USA > Illinois > McHenry County > Biographical directory of the tax-payers and voters of McHenry County : containing also a map of the county, a condensed history of the state of Illinois, an historical sketch of the county, its towns and villages, an abstract of everyday laws of the state, a business directory, officers of societies, lodges and public officers, a department of general information for farmers, dairymen, etc., etc > Part 10
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The Petit Jurors were as follows: Wm. Easton, Dr. J. H. Foster, John A. Mills, Theron Parsons, Abijah S. Bernard, Samuel Walker, Russell Dig- gins, Samuel Terwilliger, E. F. Farnum, Timothy B. Titcomb, John Herrick, John Hicks, Erastus Houghton, Nelson Darling, John McOmber, Eli W. Brigham, Uriah Cottle, Abraham Vincent, Burley Hunt and Wm. Irwin.
Upon attendance at that term of court were the following named attor- neys: E. W. Cassay, J. C. Newkirk, Nathan Allen, - Kimball, Horace Butler, James M. Strode, Alonzo Huntington and Giles Spring.
THE PRESS.
In 1846, it was seen that the county must have a newspaper, so Mr. Josiah Dwight started the "Illinois Republican," which, under his manage- ment, was conducted for a few years, when it suspended, and the Woodstock Democrat, first published by F. D. Austin, in 1848, shared the same fate in 1856. The year previous to the closing of the Democrat, the first number of the Woodstock Sentinel made its appearance, as a joint stock company, having been projected by Convers & Tappen, who were, at that time, the managers of the newly formed Republican party.
. It appears that Convers procured the attendance of J. R. Giddings, of Ashtabula County, Ohio, at a political meeting in Woodstock, at which time, and during the speech of the Ohio statesman, the question arose as to the name of the new party, when F. J. Mansfield stretched over the speaker's head a long paper, bearing, in large type, the word "Republican." The name was accepted, and the establishment of the Sentinel followed as the logical result of the new party organization.
In 1856, it was in the hands of Franks & Son, who sold out in the spring of the next year, to A. E. & W. E. Smith, they running it till 1866. Sapp & Richardson became its proprietors, to be, in their turn, succeeded by Wm. E. Smith, in 1869, and in 1873, G. S. Southworth became editor and propri- etor. It has always been a Republican paper, and the leading one of the county.
In 1856, E. W. Smith and M. L. Joslyn started a campaign paper called the Argus, which did not long survive the election.
Next came the Woodstock Democrat, under the editorial management of F. D. Austin, but, not being well sustained, soon went under, and in 1861 the
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HISTORY OF McHENRY COUNTY.
Union was issued from Phoenix Hall, and shared the fate of its predecessor. The Harvard Independent was started in 1864, which for the past few years has been in the hands of Mclaughlin & Leland. Three years later the Ma- rengo Republican was established, which has been run almost continuously by J. B. Babcock.
The New Era was established in the fall of 1873, by Ringland & Price, as a Grange paper. The latter named gentleman was connected with it but a short time, since when it has been owned and conducted at Woodstock and Nunda by its present proprietor.
Next, in order of time, follows the Plaindealer, published at McHenry, by J. Van Slyke, who commenced its publication a little more than one year ago (in 1875), and the Richmond Gazette, now in the last half of its first year (1876), was first issued by H. B. Begim, who subsequently took in G. S. Utter, when, the former dying, the latter took in Dr. S. F. Bennett, and it is now under the management of Bennett & Utter.
It will be perceived that the county is abundantly supplied with local papers, all Republican with the exception above noted. Nothing short of an intelli- gent, reading people could keep so many alive.
THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
This Society was organized twenty-five years ago, and bought ten acres of land a little east of town, outside the corporation. This land was bought of James B. Church, May 18, 1855. The Society then borrowed. of the county one thousand dollars, giving a mortgage on the land. The land finally passed into possession of the county, the Society taking a perpetual lease for the same. In February, 1869, eight acres more, on the north side, were bought of Daniel Joslyn, at $900. Finding itself still within too narrow limits, in De- cember, 1873, a lease of five acres on the east was obtained for three years, with the privilege of purchase, and, the lease having expired, the land has been purchased for $1,000 ; so the Society now has twenty-three acres, with nothing to prevent indefinite expansion eastward.
The old buildings proving inadequate and inconvenient, in 1872 the present fine hall was erected, at a cost of $2,000, while for stock, ample stalls, stables, sheds and pens exist.
