USA > Illinois > DuPage County > A history of the County of Du Page, Illinois > Part 7
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The Naperville Artillery Company was organized in 1856. There are now some 50 members belonging to the company. The officers are J. J. Hunt, Capt. ; H. F. Vallette, 1st Lieut. ; R. Naper, 2d Lieut. : J. H. Hobson, 3d Lieut., and E. Page, Ensign.
There are two post offices in the town, one at Naper- ville, and one at Big Woods. The post master at the Big Woods is John Warne. The office at Naperville has an annual income of one thousand dollars ; R. Naper, post master.
There are several valuable public and private libra- ries in the town. The circulating library of H. C.
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HISTORY OF
Daniels, M. D., contains 400 volumes of miscellaneous reading. There are two school libraries of about 500 volumes, and four Sabbath school libraries, containing about 1,000 volumes. The law library of Messrs. Vallette & Cody contains 500 volumes, and is the largest collection of the kind in the county.
The freshet of 1857 was a calamity to the town. This occurred in March. The river, swollen by the heavy rains and the melting snow, overflowed its banks and inundated all the business portion of the town. Soon after the stream commenced rising, the mill-dam gave way and let down upon the town an avalanche of water, bearing upon its swift current large sheets of ice, which demolished everything in their way. The rise of the water was so sudden that many of the inmates of the houses situated on the banks of the river, with great difficulty escaped. Several buildings, including three stores, were carried away. The loss is variously estimated, between fifteen and twenty thousand dollars, and was chiefly sustained by Messrs. M. Hines, J. T. Green, R. Willard, C. W. Keith and Joseph Naper.
The village of Naperville was incorporated by act of Legislature in the winter of 1857. The first election of officers for the corporation was held in May follow- ing. The names of the Board elected at that time are as follows : President, Joseph Naper ; Trustees, H. H. Cody, Geo. Martin, M. Hines and X. Eggerman ; Police Justice, H. F. Vallette ; Constable, A. C. Graves; Assessor, A. W. Colt; Clerk, C. M. Castle.
Our space will not admit of our entering into the details of the ecclesiastical history of this town. The
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DU PAGE COUNTY.
first effort toward organizing a religious society was made by settlers in this and the adjoining town of Lisle, as early as 1833. A meeting was held in Lisle on the 13th of July, in that year, and a society organ- ized by Rev. Jeremiah Porter and Rev. N. C. Clark, missionaries for this county, and Rev. C. W. Babbitt, of Tazewell county. This meeting was called at the request of Isaac Clark, Pomeroy Goodrich, Israel Blodget, Robert Strong, Leister Peet, Henry H. Good- rich, and Samuel Goodrich. The society commenced its labors with true christian zeal, and its numbers rapidly increased. Among the first resolutions adopted by the society, we find the following :
Resolved, That the minister, as soon as practicable, shall visit every family in the settlement, and that each member of the brethren, in turn, when called upon, shall accompany him, to ascertain the state of reli- gious feeling, and to awaken attention to the subject, and especially to explain the object and plan of Sabbath schools, and the distribution of tracts.
