Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 7

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

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Betliuel Houghton came from New Hamp- shire, iu October. He eugaged iu the bakery business, and at one time he was associated in this way with Ephraim Wyman. Mr. Houghton left reminiscences in manuscript, which have been of service in the preparation of this volume.

Hiram R. Enoch was a native of Warren County, Ohio. From there he removed with his pareuts to Will County, Illinois, and thence he came to Guilford Township. Probably no citi- zen of Rockford possessed a larger fuud of local history than did Mr. Enoch, and he ren- dered valuable assistance in the preparation of historical articles. Mr. Enoch was couuty treas- urer eight years. His best known work was as editor and proprietor of the Rockford Jour- nal. After his removal from Rockford Mr.

Euoch was in the employ of the government, in the pension bureau. His death occurred at Washington, D. C., June S, 1890.

Isaac Newtou Cuuningham was the first of four brothers to settle iu this county. He was the second sheriff of Winnebago County, and held this office four years. He died in Rockford December 24, 1865. His name will frequently appear in later chapters. Jacob and Mary Possou came from Schoharie County, New York. Iu 1837 Mr. Posson purchased land four miles east of Rockford, upon which he lived five years. In 1842 he bought property on the north- east corner of Second and Market streets. While building a cooper shop ou this site he received injuries from which he died November 1, 1842. His sou, H. A. Possou, resided iu the county seventy-four years, aud probably lived iu Rockford Township longer than any other resi- deut except Mrs. Thatcher Blake. Mr. Possou was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862, and his arm was amputated the following week. He was in the local mail service four years from 1890, under Postmaster Lawler. Mr. Posson died November 2, 1912.

David S. Shumway came iu the spring, aud settled on a farm in New Milford. He was a native of Vermout. The family was kuown as Green Mountain Yankees, and was of Hugue- not descent. One son, R. G. Shumway, was born in Vermont; R. B. Shumway was a native of Ohio; three sous, Alvaro, Roland H., and Monroe, were born on the old farm in New Milford; also three daughters, who died young during the sickly seasons of early days. Roland H. Shumway has acquired a national reputation as a seedsman, and has amassed a large fortuue. Nathaniel Loomis and his sou, H. W. Loomis, came from New Jersey. Other settlers in the county were: Charles Works, Alonzo Corey, Charles P. Brady, Spooner Ruggles, Heury P. Redington, Jonathan Wilson, A. G. Spaulding, Scott Robb, Numan Campbell, John Peffers, He- man Campbell, Homer Denton, John Robb, Edward Smith, Joseph Ritchie, Herman Hoit, Martiu W. Borst, Philip Culver, Thomas Wil- liams, Joseph Vance, Austin Andrews, Edmund Whittlesey, Joseph Miner, Albert Fancher, Eli Burbank, Mr. Barnaby, and Miss Danforth, a sister of Mrs. Israel Morrill, who became the wife of D. A. Spaulding, the first govern- ment surveyor of northern Illinois. Jolin Greenlee and John Armour, from Campbelltown,

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

Argylshire, Scotland, settled in the spring of this year at Harlem, and formed the nucleus from which has grown the large and flourishing colony known as the Scotch Settlement.

EMIGRATION IN 1837.

The emigration of 1837 was equal to that of the preceding year. John C. Kemble was the first lawyer who practiced in this county. Mr. Kemble and Dr. Goodrich had offices on South Madison street, Rockford, directly below Potter & Preston's store. Mr. Kemble's log house was built near the northwest corner of First and Walnut streets. Mr. Kemble was a gentleman of ability, and had been a member of the General Assembly of New York from Rensselaer County. Mrs. Kemble was a member of one of the old Dutch families in New York. Her maiden name was Potts, and she met and married Mr. Kemble in Chicago. According to the custom of the day, a colored servant was assigned the duty of ministering to her comfort. Her servant, Isaac Wilson, familiarly known as "Black Ike," came to Rockford with Mrs. Kemble in the latter part of 1837. It has been said that he was a slave at this time; but such was not the fact. When Isaac was a boy slavery was abolished in New York by an act of gradual emancipation, and he became free at a certain age. He had become so attached to the family in the East that he volun- tarily followed Miss Potts to Chicago, thence to Rockford, where he resumed his duties as a servant. These statements are made on the authority of the late Harvey H. Silsby, who boarded with the Kemble family in the spring of 1839. About this time ex-Governor Marcy and wife of New York were guests at the Kemble home. Mr. Marcy had been governor three con- secutive terms, and had attracted attention as a member of the United States senate by his reply to Henry Clay's assault on Van Buren, and by his answer to Daniel Webster's speech on the apportionment. The Governor came to Rockford with his own handsome team and car- riage, and his drives about the country with the Kembles were notable incidents in the social life of the village. Mr. Kemble became insane, and in 1840 he was taken to an eastern asylum, where he died a short time afterward. Mr. Kemble had two sons. Albert, the elder, was an artist. He went to Italy for study, where he married, and died. Edward became an editor,

