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 87

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 87

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).

The earliest services of the Catholics here were held in the house of William O'Rourk. Father Pernin had charge of the mission, though before him Father Vanderpool, who was the resident priest at L'Erable, said Mass here occasionally. The church (St. Mary and Joseph) was built in 1867 or 1868, while Father Pernin was here. It is 32×60, with cupola and bell, and cost $2,500. Father Schroudenbach was the first resident priest in 1870, for one year. After him Father Kukan-

341

CHEBANSE TOWNSHIP.

buch served the church liere for two years, and since that Father Gonant for seven years. The church at Clifton is also under the charge of the same clergyman. The parsonage was built in 1873 at a cost of $1,300. There are about one hundred families within the bounds of this charge, who attend divine worship here, and a more numerous congregation at Clifton. The members of this church organized, April 7, 1878, the Chebanse Father Mathew Total Abstinence Society : Father Gonant, president; Frank Hennessy, vice-president; John Mahoney, second vice-president; Patrick Murphy, secretary ; William Burke, treasurer. The society numbers sixty members, and has recently established a library. It is in efficient working order, and is accom- plisling much good.

The Chebanse Lodge, No. 429, A.F. and A.M., was instituted Octo- ber 4, A.L. 5865, with the following charter members: E. W. Warren, M. Burnes, E. H. Foss, H. A. Hobbs, W. Furgeson, W. H. Swain, H. Hodges, J. W. VanMeeter, L. G. Blanchard, E. S. Richmond and C. S. Wolcott. The first officers were J. W. VanMeeter, W.M. ; E. H. Foss, S.W .; M. Burnes, J.W. Since then the following have acted as mas- ters : Laban Haworth, E. H. Foss, Matthew Burnes, Thomas Barham, J. H. Sands (six years), E. G. Fish. The present officers are : R. J. Macdonald, W.M .; L. A. Kinney, S.W .; G. W. Burns, J.W .; Frank McKee, treasurer ; F. F. Porter, secretary ; Frank Jackson, S.D .; P. E. Hall, J.D .; Henry Tille, T. The lodge numbers fifty-five members, and is in a very flourishing condition. The Brown House has just been purchased by the lodge for its lodge room above, expecting to rent the lower rooms. The meetings are on Wednesday night on or before the full moon, and the Wednesday night two weeks after ..

TOWN INCORPORATION.

Chebanse was incorporated as a town under the old law in 1868. July 9 a meeting was held, at which Robert Nation presided, and G. W. Binford was clerk, for the purpose of voting for or against incorpo- ration, at which election the vote stood 15 to 7 in favor of incorporating. The election for five trustees took place July 17, at which S. A. Rob- inson, H. Huckins, Robert Nation, R. S. Laughlin and James Robin- son were elected. S. A. Robinson was chosen president ; and T. S. Sawyer, clerk; P. W. Tracey, constable; T. Babcock, street commis- sioner. The town received a special charter, March 13, 1869. May 13, 1874, a petition was presented to the board to call an election to vote for or against reorganization as a village under the general act of 1872. The election was held May 29, and resulted in favor of such reorganization by a vote of 32 to 28. The present officers are : L. A.

342

HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

Kinney, president; E. W. Brown, Patrick Murphy, H. Huckins, Jerome Bard and J. P. Schofield, trustees; Peter E. Hall, clerk ; Mar- tin Grosse, assessor ; James Porch, treasurer; J. D. De Veling, police magistrate. The village has always granted license, at the rate of $300 per annum. The following have been postmasters : Mr. Seavers, Amos M. Fishburn, Mr. Hitchcock, Mary Linsey, T. D. Williams, L. A. Bristol, A. M. Wilson, Joseph Leonard, R. J. Hanna, E. S. Ricli- mond and W. J. Hunter. The office was made a money-order office in . 1879.