Rev. N. C. Clark was the first pastor of the society. Meetings were held during the year at different places in the south part of the settlement, for three Sabbatlis in succession, and the fourth in the school house at Naperville. Punctuality in attendance upon the meet- ings of the society was strictly enjoined, and a com- mittee appointed to notice the absence of any, and call on him at the next meeting, for his reason. In 1834, the society raised one hundred dollars to help defray the expenses of their pastor. During the year of 1835 Mr. Clark preached regularly upon the first and fifth Sabbaths of each month at his own house, on the second and fourth at Naperville, and on the third in
5
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HISTORY OF
the neighborhood of Mr. Luther Hatch. He continued as their pastor until July, 1836. With a pledge of three hundred dollars, and the assistance of the Home Missionary Society, the society next secured the services of Rev. E. Strong, who remained with them until August, 1837. The Rev. J. G. Porter then became their pastor, and served the society faithfully and acceptably until July, 1840, when, at his own solicita- tion, he was dismissed. During the years of 1838 and 1839 the society began to feel the need of a house of worship which should be their own. A vote was passed, at a meeting held in September, 1838, to build a meeting house, and at a subsequent meeting, in March, 1839, Naperville was selected as the place for its location. Deacon Clark, Pomeroy Goodrich, and Henry Goodrich, were appointed the first trustees. In October, 1840, Rev. O. Lyman became pastor. He was employed for six months, or until an opportunity offered to procure a permanent minister. The Rev. J. H. Prentiss, of Fulton, received a unanimous call in November, and was installed as pastor on the 12th of July, 1842. Three hundred dollars were pledged for his support, payable half in money and half in pro- duce, by the society, and an additional sum of two hundred dollars was obtained from the Home Mission- ary Society. By his own request, his connection with the society was dissolved, Aug. 25, 1843. Arrange- ments were then made with Rev. E. W. Champlain, to preach for the society on each alternate Sabbath during the remainder of the year, commencing on the first Sabbath in October. Mr. Champlain continued as the pastor until his death, February 8th, 1845. At
-
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DU PAGE COUNTY.
a meeting of the society, April 18th, 1844, it was resolved " that we deem it expedient to take immediate measures to build a house of worship." At a subse- quent meeting, Deacon Isaac Clark, George Blackman, Deacon Pomeroy Goodrich, J. Strong, and Eli North- am, were appointed a committee to select a site. That committee selected a site gratuitously offered by Capt. Morris Sleight. The choice was concurred in by the society, and the present edifice was erected upon it in 1847.
By the death of the Rev. Mr. Champlain the whole society was thrown into mourning. Although he had labored among them for only a brief period, yet he had become endeared to his people by the strongest ties of affectionate regard. He is the only minister of any denomination who has died in this place, or whose sepulcher is with us. After his death the people were destitute of a settled minister for several months, but the pulpit was regularly supplied by Rev. O. . Lyman. A call was extended to Rev. Hope Brown, in August, 1845, which was accepted. It was provided that he should preach on alternate Sabbaths, and receive a compensation proportionate to the amount of service rendered. Mr. Brown was connected with the Home Missionary Society, and for several years after his settlement here, received contributions toward his support from that society. He was installed on the 11th of November, 1845, and continued with this people until October, 1856, when he was dismissed, at his own request.
. Of Mr. Brown it may be said that few men are bet- ter calculated for the Christian ministry. He preached
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HISTORY OF
the truth every day by a consistent Christian example, as well as from the pulpit on the Sabbath. In Octo- ber, 1856, the present pastor, Rev. E. Barber, was invited to the desk. The congregation has considera- bly increased during the past year, and the society has made new accessions to its numbers. The church was never in a more enterprising and prosperous state than at present. The Sabbath school connected with this church has sixty pupils. The whole number of members, since its organization, is 177; the number now belonging to the church is 62.
From the history of the past may we not learn the importance of faithfully sustaining the institutions and ordinances of the Gospel ? All our natural, social, and civil advantages, will avail us little without its influence. As a church, and as a society, is it not our duty to lend a strong hand for its support, when
" The pulpit, in the sober use Of its legitimate, peculiar powers, Must stand acknowledged, while the world shall last, The most important and effectual guard, . Support, and ornament of virtue's cause."
The worldly wisdom of that man is to be admired, who, though not a professing Christian, refused to pur- chase a farm in a town in a neighboring state, because they had no regular preaching there. " For," said he, though property is cheap there now, it will always be cheap; it will diminish in value without the restrain- ing and elevating influences of the Gospel."
