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 31
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In 1850 the township was organized as a town under the new law. A total of seventy-one votes were polled. The first men voted for and the first officers elected were as follows: Samuel Mars, supervisor, 71; William Carrington, town clerk, 20; James Michie, town clerk, 47 : Ebenezer Eaton, assessor, 71; Alfred Ward, collec- tor, 45; James Kerr, collector, 20; Theodorus Doty, overseer of poor, 67; Theodorus Doty, commissioner of highways, 65; Pat Doyle, commissioner of highways, 66; R. B. Heacock, commis- sioner of highways, 68; W. D. Knapp, justice of the peace, 29; James Michie, justice of the peace, 40; Alfred Ward, constable, 42; Michael Upton, constable, 66; James Kerr, constable, 18; George Jeffry, constable, 7; George Jeffry, collector, 3.
The first schoolhouse in the township was built in 1843, and Margaret McNaughton was the first teacher. Early in the '40s a bridge across the Des Plaines river at Summit was built by Rus- sell Heacock.
The village of Lyons is on the line of Thirty-ninth street (Chi- cago) extended. It was first started about 1831-2. Probably the first settler on the village site was Edmund Polk and his two sons, Henry H. and Wesley. They arrived about the year 1833 and erected a log house and were soon joined by others. Joshua Sackett erected a house in Lyons village at an early date. Theodorus Doty
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occupied the Sackett dwelling and at a little later date transformed the same into a hotel. He was succeeded by Mr. Webster. This hotel was on the well traveled Naperville road. The latter was first called the Brush Hill road and later Barry Point road. It was later a continuation of the Southwestern Plank road, which is now Ogden avenue. The first schoolhouse in the village of Lyons was erected by Theodorus Doty, the teacher's name being Miss Ellen Storrs. The old frame schoolhouse did duty for many years both as a schoolhouse and church. The Catholics were early in this part of the county. They had an organization at Lyons and one at Summit at a very early date. The Germans also established a Lutheran congregation here soon afterward.
In 1850 the postoffice of Lyons was established with S. White postmaster. The growth of the village was slow. Schools, churches and business houses put in their appearance as settlers arrived and demanded the same. The village of Summit is also an old one. It flourished greatly during the early canal period from 1836 to 1839. The first building there was the stage ranch and later a hotel was built. The canal laborers brought their families there and the population, though perhaps transient, was considerable late in the '30s and early in the '40s. The Democratic party in early times could always rely upon Summit for a substantial majority. Mr. Heacock was there as early as 1838. Dr. John T. Temple was there as early as 1836. Among the other early residents of the township were William Brown, John Maher, Patrick Doyle, Michael Murphy, Daniel Sweenie, Larry Haffey, Dennis Doyle, Dennis Coghlan, John Kirk, John Murray, John Healy and others. Thomas Butcher for a time kept the old stage tavern. The stage line was operated by Frink & Walker. As early as 1846 school was taught in Summit, and about the same time religious services were held there. In 1840 Mr. Osterhold conducted a tavern at Summit. John Wentworth had a country seat at Summit in early times. He had fine cattle and other stock with a pedigree. The great industry of Summit is the stone business in all its varieties.
Mount Forest, distant seventeen miles from Chicago, is a hamlet established at a later date. Settlers, however, were there in early times. William Cronin was an early resident of Mount Forest. Others were H. W. Fowler and H. S. Dietrick. A small newspaper called New Era was there about 1881. The hamlet slowly grew in population and improvement until it became one of the popular resorts of the county.
La Grange is often called the garden spot of Cook county. The soil in this vicinity is excellent. The site is well drained and after the village first started the growth was rapid and the residents were of the best class. West Lyons was near it. Kensington Heights was the name applied to this vicinity in early times. Robert Leitch was one of the first settlers in this community and located here probably
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about 1840. It was the only place between Lyons and Brush Hill. The Chicago and Dixon road was one of the first highways through the town. The depot at West Lyons was established in 1868. The first school at La Grange is said to have been taught in 1852-53 by Miss Gertrude Smith. Samuel Vial and family located in this town in 1834. Afterward he was supervisor for five years. In 1879 La Grange was incorporated as a village. The vote for incor- poration was forty-two and against incorporation thirty-four. The high school at La Grange is one of the most successful and satis- factory in the county. The Emanuel Episcopal church was estab- lished about 1875. In 1882 the Congregationalists had a strong organization there. About the same time the Baptist society was organized and met in Masonic hall.
