History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 231

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

USA > Illinois > Cook County > History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time > Part 231

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).

JOHN McMAHON, farmer, 1'. O. Worth, was born in Ireland in 1836, son of James and Margaret McMahon. Ile came to New York in 1852, where he was engaged in farming, which pursuit he followed until 1857, when he removed 10 Cook County, and en. gaged in the same occupation. Ile was married in 1864 to Miss Mary McMahon, daughter of Patrick and Mary McMahon. They have ten children-Daniel, Minnie. James, Margaret. Kittie, John- nie, Annie. Julia, Thomas and Adelaide. Mr. McMahon has been Assessor of l'alos Township fourteen years, school trustee, three years, and school director six years. Mrs. McMahon's parents were early settlers of Cook County, first locating in Chicago, where they resided thirteen years, then in Palos Township, where they were engaged in farming until the father's death, in June, 1871, at the age of sixty-six. The mother is living at the age of sixty eight years.

MICHAEL McMAHON, farmer, P.O. Worth, was born in Ire- land in 1838, son of James and Margaret McMahon. Ile came to America in 1853 with his parents, andremained for about six years in western New York. In t855 he came to Cook County and located in the township of f'alos. In 1864 he purchased the farm where he now resides, containing 199 acres, and engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Mr. McMahon was married in 1867 to Miss Julia Ford, who died in 1873. leaving two children. Julia and Roger. He was married in 1879 to Miss Kate McEnery, daughter of Dan. iel and Kate McEnery. They have two children, Nellie and Mary. lle and wife are members of the Catholic Church, and he is a mem. her of the school board on which he has servedl six years.

SAMUEL MAILAFFAY, farmer, P.O. East Orland, was born in the north of Ireland in 1504, son of Samnel and Mary Mahaffay. Ile came to America in 1825, and located in western New York. . At the age of twenty-five with his father's family he came to Illi- nois, At the time of their arrival there were but two taverns and three stores in Chicago. They settled on the East Branch of the DuPage River, in l'alos Township, on the farm where Mr. N.u. haffay now resides. Their only neighbors were Indians, Mr. Ma- haffay married in 1835 Miss Jane Paddock, who died in t541, leaving three children, John, Mary and James. Ile married in 1812 Miss lletsey Churchill, a native of New York State, and daughter of Winslow and Mercy Churchill. They have had three children : William, died in the army at sixteen years of age ; Samuel, died in infancy : Winslow, born in l'alos Township in 1847. Winslow married in 1870 Miss Alice Grange, daughter of Thomas and Rose Girange ; they have seven children-Ida, Jennie, Ella. William, Frank, Mabel and Rersey. Samuel bought the home farm at Gov- ernment land sale ; it consists of 320 acres.

JOHN MALLON. P. O. Willow Springs, was born in Ireland in ts3t, son of James and Isabella S. Mallon. He came to Cook County in 1856 and located on the farm where he now resides. in 1862 he eulisted in Company F. tooth Illinois Volunteer Infantiy. He participated in the battles of Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, in which battles he was wounded by a gun-shot in the left side of his skull, where it remained for seventeen years, until extracted in 1832, by Dr. Andrews, of Chicago. Ile was married in 1867 to Mrs. Ellen Williams, daughter of Eugene and Bridget McGovern. They have five children, three now living -- James E., John 11. and Charles F. By her former marriage Mrs. Mallon had three children, two now living, Lizzie and Mary Williams. They belong to the Catholic Church. Mr. Mallon was Clerk of the town of l'alos for six years. llis occupation is farming.

CHRISTOPHER MIKELSON, merchant. P. O. South Mount Forest, was born in Denmark in 1846, son of Michael and Anna Anderson Mickelson. He came 10 Cook County in 1864 and fol- lowed farming for six years in the township of l'alos, and then en. gaged in merchandising. Ile owns ten and one-half acres on which his store is located. The building is twenty.two by forty-two,

with ell sixteen by twenty feet, two stories in height. He carries a general assortment of goods. He was married in 1876 to Miss Mar- garet O'Connel. They have three children-Margaret, Elsie G. and Mary A. Mr. Mikelson has been Justice of the Peace for six years, and has been school treasurer for seven years. He was appointed l'ostmaster of South Mount Forest in June, 1878. He is agent for the McCormick agricultural implement, Kelley's steel barb wire, Studebaker's wagons and Deering's agricultural imple- ments.

