USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume I > Part 71
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11'
STATE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, GENEVA.
LIBRARY BUILDING. GENEVAA.
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"Haight claim," settling with his family on same in the spring of 1835, in which year, also, Mr. Samuel Sterling joined his fortunes with those of Messrs. Herrington and Bird, these three families being the only inhabitants of what then assumed the name of Herrington's Ford.
It was in this year that a postoffice was established in the residence of James Herrington-he being appointed postmaster-and designated as "La Fox P. O." Dr. Miller settled in Geneva in 1836, and was the first physician The first school was taught by Mrs. Sterling, in a little room of her own cabin, in the winter of 1836, James Herrington furnishing a majority of the scholars. In May, 1837, Mr. James Herrington addressed a communica- tion to the Chicago Democrat, in which he gave a glowing account of the Geneva settlement, and the natural advantages of the location, and stating that a sawmill was in course of erection, which would be completed the com- ing fall and winter, hence this must have been the first step toward bringing into subjection the waters of the Fox at this point. This mill was erected by Sterling, Madden and Daniels, on the east side, and a flouring mill erected by Howard Brothers on the west side in 1844. The first dam across the river being constructed in the same year as the sawmill, and by the same parties. A bridge was nearly completed in 1838 by Gilbert and Sterling, when high water swept the structure away, and since that time several have been built, one sharing the fate of the first, and another-erected at a cost of $22,000 -- in 1857, was torn down to give place to the present elegant "Iron Bridge," located in the winter of 1868-69 at a cost of $16,000, being 522 feet in length. The first store in the village was kept by James Herrington, in 1835. his residence answering for store and postoffice. Charles Patten, Esquire, may well be termed the pioneer merchant of the town, he having been the first to bring in anything of an assortment of merchandise, and has been doing a mercantile business for thirty-four years in Geneva, and thirty- three years at. his present location, which has been for some years styled the "Old Corner." The first building erected especially for school purposes was the present stone structure in 1855. Although this building will not compare favorably with the elegant school buildings at Batavia and Aurora, yet an excellent school is in session during each year, and the subject of con- structing a new school building-equal, perhaps, to any on the river and one that will be creditable to the beautiful city-is being pressed upon the citizens as an important move, and another year will see it assume a tangible form.
Geneva-There has been some disagreement as to how the name Geneva came to be given the county seat. "Campbell Ford" was urged as a name for the new county seat, in honor of two of the commissioners appointed to make said location, but reliable and authentic information has disclosed the fact that the name of Geneva-after Geneva, New York-was deter- mined upon before the commissioners left Chicago, and the name first suggested by C. B. Dodson, Esquire. The election for the organization of the county was held at Geneva in the log residence of Mr. Herrington in June, 1836, which was also the date of the location of the county seat and the adoption of its present name.
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Original Town-The original town was owned by a number of gentie- men in different localities, but the parties most interested were Mr. James Herrington and R. J. Hamilton. It was surveyed and platted by Mark W. Fletcher-first county surveyor-in 1837, and contained about three hundred acres. It was incorporated a city in 1856, and the city council for 1871 con- sisted of C. B. Dodson, president ; Charles Bennett, William H. Howell, Eben Danford and Jerome N. Kendall, board of trustees, and William J. Brown, city clerk.
Churches-There are seven religious denominations in Geneva. The Congregational. Methodist. Unitarian, Episcopal. Baptist. Disciples and Free Methodist and six church edifices erected at a total cost of $18,000. The two strongest societies are the Congregational and Methodist, and each of these denominations are discussing the subject of rebuilding, in which case Geneva will soon stand a favorable comparison with her neighboring towns in the way of fine churches. The first church was erected by the Unitarian Society in 1843. the Rev. A. H. Conant being its first pastor, and continued in that capacity until 1857.
Railroads-The Dixon Air Line, of the G. & C. U. R. R., was completed to Geneva in 1853, and now comprises the main line of the Chicago & North- western, giving the most direct communication east and west, and excellent conveniences to shippers. A branch of this road was put in operation north to St. Charles in the fall of 1870, and will very soon be continued to a con- nection with the Freeport line at Clinton. The Ottawa, Oswego & Fox River Valley Railroad has its northern terminus at Geneva, being completed in the spring of 1871, and furnished the most direct communication with the ex- tensive coal fields of central Illinois.
Geneva has continued to advance with the other parts of the county and is today one of the cleanest and best residence places along Fox river.
