USA > Illinois > Winnebago County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II > Part 35
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The Third Presbyterian Church was organ- ized in the fall of 1910 with about twenty members. The church grew out of a union Sunday-school which was held in the North Rockford W. C. T. U. Hall. The first pastor was Charles Il. Evans, who had just completed his theological course at McCormick Theologi- cal Seminary in Chicago. Mr. Evans came to the church while it was still in the hall in the spring of 1911.
Feeling the need of a church building, steps were taken to secure a church home, and in the spring of 1913 the congregation secured possession, by purchase, of the North End schoolhouse, upon which about $4,000 was spent in remodelling it for the purposes of the church. The congregation moved into the building in October, 1913. The property is valued at $10,000 and is well adapted to church work. Mr. Evans resigned in October, 1914, and was succeeded by Rev. Harry E. Purinton, who began his pastorate January 3, 1915. The church has 115 members.
SWEDISH EVANGELICAL.
The Swedish Evangelical Mission Society was organized June 1, 1875. Its faith is that of the Swedish Mission covenant, and its form of government is congregational. The church has a large brick structure, known as Mission Tabernacle, on Kishwaukee street, with a seating capacity of 1,100. The membership is 754. The Sunday-school was at one time the largest in the city. This leadership has not been main- tained. The pastors have been Revs. Palm- quist, John P. Lindell, John Gustafson, A. E. Wenstrand, 1883-1884; Alfred Karlen, F. M. Johnson, 1886-1897 ; S. W. Sundberg, who served seven years; O. P. Peterson, J. J. Daniels, and Alfred Erickson.
SWEDISH FREE CHURCH,
The Swedish Free Church was organized in 1884. The first services were held in the homes of the members, and subsequently they were conducted in Union Hall on East State street. The first house of worship was erected in 1888 on Fourth avenue between Fourth and Fifth street. This building was enlarged in 1894 by an addition and a basement. The growth of the church made it necessary for
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
still larger facilities for carrying on its work, and on November 25, 1906, a new church was dedicated on the corner ot Sixth street and Fourth avenue. Its auditorium has a seating capacity for 1,400 and a basement that will seat 500. The cost was about $35,000. The church has been served by the following pastors : Revs. Elot Nyberg, Prof. J. G. Princell, P. J. Elmquist, A, C. Leatgren, Gust F. Johnson and John A. Kalson, who took charge of the church in January, 1914. The church is thoroughly organized and its membership is above six hundred. Twenty-three of the younger mem- bers have taken up Christian work, either as ministers or missionaries.
UNITARIAN.
A number of the early settlers from New Eng- land were Unitarians of the old school. An ef- fort to organize this sentiment was made as early as 1841, and when an organization was completed, Richard Montague, Isaac N. Cunning- ham, Francis Burnap, Ephraim Wyman and James M. Wight were elected trustees. There is no record of any progress during the next two years, and it may be concluded that there was only an occasional preaching service. Early in March, 1843, Rev. Joseph Harrington, of Chicago, came to Rocktord and preached every evening of one week on the distinctive doctrines of Unitarianisnı, his efforts resulting in the or- ganization of a church, the constituent mem- bers of which were: Joseph Harrington, Sarah F. Dennis, Isaac N. Cunningham, Nancy G. Cunningham, James Cunningham, Sarah M. Cunningham, Samuel Cunningham, Emily C. Cunningham, John Paul, R. B. Paul, W. D. Bradford, Catherine F. Goodhue, Ephraim Wy- man, James M, Wight, John R. Kendall, Susan Goodrich, In December, 1844, steps were taken to secure a place of worship. It was proposed to purchase the unfinished Universalist church, which had been abandoned, but the project was not successful. Another unsuccessful effort was made to build in 1846.
