USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume I > Part 58
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Louis Andrews
Robert L. Angell
Alfred Bedard
Peter Johnson
John W. Pitzer
James A. Bedford
Charles Joslyn
Alex. Plant
Adolph Bergeman
Charles Klingberg
John Rentner
Stephen Boone
John Kolf
Byron Rogers
William Callahan
Roy E. Knight
Hardin Rossman
Charles Church
Charles Kuehn
John Roussell
·Charles Coon
Fred Landberg
Henry Rowcliff
John Custer
Rufus Lincoln
Henry Russ
Alexander Dissell
George H. Lippold
Lee Ryan
Seth Dyer
John Lorang Lee Loria
Matthew Schmit
Charles Eccles
George Schneider
William Edwards
John Mahoney
Walter Shackley
Arthur H. Fuller
Adolph Martin
Fred Shaw
Henry Greiner
Fred Martin
Frank Siegmund
John L. Gulig George Hamell
James McCallum John McCarthy
Fred Stilson
Oscar Hegland
William McNally
August E. Swanson
Chris Hennes
Frank H. Michaels
Jacob C. Trumbull
William F. Herlehy
Charles Monroe
John Wantz
Albert Hippe
Wilmot C. Munson
Clare Weaver
Cornelius Holdren John Jackson
Lester K. Oakley Fred Park
George S. White
William Jerl
John Paulus
Edward Whitmore
Charles Johnson
Earle Petticord
Henry A. Winkler, Jr.
Charles Pfister
Fred Yound
Joseph Johnson
Fred A. Martin
Oscar Smith
Frank Sperry
Henry Hedin
Frank Wellman
Fred Eardley Lawrence Krantz John Dehn George Dunn
Wagoner.
Elmer Phillips A. Eugene Pierce
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KANE COUNTY IHISTORY
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE CITY OF ELGIN.
In 1872 a writer wrote as follows:
"The thriving city of Elgin is beautifully and picturesquely located upon both banks of the Fox river, forty-two miles west by north from Chicago, at the point where the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad crosses the river. The first settlement of the town was made by James T. and Hezekiah Gifford, in April, 1835. Mr. H. Gifford had visited the country the previous year and explored it from where Elgin now stands, to Yorkville, in Kendall county, and was so much pleased with it that he induced his brother, James T. Gifford, to sell out his property and migrate west. James T. lived at Dundee, and Hezekiah in Oneida county, both in the state of New York. From Chicago they proceeded to Milwaukee, then called 'Milwaukie bay.' Not finding any good opening at this point they crossed the country to Fox river, and explored it as far south as the head of the 'Little Woods,' and finally con- cluded to settle on the site where Elgin now stands. Returning to Chicago for their teams, which had been left there, they again returned to their new home, this time accompanied by Mr. Joseph Kimball, whom they met in Chicago.
"The Giffords immediately proceeded to choose and mark out claims, James T. claiming the land now included in the plat of Elgin bearing his name, and Hezekiah the land south of it, and including that on which the National Watch Factory now stands. James T. Gifford built the first log cabin on the original town plat, near where now is the corner of Prairie and Villa streets, in front of the present residence of G. B. Raymond. Hezekiah built a log cabin sixteen feet square in April, 1835, on what is now called Sherman's addition to East Elgin. Mrs. Hezekiah Gifford arrived at the set- tlement on the 12th day of May, 1835. (This spot is now owned by the Bowen family, on St. Charles street. This was the first cabin built in what is now Elgin. This is shown by the fact that the cabin of James T. Gifford, above mentioned, was not completed until July or August, 1835, Mrs. J. T. Gifford arriving at that time. ) For six weeks she was the only white woman there.
"Messrs. S. J., G. W. Russell, and Jonathan Kimball, and Isaac Stone, arrived in the latter part of April of the same year, and the little colony began to improve quite rapidly. Mr. Joseph Kimball died while on a trip east for his family. His son, Samuel J. Kimball, came in his place, and claimed the property afterward owned by his sons, Joseph and Walter, the former of whom was the first child born in Elgin, his birth dating November 28, 1836. "Jonathan Kimball claimed the land on the west side, later owned by Hon. S. A. Wilcox and others. These two names, Gifford and Kimball. were the most prominent in the early history of Elgin.
THE MAKERS OF ELGIN.
HENRY SHERMAN.
B. W. RAYMOND.
REV. A. J. JOSLYN. A. J. WALDRON.
DR. JOSEPH TEFFT.
