History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 238

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 238

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).

3. W. WATERMAN, farmer, Sections 22 and 27, Township 42, Range D, was born in North Admins, Muss., in 1826, son of George T. and Eunice Waterman. In 1842 he came with his parents to Illinois, and located on a farm in flarrington Town- ship. He now owns a farm of $35 acres, is engaged in stock- raising and dairying, and has some fine Norman horses. He was married in 1852 to Miss Alvira Applebee, daughter of Gil- bert and Betsey Applebee. They have three children-Susan E. Church, Jay W, and Frank L. Hle is a member of the Bap- tist Church, and has served on the school board for seven years. He has been Supervisor of Barrington Township, and is president of the Barrington Mutual Insurance Company. and member of the Illinois Dairymen's As-ociation. Ife hns been for several years a member of the Elgin Board of Tra.le. George T. Waterman the father of the subject of the above sketch, was born at Cheshire, Mass, in 1796, son of John Waterman. He was married in 1822 to Miss Eunice Haskins. They had seven children: five are now living-Waity, Charles, George W., Anna and J. Monroe. He came to Barrington in

1842, where he lived until his death, in 1880, at the age of eighty-five years. Ile was Captain In the War of 1812, sta- tloned at Boston. Ile was for many years Justice of the Peace in Barrington. Mrs. Waterman died in 1860, at the age of sixty-three.

WILLIAM G. WATERMAN, farmer, Sections 22, 26 and 27, Township 42, Range 9, was born in North Adams, Mass, in 1816, son of William and Sarah Waterman, At the age of eighteen he engaged in school teaching, and for a number of years taught during the winter and worked on the farm In the summer. In 1838 he came to Illinois, where he remained a year and a half. returning in the full of 1839 to Massachusetts, and engaging in the mercantile business at Cheshire. Here he remained antil 1855, when he returned to Illinois and located in Barrington Township, on the farm where he now resides Hehad been extensively engaged in sheep-raising until 1881, sinee which time he has made a specialty of dairying. Ile owns fifty cows and has some fine blooded cattle, Holstein and Jersey breeds. lle was married in 1844 10 Miss Phebe A. Pos- ter, daughter of Llentenant Edmund and Sarah Foster They have had three children, one of whom is now living, John A., born in 1850. Mr. Waterman is Republican in politics, and has ever taken an active interest in the political issues of his country. lle was representative In the Massachusetts Legis- Inlure in [835. He was Supervisor of Cook County for two terms, and member of the county school board, and also school examiner for three terms. Mr. Waterman is a member of the Universalist Church.

JI. G. WILLMARTH, merchant, was born in North Adams, Berkshire County, Mass., In 1831. He is the son of Homer and Mary A. (Wells) Willmartis. Ilomer Willmarth was one of the prominent citizens of Barrington. He was born In North Adams, Mass., March 5, 1807. At the age of twenty-one he commenced business in partnership with his father as a cotton manufacturer, and afterward became n fotel keeper in North Adams, Mass., continning In this business until his removal to Cook County, Ill., in 1838. Here he settled on a farm and lived upon it until 1861, when he moved into the village of Bar- rington. He was a very energetic and successful business man, and acquired a large property, In politics he was a Repub- lican, and took an active part in the political issues of the country, He was Justice of the Peace thirty years, and County Commissioner of Cook County three terms. He also served in the Illinois Legislature two terms, and on the Board of Equalization three terms. He died March 29, 1882. H. G. Willmarth came with his parents to Illinois at the age of six years, On attaining his majority he engaged in farming for four years, after which he was engaged In various pursuits uutif 1864, when he engaged In the merchantile business until 1891, during fourteen years of which time he was asso- cinted with 1 .. Powers, under the firm name of Willmarth & Powers, Ile enlisted In 1861 In Company 1, 52d Illinois Volunteers, being commissioned Second Lieutenant at the time of his enlistment, and in 1862 promoted to First Lieu- tenant. lle participated in the battle of Shiloh and other engagements of his command, being mustered out in the fall of 1862 Mr. Willmarth was married In 1853 lo Miss Eliza- beth S Junks, They have had six children, two of whom sur- vive-Alfred and Frank O. Mrs. Willinarth died in 1872. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, A. F & A. M. He is now engaged in settling the estate of his father.

