USA > Illinois > Cook County > History of Cook County, Illinois : being a general survey of Cook County history, including a condensed history of Chicago and special account of districts outside the city limits : from the earliest settlement to the present time, volume II > Part 28
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Sag Station was a small postoffice where Lemont, formerly Ath- ens, now stands. It was started in 1838, when canal workmen were there in large numbers. In fact the Sag was famous at that time not only for the work on the canal, but because the workmen there often changed the result of political elections in the county. There were several stores there at an early date, one good hotel, a postoffice and many boarding houses. However, the Sag did not amount to much in the end; with the canal it went down and is nothing more than a country village at the present time.
The first plat of Lemont village was made about 1848. It was first called Keepotaw, after an Indian chief who formerly resided in this vicinity and was known to the first settlers. Later the name Lemont was substituted. In 1873 the citizens assembled to consider the question of organization as a village under the law of 1872. Every vote present was cast in favor of village organization. The first election was held in August and the following trustees were chosen: Joel A. Wells, president; Dr. William B. Pierce, Daniel B. Murphy, John H. Fedens, and Stephen Keough. George D. Plant was clerk and S. W. Norton, treasurer. The first school taught in the vicinity of Lemont village was held in 1836 on the old Luther farm. It was taught in a residence and several sessions were held there. About 1840 the public school was opened on the present
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site of Lemont village. It was at this date that the township was divided into school districts and by 1844 there were four or five prosperous, well-attended schools. Religious organizations were es- tablished as early as 1836. St. James' academy was established in 1883. The building, 80 by 30 feet, was erected at a cost of about $14,000. The Lemont Methodist church was organized in 1869. Another building was erected the same year. St. Patrick's Catholic church in the center of the town was established in 1860. The Ger- man Polish Catholic church was organized in 1882 by Rev. Mr. Moczygemba. A large church was erected soon after. The German Catholic church was erected in 1869 of the same year a church was erected at a cost of $4,000. The German Lutheran society was organized in 1872, but continued to meet in the schoolhouse until 1874, when they secured their first church building. Among the early hotels in the village of Lemont was one built by Michael Kear- ney in 1861.
The Township of Proviso originally contained thirty-six sections, being a full Congressional township. In 1870 the township of Riv- erside took from it four of the southwestern sections. The Des Plaines flows north and south through the eastern part of the town- ship. Salt creek enters the Des Plaines from the west near River- side. This stream is in the southern part of the township. At the time of the first settlement the town was mostly prairie with a strip of timber along its water courses. Bennett's Grove and Cat Grove were two well-known localities. Mr. Bennett settled at the former in a log house at an early date. The first settler of the township was probably Aaron Parsell, who located on Section 29, close to Salt Creek, in 1832. In 1833 George Bickerdike and Mark Noble built a saw-mill on the east side of the Des Plaines river, near the Chi- cago & Northwestern crossing. A little later T. W. Smith owned the mill and resided in a log house adjacent. Ashbell Steele settled on Section 12 about 1836. For several years thereafter the following settlers appeared in this township: Thomas Covell, John Bohlander, P. H. Fippinger, J. S. Sachett, James Ostrander, Reuben Waples, A. B. Kellogg, Nathan Dodson, John Waters, Henry Mesenbrink, William Noyes, P. Granger, Peter Miner, E. W. Thomas, S. Y. Bruce, Augustine Porter, C. Limberger, Peter Bohlander, George Darmstadt, D. F. Deibert, C. G. Puscheck, H. F. Deibert, Charles Longood, John Pfeifer, Stephen Pennoyer and Solomon Buck. These men settled in the township late in the '30s and during the '40s.
The township was organized in 1850 at a meeting of the settlers. Phineas Stanton served as moderator and A. S. Funston, clerk. At the election of officers the following was the result: Stephen Pen- noyer, supervisor ; Daniel F. Deibert, clerk; Augustine Porter, as- sessor; Daniel Stanton, collector; Joshua S. Sackett, overseer of poor ; Phineas Stanton, Phares Granger and E. W. Thomas, com- missioners of highways; C. G. Pucheck and Avery M. Pitts, consta-
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bles, and Nathan Dodson and A. S. Funston, justices of the peace. At this election a total of fifty-two votes were polled. The town- ship was immediately divided into four road districts and the name given to the new town was Taylor, but a little later the term Pro- viso was substituted. The name was derived from the Wilmot Pro- viso which was discussed at that time. Resolutions regarding the running at large of animals were passed. One of the first roads laid out commenced near Forbes' place, thence ran northerly to Waples', thence on to Kettlestring's. In about 1851 a tax of five mills was levied to secure means to build a bridge across the Des Plaines river at the Chicago Grand Detour State Road crossing. New officers were elected in 1851 under the improved town law.
