History of Grundy County, Illinois, Part 32

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin
Number of Pages: 506

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B. F. Wonder, J. W. Denning, A. D. Moore, M. C. Eignus, A. Bower, D. W. Brown, T. R. MeNair and C. W. Green. "Gardner Circuit" was formed in 1867. The first church edifice was built by the Protestant Methodists in 1856, corner of Jackson St. and Washington avenue. Fay- ette Dond, a local preacher, did the carpenter work and furnished a large amount of the money used in construction. Doud held a lien on the building for $500, which the Protestants were unable to pay; accordingly in Feb'y, 1864 he sold the build- ing to the M. E. Society for the amount of his elaim. Under the able ministry of Rev. Eignus in 1875, the congregation out- grew the building, and a new one 34 by 56, was commeneed corner of Jefferson and Monroe Sts. The church was dedicated Jan. 9th, 1876; eost about 83,000; Wm. Hastings, contractor and builder. The society now numbers seventy-five members, and our meeting house is free from debt. The old building was sold and moved to Depot St. and converted into a saloon, showing how sometimes a good thing is put to a bad use. It is now used for har- ness shop and tin shop.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

This society was organized September 5, 1858, under the ministry of Rev. L. H. Loss and Rev. S. II. Waldo. The meet- ing at which the organization was effected was held in the school-house. The society started with six ladies, no gentlemen join- ing; their names were Mrs. Abbie La Force, Mrs. Phebe Ann Wheeler, Mrs. Sarah M. Wright, Mrs. Susan Sawyer, Mrs. E. C. Benson, Miss Virginia M. Hawley. Rev. Wałdo was the first minister in charge.

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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.

Of the six original members ouly two are now known to be living, namely: Mrs. Taxis noe Miss Hawley, and Mrs. Wheeler. The pastors, after Rev. Waldo, in order of succession were: Revs. Alvah Day, E. G. Moore, Sextus E. Smith, F. B. Hargraves, J. G. Lyle, Joel Kennedy, S. H. Stevensou and Robert Watt. The school-house served the society for a chapel for several years, and after the school ont-grew it and went to new quarters, it was rigged over and still used. After a time this building was moved to Depot street, and converted into a store, and occupied by McClure & Tol- man for hardware; then the society used the Methodist church and the city hall. In 1871, under the able pastorate of Rev. Smith, they began the ereetion of a ehnreh edifice, brick, 32 by 56, corner of Elm and Main streets. It was completed and dedi- eated in the spring of 1872, and is now the society's place of worship. Many of the early members have passed to "the other shore." The number now on record is 35.

BAPTIST CHURCHI.

Under the ministry of Rev. W. II. Card this society was organized in 1864 with seven members, namely: W. H. Card, Phil- lip Spaulding, Albert W. Willard, David M. Griswold, Mrs. L. E. Taxis, Robert Iluston and II. J. Edmunds. The names of the ministers, so far as could be learned, are, beginning with the first: Revs. W. II. Card, - Colby, J. Gordon, John Iligby, E. G. Sage and F. M. Mitchell. The society built a church 36 by 60 in 1868; in Feb- ruary of 1871 the building took fire in some way unknown, and burned to the ground. The same year a new briek church was begun on the same site, the

same in size, with a conference room 24 by 30 added to the rear end, and was dedicated to the service of God, May 11, 1872. The construction of this building plunged the society into debt, and by which they were much embarrassed until Rev. Sage's min- istry, two years since, when the obligations were generally paid. The present number of members is sixty-four. Each of the so- eieties supports a Sabbath school with a fair attendance.

THE VILLAGE AS IT IS TO-DAY-ITS TRADE AND TRADERS.

Gardner has thus far achieved very little notoriety as a manufacturing town; its life and business have depended mostly upon the farming country surrounding it. As a grain market, especially for eorn, it stands well with other railway towns. During the year 1880 nearly half a million bushels of corn and oats were shipped from this station; the numbers of fat eattle and hogs shipped, were they known, would make a good showing. The census of 1880 gave us a population of 788, whiel in the two years sinee has somewhat in- ereased, so that now we number, likely, abont 900. The business of to-day is mostly represented by the following gen- tlemen and firms, carrying stocks of dry goods and groceries: Lutz & Eldred, R. B. Iluss, Phelps & Lewis, Truesdell & Wylie-four stores; restaurants, D. L. Strahl, George Hader; grain buyers, Sny- der & Son, Lutz & Germain, Robert Atkin son; buyers and shippers of live stock, Germain & Clover; hardware dealers and blacksmithing, Smith & Rogers; black- smithing, Atkinson & Erwin; hardware, Chas. V. Hamilton; dealer in farm imple- ments, A. S. Martin; ready-made elothing,

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IHISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.

