USA > Illinois > DuPage County > A history of the County of Du Page, Illinois > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12
NAMES OF SHERIFFS.
Elected,
May, 1839-Daniel M. Green DU PAGE
Aug. 1839-Daniel M. Green
Aug. 1842-Harry B. Fowler
Aug. 1844-Robert N. Murray. Naperville
Aug. 1846 -George Roush
Nov. 1850 -C. R. Parmalee Lisle
Nov. 1852-T. W. Smith Winfield.
Nov. 1854-A. C. Graves.
Nov. 1856-James J. Hunt .. Naperville
RECORDERS.
May, 1839-S. M. Skinner
Aug. 1843-A. S. Jones
Aug. 1847-J. J. Riddler
In 1849 the clerk of the circuit court was made ex-officio recorder, the county court and the office of probate justice were succeeded by the county court, composed of a county judge and two county justices of the peace. The office of county commissioner's clerk was succeeded by county clerk, the county judge and the two county justices sitting together for the transaction of county business, and the county judge, with the clerk, constituting a court for the transaction of probate business. Under this provision, Nathan Allen was elected county judge in 1849, and Charles Gary and Peter Northrup were elected county
.
78
HISTORY OF
justices. In 1850 the township organization law was adopted, and the first board of supervisors elected. The following persons have held the office of clerk of the circuit court :
Appointed,
1839-P. Ballingall .Naperville
1843-E. B. Bill.
Elected,
1849-John J. Riddler
· 1852-Peter Northrop Addison
1856-John Glos Wayne
CLERKS OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT, AND COUNTY CLERKS.
Elected,
. . July 14, 1839 -Clark A. Lewis* Warrenville
Aug. 5, 1839 - Allen McIntosh Naperville
Aug.
1843 - Allen McIntosh
Aug. 1847-H. H. Cody Bloomingdale
Re-elected,
Aug. 1849-H. H. Cody Bloomingdale
Elected,
1853-M. C. Dudley Bloomingdale
PROBATE JUSTICES AND COUNTY JUDGES.
Elected,
May, 1839-J. W. Walker .Downer's Grove
Aug. 1839-Lewis Ellsworth Naperville
Aug. 1843 - Nathan Allen
Aug. 1847-J. J. Kimball.
Aug. 1849-Nathan Allent
Nov. 1852-Jeduthan Hatch Lisle
Nov. 1853,- Walter Blanchard Downer's Grove
* Died same month, 1839, and vacancy filled by appointment of P. Ballingall. t Resigned, 1852.
79
DU PAGE COUNTY.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
Elected,
May, 1839-M. Sleight. .Naperville
Aug. 1839-Stephen J. Scott
Aug. 1843-R. K. Potter
Aug. 1845-J. J. Kimball
Aug. 1847-N. A. Thomas
Nov. 1849-H. F. Vallette. Milton
Nov. 1851-H. F. Vallette Naperville
Nov. 1853-H. F. Vallette
Nov. 1855-W. J. Johnson
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
Elected,
1841-Lewis Ellsworth Naperville
1843-R. N. Murray.
1844-Horace Brooks Milton
1847-W. L. Wheaton
1849-Hope Brown Naperville
1851 -
1853-
1855- *
Appointed,
1856-Lorin Barnes
Bloomingdale
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Elected,
May, 1839-Josiah Strong,
-H. L. Cobb,
-T. P. Whipple,
Aug. 1839-Hart S. Cobb, -John W. Walker,
- Hiram Fowler,
Aug. 1840-N. Stevens,
Aug. 1841-J. A. Smith,
Elected, Aug. 1842-Warren Smith,
Aug. 1843-T. Hubbard,
Aug. 1844-John Thompson,
Aug. 1845-T. Andrus, -John Thompson, .
Aug. 1846- Asa Knapp, Aug. 1847-S. D. Pierce, Aug. 1848 - David Crane.
* Resigned, September, 1856.
SC
HISTORY OF
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
Elected,
May, 1839-L. Meacham Bloomingdale
Aug. 1839-J. B. Kimball. Naperville
Aug. 1847- Horace Brooks. Milton
Nov. 1849-
Nov. 1851 - 66
66
Nov. 1853-
66
Nov. 1855-
66
CORONERS.