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KANE COUNTY HISTORY
"A road was staked and 'blazed' to Meacham's Grove, now Blooming- dale, in the early summer of 1835. In June of this year two more ladies, Mrs. P. J. Kimball and daughter, arrived and joined the settlement. The same season, also, the wife of James T. Gifford, accompanied by his sister, Miss Harriet E. Gifford, arrived in the colony. The latter lady taught the first school opened in Elgin, in the fall of 1835.
"The town was named Elgin by Mr. James T. Gifford, who took a great liking to the old Scotch names. The first Fourth of July celebration took place in 1836, the settlers celebrating the nation's anniversary by opening the new road between Elgin and Meacham's Grove.
"The precinct, as the townships were then called, was known as the Lake Precinct, and included the two towns of Elgin and Dundee. The first election for the precinct was held at the house of Thomas H. Thompson, which stood on what is now the Captain Turner farm, within the limits of Dundee, July I, 1836. At this election eighteen votes were polled, the majority of them belonging to Dundee. Jonathan Kimball was elected justice for Elgin, and Wanton Parker for Dundee. S. J. Kimball and Seth Green were elected con- stables-Kimball for Elgin, and Green for Dundee. This seems to have been a sort of informal election. The first election in the town of Elgin, properly speaking, was held at the public house of Hezekiah Gifford, October 10, 1836, according to Mr. Gifford's recollection, and was probably the first for- mal election held after the organization of the county, which was effected in 1836. An election occurred in August, 1836, at the house of Thomas H. Thompson, for congressmen, state senator and representative, county com- missioners, sheriff, recorder, surveyor, and coroner. On the 7th of Novem- ber, 1836, another election was held at Mr. Thompson's house, for presi- dential electors, at which forty-two votes were polled. In October, 1837, James T. Gifford was elected justice and Eli Henderson constable.
"During the year 1836, James T. and H. Gifford, with S. J. Kimball as surveyor, marked out a road from Elgin to Belvidere, which has been a great thoroughfare ever since.
"The first resident physician in Elgin was Dr. Joseph Tefft, who settled here in 1835 or 1836. The first marriage was celebrated at the house of Jonathan Kimball, Esq., whose daughter Martha was united to Mr. Sidney Kimball. The first death in the colony occurred in May, 1836-Miss Mary Ann Kimball, a daughter of P. J. Kimball.
"Hezekiah Gifford built and opened the first hotel, or tavern, in the month of October, 1836. This was sold to Eli Henderson the ensuing year. A dam and bridge were constructed in 1837. A saw-mill was also put in operation. The dam and saw-mill were built by the company, Messrs. William C. Kimball, James T. Gifford, and S. J. Kimball.
"The first building used for a school was built in 1837. It was of wood, twenty-four by thirty feet. It had a small bell in its tower, probably the first one ever heard in the valley, and was used both for school and church purposes. The first district-school building was erected in 1847. It stood on the corner of DuPage and Chapel streets, and was built of brick. Some time
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KANE COUNTY HISTORY
after two brick school buildings were put up on the west side of the river. and in 1858 the city high-school building was built on Kimball street.
"The Elgin academy was chartered in 1839. In 1848-9 the Free Will Baptists made an effort to establish a college. The present academy build- ing was commenced by them, but pecuniary embarrassments compelled the abandonment of the project. In 1854 a new organization was effected, under the academy charter of 1839. to whom the shareholders of the proposed college transferred their interest, and in 1855 the building was completed and opened as the Elgin Academy.
"The first religious society was organized in May, 1836, by Rev. N. C. Clark, Congregationalist. who had figured quite extensively already at Naper- ville and St. Charles. Mr. James T. Gifford was the most prominent member of this church. The society occupied the little chapel already spoken of, until 1843. when they huilt a house on the corner of Center and Fulton streets, seventy by forty feet. This building was completed in 1846. The Baptists organized at the house of Hezekiah Gifford. in 1838. The Rev. J. E. Ambrose was their first pastor, and continued until 1844. The Episcopal Methodists organized a church in 1837, and built a house in 1840, which, with subsequent additions, was occupied until 1866. when the splendid Centenary church was erected, at an expense of $25,000. The Free Will Baptists and Unitarians erected houses of worship in 1846. In 1851 the Catholics erected a church upon a lot (on the corner of DuPage and Gifford streets), presented to them by Mr. James T. Gifford. The Universalists erected a very neat and tasteful house in 1866, and the same year the Free Methodists built a plain, but sub- stantial and commodious house. In February. 1853, a Presbyterian society was organized, and in May, 1855, a Reformed Presbyterian society was formed. There is also a German Lutheran society in the city. They own and occupy the church erected by the Free Will Baptists in 1846, on the corner of Division and Spring streets.