On December 13, 1845, the Unitarian society of Rockford was organized at the home of Ephraim Wyman. The trustees chosen were : Ephraim Wyman, Thatcher Blake, and Richard Montague. For a number of years little was done. The church had services whenever a trav- eling clergyman was available. This condition
continued until 1849, when Rev. H. Snow volun- teered to strengthen the waste places in this branch of Zion. The Unitarians were not san- guine, and at first Mr. Snow received little en- couragement, but a new start was made. The church had hitherto held services in the court- house, but now they felt the need of another place. The frame building which had been used by the First Baptist church was for sale. This old edifice may well be called a church cradle. It successively rocked the Baptists, Episcopa- lians, Unitarians and Presbyterians. At this time the Unitarians owned a lot on the north- east corner of Church and Eim streets. They had received $250 from the American Unitarian Association, and with this they purchased the old Baptist building, which they removed upon their lot. For about a year Mr. Snow preached two Sundays in the month, and the other Sun- days at Belvidere. He invited Rev. A. A. Liver- more, who was then at Keene, N. H., to act the generous Christian part by presenting a com- munion service to the church. The ladies of Mr. Livermore's church complied with the request. Mr. Snow's health failed in the spring of 1850, and he was obliged to resign from his pastorate. He had been faithful in his efforts to lay an en- during foundation. Mr. Snow applied to the American Unitarian Association, and to Dr. Hosmer, an eminent divine and educator, to send
a successor, Dr. Hosmer sent John M. Windsor, who had recently graduated from the Unitarian school at Meadville, Pa. About this time the accession of Mr. and Mrs. Melancthon Starr inspired the congregation with new energy and courage. The church enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity for several years. In 1853 it was pro- posed to build a more comfortable place of wor- ship. A lot was purchased on the corner of Chestnut and Church streets, and generous sub- scriptions were secured. Work was begun on the new church in the same spring, and the church was dedicated April 18, 1853. Rev. Rush R. Shippen, of Chicago, preached the dedica- tory sermon. On Sunday, May 6, a Sunday school was organized, with twenty-five pupils, with Rev. H. Show as superintendent. Rev. John Murray served as pastor from 1854 to 1857.
On June 8, 1857, a call to the pastorate was sent to the Rev. Augustus H. Conant, of Genera, Ill., who promptly accepted the call, at a salary of $1,000, with certain privileges of vacation for
JONATHAN H. HALSTED
MRS. JONATHAN H. HALSTED
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
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missionary work Sunday afternoons during a part of the year. Rev. Conant began his pastoral work July 12, 1857. The congregation then num- bered about seventy. He purchased a home of Mr. Cosper, on the corner of Green and West streets. Mr. Conant enjoyed an extended per- sonal acquaintance among distinguished repre- sentatives of the Unitarian faith, and other con- temporaries. Among these were : William Ellery Channing, Theodore Parker, James Freeman Clarke, Horace Greeley, O. B. Frothingham, Margaret Fuller, Fred Douglass, and Robert Collyer. Among Rev. Conant's guests at his Rockford home were: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Prof. Youmans, Bayard Taylor, Tom Corwin, John Pierpont, and T. Starr King. James Free- man Clarke, in his autobiography, refers to Rev. Conant as a "saint and an apostle."
Augustus Hammond Conant was born October 16, 1811, at Brandon, Vt. When a young man he left his native state and settled as a farmer on the Des Plaines River, in Cook County, Ill. His parents were members of the Baptist church, and he was baptized into that fellowship before he came to Illinois. One day he entered the store of the Clarke Brothers, in Chicago, where he saw a copy of the Western Messenger. He became interested in the paper, and he was given several copies to take home. These Clarkes owned a book-store in Chicago, and were brothers of James Freeman Clarke, who was then the editor of the Messenger. Upon reading these papers, Mr. Conant resolved to consecrate his life to the ministry. He kept a journal of his daily life as a pioneer farmer from January 1, 1836, to the latter part of May, 1840. It pre- sents in brief a vivid picture of life on the fron- tier, as lived by an ambitious young man who was obliged to make his own way in the world, and at the same time prepare himself for the ministry. Mr. Conant returned east May 25, 1840, and began study at Cambridge, under Prof. Henry Ware, Jr. After finishing his divinity course Mr. Conant began his ministry in 1841 at Geneva, Ill., where he preached sixteen years. A pamphlet entitled "Fifty Years of Unitarian Life," gives a pleasant picture of Mr. Conant's pastoral life at Geneva.
