History of Iroquois County, together with Historic notes on the Northwest, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and other authentic, though, for the most part, out-of-the-way sources, Part 111

Author: Beckwith, H. W. (Hiram Williams), 1833-1903
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co.
Number of Pages: 1180

USA > Illinois > Iroquois County > History of Iroquois County, together with Historic notes on the Northwest, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and other authentic, though, for the most part, out-of-the-way sources > Part 111

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

577

ONARGA TOWNSHIP.

engineer, and John C. Gable were badly hurt. The next year the Rissers bought George H. Van Neste, who had been a partner, and put the mill in complete running order. It has remained in their hands ever since, and has been run most of the time.

CITY OF ONARGA.

After 1850 the settlement was quite rapid, and when it was known that a railroad was to be constructed in the western part of the county an impetus was given to immigration. The first survey of the Illi- nois Central railroad was about a mile west of Crescent, and after- ward on its present location. On December 2, 1853, trains from Chicago ran as far as Del Rey, and the first business house was opened early that year by Frank Walker, to accommodate the rail- road men, and he moved farther south on the line as the work ad- vanced. Walker's store was a few rods from B. F. Lindsey's barn. James M. Smith put a small stock of goods on sale at Del Rey, as also did T. B. Gardner and D. B. Peck. The latter, Gardner & Peck's, was the first general store.

Onarga was laid out in the fall of 1854, by David A. Neal, vice- president of the Illinois Central Railroad Company. He was a resi- dent of Salem, Massachusetts. Since then there have been ten addi- tions laid out, and the plat on Sec. 19, T. 26, R. 11 E., and the east . part of Sec. 24, T. 26, R. 10 E., comprises about 300 acres. The village is on a comparatively high ridge, nearly one hundred feet above the lake at Chicago, twenty-three feet above Gilman, three and a half miles north, and over forty feet above the creek bed the same distance south.

Loved Evans in 1841 improved land and made a claim, within the limits of the village, and in 1851 sold 40 acres of his claim to Addi- son Lockwood, who purchased the log school-house near the basin, and in the fall of 1853 moved it to his clain. This was the first building in the village, and stood in the street west of M. H. Messer's house. It was occupied by W. P. Pierson a part of the winter of 1854-5. About this time James M. Watts built a shanty to live in, which, with about four acres of land, lie sold to Nelson Skeels, in December, 1854. Skeels built a frame house on this lot in 1855. It is now a part of T. W. Ludwick's residence. Watts was the first blacksmith here, and his shop was a few rods south of W. H. Spur- geon's house. In December, 1853, the railroad company built its boarding-house in the street about one hundred and fifty feet north of the hotel. Henry W. Clark moved into it in January, 1854, and kept boarders, principally railroad men, who were building the depot

578

HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

buildings and loading sand on the cars to take to other points. At times there were as many as sixty lodgers of a night. About July 12, at supper, there were fifty-seven; the next morning Clark and his wife were alone at breakfast. That night Patrick Murry and Thomas Quirk were taken with the cholera. Murry died before morning, but Quirk recovered. All the boarders were frightened and left.