Digliand by Google

HISTORY OF LEMONT.

The first white settler to locate permanently within the present limits of this township was Jeremiah Luther, who in the fall of 1833 settled on a claim in Section 34, about three miles southeast of where is now the village of Lemont. On this farm Mr. Lmhier built a house, and the following spring returned to the East for his family, who at once accompanied him to the new home he had chosen for them in the then wild and undeveloped West. In 18:40 Mr. Luther, with others, caught what was popularly known at the time as "the gokl fever," and started to make the over- land trip to California. The handships of the journey, however, proved to be greater than he could stand, for he sickenel mid died before it was more than half accomplished. His son, Job S. Luther, is now living on the okl place. Fobes H. Miner was also a settler of 1833. In that year he located on a farm in the township, where he lived until his removal to Will County. some years ago. His son. Fred G. Miner, still lives on the ok. homesteadl. William R. Derby, the oldest living settier in the township. came from Vermont in May, 1834. and with Orange Channcey and Joshna Smith, who had also accompanied him. they settlel on the sinne section on which Mr. Luther had located the prereding year. The four men divided this section equally, giving to each as far as possible, like proportions of prairie and timber land as his share. "At that time Mr. Derby says there were but one or two houses between Chicago and Joliet. Hylan Martin, now the well-known merchant of the village of Lemont, came to Cook County in 1834 and located on lands which are situated in Cook. Du Page and Will counties. In 1868, Mr. Martin moved into the village and opened a general store, in which busi- ness he, in company with his son. is still engaged. Nathaniel J. Brown,'in 1835, brought the first cargo of lumber from Grand Haven, Mich., to Chicago. arriving at the latter port on the 4th of April of that year. In 1837 he took a contract on the canal. and subsequently excavated a mile of it in front of the present site of the village of Lemont. In 1848. after the canal was completed, he bought lunds here and has since made this place his home. He is now very wealthy, being the owner of three quarries, two of which he leases on rental, and which. during the busy season, afford him an income of $100 per day.

Augustus Dolan located in Lemont, on Section 13, in 183;, and worked on the canal until 1840. He subsequently, in 1845, purchased the farm near Sag Brilge, where he still lives. William C. Bell eame with his father, Joshna W. Bell, to Lemont Township in 1838, and located on Section 25; the latter kept a hotel at what is now Sag Bridge, at an early day, but in 1841 move.l to Chicago, where he became the pro- prietor of the Vermont House, which he comineted for nearly eighteen years. Mr. Bell, Sr., continued to residle in Chicago until his death, which occurred in 1825. Richard Cleveland came to Cook County in 1836. and the following your began work on the canal. He subsequently located on a farm in Section 36, near

the village, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1874. His two sons, Isaar and Milton W. Cleveland, who also came to Cook County with their father in 1836, still live in the township on small farms not far from the village. Among those who came at a later day, and who are still living here, are the following: Joel A. Wells, the pres- ent superintendent of the Illinois Stone Company, came to Lemont in 1845, and was employed as an engineer on the canal. Nearly ten years later, when the above company was organized, he was made its master mechanic, and later its superintend- ent, which position he still holds. In 1846 cume Alexander Rel, who also worked on the canal until 1851; three years later he opened a store at Sag Bridge, which he still condnets, and is also Postmaster at that place.

James M. Tripp located in Lemont in the same year with Mr. Riedl, and workel at his trade, that of a carpenter. A few years Inter he purchased a farm hear the village, where he still resides. Daniel C. Skelly came to Ilinois in the fall of 1839. In1848 he purchased considerable quarry property in Lemont Township, and ten years later he located permanently in the village and began developing his quarries. Horace M. Singer, now president of the Singer & Taleott Stone Company. came with his parents to Illi- nois in October, 1836. In 1852 be became interested in the stone business at Lemont, and the company organized by himself and Mr. Talcott. in 1854. has long been known as the largest institution of its kind in the West.