Three years ago, at the suggestion of the President, Mr. James Crow, an attempt was made to pay off the debt by selling life membership tickets at $120 each. About one hundred were sold, but, owing to various circumstances, there still exists a debt of about $2,000.
About one year ago, Marengo made an attempt to organize a second society in the county, but their first meeting was not so successful as to warrant any great outlay in that direction.
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY.
THE DAIRY BUSINESS.
The dairy business takes the lead in farmn products, there being, in the county, no less than twenty cheese and butter factories in operation, the most of them making both, while several confine their operations to butter alone, and a smaller number to cheese alone.
The first factory was built in 1866, in the township of Hebron, by R. W. & W. H. Stewart. About the same time, Dr. R. R. Stone built one at Rich- mond, and recently, D. E. Wood & Go., at Huntley, have put up the largest factory in the county. There are about twenty-seven or twenty-eight all told, but some of them are closed.
The number of cows connected with these factories is from 12,000 to 15,000, and the total product of milk is probably 30,000,000 pounds, of which 3,000,000 is made into cheese, producing about $300,000 per year; and the receipts for butter are about one-third as much.
Of milk otherwise disposed of, about 1,000,000 pounds is shipped to Chi- cago in eight-gallon cans, this producing about $10,000 a year. The above, including milk used at home and fed to stock, would make the value of this product alone about $700,000.
The heaviest operator in the factory line is Dr. R. R. Stone, of Richmond, who now controls about one-fourth of that business in the county.
WAR RECORD.
During the war of the Rebellion, McHenry County responded promptly to every call of the government; the number of inen furnished being 2,533, which is just three less than the number required, but as many enlisted in the Irish Legion, who do not appear upon the records of the county, the number must have been in excess of that given. It has been found impossible to ascertain the precise number who went from each township, for the reason that men who belonged in one township were frequently credited to another, because enlisting there, it being the custom to consider a man as belonging where he was enrolled.
The county issued bounty orders, to the amount of $260,000, of which about $90,000 remains, outstanding. Part of these orders drew ten and part eight per cent., but last year (1876) they were, by order of the Board of Super- visors, funded into eight per cent.
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
Progress from the log school house, with its puncheon floor and slab seats, has been as rapid as in any other county in the State. School edifices of frame, brick and stone have superseded the log expediency, while a system of supervi-
G
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HISTORY OF McHENRY COUNTY.
sion has largely increased the efficiency of teachers, and in the various cities and villages of the county, the graded system has been introduced. From the first schools of Wm. M. Jackson, in Coral, in 1838 to 1875, the school houses have increased to 150, while the number of pupils, according to the census of 1870, was 11,890, of whom 7,000 were enrolled. The amount paid teachers was $43,000 in 1874. The number of female teachers, during the last twenty years, has doubled, while the number of male teachers has increased but one- seventh. The average daily attendance is about one-half of the school census, or 5,995, being about two-thirds of the enrollment.
Formerly the county made ample provision for school supervision, appointing Carlisle Hastings to the office of School Commissioner in 1840, but under the new school law, the duties of the School Superintendent are limited to making an annual report to the State Superintendent, apportioning the public money, loaning the county funds, examining teachers and visiting schools when required by school officers, he receiving four dollars a day when engaged in his official duties.
In the fall of 1874, at Nunda, the teachers organized a County Association for mutual improvement. It meets monthly, numbers fifty members, and is in a flourishing condition.
The county has twenty-two school libraries, the best one being at Richmond.
THE TEACHERS' INSTITUTE
Was organized by Rev. R. K. Todd, during the first year of his first term as School Commissioner. It was held in the old court house, continued for one week, had an aggregate attendance of one hundred and fifty, much exceeding the expectations of the presiding officer, who, in conducting the exercises, was assisted by several of the citizens of the town. This was in the fall of 1849, and each fall, during his term, a similar meeting was held, but during the reign of his successor the interest dwindled until A. W. Smith, on assuming the office in 1855, had some difficulty in re-awakening the teachers' dormant interest in this means of improvement. His institutes were held for two weeks, and at his third meeting, in the fall of 1856, a constitution was adopted, and the Insti- tute began to assume a permanent form. Mr. Smith was the first to go outside the county for instruction to the members, he having, at his second gathering, the State Superintendent.
School Commissioner Hutchinson was succeeded, in 1855, by Asa W. Smith, Esq., who shall be allowed to tell his own story :
" In the fall of 1855, I was elected School Commissioner, and, upon accept- ing the office, found it to be one of my legal duties to visit schools fifty days in a year, with a compensation of $2 a day. There were at that time somewhat over two hundred schools in the county. Notwithstanding it was ' big work and small pay,' I resolved to undertake the task, which was performed by visit-
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HISTORY OF McHENRY COUNTY.
ing two schools daily, and lecturing at night in the most convenient place for the accommodation of the two districts thus visited.