Much credit is due to those early pioneers for the ready zeal which they have manifested in organizing
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DU PAGE COUNTY.
and sustaining the churches in our midst. Many of them are still among us, but are not to tarry with us long ; and when they shall depart, may the cause for which they have labored and sacrificed so much be committed to hands equally zealous and faithful to the sacred trust ; for it is a fact, well attested, that nothing will inake a people so poor as to try to live without the preaching of the truth.
· The Baptist church in Naperville was organized through the instrumentality of the Rev. Morgan Edwards, in 1843. At the time of its organization, there were nine members. Immediate steps were taken to erect a house of worship. A building was commenced on the foundation of the present Congre- gational church, but a difficulty arose between the owner of the lots (who had not yet conveyed them to the society) and one of its members. In consequence of this the owner refused to give title to the society, and forbade the removal of the partly constructed building, threatening personal violence to any one who should attempt it. A committee waited upon him and endeavored to obtain his promised deed of the lots, but it was refused. Finding all their over- tures in vain, a large number of the most prominent citizens of the place met by agreement, and unawed either by threats of violence or the terrors of the law, forcibly took down and removed the edifice to its present site, which was donated to the society by Lewis Ellsworth, Esq. In 1844, the building was so far advanced that it was occupied by the Congregational and Baptist societies, each on alternate Sabbaths. Rev. Riley B. Ashley became pastor of this church in
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HISTORY OF.
January, 1844, and continued to supply the pulpit until January, 1846, during which time the church increased to thirty-six in numbers. From July, 1846, to July, 1848, Rev. Allen Gross was pastor, and the church increased to fifty-six. He was succeeded by the Rev. Silas Tucker, in October, 1848. Mr. Tucker continned as pastor until October, 1855, when the number of members was ninety-five. The Rev. Silas Kenny supplied the desk for eight months during 1856 and 1857. The present pastor is Rev. E. P. Barker. In 1847 the church was enlarged and improved. Its present dimensions are 52 feet in length by 36 in width. At the time it was enlarged, a belfry and steeple were built upon it, from which sounded the first church bell in the county. During the past year muchi has been done by this society to beautify the church building and grounds. The Sabbath school connected with this church numbers about fifty scholars. The doctrines of modern spiritualism have been embraced by some - of the leading members of this society. Whether this has contributed to the growth or decay of true picty in the church, we are not to determine.
The German Evangelical . Association has a large society in this place. This society was formed in 1837, by a few members fron Warren county, Pa. J. C. Gros, M. Weis, Adam Knopff, George Stroubler, John Rahın, Martin Asher and Adam Schwigert were among the first members. Meetings were held in different parts of the town for several years, until the church was erected at Naperville, in 1842. The lot on which the present church stands, was given to the society by Capt. Naper. Since 1840, the society has
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DU PAGE COUNTY.
sustained regular preaching, and the church has in- creased rapidly in numbers. There are now upward of two hundred belonging to the society. Connected with this church there is a Sabbath school of nearly 200 scholars. It has a library of 300 volumes. The present church building is much too small for the accommodation of the society, and the erection of a fine brick edifice is contemplated during the present year. No other church in the county has met with so great a degree of prosperity. We give the names of the pastors, from its organization :
1837 - Rev. Jacob Boas,
1838- Martin Hawert,
1839 --
Christian Einsel,
1840 -
J. Lutz,
1841 -
Adam Strooh, C. Lintner,
1842 -
F. Wahl, G. A. Blank, .
1843 -
C. Kopp,
1844-
" C. Lintner,
1846 -
" C. Kopp, S. Dickowcr,
1848 -
C. Holl, H. Weilty, J. Raggerts,
1849 -
" · S. A. Tobias, C. A. Schnackn,
1850 --
B. Apley, M. Hawert,
1851 -
J. Riegal, G. Franzen,
1852 -
J. Trombaner,
1853 - G. A. Blank,
1854.