The Girls' State Industrial Home is located here.
GENEVA TOWNSIIIP.
This township was organized in 1854. The first settler was Daniel S. Haight, who came in 1834. One Crow took up a claim on the east side in 1834 and sold out in 1835. Samuel Corey built a cabin in 1834. He is recalled as an honest but rough and ignorant Hoosier. It was written of him that, being engaged to carry money to the amount of $3.000 for Captain Dodson, he would place it in his saddle and stopping at an inn, would hang his saddle, including the money, on any peg for all night.
Andrew Miles, a Hoosier, came to the township in 1833 or 1834. Mrs. C. B. Dodson, then Miss Warren, rode in in a lumber wagon in April, 1834. Frederick Bird arrived in 1834, but subsequently moved to near Rockford. These and other early settlers were largely from Indiana, and were a simple and honest people.
Andrew Miles, who died in 1836, was the first adult buried in the old cemetery. The first birth occurred in 1835. in the family of Edward Trimble.
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William Sykes arrived in 1839; Lyman German about 1837; Scott Clark in 1837, about which time came Peter Sears. Robert Lester settled on the east side in 1837 and Eben Danford about that time.
Captain Dodson was the first of the early and permanent settlers who became prominent in the advancement of the township.
The road from Geneva to St. Charles on the west side was laid out in 1838 by Mark W. Fletcher, and is now one of the finest drives in the county, no road in northern Illinois presenting a finer view or a more fertile, pros- perous country.
The first school was opened in the winter of 1835-36 by Mrs. Samuel Sterling on the place afterward owned by E. Danford. The schoolhouse was a log cabin home, and enjoyed the unusual luxury of a stone floor of limestone rock, the limestone laying as nature had left it some million years ago About a dozen pupils attended the school.
The first county poor house was on land owned by E. Lee, on the east side. A substantial stone building was erected in 1872 at a cost of $15.000.
BATAVIA.
The wealthy and growing village of Batavia is situated on both sides of Fox river, about thirty-six miles west from Chicago, and two and a half miles south from the courthouse in Geneva. Two railroads pass through it: the Fox River Valley and a branch of the C., B. & Q. R. R. The place was first settled by Christopher Payne, who made a claim and built a cabin at the head of the "Big Woods" in September, 1833. Judge Isaac Wilson ( father of Hon. Isaac G. Wilson ) bought out Payne in 1835. Quite a large number of settlers located here in 1834. Among them were Colonel Lyon, James Latham, Joel McKee. James Risk. Titus Howe, E. S. Town and William Van- deventer. Colonel Lyon is now the oldest of the original settlers living here, having arrived April 24th, 1834.
In 1835 others arrived. among them Judge Isaac Wilson, already men- tioned, William Van Nortwick and his son, John. J. W. Churchill and others. Titus Howe made the first improvements in the water power by building a temporary dam and erecting a frame for a sawmill at the lower end of the island in 1835. The dam was carried away the next spring and the same year ( 1836) Van Nortwick, Barker. House & Co. bought out Howe, and within a year commenced building the upper dam and the Batavia mills. These improvements were completed in 1837-38. Harry Boardman became a member of the firm of Van Nortwick, Barker, House & Co. in 1836, and was the active business man of the firm.
The sawmill, commenced by Titus Howe, was removed to the upper dam and put in operation by the company. The original town plat was laid out on the east side in 1837 by Van Nortwick, Barker, House & Co. The surveying was done by John Van Nortwick. Additions were made by Latham, Wilson and others. In 1844 John Van Nortwick divided the property with the company, taking the property on the west side, including the island and one- half the water power. The same year he built the lower dam and erected a
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sawmill on the island. He also laid out the village on the west side in 1844 and designated it as Van Nortwick's plat of Batavia. Additions have since been made by Mr. Van Nortwick, McKee and others. The first bridge was built by subscription in 1837. The builders were the Howards, of St. Charles. It stood where the present stone bridge is. A bridge was built about 1843 at the upper end of the town, principally by James Risk, Joel McKee and James Latham, which did good service for some years. At present there is only one bridge across the Fox-the stone arch bridge on Wilson street, which was erected about 1844-45, and has cost altogether some $9.000, being the cheap- est bridge on the river, when its great durability and small annual expense are taken into consideration. It is an honor to its projectors and builders. The first store opened within the limits of the village was by Joel McKee. in June, 1835. It stood on the west side, at the north end of the town, near the river. It was afterward removed to about the spot where the residence of A. P. Kniffin now stands.
