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 12
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Large quantities of wheat being raised in that early day, a storehouse became a necessity, out of which grew the brick structure now owned by Eckert & Hickox. It was put up in 1854, by M. W. Hunt, Fuller & Lyon, and in June, 1855, when the first train came through on the broad gauge, the warehouse contained wheat enough to load several such trains as were run at that time. The wheat having been moved, the gauge of the road was imme- diately changed.
The old Barrow's planing mill, too, has its history. In 1845, H. M. Waite and his partner, thinking that a flax-mill would be a paying investment, bought of Alonzo Diggins, at Brookdale, his hotel barn, moved it to Wood- stock, set it down where it stood for so many years, and finding, after a year's trial, that flax did not pay large dividends, turned it into a planing-mill. The old mill has changed hands many times, having again taken a change of base to the east of the foundry.
A tannery, too, must be built, and, in 1853, Swartwout & Enoch erected one just east of where Neil Donnelly's house now stands. In digging the well, which was four feet square, the workmen came to the top of a tamarack tree, and, following down as they dug, finally took it out by the roots, the trunk being sixteen feet long. The tannery never amounted to much; it went into the hands of one Maryatt, of Wisconsin, and was finally burned down in 1862 or 1863.
Another of the early institutions of Woodstock was the steam saw-mill of Enos W. Smith, put up in 1852, run about four years and closed, but not until it had used up a large number of oak logs. .
The Quinlan grist-mill was erected by Cornelius and Jerry Quinlan in 1845-6, but never was a paying investment, and, upon the opening of Phoenix mill, three years since, the old brick mill was closed.
The store now occupied by E. E. Thomas & Son was first opened by A. W. Tappan & Co. in 1855. Convers, the brother-in-law of Tappan, being one of the foremost men in organizing the Republican party the ensuing year.
The most important trial that took place in the old court house was that of Davis and Taylor Driscoll for the murder of Campbell, in Lee County, in 1843.
At that time, the entire northern part of the State was infested with an organized gang of horse thieves and counterfeiters, who gave the settlers so much trouble that they were compelled to organize themselves into a band of " Regulators," and the organization elected Campbell, of Lee County, for their Captain. He made it so warm for these gentry that his death was resolved upon, and the two young Driscolls were selected, by lot, to put liim out of the way, which they did by calling him to his door in the afternoon, in broad day-
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light, and shooting him down in his own yard, after which they rode leisurely away, but not without being seen by young Campbell, then about sixteen years of age. This young man, in giving his testimony at the trial, identified young Driscoll, then but little older than himself and with whom he was well ac- quainted, saying that he would have shot him at the time had not his gun missed fire. Driscoll, who sat near, said to the witness: " You would not have shot me, would you ? " and Campbell replied: "Yes, I would; and will now, if I ever catch you outside of the court-room." The witness was rebuked by the court and the trial proceeded, but resulted in one of those mysterious ver- dicts that sometimes startle a community by their evident injustice, and the Driscolls were set at liberty. One of them afterward met his death at the hand of some avenger, but the people of Winnebago and Boone Counties captured several of the gang, including the old man Driscoll, organized a court on the open prairie, with "Judge Lynch" on the bench, and this time they did not get off so easily, two being hung and two shot within fifteen minutes. These summary proceedings caused the emigration of about thirty families from the county, nor did they return, with, perhaps, two exceptions.
Henry Eckert and P. C. Teeple, thinking that Woodstock ought to support a foundry, in 1866 erected the building since purchased and enlarged by L. H. S. Barrows. Mr. Barrows has enlarged on every side, and has now the largest and most complete establishment of the kind in the county.
Before the removal of the county seat to Woodstock, John Burtschy built a small brewery on the Quinlan farm, nearly opposite the farm house of "Len" Burtschy, in Greenwood. This was soon after moved to the eastern part of Woodstock, and, after a year or two, again moved to the lot now occupied by the residence of Francis Forrest, Esq., near the barn of the old Woodstock House. This building was destroyed by fire in 1854, and it was only by the most strenuous exertions that the barn itself was saved. Mr. Burtschy then purchased of Rich & McCahill the house now occupied by Mr. Zimmer, and, building an addition for the purpose, again commenced the manufacture of beer. John Burtschy dying, the property fell into the hands of " Len " Burtschy in 1857, who, in 1859, sold out to one Martin, the latter, after about a year, disposing of one-half the concern to George Greble. The property then was trans- ferred from and among Fink, Arnold and Gibhart, till finally, in 1867, Jacob Zimmer bought of Gibhart one-half, and, Arnold buying the other half, the . firm became, in 1867, Arnold & Zimmer. Henry Harmon then bought one- third, since which time (1868) it has been owned by the three last mentioned. The capital invested is estimated at $75,000. They make their own malt, of which it requires three and one-half bushels for a barrel, and produce annually about 4,500 barrels of beer, upon which the Government tax is $1 each.