'Town Organization .- Lemout Township is situated almost in the angle formed by the junction of Will County with the county of Cook, and is therefore bounded as follows : on the north by the township of Downer's Grove, in Du Page County, on the east by the town of Palos, and on the south and west by the townships of llomer and Du Page, of Will County. Until its organization in 1850, Lemont, or Palmyra, as it was then called, was located in York precinct. Concerning this name Palmyra, inquiries failed to discover when it was bestowed on the township, or at just what time it was discarded and the present one substituted in its stend. The first entry on the town records shows incidentally, however, that in 1850 it had only recently been done. This entry reads as follows:

" Pursnaut to a notice issued by the Clerk of the County of Cook, issued pursuant to the provisions of an act to provide for township organization, the in- habitants of the town of Palmyra [now Lemont], convened at the house of Lemuel Brown, in Athens, on the second day of April," etc.

This would indicate that at that date " Palmyra" was, in a certain sense, still in use, though evidently not the legal name of the township. At the first election, at which William R Derby acted as mod- erator, and John Russell, clerk, the following officers were elected : John Kittering, Supervisor ; L. Brown,

6-47

Digiland by Google

848

HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

Clerk ; Augustus Dolan, Assessor ; Thomas Brackin, Collector ; L. Brown and O. Chauncey, Justices. In the following roster will be fonud the principal officers chosen at the annual elections held from 1851 to the present time :

Supervisors .- John Kittering, 1851-52 ; O. Chancey .. 1852-53 ; 11. S. Hall, 1853-54; W. R. Derby, 1854-55; W. C. Bell, 1835-37; Peter Brackin, 1857-58; N. J. Brown, 1858-60; D. C. Skelly, :1860-61; N. J. Brown 1861-63; M. J. Fleming. 1863-64 : Isaac A. Fisk, 1864-65; Horace M. Singer, 1865-66; N. J. Brown, 1866-67; l'eter Mckeon, 1867-69; D. B. Murphy, 1869-70; S. Keongh, 1870-75; Joel A. Wells, 1875-27 : S. Keongh, 1877-28; Thomas Dris. coll, 1879-80; M. E. Kelley, 1880-82; Mathew Wur- ner, 1882-84.

Assessors .- Orange Chauncey, 1851-52; Richard Cleveland, 1852-33; Jolin Russell, 1853-54 : Seth Lather, 1854-55; W W. Cleveland, 1855-56 ; John Jardine, 1856-58; Richard Cleveland, 1838-59 ; Augustus Dolan, 1850-60: John Barrows, 1860-61 : Dean Monaghan, 1861-62; Alexander Strachan, 1862-63; John Gannon, 1863-65; Nicholas Hausen, 1865-66; John Gannon, 1816-23; James B. Neill, 1873-74; John Gannon, 1874-75; James B. Neill, 1873-77; Jolm Kearney, 1877-28; Barthold Konrad, 1878-79; Mathew Warner, 1879-80; James B. Neill, 1880-82; J. W. McCarthy, 1882-84.

Clerkx-W. R. Derby, 1851-52: John Russell, 1852-56; Alexander Strachan, 1856-57; Richard Cleveland, 1857-59: Jolin Kearney, 1859-61; W. S. Brown, 1861-63; Nicholas Hansen, 1862-63; C. B. Bartlett, 1863-64; I. M. Lull, 1864-65; James Cash, 1865-66; W. P. White, 1866-67; Joshua llal- leck, 1867-68: John T. Derby, 1868-69: Mathew Warner, 1869-70; Jolin Il. Teeders, 1870-71; J. T. Darby, 1871-73; George D). Plant, 18:3-74; W. H. Skelly, 1874-75; S. W. Norton, 1875-78; W. P. White, 1828-82; Job S. Lather, 1882-83: Joshua Bell. 1883-84.