"In October, 1856, the present organization known as the McHenry County Teachers' Institute was formed.
" In 1857, we had the most successful and interesting Institute of my time as an active member thereof. It was quite generally attended by the best teachers of the county, among whom were Rev. R. K. Todd, John A. Parrish, S. F. Bennett, Theodore Mead, M. F. Ellsworth, two Misses Thomas, Miss Jewett, Miss Achsee Smith, Miss Thompson, Miss H. S. Corey, Mrs. C. M. Smith and many others."
The records of the Institute referred to by Mr. Smith cannot be found since the election of G. S. Southworth, into whose hands they never came; so the McHenry County Teachers' Institute is without a regular organization, further than may be necessary to hold one meeting.
Since 1857, the Institute has not met regularly, except during the terms of A. Brown, A. J. Kingman, G. S. Southworth and the present incumbent, Wm. Nickle. Its meetings have generally been held in Woodstock, but sometimes they have gone to McHenry, Richmond and Nunda.
The Woodstock University of Rev. R. K. Todd grew out of the necessities of the people, who, feeling their need of a better education than could be had in the public schools of the county, as early as 1848 began to urge him to open a school. He finally consented; and, from himself and wife as teachers, the school grew into the second hundred and the teachers were multiplied by four. A suitable building was erected on his lot, a little east of his residence, and, with 150 students, school had been in operation for about twelve weeks when, in the early part of the winter of 1861, he was called up in the night to see his school building become a heap of smouldering ashes.
His loss was about $7,000, and, feeling sure that he had no enemy who could do tliat, and, being equally certain that the fire could not have been the work of accident, inquiry was set on foot and the deed traced to one Cosgrove, who accused another person of having hired him to do the deed. This other person proved to be one to whom Mr. Todd, when School Commissioner, had refused a certificate on the ground of moral character ; but, being too adroit in cover- ing up his tracks, he could not be convicted. Cosgrove, however, was sent to prison for six years, but was pardoned out at the end of two, and moved to Will County. The real criminal has never been heard from since the trial.
At the fire, or immediately after its occurrence, Mr. Todd promised to open his school again within ten days, in the basement of the then unfinished Pres- byterian Church, which was done. The school was continued there till 1867, when it was moved into a newly built addition to his residence, where it still continues, but, for several years, has been for boys only.
The University was incorporated a short time previous to the fire.
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HISTORY OF McHENRY COUNTY.
ICE BUSINESS.
Crystal Lake ice has such a reputation for coolness and clearness, that the people of Chicago would not care to dispense with it; and no history of Mc- Henry County would be complete that did not give some account of it, which, through the kindness of John Brink, Esq., we are enabled to do:
The Crystal Lake Ice Company, consisting of Joy, Frisbie and others, was organized in 1855, and put up some 7,000 to 9,000 tons of ice, which Joy sold in the city. The ensuing year, Joy & Frisbie had the concern entirely on their own hands, and, from that time to 1860, shipped yearly 10,800 tons. The houses were burned that year and, till 1863, Crystal Lake ice was unknown in Chicago; but Joy, Smith and others organized another company, putting up and selling ice for the ensuing six years, when the Fire King closed them out a second time.
During these six years, the company put up and sold about the same quan- tity yearly that had been done by the company burnt out in 1860. From 1869 to 1873, the lake had a rest, the only ice cut being for private use or sent into Chicago by the carload, probably 2,000 tons yearly; then C. S. and J. H. Dole got possession of the lake, and, in the winter of 1873-4, they put up and filled six ice houses, each having a capacity of 1,250 tons, or 7,500 tons, besides shipping to different places 3,000 tons more-a total of 10,500 tons. The next winter the number of their ice houses was increased to eight, capable of holding 12,000 tons, whilst, during that winter, 7,000 tons was shipped, making 19,000 in all. In the winter of 1875-6, they filled their houses and shipped 1,200 carloads, making, altogether, 26,400 tons. This fall they are putting up four more buildings near the others, the new ones being 38x148 feet and thirty feet high. This will give them twelve ice houses, to fill which they are putting in an engine of twenty-five horse power.