An early minister in Proviso township was John Brandstedster, a Lutheran who preached at the house of Christian Longood. The Methodists conducted services about the same time. A Lutheran church was organized about 1850, and services were first held in a schoolhouse. Later a church was erected on Section 30, at a cost of about $8,000. Among the ministers who attended this congregation were M. Zucker and Mr. Meyer.
The village of Maywood, distant about ten and a quarter miles from Chicago, is on the west bank of the Des Plaines river. In 1868 W. I. Reynolds bought a tract there and organized a stock company and proceeded to lay out a village. Associated with him in the com- pany were W. T. Nichols, J. P. Willard, P. S. Peake, A. S. Eaton, H. O. Gifford and A. M. Moore. In 1869 this concern organized as the Maywood company, which began an elaborate system of im- provement. Streets were laid out, buildings commenced, ditches dug, trees planted and the village began to grow. A large hotel was a notable feature soon after commencement. A general store was established in 1870 by George R. Hall. He became first postmaster. The Maywood company in 1870 constructed a large schoolhouse for the purpose of attracting residents. Religious services were held in this building. The upper part of the building was really dedicated to religious services. Miss Ida Barney taught school here in 1871. The same fall E. L. Hallock opened there the Maywood Military Insti- tute. The Congregationalists and Methodists had a society there at a very early date.
Soon afterward their first building was erected at a cost of $5,000. About the same time a Presbyterian congregation was organized and their building cost about $10,000. The Maywood Presbyterian church was fully organized in 1872. The Maywood Episcopal Evan- gelical church was commenced in 1871 and was first held in the brick schoolhouse. A Sunday school was established, with M. V. Hotch- kiss as superintendent. The first Methodist church at Maywood was organized in 1873, with a membership of about twenty. A one- story frame church was erected at a cost of about $4,500. The sites for the various churches were donated by the Maywood company.
ConLafler.
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About the same time the Baptists organized a society. Other re- ligious societies appeared a little later.
Among the first residents were P. S. Peake, R. B. Barney, W. T. Nichols, Allen S. Eaton and H. W. Small. So rapid was the growth that during 1872 a total of eighty-three houses were erected. The village was formally organized in 1871.
River Forest, on the east bank of the Des Plaines river, in the town of Proviso, was commenced in the '50s. A total of 500 acres was laid out. Lake street (Chicago), continued westward, runs through the southern part of this village. In 1860 a brick school- house was erected at a cost of $10,000. In 1873 the Methodists erected a church at a cost of about $10,000. Solomon Thatcher spent $25,000 upon a residence there about this time. By 1860 the place contained about fifty residents and many business estab- lishments. The railway company first called the place Thatcher, after the man who previously had owned the land there. The first station also was called Thatcher. One of the first residents was Samuel Rattle. The place was incorporated in 1880. Forty-four voted for incorporation and seven against it. The Thatcher M. E. church was organized in 1860 and a Sunday school was estab- lished at the same time.
The village of Harlem originally embraced River Forest, Oak Park and nearly all of present Harlem. When Oak Park was set off Harlem was limited to Proviso, and when River Forest became independent Harlem was cut down still more. By 1866 Harlem had a total of about fifteen houses. In 1884 thirty-four of the citizens petitioned for incorporation of the village. The election was held at the schoolhouse and seventy-six votes were cast in favor the incorporation and fifty-five against it. The Lutheran church at Harlem was organized in 1862 with forty members. They first met in the schoolhouse and later erected a church which cost $8,000. The Evangelical Lutheran St. Paul society was estab- lished there in 1878 and met first in the public schoolhouse. The first minister was Rev. Ireon. Early schools were taught in tem- porary buildings. In 1878 a large building was erected at a cost of about $4,000. Mr. Wilcox taught the first term in this building.