Collector» .- Thomas Brackin, 1850-51 ; Issachar A. Norton, 1851-52; John Barrows, 1852-53; 1. A. Norton, 1853-54; William C. Bell, 1854-55; Peter Quinn, 1853-56; I. A. Norton, 1856-57 : Jolin Bar- rows, 1857-58; S. L. Derby, 1838-59: George P. French, 1859-60; Frank Slevin, 1860-62; John Kearney, 1862-63; Frank Slevin, 1863-63; John Gannon, 1865-66; Nicholas Blake, 1866-67 : Jolin Brassil 187-68; James Noonan, 1868-69; William Lyons, 1869-79; Mathew Warner. 18:0-21; W. Il. Skelly. 1871-43; Thomas Driscoll, 1873-74; John Fobey, 1874-75; JJohn New, 1875-26; Daniel Shine, 1876-77 ; Jerry McCarthy, 1877-78; W. E. Kelley, 1878-80; J. O'Leary, 1880-82; Patrick O'Neill, 1882-83; Theodore Locey, 1883-84.

Justices, -Alexander Ried, J. Russell, John R. Bush, and John Barrows were chosen during the years from 1853 to 1858: John Barrows and William R. Derby, 1858-62; Alexander Ried and Jobn Barrows, 1862-66 : D. C. Skellery and A. Ried, 1866-73; J. T Derby and W. H. Skellery, 1873-77 : John G. Bolton John Gannon and W. H. Skellery, 1877-81 ; D. C. Skellery, George Weimer and John G. Bolton, 1881-85.

LEMONT VILLAGE.

Lemont's earliest existence as a village, if indeel it then rose to that dignity, was between the years 1843 to 1848, and during the construction of the Illinois &

Michigan Canal, a full history of which is elsewhere given in this volmne. On the spot where now stands a thriving and populons town of over three thousand inhabitants, there were then only a few shanties, the homes of the laborers on the canal. It was at that time, too, that the discovery was made of the existence of the stone hereabouts, the working of which has since become the leading industry of the place, and made it famons as producing the finest building material taken from nny quarries in the West. Of these quar- ries, however, more will be said hereafter.

On the completion of the canal, in 1848, many of the men who had aided in its construction located at various points along its line between Chicago and La Salle. Of these a few-attracted, doubtless, by visions of future wealth to be realized when the demands of the country would open up and develop the inexhaustible supply of stone which was already known to exist-stopped at Lemont or in its immediate vicinity. flere they purchased lands and lots, and as time passed have had no occasion to regret the steps then taken. Mention has been made of these pioneer settlers in the preceding pages, devoted to the general history of the township.

In 1854 began the development of the quarries here, though for ten yours the business grew but slowly, owing mainly to the fact that at first there were some donbts as to the durable character of the stone for building purposes. When it was fairly demonstratel, however, that the stone found at Lemont was equal in all respects to that taken from the celebrated quarries at Rutland. Vt .. and at Lockport, N. Y., capitalists were not slow in investing money in a field' which promised such sure and satisfactory returns. From that time there may be said to have begun the growth of the village from that of a mere hamlet to a busy and prosperons town. It should also be stated that in the carlier history of the place it was known as Athens, n name which elung to it until after the township organization, in 1850.

The first plat of Lemont, and which now embraces a considerable portion of the village lving east of the railroad, was made certainly as early as 1850, and was named Keepotaw. in honor of 'an Indian chief, formerly of that locality. The streets of this subili- vision were laid off dne north and south, which, when the railroad was completed through the place, running diagonally, was the occasion of those queer-shaped lots now seen in the lower part of the town. In the sub- sequent additions the streets have been laid out with the railroad. The second subdivision was made a few years later, by S. J. Truesdell.

