USA > Illinois > Ford County > History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 25
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
During this winter, 1855-6 I purchased in my own name one hundred and sixty acres covering "the Hill" and the more level land north thereof to the east road, also, in connection with A. D. Southworth, a full section (six hundred and forty acres) near the present town of Rankin for two dollars and fifty cents per acre, and later sold my half for fourteen dollars per acre.
A few days before my final departure from New York, at his request, I made known to W. II. Pells our plans and prospects for a new county. Ile then proposed to join us in the enterprise provided certain other lands adjoining could be purchased, and of course provided that, upon examination, he found things as I stated them to be. It was understood that we should secure options on these certain lands, and, when this was done he would come out and investi- gate. This he did early in June, 1856 and was well pleased. The land was purchased and the firm of Pells, Britt & Murdock ereated.
The new firm controlled three hundred and forty acres-all that was most desirable for town site purposes. After Mr. Britt's death, Mr. Pells arranged for the Britt undivided one-third interest. Having secured all the land we cared to purchase ourselves, we then proposed to certain persons to purchase land adjoining our own and thus become interested in the scheme. Mr. James Mix was one of these persons and he promptly acted on our suggestion. The purchase proved profitable to him and he very useful to the enterprise. Until this time-midsummer 1856-our plan, even the fact of our owning any lands at this point, was carefully concealed. Paxton then consisted of three small houses, located near the south railroad crossing of the present town. There were no other improvements in sight, not even a stake to indicate that a town had ever been thought of. Meantime, Loda was booming in anticipation of its becoming the county seat of a new county.
In September the survey of the town plat was commenced and the erection of a six room house was rushed as fast as men and the delivery of material would permit. and. before it was fairly finished, Mrs. James B. Taft, a widowed sister of Mr. Britt, arrived from the east, prepared to take charge of it. This duty was ably and faithfully performed by her, and, although not so intended, neces- sity made it a sort of hotel for a while and the little house was often filled to overflowing. Mr. Britt lived and died in this house and after his death Mrs. Taft and her son O. B. Taft, now of Chicago, resided there for many years.
During the summer of 1856 improvements were made by Britt and Murdock on one of the half sections of railroad land, as was agreed on their purchase. These improvements and certain other conditions having been fulfilled, we asked for the side track that had been promised by Superintendent Doane and endorsed
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by George B. MeClellan but Superintendent Doane was dead, and the president then acting as superintendent would not recognize the agreement made with us. MeClellan then took the matter up for us and we learned that he and the president had some hot words over it, but the president would not yield. Mr. MeClellan said "Wait," with a manner implying that we should finally get the side track. Later we got word from him to come to Chicago and I went promptly. At the office he stated that the president had gone to Europe and that he himself was acting superintendent and requested me to meet him at his board- ing house in the evening. At this meeting it was arranged that we should have a regular station with a side track and some sort of station building, which proved to be an old shop, wrecked, moved and set up again, made fairly comfortable but far from ornamental. We were to grade for the side track and I was to act as station agent, the consideration therefor to be a commission on gross receipts. My first month's pay was eight dollars and thirty-six cents. I held the position for several years and until the per cent amounted to much more than the company was willing to allow as salary for the services rendered. I then resigned. The station was opened for business on or about December 1, 1856.
About the time the station matter was settled, and before the side track was completed, Blaine & Hanly shipped in a full train of lumber-twenty cars or more. It had to be unloaded while standing on the main line. Everybody from far and near lent a hand and the work was done in double-quick time.
A postoffice was easily obtained by removing the old Ten Mile Grove office. but a new name for it and the station was demanded. This proved less easy to settle than was expected. The appropriate and desirable names seemed to be already in use elsewhere. Our neighbors took occasion to suggest some names for us, but we accepted none of them. Prospect City was finally adopted, the promoter, whoever he was explaining that the "Prospect" was in consideration of its sightly situation, its prospective views in all directions, etc. Everything was "City" in those days-it was the fashion- so "City" was affixed. Almost the first new arrival after the name was proclaimed looked around carefully and declared it was all prospect and no city. He took the next train and never came Sir jos
back. We soon tired of the name and changed it to Paxton in honor of Lord Paxton of Scotland, then a large Illinois Central stock holder. We expected a visit and perhaps a present from him but he never came. However we got a good name for our town. The new postoffice was created, I think, November, 1856, and Mr. Leander Britt was made postmaster and filled that position for several years-as long as his failing health permitted.