JOHN MURRAY. farmer, P. O. Palos, was born in Ireland in 1823, son of Michael and Reason Murray. lie came to America in 1840, and spent two years in Canada, after which he was engaged for six years in teaming in Chicago. Eight years were spent in the employ of the Stone & Lime Company of Lemont, following which. in 1957, he came to f'alos Township and engaged in farming and general stock-raising upon his present farm of 200 acres. In 1554 he was married to Miss Catharine Dillon. They have five children -James, Michael, John, Edward and Frances, Ilis wife dying in 1962, he was again married two years after to Mrs, Margret Carney. They are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Murray has been schoul director for seven years. His parents came to Cook County In 1843, and located in Lemont Township, where they remained until their deaths, the father's in t556, at the age of sixty, and the mother's in 1566, at the age of sixty six.

PATRICK O'KANE, farmer, P. O. Palos, was born in Ireland in t$12, son of Patrick and Mary O'Kaue. Ile spent one year each in Detroit and Grand Rapids, Mich. In 1839 he came to Chi- cago, and after remaining there seven years located apon his present farm in the town of Palos and engaged in general farming and stock-raising: his farm contains 266 acres. Ile was married in 1836, to Miss Judeth O'Kane, daughter of Patrick and Norah O'Kane. They have five children, two now living-Timothy M. and John T. They are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. O'Kane was a member of the Common Council of Chicago in 1845, and Supervisor of Palos Township for five years. He has been Collector three years, Town Clerk one year, and a member of the school board for several years. His son Timothy M. served three years in the late war.

PETER PEIFFER. larmer, P. O. Mt. Forest, was born in I'russia in 1849 son of William and Barbara Peiffer. Ilis parents came to Cook County in 1857 and located in l'alos Township, where they have since resided, his father now sixty-four and h's mother sixty-two years of age. Mr. Peiffer, the subject of this sketch, on attaining his majority engaged in farming, which occu- pation he has since followed. He now nwns sixty acres of land. Mr. Peiffer was married in 1873 to Miss Frances Soss, daughter of Frederick and Charlott Soss. They have six children-Willie, Francis, Jacob, John, Emma and Minnie. The family are members of the Catholic Church, except his wife, who is a member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. l'eiffer has been Commissioner of Iligh- ways for nine years, and school director for about twelve years. fle is agent for Walter A. Woods's farm implements, Wet.her wagons, Domestic sewing.machines, and is also agent Inr the llome New York, Sun of london and the New Ilampshire, of Manchester, insurance companies. Mrs. Peiffer's parents were early settlers of Dul'age County, where they resided till the death of her father, in 1854. at the age of forty years. Her mother is still living, at the age of sixty-five years.

JOHN M. POWELL, farmer, P. O. Palos, was born in Palos Township in 1839, son of M. A. and Clarinda B. Powell. On at- taining his majority he engaged in farming and general stock-rais- ing, and now owns 160 acres of land in the town of Palos. In 1863 he married Mixs Louisa Warner, daughter of Peter and Julia War- ner. They have eight children-Clarinda, Jessie, Nancy, George, Anna, Theresa, John and Herbert. Mr. Powell is Postmaster of l'alos, being appointed in 1880. Ile has served as Collector of Palos Township for four years and school director eight years. He enlisted in 1852 in the War of the Rebellion in Company F, 100th Illinnis Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the engagements of Franklin, Perryville, Stewart's Creek, Stone River, Chickamauga and others. Ile entered as private and was promoted to Second Lieutenant soon after, receiving his commission in August, 1862; he was mustered out in the fall. of t863.

