Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 59

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 59

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).

Other early settlers of Guilford were: Elisha A. Kirk, Thaddeus Davis, Sr., and his sons, David A., Thaddeus, Jr., and Daniel; Harry Doolittle, J. H. Kirk, Giles C. Hard, G. L. Hor- ton, and Dr. Charles Church.

941

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

Among the oldest settlers now residing in the township are : William Mnlford, residing on the old Mnlford homestead; John R. Post, snper- visor for many years, and Hon. David Hunter, who came with his father, James Hunter, in 1844.

Guilford Township is a strictly agricultural district. The Chicago & Northwestern and the Illinois Central railroads touch the southwest corner as they enter Rockford; the Belvidere and Internrban line crosses abont three miles of its territory, and the Kenosha division of the Chicago & Northwestern road crosses the north- west corner. The eastern bonndary of Rock- ford at Highland is the Gnilford Township line. A town hall was erected abont twenty years ago, the funds for which were raised by a tax levy. Its cost was about $1,500. It is on the Gnilford Center road, five miles northeast of Rockford. The township has a prosperous farmers' mutnal insurance company.

The population of Guilford Township in 1910 was 1,298.

HARLEM.

FIRST TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENT ON BIG BOTTOM- NAMES OF PIONEERS-THE SCOTCH SETTLEMENT -THE GREENLEE FAMILY FOREMOST-RAPID GROWTH IN POPULATION-FIRST PUBLIC BUILD- ING-HISTORY OF WILLOW CREEK CHURCII- NAMES OF CHARTER MEMBERS- NOTED PASTORS- REV. THOMAS C. EASTON-HARLEM CONSOLI- DATED SCHOOL-APPROXIMATE POPULATION.

The first settlement in Harlem Township was on the east side of Rock River, on what was called Big Bottom, nearly opposite the stone quarry. A man named Wattles staked out his farm into lots and streets, and called it Scipio ; but even its classic name did not give it prestige. The proprietor built the only house ever com- pleted. The stakes remained for several years, until they were plowed nnder by the owner, who conld not give away his lots. Other early set- tlers were P. S. Doolittle, G. C. Hntchins, W. T. Magoon, Peter Mabie, and Lyman Taylor.

The village of Harlem is a small station on the Kenosha division of the Chicago & North- western railway. There is a Methodist Church

some distance from the station, which is sup- plied by the Rev. J. E. DeLong, pastor of the church at Roscoe. The church has a member- ship of seventy-three.

THE SCOTCH SETTLEMENT.

A little section of Scotland has been literally transplanted in Harlem Township. The people are thrifty and maintain the best moral and re- ligious traditions of their native land. The colony was given the name of Argyle, after Argyleshire, Scotland. John Greenlee was the founder of the new Argyle. He emigrated from Scotland to Ottawa, Ill., in 1836, and from there he came to Argyle the same year. He took up a claim and built a log house near the boundary line dividing Boone and Winnebago counties, and the Scotch colony is now settled on both sides of the connty line. In the spring of 1837 Mr. Greenlee brought his family from Ottawa to his new home. Thus the Greenlees were the first Scotchi family to settle in this part of Win- nebago County.

Hugh Reid and family, who had emigrated to Ottawa in 1837, came to Argyle in 1838. In 1839 the following families were added to the colony : George Picken, Robert Howie, Andrew Giffen, Alex. McDonald, William Ferguson, James Picken, Sr. In 1840 Argyle received the fol- lowing accessions : John Andrew, Alex. Reid, Robert Armonr and Samuel Howie. In 1841 there came Gavin Ralston, David Ralston; Wil- liam Harvey, John McEachran and John Picken. Thus at the close of 1843 there were seventeen families in the settlement.

