History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 208

Author: Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839-1900
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : A.T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 875

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The first school district was organized in 1842. In April of that year. Gustavus V. Smith, Edward Simons, Niram Sanford, Philip Townsend and William E. Sayre- were elected a board of school trustees. Andrew Flem- ing was appointed treasurer. In June it was voted " that this township shall (for the present) constitute one school district." On the 11th of this month the secre- tary of the board of school trustees was instructed to call a meeting of the inhabitants of this township, to be held at the house of E. B. Sutherland, "for the purpose of taking measures to erect a school-house." The meeting, however, does not appear to have been called, nor the school-house built. The board of trustees encountered some financial difficulties. Andrew Fleming, the treas- urer of the school fund, had made a loan of nearly the whole fund, $48 in amount being loaned, and had left the State. The loan was a proper one, but the money was not available, and the treasurer's accounts, upon examination, showed him to be indebted to the fund to the amount of fifty-five cents. This discovery is said to have been discouraging to the board of trustees. Ed. ward Simons was appointed treasurer to succeed Mr. Fleming. He made a discovery which was still more cliscouraging to the board than the indebtedness of their former treasurer. This was the finding of $20 of wild- cat currency in the treasury. These notes were on the State Bank of Illinois. The newly appointed treasurer was instructed to dispose of them to the best advantage, provided he should not sell them for less than fifty cents on the dollar. The first entry on record in this town- ship of money paid for teaching, shows that in October, 1843, this money was paid to L. H. Smith, on a certi- fied schedule for teaching, at fifty cents on the dollar. What Mr. Smith did with the money does not appear. On December 5, 1843, Rees Eaton was paid $24 for teaching. In June, 1844, Russell Morton, Luman Kib- ber and M. N. Kimbell were elected to fill vacancies in the board of school trustees.

On the 22d of July, 1844, District No. 2 was formed, at a meeting of the board held at M. N. Kimbell's tav- ern. It was voted that so much of this township as is included in the southeast quarter thereof be set off as a school district, to be known as District No. 2. Before this, District No. I included thirty-six sections. It was, by this resolution, reduced to twenty-seven sections, District No. 2 including nine sections. In 1845, two more districts were formed, and thus the township was divided into four districts, each containing nine sections, By this time the school fund had increased to several hundred dollars, and was loaned at an annual interest of twelve per cent, The interest was generally promptly

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paid, though not always, as appears from the following entry : To interest received from Samuel Coe, which ought to have been paid long ago, $5.10.

In 1846 Marcellus B. Smith was appointed treasurer of the school fund, and in 1847 he was succeeded by Gustavus V. Smith. In 1849 G. V. Smith first recorded the enumeration of the school children in the township. which was as follows: District No. 1, 30; No. 2, 36; No. 3, 37; No. 4, 104; No. 5, 60; No. 6, 43: No. 7, 38; total number, 351. Robert J. Edbrooke became treas- urer in 1850, and held the office nearly twenty years. In 1854 the school fund had increaseil to $4,827.50.' New school-houses continued to be built, and more and more money was expended for school purposes from year to year. In 1866 the principal of the school fund amounted to $7,234.58. In 1869, when Treasurer Ed- brooke retired from his office, there were ten school dis- tricts in the township, each of which had a school-house. Nine of them were frame structures and one, in District No. 7, a neat brick huilding which cost when erected about $1,000. In 1871 two sections were taken fromn District No. 2 and organized into a separate district, No. 11, known as the Maplewood district. In this dis- trict in 1874 there was created the first of those costly and commodious school-houses of which there are now no less than nine in the township. This building is a two and a half story and basement brick structure. Originally it had four rooms and cost $20,000. In 1882 one room was fitted up in the basement, and in the same year a wing containing three rooms was added.

The district school buildings in this township are so exceptionally elegant and commodious that a brief de- scription of the principal ones is introduced: That at Bowmanville, in District No. 1, was erected in 1874 and cost $6,000. It has a seating capacity of 150 pupils, The school building at Avondale, in District No. 2, was completed in 1879 at a cost of $7,000. This buikling will accommodate 250 pupils. It is located at the inter- section of Milwaukee Avenue and Diversey Street. That at Kelvyn Grove, in District No. 6, occupies a large lot at the corner of Fullerton and Jefferson avenues. It is a substantial brick building, with seats for 100 pupils, and cost $9.000, That at Jefferson Village is one of the best constructed school-houses in the county. It was opened in 1875 and cost over $10,000. It has a seating capacity of 200 pupils.

