USA > Illinois > Lake County > Historical and Statistical Sketches, of Lake County, State of Illinois > Part 1
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TATE HIST shs
7H
CAL . NIS
1846
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Hainer Sketcher of Lake Co. Illinois . -
396L HI
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HISTORICAL
:STATISTICAL
KETCHES
OF
LAKE COUNT State of Allinnit
Instituted 1849, R .- only
WISCONSIN.
IN TWO PARTY The first consisting of General Observ (tons; The second, gives a minute ;Review of Township, in its order.
MADIS CC1854.386
By ELIJAH M. HAINES.
WAUKEGAN, ILL. PUBLISHED BY E. G. HOWE, Bookseller and Stationer. 1852.
Geer's Print, Waukegan.
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IN.C.GEER'S
PRINTING OFFICE.
DENNIS SMITH
W. & D. SMITH
W-D
The Gazette Office Genesee Street, Is the place to get all kinds of PRINTING.
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HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL SKETCHES, OF LAKE COUNTY, State of Illinois.
IN TWO PARTS. The first consisting of General Observationa; The second, gives a minute Review of each Township, in its order.
0.
By ELIJAH M. HObis Historical So - OF WISCONSIN
$376
WAUKEGAN, ILL. PUBLISHED BY E. G. HOWE, Brokeciler and Stationer. 1852.
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NATHAN C. GEER, JOB PRINTER, " Gazette Office," Waukegan.
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· HIS
INTRODUCTION.
About a year since, the writer, in pursuance of an agreement with the Editor of the Wau- kegan Gazette, commenced preparing the following History or Statistical Account of Lake County, for the columns of the Gazette, at which time it was intended that the matter would be ready for the press in the early part of last winter, but the business affairs of the writer has prevented him from laying it before the public nutil the present time.
The work will be divided into two parts ; first, consisting of general observations;giving a general account of the County from its first settlement up to the present time. Second, a review of each town; giving the names of the early settlers of each, with the date of settlement, together with such incidents of the early settlements as may prove interesting to the reader. Also, such observations in relation to the geography of each town as may be of interest, as well as a brief review of its advantages and resources.
For the purpose of obtaining this informa- tion more correctly .: the writer has sent to such of bis friends in the several towns of the Connty as he thought might be best preparaa
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and most likely to afford him such assistanon as he required, and feels himself under great obligation to them for the favor they have con- ferred, in responding so promptly and fully.
How far the efforts of the writer will be appreciated aud rewarded by the Citizens of the County, is yet to be determined. It was suggested to him however, by an old resident, that the history of Lake County was well known to all its Citizens, therefore to write the matter out and lay it before them would be folly in the extreme. Under the circumstan- cex, it could have no merits, and could not therefore meet with favor. But it is not cor- rect that the history of Lake County is well known to every inhabitant. If so, the writer could have saved a good share of his time and expense in preparing the following work.
On the contrary he finds that even some of the oldest inhabitants, who certainly ought to know much of the early history of the Coun- ty, and upou whom the writer thought he could depend for much valuable information, have now forgotten many important events.
It has been the intention of the writer to lay before the reader a fair and concise ac- count of Lake County ; consisting of a plain statement of fucte, and having been reared in the County from his early boyhood, and hav- ing from an early age beeu more or less engn- gud in matters of a public nature, he flatters himself that he is in some degree qualified for such a task.
Iu the State of Connecticut and in fact in most of the New England States, may be found a full history of every County, swelled in many instances to considerably large vol- antes, and so minute are some of them as to beccine a very satisfactory reference, even in samily genealogy. In preparing the following
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INTRODUCTION.
work the writer has adopted as a precedent, in some degree, the plan of the history of Middlesex County, in the State of Connecti- cut, written by Rev.David D. Field, the father of the distinguished Dudly Field of' N. Y., and published by the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1819, which was placed in the hands of the writer, by Dr. P.Dickinson of Hainesville, a Nephew of the Rev. Mr. Field.
In a history of this kind, it has been custom- ary to begin with the Aborigines of the coun- try-to remind the reader of their strong at- tacbment to their native soil, and the resting place of their fathers, and the many "wrongs and injuries" which they have received from the hands of their conquerors-the whites.
