History of Du Page County, Illinois (Historical, Biographical), Part 26

Author: Blanchard, Rufus, 1821-1904
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & co.
Number of Pages: 544

USA > Illinois > DuPage County > History of Du Page County, Illinois (Historical, Biographical) > Part 26

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At that time, says Mr. Walker, there was not a house south of him for eight miles. All the lands were owned by speculators, and hield at from $7 to $25 per acre. One traet, just over the line of Cook County, sold at auction in 1854, for $5.25 per acre, and, says Mr. Walker, " up to 1862, wolves were often seen, and cau- tious mothers dared not send their little chil- dren into the groves after the cows."

Two years later was planted the germ out of whieb Ilinsdale grew into being. This was

done by Mr. William Robbins, who, after he had purchased 800 acres of land, built the fine residence he now occupies, which was finished in February, 1864, being the first erected in the place. Mr. Robbins' purchase included the west hall' of Section 7 in Cook County, besides Section 12, on which was the original plat of Hinsdale. The next year, he feneed in the whole tract for a stock farm, and the year after (1866), laid out the northwest quarter of Sec- tion 12 in lots, varying in size from one acre to lots of sixty-six feet frontage. The same year, the streets were graded, plank sidewalks laid and those first trees planted which now lend such a charm to the place. Rev. C. M. Barnes, the same who now has a large book-store in Chicago, bought the first lot of Mr. Robbins, and built a house on it, though the family of James Swartwout was the first one to come to the place after that of Mr. Robbins.

Mr. Swartwout occupied one of Mr. Robbins' houses. The golden wedding of this vener- able pair was celebrated at Hinsdale in July, 1882.

In 1866, Mr. Robbins built a stone school- house, which, at the time was deemed too large for present or even future use, but, in 1880, an addition was erected beside it, doubling its ca- pacity, and the two combined are now barely sufficient to accommodate the multiplying wants of the place, where education of the rising generation is a prominent interest, and where a united public sentiment has provided not only a model schoolhouse, but model teachers and a school exemplary in its grade and dis- cipline.

In 1866, Mr. O. J. Stough bought eighty aeres, being the south half of the northwest quarter of Section 1, and the next year he bought the southeast quarter of Section 11, 160 acres, and the next year, 1868, by various purchases, he bought the most of Estabrook's addition to Hinsdale, lying in the southeast quarter of Section 2, and the next year, 1869,

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he bought about one hundred and thirty-seven acres lying in Section 10-all the above purchases sitnate in Town 38, Range 11, and largely on the north side of railroad track, along those beautiful terraced elevations that rise one above another till the groves of Old Brush Hill are reached, and on May 19, 1868, 1868, his first addition to Hinsdale was re- corded, and his second addition June 2.

Besides making these purchases and sub- dividing portions of them, Mr. Stough built a chinrch on the north side in 1868, and Rev. William Balch, a present citizen and highly esteemed minister of the Gospel at Elgin, was pastor of this church for two years. A Bible class was connected with it of which Hon. Joel Tiffany, a present resident of Hinsdale, held charge. Neither the elirch nor the Bible-class were working under any name, but their inde- pendent teachings partook of the broad type of natural religion. Many of the first patrons of the church left the place after Mr. Balch's term had expired, and services were suspended in it about a year thereafter.

The first addition made by Mr. Robbins to the original town was called W. Robbins' First Addition. The second was W. Robbins' Park Addition. The latter was laid out by H. W. S. Cleveland, Landscape Gardener.

After making a thorough study of the oval elevations and graduating valleys of the place, he laid out streets, threading their way among them in scroll-shaped curves, the better to heighten their scenic effect, and that he suc- ceeded admirably in his effort, the present natural and artificial beauty of the place bears ample evidence. Mansions, birds-nest houses, hedge rows, conservatories, vine-clad arbors and graveled walks interlacing the ground on which they stand, have put the finishing touch on the whole.