On the 9th day of June, 1873. as appears from the village records, an election was held by the electors residing within the following described area of terri- tory, to wit: Commencing at the southeast corner of Section 20, running theuce east eighty rods, thence worth to the south bank of the Desplaines River. thence in a westerly direction ulong the south bank of the sail river to the west line of Section 20, thence sonth on sail section fine to the southwest corner of said Section 20, theuce sonth eighty rods, thence east 240 rods, thence north eighty ro le, thence enst to the place of beginning ; a l of the above described terri- tory being sitnated in Township 37 north, Range 11 cast. The object of this election was to decile whether or not the citizens residing within the above described territory should organize as a village nuder av act of the Legislature of April 10, 1872. A conut- ing of the votes polled showed 243 for, and none

Digiandby Google

849

HISTORY OF LEMONT.

agamat, the proposed organization. The first election edifice ereeted during the same year ut a cost of $8 000. of village officers was held on the 5th of Augn-1, of that year, and on the 9th of the month the first meet- ing of the Board of Trustees was held. The officers chosen at the first election were: Juel A. Wells, Presi. dent : Stephen Keough, Nieco as New, Dr. William B. Peirce. Daniel B. Murphy and John II. Telens, Trustees : George D. Plant, Clerk ; S. W. Norton, Treasurer : John T. D rhy. Corporation Consel : . A. C. Uuderwood, Constable; and James Barrett, Street Commissioner. The following is the roster of officers to the pr sent time :

Presidentx. - 1873 to 1875, Joel A. Wells; 1875-76, I. W. Park ; 1846-16. A. Ingram ; 18;7-78, D B. Murphy : 1878 to 1850, Stephen Keough ; INSO-81. James Noonan ; 1581-82, Nicholas New ; 1882-84, D. C. Norton.

Clerks .- 1874, James B. Neill : 18;5. J. B. Schumers; 1877, S. W. Brier; 1>28, Patrick Mel'anna.

Police Magistralex .- 1871 to 1828, Stephen Keough ; 1878 to 1842, Joshua Bell; 1882 to 1886, JJames C. Thorpe.

The City Attorneys have been : John T. Derby, William S. Brown, and William 11. Skelly, the latter being the present incumbent.

The First School taught in the vicinity of Lemont was organized in 1836, and was located about half way between the village and the old Luther farm. A few years later n public school was established in Lemont, which was conducted until the ervetion of the present graded school buikling in 1869. About that time Horace M. Singer, feeling that the town needed better educational facilities than were afforded by the little public school, built, at his own expense, a handsome frame structure, designed for a private school, to be supported by tuition. As the new gradeil public school, which was opened in Isto, fully met the needs of the people for better educational advan- tages. the subscription school was never but poorl; sustained. In Is;4 Mr. Singer, with his accustomed liberality, soll the house to the German Lanthernu congregation, by whom it is still used, having in the meantime been enlarged and remodeled as a house of worship. The present handsome graded school build- ing which, as has already been stated, was erected in 1869, and opened in Isto, is built of stone, two sto- ries and a basement in height, with a clock and tower crowning its roof. Situated as it is, on the bluff, it pre- sents a commanding view from the valley below, and in connection with the varions churches, and the new St. James Academy, also similarly located, adds much to the picturesyne beanty of the town. George D. Plank was the first principal of the school. It is now under the management of Jolm McC'arty, with the follow. ing assistants: Mury Harrington, Mary Harkings, Sabina Madden and Miss Horie

St James' Arcolemy, an imposing stone editice, in size. 50x60 feet, was begun in the smumer of 1883 by Rev. Father Hogan, of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, and as an educational institution will, when completed, be under the charge of the Sisters of Prov- idence. 'The building is two stories in height, with an addition 80x30 feet in size, designed for the use of the Sisters, while the estimated cost of the entire structure is placed at $14,600. There are also private day schools connected with the Catholic and Lutheran societies, and which are under the immediate charge of the pastors of these Churches,

CHURCHES-The Lemont Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1869 and the present church