But as all this, as well as the ludian charac- ter in general, is so well understood by every one, the writer has ventured, after a brief no- tice, to pass the matter over ; trusting that his production may not thereby prove the less interesting to the reader. This portion of the subject, is however, receiving full notice from the able pen of an esteemed friend E. S. In- galls, Esq., of Antioch, who is now writing a . series of articles for the Waukegan Chronicle upon the early history of the County. The thorough acquaintance of Mr. Ingalls with the Indian character, will enable him to do ample justice to this portion of the subject.
The writer would also take this opportunity of acknowledging his indebtedness to Wm.S. Searls, Esq., of Waukegan, for a valuable wyork, entitled "Statistics of Dane County, Wisconsin," from which he has drawn many important suggestions, tending to aid him in arranging the following work.
He cannot fail further to acknowledge his indebtedness to I. L. Clarke, Esq., Jate Prin-
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INTRODUCTION.
cipal of the Waukegan Academy, for the very kind assistance be bas so cheerfully afforded him.
The gratitude of the writer is also justly due to A. B. Coates, Esq., Clerk of the Circuit Court, and Amos S. Watterinan, Esq., Clerk of the County Court, for their politeness and cheerfulness in affording him such informa- tion as he required, as might be of record in their respective offices.
In many places the writer has had occasion te make mention of the names of individuals in connexion with his subjects, and in doing so, it has been his peculiar care to speak cor- rectly ; if therefore any names should be found to have been omitted, or any thing, in- correctly stated, he hopes it may be over- looked, and considered as unintentional upon his part.
E. M. H.
HAINESVILLE, Lake County, III., ?
August 21st, 1852.
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ERRATA.
should rost tous : "The Arat settlement of this county, soy da said to have been commenced in the year 1831, and come mostly upon the Displains River, end at diferent points vpon the East of the Des Plains."
On page 7, seventh line fromn bottom, for "roem," reed 'sDer."
On page 10, third line of 20 Resolution, for "longer,"- road "larger."
On page 20, fourth line from top, for "or" read "of." On page 27, twelfth line from bottomo, read "net," for should. "
On page 98, first line of Ed paragraph, for "The Circust Court," read, "I'he firm Circuit Court."
On page.36, secend paragraph, for Hef political oftown," road "of the political affair s."
On page 43, året paragraph, 6th line, for "inwest." rond "longest.""
On page 43. escond paragraph, 3d line after "rAres," add
On page 13, third paragraph, seventh los, for Hought is be , " read " ought to have been . "
On page is, Arth paragraph, 3d line, for "worth," rood "worthy."
. On page 61, second paragraph, 5th line, for "their," road "there,""
On page 51, .. 7th line, for "their," road
" three," Ou page 51, for "John I. Clarke, " read
"John 2'. Ciarke."
The page 61, seventh the froma top, after "been," add " 'found."
On page 58, second line from top, for "relations," reed "relatives. "
On page 60, tenth line from top, for "with," read "inte." On page 82, tor "Jwige of the court," road "Judge of the County Court. "
On page 24, for " s. T. Milnimore," read " A. F. BOX more,"
On page 64. for " George Proutr," read "Georgs Prouty.' On page 90, for "S. P. Station," read "& P. Stratten, " Os pags el, fourth paragraph, for "noon," road "'scom." .. jegost, for "Cheever done" stad "Thevier TAHand'.
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GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
CHAPTER L
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
Lake County lies at the extreme northeast of the State of Illinois, and is bounded on the porth by Wisconsin, on the east by Lake Michigan. on the south by Cook, and the west by McHenry County. Its length from the southeru boundary to the Stateline on the north, 2316 miles. Its average breadth is shant 1996 miles, containing an area of about 460 square miles or 294,400 square acres.
This County derives its name from its being situated upon Lake Michigan, as well as from the great irumber of small lakes contained within its borders ; amounting in all to up- wards of 40. It was originally a part of Mc- Henry County, which was erected from Cook and La Sulle by the Legislature at its Session in 1835 and '36, and was detached therefrom and erected as the County of Lake by an Act of the Legislature, approved March Ist, 1839.
