Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 30

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 972

USA > Illinois > Winnebago County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II > Part 30

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CHICAGO & SUPERIOR.

The name of the consolidated company was the Chicago & Superior Railroad. James Camp- bell, of Madison, was chosen president; R. P. Lane, vice president. Dr. Lane and Ralph Emerson, of Rockford, and George Youngs, of Stillman Valley, were members of the board of directors. The fulness of time had not come, however for Rockford to have another road. Money is the sinew of railroad construction as well as of war. It was not forthcoming from local sources, and the aid of foreign capital was invoked. James Campbell, the president of the road, and Robert H. Tinker, of Rockford, went to London to negotiate the sale of the bonds of the Chicago & Superior railroad. After prolonged negotiations they secured a pro- visional agreement from Strousberg, Bray & Co., of London, to take the bonds at 85 cents

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

in gold. The firm sent an engineer to look over the situation and he presented a favorable report. This was in the summer of 1873, imme- diately preceding the failure of Jay Cooke & Company, of New York, which was the fore- runner of a general financial panic which swept over the country. Its influence extended to the old world, and before the engineer previously mentioned had sailed from New York, the firm oť Strousburg, Bray & Co. had collapsed. When Dr. Strousberg died a few years later the Lon- don Standard said of him: "Twelve or thir- teen years ago the announcement of the death of Dr. Bethel Strousberg, the famous German contractor, would have interested half the bourses of Europe. Today a line or two in the obituary columns of the newspapers is the measure of regard which is accorded to one who, in the height of his prosperity, was more talked about in Berlin than any man except Count Bismarck."

CHICAGO, ROCKFORD & NORTIIERN.

During the progress of these events, the Chi- cago & Iowa Railroad had been built from Aurora to Forreston. F. E. Hinckley was presi- dent of the road. During the summer of 1874 Mr. Hinckley proposed to build a branch from Rochelle to Rockford, and invited the co-opera- tion of the citizens of Rockford. He asked that they subscribe for first mortgage bonds to the amount of $200,000, to bear S per cent interest, payable semi-annually, and further secured by traffic guaranty of the Chicago & Iowa road to 25 per cent of its gross earnings. A mass meeting was held in Rockford in September ; the citizens made a generous response to Mr. Hinckley's overture, and in October it was announced that the full amount had been sub- scribed. The newspapers up to this time had referred to this latest enterprise as the Rock- ford Central; but legal complications over bonds and the old name were feared, and in November a new charter was secured, under the name of the Chicago, Rockford & Northern Railroad. Robert H. Tinkler was president of the road.

The work of construction was pushed with energy. The bridge was completed over Rock River at Rockford in July, 1875. Trains were running a few days later, and thus, after many years, Rockford's dream of a new railroad was

realized. The final success of the Chicago & Rockford Northern was due in no small measure to R. H. Tinker. The Rockford Journal said to him : "More particularly are we indebted to our worthy mayor, R. H. Tinker, for his per- sistent, indefatigable and never-ceasing labors. He was largely interested in the original Rock- ford Central, and he did not propose to see the .money spent on that road thrown away, and the project abandoned. He was made of sterner stuff." The Chicago, Rockford & Northern equipment was leased by the Chicago & Iowa, and the line was always designated by that name. Its official title was preserved only in its charter,

CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE & ST. PAUL.

The next chapter in the railroad history of Rockford deals with the advent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul line. It was preceded by what is known as "the railroad war." There had been two bond issues of the Chicago, Rock- ford & Northern road, on each of which there had been foreclosure proceedings. A receiver had also been appointed for the Chicago & Iowa, and there was then a network of complications of long standing.

