History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 242

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 death in the vicinity of Thornton was that of Margaret Hampshire, a member of Mr Blackstone's family, who die:l of measles in the winter of 1836. The first birth was, so fur as can be necertainel that of Sarah Crawlal, daughter of David Crandlal, born in September, 1835. Joseph Case, who has alrerly been mentionel as among the early settlers of Thornton, die in 1868. Lut Chapman, who came to the village in 1849, also dieJ, in 1871. Ira Gardner came in 1850, and shortly after settled on what is now the Kellogg

farm, one mile northeast of the village. Philip Schunh came in 1819 and erected a dwelling on the corner uf William and JJulian streets, as shown by the Hubbarl an l Kenzie plat.

PREHISTORIC RELA'S,-When the first settlers arrived at Thornton, they found the ruins of what had once evilently been bidian fortifications, occupying the site of the present town. The ruins consisted of onter ditches or trenches, and iusile of these were the works or fortifications proper. On the banksof these, trees, apparently not less than one hundred years old, were growing, which only furnished abundant proofs of the in li-ptable antiquity of the ruins. When Joseph Case arrive l here he nsel frequently to talk with the Inlians abunt the origin of the remains, but conkl only learn that with them it was supposed they were built by the French explorers many, many years be- fore. In 1871 Ira Garler ing up a number of skele- times in the neighborhoo.1 of the fort, which he states were in his opinion those of white men, rather than of In lians, 'lle also, in the same year, dug up in his gar.len, specuneus of pottery, flint arrow heads, a stone chi-el and n pair of stone hullet monks. It is claimed by anne that these relies belongel to the southern Indians, who at. Que time, before they were driven still farther sonth by the more warlike tribes of the North, had possession of this portion of the country.

Thorn Creek, alrealy mentionel, runs through the village, and is a beautiful stream ; its waters clear as crystal llow over a smooth bel of lime rock, and are fel the year through by almost immunerable and un- failing springs, which are distribute l along its hanks from its source to its month. Limestone of the finest quality also abonuds in the vicinity, most of which is easily worked. In an early day the first quarry was openel by, or rather for. Gordon S. Hubbard, but owing to the large size of the stone, and its depth under the surface, operations further north und nearer the onterap of the rocks were found more profitable. In 1850 Mr. Stephen Crary, openel aquarry, which was situated on the upland, near where Peter Upton now lives. Since then varions quarries have been openel, from which innnense quantities of buikling stone have been taken. The largest one now in operation is workel by Rolawl Flanagan. From this quarry there were taken in 1882 over eight hundred cords of stone.

The first school-house in the village was built in 1836, from swed lumber, prepared at the Hubbard and Kenzie saw mill, und stool just northwest of the pres- cut railroadl depot. James Barton nud Caleb T. Sweet were among the first teachers. In 1852 a building was erertel for the double purpose of a town hall and school : this bnikling, which is still in existence, was used for school purposes until 1842, when the new school-house was built at u cost of $6,000.

In the early days of the settlement it could boast of no organizel'church of any denomination. Itinerant ministers of various eres.la visite l the village au l dis- peused the gospel, most generally at the school-house, but sometimes at the house of a farmer in the vicinity. Mr. Crary says the first sermon he remembers to have heurl prearhel in the village was by Marcellus Me- Gowan, a Mormon missionary, who stoppe.l iu Thoru- ton over Sun lay on his way from the State of Missouri to the East; this was in 1836; the sermou, which was an impassionel barangne in support of the per- nicions doctrine of polyg.uny, was listene'l to by a large an lience, nttraste l'out of more ille curiosity to hear what the "long haired apostle" had to say. The first

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house of worship, now the Methodist Church, was erected originally for the Society of Good Templurs, but was purchased by the lirst uamed body in 1876.

The oldest house now stamdling in the village was built in 1837. for a man named Barrett, by the Case brothers and John B. Taban. It stands on Will- iam Street, near the residence of Peter Upston, and as it is now in an advanced state of decay, the chances are that this land-mark of early days will soon have gone the way of all the earth.

Thornton village was platted in September, 1835, by John H1. Kinzie, who had already purchased the land hereabouts from the Indians. fle soon after conveyed a one-third interest to Messrs. Hubbard uml Blackstone. The first plat thus madle was one mile square, beginning nt the forks of Thorn Creek, und running one mile north, one mile west, and one sonth and east to the point of beginning. The first physi- cian in the village was Dr. Benjamin Baker, who locatel there in 1850, In 1820 the village population was 301 ; in 1880, 401 : preseut estimated population, 500, The Imsiness interests of the place may be summined up briefly as follows: two grocery stores, three general stores, two snloons, one brewery and two stone quarries. The village was named Thornton in honor of Colonel W. F. Thornton, of Illinois, who was one among the first Canal Commissioners in the State.