Thomas S. Sawyer commenced the publication of the Chebanse "Herald" in the fall of 1868, which has been continued without interruption from that time under his management. It was the aim of the publisher to make a paper of local interest, independent in politics, and this was its course until the "Liberal " was started as an exponent of the views of liberal republicanism in 1872, when the " Herald " became republican under the force of circumstances. This " change in front in the face of the enemy " caused the nomination of its editor and his election to the legislature, where he made a record for himself of which any young man might well be proud. The assembly which met January 1, 1873, had before it the important work of revising the laws of the state, and bringing into one volume the legislation of a quarter of a century and make it conform to the provisions of the constitution then recently gone into effect. Mr. Sawyer, as a member of the committees on judiciary, judicial depart- ment and on banks and banking, took an important part in that revis- ion. Every statute in that book had to pass the scrutiny of the judiciary cominittee, and by constant attention to the duties of a rep- resentative, he assisted largely in perfecting the statutes of our state. W. W. Gibson started the "Liberal " in 1872. In 1873 it passed into the hands of Dr. J. D. De Veling, who conducted it as a forcible and consistent advocate of the views of the independent and national greenback party. Though fairly successful as a local newspaper, and meeting with good patronage both from its party friends and others, its publication was discontinued in 1879.

Milk's addition to Chebanse was laid out in 1868, and is in Kanka- kee county, the county line dividing it from the original town. He built a large building, the lower part of which is occupied by his com- bination store, and the upper portion for a hotel. The store, like all the various enterprises of Mr. Milk, is characteristic of the business activity of the inan. Most men with fifty farms, a few thousand cattle, sheep and hogs to occupy his time and attention, would feel satisfied with one store to look after, but here he has four to divide his spare

343

CHEBANSE TOWNSHIP.

hours among. If Satan only has a contract for supplying work for idle hands, there is not much danger that he will ever have to take Mr. Milk under supervision.

CLIFTON.

"Bespeak, blesséd Clifton! thy sublime domain, Here lonely wandering o'er the sylvan bower, I come to pass the meditative hour; To bid awhile the strife of passion cease, And woo the calms of solitude and peace. Fair Nature! thee, in all thy varied charms, Fain would I clasp forever in my arms! Thine are the sweets which never, never sate, Thine still remain through all the storms of fate.

Though not for me, 'twas heaven's divine command To roll in acres of paternal land;

Yet still my lot is blesséd, while I enjoy

Thine opening beauties with a lover's eye.

H. KIRKE WHITE's "Clifton Grove."

Clifton is situated on section 3, township 28, range 14; is sixty- nine miles from Chicago, and about five southwest of Chebanse. This section was not railroad land and there was not at first a disposition on the part of the company to make a station here. The first comers here were principally from New England, and were men of education and plenty of theories, but very little practical knowledge of western settlement. The site was a delightful one and the country back of . it was excellent. In the summer of 1855 W. B. Young, L. A. White, J. C. and C. O. Howe came from Worcester, Massachusetts, and com- menced making farms in this vicinity. C. O. Howe settled where Van Duzor now lives, and his brother just north of there. Patrick and Mary Conaway had a shanty made of fence-boards at a point about one mile north, and this came to be known as Howe's Port, or Howe's Landing. As it was not a station on the road there was no regular name for it. The next year P. E. Kingman, C. H. French and Capt. Lincoln came from Boston and entered land, or bought it from the railroad, and commenced farming. In 1857 T. W. Howe and H. K. White, and the father of Clifton, Mr. William A. Viets, came. Mr. Viets was born on the Berkshire hills, made famous by the little inci- dent of William Willis, when he was taunted into mustering up courage to kiss Susanah Pease, and then, as his courage oozed out, trying to place the blame on the girl herself. He was engaged in business in Chicago and believed that here was a good place for a town. He was boarding at the Clifton House at that time, and that incident furnished the name for the place, not, as he says, because it was any more appropriate than Howe's Landing, but the name sounded

344

HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

smoother at least. Mr. Viets, after some management, succeeded in getting the title to the land perfected, and laid out his town, covering about 80 acres on both sides of the railroad, and commenced sell- ing lots in 1858. Previous to this time passengers wishing to stop here were permitted to, and once a week freight was sent here, but only on the pledge that it should be unloaded from the cars with as little delay to the train as possible. A switch was put in this year and a post-office was established. J. B. Duclos, a Frenchman, built a store on the corner south of the hotel, and was appointed postmaster. Previous to this the house now owned by Mr. Sheldon was built, and in fact a number of the farm houses around but that' long known as the Davis House was the first.