Ch3. E. Parker; banks-Exchange Bank. John Allison; Bank of Gardner. J. C. Lutz; meat markets, llarpham & Gray, E. I. Briggs; harness makers, Thos. Spiller, II. A. Eversoll; drugs, C. HI. Goold, W. W. McMann; Harvey Eldred, dealer in furni- ture and undertaker; saloons, Mike Kern, E. D. Evans, Andrew Burt, John Sehumm, Joseph Houghton; physicians, J. B. Taxis, W. W. McMann, C. M. Easton and J.

Underhill. Dr. Taxis has resided here sinee 1859, Dr. MeMann since 1863; Dr. Underhill came later; Dr. Easton came in 1874. Notaries public, Isaac B. MeGinnis and John Coles; attorneys at law, Clover & Clover. The present village trustees are: Harvey Eldred, George Smith, W. W. McMann, R B. Huss, D. R. Keepers, Ar- nold Edmunds. Eldred is the president; HI. A. Crawford, clerk.

CHAPTER XII .*

NETTLE CREEK TOWNSHIP-FIRST SETTLERS-LIFE IN A PRAIRIE COUNTRY-SCHOOLS, ETC.

N ETTLE CREEK is the name applied by the settlers to the principal stream in this township, and from the stream the pre- cinct takes its name. The Indians named the stream Little Mazon, from the number of nettles which were found growing Inx- mriantly upon the rich bottoms. The town- ship which bears this name, forms the northwest corner of Grundy County, and originally consisted almost entirely of level prairie land. Along the ereck from the eastern line of the township to the western line of Section 23, there was a considera- ble growth of oak and black walnut, but the rest was open prairie. A number of prairie runs, tributary to the main stream, cross the township in a sontheasterly diree- tion, but they have no valleys, and farmers till the land right up to the margin of the streams. The population is quite cosmo- politan in its character, Scotland, England, Ireland and Norway, of the European States, being represented, while no State of the Union can elaim great preponderance in the number of her sons and daughters here.

The first. pioneer was William Hoge. HIe was of Scotch descent, but was born in Londoun County, Virginia ; married in 1826. Hle found himself with a family to support and the prospect of acquiring a home in his native State very poor indeed. lle re-

solved on a trip to the Westin 1829, and attracted to this region of the country by the eanal lands, bought 960 acres in that vear. lle returned to Virginia, and two years later, with his family and goods in a Winchester wagon, made the tedions journey over hill and stream to what is now Nettle Creek township. His first eabin, which is still pointel out, was a log structure situated within a few rods of his present residence, which was erected in 1815. IIere he lived with his family, con- sisting of his wife and three children, with but one other family in what is now Grundy County. The nearest village was Ottawa. Here he got his mail and bought such sup- plies as could not be dispensed with and the country did not afford. When the insurrection of Black Hawk's band oc- enrred, alarmed for the safety of his family, Mr. Hoge fled to Pleasant Grove, opposite the present village of Pekin. Happily the Indian trouble was soon over, and in Angust of 1832 the family returned to their frontier home. Samuel Hoge had come West in 1829 and started a store in Belmont County in company with his brother-in-law, IFendley Gregg, but after the Black Hawk war, selling ont to his partner, he joined his brother in Nettle Creek in 1833. William Hoge located his land on Section 25, and later, as he was able, bought Sec- tion 24 and other land until he now owns

*By J. H. Battle.

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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.

something over 3,000 acres of land. Sam- nel first took up a claim in Erienna, but in 1835 came into Nettle Creek and bought Sections 21 and 22 and lands adjoining until he died in possession of something over 3,000 acres.