The settlement of this County may be said points upon the east of the Des Plains river ; but there seems to have been but little im- provement until the year following when the Indians vacated the country in pursuance of a treaty which had been previously made, with thein. That portion of country now known as Lake County, seems even to have been with them a favored spot, and at the present day, in various parts of the County, relics of their wigwams, villages and cornfields are to be found. But at no point, do we find these uumistakable evidences so apparent, as upon the borders of the Pistakee Lakes, lying inthe
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northwestern portion of the County ; and so strong seems to have been their attachment to this particular locality, that for several suc- cesding seasons, we find them returning thither to enjoy their sports, and bewail their misfortune.
Among the early settlers of this County were the following pioneers: Ransom Steele, Richard Steele, Capt, Wright, Saml. Brookes, William Cooley, Seth Washburn, William Eamon, Matthias Mason, A. S. Wells, John Herrick, H. B. Steele, Tobias Wynkoop, Wm. Lovejoy, Elmsley Sunderlin, Peleg Sunderlin, Nelson Landon, George Kimball, Willard Jones, Phineas Sherman, Arthur Patterson, Benjamin Marks, Leonard Gage, Geo. Gage, and George A. Drury ; most of whom, are at the present day, residents of the County and favorably known to our citizens, for their very generous hospitality in those early days, an well as for their perseverance, integrity and bonor.
The extremely high prices of provisions in those days,-a misfortune incident to all new countries, - is not forgoten. Flour was sold during the year 1835 for $20 per bbl., and other kinds of provisions in proportion. In 1836 the writer was the purchaser of a fow bushels of oats at $2 per bushel.
The land in this part of the State was, at this time, in the possession of the Govern- ment, and unsurveyed, and in the absence of any proper title some mutual understanding between the settlers became necessary to pro- tect them in their possessions against tres- passers.
The settlers found that the laws of their country afforded them little protection in their new home. The wilderness was before them -they had journeyed beyond the limit of
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GENERAL OBSERAATIONS.
civil government, and now, they realized, perhaps, for the first time in their lives, that governments bad their origin in the weakness of individuals, and had for their end, the strength and security of all. They therefore resolved to form and set up a new govern- ment, or compact for the purpose of defining their rights and enacting such laws as would tend to their security. Accordingly a meeting of the settlers was called for the purpose of adopting such measures as might be thought expedient to accomplish their ends.
A pamphlet, printed we understand by a gentleman of genius, living at that time near the State line, whose stock of type and material must have been very limited, which we have now before us, contains the deliberations of their meeting. We have thought that some extracts from the proceedings of their first meeting might not be uninteresting, wo therefore give the following :-
"At a numerous meeting of the inhabitants on the upper Des Plains river held pursuant to notice at Independence Grove on Friday Dec. 2d, 1836, Saml. Brooks, Esq. in the chair and George Kimball,Sec'y .- Acommit. tse consisting of Nelson Landon, Samuel Brookes and Willard Jones was appointed tu present Resolutions and Regulations. The following on being reported were unanimous- ly adopted.
"Whereas the unsurveyed government lande situate between Indian Creek and the north boundary of the State, lying on and in the vicinity of the Des Plains river have within the last three years became thickly settled, and fresh settlers are daily coming in and seeking a residence and locating in the same neighborhood -many unwilling to encroach on the hitherto respected boundaries of older
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settlers. Others with a too manifest intention ot occupying land for the sole purpose of speculation, and some who seem desirous of retaining for their exclusive advantage a large proportion of woodland and prairie than ap- pears necessary for a farmer on the largest scales of calculatino.
"Many new settlements under similar cir- cumstances have adopted resolutions for the purpose of defining the extent of land which each settler may bold and for protecting others in the quiet possession of' their claims and for this purpose have entered into mutual compact and agreement to carry such resolu- tious into effect.
"It appears to your committee upon reading the notice for convening this meeting that no time should be lost in pursuing such meas- ures as the present situation of the settlement weems to demand, as well for the maintainence and promotion of harmony in the neighbor- hood, as for the encouragement of respecta- ble and actual settlers among us.