"Elgin, like all western towns, has been prolific in hotels. In addition to . the first building erected by Hezekiah Gifford, in 1836, there have been the Elgin house ( that stood at the northeast corner of Center and Chicago, the site now occupied by the First Congregational church), long the stopping place of the celebrated Frink & Walker line of stages between Chicago and Galena; Shaw's, or the City hotel, centrally located (that stood where the Sherwin block now stands); the Kim- ball house, near the East depot; and the Waverly, on the West side, the last well known, far and near. as one of the best hotels in the country. In addition, we might state that there have been a number of Ger- man and other hotels at various periods, among which the Chicago house, on Douglas avenue. is perhaps the most prominent."
Soon came a demand for the necessaries of life. Bread had to be obtained, and the settlers having gathered in their first crop of corn, the question arose, how was it to be ground. Journeys to Ottawa, Joliet and Chicago for this purpose were frequent, but they were long and tedious, and it was evident that the place then called "State Road" by a few settlers, in the hope, it is to he supposed, that a state road would some time or other
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KANE COUNTY HISTORY
get to it, must have a mill. Mr. J. T. Gifford constructed one by hollowing out a large stump and fitting into it an immense stone, which was raised and depressed by means similar to those once used in raising water out of wells. A sort of powerful mortar and pestle were thus formed.
The year 1836 saw the first religious organization of Elgin firmly estab- lished. Before this date services had been held in the Messrs. Giffords' cabins. In February, of the year alluded to. Rev. John H. Prentiss, of Joliet. and Rev. N. C. Clark, then of Naperville. but afterward for many years one of the most honored citizens of Elgin, met at Mr. J. T. Gifford's house, by invitation, and spent a Sabbath there. Mr. Prentiss preached on the occasion. and it was concluded to organize a church as soon as possible. In May, 1836. a Congregational church was formed.
The first marriage-rare in those days-was celebrated at the house of Jonathan Kimball, when his daughter Martha, was united to Sidney Kimball.
The first death, too, in Elgin, that of Miss Mary Ann Kimball, daughter of P. J. Kimball, Sr .. took place in May of this year. The deceased was buried in the then newly formed cemetery, where John Newman's residence now stands. The Channing street cemetery was not used until 1844, and on its establishment many bodies had to be transferred to it from the old burying ground. A perfect record of interments has been kept, that is almost invaluable.
Emigrants now commenced passing into the western country in great numbers. The Indians had. in 1836, received their last payment in Chicago and were moving off. The Elgin people no more heard their importunities for "pennyack." "quashkin" and "goonatash," yet. in this year. the settlers received a severe scare from a report brought into the village by a courier from the north, that the Indians were coming back to slay and scalp all before them. A public meeting was at once called, and a committee of defense appointed, but the red men did not put in an appearance.
The village was growing now. Dr. Joseph Tefft built a house on the ground afterward used as a hay and wood market, now the city hall. A man named Stowers, too, had built a store. Mr. Gifford had got the name of the village legally authenticated in Washington, and the mail and stage route west, located through Elgin. People no longer had to send horsemen to Chicago for letters and papers. Settlers, including the Knox, Gilbert. Tefft and other families, had come in on the trail that led up the Fox from the direction of Joliet.
Travelers, at this period, poured into and through Elgin, and every house in the village was a place where strangers might be entertained. In the fall of 1836 a frame addition was made to Gifford tavern, which remained standing, though not on its original site, until April. 1875. Some time after this, the Elgin house, for years kept by a person named Tibballs, was built. It stood on the northeast corner of Chicago and Center streets. It was at one time considered one of the finest hotels in the West; but after the departure of Mr. Tibballs, it was converted into a female seminary, and for years. under the management of the Misses Lord, held a first-class reputation.
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KANE COUNTY HISTORY
In 1838 Henry Sherman settled about two miles west. Jason House, Elgin's first blacksmith ; B. Healy, the first harness maker ; John and Vincent Lovell, Alfred Hadlock, William Shaw, Solomon Hamilton, Burgess Trues- dell, Harvey Raymond and many others, came about the same time. The productions of the country found a ready market in Chicago, then just com- mencing her wonderful career. Wheat never sold for less than thirty cents per bushel, nor corn for less than twenty cents, and pork was often firm at $1.50 per hundred.
In 1838 B. W. Raymond, of Chicago, in connection with his partner, S. N. Dexter, bought one-half of J. T. Gifford's claim, and in 1840, Mr Gifford sold one-half of the remainder to Dr. Root, father of Anson Root, still living. Elgin is greatly indebted to B. W. Raymond for its early and later prominence. Although not an actual resident, he made large investments here and furnished the material for many of the most important enterprises. His contributions for the establishment of the Academy were liberal, and he was one of the first, and for many years one of the leading merchants. He was a partner in the foundry of Augustus Adams & Co., the first manufac- turers of corn shellers, in this part of the west, and was chiefly intsrumental in the establishment of the woolen factory, built by S. N. Dexter in 1842 (now the Young Men's Christian Association gymnasium). He assisted in the erection of a large tannery, and in securing the location of the watch factory here, of which company he became the first president.