In the fall of 1837 John Gray, a Scotch- man, and George Brouse, an Englishman, eame into Nettle Creek together, the former loeating on Section 20 and the latter on Seetion 17, their lands joining. Gray eame on to his land in the following season and began his improvements, but Brouse, who was a bachelor and never married, did not come on for a year or two. In 1837 William Stephen came. He was a young unmarried man, and a native of Scotland. He had known Gray in the old country, and it was through him that he was led to take up his home in Nettle Creek. He was led to emigrate to America, however, by the glowing descriptions of the country, given by a Mr. Smith, Chicago's pioneer banker. Smith had gone to Scotland, his native land, to enlist eapital in the forma- tion of a stock company to invest in Illinois land, but while prosecuting this scheme the panic of 1837 was precipitated, and he was hurriedly called baek to look after his affairs here. Mr. Stephen had intended to accompany Smith on his return, but the latter was obliged to leave so early that Mr. Stephen was obliged to make the trip later and alone. He came to Chicago, but found the banker absent on business, and being free to go where the inclination of the moment prompted, sought out his old friend Gray in Nettle Creek. He took up some land and stayed about one year, when, disgusted with the peenliar disadvantages of the place, he went into Kendall County.

He came right from the civilization of the eity to a frontier community without the semblance of a village, and after breaking sod for a day or two, gave up the business here in disgust. He finally bought and improved a fine farm in Kendall County, but has been most of his time identified with Grundy County. About this time George Bullis came from New York and settled on Section S, where he lived until about 1870, when he moved to Ford County, leaving no descendants here.

About 1840, a Mr. Conp came to Nettle Creek. He had bought a quarter section of land near Chicago, for which he had given his notes. He found it a hard mat- ter to raise the money to make his pay- ments, and his ereditors seizing upon some property left on the place, took possession of his land. Giving up hope of prospering in that region he came to this township, en- tered into contraet with Brouse to dig a division ditch, about a quarter seetion of land for another quarter seetion. To the fulfillment of this contraet he brought an untiring energy, digging when the season permitted until far into the night, and in the meanwhile living in a sod house and practicing all sorts of economy. He achieved his task and started in the nursery business, with a fair prospect of success, but his old time ereditors still holding his notes, learned he had got some property here, were about to levy on his land to sat- isfy his notes, and lie was obliged to sell ont to one of his neighbors to save anything out of his hard won property. In 1841 or '2, Thomas Loughhead came in from Mer- eer County, Pennsylvania. He was born of Scotch parents, in the north of Ireland, and emigrated to Canada during the Na-

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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY

poleonic wars. The vessel in which he embarked fell in with a French privateer and barely escaped capture, losing his chest of clothes and the hat from his head. Ile soon afterward met Mary Donley and married her, a little later coming to Penn- sylvania. His wife was the daughter of a lady, the daughter of an Irish nobleman, who had eloped to this country with an Irish teacher. In the war of 1812, Mr. Longhhead was drafted, and served through- out the struggle as a private. Ilis wife died before his coming into Illinois. but he brought a family of two boys and four girls, none of whom were then married. For three or four years he rented the farm of George Bronse, which he bought in 1847. The boys subsequently bought farms near by, and the girls engaged in teaching school. They enjoyed the ad- vantages of liberal study, having attended the seminary at Hudson, Ohio. Another son, James, came to Nettle Creek subse- quently, and stayed there about two years, buying the interest of the other heirs in the paternal estate, and finally selling it to a Mr. Moody. A year or two later, James P. Thompson, who had married one of the Loughihead daughters, followed his father- in-law to Illinois, and settled on the north- east quarter of section 19. The head of the Loughhead family died about 1855, and the different members have one by one gone to different parts of the country, leav. ing no descendants here.

Oliver Dix eame here in 1844, from Oneida County, New York, and settled on section S. and about the same time came Minard Waterman from the same Stato and settled on land which his father bought of Mr. Stephen, on section twenty. In

the following year .the Mossmans came in- to the township, William settling on the southeast quarter of section 17, and Hugh on the northeast quarter of section ninc. About the same time came Simon Fry, from Maryland, and settled on section 7, where he is still living. In or abont 1848, came Thomas and John Agan, buying land on section 31, where they now reside; in 1849, Isaac N. Brown came from Sara- toga County, New York, and settled on section 4. and soon after him David JJami- son, from Pennsylvania, and settled on the northwest quarter of section eighteen.