and founded the California Star, the first Eng- lish newspaper in San Francisco. For many years after the death of Mr. Kemble, "Black Ike" had a fruit and lunch counter on North Madison street, and is well remembered by old residents.

John Lake was born March 27, 1821, in Sel- worthy Parish, England. When sixteen years of age he determined to follow his uncle, Thomas Lake, to America, and arrived in Rock- ford early in December. After three years on .a farm, Mr. Lake spent a year as an apprentice to the carpenter's trade, under Thomas Thacher. At the expiration of that time he began the business of contractor and builder on his own account. In the winter of 1852-53 Mr. Lake formed a partnership with the late Phin- eas Howes, in the lumber trade. The firm's yard was on the site of the old Chicago & North- western passenger depot on the East side. After the railroad bridge was completed across the river, the firm removed its yard to the West side, near the present Northwestern freight de- pot. The business was continued there. until the summer of 1856, when it was sold to Mr. Freeman. In November of that year Mr. Lake revisited his native country. He returned in February, 1857, and early in the following spring he again embarked in the lumber busi- ness, on the southeast corner of State and Third streets, with his former partner, Mr. Howes. This partnership was dissolved in the autumn of 1859, by the sale of the stock to Cook & Brother, lumber dealers on the West side. From 1860 to 1868 Mr. Lake was a part- ner with the late Henry Fisher, in the lumber business on the West side. In May, 1867, Mr. Lake again revisited England, In the spring of 1868 Mr. Lake and Seely Perry formed a part- nership in the lumber trade, on the corner of Third and State streets, which was continued until 1874. The residences of these gentlemen were built from nearly the same plans. In 1874, and again in 1877, 1889 and 1891, Mr. Lake revisited Europe. Mr. Lake was connected with the Rockford Insurance Company from its organization in 1866 until its sale in 1899. He was its first vice-president, and served in that capacity until January, 1866, when he was chosen president to succeed Dr. Robert P. Lane. Mr. Lake served the Second Ward as alderman ten years ending with 1883. He was a super- visor, and chairman of the board of education.

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

Mr. Lake and Seely Perry owned the three- story brick block on the northeast corner of State and Second streets. October 11, 1849, Mr. Lake married Miss Almeda M. Danley, of Harlem. Three of their seven children died in infancy. Those who grew to adult life were : Mrs. William H. Crocker, Mrs. Charles M. Clark, Mrs. William M. Prentice, and Frank L. Mr. Lake was a prominent Odd Fellow, and served as grand master of the grand lodge of Illinois, and representative to the sovereign grand lodge of the United States for six con- secutive years. Mr. Lake was an attendant at the First Congregational church. He died De- cember 4, 1907.

Henry Thurston and his son, John H., then a lad thirteen years of age, arrived in March. In company with William P. Dennis, of Massa- chusetts, they had come from Troy, New York, by sleigh and wagon to Chicago. There they met Daniel S. Haight and Benjamin T. Lee, of Rockford, both of whom had known the elder Thurston in the East; and they persuaded the party to settle in Rockford. While in Chicago they met John C. Kemble, who had made the journey by stage from Troy, and the company reached Rockford soon afterward. The son grew to manhood and continuously resided in Rockford until the death of his wife in 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Thurston resided more than forty years in the brick house on South Madison street, which was later used for several years as an annex for the high school. Mr. Thurston pub- lished his "Reminiscences" in 1891. They are a valuable contribution to local history. Mr. Thurston was uneducated in the learning of the schools ; nevertheless lie had a retentive mein- ory, a ready wit, and a natural aptitude for writing that have made his little volume of reminiscences quite popular with all classes of readers. He has graphically portrayed that circle of pioneer social life in which he moved. Mr. Thurston died September 19, 1896.