Early in the spring of 1854 W. P. Pierson commenced the first business in the place. His stock was less than a car-load of lumber. He and his wife boarded at Judge Pangborn's, over a mile from the depot, till they moved into Lockwood's cabin. The next spring he had completed his dwelling, office and business house combined, a structure 12×16 feet. Right here and in this room was commenced one of the early institutions of the town. Mrs. Mary Pierson com- menced a Sabbath-school, with four or five scholars, as soon as they moved into their home. As families were constantly moving in, this school increased rapidly in numbers and efficiency until, in the period of about two years, it numbered some eighty scholars. It overflowed from the residence of Mr. Pierson to his warerooms, and from thence to the new school-house on the hill. All this time it was eminently a union school, and embraced all the children of the village. As the different churches were organized from time to time each drew from this school its scholars, until it was superseded by the different de- noininational Sabbath-schools of the place. It continued in its orig- inal form some six years, and in its day did a good work in forming a nucleus of good influences among the children. It is cominon to hear persons who are now men and women refer to this school with a smile of pleasure on their faces. They are proud to say, "I was one of Mrs. Pierson's Sabbath-school scholars." Early in the same spring that Pierson commenced business William C. Moore and James Miles erected the very first business house in the place, a structure 18×28 feet, now standing opposite the hotel. They opened a general line of goods, and did a good business. Miles sold to Dr. A. N. Crawford early in 1856. In 1857 Crawford sold to Moore, and started a drug store. Moore continued the business for some years at the old stand, when it finally fell into the hands of Richard A. Hungerford. Onarga never had a more precise, accurate and thor- ough business man than William C. Moore. A little while after Moore & Miles built their store D. B. Peck built the second store building, a few rods farther south and nearly opposite the depot. His small stock of goods was brought from Del Rey, and business began in a small shanty before his store was completed, and before Moore & Miles opened out. On July 4 of the same year Oliver L. Clark

579

ONARGA TOWNSHIP.

plastered his house, built where A. K. Doe lives. Soon after this James D. Kelly built a house near the residence of Mrs. C. Ven- mens, and sold it to T. A. Norvell, and built a second on the north- west corner of the seminary lot, and sold that in the early part of 1855 to Townsend B. Gardner. Norvell kept a hotel in 1855. About the time D. B. Peck opened his store, Henry Peck opened a saloon just south of it. Dr. A. N. Crawford settled here in 1854, boarded at Judge Pangborn's, and in 1855 built an office where Durham's bank now is. This office of the doctor is the east room of Isaac Amer- man's residence. Crawford was a well read man, and one of the best physicians ever in the county. He sold out to Dr. John L. Parmalee, who came from Ohio with his family in January, 1856. The same month John C. Culver built his dwelling and moved here from Del Rey. The fall before, he, in partnership with Dr. Lemuel Boyd, opened a lumber yard. In about a year Boyd sold his interest to William H. Skeels. M. H. Messer opened a surveyor's office and general land agency in their lumber office. In October, 1855, John W., James and Abram Owen came from Jacksonville, this state, and while building the house now occupied by J. W. Owen lived in a cabin of Joshua Evans', over a mile from town. A blacksmith shop was opened, and the next year David Weaver, who for them, and afterward for himself, carried on the business several years, was em- ployed. He built the house where Winslow Woods resides. At this time whisky was sold in at least two places. March, 1856, Culver erected the building now his residence, and Chancellor L. Richardson and Isaac McCourtie opened a dry-goods store below, and the three secret societies had the upper room for their hall. In about a year McCourtie sold his interest to Richardson and soon built a warehouse, and in 1859 Lewis Russ was his partner in the grain, lumber and agricultural implement business, and finally they opened a hardware and furniture store, which they prosecuted to a success, both parties making a fortune. Russ bought McCourtie out, January, 1872, took his son, Lewis D. Russ, as a partner, built the north warehouse the same year, and held the grain business till January 1, 1880, when B. H. Durham bought them out. Russ & Son sold their hardware and furniture store to Elkanah Doolittle in 1875, who ran the business about two years, when it fell into the hands of his son, Milton Doo- little.

P. T. Rhodes and Isaac Amerman commenced a banking business in June, 1867. It was the first house of the kind in town and was much needed, and was a great accommodation to the business men. It suspended operations in January, 1870. They were succeeded by ʻ