John Barland soon after put up a store next to the one Duclos had built, but both were burned two years later. Mr. Viets built a black- smith shop to start with, knowing that no well-regulated town could get along without one, and built the house he still resides in, and, with a determination to do well whatever he did, built the house well back from the road, put a good cellar under it, and made it as convenient as possible, and set out trees on his own and railroad land. The fine maple grove which is growing along the railroad was of his planting. He at one time was ordered to remove them, but before proceeding to obey the order he expostulated with the company and the order was countermanded, after they became satisfied that he did not intend to steal the railroad.

Isaac Van Duzor came here from Orange county, New York, and built the Clifton House in 1858, which he kept for fourteen years. He also built the store east of the hotel. When it was done he went to Chicago looking for some clever fellow who would trust him for goods enough to fill it. He found his man, and bought his first bill of $2,800 worth, entirely on credit, of perfect strangers. The hotel busi- ness was thriving and mercantile business booming. He afterward built the agricultural ;warerooms, and kept that trade also. Mr. A. S. White now has the hotel and it is still one of the nicest public houses on the line of this road. H. K. White was the first to engage in the grain trade. He was prominent in advancing the interests of the place, and served the town as supervisor and in other official capa- cities. He died in 1865.

George H. Spooner came here quite early and engaged in house- building. He was an educated man and took a great deal of interest in public affairs. He sold out here and intended to go to South America, where he had an advantageous offer. He went east to make a short visit, and returning, went down in the terrible disaster at Ashtabula.

345

CHEBANSE TOWNSHIP.

Several additions to the town have been platted. In 1869, Howe's addition of nearly 100 acres on the north was laid out, and in 1873, Viets' addition on the east, about 50 acres. The cemetery was laid out in 1861. The interest of Howe and Kingman, who are both residing at Hyde Park now, and in business. in Chicago, on the west side, had the usual effect of such divided interests. Business was on the east side, the church on the west, and it was thought that, for that reason, probably, tlie school-house ought to be there also. In building the school-house it was put up close by the switch, and with the growth of the town a new one was beginning to be demanded. In this juncture the west-side folks got the district divided, but unfortunately for them the east side continued to be the old district, and as such was the legal owner of the house. The new district got it fixed up for beginning their school, put an extra board on the steps, puttied the windows, plastered the patches, etc., and in the still hours of the night, when all the west-side mothers were just thanking their stars that the next day they would get some peace at home, for the children would be in school, the Vandals and the Goths of the east side sallied forth and moved tlie school-house across the track, and what they took by night they held by right, and the new district put their names down on the assessor's book for a new one. Two two-story school-houses, each about 28×40, afford sufficient room for the schools, and each is surrounded by ample and beautiful grounds.

There is a very pleasant park on the east side. The block some years ago came into possession of Mr. Louther, who beautified and added to its already shady improvements, and when Mr. Ferris took it into his paternal lead to name his new-born son in honor of the dis- tinguished gentleman who owned the beautiful block, Mr. Louther, to return the compliment, gave the park to the lad. There is so much of the spirit of devotion to utility only, among the people of our western towns, that it is a real pleasure to note,-right in the middle of a busy little town like this, where the attention of every one seems engrossed with trade, or the current price of hogs; where the first question asked when neighbors meet, is, " Got your corn shucked?" or, " How's hogs?" -a real pleasure to find a spot, like an island in the waste, where some one has had an eye to the beautiful simply, not even selfish comfort adorned, but adorning being the chief object ; where, as long as this generation lives, the thoughts of those even who pass by, as the writer did in a minute's walk, will be turned toward the beautiful in nature, and thank tlie liberal soul who has bestowed a public pleasure.

Among other things whichi Mr. Viets gave his attention to, was the making of good roads that should lead toward Clifton, and in the

