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 86
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Thomas Sammons lived a few miles north of Brady. It was tlien in Iroquois county. He is dead, and his son yet resides on the farm. Edward Stump and William Stump settled on Langham creek about 1846. They are both dead. William Farmer settled there about the same time. In 1854 he sold to Adolph Poncelet, the Belgian consul in Chicago. He put Mr. Harbaville on the land, and at once entered into arrangements to get his countrymen to settle on the lands. He was so far successful as to bring on a number of families in 1856. Some of them had means of their own to begin on. Some of course were poor and had to commence by working for others. A great many families of that nationality still reside in the eastern end of this and Ashkum townships, led here by the exertions of Mr. Poncelet. Some have nice and well cultivated farms. They have shown that they have been valuable citizens and a credit to the county. They were all Catholics, and with the French of like faith, who were being brought in through the assistance of Mr. Spink, founded the first Roman Catholic neighborhood in this county. It was here that Father Chiniquy came to labor and commenced holding services in Mr. La Bounty's house.
Mr. Poncelet lost his life by drowning, while on his way out from Chicago to see his possessions, in the spring of 1857. It had been raining hard, and the sloughs and streams were high. When he was at Blue Island, he asked someone standing by if he could cross ; not
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being able to talk English, he was misunderstood, and the answer cost him his life, for his team became mired and he was drowned. His colonists here mourned his death as if it had been a brother, for they felt while he lived that they were almost under the old flag at home. William and Jerome La Bounty came here in 1850. William preëmpted 80 acres in section 9. He was one of the first among the French settlers, and now resides in Ashkum. Nelson Detois came in soon after and settled near him. Mr. Ostrander built the mill at Sugar Island in 1848. It was a saw-mill then. Three years later he sold to Webster, who put in a run of stone. A new dam, three feet higher than the old one, was put in in 1876, and the mill was rebuilt. Dohl and Earps now run it. This was in Iroquois county until Kankakee county was erected. The first school was started in that neighborhood about 1848, in a log school-house. Mr. Whitehead was the first teacher. He had about fifteen scholars. Alfred Fletcher also taught one or two terms.
On August 29 and 30, 1863, occurred the terrible summer frost, which will never be forgotten by those who lived here at that time. Up to that day there never was a finer prospect for corn than was in the fields thien, but of course none of it was ripe enough to be out of danger from injury by frost, and it was frozen to the ground: What was not killed the first night was on the second; even the stalks were frozen to the ground, and had a fire swept through it the destruc- tion would hardly have been greater. Many farmers who had just commenced were ruined. Hogs were killed off in great numbers to prevent starvation. One man sold 100 large hogs for $100, and others less fortunate gave them away or killed them. The destitution and distress which followed was great.
A story is told of Mr. Titus, a brother-in-law of Mr. Westover, which was so characteristic of the man and of the time, that its truth will hardly be questioned. He was a pin-maker down in Connecticut, and finding the confinement in the factory telling on his health, he came west when this country was new, intending to open up a farm. He had not been here long when the ague struck him, and he seemed liable to shake off what little flesh pin-making had left. Blue with ague and shaking so that he could not have picked up a pin if there had been thousands lying around him, he stood leaning against a fence for support one day, when he was accosted by some of the rail- road hands, who with kindly feelings undertook to express sympathy for him, which was quickly repelled. He told them that he was not by any manner of means as poor as they supposed, for he did not own an acre of this accursed land, and did not propose to.
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Among the finest and most extensive farms of the county may be mentioned those of Lemuel Milk, Col. D. A. Jones, W. R. Phillips, of Chicago, George K. Clark, Peter Enos, Stephen Grace, John F. Schrader, Thomas Leggett, and the fine farm known as the Orchard Farm, belonging to J. M. Balthis.
The names of many of the towns along the Central railroad are known to have been of Indian origin. At least fifty can be counted along the main line and the Chicago branch, that are known by their spelling and their sound to have been such. The general impression is that those in this county, were, like Watseka, taken from the Indians who formerly lived here, which impression is incorrect. Mr. B. F. Brady, whose judgment will not be questioned, says that these names, Chebanse and Ashkum, were never known here until they had been given to the stations by the Central railroad. Upon the authority of Hon. R. B. Mason, who was chief engineer of the road when it was built, the writer learns that these Indian names were applied by him at the suggestion of some one who was then acting under him, and they are so similar that there can be no doubt that they were suggested by some one who in the states east of this had been acquainted with them in local Indian history. Certain it is that they were not taken from any of the Illinois tribes, though to what tribe we are indebted for their origin it is impossible now to state.
