Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 58

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 58

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

His office was destroyed by outlaws, and his material thrown into a river. Dr. Brown's ex- perience in "bleeding Kansas" was similar to that of Elijah P. Lovejoy, at Alton, Ill. He came to Rockford in 1868. As an editor Dr. Brown molded public opinion, and thus "shaped the whisper of the throne," before any news- paper man now in active service in Rockford was born. It is easy to assert the eternal veri- ties within the quiet of one's own sanctum; but Dr. Brown was no summer soldier or sunshine patriot. He was on the firing line in the midst of battle, and, like the youthful David, defied the armies of the Philistines. He saw truth crushed to earth and went to her defense; he helped to transform the poet's vision that she shall rise again, into fact.

Early in 1912 President Taft appointed Miss Julia C. Lathrop, of Rockford, to the newly created office of chief of the Children's Bureau at Washington. Miss Lathrop is the first woman to be appointed head of a government department, and President Wilson has retained her in this important post. Miss Lathrop was born in Rockford, and is a daughter of the late Hon. William Lathrop, who represented the Rockford district in Congress from 1877 to 1879. She has served several years as a member of the Illinois State Board of Charities, and was associated with Jane Addams of Hull House.

Among the Rockford-born citizens who have achieved distinction in recent years are Prof. James H. Breasted and Prof. George E. Vincent. Prof. Breasted was born August 27, 1865. His father, Charles Breasted, was in the fifties a partner of Israel Sovereign, in the hardware business, Their store was on South Main street, where the Rockford Office and Supply Company store now stands. Prof. Breasted is known throughout the world as an orientalist and his- torian. He has specialized in Egyptology until he is the greatest living authority on this sub- ject. He has been connected with the Univer- sity of Chicago since 1894, and is the author of several volumes. Prof. Vincent was horn March 21, 1864, while his father, Bishop John H. Vin- cent, was pastor of Court Street church. He specialized in sociology and from 1907-1911 he was dean of the faculties of art, literature and - science at the University of Chicago. In 1911 Prof. Vincent was chosen president of the Uni- versity of Minnesota and he still retains this

position. He has written two books dealing with sociological questions.

Rockford was swept by a tornado and cloud burst Tuesday, July 8, 1913. It came upon the city from the north at 3:30, amid almost total darkness. Nearly the entire city was in the path of the storm, which was the most de- structive in the history of the city, and the loss was estimated at $100,000. West State street was flooded in a few moments so that a bicycle was carried down stream; store basements were flooded, and river craft was carried over the dam. The devastation in the factory districts was severe, where smokestacks were blown down. Several buildings were unroofed, one residence in process of construction was hlown down, and the spire of the First Baptist Church was thrown several feet into the yard. The parks were scenes of desolation, and fallen fruit and shade trees blocked nearly every street. Telephone and telegraph lines were put out of commission. One of the freaks of the storm was driving the end of a 2 by 8 plank through the side of a freight car. There was no direct loss of life. On the following day, how- ever, Herbert Backus was electrocuted while attempting to dislodge a live wire that had heen blown into a tree at his home.

The annual township election of 1916, held April 4, was of unusual importance. On that day a special election was held for the city of Rockford, at which there were submitted to popular vote five questions of public policy. The first was the proposed issue of city honds, in the sum of $95,000, for the construction of a bridge across Rock River from Chestnut street to Walnut street. This proposition was carried by a vote 4,140 to 1,845. The second question was the creation of a city court, with one judge. The vote was 3,462 for a court, and 2,395 against. The law, however, requires a two- thirds vote to carry, and thus the proposition was lost. The third and fourth questions were the annexations respectively of Evergreen Park subdivision and Letts' and Bennett's subdivision, both located in Highland. These were carried by substantial majorities. The proposed poll tax was defeated by a vote of 4,914 to 1,582. Besides these municipal issues there was also submitted the question of uniting the townships of Rockford and New Milford. Both townships voted for the consolidation. The vote in Rock-

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

ford was; for consolidation, 4,667; against, 1953.