M. A. l'OWEI.L., farmer, P. O. l'alos, was born in Lanesboro, Mass., in 1801, son of John and Nancy Powell. Ile came to Cook County in March, 1837, with his family, and located on the farm where he now resides, which consists of 320 acres. Mr. Powell was among the ploneers of Cook County. There were but nine families in the township of Palos when he made his location. He has been a man of great energy and perseverance, liberal-minded, and charitable. He has accumulated a fine property, and has won the respect and confidence of the people in the community in which he has lived for nearly fifty years. He was married in 1828 to Miss Clarinda B. Treat, daughter of Hosea Treat, of Trenton, Oneida Co., N. Y. Six of his eight children are now living-Norman,

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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

Amelia, John, Nancy. Julius and Hannah. Mrs. Powell died in 1862, and he was married in 1864 to Mrs. Nancy Kockafellow. daugbier of Giles and Fanny Bump, natives of Otsego County, N. V., who settled in Will County, 111., in 1839, and there died, the father al the age of forty-six, and the mother at fifty-five years of age. Mr. Powell was elected Treasurer and Supervisor of Palos Township at the first election after the organization of the town- ship in 1850, and has also held the offices of Assessor and Collector. He has been school director for a number of years, and was the first Postmaster in the township. being appointed at the establish- ment of the post-office of Orange. He served as Postmaster of thal office, and subsequently of th : Palos office, in all thirty-five years.

NORMAN POWELL, farmer, P. O. Palos, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., in 182g, son of M. A. and Clarinda Powell. He came to Cook County with his parents in 1837, who located on a farm in Palos Township, where they have since resided. Mr. Powell in early life learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he has since followed in connection with farming. Ile owns a farm of 346 acres. In 1856 he married Miss Mary Anderson, daughter of William and Polly Anderson ; they have two children-Eddie and Frank. Mr. Powell has been Supervisor and school treasurer of Palos Town- ship, and school director for a number of years.

MICHAEL POWERS, farmer, P. O. Worth, was born in Ireland in 1842, son of John and Alice Powers. Coming to Cook County in 1857, he engaged in farm labor until 1862, when he en- listed in Company F, 1001h illinois Volunteer Infantry, and par- ticipaled in the battle of Murfreesboro and other engagements of his command. He was wounded at Buzzard's Roost, by gun-shot through the left leg, which disabled him for service for about one year. Rejoining his regiment at Chattanooga, he served until the close of the war. Hle was married in 1868 10 Miss Mary Donovan, daughter of Patrick and Abbie Donovan. They have six children -Margarel, Edward, Morris, Mary A., John aod Johanna. Mrs. Powers has four children by a former marriage to Patrick Scanlon, -- Michael, William and James. Mr. Scaolon was killed at Chickamauga.

PETER WARNER, faroier, P. O. East Orland, was born in Germany in 1812, son of Jacob aod Amelia Warner, He came 10 Cook County io 1845 und located on the farm where he now re. sides, which contains 117 acres. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Ile was married in 1842 to Miss Julia Grill, daughter of Nicholas and Catharine Grill. They have six children -Jacob, l'eter. Julia, Phillip. Henry and Ernest. They are mem. beis of the German Methodist Church. Mr. Warner has been a member of the school board for nine years.

HISTORY OF ORLAND.