Western Springs is a small village in the northwestern corner of Lyons township. It derived its name from mineral springs in that vicinity. The Willow Springs association were probably the found- ers of the village. Schools and churches as well as stores and shops were built early in the '70s. Flag Creek was the name applied to a small hamlet in that vicinity. Along this creek many settlers located at a very early date and the term was applied to one of the first precincts of Cook county. Elijah Wentworth's tavern was an early feature of this township. Political meetings were held here at a very early date instead of at Chicago. The reason for coming here with county conventions was probably to get away from Chicago influences. A schoolhouse was built at Flag Creek as early as 1831-32. Early meetings were held there by Rev. Isaac T. Hinton and Elder Powell. Joseph Vial was one of the first settlers in this portion of the county. He owned a tavern at Flag Creek as early as 1833.
Calumet town was created in 1862 and the first election was held at the store of Gorris Van der Syde in Washington Heights. Of this meeting Benjamin Sanders served as moderator and O. G. Kyle as clerk. Thomas C. Morgan was first supervisor. Albert Krueger, clerk; T. F. McClintock, assessor; Charles Ellfieldt, col- lector ; George Luctemeyer and A. B. Wheeler, justices. At first the town included Worth, but later the latter was set off and given an independent organization. In the original Calumet town were the villages of Blue Island, Washington Heights, Morgan Park and several others established at a later date.
The settlement at Blue Island was one of the earliest in the county. As early as 1835 settlers located on what is at this date the town site of Blue Island. Peter Barton platted the village and he was soon followed by other residents. It is said that Peter Barton kept a store on Western avenue as early as 1837. Norman Rexford was another early resident of this locality. Jermanicus Cally was here as early as 1839. Horus Mann, Carlton Wadhams and others were early residents. Blue Island received its name
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from the fact that it was a high strip of land mostly covered with timber standing about five or six feet above the low prairie which surrounded it. It thus had the appearance from a distance of an island. Norman Rexford settled at the upper side of the island in 1835. He was really the first settler on the present site of Blue Island. Stephen Jones was another early settler of this vicinity. John Britton was here as early as 1837 and kept a blacksmith shop. Henry Robinson platted a part of Blue Island at an early date, as did also Carlton Wadhams. Mr. Rexford kept the Blue Island house, which was well known in early years. Even as late as 1850 deer could be killed within a few miles of Blue Island. Early in the '40s Richard Bingle settled not far from the place. Benjamin Sanders was a resident quite early. In 1838 Norman Rexford be- came postmaster there. He was succeeded by Henry Robinson and others. The village of Blue Island was not organized until after the Civil war. At that date the township of Calumet was reorgan- ized. In 1872 the question was again revived of organizing the village. A petition was duly presented to the County Board for that purpose. The first election was held at the house of Gottlieb Klien. Christian Krueger, Henry Bertrand and Hart Massey were judges of this election. Ninety-nine voted for village organization and thirteen against the same. The first trustees were Richard Mc- Claughry, Ludwig Krueger, Jacob Allpe, Walter Roche and Ben- jamin Sanders. Soon after this the trustees met and formed laws and regulations. George Luctemeyer was first president of the trus- tees; Charles Trap, clerk ; Herman Schmidt, treasurer, and Marshall Arnold, justice of the peace.
The first public school building was erected in Blue Island about 1848-49. It stood on Vermont street near Maple avenue. After ward it was used as a residence. Daniel Barnard, Mr. Hamilton and Miss Perkins were early teachers in the old building. The first Sunday school held in Blue Island assembled in this school building in 1849. The next school building was erected in 1855 and was a much larger and better house. The Normal school at Blue Island was established in 1867, with Professor Wentworth as principal. At this date Mr. Wentworth was one of the prin- cipal instructors in the county. He took part in the old teachers' institute held late in the '50s and early in the '60s. Many sessions of the old institute were held at Blue Island because this was con- sidered one of the leading educational centers of the county.