On March 30, 1881, the first Milwaukee loco- motive ever seen in Rockford arrived and was stationed nearly opposite the C. & I. depot. C. H. Atkins, superintendent of the Chicago & Pacific division of the Milwaukee & St. Paul road, with several other railroad officials, entered the depot and informed the agent, A. A. Morse, that he had come with orders to take possession of the road. The agent refused to vacate, and he and A. G. Everett, the tele- graph operator, were forcibly ejected. A war- rant was promptly sought by Agent Morse for the arrest of Atkins and his associates, and placed in the hands of Sheriff Hutchins and his deputies. The intruders were placed under arrest and released on their own recognizances, pending a hearing. Meanwhile Agent Morse remained in possession. It was claimed that the Milwaukee & St. Paul road made this move under a lease executed March 29, by Joel D. Harvey, the new president of the Chicago, Rockford & Northern road, and authorized by the board of directors. It was also stated that the Milwaukee took possession in this sensa- tional manner because it had been intimated

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

that if it proposed to take possession under the lease, F. E. Hinckley, the promoter of the road, would thwart the purpose. The Milwaukee always maintained that the lease under which the Chicago & Iowa had been operating the Chicago, Rockford & Northern was not valid and never authorized by either road. The following day President Harvey, C. C. Jones and Colonel C. M. Brazee went to Freeport and secured an order from Judge William Brown, ordering Mr. Jones, as receiver of the Chicago, Rockford & Northern, to take full possession, which he did April 1, with the aid of Sheriff Hutchins. The tables, however, were quickly turned. Judge Eustace, of Dixon, went to Freeport, where he discussed the matter with

Judge Brown, Judge Eustace stated that W. H. Holcomb had been appointed receiver of the Chicago & Iowa by his order, and that Judge Brown had no right to issue a conflicting order. The two judges conferred with Judge Bailey, who sustained the contention of Judge Eustace. Judge Brown thereupon issued an order vacating his previous order, and Judge Eustace ordered Sheriff Hutchins to take pos- session for Receiver Holcomb.

The case was continued at Freeport, April 11, when the three judges of the circuit unani- mously decided Receiver Holcomb was in right- ful possession. This proceeding did not long delay the advent of the Milwaukee road into Rockford. The company had secured control of the old Western Union, which connected Rockton and Durand, and built a track from Rockton to Rockford, entering the city from the north, November 6, 1881. A contract was signed in Chicago by which the Milwaukee road secured from the Chicago & Iowa a lease of its track from Davis Junction into Rockford. The first train arrived in Rockford from the south November 21, 1881.

CHICAGO, BURLINGTON & QUINCY.

The Chicago & Iowa and Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul roads occupied the same track and right of way about ten years. Meanwhile the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy road absorbed the Chicago & Iowa. The old name was retained for a time, but in 1892 the Burlington began to operate the line under its own name. The lease of the track to the Milwaukee was continued.

THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD.

In 1886 the Illinois Central Railroad Com- pany projected a division from Chicago througli Winnebago County to Freeport, Ill., thence to Madison, Wis. Surveys were begun in this county August 9. On the same day a meeting of local shippers was held in Rockford, when a general desire was expressed that the line should touch the city. September 13 the city council passed an ordinance by a unanimous vote, granting the right to enter the city. No- vember 30, after the company had purchased the right of way, the council passed an amended ordinance.

Early in January, 1SSS, Robert H. Tinker sold a tract of land lying between South Main and Winnebago streets to the Illinois Central Com- pany for $50,000. The historic "Manny man- sion" was on this ground, and its conversion to railroad purposes required the razing of the structure. The freight house was completed in March. The first passenger train over the new division entered Rockford from the east Sunday, August 5, 1SSS. The passenger depot was opened to the public on that day. E. G. Russell was the first superintendent of the division ; and E. W. Brown was chosen local agent, a posi- tion he has continuously held to this day.

In 1915 the Central completed its second bridge across Rock River at Rockford. It is 800 feet in length, with spans of 69 feet. When the entire work is completed for the double track it will have cost the company nearly a quarter of a million dollars.