This is Hinsdale as it is-cheery, beautiful and healthful, from both social and physical canses.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT HINSDALE .*

The Congregationalists residing in Hinsdale organized themselves into a church, consisting of ten members, August 12, 1866, which was duly recognized by a council of neighboring churches October 16 of the same year. Mr. C. M. Sanders, a student of the Chicago Theo- logical Seminary, commenced to preach regu- larly in the place a few weeks before the organization of the church. He was ordained by a council in April, 1867, and continued acting pastor of the church till the close of 1868.

During his ministry, thirty-five members were added to the original number, and their place of worship was changed from the passen- ger depot to Academy Hall.

During several succeeding months, the church was dependent for a supply of its pulpit prin- cipally on students of the Theological Sem- inary.

In October, 1869, Rev. F. Bascom, then of Princeton, Ill., accepted their invitation and became their resident pastor. He remained in charge of the church till May, 1872. He was succeeded by Rev. J. W. Hartshorn, who en- tered upon his work in November of that year, and remained till the close of 1875.

From the 1st of February succeeding, Mr. Crow, from the Theological School at Evans- ton, was in charge of the church for six months.

In the autumn of 1876, Rev. William Butcher was engaged as pastor for one year, and continued his ministry till December, 1877.

The Rev. Mr. Hartshorn, who on retiring from this place, had taken charge of the Con- gregational Church in Naperville, was now re- called, and remained as pastor two years, from May, 1878.

In the summer of 1880, Rev. John Ellis be- gan his labors as pastor of the church, which

*Contributed by Rev. Flavel Bascom.

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have thus far been attended with growing in- terest.

In 1873, the congregation, needing a more commodious place of worship, commenced the erection of a stone edifice; but when the walls had reached the height of the basement story, the approach of winter and an empty treasury, suggested the propriety of postpon- ing the erection of the upper story, and the finishing of a lecture-room under a temporary roof. In that room the congregation has found comfortable accommodations for more than eight years.

In the summer of 1881, an effort to complete this house of worship was resumed, and pros- ecuted with the most gratifying nnanimity and liberality. But unforeseen difficulties and hindrances delayed the work and postponed its completion till August, 1882. It was dedi- cated to the worship of God on the 6th day of that month, free from debt.

In its origin and history hitherto, this church has sought to cherish the spirit and to exem- plify the principles of union among evangelical Christians of every name. It has been toler- ant of unessential doctrines in its membership. For a long time it united with another church in the place, in sustaining publie worship and the various forms of Christian work. It has always welcomed Christians of every name to its fellowship in the privileges and labors of its own members, and its prosperity has been greatly promoted by such co-operation. For the second time it has a pastor ecclesiastically connected with another denomination ; but his ministry is none the less satisfactory and prof- itable to Congregationalists, while it tends to obliterate all denominational distinctions in the community.

The whole number of members connected with the church since its origin, is 153. Its present membership, exclusive of absentees, is eighty-four, of whom fifty-two have been re- ceived in the last two years.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH AT HINSDALE .*

A Baptist Church was organized in Hinsdale in 1868. For several months it had no pastor, and has preserved no record of its transactions.

In October, 1869, Rev. James Lisk accepted an invitation to the pastorate of the church, and be- gan his ministry the first Sabbath of that month. Their place of public worship was the wait- ing room of the railroad passenger depot, where he preached to them very acceptably till the spring of the following year, when his accept- ance of a call to a larger field left them again as sheep without a shepherd.

In the meantime, they had undertaken the erection of a house of worship, the expense of which overtaxed their resources, and subse- quently involved them in great embarrassment.

After the completion of their house, they were unable to carry the pecuniary burdens which they had assumed, and, at the same time, pro- vide for the salary of a pastor. They, there- fore, invited the Congregationalists to worship with them, who accepted the invitation, and both churches united in the support of the Congregational Pastor. In many respects this arrangement was profitable and satisfactory and was continued till May, 1872, when it was discontinued by mutual consent. During the next year the church had no regular supply of their pulpit, but depended principally on the Professors and students of the Baptist Theo- logical Seminary of Chicago.