The church at Rockford prospered under Mr. Conant's ministry for a time. Rev. Robert Coll- yer said of him: "He was as quick to leap to the appeal of a crippled cobbler, and as strong
to save him, as if the Master had come out of heaven to bid him do it, and had told him he should have for his deed an endless renown, and the praises of all the choirs of heaven." But there came a serious declension in the financial and numerical strength of the church. In July, 1861, the reliable income of the society had fallen to $400 a year, and six months' salary was due the pastor. Some of the former mem- bers had removed from the city, and others had been overtaken with financial reverses. Under these circumstances, Mr. Conant tendered his resignation to take effect the first Sunday in July, 1861. The Civil war had now begun, and Mr. Conant enlisted in his country's service im- mediately after his resignation. He went to the front as a chaplain in the Nineteenth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry. At Nashville, Tenn., February 8, 1863, Mr. Conant passed from earth to "bathe his weary soul in seas of heavenly rest." His death was due to exposure and over- exertion at the battle of Murfreesboro, His death was universally lamented. His remains were buried at Geneva, and Rev. Robert Collyer, then of Chicago, preached the funeral discourse. Dr. Collyer subsequently wrote a biography of Mr. Conant, with the title, "A Man in Earnest."
After Mr. Conant's resignation, services were maintained with some regularity, but the church gradually declined. Fred May Holland began pastoral labors January 4, 1863. Differences. arose. The conservative element became dis- satisfied with the pastor on account of his rad- ical or "Parkerite" tendencies. Mr. Holland was succeeded by William G. Nowell, who was or- dained April 14, 1864. Mr. Nowell left the church in June, 1865. The last pastor was Rev. D. M. Reed, a very scholarly gentleman. Mr. Reed wished some recognition of his denomina- tion in the name of the church. In accordance with his request, the name was changed to the United Unitarian and Universalist church. The name, however, in legal matters was simply Unitarian. The church was subsequently sold, and in 1890 the proceeds were divided pro rata among the original subscribers. The late Melancthon Starr was known to have contrib- uted $4,000. Many of the members of the church united with the Church of the Christian Union, and others became identified with the Second Congregational church.
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
UNITED EVANGELICAL.
On April 1, 1907, Rev. J. W. Davis was sent to Rockford by the Evangelical Association with a view to founding a church. This event was realized July 24 of the same year with eleven members. Mr. Davis was the first pastor of the United Evangelical Church and remained four years. The chapel was ready for nse January 12, 190S, and an attractive church was dedicated November 23, 1909. Mr. Davis served the full time allowed by the church and was succeeded by Rev. E. K. Hershey; who also remained four years. The present pastor is Rev. J. G. Fidder, who came in 1915. The membership is 125. A parsonage was pur- chased in 1910.
UNIVERSALIST.
The Unitarian church did not at first include all the adherents of a liberal Christian faith. At a meeting held in the brick schoolhouse, in East Rockford, April 24, 1841, a Universalist church was organized by the election of Daniel S. Haight, Ezra Dorman, and Thomas Thatcher as trustees. This election was recorded in the re- corder's office, as provided by law. It is not probable that the official records of this church have been preserved. It is known, however, that preaching services were held at the courthouse on the East side, and at the schoolhouse a portion of the time during the next ensuing few months. In 1841 the Universalists were sufficiently strong to consider the erection of a house of worship. In those days the citizens re- garded any church, of whatever name, as a factor in promoting the general welfare of the village. Hence the name of a generous, public- spirited citizen would be found among the con- tributors to the support of liberal and orthodox churches alike. The original subscription list for the Universalist church, which is still ex- tant, is an interesting document. Mr. Haight gave a lot which he valued at $100; the same amount in carpenter's and joiner's work ; "forty- two sleepers in my wood-lot near Rockford, sev- enteen feet long, at three cents per foot, twenty- one dollars and forty-two cents;" and $50 in money. Almost the entire subscriptions are in work or material.