William P. Dennis was a well known citizen, who held several minor offices. He first lived in a log house on the site later owned by Dr. E. P. Catlin on South First street. Mr. Dennis died in Rockford February 4, 1880. Samuel D. Pres- ton came from New York. He traveled over- land from Medina, with his wife and one child. He lived on North Madison street, and later his home was on the site of the office of the Rockford Lumber and Fuel Company. Mr.

Preston was prominent in the early business and political life of the community. He was county treasurer four years. Mr. Preston died February 11, 1844. He was the father of Mrs. L. J. Clark, deceased; Miss Anna T. Preston, deceased, and Miss Mary Preston, deceased. L. J. Clark, his son-in-law, built the old stone house on the southwest corner of Madi- son and Oak streets. Eleazer Hubble Pot- ter was born in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and emigrated with his parents to western New York when he was about seventeen years of age. Mr. Potter was fully committed to the New England idea that the church and schoolhouse form the real basis of the prosperity of a city. He therefore took an active interest in building up its religious and educational institutions. Mr. Potter made the acquaintance of Samuel D. Preston at Medina, and when these gentle- men came to Rockford they formed a partner- ship in business. Mr. Potter afterward became a prominent banker. He built the house occu- pied by Rev. Mead Holmes, who enlarged and otherwise improved it. He also built the fine residence of Gilbert Woodruff. Mr. Potter died at his home in this city, September 1, 1861, at the age of fifty-five years. He was the father of Mrs. William Lathrop, Andrew W., George and E. E. Potter, and Mrs. C. G. Marsh, now living at Weedsport, New York.

Nathaniel Wilder was born in Lancaster, Mas- sachusetts, June 30, 1794. From his native state he removed to Keene, New Hampshire, and from there he came to Rockford with his family, in March. He opened a blacksmith shop in a log building on South Main street, between Green and Cedar streets, and owned considera- ble property in that vicinity. Mr. Wilder was probably the third blacksmith in Rockford. He continued in this business for twenty-five years, and then engaged in the coal trade. At one time he was a member of the Second Congre- gational church, but his later faith was Uni- tarianism. He died July 11, 1884, at the age of ninety years. George W. Brinckerhoff came to Rockford during this year. He was in part- nership with Germanicus Kent in various busi- ness enterprises. Although Mr Brinckerhoff was quite prominent at one time, little is known of his later life. Goodyear Asa Sanford was born in Hamden, Connecticut, in August, 1814. He was engaged in farming in the East until he came to Alton, Illinois, in December, 1836.

MANDEVILLE HOUSE, ROCKFORD

Built in 1837 by Richard Montague. Remodeled and still standing in Mandeville Park.

DANIEL S. HAIGHT'S RESIDENCE, ROCKFORD

Built in 1837, on the northeast corner of State and Madison streets; stood for many years on the northeast corner of Second and Walnut streets; razed about 1906. The first session of the Circuit Court was held in this house.

YOUNG WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, ROCKFORD

THE MANNY MANSION, ROCKFORD Built by John A. Holland in 1854. Razed in 1888 for the Illinois Central Yards

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

In the following year he came to Rockford and engaged in mercantile business. Mr. Sanford always took an active interest in politics, and was one of the early sheriffs of the county. He was also school commissioner from 1845 to 1847. Mr. Sanford was a member of the banking firm of Dickerman, Wheeler & Co., which began busi- ness January 1, 1855. The firm name was changed the next year to Lane, Sanford & Co. The Second National Bank was organized April 29, 1864, with Mr. Sanford as cashier. He suc- ceeded to the presidency, which he held at the time of his death, March 16, 1894. As a banker and man of affairs, Mr. Sanford was very prom- inent for more than half a century.

Rev. John Morrill and wife made their home in the little village in February. Mr. Morrill's important work in stimulating the religious life of the community will be considered in a subse- quent chapter. Mrs. Morrill was eminently fitted for the work to which she was called. David D. Alling was born at Westfield, Con- necticut, April 27, 1813. At seventeen years of age he began an apprenticeship to the carpen- ter's trade. He came to Rockford in October, upon the advice of G. A. Sanford. Mr. Alling built a number of dwellings in the little village, and was a contractor during his entire active life in Rockford. He constructed the old First Congregational church, on the West side. He owned valuable property on South Main street. Mr. Alling died August 1, 1898. He was the father of Mrs. P. W. Danky and Frank Alling.