During the Christian occupancy of the little frame building, the several denominations worshiping there divided the time harmoniously among them, and the Sunday school officers were chosen from different denominations. In July, 1837. a great religious meeting was held in a large tent. near the site of the Centenary church, and in September of that year the Congregationalists secured the services of Rev. Mr. Clark, on alternate Sundays, he being then a resident of St. Charles. At this time he divided his services with the Dundee church. At this time, also, Rev. Mr. St. Palais, a missionary from Indiana, occasionally visited the Catholics in Elgin. This gentleman afterward was bishop of Vincennes, in that state.
Elgin's first bridge, built in 1837, was a wooden structure, reaching from Mr. Healy's place of business (now Healy block ) to the Lynch block on the west side. It was carried off by a freshet in 1849, and was succeeded in that year by a substantial wooden bridge, which lasted until 1866, when it was removed and an iron bridge built. This structure fell beneath a drove of cattle. and a new iron bridge was constructed. This bridge fell on July 4. 1869, under a crowd watching a tub-race, and was replaced by an iron structure that was destroyed by the ice and food in 1881. In the early years the race- way ran across Chicago street and entered the river south of where DuBois opera house now stands. All the land from the Seybold factory south is made land-the process of filling still going on, on both sides of the river. A pile bridge was used for many years. During its construction people were ferried across the river in a ferry boat about thirty feet long and twenty feet wide, attached to a cable strung across the river by means of trolleys or pulleys. The push of the strong current against the ferry, aided by a man
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KANE COUNTY HISTORY
with a pole, forced the contrivance across. One morning in April, 1881, a ferry started from the landing, just opposite the Milwaukee depot, heavily loaded. When it reached midstream the current swayed it, and the occupants. becoming fearful, moved toward the outer edge. The result was to sink the boat under water, throwing the passengers ( some fifteen or twenty ) into the river. Many were drowned.
The first bridge at National street was constructed in 1870; the one at Kimball street about 1885.
So the village continued to grow, with what is now Villa court, as a business center, and in 1840 contained a population of nearly one thousand persons. That year marked a change in the business district, and began the movement toward the river, which in ten years saw Center street prac- tically abandoned and Chicago street the main thoroughfare. The beginning of this change was the erection of a cobble-stone store at the southeast corner of Spring and Chicago streets by B. W. Raymond, which he long occupied as a general store. The building was not removed until 1906, when it was torn down to give place to the present Leitner block. By 1855 Fountain square had become the center of the village, then having a population of about three thousand, and it has so continued until the present day. Home bank block was built in 1860.
The years from 1840 to 1866 show but little permanent advancement toward the making of the city that has arisen. The railroad on the east side was built in 1848. the depot being at Chicago and Spring streets, where the Stewart block now stands. For two years this was the terminus of the railroad, and the only avenue to the lands further west. Every train was filled with homeseekers, who must be accommodated here. The old city hotel, afterward the Commercial, on the site of the present Sherwin block, was built about 1844.
About 1850 the Galena branch of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad on the west side, was constructed and travel instead of stopping here con- tinued westward. The panic of the '4os struck the town about this time and dealt it a staggering blow. Its residents were, however, made of persevering temper and did not lessen their efforts to build up a city.
In 1843 the woolen factory was built. (The building is now occupied by the Young Men's Christian Association gymnasium.) This was the first manufacturing enterprise of consequence that had located here, and as an earlier writer has said. "through it Elgin received its first lesson in the great advantages to be derived from the location of manufacturing establishments. From that time to the present the lesson has never been forgotten in the com- munity. Elgin knows that every stride it has taken has been owing to the building up in its midst of productive establishments." The woolen mill was enlarged in 1866 and long employed a large force of hands. It went out of business in the early 'Sos, and was succeeded by the Cook Publishing Company.
Elgin was incorporated as a city in 1854. the following being the first officers :
Mayor-Joseph Tefft.
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Aldermen-First ward, C. S. Clark and R. L. Yarwood; Second ward. L. C. Stiles and P. R. Wright ; Third ward, E. A. Kimball and G. P. Harvey. The crisis of 1857 soon followed and stagnation resulted in the young city. Said a former writer: "Property tumbled to fabulously low figures ; the manufacturers, like all other enterprises, stopped, and stores were unrented. Elgin was a sort of Illinois Pisa, with grass growing in its thoroughfares, and its people employing their energies in providing for life's wants. Thus it continued for some years, and many predicted it would long continue."
