USA > Illinois > DuPage County > History of Du Page County, Illinois (Historical, Biographical) > Part 25
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HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.
a farmhouse, next a mile east for the dwell- ing of a citizen of Wheaton, and lastly was moved from thence to become the home of Mrs. Bender, widow of him whose fatal fall from a building terminated his life a few years ago.
It is not too much to say that no other building in Wheaton has been the abiding place of such versatile experiences. Peda- gogues, pupils, preachers and people have had their day within its walls, since which time many a rollicking baby has first seen the light of day under its venerable roof. It is the oldest building in Wheaton, and still standing in reasonably good order. The next generation may whittle it up into charms to dispel the misty shrouds that hover around their way, if they don't inherit a good foun- dation from us on which to build their hopes of prosperity and happiness here.
WHEATON SCHOOLS.
In almost all newly settled places, the first schoolhouses are built by subscription. It is as natural that this should be so as it is for children to grow in these same new settle- ments and multiply their numerical strength, and they do this so quickly in these great, broad creations of sea room that their parents are compelled to make provision for their ed- ucation before the slow machinery of govern- ment gets into working order and builds schoolhouses with public money accumulated by taxation.
Wheaton was like other new places, and, when the endless chain of time had turned up the figures 1847, a bevy of buxom boys and Iithe girls were hop-skipping and jumping about, and stood in need of something be- sides chimney-corner discipline.
In this emergency, their fathers built a schoolhouse and hired a teacher to apply the discipline, while A B C, etc., were taught.
It was erected on the land of Alonzo Crosby. This was the honorable pioneer schoolhouse of Wheaton, who, though now far outgrown of such unpretentious public buildings, nevertheless cherishes the memory of them with kindly retrospections. This old school- house was for seven years the seat of loarn- ing and the fine arts at the place, and within its walls young minds took their first bent, and genius aspired to high aims in life, though perhaps incased in sunburnt skins. In 1854, a new schoolhouse was built by pub- lic money, the contract being let to J. G. Val- lette, for which he received $750.
Eight years later, a second building was erected, for the primary department, the orig- iginal one being too small to seat the increas- ing number of children.
In 1863, the first one was burned. and the school was transferred to the basement of the Methodist Episcopal Church, where it re- mained till the graded schoolhouse which now ornaments the town was built, the finishing of which bears date of June 6, 1874. J. C. Wheaton, E. Gary and W. K. Guild were the Building Committee. It has six large school rooms and two recitation rooms, be- sides the basement, which could be utilized for additional school rooms should necessity require it.
The school is graded in its course of study according to the formula of other first-class graded schools. Mrs. Frankie Wheaton Sny- der is Principal; Miss N. E. Cole, teacher of grammar; Miss L. E. Wheaton has charge of the intermediate course; Miss E. T. Miller is Second Principal; and Miss E. D. Knight has charge of the primary department.
JOURNALISM IN WHEATON.
It is quite difficult, at this time, owing to adverse circumstances, to procure correct data and particulars as to the first publication of a
John Warme 88 YEARS OLD.
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MILTON TOWNSHIP.
newspaper in Wheaton. So far as the writer knows, there are no files available of the news- papers published prior to 1861, having been destroyed by fire or lost.
A newspaper was being published at Na- perville, then the county seat, but the citi- zens of Wheaton, a village on the Galena Di- vision of the Chicago & North-Western Rail- road, believing the interests of their town de- manded such an enterprise, determined to aid and assist any one who would make the vent- ure. Sufficient encouragement being given, in the month of June, 1856, Leonard E. De Wolf, a prominent lawyer and a large real estate owner, purchased a hand press and printing materials of S. P. Rounds & Co., of Chicago, and commenced the publication of the Du Page County Gazette, employing J. A. J. Birdsall as foreman and associate edi- tor. It was published about a year, when it was discontinued.
After that, a gentleman from Chicago by the name of Nathaniel H. Lewis undertook to resurrect the newspaper enterprise by starting the Wheaton Flag. But this paper led a precarious life, and, about the year 1860, was burned out, the fire supposed to have been the work of an incendiary. We have no knowledge whether the paper was resurrected after the fire.