Elected,
May, 1839-H. L. Peaslee . Naperville
Aug. 1839- 66 66
Aug. 1840-E. G. Wight
Aug. 1842-N. Loring
Aug. 1844-J. Keefer
Aug. 1846-D. C. Gould 66
Aug. 1848-L. Avery. Milton
Nov. 1849-C. C. Barnes . Naperville
Nov. 1852-F. C. Hagemann Winfield
Nov. 1854-W. B. Stewart
Naperville
Nov. 1856- Alfred Waterman Wheaton
81
DU PAGE COUNTY.
A HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MILTON.
THE settlement of this town was commenced in 1831, by Harry T. Wilson and Lyman Butterfield. Mr. Babcock and Thomas Brown settled in the town soon after. They were followed by Joseph Chadwick and his sons.
In 1850 the present township organization law was adopted, and the first town meeting was held at the house of Jesse C. Wheaton, in that year.
The town is situated -nearly in the centre of the county, and is six miles square. The Galena and Chicago Union Railroad passes directly through it. The present population is about two thousand. As an agricultural district, this town is unsurpassed, being adapted to all the various branches of farming. It presents a beautiful and varied landscape of prairie and woodland, hill and dale, running brooks and crystal founts. In its present and future prospects, this town affords a picture which some of New England's towns might well envy.
There are two flourishing villages within the limits of this town, Wheaton and Danby. Wheaton is a fine, growing village, beautifully situated on the G. and C. U. Railroad, 25 miles west of Chicago, and 5 miles east of the Junction of the C. B. & Q. Rail- road, the Dixon Air Line Railroad, and the St. Charles Branch road ; thus rendering access to the town direct
1
4*
82
1
V
-
-
HISTORY OF
and easy from all points. Jesse C. and Warren L. Wheaton were the original proprietors of the village, which was laid out by them in 1853. In the fall of 1849 the railroad was completed to this point, and during the following year Messrs. J. G. Vallette, H. H. Fuller, and a Mr. Lynch erected the first buildings. Few improvements were made until it was surveyed and platted in 1853. There are now about 1,000 inhabitants within the village limits, and upward of 200 buildings have been erected. The railroad com- pany erected a commodious building in 1856, for their use as a depot for passengers and freight, in connection with which is an express office. The following list of the business establishments of the town will give some idea of its wants, growth and prosperity, when it is considered that scarcely four years ago there were not more than two or three dwellings to be found in the place .. There are now : 1 hotel, 12 stores, 12 factories, including an extensive carriage manufactory, and a steam flouring mill, 2 lightning rod manufactories, 2 lumber yards, 2 markets, 2 post offices, 1 school house, 1 institute, 1 printing office, 1 nursery. The amount of capital employed by the principal business men, varies between three and five thousand dollars, and the annual sales range between ten and fifteen thousand dollars. At the carriage manufactory of Messrs. Chadwick, Brother & Co., some fifteen hands are employed and about fifty carriages of every description made annually. The steam flour mill was built in 1856, by Messrs. Northrop & Watson. This mill has two run of stones, and produces flour of a superior quality.
3
83
DU PAGE COUNTY. RSPYOL
1
The Baptist, Wesleyan and Episcopal Methodist denominations each have their respective church organizations, connected with whicli are Sabbath schools, missionary societies, and various benevolent enterprises. The truly reformatory movements of the day find warm supporters here, so much so that it has been denominated a. "reformatory town." The Meth- odist Episcopal and Wesleyan. Methodist churches had their organizations in the town prior to the settlement of the village. The present membership of the Wes- leyan church is about 75, and the Rev. Lucius C. Matlack, President of the Illinois Institute, is the
pastor. There are about 60 members of the M. E. church, and Rev. B. Close is pastor. The Baptist church of Wheaton was organized on the 12th of November, 1856, by a council from the neighboring churchies, witlı the usual services of church recognition. There are now 17 members of this church. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Garrison.
A printing office was established here in 1856, from which was issued for several months the Du PAGE COUNTY GAZETTE, by J. A. J. Birdsall. This paper was discontinued in the spring of 1857, for want of sufficient patronage to sustain it.