At a very early date religious societies began to hold services at Blue Island. Several of the earliest meetings were held in schoolhouses. The Methodist Episcopal people had an organization as early at least as 1865, and their first structure was erected about that date. The German Methodists of Blue Island organized a short time before with a membership of about thirty-seven. This society embraced the district included in what was then known as Blue
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Island, Sand Ridge and Oak Park. Rev. T. Koppe was the first pastor. The first building was erected in 1865. Another Methodist society was organized in 1873, most of the members previously having been attendants of the Congregational church. This organ- ization began with about twenty-four members. The German Evan- gelical Lutherans had an organization early in the '60s. Rev. Mr. Ranniker was the first pastor. A Congregational society organized in 1861 with Rev. Henry Hammond as temporary supply. He was succeeded by Lemuel Foster. The Catholics had organized as early as 1854 and St. Bernard's church was erected by them in 1861. Father Beda, a Benedictine from Chicago, was assigned to this church at the start. A school was established about the time of the organization of the church. Universalists held meetings at the schoolhouse as early as 1849. The Rexfords were among the members. They first held meetings in Mass hall and later in the schoolhouse. Masonic and Odd Fellow societies were organized in the '60s and early in the '70s. Blue Island has had several news- papers. The Herald was established in 1873 and was succeeded by the Daily Press. A little later a paper called the Standard was es- tablished. The Blue Island edition of the Chicago Sun was another. The Standard Herald was conducted here for a short time. The water works of Blue Island was one of the important improve- ments made during the '70s. When completed it furnished the citizens with an abundance of pure water. Previous to this date water was secured from wells.
Among the first settlers in the neighborhood of Morgan Park were the Morgans, Smiths, Igleharts, Lackores, Frisbies, Colvins, Betts, Kaylors, Wilcoxes and Barnards. Thomas Morgan was here as early as 1844; Reuben Smith was another early resident; C. D. Iglehart was here as early as 1856. William Morgan settled here in 1854; Benjamin Taylor came as early as 1857 and Frederick Frisbie and Timothy Lackore were on Ninety-fifth street as early as 1856. The first postoffice was kept by W. W. Washburne. Morgan Park was formerly known as "Horse Thief Hollow," a place sup- posed to have been in early times a refuge or resort for horse thieves. It was not called Morgan Park until 1869, at which date streets and roads were laid out by the Blue Island Land and Build- ing company. Previous to this date it was considered a part of Blue Island. Late in the '60s and early in the '70s many roads were laid out, numerous residences appeared, stores and shops were opened and within a comparatively short time the community was flourishing and prosperous. Among the early residents of the vil- lage proper were H. G. Merrick, F. F. Cottle, L. T. Groe, Doctor Thayer, Capt. E. N. K. Talcott, Colonel Norton, W. W. Wash- burne, John Ingersoll and C. P. Silva.
The Baptist seminary at Morgan Park was founded by the Bap- tist Theological union. The first steps to establish this organization
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were taken in the First Baptist church at Chicago in 1860. In 1861 others joined the movement until in 1863, thirteen persons duly organized under the name of the Baptist Theological Union of Chicago. The institution was formally incorporated in 1863 and in August of that year the trustees met for the first time in the office of the Christian Times. Active work to secure funds to endow the seminary was continued and succeeded. In a short time $1,500 per annum for five years was secured in pledges from responsible men. In 1866 the officers of the new institution were chosen and arrange- ments to open the first school in 1867 were made. In 1868 the first seminary building was erected. In time this institution be- came one of the most popular and efficient in this portion of the State. In 1881 the society of the American Institute of Hebrews was established at Morgan Park under Dr. William R. Harper. The Chicago Female college at Morgan Park was founded in 1875. It became one of the most popular educational institutions in this portion of the county. The Morgan Park Military academy, an- other noted and well patronized educational institution, came into existence in 1873. At first the children of Morgan Park attended the old school building at Fifty-ninth street, but in 1864 this locality was named school district No. 5, and a house was erected at a more central point. The Baptist society of Morgan Park was or- ganized in 1872 and the following year the church was erected. Blue Island Land and Building company was an important indus- trial organization during the early history of this portion of the county. The present Washington Heights was commenced at a very early date. As early as 1836 Jefferson Gardner established a hotel or tavern, as it was then called, on the present village site. Mr. Wilcox was one of the first to lease and conduct this tavern. Wash- ington Heights proper comprises an elevated ridge extending from the south line of Lake township in the direction of the village of Blue Island. The ridge is about six miles long. It was first laid out in 1869 by the Blue Island Land and Building company. One of the first settlers in this vicinity was William Barnard, who had a son William. Other settlers about the same date were John Lynch, James Garrity, Martin Vanderstar, William Welp, Mathias Kay and S. H. McNab. The latter was one of the early postmasters. Sermons were preached here in the '60s by Rev. M. Foster of Blue Island. The railway here brought many residents late in the '50s and early in the '60s. The first survey was made in 1870. Wash- ington Heights seems to have been a central point for the Indians who congregated here in early times. This seems to be proved by the large number of flint arrows, battle axes, spear heads, ancient pottery, etc., that have been found in the soil of that locality.
