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ROCKFORD TO-DAY """
Historical, Descriptive, Biographical
ILLUSTRATED
PUBLISHED BY
THE ROCKFORD MORNING STAR
ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS
THE CLARK COMPANY PRESS
1903
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FOREWORD
And he gniie it for MM opinion
that whoever could make two eiirg
of corn or two blades of grass to
grow upon a spot of ground where
only one grew before, would de-
serve better of mimklitd.''
DEAN SWIFT.
IN the making of a volume which would
convey accurate biographies and faith-
ful likenesses of those who have con-
tributed their genius and energy toward
Rockford's great progress, the publishers
acknowledge the co-operation of many
citizens, reference to Church's History of
Rockford, work of review and compilation
^ by W. W. Austin.
o
I 043 1 69
ROCKFORD TODAY
S~\ ERMANICUS KENT is entitled to the
VJ distinction of being the founder of this,
today, beautiful ' Forest City," of the west.
Mr Kent was born in Suffield, Connecticut, May
31, 1790, and inherited those sterling qualities
which were characteristic of the early English
settlers in the New World." He acquired a
practical business education and for some years
was engaged in mercantile pursuits at Blacks-
burg, Virginia, and at Huntsville, Alabama. He
was married to Miss Arabella Amiss, at Blacks-
burg, Virginia, June 7, 1827. The business
interests of Mr. Kent being in the south and hav-
ing married a southern woman, he doubtless
acquiesced in the social institutions of that sec-
tion, as it is known that he owned slaves and
brought one with him to his western home. A
brother. Rev. Aratus Kent, was located as a
missionary at Galena, Illinois, a mining town of
considerable note at that time, and Mr. Kent
made it his objective point in seeking a new loca-
tion, where he hoped to better his financial in-
terests.
Upon arriving in Galena, he made the ac-
quaintance of Thatcher Blake, who was also in
quest of a desirable location. Mr. Blake was
born in Oxford County, Maine, March 16, 1809,
where he resided until 1834, when he went as
far west as St. Louis. There he learned of the
thriving mining town of Galena, and immedi-
ately made his way there. As soon as definite
plans could be matured, Mr. Kent and Mr. Blake
joined interests and started out across the vir-
gin prairies and through the unbroken forests of
Illinois in quest of a favorable spot where they
might make a home and acquire a fortune.
After a thorough inspection of the Pecatonica
and Rock River valleys th.y finally determined
to locate upon the banks of Rock River, the
present site of the city of Rockford.
It was on a quiet Sunday afternoon in the
month of August ari on the 24th day of the
month, that these pioneers arrived at their desti-
nation. In the party were Messrs. Kent. Blake,
Evans, and another man whose n? ie is unknown,
Mr. Kent gave employment and wages to those
who came withhim and immediately commenced
the building of a log cabin, which was located on
the west bank of the river, near Kent's creek
and on the Kent claim. Another log cabin was
built on a claim located by Mr. Blake.
As the season for agricultural work had passed
when they arrived, their attention was given to
making improvements. During the fall of that
year, Mr. Kent built a second and more preten-
tious home, into which he brought his family
from Galena, in May, 1835.
Mr. Kent secured workmen from Galena and
with their aid constructed a dam in Kent's creek
and a saw mill upon its banks. The timber for
the mill was cut near by and the material for the
dam was found in the immediate vicinity. He
IO
ROCKFORD
also carried on a merchandising business and
supplied his neighbors with goods on credit. The
following January the dam was swept away by
the ice and high water. In the early spring,
work was begun on the digging of a race and the
construction of a new dam. The task was com-
pleted in July. This dam occasioned the over-
Irby Black, in Blacksburg. in March, 1862. Mr.
Blake cultivated his farm until 1 85 1 , when he re-
moved to the city and engaged in the real estate
business, and in this connection handled large
areas of timber land in Wisconsin. He died Oc-
tober 8, 1880. Mrs. Blake died at the home of
her daughter, Mrs. Clarence Bean, in this city.
MEMORIAL HALL
flow of so much land, that it was removed sev-
eral years later. Mr. Kent had invested his
money in labor, improvements, and merchan-
dise, but, as yet, had been able to get but little
in return, so that the financial crash of 1837
left' him in distress and without prospects of
future success. He surrendered his property
for the benefit of his creditors, and in 1844
returned, with his family, to Virginia, where,
after engaging in business at various places, he
died, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Mary
Could Germanicus Kent look out today upon
the spot where his early struggles returned noth-
ing but bitter disappointment, he would see a
picture, the beauty of which would richly repay
him for all the sorrow and sadness occasioned by
his failure, and his soul would rest in peace.
His name will be honored and his memory
perpetuated, by the successive generations that
follow, so long as water shall flow in Kent's
creek and the masonry endure in the Kent
school.
ROCKFORD
ii
W1NNEBAGO COUNTY COURT HOUSE
FIRST SETTLER ON THE EAST SIDE.
On April 9, 1835, Daniel Shaw Haight, ac-
companied by several other men, arrived on the
east bank of the river, in quest of a desirable
location for settlement This locality is now
called East Rockford.
Mr. Haight was from Bolton, Warren County,
New York, and had made a claim near Geneva,
in Kane County, Illinois. He sold this claim
before selecting one on Rock River. His first
house stood on the northeast comer of State
and Madison streets. He brought his wife and
one child, Miss Carey, his wife's sister, and a
hired man from Geneva to his new home, in
May. Thus Mrs. Mary Haight and her sister,
Miss Carey, were the first white women to settle
in Winnebago County. Mrs. Kent arriving a
few weeks later, on the West Side.
As one drives over the smoothly paved streets,
12
ROCKFORD
traverses the concrete walks, rides through the
principal streets in a car, propelled by an electric
current, over ribs of steel, places a little instru-
ment to his ear and talks with friends near or
remote as though they were sitting side by side,
looks at the fine business blocks and imposing
public buildings, the beautiful residences, and
public parks, listens to the constant throb and
beat of the machinery in hundreds of manufac-
turing concerns, mingles in the throngs of
thousands of happy, prosperous people in the
business streets, rides in a horseless carriage,
reads the news from all parts of the world, fresh
from the daily presses of the city, it is diffi-
cult to realize, that, less than three score and
ten years ago this part of Illinois was but a
trackless wilderness of grass, flowers, and forest
trees, where the birds awoke the morning with
their sweet melodies and the native wild ani-
mals roamed at will.
The beautiful homes and luxuries of living
enjoyed by the people of Rockford today are
only the legitimate sequences of the deprivations
and indomitable energies of the pioneers.
GROWTH OF THE FOREST CITY
IN 1835.
The first public religious service in Rockford
was held at the home of Germanicus Kent, in
June, 1835, by the Rev. Aratus Kent, at which
the entire community was present, making an
audience of ten people.
Among the settlers of 1 834, not yet referred
to, may be mentioned Thatcher Blake, Albert
Sanford and Mr. Van Zant. In 1835 several
people from the south and east were added to
the colony. Among them were John Wood,
James B. Martyn and James Boswell. Closely
following these were Eliphalet Gregory, who died
in 1876, Samuel Gregory, who died in New York
in 1886, and.Ephriam Wyman, after whom a
street is named, and who died in 1893.
Levi Moulthrop, M. D.,who has the distinc-
tion of being the first physician to locate in Win-
nebago County, arrived in 1835. He married
Miss Margaret George, June 30, 1840 and died
September 12, of the same year.
Richard Montague came in 1835 and died
in 1878 He has memorials in the name of
one of the city schools and streets. Adam Keith,
after whom Keith's creek is named, arrived dur-
ing this year. He died in Nebraska in 1883.
William E. Dunbar was one of the county
organizers and served as county recorder from
1839 to 1843. He died in 1847.
P P. Churchill was a farmer, near town.
He died in 1889.
Among the arrivals of 1835 may be men-
tioned, also, the names John Vance, John
Caton, Joseph Jolly, Charles Hall, Lewis Haskins,
Milton Kilburn, William Smith, Luke Joslin,
Israel Morrill, D. A. Spaulding, Lova Corey,
Alonson Corey, Abel Campbell, Ezra Barnum,
Anson Barnum, James Taylor, William Hollen-
beck, V. Carter, Joseph F. Sanford, Jonathan
Corey, Daniel Beers, Mason Tuttle, Mr. Noble,
Squire Garner, Gaylor, Perry, Norton, Phineas
Carey, Jefferson Garner, Nathan Bond, Charles
J. Fox and James Broadie. Thus it will be seen
that the population of Rockford was considerably
increased during the second year of its history.
ACQUISITIONS OF 1836.
During the year 1836. the colony was en-
larged by the arrival of a number of pioneers,
who became important factors in the material
welfare of the new town. Among them was
Thomas Lake, who came from the county of
Somerset, England, and landed in New York in
1832, after a voyage of fifty-two days. He
arrived in Chicago in October 1835, and came
to Rockford the following spring, bringing with
him an old acquaintance, Sidney Twogood. Mr.
Lake made a claim to a farm and the two men
worked at the carpenter trade. Mr. Lake died
in Guilford in 1886.
Herman B. Potter, a native of Connecticut,
arrived in October and bought a farm, as was
the practice of many of the early settlers, on
what is now the Kishwaukee road. Later he
moved to town and built a house where the First
Congregational church now stands. Mr. Potter
served as a member of the county commission-
ers' court, and was one of Rockford's prominent
citizens. He died in Galesburg, Illinois, in 1880.
Selden M. Church was born in East Had-
dam, Connecticut, March 4, 1804, and came to
Chicago by team, in 1835, and arrived in Rock-
ROCKFORD
Y. M. C. A. BUILDING
ROCKFORD
ford in the fall of 1836. Mr. Church imme-
diately became one of the most prominent and
helpful of Rockford's citizens. He contributed
largely to the business interests of the town. He
served as postmaster, county clerk and county
judge, retaining the latter office for a term of
eight years. In 1847 he was a delegate to the
State Constitutional Convention. He was a
setts to Rockford in the fall of 1836. They
established a home en what is now known as the
Horsman block, where they were joined, a little
later, by their daughter, who had contracted a
romantic marriage with Charles 1. Horsman,
while attending school at the Charleston Semi-
nary. Mr. and Mrs Horsman retained posses-
sion of this property the remainder of their days.
NELSON HOTEL
member of the legislature in 1862, a member
of the State Board of Charities in 1868, and a
government commissioner to locate a bridge at
Rock Island. After a residence in Rockford of
fifty-six years, accomplishing much for the best
interests of those who inherit the fruits of his
labor, Judge Church passed away in 1892.-
Mr. and Mrs. Abiram Morgan were of New
England extraction and came from Massachu-
Sampson George arrived in Rockford from
England in September and acquired a large tract
of land, but lived only five weeks to enjoy the
country of his adoption. He died in his new
home and his remains now rest in the west side
cemetery.
Dr. Charles Henry Richings was born in Eng-
land, February 26, 1815, and received his medi-
cal education in Belgium. He was the second
ROCKFORD
WM. BROWN BUILDING
i6
ROCKFORD
physician to locate in Rockford. where he en-
joyed a large practice. He died August 13,
1884, but his memory, as a citizen and a physi-
cian, is perpetuated in the name and practice of
his son, Dr. Henry Richings, who is now a well
known resident physician.
Hiram R. Enoch was a native of Ohio, and
while a resident of Rockford was elected to the
Joseph Posson came from New York and
lived on a farm east of town for four years. He
removed to Rockford in 1842 where he died of
injuries received while building a cooper shop
on the corner of Second and Madison streets,
the same year. His son, H. A. Posson, is one
of the oldest living residents of Rockford town-
ship.
RESIDENCE OF JOHN LAKE
office of county treasurer, which he held eight
years. He was the editor and proprietor of the
Rockford Journal and one of the influential
citizens. He died in the government's employ
in Washington, D. C.
Isaac Newton Cunningham, who arrived in
Rockford during this year was the second sheriff
of the county. He died here December 24,
1865.
David S. Shumway was a native of Vermont.
He settled on a farm in New Milford, where he
reared a large family. His son, Roland H.
Shumway. Sr., is the well known seedsman, who
has acquired a fortune in this business.
The names of many of the early settlers are
made familiar to the present generation by their
being given to our public buildings and streets,
ROCKFORD
which affords a practical lesson in the history
of the city.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY 1836
A history of the City of Rockford would not
be complete without reference being made to
the organization of the County of V/innebago and
the location of the county seat, as much of the
importance of the city is due to the fact that it
has the honor of containing this location.
tion of McHenry, Winnebago, Kane, Ogle and
Whiteside counties, and the reorganization of Jo
Daviess county. This act determined the
specific geographical boundaries of the several
counties. Those for Winnebago County em-
braced a much larger territory than it at present
contains, as all of Boone County and the two
eastern ranges of townships in Stephenson were
included. Thus Winnebago County was carved
out of LaSalle and Jo Daviess counties, that
ROCKFORD COUNTRY CLUB
Whenever a new settlement was made in the
new territory, local government was essential to
the permanency and success of the colony. The
attention of the state legislature, which was in
session at Vandalia, was called to this matter in
1835. At this time, Cook, LaSalle and Jo
Daviess counties extended from Lake Michigan
to the Mississippi river. Out of this vast terri-
tory, eight counties have been formed.
On the 16th of January, 1836, the state legis-
lature approved an act providing for the organiza-
portion east of the third principal meridian being
taken from LaSalle and that west of this meri-
dian from Jo Daviess. The northern and south-
ern boundaries of Winnebago County remain as
at first outlined This act of the legislature also
directed that an election should be held at the
house of Germanicus Kent on the first Monday
in May for the purpose of electing a sheriff, coro-
ner, recorder, surveyor and three county com-
missioners, who should hold their offices until the
next succeeding general election and until their
i8
ROCKFORD
successors were qualified. This election was not
held in May as directed, however, as the law
provided that no county should be organized until
a majority of the voters of the prospective county
had addressed a petition for the same to the
judge of the sixth judicial circuit, or, in his
absence, to another circuit judge, and to give
satisfactory proof that the proposed county con-
tained not less than 350 white inhabitants. A
census was taken by Dr. Daniel H. Whitney, of
Belvidere, which resulted in demonstrating that
the required number of white inhabitants had
been found.
A petition was at once forwarded to Judge
Thomas H. Ford, who issued an order, dated
July 15, 1836, for an election to be held at the
house of .Daniel S Haight on the first Monday
in August, for the aforesaid county officers. The
legislature designated the time and place for
holding this election, but as the organization of
the county depended upon a prescribed number
of inhabitants, another section of the law, referred
the selection of the time and place to the judge
of the circuit. Germanicus Kent, Joseph P.
Griggs ar,d Robert J. Cross were chosen judges
of this election. A deep interest was manifested
in this, the first election in the county. A mem-
ber of congress and two representatives to the
state legislature were to be chosen, as well as
the local officers, but the selection of candidates
for county commissioners overshadowed all other
interests at issue.
This election marked the beginning of rivalry
between the east and west side of the river which
has mver been entirely eliminated. No caucus
or convention was called, and the factions divided
the honors. Simon P. Doty was the candidate
for commissioner from the eastern part of the
county, Thomas B. Talcott from the northern
part and William E Dunbar the compromise
choice of the two "sides." The election was
held on the first Monday in August as directed.
No printed ballots were used, but a viva vocewas
taken and this made it easy for those interested
to know exactly how matters stood at any time
during the election. D. A. Spaulding was made
clerk of the election. One hundred and twenty
votes were cast, and Simon P. Doty, Thomas B.
Talcott and William E. Dunbar were elected
county commissioners; Daniel S. Haight. sheriff;
Daniel H. Whitney, recorder; Eliphalet Gregory,
coroner; and D. A. Spaulding. surveyor. At
this time there were only three congressional
districts in the state and Winnebago was in the
third district, which extended from the Wiscon-
sin boundary to a line south of Springfield and
entirely across the state from east to west.
The northern half of the state was sparsely
settled, the entire tract constituting the congres-
sional district. At this first election William L.
May, who resided at Springfield, and was the
democratic candidate for congress received sev-
enty-three votes. His opponent. John T. Stewart,
received forty-four votes, thus giving Mr. May a
majority of twenty-nine votes and he was declared
elected. He served two years.
The senatorial district in which Winnebago
County was included, previous to 1840, covered
the Rock River Valley and extended from Dubu-
que nearly to St. Louis This vast area was
entitled to one senator and two representatives
in the legislature At this election there were
five candidates for the lower house. James
Craig and Elijah Charhs were elected.
Monday. August 1st, 1836. marked the be-
ginning of the political history of Winnebago
County, the election held on that day complet-
ing the organization of a county destined to be-
come one of the foremost in the state.
LOCATION OFTHECOUNTYSEAT 1836
The act of the legislature providing for the
organization of Winnebago County also made
provision for the location of the county seat by
designating Robert Stephens and Rezin Zarley
of Cook County, and John Phelps as commis-
sioners to act in this capacity, The commis-
sioners were authorized to meet on the first
Monday in May, 1836, or as soon thereafter as
may be, at the house of Daniel S. Haight for
this purpose. John Phelps never made an ap-
pearance, but the other two commissioners met
at the place designated on the 14th of July, of
that year, and after spending two days in the con-
sideration of the matter, agreed upon a location.
This selection was embodied in a report
made by the special commissioners' to the county
commissioners court on August 4. 1836. This
ROCKFORD
report set forth that they had met as directed
and had selected a site , on lands owned by N icho-
las Boilvin & Co., on condition that the pro-
prietors should execute a warranty deed to the
county of thirty acres of land so long as it should
remain the seat of justice. On the same day,
Charles Reed presented to the county commis-
sioners a deed of twelve blocks, containing two
and one-half acres each, situated about two
miles above the ferry crossing, conditioned that
it should belong to the county so long as it re-
mained the seat of justice.
RESIDENCE OF MRS. LYDIA WILLIAMS
The report of the special commissioners was
rejected by the county commissioners upon good
and sufficient grounds, and it was ordered that
the circuit and county commissioners courts
should be held at the house of Daniel S. Haight,
until the matter of location be determined by
the people. This contention between Boilvin &.
Co., and the county commissioners as to the
location of the county seat was continued for
a period of several years and led to an enact-
ment by the state legislature, approved March 2,
1839, submitting the question to a popular vote
and providing that an election for this purpose
should be held on the first Monday in May, 1839
Charles Reed had been the moving spirit in
the interests of Boilvin & Co., in the effort to
locate the seat of justice at Winnebago, the point
re.'erred to up the river. He was a shrewd busi-
ness manager, but as the results of the election
will show, was doomed to disappointment. The
law provided that if a majority of one hundred
of the votes cast should be in favor of Winnebago,
that town should remain the permanent county
seat. At the election sixtownswere in the race
for county seat honors, of which Rockford re-
ceived three hundred and twenty votes; Winne
bago seventy-five; Roscoe, two; Willow Creek,
five; Pecatonica, one; and Scipio one, out of a
total of four hundred and four. Rockford hav-
ing received a majority of two hundred and
thirty-six votes carried off the victory and secured
the plum upon which it has since fattened to
rotund proportions.
Winnebago lost its prestige and gradually
declined, until in 1847 its plat was vacated by
special act of the state legislature, and Charles
Reed, its promoter, removed to Rockton, where
he died August 26, 1863.
Pursuant to the result of the election in favor
of Rockford, the county commissioners, on June
8, 1839, selected the public square on the east
side of the river as the site for the location of
the court house. Considerable material was
donated and placed upon the ground for this
building, but the work of construction was delayed
for the want of funds. On September 28, 1841 ,
a proposition was made to the county commis-
sioners by a number of West Side residents to
furnish suitable quarters for the county offices
and a jail in West Rockford. This proposition
was accepted by the commissioners, conditioned
upon the execution of a bond for $1 ,000 for the
faithful performance of these undertakings.
On December 1 1 th the building for the use of
the couniy offices was reported to be ready for
occupancy. It was located on the ground now
occupied by the Mead block, on South Main
street. The donors were given five months in
which to complete the jail. This was a log
structure and was located on the east side of
the present court houss square.
It would seem that now the location of the
county seat was definitely settled, but that was not
the fact. The contention was started by those
interested in the Winnebago site, as to the
20
ROCKFORD
legality of the May, 1839, election. The point
at issue was, whether the law authorized an elec-
tion to select a site for the seat of justice or
simply for its removal.
The county commissioners, at their meeting
in Septembtr, 1841, each expressed a different
opinion in relation to the matter, thus creating
a dead-lock, so that nothing was definitely settled.
sense of the voters at the August election on
the question as to whether the county buildings
should be located in East or West Rockford.
The verdict seemed to be in favor of West
Rockford.
In April, 1843, Daniel Haight and others,
submitted a proposition to the county commis-
sioners, to build a court house and jail on the
Or b. o. o
UMNER
On May 10, 1842, the commissioners asked
the written opinion of the county attorneys as to
the effect of the popular vote of 1839. The
unanimous opinion of the bar was to the effect
that the county seat had been changed from
Winnebago to Rockford, in accordance with the
evident intent of the law.
At the session of the commissioners' court
in July, 1842, the judges of the election in the
several precincts were authorized to take the
East side to cost $4,000. This proposition
could not then be accepted. A few days later
West side citizens submitted a similar proposi-
tion, agreeing to erect such buildings as the com-
missioners might determine necessary, and for
which they were to submit plans and to begin
their construction before the first day of the
following June, and to complete them before the
first day of January, 1844. The donors were to
deed to the county two and one -half acres of
ROCKFORD
21
land upon which the buildings were to be placed.
This proposition was accepted with the following
conditions, viz.: good and sufficient security in
the sum of $20,000 within twenty days, the
buildings to be worth not less than $6,000, to
make a written contract to erect the buildings
proposed, and this contract to be placed in the
hands of the clerk within three days after its
in July. The buildings were furnished by the
people of West Rockford without expense to the
county.
The first term of court was held in August,
1844. The presiding judge was Thomas C.
Brown, James Mitchell was the clerk, and G. A.
Sanford sheriff.
EAST STATE STREET, LOOKING WEST
approval These conditions were all complied
with. The commissioners designated block
twenty-five in West Rockford, as the place for
the erection of the buildings.
After a contention of seven years the county
seat had been permanently located in Rockford,
on the west side of the river.
The brick jail was completed and occupied
January 1, 1844. The wooden court house was
completed and accepted by the commissioners
SETTLERS OF 1837.
As in previous years, Rockford enjoyed the
acquisition of a class of people to its citizen-
ship during 1837 that constituted a valuable ele-
ment in the development of its future possibili-
ties. It may be said that Rockford was exceed-
ingly fortunate in its early days in being selected
as the place of residence of so large a number
of liberal minded and public spirited men, who
exerted their energies and expended their means
22
ROCKFORD
in the permanent upbuilding of their home town.
Progress in the development of those features
that embellish and adorn a beautiful city kept
pace with the increase of population. Shade
tress were planted, parks were established and
the log cabins were replaced by more comfort-
able and pretentious buildings. During this year
the first lawyer of the town, John C. Kemble,
opened an office on South Madison street in
connection with Dr. Goodrich. Mr. Kemble was
a man o' much ability and had been a member
of the general assembly of New York. Ex-
Governor Marcy and wife of New York, were
guests at the Kemb'e home during the summer.
Mr. Kemble lost his reason, and was taken to
an eastern asylum, where he died in 1840. He
had two sons, one of whom died in Italy and the
other established the California Star, the first
English newspaper in San Francisco.
John Lake was born March 27, 1821, in
Selwonhy Parish, England, and emigrated to
America in 1837, arriving in Rockford in Decem-
ber of that year. He acquired the carpenter's
trade, became a contractor and builder, and en-
gaged in the lumbsr business with Phineas Howes
from 1852 to 1856. After a visit to Europe, he
re-engaged in the lumbsr business with Mr.
Howes, and sold out to Cook &. Brother in 1859.
In 1850 he again engaged in the lumber busi-
ness with Henry Fisher on the West side, which
partnership was continued to 1867, when he re-
turned to Europe for an extended visit. Return-
ing in 1 868 he formed a co-partnership with Seely
Perry and engaged in the lumbsr business on
the East side during the next six ysars. He
visited Europe in 1874, 1877. 1889 and 1891.
Mr. Lake was connected with the Rockford
Insurance Company during its business life. He
represented the Second ward in the Council for
ten consecutive years. He has been a supervisor
and chairman of the Board of Education. He
was married to Miss Almeda M. Danley, of Har-
lem, October 1 1. 1849.
Henry Thurston and his son, John H., arrived
in March from Troy, New York. John H. was
married and resided in Rockford until the death of
his wife in 1890. For more than forty years
their home was in the brick house on South Madi-
son street, which was used as an annex for
the high school for several years. Mr. Thurston
published his Reminiscences of Pioneer Life, in
1 89 1 , which have been highly appreciated by all
classes of readers. He died September 19,
1896.
Samuel D. Preston came to Rockford from
New York, and resided on North Madison street
and later where the Rockford Lumber and Fuel
Company's office now stands. He was a promi-
nent business man and a public office holder, be-
ing county treasurer four years. He died Feb-
ruary 11, 1844.
Eleazer Hubble Potter was born in Fairfield
County, Connecticut, and upon his arrival in
Rockford formed a co-partnership with Samuel
D. Preston and engaged in business. He was
prominent in church and educational interests,
and was one of Rockford's early bankers. He
built the house now occupied by the Rev. Mead
Holmes, and later the fine residence now occu-
pied by the Hon. Gilbert Woodruff. Mr. Potter
died September 1, 1861. Mrs. William Lath-
rop is a daughter, and Commodore Potter, of
Belvidere, is a son.
Nathaniel Wilder was born in Lancaster,
Massachusetts, June 30, 1794, and came to
Rockford in March, 1837. He carried on the
business o! blacksmithing for twenty-five years,
and became the owner of considerable property.
He died Ju'y 1 1 , 1884, aged ninety years.
Goodyear Asa Sanford was born in Hamden,
Connecticut, in 1814, and came to Rockford in
1837. He at once engaged in mercantile busi-
ness and was prominent in social and political
affairs. He served as sheriff of the county and
held the office of county school commissioner.
He was a member of the banking firm of Dick-
erman, Wheeler & Co., which was organized
January 1, 1855. In 1856 the firm name was
changed to Lane, Sanford & Co. A reorganiza-
tion took place in 1 864, when the Second National
Bank was established with Mr. Sanford as cash-
ier. He was afterward elected to the presidency
of the bank, in which capacity he served until
his death in 1894. The failure of this bank
occurred in 1896, and H. H. Waldo was ap-
pointed to the receivership. The liquidation was
completed in 1900, when all claims were prac-
tically settled in full.
ROCKFORD
David D. Ailing was born at Westfield, Con-
necticut, April 27, 1813 and came to Rockford
in October, 1837. He was a carpenter by trade
and built the old First Congregational church, on
the West side. During a residence of sixty-one
years in Rockford, he was a contractor and
builder and acquired considerable valuable prop-
Mary I, and Anna in this city. Mr. Beattie died
December 3, 1889.
Benjamin Kilburn was born in Belchertown,
Massachusetts, August 8, 1808. He built a
house on the site of the Nelson House where it
remained until 1 89 1 . He afterward purchased a
quarter section of land, in the northwest part of
RESIDENCE OF INGALLS CARLTON
erty. He died August 1, 1898. Frank Ailing
and Mrs. P. W. Dankey are his children.
John Beattie was one of the first immigrants
from Ireland to this section of Illinois. He was
of Scotch ancestry and was born in Ireland June
21, 1811. He was a carpenter by trade and
built the old court house. He acquired valuable
real estate in the city, which now belongs to the
Beattie estate. Two sons, Edward W. and
George D., reside in Montana, and two daughters,
town, upon which the stone quarry, now operated
by his son-in-law, T. W. Carrico, is located.
Kilburn avenue is named in his honor. Mr.
Kilburn died in 1860.
John Miller, the second resident lawyer,
arrived during this year. He was a popular
orator and took an active part as a whig in the
campaign of 1840.
There were probably a score of other arrivals
during the year, among whom might be men-
ROCKFORD
tioned Elisha A. Kirk, Levi Taft, William Two-
good, Eli Hall, Lewis Keith, P. S. Doolittle,
Joseph Hayes and William Peters.
The late Judge Selden M. Church is authority
for the statement that the total population of the
county in June, 1837, was 1,086.
BUILDINGS IN 1838.
Sixty-seven years ago there were only four
buildings north of State street in West Rockford :
the ferry house on the site of the public library
(not the Carnegie building); Abiram Morgan's
log house, on the site of the Horsman residence;
a log cabin on the river bank, north of the ferry-
house, and a board house near the site of the A.
D. Forbes residence.
South of State street there were quite a
number of cabins, among which was a log house
near the corner of State and Main streets; D.
D. Alling's house in block one, south of State
street ; a house opposite the present post office ;
another on the corner north of the Northwestern
depot ; Benjamin Kilburn's home on site of the
Nelson House ; Kent's house and mill, near
Kent's creek and W. E. Dunbar's house, south
of the creek.
On the east side of the river were a greater
number of buildings, among them, the Rockford
House, the only hotel between Belvidere and
Freeport ; Bundy & Goodhue's store on the
corner of State and Madison streets ; south of
this was the Haight building, which contained
the postoffice; Potter & Preston's store stood on
the corner of State and Madison streets ; east of
Potter & Preston's store was the foundation of
the Washington House, Daniel Haight's house
and Worthington & Searle's drug store.
East of the alley on State street was Samuel
Little's saloon, the first in Rockford ; Samuel
Corey's house, William Penfield's blacksmith
shop and Dr. David Goodrich's house, in the rear
of which was a log schoolhouse. Anson Barnum's
double log house, on the site of the car barns,
and the houses of John Phelps, John C. Kemble,
James Clark, Thomas Lake, Sidney Twogood,
John Vance, James Boswell and Jacob Posson.
The Winnebago House was built in 1838 by
Dr. Haskell, on the site of Andrew Ashton's
store. This was the first brick store built north
of Rock Island, on Rock river. The building
was first used as a store and later converted
into a hotel.
CHRISTENING AND INCORPORATION
OF THE VILLAGE.
"What's in a name," is as applicable to a
town or city as to an individual. Possibly less
significance is attached to the names of towns
derived from individuals than from any other
source. There is no particular significance in
the names Smithville, Jonesville or Brownville,
further than the fact that Smith, Jones or Brown
was the first settler and perpetuated his name in
that of the town. The name Rockford is unique
and attractive, when compared with that of Kent-
ville or Haightville if a name of a first settler had
been perpetuated in the name of the town.
The first suggestion of a name was made by
Mrs. Kent, which was Midway, as the town was
located about midway between Chicago and
Galena, but what significance would there be in
the name today? This name was recognized for
several years and what little mail found its way
to this community was addressed to " Midway,
Rock River, Jo Daviess County, Illinois."
Under date of October 17, 1837, Mr. Kent
writes a letter from Rockford, Illinois. It is not
fully certain as to who proposed this name or
when, but doubtless the first semi-official action
was taken by Daniel S. Haight, Germanicus
Kent, William H. Gilman of Belvidere, John P.
Chapin and Ebinezer Peck of Chicago, and
Stephen Edgel of St. Louis, who met in the office
of Dr. Goodhue, on Lake street, in Chicago,
on business connected with their mill privilege
located at this place. It is said that Dr. Good-
hue proposed the name Rockford, on account
of the rock-bottom ford in the river at this point.
At least, these gentlemen unanimously adopted
this name at this time, which was in the year
1835.
The general law of 1831, made provision for
the incorporation of towns in the state that had
a population of not less than one hundred and
fifty white males over twenty-one years of age.
In 1839, the people of Rockford felt that it would
be to the advantage of the community to take
the benefit of this act. Accordingly notices were
ROCKFORD
posted, calling a meeting of citizens at the Rock-
ford House, on April 1, 1839. At this meeting
David Goodrich was chosen chairman and James
Mitchell clerk. It was resolved that the two
villages of Rockford, east and west sides of Rock
river, be incorporated into one town. Commit-
tees were appointed to ascertain the number of
inhabitants, to draft an act of incorporation and
ferryman made a favorable report, upon which
the meeting, by a two-thirds vote, completed the
act of incorporation. An election for five trus-
tees was held April 10, at which Dr. Goodhue,
Daniel S. Haight, Samuel Little, Ephriam Wy-
man, and Isaiah Lyon were elected. These
trustees organized by electing Daniel S. Haight,
President ; Anson Barnum, clerk ; John C. Kem-
RESIDENCE OF WM. KNAPP
to confer with Mr. Brinkerhoff in relation to free
ferriage for the people of the county. An ad-
journed meeting was held April 3d, but no busi-
ness was transacted. A second adjourned meet-
ing was held on the evening of the 4th inst., at
which the reports of the committees were sub-
mitted. The census committee reported the
population to be 235. The committee to draft
an act of incorporation presented an acceptable
document, and the committee to confer with the
ble, attorney ; Isaiah Lyon, collector and treas_
urer ; Henry Thurston, assessor for first district;
Nathaniel Wilder, for the third district; and S.
D. Peterson, for the fourth district. Thus Rock-
ford entered upon its municipal career as an
incorporated village, which continued until Jan-
unary, 1852.
In 1851 the people of the village felt that
the town had outgrown its limited municipal en-
vironments and that better facilities for the con-
26
ROCKFORD
duct of its corporate affairs should be secured.
Prompted by this sentiment, a call was signed by
Jason Marsh, G. A. Sanford, Willard Wheeler,
Isaiah Lyon, George Wyatt, Newton Crawford,
C. I. Horsman, W. .A. Dickerman, W. P.
Dennis, Jesse Blinn and William Hulin, for a
meeting of citizens to be held at the court house
on November 29th, to take action in the matter of
Damon, First ward; E. H. Potter, Second ward;
H. N. Spalding, Third ward; C. N.Andrews,
Fourth ward. William Lathrop was appointed
clerk.
An ordinance was passed creating the fol-
lowing city officers; clerk of the council, attorney,
treasurer, marshal, assessor, collector, engineer
and two street commissioners. These officers
RESIDENCE OF R. H. SHUMWAY
incorporating as a city. It was resolved at this
meeting to submit the matter to a vote of the
people, and for this purpose the village trustees
ordered an election to be held on January 3,
1 852. At this election, the votes were cast in favor
of organizing under the general law of 1849, and
the city government of Springfield was adopted
as a basis of organization.
The first city election was held April 19,
1852, at which Willard Wheeler was chosen
mayor. The alderman elected were : Sumner
were to be appointed annually by the city council,
at its first regular meeting after the first annual
municipal election. At the second session of the
council, held May 1 , the following city officers
were appointed : William Lathrop, attorney ;
Hiram R. Maynard, treasurer ; Duncan Fergu-
son, assessor; K. H. Milliken, collector; Dun-
can Ferguson, city engineer ; Thatcher Blake
and William McKenney, street commissioners.
A special act of the legislature, of June 18,
1852, authorized the city to issue bonds, not
ROCKFORD
27
exceeding $10,000 in amount, with which to
build a bridge across the river. This sum not
being sufficient, a second act was passed Feb-
ruary 3, 1853, authorizing the issue of $15,000
in bonds, and the first act was repealed. From
the sale of these bonds a covered bridge was
built in 1854.
There being some technical irregularity in
the incorporation of the city, a special act of the
legislature was passed and approved February 8,
1853, legalizing the previous official acts of the
mayor and council.
A special charter was granted to the city, by
the legislature, March 4, 1854, and the general
law of 1849 was declared to be no longer in
force, so far as Rockford was concerned, except
for the completion of matter already begun under
the old law.
This charter was amended February 14,
1853, April 26, 1859 and February 22, 1861.
"An Act of the legislature to reduce' the
charter of the City of Rockford, and the several
Acts amendatory thereof into one Act and to
revise and amend the same," was approved Feb-
ruary 15, 1865.
Rockford was governed by this charter until
the city was reorganized under the general law.
This general law, enacted in 1872, repealed the
general law of 1849, and abolished the system
of special charters.
Previous to 1887, the mayor was elected
annually. A complete roster of the city officials,
since its organization in 1852 to 1903, is
appended.
1852. Mayor, Willard Wheeler. Aldermen
first ward, Sumner Damon; second ward,
E. H. Potter; third ward, H. N. Spaulding;
fourth ward, C. N. Andrews; City Clerk, Wil-
liam Lathrop; City Attorney, William Lathrop;
City Treasurer, H. R. Raymond; Police Mar-
shall, John Platt.
1853. Mayor, Hiram R. Maynard. Alder-
men, first ward, A. Hitchcock; second ward,
H. D. Searles; third ward, U. M. Warner;
fourth ward, C. N. Andrews; City Clerk, J. K.
Farwell; City Attorney, L. F. Warner; City
Treasurer, E. L. Fuller; Police Marshal,
Willard Wheeler.
1854. Mayor, N. M. Warner; Aldermen,
first ward, A. Hitchcock; second ward, Jason
Marsh: third ward, T. D. Robertson; fourth
ward, Newton Crawford; City Clerk, L. F.
Warner. City Attorney, L. F. Warner; City
Treasurer, B. G. Wheeler; Police Marshal,
John Travis.
1855. Mayor, Edward Vaughn; Aldermen,
first ward, P. B. Crosby; second ward, Jason
Marsh; third ward, Henry Fisher; fourth ward,
Newton Crawford; fifth ward, John P. Manny;
City Clerk, S. W. Stanley; City Attorney, L. F.
Warner; City Treasurer, B. G. Wheeler; Police
Marshal, James Dame.
1856. Mayor, James L. Loop; Aldermen,
first ward, P. B. Crosby; second ward, P.
Hower; third ward, T. D. Robertson; fourth
ward, Isaac Andrus; fifth ward, J. G. Manlove;
City Clerk, H. H. Hatch; City Attorney, Orrin
Miller, Jr.; City Treasurer, G. A. Sanford;
Police Marshal, Ira Baker.
1857. Mayor, William Brown; Aldermen,
first ward, John Spafford; second ward, P.
Howes; third ward, D. D. Ailing; fourth ward,
Isaac Andrus; fifth ward, J. G. Manlove; City
Clerk, Edward Vaughn; City Attorney, James
M. Wight; City Treasurer, G. A. Sanford;
Police Marshals, W. P. Dennis and J. E.
Langdon.
1858. Mayor, Seeley Perry; Aldermen',
first ward, John Spafford; second ward, George
Troxell, Jr.; third ward, D. D. Ailing; fourth
ward, H. W. Loomis; fifth ward, J. G. Man-
love; City Clerk, L. W. Burnham; City Attor-
ney, H. D. Adams; City Treasurer, A C.
Spafford; Police Marshal, E. C. Roberts.
1859. Mayor, Charles Williams; Alder-
men, first ward, R. A. Bird; second ward,
George Troxell, Jr.; third ward, Daniel Dow;
fourth ward, H. W. Loomis; fifth ward, J. G.
Manlove; City Clerk, Porter Sheldon; City At-
torney, Porter Sheldon; City Treasurer, A. C.
Spafford; Police Marshals, M. J. Upright and
M. H. Regan.
1860. Mayor, Charles Williams; Alder-
men, first ward, R. A. Bird; second ward, Ben-
jamin Wingate, third ward, Daniel Dow; fourth
ward, J. S. Coleman; fifth ward, J. G. Manlove;
City Clerk, R C. Bailey; City Attorney, C. M.
Brazee; City Treasurer, A. C. Spafford; Police
Marshal, A. J. Pennock.
28
ROCKFORD
1 86 1 . Mayor, Charles Williams; Aldermen,
first ward, C. W. Sheldon; second ward, Benja-
min Wingate; third ward, Daniel Dow; fourth
ward, J. S. Coleman; fifth ward, John P Manny;
City Clerk, R. C. Bailey; City Attorney, C. M.
Brazee; City Treasurer, N. C. Thompson;
Police Marshal, Ambrose Halstead.
1862. Mayor. Charles Williams; Alder-
men, first ward. Henry Strong and James B.
fourth ward, G. A. Sanford; fifth ward, John P.
Manny; City Clerk, R. C. Bailey; City Attor-
ney, R. C. Bailey; City Treasurer, N. C.
Thompson; Police Marshals, John Fisher, M.
J. Upright and Jeremiah Mosher.
1864. Mayor, Albert Fowler; Aldermen,
first ward, Anthony Haines; second ward, John
Lake; third ward, E. L Godfrey; fourth ward,
G. A. Sanford; fifth ward. Freeman Graham;
RESIDENCE OF GILBERT WOODRUFF
Howell; second ward, Benjamin Wingate; third
ward, Daniel Dow; fourth ward, J. S Coleman;
fifth ward, John P. Manny; City Clerk, R. C.
Bailey; City Attorney, C. M. Brazee; City
Treasurer, N. C. Thompson; Police Marshal,
Ambrose Halstead.
1863. Mayor, Charles Williams; Alder-
men, first ward, Anthony Haines; second ward,
Benjamin Wingate; third ward, E. L. Godfrey;
City Clerk, R. C. Bailey; City Attorney, C. M.
Brazee; City Treasurer, R. P. Lane; Police
Marshals, G. V. Carr and James Dame.
1865. Mayor, Albert Fowler; Aldermen,
first ward, John H. Hall; second ward, John
Lake; third ward, E. L. Godfrey; fourth ward,
G. A. Sanford; fifth ward, Freeman Graham;
City Clerk, R. C Bailey; City Attorney, C. M.
ROCKFORD
29
Brazee; City Treasurer, R. P. Lane; Police
Marshal James Dame.
1866. Mayor, E H. Baker; Aldermen first,
ward, John H. Hall; second ward, John Lake;
third ward, E. L. Godfrey; fourth ward, G. A.
Sanford; fifth ward, Freeman Graham; City
Clerk, O. A. Pennoyer; City Attorney, C. M.
Brazee; City Treasurer. R. P. Lane; Police
Marshal, Thomas Sully.
Lake; third ward, James B. Agard; fourth ward,
G A. Sanford; fifth ward. Freeman Graham;
City Clerk, Jason Marsh; City Attorney, C M.
Brazee; City Treasurer. D. S. Penfield; Police
Marshal, Thomas Sully.
1869. Mayor, S. G. Bronson; Aldermen,
first ward, L. H. Potter; second ward, John
Lake; third ward, Henry Fisher; fourth ward,
RESIDENCE OF E. W. BLA1SDELL
1867. Mayor. Albert Fowler; Aldermen,
first ward, L. H. Potter; second ward, John
Lake; third ward, James B Agard; fourth ward,
G. A. Sanford; fifth ward. Freeman Graham;
City Clerk, Jason Marsh; City Attorney, C. M.
Brazee; City Treasurer, M. Starr; Police
Marshal, Thomas Sully
1868. Mayor, Edward H. Baker; Alder-
men, first ward, L. H. Potter; second ward, John
G. A. Sanford; fifth ward. W. D. Trahern; City
Clerk, Jason Marsh; City Attorney, C. M. Bra-
zee; City Treasurer. George E. King; Police
Marshal, Thomas Sully.
1870. Mayor, S. G. Bronson; Aldermen,
first ward, L. H. Potter; second ward, John
Lake; third ward, Henry Fisher; fourth ward,
G. A. Sanford; fifth ward, W. D. Trahern; City
Clerk. Jason Marsh: City Attorney, C. M. Bra-
ROCKFORD
zee; City Treasurer, George E. King; Police
Marshal, Thomas Sully.
1871. Mayor, S. G. Bronson; Aldermen,
first ward, John Spafford; second ward, John
Lake; third ward, T. P. Buell; fourth ward, G.
A. Sanford; fifth ward, N. C. Thompson; sixth
ward, T. D. Pitkin; seventh ward, S P. Craw-
ford; City Clerk, Jason Marsh; City Attorney,
C. M. Brazee; City Treasurer, M. Starr; Police
Marshal, Thomas Sully.
1872. Mayor, S. G. Bronson; Aldermen,
first ward, John Spafford; second ward, John
Lake; third ward, T. P. Buell; fourth ward, C.
O. Upton; fifth ward, N. C. Thompson; sixth
ward, Ralph Chaney; seventh ward, S. P. Craw-
ford; City Clerk, Jason Marsh; City Attorney,
C. M. Brazee; City Treasurer. D. S. Penfield;
Police Marshal, Thomas Sully.
1873. Mayor, Gilbert Woodruff; Aldermen,
first ward, John Spafford; second ward, D. S.
Penfield; third ward, Daniel Dow; fourth ward,
C. O. Upton; fifth ward, N. C. Thompson; sixth
ward, Ralph Chaney; seventh ward, S. P.
Crawford; City Clerk, Jason Marsh; City At-
torney, W, T. Hyde; City Treasurer, Horace
Brown; Police Marshal, Thomas Sully.
1 874. Mayor, Gilbert Woodruff; Aldermen,
first ward, John Spafford; second ward, Seeley
Perry; third ward, Daniel Dow; fourth ward,
C. O. Upton; fifth ward, N. C. Thompson; sixth
ward, Ralph Chaney; seventh ward, S. P.
Crawford; City Clerk, Jason Marsh; City Attor-
ney, C. M. Brazee; City Treasurer, G. A San-
ford; Police Marshal, Thomas Sully.
1875. Mayor, Robert H. Tinker; Alder-
men, first ward, Anthony Haines; second ward,
Seeley Perry; third ward, George E. King;
fourth ward, C. O. Upton; fifth ward, Eliphaz
Smith; sixth ward, Ralph Chaney; seventh
ward, S. P. Crawford; City Clerk, Jason Marsh;
City Attorney, E. H. Baker; City Treasurer,
G. A. Sanford; Police Marshal. Thomas Sully.
1876. Mayor, Levi Rhoades; Aldermen,
first ward, Anthony Haines; second ward, Gilbert
Woodruff; third ward, George E. King; fourth
ward, E. L. Woodruff; fifth ward, Eliphaz
Smith; sixth ward, Harris Barnum; seventh
ward, S. P. Crawford; City Clerk, H. W. Rowell;
City Attorney, L. F. Warner; City Treasurer,
George H. Trufant; Police Marshal, Thomas
Sully.
1877. Mayor, Duncan Ferguson; Alder-
men, first ward, Anthony Haines; second ward,
Gilbert Woodruff; third ward, George E. King;
fourth ward, E. L. Woodruff; fifth ward, Byron
Graham; sixth ward, Harris Barnum; seventh
ward, S. P. Crawford; City Clerk, A. P. Wells;
City Attorney, L. F. Warner; City Treasurer,
Horace Brown; Police Marshal, Thomas Sully.
1878. Mayor, William Watson; Aldermen,
first ward, Anthony Haines; second ward, H. C.
Scovill;. third ward, George E. King; fourth
ward, George S. Haskell; fifth ward, Byron
Graham; sixth ward, Harris Barnum; seventh
ward, S. P. Crawford; City Clerk, A. P. Wells;
City Attorney, E B. Sumner; City Treasurer,
Horace Brown; Police Marshal, Thomas Sully.
1879. Mayor, Sylvester B. Wilkins; Alder-
men, first ward, Benjamin H. Witwer; second
ward, H. C. Scovill; third ward, George E. King;
fourth ward, George S. Haskell; fifth ward,
Henry C. Wilson; sixth ward, Harris Barnum;
seventh ward, S. P. Crawford; City Clerk, E. K.
Conkling; City Attorney, R. F. Crawford; City
Treasurer, N. E. Lyman; Police Marshal,
Thomas Sully.
1880. Mayor, Sylvester B. Wilkins; Alder-
men, first ward, Benjamin H. Witwer; second
ward, Horace Scovill; third ward, George E.
King; fourth ward, George S. Haskell; fifth
ward, Henry C. Wilson; sixth ward, S. A. John-
son; seventh ward, S. P. Crawford; City Clerk,
E. K. Conkling; City Attorney, R. F. Crawford;
City Treasurer, N E. Lyman; Police Marshal,
P. A. Coonradt; Fire Marshal, John T. Lakin.
1881. Mayor, Samuel P. Crawford, Alder-
men, first ward, E. M. Holmes, B. R. Waldo;
second ward, H. C. Scovill, J. M. Southgate;
third ward, T. J. Derwent, John Belford; fourth
ward, W. O. Wormwood, George S. Haskell;
fifth ward, Henry C. Wilson, Levi B. Fuller;
sixth ward, R. A. Shepherd, C. E. Knudson;
seventh ward, James Ferguson, Joseph Burnes;
City Clerk, E. K. Conkling; City Attorney, N. C.
Warner; City Treasurer, Horace Brown; Police
Marshal, Thomas Sully; Fire Marshal, John T.
Lakin; Police Magistrate, Arthur H. Frost.
ROCKFORD
1882. Mayor, Samuel P. Crawford; Alder-
men, first ward, B. R. Waldo, E. M. Holmes;
second ward, J. M. Southgate, H. C. Scovlll;
third ward, John Belford, T. J. Derwent; fourth
ward, George S. Haskell, W. O. Wormwood;
fifth ward, Levi B. Fuller, Lewis Predmore,
W. L. Harbison; sixth ward, C. E. Knudson,
W. H. Miller; seventh ward, Joseph Burnes,
James Ferguson; City Clerk, E. K. Conkling;
City Attorney, N. C. Warner; City Treasurer,
Warner; City Treasurer, George E. King; Police
Marshal, Thomas Sully; Fire Marshal, John T.
Lakin; Police Magistrate, Arthur H. Frost.
1884. Mayor, Alfred Taggart; Aldermen,
first ward, Thomas Ennett, Thomas F. Palmer;
second ward, J M. Southgate, H. C. Scovill;
third ward, B. A. Weber. T. J. Derwent; fourth
ward, D. H. Ferguson, W. O. Wormwood; fifth
ward, Thomas Tole, W. L. Harbison; sixth
ward, C. E. Knudson, E. S. Gregory; seventh
RESIDENCE OF MRS. JUDGE CARVER
Horace Brown; Police Marshal, Thomas Sully;
Fire Marshal, John T. Lakin; Police Magistrate,
Arthur H. Frost.
1883. Mayor, Alfred Taggart; Aldermen,
first ward, E. M Holmes, Thomas Ennett;
second ward. H. C. Scovill, J. M. Southgate;
third ward, T. J. Derwent, B. A. Weber; fourth
ward, W. O. Wormwood, D. H. Ferguson; fifth
ward, W. L. Harbison, Thomas Tole; sixth
ward, W. H. Miller, C. E. Knudson; seventh
ward. James Ferguson, Joseph Burnes; City
Clerk, E. K. Conkling; City Attorney, N. C.
ward, Joseph Burnes, James Ferguson; City
Clerk, E. K Conkling; City Attorney, N. C.
Warner; City Treasurer, George E. King; Police
Marshal, Thomas Sully; Fire Marshal, John T.
Lakin; Police Magistrate, Arthur H. Frost.