This firm now own the ice-houses at Dufield's Lake, which supply their two houses at the brewery, as well ; they having put up this winter 1,800
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tons of ice. The first ice house at the Lake was built in 1855 by Haas & Griffing.
Of the industries of Woodstock one more remains to be noticed-the pickle factory. A stock company was organized in the fall of 1873, with $50,000 capital.
The building being ready, a Mr. Hopkins came from the East with the best of recommendations, and carried on business swimmingly till-pay day, when the bottom fell out.
The Directors then leased the factory for five years to Heinz, Noble & Co., of Pittsburgh, the integrity and business capacity of this firm being above suspicion. More money was raised, a new engine put in, vinegar machines set up, two additions built and the number of tubs doubled. Cucumbers, cauli- flowers and cabbage were produced and turned over to the Nobles till the pay- ments became due, when this firm, too, collapsed.
Last year the factory was operated in two ways ; some of the growers hav- ing their cucumbers put up for themselves, and others selling to John Wheat, Esq., at forty cents a bushel. This venture proving successful, it is purposed to plant 500 acres in 1877.
In August, 1872, the east side of the square, from the " Rat Hole" to the next street north, was burnt out, entailing heavy loss upon many, including T. Whitson & Sons, in whose hardware store the fire originated, there being no doubt as to its being the work of an incendiary. The fire removed the old wooden row to make way for the present fine brick block, it having all being rebuilt except the store of Richmond & Bird, at the north end, and nearly all the same year.
Among the notable men of Woodstock may be mentioned William Sloan, who came in 1844, who bought on the west side of town, planted a nursery, and; taking an active part in the organization and construction of the Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac Railroad, became its President. He was accidentally killed in Chicago, while witnessing the operation of putting up the first line of telegraph in that city.
James H. Slavin, another of our lawyers, while living, was acknowledged to have no superior in the county in the line of his profession, but seems to have been generally misunderstood. He always discouraged litigation and would not touch a suit that he was satisfied had its origin in spite. His death occurred from a chronic malady in 1875.
Lawrence S. Church was another who figured largely as a lawyer, finally becoming Colonel, and a member of the Constitutional Convention, of which he proved one of ablest thinkers. He died in July, 1870. Of all the lawyers that have done business in Woodstock, probably Wm. Kerr had the most friends, the fewest enemies and the most influence with a jury, although he was not an orator. He was buried with Masonic honors in 1866.
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Of living business or professional men it is not our purpose to speak ; they have not yet passed into history ; but there are now four dry goods stores, eight groceries, two hotels, two banks, two hardware stores, three drug stores, two jewelry stores, two boot and shoe stores, two millinery stores, six blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, two lumber yards, two flouring mills, two newspapers, seven lawyers, six doctors, six ministers, one furniture store, one tobacconist, three livery stables, a general machine shop and foundry, three meat markets, three harness shops, two dentists, one academy, two photograph galleries, three machine men, and one feed, salt and lime store. Population about 2,400.
Woodstock is an incorporated city. It is supposed that the city owes but little, if any, debt. The corporation covers but one square mile; there is one fire engine, two wells and two reservoirs in the square, and Woodstock bids fair to extend her limits and double her population.
Two years ago this winter, the young people of Woodstock organized a Dramatic Association, with J. H. Earlie as stage manager. It has brought out, with great success, no less than twelve different plays. All the scenery and furniture is owned by the association.
The park is ornamented with a beautiful spring house, built three years ago, at a cost of $600, where, during the summer months, may be found an abundance of the best water.
DUNHAM, TOWNSHIP 45, RANGE 5.
