USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume I > Part 72
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The most serious publie disturbance that occurred in St. Charles in the early days was the Richards' riot, which is spoken of more in detail in the general county history under the chapter of Resurrectionists.
One of the remembered occasions of early days was the duplicate cele- bration of the 4th of July. 1846. The whigs and democrats united in a national celebration on the east side of the river, and the abolitionists, under the lead of John Farnsworth, Calvin Ward and others, had a celebration on the west side. The east siders procured two cannon which were placed side by side on the hill. At the foot of the hill an oven was built to do cooking for the crowd. The abolitionists borrowed a large tent capable of holding one thousand people, which they set up on the west side ; dishes were procured in St. Charles, Elgin and other places and preparations made for a great cele- bration. Eminent speakers were secured, enthusiasm was very great, and the town was filled with many people who came from many miles around. Everything went well until about two p. m., when a sudden thunder storm and a furious wind arose. The big tent, which was filled with people, was torn from its fastenings and collapsed, leaving the people to erawl from under as best they could. They fled in all directions, wading through the deep water which filled the gutters. A number were seriously injured but no one killed. The storm effectually broke up both celebrations.
St. Charles enjoys the distinction of having furnished, or at least having been the place of enrollment, for the only company furnished by Kane county to the Mexican war.
The first attempt to establish a bank was made by Elisha Freeman about 1853, when he opened a small office on West Main street. The village or- ganized under a city charter April 22, 1875. Dr. J. K. Lewis was the first mayor; T. W. Edmunds, first city clerk ; first treasurer was S. B Huls, and the first city attorney was Frank McMasters. The aldermen were Charles Chovin, E. A. Brownell, F. L. Alexander, A. W. Kelley, T. L. Ryan and John F. Elliott.
In late years the location of the Cable Piano Company at St. Charles and the establishment of other industries have given the place a new impetus. It is one of the best located eities in the county and has one of the best water powers. If present indications go for anything it will, in the not far distant future, be one of the industrial and manufacturing points of the Fox river valley.
The first school taught in St. Charles was opened in the fall of 1835. in a log house. It was taught by Prudence Ward. afterward Mrs. Dean Ferson. The first building erected for school purposes within the city limits was built of boards and slabs in the fall of 1836. In 1837 a frame school building was erected by Thomas E. Dodge, contractor. Among the early
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teachers was Arethusa Fisk, who taught in 1837. James T. Wheeler taught there between 1837 and 1842. Until about 1853 all the schools were private or select, each pupil paying a certain sum by the week or term. After that year the public-school system went into operation and select schools became things of the past.
The earliest church organizations were the Congregationalists, Meth- odists and Universalists. The Congregationalist being organized by Rev. N. C. Clark in 1837. Services were for a time held in private residences and school houses. A church was erected in 1842 on the corner of West Third and Walnut streets. The Methodist Episcopal society erected a stone church at an early day which was enlarged in 1852. The Universalists organized prior to 1840 and erected a building in 1842; this being the first belonging to that denomination in the state. The Baptist society organized previous to 1850, and built a church about 1851. Rev. Niles Kinney and Rev. David Matlock were early ministers. The Catholics have held services in St. Charles since 1840, and erected a church in 1852 which has been enlarged and improved at various times. Swedish Lutherans. Free Methodists. Epis- copalians, African Methodists and Spiritualists have at various times organ- ized societies.
ST. PATRICK'S CHURCHI-St. Charles. 1851.
Nearly seventy years ago. in 1840 or 41. the pioneer Catholics of St. Charles met for divine worship at the homes of John Barry ( where the Mose- dale house now stands), John O'Connor (the old Jennings home). M. Flan- nery's, and several others. Mass was celebrated by Fathers Doyle and Feely. priests sent from Chicago to attend the Catholic settlers of Elgin. In 18.45 Rev. William Feely was appointed first resident pastor at Elgin, and from that date to 1853 he attended the Catholics of St. Charles, usually once a month. In 1851, under the direction of Father Feely. the present church was built by James O'Connor, assisted by his brothers Patrick and Dennis Long. James O'Connor had built a Catholic church in Ottawa in 1848, and modeled St. Patrick's after it. The land for the church had been generously donated by Mr. Darwin Millington.