Clyburn & Dodson opened a store the same year at Clyburnville, two miles south of the village, where a strong attempt was made to build up a town. The first hotel was opened by Charles Ballard, where the Revere House now stands, about 1837. Colonel Lyon had also kept a house and stables for the accommodation of travelers in 1836 at Clyburnville near Mill creek. Dr. D. K. Town was the first settled physician, about 1839. though Dr. J. S. P. Lord had practiced in the place at an earlier date. The first marriage in town was that of A. P. Hubbard and Miss Jane Lyon, daughter of Colonel Lyon, in the spring of 1835. The first child born in Batavia, or "Big Woods," as it was then called, and probably the first in the county, was Dodson Vanteventer, October 10, 1834. Miss Charlotte Isbell, a step- daughter of Colonel Lyon, is claimed to have been the first female child born in the county, August 19, 1836. The first death of an adult, a Mrs. Ward, in the spring of 1835. E. S. Town was the first justice of the peace, elected in 1836. Mr. Town was also one of the most influential and untiring friends of education in the county.
At a meeting of the legal voters of the Village of Batavia. held pursuant to Public notice at the Stone School House in West Batavia on Saturday April 26th, 1856 for the purpose of voting for or against incorporating the said Village of Batavia, T. C. Moon was elected moderator and J. C. Pindar, Clerk.
On canvassing the vote it was found that Twenty-seven (27) Votes were in favor of incorporating and Eleven (II) were against incorporating.
T. C. Moox, Moderator. J. C. PINDAR, Clerk.
Filed and recorded, May 21st. 1856 JAMES HERRINGTON, Co Clerk.
The first school in the place and, undoubtedly, in the county, was opened in the fall of 1834 in a log schoolhouse near Mr. Johnson's place.
A school building was erected about 1852, on the west side at a cost of some $1,200. The east side school building was erected in 1860 at a cost of
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KANE COUNTY HISTORY
about $9,000. It is a very substantial and convenient building. The structure on the west side was erected in 1866-67, at an expense of thirty thousand dollars. Besides excellent public schools, Batavia had at one time an institu- tion of higher grade, which flourished for quite a number of years and had an excellent reputation.
The Batavia Institute was built about 1853-54, by private enterprise at a cost of $15,000-a very liberal sum for those days. It was built of Batavia cut stone, and was an elegant structure. Among those prominently interesed in this enterprise were E. S. Town, Dr. D. K. Town, John Van Nortwick, Joel McKee and Rev. Stephen Peet, Congregational minister.
When the public-school system went into operation the necessity for in- stitutions of this description ceased, and it was converted into an asyhun for the insane. Dr. Patterson purchased the property about 1867, and converted it into a private insane asylum.
Churches-The Congregational church organized in August, 1835, and was called the "Big Woods" church. They held meetings in the log school- house east of Mr. Johnson's grove. The society built the church, afterward owned by the Catholics in 1840, and their fine stone church on Batavia avenue about 1854. The latter building cost about $13,000, and at the time of its erection was the best church edifice on the river. The first sermon, probably, in the county, was preached by the Rev. N. C. Clark, of this denomination in August, 1834, at the house of Christopher Payne.
The Episcopal Methodists were among the very first to organize and had, perhaps, the first stated preaching in the place.
The Baptist Society was organized as early as 1836.
The German Methodists built a church about 1862. An African Meth- odist Society is also located here. They built a church in 1855 or 1856.
The Catholics organized about 1855.
The "Disciples," as they style themselves, built a church in 1866.
The first Sabbath school, probably, in the county was started here in the spring of 1835. It was a union school.
The first practicing attorney was J. W. Churchill, a son-in-law of Judge Wilson, who opened an office soon after he came here in 1835. He was elected a representative to the state legislature in 1836. Mr. Churchill re- moved to Davenport, Iowa, about 1853.
The village of Batavia has many elements which must eventually build up an extensive city. Its water power (among the very best), its immense stone quarries, and the magnificent country surrounding it, make its future alto- gether promising, while the enterprise of its citizens is proverbial.
The town abounds in stately mercantile, manufacturing and public buildings, elegant and substantial private residences and everywhere exhibits evidences of that thrift and enterprise that must continue to make it one of the best cities in the Fox river valley.
BATAVIA TOWNSHIP.