The Wells, Norton, Martin, Clifford and Luther fami- lies were its first members, even before a Church organ- ization was effected, and are still among its lending adherents. It is to be regretted that the Church records, containing much that woukl be of interest concerning its early history, have been destroyed; with this fact in view. however, no other apology is needed for what would otherwise seem an inexeus- able omission of data m this sketch. Rev. B. T. Vin- cent was the first regular pastor, und Rev. S. T. Show is the present minister in charge. The Church now has uearly forty members, n well attended and inter- esting Sunday-school, and is in a growing and pros- perous condition. The present stewards of the society are H. W. Martin, S. W. Norton, Mrs. D. C. Norton, Mrs. 11. W. Martin, Mrs. James Clifford and Mrs. Job Inther.

St. Patrick's Catholic Church, situated almost in the center of the town, was erected in 1860, and until 1880, was under the pastorate charge of the priest of St. Dennis's Church, at Lock- port. At the last mentioned date. Rev. J. E. logan became its pastor, since which he has done much toward improving und strengthening its financial as well as moral condition. He has built a handsome parsonage in addition to the St. James' Academy, already mentioned, besides by his untiring labora has greatly increased the Church membership.

The German Polish Catholic Church was founded in 1882 by Rev. Leopold B. M. Moczygemba, who came to Lemont during that year. In the summer of 1883 he purchased twenty acres of land adjoining the village, on the west, platted it into lots, reserving in the center of the tract a square on which he has erected a handsome and imposing church edifice at a cost of $0,100. This addition he has named 'Jasna- goria." The lots he sells to the people of his denomi- nation at prices and terms enabling them to secure homes of their own. Father Moczygemba has, it is almost needless to add, succeeded in buikling up a strong and flourishing Church organization within the past two years, besides doing so much for his people in the way of encouraging them to habits of thrift and economy in the daily affairs of life. He has now over two hundred families under his pastorate charge.

The tierman Catholic Church of St. Alphonsis was instituted in 1869. The same year a house of worship was erected at a cost of $4,000. Since that time the buikling has been enlarged and repaired, making the total expenditures, including the original cost, over $7,000. Rev. Father Rosenbower, of Chicago, per- farmed the duties of pastor until in 1874 Rev. Francis Antly was place i in charge, being the first regular pastor of the Church. The congregation is now with- ont a priest, but are temporarily served by Father Maczygamba, of the Polish Catholic Church.

The German Lutheran Church was organized in 1×72-73, but had no house of worship until, in 1874, the congregation purchased from II. M. Singer the building he had erected for a private school. This house, which cost Mr. Singer $2,500, was casily con- verted into a nent and commodious church. In thut year Rev. W. Uffenbeck, who had just graduated at The Imtheran Concordia Seminary at Ft. Wayne, was made the pastor of this Church, which at that time was named as St. Matthew's Lutheran Church of Lemont. The Church has grown rapidly during the ten years of Rev. L'ffenbeck's pastorate, having greatly

Digiland by Google

850

HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

increased its membership, besides building a two-story parsonage, the lower floor of which is used for sche ol purposes. The congregation now uminbers near one hundred families, while the day school connected with the Church has an attendance of sixty pupils.

SOCIETIES .- Lemont Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 708, was instituted Juno 6, 1873, with the following named chartor members : William P. Peirce, James Box, T. J. Hustin, B. Van Buren, A. W. Irwin, J. W. Coombs, J. C. Thorpe, John Brooks, George W. Britfett, J. S. Shattuck and L. W. Park. The first officers were: W. P. Peirco, W. M .; James Box, S. W .; P. P. Thomas and J. P. Huston, Junior Wardens. The present officers are : T. J. Huston, W. M .; J. S. Shattuck, S. W .; W. E. Patch, J.W .; N. Eulert Treas .: J. C. Thorpe, Sec. ; James Burns, S. D; J. H. Tedens, J. D .; John Tomaker, Tyler. The Lodge has a membership of twenty-four, and is still receiving new accessions to its ranks.

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.

History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 238

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