\< 
partners,  however,  retaining  stock  in  the  enter- 
prise and  serving  on  the  board  of  directors.  In 
1882  in  association  with  C.  E.  and  S.  E.  Bradt 
^lr.  Shipman  established  the  firm  of  Shipman. 
Bradt  &  Company  for  the  manufacture  of  wagons 
and  buggies,  and  for  ten  years  was  identified  with 
that  line  of  production.  In  1889  Mr.  Shipman 
joined  J.  W.  Glidden  and  S.  E.  and  C.  E.  Bradt 
in  organizing  the  De  Kalb  Electric  Company  and, 
established  a  plant,  furnishing  light  to  the  city 
and  its  residents.  The  business  was  developed 
until  the  plant  was  capable  of  furnishing  power 
and  heat  as  well  as  light  to  the  city  and  county. 
Mr.  Shipman  was  president  of  the  company  until 
about  1902,  when  the  plant  was  sold  to  the  De 
Kalb  &  Sycamore  Electric  Company,  of  which  Mr. 
Shipman  is  now  a  stockholder.  Tie  was  also 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Commercial  Trust  ,v 
Savings  Bank  of  De  Kalb.  of  which   he   is   still 


OR,   LENOX 
jUSEM  FOUNDATWW. 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


523 


a  director.  His  business  interests  have  thus  been 
varied  in  their  nature  and  comprehensive  in  their 
scope,  and  his  business  activity  and  unfaltering 
purpose  have  been  puissant  elements  in  the  suc- 
cess  of  the  different  organizations. 

Moreover,  Mr.  Shipman  is  interested  in  local 
pi  ogress  as  manifest  in  municipal  interests  and 
is  now  president  of  the  Do  Kalb  township  mgli- 
school  board.  He  belongs  to  the  Modern  Wood- 
men camp  and  the  Royal  Arcanum  lodge  and  is 
an  interested,  active  and  helpful  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  is  serv- 
ing as  a  trustee.  His  political  allegiance  is  given 
to  the  republican  party.  His  life  has  been  one 
of  continuous  activity,  in  which  lias  been  accorded 
due  recognition  of  labor,  and  today  he  is  num- 
bered among  the  substantial  citizens  of  his  county. 
His  interests  are  thoroughly  identified  with  those 
of  De  Kalb  and  at  all  times  he  has  given  his 
aid  and  co-operation  to  any  movement  calculated 
to  benefit  this  section  or  advance  its  wonderful 
development. 


ELLIS  INGHAM. 


Ellis  Ingham,  who  carries  on  general  farming 
at  Elva.  was  born  in  Ohio.  November  27,  1845, 
his  parents  being  Luman  H.  and  Eliza  (Gregory) 
Ingham,  also  natives  of  the  Buckeye  state,  the 
former  born  September  25,  L816,  and  the  latter 
August  13.  1819.  After  living  for  a  time  in  Ohio 
the  father  brought  bis  family  to  Illinois  in  June. 
184G,  and  settled  in  Cortland  township,  De  Kalb 
county.  He  was  a  cabinet-maker  by  trade  but 
here  he  turned  his  attention  to  general  agricul- 
tural pursuits  and  developed  a  good  farm,  bring- 
ing bis  fields  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
His  remaining  days  were  spent  in  this  county, 
where  his  death  occurred  Dec-ember  4,  1854,  while 
his  wife  passed  away  in  1898.  They  were  both 
of  English  lineage.  In  their  family  were  nine 
children,  of  whom  Ellis  was  the  fifth  in  order 
of  birth. 

Being  less  than  a  year  old  when  brought  to  De 
Kalb  county,  Ellis  Ingham  was  reared  within  its 
borders  in  the  usual  manner  of  farm  lads  of  the 
period.  He  witnessed  much  of  its  early  develop- 
ment and  experienced  the  hardships  and  trials  of 


pioneer  life.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the 
common  schools  and  he  was  afterward  employed 
at  farm  labor,  but  three  months  before  he  attained 
the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  offered  his  services 
to  the  government  in  defense  of  the  Union  cause 
and  enlisted  in  October,  1863,  as  a  member  of 
Company  C,  Seventeenth  Illinois  Cavalry,  which 
was  assigned  to  the  "Western  Division.  The  regi- 
ment was  mostly  engaged  in  protecting  the  states 
of  Kansas  and  Missouri  and  in  doing  guard  duty 
in  Illinois.  Throughout  his  business  life  Mr. 
Ingham  has  carried  on  general  farming,  largely 
renting  land  on  the  shares.  He  finds  this  to  be 
a  profitable  way  of  doing,  for  he  has  saved  from 
bis  earnings  and  is  now  comfortably  settled  in  life. 

In  Dubuque,  Iowa,  in  1867,  was  celebrated  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Ingham  and  Miss  Ella  M.  Forest, 
who  was  born  in  the  state  of  New  York,  October 
24.  1852.  They  became  the  parents  of  three  sons: 
Frank  I).,  who  was  born  in  1868  and  died,  in 
March,  L874;  Fred  E.,  born  April  20,  1870;  and 
Ray  F.,  born  March  31,  1877.  The  wife  and 
mother  died  September  4,  1902. 

Mr.  Ingham  votes  with  the  republican  party  but 
is  not  an  office  seeker,  preferring  to  give  his  time 
and  attention  to  his  business  interests,  yet  he  keeps 
well  informed  on  the  questions  and  issues  of  the 
day.  Whatever  success  he  has  achieved  has  come 
to  him  as  the  reward  of  his  own  labors,  and  he 
is  known  throughout  the  community  as  one  who 
is  always  reliable  in  business  affairs. 


ROBERT  YARTY. 


Robert  Yarty,  who  has  practically  put  aside  the 
work  of  the  farm,  living  retired  for  the  past  fif- 
teen years  at  Sycamore,  owns  three  valuable  farm- 
ing properties  in  Sycamore  township.  He  came  to 
De  Kalb  county  in  185.!i.  the  family  home  being 
established  in  Sycamore  township.  His  birth  oc- 
curred in  Westmoreland.  England,  September  18. 
1839,  his  parents  being  Daniel  and  Margaret 
(Harrison)  Yarty, both  of  whom  are  now  deceased. 
The  father  died  in  1871  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine 
years,  while  the  mother  passed  away  in  1880,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-nine  years.  They  were  natives  of 
Westmoreland  and  of  Lancashire,  England,  respec- 
tively,   and    on    crossing    the    Atlantic    from    the 


524 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


mother  country  made  their  way  direct  to  Illi- 
nois. Here  Daniel  Varty  first  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land,  to  which  he  after- 
ward added  until  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  was 
the  owner  of  a  valuable  and  productive  tract  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres.  He  was  essentially 
a  farmer,  well  adapted  to  the  work  and  so  con- 
ducting his  interests  as  to  win  success.  He  served 
as  road  commissioner  and  in  other  township  offices 
and  was  also  a  local  preacher  of  the  Methodist 
church.  He  was  widely  known  in  this  part  of  the 
county  because  of  his  active  and  capable  service  in 
behalf  of  general  improvement  and  of  moral  de- 
velopment. His  family  numbered  five  children: 
Agnes,  who  married  Robert  Percy,  but  both  are 
now  deceased;  Ellen,  who  is  the  widow  of  John 
Middleton  and  is  living  in  Lee  county,  Illinois; 
Mary  Ann,  who  became  the  wife  of  Thomas  Grange 
and  died  in  Iowa  in  1904,  while  her  husband  has 
also  passed  away ;  and  Thomas,  who  died  in  early 
manhood  in  1871. 

Robert  Varty,  the  surviving  son  of  the  family, 
attended  the  common  schools  of  his  native  country 
and  came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1855 
when  a  youth  of  sixteen  years.  He  was  reared  to 
farm  life,  early  becoming  familiar  with  the  duties 
and  labors  that  fall  to  the  lot  of  tlie  agriculturist, 
and  he  now  owns  the  greater  part  of  the  old  home- 
stead. He  has  altogether  three  farms,  compris- 
ing two  hundred  and  forty,  one  hundred  and 
eighty,  and  one  hundred  and  eighty-three  acres  of 
land  respectively.  He  likewise  has  some  timber 
land,  so  that  his  possessions  aggregate  six  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres.  These  holdings  make  him 
one  of  tlie  prosperous  residents  of  the  county  and 
he  deserves  much  credit  for  what  he  has  accom- 
plished, as  most  of  his  interests  have  been  ac- 
cumulated through  his  own  efforts, 

Mr.  Varty  was  married  to  Miss  C.  A.  Beebe. 
who  was  born  in  184G  in  Cortland  township,  De 
Kalli  county,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Cynthia  (Wood worth)  Beebe,  who  came  to 
this  county  in  the  early  '40s.  Her  father  had 
previously  been  a  resident  of  the  state  of  New 
York  and  after  removing  westward  to  Illinois 
lived  in  Cook  county  until  1845,  when  his  death 
occurred.  The  widow  and  her  family  afterward 
went  to  Kane  county  and  her  death  occurred  in 
Sycamore  about  1875.     Mrs.  Varty  has  two  broth- 


ers and  a  sister  at  Sycamore :  Henry.  Daniel,  and 
Mrs.  Eveline  Hunt,  a  widow.  Another  brother, 
Selba,  is  living  in  Ellsworth  county,  Kansas. 

Mrs.  Varty  was  reared  in  the  vicinity  of  Syca- 
more and  by  her  marriage  became  the  mother  of 
three  children.  Earl  W.,  now  bookkeeper  in  the 
Sycamore  National  Bank,  married  Miss  Lotta 
Morris.  Charlotte  is  the  wife  of  Andrew  Lovell, 
who  resides  upon  a  farm  in  Cortland  township; 
and  Clara  is  the  wife  of  S.  A.  Holcomb  of  Syca- 
more. 

Mr.  Varty  is  a  stalwart  advocate  of  republican 
principles  and  the  policy  of  the  party.  He  has 
served  in  some  township  offices  and  he  attends  the 
Congregational  church.  His  interest  centers  in 
those  concerns  which  have  for  their  object  the 
welfare  and  upbuilding  of  the  community  and  be 
has  given  hearty  co-operation  to  many  measures 
and  plans  for  the  public  good.  As  a  business  man 
he  has  been  known  for  his  thorough  reliability  as 
well  as  enterprise  and  as  he  has  carried  forward  his 
farming  interests  and  success  has  attended  his  ef- 
forts, he  has  invested  more  and  more  largely  in 
propertyuntil  as  a  result  his  financial  resources  are 
such  as  to  permit  him  to  put  aside  business  cares 
and  enjoy  the  comforts  of  life  amid  well  earned 
case. 


C.    L.    JOHNSON. 


C.  L.  Johnson,  a  fanner  residing  on  section  12, 
Milan  township,  was  born  in  I  )e  Kail),  Illinois. 
February  10,  1869,  his  parents  being  J.  J.  and 
Mary  (Halverson)  Johnson,  who  were  of  Swedisn 
and  Norwegian  birth,  respectively.  They  were 
among  the  early  pioneer  settlers  of  the  county. 
After  coming  to  the  United  States  the  father  was 
engaged  on  the  construction  of  the  Northwestern 
Railroad  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  when 
true  to  his  adopted  country,  he  became  a  member 
of  Company  K,  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  Regiment, 
Illinois  Volunteers.  He  served  with  that  com- 
mand for  three  years  and  then  returned  to  De 
Fall),  Illinois,  where  for  ten  years  he  was  night 
watch  and  switchman  in  the  Northwestern  yards. 
He  afterward  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Malta 
township,  which  he  cultivated  until  1897,  when 
he  retired  from  active  business  life  and  took  up 
his  abode  in  the  village  of  Malta,  where  he  is  still 


PAST   AND   PEESENT   OF  I)E   KALB    COUNTY. 


525 


living,  respected  by  all  who  know  him.  His  suc- 
cess in  life  proves  conclusively  that  one  can  win 
advancement  by  determined  purpose  and  unfalter- 
ing diligence.  He  has  made  an  excellent  record 
as  a  business  man,  as  a  citizen  and  as  a  soldier. 

G.  L.  Johnson  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
De  Kalb  and  Malta  township.  He  remained  at 
home  with  las  father  until  eighteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  went  to  work  by  the  month  in  Malta 
township,  where  he  was  employed  for  two  years, 
lie  then  rented  land  for  a  similar  period  and 
when  he  had  saved  from  his  earnings  an  amount 
sufficient  to  enable  him  to  purchase  a  farm  he 
bought  eighty  acres  on  section  2,  Milan  township, 
where  he  is  still  living.  Here  he  carries  on  gen- 
eral farming  and  his  fields  are  well  tilled,  while, 
in  the  production  of  cereals  best  adapted  to  the 
soil  and  climate,  he  annually  gathers  rich  crops. 
In  politics  he  is  a  republican  and  has  been  path- 
master  for  two  terms  but  does  not  seek  office,  pre- 
ferring to  give  his  undivided  thne  and  attention 
to  business  affairs,  and  is  now  numbered  among 
the  enterprising  and  successful  young  farmers  of 
the  county. 


HENRY    H.    BALDWIN. 

For  many  years  this  gentleman  was  a  well 
known  and  highly  esteemed  citizen  of  De  Kalb 
county.  A  native  of  New  York,  he  was  born  in 
New  Hartford,  Oneida  county.  June  17.  1827,  and 
in  early  manhood  made  his  way  westward  to  Chi- 
cago, where  he  worked  at  the  molder's  trade  for 
several  years.  In  1858  he  removed  to  Knox  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  where  he  followed  the  occupation  of 
farming  until  1869,  when  he  came  to  De  Kalb 
county  and  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Afton 
township,  which  he  continued  to  own  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death  on  the  23d  of  August,  1892.  In 
the  meantime,  however,  he  lived  in  the  city  of 
De  Kalb  for  a  few  years  in  order  to  educate  his 
children  and  then  returned  to  the  farm,  but  in 
1891  he  again  removed  to  De  Kalb  and  lived  re- 
tired, having  put  aside  the  more  arduous  duties 
of  the  farm  in  order  to  enjoy  a  rest  which  he  had 
truly  and  richly  deserved. 


As  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's  jour- 
ney Mr.  Baldwin  chose  Miss  Zillah  A.  Whittaker, 
to  whom  he  was  married  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  on 
the  20th  of  June,  1856.  Her  birth  occurred  m 
Deckertown,  New  Jersey,  March  28,  1831,  and 
she  became  the  mother  of  three  children.  Emma 
J.,  the  eldest,  was  born  May  4,  1857,  and  was 
married  September  16,  1880,  to  Freeman  H.  San- 
ford,  now  living  in  Michigan.  They  have  four 
children :  Henry  B.,  born  October  16,  1882 ;  Hat- 
tie  M.„  born  October  29,  1887 ;  Ray  E.,  born  May 
11,  1S93;  and  Ida  E.,  born  January  31,  1901. 
Their  daughter  Hattie  M.  was  married  November 
3,  1901,  to  Ernest  Loss  and  lives  in  Muskegon, 
Michigan,  near  which  city  her  parents  also  reside. 
Hattie  M.  Baldwin  is  the  second  in.  her  father's 
family.  Mary  E.  Baldwin,  born  May  24,  1869, 
died  on  the  14th  of  January,  1891. 

Mr.  Baldwin  was  a  thoroughgoing  business  man, 
energetic  and  far-sighted,  and  carried  forward  to 
successful  completion  whatever  he  undertook. 
This  was  quite  a  new  country  when  he  came  to 
Illinois  and  De  Kalb  county  had  not  progressed  so 
very  far  when  he  located  within  its  borders. 
While  residing  on  the  old  homestead  farm  he  was 
called  to  public  office  on  several  occasions  by  his 
fellow  townsmen,  who  recognized  his  worth  and 
ability.  He  served  as  township  clerk,  as  road  com- 
missioner, as  school  director  and  in  other  local 
positions,  the  duties  of  which  he  discharged  most 
capably,  promptly  and  efficiently.  He  was  well 
known  in  the  county  as  a  man  who  stood  for  im- 
provement and  progress  in  all  lines  of  citizenship, 
while  his  private  business  interests  were  of  a  char- 
acter that  made  him  most  respected.  Mrs.  Bald- 
win survived  her  husband  and  passed  away  in  De 
Kalb  on  the  24th  of  September,  1902. 

Hattie  M.  Baldwin  was  born  in  Knox  county, 
Illinois.  December  13,  1865,  and  acquired  her  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  De  Kalb  town- 
ship and  in  the  high  school  of  the  city  of  De  Kalb. 
She  afterward  engaged  in  teaching  for  a  time,  but 
always  remained  at  home  to  care  for  her  parents, 
and  after  the  death  of  the  father  took  up  the  mnn- 
affement  of  the  business  affairs  and  continued  in 
control  of  the  property  until  the  farm  was  sold 
when  the  mother  died.  She  now  lives  at  the  familv 
residence  at  No.  523  South  Third  street,  De  Kalb. 
She  displays  excellent  business  capacity  and  enter- 


526 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


prist',,  combined  with  sound  judgment.  Miss  Bald- 
win is  a  member  of  the  Woman's  Club  of  L)e  Kalb, 
of  the  Woman's  Belief  Corps  and  of  the  First 
i  longregational  church,  in  which  her  mother  also 
held  membership. 


NICHOLAS  SAWYEE. 


Nicholas  Sawyer  owns  and  conducts  a  farm, 
which  is  situated  on  about  the  highest  elevation  in 
Victor  township.  It  comprises  one  hundred  and 
seventy-six  acres  of  valuable  and  highly  improve  ; 
land  on  section  5  and  a  commodious  dwelling,  sup- 
plied with  all  modern  conveniences,  occupies  a 
pleasant  site.  The  farm  is  most  attractive  in  ap- 
pearance, giving  evidence  of  the  care  and  super- 
vision of  the  owner  in  its  well  tilled  fields  and  sub- 
stantial buildings.  Mr.  Sawyer  has  lived  upon 
this  farm  since  fS83  and  has  made  his  home  in 
Illinois  since  1859.  He  is  a  native  of  Fillmore 
county,  Minnesota,  born  October   1.   Is:,;. 

His  father.  K.  0.  Sawyer,  was  a  native  0f  Nor- 
way and  was  reared  in  the  land  of  the  midnight 
sun.  but  when  a  young  man  came  to  the  United 
States,  arriving  in  1st:,.  He  located  in  La  Salle 
county  near  Leland.  where  lie  began  farming,  and 
in  De  Kalb  county  he  was  married  to  Mix  Anna 
Johnson,  also  a  native  of  Norway.  In  1856  he 
went  to  Fillmore  county.  Minnesota,  where  he  re- 
mained lor  three  years  and  then  returned  to  La 
Salle  comity,  where  lie  followed  tannine'  until 
1874.  In  thai  war  he  bought  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  five  miles  north  of  Leland  in  Victor 
township,  De  Kalb  county,  which  place  lie  im- 
proved and  made  the  homestead,  continuing  to 
reside  thereon  throughout  his  remaining  years.  He 
was  called  to  his  final  rest  in  1  S!1G.  when  lie  had 
reached  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  His  wife 
-till  survives  him  and  reside-  on  the  old  homo- 
stead  with  her  younger  sons.  In  the  family  were 
eight  children,  six  sons  and  two  daughters. 

Nicholas  Sawyer,  the  second  in  order  of  birth. 
was  reared  upon  the  farm  in  La  Salle  county  and 
was  a  student  in  the  district  schools  near  his  fa- 
ther's home.  He  was  less  than  two  years  of 
when  his  parents  came  from  Minnesota  to  this 
slate.    When  twenty-four  years  of  age  he  left  home 


and  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account  by  op- 
erating a  rented  farm  for  a  year.  It  was  on  the 
Kith  of  February,  1882,  that  he  was  married  in 
Miss  Lottie  E.  Thompson,  daughter  of  Andrew 
\.  Thompson,  who  was  born  in  Washington  coun- 
ty. New  York,  and  who  settled  in  Victor  town- 
ship in  the  early  '50s. 

Following  his  marriage  Nicholas  Sawyer  op- 
erated his  father-in-law's  farm  for  one  year  and 
then  bought  where  he  now  resides,  becoming  owner 
of  one  hundred  ami  seventy-six  acres  on  section  5, 
Victor  township.  This  he  has  since  greatly  im- 
proved and  also  owns  nine  acre-  of  timber  land 
in  Ross  Grove.  He  lias  built  a  good  corn  crib  and 
outbuildings  and  has  remodeled  the  house  at  a 
cos!  of  two  thousand  dollars.  He  has  also  built  i 
blacksmith  shop  for  his  own  use.  fully  equipped, 
and  has  a  feedmill.  sawmill  ami  creamery  upon  his 
place.  He  uses  both  steam  and  gasoline  power 
and  runs  a  power  cream  separator  and  churner. 
lie  milks  from  fifteen  to  twenty  cows,  his  butter 
being  contracted  for  at  Elgin  prices  throughout 
the  year,  the  excellence  of  the  product  enabling 
him  to  demand  the  highest  prices  paid  in  the  city 
markets.  He  raises  thoroughbred  ami  registered 
-fori  loin  rattle  and  ha-  loll,, wed  this  work  for 
several  years.  Tie  also  raises  good  grades  of  horses 
and  hogs.  Bis  farm  is  well  tiled  and  fenced. 
woven  wire  being  largely  used  to  divide  the  place 
into  fields  of  convenient  size.  The  Sawyer  home 
i-  indeed  an  attractive  feature  of  the  landscape, 
for  no  equipment  of  a  model  farm  is  lacking. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sawyer  have  been  born  four 
children,  of  whom  three  are  yet  living.  Their 
youngest  child  died  at  the  age  of  six  months. 
Those  living  are  Le  Roy,  James  and  Harrison,  the 
first  named  heiim  in  Sandwich,  where  he  conducts 
an  automobile  shop,  while  James  and  Harrison  are 
at  home,  assisting  their  father  in  the  cultivation 
of  the  farm  and  the  various  business  interests 
which  he  carries  on. 

Politically  Mr.  Sawyer  is  a  republican  and  has 
always  been  a  stanch  advocate  of  the  party.  He  has 
served  as  supervisor  for  two  term-,  having  first 
been  appointed  to  that  office  to  fill  a  vacancy  and 
afterward  elected  to  the  position.  He  has  served 
as  road  commissioner  for  six  vears  and  has  been 
connected  with  the  schools  as  trustee  and  director 
for  ten  vears.     He  has  likewise  heen  a  delegate  to 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


various  county  and  state  conventions  and  was  a 
delegate  to  the  congressional  convention  at  Syca- 
more in  1906.  His  opinions  carry  weight  in  the 
council  of  his  party  and  he  is  an  earnest  worker  in 
its  behalf.  He  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  the 
Globe  and  is  much  esteemed  socially  as  well  as  in 
business  and  political  circles.  He  finds  pleasure 
and  recreation  in  riding  around  the  country  in  ,1 
ten  horse  power  automobile  and  throughout  this 
section  of  the  state  is  known  as  one  of  the  pro- 
gressive and  up-to-date  farmers.  He  possesses  ex- 
cellent mechanical  ingenuity  and  ability,  and  his 
keen  discernment  and  sound  judgment, joined  with 
unfaltering  energy,  in  the  conduct  of  his  business 
affairs,  have  brought  him  that  success  which  is  am- 
bition's answer. 


WILLIAM    A.    EIKLOR. 

William  A.  Eiklor.  one  of  the  most  progressive 
agriculturists  of  Genoa  township,  owning  and  op- 
erating an  excellent  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  on 
section  18.  is  a  native  of  this  county,  born  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1859,  on  the  old  Eiklor  homestead  one 
mile  north  of  the  village  of  Genoa.  His  father. 
William  F.  Eiklor,  was  born  in  Huron,  Erie  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  on  the  2d  of  August,  1S3G,  and  was  a 
son  of  Frederick  Eiklor.  who  was  also  a  native  of 
the  Buckeye  state.  During  his  early  life  the  latter 
followed  the  blacksmith's  and  carpenter's  trades  in 
Ohio,  continuing  his  residence  there  until  1837, 
when  he  brought  his  family  to  Illlinois,  the  jour- 
ney being  made  in  a  wagon  drawn  i>y  oxen.  Ar- 
riving in  De  Kalb  county  he  set  up  the  first  black- 
smith shop  in  Genoa  and  conducted  business  here 
when  there  were  far  more  oxen  to  be  shod  than 
horses. 

It  was  during  his  infancy  that  William  F.  Eik- 
lor was  brought  by  his  parents  to  this  county  and 
here  he  grew  to  manhood  amid  pioneeer  scenes. 
He  was  one  of  a  family  of  eleven  children,  as  was 
also  Sophronia  Olmsted,  who  became  his  wife  in 
1857.  She  is  a  native  of  De  Kail)  county  and  a 
daughter  of  Caleb  Olmsted,  one  of  its  pioneers. 
She  is  a  sister  of  A.  H.  Olmsted,  whose  sketch  ap- 
pears on  another  page  of  this  volume.  After  his 
marriage  Mr.  Eiklor  bought  forty  acres  of  land 
near  Genoa,  now  known  as  the  Rowan  farm,  and 


there  he  made  his  home  until  1863,  when  he  sold 
the  place  with  the  intention  of  entering  the  Union 
army  but  was  disqualified  for  service  by  a  weak 
knee.  He  then  removed  with  his  family  to  Mc- 
Lean county,  where  he  purchased  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  and  turned  his  attention  to  its 
cultivation  and  improvement.  As  lime  passed  and 
he  prospered  in  his  farming  operations  he  added 
to  his  property  until  he  owned  five  hundred  and 
fifty  acres  and  he  continued  to  malte  his  home  in 
McLean  county  for  twenty-five  years.  In  1888  he 
returned  to  De  Kalb  county  and  bought  the  Strong 
farm  of  two  hundred  acres  on  section  18.  Genoa 
township,  making  that  place  his  home  for  the 
following  twelve  years.  1  (eciding  to  lay  aside  busi- 
ness cares  and  spend  the  remainder  of  his  life  in 
ease  and  retirement  he  removed  to  Genoa  in  1900 
and  built  a  nice  residence,  where  he  was  living 
when  called  to  the  world  beyond  January  11,  1905. 
His  widow  still  survives  him  and  continues  to 
make  her  home  in  Genoa. 

William  A.  Eiklor's  boyhood  and  youth  were 
mainly  passed  in  McLean  county,  being  but  four 
years  old  at  the  time  of  the  removal  of  the  family 
to  that  county,  and  he  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  after  he  had  attained  his  majority.  In 
1881  he  was  married  at  Pontiac,  Illinois,  to  Miss 
Susan  A.  Blundy,  who  was  born  in  Peoria  county, 
this  state.  Her  father,  Thomas  Blundy,  was  a 
native  of  England  and  on  his  emigration  to  Amer- 
ica settled  in  Peoria  county,  Illinois,  in  1858. 
Five  children  bless  this  union,  the  three  oldest  be- 
ing born  in  McLean  county  and  the  others  in  De 
Kalb  county.  In  order  of  birth  they  are  as  fol- 
lows :  Lester,  wdio  is  a  graduate  of  the  Genoa  high 
school  and  is  now  assisting  his  father  on  the  farm  ; 
and  Arthur,  Frank,  Clarence  and  Raymond,  still 
in  school. 

William  A.  Eiklor  accompanied  his  parents  on 
their  return  to  De  Kalb  county  and  purchased  his 
present  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  on  section  IS. 
Genoa  township.  He  has  laid  over  eight  miles  of 
tiling  upon  the.  place,  has  divided  the  land  into 
fields  of  convenient  size  by  well  kept  fences,  and 
erected  good  and  substantial  buildings,  including 
a  barn,  forty-eight  by  fifty-four  feet  with  twenty 
foot  posts  and  an  addition  twenty-four  by  sixty 
feet.  He  has  also  built  a  crib  with  an  elevator, 
thirtv-two  by  twenty-four  feet  and  twelve  feet  in 


528 


PAST   AND   PRESENT   OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


height,  and  has  a  feed  grinder  and  sawmill  op- 
erated by  wmd  power.  All  of  the  grain  which  Ire 
raises  upon  the  place  he  feeds  to  his  own  stock, 
having  made  a  specialty  of  stock-raising.  He  is 
part  owner  in  an  imported  Norman  Percheron 
stallion  and  he  raises  full  blooded  Poland  China 
hogs  and  Durham  cattle,  keeping  from  fifteen  to 
twenty  cows  for  dairy  purposes  and  feeding  each 
winter  one  or  two  carloads  of  cattle.  He  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  De  Kalb  County  Telephone 
Company  and  in  business  affairs  is  prompt,  ener- 
getic and  notably  reliable. 

Although  lie  cares  nothing  for  political  honors. 
Mr.  Eiklor  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  repub- 
lican party  and  has  efficiently  served  as  school  di- 
rector for  six  years.  Fraternally  he  is  an  hon- 
ored member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and 
the  Mystic  Workers,  all  of  Genoa,  and  both  he  and 
his  wife  hold  membership  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  They  are  people  of  the  highest  re- 
spectability and  have  hosts  of  friends  throughout 
the  community  in  which  they  live. 


GEOEGE  HOPKINS  GURLER. 

But  few  names  in  tin'  daily  world  are  better 
known  than  that  of  Gurler.  Tt  stands  for  honor, 
progression  ami  purity  in  the  production  of  one 
of  the  necessities  of  life.  The  subject  of  this 
-ketch  has  contributed  hi-  share  to  honorably  per- 
petuating the  family  name,  having  produced  and 
sold  upward  of  thirty  million  pounds  of  butter. 

George  If.  Gurler  was  born  in  Chesterfield,  New 
Hampshire,  March  29,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of  Ben- 
jamin and  Harriot  Gurler.  When  he  was  three 
years  of  age  his  parents  removed  to  Keene.  Xew 
Hampshire,  and  m  1856  to  D<  Kalb,  Illinois.  Many 
of  the  items  of  genealogical  interest  of  tin-  family- 
are  siven  in  this  history  in  the  sketch  of  his 
brothel-.  II.  B.  Gurler. 

The  subjed  of  this  sketch  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  districi  school  and  attended  the  De 
Kail'  schools  two  winters.  In  1  s • ; 4  he  answered 
his  country's  call  and  enlisted  at  De  Kalb  as  a 
recruit  of  the  Fifteenth  Illinois  Infantry.  He 
was  sent  to  Camp  Fry  at  Chicago  and   Erom  there 


went  to  New  York.  From  there  he  went  by  boat 
to  North  Carolina  and  joined  his  regiment  at 
Morehead  City  in  the  spring  of  1864.  He  became 
a  part  of  Sherman's  army  and  marched  to  Raleigh, 
thence  to  Richmond  and  on  to  Washington,  tak- 
ing pari  in  the  grand  review.  From  the  capital 
he  went  to  Parkersburg,  Virginia,  then  to  St. 
Louis  and  from  there  to  Fort  Leavenworth  and  out 
on  the  plains  to  Fort  Kearney.  Returning  to 
Springfield,  he  was  there  mustered  out  in  October. 
1865. 

Mr.  Gurler  returned  to  De  Kalb  and  went  to 
work  in  tin'  store  of  Flinn  &  Gurler.  Within  a 
year  he  bought  out  the  senior  partner  and  the 
linn  became  Gurler  Brothers,  but  after  two  years 
H.  B.  Gurler  retired  from  the  firm.  George  Gur- 
ler then  conducted  the  business  alone  for  about 
eight  years  and  sold  out  to  Fuller  &  Hard.  He 
bought  butter  anil  eggs  for  two  years  in  the  build- 
ing across  the  street  and  afterward  worked  font 
years  lor  Hiram  Ellwood.  Hi-  training,  after  he 
retired  from  the  army,  fitted  him  to  know  the 
needs  of  the  creamery  business  ami  in  1881,  in 
partnership  with  his  brother  Henry,  he  built  the 
De  Kalb  Creamery.  They  bought  the  cream  at 
Walton  and  Fixe  Corners.  In  connection  with  H. 
II.  Hopkins,  under  the  firm  name  of  Gurler  Broth- 
ers &  Company,  they  became  owners  of  creameries 
at  Hinckley.  Shabbona  Grove  and  Lee.  Illinois. 
In  1895  the  creanien  possessions  of  Gurler  Broth- 
ers were  divided  and  G.  II.  Gurler  became  owner 
of  his  brother's  interest  in  the  creameries  of  Malta. 
Hinckley,  Shabbona  and  Shabbona  Grove.  At 
this  time  hi-  son,  Charles  Gurler,  became  actively 
engaged  with  him  and  since  that  time  they  have 
established  or  bought  creameries  in  Illinois  at  the 
following  places;  Creston,  Yolo.  Wauconda  and 
Griswold  Lake,  while  in  Iowa  they  owned  cream- 
i  ne-  at  Chapin,  Mason  City,  Rockwell,  Alexander. 
Sheffield,  Republic,  Nashua,  Powersville.  Hamp- 
ton and  Cellar  Rapids.  They  have  from  time  to 
time  exchanged  and  sold  creameries  and  now  own 
but  si\  of  the  list.  In  January,  1907,  a  stock 
company  was  organized  under  the  title  of  Gurler, 
Borth  Company,  the  oflieers  being  C.  II.  Curler, 
president:  Charles  Gurler,  vice  president,  and  A. 
•  I.  Borth,  of  Cedar  Rapids,  secretary  ami  treas- 
urer. This  company  now  owns  and  operates  the 
i  reameries  at  Malta.  ( 'reston,  Cedar  Rapids, 
Nashua,  Powersville  and  Hampton. 


ASTOR,    Lm 

=LHE1L£Hundation8. 


PAST  AND  PEESEXT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


531 


G.  H.  Gurler  lias  served  as  vice  president  of  the 
Elgin  Board  of  Trade  for  twelve  years  and  was 
president  of  the  State  Dairy  Association  for  five 
years.  The  annual  output  of  his  creameries  has 
amounted  to  two  million  pounds  for  the  past  fif- 
teen years  and  is  sold  in  the  markets  all  over  the 
world. 

Mr.  Gurler  was  united  in  marriage  January  1, 
1867,  to  Miss  Zilla  Newett,  who  was  born  in  Eng- 
land and  is  a  daughter  of  Eobert  and  Susan 
(Eolfe)  Newett,  her  father  being  one  of  the  pio- 
neer residents  of  De  Kalb.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gurler 
are  the  parents  of  two  children:  Charles  H.,  who 
married  Myra  Cook,  a  niece  of  C.  W.  Marsh ; 
and  Beatrice,  who  lives  at  home.  They  have  one 
grandchild. 

Mr.  Gurler  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Eepublic  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  is  prominent  in  political  and  civic 
affairs.  He  has  made  a  practice  of  divorcing  him- 
self from  business  for  a  few  weeks  each  year  and 
indulge  in  hunting  and  fishing,  thus  finding  need- 
ed relaxation  from  business  life.  He  is  a  great 
lover  of  outdoor  life  and  is  a  naturalist  of  more 
than  local  reputation.  He  has  one  of  the  best  col- 
lect ions  of  stuffed  animals  and  birds  in  this  lo- 
cality. With  no  schooling  except  what  he  acquired 
in  the  active  occupation  of  life,  Mr.  Gurler  has 
developed  into  an  interesting  character.  He  is 
still  energetic  and  useful  and  commands  the  at- 
tention and  respect  of  the  people  at  home  and 
abroad.  He  has  acquired  a  fund  of  knowledge 
along  many  special  lines  that  make  his  counsel 
and  advice  largely  sought  and  valuable. 


JAMES   D.    MAESELUS. 

James  D.  Marselus,  living  on  section  24,  Sand- 
wich township,  which  is  the  old  homestead  farm  of 
the  family,  is  busily  engaged  with  the  further  de- 
velopment and  improvement  of  a  tract  of  two 
hundred  acres.  It  is  not  far  from  the  village  of 
Sandwich,  so  that  the  conveniences  and  acces- 
sories of  town  life  are  to  be  easily  obtained.  A 
resident  of  the  county  from  1866,  he  has  watched 
much  of  its  growth  and  improvement  and  at  all 
times  has  kept  pace  with  the  trend  of  agricultural 
progress.  He  was  a  youth  of  fourteen  years  at 
the  time,  of  his  arrival  here,  his  birth  having  oc- 


curred in  Montgomery  county,  New  York,  on  the 
19th  of  March,  1852.  He  is  the  son  of  David 
Marselus,  who  is  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  work. 
His  education  was  acquired  in  the  schools  of  Sand- 
wich and  after  he  had  attained  his  majority  he 
went  to  Jasper  county,  Indiana,  in  1872.  He  took 
charge  of  a  farm  which  he  had  purchased  there 
and  for  some  time  continued  to  till  the  fields  and 
carry  on  agricultural  pursuits  in  that  locality,  but 
eventually  returned  to  the  old  homestead,  which  is 
now  his  place  of  residence. 

On  the  4th  of  February,  1878,  Mr.  Marselus  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Tabitha  Margaret 
Miller,  who  was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  In- 
diana, daughter  of  John  H.  Miller.  They  began 
their  domestic  life  in  her  native  state  and  there 
Mr.  Marselus  carried  on  farming  for  eleven  years. 
He  was  thus  engaged  for  nine  years  after  his  mar- 
riage, at  the  end  of  which  time  he  brought  his 
bride  to  the  old  homestead  property  in  De  Kalb 
county,  since  which  time  he  has  tilled  the  fields 
here  and. has  raised  and  fed  stock,  annually  ship- 
ping a  carload  of  steer  and  also  of  hogs.  He  has 
found  his  stock-raising  interests  to  be  a  profitable 
source  of  income  to  him  and  he  raises  enough 
grain  to  feed  his  stock.  His  business  is  carefully 
conducted  and  his  able  management  and  unfalter- 
ing diligence  have  brought  him  gratifying  pros- 
perity. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marselus  have  been  born  two 
children  who  are  yet  living:  Sarah  E.,  who  is 
the  widow  of  Don  V.  Coleman  and  resides  with 
her  parents  and  she  has  two  children,  David  and 
Margerie  Ellen  Coleman ;  and  Jennie  Marselus,  a 
student  at  Sandwich.  They  also  lost  three  chil- 
dren: Edwin,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven 
years ;  Hattie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years, 
and  Walter,  who  died  when  five  years  of  age. 

In  politics  Mr.  Marselus  has  been  a  life-long 
republican  and  while  living  in  Indiana  served  as 
road  commissioner,  but  has  never  been  active  '.n 
politics  as  an  office  seeker.  He  ana  his  wife  are 
devoted  and  faithful  members  of  the  Sandwich 
Presbyterian  church,  in  which  he  is  serving  as  an 
elder  and  also  as  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school, 
taking  an  active  and  helpful  part  in  both  the 
church  and  Sunday  school  work.  This  relation 
indicates  much  of  the  character  oi  the  man  and 
the  principles  which  have  characterized  his  life. 


532 


PAST    AND   PRESENT   OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


He  is  known  throughout  the  community  as  one 
worthy  of  public  trust  and  in  his  business  affairs 
is  reliable  and  merits  the  good  will  and  con- 
fidence of  those  with  whom  he  has  been  associated. 


ORLEY   M.   MOSHER. 

In  carrying  on  farming  operations  Orley  M. 
Mosher  displays  a  spirit  of  enterprise  and  deter- 
mination which  has  brought  to  him  a  fair  measure 
of  success  and  he  now  owns  a  good  farm  of  fifty- 
four  acres  on  section  24.  Sandwich  township,  which 
is  pleasantly  and  conveniently  located  within  a 
mile  of  the  city  of  Sandwich.  He  also  has  a  tract 
of  timber  land  together  with  residence  property 
in  Sandwich.  He  has  made  his  home  in  De  Kalb 
county  since  1876,  so  that  for  a  period  of  thirty- 
one  years  he  has  been  one  of  its  residents  and  is 
well  known  within  its  borders. 

Mr.  Mosher  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light 
of  day  on  the  23d  of  August.  1847,  in  Washing- 
ton county.  Xew  York.  His  father.  James  C. 
Mosher,  was  also  a  native  of  the  Empire  state, 
while  his  grandfather.  James  B.  Mosher.  was  born 
in  the  east  and  was  of  English  ancestry.  James 
('.  Mosher.  having  arrived  at  years  of  maturity, 
married  Alma  Lewis,  after  which  he  followed  the 
occupation  of  farming  in  Washington  county,  New 
York,  where  he  reared  his  family  and  spent  his 
entire  life.  There  were  three  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  C.  Mosher.  the 
I'i'others  of  our  subject  being:  Edwin  E..  now 
living  in  Greenwich.  Xew  York,  and  Lewis  J., 
deceased,  who  was  a  farmer  of  Washington  coun- 
ty. Xew  York.  Of  the  sisters,  Delia  became 
the  wife  of  T.  S.  Tilford  and  they  removed  to 
Nebraska,  where  they  both  died  :  Lorinda  became 
the  wife  of  James  La  Ment  and  they  removed 
to  Pennsylvania,  where  Mis.  La  Ment  passed 
away:  Alice  became  the  wife  of  Albert  Tubbs  and 
died  at  their  home  in  Tennessee  at  the  age  of  fiftv 
years:  and  Deborah  died  when  a  young  lady  of 
eighteen  years 

Orley  M.  Mosher  was  reared  in  Washington 
county.  Xew  York,  and  supplemented  his  earlv 
education,  acquired  in  the  common  schools,  by  a 
few  years'  study  at  the  Greenwich  Academy.  He 
was  married  in  the  county  of  his  nativitv  on  the 


17th  of  December,  1872,  to  Miss  Mary  Faxin,  who 
was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  AVashington  coun- 
tv.  New  York,  having  been  a  student  for  some  time 
at  the  Temple  Grove  Female  Seminary  at  Sara- 
toga, Xew  York.  She  was  also  a  student  at  the 
Greenwich  Academy  and  was  for  five  years  a 
teacher  in  Xew  York  state,  entering  upon  that 
work  when  a  young  lady  of  sixteen  years.  She  was 
a  daughter  of  Rodney  D.  and  Permelia  (Du  Bois) 
Faxin. 