1885. Mayor, Alfred Taggart; Aldermen,
first ward, Thomas F. Palmer, R. J. Randolph;
second ward, H. C. Scovill, E. W. Brown; third
ward, T. J. Derwent. John M. Kennedy; fourth
ward, W. 0. Wormwood, D. H. Ferguson; fifth
ward, W. L. Harbison, Thomas Tole: sixth ward,
E. S. Gregory, Thour Munthe; seventh ward,
ROCKFORD
James Ferguson, T. F. Hopkins; City Clerk,
E. K. Conkling; City Attorney, George M.
Blake; City Treasurer, W. H. McCutchan;
Police Marshal, A. H. Webb; Fire Marshal.
John T. Lakin; Police Magistrate, Arthur H.
Frost.
1886. Mayor, Alfred Taggart; Aldermen,
first ward, C. W. Butterworth, Charles Ritchie;
1887. Mayor, Horace C. Scovill; Alder-
men, first ward, Charles Ritchie, C. W. Butter-
worth; second ward, E. W. Brown, John L.
Clark; third ward, W. B. Reynolds, T. J. Der-
went; fourth ward, E. W. Blaisdell. Samuel
N. Jones; fifth ward, Alvin E. Crowell, Martin
Rhoades; sixth ward, G. A. Salstrom, Wesley
D. Clark, seventh ward.S. P. Crawford, Thomas
RESIDENCE OF H. H. HAMILTON
second ward, E. W. Brown, H. C. Scovill; third
ward, T. J. Derwent, J. M. Kennedy; fourth
ward, D. H. Ferguson, Samuel N. Jones; fifth
ward, W. L. Harbison, G. C. Robertson; sixth
ward, Wesley D. Clark, Thour Munthe; seventh
ward, T. F. Hopkins, Thomas W. Cole; City
Clerk, E. K. Conkling; City Attorney, George
M. Blake; City Treasurer, W. H. McCutchan;
Police Marshal, A. W. Webb; Fire Marshal,
John T. Lakin; Police Magistrate, Arthur H.
Frost.
W. Cole; City Clerk, E. K. Conkling; City At-
torney, A. E. Holt; City Treasurer, Horace
Brown; Police Marshal, A. W. Webb; Fire
Marshal, John T. Lakin; Police Magistrate, L.
L. Morrison.
1888. Mayor, Horace C. Scovill; Alder-
men, first ward, Jeremiah Davis. Samuel P.
Chaney; second ward, Mead Holmes, E. W.
Brown; third ward, T. J. Derwent, W. B. Rey-
nolds; fourth ward, Willis M. Kimball. E. W.
Blaisdell; fifth ward, W. L. Harbison, Alvin E.
ROCKFORD
Crowell; sixth ward, Wesley D. Clark, G. A.
Salstrom; seventh ward, Thomas W. Cole,
Samuel P. Crawford; City Clerk, E. K. Conk-
ling; City Attorney, A. E. Holt; City Treasurer,
Horace Brown; Police Marshal, A. W. Webb;
Fire Marshal, John T. Lakin; Police Magistrate,
L. L. Morrison.
1889. Mayor, John H. Sherratt; Aldermen,
first ward, Jeremiah Davis, William G. Bennett;
second ward, Mead Holmes, Edward W. Brown;
third ward, Thomas J. Derwent, W. B. Rey-
nolds; fourth ward, Willis M. Kimball Henry
N. Starr; fifth ward, W. L. Harbison, O. P.
Trahern; sixth ward, Wesley D. Clark, G. A.
Salstrom; seventh ward. Thomas W. Cole,
Benjamin F. Lee; City Clerk. E. K. Conkling;
City Attorney, Edward H. Marsh; City Treas-
urer, C. O. Upton; Police Marshal, A. W.
Webb; Fire Marshal, John T. Lakin; Police
Magistrate, L. L. Morrison.
1890. Mayor, John H. Sherratt; Aldermen,
first ward, Jeremiah Davis, W. G. Bennett;
second ward, Mead Holmes, E. W. Brown; third
ward, T. J. Derwent, W. B. Reynolds; fourth
ward, Willis M. Kimball. H. N. Starr; fifth ward,
W. L. Harbison, O. P. Trahern; sixth ward,
W. D. Clark, G. A. Salstrom; seventh ward,
T. W. Cole, B. F. Lee; City Clerk, E. K.
Conkling; City Attorney, E. H. Marsh; City
Treasurer, C. O. Upton; Police Marshal, A. W.
Webb; Fire Marshal, John T. Lakin; Police
Magistrate. L. L. Morrison.
1891. Mayor, Henry N. Starr; Aldermen,
first ward, C. H. Woolsey, R. A. Shepherd;
second ward, A. J. Anderson, E. W. Brown;
third ward, T. J. Derwent, Z. B. Sturtevant;
fourth ward, W. M. Kimball. L. A. Weyburn;
fifth ward, W. L. Harbison, O. P. Trahern;
sixth ward, W. D. Clark, G. A. Salstrom;
seventh ward, T. W. Cole, D. G. Spaulding;
City Clerk, F. G Hogland; City Attorney, R.
K. Welsh; City Treasurer, John D. Waterman;
Police Marshal, E. L. Tisdale; Fire Marshal,
Edward Heffran; Police Magistrate, L. L.
Morrison.
1892. Mayor, Henry N. Starr; Aldermen,
first ward, R. A. Shepherd, C. H. Woolsey;
second ward, E. D. Chandler, A. J. Anderson;
third ward, Z. B. Sturtevant, T. J. Derwent;
fourth ward, L A. Weyburn, W. M. Kimball;
fifth ward, O. P. Trahern, Julius Graham; sixth
ward. G. A. Salstrom, C. A. Newburg; seventh
ward, D. G. Spaulding, H. H. Stone; City Clerk,
F. G. Hogland; City Attorney, R. K. Welsh;
City Treasurer, John D. Waterman; Police
Marshal, E. L. Tisdale; Fire Marshal, Edward
Heffran; Police Magistrate, L. L. Morrison.
1893. Mayor, Amasa Hutchins; Aldermen,
first ward, C. H. Woolsey, R. A. Shepherd;
second ward, A. J. Anderson, E. D. Chandler;
third ward, T. J. Derwent, Z. B. Sturtevant;
fourth ward, W. M. Kimball, Wm. Dyson; fifth
ward, J. Graham, A. E. Crowell; sixth ward,
G. A. Salstrom, C. A. Newburg; seventh ward,
H. H. Stone, H. W. Dobson; City Clerk, F. G.
Hogland; City Attorney, R. K Welsh; City
Treasurer, W. F. Woodruff; Police Marshal,
E. L. Tisdale; Fire Marshal, Edward Heffran;
Police Magistrate, L. L. Morrison.
1894. Mayor, Amasa Hutchins; Aldermen,
first ward, R. A. Shepherd, William Knapp;
second ward, E. D. Chandler, A. J. Anderson;
third ward, Z. B. Sturtevant, T. J. Derwent;
fourth ward, William Dyson, W. M. Kimball;
fifth ward, A. E. Crowell, J. Graham; sixth
ward, G. A. Salstrom. A. Hollem; seventh ward,
H. W. Dobson, E. C. Dunn; City Clerk, F. G.
Hogland; City Attorney, R. K. Welsh; City
Treasurer, W. F. Woodruff; Police Marshal,
A. E. Bargren; Fire Marshal, Edward Heffran;
Police Magistrate, L. L. Morrison.
1895. Mayor, E. W. Brown; Aldermen,
first ward, Wm. Knapp, R. A. Shepherd; second
ward, A. J. Anderson, G. V. Lindblade; third
ward, T. j. Derwent, Z B. Sturtevant; fourth
ward. W. M. Kimball, F. S. Regan; fifth ward,
Julius Graham, A. E. Crowell; sixth ward, Al-
bert Hollem, Gust Holm; seventh ward, E. C.
Dunn, John Beatson; City Clerk, F. G. Hog-
land; City Attorney, R. K. Welsh; City Treas-
urer, C. O. Upton; Police Marshal, A. E.
Bargren; Fire Marshal, Edward Heffran; Police
Magistrate, L. L. Morrison.
1896. Mayor, E. W. Brown; Aldermen,
first ward, R. A. Shepherd. J. T. Joslin; second
ward, G. V. Lindblade, F. G. Stibb; third ward,
F. E. Sterling, T. J. Derwent; fourth ward, F.
S. Regan, W. M. Kimball; fifth ward, A. E.
34
ROCKFORD
Crowell, John Lindsay; sixth ward, Gust Holm,
J. M. Turner; seventh ward, John Beatson,
E. C. Dunn; City Clerk, F. G. Hogland; City
Attorney, R. K. Welsh; City Treasurer, C. O.
Upton; Police Marshal, A E. Bargren; Fire
Marshal, Edward Heffran; Police Magistrate,
L. L. Morrison.
1897. Mayor, E. W. Brown; Aldermen,
first ward, J. T. Joslin, R. A. Shepherd; second
ward, F. G. Stibb, Hannes Lawson; third ward.
ward, Hannes Lawson, F. E. Pearson; third
ward, F. E. Sterling, H. J. Gallagher; fourth
ward, S. A Hyer, M. A. Love; fifth ward, W.
L. Harbison, J. F. Ogilby; sixth ward, J. A.
Bowman, A. G. Larson; seventh ward, R. G.
McEvoy, E. C. Dunn; City Clerk, H. C. Scovill;
City Attorney, M. M. Corbett; City Treasurer,
P. F. Schuster; Police Marshal A. E. Bargren;
Fire Marshal, Edward Heffran; Police Magis-
trate, L. L. Morrison.
RESIDENCE OF P. BYRON THOMAS
T. J. Derwent, F. E. Sterling; fourth ward, M.
A. Love,' S. A. Hyer; fifth ward, John Lindsay,
W. L. Harbison; sixth ward, J. M. Turner, J.
A. Bowman; seventh ward, E. C. Dunn R. G.
McEvoy; City Clerk, H. C. Scovill; City Attor-
ney, M. M. Corbett; City Treasurer, P. F.
Schuster; Police Marshal, A. E. Bargren; Fire
Marshal, Edward Heffran; Police Magistrate,
L. L. Morrison.
1898. Mayor, E. W. Brown; Aldermen,
first ward, R. A. Shepherd, J. A. Nash; second
1899. Mayor, E. W. Brown; Aldermen,
first ward, J. A. Nash, R. A. Shepherd; second
ward, F. E. Pearson, Wm. Johnson; third ward,
H. J. Gallagher, F. E. Sterling; fourth ward,
M. A. Love, W. C. Butterworth; fifth ward, J.
F. Ogilby, W. L. Harbison; sixth ward. A. G.
Larson, Nels Olson; seventh ward, E. C. Dunn.
J. M. Clarke; City Clerk. H. C. Scovill; City
Attorney, M. M. Corbett; City Treasurer, F. F.
Wormwood; Corporation Counsel, R. G. Mc-
Evoy; Police Marshal, A. E Bargren; Fire
ROCKFORD
35
Marshal, Edward Heffran; Police Magistrate,
L. L. Morrison.
1900. Mayor, E. W. Brown; Aldermen,
first ward, R. A. Shepherd, J. A. Nash; second
ward, Wm. Johnson, F. E. Pearson; third ward,
F. E. Sterling, E. F. Pendergast; fourth ward.
W. C. Butterworth, M. A. Love; fifth ward, W.
L. Harbison, J. F. Ogilby; sixth ward, Nels
Olson, A. G. Johnson; seventh ward, J. M.
Clarke, E. C. Dunn; City Clerk, H. C. Scovill;
City Attorney, M. M. Corbett; City Treasurer,
F. F. Wormwood; Corporation Counsel, R. G.
McEvoy; Police Marshal, A. E. Bargren; Fire
Marshal, Edward Heffran; Police Magistrate.
L. L. Morrison.
1901. Mayor, Amasa Hutchins; Aldermen,
first ward, John A. Nash, Charles E. Jackson;
second ward, F. E. Pearson, Wm. Johnson;
third ward, E. F. Pendergast, F. E. Sterling;
fourth ward, M. A. Love, W. C. Butterworth;
fifth ward, J. F. Ogilby, A. E. Crowell; sixth
ward, A. G. Johnson, Nels Olson; seventh ward,
E. C. Dunn, J. M. Clarke; City Clerk, H. C.
Scovill; City Attorney, C. O. Carbaugh; City
Treasurer, Norman F. Thompson; Corporation
Counsel, George M. Blake; Police Marshal, A.
E. Bargren; Fire Marshal, F. E. Thomas;
Police Magistrate, L. L. Morrison.
1902. Mayor, Amasa Hutchins; Aldermen,
first ward, Charles E. Jackson, F. B. McKenney;
second ward, Wm. Johnson, F. E. Pearson;
third ward, F. E. Sterling, J. H. O'Garr; fourth
ward, W. C. Butterworth, W. M. Kimball; fifth
ward, A. E. Crowell, J. F. Ogilby; sixth ward,
Nels Olson, G. A. Johnson; seventh ward, J. M.
Clarke, Robert Lathrop; City Clerk, H. C. Sco-
vill; City Attorney, C. O. Carbaugh; City
Treasurer, Norman F. Thompson; Corporation
Counsel, R. K. Welsh; Police Marshal, A. E.
Bargren; Fire Marshal, F. E. Thomas; Police
Magistrate, L. L. Morrison.
1903. Mayor, Charles E. Jackson; Alder-
men first ward, C. H. Woolsey, Gust Holm,
Charles J. Lundberg; second ward, F. E.
Pearson, A. J. Anderson, Nels Olson; third
ward, Wm. Johnson, F. J. Leonard, W. C. But-
terworth; fourth ward, John M. Clarke, Robert
Lathrop, W. M. Kimball; fifth ward, Edward
F. Carty, H. D. Ticknor, J. F. Ogilby; City
Clerk, H. C. Scovill; City Attorney, L. M.
Reckhow; City Treasurer, W. F. Woodruff;
Corporation Counsel, C. W. Ferguson; Police
Marshal, A. E. Bargren; Fire Marshal, F. E.
Thomas; Police Magistrate, L. L. Morrison.
GROWTH OF THE CITY.
The early history of a community must of
necessity treat largely of its individual citizen-
ship and the origin of its private and public
institutions, but as the number of inhabitants
becomes larger, the individual is lost in the
masses, and the trend of history relates more
especially to public events and concrete devel-
opment. Public leaders and promoters of
municipal upbuilding may be mentioned in
connection with current events, but otherwise
individualism ceases.
This is true in the history of Rockford. Its
pioneers struggled to maintain an existence and
to establish a nucleus from which there might
develop a beautiful city. Much of the beauty
and substantial progress of Rockford is due to
the wise and determined efforts of its founders.
The seven years war that was successfully
fought out in the location of the county seat,
doubtless brought beneficent results that have
constituted an important factor in the city's
destiny. It may be true that Germanicus Kent,
Thatcher Blake and Daniel S. Haight, together
with their colaborers, "builded wiser than they
knew," but, however this may be, it is evident
that the foundation work was well done and the
superstructure is a thing of beauty.
In the remaining pages of the general history
of Rockford, only those individuals whose lives
were closely identified with the growth and
development of the city, will receive special
mention.
James Madison Wight was born in Norwich,
Massachusetts, in 1810, and was admitted to
the bar of Queens county, New York, in 1837.
He then came west and located in Rockton, but
soon removed to Rockford where he remained.
He enjoyed a large law practice and was an
able and conscientious advocate. He repre-
sented his district in the state legislature and
served on the judiciary committee. He was
a member of the constitutional convention of
ROCKFORD
1870, called to draft a new constitution. He
was city attorney in 1 857
Mr. Wight died in 1877, after living a long
life of kindly helpfulness to his fellow men. His
name is perpetuated in the Wight school. Mrs.
Harriot Wight Sherratt is a daughter, and
resides in the city.
Jason Marsh was born in Woodstock,
Windsor county, Vermont, in 1807, and was
admitted to the bar in 1831. In 1832 he
gave him so much trouble that he resigned and
returned to his home. In 1867 he was elected
city clerk and served for nine consecutive years.
Colonel Marsh died at the home of his daughter
in Chicago, March 13, 1881.
Francis Burnap was born in Merrimac, New
Hampshire, January 4. 1796, and came to
Rockford in 1839. He was a lawyer by pro-
fession and practiced with brilliant success in
the state and federal courts. His ancestors
RESIDENCE OF DR. E. C. DUNN
married Harriet M. Spafford. a sister of John
and Catlin Spafford. He came to Rockford in
1839, where he practiced his profession. He
represented the second ward as an alderman in
1854 and 1855. Mr. Marsh entered the mili-
tary service as colonel of the seventy-fourth
Illinois infantry in 1862. He was severely
wounded in the battle of Missionary Ridge and
returned home in 1863, but two months later he
rejoined his regiment at the front. In the cam-
paign from Chattanooga to Atlanta his wounds
were noted in history. His mother was a sister
of Major-General Brooks of Revolutionary fame
and who was afterward governor of Massa-
chusetts for seven terms. His father. Rev.
Jacob Burnap, was pastor of the First Congre-
gational church of Merrimac for fifty years.
Mr. Burnap was never married. He died in
Rockford December 2, 1866.
Duncan Ferguson was a native of Scotland
and was born in 1810. He was a student at
the University of Glasgow two years; was
ROCKFORD
37
employed several years in land surveys, and
then engaged in the trigonometrical surveys of
Great Britain, which he continued for ten years.
In 1837 he came to the United States and
settled in Pennsylvania where he remained two
years, when he removed with his family to
Rockford in 1839. In 1840 he was elected
surveyor and justice of the peace. He held the
act of the legislature for the improvement of
Rock river. His life work was an integral part
of the growth of the city. He died May 13,
1882.
Thomas D. Robertson was born in Edin-
burgh, Scotland, March 4, 1818. His parents
removed to London when he was but a young
child. He lived with a brother for a time, on
RESIDENCE OF J. D. WATERMAN
office of surveyor until 1856. In 1862 he was
appointed internal revenue assessor, which office
he held eight years. For ten years he was
supervisor from the seventh ward. On March
3, 1873, he was elected chairman of the board
of supervisors and held this honored position
until 1881. In 1877 he was elected mayor of
Rockford and served one year. He held the
offices of city engineer, assessor, county treas-
urer, and commissioner of the county under an
the Isle of Shippey at the mouth of the Thames,
where he attended school. He subsequently
joined his brother in the publication of the
Mechanics Magazine. He came to the United
States in 1838, and after a brief stay in
Chicago, came to Rockford the same year.
He studied law in Rockford and in Madison,
Wisconsin, and was admitted to the bar and
practiced his profession successfully for several
years. In 1848 Mr. Robertson and John A.
ROC KFORD
Holland established the first banking house in
Rockford. After the death of Mr. Holland,
Mr. Coleman joined Mr. Robertson in the
banking business. Mr. Coleman was succeeded
by Mr. Starr, Robertson & Starr were suc-
ceeded by The Winnebago National Bank, which
is now one of the leading banking institutions of
the city.
Hon. Edward H. Baker was born in Ferris-
burg, Vermont, April 5, 1828, and came to
Rockford with his father, Ira W. Baker, in
1838. He was educated at Knox college and
Illinois college at Jacksonville. He practiced
law with his father-in-law, Jason Marsh. He
was made secretary of the Rockford & Kenosha
Railway Company and was elected mayor of
the city in 1 866 and served one year. Mr. Baker
was an authority on Masonic matters, and'
highly esteemed. He died January 26. 1899.
David S. Penfield was born in Pittsfield,
Vermont, in 1812, and came to Rockford in
1 838. He engaged in the mercantile business
with Shepherd Leach, and also carried on a
real estate business with his brother, John G.,
and later became a member of the banking firm
of Briggs, Spafford & Penfield, which was
merged into the Third National Bank. He
died May 20, 1873. Mrs. Penfield donated the
site to the Young Men's Christian Association
where its beautiful building now stands.
Shepherd Leach came to Rockford in 1838,
and acquired a large amount of landed property.
He was highly respected, and was a successful
business man. He died July 9, 1885. Mrs.
Edgar E. Bartlett and Mrs. J. B. Whitehead
are daughters.
Willard Wheeler came from Upper Canada
in 1839, and was the second tinner in the town.
He had the honor of being Rockford's first
mayor, in which capacity he served one year.
He died April 24, 1876.
Samuel, William, Benjamin Franklin and
Isaac Newton Cunningham are four brothers
who came to Rockford in 1838 and 1839, and
are entitled to notice in this work for their
sterling integrity and helpfulness in the upbuilding
of the city.
Joel B. Potter was born in Fairfield county,
Connecticut, in 1810, and came to Rockford in
1839. He was one of Rockford's early drug-
gists. He died November 30, 1880. Mrs.
Caroline A. Brazee and Mrs. E. S. Gregory of
Rockford, and Miss Frances D. Potter of Chi-
cago, are daughters.
E. L. Herrick was born in Andover, Massa-
chusetts, September 30. 1820, and came to
Rockford with his father, Elijah L. Herrick, in
1 838. His wife was a former teacher in Rock-
ford college. A daughter, Elizabeth L., it
professor of French language and literature at
Rockford college. A son, Charles E., is in
Chicago, and another son, Frank J., is a member
of the firm of Bedwell & Herrick of this city.
Charles H., Amos Catlin and John Spafford
are three brothers whose history is identical
with that of Rockford in its development into a
city of renown. Charles H. held the offices of
postmaster, circuit clerk and recorder, was
president of the Rockford & Kenosha Railway
Company. In company with his brother John
and John Hall, he built the Metropolitan Hall
block. He also, with others, built what is now
known as the Chick House block. He was a
member of the banking house of Spafford,
Clark & Ellis, and when the bank went into
liquidation, paid off the liabilities, amounting to
$45,000. He aided largely in the founding of
Rockford college. He married Miss Abby
Warren in 1842, and had three children, Mrs.
Carrie S. Brett, Mrs. Charles H. Godfrey and
Charles H. Spafford, Jr. He died in Septem-
ber, 1892.
Amos Catlin Spafford was interested in a
sawmill on the water-power. In 1854 he be-
came a member of the banking firm of Briggs,
Spafford & Penfield. Upon the organization of
the Third National Bank he became its presi-
dent which position he held thirty-three years,
until his death. Mr. Spafford was one of the
commissioners at the Centennial Exposition in
Philadelphia in 1876. He died August 22,
1897. A daughter, Jessie I., is professor of
mathematics and physics at Rockford college,
and a son, George H., is cashier of the Third
National Bank.
ROCKFORD
39
John Spafford was engaged in farming, and
in the grocery, grain and lumber trade. In
1856 he was made the general agent of the
Rockford & Kenosha Railway Company. He
was president of the Rockford Wire Work?
Company, and the Rockford Suspender Com-
pany, and was interested in other industrial
enterprises. He died December 5, 1897.
William, Frank, Charles and Julia.
April 11,1 886.
He died
Laomi Peake, Sr., was a native of Herkimer
county, New York, and came to Rockford in
1839. Mr. Peake brought about five thousand
dollars in cash with him, which was a large sum
of money in those early days. He was the first
RESIDENCE OF MRS LEVI. RHODES
William Worthington was born in Enfield,
Connecticut, July 5, 1813, and came to Rock-
ford in 1838. He built a brick blacksmith
shop and was the second blacksmith in the city.
He afterward built a wagon shop which was the
first institution of the kind on the East Side. In
1842, in company with Hosea D. Searles, he
opened a drug store, which is now known as the
Worthington & Slade store. His children are
harnessmaker in Rockford. He built a two-
story brick building on the corner of First and
State streets, for $1,500. This lot is now
occupied by the Manufacturers Bank. In 1852
he built a second block on the same site,
which contained the first public hall in Rockford.
This block was burned in 1857. Mr. Peake
had twelve children, one of these being L.
Peake who now "has a fine wholesale harness
4 o
ROCKFORD
business on West State street. Mr. Peake
died November 8, 1891 , aged eighty four years.
William Hulin was a native of Salem.
Massachusetts, and settled in Rockton in 1838.
A spring on the land he owned is still known as
the Hulin spring. He came to Rockford in
the early forties, and was elected a justice of
the peace. He served as clerk of the county
8, 1819, and came to Rockford in 1838. In
1866 he engaged in the shoe business in com-
pany with the late Daniel Hill, but sold out.
He then engaged in the real estate and loan
business with Duncan Ferguson. In 1874 he
was one of the organizers of the Forest City
Insurance Company and served as its treasurer
several years. He was an alderman from the
R. H. TINKER'S SWISS COTTAGE
court for a number of years and resigned from
this office only a few days before his death,
which occurred December 10. 1869. Dr.
Henry Richings now occupies his old home on
North Main street. He was a thorough scholar ,
and edited a work on school law.
Harris Barnum, a son of Daniel Barnum,
was born in Danbury, Connecticut, September
sixth ward for four years, and also served as a
supervisor. He died February 26, 1899.
Hon. Horace Miller was born in 1798, in
Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and came to
Rockford in 1839. He acquired a great deal
.of land near the city, upon which he resided
until 1861, when he removed to Rockford. He
was a member of the legislature in 1850 and
ROCKFORD
1852. William M. Miller is a son, and Mrs.
Brown, widow of the late Judge Brown, is a
daughter. He died August 5, 1864.
There were many others who were among
the pioneers and lent their energy and aid in
the upbuilding of the Forest City.
principal streets. The present site of the
water- works plant was selected on account of
the fact that a spring of delicious water made
its appearance there.
A power house was erected, engines and
pumps put in, and connections made with a
WATER WORKS PARK
ROCKFORD WATER WORKS.
In 1875 and 1876, under the administration
of Robert H. Tinker and Lev! Rhoades, it
became apparent that the best interests of the
city demanded efficient fire protection and an
adequate supply of water for the use of its
inhabitants. After a thorough canvass of the
matter by the council and the community in
general, it was determined to establish a pump-
ing station and to Jay pipe mains through the
well, sunk where the spring was located, and
the river. The supply of water from this
spring-well proved to be inadequate, and in 1881
and 1882, under Mayor Crawford's administra-
tion, an effort was made to increase this supply.
It was proposed to sink a huge well in the
vicinity of the works and near the river, from
which it was thought an adequate supply of
potable water could be obtained. Accordingly
a well, fifty feet in diameter and thirty feet in
depth, was put down at a cost of about thirty
ROCKFORD
thousand dollars. This was certainly a large
well, but its huge proportions were nothing when
compared to the degree of disappointment its
results brought with it. Epidemics of diseases
followed in its wake, the cause of which was
traced to the use of the water from this well
which proved to be a veritable cesspool.
In 1883 Alfred Taggart was elected mayor,
and to him is due much of the credit for the
development of the present superior water
system of Rockford. He planned for future
needs as well as for present necessity, and
results demonstrate the wisdom and good
judgment exercised for the welfare of the city.
The possibility of obtaining an unfailing supply
of pure artesian water, was to him a reality,
He consulted Professor Chamberlain, an emi-
nent geologist and reliable authority on geological
matters, in regard to the feasibility of his project
and was assured that there was no doubt as to
the success of such an undertaking. The matter
was presented to the council and favorable
action secured.
A contract was made with J. F. Gray of
Jefferson, Cook county, Illinois, to sink a six-
inch well, which when completed, gave a flow of
six hundred gallons per minute. The bore of
this well was enlarged to eight inches, and it
then gave a flow of eight hundred gallons per
minute. The water from this well was turned
into the pumping pit in December, i885, and it
was demonstrated to have a capacity of produc-
ing one million, three hundred thousand gallons
of water every twenty-four hours.
This well is denoted as number one and is
1,520 feet in depth, and takes water from the
Potsdam formation. In its descent it passes
through 125 feet of drift, thirty feet of Trenton
lime stone, 225 feet of St. Peter's sand stone,
105 feet lower magnesia lime stone, and 1,035
feet of different formations of Potsdam sand
stone. An analysis of the water was made by
Prof. Erastus G. Smith of Beloit college, which
shows it to be a superior potable water His
report shows the water to contain a very small
per cent of sulphates and chlorides of potassium
and sodium, a larger per cent of carbonate of
calcium and magnesium, and very small fractions
of alumina, ferric oxide and silica. Well num-
ber one cost the city $5,401 73. It was then
determined to buy the necessary machinery and
put two wells down under the direction of the
city authorities.
Two more wells were commenced in 1885,
the water from one of which was turned into the
pumping pit that year. At the end of the fiscal
year 1886, four wells had been sunk and the
water turned into the pumping pit. At the end
of the year 1888 five wells had been completed.
Well number one is 1 ,530 feet deep and
cost $5,40 1 .73. Number two is ! ,320 feet deep
and cost $3362.35. Number three is 2,000 feet
deep and cost $4,257.84. Number four is 1,300
feet deep and cost $2,151.49. Number five is
1 ,379 feet deep and cost $2,638.81. Conduit
and suction cost $6,42.438
In 1897 a plan for increasing the water
supply was devised by D. W. Mead, which was
accepted by the council. The plan was to sink
a shaft eighty feet in depth and twelve feet in
diameter and to connect the wells thought de-
sirable by the contractor, or to sink new ones,
by tunnels from the bottom of this shaft, for
which he was to receive $52,000.00. For this
the contractor guaranteed a flow of not less than
5,500,000 gallons of water daily. A provision
in the contract allowed Mr. Mead a bonus of
$2,500 if the supply of water reached a daily
capacity of 7,000,000 gallons of water. A later
contract provided for a tunnel connection with
well number two, for the additional sum of
$3,721. After vexatious delays and the sur-
mounting of unlocked for difficulties, the work
was completed in 1898. Three tests were
made as to the capacity of the new system,
which were deemed satisfactory, and Mr. Mead
was awarded the entire sum stipulated in the
several contracts, which aggregated $58,221.
ROCKFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Before the establishment of the present
splendid library to which the people of Rockford
have had free recourse for a number of years,
several unsuccessful attempts were made to
provide the people with desirable literature, by
individual enterprise.
As early as 1852 the matter of establishing
a public library was taken up and received
ROCKFORD
43
strong support, especially by a temperance
organization known as the Sinnissippi Division
Number 134, of the Sons of Temperance, of
Rockford. It surrendered its charter as a
temperance organization and proposed to reor-
ganize as a library association, but the effort
never materialized.
The Young Men's Association made an
effort in 1855 to secure the books belonging to
dollars were paid per share upon the formation
of the company, and the balance in installments.
In the fall of 1858 it appeared that six thousand
dollars of this stock had been subscribed for, and
on October 14, of that year, the organization
was completed. James M. Wight, Seeley
Perry, Selden M. Church, Elias Cosper and
Thomas D. Robertson were elected trustees.
F. M. Bradley was appointed librarian. Library
GOVERNMENT BUILDING
the Temperance organization, and to establish a
library and reading room, but this effort was
not successful.
In 1857 a well organized effort was made
by several public spirited citizens, to establish a
public library. A stock company was incorpor-
ated under the general laws of the state, and
stock at fifty dollars per share was issued. Ten
rooms were secured over Robertson, Coleman
& Company's bank. About one thousand excel-
lent books were purchased and subscriptions
placed for a number of papers and magazines.
During the next two years additions of books
were made to the number of several hundred.
The library was liberally patronized for several
years, but when the Civil war came on, public
I _^__ -
44
ROCKFORD
thought was turned to other and more stirring
scenes and the library was largely neglected.
This occasioned the suspension of the operation
of the library and the final sale of the books at
public auction, and the windup of the company's
business in 1865. Hon. Robert H. Tinker has
several of these books in his private library and
others are in the present public library.
No further effort was made to establish a
public library until after the enactment of a law
by the legislature in 1872, providing for the
support of public libraries by taxation.
Early in the spring of 1872 a petition to the
city council was circulated and numerously
signed by the citizens of Rockford, asking
recognition of an act passed by the state legisla-
ture and made effective March 7, 1872, granting
the right to cities, incorporated towns and
townships, to establish and maintain public
libraries and reading rooms, by voting a tax for
this purpose.
The petition was received and favorably
acted upon by an ordinance passed by the
council and approved June 17, 1872. The ordi-
nance provided that no indebtedness or liability
should be incurred against the city until after
March 1, 1873.
To expedite matters Mayor Bronson, upon
the adoption of the ordinance authorizing the
establishment of a public library and readingroom
in the city of Rockford, nominated the following
persons to constitute the first board of directors;
Melancthon Starr, Elias Cosper, S. C. Withrow,
D. S. Clark, Rev. Frank P. Woodbury, Rev.
Henry C. Mabie, N. C. Thompson, James G.
Knapp and Charles L. Williams, which nomina-
tions were promptly confirmed by the council.
June 24, 1872, the library board of directors
held its first meeting in the council rooms and
organized by electing N. C. Thompson, pres-
ident. Rev. Frank P. Woodbury, vice-president,
and Elias Cosper, secretary. A resolution was
adopted at this meeting, by which a committee
was appointed to prepare an address to the
people of the city, calling for voluntary financial
aid with which to proceed at once in the work
of establishing a public library. The address
proposed that from $5,000 to $10,000 be
subscribed.
A committee of three was appointed to select
quarters for the library, and three rooms in the
northwest corner, on the second floor of the
Wallach block, were secured at a rental of $350
per year, the lease to take effect the first day of
July, 1872.
July 30, 1872, a public reception was held
in the library rooms which had been nicely
refinished for the reception of the library. Upon
the above date Miss Mary E. Rankin was ap-
pointed temporary librarian by the board of
directors.
September 9, 1872, the first rules and by-
laws for the management and control of the
library were adopted by the board of directors.
September 2, 1872, Thomas M. Martin was
appointed librarian at a salary of $450 per year,
but declined the appointment, and at the next
meeting of the board, September 9. 1872, W,
L. Rowland was appointed librarian at a salary
of forty dollars a month, which was accepted.
June 1, 1873, the soliciting committee for
the library fund reported the collection of
$3,933.1 1, which was used for the purchase of
books, the payment of rent and current expenses.
The rooms in the Wallach block soon proved
to be inadequate for the needs of the library and
more suitable quarters were sought after. The
committee appointed for this purpose succeeded
in securing a ten year lease for the second floor
of the old postoffice block, at the west end of
the bridge, of Messrs. Church, Robertson and
Emerson, to be in effect July 1, 1876, at a
rental of $500 per year. The expenditure of
considerable money was necessary for the refit-
ting and furnishing of these new quarters. The
library was closed June 28, 1876, for the purpose
of removal to its new quarters, and was reopened
to the public early in July, since which time it
has been open every day in the year.
At the end of the fiscal year, 1872, the
library contained 2,815 volumes, about one half
of which were donated, and had cost $1,773.1 1
Since 1896 the rental of the library rooms
has been $900 per year.
One of the most notable events in the history
of the Rockford Public Library, is the munifi-
cent gift of $70,000 by Mr. Andrew Carnegie of
ROCKFORD
45
New York, who has proved himself to be the
greatest library builder the world has ever seen.
The library board, through one of its
members. Prof. O. F. Barbour, opened corres-
pondence with Mr. Carnegie in October, 1899,
soliciting his interest in making provision for a
suitable library building in Rockford. This cor-
respondence resulted in the receipt of a letter
far as the maintenance of the library was con-
cerned, and to provide funds for the purchase of
a site as soon as they could be made available.
Public spirit and civic pride at once mani-
fested itself and steps were promptly taken to
secure a suitable site for the library building.
A spirit of strong rivalry between the East and
West sides of the river soon developed as to
RESIDENCE OF RALPH EMERSON
from Mr. Carnegie, under date of March 6,
1901, proposing to give $60,000 with which to
erect a building, provided that the city furnish a
suitable site and agree to maintain the library
at a cost of not less than $8,000 a year.
March 11, 1901, the city council passed a
resolution accepting the gift of Mr. Carnegie
and complying with the conditions imposed, so
which side should secure the location. Various
sites were proposed, among which were what
were designated as the Gas site, the Gill site,
the Rood site and the O'Connor site. The Gas
site was purchased by subscription for $ 1 1 ,000,
and offered to the council as a free site.
After much acrimonious and bitter conten-
tion between the people on opposite sides of the
ROCKFORO
river, the Gas site, on the West side, was
accepted by the council January 13, 1902.
Bradley & Carpenter, Rockford architects,
provided the plans for the building and the con-
tract for its construction was let to W. H. Cook,
a prominent Rockford contractor. Work on
the building was vigorously prosecuted during
the season of 1902. The structure is an im-
posing edifice, of classical architecture, and
would be recognized as a library building by a
passing stranger.
The library proper is on the main floor, the
book stacks and fixtures, of which, are made of
rolled steel. The stacks are two stories in
height, with glass floor between. Two large
reading rooms are also on the main floor; be-
side the librarian's office, study rooms and ref-
erence library. In the basement is the child-
ren'slibrary, where duplicate books of the school
circulating libraries will be kept. On the upper
floor is the director's room, art room, lecture
room and newspaper room. Besides these
designated rooms are others that will be utilized
for various purposes.
The grounds join River park on the east
and those of Memorial Hall on the west, con-
stituting, with them, one of the most beautiful
and artistic landscapes and waterscapes, together
with architectural scenery, imaginable.
It became apparent that the original bequest
of $60,000.00 would not complete,' and beautify
the building as desired, and Mayor Hutchins,
through private correspondence with Mr. Car-
negie, secured a further donation of $10,000.00,
March, 1903.
The total cost of the building and grounds
is $81 ,000.00. The library is one of the finest
in the state and one of which the people of
Rockford are very proud. Its establishment is
the outgrowth of years of effort, sacrifice and
perseverance. Mr. Carnegie recognized the
efforts of Rockford to establish a public library
as being meritorious and was willing to supple-
ment them by the donation of a large sum of
money. At the beginning of 1903, the library
contained 39,000 volumes which found a place
in the new library building. The total expendi-
ture of money in books, periodicals, papers and
maintenance since the founding of the institu-
tion is $156,528.36. The library property as
it now stands represents an investment of
$237,528.36.
William Leonard Rowland, who was ap-
pointed to the office of librarian. September 9,
1872, held the position continuously for twenty-
eight years, giving the better part of his life
work to the upbuilding and success of the Rock-
ford Public Library. His death occurred Sep-
tember 27, 1900, and his loss to the institution
is keenly felt. The death of Mr. Rowland and
the munificent gift of Mr. Carnegie are nearly
contemporaneous and the names of each will be
treasured in the years to come as benefactors to
the race.
Miss Jennie P. Hubbell succeeded Mr.
Rowland as librarian, which position she now
fills with gratifying success.
ROCKFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
One of the most important municipal depart-
ments of the city is that for its fire protection.
In its earlier history the city was dependent up-
on a volunteer service for this protection, and
upon primitive apparatus in the matter of appli-
ances. The department was organized under
the direction and control of the city authorities,
and the officers were elected by the members of
the organization. A constitution and by-laws
were also adopted by the organization. Mem-
bers were initiated upon the payment of a fee
and were subject to a fine for the infraction of
the rules adopted. A chief and assistant engi-
neers were elected, who held these offices for
one year. The volunteer service was organized
in 1855, with Edward F. W. Ellis as chief engi-
neer. During the years following the time of
the organization of the paid department in 1880,
the following persons served as chief engineers:
Samuel I. Church, one year; M. A. Bartlett.one
year; Howard D. Frost, three years; A. G.
Springsteen, two years; Gordon S. Allen, one
year; Calvin Ford, one year; Charles S. Jeller-
son, one year; S. A. Granger, one year;
James F. Hough, nine years; James Chalmers,
one year; John T. Lakin. two years; and Charles
Cavanaugh, one year.
During the first few years, the department
depended upon four diminutive engines with
ROCKFORD
47
which to battle with the fire monster. Its water
supply was obtained from the creek, river and
wells. Later on, these pony engines were dis-
posed of and three hand engines of a larger
type were obtained. For an increased water
supply, a large cistern was put in at the north-
east corner of the court house square, which is
were assistant engineers. There were five hose
companies and one hook and ladder company
with a total of 114 men. The apparatus con-
sisted of one hand engine, three hose carts, one
hook and ladder truck, forty-two hundred feet of
hose, a little miscellaneous paraphernalia, and
five hose carts owned by citizens.
SEVENTH STREET
still there. Another cistern was put in on the
East side on Second street. This has been filled
up. These cisterns were filled by pumping water
from the river and were used until the install-
ment of the water works in 1875-6. A report
of 1880 shows that the fire department's total
expense to the city was $1 ,845.93, and the prop-
erty owned by the city in this department, was
valued at $13,760.00. J. F. Hough was chief
engineer, and W. B. Wood and Wm. Holmes
In 1880, under Mayor Wilkins' administra-
tion, it was proposed to organize a paid fire
department, which proposition was accomplished
in 1881 , under Mayor Crawford's administration.
John T Lakin was appointed fire marshal, and
Thomas W. Griffin assistant. In the distribu-
tion of the department, hook and ladder com-
pany, East side had three men; hose company,
West side, had seven men; hose company,
South side, had six men; and hose company,
ROCKFORD
East side, had four men; making a total of
nineteen paid men. Besides these there were
a number of auxiliary or call men, connected
with each station. The total expense of the
department for the year was $3,982.24.
From the time of the organization of the paid
fire department, the city has gradually increased
the efficiency of its system of fire protection
$13,457.71; No. 3, at $14,481.06; No. 4, at
$14,392.73; and the equipment of No. 5, at
$2,141.30; making a total value of real estate
and equipment of $72,559.69. The force in
1902, numbered twenty-nine men and their
salaries amounted to $19,850.93.
The total expense of maintenance of the
department was $28,634.14. This sum in-
A GROUP OF ROCKFORD RESIDENCES
by the addition of improved appliances. A
steam fire engine was purchased in 1890, at a
cost of $3,100.00. The second steam fire
engine was purchased in 1892, at a cost of
$4,350.00. The third -steam fire engine was
added to the equipment in 1895, at a cost of
$3,780,00. The city has acquired the ownership
of four of its five fire stations Station No. 1 , with
its equipment is valued $18,416.39; No. 2, at
eludes the establishment of station No. 5. Since
the beginning of 1903, five men have been
added to the fores making a total number of
thirty-four.
Frank E. Thomas is the present fire mar-
shal and S. T. Julian the assistant. Many of
the members of the department have had years
of experience and are faithful to duty and pains-
taking in their work. It is not assuming too
ROCKFORD
49
much to say that the Rockford fire department
is one of the most efficient, well disciplined
and reliable organizations for this purpose in
the country. It is a credit to the city and its
efficiency adds largely to real estate values on
account of the protection it affords, The city
has expended since 1880, $408.268.98 in the
equipment and maintenance of its fire depart-
ment. If the exact figures could be obtained
for the previous years the total sum would reach
nearly half a million of dollars that has been
expended by the city for its fire protection.
ROCKFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT.
The Rockford Police Department is one of
the best in the country. It is a model in its dis-
cipline and its personnel from chief to patrol-
men, its membership is made up of intelligent
representative men, who take great pride in
maintaining the enviable reputation of the city
for its good order, progress and refinement.
Rockford is on the list of crooks and law-
breakers as being a good place to keep away
from. Every man on the force is a good detec-
tive and is always alert in the discharge of his
duties. The character of the police force is
such as to prevent the commission of crime in
Rockford in a very large degree.
The establishment of the police force in
Rockford is co-existent with its history as a vil-
lage, when the peace and good order of the
municipality was placed in the keeping of one
man, designated as police constable and when
the town acquired the distinction of being a city,
its peace officer was known as the police mar-
shal. John Platt had the honor of first serving
in this capacity, being appointed to this office in
1 852, and served one year. He was succeeded
by Willard Wheeler in 1853, who also served
one year. In 1854, John Travis was appointed
and served one year. He was succeeded by
James Dame, who also served one year. In
1856, Ira Barker was appointed and served one
year. He was succeeded by W. P. Dennis and
J. E. Langdon, who filled this office in 1857. In
1858, E. C. Roberts filled this office. In 1859
two different marshals again did duty. These
were M. J. Upright, who was afterward elected
sheriff of the county to fill the vacancy occa-
sioned by the death of Sheriff John F. Taylor,
who was killed by Alfred Countryman, Nov. 1 1 ,
1856, and M. H. Regan. In 1860, A. J. Pen-
nock filled this office. Ambrose Halstead was
appointed in 1861, and served two years. In
1863, three different persons filled the office,
These were John Fisher. M. J. Upright and
Jeremiah Mosher. In 1864, the office was
filled by G. V. Carr and James Dame; James
Dame continued through 1865. In 1866,
Thomas Sully was appointed and served con-
tinuously fourteen years. In 1880, P. A. Coon-
radt was appointed by Mayor Wilkins, and served
one year. In 1881, Thomas Sully was again
appointed by Mayor Crawford and served four
years. In 1885, A. W. Webb was appointed
by Mayor Taggart and served six years. In
1891, E. L. Tisdale was appointed by Mayor
Starr and served three years. In 1894, A. E,
Bargren was appointed by Mayor Hutchins,
which office he has since continuously held. It
will be seen that the city has had in its employ
nineteen different men at the head of its police
department. Those longest in service have been
Marshals Sully and Bargren. There is no doubt
but that each one of these chief officers was
a capable man and efficient officer. Chief Sully's
administration was a notable one, and the peace
and well being of the city was carefully looked
after. Chief Bargren, the present head of the
police department, has achieved remarkable
success. He is a fine disciplinarian, is highly
respected by his subordinates and the people, is
a perfect gentleman, and a terror to evil doers.
He is possessed of all the better characteristics
and higher qualities that go to make up a leader
and efficient officer. The police department
has been gradually increased from a force of one
man to that of twenty-one, distributed as follows:
One marshal, one assistant marshal, two patrol
drivers, twelve patrolmen, one jailer, four mer-
chant police and one sanitary police officer.
Extra police are put on the force upon special
occasions and are under the control of the chief,
The department has two stations and is
equipped with all the necessary paraphernalia
necessary to make it efficient, and is valued at
$1,824.00,
ROCKFORD
Recently the Gamewell Telegraph Alarm
system has been installed at a cost of $2,500.00.
Eight boxes are now in use and others can be
connected as they may be required. Five
Rockford banks are connected by this system
with police headquarters, and are thus enabled
to call assistance at any moment.
The police department was placed in the
civil service list by popular vote at the munici-
pal election of 1903, and the time of service of
each member of the force is now indicated by
service stripes. The personnel and time of ser-
vice of the present force follows: A E. Bar-
gren, marshal, thirteen years; M. B. Little, assis-
RESIDENCE OF JOHN H. SHERRATT
The cost of maintenance for the year 1902
was $15,937.00. During the year 1902, 1180
arrests were made. These were for various
offenses, among which were 355 for drunken-
ness, 215 for drunk and disorderly, 24 for abuse
of family, 19 for fighting, and 88 for vagrancy.
The remaining 70 1 were for the commission of
one or the other of 67 different classified offenses.
The list of classified offenses numbers 72,
tant marshal, fifteen years; M. H. Golden, thirteen
years; F. A. Daniels, twelve years; Olof Erick-
son. twelve years; J. T, McGrahan, eight years;
John Cavanaugh, eight years; Philip Quinn,
four years; Homer Read, eight years; Charles
Cavanaugh, two years; J. A. Ellison, two years;
Charles J. Salen, two years; H. Compton, two
years; Frank Sully, one year; Fred Glenny, one
year; Gus Stewart, one year; D. C. Chandler,
ROCKFORD
twenty-three years; P. J. Sullivan. 16 years;
John Grans, sixteen years; Dennis Dwyer, four-
teen years; and C. E. Peterson and Frank Bur-
bank appointed in 1902.
The office of police magistrate is an adjunct
of the police department and was established in
1881, under the administration of Mayor Craw-
ford, when Arthur H. Frost was elected to this
office, which he held six years.
Judge Frost executed the duties of his office
with signal success and marked ability. He
was succeeded by Judge L. L. Morrison in 1887,
who has served continuously since. Judge Mor-
rison, during his fifteen years of service, has
made an ideal magistrate and his administration
of the office has given universal satisfacfion. A
just and fair administration of the office makes
it essential that the presiding judge should be
possessed of superior legal talent and a well bal-
anced judicial mind. These Judge Morrison
has in a marked degree.
Since Rockford became a city, it has ex-
pended more than $300,000.00 for police pro-
tection. Doubtless this has been a judicious
expenditure as the city has maintained a high
reputation abroad as being one where good order
prevails and property and life are secure.
W1NNEBAGO COUNTY MEDICAL
SOCIETY.
The Winnebago County Medical Society
was originally organized in 1851, but owing to
a lack of interest and attention of its members,
it was allowed to lapse. In 1881, the profession
felt the need of concerted action, and the matter
was taken up and a re- organization was effected.
A meeting was held in the council rooms, at
which officers were elected and by-laws and
constitution adopted, October 18, 1881.
The following preamble sets forth the object
of organization: "The undersigned physicians
of Winnebago County, for the purpose of culti-
vating those graces and good qualities, which
adorn the profession of medicine and for the
purpose of mutual improvement in all that per-
tains to the science of and practice of medicine
and surgery, do hereby associate themselves to-
gether, and do adopt for the government of this
association the following constitution and by-
laws."
The constitution and by-laws adopted are
similar to those of other organizations, and
simply provide for the administration of the
business of the association.
At this meeting, Dr. E. P. Catlin was elected
president, Dr. S. A. Austin vice-president, and
Dr. H. W. Tibbetts secretary. The names of
the physicians enrolled at this time, follow:
Drs. R. P. Lane, C. H. Richings, G. W. Rohr,
Henry Richings, S. E. Goodwin, H. M. Sabin,
Geo. Williams, L. Tibbets, W. L. Ransom, A.
M. Catlin, D. S. Clark, C. W. Goddard, Lucius
F. Foot, Daniel Lichty, E. M. Patten, M. Alex-
ander Makintosh, F. ,H Kimball, J. E. Allaben,
E. R. Smith, E. N. Huntly, W. H. Fitch, E. E.
Oder, L. A. Clark, F. A. Jorden and W. B.
Rodgers The list of members was revised in
1901, and is now as follows: Drs. George -L.
Winn, T. N. Miller, W. R. Fringer, L. Tibbetts,
C. V. Starke, T. H. Culhane, A. F. Comings,
Henry Richings. J. E. Allaben, F. W. Calkins,
W. H. Fitch. F. H. Kimball, W. B. Helm, Daniel
Lichty, P. L. Markley, R. E. Coy, F. J Weld,
R. Sager, G. W. Rohr, E. P. Catlin, S. R.
Catlin, B. C. Anderson, E. E. Ochsner. S. C.
Andrus, C. W. Moyer, Albert Green, J. H.
Frost, Clinton Helm, Penn. W. Ransom, S. C.
Leland, W. E. Park, G. W. Haines, H. A.
Stalker, David Penniman, C. L. Sutherland, A.
C. Eakin, P. F. Gillett, J. E. Tuite, Jalba John-
son, W P. Woodard, Roy P. Williams, S. V.