The church is located on West Fourth and Cedar streets. St. Patrick's was completed and dedicated in 1852 by Bishop Van De Vilde, second bishop of Chicago. About 1853 Rev. Patrick O'Dwyer was made first resident pastor. He remained until 1860. Father O'Dwyer had a wide field of labor, attending to the Catholics of Elburn and West Chicago ( then Turner Junction). mem- bers of the fold in Batavia and Geneva attending the church in this city. For many years at that early date the Catholic congregation was large and pros- perous. But when we of this day and age remember the many sacrifices made, privations endured and difficulties surmounted, our hearts are filled with affection and gratitude and we must admire the fortitude and zeal of the pioneer priest and layman. Following are the names of a few of the first Catholic settlers, descendants of whom largely constitute the present congrega- tion : John Barry. John O'Connor. Dennis Long, M. and P. Flannery, Patrick
GYMNASIUM, BOYS' HOME. ST. CHARLES.
KE
OFFICE BUILDINGS. BOYS' HOME, ST. CHARLES.
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Joyce, Cornelius Reid, Hugh McClone, Patrick Muraine, Thomas Roche, Peter Turbet, T. Ryan, John Sheehan, M. O'Kane, M. Shearin, Dennis McAuley, William Bayleson, Thomas McCabe, Thomas Ilalpin, Barney Cas- sidy, Thomas Doyle, Felix McFarlane, Patrick Jennings, P. Garrity, Thomas Collins, William Doherty, Thomas Murphy and brother, M. Murphy ; P. Fay, Michael Murphy, Patrick Pillan, M. Lawler, P. Moran, Mrs. Kerwin, P. and D. O'Malley, John Kelly, M. Brennan, A. McNevin, B. Kennedy, M. Dillon, Thomas Foley, George Welch, Frank Lennartz, James Kavanaugh, John McCoy, M. Keating, and many others. The early settlers of Geneva (which city is still included in St. Patrick's parish ) were the Quinus, Landers, Wheel- ers, Clancys, Bowens, McGreens, Mastersons, Lawlers, Navins, and Mrs. Crotty: the Cannon, Hogan families coming later, also the Adamson and Joyce families. Among the members of the present day, residents of St. Charles, are the Keegans, Morgans, O'Brien, Daleys, Naughtens, Munhalls, Murphys, Schraders, McCluskeys, Devlins, Gartners, Rempes, and many others ; also a large number of foreigners representing nearly every nationality of continental Europe. Following is a list of the pastors of St. Patrick's church down to the present date. The dates here given are taken from the church register and are approximately correct. From 1840 to 1853, Fathers Doyle and Feely, visiting priests from Elgin; '53 to '60, Father James O'Dwyer ; '60 to '62, Father Murphy ; '62 to '63, Father McGivern: '63 to '64, Father O'Sullivan ; '64 to 65, Father Rigby ; '65 to '67, Father O'Neil; '67 to '70, Father Campbell; '70 to '75, Father M. Pendergast ; '75 to '77, Father O'Con- nor: '77 to '80, Father D. Spellman: '80 to '81, Father M. Zara; '81 to '83. Father Burch ; '83 to '86. Father Gaulet, Sr. : '86 to '90, Father John Madden : '90 to '97, Father A. Ganlet, Jr. ; '97 to 1905. Father M. Stack. This record brings us down to the present pastor, Rev. Timothy Ryan, who came to St. Patrick's in October, 1905.
Rev. Father Ryan was born in Tipperary, Ireland, April 21, 1864. and began his education in the national schools of that country. He prepared for the priesthood at All Hallows College, Dublin, and was ordained June 23. 1889, by Archbishop Walsh of Dublin, for the arch-diocese of Chicago. Father Ryan was assigned to St. Cecelia's church, Chicago, as assistant pastor for thirteen years. In 1902 he was appointed pastor of the Catholic church at Harmon, Illinois, and remained at that place until coming to St. Charles, in 1905. In his three years' pastorate many improvements have been made.
The interior of the church has been redecorated in the most artistic manner, electric lights, new carpets, new doors, until dear old St. Patrick's looks like a new church ; and the spiritual needs of his people have never been lost sight of.
Through his efforts has been established Mt. St. Mary's Academy under the supervision of the Dominican Sisters of New York. This institution of learning was opened in September, 1907, and was one of the happiest events for the Catholic education in this parish and in the whole community, and will prove a powerful auxiliary in promoting the spiritual good of the parish and a lasting monument to the zeal and energy of the pastor, Rev. Father Ryan, respected and esteemed by all who know him.