Following  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mosher 
began  their  domestic  life  on  a  farm  in  Washing- 
ton county,  Xew  York,  and  their  first  child,  a 
daughter,  was  born  to  them  there.  In  1876  they 
removed  westward  to  Illinois  and  Mr.  Mosher  cul- 
tivated a  rented  farm  there  for  a  few  years.  He 
then  took  his  family  to  Kansas  and  bought  raw 
land  in  Anderson  county,  which  he  began  to  place 
under  tlie  plow.  Tlie  same  year,  however,  he  sold 
that  property  and  returned  to  De  Kalb  countv. 
where  he  again  rented  land  on  which  he  now  re- 
sides. About  1888  he  purchased  fifty-three  acres 
and  a  fraction  on  section  24,  Sandwich  township, 
and  upon  this  farm  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
He  has  erected  a  neat  residence,  a  large  barn  and 
other  substantial  outbuildings  for  the  shelter  of 
grain  and  stoek.  has  set  out  a  good  orchard  and 
ornamental  trees  and  shrubs,  has  tiled  the  land, 
fenced  the  fields  and  has  otherwise  made  the  farm 
a  valuable  and  well  improved  property.  He  has 
Mine  bought  a  tract  of  eight  acres  of  timber  land. 
from  which  In-  derives  wood  and  lumber.  This  is 
across  the  line  in  Kendall  county,  about  two 
miles  from  hi:-  borne.  He  has  also  purchased  a 
good  lol  of  two  acres  in  Sandwich,  on  which  he 
has  a  comfortable  residence  and  substantial  barn 
and  outbuildings. 

Unto  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Mosher  have  been  born  two 
children:  Millie,  the  wife  of  E.  .7.  Cook,  who 
is  a  cashier  in  a  hank  and  is  also  engaged  in  the 
real-estate  business  ai  Green  River,  Utah";  and 
Earl  i;..  a  young  man  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mr-. 
Took  have  one  son.  Leon  D.  Took. 

Mr.  Mosher  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  in 
1864,  supporting  Abraham  Lincoln,  since  which 
time  he  has  supported  every  presidential  nomi- 
nee of  the  republican  party  .  He  has  never  sought 
or  desired  office,  preferring  to  concentrate  his  ener- 
gies  upon  his  business  affairs,  in  which  he  has 
met  with  signal  success.     He  owes  his  prosporitv 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


533 


entirely  to  his  own  labor  and  good  management 
and  the  assistance  of  his  estimable  wife,  who  has 
indeed  been  a  helpmate  to  him.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Mosher  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church. 
Mrs.  Mosher  was  formerly  a  Sunday  school  worker 
and  teacher  and  has  taken  an  active  and  helpful 
part  in  the  work  of  the  church,  as  well  as  in  the 
Women's  Belief  Corps,  of  which  she  was  president 
for  two  years.  She  is  a  lady  of  kindly  and  charita- 
ble impulse  and  her  efforts  have  been  an  element 
for  good  in  the  community.  Mr.  Mosher  belongs  te 
the  Knights  of  the  Globe  and  has  tilled  all  of  its 
chairs  and  was  chief  justice  for  three  years. 
Throughout  the  community  he  is  known  as  an  en- 
terprising business  man  and  in  connection  with 
tilling  the  soil  he  has  been  engaged  in  raising  and 
feeding  stock,  including  horses,  cattle  and  hogs. 
He  made  a  specialty  of  horses  for  a  few  years  and 
now  has  a  herd  of  high  grade  Jersey  cattle,  selling 
large  quantities  of  milk.  He  also  ieecis  a  large 
number  of  hogs  annually  and  his  stock-raising  in- 
terests are  an  important  and  profitable  branch  of 
the  business. 


NATHANIEL   H.    GIVENS. 

The  rich  and  arable  land  of  Afton  township  af- 
fords excellent  opportunities  to  the  farmer  and 
stock-raiser  and  among  the  representatives  of  its 
agricultural  interests  is  Nathaniel  H.  Givens,  who 
dates  his  residence  in  the  county  from  1868  and 
who  since  1876  has  resided  upon  the  farm  which 
lie  now  owns  and  occupies,  comprising  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  on  sections  6  and  7.  He 
was  born  July  5,  1846,  in  York  county.  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  is  the  son  of  Henry  and  Mary  Ann 
(Fullerton)  Givens.  also  natives  of  York  county. 
The  father  was  a  teamster  and  died  in  the  Key- 
stone state  in  1848.  while  his  wife  passed  awav 
about  six  months  before.  There  was  one  daugh- 
ter in  the  family.  Mary  Ann,  but  Mr.  Givens  of 
this  review  has  not  heard  from  her  since  their 
childhood. 

Being  left  an  orphan  when  a  small  boy,  Na- 
thaniel H.  Givens  went  to  live  with  an  uncle,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  twenty-two  years  of  ago. 
Tn  1868  he  came  to  Afton  township  and  worked, 
by  the  month  for  five  vears  as  a  farm  hand,  but 


desiring  that  his  labors  should  more  directly  bene- 
fit himself,  he  rented  land  which  he  cultivated  for 
three  years.  In  that  work  he  prospered  and  in- 
vested his  earnings  in  one  hundred  acres  and  later 
eighty  acres  more  on  section^  6  and  7,  Afton 
township.  This  property  he  still  owns  and  has 
brought  his  fields  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, using  the  latest  improved  machinery  to  carry 
on  his  farm  work.  His  methods  are  at  once  prac- 
tical and  progressive  and  he  has  raised  the  cereals 
best  adapted  to  the  soil  and  climate,  annually 
gathering  rich  harvests. 

On  March  14,  1876,  Mr.  Givens  was  married  to 
Miss  Fannie  Ward,  daughter  of  J.  W.  Ward,  a 
retired  farmer  of  Elva,  Illinois,  who  is  mentioned 
on  another  page  of  this  work.  Mrs.  Givens  was 
born  in  Afton  township,  April  14,  1856,  and  by 
her  marriage  she  has  become  the  mother  of  six 
children :  Warner  and  Warren,  twins,  born  No- 
vember 29,  1876 ;  Sanford,  born  January  11,  1878  ; 
Beryl,  born  July  19,  1882;  Ira,  born  January  19. 
1884;  and  Elsworth,  born  September  24,  1891. 
The  children  are  all  vet  under  the  parental  roof 
and  the  sons  greatly  assist  their  father  in  the  farm 
work. 

The  parents  are  consistent  and  faithful  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  Mr. 
Givens  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodman  camp  at 
De  Kalb.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican  and  is  now 
serving  as  drainage  commissioner  which  position 
he  has  filled  for  eight  years.  He  has  also  been  i 
school  director  at  various  times.  He  has  never 
had  occasion  to  regret  his  removal  to  the  west,  for 
here  he  has  found  good  business  opportunities  and 
his  life  proves  the  fact  that  success  is  the  reward 
or  earnest  and  persistent  labor. 


JOHN  ALFRED  PABR1S. 

John  Alfred  Parris  is  one  of  the  active  and 
successful  business  men,  farmers  and  stock- 
raisers  of  Sandwich  township,  whose  time  and 
energies  are  now  devoted  to  the  cultivation  and 
improvement  of  a  tract  of  land  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  situated  about  a  mile  from  Sand- 
wich.    The  neat   and   thrifty   appearance   of  the 


534 


I 'AST   AND   PRESENT   OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


place  indicates  his  careful  supervision  and  prac- 
tical methods.  He  is  numbered  among  the  old 
settlers  of  the  county,  dating  his  residence  in 
Illinois  from  1858. 

His  birth  occurred  at  West  Kent,  thirty  miles 
east  of  London,  England,  on  the  2 1st  of  Februarj1, 
1852,  his  parents  being  John  and  Eliza  (Harris; 
Parris,  who  were  also  natives  of  England.  Mr. 
Parris  lived  in  that  country  for  many  years  and 
in  1858  brought  his  family  to  the  new  world, 
making  his  way  direct  to  Illinois.  At  first  he 
settled  on  a  farm  in  La  Salle  county  and  later 
owned  and  cultivated  a  tract  of  land  there  which 
remained  his  home  for  many  years.  He  worked 
persistently  and  energetically  to  secure  a  good 
living  for  his  wife  and  children  am!,  as  the  years 
went  by,  prospered  and  eventually  acquired  a 
comfortable  competence  which  now  enables  him 
to  live  retired  in  Sandwich,  where  he  has  made 
his  home  since  1899.  In  his  family  were  ten 
children,  seven  sons  and  three  daughters:  John 
Alfred,  Mark,  Henry,  William,  Amos,  Bert,  Mel- 
vin  and  Ella.     The  others  have  passed  away. 

John  Alfred  Parris  of  this  review  was  reared 
to  manhood  in  La  Salle  and  De  Kalb  counties 
and  a  common-school  education  was  afforded  him. 
He  started  out  to  make  his  own  way  in  life  when 
only  thirteen  years  of  age,  working  by  the  month 
as  a  farm  hand  for  a  salary  of  ten  dollars  per 
month.  He  was  ambitious  to  engage  in  farming 
on  his  own  account  or  to  carry  on  business  that 
would  more  directly  benefit  himself  and  after  he 
had  attained  his  majority  he  began  cultivating 
land  and  also  operating  a  threshing  machine.  He 
continued  m  the  latter  business  for  twenty-one 
seasons  doing  threshing  for  three  counties  and 
also  operating  a  clover  huller.  Prior  to  his  mar- 
riage he  bought  a  small  tract  of  land  on  which 
be  erected  a  dwelling  and  cultivated  and  fenced 
the  place,  opening  up  a  farm  so  that  he  had  a 
home  to  which  he  brought  his  bride. 

It  was  in  Sandwich  township,  on  the  21st  of 
February,  1887.  that  Mr.  Parris  was  married  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Smith,  daughter  of  Charles  Smith, 
a  native  of  New  York.  He  served  his  country 
as  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war  and  for  nine  months 
was  incarcerated  in  Libby  prison.  He  became 
one  of  the  early  residents  of  Kendall  county.  Illi- 
nois, and  afterward  removed  to  De  Kalb  county. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parris  began  their  domestic  life 
upon  the  farm  he  had  purchased  and  in  addition 
to  tilling  the  soil  he  built  an  ice  house  and  began 
putting  up  ice,  in  which  business  he  continued  for 
ten  years.  He  has  been  a  very  active  and  suc- 
cessful man  and  his  labors  have  been  rewarded 
with  a  competence  that  now  numbers  him  among 
the  substantial  residents  of  the  community. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parris  have  been  born  two 
children:  Eva  Gladys,  wife  of  Edward  Pierce 
of  Leland,  by  whom  she  has  a  daughter,  Ruth; 
and  John  H.,  at  home.  Mrs.  Parris  and  her  son 
are  members  of  the  First  Baptist  church  at  Sand- 
wich. Mr.  Parris  exercises  his  right  of  franchis- 
in  support  of  the  republican  party  but  the  honors 
and  emoluments  of  office  have  had  no  attraction 
for  him  as  he  has  always  preferred  to  give  his 
undivided  time  and  attention  to  his  business 
affairs.  His  life  has  been  quietly  passed  in  the 
honorable  pursuits  of  the  farm  but  in  his  business 
interests  he  has  become  widely  known  and  is  gen- 
erally esteemed  by  all  with  whom  he  comes  in 
contact.  He  deserves  much  credit  for  what  he 
has  accomplished  for  he  started  out  in  life  on 
his  own  account  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years  and 
has  since  been  dependent  upon  his  own  labors — 
a  self-made  man  whose  example  in  many  respects 
is  worthy  of  emulation. 


HON.   EDWARD   LARNARD   MAYO. 

Edward  Laniard  Mayo  was  born  in  Moretown, 
Washington  county,  Vermont,  April  7,  1807,  and 
was  a  son  of  Leonard  and  Thirza  (Marcy)  Mayo. 
His  father  dying  in  early  life  and  leaving  a  family 
of  five  small  boys,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
bound  out  to  a  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson,  who  treat- 
ed him  as  one  of  the  family  and  offered  to  give 
him  an  excellent  education  if  he  would  enter  the 
ministry,  but  he  chose  the  law  and  through  his 
own  efforts  obtained  a  fair  education.  He  pur- 
sued his  legal  studies  in  the  office  of  Judge  Pren- 
tiss, a  very  able  lawyer  of  Montpelier,  Vermont. 

Judge  Mayo  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife 
being  a  daughter  of  Elijah  Holden,  of  Waitsfield, 
Vermont,  who  lived  only  fourteen  months  after 
their  marriage.     In  September,  1840,  the  Judge 


HON.  E.  L.  MAYO. 


THE  NEW  YORKl 

PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


ASTOK,    LENOX 
TILDEN  FOUNDATIONS. 


PAST    AND   PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


53; 


married  Emily  Katherine  Holden,  a  daughter  of 
Josiah  and  Betsy  (Leland)  Holden,  of  Middlesex, 
Washington  county,  Vermont.  She  died  at  the 
home  of  her  son.  Dr.  Mayo,  in  De  Kalb,  March  7, 
1892. 

In  1841  Judge  Mayo  settled  at  Sycamore,  Illi- 
nois, and  for  many  years  was  the  acknowledged 
leader  of  the  bar  of  Oe  Kalb  county.  As  a  lawyer 
and  a  man  he  was  prominently  identified  with  its 
early  history.  In  politics  he  was  a  democrat  and 
in  1854  was  tbc  candidate  of  that  party  for  con- 
gress but  was  defeated,  the  district  being  strongly 
republican,  lie  was  three  times  elected  county 
judge,  notwithstanding  his  politics  and  the  fact 
that  he  belonged  to  a  party  lasting  the  minority 
vote.  He  was  on  intimate  terms  of  friendship 
with  the  leading  men  of  the  state,  among  them 
being  Stejfhen  A.  Douglas,  Judge  John  D.  Catoa 
and  Lyman  Trumbull.  In  1860  he  became  a  "war 
democrat"  and  was  in  full  sympathy  with  the 
Union  cause.  His  integrity  and  honor  were  never 
questioned.  Possessed  of  a  legal  mind,  it  w;W 
among  bis  professional  brethren  who  knew  him 
best  and  were  best  able  to  judge  that  be  was  .mo^t 
appreciated. 

Judge  Mayo  died  in  De  Kalb,  November  16. 
1877,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years,  leaving  a  widow 
ami  one  son.  Dr.  Edward  L.  Mayo,  of  De  Kalb, 
ami  three  daughters:  Mis.  John  W.  Burst,  of 
Sycamore;  Mrs.  Thomas  E.  Bagley,  of  Cenoa;  and 
Miss  Katherine  Mayo,  of  De  Kalb.  Six  of  his 
children  had  died  in  infancy.  He  was  of  French 
Euguenot  descent  and  during  the  greater  part  of 
bis  life  was  an  active  worker  in  the  cause  of  tem- 
perance. 


JAMES    V.   MENNIS. 


James  Y.  Mennis,  who  for  some  years  has  car- 
ried on  general  blacksmithing  in  De  Kalb  and  m 
which  connection  he  is  known  as  a  worthy  repre- 
sentative of  industrial  interests  here,  was  born 
June  7,  1848.  in  St.  Lawrence  county,  New  York. 
His  father.  Samuel  Mennis,  was  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, who  emigrated  to  the  new  world  in  his  boy- 
hood days,  settling  in  the  state  of  New  York. 
There  he  married  Miss  Johanna  Post,  who  was 
born  in  that  state.     Thev  continued  to  reside  in 


the  east  until  1859,  when  they  came  westward  to 
('linton  township,  De  Kalb  county,  Illinois,  where 
the  father  secured  land  and  engaged  in  farming 
until  1865.  He  then  removed  to  Oregon,  this 
state,  where  he  spent  his  remaining  days,  his  death 
occuring  in  1872.  His  widow  long  survived  him, 
passing  away  in  De  Kalb  in  1895.  The  memDers 
of  the  family  are  as  follows:  William,  a  carpenter 
of  Kansas  City,  Missouri :  S.  F.,  a  teamster  of 
Kansas  City;  James  \\.  of  this  review;  A.  P.,  a 
retired  farmer  and  postmaster  at  Early.  Iowa:  C. 
S.,  deceased;  and  Etta,  wile  of  Charles  Hiland, 
deceased. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of  James  V. 
Mennis,  we  present  to  our  readers  the  life  record 
nl  one  wbo  is  widely  and  favorably  known  in  Da 
Kalb  and  this  part  of  the  county.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  district  schools  and  worked  at  farm 
labor  until  he  attained  his  majority,  when  he  be- 
gan learning  the  blacksmithing  trade  in  Clinton 
-  township.  There  he  remained  until  1873.  when 
he  removed  to  De  Kalb  and  began  business  on  his 
own  account.  Four  years  later  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy! of  the  I.  L.  Elhvood  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, with  which  he  continued  as  a  blacksmith  for 
nineteen  years.  He  then  again  engaged  in  busi- 
ness for  himself  at  No.  235  South  First  street, 
where  he  has  since  been  located  and  is  today  the 
oldest  blacksmith  in  years  and  continuous  con- 
nection with  the  business  in  the  city.  He  has  pros- 
pered in  his  undertakings  and  is  meeting  with 
well  deserved  success. 

Happily  situated  in  his  home  life.  Mr.  Mennis 
was  married  on  June  6.  1876,  to  Miss  Eose  Hough- 
ton, of  De  Kalb  township,  daughter  of  George  and 
Betsy  Houghton,  early  residents  of  this  county. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mennis  have  one  daughter,  Bertha 
Louise  who  was  born  September  2'Z,  1884,  and  i^ 
a  graduate  nf  the  De  Kalb  high  school.  She  is 
now  the  wife  of  Rev.  M.  E.  Dutt.  a  minister  of 
the  Christian  church,  and  both  are  now  attending 
college  at  Lexington.  Kentucky. 

Mr.  Mennis  is  a  stalwart  republican  where  na- 
tional questions  are  involved,  but  at  local  elec- 
tions he  casts  an  independent  ballot,  regarding 
only  the  capability  of  the  candidate.  He  belongs 
to  the  Modern  Woodman  camp  at  De  Kalb.  also 
the  Mystic  Workers,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  de- 
voted members  of  the  Baptist  church,  of  which 
he  has  been  a  deacon  for  five  vears.     He  owns  a 


53S 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OK    DK    KALB    COUNTY. 


good  home  at  No.  512  South  Third  street  and  is 
now  comfortably  situated  in  life,  as  the  result  of 
untiring  diligence  and  perseverance. 


PEOFESSOE  OKOh'OK  SILAS  PECK. 

Professor  George  Silas  Peck,  the  founder  and 
promotor  of  the  George  S.  Perk  School  of  Music 
in  De  Kalb,  was  horn  in  Burlington.  Wisconsin 
December  15,  1871.  His  paternal  grandfather. 
Silas  Peck,  removing  westward  from  the  state  of 
New  York,  located  at  Burlington,  Wisconsin,  at  <x 
very  early  period  in  the  development  of  that  part 
of  the  state  and  in  fact  named  the  town  and  laid 
out  the  streets.  He  served  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Hnion  army  during  the  war  of  the  Eebellion  and 
died  at  Burlington  at  an  advanced  age.  His  son. 
William  H.  Peck,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Burlington,  Wisconsin,  in  1838  and  was  a 
printer  by  trade.  Having  reached  adult  age,  he 
married  Laura  Jones,  who  was  born  in  Burling- 
ton in  1848.  William  Peck  is  now  deceased  but 
the  mother  is  still  living.  In  the  family  were  six 
children. 

Professor  Peck,  the  second  in  order  of  birth. 
pursued  his  preliminary  education  in  the  public 
schools,  passing  through  successive  grades  until 
he  was  graduated  from  the  high  school  in  Wash- 
ington, Washington  county.  Kansas.  He  finihsyd 
his  course  at  the  Concordia  (Kansas)  Business 
College.  His  mother  being  a  music  teacher  and 
possessingmuch  natural  talent  along  musical  lines, 
Professor  Peck  received  excellent  training  from  bet- 
in  his  art  and  afterward  studied  in  the  Leroj 
Brown  College  of  Music  at  Chicago.  After  hav- 
ing college  he  look  up  bookkeeping,  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  two  and  a  half  years,  when  he  aban- 
doned thai  work  in  order  to  devote  his  entire  time 
to  teaching  mandolin,  guitar,  violin  and  banjo 
music.  He  also  is  well  known  as  a  composer  of 
music  and  for  his  arrangemenl  of  musical  com- 
positions and  many  of  his  own  pieces  have  been 
used  by  high  class  orchestras,  including  the  For- 
es! Nymph  Waltz;  Sleep,  My  Kittle  One.  a  lulla- 
by: the  Jolly  Blacksmith  and  others. 

Coming  to  Illinois  in  1891,  he  located  in  Chi- 
cago,   where   be    remained    until    1003.    when    be 


came  to  De  Kalb.  Here  he  entered  into  active 
professional  work,  organizing  the  George  S.  Peck 
School  of  Music,  which  has  been  very  successful, 
having  a  liberal  patronage  from  the  beginning. 
Professor  Peck  is  a  thoroughly  competent  teacher, 
for  added  to  his  own  extensive  knowledge  of  the 
art  he  has  the  ability  to  impart  readily  and  clearly 
to  others  the  knowledge  that  he  has  acquired, 
(lifted  by  nature  with  musical  talent,  he  has  de- 
\  doped  his  latent  powers  and  has  made  continuous 
advancement  in  his  profession. 

On  the  6th  of  January.  1895,  in  Kenosha,  Wis- 
consin, Mr.  Peck  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Hattie  Peterson,  who  was  born  in  Chicago,  March 
26,  1875.  Her  father,  Charles  Peterson,  was  horn 
in  Sweden  about  1845  and  came  to  America  i'i 
is;i.  settling  in  Chicago.  His  wile,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Christine  Adams,  was  Like- 
wise born  in  Sweden  in  1845  and  they  were  mar- 
ried in  their  native  land.  In  the  Peterson  family 
were  five  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Peck  is  the  third. 
She  is  a  member  of  the  First  Congregational 
church  of  De  Kalb  and  is  a  most  estimable  lady 
who  has  many  friends. 

Professor  Peck  gives  his  political  allegiance  to 
tin-  republican  party  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Royal  League.  No.  133.  He  and  his  wife  reside 
at  No.  {.;■.';  North  Seventh  street  in  De  Kalb, 
while  they  have  a  pleasant  home,  attractive  by 
reason  of  its  warm-hearted  hospitality  and  by  the 
excellent  music  which  is  there  furnished.  Profes- 
sor Peck  is  most  thorough  in  bis  art  and  has 
4' 'iic  excellent  work  as  an  instructor  as  well  as 
a  performer.  He  is  a  student,  giving  much  time 
to  the  mastery  of  music  as  set  forth  by  the  best 
composers,  and  bis  own  compositions  and  skill  with 
various  instruments  have  placed  him  far  beyond 
the  mediocre  among  the  more  successful  few. 


WIKLIAM  TI.  BA1JK. 


William  II.  Bark,  who  is  living  a  retired  life 
upon  his  farm  on  section  3,  Somonauk  township, 
was  for  more  than  forty  years  one  of  the  active 
and  progressive  farmers  of  the  county.  He  has 
lived  within  the  borders  of  the  countv  for  more 


PAST   AND   PKESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


539 


than  a  half  century,  dating  his  residence  from 
1854,  while  in  May,  1850,  he  took  up  his  abode  in 
La  Salle  county,  Illinois.  He  is  one  of  the  worthy 
citizens  that  New  York  has  furnished  to  this  state, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Fayetteville,  Onon- 
daga county,  New  York,  July  25,  1831.  His 
father,  Herdman  Bark,  was  a  native  of  England 
and  when  about  twenty  years  of  age  crossed  the 
Atlantic,  taking  up  his  abode  in  Eensselaer  county. 
New  Y"ork,  whence  he  afterward  went  to  Onondaga 
county.  He  was  a  contractor  and  jobber.  While 
living  in  the  Empire  state  he  married  Luana 
Holcomb,  a  native  of  New  York,  in  which  state 
they  continued  to  reside  until  1850,  their  children 
all  being  born  there. 

William  H.  Bark  was  reared  in  the  county  of 
his  nativity  and  acquired  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  but  the  system  of  public  instruc- 
tion then  was  very  crude  compared  to  the  modern 
methods  of  teaching.  Coming  west  when  a  young 
man  in  1850,  he  settled  upon  a  farm  in  La  Salle 
county,  Illinois.  There  he  remained  for  four 
months  when,  in  September  of  that  year,  he  re- 
turned to  New  Yrork.  His  father  and  the  family 
came  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1850  and  lived  upon 
a  farm  in  La  Salle  county  until  1853,  when  they 
came  to  De  Kalb  county.  Here  again  Herdman 
Bark  turned  his  attention  to  general  agricultural 
pursuits,  carrying  on  the  active  work  of  the  farm 
until  his  life's  labors  were  ended  in  death  in  1879. 
when  he  was  seventy-nine  year*  of  age.  His  wife 
survived  him  a  number  of  years. 

William  H.  Bark  of  this  review  is  one  of  a 
family  of  three  sons  and  three  daughters  who 
reached  mature  years,  but  he  and  his  brother 
George,  the  latter  of  Sandwich,  are  now  the  only 
survivors.  Following  his  parents'  removal  to  Illi- 
nois he  remained  for  one  year  in  Onondaga  county. 
New  York,  and  in  1851  again  went  to  La  Salle 
county,  where  he  spent  two  years,  after  which  he 
came  to  De  Kalb  county.  He  made  preparation 
for  having  a  home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage 
in  Somonauk  township.  January  1,  1857,  to  Miss 
Louisa  C.  Wright,  a  native  of  New  York,  having 
been  born  in  Monroe  county,  where  she  was  reared 
and  spent  her  girlhood  days.  Her  father,  Levi 
Wright,  became  one  of  the  pioneers  of  La  Salic 
county. 


Mr.  Bark  rented  land  for  seven  years  after  his 
marriage  and  then  purchased  a  farm  in  Sandwicn 
township,  comprising  eighty-nine  acres.  Witli 
resolute  purpose  he  took  up  the  task  of  tilling  the 
soil  and  farmed  the  place  for  a  number  of  years, 
after  which  he  bought  the  farm  upon  which  he 
now  resides,  comprising  one  hundred  and  seven- 
teen acres  of  well  improved  land.  He  carried  on 
both  farms  for  a  number  of  years  and  continued 
in  the  active  work  of  tilling  the  soil  until  189.'). 
He  also  raised  good  stock,  including  cattle  and 
hogs,  and  his  farm  in  its  different  departments 
brought  him  good  iinancial  returns.  He  found  a 
ready  sale  for  his  stock  and  crops  and  as  the  years 
went  by  he  gained  a  goodly  competence  that  now 
enables   him    to   live   retired. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bark  were  born  seven  chil- 
dren, who  are  still  living :  Lillian  Louise,  now  the 
wife  of  William  Fraser,  who  is  mentioned  elst- 
where  in  this  work ;  Addie  Mary,  now  the  wife  of 
Neal  Melnnis,  of  Big  Bock,  Kane  county,  Illinois; 
Dora  A.,  the  wife  of  Zac  Taylor  of  Hinckley,  Illi- 
nois; Clara,  the  wife  of  Frank  B.  Elliott,  a  busi- 
ness man  of  Chicago:  William  L.,  who  follows 
fanning  on  his  father's  land;  Edmond  Thomas. 
a  farmer  of  Somonauk  township;  and  Clarence 
Herbert,  of  Sandwich.  They  also  lost  one  son, 
George  Clayton,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen 
years.  The  mother  of  these  children  died  May 
12,  1895,  and  Mr.  Bark  was  again  married  on  the 
23d  of  August,  1897,  his  second  union  being  with 
Mrs.  Permelia  E.  Austin,  the  widow  of  Giles 
Austin  and  a  daughter  of  Edward  Wright,  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  this  county. 

Mr.  Bark  has  been  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows 
lodge  since  1855,  joining  the  organization  at 
Somonauk  and  later  transferring  his  membership 
to  Sandwich  lodge.  He  cast  his  first  presidential 
ballot  for  John  C.  Fremont  in  185fi.  supported 
Stephen  A.  Douglas  in  18(50  and  has  since  been  a 
democrat  where  national  questions  are  at  issue  but 
casts  an  independent  local  ballot.  His  farm  and 
his  business  interests  have  claimed  his  time  and 
attention  to  the  exclusion  of  all  desire  for  public 
office  or  active  participation  in  political  affairs. 
Fifty-seven  years  have  come  and  gone  since  he 
arrived  in  Illinois  and  that  many  are  the  changes 
which  have  occurred  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that 


.-10 


PAST    AND   PRESENT    OF  BE   KALB    COUNTY. 


land  which  originally  sold  for  one  dollar  and  a 
quarter  an  acre  when  he  first  came,  is  now  worth 
one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per  acre.  He  has 
seen  the  establishment  of  Sumonauk,  Sandwich 
and  Atlanta,  as  well  as  other  places,  and  has  wit- 
nessed the  development  of  the  county  as  it  has 
merged  from  pioneer  conditions,  leaving  behind 
the  log  cabins  and  unbroken  prairie,  and  taken 
on  the  evidences  of  modern  civilization  with  its 
fine  homes,  its  well  developed  farms  and  its  sub- 
stantia] commercial  and  industrial  enterprises. 


MRS.  ELLEN  AUGUSTA  SEBEEE  HOWELL. 

Mrs.  Ellen  Augusta  Sebree  Howell  was  bom 
January  15.  1816.  in  Squaw  Grove  township.  Be 
Kalb  county,  and  died  at  Hinckley  in  1904.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  John  S.  Sebree.  the  first  per- 
manent white  resident  of  Be  Kalb  enmity.  Mrs. 
Howell's  grandfather,  Robert  Sebree,  was  a  native 
of  Virginia.  Robert  Sebree  became  a  pioneer  resi- 
dent of  Kentucky,  where  he  and  his  son  John  S. 
became  the  managers  of  a  boat  line  on  the  Ohio 
and  Mississippi  rivers.  Later  J.  S.  Sebree  lo- 
cated in  Floyd  county.  Indiana,  where  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  Jane  Bateman,  who 
was  born  February  7.  1810.  and  died  al  Hinck- 
ley, Illinois,  October  18,  1887.  The  Sebree  fami- 
lies— Robert  and  wife,  their  sens.  John  S..  wife 
anil  sun.  William  Marshall  and  William  J.  and 
wife — were  the  first  three  permanent  white  settlers 
nf  Sipiau  ( frove  township. 

William  Johnson  Sebree,  -mi  of  Robert  Sebree, 
was  born  October  20.  1805,  and  married  Miss  In- 
diavia  Keerns,  who  was  bom  January  17,  1813. 
Their  daughter,  .Martha  Jane  (Sebree)  Jackson, 
was  the  first  white  child  born  in  De  Kalb  county. 
Her  birth  occurred  in  Squaw  Grove  township  Oc- 
tober IS.  1835.  and  she  became  the  wife  of  Amos 
Jack-on.  she  died  ai  Jamestown.  Minnesota,  in 
June.  1907.  Mrs.  Jackson  has  three  sisters :  Hes- 
ter, Ann  Sebree.  born  August  5,  L839,  and  now 
deceased:  Marv  Elizabeth  Sebree.  who  was  born 
January  3,  1845,  and  is  also  deceased:  and  Ella 
Sebree    West,    first   wile   of    Wesley    West,    father   of 

the  Misses  Bertha  and  Louella  West  of  Be  Kalb. 

Robert  Sebree's  -on.  John  S.  Sebr  e,  and  Sarah 
Jane    Sebree    were    the    parents    0f    five    children: 


William  Marshall  Sebree  is  mentioned  elsewhere 
in  this  work.  Matilda  Jane  was  born  May  14, 
1835,  and  on  the  6th  of  March.  1856,  became  the 
wife  of  [saac  Shackleton.  James  Harrison  Sebree, 
whose  birth  occurred  June  22,  1837,  wedded  Maria 
Handel  I  August  3.  1863.  His  death  occurred  July 
23,  1872,  and  their  son.  John  Sebree,  is  now  a 
resident  of  Hinckley.  Mary  Alice,  who  was  born 
December  27.  1843,  was  married  October  7,  1863, 
to  a  .Mr.  Putnam.  Ellen  Augusta,  whose  name  in- 
troduce- tin-  -ketch,  wa-  married  June  28,  1868, 
to  Stephen  Howell. 

Upon  the  death  of  her  parents  Mrs.  Howell  in- 
herited some  three  hundred  acres  of  the  most  valu- 
able land  of  Squaw  drove  township.  Mr.  and 
Mis.  Howell  for  the  first  quarter  of  a 
century  after  their  marriage  occupied  the 
t  i  is  t  house  west  of  the  corporate  limits 
of  the  village  of  Hinckley.  HowelFs  Park,  the 
popular  and  well  known  resort  for  picnics,  i-  a 
part  of  their  property.  For  years  Mr.  Howell  has 
been  extensively  engaged  in  breeding  and  training 
driving  horses  and  many  of  the  first  horses  of  the 
county  came  from  bis  stables.  lie  has  also  had 
large  dairy  interests  and  has  conducted  a  milk 
route  at  Hinckley.  They  were  classed  among  the 
leading  citizens  and  have  always  been  prominent 
in  business,  church  ami  social  affairs  of  the  com- 
munity. 


SANFORD  SWANBUM. 

Sanford  Swanbum,  one  of  the  foremosi  me- 
chanics of  the  middle  west,  having  brought  forth 
many  of  the  most  important  inventions  in  con- 
nection with  the  barb  wire  industry  and  now  oc- 
cupying a  position  as  foreman  in  the  plant  of 
the  American  Steel  &  Wire  Company  at  De  Kalb. 
lias  been  connected  with  this  factory  through 
practically  the  entire  period  of  his  business 
career,  a  fact  which  indicates  the  value  of  Irs 
services  to  the  company. 

His  life  record  began  in  Sweden  on  the  17th  of 
August.  1861,  his  parent-  being  Joseph  and  Sophia 
i  Sandburg)  Swanbum.  The  father  was  horn 
about  1833  ami  was  reared  to  farm  life  in  bis 
native  cnuntrv.  About  I860  he  emigrated  to  the 
United  States,  locating  near  Batavia,  Illinois, 
where  lie   found  employment   on   a   farm.      After 


MRS    ELLEN    HOWELL 


ASTOR,    LI 
i    TIIDEN  FOUN'DtTl.^v 


PAST   AND   PBESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


543 


about  a  year  lit  came  to  De  Kalb  and  in  18  il 

sent  for  his  family.  Soon  after  his  arrival  in 
this  city  he  went  to  work  in  the  barb  wire  shops 
in  the  employ  of  Colonel  Ellwood  and  there  re- 
mained up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred m  1888,  when  he  was  fifty-five  years  of 
age.  His  wile,  who  was  born  in  Sweden,  about 
1838,  is  still  living  and  resides  with  her  son  Allien. 

Sanford  Swanbum  was  one  of  a  family  :>f 
eleven  children,  eight  of  whom  are  living: 
Charles;  Amanda,  the  wife  of  Albert  Johnson; 
Albert:  Eobert;  Lenus;  Mathilda,  the  wife  of 
Thomas  Condren ;  Alben  and  Sanford.  With  the 
exception  of  Mrs.  Condren,  who  is  in  Chieag  i, 
all  are  residents  of  De  Kalb. 

To  the  public  schools  of  his  native  country  San- 
ford Swanbum  is  largely  indebted  for  the  educa- 
tional advantages  he  enjoyed.  He  was  a  youth 
of  ten  when  he  came  to  the  new  world  and  as 
early  as  his  twelfth  year  he  worked  on  farms 
during  the  summer  months.  At  the  age  of. fif- 
teen he  became  an  employe  in  the  Ellwood  win' 
shops  and  since  that  time  his  life  has  been  asso- 
ciated with  the  manufacture  of  barbed  wire.  He 
was  at  first  given  charge  of  the  repairing  of  the 
spools  and  on  the  advent  of  automatic  machinery 
he  was  sent  to  St.  Paul  to  operate  one  of  the 
barbed  wire  machines,  which  was  on  exhibit  there 
for  six  weeks,  a  fact  which  indicates  that  he  must 
have  been  regarded  as  the  best  workman  in  this 
line,  else  he  would  not  have  been  chosen  for  the 
purpose.  On  his  return  he  was  made  an  adjuster 
of  the  machines  and  later,  when  the  machines 
were  increased  to  the  number  of  two  hundred, 
Mr.  Swanbum  was  placed  in  charge  of  all  the  ad- 
justers or  in  other  words,  of  the  machinery  of 
the  plant.  He  has  brought  forth  many  useful 
devices  as  the  result  of  his  inventive  genius,  his 
study  and  experimenting.  In  1892  or  1893  he  was 
the  inventor  of  the  four  point  barb  wire  machines. 
-which  patent  was  signed  over  to  T.  L.  Ellwood. 
and  in  1894  he  designed  and  built  a  new  field 
fence  machine.  His  improvements  in  barb  and 
woven  wire  machinery  have  been  numerous  and 
practically  all  the  modern  wire  machinerv  used 
in  the  extensive  shops  at  this  place  have  been  the 
product  of  his  brain  and  his  mechanical  genius. 
Tn  1906  he  made  improvements  in  the  machines 
for  the  maufacture  of  the  Baker  barb  wire,  which 


revolutionized  the  manufacture  of  this  wire.  His 
work  in  inventive  lines  for  barb  wire  machinery 
and  machinery  appertaining  thereto  has  placed 
him  among  the  foremost  mechanics  of  the  west- 
ern country  and  his  work  has  brought  him  prom- 
inence in  business  circles  where  such  machinery 
is  used.  He  is  also  president  of  the  De  Kalb  Fu<  1 
&   Mercantile  Company. 

Of  genial,  social  nature,  Mr.  Swanbum  delights 
in  the  associations  of  the  Modern  Woodmen,  hold- 
ing membership  in  the  camp  at  De  Kalb.  In 
politics  he  is  an  earnest  republican.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1884  to  Miss  Ida  Munson,  a  native  of 
De  Kalb,  and  they  have  two  children:  Elvin  L. 
and  Beatrice.  They  have  a  pleasant  home  and 
find  automobiling  a  delightful  recreation,  Mr. 
Swanbum  running  a  motor  car  of  his  own  manu- 
facture. 


JOHN  GRAHAM  COOK. 

John  Graham  Cook,  engaged  in  the  transfer  and 
livery  business  in  De  Kalb,  receiving  a  patronage 
which  makes  him  a  successful  business  man,  was 
born  in  Painesville,  Ohio,  July  30,  1873.  Thoresby. 
in  his  History  of  Leeck,  says :  "At  Beeston,  York- 
shire, England,  flourished  an  ancient  family  of 
the  Gales,  yet  the  several  branches,  in  different 
towns,  are  writ  Gale,  alias  Cook — I  suppose  from 
the  office  of  their  ancestors."  In  support  of  this 
theory  it  is  said  that  it  was  no  uncommon  thing 
for  the  name  of  a  family  to  be  changed  into  that 
of  the  office  they  bore;  thus,  the  name  of  Walter, 
nr  Fitzwalter,  was  changed  into  Butler,  on  account 
of  one  Walker  having  been  butler  to  King  John, 
and  the  name  of  Milligan  was  changed  into  Synge, 
because  one  member  was  a  priest  with  a  good  voice. 
In  history  we  read  of  Norman  the  Cook  and 
Eobert  the  Cook.  They  were  witnesses  to  a  grant 
of  land  by  de  Percy  to  the  church  of  St.  Peter 
and  Hvlda.  at  Whitby.  Eobert  the  Cook  and  his 
son  had  the  hereditary  office  of  masters  of  the 
Cook  of  the  Whitby  monastery.  This  was  about 
the  middle  of  the  twelfth  century.  John  the  Cook, 
le  Cok,  represented  Herefordshire  in  parliament 
in  the  reism  of  Edward  TIT.,   about  1350.     The 


Mi 


PAST   A XD   PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


family  is  of  great  antiquity  and  importance  in 
Ireland;  no  less  than  twelve  Cooks  were  mayors 
and  bailiffs  from  the  year  1664  to  1754.  Sir 
Anthony  Cook  was  the  grandfather  of  Lord  Bacon, 
and  so  distinguished  for  learning  that  he  was 
called  the  "English  scholar."  On  account  of  his 
erudition  and  many  virtues,  he  was  invited  lo 
preside  over  the  education  of  the  young  King 
Edward  VI.  as  his  tutor.  In  Queen  Mary's  reign 
Sir  Anthony  Cook  lived  in  exile  on  account  of 
his  Protestantism,  but  returned  in  Elizabeth's 
time.  His  daughters  were  all  noted  for  their 
classical  acquirements,  and  it  was  Anne  who  was 
the  mother  of  Lord  Bacon;  her  husband  was  Sir 
Nicholas  Bacon.  Lady  Nicholas  Bacon's  sister 
Mildred  was  Lady  Burleigh,  and  another  sister 
was  the  Lady  Russell,  daughter-in-law  of  the  Earl 
of  Bedford.  Pope  honored  Thomas  Cooke,  the 
author,  with  a  place  in  the  Dunciad,  because  his 
ire  had  been  aroused  by  the  farce.  "Penelope," 
which  ridiculed  the  poet's  "Odyssey."  Descend- 
ants of  Francis  Cooke  may  claim  membership  in 
the  Mayflower  Society,  for  he  and  his  wife  Hester 
came  over  in  the  Mayflower.  Their  son  John  was 
born  in  1612,  in  Holland,  where  Francis  Cooke 
is  supposed  to  have  gone  from  England  with  the 
other  pilgrims.  He  was  one  of  those  who  signed 
the  memorable  compact  in  the  cabin  of  the  May- 
flower on  Saturday.  November  21.  1020.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1621.  while  Cooke  and  Captain  Myles 
Standisli  were  at  work  in  the  woods,  they  were 
recalled  by  an  alarm  at  the  approach  of  Indians, 
who  did  no  damage,  however,  except  to  carry  off 
the  tools  left  in  the  woods.  These  tools,  strange 
to  relate,  were  returned  by  the  Indians  a  few 
weeks  later.  Francis  Cooke,  the  great-great-great- 
great-great-great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  died 
at  Plymouth,  April  7.  1663.  Tracing  the  ancestry 
of  the  family  back  through  successive  generations 
in  America,  we  note  that  he  came  to  this  country 
in  the  Mayflower  in  1620,  and  died  April  7,  1663. 
Francis  Cook  married  Esther  Cook,  of  the  Nether- 
lands. Holland.  Their  son.  Henry  Cook,  was  mar- 
ried June  17.  1639,  to  Judith  Burdsall.  in  Salem. 
Massachusetts,  and  died  in  1661. 