The township of Chebanse was organized in 1856 by the election . of Jesse Brown, supervisor; A. M. Fishburn, clerk; Levi Lindsey, assessor ; A. W. Fishburn, collector ; and B. F. Brady and P. E. King- man, justices of the peace. The principal officers of what now con- stitutes the township at the present writing are : James Porch, super- visor; J. St. Hilaire, clerk ; J. H. Sands, assessor; Louis Henrotin, collector; and A. B. Cummings and Louis Henrotin, justices of the peace. .
In 1867 the question was again submitted to the voters of the county whether they would continue under township organization. The vote in this township was unanimous in favor of the existing sys- tem. The vote in the county, which was taken May 14, 1867, for or against annexing to Kankakee county all of town 29, ranges 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 west of the second principal meridian, and ranges 10 and 11 east of the third principal meridian, being the strip four miles wide across the north end of the county, resulted in the county in the negative. In this town it was affirmative by 287 votes to 33. The popular sentiment here was in its favor, for the reason that their trade and business connections were with Kankakee.
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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
THE VILLAGE OF CHEBANSE.
The village of Chiebanse was laid out by the railroad company in the center of the northeast quarter of section 14, in 1854. The plat embraced about sixty acres, including the railroad strips, leaving some fifty acres in that quarter on either side of the plat. The business of the company, including the selling of lots, was entrusted to Mr. Sea- vers, the first station-agent. A. T. Alling was the second. He now lives at Neoga.
T. D. Williams was the next, and remained here until the breaking out of the war. He was by birth an Englishman. He came to Amer- ica alone, at the age of fourteen, and soon after enlisted and went to the Mexican war, under Capt. Geo. B. McClellan, and after his return was sent, on that officer's recommendation, to West Point, where he graduated, and then went into private life. He married and came here as the representative of the railroad in the fall of 1857. At the breaking out of the rebellion he felt that his adopted country, which had educated him, was entitled to his service, and he raised Co. G, 25th reg., and marched to the front. Late in 1862 he was pro- moted to the position of colonel, though he had been acting colonel for some time. It was only a week before the battle of Stone River that he received promotion. He was wounded on the 30th, but would not keep out of battle. On the 31st his color-bearer was shot down, and seizing the fallen standard, thrusting it aloft, like the true Briton he was, shouted for his men to come forward and sustain the old flag. He received a wound from which he died on the 3d of .the following month. His widow went to get his remains, but they had been for- warded before her arrival. She bore his remains east for burial, and while there their only child died. No braver or truer soldier went forth in the dark days than Col. Williams. Had his life been spared there is no doubt of his rapid promotion and great usefulness. His widow still resides here at Chebanse. Mr. Merrill, subsequently the railroad agent here, was killed by being knocked off the cars while switching. While clinging to the side of a car he was carried suddenly against the coal-house, and thrown from his position under the cars. He was followed by William Smith, who was also killed in 1876. He was standing on the cars giving orders. The train had made a "running switch," and the portion of the train which he was on was unexpectedly run into, and he was thrown to the ground.
Harrington & Spaulding were the first merchants. They built a store on the east side of the track in 1854, which was burned in 1858. Amos M. Fishburn built the next store on the same side. It was 14x16, and still stands there although several additions have been built to it
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CHEBANSE TOWNSHIP.
Mr. Fishburn preempted a farm on the S.E. ¿ of Sec. 15, and sold his store in 1858 to Washington Garlock. Spaulding & Harrington sold to R. J. Hanna, who came here from New York city with his father-in-law, Mr. James Frith, who improved the Dr. Scott land in section 11, just north of town, in 1854. Mr. Hanna was a carpenter, and went to work to build the station and freight-house here. He worked at his trade till he became a " merchant." He also sold his stock to Garlock in 1858, who continued in trade until 1869, when he sold to Bliss Suther- land, who carried on trade a year and then settled on a farm on section 12. Charles Bard came from his farm in the spring of 1857, and commenced the business of shoemaking, which in time grew into mercantile trade. E. W. Dodson opened a store in 1856, and was a deputy county surveyor. He was in trade a year, then went on a farm. He was in the army four years ; returned and was elected county sur- veyor two or three terms. Jerome Bard came here in 1860, and engaged in buying corn with T. D. Williams.