THORNTON BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HEMAN GARDNER, dealer in general merchandise. began trade in 1867 He came to Cook County, Ill., In 1848, then for some time lived at Sondwleh, III., returning to Cook County In 1856. In August, 1869, he enlisted in Company .1, 113th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Ile was mustered out June 29, 1865. Ile followed farming two years, then embarked in merchandising. He was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., June 1. 1899. lle was married in 186; to Miss Maria Bush, of U'Ister County, N. Y. They have four children-Estella, Ella, Mattie Ethel and Alice J.

JOHN JOHNSON. farmer, stock-raiser and poet, Section 28, Township 30, Range 14. lle came to Chicago, Ill., in May, 1836. Ile lived In Chicagu until the fall of 1852, work- ing as carpenter and builder. For the past seven years of his residence there he was engaged in the grocery trade. lle came to his present place in 1852. Ile was born in Belfast, North Ireland, December 15, 1808, and came to Amerien in 1825. Mr. Johnson served his apprenticeship In New York City as carpenter. In 1830 he went to Pittsburgh, l'enn., and fol- lowed his trude six years; thence went to Chicago. In 1839 he was married to Naomi Ellis, a native of Ohio. They have six children-Samuel Ellis (a farmer in Lake County), William John (a physician In Chicago), Lydia J. (married to n Mr. Baker), Namni, Ellen A. and Thomas S. (a photographer at Pullman, Cook County).

LANSING.

Lansing is a small village on the Chicago, Pitts- burgh & St. Louis Railroad, about twenty-eight miles dis- tant from Chicago. It is located ou a sandy ridge. although the surrounding country is somewhat low, abouuding in fine natural meadows, admirably adopted for grazing purposes. The principal indns- try of Lansing is baling hay, in which business Chris- tian Schultz is the largest dealer and manufacturer. He has large warehouses and presses for this purpose, and puts into the market, from his establishment. 4,000 tons per annum. Lansing contains a handsome Lutheran Church edifice, built by that society in 1883 at a cost of $3,500.

Cummings Corners, which is usually considered a part of Lansing, has also a Church of the same denon- ination. The Holland Church has here two houses of worship, being the strongest religious organization in the place.

The Lansing Ilotel is kept by Christian Busack, and the post office, together with a general store, by Henry Lansing. The store at the Corners is kept by John M. Semmelbaack. There are also a shoe store, two blacksmith shops, four saloons, and two butcher shops."

The first settlers here were John. George and Heury Lansing. The town plat was laid out in 1865 by John Lansing, who died in the spring of that year. The land immediately adjoining the town is owned principally by C. Schultz, G. A. Gutzell, J. Hentz and Edward Lansing, who is the present Jus- tice of the l'enee.

LANSING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HENRY BOCK, blacksmith and dealer in agricultural implements, is a native of Germany, where he was born in the year 1842. While In Germany he served in the Prussian Army during the Austro-P'russian War in 1867, and the Franco-Prus- sian War in 1870-71. In the latter war he took part in sixteen linles and engagements. lie was married to Ida Salow in 1862, and has two daughters-Annie and Ida. In 1874 he immigrated to the United States and bought out Seretsky's blacksmith shop at Cummings Corners. Mr. Bock owns six- teen and three-quarter neres in Cunmings Corners, and forty acres near there, and two houses and three lots at Kensington Mr. Bock has also dealt in agricultural Implements for the past nine years, is agent for the W. A. Wood Company. Furst & Bradley, and American and Goderich sewing machines: also deais in stores and tinware. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.

G. A. GUTZELL, farmer, was born in Baden, Germany, In 1810/ Mr Gutzell's life while a young man was a very excit- ing and adventurous one. In 1836, he volunteered to serve in the African campaigns of the French Army, an! saw hard service In Arabia, Egypt, Tunis, Tripoli and Morocco, and endured great sufferings and privations during a campaign in the Sahara. Returning in 1841, he farmed it till 1848, when he served under Kossuth and Siegel in the Baden revolution. In 1849 he imunigrated to America, and resided In New York for five years. lle then went to Chicago, where he remained three years. Removing from thence to Lansing in 1857, he bought a farm, ou wi:ich he has since resided. Mr. Gutsell married Mary Miller In 1851, by whom he has two daughters, both inarried, one residing on Mr. Gutzell's farm. This form adjoins the town site of Lansing, and has about $7,000 worth of Improvements on it. Mr. Gutzell is & Democrat in politics.