"ist. Resolved, That it is expedient and neces- sary to adopt measures by which the settlers in this section of the country maybe protected from encroachments, and their claims upon lands better defined,-to encourage and pro- tect those who wish to come and reside among us.
"2d. Resolved, That it is expedient to pre- vent individuals from taking up and holding longer claims on land than themselves and families can cultivate, and that no one individ- aal shall hold more than one section of land:
3d."Resolved, 'T'hat it is necessary for the ad- vancement & well being of this rettlemeut, to prevent the holding claims on land solely for the purpose of speculation.
-"4th. Resolved, That the country in the
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vicinity of the Des Plains river betweenIndian Creek and the north boundary of this State, be divided into three sections, viz : The first section commencing at Indian Creek, and extending northward to Independence Grove, inclusive. 'The second section extending from Independence Grove to Mr. Lovejoy's tavern* inclusive. The third section extending thence northward to the north boundary of the State,
"II. That there be three Commissioners appointed for each section (to serve for one year and until a re-election shall take place,) who shall have full and exclusive power, and whose duty it shall be at the request of any one. to establish and protect each and every settler in his, her or their just and equitable claim or claims on lands, und decide all diffi- culties concerning the same, and to establish the lines and boundaries thereof.
"IlI. That the decision of said Commission- ers or two of them shall be final, unless within two days an appeal be made by either of the parties to the inhabitants of the section in which the claim may be, in which case it shall be the duty of said Cominissioners, or either of them immediately upon notice of such appeal, to convene a imeeting of the settlers resident in such section for the pur- pose of obtaining their decision on the matter in dispute.
"IV. That the inhabitants of each and all the said sections shall be bound at all times to. . carry into effect the orders or decisions of said Commissioners or any two of them con- cerning any claims or rights of persons relu- ting to any claim or claims.
"V.That if any person shall neglect or refuse
. * Present site of the ()'Plnin house.
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to assist when required to carry into effect any order or decision of said Commissioners or any two of them, or to carry into effectany final decision after an appeal, he shall be considered inimical to justice and good order and shall be treated accordingly.
"VI. That there shall be a Clerk appointed for one year, (and eligible to re-election,) to keep a book to register the proceedings of this meeting, and the claims of each claimnant within the three sections which shall be kept for the inspection of any person at all times.
"VII. That it shall beghe duty of each claimant to procure a certificate of the Commissioners, or any two of them, residing in the section, where the said claim may be, aud file the same with the Clerk for registration, then and there only shall his, her or their claim be established.
"VIIL That the said Commissioners or any two of them, may call a meeting of the set- tiers at any time they may see fit.
"JX. That the said Commissioners be at liberty to demand and receive for their servi- ces for establishing cach claim, including the corner posts not less than two and not more than five dollars.
"X. That every one wishing to avail him- self of the benefit of the foregoing Resolutions and Regulations shall subscribe his name to the same, and omitting to do so shall derive no advantages resulting from the provisions hereof.
"XI. Resolved, That all who hold claims at the present time shall register them within two months, and that all new comers shall register within three months after making their claims."
These regulations were altered and amend- ed at subsequent meetings as circumstances
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seemed to demand. Courts of justice were at length established in the midst of the set- tiers,and they hegun,in some degree,to feel the controlling and beneficial influence of the "higher" or older law to which the following among other articles was added in due time.
"That every member of this association does hereby bind himself to contribute his due proportionate share of the expenses in- curred in defending or prosecuting all suits at Jaw or equity in which any member may be engaged, in consequence of obeying or carry- ing into effect the decisions or orders of the Commissioners according to the 4th regulation of the 2d Dec., 1836."
These meetings were, after a time, ap- pointed and held on the 4th of July, so as to afford the settlers a better opportunity to ob- serve the national holiday. They were regu- Jarly kept up and their enactments in force as far as could be, until the legislature passed a law, protecting every man in his possession or claim, in an amount of land not exceeding 320 acres of unsurveyed land, and not exceed- ing 160 where the lauds had been surveyed, which law is still in force.