346

HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

making of these he indirectly aided to drain those parts of the land which were believed to be too wet for cultivation. He also secured the establishment of a post-route through Clifton, from Plato on the east, to Sugar Loaf, Saunemin, Pontiac and Minonk, upon which were nearly a dozen country offices, which had not before this been supplied with mail facilities. Many of those who commenced business enter- prises here early lost in business and disappeared. Smith & Gage have done a large and lucrative business for some years. C. W. Smith, the head of the firm during ten years of changes in the personnel of the firm, is a thorough and accomplished business man, and by thorough attention to business has commanded a profitable trade. Mr. La Motte, of L'Erable, has done a good business here for two years. Ellis Moore has been doing a large trade here for two years. Dr. Marshall has been in the practice of his profession here ever since he returned from the army, and most of the time lias carried on the drug business. Mr. Viets, Dr. Marshal, Rev. Mr. Brown, S. P. Wal- ton and others, have nice residences. One of those "survey towers," which have caused so much comment and wonder as to their real object, is erected on the farm of A. B. Cummings. It is made of mas- sive timbers set in the ground about thirty feet apart at the base, and slanting toward each other until, at the height of eighty feet, they are about twelve feet apart. On the top is a signal, so arranged that it can be seen with a glass from the top of the next tower, which is some fifteen miles away. The real object did not seem to be known, except that in a general way they were for surveying this portion of the state, and numerous were the suppositions in regard to them. The real object is to survey accurately an arc of the earth's circumference, and this region was selected on account of the long stretch of open level country extending from Chicago to the Ohio & Mississippi railroad. The exact position of Chicago had been determined by the very accu- rate lake survey, which had been in progress for years, and from that city south over the Grand Prairie seemed to be the place to learn by triangulation,-the only accurate system of survey,-the exact length of an arc of the earth's surface, and estimate from that the diameter of the earth, the distance and size of the planet Venus and other heav- enly bodies. All this is done by triangles, only one short side of the first triangle at Chicago being actually measured by chain.

VILLAGE ORGANIZATION.

An election was held June 17, 1867, to vote for or against incor- porating under the general act of 1845, which resulted in a vote of thirty-seven for and twenty-six against incorporating. June 29 the

347

CHEBANSE TOWNSHIP.

first election was held and the following trustees were elected : C. O. Howe, S. B. Walton, L. J. Millspaugh, A. B. Cummings and F. Cazeau. For police magistrate the vote was a tie between G. H. Spooner and H. Sanderson. The former was successful in casting lots. Mr. Millspaugh was chosen president; S. B. Walton, clerk; C. O. Howe, treasurer. The limits were fixed to take in the entire section. In 1874 the town reorganized under the general act of 1872. License has been granted each year but one. At the election that year five of tlie candidates were tied by receiving an equal number of votes, and the temperance candidates drew the "long straws." The present officers are : R. F. Cummings, president ; John Colby, John Hettinger, S. R. Beardslee, L. G. Bergeron and Jacob Gregorson, trustees ; C. D. Rob- erts, constable ; A. B. Cummings, police magistrate ; Thomas Wyke, street commissioner ; H. J. Swim, clerk.

CHURCHES.

The early citizens at Clifton were principally from New England, and coming here did not leave their religious and denominational preferences behind them. Among their first organized efforts was the forming of a Congregational church, or rather in the building of the church edifice, in which they were seconded by Mr. J. C. Howe, of Bos- ton. A preliminary meeting was held November 26, 1859, at which Rev. M. E. Tenny, of the home missionary field, was present, and Rev. Mr. Gould, of Loda. The following persons then agreed to form a church : W. A. Viets and wife, Pliny E. Kingman and wife, Isaac Van Duzor and wife, Charles O. Howe and wife, Jabez C. Howe and wife, Martha B. Taft, Demoresta Walker, C. A. Viets and Patty Good- hue. At a meeting held January 8, 1860, at which P. E. Kingman was moderator, and C. O. Howe, clerk, the organization was perfected by the election of W. A. Viets and C. O. Howe deacons for a term of three years. Mr. Gould preached for awhile, usually in the hotel, and Rev. Mr. Chipperfield, a student in the seminary has preached since 1877. The present membership is twenty-five. The church, which is 32×55, was built soon after the regular organization. The lot and all material for the building was the donation of Jabez C. Howe, of Boston. The first draft of $500 which he sent on, having been lost by the failure of the person to whom it was entrusted, was replaced by Mr. Howe as soon as the fact was brought to his atten- tion. The Sabbath school has been kept up nearly all the time. A bible class was in the habit of meeting at the hotel before the church was formed.

In 1859 the following Methodists, R. Mitchell, J. Sylvester, A.

348

HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

Starkey, and Mrs. A. Sellers, instituted a prayer meeting and formed themselves into a society for worship. About this time Rev. Mr. Lokey, of Spring Creek circuit, volunteered to preach for them once a month. In 1864 the society was for the first time officially included in that circuit, and Rev. T. J. W. Sullivan, was pastor in charge.