To the township of Batavia belongs the distinction of the first settlement in Kane county, Christopher Payne having arrived there and built his cabin
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111 1833, on the east side of the river within the present limits of the city. Colonel James Lyon came early in 1834; Captain C. B. Dodson settled just south of the present city in June, 1834, at what was then called Clyburnville. since disappeared.
Trade with the Indians brought profit, and the first store was built near the mouth of Mill creek ; a sawmill was also erected ; both by Captain Dodson. In 1835 Dodson and Clyburn contracted to remove the Indians to the West. James Vanatta is said to have located' east of Batavia in January. 1834. and a man named Corey took a claim near him. In December, 1833. James Nelson built a cabin and moved in at what was afterward known as Nelson's Grove, west of the city. John Gregg was the first blacksmith in the township. Settlers came from as far as Rockford, a week's trip down and back, to have their plows repaired.
The first death was a child of one Myers, who worked for Captain Dod- son, in 1834. Mrs. Ward died in the fall of that year.
By the end of 1838 settlers had come in in crowds. J. W. Churchill, William Van Nortwick. Joel McKee, James Risk. James Rockwell, Isaac Wilson, George Fowler and James Latham were permanently located by that time.
The first school in the county was in Batavia township, being opened by one Knowles in a log house on Colonel Lyon's land in 1834. The attendance was nine pupils.
ST. CHARLES.
At a meeting of the voters of St. Charles, Kane County, State of Illinois, convened at Horace Bancroft's Building agreeable to ten days public notice on Saturday the twelfth day of April A. D. 1845 for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of incorporating said town of St. Charles. On motion G. W. Richards was chosen President and Charles W. Howard. Clerk. The president and Clerk were duly sworn Resolved that the voters proceed to vote. The vote being taken, resulted as follows.
For Will be incorporated Seventy-two
Against Will not be incorporated Thirteen
We certify the above to be a true return of the votes taken at the above meeting.
G. W. RICHARDS, President. CHARLES W. HOWARD, Clerk. MI. W. FLETCHER, Clerk of Kane Co Coun Court.
Recorded May roth 1845
St. Charles township and the village of St. Charles were, in the early clays. the most important part of the county, and for years St. Charles was the center of the general activities of the northern part of the district. In an early day this township was the seat of many Indian settlements and the trails of the redmen were numerous. One of the most noted was known as "Waubonsie's
STATE HOME FOR BOYS, ST. CHARLES.
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JUDGE BARRY'S OFFICE, ST. CHARLES, ABOUT 1855.
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KANE COUNTY HISTORY
trail," which followed the river on the west bank and took in all the promi- nent springs in that vicinity. As late as 1845 this trail was plainly visible across the land afterward owned by C. D. Wing, J. D. Brown and C. H. Haines. Another trail led west from Chicago to Rock River across Fox river near where the St. Charles dam now is and followed the ravine west and over the prairie. The third came from the northeast and a fourth di- verged from the Chicago trail near Wayne Station and crossed the river at the bend now known as Five Islands, about a half mile below the present Illinois Central railroad bridge.
The first settler to arrive in what is now St. Charles township appears, by general consent, to have been William Franklin, who came with his famliy in March, 1834 ; although it is claimed that Evan Shelby came in the fall of 1833 and selected land and partly completed a cabin into which his family moved in May, 1834. Following the Shelby and Franklin families the next comers were Dean and Read Ferson, who came from Windsor county, Vermont, and Ira and George Minard, of Windham county, Vermont, came west as far as Chicago with them at that time. In the fall of 1834 Ira Minard built a log house on the farm afterward owned by John H. Ferson. Calvin Ward came with his family from Massachusetts in 1835. Albert Howard and Rice Fay took up a claim in the fall of 1834. In the summer of 1834 Friend Mark, of New York, settled on land afterward owned by Mr. Kimble and built a cabin. Walter Wilson, William Arnold and Alexander Laughlin came about the same time.
In the fall of 1834 a considerable number of settlers arrived from New Brunswick, among whom were Mrs. Moses Young, Stephen Young, Joel Young, D. C. Young, Jerusha Young (who afterward became Mrs. J. T. Wheeler), Samuel Young, Robert Moody and J. T. Wheeler. Gideon Young came in 1835. Archibald Moody arrived in 1836, and John Kittridge, of Manchester, New Hampshire, in the summer of 1834. A settler named Crandall claimed part of the land on which the city of St. Charles now stands, and built a log house in the spring of 1834. This claim, together with about forty acres in the Little Woods, he sold to James Herrington, of Geneva. Melvin Marsh came in 1834 and settled on what became the Foley farm. He sold out to Martin Switzer, who came from Canada in 1838. T. E. Crossman, from New York state, came about the same time. Timothy Adams Wheeler, from Cavendish, Vermont, arrived in the fall of 1834, but returned to Vermont owing to an injury he received, but afterward came back to St. Charles and died here. His brother, Amos R. Wheeler, came in 1835.