Harry Marean, assessor of Rockford township for eight years, died April 6, 1916. Mr. Marean had served nearly thirty years as foreman of the Register and Register-Gazette composing room. He was first nominated for assessor by the Labor party, but he filled the position so satisfactorily that he was re-elected without regard to party alignments. The township authorities appointed his son, Hollis Marean, to complete his unexpired term.

John Barnes, the president of the W. F. & John Barnes Company, died May 29, 1916. He was born in Mt. Morris, N. Y., August 13, 1833, and came to Rockford in 1856. In 1872 Mr. Barnes and his brother, W. Fletcher Barnes, founded the company which bears their name. Mr. Barnes was an ideal citizen, whose passing is a real loss to the community. He was devoted to his church, the Second Congregational, and the architectural beauty of its house of worship was largely due to him. As president of the board of trustees of Rockford College he was a tower of strength, and the new dormitory, said to be the finest for any woman's college in the world, is named in his honor.

HOTELS OF TO-DAY.

The building operations of 1892 included the completion of the Nelson Hotel, one of the most completely equipped and ably conducted hotels in the West. The company was incorporated in 1889 with the following officers: O. A. Richard- son, president ; William Nelson, vice-president ; Charles S. Brantingham, secretary and treas- urer. Plans have been made for an addition of eight stories, which will give The Nelson a total capacity of 325 rooms. The managers have been Harry L. Rockfield, J. M. Sherman, A. J. Garrison, Charles S. Brantingham, John Emke, James Chappelle, five years ; John Oberg, since March 9, 1903. The present officers are : Frank R. Brown, president; Charles S. Brantingham, vice-president; Antes S. Ruhl, secretary and treasurer.

The Hotel Leland was built in 1911 by Henry C. Chandler, of Rockford, who still owns the property. The hotel is leased by W. H. Gaffney, M. J. Green and C. B. Joyce, and T. T. McMahon is manager. The capacity of the hotel is sev-

enty-five rooms. It is conducted on the Euro- pean plan, and there is a cafe on the first floor.

The East Side Inn is the building erected for the Young Men's Christian Association. It was remodeled for hotel purposes by F. G. Shoudy in 1911. He sold the property to Ira Webster, who was manager of the Inn for a time, and sold it to Fred L. Burr. Mr. Burr took possession March 1, 1915. The Inn has sixty rooms and a cafe is conducted in con- nection. The Inn occupies the site of the old Rockford House, the first hotel in Rockford.

The block known as the Chick House is the oldest in the city now used for hotel purposes. It was built in 1857 by T. D. Robertson, C. H. Spafford and R. P. Lane, and is now owned by Mrs. T. D. Robertson. September 1, 18SS, Thomas Chick leased the property and has con- ducted a successful hotel business. The house has fifty rooms. One of Mr. Chick's predecessors was D. L. Griggs, who conducted the hotel for a time after leaving the City Hotel. The Chick House has three stories, with fifty rooms.

The building known as the Hotel Illinois was erected about twenty years ago by the late E. W. Blaisdell for office purposes. In 190S Mr. Blaisdell's sons, George and Shelley P. Blais- dell, remodeled the building for a hotel, which was named the Illinois, and has always been managed by the owners. The building has four floors, with eighty rooms. Meals are served on the American and European plans.

The Hotel Poole, at 730 West State street, was built in 1912 by C. R. Poole, who managed it for two years as an European family hotel. The present owner is E. J. Voight, and Frank Darrow is lessee and manager. The Hotel Poole has thirty-seven rooms.

The Hotel Du Nord is located at 1233-1235 Fourteenth avenue. It was built by the late Axel L'undine in 1909, and was first known as the Monticello House. The second owner was John Walsh, of Seventh street, and he sold the property to the present owner, Carl Noren, who is now manager. The hotel has three stories, and contains about fifty rooms. It is conducted on the European plan.