Samuel  Cook,  son  of  Henry  and  Judith  (Burd- 
sall 1  Cook,  was  born  in  1641  and  was  married  on 
the  2d   of  May,   1667.  to  Hope  Parker,  who  died 


in  Wallingford,  Connecticut,  about  1687.  He 
afterward  married  Mary  Roberts  and  his  death 
occurred  in  Wallingford,  in  March,  1702. 

Ephraim  Cook,  son  of  Samuel  Cook,  was  born 
April  19,  1699,  married  Lydia  Doolittle  in  1722 
and  died  March  22,  17  74,  while  his  wife  passed 
away  on  Christmas  day  of  1785.  Elam  Cook,  son 
of  Ephraim  and  Lydia  Cook,  was  born  November 

10,  1735,  and  died  February  3,  1808.  His  wife. 
Abigail  Hall,  was  born  March  30,  1740,  and  died 
in  Ohio,  September  26,  1816.  Merimon  Cook, 
their  son  and  the  next  in  the  line  of  descent, 
was  born  November  12.  1761,  and  died  August  25. 
1858.  while  his   wife.    Sally  Bradley,   died   April 

11,  1812. 

John  Look,  son  of  Merimon  Cook,  was  bom 
Divcmber  27.  1  7S2,  was  married  in  1804  to  Meroa 
Smith  and  diet)  March  21,  1848.  Josiah  Smith 
Cook,  who  was  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
born  May  10,  1810,  and  married  Lucy  A.  Chat- 
field,  who  was  born  June  9,  1809,  and  died  De- 
cember 31.  1S50.  Their  son,  Corwin  Merimon 
Cook,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  July  16, 
1848. 

It  was  John  and  Meroa  (Smith)  Cook  who  left 
the  east  and  made  their  way  westward,  establish- 
ing their  home  in  Ohio  and  founding  the  family 
in  that  state.  Josiah  Smith  Cook,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Burton,  Ohio, 
May  10,  L810,  learned  the  tanner's  trade  there 
and  in  that  place  was  married  September  18,  1831. 
to  Lucy  A.  Chatfield.  wdiose  birth  occurred  in  Mid- 
dlefield.  Geauga  county.  Ohio,  June  4,  1809.  His 
death  occurred  February  20,  1876,  and  his  wife 
passed  away  December  31,  1850.  They  were  the 
parents  of  four  children:  John  Marcellus,  who 
was  born  July  8,  1836,  and  died  on  the  20th  of 
January.  1863:  Harriet  Lola,  who  was  born 
August  5,  1838,  and  died  December  31,  1862; 
Corwin  M..  who  was  born  July  16,  1848;  and  one 
who  died  in  infancy.  The  Cook  family  has  a 
creditable  military  record,  Merimon  Cook,  the 
great-great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  sol- 
dier of  the  Revolutionary  war.  John  Cook,  the 
great-grandfather,  was  in  the  war  of  1812,  while  a 
brother  of  our  subject,  Marcellus  S.  Cook,  was  in 
the  regular  army  as  a  member  of  Troop  D.  Elev- 
enth Cavalry,  and  died  in  the  service. 


PAST   AND   PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


545 


The  father  of  our  subject  was  also  a  native 
of  Burton,  Ohio,  and  having  arrived  at  years  of 
maturity  he  married  Hattie  Graham,  who  was 
born  in  Bidgeville,  Ohio,  July  2,  1854,  and  who 
died  in  Ligonier,  Indiana,  March  1,  1884.  Unto 
this  marriage  there  were  born  three  children,  of 
whom  John  Graham  is  the  eldest.  The  surviving 
brother.  George  Henry,  was  born  August  15,  1877, 
while  another  brother,  Marcellus  Smith,  who  was 
born  January  24,  1880,  died  May  29,  1906.  After 
losing  his  first  wife  Corwin  M.  Cook  married  Ida 
C.  Slate,  who  was  born  December  2,  1857.  They 
became  the  parents  of  two  children:  Alta  May. 
born  July  22,  1894;  and  Bernie  Corwin,  born  Sep- 
tember 22,  1888.  The  father  in  his  active  busi- 
ness life  followed  railroading,  becoming  telegraph 
operator  and  agent. 

John  Graham  Cook  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Ohio  and  Illinois  and  after  com- 
pleting his  education  he  learned  telegraphy  under 
his  father  and  gave  his  attention  to  that  busi- 
ness, being  thus  occupied  for  four  years  in  De 
Kalb.  He  then  entered  the  employ  of  the  Amer- 
ican Express  Company  and  was  soon  made  its 
agent  in  De  Kalb,  continuing  in  that  position  for 
a  year  and  a  half.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
period  he  established  an  express  and  baggage 
transfer  business,  in  which  he  has  since  continued, 
while  at  a  later  date  he  has  extended  the  field 
of  his  activities  by  establishing  a  livery  barn  and 
also  doing  a  general  teaming  business.  He  has  a 
liberal  share  of  the  city  trade  in  his  line  and  is 
meeting  with   richly  merited   success. 

Mr.  Cook  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
fraternity,  associated  with  both  the  subordinate 
lodges  and  the  uniformed  rank.  He  holds  mem- 
bership in  De  Kalb  lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M..  and  the 
Elks  lodge,  No.  765,  of  De  Kalb,  and  of  all  of 
these  organizations  is  a  worthy  representative.  His 
political  allegiance  is  given  to  the  republican  party 
and  his  religious  faith  is  indicated  by  his  being 
baptized  in  the  Episcopal  church. 

Mr.  Cook  was  married  in  De  Kalb,  July  15. 
1896,  to  Miss  Nellie  Irene  Eolfe,  who  was  born 
in  Malta,  Illinois,  November  14,  1875.  Her 
grandfather,  George  Eolfe,  was  born  October  20. 
1797.  in  England  and  came  to  America  in  1855. 
He  was  a  mason  bv  trade  and  died  in  De  Kalb. 


January  19,  1887.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Frances  Guntrip,  was  born  in  Brill,  Eng- 
land, October  14,  1798,  and  died  in  Ickford,  Eng- 
land, in  August,  1854.  They  were  married  in 
England  in  1819  and  Mrs.  Eolfe  never  came  to 
the  United  States.  After  the  death  of  his  first 
wife  George  Eolfe  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America 
and  was  married  in  this  country  to  Mrs.  Ann 
Baker,  whom  he  had  known  in  England  when 
they  were  young  people.  Baymond  Eolfe,  the 
father  of  Mrs.  Cook,  was  born  in  Ickford,  Eng- 
land, February  28,  1835,  and  came  to  America 
in  1855,  settling  in  De  Kalb  county.  He  was 
a  mason  and  contractor  by  trade  and  for  some 
years  was  identified  with  building  operations.  In 
Earlville,  Illinois,  on  the  23d  of  December,  1864, 
he  wedded  Miss  Delpha  Munger,  who  was  born  in 
Blaine,  Boone  county,  Illinois,  December  8,  1843. 
By  this  marriage  there  were  six  children,  of  whom 
Mrs.  Cook  is  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth.  The 
others  are:  Henry  Edwin,  born  October  16, 
1865;  Francis  B.,  who  was  born  September  11, 
1869,  and  lived  only  three  days;  Salina  Dora, 
who  was  born  September  1,  1870,  and  lived  only 
fifteen  months;  Frank  A.,  who  was  born  May  7. 
1873 ;  and  George  Baymond,  born  March  25,  1881. 
Mr.  Cook  is  a  self-made  man,  who  started  out 
in  life  on  his  own  account  without  financial  aid 
and  by  his  honesty  and  industry  has  worked  his 
way  upward  until  he  is  recognized  as  one  of  De 
Kalb's  substantial  business  men.  He  has  a  large 
sum  invested  in  his  business  and  in  addition  to 
this  he  owns  city  property  of  value.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cook  are  pleasant,  genial  people,  who  occupy 
an  enviable  position  in  social  circles  and  are  es- 
teemed bv  all  who  know  them. 


OSCAE  W.  ANDERSON. 

Oscar  W.  Anderson  is  with  the  American  Wire 
&  Steel  Company  at  De  Kalb.  Sweden  has  fur- 
nished to  this  city  quite  a  large  percentage  of  its 
substantial  business  men — men  who  are  prominent 
in  its  industrial  and  commercial  circles  and  who 
are  found  reliable  as  well  as  enterprising  and  pro- 
gressive.     To   this   class   belongs   Mr.    Anderson, 


PAST   AND   PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


who  was  bom  in  Sweden,  July  15,  1856,  and  .s 
a  son  of  Anders  G.  Anderson,  who  is  mentioned 
elsewhere  in  tins  volume  in  connection  with  the 
sketch  of  the  firm  of  Anderson  Brothers,  well 
known  merchants  of  De  Kalb. 

i  >scar  W.  Anderson  arrived  in  the  United  St.  I 
in  1881,  when  a  young  man  of  twenty-live  years. 
and  came  at  once  to  the  city  in  which  he  now 
resides.  After  working  for  about  five  months  is 
a  farm  hand  he  entered  the  shops  of  the  Haish 
barb  wire  factory,  where  he  was  employed  for 
some  years.  He  afterward  left  there  and  went 
to  work  for  the  Ellwoods,  and  when  that  plant 

passed  into   po ion  of  the  American   Steel   & 

Wire  Company  Mr.  Anderson  remained  in  the 
shop  where  he  is  now  employed  and  where  he 
operates  one  of  the  woven  wire  fence  machines. 
On  the  31st  of  October,  1890,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  Oscar  W.  Anderson  and  -Miss  Amanda 
Erickson.  a  native  of  Sweden,  who  came  to  the 
Unit- 1  States  in  September,  188G.  Three  chil- 
dren were  born  unto  them,  of  whom  two  are 
living:  flattie  Caroline  and  Irene  Jeannette.  Mr. 
Anderson  gives  his  political  allegiance  to  the  re- 
publican party  but  has  never  sought  or  desired 
office.  Whatever  success  he  has  achieved  is  due 
entirely  to  his  own  labors,  for  he  had  no  capital 
when  he  came  to  the  new  world  and  his  industry 
and  abilities  have  brought  him  all  of  the  comforts 
of  life  that  he  has  known. 


HENRY  WHITE. 

Henry  White,  whose  life  has  been  somewhat 
eventful,  presenting  varied  experiences,  but  who 
is  now  living  retired  at  a  pleasant  home  in  Di 
Kalb.  is  a  nat  e  o  I  agland.  He  was  horn  at 
Bierton.  near  Aylesbury,  Bui  m,  on  the  10th 

of  August.  1836.  Hi-  father.  Jacob  White,  who 
was  horn  in  England,  August  24.  1793.  -pen 
entire  life  in  his  native  country.  He  was  an 
innkeeper  mid  i  ottager,who  conducted  a  small  fruit 
farm.  His  death  occurred  in  England.  August 
2.  1872.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  nan 
Elizabeth  Gray,  was  also  born  in  England  and 
passed  away  there.  In  their  family  were  eleven 
children. 


Henry  White  of  this  review  was  the  younges 
and   was   educated   in  the  public   schools  of  his 
native  town.     When  he  considered  his  education 
completed  he  began  work  as  a  farm  hand  and  was 
thus    employed    until   twenty   years    of    age.      He 
cairn    to  America  in  1856  on  a  sailing  vessel,  which 
n-as   -       H-eeks  and  five  days  in  making  th.'  trip, 
and  he  located  hi  De  Kali)  county.  Illinois,  bi 
for  two  years  employed  at  the  depot   in  the  city 
of    1><'    Kail).     On   the  expiration  of  that    perio 
he  went  to  California,  crossing  the  plain-  m  com- 
pany   with    Robert    Duffy,    William    Taylor    and 
Henry   Arnold.     They  made   the   trip  with   three 
yoke  of  oxen  and  after  traveling  for  live  months 

--  the  plain-,  over  the  hot  stretches  of   - 
and  through  the  mountain  passes,  they  arrived  at 
'         m  Valley,  Nevada.     Mr.  White  then  made  a 
trip  to  Mono  lake,  requiring  seven  days  on  foot, 
and  for  three  days  he  was  without  list- 

ing only  on  water.  Subsequently  he  crossed  the 
mountains  to  Sonora,  California,  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  return  to  De  Kalb  after  an  inter- 
val of  four  and  a  half  years.  Not  finding  goli 
he  had  hoped  to  do.  he  worked  on  a  ranch  and  in 
til  lie  again  came  to  the  middle 
ni  journey  being  made  by  water  to 
New  York  city.  I'pon  Ins  return  to  Illinois  he 
worked  a-  switchman  at  the  depot  at  Ashton  and 
later  he  engaged  in  farming.  He  afterward  spent 
a  years  as  baggageman  in  the  employ  of  the 
Northwestern  Railroad  Company  at  De  Kalb.  sub- 
sequent to  which  tune  he  began  teaming,  continu- 
ing in  the  business  for  six  years.  In  1883  he 
bought  a  neat  market  in  connection  with  Walter 
White,  conducting  the  enterprise  under  the  firm 
style  of  W.  &  H.  White.  He  continued  in  this 
until  IS87,  when  he  bought  our  his  partner's  inter- 
est, after  which  he  carried  on  business  alone  until 
L896.  lie  then  retired  and  has  since  enjoyed  a 
well  earned  rest,  having  in  former  years  acquired 

mpetence  sufficient  to  supply  him  with  all  of 

the   com  fori-   and    some   of   the  luxuries   of  life. 
lb   now  owns  his  residence  at  No.  221  North  Third 
street  and   likewise  has  a  store  at  No.   •.".'"    I 
Main  street,  which  he  rents. 

On  the  16th  of  March.  1865,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  Henry  White  and  Miss  Phoeba  L.  Pdount. 
who  was  born  in  Bulwick.  Northamptonshiiv 
England.  July  11.  1S44.  Her  parents  were  Wil- 
liam and   Elizabeth   (Schulthorp)  Blount,  both  of 


MK.  AM)  mi:*,  iikxey  wiiitk. 


"37TE  NEW  YORin 

^bliclibrary! 

,'ST°R.    LENOX 
lJ2i££^OUNDATION8 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALI'.  COUNTY. 


549 


whom  were  natives  of  England,  in  which  country 
they  spent  their  entire  lives.  In  their  family 
were  ten  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  White  was  the 
youngest.  Her  eldest  brother,  William,  was  in 
the  war  between  China  and  England.  Unto  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  White  have  been  born  two  children: 
Rosa  Emily,  who  was  born  September  28,  1867, 
and  is  now  Mrs.  Willis  Hauser ;  and  Clara  Ann. 
who  was  born  October  24,  1869,  and  is  now  Mrs. 
Charles  Keefe.  The  elder  daughter  has  four  chil- 
dren: Woodling  M.,  Warren  C,  Evelyn  L.  and 
Ruth  J.  Mrs.  Keefe's  children  are:  Henry,  Wil- 
lard,  Leonard,  Leonora,  Robert  and  Rosa. 

Mr.  White  is  a  Mason,  belonging  to  De  Kalb 
lodge,  No.   144,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  he  and  Ins 
wife   are  members  of  Normal  chapter,  No.   357, 
0.  E.  S.     They  are  also  identified  with  the  Epis- 
copal church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  White  is  a  dem- 
ocrat.     He   has   never   sought   or   desired   public 
office,  however,  preferring  to  concentrate  his  ener- 
gies upon  his  business  affairs.    He  came  to  Amer- 
ica empty-handed,  but  through  his  honesty  and 
industry  has  made  his  way  onward  and  upward 
until  he  is  now  enabled  to  live  retired  from  busi- 
ness with  an  income  sufficient  to  supply  him  with 
all  of  the  comforts  and  some  of  the  luxuries  of 
life.     He  and  his  wife  occupy  a  beautiful  home 
in  De  Kalb  and  enjoy  the  warm  regard  and  kindly 
esteem  of   all  who  know   them.     Mr.  White  has 
three  times  gone  to  the  old  country  and  returned 
and  from  California  he  made  his  way  to  New  York 
by  way  of  the  isthmus  route.     Mrs.    White    has 
spent  one  winter  in  California,  so  that  they  are 
both   somewhat   familiar  with  the   Golden   State. 
Mr.  White  has  undergone  many  somewhat  unique 
and  unusual  experiences  in  his  life  in  the  west 
and  elsewhere  and  as  the  years  have  passed  by  he 
has  not  only  advanced  to  a  creditable  position  in 
business  circles  but  has  also  enjoyed  in  large  meas- 
ure the  esteem  and  good  will  of  all  with  whom 
he  has  been  brought  in  contact. 


JOHN  JOHNSON. 


The  farming  interests  of  Afton  township  find  a 
worthy  representative  in  John  Johnson.  He  was 
born  in  Smolen,  Sweden,  July  20,  1827,  and  was 
the  voungest  child  of  John   and   Lena  Johnson, 


natives  of  Sweden.  His  father  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation  and  spent  his  entire  life  in  his  native 
country,  where  he  passed  away  in  1831.  His  wire 
was  afterward  married,  in  1834,  to  John  Gustav- 
son,  and  in  1857  they  came  to  the  United  States. 
Mrs.  Gustavson  died  in  1883. 

John  Johnson  of  this  review  obtained  a  com- 
mon-school education   in  his  native  country  and 
remained  with  his  step-father  until  fourteen  years 
of  age.     He  afterward  began  to  earn  his  own  liv- 
ing by  his  work   as  a  farm  hand   and  was  thus 
employed  until  1853,  when  he  came  to  the  United 
States,    settling    in    De    Kalb.    Illinois.     He    had 
heard  favorable  reports  concerning  the  opportuni- 
ties afforded   in   the  new  world   and   resolved   to 
try  his  fortune  in  America.     He  first  worked  on 
the  railroad,  which  was  then  being  builded  in  this 
part  of  the  state.     After  four  months  he  secured 
employment  as  a  farm  hand  near  Sycamore,  where 
he  continued  until  1859,  when  he  started  west  in 
search  of  gold,  attracted  by  the  discoveries  which 
had  been  made  on  the  Pacific  coast.     In  company 
with    thirteen    others,    each   having    a   team   and 
wagon,  he  made  the  trip,  spending  six  months' 
time  at  Pike's  Peak,  Colorado,  and  thence  proceed- 
ing to  Red  Bluffs,  California.     After  a  short  time 
Mr.  Johnson  continued  on  his  way  to  Weaverville, 
California,  where  he  worked  in  the  mines  for  sixty 
dollars  a  month.    After  four  months  spent  m  that 
way,  he  went  to  Siskiyou  county,  California,  where 
he  began  to  cut  and  haul  cord  wood.     He  was 
very  successful  in  that  business  and  there  remained 
until  the  fall  of  1861,  when  he  boarded  a  steamer 
bound  for  New  York.    The  vessel  weighed  anchor 
at   San   Francisco   and   reached   the   eastern   port 
several   months  later.     In    October   of   the   same 
year  Mr.  Johnson  returned  to  Illinois,  but  spent 
the  winter  at   Chester,  Indiana.     In  the   follow- 
ing spring  he  came  to  Afton  township,  De  Kalb 
county,  and  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion  10.     Here  he  still  makes  his  home  but  as 
the  years  have  passed,  he  has  added  to  his  pos- 
sessions as  his  financial  resources  have  increased., 
at  one  time  having  owned  six  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  of  land.     He  has  since  sold  the  greater  part 
of  his  land  to  his  children  but  reserves  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  for  his  own  use.    This  tract 
is    operated    by    his    youngest    son,    Albert.     He 


550 


PAST   AND   PKESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


brought  liis  land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation 
and  developed  his  farm  into  very  valuable  prop- 
i  rty.  Everything  about  the  place  is  neat  and 
thirfty  in  appearance  and  indicates  the  careful 
supervision  of  one  who  has  long  been  recognized 
as  a  practical  and  progressive  fanner  of  De  Kalb 
county. 

On  December  20,  1862,  Mr.  Johnson  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Anderson,  who  was  born 
at  Smolen,  Sweden,  in  1  837,  and  came  to  tlu- 
United  States  in  185;.  As  the  years  passed  nine 
children  were  added  to  the  family :  Allen,  a 
fanner  in  De  Kalb  township:  Ed.  who  was  bom 
August  17,  1865,  and  follows  farming  in  De  Kalb 
township;  Helen,  who  was  born  May  23,  1866; 
Tillie,  horn  August  14,  1868;  Fred,  born  Sep- 
tember 27,  1871,  and  died  October  5,  1- 
Charles,  a  farmer  in  Afton  township:  Minnie. 
born  April  24,  1874;  Albert,  hum  June  25,  1878. 
who  operates  his  fathers  farm  :  and  Victory,  who 
was  born  February  24.   1882,  and   died   in  1886. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  an  ardent  republican,  unwaver- 
ing in  his  support  of  the  principles  of  the  party. 
li  has  never  sought  nor  desired  public  office 
as  a  reward  for  his  party  fealty.  He  and  his  wife 
arc  members  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church  and 
are  worthy  people  who  receive  and  merit  high 
esteem.  He  came  to  the  United  States  when  » 
young  man  twenty-six  years  of  age.  anxious  to 
better  his  financial  condition,  and  as  the  year- 
have  passed  he  has  worked  his  way  steadily  up- 
ward from  a  humble  place  to  one  of  affhi< 
He  is  now  ably  assisted  by  his  >on.  Albert,  who 
is  an  enterprising  and  progressive  voting  farmer. 


of  De  Kalb  until  1891.  In  the  meantime  he  had 
carefully  saved  his  earnings  and  when  his  capital 
was  sufficient  he  invested  in  one  hundred  and  ten 

-  of  land  on  section  33,  De  Kalb  township. 
Tins  he  has  improved  until  it  is  one  of  the  most 
productive  farms  in  his  part  of  trie  county,  the 

-  bringing  forth  rich  harvests  annually,  while 
era  improvemi  added  as  opportunity 
ed,  tlie  place  being  transformed  into  a  splen- 
did property.     Mr.  Johnson  continued  to  operate 
t he  farm  until  1899,  his  sister  acting  as  his  house- 

-  r,  when  he  went  to  California,  where  h 
remained  for  three  years,  traveling  ah  over  the 
state.  He  made  the  trip  largely  for  pleasure  and 
greatly  enjoyed  his  sojourn  in  the  golden  west. 
While  on  this  trip  lie  carried  a  camera  and  wis 
much  interested  in  amateur  photography,  taking 
many  excellent  pictures. 

In  1901,  while  in  Santa  Cruz,  California,  Mr. 
Johnson  met  and  married  Miss  Daisy  Bowman,  a 
resident  of  that  place.  He  remained  upon  the 
Pacific  coast  until  1903,  when  he  returned  to 
De  Kalb  township  and  resumed  farming  upon  his 
own  place,  which  he  lias  since  successfully  oper- 
ated. He  is  also  interested  in  the  dairy  business 
at  the  present  time  and  this  is  bringing  to  him  a 
goodly  competence.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  now 
have  a  little  daughter.  Mildred  Iantha,  born  March 
S,   1907. 

Mr.  Johnson  exercises  his  right  of  franchise 
in  support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  re- 
publican party.  He  has  served  his  township  as 
clerk  and  his  school  district  as  director.  He  and 
his  wife  are  much  esteemed  in  the  community 
where  they  reside,  while  the  hospitality  of  their 
is   greatly  enjoyed  by  their  many  friends. 


AI.I.FA    JOHNSON. 


Allen  Johnson,  a  resident  farmer  of  De  Kalb 
township,  was  born  October  9,  1863,  in  Afton 
township,  this  county,  the  eldest  son  of  John 
Johnson.  At  the  usual  age  he  entered  the  com- 
mon schools,  pursuing  his  education  in  Afton 
town-hip.  and  when  not  busy  with  his  text-books 
he  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  until  twentv- 
two  years  of  age.  He  then  started  out  in  life  on 
his  own  account  and  was  employed  in  the  vicinity 


JOSEPH  WILLIAM  SWANSON. 

Joseph  William  Swanson,  the  leading  contractor 
and  builder  of  Shabbona,  has  developed  a  business 
of  large  proportion-,  executing  important  con- 
tracts and  greatly  improving  the  city  by  the  excel- 
lence of  his  handiwork  and  hi?  attractive  ideas 
which  are  presented  artistically.  A  native  of 
Chicago.  Mr.  Swanson  was  born  March  11.  1861. 


PAST   AND    PKESENT   OF  DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


5.51 


His  father,  John  Swanson,  was  bora  in  Sweden 
and   the  year    1854   witnessed   his   arrival   in    the 
United  States,  at  which  time  he  took  up  his  abode 
in  Chicago.     He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and, 
after   serving   a   regular   apprenticeship,   followed 
that  pursuit  in  his  native  country.     He  also  at- 
tended school  there  and  when  he  put   aside   his 
text-books,  his   time   and   energies   were   given   to 
the  builder's  art.     He  became  a  skilled  workman 
and    lound   ready    employ  men  I   in    Chicago    alter 
coming  to  the  new  world.     In  18b;i,  However,  lie 
left  that  city  and  took  up  his  abode  on  a  farm 
in  Shabbona  township,  He  Kalb  county,  two  mixes 
west  of  the  village  of  Shabbona.     He  rented  land 
for  some  years  and  then  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  about  a  mile  west  of  the  village, 
where  he  remained  for  eight  years,  bringing  th. 
fields   under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.     On  tlie 
expiration  of  that  period,  he  sold  his  farm  and 
removed   to    Shabbona,   where  he   again  took   up 
work  at  his  trade.     He  assisted  in  building  the 
Baptist   and    Congregational   churches   and   many 
other  important  structures  of  that  place.    He  con- 
tributed in  no  small  degree  to  its  early  improve- 
ment and  development  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  church,  in  which  he  served  as  one 
of  its  officers  and  took  an  active  and  helpful  part 
in  its  work.     His  early  political  support  was  given 
the  republican  party,  but  m  later  life  he  allied 
himself  with  the  prohibition  party,  being  a  warm 
friend  of  the  cause  of  temperance.     He  was  for 
some  time  a  member  of  the  village  board  and  did 
all    in    his    power    to    further   progressive    public 
measures  and  aid  in  the  work  of  general  improve- 
ment  in   Shabbona.     In  early  manhood  John   P. 
Swanson  married  Miss  Anna  Sophia  Johnson,  who 
was    born    at    Sweden    and    was   married    in    that 
country.     She  holds  membership  in  the  Congrega- 
tional   church    and    is    a   lady   whose   many   good 
qualities  have  gained  her  a  large  circle  of  warm 
friends.      Mr.   Swanson   died    in    1903   at   the  age 
of  seventy-one  years,  but  his  widow  still  survives 
him   and   is  now  seventy-eight  years  of  ace.     In 
their  family  were  twelve  children  :     Christine,  the 
wife    of    John    Erickson    of    Shabbona    township: 
John,  who  operates  a  threshing  machine  and  corn 
sheller  in  "Waterman :  Charles,  a  carpenter  of  Earl- 
ville,  Illinois:  Joseph,  of  this  review:   Theodora 


a  carpenter  at  U  hittemore,  Iowa;  Andrew,  who 
is  in  the  Alaskan  gold  lieids;  loa,  the  wife  of 
William  llempie,  who  formerly  followed  mining 
and  is  now  living  in  Iowa;  Amanda  and  Clara, 
both  now  deceased;  Amelia,  the  wife  of  11.  B. 
Baker,  who  is  on  a  ranch  in  California;  Emma, 
a  trained  nurse  in  Chicago;  and  Anna,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  twelve  years. 

Joseph  W.  Swanson  lived  upon  the  home  farm 
until  seventeen  years  of  age  and  during  that  time 
pursued  his  education  in  the  district  schools  and 
in  the  public  schools  of  Shabbona.  He  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade  with  his  father  and  worked 
with  him  for  some  time.  Since  1886  he  has  been 
engaged  in  contracting  and  building  and  has 
erected  practically  all  the  principal  residences  m 
Shabbona.  He  has  contracts  for  the  year  1907  in 
De  Kalb  and  Sycamore.  He  is  the  principal  con- 
tractor and  builder  in  Shabbona  and  his  business 
has  reached  extensive  proportions  so  that  he  is 
now  meeting  with  very  gratifying  success  in  his 
work.  His  own  home  is  a  beautiful  residence 
which  was  built  by  him  after  designs  which  he 
made. 

Mrs.  Swanson,  who  presides  with  gracious  hos- 
pitality, over  her  home,  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Anna  Gustavus  Strem  and  was  born  in  Sweden 
in  1864.  Her  parents  were  Peter  and  Johanna 
Strem,  who  came  to  the  United  States  in  1868. 
locating  on  a  farm  in  Clinton  township,  De  Kalb 
county.  Illinois,  after  living  for  a  year  in  the  city 
of  De  Kalb.  The  father  .lied  in  V.m,  and  the 
mother  now  makes  her  home  with  a  daughter  in 
Clinton  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swanson  have 
four  children:  Frank,  who  is  n  carpenter  in 
business  with  his  father:  Lillie.  who  died  at  the 
age  of  four  years :  Raymond  and  Lois. 

The  parents  are  members  of  the  Congregational 
church  in  which  Mr.  Swanson  is  serving  as  trus- 
tee. They  contribute  liberally  to  the  support  of 
the  church  and  are  active  and  earnest  in  this  work. 
Mr.  Swanson  formerly  voted  with  the  republican 
party,  but  his  views  upon  the  temperance  ques- 
tion led  him  to  give  his  allegiance  to  the  prohibi- 
tion party.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  village 
board  and  has  been  a  school  director  for  manv 
years.  In  his  business  life  he  has  made  steady 
progress.     Having  thoroughly  mastered  the  trade 


552 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


in  his  youth,  as  the  years  have  passed  by  he  has 
become  ail  expert  workman,  thoroughly  acquainted 
with  the  business.  His  skill  and  handiwork  arc 
evidenced  in  the  line  structures  of  the  city,  and 
his  patronage  has  grown  to  extensive  proportions. 
He  is  now  one  of  the  substantial  residents  of 
Shabbona  and,  moreover,  is  respected  by  all  with 
whom  he  comes  in  contact. 


WILLIAM  B.  WARD. 


William  B.  Ward,  now  living  on  a  farm  in 
Ophir  township,  La  Salle  county,  is  a  native  of 
Desplaines,  Illinois,  where  his  birth  occurred  Feb- 
ruary 2.  1872.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry  A.  and 
Mary  M.  (Root)  Ward,  who  are  mentioned  on 
another  page  of  this  work.  He  pursued  his  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  Desplaines,  Norwood  Park 
and  Sycamore,  and  throughout  his  entire  life  he 
has  followed  farming  and  the  hotel  business.  He 
now  resides  on  a  farm  in  Ophir  township,  La  Salle 
county,  just  outside  of  Sycamore,  and  he  is  well 
known  in  De  Kalb  county.  In  his  farming  oper- 
ations he  is  energetic  and  active  and  has  cultivated 
his  fields  in  most  capable  manner,  making  his 
farm  very  productive. 

Mr.  Ward  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary 
E.  Westgate,  a  native  of  La  Salle  county,  born 
October  31,  1878,  and  a  daughter  of  David  W. 
Westgate.  Her  father  was  born  in  La  Salle 
Salle  county.  August  10,  1880,  and  lives  on  sec- 
tion 18,  Ophir  township.  His  parents  were  Abner 
D.  and  Calrina  (Waterman)  Westgate,  who  were 
married  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  May  20,  1830.  They 
came  to  Illinois  in  1833  and  in  1834  settled  in 
La  Salle  county,  taking  up  government  land  in 
Ophir  township.  The  family  thus  became  closely 
associated  with  pioneer  life  and  with  the  early 
development  and  progress  of  the  county.  David 
W.  Westgate,  one  of  a  family  of  eleven  children, 
spent  his  boyhood  days  upon  the  home  farm  amid 
pioneer  scenes  and  environments  and  acquired  his 
education  in  one  of  the  old  time  log  school 
houses.  At  the  age  of  twenty-three  years  he  was 
married,  on  the  22d  of  June.  1862,  to  Miss  Martha 
Ann  Oibbs,  who  was  born  in  Quincy,  Illinois,  May 


29,  IS  12,  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Abbie  Ann 
(Green)  Gibbs.  Following  their  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Westgate  lived  on  a  farm  given  to  them 
I  iv  his  father.  A  few  years  later  he  purchased 
the  farm  on  which  he  now  lives  on  section  18, 
Ophir  township.  It  was  partially  improved  but 
the  house  was  not  finished  and  the  buildings  were 
poor,  but  with  characteristic  energy  he  took  up 
the  task  of  developing  the  land  and  adding  mort- 
em equipments  and  he  now  owns  five  hundred  and 
thirty  acres,  of  which  three  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  acres  was  a  part  of  his  father's  old  homestead. 
He  has  prospered  in  his  farming  operations  and 
has  dealt  extensively  in  cattle,  buying,  selling  and 
feeding,  for  many  years.  The  business  has 
brought  him  a  good  financial  return  and  he  is 
well  known  as  an  enterprising  and  successful 
farmer  and  stockman.  In  more  recent  years,  when 
his  success  has  not  made  it  imperative  for  him  1o 
give  undivided  attention  to  his  business,  ne  has 
visited  many  parts  of  the  country,  traveling  quite 
extensively  in  company  with  his  wife.  He  is  one 
of  the  most  respected  and  valued  residents  of  Fa 
Salle  county,  and  one  of  its  most  honored  pioneer 
citizens,  having  for  almost  seventy  years  resided 
within  its  borders. 

Onto  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Ward  have  been  born  two 
children:  Zaida  Pauline,  whose  birth  occurred 
June  26,  1900;  and  Leroy  Westgate,  born  Decem- 
ber 13,  1904.  Mr.  Ward  is  independent  in  poli- 
tics, voting  for  men  and  measures  rather  than  for 
party.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
his  membership  being  in  the  lodge  and  chapter  at 
Sycamore,  and  he  is  a  worthy  exemplar  of  the 
craft.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ward  are  highly  es- 
teemed people,  representing  old  Illinois  families 
and  are  well  worthy  of  mention  in  this  volume. 


L.   O.  JOHNSON. 


One  nf  the  enterprising  young  business  men  of 
Sycamore  is  L.  O.  Johnson,  proprietor  of  the 
Sycamore  Steam  Laundry.  His  life  record  began 
in  Norway,  on  the  2d  of  October.  1876,  and  when 
eighteen  months  old  he  was  brought  to  America 
In  his  parents,  who  settled  on  a  farm  in  Chippewa 


L.  0.  JOHNSON. 


CAST    AND    l'UHSKXT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


county.  Minnesota.  Later  they  removed  to  North 
Dakota,  where  the  subject  of  this  review  spent 
his  boyhood  days.  The  father,  Ole  Johnson,  is 
still  living  and  is  a  farmer  of  Minnesota,  but  the 
mother  died  when  her  son  L.  0.  was  but  seven 
years  of  age.     In  the  family  were  four  children. 

L.  0.  Johnson,  the  only  one  in  Illinois,  was  a 
public-school  student  until  twelve  years  of  age, 
when  he  began  earning  his  own  living  as  chore 
boy  in  a  hotel.  He  has  since  been  dependent  upon 
his  own  resources  and  whatever  success  he  has 
achieved  has  resulted  entirely  from  his  own  labors. 
He  is  an  experienced  laundryman,  having  worked 
at  the  business  from  the  age  of  twenty  years,  and 
he  understands  every  phase  of  the  work  from 
boiler  room  to  office.  He  ran  the  boiler  and  engine 
in  a  De  Kalb  laundry  for  four  years,  and  in  Oc- 
tober, 1005,  he  leased  the  Sycamore  Laundry,  con- 
ducting now  the  only  business  of  the  kind  in  the 
city.  His  plant  is  situated  on  Maple  street,  east 
of  State  street,  in  a  two-story  brick  building.  The 
plant  is  heated  by  steam  furnished  from  an  electric 
light  plant,  and  electricity  is  used  for  motive 
power,  for  heating  rollers  and  smoothing  irons. 
Already  he  has  secured  a  liberal  patronage  and  his 
business  is  steadily  growing,  for  he  makes  earnest 
effort  to  please  his  customers  and  turns  out  first 
class  work. 

In  1901  Mr.  Johnson  was  married  to  Miss  Mar- 
garet Mulligan,  who  was  born  in  Janesville,  Wis- 
consin. She  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  churcl 
and  Mr.  Johnson  attends  its  services.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity  and 
has  rapidly  won  a  place  in  public  favor  during 
his  residence  in  Sycamore. 


WILLIAM  J.  PASLEY. 

William  J.  Pasley  is  the  owner  of  a  small  but 
well  improved  and  valuable  farm  of  forty  acres 
just  outside  of  the  city  limits  of  De  Kalb,  and 
upon  this  place  he  has  resided  for  almost  a  half 
century.  He  was  born  in  Fountain  county,  Indi- 
ana, August  24,  1833.  His  father.  James  Pasley 
a  native  of  Kentucky,  came  to  Illinois  in  1835  and 
as  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  in  this  part  of  the 
state  bore  a  share  in  the  work  of  development  and 
improvement.     He   died  in  the  vear  1851.     His 


wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  Carney, 
was  born  in  Ohio  in  the  year  1SU(J,  and  they 
were  married  in  Hamilton  county,  that  state. 
As  the  years  passed  six  children  were  added  to 
their  household,  but  William  J.  Pasley  is  the  only- 
one  now  living. 

When  less  than  two  years  of  age  William  J. 
Pasley  was  brought  to  Illinois  by  his  parents  so 
that  for  more  than  the  Psalmist's  allotted  span  of 
three  score  years  and  ten,  he  has  witnessed  the 
growth  of  this  part  of  the  state.  He  was  reared 
amid  the  usual  scenes  and  environments  of  pioneer 
life  and  shared  in  the  hardships,  trials  and  priva- 
tions  which  usually  fall  to  the  lot  of  those  who 
settle  on  the  frontier.  His  memory  goes  back 
to  the  time  when  many  of  the  homes  were  log 
cabins  and  when  one  could  ride  miles  over  the 
prairie  without  coming  to  a  fence  or  habitation 
to  impede  his  progress.  Few  roads  had  been  laid 
out;  streams  were  unbridged  and  the  land  un- 
cultivated. Most  of  the  farm  work  was  done  by 
hand,  the  sickle  and  hand-plow  being  important 
features  in  the  work  of  tilling  the  fields.  The 
cooking  was  usually  done  over  fireplaces  and 
candles  were  used  in  lighting  the  house.  Many 
changes  have  since  occurred  and  Mr.  Pasley  has 
watched  with  interest  the  transformation  that  has 
marked  the  development  and  upbuilding  of  the 
county. 

On  the  11th  of  February,  185S,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Phebe  Elizabeth  Schoonover,  who  was 
born  in  Bradford  county,  Pennsylvania,  June  28, 
1838.  Her  father  was  born  in  Tioga  county,  New 
York,  November  23,  1808,  and  her  mother's  birth 
occurred  in  Dutchess  county,  New  York,  Novem- 
ber 4,  1813.  Mrs.  Schoonover  went  to  Susque- 
hanna county,  Pennsylvania,  when  eighteen  years 
of  age  and  was  married  there.  The  family  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  that  locality  until  1855,  when 
they  came  to  De  Kalb  county,  Illinois,  where  the 
father  died  February  16,  1880.  His  wife  sur- 
vived him  for  about  sixteen  years  and  passed 
away  August  23,  1896. 

At  the  time  of  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Pasley  took  up  their  abode  on  the  farm  which 
has  since  been  their  home.  He  has  always  car- 
ried on  general  agricultural  pursuits,  but  his  la- 
bors were  interrupted  by  one  year's  service  in  the 


556 


PAST   AND   PEESENT    OF    1>E    KALB    COUNTY. 


Civil  war  in  defense  of  the  Union  cause.  He  then 
returned  home  and  resumed  the  cultivation  of  his 
farm,  which  business  has  claimed  his  time  and 
attention  to  the  present.  He  owns  forty  acres  of 
land  just  outside  of  the  city  limits  of  De  Kalb. 
which  is  worth  two  hundred  dollars  per  acre. 

Unto  Mrs.  and  Mr.  Pasley  have  been  born  six 
children:  Florence,  born  October  18,  1858;  James, 
born  January  12,  1860;  Albert,  born  January  4. 
1862;  Perry,  born  January  11,  1867;  Ellie,  born 
August  29,  1871 ;  and  John,  who  was  born  August 
2,  1873,  and  died  in  1880. 