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Promptly on the convening of the 1857 session of the Illinois state legislature, delegates from Loda appeared with their plan for a new county, of course so shaped that Loda must become the county seat thereof.
We were at that time nowise prepared for a new county fight, and if a county seat had been tendered us then we could not have accepted or cared for it.
Our hope lay in postponing the issue for two years. The law provided, (and still provides) that the legislature may authorize a vote on the question of new counties, and when made up from two or more counties, must have a major- ity vote of each and every county interested. We had good reason to believe that Iroquois county would not, at that time consent to separate any portion of its territory for any purpose whatever, but we felt obliged to make some sort of fight in the matter and to have a delegation in Springfield to care for our interests there. It was arranged that Mr. Britt and Mr. Mix should do this work and the duty was well performed.
Such questions are practically settled in the committee room; the legislature simply sanctions by formal vote what the committee recommends. In the committee room much haggling and loud talk were indulged in. Many different plans were proposed. Several such sessions were held. Finally a new county bill was submitted, promptly passed and signed by the governor.
The Loda delegates had asked for six miles off the west side of Iroquois county and that part of Vermilion county now Ford county but perhaps due to a confusion in the committee room, a mistake was made and the bill as passed called for twelve miles off Iroquois county and six miles square out of the north- west corner of what is now Vermilion county. Both counties voted against the new county as proposed. The Loda delegation never quite understood how this mistake occurred.
The years 1857 and 1858 were lively seasons for both towns. Both claimed to be dead sure of becoming the county seat, and both gained rapidly in popu- lation and trade, and as the period for the legislative session of 1859, both prepared for the fight of their lives. W. H. Pells, James Mix and Leander Britt were our regular delegation and spent most of the winter in Springfield. I and others were there for brief periods.
Loda's plan for the new county necessarily involved a portion of Iroquois county. Our plan was Ford county as it now exists. There was no other town in it and our chance to become the county seat was thus assured. It was plain that Vermilion county would vote off that much and no more for a new county. The issne was with Iroquois county. Would the voters favor cutting off any part for the new county ? Those favoring the Loda scheme declared they would.
WILLIAM H. PELLS
BIOGRAPHICAL.
WILLIAM H. PELLS.
William H. Pells, who was so well known to the early settlers of this community for his enterprise, integrity and sterling worth, may well be called not only one of the fathers of Paxton, but also of Ford county. He was a native of Poughkeepsie, New York, born June 12, 1813. IIis educational advantages were limited to a few years' attendance at the schools of his native city, but by reading and contact with the business world he became a well informed man and a shrewd financier. When only thirteen years of age he was compelled by force of circumstances to begin life's struggle on his own account. His father, who was financially well-to-do, by endorsing for others became involved in financial ruin.
The independence and self-reliance of young William asserted themselves in a marked degree. Going to New York city, he spent six months driving a milk wagon, after which he secured a position as clerk in a grocery store, continuing until 1830. That year witnessed his emigration to Palmyra, New York, where he arrived penniless. Though not an experienced woodman, he replenished his exchequer by chopping wood and clearing land. Though a mere boy, he was possessed of indomitable energy and if he could not get employ- ment to which he was accustomed, he accustomed himself to such employment as he could get. The same business he followed at Ridgeway. There on the 19th of November, 1831, he entered the store of H. Francis as clerk. His carefully husbanded earnings were judiciously invested in good lands in that vicinity, which were then selling from $3.00 to $5.00 per acre. and thus was laid a safe foundation. for financial growth. Domestic by nature, Mr. Pells early in life sought to surround himself with the hallowed influence of wife and home. The lady of his choice was Miss Maria B. Whitaker, a native of Norfolk, England, to whom he was married in 1836.