I. I. & M. C. M. & G. RAILWAY.

The Illinois, Iowa & Minnesota Railway Company was incorporated in December, 1902. The line was completed to Rockford in October, 1905. On March 7, 1908, the Chicago, Mil- waukee & Gary Railway Company was in- corporated, as a consolidation of a company of the same name with the Illinois, Iowa & Min- nesota Railway Company and other lines. The company owns track from Joliet to Delmar, III., 39 miles; Aurora, Ill., to Rockford, 65 miles ; total, 104 miles; trackage on Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway, Aurora to Joliet, 24 miles ; total operated, 128 miles. The stocks and bonds of the road having a face value of $11,239,000, were sold at auction in St. Louis October 15,

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

1915, for $2,066,000. The securities were pur- chased by Isaac Orr, trust officer of the St. Louis Union Trust Company, for the bond- holders. H. N. Page is the local agent.

CHAPTER XX.

CHURCHES.

BAPTIST - BRETHREN - CATHOLIC - CHRISTIAN (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST ) -CHRISTIAN SCIENCE- CHRISTIAN UNION-CONGREGATIONAL-EPISCOPAL - JEWISH - LUTHERAN - METHODIST - PRES- BYTERIAN - SWEDISH EVANGELICAL - SWEDISH FREE CHURCH-UNITARIAN-UNITED EVANGELI- CAL-UNIVERSALIST-SALVATION ARMY-VOLUN- TEERS OF AMERICA-AMERICAN BIBLE STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION - SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST - SPIR- ITUALISTIC SOCIETIES-SWEDENBORGIANS-MOR- MONS-DOWIEITES-BEEKMANITES.

BAPTIST.

The oldest Baptist organization west of Chi- cago is the First Baptist church of Belvidere. In March, 1836, Rev. John S. King preached the first sermon in the Kishwaukee country, at the primitive home of Timothy Caswell. The First Baptist church was founded in July, 1836, and was the first religious organization in Belvi- dere. Its first pastor was Prof. Seth S. Whit- man, who served ten years. Prof. Whitman was a native of Shaftsbury, Vt., was graduated from Madison University, and in 1827 was one of the three who formed the first graduating class from Newton Theological Institution. Im- mediately after his graduation, he was called to the chair of Biblical interpretation at Hamilton Theological Institution, which chair he occupied seven years, when he came to Belvidere. Prof. Whitman also performed duty as a civil officer in that early day. In 1841 he was clerk of the Circuit court under the appointment of Judge Dan. Stone, and postmaster of the village. Bel- videre, in 1836, was included in this county; hence a reference to the church in that village has a place in this chapter.

The First Baptist church of Rockford was organized December 22, 1838, at the home of Dr. Haskell. It is thus the second Baptist church planted in northern Illinois, and the third religious organization in Rockford. Prof. Whit- man was chosen moderator, and Dr. Haskell, clerk. A declaration of twelve articles of faith and a church covenant were adopted. Sixteen residents of Rockford presented church letters, as follows: James and Martha Jackson,, from Indianapolis, Ind .; Abiram Morgan, from the First Baptist church, Springfield, Mass .; Pierce and Evelina Wood, from Conneaut, Ohio; John and Susan Emerson, Machias Point, Me .; Wil- liam B. Brainard, Milwaukee, Wis .; Ransom and Lucy Knapp, George and Eunice P. Haskell, Mowry and Lucy Brown, Isaiah Lyon, and Caleb Blood, from Upper Alton, Ill. Just one-half of the constituent members of the church came from Upper Alton. This enrollment included several men of sturdy character and progressive ideas. Dr. Haskell has already been introduced to the reader. Isaiah Lyon honored every posi- tion to which he was called. He was a cousin of General Nathaniel Lyon, who was killed at the battle near Wilson's Creek in 1861. Abiram Morgan was one of the most prominent citizens of early Rockford, and maintained his mem- bership with the church until his death, Janu- ary 6, 1855. Ransom Knapp was a brother of Rev. Jacob Knapp, the revivalist. Caleb Blood had been a student at Shurtleff College, and became a Baptist clergyman.