Mr.  Pasley  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
Stephen  A.  Douglas  and  has  always  supported  the 
democratic  party.  He  and  his  wife  attend  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Their  youngest 
daughter  is  a  graduate  of  a  school  in  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  and  for  two  years  acted  as  book- 
keeper in  that  city.  No  history  of  De  Kalb  county 
would  be  complete  without  mention  of  the  life  of 
Mr.  Pasley,  and  few  indeed  are  the  settlers  who 
have  so  long  resided  within  the  county  borders. 
His  mind  bears  the  impress  of  many  early  events 
which  are  now  found  on  the  pages  of  these  an- 
nals and  he  relates. in  interesting  manner  many 
reminiscences  of  pioneer  times  when  the  work  of 
progress  and  upbuilding  had  scarcely  been  begun 
m  this  part  of  the  state.  He  has  always  borne  his 
share  in  the  work  of  general  improvement,  especi- 
ally along  agricultural  lines,  and  he  is  justly  ac- 
counted one  of  the  venerable  .  itizens  of  this  sec- 
tion of  Illinois. 


WILLIAM  CONNELL. 


The  farming  interests  of  Victor  township  find 
a  worthy  representative  in  William  Connell,  who 
is  living  on  section  28.  He  carries  on  general 
farming  and  stock  raising  and  feeding,  owning  a 
place  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  con- 
stitutes one  of  the  attractive  features  of  the  land- 
scape because  of  its  well  kept  appearance.  A  na- 
tive son  of  De  Kalb  county,  he  was  horn  in  Paw 
Paw  township.  June  10.  1848.  His  father.  Den- 
nis Connell,  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  county. 
coming  here  when   a  young  man   and   casting  in 


his  lot  with  the  early  settlers,  who  promoted  the 
work  of  reclamation  whereby  the  county  was  trans- 
formed from  a  wild  and  uninhabited  district  into 
one  of  rich  fertility  with  a  large  and  prosperous 
population.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Tanner,  a 
daughter  of  one  of  the  early  settlers.  Dennis  Con- 
nell opened  up  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  eighty- 
one  acres  in  Paw  Paw  township,  performing  the 
arduous  task  of  transforming  raw  land  into  richly 
productive  fields.  Upon  this  farm  he  reared  his 
family  and  spent  his  remaining  days,  his  death 
occurring  on  the  17th  of  August.  1889.  His 
wife  died  in  May.  1896. 

William  Connell  of  this  review  is  one  of  a  fami- 
ly of  two  sons  and  two  daughters  still  living. 
Those  deceased  are  Irene,  Lewis,  Birdie,  Delbert, 
George  and  Frank.  Of  those  living  Charles  owns 
and  operates  the  old  homestead  farm  and  lives 
there  with  his  sisters,  Elmira  and  Mary.  Wil- 
liam Council  was  reared  to  manhood  upon  his 
father's  farm  and  assisted  him  in  the  work  of 
cultivating  the  place  until  after  he  had  attained 
his  majority.  His  education  was  afforded  by  the 
distrid  schools  of  the  neighborhood  and  when  not 
busy  with  his  text-books  he  was  usually  occupied 
with   the  work  of  the  fields. 

On  the  1  lib  of  October,  1880,  he  married  Miss 
Mary  Stern  of  Paw  Paw  township,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  when  a  little  maiden  of  six 
years  came  to  Illinois  with  her  father,  John  Stern, 
who  removed  from  the  Keystone  state  and  settled 
in  Victor  township  in  1865  but  in  1886  removed 
to  Paw-  Paw  township.  Prior  to  his  marriage  Mr. 
Connell  had  purchased  the  farm  on  section  28, 
Victor  township,  on  which  he  now  resides,  and  to 
this  place  he  brought  his  bride.  He  has  always 
lived  here  and  in  the  meantime  he  has  greatly 
improved  the  property  through  the  erection  of  A 
good  two-story  frame  residence,  a  substantial  barn. 
corn  cribs  and  other  buildings  for  the  shelter  of 
grain  and  stock.  He  has  also  put  in  a  wind  pump, 
has  planted  shade  and  ornamental  trees  and  has 
a  good  orchard.  In  fact  everything  about  the 
place  is  kept  in  excellent  condition  and  indicate^ 
the  progressive  spirit  of  the  owner,  who  in  con- 
nection with  the  tillinsr  of  the  soil  raises  high 
grades  of  horses.  Durham  cattle  and  good  hoes. 
He  feeds  quite  a  lnr(rp  amount  of  stock  annually 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


557 


and  this  branch  of  his  business  is  to  him  an  im- 
portant  source  of  revenue. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Connell  has  been  born  a 
daughter,  Gertie,  now  the  wife  of  George  W. 
Roinpf,  living  with  our  subject.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Connell  are  widely  and  favorably  known  in 
the  county  where  they  have  so  long  resided. 
Politically  he  is  a  democrat  but  casts  an  independ- 
ent local  ballot.  He  has  never  desired  office,  pre- 
ferring to  give  his  undivided  time  and  attention 
to  his  business  interests,  in  which  he  has  met  with 
signal  success.  His  father  was  one  of  the  old 
stage  drivers  between  Chicago  and  Dixon  and  the 
family  has  been  known  in  this  part  of  the  state 
from  an  early  period  in  its  pioneer  development. 
Mr.  Connell  has  lived  in  the  county  for  almost 
sixty  years  and  the  events  which  have  shaped  its 
history  are  therefore  largely  familiar  to  him. 


ROBERT  ST.  JOHN  LECKY. 

Robert  St.  John  Lecky,  who  for  a  number  of 
years  has  been  engaged  in  business  as  a  painting 
contractor  in  Sycamore,  was  born  in  Brooklyn, 
New  York,  August  22,  1876,  and  comes  of  Irish 
ancestry.  His  father,  Joseph  Lecky,  was  born  in 
Dublin,  Ireland,  in  1836,  and  in  1858,  when  a 
young  man  of  twenty-two  years,  came  to  America., 
after  having  acquired  his  education  in  Belfast, 
Ireland.  He  was  connected  with  the  boards  of 
trade  in  New  York  and  Chicago,  removing  to  the 
latter  city  in  1872.  He  was  twice  married,  his 
first  union  being  with  Grace  Beasly,  who  was  born 
in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  in  1843.  She  died  in 
1878,  at  which  time  Robert  St.  John  Lecky  was 
only  a  year  and  a  half  old.  He  was  the  youngest 
child  and  the  only  son  in  the  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren. The  father  afterward  married  Georgiana 
Houghton,  who  was  to  our  subject  a  most  devoted 
and  faithful  mother.  She  was  born  in  England  in 
1836,  was  married  to  Mr.  Lecky  in  New  York  and 
is  now  living  at  Pacific  Beach.  California.  Mr. 
Lecky  departed  this  life  in  1897. 

Robert  St.  John  Lecky  began  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  Brooklyn  and  continued  his  studies 
in  the  public  schools  of  Chicago,  being  graduated 


from  the  high  school  of  that  city  in  the  class  of 
1895.  After  putting  aside  his  text-books  he 
learned  the  painter's  trade  and  entered  actively 
upon  that  work,  which  he  has  since  followed.  He 
came  to  Sycamore  in  May,  1903,  and  began  busi- 
ness here  as  a  painter  and  contractor,  in  which 
line  he  has  since  continued.  He  is  an  excellent 
workman  and  has  received  a  very  liberal  patron- 
age because  of  his  faithfulness  to  the  terms  of  a 
contract  and  his  reliability.  He  always  uses  the 
best  materials  and  gives  entire  satisfaction  by  the 
capable  manner  in  which  he  attends  to  the  work 
entrusted  to  his  care.  He  can  be  relied  upon  in 
every  way  and  this  insures  him  a  continuance  of 
a  liberal  patronage  and  of  the  public  confidence. 
He  has  also  become  the  owner  of  some  good  prop- 
erty in  Sycamore. 

Mr.  Lecky  served  for  three  years  in  the  state 
militia  of  Illinois  and  then  received  an  honor- 
able discharge.  His  father  was  a  colonel  in  the 
English  army  and  was  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  fraternity.  Mr.  Lecky  of  this  review, 
however,  is  connected  with  no  secret  order.  His 
political  allegiance  is  given  to  the  republican  party 
and  he  attends  the  services  of  the  Congregational 
church,  as  it  is  more  nearly  allied  to  his  views 
on  religious  questions  than  any  other.    He  has  in- 

il 1  made  a  creditable  record  in  business  life  and 

since  coming  to  Sycamore  has  made  for  himself 
an  enviable  place  in  public  regard.  A  genial  man- 
ner and  unfailing  courtesy,  combined  with  defer- 
ence for  the  opinions  of  others,  have  made  him 
popular  and  he  is  prominent  in  social  circles  of  the 
city. 


SAMUEL  P.  BRAD  SHAW. 

Samuel  P.  Bradshaw,  who  has  successfully  con- 
trolled important  business  interests,  displaying  an 
ability  that  has  gained  him  classification  with  men 
of  enterprise  who  are  pushing  forward  the  wheels 
of  commercial  and  industrial  progress,  is  now  liv- 
ing in  Do  Kalb.  He  was  born  in  Brooklyn.  New 
York,  November  14.  184  7.  His  father,  Hamilton 
Y.  Bradshaw.  was  a  native  of  Saratoga  county. 
New  York,  born  in  October.  1817,  and  was  a  law- 
yer by  profession,  becoming  an  able  member  of  the 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


New  York  bar.  lie  married  Caroline  A.  Peck, 
whose  birth  occurred  m  Dutchess  county,  New 
York,  in  1818. 

Samuel  P.  Bradshaw  supplemented  his  early 
educational  privileges  by  study  in  South  Brooklyn 
Academy.  After  leaving  school  lie  entered  tht 
office  of  an  importing  house  and  there  his  trust- 
worthiness and  ability  won  him  recognition  in 
rapid  promotion  until  he  became  cashier  and  cred- 
ltinan  of  the  institution.  In  18TS  he  removed  to 
the  west,  taking  up  his  abode  in  De  Kalb,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  Here  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  soap  and  later  was  for  lour  years 
a  cashier  of  the  Barb  City  Bank.  He  is  directly 
interested  in  the  manufacture  of  rubber  with  a 
New  York  house,  being  secretary  and  treasurer  of 
the  company.  In  1895  he  was  chosen  justice  of 
the  peace  of  De  Kalb  and  still  fills  that  position. 
He  has  largely  closed  out  his  business  interests 
here,  however,  but  is  yet  recognized  as  one  of  the 
leading  citizens  of  De  Kalb,  having  the  individual 
force  and  keen  discernment  which  would  make 
him  a  leader  of  public  thought  and  action  in  any 
community.  He  owns  considerable  city  property 
here,  having  made  judicious  investment  in  real 
estate. 

On  the  15th  of  December,  1875,  Mr.  Bradshaw 
was  married  at  Ausable  Forks.  Essex  county.  New 
York,  to  Miss  Juliette  G.  Burt,  who  was  there 
born  March  i.  1852.  Her  father,  George  M.  Bur'. 
was  born  in  Saratoga  county,  New  York,  in  1S00, 
and  married  Charlotte  Gross,  a  native  of  Eliza- 
bethtown,  New  York,  born  in  181S.  The  father 
was  twice  married  and  had  four  children,  three 
by  the  first  marriage,  all  of  whom  are  now  de- 
ceased, and  Mrs.  Bradshaw  by  the  second  mar- 
riage, who  is  still  living.  The  father  was  an  iron 
manufacturer.  Mrs.  Bradshaw  was  educated  ;n 
Keeseville  Academy,  in  Clinton  county,  New 
York,  and  by  her  marriage  has  become  the  mother 
of  three  sons  and  a" daughter:  George  B..  Ham- 
ilton. William  H.  and  Isabel.  All  have  been  pro- 
vided with  conegt-  educations  and  the  eldesl  son  is 
a  mechanical  engineer,  while  Hamilton  is  a  chem- 
ist. William  H.  is  now  a  student  in  the  Massa- 
chusetts School  of  Technology,  and  Isabel  is  com- 
pleting: her  education  in  Wellesley  College  near 
Boston. 


Mr.  Bradshaw  has  given  his  allegiance  to  the 
republican  party  since  age  conferred  upon  him  the 
right  of  franchise,  but  the  honors  and  emoluments 
of  office  have  had  no  attraction  for  him.  He  has. 
however,  kept  well  informed  concerning  political 
questions  and  indeed  is  a  man  of  scholarly  attain- 
ments, who  has  read  broadly,  thinks  deeply  and 
assimilates  what  he  reads.  He  is  an  interesting 
conversationalist,  many  friends  finding  in  him  a 
congenial  companion,  and  wherever  he  goes  he 
wins  the  warm  regard  of  those  with  whom  he  is 
brought  in  contact.  He  resides  at  No.  615  South 
Third  where  he  and  his  family  are  pleas- 

antly located.  His  advancement  in  life  has  come 
in  recognition  of  ability  and  has  enabled  him  to. 
lea  '  the  ranks  of  the  many  and  gain  a  place 
among  the  successful  few.  He  early  realized  that 
there  is  no  royal  road  to  wealth  but  that  the  re- 
wards of  earnest,  persistent  labor,  guided  by  sound 
judgment  are  sure,  and  in  his  business  career  he 
has  gained  gratifying  and  honorable  success. 


ELI  B.  GILBERT. 


Eli  B.  Gilbert,  once  an  attorney,  notary  public 
and  justice  of  the  peace  at   DeKalb,  Illinois,  was 
born  in  Laurens.  Otsego  county.  New  York.  April 
12,  1822,  and  died  in  DeKalb  in  1895.  His  parents 
were  Aimer  and  Betsey  (Balcom)  Gilbert,  natives 
of  Massachusetts  and  of  New  York,  respectively. 
Their   family  numbered   four  children   including 
Eli  B.  Gilbert,  who  was  eight  years  of  age  when  his 
parents  removed  to  Norwich,  Yew  York.     There 
he  resided  until  his  arrival  in  DeKalb  count v   in 
1  s  I i .    He  attended  the  common  schools  until  six- 
teen  rears  of  age,  when  he  entered  Norwich  Acad- 
emy, where  he  continued  his  studies  for  two  vears. 
He  then  engaged  in  teaching  school  for  six  years, 
ding  three  years  of  that  time  in  Sycamore, 
Illinois,  where  he  located  on  coming  to  this  state. 
Having  learned  the  trade  of  carpentering  in  1850, 
he  began  to  follow  the  builder's  art  and  continued 
in  carpenter  work  until  1856.     In  the  meantime 
he  took  up  the  study  of  law  and  in  the  year  men- 
tioned began  preparation  for  the  bar.     Two  vears 
later  he  was  admitted  to  practice  and  remained  a 
member  of  the  bar  of  DeKalb  countv  until  his 


ELI     B.GILBERT 


)Nd. 


PAST  AND  PEESENT  OF  DE  KALE  COUNTY. 


561 


death.     In  April.   1856,  he  removed  from   Syea- 

'e  to  DeKalb  and  in  1856  was  elected  justice 

of  the  peace,  in  which  capacity  he  served  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death.  In  1866  he  was  elected 
president  of  the  village  board  and  became  ex-officio 
supervisor  of  DeKalb  township.  In  politics  he 
was  a  republican  and  it  was  upon  that  ticket  that 
he  was  called  to  the  office.  In  the  summer  and 
fall  of  1860  he  was  editor  of  the  DeKalb  Leader 
and  advocated  the  election  of  Presideni  Lincoln. 

On  Christmas  day  of  1851  Mr.  Gilbert  was 
married  to  Miss  Lois  A.  Needham,  a  daughter  of 
Benjamin  C.  Needham  and  a  native  of  Vermont, 
in  which  state  her  parents  were  also  born.  Of  the 
three  children  bom  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilbert 
one  daughter  survives — Mrs.  Josephine  L.  Orr, 
the  wife  of  John  S.  Orr,  a  prominent  resident  of 
DeKalb. 

Mr.  Gilbert  was  a  man  of  kindly  disposition, 
a  quality  which  was  manifested  not  only  in  his 
private  life  but  in  his  public  service  as  well.  As 
justice  of  the  peace  he  was  all  that  that  name 
implied.  He  sought  peace  rather  than  litigation 
.•i  in  I  was  noted  for  the  number  of  cases  which  he 
kept  out  of  court,  advising  a  settlement  without 
recourse  to  law.  He  took  a  prominent  part  in 
polities,  being  recognized  as  one  of  the  local  lead- 
ers (it  the  republican  party  and  at  all  times  keep- 
ing well  informed  on  questions  and  issues  of  the 
day.  He  was  a  man  whom  everybody  respected 
and  admired,  because  his  life  was  upright,  his 
actions  honorable  and  his  purposes  commendable. 


ED  WEIGHT. 


Ed  Wright  lives  upon  a  farm  on  section  34, 
Somonauk  township  and  has  charge  of  his  father's 
estate,  comprising  three  hundred  and  fifty-four 
acres  and  constituting  a  rich  and  productive  tract. 
In  the  care  of  this  property  he  shows  thorough 
acquaintance  with  modern  agricultural  methods. 
One  of  De  Kalb  county's  native  sons,  he  was  born 
November  11.  1864.  His  father,  T.  J.  Wright, 
was  a  native  of  Genesee  county,  New  York,  born 
in  1830.  while  the  grandfather  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  the  Empire  state.  He  removed  westward 
in    1844,   being   one   of   the   first   settlers   of   De 


Nail)  county,  lie  pre-empted  land  from  the  gov- 
ernment, securing  one  hundred  and  eighty-four 
acres,  after  which  he  opened  up  and  made  a  farm, 
spending  his  last  days  upon  the  old  home  property, 
which  through  his  labors  had  been  transformed 
from  a  raw  tract  into  one  of  rich  fertility.  He 
aided  in  laying  broad  and  deep  the  foundation  for 
the  present  development  and  prosperity  of  the 
county  and  at  all  times  bore  his  part  in  the  work 
of  substantial  progress,  being  an  active  factor  in 
those  movements  which  worked  for  the  develop- 
ment of  the  community. 

T.  J.  Wright,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a 
youth  of  fourteen  years  when  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  Illinois,  spending  his  youth  amid  fron- 
tier scenes  and  environments.  He  aided  in  the 
arduous  task  of  cultivating  the  land,  following  the 
breaking  plow  and  planting  the  first  seeds  in  many 
a  furrow.  Having  attained  his  majority  he  mar- 
ried Lois  M.  Gage,  a  native  of  New  York,  and 
daughter  of  Alvaris  Gage,  who  settled  here  in 
1843.  Mr.  Wright,  was  a  farmer  who  owned  and 
operated  three  farms,  which  are,  however,  now 
joined  into  one  farm  with  two  sets  of  buildings 
upon  it.  He  stood  for  progress  and  improvement 
in  agricultural  lines  and  his  capable  management 
and  keen  business  discernment  brought  him  suc- 
cess and  made  him  one  of  the  prominent  men  of 
the  community.  After  some  years  he  established 
the  Somonauk  Bank  and  took  up  his  abode  in  the 
village  of  Somonauk.  where  he  was  closely  con- 
nected with  financial  interests  until  his  death  on 
the  6th  of  January.  1907.  His  name  was  an 
honored  one  on  commercial  paper  and  wherever 
known  he  won  respect  because  of  his  business-  ac- 
tivitv  and  probity.  His  wife  survives  him  and 
now  lives  in  Somonauk. 

Ed  Wright  of  this  review  was  reared  upon  the 
old  home  farm  to  the  age  of  eight  years  and  then 
took  up  his  abode  with  his  parents  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Somonauk.  where  lie  acquired  a  good  Eng- 
lish education.  He  took  charge  of  the  farm  and 
business  in  1887  and  has  since  brought  the  fields 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  has  tiled 
the  land,  divided  the  farm  into  fields  of  convenient 
size  by  well  kept  fences  and  has  put  up  ample 
shelter  for  the  grain  and  stock  in  his  barns  and 
outbuildings.     In  addition  to  the  general  work  of 


562 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OP   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


the  farm  he  is  engaged  in  raising  pure  blooded 
Holstein  cattle  and  is  engaged  in  the  dairy  busi- 
ness. He  also  raises  and  feeds  hogs  and  ships 
two  or  three  carloads  of  fat  hogs  annually.  Many 
horses  of  high  grade  are  found  upon  his  place  and 
he  is  accounted  a  successful  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser. 

On  the  19th  of  May,  1887,  Mr.  Wright  was 
married  in  Somonauk  to  Miss  Anna  R.  Hunt,  who 
was  there  born  and  reared,  a  daughter  of  D.  J. 
Hunt,  one  of  the  early  settlers,  who  came  from 
Pennsylvania  to  Illinois.  They  now  have  two 
children:     Raymond  and  Aileen. 

Politically  Mr.  Wright  was  formerly  a  demo- 
crat, but  he  now  casts  an  independent  local  ballot, 
supporting  men  and  measures  rather  than  party. 
He  and  his  family  attend  and  support  the  Congre- 
gational church  of  Somonauk.  of  which  his  wife 
and  son  are  members.  Mr.  Wrighr  Belongs  to  the 
Modern  Woodmen  camp  at  Somonauk  and  is  well 
known  in  the  community  where  he  has  always 
lived.  He  is  a  man  of  social,  genial  nature  and 
readily  wins  friends  and.  moreover,  has  the  happy 
faculty  of  retaining  them.  In  his  business  affairs 
he  is  straightforward  and  reliable  and  his  classifi- 
cation with  the  representative  agriculturists  of  the 
communitv  receives  the  endorsement  of  publk 
opinion. 


WILLIAM  HARTSON  ALDRICH. 

William  Hartson  Aldrich.,  connected  with  the 
True  Republican  office  at  Sycamore  for  the  past 
four  years,  was  born  on  a  farm  three  miles  south- 
west of  Spencer  in  Clay  county,  Iowa.  August  13. 
1888.  His  father  was  Avery  Judson  Aldrich  and 
his  mother  in  her  maidenhood  was  Mary  Eliza- 
beth Dennis. 

Mr.  Aldrich  of  this  review  acquired  his  earlv 
education  in  the  district  schools  of  Clay  county 
and  afterward  attended  the  public  school  at  Mason 
City,  Iowa,  and  Breck  College  at  Windom,  Jack- 
son county.  Minnesota,  being  graduated  on  the 
completion  of  the  academic  course  in  the  year 
1002.  In  January,  1889,  be  had  become  a  resi- 
dent of  Sycamore.  Illinois,  but  in  t^e  soring  of 
that  vear   removed    to   Paw   Paw.   Illinois,   and   in 


October,  1890,  located  at  Spencer,  Iowa.  Anxious 
to  improve  his  education,  he  entered  Breck  Col- 
lege and  following  the  completion  of  the  academic 
course  there  in  1902  he  again  came  to  Sycamore. 
On  the  5th  of  January,  1903,  he  entered  the  office 
of  the  True  Republican,  where  he  has  since  re- 
mained. He  has  a  bright  future  before  him  in  the 
publishing  line,  being  associated  with  one  of  the 
leading  newspapers  of  the  county.  Among  his 
sterling  and  salient  characteristics  are  numbered 
energy,  integrity  ami  determination  and  these 
prove  an  excellent  foundation  upon  which  to  build 
the  superstructure  of  advancement  and  success. 


ARTHUR  A.  LUDWTG. 


Arthur  A.  Ludwig,  who  is  engaged  in  the  drug 
and  grocery  business  in  Sycamore,  was  born  in 
Hudderslield,  England,  January  26,  1865,  his 
parents  being  Louis  and  Christine  (Watt)  Lud- 
wig, the  former  a  native  of  Germany  and  the  latter 
of  Edinburgh,  Scotland.  The  father,  who  was  a 
jeweler  by  trade  came  to  America  with  his  family 
in  1870  but  both  he  and  his  wife  are  now  de- 
ceased. Their  children  were  three  in  number: 
Mrs.  Jessie  E.  Doidge,  born  February  28,  1860; 
James  L..  born  October  26,  1862.  now  deceased; 
and  Arthur  A. 

The  last  named  was  five  years  of  age  when 
brought  across  the  Atlantic  by  his  parents,  wno 
settled  in  Chicago,  where  he  pursued  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools.  He  afterward  pre- 
pared for  the  line  of  life  which  he  had  chosen  by 
becoming  a  student  in  the  Illinois  College  of 
Pharmacy.  There  he  completed  the  regular  course 
.•mil  after  leaving  college  he  entered  a  drug  store 
in  the  capacity  of  clerk.  In  1901  he  came  to 
Sycamore,  where  he  accepted  a  clerkship  in  the 
drug  store  of  Sivwright,  Irish  &  Company,  with 
whom  he  continued  until  June.  1904.  when  he 
purchased  the  interests  of  Mr.  Trish  and  became  a 
partner  in  the  enterprise.  He  owns  a  third  inter- 
est in  the  store.  This  is  the  oldest  store  of  the 
kind  in  the  citv.  having  been  the  property  succes- 
sively  of  J.  E.  Ellwood  &  P.n,ther.  Ellwood  & 
Sivwright.  Sivwrieht,  Trish  &  Palmer.  Sivwrisht. 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


563 


Irish  &  Company,  Sivwright,  Johnson  &  Com- 
pany, and  at  present  Johnson,  Ludwig  &  Nelson. 
On  the  8th  of  June,  1902,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  Arthur  A.  Ludwig  and  Miss  Alice  M. 
Brown,  who  was  born  in  Oswega,  New  York, 
January  15,  1871,  and  who  departed  this  life  on 
the  22d  of  August,  1903.  Mr.  Ludwig  was  again 
married  May  15,  1907,  his  second  union  being 
with  Miss  Lillian  Ohlmaeher,  a  daughter  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Chris  J.  Ohlmaeher,  an  old  time  resi- 
dent of  Sycamore  in  the  plumbing  business.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Ludwig  make  their  home  at  111  East 
Sycamore  street. 

Mr.  Ludwig  belongs  to  Sycamore  lodge,  No. 
134,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Sycamore  lodge,  No.  105, 
I.  0.  O.  F. ;  Auburn  Park  council,  No.  133,  Eoyal 
League;  and  the  Sycamore  Commercial  Club; 
while  in  his  political  allegiance  he  is  a  stalwart 
republican,  keeping  well  informed  on  the  issues 
of  the  day,  yet  never  seeking  or  desiring  office. 
His  religious  faith  is  indicated  by  his  membership 
in  the  Episcopal  church. 


WILLIAM  J.  RUMNEY. 

The  Evergreen  Park  farm  is  an  excellent  prop- 
erty on  section  28,  Somonauk  township,  owned  by 
William  J.  Rumney,  a  prosperous  and  progressive 
agriculturist.  The  place  comprises  one  hundred 
and  twenty-two  acres  about  one  and  a  half  miles 
from  the  village  of  Somonauk  and  two  miles  from 
Sandwich.  It  takes  merely  a  glance  at  the  farm 
to  recognize  the  fact  that  the  owner  is  most  prac- 
tical in  his  methods.  He  was  born  in  Adams 
township,  La  Salle  county,  Illinois,  April  1,  I860. 

His  father,  Robert  Rumney,  was  a  native  of 
England  and  when  a  young  man  came  to  the  new 
world,  spending  four  years  in  New  York.  In 
1854  he  arrived  in  Illinois,  settling  in  La  Salle 
county,  where  he  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Skin- 
ner, also  a  native  of  England.  Following  that  im- 
portant event  in  his  life  Mr.  Rumney  bought  a 
farm  in  La  Salle  county  and  made  his  home  there- 
on until  1895.  carefully  cultivating  the  land  as 
the  years  passed  by  and  thereby  adding  to  its  pro- 


ductiveness and  value.  He  lost  his  first  wife  in 
1876  and  afterward  married  again,  subsequent 
to  which  time  he  removed  to  Somonauk,  where  he 
now  lives  retired. 

William  J.   Rumney  grew  to  manhood  in  th*3 
county  of  his  nativity  as  a  member  of  a  household 
to  which  belonged  three  sons  and  three  daughters, 
all  of  whom  are  yet  living.     He  obtained  a  com- 
mon   school   education   and   in   his   boyhood    and 
youth  worked  in  the  fields  and  meadows,  remain- 
ing with  his  father  up  to  the  time  of  his  marriage. 
On  the  19th  of  December,  1889,  in  Adams  town- 
ship, he  wedded  Miss  Mary  Etta  Stoutenburg,  who 
was  born  in  that  township,  a  daughter  of  Evert 
Stoutenburg,   a  native  of  Dutchess  county,   New 
York,  of  German    parentage.     Mr.    Stoutenburg 
was  reared  in  the  county  of  his  nativity  and  was 
there  married  to  Miss  Mary  Elizabeth  TJhl,  who 
was  likewise  born  in  that  neighborhood.     He  was 
an   old   settler   of   Illinois,   locating   in   La   Salle 
county  in  1851.     He  lived  there  before  the  rail- 
roads were  built  and  opened  up  a  farm  upon  the 
wild  prairie,  transforming  it  into  productive  fields, 
which  he  carefully  cultivated,  thus  adding  to  itn 
value. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rumney  began  their  domestic  life 
upon  the  Stoutenburg  farm,  which  Mr.  Rumney 
cultivated    for    two   years    and   then   removed   to 
Northville  township,  where  he  also  followed  farm- 
ing for  three  years.     Subsequently  he  spent  six 
years  upon  the  Rumney  homestead  and  in  1901 
purchased  the  Evergreen  Park  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-two  acres  on  section  28,  Somo- 
nauk township.    He  keeps  everything  in  good  con- 
dition, has  repaired  and  remodeled  the  house,  has 
built  a  large  barn,  fenced  the  land,  set  out  fruits 
and  in  fact  has  added  all  the  improvements  and 
accessories  of  a  model  farm  of  the  twentieth  cen- 
tury.    Stock-raising  constitutes   a   branch  of  his 
business.    He  has  made  a  specialty  of  raising  and 
feeding  hogs,  shipping  about  a  carload  per  year 
and   also  a  large  quantity  of  cattle.     He  works 
energetically  and  his  diligence   and   perseverance 
have  been  important  factors  in  his  success.    Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rumney  have  been  born  two  chil- 
dren:    Verma,  now  a  student  in  the  high  school 
of  Somonauk:  and  Lloyd  H..  also  a  student  in 
the  village. 


564 


PAST    AND    PEESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


Mr.  Euinney  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  republican  party  and  is  also  deep- 
ly interested  in  the  cause  of  education,  having 
served  for  a  number  of  years  on  the  school  board. 
He  belongs  to  the  Modern  Wooaman  camp  at 
Somonauk,  is  a  man  of  genuine  worth,  progressive 
in  citizenship,  straightforward  in  'business  and  the 
Evergreen  Park  farm  is  a  visible  evidence  of  his 
life  of  thrift  and  diligence. 


HAEEY    WABD    McEWEX. 

Harry  Ward  McEwen,  although  one  of  the 
younger  members  of  the  De  Kalb  county  bar,  has 
gained  recognition  as  one  of  its  able  representa- 
tives and  the  large  clientage  accorded  him  is 
proof  of  his  ability  and  the  trust  reposed  in  him 
by  the  general  public.  He  was  born  in  the  city 
of  De  Kalb,  January  17,  1875,  and  is  a  son  )f 
Lewis  M.  and  Elizabeth  (Ward)  McEwen,  who 
are  represented  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 

Mr.  McEwen  was  reared  at  home  and  attended 
successively  the  different  grades  of  the  grammar 
and  high  schools  of  De  Kalb,  being  graduated 
from  the  latter  in  the  class  of  1892.  In  the  fol- 
lowing year  he  went  to  Chicago  and  entered  upon 
the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Pease  &  McEwen. 
and  in  the  fall  of  1803  became  a  student  in  the 
Chicago  College  of  Law,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  189C.  Soon  afterward  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  and  entering  the  office  of  his  former 
preceptors,  he  remained  with  them  until  the  ap- 
pointment of  W.  M.  McEwen  to  the  office  of  at- 
torney of  the  sanitary  district  of  Chicago,  -it 
which  time  the  firm  was  dissolved.  Harry  W.  Mc- 
Ewen then  engaged  in  the  private  practice  of  law. 
In  1901  his  brother  Willard  M.  and  Joseph  Weis- 
senbach formed  a  partnership,  and  entering  their 
office  Mr.  McEwen  of  this  review  remained  witli 
them  until  his  brother's  election  to  the  bench  ia 
1903,  when  that  partnership  was  dissolved  and  H. 
W.  McEwen  once  more  took  up  private  practice 
with  offices  in  the  Stock  Exchange  Building,  where 
he  is  still  located.  After  his  fathers  death  in  1905 
lie  found  in  expedient  to  remove  to  Do  Kalb  to 
look  after  the  estate  and  in  July  established  his 
family  in  a  pleasant  home  in  his  native  town,  at 
the  same  time  opening  an  office  here.     He  still 


retains  his  Chicago  office,  however,  but  is  not 
reaching  out  after  new  business  there,  merely  car- 
ing for  the  interests  of  his  old  clients.  He  is 
recognized  as  one  of  the  able  attorneys  of  De  Kalb 
county,  having  inherited  many  of  the  strong 
characteristics  and  points  of  ability  of  his  fa- 
ther. He  is  careful  in  the  preparation  of  his 
cases,  logical  in  argument  and  strong  in  his 
reasoning  and  has  won  an  honorable  place  as  an 
able  practitioner  of  the  De  Kalb  county  bar. 

In  politics  Mr.  McEwen  is  an  earnest  repub- 
li,  an.  He  belongs  to  the  Baptist  church,  of  which 
he  is  ;i  trustee,  and  his  interests  in  community  af- 
fairs is  manifest  in  tangible  co-operation  for  the 

public  good. 

Mr.  McEwen  married  Miss  Mary  H.  Goodrich, 
a  daughter  of  Erastus  and  Phoebe  (Dodge)  Good- 
rich, who  were  pioneer  residents  of  De  Kalb 
county,  coming  hither  from  the  state  of  New- 
York.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McEwen  have  two  sons. 
Willard  Lewis  and  George  Milton.  They  are  well 
known  socially  in  the  city,  enjoying  the  favorable 
regard  of  the  large  majority  of  thoHe  with  wnora 
thej  have  been  brought  in  contact  and  in  the  city 
of  his  nativity  Mr.  McEwen  has  attained  an  envi- 
able position  as  an  able  lawyer,  his  life  record 
therefore  standing  in  contradistinction  to  the  old 
adage  that  a  "prophel  i-  aever  without  honoT  save 
in  his  own  country." 


WILLIAM  SHUEY. 


William  Shuey,  who  departed  this  life  on  the 
1st  of  January.  1902,  was  for  many  years  an  enter- 
prising agriculturist  of  De  Kalb  county,  continu- 
ing actively  in  business  up  to  the  time  of  his  de- 
mise. He  was  respected  wherever  known  and  mosl 
of  all  where  best  known — a  fact  which  indicated 
the  many  good  qualities  which  he  displayed. 

A  native  of  Carroll  county.  Maryland.  Mr. 
Shuey  was  born  in  Warlieldsburg.  October  26, 
IMS.  a  son  of  Henry  and  Lucretia  (Carr)  Shiiev. 
Reared  and  educated  in  Maryland,  he  came  to 
[llinois  in  1870,  settling  in  De  Kalb  county  after 
working  for  a  few  months  in  Chicago.  He  then 
removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Sycamore,  taking  up  his 


WILLIAM  SHUEY. 


THE  NEW  YORK  I 

PUBLIC  LIBRARY; 


ASTOR,    LENOX 
JtUEN  FOUNDATIOWH 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


567 


abode  on  a  farm,  and  throughout  the  remainder  ol 
his  business  career  his  time  and  energies  were  de- 
voted to  general  agricultural  pursuits,  with  the 
result  that  his  close  application  and  careful  man- 
agement brought  him  a  gratifying  measure  of  pros- 
perity. At  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  two 
hundred  and  eighty-seven  acres  of  valuable  land. 

In  1873  Mr.  Shuey  sought  and  won  a  companion 
for  life's  journey  in  his  marriage  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Helson,  who  was  born  about  six  miles  from. 
Sycamore  on  the  line  between  Kane  and  De  Kalb 
counties.  She  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Jane)  Helson,  natives  of  England,  of  whom  ex- 
tended mention  is  made  on  another  page  of  this 
volume.  In  1848  her  parents  came  to  this  country 
and  three  years  later  took  up  their  residence  in 
De  Kalb  county,  where  they  continued  to  make 
their  home  until  death.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shuey 
was  born  a  daughter,  Minnie,  who  is  now  the  wife 
of  Eev.  E.  S.  Nicholas,  a  minister  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church. 

Politically  Mr.  Shuey  was  a  democrat,  but  never 
desired  office.  He  was  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  while  Mrs.  Shuey  holds,  member- 
ship with  the  Congregational  church.  He" was' a' 
man  of  fine  physique,  strong  and  robust  up  to  his 
last  days.  He  was  honest  and  frugal,  careful  iaa 
expenditures  and  in  the  management  of  his  busi- 
ness interests  and  this  enabled  him  to  leave  his 
family  in  comfortable  financial  circumstances. 
He  was  widely  known  as  a  good  neighbor  and 
friend  and  a  most  devoted  husband  and  father 
and  he  never  hesitated  to  help  a  fellow  being,  even 
at  the  cost  of  personal  sacrifice.  Mrs.  Shuey  re- 
sides at  No.  113  High  street,  Sycamore,  where  she 
purchased  a  beautiful  home.  She  also  owns  a  farm 
near  the  city  which  she  rents.  She  is  a  most 
estimable  lady  and  the  circle  of  her  friends  is  an 
extensive  one. 


HENRY  J.  TURNER. 


Henry  J.  Turner,  who  for  many  years  has  been 
engaged  in  the  creamery  business  in  Sycamore,  is 
a  native  of  Elgin,  Illinois,  born  July  26,  1863. 
His  father,  John  H.  Turner,  who  came  to  this 
stale  at  an  early  day  from  his  native  country, 
Germanv,  is  now  residing  at  South  Elgin,  at  the 


age  of  eighty  years,  but  the  mother  died  December 
7,  1901. 

Henry  J.  Turner  spent  his  boyhood  youth  in 
his  parents'  home  and  acquired  his  education  in 
the  public  schools.  Since  coming  to  De  Kalb 
county  he  has  engaged  in  the  creamery  business, 
with  which  he  has  since  been  connected.  He  is 
now  in  the  employ  of  a  Chicago  firm  and  controls 
a  large  trade 

Mr.  Turner  was  married  to  Miss  Nettie  A. 
Dennis  of  Mayfield  township,  De  Kalb  county, 
who  was  born  January  22,  1859,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Gurdon  H.  Dennis,  who  lives  near  Syca- 
more. Her  father,  who  was  born  in  Eagle  town- 
ship, Allegany  county,  New  York,  December  31, 
1831,  is  a  son  of  George  W.  and  Phebe  (Par- 
tridge) Dennis,  the  former  a  native  of  New  York, 
and  the  latter  of  Connecticut.  The  Dennis  family 
comes  of  English  ancestry,  while  the  Partridge 
family  is  of  French  lineage.  George  W.  Dennis 
was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  an  excellent  work- 
man. Removing  westward  with  his  family  of  ten 
children,  in  July,  1814,  he  settled  in  Mayfield 
township,  De  Kalb  county,  Illinois,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  on  which  a  primi- 
tive log  cabin  had  been  erected,  and  about  twenty 
jgactes  of  land  was  under  cultivation.  He  improved 
his  farm,  adding  to  it  another  tract  of  sixty  acres. 
For  some  years  after  his  removal  to  the  west, 
however,  he  devoted  the  greater  portion  of  his 
time  to  his  trade,  but  as  he  grew  older  he  gave 
his  attention  exclusively  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  was  a  man  of  considerable  ability  along  various 
lines  and  possessed  native  intellectual  force,  and  in 
his  younger  years  engaged  in  teaching  school. 
Religiously  he  was  of  the  Universalist  faith  and 
he  lived  to  pass  the  seventy-sixth  milestone  on 
life's  journey,  while  his  wife  died  about  1861,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-six  years. 

Gurdon  H.  Dennis  was  the  fifth  in  order  of 
birth  in  a  family  of  ten  children,  and  was  twelve 
years  old  when  he  arrived  in  Mayfield  township. 
He  was  a  youth  of  fourteen  when  he  left  the 
parental  roof  and  began  to  make  his  own  way  in 
the  world,  and  after  being  employed  as  a  farm 
hand  by  the  month  for  three  years,  he  purchased 
a  farm  of  eighty  acres  of  wild  prairie  land,  which 
he  at  once  began  to  cultivate.  He  was  then  but 
seventeen  years  of  age,  but  he  displayed  the  na- 
tive force  and  strength  of  his  character  and  his 


568 


PAST   AXD   PBESEXT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


unfaltering  enterprise  by  paving  for  his  land 
within  two  years.  He  worked  on  his  farm  and 
also  for  other  persons  at  different  intervals  until 
he  reached  his  twenty-third  year,  when  he  was 
married  and  devoted  his  entire  energies  to  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  home  of  his  own. 

On  the  29th  of  August,  1S55,  he  wedded  Miss 
Louise  Osterhout,  who  was  born  in  Mayfield 
township,  December  7,  1838,  a  daughter  of  Albert 
and  Polly  Osterhout,  who  came  here  from  Penn- 
sylvania in  1836.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dennis 
were  born  six  children:  Fremont  A.,  whose  birth 
occurred  May  6,  1857,  and  who  is  now  living  in 
Sycamore;  Xettie  A.,  now  Mrs.  Turner;  Mrs. 
Mary  E.  Smith,  a  widow,  who  was  born  April  6, 
1861,  and  now  makes  her  home  at  Xo.  509  "Wash- 
ington place,  Sycamore;  Carrie  B.,  Mina  L.  and 
Amos  H.,  all  deceased.  The  mother  is  still  living 
in  Sycamore  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  The 
parents  are  most  highly  respected  citizens  of  Do 
Kalb  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Turner  have  but  one  living 
child,  Harry,  born  March  21,  1891.  and  they  have 
lost  two.  In  his  political  allegiance  Mr.  Turner 
is  a  stalwart  republican.  His  wife  is  a  member 
of  the  Christian  church.  They  own  and  occupy 
a  pleasant  home  at  Xo.  118  Cross  street,  and  have 
gained  the  favorable  regard  of  those  with  whom 
they  have  come  in  contact  during  the  long  yeavs 
of  their  residence  in  Sycamore.  Mr.  Turner  bears 
the  reputation  of  being  a  reliable  business  man, 
and  whatever  success  he  has  achieved  has  come  to 
him  as  the  reward  of  his  own  labor. 