In June, 1861, Henry C. Childs, a public- spirited gentleman, commenced the publica- tion of the Northern Illinoian, and remained proprietor of it for six years. The paper was not a financial success, but was one of the best-conducted papers at that time in North- ern Illinois, and had much to do in bringing Wheaton and Du Page County into promi- nent notice. It was during his administra- tion of the paper that the county seat fight culminated, and no doubt was facilitated on account of his zealous efforts. His brother- in-law, Philander Parmalee, was in his em-
ploy, as well as William- Marriott and John A. Whitlock.
During the years 1862 and 1864, Benjamin F. Taylor. the well-known author and poet, was connected with the Illinoian as its lit- erary editor. The paper was very much sought after on that account, and obtained an enviable reputation.
In April, 1867, H. C. Childs sold out to John A. Whitlock, who successfully conduct- ed it up of the 16th of April. 1870, when, owing to ill health, it was sold to the present editor and proprietor, J. Russell Smith, changed to the name of Wheaton Illinoian.
At the time of the starting of the paper, in 1861, by H. C. Childs, it was made a seven- columu paper. December 7, 1864, it was en- larged to an eight-column. In 1868, John A. Whitlock reduced it in size to a six-column, enlarging it to a seven-column the same year. January 1, 1876, the present owner enlarged it to an eight-column, which size it still re- tains.
The Illinoian is and has always been a Republican paper, fearless in defending the right, but charitable in allowing all parties a fair hearing, zealously looking after the local and general interests of the county.
In addition to the Illinoian, there is pub- lished in Wheaton a literary sixteen-page monthly entitled the College Record, Liter- ary Union of Wheaton College, publishers; established 1865 -J. RUSSELL SMITH.
WHEATON BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
Attorneys-N. E. Gary, E. H. Gary, C. L. Blanchard, W. G. Smith, L. E. De Wolf, Col. J. W. Bennet.
Abstract of Titles-J. G. Vallette.
Banks-Gary & Wheaton. Blacksmiths-A. Michels, C. W. Watson, McDonald, H. Egers.
Barber-John Lawler.
K
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HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.
Clergymen-Rev. J. Blanchard, Rev. J. B. Walker, Rev. A. H. Hiatt, Rev. L. N. Strat- ton, Rev. C. F. Hawley, Rev. W. W. Stew- art, Rev. I. A. Hart, Rev. W. O. Hart, Rev. H. W. Cobb, Rev. H. Fischer, Rev. A. G. Hib- bard, Rev. E. M. Boring, Rev. C. W. G. Koch, Rev. C. A. Blanchard, Rev. J. C. Webster.
Coal Dealer-H. H. Fuller.
Carpenters-A. T. Childs, C. W. Miller, D. Compton, J. Homer, C. Louks.
Carriage Painter and Trimmer-G. W, Matthan.
Carpet- Weavers-Mr. Arakelian, Martha Blair.
Dry Goods and Groceries-A. S. Landon & Co., Grote Bros., Cole & Guild, J. B. Colvin.
Druggist-L. L. Hiatt, W. A. Henninger. Dentists-J. H. Ashley, P. Leam.
Dress-Making -- Misses Nash, Mrs. Sals- bury, Mrs. Vernon, Mrs. I. Lewis, Miss C. Scofield.
Furniture-Dealer-Conrad Kampp.
Grain-Dealers -Sutcliffe & Kelly.
Groceries and Confectionery-W. Millner,
J. H. Valletto, E. W. Bixby, L. W. Mills. Hardware-John Sauer, H. & E. B. Holt. Hotels-M. Stark, M. Rickert.
House and Sign Painters-William Schatz, George Hagermann.
House-Moving-M. E. Jones.
Harness-Makers-Binder Bros.
Insurance -- J. G. Vallette, Wm L. Gary.
Jewelers -- L. C. Brown, A. Alberts.