These new ice houses will hold an aggregate of 14,416 tons, which, added to the capacity of the old ones, gives a total of 26,416 tons, the amount that will be put up this winter and, probably, half as much shipped. These houses are situated at the south end of the lake, near the outlet, in a beautiful grove, and are fenced in with a tight board fence eight feet high.
Of course, a business that has, in so short a time, grown to so large pro· portions has not yet arrived at its maximum, and we may look to see those ice houses doubled in number within the next ten years, unless Chicago should cease to grow or contrive some better way to keep themselves cool and preserve their meats during the hot weather. The ice harvest gives employment to many who, but for that, coming, as it 'does, when there is nothing else to do, would go idle and want for the luxuries, if not for the necessaries of life.
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HISTORY OF McHENRY COUNTY.
RAILROADS.
In 1855-6, the C. & N-W. Ry, then called the Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac, was built through the county, and its effect was greatly to stimulate business, legitimate and illegitimate. Every village traversed by the road was destined to be a city, and corner lots went up to fabulous prices. People have now learned that means of transportation alone do not build up a town ; to do that, requires bodies to be fed, lodged and clothed.
The Fox River Valley, now the Elgin & State Line, was built at the same time by a different company, but never having been a paying investment, has been absorbed by the Chicago & North-Western.
The Galena & Chicago Union Railroad was built in 1854. It is now the Galena Division of the Chicago & North-Western Railway, and has three depots in the county-one at Huntley, one at Union, and one at Marengo. And the Rockford & Kenosha first began to run trains in 1861. It forms part of the same corporation, and has a depot at each of the following named places : Hebron, Alden and Chemung.
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.
ALGONQUIN, TOWNSHIP 43, RANGE 8.
This appears to have been settled the first in the county. Samuel Gillilan, in 1834, coming from Virginia and settling on Section 23, where his widow, Mrs. Margaret Gillilan, and her son Richard now reside. John Gillilan came soon after, locating on the other side of the river and about the same distance from the present village. In 1836, Mr. A. N. Beardsley settled on Crystal Lake Prairie. Beman Crandall also making his claim about the same time. Z. Beardsley, Najah Beardsley and Mr. Lanphier, Isaac and William King, Wesley Hickox, William Powell and father, Dr. Plumleigh, Esq. Chunn, Nelson Thomas, the Crabtrees, at Carey Station. From that time to 1839, when H. B. Throop located on Section 10, and was several times County Commissioner. In 1841, John Brink came with his compass and chain, since which time the county has never been without a County Surveyor. In 1836 or 1837, a Dr. Cornish settled near Algonquin, and looked after the health of the early and later settlers.
A log school house was built in the village of Crystal Lake in 1838, and the first school of twenty pupils was taught by Miss Hannah Beardsley, now Mrs. Hannah Wallace. The second term was under the rule of Frederick Joslyn, now of Woodstock.
The Baptist denomination, in 1842, built the first church in the township, at Crystal Lake, their first pastor being Rev. A. Pease. Rev. L. S. Walker, of the M. E. Church, preached the first sermon, at the house of A. W. Beards- ley. Nathan Jewett and Elder Wheeler also officiated. In 1840, Rev. Seth Barnes preached the gospel according to Universalism. There are now five churches in Crystal Lake-Congregationalist, Baptist, Episcopal, Free Meth- odist and Lutheran, while at Algonquin village there are two, Episcopal and Congregationalist, the former in charge of Rev. Peter Arvedson, who settled there in 1842. The village of Cary has also a Free Methodist Church. These church buildings are estimated to have cost $19,500.
The Congregationalists at Crystal Lake have a membership of 105; the Baptists, 60; and the Free Methodists, 80. The Lutherans, under the pas- torate of Rev. H. G. Smith, have 150.
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TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.
Near Chunn's Creek, the Catholics have a church, principally Bohemians, with 100 members.
Benjamin Douglas and Col. Huffman erected the first saw-mill, in 1839, on Crystal Lake outlet, about three-quarters of a mile from the lake. A saw-mill was built. at Algonquin village, in 1842, by A. Dawson, and another was built in 1840 on Chunn Creek, five miles northeast of Algonquin, by 'Squire Chunn, and Job Toles, in company with a Mr. Northrop, put up a grist-mill on the same creek in 1862. In 1848, a grist-mill was erected by Burger & Cornish, on the outlet of Crystal Lake, on the Cornish farm. The grist-mill at Algonquin, on the east side of the river, was commenced by A. Dawson and finished in 1849 by Henry Petrie. The only brick-mill in the township is on Crystal Lake outlet, at Algonquin, and was built in 1850, by Dr. Thomas Plumleigh, at an estimated cost of $12,000. The saw mills are gone, but the grist mills' are still in full blast and doing a good business. The frame mill is now owned by Peacock Bros. ; the brick-mill by Messrs. Marshall; that on the outlet by T. Richards, and the one on Chunn Creek by George Jayne.