The Rexton hotel, at 429 South Court street, is under the management of Edward W. Bil- lick. It was formerly known as the Commercial, and is one of the oldest pieces of hotel prop- erty in the city.

The Jarvis Inn, on South Church street, is

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

under the management of R. J. Sensor. The building has been occupied as a hotel under several managements since its erection in 1SS7. The hotel has one hundred rooms and is con- ducted on the European and American plans. The building is owned by Hon. E. B. Sumner.

The National Hotel occupies the second and third stories of the Horsman block, 306-310 West State street. This block was erected in the early seventies by C. I. Horsman, for store and office purposes. The upper portion was con- verted into a hotel about ten years ago, and the past two years it has been conducted by Frank Winchester. The hotel has accomino- dations for thirty guests.

WEALTH AND POPULATION.

In 1915 the assessed value of all the prop- erty in Winnebago County was $34,750,S23. The equalized value of all the taxable property in the city of Rockford was $21,847,043.

The population of Rockford at the beginning of 1916 is not less than 55,000. The predomi- nant foreign element is Swedish, whose first cmigrants came here in 1852. According to the census of 1910 the foreign-born Swedish pop- ulation was 8,916, and 7,265 of the second gen- eration, making a total of 16,181. The Swedish population of first and second generation, is at present not less than 20,000. The census of 1910 reported 1,067 Italians in Rockford. To- day there are not less than 4,000, including foreign-born and the first generation American born. In 1910 there were 266 Scotch in Rock- ford and 367 in the county. The population of Winnebago County in 1910 was 63,153.

A VISION OF ROCKFORD.

The Rock River valley is one of the favored spots of the world. It is a land flowing with milk and honey. Like Mount Zion to the psalm- ist, it is beautiful for situation. Rockford is the commercial center of this fair region ; the queen inland city of the Northwest. It is a city' set upon a hill that cannot be hid. It has the ele- ments of permanence; and if it should at no distant day contain one hundred thousand souls, it would only repeat the ratio of growth of the last quarter century. Size, however, is not the most determining factor. Babylon and Nineveh have perished, while Athens and Jeru- salem still dominate the purest art and religion of the world. So Rockford will ever stand for

the culture and morality that make for great- ness.

Rockford is cosmopolitan as well as metro- politan. More than a score of languages are heard upon her streets. America is the melt- ing-pot of the world; and Rockford is doing its part in assimilating the pilgrims from other lands. A cathedral is a vision of the real and the ideal. Its walls and buttresses rest upon the sure and firm-set earth; then come the fretted arches; the painted windows through which the light pours upon processions of chant- ing priests and acolytes; the soul of the organ that lifts the worshipers as on wings of sera- phim ; the paintings of masters who have caught visions of a world unseen, so that the words of the Hebrew poet are literally true: "Strength and beauty are in thy sanctuary." A city is like a cathedral. It may absorb the virtues of all its constituent parts : the sturdy Scandi- navian, with his traditions of Thor and his thunder hammer; the unconquerable spirit of the Teuton and the Anglo-Saxon; the thrift of the Scot ; the warmth and mirth of the Emerald Isle; the artistic temperament that has flour- ished for centuries under the famed blue skies of Italy ; the moral rectitude of the Puritan; and all suffused by the spirit of Him who "hath made of one blood all nations of men." These are the elements from which Rockford may develop an ideal citizenship. She has made a good beginning. She has stamped the liquor traffic with the brand of Cain and sent it forth a fugitive and a vagabond; and she may be trusted to continue the redemptive work toward a Paradise regained.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

TOWNSHIPS.

BURRITT.

NO RAILROAD IN TOWNSHIP-A FARMING COM- MUNITY-NO TOWNS NOR VILLAGES-WEMPLE- TOWN A HAMLET AND FORMERLY THE POSTOFFICE -SETTLED FIRST IN 1837-NAMES OF PIONEERS -LOSS OF A HISTORIC CHARACTER-BIOGRAPHY OF REV. JOHN WILCOX-POPULATION.