About 1845, the Norwegian element be- gan to come into the township and it is astonishing to observe how rapidly they have supplanted the original settlers. Among the earliest of this class of foreign- ers were John Peterson, Ben Thorn- ton, Ben Hall, Lars and Erasmus Sheldall, John Wing, G. E. Grunstead and others. In 1849, the population of the township was divided as follows: On seetion 1, 1I. A. Ford; on section 3, Baker Knox and R. Carpenter; on section 4, Isaac N. Brown, Lars and Erasmus Sheklall. John Wing and G. E. Grunstead; on seetion 7, John Peterson, Ben Thornton and Simon Fry; on section 8, Lars Likeness, Ben Hall, Edson Gifford and George Bullis; on sec- tion 9, ILugh Mossman; on section 10, Morgan Lloyd and S. H. Rider; on section 12, John Gibson, Alex. Bushnell, Ben Sears and Daniel David; on section 14, Charles MeCann; on section 17, John and Thomas Loughhead, Oliver Dix and Will- iam Mossman; on section 18, David Jam- ison; on section 19, James P. Thompson; on seetion 20, John Gray and Minard Wa- terman; on section 22, Samuel Hoge; on

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IHISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.

section 25, William Hoge; and on section 31, Thomas and John Agan.

The first settlers of Nettle Creek were almost to a man of very limited means and cut off by the natural situation from any prospect of a village. The Hoges and Mr. Holderman early went into cattle raising, feeding them on the public lands, where- ever water and grass afforded the most eligible site. The searcity of timber here made fencing an expensive burden to the already sufficiently handicapped farmer, and some quite serions differences arose ont of this combination of circumstances. The gradnal development of the country, how- ever, has long since removed these canses of irritation. Messrs. Hoge and Holder- man still make cattle raising their princi- pal occupation, some of this stoek being high grades. Samuel Hoge came to the township rather "full handed," and has given more attention than others to the growing of fine blooded stock.

During the early history of this commu- nity, the nearest store and post-office was at Ottawa, and the nearest market at Chi- cago. As the country settled up, Morris was founded, and with Marseilles on the southwest divided the local trade so that Nettle Creek could not afford sufficient patronage to justify a store here. A log saw-mill was constructed by William Hoge on Nettle Creek, about six rods from his house, which did a moderate business for some ten years, but the dam washed out one winter and the mill was allowed to rot down. Later, during the construction of the canal, a steam mill was erected on canal lands in section 23, which furnished mate- rial to the contractors, but passed away with the occasion that brought it. The only

approach to a store was attempted in 1876, when Zach. Severson added to his boot and shoe shop on section 8, a small stoek of gro- ceries. This was too late a date for such a venture to succeed, and it has been discon- tinucd.

The leading social event which may be noted, is the first white birth in the town- ship, that of James, a son of William Iloge. He is probably the first white child born in the county, and is now living in Sarato- ga township. The first death in Nettle Creek was a child of Warren Chapin, who lived on section 8, and where in the al)- sence of any cemetery, the child was buried.

In 1835, the Hoge brothers feeling the necessity of a school for their children, built a split log house for the purpose, on the land of William Hoge. It was a neat structure for the time, the roof formed of shakes, the floor of sawed planks, and plank desk and benches. The first teacher here was Maria Sonthworth, from the Fox River settlement at Milford. She tanght two winters and had about nine scholars, re- ceiving for her compensation $2.50 per week, which was paid by William Hoge. The building is still standing about 125 yards from Mr. Hoge's dwelling. Schools were held here until about 1857. The sec- ond school-house was erected on section 16. It did not serve long as it was not conven- iently located. The next one was built near Mr. Brown's present residence, and this was subsequently abandoned and the single school of the township was tanght. in the town house, by Oliver Dix. In 1849, the township was divided into four school districts which have been since increased to seven.

289

HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.

The first start for church organization was about 1849 by the Congregational so- ciety under the labors of James Loughhead. HIe came to Illinois in 1845, on a call to the Big Grove church. Ile was a gradu- ate of the Western Reserve College at Hudson, Ohio, and for several years after his graduation, took part in the slavery ag- itation, lecturing in favor of emancipation. He subsequently studied theology and preached several years in Ohio, when he accepted the call to Big Grove. Ilere he preached for two years, but in the mean- time acting as an appointee of the Home Missionary Society, and establishing churches in various parts of the county. He had brought his father to Nettle Creek some years before; and was well ac- quainted with the character of the work needed to be done here. He was a man of great force of character and good practical judgment, and was the originator of the Congregational influence in Grundy Coun- ty. On his first coming in 1845, he was impressed with the great need of evangelical work in Morris, and determined at the first opportunity to open up a field of labor here. He seems never to have lost sight of this determination, and in 1847 he

moved to Morris and began by organizing a church here. While located here he preached in other parts of the county, and was instrumental in establishing churches in Mazon, Au Sable and elsewhere, beside in Nettle Creek. The church in this town- ship was organized by members from Big Grove church, among whom were his brothers and sisters, John, Thomas, Marga- ret and Hannah, and Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Washburn. The church never built a place of worship, using the school-houses for this purpose until about 1868, when it became extinet as an organization. The church organized a Bible Society, and did good service for years.

