USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume I > Part 53
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WEST SIDE SCHOOLS.
In the summer of 1836 Miss Angeline Atwater taught the first school in West Aurora in what was afterwards known as District No. 4. She occu- pied a little schoolhouse on the bank of the river in the upper part of town and had eight or ten pupils. She succeeded so well that she soon became the wife of Noah B. Spalding. The next school was in a little frame building erected by subscription on land belonging to Roswell Wilder. In this building was held the first regular public district school in District No. 4 under the school laws of the state. On January 31, 1849. an English and classified select school was opened by Rev. Mr. Safford and wife "in the new church and school room" on the corner of Lake and Galena streets. This does not appear to have lasted long, as we learn that the two Misses Smith taught a public school in the same place shortly after this date.
In December. 1852. a school was opened in a two-story stone schoolhouse built at an expense of $3,200 on lots bounded by Walnut. Spruce. Oak and Pine streets, which had been purchased by the directors at a cost of $200. This building was 33x60 feet. Mr. Jewett was principal and the district contained one hundred and sixty children of school age. In 1865 the directors were authorized by a vote of the district to borrow $15.000 for enlarging this building. A south wing was added and the entire structure raised to three stories. In 1867 a north wing was added at a cost of $10,560. In the winter of 1864-5 a building was erected en South Lake street, south of Gale street,
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EAST AURORA HIGH SCHOOL.
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Weat Aurore. ID., Fick School
WEST AURORA HIGH SCHOOL.
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where a school was taught a number of years, but was afterwards sold and a larger building erected further south on the same street.
The west side had been unfortunate in having its school buildings burned. The old stone school building was destroyed by fire on the night of June 13, 1884, with a loss of about $25,000. A new building was erected during the summer and autumn at a cost of $45,000 and was ready for use in January, 1885. This building was destroyed by fire in 1906 and rebuilt so as to be occupied in 1907. The new high school on Galena, Blackhawk and Walnut streets was completed in 1906 at a cost of nearly $50,000.
The school superintendents on the west side were: Jewett. Parrish, Waterman, Hunt, J. W. Parrington, who resigned in 1861 to enter the army. He was succeeded by W. W. Wilkie, 1861 to 1868; F. H. Hall, 1868 to 1875; L. M. Hastings, 1876 to 1879; J. H. Freeman, 1879 to 1886; Professor Riley, one year : F. H. Hall. 1888 to 1890; A. V. Greenman, from 1890 to the date of this writing.
JENNINGS SEMINARY.
This was one of the institutions that made Aurora famous. It was char- tered in 1855 under the name of Clark Seminary in honor of Rev. John Clark, a Methodist clergyman of the Rock River Conference, who first projected the institution. The officers of the first board of trustees were: Benj. Hackney, president ; Dan McCarty. treasurer : and Levi Jenks, secretary. Subscriptions to the amount of $25,000 had been made by February, 1856, and the founda- tion and the cornerstone were laid that year. A contract was made the next year to construct the building. It was turned over to the trustees in the summer of 1858 with a debt upon it of $60,000, which had increased in 1872 to $79.000. The trustees purchased a tract of land in the southern portion of the city and laid out the "Seminary Addition," in hopes of paying for the building by the sale of lots, but this did not succeed very well, and in 1864 the property was purchased by the Rock River Conference for $25,000. Mrs. Eliza Jennings, of Aurora, gave $15,000 toward paying the debt and the name was changed to Jennings Seminary in her honor. Miss Jemima Wash- burn opened the school October 2, 1858, with about forty scholars. She closed the school June 14, 1859. Dr. G. W. Quereau was then chosen prin- cipal and the school was formally opened September, 1859. Under his man- agement the school flourished and gained a fine reputation and was a financial success. He resigned in 1873 and since then the school has been in charge of several different teachers until about 1900, when it was turned over to the "Deaconness' Society" of the Methodist church and was used for preparing young women for this branch of work.
EARLY AURORA CHURCHES.
Human nature ever gravitates downward toward the material and the physical. Men work and slave to gratify their physical wants, they pile up wealth, accumulate vast properties, often with no other ambition and end in view than the gratification of their senses, to wear fine clothes, to build better
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houses than their neighbors, often neglecting the finer and more enduring spiritual realities which elevate men above the animals. These may be found right at hand by turning the thoughts inward to the source of those spiritual forces which enlarge mental and spiritual capacity, build up manhood, develop character and make for right living with its higher enjoyment of life. Cor- rect thought with a faith in a higher power and a hope for immortality are essential to the proper development of man. The church has ever been a guide to human aspirations, and while its teachings have sometimes been clouded by misconceptions of truth, its tendencies are toward the betterment of the individual and of society. The thousands of churches in our land with their efforts to make men better mean something, and in this materialistic age should take their position at the head of the column in the march of civilization.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL.