. A military company was organized in this place in 1856, called the "Wheaton Artillery." , The officers of the company are Jolin Short, Captain ; J. G. Val- lette, 1st Lieut. ; J. M. - Vallette, 2d Lieut. Number of members, 40.
The Illinois Institute is located in this place. It has a liberal charter, conferring powers equal to the best colleges, and embraces academical, collegiate and
84 1
HISTORY OF
theological departments of instruction. The charter was granted by the Legislature, in 1855. Forty acres of valuable land and three thousand dollars cash donation, formed the basis of its establishment. The fund has been increased by additional gifts, so that the . value of real estate owned by the trustees is now upward of $10,000. The sum of five hundred dollars was raised by subscription, in 1856, with whichi chem- ical, philosophical and astronomical apparatus was pro- cured for the institution. Add to these the amount of scholarships sold, which is nearly $20,000, and we have an aggregate of nearly $30,000. This amount is to be offset by a debt of $2,500. So great a success within a little more than three years of its existence, is an encouraging fact, and promises well for the future. It is the design of the trustees to secure to the institution a permanent endowment fund of $100,000, by the sale of scholarships. Its catalogue for the first year numbered 140 students, the second year 270, and its present prospects are more flattering than at any previous period. The following list com- prises the faculty of 1856 :
Rev. LUCIUS C. MATLACK, President
G. H. COLLIER, A.B., Prof. Mathematics and Natural Philosophy.
O. F. LUMRY, A.B., Prof. Greek and Latin ....
Miss M. A. NEWCOMB, A.B., Principal Female Department. Mrs. MINERVA HOES, M.D., Anatomy, Physiology, and Botany. SEBASTIAN PFRANGLE, German and Music.
L. A. JONES, Assistant Teacher.
In connection with the Institute, a commodious boarding hall has been erected, at an expense of nearly $3,000.
85
DU PAGE COUNTY.
There are two post offices in the town, one at Wheaton, and one at the village of Danby. Post master at Wheaton, C. K. W. Howard. At Danby, David Kelly.
There are seven school districts in the town. The original fund derived from the sale of school land was $800. It is now $1,238 82. The public schools are attended .by , 790 scholars. Township treasurer, L. W. Mills. Few towns in the county have done more than this, to advance the interests of public schools.
Danby is an unusually pleasant and quiet village, beautifully located on the Galena Railroad, about 23 miles west of Chicago. The railroad was completed to this place in the fall of 1849. During the same season the railroad company erected a station house, which was the first frame building put up in the place. In the spring of 1850, the first settlement was made by John O. Vallette. Milo F. Meacham, A. Hantz, W. Wilson, Wm. Waggoner, and Dr. L. Q. Newton, the original proprietor of the town, came in during the following year ..
The place has grown rapidly during the last two or three years, and bids fair to rival some of its sister towns of much greater pretensions. Its present popu- lation is between three and four hundred. It has 1 hotel, 2 drug stores, 3 dry goods stores, 1 cabinet shop, 1 grist mill, 1 tin and hardware store, 1 black- smith shop, and 1 lumber yard.
Physicians at Wheaton, O. Wakelee, F. C. Hage- mann, J. O. Vallette, Dr. Lowrie, and A. Waterman.
Physicians at Danby, L. Q. Newton, H. S. Potter, and Dr. Saxe.
86
HISTORY OF
Attorneys at Wheaton, S. F. Daniels and L. E. DeWolf. Notaries Public, S. F. Daniels and J. G. Vallette, at Wheaton, and Horace Brooks, who is also county surveyor, at Danby.
The following list comprises the names of the town . officers of the town of Milton, since its organization :
SUPERVISORS :
1850 - Warren L. Wheaton,
1854 - W. J. Johnson,
1851 - W. J. Johnson,
1855 -
1852 -
1856 -- F. H. Mather,
1853 -
1857 -
TOWN CLERKS. .
1850 - Alfred Standish,
1854 - Carlos Johnson,
1851-J. F. Lester, _
1855 - Henry Benjamin,
1852 - J. O. Vallette,
1856 - G. P. Kimball,*
1853 - Carlos Johnson,
1857 -L. W. Mills.