JACOB HEINTZ, farmer, P. O. Lansing, is a native of Germany, where he was born in 182H. He left there and came to the I'nited States in 1855. After spending three months in Chicago he located in Thornton, near Lansing. He first pur- chased forty acres of land, but by ludustry and energy is now the owner of 156 acres adjoining the town site of Lansing. handsomely improved by fine buildings. In 1852 he married Lisa Boll. Hle hastwo sons and six daughters living-Jacob, Philip (living in Dakota), Mary, Elizabeth, Caroline, Emma, Catherine and Louisa. Mr. Hleintz is a member of the Luther- an Church. He has held the office of Overseer of Highways and has been school director for nine years.

EDWIN II. LANSING, Justice of the Peace, was born in Greene, Chenango Co., N. Y., in 1841, and came west with his father, John Lansing, in 1846. Mr. Lansing followed farming till he was of nge, when he served for a short time in the army and afterward worked for the Eastern Illinois and Pan-Han- dle railroads, first as brakeman, then as conductor. In 1868 he went to Pueblo, Colo , where he was engaged In min- ing and stock-raising till 1882 when he returned to Lansing, where he has since resided. He is Justice of the Peace for Lan- sing. and owns a far of 200 acres near that place.

HENRY LANSING, Postmaster, Is one of the four of the Lansing brothers who settled at this place. The town site was laid out in 1865 by his brother, John Lansing, who died the same spring. Mr. Lansing is a native of Chenango County, N. Y. He cume west with his two brothers, George and John,

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in 1848. Peter, the other brother, not coming.nmtil Isus. His lurottiers settled at Lansing in 1846, but he went further west to Galena, where he remained a short time. afterward return- ing to Lansing. Ile joined the army at the onthreak of the Mexican War, aml served under Taylor in the 16th Regiment till its close. From Mexico he went to Sacramento, C'al., where he engaged in mining till 15. Aftern three years sojourn in Illinois, he again made a hip to California, by the overiaml route, remaining there two years, He then spent two years in traveling through blaho and Washington Territories. and returned to Illinois in 1804 and opened a grueral store nt Lansing, which in company with his brother Peter he has con- ducted ever since. He has been Postmaster for eighteen years, nul at present is Supervisor of Thunnon, which office he has held for the last three year.

CHRISTIAN SCHULTZ, farmer and lay-presser, was born in Germany in 1841. He came to the I'nited States in IN7, and settled in Lansing in 1859, and has been engaged in farm- ing ever since. Hle now owns 413 acres of chuire land near Lansing, which is handsomely improved by a fine brick rrai- ilence, comunalious barns, and warehouses containing large hay-presses. Mr. Schultz is an enterprising man, and in 1822 started in the hay-prewing business, thus milizing the long hay on the natural meadows around Lansing. Mr. Schulz ships hay to C'inrinnati, lami-ville, St. lamis, Cleveland and t'hinge, For use in the foundries there. Ile proces on the average about 4,000 tons per season, but has proved as high as 5,000. Mr. Schuhz is a member of the Lutheran Church. It was mainly owing to his public spirit that n urw church, costing about $3.500, was erected in Lansing last year. lle was mar- riedl in I4B7 to Sophiin Long. aml has three sons and twodangh- ters, Mr. Schultz is a Republican in politns and holds the office of school dirretor.

JOHN M. SEMMELILAACK, general merchant, is a native of tiermany, where he was born in Ispi. He immigrated in the I'niteil' Sintes in Iron, locating first in Chicago, where he followed the Inule of a carpenter. In Is25'he moved to Thorn- ton, and settled at Cummings d'orners, where he worked at his traule till INst. when he bought ont the general sture of George A. Ilart, in which busines- he is still engaged. Ile was mar- riedl in 1873 to Mary ciberlin, hy whom he had one daughter. His wife dying, he was married again, in INEN, to Mary Killner, hy when he has three children-Frank, Clara and louisa. Ile also owns a large public hall, which he has lately built, at t'um- mnings Corners, and is a member of the Lutheran Church.

HAMMOND.