580

HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

Warren H. Doolittle, who sold out to Benjaman H. Durham, April, 1871, and who still continues thebusiness. Thomas Ward came in 1857, and worked at tailoring for Knight & Thomas. He soon com- menced business for himself, and his success has grown into a large dry-goods and grocery trade, employing three clerks. Eliphalet R. Knight and Joseph Thomas rented the store built by D. B. Peck, in 1856, and opened the largest and best stock of goods in the county at that time. Their trade was very large, and extended into every kind of merchandise the new settlers called for. Thomas died March 24, 1858. This event threw the whole responsibility on Knight, who made a strong effort to carry the business alone. In settling the estate of Mr. Thomas his capital was withdrawn, greatly crippling the business. For relief a partner was found in Seely Het- field, a man of energy and considerable means. For a time the business was prosperous, and a large room was rented of W. P. Pierson. The excessive hard times immediately following, with a large amount of outstanding debts, and bills becoming due, deter- mined Hetfield to withdraw, leaving Knight in possession of the business. In a short time the firm took the form of Knight & Rice, and finally closed up in about 1860 or 1861, with Rice as receiver. Knight raised a company and entered the army, and at the close of the war remained in the south, till his death in 1879. He was a man of untiring energy, extravagant in his habit and plans, rich to-day and poor to-morrow, but never giving up. For a short time after the war he was a member of the educational board of the state of Arkansas. Joseph Thomas, his first partner in business in Onarga, had lived in the county for many years. He was a member of the legislature in 1854. He was a part owner of the town of Gilman, and had much influence in procuring individual contribution for the east and west railroad through the county. His energy made him a desirable partner for Mr. Knight ; had he lived, misfortune would not have come to the business he had helped to organize so soon.

After Dr. A. N. Crawford died, in December, 1862, his widow continued the drug business, and in 1864 her brother, James B. Baldromed, became a partner, and finally, sole owner, when in 1868 M. D. Firman bought a half interest in the business, and held it till 1876, when he sold to Baldwin, who with his son, Louis, now keeps the store. Dr. Samuel Hueston put in a small stock of drugs before the war, which business he continued for several years. He sold out to William M. Barrett in 1872.

In the fall of 1856 T. B. Johnson opened a harness shop. Simeon P. Avey soon after that commenced the boot, shoe and harness busi-

581

ONARGA TOWNSHIP.

ness, and followed it for many years. H. J. Freeman commenced with F. Watts and W. A. Thayer, in harness and boot and shoe business in 1864, and for the last twelve years, at least, has been in business alone. George B. Winter commenced the manufacture of boots, shoes and harness in the spring of 1866, with W. A. Thayer as partner. They continued the business seven years, when Winter bought Thayer's interest in the concern and formed a partnership with his son. They have carried one of the largest stocks of their line of merchandise in the county. R. A. Hungerford, successor to W. C. Moore, left the old stand and built a store out of the business center, but found it was a partial failure and bought of A. D. Gard- ner the building he had erected and occupied for a store and dwelling for a few years, now occupied by T. Ward, and opened a large stock of goods. Here he did business for several years. J. C. Culver, after abandoning the lumber trade in about 1858, was out of business till about 1864, when he went into a grocery house with Addison Lock- wood. Culver has continued in the same kind of business to this time, and has of late years carried the largest stock of groceries in town.

Among the early business men were also Charles Rumley, Ed. Rumley, Charles A. Newton, Henry T. Skeels, Curtis L. Knight, Horace Wright, D. S. Gray and George Flogg ; later were V. W. Doshill, James Nelson, Mrs. E. J. Graves, successors to each other in the notion and book trade.

William P. Pierson soon added to his lumber a general line of hardware, farming tools, coal and flour; he also purchased grain, and as his business increased erected buildings for himself and to rent to others. At one time there was scarcely an enterprise but that he was in some way connected with it. In March, 1867, Pierson and James A. Cultro were partners in the hardware. trade; Pierson and Henry Frisbie in the lumber and coal and farm implement busi- ness. S. K. Marston, after four years, bought Frisbie's interest, and was Pierson's partner a year or two. T. W. Ludwick bought Pierson's interest in the store in 1874, and was a partner of J. A. Cultro till January 1, 1880, when Cultro sold to W. D. Motter. Pierson covered his buildings with signs, and for years had two columns in each of the papers. In the fall of 1862 Peter Risser came to Onarga from Ohio. Pierson at once took him in as a part- ner in the dry-goods, clothing and grocery business. In February, 1868, Risser bought Pierson's interest and formed a partnership with his son, Gilman R. Risser, and later with Lewis and Charles Risser. In the summer of 1870 they put up a brick store building 40×90,

582

HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

two stories high, with basement. It is the largest store-room in the county. Their sales have reached as high as $60,000 in a year, exclusive of the sale of flour, etc., at the mill, and of the grain trade.