J. P. Kramer,
1855 -
J: Gibeis, ,
1856
W. Straezburger,
1857 -
H. Henitzn.
The Methodist society was formed in 1841, through the instrumentality of J. Granger, A. Keith, Mr. Un- derwood, E. Rich, and H. Daniels. A church was
!
1845 -
" G. A. Blank,
1847 -
" C. Augenstin, G. Meszmer,
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HISTORY OF
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built in 1849. The society has been regularly supplied with pastors since 1841. The Sabbatli school con- nected with this church has about 100 scholars, and its library contains 250 volumes. There are now between thirty and forty members belonging to the society.
NAMES OF PASTORS:
1841 - Rev. Caleb Lamb, 1850-Rev. M. P. Hannah,
1842 - John Nason, 1851 - John Beggs,
1844 - 0. Walker, 1852- J. C. Stoughton,
1846 - " Elisha Springer,
1853 - Mr. Vance,
1848 - Nathan Jewett, 1854 " O. Huse,
1856- Rev. B. Close.
The Catholics have a large society here. Their church was organized in 1846, and a house of worship erected during the same year. The society was formed under the labors of the Rev. Mr. Theroler, and the first members were Peter. Shultz, Xavier Eggerman, D. Bapst, S. Dutter and G. Ott. In 1852 the church building was enlarged, for the accommodation of the rapidly increasing society, which now numbers 232. The names of the priests who have officiated since 1848, are Rev. Mr. Yung, Rev. Mr. Foelker, who died here in 1850, Rev. Mr. Zucher, Rev. John Kramer, Rev. Mr. Etafer, who died here in 1855, and Rev. Mr. Keiser, who, having been suspended for misdemeanor, left the community very abruptly sometime in Au- gust, 1857.
The physicians at Naperville are H. C. Daniels, J. Jassoy, W. B. Stewart, R. K. Potter, Dr. Overholser and Dr. Ferris.
The practicing attorneys are H. F. Vallette and H.
-
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DU PAGE COUNTY.
H. Cody, of the firm of Vallette & Cody; W. Blan- chard and M. Hobson, of the firm of Blanchard & Hobson. J. F. Wight, for many years the 'only attorney in the place, has now retired from practice.
Early attention was given by the settlers to the subject of education. A school house was the result of the first public enterprise. In the fall of 1831, a log house was erected on land now owned by Mr. Samuel Boliman, and a school taught there during the following winter by Mr. Leister Peet. The building was by no means remarkable for architectural beauty, but being fourteen feet square, it afforded accommo- dations to the children of this sparsely settled district for two or three years. Boards were fastened to the sides of the room for desks, and slab benches were provided for seats. Mr. Peet was succeeded by Mrs. Hines and Mr. Hiram Standish, who in. succession swayed the scepter of that first temple of incipient liberty, and taught the young idea how to shoot. Some of our most prominent citizens remember well the rude-a-mental lessons which they received in the old log shool house, and the introduction of Parley's Magazine, from which they were instructed in almost every department of science, although the time-hon- ored edifice has long since gone to decay. A new frame building for school purposes was erected near where the Congregational church now stands, in 1835. It was used as a church, town house, and two or three terms of the circuit court were held in it before the court house was built. This school house was sold by the district, and for several years previous to the passage of our present school law, the district was 5*
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HISTORY OF
destitute of a school building, and the public schools of Naperville were of little benefit to the community. They were usually held for only a small portion of the year, at places the most inconvenient and uncomfort- able. But a new impulse has been given to public sentiment on the subject of education. There is now a fine stone building on the west side, belonging to that district, and a commodious brick building in process of erection on the east side, for the accommo- dation of the Lisle district.