Romig, R. G. W. Kinder, G. S. Henderson,
Emil Lofgren, Charles R. Scott, R. W. Mc-
Ennes, E. J. Clark, W. W. Crockett, Charles
S. Winn, G. A. Howard, and J. E. Haughey.
By virtue of membership in the county or-
ganization, one becomes a member of the State
Medical Society. This is a recent arrangement
and is of great benefit to the local society.
The present officers of the county organiza-
tion are Dr. T. N, Miller president; Dr. Charles
S Winn, secretary and treasurer. Meetings
are held on the second Tuesday evening of each
month.
R O C K F O R D
ROCKFORD CITY HOSPITAL.
In 1883, steps were taken to establish a city
hospital in Rockford. The leading physicians
and a number of public spirited citizens of the
city took the matter in hand. A committee was
appointed by the Winnebago County Medical
Society in the fall of 1883, for the purpose of
Vincent. The trustees were W. A. Talcott,
William Lathrop, N. C. Thompson, William
Brown, Jeremiah Davis, H. W. Carpenter, John
Z. Rydburg, Thour Munthe, R. P. Lane, B. F.
Whipple, Thomas Butterworth, Frances I. Price,
Mary H. Penfield, Jane G. Wilkins and Ada-
line E. Emerson.
RESIDENCE OF JEREMIAH DAVIS
securing a corporate organization under the laws
of the state for such hospital. Application was
made for a certificate of organization which was
duly granted December 15, 1883. The name
of the corporation was the Rockford Hospital
Association, and the incorporators were Azro E.
Goodwin, Silas A. Austin, Frank H. Kimball,
F. K. Hill, Lemuel Tibbetts, and Thomas G.
January 29. 1884, a temporary organization
was formed by electing William Brown chair-
man, and W. A. Talcott secretary and treasurer
of the board of trustees. A constitution and
by-laws were adopted April 8, 1884, and the
following officers elected: William Brown, presi-
dent; Mrs. Jane G. Wilkins, vice-president; and
W. A. Talcott, secretary and treasurer.
ROCKFORD
53
The present hospital site was purchased of
Dr. W. H. Fitch, June 21, 1884, for $6,500.00.
The site was fully paid for and a deed bearing
date of July I, 1885. received.
April 11, 1885, Chester Butterworth was
elected a trustee to fill the vacancy caused by
the death of his father, who died in Ashville. N.
C., Aprils, 1885. The hospital was opened for
patients October I, 1885. Dr. S. A. Austin
and F. H. Kimball were the first attending phy-
sician and surgeon, respectively. Drs. R. P.
Lane and D. S. Clark were the first consulting
physicians, and Drs. W. H. Fitch and Henry
Richings the first consulting surgeons.
Mrs. Martha J. Smith was the first matron
of the hospital and served until March 28, 1900,
when she resigned. Hospital Sunday was es-
tablished in the churches October 10, 1885, by
resolution of the hospital trustees, which has
since been maintained with a very liberal spirit.
The first patient was received October 1 0, 1 885.
In 1888, steps were taken to provide a per-
manent fund for the maintenance of the hospital
and the report for 1893, shows that $43,356.17
had been placed in this fund.
A training school for nurses, in connection
with the hospital, was established July 6, 1888.
In 1901, Mrs. Adaline E. Emerson, in memory
of her son, Ralph Emerson, Jr., deceased, con-
tributed the funds for an addition to the hospital
for an operating room and office, which cost
$1,333.66 this addition was opened March 6,
1888.
William Brown served as president from
1884 to 1886, William Lathrop from 1886 to
1887, Horatio Stone from 1887 to January 29,
1896, when his death occurred. William Lath-
rop was elected to fill the vacancy caused by
the death of Mr. Stone, which office he has
held continuously since.
Lizzie C. Glenn was appointed as general
superintendent of nurses and training school,
March 28, 1900. She resigned April 6, 1901,
and Miss Flora B. Patch was appointed in her
stead. Miss Patch resigned November 1, 1902.
and Miss Alma M. Barter received the appoint-
ment, which position she now holds.
W. A. Talcott served as secretary and treas-
urer of the hospital from its inception to the
time of his death, which occurred in Palestine,
December 19, 1901. The success of the in-
stitution is in large measure due to his liberal-
ity and untiring effort. His son, Wait Talcott,
was elected to the position so ably filled by his
father, April 6. 1901, which position he now
holds.
During the year 1902, 506 patients were re-
ceived for treatment. The receipts from all
sources during 18 years, have been $244,417.26,
and the expenditures $224,678.28, leaving a bal-
ance of $19,738.98. The largest contribu-
tion to the hospital fund was from the estate
of Horatio Stone, which was $27,00000;
the next largest is from W. A. Talcott and
family $ 1 2,000.00; and A. D. Forbes and family
$10,500.00. Several others have contributed
from $2,400.00 to $5.000.00. A fine new
building is being erected, fitted with modern ap-
pliances and perfectly fire-proof, which will cost
about $50,000.00.
ST. ANTHONY HOSPITAL.
The necessity of a public hospital, located on
the east side of the river, where the majority of
the people of the city now reside, had been
keenly felt for several years. After consider-
able inquiry as to how such an institution could
best be carried on, the Franciscan Sisters, of
Peoria, consented to take charge of the hospital.
Through the efforts of the late William
Grotty, the present site of St. Anthony's hospi-
tal was purchased from the late Leonard
Schmauss estate for $12,000,00. The house
upon the site being large and conveniently ar-
ranged for the purpose, was utilized for a hospi-
tal building. The Sisters took charge of the
hospital July 1, 1899.
The present fine edifice was built in 1902,
at a cost of $40,000.00, and was dedicated by
Archbishop Quigley, March 29, 1903. The
building contains 60 beds, and is in charge of
eleven Sisters with two assistants. The build-
ing is equipped with modern hospital appliances,
and is fully up-to-date in all respects. Its loca-
tion upon a beautiful elevation on East State
street, gives it a conspicuity not enjoyed by
other public buildings in the city. Its surround-
ings are such as to make its location most de-
54
ROCKFORD
sirable for the purpose intended. Among those
who were largely instrumental in establishing
this beautiful hospital were Dr. A. J. Markley,
of Belvidere, Dr. J. E. Allaben, and Dr. Paul
L. Markley, of this city. They were not only
generous givers in a financial way, but devoted
much time in making it a success.
Miss Frances Bradford also taught school in
a log cabin in 1837.
The early schools were nearly all private.
It is probable that there was a district school on
each side of the river. The first public school
on the east side of the river was taught by L. B.
Gregory in 1843. Public scnool teachers, at
RESIDENCE OF WILL BARNES
ROCKFORD SCHOOLS.
The first school in Rockford was taught by
Miss Eunice Brown, in a log house with an earth
floor, on the site of 1 10 South Second street, in
July, 1837. In 1838, the same teacher taught
in a building that was located on the present
court house square. Miss Brown afterward
married J. G. Lyon, and resided on a farm in
the township of Rockton, where she died De-
cember 7, 1889.
this time, and up to the enactment of the free
school law by the legislature, in 1855, were paid
by a rate bill. After the free school law went
into effect, the public schools immediately took
on a rapid growth, and have continued to im-
prove until we have the finest school system in
the world.
The first school ordinance for the City of
Rockford was passed by the Council June 20,
1855, which divided the city into two school
ROCKFORD
districts, No 1 on the East side and No. 2 on
the West side.
George Haskell, A. S. Miller and Jason
Marsh constituted the first board of school in-
spectors,
In December, 1855, a lease of the basement
of the First Baptist church was purchased of
A. W. Freeman for school purposes, on the
West side, and Mr. Freeman was engaged as
teacher at a salary of $800 per year. The old
court house on the East side was leased and
Mr. H. Sabin employed as teacher. July 27,
1855, the site where the Adams school (now
called the Freeman school) now stands was pur-
chased of Solomon Wheeler, and a contract for
the construction of a school building upon the
same was let September 10th the same year.
April 28, 1856, a contract was let for the erect-
ion of a school building on the present site of
the Lincoln school. Both of these buildings
were completed and dedicated August 14, 1857. ^
These two district schools constituted the educa-
tional centers for the children of the city down
to 1884, when the city was organized into one
school district with one high school.
The principals of District No. 1 were Orlan-
der C. Blackmer and Henry Freeman, the latter
retaining his position from 1859 to 1880, when
he resigned, He was succeeded by Prof. Mc-
Pherson, who continued until the district was
abolished in 1884. The principals for District
No. 2 were George G. Lyon, E. M. Fernald, E.
N. Weller, J. H. Blodgett and W. W. Stetson.
The building of the Kent school took place
shortly after those on the East and West sides,
and Prof. O. F. Barbour has been its principal
for most of the time since its inception, receiv-
ing his appointment in 1866.
The city schools are under the management
of a board of five school inspectors appointed by
the mayor, with a city school superintendent.
At the beginning of the year 1903 the city
schools number seventeen, all modern buildings,
and supplied with the latest and most approved
appliances, the total cost of which is $416,-
820 20. This includes the cost of the several
sites, the construction and equipment of the
buildings, but does not include the cost of the
buildings demolished to make room for several
of the new ones. When this is included the
sum will reach fully $500,000.00.
The cost of maintenance of the schools in-
creases annually with the growth of the city.
The appropriation for this purpose for the
year 1903 is $105,637.20.
Following is a summary showing the date
and cost of construction of the several school
buildings in the city.
NAME.
High School,
Lincoln School,
Freeman School,
Kent School,
Hall School,
Wight School,
Brown School,
Montague School,
Garrison School,
Church School,
Kishwaukee School,
Nelson School,
Marsh School,
Blake School,
Haskell School,
Ellis School,
Turner School,
Making a total of $416,820.20
representing the present value of the city school
property.
The total cost of maintenance of the schools
of the city, from their establishment, can be
ascertained only by careful estimates and com-
parisons, which show an investment of $1,606,-
500.00. Including the value of school property
the grand total is $2,023,320.20.
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MEMORIAL
HALL.
The legislature of the State of Illinois made
an appropriation for the building of a Soldiers'
Home, in 1885, and appointed a Board of Com-
missioners to select a site for its location.
At the July session of the Board of Super-
visors of Winnebago county, a committee con-
sisting of Chairman E, J. Veness, Robert Simp-
son and S. W. Jones for the board, and Col. T.
G. Lawler, Geo. S. Haskell and C. C. Jones for
the citizens was appointed to present the desira-
DATE.
COST.
1885
1857
$92,145.97
35,00000
1857
40,000.00
1858
20,000.00
1866
30,000.00
1889
20,000.00
1892
18.000.00
1883-92
20,700.00
1887-92
18.00000
1894
20,000.00
1896
30,000.00
1881
4.000.00
1872
5,000.00
1899
28,385.49
1874
6,000 00
1868
4,000.00
1898
25,588.74
ROCKFORD
bility of locating the home in Winnebago county
to the commissioners, but nothing was accom-
plished.
The following year, 1886, at the March
meeting of the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor
John D. Jackson, of Pecatonica, introduced a
resolution for the appropriation of $25,000.00
for the building of a Winnebago county monu-
ment.
proposition to appropriate $25,000.00 for a Me-
morial Hall was carried at the election.
At the May meeting, Supervisor Simpson sub-
mitted a resolution providing for the appropria-
tion as determined by the vote of the people.
On account of a difference of opinion having
arisen in the Board as to several points at issue,
action on the resolution was deferred until the
September meeting, at which it was defeated.
RESIDENCE OF HORACE BROWN
The resolution made provision for the loca-
tion of the monument on the court house square.
Action on the resolution was laid over one day,
and in the interim the question arose as to
whether a Memorial building would not be pre-
ferable to a monument. Meantime Nevius Post,
G. A. R., submitted a request asking the Board
to let the people vote as to which the memorial
should be a monument or a hall. This request
was incorporated in the original resolution. The
The memorial matter was not brought up
again until the July session of 1898, when A. D.
Early made a plea before the Board for action
in this direction. Supervisor Osborne favored
the plan, and introduced a resolution providing
for the appointment of a committee of five, in-
cluding the chairman of the Board, to confer
with a committee of citizens with a view of de-
vising some plan for securing a monument.
The resolution was adopted, and E. H. Keeler,
ROCKFORD
57
Aug. Peterson, W. L. Osborne and D. W. Barn-
ingham, with J M. Rhodes, chairman, were
made the committee. Supervisor Van Alstyne
moved that the Rockford City Council be asked
to appoint a committee of five to confer with
the Board committee, which carried, and the
Council appointed F. E. Sterling, John A. Bow-
man, M. A. Love, John A. Nash and J. F.
Ogilby said committee.
The joint committee met at the court house
August 13, 1898, and organized by making F.
E. Sterling, chairman, and E. H. Keeler, sec-
retary.
After a thorough discussion of the matter it
was deemed advisable to present petitions to the
City Council and the Board of Supervisors. Ac-
cordingly blanks were sent out over the county
for indorsement which were unanimously signed.
The committee favored the building of a hall.
An adjournment was taken to September 13,
when a joint resolution was adopted favoring the
building of a Memorial Hall.
The petitions were presented to the Board
of Supervisors at the December meeting of
1898, together with the recommendations of the
joint committee, and a set of resolutions from
Nevius Post, G, A. R., asking favorable action
at the hands of the Board. Supervisor Keeler
had the matter in charge, and offered a resolu-
tion setting forth the desire of the people for a
Memorial building, and the obligations of the
county to recognize the merits of the soldiers of
the county, together with a provision for the
appropriation of $20,000.00 for the purpose of
erecting said building, and moved its adoption.
Action was delayed to secure an opinion from
the state's attorney as to the legality of the
matter
The following day State's Attorney A. H.
Frost rendered an opinion adverse to the propo-
sition, and the whole matter was laid over to the
May meeting in 1899. Steps were immediately
taken to secure special legislation in the form
of an enabling act, and a bill was drawn by A. D.
Early for this purpose. Hon. Henry Andrus
took charge of the bill and secured its passage
at the 1 898 session of the legislature.
A petition to the Board of Supervisors was
then presented, asking the submission of the
proposition to the voters of the county at the
November election of 1900. The members of
Nevius Post aided in the matter, and the elec-
tion resulted in a hearty endorsement of the
measure.
At the December meeting of the Board in
1900, the result of the election was announced,
and Col. T. G. Lawler, with other G. A. R. men,
appeared before the Board and asked that a
Memorial Hall instead of a monument be
erected.
On motion of A. J. Lovejoy, the matter was
referred to a special committee to ascertain the
cost of a site and to obtain plans for carrying
out the wishes of the voters, and to report at the
next meeting of the Board. The next day,
Supervisor Osborne moved that the matter be
laid over to the next meeting, and that a com-
mittee of six be appointed to investigate the
cost and location of a suitable memorial, which
carried. Supervisors A. J. Lovejoy, C. H.
Latham, D. B. Redington, Walter Van Alstyne,
D. W. Barningham and Aug. Nylander were
made the committee.
The following day Supervisor Nylander
moved that the committee be authorized to se-
cure plans for both a monument and a hall, and
that $500,00 be appropriated for the purpose,
which carried.
At the March meeting in 1901, Chairman
Lovejoy reported that the committee had made
general inquiry in different parts of the state,
and had invited four different architects to sub-
mit plans for both a building and a monument,
and that the committee favored the building of
a Memorial Hall, and recommended the plans
of Reeves & Bailee of Peoria, provided said
building is guaranteed not to cost more than
$40,000.00, and also favored placing the build-
ing on the southwest corner of- the court house
square. Action on the report Was laid over one
day, and when taken up, Supervisor Turner
moved that it be the sense of the Board that a
Memorial Hall be erected, and the motion pre-
vailed.
The motion to adopt the report of the spe-
cial committee was lost, and the committee was
discharged.
ROCKFORD
Supervisor Carson then moved that a com-
mittee of five members be appointed to present
plans and specifications for a Memorial Hall
with probable cost of same at the next meeting
of the Board, which carried.
The committee were: Supervisors Osborne,
Neeley, Redington, Van Alstyne and Carson.
court house square was successful, and the mo-
tion carried with it instructions to purchase the
Butterworth site on North Main street, at a cost
not to exceed $! 1,500.00.
The location of the building having been de-
termined. Supervisor Nylander moved that a
building committee of five be appointed, which
RESIDENCE OF I. SHOUDY
At the June session bids were received for
sites, and a vote taken on the location of the
building, which resulted in the selection of the
court house square.
At the following September meeting an effort
was made to rescind the vote locating the build-
ing on the court house square, but it failed.
At the December meeting another effort to
rescind the vote to locate the building on the
prevailed, and Supervisors Van Alstyne, White-
head, Lovejoy, Redington and Nylander were
appointed. The Bradley & Carpenter plans
were adopted at the June meeting.
The building committee organized Decem-
ber 12, 1901, by electing Walter Van Alstyne,
chairman, and J. B. Whitehead, secretary.
Bids were advertised for January 1 1, 1902.
ROCKFORD
59
Eleven bids were received, ranging in price
from $38,000.00 by W. H. Cook to $52,8 14 00
by H. Ferge. These bids were considered too
high and were all rejected. The architects
modified their plans slightly, and bids were
called for again. March 25, 1902, the commit-
tee had received four bids, which were opened,
and the contract was awarded to W. H. Cook
for $35,324.00. Work was begun shortly after
and pushed rapidly to completion.
The building was dedicated by President
Roosevelt, Wednesday, June 3, 1903, the occa-
sion being the most notable event in the history
of Rockford. President Roosevelt was the first
president to visit the city, and thousands of peo-
ple from near and from far came to do him and
the occasion honor.
ROCKFORD HOTELS.
The Rockford House, which claims the dis-
tinction of being the first hotel built in the city
was opened to the public in the autumn of 1837.
Previous to that time several of the settlers had
opened their homes to strangers, but not as reg-
ular hotel-keepers.
The Rockford House was built by Daniel S.
Haight and Charles S. Oliver, and stood on the
site of the present Young Men's Christian Asso-
ciation building. The first landlord was Henry
Thurston, and his son acted in the double capac-
ity of clerk and chambermaid, especially for the
rooms in the third story which had to be reached
by the ladder route. Mr. Thurston was suc-
ceeded as landlord by several of the other old
time residents, there being at least eight to fol-
low him.
The next season after the Rockford House
was opened the second hotel for the village was
commenced, and this was completed and opened
to the public in 1839. The building known as
the Washington House stood in East State
street, and was quite a pretentious building. It
had a front of sixty feet, with large additions at
the rear. The kitchen was in the basement.
Soon after the building was completed the street
in front was graded and left the building stand-
ing on a high bank. Ten or twelve steps were
necessary to lead from the street to the entrance.
The name of the hotel was later changed to the
Rock River House, and part of the building now
stands at 307 East State street, and the other
section is on the southeast corner of State and
Madison streets. The building was built by
Jacob B. and Thomas Miller. Its first landlord
was Jacob Miller, and was followed by nearly a
dozen landlords.
In 1838 the Log Tavern, then called the
Stage House, was opened. This was located
on the corner where the Second National Bank
stood at Main and State streets.
For some time these three buildings consti-
tuted the hotel accommodations of the city, and
in 1850 Andrew Brown added to the list by open-
ing a new place called Brown's House and G. S.
Moore became its proprietor. The American
House still stands, and though fifty years old, is
a good building yet.
The Waverly and Union houses were started
in 1852, and were located in the south part of
the city near where the Northwestern passenger
station stands. These buildings are still stand-
ing as evidences of the hotel facilities of the
early days in Rockford. At the time these
places were built they were considered excellent
hotels, and the trade they did was enormous:
The site now occupied by the Chick House
was where the Inn was started in 1840 by Spen-
cer & Fuller. This house was conducted for
several seasons. The Inn was the real begin-
ning of the modern hotel, and though not as pre-
tentious as those which followed contained many
of the improvements in the way of wash rooms
and toilets, and the first bills of fare used in the
city were furnished guests of the Inn by Messrs.
Spencer & Fuller.
Next in line came the Eagle Hotel, which
was erected in South Main street, three blocks
from State street, and still stands there.
The first brick hotel was the Winnebago
House. This building was finished in the fall
of 1838, but for five years was used as a store
building, and when it was completed there was
quite a celebration, for this was the first brick
building on Rock River above Rock Island. Dr.
Haskell and Isaiah Lyon conducted the business
until 1843 when Mr. Lyon became sole owner
of the stock and building, closed it out and re-
modeled the building into a hotel called the
6o
ROCKFORD
Winnebago House, which was continued until
1854 when it was again rearranged into stores.
The building was located on what is known as
Andrew Ashton's corner.
The real modern hotel first established in
the city was the Holland House, which later
became the Huffman House. This was the first
After the establishment of the Holland House
there were many other hotels opened, and the
city has continued to be one of best supplied
places in the northwest for hotel accommoda-
tions. The Commercial House, on Green street,
opposite the Northwestern depot, was one of
those to follow and is still running. For a pe-
RESIDENCE OF WM. NELSON
of the hotels to be supplied with elevator, etc.
It was opened in 1857. The building stood on
the corner now occupied by the Masonic Tem-
ple. The hotel continued as the leading place
of the kind in this vicinity for many years, and
up to the opening of the Nelson was at the top
of the list of first class places where the weary
and hungry were cared for. The hotel burned
on Christmas eve, 1896.
riod of several years it was known as White's
Hotel, and in its earlier days was classed as one
of the leading hotels in Rockford owing to its
excellent location near the Chicago & North-
western depot, at that time the only railroad de-
pot in the city,
The American House on Madison street
which is still conducted by E. E. Everett ; the
City Hotel was established on the corner now
ROCKFORD
61
occupied by the Forest City National Bank,
and some years ago was'razed.
Those of the other hotels now being con-
ducted are the Chick, The Jarvis Inn. The Na-
tional, The European, Forest City House, The
Victoria and the Nelson. There are several
restaurants also, and these, with the hotels, can
furnish accommodations for hundreds of guests
daily.
The Nelson and the Chick are the leading
hotels, and the former is one of the finest places
in the northwest. It is six stories high and has
accommodations for over two hundred guests.
Its location is in one of the pleasantest parts of
the city and guests are close to the business
district. Its service and culinary departments
are up to the standard of the best hotels in the
west.
The Chick House, together with its cottages
and annexes, will accommodate two hundred
guests, and is the popular headquarters for com-
mercial travelers. It has a large number of
regular boarders and many families of the city
patronize the house for Sunday dinners.
The house is centrally located, and the city
and interurban cars pass the door.
Could one of the early day visitors to the
city return to-day he would be much surprised
at the wonderful changes wrought in hotel facil-
ities.
ROCKFORD COLLEGE.
The present beautiful Rockford College owes
its origin to a conception developed in a conven-
tion of churches held in Cleveland, Ohio, in
June, 1844, of the necessity of establishing a
college for men and a seminary for women in
Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois re-
spectively. The delegates, upon their return
from the convention, called a meeting at Beloit
in August, 1844, at which it was deemed advisa-
ble to build a college at Beloit and a seminary
in Northern Illinois. Three subsequent meet-
ings were held, and at each one the resolution
of the first meeting was upheld.
At the fourth meeting, held at Beloit in Oc-
tober, 1845, Beloit was selected as the location
for the college and a Board of Trustees elected.
The charter for the college was approved by the
Governor of the Territory of Wisconsin, Febru-
ary 2, 1846. Then began the discussion as to
a site for the location of the seminary, Rockton
and Rockford were rivals for the location.
But Beloit having secured the college, Rock-
ton was considered too near for the location of
the seminary, and thus Rockford secured the
plum.
A meeting was held in the Methodist church
in Rockford October 29. 1845, to consider the
location of the seminary. It was resolved to
raise the sum of money prescribed by the trus-
tees of Beloit college, about $3,500.00. A com-
mittee was appointed to secure subscriptions
and met with success. A charter was granted
to the same gentlemen that constituted the Be-
loit College trustees, February 25, 1847.
June 11, 1849, Miss Anna P. Sill estab-
lished a preparatory school under the name of
the Rockford Female Seminary. This institu-
tion had a board of local trustees, who planned
to make it the seminary aimed at by the trus-
tees of Beloit College.
In 1850 more than $6,000.00 were pledged
to put up the buildings and secure the ground,
and by September of that year the seminary was
assured.
Miss Sill's school was recognized by the
trustees of Beloit College in 1851 as the prepar-
atory department of the Rockford Seminary,
under the charter which they held.
Courses of study were defined, and upon ex-
amination, fifteen were admitted into the first
collegiate class in September of that year. Thus
the college was formally founded in 1 85 1 . Up
to 1892, it was known as Rockford Female
Seminary, but in this year was changed to its
present name Rockford College. The site
was purchased from Buell G. Wheeler, and has
not changed in its contour except a strip taken
from the west end by the Chicago & Iowa rail-
road.
The first building was erected by John Beat-
tie, and cost $7,927.35. The corner stone for
this building was laid July 15, 1852, by Rev.
Aratus Kent, president of the board of trustees.
In 1850, it was deemed advisable by the trus-
tees of Beloit College that each institution should
manage its own affairs, and the seminary inter-
62
ROCKFORD
ests were turned over to a local board, which
was created at this time, and in 1 852 the sem-
inary passed into the hands of a separate board
of trustees.
A faculty was appointed in July, 1852, with
Miss Sill as principal.
In 1854 work was begun on Linden Hall,
the money for the building of which largely came
tion was 1,530, and the money contributed from
all sources was $39,228.00.
Miss Sill resigned in 1884. after giving
thirty-five years of splendid service to the school,
and was honored by being made principal eme-
rita, which position she held at the time of her
death, June 18, 1889.
A VIEW OF ROCKFORD COLLEGE
from the east. Up to Septembers, 1854, Miss
Sill had secured $3,659.67 for this building. In
1866 a second addition, Chapel Hall, was begun
with its connecting corridors, and completed in
two years. In 1871, Linden Hall and Middle
Hall were connected by corridors.
From the founding of the school in 1849, to
the end of the fiscal year 1861, the total num-
ber of students receiving tuition in the institu-
THE STREETS OF ROCKFORD.
There is doubtless no other feature in the
building of a city, or one that adds so much to
its popular reputation as its streets and walks.
The condition of the streets and walks of any
city is the first thing to attract the attention of a
stranger. If these be indifferent or poor, the
city is rated as being one lacking in thrift and
progress.
ROCKFORD
Fine business blocks and beautiful residences
count for but little if the streets are neglected.
Rockford has kept pace in the care and improve-
ment of its streets with its development in other
departments. Its citizens and property owners
have been ready and willing to submit to heavy
assessments that the streets abutting their prop-
erty might be substantially paved and otherwise
improved.
Thousands of dollars have been annually ex-
pended by the street department in improving
and beautifying the streets of the city.
This department has been under the direc-
tion of competent engineers, and the work has
been thoroughly and well done. The sanitary
conditions of any city depends largely upon its
drainage, which in turn is controlled by its streets
and sewers. The improvement and construc-
tion of these constitute one of the heavy bur-
dens that must be met by general or special tax.
Notwithstanding this fact the investment is one
that brings the largest returns to the city.
The following persons have held the office
of city engineer : Duncan Ferguson, 1880-81;
T. J. L. Remington, 1882-84; Daniel W.
Mead, 1885-89; D. C. Dunlap, 1890-91. In
1892 the superintendency of sewers was added
to the engineer's department, and Charles C.
Stowell was placed in charge. He served until
1897, when Edwin Main was appointed, who
still holds this office.
Mr. Main has so systematized the work of
the street and sewer department as to give the
best possible results. He has his work thorough-
ly in hand, is courteous and considerate in the
transaction of business connected with the office
and his ability is valuable to the city.
The City of Rockford has 130 miles of
streets, 44 miles of which are paved. Two
miles are paved with brick and two with asphalt.
The remaining 40 miles are macadamized.
The walks are mostly made of concrete or tar,
and cover about 160 miles.
The sewerage system is being rapidly ex-
tended. At the beginning of 1903 there were
twenty seven miles of sewer mains, and six will
be added during the year. The sewer system
has cost the city in round figures $500,000.00,
the street improvements $1 ,000 ,000.00, and the
sidewalks $450,000.00.
There are three parks in the city, which has
cost to improve and maintain, $60,000.00.
Another beautiful park will doubtless soon
be acquired by the city, as it is proposed by the
Winnebago County Agricultural Society to trans-
fer the well known fair grounds to the city for
this purpose.
A plan is also proposed to park the east side
river bank from State street, north, for a con-
siderable distance. With these added improve-
ments Rockford will certainly be one of the most
beautiful cities in the country.
ROCKFORD CHURCHES.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The first and only Episcopal parish in Rock-
ford was organized May 1, 1849. The articles
of incorporation were signed by Chauncy Ray,
Jonathan Weldon, Horace Starkey, Duncan J.
Stewart, John Conrad, S. R. Weldon and Spen-
cer S. Weldon, with Rev. Dudley Chase as pre-
siding officer, and who was the first rector.
Duncan J. Stewart is the only incorporator now
living. Rev. Charles Reighley was called to
the rectorship November 15, 1852, and with
the consent of Bishop Henry John Whitehouse,
accepted the call. The site, where the present
chapel now stands, was purchased for $200, and
a building erected at a cost of $1,900.00, which
was consecrated by Bishop Whitehouse, August
23, 1853, by the name of " Emanuel Church,
Rockford." The present house of worship was
built during the service of Rev. D. C. Peabody,
who became rector March 1, 1886. The build-
ing is known as the " Fairfield Memorial Parish
House," and was a gift to the society by Mrs.
Eleanor G. Fairfield, as a memorial to her late
husband, W. W. Fairfield, and cost $40,000.00.
At this time an additional thirty feet of land
was added to the site costing $1 ,600.00. and the
rectory, No. 82 1 North Church street, was pur-
chased for $6,000.00.
Following are the names of the rectors who
have ministered to this society : Rev. Dudly
Chase, Charles Reighley, Anson Clark, Michael
Schofield, William T. Smithett, Thomas Smith,
S, B. Duffield, J. E. Walton, S. D. Day, C. S.
6 4
ROCKFORD
Percival, F. W. Adams, A, W. Snyder, D. C.
Peabody, Wyllys Rede and N. B Clinch, the
present rector.
The charter membership was about twenty.
The present membership is 260. The total ex-
penditures since the organization of the society
for all purposes are nearly $170,000.00.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The first permanent church organization in
Rockford was instituted May 5, 1837, and was
christened the First Congregational church. Its
the end of the first year the membership had
been increased to twenty-seven.
Soon after its organizatian the society held
its meetings in the stage barn on the East side,
but in the summer of 1838 the trustees began
the erection of a frame building on North First
street. When this building was nearly comple-
ted it was learned that Kent & Brinkerhoff had
secured eight hundred dollars from friends in
New York with which to build a church. In-
stead of turning this money over to the society
they proceeded to erect a building on the West
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
SECOND CONGREGATIONAL
A GROUP OF CHURCHES
COURT STREET M. E.
founder was the Rev. John Morrill, who came
from New York as a home missionary to this
county. He was the first pastor and served one
year. The church organization took place at
the house of Israel Morrill on the West side,
and there were nine charter members, viz. ;
Rev. John Morrill, Herman B. Potter, Israel
Morrill, Richard Morrill, Elizabeth P. Morrill,
Mary I. Morrill, Sophia N. Morrill, Minerva Pot-
ter and Eunice Brown.
Two weeks later the names of Edward Cat-
ing, Charles Works, Asa Crosby, Mary Crosby
and Mary Danforth were added to the roll. At
side of the river. When this was completed it
was turned over to the society. This was the
first church edifice in Rockford.
The building on the East side was later oc-
cupied by the First Methodist society, and still
later was known as the old seminary building.
In 1 846 the society dedicated a new brick
church on the East side. This building was
occupied by the society until 1870, when the
present church edifice, on the East side, was
built.
The organ now in use in the First Congre-
gational church was presented by Rufus Hatch,
ROCKFORD
of New York, a former organist, and cost
$4,500.00.
The names of the pastors of this church are
appended : Revs. John Morrill, Cyrus L. Wat-
son, William S. Curtis, D. D., Oliver W. Nor-
ton, Lansing Porter, Lewis H. Loss, H. M.
Goodwin, D. D., Wilder Smith, Theodore Clif-
ton, William W. Leete and Frederick H. Bod-
man,
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The First church, in its earlier history, was
a very strong and wealthy society, but its mem-
bership has been drawn upon heavily in the or-
ganization of other churches and its resources
thereby curtailed.
In the organization of the Second Congrega-
tional church in 1849, forty- three members of
the First church withdrew and became charter
members of the Second church.
Again in 1 855 fourteen members withdrew
to become charter members in the organization
of the Westminster Presbyterian church.
The cost of the present church edifice and
its furnishings was $50,000.00.
In 1889 Mrs. John G. Penfield donated a lot
to the society upon which the present parsonage
was built at a cost of $5,000,00.
The bell in the church edifice was donated
to the society by George W. Smith of Guilford,
and cost $2,000 00.
The total amount of money expended by this
society from the founding of the church in 1 837
to 1903, for all purposes, is approximately
$400,000.00.
The present membership is 430.
The influence of this church for good in the
community is beyond calculation. It has not
only furnished material as the nuclei for the or-
ganization of other churches, but has rendered
financial aid to other and weaker churches,
thereby aiding materially in the beautifying and
christianizing the city.
After sixty-six years of successful work this
society can congratulate itself that it is now in a
flourishing condition and free from debt. The
present pastor is an able and conscientious
worker, and the outlook of the society is bright.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
The second church organization in Rockford
was that of the First Baptist church, which was
organized at the house of Dr. George Haskell,
December 22, 1838, and was the second Bap-
tist church organized in Northern Illinois.
This society had sixteen charter members,
and its first church services were irregularly held
until April, 1840, when it was resolved to hold
them regularly.
The society was legally incorporated in De-
cember, 1839, and steps were taken to build a
church. This building was located at the corner
of Main and Peach streets, and the first preach-
er was Prof. Seth S. Whitman of Belvidere.
His first sermon was delivered May 9, 1841.
The first stated pastor was Rev. Solomon Knapp.
The notable Elder Jacob Knapp became a
member of this church in November, 1848, and
supplied its pulpit until June, 1849. As a result
of his preaching sixty-two additions were made
to the church membership.
Elder Knapp claimed to have preached about
6,000 sermons, baptized 4,000. candidates, and
was the means of making 100,000 converts, of
whom 200 became ministers.
The present church edifice was completed
in 1850 at a cost of $7,500.00.
Among the most noted pastors of this society
were the Rev. Ichabod Clark, D. D., who served
ten years and largely increased the church mem-
bership, and Dr. Thomas Kerr who became pas-
tor June 1, 1860. He was given a vacation of
three months, at the end of his first year, in
which to visit Palestine. In 1864, he was a
member of the Christian Commission and visited
the army at the front, doing much efficient
work.
In 1866, he accepted a pastorate at Hani-
bal, Missouri, but returned to the pastorate of
the First church again in 1869. He resigned
this pastorate August 20, 1870.
Following are the names of the pastors who
have served this society: Revs. Seth S. Whit-
man, Jacob Knapp, Ichabod Clark, D. D., A.
B. Stone, Austin Gibb, C. C. Smith, John S.
Mabie, E.Anderson, W. A. Stanton. C. H. Mos-
crip, Theo. G. Scares, Charles W. Barber and
W. C. Kiersted.
66
ROCKFORD
The First Baptist church edifice is now the
oldest church building in the city, and is in
thorough repair. It was remodeled recently at
a cost of $8,000.00.
The present membership is 320.
This society has expended for all purposes
since its organization about $151,500.00.
COURT STREET METHODIST CHURCH.
Court Street Methodist church was organ-
ized January 1, 1852, many of its charter mem-
bers having come from the First Methodist
church on the East side of the river.
The first enrollment was but forty, which has
been increased to 845. The society purchased
a site for a church edifice near the corner of
State and Court streets in 1853 for $350.00,
and the building was completed and dedicated
in November, 1854, at a cost of $7,000.00.
Rev. G. L. S. Stuff preached the dedicatory
sermon.
In 1883, this society had outgrown its envir-
onments, and steps were taken toward building
a more commodious edifice. The present site
was purchased September 5, 1883, and a build-
ing committee consisting of Messrs. Levi
Rhoades, S. B. Wilkins, N. E. Lyman, David
Keyt and J. G. Chick was appointed. Ground
for the building was broken in September, 1884.
The corner stone was laid ( Bishop Merrill officiat-
ing) in August, 1885. The building was com-
pleted and dedicated in May, 1887, at which
time $29,000.00 was subscribed, thus enabling
the society to dedicate its building free from
debt.
The site for the present parsonage was pur-
chased from the Horsman estate in 1884.
Ground for the parsonage was broken in August,
and the house completed in October of that year.
The total cost of the present church and par-
sonage was nearly $82,000.00.
Before this society owned a church building,
services were held in Boyd's Hall on State
street. During its first year's history, 140 mem-
bers were added to its roll.
In August, 1857, the Rock River Confer-
ence held its annual session in the old Court
Street church, which is said to have been one
of the most interesting and important sessions
ever held in this conference.
The meeting is of note on account of its
anti-slavery resolutions and the breaking of
ground for the Wesleyan Seminary, which was
to be located on West State street. A tract of
land was purchased for this school, and consid-
erable money raised for the erection of build-
ings, but the scheme was abandoned, later, and
the land was sold in lots.
The old parsonage was purchased in 1866
for $3,500.00.
In 1881, the annual conference was again
held in the old church, at which Bishop Hurst
presided. Among the notable events of this
meeting were the address of welcome by William
McKinley (who is still living), the heresy " in-
vestigation, and the singing of the doxology by
the preachers over the election news from Indi-
ana. In 1880 the membership had increased
to 506. Court Street church has been consid-
ered by the Rock River Conference as the chief
church outside of Chicago, and but few outrank
her there.
The following pastors have served this church:
Revs. M. Chatfield, W. F. Stewart, L. A. San-
ford, W. P. Gray (twice), James R Goodrich,
W P. Daniels, A. B. Taylor, J. H. Vincent,
F. P. Cleveland, T. C. Clendenning, L. Mere-
dith, W. Aug. Smith, C. E. Mandeville, T. P.
Marsh, T. R. Strobridge, P. H. Swift, W. A-
Phillips, W. O. Shepherd, Fred H. Sheets,
Robert H. Pooley and Frank D. Sheets. The
present membership is 825.
The society has expended for church prop-
erty $92,850.00.
The amount raised in 1902 for all purposes
was $7,531.
The total amount expended for all purposes,
since the organization of the society, is about
$300,000.00.
EPWORTH CHURCH.
The Epworth church, when organized, was
known as the Ninth Street church, and was or-
ganized as a feeder to the First Methodist church.
The society was organized in the spring of
1876 by Rev. G. L. Wiley, who was then pastor
of the First church. It had fifteen charter mem-
ROCKFORD
67
bers. The Swedish Methodist church building
was purchased for $300.00 and removed to
Ninth street, at a cost of $75.00.
At that time there were but nine houses in
the vicinity of the church.
The auspices of the society were at first not
very bright, but it has had a steady growth and
is now in a prosperous condition.
avenue, and the name changed to Epworth
church.
This society has one of the finest orchestras
in the city, and the music at the regular services
is of the highest order.
The present membership is 74.
The total expenditures for all purposes is
$24,375.00.
ST. JAMES CHURCH AND RECTORY
The society was under the care of the First
church during the first year, but at the begin-
ning of the second year a pastor was appointed
by the conference, since which time it has been
independent.
In 1891 the old church was sold for $75.00
and removed from the site and a new church
edifice erected at a cost of $3,000.00. The
new church was removed to its present location
at the corner of Parmelee street and Fourteenth
Following are the names of its pastors:
Revs. G. L. Wiley, Joseph Odgers, W. A. Spen-
cer, W. H Barrett, A. J. Brill, E. J. Rose,
Joseph Wardell, H. L. Martin, F. R. Hall, J.
L. Gardner, J. W. Irish, J. L. Case, Frank
Milne, Charles Wentworth, and C. F. Kleihaur
the present pastor.
The Sunday school has a membership of
155.
68
ROCKFORD
STATE STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.
The State Street Baptist church was form-
ally organized August 17, 1858, with thirty-four
members. These had taken letters from the
First Baptist church, for the purpose of estab-
lishing a church on the east side of the river.
Rev. Edward C Mitchell accepted the pas-
torate of the church September 14, 1858, at a
salary of $300 in cash, $300 in board, and $200
additional if circumstances permitted. Prof.
D N. Hood was secured to conduct the music.
A small church was erected at the corner
of State and North Fifth streets, which is still
standing. This churcn was dedicated February
2, 1860, and cost $800. This society first took
the name Second Baptist church, which was
changed to its present name October 26, 1858.
The house now occupied was dedicated Novem-
ber 18, 1868, and cost $35,000.
The several pastors of this society have been
Dr. Edward C. Mitchell, Revs. Spencer F.
Holt, Henry C Mabie, E. K. Chandler, A. R.
Medbury, C. R. Lathrop, J. T. Burhoe, R. F. Y.
Pierce, Langley B. Sears, and J. T. Burhoe
who now occupies this position for the second
time.
The present membership is 437. The total
membership is 1 ,400. The total amount of
money expended by the society for all purposes
is about $200,000. The parsonage was pur-
chased in 1883, and cost $3,500. The society
is free from debt and in a flourishing condition.
The church edifice is being thoroughly refinished
and decorated this year, at a cost of over $5,000.
SWEDISH METHODIST CHURCH.
The Swedish Methodist church was organ-
ized at the home of P. A. Peterson, on Charles
street, January 30, 1861, with a membership
of twelve people.
The society purchased the old Westminster
church for $600, and removed it to First avenue
where it was nicely repaired in 1868. The
present handsome brick edifice was completed
in 1877, at a cost of $8,000. and was dedicated
by Dr. C. E. Mandeville. The present parson-
age was built in 1888 and cost $4,500.
The first Swedish Methodist paper ever
published in the world is the Sandebudt (Mes-
senger), under the auspices of this society and
made its appearance July 18, 1862.
P. A Peterson is the only charter member
of this society now living. He resides in the
same house, and is about eighty years old.
The following pastors have served this
society: Revs. V. Whitting, Albert Ericson,
Peter Newberg, August Westergren, Oscar
Shorgren, Olof Gunderson, John Lind, A. Y.
Westergren, S. B. Newman, John Weagren,
S. D. Sorleine, Herman Lindskog. N. G. Nel-
son, J. M. Objerholm, A. Kahlin, A. Dahlberg,
M. Hess, O. F. Lindstrom, Richard Cederberg,
N. M. Liljegren, N. A. Sorlin, J. H. Johnson,
and P. M. Alfoin.
This society has expended for all purposes
nearly $50,000. The present church member-
ship is 200, and the Sunday school has 250
members. The society is out of debt and in
a prosperous condition.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The First Presbyterian church of Rockford
was formally organized in the Court House
July 8, 1854, with thirty-eight members. H. C.
Meslor and William Shepherd were installed
as ruling elders in October. 1855.
The society held its services in various
places until it secured a house of worship for
itself. The first place of worship was in ihe
abandoned Congregational church on the east
side of the river, and then in Peak's Hall. In
December, 1853, services were held in Hors-
man's Hall, and later in Warner's Hall. Feb-
ruary 1, 1854, services were again held in the
Court House where -the society was formally
organized as stated.
February 10, 1857, Richard Jackson, was
elected to serve as elder and was installed
February 22.
The choir, by vote of the session, was
allowed the use of an instrument in leading the
services of song in public worship, November
25, 1855.
Rev. H. A. Brown was chosen pastor of the
church February 10, 1857, but declined the
position, and Rev. John M. Faris was chosen
in his stead January 1, 1858. Rev. Brown
ROCKFORD
69
supplied the pulpit until his successor was
appointed.
September 4, I860, the present church site
was bought of Michael Burns for $14,000.
March 17, 1862, measures were set on foot to
raise a building fund and N. C. Thompson was
made depository of the fund. July 7, 1862,
Mr. Thompson had received $206.49.
The society was occupying at this time what
was called the "Little Brown Church", on the
coener of State and Winnebago streets, pur-
chased of the Unitarians for $400. It was
removed from the corner of Court and Elm
streets to its present location and occupied by
the society for the first time in 1856. This
building has since been torn down.
Rev. Paris resigned the pastorate August 25,
1862, and Rev. Fauntleroy Senour of Indianap-
olis, was installed in his stead as pastor, April
15, 1863, at a salary of $900.
September 21, 1863, resolutions were
adopted, setting forth the necessity of building
a new church, and on May 25, 1864, a building
committee was appointed. The plan was to
build a church, costing not to exceed $15,000.
October 30, 1864, a report shows that $9,904
had been subscribed.
March 31, 1866. Reverend Senour, after a
successful pastorate of three and a half years,
resigned and was succeeded by Rev. J S.
Grimes. The membership of the society was
now 187.
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Westminster Presbyterian church was
organized as an offshoot from the First Congre-
gational church, January 3, 1856, many of its
charter members having come from the latter
society. The meeting for organization was held
in the old First Congregational church at the
corner of First and Walnut streets, where an
engine house now stands. Twenty-two mem-
bers were enrolled at this meeting.
Meetings were first held In the old court
house on North First street. A chapel was
erected that year on the present church site at
a cost of $600.00, which was occupied in the
fall. This soon proved to be too small and Me-
tropolitan Hall was utilized for church purposes
until the present structure was ready for occu-
pancy, which was completed in December, 1858,
and cost $12.000.00.
Of the charter members three are now liv-
ing, and are Joel B. Potter, at the age of ninety,
Mrs. Frances E. Wheat, at the age of eighty-
seven, and Mrs. E. T. Cleveland, aged seventy.
The names of 950 members have been
placed upon the rolls of this society since its or-
ganization.
The present membership is 285. The en-
rollment of the Sunday school is 86.
The following pastors have served this so-
ciety: Revs. Morrison Muggins, L. H. Johnson,
Charles Mattoon, Charles A. Williams, W. S.
Curtis, D. D., J. H Ritchie. T. S. Scott, S.
L. Conde, W. M. Campbell, W. L. Wilcox and
John Henry Boose.
The membership of this society is not large,
but it has never asked nor accepted outside aid.
It has been a liberal giver, and can be relied
upon to do its share of benevolent work.
The foundation for the new church edifice
was laid in 1868 and the building was dedicated
by the Reverend Grimes December 20, 1868.
The present lecture room was built in 1872 at a
cost of $ 1 ,000, under the pastorate of Rev. A. J.
Leyenberger who commenced his labors for the
society March 6, 1870, and continued until the
spring of 1874. Rev. James Cruickshanks be-
came the pastor of the church December 23,
1874. The report shows that at this time the
new church front had been completed at a cost
of $10,000.
Rev. J. K. Fowler began his pastorate the
first Sunday in January, 1878. In 1881 the
church was remodeled and improved, at a cost
of $5,145. At this time $50,000 had been ex-
pended in building operations.
Rev. John R. Sutherland, D. D., became
the pastor in 1887, and he was succeeded by
Rev. John Harkness, and he in turn by the
present pastor, Rev. B. E. S. Ely, who will cel-
ebrate his first decade in the service in 1904.
The society has expended for all purposes
about $150,000.
It is the purpose of this society to build a
new church edifice during the year of its first
semi-centennial, which occurs in 1904. The
ROC K FO R D
sum subscribed for this purpose is now about
$27,OCO.
The present membership is now 559, and
the society is in a prosperous condition.
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The First Methodist Episcopal church of
Rockford was incorporated September 20, 1842,
with five members, as follows: Horace Miller,
James B. Martin, Samuel Gregory, Daniel
Beers, and Willard Wheeler.
which to build a church, and $2,312 were
subscribed. February 25, 1846, the ground for
the location of the church was purchased for
$325. This site is now occupied by the Cen-
tennial church and parsonage and which was
occupied by the First church and parsonage.
The First church was completed and dedicated
in 1848, under the pastorate of Rev. James E.
Wilson. March 13, 1848, a second subscrip-
tion for $2,069 was secured, making a total of
$4,381. The total cost of the church was
about $7,000.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL EPISCOPAL
A GROUP OF CHURCHES
ST. MARY S
Preaching services had been held by various
Methodist clergymen in private houses at vari-
ous times, several years previously.
A parsonage was built in the summer of
1838, on the east side of the river, the lower
floor of which was used as a chapel, during the
ministry of Rev John Crummer.
The first Methodist service held in the
county was at the home of Henry Enoch, in
Guilford, Reverend Pillsbury preaching the
sermon.
December 6, 1845, subscription papers were
started for the purpose of raising funds with
A unique bit of history reveals the fact that
the present beautiful pulpit in the Centennial
church was made from the lumber designed for
the coffin of the first Methodist class leader in
Rockford, Lyford Gregory.
In 1858 the conference changed the name
of the church to that of First church. May 19,
1876, the First and Third Street churches
were united under the name Centennial church,
hence both of these churches are now but
matters of history.
The Third Street church was organized
January 9, 1858, as an offshoot from the First
ROCKFORD
church, with eighty members. A site was pur-
chased on North Third street for $1,200, and a
church was erected by John Early in 1858 at
a cost of $4,000. This church was dedicated
October 9, 1858, by Rev. Hooper Crews. A
parsonage was built on the same site in 1859,
at a cost of $600. In 1866 the church building
was enlarged at a cost of $1,800. In 1871 a
parsonage was bought on East State street for
$3.000, and the parsonage on Third street was
sold for $ 1 ,300. After a successful career of
eighteen years, as has been stated, this society
reunited with the parent church under the name
of the Centennial church, in 1876.
What is now the Centennial church has
enjoyed marked success during its history of
sixty-one years. It has had the ministrations
of thirty-eight pastors. Its present membership
is 500. The total cost of the church building
is $36,799.38, and the cost of maintenance
and other expenses during the sixty-one years,
or life of the church, would reach fully $1 85,000,
making a grand total of $221 ,799.38.
Following are the names of the pastors who
have served this church: Dr. Arnold, Wm.
Caddis, L. S. Walker, Nathan Jewett. S. H.
Stocking, John Crummer, Silas Boiler, Richard
Blanchard, Nathaniel P .Heath, C. D. Cahoon,
John Lucock, N. P. Heath, J. C. Park,
Wm. P. Jones, Francis A. Reed, Wm. Tasker,
James Baume, Hooper Crews, Lewis Anderson,
F. A. Reed, Joseph Hartwell, A. P. Mead,
David Teed, Joseph Odgers, Wm. H. Gloss,
Giles L. Wiley, Hooper Crews, Wm. A.
Spencer, Dr. G. R. Vanhorne, Wm. A. Smith,
Martin E. Cady, Fred Porter, J. S. Bell, J. R.
Hamilton, John Hall, W. W. Painter, John
Thompson and Harlow V. Holt, the present
pastor. The Rev. Charles Cahoon preached
only one sermon after coming to this charge,
when he died.
Francis A. Reed died in 1902. Wm. A.
Smith died and was succeeded by Rev Martin
E. Cady. James Hartwell died and was suc-
ceeded by Rev. A. P. Mead.