The village of Melrose, a short distance west of Maywood, was started in 1873 by the Melrose company, an organization designed to make money by the sale of lots. The place grew quite rapidly and in 1874 there were about fifty houses. About the same time the Melrose depot was built. The Chicago Tire and Spring works located here and brought many permanent residents. The village was incorporated in 1882 upon the petition of thirty-seven resi- dents. At the election twenty-three votes were cast in favor of in- corporation and fifteen against it.
The village of Proviso was settled as early as 1855, but its growth was slow. A few residences and shops were there quite
Vol. II-18.
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early and a German school and church. A postoffice was estab- lished in 1853 with Augustine Porter postmaster. Bellwood, Grossdale and La Grange Park are thriving communities of a later date.
Norwood Park was organized from Jefferson and Leyden towns in 1872. A small portion from Niles was also taken to form the original town. Probably the first settler in this township was Mark Noble, Sr., who located there as early as 1833. The follow- ing year Phineas Sherman settled near Mr. Noble. He had several sons who grew up and became useful citizens. About 1835 the three Smith brothers-Marcellus B., Gustavas F. and Israel E .- located on Section 7. Henry Smith settled near them in 1836. About that date Ephraim Paine and Ezra Alger located near them. John Pennoyer settled on Section 1 in 1837. His son, Stephen Pennoyer, located on a tract near him. James Pennoyer, a younger son, established a home there later. Russell Morton became a resident of the town about 1838. John and Jacob Kline settled on Section 11 about the same date. Other early settlers in this por- tion of the county were Samuel Hummel, George Coleman, Heman Ralley and his son Heman, William Aldrich, Peter Ludby, William Sporleder, Jacob Bumstead, William Hill, Joseph Shaw, Rees Eaton, John R. Stockwell, John Robinson, Charles R. Ball and others.
The first schoolhouse was built about 1838 and was attended by the children of Smith, Noble, Sherman and others. In order to raise means to build the schoolhouse all adult males were required to contribute $5 each with which to purchase lumber. The first term was opened during the winter of 1838-39 by Miss Susan Pennoyer. The cemetery near the schoolhouse was established about the same time the school building was erected.
In 1872 the citizens petitioned the Board of County Commis- sioners to form a new township. Favorable action was taken and in a short time it was formally organized. Of the thirty legal voters residing in the township, twenty petitioned for a separate organization. The organized territory was as follows: Sections 6, 7 and 18 and the west half of Sections 5, 8 and 17, Township 40 north, Range 13 east; also Sections 1, 12 and 13 and the east half of Sections 2, 11 and 14, Township 40 north, Range 12 east. The first Board of Trustees was elected in April, 1873. Cyrus J. Corse was moderator and D. C. Dunlap clerk. Steps to raise $200 for town purposes were immediately taken. The County Board also made an appropriation to assist in the construction of roads and bridges in the new town. The first annual meeting was held in the railway station and the first election resulted as follows: Stephen Pennoyer, supervisor; Cyrus J. Corse, clerk; Jesse Ball, assessor ; Frederick H. Kline, collector; James Winship and John B. Foot, justices of the peace; Frederick H. Kline and John R. Stockwell,
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constables; Israel G. Smith, Charles Jones and Thomas H. Sey- mour, commissioners of highways. The sum of $65 was paid to Jesse Ball for making the first assessment.
It should be said that when the town of Jefferson was formed the citizens of Jefferson and Leyden townships generally opposed the movement. Meetings in opposition to the division were held, and resolutions asking the County Board not to grant the prayer of the petitioners in forming the new township were adopted.
Although several settlers located on the site of Norwood Park village at an early date, the village itself was not really started until about 1869, at which time Lemuel P. Swift platted the first lots and George Dunlap built the first house on one of the lots. It was a two-story frame house at Norwood court and Circle avenue. Other early houses were by John R. Stockwell and Thomas H. Seymour. The village was first called Norwood and is said to have been named after the story written by Henry Ward Beecher. Later the word park was added. Thomas H. Seymour was the first post- master. E. W. Morse established the first store. Other early store- keepers were John Cammack, F. M. Fox and A. A. Fox. Nor- wood Park hotel was built in 1872. The Northwestern station was built about 1869. A small paper called the Voice of the West was issued at an early date. Other publications succeeded it.
The establishment of the village was duly petitioned for in 1874 by the citizens and was granted. Of the thirty-two votes cast at the election thirty-one were in favor of a village organization.