District No. 11 comprises the two rapidly growing villages of Maplewood and Humboldt. The large buikl. ing on Hoffman Avenne has already been mentioned. Besides this, there is a building at Humboldt erected in 1882. This is a two-story and basement building and cost $11.000, There is also in this district a new two- story and basement brick building at Maplewood, erect- ed in the fall of 1883 for primary pupils, costing with the ground $10,000. Besides these, two buiklings con- taining two rooms each are rented for the accommoda- tion of scholars.

The first Board of Education for this district was elected in 1882, and consisted of G. M. D. Libby, S. W. Riderburg, A. D. Michaud, Francis De Pfuhl, j. P. W. Peterson and P. W. Bandow. G. M. D. Libby was made president of the board and Francis De Pfuhl secretary. The present board is the same except Mr. Peterson and Mr. Bandow, whose places are supplied by James Rus- sell and J. J. Rumpf. The first superintendent of these schools was J. B. Farnsworth, who was assisted by four- teen teachers, According to the reports for April 1, 1883, the number of males in this district under twenty-one years of age was 2,150, the number of females 1,220, and the number of pupils enrolled 959, while the average daily

attendance was 747. The total estimated value of the school property was $46,400, and the bonded indebted- ness 825,000. R. W. Graham is the present superin- tendent.

Irving Park is in District No. 13. The school building in this district was first occupied in 1876. It will accommodate 250 pupils, and cost $30,000. It is surmounted by a huge dome.

In 1857 the Legislature of Illinois enacted a law under which townships of an area six miles square were empowered to establish one centrally located high school with facilities for advanced scholars. Jefferson Town- ship did not avail itself of the provisions of this law until 1869. At the annual town meeting of that year, held November 2, the first steps were taken toward the establishment of a high school in this township. At that meeting John Gray offered a resolution that $3,000 be raised for the purpose of establishing a high school ir the Town House, to be under the control of the board of school trustees. John Gray was elected school trustee at this meeting. For three years after this an appropriation for the high school was voted upon and carried with but little if any opposition. In 1871 the tax for this purpose was two and one-half mills on the valuation. The school was first opened in the upper story of the Town House in May, 1870, under the prin- cipalship of Professor J. B. Farnsworth. In 1873 the Legislature passed a law for the establishment of town- ship high schools, and the school was organized in ac- cordance with its provisions, Professor Farnsworth re- maining principal of the high school until 1877, when he resigned and was succeeded by a new principal. Soon after this, on account of the erection of expen- sive and commodious district school-houses, and the better educational facilities afforded in consequence in the districts, the attendance upon the high school be- came so limited that the trustees determined to suspend, at least temporarily, its operations, and the school was closed. The friends of the school were, however, not willing to lose it altogether, and its property and funds were heldl intact. The latter was increased by accumu- lating interest, and on June 6, 1882, a motion was made by Henry Esdohr, one of the board of school trustees, to submit certain propositions to the voters of the town- ship. These propositions were as follows: First, to erect a new building for the high school. Second, to issue bonds to meet the expense of the erection of this proposed building; and Third, to select a site for it. The first two propositions were ratified almost unani- mously; the selection of a site was not clearly deter- mined upon. Proposals were thereupon solicited for site to be donated, and the board of trustees selected the site proffered by George C. Thomas, of Montrose. This site is about forty rods north of the Montrose sta- tion, and upon it a fine three-story brick building was erected in the summer of 1883. This building cost $30.000, including full sets of philosophical, chemical, and physiological apparatus, zoological charts, and all appointments necessary to a school of this character. The building was dedicated October 5, 1883, the ad- dress being delivered by Dr. D. B. Fonda, from whose address, as well as from the financial report of W. C. Hazelton, many items of information respecting the high school, as well as the district schools, have been obtained. Professor C. A. Cook was the first principal of this school, which opened in the fall of 1883. He is assisted by two teachers, and there are on the average seventy-five scholars in attendance. Following is a list of the treasurers of the school fund from 1840 to 1883: Edward B. Simons, 1840; Marcellus B. Smith,

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from 1840 to 1846; R. J. Edbrooke, from 1846 to 1861; William C. Hazelton, from 186t to 1881; Henry Isi- dore, from 1881 to the present time.