Burritt is one of the two townships in Winne- bago County which has no railroad. There are

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

no towns nor villages. Wempletown is a hamlet in the eastern part. A postoffice was formerly located there, but it has been superseded by the rural free delivery. There is a church in the township on section 14.

Settlements were made in this township at an early date. James Atkinson came from Eng- land in 1837. Other pioneers were: Thomas J. Atwood, Albert J. Atwood, George A. Atkinson, Edward H. Boomer, Jacob B. Conklin, William Dickinson, Jesse Herrington, Joseph Jennings, William Ludley, and Jefferson Southard.

Burritt lost a historic character in the death of Rev. John Wilcox, who passed away Decem- ber 1, 1915, at his home at Wempletown. He lacked less than one week of being ninety years of age. Mr. Wilcox was born in Lanreath, Corn- wall, England, December 7, 1825; came to America in 1850, and settled in Burritt Town- ship, which was his home with the exception of one year, 1857, spent in Iowa as a pastor of a Congregational church at Iowa Falls. Mr. Wil- cox was actively connected with the Congrega- tional church in Winnebago County for more than half a century. The first Sunday after he came here he attended church and was called upon to substitute for the clergyman, who failed to arrive. Two years later he was licensed to preach for three years by a Congre- gational association which met at Roscoe. Prior to the expiration of that time he was ordained in Pecatonica. For more than twenty- five years Mr. Wilcox preached regularly in the Lysander schoolhouse, later known as the Watson school. All of these services were given without salary. Mr. Wilcox was for many years · the government correspondent on crop condi- tions for Winnebago County.

The population of Burritt Township in 1910 was 581.

CHERRY VALLEY.

EARLY RECORDS NAME TOWNSHIP BUTLER PRECINCT -FIRST SETTLEMENT IN 1835-VILLAGE PLAT FILED IN 1849-FIRST STORE-FIRST HOTEL- FIRST GRAIN WAREHOUSE-FIRST POSTMASTER-

FIRST RAILROAD-AN UNSOLVED MYSTERY-

CHURCHES - HIGH SCHOOL - CHERRY VALLEY STATE BANK-APPROXIMATE POPULATION.

The township was first known on the records of Winnebago County as Butler Precinct. The name was changed to Cherry Valley upon the adoption of township organization. The land now comprising the site of the village was first settled by Joseph P. Griggs in 1835. He built a small cabin on the west side of Kishwaukee River. Mr. Griggs sold the tract to James Works, and he in turn sold it to Edwin Fitch, who laid out the village and filed the plat for record November 17, 1849. Among the early settlers following Mr. Griggs were A. C. Gleason, and two brothers, W. and S. W. Gleason. Densley Kiser came in 1836 or 1837. The first store was opened by John Waterman; the first hotel was conducted by Mr. Ingram, and called the Ingram Tavern. The first postmaster was Joseph Riddelle. The first grain warehouse was erected by Mr. Calkins, in the autumn of 1851. The Galena & Chicago Union Railroad was com- pleted to Cherry Valley in February, 1852.

AN UNSOLVED MYSTERY.

On the night of January 24, 1879, Marshall S. Pritchard, collector for Cherry Valley Town- ship, was murdered in Rockford. His body was found on North Main street near the ceme- tery. It is believed he was decoyed to the lonely spot and slain for the money he was supposed to have collected in taxes. The identity of the murderer remains a mystery to this day.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized by Rev. H. L. Martin in 1854. An edifice was erected the same year. The membership re- ported to the conference in 1915 was 181. Rev. C. W. Jaycox is pastor.

A Universalist Church edifice was erected in 1854, under the supervision of Rev. Simon Park. After a few years the church was abandoned and the building was occupied by a Swedish religious society. The Freewill Baptist Church was erected in 1874, at a cost of $3,500.

Cherry Valley has a high school which main- tains a three years' course.

The Cherry Valley State Bank has a capital of $25,000, with $1,250 reserve. W. J. Slater is president and Frank W. Howe is cashier.