This society is free from debt and is gaining
renewed strength daily. Large additions have
been made to the membership under the pas-
torate of Reverend Holt, and the church edifice
is being modernized and thoroughly repaired.
The present improvements will cost about
$3,000.
The society is free from debt and is in a
very prosperous condition.
WINNEBAGO STREET CHURCH.
The Winnebago Street church had its origin
in a Sunday school, organized May 20, 1856,
which held its sessions first in a grove near the
river bank, and later in the Kent school by invi-
tation of the trustees. It is a matter of note
that during the time the sessions were held in
the grove, they were not interrupted by rain
or storm.
The school was under the supervision of
Court Street church, and as Winnebago Street
church is an outgrowth of the Sunday school,
this church is a daughter of Court Street church
and a grand daughter of the First church, now
the Centennial.
The church was organized March 4, 1864,
at the home of Israel Sovereign, with twenty-
three members. The cornerstone of the present
church edifice was laid August 24, 1864, and
the building was dedicated February 12, 1865,
by Rev. Thomas M. Eddy, and cost $8,000.
The parsonage was built in 1 867 and cost $ 1 ,250.
Following are the names of the pastors who
have served this society : Revs. Robert Bentley,
William D. Skelton, Henry L. Martin, John M.
Caldwell. F. A. Reed, R. S. Cantine, Win. S.
Harrington, W. H. Smith, J. M. Clendenning,
Wm. H. Haight, Henry Lea, J. W. Richards,
F. F. Farmiloe, M. L. Norris, and F. E. Hard-
ing, the present pastor. The present membership
is about 300.
The expenditures of the society for all
purposes have been about $60,000.
The church observed its thirty-ninth anni-
versary on June 14, 1903, which was by far the
most notable day in its history. It was not only
a day of jubilee, but one of ingathering of souls.
Rev. Joseph W. Powell of Buffalo, N. Y.,
had charge of the meetings and secured sub-
scriptions to the amount of more than $12,000
for the purpose of building a new church edifice
which will stand on the present church site.
Work on the new structure will begin this year
ROCKFORD
and when completed will cost about $20,000.
South Rockford will then have one of the most
beautiful church edifices in the city.
SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The Second Congregational church of Rock-
ford was organized in 1849, with forty seven
members, nearly all of whom had taken letters
from the First Congregational .church, on the
east side.
A meeting for preliminary organization was
held in the school house, on the west side Octo-
ber 30, 1849, at which it was determined to
hold a meeting November 14,1849, for perma-
nent organization. At this meeting articles of
faith and rules of government were adopted, and
Rev. Dexter Clary of Beloit, declared the
Second Congregational church of Rockford duly
organized.
The society purchased and occupied the
vacant building formerly occupied by the First
Congregational church. In 1851 this building
was found to be too small and its capacity was
increased by the addition of forty feet to its
length.
The rapid growth of the church as early as
1855, made the necessity for more room imper-
ative and the building of a new church was
determined upon. A committee was appointed
to carry out this determination. A site at the
corner of South Church and Chestnut streets
was purchased of L. H. Rood for $3,000.
Several plans for the building were submitted
to the committee, among which was that of
David and James Keyt of Piqua, Ohio. After
careful consideration of the plans and the
reliability of the architects, the contract
for the construction of the church was
awarded to the Ohio parties for $23,478.78.
The church was completed and dedicated
December 1. 1858. A pipe organ was placed
in the church in 1863, at a cost of $2,500.
The society purchased a parsonage in 1888,
at a cost of $9,000.
The growth of this society kept pace with
that of the city and in 1 889 the matter of build-
ing a new and larger church edifice was taken
up. For this purpose a subscription list was
started with the intention of raising $80,000.
The list was headed with a $10,000 subscription
by Ralph Emerson, and in a short time the
amount was practically provided for. A site
was purchased at the corner of North Church
and North streets. The corner stone was laid
in 1 89 1 , and the building was completed and
dedicated May 8, 1892. This was one of the
most noted church events in the history of
Rockford. The building was one of the finest
church edifices in the west, but it met a fateful
day on Tuesday, February 20, 1894, when it
was destroyed by fire. The destruction of this
beautiful church was felt to be a public calamity,
but the society did not despair. Immediate
steps were taken to rebuild. The work was
pushed vigorously forward and on the second day
of the following December the church was
rededicated.
The pipe organ destroyed with the church,
cost $8,000, and the present organ was priced
at $9.000, but was placed in the church for
$8.500. It is a matter of note that Mrs.
Chandler Starr has given twenty-seven years of
service as organist, to this society.
The present membership of this society is
815. The total membership is 1,681. The
society has expended for real estate, buildings,
current expenses and benevolence more than
$500,000. Its net membership is 805.
The following pastors have served the
church: Revs. Lansing Porter, Joseph Emerson,
J. E. Walton, M. P. Kinney, Frank P. Wood-
bury, W. M. Barrows, W. C. Haskell, and
Peter M. Snyder, an average service of nearly
seven years.
Sixteen different persons have served as
deacons, one of which, W. A. Dickerman,
served forty-three years, and Benjamin Blake-
man forty years
Seven different persons have served as clerk
and treasurer, and eight as clerk. Five have
served as treasurer. Thomas D. Robertson
was treasurer for thirty-three years.
Thirty-three different persons have served
as trustees, of which G. A. Sanford served
thirty years.
ROCKFORD
73
AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This is the first church for colored people
established in Rockford. It was instituted in
1891, with seven members and has steadily
increased in numbers to fifty-two.
At the time of the establishment of this
church many of the colored people were allied
to other churches, but have gradually withdrawn
from these and united with their own people.
The society purchased a site of 55 feet front
on Elm street and 1 55 feet on South Winnebago
street, upon which is a building used for church
purposes. The building has a seating capacity of
135 and is usually well attended at the regular
services. The property cost the society $2,000
upon which a debt remains of $1 ,085. This the
society hopes to pay in the near future.
The Sunday school has an average attend-
ance of thirty-five pupils.
The following pastors have served this
society. Revs. F. B. Jones, J. C. Anderson,
Richmond Taylor, Lewis Dixon, Sandy Mc-
Dowell, P. P. Taylor and S. B. Moore, the
present pastor, who came in October, 1900.
The total amount of money expended for all
purposes is about $5,000.
ST. JAMES CATHOLIC CHURCH.
St. James congregation was organized in
1850, and in the following year Rev. John
Hampston was appointed pastor by Bishop
Van de Velde. In 1852 Father Hampston
erected a small wooden church and frame
dwelling at the corner of North Second and
Prairie streets. It was not until 1 866, under
the pastorate of Rev. J. S. O'Neill, that a
structure adequate to the needs of the growing
congregation, was built on the adjoining lot.
This parish originally included the eastern
half of Winnebago county and a part of Ogle
county, but now contains four churches, the most
important of which is St. Mary's, in West Rock-
ford, which was built in 1885 by the Rev. E. H.
Murphy, now of Chicago.
St. James church has had the services of
the following pastors: Revs. John Hampston,
George Hamilton, William Lambert, J. Bulger,
John P. Donelan, J. S. O'Neill, Joseph Mc-
Mahon, J. T. Butler and James J. Flaherty, the
present pastor.
The parochial residence was built by the
Rev. Dr. Butler in 1873, and the school, a fine
brick structure, by the present pastor, in 1891.
The Dominican Sisters have charge of the
school.
The present church was built in 1866, and
cost $20,000. Improvements are being made,
which when completed will bring the total cost
up to $35,000. The parochial school cost
$17,000, and the residence cost $8,000, mak-
ing a total of $60,000 for real estate and
improvements.
For maintenance and various church pur-
poses the society has expended $252,837, mak-
ing a grand total of $312,837 expenditure.
Father James J. Flaherty has faithfully
served this society during the last eighteen years
and has earned the kind regards of not only his
parishoners but of the people of the entire com-
munity. Rev. Frank P. Murphy is serving as
assistant to Father Flaherty.
CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The Central Christian church is one of the
more recently organized societies, and has made
rapid progress. With twenty-three members
and an unauspicious beginning November 20,
1898, it has had a most wonderful and success-
ful career.
The noted evangelist, E. C. Prather, organ-
ized the society after holding a series of meetings
in 1898. In 1899 Dr. D. R. Lucas, national
chaplain of the G. A. R., was called to the
pastorate, and during his pastorate meetings
were held in the Y. M. C. A. hall In Septem-
ber, 1900, Rev. O. F. Jordon was called to the
pastorate in which capacity he is still serving.
April 14, 1901, the society dedicated its
first house of worship, at the corner of South
Church and Chestnut streets. On May 1 , 1903,
the membership had increased to 145. Its total
membership represents 179 individuals. The
society has expended for all purposes $8,510.
FIRST SWEDISH LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The First Swedish Lutheran church was
organized January 15, 1854, with a membership
of seventy-seven. The first church building
74
ROCKFORD
was a wooden structure and cost $ 1 ,600. The
church was dedicated November 23, 1856,
by Dr. Hasselquist preaching the dedicatory
sermon.
Rev. A. Andren was called to the first pas-
torate, and began his service in August, 1856.
Reverend Andren built a parsonage on the
church lot, which he sold to the society upon
the termination of his pastorate, in 1860. The
seating capacity of the first church was about
300. The growth of the society increased so
rapidly that more room became a necessity and
the construction of a brick church on the present
church site, was begun in 1868 and completed
in 1869, at a cost of $23,000.
This edifice also proved to be inadequate for
the needs of the society as early as 1883, when
the present church was built. The old structure
was removed and its place occupied by the
present beautiful building which cost $76,000,
and has a seating capacity of about 2,000.
This society has had a remarkable growth
from its organization to the present time. The
original membership of seventy seven has been
increased to 2,200 during the forty-nine years
of its history. The original membership of Zion
Lutheran church came from this church, but
this did not seem to retard its growth. The
society is free from debt and is contemplating
the building of a fine parsonage, which will
doubtless be accomplished in 1904.
This society will celebrate its semi-centennial
anniversary in February, 1904, which occasion
will be one of the most important in its history.
The following pastors have served this
church: Revs. A. Andren, A. W. Dahlsten,
G. Peters, L. Johnston. Jarl Haff, and J. F.
Seedoff. The Reverend Peters served contin-
uously for twenty-two and a half years, and the
Reverend Johnston eight years. Reverend Haff
died in 1896, after serving about one year.
The present pastor. Reverend Seedoff, succeeded
the Reverend Haff, and has served continuously
since.
In 1902 the society expended for all pur-
poses $ 1 1 ,000, and the total expenditures during
its work of nearly fifty years will reach the large
sum of $360,000.
The organ in this church cost $3,500. The
society is one of the strongest and most flour-
ishing in the state. The attendance from
Sunday to Sunday has a large representation of
men, and the average attendance is about 1 ,800.
TRINITY ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The Trinity English Lutheran church, located
on North First street, is one of the later additions
to the large number of beautiful church edifices
of the city. It is a brick structure and cost
$18,500.
This church society was organized March
10, 1895, with only forty members Services
were first held in the Y. M. C. A. building and
later in the old Christian church. In 1898 the
society purchased the old church property for
$3,400. The old church edifice was torn down
and the erection of the present church building
was commenced in 1900. The building was
completed and dedicated December 16, 1900.
Rev. W. H. Maans was the organizer of
this society and was its pastor until he was suc-
ceeded by the present pastor, Rev. H. M.
Bannen, who took up the work April 1 , 1 896.
The society has expended about $22,000 in
its church property and the total amount of
money raised for all purposes during its history
will reach $42.000.
The society is free from debt and in a pros-
perous condition. The total membership is 490.
The Sunday school is one of the important
features in the work of this society and has an
enrollment of 650.
ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
St. Mary's Catholic church was organized
in 1885 by the Rev. E. H. Murphy, now of
Chicago. This church was formed by an over-
flow membership from St. James church on the
east side of the river, but is now one of the most
important churches in the diocese. The present
membership is about 3,000 and is constantly
growing.
Since the pastorate of the Rev. E. A.
Murphy, there have been the following pastors :
Revs. M. McLaughlin, M. McMann, S. P.
Byrne, R. Solan, John Harrington, Paul Burke,
and John Darsey, A. Carr and Stephen Woulf,
assistant priests.
ROCKFORD
75
The site for St. Mary's church cost $8,500.
The church building cost $50,000, and the
parochial residence cost $3,500, making a total
value of $62,000 for society property. For
maintenance and other objects about $150,000
has been expended. Adding this to church
property and $212,000 represents the total ex-
penditures of money by this society, for all
purposes.
Rev. M. McLaughlin died while serving as
pastor.
GRACE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Grace Methodist church is one of the later
church societies which was organized in West
Rockford in the fall of 1891. This thriving ad-
dition to the city had reached a point when many
of its citizens felt the need of more convenient
church privileges, and the organization of the
Grace church was the outcome of this condition.
A meeting was called and the desire for the
organization of a Methodist society prevailed.
The charter membership numbered thirty-nine.
Some of these were from other churches, but
this society cannot be considered as an offshoot
from any other.
The site for the church edifice cost $1 ,800.
The building cost originally $5,500, but additions
were recently made at a cost of $2,000. The
parsonage property cost $2,500.
The church was organized under the admin-
istration of Presiding Elder Haight, and the first
pastor was Rev. Frank D. Sheets who served
five years. He was followed by Rev. Frank
McNamer, who served two years. He was
succeeded by Rev. 'J. B. Robinson and he in
turn by Rev. Thomas E. Ream. The present
pastor, Rev. E. K. D. Hester, took up the work
in 1902.
The society is in a prosperous condition and
is constantly growing. The present membership
is 280.
The total value of church property is $1 1 ,800,
The society has expended for all purposes about
$42,000.
ROCKFORD
DR. BROUGHTON'S SANITARIUM.
Dr. Broughton's Sanitarium for the treat-
ment and care of those suffering from alcohol,
other drug habits and special nervous troubles,
has maintained its hold on first place in its field
and is widening its beneficent work every day.
ist in the treatment of nervous diseases and
those attributable to drug and alcoholic addic-
tions, he. was most cordially assisted by his fel-
low physicians having patients requiring such
treatment. During his long service at Dwight
DR. BROUGHTON'S SANITARIUM
About three years ago, Dr. Broughton, who had
for many years previous been employed by Dr.
Keeley at his Dwight Institute, leased Dr. Ran-
som's Sanitarium property located on Rock
river, opposite Harlem Park, and began the work
he had so well fitted himself for.
A physician of the most ethical kind himself,
and having earned a high reputation as a special-
he formed an acquaintance which encirled the
globe. He found that he had friends in every
civilized country who were glad to direct afflicted
ones to him.
This recognition resulted in a greater num-
ber of patients coming to him than he could ac-
commodate in the up-river home, so he pur-
chased the Keyt mansion on the Rock river, just
ROCKFORD
77
south of the city, opening the new place in June,
1902.
The Keyt residence has long been famed for
its elegance in architecture, its spacious rooms
and costly construction. For many years it
stood as a model of fine residence building. It
originally cost $30,000.00, and this amount has
finished differently and furnished in home like
fashion. The first and second floors were also
redecorated throughout, and the basement was
entirely made over for the opening of a large
dining room, club room, kitchen and other rooms.
The beautifully carved wood work was refinished
all over the house and restored to the beauty
AN INTERIOR IN DR. BROUGHTON'S SANITARIUM
been increased by later improvements, before
Dr. Broughton purchased it.
He immediately began a series of expendi-
tures which were to provide every convenience.
No expense was spared in refitting the home for
Sanitarium purposes.
The great ball-room on the third floor was
partitioned for sleeping rooms. Each room was
which it mirrored when the house was first
opened. A complete system of plumbing, hot
water, heating and electric lighting appliances
was installed.
The grounds which cover twelve acres and
support the most varied and well cultured forest
in this section were carefully groomed.
ROCKFORD
The doctor never paused in his work until
he had placed the whole in the state of perfec-
tion he had always hoped to attain.
While the premises are less than two miles
from the center of the city, they are so nestled
among the trees and shrubbery that the utmost
seclusion is insured, and one is as totally apart
from city life as in a dense, remote woodland.
straint, though the clock work of the controlling
power moves incessantly.
Patients from every state in the union come
to the Sanitarium. It is not uncommon to hear
one say that he has traveled a thousand miles to
reach Rockford.
Dr. Broughton's methods for treating his
special class of diseases are confined to purely
bOUTH MAIN STREET IN FRONT OF BROUGHTON'S SANITARIUM
The charm and quiet of the place is especially
desirable in the treatment of nervous diseases.'
The management of the Sanitarium is per-
fect. Dr. and Mrs. Broughton seem fitted by
nature for the care of such an institution. The
strictest discipline is maintained in so kindly a
way, that the place has none of the air of re-
medical lines. He is not exploiting any proprie-
tary remedy of any nature, kind or description.
His is but a hospital for the treatment of habit-
ual diseases along the lines any other specialist
would act.
Unfortunately the recruits to this institution
do not seem to grow less. The number he has
ROCKFORD
79
cured does not seem to diminish the supply, for
the rooms are continuously occupied.
The present large building, which at one
time appeared so roomy, is now too small for
his needs. If he decides to extend his care to
all who apply for relief, another building will be
required.
The Broughton Sanitarium is one of the in-
stitutions of which Rockford people are justly
proud. Its high professional character, coupled
with the personal worth of its proprietor, has won
the respect of all.
AN INTERIOR IN DR. BROUGHTON'S SANITARIUM
8o
RO C K FO R D
SCHMAUSS COMPANY.
Leonard and Joseph Schmauss successors
to Leonard Schmauss, their father, in the meat
business, have established a large wholesale and
retail trade. They buy and slaughter only the
best stock the market affords. By this means,
together with upright and honorable dealing, they
They give employment to fifty people in the
different departments of their business and are
making additions and improvements to their
facilities each year. The volume of business
is constantly increasing and their customers are
found in towns many miles from Rockford.
have built up a large business. Their market at
3!3 East State street, is shown in the cut, and
is the finest and most conveniently and thoroughly
equipped place of business of the kind in the
city, or in this section of the country.
Besides this central place of business, they
operate fine markets on West State, South Main,
and Seventh streets, in this city.
There is scarcely a town in northern Illinois
or southern Wisconsin that does not get con-
siderable of its meat supply from Schmauss
Company.
Schmauss Brothers own a large amount of
city and landed property, and are foremost in
making permanent improvements and in beauti-
fying the city.
ROCKFORD
ft,
si
SKANDIA HARDWARE COMPANY.
This institution was established October 10,
1 892, and is one of the youngest, and still one
of the most prominent industries in the city. It
is located at 327-329 Seventh street. The
store itself is a beautiful and attractive business
place.
hardware, tinware, builders' hardware, machin-
ists tools and everything found in a first class
up to-date hardware store.
The present managers have had charge of
the business since its inception. The officers
are Sanford Olson, manager ; J. T. Peters, sec-
SKANDIA HARDWARE COMPANY.
The company has built up a very successful
business by strict integrity, close attention to
business, and by handling nothing but desirable
goods.
They keep a complete line of shelf and heavy
retary; Enoch Nicholson, head salesman; Charles
Carlson, head of stove department, and Frank
Turnos in charge of the tinners' department. A
cut of the Skandia Hardware Co.'s building ac-
companies this sketch.
ROCKFORD
O. W. JOHNSON.
The subject of this sketch was born in
Ontario, Canada, in 1873, and came to Rock-
ford in 1894. when he engaged in business with
Root, Johnson & Co. He continued with this
firm one year, when J. E. Johnson and Tilson
bought the interest of Mr. Root, Mr. O. W.
Johnson remaining with the firm
In 1899 he purchased the interest of J. E.
Johnson and the firm continued as Johnson Si
systems in the country, where their goods are
kept sound and fresh and are delivered to the
dealer in the best possible condition. In con-
nection with fruits and vegetables, the company
handles, annually, millions of eggs.
An office is maintained at 105 South Water
street, Chicago, from which point Wisconsin,
Illinois and a part of Indiana are supplied with
goods. The Rockford trade covers northern
Tilson. In 1901 Mr. Frank Ward bought the
interest of Mr. Tilson and these parties have
since constituted the firm. A general commis-
sion and wholesale business is carried on by
this firm. Vegetables and fruits of all kinds
are handled in carload lots or in smaller quan-
tities. They have one of the finest cold-storage
Illinois and southern Wisconsin. In order to
handle the trade in central Wisconsin the firm
has opened a branch office at Madison, which
point will be used as a purchasing point for eggs
as well as a distributing point for fruits and
vegetables.
ROCKFORD
BIOGRAPHICAL
HON. WILLIAM LATHROP.
Hon. William Lathrop was born in Stafford,
Genesee county. New York, April 17, 1825>
and was educated in the public schools.
Mr. Lathrop studied law at Atica, New
York, and was admitted to the bar in 1850.
He removed to Knox county, Illinois, in the
spring of 1850, and to Rockford January 1,
1851 , where he has since resided.
When the city government was organized in
1852 he was elected to the office of city clerk.
Mr. Lathrop is not a politician, but was
elected to congress on the Republican ticket in
and Robert are attorneys and have offices in
the building with their father. The family resi-
dence is at No. 408 Rockton avenue.
HON. WILLIAM LATHROP.
1876, and served one term with marked ability
and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He
has a large law practice and enjoys the confi-
dence of the people of the community.
Mr. Lathrop was married to Miss Adeline
Potter of Rockford, and has five children, Julia,
Anna, Edward, William and Robert. Edward
RALPH EMERSON.
Ralph Emerson, son of Ralph and Eliza
(Rockwell) Emerson, was born at Andover,
Mass., May 3, 1831. He was a teacher in
New England, where he also studied law. He
removed to Bloomington, Illinois, when twenty
years of age, where he continued the study of
law. He became intimately acquainted with
Abraham Lincoln, which acquaintance continued
RALPH EMERSON.
during the life of the latter. Through Mr.
Lincoln's advice, he abandoned law and engaged
in industrial pursuits.
He removed first to Beloit, Wis., and to
Rockford in 1852, where he has since resided.
He first engaged in the hardware business and
then became a manufacturer. He has been
prominently connected, either as president, vice-
8 4
ROCKFORD
president, director, trustee, sole owner, leading
partner, or otherwise, with the organization and
working of over forty different manufacturing,
commercial, financial, agricultural, educational
and charitable enterprises, some of national
reputation.
These enterprises include such interests as
the manufacture of agricultural implements,
knitting machines, hosiery, cotton goods, woolen
goods, lumber, two insurance companies, two
national banks, and two electric companies, one
of which does the entire electric lighting of the
city of Rockford. He at one time owned a
farm with over three square miles under the plow.
He is still in active control of several of
Rockford's most important industries. He is
president of the Emerson Manufacturing Com-
pany, one of the largest institutions in the
country.
Mr. Emerson married Miss Adeline Elizabeth
Talcott, daughter of Hon. Wait and Elizabeth
Anna (Norton) Talcott, September 7, 1858.
She was born at Vernon, Oneida county, N. Y.,
October 12, 1837, and was graduated at
Rutger's College. New York City, with the class
of 1856, and previous to marriage taught school
at Rockton and Rockford.
Mrs. Emerson has occupied positions of
great honor and importance in philanthropic,
patriotic and social organizations, not only in the
city, but in state and national organizations,
representing some of them as delegate at inter-
national conventions in Europe and elsewhere.
Her printed volumes, "Love Bound and Other
Poems" and "Memorial" of her son, have met
with a glad welcome and high commendation.
Mr. and Mrs. Emerson have had eight chil-
dren, five of whom are now living: Adeline
Eliza, wife of Norman Frederick Thompson,
banker in Rockford; Harriet Elizabeth, wife of
William E. Hinchliff, manufacturer of Rockford;
Mary, wife of Edward Potter Lathrop, lawyer in
Rockford; Charlotte Belle, wife of Darwin Mill
Keith, M. D., of Rockford; and Dora Bay, wife
of Prof. William Morton Wheeler, Ph. D., cura-
tor in the American Museum of Natural History,
New York City. The family residence is at
No. 427 North Church street.
CAPT. JOHN H. SHERRATT.
Captain John Hall Sherratt was born in
Winnebago county. Illinois, April 12, 1 844, and
CAPT. JOHN H. SHERRATT.
was educated in the public schools. His parents,
Thomas and Lydia Holmes Sherratt, were
among the early settlers of the county and first
resided upon a farm, but later his father opened
a harness shop in Rockford. August 7, 1862,
he enlisted as a private in the 74th Illinois vol-
unteers. The regiment was with the army of
the Cumberland and participated in several of
the most noted battles of the war. He was
mustered out of service January 31 , 1866, with
the rank of captain. Upon returning to Rock-
ford, he became identified with the Rockford
Insurance Company, as general agent for a time
and later as assistant secretary. January 1 ,
1880, he severed his connection with the Rock-
ford and became the secretary of the Forest
City Insurance Company, which position he held
ten years, and was then elected president, which
position he still holds. He was a director of the
Third National Bank for several years, and at
the death of Mr. Spafford, in 1897, was elected
president of this institution. Under his admin-
istration the business of the bank has met with
ROCKFORD
marked success, and is one of the strong finan-
cial institutions of the city. Captain Sherratt
was elected mayor of Rockford in 1889, and
served two years. He assisted in the organiza-
tion of the Country Club and was its first presi-
dent. He is a member of the G. A. R. and
Military Order of the Loyal Legion. He is the
president of the board of trustees of Rockford
College and a trustee of the Rockford City Hos-
pital, in both of which institutions he is deeply
interested. Captain Sherratt wa? married to Miss
Harriett E. Wight, daughter of Hon. James
M.Wight, of Rockford, July 9, 1873. Mrs.
Sherratt is prominent in literary circles, is the
author of " Mexican Vistas," and several beau-
tiful poems. The family residence is at No. 1907
Harlem avenue.
HON ARTHUR H FROST.
The subject of this sketch was born in
St. Johnsbury, Vermont, May 12, 1856, and
came to RockforH in 1*l. where he received
of states attorney in 1892, and re-elected in
1896 and 1900. He resigned this office Feb-
ruary 24, 1901, and was elected judge of the
circuit court February 25, the same year, and
was re-elected to this office June 1, 1903.
Judge Frost has executed the duties pertain-
ing to these several judicial offices with distinct-
tion and fidelity, and enjoys the confidence of
the bar and the people, without exception.
He practiced law as a member of the firm of
Frost & McEvoy, from December, 1888 to
March, 1901, with marked success.
Socially he is a member of the K. of P. and
the Masonic order.
He was married to Miss Ida Southgate, May
17, 1883, and has four children: Bertha Helen,
aged 19; Raymond Southgate, aged 17; Arthur
H., aged 12, and Walter K , aged 7. The
family residence is at No 712 North Church
street.
HON. RUFUS C. BAILEY.
Hon Rufus C. Bailey was born in Auburn,
Maine. July 28, 1833. His primary education
HON. ARTHUR H. FROST.
his education, being a graduate from the East
Side High School.
Judge Frost studied law in the office of the
late N. C. Warner, and was admitted to the bar
January 19, 1879. He was elected to the office
HON. RUFUS C. BAILEY.
was received in the public schools of his native
town, and preparation for college was made in
86
ROCKFORD
the Auburn and Waterville academies. He was
graduated from the scientific department of
Amherst College in 1855, and came to Rock-
ford in October of that year.
He served as a civil engineer from 1855 to
1858 and then took up the study of law. He
was admitted to the bar August 18, 1860, and
practiced this profession in this city until 1873,
when he was elected county judge which office
he has held with honor and distinction continu-
ously since. He was made city clerk in 1860
and held the office during six years. In 1863
he was elected to the office of city attorney.
It is an unprecedented fact that Judge Bailey
has most acceptably filled the office of county
judge in Winnebago county a greater number of
years than any other incumbent in the history
of the county.
Judge and Mrs. Bailey reside at No. 702
North Main street.
GILBERT WOODRUFF.
The subject of this sketch was born Nov.
30, 1817, at Watertown, N, Y., and is a son of
Mr. ar.d Mrs. Frederick Woodruff. During his
boyhood days he attended public school during
the winter terms and worked on his father's
farm during the summer. Having completed
the common branches then taught in the public
schools, he engaged, while still young, in the
grocery business with a small capital, in his native
city. At the end of six months he sold out his
stock and opened a large store, which he con-
ducted most successfully for two and a half years.
By prudent and economical management during
this time he had increased his capital so that he
was enabled to invest considerable sums in real
estate, and this business soon assumed large pro-
portions. While engaged in the real estate busi-
ness be built many important siructures, among
which was the Washington Hall block in Water-
town. In 1857, he closed out his business in
the east and removed to Dubuque, Iowa, where
he spent a year looking after his financial inter-
ests. While engaged in the real estate business
in Watertown, he loaned considerable money to
parties in Wisconsin and Iowa, and had also In-
vested in lands in both states. Mr. Woodruff
came to Rockford in 1858, and during the first
three years was engaged in the real estate busi-
ness, exchanging his Wisconsin and Iowa lands
for property in Rockford and vicinity. During
this time he became possessed of forty farms in
Winnebago and Ogle counties, which he after-
ward exchanged for city property. Rockford
owes much of its prosperity, beauty and progress
to the enterprise and devoted public spirit of
such men as Mr. Woodruff has proved himself
to be. He has ever taken a lively interest in all
progressive improvements for the betterment
and welfare of the city, and acceptably served
as its mayor from 1873 to 1875. Woodruff's
addition to the city will become an honorable
monument to the family. He has seen the
place grow from an humble village to the mag-
nificent proportions of a beautiful city and has
personally aided, by his influence and a liberal
use of his money, in securing the location of
manufacturing and industrial institutions in
GILBERT WOODRUFF.
Rockford until it is conceded to be one of the
most important manufacturing centers west of
Chicago.
He was one of the originators of the
Rockford National Bank and was elected its
ROCKFORD
president in 1871, which office he has success-
fully administered continuously since. He was
one of the founders of the Forest City Insurance
Company in 1873 and acted as its president for
many years. In 1875 he organized the Forest
City Furniture Company of which he is still
president, and this has become one of the
largest industries in the city. To him is due a
great share of the credit for the development
and wonderful growth of the busy business
thoroughfare known as Seventh street. He was
among the first to erect business buildings in
that section, had firm faith in the future of the
street and has expended much money in business
blocks along it, adding greatly to its beauty and
stability. He can rightly be termed the Father
of Seventh street, and its marvelous growth has
always been to him a matter of special pride
and satisfaction.
He also built two of the finest business blocks
on West State street, one of which is the
Rockford National Bank building and the
other the Woodruff block, just across the street.
To him can also be given much of the credit
for the excellent street railway system enjoyed
by Rockford today. He invested heavily in the
property when it was far from a paying propo-
sition, assisted in bringing about a reorganization
and consolidation of the two city lines, together
with the inter-urbans, with the result that the
service has been perfected, the lines extended,
and it is today one of the best investments in
the west. He was one of the organizers and a
heavy stockholder in the Insurance Company of
the State of Illinois, of Rockford, and was ever
willing to back his faith in its future with his
money. Time showed his wisdom and the
company is now on a solid, paying basis.
Mr. Woodruff is an active member of the
First Congregational church of Rockford. He
is one of the trustees of Rockford College, which
ranks high among the educational institutions of
the west. He is a staunch republican. Socially
he leads a quiet, unostentatious life and is
always accessible to the most humble of his
fellow citizens. He has bestowed with a liberal
hand and an unselfish spirit in all cases of
necessity and distress when called upon for aid.
In his business career and through life he has
maintained a reputation of the highest integrity
and most scrupulous honesty and among the
long list of Rockford's honored citizens there are
none more highly honored and esteemed than is
Mr. Woodruff, the quiet citizen.
Mr. Woodruff was married to Miss Nancy
Fay in 1840, and seven children were born to
them, four of whom are still living, they being
Mrs. Sarah W. Parmele. Volney D. Woodruff,
Mrs. Duncan H. Ferguson and William F.
Woodruff.
Mrs. Woodruff died in 1875, and in 1879
Mr Woodruff was married to Mrs. Augusta
Todd and they now reside at the old homestead
on South Third street.
HON. E. B. SUMNER.
attorney and counselor-at-law, was born in Peca-
tonica, Illinois. Nov. 14, 1850, and was grad-
HON. E B. SUMNER.
uated from the Rockford High School, class of
1866, In 1867 he entered the University of
Michigan, and was graduated from the Literary
department in 1873, and was admitted to the
bar for the practice of law, at Detroit the same
year. His admission to the practice of law in
Illinois, took place at Mount Vernon, June, 1873.
ROCKFORD
He then located in Rockford where he has since
resided. He was elected city attorney in 1879,
and to the lower house of the state legislature in
1 880 and re-elected in 1882. He was elected
to the state senate in 1884 and served four
years. He filled the office of Vice- President
of the Rockford Forest City Bank for some
time. Mr. Sumner has a large amount of fine
city and farm property, to the care of which he
devotes the most of his time. He is always
accessible to his many friends and is able to give
counsel or advice in matters political or finan-
cial. He is a bachelor and resides at 516
North Church street.
with great success the remainder of his life.
He was widely known in the glove trade and was
one of the largest dealers in the country.
While he was deeply absorbed in his own
business, he always manifested a lively interest
HENRY W. PRICE.
Henry W. Price, one of Rockford's most
eminent citizens and city builders, was born in
Lakeville, Genesee county, New York, May 22,
1837. His parents removed to Chicago while
he was but an infant, where they remained un-
til Henry was twelve years old. His father then
started for California to make his fortune in the
gold fields of that state, but died on the way.
The family then returned to Lakeville and
Henry made his home with his grandfather,
Deacon John Holmes, and attended school at
the Temple academy in Geneseo.
When eighteen years old he went to Buffalo
and bought a stock of shoes, where he remained
in trade until coming to Rockford in 1858.
Upon his arrival in the Forest City he at once
entered a business career which grew to such
proportions as to place him in the front ranks of
financiers and masters in giant business enter-
prises. His life was his business which was
conducted upon a scale that would cause one
less timid to hesitate. Mr. Price never faltered.
His plans in all business enterprises were well
laid and carried out with mathematical precision.
If they failed, it was not due to any lack on his
part, but to circumstances beyond his control.
He relied upon his own resources in planning for
future success for himself and the city he loved
so well. In the best sense of the term, he was
a self made man.
When first coming to Rockford he engaged
in the shoe business, but in 1860 he commenced
the manufacture of gloves, which he carried on
HENRY W. PRICE.
in the city's welfare, and to him belongs the
credit of promoting and instituting some of
Rockford's most valuable industries and im-
provements. Mr. Price was one of Rockford's
prominent citizens and, in fact, he had no peer
in his self-sacrificing liberality for the upbuilding
of the city. His life was a part of the city's
life, as he was one of its early settlers and it
grew to its present proud position under his
magic touch and inspiration. "New industries"
was the keynote he always sounded and others
would get into harmony with his music and
when all moved together, wonderful results
followed.
He it was who inspired the institution of the
watch factory, silver plate works, bolt works,
tack factory, city railway, and the Ingersoll
Milling Machine company. He invested large
sums of money in these industries, and in some
instances large sums were lost, but he pushed
all the harder to win success for the good of the
city. He favored public improvement notwith-
ROCKFORD
89
standing the fact that he would be heavily taxed
therefor. His civic pride, when placed in the
financial balance, outweighed all other consider-
ations. Among other public enterprises in
which he was a moving spirit, was the North
End addition in which he invested $250,000.00.
Mr. Price was the president of the H. W.
Price Glove Company, president of the Rockford
Silver Plate Company, and vice-president of the
Rockford City Railway Company, in all of which
institutions he was a heavy investor. Mr. Price
was liberal to a fault and many were the chari-
ties extended to both public and private enter-
prises. Mr. Price experienced heavy losses in
some of his enterprises, about $500,000 having
been swept away as reverses came, but at this
he did not falter. New energy was thrown into
his business and much of the losses recovered.
After spending the best part of his most
active and valuable life in the upbuilding of the
city of his adoption and of his best love, he was
called to his long home at five o'clock in the
afternoon of May 20, 1903.
Mr. Price married Miss Frances Irene War-
ner of Milan, Penn., in 1863, and had one child
who is Mrs. Maude Price Knight. Mrs. Price,
the daughter, Maude, and two grandchildren,
Henry Price Knight and Mary Daphne Knight,
are now living. The family residence is at
No. 929 North Main street.
NORMAN F. THOMPSON.
Norman F. Thompson was born in Perry,
Georgia, June 27, 1856, and came to Rockford
with his parents in 1857, where he received the
benefit of the city schools and where thorough
preparation was made for a broad and finished
education. He was graduated with honors from
the Yale University in the class of 1881, and
has since been identified with important business
interests in New York City, Buffalo and Rock-
ford. He was for several years connected with
the Equitable Mortgage Company of New York,
as assistant secretary and treasurer, and later
became the treasurer of the Equitable Securities
Company of New York. He resigned this
position to take charge of reorganizing a machine
screw company in Buffalo, and as assistant re-
ceiver of the Equitable Mortgage Company,
On the completion of this work he returned to
Rockford to take charge of the private affairs of
Mr. Ralph Emerson.
At the election of officers for the Manufac-
turers' National Bank in 1900, Mr. Thompson
was made the vice-president and acting officer
of this institution. His large experience in
connection with important financial institutions
in the east, made him a desirable person to fill
this important position in one of Rockford's
strongest, most reliable and deservedly popular
banking houses.
NORMAN F. THOMPSON.
Mr. Thompson was city treasurer from 1901
to 1903. He is trustee for the Y. M. C. A.
and Archean Union, No. 1 . Socially he is a
member of the Twentieth Century Club, Chi-
cago; Graduates Club, New Haven, Conn.;
Bankers Club, Chicago; and Country Club and
Beefsteak Club of Rockford. He is a member
of the board of directors of the Burson Knitting
Company and the Manufacturers' National
Bank.
Mr. Thompson married Adaline E. Emerson,
oldest daughter of Ralph Emerson, on January
10, 1883. Their children are Norman F.
Thompson, Jr., aged 19, at Yale University;
ROCKFORD
Ralph E. Thompson, aged 15, at Hotchkiss
School; Adalyn Thompson, aged 13, at Rock-
ford College.
INGALLS CARLETON
is a son of the late Jeremiah Carleton of Barre,
Vermont, and his wife Betsey Robey Carleton
of Dunstable, New Hampshire.
INGALLS CARLETON.
Ingalls Carleton was born in Marshfield, Ver-
mont, March 30th, 1824, of English descent,
and is a representative of the twenty-sixth gen-
eration from the noted Baldwin De Carleton,
who lived in England in the year 1066, and
whose descendants occupied Carleton Hall for
six hundred years. Later, other descendants of
prominence appeared, among whom were Sir
Dudley Carleton, a statesman, who was created
Viscount Dorchester by Charles I., died in
1 65 1 , and Sir Guy Carleton, first Governor Gen-
eral of Canada, and the first Lord Dorchester.
Among the Carleton family of this country
are found farmers, soldiers, ministers and men
of letters. Mr. Carleton's son, Leonard Ingalls,
represents the twenty-seventh, and his grandson,
Robey Freeman Carleton, the twenty-eighth
generation of Carletons of the tenth century.
Mr. Carleton, his son and grandson, are entitled
to the family coat of arms of Oxfordshire, Lon-
don and Surrey, the motto of which is, " Non ad
Perniciem."
Mr. Carleton was educated in the public
schools of his native town, and when young
taught three winter terms of school. He repre-
sented his district in the Vermont legislature in
1855. In 1856 he came to Rockford, but soon
returned to his Vermont home, where he was
re-elected to the legislature. In 1857 again
came west and located in Rockton, where he
formed a copartnership with the late George H.
Hollister, and built a large flouring mill and ele-
vator, and engaged in the milling and grain busi-
ness. After a successful ten year's business
the firm sold its milling interests. Mr. Carleton
removed to Rockford, where he has since resi-
ded in retirement, looking after his large real
estate interests in this county and South Dakota.
His residence in East State street is one of the
most beautiful homes in this city, and has been
occupied by the family since 1877.
Mr. Carleton is one of the few surviving
attendants who heard the great Lincoln-Doug-
lass debate in Freeport in 1858, and the many
stirring incidents of the occasion are still fresh
in his memory. He has always taken a deep
interest in public affairs, and by his generosity
has aided in the development and substantial
growth of the city.
He was married at Rockton in 1869 to Miss
Amy Lawrence, a daughter of Luther Lawrence,
and his wife, Adelia Loomer Lawrence, of Rock-
ton. Mrs. Carleton's father traces his ances-
tors to Sir Robert Lawrence of Ashton Hall,
England, who was knighted in the year 1190.
Among his descendants have been many people
of prominence and worth. Conspicuous in this
country were Amos and Abbott Lawrence of
Groton, Massachusetts, the original home of
John Lawrence, of Suffolk, England, who set-
tled there in 1635.
Mr. and Mrs. Carleton have one son, Leon-
ard Ingalls, who was born at Rockton. His wife
is Alice Freeman Carleton. a daughter of the
late William Edward and Sarah Hill Freeman
of Cheltenham, England.
Two children have been born to them,
Leonard Ingalls, Jr., who died January 20, 1902,
aged two years, and Robey Freeman Carleton,
who was born August 28, 1902.
ROCKFORD
HON. JOHN C. CARVER (DECEASED)
The subject of this sketch was a son of John
Carver, who came from Pennsylvania and set-
tled on a farm near Pecatonica in an early day,
where John C. was born November 16, 1843.
HON. JOHN C. CARVER.
Judge Carver spent his boyhood days upon
his father's farm, and received his primary edu-
cation in the public schools. He took a course
at the Wlttenburg College in Springfield, Ohio,
where he received his degree. He studied law
under the tutorship of Gen. Keifer, of Ohio, who
was at one time Speaker of -the House of Con-
gress. He was admitted to the bar in 1871,
and commenced the practice of his profession
in Rockford.
He quickly gained the confidence of the peo-
ple and the bar, and rose rapidly in his profes-
sion. He was elected States Attorney, which
office he filled two terms with marked ability.
In 1882 Judge Carver was a candidate for
Congress, and would have received the nomina-
tion and election but for the sudden death of
Major Hawk, which occurred shortly before the
meeting of the convention which occasioned its
adjournment without action. At its next meet-
ing Robert R. Hitt and Col. B. F. Sheets both
entered the race and Mr. Hitt was nominated,
although Winnebago county stood by Judge
Carver.
In 1886 Mr. Carver was elected to the Cir-
cuit bench to succeed Judge James Cartwright
who had been elevated to the Supreme bench to
succeed Judge Bailey who had died. After fill-
ing out the unexpired term of Judge Cartwright.
he was elected to the office for the full term.
He served frequently upon the bench in Chicago
with great acceptance.
Judge Carver was a hard, conscientious
worker as a lawyer and an exemplary and upright
judge. Socially he was a Past Master of E. F.
W. Ellis Lodge of Masons, Past Commander of
Crusader Commandery, a member of the Con-'
sistory and Shrine, Knights of the Globe, Forest
City Lodge of United Workmen, Odd Fellows
and Woodmen.
He was married to Miss Sarah A. Segur, of
Rockford, November 25, 1875. Mrs. Carver
is the daughter of John Segur, who is still living
in Rockford.
Six children were born to Judge and Mrs.
Carver, five of whom are now living ; Laura. M.,
Lewis C., Earl, Eva and Howell.
The family residence is at No. 1 103 South
Main street.
Judge Carver died November 27, 1901,
loved and mourned by the entire community.
MAYOR CHARLES E. JACKSON.
With no other name could the title of this
work, " Rockford Today," be more aptly asso-
ciated than that of Charles E. Jackson who was,
in May of this year, installed as mayor of this
city. In early life he has won success in busi-
ness, is liberal and progressive in his political
views, stands for good city government and is
essentially a home man. Those estimable qual-
ities so typical of Rockford, are reflected by its
new mayor, who is a product of its public schools
and its business institutions. Mr. Jackson was
born on a Boone County farm, four miles from
Belvidere, Ills., Nov. 30, 1867, When he was
four months old his parents moved to Rockford,
which place he has ever since respected as his
home. After completing his studies in the pub-
ROCKFORD
lie schools he entered business life as a clerk
in a retail clothing store. Reaching a more use-
ful era of efficiency, he went out as a traveling
salesman, in which vocation he continued for
several years. In 1891 he established the whole-
sale portrait and frame business, which he has
since conducted successfully extending his sales
MAYOR CHARLES E. JACKSON
to every state in the union and into foreign coun-
tries. As an energetic worker for the commer-
cial supremacy of the city he was chosen pres-
ident of the East State Street Business Men's
Association. In that position he displayed qual-
ities for leadership which caused his name to be
mentioned as a candidate for alderman from
his home ward, and, after a spirited campaign
which usually follows in a bailiwick where citi-
zenship is appreciated, he became Alderman
Jackson. In his new office he surprised his best
friends by his temperate demeanor debate, his
uniform courtesy toward his colleagues and the
clear cut manner in which he cared for the in-
terests of his people. During his two years ser-
vice as alderman he became the central figure
of a movement to modify the existing ward lines
of the city so that all voters could be equally
represented in the council. The successful ter-
mination of that movement made him the logi-
cal mayoral candidate of a majority of his fel-
low citizens, a majority which increased in num-
ber as election day drew near. His first offi-
cial acts have justified the claims made by his
friends as to his fitness for executive honors.
He has selected his lieutenants with impartiality
as to geographical lines and has inaugurated a
progressive business policy which will contribute
toward the city's welfare. While essentially a
home man he is a member of the Royal Arca-
num, Modern Woodmen of America, and A. 0.
U. W. fraternal orders, in which he has seriously
interested himself. Mr. Jackson was married
in 1898 to Nellie L. Brown, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Chas. E. Brown. If Mr. Jackson has
ambitions of a political nature other than those
which make for good city government, he has
not disclosed them to even his closest friends,
and the belief obtains that his foremost aim is
to see the best interests of Rockford developed
along broad, peaceful and permanent lines.
HON. CHARLES A. WORKS (DECEASED)
was a native of this county, having been born
at Guilford, Illinois, May 4, 1848, and was grad-
r
HON. CHARLES A. WORKS.
uated from the East Rockford High School in
1868.
ROCKFORD
93
He served as a clerk of the Supreme Court,
at Ottawa, Illinois, from September. 1873, to
September, 1875.
He was appointed superintendent of the city
schools of La Salle, Illinois, in 1875, and served
with distinction in this capacity two years.
Mr. Works was then made deputy clerk of
the Circuit Court at La Salle, Illinois, and served
one year.
During the year 1878 he was in the govern-
ment employ in the Indian service on the Mis-
souri river.
He began the practice of law in Rockford in
January, 1879, and soon became one of the most
brilliant advocates at the bar in the state.
He was elected States Attorney for Winne-
bago county in 1880, which office he held for
three consecutive terms, with honor to himself
and to the perfect satisfaction of the people.
He was elected as a member of the State
Board of Equalization in 1 892 and again in 1 900,
which office he administered with distinction,
having served upon one of the most important
committees of the board, and was acknowledged
to be an authority in the determination of intri-
cate legal questions coming before the board in
transacting its business.
Mr. Works was married to Miss Eva Enoch,
daughter of Hon. A. I. Enoch, in November,
1880, and had four children, Marein S., Mabel
J., Helen K. and Charles Enoch.
He told them he had resolved to go the follow-
ing year, and they finally gave their consent.
The first week in May, 1837, when but six-
teen years of age, he left his beautiful English
JOHN LAKE.
John Lake was born on Blackford Farm,
Selworthy Parish, England, March 27, 1821,
said farm was then the possession of his pater-
nal grandfather, who was a farmer, dairyman,
miller, malster. and a dealer in all kinds of
seeds. William Lake, the father of John Lake,
was also born on Blackford Farm in 1798, and
died when John was but six months old. John's
mother married again, and he was reared by his
grandmother in the old home. Mr. Lake was
given excellent educational advantages by pri-
vate teachers.
He commenced to earn his own living when
fourteen years of age by working on a farm. In
May, 1836, he proposed going to the United
States, but was opposed in this by his family.
JOHN LAKE.
home to gain a competence for himself in the
United States. He secured passage on the
"Severn," a sailing vessel, loaded with iron for
Philadelphia. The voyage was beset by fearful
storms and continued through seven long weeks
before the arrival at Philadelphia.
He immediately set out for Rockford, where
he expected to join his uncle Thomas, but was
detained by illness at Rockport, a small town on
the Ohio river, and did not arrive in Rockford
until December 1, 1837.
He did farm work for three years, and then
apprenticed himself to Thomas Thatcher, a
joiner, carpenter and architect, with wages at
$5.00 per month and board. At the end of one
year he felt competent to start in business for
himself in the same line. He worked by the
day and did contract work until 1853, when he
formed a partnership with P. Howes to engage
in the lumber trade. Their yard was located
where the East Rockford, Chicago &. North-
western passenger station now stands, which was.
94
ROCKFORD
at that time, the terminal of the Chicago & Gal-
ena railway. When the railway was extended
across the river in 1853 they removed the yard
to the West side, where they did business until
1856, when they sold out to Mr. Freeman.
In November, 1856, Mr. Lake visited his
old home, returning to Rockford in February,
1857, and engaged in the lumber business again
on the corner of Third and State streets, where
he did business until 1859, when he sold out to
Cook & Bro. In 1863 he formed a partnership
with Henry Fisher on the West side, and carried
on the lumber business until 1867, when he
again sold out and re-visited England, extending
his journey to Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy,
Switzerland and Germany, returning to Rock-
ford in the fall. In 1868 he formed a five-year
partnership with Seely Perry, which was termi-
nated in 1874, after which he spent three years
in Europe. He visited California in 1885.
He was vice president of the Rockford Fire
Insurance Co. from 1866 to 1886, when he was
made president.
In 1873 he was elected an alderman from
the Second ward, and served continuously for
ten years, a part of this time he was also its
supervisor.
In 1877 he was the chairman of the Board
of Education.
He was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge
of the I. O. O. F. and Representative to the
Sovereign Grand Lodge of the United States
for six consecutive years.
Mr. Lake was married to Miss Almeda M.
Danley, daughter of Cornelius and Sarah Dan-
ley, of Harlem, Illinois, October 11, 1849.
Seven children were born to them, but three
died in infancy.
The family residence is at No. 2211 East
State street.
HORACE BROWN.
Horace Brown was born in Springfield, Wind-
sor county, Vermont, June 24, 1824. He is a
descendant, on his father's side, of one of our
oldest American families which traces its line-
age to Edward Brown, who was born in 1591,
in Horton, Kenby county, Kent, England, and
who came to America, arriving February 17,
1634, on the ship Hopewell from London, Eng-
land, and settled in Ipswich, Mass.