On Thursday, July 22, 1841, the corner-stone of the Universalist church was laid on a site
near the East side public square. The large assemblage included people of other denomina- tions. Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Van Alstine, and a discourse was delivered by Rev. Seth Barnes. This structure was never com- pleted. All the original supporters of this pro- ject are gone; and not even tradition has given the cause for its sudden abandonment.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Salvation Army and the Volunteers of America have done a splendid work. The Amer- ican Bible Students' Association has maintained regular services since 1897.
Quite a number of churches, organized from time to time, have passed out of existence entirely, or have been merged into other organi- zations.
The Seventh Day Adventist faith has a small following. There are two Spiritualistic societies, a few Swedenborgians, Mormons and Dowieites. Calvary Chapel was erected in 1889 on Kilburn avenue as a result of the labors of Rev. S. L. Conde. He was succeeded by Rev. T. J. Hunter and Rev. George Bernreuter. It was not an inviting field and the movement failed.
THE BEEKMANITES.
No age or country has been free from religious fanaticism. Winnebago County shared this com- mon experience, and was for a time the home of a strange sect which, though small in num- bers, was of nation-wide notoriety. It was not a native product, however, but an importation from a neighboring county. In 1876 Rev. J. C. Beekman became pastor of the Congregational church at Byron, in Ogle County. A daughter graduated from Rockford Seminary in 1878, and is now living in Pennsylvania. In 1877 the pastor's wife, Mrs. Dora Beekman, became possessed by religious vagaries. One of these was that Christ at his second coming had be- come re-incarnated in her. Mrs. Beekman went to Alpena, Mich., where George Jacob Schwein- furth, who was then pastor of a Methodist church, became one of her converts, and accom- panied her on her return to Byron. Mrs. Beek- man died in April, 1883, and her followers con- fidently expected her to arise from the dead on the third day. Her failure to do so did not weaken the faith of her disciples, and her man- tle of leadership fell on Schweinfurth.
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
The sect was known as the "Church of the Redeemed," or the "Church Triumphant."
In 1882 the Weldon farm, six miles southwest of Rockford, became the home of the com- munity, which at one time numbered sixty per- sons. A house of worship was established, and Spencer Weldon transferred his farm of 500 acres to Schweinfurth, who in 1887, deeded it back to its former owner.
In February, 1887, there were 300 followers. The church at Byron had thirty members. There were also seven other congregations, in the fol- lowing cities : Chicago; Alpena, Mich .; St. Charles, Minn .; East Paw Paw, Ill .; Kansas City ; Buena Vista, Colo., and Plum River, Ill.
For a time after the death of Mrs. Beekman, Schweinfurth professed faith in her as the Christ. Later, however, his followers ascribed to him the real Messiahship, and implicitly obeyed his will. The community attracted the attention of the curious, and pilgrimages were made from great distances. Schweinfurth was continually under fire, and charges of immoral- ity were finally preferred against him. Noth- ing was ever legally proven, and the grand jury, in October, 1890, completely exonerated him. Schweinfurth renounced the cult in 1900, and his following disintegrated. He removed to Rockford and engaged in real estate business, and then went to Chicago, where he subsequently died in utter obscurity, succumbing to typhoid fever July 20, 1910, and it was not until two months later that his passing was known to his former followers in Rockford. Was he a delib- erate imposter or a self-deceived fanatic? Per- haps it is beyond human ken to answer the question.
CHAPTER XXI.
MILITARY HISTORY.