George Millspaugh was then the class-leader, and seems to have been so at the formation of the class. Rev. A. G. Goodspeed, now of Odell, was the next preacher, coming in 1866 for two years. At this time Mr. S. R. Beardslee was appointed class-leader, a position he still holds. Rev. F. H. Brown, of the Rock River conference, located here and preached for two years. He was not only a man of great fervor, full of religious zeal, but also a man of good business capabilities, and upon him devolved the labor of building the fine church edifice which this people have. It is 34×56, two stories high, and though yet unfin- ished internally, presents a very pleasant appearance. It has cost thus far $2,800. The present pastor is Rev. J. P. Forsythe. The present membership is sixty. The Sabbath school was organized in 1867, with Thomas Barham as superintendent. S. R. Beardslee is the present superintendent.

The Roman Catholics have a very neat and tasty church, which was built in 1867, 30×50, and cost $3,000. The earliest services held here were in the house of James McGovern, by the resident priest at L'Erable, in 1862. Services were sometimes held in the ware- house. The resident priest at Chebanse officiates here. About 150 families worship here.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Humphrey Huckins, stock-dealer, Chebanse, is one of the pioneers of this county, he coming here in 1839, and his wife's family in 1841. They relate numerous anecdotes of the trials and tribulations incident to a pioneer life. Neighbors were scarce and at. very great distances apart. Danville was the nearest point accessible for marketing. An Indian would now and then be seen, all peaceable, but they soon disap- peared after the settlers began to come in. Prairie wolves were abun- dant, and many a sheep fell a prey to their ravenous appetites. When the railroad was being built they boarded the hands, as no other place at a reasonable distance could be obtained, and it was actually forced upon them. Mr. Huckins carried the hands' dinner, as they progressed, for a distance of several miles. An ordinary coffee-mill was brought into requisition for the purpose of grinding their meal, and hundreds of other modes of "roughing it" they were compelled to go through. Men and women of to-day may talk of hard times, but they know

349

CHEBANSE TOWNSHIP.

absolutely nothing of hard times in comparison to these hardy sons of toil,-the early pioneers of forty and fifty years ago. Mr. Huckins was born in Clark county, Ohio, April 8, 1819, residing there till 1839, following the occupation of farming. He removed to Butler's Point, Vermilion county, this state, remaining two years. He then came to Iroquois county, settling near the mouth of Spring creek. His father entered some 200 acres and Mr. Huckins 40, adding until he had accumulated some 200 acres. He sold out and went to Kankakee county, living ten years, and then came to Chebanse in about 1869, where he has since resided. He was married on January 12, 1843, to Miss Sarah Boyd, who was born in Maryland on June 12, 1824. They have four children : Guy; Carrie, wife of M. A. Swift, of Terre Haute, Indiana ; Mary, wife of E. G. Fish, of Fisher, Champaign county, Illinois ; and Frank. Mr. Huckins, like all other old residents, has held all the offices a country town is " heir " to.

Humphrey Hennessy (deceased) was born in the county of Cork, Ireland, in 1815, and at the age of thirty-five came to America, working as a farm hand in the state of New York for three years. November 1, 1853, he was married to Miss Margaret Gleason, and immediately set sail by canal and the lakes for the Great Northwest. Somewhere on the route he met Col. Howard, who engaged and brought them, by way of Joliet, to work on a farm at Milk's Grove, Chebanse township, in this county. Mrs. Hennessy did the housework for a large number of hands for nearly three years. While at the Grove they had born unto them one son, Franklin J., who is said to have been the first white male child born at the Grove, at least after its settlement by the whites. The Hennessys, being noted for their industry and economy, soon became the owners of a farm near Sugar Island, on the banks of the Iroquois'river, where Mr. Hennessy died on July 29, 1870. He, during life, was always greatly interested in the education of his children, and in schools and public improvements. To those he liked he was an ardent and warm friend ; but he held no intercourse with those he did not like. While living in New York state he became a whig on prin- ciple, and when the republican party came into existence he attached himself to that faith, and on no account would he vote any other ticket. In religious views Mr. Hennessy and family were Catholics. Mrs. Hennessy, with her youngest son, who manages the farm, still resides upon the old homestead ; while her son, Franklin J., is in the employ of Lemuel Milk, Esq., Chebanse, in his general merchandise establish- ment, which position, by his general good conduct, he has held for the past six years. Franklin was born July 29, 1854, and John on October 29, 1857, at his present place of abode.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 87

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