After clerking ten years Mr. Pells became a full partner in the store with his employer and in 1846 became sole proprietor, continuing until 1851 with marked success. Admitting his brother to partnership, the business was carried on by the two until 1856, when Mr. Pells disposed of his entire interest. The same year he purchased from the Medina & Alabama Plank Road Company that part of the road extending from Medina to Ridgeway. In the hands of the Company it had been a losing investment, but Mr. Pells with characteristic thoroughness, rebuilt it with elegant gravel, making it one of the best roads in the state, paying a liberal yearly dividend on the large amount of money expended in its construction. He continued to operate the road until the charter expired in 1881.
In 1856, Mr. Pells came to what is now Ford County, Illinois, though then it was part of Vermilion County. He, R. R. Murdock and Leander Britt purchased the site and laid out Prospect City, as Paxton was then called. With
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commendable pride he watched the growth of the infant town and to the last heartily assisted in everything that would advance its growth. In 1859 he took a prominent part in the organization of Ford county and in making Paxton the seat of justice. Schools, churches and charities of all kinds found in him a liberal supporter. Every interest promising to be beneficial to the town or county claimed his attention.
In 1866 he began the erection of Pells' Block, completing it in 1867, a three-story brick block with 50 feet frontage on Market street, where the Lee & Grayson and Samuelson brick business buildings now stand.
The two first floor rooms were occupied by the J. S. Loose dry-goods store and the bank of Toy & Thompson, until they built the bank building now owned by Paxton bank. The second floor was occupied by offices and for years the Paxton Record had its home on the third floor. This was the first iron front building erected in Ford county. This block was destroyed by fire in October. 1874, that began in the next building south of this, and burned eleven business houses before it could be checked.
IIe was one of the promoters and organizers of the Lafayette, Bloomington & Mississippi Railroad Company and for several years was its vice president. But for his earnest efforts and those of a few others along the line of the road, it probably never would have been built. It has since become a part of the Lake Erie & Western system.
In 1876 he visited Petoskey, Michigan, and being favorably impressed with the climate and soil. purchased a large tract of land containing twelve thousand acres in Emmet county, which was then almost an unbroken forest, inhabited by one hundred whites and eleven hundred Indians. In 1882 the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad ran through Mr. Pells' tract of land, near the center of which sprang up a town, named by the railroad company in honor of him, Pellston.
In political sentiment Mr. Pells was an old-line democrat, a great admirer of Stephen A. Douglas and like Douglas, a war democrat, contributing always most liberally for the good of the soldiers and their families. Though not an aspirant for places of public trust, he held a number of official positions. In religious belief he was a Universalist.
Mr. and Mrs. Pells had a family of three children, though only one now living; Ilannah W .. wife of Colonel Charles Bogardus, of Paxton. His son, Edgar Z. Pells, died at Rochester, New York, in 1899.
After a brief married life of only nine years, Mr. Pells was deprived by death of his companion. Notwithstanding he survived her over forty years, she was his only wedded companion. On the 26th of June, 1886, Mr. Pells joined his wife and child in the spirit world, while his body was laid to rest beside that of his wife at Ridgeway, New York. He was a man possessed of such traits of character as are worthy to be imitated and should never be forgotten; shrewd and far-sighted in business affairs, serupulously honest, free-hearted, charitable, with a kind word and tender thought for all. His charities were always unostentatious and quietly given and kept from the publie when possible.
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COLONEL CHARLES BOGARDUS.