It is almost a tradition that the first white settler within the present limits of the town of Orland was a man named Henry Taylor, who in 1834-35 located on Section 15. Little could be learned concerning him, save that a few years later he removed still further West, and has not been heard of since. Thomas Hardy came in 1836, and located on the farm on which he still resides in the northwestern portion of the township. In 1844, William and Ichabod Myrick located on lands which they had purchased in 1841 in Section 6; while in the year first mentioned Sydney S. Campbell settled on the farm in Section 4, where he still lives. In 1845 came George H. Newman, and in the year following the Bartlett family settled on Section 5 ; also Fergus Dickson took up his abude on Section 12. Those who came later were Alanson St. Clair in 1848, locating on Section 9; Joseph Ward, in November, 1849, settling on Section 26; William Jackson in the same year, locating about two miles northwest of the village; Thomas Cooper, in 1850, on Section 15, and Frederick Kimmel, two years later, who settled on Section 23. Mr. Kimmel lived here until his death, which occurred in June, 1863; his son Charles still resides on the okl home place. Of these, the earliest settlers of this township, the majority are still living in a quiet and peaceful old age, and in the calm enjoyment of a rest richly earned by years of honest toil. In addition to the death of Mr. Kimmel, there are to be recorded those of Joseph Ward, who deceased in 1880, and of Amos Parmalee of the previous year. George H. Newman moved to the State of Kansas some years ago, where he now lives, and Fergus Dickson, for so many years a resident of Orland Township, now lives at the advanced age of eighty years in Newton County, Ind.

Among those who came later, and after the township organization, were the following: William Hewson, 1852; William Sippel in the same year, George Brandau in 1856, H. Reed and Alonzo Briggs, both of whom arrived in 1855. An idea of the population of the town- ship only thirty-four years ago may be gleaned from the statement that at the first town election held in 1850, there were only thirty-one votes cast, while its poll lists now show nearly three hundred voters.

The first post-office in the township was established in 1848, at the house of Alanson St. Clair, on Section 9, and in what would now be School District No. 2. Here the people of this neighborhood obtained their mail until the establishment a few years ago of an office at the little village of Orland. For those living remote from this office, there were postal facilities to be at Bremen, just over the line in the township of that name, and also at the little village of Mokena in Will County. It is scarcely necessary to add, that unto this day a goodly portion of the people of this township still get their mail at these places. The first school in the town- ship was built in 1849-50, and was situated about a mile and a half southwest of the village, near the site at where now stands the house known as No. 2. In this house was held also the first town election, besides being used by the inhabitants of the district for church and Sabbath-school purposes.

Until 1850, Orland Township was situated in what was then called York Precinct, which was made up of the towns of Bremen, Worth, Palos, Lemont, and Or- land. The latter as now constituted, is bounded on the north by Palos, on the east by Bremen, on the south and east by Frankfort and Homer townships, of Will County. The election for adopting a town form of government was held April 2, 1850, at Center school- house, in District No. 2, and the following officers chosen: William Jackson, Supervisor; Alanson St. Clair, Clerk; Sidney S. Campbell, Assessor; William Myrick, Collector; Milton P'. Bartlett, Overseer of the Poor; Ichabod Myrick and Fergus Dickson, Justices. From the records, it also appears that on motion of William Jackson, it was unanimously voted to dispense with pounds and pound-masters for the ensuing year, and also, that horses, mules, asses, cattle, sheep and hogs, be permitted to run at large as free commoners from the 20th of March to the 20th of November. In addition, it was also enacted, "that a fence, substantially built, and four feet in height, should be deemed a 'lawful fence,' and that owners of stock breaking through such a fence, should be fined $5 for each offense." Although the above is a little ambiguous in its import, it should per- haps be construed to mean that when the cattle, and not

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HISTORY OF ORLAND.

the owners, broke through the fence, the owners, and not the cattle should be subjected to a fine of $5, for the violation of this somewhat peculiarly worded statute.

On the 20th of April the Commissioners of Highways held their first meeting and proceeded to divided the township in nine road districts, which division has re- mained unchanged to the present time. They are as follows: District No. 1 consists of Sections 1, 2, 11 and 12; District No. 2, of Sections 3. 4, 9 and 10; D)is- trict No. 3. of Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8; District No. 4, of Sections 13. 14, 23 and 24; District No. 5, of Sections 15, 16. 21 and 22; District No. 6, of Sections 17, 18, 19 and 20; District No. 7, of Sections 25, 26, 35 and 36; District No. 8, of Sections 27, 28, 33 and 34; District No. 9, of Sections 29. 30, 31 and 32.