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SOUTH ELGIN.
In 1870 it was written : "The village of South Elgin ( formerly Clin- tonville) is well situated on both sides of Fox river about thirty-nine miles from Chicago by railroad and three miles south of the city of Elgin. It is in the township of Elgin.
"The first settlers were Joseph P. Corron, Truman Gilbert, Dr. Joseph Gefft and Dr. Nathan Collins. Mr. Corron located himself about three-quar- ters of a mile east of the river on the property where he now lives. He arrived in the spring of 1835.
"Messrs. Gilbert, Tefft and Collins came in the fall or winter of 1835-6. Gilbert and Tefft both built log cabins near where the sheds of the Ballantine distillery now stand, and Dr. Collins built one on the west side of the river. Dr. Collins afterward located in St. Charles, where he died a few years after his removal from Clintonville. The village was laid out on the east side by Truman Gilbert about the year 1849. and on the west side by Dr. Joseph Tefft and B. W. Raymond, the same year, or soon after. Additions have been by T. Gilbert and the heirs of Dr. Collins, a son of the latter being at present a practicing physician of the place. Joseph P. Corron also laid out an addition to the east side in May. 1855.
"The first dam was started by Gilbert and Tefft in the fall of 1836. It was left unfinished through the winter, and the flood of the next spring ( 1837) carried it away. Gilbert and Collins built the second dam ( now standing ) about 1838. A sawmill was built on the east side, the same year.
"The first school building was a small frame one which stood on the lot or near where the present east schoolhouse stands. It was built about 1850. and was used also for religious meetings. The present school buildings were erected about the year 1858.
"There was a Methodist Episcopal society organized here at an early day, but they never were strong enough to erect a house of worship. The Free Methodists erected a church in 1860.
"The Galena & Chicago U. R. Road. now the C. & N .- W. Ry .. reached this place late in the winter of 1849. from which time the village dates its growth.
"A large distillery was built near the railroad track by Nathan Williams in 1846 or 1847, and run by various parties for twelve or fifteen years, since which it has mostly remained idle.
"Two flouring mills were built about the same time, 1849 or 1850. The west mill by Hiram J. Brown, and the east one by G. M. Woodbury. Wood- bury built the distillery attached to the east mill about two years later. This distillery and mill passed through many hands with varying fortunes, but the distillery part has not been run for a number of years. Both the distilleries are now in litigation with no certain owners.
"Woodbury's flour mill is now run by Mr. T. H. Foster, who is doing mostly merchant work. It contains four run of stone and has a capacity of one hundred barrels of flour daily.
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"The west side flour mill is now owned by Mr. William Pauton, who purchased it in 1854. He has rebuilt it ( 1856-57), and it is now one of the best mills on the river. It contains four run of stone, and is at present doing mostly merchant work.
"A paper mill was built about 1852 by Dr. Erastus Tefft, or by some one whom he bought out. The property is at present owned by Mr. O. Davidson. of Elgin, and is operated under a lease by B. Hagelow & Co., who employ eleven hands and turn out two thousand five hundred pounds of paper daily. It is manufacturing roofing and siding felt exclusively.
"The tannery of Geahan & Hutchinson is doing quite an extensive busi- ness in the tanning of all descriptions of leather. wool-pulling, etc. It employs eight hands. This company commenced work in the city of Elgin, but re- moved to this place in 1870.
"The large iron foundry of Bosworth & Davidson is doing an extensive business in the manufacture of school furniture, mostly, a large proportion of which is shipped to St. Louis. It employs about twenty hands, and is doing a good business.
"The first bridge over the river at this point was built by subscription about 1850. This was washed away in 1857, and another took its place which remained until it was replaced by the present iron structure in 1868.
"The village has had rather a slow growth. the principal cause of which has been the location of distilleries in its midst and the uncertainty attending the distilling business.
"But a new prospect seems opening before it. Mr. O. Davidson has bought up a large share of the water power and nearly all the vacant land in the vicinity, and the intention, no doubt, is to establish, as soon as matters get into settled condition, permanent manufacturing interests. I. C. Bosworth is interested with Mr. Davidson in a portion of the water power. and these two gentlemen evidently intend business.
"The water power is ample and shipping facilities are good."
Since 1870 all these institutions have one by one disappeared and the buildings burned down. For years this place was a deserted village. It is aroused somewhat since the A. E. & C. Ry. was constructed.
DUNDEE.