The first settlers in this township were J. N. Jerome and O. C. Diggins, who came in 1836. In 1837, Messrs. A. Joslyn, R. Latham, Joseph Diggins, Robert Walton, S. J. Dunham and Joseph and Thomas Metcalf.
In 1840, a log school house was built by School District No. 1, on Section 1, and a school immediately opened.
The first and only church in the township was erected at what is known as County Line, by the Methodists; and the first preacher was Rev. P. M. Huffman, who still lives near the church. The building cost about $2,000.
Dunham contains no store, mill, blacksmith shop or post office, but in an early day, Cyrus Allen had a plow factory in the southeast part of the town, when manufacturers' agents were not so plenty as now; but he ceased the manufacture some years ago, and nothing of the kind is now carried on, except by J. A. Wood, who makes, upon his own farm, a washing machine of his own patent. His factory is about two miles south of Chemung.
There are about two miles of railroad in the township, the Chicago & North- western crossing the northeast, and the Rockford & Kenosha the northwest corner, each at about the same angle.
Rush Creek, a branch of the Kishwaukee, crosses the township from north-east to southwest, passing out on Section 34, and the Piskasaw
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crosses the northwest corner in about the same general direction, so it is well watered.
In 1874, a cheese factory was built on Section 35, in School District No. 3,. and is still in operation. Latham Corners once had'a store, but its existence was a brief one; and at this time, Dunham has no public place of any kind, elec- tions being held in school houses, for want of a better place.
This township is better adapted to stock than grain ; many sheep being kept, the owners of which have lost more by the ravages of dogs than any other township in the county.
GRAFTON, TOWNSHIP 43, RANGE 7.
This is one of the oldest settled townships in the county, but as we have not succeeded in getting any facts of its early history of the old settlers, although . having an abundance of promises, it is impossible to go very extensively into details concerning its early history.
It contains a large proportion of low, wet land about the central parts, hence is better adapted to stock than to grain, and, like the neighboring towns of Coral and Algonquin, the leading industry among the farmers is the dairy business, the village of Huntley possessing the largest factory in the county, as well as in the United States, which factory was erected in the winter of 1875, of wood, and stands close to the railroad, by D. E. Wood & Co., manufacturing yearly 600,000 lbs. of cheese and 100,000 lbs. of butter ; cheese at an average price of 10 cts. a lb. and butter at an average price of 35 cts. They have also a factory of stone and wood on Section 10, built in 1874, manufacturing yearly 150,000 lbs. of cheese and 30,000 lbs. of butter. The products of these fac- tories are shipped to all the markets of the world. The first cheese factory was built in Huntley, in 1866, by R. W. & W. H. Stewart, the building still standing, although unoccupied.
About one-fourth of Section 1 is covered by the west half of Crystal Lake, while Sections 2, 3, 4, 8 and 6 are traversed by the Kishwaukee, the south branch of which rises on Section 11, crosses the northwest corner of Section 14, and runs through Sections 15, 16, 17 and 7. Another and smaller branch crosses Sections 32, 30 and 19.
The township has one railroad, the Galena Division of the C. & N. W. R. R., which enters between Sections 33 and 34, running northwest through Sections 20 and 19, making about nine miles of track.
The village of Huntley was but a short time in reaching its present dimensions, but like other towns in the county has grown but little in the past eight years. The population is largely "foreign."
In the spring of 1875, the neatest school building in the county was erected. at Huntley, and strangers are shown to the school house as the institution of which they are proud, and well they may be.
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The village contains one hotel and several small stores, besides the usual sup- ply of mechanics, but no manufactories are carried on there except the two cheese factories and a mill that works up flax straw into tow. This township has greatly improved within the past five years.
GREENWOOD, TOWNSHIP 45, RANGE 7, EAST OF THIRD PRIN- CIPAL MERIDIAN.
The earliest settlers in this township were Lewis Boone, Henry Westerman, Oliver and Alden Stone, Elijah Slafton, who brought a family of two or three children, and James Watson, these all making their claims in 1837. Boone made his claim, like some in Hartland, rather large, including both timber and prairie; but, in the dispute which followed, Boone took the law into his own hands, demolishing a cabin, which one McCollum had erected on a part of his (Boone's) claim, and, not .content with that, chopped the logs in two; then, meeting McCollum, accused him of trying to jump his claim. The quarrel ended in a fight, in which Boone came out with flying colors. The settlers took sides, and the vanquished Mack, with his clan, waylaid the Boones, and got even, so far as a field fight and a victory could make it so. But the matter was not allowed to rest there, and, at the first opportunity, these parties carried the case into court, Boone vs. McCollum stanidng first on the docket of the first County Court.