In June, 1873, Rev. George Kline became their Pastor, and for about a year labored ear- nestly and faithfully to promote the interests of the church and community. But his people then consented regretfully to his removal, be- ing unable longer to pay him the requisite sal- ary, And in the prevailing financial embar- rassment which was then so disastrous, their house of worship passed out of their hands irrecoverably. They were already depleted in numbers by deaths and removals as well as

* By Rev. Flavel Bascom.

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diminished in resources. And now the loss of their house, added to their former reverses, was so discouraging that they voted to disband, and authorized their Clerk to give letters of dismission to other churches to their few re- maining members.

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF IIINSDALE .*

In the spring of 1873, a few of the citizens of Hinsdale, viz., Messrs. Stuart, Notingham, Maydwell, Chant, Slocum, Crocker and Payne, met at the house of D. J. Crocker to organize the Grace Episcopal Sunday School, of which Mr. J. F. Stuart was chosen Superintendent, and which formed the foundation for the parish which was organized March 31, 1875, under the name of Grace Episcopal. Easter services had been held previous to this date in the base- ment of the Congregational Church, but no parish meeting was held till March 31, 1875, when Alfred Payne and Robert Slocum were elected Wardens, and John Ohls, William B. Maydwell and J. F. Stuart were elected Vestry- men. At the vestry meeting following the ad- journment of the parish meeting, John Ohls was chosen Treasurer; J. F. Stuart, Secretary, and Alfred Payne, Lay-reader. The services of the Rev. N. F. Tuson were also engaged, and for the space of one year he acted as priest-in- charge, allowing us one service a month.

After his resignation, the same arrangement was made with the Rev. Mr. Fiske, of Naper- ville, who officiated the last Sunday in each month till August 26, 1878, when, pursuant to a call from the parish, the Rev. D. F. Smith, of Champaign, ill., eame to Hinsdale as Asso- ciate of the Rev. Mir. Fiske, upon whose resig- nation Mr. Smith became priest-in-charge, in which capacity he remained, holding three services a month in the building known as " The Old Baptist Church," till June 11, 1881. when he resigned, and services for a time were entirely suspended.

During the first period of Mr. Smith's charge, the church seemed prosperous and progressive, but toward the latter part, that discord which affects, more or less, all religious bodies, erept in and nearly ruined the work which had been done before.

On the last Sunday in January, 1882, serv- ices were recommeneed in the room known as Ratb's Hall, where the Rev. Mr. Perry officiated on the second Sunday of each month following, and in March the Rev. Mr. Lewis, of La Grange, as the Associate of Mr. Perry, agreed to hold services on the last Sunday of each month, on the remaining Sundays being lay services, read by Alfred Payne. Up to this date, services have so continued, and there is every prospect of a church edifice being erected soon, on the land northeast of the Congregational Church, which has been donoted for building purposes by the kindness of Mr. William Robbins.

SCHOOLS OF IIINSDALE.

In 1866, when much of the real estate of Hins- dale was owned by Messrs. William Robbins, O. J. Stough and J. I. Case, of Racine, Mr. Robbins built the first school building in Hinsdale-a three room stone building having two rooms below and one above. The two lower rooms only were used for school purposes for some time, the upper room being used as town hall.

In the lower room, Miss Stocking taught a subseription school, with one assistant, till the fall of 1867, when it was organized into a pub- lic school as a branch of the Fullersburg Dis- triet. The Directors chosen were Messrs. Plummer, E. P. Hinds and William R. Banker, and Mr. B. F. Banker was appointed Principal. The following year the building was bought of Mr. Robbins for the sum of $8,000, and Mr. Gleason received the appointment as Principal. The same year, that portion lying south of the C., B. & Q. R. R., was formed into a separate district, and so it remained till the year 1877,

*By William C. Payne.