The village of Dundee is finely located upon both banks of Fox river, forty-seven miles northwest by rail from Chicago, and five miles north of the city of Elgin. The place was first settled in 1834 by Joseph Russell and J. H. Newman. Russell built a log cabin on the east side of the river. in the south part of the town, and Newman built one on the bluff in the north part of the town, and west of the river. The village was surveyed and platted on the west side in 1836, by the Oatmans, Deweese and Shields. M. W. Fletcher. surveyor. The east side was laid out by Thomas Deweese some years later.
In 1835 large additions were made to the settlers. Among those arriving in this year were Parker, Ashbaugh, Welch, Smith, McClure. Deweese, Green, and others. In 1836 Thompson. Wilburn, the Perry family. Dempster,
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Bangs, Sutphin, Allison and the Oatman family were added. A dam and sawmill were built by the Oatmans in 1837.
The first postoffice was established in 1836, about one mile southeast of the present village of Dundee, at McClure's Grove, and General McClure was appointed postmaster. The first marriage in the place was that of Captain Jamison, of Chicago, and a daughter of General McClure; the first birth, a daughter of Dr. Parker; the first death, the aged father of Thomas Deweese, in 1835; the first settled physician, Dr. J. R. Goodnow, in 1836. The first religious discourse was given in the house of Jesse Oatman by Rev. J. E. Elmore, of St. Charles, in the fall of 1836. Mr. Elmore was a Baptist. He laid out the village of Asylum, in the township of St. Charles, where he re- sided for many years. The first school opened in Dundee was by Miss Amanda Cochran (now Mrs. Moses Wanser), in 1837. A bridge was built over the Fox river in 1838, where the present beautiful iron structure stands. The first store in the place was opened by J. & H. Oatman in the fall of 1836. Edwards and Bosworth succeeded them in 1838. A school building, 20 by 30 feet, was erected in 1839. It was used also for religious services, lyceums, etc. The present school buildings were erected, the west building of brick, in 1850, at a cost of about $1,300. Thomas H. Thompson was the contractor, and the east side building about 1856, at a cost of $800. An addition was built in 1864, costing about $400. The Congregationalists built a small frame building (still standing in the rear of the Baptist church) in 1840. Their present house, of brick, was erected in 1853, and cost about $8,000. The Baptist society built their first church in 1848. This was afterward sold to the Episcopalians, and a new and very fine frame building erected at an expense of $10.500 in 1864-65. The Methodist society built a cheap build- ing as early as 1844. The new one, a very substantial frame building, was built in 1856. The Episcopalians are occupying the brick church originally built by the Baptists. A German Lutheran society was organized and a church edifice erected in 1864. It is a neat and substantial building, of Dun- dee brick. The first hotel was opened by Hardin Oatman in 1837. Wanton Parker was the first justice and Seth Green the first constable-both elected in 1836. In 1840 the land came into market, and I. C. Bosworth was chosen by the settlers to bid off their claims and deed to them according to the claim lines. The first attempt at establishing a printing press was made by a Mr. Farnham about 1855, who published the Dundee Advocate for a short time. The Dundee Weekly was commenced by P. Swick about the year 1866. The Dundee Hawkeye now furnishes news to the people.
The manufactures of Dundee are not extensive, owing to the want of sufficient water power.
The largest manufacturing business of the village of Dundee is that of the Dundee Brick Company. It was started as early as 1852. The present company organized in 1867. They are employing about sixty hands and their annual sales amount to about three million brick. The clay from which the beautiful cream-colored brick is made is obtained in the high bluffs on the east side of the river. The deposit is an immense mass, some sixty
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feet in depth, and practically inexhaustible. The facilities for this important business are unsurpassed, and the demand almost unlimited.
This village has never been a rapid grower, but has continued steadily to advance, and has inany elements of prosperity. The surrounding country is especially adapted to the dairy business. Grazing is of the best description, and the country abounds in fine springs of pure water. The mercantile busi- ness is respectable, and the town is remarkable for thoroughgoing and liberal men.
CARPENTERSVILLE.