THE CIVIL WAR-ITS BEGINNING-SOUTH CAROLINA LEADS IN SECESSION-BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER - ROCKFORD'S FIRST WAR SERMONS- PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S PROCLAMATION-THE ROCK- FORD ZOUAVES-VANGUARD OF WINNEBAGO COUN- TY SOLDIERS - FIRST DEATH -THE ROCKFORD RIFLES -KETCHESON'S COMPANY - BIOGRAPHY
OF COLONEL ELLSWORTH-BISHOP SIMPSON-
ELEVENTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY-THE ELLIS
RIFLES-FIFTEENTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY-FU- NERAL OF COL. ELLIS-WINNEBAGO AT SHILOH- FORTY-FOURTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY-FORTY-FIFTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY-FIRST SOLDIER OF COUNTY KILLED IN BATTLE-DEATH OF COLONEL SMITH- FIFTY-SECOND ILLINOIS INFANTRY-FIFTY-FIFTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY -VOLUNTEERS FOR THREE MONTHS' SERVICE-THE ROCKFORD CITY GUARDS -- SIXTY-SEVENTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY-SEVENTY- FOURTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY - THE MULLIGAN GUARDS - NINETIETH ILLINOIS INFANTRY - EIGHTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY-THE NAVAL SERVICE -A SPARTAN MOTHER-TRIBUTE TO A NOBLE WOMAN-SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY-COUNTY WAR APPROPRIATIONS-WAR BOUNTIES-COST OF THE WAR-WINNEBAGO EXCEEDED ITS QUOTA OF VOL- UNTEERS-PRISONERS OF WAR-GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC - NEVIUS POST - COMMANDERS SINCE 1866-STATE ENCAMPMENTS AT ROCKFORD -- TRIBUTE TO THOMAS G. LAWLER-ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN-THE RIFLES-THE GRAYS-THEIR ORGANIZATION AS MILITIA-BELONG TO THIRD REGIMENT I. N. G .- VETERAN CORPS INFANTRY- OTHER ORGANIZATIONS-PASSING OF AN OLD SOL- DIER-SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' HOME-MEMORIAL ORATORS-ROCKFORD'S ENTERPRISE AND LIBERAL- ITY-OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY-MEMORIAL HALL AT ROCKFORD-THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR-WINNEBAGO RESPONDED PATRIOTICALLY- THIRD ILLINOIS REGIMENT-SIXTH INFANTRY- SEVENTH INFANTRY-EIGHTH INFANTRY-THIRD NEBRASKA INFANTRY-FIRST U. S. VOLUNTEER INFANTRY-FORTIETH WISCONSIN INFANTRY- FIFTY-FIRST IOWA INFANTRY-FIFTH WISCONSIN ARTILLERY-THIRD MISSOURI CAVALRY-FIRST U. S. ENGINEERS-SECOND U. S. V. ENGINEERS- NUMBER OF SOLDIERS BURIED AT ROCKFORD.
THE CIVIL WAR.
As soon as the election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency of the United States was defi- nitely ascertained, the legislature of South Caro- lina summoned a sovereign convention of the people of that state, which met December 17, 1860. Three days later this convention adopted an ordinance of secession, which declared the state no longer a member of the Union. Mis- sissippi seceded January 9, 1861; Florida, Janu- ary 10; Alabama, January 11; Georgia, January 19; Louisiana, January 26; and Texas, Febru-
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
ary 1, 1861. The forts, arsenals and other fed- eral property within the limits of these states were seized by the authorities thereof, with the exceptions of Forts Moultrie and Sumter. Dele- gates from the seceding states met at Mont- gomery, Ala., February 4, 1861, and proceeded at once to organize a new republic, with the name of the Confederate States of America, and on February S a provisional government was declared, with Jefferson Davis as presi- dent. Governor Pickens, of South Carolina, on April 8, 1861, was notified by the general govern- ment of its intention to relieve Fort Sumter at all hazards. Governor Pickens at once informed General Beanregard of this official notification, and the news was sent by him to the Confed- erate government at Montgomery. Its secretary of war therenpon ordered General Beanregard, commander of the Confederate forces at Charles- ton to demand the immedate surrender of Fort Sumter.
On April 12, 1861, the Confederate batteries opened fire upon the fort. The bombardment lasted thirty-two hours. Late in the afternoon of the 13th, Major Anderson, in command of the fort, agreed to capitulate, and the firing ceased. On the morning of Sunday, April 14, Fort Sum- ter was surrendered to the Confederate forces, and Major Anderson and his garrison sailed at once for New York.
ROCKFORD'S FIRST WAR SERMON.