Section 35 claims the honor of furnishing a site for the first school house, it having been built in 1843, near the residence of William D. Given. The first school, of fifteen pupils, was taught by Miss Melinda Pease, of Crystal Lake.
The Methodists took the lead in church building, erecting one, in 1848, upon the site of the first school house. It may be as well to state here that preaching in that meeting house was discontinued some years ago, and, in 1875, it was taken down, brought to Woodstock and converted into sheds to shelter the horses of those who worship in the M. E. Church, of that place.
The first preacher in that church was N. Jewett, but in the township he had been preceded by a Baptist minister, Rev. Joel Wheeler, whose places of worship were school houses or private dwellings. At present, two denomina- tions of Christians hold meetings in the township; the Presbyterians, with a membership of about 23 and a church building estimated to have cost $2,000, and the Baptists, with a house of worship, also in the village of Greenwood, built in 1873, costing about $3,000, and a membership of about 50.
In 1841, W. Lake built a saw-mill on Section 11, for which the Nippersink furnished the motive power. This mill has done its duty, but remains as a relic of ancient times, making the village of Greenwood more picturesque, if not more beautiful. Next, Toles & Brown about one mile below built another saw- mill, and in 1845, the same firm erected the first grist-mill, costing about $5,000.
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This was burned in 1862, and Job Toles, just below the old lake saw-mill, in 1847, put up a second grist-mill, which is still doing a good business, estimated at $4,000 to $6,000 yearly.
Abbott & Thompson, in 1848, erected the first cheese-factory in the town- ship, and dispose of the milk furnished by one hundred and fifty to two hundred cows, and put upon the market annually from ninety to one hundred thousand pounds of cheese. It is now manufacturing butter and cheese, under the name of O. C. Thompson & Co. In 1870, Job Toles erected the second cheese fac- tory near his grist-mill, and after running it one or two seasons, leased to the firm above mentioned, who now monopolize the butter and cheese business in this town.
The village of Greenwood was first laid out in 1842, and lots added to in 1845. It contended for the honor of having the county seat when it was re- moved from McHenry in 1843; but, owing to the want of proper stimulus, to wit, railroad or manufactures, has made little growth in the past fifteen years.
In 1854-55, Weller & Hamilton planted several acres to apple trees, and Greenwood had a nursery which continued for several years, Hamilton finally selling out and moving to Ridgefield, and Weller closing out the business. At present Garrison Brothers carry on the business of fruit and ornamental trees, garden seeds and flowers. They are doing a large and increasing business. The first orchard was set by Andrew Murphy, on Queen Ann Prairie, in 1842, the trees being brought from Lockport, Will County. That orchard is now dead, but the one raised by him from the seed still flourishes, and furnishes Mr. Murphy with an abundance of good apples.
The first store was opened at Boone's Mill by a Mr. Lockwood, about 1847, who soon moved away, being succeeded by the store built by C. M. Goodsell, at Greenwood village, which, although frequently changing hands, still exists in the hands of J. J. Philbrick. Goodsell was very successful after the retirement of his partner, Simmons, who is now an attorney at law in Geneva.
Whether fortunately or otherwise, Greenwood can boast of but one mile of railroad, the Chicago & North-Western, running across the southwest corner of the township ; but in the matter of mounds, mention must be made of several on Section 10, near the Nippersink. Some of them have been opened, and were found to contain human remains and instruments of domestic use, supposed to be the work of the Mound Builders.
HEBRON, TOWNSHIP 46, RANGE 8.