Livery Stables-Durland & Congleton, E. H. Ehle.
Lumber-Dealers-W. K. Guild, Sutcliffe & Kelly.
Laundry -- Mrs. J. Wright.
Landscape Gardener and Florist-Joseph Stanford.
Boot and Shoe Makers-A. Rau, G. Esten- felter, O. Horner.
Merchant Tailor-H. Garlic, F. Kusousky.
Meat Markets-C. A. Sohmer, Thoman & Webber.
Masons and Builders-A. Austin, C. Gates, J. Knippen.
Millinery -- Misses Nash, Mrs. West.
Music Teachers-(vocal) S. W. Martin, (instrumental) S. W. Martin, Miss Nettie Pratt.
Nurserymen-A. H. Hiatt, O. F. Lumery, J. C. Wheaton.
Publishers-R. Blanchard, J. R Smith.
Printers-J. R. Smith, A. L. Hamilton,
F. Miner.
Postmaster .- George B. Vastine.
Photographer-Charles L. Kersting.
Physicians and Surgeons-L. E Pratt, F.
N. Englehard, A. H. Hiatt, S. P. Sedgwick, E. Vogeler.
Painting and Drawing- Mrs. S. H. Nut- ting, Miss Flora Mills.
Real. Estate Agents-C. P. J. Arion, H. W. Cobb, J. Russell Smith.
Restaurants-W. Millner, E. W. Bixby.
Surveyors-J. G. Vallette, A. S. Landon.
Station Agent-H. H. Fuller.
Telegraph Operators-Charles Fuller, M. E. Griswold.
Tinners-J. P. Sauer, H. & E. B. Holt.
Veterinary Surgeon-J. H. Brown.
Wagons and Carriages-William H. John-
son, A. Stephens, S. Ott, F. Man.
WHEATON CREAMERY COMPANY.
Organized February 10, 1882. Capital stock, $7,000. James S. Peirronet, President; E. H. Gary, Vice President; H. H. Fuller, Secretary; J. J. Cole, Treasurer. Brick building, 36x75 feet; cost, with fixtures and grounds, $7,500. All late improvements, including the wire circular vat, Frazier gang press (which will press twenty cheeses at once), and the Mason revolving butter- worker. The milk is conducted from the re-
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MILTON TOWNSHIP.
ceiving room into vats in the cooling room, where the cream is raised. Then the milk is drawn from under the cream and carried through conductor pipes to cheese vats in the manufacturing room. Water is supplied by two wells, one twenty feet, the other 15 feet deep. Capacity of factory is 16,000 pounds of milk per day.
The interior of the building was planned by Mr. J. J. Cole, and is entirely different from any factory in the State.
PROSPECT PARK.
Prospect Park is a village on the western fringe of Babcock's Grove. It grew into be- ing as a station on the G. & C. U. R. R. Dr. L. V. and his brother Lensa Newton bought land here of William Churchill previous to 1849, and when the railroad came through, Dr. Newton built a depot. David Kelly kept it, and also a tavern and post office in the same building He had formerly, in 1847, kept a post office on his farm, three miles to the north. He also has the honor of giving the name of Danby to the place, this being the same name he had given to a town in Rutland County, Vt., ere he came West. He lived to see it changed to its present name, much to his regret
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Messrs. Standish & Saylor, in 1853, opened the first store at the place. The old depot was about this time moved away by the owner, and a new one erected by the railroad company, which still stands. The original one, after it had been moved, was occupied for various uses till it had executed its mission, and was lastly moved to get it out of the way, which was about the year 1862. Undecided what disposition to make of it, the rickety old structure was allowed to re- main on a side-hill, where it stood for some months, like the leaning tower of Pisa-a slipshod monument of early days, as well as
a target for jokes from railroad passengers who beheld it. The site of this town is un- equaled by any other in the county in na- ture's variety of oval hillocks, rising one above another, all underlaid by a substratum of gravel, and fanned by the breezes from the adjacent grove. It was platted May 20, 1854, by L. V. Newton, situate on Section 11, Township 39, Range 10. Its elevation above Lake Michigan is 162 feet.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF PROSPECT PARK.