Sandford K. Marston has been in the grain trade for the past eleven years, and now has the south warehouse, built by McCourtie in 1873. Besides the brick store of Risser & Sons there is one sin- gle brick business house and a block of six stores, two stories, with basement. The four to the north were built in 1868, and the other in 1869. Each room is 20×80 feet.

THE DECATUR BAGGING COMPANY.

Moses Jerome and John Dement commenced buying flax-straw in September, 1870, and immediately purchased land and erected a tow-mill. They worked up about 800 tons of straw each year till 1875, when they sold out to the present company, Jerome being one of that firm. Since the establishment changed hands about 1, 700 tons of straw have been used yearly. In 1878 they purchased of the farmers in the neighborhood 2,800 tons. The yield of tow is about one ton to four of straw. Some years this company at this mill has raised over 300 acres of hemp; always raising from one to two hundred acres of flax, and occupying over that number of acres all the time. The buildings, machinery, teams and implements neces- sary to the business cost nearly $10,000. There are about twenty-five men employed most of the year, receiving good wages for their labor. Mr. Ralp McKenney has always superintended the business of the company at this place.

Mr. Pond, the first photographer, came in 1856. Mr. Hawly fol- lowed him, then George Phillips and Dr. Phinney. Finally, Will- iam Lawhead commenced in 1865, and holds the field by doing first- class work.

Thomas R. Barnes opened a saloon as early as 1856, and in a short time erected a large building, in which he had a stock of liquors and a billiard table, which he continued to run for several years. On August 26, [1862, twenty-five ladies, led by Mrs. Sarah Clark, en- tered his place of business and totally destroyed all his liquors, both in' bottles and barrels. In defending his castle he used a hay fork, striking Mrs. Clark on the arm and wounding it slightly with the tines. The other two saloons agreed to close business, and were not molested. This action of the ladies was the basis of a suit with Thomas R. Barnes, plaintiff, and forty-eight of the best citizens of Onarga, defendants. A change of venue was taken to Kankakee

Winslow Woods

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

585

ONARGA TOWNSHIP.

county, and on April 24, 1863, the court rendered a judgment for Barnes of $300. It was finally settled by a compromise. In the summer of 1857 George Saddlers, a notoriously disorderly man, undertook to open a saloon, and on the night of July 11, his build- ing, a small structure, was razed to the ground. The saloon was never opened. The last institution of this kind, a saloon and billiard table, was kept by Willard S. Fuller, and by the action of the town board was closed May 19, 1866.

February 9, 1863, the citizens voted to become incorporated under the statutes. On the 16th, Charles H. Wood, G. G. Webb, Winslow Woods, Cyrus Austin and Richard A. Hungerford were elected trustees. Hungerford was president of the board, and Wood, clerk. March 11, 1867, it was organized under a special charter. March 30, 1876, it was organized by a vote of 80 for, to 3 against, under the general village charter. The present village officers are : George B. Winter, Jr., Ezra D. Durham, Milton Doolittle, Elmore Munson, Edward B. Jones and Frank Kilpatrick, trustees; Frank Hungerford, clerk ; Lewis J. Risser and Clarence C. Sedgwick, library directors ; W. M. Barrett, treasurer; and William C. Mor- ris, magistrate.

April 20, 1861, the citizens held a war meeting, and raised a fine liberty pole. There were speeches and great exhibitions of patriot- ism. July 30, James Fletcher, of Watseka, Paddock, of Kankakee, and other speakers, attended a similar meeting. It was a large gathering, and a company of sixty-five volunteers started for St. Louis. Late in the fall of 1861, E. R. Knight raised a company of cavalry, and in August, 1862, Capt. Robert B. Lucas, with others, raised a company of infantry and entered the army.