This township was first settled in 1836-7, by J. H. Giddings, Geo. W. Gid- dings, Eli W. Brigham, C. and John Adams and Mrs. Tryon, who was, for some time, the only woman in the township, and, as a matter of course, her house became a general resort for the bachelors thereabout who could sing, so Sunday
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was generally spent at the Tryon house in one general musical entertainment, at one of which the subject of naming the township was introduced, when, at the suggestion of that lady, that as "Hebron" was a good tune, it being a favorite of hers, it could not fail to be a good name for the town ; the hint was taken, and soon the christening took place, which was upon the occasion, when Charles H. had bought a hog, made it passably fat, and the lard being tried out, Mrs. Tryon, in the endeavor to treat her friends to one of the old home comforts, undertook the task of frying cakes for the crowd. It is said, that she must have made more than a bushel, as the company took them as they came from the spider. That was the first and only fried cake christening in the county.
J. H. Giddings built the first frame, and Eli W. Brigham the first log house in the township; the former being still inhabited by its builder.
The farmers of Hebron believe in cows, as their six cheese factories attest, the heaviest operators in that line being W. H. & R. W. Stewart, whose fac- tory is located on Section 27, about two miles south of Hebron Station; the others being on Sections 9, 10, 17, 23 and 30.
One branch of the Nippersink rises in a point on Section 28, entering the main stream in Greenwood, while the main part traverses the west portion of the township in a southeast direction, crossing Sections 18, 19, 30 and 32, and a third small stream rises on the farm of E. W. Brigham, Section 6, crosses 8, 5 and 4, entering Wisconsin from Section 3. This stream has its source about one-fourth of a mile from the main stream of the Nippersink, which flows southward and then westward. Goose Lake lies within its limits, being partly on Sections 10 and 11.
The Rockford & Kenosha Railroad traverses the township in a direction nearly east and west, crossing Sections 12, 11, 10 and 9, running the remain- der of the distance on the line between Sections 8 and 17, 7 and 18, making about six and one-half miles of track.
The timber of this township is in the northwest, west and southeast, the rest being prairie. The town is well adapted to any kind of produce that can be cultivated in the county.
There is but one church, that being located at the Station, and being owned by the Presbyterians.
HARTLAND, TOWNSHIP 45, NORTH RANGE 6.
It was settled in 1836 by George Stratton, P. W. Tower and a man named Smith, wlio, among the first and later settlers, was known by the soubriquet of " Whisky " Smith.
Hartland was settled almost exclusively by Irish Catholics. The first church was built in 1840, on the site now occupied by a large brick building, one of
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the largest in the county. The first Catholic priest was Father St. Paule, who came in 1840, now Bishop of Vincennes, Indiana. The officiating priest is Father Egan.
In 1841-2, these Catholic Irish evinced their interest in education by build- ing a log school house on the spot now occupied by the residence of S. McGhee, Section 36, and opened a school.
The township being well-timbered, a saw-mill seemed necessary, and the want was supplied by Wesley Diggins, on Section 20, the power being furnished by the Kishwaukee Creek, which crosses this township in a direction nearly north and south, entering on Section 3 and passing out on Section 32. The mill was at the forks of the road, and, a store being opened there in 1845, the place received the name of Brookdale, but the mill has rotted down, the store was discontinued in 1848; in fact, the name alone remains of what once gave promise of a city. Somewhere here, between 1842 and 1844, one Cosgrove opened a store at " Oliver's Corners," but it was closed after about a year and a half. At present, the town contains no store or saloon, its nearest trading points being Woodstock and Harvard.
The township is traversed in a northwesterly and southeasterly direction by the Chicago & North-Western Railway. No depot was built in Hartland till this season, near Deep Cut, the depot being named Kishwaukee, and it is probable that the merchant and mechanic will not long overlook so fine an opportunity of building a village in Hartland.
As in some other townships of the county, a few of the first settlers made their claims before the land was surveyed. These claims gave rise to many dis- putes, to settle which, meetings were held, attended by men with arms in their hands, ready, if necessary, to maintain rights by force. All disagreements were finally adjusted without spilling blood or creating feud.
Hartland is about equally adapted to grain or stock.
It contains neither post office nor tavern.
MARENGO, TOWNSHIP 44, RANGE 5.
Calvin Spencer first came into this township in 1835, but was not long alone ; A. B. Coon, C. Sponable, R. Simpkins, John Belden, Mr. Dunham and Dr. W. B. Mason following soon after, the last named being probably the first physician in the county. The first store was put up in 1838 by Charles Hibbard, the next in 1842 by Frank Safford and G. T. Kasson, the latter sell- ing out to his partner at the end of the year.
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