JABES  H.  "WEIGHT. 


Jabes  H.  "Wright,  an  employe  of  the  Superior 
factory  at  De  Kalb,  was  born  April  11,  1814,  in 
Xew  York.  He  was  only  a  baby  at  the  time  of 
his  father's  death  and  in  1S54,  when  a  youth  ten 
years  of  age,  was  brought  to  this  county.  Trained 
to  the  work  of  the  home  farm,  he  followed  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  De  Kalb  township  until  1877, 
when  he  went  to  Sacramento,  California,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming  for  ten  years.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  that  period  he  returned  to  this  countv. 
where  he  has  since  lived  and  for  the  past  fifteen 
years  has  been  employed  in  the  Superior  factory. 


his  long  connection  with  the  business  indicating 
his  trustworthiness,  fidelity  and  capability. 

On  the  3d  of  February,  1885,  Mr.  Wright  was 
married  to  Mrs.  Lydia  (Holderness)  Cheney,  the 
widow  of  Xelson  Cheney,  by  whom  she  had  two 
children,  Dudley  and  Elizabeth,  both  of  whom  are 
located  in  De  Kalb.  Mr.  Wright  is  a  supporter 
of  the  republican  party,  is  interested  in  its  growth 
and  does  all  in  his  power  to  secure  its  success.  He 
has  served  as  tax  collector  for  one  term,  but  has 
not  been  a  politician  in  the  sense  oi  office  seeking. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
church  of  De  Kalb  and  have  the  warm  regard  of 
many  friends  in  this  city.  Mr.  Wright  owns  his 
residence  at  Xo.  335  Hersch  avenue  in  De  Kalb 
ami  this  property  is  the  visible  evidence  of  his  life 
of  thrift  and  industry,  for  he  started  empty-hand- 
ed,  ami  whatever  success  he  has  achieved  has  come 
to  him  entirely  as  the  reward  of  his  earnest  ana 
persistent  labor,  his  economy  and  perseverance. 


J.  X.  KITTLE. 


•  I.  N.  Kittle,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war  now 
filling  iliu  position  of  village  marshal  in  Shab- 
bona,  in  which  position  he  has  served  for  five 
years,  was  born  in  Eensselaer  county,  New  York. 
February  21,  1816.  His  parents  were  natives  of 
the  state  of  Xew  York  and  came  to  Illinois  at  an 
early  day.  The  mother  died  in  this  state  and  the 
father  afterward  went  to  Kansas,  where  his  last 
days  were  -pent.  In  their  family  were  five  chil- 
dren, of  whom  J.  X.  Kittle  is  the  oldest,  the  others 
being:  Margaret  X.,  Cornelia,  C.  P.  and  Han- 
nah. 

J.  X.  Kittle  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  Illinois  and  was  reared  in  the  usual 
manner  of  farm  lads  of  the  period.  He  was  only 
eighteen  years  of  age  when  he  responded  to  the 
country's  call  for  troops  and  enlisted  in  1S61  as 
one  of  the  boys  in  blue,  becoming  a  member  of 
Company  C,  Fifty-eighth  Illinois  Infantry.  With 
this  command  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war 
and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Xashville  and 
Fort  Blakeley.  Though  he  was  frequently  in  hotly 
contested   engagements   and   skirmishes,   he   came 


PAST  AND  PEESENT  OP  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


;nu 


out  of  the  service  without  a  wound  and  was  hon- 
orably discharged  at  thy  close  of  the  war. 

\\  lien  the  country  no  longer  needed  Ins  aid  Mr. 
Kittle  returned  to  Illinois  and  for  several  years 
was  engaged  in  farming  in  this  county.  As  a  com- 
panion and  helpmate  tor  life's  journey  he  chose 
-Miss  Sylvia  Morris,  whose  parents  were  natives  of 
Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kittle  were  married  in  1867 
and  lived  happily  together  for  tliirty-seven  years 
when,  in  1904,  they  were  separated  by  the  death 
of  the  wife.  Pour  children  were  born  of  this  mar- 
riage: Prank,  Widy,  Maud  and  Mary.  Of  these 
two  are  deceased,  while  the  other  two  reside  in 
De  Kalb  county. 

In  politics  Mr.  Kittle  has  always  been  a  re- 
publican since  age  conferred  upon  him  the  right 
of  franchise.  Though  not  a  politician  in  the  sense 
of  office  seeking,  he  has  served  as  tax  collector  of 
Shabbona  township  for  four  years  and  for  five 
years  has  acceptably  served  as  marshal  of  the  vil- 
lage. He  proves  a  competent  officer  and  in  the 
discharge  of  all  the  duties  of  citizenship  manifests 
the  same  loyalty  which  he  displayed  when  he  fol- 
lowed the  old  flag  on  southern  battle-fields. 


JOHN  C.  DAVID.  M.  D. 

Dr.  John  C.  David,  for  thirty-one  years  an 
active  member  of  the  medical  fraternity  at  Sand- 
wich, his  ability  being  demonstrated  in  the  ex- 
cellent results  which  have  followed  his  profes- 
sional efforts,  is  now  accorded  a  position  of 
prominence  in  his  chosen  field  of  labor,  the  con- 
sensus of  public  opinion  being  altogether  favor- 
able. As  the  years  have  passed  he  has  kept  hi 
touch  with  the  trend  of  modern  thought  regard- 
ing medicine  and  surgery,  thus  increasing  his  use- 
fulness and  efficiency. 

Dr.  David  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania^his  birth 
having  occurred  in  Carbondale,  Luzerne  county, 
on  the  5th  of  December,  1S48.  His  father,  James 
B.  David,  was  also  born  in  the  Keystone  state 
and  was  a  mechanic.  For  some  years  he  engaged 
in  the  tannery  business  and  then  turned  his  at- 
tention to  the  manufacture  of  carriages.     Tn  man- 


ner he  was  quiet  and  unpretentious  but  possessed 
the  genuine  personal  worth  that  gained  him  warm 
friends  and  kindly  regard  and  led  to  his  selection 
for  various  political  positions  of  honor  and  trust 
including  that  of  sheriff  of  his  county.  His  re- 
ligious faith  was  that  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
W  lnle  in  the  east  he  married  Caroline  Snider,  a 
native  of  New  York,  and  in  Noveniner  185 i  he 
removed  with  his  family  to  Newark,  Kendall 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  for  a  brief 
period.  He  then  located  on  a  farm  and  later 
look  up  his  abode  in  Sandwich,  Illinois,  where 
his  death  occurred  about  1868,  when  he  was  sixty- 
three  years  of  age.  His  wife  survived  him  for 
many  years,  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-six.  Her 
•interests  centered  in  her  home  ana  she  was  a 
devoted  wife  and  mother/  a  kind  neighbor  and  a 
faithful  friend,  exerting  a  sweet  spirited  influence 
that  left  its  impress  upon  all  with  whom  she  came 
in  contact.  This  worthy  couple  were  the  parents 
of  a  large  family,  of  whom  Emily  died  at  the  age 
of  four  months,  and  James  Bradford  died  in  Ful- 
ton, Illinois,  about  two  years  ago.  The  others  are 
all  yet  living.  Dr.  V.  E.  is  engaged  in  the  prae- 
tce  of  dentistry  at  Sandwich,  Illinois.  Eudora  is 
the  widow  of  Norman  Griswold,  of  Sandwich. 
Oliver  is  a  mechanic  residing  in  Oliphant,  Penn- 
sylvania. Almira  is  the  widow  of  George  Bobin- 
son  and  resides  in  California.  Harriet  is  the 
widow  of  John  Bice  and  resides  in  Buchanan. 
.Michigan.  Caroline  is  the  wife  of  James  Flood 
and  resides  in  Michigan  City,  Indiana.  Emma  is 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Elson,  and  resides  in  Berrien 
Springs,  Michigan,  John  C.  our  subject,  com- 
pletes the  family. 

Dr.  John  C.  David  is  entirely  a  self-made  man. 
He  lias  been  dependent  upon  his  own  resources 
from  the  age  of  eight  years.  Because  of  his  fa- 
ther's invalid  condition  he  performed  the  work 
of  the  farm  until  sixteen  years  of  age  and  then 
came  to  Sandwich.  He  at  once  sought  emplov- 
ment  and  accepted  a  position  in  a  store  in  order  to 
obtain  his  board  and  the  privilege  of  attending 
school.  His  tendency  was  toward  a  profession.il 
career,  however,  and  to  this  end  he  began  reading 
medicine  in  the  office  and  under  the  direction  of 
Dr.  Clark,  of  Sandwich,  while  subsequently  he 
attended  Hahnemann  Medical  College  at  Chicago 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


and  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1S76.  When 
twenty  years  of  age  he  began  practicing  under  his 
preceptor,  who  was  in  ill  health  and  needed  his 
assistance.  Following  his  graduation  he  engaged 
in  practice  alone  for  a  time  and  was  afterward 
a  partner  of  Dr.  Culver  for  four  years  under  the 
linn  style  of  David  «fc  Culver.  The  year  1898  wit- 
nessed the  dissolution  of  this  partnership  and  Dr. 
David  has  since  been  alone  in  practice.  Beading, 
research  and  investigation  have  promoted  his 
knowledge  and  augmented  his  efficiency  and  his 
success  is  indicated  by  the  liberal  patronage  which 
'  is  accorded  him.  He  is  the  loved  family  physician 
in  many  a  household,  where  his  professional  skill, 
his  kindly  sympathy  and  his  earnest  encourage- 
ment have  been  the  means  of  restoring  health. 

In  1892  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  1  lr. 
David  and  Miss  Mae  Stone  of  Chicago,  who  came 
to  the  middle  west  from  Syracuse,  New  York,  and 
was  of  English  parentage.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  David 
hold  membership  in  the  Congregational  church 
and  are  prominent  socially,  while  their  own  home 
is  justly  celebrated  for  its  warm  hearted  and 
cordial  hospitality.  Dr.  David  is  an  exemplary 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  he 
has  taken  the  degrees  of  the  lodge,  chapter  and 
commandery,  and  he  also  belongs  to  the  Mystic 
Shrine  at  Chicago.  His  political  support  is  given 
the  republican  party.  In  all  of  his  life  he  has 
been  actuated  by  a  sense  of  duty,  combined  with 
high  ideals.  He  has  prospered  as  the  years  have 
gone  by  and  his  success  has  been  well  merited,  for 
it  has  come  entirely  as  the  reward  of  his  perJ 
sistency  of  purpose  and  devotion  to  the  task  at 
hand. 


school.  Throughout  the  periods  of  vacation  he 
worked  in  field  and  meadow  and  early  gained  that 
practical  experience  which  has  been  of  much  value 
to  him  in  his  later  life. 

On  the  loth  of  August,  1883,  Mr.  Wright  was 
married  in  Sandwich  to  Miss  Alice  E.  Mitten, 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  Somonauk  township, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Mitten,  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  the  county,  who  died  August  16,   1904. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wright  has  been 
blessed  with  one  daughter,  Maguerite  E.,  who  is 
a  student  in  the  Sandwich  high  school. 

Politically  Mr.  Wright  is  independent,  support- 
ing the  candidates  he  considers  best  qualified  for 
office.  His  last  presidential  vote  was  cast  for 
Theodore  Boosevelt.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  church  at  Sandwich  and  Mr. 
Wright  is  a  worthy  exemplar  of  several  fraternal 
lodges,  including  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  at 
Sandwich,  the  Modern  Woodmen  camp  and  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  which  he 
served  as  secretary  for  two  years.  More  than  half 
a  century  has  passed  since  his  birth  occurred  upon 
the  farm  which  is  yet  his  home  and  the  place  is 
endeared  to  him  through  the  association  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  as  well  as  later  manhood.  His 
long  connection  with  the  county  makes  him  au- 
thority upon  many  matters  connected  with  its 
history  for  his  memory  goes  back  to  the  early  days 
and,  as  the  years  have  gone  by,  he  has  witnessed 
occurrences  which  have  left  their  impress  upon 
the  county's  growth  and  development. 


W.  M.  Mr ALLTSTEB. 


EDGAB  0.  WBIGHT. 


Edgar  0.  Wright,  located  on  sections  ?T  and  28. 
Somonauk  township,  where  he  is  successfully  car- 
rying on  a  farm,  was  born  in  the  old  Stephen  D. 
Wright  homestead  where  he  yet  resides,  on  the 
7th  of  September,  1856.  He  was  an  only  child 
and  was  reared  upon  the  farm,  while  in  the  com- 
mon schools  he  acquired  his  early  education  which 
■was  supplemented  by  study  in  the  Sandwich  high 


W.  M.  McAllister  has  attained  a  position  of  dis- 
tinction in  connection  with  mercantile  interests  in 
Illinois,  and  in  his  business  life  has  shown  powers 
of  organization  and  an  aptitude  for  successful  man- 
agement that  has  developed  a  small  enterprise  to 
one  of  Targe  proportions,  with  many  ramifying 
branches,  his  trade  interests  now  reaching  out  to 
fourteen  different  cities  in  this  state  and  Wis- 
consin. The  cause  of  his  success  is  no  "secret." 
It  is  evident  to  all  acquainted  in  any  degree  with 
his  life  history.  It  is  found  in  energy,  readv 
adaptability  ami  enterprising  qualities  which  any 


W.  M.  McALLISTEK. 


ItHF  NEW  YORK 

PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


ASTOR,    LENOX 
TILDCN  FOUNDATIOW6. 


PAST  AND  PBESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


573 


individual  may  cultivate  and  which  in  due  time 
come  to  fruition. 

Mr.  McAllister  is  a  native  of  Belfast,  Ireland, 
and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Margaret  (Greer)  Mc- 
Allister, who  have  spent  their  entire  lives  in  that 
country.  The  father,  who  is  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, is  now  eighty-four  years  of  age,  while  the 
mother  has  reached  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 
All  of  their  nine  children  are  still  living,  namely : 
Mary,  Elizabeth,  James,  Jennie,  W.  M.,  Maggie, 
Thomas  H.,  John  and  Joseph.  Thomas  is  a  part- 
ner of  our  subject  in  the  ownership  of  many  of 
the  stores,  including  the  one  at  De  Kalb,  of  which 
he  is  now  manager.  W.  M.  McAllister  was  mar- 
ried on  the  25th  of  April,  1895,  to  Miss  Nellie  L. 
Copeland,  of  Wausau,  Wisconsin,  who  was  born  in 
Canada,  and  they  now  have  a  little  daughter, 
Donna,  aged  nine  years. 

In  was  in  1896  that  Mr.  McAllister  began  busi- 
ness in  Sycamore,  in  a  room  twenty-two  by  seventy 
feet,  and  the  growth  of  his  business  is  indicated  by 
the  fact  that  he  now  has  almost  ten  thousand 
square  feet  of  floor  space  in  the  Daniel  Pierce 
building,  where  he  carries  large  lines  of  millinery, 
dry  goods,  cloaks,  suits,  draperies  and  carpets.  He 
has  enlarged  his  quarters  and  increased  his  stock 
to  meet  the  growing  demands  of  the  trade,  has  de- 
veloped the  business  through  the  establishment  of 
different  departments  and  has  extended  the  scope 
of  his  labors  by  establishing  other  houses  in  dif- 
ferent cities  in  this  state  and  Wisconsin  until  the 
firm  of  McAllister  &  Company  now  owns  and  con- 
trols fourteen  stores.  The  volume  of  business 
transacted  annually  has  made  the  firm  a  foremost 
factor  in  commercial  circles  and  the  immense  trade 
is  the  tangible  evidence  of  the  careful  planning, 
the  keen  sagacity  and  unfaltering  diligence  of  him 
who  stands  at  the  head. 


EICHAED    McCOEMACH. 

Prominent  among  the  self-made  men  of  De 
Kalb  county  is  Eichard  MeCormach.  who  owns 
and  operates  a  valuable  farm  pleasantly  situated 
within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  Genoa.  He  dates  his 
residence  here  from  the  13th  of  July.  1854,  and 
during  the  years  which  have  since  come  and  gone 


he  has  been  actively  identified  with  the  agricul- 
tural development  of  the  county.  His  early  home 
was  across  the  water  for  lie  was  born  in  County 
Westmeath,  Ireland.  November  11,  1836,  and  in 
that  country  he  was  reared  and  educated,  receiv- 
ing common-school  advantages. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  Mr.  MeCormach 
came  to  the  new  world  and  at  once  took  up  his 
residence  in  De  Kalb  county,  Illinois,  where  for 
a  year  he  worked  by  the  month  on  the  farm  if 
George  Ellwood  in  Kingston  township.  For 
several  years  thereafter  he,  engaged  in  operating 
rented  land  but  after  his  marriage  he  purchased 
the  Wager  farm  in  Genoa  township  and  at  once 
turned  his  attention  to  its  further  improvement 
and  cultivation,  tiling  the  land  and  erecting 
thereon  good  and  substantial  buildings.  He  sub- 
sequently bought  another  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  the  dividing  line  between  Mc- 
Henry  and  De  Kalb  counties  and  has  devoted  his 
life  to  agricultural  pursuits,  meeting  with  re- 
markable success  in  his  undertakings.  He  has 
given  considerable  attention  to  the  buying  and 
selling  of  real  estate  to  some  extent,  owning  both 
business  and  residence  property  in  Genoa  at  the 
present  time. 

On  the  20th  of  September,  1SG2,  in  Genoa, 
Mr.  MeCormach  married  Miss  Frances  Wager,  a 
native  of  this  place  and  a  daughter  of  Frederick 
and  Catherine  (Bartholomew)  Wager,  who  were 
born,  reared  and  married  in  Pennsylvania  and 
were  of  German  lineage.  In  September,  1844. 
her  parents  came  to  De  Kalb  county,  Illinois,  and 
Mr.  Wager  pre-empted  land  and  eventually  be- 
came the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred 
acres,  on  which  he  died  in  1S54.  His  wife  sur- 
vived him  many  years,  passing  away  in  Nebraska. 
in  1894,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-two  years. 
Ento  Mr.  and  Mrs.  MeCormach  were  born  four 
children.  Owen  P..  their  only  son,  is  now  a  mail 
clerk  on  the  route  between  Chicago  and  Minneap- 
olis, having  been  in  the  service  for  twelve  years 
and  connected  with  the  Chicago  office  a  part  of 
that  time.  He  is  married  and  resides  in  Minne- 
apolis. Margaret  is  the  wife  of  a  Mr.  Eowe  and 
lives  in  Lewistown.  Montana.  Lizzie  is  the  wife 
of  T.  J.  Hoover,  a  business  man  of  Genoa.  Anna 
married  a  Mr.  Robinson,  of  Genoa,  and  died  in 
1894,  leaving  a  daughter.  Hazel  F.  Robinson,  who 
is  now  a  young  lady  living  in  Elgin. 


574 


PAST    AND    PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


Mr.  McCormach  cast  his  first  presidential  bal- 
lot for  Abraham  Lincoln  but  now  supports  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  democratic  party.  He 
has  been  a  delegate  to  state  and  county  conven- 
tions of  his  party  but  has  never  sought  office, 
though  he  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board  and  president  of  the  district,  taking  an 
active  interest  in  educational  affairs.  He  was 
reared  in  the  Catholic  faith,  while  his  wife  holds 
membership  in  the  Methodist  church.  She  has 
been  to  him  a  faithful  companion  and  helpmate 
on  life's  journey  and  he  attributes  much  of  his 
success  to  her  encouragement  and  aid.  Although 
he  came  to  the  new  world  empty-handed,  he  has 
through  his  own  industry  and  perseverance,  to- 
gether with  the  assistance  of  his  estimable  wife, 
gained  a  handsome  competence — the  reward  of 
well  directed  labors.  Mr.  McCormach  has  trav- 
eled to  a  considerable  extent,  visiting  New  Or- 
leans and  Havana,  Cuba,  besides  cities  of  the  east. 


HENRY  CHALLAND. 


Il'iirv  Challand.  who  owns  three  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  lying  partly  on  section  1,  Shabbona 
township,  and  partly  on  section  6,  Clinton  town- 
ship, has  for  many  years  been  a  valued  and  worthy 
resident  of  De  Kalh.  He  also  owns  a  hand- 
some home  on  North  Fourth  street  in  the  city  of 
De  Kalb.  He  was  born  in  Nottinghamshire,  Eng- 
land, February  3,  1823,  and  was  a  son  of  Charles 
and  Ann  (Freeman)  Challand.  who  were  farming 
people  of  the  same  shire  and  never  came  to  the 
United  States.  The  father  died  in  the  year  1833, 
while  the  mother  passed  away  in  1855. 

At  the  usual  age  Henry  Challand  began  his 
education  in  the  common  schools,  but  when  eleven 
years  of  age  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  re- 
sources by  the  death  of  his  father,  who  left  the 
family  in  straightened  financial  circumstances. 
From  that  time  forward  he  earned  his  own  living, 
working  for  a  time  on  a  truck  farm  and  later  he- 
coming  connected  with  general  fanning.  He  has 
spent  his  entire  life  as  an  agriculturist  and  his 
enterprise  and  labor  have  proved  strong  elements 
in  winning  a  success  which  is  gratifying  and  makes 
him  one  of  the  substantial  i  of  the  county. 


Mr.  Challand  was  married  in  England,  in 
August,  1844,  t<>  -Miss  Elizabeth  Green  and  unto 
this  marriage  were  born  two  children,  Fred  ann 
Emma,  both  now  deceased.  Mr.  Challand  re- 
mained in  his  native  country  until  the  early  part 
of  1847,  when  he  decided  to  try  his  fortunes  in 
Canada.  His  wife,  who  possessed  a  delicate  con- 
stitution, died  while  en  route  to  their  new  home, 
her  death  occurring  at  Kingston.  Canada,  in  June, 
1847,  of  what  was  then  called  emigrant's  fever. 
I !  \\  as  really  due,  however,  to  the  exposure  which 
besets  the  path  of  the  early  settlers  in  any  fron- 
tier region. 

Henry  Challand  remained  a  resident  of  Can- 
ada until  1854,  when  he  came  to  Shabrxma,  De 
Kalb  county,  remaining  in  the  village  for  about  a 
year.  He  then  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
Alton  township,  which  he  sold  in  1861  and  bought 
the  farm  he  now  owns.  As  his  labors  brought 
him  increased  capital  he  invested  more  and  more 
largely  in  real  estate  until  he  became  one  of  the 
prosperous  landholders  of  the  county.  In  the 
operation  of  his  fields  he  displayed  unfaltering 
energy  and  determination,  utilized  his  advantages 
in  the  best  possible  way  and  as  the  years  passed 
acquired  a  most  gratifying  measure  of  success. 

In  lS4<-->  Mr.  Challand  was  again  married,  in 
Prince  Edward  district,  Canada,  his  second  union 
being  with  Julia  Bilney,  who  was  also  born  in 
England.  By  this  marriage  were  the  following 
children:  Elizabeth  Anne,  who  was  born  Septem- 
ber 1,  1849,  and  is  now  deceased;  Freeman,  who 
was  1m i!  ii  September  I5,1854,and  has  passed  away; 
Mary  I.,  who  was  born  June  10,  1857,  and  is  the 
wife  of  Samuel  Stratton,  a  resident  of  Sandwich; 
Julia,  who  was  horn  December  23, 1858, and  is  now- 
living  at  Aurora,  Illinois:  Sarah,  who  was  born 
July  4.  1861,  and  is  located  at  Plain  Oak.  Illinois; 
Marguerite  Jane,  who  was  born  April  3.  1864,  and 
les  at  Aurora,  this  state;  Walter,  who  was 
born  September  ".  1865,  and  is  a  farmer  of  Storm 
Pake.  Iowa  :  Esther  P..  who  was  born  April  21, 
L86"3  .  and  is  living  at  Aurora  :  Rose  Ella,  who  died 
in  infancy:  and  Eliza,  who  was  born  June  20, 
L873,  and  is  located  at  Ghana,  Illinois.  For 
twenty-four  years  Mrs.  Challand  was  a  devoted 
helpmate  and  companion  to  her  husband  on  the 
journey  of  life,  at  the  end  of  which  time  thev 
were  separated  by  the  death  of  Mrs.  Challand  on 
the  23d  of  July.  1872. 


PAST   AND    PRESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


575 


On  the  25th  of  January,  1873,  Mr.  Challand 
was  again  married,  at  which  time  he  wedded 
Emma  Hardimant,  also  a  native  of  England, 
the  wedding,  however,  being  celebrated  in  De 
Kalb  county.  By  this  marriage  there  are 
three  children:  Prank  W.,  who  was  born  August 
20,  1874,  and  who  operates  his  father's  farm; 
Grace  Anna,  who  was  born  August  20,  1874,  and 
is  the  wife  of  Adolph  Woolenweber,  a  mill  owner 
at  Waterman,  Illinois;  and  Charles,  who  was  born 
April  13,  1880,  and  is  associated  with  his  brother 
in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm. 

In  politics  Mr.  Challand  is  independent,  vot- 
ing for  men  and  measures  rather  than  for  party. 
He  served  as  pathmaster  when  that  office  existed 
but  has  never  been  a  politician  in  the  sense  of 
office  seeking,  although  he  has  kept  well  informed 
on  the  questions  and  issues  of  the  day.  His  life 
has  been  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  he 
is  indeed  a  self-made  man  who,  thrown  upon  his 
own  resources  at  an  early  age,  has  made  good  use 
of  his  opportunities,  steadily  working  his  way 
upward.  He  has  overcome  difficulties  and  ob- 
stacles in  his  patli  and  has  made  for  himself  an 
honored  name  as  one  who  in  all  life's  relations 
has  been  upright  and  honorable,  winning  the  good 
will  and  confidence  of  his  fellowmen  by  his  in- 
tegrity and  commanding  their  respect  by  his  dili- 
gence and  carefully  directed  business  affairs. 


PROFESSOR  W.  W.  WOODBUPY. 

Professor  W.  W.  Woodbury,  who  since  1888 
has  been  connected  with  the  public  schools  of 
Sandwich,  acting  as  superintendent  since  1894. 
has  gained  a  creditable  reputation  in  educational 
circles  and  is  numbered  among  those  who  have 
established  and  upheld  a  high  standard  in  con- 
nection with  the  work  of  public  instruction  in  Illi- 
nois. The  schools  of  Sandwich  have  made  marked 
advance  under  his  direction  and  the  city  acknowl- 
edges its  indebtedness  to  him  for  the  effective 
work  he  has  done. 

Professor  Woodbury  is  a  native  of  La  Salle 
county,  Illinois,  born  September  19.  1858.  His 
parents  were  John  H.  and  Laura  A.  (Smith) 
Woodbury,  the  former  a  native  of  New  York  and 
the   latter   of   Pennsylvania.      The    father   was    a 


youth  of  ten  years  when  in  1844  he  made  his  way 
in  the  middle  west,  becoming  a  resident  of  Wis- 
consin, where  he  remained  until  eighteen  years  of 
age.  He  then  established  his  home  in  La  Salle 
county,  Illinois,  his  parents  having  died  while  in 
Wisconsin.  From  La  Salle  John  H.  Woodbury 
removed  to  Shabbona  township,  De  Kalb  county, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  is  widely  known 
both  in  La  Salle  and  De  Kalb  counties  as  a  man 
of  marked  strength  of  character  and  ability.  He 
has  been  recognized  as  a  stalwart  champion  of  re- 
publican principles  since  the  organization  of  the 
party,  his  first  presidential  vote  being  cast  for  Gen- 
eral John  C.  Fremont.  His  wife,  who  was  a  de- 
voted member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
for  many  years,  died  in  1890  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
seven.  Their  family  numbered  four  children,  of 
whom  Professor  Woodbury  is  the  eldest.  The  oth- 
ers are  E.  0..  a  resident  of  northwestern  Iowa; 
A.  J.,  who  is  operating  the  home  farm ;  and  Min- 
nie, living  in  Shabbona. 

The  boyhood  days  of  W.  W.  Woodbury  were 
spent  upon  the  home  farm,  where  he  early  became 
familiar  with  the  duties  and  labors-  that  fall  to  the 
lot  of  the  agriculturist.  He  assisted  in  the  task 
of  plowing,  planting  and  harvesting  and  in  the 
winter  months  was  a  student  in  th&  public  schools, 
but  desirous  of  obtaining  a  more  advanced  eduvd- 
tion  he  afterward  pursued  a  course  in  the  Teach- 
ers' Institute  and  Classical  Seminary  at  Paw  Paw, 
Illinois.  He  also  received  special  training  in 
various  lines  of  study  in  Chicago  University  and 
the  Wisconsin  State  University  and  was  thus  well 
equipped  for  a  profession  in  which  he  has  gained 
a  position  of  considerable  prominence. 

In  1879  he  became  a  factor  in  the  work  of  pub- 
lic instruction  in  Illinois  as  a  teacher  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  in  1888  was  made  principal  of 
the  grammar  schools  of  Sandwich,  acting  in  that 
capacity  until  1894,  when  he  was  elected  super- 
intendent of  the  city  schools.  He  has  stnce  served 
in  that  capacity,  covering  a  period  of  thirteen 
years.  The  schools  under  his  guidance  have  had 
a  substantial  growth  and  he  now  has  fifteen  teach- 
ers under  his  direction.  The  work  is  well  graded, 
system  has  been  introduced  into  every  depart- 
ment and  the  ni<"h  school  work  has  been  planned 
as   a  four  years'   course.     The  excellence  of  the 


57G 


PAST   AXD   PEESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


work  done  in  the  schools  is  indicated  by  the  fact 
that  graduates  of  the  high  school  are  now  per- 
mitted without  further  examination  to  enter  the 
state  universities  of  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and 
Michigan,  the  Northwestern  University,  Oberlin 
College  and  nearly  all  of  the  colleges  of  the  middle 
west. 

in  1895  occurred  the  marriage  of  Professor 
Woodbury  and  Miss  Nellie  G.  Forsythe,  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Frances  (Coleman")  Forsythe. 
For  about  seven  years  Mrs.  Woodbury  was  a 
teacher  in  the  Sandwich  schools,  having  the  ability 
to  impart  clearly  and  readily  to  others  the  knowl- 
edge that  she  had  acquired.  Three  children  have 
been  born  of  this  marriage,  one.  Frances,  dying 
in  infancy.  The  others  are  Kenneth  Forsythe. 
born  May  24.  1901;  and  Gordon  Coleman,  born 
July  50.  1903.  he  parents  hold  membership  in 
the  Presbyterian  church,  in  which  Professor  Wood- 
bury is  serving  as  elder,  ami  both  are  active  in 
Sunday  school  work.  In  fact  they  take  a  helpful 
part  in  all  departments  of  the  church  work  andi 
have  done  much  to  promote  its  growth  and  extend 
its  influence.  Fraternally  Mr.  Woodbury  is  a 
member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  camp.  Their 
home  is  the  center  of  a  cultured  society  circle  and 
their  interest-  are  along  those  lines  which  advance 
intellectual  and  esthetic-  culture,  ministering  to 
the  refinemenl  and  nobler  aspirations.  Moreover. 
Professor  Woodbury  is  entirely  practical  in  bis 
methods  while  working  inward  high  ideals,  recog- 
nizing the  value  of  the  means  at  hand  while  never 
for  a  moment  lowering;  the  standard  toward  which 
be  aims. 


TSPAFL  S.  CLARK. 


israel  S.  Clark  is  living  on  section  28,  Somo- 
nauk  township. his  place  being  known  as  Evergreen 
Home.  It  constitutes  one  of  tin-  attractive  feat- 
ure- of  the  landscape  an. I  his  farm  is  carefully 
cultivated  and  managed.  The  owner  is  numbered 
among  the  veterans  of  the  Civil  war.  having  been 
a  soldier  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  Illinois 
Infantry,  belonging  to  Company  H.  He  is.  more- 
over, entitled  to  mention  in  this  volume  as  an 
ild    =ettler   of   Do   Kalli   county    for   he   took   up 


hi-  abode  within  its  borders  on  the  7th  of  Sep- 
tember. 1S42-,  when  the  district  showed  forth  all 
the  evidences  of  pioneer  life. 

Mr.  Clark  was  born  in  the  town  of  Hadden, 
Middlesex  county,  Connecticut,  December  8,  1819, 
He  is  the  son  of  George  Clark  who  was  born  in 
the  same  state  and  was  of  English  ancestry,  the 
family  having  been  founded  in  Connecticut  at  an 
early  period  in  the  colonization. of  the  new  world. 
George  Clark  married  Emily  Smith,  a  native  of 
»  lonnectieut,  and  their  son  Israel  was  reared  in  the 
same  state.  He  came  west  when  a  young  man, 
making  his  way  to  Illinois  in  1842.  In  Do  Kaib 
count]  he  was  joined  by  his  parents,  who  removed 
Lo  this  part  of  the  state  in  1843.  He  began  work 
as  a  farm  hand  and  later  he  and  his  brother  John 
purchased  two  squatter's  claims,  for  which  they 
paid  one  dollar  a  quarter  per  acre,  the  family 
becoming  owners  of  five  hundred  acres.  A  log 
cabin  had  been  built  upon  the  land  and  a  few 
ai  res  broken.  The  parents  lived  upon  this  land 
for  a  number  of  years.  In  fact  the  mother  of 
our  subject  died  there,  while  the  father  later  re- 
moved to  Somonauk,  where  his  death  occurred. 
Their  family  numbered  five  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ti  i -.  all  of  whom  grew  to  manhood  and  woman- 
hood, while  two  son-  and  three  daughters  are  yet 
l.\  ing. 

Israel  S.  Clark  assisted  his  father  in  carrying 
on  the  work  of  the  old  homestead  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  had  the  management  of  the  place, 
lie  became  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  arduous 
task'  of  developing  new  land  and  placing  the  un- 
broken prairie  under  the  plow  and  converting 
an  undeveloped  tract  into  fields  of  rich  fertility. 
As  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's  journey 
he  chose  Miss  Cornelia  Potter  a  native  of  New 
York,  who  came  west  in  early  girlhood,  and  gave 
her  hand  in  marriage  to  Mr.  Clark  on  Christmas 
day,  1849.  In  later  years  the  estate  was  divided 
and  Israel  S.  Clark  inherited  about  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  which  he  continued  to 
cultivate  for  man}"  years,  or  until  1881.  when  sold 
out. 

At  the  time  of  the  Civil  war,  on  the  22d  of 
August,  1862,  Mr.  Clark  enlisted  for  service  as  a 
private  and.  going  south,  was  under  fire  at  the 
battle  of  Eosaca.  Georgia.  He  also  took  part  in 
the  Atlanta  campaign,  being  in  active  fighting 
for  one  hundred  days  and  after  the  fight  at  At- 


LAR  I 


W  YORK 


LENOX 
•CATIONfc 


PAST    AND    PP.FSEXT    OF    DE    KALI!    COUNTY, 


570 


lanta  he  went  with  Sherman  on  the  celebrated 
inarch  to  the  sea  and  participated  in  the  North 
Carolina  campaign,  including  the  battle  of  Averys- 
boro.  Subsequently  he  marched  to  Raleigh  and 
later  to  Eichmond  and  then  on  to  Washington, 
where  he  participated  in  the  grand  review  held 
in  that  city,  the  most  celebrated  military  pageant 
ever  seen.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  was 
ill  at  a  hospital  at  Gallatin,  Tennessee,  for  a  short 
time  and  was  then  mustered  out  in  Washington, 
receiving  an  honorable  discharge  on  the  7th  of 
June,  1865. 

Returning  to  his  family  Mr.  Clark  resumed 
farming,  remaining  on  the  property  he  had  in- 
herited until  1881,  when  he  sold  that  place  and 
removed  to  the  farm  upon  which  lie  now  resides 
on  section  28,  Somonauk  township,  called  Ever- 
green Home.  Upon  this  farm  his  wife  died  irj 
May,  1901.  There  are  two  children  still  living: 
Xaomi.  wife  of  James  Martin,  who  is  mentioned 
on  another  page  of  this  volume;  and  Emma,  wife 
of  Emory  Thorp  of  Stewart,  Lee  county,  Illinois 
by  whom  she  has  six  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Clark  also  lost  five  children:  Georgiana,  who 
married  Herman  Alger  and  removed  to  South 
Dakota.  She  afterward  returned  to  tin's  county, 
however,  and  here  died  in  March,  1886,  leaving 
two  children.  Nellie  became  the  wife  of  Alfred 
LTarmon  and  died  at  her  home  in  Iowa,  leaving 
two  sons.  Anna  died  in  infancy.  Ella  died  at 
the  age  of  nine  years,  and  another  daughter, 
Fanny,  has  also  passed  away.  Mr.  Clark  now  has 
two  great-grandchildren. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Clark  was  originally 
a  democrat  and  cast  his  first  presidential  ballot 
for  James  K.  Polk.  However,  he  supported  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  in  1860  and  has  voted  for  each  candi- 
date at  the  head  of  the  national  republican  ticket 
since  that  time.  He  was  elected  and  served  as 
first  tax  collector  in  Somonauk  township  and  has 
since  filled  that  position  for  two  terms.  He  was 
assessor  for  one  year,  town  clerk  for  two  or  three 
years,  has  been  a  school  director  and  has  been  a 
delegate  to  the  county  conventions.  He  belongs 
t<-  the  Grand  Army  post  at  Somonauk  and  has 
served  as  an  officer  of  the  lodge.  He  is  one  of 
the  few  remaining  old  settlers  of  the  county,  hav- 
ing resided  here  for  sixty-five  years.  He  has  aided 
in  reclaiming  the  virgin  soil  for  the  uses  of  civil- 
ization, performing  the  arduous  task  of  breaking 


thr  prairie  with  ox  teams.  He  has  witnessed  the 
building  of  railroads  and  the  establishment  of 
the  towns  of  Somonauk  and  Sandwicli.  He  is 
now  the  olilest  settler  of  the  township,  being  in 
his  eighty-eighth  year,  and  receives  the  veneration 
and  respect  which  should  ever  be  accorded  one 
who  has  traveled  thus  far  mi  life's  journey  and  who 
has  at  all  times  been  an  honorable  man.  He  has 
made  a  good  record  in  business,  was  a  loyal  de- 
fender of  the  old  flag  on  southern  battle-fields 
and  in  civic  office  has  ever  been  true  to  the  duties 
that  have  devolved   upon  him. 


CLAUS  P.  COLLIN. 


Claus  P.  Collin,  contractor  ami  builder  of  De 
Kalb,  is  one  of  Sweden's  native  sons,  but  a  most 
loyal  adopted  son  of  America,  with  deep  and  firm 
devotion  to  the  stars  and  stripes,  tie  was  born 
in  Sweden,  January  6,  1874,  his  parents  being 
Frans  W.  and  Caroline  (Dahlen)  Collin.  The 
father  served  in  the  Swedish  army  for  thirty- 
three  years  and  about  three  years  ago  came  to 
the  United  States,  since  which  time  he  has  made 
his  home  with  his  son  Claus.  His  family  num- 
bered eight  children,  all  of  whom  are  living: 
Frans  A.,  a  wire  drawer  with  the  American  Steel 
&  Wire  Company  at  De  Kalb:  Emma  C,  the  wife 
of  August  Lindburg,  a  mason  and  contractor  of 
De  Kalb;  Augusta,  the  widow  of  Erland  Windahl, 
of  De  Kalb ;  Claus  P. ;  Anna  0. ;  Oscar  K.,  a  stone 
and  brick  mason;  Sophia,  wife  of  Axel  Sunberg; 
and  Emelia  E.    All  are  residents  of  De  Kalb. 

While  spending  his  boyhood  days  under  the 
parental  roof,  Claus  P.  Collin  acquired  his  educa- 
tion as  a  public  school  student.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen  years  he  came  to  the  new  world,  arriving 
in  De  Kalb  on  the  27th  of  February,  1892.  After 
one  summer  spent  at.  farm  labor  he  apprenticed 
himself  to  the  mason's  trade,  which  he  learned 
quickly,  being  naturally  handy  with  tools.  He 
afterward  worked  as  a  journeyman  until  the  1st 
of  January.  1898,  when  he  began  contracting  and 
building  on  his-  own  account  and  has  since  been 
identified  with  building  operations  here.  In  the 
intervening  years  he  has  built  up  a  arood  busi- 
ness.   His  judgment  and  skill  as  a  mechanic  have 


580 


PAST   AND   PBESENT   OF   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


been  the  salient  features  in  his  advancement  and 
he  is  now  accorded  a  liberal  patronage. 

Mr.  Collin  has  pleasant  fraternal  relations:  Is 
a  member  of  De  Kalb  Lodge,  No.  215,  K.  P.; 
Balder  Lodge,  No.  12,  I.  0.  V. ;  also  the  Uni- 
formed Eank  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He 
likewise  belongs  to  the  Swedish  Benevolent  Asso- 
ciation and  to  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church — as- 
sociations which  indicate  much  oi  his  character 
and  the  motive  power  which  guides  his  actions  in 
his  honorable  relations  with  his  fellowmen.  His 
political  allegiance  is  given  the  republican  party. 
He  was  married  on  the  29th  of  January,  1902,  to 
Miss  Hanny  Felt,  a  native  of  Sweden,  who  came 
to  the  United  States  in  1893.  They  have  many 
friends  in  De  Kalb,  and  Mr.  Collin  has  made  a 
most  creditable  business  record  here  in  the  last 
fifteen  years. 