To the late Dr. Thomas Kerr belongs the honor of preaching the first war sermon in Rockford. He was then pastor of the First Baptist Church. April 14 the startling news was received that Sumter had fallen. It was one of the critical moments in the nation's life. Under its solemn inspiration Dr. Kerr preached an impressive, patriotic discourse Sunday after- noon, in the Baptist Church. For the first time in the history of Rockford the American flag graced the sanctuary of the God of battles. It was a symbol of the true nnion of church and state. But it was then an innovation. Public worship was then of the "churchly" sort. Ques- tions of the day had not been discussed in the pulpit. The Civil War made the services of the church more practical and less theological. The pendulum has never swung back.
On Sunday afternoon, April 2S, Dr. Kerr preached another stirring war sermon of great
power. None of Dr. Kerr's local contemporaries in the ministry are now living. The hearts moved by the eloquence of that honr have ceased to beat. The aged preacher himself was almost the last survivor of that historic day.
PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S PROCLAMATION.
On Monday morning, April 15, 1861, Presi- dent Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for 75,000 volunteers to "subdue combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, and to cause the laws to be duly executed." On the same day a dis- patch was received at Springfield, stating that the quota of Illinois under the president's call was six regiments of militia. Governor Yates thereupon issued a proclamation convening the legislature in special session, April 23, for the purpose of putting the state upon a more ef- fective war footing. The attack upon Sumter obliterated all party lines in Winnebago County, and friends and opponents of the administration sprang to arms to defend the government from the assaults of traitors. It is said that when Cadmus of old needed men he sowed dragons' teeth, and forthwith from the ground came war- riors armed for battle. So, when Treason threw down the gauntlet, the loyal legions of Freedom accepted the gage of battle.
THE ROCKFORD ZOUAVES.
The war record of Winnebago County has never been fully written, and no complete his- tory can be assured in the future. Owing to failures to make proper returns at Springfield, even the adjutant-general's reports are only approximately correct. The late General Fuller did much to complete the records, but he could not achieve the impossible. Some men enlisted in regiments organized in other states, and in many instances credit was not properly given. The scope of this work does not admit a full treatment of even the available sources of in- formation, but the brief outline is believed to be correct. The first war mass meeting held at Rockford was on April 24, 1861, in answer to the call of a citizens' committee, consisting of E. F. W. Ellis, Selden M. Church, and L. F. Warner, for the purpose of considering the state of the country. Judge Church was called to the chair, leading citizens made speeches and great enthusiasm prevailed.
OGDEN HANCE
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
Ten days after the fall of Sumter the first company of Rockford volunteers marched to the front to the "wild, grand music of war." They bore the name of the Rockford Zouaves. The story of their origin may be briefly noted. Dur- ing the Lincoln campaign a "Wide-Awake" marching club was organized, in command of Captain Garrett L. Nevius. When the presi- dential campaign was over they were reluctant to abandon the organization, and when Captain Nevius proposed a military company it met with general favor. A meeting was held December 26, 1860, at the photograph gallery of Barnes, Nevius & Company, when preliminary steps were taken, and January 3, 1861, the Rockford Zouaves were formally organized. Garrett L. Nevius was chosen captain; R. A. Bird, first lieutenant ; W. D. E. Andrus, second lieutenant ; R. S. Norman, ensign ; F. F. Peats, orderly ser- geant; H. H. Dean, second sergeant; J. H. Manny, third sergeant; C. B. Hull, fourth ser- geant ; Randolph D. Hobart, first corporal; E. Lugrin, second corporal; Thomas Anyon, third corporal ; O. C. Towne, fourth corporal; I. S. Hyatt, secretary, and C. T. Jellerson, treasurer. Meetings for drill were held and on January 17, 1861, resolutions were adopted to the effect that they should hold themselves in readiness to respond to any possible call for troops. In February the South Rockford Band, consisting of F. M. Needham and J. A. Hobart, drummers, and C. H. Marsh, fifer, was admitted to mem- bership, with the understanding that they were to have no more privileges than any of the other members.
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