This church appears to be among the oldest in the city, having been organized June 10, 1838, as a Presbyterian church. There were seventeen members at the time of its organization. It changed its form of government July 1, 1848, on account of the slavery question, many of the members believ- ing the slaveholding interests of the Presbyterian church too much of a gov- erning power. Rev. Herman S. Colton was their first minister. Rev. C. Cook preached from May 1, 1840, to May 1, 1843. A. Hallick followed for a year and one-half. Then came Rev. Ingersoll, who has had fame thrust upon him by being the father of the great agnostic, Robert G. Ingersoll, and his brother, Hon. E. C. Ingersoll, who was a member of congress from the Peoria district for several terms. Mr. Ingersoll's pastorate lasted only six months, and the writer hereof spent considerable time in trying to find out why it did not last longer. . \ number of church members were interviewed, but no one knew anything about it. One of the oldest had never heard that Mr. Ingersoll ever preached here. Finally in a Semi-Centennial Record, printed in 1888. this sentence was discovered relating to the subject in a paper read by Hon. Charles Wheaton : "Brother Elliott says he ( Ingersoll) was a good preacher and wanted to stay longer, but the church would not have him, as he had two living wives and was not living with either of them." What effect this condition of affairs had on the mind of the future great agnostic is a question for future psychologists and historians to determine.
Mr. Ingersoll was followed by Rev. W. L. Parsons, who commenced his ministry November 1, 1844, and the historian of that period says he was dismissed July 1, 1848. The church appears to have been without a settled pastor until the following January, when Rev. Daniel R. Miller filled the pulpit for three years. Rev. Lewis Benedict was pastor from April 1, 1852. to November 1, 1857. During his pastorate the present stone church was erected. Since that time the pulpit has been occupied by preachers of more than ordinary ability, among whom may be mentioned Dr. N. A. Prentiss. Dr. Scudder, Rev. Wm. Ilorace Day, Rev. E. F. Goff, Rev. B. F. Aldrich and Rev. O. A. Petty. In 1868 the church organization consisted of : Pastor, Rev. Isaac Clark; deacons, I. M. Howell. A. Small, N. Otis. J. Denney, Jr. :
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trustees. . \. Small, W. W. Bishop, J. L. Holden ; treasurer, J. B. Hall. Loren Otis was secretary of the Sunday school and Luther Bradley librarian.
NEW ENGLAND CONGREGATIONAL.
This church was organized June 10, 1858, by members of the First church who lived on the west side. Letters were granted to seventeen members, as follows: Edward Gillette, Mrs. Sarah R. Gillette, Mrs. Ruth Clark, Miss Clarissa E. Clark, Stephen Gillette, Mrs. Nancy Gillette, William J. Nobles, Mrs. Tryphenia C. Noble, Mrs. Emeline E. Church, Mrs. M. Delia Goodwin, Silvanus Towne, Mrs. Margaret A. Towne, Miss Margaret 1. Towne, Isaac Preston, Mrs. Lavinia B. Preston, Justus Dodge, Mrs. Juli. t Dodge, Oliver Dewey, Mrs. Eliza S. Dewey, Edmund S. Dewey, Oliver B. Dewey. Charles A. Dewey, William H. Fonda, Mrs. HI. Josephine Fonda, Alexander McArthur, Mrs. Jane McArthur. David Enny. Mrs. David Enny, George W. Enny, Stephen W. Enny.
This church has steadily grown from that time until this under the following pastors: G. B. Hubbard, 1859-1865; Edward Ebbs, 1866-1868; T. N. Haskell, 1868-1871; D. D. Hill, 1872-1880; William Windsor, 1881- 1888; J. O. Haarvig, 1888-1892; J. M. Sturtevant, 1893-1897; J. T. Blanchard, 1897-1901 ; W. H. Buss, 1901-1905; W. W. Willard, 1906.
The first building was erected in 1859 on Locust street and the present handsome structure was built in 1890 during the ministry of J. O. Haarvig.
THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH
was organized in 1842 with fourteen members. The organization grew slowly until 1864, when it built a large edifice at the corner of Lincoln avenue and Main street under the pastorate of Rev. Forrester. The trustees of this church at that time were E. R. Allen, Joy Tarble, L. D. Brady. C. S. Roe and C. C. Earle.