This church was organized April 15, 1862. After the ceremonies of organization, thirteen persons united-Mr. H. B. Gifford and wife, A. Standish and wife, S. Ventassel and wife, J. P. Yalding and wife, Mrs. Cornelia Brooks, Miss Emily Brooks and Mrs. R. Rud- dock. Church services were held at Stacy's Corners until February, 1863, when the building was moved to its site. Rev. E. N. Lewis was the first pastor. Nearly one huu- dred persons have united with the church since its organization, but many have died, and others have left the place; not quite half of that number are members to-day. Three of the original members-Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Yalding and Mrs. C. Brooks-are regular attendants on "all church services. The Wednesday evening prayer meeting has been sustained ever since the organization, and a ladies' prayer meeting for a few years.
The church is in a prosperous condition, all of its services being well attended.
Prof. H. A. Fischer, of Wheaton College, has supplied the pulpit since the last of May. The Sabbath school has a membership of over one hundred.
THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH.
The Free Methodist Church at Prospect Park grew into being in 1880, but yet the material which composed it had been accu-
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HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.
mulating for years prior to that date. The immediate action that gave birth to it was a series of meetings held by Rev. J. E. Cole- man and Rev. J. D. Marsh, and, under the pastoral charge of the latter, the church was organized from the converts of this series of meetings. At the expiration of Mr. Marsh's term-one year-Rev. William Ferris became pastor, who was succeeded the next year by Rev. James Sprague, the present pastor.
The above statistics have been furnished to the editor by Miss Rose Weidman, Clerk of the church.
The Prospect, Park Library Association is a stock company of twenty members, similar to the one at Wheaton, kept at A. S. Lan- don's. The books are Harper's publications, and the Librarian's report shows that the books are read and appreciated by the mem- bers. They intend to make an effort this winter to purchase more books and increase their membership, so as to get more American publications. The officers of the association are: P. G. Hubbard, President; F. W. Stacy, Vice President; W. Sabin, Secretary; W. H. Luther, Treasurer; and Miss Georgiana Allen, Librarian.
NAMES OF THE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL MEN OF PROSPECT PARK.
Luther Winter, dealer in feed and coal.
W. H. Lnther, agent for the C. &. N. W. R. R.
Miles Allen, store and post office.
P. G. Hubbard, dealer in broom corn.
William H. Wayne, blacksmith. M. H. Wayne, wheelwright.
Nelson Dodge, carpenter and builder. Brake & Myers, carpenters and builders.
Will Jellies, carpenter and builder.
J. R. McChesney & Co., general store. H. Wegman, general store.
Allen R. Walker, tinshop and hardware. E. Graff, hotel. John Weidman, broom factory. John Hayden, store.
Frank Walworth, stone mason.
G. M. H. Wayner, commission store.
R. Blackman, dealer on Board of Trade. John Sabin, boot and shoe shop.
Aug Bregson, boot and shoe shop.
J. S. Dodge, retired farmer.
L. C. Cooper, attorney at law. James Sanders, M. D.
CHAPTER IX.
DOWNER'S GROVE TOWNSHIP -THE OLD INDIAN BOUNDARY - CASS - PIERCE DOWNER - THOMAS ANDRUS -CHICAGO REMINISCENCES - THE VILLAGE OF IIINSDALE-BRUSH HILL MEMORIES - CLARENDON IHILLS - FREDERICKSBURG - DOWNER'S GROVE VILLAGE-AN OX TEAM HITCHED TO AN OAK LOG-WHAT OREW OUT OF IT - THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
D OWNER'S GROVE TOWNSHIP includes the Government Township described as Town 38, Range 11, and also the three north- eru tiers of sections northwest of the Desplaines River, in Town 37, Range 11, the portions lying in Town 37 being unofficially known and de- scribed as Cass.