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DOWNER'S GROVE TOWNSHIP.

while P. A. Downey was principal, when all that portion lying north of the C., B. & Q. track, and included within the corporation of Hinsdale, was united with the south side. After Mr. Downey, Mr. R. A. Robinson became Principal of the school, with two assistants, and the following year, 1879, an extensive ad- dition was made to the building at an expense of about $6,000. Mr. Robinson taught three years, and before his resignation the school be- came very prosperous, giving employment to five teachers. Mr. E. L. Harpham succeeded Mr. Robinson, and under his charge the school still continned to increase, and much interest was taken in it, not only by those sending children, but also by others.

Upon the resignation of Mr. Harpham, the care of the school devolved upon Mr. F. C. Cole, an Ann Arbor graduate, who was chosen by the present Directors, Messrs. R. A. Childs, John Bradley and C. H. Hudson.

Mr. Cole is assisted by four teachers, and the building is nearly filled with pupils, many of whom are children of those residents who have but lately made Hinsdale their home. -WILLIAM C. PAYNE.

Hinsdale Lodge, No. 649, A., F. d. A. M .-

This lodge began work under dispensation granted by Grand Master Harmon G. Reynolds, March 19, 1870, and held its first meeting March 24, 1870, in Academy Hall, D. A. Courter acting W. M. ; J. M. Barr, S. W., and N. H. Warren, J. H.

The charter was granted by the Grand Lodge October 4, 1870, the following-named being charter members : D. A. Courter, J. M. Barr, N. H. Warren, F. H. Rogers, William Blan- chard, L. E. Gifford, I. L. Hinds, C. T. Plum- mer, S. A. Coe, B. Plummer, Charles Fox, J. H. Alexander, B. E. Terrill, W. R. Banker, Eben Millions and George H. Burtt.

The first meeting under the charter was held January 5, 1871, when the lodge was consti- tuted by G. W. Barnard, Deputy Grand Master,

and the following persons were installed as officers :

D. A. Courter, W. M .; J. M. Barr, S. W .; N. 11. Warren, J. W .; Charles Fox, Treasurer; Charles T. Plummer, Secretary ; L. E. Gifford, S. D .; B. E. Terrill, J. D., and Eben Millions, Tyler.

The lodge moved into a new hall, purchased and fitted up by them January 2, 1873, but the panic compelled them to relinquish this and secure smaller and less expensive quarters over Fox Bros. store, in the spring of 1878, where the " three great lights " still burn.

The present officers of the lodge are William Duncan, W. M .; A. L. Pearsall, S. W .; A. S. Johnston, J. W. ; Charles Fox. Treasurer ; A. G. Butler, Secretary ; F. A. Rice, S. D. ; George H. Burtt, J. D. ; E. Millions, Tyler.

The present membership is twenty-eight, among whom are eight of the charter members. The others have passed beyond, and have been consigned to the earth by their brethren in the full belief that they had found the perfection of light, and reached the last and highest degree .- A. L. PEARSALL.

Hinsdale Lodge, A. O. U. W., No. 182, organ- ized April 16, 1881.

P. M. W., George H. Talmadge ; M. W., J. B. R. Lespinasse ; Foreman, Adolph Froscher ; Overseer, J. H. Papenhausen ; Recorder, James W. Sucher ; Financier, J. C. Merrick ; Guide, Philip Bayer ; Inside Watchman, Henry Heinke; Outside Watchman, George Trench.

Damascus Legion, No. 11, Select Knights A. O. U. I., organized August 19, 1882.

Select Commander, J. B. R. Lespinasse ; Vice Commander, George II. Talmadge ; Lieu- tenant Commander, Wendal Hix ; Select Re- corder, J. W. Sucher ; Treasurer and Record- ing Treasurer, J. C. Merrick ; Standard Bearer, George H. Trench ; Marshal, J. H. Papenhau- sen ; S. W .. G. Il. Steinhoff ; J. W., John A. Debus ; Chaplain, Philip Bayer , Guard, Rich- ard Warde.