Joseph Leonard, who succeeded Fishburn in business in the winter of 1858, was a son of Rev. J. H. Leonard, pastor of the Seamen's Bethel in Chicago. In 1860 he built a store south of the others and still on the east side. The railroad company had reserved from the market the two blocks west of the track, where nearly all business houses are now situated supposing that they would some time be compelled to use them to put up repair shops at this point, it being about half way between Chicago and Champaign. Leonard sold to Broadhead & Hanna in 1861, they to E. S. Richmond in 1862, who remained in business here until 1866, and sold to R. S. Laughlin. Richmond went into the agricultural implement trade, then into hay, which was during early times one of the most important business concerns of this part of the country. He afterward went to Texas. Mr. Laughlin continued in trade in the same building on the east side until 1878, having been for more than twelve years interested in the business and public enterprises of the town. Though now retired from business he still resides here.
In 1857 A. M. Baldwin built a store north of the others, and ran it two years, after which he sold out and went to farming. Mr. Hitch- cock started the first tin-shop and hardware store, and with the drug store of E. W. Warren, and the shoe-shop of Silas Morehouse, was burned out in the fire of 1858. The first hotel was built on First South street, by George Carter, of Warrington, England. The building still stands there. There was no organized school district until 1860. The first, a subscription school, was held in a small building erected for . the purpose southeast of the depot ; it was about 14×16. The town-
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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
ship was organized and the school land sold for from $5 to $8. At this time a new school-house, 24×36, was built, which has since been enlarged by the addition of three rooms. Four teachers are employed and the school is very efficiently managed by directors A. B. Chase, R. J. McDonald and Martin Grosse. T. D. Williams was the first school treasurer. Hon. Thomas S. Sawyer is the present official.
Mr. Hitchcock, after he was burned out in 1858, built the house known as the "Chebanse House," and occupied it as a tin-shop until 1860. It was then enlarged by Mr. Jackson. Theodore Babcock pur- chased it in 1864 and improved it, and has kept it as a public house ever since. In 1866 J. G. Van Ornam built the Van Hotel and kept it until 1879.
J. H. Way was the first physician, and joined with his practice sell- ing lumber. He continued in both till 1858. The first regular lum- ber-yard was opened by Mr. Sisson in 1863. He ran the business for a year.
A. M. Wilson and 'Squire Trescott commenced the first meat-market in 1860. Their joint capital was $50, just about enough to buy a good beef, a couple of fat sheep, one " middling sorter " and a veal, and have enough left for change in the drawer. At the end of two months Wilson withdrew himself and his "capital " from the concern and established himself in an extensive grain-buying firm. This left Mr. Trescott to go it alone, and he found that he had his hands full. After six years of faithful service he found that he had sufficient capital to carry on the business of insurance agent, and run for justice of the peace. He has been successful in both. A man of correct judgment and large acquaintance with men, and well posted in regard to the matters which the writer desired information about, at considerable expense of time and study he afforded such information as it would have been impossible otherwise to obtain. That the statements will be found, in the main, to be correct is reasonably expected. Mr. Wilson con- tinued in the grain trade with Mr. Stuart until his death. Joseph Leon- ard built the first warehouse in 1860. The True Brothers bought it and moved it north and built the large warehouse. Kenaga & Knott got pos- session of it and built a large dry-house. While drying grain it took fire and was burned in 1876. Messrs. Brown & Huckins engaged in the grain trade. They sold their business to F. J. Taylor. G. P. and C. H. Comstock built the warehouse on the county line in 1867, and sold it to Taylor and engaged in business at Aslıkum, where they still are. In 1873 Taylor sold this business to James Capon and retired to his farm. Mr."Chase entered into business with Capon, and the trade is now carried on here and at Donovan by Capon & Co.
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CHEBANSE TOWNSHIP.
Six brothers, named Grosse, came here about 1865, four of whom have proved successful merchants. John had a small store on the east. side, and afterward moved to the west side. In 1873 he sold to H. C. and Frank, and went to Texas. He returned the next spring and died, leaving a considerable property. H. C. and Frank Grosse continued a successful business here until 1878, when they exchanged their store for a farm, with Hon. G. W. Parker. He closed out the stock and went to Kansas City. Martin, another brother, went on a farm, and Henry, as before stated, is engaged in mercantile trade in Chicago. Dr. J. D. De Veling engaged in the practice of his profession, and in the drug trade, about 1863. He had previously been at Sugar Island, where was the only mill in this part of the country, and where a town had been laid ont. He has one of the best stores in town.