The "modus operandi" under the foregoing mies may be more particularly gathered from a case we will cite, which arewe in the third section, in the vicinity of Mill Creek. It seems that an individual who had just arrived with his family from the eastern country, and not understanding fully the 'rules and regulations' of the compact, settled himself upon the first spot of ground which suited his fancy, but which had previously been registered agreea- ble to the laws of the settlers, but was unoc- cupied at the time by the cluimant.
Whereupon the Commissioners of the com pact were notified of the grievance by whose
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orders messengers were dispatched to sumn- mon the inhabitants to meet upon the locus in quo on a given day, to hear and determine the matter in dispute.
A large number of the settlers accordingly met upon the day appointed when a modera- tor was chosen, and the meeting organized for business.
One of their number was selected to act as counsel, or advocate, for the prosecution ; while the intruder presented a very intelligent and gentlemanly appearing individual to urge his defence.
The testimony upon the part of each was then heard, and after a spirited discussion, the matter was submitted to the meeting for their decision, which was that the intruder be first kiudly requested to leave the premises, upou failure of which he was to be ejected there- from without further ceremony. Refusing to comply with this request the order was given to execute the writ of possession.
The meeting then resolved itself into a committee of the whole on the state of the squatters, assumed the reins of justice, pro- ceeded to the defendant's habitation, dispers- ed his family and sequestered his goods, when the order went up and the house went down.
Nothing was now left for the unfortunate occupant, but to gather up his effects and leave the neighboroood.
Thus rid of an unwelcome visitant, the jealous neighbors returned to their hoines in quiet.
Scenes like the above were of almost week- ly occurrence and in but a few cases did they fail of protecting the original claimants against intruders.
Various have been the opinions and ex- pressions as to these compacts of the early
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settlers. They were now perhaps as just as the general compact, under whose protection we are all pleased to find ourselves and to whose mandates we should always yield a very cheerful compliance. But it is probably true that the powers which they assumed as a compact, were often abused and perverted.
The settlers as a body, in deciding upon questions between claimants, often did so without due deliberation, and the conse- quences were in many instances of a serious nature, which perhaps in most instances might have been avoided by more calm and impartial consideration.
CHAPTER II.
The matter of politics, in due time, engaged the attention of the early settlers. The Act of the Legislature, erecting the County of McHenry, provided for au eletion of County officers on the 5th of June, 1837, which election was ordered to be held at the house of Hiram Kennicott, Ecq., which was near the present site of the fouring mills on the Des Plains, near Half Day, which election came off with a degree of strife and anxiety in proportion to the population of the County, at that dute ; there being but one piace of voting for the County ; the candidates and others feeling au interent in the result, bad an excellent opportunity of meeting their oppo- nents upou fair and open grounde.
The following persona were elected as offi- cers for the new County : Henry B. Steele, Sheriff; Michael ilcGuire, Coroner ; Seth Washburn, Recorder, and Matthias Mason, Charles H. Bartlett and Solomon Norton, County Commissioners. The number of votes polled at this election, for the entire County of McHenry, was 138.
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The newly elected officers were immedi- ately qualified and entered upon the duties of their respective offices. The County Beat of the new County having been previously located at the present site of MeHenry village. The County Commissioners elect, immediate- ly repaired thither and opened Court, and as their first official act, appointed Hamilton Dennisou as Clerk of that Court, which office, at that time, was not elective.
On the first Monday in August following came the general election, when the demo- cratic party put in nomination the following ticket : Arthur Patterson for Probate J. P .; Lewis G. Schenck, for Treasurer, Patrick Bal- lingall for Clerk of County Commissioners Court.
The office of Commissioners Clerk having become at this election an elective office. 'This ticket succeeded at the election, with the exception of the nominee for Clerk. Mr. Dennison who was then holding the office by appointment, was the opposing candidate and succeeded over Mr. Ballingall, who by the way was not yet a resident of the County, but intended to become so, bad the election ro- sulted in his favor. In those days, but few enquiries were made, in reference to candi- dates for office ; whatever seemed to be the opinion and desire of a few, who assumed the Jead in such matters, was generally very read- ily concurred in by the many.
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