RELIGIOUS HISTORY .- As has been recorded above, the early settlers of the southwestern portion of the township at least were accustomed to attend religious services at the house of David Everett, in Leyilen Towaship. This was in 1833 and a few years later. It is not definitely ascertained who was the first preacher to address a Jefferson congregation, but soon after the erection of the first school-house the Rev. Mr. l'ayne, a Congregational minister, preached therein. The first Methodist quarterly meeting was held at Whisky Point, hut in what year can not be ascertained. Since this time, however, clergymen of all denominations have frequently visited the township. Historians of the township record the observed indifference of the gener- ality of the people in earlier times to the Church, but at the same time express the opinion that this indifference sprang from opposition to the contribution hox. This opposition seems now to have for the most part disap- peared, and it would be difficult now for a visitor to the excellent churches in this township to distinguish in this regard, at least any material difference between them and many of the city churches. According to some authorities, Mark Noble, Sr., was the first to preach ta a Jefferson congregation. A Mr. Warner was also among the first,

The Jefferson Congregational Church was organized in April, 1861, with seven members, who united by let- ter. Among them were Mr. and Mrs. David L. Rob- crts, Mr. and Mrs. Orton Hubbard, and Reuben Bailey. Two or three weeks afterward nine members joined on profession of faith, among them Miss Ellen O. Robertsand Miss Lydia Main. Previously to the organization there had been religious service hekl by Rev. Lemuel Jones, in the school-house and in the Town Ihmse, in which katter building the organization was effected. Rev. Mr. Jones remained tintil the last of August, 1863. During his pastorate, in the summer and fall of 1861, the church building was erected, a frame structure costing about 81,500. It was dedicated soon after its completion, Prof. S. C. Bartlett preaching the sermon. A parson- age was built in 1863, on a lot donated to the Church hy David L. Roberts, as was also the church, The society received na aid daring Rev. Mr. Jones's pastorate, and the seats were free until the pastarate of Rev. J. M. Williams. The Church was re-organized February 24, 1866, when a constitution and by-laws were adopted. The ileacons elected at this time were E. S. Dunning and Orton Hubbard, and the trustees in 1869 were 1). S. Dunning, J. H. Wright and W. C. Hazleton, In 1866 the Church received. three hundred dollars from the Home Missionary Society. In 1867 the support of the pastor was again assumed ; and in 1868 the pastor was engaged at $800 per year. Rev. M. Smith succeeded Mr. Jones, and remained until 1866, when the Rev, E. C. Barnard was engaged, and remained until 1871. He was succeeded by Rev. M. N. Hall, who remained until 1873, when Rev. Mr. Barnard became pastor of the Church, at a salary of $1,000 per year. He remained until 1879, when Rev. J. M. Williams succeeded and remained until 1882. In this latter year Rev. W. D. Simons, the present pastor, succeeded Rev, Mr. Williams. Late in the year 1883 repairs tec the extent of abont Soo were made to the church, and the building was re-dedicated on Sunday, December 3 of that year.

St. Johannes' German Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1876, by the Rev. Augustus Reinke, present pastor of the Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran

Church in Chicago. The present building, located at Montrose, was dedicated by him October 15, 1876. Then the membership of the Church was about twenty. From this time to 1881 the pastor was Rev. Frederick Brunn. In 1881 the present pastor, Rev. Henry Hycr, took charge of the Church, A school has been in exist- ence since the organization of the Church, the minister being the teacher. The average attendance is about eighty scholars. the basement of the church building being used for the schonl. The total cost of the church was about $4,000.