The first road laid out in the township after the town organization, was ordered on the 22d of October. 1850, by Timothy White and Fergus Dickson, the newly- elected Highway Commissioners, on the application of Alanson St. Clair. Its course was as follows: " Com- mencing in the middle of the highway leading from Jackson's to Hickory Creek, and at the northeast corner of lands owned by Benjamin Briggs on Section 8, and running east, bearing south 2216", one mile and thirty- six rods to the northeast corner of lands owned by Alanson St. Clair, in the center of Section 9: thence south along the east line of Mr. St. Clair's farm three- fourths of a mile, and terminating at the highway which runs east and west in front of Amos Parinalee's house." This road is still in existence, as are all those established during the first few years after the township organiza- tion.

At the second town meeting held in April. 1851, it was decided to henceforth have both a pound and a pound-master. It was therefore ordered that a pound be established on the northeast corner of Amos Parma- lee's farm; that it should be three rods square, with walls eight feet high; a tax of twenty-five dollars was levied to pay for the same, the building of which was to be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. Thus has been given the first dloings of what may be termed the legislative board of the township; its later transactions assume, of course, the character of mere routine duties, the recital of which would be of no interest or import to the general reader. Following, however, is given the roster of the principal officers of the township, chosen at the annual elections, from 1851 to the present time. Supervisors,-William Jackson, 1851-54: S. Camp- bell, 1854-59; I. H. Myrick, 1859-61; Henry Reed, 1861-63; William Myrick, 1863-64: Thomas.Cooper, 1864-66; Christian Battenhouse, 1866-67: John Hum- phrey, 1867-71; Charles Holstein, 1871-73; John Humphrey, 1873-78; William Jackson, 1878-79; John Humphrey, 1879-84.

Clerks .- Alanson St. Clair, 1851-53 : Ichabod My- rick, 1853-56; Fergus Dickson, 1856-63: John A. Jackson, 1863-64; Christian Andres, 1864-65; Fergus Dickson, 1865-69; J. B. Dickson, 1869-70; Fergus Dickson, 1870-74: J. B. Dickson, 1874-75: F. J. Nich- ols, 1875-77 ; James Cooper, 1877-78; Henry Laun. 1878-84.

Assessors .- S. S. Campbell, 1851-53 : Fergus Dick- son, 1853-55 ; S. S. Campbell, 1855-56 : James H. Bendlett, 1856-57; Henry Reed, 1857-58; John Hack- ett, 1858-59 ; S. S. Campbell, 1859-61 ; William Jack- son, 1861-62; Thomas Cooper, 1862-64: Adam Bran- dau. 1864-66; John Moore, 1866-68; William Brandau, 1868-69; Charles Holstein, 1869-71 ; Charles Brink- hortt, 1871-73; George Cox, 1873-74; Conrad Batten- house. 1874-75: George Cox, 1875-76; C. Battenhouse,

1876-78 ; S. S. Campbell, 1878-83 ; John Kirby, 1883-84.

Collectors. - William Myrick, 1851-52 ; Timothy White, 1852-55; H. N. Dickson, 1855-58 ; John G. Bartlett, 1858-60 ; A. Briggs, 1860-61 ; Christian An- dres, 1861-62; Conrad Battenhouse, 1862-65; Charles Holstein, 1865-66; Charles Burkhartt, 1866-69: Con- rad Andres, 1869-70; 11. Kirsch, 1870-71; J. B. Dick- son, 1871-73 ; Barnhardt Gunderman, 1873-74 ; Will- iam Cox. 1874-75 ; Barnhardt Gunderman, 1875-76; Charles Holstein, 1876-77 ; John Kirby, 1877-78 ; George McGregor, 1878-79 ; Conrad Battenhouse, 1879-80 ; John Kirby, 1880-81 ; Charles Kinnell, 1881 -83; Adam Gunderman, 1883-84.