Cherry Valley lodge No. 173 A. F. and A. M. was organized in 1855. Cherry Valley Chapter

Enna. E. Pepper.

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

No. 478 Order Eastern Star is a successful fra- ternity.

April 19, 1916, the question of paving State street was submitted at a regular election, and defeated by a decisive vote. The village board of trustees is against the granting of saloon licenses.

Dr. C. J. Shambaugh and Dr. C. E. Klontz are the resident physicians. There are no dentists.

The township had a population in 1910 of 1,069, including 433 in the village. Mrs. Eliza- beth Kittle is postmistress.

DURAND.

ORIGINAL NAME OF TOWNSHIP CHANGED-VILLAGE OF DURAND A BUSY BUSINESS CENTER-EARLY SETTLERS-FIRST HOTEL-WAR RECORD-GRAND ARMY POST NOW DISCONTINUED-CHURCHES WELL REPRESENTED-METHODIST EPISCOPAL-CONGRE- GATIONAL - ROMAN CATHOLIC - LUTHERAN - LODGES-FIRST SCHOOLS LIKE IN OTHER PIONEER SECTIONS-EXCELLENT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNI- TIES NOW OFFERED-STATE BANKS-PROMINENT RESIDENTS OF OTHER PLACES WENT FROM DURAND DURAND UNION LIBRARY-TWO PHYSICIANS- APPROXIMATE POPULATION.

The original name of Durand Township was Howard. The village of Durand is a business center for a considerable portion of Winnebago County lying north of Pecatonica River. The village derives its name from H. S. Durand, the first president of the Racine & Mississippi Rail- road. This line later became the property of the Western Union, and is now owned by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Com- pany, and the line extends to Freeport.

Among the pioneers may be mentioned L. V. Cleveland, John A. Johnson, and Frederic Sidorus, all of whom came about 1837. The location of the village at this point was the result of a compromise between various in- terested parties who jointly purchased the site of Jolın F. Pettingill, Price B. Webster, and Ed- ward Peppers. The proprietors were: John F. Pettingill, Price B. Webster, Edward Pepper, L. V. Cleveland, Solomon Webster, Duncan J. Stewart, M. C. Churchill, G. H. Sackett, John

R. Herring, William Randall and D. H. Smith. These gentlemen on November 18, 1856, con- veyed their interest in trust to J. R. Herring, by whom the town was immediately laid out. Durand was for about two years the terminus of the Western Union Railroad. The growth was quite rapid during that time. John F. Pettingill erected a hotel, the Durand House, at a cost of $13,000.

WAR RECORD.

In 1861 Samuel Whitmyer organized the Durand Guards. About seventy volunteers from the township enlisted in Company B of the Seventy-fourth. Mr. Whitmyer was first lieu- tenant; Timothy B. Taylor, Thomas J. Bryan and Theron R. Hurlbut were captains. The quota of the township under all calls for troops made by the president was 185 men. Post No. 323 Grand Army of the Republic was instituted July 18, 1868, with seventeen members. Henry Burrell was chosen commander. The post has been discontinued.

The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1837. Rev. Mr. Whitford preached the first sermon at the residence of Scott Robb. He was succeeded by Rev. Mr. McCane, who was on the circuit one year or more. A chapel was erected in 1857. The church reported to the annual conference last October a membership of 124. The pastor is Rev. A. Bauman.

A Congregational church was organized June 11, 1848, at Hill's schoolhouse, with seven mem- bers; but the field was abandoned.

The Roman Catholics began the erection of a church in 1865, which remained in an unfinished condition for several years. Rev. Father Con- sidine is the priest of the parish.

A Lutheran church was organized about ten years ago. It is affiliated with a Norwegian synod.

LODGES.

Durand Lodge No. 302 A. F. and A. M. was instituted in October, 1858, and received its charter from the grand lodge in October, 1859. Durand Chapter No. 419 Order of the Eastern Star has a good membership.