In 1863 E. W. Warren commenced the hay business. The demands of the war were such that these vast prairies along the Central railroad, which offered such good facilities for transportation, were cut off each year. There was no end for the demand down in Dixie, and there was seemingly no end to the supply, except the lack of help to get it cut, stacked and pressed. Did any one ever estimate the number of additional men which would have been required to secure the hay crops of 1862-3-4, if the recently perfected mowing machines had been brought into use only a few years later ? George Wells also en- gaged in the same trade. When the rebellion subsided in 1865, great rows of stacks, together with the presses and barns along the line, were burned. It has continued to be a considerable business until 1876, since which time the market price has been so low that the trade has been nearly abandoned.
With the close of the war the rush of immigration turned this way ; the farms which had long been in grass were plowed ; new owners and new renters appeared in great numbers. The following year, when the railroad company decided to sell the two blocks which they had with- held, business began to collect on the west side. Soon after this Mr. Milk laid out his addition to town, and built the large " combination store." This was enough to draw business in this direction. The school-house was built by James Jacqueth. Andrew Jackson, who was one of the earliest carpenters here, has built a large number of the buildings. He built the Chebanse House, the Brown House, which was intended for stores below, and offices and hall above, and many of the residences. S. Parker did considerable building.
The Chebanse Water Works Company was organized under the law of the state for joint-stock corporations, August 21, 1874. The certifi- cate bears the names of Lemuel Milk, James Porch and F. T. McKee
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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
as corporators. The object was to furnish water for domestic, fire and general purposes, by a plan, so far as is known to this writer, not adopted in any other place in this artesian region. The well was bored 120 feet deep, twenty of which was through solid rock, when artesian water was reached which rises to within twenty feet of the surface. A stone tower was erected, thirty-six feet high, which is twenty feet in diameter at the ground, and has on it a reservoir of 1,000 barrels capacity. This is surmounted by a wind-mill which pumps the water to the reservoir; from this mains are laid through streets, and from them hydrants are erected, and pipes lead into the houses. Families are charged $6 per year, and the village has paid $250 per annum for public and fire uses. This last charge has been now reduced to $100 per annum. It has proved a perfect success.
The fire company is supplied with 400 feet of hose, a pump, and hooks and ladders. J. D. Kelley is foreman ; Philip Bauer, chief; W. J. Hunter, first assistant foreman. There are eighteen members. E. L. Wright is president ; Richard Eyrley, secretary.
H. D. Dement & Co., of Dixon, built the flax-mill in 1870. The mill works up the flax straw which is raised in this vicinity into tow for bagging. It has been in charge of John Soloman, as superintend- ent, ever since it has been in operation.
CHURCHES, SOCIETIES, ETC.
The earliest days of Methodism at Chebanse have no records here except in the memories of a very few. They seem to have acted upon the view that the book was kept open in another sphere, which record the present writer has no doubt has been properly kept. Unfortu- nately, however, it is not in a library to which he has had access. Mr. Andrew Motter, a worthy father in the church, came here and preempted a farm in the northeast quarter of section 17, in 1855. The religious destitution surrounding called him into active service, and knowing that he had a call to preach he used to assemble the peo- ple in the depot building, or at such other places as he could find, and there preach the gospel. He is spoken of as a sincere and earnest man, who never lost an opportunity to do good. He was called home to his reward in 1862. Timothy Young, who came from New York to a farm on Langham creek about the same time, found that he was needed in the ministry, and commenced to preach as a local preacher. He afterward left his farm and took appointments in the itinerant work. This must have been about 1860 and 1861. There were two or three other supplies before Rev. H. A. Hobbs was appointed to this charge by conference, which was in 1863. During this time George
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Rogers was class-leader. Rev. A. G. Goodspeed, now located at Odell, was appointed to this work in 1866, and remained here two years, during which time, by lis earnest personal labors, the fine church was built here and the infant church organization at Clifton was greatly strengthened. A subscription had been started by his predecessor. Mr. Goodspeed failed to raise the money to purchase material, but went to Chicago and bought the lumber, on three-months time, of an entire stranger, upon his own personal pledge of payment. He secured a reduction in freight, and hired Charles Martin to superintend the work, which was all done by the day. The building in this way was put up at a cost of $2,775, including all the furniture required, and bible, which was considerably less than any contract offered. It is needless to say, of course, that the people of Chebanse responded will- ingly, so that Mr. Goodspeed's pledge was made good without any inconvenience to him. The building is 32×55. The lot was donated by the railroad company. C. E. Rowe is the present pastor. The other preaching points are at Leggett's and Warren's school-houses. The present membership is sixty. The parsonage was built about 1863. The Sabbath school is under the superintendency of Mr. Chap- man.