The village of Carpentersville is in the township of Dundee and situated one mile north of the village of Dundee, on Fox river. It was first settled by Daniel G. and Charles V. Carpenter in 1837. The village was surveyed and platted in 1851. The same year J. A. Carpenter built the first bridge across the river at his own expense. A school building was erected about 1855, two stories in height. The upper story is occupied by the Sons of Tem- perance, whose organization dates back to 1851 and, what is remarkable, has been in active operation ever since. They have about forty members and a fine library of four hundred or five hundred volumes. There is one religious organization (Congregational) but no church building. A flourishing Sab- batlı school is kept up, however. An elegant iron bridge was built in 1869-70 at a cost of $10,000. The village has grown up entirely in consequence of the location of heavy manufactories here. The water power is good and well improved. It is almost exclusively owned by Hon. J. A. Carpenter, one of the most extensive and enterprising manufacturers in the West.
Our sketch of the various manufactories, all of which are wholly, or in part owned by Mr. Carpenter, will show what a single mind can accomplish when governed by sound judgment and business enterprise. A dam was built in 1837 by the Oatmans, of Dundee, with the intention of taking the water down on the west side for use at the village of Dundee. A canal was con- structed and a sawmill built between the two villages and operated for some years, but the entire water power eventually fell into the hands of J. A. Car- penter, who commenced and continued developing the manufacturing business of Carpentersville until nearly the whole power is absorbed at that point. The remains of the Oatman canal are still to be seen, but its bed is dry.
The first building erected for manufacturing purposes was the Atlantic Flour Mills in 1845-6.
The Valley Woolen Mills were erected by Mr. Carpenter in 1866. The building is of Dundee brick, 45 by 50 feet, three stories.
But the principal establishment, and one of the largest and most com- plete in the West is, par excellence, the works of the Illinois Iron and Bolt Company. This and the woolen company are both incorporated. The nucleus around which has grown up the present mammoth business was a small reaper factory started by George Marshall about 1855, and continued for seven or eight years, when he took in two partners and ran it as a hardware manu- factory for about two years, at which time the present joint stock company was formed, the capital enlarged and the same business continued. In 1868
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J. A. Carpenter and A. Edwards, of Dundee, bought up a majority of the stock. An endless variety of work is done, the leading articles manufactured being thimble skeins, sad irons, pumps, copying presses, seat springs, garden or lawn vases, etc. The work produced is of the best description and much of it highly elaborate and ornamental. The goods are sold largely in Chicago, San Francisco, New Orleans, Utah. Louisville, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Pitts- burg, and mostly all the large cities, and the business is constantly increasing. A most beautiful variety of copying presses is made here, and this branch of the business alone is immense. The demand for the productions of this company has increased so rapidly that extensive additions to the works have been made from time to time. Altogether the establishment is one of the most complete in the country and a splendid monument of manufacturing enterprise.
An extensive deposit of peat is located east of Carpentersville. covering from 100 to 160 acres. Attempts have been made to work it, but from some cause have not been successful. The bed averages six feet in thickness, and it is believed that a good quality of fuel might be prepared.
The Carpentersville Literary and Library Association-This association was organized in March, 1871. the late Hon. Julius Angelo Carpenter. of Carpentersville, being the prime mover, he, at that time, being a member of the state legislature. The charter members were George Marshall. William W. Norton, W. G. Sawyer. H. G. Sawyer. William H. Webb. Delos Dunton, Oscar Diezman. George Robinson. George Plumleigh. John Donovan, Luther D. Wright and Swain Dahilbom. The reason for the non-appearance of Mr. Carpenter's name among the charter members is that he was at Springfield when the papers were made out. The three school districts, comprising the villages of East Dundee, West Dundee and Carpentersville, united and became one district about the year 1870 and a union school building was erected on the bluff in West Dundee about two years later. The district, as it was thought. having no further use for the old building at Carpentersville, which building, by the way, was owned and occupied jointly by the school district and a temperance organization known as "Hand in Hand Division Sons of Temperance No. 292," the interest of the school district was sold at auction to George Willard, of Dundee. and by him transferred to the L. & L. Asso- ciation. a subscription paper for the purpose having been successfully circulated, the association thereby becoming the owner of the lower room of said building. It very soon became apparent that the building was too small to accommodate the needs of the growing village. Expansion having been decided upon, the building was sawed asunder in the middle, one end moved several feet away and the gap enclosed as a part of the building. thus doubling its size.
In the purchase and enlarging of the structure an expense of about $1.400 was incurred which. was met and liquidated by subscriptions of money, mate- rial and labor, and funds were raised in giving entertainments by home talent and dancing parties, music for the latter being also supplied by home players. Sociables, festivals and lectures, managed and given by the ladies, earned no small portion of the sum required.
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