This town, for which its inhabitants entertain the highest hopes as to its future growth and greatness. hus indeed, within the past four years, made such rapid progress as to fully justify the predictions of its friends that it is destined ut no distant day to become an important commercial eity. Although situated mainly in an adjoining State, a small portion of it ouly jutting over into Cook County, of Illinois. it can justly be classed mong the suburban towns of Chicago. In fact, so closely are its commercial and social interests linked with those of the great city, that the Chicago & Atlantic Railway Company intend, during the coming summer, to put m a dummy or suburban train between the two places. Four years ago Hammomt had not to exceed five hundred inhab- itants. It now has a population of over twenty-five hundred, und is still growing with a rapidity aston- ishing to those who remember it only a few years ago us un insignificant little station on the Michigan Cen- tral. then the only railroad in the place.

The first settler in the vicinity of where now stands the town of Hammond, was E. W. Hohman, who located here in 1849. The region hereabout was then an unbroken forest of heavy timber, but which has long since mainly disappeared, under the nggressive civil- ization of the white man's nx. Mr. Hohman for many years lived in a little log house, which stood on the north side of the Calumet, In later years he erocted

a handsome frame dwelling, near the same spot, and which is still standing. Ile also acquired a great quantity of land, owning at the time of his death in 18;3, over eight Inindred acres. It is on part of this tract that the village was originally heated, and from which the various additions to it have been made, during its recent rapid growth.

Joseph Trackett is also an old settler, coming here a few years subsequent to the arrival of Mr. Hohman. lle now lives in the house he orginally built, and which is the oldest within the present village limits, on Dolton Street and the State Line road.

William Sohl came here abont the same time with Mr. Trarkett. Ile located some little distance east of the village, on the Michigan City road. Shortly after the Michigan Central Railrond was completed, in 1852, Mr. Sohl opened a small store at the station (Ham- mond) and was therefore the first merchant in the place.

In 1869 Marcus M Towle, still a resilent of Ham- moml one of its wealthiest and most influential citi- zens, and the man, more than any other, to whom it owes its present prosperity, located here and began in a small way the slaughtering business, first erecting, however, a small frame slaughter house about thirty hy sixty fret in size. At that time there was no town, in fart no signs of any : the railroad, with no side tracks or switches, ran through the woods here, and Hammond had not as yet risen to the dignity of a station. The G. Il. Hammond Packing Compmmy, an institution which is the ontgrowth of the beginning made by Mr. Towle, to-day has buiklings which cover nearly live acres of ground, including ice houses, etc .. aml furnishes employment to over five hundred men. Five to six howlreil cattle are slunghtered here daily. while the full capacity of the houses is double these figures. The monthly expenses for stock reach the amın of $1,350.000. while their monthly pay roll amounts ta over $20.000. The company is engaged ulmost exclusively in what is known as the dressed beef traffic, employing a great number of refrigerator cars, to transport their meats to Eastern markets. C'omnected with the packing honses, nud operated by the same company, is an extensive oleo-margarine ofl factory, which turns out daily forty tierces of oil. The G. H. Hammond Packing Company is incorpo- rated nuder the laws of the State of Michigan, with headquarters at Detrnit. The present officers of the company are: George H. Hammond, president ; Andrew Comstock, vice-president, and J. D. Standish, secretary and treasurer. The stockhoklers are M M. Towle, G. Il. Hammond and Amirew Com- stoek ; the paid up capital of the company is $ 1,500,000.

The M. M. Towle Distilling Company was Inthed in 1883, for the original purpose of mannfacturing syrup from corn, and for making whisky out of the grain after the saccharine substance hml been used in the muunfacture of the syrup. Bitt as the United States Government forbids the carrying on of any other business in the same building where distilling is done, the original plan was abandoned. The distillery builling is a four-story frame, 48x89 feet in size, and cost, with the apparatus and machinery necessary to curry on the business, $100,000. It employs twen- ty-live men and has a enpacity of 3,000 gallons of alcohol per day. The company is incorporated under the laws of this State, with a cash capital of $150.000. The officers are : M. M. Towle, president, and W. H. Gastlin. superintendent.

The Hammond Lumber Company was started in

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1878, with M. M. Towle, proprietor, and J. Krost, superintendent. The yards cover nearly ten acres of ground, with five hundred feet of duckage frouting on the north bank of the Calmmet. The company employs thirty men and handled last year over 5,000,- 000 foot of Inmber.

The Tathill Spring Company was formed and incor. porated in 1883, with a paul up capital of @50,000. Its officers are: Frank Il. Tuthill, president; M. M. Towlo, vice-president ; W. 11. Tuthill, secretary, and James M. Young, treasurer.

llammond bus a fine brick hotel, which was built in 1881 by M. M. Towle, at a cost of $30,000. It was compdesed and opened to the public on Monday, October 30), 1883; Charles Lyon is the first name appearing on its register.