Many of the citizens of the village feeling the need of better facil- ities for procuring reading matter, organized themselves into a library association, and December 4, 1858, elected Horace Pinney, presi- dent ; Dr. J. L. Parmlee, vice-president ; and Fordice Sylvester, Moses H. Messer, Charles Rumley, Henry M. Lovel and Arthur Carney, directors. There were then 150 volumes donated by the members. Shares were fixed at $5 each, and persons could become members by paying that amount in money or books. In 1861 there were 500 volumes, and the value was seventy shares at $10 each. In the fall of October, 1862, an excursion was arranged to Chicago. Four coaches were chartered, and after paying all expenses, there was in the treasury $255. A lot was purchased, and a building, 14×20 and twelve feet high, was erected, at a cost of $164.44. The library was well sustained and kept in good condition by a tax on 36

586

HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

the shares till 1870, when it was closed for two years. In 1873 the shareholders voted to donate all their library property to the vil- lage, on condition the village should assume the debt of $171, and . annually levy a two-mill tax for library purposes, and keep it a pub- lic library, as provided by the state law. Marclı 24, 1873, the village trustees accepted the donation and the conditions above stated. At that time there were 1,000 volumes, which, with the real estate, was worth at least $1,000. March 2, 1874, the first. board of library directors were elected by the citizens : Henry M. Lovel, William T. Duke, for one year ; Isaac Amerman, Sandford K. Marston, for two years; Joseph D. Long, M. Everett Dwight, for three years. From the time the donation was made to the present. the corporation authorities have appropriated, each year, for library purposes, $250. In 1878 a complete catalogue was published, prepared by A. C. Cowen. This is one of the most valuable institutions of the town. The present directors are : Henry M. Lovel, S. K. Marston, J. D. Long, M. H. Messer, C. C. Sedgwick and Lewis Risser.

At an election held at the house of T. A. Norvell, June 4, 1855, 50 votes were polled : John D. Caton received 28 for supreme judge ; S. W. Randall received 24 for circuit judge, the others not voting for any one for those offices. The question of prohibition was before the people, and 25 were for it, and 24 against. All but six of the Caton ballots are against prohibition. The writer has the poll-book and ballots in his possession. William P. Pierson, Samuel H. Harper and Cyrus S. Pangborn were the judges of election.

At the election in Onarga precinct, held at the house of T. A. Norvell, November 6, 1855, there were 63 persons voted. The question of township organization was before the people for the first. time. There were 19 for, and 41 against it. There were 49 votes against, and 1 for, swine and sheep running at large. Samuel H. Har- per, William P. Pierson and Nelson Skeels were judges of election ; R. W. Andrews and Silas Lockwood, clerks.

April 1, 1856, was held the first township election ; Dr. Samuel Hueston, moderator, and E. F. Rose, clerk. The Doctor was keeping the hotel at the time, and his office was used to hold the election in. There were 88 votes polled; Ray W. Andrews was elected super- visor ; Dr. A. N. Crawford, town clerk ; Dr. Lemuel Boyd, assessor ; Nelson Skeels, collector, and Thomas A. Norvell, Jacob Riner and Daniel Wright, commissioners of highways. Dr. Samuel Huestou and William Buckles were elected justices of the peace; Buckles did not qualify. George W. Hoel and L. Harris were elected con- stables.

587

ONARGA TOWNSHIP.

In the next four years the settlement was very rapid ; the gov- ernment land was all taken up, and the railroad company had sold large quantities of their land. Most of the new-comers were from the eastern states ; men with small means, who came west to make new homes as farmers, and others to become farmers. They nearly all commenced on the prairie, distant from the timber, and soon learned it was cheaper to fence their stock than to fence their crops, and as early as 1861 an effort was made to restrain it from running at large. The conflict was between those who had their farms already fenced and those who had not yet fenced, and were: not able to. The latter thought a township well settled, with a fam- ily on each quarter section, would do more to build up society, schools and churches, make roads and wholesome laws, than a dozen or twenty farmers with vast herds running at large. The result culminated, finally, in a state law restraining all stock from being

free commoners. It was a severe contest, and ran through more than ten years. The following is a list of the township officers of Onarga since the county adopted township organization :

DATE.