BYRON  HOWLAND. 


Byron  Howland,  who  is  engaged  in  blacksmith- 

ing  in  De  Kalb.  was  born  September  17,  1860,  at 
Prenville,  New  York.  His  parents  were  Oliver 
and  Rebecca  (Beran)  Howland,  both  descended 
from  old  Puritan  ancestry.  The  father  was  a 
gunsmith  by  trade  and  spent  his  active  life  in  the 
state  of  New  York,  where  he  died  when  his  son 
Byron  was  about  seven  years  of  age.  The  mother 
long  survived  him  and  passed  away  in  1888.  There 
was  another  son  in  the  family.  Henry  H.,  who  is 
now  deceased. 

Byron  Howland  was  a  student  in  the  public 
schools  of  Freeville  in  his  boyhood  days  and  start- 
ed in  business  life  as  a  salesman  in  a  grocery 
store,  where  he  remained  for  six  months.  He  then 
took  up  farm  work  and  later  began  learning  the 
blacksmith  trade  at  Rochelle.  Illinois,  when  he  was 
twentv-one  rears  of  age.  He  came  west  in  1 880. 
passed  three  years  in  Illinois,  then  went  to  South 
Dakota,  settling  near  "Wessington.  where  he  en- 
tered a  homestead  claim  but  did  not  remain  Ion? 
enough  to  prove  his  property.  The  year  1885 
witnessed  his  arrival  in  De  Kalb.  where  he  se- 
cured employment  with  P.  W.  Vaughan.  a  general 
blacksmith,  with  whom  he  remained  until  his  em- 
ployer died. 


Mr.  Howland  then  engaged  in  business  on  his 
own  account  in  partnership  with  James  B.  Men- 
nis.  This  connection  was  soon  discontinued,  how- 
ever, and  Mr.  Howland  opened  a  shop  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Second  and  Lucas  streets,  where  he  has 
since  been  located.  He  is  a  good  workman  and 
his  ability  in  this  line  well  qualifies  him  for  the 
large  trade  which  is  given  him.  He  is  thor- 
oughly honest  in  all  his  dealings  and  has  never 
been  known  to  take  advantage  of  the  necessities 
of  a  fellowman  in  his  business  transactions. 

On  the  20th  of  February,  1891,  Mr.  Howland 
was  married  to  Miss  Rosa  E.'Swartz,  a  resident  of 
Nashua,  Illinois.  They  have  become  the  parents 
of  six  children:  Alta,  Bessie,  Byron,  Eosa,  Bert 
and  Ora,  all  still  at  home  with  the  exception  of 
Byron,  who  is  deceased. 

The  parents  attend  and  support  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Howland  is  a  republican 
in  politics  and  has  various  fraternal  associations. 
He  belongs  to  the  De  Kalb  lodge,  No.  144,  A.  F. 
&  A.  M.j  in  which  he  has  been  junior  warden;  De 
Kalb  chapter  No.  52,  B.  A.  M. ;  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  the  Mystic  Workers.  He  and  his 
wife  are  both  members  of  the  Rathbone  Sisters  of 
De  Kalb  and  Mrs.  Howland  is  a  member  of  the 
Eastern  Star  lodge.  They  own  and  occupy  a 
handsome  residence  at  No.  555  South  Fifth  street 
and  this  attractive  home  is  a  visible  evidence  of 
the  life  of  thrift  and  industry  which  Mr.  How- 
land has  led.  It  is  also  noted  for  its  warm-hearted 
hospitality  which  is  greatly  enjoyed  by  their  many 
friends. 


CHARLES  F.  CAMP. 


Charles  F.  Camp,  who  is  engaged  in  teaming 

in  the  city  of  De  Kalb,  was  born  January  7,  1853, 
in  Mayfield  township,  this  county.  He  possesses 
much  of  the  enterprise  and  determination  which 
have  been  the  dominant  factors  in  the  upbuild- 
ing of  the  middle  west.  His  parents  were  Frank- 
lin and  Elizabeth  B.  (Dow)  Camp,  farming  peo- 
ple of  New  Hampshire,  who  came  to  De  Kalb 
county  in  the  early  '50s  and  settled  in  Mayfield 
township.     Both  of  them  are  now  deceased. 

Tn  the  local  schools  Charles  F.  Camp  acquired 
his  education.     He  was  earlv  trained  to  the  work 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


381 


of  field  and  meadow  and  alter  his  school  days  were 
ended  he  operated  his  father's  farm  until  about 
fourteen  years  ago,  when  he  removed  to  the  city 
of  De  Kalb,  where  he  built  a  handsome  residence 
at  135  Harrison  street.  There  he  now  resides  and 
is  comfortably  situated  in  life.  During  his  resi- 
dence in  De  Kalb  he  has  engaged  in  the  teaming 
or  transfer  business  and  has  been  very  successful 
in  this  work. 

On  the  16th  of  December,  1874,  Mr.  Camp  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Florence  Amelia  Lott 
daughter  of  William  and  Amelia  (Stark)  Lott 
who  were  pioneer  residents  of  De  Kalb  county, 
coming  originally  from  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Camp  have  two  children:  Roy  Lee,  who 
was  born  March  31,  1879,  and  resides  at  145  Har- 
rison street,  De  Kalb,  being  a  mail  carrier  of  the 
city,  who  married  Miss  Frances  Hoyt,  and  they 
have  one  daughter,  Ethel;  and  Raymond  Earh 
born  December  16,  1881,  who  married  Miss  Lu- 
cille Hayes,  of  Joliet,  Illinois,  where  he  is  iden- 
tified with  the  American  Steel  &  Wire  Com- 
pany as  foreman  of  one  of  the  departments. 

Mr.  Camp  votes  with  the  republican  party, 
which  he  has  supported  since  attaining  his  ma- 
jority. He  is  now  serving  on  the  board  of  alder- 
men of  the  city  and  has  likewise  been  a  school 
director  of  Mayfield  township  for  six  years.  He 
is  banker  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  camp  of  De 
Kalb  and  is  accounted  a  worthy  representative  of 
that  order.  In  his  business  life  he  has  been 
straightforward  and  reliable  and  counts  anion.-  his 
many  friends  all  those  who  acknowledge  and  ap- 
preciate genuine  personal  worth. 


ALVIN  WARREN. 


Alvin  Warren,  who  finds  no  disparity  between 
practical  and  scientific  farming  but  on  the  con- 
trary proves  that  they  are  harmonious  and  pro- 
ductive of  the  best  results,  makes  his  home  on 
section  22.  Victor  township.  He  is  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  active  agriculturists  and 
stock-raisers  of  the  county.  The  Warren  stock 
farm  comprises  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
and  is  a  splendid  property,  in  which  none  of  the 
equipments     of     model      farming     are     lacking. 


Throughout  his  entire  life  Mr.  Warren  has  been  a 
resident  of  De  Kalb  county,  his  birthplace  being 
the  old  homestead  on  which  he  yet  resides. 

His  natal  day  was  May  5,  1869,  and  he  is  a 
representative  of  an  early  New  England  family. 
His  father,  T.  J.  Warren,  was  born  in  Marshfield, 
Vermont,  November  6,  1838,  and  came  to  Illi- 
nois on  the  22d  of  May,  1853,  in  company  with 
his  father,  John  R.  Warren,  who  was  born  in 
Boston,  Massachusetts.  The  latter  was  a  soldier 
of  the  war  of  1812  and  took  part  in  the  battle 
of  Lundy's  Lane.  He  was  descended  from  Eng- 
lish ancestry  who  established  homes  in  America 
during  the  early  period  of  colonization  in  the  new 
world.  On  reaching  De  Kalb  county,  Illinois, 
John  R.  Warren  took  up  a  part  of  the  land  which 
now  constitutes  the  old  family  homestead  with  a 
soldier's  land  warrant  granted  him  in  recogni- 
tion of  his  previous  military  service.  He  secured 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  which  was  entirely 
raw  and  uncultivated  but  with  characteristic  en- 
ergy he  began  to  break  the  sod  and  cultivate  the 
fields. 

It  was  upon  this  farm  that  T.  J.  Warren  was 
reared  from  the  age  of  thirteen  years  and  he  as- 
sisted in  the  arduous  task  of  developing  and  cul- 
tivating the  new  land.  Having  arrived  at  years 
of  maturity  he  married  Sophia  T.  Able,  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  born  at  East  Haddam.  Her  father, 
Jabez  L.  Able,  was  also  one  of  the  pioneer  resi- 
dents of  De  Kalb  county  and  figured  prominently 
in  public  life  here  at  an  early  day.  His  father  was 
a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war  and  his  brother, 
William  Able,  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812. 
The  latter  was  captured  by  the  British  and  com- 
pelled to  work  in  the  trenches  with  a  chain  and 
ball  weighing  eighteen  pounds  attached  to  his  leg4, 
His  brother,  Ameil  Able,  built  and  operated  the. 
first  bell  foundry  in  the  United  States. 

After  his  marriage  T.  J.  Warren  continued  to 
engage  in  general  agricultural  pursuits  on  the  old 
homestead,  erected  good  buildings,  made  many 
substantial  and  modern  improvements  and  in  con- 
nection with  the  tilling  of  the  soil  engaged  in 
the  raising  and  feeding  of  stock.  He  is  now  a 
hale  and  hearty  man  of  sixty-nine  years  who  has 
retired  from  the  active  work  of  the  farm,  leaving 
such  duties  to  others,  while  he  enjoys  a  rest  which 
he  has  truly  earned  and  richly  merits.  He  served 
on  the  county  board  of  supervisors  and  is  one  of 


582 


PAST    AND    PBESENT    OF    DE    KAMI    COUNTY, 


the  well  known  residents  of  the  county,  respected 
and  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him.  In  his  family 
were  four  sons,  of  whom  three  are  yet  living, 
Alvin  being  the  (.-hirst.  The  others  are  John  J. 
and  Frank  L.  Warren,  while  one  son.  Charles 
\\ ..  died  in  infancy.  There  are  also  four  daugl 
ters:    Sophia  E.,  Mary  lb:  Ida  and  Etta. 

Alvin  Warren  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth  on  the  old  homestead  farm  and  under 
his  father's  direction  early  aequainted  himself 
with  the  work  of  tilling  the  fields  and  caring 
for  the  stock.  Hi-  preliminary  education  was 
acquired  in  the  districl  schools  and  he  afterward 
attended  Jennings  Seminary  at  Aurora.  Illinois. 
For  thirteen  years  he  was  a  teacher  and  proved 
an  able  educator,  imparting  clearly  and  readily 
to  others  the  knowledge  thai  be  had  acquired.  He 
taughl  for  four  years  in  the  home  districl  and 
Eor  seven  years  was  teacher  of  one  school  in  La 
Salle  county.  He  has  always  been  a  friend  »f 
the  cause  of  education  and  has  pu1  forth  effective 
ami  earnesl  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  School-. 

Mr.  Warren  was  married  in  La  Salle  county, 
on  the  ■.'oih  of  .lane.  L902,  to  Miss  Anna  M. 
Davis,  who  was  there  born  and  reared,  a  daughter 
of  T.  .1.  Davis,  who  was  a  native  of  Wales  an  I 
in  In-  boyhood  days  came  to  the  United  States, 
lie  was  reared  in  this  state  and  for  some  tune 
carried  on  farming  but  is  now  living  retired  in 
La    Salle    county.       Mr.    and    Mrs.    Alvin    Warren 

began  their  d stic  life  on  the  farm  which  is 

m  their  home.  Mr.  Warren  taking  charge  of 
the  place  which  he  has  since  cultivated.  He  is 
a  ver\  industrious,  energetic  man  and  in  carrying 
on  agricultural  pursuits  lias  made  a  specialty  of 
the  feeding,  raising,  buying  and  -hipping  of  stock, 
sending  about  ten  carload-  of  fal  cattle  and  li"_r- 
to  the  city  markets  annually.  Mrs.  Warren  is  the 
owner  of  a  herd  of  Aberdeen  Angus  cattle,  which 
are  handled  and  managed  by  Mr.  Warren.  He 
also  makes  exhibits  at  local  fairs,  where  he  has 
won  many  premiums,  and  he  also  raises  a  large 
number  of  hogs  and  also  breeds  Pereheron  hoi 
having  some  fine  animals.  He  is  a  partner  with 
one  "i  In-  I'-nants  in  the  ownership  of  a  herd  of 
Holstein  cattle  and  also  in  a  large  number  of 
Duroc  Jersey  hogs.  In  February.  lf»07.  they 
shipped  a  carload  of  Duroc  Jersey  hogs  to  Chi- 
cago that  were  a  little  less  than  ten  months  old 
and    weighed    on    an    average    of    three    hundred 


pounds  and  sold  lor  seven  dollars  seventeen  and 
and  one-seventh  cenl — the  extreme  top  price  of 
the  market  for  that  day.  Mr.  Warren  has  his 
three  farms  practically  enclosed  with  woven  wire 
and  "hog  tight"  fences.  His  fields  usually  con- 
tain forty  acres  and  in  his  farming  operations 
he  follows  the  system  of  rotating  crops.  His 
methods  are  practical  and  successful,  as  is  indi- 
cated by  the  excellent  results  which  attend  his 
efforts.  He.reads  broadly  along  agricultural  lines 
ami  keep-  in  touch  with  scientific  farming,  and  in 
hi-  work  has  introduced  the  latest  methods  which 
his  judgment  approves  as  of  practical  value. 
Aside  from  his  fanning  and  stock-raising  inter- 
ests  he  is  well  known  in  financial  circles  and  is  a 
stockholder  ami  director  of  the  Farmers  Elevator 
at  Leland.  His  name  is  an  honored  one  on  com- 
mercial paper,  for  his  business  integrity  is  above 
quest  ion. 

In  politics  Mr.  Warren  is  an  earnest  and  un- 
faltering republican,  having  given  inflexible  sup- 
port to  the  party  since  casting  his  first  presiden- 
nal  ballot  lor  Benjamin  Harrison.  He  has  been 
elected  and  re-elected  to  the  office  of  supervisor 
of  Victor  township  and  at  the  present  time  is 
serving  on  the  committee  on  claims  other  than 
paupers.  He  has  frequently  been  a  delegate  to 
count-,  conventions  and  his  opinion  carry  weight 
in  the  councils  of  his  party.  He  is  not.  however, 
a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office  seeking,  prefer- 
ring to  give  his  undivided  time  and  energies  to 
his  business  affair-,  in  which  he  is  meeting  with 
excellent  success. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warren  have  one  son,  Davis 
Thomas  Warren.  They  attend  and  contribute  to 
tin  support  of  the  Suvdam  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  which  is  located  on  their  farm,  and  Mrs. 
Warren  i>  a  member  of  the  Eastern  Star  lodge 
at  Troy  Grove.  Xo  history  of  the  county  would 
be  complete  without  mention  of  Alvin  Warren, 
wdio  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  old  pioneer 
families  but  who  is.  moreover,  entitled  to  men- 
tion in  this  volume  because  of  his  own  personal 
worth.  He  is  a  very  active,  energetic  man.  pos- 
sessed of  good  business  ability,  of  practical  judg- 
ment  and  keen  discernment,  and  wherever  known 
he  is  esteemed  because  of  his  reliability.  The 
extent  and  importance  of  his  business  interests 
have  made  liim  well  known  in  De  Kalb  and  ad- 
joining   counties    and    wherever    known    be    wins 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


583 


friends,  gaining  thai  popularity  which  arises  from 

geniality,    kindliness,   deference   for  the   opinions 
of  others  and  a  social  disposition. 


IIAJiKY   II.  IIANWAY. 


Harry  II.  Ilanway,  alderman  from  the  first 
ward  of  De  Kalh  and  a  popular  citizen  who  oc- 
cupies a  position  of  leadership  in  political  circles, 
was  born  in  Lisbon,  Iowa,  on  the  19th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1873.  His  father.  George  Ilanway,  was 
a  native  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  horn  August  23,  1849. 
When  a  small  hoy  he  was  left  fatherless  ami  went 
to  Lisbon,  Iowa,  to  live  with  a  maternal  uncle, 
Thomas  Mason,  with  whom  he  remained  until  Ik; 
attained  his  majority.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
a  carpenter  and  builder  and  followed  that  pursuit 
in  early  life  hut  subsequently  engaged  in  farm- 
ing for  some  years.  During  the  past  twelve  years 
he  has  been  buying  stock  for  Lisbon  bankers,  and 
he  is  regarded  in  his  locality  as  a  representative 
and  reliable  business  man.  In  politics  he  is  an 
earnest  republican  and  is  serving  his  second  term 
as  alderman  of  Lisbon.    He  belongs  to  the  Knights 

of   Pythias   I    the   Odd    Fellows   societies.     He 

married  Miss  Matilda  Moses,  who  was  born  m 
Pennsylvania  on  the  17th  of  April,  1852,  and  Is 
a  daughter  of  Michael  and  Catherine  (Riddle) 
Moses,  who  on  removing  to  the  west  during  its 
pioneer  epoch  settled  at  Marengo.  Illinois.  Sub- 
sequently they  removed  to  Lisbon,  Iowa,  where 
Mrs.  Moses,  the  grandmother  of  our  subject,  is 
still  living.  Her  husband,  however,  passed  awaj 
on  the  4th  of  August,  1906,  at  the  venerable  age 
of  eighty-three  years.  Their  daughter,  Mrs.  Han- 
way,  is  still  with  her  husband  in  Lisbon,  Iowa. 
There  were  four  children  of  that  marriage: 
Austia,  now  the  wife  of  Frank  Turner,  of  Kan- 
sas City,  Kansas:  Georgia,  the  wife  of  Jean  Mc- 
Clelland, of  Lisbon.  Towa :  Faye,  al  home:  and 
Harry  H. 

The  last  named  was  reared  under  the  parental 
roof  and,  like  most  boys  of  the  period,  was  a 
public  school  student.  He  apprenticed  himself 
to  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  and  builder  in  early 
manhood  and  in  the  fall  of  1895  came  to  De  Kalh. 
Illinois,  where  he  was  connected  with  building 
operations-.      He   has   since   devoted   his   attention 


to  work  of  this  character,  being  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Hanway.  Rice  &  Boardman,  his  partners 
being  Frank  Rice  and  Willard  B.  Boardman. 
These  gentlemen  constitute  one  of  the  best  known 
contracting  and  building  firms  in  De  Kalb.  They 
have  a  liberal  and  growing  patronage  and  that 
they  have  taken  some  of  the  most  important  con- 
tracts is  seen  in  the  excellent  character  of  their 
work,  which  finds  exemplification  in  some  of  the 
best  buildings  of  the  city.  Mr.  Hanway  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Carpenters'  and  Joiners'  Union.  No. 
965,  and  served  for  one  term  as  its  president. 
Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  De  Kalb  lodge, 
Xo.  215,  K.  P.,  of  which  he  is  a  past  chancellor, 
and  he  also  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  camp. 
In  politics  Mr.  Ilanway  is  an  earnest  and  un- 
faltering republican  where  national  issues  are 
involved  but  at  local  elections  casts  an  independ- 
ent ballot,  supporting  the  man  and  not  the  party. 
In  I  he  spring  of  1905  he  was  nominated  on  the 
citizens'  ticket  for  the  office  of  alderman  and  was 
elected,  although  all  id'  his  running  mates  on  the 
ticket  were  democrats.  He  is  opposed  to  anything 
like  misrule  in  municipal  affairs  and  stands  for 
good,  clean  government,  being  characterized  in  all 
of  his  official  duties  by  a  public-spirited  devotion 
to  the  general  good. 

On  the  1st  of  December.  1899,  Mr.  Hanway 
was  married  to  Miss  Emma  Anderson,  a  daughter 
of  Andrew  and  Carolina  (Johnson)  Anderson, 
who  came  to  De  Kalh  from  Sweden  about  1880. 
Three  children  were  born  of  this  marriage,  of 
whom  two  are  living,  while  Helen  Frances  has 
passed  away.  Those  who  still  survive  are  Dorothy 
( Catherine  and  George  Harlan   Eanway. 


CHARLES    DAVID   CARTER,   M.   D. 

In  professional  circles  in  De  Kalb  Dr.  Charles 
David  Carter  has  gained  an  enviable  position  and. 
moreover,  attractive  social  qualities  have  won  him 
many  warm  friends,  so  that  he  is  regarded  as  a 
representative  citizen  of  the  county.  His  birth 
occurred  in  De  Kalb  township  on  the  19th  of 
November,  1858.  His  lather.  Orlando  Carte- 
was  born  in  Chenango  county.  New  York,  in  1828 
and  died  on  the  20th  of  August.  1805.  For  some 
years  prior  to  his  death  he  lived   retted  but   in 


584 


PAST    .VXD    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COl'XTY. 


early  manhood  had  engaged  in  farming  and  sub- 
sequently gave  his  attention  to  the  livery  business. 
He  was  a  resident  of  De  Kalb  county  for  move 
than  a  half  century,  having  located  here  in  pioneer 
times,  and  as  the  years  passed  he  bore  his  full 
share  in  the  work  of  general  development  and 
progress.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Huldah  Hannah  White,  was  born  at  French 
Creek,  Chautauqua  county,  Xew  York,  February 
5,  1S37,  and  is  still  living.  Her  sketch  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Dr.  Carter  completed  his  more  specifically  lit- 
erary education  in  the  high  school  of  De  Kaio 
and  in  February,  1883,  he  concluded  preparation 
for  his  profession  by  graduation  from  Rush  Med- 
ical College  of  Chicago.  He  then  located  for  prac- 
fcice  in  De  Kalb  as  a  physician  and  surgeon  and 
has  remained  here  continuously  since,  covering  a 
period  of  almost  a  quarter  of  a  century.  He  has 
kept  in  touch  with  the  trend  of  modern  thou- hi 
and  progress  in  the  line  of  his  practice,  which 
has  grown  to  large  proportions.  He  is  very  care- 
ful in  the  diagnosis  of  a  ease,  is  cool  and  collected 
at  all  times  and  with  greal  accuracy  he  ap] 
the  principles  of  the  medical  a  ience  to  the  case 
that  claims  his  attention,  and  his  efforts  have  been 
followed  with  most  excellent  results  both  for  the 
patient  and  for  himself.  He  owns  a  beautiful 
residence  in  the  city  in  connection  with  a  well 
equipped  office  and  other  property. 

Dr.  Carter  was  married  in  De  Kalb,  October  25, 
1883,  to  Miss  Ida  M.  Thompson,  who  was  born  in 
De  Kalb  township.  April  15,  1861.  Her  father, 
William  B.  Thompson,  who  was  born  in  Vermont 
and  was  a  veterinary  surgeon,  is  now  deceased. 
Her  mother,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Eliza 
Ann  Parker,  was  born  in  the  state  of  Xew  York, 
V.  ember  22,  1827,  and  died  April  23.  1897. 
There  were  eleven  children  born  of  this  union,  of 
whom  Mrs.  Carter  was  the  tenth  in  order  of  birth. 
Three  of  the  number  died  in  infancy.  Ento 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Carter  have  been  born  a  daughter 
and  son:  Xora  A.,  on  the  22d  of  May.  1885:  and 
Charles  T.,  on  the  23d  of  October,  1889. 

Dr.  Carter  belongs  to  the  Odd  Fellows  socictv 
and  the  Benevolent  &  Protective  Order  of  Elks 
and  is  in  thorough  sympathy  with  those  organiza- 
tions. In  polities  he  is  a  democrat,  hut  without 
aspiration  for  office.  Hi-  is  a  member  of  the  1.'  • 
organized  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  the  Latter 


Day  Saint.-,  and  in  the  line  of  his  profession  he 
is  connected  with  the  State  Medical  Society.  He 
ranks  among  the  leading  physicians  and  surgeons 
of  northern  Illinois  and  his  comprehensive  knowl- 
edge, his  care  and  precision  in  the  exercise  of  his 
duties  are  the  strong  and  salient  elements  of  his 
present  success. 


DREW  C.  SWIFT. 


A  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  choice 
land  on  section  11,  Clinton  township,  pays  trib- 
ute to  the  enterprise  and  business  ability  of  Drew 
C.  Swift.  He  is  a  native  son  of  Illinois,  his  birth 
having  occurred  in  Kendall  county,  on  the  9th 
of  March,  1847.  His  parents  are  natives  of  the 
state  of  Xew  York  and  came  to  the  middle  west 
in  1S44,  casting  in  their  lot  with  the  early  settlers 
of  Kendall  county.  They  have  a  family  of  seven 
children  of  whom  Drew  C.  Swift  is  the  oldest. 
The  others  are:  Emma  M..  E.  M..  E.  K..  Ernest. 
Libbie  ami  Ellsworth.  The  parents  are  still  liv- 
ing, now  residing  in  Waterman,  and  both  the 
father  and  mother  are  eighty-six  years  of  age. 

Upon  the  old  homestead  farm  Drew  C.  Swift 
was  reared  and  in  his  boyhood  acquired  a  common- 
school  education.  For  four  years  he  carried  the 
mail  from  Prairie  Pond  to  Shabbona  Grove  and 
was  employed  as  a  sewing  machine  agent  from 
twenty-two  to  thirty-two  years  of  age.  Having 
arrived  at  years  of  maturity  he  sought  a  compan- 
ion and  helpmate  for  life's  journey  and  was  mar- 
ried on  the  18th  of  January,  1885,  the  lady  of 
his  choice  being  Miss  Ellen  Scott,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  De  Kalb  county,  on  the  4th  of  Xovem- 
ber,  1862.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  the  state 
of  Xew  York  and  came  west  in  1836.  making  an 
overland  journey  with  teams  for  it  was  prior  to 
the  era  of  railroad  development.  In  1819  they 
drove  overland  to  California.  The  father  died  in 
1895,  while  his  wife  survived  until  1900,  when 
she,  too.  passed  away.  Their  family  included  one 
son  and  three  daughters:  Ellen.  Lavenia.  William 
and  Rose. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swift  have  been  born  five 
children:  Mabel  R..  born  January  10.  1886.  who 
has  for  two  years  been  engaged  in  school  teaching; 
Ross  H.,  born  December  17,  188S,  who  assists  in 


ME.  AND  MRS.  D.  C.  SWIFT. 


ITHl 

PUEi 


A8T0R,    LENOX 
T1LBEN  FOUNDATOTMfl 


PAST    AND    PEESENT   OF   DE   KALB    COUNTY. 


587 


operating  the  home  farm ;  Martin  Earl,  born  Sep- 
tember 2,  1891,  who  is  a  high  school  student  in 
Waterman;  Viola  P.,  born  May  17,  1895,  who  is 
also  in  school;  and  Ethel  lone,  oorn  August  6, 
1899,  completes  the  family.  Mrs.  Swift  at  one 
time  was  also  a  school  teacher,  having  taught 
for  four  years  in  the  district  schools. 

Both  our  subject  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Baptist  church  at  Waterman  and  he  is  a  repub- 
lican in  politics.  The  cause  of  education  finds  in 
him  a  warm  friend,  and  he  has  'tone  effective  serv- 
ice in  its  behalf  by  acting  as  school  director  for 
six  years.  His  time  and  attention  are  naturally 
most  largely  given  to  his  business  interests  and 
he  has  followed  the  occupation  to  which  ht  was 
reared  for  many  years.  He  is  practical  and  pro- 
gressive in  all  his  methods  of  farming  and  has  a 
well  improved  property  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  from  which  lie  annually  gathers  ricb 
harvests." 


Mr.  Millar  is  a  pulpit  orator  of  power  and  elo- 
quence and  his  efforts  on  the  platform  in  many 
lines  of  thought  prove  him  a  capable  public 
speaker.  He  is  a  broad-minded  and  liberal  man, 
who  joins  heart  and  hand  with  all  shades  of  belief 
if  the  ultimate  aim  is  to  relieve  the  distressed  and 
add  a  gleam  of  sunshine  to  the  lives  of  the  un- 
fortunate. 


REV.  FREDERICK  W.  MILLAR. 

Rev.  Frederick  W.  Millar,  pastor  of  the  Univer- 
salist  church  of  Sycamore,  was  born  in  Montreal, 
Canada,  of  English  and  Scotch  parentage,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1866.  In  his  boyhood  days  he  attended 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  city  and  later  the 
College  of  the  Holy  Cross.  Before  entering  th? 
ministry  he  attended  the  Baptist  College,  at  Grand 
Lignie,  Quebec.  He  was  ordained  a  minister  at 
twenty-one  and  took  his  first  charge.  He  remained 
a  minister  of  the  Baptist  denomination  until 
twenty-seven  years  of  age,  when  he  became  af- 
filiated with  the  Universalist  church,  with  which 
he  has  been  connected  to  the  present  time. 

Before  coming  to  the  parish  at  Sycamore,  Mr. 
Millar  was  pastor  of  the  Ryder  Memorial  church, 
Chicago,  where  he  became  connected  with  charit- 
able work,  notably  the  Forward  Movement  and  the 
Society  for  the  Care  of  Crippled  Children.  So  that 
more  of  his  time  could  be  given  to  the  lines  of 
charitable  work  he  came  to  a  smaller  parish  and  at 
present  devotes  more  than  half  of  his  time  to 
benevolent  work.  He  assumed  charge  of  the  Syc- 
amore Hospital  and  has  from  the  beginning  made 
it  a  success. 


C.  J.  PASLEY. 


C.  J.  Pasley,  a  painter  and  decorator  living  at 
428  College  avenue,  De  Kalb,  was  bora  on  the 
Sycamore  road  in  De  Kalb  township,  this  county, 
January  11,  1860,  his  parents  being  William  J. 
and  Phebe  Elizabeth  (Schoonover)  Palsey,  of 
whom  mentioned  is  made  on  another  page  of  this 
work.  After  attending  the  district  school  near  his 
father's  home  in  De  Kalb  township,  C.  J.  Pasley. 
became  a  student  in  the  high  school  in  the  city  of 
De  Kalb.  Through  the  period  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  he  remained  under  the  parental  roof  and 
worked  with  his  father  on  the  homestead  farm  un- 
til twenty  years  of  age,  when,  thinking  to  find 
other  pursuits  more  congenial,  he  began  learning 
the  trade  of  painter  and  interior  decorator.  He 
lias  since  followed  that  business  in  De  Kalb  and 
is  today  regarded  as  one  of  the  experts  in  this 
line  in  the  city.  He  has  a  libera]  patronage  be- 
cause of  his  excellent  and  artistic  work,  his  time 
being  constantly  employed  in  such  labor.  In  1901 
he  erected  a  fine  residence  on  College  avenue, 
where  he  and  his  family  reside. 

On  the  6th  of  March.  1895,  Mr.  Palsey  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Deilia  May  Phillips, 
who  was  born  in  Earlville,  La  Salle  county,  Illi- 
nois, a  daughter  of  Albert  and  Roseltha  (Brown) 
Phillips,  early  pioneers  of  La  Salle  county.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Pasley  have  three  children :  De  Eston. 
born  in  September.  1896;  Ada.  bom  in  July  1898; 
and  Ruth,  born  March  25,  1906. 

Mrs.  Pasley  holds  membership  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  De  Kalb.  Mr.  Pasley  is  iden- 
tified with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Traternity  and 
both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Mystic 
Workers  lodge.  No.  31.     Tn  politics  he  is  a  demo- 


588 


PAST   AND    PRESENT   OF   DE    IvALB    CO!  M\. 


crat,  but  while  keeping  well  informed  on  ques- 
tions of  the  day  and  the  political  situation  of  the 
country,  he  docs  not  seek  or  desire  public  office, 
preferring  to  give  hie  undivided  attention  to  hi3 
business  affairs,  in  which  he  is  meeting  with  ex- 
cellent success. 


•  i  WIL>    BR  \MK.V 


There  is  no  residenl         -  who  is  more 

unif  i   of  in  terms  of  good   will  and 

genuine  regard    than    is   James    Bramen,   who    is 
a   «']|   known   merchant,  having  for  many   years 
carried  on  business   in  this  place.     He  has 
ad  ive,   too,   in   political  circle-.   ri  pn  31  al  ing 

in    the   legislature,    while   in   eomn 
affari  has    been    the   champion    of   all    those 

movi  easures  which  work  for  good  cit- 

izenship,  for  public  progress  and   for   - 
nn  and  imp! 
Mi     Bramen  was  born  in  Ireland,  January  l. 
-.  and  the  same  year  was  In.  America 

by  hi-  parents,  Mr.  nn-    \li  -    I  •  .  who 

□   ' ' noida  county.   New   York,  where  the 
father  occupation  farming 

'it  his  remain  I  ti         old  family 

!  hood  and 

i    and   while  working   in  tl  -    through 

summer  month 
in  the  winter  seasons.     In  December,  L869,  when 

tie  made  his  wav 
ward  t,.  Sycamore,  attracted  by  the  favorable  re- 
ports which  he  received  concerning 
ditions   in    tin-    pan    of  the  country   and  the  op- 
inity    for   advancement.     For   some    time   he 
engaged   in   i1  trade  and  owed 

I  [(  now-   pro] 

a  well  appoint,     .  r,     ,    -     amore,  la 

opposite    the    courthouse    on    West     -    ite    street, 
aess  and  attractive  arrangement  characterize 
the  bi  ml  constitute  an  elemenf  in  it-  - 

cess,  while  in  all  of  his  dealings  Mr.  Bramen  has 
thoroughly  reliable  and  trustworthy,  having 
utire  confidence  of  the  trading  commui 
Hi-    fellow     townsmen,    recognizing    his    worth 
and  ability,  have  called  him  to  public  office.     Ho 
was  elected  to  the  state  legislature  and  has  served 
for  five  different   terms   in  the  house   from   tin's 


district,  his  last  term  ending  on  the  1st  of  Jan- 
uary, IvOi.  lie  also  served  during  three  special 
sessions.  His  legislative  acts  are  a  matter  of 
history.  He  was  known  as  the  champion  of  many 
movements  which  have  been  directly  beneficial  to 
the  county  and  the  state  at  large,  and  it  was 
well  known  that  neither  persuasion,  bribery, 
threats  nor  coercion  could  swerve  him  from  a 
course  that  he  believed  to  be  right.  He  has  also 
filled  public  oil;,,-  in  Sycamore,  acting  as  mayor 
of  the  city  from  1901  until  1903  and  then  "re- 
'''''"-  ffice  with  a  most  creditable  record, 

lining   done   his    full    duty    in    every    particular, 
lb    is  a  stalwart  champion  of  republican  princi- 
bitterly  aggress 
Mr.    Bramen    was    married    to    Miss    Sarah    •'. 
Hapten,  of  Kane  county,  Illinois,  and  unto  them 
1:    born    three   sons    and   two    daughters: 
Mary,  Geor|  .   Bessie,  James  and  Charles.     The 
elder  daughter  1-  a  graduate  of  Notre  Dame  Uni- 
a1    \otre  Dame,   Indiana.     The  parents 
hold  membership  in  the  Catholic  church  and  Mr. 
en  is  a  member  of  the  Hinted  Order  of  For- 
esters.     lb  al   \o.  320  Somonauk  street  in 

which  he  owns.     While  he  has 
a  creditable  name  in  business  and  political 
circles  it  is  bis  personal  traits  of  character  which 
have  endeared  him  to  those  who  know  him.    Hi     - 
kindly  in  q  dispositon,  and  mosi 

liberal  in  i  the  poor  and  needy  or 

to  public  enterprises.  He  holds  friendship  inviola- 
ble and  a  public  office  as  a  public  trust.  Over  the 
record  of  his  private  life  and  official  career  there 
falls  no  shadow  of  wrong  or  suspicion  of  evil. 


LOUIS  STEACK. 


Loin-  Strack,  who  is  engaged  in  conducting  a 
dairy  farm  about  two  miles  south  of  Sycamore. 
was  bom  April  3,  1858.  His  father.  Michael 
orn  in  Germany.  May  23.  1824,  and 
arrived  in  this  county  in  1856,  having  deter- 
mined  to  trj  his  fortune  in  the  new  world,  of 
whose  business  advantages  he  had  received  most 
favorable  reports.  Hi  was  a  stone-mason  by 
trade,  but  after  coming  to  Illinois  followed  the 
occupation  of  farming.  He  remained  a  respected 
and  wi  'it  of  this  county  until  his  death, 


PAST  AND  PEESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


589 


which  occurred  November  28,  1882.  His  wife, 
who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Julia  Yagle,  was 
born  in  Germany,  July  25,  1826,  and  died  July 
25,  1S92.    Louis  Strack  had  one  brother  and  one 

sister,  but  the  former  is  deceased.  The  sister  is 
the  wife  of  Henry  Buck,  a  retired  farmer  living 
at  Sycamore. 

In  the  common  schools  Louis  Strack  acquired 
his  education  and  was  trained  to  farm  work  ou 
his  father's  place,  early  becoming  familiar  with 
the  labors  of  plowing,  planting  and  harvesting. 
He  has  always  continued  in  this  line  of  business 
and  is  now  operating  a  dairy  farm.  He  owns  sixty 
acres  of  good  land  about  two  miles  south  of  Syca- 
more, and  upon  the  place  has  a  number  of  good 
cows,  the  milk  supplying  him  with  a  good  income 
He  is  diligent  in  business  and  neatness  and  thrift 
characterizes  his  place. 

Mr.  Strack  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Mary  Lute,  who  was  born  at  Willow  Creek,  Lee 
county,  Illinois,  July  23,  1864.  Her  father,  John 
L.  Lute,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  born  May  1 
1838,  and  in  his  family  were  six  daughters  and 
four  sons.  On  coming  to  the  new  world  he  located 
in  New  Jersey,  where  he  lived  for  twenty  years 
and  then  came  to  Lee  county,  where  he  has  since 
followed  farming.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Strack 
have  been  bom  ten  children:  Leonard,  born  Sep- 
tember 25,  1SS4;  Julia,  January  17,  1886;  Fay 
and  May,  September  12,  1887 ;  Amillia,  OctoDer 
23,  1889;  Lester,  October  6,  1891;  Hannah,  De- 
cember 16.  1893;  Hazel,  March  28,  1895;  Helen, 
March  17.  1898 ;  and  Clarence,  December  26,  1901. 

Mr.  Strack  was  a  charter  member  of  Cortland 
Camp,  M.  W.  A.,  and  is  an  exemplary  representa- 
tive of  the  beneficent  spirit  which  underlies  the 
order.  His  political  views  accord  with  democratic 
principles  but  he  never  seeks  office,  being  essen- 
tially a  business  man. 


HON.  YAENUM  A.  GLIDDEX. 

Outside  of  the  great  cities  of  the  land,  where 
politics  and  the  elections  are  formed  and  ruled 
by  "machines,"  an  election  to  office  is  pre-emi- 
nently an  honor.  It  comes  as  the  expression  of 
the  confidence  and  support  of  the  public  and  that 
one  is  called  to  be  the  chief  executive  officer  of 


a  city  is  a  fact  of  which  the  individual  has  every 
reason  to  be  proud.  It  is  at  once  an  indication 
of  a  public-spirited  citizenship,  of  recognized  de- 
votion to  the  general  good  and  the  possession  of 
qualities  of  manhood  which  awaken  the  admira- 
tion and  regard  of  one"s  fellowmen. 

We  are  led  to  this  train  of  retlection  in  consid- 
ering the  life  record  of  Hon.  Yarnum  A.  Glidden, 
■  who  at  this  writing,  in  1907,  is  mayor  of  De  Kalb. 
He  was  born  in  Clarendon,  Orleans  county,  Ne"* 
York,  November  29,  1847,  a  son  of  James  B. 
and  Juliet  (Beard)  Glidden.  in  whose  family  of 
five  children  only  three  are  now  living,  the  sister 
and  brother  of  our  subject  being:  Mrs.  Frances 
E.  Gowery,  the  wife  of  George  W.  Gowery,  of  De 
Kalb ;  and  Chase  E.,  also  of  De  Kalb. 

The  father  was  born  in  Vermont  about    1820 
and  was  a  representative  of  an  old  and  well  known 
family  of  the  Green  Mountain  state,  representa- 
'  fives  of  the  name  having  there  resided  for  many 
generations.     The  father  was  but  a  boy  when  his 
parents  removed  to   Orleans  county,   New   York. 
making  the  journey  with  ox  teams.     They  passed 
through    Rochester,    which    at   that    time    was    a 
small   village,   and   upon   the   frontier   James   B. 
Glidden  was  reared.     For  many  years  he  was   a 
teacher,   following   the   profession   in   the   winter 
months,  while  in  the  summer  seasons  he  engaged 
in   farming.     He   did  not  have  the  privilege   of 
attending  school  himself  until  fourteen  years  of 
age   but    was    ever    a    diligent    student    and    apt 
scholar   and   at   the   age   of   seventeen  years   was 
teaching  his  first  school.     His  educational   work 
extended  over  a  period  of  thirty  years  or  more 
and  he  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  able  repre- 
sentatives   of    public    instruction   in   his   locality. 
In   1852  he  removed  from  Orleans  county,   New- 
York,  to  Paw  Paw.  Michigan,  where  he  resided 
until    1860,   when  lie   came   to   De   Kalb   county, 
locating  on  a  farm.     He  lived  in  Alton  township, 
about  five  miles  south  of  De  Kalb.  for  a  quarter 
of  a  century  and  in  1885  retired  from  active  life 
and  took  up  his  abode  in  the  city,  where  he  passed 
away  November  9,  1900.     He  voted  with  the  re- 
publican party  but  never  sought  or  desired  office 
for  himself,  preferring  to  give  undivided  atten- 
tion to  his  business  interests.     His  wife  was  born 
in  the  state  of  New  York   in   1821   and  is  still 
living,  a   well   preserved  lady,  making  her  home 
with  her  daughter  in  De  Kalb. 