Until May, 1841, the church depended upon occasional supplies. Among these were Prof. Whitman, of Belvidere, and Rev. John Sears. Dr. Haskell was deacon and clerk, and withal a pillar of strength. He had built a brick block on the site of the Ashton dry goods store, with a hall on the second floor for public meetings, and here the church held its early services. In December, 1839, the church was legally incorpo- rated, and plans for a house of worship were considered. In the following spring, lot 6 in block 11 was purchased. This is the northwest corner of Main and Peach streets, and is now owned by the American Insurance company.

The erection of the new house of worship pro- ceeded as rapidly as possible. This sanctuary stood close to Main street, and faced the east. It was a balloon frame, about thirty by forty feet, clapboarded, with no cupola. There were three windows on either side, but none in front

OLD FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, ROCKFORD Built in 1838 by Germanicus Kent and George W. Brinckerhoff, southwest corner of Church and Green Streets

SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, ROCKFORD

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ROCKFORD

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, ROCKFORD

FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, ROCKFORD

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

or rear. The first sermon preached in this church was on May 9, 1841. It was not then completed, and temporary seats were used. Prof. Whitman was the preacher, and from that time until November 12 of the same year, he regu- larly supplied the pulpit. As a stated supply, Prof. Whitman may be considered in a restricted sense as the first pastor.

On September 23, 1840, the Rock River Baptist Association was organized at Belvidere. During 1839-40 churches had been organized at Round Prarie, Roscoe, Pecatonica, and Sugar River, the total membership of the six churches being 219. The minutes of this first association were pub- lished in full in eight small pages, and a copy is preserved in the Rockford public library, and is probably the only one in existence.

The Rock River Baptist Association held its second annual session with the Rockford church in September, 1841. The delegates at Belvidere the preceding year had been instructed to invite the association to meet in Rockford at this time, and the invitation had been accepted. The in- troductory sermon was preached by Rev, Luther W. Lawrence, of Bonus. The total membership of the churches in the association had increased to 260.

The first resident pastor of the Rockford church was the Rev. Solomon Knapp. He came from Des Plaines, Ill., November 12, 1841, served less than a year, and resigned September 19, 1842. From his departure until the autumn of 1843 the church was without a pastor. A call was then extended to Rev. Warren F. Parrish, of Massilon, Ohio. He was a convert from Mor- monism to the Baptist faith. The church paid him a salary of $300 and house-rent the first year ; the second year he received $400. Of this amount, the Home Missionary Society paid $100. This is the only year, in the entire history of the church, when it received any assistance from this source. The First Baptist society of Rock- ford was organized January 6, 1845. About a month after the resignation of Rev. Parrish in 1845 the church invited Rev. O. H. Read, of Portageville, New York, to supply six months, from October 13, 1845. The terms were: "one hundred dollars in money, a cook stove, delf, and furniture with which to keep house; but he was to pay his own house rent." Rev. Read was unwilling to remain longer than the six months.

Rev. Luther Stone came from Rock Island

and served as pastor from June, 1846, to June, 1847, with a salary of four hundred dollars, In October, 1846, the church granted letters to eight members, to form a church at Harlem. Deacon R. T. Mabie was one of the number. After a struggle of two years the Harlem church dis- banded, and Deacon Mabie reunited with the church November 18, 1848. From July 18, 1847, to October, 1848, the church was again favored with Prof. Whitman as a stated supply. His health failed, and he retired for three years from pastoral duties. He then took charge of a Baptist church at Madison, Wis., where he died after eight months of service, January 2, 1852. The Baptists of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin owe a great debt to this cultured Christian gentleman. Dr. Frank S. Whitman, a prominent physician and politician of Belvi- dere, is a nephew.