The whole of Downer's Grove, except Sec- tions 5, 6, 7 and the diagonal halves of 4, 8 and 18, lies southeast of the old Indian Bound- ary line, and was surveyed by the Government between the years 1829 (at which time sur- veys were commenced at Chicago) and 1835, the year of the Government sale of these lands.
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DOWNER'S GROVE TOWNSHIP.
Besides this Indian Boundary line was another running parallel with it twenty miles southeast of it, both of which extended from Lake Mich- igan to the Illinois River at Ottawa. The strip inclosed by these lines had been ceded to the United States August 4, 1816, by the Ottawas, Chippewas and Pottawatomies, particulars of which have been stated in a former chapter. Through this belt of land the Illinois and Michi- gan Canal was located, and the alternate sections for five miles on each side of it were donated to the State of Illinois, to aid in its construc- tion. Portions of these donated lands laid in Downer's Grove, and were sold by the Canal Commissioners, but were not offered for sale till some years after the sale of the Govern- ment lands, which took place in June, 1835.
Many of the early settlers of Downer's Grove were purchasers both of Government and Canal lands.
Very few of them were land claimants, but bona fide purchasers from the first. Mr Downer, whose history is told in connection with the village of Downer's Grove, was the first settler of this town. Many other pioneers of this town are also mentioned in connection with the history of its villages, but one of them, who had no participation in village building, deserves a page on account of his experiences, which are so representative of life here in the early day. This was Thomas Andrus, born in Rutland County, Vt., from whence he inherited those inflexible traits of character that are almost certain to make a man pull through difficulties. He was born in 1801 ; came to Chi- cago December 1, 1833 ; couldn't find anything to do, and started back toward sunrise on foot, but before he had arrived to the Calumet, a man hired him to drive an ox team. This oc- cupation lasted till the next year, 1834, when a venturesome man determined to erect a three- story hotel on the northwest corner of Lake and Dearborn street, and carpenters were wanted. Of course he was a carpenter ; he
was a Yankee, and that meant a carpenter just then. The next winter it might have meant a pedagogue, but whatever it means it always means the best of the kind wanted.
Mr. Andrus went to work and filled the bill satisfactorily, and there is evidence that he was above par in the estimation of his employer ; for when the frame of his building was up, Mr. Andrus suggested to him to call his magnifi- cent three-story-hotel the Tremont House, after the still celebrated house of that name in Bos- ton. His advice was taken, and the name has been transmitted to the third generantion of Tremont Houses ; the present one on the corner diagonally opposite where the first was built in 1834, being the third in succession, the second one having been burned in the great fire of 1871. The first one had a billiard table in the third story, which then overlooked the whole one and two-story town. Dearborn street was then the great thoroughfare to the North Side, to which it was connected by a draw-bridge that lifted perpendicularly by means of wind- lasses, but when the next bridge came to be built, the Clark streeters subscribed the most and won the prize, for money then " made the mare go" as well as now, and it made the bridge go.
Now, let us take Mr. Andrus through one more old way-mark in Chicago before he goes to settle. It is this : He assisted in driving the piles for the foundation of John H. Kinzie's warehouse in 1834, the first ever built in Chicago, and saw the first lot of wheat shipped from it that ever went East from the place. In the autumn of the same year, Mr. Andrus returned to Ver- mont, and the following spring (1835), came' back with his wife and three children, arriving at Chicago in June, and in July settled where he now lives, on Section 6, Town 37, Range 11. Shadrac Harris had preceded him a few weeks, and lived on Section 8, quite near him. Mr. Harris is now living at Marengo.
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HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.
Dr. Bronson lived on the Plainfield road, two miles to the Northeast. He was the first settler in the vicinity. Hartell Cobb lived a little west of Mr. Bronson. After Mr. Andrus had been settled six weeks, an election was held for Justice of the Peace, and he was one of the candidates. He came within one vote of being elected, his rival having three votes while he had but two. Mr. Harris, the fortunate wire- puller, was duly sworn in, but he had to go to Chicago where folks swore to be thus dubbed. The next term Mr. Andrus ran against the same man for the same office and was elected. and could have retained the office a second term had not his wife interfered. This tidy Vermont girl saw more tobacco juice than profit in it (for the trials were held in her parlor), and she requested her husband to decline a renomi- nation. His acquiescence was no mean exam- ple in favor of woman's rights. The first schools of the place, says Mr. Andrus, were taught in discarded private houses, whose own . ers had built better ones, and Miss Nancy Stanley was the first teacher. She afterward married Mr. Bush, and subsequently Mr. Dryer for her second husband.