The Union Congregational Church of Bowmanville was originally started as a Union Protestant Church in 1878. Mrs. Mary A. Peterson was the leading spirit in the enterprise. The immediate object was to counter. act, in some measure at least, the influence of the numer- ous saloons in the place. A subscription paper was cir- culated to raise funds to sustain the movement. In 1878 about thirteen hundred dollars was subscribed, and in 1879 about twenty-four hundred dollars. A one- story brick church was crected, at a cost of about $3,000, on a lot donated to the society by the estate of Dr. John H. Foster, who, previous to his death, owned con- siderable land in the vicinity. The design at first was to eschew sectarianism, with the view of interesting equally members of all denominations in the common canse, no one seet being strong enough in Bowmanville to sustain a Church. Experience here, as so often before and elsewhere, proved the futility of such hopes, and at length it was decided to organize under the auspices of Congregationalism. This decision was arrived at in 1882. The society was organized May 1, 1882, with twenty-nine members. Lyman A. Badkong, P. S. Peter- son and Robert G. Bennett were elected trustees, and Oscar F. Gear clerk. At this time Charles M. Whetzel, of Michigan City, Ind., was preaching to the society. The preliminary meeting looking toward the organiza- tion of a Church was held at his house May 30, 1882. Mr. Whetzel was chosen moderator and scribe, and Mrs. Mary A. Peterson deaconess of the proposed organization. The ladies who took part in this meeting were, besides Mrs. Peterson, Mrs. Mary M. Jackson, Mrs. Mary B. Davidson and Mrs. Mary E. Whetzel. Mrs. L. A. Budlong and Mrs. Peterson were chosen a finance committee, and Mrs. Peterson clerk. On June 4. 1882, candidates presented themselves for examina. tion in the persons of Mrs. Elizabeth Glines and her daughter, Miss Minnie Maud Glines, and William Peter- son. On the 6th of June the following were examined as to their Christian experience : Mrs. Louisa L. Bud- long, Mrs. Ann Wall, Miss Elizabeth. R. Hagan, Miss Charlotte R. Wall and Miss Charlotte L. Shoup. On the 7th of June the following : Miss Clara Portman, Miss Sarah Jane Long, Miss Nellie Long, Miss Ida Forrest Gear and Mrs. Barbara Portman. Mrs. Mary M. Jackson was chosen chorister, Mrs. J. A. Budlong amil Mrs. M. E. Whetzel organists, and Mrs. Elizabeth Glines deaconess. On the ist of June letters missive were sent out, calling a council of Congregational churches, for the purpose of organizing this Church. On the 8th of June the council convened in the church, and the Union Congregational Church of Bowmanville was organized with eighteen members-seventeen ladies and one young man, William Peterson, Five were received by letter and thirteen by confession, and six of the whole number were baptized -Mrs. Barbara Port- man, Miss Clara Portman, Miss Sarah Jane Long, Miss Nellie Long, Ida F. Gear and Miss Minnie Maud Glines. Rev, Charles M. Whetzel came in February, 1882, and remained until May, 1883. since which time

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there has been no regular pastor of this Church, supplies being the only dependence. Among these have been J. K. Harris and Samuel Eveland, the latter of whom preached his last sermon December 16, 1883. This church movement has been pre-eminently a ladies' move- ment, and it is still carried on by them. No member has been added to the Church since its organization.

A Congregational Church was organized at C'ragin Sunday, November 18, 1883, by Rev. J. M. Williams, who was elected pastor. David Edwards was elected deacon, Mrs. D). M. Fuller treasurer, and H. Il. Drake, scribe. A Sunday-school was organized here in 1879 by A. J. Nowlen. The superintendents have been George W. Jones, J. R. Madison, Stephen Edwards and Rev. J. M. Williams. This school now has a fine organ, a good choir and a fair library.

The American Reformed Church of Irving Park was organized April 2, 1874, with sixteen members, five of whom only still retain their connection with the Church. Charles T. Race gave three lots to the organ- ization, upon which a neat church edifice was erected, with brick basement and frame superstructure. The first minister was Rev. Mr. Gulick, who remained about sis months, Abram G. Lansing followed and remained until 1877, when he was succeeded by Rev. Howard H. Van Branken, who remained until December, 1882, The Church was then without a pastor until October, 1883, when the present pastor, Rev. William H. Phraner, was engaged. He preached his first sermon Sunday, Orto- ber 14, 1883. The society now is in a flourishing con- dition.

The Baptist Church was organized in 1870 by J. F. Merchant, Israel G. Smith, Stephen and James l'en- noyer, E. S. Fox, George Dunlap and a few others. For some time services were held in the railway station, and afterward in the school-house. A church building was erected in 1873 by the members, who expended in its construction about $5,000. It is a two-story frame building with a spire over the entrance. The pulpit was supplied for some years by students from the Bap- tist Theological Seminary at Chicago. At length in 1876 the first regular pastor, Rev. Mr. Jackson, took charge of the Church, and was soon followed by the Rev. Charles Mar-Ion. But on account of a mortgage on the property which the society could not cancel, and which was foreclosed, the building and grounds passed into the hands of the widow of ilenry D. Lovett, the mortgagee, and it now belongs to her. Religious serv- ices have not been held in it for some two years.