The grandfather of our subject, Elisha Brown,
was born in Ipswich, Mass., January 7, 1748,
and removed to Hingham, Mass., where he mar-
ried Merriel Bates, and settled in Winchendon,
Mass., in 1773. He was a patriot of the Rev-
olutionary War, and participated in the battle of
Bunker Hill. He removed to Springfield, Ver-
mont, in 1778, where the father of our subject,
, HORACE BROWN.
Jonathan Brown, was born October 5, 1796.
His mother, Hannah Stocker Brown, was of
English and Scotch descent, whose father was a
soldier in the war of the Revolution, and partici-
pated in the battle of Bunker Hill and at York-
town, when Cornwallis surrendered. His
great grandfather Bates was killed at the battle
of Bunker Hill.
Horace Brown was educated in the schools
of his native county. He assisted upon his
father's farm until twenty years of age when he
engaged to work one season for William Thayer,
whose daughter, Mary A., he afterward married.
In 1845 he engaged in the manufacture of
floor oil cloth in Lansingburgh, N. Y., where he
remained until 1850, when he came to Illinois,
ROCKFORD
95
arriving in Rockford May 12th. The popula-
tion of the township at that time was about 1 ,800.
He purchased a farm in New Milford town-
ship which he leased, and returned to his home
in the east where he was married September
12. 1850, to Miss Mary A. Thayer, who was
born February 16, 1827, and immediately re-
turned to Rockford.
The following spring he returned to Lansing-
burgh, where he worked in the oil cloth factory
until June, 1853, when he again returned to
Rockford and traded his farm for West side
property, and engaged in the livery business in
partnership with W. G. Reynolds. After two
years of successful business he sold out his in-
terest and returned to his native town, where he
engaged in several lines of business. In the
spring of 1859 he again returned to Rockford,
where he has since resided on what is known as
Park Ridge, on the East side of the river. The
home is one of the most beautifully located in
the city.
Mr. Brown is a charter member of the Rock-
ford National Bank, and has served as its vice
president since its organization in 1871. He
was also a charter member of the Forest City
Insurance Co., and has served as a member of
its board of directors and as treasurer and vice
president. He was elected president of the
Skandia Furniture Co. upon its organization.
He also served as director and president of the
Insurance Company of the State of Illinois dur-
ing the first years of its business. Upon the
death of Gilbert Woodruff he was elected presi-
dent of the Rockford National Bank
William Thayer Brown, only son of Horace
and Mary Brown, was born in Rockford, Illinois,
March 2, 1854. is a member of the firm of A.
G. Spaulding & Bros. He resides in East
Orange, N. Y. His office is at 126 Nassau
street, New York. He married Miss Mary L.
Spaulding, August 24, 1875, who was born Oc-
tober 23, 1854, and has four children, Horace
S., Harriet Irene, William Thayer, Jr., and
Elizabeth.
Alice C. was born March 26 1856. She
married D. H. Ferguson, of Denver, Colorado,
and had one son, Donald Brown Ferguson. She
died March 23, 1890. Carrie A. was born July
27, 1860, and died April 10, 1885.
JOHN DEXTER WATERMAN
was born in Decatur, Otsego county, New York,
December 27, 1846, and is a son of Hamilton
and Mary Waterman.
When sixteen years of age, he became a
JOHN DEXTER WATERMAN.
clerk in a general store, at Worcester, New
York, Eighteen months later he entered the
United States Naval service and served on Ad-
miral Porter's flagship during the last year of
the civil war. At the close of the war he came
to Rockford and engaged in railroading and man-
ufacturing interest/ He served as Rockford's
postmaster under both Cleveland administrations.
He organized the Forest City National Bank
and was made its president, which office he still
holds. Although this bank is one of the youngest
in the city, its business and reliability ranks sec-
ond to none.
Mr. Waterman married Miss Emma J.
Wolford, of Cohoes, New York, in 1871. The
family residence is at No. 754 North Church
street.
9 6
ROCKFORD
HON. E. W. BROWN.
The subject of this sketch is a son of the
late Judge William Brown, and was born in
Rockford. August 8, 1857, which city has since
been his home. There is no other resident of
Rockford today, whose life and development has
been so much an integral part of the city's growth
and vital interests as that of Mr. Brown. Here
is where he received his education, in the city
HON. E. W. BROWN.
schools, and developed business abilities which
are rarely attained by the most astute in business
matters. For a time he attended the school at
Mt. Morris, but was obliged to give up study on
account of the strain upon his eyes and entered
an active business life.
He was a member of the firm of Brown &
Eckstine Drug Co. .which did a prosperous busi-
ness for five years, the volume of business reach-
ing as high as $60,000.00 per year. After dis-
posing of his interests in the drug business he
entered the wholesale oil business. He secured
a contract with the Standard Oil Co. by which
he was able to get oil on the best possible terms
and to supply many surrounding towns with this
product. He built the first oil-tank in Rockford,
and equipped himself thoroughly for doing a large
business. His success in this business is meas-
ured by the fact, that he did a cash business
amounting to $30,000.00 in six months on a
capital of $3,000.00, when he sold his oil busi-
ness to John R. Porter & Co.
In 1884 the Illinois Central Railroad Com-
pany was planning to build an air line from Chi-
cago to Freeport, and in their survey decided to
build leaving out Rockford and locate their line
east of New Milford, crossing the river at Hois-
ington Rocks below Rockford.
Judge Brown, who was personally acquainted
with Mr. E. T. Jeffries, general manager of the
Illinois Central, and Stuyvesant Fish, president
of the road, made it a personal matter to see
that Mr. Jeffries came to Rockford to look the
city over prior to a final settlement upon the
location of the line. Mr. Jeffries visited Rock-
ford with Isaiah Randolph, chief engineer of the
road, and was entertained at Judge Brown's
home. They met with a number of prominent
manufacturers, including Ralph Emerson, W. A.
Talcott, John P. Manny, H. W. Price and Gil-
bert Woodruff, and that night Mr. Jeffries deci-
ded to build into Rockford.
The services of Mr. Brown were secured,
and he at once proceeded to obtain a right of
way for the new line. Active operations in pro-
moting this valuable enterprise for the city of
Rockford were instituted on the first day of No-
vember, 1884.
Mr. Brown was constituted the first agent of
the company in this city, which position he still
holds. His thorough business ability is recog-
nized by the company, and his advice is sought
after in important matters, and his judgment is
implicitly relied upon.
There is doubtless no other agent in the ser-
vice of the company that has so great an influ-
ence in the conduct of its business as does Mr.
Brown. Through his effort, sagacity, and busi-
ness tact, a small business in 1884, has grown
until it exceeds that of any other railway inter-
est in the city to-day in its property investments
and volume of business. The company now
owns a frontage of 800 feet on South Main
street, and a yardage three-quarters of a mile in
length free from grade crossings. Its passenger
ROCKFORD
97
and freight buildings are the finest in the city.
Its freight business now averages eighty cars per
day and its passenger business is large. Forty
people are given employment in the various de-
partments of the company's business in the city.
In 1885, Mr. Brown was elected an alder-
man from the old Second ward for seven years.
His work in the council demonstrated the fact
that he was admirably fitted to preside at the
head of the city's affairs, and in 1895 he was
elected mayor. This honor was conferred upon
him again in 1897 and 1899. After a continu-
ous service of six years as mayor of the city,
Mr. Brown felt that his railway and private busi-
ness imperatively called for so much of his time
that he could not possibly give the attention to
the duties imposed upon the mayor and declined
further service in this office. In 1903, great
pressure was brought to bear upon him to secure
his consent to a re-election, but for the reasons
above stated, he steadfastly declined the honor.
During Mayor Brown's administration, many
of Rockford's most valuable permanent improve-
ments were made, Through his effort and
recommendation the present system of water
supply was instituted in 1897, and was put into
effective operation by Mr. D. W. Mead, at a
cost of $50.000,00 and affords a supply of
7,000,000, gallons of water daily. The water
works park was a product of the general im-
provements instituted. The present system of
macadamizing was instituted, which is doubtless
the most economical and the best in the world.
As a result of this system, Rockford now enjoys
the use of more than forty miles of macadam-
ized streets. The fire department was provided
with more efficient means for doing effective
service. Mayor Brown's appointees to the var-
ious city offices were men eminently fitted for
the position they occupied.
A review of Mayor Brown's several annual
messages to the council, demonstrates a deter-
mination to adhear to a rigid economy in the
expenditure of the city funds, a just and exact
enforcement of the laws, and together with the
co-operation of the council to so administer the
city government as to insure stable progress and
permanent good.
Mr. Brown married Miss Lizzie A. White, a
daughter of Joshua White, a prominent citizen
and large land owner of Stillman Valley, Illinois,
and has three children. The family residence
is at No. 312 South Third street.
CHARLES SABIN
Was born at Pomfret, Conn., in 1823, and was
educated in the public and private schools of
New England. He came to Rockford in 1854,
CHARLES SABIN.
where he has since resided. Mr. Sabin engaged
in the drug business shortly after his arrival here,
and, when he retired in 1893, was the oldest
druggist, with reference to number of years en-
gaged, in this city. His business career was one
of integrity and honor, and was marked with
that success to which such a career is justly -en-
titled. He was recently the honored guest of
his friends and associates in business at a ban-
quet given at the Nelson, which occasion was
greatly enjoyed by all those participating. Mr.
Sabin was married in New Hampshire, in 1846.
His present residence is No. 835 North Church
street, where he has resided during the last forty
years in the same house. This house is now
in the central part of the city, but, when first
occupied by Mr. Sabin, was quite out in the
ROCKFORD
country. During his business career here, he
has seen the place grow from the habiliments of
a hamlet to those of a magnificent city, and his
life has been an integral part of this growth.
Indeed the city owes its prosperity and substan-
tial growth to the integrity and business energy
of such of its solid business men as Mr. Sabin
has proved himself to be. He is entitled to the
laudation of his fellowmen and to the rest he
now enjoys.
LOREN L. MORRISON
Was born at Hebron, Jefferson county, Wiscon-
sin, November 18, 1852, and was educated in
the public schools of Sherburne, Woodstock and
Hartland, Vermont. He was a student at the
Worcester Academy. Worcester, Massachusetts'
and at Waterville Classical Institute, Waterville,
Maine, and was graduated in the classical course
from Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, June 26,
1879. During the first four years after gradua-
tion he occupied the position of Principal of the
graded and high schools of Lyndon, Whiteside
county, Illinois, and at the same time gave his
attention to the study of law under the direction
of the Hon. John G. Manahan, of the firm of
Manahan & Ward, of Sterling, Illinois, and later
continued his legal studies with the firm of
Staples & Goulding of Worcester, Mass.
He came to Rockford June 12, 1883, where
he has since resided.
Shortly after his arrival here he was admit-
ted to the bar, and has since given his attention
to general law practice, devoting considerable
attention to practice in the United States courts
and patent cases.
Mr. Morrison has served the city as police
magistrate during the last sixteen years, and
the administration of the office has been emi-
nently satisfactory to the people.
Socially he is connected with the Masonic
order, having been made a Mason in 1 889, join-
ing Rockford Lodge No. 102. He has taken
the Scottish Rite degrees up to and including
the thirty-second, his membership being with
Freeport Consistory. He is also a member of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the
Knights of Pythias, and the Royal League, of
which he is past supreme vice archon.
Judge Morrison was married to Miss Mary
Louise Ball of Holden, Massachusetss, June 19,
1882, and has three children.
Mr. and Mrs. Morrison are members of the
State Street Baptist Church.
Politically, Judge Morrison is a staunch
Republican.
HON. ROBERT H, TINKER
Is a son of Rev. and Mrs. Reuben Tinker, and
was born at Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, (now
the Republic of Hawaii) December 31, 1836,
and came to Rockford in 1856. He has been
identified prominently in the manufacturing in-
terests and substantial growth of Rockford, and
is largely interested in the water-power, the
source of Rockford's wealth and prosperity. He
was promotor and president of the Chicago,
Rockford & Northern Railway Co., which road
is now merged in the Burlington system, has
served as mayor of the city, (1875-6), presi-
dent of the Rockford Water Power Co., and
of the Rockford Bolt works, and is connected
officially with many other Rockford industries.
Mr. Tinker is a connoisseur in art work and his
aesthetic taste is conspicuously shown in and
about his beautiful home. Nature has done
much to make this spot romantic, and Mr.
Tinker has so harmonized his improvements
with the imprints of nature that the place is a
"thing of beauty and a joy forever." In the
home is a large collection of curio, obtained by
Mr. Tinker in his foreign travels. It also con-
tains a library, unique in construction and filled
with rare and costly volumes.
In 1870, Mr. Tinker was married to Mrs.
Mary Manny, the widow of John H. Manny, the
noted inventor and manufacturer of harvesting
machines. His inventions paved the way for
much of Rockford's wonderful growth and suc-
cess. Later on, Mr. and Mrs. Tinker disposed
of the beautiful Manny home on South Main
street and made their permanent residence in
the Swiss cottage, where, after years of happy
wedded life, Mrs. Tinker was called home, leav-
ing a devoted husband and a host of friends to
mourn her loss. Mr. Tinker's skill and aesthe-
tic taste will be called into service in the beau-
tifying of the public Library and Memorial hall
grounds.
ROCKFORD
99
COLONEL WILLIAM NELSON.
Col. William Nelson was born at Sycamore,
.llinois, October 29, 1857, and was educated
in the city schools and high school of Rockford.
He entered a business career while young, in
which he has attained eminent success, and
now holds prominent official and executive
positions in several of Rockford's most sub-
stantial institutions.
Col. Nelson and brothers erected the beauti-
ful Hotel Nelson as a memorial to their father,
the inventor of the Nelson Knitting Machine,
and founder of the Nelson Knitting Company.
The Nelson is a popular hostelry, and its
parlors are utilized for the purpose of holding
elaborate social functions and political commit-
tee meetings.
Mr. Nelson is president of the Nelson Hotel
Company, vice-president of the Forest City
Knitting Company, vice-president of B. F.
COLONEL WILLIAM NELSON.
Barnes & Company, and director in the Nelson
Knitting Company.
Socially, he is a member of the Freeport
Consistory, Shriner Tebala Temple, Rockford.
and Knight Templar Crusader Commandery, of
Rockford, and the Elks.
He was appointed as one of the Governor's
aids, with rank as colonel, January 28, 1901.
Colonel Nelson was married to Miss Lizzie
Olson of Rockford, October 6, 1888, and has
five children, Loiza, Elsie, William Jr., Hilding
and Dorothea.
The family residence is at No. 737 North
Main street.
WILLIAM F. WOODRUFF
Was born at Dubuque, Iowa, in 1858, and came
to Rockford with his parents in 1859, where he
has since resided. He was educated in the city
schools and the Rockford Business College.
WILLIAM F. WOODRUFF.
When eighteen years of age he entered the
Rockford National Bank as messenger, and was
elected to the position of assistant cashier of
the bank January 11, 1881. In January, 1888,
he was elected cashier, which position he still
holds. The bank, with which he has been iden-
tified for so many years, is one of the strongest
and most reliable financial institutions in the
state. Its capital is $100,000.00, and has a
surplus of the same amount.
Mr. Woodruff has been instrumental in the
development of many of Rockford's most im-
1OO
ROCKFORD
portant improvements. Seventh street, one of
the finest business streets in the city, owes its
success largely to the efforts and financial aid
of Mr. Woodruff. The railway system found a
friend in Mr. Woodruff, and its success and per-
petuity are due to his timely aid. He is a large
real estate owner, and devotes much time and
money in its improvement for the beautifying of
the city and the good of its citizens.
Mr. Woodruff is a director and treasurer of
the Rockford and Interurban Railway and the
Rockford and Freeport line. He is a director
and treasurer of the Insurance Company of the
State of Illinois and assisted in its organization.
He is the vice president and director of the
Forest City Furniture Company, treasurer of the
Central Heat and Power Company, director in
the Hixon Map Company, and treasurer of the
Country club.
He was elected to the office of city treas-
urer in 1 893 and served two years and was again
elected to this office in 1903.
He was elected to the presidency of the
Forest City Land and Lumber Company in 1903.
The company owns 10,000 acres of timber land
in the Yazoo Valley, in Mississippi, and is now
erecting a mill at Woodruff, named in honor of
Mr. Woodruff. The principal office of the com-
pany is in Rookford.
Mr. Woodruff married Miss Lizzie C. Cot-
ton, of Rockford, and resides at No. 515 North
Main street.
HON. FREDERICK HAINES
Is a son of Anthony and Adaline (Rowse) Haines,
who settled in Rockford in 1 854. His father was
a native of Marietta, Pa., and his mother of
Bucyrus, Ohio, who were married in 1853.
Anthony Haines was engaged in the grain busi-
ness in Rockford for many years, and carried on
an important manufacturing plant for several
years. He was a member of the county board
of supervisors for eighteen years, and represented
the First ward in the city council in 1863 and
1864.
The subject of this sketch was born in Rock-
ford, August 30, 1863, and was educated in the
city schools, graduating from the High School
in the class of 79.
He first engaged in business with J. McDer-
maid in the coal trade with whom he remained
one year. He assisted in the organization of
the Rockford Street Railway Co., and was its
superintendent until the plant was changed to
electric power. He then spent two years with
the Rockford Construction Co.
In 1900 he was elected to the important
position of treasurer of the Forest City Insur-
ance Co., which position he now holds. This
company's business ranks with the foremost
companies of the country and is widely and
favorably known.
In the political campaign of 1902 Mr. Haines
was nominated on the Republican ticket as a
candidate for representative in the State legisla-
f
HON. FREDERICK HAINES.
ture, and was elected by a large majority. At
the session of 1903 he was placed on several
important committees, and his services were
most acceptable to his constituency.
Socially, he is a Mason, K. of P., and Elk.
Mr. Haines was married to Miss Minnie
Bushnell, of Sterling, in 1887, and has one son.
The family residence is at No. 620 East
State street.
ROCKFORD
101
RUSSELL BROUGHTON. M. D.,
Was born in Racine, Wisconsin, May 16, 1842.
His parents, John and Amanda Broughton, re-
moved from Hoosick Falls, New York, by horse
team, in 1841 , to Albany township, Green county,
RUSSELL BROUGHTON, M. D
Wisconsin, where they entered a quarter section
of government land. His father died upon the
farm in 1896. His mother is still living.
Dr. Broughton attended Milton College at
Milton, Wisconsin, and Bryant & Stratton's
Commercial College at Milwaukee. He grad-
uated from Rush Medical College in 1869, and
practiced medicine at Brodhead, Wisconsin,
twenty-one years. He was in charge of all
opium and other drug patients for nine and one-
half years at the Keeley Institute, at Dwight,
Illinois.
Two years ago he opened a Sanitarium in
Rockford, where he gives special treatment in
nervous and drug cases. The Sanitarium is
beautifully located , and is a quiet retreat for those
desiring medical attention for such ailments.
Socially, Dr. Broughton is a member of
Bicknell Lodge No. 91, A. F. & A. M., Brod-
head, Wisconsin ; Evansville Chapter, No. 35,
R. A. Masons, Evansville, Wisconsin ; a char-
ter member of the W. W. Patton Post No. 90,
Brodhead, Wisconsin, a member of the Wis-
consin Medical Society since 1877, and of the
American Medical Association.
He resides at the Sanitarium.
Dr. Broughton was married to Miss Julia
A., daughter of the late Hon. Daniel Smiley of
Albany, Wisconsin, in 1869, and has two sons,
William S., who is a medical student at Wash-
ington, D. C., and James R., in the employ of a
large electrial power plant company at Provo,
Utah.
HON. HENRY ANDRUS
Is a native of Illinois, having been born on a
farm in the town of Harlem, Winnebago county,
November 4, 1844, and was educated in the
public schools. He resided on the farm until
HON. HENRY ANDRUS.
his marriage to Miss Jennie Love in 1868,
when he removed to a farm in the township of
Pecatonica, where he resided six years. He
then removed to a farm in the township of Cherry
Valley, where he remained until his removal to
Rockford about five years ago.
Mr. Andrus served as the supervisor of the
town of Cherry Valley for nineteen consecutive
102
ROCKFORD
years, and during that time he was honored by
the Board of Supervisors by being made its
chairman for seven consecutive years, a distinc-
tion not attained by any of his contemporaries.
He was elected to the lower house of the
State legislature in 1896 and re-elected in 1898.
In 1900 he was elected to the upper house, and
still represents the Tenth Senatorial district as
its senator.
Socially, Mr. Andrus is a thirty-second de-
gree Mason, member of the Order of Elks and
a Modern Woodman. He is married and has
two children living, a daughter, Mrs. Edith Scott,
who resides on the farm in Cherry Valley, and
a son, Dr. S. C. Andrus, a practicing physician
of this city. The father and mother of Mr. An-
drus are still living and reside with their daugh-
ter. Mrs. J. A. Atwood, at Stillman Valley.
Mr. Andrus has a brother who resides at
Mason City, Iowa.
The present home of Mr. Andrus is at 624
North street in this city.
Among the more important measures, for
which Senator Andrus is entitled to credit in
securing enactment into law, is the enabling act,
which gave the people of Winnebago county the
right and privilege of voting for an appropriation,
by the Board of Supervisors, of a sum of money
for the building of the Memorial Hall in memory
of the soldiers and sailors of Winnebago county.
He also rendered conspicuous service in
securing the enactment of the measure provid-
ing for the building of the monument at Still-
man Valley. Also several measures in the
interests of public libraries.
Hon. John Lake, attending school at the old East
side high school. Professor Freeman, who was
then principal, placed him in the Intermediate
ROBERT REW
Was born in England in 1855. When eight
years old he was set to work on a farm, receiv-
ing as wages four cents a day, continuing until
in his twelfth year, during which time his wages
were annually raised until they reached thirteen
cents a day.
At that time there were no free public schools
in England, and young Rew acquired the first
rudiments of education at night school and Sun-
day school.
In 1867 he came to Rockford, where he has
since resided. He first lived in the family of
ROBERT REW.
department, but so well did he apply himself to
his studies that he reached the high school in
three years, about half the time usually required.
In 1871 he engaged with Mr. Reuben
Sovereign on the latter's farm, just east of the
city, for twelve dollars a month and board.
After working about five months he returned to
Rockford, determined to continue his course in
school. Out of his wages he had saved forty-
four dollars, and obtaining a place at the home
of the late Hon. John Early, doing chores for
his board, he succeeded after much self-denial
and privation, not only in getting through another
year of school, but in actually saving out of his
forty-four dollars, sixteen dollars.
In the summer vacation he hired out for two
months to work for Mr. Joshua White on his
farm at Stillman Valley, for thirty dollars a
month and board. At the end of two months,
with $59.75 the young man returned to Rock-
ford, again staying at Mr. Early 's, doing chores
for his board, and attending school, graduating
the same year, 1873, valedictorian of his class.
During the summer vacation he again went to
ROCKFORD
103
work in the harvest field at thirty dollars a
month and board. After working two months
with the sixty dollars earned, Mr. Rew went to
the Northwestern University, at Evanston.
After paying a term's tuition, a month's board
and buying text books, his money was all spent.
Obtaining work at digging cellars and unloading
vessels at the wharf, he succeeded in earning
enough money to pay his way through the first
year in college.
Returning to Rockford in the fall he taught
a district school during the winter, at the same
time keeping up with his class in the University,
and by dint of hard work, hard study and much
privation, succeeded in completing three years
of the college course. At the end of the third
year he came back to Rockford in July with
only fifty cents in money left.
The first thing necessary was to find some
work, and on East State street he found a cord
of wood to be sawed. Borrowing a buck and
saw the young man went vigorously to work.
While at work the late Judge William Brown
passed by, and requested Mr. Rew, after he had
finished his job, to come and stay at his home
for the rest of the summer and tutor "Eddie,"
"Frankie" and "May," as the Judge lovingly
called them.
The Judge had scarcely gone out of sight
when the late J. T. Miller, for a long time
assessor of the town of Rockford, and then a
member of the school board of the city of Rock-
ford, came by and after a short conversation
hired Mr. Rew to teach in the Second Gram-
mar School of East Rockford. The wages were
$450 per year for ten months' work. The first
year there was an assistant teacher, but the
second year Mr. Rew contracted to do all the
work for $600 a year. The four following years
Mr. Rew taught in the schools of Rockford, in
the high school on the East Side, under the late
Professor Freeman, and in the high school on
the West Side, under Professor Blodgett. Among
his pupils were the Hon. Charles W. Ferguson,
Hon. Frank S. Regan, Mr. Frank Brown, Hon.
Wm. C. Butterworth, Mr. Hosmer Porter, Mr.
Samuel Stanley, Mr. Charles Porter, and many
other well known citizens.
He not only taught in the schools, but as
tutor of Latin and mathematics after school
hours, prepared pupils for entrance to the uni-
versities. Among those whom he so tutored
are Mrs. Stanwood, formerly Miss Louisa
Brockway, Miss Julia Lathrop and Mrs. Fred
Thompson.
In 1879 Mr. Rew was united in marriage to
Miss Nellie T. Goodwin, daughter of the late
Dr. A. E. Goodwin.
While teaching he studied law nights, and
in 1882 was admitted to the bar. The following
spring he was elected Justice of the Peace to
complete the term of the late Justice Works.
When the first public sewer was laid in
Rockford, the commissioners appointed to
assess the cost were the late Hon. Thomas
Butterworth, the late J. T. Miller and Mr. Rew.
This was the Church street sewer. Every
property owner but one filed objections, and
every lawyer at the then Rockford bar appeared
to contest the assessment, but the assessment
stood. The same commissioners also made
the assessment for the Market street sewer. In
1885 Mr. Rew was appointed, with the late
Mayor N. C. Warner, to revise the city
ordinances.
Mr. Rew has a large law practice, especially
in the handling of estates. He has traveled
quite a little, having been to Europe twice, and
all over the United States and the British
possessions in North America.
H. C. SCOVILL.
The parents of the subject of this sketch,
were natives of Connecticut, but removed to
Oneida county, New York in 1816. H. C.
Scovill was born in Oswego county, New York,
and was educated in the public schools. He
spent his boyhood days upon the farm. He came
to Illinois in 1 853 and settled in Ogle county,
where he still worked at farming. He was a
student at the Mount Morris Seminary. In Aug.
1862, he enlisted as a private in Co. K, 92nd
Illinois Infantry. He was made a second lieu-
tenant of his company and afterward promoted
to first lieutenant and captain. His regiment
was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland.
The regiment was afterward ordered mounted
by General Rosecrans and to be equipped with
Spencer rifles. This was done and the regi-
IO4
ROCKFORD
ment then joined General Wilder's Lightning
Brigade of mounted infantry. Captain Scovill
was captured April 23, 1864, while on picket
duty, near Tunnel Hill, Gsorgia, and remained
a prisoner ten months at Macon, and Atlanta.
H. c. SCOVILL.
Georgia; Charleston and Columbia, South Caro-
lina; and Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina.
He was exchanged at Wilmington, North. Caro-
lina, March 1, 1865. He rejoined his regiment
at Concord, North Carolina, and, with the regi-
ment, was mustered out of service at that place,
June 21, 1865. The following September, he
came to Rockford and engaged in the lumber
business until 1896. Hewas a member of the
board of supervisors five years. He represented
the Second ward as an alderman in the council
from 1878 to 1886, and in 1887, was elected
mayor, which position he held two years. In
1897 he was elected city clerk, which office he
still holds. Captain Scovill was married in
Rockford to Miss Rosa Zoller in 1872, and has
two children, Gertrude, who is Mrs.W. W. Ben-
nett, and Charles, who is ticket agent at the Illi-
nois Central office in Rockford. He resides at
617 Seminary street.
SAMUEL H. RECK.
Samel H. Reck was born in Rochester, Pa.,
December 14, 1866, and was educated at
Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois, where
he took his degree in 1886. He was graduated
from the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Phil-
adelphia, in 1890, and from the law department
of the Northwestern University in 1895.
He was the founder of St. Mark's English
Lutheran church in Boston, Mass., 1890-93,
which is the first institution of the kind in that
city.
Mr. Reck practiced law in Chicago and
Rockford from 1895 to 1899. He is one of
SAMUEL H. RECK.
the organizers of the manufacturing company,
B. F. Barnes Company, of Rockford.
Mr. Reck entered the employ of the Equitable
Life Assurance Society of the United States in
April, 1902, and has been the general agent of
the Rockford district since January, 1903. The
offices are at Nos. 312 and 314 West State
street, Rockford, Illinois.
Mr. Reck married Miss Anna C., only
daughter of John Nelson of Rockford, 111., June
29, 1892, and has three sons.
ROC K FO R D
105
Socially he is a member of the Masonic
order and the K. of P.
The family residence is at No. 906 Sem-
inary street.
WILLIAM KNAPP.
William Knapp was born in Eldred, McKane
county. Pa., April 23. 1839, and was educated
in the public schools of his native town, also at
the academy of Olean, N. Y.
WILLIAM KNAPP.
He removed to Winnebago county, Illinois,
in November, 1854, and located in the town of
Burritt, and paid his first taxes in this state in
1850. He was a pioneer in the well drilling
business in which he was very successful, both
practically and financially He followed this
business for about fifteen years, during which
time he acquired several farms at the price of
about fifteen dollars an acre, which he was able
to sell later on for seventy-five dollars per acre.
Mr. Knapp served as town clerk for ten years
and was then elected town supervisor which
office he held from 1879 to 1888.
In 1888 he removed to the city of Rockford
and was here again elected to the office of sup-
ervisor in which capacity he has since served
continuously, with the exception of about three
years. His service as supervisor covers a
period of about twenty- four years, during a con-
siderable portion of which time he has been
the purchasing agent for the county, rendering
most acceptable service.
He served as a director of the Forest City
bank for several years. He was elected to the
city council as an alderman from the first ward
in 1895 and served two years.
Mr. Knapf. engaged in the real estate busi-
ness in 1886, in which he has met with marked
success. His son, C. H. Knapp, joined him in
this business, under the firm name of Wm. and
C. H. Knapp, which was later changed to
Knapp, Barnes & Co.. at which time Wm H.
Barnes came into the firm. The firm has a
fine office at the corner of State and Main
streets, on the ground floor of the Second
National Bank building, and is one of the lead-
ing and most reliable real estate firms in this
section of country. The firm buys and sells
houses and lots, and farms, and also writes
insurance. The motto of the firm is "Small
margins and quick sales," The loaning of
money is one of the principal features of this
business.
Mr. Knapp has been a member of Star in
the East Masonic lodge for many years, and is
a Modern Woodman.
Mr. Knapp was married to Miss Martha
Scott of Burritt, in 1 864, and has seven children,
one of whom, Charles H,. is married. The
family resides at 1506 East State street, which
has been the family home since 1870.
FRED E. STERLING.
Was born at Dixon, 111., June 29, 1869, being
the third son of Edward and Irene Bivins
Sterling, early settlers of that section. The first
ten years of his boyhood were spent in Dixon,
where he attended the public schools until 1880,
when his parents moved to Huron, S. D., and
settled on a farm near that place. They were
among the pioneers of Central Dakota (then a
territory), the subject of this sketch assisting
his father and brothers in developing one of the
first farms in Beadle county. He attended the
public schools at Huron during the winter terms
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ROCKFORD
and worked on his father's farm during the
summer until the age of fourteen years, when
he entered newspaper work with the Huron
FRED E. STERLING.
Daily Times, which avocation he has since
followed, until within the past two years.
Mr. Sterling, in his boyhood, was constantly
thrown in with men of much more mature years
than himself, socially, politically and in a busi-
ness way, in the development of the Territory
and thus acquired a knowledge which the schools
could not give him and which has proved useful
in the years since. On the promotion of Judge
Louis K. Church of Huron, to the Governorship
of Dakota, Mr. Sterling, who in spite of his
youth had been his close friend and companion,
was appointed to the position of assistant com-
missioner of immigration, in which capacity he
had much to do with the preparation and dis-
tribution of literature and statistics extolling the
wonders of the Territory, resulting in its rapid
settlement by home-seekers from the eastern
states. Near the close of his term of office he
resigned this position to accept the management
of the Dakota edition of the St. Paul Daily
Globe, a supplement issued with the daily each
Saturday and devoted to the interests of the
Territory. In 1890 he came to Rockford to
accept the city editorship of the Morning Star,
which paper he served for a year and left to take
a similar position with the Register-Gazette on
the consolidation of the two afternoon news-
papers. In the service of the latter he continued
for nine years when he resigned to take up a
different line of work. During that period he
also served as the special Rockford correspond-
ent of the Associated Press, Inter-Ocean, Times-
Herald, Evening Post, Globe- Democrat and
other metropolitan papers.
Ever since he became a resident of Rock-
ford Mr. Sterling has taken an active, aggressive
part in the political, social and business life of
the city and lent his hearty assistance to every
movement looking to its progress, welfare and
up-building. He enjoys the honor and distinc-
tion of having been the youngest man ever
elected in Rockford as a member of the City
Council, being chosen to succeed Alderman
Sturtevant of the third ward. He continued to
represent that ward as an alderman for eight
years, until the spring of 1903, when he declined
a unanimous caucus renomination because of
other conflicting duties. He was recognized as
one of the leaders of the council, a fine parlia-
mentarian and ready debater. During his term
of office he served either as chairman or a
member of the most important council com-
mittees, was for three years secretary of the
board of local improvements, and secured for
his ward many needed improvements, including
the new Blake school building. On his retire-
ment from the council he was presented by his
friends with a very handsome diamond ring.
Mr. Sterling is a stanch republican and has
taken an active part in county and state politics,
serving as a delegate from Winnebago county
in every state convention for half a dozen years
past. He is now serving his third term as
secretary of the Winnebago County Republican
Central Committee, and during the presidential
and gubernatorial campaign of 1900 was secre-
tary and manager of the Press Bureau conducted
by the Republican State Central Committee in
Chicago, supplying party literature and statistics
to the country press.
In 1901 he was appointed by Gov. Richard
Yates as land commissioner of the Illinois &
Michigan Canal, and during the legislative ses-
ROCKFORD
107
sion of 1903 served as assistant secretary to the
Chief Executive at Springfield. He enjoys an
extensive acquaintance with and the friendship
of a host of prominent citizens and politicians
throughout the state.
In February, 1901 , Mr. Sterling was appoint-
ed receiver of the Manufacturers' & Merchants'
Mutual Insurance Company of Rockford, by the
Circuit Court. He made an enviable record
for himself in winding up the affairs of this
company, paying all loss claims in full and
securing his final discharge within two years
from the date of his appointment, a feat never
before accomplished by the receiver of a mutual
insurance company in the United States.
He is a member of the Elks, Knights of
Pythias, Royal League, Modern Woodmen and
Home Fraternal League.
On October 1, 1903, Mr. Sterling purchased
an interest in The Register-Gazette, of which
paper he is the editor.
On December 17, 1891, Mr. Sterling was
married to Miss Anna C. Parmele and two
children have blessed the union, Arthur and
Olive. His home is at 110 West street.
R. H. SHUMWAY.
R. H. Shumway was born in New Milford,
Illinois, July 26, 1842, and was educated in the
public schools. His boyhood days were spent
upon the farm and there is where he acquired
the knowledge requisite to the success of his
present business. In 1871 he began to realize
the importance of the production of thoroughly
good seed as the best means of success to the
farmer and gardner, and gave special attention
to their development. By close attention to
business and economical investment he has
made a grand success of his undertaking and
has acquired a large competence, valued at
about a million of dollars.
His customers reside in every state and
territory in the Union, and for the last several
years have numbered 100,000 annually. Dur-
ing the busy season he employs from seventy-five
to eighty people. He employs no traveling
salesmen, but advertises his business by means
of catalogues and agricultural papers. It requires
two carloads of paper for each edition of his
catalogues, and these are sent direct to the
planters. The Rockford postoffice receives a
large business and revenue from the Shumway
seed business.
Mr. Shumway removed from New Milford
to Rcckford in 1873, and resides at No. 325
R. H. SHUMWAY.
South First street. His warehouse is at Nos.
118, 120 and 122 South First street. Mrs.
Shumway died in 1899. Five children are
now living.
Mr. Shumway's parents came from Vermont
and settled at the mouth of the Kishwaukee
river in 1836, soon after the Black Hawk war.
His mother, Sallie Greeley, was a cousin to
Horace Greeley, of newspaper fame. The
country was then "the wild and woolly west,"
and infested by the notorious outlaws, called the
Banditti of the Prairie.
P. R. WALKER.
Peleg Remington Walker was born in
Brooklyn, Windham Co., Conn., July 1, 1835.
When four years of age the family removed to
East Brooklyn, now Danielson, where he attend-
ed the district school until twelve years old.
He then worked on the farm summers and at-
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R OC K F O R D
tended school winters. At the age of fifteen he
attended the West Killingly academy during the
fall and winter. In November, 1852, he began
teaching in the North Bigelow district in Hamp-
ton, Conn. The following summer he worked
with his father who was a carpenter and builder.
In the winter of '53 and '54 he taught the South
Parish school in Killingly. At that time he
began preparation for a college course, and at-
tended school the following winter. In the
spring of 1855 he was obliged to forego study
on account of weak eyes, brought on by an
attack of measles.
In April, 1856, he removed with his father's
family to Scott township, Ogle county, Illinois.
During the following fall and winter he taught
a seven months' term of school at Lynville.
The following summer he broke prairie, and
taught the Smith-Woodburn school during the
winter.
His success in teaching was such that he
felt it to be his duty to prepare himself for this
profession and at the close of his school he
entered the Normal University at Bloomington,
111., where he took a full course and such ad-
vanced work as was afforded at that time. He
graduated from the University in June, 1861,
and taught at Dement the following year.
The Civil war being in progress Mr. Walker
felt it to be his duty to enlist in the army in
defense of his country, and on August 12, 1862,
he enlisted as a private in Company K, 92nd
Illinois Volunteers. The regiment was sent to
Camp Fuller where it remained until October
10, 1862, when it left for the front, The regi-
ment was mounted in July, 1863, and supplied
with repeating rifles. He participated in the
advance on Chattanooga, was with Hooker at
Lookout Mountain and saw the battle of Mission
Ridge, and was with Sherman, in Kilpatrick's
cavalry, from Chattanooga to Atlanta on the
march to Savannah. He received a slight
wound when in the advance on Raleigh. He
was promoted to sergeant, first sergeant, lieuten-
ant and had charge of his company during its
last year's service.
Before being discharged from the army, he
was engaged to teach the Dement school, where
he remained eight years. He was then invited
to Rochelle at an advanced salary which he
accepted. After twelve years of successful
work at Rochelle, he was appointed superintend-
ent of the Rockford city schools, to which
position he has received his twentieth appoint-
ment. The schools have made excellent
progress under his supervision and rank among
the best in the state. His report for 1902 will
be found in the school article in this work.
Mr. Walker has been a regular attendant at
the National and State Teachers' Associations.
He served several years as treasurer of the
State Teachers' Association, and in 1890 was
its president. He has been the president of the
Northern Illinois Teachers' Association and a
member of the State Board of Education for
more than twenty years.
Socially he is a member of the G. A. R.
Mr. Walker married Miss Martha E. Webb
of New York, and has one daughter. The
family residence is at No. 716 North Church
street.
WILLIAM WORTH BURSON.
William Worth Burson was born in Pennsyl-
vania and the family removed to McDonough
county, Illinois, in 1842, and to Fulton county
the following year, where his boyhood and
early manhood was passed, thus sharing the
experiences of pioneer life.
For the successful operation of his farm
work, he invented and constructed a self-rake
reaper in 1858, which was the first machine to
regulate the size of the gavel by weight.
Mr. Burson was a pioneer in the invention
of grain binders and obtained a patent on a
twine binder in 1860. This was the first patent
on a machine to make the present grain-binder
knot. He followed this model with two machines,
using wire instead of twine, for the harvest of
1860. These machines were attached to the
reaper and operated by hand. These were first
brought into prominence by being operated at
the great reaper trial at Dixon, Illinois, in the
harvest of 1862.
Emerson & Company contracted to make
one thousand machines for Mr. Burson for the
harvest of 1863, the first one thousand grain
binders ever made He came to Rockford for
ROCKFORD
109
the purpose of carrying out this contract, where
he resided until 1881, when he removed to
Chicago. On account of imperfect workman-
ship, lack of field experts and other adverse
circumstances, these machines were a failure
WILLIAM WORTH BURSON.
financially and the venture disastrous, leaving a
heavy debt upon Mr. Burson, which was not
entirely liquidated until 1901.
In 1866, in company with the late John
Nelson, under the firm name of Burson &. Nelson,
the invention of a family knitting machine was
jointly undertaken. Mr. Nelson was obliged to
give his attention largely to his sash, door and
blind factory for some time, but Mr. Burson
applied himself closely to the business in hand
and after much tedious labor by both, a power
machine was perfected. Upon these machines
patents were issued to Burson and Nelson in
1868-1870 and 1875, and in 1874 one on hose.
On December 25, 1869, the part now known
as the "presser hook" was developed. On July
23d, 1870, the first sock was knit by an auto-
matic machine at Rockford. The socks came
from the machine joined together and were
separated by hand, and the toes closed. This
was the first practical automatic knitting
machine.
In 1872-3 the parallel row machine was
developed. This was the beginning of Rock-
ford's present great knitting industry. These
machines were automatic and closed to toe and
heel, producing a stocking ready to wear, without
hand work. "Rockford Seamless Socks" were
pioneers in seamless hosiery, driving the old line
of goods out of the market.
In 1 878 Mr. Burson, having withdrawn from
active participation with the Burson & Nelson
business, built an automatic grain binding har-
vester, and a knitting machine with a mitten
pattern having a double wrist, with the letters
"Pat'd" knit therein, also a patent office model,
knitting a stocking with narrowed ankle and
fancy top. containing the letter -B," a ribbed
scarf with letters at each end, and a shirt sleeve
with fancy cuff and widening to the body. All
of these articles knit with change of yarn and on
a single pattern.
During 1879 to 1891 he developed a number
of important harvesting inventions which were
purchased by Whitely, Deering, McCormick,
Walter A. Wood, and Milwaukee and Piano
Harvesting Companies.
In 1 89 1 he applied himself again to the per-
fection of, knitting machinery and in 1892
brought one of his machines to Rockford.
These machines were modeled after those of
1878 and their product is being shipped from
Rockford to all parts of the United States.
Mr. Burson has been a tireless inventor, and
has been allowed more than fifty United States
and foreign patents on grain binders, grain and
corn harvesters, automatic knitting machines,
knit fabrics and other lines upon which he has
worked and on which he is still actively engaged.
AMASA HUTCHINS.
Hon. Amasa Hutchins was born in Guilford,
Winnebago county, Illinois, June 1 , 1 843, and
was educated in the public schools.
He was engaged in farming until 1862, when
he enlisted in the Union army and served through
the war.
Mr. Hutchins has been a very successful
politician, having been elected sheriff of the
I 10
ROCKFORD
county and mayor of the city of Rockford twice.
In 1880 he was elected sheriff on the Repub-
lican ticket, and filled the office with credit to
himself and with honor to the county. His term
of office as sheriff was six years.
AMASA HUTCHINS.
In 1887 he engaged in the monument
business, which he successfully carried on for
fourteen years.
His home has been in Rockford since 1880,
and he has had the best interests of the city at
heart, and many of Rockford's most important
improvements are due to his efforts and official
acts. He took a deep interest in the new library
building, and did much toward making the en-
terprise a success.
In 1893 he was elected mayor by a large
majority, and gave the city an excellent admin-
istration. In 1901 he was re-elected to this
office, and during this administration many nota-
ble municipal improvements were made.
He was the builder of the fine steamer
" Illinois," and was thus the pioneer in the nav-
igation of Rock river for pleasure.
Since the building of the Illinois other pleas-
re boats have made their appearance, and
Rockford has become a center for pleasure
seekers from the surrounding country. Captain
John T. Buker is interested with Mr. Hutchins
in the management of the boat, and together
they make a fine success of the business.
Socially, Mr. Hutchins is a member of the
G. A. R., Elks, and K. of G
He was married to Miss Elizabeth Harrod
in 1873, and has three sons and two daughters.
The family residence is at No. 323 Bruce
street.
JOEL B. WHITEHEAD.
The subject of this sketch was born on a
farm near Hillsboro, Illinois, January 31, 1864,
and was educated in the public schools. He
JOEL B. w
was also a student at Beloit College two years.
After leaving Beloit, in 1885, he taught one
term of school in a district northwest of Beloit.
Mr. Whitehead came to Rockford in 1886,
where he has since resided. He began his busi-
ness career here in the office of H. W. Price,
where he remained five years. During the last
twelve or thirteen years he has done a prosper-
ous business in real estate, loans and insurance,
and is a very popular dealer on account of strict
integrity and fair business methods.
ROCKFORD
1 1 1
He has served as a member of the board of
education, two years as a member of the county
board of supervisors from his ward, and was re-
cently re-elected for another term of two years,
a director in the Insurance Company of the
State of Illinois, a director in the Rockford
National Bank, secretary of the Winnebago
County Agricultural Society for nine years,
and a director in the Rockford Chautauqua
Association.
As a supervisor Mr. Whitehead has served
on several of the most important committees,
and exercised a strong influence in preventing the
placing of the Memorial Hall on the Court House
square and the selection of its present site. He
served as the secretary of the Memorial
Hall committee of the board of supervisors for
the construction of the building, the duties of
which were most efficiently discharged.
During his long service as secretary of the
Agricultural Society, he made the annual fair a
success, and was the means of bringing much
business to Rockford.
Mr. Whitehead married Miss Emma A.
Leach, youngest daughter of the late Shepherd
Leach, one of the early pioneers, who came to
Rockford in 1838, in company with David S.
Penfield.
Mr. and Mrs. Whitehead have two children,
Ruth and Loren L., and reside at 848 North
Main street.
AUGUST P. FLOBERG.
One of the most popular, strong and flourish-
ing financial institutions of Rockford is the
Manufacturers' National Bank of which August
P. Floberg is the able and efficient cashier.
He was director and stockholder from this bank's
inception and was one of the organizers of the
same. He is now treasurer and director of the
Mechanics' Furniture Company, which employs
one hundred men, and has a capital of $75,000.
Mr. Floberg was also one of the chief organ-
izers of the Rockford Manufacturing Company
which was formed in 1889, with a capital stock
of $200,000, employing one hundred employes,
and is treasurer of the same. He is director
and treasurer of the Forest City Bit & Tool
Company, was one of the founders of the Rock-
ford Posten Publishing Company, and is a
director and treasurer of the Swedish Building
& Loan Association.
Our subject was born in "Wester Gothland"
Province, Sweden, October 5, 1856. He was
but eleven years of age when he came to Rock-
ford, and he received a good practical education
in the schools of the city. Later he accepted a
position as office boy, and with the earnings
thus saved, gave himself a good education in
the Business College of Rockford. He was
then book-keeper for different institutions and
later was for seven years secretary for the
Central Furniture Company. He soon became
familiar with his business, and has developed
into one of the most thorough-going, enterprising
men of the city. He is a bank officer of marked
executive ability and vast practical experience
and is possessed of those characteristics of
AUGUST P. FLOBERC.
energy, promptness and sobriety, which ever
secure success.
Miss Augusta Ekeberg, who became his
wife in Rockford in 1880, was born in "Wester
Gothland" Province, Sweden, and attained her
growth and received her education here. She
I 12
ROCKFORD
came to this country with her parents In 1870,
and has since been a resident of this city.
The political sympathies of Mr. Floberg
have brought him in line with the Republican
party and in public movements he has ever taken
a deep interest. He and Mrs. Floberg are
identified with the First Lutheran church and
he was trustee for a number of years and is the
present treasurer.
Their marriage resulted in the birth of four
children, Adelbert R., Frances E., Mamie L.,
and Freddie F.
JOHN T. SAVAGE.
John T. Savage, of the firm of Savage &.
Love Company, is one of Rockford's well known
manufacturers. He was born in Canada, April
16, 1842, and was educated in the public schools.
JOHN T. SAVAGE.
Mr. Savage came to Rockford in 1866, where
he has since resided.
In 1876 he engaged in business in the firm
of Savage & Love. This firm is now known as
Savage & Love Company, and is doing a suc-
cessful business, the factory and business being
located on South Main street.
Mr. Savage has been married and has six
sons. Mrs. Savage died in 1901.
Socially he is a member of the G. A R.,
Royal League, M. W. A., and I. 0. O. F.
The family residence is at No. 927 Ferguson
street.
WILLIAM DOBSON.
William Dobson, one of Rockford's promi-
inent manufacturers, was born in Winnebago
county, where he spent his boyhood days upon
WILLIAM DOBSON.
a farm in the town of Burritt. He came to
Rockford in 1868, and was employed as a clerk
and in other work for several years.
He served one year as janitor at the old
court house and jail.
In 1872 he entered the employ of Mr. F.
Lander, who was engaged in the manufacture of
doors, sash and building material on the water
power. Some time after the death of Mr. Lan-
der, in 1880, Mr. Dobson formed a partnership
with Mr. Benjamin Blakeman, and continued
the business, which in 1883, was incorporated
as the Blakeman & Dobson Manufacturing Co.,
and the manufacture of dairy churns and sup-
plies was added to the business.
ROCKFORD
Mr. Dobson assumed entire control of the
business in 1897, when the manufacture of
building material was discontinued, and the
name was changed to the Dobson Manufactur-
ing Co., which is now engaged in the manufac-
ture of a general dairy line of goods.
The company has built up a large and pros-
perous business, and its product is shipped to its
patrons in many states.
GEORGE COLLIS.
The subject of this sketch was born in
Portsmouth, England, in April, 1852, and was
educated in a private school in that city. His
GEORGE COLLIS.
father was in the employ of the English govern-
ment and was killed while engaged in placing an
engine in the steamship "Furg."
Mr. Collis learned the trade of coppersmith
while young, and was employed in this business
for twenty-six years. He removed to Canada
in 1879, where he continued work at his trade.
He came to Rockford in 1891 for the purpose
of joining with Mr. Charles Andrews in the wire
works business, and is now the secretary and
treasurer of the Andrews Wire & Iron Works.
Mr. Collis is an earnest, conscientious
Christian and an efficient worker in the church.
He has also advanced in Masonry to the Royal
Arch degree, he is a member of the Royal
Arcanum and Ben Hur in this city, and retains
his membership in the Ancient Foresters to
which he has belonged since 1871. He takes
an active interest in the welfare of young men
whom he delights to welcome to his home, where
his good wife entertains them with good things
to eat. and he strives to inculcate all that is
best in manhood.
Mr. Collis is married and has a family of
five children, and resides at 1726 Chestnut street.
CHARLES ANDREWS.
The subject of this sketch is the President
of the Andrews Wire and Iron Works of this
city.
CHARLES ANDREWS.
He was born in London, England, May 30,
1845. and was educated in the public schools
of that city.
He came to America and located at Hamil-
ton, Canada, in 1870, where he resided seven
years. He removed to Rockford in 1877, where
he has since resided.