The Naperville Academy was incorporated in 1851. Mr. N. F. Atkins was the first preceptor, and performed the duties of principal for about one year. After his removal, the trustees appointed Mr. C. W. Richmond, then principal of the academy at Great Barrington,
Mass., to fill the vacancy. In this academy, in addition to the common branches of an English edu- cation, instruction is afforded in the languages and natural sciences, including music, drawing and paint- ing. This institution has sent out. many competent teachers. for our public schools. Upward of 600 different scholars have been members of the school during the past three years. The average attendance has been about 100. The following are the names of assistants in the school : Howard Kennedy, A. M .; Geo. Hudson, J. H. Edson, Mrs. C. W. Richmond, Mrs. H. L. Snyder, Miss M. B. Dewey, Miss C. E. Crossman, Prof. C. N. V. Vasque and Eugene Burnell. The academy building is pleasantly situated in the west part of the village, is three stories high, and constructed of durable and handsome stone, found in the vicinity, at a cost of about six thousand dollars.
Chica gh.
NAPERVILLE ACADEMY.
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DU PAGE COUNTY.
The institution is provided with chemical, philosophi- cal, geographical and historical charts, and has a library connected with it of about 600 volumes. Few seminaries offer better facilities to students who are pursuing either the English course or preparing for- the higher course of collegiate studies.
There are twelve school districts in the town, all of which are provided with good school houses, in whichi - schools are tauglit from six to ten months during the year. The summer term is usually tauglit by females, and the winter by males.
There is a private school taught in the family of Mr. Lewis Ellsworth, by Miss S. B. Skinner. The number of pupils is limited to about twelve. Young ladies are here instructed in the English and modern languages, and also in music, drawing and painting.
Our educational facilities, as a town, can not well be surpassed. They are sufficiently ample, and none need grow up in ignorance for want of proper advan- tages to obtain an education ; yet there are many, even at this day, who refuse to avail themselves of the opportunities offered. This is especially the case in the village, but it is hoped that the new buildings which have been recently erected will draw into the schools a large class of the foreign population, who would otherwise go uneducated. Next in importance to the church, our schools should be nourished with peculiar care. The school fund of the town is now $1035 27. For building and repairing school houses, the amount raised by tax and expended in 1853, was $120; in 1854, $209 ; in 1855, $294; in 1856, $2376 ; in 1857, $1326. The whole number of pupils in 1856 was 861.
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HISTORY OF
The school section was sold in 1842, at $1 25 per acre. The present trustees are H. Bristol, F. Myer and H. Vaughn. Treasurer, Chas. Hunt.
In what now constitutes the west part of this town, and prior to the organization, when known as Big Woods precinct, the offices of justice of the peace and constable were held by the following named per- sons : justices of the peace, W. J. Strong, Abel Keys, John Stolp, David Meeker, Charles Hunt, S. S. Pax- ton ; constables, Allan Williams, C. M. Vaughn, J. H. Paxton, A. F. Stolp, O. C. Stolp.
List of town officers of the town of Naperville for the different years since the adoption of the township organization law :
SUPERVISOR :
1850-Russel Whipple.
1854 - David Hess.
1851-
1855-R. N. Murray.
1852-Joseph Naper.
1856-Charles Hunt.
1853 -Hiram Bristol.
1857-N. Crampton.
TOWN CLERK :
1850-C. F. Tarbox.
1854-Charles Hunt.
1851 -Charles Hunt.
1855-
1852-
1856-
1853-
1857- .
ASSESSOR :
1850-Enos Coleman.
1851-
1852-Hiram Bristol.
1853-Enos Coleman.
1854-A. T. Thatcher.
1855-A. W. Colt.
1856-David Brown.
1857-George Bristol.
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DU PAGE COUNTY.
COLLECTOR :
1850- Willard Scott.
1851 - John Stolp.
1852-Thaddeus Scott.
1856 - R. N. Davis.
1853-Sidney Powers.
1857*
OVERSEER OF THE POOR :
1850-John Warne.
1854 - Hiram Branch.
1851-H. C. Danicls.
1855 - M. Hines.
1852-S. L. Jackson.
1856-H. C. Daniels.