In 1874 Washington Heights was organized as a village. Sev- enty-two votes were cast for village organization and thirty-two votes against it. The first trustees were D. S. Heffron, Isaac Green-
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acre, L. Lowenthal and George Martin. In 1880 the Town Board was reorganized under the law of 1879. In 1874 the Washington Heights public school was established and steps toward the erection of the new building were taken. As early as 1872 J. A. Wadhams taught in a small building at Washington Heights. He became prin- ยท cipal of the new school at the time it was started.
Bethany Union church was established at Washington Heights as early as 1872, and Rev. J. B. Dreer was the first pastor. In the '70s the convent of Our Lady and Church of the Sacred Heart was located at the junction near Washington Heights. The Cath- olic church was founded in 1874 by Rev, Father Sweetberth. The German Lutheran Zion congregation was founded in 1874 and the Evangelical Lutheran Trinity church in 1881. Early schools taught in the vicinity of Washington Heights were those conducted by Lucy Gorton on Ninety-fifth street. Miss L. Myrick of Blue Island taught in this locality.
That portion of Washington Heights where Mr. Morgan settled was formerly called Upwood. Mr. Morgan bought the land of Mr. Blackstone. The villages of Oak Lawn and Worth were located in Worth township. Oak Lawn and Oak Park were indiscrimi- nately applied to the same place in early times. Before the town- ships were organized in 1850 York precinct included the townships of Worth, Bremen, Palos, Orland and Lemont. Worth township was organized in 1850 at the house of Mr. Wadhams. The first supervisor was F. Chamberlin; clerk, C. D. Robinson; assessor, John Wilcox; collector, S. D. Huntington; justices, H. S. Rex- ford and Christian Duensing.
The first settler in Orland township arrived about the year 1834. In that year Henry Taylor settled on Section 15, but did not remain long. In 1836 Thomas Hardy settled in the township. William and Ichabod Myrick settled on Section 6 about the year 1844. George H. Newman arrived the following year and the same time Fergus Dickson came and erected a residence. Among those who came later were Alonson St. Clair, Joseph Ward, William Jack- son, Thomas Cooper, Frederick Kimmel, and Amos Parmalee. Still later came William Hewsin, William Sippel, George Brandon, Alonzo Briggs, Henry Reed, and others. The first postoffice was established at the house of Alonson St. Clair. An early schoolhouse was built in 1849 and located about half a mile west of the village of Orland.
In 1850 Orland township was a part of York precinct, which also embraced Bremen, Lemont, Palos and Worth. At that date the township was organized under the new law. The following were the first officers: William Jackson, supervisor; Alonson St. Clair, clerk; Sidney S. Campbell, assessor; William Myrick, collector ; B. P. Bartlett, overseer of the poor; Ichabod Myrick and Fergus Dixon, justices of the peace. The officers proceeded to establish
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a pound for stock running at large in violation of the law, and laid out the town into road and school districts. The first road laid out extended from Jackson's in the direction of Hickory creek.
The village of Orland is located about twenty-three miles west of Chicago. It was founded in 1880 upon the completion of the rail- road. The first dwelling was built by G. H. Zahn in 1880. The next year John Humphrey erected the second. Henry Laun also built in 1881. The village was first platted by Fawcet Plum in 1880. The name Sedgwick was first applied to the station, but later the name was changed to Orland. Alpine was the name of the postoffice a short distance west of Orland. It was established about the same time the railroad was extended through this portion of the township. East Orland is located about four miles north- east of Orland. Louis Grosskoff kept a store there for many years and was postmaster.