The preliminary meeting, looking to the organization of the Bap- tist church, was held at the house of H. P. Havens, June 13, 1866. At a subsequent meeting, held at the house of Mr. Tyler, the following were present and signified their desire to unite and form a church : H. P. Havens and wife, their two sons, Reuben and Elisha, and their wives; William P. Gardner and wife, Mr. Evarts and wife, J. W. Baker and wife, J. J. Tyler and wife, Mariah Tuttle and Hannah Calhoun. Rev. J. M. Whitehead, of Kankakee, was present, and it was resolved to meet July 5 to perfect the organization, and the churches at Onarga and Kankakee were invited to sit in council at that time. Upon the day named the meeting was held, and after articles of christian belief were submitted and adopted the meeting adjourned to the school-house, where council was duly formed. There were present several delegates from the church at Kankakee, the Rev. D. W. Morgan from Onarga, and the Rev. R. Gilbert from Antioch. The new church was duly recognized and the following services were held : Sermon, by Rev. Mr. Gilbert; charge to the church, by Rev. Mr. Morgan ; right hand of fellowship, by Rev. Mr. Whitehead. Lots were donated by the rail- road company, and a conimittee was appointed to collect means to build the church. Rev. G. W. Lewis was the first pastor. He preached each alternate Sabbath for one year. The church was built in 1867 and 1868. Messrs. Tyler, Baker and Gardner were trustees, and together with
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Mr. Huckins, comprised the building committee. The church is 36×60, and cost about $3,000. Rev. A. H. Esty was called as pastor in 1871. Rev. Mr. Wilderman succeeded him, and elders Palmer and S. M. Brown have also in turn served the church. The present mem- bership is thirty-five. The Sabbath school has been maintained in the summer. Reuben Havens is superintendent. The membership is about seventy.
Those contemplating the organization of the Congregational church met at the house of R. S. Laughlin, Esq., September 6, 1868. Mr. Laughlin acted as chairman, and H. C. Wycoff as secretary. A council was called to meet October 27, at which time the following delegates from sister churches were present: Rev. Mr. Brundage, of Paxton ; Rev. Mr. Watson, of Loda; Rev. Mr. Beecher, of Kankakee ; Rev. Mr. Wycoff, of Monee; and brothers Lyons, of Clifton, and Brown, of Pilot. Rev. Mr. Brundage was appointed to preach the sermon, and Mr. Beecher to extend the right hand of fellowship. The church was then organized with the following members: R. S. Laughlin, D. Roadifer, W. O. Roadifer, M. Elliott, H. G. Wycoff, Samuel Kings- bury, S. Robinson, Rhoda Roadifer, Lavina Kingsbury, Emily Laugh- lin, Harriet Laughlin, Helen Roadifer, Martha Elliott, Mary S. Robin- son and Martha Burroughs. December 10 the following officers were elected : R. S. Laughlin, D. Roadifer and S. Robinson, trustees ; M. Elliott and W. O. Roadifer, deacons; H. G. Wycoff, clerk and treas- urer. Rev. Daniel R. Miller served as pastor one year from December 1, 1868. The congregation worshiped half a year in Porch's Hall, then one year in the Baptist Church, and for a few months in the Meth- odist Church. A. J. Ford, D. Roadifer, James Flemming, J. M. Bur- roughs and F. J. Taylor were appointed a building committee. They purchased a lot and proceeded to build the church, 32×45, which is well seated and neatly furnished, at a cost of $2,400. Rev. George F. Chipperfield, of the seminary, commenced his labors here April 1, 1878, and continues to preach alternately here and at Clifton. Mrs. Burroughs is clerk of the church. The membership is 43. The church was dedicated in August, 1872, free of debt. The Sabbath school num- bered sixty-four when organized. Mr. Rowell is superintendent.
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