The world instinctively pays deference to the man whose success has been gained through his own efforts and whose methods have ever been such as will bear close investigation and serntiny. Such has been the record of Colonel Charles Bogardus, one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Ford county. The progenitor of the different branches of the Bogardus family in America was Everardus Bogardus, a Dutch Reform clergyman, who emigrated from Holland to New Amsterdam (now New York city,) in 1633, and was the second minister in that city, residing on what is now Broad street. In 1638 he married Annetje, widow of Roelof Jansen, (her name was corrupted later into Anneke Jans,) who had obtained a grant of sixty-two acres of land, (she being a relative of King William and Mary,) in what is now the center of New York city. This farm, long known as "Dominie's Bowery," in time became vested in Trinity church by unfair means and caused continuous litigation until about the middle of the nineteenth century. He is the only one of the name that has come to this country.
Colonel Bogardus is a lineal descendant of the above clergyman and is a son of James H. and Louisa M. Bogardus. He was born in Cayuga county, New York, March 28, 1841, and when but little over six years of age was left an orphan, both parents being taken away by an epidemic. He was taken by an unele, W. H. Bogardus, who gave him common-school advantages until he was about twelve years of age, at which time young Charles entered a grocery store as clerk at a salary of a dollar and a half per week. This position he held for nearly four years, receiving increase in salary from time to time. His earnings were paid every Saturday night to the unele, who, without the boy's knowledge, invested the same for him and subsequently offered to turn all over to him, notwithstanding his uncle was a poor man. But the boy. although only eighteen years of age, declined the offer and the money with thanks.
When in his sixteenth year he went to Ridgeway, New York, to accept a elerkship in the store of another unele at eight dollars per month and board. He was rapidly advanced in position and salary, becoming head clerk before he was nineteen.
Early in August, 1862, Colonel Bogardus, having just attained his majority, enlisted for the war in Company A, One Hundred and Fifty-first New York Infantry. But before going to the field he was united in marriage, on the 17th of August, 1862, to Miss Hannah W., daughter of William H. Pells, both of whom are mentioned on other pages of this volume. On the organization of the company, August 13, 1862, Colonel Bogardus was elected first Lieutenant ; was promoted to the rank of captain of Company I, December 12, 1862; to lieutenant colonel December 10, 1864; and was breveted colonel by order of the president of the United States "for gallant and meritorious services in the charge in front of Petersburg, Virginia, April 2, 1865." The letter from the governor of New York accompanying the commission states the reason for granting the commission and reads as follows:
"Colonel, I have the pleasure to transmit herewith a brevet commission
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conferred by the president, in recognition of your faithful and distinguished services in the war. I feel a just pride in this acknowledgment of the gallantry and devotion of an officer of this state, which serves to heighten the reputation won by the valor and constancy of the soldiers of New York.
Very truly yours,
R. E. FENTON. Governor."
Colonel Bogardus was twice wounded in the battle of Monocacy, Maryland, July @ 1864, an engagement comparatively insignificant in itself but important in its results, about three thousand Union troops by the skillful management of General Lew Wallace, held in check nearly six times their number for twenty-four hours, thus giving General Grant barely time to move the first and second divisions of the Sixth Army Corps from City Point, Virginia, to Wash- ington, arriving there just as the Confederate General Early appeared in front of the outer defenses of Washington. Had that heroic little band of boys in blue given way, the Capital City must have fallen a prey to the enemy. In the battle of the Wilderness the Sixth Corps to which Colonel Bogardus belonged. was on the extreme right and all remember what a desperate effort Lee made to erush that part of Grant's army; next followed in rapid succession the battles of Spottsylvania, Tolopotomy and Cold Harbor, (in the latter battle his regiment lost five captains and the young, then Captain Bogardus, came out of this battle acting as lieutenant colonel, all officers above him in rank but one having been shot.) Mine Run. Petersburg, Sailors Creek, Appomatox, or Lee's surrender, and the other battles and skirmishes in which he was engaged will ever be remembered, as experiences in our subject's army life.
When getting ready for the battle of Petersburg. the Colonel's orderly. Johnny Byron, packed one pocket of the colonel's overcoat, tightly with hard tack. when putting it on, discovering it, told the orderly to take them out. Byron begged him to leave them in saying it might be a long time before he could get anything else to eat. Ile was very fond of Byron and to please him let them remain. Later a confederate sharp-shooter's bullet was deflected by the hard-tack just enough to save his hip and perhaps his life, making a very severe bruise and lameness, but the hip was saved.