The American Reformed Church was organized in 1871. A lot had been offered to any denomination that would establish a Church in the place, and this denom- ination took advantage of the offer. The Church Ex- tension Society erected a one-story frame building, with steeple at one corner and gallery across one end facing the pulpit. The building is 40x60 feet in size and cost $7,181.13. For the first two years the Board of Domestic Missions supported the minister, paying him $1,500 per year. This sum has been gradually reduced until at the present time the board pays only $500 toward the minister's salary, the Church making up the balance. The first minister was Rev. U. D), Gulick, who remained one year. Ile was succeeded by Rev. A. V. Gulick, who remained one year, and was succeeded in May, 188t, by the present pastor, Rev. De With G. Rockefel- ler. There are now sixty members in the Church, who hope at the expiration of another year In be able to en- tirely support their minister. A portion of the time during this Church's history it suffered from lack of wisdom in its minister. Men and women were driven

away and kept away from it by the "unruly member." It is not enough for a minister to possess a large degree of knowledge, the most fervent zeal and the purest mo- tives. Besides all these he must be prudent and harm- less, and he does not always realize the importance of the principle that the man who is unjust in word or deed to another always loses immensely with the one toward whom he has been unjust. It is of the highest moment that the ministers be " wise as serpents and harmless as doves." The Sunday-school was organized carly in the history of the Church. Its first superintend- ent was Newton H. Bates. There are in the school seventy-five scholars and eight teachers.

Jefferson Village is situated on the Chicago & North-Western Railroad, Wisconsin Division, eight and eight-tenths miles from Chicago, and at the intersection of this railroad with Milwaukee Avenue. D. L. Roberts laid out and recorded the map of the village in 1855. The original plat included the west half of the southeast quarter of the southwest fractional quarter of Section 9, part of the southeast fractional quarter of Section 8, also a subdivision of Lot 3, school treasurer's subdivision of Section 16. It was filed March 29, 1855. Additions have been made since to the plat-Murray's, Free's and Silverman's, the last filed December 22, 1873. D. L. Roberts died, and his heirs held the property until : 868, when D. W. Eldred bought interest lying east of rail- road amounting to one hundred and fifty-four acres, Within two years this tract was subdivided into lots. At the present time Jefferson is a prosperous village containing two schools, a Congregational church, two hotels, hardware store, blacksmith shops, general store, post office and a population of about five hundred. It is the market town for the surrounding agricultural population.

JEFFERSON BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

WILLIAM C. BRINK was born in Schleswig. I lolstein, Ger- many, November 5, 1851, His parents settled in New York City about 1860, where he began his business life clerking in stores. In 1870 he removed to C'lucago and followed the same occupation there some three years. He then settled in the village of Jefferson and engaged in store-keeping, and also for a time was in the em- ploy of the corporation of Jefferson, In 1881 he was appointed janitor of Cook County Court-House, and held that position until the fall of 1883, since which time he has engaged in general occu- pations. Ile married in Jefferson. April, 1875. Miss Charlotte S., daughter of E. Goodman. They have four children-Edward W., William, Fred J. and Albert.

HENRY BRUESHABER, contractor and builder, and dealer in lumber, lime, ete., was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, in 1845. Hle began the carpenter's trade at the age of fourteen years. In 1866 he came to the United States, locating in Chicago, where he followed his trade until the Chicago fire. in which he lost his honte. lle then removed to Jefferson and established his present business. llc has erected some of the most prominent business houses and private residences in the village, and is now doing a large business. Mr. Brueshaber was married in Chicago to Miss Sophia Suker, a native of Mecklenburg. They have six children-William, Lena, Ida, Fred, Charles and. an infant. Mr. Brueshaber is a member of the Volunteer Fire Department of Jefferson.

1. H. CORTES, proprietor of the Avenue House. This hotel is a handsome frame building erected in 1875. The main building is three stories high and contains twenty-four rooms; attached to it is a fine billiard hall, bowling alley and dancing hall. There is livery also for the guests of the house. J. H. C'ortes was born in Bremen, Germany, in 1823. Ile was educated in his native city and brought up to mercantile life. In 1842 he came to the United States and settled in Philadelphia, l'enn., where he engaged in clerking four or five years. Ile then opened a hotel, which he operated until 1861. At the breaking out of the war he raised a company of men, who were mustered into the service as Company R. 75th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, of which he was commis- sioned Captain. Ile served until the close of the war, then returned to l'hiladelphia, where he opened a Turkish and Russian bath es- tablishment. Four or five years later be removed to Baltimore, Md., where he engaged in hotel keeping until 1873, when he settled in Chicago, opening there a saloon. In 1878 he sold out and took

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 208

Author: Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839-1900 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : A.T. Andreas Number of Pages: 875

Author: Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839-1900
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : A.T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 875