ASSESSORS :
1850 - J. G. Vallette,
1854 - Horace Brooks,
1851 - Horace Brooks,
1855-
1852- 66
1856 - D. Balsley,
1853 -
1857 - J. C. Wheaton.
COLLECTORS :
1850 - Smith Brookins, 1854 -0. Jewell,
1851 -D. L. Christian, 1855-C. K. W. Howard,
1852 - Andrew Snyder, 1856 - Luther Chadwick,
1853 - Jesse C. Wheaton,
1857 -C. K. W. Howard.
CONSTABLES :
1850 - J. G. Vallette, 1854 - Reuben Hinzen,
1851 - D. L. Christian, · Smith Brookins,
1855 - D. Balsley,
C. K. W. Howard,
1852 - Joseph Mason,
1856 - David Balsley,
1853 - David Brookins, 1857 -
*Resigned, and vacancy filled by L. W. Mills.
87
DU PAGE COUNTY.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR :
1850 - Erastus Gary,
1854 - Orlando Wakelee,
1851 - David Capron,
1855 - J. G. Vallette,
1852 - John Haeket,
1856 - J. D. Aekerman,
1853 - Lester Webster,
1857 -
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE :
1850 - Erastus Gary, to present time. Daniel Fish, 1853 -Daniel Fish.
COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHIWAYS :
1850 - Jolın Haeket,
J. C. Wheaton, Daniel Fish, 1851 - J. C. Wheaton, J. S. Dodge, Frank Ott,
1852 - Daniel Fish,
Erastus Gary, Enos Jones, 1853 - A. Snyder, Enos Jones, J. G. Vallette,
1854 - Thomas Holmes, F. H. Mather, Jehiel Wright,
1855 - Thomas Holmes, N. M. Dodge, Jehiel Wright,
1856 - Daniel Fish, Greenleaf Ring, John Bachelder,
1857 - W. N. Reese, H. Hadley, Joseph Granger.
88
HISTORY' OF
A HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NAPERVILLE.
THE first inhabitant of this town was Capt. Joseph Naper, who came to this state from Ohio, in the winter of 1831. His family arrived' in June, of the same year, and occupied a log house, near the present site of the grist mill. The following list includes the names of all we have been able to ascertain, who settled in the town previous to 1838: John Naper, Ira Carpenter, John Stevens, John Murray, M. Hines, A. H. Howard, S. J. Scott, Willard Scott, L. . Ellsworth, A. S. Jones, S. Sabin, Geo. Martin. L. C. Aldrich, H. L. Peaslee, R. Hyde, Geo. Stroubler, G. Bishop, J. H. Stevenson, W. Rose, R. Wright, E. G. Wight, J. F. Wight, S. M. Skinner, W. Weaver, J. Granger, N. Crampton, W. J. Strong, R. Whipple, U. Stanley, T. Thatcher, A. T. Thatcher, J. Lamb, R. N. Murray, R. Hill, David Babbitt, H. C. Babbitt, J. S. Kimball, J. B. Kimball, L. Kimball, Harry Fowler, Hiram Fowler, R. K. Potter, J. J. Kimball, Adial ,S. Jones, Peter Dodd, Nathan Allen, Benjamin Smith.
As the history of the first few years of the settlement of this town has already been given in the, general view of the county, a repetition of it is deemed un- necessary in this place. The land in this town is generally level. The soil is productive, and equally favorable to grass and the cultivation of grain. The town abounds in limestone, and furnishes lime in
89
DU PAGE COUNTY.
considerable quantities for market in other towns. In the east part of the town, stone of an excellent quality for building purposes is found, and large quantities are quarried for that purpose annually, upon, land owned by Joseph Naper and George Martin. Extensive sand beds have also been opened, which yield an abundance of sand of a superior quality.
Although the town is well watered, yet there are no streams of much note, excepting the Du Page river, which runs through it from north to south, on the east side. This stream affords several advantageous mill sites in its course through the town.