Elder Beggs, the same who now lives in Plainfield, was their first preacher, and Gen. E. B. Bill, the same who got up a company for the Mexican war and died in the service, think- ing the Methodists had not been sufficiently generous with Father Beggs, got up a dona- tion party for him, which was well received by the devout itinerant, though it came from the world's people and not from his own flock.
Mr. Andrus was appointed the first Postmas- ter of Cass Post Office, which was organized in 1834, and held the position fifteen years, during which time 5 cents was reported to him as an error in his account. Several offices, away from the stage line of Mr. Frinck that passed his house, were supplied from his office by horse- back mail riders. Frinck's line had sixteen
coaches each way per day. Of course he kept tavern in his new house, which he built in 1836, and in the dining-room dances were held. How were you on tip-toe ? asked the writer of Mrs. Andrus. Smiling through the honorable wrink- les of eighty years that furrowed her cheek, she replied, "Oh, I don't like to recommend myself."
Edgar S., the fourth child of the family, was born after their settlement where they now are, and was the first white birth of this town. He is now one of its residents.
The above, together with the history of the villages of this town, fully represents its pioneer days. There are thirteen schoolhouses in the town, three of which are graded, and 1,142 per- sons between the ages of six and twenty-one.
THE VILLAGE OT HINSDALE.
A sailor once said that he didn't see the need of any land except enough to build docks to. His ideas, like some other people's, were limited to his own immediate wants. His whole sphere of human knowledge centered in himself.
" His sonl, proud science never taught to stray, Far as the solar walk and milky way."
Nor even as far as 'tis from Chicago to Hins- dale, of which the latter is an outpost, a kind of retort, to catch the lovers of nature, and hold them among the delightful ranges of the place as they pass from the man-made city of Chicago, full of turmoil, inductions and seduc- tions, into the God-made country, full of
" Ye banks and braes of Bonnie Doon."
Here they bloom " fresh and fair," and leave no "thorn behind " to the peaceful citizen as he sleeps among them, fanned by the summer breath, as it moves over a broad heath of prairie farms and groves.
The variegated hillocks, no two of which are alike, on which the town is laid out, seem to have been fashioned by the hand of nature for a kind of landscape village, and for nothing else, for its site never had been utilized for
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DOWNER'S GROVE TOWNSHIP.
farming purposes before the village was born, with a silver spoon in its mouth, to use a met- aphor. But, first, let us tell some of the con- ditions of the place before the village came into existence. Alfred Walker came from Windsor County, Vt., to Brush Hill, just north of Hinsdale, in April, 1854. Here he found a little bevy of settlers nestling in an open- ing in the grove around two taverns, a store and a blacksmith shop. The old name of Brush Hill still clung to the place, and does yet, although Benjamin Fuller, three years be- fore, had incorporated the town and officially named it Fullersburg. Mr. Walker bought all the land Mr. Fuller owned, and bis tavern- stand, and became proprietor of the place. It had few permanent inhabitants, Jolın Coe and Benjamin, Lewis and Reuben Fuller being all that Mr. Walker mentions as land owners. One of the taverns was a sort of catch-all for new- comers, where rooms were temporarily rented to them till a place to settle was found, and six or eight such families at a time held their tran- sient abodes there, where they baked their corn- bread and boiled their coffee with fuel gathered from the adjacent grove. Mr. Walker's pur- chase of Mr. Fuller included the land on which his house now stands, half a mile north of the depot, and here he built a farm house in 1858, in which he now lives, within the corporate limits of the town -a monument to link Hins- dale back to the pioneer times that preceded its present age.
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