In 1842 a log schoolhonse was erected on Robert Howie's farm, south and west of the present church. This primitive building served several years for public school, Sunday school and church. In 1842 the following settlers came to Argyle : David Smith, James Montgomery, Peter Greenlee, William Ralston, John Caldwell, David C. Ralston, James Reid, Alex. Reid, Mrs. McNair. In 1843 the colony welcomed Peter Ralston, Alex. Ralston, Charles Picken and Lionel Henderson. The close of 1843 found thirty families in Argyle.

WILLOW CREEK CHURCH.

A Sunday school was organized in the spring of 1843. An effort was made to organize a

942

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

church the same year. No record was kept of the proceedings and no further action was taken until December, 1844, when a church was formally organized by the Rev. Mr. Norton, with fifty-one charter members, as follows :

Daniel Smith, Mrs. Smith, Flora Smith, Robert Smith, John Smith, John Andrew, Mary Andrew, John Picken, Elizabeth Ralston, Sr., Charlotte Armour, Mary McNair, John Greenlee, Ellen Greenlee, Peter Ralston, Margaret Ralston, Peter Greenlee, James Montgomery, Elizabeth Mont- gomery, Hugh Reid, Alex. Reid, Janet Reid, Alex. McDonald, Margaret McDonald, Andrew Giffen, Janet Giffen, Lionel Henderson, Mar- garet Henderson, John Caldwell, Margaret Cald- well, Ellen Ralston, Alex. Ralston, Martha Greenlee, William Ferguson, Ellen Ferguson, Robert Howie, Janet Howie, George Picken, Jean Picken, John Martin, Mrs. Martin, Robert Ralston, Mrs. Reid, David Ralston, Jr., Mary Harvey, Charles Picken, Samuel Howie, Janet Howie, David Ralston, Sr., Gavin Ralston, Jane Ralston and John Ralston.

Mr. Norton was a new-school Presbyterian clergyman, who was then supplying the Congre- gational Church at Roscoe. Great care was exercised in giving the proper theological bent to the infant church. Should it be old-school or new-school? The latter was discredited as not being entirely "sound," and thus on January 9, 1845, a decision was made in favor of the old school, notwithstanding the pro-slavery ten- dency of that branch, which the Argyle church- men did not approve. John Greenlee, Daniel Smith and James Montgomery were installed as elders January 12th and the first sacrament was observed on the following day.

The church was supplied by its founder, Mr. Norris, thirteen months. Four ministers suc- ceeded him as stated supplies : Rev. Mr. Tillson, Rev. Mr. Sovereign, Rev. T. L. Brackenridge and Rev. Mr. Walker, who remained three years. A brick church was erected in 1849 and occu- pied the following year. Rev. Mr. Eustace was the first regularly installed pastor. He remained five years and resigned September 24, 1855.

REV. THOMAS C. EASTON.

One of the most brilliant clergymen who ever preached in Winnebago County was the Rev. Thomas C. Easton. He was born in Roxburg- shire, Scotland, November 12, 1835. His pas-

torate at Argyle extended from November 15, 1869, to December 9, 1872; and during that three years sixty-nine members were added to the church. Dr. Easton went from Argyle to Belvi- dere, where he remained until 1879. After leav- ing Belvidere his rise was rapid. He succeeded Rev. T. De Witt Talmage in the Tabernacle in Washington, D. C., where he remained many years. Dr. Easton, now in his eightieth year, is pastor of a church in New Jersey.

One of Dr. Easton's successors was Rev. B. E. S. Ely, who had left the practice of law to enter the ministry. Mr. Ely's pastorate ex- tended from July 4, 1875, to April 10, 1881. The present house of worship was dedicated Feb- ruary 14, 1878, and is a memorial of Mr. Ely's pastorate, Rev. Francis L. Patton, of Chicago, who was the leading spirit in the trial of Prof. David Swing, and later president of Princeton University, preached the dedicatory sermon. Mr. Ely was a member of the council which tried Prof. Swing and voted for his acquittal. He was father of Rev. B. E. S. Ely, for many years pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Rock- ford.