The Methodist Church organized a so- ciety here abont 1850, in which the three Mossman families, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Thompson, Mrs. Fry and Reuben Ayles- worth were leading members. The church used the residenec of Oliver Dix as the first place of worship, and later held their meet- ings in the school-house as they now do. The inembership now numbers about thirty persons, and holds services once in each fortnight, depending upon a " supply" from the Rock River Conference.

CHAPTER XIII .*

AU SABLE TOWNSHIP-LOCATION AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS-ITS EARLY SETTLE- MENT-ITS NATURAL ATTRACTIONS-DRESDEN-MINOOKA-CHRUCHES AND SCHOOLS.

A U SABLE township forms the north. east corner of Grundy County, and presents some of the finest natural scenery in this region. It is principally a fine rolling prairie, with a fringe of timber along the Au Sable Creek and the Illinois River. The eastern line is marked by a high rise of ground, which forms a watershed of limited extent, the drainage flowing in an easterly and westerly direction from this line. The termination of this ridge at the head of the Illinois is well worth going some distance to see. The high land continues almost to the river brink, affording an outlook over the low land of Felix and the country south for miles. The seene here presented, with its picturesque views along the river and the low meadows dotted with grazing herds, is found nowhere else in this county, and forms the object of many a pleasant drive. The northern tier of sections has a good elevation also, and that part of the town west of the Au Sable Creek. The valley of this creek, which flows a southwesterly course through the township to the north- ern line of section 30, and then makes a sharp turn to the east and another south to the Illinois in section 32, is low and wet. The soil of the upland is considerably mixed with sand and with a clay substra- tuin, while the lowlands are characterized

with a black swamp soil, with murky tend- -

encies. It is a fine grazing country, and is largely used for this purpose, though the staple grains of this section are not over- looked by the farmers. It was here that some of the earliest settlers made their home.

The natural attractions of this township were such as to draw any who might be in the vicinity. It was a favorite winter resort of the Pottawatomies, and the favor- ite hunting ground of both white and red man. Marquis, though having his cabin at the mouth of the Mazon, could not resist the attractions of this side of the river, and partly to utilize a high and clear piece of ground, and partly to be nearer the natives. spent his sunimers at the month of the Au Sable Creek. In the winter he found the sheltered nook on the Mazon more comfort- able. But Marquis could not properly be called a settler, as his purposes in the county were temporary, and he made no permanent improvement in either place. W. II. Perkins, although not the first set- tler, was one of the earliest to explore the township with that in view, and so well did he like it that as soon as he sought to build up a home of his own, he came back and took up his elaim. He was a native of Oneida County, New York, and recognizing that the West was the only place for a young man without capital to get a start, came

*By J. H. Battle.

291

HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.

out, after some delays, to Chicago, in 1833. He was accompanied by Levi Hills, and arrived there September 23, 1833, and found characteristie evidence of the newness of the country in a camp of five thousand Indians, who had been gathered on the west side of Chicago. That night these travelers rested at Beaubien's hotel, which, as he expressed it, was kept "like one hell, and made money like dirt," and his guests had no reason to doubt the correctness of the statement in either particular. In the town Perkins met J. D. Caton, James II. Collins and a Mr. Snell, all from Oneida County, New York. On the next day Snell and Collins accompanied Mr. Perkins, all proceeding on foot, to explore the country. On noon of the 26th they reached the cabin of Chester House, located where Seward now is, in Kendall County. Ilere Mr. Per- kins found an old acquaintance of his father, who had come out and settled in the previous May, and gladly volunteered to take his teanı and pilot the party in a prospeeting tour of the vieinity. Under the guidance of Mr. House the party went sonth across sections 4 and 9, township 34, range 8, and returned. The next day they took the same route, going further south, but finally making an abrupt turn to the west, went to Holderman's grove. Here Mr. Perkins entered into an arrangement with Mr. Holderman to work some of his land. Here for two years, with no eom- pany but his three yoke of oxen, he plowed and planted. In 1835, having secured a wife, he came to Au Sable and settled on the northeast quarter of seetion eight. The first actual settler was Salmon Rutherford, a native of New York. He came in May, 1833, and settled on section twenty-six.

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History of Grundy County, Illinois, Part 32

Author: Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin Number of Pages: 506

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin
Number of Pages: 506