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BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL MEN OF HINS- DALE, ILL.

Attorneys at Law, D. J. Crocker, R. A. Childs, William D. Gates, J. Tiffany.

Real Estate Dealers, William Robbins, O. J. Stough, D. L. Perry, A. Walkel, D. Roth.

Postmaster, Justice of the Peace, Notary Public and Insurance, A. L. Pearsall.

Police Magistrate, Real Estate and Insur- ance, A. Dorathy.

Physicians, J. C. Merrick, T. T. Howard, Joseph Williamson, F. 11. Van Liew.

General Store, Fox Brothers.

Grocery and Provisions, F. Bradley.

Drugs, William Evernden.

Hardware and Agricultural Implements, John Bohlander.

Meat Market, John A. Gifford & Co., Will- iam Hix.

News Agent and Bakery, Thomas Foster.

Barber and Bakery, Philip Bayer.

Cool Dealer, P. S. Townsend.

Lumber and Real Estate, J. Hulaniski.

Carpenters and Builders, William Johnston,

S. F. Mills, A. W. Bostwick, carpenter and re- pairer.

Tailor, J. Il. Papenhausen.

Shoemaker, W. Lislie.

Blacksmiths, George Trench and - Lewis.

Hotel and Livery, Philander Torode.

Mason and Builder, Jacob Walliser.

Painters, A. Il. Townsend, William H. At- kinson, Thomas Wadsworth, A. Anthony.

President and Board of Village Trustees, D. L. Perry, George H. Talmadge, J. Hulan- iski, George W. Hinckley, J. C. Hess, J. C. Merrick.

A. L. Pearsall, Treasurer.

George Bowles, Clerk.

Portrait and Landscape Painter, A. Payne.

Pastor Congregational Church, Rev. John Ellis.

One of the Directors Illinois Home Mission, Rev. Flavel Bascom.

Rev. T. T. Howard.

Principal of School, T. C. Cole.

Station Agent, E. A. Lyon.

The elevation of the railroad track above Lake Michigan is 158 feet.

DOWNER'S GROVE VILLAGE.

When the grove after which this village was named looked, from a distance, like an island, and the prairie around it like the ocean sur- rounding it, on one summer's day in 1838, six yoke of oxen, hitched to the trunk of a large tree, patiently toiled along what is now Maple Avenue in Downer's Grove. Backward and forward, for two miles or more, they dragged their ponderous burden, till the prairie turf was ground into a well-beaten path, and on this path grew the village to its present dimensions. If it had not been made here, the village would have centered farther to the south, where the original trail first went that led from Chicago to Naperville, and it was to divert the travel from its old channel and turn it where it now is that the surface was thus marked, connect- ing each way with the first trail. This was done by Israel P. Blodgett and Samuel Curtis, who held claims within the present corporate limits of this village. Soon after doing it, they planted on each side of this marked trail those sugar maple trees that have now attained such large proportions, and outrival in arborial grace any wayside trees, far or near, in North- ern Illinois. They will perpetuate the memory of those who planted them for centuries to come, as lithe feminine forms beside mascu- line ones, slowly pace along beneath their foli- age in the twilight hour, when young minds take sentimental turns.

This is the history of the trees and their uses. Now let us relate the history of the other conditions of the town, less ornamental, but quite as essential to its success.

In the autumn of 1832, by the means of the Sauk war, a knowledge of the country west of

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DOWNER'S GROVE TOWNSHIP.

Chicago had come to the county of Jefferson, in the State of New York, and with a deter- mination to cast his lot here, Pierce Downer, a resident of that place, came to this spot to seleet a location, and being attracted by the beautiful grove, then the favorite abiding place of Wawbunsie-the Pottawatomie Chief, but now named after himself, he made a claim on what is now Section 6, Township 38, Range 11. He was a man of a sound body, an energetic mind, bred in the ironclad integrity of his age, tenacious of his rights and able to defend them, as was soon abundantly verified.