Justices, -- 'Timothy White and John Simpson, 1854- 58 ; A. Briggs and William Jackson, 1858-62 ; William Jackson and C. Andres, 1862-66; Henry Laun and William Jackson, 1866-70 ; Henry Laun and John M. l'earson, 1870-74 ; James M. Parsons and Henry Laun, 1874-78; James M. Parsons and William Sippel, 1878-82 ; William Sippel and Noble Mitchell, 1882-84.

ORLAND.

The township of Orland has at this time but three post-office hamlets within its limits ; of these Orland, situated on the Chicago Division of the Wabash, St. 1.ouis & Pacific Railroad, and about twenty-three miles from the city, is the largest. It was founded in 1880, and immediately after the completion of the railroad above mentioned, which was begun in 1879. The first (Iwelling-house put up in the place was built by G. H. Zahn, in November, 1880, and the second by John Humphrey in May of the following year. In the sum- mer of 1881, Henry Laun, the present Town Clerk, erceted the building which he still occupies as a store, below, and living rooms above. The first plat of the town was made in April, 1880, for Colonel Fawcet Plum, and consisted of twenty acres, lying in triangular form, in the northeast corner of Section 9, and platted into nearly two hundred lots. This plat was made under the name of Sedgwick, the title bestowed on the station by the rail- road company, but in deference to the wishes of the inhabitants, the name was, in the spring of 1881, changed to Orland. Humphrey's addition of ten acres was plat- ted in the summer of 1880, and adjoins the village on the south and west. The business interests of Orland are represented by two saloons, two general stores, a furniture store and a blacksmith and wagon shop. It may be mentioned in passing, and as showing the ex- treme temperance proclivities of the citizens here, that in 1883, at the spring election, the question of permit- ting a saloon to be established within the village limits, was decided in the affirmative, by the exceedingly pop- ular vote of 98 to 1. As the place has a population considerably less than two hundred, and now has two saloons, the above vote indicates the unanimity of opin- ion in regard to the beneficial influence which their institutions wield over the morals of a community.

ALPINE is the post-office name given to the next station on the railroad south of Orland. It was estab- lished at the same time as the latter named place. It has a general store and post-office, kept by R. Sump- stein, who is also station agent for the railroad com- pany.

EAST ORLAND is situated about four miles north- east of Orland, and a mile cast of the railroad. For ten years past Lewis Grosskoff has kept a small general store here in one end of his farm-house, and about five years ago was appointed Postmaster.

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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

ORLAND TOWNSHIP BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

GEORGE BRANDAN, farmer, P. O. Orland, was born in Germany in 1836, son of Paul and Martha Brandan, who came to Cook County in 1856 and located in Orland Township, where they resided until their deaths; his mother died in 1859 at the age of sixty-five, and his father in 1869, at the age of seventy-two years. Mr. Brandan enlisted in 1862 in Company F. 100th Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, and participated in the battles of Stone River, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mouotain, Franklin, Nashville and other engagements of his command. fle was wounded at Dallas by a gun-shot through the right arm, which disabled him from service for one month; at the battle of Franklin he was wounded by a gun-shot through the left arm; he served until the close of the war. In 1860 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Balei. They have had five children, two now living, Katie and Mary. They are members of the M. E. German Church, and he is elass leader, trustee and collector of the Church, and has been school trustee for three years.

ROBERT BREMNER, farmer. P. O. Orland, was born in Scotland in 1817. son of Robert and Ann Bremner, He came to Cook County in 1847, located in Chicago, and engaged In the mer. chant tailoring business until 1871, when he removed to Orland Township on a farm, where he now resides. The farm consists of 280 acres; he is engaged In dairying, and keeps about sixty cows. He supplies with milk D. F. Bremner's bakery in Chicago. Mr. Bremner was married in 1837 to Rachael Brooks, Mrs. Bremner died in 1849. leaving two children, 1). F. and Alice. In 1851 he was married to Miss Ann Conley, daughter of Patrick and Abigail Conley. They have five children-Anna S., llelen, Mary. John and Robert. They are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Bremner is also a member of St. Andrew's Society of Chicago, and for a number of years was a member of the Highland Guards of that eity.

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 231

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