VOTE.

SUPERVISOR.

TOWN CLERK.

ASSESSOR.

COLLECTOR.

1856 88

Ray W. Andrews

Dr. A. N. Crawford Dr. Lemuel Boyd.

Nelson Skeels.

1857 83

Same

Elkanah Doolittle. .

Nelson Skeels. .

John C. Culver. Horace Pinney.

1859|220 Same

Charles Rumley ..

Same

Same.

1860 264 Same

John S. Storms. . .

David H. Metzger.

Same.

1861

288 Same

Ed. Rumley.

William H. Skeels

John S. Storms.

1862 280 Chas. H. Wood ..

Charles A. Newton.

Winslow Woods ..

John Lash.

1863 245 |Same

George W. Binford. Same

Hiram J. Skeels.

1864 148 Same

Ed. Rumley

Same Same

Enoch C. Hall.

1866 257 Enoch H. Hall ..

Same

Julius L. Dewey.

Horace Pinney.

1867 339 David H. Metzger Same

Luther T. Clark.

Dr. J. L. Parmalee.

1868 340 Same

Same

Same.

1869 431 Same

Same

Curtis L. Knight.

1870 498 Almon S. Palmer

Enoch C. Hall.

Horace Pinney ...

Thos. G. Robinson.

1871 496 Same

Same

Isaac Amerman.

1872 341 |Same

Same

Anson Lisk.

T. B. Hall.

1873 336 Same

Same

Isaac Amerman.

1874 338 Isaac W. Wilson

Same

D. B. Moffatt.

Charles R. Eager.

1875 405 Almon S. Palmer

Same

Horace Pinney

Isaac Amerman.

1876 491 Same

Same

Silas C. Lockwood Same.

1877 593 Dr. I. F. Palmer .

Charles E. Branner.

Same

A. E. Donaldson.

1878 428 Same

Same

Isaac Amerman.

1879 377 Same

Same

Same.

1880 . ..

Same

John Coyner.

1858

. . .

Same

Moses H. Messer. . . Same

A. E. Donaldson.

1865 202 Same

Same

In giving a history of the mills and the arrival of the railroad at Del Rey a few items relative to the business of that place were men- tioned. We are credibly informed, could the railroad company have made proper arrangement for land at the creek, machine shops would.

588

HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

have been erected there instead of at Champaign. There would have been the town, and Onarga would never have existed. But it was otherwise, and the little hamlet struggled along for years. Henry Bacon, one of the civil engineers of the road, bought the mill in 1854, and in May, 1856, he had twenty town lots laid out. The company did nothing favoring the place, but were forced to build a tank and put in pumping machinery for its own use. An addition was laid out about 1870. In 1879 the passenger house was built. F. P. Beach has a store, a brickyard and drain-tile factory. Stewart Lindsey has the other store, which he has kept for many years. Mr. Lindsey was one of the engineering party in the first survey of the road as early as 1852. Since this place has been relieved of its rough element, which always clusters around where liquor is sold, it has put on new energy, and is now doing a good business. The cholera broke out in this place in July, 1854. James M. Smith died with that disease at French Lick Springs, Orange county, Indiana, on the 15th inst. Before burial in the Lehigh graveyard the coffin was opened by Joseph Morris and R. H. Webber. From this exposure both were taken with cholera; Webber died on the 18th, Morris re- covered. In a few days Benjamin Rockhold and his sons, Noah and Charles, were in their graves. There were eight cases, four proving fatal.

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History of Iroquois County, together with Historic notes on the Northwest, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and other authentic, though, for the most part, out-of-the-way sources, Part 111

Author: Beckwith, H. W. (Hiram Williams), 1833-1903 Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co. Number of Pages: 1180

Author: Beckwith, H. W. (Hiram Williams), 1833-1903
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co.
Number of Pages: 1180