His claim was on the north side of the grove, and here he lived alone in the edge of the island-like spot, till his family came the next year-1833. The same ycar, also, came his son Stephen, Mr. Joel Wells and Mr. Cooley. Stephen theu made a claim on the east side of the grove, and Mr. Wells and Mr. Cooley made claims the southeast of the grove-all these claimants selecting suitable proportions of tim- ber and prairie.

Meantime, Messrs. Wells and Cooley coveted a portion of Mr. Downer's claim, and in an evil hour commenced erecting a cabin on it. This resulted in a collision, the details of which, as told by Mr. Downer himself to Walter Blanch- ard in 1857, and printed in Richmond & Val- lette's History of Du Page County, are here quoted :

"' I went to Chicago one day to buy some provisions, and on returning, thought I saw some one working near the northeast corner of the grove. I went home and deposited my cargo (a back load), and although very tired, went out to reconnoitre my premises. To my great surprise I found that Wells and Cooley had commenced erecting a cabin on my claim. I went to a thicket close by and cut a hickory gad, but found I had no power to use it, for 1 was so mad that it took my strength all away. So I sat down and tried to cool off a little, but my excitement only cooled from a sort of vio-

lent passion to deep and downright indignation. To think that my claim should be invaded, and that, too, by the only two white men besides myself then at the grove, made the vessel of my wrath to simmer like a pent sea over a burning volcano. I could sit still no longer. So I got up and advanced toward them, and the nearer I approached, the higher rose the temperature of my anger, which, by the time I got to them, was flush up to the boiling point. I said nothing, but pitched into them, shelalah in hand, and for about five minutes did pretty good execution. But becoming exhausted and being no longer able to keep them at bay, they grappled with me, threw me on the ground, and after holding me down a short time. they secmed to come to the conclusion that · discre- tion was the better part of valor' and let me up, when they ran one way and I the other, no doubt leaving blood enough upon the field of action to induce a stray prairie wolf to stop and take a passing snuff as he went that way. But, sir, they didn't come again to jump my claim.'

As might be supposed, Mr. Wells was now in a suitable frame of mind to sell out, and, as good fortune would have it, Mr. Israel P. Blodgett, the same who had settled in the Scott settle- ment alluded to in foregoing pages, was ready to buy him out, which he did in 1835, and moved to the place with his family, who may be enumerated as follows : H. W., now Judge of the Court at Chicago ; Israel P., Jr., now liv- ing at Downer's Grove; Daniel, not living ; Asiel, now living at Waukegan; Edward A., now living in Chicago ; Wells H., now living at St. Louis.

The year before this-1834-Geary Smith came to the place, made a claim, and also bought out Stephen Downer. The ground on which the railroad depot now stands is on this pur- chase.

On the 14th of August, 1836, Samuel Curtis bought a part of Mr. Blodgett's claim, for which

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HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

he paid $1,000 cash down, and on it now stands the center of Downer's Grove. He died Feb- ruary 25, 1867, aged seventy-seven years, and was buried in the cemetery at the place. He is kindly remembered by the many friends he made during his useful life. Two of his sons- Chartes and Roswell O .- still live in the village.

David Page came to the place in 1837; bought a farm at the south edge of the present corporate limits of the town, where he remained till he died a few years ago.

The same year, Walter Blanchard, from Or- leans County, N. Y., in connection with Henry Carpenter, from Washington County, N. Y., bought a farm, part of which is now within the the incorporate limits of Downer's Grove.

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History of Du Page County, Illinois (Historical, Biographical), Part 26

Author: Blanchard, Rufus, 1821-1904 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & co. Number of Pages: 544

Author: Blanchard, Rufus, 1821-1904
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & co.
Number of Pages: 544