His first engagement here was with Lock-
wood & Lyman in the wire goods manufacture
ROCKFORD
on the water power, and remained with them
eight years, when he began the manufacture of
those goods on his own account in the John
Spafford building on Madison street.
Twelve years ago the company removed to
its present location, and has met with phenomi-
nal success. Mr. Andrews has four of his chil-
dren with him in the business.
He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, the
Tribe of Ben Hur, and the Second Congrega-
tional church. He resides with his wife and
family of six children at 813 Kilburn avenue.
GEORGE L. WILEY.
George L. Wiley was born in Janesville,
Wis., March 17, 1864. His early youth was
spent in the city of Lanark, 111., some fifty
GEORGE L. WILEY.
miles southwest of Rockford, where he received
his education in the public schools, and later
took a short college course, fitting himself more
especially with a view of engaging in a com-
mercial occupation, selecting the banking
business For several years after completing
his studies, he resided at Omaha, traveling
throughout Iowa for a wholesale hardware com-
pany. Following this he was admitted to a full
partnership in a private banking firm at Leaf
River, 111., assuming the position of cashier and
manager of the bank, which position he filled
for six years. He also had charge of quite an
active local fire insurance agency, which was
one of the departments of the bank. While in
charge of the fire Insurance department of the
banking business, he decided to give more
attention to insurance business, and when the
opportunity offered, resigned from the bank and
accepted a position with the Insurance Company
of the State of Illinois, one of Rockford's fore-
most fire insurance companies, of which he is
at the present time secretary and manager. He
is one of the original stockholders of the com-
pany, which was organized in 1895, and
served as a director and assistant secretary for
a number of years prior to his election to his
present position. The home office of the com-
pany is on the fifth floor of the Brown building.
Mr. Wiley is married and has one daughter,
residing at his residence, 1120 North Main
street.
THOMAS D. REBER.
Thomas D. Reber was born in Reading, Pa.,
December II, 1863, of Pennsylvania Dutch
stock, whose ancestors located there in 1738.
His father, Bennville B. Reber, died in 1865,
and his mother, Mary Ellen (Dechert) Reber,
died in 1899. He was educated in the public
schools, Reading Business College, and a three
years course in the State Normal, at Millers-
ville. Pa.
In April, 1883. he came to Rockford and
worked for Peter Sames, and then for the Cen-
tral Union Telephone Co. for a time, after which
he served as mailing and shipping clerk in the
office of W. F. & John Barnes Co.
In September, 1884, he entered the employ
of Perry & Lakin, lumber dealers, and in Janu-
ary, 1885, he purchased the interest of Mr. La-
kin, and the firm name was changed to Perry &
Reber.
Five years of successful business followed,
when in April, 1890, the firm of Perry & Reber
and that of Lawler & Keeler were united under
the firm name of the Rockford Lumber & Fuel
Company.
ROCKFORD
Mr. Reber was elected treasurer, which
office he held until the death of Mr. Perry, the
president of the company in 1900, when he was
elected to the office of vice president, which
position he still retains.
THOMAS D. REBER.
During the thirteen years of successful busi-
ness of this company, the number of employes
has increased from eight to forty-five, the num-
ber of horses from six to twenty-six.
The company now has four yards and offices
in Rockford, besides those at Beloit and White-
water, Wis. The company's business, at each
point, exceeds that of any other concern engaged
in these lines.
The main office is at No. 201 East State
street.
Mr. Reber was an original stockholder in the
Forest City National Bank, the Star Printing
Co., Superior Brick Co., and one of the organ-
izers and member of the first board of directors
of the Rockford & Freeport Electric Railway
Co., one of the organizers and first board of
directors of the Rockford Merchants' and Busi-
ness Men's Association, also of the Rockford
Manufacturers and Shippers Association, being
elected treasurer of each without opposition.
In 1884 he enlisted in Company H, Third
Regiment, 111. N. G., as a private, and Febru
ary 2, 1886, was elected first lieutenant.
Socially, he is a member of Rockford Lodge
A. F. & A. M. No. 102; Winnebago Chapter
Royal Arch Masons No. 23; Crusader Com-
mandery No. 17; Knights Templar; Freeport
Consistory; Ancient Scottish Rite Mason 32nd
degree, and Tebala Temple A. A. O. N. M. S.
He has filled the highest offices in most of the
above bodies. He is also a member of the
B. P. 0. Elks, National Union, Royal Arcanum
and Rockford Germania Society.
Mr. Reber married Miss Lydia Loyul,
daughter of Wm. and Jane Loyul of Rockford,
May 20, 1886, and has two children, Helen
Jane, born June 17, 1889, and Edwin Perry,
born September 1 , 1 89 1 .
The family residence is at No. 315 South
Third street.
E. H. KEELER.
E. H. Keeler was born at Janesville, Wis.,
August 13th, 1863. In 1869 he moved with
his parents to Beloit, Wis. He was educated
E. H. KEELER.
at Beloit public schools, Beloit College and
Andover, Mass. He entered the employ of the
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lumber and coal firm of Peet & Keeler at
Beloit after leaving scnool and there secured
his early training in business. After three years
service he was made a member of the firm at
the age of twenty-two.
In 1888 Mr. Keeler came to Rockford and
formed a partnership with Col. Thomas G.
Lawler under the firm name of Lawler &
Keeler, dealers in coal. In 1890 the Rockford
Lumber & Fuel Company was organized, Mr.
Keeler being made secretary and treasurer,
which position he now holds. He is also secre-
tary and treasurer of the Keeler Lumber Com-
pany of Beloit, Wis., and Rockton, 111., vice-
president of the Forest City National Bank and
President of the Superior Brick Company.
Mr. Keeler is a republican in politics, is
married and has three children.
LEVI RHOADES.
Levi Rhoades was born in Hinsdale, Catta-
raugus county, New York, June 25, 1830, and
died at his home, No. 710 North Court street,
Rockford, Illinois, November 19, 1891.
In 1836 Mr. Rhoades removed from his
native town with his parents, to Troy, Wisconsin,
where they settled on a farm. He assisted in
the farm work and attended school as he could
get opportunity until seventeen years of age,
when he came to Rockford and worked at
anything he could find to do for self support.
In 1848 he entered the cooper shop of
Harry Landers, and at the end of three years
purchased a half interest in the business. In
1853 he bought out Mr. Landers, and continued
this business until 1884.
In 1865 he formed a partnership with Isaac
and C. M. Utter & Company, for the manufac-
ture of paper, and was still at the head of the
firm at the time of his death.
When the People's Bank was organized,
Mr. Rhoades was one of its heaviest backers
and was a director. He was a prime mover in
the organization of the Rockford Watch Com-
pany, was its first president, and a director, un-
til his death. He aided in the removal of the
Watch Case Company from Racine to Rock-
ford, and was a stockholder in the Phoenix
Furniture Company, and also in the Boot &
Shoe Company. At the time of his death he
held responsible positions in many of Rockford's
important industries and had acquired a hand-
some competence.
He was a member of Court Street church
and aided liberally in the construction of that
fine edifice, his donation being about $6,000.
LEVI RHOADES.
He was elected mayor in 1876 and served
one term. Mr. Rhoades married Mrs. Frederica
(Reik) Rhoades, his brother's widow, December
24, 1854, and had three children, two of whom
are now living.
JEREMIAH DAVIS.
Jeremiah Davis was born in Steuben coun-
ty, New York, June 2, 1826. When thirteen
years of age he removed with his parents to Mil-
ton, Rock county, Wisconsin, where he attended
the public schools and Milton Academy.
His first business effort was the purchase of
eighty acres of land which he cultivated until
1850, when he made an overland trip to Califor-
nia in company with L. P. Knowlton of Water-
loo, Wis. He located a miner's claim near
Georgetown, California, which he worked sue-
R OC K FO R D
117
cessfully for one year. Having established a
residence in the territory, he voted for the adop-
tion of the first constitution for California, in
September, 1850, after which he returned to
Milton, Wis.
JEREMIAH DAVIS.
He removed to Ogle county, Illinois, in 1859,
and, when the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
Railway was projected in 1874, he laid out and
founded the town of Davis Junction, which bears
his name. He owns valuable farm lands near
Davis Junction in Ogle county,
In 1881 he removed to Rockford, establish-
ing a residence at No. 216 North Second street,
where he has since lived.
Mr. Davis represented the town of Scott on
the board of supervisors of Ogle county for eight
years. He was the representative from Ogle
county, in the State legislature, in 1871 and
1872.
After coming to Rockford he was elected to
the council from the First ward in 1885 and
served one term.
He has been a member of the Masonic order
for forty years, and is a member of the Western
Society of California Pioneers.
Mr. Davis married Miss Jane Goodrich of
Milton, daughter of Hon. Joseph Goodrich, in
the spring of 1852, and has six children : J. Mil-
ton, Olive, now Mrs. Woodman of Chicago,
Henry G., a physician at Monroe Center, Charles
E., Elbert Lincoln and Mable, now Mrs. Vande-
mark of Rockford.
L. H. BALEY.
L. H. Baley is a native of New York "state
and was born in 1843. He was educated in
the public schools. He removed to Illinois in
1855, and came to Rockford in 1883.
Soon after coming to the city he engaged in
the ice business with Mr. Leonard, under the
firm name of Baley & Leonard. In 1893 he
organized the Rockford Ice Company of which
he is the secretary and treasurer. The company's
business has grown to large proportions. It owns
immense ice houses and supplies the larger part
of the trade in the city with ice. From fifteen
to eighteen wagons are operated during the
busy season.
Mr. Baley married Clara Miller of Marengo,
Illinois, in 1868, and has one daughter. The
family residence is at No. 222 North Second
street.
ROCKFORD
THEODORE F. HOPKINS.
Theodore F. Hopkins was born in western
New York and was educated in the public
schools and Pike, N. Y., seminary. He came
to Rockford in 1866 while in his teens and
engaged with J. S. Sherman as bookkeeper, in
THEODORE F. HOPKINS.
the nursery business. During this engagement
he acquired experience in the business and after
leaving Mr. Sherman's employ he took up the
nursery business in connection with farming,
on a tract of land south of town, which he had
purchased for this purpose.
In 1876 he exchanged his farm for an
interest in the tannery business, which he has
since carried on with eminent success. His
business partner is Mr. L. M. Hess.
In 1883 a corporation was formed which is
known as the Hess & Hopkins Leather Company
and the business facilities were very much
enlarged. From a small beginning with but few
employes, in close quarters, the business facilities
have expanded until a large area of land is
covered with fine brick structures and the num-
ber of people employed increased to two hundred.
The company is doing practically the exclusive
business in this country of manufacturing har-
ness leather and then manufacturing this into
harness goods. Their trade covers a wide area,
their goods being shipped both east and west,
and the demand for them is constantly increas-
ing. Mr. Hopkins is the secretary-treasurer of
the company and its business manager.
Mr. Hopkins served in the city council as an
alderman from the seventh ward during '1885
and 1886, and was a member of the board of
school inspectors from 1896 to 1900. Socially
he is a Modern Woodman.
Mr. Hopkins was married to Miss Alice
Wheat of Rockford, in 1878, and resides at No
704 North Church street.
L. M. HESS.
The subject of this sketch moved from Cen-
ter county, Pennsylvania, where he was born,
with his parents, and settled on a farm near
^^^^B
L. M. HESS.
Freeport, Illinois, in 1848, and where he was
educated in the public schools.
In 1862, though young, he felt it to be his
duty to enter the army in defense of the Union,
and enlisted as a corporal in the 93rd Regiment,
Illinois Infantry, and went into camp at Camp
Fuller, and from there to Camp Douglass where
ROCKFORD
119
the regiment was organized. The regiment
joined the Army of the Tennessee and partici-
pated in the battles of Jackson, Miss., Vicksburg,
Champion Hill, Chattanooga, Mission Ridge,
Altona Pass, Yazoo campaign, and was with
Sherman in his notable March to the Sea.
He participated in the Grand Review at
Washington, D. C., and was mustered out of
service at Louisville, Kentucky, in 1865, and
returned to Freeport.
In 1866 he came to Rockford and engaged
in the manufacture of leather upon the site
where the Hess & Hopkins Leather Co.'s plant
now stands.
He was first connected with two other gen-
tlemen from Freeport in establishing the plant,
which was later leased to Benjamin Hess, his
father, and Mr. Tanner.
In 1875 Mr. Hess took the business, and in
company with Horatio Stone instituted the old
method of tanning, and built up a prosperous
business.
In 1877 Mr. T. F. Hopkins bought an inter-
est in the institution, and the business was ma-
terially enlarged.
In 1883 a corporation was formed under the
name of The Hess & Hopkins Leather Co., and
the plant was again enlarged. Additions have
more recently been made, making the establish-
ment one of the largest in the country. Mr.
Hess is the vice president of the company, and
with his large experience and constant attention
to business is meeting with unbounded success.
Mr. Hess was married to Miss Elizabeth
Eveland, October 27, 1870, and has four chil-
dren living, two sons and two daughters, B. F.,
E. L,, Edith and Ruth. The family residence
is at No. 701 Kilburn avenue.
ELIJAH WHITTIER BLAISDELL
Was a descendant from an ancestry among whom
many have been numbered with the most promi-
nent of the nation. They came from the old Norse
stock, a Danish family of that name, having
imigrated to Wales before the country was sub-
dued by Alfred the Great. Its members were
mostly forge-men and sailors.
Sir Ralph Blaisdell, Knight, married a mem-
ber of the royal family, and several of his de-
scendants were members of parliament.
The progenitors of the American branch of
the family was Enoch Blaisdell, who died in
Wales. His widow and three sons. Enoch, Ab-
ner, and Elijah came to America about twenty
years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Ply-
mouth Rock, and settled at Newburyport, Mass.
ELIJAH WHITTIER BLAISDELL.
The youngest son is the direct ancestor of
Elijah Whittier Blaisdell, the subject of this
sketch, and throughout the successive genera-
tions this and other Bible names appear, thus
showing the religious element of the family,
A descendant of Elijah Blaisdell died at
Amesbury, Massachusetts, and his widow mar-
ried Nathaniel Whittier, a member of the same
family as the noted poet, John G. Whittier,
whence comes the name of our subject.
The grandfather of our subject, Parrett Blais-
dell, served in the Revolutionary War and that
of 1812. He is referred to as being "hasty,
brave, and fixedly determined," as well as noted
for his blunt honesty and his hearty and sincere
piety. He reached the advanced age of eighty-
six years, and died at Fort Covington, New York,
in 1836. His brother Daniel was also a promi-
nent citizen, and served as a member of Con-
gress in 1808.
I2O
ROCKFORD
Elijah Whittier Blaisdell, Sr., was born in
Montpelier, Vermont, in 1800, and removed to
Middlebury, that state, in 1837. He was pre-
viously married in Montreal to Miss Ann Maria
Deacon, a native of Wexford, England, and a
member of the Methodist church. On the 18th
of July, 1826, their son, Elijah Whittier Blais-
dell, was born in Montpelier, Vermont, where he
passed his boyhood days. He attended the pub-
lic schools, and later, when his father removed
to Vergennes, Vermont, where he published the
Vergennes Vermonter, he attended the classical
school in that village. After leaving school he
entered his father's printing office, and with this
experience and extensive reading, in later years,
he acquired a broad and general education that
surpassed that of many a university bred man.
He shortly assumed the editorship of the
paper, and was also appointed postmaster of Ver-
gennes by President Taylor.
To a man of his ambition his environments
soon became too narrow, and he resolved to seek
a home in the west. Acting upon this determi-
nation he came to Rockford and purchased the
Forum, which he published for ten years.
Changing the name to the Republican he
again resumed editorial work, and this at a time
when vital questions of public concern were be-
ing agitated. He was soon recogized as a power
in the community and acquired an extended rep-
utation. Activity in public affairs brought him
in contact with Lincoln, Palmer, Schneider,
Browning and others at the meeting in Spring-
field when the Republican party was organized.
He made a strong speech in favor of the new
principles at this meeting, and upon his return
to Rockford he placed the name of Abraham
Lincoln at the head of the columns of his paper
as the new party's candidate for the presidency.
It is a matter of history that the Rockford Re-
publican was the first paper to suggest the name
of Lincoln for president.
Mr. Blaisdell called a convention in Rock-
ford for the purpose of nominating a Republican
candidate for Congress, and as a result Elihu B.
Washburn was the first man nominated for Con-
gress by the Republican party.
Mr. Blaisdell vigorously espoused the inter-
ests of the farmer in behalf of a lower rate of
interest, as they were obliged to pay as high as
twenty per cent, to the money leaner. Upon
this issue he was elected a member of the Illi-
nois legislature in 1859, where he continued the
fight. In behalf of his measure he made one of
the most noted speeches ever delivered in the
house, which attracted widespread attention.
The measure was enacted into law, and was a
blessing to the people of the state. He was also
instrumental in securing the enactment of a law
giving to a wife the right to use her own property
under certain circumstances without regard to
her husband's wishes. Having accomplished
his desires at Springfield he refused a renomina-
tion and disposed of his paper, which then be-
came known as the Register, and is now the
Register-Gazette.
Mr. Blaisdell then took up the study of law,
and after reading thirty or forty of the best text-
books on the subject, made application for ad-
mission to the bar. Judge Peck, one of the
examining committee, having heard his speech
in the legislature, expressed surprise that he was
not already a member of the bar. Such was
the effect of this speech that he was admitted
to practice without examination a most grace-
ful compliment to his ability.
His success as an attorney was pronounced
from the beginning, and his business netted him,
the first year between three and four thousand
dollars, and he was equally successful during his
thirteen years of practice,
In 1884 he changed his political views and
supported Mr. Cleveland for the presidency. He
was a staunch friend of John M. Palmer, and
did much to advance his political interests.
After leaving the bar he gave much of his
time to literary pursuits. The Petersons pub-
lished one of his novels, which elicited favorable
comment from the New York Sun, World, Eve-
ning Post and Boston Journal. He also wrote
a political burlesque entitled, "The Rajah,"
which met with great success. He also wrote
a number of poems of much merit, and a play
entitled, " Eva, the General's Daughter," found-
ed on incidents of the Black Hawk War, which
was well received by A. M Palmer, the well
known theatrical manager of New York.
Mr. Blaisdell was twice married His first
wife, Frances Robinson, died soon after coming
to Rockford, the second wife was Miss Elizabeth
ROCKFORD
121
J. Lawrence, daughter of Judge Ville Lawrence
of Vermont, and a sister of the late Chief Jus-
tice C. B. Lawrence of Illinois.
Mr. Blaisdell died January 14, 1901, and
left a widow and five children, Byron Rich-
ard of Chicago ; Henry, a lawyer of Chicago;
Elijah W., an artist of New York, and George
and Shelly Pierpont at home. The family resi-
dence is at No. 1240 Council Hill.
E. C. DUNN, M. D.
The subject of this sketch is one of Rock-
ford's most foremost and best known citizens.
He is a descendant of a prominent Scotch Irish
E. C. DUNN, M. D.
family, which traces its history back for many
generations.
The grand parent, Joseph Dunn, had eight
children, of which Hiram, the father of Dr.
Dunn, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsyl-
vania. Dr. Dunn is the youngest of six children,
and was born in Ontario county, New York, in
1840.
When a mere boy he manifested a roving
disposition and a spirit of investigation. It was
his good fortune to meet Dr, Peebles when but
fifteen years of age, who became interested in
him and took him to his own home, where he
was surrounded with all the advantages for cul-
ture and education that large wealth could secure.
Through Dr. Peebles munificence Dr. Dunn
received a very broad and liberal education,
being a graduate from the University of Penn-
sylvania, the American Eclectic College of Med-
icine, and holds a certificate from the State
Board of Health of Illinois.
Dr. Dunn is a noted traveler, having visited
all the inhabited countries of the globe, and has
obtained a knowledge of the habits, religions and
characteristics of the various peoples of the world.
His fund of information is inexhaustible, and
his stories of travel most instructive and inter-
esting. During his travels he made a very
large collection of curios, gems and precious
stones of inestimable value, but met with the
loss of many of these, in a museum, in Chicago
during the great fire of 1871.
Dr. Dunn served as secretary of legation at
Trebizond, Turkey, where his benefactor, Dr.
Peebles was minister from this country.
Dr. Dunn established a home in Rockford
in 1863, but has spent much of the time since in
travel and upon the lecture platform. His lecture
themes cover a wide range of subjects, being
equally at home in matters of science, religion,
art and politics. He has lectured In many of
the largest cities in the world, and has spoken
to audiences ranging from a few hundred in
number to many thousands.
His palatial home in Rockford is one of the
most beautiful of the many beautiful homes in
the city. Externally it is of oriental design, and
its internal arrangement and finish is one of the
most artistic of the Queen Ann pattern. The
parlors are finished in ebony and gold. The
dining room is octagon in shape, and is finished
in walnut and cherry and lighted by windows of
opalized glass. The house is fitted with the
most modern and convenient appliances and is
a model of beauty.
Dr. Dunn was married to Miss Carrie Etts,
in Marshall, Michigan, July 27, 1859, and has
two children, Aeola, wife of Richard Hamlyn of
Rockford, and James, who married Miss Emma
Patterson, and resides in Chicago.
122
ROCKFORD
Mrs. Dunn displayed great ability as an art-
ist, and her work has received high commenda-
tions from the best artists. Her latest work,
"Pythias Before the Block," is a painting six
feet by four feet six inches in size, and is valued
at $1,000.00. Mrs. Dunn died in 1893.
In later years Dr. Dunn has lived a retired
life, devoting his attention largely to a study of
the habits and characteristics of the lower ani-
mals, especially the horse and dog.
He recently edited a remarkable work which
was published by a Boston firm, entitled The
Sagacity of Dogs." The volume is beautifully
illustrated and a charming work.
Socially, he is an Aid-de-Camp of the Su-
preme Commander, Gen. Carnahan, of the
Knights of Pythias, and meets with the order in
State and National conventions, Knight Tem-
plar, member of Crusader Commandery No. 17,
and an Odd Fellow.
The family residence is at No. 807 West
State street.
Dr. Dunn does not aspire to political prefer-
ment, but was elected as an alderman from the
old Seventh ward in 1894, which position he
filled with credit to himself and with honor to
his constituency for four consecutive terms. He
was a strong prospective candidate for the office
of mayor, and had the support of a large num-
ber of the best men of the city for this position,
but did not decide to make the race. Had he
done this he doubtless would have been elected
by a large majority.
bership has more than doubled since the begin-
ning of his pastorate. A fine winter chapel and
school have been built and all departments of
REV. JAMES J. FLAHERTY.
The subject of this sketch was born in
Bureau county, Illinois, in 1853, where he
resided until his ordination. He was educated
at the Niagara University, at Niagara Falls, N.
Y., at which institution he was ordained to the
priesthood June 7, 1879, and on July 3, was
assigned to duty in the city of Chicago, where
he served six years as assistant priest. Rev.
Flaherty came to Rockford in 1885, and was
made immovable rector of St. James church in
1 887 , and Dean of the Diocese in 1 90 1 . Under
his wise and economical administration of the
affairs of this branch of the church, its mem-
REV. JAMES J. FLAHERTY.
the work are in a flourishing condition. Father
Flaherty is beloved by his people and has made
many friends in the city.
J. A. WALKER.
J. A. Walker was born in Ohio and removed
with his parents to Iowa in 1857. He spent
his boyhood days on the farm and was educated
in the public schools.
He accepted a position with the Singer
Sewing Machine Company in 1874 and re-
mained with the company twenty-five years.
He was rapidly promoted by the company, from
the position of solicitor to that of general mana-
ger of the company's business in the northern
territory of Illinois, which he handled with
marked success.
Upon the termination of his business rela-
tions with the sewing machine company, he
spent a year in San Francisco, Cal., as manager
of the city's manufacturing department. In 1 883
he came to Rockford where he has since resided
ROCKFORD
123
during which time he has built fourteen resi-
dences, and accomplished much other work in
important improvements and the beautifying of
the city.
The recent organization of the Central Heat
& Power Company of Rockford, is due to his
J. A. WALKER.
wise management and energy in the promotion
of important and substantial enterprises. He
was instrumental in securing a franchise from
the city for the installation of the company's
plant, and was made its general manager in
which capacity he is now serving.
The innovation of this system to furnish
heat, power and light to the city and for private
use, is a credit to the company and to the city.
The work of installation is being pushed forward
as rapidly as possible and when completed will
be an up-to-date institution. The use of this
system by private individuals will result in a
great saving of time, money and inconvenience
and will reduce to a minimum the danger from
fire, thereby securing lower rates on insurance.
Socially Mr. Walker is a member of the
Royal Arcanum and the Royal League. He
was married to Miss May McCleery in 1876,
and has two children, Edward R., who is his
assistant in the management of the Central
Heat &. Power Company's business, and Elsie
B. The family residence is at No. 215 North
Court street.
WILLIAM GROTTY
Was born in the City of New York, July 4, 1 84 1 ,
and received a liberal education. He was a
teacher for a time in the public schools.
WILLIAM GROTTY.
His parents were of Irish extraction and loyal
citizens. When William was an infant they re-
moved from New York to Harvard, Illinois,
where the subject of this sketch spent his boy-
hood days. Upon reaching his majority he em-
barked in business in Belvidere.
In 1872 he came to Rockford, where he re-
sided until his death, which occurred August 4,
1899.
Mr. Grotty was a " self-made man " in the
best sense of the term. He relied upon his
own efforts to accomplish for himself, or for
others, that which seemed best for all interests
concerned. He had the best interest of the city
always at heart, and never failed to do that which
would promote the public welfare. In 1892 he
124
ROCKFORD
engaged in the real estate and insurance busi-
ness and rapidly pushed his way to the front. In
a short time his ability became apparent to lead-
ing business men and he was made a confident-
ial agent, handling large sums of money for in-
vestment for others. He was a tireless worker,
the soul of honor, strong mentally and physically,
and performed faithful service for others, while
he amassed a considerable competency for him-
self and family.
He was the owner of a large amount of real
estate, the value of which, probably reached the
$150,000.00 mark.
He was a devout Christian, and contributed
liberally toward the support of his church and
toward the building and maintenance of benevo-
lent institutions. He aided largely in the insti-
tution of the St. Anthony Hospital, and it may
well stand as a monument to his memory.
He was a member of the East State street
Business Men's Association, and did much in
the promotion of business interests.
Socially, he was a member of Skandia Lodge
A. O. U. W. and the Y. M. C. U.
Mr. Crotty was married to Miss Frances M.
McLain, of Rockford, May 19, 1874, and had
eight children, who, with their mother, survive
him.
The family residence is at No. 727 East
State street.
Mr. Barnes next accepted a position with the
William and C. H. Knapp Company in the real
estate and loan business, and acquired a partner-
ship in the business in March, 1902, under the
WILLIAM H. BARNES.
William H. Barnes was born in Steuben
county, New York, December 5, 1873. He
came to Rockford with his parents when but
three months old, and was educated in the city
schools. His father having died when he was a
mere lad, he was thrown upon his own resources
when only thirteen years of age. At this time
he began working for the Blakeman & Dobson
Manufacturing Company that he might aid in
the support of a widowed mother and a large
family. He worked for this company for about
three years. He then took up the carpenter's
trade at which he worked about four years,
when he engaged with O. W. Wheat and while
there but a short time gained considerable
knowledge of the photographer's art.
WILLIAM H. BARNES.
<irm name of Knapp, Barnes & Company. He
has the distinction of being the youngest man
engaged in this important business in the city.
By faithful attention to business, persistent
energy and integrity he has acquired a position
in business circles which is an honor to himself
and a credit to his family. The company's
offices are located on the ground floor of the
Second National Bank building, at the corner
of State and Main streets, where a large business
is being done in buying and selling city and farm
property, placing insurance and loaning money.
The firm has the confidence of the community
and enjoys a large patronage at home and
abroad.
Socially Mr. Barnes is a member of the
Illinois Club, Masonic Order, M. W. A., M. W.
W., and Royal League.
He was married to Miss Lucretia Franklin,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Franklin, May
24, 1 894, and has three children. The family
resides at No. 605 Woodlawn avenue.
R OC K FO R D
125
C. F. HENRY
Was born in Plymouth, Plymouth county, Mass-
achusetts, March 15, 1854, and was educated
in the schools of Plymouth and Rockford, hav-
ing come to Rockford when ten years of age
with his sister, Mrs. Joseph Schmauss.
Mr. Henry's first employment was in a fruit
and confectionery store at a salary of one dollar
per week with board and washing, where he re-
C. F. HENRY.
mained two years. He was next employed by
Isaac Bacharach in the clothing business, where
he remained nine and one-half years. He then
went into business on his own account, forming
a partnership with H. W. Allen and engaged In
the crockery business. At the end of one year
he sold his interest to Charles W. Haskell and
formed a partnership with Henry Stern in the
clothing business in the store now occupied by
the Hemming Shoe Co. on the corner of State
and Wyman streets. In March, 1883, the busi-
ness was removed to the corner of State and
Main streets, where Mr. Henry's central store is
now located.
Mr. Henry has spent thirty-eight years of his
life on State street as clerk or proprietor in mer-
cantile business. He has occupied the entire
building, at the corner of State and Main streets,
Nos. 211-213 during the last twenty years.
By fair dealing and generous treatment of
his patrons his business increased so rapidly that
it soon outgrew its environments, and he was
forced to enlarge his facilities by establishing
branch stores. Accordingly, a fine clothing em-
porium was established at No. 347 East Bridge
street, Beloit, Wis., and another at No. 417
Fifteenth street, Moline, Illinois, where he is
meeting with merited success.
Socially, he is a member of Star in the East,
Blue Lodge No. 166, Rockford Chapter, Crusa-
der Commandery No. 17, Freeport Consistory,
charter member Tebala Temple and its first treas-
urer, K. of P. in 1875, charter member of first
Elk's Lodge, and a Woodman.
Mr. Henry married Miss Fannie S. Skinner,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James B. Skinner, in
May 1878, and has two children, Rupert J. and
Charlotte E.
The family residence is at No. 619 Mul-
berry street.
A. C. BREARLEY.
The subject of this sketch was born in Lake
county, Illinois, August 10, 1850. He came to
Rockford in 1855 with his parents and was
educated in the city schools. When about
seventeen years of age he became the book-
keeper for the Rhoades, Utter & Company's
paper mills and remained with this company
twenty years.
In 1887 he organized the Rockford Clothing
Company and became its secretary and treasurer.
During the first two years the factory of the
company was located where the Silver Plate
works now stand, and then the present quarters
were occupied where the business has grown to
large proportions. The company enjoys a large
patronage in custom-made goods for the local
trade and does a large wholesale business
throughout the northwest.
The principal manufacture of the company
for the wholesale trade consists of pants, over-
alls, working-jackets and shirts. They make a
specialty of uniform shirts and supply the city
126
ROCKFORD
police and firemen, generally. The company
also does a large jobbing business in suspenders
and hosiery.
especially in South Dakota, where he has done
much in promoting the development of a fine
grade of stock.
He places loans to the satisfaction of the
borrower and safe to the investor. His business
is constantly growing and now reaches a large
A. C. BREARLEY.
Mr. Brearley is married and has four children
and resides at 727 Cherry street.
P. BYRON THOMAS,
Broker and real estate dealer, was born in Bel-
videre, Illinois, of Welsh descent. His family
traces its history back one hundred and fifty years
and has been one of note in the beautiful Isle of
Wales. He was the youngest child of Peter
Cruth and Sarah Thomas who came from On-
tario and settled upon a farm near Belvidere, in
the early days.
Mr. Thomas spent his boyhood days upon
the farm and was educated in the public schools
of Belvidere. He came to Rockford in 1886,
where he has conducted a large loan and real
estate business. His office is on the ground
floor of the Second National Bank building.
He has several thousand acres of land, situ-
ated in Illinois and South Dakota, and is also
engaged extensively in farming and stock raising,
P. BYRON THOMAS.
volume annually. His residence is on East
State street, a cut of which is shown in
this volume.
JOSEPH BEALE.
Joseph Beale was born in Twickenham,
Middlesex, England, November 23, 1836, and
died in Rockford, Illinois, April 16, 1902.
Mr. Beale came to Rockford in 1858 and
engaged in the jewelry business with Clark &
Mitchell, which relation continued several years.
In 1866 he formed a partnership with his
brother, Thomas Beale, and went into business
on the present site of the Manufacturers' Bank.
In 1892 his son, Joseph, joined him in the
business.
Mr. Beale was twice married. His first
wife was Miss Maria S. Jones of England, by
whom he had two children, Joseph and Arthur.
Mrs. Maria Beale died, July 6, 1891. His
ROCKFORD
127
second wife was Miss Mary Hewett of Rockford.
The family residence is at 128 South First
street.
In 1854 he came to Rockford and was
immediately and favorably impressed with the
beauty of the city and the surrounding country,
and upon his return to Milwaukee sold out his
business the following day, and the next day
made his way back to the Forest City. He
immediately purchased the interest of J. J.
JOSEPH BEALE.
His sons, Joseph Jr., and Arthur, are now
doing business at the old stand.
LEONARD SCHMAUSS.
Leonard Schmauss was born in Schneidach,
Bavaria, Germany, in 1826, and was educated
in the public schools of his native country
When twenty-two years of age he came to
America and settled in Milwaukee where a large
number of his countrymen had preceded him.
An older brother, Joseph, had already located
in Rockford, and was engaged in the meat
business in company with J. J. Andrew and
Thomas Kettlewell. Joseph was so highly
pleased with the business outlook and the beauti-
ful situation of Rockford, that he wrote his
brother, Leonard, to visit him with a view of
locating here.
Leonard had engaged in the meat business
shortly after his arrival in Milwaukee and was
making a success of his undertaking, but accepted
Joseph's urgent invitation to visit him and look
over the city.
LEONARD SCHMAUSS.
Andrew in the meat business, and the firm be-
came that of Schmauss Brothers & Kettlewell.
Later on Schmauss Brothers bought out the
interest of Kettlewell and the firm became that
of Schmauss Brothers and they continued the
business for three years, when the partnership
was dissolved and the brother continued the
market on the west side and Leonard took
charge of the east side market at No. 313 East
State street where he remained until succeeded
by his sons, Leonard and Joseph, December
9, 1889.
Mr. Schmauss carried on extensive farming
operations in connection with the meat business,
having owned in 1861 400 acres of fine land
in Ogle county, Illinois, and later 1 ,200 acres in
the same county.
His love for his adopted country was most
intense and he never failed to speak of Rock-
128
ROCKFORD
ford and its environments in the highest terms of
praise, whether at home or abroad.
His business career was marked by a degree
of steadfast integrity and honorable dealing that
redound with honor to his memory. Mr.
Schmauss died December 9, 1889. He was
married to Miss Margaret Shlenck of Milwaukee,
in 1850, and had nine children, five of whom
are living.
Mr. Hutchins was married to Miss Nellie
Miller, of Rockford, in April 1897, and has two
children, Geneva and Alta.
The family residence is at No. 1908 East
State street.
FRED H. HUTCHINS
Was born on a farm in Guilford, Winnebago
county. Illinois, October 8, 1869, and was edu-
cated in the public school and the Rockford
High School. He came to Rockford in 1880.
JAMES M. REID.
James M. Reid was born on a farm in
Harlem, Winnebago county, Illinois, May 28,
1876, of Scotch parentage. His father, James
S. Reid, was born on the same farm, his father
having settled there in an early day and obtained
a government patent on the land.
FRED H, HUTCHINS.
and for eleven years was in the employ of the
People's Bank. He made a trip to Arizona
where he remained three years.
He is now engaged in the real estate, loan
and insurance business under the firm name of
F. H. Hutchins & Co., and is meeting with fine
success. The company is one of the more
recent organizations, but it has the confidence
of the community and its business is rapidly
growing.
JAMES M. REID.
Mr. Reid was educated in the public schools
and the Rockford high school, after which he
took a course in the Rockford Business College.
He entered the employ of Holland, Ferguson
Si Company in February, 1896, and was made
the secretary and manager in 1901, which
position he still holds.
The company is the pioneer in the abstract
business, having been established in 1869, and
has a very large patronage. The reliability of
the work done in this office has secured the
confidence of the public, which it justly merits.
Socially Mr. Reid is a member of the Elks.
ROCKFORD
129
ROCKFORD & INTERURBAN RAILWAY.
The Rockford & Interurban Railway Com-
pany comprises an urban system in the city of
Rockford, with a suburban branch extending to
Belvidere on the east, and the Rockford &
Freeport Electric Railway, which is now under
construction, will be consolidated with the pres-
ent system, making a through route of forty-three
miles in length, of which Rockford is the central
point. The system had its beginning twenty-
three years ago, when the first mile of city track
was built in Rockford, on which two short horse
cars were operated.
The Rockford Street Railway Company was
organized in 1880, with a capital stock of
$20,000. A state charter was secured January
1 , 1881 , and a franchise was granted by the city
council June 27, 1881. In September of the
same year it was decided to build an extension
of the line to the Fair Grounds, and the capital
stock of the company was increased to $80,000.
During the first six years of its existence the
company made a little money, but when it com-
menced to extend the lines to the more thinly
populated parts of the city, the property ceased
to be a paying one.
In 1889 the property of the old company
was purchased by the present owners and the
power was changed to electricity. Under the
new management the name of the company was
changed to the Rockford City Railway Company.
In 1890 a new company was organized under
the name of the Rockford Traction Company,
which built a road to the West End for the pur-
pose of developing this section of the city.
Subsequently the new company extended its
lines to South Rockford and to the East Side.
This company met with great opposition from
the old company and eventually went into the
hands of a receiver. In 1895 it was sold and
passed into the hands of the present company
in 1898,
When the Rockford City Railway Company
and the Rockford Traction Company were con-
solidated, the name was changed to the Rock-
ford Railway, Light & Power Company. The
latter name was changed to the Rockford &
Interurban Company a few months ago, when
the Rockford Railway, Light & Power Company
and the Rockford & Belvidere Electric Railway
Company were consolidated.
The entire route serves a population of about
65,000, exclusive of the farming population along
the line. Starting at Belvidere, with a popula-
tion of 7,000, it passes through Cherry Valley,
with a population of 400, Rockford, 32,000,
Winnebago, 400, Pecatonica, 1,200, Ridott, 250
and Freeport, 12,300.
The officers and operating staff of the Rock-
ford & Interurban Railway Company are as fol-
lows: President, R. N. Baylies; vice-president,
John Farson ; secretary, G. G. Olmsted ; treas-
urer, W. F. Woodruff; general manager, T. M.
Ellis; auditor, F. W. McAssey; superintendent
of transportation, Charles C. Lines ; express
and passenger agent, J. H. Groneman ; superin-
tendent of track and lines, C. J. McCarty.
R. N. Baylies born in St. Helena Parish,
Louisiana, Sept. 5th, 1845. Moved with his
parents to Griggsville, Pike County, Illinois, in
1852, from there to Des Moines, Iowa, in 1858.
Raised on a farm. Attended the Iowa State
University at Iowa City. Graduated in Iowa
State University law school in 1868. Practiced
law in Kansas eight years and returned to Des
Moines, Iowa, in 1876, and practiced his pro-
fession there many years. Was at one time judge
of the circuit court in Des Moines. Was one
of the organizers of the first Electric Railway
in Iowa at Des Moines, and president of the
company, until it was sold and became a part
of the present Des Moines system in 1889. He
with W. E. Andrews purchased a controlling in-
terest in the Rockford Street Railway Company
in November, 1889, and became its president,
and changed it over to an electric road in the
summer of 1890. He has remained the presi-
dent of the company and its successors until
the present time. He was also for several years
a part owner and president of the Springfield
City Railway Company, changing it from ahorse
130
ROC KFO R D
'NTERURBAN
RAILWAY
car road to an electric road in 1890 and selling
it in 1893. He was also formerly interested in
the South Bend, Ind., Street Railway, and also
president of the Brazil Electric Railway Com-
pany, Indiana, and sold that to the present Terre
Haute Company.
Mr. T. M. Ellis, general manager of the com-
pany, is a New Yorker, having been born in
Whitestown in 1 86 1 . At the age of eighteen he
started in the street railway business as a con-
ductor and steadily anvanced until he was made
assistant superintendent of the Utica Belt Line.
He was next employed in a responsible capacity
by the Edison General Electric Company of New
York, from which place he came to Rockford in
July, 1892, as general manager of the Rockford
City Railway Company. Under his manage-
ment the Rockford system has been almost
entirely rebuilt, new lines have been extended to
cover all parts of the city, the service has been
improved and larger cars have been put in use,
and the system in general has been put into a
first class condition. Mr. Ellis enjoys the utmost
confidence not only of the directors but of his
ROCKFORD
employes as well, with whom he has established
the most friendly relations. Although a strict
disciplinarian, no one is quicker to appreciate
and reward faithful service. He is a hard
worker and keeps in touch with the smallest de-
tail of every department under his management.
Mr. McAssey, auditor of the company, was
born in Ripon, Wis., and educated at Ripon
College. After graduating from college, in 1892
he was made cashier and bookkeeper of the
Rockford Railway, Light & Power Company.
He has been continuously connected with the
Rockford system since that time and was ad-
vanced to the position of auditor of the Rockford
Si Interurban Railway Company in 1902.
Mr. Lines, superintendent of transportation,
was born and educated in Monroe, 111., and at
the age of eighteen entered the business college
in Rockford. He was first employed by the
Rockford Railway, Light & Power Company in
1 895 as motorman, and advanced by successive
promotions to the poistion of superintendent of
transportation, in which capacity he has served
the company since 1898.
Mr. Groneman, general passenger and ex-
press agent, is a native of Rockford where he
was, for three and a half years, water works
inspector for the city. He then went into news-
paper work and for eight years was connected
with the Register-Gazette of Rockford, as cir-
culation manager. In this capacity he became
widely acquainted in Rockford and the surround-
ing territory. He has also acted at different
times as manager for various shows and enter-
tainments. In June, 1902, he was appointed
to his present position with the railway company
and much of the success of the express
department is due to his active and able
management.
C. J. McCarty was born in Logansport, Ind.,
in 1875. Was educated at the University of
Illinois. Located at Champaign, 111. Became
superintendent of electric light plant at Rock
Falls in 1898. Started with electrical depart-
ment of the C. B. & Q. R. R. in 1899, and in
1900 accepted a position with the Elgin, Aurora
& Southern Traction Company, taking charge
of track and overhead work. In 1902 going
with the Aurora, Elgin & Chicago, from where
he accepted in March, 1903, the position of
superintendent of track and overhead work of the
Rockford & Interurban Railway Company.
R. J. BRYHN.
The subject of this sketch was born in Nor-
way, March 19, 1864, and came to New York
with his parents when thirteen years of age.
R. j. BRYHN.
where he remained six years, employed as a
shipping clerk. He removed to Chicago in 1883
and was employed as a shipping clerk for C.
Jevne & Co., where he remained two years.
He then engaged with the Standard Oil Co.
in a like position in Chicago, and at the end of
five years was transferred to Rockford and re-
mained with the company until 1896, when he
engaged in the oil business on his own account,
but at the end of one year he sold his interests
to the Standard Oil Co. and engaged with the
company as its local manager, in which capacity
he has met with eminent success.
He has supervision over a large territory,
covering some sixty towns and agencies which
are supplied with oil from the Rockford branch.
Socially, Mr. Bryhn is an Odd Fellow and a
Modern Woodman. He is married, and with
his family resides at 316 South First street.
ROCKFORD
CAPT. LEWIS F. LAKE,
Circuit Clerk and Recorder, is a native of Illi-
nois, and was born in Owen township, Winne-
bago county, in 1846, and was educated in the
public schools. He enlisted in the army and
did service during the Civil War. He was cap-
tured at Atlanta in July 1864, and confined in
CAPT. LEWIS F. LAKE.
the Andersonville prison until he was released
by a special exchange of prisoners the following
September.
During a portion of his enlistment he did ser-
vice in Taylor's Battery, First Illinois Light Ar-
tillery, and was engaged in several of the most
noted battles of the war.
Capt. Lake's pride in military life is further
evidenced by .fifteen years of service in the Illi-
nois National Guard, eight years of which as a
member of the famous Rockford Rifles, and
seven as regimental adjutant with rank of cap-
tain.
Upon his return, at the close of the war, he
worked at the carpenters trade, but soon went
into the shops of the Emerson Mfg. Co., where
he worked thirteen years. In 1881 he was a
candidate for the office of collector and was
elected by a good majority. At the expiration
of his term of office as collector he was made
deputy county clerk in which capacity he served
six years. He was then elected to the office of
circuit clerk, and is now serving his fourth term
in this office.
Socially, he is a member of the G. A. R.,
Masons, Royal League, A. 0. U. W., Elks, K.
of P. and various other beneficiary orders.
Capt. Lake was married to Miss Martha A.
Allen, June 20, 1866. and has had three chil-
dred, one of which, a daughter, is now living.
The family resides at 229 North Church street.
MARCUS A. NORTON.
The subject of this sketch was born in the
town of Bridgewater, Michigan, January 16,
1841. His parents removed to Ann Arbor,
MARCUS A. NORTON.
Michigan, in 1844 so as to be able to give their
children the excellent educational advantages
offered in that city.
In 1852 the family came to Rockford and
made a home on the South side, in the, then,
new Fifth ward, since which time Mr. Norton
has resided nearly continuously in this city.
Mr. Norton was among the first to respond
to the call for volunteers in defense of the Union,
and enlisted as a private in Company G, 44th
ROCKFORD
133
Regiment Illinois Infantry for three years. At
the battle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1863,
he was severely wounded and was left on the
field when his regiment retreated. He was
found by the rebels and taken prisoner, but was
paroled with others also severely wounded and
was taken to Chattanooga October 1st, 1863.
After an exchange of prisoners had been ac-
complished he returned to his regiment and par-
ticipated in the Atlanta campaign under General
Sherman, and was present when that city capit-
ulated. He was mustered out of service at
Atlanta, Georgia, September 17, 1864.
Mr. Norton participated in many of the most
noted battles of the war, among which were
Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Lost
Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain, Peach Tree
Creek, Jonesborough and many skirmishes and
engagements around Atlanta. He has never
applied for nor received a pension.
During the last twenty years Mr. Norton has
been honored by being made the recipient of
various offices of public trust. In 1 883 he was
elected supervisor from the Fifth city ward and
held the office during three terms, but being a
candidate for the office of county clerk in 1 886
he declined a renomination for supervisor.
At the Winnebago county Republican con-
vention, in June 1886, he was nominated by ac-
clamation as a candidate for the office of county
clerk and was elected the following November.
He is now serving his fifth term in this office,
having been nominated by acclamation at each
recurring convention.
Mr. Norton was married to Miss Henrietta
Gardner, in May 1866, by the Rev. Dr. Thomas
Kerr. One child was born to them who died in
infancy.
He now resides at 610 North street.
JAMES H. CARSON
Is of Scotch-Irish parentage, and was born near
Belfast, Ireland, March 10, 1846. His father,
Robert Carson, was a native of Belfast, Ireland,
and his mother, Jane (McVey) Carson, was a
native of Greenock, Scotland, where they were
married, and shortly after removed to Belfast
where James was born, but returned to Green-
ock when he was a year old, where they resided
about six years. In 1853 they came to Amer-
ica and settled on a farm near Rochester, N. Y.
James H. Carson was the eldest of eight
children, five of whom are still living. He was
educated in the public schools.
In 1865 he came to Illinois and was engaged
in farming. At the age of twenty-three he was
married to Miss Ella M. Thompson, daughter of
Hiram Thompson, one of the early settlers of
Winnebago county. In 1873 he removed to
Rockford where he has since resided. Three
children blessed their union, Robert D., the eld-
est son, died five years ago aged twenty-six,
Frank A., aged twenty-seven, deputy county
treasurer, and Mrs. Mabel F. (Carson) Weth-
erell resides in Beloit, Wis.
JAMES H. CARSON.
Mr. Carson has been identified with the
working men of Rockford for many years, hav-
ing been employed in the Emerson, Talcott &
Co.'s works, the N. C. Thompson manufactur-
ing plant, the Briggs & Enoch works, and the
Trahern Pump Co.'s works.
In 1891 he was elected a supervisor from
Rockford, in which capacity he served ten years,
and was chairman of the committee on fees and
134
ROCKFORD
salaries and served on several other important
committees. He was appointed by the Board
of Health of the City of Rockford as water and
plumbing 'inspector, in which capacity he did
efficient service. The Board of Supervisors ap-
pointed him to the office of overseer of the poor
in which position he served three years.
At the election in November, 1902, he was
elected to the office of county treasurer, receiv-
ing the unanimous vote of every town in the
county and precinct in the city, which office he
now holds.
Politically, Mr. Carson has ever been a
staunch republican, but in local matters he is
conservative, and will support the candidate who,
in his best judgment, is best qualified to fill the
office regardless of party lines.
Socially. Mr. Carson is a Mason, having
served as secretary of E. F. W. Ellis Lodge No.
633, A. F. & A. M., for a number of years;
K. of P., K. of G.. Tribe of Ben Hur and I. O.
O. F.
Mrs. Carson is also a member of the Ladies'
Auxiliaries to these societies. She is a Post
Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star and
Past Grand of the Rebecca Degree of the I. 0.
O. F.
Mr. Carson is fifty-six years old and bids fair
to live yet many years as his ancestors were
noted for longevity of years. His father and
mother are still living, aged respectively eighty-
six and eighty-three years. They reside on the
old homestead in Monroe county, New York.
Mr. Carson has a pleasant home in South
Rockford, No. 1 129 Ferguson street.
ALEX COLLIER.
Sheriff of Winnebago county, was born in Chen-
ango county, New York, March 8, 1848, where
he was educated in the public schools, and re-
sided until twenty-one years of age. His occu-
pation, while young, was that of farming. He
settled in Roscoe, Illinois, in 1869 and engaged
in the milling business. He adopted the miller's
trade as a profession and became an expert in
the business. After doing a successful seven
year's business in Roscoe, he became the head
miller at the Rockton and Beloit mills. On
account of his health, he left the mills and re-
turned to the farm where he remained six years.
Mr. Collier represented the town of Harlem in
the county board of supervisors three years. In
1881, he came to Rockford and engaged with
the City Railway company as general mana-
ALEX COLLIER.
ger of its stock and employes, but was shortly
after appointed superintendent of the county
farm by the board of supervisors, which position
he filled to the entire satisfaction of the board
and the people, for eleven years. In 1902, he
was the unanimous choice of the Republican
party as a candidate for sheriff of Winnebago
county, and was elected to that office at the
November election. Socially, Mr. Collier is an
Elk and a Mason. He married Miss Eliza J.
McMullen, of Fairdale, DeKalb county, Illinois,
in 1876, and has two children, a daughter, Ida
Marie, and a son, Charles T.
0. J. KERN.
County Superintendent of Schools O. J.
Kern, was born in Moultrie County, Illinois, Jan.