Rev. James McLaughlin served as pastor from January, 1882, to September 12, 1887. The present pastor is Rev. M. L. Pearson. The Willow Creek Church is one of the wealthiest and largest rural churches in Illinois. The fiftieth anniversary of its founding was cele- brated June 6 and 7, 1895. A feature of the cele- bration was an historical address delivered by Daniel G. Harvey.

HARLEM CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL.

The Harlem Consolidated is widely known as an ideal and fully equipped community center. A more extended reference to this institution is made in the chapter on Schools.

The population of Harlem Township in 1910 was 709.

HARRISON.

LOCATED IN EXTREME NORTH OF COUNTY-FIRST SETTLEMENT MADE IN 1835-PRESENT NAME GIVEN IN 1840-HONORABLE CIVIL WAR RECORD-

P.A. Peterson

943

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

VILLAGE A RURAL COMMUNITY-NO RAILROAD CONNECTIONS - CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH THE MAIN RELIGIOUS BODY-MODERN WOODMEN WELL REPRESENTED-APPROXIMATE POPULATION.

Harrison is one of the four extreme northern townships of Winnebago County. The first set- tlement was made in the fall of 1835 by a Mr. Brayton, who made a claim on section 35. In the spring of 1836, Mr. Brayton moved on his claim and commenced making a farm.

In 1840 the settlers desired to form a new pre- cinct, and it was necessary to present a peti- tion to the county commissioners for this pur- pose. At that time a majority of the settlers were Democrats, and several of the citizens who formed a group one day asked Isaac Parker to circulate a petition. He consented to do so on condition that some of his neighbors (who were Democrats) would work for him hoeing corn while he was absent, to which they readily agreed. Parker then drew up his petition, went to Rockford, where the county commissioners were in session, and had no difficulty in getting a new precinct formed, but was asked what name they should give it. Parker, who was a Whig, immediately answered, Harrison, and the name was adopted. When Parker returned and told how well he succeeded, his Democratic friends were greatly disgusted with the name. When the county was organized under township organization the name was continued.

Harrison's war record is notable. The num- ber of enlistments was 122; number killed or died in the service, 24. It is believed this town- ship furnished a larger number of enlistments in proportion to the number of voters than any other township in the county. Of the foregoing enlistments, twelve were in Wisconsin regi- ments, and a number are credited to other town- ships.

The village of Harrison is in the northeastern part of the township, at the junction of Sugar and Pecatonica rivers. It is a small settlement about one mile almost directly south of Shir- land. It has no direct railroad facilities, and therefore has made comparatively little progress since the early days.

A Congregational Church was organized in 1892. Its membership, when last reported, was fifty-three. The church is without a regular pastor, and occasional public worship is con- ducted by supplies. The Modern Woodmen have

erected a hall which is used for public meetings as well as lodge purposes.

The population of the township in 1900 was 466.

LAONA.

THE NORTHWESTERN TOWNSHIP-AN AGRICULTURAL SECTION-NAMES OF EARLY SETTLERS-PATRIOTIC DURING THE CIVIL WAR-POPULATION IN TOWN- SHIP IN 1910-MAIL SERVICE FROM DURAND.

Laona Township in an agricultural com- munity, without a town, village, railroad or interurban line. It is the northwestern town- ship of Winnebago County. Among the early settlers were Peter Johnson, Niles Patterson, William Phipps and R. Webster.

The township is credited with seventy-seven volunteers during the Civil war.

There were an even 500 people in the town- ship in 1910.

There is no postoffice in the township. Resi- dents receive mail by rural free delivery from the postoffice at Durand.

NEW MILFORD.

EARLIEST PIONEERS-RIB TOWN-COMING OF DR. CATLIN, REV. HIRAM FOOTE AND SILAS TYLER- THEIR MISSION TO FOUND A SEMINARY-LEE- TOWN PLATTED-NAME OF KISHWAUKEE SUR- VIVES-NOW A FLOURISHING VILLAGE-RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES ACTIVE-BOTH KISHWAUKEE AND NEW MILFORD VILLAGES RECEIVE MAIL BY RURAL ROUTE -NEW MILFORD POST G. A. R. DISCONTINUED- TWO CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS - APPROXIMATE POPULATION.