Naperville is the oldest town in the county, and the first in point of property and population. It has up- ward of two thousand inhabitants, 2 hotels, 12 stores, 6 churches, 1 bakery, 1 bank, 2 post offices, 1 grist mill, 10 manufactories, 1 saw mill, 2 breweries, 1 tin and stove warehouse, 1 printing office, 2 quarries, 2 exten- sive lumber yards, 2 nurseries, and 1 incorporated academy.
The town pays $3,400 annually for the support of preaching, and about $1,500 for the support of common schools. There are 400 members of the different churches, and 350 scholars in the Sabbath schools.
The village of Naperville lies partly in the town of Lisle, being divided by the town line into two unequal parts, the greater lying in the town of Naperville. In our notice of the village, we include the territory lying within its limits in both towns. The first frame build- ing erected here was by A. H. Howard, in the fall of 1833. It was erected a few rods in front of the present dwelling of Mrs. Howard. Among the build- ings next put up of this description was the Preemption
90
HISTORY OF
House, by Mr. George Laird, in 1835. This hotel was owned and under the management of Gen. E. B. Bill, for several years, during which time no hotel west of Chicago enjoyed a more extended and well-deserved patronage. The road passing through the village from east to west, was the great thoroughfare between Chicago and Galena, and the town presented the appearance of an unusually active and business-like place. At a very early date it is said the size of the town exceeded even that of Chicago! the latter city having but one log house, while Naperville had two. The first mill constructed upon the river was a saw- mill, in 1835, which was torn down in 1840, to give place to the flouring mill which stands upon the same site. This mill has two run of stones, and enjoys unsurpassed advantages for water power.
The original town plat was laid out in the year 1835, by Capt. Naper. The plat embraced about 80 acres. To the original plat, several additions have since been made. The usual form of the village lots in the original plat was four rods front by ten in depth, con- taining one-fourth acre. These were large, compared with some which have been laid out in more modern times. The precise reason for this diminution in size has never been ascertained with certainty. Several reasons have been assigned. One presumption is, that there was formerly more land to the acre than there now is .. Another is, that the land is more valu- able than it used to be ; but this is controverted by the fact that the large lots are sold at the same, or lower prices, than the prices at which the smaller ones are held. Some think the true reason lies in persons, and
91
DU PAGE COUNTY.
not in · property. No fault, however, can be found with the early proprietors of the town, either in regard to size of lots, or as to the terms on which they were sold. Many lots were given away, and others were sold at low prices, and upon such terms, as to time, that they have not been paid for even to this day. Everything was done in tliis respect, that could add to the prosperity of the place.
The mercantile business, aside from agriculture, is the chief business of the town. The principal stores employ capitals of between six and eight thousand dollars, and do a business ranging from thirty to fifty thousand dollars, annually. They sell large amounts of goods, not only to the inhabitants of this, but of surrounding towns. Integrity is a marked character- istic of the dealings of the merchants of Naperville. This, in connection with the - uniformly low prices at which they sell their goods, has secured to them a liberal and extended patronage.
There are two large nurseries near the village, from which trees and shrubs are sent to all parts of the northwest. We have been furnished some account of the business of these nurseries, which we give below :
The Du Page Eclectic Nurseries were established in 1853, by R. W. and R. M. Hunt. During the four years past these nurseries have propagated, in each year, from fifty to one hundred and fifty thousand fruit trees. Ornamental trees and shrubbery have been proportionally increased, and some thousands of foreign trees and shrubs have been added by importa- tion, as the business has justified. The Du Page County Nurseries, of Lewis Ellsworth & Co., were
92
HISTORY OF
established in 1849. These nurseries cover at present some fifty acres of ground, embracing in the collection the most extensive stock and assortment of varieties of fruit and ornamental trees, shrubs and plants, to be found in the northwest. The yearly increase of trees and shrubs, by propagation and by importation, is truly astonishing. The proprietors have imported during the present season, from Europe, more than thirty thousand young evergreens and other plants. Attached to the establishment is a plant house, arranged for pro- pagating plants during the winter season. The estab- lishment gives employment to a large number of workmen, some ten families deriving their entire support from it. From fifteen to twenty men are employed, at an expense of over six thousand dollars per annum. During the present year the proprietors have commenced a nursery at Wheaton, where about eight acres .of land are occupied, making, in all, sixty acres, cultivated for their business.