590 


PAST    AND    PBESENT    OF    DE    KALI!    COl  STY. 


Vamum  A.  Glidden  of  this  review  was  reared 
at  home,  acquiring  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Afton  township  and  in  the  city  schools 
of  De  Kail '.  Ee  early  became  familiar  with  the 
duties  and  labors  of  field  and  meadow,  rendering 
valuable  ..-  ather  through  his  youth, 

and  after  he  had  attained  his  majority  he  b 
ing  on  his  own  account,  being  thus 

Thinking,   however,   to   find   a 

ibor  in   other   lines,  on 

the  Isl  of   Lugust,  1875,  he  came  to  Di    Kalb  and 

leven   years   «n-  employed    in   the  old 
cerj    bouse  of   Roberts  &   Tyler.     <>u   the   7th  of 
March,  1887,  he  purchased  the  business  from  his 
employers  and  for  the  pas!  twenty   Mar-  has  con- 
ducted  the  lea  ocery  business  of  De  Kalb. 

Mr.   Glidden    is  equally   prominent  in  political 
circle-  ami  is  a  leading  standard  hearer  of  tl. 
publican  party  iii  the  county.     He  has  served    is 
supervisor  of  He  Kalb  Bince  !-'">  and  is  tin 
ent  chairman  of  the  county  board,  having  -. 
a.-  such  for  four  consecutive  term-.    In  L90S  he  was 

Dominated  ami  el.  ! ffice  of  mayor  and 

is  uow  serving  in   thai   capacity  with  honor  and 
credit  t"  himself  ami  satisfaction  to  his  constitu- 
llc  has  brought  to  his  official   duties  the 
same  qualities  which   have  characterized   his  hnsi- 
'■  -     IK  methodical  and  prompt- 

in  thi  'ii  of  any  duty  thai   devolves   upon 

him.    ami    hi-   administration    has    been    dii 
ity. 
Mi-  Glidden  i-  a  member  of  Di   Kalb  lodge,  No. 
:'•■•"..   I'..    I'.  0.   E.     Although  i         '      ified   with 
am  church,  he  contrib  i  the  sup- 

port  of  all  and  is  equally  free  in  hi-  gifts  to  char- 
itable and  benevolenl  purposes.  In  1869  he  was 
married  to  Mi-s  Emma  Snble,  of  Afton  township, 
and  they  became  I  nts  of  two  childn  i 

whom   one   is  living,  William    C.  who  i;  now  in 

1  n  May,  1875,  the  wife 
and   mother  died   and    in    1880    Mi     Glidden  was 
i  married,  his  second  union  being  with  Mr;. 
Man    Foster,  formerly  a   Miss  Collier,     she  died 
in    1882  and    in    1884    Mr.  Glid  M  -- 

Susie  E.  Stewart,  of  Bellevue,  Iowa.  Then'  are 
the  following  children  of  this  marriage:  Alpha 
the  wife  of  Henry  Johnson        S  .  Illinois: 

Nora,    Bessie,  Mary,  J  I  i    and 

.  all  at  hon 
ing  i"  De  Kalb  county  at  th<  thir- 

teen war-.   Mr.  Glidden  has  Bince  resided  within 


u>  borders,  so  thai  his  history  is  largely  familial 
to  his  fellow  townsmen.  Investigation  into  hi- 
life    record    shows    man  inendahlo    elements. 

Then-  ha-  heen  nothing  sensational  in  his  career. 
On  the  contrary  it  is  the  life  of  a  business  man 
who  hi  the  work-a-da\  world  has  heen  untiring 
and  energetic  but  who  has  no!  made  the  acquisi- 
tion of  wealth  his  sole  aim  and  objeci  in  life, 
for  he  has  found  opportunity  to  devote  to  public 

g 1    and    his   efforts    have   heen    an    element    in 

municipal  advancement  and  progress. 


G.   SHERID  W   n  l.\  BR,   M.   D. 

Dr.  G.  Sheridan  Culver,  a  practitioner  of  medi- 
n   Sandwich   since   lS'.U.  entering  upon   the 
work  equipped  by  thorough  experience  thai  came 
to  him  as  hous  m  in  the  Hahnemann  Medi- 

Hospital,   i-  now   accorded  a  position  of  dis- 
on   as  a   representative  of  the  medical   fra- 
ternity  of    De    Kalb   county.      He   was    horn    in 
ader,   Onondaga  county,   New   York,    March 
27,  1868,  bis  parents  being  Andrew  R.  and  Mary 
.1.  (Taggart)  Culvei      II  -  father  was  a  native  of 
Washington   county.    Nm    York.      He   becai 
traveling    -ale-man    and    was    also    influential    in 
the  ranks  of  the  republican   party    in   Onondaga 
county,   New  York,  where  at  one  time  he  served 
riff.     II.    died  at  the  venerable  age 
of  eighty  years  and  is  still  survived  by  his  wife. 
Dr.  Cul  >   the  day-  of  In-  boyhood  and 

youth  and  during  thai  period 

mastered  the  bran  learning  taught  in  the 

public  schools.     1 1  ssional  training  \* 

ceived  at  Hahnemann  Medical  College  of  Chi 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  tht  1893. 

The  following  year  he  acted  as  hous  on  in 

Hahnema   a  Hos   ital,  thus  putting  his  theoretical 
knowledge  to  tl  •■  practical  tesi  in  a  wide  and  thor- 
ough experience,  which  splendidly  equipped  him 
the  responsible  duties  of  an  independent  pro- 
er.     On  h  a\  ing  the  hospital  hi 
3  adwich,  where  he  has  sine 
in  general  practice,  bui  he  has  never  ceased  to  be 
dent    of   the   profession    and   aside   from   his 
private  reading  and  study  he  has  pursued  a 
graduate    course    in    the    Poly-Clinic    College    in 
Chicago  in  1003. 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


591 


In  1897  Dr.  Culver  was  married  to  Miss  Louise 
Loekwood.  who  was  born. in  Howden,  Yorkshire, 
England,  July  (i.  1870,  and  came  to  America  in 
1893.  She  graduated  as  a  nurse  in  1895  and 
after  her  marriage  entered  the  College  of  Physi- 
cians and  Surgeons.  Chicago,  from  which  she  was 
graduated  in  1901.  Since  that  time  she  has  been 
engaged  in  general  practice  and  is  a  member  of 
the  De  Kalb  County  Medical  Society,  the  North 
Central  Illinois  Medical  Society,  the  State  Medi- 
cal Society  and  also  the  American  Medical  Asso- 
ciation. Both  Dr.  Culver  and  his  wife  are  widely 
informed  concerning  the  great  scientific  princi- 
ples which  underlie  their  work  and  in  their  adap- 
tation to  the  needs  of  their  patrons,  displaying 
skill  and  ability,  winning  thereby  ;i  liberal  patrou- 
ase. 


PROFESOR  SWEN  FRANKLIN  PARSON. 

Professor  Swen  Franklin  Parson,  of  the  chair 
of  mathematics  of  the  Northern  Illinois  State 
Normal  School,  of  DeKalb,  Illinois,  was  born  Jan- 
uary 27, 1861,  in  Blekinge,  Sweden.  He  is  the  son 
of  Par  and  Inga  Swenson.  natives  of  Sweden,  who 
came  to  America  in  1875.  The  son  received  his 
primary  education  in  the  public,  schools  of  Sweden 
until  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age.  His  studies 
were  Lutheran  catechism,  Bible  stories,  penman- 
ship, arithmetic,  a  little  oral  geography  and  Swed- 
ish history.  In  1877  he  commenced  school  at  Cary 
Station,  Illinois,  and  attended  for  three  years,  ex- 
cept one  term  at  Kirkland,  DeKalb  county.  Illi- 
nois. For  six  years  he  taught  county  and  village 
schools  in  DeKalb  county.  He  entered  the  Normal 
School  at  Normal  in  1886.  On  account  of  sickness 
he  was  out  of  school  one  year  and  then  taught  two 
years  in  the  DeKalb  high  school,  returning  to 
Normal  in  1889.  He  graduated  from  Normal  in 
the  class  of  1892. 

The  life  of  Professor  Parson  gives  a  remarkable 
illustration  of  the  possibilities  open  to  energetic 
and  deserving  young  men  in  this  county.  His  boy- 
hood days  were  passed  in  simple  life  in  Sweden, 
coming  to  America  at  fourteen  years  of  age,  just  in 
time  to  catch  the  spirit  of  progression.  His  fond- 
ness for  books  and  his  determination  to  make  the 
best  of  his  opportunities  has  won  for  him  a  place 
among  the  educational  leaders  of  the  state.    Much 


of  the  credit  for  his  advancement  is  due  to  in- 
spiration received  from  association  with  such  teach- 
ers as  Jackson  G.  Lucas  and  later  years  with  John 
VV.  Cook.  After  finishing  his  work  at  Normal  his 
reputation  for  true  worth  was  so  well  established 
that  he  was  made  principal  of  the  grammar  schojl 
at  the  Illinois  State  Normal  University.  Aftjr 
two  years"  of  work  in  this  responsible  position  he 
sought  to  widen  his  scope  of  usefulness  by  entering 
a  business  career.  For  three  years  he  successfully 
managed  the  large  manufacturing  establishment  of 
Shipman.  Bradt  &  Company.  The  educational  in- 
stinct could  not  be  kept  out  of  his  mind  and  in 
1897  he  became  principal  for  a  year  of  the  De- 
Kalb high  school.  After  a  year's  work  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Chicago,  he  accepted  the  chair  at  the 
head  of  the  department  of  mathematics  of  the 
State  Normal,  at  DeKalb  and  for  eight  years  has 
filled  this  position  with  credit  to  himself  and  the 
state. 

Professor  Parson  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Ar- 
canum and  the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters. 
Politically  he  has  always  affiliated  with  the  repub- 
lican party  and  he  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian 
church.  It.  is  somewhat  strange  that  this  mind 
trained  in  mental  effort  and  dry  mathematical  cal- 
culation should  by  way  of  variety  be  endowed  with 
great  musical  abilities.  His  skill  in  musical  leader- 
ship and  talent  as  a  vocalist  has  greatly  added  to 
his  usefulness  in  the  community. 

On  January  31,  1895,  Professor  Parson  wa'j 
united  in  marriage  to  Laura  Luella  Bradt,  a  sis- 
ter of  Charles  E.  and  Samuel  E.  Bradt  of  DeKalb. 
280  CLARK— 3843  6-20  SAUTTER 
They  are  the  parents  of  three  children:  Leonard 
Bradt  Parson,  born  May  13,  1896;  Eleanor  Par- 
son, born  March  2.  1899;  and  Charles  Elliott  Par- 
sun,  born  March  18,  1903.  A  few  years  ago  they 
built  a  comfortable  home  on  College  avenue,  where 
surrounded  by  his  books,  his  music,  his  family  and 
in  near  touch  with  congenial  friends,  they  enjoy  au 
ideal  life. 


FREMONT  NATHAN  ROWAN,  D.  V.  S. 

Dr.  Fremont  Nathan  Rowan,  who  since  1891 
has  been  employed  in  his  professional  capacity  to 
look  after  the  livestock  holdings  of  W.  L.  Ellwood 
at  De  Kalb,  was  born  in  Franklin  township,  De 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


Kalb  county,  his  parents  being  Stephen  <J.  and 
Emeline  (Baker)   Rowan.    The  family  numbered 

bildren,  of  whom  five  o  g.    The  Ei 

was  horn  in  Batavia,  Genesee  county,  New   York, 
i  24,  L820,  and  was  a  son  of  William  II. 
Betsj     ( '  iorham  i  Rowan.      In    the    pati 

descended  from  ancestry  who  came 
either  from  Scotland  or  the  north  of  Ireland, 
locating   in    the   state  of    V   .    Xork,   where  the 

generations. 
[]    early   lifi    3  G.   Rowan   learned   the 

blacksmith's  trade.     Be  bei  ame  a  residi  a1 
Kalb  county  in  If  B  ■•und- 

Kirkland  and  oi E  the  early 

pioneer  bi  the  county,  coming  to 

with   bis   parents,   brothers   and   sister.      Hi 
one  of  nine  cbildn  ID., 

Warren  C.  and  James,  all  who 

ring  in  Kirkland ;  John,  a  resident  of  Bowlder. 
Colorado;  Gurden,  who  resides       Get 
ami  Perry,  wl  lied  in  the  battli 

River  in  the  Civil  war.     <  Ine  sister,  Marj    \ 
the  widow    oi    11     P    Grout,  of  De   Kalb.     The 
grandfathi  was  twio  I,  hi? 

id  wife  being  Mrs.  Ma       I  I  laba, 

by  whom  he  had  two  children:  William  II. 
lenl  of  Belviderej  and  Samuel  P.,  a  farmer 
'  Franklin  township,  De  Kalb  county.  The  re- 
moval of  the  family  to  the  middle  ••  made 
after  the  primitive  tnanm  avel  al  that 
time. 

-    ;!-     Q    Rowan  was  01 f  those  Bturdy  pio- 

who  withstood  the  many  hardships  ini 
to  frontier  life  anil  he  performed  an  ai 
important  service  in  the  development  of  the  new 
country.  lie  wa~  always  active  in  affairs  of  hi? 
town  and  Berved  as  road  commissioner,  as  su- 
pervisor, as  assessor  for  twenty-six  years  and  as 
postmaster,  being  the   first    poe  of   Kirk- 

land.  He  was  also  enrolling  officer  during  the 
war.  lie  married  Emeline  B  Baker  on  the  llth 
of  July,  1847,  and  for  thirty-s  fchej  trav- 

eled life's  journ<",  r,  when  they  were  sep- 

arated  by  her  death  on  the  llth  of  June,  1883. 
Mr.  Rowan  on  the  1  Ith  day  of  May,  1887,  married 
Mr-.  Lucy  Norman.     A  part  of  his  life  was 
voted    i"   farming  and  he  was  accounted  one  of 
the  tative    pioneer    agriculturists.      The 

surviving  -  of  the  family  are:     Frank  S.. 

a  real-estai  .  Illinois:  Fred  B.. 


who  is  engaged  in  the  practice  of  veterinary  sur- 
gery  at    Belvidere;   FremonI    \..  of  this   review, 
.  a  druggist  and  merchant  at   Kirkland, 
ois;  and  Emma  I.'.,  the  wifi   of  S.  D.  Wing, 
i  na.  ( lalifornia. 
In  the  tall  of  1885  Mr.  Rowan  entered  the  To- 
ronto (Canada)   Veterinary  College,  which  he  at- 
tendi  mi  and  in  the  fall  of  1886 

tered  the  <  'hi.  ag     \  ■  ■■  rinar]  Co 
he  wa  lated  on   I  M  irch,   1887. 

i      owing  his  graduation  he  loi  Kirkland. 

where   he   practiced   h  until    March. 

1891.     In  that  year  hi  Di    Kalb  to  ac- 

cepl  ii  with  W.  I.  i"  look  after 

his  li  •  ipacity, 

and  i!  m  he  has  remained  continuously 

i  ar  he  was  appointed  be 

rinarian  and  has  also  acted  in  that 

On  the  Sep!  !  -  •-     Dr.   Rowan 

carried  to  Miss  \  S   ith,  a  daughter  of 

M        i  Kennj  i  Smith,  of  Hampshire, 

inty,    Dlino  -.      !'••    this   marriage   there 

born  ■  child,  Helen  Elise.     Mrs.  Row- 

father  was  a  native  of  Ba 
in  Is"".  and  when  fout  he  came 

al     Milan.    I 
whem  1 1  ;ta\  ia.  Illinois,  re- 

Ucron.    Ohio,     wlim-    his 
ter  Nettie  was  born.     From  Akron  he 
to    Marengo,    Illinois,   thence   to   Wayne,    Illinois, 
where   he   lived   for  eij  which  he 

his  last  days  in  Hampshire,  r  His 

-till  living  .-II  Mrs.   liowan 

was  thi    •  'heir  eleven  chili  en  of 

whom  are  still  living.     Her  father  i 
of   the   Civil   war.  Ben  i  three  years  with 

'.     I'..     I  Light      \rtillerv.       lie     be- 

fraternity  and  to  the  f;rand 
Army  of  the  Republic. 


ROBERT   EDWARD  BLOOM 

The  business  interests  of  1><-  Kalh  find  an  active 
sentative  in  Robert  Edward  Bloom,  dealer  in 
clothing.  His  life  record  began  in  Iowa  City. 
Iowa,  on  the  12th  of  March.  1882,  his  father  being 
M  ises  Bloom,  who  for  thirty-five  years  was  onr 
of   the   prominent   merchants   of   Iowa    City   and 


R.  E.  BLOOM. 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  DE  KALB  COUNTY. 


595 


also  exerted  widely  felt  influence  in  political  inter- 
ests there.  In  fact  he  was  honored  by  election  to 
the  state  senate,  wherein  he  served  for  several 
years,  and  upon  the  legislation  of  that  period  tie 
left  the  impress  of  his  individuality  for  good. 

Robert  E.  Bloom,  reared  in  his  native  city, 
entered  the  public  schools  at  the  usual  age  and 
passed  through  successive  grades  until,  leaving 
the  high  school,  he  continued  his  studies  in  tht 
University  Business  College  of  Iowa  City.  Latei 
he  was  a  student  in  Culver  Military  Academy  at 
Culver,  Indiana,  and  in  the  State  University  ol 
Iowa.  From  his  boyhood  days  he  was  trained  to 
mercantile  pursuits  through  the  assistance  which  he 
rendered  his  father,  a  man  of  excellent  business 
capacity,  keen  discrimination  and  unfaltering  en- 
terprise. After  he  had  completed  his  education 
he  was  employed  by  the  firm  that  succeeded  his 
father  in  business — Bloom  &  Mayer.  In  August. 
1905,  lie  resigned  his  position  and  came  to  De 
Kalb  to  engage  in  business  on  his  own  account. 
establishing  a  modern  mercantile  enterprise  here. 
"Blooms,  The  Good  Clothes  Store,"  has  become 
a  household  word  in  De  Kalb  and  for  miles 
throughout  the  surrounding  country.  He  carries 
a  carefully  selected  line  of  goods,  anticipating  the 
wants  of  his  patrons,  and  his  trade  is  steadily 
growing. 

Mr.  Bloom  is  a  member  of  De  Kalb  lodge.  No. 
765,  B.  P.  0.  E.,  and  also  belongs  to  De  Kalb 
lodge  of  the  Happy  Order  of  Goats.  In  politics 
he  is  independent,  voting  for  men  and  measures 
rather  than  for  party.  He  stands  as  a  worthy 
representative  of  the  spirit  of  the  times,  being 
wide-awake,  alert  and  determined,  and  although 
connected  with  business  interests  of  De  Kalb  for 
only  a  brief  period  he  has  already  become  widely 
and  favorably  known  in  this  connection. 


CAPTAIN  ALBERT  S.  KINSLOE. 

Albert  S.  Kinsloe,  who  for  four  terms  has  filled 
the  office  of  county  clerk  and  one  term  as  county 
tieasurer,  retiring  from  the  position  as  he  entered 
it — with  the  confidence  and  good  will  of  all  con- 
cerned— has  been  a  resident  of  DeKalb  county  for 
more   than   a   half  century   and   throughout   this 


period  has  been  an  interested  witness  of  its  growth 
and  development,  while  his  public-spirited  citizen- 
ship has  been  manifest  in  tangible  co-operation  in 
many  movements  for  the  general  good. 

His  life  record  began  in  Huntingdon  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  December,  1840,  his  parents  be- 
ing Dr.  Lemuel  and  Isabella  (Thompson)  Kinsloe. 
The  family  comes  of  Scotch  ancestry  and  was 
founded  in  America  by  James  Kinsloe,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  who  was  a  native  of  Scot- 
land. Dr.  Kinsloe  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in 
1808,  and  became  a  practicing  physician.  He  re- 
moved from  Huntingdon  county  to  Juniata  county. 
Pennsylvania,  about  1845,  and  in  1854  came  with 
his  family  to  DeKalb  county,  Illinois,  settling  at 
Ross  Grove  in  the  spring  of  that  year.  Here  he 
practiced  his  profession  continuously  and  success- 
fully until  1859,  when  he  removed  to  Earlville, 
Illinois,  where  he  died  in  1870.  His  political  sup- 
port was  given  to  the  republican  party  and  he  held 
membership  in  the  Associate  Reformed  church. 
He  was  a  man  of  medium  height,  of  mild  disposi- 
tion, firm  in  character  and  strict  in  his  religious 
views.  His  wife,  a  native  of  Spruce  Creek,  Penn- 
sylvania, was  of  Irish  lineage  and  she,  too,  was  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  in  the  faith 
of  which  she  passed  away  in  1872.  The  family 
numbered  four  children,  of  whom  Albert  S.  is  the 
eldest,  the  others  being  Allen  G.  and  Clara  T., 
both  now  deceased,  and  Harris  E.,  residing  in  Cor- 
sieana,  Texas. 

Albert  S.  Kinsloe  spent  his  early  boyhood  in 
Huntingdon  and  Juniata  counties,  Pennsylvania, 
and  was  a  youth  of  about  fourteen  years  when  ha 
accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Illi- 
nois. He  continued  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  DeKalb  county  and  in  the  academy  at 
East  Paw  Paw,  Illinois.  He  afterward  engaged 
in  clerking  at  Earlville,  this  state,  being  thus  em- 
ployed at  the  time  of  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
war.  He  was  deeply  interested  in  the  study  cf 
the  political  situation  of  the  county  and  the  ques- 
tions involved  because  of  the  attitude  of  the  south 
regarding  slavery,  and  when  war  was  inaugurated 
he  offered  his  services  as  a  defender  of  the  Union, 
enlisting  on  the  26th  of  April,  1861,  as  a  member, 
of  Company  D,  Twenty-third  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry.  He  was  mustered  into  the  service  at 
Chicago  and  in  June  went  with  his  regiment  to 
Quincy,  Illinois,  thence  to  Jefferson  Barracks  near 


596 


['AST    AND    PPESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY. 


St.  Louis  and  afterward  to  Jefferson  City,  Mis- 
souri. From  that  point  the  regiment  proceeded  to 
Lexington,  Missouri,  and  was  captured  by  the 
forces  under  General  Price,  but  being  ill  at  that. 
time  Mr.  Kinsloe  was  not  taken  prisoner.  The 
regiment  was  released  on  parole  and  was  sent  to 
Benton  Barracks,  Missouri,  where  it  was  dis- 
charged by  order  of  General  Fremont,  October  8, 
1861. 

Mr.  Kinsloe  then  returned  to  Earlville  and  on 
the  26th  of  November,  1861,  again  joined  the  army 
as  a  member  of  Company  D,  Fifty-third  Illinois 
Infantry,  the  regiment  being  recruited  at  Ottawa; 
where  he  was  elected  and  commissioned  second 
lieutenant.  After  leaving  camp  at  Ottawa,  Illi- 
nois, the  Fifty-third  proceeded  to  Camp  Douglas 
near  Chicago  and  in  the  spring  of  1862  was  sent 
to  Cairo  and  thence  to  Savannah,  Tennessee.  From 
that  point  they  moved  to  Pittsburg  Landing,  ar- 
riving on  the  second  day  of  the  battle.  They  aft- 
erward marched  to  Corinth  and  on  to  Memphis 
where  for  some  time  they  were  engaged  in  various 
maneuvers  and  in  scout  duty.  Proceeding  by  wa\ 
of  Grand  Junction,  Holly  Springs.  LaGrange, 
Moscow  and  Germantown,  the  regiment  arrived  at 
Memphis  in  July,  1862,  and  on  the  6th  of  Sep- 
tember marched  from  that  place  to  Bolivar.  On 
the  5th  of  October.  1862,  they  encountered  the 
enemy  under  Price  between  Bolivar  and  Corinth 
and  were  later  with  Grant  on  his  march  through 
Mississippi  to  Oxford,  that  state,  and  after  the 
surrender  at  Holly  Springs  they  fell  back  with 
Grant's  army  and  went  to  Memphis.  Later  they 
went  down  the  river  to  Young's  Point,  opposite 
Vieksburg,  then  up  the  Yazoo  to  Snyder's  Bluff, 
from  which  they  marched  to  a  position  on  the 
left  of  the  lines  in  rear  of  Vieksburg,  and  were 
there  engaged  until  the  surrender,  July  4,  1863. 
Our  subject  next  took  part  in  following  General 
Johnston,  and  participated  in  the  fight  at  Jackson, 
Mississippi,  July  12,  1863.  After  this,  his  com- 
mand returned  to  Vieksburg  and  from  there  went 
to  Natchez,  but  again  returned  to  Vieksburg  when 
it  entered  on  and  took  part  in  the  Meridian  cam- 
paign. 

Subsequently  returning  to  Vieksburg,  the  regi- 
ment veteranized,  and  the  men  were  granted  fur- 
loughs to  visit  their  homes.  At  the  expiration  of 
the  furlough  the  regiment  re-united  at  St.  Louis 
and  there  took  transports  for  Clifton,  Tennessee, 


from  there  they  marched  across  the  country  by  wav 
of  Huntsville,  Alabama,  striking  the  Georgia  Cen- 
tral Railroad  at  Kingston.  Their  next  march  was 
south  to  Allatoona,  where  they  halted  until  the 
army  moving  on  Atlanta  crossed  the  Chattahoo- 
chie  river.  Lieutenant  Kinsloe  took  part  in  all  the 
battles  in  which  his  regiment  was  engaged  until 
the  fall  of  Atlanta.  His  regiment  was  on  the  left 
where  the  brave  McPherson  fell. 

After  the  fall  of  Atlanta.  Lieutenant  Kinsloe 
was  detailed  on  the  staff  of  General  Potts,  as  act- 
ing assistant  adjutant-general,  First  Brigade, 
Fourth  Division,  Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  until  he  was  mustered  out 
March  31,  1865.  Enlisting  as  a  private,  he  was 
promoted  to  second  lieutenant,  to  take  rank  from 
August  6,  1863,  and  to  captain,  January  31,  1865. 

When  the  war  was  over  Captain  Kinsloe  re- 
sumed the  pursuits  of  civil  life,  being  engaged  for 
a  time  in  the  grocery  business  at  Earlville  and 
later  at  Neponset,  Bureau  county,  Illinois.  In  ttu 
fall  of  1868  he  removed  to  Malta,  Illinois,  residing 
there  until  he  became  a  resident  of  Sycamore  in 
1892.  At  Malta  he  was  engaged  in  the  produce 
business  and  was  also  agent  for  the  American 
Express  Company.  In  1873  he  was  appointed  post- 
master of  the  town  and  acted  in  that  capacity  for 
thirteen  years.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the 
school  board  for  twelve  years  and  acted  as  its  pres- 
ident a  part  of  that  time.  In  1886  he  was  elected 
county  treasurer,  serving  for  a  term  of  four  years 
and  in  1890-94-98  and  1902  was  elected  county 
clerk,  in  which  capacity  he  served  for  four  suc- 
cessive terms,  sixteen  years,  proving  a  most  capable 
official.  He  received  the  nomination  by  acclama- 
tion for  1894  and  again  in  1898,  thus  receiving 
stalwart  endorsement  from  his  party.  He  is  now 
living  in  Sycamore. 

On  the  29th  of  December,  1865,  occurred  the 
marriage  of  Captain  Kinsloe  and  Miss  Caroline  W. 
Cook,  a  daughter  of  Nelson  and  Lucretia  (Ives) 
Cook,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Connecticut, 
where  Mrs.  Kinsloe  was  also  born.  Their  children 
were  George  H.,  now  deceased,  Lola,  Lucretia,  Da- 
les, Caroline  W.,  Friend  N.,  Artie,  Eliza,  Adelbert 
and  Lyman,  ten  of  whom  are  yet  living.  Captain 
and  Mrs.  Kinsloe  have  a  daughter,  Nora  B.,  now 
the  wife  of  C.  P.  Underwood  of  Beatrice,  Ne- 
braska, who  is  a  wholesale  cigar  dealer.  They  have 
seven  living  children. 


PAST    AND    PKKSEXT    OF    DE    KALE    COUNTY. 


597 


Captain  Kinsloe  is  a  valued  representative  of 
various  fraternal  organizations.  He  takes  delight 
in  meeting  at  the  Grand  Army  post  the  comrades 
with  whom  he  shared  the  hardships  and  trials  met- 
ed out  to  the  soldier  and  for  several  terms  he  has 
been  honored  with  the  position  of  commander  of 
the  post.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and 
the  Masonic  lodges.  He  has  ever  been  a  stalwart 
republican  and  has  frequently  been  chosen  as  a 
delegate  to  the  conventions  of  his  party,  where  his 
opinions  carry  weight.  His  wife  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  both  are 
warmly  esteemed  in  the  community  where  they 
have  now  long  resided.  Mr.  Kinsloe  is  as  true  and 
faithful  to  his  country  and  her  interests  as  when 
he  followed  the  old  flag  upon  southern  battlefields. 
No  man  is  better  known  and  has  more  true  an! 
loyal  friends  than  Captain  Kinsloe.  He  truly  rep- 
resents the  best  of  that  patriotic  element  that  were 
tried  by  fire  from  1861  to  1865. 


IRVIN   J.    HECKMAN,   M.   D. 

Dr.  Irvin  J.  Heckman,  who  is  successfully  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery  in 
Hinckley,  was  born  in  Kingston,  September  16, 
1861,  and  has  spent  most  of  his  life  in  northern 
Illinois.  His  parents.  Philip  and  Sarah  A.  Heck- 
man, were  natives  of  Morgan  county,  Ohio,  their 
early  home  being  near  McConnollsville  and  on 
leaving  that  state  they  came  to  De  Kalb  county, 
Illinois,  in  1842  and  took  up  their  residence  near 
Kingston.  Tn  their  family  were  nine  children, 
five  sons  and  four  daughters.  Three  of  the  doc- 
tor's brothers  are  lawyers  and  the  other  is  a  civil 
engineer. 

Dr.  Heckman  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Genoa  and  Belvidere,  spend- 
ing two  years  at  Hillsdale  College  in  Michigan.  He 
then  took  up  the  study  of  pharmacy  and  for  two 
years  was  a  druggist  in  the  Northern  Illinois  In- 
sane Hospital  at  Elgin.  Later  he  entered  the  Col- 
lege of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  at  Chicago,  receiv- 
ing his  degree  of  M.  D.  from  that  school  in  1895. 
Immediately  after  graduation  he  located  at  B.elvi- 
dere,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  three  years.  On 
leaving  that  place  he  came  to  Hinckley  in   1898 


and  as  his  skill  and  ability  became  recognized  he 
built  up  an  excellent  practice,  so  that  he  now 
ranks  with  the  leading  physicians  of  the  county. 

In  1891  Dr.  Heckman  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Carrie  Hewitt,  who  was  born  in  Winne- 
bago county,  Illinois.  They  have  a  pleasant  home 
in  Hinckley  and  are  quite  prominent  socially. 


FRANZ    G.     LPXDBERG. 

Franz  (i.  Lundberg,  who  occupies  a  command- 
ing position  in  Sycamore  as  secretary  of  the  H.  B. 
Gurler  Company,  also  as  a  factor  in  the  ownership 
and  management  of  the  De  Kalb  Dairy  Company, 
was  born  in  Malta,  Illinois,  April  2,  1870.  His 
parents,  John  A.  and  Louise  Ulrica  Lundberg, 
were  both  natives  of  Sweden.  At  the  usual  age 
their  son  entered  the  public  schools  and  passed 
through  the  successive  grades  until  he  was  grad- 
uated from  the  De  Kalb  high  school  with  the 
class  of  1887.  Immediately  after  he  became  a 
factor  in  official  duties  of  the  city,  acting  as  deputy 
postmaster  from  1887  until  1889,  in  which  year 
he  became  connected  with  the  I.  L.  Ellwood  Manu- 
facturing Company,  now  the  American  Steeel  & 
Wire  Company.  His  association  therewith  was 
maintained  until  1895,  when  he  became  a  repre- 
sentative of  the  H.  R.  Gurler  Company,  of  which 
he  is  now  secretary.  In  this  connection  he  dis- 
plays good  business  ability  and  marked  enter- 
prise, having  thoroughly  acquainted  himself  with 
the  business  and  thus  renders  his  services  of  value. 
While  with  the  American  Steeel  &  Wire  Company 
he  was  first  shipping  clerk  and  afterward  assistant 
bookkeeper.  Every  change  he  has  made  in  his 
business  life  has  given  him  a  wider  outlook  and 
broader  scope  for  the  exercise  of  his  energv,  am- 
bition and  industry,  his  dominant  powers. 

On  the  25th  of  April.  189.3.  was  celebrated  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Lundberg  and  Stella  Gurler, 
daughter  of  H.  P.  and  Salena  (Eolfe)  Gurler.  the 
former  a  native  of  Chesterfield.  New  Hampshire, 
and  the  latter  of  Buckingham,  England.  The  fa- 
ther is  extensively  engaged  in  the  dairy  business, 
being  at  the  head  of  the  H.  B.  Gurler  Company. 
In  his  family  are  three  daughters,  of  whom  Mrs. 
Lundberg  is  the  oldest.  By  her  marriage  she  has 
become  the  mother  of  two  children :  Bruce  Gurler, 
born  October  4,  1895 ;  and  Henry  B.,  born  Feb- 
ruarv  23.  1896. 


\\l>    PRESENT   OF    DE    K Al.l;   COl  \TY 


Mr.   Lundberg  exei  bis  right  of  franchise 

the  men  and   m  if  the  re- 

publicao   party,  but  has  never  or  desired 

erring  to  concent'  upon 

ess  atfairs.     He  belongs  to  that  cla 
ative  you-  □  op- 

portunities of  iin .  i   and  w]  ipidly 

at    Brooking  do  -  thai 

can  i  y  honorable  ai  !  ef- 

way  upward  and 
favorably  known  in  business  rir.  of  bis 

ability  and  laudable  ambitio 


El)\\  \i:i'   C     LOT"] 


- 
ssed    in   a  ■•iark- 

■ 

! 
.in.'.   ;i-   v. 

1     I         who 
with 
Di     Kail,   wire   mills.     Commencing 

me,  and  not  only  did  the  «  .  but 

all  the  intn  aanu- 

\  develop'        "       Lott 

■ 
mi   his  emplr. 
until  h( 
manding  n  Balary  equal  to  that  net  min- 

mment.     During   his   adminie- 
lually  in- 
■1    from   two   hundred    thousand    dolls 
million   doll  annum.      F..r   tw 

I ' 
Kail,  office  and  the  value  "f  the  manufacl 
produ  million 

dollars. 

Edws        '       '  rn   .Tune  in 

Lehman  township,  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania, 
oison  and  Eunice  (Camp) 
T.oti.     The  father  was  born  in  Luzerne  count)-, 
-ylvania.   and    was   the   son    of   Stephen   and 
Betsy  (Ellis)   Lott.     D  tardy 

farmer,  but  had  considerabli  deal  skill  and 

for  mam  smith  of  the 


community.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject  «:i-  Joseph  (amp,  who  Berved  as  an  offi- 
cer in  the  \v a r  ol  1812.  He  was  a  man  of  affaire 
in  the  city  in  which  he  lived,  was  a  captain  on  a 
sailing  vessel  and  for  years  was  engaged  in  ship 
building.  I  'enison  Lott,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
j.i  t.  had  three  brothers  and  four  sisters,  and  unto 
him  and  his  «  born  the  following  named: 

ii.    wh..    died    in    childhood;    Joseph,     who 
i   away   when  about 

'  ..  the  subject  of  this  review;  Morris,  of 

San    Krai  ■him:   William     L.,  of    To- 

Bruce    11..   whose   death   was   oc- 

i    falliiiL'   tree   when   he   was   about 

old  :  James  I'.,  who  passed  awaj 

e  ma.  win.  died 

child:  and  Mary,  whosi   death  occurred  when 

was  twenty-four 

Sir.  Lott,  .ived  his 

\  tew  terms 
in  the  countr  gave  him  the  start 

and  :.nd    com- 

ing in  contact  with  cultun  in  social  and 

He  worked  on  the  farm  and  at 
and  when  lift  home 

with  lif»-"-  realities.     Be  became  a  rail- 
in  that  capacity  until 
the  Thirty-fifth    Pennsylvania  militia. 
ed       the  Sixth  Pi  ansylvania  Cav- 
alry a-  a  private  and  was  promoted  to  the  position 
nt. 

of  the  war  he  came  west  and  set- 
De  Kalh  county  in  1866.     He  worked  in 
the  hardware  store  of  E.  I.   Tucker  &  Company  of 
re  for  a     -ar.     In  1867  he  wont  overland 
•hooner  to  Helena.  Montana,  where 
orked  as  a  blacksmith  on  a  ranch  and  also 
Followed   mining  for  eight  yean.     He  was  em- 
Tin  the  Black  TIilk    ITe  won  quite 
a   reputation  as  a  pr.«-  md  owned  several 

mini]  that    afterward   became    very 

valuable,   and    had   ho   remained    in    the   west    ho 
•n  fame  in  the  mininp  world. 
In  1876  ho  came  to  De  Kalh.  Illinois,  and  en- 
tin-  employ  of   I.    L.   Ellwood  &  Companv, 
manufacturer^  of  barbed    wire,  the  faetorv  h<  in? 

the  railroad  track  between  St 
and  Thin  When  the  enlarged  shops  were 

n   Fourth  and   Sixth   streets  he  as- 


PAST    AND    PRESENT   OF    UK    KALB    COUNTY. 


599 


ness  was  purchased  by  Washburn,  Moen  &  Com- 
pany, and  Mr.  Lott  was  retained  as  manager.  So 
great  was  the  confidence  in  him  that  although  they 
were  doing  a  business  of  over  a  million  dollars  a 
year,  the  owners  at  Worcester,  Massachusetts, 
never  came  to  De  Kalb  to  check  up  the  affairs  of 
the  factory.  After  two  and  a  half  years  Mr. 
Ellwood  bought  hack  the  property  and  Mr.  Lott 
maintained  the  active  management  until  it  was 
sold  to  the  American  Steeel  &  Wire  Company  in 
1899.  He  entered  the  employ  of  the  new  owners, 
opened  an  office  in  Chicago  and  became  the  gen- 
eral sales  agent.  When  the  company  was  char- 
tered under  the  laws  of  New  Jersey  in  1900  he 
became  manager  of  the  western  district  and  one 
of  the  directors,  in  which  capacity  he  served  until 
April  1,  190.5.  The  De  Kalb  factory  made  a  very 
favorable  showing  and  was  one  of  the  most  profit- 
able industries  on  its  investment  of  the  Ameri- 
man  Steel  &  Wire  Company.  It  was  the  policy 
of  the  company  to  fill  orders  from  the  plant  where 
the  freight  rate  and  cost  of  production  would  show 
the  greatest  profit.  The  De  Kalb  factories  were 
so  skillfully  managed  and  the  cost  of  production 
kept  so  low  that  it  has  been  of  a  decided  advant- 
age to  De  Kalb.  In  the  past  five  years  the  output 
of  De  Kalb  has  been  doubled. 

Having  materially  assisted  in  earning  millions 
for  his  employers  in  thirty  years  of  faithful  serv- 
ice, Mr.  Lott  branched  out  for  himself  in  1905. 
His  strenuous  experience  had  developed  great 
capabilities  for  handling  large  business  and  he  was 
elected  president  of  the  Great  Lakes  &  St.  Law- 
rence Transportation  Company,  a  corporation  that 
owns  ten  modern  iron  steamships  on  the  Great 
Lakes.  The  gross  earnings  of  the  business  amount 
to  six  hundred  thousand  dollars  per  year.  In  ad- 
dition to  this  Mr.  Lott  is  one  of  the  executive 
officers  of  the  Dominion  Lumber  Company  of  the 
province  of  Quebec.  This  corporation  owns  five 
hundred  and  seventeen  square  miles  of  valuable 
timber  land  in  Canada  and  cuts  between  forty 
and  fifty  millions  of  feet  of  lumber  per  year.  He 
is  vice  president,  of  the  Railway  Exchange  build- 
ing of  Chicago,  in  which  he  has  his  Chicago 
offices. 

In  1873  Mr.  Lott  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Mrs.  Nancy  A.  Knapp,  at  Baileyville,  Illinois. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  Adam  and  Priscilla  Wilson 
and   was  born   at   Ottawa,   Illinois.      They   com- 


menced keeping  house  on  the  corner  of  Second 
and  Pine  streeets  in  De  Kalb.  where  they  resided 
until  1894,  when  they  completed  their  spacious 
home  opposite  the  residence  of  I.  L.  Ellwood. 
They  have  no  children,  but  Mrs.  Lott's  niece,  Miss 
Cora  Fiscus,  made  her  home  with  them  for  about 
twenty  years.  In  1903  she  was  married  to  E.  B. 
Fraser,  manager  of  the  Scientific  American  of 
New  York. 

Mr.  Lott  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  the  Masonic  blue  lodge,  commaudery 
and  Mystic  Shrine.  Politically  he  has  always  af- 
filiated with  the  republican  party  and  his  counsel 
and  influence  have  been  sought  in  local,  county 
and  state  political  matters.  He  has  always  taken 
great  pride  in  the  growth  and  development  of  De 
Kalb  and  largely  through  his  efforts  new  indus- 
tries have  been  located  in  his  home  city.  He 
has  never  sought  political  honors,  but  in  1895, 
when  De  Kalb  needed  the  advantage  of  business 
administration,  Mr.  Lott  was  elected  mayor.  As 
the  result  of  his  persistent  energy  many  improve- 
ments were  inaiigurated.  The  uniform  cement 
walks  and  water  works,  that  have  added  so  much 
to  the  appearance  and  comfort  of  De  Kalb,  were 
largely  the  results  of  his  efforts. 