At the battle of Monocacy, July 9, 1864, Colonel Bogardus was so severely wounded that he could not endure to be transferred by ambulance, hence was carried three miles on a stretcher to the hospital at Frederick City, Maryland. Had his injuries been less he would have been sent to Richmond or to Libby prison. Frederick City soon fell into the hands of the Union troops again, and he was transferred, about three months after, when able to travel, to the officers' hospital at Annapolis, Maryland, where he regained his strength sufficiently to come home on crutches and cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln. As soon as he could get about by the use of a cane he returned to his command and served until he was mustered out on the 26th of June, 1865. A striking illustration of the wonderful transforming power of ideas on the lives and actions of men is given in the case of Colonel Bogardus and his maternal grandfather. The latter owned and worked slaves in New York state before
CHARLES BOGARDUS
MRS. CHARLES BOGARDUS
.
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they were manumitted-the former risked his own life for their freedom, and today the negro accounts the Colonel one of his warmest friends. In 1885 he was appointed colonel and aide-de-camp by Governor Oglesby, and was re- appointed in 1889 by Governor Fifer, holding the two positions eight years.
When hostilities had ceased Colonel Bogardus returned to Ridgeway, New York, where he became a partner of his old employer, A. V. Pells. (to whom he feels he owes much of his success.) in the mercantile business, continuing until failing health, the effect of his wound, compelled him to quit mercantile pursuits. In April, 1872, he became a resident of Paxton and has since been prominently identified with its best interests, as well as those of the surround- ing country. The varied and extensive business interests he successfully conducts prove him to be a man of broad comprehension and of fine executive ability. Besides doing a large real-estate and loan business he is extensively interested in stock-raising and farming, owning several thousand acres of valuable farming land in Illinois. He was president of the Ninth Congressional District Farmers' Institute from its organization. It grew to be one of the largest in the state. Democratic reapportionment destroyed it geographically. thus ending it after years of success. He was one of the organizers of the Paxton Brick & Tile Company, of which he was a director and part owner for twenty-one years, and was one of the incorporators of the Paxton Canning Company, another substantial concern. He sold his interest in both these companies some years ago. He was one of the incorporators and the first president of the Paxton Building, Loan and Savings Association and has been reelected twenty-five times, now serving his twenty-sixth year.
Upon the death of Mrs. Bogardus' father, she and her brother inherited among other properties a large tract of timber land in northern Michigan, later on the death of her brother, November, 1899, his interests became hers also. In the spring of 1900, at her request, he went to Michigan to look over the properties for her, getting up from a sick bed to do so; he spent the summer getting well and studying the properties and in the fall founded the first mill for the manufacture of shingles, next a sawmill, later a planing-mill, another sawmill, lath-mills were added, in the meantime he had located Tindle & Jackson, the largest manufacturers of slack cooperage, broom handles and hoops in the world. An extensive turning works was recently started, which with other matters has made Pellston jump from one child in the public school when he and his wife arrived there, and a population of three or four families, until today Pellston has a school census of three hundred and eighty-seven, and a total population of between eighteen hundred and nineteen hundred. Has a village organization, fire department, system of water works, shade trees on each side of every street, fine park, and is already quite a pretentious young city, still rapidly growing, and has changed under his short administration from the smallest hamlet and postoffice to the second largest in the county.
He is president of the Bogardus Land & Lumber Company, is interested in the Pellston Light & Power Company, in the Pellston Planing Mills and the Pellston Turning & Manufacturing Company. In all of his business interests
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he has been assisted by his estimable wife, a lady of good business ability and keen discrimination. Colonel Bogardus and his wife have donated fourteen hundred and forty-one acres to the University of Michigan for the purpose of establishing a summer school for the engineering department of that university. The land is valuable and the gift is one of the most generous ever made in that state. The regents have named it the "Bogardus Engineering Camp of the University of Michigan," in honor of the donors.
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