John Beattie was one of the first emigrants from Ireland to this county. He was born of Scotch ancestry in the north of Ireland, June 21, 1811. He learned the carpenter's trade in his native country, and continued this occupa- tion after his settlement in Rockford. He was successful in business, and became the owner of a beautiful site in the finest residence portion of the city, which is now the home of his daugh- ters, Misses Mary I. and Anna. Several busi- ness houses on West State street also belong to his estate. These valuable lots were tendered him in payment for work on the old courthouse, more than half a century ago. Mr. Beattie at first refused them; and it is said he wept the day he became their possessor, because he felt that he had been defrauded. Mr. Beattie was highly esteemed for his sterling character. He was reared in the Presbyterian faith, although he was not a member of any church at the time

of his death. Mr. Beattie died December 3, 1889. Mrs. Beattie died December 7, 1891. Two sons, Edward W. and George D., resided in Montana. Two sons and a daughter are de- ceased. John Platt was born in West Haven, Connecticut, March 8, 1813. He came from Alton, Illinois, to Rockford in May, and engaged in mercantile business. In 1839 he removed to Pecatonica Township and became an extensive land-owner. He returned to Rockford in 1845, where he resided until his death in 1881. Some years later Mrs. Platt married Robert H. Cot- ton.

Benjamin Kilburn was born in Belchertown, Massachusetts, August S, 1808. He settled per- manently in Rockford in 1837. He had visited the county the preceding year, selected a place for a home, procured lumber for a house, en- gaged a man to build it, and then went back to Massachusetts to adjust his affairs. Upon his return to Rockford he was accompanied by Mrs. Kilburn's brother, Henry Maynard. Mr. Kilburn's first house was on the site of the Hotel Nelson, where it stood until 1891. Mr. Kilburn subsequently purchased a quarter-sec- tion in the northwestern part of the city. Mr. and Mrs. Kilburn had seven children. Five died in infancy or early youth. Edward B., a son, enlisted in the Seventy-fourth Illinois Volunteers during the Civil war, and died in the hospital at Murfreesboro, in 1863. Mr. Kil- burn opened a stone quarry on his place, which proved valuable, and was operated by his son-in- law, the late T. W. Carrico. Kilburn avenue was named in honor of Mr. Kilburn. He died in 1860. Some years later Mrs. Kilburn married Mr. Fales. She died in the summer of 1899. John Miller, with his wife and three sons, Jacob B .. Thomas and George, arrived about the middle of May. Jacob was better known as "Old Jake." He was the second resident lawyer, and as a forcible speaker he was in great demand by the Whigs of this section in tlie exciting campaign of 1840. Among other settlers in the county during the year were : Isaac Toms, William Twogood, Elisha A. Kirk, William Jones, William Peters, Richard S. Stiles, Eli Hall, Levi Taft, Hiram Richardson, Simeon Harmon, Lewis Keith, P. S. Doolittle, Joseph Hayes, Seth Palmer, and his daughter, Mrs. William Conick.

The late Judge Church is authority for the

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

statement that the population of the county in June, 1837, was 1,0S6.

The larger number of the early settlers of Rockford came from New England. Some emi- grated from New York and other states, but the New England element predominated. These pioneers impressed their personality upon this community, and it has remained until this day. The New Englanders, in their native home, were a homogeneous race; even the Chinese were scarcely more so. With the exception of a few Huguenot families, who came from the old world at the close of the seventeenth cen- tury, and who, from religious sympathy and other causes, were easily grafted on the primeval vine, they were all descendants of English stock.

Industry, thrift, and a high sense of personal honor are prominent traits in the typical son of New England. Soil and climate determine in some measure the character of a people. The rocky soil of New England required the hus- bandman to practice the virtue of industry. That which is purchased at the greatest cost is usually the most highly treasured ; and thus the industrious farmer and artisan became frugal. It was a point of honor with a true New Englander to maintain his family and pay his debts. This he could not do except by a persevering industry, and a methodical and prudent management of his affairs. He must be economical if he would be generous, or even just; for extravagance sooner or later weakens the sense of moral obligation. These traits of industry and thrift were pleasantly satirized many years ago by a southern writer in the following paragraph : "We of the south are mistaken in the character of these people, when we think of them only as peddlers in horn flints and bark nutmegs. Their energy and enterprise are directed to all objects, great and small, within their reach. At the fall of a scanty rivulet, they set up 'their little manu- factory of wooden buttons or combs ; they plant a barren hillside with broomcorn, and make it into brooms at the bottom,-and on its top they erect a windmill. Thus, at a single spot, you may set the air, the earth and the water all working for them. But, at the same time, the ocean is whitened to its extremities with the sails of their ships, and the land is covered with their works of art and usefulness."