Shawbenee Lodge No. 146 Independent Order of Odd Fellows was instituted in the village of Elton, in Lysander Township, May 11, 1864,

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

with seven members. H. L. Devereaux was the first noble grand. The lodge labored faithfully at this place of meeting until January 9, 1869, when by dispensation it was moved to the vil- lage of Durand for the greater convenience of its members. The Modern Woodmen and Mystic Workers also maintain organizations in Durand.

The first schools of the towuship, iu common with all other schools of the county, were main- tained largely by subscription, or tuition. They were taught in cabins, as the settlers could spare the room. Then came the primitive school- house. A graded schoolhouse was erected in Durand in 1869 at a cost of $7,000. The higli school has a regular course of four years.

Durand has two state banks. The Citizens' State Bank has a paid-in capital of $30,000, with a surplus of $3,000. The Citizens' Bank opeued a savings department June 1, 1916. A. Swinson is president, and J. F. Harris, cashier. The Durand State Bank has a capital of $25,000, aud a surplus of $15,000. Niles Patterson is president, and Edward Nelson, cashier.

One of the citizens of Duraud who has become prominent is Ellen Gates Starr, now of Chicago, who has been for many years associated with Jane Addams at Hull House. Hon. Andrew Ashton conducted a general store many years in Durand. He was residing in the village when he was elected a member of the legislature in 1874 and 1876, in the high tide of the Granger movement. Mr. Ashton removed to Rockford in 1878. purchased the bankrupt dry goods stock of George M. Smith, and embarked in business in the Wallach block, which he purchased.

The Durand Union Library was organized with 12 members, aud about fifty books on April 6, 1904. At the present time there are 375 books, and a membership of 15. The dues are $1 per year. The present officers are: President, Isa- bella C. Heide; vice-president, Hattie Amund- sen ; secretary and treasurer, Alice E. Nelson. The present librarian is Mrs. Laura Walling, who is in charge of the Bell Telephone ceutral. The library is located in her office.

There are now two physicians practicing in Durand, Dr. J. F. Lins and Dr. C. A. Roberts. Dr. D. H. Young is the dentist of the village.

The population of Durand village in 1910 was 527. The population of the entire township was 1,114.

GUILFORD.

EARLIEST SETTLERS-LAND FERTILE AND WELL WATERED THE BIG SPRING IN THE PRAIRIE OTHER EARLY SETTLERS-SEVERAL PIONEERS SUR- VIVE- TOWNSHIP STRICTLY AGRICULTURAL-FINE TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES-TOWN HALL ON THE GUILFORD CENTER ROAD FARMERS MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY-POPULATION.

In August, 1835, William E. Euoch, the eldest son of Henry Enoch, accompanied by two or three meu from Will County, Ill., came to what is now Guilford Township on a land-prospect- ing tour. While out on this trip, young Enoch was taken sick and returned home. In Septem- ber following, his father, Henry Enoch, and brothers Richard H. and A. I. Enoch, started out and, following the direction of William, struck Rock River at Rockford. Leaving his sons in camp Henry Enoch started out aud, going north- east from there two or three miles, he struck the spring brook known as Bucklen Creek. Believ- ing this stream came from springs, he followed it to its source, which he found in the uortheast corner of section 11, town 44, rauge 2, now in the towu of Guilford. Here, in the centre of a great prairie, he found a spring of water 25 feet in diameter, the water about 24 inches deep and coming up from numerous places in the bottom through snowwhite sand. The water was cold, and clear as crystal; the bank of the spring fringed with tall grass and bright prairie flow- ers. He was so charmned with the location, the great spring, the apparent fertility of the soil, and the general beauty of the surroundings, that lie at once made up his mind to make it the home of himself and family. Going to a thicket of hazel and young poplar trees a few rods distant, he cut a small stake, and planting it on the bank of the spring, declared it his "claim." This spring became dry in the early 'seventies. This location was known for many years as the big spring of "Uncle Enoch" in the prairie. Mr. Enoch made this claim his permanent home until the autumn of 1856.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 58

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