In 18:4 M. M. Towle & Co. started the large gen- cral storo which they still condnet. It has from time to time been enlarged until now they carry a stock valued at $20,000.

The Imiblic school building was erected in the win - ter of 1881. It is a two-story brick edifice, and cost $4,000 ; has eight rooms and employs six tenchers. It is at present under tue principalship of l'rof. W. C. Belman.

The Methodist Church was built in 1883, at a cost of $4,000. It is n handsome framestructure, an orna- ment to the town, and a credit to its bniklers. Hev. Edward A. Scholl is the present pastor.

The Catholic Church was built in 1875 and is the oldest religions society in the place. Father Baum- gartner is at present the pastor in charge.

The Evangelical Lutherans have also a church organization and a honse of worship, built and dedi- cated during the summer of 1883. Rev. II. Wunder- liet is the prosent pastor.

In societies Hammond has a G. A. R. Post, and strong nud well organized loiges of Masons, Odd Fel- lows, and of the Ancient Order United Workmen.

The Hammond Tribune was started in 1879 by M. M. Towle. Two years later it was purchased by Alfred S. Winslow, by whom it is still coudneted. The office of the paper was totally destroyed in the fire of December 24, 1883, but its proprietor, with commend. able enterprise, did not permit this misfortune to pro- vent the appearance of a single issue of his paper. The Tribune is a handsome four-page weekly, and in appearance and in the character of its contents com- pares favorably with any country paper in the State.

The town of Hammond was laid ont by M. M. Towle, aud located on the northeast quarter of Sce- tion 36, Township 37 north, Range 10 west. The original plat was recorded April 12, 1875, and included four blocks, 103 lots, and the following streets : Indi- aun and Michigan avenues. Plummer and Ives streets, Dalton Road, inkl the Michigan Central Railroad. Cottage .Grove addition bears date of September 2 1879; was also made by M. M. Towle ; lins sixty lots, with Michigan Avenne, Chicago and Murrny streets. The other additions are: Townsend and Godfrey's. made October 9, 1879, with 125 lots; Hohman's, made January 4, 1880; Towlo & Young's made March 3, 1883; the Solil Estatu's addition, March 18, 1882, and Wilcox & Godfrey's, maile at the same time.

Hammond was incorporated as a town in Novem- ber, 1883; but with its present rapid growth it will perhaps be but a short time until this will be changed ton city organizat on. John F. Krost is the Clerk and Treasurer, and Donald MeDonald the Town Attorney.

Though comparatively a new town, Hammend has already experienced the horrors of a great conflagra- tion. On the 24th of December, 1883, it was visited by u most destructive fire, which in a few hours laid twenty-one business houses in ashes, destroying prop- erty to the value of over $50,000. Owing to the fact that as yet the village has no well organized fire department, it was almost at the merey of the flames from the moment the fire broke out. Fortunately, however, no lives wore+ lost, while the terrible lesson received on that occasion has fully aronsed the people of llannoud to the necessity of providing adequate means for future protection. The following account, containing the full partienlars of the fire, is taken from the columns of the Hammond Tribune, which was also one among the institutions destroyed on that ocension :

" Abont six o'elnek Monday morning the alarm of fire was sounded, and the Commercial Block was the place where the fire was discovered. It originated in E. E. Towle's meat-cooler, and in a few minutes the west end of the block was wrapped in fames, In about two hours Commercial Block and the buildings cast of it, west of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, were laid law in ushes. As soon as possible the fire cugine was bronght ont, hose attached, and put to work. After the flames had spread to some extent and all hopes of saving the building had flown, the attention of all was turned towand saving the adjoining buildings, in which they were successful.

" M. M. Tow le owned Commercial Block, which was valned at $15,000, with but $7,000 insurance. This building had not been built two years, and was ocen- pied by six business firms on the first floor, as follows: E. E. Towle, ment market, well covered by insurance ; 11. Seyfrath, dry goodls, loss $2,700, with $2,000 insurance; W. ff. Verrill, saloon, loss not known,. insurance $1,200; El. Inrden, gents' furnishing goo:ls, loss and insurance not known ; E. A. Andrew, druggist, loss and insurance not known; M. Cham- migue, loss and insurance not known. Of the above parties only E. A. Andrew and M. Champaigno saved anything before the fire, while all that was in E. E. Towle's safe was all he had left. We are informed that Ed. Harden and W. H. Verrill closed their doors and took nothing out.

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 242

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