1, 1861. He attended the district school dur-
ing a few months in the winter, and after he was
twenty-one years old he earned enough money
to enable him to take a four years classical
ROCKFORD
135
course at De Pauw (Old Asbury) University,
Greencastle, Indiana. Over study so affected
his eyesight that he was compelled to give up
further study and return to the farm. After re-
maining there a year he decided to attempt
teaching. Entirely without friends, influence or
experience, he secured a position as principal
of a four room school. He came to Winne-
bago county in August 1888, a stranger, with
funds enough for two weeks board, and taught
his first day of school as principal of the Cherry
Valley school. After remaining there three
years at an increase of salary, in September,
1891, he became one of the instructors of the
Rockford High School. This position he held
for seven years. In April, 1898, he was unani-
mously nominated by the Republican County
Convention for the position of County Superin-
tendent of Schools, and was elected the follow-
ing November. He was renominated in 1902,
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT O. J. KERN.
and was elected the same year. Mr. Kern is
a fine type of the up-to-date educator who
makes the most of the means at his command.
He has enlisted the co-operation of teachers,
pupils and board of supervisors so that fifty-eight
traveling libraries, for district schools, have been
purchased, representing about 2800 volumes, at
anoutlayof $1300. He has organized a Farmer
Boy's Experiment Club of 325 members and
conducted educational excursions to the Experi-
ment Station and Agricultural College. New
schools are being built and grounds and build-
ings made attractive. During his administra-
tion three district schools have been consolidated
and a new central building will be erected in
1903, the first school of this kind in Illinois.
This school will be located in Seward township.
That his talent is appreciated is shown by the
steady demand for his presence at farmers' and
teachers' institutes, and for articles from his pen.
He is a regular contributor to the local press and
to the School News, published at Taylorville, III.
He is also an occasional contributor to other
periodicals. His 1902 report of the Winnebago
County schools entitled " The Country School
and the Country Child," was called for from all
over the United States, and requests for it came
from South America and Canada. His report
of a visit to the Centralized Schools of Ohio
received as wide a notice and was reprinted in
the report of the National Commissioner of
Education at Washington, D. C. Supt. Kern
is not content to travel in the ordinary educa-
tional rut, and with the hearty co-operation of
teachers, pupils and patrons, he will make the
district schools of Winnebago county second to
none in the state. Mr. Kern was united in mar-
riage to Jessie C. Allen at Greencastle, Indiana,
August 6, 1889. They have four children
Esther, Evans, Louise and Russell.
FRANK M. MARSH.
Frank M. Marsh was born at New Milford,
Illinois, and was educated in the public schools
of East Rockford, under the principalship of
Professor Freeman. After graduation he took
a course in a business college where he became
thoroughly equipped for a business career.
In 1 874 he engaged in the stock and grain
business, which was successfully prosecuted for
about fifteen years. In 1888 he formed a
partnership with Mr. Maxwell, under the firm
name of Marsh & Maxwell, and engaged in the
undertaking business, as successors to William
Logle. At the end of three years the firm dis-
136
ROCKFORD
solved partnership and Mr Marsh continued the
business alone until 1902, when he took his son,
Louis, as a partner. This firm now conducts
one of the leading undertaking establishments
in the city.
Mr. Marsh has served the town of New
Milford acceptably as its supervisor and In
1896 was elected coroner of the county. In
ford Business College, was graduated in 1880,
after which he served as a teacher in the college
two years. He then turned his attention to
FRANK M. MARSH.
1900 he was re-elected to this office in which
capacity he is giving acceptable service to the
people.
Mr. Marsh's father had the honor of sug-
gesting the name for his native town, New
Milford. There was a new mill erected on the
river, at a point at which there was a convenient
ford, and this fact suggested the name, New
mill-ford, which was written New Milford.
Mr. Marsh is a member of several fraternal
societies, is married and has a family of three
children. He resides at 215 South First street.
I. SHOUDY.
The subject of this sketch was born at
Pawpaw, Lee county, Illinois, in 1859, where he
spent his boyhood days. He came to Rockford
in 1879, and after taking a course in the Rock-
i. SHOUDY.
farming, and was married to Miss Belle E.
Miller, daughter of C. F. Miller, Esq., who
served as a justice of the peace for many years
in this city. He returned to Rockford in 1889,
where he has since resided.
Mr. Shoudy has the credit for the invention
of the first tank-heater and took out the first
patent ever issued from the patent office on this
useful article. He manufactured tanks in this
city two years, and then organized a stock com-
pany for the purpose of manufacturing them on
a much larger scale. He was so unfortunate
as to sell a majority of the stock and thus lost
control of the business, and this resulted in its
failure. He engaged in the real estate business
in 1893 and in 1896 the present co-partnership,
Shoudy Si Melville, was formed. The company
does, exclusively, a land business.
Mr. Shoudy is the inventor of the first
dumping car ever used, which he patented and
sold to eastern parties. The same device is
now being used on dumping carts. He also
ROCKFORD
invented a railroad jack the patent for which
was sold to the Southern Railway Company for
$1,000.00.
In 1893 he had a position in the land de-
partment of the Illinois Central Railway Com-
pany. After serving in this capacity for some
time, he took a like position with the Yazoo
Valley Company, in both of which positions he
was very successful.
In 1899 he handled a large amount of land
in Clark county, Wisconsin. During the last
year a large area of Texas land has been added
to the list. The company now owns and con-
trols more than 400,000 acres of land, located
In many states. It employs 160 agents who
reside in Illinois, Iowa and Indiana. These
agents come regularly to this city, and bring
many strangers with them, who help swell the
great volume of business here. Doubtless this
company employs more people and handles a
greater amount of land than all other like con-
cerns in the city, put together. They move
along quietly but an immense volume of business
is done every year.
A portrait of Mr. Shoudy is herewith pre-
sented, also an illustration of his home at 2515
South Main street. The office of Shoudy &
Melville is at 315-317 West State street.
Mr. Melville was married to Miss Sarah E.
Eddy, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. F. W.
F. L. MELVILLE
Was born in Lake county, Illinois, 1861, and
spent thirty years of his life upon the farm in
that county. He came to Rockford in 1890
and took a course in the Rockford Business Col-
lege, and. after graduation, taught two years in
that institution.
Mr. Melville then engaged in the real estate
business, forming a copartnership with Mr. I.
Shoudy in 1896, since which time he has been
an indefatigable worker in building up a business
that is an honor to the firm and a credit to the
city. This firm owns and controls more than
400,000 acres of land located in Kansas, Mis-
sissippi, Iowa and Wisconsin, and has 160 men
in its employ. The volume of business trans-
acted by it will probably exceed the aggregate of
all other real estate concerns in this section of
the country.
F. L. MELVILLE.
Eddy of Lake county, in 1892. and resides at
830 Elm street.
JESSE DIMOND
Was born in Boone county, Illinois, May 26,
1870, and was educated in the public schools.
He was engaged in farming until 1894 when he
went into the business of stock buying, and at
the same time conducted a meat market at Pop-
lar Grove, Illinois, where he remained three
years.
In 1897 he removed to Brookings, South
Dakota, and engaged in the real estate business.
He came to Rockford in 1899, and has since
been in the land business. In 1901 he formed
a copartnership with Mr. W. H. Marshall, under
the firm name of Dimond & Marshall. They
make a specialty of buying and selling farm
lands. Their immigration business is larger
than that of any other dealers in the country.
They have sold, and also now have on hand im-
mense tracts of land in the Dakotas and Kan-
sas upon which they locate actual settlers. Their
business makes it necessary to employ a large
138
ROCKFORD
number of men located in different parts of the
country. These men to the number of 1 00 or
more frequently come to Rockford and thus con-
tribute to its resources and popularity.
Mr. Dimond is an Odd Fellow and Modern
Woodman.
tation to the city for which the community is
indebted to this firm.
JESSE DIMOND
Having lost his wife he resides with his three
children at 813 Mulberry street.
W. H. MARSHALL
Is a prominent land dealer in connection with
Jesse Dimond, under the firm of Dimond &.
Marshall.
Mr. Marshall was born in Winnebago, Win-
nebago county, Illinois, July 5, 1870, and was
educated in the schools of his native town, and
was graduated from the Winnebago High School.
His first business venture was in the meat
business, after which he engaged in the real es-
tate business in which he has been very suc-
cessful. The company handles a large amount
of western land annually, and employs a large
force of men who visit Rockford frequently in
the course of their business, thus giving a large
amount of free advertising and a splendid repu-
W. H. MARSHALL.
Socially, Mr. Marshall is a member of the
M. W. A., I. O. O. F., and the Masonic order.
He is married and has two children.
The family residence is at No. 1 101 West
State street.
H. W. WILLIAMS
Was born in Worcester, England, February 27,
1830, and was educated in the schools of his
native country. He came to the United States
in 1845, and spent some time at Ypsilanta,
Michigan, where an uncle resided. He then
went to Detroit, Michigan, and to Lake Supe-
rior points, where he remained until coming to
Rockford in 1866. when he secured a position
as bookkeeper in the office of N. C. Thompson,
where he remained twenty-one years.
The father of Mr. Williams was a celebrated
English artist, whose works were widely known.
He was married to Miss Lydia Lane Wright,
formerly of Newport Pagnell, England, in Rock-
ford, June 5, 1870.
He visited his English home in 1887, where
he remained one year to recuperate his health.
R OC K FO R D
He died in 1893 at the family residence No. 313
South Church street. His widow, four sons,
Henry Wilson, William Howard, Joseph Thomas
and Andrew Price, and one daughter, Lavinia
Georgine, reside in Rockford.
w. WILLIAMS.
Mr. Williams was an honored Mason and a
highly respected citizen.
LIBERTY WALKUP
Was born in Pine Creek township, Ogle county,
Illinois, in 1844, and was educated in rhe public
schools.
Mr. Walkup's given name. Liberty, is an old
family name, and was brought to this country by
the Puritan fathers. The parents of Mr. Walkup
in bestowing this name upon their son conveyed
an heirloom to him of high distinction, of which
he has reason to be proud.
Mr Walkup enlisted in Company K, 92nd
Regiment Illinois Volunteers, in 1862, but on
account of disability received an honorable dis-
charge in 1863, when he returned to his home
in Pine Creek, where he remained four years.
He then removed to Iowa, where he resided six
years, when he returned to Illinois. He came
to Rockford in 1881, where he has since resided.
Mr. Walkup is the patentee of the Air Brush.
His work has met with much opposition and
criticism by artists on account of its being, so
called, machine work, but has been successful
in overcoming this opposition, and to-day this
work is highly appreciated. It is now in a very
high state of perfection, and beautiful half-tones
are now produced that excel the best hand-work.
Delicate tints and shadings are placed upon the
canvas, with the atomizer, that cannot be pro-
duced by hand. Air Brush work is sought after
LIBERTY WALKUP.
by people from all parts of the world, and there
is no product of Rockford's many industries that
is more widely known or more highly apprecia-
ted.
Mr. Walkup has an office and studio in his
house, where he enjoys his work, and has a large
patronage.
An uncle, Gen. James Ruggles, was one of
three men who drew up the first republican plat-
form and made possible the election of Abraham
Lincoln president of the United States. Gen.
Ruggles has visited Rockford several times.
Mr. Walkup is married and resides at 209
North Main street.
140
ROCKFORD
HON. FRANK S. REGAN
Was bom in Rockford, Illinois, October 3, 1862.
His father settled in Rockford in 1840. Mr.
Regan was educated in the city schools.
HON. FRANK S. REGAN.
He first took up the work of making a set of
abstract books of Winnebago county in company
with Girdon O. Williams, which required seven
years to complete. He was appointed to the
position of stenographer, in the Illinois legisla-
ture, in 1887.
After completing the abstract work he re-
sumed the reading of law in the office of A. D.
Early, and was admitted to the bar in 1895. He
then opened an office for the practice of law,
and has met with marked success.
Mr. Regan has been an active temperance
worker for many years. He served as president
of the No- License organization in Rockford. and
was elected an alderman from the Fourth ward
in 1895, and served two years.
He identified himself with the Prohibition
party soon after the campaign of 1896, and was
elected as a representative in the legislature on
the Prohibition ticket. His work in the legisla-
ture is highly commended. He was the only
representative, that year, in the United States,
elected on the Prohibition ticket. Mr. Regan
was a candidate for representative in Congress,
on the Prohibition ticket, in the campaign of
1902.
Mr. Regan has been in demand on the lec-
ture platform for some time, and has met with
gratifying success.
He is the secretary of the Rockford Chautau-
que Association, and was one of the promoters
of this enterprise.
Mr. Regan was married to Miss Helen M.
Crumb, of Rockford, June 11, 1896, and has
two children, Frances C. and Leland. Resi-
dence at 1201 North Church street.
CLINTON HELM, M. D.,
Was born in Schoharie county, New York, in
1829. His father, Woodhull Helm, was born
in Orange county, New York, in 1777, and was
CLINTON HELM, M. D.
of English and Irish ancestry. The English
branch has a coat of arms as a reward for dis-
tinguished service to the state. He was con-
nected with the state militia for many years and
earned the title of captain.
ROCKFORD
141
He was three times married, and the third
wife was Miss Lucy Buggies, the mother of the
subject of this sketch, who was the youngest
member of the family.
When Clinton was six years of age his father
removed to Jersey county, Illinois, and two years
later to Ogle county, Illinois, where he died in
Byron in 1845, being sixty-eight years of age.
Dr. Clinton Helm was educated in the Rock-
ford (111.) Academy, and commenced the study
of medicine with Dr. Lucius Clark of this city.
He graduated from the medical department of
the University of Iowa, at Keokuk, in 1852, and
commenced the practice of his profession at
Oregon, Ogle county, Illinois. He afterward re-
moved to Byron in the same county, and later
to Beloit, Wisconsin, where he remained eight
years, acquiring a very large and successful
practice.
In September, 1862, Governor Yates ap-
pointed him surgeon of the 92nd Illinois Infan-
try, and during the succeeding year he was with
that command in all its marches and battles.
On September 20, 1863, he was captured
by the Confederates at Chickamauga, Tennes-
see, and spent two months in Libby prison. Dur-
ing the last year of his service he was with Gen-
eral Kilpatrick, and was honorably discharged
June 21, 1865.
Dr. Helm located in Rockford in 1878,
where he has since enjoyed a substantial and
popular practice.
He married Miss Hannah S. Payneer, who
was a native of Connecticut and of French par-
entage. Mrs. Helm was a cultured woman,
and was noted for her benevolent spirit and help-
fulness in the community. Both the doctor and
Mrs. Helm were members of the Second Congre-
gational church, and were foremost in charit-
able work. They were the parents of six chil-
dren, five of whom are still living ; Minnie E.,
wife of E. J. White of Chicago; Clinton, a prac-
ticing dentist of Rockford, Eva, Harry S., and
Willis.
Dr. Helm is a member of the Winnebago
County Medical Society, and is called in con-
sultation in critical cases, over a wide area of
country.
Mrs. Helm died in July, 1899. The resi-
dence is at 628 Mulberry street.
DR. E. P. CATLIN
Was born in Chester, Ohio, in 1837, and came
to Rockford with his parents in 1838. His
father, Dr. A. M. Catlin, upon arrival in Rock-
ford, combined farming with the practice of med-
icine, but his services, as a physician, were so
much in demand that he was finally forced to
give up the farm and devote his attention to the
practice of medicine. His practice extended
over a wide area of country and his rides were
long and tedious. He died in 1892 after a pro-
fessional service of seventy years.
Dr E. P. Catlin was educated in the Rock-
ford district and high schools, and at Kimball
Union Academy, New Hampshire. He gradu-
ated from Rush Medical College in 1 864. Took
a post-graduate course in College of Physicians
and Surgery in New York city, and Bellevue
Hospital Medical College in 1865. He was first
assistant surgeon in the 152nd Illinois regiment.
Dr. Catlin practiced medicine in Rockford
one year, and then located in Manteno, Illinois,
where he practiced his profession thirteen years,
when he returned to Rockford, where he has
since enjoyed a prominent position among his
fellow practitioners and the community.
Dr. Catlin was married in 1866 and has
three sons, one of whom, Dr. S. R. Catlin, is
now practicing medicine in Rockford, thus rep-
resenting the third generation, in the same fam-
ily, in the medical profession. The Catlin fam-
ily of physicians represents sixty-six years of
service in Rockford.
Dr. Catlin is a member of Post No. 1 ,
G. A. R.
HENRY RICHINGS, M. D.,
Is a son of the late Dr. Charles H. Richings,
who was born in England, February 26, 1815,
and received his preliminary medical education
in Belgium, as a medical cadet serving with the
French Army of Occupation.
He came to the United States in 1836 and
entered a large tract of land near Pecatonica,
Illinois. He soon after returned to England,
where he married Miss Mary Stephenson, a not
very distant relative of the noted English engi-
neer of this name. Upon his return to this coun-
try he settled upon his farm, where he not only
142
ROCKFORD
cultivated the land but also took up the work of
his profession. He was the second physician to
locate in this section of country, he being pre-
ceded by Dr. L. Moulthrop, who came to Rock-
ford in 1835. His practice grew until he was
obliged to give up farming operations and re-
moved to Rockford, where he died at his home,
on West State street, August 13, 1884, after a
successful practice of forty-eight years.
Dr. Henry Richings was born on the farm,
near Pecatonica, in 1842, and was educated in
the public schools of Rockford and also attended
HENRY RICHINGS, M. D.
school at Beloit, Wis. He studied medicine at
Ann Arbor, Mich., and also at the University of
New York, where he took his degree in 1864.
Soon after he received the appointment of Act-
ing Assistant Surgeon U. S. A., and was assigned
to the United States General Hospital, Arm-
ory Square, Washington, D. C., where as execu-
tive officer he served until the close of the war,
under Dr. D. W. Bliss, surgeon in charge, who
had already become noted as an army surgeon.
At the close of the war he formed a part-
nership with Dr. Bliss, and practiced his profes-
sion in Washington, D. C., for eight years. He
located in Rockford in 1878, where he has since
enjoyed a lucrative practice.
Dr. Richings has served as consulting sur-
geon on the staff of the Rockford City Hospital
since its establishment in 1883.
He is a member of the Winnebago County
Medical Society, the American Medical Asso-
ciation, the Illinois State Medical Society, the
State Association of Military Surgeons of Illinois,
the National Association of Military Surgeons
of the United States, the State Board of Health,
and is the 'local surgeon for the Chicago, Mil-
waukee & St. Paul and the Chicago & Northwest-
ern Railway companies, and is also the surgeon
for the Third Regiment Illinois Infantry.
Socially, he is a Mason, K. T. and a Shriner.
Dr. Richings married Miss Maria Cammann,
May 25, 1869, and has one daughter, who was
born in Washington, D. C., and who is the wife
of Dr. S. R. Catlin of Rockford.
The family residence is at No. 305 North
Main street.
W. H. FITCH, M. D.,
One of Rockford's most eminent physicians, was
born in Cherry Valley, Illinois, June 18, 1844.
H. FITCH, M. D.
He is a graduate of Beloit College and of
the Medical Department Northwestern Univer-
sity. He also pursued post graduate studies at
ROCKFORD
H3
Ann Arbor University, and the medical schools
of Vienna, Berlin and London.
Dr. Fitch commenced the practice of medi-
cine in Rockford in 1870, and has met with
eminent success. He has held the position of
consulting surgeon for the Rockford City Hospi-
pal since its establishment.
While the doctor pursues no specialty, he is
considered to be one of the best all-round con-
sultants in this section of country, and is called
in consultation in critical cases to all points in
Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.
He has been a member of the Board of
Trustees of the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary
for eighteen years, and of the Rockford College
during the last fifteen years, in both of which in-
stitutions he has taken a deep interest.
Dr. Fitch married Miss Katherine Kountz,
of Allegheny, Penn., and has two children.
Hisofficesare Nos. 303-305 Masonic Temple,
and the family residence is on North Main street.
W. B. HELM, M. D.,
Was born in Butlerville, Iowa, October 12, 1859,
and was educated at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin,
W. B. HELM, M. D,
High School from which he graduated in 1876,
Northwestern University in 1881, and from the
Northwestern University Medical School in 1884.
Dr. Helm comes from a family of doctors,
and is among the foremost of the family as a
successful practitioner.
The doctor was married to Miss Mary Gib-
son, of Rockford, in 1887, and has two children.
His office is on the fifth floor of the Brown
building, and the family residence is at No. 740
North Church street.
The doctor is a member of the Winnebago
County Medical Society, the American Medical
Association and the Central Wisconsin Medical
Association.
ALBERT S. GREEN, M. D.,
Is a well known Rockford physician, having come
to the city in 1894, where he has established a
successful practice.
Dr. Green was educated at the Mount Mor-
ris Seminary, the Northwestern University,
Michigan State University, and the Chicago
ALBERT S. GREEN, M. D.
Medical College, receiving his degree from the
latter in 1878. He began the practice of med-
icine at Shullsburg, Wis., where he remained
sixteen years.
Since receiving his degree he has done
much post-graduate work. In 1890 he took a
post-graduate course at the New York Polyclinic.
144
ROCKFORD
In 1891 a course at the New York Post-Gradu-
ate Medical College. In 1894 he attended a
course at the Philadelphia Polyclinic, and in
1897 he took a medical course at the New York
Post-Graduate Medical College. It is not every
physician that spends his time and means in so
thoroughly perfecting himself for the work of his
profession, but Dr. Green would not stop short
of the best possible equipment. His patients
now get the benefit of his arduous work.
Dr. Green is a member of the Winnebago
County Medical Society, Wisconsin State Med-
ical Society, Illinois State Medical Society, and
American Medical Association.
Socially, he is a Modern Woodman and a
Mason.
The family residence is at No. 806 North
Court street.
Dr. Green married Miss Estelle J. Wells,
and has four children; John A., Walter C.,
Harry L., and Frances V.
DR. T. N. MILLER
Was born in Vernon, Oneida county, New York,
August 24, 1849, and was educated in the pub-
Medical Department Northwestern University in
the class of 1880.
Dr. Miller practiced medicine in Winnebago
ten years and then removed to Rockford in 1 890,
where he has since enjoyed a successful practice
of his profession. He is a member of the Win-
nebago County Medical Society and has been
its president during the last three years. He is
also a member of the American Medical Asso-
ciation. He is also a member of the Illinois
State Medical Association and the Central Wis-
consin Medical Society.
Dr. Miller married Miss Arvella A. Lane,
June 15, 1880, and has two children ; Edith A.,
who is now a senior in Rockford College, and
Bertha Alvera, in the eighth grade in Church
school.
Socially, he is a member of the Royal Arca-
num.
His residence is at No. 1304 West State
street.
DR. T. N. MILLER.
lie schools of Winnebago county, Illinois. He
was graduated from Beloit College in the class
of 1873, and from the Chicago Medical College,
GEORGE L. WINN, M. D.
Dr. George L. Winn was born in Cleveland,
N. Y., March 10, 1851, from which place he
removed to Syracuse, N. Y., and from there to
Darien, Wls., in 1864. He received his primary
education in the public schools, and for prepara-
tory work attended the seminary at Allen's
Grove, and attended the State University at
Champaign, 111., two years.
He studied medicine in the office of Doctor
Green, at Woodstock, 111., and then attended the
Ann Arbor University one year. He then took
a course at the Northwestern Medical school
and received his degree in 1876.
He entered upon the practice of his pro-
fession at Allen's Grove, Wis., where he re-
mained four years, after which he took a post
graduate course at Bellevue Hospital, New
York City. Doctor Winn located in Rockford
in 1882. where he has since resided.
Dr. Winn keeps well abreast in the progress
that is now being made in the work of his
profession. He is a hard worker and has met
with well merited success in his practice. He
has the confidence of his patrons and his practice
is constantly increasing.
Doctor Winn is a member of the Winnebago
County Medical Society, the State Medical
ROCKFORD
'45
Society and the American Medical Association.
He is also the medical examiner for the
Home Fraternal League, in Rockford.
Doctor Winn married Miss Kate Dixon of
Allen's Grove, in 1879, and has one son. His
ining physician for the Illinois Insurance Com-
pany, the A. U. O. W., the Royal Neighbors,
GEORGE L. WINN, M. D.
offices are Nos. 414 and 416 Masonic Temple,
and the family residence is at No. 1225 North
Church street.
C. A. WALKER, M. D.
Was born in Lake Geneva, September 3, 1872.
He was graduated from the Lake Geneva High
school in the class of 1892, and from the Chi-
cago Homeopathic Medical College, in the class
of 1896. As a result of his standing, through
competitive examination, he was made house
physician and surgeon of Cook County Hospital
from October 1, 1896 to April 1, 1898. He came
to Rockford in May 1898, to take the practice
of J. W. Thomas, where he has gained promi-
nent standing in the medical profession. His
offices are in rooms 301 and 302 in the Masonic
Temple. He is a member of the Rockford
City Hospital attending staff, and is the exam-
.C. A. WALKER, M. D.
and the Fraternal Tribunes. Dr. Walker mar-
ried Miss Emma Sinclair, of Sarnia, Ontario,
June 27, 1900, and has one daughter, Lornea.
DR. CHARLES VICTOR STARKE.
Born March 25th, 1853, in Sweden, near
the city of Jonkoping. After finishing the
country school he passed through Jonkoping's
Elementar School 1867-75. Student at Upsala
University 1875, Medico-philosophic exam.
1876,Medicinae Cand.exam. 1885 andMedecina;
Licenciate exam. 1889 at Upsala, Kingdom of
Sweden.
Lived at Paris, France, Oct., 1878-May,
1879.
In March and April 1890 he passed the
reqlementary examinations in the Facultad de
Ciencias Me'dicas of the University of Buenos
Aires for admission to the practice of medicine
in the Argentine Republic, S. Am. Director of
the Medico-mechanic Gymnastic Institute at
Buenos Aires 1890-91. Practicing physician
in the Province of Buenos Aires 1892.
146
ROC KFO R D
Arrived in the United States of N. America
Oct. 1st 1892, and has lived at Rockford. 111.,
since Nov 1892, except 18 months passed at
Omaha. Neb., 1894-95.
Married 1 899 to Anna Nordwall from Omaha.
Dr. Starke's motto is: Nothing in humanity
is higher than truth and justice. Do the best
you can and don't fear anything. Judge people
after their acts and not after their confessions.
He commenced the practice of medicine
in Rockford in 1880, where he has now a
large and successful practice.
DR. CHARLES VICTOR STARKE.
Let us live well for this world and not anxiously
spend our lives preparing for destinies unknown.
Try to live and let other people try to live
(German: "Leben und leben lassen").
As a practicing physician Dr. Starke is not
known In Rockford outside of the Swedish
colony, probably because of his nationality.
Still he considers himself a cosmopolite.
ROCKWOOD SAGER. M. D.
Doctor Sager is a member of the Winnebago
County Medical Society. Socially he is a
member of the I. O. O. F. and Modern Wood-
men. He was married to Miss Helma Hegberg
of Rockford, in 1900, and resides at No. 1216
South Main street.
ROCKWOOD SAGER, M. D.
Rockwood Sager, M. D., one of the best
known physicians of Rockford, was born in
Belvidere, Illinois, in 1863. He was educated
in the city schools of Belvidere, and is a graduate
of Rush Medical College, Chicago.
LEMUEL TIBBETS. M. D,,
Was born in Payson, Adams county, Illinois,
August 13, 1842, and was educated in the pub-
lic schools and at St. Paul's College, Palmyria,
Missouri. He commenced the study of medi-
cine in the medical department of the Univer-
sity of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and completed his
course at the Bellevue Hospital Medical Col-
lege, graduating in 1867.
He commenced the practice of medicine at
Dallas City, Illinois, where he remained six
years. He removed from Dallas City to Kirk-
wood, Illinois, where he enjoyed a successful
practice for six years, and then came to Rock-
ford in 1878, where he has since remained, and
ROCKFORD
'47
has enjoyed the distinction of being one of Rock-
ford's most eminent physicians. Before com-
ing to Rockford, Dr. Tibbets took a post-grad-
uate course in New York, where he made a
special study of eye, ear, nose and throat dis-
eases, and in connection with his regular prac-
tice gives special attention to the treatment of
these ailments, having supplied himself with the
most improved appliances for the successful
treatment of these diseases.
DR. RAY DANIEL WILLIAMS,
Was born in Anteoch, Illinois, and was educated
in the public schools. Prepared for college at
the Northwestern Academy at Evanston and
LEMUEL TIBBETS, M. D.
Dr. Tibbets was pension examiner under
both administrations of President Cleveland.
He was a charter member of the City Hos-
pital Association, and is a member on the med-
ical staff of St. Anthony's Hospital for the treat-
ment of eye, ear, nose and throat diseases.
Socially, he is a 32nd degree Mason, a mem-
ber of the Freeport Consistory, and Crusader
Commandery.
Dr. Tibbets was married to Miss Cornelia
E. Bradshaw, of Elida, Illinois, in 1872, and re-
sides at No. 834 North Main street.
His office is at No. 212 West State street,
which he has continuously occupied for twenty-
three years.
RAY DANIEL WILLIAMS.
received the degree of Ph. B. at Northwestern
University in 1896. He studied medicine at the
Chicago Medical College. Dr. Williams is a
member of the Winnebago County Medical
Society, the American Medical Society, and
medical director of the Y. M. C. A. Dr. Wil-
liams attended the Marine Biological labora-
tory, at Boston, during the summer of 1895.
His office is in the Blaisdell Block, and he
resides at the Chick House.
w. A. MCDOWELL, M. D.
W. A. McDowell, M. D., was born in Kirk-
land, Illinois, in 1850, and was educated in the
public schools and Beloit College. His medical
education was obtained at the Hahnemann
Medical College, Chicago.
He commenced the practice of medicine in
Rockford where he has met with good success.
148
ROCKFORD
Socially, he is a member of the Masonic Order.
He is married and has three children. His
W. A. MCDOWELL, M. D.
office is in the Masonic Temple, and his residence
at No. 904 North Church street.
C. HARRY WOOLSEY,
Is a native of Norfolk, England, and was born
December 25, 1853. He came to Rockford
with his parents in 1862, and was a student in
the city schools six years, when he became a
messenger boy for the Western Union Telegraph
Company, and also learned the business of an
operator. When fifteen years of age he was
placed in charge of an office at Neenah, Wiscon-
sin. He was in the railway service sixteen
years, nearly all this time with the Northwestern
Railway Company. He served as cashier in
the Rockford office, ticket agent at Winona,
Minnesota, and as chief clerk in the office of
the F. E. & M. V. Railway Company at Missouri
Valley, Iowa. He quit railway service and re-
turned to Rockford in 1887. In 1890, he was
elected to the city council from the First ward
and served four years. In the campaign of
1894, he was elected to the state legislature on
the Democratic ticket. At the municipal elec-
tion of 1903, he was again elected to the city
council from the First ward. Mr. Woolsey was
one of the founders of the Skandia Furniture
Company in 1889, and was its secretary two
years. Socially he is a member of the K. of
P., M. W. A and A. F. & A. M. societies. Be-
W I
C. HARRY WOOLSEY.
ing a lover of flowers, he built a small green
house in 1899, and has increased the plant to
three large houses besides the erection of a fine
sales room.
Mr. Woolsey was married in 1877 to Miss
Lina Cora Howes, daughter of the late Phineas
Howes, one of the early pioneers of Rockford,
who settled here in 1839, and has had four child-
ren, Ralph, Harry, Ella and Beth, two of whom
are now living.
The family residence is at No. 1055 East
State Street.
THOMAS CHICK,
The genial proprietor of the popular hotel, the
Chick House, was born in Devonshire, England,
November 18, 1846. His parents, William and
Hannah (Pengillie) Chick, were natives of De-
ROCKFORD
149
vonshire, and emigrated to the United States in
1851, when Thomas was five years old. He
was educated in the public schools, and while
still young learned the flour-milling business un-
der the supervision of George Phillips. He also
became a locomotive engineer and served in
that capacity fourteen years, in the employ of
the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Co. By
steady application to business and the exertion
of untiring energy he secured the confidence of
his employers and met with gratifying success.
In 1888 he invested his savings in Rockford
property and opened the Chick House, which is
one of the most popular and best patronized
THOMAS CHICK
hostelries in the state. It is a model of neatness,
and its patrons are made to feel at home during
their stay at the house. Besides the hotel, he
is the owner of considerable desirable real estate
in the city and farming lands in the county.
In February, 1871, he was married to Miss
Lena Kennedy, a native of Vermont, who is
most helpful in the management of the hotel,
and is held in the highest esteem by the many
patrons of the house.
Socially, Mr. Chick is a member of E. F.
W. Ellis Lodge No. 633, A. F. & A. M. He
was exalted to the sublime degree of Royal Arch
Mason in Winnebago Chapter No. 24, and was
knighted in Crusader Commandery No. 17,K.T.
He is also a member of Tebala Temple of the
Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic
Shrine, and has held various offices in these
orders. He is also a member of the I. O.
0. F.,and the Benevolent and Protective Order
of Elks.
Mr. and Mrs. Chick reside at the Chick
House.
FRANK C. WHITE,
The subject of this sketch, is a native of Illinois,
born at Geneva, 111., June 6, 1865, and was edu-
cated in the public schools. When only eighteeen
years of age he engaged to work for the Geneva
Grape Sugar Co., and has made rapid progress
in his profession, being promoted from a subordi-
nate position to that of superintendent of one of
the most important manufacturing sugar works
in the world, during his twenty years of service.
FRANK C. WHITE.
He started with the Geneva Grape Sugar Co. in
1 883, and remained with that company five years
during which time he was promoted to the position
of night superintendent. In 1888 he accepted
the position of assistant superintendent of the
Peoria Grape Sugar Co., of Peoria, 111., where
ROCK FORD
he remained four years. After this he held the
posisition of superintendent of theFirmenich Mfg.
Co.'s works at Marshalltown, Iowa, the Ameri-
can Glucose Co.'s works at Buffalo, N. Y., and
Peoria, 111. In 1897 he accepted the position of
assistant superintendent of the Chicago Sugar
Refining Co.'s plant at Chicago, 111., and in 1899
became superintendent of the same plant hold-
ing that position until he was transferred to the
Rockford plant in Sept. 1902. Mr. White is a
member of the Masonic Order being a member
of Geneva Lodge No. 139 A. F. & A. M., Fox
River Chapter No. 14 R. A. M., Aurora Com-
mandry No. 22 K. T., Peoria Consistory 32nd
degree S. P. R. S. In 1890 he was married
to Hannah F. Prandy of Pontiac, 111. He has
two sons, Amasa L. White and Earl C. White.
S. J. PETIT.
S. J. Petit was born in Rockford May 24,
1877, and educated in the city schools. He
engaged with the Glucose Sugar Refining Com-
s. j. PETIT.
pany in 1899 as assistant shipping clerk, and
was rapidly promoted through all the clerical
positions of that institution until he was appointed
agent of the company in September, 1902.
Mr. Petit is a member of lodge No. 102,
A. F. & A. M.; Winnebago Chapter, No. 24,
R. A. M.; Crusader Commandery No. 17 K. T.;
Tebala Temple A. A. O. Nobles of the Mystic
Shrine.
He is married and resides at 621 Rockton
avenue.
H. H. HAMILTON
Comes from good Old Virginia and Tennessee
stock, his parents having removed from Virginia
to Rockford on account of the war, where Her-
bert H. was born in 1864.
At the close of the war his parents returned
to the south, but found their estate and old plan-
tation destroyed. Shortly after reaching the old
home, the father died and the mother and child-
ren returned to the north. Mr. Hamilton has
been a resident of Rockford during most of his
life and received his education in the city schools
and at Colgate University, New York. It can
be truly said of him that he is a self educated
man, having worked his way through the Col-
gate University and the Union College of Law
of the Northwestern University, from which he
graduated in the class of 1883.
He commenced the practice of law in Rock-
ford in 1885, and has handled a large volume of
business for his clients. He has always enter-
tained a lively interest in the upbuilding of Rock-
ford and has contributed largely toward securing
its present prosperous position.
Mr. Hamilton was quick to see the future
growth and possibilities of Rockford and with
this same sense of perception for the future of
the new west, he has taken up the work of assist-
ing in the bringing of this realization to the
people of North Dakota, where he is now locating
a large number of actual settlers.
Mr. Hamilton married Miss Caroline Shoudy
of Rockford, and has one daughter. The
family residence is at No. 933 North Second
street.
A. W. BANKS.
A. W. Banks was born in Cassopolis, Mich.,
and was educated in the ward and high schools
of Des Moines, Iowa. He is a graduate of Ann
Arbor High School. He also took a two years'
ROCKFORD
course in the scientific department of the Uni-
versity of Michigan and a two years' course in
chemistry in the same institution.
From 1880 to 1888 he was engaged in the
retail trade as pharmacist and manufacturing
chemist in Detroit, Michigan. From 1888 to
the present time he has held the position of
district manager for the Mutual Life Insurance
A. w. BANKS
Company of New York, in Rockford. Through
his efforts the business has assumed large pro-
portions and his company has paid more claims
and has more representative men insured than
any other company doing business in the city.
In fact, of all the life assurance representatives
doing business in the city, when he came here,
he is the only one remaining and therefore he
has the right to say that he controls the oldest
active life agency in the city.
Mr. Banks could relate many pathetic exper-
iences connected with his business were he so
disposed. In all his life insurance work he has
never had a contested claim, which goes to show
that he knows how to write business right.
Mr. Banks claims to be thoroughly posted
in his line of business and holds a diploma to
this effect from Prof. Wm. P. Stewart, pro-
fessional actuary.
Socially he is a member of Star in the East
lodge, No. 166, A. F. & A. M. He is a
member of the Second Congregational church,
having served a term as trustee for this society.
Mr. Banks is married and has four children,
three girls and one boy. The daughters have
unusual musical ability, and the son is a lover
of athletics, is an expert swimmer, and has the
distinction of saving three persons from drowning
in the Rock river, before he was sixteen years
of age.
The family residence is at No. 1 133 North
Church street.
W. H. KE1G,
The popular baker, was born in Rockford in May,
1863, and was educated in the city schools. He
served an apprenticeship in the baker's profes-
sion and became an expert in this work.
w. H. KEIG.
He engaged in the baking business with his
brother-in-law, W. D. Clark, in 1886, and two
plants, one on each side of the river, were
operated by the company. At the end of two
152
ROCKFORD
years this partnership was dissolved, and Mr.
Keig took charge of the business on the West
side.
In 1898 Mr. Keig bought the plant belong-
ing to the Forest City Baking Co.. on Cedar
street, where he is now located. His retail busi-
ness is still carried on at the West State street
plant. He does a large wholesale and retail
business in Rockford and surrounding towns, his
shipments covering a distance of 300 miles.
His goods are of excellent quality and have a
very high and well merited reputation.
Mr. Keig is married and resides at 1230
Grant avenue.
Socially, he is an Elk and a Modern Wood-
man.
RUFUS W. FINLEY.
Rufus W. Finley, M. D. C. D. V. S., was
born on a farm in Peoria county. Illinois,
February 3, 1863, and was educated in the
DR. R. W. FINLEY.
public schools, Amity College. College Springs,
Iowa; Hedding College, Abingdon, 111., Prof.
S. S. Hammell School of Oratory, Chicago;
and Chicago Veterinary College.
After graduating from the Hammell School
Dr. Finley occupied the chair of oratory and
voice training in the institution for some time,
but on account of his health he was obliged to
surrender his chair in this work, and take up the
profession of veterinary medicine. He has met
with excellent success in this work. He com-
menced his practice at Independence, Iowa, in
1891, where he made a specialty of lameness
and dentistry of race horses.
He was called to Rockford in 1896, to treat
the well known pacer, -Wisconsin King." record
of 2:11, Aegon, and Londell, all popular race
horses at that time. Doctor Finley liked Rock-
ford so well that he determined to make this
city his permanent residence, and established
a home at No. 224 South Court street, and an
office at 222 South Court street.
Doctor Finley married Miss Susan McKenzie
of Waukesha, Wisconsin, in 1893, and has one
daughter.
W. R. KEYT,
Architect, was born in Piqua, Ohio, September
10, 1850 and was educated in the public schools
of his native town, graduating from the high
school of that city.
He served three years as an apprentice at
the carpenter trade and has been a thorough
student of the profession ever since. One of
the most marked characteristics of his work has
been a constant effort to discover better methods
of construction and to work out the details of
these discoveries, upon his drafting board, be-
fore he let them pass. He has thus become
one of the most reliable and thorough architects in
this section of country. His services as a builder
and architect have been sought in the construc-
tion of many of the most notable buildings in the
city and surrounding country. Among these are
the Centennial Church, Court Street Church, and
the rebuilding of the Second Congregational
Church. He is now devoting his entire attention
to architectural work in all its branches, having
opened an office in the Second National Bank
building, at the corner of State and Main streets
where he employs a strong force of skilled
draughtsmen and is receiving the patronage of
those who desire perfect plans and detail draw-
ings for the construction of important buildings.
ROCKFORD
Constant study and close application to detail
in the most approved methods of construction,
gives Mr. Keyt a prestige which he well de-
serves.
Fifth avenue and Seventh street. At the end
of two years Mr. Widell bought the interest of
Mr. Swanson, and continued the business at the
same place alone, doing a general insurance and
real estate business.
He was elected a justice of the peace In
1901, which office he still holds.
He is a member of several social orders.
W. R. KEYT.
Mr. Keyt is a Modern Woodman and a
member of the Royal League. He is married
and has two children, a son and a daughter.
His daughter is a valuable assistant in his office.
He resides at 613 North Horsman street.
SWAN O. WIDELL.
SWAN O. WIDELL.
The subject of this sketch was born at Jon-
kopings Lan, December 2, 1866, and came to
Rockford in 1887. After his arrival he did car-
penter work in the city one year.
In 1888 he engaged with the Central Furni-
ture Co., where he remained two years, and
then accepted a position with the Skandia Fur-
niture Co. and remained one year. In both of
these institutions he was employed as a cabinet
maker.
In 1891 he entered the real estate office of
West & Hutchins, where he spent one year. In
1892 he formed a copartnership with J. A.
Swanson, and engaged in the real estate busi-
ness at his present location, at the corner of
Mr. Widell was married in 1891, and has a
family of three children, and resides at 1854
East State street.
WILLIAM H. COOK.
William H. Cook, contractor and builder,
was born in Boston in 1859. He came to
Rockford with his parents when eight years of
age, where he was educated in the city schools.
His first business engagement was with
Henry Knowles in the commission business,
where he remained two years. His next en-
gagement was with the W. F. & John Barnes
Company, where he remained two years and
learned the machinist's trade.
In 1896 his father died. He was a carpen-
ter and builder, and Mr. Cook took up the
154
ROCKFORD
business, which he has since followed with
marked success.
Mr. Cook has been interested in the con-
struction of many of Rockford's most important
public and private buildings, among which may
be mentioned the Turner school, High school,
Brewing Company's plant. Frank Brown's resi-
dence, Moran's building on West State street,
John H. Sherratt's residence, Carnegie Public
Library, Memorial Hall, and many other struc-
tures that are a credit to his genius and ability
in his chosen profession.
He is now engaged in the construction of
two beautiful homes, one of which is for George
WILLIAM H. COOK.
O. Forbes, and the other for Dr. W. H Fitch,
on North Main street.
Mr. Cook married a daughter of Mr. S. E.
Lane of Rockford, and has one child. The
family residence is at No. 340 North Avon
street.
FRANK E. PEARSON
Was born in Rockford, in 1863, of Swedish
parentage, his parents having come to Rockford
from Sweden in 1852. He was educated in the
city schools.
He is at present the efficient superintendent
of the Rockford Manufacturing Co.'s plant, in
which he is a stockholder and director.
He was elected to the City Council from the
Second wa>d in 1898, which office he still holds,
FRANK E. PEARSON.
and is the chairman of the fire and water com-
mittee. He was a member of the board of local
improvements one term.
Socially, he is manager of Camp No. 51
M. W. A., and president of Lodge No. 2, Arch-
ean Union.
Mr. Pearson is married and has two sons.
The family residence is at No. 322 Baker
Place.
NELS OLSON.
The subject of this sketch, is one of Rockford's
popular aldermen. He was born in Sweden in
1 852 and came to Rockford when fifteen years
of age. He worked as a finisher in the Rock-
ford Furniture factory five years. He was then
identified with Ugarff in the furniture and under-
taking business two years. Ten years ago the
Rockford Furniture and Undertaking Company
bought out Ugarff's interest and Mr. Olson be-
ROCKFORD
came a stockholder in the company and has
since been identified with it and has charge of
the undertaking department.
Mr. Olson has served two terms as alder-
man from the Sixth ward, and since the redis-
this being 191 more than the combined vote
for four other candidates.
NELS OLESON.
tricting of the city, has just been elected from
the Second ward his third term by one of the
largest majorities ever given an alderman in
Rockford. He is married and with his family
resides at 1203 Fifth avenue.
ED. F. CARTY
Was born in Dubuque, Iowa, in January, 1868.
He removed with his parents to Cherry Valley,
Illinois, when three years old, and came to
Rockford in 1887. He engaged in business
with the Schmauss Company at their main
market, on the East Side. Eleven years ago
he took charge of the business in South Rockford
where he has very successfully managed the
business since.
Mr. Carty was elected to represent his ward
in the council as alderman, at the municipal
election of 1903, receiving a total of 1,581 votes,
ED. F. CARTY.
Socially, he is a K. of P., K. of C., and a
member of Council No. 24, Redmen.
He resides with his mother at 1222 South
Church street.
ANDREW J. ANDERSON
Was born in the City of Rockford June 7, 1862,
and has made this city his home, with the ex-
ception of one year when he was temporarily
located in Texas, and is of Swedish descent, his
father, Jonas R. Anderson, having been a native
of Rydaholm, Sweden.
Mr. Anderson was educated in the city
schools a'nd took a course at the Rockford Busi-
ness College.
He was first employed in the mechanical
department of the Rockford Watch Factory,
where he remained several years.
In 1881 the Excelsior Furniture Company
was organized with a capital of $50,000, and
Mr. Anderson was made secretary and treasurer,
which position he held for eight years.
In 1890 he opened an office at No. 421
East State street, where he conducted a real
estate, loan and insurance business.
5 6
ROCKFORD
In January, 1898, he was made secretary
and treasurer of the Union Overall Company,
which position he has filled with marked suc-
cess and still holds.
He had charge of a large manufacturing
plant in Texas during the year 1 896, when he
returned to Rockford.
ANDREW J. ANDERSON
He served in the City Council as an alder-
man from the Second ward during the years
1890, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894 and 1895, and
was re-elected again in 1903.
Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Hilma
O. Johnson, December 30, 1896, and has one
child, a son.
He, with his family, resides at No. 942
Kishwaukee street.
HERBERT D. TICKNOR
Was born in Rockford, September 6, 1869, and
was educated in the city schools. His first busi-
ness engagement was with the Rockford Cabi-
net Company as shipping clerk, which position
he filled until the destruction of the factory by
fire in 1895. For a short time succeeding the
fire, he was in the employ of the Rockford Tail-
oring Company.
In 1896 he formed a co-partnership with H.
H. Chase, under the firm name of Chase &
Ticknor, and engaged in trade, handling bicycles,
sewing machines and sporting goods. The firm
dissolved partnership in 1901 and Mr. Ticknor
has since conducted the business alone. He
makes a specialty of bicycle repairing, and is
doing a very successful business in his various
lines. Mr. Ticknor made his first venture in
political affairs at the recent municipal election,
when he was elected an alderman from the Fifth
ward. Socially he is a Modern Woodman and
a member of Kishwaukee Tribe of Redmen,
No. 24.
HERBERT D. TICKNOR
Mr. Ticknor married Miss Atna N. Wigton
and has three children, Raymond, Irma and
Fern. The family home is at No. 1810 West
State street.
THOMAS WINCHESTER
Is a stone cutter by trade. He was born in Eng-
land in October, 1846, and came to Rockford in
1857 where he has since resided.
His first engagement in this city was with
Thomas Ennett, and he remained with him until
ROCKFORD
157
1890 when he commenced work on his own
account and located where he is at present.
His first work was on the Graham Cotton
Mills. He furnished the stone for the Library,
THOMAS WINCHESTER.
Mendelssohn Hall, High School, Wight School,
Church School, Third Ward School and the
Lincoln School, Mrs. Warren's residence, C. &
N. W. Railway depot, Y. M. C. A. and many
other buildings in the county, the Freeport
Library and City Hall. He has the general con-
tract for the addition to the City Hospital and
will furnish the stone for the C. A. Works
residence.
Mr. Winchester is an Odd Fellow, is mar-
ried and has five children, and resides at 720
Fifth Avenue.
WILLIAM CLARKE
Was born in England in 1839, and came to
Rockford in 1870, where he has since resided.
He is a contractor and builder, and the many
residences and public buildings of his construc-
tion in this city attest to his ability in his chosen
profession. He began contract work here in
1 87 1 , and his first work was the erection of the
John Faxon residence on East State street.
He next built the A. D. Forbes residence on
North Main street. Among the more notable
structures over which he had supervision are the
Watch Factory, St. Mary's Catholic Church
and St. James Catholic School, the John Felch
Block, the William Crotty Block, the Central
Block, McPherson's Bakery, T. D. Robertson's
Block on West State street and the Schmauss
Co. Cold Storage building. The homes of A.
Albertson and G. W. Reynolds. North Court
street, might also be mentioned as specimens
of his handiwork.
WILLIAM CLARKE.
Mr. Clarke is married, and has two sons who
are following the same business, Robert W. and
Thomas H. Clarke who also reside in Rockford.
Residence, 825 North Winnebago street.
JOHN ALEXANDER
Is a contractor and builder. Was born at For-
far, Scotland, May, 1851, and came to Rock-
ford in 1882. Upon his arrival in Rockford the
12th day of May, he immediately took up the
work of his profession which he has since suc-
cessfully prosecuted. He built the Northwestern
depot here, Hutchins, Lake and Johnson block,
S 8
ROCKFORD
the Charles Brantingham residence, Mrs. Julia
P. Warren's residence on North Main street, the
JOHN ALEXANDER
Hall School and Church School, the Adams
School, Wight School, North Town bridge and
many other notable structures in this city. He
built the National Sewing Machine Company's
plant in Belvidere. 111. Mr. Alexander is married
and resides at 1115 Harlem Avenue.
W. A. KEYT
Is one of Rockford's prominent contractors and
builders. He was born in Grundy county, Illi-
nois, in 1858, and removed with his parents to
Piqua, Ohio, when seven years of age, where he
was educated in the public schools of that city.
He came to Rockford in 1882, and was em-
ployed in construction work with his uncle, David
Keyt, during the first five years.
In 1887 he formed a copartnership with his
cousin, W. R. Keyt, under the firm name of
W. A. & W. R. Keyt, and during the next five
years they were identified with the construction
of a number of Rockford's prominent residences
and business places.