In 1868 the Sabbath school numbered two hundred and fifty members, with the following officers: Superintendent, John C. Sherwin; assistant superintendent, A. K. Perry ; secretary, James J. McLallen ; treasurer, Newton Perry; librarian, Jacob N. Hopper : assistants, Fred Robinson and Fred Thompson.
This church struggled along for about twenty years with indifferent success, finding great difficulty in keeping up with the running expenses. It was closed for a year or more and was in 1886 transferred to the People's church, which still occupies the building.
The Universalist denomination was organized as a protest against the severe doctrine of endless punishment held and preached by all the "evangelical" denominations previous to the middle of the nineteenth century. The more stern and severe the preaching of the believers in a God of wrath and ven- geance, the better the Universalists flourished with their views of a God of love and mercy. Of late years all denominations have practically accepted the
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views long promulgated by the Universalists: the fatherhood of God, the brotherhood of man. eternal infinite love, that will not permit any child "to stray beyond the Father's care." As long as all the churches preach this doctrine the work of the Universalist denomination is accomplished, and it is not strange that the membership declines. The church in Aurora is no exception to the rule, and while surrendering its organization joins with others in the war against evil in all its forms and for individual purity and righteousness.
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1837 and held its first meeting at the home of Samuel McCarty, who was during the remainder of his life a constant member of this church. The first board of trustees were S. McCarty. C. H. Goodwin. P. Brown. C. F. Goodwin and John Gibson. The elegant church now used was completed in 1872.
SECOND M. E. CHURCH.
In 1858 a colony from the First M. E. church broke off and organized a "Second M. E. church." They procured land from Mr. Downer on Galena street opposite the Huntoon House and erected a building. Rev. S. P. Keys was in charge for a time, but after a few years' existence the members were reabsorbed by the First church and the church building has since been used as a livery stable.
In 1868 another and successful attempt was made to organize a Second M. E. church. The old Episcopal church on North Lake street was leased and Rev. S. N. Griffith was the first pastor by supply for three months, when Rev. A. P. Mead was made the regular pastor and secured a lot on the corner of Locust and Galena streets for a church and parsonage. The church was built on that lot in 1870 and has since been known as the Galena Street church.
THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH.
The Free Methodist church was organized in 1860 and a substantial brick edifice was erected and dedicated on South Lincoln avenue in 1863.
FOURTH STREET M. E.
The Fourth Street M. E. church completed a new building in 1907. being a continuation of the Marion Avenue Mission chapel.
GERMAN M. E.
The German Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1859 and erected a building at the corner of Fox and Anderson in 1861 and another just east of this one in 1887. Its membership included many prominent business men of Aurora.
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FIRST BAPTIST.
The Baptists first held services in the Big Woods in Father Vaughn's neighborhood and on the 29th of March, 1844, ten members of the Warren- ville church withdrew and organized a church in the Big Woods. Three years later the organization was taken to Aurora and held services in various places on both sides of the river until 1851, when it assumed the name of First Baptist church of Aurora and in 1852 located permanently in a house of their own on Galena street, which they occupied until 1887, when this building was removed to the rear of the lot and veneered with brick and used as a chapel, and a $20,000 brick building was erected on the old site and the church continues in a flourishing condition.
PARK PLACE BAPTIST.
On June 2, 1857, twenty-seven members of the First Baptist church withdrew and formed the "Union Baptist church." The old Congregational church on the east side was secured and occupied as a place of worship until 1880, when a neat brick structure was erected at the corner of West Park place and New York street, to which the congregation removed and changed their name to the "Park Place Baptist church," which it still retains. The old building was removed to South Water street and used for manufacturing purposes.
CLAIM STREET BAPTIST.
About 1890 a Baptist mission was organized on Claim street near the corset factory, and in a few years was organized into the church known as the "Claim Street Baptist church." It has been doing a good work and is in a flourishing condition.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN.
This church was organized in June, 1858, but had no pastor for a year, when Rev. Alfred Hamilton was called to take charge. For some time the church held services in Dunning's block, on River street, and afterward in the Second Methodist church, on Galena street. In 1860 a lot was bought on the Galena street hill and in 1862 the church building was dedicated. In 1872 this building was sold to the Swedish Lutherans and a lot purchased on the corner of Fourth and Fox streets, on the rear of which a small brick church was erected. Rev. Thomas Galt was pastor here for twenty-seven years. In the year 1901 the foundations were laid for a new church in the front of their lot, which was dedicated in 1902.
TRINITY EPISCOPAL.