Mr.  Lott's  life  is  an  example  of  the  highest  type 
of  self-made  men.  For  thirty  years  he  belonged 
to  the  working  class,  and  kept  steadily  advancing, 
each  year  demonstrating  that  he  was  of  .greater 
service  to  his  various  employers.  As  a  gentle- 
man of  commanding  presence,  self-educated,  suave 
and  companionable,  quick  to  catch  an  idea,  stren- 
uous in  activity,  a  lover  of  the  horse  and  out-of- 
door  sports,  with  no  pull  except  true  worth,  he 
became  a  man  among  men,  with  capabilities  along 
his  chosen  line  second  to  none  in  this  great 
county. 


CHARLES    ENG. 


Charles  Eng,  now  foreman  of  the  wire  drawing 
department  for  the  American  Wire  &  Steel  Com- 
pany at  De  Kalb,  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1887,  prior  to  his  eighteenth  birthday,  and  is  to- 
day recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  Swedish- 
American  residents  of  this  county.  He  was  born 
in  Sweden,  March  22,  1869,  and  is  a  son  of  John 
and   Louise  Erickson,   of  whose  family  of   eight 


600 


PAST    AM)    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COl  NTY. 


children  three  are  now  in  this  country,  the  broth- 
oi   our  Bubjecl        ng    iug  isl  and   Frank,  who 
are  wire  drawers  with  the  American  Win   -\   3 
( lompany. 

I  n  his  native  land  <  lharli  •  and 

Sweden   afforded   him    his 

ill     privileges.      The     favorable     reports 

which  lie  heard  concerning  America  ami  her  op- 

i   him   K>  seek  a  home  in   the  n<  w 

world,  and   in   l s>" .  prior  to  hi 

lie  emigrated  to  the  United  States.     Foi   several 

;   in  a   wire  null   in    N'-»    York 

n. I  then  went  to  Riddlesburg,  Bedford  coun- 

•   .   Pennsylvania,  where  for  about  a  year  he  was 

employed   in   a  Be  nexl   went   to 

Pennsylvania,  and  was  emplo 
in  the  wire  mills  a    Rani  n  for  five 

In  1893  be  came  t"  I  '■    Kail,  ai 
a    position    in    the    wire   drawing   department    of 
ilie  mill-  m«  n-  i  II.    Ellwood.     Two 

-   later  he  was  •man   of  the 

department  ai  in  thai  capacity  for 

years,  while  in  1902  he  was  promoted  t"  tin 
tion  of  .lav  foreman  of  thi  □  which  capa- 

.    i-   now   serving,  proving  mosl  compi 
ami  capable  m  tin-  position.     Ee  has  worked  his 
gradually  upward  by  -  -  and  has 

thoroughly  mastered  every  branch  of  the  bus 
that   has  come  under  his  supervision. 

Mi     I'iij  i-  a  republican  who  gives  unfaltering 
allegiance  to  the  principles  party,  and  in 

L903  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  board  of  al- 
dermei  Di  Kalb,  serving  with  credit  to  himself 
and  -  on  to  his  constituents  for  two  yean. 

Mr.  I  member  of  thi   Ordi     of  Vikings,  be- 

longing to  Haider  lodge,  No    12.     Tie  has  a  wide 
acquaintance   among  the  Swedish-American   citi- 
of  De  Knlh  and  i  considerable  inrlu- 

among  hi-  fellow  countrymen.     lie  po>- 
a  deep  and  Btrong  attachment  for  the  land  of  his 
adoption  and  no  native  born  son-  of  America  are 
more  loyal  to  its  interests  and  institutions. 


BYAN    BROTHERS. 


try   was   reared,  being  a  young  man  of  eighteen 
when  lie  emigrated  to  America  and  settled 
in  St.   Louis.  Missouri.     While  residing  there  he 
was   united   in   marriage   to    Miss    Elizabeth    Dal- 
bridge,  who  was  also  born  on  the  other  6ide  of  the 
Atlantic,  being  a  nativi         B       •     Germany.     Mr. 
in  steamboating  on  the  Mississippi, 
holding  the  position  of  first  mate  for  ten  years, 
and  for  five  wars  he  was  similarly  employed  on 
the  Great  Lakes,  but  finally  turned  his  attention 
gricultural    pursuits,  buying  -   of 

raiment    land    in   Mavlield  township,   I>e   Kail 
which  i-  now  owned  by  his  Bons. 
J.   II.   Ryan  studied  veterinary  surgery  and  at- 
tended   a    course   of    lectures    in    Chicago,   heing 
graduated    from   the   Chicago   Veterinary    College 
in  the  class  of  1891.     II.    is  now  successfully  en- 
:  in  the  practice  of  hie  -  on,  with  office 

3  camore,    and    while   he   gives   his   attention 
principally  to  thai  business  bis  brother  John  con- 
duct-  the   liven    stable  and   they   now    enjoy   a 
and   liberal   patronage  which   is  constantly 
They  have  a  well  equipped  barn  and 
well  merit  the  success  that  has  com.-  to  them. 
■  I.    II.    Ryan   was   united   in   marriage   to    Miss 
Rutledge,  and  they  have  two  children.    John 
wedded    Miss    Marj    Han.   a   daughter  of 
□    Hart,  and   they  have  become  the  parents 
of  five  children.     Both   families  are  widely  and 
ably  known  and  the  brothers  stand  high  in 
business  cin  ' 


C    B.  BROW  \.  M.  D. 


This  well  known  liven-  firm  of  Sycamore  is  com- 

:  of  J.  H.  and  John  Ryan,  sons  of  John  and 

Elizabeth  (Dalbridge)  Ryan.  The  father  was  born 

in  County  Tipperary.  Ireland,  and  in  that  coun- 


I'r    i      B    Brown  was  horn  early  on  the  Christ- 
ma-  morning  of  1847,  at  Drummondville,  Welland 

'  ana. la   West,   mar   Niagara   Fall-.     There 
in  In-  family  two  brothers  and  five  Bisters 
Hi-  •  Idesl  brother  was  a  Burgeon  in  the  Civil  wai. 
who  -   aft.r   in-   discharge.     The 

other  brother  died  a  few  years  ago  and  one  Bister 
i-  also  deceased.  The  father  and  mother  have  also 
gone  the  way  of  all  the  earth. 

l»r.  Brown  attended  school  in  his  native  village 

until  he  was  fifteen.    At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  left 

for   Buffalo.    New    York,   where  he  studied 

dentistry  and  medicine  for  a  period  of  ten  years 

and  was  graduated  from  the  medieal  department 


PAST    .VXD    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALB    COUNTY 


601 


of  the  University  of  Buffalo,  February  23,  1876. 
The  degree  of  M.  I).  S.  was  also  granted  him  under 
the  dental  laws  of  New  York  at  that  time.  After 
practicing  medicine  for  two  years  in  western  New 
York,  he  came  to  Sycamore.  Illinois,  in  September,. 
1878,  at  the  solicitation  of  his  old  time  friend,  the 
late  Dr.  G.  W.  Nesbitt,  and  was  associated  with 
him  for  one  year.  Since  that  time  he  has  resided 
in  Sycamore  (nearly  thirty  years).  There  are  but 
two  other  physicians  who  have  practiced  medicine 
as  long  as  Dr.  Brown  in  DeKalb  county.  He  has 
been  for  many  years  surgeon  of  the  Chicago  & 
Great  Western  Bailroad  and  for  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  Railroad  and  has  been  pension  ex- 
aminer for  about  fifteen  years. 

If  there  is  any  one  thing  of  which  the  Doctor 
feels  more  proud  than  another  it  is  the  esteem  in 
which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow  practitioners.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  De  Kalb  Medical  Society,  the 
Mississippi  Valley  Medical  Association,  the  Illinois 
State  Medical  Society,  and  the  American  Medical 
Association.  A  very  enthusiastic  Mason,  he  has 
been  a  master  of  Sycamore  lodge,  No.  134,  A.  F. 
&  A.  M.  He  has  twice  been  eminent  commander 
of  Sycamore  commandery,  No.  15,  K.  T.,  and  has 
for  quite  a  number  of  years  and  is  now  its  prelate. 

Dr.  Brown  married  Miss  Annette  A.  Bacon,  of 
Rochester,  New  York,  in  June,  1877.  Five  children 
have  been  born  to  them,  three  of  whom  gently  sleep 
in  beautiful  "Elmwood"  of  this  city.  Two  daugh- 
ters, Marguerite,  who  is  a  professional  nurse  ani 
has  charge  of  Sycamore  Hospital,  and  Gertrude, 
who  is  attending  school  at  the  Normal  in  DeKalb, 
still  live  with  the  Doctor  and  his  wife. 

Dr.  Brown  takes  just  pride  in  speaking  of  his 
obstetrical  record  and  of  his  surgical  work.  He  is 
a  man  of  culture  and  sense,  generous  to  friend  or 
foe,  and  his  life  of  industry  has  brought  a  rich 
reward  in  the  high  estimate  his  acquaintances 
place  upon  him  as  a  physician  and  a  man. 


in  Lycoming  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1815,  and 

still  lives  in  her  home  in  Benton,  Kansas.  Mr. 
Henrie*s  paternal  ancestors  were  from  Aberdeen, 
Scotland,  and  removed  to  Wales,  where  the  fam- 
ily name  was  spelled  Henrie  to  distinguish  it 
from  the  Henrys,  who  were  numerous.  W.  V. 
Henrie's  great-great-grandfather  was  a  brother  of 
the  famous  Patrick  Henry  of  Virginia.  He  had 
a  great-uncle  in  the  war  for  the  liberation  of 
Texas,  who  lost  his  life  at  Alamo.  He  also  had 
eighteen  relatives,  one  of  whom  was  a  brother,  in 
the  Civil  war. 

Like  all  the  boys  of  this  state,  Mr.  Henrie  at- 
tended public  school.  He  worked  on  the  farm  and 
at  twenty-five  years  of  age  engaged  in  business.  Fo» 
ten  years  he  was  in  the  hotel  and  livery  business 
and  made  a  success.  He  then  disposed  of  his  busi- 
ness, spent  one  year  on  the  Pacific  coast  and  then 
came  to  Sycamore  and  purchased  the  livery  prop- 
erty opposite  the  court  house,  where  he  remained 
fifteen  years.  On  account  of  poor  health  he  retired 
and  spent  much  of  his  time  in  traveling.  He  was 
ever  active  in  the  building  up  of  his  city  and  has 
been  instrumental  in  locating  several  institutions, 
among  them  the  F.  C.  Patten  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany ;  the  Insulated  Wire  Factory;  and  the  Turner 
Brass  Works. 

Mr.  Henrie  married  Martha  J.  Smith,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  and  Mary  Smith,,  of  Blackberry, 
Kane  county.  Mr.  Henrie  is  a  republican  in  poli- 
tics and  is  associated  with  the  Congregational 
church.  As  a  son  of  a  pioneer,  who  was  compelled 
to  carry  his  produce  to  Chicago  by  means  of  ox 
teams  and  endure  those  privations  of  the  pioneers, 
our  subject  has  many  of  those  sterling  traits  which 
are  inherited  from  those  heroes  inured  by  toil  and 
privation. 


TIMOTHY  F.  McDERMOTT. 


WILLIAM  V.  HENRIE. 

William  V.  Henrie,  born  January  it,  1853,  in 
Kaneville  township,  Kane  county,  Illinois,  is  the 
son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Van  Dine)  Henrie.  His 
father  was  born  in  Columbia  county,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1809  and  died  in  1899.     His  mother  was  born 


Timothy  F.  McDermott,  of  De  Kalb,  was  born 
in  Lee  county,  Illinois,  October  5,  1860,  his  par- 
ents being  Timothy  F.  and  Margaret  (Riley) 
McDermott,  His  father,  a  native  of  Ireland,  came 
to  the  United  States  when  about  eighteen  years  of 
age  and  located  in  Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  where 
he  was  identified  with  the  manufacture  of  steel 
for  about  thirty  years,  having  charge  of  furnaces 
in  one  of  the  large  steel  mills  of  that  place.     In 


602 


PAST    AMi    PRESENT   OF    DE    KALB   COUNTY. 


be  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  upon  a  farm 
in  Lee  county,  where  he  resided  until  about  six 
years  prior  to  bis  death,  when  he  removed  to 
Kochelle,  where  be  lived  retired  until  called  to 
his  final  rest  m  L893.  He  was  a  democrat  ;.i 
polities  and   a   Catholic   in    religious   faith.      Hie 

0  a  native  of  Ireland,  was  bom  in  1831 
and  when  seventeen  years  of  age  came  to  America 
with  a  brother,  .lame-  Riley.     They  also  located 

n    P  \'«    York,  where  she  met  and 

married   Mr.  McDermott.     She  is  -nil  living  and 
:-  i,,,u   a  of  De  Kalb,     By  her  marriage 

she   became   the   n  ten   children,  six   of 

whom  survive,  namely:    Mary,  the  wife  of  William 
Haley,  of  Rochelle,  Illinois;  Margaret,  the  wife  of 
P.   Yetter,  of  Steward,  Illinois:   Ellen,  the 
wife  of  <'.   II.  Gage,  of  Chicago;  Catherine,  the 

1  G.  'd'  Malta,  [llinois  :  William, 
-  living  ni  De  Kalb;  and  Timothy  F.,  of  this 

re\  iew. 

I  .  ist  named  was  reared  at  home,  acquiring 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  oi  Rochelle, 
and  \i  hen   twenty   '  ' 

of  thai  eitv. 
Then-  he  remained  for  two  years,  after  which 
he  removed  to  Dixon,  [llinois,  wl  ■ 
in  the  same  capacity  tor  three  years.  In  1887 
he  'Mino  to  De  Kalb  and  established  a  saloon. 
which  ho  has  now  conducted  for  nineteen 
with  good  success,  the  business  pro*  im  a 

gratifying  profit.      I 
and  has  -  aducted  a  board  of  trade  in   De 

Kalb. 

On  the  lo,|,  of  0  1889,  Mt    Mi  Di  rmoit 

was  married  to  M  i  Kinney,  of  Dixon. 

Illinois,   a   da  lohn    M     and    Margaret 

Kinney,  both  natives  of  Ireland.    They  now  have 
daughter,   Pauline   Hazel,  who   is  attending 
College  at  Chicago.    The  parent-  are 
-.ers   of   the   Catholic  church    and    Mr.    Mc- 
Dermott    ami  ates  De    Kail)    lodgi  .     No 
815,  K.  P. 


HENRY  FIELD  STOUT. 

IT.  nrv  Field  Stout,  superintendent  of  schools 
of  Genoa,  was  horn  at  Fairview,  Fulton  ennntv. 
Illinois.  Xnvemher  Ifi.  1871 .  His  parents  were 
Lvnian  Vroom  and  Sarah  (.Toralmon1)  Stout.    The 


father   has   spent  his  entire  life  upon  a  farm  in 
Fulton  county,  where  he  now  resides.    The  mother, 
who  was  a  school  teacher  prior  to  her  marriage, 
was  born  in   Newark,   New   ,lei- 
The  earlj   educational  privileges  which   Henry 

-  ii  received  were  extremely  limited  up 
to  the  time  when  he  entered  the  Illinois  State 
Normal    University    at     Normal,    Illinois,    from 

which  he  was  graduated   in  June,   l' In  the 

summer  of  1901  he  was  a  student  in  Chicago 
University.  From  early  boyhood  he  worked  <it 
farm  labor  until  eighteen  years  of  age  and  after 
that  -pent  o„l\  the  midsummer  seasons  on  the 
farm.  Hi  began  teaching  in  the  country  schools 
on  the  1>;  Deci  tnber,  1890,  and.  ambil  ious  for 
further  educational  advancement,  he  entered  the 
Normal  in  the  fall  of  189.6.  Following  his  grad- 
uation from  that  institution  he  taught  the  -<  iences 

high  school  in  Sycamore.  Illinois,  for  three 

and    for    four   years    has    held    his    present 

perintendenl   of  the  public  schools 

Hon.  where   he  has  given  excellent   satifac- 

tion.  becoming  recogni;  of  the  able  public 

school  teachers  of  this  section  of  the  state.      He 

did   iioi   find  agricultural   pursuits  congenial   but 

rtainly  well  adapted  to  his  chosen  profession 

by  his  natural  qualifications  as  well  as  training. 

Pn  S         was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the 

republican  party  and  has  seen  no  reason  to  depart 

from  be  attained   his  majority.     On  the 

ary   he   is  one  oi  al    advocates.     He 

Men    i,    member  M   sonic    fraternity 

L893  and  has  nnected  » ith  the  ' ' 

of  tl  Star  and  « ith  the  Modern  W 

America  for  about  ten  years.  Although 
reared  in  the  Dutch  Reformed  church  he  now 
hold-    membership    in    the    Mi  jcopal 

church. 
Onthe  6th  of  August,  1903,  Professor  Stoul  was 
ied  to  M  iss  M         '  ■  W  ells  of  I  '■ 

[llinois,  who  v  al  Normal  while  he  was 

pursuing  his  course  there  and  was  graduated   in 
1899.     They   now   have   one   daughl  vieve 

-  mt,  born  June  [5,  1906.  P  Stout 
has  always  been  very  fond  of  music  and.  as  is 
natural,  has  marked  1                            He  finds  his 

ce  of  recreation  and  rest  in  hunting 
and  fishing,  of  which  outdoor  sport=  he  is  very 
fond. 


PAST    AND   PRESENT    OF   DE    KALB    CUL'N'TV. 


G03 


COUNTY  SEAT   AND   COURT   HOUSE. 

To  all  of  the  inhabitants  of  DeKalb  county, 
except  a  few  leaders,  a  resolution  ottered  at  the 
September  session  of  the  board  of  supervisors 
in  1901  by  the  supervisors  of  Clinton  township, 
W.  J.  Randies,  created  an  excitement  not  felt 
since  the  days  of  civil  strife,  and  projected  a 
struggle  that  did  not  terminate  until  the  early 
days  of  1905.  The  resolution  stated  that  the  old 
court  house  was  wholly  inadequate  for  the  tran- 
saction of  county  business,  that  our  county  was 
out  of  debt  and  able  to  build  a  new  one  in  line 
with  the  progress  and  wealth  of  our  county,  and 
that  the  proposed  court  house  should  cost  not 
less  than  $100,000. 

This  resolution  was  passed  without  one  dis- 
senting vote.  The  chairman,  Hon.  V.  A.  Glid- 
den,  appointed  a  building  committee  composed 
of  the  following  named  members:  A.  W.  Fisk. 
chairman;  Wm.  Eandles,  J.  N.  Antoine,  II.  C. 
Whittemore  and  Joshua  Siglin.  "Hon.  Jacob 
Haish  and  Col.  I.  L.  Ellwood  offered  $20,000  each 
and  the  citizens  of  DeKalb  were  asked  to  con- 
tribute an  additional  $20,000  on  condition  that 
the  court  house  be  located  in  DeKalb."  Between 
the  December  session  and  the  special  session  of 
January  22,  1902,  a  compromise  was  attempted 
by  both  sides,  in  which  extensive  repairs  upon 
the  old  building  were  proposed,  but  the  super- 
visors soon  put  the  stamp  of  their  disapproval  on 
this  movement.  At  the  special  session,  after  in- 
specting other  court  houses  in  adjoining-  counties, 
the  minority  report  was  offered  by  two  members 
of  the  building  committee,  H.  'C.  Whittemore 
and  Joshua  Siglin,  which  was  in  substance  that 
DeKalb  county  build  the  court  house  on  the 
general  plan  of  the  Lee  county  building,  to  cost 
$103,000.  A  motion  to  table  minority  report 
was  lost  by  a  vote  of  ten  to  twelve.  Original 
motion  prevailed  by  vote  of  thirteen  to  nine.  A 
resolution  was  offered  enlarging  the  building  com- 
mittee from  five  to  nine  members.  Wm.  Yon 
Ohlen,  D.  B.  Arbuckle,  W.  Montague  and  Thomas 
Jordan  were  added  to  the  building  committee.  At 
the  session  of  the  building  committee  in  Febru- 
ary plans  that  had  been  submitted  were  accepted 
and  the  contract  was  let  to  Wm.  McAlpine  of 
Dixon.  By  this  time  Sycamore  had  raised  $70,000. 
F.  B.  Townsend  of  the  banking  house  of  Daniel 
Pierce  &  Co.  presented  a  certified  check  of  both 


Sycamore  banks  for  that  amount.  Mr.  Fisk  sub- 
mitted a  communication  from  Hon.  Jacob  Haish 
and  Col.  1.  I,.  Ellwood  offering  $100,000  if  located 
in  Do  Kail).  Legal  entanglements  now  arose,  and 
DeKalb  through  her  attorney,  Hon.  J.  P.  Wilson, 
applied  for  an  injunction  before  Judge  Crabtree 
of  the  circuit  court,  restraining  the  supervisors 
from  proceeding  with  the  building  on  the  ground 
that  no  provisions  had  been  made  for  the  se- 
curity and  protection  of  the  county  records  during 
tin1  tearing  down  of  the  old  building  and  the 
erection  of  the  new  one.  The  injunction  was 
granted.  During  the  spring  of  1902  DeKalb 
adherents  served  legal  notice  that  they  would  cir- 
culate a  petition  asking  that  a  vote  be  taken  on  the 
erection  of  the  court  house  and  that  the  site  be 
located  in  DeKalb.  This  work  of  circulating  peti- 
tions  was  carried  on  during  the  summer  and  early 
fall  until  over  two-fifths  of  the  voters,  the  number 
necessary  to  secure  a  vote  on  the  proposition,  had 
been  obtained.  The  matter  of  hearing  petitions 
came  before  County  Judge  W.  L.  Pond.  Syca- 
more objected  to  a  call  for  an  election  on  the 
ground  that  the  county  court  did  not  have  proper 
jurisdiction  on  account  of  lack  of  publication  of 
notice.  The  county  court  sustained  the  ob- 
jections and  refused  the  prayer  of  the  peti- 
tioners that  an  election  be  held.  When  it  was 
found  that  because  of  lack  of  publication  to  make 
the  notice  of  election  legal  and  no  vote  was  pos- 
sible, DeKallrs  attorney,  Judge  Willard  McEwen 
of  Chicago,  charged  this  neglect  to  publish  notices 
to  the  county  clerk.  Sycamore's  attorney.  Judge 
I'" 'is ford  of  Elgin,  claimed  it  was  the  duty  of 
DeKalb's  attorneys  having  the  matter  in  charge 
to  prepare  these  notices  and  supervise  their  pub- 
lication. Another  attempt  was  made  in  May, 
1903,  to  bring  about  a  settlement  of  the  contro- 
versy. Col.  I.  L.  Ellwood  and  Hon.  Jacob  Haish 
proposed  that  an  old  people's  home  be  built  in 
DeKalb,  to  cost  $150,000,  Sycamore  to  contribute 
$50,000  thereto,  and  the  board  permitted  all  gifts 
to  the  county  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  court 
house  to  be  withdrawn.  Sycamore  was  then  to 
have  the  court  house  built  on  the  old  site,  and 
H.  C.  Whittemore  offered  a  resolution  carrying 
an  appropriation  of  $140,000  for  a  court  house, 
which  was  carried  by  a  vote  of  twenty  to  four. 
Provisions  were  then  made  for  the  care  and  pro- 
tection of  the  county  records  during  the  tearing 
down  of  the  old  building  and  the  erection  of  the 


cm 


LAST    ANH    L'LLSLXT    OF    DE    KALI!    COUNTY. 


new,  which  rendered  tin-  injunction  of  Judge 
Crabtree  ineffectual,  for  by  the  provisions  of  this 
resolution  the  objections  made  when  the  injunc- 
tion was  applied  for  were  no  longer  in  force. 
The  building  committee  made  a  contract  with 
Crowe  Brothei-.-  to  remove  the  old  court  house. 
Win.  McAlpine  was  again  awarded  the  contract  to 
erect  the  county  building,  and  lie  was  i"  receive 
therefor  $137,964.  The  Crowe  Brothers  were  en- 
joined from  removing  the  old  building  by 
Judge  Boldom  of  Chicago.  This  injunction  was. 
upon  bearing,  dissolved  August  7,  1903,  from 
which  time  the  work  progressed  rapidly.  The  old 
buildings  were  removed,  the  foundation  of  the 
in  u  "iie  laid  and  the  corner  stone  was  laid  by  the 
Illinois  Grand  Lodge  of  Tree  and  Accepted 
Masons,  October  29,  1903,  with  appropriate  cere- 
monies. Addresses  were  delivered  by  Attorney 
General  H.  J.  Hamlin  and  Hon.  Frank  0.  Low- 
den.  At  the  special  session  of  Augusi  preceding 
the  supervisors  released  Sycamore  from  the  pledge 
to  pay  $50,000  to  the  old  people's  home,  as  the 
citizens  of  DeKalb  and  her  supporters  generally 
opposed  the  c promise  offered  by  Messrs.  Ell- 
wood  and  llaish  in  May,  1903.  Sycamore  then 
paid  $55,000  into  the  county  treasury  for  the 
building  of  the  new  court  house.  Later  Hon. 
J,.,.. i.  Haish  deposited  $103,000  in  the  Commer- 
cial Bank  of  DeKalb  for  the  construction  of  the 
court  house  in  that  city.  DeKalb  circulated  an- 
other petition  for  a  vote  and  again  had  the 
requisite  two-fifths  of  the  voters'  names  on  their 
petition.  Sycamore  adherents  then  industriously 
began  to  circulate  a  counter  petition,  and  secured 
on  it  1,200  names  of  those  who  had  signed  the 
original  petition  circulated  by  DeKalb.  which 
was  in  dTcct  a  withdrawing  of  their  names  from 
the  petition  asking  for  an  election.  When  the 
matter  tame  before  the  county  court  he  held  that 
the  names  could  not  be  withdrawn,  and  overruled 
the  contention  of  Sycamore's  attorneys  that  the 
petition  by  the  withdrawal  of  1.200  names  was 
not  sufficient.  Application  was  made  before  Judge 
George  Brown  of  the  circuit  court  for  the  issuance 
of  a  writ  of  certiorari  transferring  the  case  from 
the  county  to  the  circuit  court,  which  was  issued. 
The  supreme  court  denied  a  writ  of  mandamus 
applied  for  by  DeKalb  to  bring  the  case  before  it. 
Building  progressed,  but  rallies  were  held  by 
both  parties  to  the  contest  in  every  town  and 
village  and  in  many  of  the  school  districts  of  the 


county.  Loth  sides  had  excellent  speakers,  and 
quartets  to  furnish  good  music.  The  songs  were 
prepared  by  local  poets,  and  gave  the  contest  a 
humorous  side,  hut  underneath  it  all  there  was 
grim  determination.  The  speakers  for  DeKalb 
were,  first  and  foremost,  Col.  I.  L.  Ellwood.  He 
had  been  lor  compromise,  was  related  to  Sycamore 
by  ties  of  blood,  and  had  the  friendship  and  es- 
teem nf  every  citizen,  and  especially  of  those  cit- 
izens of  manner  years  who  had  known  him  from 

young    maul I.      Like  all  the   Ellwoods  he   was 

forceful,  energetic  and  an  experienced  cam- 
paigner. 

A.  .1.  Kennedy  had  been  in  the  fight  from  it- 
inception,  was  well  acquainted  in  the  south  part 
of  our  county,  was  an  excellent  speaker,  and  did 
good  service  to  in-  cause.  The  other  DeKalb 
speakers  were  Judge  Willard  McEwen  of  Chi- 
cago. W.  IT.  Prentice  and  W.  L.  Fond  of  DeKalb. 

Sycamore  had  an  able  body  of  lawyers,  who 
closed  offices  and  took  the  stump.  Judge  Bishop 
was  perhaps  mure  conversanf  with  every  phase  of 
the  case  than  any  one.  bis  addresses  were  well 
directed  and  effectual.  He  was  looked  upon  as 
the  leader  of  the  Sycamore  forces.  That  he 
proved  to  be  a  good  leader  is  written  in  the  rec- 
ords, and  not  even  the  opposition  will  deny. 

D.  J.  ('amis  is  not  a  campaigner,  but  went  at 
matters  in  lawyer  fashion.  The  fact  of  his  being 
clear  headed,  a  ready  speaker  and  is  known  for 
fairness,  and  had  not  mingled  in  polities  as  a 
campaigner,  gave  his  addresses  telling  effect. 

T.  M.  Cliffe,  than  whom  no  readier  and  more 
eloquent  speaker  lives  in  our  county,  dealt  telling 
blows  to  the  opposition.  He  had  been  a  cam- 
paigner before  attaining  his  majority,  and  knew 
well  tin    strategies  of  the  platform. 

TL   S.    Earley  had   been   from  youth  a  speaker. 

a    g 1    campaigner,    a   resident  of  both   sections 

of  the  county  at  different  times,  made  addresses 
thai  wen    dignified  and  effectual. 

J.  B.  Stephens  was  another  speaker  who  added 
to  the  strength  of  his  section.  He  made  some 
addresses  that  for  humor  and  sarcasm  were  equal 
to  anv  delivered  on  either  side.  A  few  days  be- 
fore election  Judge  J.  S.  Baume  granted  an  in- 
junction restraining  the  people  of  the  county  from 
an  election.  November  10.  1903,  when  the  polls 
were  opened,  the  injunction  was  served  at  every 
voting  precinct.  Sycamore  adherents  generally 
refrained  from  voting.     At  some  of  the  precincts 


PAST   AND    PRESENT    OF    DE    KALI!    COUNTY. 


G05 


sheriff  and  constables  were  ousted  without  cere- 
mony when  the  writ  of  injunction  was  served,  but 
nothing  more  than  feelings  were  hurt,  while  some 
constables  were  removed  out  of  booths  rather  live- 
ly. Over  4,000  votes  were  east,  at  this  election. 
Nothing  remained  for  either  party  to  the  contest 
to  do  but  await  the  result  of  legal  proceedings. 
At  the  December  session  Messrs.  Fisk.  Olmstead, 
I  iodide  and  Handle,-  reissued  from  the  building 
committee  and  Messrs.  Jordan,  Hess,  Ault  and 
Sawyer  were  appointed  to  fill  vacancies. 

Motion  to  quash  order  of  Judge  Pond  calling 
elections  was  argued  before  Circuit  Judge  Brown, 
who  rendered  a  decision  adverse  to  DeKalh. 

January,  1905,  DeKalh  filed  appeal  bond  in 
certiorari  case.  Judge  Brown  sustained  injunc- 
tion of  Judge  Baume  in  preventing  an  election. 
I  Jill  of  exceptions  filed  by  DeKalb  and  case  was 
tried  in  the  Appellate  Court,  where  decision  of 
Judge  Brown  was  sustained.  The  case  then  went 
to  the  Supreme  Court,  where  the  decision  of  the 
Appellate  Court  was  sustained. 

Early  in  the  contest  an  election  held  in  the 
village  of  Cortland  for  president  of  the  village 
hoard,  who  became  assistant  supervisor  by  the 
legislative  act  of  1867.  This  election  was  con- 
tested and  in  due  process  of  law  reached  the 
Supreme  Court,  where  T.  W.  Jordan,  a  Sycamore 
adherent,  won  and  gave  Sycamore  a  majority  of 
one  in  the  board  of  supervisors. 

Tn  190.")  the  court  house  was  occupied  by  the 
county  officials  and  the  contest  ceased,  but  sore 
spots  are  not  all  healed,  but  generally  good  feeling 
will  return. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


The  winter  of  1900  and  1901  was  very  cold, 
hut  no  snow  was  on  the  ground  and  the  earth 
was  frozen  to  a  depth  of  over  four  feet.  Foresl 
trees  the  following  summer  began  to  die  by  the 
thousands,  and   in  the  course  of  a  year  or  two  a 


large  percentage  of  the  timber  of  the  county  had 
been  removed. 

The  election  of  1902  returned  W.  L.  Pond  to 
the  county  bench  for  a  second  term,  Dan  Hohm 
Income  county  treasurer,  A.  S.  Kinsloe  returned 
to  the  county  clerk's  office  for  the  fourth  term. 
Ferd  Eompf  of  Somonauk  was  elected  sheriff, 
Lewis  M.  Cross  for  the  fourth  time  was  elected 
county  superintendent,  and  J.  B.  Castle  of  Sand- 
wich was  elected  representative. 

Another  event  worthy  of  notice  was  the  estab- 
lishing of  the  Chautauqua  in  Sycamore  in  1902. 
William  Jennings  Bryan,  presidential  candidate 
of  1896  and  1900,  delivered  a  noble  address  to  a 
large  assemblage  of  people.  These  Chautauquas 
have  been  increased  in  interest,  and  Sandwich 
established  one  in  1906.  This  year,  1907,  tem- 
perance Chautauquas  are  to  be  held  in  DeKalb 
and  Waterman.  Questions  of  social,  political,  re- 
ligious and  moral  interest  are  discussed  by  men 
and  women  of  national  prominence,  while  courses 
of  instruction  in  domestic  science  and  scientific 
subjects  along  their  lines  are  given  much  atten- 
tion. 

Aside  from  about  one  hundred  and  sixty-five 
miles  of  railway  in  our  county,  the  electric  rail- 
way has  been  established  here,  the  first  being  built 
in  1902-3  from  DeKalb  to  Sycamore;  and  another 
road  using  gasoline  as  motive  power  was  built  in 
1906  from  Aurora  to  DeKalh,  which  in  a  few- 
months  will  use  electric  power.  Rumors  of  new 
electric  lines  are  in  constant  circulation,  and  in  a 
short  time  other  lines  will  be  built,  uniting  the 
other  portions  of  the  count}'. 

From  1896  to  1907  has  been  a  most  prosperous 
time  in  our  county's  history.  Factories  have  been 
built  employing  thousands  of  operators,  our  popu- 
lation has  increased,  especially  in  cities,  with  great 
rapidity.  Every  year  finds  many  farmers  past  the 
meridian  of  life  entering  the  towns  and  villages 
In  retire  from  active  work,  where  their  children 
find  greater  school  privileges  and  a  large  social 
world  for  their  instruction  and  entertainment. 


INDEX 


(#> 


HISTORICAL 


Introduction      5 

Early    Conditions    6 

Indians    S 

Chief    Shabbona    9 

Reminiscences    of    Shabbona 20 

The    Stone   Age 23 

Noted    De   Kalb   County   Indians 24 

An    Historic    Place 27 

First  White  Men  in   the   County 29 

Reminiscences    of    Border    Life 31 

An  Act  to   Create   Certain   Counties...  42 

1837     45 

Major    Wharry's    Reminiscences 50 

1838-1840      53 

Game  of  Pioneer  Days 60 

1840-1841      ' 62 

Banditti      65 


1841-1848     73 

Resurrectionists     83 

1848-1860     86 

Underground    Railroad    97 

Prom  the   Sentinel I'1' 

Half    Shire    Bill 113 

Paw    Paw    11'"' 

Shabbona     121 

Milan     124 

Malta     l-'."> 

South    Grove    127 

Franklin     131 

Victor     137 

Clinton     138 

Afton      141 

De  Kalb    142 

Mayfield     151 

Kingston    157 


Somonauk    and     Sandwich 162 

Squaw   Grove    164 

Pierce     166 

Cortland    168 

Sycamore     174 

Genoa     184 

War    History    189 

Notable   Events    284 

Schools     295 

Early    Postoffices    302 

Reminiscences    by    M.    B.    Castle 304 

Reminiscences   of   L.   P.    Kellogg 315 

Sixty    Years    Ago 316 

Bench  and  Bar 326 

Medicine    and    Surgery 330 

To    the    Reader 335 

County   Seat   and  Court   House    603 

Miscellaneous     605 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


Aldrich,     W.     H 562 

Anderson,    C.    A 490 

Anderson,    O.    W 545 

Arnold,    E.    E 469 

Aurner,  J.    F 361 

Bagg,   W.   J 377 

Baldwin.    H.   H 525 

Bark.    W.    H 538 

Benson.    Benjamin     518 

Benson,    J.    A 471 

Bent.  F.  J 451 

Beveridge,  J.  L 380 

Bishop,  C.   A 352 

Blee,  John  W 508 

Bloom,   R.    E 592 

Boynton.    C.    0 478 

Bradshaw,    S.    P 557 

Bradt.   C.   E 490 


Bradt,    S.   E 472 

Branen,  James 588 

Brenner,  Judson    424 

Brock,    L.    F.    P 360 

Brown,   Dr.   C.    B 600 

Brown,     D.    D 405 

Buck.     William     413 

Buckardt,    H.    J 46S 

Burnham,    A.    P 377 

Camp,    Charles    F 580 

Carlson.    Albert     507 

Carlson,     M.     F 460 

Carter,    Dr.    C.    D 583 

( 'halland,    Henry    574 

Chatfield,     J.     R 345 

Chellgl ii.     C      ■; 373 

Cherry.     W.     E 436 

Clark.     I.     S 576 


Colby,   S.  T 411 

Collin,    C.    P 579 

Connell,    William     556 

Cook,    J.    G 543 

Cristman,    J.    M 517 

Crosby,    C.    H 496 

Culver,   Dr.   G.    S 590 

David,    Dr.  J.   C 569 

Durland,    T.    H 512 

Dustin,  Daniel  346 

Dutton,    Everell    F 393 

Dutton,    George    E 400 

Dutton,    W.    P 390 

Eiklor,    W.    A 527 

Ellwood,    I.    1 339 

Eng,    Charles    599 

Evans,   M.    R 423 


PAST   AND   PEESENT   OE   DE   KALB   COUNTY. 


Fay,   Horace  W 440 

Fay,    H.    W 

Eraser,     A.    ]1 407 

William     372 

Ameil    379 

I                          " ;.;,;, 

Gillis    Brothers    -Ug 

(livens.    N".    II 

Glidden,    I       E        



<  ilidden,    V.    A 

Lew i*    M .  35i 

William i 

Gurler,   G.   II 523 

Gurler,    III'.                               4  if, 

II.    II 

Heckman,    I.    1 507 

1      A 475 

Henderson,    1.    C i, 

son,    J.    F i  -  . 

Henrie,    \V.    \* 

■                'A        \ -,  1 ., 

•    tby,    I      '. 451 

E.  A.  S  1 

Howland,    Byron  - 

Hudgens,   Lee  R 11;, 

Hunt.    C.    S 477 

Ingham.     Ellis     


523 

477 

550 

445 
.. 

Johnson.    J.    E 4 .  , 

Johnson,    John    ....    , , 

Johnson,    I.    M ,    . 

Johnson,  L.  0 552 

Joslyn.     \V.    R 4]9 


Takes.    John    C.  .  .  . 
Johnson,    Allen    .  . 

Johnson.    A.    M 
Johnson,    C.     L.  .  . 


Kaiser.   Dr.  J.   M 


<:r, 


Kennedy,   A.   C, 

Kicrman.    ,T.    R 4*,, 

Kinsloe.    A.    S 595 

K'ttle.     J.     N 

Knell.    George    S56 

Kylen,    A.    II    46] 


Lamont,    Samuel    513 

Lecky.    Robert    S ;,:,7 

I-ott.  E.  C ,- 

Ludwig,    A.    A 562 

Lundberg,    F.    ( 1 597 

Lundberg,    V.    II 429 

McAllister,    W.     M -71, 

McCormach,    Richard    

McDermott.    T.    F    , 

McDermott,    William    ,. 

McEwen,    H.    W 

McEwen,    I..    M 

McMurry,    Lida    I: 4,,. 



Marvin.     A.     \V 

May°.  E-  1 

E.    I 

Mennis,    J.    V 

Millar.    I       U  "'    ... 

Morton,   Charles    <l( 

M  O.    M 

■  .    E.    A 167 


-    l>r.    Alfret 

Norman.     Evi 


452 


1  >lmste<l.    A.    II 4    . 

O'Malley,    Mathew 

Ostrander,    Hiram    () 

Parl£e.    A.    F 

Parks,    A.    1 40,, 

Parris,  J.    A 533 

Parson,    S.    F 

,  C.  J 

Pasley,    William    J 555 


Peck, 


- 


513 

Perkins.    II.    A 423 

Peterson.    Adolph    350 

Peterson,    (".    J 47c, 

Pogue.    J.     B 344 

Redmond.    1.    P ,._ 


Rowan,   Dr.  F.  N 591 

Kumney,    W.    J 563 

Russell,    J.    S 420 

Ryan    Brothers    600 

Sanderson,    S.    M 384 

Sawyer,    Nicholas    526 

Sebree.    W.    M 500 

.-■elisor.    K.    J 503 

Dexter     412 

an,    M.    L) 520 

Shuey,    William    564 

Simonds,    Joel    II 414 

Is,    M.     I 414 

506 

Stout.    II.    F 602 

Strack,    Louis    

Swanbum,    Sanford    540 

Swanson.  J.   W 

Swift,    D.    C -4 

Taylor,   A.    R 4..13 

I  bompson,    <1.    A 194 

Tindall.   G.   M 374 

nd,    A.    \\ 430 

1          !       I' 435 

iownsend,    F.    1'- 504 

Turner,   II.  J 56" 

Van    Duscn.    5imeon 379 

Varty,    Robert    523 

II 495 

Waddcll,    David    359 

Ward.    W.    B 552 

Warren,   Alvin    581 

White.     Henry     546 

WiM.     D.     I' 41, 

»v  ilson.     C.     E 453 

J.     M 487 

Wilson,    T.    T 

Woodbury.     W.      W 575 

A.    H s»5 

Wright.     Ed 561 

Wright,    E.    0 570 

Wrinht.     I      II 568 


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