The early New Englanders have been charged

with coldness and severity of manner. For an austere people, however, they have been easily enkindled with noble enthusiasms. There are certain traits prominent in their type of char- acter, such as their love of order and the habit of self-control, which hasty observers have mis- taken for tokens of a want of earnestness. But seldom, if ever, has there been a more sublime race than was shown near Boston, in April, 1775, and for eight years thereafter. The accus- ation most frequently repeated against those stalwart people is that of religious intolerance. Christian charity, however, has been a slow and painful evolution through the centuries ; and the New Englander was but a sharer in the world-wide spirit of intolerance. Perhaps they hield their spinal columns too rigidly erect, and carried their heads too high to view with tender sympathy the weak and sinful world about them. Nevertheless, they bore aloft the stand- ard of righteousness before a lawless genera- tion, and planted in the new world the seeds of patient, practical and self-denying morality. So the institutions of an enlightened civiliza- tion have proceeded from the Christian church, through the sacrifice of the noble men and women of the past, who have served her with a lover's devotion. The early colleges of this land, with very few exceptions, were the off- spring of the church, and consecrated by its prayers.

It could not be said that every settler of Rockford belonged to the highest class; but the determining force in the community came from those high ideals of culture and religion, and those habits of economy, industry, integrity and temperance which have made the true Englander a representative of the best elements in our civilization. It was ordained in the beginning that seed should bring forth fruit after its kind. It is none the less true in social and moral life. The moral status of a city or country as truly indicates the character of its pioneers, as the rich, ripe fruit of the vineyard tells the secret of its seed and culture. Hon. R. R. Hitt, in an address delivered in August, 1899, before the old settlers of Seward in this county, said the statement that the early settlers builded wiser than they knew, was a reflection upon their intelligence. He insisted that the pioneers knew what they were doing, and had some conception of the outcome. Certain it is that whatever Winnebago County is today,

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

is directly traceable to their agency. They have been the architects of her institutions. They laid broad and deep the foundations of her industrial, educational, moral and religious in- terests, and from time to time they have super- intended the superstructure. The large majority of this vanguard have ceased from their labors, and their works do follow them. As the few who remain behold the institutions of learning that have been reared in every town, and the resources provided for the humblest as well as for the strongest; as they look over tlie prairies reclaimed from barrenness and bar- barism through their toil and privations; as they consider the various religious influences that are quietly softening and humanizing the moral nature, they have the satisfaction of knowing that they have not lived in vain.

The year 1838 was signalized by the advent of several physicians who became prominent in , early local history. Among this number was Dr. Josiah C. Goodhue, who settled in the autumn, with his family. He had been liere the preceding autumn on a tour of inspection. Dr. Goodhue had attained some distinction before he became a citizen of this county. He was born in 1803, at Putney, Vermont. His mother is said to have been a cousin of Aaron Burr. The Doctor was graduated from the school of medicine at Yale, and began practice at St. Thomas, Upper Canada, in 1824. While there he was married to Miss Catherine Dunn. A brother, Sir George Goodhue, was in the employ of the Canadian government. The Doctor emigrated from Canada to Chicago in 1835. He was the first resident physician in that city outside the garrison of Fort Dear- born. When Chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837, Dr. Goodhue was elected the first alderman from the First Ward. There were six wards in the city at that time. William B. Ogden was chosen mayor in that year. Dr. Goodhue designed the first city seal of Chicago, and it became known as his little baby. He was quite proud of his offspring. The Doctor was the real founder of the first free school system of Chicago, and was one of a committee appointed to solicit subscriptions for the first railroad chartered to run from the city, the Galena & Chicago Union. In his practice in Chicago, Dr. Goodhue was associated with Dr. Daniel Brainard. Their office was on Lake street, near the old Tremont House. John Went-

worth and Ebenezer Peck were engaged in the practice of law in the same building. Dr. Goodhue was one of the men who drew the act of incorporation for Rush Medical College, and was a member of the first board of trustees.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 7

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