Prominent among the pioneers of New Mil- ford Township were D. S. Shumway, Horace Miller and Samuel Brown. A town was started by the river at what is known as the Old Shum- way place. At one time there were from thirty- five to forty frames erected there; but only a

944

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

few of them were enclosed. This fact gave the place the appropriate name of "Rib-Town."

In 1838 Dr. A. M. Catlin came from the Western Reserve in Ohio, in company with the Rev. Hiram Foote and Silas Tyler. They were of New England stock, and were part of a movement to found an institution of learning similar to the one then flourishing at Oberlin, Ohio. These missionary educational managers selected a site for their institution near the mouth of the Kishwaukee River. A large build- ing was begun, but never completed. It re- mained for years as a reminder of the first attempt to found a seminary in Winnebago . County.

In 1839-40 George W. Lee platted a town on the upper side of Kishwaukee River, at its junc- tion with Rock River. Quite a town was actu- ally built, with two stores and a blacksmith shop. Both "Rib-Town" and Mr. Lee's plat were named Kishwaukee, but the former was aban- doned before George W. Lee platted the second. The latter was sometimes called Leetown, in honor of its founder.

The present hamlet of Kishwaukee is a short distance below the mouth of Kishwaukee River. The Wesleyan Methodist Church was organized May 17, 1844, with four members. They were Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rothwell, William Johnson and Freeman Clothier. A house of worship was erected in 1868 and a parsonage in 1870. There are now about fifty members. The pastor is Rev. George Pegram. The church is in the Illi- nois Wesleyan Methodist conference, which is said to include less than a dozen churches.

New Milford village is in the eastern part of the township. The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad passes it less than a mile to the west.

There have been several attempts to organize churches in the village. The Congregationalist society built a church in 1877. This field was abandoned and the building was later used as a schoolhouse. The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized as a class about 1838. It owns property and for many years maintained its own services. The New Milford Church and the Epworth Church of Rockford now constitute one charge, under a plan arranged at the last an- nual conference. Rev. E. S. Nicholas, the pastor, preaches at New Milford in the morning and at Epworth in the evening. The membership of the New Milford Church is fifty-eight as re- ported to the last conference.

There were formerly postoffices at Kish- waukee and New Milford. These have been dis- continued and mail is now delivered by rural route.

New Milford Post No. 297, Grand Army of the Republic, was instituted February 21, 18GS, by Captain W. D. E. Andrus, of Rockford, with fourteen members. It has been discontinued.

There are two consolidated schools in New Milford Township which are described in the chapter on Schools.

The population of the township in 1910 was 909.

OWEN.

LOCATION-RAILROAD FACILITIES-NAMES OF EARLY SETTLERS-A VERY LOYAL SECTION DURING THE CIVIL WAR-POPULATION.

Owen is a township lying directly north of Rockford. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad passes through nearly its entire length north and south. There is a station at Latham Park, There was once a postoffice there, but it has been superseded by the rural route.

Among the early settlers may be mentioned : Patten Atwood, who went there in 1839; Mowry Brown, who first came to Rockwood in 1838; Wadleigh Favor, William Halley, Frederick M. Knapp, James B. Lee, Stephen O. Thompson, Isaac W. Seaverns.

According to the reports of Halsey G. Clark, enrollment officer for Winnebago County, Owen Township contributed 131 volunteers for service in the Civil war. The quota of the township, under the various calls for troops up to July 1, 1864, was 104. In December, 1864, when the last call was made for men by President Lincoln, the quota for Winnebago County was 398 men, of whom 27 were from Owen.

The population of the township in 1910 was 560.

PECATONICA.