This parish was organized May 25, 1849, with seven members. Roswell Wilder gave the vestry a lot at the corner of North Lake and Spruce streets, on which was built a brick church, which was consecrated in 1854. As most of the members lived on the east side of the river this church was abandoned
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in 1867 and meetings were held in Arcadome Hall on Broadway. A new stone church at the corner of South Lincoln avenue and Benton street . as built in 1869 and was ready for occupancy June 4. 1871. In 1907 a parish house was completed and the church is in a prosperous condition.
ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The Catholic church is probably the best organized, most far-reaching and far-seeing organization on earth, and seems to be managed with super- human wisdom. In 1848 the few Catholic families in Aurora were occa- sionally visited by priests from Chicago, and about 1850 Bishop Vandeveld bought nineteen acres of land from Austin Mann for church purposes. This land was on Broadway, north of Claim street. The bishop platted the land into city lots and gave the agency to John McInhill, and gave instructions to have the church built from money acquired from the sale of lots. A small frame structure, about 30x40 feet, was erected on the land, which stood about a year when it was blown down in a heavy gale. Then the railroad came along and took nearly all the land for road and shop purposes. Then a new church was projected and Hall Brothers donated two lots at the corner of Pine and Spruce streets, on which was erected a stone building. 102x42 feet. This was occupied until November 8, 1869. when it was burned to the ground. Only $12.700 insurance was collected from it. but with this money work was soon begun on a new building at the corner of Fox and Root streets, which was dedicated July 7, 1872, it having cost $30,000. A parish house and parochial school building have since been completed and the church appears to be flourishing.
ST. NICHOLAS GERMAN CATHOLIC.
In 1859 the German Catholics determined to have church services con- ducted in their own language and bought two lots at the corner of Liberty and High streets, on which a church was erected in 1860. In 1882-3 an imposing brick edifice was constructed on these lots and a few years afterward a fine parochial school house was built. It is the desire of this denomination that the children of the parishioners be given religious instruction at the church before they attend what they call the "Godless public school."
CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART. (French Catholic.)
The first church for this parish was built at the corner of Union and Columbia streets in 1866. It was moved to the corner of Fulton and State streets in 1875. The school was opened November 16, 1880.
ST. JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC.
Near the close of the nineteenth century another Catholic church was constructed north of the C., B. & Q. tracks on what is known as Pigeon hill. together with a schoolhouse to accommodate the German residents of that part of town.
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UNIVERSALIST CHURCHI, AUROR.1, ERECTED IN 1864.
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Elgin were interred in the old Chicago cemetery and after the fire removed to Calvary cemetery.
The fourth pastor of Elgin was Rev. William Feely in 1848. During the years of Father W. Feely's pastorate the Elgin parish included Dundee, , Huntley, West Chicago, St. Charles, Geneva. Blackberry, Sycamore and the present Gilberts.
Right Rev. Dr. Quarter, the first bishop of Chicago, died April 10. 1848. The second bishop of Chicago, the Right Rev. J. Van de Velde, was conse- crated February 11. 1849. in St. Louis, Missouri. Bishop J. Van de Velde visited Elgin January 5. 1849. on his trip to Galena. The 20th of May, 1850. the bishop came to Elgin, and said mass in Keogh's house. Confirmation was given at the small unplastered frame church. St. Mary's, at the Barrens in Rutland, the first Catholic church in the county. The bishop visited Aurora the first time September 5. 1850. a thriving town on Fox river. He visited it again February 10. 1851, and purchased a tract of land of nineteen and one-half acres for church purposes. On the 5th of June. 1853. the right reverend bishop gave confirmation in Elgin to fifty-six persons. On the 17th of October. 1853. the right reverend bishop visited Aurora again to make arrangements for building a new church.
Bishop Van de Velde was transferred on his own request on account of sickness to Natchez, where he arrived November 23. 1853. and died Novem- ber 13. 1855. His successor was Right Rev. Anthony O'Regan, consecrated July 25, 1854. Arrived September 3. 1854. in Chicago, and resigned June 25. 1858.
Father Feely began the erection of the stone church at Elgin in 1851, he having collected the fund. He also began the chuch at St. Charles and one in Blackberry. He died in Elgin in 1864.
The next bishop of Chicago was Right Rev. James Duggan, who was followed by the Right Rev. Thomas Foley. He was succeeded by Most Rev. . Jas. E. Quigley, and he by Right Rev. Muldoon, now bishop of Chicago.
In every part of the county the church has prospered and increased in communicants and in beautiful new churches erected.
During the War of the Rebellion no class of people were more patriotic for the Union and more willing to go to the front. The Catholics of Kane county who served in high official places and who stood shoulder to shoulder in the ranks would form a long list. The records show them in every regi- ment that went from the county. And in the building of the cities that line the Fox they have had an important and continuous part. many of our best lawyers, doctors and business men being of this church.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL.