The Cook County Infirmary and Insane asylum is located in the town of Norwood Park. The farm consisted of 160 acres and was established before the formation of the town of Norwood Park. A record of this institution will be found elsewhere in this work.
In 1861 the town of Hyde Park was formed from the town of Lake. The incorporation was effected in February of that year. In April the first town meeting was held at the station of the Illinois Central railway. Erastus S. Williams was chairman of the meeting, Warren S. Bogue moderator, and Abraham Bockee clerk. The first supervisor was Paul Cornell; clerk, Hassan A. Hopkins; collector, George White; commissioners of highways, Prentice Law, John Middleton and Frederick Bosworth; consta- bles, Alex Brown and Niboreus Goldhart; justices of the peace, Chauncey Stickney and Samuel Brookes; poundmaster, Frederick Rohn. The town officers proceeded at once to establish a pound at Woodlawn near the railway station. The town was divided into school, road and tax districts.
Hyde Park village was organized in 1872, 262 votes being cast in favor of the organization and 188 votes against it. The first village officers were C. M. Cady, president; Lucius G. Fisher, supervisor and ex-officio member ; John F. Banécy, Lester Bradner, Jr., Elam G. Clark, Michael Doyle, William E. Hale, Hiram Vanderbelt, Asa D. Waldron, trustees; Richard S. Thompson, clerk.
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Among the small villages in Hyde Park in early times werc Colehour, Irondale, Roseland, Kensington and Riverdale. Hyde Park more than any other portion of the county became a part of the city of Chicago at an early date. Among the important im- provements were the Hyde Park water works and the fire depart- ments.
As early as 1853 Charles Cleaver built a house in Hyde Park, at a place named after him ("Cleaverville"), and later Oakland. In a short time several other settlers located near him. Samuel Ellis had lived there previously, and of him Mr. Cleaver bought the land. Henry and Lorin Greaves also lived there at an early (late. Mr. Cleaver was wealthy and designed making many large improvements. Hc spent as high as $60,000 in one year for build- ing purposes. He erected many houses for his workmen.
About 1854 the residents there erected a church building. In 1857 the site was platted and was called Cleaverville. It was de- scribed as being the north part of fractional Section 2, Township 38 north, Range 14 east, and the south part of fractional Section 35, Township 39 north, Range 14 east. Mr. Cleaver established his rendering and soap works early in the '50s, soon after locating there. At a later date he engaged in the real estate business. Mr. Cleaver, at his own expense mainly, erected a building for town purposes and this became known as Cleaver hall. Many of the entertainments of that portion of the county were held in this hall. Numerous religious organizations also assembled there. It was used at times for school purposes also. Mr. Cleaver's residence, after the fashion of Englishmen, was called Oakwood hall, and hence Oakwood boulevard, Oakwood street, etc., were originated. He established the first store at this point. It was a grocery and was conducted by William Cleaver, a relative of Charles. This portion of the county was a popular resort for wealthy men doing business in the city. Here could be seen their sumptuous country residences. Oakland Congregational church was built by Charles Cleaver as early as 1854, and was first attended by Rev. Mr. Booth. A permanent organization was effected in 1857 and on that occa- sion Rev. W. A. Nichols presided. About twenty persons joined the first class. It became known as the Salem church, and was located on Lake avenue between Thirty-ninth street and Oakwood boulevard. It served the purpose until the Oakland church proper was built. At an early date the church divided and formed the Ninth Presbyterian congregation, which a little later became the Sixth Congregation. The South Congregational church started with about thirty-five members and a school of about fifty children. The present frame building was erccted about 1884. The Baptist church in Hyde Park was established during the '50s.
Prior to 1859 all of Hyde Park south of Twenty-second street was open country. There were two small settlements, one near
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Cottage Grove avenue and Twenty-sixth street, the other on the lake shore at the foot of Oakwood avenue, called Cleaverville. The Congregational churches were started about the time these settle- ments were. The University of Chicago was opened in May, 1859, and became an important feature of this community. The first Baptist church was organized early in the '60s near the university. In 1868 the Cottage Grove Baptist society was formally organ- ized, with Dr. J. A. Smith as pastor. The members first met in the university chapel, but finally had their own building. The Church of the Holy Angels was founded in 1880. Previous to this date the Catholics of this locality met at Grossman's hall on Cottage Grove avenue, near Thirty-seventh street. They started with about thirty members and a Sunday school of about thirty-five scholars. Numerous other church organizations of about a dozen denomina- tions were started in Hyde Park during the first twenty years of its existence. The Forty-first Street Presbyterian church was among the number.