TOWNSHIP SETTLED IN 1835-FIRST PIONEERS- FIRST POSTMASTER-FIRST BUSINESS ENTER- PRISES-TURNPIKE ROAD CONSTRUCTED-WAR

945

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

RECORD-GRAND ARMY POST-CHURCHES- SCHOOLS-FRATERNITIES-VILLAGE OF PECATON- ICA INCORPORATED WATER WORKS-FORMER PECATONICA RESIDENTS PROMINENT IN CHICAGO -BANKS-PHYSICIANS-POPULATION.

Settlements contemporaneous with Rockford were made in the several townships of Winne- bago County. The township of Pecatonica was settled in 1835. On September 19, there came into the neighborhood of what is now Pecatonica Village five white people. They were Ephraim Sumner, his brother, William Sumner ; their sister, Mrs. Dolly Guilford ; her son, Elijah Guil- ford, and Thomas Hance.

The Sumners came from Darien, New York, near Buffalo. Ephraim Sumner took up a claim two miles southeast of what is now Pecatonica at Twelve Mile Grove, on the state road. Mr. Sumner built a stone house in 1842 which was used as a tavern, half way between Rockford and Freeport, and was the stopping place for the Frink and Walker line of stages. The "tavern" was in an excellent state of preserva- tion until 1914, when it was razed. A little settlement was formed there and it was the seat of a postoffice, called Vanceborough, of which Ephraim Sumner was postmaster.

Elijah Guilford died in Rockford, April 29, 1915, nearly eighty years after he came to Winnebago County as a lad of eleven ycars. He was the oldest settler in the county at the time of his death. No children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Guilford, but they reared thirteen boys and girls.

The tracts now covered by the village of Peca- tonica were first owned by Daniel Reed and William and Ephraim Sumner. In 1852 Thomas D. Robertson and John A. Holland, both of Rockford, purchased an individual interest in the town plat, and with Mr. Reed laid out the village. The plat was filed for record in Decem- ber, 1852. During the spring of 1853 arrange- ments were perfected by which Mr. Robertson was to make and convey all titles to the property.

N. F. Maynard erected the first building and opened the first grocery store in July, 1852. Sullivan Daniels opened the first public hotel, called the Seward House. In September, 1853, the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad began the receipt and delivery of freight at Peca- tonica station, under the superintendence of

Josiah Stevens. The first great improvement for Pecatonica was the construction of the turn- pike across the bottoms, a distance of about one and a quarter miles. It was built by subscrip- tions at a great expense for that time, under the direction of Daniel Reed, Sr., in the autumn of 1853. The postoffice was established in the autumn of 1853, and Tracy Smith was appointed postmaster.

WAR RECORD.

In August, 1862, Governor Richard Yates commissioned Augustus W. Thompson to raise a company of volunteers. He received sixty-five men in five days, and when the enrollment had reached 110 men Mr. Thompson received a lieutenant's commission from the governor. The troops went into camp for a month, and on September 4, 1862, they were mustered in by Adjutant General Fuller, as Company B, Sev- enty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Every member of this company with the single excep- tion of Alden R. Cole, of Seward, enlisted from Pecatonica Township.

After the battle of Stone River Lieutenant Thompson was promoted to the captaincy of his company. At the battle of Spring Hill the cap- tain was shot in the right eye. The surgeon concluded he would die, and he was left on the field, but finally recovered with the loss of the eye. Captain Thompson to the day of his death kept the bullet that shot out his eye and came so near ending his life. That bullet he carried in his head for three and a half years before it was extracted. It weighed one ounce and it was flattened where it hit the frontal bone. Captain Thompson died in December, 1909.

Company B suffered its share of losses. Cap- tain David O. Buttolph, Corporals George Rugg and Alfred Williams, and Private Hiram Billick were killed at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain.