1853-
1857-
COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS :
1850 - Samuel Rickert, H. C. Daniels,
1854 -S. L. Jackson,
Jacob Saylor,
1 Enos Coleman. U. D. Stanley.
1851 -Langdon Miller, W. J. Strong, Samuel Rickert.
1855- S. M. Babbitt, H. Bristol, D. B. Rogers.
1852-W. J. Strong,
David Brown, A. S .· Sabin.
1853 - W. J. Strong, A. T. Thatcher, David Brown.
1856 -C. H. P. Lyman, Hiram Bristol, Jacob Saylor. 1857 - Hiram Bristol, Solomon Givler, John Stolp.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE :
1850 - Charles Hunt, 1853- Harrison Loring. Willard T. Jones. 1854 -
1851-II. Loring.+
J. J. Riddler.
1852- Charles Hunt,
1855 -Charles Hunt.#
HI. Loring.
1856 - Eli Rich.
* Collector not elected, it being a tie vote. + Elected in place of Willard T. Jones, resigned. # Vice Loring, resigned.
1854-Sidney Powers.
1855-A. T. Thatcher.
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HISTORY OF
{
CONSTABLES :
1850-Sidney Powers, . D. C. Butler. 1853-
1852-S. M. Cole.
1851 - Sidney Powers, . S. M. Cole. 1855-David Salisbury.
1854-George Stroubler, jr.
1856 - Fred. S. Crane.
·
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DU PAGE COUNTY.
A HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LISLE ..
THIS is the oldest town in the county, having been first settled by Bailey Hobson, in the fall of 1830. Among the early settlers were J. C. Hatch, Isaac Clark, Pomeroy Goodrich, John Thompson, John Sargent, Lewis Ellsworth, Thomas Jellies, Martin Asher, J., C., H., and L. Stanley, E. Bush, Mr. Wil- lard, Henry Puffer, A. B. Chatfield, John Naper, and R. M. Sweet. The increase of population has been in about the same ratio as that of the other towns in the county. It contains now about 1500 inhabitants, of which there is a fair sprinkling of Germans. The town may be regarded as a very intelligent and moral, and relatively considered, religious population. Many of the first settlers came from New England, and brought with them the principles, practices, mor- als and opinions for which the people of that section have so long been widely and favorablý known.
This remark perhaps applies more truthfully to the inhabitants of that division of the town called "The East Branch" than to any other portion of it. The first settlers here, with scarcely an exception, were of the class referred to. They came possessed of a spirit of genuine Christian philanthropy, which prompted them to labor zealously for the good of their fellow men. They were impelled by no narrow, bigoted views of Christian brotherhood and duty, but recognized that great moral principle which first found. utterance ou
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HISTORY OF
Plymouth Rock, of "freedom to worship God." Among the pioneers of this class who are now living, Deacon Isaac Clark, and Deacon Pomeroy Goodrich, inay be mentioned as having labored here for more than twenty years, with unfailing Christian ardor, for the upbuilding of the church of Christ. They were chiefly instrumental in effecting the first religious organization in the county, which was as early as 1833. The society then formed rapidly increased, by members from this and the adjoining towns, and as the country became more thickly. settled it was divided, and separate organizations formed. A notice of the original society will be found in the history of the town of Naperville.
In consequence of its being peopled by the class referred to, correct moral principles have been infused into the East Branch community, and it would be diffi- cult to find a better state of society, or a more culti- vated, intelligent, moral, and industrious class of citizens, than reside in this section of the town of Lisle.
The inhabitants are chiefly devoted to agriculture. The farmers generally have large and highly cultivated farms, and are in independent circumstances. Land is held at from twenty-five to fifty dollars per acre, the price varying according to locality and nature of soil. Among the best farms upon the east branch are those of James C. Hatch, John Thompson, D. H. Naramore, Pomeroy Goodrich, Daniel M. Green, William B. Green, A. S. Barnard, A. Morse, and Charles H. Goodrich.
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