The first school was taught in Cleaver hall, at Oakland, and the first teacher was Miss Josie M. Mulligan, assisted by Miss Keeler. This was situated at the southeast corner of Fortieth street and Drexel boulevard. Later another school was started on Indiana avenue, a little farther south. These schools were taught in the early '60s.
Forrestville had a somewhat indefinite boundary, like many other suburban villages. It may be said at first to have been bounded as follows: Forty-third street, Cottage Grove avenue, Forty- seventh street and Indiana avenue. This village seems to have had an independent growth and development. It had its own business houses, schools, churches and entertainments. As early as 1878 a kindergarten was started in this hamlet. Nearly fifty children were in attendance within less than a year. The Forrestville Hose com- pany was an early organization. The Springer and Farren schools supplied the inhabitants from Thirty-ninth street and Grand boule- vard to Forty-third street and Indiana avenue. The Springer school, built in 1873, became an important educational institution. The Farran school was also important. It was located at Wabash avenue and Fifty-first street. The Oak Ridge school was in the vicinity of Forty-seventh street and Cottage Grove avenue, but children attended from as far south as Sixty-third street and as far west as Indiana avenue.
One of the first residences of what is now Hyde Park was that of Nathan Watson, who was there as early as 1836. The origin of the name Hyde Park probably came from a suburb of London, England. Mr. Watson built a log cabin there, near the corner of Park avenue and Fifty-third street. It was his design to estab- lish an orchard. Paul Cornell became a prominent early character of Hyde Park. He came to Chicago in 1847, but in 1852 bought a
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large tract of land in Hyde Park and proceeded to improve the same. He at first bought 300 acres along the lake shore and in- duced the Illinois Central railway to establish the station called Hyde Park on his land. Mr. Cornell erected the famous Hyde Park hotel, one of the prominent landmarks in early times. He leased this hotel to the owners of the Richmond house, Chicago. It was a favorite resort for the sporting people of the city when they desired a little diversion. After the assassination of President Lincoln, Mrs. Lincoln and her family stopped there for a time. Stephen A. Douglas also occupied the hotel before his death. In 1856 Mr. Cornell platted a tract of land lying between Fifty-first street and Fifty-fifth street. In 1858 he erected a building for church purposes, paying about $1,000 toward its erection. Others assisted with whatever was necessary to complete the structure. Later Mr. Cornell deeded to the church a tract of ground. The First Presbyterian church of Hyde Park was organized in 1860, Mr. Cornell being one of the members. Rev. William H. Spencer was probably the first pastor. In 1856 the Presbyterian Theologi- cal Seminary of the Northwest located on the lake shore between Fifty-third and Walnut streets. They secured the land from Mr. Cornell. Cyrus H. McCormick made a large donation to this insti- tution. St. Paul's Episcopal church was organized in Hyde Park as early as 1857 and about the same time a Sunday school was connected with it. As early as 1856 Charles B. Waite established a seminary in Hyde Park. The building was not finished until 1859. Mrs. Charles B. Waite was principal. This institution was famous in early years. Many of the most distinguished ladies of Chicago were educated there. In 1863 a large public school build- ing was erected near Mr. Cornell's residence. The first teacher was a Miss Brookes. At later dates high schools and many gram- mar schools have sprung into existence. It is sufficient to say that this portion of the county is supplied with splendid educational facilities and has been ever since the Civil war.
As early as 1860 George W. Waite was postmaster at Hyde Park and was succeeded three years later by Joseph W. Merrill. H. A. Hopkins was one of the first storekeepers at Hyde Park avenue and Fifty-third street. He had previously been a book- keeper for Mr. Cornell.
Egandale was founded by Dr. W. B. Egan and was bounded about as follows: From Forty-seventh street on the north to Fifty- fifth street on the south, and from Cottage Grove avenue on the west to Madison avenue on the east. It was upon this tract that the famous race track of early times was located. It was called the Chicago Driving Park, and all the famous horses of the country raced there at some period. Flora Temple, Moscow and other famous nags were exhibited there. Near this park were several mounds which appeared as if they had been thrown up by human
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