The opening of the Rebellion found the city hardly recovered from the depression, but it became alive at once on the beginning of hostilities. One week after the news reached Elgin, the first company (A) for the first regi- ment ( the Seventh) left the city for Springfield, and was the first company mustered in Illinois. This first company was made up of the old Continentals. who had been the "crack" militia organization west of Chicago. Edward S. Joslyn ( afterward lieutenant colonel of the Thirty-sixth) was captain of these first volunteers who were mustered in on April 15, 1861. ( For mem- bers of this company see Seventh Regiment in military history.)
The old "Continentals" of Elgin were originally organized in 1855. They early adopted the old Revolutionary uniform with cocked hat. The late Col. E. S. Joslyn was captain of the company, and General John S. Wilcox a lieutenant. Following is a copy of a program of a ball given by this com- pany in 1859:
GRAND MILITARY BALL.
THE WASHINGTON CONTINENTALS. WILL GIVE A GRAND MILITARY BALL. On Friday Evening, January 7. 1859. AT THE WAVERLY HOUSE, ELGIN, In honor of the 43d Anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans.
YOUR COMPANY WITH LADIES IS RESPECTFULLY SOLICITED.
HONORARY MANAGERS.
Gen. E. Wilcox Col. B. F. Lawrence Hon. John Hill
Maj. G. W. Renwick Col. C. J. Hawkins Hon. C. H. Morgan
Maj. R. H. Adams Capt. E. S. Joslyn Hon. C. S. Clark
Committee of Arrangements.
Lient. W. A. Carpenter. Lieut. J. S. Wilcox. Lieut. T. W. Grosvenor. Corp'l W. S. Smith. Serg't L H. Yarwood.
Floor Managers.
Capt. E. S. Joslyn. Lieut. T. W. Grosvenor. Lieut. J. S. Wilcox.
4
3
THE MAKERS OF ELGIN.
WILLIAM C. KIMBALL.
JAMES T. GIFFORD.
SYLVANUS WILCOX.
GEN. GEORGE M'CLURE.
LUTHER HERRICK.
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KANE COUNTY HISTORY
MUSIC: GREAT NORTH-WESTERN BAND.
Military are requested to appear in uniform.
Tickets (Including Supper ) $2.50. 0- Gazette print, Elgin.
WASHINGTON CONTINENTALS BALL RECALLS DAYS BEFORE THE WAR.
The above is a reproduction of an invitation to one of the most fashion- able society events given in Elgin before the Civil war. The original copy is the property of General John S. Wilcox, who at that time was a lieutenant in the Washington Continentals. A perusal of the names of the various man- agers and committees will be of especial interest to many of the older residents as well as to the younger generation.
General Elijah Wilcox, one of the honorary managers, was the father of the present General Wilcox and the Hon. John Hill was a brother-in-law of the general. Captain E. S. Joslyn is well remembered as the father of Attorneys Frank and Waite Joslyn. Among the members of the old Washington Conti- nentals was Joseph Hemmens, father of Postmaster H. D. Hemmens and Walter Kimball, at present a member of the Elgin police department. It will be noticed that the invitation was printed by the Gazette Print of Elgin, which was the forerunner of the News-Advocate.
Although it is understood that there are a number of these invitations still in existence they are preserved with great care by their owners. When the old high-school building was razed the workmen found one of the invitations under the flooring.
On the 25th of July, 1861, Elgin furnished a company to the Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteers, and still another company to the Fifty-second regiment, mustered September 14, 1861. In October of the same year a company left the city for the Fifty-fifth Illinois Volunteers. Elgin contributed a very large quota to the Fifty-eighth regiment, which was organized in 1862, and in June of that year a company was also organized there for the Sixty-ninth Regiment of three months' men. On September 5. 1862, two companies left the city for the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Illinois Volunteers. The Elgin Battery was formed in the fall of 1862, and mustered into service in November of that year. In February, 1864. extensive barracks were built on the Lovell property, in the north part of the city, which received the designation of Camp Kane, and in February, 1864, these were temporarily occupied by the Fifty- second Regiment, then at home for a short time. The regiment received large accessions from the place on its redeparture for the front in March of the same year, and in the June following the One Hundred and Fortieth Illinois Volun- teers, marched from Camp Kane, Elgin contributing two companies to the regiment. Besides these mentioned, Elgin contributed many soldiers to other organizations, and from the day. in the early spring of 1861, that the first
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