In the autumn of 1848, Elder Jacob Knapp removed from the east, and November 1S he united with the First church by letter. The church was then without a pastor, and arrange- ments were soon made with Elder Knapp for holding revival meetings. The little frame build- ing was too small, and the church secured the use of the courthouse, where it continued to hold services until the new stone structure was completed. Elder Knapp continued his labors until June, 1849. At the annual session of the Rock River Association, held that month, the church reported sixty-two additions by baptism and seventeen by letter. These accessions in- creased the membership to 160. Elder Knapp was one of the most remarkable men of his time. He was born in Otsego County, N. Y., Decem- ber 7, 1799, was graduated at Hamilton The- ological Seminary in June, 1825, and ordained in the following August. After serving the church at Springfield for five years, and the church at Watertown for three years, he began his career as an evangelist. For fifteen years his home was at Hamilton, N. Y., and for twenty-five years at Rockford, Elder Knapp claimed to have preached about 1,600 sermons, baptized 4,000 candidates, and was the means of making 100,- 000 converts by his revival ministry, of whom 200 became ministers of the gospel. Elder Knapp's mind was characterized by strong log- ical tendencies, and his sermons abounded in homely illustrations, apt quotations from the Bible, and a good knowledge of human nature

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

Elder Knapp's autobiography was published in 1868.

The immediate successor of Elder Knapp was Rev. Ichabod Clark, D. D. He came from Ga- lena in July, 1849, and labored continuously for five years. Mrs. Clark died September 16, 1854. Dr. Clark desired a change of scene and labor, and November 5 of that year he left Rockford to engage for a time as superintendent of mis- sions for the Illinois Baptist General Associa- tion. During his absence the pulpit was regu- larly supplied by Rev. Justin A. Smith, D. D., the veteran editor of the Standard, the Baptist publication in Chicago. In August, 1855, Dr. Clark resumed the active pastorate, which he retained until July, 1860. This was the longest pastorate in the history of the church. Revival services were frequently held from 1850 until Rev. Clark's resignation. In 1858 the church reached its high-water mark. After fifteen years of long and faithful service, Dr. and Mrs. Has- kell adopted Spiritualism, and severed their con- nection with the church in 1853 and '54, re- spectively. On July 31, 1858, letters were granted to thirty-four members who wished to organize another church in East Rockford. The New Hampshire confession of faith was adopted by the First church January 2, 1859, When Dr. Clark closed his pastorate in 1860, the church had a membership of 267. When he came to Rockford there were 160 Baptists in the town ; when he went away there were 357. Dr. Clark died at Lockport, Ill., in 1869, and was buried in the West side cemetery.

The stone edifice now occupied by the church was completed in 1850, and was then the finest church building in the village. The dedicatory sermon was preached June 20th, by Rev. Jirah D. Cole, before the Rock River Baptist Associa- tion, which was then in session with the church. The building cost $6,000; the total cost of the lots, building and furniture was $7,511.17. Among the prominent pew-holders were William Hulin, Charles I. Horsman, J. B. Howell, H. W. Loomis, Daniel Dow, Isaac Andrus and John Beattie. Not all the pew-holders were members of the church, and a few were not even included in the congregation. This church is the oldest house of worship in the city. Its solid walls have resisted the tooth of time and the fury of the elements for sixty-five years. When the old frame church was vacated, it entered upon a career of itineracy. It was sold to the Uni-

tarians, who removed it to their lot. Still later it was used by another church, and for secular business before it was torn down.

The First Baptist church purchased a bell from the foundry of Rincker & Company, of Chicago, in July, 1852. Its weight was fifteen hundred and forty pounds, and cost about six hundred dollars.