Other settlers of 1835 were Solomon Dunham and his son-in-law, Mark W. Fletcher (afterward a prominent politician in the county) ; Joseph Pein- berton and Nathan Perry. The claim of Solomon Dunham has since expanded into the fine Dunham stock farm near Wayne, which comprises over one thousand two hundred acres of land. Miss Alzira Garton died in the fall of 1835 and was buried at Brown Grove. This was the first death in the settle- ment.
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The first marriages were those of James T. Wheeler and Jerusha Young, January 15. 1835. and Dean Ferson and Prudence Ward, at St. Charles, which was then called Charlestown, September 14, 1836. Charles B. Gray came in 1835, as did also Thomas Stewart.
The earliest minister of the gospel was Rev. John Clark, a Methodist, who was a missionary to the Indians as early as 1833. In 1837 he moved to the Fox river valley and located on a farm afterward owned by C. B. Dodson, between Geneva and Batavia. The first blacksmith who settled in the town- ship was Daniel Marvin, who came in 1835. Ephraim and O. W. Perkins came in 1835 from New Hampshire ; also William Tyler and his son, Ira D., from Cayuga county, New York. James Mead in 1840 erected a tavern known as the "Western Enterprise."
Among the settlers of 1836 were Timothy Baker, John Glos, of Germany. W. D. Baird. Leonard and David Howard, Zebina Brown, George Parker and John Andrus, from Buffalo. O. C. Baird put up part of the St. Charles Hotel in 1837. James T. Durant and Bryant Durant settled here in 1836. They were from Ware, Massachusetts. N. H. Dearborn came from Ply- mouth, New Hampshire, in 1836, and built the first frame dwelling in what is now St. Charles in the summer of that year. Dr. T. P. Whipple came from New York in 1836, as did Dr. Nathan Collins, from New Hampshire; Horace Bancroft, of Vermont: James Bancroft, Asa Haseltine, of Rocking- ham, Vermont, and Volentine Randall, of Washington county, New York, who is said to have built the first frame building on the west side of the river on the southeast corner of Main and Third streets; Joseph T. Sibley, who married a sister of Leonard Howard; Major W. G. Conklin and his brother, Smith Conklin, from Cattaraugus county, New York, and Major D. B. Hunt, from Boston, Massachusetts.
The earliest manufactories were the sawmill, erected in 1836; Locke's wool-carding and cloth-dressing mill in 1837; John Penney brick-making, 1838; Daniel Marvin, blacksmith shop, 1835; the making of spinning wheels and farm rakes, before 1840. A cooperative creamery was organized and a large factory erected in 1852; butter and cheese making started about 1867; foundry business was started about 1842, gradually growing to large propor- tions. The file factory, which still continues to do business, was organized by a stock company about 1878. The manufacture of paper commenced in 1841 and by 1866 was doing a large business with a capital of $100,000 and em- ploying nearly one hundred hands. The great fire of February 5. 1866. destroyed the mill, which was not rebuilt. In 1840 three stores of brick and stone were erected on East Main street and what was then known as the Mansion House on the west side. The first store was opened in a frame building two stories high, erected in the spring of 1836 by Minard, Ferson & Hunt, on the ground now occupied by Wilcox's grocery store. In 1842 W. C. Irwin and Elisha Freeman built two stores on the west side of the river. One of the earliest mercantile establishments occupied the old frame building on the corner of East Main and Second streets. The firm was R. V. M. Croes and a man named Brownlee. In 1844-45 there were engaged on the east side of the river the firms of C. A. Brooks, Wait & Dole, Stevens & Green,
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David Strader and B. T. Hunt; on the west side were E. Freeman, L. M. Blaisdell & Co., Thomas & Howard, John F. Wright and M. F. Burdge. W. J. Conklin and others were running a mill on the west side at that time, and Bundy & Evans were operating the old east side sawmill.
The first postoffice was established in 1837, with Horace Bancroft as postmaster and Calvin Ward, mail carrier.
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