The township of Palos was settled at an early date. The Pad- dock family located there as early as 1834. Schuyler Brown set- tled near them the same year. John McCord arrived in 1835. Sam- uel Mahaffy came in 1834. A little before Mr. Mahaffy arrived Robert Lucas, Elijah Star, Benjamin Wentworth, Uriah Went- worth, Richard McLaughry, DeWitt Paddock, John Russell, Adam Boyce and Seeley Spaulding located in this portion of the county. Joseph Harrington was here as early as 1834. George Pettijohn located on Section 28 about the same time. M. A. Powell arrived in 1837. The first postoffice was called Orange and was kept at the residence of Mr. Powell. Afterward the name was changed to Palos. Lewis Bush settled on Section 31. About 1840 George J. Lintz settled on Section 21. Patrick O'Kane settled in this township early. The township was organized as a town in 1850 and was first called Trenton. Within less than a year afterward the name was changed to Palos. The first officers of the new town were: M. A. Powell, supervisor; John McCord, clerk; Lewis Bush, assessor; J. P. Campbell, collector; John McCord, John Collins, justices; George Pettijohn, overseer of the poor; Matthew McLaughry and Mark Burroughs, commissioners of highways. The town officers proceeded to divide the township into road dis- tricts and school districts. They also made provision for the care of live stock. The first school taught in this township was at the house of Mr. Powell as early as 1838. A Mrs. Chatfield is said to have been the first teacher. A log schoolhouse was built on Sec- tion 28 about 1840. By 1845 the schools in the town were numer- ous and well attended.
Willow or Forest Springs is a small hamlet situated in Palos township. It was started about 1840. The first permanent settler there was George W. Beebe, who built a log cabin on Section 32 about 1842. He opened a tavern and boarded laborers on the canal. The first merchant was Mr. Jarvis, who opened a store
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on the bank of the canal early in the '40s. John Sherwood had a general store about the same time Mr. Jarvis left. The first post- office was called Willow Springs.
The township of Bremen contains some of the best agricultural soil in the county. In early times its appearance was beautiful. It consisted of an undulating prairie interspersed with groves, and the prairies were covered in the summer and autumn with multitudinous flowers. The township was not settled as early as some other por- tions of the county. Hollanders and Germans were among the first inhabitants. Among the first to live there were the families of Barton, Noble, Newman and Crandall. They settled close to the present village of Bremen. John F. Cague lived near them about 1842. In 1847 Mr. Cague was postmaster at Bremen. Other early settlers were: John Fulton, Peter Hopkins, Doctor Ballard, Rob- ert Aston, and Mr. Kammeck. Tinley Park, Oak Forest, Dupont, Rexford, Posen, and Goeselville are recent villages which have added to the population, improvement and prosperity.
An important landmark in this township in early years was the famous Cooper's Grove. It was referred to often in the county records and was a central point for that portion of the county. It was named for a Mr. Cooper. He settled here in the early '30s and was the first resident of the township. A log cabin was found by the early settlers and may have been built by him. At the edge of the grove was another large log cabin, which was known as the "Old Stage house," and apparently had been a hotel in very early times on the road from Chicago to Joliet. During the '30s large num- bers of cattle and hogs were driven to Chicago from a distance of more than 100 miles. This old cabin at Cooper's Grove was patron- ized by the drovers who took their herds to Chicago. Doctor Bal- lard was the physician and also the first storekeeper at Bremen. The first house built in the village of Bremen was erected by a Mr. Swan. It was built as early as 1842. Thomas Hill was an early resident of Bremen village. He located near Cooper's Grove in 1841 and later moved to Chicago. He was one of the first to plant an orchard and raise fruit.
As early as 1852 school was taught by Daniel O. Robinson on the Gilson farm near Bremen. Previously terms had been taught elsewhere in the township. The first schoolhouse built in Bremen village was in 1863. A larger and better one was built in 1880. The Lutherans had an early religious organization at Bremen. The Methodists formed a society about 1843, and meetings were first held at the house of Frank Mynard, about three miles north of Bremen village. Originally Bremen village was included in the old precinct known as York. In 1850 the town of Bremen was organized. The citizens assembled and voted in favor of the change. The meeting was held at the schoolhouse near Mr. Crandall's. Sam- uel Everdon was moderator and Benjamin Cool clerk. The fol-
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