Dr. Clark was succeeded by Dr. Thomas Kerr, who began his pastorate June 1, 1860. To Dr. Kerr belongs the honor of preaching the first war sermon in Rockford, after the bombardment of Fort Sumter, and for the first time in local history the American flag was displayed from the pulpit, the true union of church and state. Dr. Kerr's first pastorate closed November 1, 1866, when he was called to Hannibal, Mo. After a brief pastorate by Rev. James Lick, Dr. Kerr was again called by the Rockford church, and he began his second pastorate July 11, 1869. His discourses were not considered evangelical, and he was charged with not preaching Baptist doctrine. He thereupon tendered his resignation August 28, 1870. In October the church called a council, which was held on the 14th, when Dr. Kerr was deposed from the Baptist min- istry. The council also advised the church to exclude him from membership. Upon this advice Dr. Kerr and forty-eight members were dropped from the church roll. A more extended notice of Dr. Kerr will be given in the history of the church of the Christian Union, which he founded.

Dr. Kerr's successor in the pastorate was Rev. O. B. Stone. He began his labors January 1, 1871, at a salary of $2,000. Dr. Stone resigned October 27, 1872, and went to Marengo. Rev. Austin Gibb was the next pastor. He served as a regular supply from November 1, 1872, to Feb- ruary 1, 1873, when he was called to the pastor- ate. He resigned at the end of one year. Rev. Catlin C. Smith was the next pastor. He sup- plied the pulpit as a licentiate from September 6, 1874, until May, 1875. He was then ordained to the ministry, and served as pastor until May, 1877. Mr. Smith was succeeded by Rev. John S. Mabie. His pastorate began September 1, 1877, and continued four years. Rev. Elisha Anderson began his pastoral labors in January, 1882, and continued them until January, 1885. During his pastorate extensive changes were made in the interior of the church. Rev. William A. Stanton, Ph. D., assumed the pastorate in

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October, 1885. In the summer of that year the church purchased its first parsonage. Dr. Stan- ton remained until 1890. Rev. C. H. Moscrip was the next pastor and served from 1890 to 1894. He was an able, scholarly preacher, and evangelistic in spirit. He was unduly conserva- tive in his theological thinking, but a most com- panionable gentleman. During his pastorate the church debt was reduced from $20,000 to $12,000.

Rev. Theodore G. Soares, Ph. D., came to 'Rockford in the spring of 1894. He supplied for six months, when he was called to the pas- torate and ordained. He has become prominent as a platform speaker, and now occupies the chair of homiletics at the University of Chicago. He is a man of fine scholarship. His popularity in Rockford has been attested by liis repeated invitations to make public addresses, several of which have come from Rockford College. Dr. Soares remained here five years and then went to Galesburg. Rev. Charles W. Barber suc- ceeded Dr. Soares. His pastorate extended from 1899 to 1903. He possessed fine pastoral ability and the church under his ministry made steady and commendable progress. Rev. W. C. Kier- steed, Ph. D., was pastor from 1903 to 1906. He

preacher. He made strong friendships and did fine work. During his pastorate a debt of twenty years' standing, amounting to $16,000, was paid, and $3,000 was spent in repairs. It was while Dr. Kierstead was in Rockford that Prof. George B. Foster's book, "The Finality of the Christian Religion," was published, and be- came a storm center in the theological world. Dr. Kierstead was an ardent defender of Prof. . Foster. Rev. B. B. Bosworth succeeded Dr. Kierstead in 1907, and his ministry continued two years. He was anxious to secure a union of the First Baptist and Central Christian churches, and the failure of the plan led him to abandon this field. Mr. Bosworth was a preacher of ability. Rev. R. B. Davidson was the last pastor. He came to Rockford in 1911 from De- troit. Mr. Davidson was energetic in all his ministrations, and his pastorate was distin- guished by many accessions to the church. In December, 1913, the church celebrated its dia- mond jubilee. Mr. Davidson resigned in 1914 and went to Marshalltown, Iowa. August 29, 1915, the church extended a call to Rev. G. A. Sheets, of Kankakee, Ill., and he began his pastorate November 7.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 30

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 972

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 972