On July 1, 1864, Lysander, as the township of Pecatonica was then called, had 256 men enrolled between the ages of twenty and forty- five years liable to military duty. Her quota up to that time demanded by the government was 159 volunteers, and that number had been fur- nished. The last call for troops by President ! Lincoln was in December, 1864. The enrollment then showed that Lysander had 229 available men to bear arms. She was asked to furnishı

946

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

for this last, call, twenty men and she responded with the men. That was her patriotic record, demonstrated for the preservation of the Union.

Pecatonica has the only Grand Army Post in Winnebago County, outside of Rockford. Ellis Post, No. 320, was organized in 1881, and was named in honor of Col. E. F. W. Ellis, of Rock- ford. Rev. C. F. Wright, who was then pastor of the Congregational Church, was the first com- mander. The post began with a membership of eighty, which was increased to 120. Time has so thinned the ranks that scarcely more remain than are required to maintain an organization. There are six cemeteries within the vicinity of Pecatonica, in which Union soldiers are buried.

CHURCHES.

Eight churches have been founded in Peca- tonica, but this was a larger number than the village could maintain. As is so often the case, the Methodists were the first to enter the field. The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1853, by the Rev. Barton H. Cart- wright and Rev. Horatio N. Irish. The first class comprised eight persons. The society met in a grain warehouse, where all the religious assemblies convened. In 1854 a small house of worship was erected, which served the purpose of the society until 1868, when a stone church was erected at a cost of $8,500, during the pastorate of Rev. John O. Foster. The present pastor is Rev. E. L. Thompson, who also supplies the church at Seward. The member- ship of the two churches reported to the annual conference in 1915 was ninety-two.

The First Congregational church was organ- ized February 18, 1854, with a membership of six, by the Rev. Mr. Johnson. A house of wor- ship was erected in 1855 at a cost of $3,000, and dedicated in November of that year. The first settled pastor was Rev. Mr. Willis. In 1876 the church was remodeled at an outlay of $2,700. On January 18, 1914, a modern house of wor- ship costing $10,500 was dedicated free of debt, including the pledges made on that day. Rev. John Gordon, of Rockford, preached the dedica- tory sermon. The church was erected under the splendid leadership of its pastor, Rev. A. W. Hutchins. The Congregational Year Book re- ports the membership 117. Rev. C. E. Stebbens is pastor.

The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church

was organized in 1858, by the Rev. A. Andreen, with a small membership. A house of worship was promptly erected. There is a thrify Swed- ish population in and around Pecatonica, and they are loyal to the church and generous in its support.

The Catholic church was organized in 1871 with a membership of fifty. The parish has had a normal growth, and has a commodious house of worship. Rev. H. E. Quimett is priest of the parish.

The German Evangelical Lutheran church was founded in 1874. There are now about 200 souls in the parish, under the spiritual care of Rev. A. C. Landeck. The latest accession is the Mission church, which has a small edifice.

Two churches organized in an early day have abandoned the field. The First Baptist society was organized in Rock Run, May 7, 1843, under the direction of William Stillwell, and in 1855 was removed to Pecatonica. It maintained an uncertain existence for some years, and be- longed to the Rock River Association. The First Universalist church was organized August 5, 1855, with seven members. A chapel was built in 1863, and remodeled in 1875.

SCHOOLS.

The first schools of Pecatonica were conducted in private dwellings or small shacks thrown to- gether for that purpose. Prior to the building of the public schoolhouse, there were four places where as many teachers were employed in the art of pedagogy. Two of these schools were in private homes and the other two were in un- finished shacks built by the town. This method of school facilities continued until 1862, when the first public schoolhouse was built in Peca- tonica, of which J. S. Mabie was principal. Mr. Mabie afterwards became pastor of the First Baptist church of Rockford. The present school building was erected in 1894, and cost $20,000. It is a modern brick structure, thoroughly equip- ped for procuring the best results. The high school offers a course of four years.

FRATERNITIES.

The first meeting of A. W. Rawson lodge of Masons No. 145, A. F. and A. M., was held in Pecatonica July 10, 1854. The Eastern Star has a prosperous lodge. Pecatonica lodge No. 173,

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 59

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