Mr. Keyt then continued the business in his
own behalf, and has secured the contracts for the
construction of many important buildings, among
which might be mentioned the Lincoln and
Brown Schools, the W. F. & John Barnes Fac-
tory buildings, the Taylor & Coats and Briggs
Flats and the Rockton Public Library. He is
now engaged in the rebuilding of the Mead Bros.'s
Block which was recently destroyed by fire.
Mr. Keyt is married and resides at 323
North Church street.
J. A. PALM,
Contractor and builder, was born in Sweden and
came to DeKalb County, 111., in 1869. He then
took a trip through the south, visiting many of
j. A. PALM.
its important cities and returned to Chicago at
the time of the great fire where he remained
four years engaged in contract work for masonry.
He came to Rockford in 1874, and worked for
H. F. Peterson nine years and then became one
of Rockford's leading contractors.
In 1882 he formed a copartnership with An-
drew Borg under the name of Palm & Borg,
which continued two years.
Mr. Palm then took up the work on his own
account and has been identifed in the construc-
tion of many of Rockford's important business
ROCKFORD
'59
places and residences, among which are the Geo.
Atkinson, B. A. Knight, John Chick, Stapleton,
and John H. Sherratt residences, the Fisher
flats, Rockford Wholesale Grocery Company's
building and the Wheelock Crockery store. Mr.
Palm built the larger part of the big stores on
Seventh street and has been identified in the
construction work of many other prominent
buildings in Rockford.
Mr. Palm is married and has six children
and resides with his family at 224 Seventh street.
ABNER JOHNSON
Is a well known carpenter and builder, and was
born at Hamburg, Pa., January 28. 1854. When
nine years of age he removed to Greene county.
be mentioned Frank Burr's residence, Knuts-
son's residence on Church street, the Rice flats
on West State street, and the Flynn flats on
North Main street. He also did the wood work
in the construction of the Schmauss block.
Mr. Johnson has the contract for the six
double houses to be erected by Mr. Ziock, and
the remodeling of the house on the grounds to
be moved to Mulberry street, making seven
houses in all, said contract obtained without
opposition.
Mr. Johnson is a Modern Woodman, a mem-
ber of the Knights of the Globe and of the Mys-
tic Workers.
He is married and has four children, and
resides at 121 North Winnebago street.
RODERICK MACK1NZ1E
Was born at Inverness, Scotland May 8th, 1859.
He sen^ an apprenticeship in the art of stone
ABNER JOHNSON.
Wis., with his parents, where he resided for
thirteen years. In 1875 he removed to Lena,
Illinois, where he acquired the carpenter's trade,
and constructed several important buildings in
that city. In 1887 he removed to Freeport,
Illinois, where he carried on his business until
1891 , when he came to Rockford, where he has
since resided.
He has been identified with considerable con-
struction work in this city, among which might
RODERICK MACKINZIE.
cutting five years in the city of Edinburgh, Scot-
land. During this time he also acquired the
mason's trade. He was educated in the public
schools of his native country, which implies
thorough equipment in all practical branches.
i6o
ROCKFORD
Mr. MacKinzie came to Rockford when twenty-
three years of age and immediately engaged in
the work of his profession, contracting for the
most important construction then going on. He
furnished the stone and built the High school at
Delavan, Wis., the Janesville High school at
Janesville, Wis., the Kishwaukee school of Rock-
ford, 111., and the Davis Junction school at
Davis Junction, 111., and did the mason work on
the St. Anthony hospital. He did the work and
furnished the material for the Hess & Hopkins'
building. He built the fine residence for B. B.
Page, of native blue stone and blue Bedford
trimmings, Charles Brown's residence, of Naper-
ville stone, and the fine residence for Hosmer
Porter. He was also the contractor for the
building of the beautiful Mendelssohn Hall,
W. T. Staplin block in South Rockford, the paper
mills on each side of the river, the Bolt works,
and five buildings for the Sewing Machine
Company, and Trinity Lutheran church.
Mr. MacKinzie resides at 950 Thomas
street, in the fourth ward.
contract for the construction of the new six story
building for Andrew Ashton.
GUST HOLM,
Contractor and builder, was born in Sweden July
15th, 1852, and was educated in the schools of
his native country. He served an apprenticeship
in the builder's trade, in Sweden. He came to
Rockford directly from Sweden in 1880, and
immediately began the work of his profession.-
He constructed twenty or more of the principal
business blocks on Seventh Street, did the car-
penter work on the Republic building and Ma-
sonic Temple, rebuilt the Appel store, built the
Rockford Frame and Picture Co. 's building, the
Rockford Palace Folding Bed Co.'s building, the
Haddorff Piano Co.'s plant, the Brown & Son
Piano Co.'s plant, the West End Furniture Co.'s
plant, the B. F. Barnes Co.'s plant, a part of
the Union Furniture Co.'s plant a part of the
Chair and Furniture Factory, a part of Rockford
Standard Furniture Co.'s plant, and a part
of Love Mfg. Co.'s plant, the Globe Clothing
Co.'s plant, the Stevens & Duel plant, a
part of the W. F. &. John Barnes plant, the
Church School, Aug. Floberg's residence and a
number of other residences and flats, and has the
GUST HOLM.
Mr. Holm is married and has four children.
His home is at No. 1604 Fourth Avenue.
W. J. SHAW,
Carpenter and builder, was born in Owen town-
ship, Winnebego county Illinois, March 8, 1859,
and was educated in the public schools. He is
a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Shaw who came to
Winnebago county in 1853, and are now resi-
dents of Guilford township. Mr. Shaw lived upon
the farm until coming to Rockford in 1889,
where he has since resided.
He engaged in carpenter work, in Guilford,
in 1881 , and has continued this business in this
city since.
Among some of the more important struc-
tures over which he has had supervision are the
residences of Dr. Franklin. Wm. Eddy on East
State street, T. E. Buckbee on Kishwaukee
street. Chris. Landen on Franklin avenue, H.
K. Hall flats on East street, John Agnew on
Franklin avenue, Miss Elizabeth Hancock flats
on North First street, and many other buildings
ROC K FO R D
161
throughout the city and county that attest to his
skill in structural work. His business during
the past year amounted to over twenty thousand
dollars in this class of work.
w. j. SHAW.
He married Miss Lizzie F. Marsh, the
daughter of Averill Marsh, of Guilford, June 27,
1889, and has three children, Ellis, Eleanor,
and Hazel, and resides at 622 North Third
street, this city.
DAVID CARLSON
Is a carpenter by trade and is a contractor and
builder. He was born in Sweden December 15,
1855, and came to Rockford in 1881. He
learned his trade in his native country where he
became an efficient workman. Upon arrival
here he engaged to work for Cahill & Tucker,
with whom he remained two years.
His first work on his own account was for
the interior finishing of Zion Lutheran chuch in
1886. Then followed the erection of Trinity
Lutheran Church, the Liljeholm residence on
East State street, John Hart's residence on
North Second street, (now owned by Mr. Gollyj
the carpenter work on the Skandia Hardware
Co.'s building, the Charles Olander building on
Seventh street, the Peterson block on Seventh
street, the Rockford Furniture and Undertaking
Co.'s building on Seventh street, two flats for
Wm. Johnson on Second and Walnut streets,
the A T. Barnes residence on National avenue,
the Fisher flats on North Church street, the
Rockford Mfg. Co.'s plant, residence for self on
DAVID CARLSON.
Second avenue, and many other residences and
business places in this city and vicinity. Mr.
Carlson is married and has four children. He
resides at 1217 South Sixth street.
W. T. NORTON
Is a carpenter by trade, and is a contractor and
builder. He was born at Homer, Minn., Jan-
uary 12th, 1866. He came to Rockford in
1889 and engaged to work for Reitch Bros.,
with whom he remained six years, when he com-
menced to do contract work on his own account.
He has been a successful contractor and builder
for eight years, having during this time built
many prominent residences in this city, among
which might be mentioned the William Moffatt
residence, the Richardson flats, Mrs. VanDe-
i6a
ROCKFORD
mark's residence, the Frank Green residence
and the Wm. Knowlton residence. He now has in
course of construction a fine residence for Lizzie
Best, at the corner of Oakwood and West State
amount of work to be accomplished in so short
a time. Mr. Lyddon is married and resides at
B. R. LYDDON.
W. T. NORTON.
streets. He erected two houses for Frank Marsh
on Marsh Court, and is now building a fine resi-
dence for James Allen on Blaisdell street. Mr.
Norton is a member of the Masonic and Wood-
men fraternities.
1713 Chestnut street,
constitute the family.
A wife and three children
B. R. LYDDON
Is a contractor and builder. He was born in
Summersetshire, England, in 1866; came to
America in 1877. Moved to Rockford 1890, and
has been identified with the growth of the city
since. His first business venture here was with
his brother, and the partnership continued six
years. He then continued business on his own
account. He has built many residences and other
buildings among which might be mentioned:
The homes of Fritz Ulrici, Douglas Ulrici,
Frank Regan, Harry Chase, T. S. Rider, H. D.
Ticknor, W. W. Hixon, and over one hundred
others. He has also done a large business build-
ing large frame barns. This represents a large
C. J. SWANSON,
Contractor and builder, was born at Jonkopengs
L;'in, Sweden, in 1855, and was educated in his
native country. He was a contractor and builder
at Upsala, Sweden, from 1879 to 1881, when
he came to America and located at Springfield,
Mo., where he was employed as foreman in the
D. E. Davis planing mills for two years. He
then engaged with A. Skog, of Springfield, as
foreman of construction work, and continued in
this capacity four years. He then engaged in
contract work on his own account and did a large
amount of work in that city. Mr. Swanson came
to Rockford in 1892, and engaged with the
Rock River Planing mills as sash and door
maker. He was the first man in Rockford to
make veneered doors. He made the interior
finish for the W. F. Barnes residence, North
Main street. He was also the builder of Mrs.
Julia Warren's residence on North Main street,
ROCKFORD
163
the L. Johnson flats, First avenue and Fifth
street, the C. Colby flats on North Third street,
the J. Colville flats on South Third street, the D.
S Hough flats on North Third street, Gust John-
son's residence on Longwood street, McEvoy's
residence on Spafford avenue, O. M. Brown's
residence on Lawn place, four of the W. H.
Miller flats on Fourth avenue and Twelfth street,
C. Widman's residence on Fourth avenue, and
He has been a successful contractor and
builder, and has constructed many business
places and residences on both sides of the river.
C. J. SWANSON.
the Wilmarth flats on Kishwaukee street, and
many others. Mr. Swanson's shop and residence
are at 1 206 South Fifth street.
FRANK P. NEWBURG
Was born in Sweden in 1868, and was educated
in the public schools of that country. He came
to Rockford in 1888 and engaged in carpenter
work for his brother. Later he took a position
as foreman for Newburg & Nygren, contractors
and builders, and remained with them three
years. He then went to Belvidere where he did
contract work for about two years. Returning
to Rockford he formed a copartnership with Mr.
Nygren, under the firm name of Newburg &
Nygren, and continued the business two years,
when the firm dissolved, and he has since con-
tinued the business alone.
FRANK P. NEWBURG.
Mr. Newburg is married, and with his fam-
ily of wife and two children, resides at 1317
Tenth avenue.
Mr. Newburg's motto is : Do justice to
everybody and life is a pleasure and death is a
gain.
JOHN McLEE
Is a carpenter and builder and was born in Rock-
ford, March 6, 1867. He was educated in the
city schools, and this city has been his home
continuously. He began doing contract work on
his own account in 1 888 , and has been the builder
of many important public buildings and private
residences, among which may be mentioned the
Renwick residence, corner Morgan and Church
streets, J. C. Gregory residence on Hinkley
street, McCormick flats on North Winnebago
street, Bracken residence on South Winnebago
street, and the John A. Lins residence, corner
of Grant avenue and Napoleon street, Liner res-
idence on Napoleon street, and many others.
He has done the general repair work on the
public school buildings in the city. Mr. McLee
164
ROCKFORD
is a Modern Woodman of Camp No. 5 1 , Knight
of Columbia No. 792, and a member of the
JOHN MC LEE.
Archean Union. He has a family of three
children, and resides at 1111 Chesnut street.
that time, he established the Rockford Cornice
Works at the corner of South Third and East
State streets. The business was carried on in
this plant until two years ago, when it became
necessary to have larger quarters. Mr. Martin
decided to have a factory of his own for the
business, and had the building at 312 and 314
Market street erected, where the business is
now carried on. The factory is one of the
largest and best equipped of its kind in northern
Illinois. A large quantity of the product is
shipped to jobbers in Illinois and Wisconsin.
They manufacture and contract for sheet
metal fronts and cornices, skylights, ventilators,
steel ceilings, eavestroughs, conductor pipes,
rain water filters, and metal, slate and tile
roofing, etc.
Mr. Martin personally superintends all work
done by the firm. This company has furnished
the work in their line for many important build-
ings in this city and vicinity, among which is
the Turner school, the Blake school, the High
ALFRED MARTIN
Was the first manufacturer of sheet metal
cornices in Rockford. He was born in Canada
and came to the United States when about
twenty years of age. Although quite young, he
was well advanced in the art of sheet metal
work, having already served six years at the
trade with his father who was engaged in the
same business, and he has grown up, as it were,
right in the work.
He first came to Michigan and worked in
the principal cities in that state and then traveled,
working at his trade in most of the principal
cities from Michigan to the Pacific in the west,
and from Canada in the north to the Gulf of
Mexico in the south. Having gained a wide
experience in the sheet metal trade, through his
travels, he decided to go into the business.
Coming to Rockford about twelve years ago
and seeing a good opening for a cornice business,
as there was no business of the kind here at
ALFRED MARTIN.
school, Rockford Brewery, Memorial Hall, the
Library building, Trinity church, also St. Paul's
Evangelical Lutheran church at Fort Atkinson,
Wis., St. Mary's Catholic school, Freeport, 111.,
ROCKFORD
165
sheriff's residence and jail at Belvidere, 111., and
many other large buildings in different parts of
Illinois and Wisconsin, too numerous to mention.
Mr. Martin is the patentee of the Perfection
rain water filter which has a large sale over a
wide area of country, and is well known in
Rockford as there are hundreds of them in use
in the city.
Mr. Martin is a member of the Royal
Arcanum and I. O. 0. F. He is married and
resides at 804 North Second street.
tion of Quarter Master General M. W. A. For-
ester with rank of colonel.
His residence is at 218 South Court street.
PETER T. ANDERSON
Is a plasterer by trade. He was born in Scot-
land, and came to Rockford in 1882, where he
has since resided.
He has had the contracts for plastering a
large number of public and private buildings in
the city and vicinity, among which can be men-
PETER T. ANDERSON.
tioned H. W. Price's residence, John Sherratt's
residence, J. B. Whitehead's residence, the Pub-
lic Library, Memorial Hall, High School, Frank
Bunn's residence, and the C. F. Henry flats,
and others too numerous to mention.
Mr. Anderson is a K. P., I. 0. O. F., and
Modern Woodman, and at present holds the posi-
GEORGE W. BALDWIN
Was born in Mt. Clair, New Jersey, June 16,
1836, and was educated in the public schools of
his native town. He learned the plasterer's trade
in all its branches, both plain and ornamental, at
Newark, N. J.
In 1855 he removed to Michigan, where he
remained four years, and then returned to New
GEORGE "W. BALDWIN.
Jersey. In 1865 he removed to Rochelle, Illi-
nois, and to Rockford in 1 88 1 , where he has
since resided.
He was engaged upon the finishing work of
many of Rockford's finest buildings, among
which is the Second Congregational church, Y.
M. C. A. building, Germania Hall, Christian
Union church, nine city school buildings, Wait
Talcott's new residence, Charles Brantingham's
new residence, Wilkins' flats, Fay Lewis and
Masonic buildings and Northwestern depot.
Mr. Baldwin married Miss Emma F. Cour-
der of New York city. His home is at No. 201
Summit street.
1 66
ROCKFORD
E. J. RYAN
Is a plasterer by trade. He was born in
St. Lawrence county, N. Y., in June, 1851.
In 1871 he removed to Chicago where he
acquired his trade and was employed as a
plasterer there for six years. He then removed
to Madison Wis., where he plied his trade for
twelve years. He then came to Rockford where
he has since remained.
Among the buildings plastered by Mr. Ryan
are the Nelson and Parmelee residences, the
Roper and Treat flats, St. Anthony's hospital
and the Mead block.
E. J. RYAN.
Mr. Ryan is a Modern Woodman and a
Royal Neighbor. He is married and has six
children, and resides at 207 Longwood street.
His office is at 1 10 North Court street.
J. F. WISNER.
This cut is that of J. F. Wisner, the well
known contractor and builder of cement and tar
sidewalks.
Mr. Wisner was born in Lake county, Illinois,
in 1848. He removed to Lafayette, Indiana, in
1873, and came to Rockford in 1888, where he
has since resided.
His business exceeds in magnitude that of
all others in this line in the city, and extends
over Northern Illinois, South Dakota and several
towns in Iowa, and he is largely advertised by
the imprint of his name in the walks he lays.
j. F. WISNER.
Mr. Wisner has one of the finest homes on
the East side, located on Rural street, opposite
the East side cemetery.
His good wife conducts an experimental fruit
and flower garden, and is a breeder of pure blood
White Wyandotte poultry.
P. W. WELCH.
The subject of this sketch was born in Rock-
ford January 17, 1856, and has occupied his
present place of business during the past ten years
as agent for the United States Brewing Company
of Chicago, 111., distributing in Rockford and
many surrounding cities and towns the celebrated
Rheingold and Loewenbrau Beer, Rheingold
Export, and Malt Liquid, Blatz Milwaukee Beer,
Weiner, Private Stock, Export and Malt Vivine
to wholesale trade and for family use. All have
an absolute guarantee for purity. Special
attention is given orders for all kinds of case
ROCKFORD
167
goods for family use. The bottling works and
storage are located at 328 North Madison
P. W. WELCH.
street. 'Phor.e number 543. both Home and
Central Union.
JAMES P. WALSH
Was born in Rockford in 1867. When quite
young he engaged in the grocery business with
his father. Later his father bought the Lincoln
bottling works, located at 414 South Main street.
His business so increased that he was com-
pelled to secure more room and better facilities
for handling his trade. The result was a move
to 501-503 South Church street, where in 1895
he erected a new building, adapted to his needs.
Here the father retired and the son conducted a
prosperous business at this place for five years.
He sold this property to the C. & N. W. R. R.
company and removed to his present location,
502-506 Cedar street, corner Court street, hav-
ing purchased the property of the American
Cereal company.
Mr. Walsh now has one of the finest bottling
establishments in the west, being equipped with
modern machinery, and manufactures pops,
ginger ale, mineral waters, and all carbonated
beverages, selling these goods all over northern
Illinois, southern Wisconsin and eastern Iowa.
He also carries a full line of saloon supplies,
such as glassware, flasks, corks, cordials,
bromos, etc. He handles pure apple cider, and
has been agent for Fred Miller, "The Best"
Milwaukee beer, and Hemming's " Janesville "
ales and porters during the last twenty years.
JAMES P. WALSH.
The bottling works are open for inspection
at all times. Visitors will be courteously re-
ceived by Mr. Walsh or his gentlemanly
assistants.
MAX HOPPE
Was born in Hirshburg, Germany, September
5, 1867, and was educated in his native country.
He learned the brewing business in Germany,
where he was engaged in the trade seven years.
He visited all the leading cities of Europe, and
worked in several of the most important brew-
eries of that country.
He came to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1891,
where he was employed in the Pabst brewery,
the largest institution of the kind in the world.
In 1892 he came to Rockford and bought
the interest of Charles Meyer as the agent for
the Schlitz Brewing Co. in this city.
1 68
ROCKFORD
In 1896 he secured the agency for the
Pabst Brewing Co., thus representing two of the
most noted institutions in this or any other coun-
try. He carries on a large wholesale and retail
trade, and makes a specialty of bottling both
Pabst's and Schlitz' beer for family use.
His business is located at No. 218 Walnut
street.
Mr. Hoppe is married and has two sons.
The family residence is at No. 129 South
Madison street.
P. A. SPONBERG.
The subject of this sketch was born in
Sweden in June, 1863, and came to the United
States and settled in Rockford in 1 882.
He entered into an engagement with W. D.
Clark and remained in his employ eight and
one half years. Mr. Clark then sold his interest
p. A. SPONBERG.
to the Forest City Baking company and Mr.
Sponberg remained with this company three
years.
He then went into business for himself, secur-
ing the agency for the Anheuser-Busch Brew-
ing Company's beer, and to this he added the bot-
tling works in 1895. He has now a fine whole-
sale and retail business and makes a specialty
of supplying private families. He handles
Besley's Waukegan ale, Schlink ale and porter
of Belvidere, Budweiser and standard grades of
Anheuser-Busch 's celebrated beer. He also
keeps on hand Malt Nutrine for medicinal
purposes.
Mr. Sponberg is married and has one child.
He resides at 401 Seventh street.
P. A. PETERSON.
One of Rockford's foremost Swedish citi-
zens, was born in Ving Vestergotland, Province of
Smoland, Sweden. September 8, 1848, and was
but two years old when his parents emigrated to
this country on board a sailing vessel and arrived
in New York after a voyage of several weeks
duration.
From New York they came to Winnebago
County and settled on a farm in the township of
Cherry Valley, where the son grew to manhocd
p. A. PETERSON.
and was educated in the public schools. Be-
ing possessed of rare business abilities, he
found his way to Rockford where a large field
for enterprise and keen business accumen pre-
ROCKFORD
169
sented itself and of which he desired to pos-
sess himself. Capitalists and business men had
confidence in his ability and integrity, and sought
his services in the promotion of various manu-
facturing enterprises. Mr. Peterson's keen per-
ception enabled him to see the advantages pos-
sessed by Rockford as a furniture manufactur-
ing center, and the possibilities of the co-opera-
tive plan of production.
This plan was at once put into effective op-
eration, and its success has demonstrated the
soundness of his judgment. He is now inter-
ested in more industrial undertakings than any
other resident of the city. His interests are
largely located on the East side of the river
amid the Swedish population of the city.
Mr. Peterson is directly or indirectly con-
nected with twelve or fifteen manufacturing in-
dustries as an official or stockholder, all of
which are meeting with satisfactory results.
Mr. Peterson is a member of the Swedish
Lutheran church, but is not identified with any
social order.
has four children; Harry S., who is a noted
opera singer, Grace L. (Mellen) residing at
W. W. AUSTIN
Is a native of Illinois, and was educated in the
public schools and Wheaton College. His boy-
hood days were spent upon his father's farm
near Rockton. He began teaching in the dis-
trict schools when eighteen years of age, and
rapidly advanced in the work to the principalship
of the South Belvidere schools and at Rockton,
Illinois. He also served as bookkeeper in the
offices of W. A. Knowlton, late of Rockford,
Peet & Keeler of Beloit, M. D. Keeney of
Rockton, and Keeney Bros, of Rockford. He
has written for the newspapers for many years,
and has contributed scientific articles to several
popular magazines. He served as city editor on
the Laurel Chronicle, of Laurel, Mississippi, in
which position he was very successful.
In connection with his school work he has
written a Natural History of Animals, which re-
ceived high commendation from several eminent
critics. His latest work is the writing of ROCK-
FORD TO-DAY.
Mr. Austin married Miss Josephine A.Drury,
of Beloit, who died several years since. He
W. W. AUSTIN.
Rockton, Etta M. (Harmon) residing in Mil-
waukee, and Ernest W.
Socially, he is an Odd Fellow and Red Man.
CHARLES L. MILLER.
Charles L. Miller's first newspaper experi-
ence was in Ogle county, where for a time he
edited the Rochelle Register, and later was pro-
prietor of the Oregon Reporter. In 1877 he
came to Rockford, where he purchased an inter-
est in the Weekly Register. In October of that
year he established the Daily Register, the first
daily newspaper in Rockford to achieve a per-
manent existence. The Register remained un-
der his editorial and business management for
fourteen years when he sold the paper to Mr.
E. E. Bartlett, and removed to Quincy, Illinois,
where he became one of the proprietors and edi-
tor of the Daily Herald of that city. In 1896
he returned to Rockford to become one of the
proprietors of the Daily Republic. At present
he is managing editor of the Republic and presi-
dent of the Republic company, and president of
the Quincy Herald company.
170
ROCKFORD
HOWARD O. HILTON
Was born upon a farm in Kansas in 1863, and
was educated in the public schools and attended
the University at Lincoln, for a time, but was
not a graduate. His boyhood days were spent
upon the farm, but early in life he engaged in
newspaper work and has met with marked suc-
cess. He has filled important positions upon
the staff of papers in Illinois and other states.
His work in Rockford has been in connection
with the Register, and was one of the founders
of the Rockford Republic, of which he is the
political editor.
His services have been sought after by the
Republican party, in numerous campaigns, as a
platform speaker and manager. He has twice
represented his district on the state committee,
in which capacity he did excellent work. He
was state canal commissioner under Governor
John R. Tanner, and is now Congressman Ful-
ler's private secretary.
Mr. Hilton, at one time, held a responsible
position in a bank, but has never asked election
to a political office.
He is married and has two daughters.
J. E. WARFIELD,
Business Manager of the Daily Republic, has
been in the newspaper business, in Rockford.
during the past twenty years. His first engage-
ment was with the Register for a period of
five years, and then for the same length of time
with the Morning Star.
In 1896, in company with C. L. Miller and
H. M. Johnson, he purchased the old Republi-
can. The name of the paper was changed to
the Daily Republic, of which he is now business
manager.
Mr. Warfield has been a resident of Rockford
since 1883. He was born at Mt. Carroll, 111.
He married Miss Alma C. Bacon of Milton,
Wisconsin, and has three daughters.
EDGAR E. BARTLETT,
Publisher of the Register-Gazette, came to
Rockford January 1st., 1891, and consolidated
the old Register and Gazette into what has since
been known as the Register-Gazette. Mr. Bart-
lett was for twelve years, previous to this, adver-
tising and business manager of the Kalamazoo
Telegraph, one of the strong papers of interior
Michigan, and since coming to Rockford has
made the Register-Gazette a potent factor in the
newspaper field of the city. During this time
EDGAR E. BARTLETT.
the newspaper plant, over the business end of
which he has presided, has been vastly improved
by the addition of the telegraph, Associated
Press news service, Mergenthaler Linotype cast-
ing machines and a fast press, all of which have
combined to make the Register-Gazette a
marked success.
HON. J. STANLEY BROWNE,
Editor-in-chief of the Rockford Morning Star,
was born in Albany, N. Y., in 1855, and was
educated in the public schools of that city. His
parents were people of culture and refinement,
and were numbered among the well-to-do citi-
zens of New York State, where they lived and
died.
Before coming to Illinois Mr. Browne was
employed on the Albany Argus, where he devel-
oped acute political talent, and stumped the
state in the interests of Tilden for president in
ROCKFORD
171
the campaign of 1876. Later, he was twice
elected on the Democratic ticket to the New
York legislature from Otsego county. He also
served as chairman of the Board of Supervisors
of his county, and was secretary for a period of
five years to Lieutenant-Governor Dorscheimer
during the time Tilden was governor.
Mr. Browne came to Rockford in 1887 and
became the editor and publisher of the Rockford
Journal, which was merged into The Star March
20, 1888, of which Mr. Browne became man-
aging editor, which position he has since held
with marked ability,
HON. J. STANLEY BROWNE.
Politically, Mr. Browne has been a life-long
Democrat, and is the leader and teacher of pure
democracy of the Cleveland school in Northern
Illinois.
Mr. Browne is a forceful and elegant writer,
and his diction is rarely equaled. His eloquence
has brought his services into great demand in
political campaigns and social functions where
he is always at ease.
The wide circulation of the Morning Star is
sufficient evidence of his ability as an editor,
and is doubtless the finest encomium the paper
can receive.
Mr. Browne was married to Miss Evalyn Tall-
madge of Otsego county, N. Y., who is a lady
of culture and fine education, and is a leader in
Rockford's social circles. Her ancestry were
among the true patriots of the country, her father
being a solder in the Civil War and her grand-
father in the War of the Revolution.
The family residence is at No. 917 North
Church street.
ROSCOE S. CHAPMAN,
Business Manager of the Rockford Morning
Star, was born in Rutland, Illinois, January 6,
1868, and was educated in the public schools.
From Rutland he removed to Lacon. Illi-
nois, and came to Rockford October 1 1, 1886,
and was employed by Warren Woodruff in the
hardware trade.
On January 1, 1887, he relinquished this
business, and became identified with the Rock-
ROSCOE S. CHAPMAN.
ford Gazette. His work on this paper was for a
short time only, as on January 1, 1888, he went
to the Rockford Journal, which was merged into
the Rockford Morning Star, March 20, 1888.
Mr. Chapman is one of the original stock-
holders of the Rockford Star Printing Co., and
solicited the first subscribers on the daily list.
172
ROCKFORD
The Rockford Morning Star is the only morn-
ing paper published in the city, and ranks with
the best inland dailies of this country.
He was married in Rockford, June 4, 1890,
to Mi 1 s Mae Bills, of Garden Prairie, 111.
JOHN V, R1LEY,
Who since January 1, 1895, has been active in
the business department of The Morning Star
and is now its advertising manager, came to
Rockford from Grand Rapids, Michigan, where
JOHN V. RILEY.
he was identified with the sales department of
several manufacturing concerns during the years
he lived there. Prior to his residence in the
Wolverine state he was employed in two depart-
ment stores in Chicago. It was in those en-
virons he acquired the liking for advertising work
which eventuated into his present occupation.
He is a director and one of the principal
stockholders in the Rockford Star Printing Co.,
the corporation publishing The Morning Star.
He is also a director of the Rockford Public
Library.
Mr. Riley was born in Henry, Illinois. In
June, 1891, in Denver, Colorado, he was mar-
ried to Miss Lenore Hooker, to whom was given
a son, John Stewart Riley, who will be five
years old February 4, 1904.
ROCKFORD ILLUSTRATING CO.
The Rockford Illustrating Company was or-
ganized in 1893 and is the successor to the
Rockford Engraving Company, which was or-
ganized in the seventies.
The company has occupied its present loca-
tion during the last five years. Its place of
business has been recently rearranged and re-
fitted, and is now one of the most complete in-
stitutions of the kind in the city.
The company designs, engraves, and elec-
trotypes first class work on short notice. It en-
joys the patronage of the furniture factories of
this city and executes many foreign orders,
The business of the company is under the
management of K. E. Knutsson, and is in a
highly prosperous condition.
THE THEO. W. CLARK COMPANY
Was organized and incorporated, December 2,
1897, and capitalized at $20,000. Its place of
business is at 124 West State Street, and is
equipped with a complete outfit of the latest
appliances for doing the finest work in all kinds
of job printing. High grade black and color
printing, engraving, embossing and binding, for
all purposes, is executed on short notice by this
company.
Its president is Dr. Henry Richings and its
business manager and secretary is Theo. W.
Clark.
All kinds of business and society stationery
are kept in stock and its patrons are supplied at
very low rates, consistent with good quality.
A large number of workmen is employed and
the business is constantly growing with un-
bounded success.
INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Blaisdell, E W. residence 29
Broughton Sanitarium 76, 77, 78, 79
Brown Building 15
Brown, Horace residence 56
Carlton, Ingalls residence 23
Country Club 17
Davis, Jeremiah residence 52
Dunn, Dr. E. C 36
East State Street 21
Emerson, Ralph residence 45
Carver, Judge J. C. residence 31
Government Building 43
Group of Rockf ord residences 48
Group of Rockf ord churches 64 , 70
Hamilton, H. H. residence 32
! nterurban Railway 1 30
Johnson, O. W. Com. House 82
Knapp, William residence 25
Lake, John residence 16
Memorial Hall... ..10
PAGE
Nelson, William residence 60
Nelson Hotel 14
Rhodes. Levi residence 39
Rockford College 62
Schmauss Company 80
Seventh Street 47
Sherratt, John H. residence 50
Shoudy, I. residence 58
Shumway, R. H. residence 26
Skandia Hardware Co 81
St. James Church 67
Sumner, E. B. residence 20
Thomas, P. Byron residence 34
Tinker's Swiss Cottage 40
Water Works Park 41
Waterman, J. D. residence 37
Williams, Mrs. Lydia residence 19
Winnebago County Court House 1 1
Woodruff, Gilbert residence 28
Y. M. C. A. Building ..13
INDEX
PAGE
Acquisitions of 1836. ..12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Act Establishing Public Library 44
African M. E. Church and Roster 73
Ailing, David D 23,24
Ailing, Frank 23
Allen Gordon S 46
Allaben, Dr. J. E 51,54
Alexander, John 157, 158
American House 59, 60
Amiss, Miss Arabella 9
Anderson, Dr. B. C 51
Anderson, Andrew 155, 156
Anderson, Peter T 1 65
Andrews, C. N 26
Andrews, Charles 1 13, 114
Andrus, Hon. Henry 57, 101, 102
Andrus, Dr. S. C 51
Artesian Wells 42
Ashton, Andrew 24
Austin, Dr. S. A 51, 52, 53
Austin, W. W 169
Bailey, Hon. Rufus C 85, 86
Baker, Hon. Edward H 85, 86
Baker, IraW 38
Baley, L. H 117
Baldwin, George W 165
Banks, A. W 150, 151
Barbour, Prof. 0. F 45, 55
Bargren, A. E 49, 50
Barker, Ira 49
Barnes, William H 124
Barningham, D. W 57
Barnum , Harris 40
Barnum , Daniel 40
Barnum , Ezra 12
Barnum, Anson 12, 24, 25
Barter, Miss Alma M 53
Bartlett, Mrs. Edgar E 38
PAGE
Bartlett, Edgar E 170
Bartlett, M. A 46
Baylies, R. N 129, 130
Beale, Joseph 126, 127
Bean, Mrs Clarence 10
Beattie, John 23, 61
Beattie, Edward W 23
Beattie, George D 23
Beattie, Mary 1 23
Beattie, Anna 23
Bedwell & Herrick 38
Beers, Daniel 12
Biographical 83
Black, Mrs. Mary Irby 10
Blackmer, Orlander C 55
Blaisdell, Elijah Whittier 119, 120, 121
Blake School 55
Blake, Thatcher 9, 12, 26, 35
Blinn, Jesse 26
Blodgett, J. H 55
Bolvin, Nicholas & Co 19
Bond, Nathan 12
Boswell, James 12, 24
Bowman, John A 57
Bradford, Miss Frances 54
Bradley, F. M 43
Bradley & Carpenter 46, 58
Brazee, Mrs. Caroline A 38
Brearley, A. C 125, 126
Brett, Mrs. Carrie S 38
Briggs, Spafford & Penfield 38
Brinckerhoff, George W 25
Broadie, James 12
Bronson, Mayor S. G 44
Brooks, Major General 36
Brown, Thomas C 21
Brown, Mrs. William 41
Brown, Judge William 41, 52, 53
Brown, Miss Eunice... ...54
INDEX
nr / IT v
175
PAGE
Brown School 55
Brown, Andrew 59
Brown, Horace 94, 95
Brown, Hon. E. W 96,97
Browne, Hon. J. Stanley 170, 171
Brown's H ouse 59
Broughton, Russell M. D...76, 77, 78, 79, 101
Bryhn, R. J 131
Buildings in la38 24
Bundy & Goodhue 24
Burbank. Frank 51
Burnap, Francis 36
Burnap, Rev. Jacob 36
Burson, William Worth 108, 109
Butterworth, Thomas 52
Butterworth, Chester 53
Calkins, Dr. F. W 51
Campbell, Abel 12
Carey, Miss 1 1
Carey, Phineas 12
Carleton, Ingalls 90
Carlson, David 161
Carnegie, Andrew 44, 45. 46
Carpenter, H. W 52
Carr, G. V 49
Carson, James H 58, 133 134
Carty, Ed. F 155
Carter, V 12
Carrico, T. W 23
Catlin. Dr. E. P 51. 141
Catlin, Dr. A. M 51
Catlin, Dr. S. R 51
Caton, John 12
Cavanaugh, Charles 46, 50
Cavanaugh, J ohn 50
Central Christian Church and Rosier 73
Chalm ers, J ames 46
Chandler, D. C 50
Chapel Hall 62
Chapin, John P 24
Chapman, Roscoe S 171, 172
Chamberlain, Prof 42
Charles, Elijah 18
Chicago & Iowa Railroad 61
Chick House 38, 59
Chick, Thomas 1 48, 1 49
Christening and Incorporation 01 Village. ...24, 25
Churchill, P. P.. . ..12
PAGE
Church, Selden M 12, 24,43
Church , Samuel 1 46
Church School 55
City Hotel 60
Clark, James 24
Clark, Dr. D. S 44, 51. 53
Clark, Dr. L. A 51
Clark, Dr. E. J 51
Clark, Theo. W. Co 172
Clarke, William 157
Coleman, John S 38
Collier. Alex 1 34
Collis, George 113
ComingsTDr. A. F 51
Commercial House 60
Compton, H 50
Cook & Brother 22
Cook, W. H 46. 59, 153, 154
Coonradt, P. A 49
Corey, Lova 12
Corey, Alonson 12
Corey, Jonathan 12
Corey, Samuel 24
Court Street M. E. Church and Roster 66
Cosper, Elias 43, 44
Countryman, Alfred 49
Coy, Dr. R. E 51
Craig, James 18
Crawford .Newton 26
Crawford, Samuel P 41, 47,49, 51
Crockett, Dr. W. W 51
Cross, Robert J 18
Grotty, William 53, 123, 124
Culhane. Dr. T. H 51
Cunningham, Isaac Newton 16, 38
Cunningham , Samuel 38
Cunningham , William 38
Cunningham, Benjamin FranMin 38
Dame , J ames 49
Damon, Sumner 26
Daniels, F. A 50
Dankey, Mrs. K W 23
Danley, Mrs. Almeda M 22
Davis, Jeremiah 52, 116, 117
Dennis, W. P 26, 49
Dickerman, Wneelcr & Co 22
Dickerman, W. A 26
Dimond, Jesse 137, 138
V
176
INDEX
PAGE
Dobson, William 112, 113
Doolittle, P. S 24
Doty, Simon P 18
Dunbar, William E 12, 18,24
Dunlap, D. C 63
Dunn, Dr. E. C 121, 122
Dwyer, Dennis 51
Eagle Hotel 59
Eakin, Dr. A. C 51
Early, A. D 56,57
Edgel, Stephen 24
Ellis, Edward F. W 46
Ellis School 55
Ellis, T. M 130, 131
Ellison, J. A 50
Emerson, Adaline E 52, 53
Emerson, Ralph Jr 53
Emerson, Ralph 83, 84
Enoch, Hiram R 16
Episcopal Church and Roster 63, 64
Epworth Church and Roster 66,67
Erickson, Olof 50
Europea n H otel 61
Evans, Mr 9
Everett, E. E 60
Ferge, H 59
Ferguson, Duncan 26, 36, 40, 63
Fernald, E. M 55
Finley, Rufus W 152
Fisher, H enry 22
Fisher, John 49
First Settlement of Kockford 9, 10
First Settler on East Side 1 1
First Public Religious Service 12
First Cong. Church and Roster. ..12, 23,64, 65
First Term of Court 21
First City School Ordinance 54
First Baptist Church and Roster 55, 65, 66
First Presbyterian Church and Roster... 68, 69
First M. E. Church and Roster 70, 71
First Swedish Luth. Church and Roster..73, 74
Fitch, Dr. W. H 51, 53, 142, 143
Flaherty, Rev. James J 122
Floberg, August P Ill, 112
Forbes, A. D 24, 53
Ford, Calvin 46
Ford, Judge Thomas H 18
PAGE
Forest City Insurance Co 40
Forest City National Bank 61
Forest City House 61
Foot, Dr. Lucius F 51
Fox, Charles J 12
Franciscan Sisters 53
Freeman, A. W 55
Freeman , H enry 55
Freeman School 55
Fringer, Dr. W. R 51
Frost, Howard D 46
Frost, Judge Arthur H 51,57, 85
Frost, Dr. J. H 51
Gamewell Telegraph Alarm 50
Garner, Squire 12
Garner, Jefferson 12
Garrison School 55
Carver, Judge John C 91
Gaylor, Mr 12
George, Miss Margaret 12
George, Sampson 14
Gillett, Dr. P. F 51
Gilman, William H 24
Glenn, Lizzie C 52
Glenny, Fred 50
Goddard, Dr. C. W 51
Godfrey, Mrs. Charles H 38
Golden, M. H 50
Goodrich, Dr. David 22, 24, 25
Goodwin, Dr. S. E 51
Grace M. E. Church and Roster 75
Granger, S. A 46
Grans, John 51
Gray, J. F 42
Green, Dr. Albert S 51, 143, 144
Gregory, L. B 54
Gregory, Mrs. E. S 38
Gregory, Samuel 12
Gregory, Eliphalet 12, 18
Griffin, Thomas W 47
Griggs, Joseph. P 18
Groneman, J. H 131
Growth of City in 1835 12
Growth of City 35
Haight, Daniel Shaw 11, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25,
35, 59.
Haight, Mrs. Mary 11
INDEX
177
PAGE
Haines, Dr. G. W 51
Haines, Hon. Frederick 100
Hall, Charles 12
Hall, Eli 24
Hall, John 38
Hall School 55
Halstead, Ambrose 49
Hamilton, H. H 150
Hangey, Dr. J. E 51
Haskell, Dr. George 24, 59
Haskell, George S 55
Haskell School 55
H askins, Lewis 12
H ayes , J oseph 24
Helm, Dr. W. B 51, 143
Helm, Dr. Clinton 51, 140, 141
Henderson, Dr. G. S 51
Henry, C. F 125
Herrick, E. L 38
Herrick, Elizabeth L 38
Herrick, Charles E 38
Hess, L.M 118, 119
High School 55
Hill, Daniel 40
Hill, Dr. F. K 52
Hilton, Howard 170
Holland, John A 37
Holland House 60
Hollenbeck, William 12
Holm, Gust 160
Holmes, Rev. Mead 22
Holmes, William 47
Hopkins, Theodore F 1 18
Hoppe, Max 167, 168
Horsman, Charles 1 14, 26
Hotel Nelson 60, 61
Hough, James F 46, 47
Howard, Dr. G. A 51
Howes, Phineas 22
Hubbel, Miss Jennie 46
Huffman House 60
Hulin, William 26, 40
Hutchins, Mayor Amasa 46,49, 109, 110
Hutchins, Fred H 128
Huntley, Dr. E. N 51
Incorporation as a City 25
Jackson, John D 56
Jackson, Mayor Charles E 91. 92
.1 I / I /
PAGE
Jarvis Inn 61
Jellerson, Charles S 46
Johnson, O. W : 82
Johnson , Abner 159
Johnson, Dr. Jalba : 51
Jolly, Joseph 12
Jones, S. W 55
Jones, C. C 55
Jorden, Dr, F. A 51
Joslin, Luke 12
Julian, S. T 48
Keig, W. H 151, 152
Keith, Adam 12
Keith, Lewis 24
Keith's Creek 12
Keeler, E. H 56. 57, 115, 1 16
Kemble. John C 22, 24, 25
Kent, Germanicus 9, 10, 12, 18,24, 35
Kent, Rev. Aratus 9, 12,61
Kent School 10, 55
Kern, O. J 134, 135
Keyt, W. R 152, 153
Keyt, W. A 158
Kilburn, Milton 12
Kilburn, Benjamin 23, 24
Kimball, Dr. F. H 51., 52, 53
Kinder, Dr. R. G. W 51
Kirk, Elisha A 24
Kishwaukee School 55
Knapp, James G 44
Knapp, William 105
Lake, Thomas 12 24
Lake, John 22, 93, 94
Lake, Lewis F 132
Lakin, John T 46, 47
Lane, Sanford & Co 22
Lane, Dr. R. P 51, 52, 53
Langdon, J. E 49
Latham, C H 57
Lathrop, Mrs. William 22
Lathrop, William 26, 52, 53, 83
Lawler, Col. T. G 55, 57
Leach, Shepherd 38
Leland, Dr. S. C 51
Lichty, Dr. Daniel 51
Lincoln School 55
Linden Hall... ...62
INDEX
PAGE
Lines, Charles C 131
Little, Samuel 24, 25
Little, M. B 50
Location of County Seat 18, 19, 20, 21
Lofgren, Dr. Emil 51
Love, M. A 57
Lovejoy, A. J 57, 58
Lyddon, B. R 162
Lyon, Isaiah 25, 26, 59
Lyon, J. G 54
Lyon, George G 55
McAssey, F. W 131
McCarty, C. J 131
McDowell, Dr. W. A 147, 148
McEnnis, Dr. R. W 51
McGrahan, J. T 50
McKenney, William 26
McLee, John 163, 164
McPherson, Prof 55
Mabie, Rev. HenryC 44
Mackenzie, Roderick 159, 160
Main, Edwin 63
Makintosh, Dr. M. Alexander 51
Manufacturers' Bank 39
Marcy, Ex. Governor 22
Markley, Dr. P. L 51, 54
Markley, Dr. A. J 54
Marsh, Jason 26, 36, 38, 55
Marsh School 55
Marsh, Frank M 135, 136
Marshall, W. H 138
Martin, Alfred 164, 165
Martin, Thomas M 44
Martyn, James B 12
May, William L 18
Maynard, Hiram R 26
Masonic Temple 60
Mead, D. W 42, 63
Melville, F. L 137
Memorial Hall 46
Middle Hall 62
Midway 24
Miller, John 23
Miller, Hon. Horace 40
Miller, William M 41
Miller, Dr. T. N 51, 144
Miller, A. S 55
Miller, Jacob B... ...59
PAGE
Miller, Thomas 59
Miller, Charles L 169
Milliken, K. H 26
Mitchell, James 21, 25
Montague , Richard 12
Montague School 55
Morgan, Abiram 14, 24
Moore, G. S 59
Morrill, Israel 12
Morrison, L. L 51,98
Mosher, J eremiah 49
Moulthrop, Dr. Levi 12
Moyer, Dr. C. W 51
Munthe, Thour 52
Nash, John A 57
National Hotel 61
Neeley, William N 58
Nelson H ouse 24
Nelson School 55
Nelson, Col. William 99
Nevius Post, G. A. R 56, 57
Newberg, Frank P 163
Noble, Mr 12
Norton, Mr 12
Norton, Marcus A 132, 133
Norton, W. T 161, 162
Nylander, Aug 57, 58
Organization of the County 17
Olson, Nels 154, 155
Palm, J. A 158, 159
Peake, Laomi, Sr., 39
Pearson, Frank E 154
Peck, Ebinezer 24
Penfield, William 24
Penfield, David S 38
Perry, Seeley 12, 22, 43
Peterson, P. A 168, 169
Petit, S. J 150
Phelps, John 18, 24
Posson, Joseph 16
Posson, Jacob 24
Potter, Herman B 12
Potter, Eleazer Hubble 22, 26
Potter, Joel B 38
Price, Frances 1 52
Price, Henry W 88, 89
Reber, Thomas D 114, 115
Reception in Library Rooms 44
INDEX
179
PAGE
Reck, Samuel H 104, 105
Reed, Charles 19
Regan, Hon. Frank S 140
Reid, James M 128
Reorganization of City Government 27
Rew, Robert 102, 103
Rhodes, Levi 41, 116
Richings, Dr. Charles Henry 14, 51
Richings, Dr. Henry. ..16, 40, 51, 53, 141, 142
Riley, John V 172
River Park 46
Robertson, Thomas D 37, 38, 43
Rockf ord Journal 16
Rockford House 24, 25, 59
Rockford College 38, 61, 62
Rockford Wire Works 39
Rockford Water Works 41, 42
Rockford Public Library 42, 43, 44, 45, 46
Rockford Fire Department 46, 47, 48, 49
Rockford City Hospital 52
Rockford Schools 54, 55
Rockford Hotels 59, 60, 61
Rockford Churches 63-75
Rockford & Interurban Railway 129, 130
Rockford Illustrating Company 172
Rockford Police Department 49, 50, 51
Rock River House 59
Roosevelt, President Theodore 59
Roster of City Officials 27-35
Ryan, E. J 166
Sabin, Charles 97,98
Sager, Dr. R 51, 146
Sanford, G. A 21, 22, 26
Savage, John T 112
Schmauss Company 80
Schmauss Leonard 53, 127, 128
Scovill, H. C 103, 104
Second Cong. Church and Roster 72
Settlers of 1837 21, 22, 23, 24
Shaw, W. J 16, 161
Sherratt, Capt. John H 84, 85
Shoudy, 1 136, 137
Shumway, David S 16
Shumway, Roland H., Sr 16, 107
Sill, Miss Anna P 61. 62
Skandia Hardware Company 81
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall 55-59
Spafford, Amos Catlin 36, 38
Spafford, Charles H 38
Spafford, George H 38
Special City Charter 27
Sponberg, P. A 168
St. James Church and Roster 73
St. Mary's Church and Roster 74, 75
St. Anthony Hospital 53
Stage H ouse 59
Starke Dr. C. V... ...51, 145, 146
PAGE
State Street Baptist Church and Roster 68
Sterling, F. E 57, 105, 106, 107
Streets of Rockford 62
Swanson, C. J 162, 163
Swedish Methodist Church and Roster 68
Sumner, Hon. E. B 87, 88
Talcott, W. A 52, 53
Talcott, Wait 53
The Inn 59
Thomas, P. Byron 126
Thompson, Norman F 89. 90
Tibbetts, Dr. L 51, 146, 147
Ticknor, Herbert D 156
Tinker, Hon. Robert H 41, 44, 98
Trinity Eng. Lutheran Church and Roster 74
Turner School 55
Union H ouse 59
Victoria House 61
Walker, P. R 107, 108
Walker,]. A 122, 123
Walker, Dr. C. A 145
Walkup, Liberty 139
Walsh, James P 167
Warfield, J. E 170
Washington House 24, 59
Waterman, John Dexter 95
Waverly House 59
Webb, A. W 49
Welch, P. W 166, 167
Westminster Pres. Church and Roster... 69, 70
Wheeler, Solomon 55
White, Frank C 149, 150
Whitehead, J. B 58, 110, 111
Whitehead, Mrs. J. B 38
White's Hotel 60
Widell, Swan 153
Wight School 55
Wiley, George L 114
Williams, H. W 138, 139
Williams, Dr. Ray Daniel 147
Winchester, Thomas 156, 157
Winn, Dr. George L 51, 144, 145
Winnebago House 24, 59, 60
Winnebago County Medical Society 51, 52
Winnebago County Agricultural Society 63
Winnebago Street Church and Roster 71, 72
Wisner, J. F 166
Woodruff, Gilbert 22, 86, 87
Woodruff, William F 99, 100
Woolsey, C. Harry 148
Works, Hon. Charles A 92, 93
Worthington, William 39
Y. M. C. A. Building 38, 43, 59
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA
