Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 45

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 45

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ROCKFORD ELECTRIC COMPANY.

The Rockford Electric Company, which now supplies the city of Rockford with electric light and power, represents franchises and consoli- dations covering more than thirty years. The Rockford Electric Light and Power Company was granted a franchise by the city council December 4, 1882. This company did not oper- ate, and was superseded by the Forest City Elec- tric Light and Power Company, which obtained a franchise April 16, 1883. Most of the capital was furnished by local citizens. C. Fred War- ner was manager. The plant was located on North Madison street, and was subsequently removed to a site near the Chicago & North- western Railroad track on the west side. Mr. Warner retired from the management in 1888 and was succeeded by M. A. Beale.

The Rockford Electric Power Company, a competing corporation, obtained a franchise in 1887. C. Fred Warner was the promoter and first general manager and developed a prosper- ous business. The plant was on the site of the Rockford Brass Works on the water power. Mr. Warner subsequently retired and engaged in electrical engineering and installing indi- vidual plants. J. W. Bartlett became manager of the company ; but reverses came and the

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

company failed in 1892, and Mr. Warner was appointed receiver. He placed the company on a paying basis, and the plant, equipment and franchise were purchased and consolidated with the Forest City Company.

In 1896 the Rockford General Electric Com- pany was organized, with M. A. Beale as man- ager. The company purchased the plant and franchise of the Forest City Company, and thus retained exclusive control of the local field. In 1899 the name was changed to the Rockford Edison Company, with Mr. Beale retaining the general management.

July 21, 1902, J. A. Walker, Fred K. Houston and George S. Briggs obtained a franchise to operate a plant for furnishing heat and trans- mitting electric power. This franchise was pur- chased by W. E. Dewey and H. G. Geer, who operated the plant under the name of the Cen- tral Heat and Power Company. In 1907 the Rockford Edison Company changed its name to the Rockford Electric Company. F. H. Golding was the general manager. In 1908 the Rockford Electric Company purchased the equipment and franchise of the Central Heat and Power Com- pany ; and thus all electric light and heat for the city of Rockford is furnished by a single company.

The Rockford Electric Company is one of twelve plants operated by the American Gas and Electric Company, with headquarters in New York. R. E. Breed, of Marion, Ind., is president of both the general and the local cor- porations ; George N. Tidd, of Elizabeth, N. J., is vice-president ; Frank E. Ball, also oť Eliza- beth, is secretary and treasurer. Adam Gschwindt succeeded Mr. Golding as general manager in May, 1913.

CENTRAL UNION TELEPHONE COMPANY.

The Rockford Telephone Exchange was incor- porated in January, 1880, as a branch of the Western Telephone Company, which operated a score of exchangess in the middle west. The incorporators were the Western Union Tele- graph Company and E. T. Keim, manager of the telephone company at Dubuque. The capital stock was $10,000. A franchise was granted by the city council January 19, 1880, and the ex- change was opened for business April 9 next fol- lowing, with 74 subscribers. Headquarters were on the third floor of the Ashton building, and Miss Jennie Miller was the first general man-

ager. The rental for telephone service was $4 a month. The growth of the exchange was slow for several years. October 25, 1882, there were only 186 subscribers, and in August of the fol- lowing year there were 235 patrons. In July, 1883, the exchange was removed to the second floor of the building now occupied by A. H. Bolender's jewelry store. From there headquar- ters were transferred to a building adjoining the Winnebago National Bank; thence to Ma- sonic Hall block, and from there the company removed to its own commodious building in 1913. Miss Miller was succeeded as manager by R. H. Gibboney. He retained the position until 1901, when he resigned to accept the manage- ment of the new "Home" company. Fred Alston succeeded to the management, but he remained only a few months. The fourth manager is F. L. Eby, the present incumbent. He has been connected with the exchange nineteen years, and for thirteen years he has been general manager.

The American Telephone Company is the par- ent company, and the local exchange is known as the Central Union Telephone Company, which is the operating company for Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.

IIOME TELEPHONE COMPANY.

On June 3, 1901, the city council granted to F. L. Bills and E. L. Wortham a franchise to operate a second telephone exchange, for a period of twenty years, R. H. Gibboney was the first manager, and served until 1908, when he was succeeded by James H. Corcoran, the present incumbent. The system is under the control of Rockford citizens, who hold a large majority of the stock. For this reason it is designated the "Home" company. It operates only in Winnebago County, but makes connec- tions in seven states. The officers of the com- pany are: President, T. M. Ellis; vice presi- dent, R. S. Chapman ; secretary, J. H. Camlin ; treasurer, W. F. Woodruff.

CHAPTER XXVI. A QUARTER CENTURY. 1865-1890.

BUILDING OPERATIONS UP TO 1880-THE FALL OF THE COURTHOUSE-LOSS OF LIFE-BLAME PLACED -A TRANSITION PERIOD-SEVERE STORMS-AMOS BRONSON ALCOTT - MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR

Samuel & Levi

Rose H. Leví. Mose

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

PRESIDENT GARFIELD-MORTUARY RECORD OF 1881 -- A LOCAL TRAGEDY-BUILDING OPERATIONS IN 1882-3 - CELEBRATION OF SEMI-CENTENNIAL DEATH OF NOTABLE CITIZENS-EVENTS OF 1885- MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR GENERAL GRANT-ROCK- FORD'S LOSS OF EMINENT MEN-FIRE AND FLOOD -DWIGHT L. MOODY AT ROCKFORD.

BUILDING OPERATIONS UP TO 1880.

Rockford made little history for fifteen years after the Civil war. Thus the period from 1865 to 1880 does not offer an inviting field to the historian. There were few new ventures in manufacturing, compared with the decade imme- diately following. The city and county had of- fered much of their best blood on the altar of freedom, and many of those who returned from the field were maimed for life, and poorly equipped to resume the avocations of peace. Not a few former soldiers took up homestead rights offered by the government in the western states. For some years Rockford little more than held its own. Under these conditions all that the citizens could do was to strengthen the things that remained, and wait for a brighter day that was sure to come.

Col. A. R. Chapin died December 21, 1866. He commanded the Tenth Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers during the early part of the Civil war. Ill health compelled him to resign, and he came to Rockford in 1863 and engaged in the hardware business. His widow, a daughter of William Twogood, a pioneer of the county, still resides in Rockford.

The building operations of 1866 included the erection of the Wallach block on the Ashton corner. The old Winnebago House was de- stroyed by fire in 1860, and the site had since been unoccupied. Henry Wallach & Company began business in 1855, and occupied the corner store under the unfinished Holland House. In 1856 D. Wallach bought the stock of Henry Wallach & Company and Isaac Bacharach was admitted as a partner. The building was sixty- four feet front, by one hundred in depth and had three stories. The ground floor was divided into two stores, and D. Wallach & Company occupied the corner. Another business block erected during the year was that of Leonard & Menzinger, on the northeast corner of State and Wyman streets.

The three-story Masonic hall block, 317-321

West State street, now owned by the Talcott estate, was built in 1869. In 1873 Charles I. Horsman erected the three-story brick block at 306-310 West State street, now occupied in part by the National Hotel. Three small frame buildings were razed to make a site for the new building. The postoffice was in one of these when Mr. Horsman was postmaster. The prop- erty still belongs to the Horsman estate. An- other notable building erected in 1873 was the Second National Bank. It was built by Dr. R. P. Lane and G. A. Sanford, on ground leased for twenty years from Warren Loomis.

THE FALL OF THE COURTHOUSE.

In 1875 the board of supervisors took steps toward the erection of a new courthouse. Henry L. Gay was the architect, and W. D. Richardson the contractor. The cornerstone was laid June 23, 1876. May 11, 1877, occurred the greatest disaster in the history of the city, known as the "fall of the courthouse." All but a portion of the front pediment of the main central tower or dome fell straight through the middle of the building, crushing in its descent much of the inside work of the structure. Seven men were killed outright and several others were severely injured, two of whom died before the coroner's jury completed its inquest. Those who were killed were Fred Haug, A. Hollenbeck, John Warren, A. Hang, John Pipe, George Gloss and Timothy Flannigan. The wounded were August Lucas, Thomas Hayes, William McInnis, John Peck, George Smitlı, Hugh Eldridge, Cicero Dickerson, Hendrez Beldahl, Isaac Donnelly, John Donaldson, Frank Harris, Henry W. Ames, and a man named Lindholm. John Peck and Lindholm died from their injuries.

A coroner's jury made careful examination into the canse of the disaster. The jury was composed of Selden M. Church, H. W. Carpenter, George S. Haskell, John R. Porter, G. A. San- ford, J. B. Howell, Thomas Butterworth, George Wilson, J. W. Seccomb, William H. Smith, A. G. Lowry, D. L. Emerson. The jury found the disaster was caused, first by the neglect of Henry L. Gay, the architect, to provide for the great amount of weight called for to complete the building according to the plans designed by him ; second, want of care on the part of said architect in not giving special specifications and plans for the parts of the general plan required

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

to carry the extra weight, in proportion to the superfices ; third, the board of supervisors failed to use due caution in examining the plans and specifications, and in not employing a competent architect. Work was resumed at once, and the courthouse was completed in 1878, at a cost of $211,000. It was dedicated October 14, when addresses were made by Judge Brown, Rev. W. S. Curtis, Duncan Ferguson, A. I. Enoch, Wait Talcott, L. F. Warner, William Lathrop, E. H. Baker, H. W. Taylor, C. M. Brazee, R. F. Crawford, J. C. Garver and Judge Bailey.

BUSINESS BLOCKS AND RESIDENCES.

Alexander D. Forbes built a beautiful home on North Main street in 1874, at a cost of $30,000. Daniel Dow built the block on South Main street which bears his name, in 1877. The block has a frontage of 67 feet and a depth of 94 feet.

In September, 1878, a movement was inaugu- rated to remove fences around residential prop- erty. A fence is now so rarely seen that what was then an innovation has become an almost invariable custom.

East State street was improved in the closing months of 1879 by the erection of three sub- stantial business houses, Thomas Pyng built the block now occupied by the Coyner drug store. The first tenants were Brown & Ekstein. The Van Zant block, on the northwest corner of State and Second streets, containing two stores, was ready for occupancy in October. The third block was erected by Mrs. Winnifred Nash, at 418 East State street.

Ulysses M. Warner, who died October 16, 1880, at Topeka, Kansas, built the large brick house on Park avenue known as the Brantingham estate. He was the third mayor of Rockford, being elected in 1854, and serving one year.

A TRANSITION PERIOD.

The decade beginning with 1881 marks the transition from a provincial city of the New England type to the "New Rockford." This period was signalized by many enterprises that have largely contributed to the Rockford of today. Among these were the extension of the telephone service and the advent of electric light and street cars. Three of the largest railway systems of the middle west entered

the city. The erection of an opera house in- creased the prestige of the city as an amuse- ment center. The public schools of the city underwent a complete reconstruction. The town pump and noisome river water gave way to a system of artesian wells. There was an extension of manufacturing interests, which, in turn, invited a greater and more cosmopolitan population. Several of these interests are treated in special chapters.

SEVERE STORMS.

The most prolonged and severe storm in the history of the city began Saturday, February 26, 1881, with rain, which turned into snow on Sunday. The storm continued during the week, and on Thursday, March 4, the day James A. Garfield was inaugurated president of the United States, it had snowed continuously forty- eight hours. Railroad service was abandoned. The first train from the east since 2 o'clock Wednesday, March 2, arrived in Rockford at 10:15 the following Monday night, after an in- terval of more than five days. The mail coach brought more than 75,000 letters and postals. One firm received 2,500 pieces of mail. A second storm began March 19, which resulted in another general blockade. The river began to break up the middle of April, and the vacant lot now occupied by the opera house was inundated. April 19 the compositors in the Daily Register office waded in six inches of water all day in getting out the issue. The wheels of the press ran through the water which ran into the lower door of the boiler.

AMOS BRONSON ALCOTT.

One of the most illustrious prophets of the Concord school of transcendental philosophy, Amos Bronson Alcott, spent nearly a week in Rockford. He was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Talcott, where members of the old Round Table and other friends made his personal ac- quaintance. Mr. Alcott's claim to distinction did not rest upon the fact that he was the father of a gifted daughter, Louisa M. Alcott, one of the most popular and wholesome of American writers. He was great in his own right ; a quaint and benignant figure, a visionary and mystic, who lived in unworldly simplicity the life of the soul. Mr. Alcott traveled for

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

many years over the country, holding conversa- tions on philosophy, education and religion. It was on one of these tours that he visited Rock- ford. He arrived in the city Saturday, April 9, 1881, and remained until Friday of the follow- ing week. Sunday evening Mr. Alcott spoke in the Second Congregational Church on "The Immortality of the Soul," in which he com- pressed the essence of transcendentalism into. four words: "No instinct prophesies falsely." Monday evening Mr. Alcott met members of the Round Table at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Talcott, and gave a conversation on several members of the Concord group of writers. Tues- day evening Mr. Alcott gave an address at Rockford Seminary, now college; Wednesday morning he addressed the pupils of the West Side high school, and those of the East Side on Thursday. Wednesday evening members of the Round Table were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Talcott, and Thursday evening Mr. Alcott gave his last conversation at the Talcott home.

MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR PRESIDENT GARFIELD.

Memorial services for President James A. Garfield were held in Rockford September 26. The day of the funeral of the beloved states- man a procession of civic and military societies and citizens marched to the fair grounds, where addresses were made by several citizens. Hon. Wait Talcott and Abraham E. Smith were ap- pointed by Governor Cullom members of a com- mittee of one hundred to represent Illinois at the last rites at Cleveland. Mayor Crawford appointed tlie following committee to represent the city of Rockford : C. M. Brazee, R. F. Crawford, Irvin French, John H. Sherratt and Aldermen L. B. Fuller and B. R. Waldo.

The mortuary record of the year is brief. William Watson, mayor of Rockford, 1878-1879, died October 11. He came to Rockford in 1863, and his subsequent life was devoted to insur- ance. He was secretary of the Rockford Insur- ance Company from 1867 to 1881. His widow resides in Paris, and is devoting her life to the relief of suffering solders. Charles Works, a pioneer of 1836, died in Rockford November 10. He was the first supervisor on the county board from Guilford Township, and father of the late Charles A. Works, state's attorney and member of the state board of equalization.

The year 1882 was comparatively uneventful.

On the night of February 19 H. W. Loomis dis- appeared from his home on Peach street. For thirty-two days his fate seemed an insoluble mystery. On the afternoon of March 22 his body was found in Kent's Creek in the fair grounds, by two boys, Charles J. Seccomb and Robert Lathrop. The details of the tragedy were never known and the coroner's jury re- turned a verdict of accidental drowning. Mr. Loomis was born in Sheffield, Conn., January 4, 1815, and came to Rockford with his father, Nathaniel Loomis, in 1836.

Nothing better illustrates the surprising growth of that part of Rockford known as North Town than the fact that in April, 1882, four citizens, H. P. Holland, William Lathrop, Levi Rhoades and H. W. Price, purchased the old camp grounds from R. M. Patrick, of Marengo, for $7,200. The tract consisted of twenty-nine acres, and now comprises the finest residence district in the city. The consideration was not much greater than the price of a choice single lot on Harlem or National avenue today,

In the spring of 1882 H. W. Carpenter began the erection of a row of brick apartment houses on Kishwaukee street. They were an innova- tion, were considered very desirable and com- manded a good rental. About the same time Benjamin Blakeman purchased from Judge Anson S. Miller lots at the southeast corner of West State and Winnebago streets, and erected a two-story brick flat building. In the autumn Dr. E. C. Dunn built flats on West State street. These buildings, with the Colton flats on the corner of North Main and Mulberry streets, were the beginning of apartment houses and flats in Rockford and were among the many indications that the city was assuming a more metropolitan aspect. Hundreds of similar build- ings have since been' erected in the old part of the city. The building operations of 1883 in- cluded the Worthington block, erected by Wil- liam Worthington, and the Perry and Lake block, erected by Seely Perry and John Lake, both on East State street.

CELEBRATION OF SEMI-CENTENNIAL,

The fiftieth anniversary of the founding of Rockford was celebrated with public exercises in the opera house on the evening of August 25. The feature was a scholarly historical address by a former mayor, Edward H. Baker.

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

DEATH OF NOTABLE CITIZENS.

S. S. Montague, sou of Richard Montague, a pioneer of Rockford, died iu California in Sep- tember, 1883. He was a civil engineer, and in the construction of the Central Pacific railroad achieved a world-wide reputation.

Isaac Bacharach, a clothing merchant, and Rockford's most prominent Jewish citizen, died September 28, 1883.

Pells Manny, father of John H. Manny, the founder of the Emerson-Brantingham Company, died in Freeport September 12, 1SS3. He set- tled in Stepheuson County in 1836.

James B. Agard died at Omaha, Neb., January 12, 1SS4, as the result of an accident. Mr. Agard came to Rockford in 1855, and liis eutire business life was devoted to buyiug grain. Jau- uary 13 Daniel C. Littlefield, a resident of Rockford since 1857, died at his home on South First street. George H. Trufant, cashier of the People's Bank, died suddenly February 9. He came to Rockford in 1855. Nathaniel Wilder, a pioneer of 1857, died July 11, at the age of ninety-one years.

Sylvester Talcott died at his home in Rockton January 19, at the age of 74 years. He was born in Rome, N. Y., October 14, 1810. His father, William Talcott, settled in Rockton in 1835, and Sylvester came the following year. In 1854 Mr. Talcott became a member of the manufacturing firm of J. H. Mauuy & Company.

EVENTS OF 1885.

January 1, 1885, marked the passing of the custom of making New Year's calls. For years it had been generally observed by society folk, and it is still a pleasant memory. The custom was subject to abuses, and became more hon- ored in the breach than in the observance. Its decline was not peculiar to Rockford, but was . general throughout the country.

MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR GENERAL GRANT.

Rockford, in commou with the nation, mourued the passing of its most illustrious sol- dier, General U. S. Grant. In pursuance of a proclamation issued by Mayor Taggart, business was suspended August 8, the day of the funeral. Memorial services were held in the skating rink. Mayor Taggart presided, and addresses were

made by Rev. T. R. Strowbridge, H. P. Hollaud, William Lathrop, N. C. Warner, John C. Garver and Rev. D. M. Reed.

Peter H. Watson, who died in New York City July 22, built the first fouudry and machine shop in Rockford, in 1843. Later he was one of the attorneys who defended the interest of J. H. Manuy & Company iu the suit for infringement of patent instituted by Cyrus H. McCormick. Mr. Watson was assistaut secretary of war under President Lincoln aud at a later period was president of the New York & Erie Railroad.

DEATH OF GENERAL LOGAN.

General John A. Logan was the idol of the soldiers of Illinois, and when he passed away in 1886, each felt a sense of personal loss. Memorial services were held in the opera house Sunday, January 2, 1887. Addresses were made by Thomas G. Lawler, Rev. G. R. Vauborne, Dr. Kerr and Dr. Woodbury.

Thomas Bell died March 16, after a brief illness. He was born in Scotland aud came to America at an early age. He enlisted in Com- pany H of the Sixteenth Illinois Volunteers. Mr. Bell was elected couuty clerk in 1887, and served nine years.

Samuel I. Church, former sheriff of Winue- bago County, died suddeuly March 10, 1886, at his home on School street. Mr. Church came to Rockford in 1848. He was the youngest of three brothers who settled in Rockford at an early date. The others were Selden M. and Ulysses F. Church. Gilbert Moffatt died July 26. He devoted his life to oue pursuit, and was local agent of the United States Express Company at the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul depot at the time of his death.

The mortuary record of the year included several uames that had been prominent in the community. Allen Gibson, the most prominent insurance mau of early Rockford, died January S. He settled in the city in 1858, and organized the old Rock River Insurance Company, which did a successful business for some years. James Ferguson died at Clear Water Harbor, Florida, March 15. He was a native of Scotland, and came with his parents to this county in 1840. Mr. Ferguson was oue of the founders of the abstract firm of Holland, Ferguson & Company, served several years as alderman from the Seventh ward, and was a leader in the local

Gurye Liddle and Family.

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

Republican organization. Orlando Clark, a pioneer of 1847, died in Portland, Oregon, April 2. After suffering financial reverses he re- moved west, where he retrieved his fortune. Anor Woodruff did not play a conspicuous part in the history of Rockford, yet its annals would not be complete with his name omitted. He came to Rockford in 1849, and for nearly half a century he was known and beloved as the "candy man." Mr. Woodruff died May 23. He and Mrs. Woodruff lived together 67 years and were believed to be the oldest married couple in the state. N. E. Lyman, president of the People's Bank since its organization in 1873, died August 20. As a banker, citizen and Christian gentleman he was held in the highest esteem.

The events of 1889 in relation to Rockford, aside from those related elsewhere under sep- arate chapter heads, can be told in a few para- graphs. The record begins with the passing of two honored clergymen.

Rev. Hiram Foote died January 13 after an active career as a Congregational minister and reformer. In 1835 he was a lecturer under the auspices of the American Anti-Slavery Society, and two years later he settled in Winnebago County. Mr. Foote was a lifelong advocate of total abstinence.

Rev. D. M. Reed, a Universalist minister, died January 23. He was born in Massachusetts and served one term in the legislature of his native state. Mr. Reed occupied prominent pul- pits in the east and west. He came from Peoria to Rockford in 1866 and preached in the Uni- tarian church. His discourses were always models of rare poetic diction.

Death also claimed during the two years two citizens prominent in the business life of the city. Lyon P. Ross, inventor and second sec- retary of the Forest City Furniture Company, passed away February 23. He was keenly alive to every interest of Rockford, and to him more than to any other one citizen may be attributed the diverting of the Illinois Central line to Rockford.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 45

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