The father of the dairy business is Daniel Mitchell, who, some years ago, commenced sending his milk to Chicago. He now milks about forty-two cows. There are many more dairymen, whose names must be omitted for want of space. Milk is the leading product of the town, about half being shipped to Chicago and the remainder carried to the cheese factory at the village, which was put up in 1874 by Dr. Stone, of Richmond.
Crystal Lake is the oldest village, having been laid out in 1839 or 1840, and the next was Algonquin, Cary coming in last, in 1854.
A. W. Beardsley set out the first orchard at Crystal Lake, but there is no nursery in the town. This town, too, is the happy possessor of the only library in the township, which is a circulating one of some 200 volumes.
Crystal Lake, being the oldest village, must have had the first store, and we find that in 1840 or thereabouts, Mr. Anar offered goods for sale across the counter in that town.
The early history of this town, as told by. the pioneers, contains many an incident giving color to the suspicion that the timber along the river formed a good hiding place for horse thieves, and the inaccessibility of Bogus Island made it equally a resort for counterfeiters, and it is said that it was in ferreting out that nest of outlaws Allen Pinkerton first gave evidence of those talents that have since made him famous. There are rumors, too, of an insurrection among the hands engaged in building the F. V. R. R., in which something more powerful than moral suasion was used, but the thing is too dim and vague to form part of this record.
Algonquin contains a great variety of soil, with its timber, prairies and bottom land, making it about equally adapted to grain or stock. In the latter, C. S. Dole, of Crystal Lake, has as fine a lot of horses and cattle as can be
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TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.
found in the State. He keeps thoroughbred stock only ; and the ice-houses on the lake show how much it costs to keep Chicago cool during the summer months. B. Carpenter, James Crow and T. H. Ashton also keep some fine stock ; and Elijah Birch never fails to carry off the premiums on Leicester sheep.
Crystal Lake has one hotel, kept by T. G. Aston, and there is one at Algon- quin, kept by Charles Pingry ; and the first tavern at the Lake was opened by Lyman King ; the first at Algonquin, by Eli Henderson ; David Weaver cares for the traveling public at Cary.
The first child born in the township was Wm. H. Beardsley, son of A. H. and Mary Beardsley ; born in 1837.
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CRYSTAL LAKE VILLAGE.
Crystal Lake has three stores, all of pretty much the same character, except that Hill keeps drugs, Marlow & Fitch, hardware, and Buckholtz & Dydeman dry goods and groceries only. At Algonquin they have a like number, Tomisky keeping dry goods and groceries, Chappel & Furgeson the same, Peter & Helm sell hardware, and Mr. Chunn keeps drugs. James Nish keeps the only store at Cary.
VILLAGE OF ALGONQUIN.
The village of Algonquin is pleasantly situated in the irregular valley formed by the junction of Crystal Lake Outlet with Fox River. It is the most picturesque village in the county ; the river, the bluffs and the narrow valley combining to give the place a striking and attractive appearance.
At the time of its settlement, the Indian trail across the river at the ford was still visible, and the plow still turns up quantities of those implements so well known to relic hunters-arrow heads, stone hatchets and the chisel-shaped- stone they used in skinning game. Indian graves abound, many of which have been opened.
The village was first known as Cornish Ferry, from the doctor of that name, living near. Later a vote of the people changed the name to Osceola, but upon learning that there was already one town of that name, the matter was left to Mr. Edwards, a large property holder of the town, who having once owned a boat by the name of Algonquin, gave that name to the rising town.
This township is crossed in a northerly and southerly direction by the Elgin & State Line R. R., formerly the F. V. R. R., then as the Fox River branch of the Galena & Chicago Union, but being finally absorbed by the C. & N. W. R. R., received its present name.
The cheese and butter factory at the village produces daily about 75 pounds of butter and 500 pounds of cheese, giving a yearly product of 27,000 pounds
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TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.
of the former, and 182,500 pounds of the latter; to effect which the milk of some 500 cows is daily passed through their weighing can. In addition to the above, the milk of near 1,500 cows goes to Chicago daily, in eight-gallon cans. In 1875, the amount so shipped was 584,000 gallons, at a net price to the dairyman of 12} cents per gallon.
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