There are several other nurseries in the county, but the Du Page County Nurseries are, it is believed, the first in time and the first in importance.
The plow and wagon shop of Messrs. Vaughan & Peck is located in this village. It was originally established by A. S. Jones, who is entitled to the credit of originating the steel plow now so much in use. The manufacture of plows at this shop commenced in 1840. They possess many superior qualities, for which they have become extensively noted throughout the west. From its circular, we learn that "this estab- lishment is one of the oldest in the western states, having manufactured the steel scouring plow for
93
DU PAGE COUNTY.
eighteen or twenty years, and never been beaten at any state or county fair." The establishment is capable of making fifteen plows per day. Two thousand five hundred were manufactured in 1856. The average priee of these plows is $15 each. Wagons, biggies, and most kinds of agrienltural implements are made here. Thirty-six men are employed.
The Bank of Naperville was chartered and went. into operation in 1854. Its nominal capital is $500,000. This bank is established upon a basis which renders it as seeure as any similar institution in the state, and gives it the full confidenee of the publie.
There are two breweries in the town, which consume annually fifteen thousand bushels of barley, and eleven thousand pounds of hops, at a cost of ten thousand dol- lars. From these, one hundred and eighty-six thousand gallons of beer are made, which, at the usual retail priee, reaches the enormous sum of one hundred and forty-eight thousand, eight hundred dollars ! Al- though beer is to some extent an article of home eon- sumption, it having in many instanees superseded the use of that aneient beverage known by the name of water, yet it forms our chief article of export. The sale of this article in some of our neighboring towns is very large. ~
A few words eoneerning the process of manufactur- ing beer may be of interest to some. The barley is first put into large eisterns or vats, which are capable of holding from one hundred to one hundred and fifty bushels. Water is then poured upon it, and in this eondition it remains for abont two days. It is then spread out about one foot in depth upon the floor of
94
HISTORY OF
the drying kiln, which consists of an immense oven, so arranged that its temperature can be adjusted to the germinating point. Here the process of germinating, or malting, as it is termed, takes place. After this, it is passed through a cleaning machine, and then through a malt machine, by which last process it is ground or broken so that its virtue can be more easily extracted. The malt, as it is then termed, is gathered up and - placed in vats holding from fifty to one hundred barrels each, when boiling water is poured upon it. After remaining several hours in this condition, during which time the mixture is constantly agitated by means of long wooden ladles, the liquid portion is drained off and boiled for some time in large boilers prepared for the purpose. This process is repeated three or four times, or until the strength of the barley is all extracted. Hops are then introduced, which give it body, and serve to preserve it during the warm season. The liquid is then placed in another large vat, called the cooler, and when its temperature is reduced to the proper point, is drawn off into the work tub, where yeast is introduced, and the finishing process of fer- · mentation begins. By this process all extraneous matter is separated and thrown off, and the liquid comes out lager beer " of the first water," impatient to - be swallowed.
The Odd Fellows, Masons, and Good Templars have each a society and hall in this place. There was at one time a large society of the Sons and Daughters of Temperance here, but their charter was surrendered in 1854.
The I. O. of O. F. was organized in 1850. The
95
DU PAGE COUNTY.
number of members has been about 60, and the present number is 48. The present officers of this institution are S. Boliman, N. G .; W. Naper, V. G .; S. O. Vaughan, Secretary, and R. Willard, Treasurer.
- The Masonic Lodge was established in 1848. The number of all the members to the present time is 120. There are now about 60 members. The officers are H. H. Cody, W. M .; C. D. Haight, S. W .; and C. W. Keith, J. W.
The lodge of the Good Templars was instituted in June, 1857. There are now 40 members. E. H. Eyer holds the office of W. C. T.
It might be mentioned in this connection, that the " Know Nothings" had a lodge somewhere in this place about a year ago, but their precise locality has never been fully determined. A list of the members has been furnished us, but our space will not admit of its publication. The doings of the society were char- acteristically covert and sly, so that we are obliged to admit that we know nothing about their movements.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.