In the year 1858 Benjamin Hackney gave a lot on Watson street to this church, which erected a small frame building there. When the Universalists abandoned their old church on Main street near Root it was purchased by this society for $600. It was rebuilt in 1886.
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ST. PAUL'S GERMAN LUTHERAN.
This church was organized December 5. 1853. A building was erected at the corner of Jackson and Benton streets in 1855, which was occupied until 1884, when a new brick church was erected. A parochial school is also main- tained by this church.
ST. JOHN'S ( REFORMED) GERMAN LUTHERAN.
An offshoot of St. Paul's was organized in 1886 and has since erected a fine church at the corner of North avenue and Fifth street.
SWEDISH LUTHERAN.
This church bought the old Presbyterian church on Galena street in 1872 and occupied it for about twenty-five years and then erected a neat brick structure on the premises.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF AURORA.
Aurora claims to have not only the first Y. M. C. A. building in the state of Illinois, but the fifth building in the world used exclusively for Y. M. C. A. purposes. The first meeting of citizens of Aurora interested in the subject was hield in the office of D. Iliff. Esq., 22 Broadway, on the 28th of April, 1869. at which D. L. Demorest presided and L. J. Allen acted as secretary. On motion of Sanford Hardy this organization was called the Young Men's Christian Association of Aurora. At the second meeting, May 7, 1869, the following men were elected directors: Joseph Denney, of the First Congre- gational church: L. J. Allen. First Methodist; W'm. Breese, First Baptist ; H. W. Hardy, Lake Street Methodist : S. B. Dyckman, Union Baptist; B. F. Hackney, Free Methodist ; S. B. Hanley, Episcopal, and Rev. Isadore Liens, German Methodist. Professor T. H. Hazeltine, of Jennings Seminary, was elected first president. J. G. Stolp offered a lot on the island provided they would erect a good brick building upon it. Dr. G. W. Quereau, Ira Fitch and D. J. Pike were appointed a committee to secure plans. K. A. Burnell, Samuel McCarty, D. W. Stockwell, C. H. Reeves, S. Bradley, T. H. Day, J. R. Hanna and James O. Mason were appointed on subscription committees. The sum of $6,000 was raised by July 12. 1870, and work was soon begun on the building, with Martin Miller as superintendent of construction.
J. D. Pike was elected the second president in 1870 and served until 1875. The building was dedicated April 26, 1871, having cost about $9,000. The following men have served as presidents since 1875: E. A. Powell, 1875-76; D. J. Pike again. 1876-77: Sanford Hardy, 1878; H. C. Paddock, 1879-80; Dr. F. S. Pond, 1881; T. H. Day, 1882-84; Sanford Hardy, 1885; W. H. V'an Arsdale served from 1886 to 1904. with the exception of a short period in 1894 and 1895, when the general secretary. A. C. Copeland, acted as presi- dent. A. C. Ryburn was elected president 1904 and served until December 31. 1907, when Chas. S. Kilbourne was elected. Since its organization one hundred and sixty-eight different men have served on the board of directors.
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Many members felt that more room was required for the work of the association and during the winter of 1904 a banquet of the members was held and at this time a building movement was launched to raise $35,000 for a new building ; $1,500 was raised among the members present. Nothing further was done until the summer of 1906, when the board of directors appointed a committee of five men to call upon some fifty of the leading business men and ascertain from them if now was the opportune time to raise money for a building. The verdict was unanimously favorable. The board appointed a building committee consisting of W. M. Mercer, chairman; C. S. Kilbourne, J. O. Mason, H. L. McWethy, A. C. Ryburn and W. W. Stevens. The state convention was held in Aurora in October, 1906, the chief note of which was a building. On November 8, 1906, the building committee launched a thirty- day campaign to raise $85,000. The methods employed during this campaign were quite remarkable and deserve mention. Headquarters were engaged in the old Hotel Evans. A dial about five feet in diameter with a movable hand pointing to figures on the face of the dial running up to $85,000 was placed on the front of the building. Every time a thousand dollars was secured the hand of the dial moved up one notch and several factory whistles were blown enthusiastically and every one in the city became interested. At the end of thirty days $90,000 was secured for the Y. M. C. A. and $25,000 for the Y. W. C. A., and in twenty days more the Y. W. C. A. secured $60,000, making a total of $150,000 raised in fifty days. The board of directors sold the old building on the island and purchased a lot at the corner of Fox and LaSalle streets. In October, 1907, they broke ground and on May 3, 1908, laid the cornerstone for the new building, which was completed before the close of the year.
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