History of Kane County, Ill. Volume I, Part 75

Author: Joslyn, R. Waite (Rodolphus Waite), b. 1866
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : The Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1292


USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume I > Part 75


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The first bank, the Kane County Bank, was established April 1, 1882, by Parker & Backus. C. H. Backus became sole proprietor in January, 1885. The Commercial Hotel was built in 1875 by Daniel Berry. It was later owned by C. H. Parks and known as the "Park's House."


SUGAR GROVE TOWNSHIP.


Sugar Grove was settled by parties who came in May. 1834, and found an Indian encampment near the Grove. They were James, Isaac C. and Parmeno Isbell. James Carman, a Mr. Bishop and Asa McDole. All but McDole were from Wood county, Ohio. William O. Tanner arrived in 1835 and staked a claim on the northeast corner of the township. Rodney McDole and Theophilus Wilson came in 1836; John Harkinson about 1835; Joseph Ingham in the fall of that year. C. H. Snow was an early settler from New Hampshire. S. S. Ingham came from Oneida county. New York, in 1839.


In 1836 came Silas Reynolds, from Sullivan county, New York: Silas Gardner, Samuel Cogswell, Joseph Bishop, Samuel Taylor, Silas Leonard, Isaac Gates, N. H. Palmer and Lorin Inman ; Jonathan Gardner, James Judd, H. B. Densmore, Ira H. Fitch came in 1837, as did Ezekiel Mighell, from Rutland county, Vermont, who afterward moved to Aurora ; also P. Y. Bliss, Reuben Johnson, J. H. Fitch, Captain Jones and the Austin family.


The first death was a child of James Carman, in 1835. Asa MIcDole died in 1839.


The first marriage was that of Dr. N. H. Palmer and Miranda Isbell, in 1835.


The first birth was that of Charlotte Isbell, August 19, 1835.


Robert Atkinson opened a tavern on the old Chicago and Dixon road in 1836. A postoffice was established in 1840 at the home of Thomas Slater, first postmaster.


The first frame house was that of P. Y. Bliss, built by "Boss Read" in 1838. Religions service was held there by "Father" Clark before it was completed. Mr. Bliss opened a store in the building June 1, 1839, and for years drew trade from as far north as Dundee.


The first public library was organized in 1843 by a number of farmers. The books were first kept in S. G. Paull's house, on section 16, and was known as the Farmers' Library. In 1851 it contained two hundred and sixty-four books and it is believed was the first of its kind in the county. The early trustees were Nathaniel Austin, E. D. Terry, J. L. Adams, Luke Nichols and William Tanner.


The first brick house in the township was built by Silas Reynolds, in 1846.


860


KANE COUNTY IHISTORY


The first town meeting was held August 2, 1850, at the house of S. G. Paull. The following officers were chosen: Supervisor, E. D. Terry; clerk. Henry Nichols ; assessor, S. S. Ingham; overseer of the poor. Ezekiel Mighell; justices of the peace. Ira Fitch. William Thompson; constables, Charles Abbott. I. J. Sanford: collector, Ira Fitch. The number of votes were one hundred and two.


The Center schoolhouse was built in 1848 and town hall the same year.


The first church was erected in 1855 at Jericho, costing two thousand five hundred dollars, and was known as the Mount Prospect Free Mission church.


A cheese factory was built in 1866 by Joseph Ingham and J. B. Paull. Other factories have been since erected until Sugar Grove now contributes largely to maintain the reputation of the Fox River valley as the dairy district of the world.


The township is crossed by one railroad, which was originally the Chicago & Iowa, but is now the C., B. & Q. Ry.


The village was platted in 1876.


VIRGIL TOWNSHIP.


Virgil, on the extreme west of the county, was settled a year or two later than the river townships. The first settler was Luther Merrill from New Hampshire, who came in 1836, and laid claim to all the land included in the thirty-six sections that now include Virgil township. A large part of it was swamp and shallow lakes at that time. For a time every settler had to buy of Merrill, but they soon came in so fast that he was unable to keep them off, and he gave up the idea of holding the entire county. Milton Thornton came in early, as did John B. Moore, Daniel Mckinley. William H. Robinson. Joseph Gray, Joshua Read. Daniel Smith, Lyman German, Charles Jackson, Harrison Chambers, Henry Krows ( 1840). Until 1840 most of the pioneers came from New York state.


The first frame house was built by Luther Merrill in 1840. It is said to have contained not one foot of sawed lumber. the timber being split and snoothed into boards with the ax and broad ax. When it was finished Merrill is said to have given a grand housewarming to the settlers, who danced to the tune of the first fiddle heard in that end of the world.


In the same house occurred the first wedding-that of Orson Kendall and Maria Read. who were married by Squire West of Blackberry. The first child born in the township was a daughter of Seth Merrill.


The first schoolhouse was built on section 24 in 1839. Simeon Bean taught the first school in 1839-40. The school district was organized in 1841. William H. Robinson, Daniel Smith and John Scott being elected trustees. There were four districts and ninety-five school children.


A tavern was opened in 1840 on section 17, and in 1844 Mrs. Groves opened a small store near the tavern.


861


KANE COUNTY HISTORY


A postoffice named Collamer was established in 1849, about a mile north of Maple Grove, with Milton Thornton in charge. It was discontinued in 1 860.


The first blacksmith was Joseph Jenkins, who began business in 1845.


The building of the Chicago & Galena railroad through the township in 1853 was the beginning of the now thriving and prosperous village of Maple Park, which was platted in March, 1854, by Loren Heath and Zachariah Hathorn. It was at first known as Lodi, which name was changed to Maple Park in 1879 or 1880. Heath and Hathorn built a store, which was the first building in the place. James Haines built a house, which became a tavern, and Mr. Watson a store. O. S. and F. T. Miner put up a blacksmith shop in 1854, and B. W. Lyon a store in 1855. Within eighteen months after the village was laid out it had a population of over four hundred, and it has since then continued to grow until now a beautiful village of over one thousand peo- ple as industrious and intelligent as may be found anywhere fill the once sweep- ing prairie with modern stores, hotels and factories. Mr. Milton J. Beverly. the present probate clerk, is from this enterprising little city.


LODI ( Maple Park).


We, the president and secretary of the meeting called and held on this thirteenth day of August, A. D. 1850. to see if the legal voters of the village of Lodi, Kane county, will vote to incorporate themselves into a town accord- ing to the statute, do hereby certify that the vote was as follows:


Twenty-eight votes in favor of incorporating the town of Lodi.


Thirteen votes against incorporating the same.


JOHN MARTHON, Secretary.


JOHN W. JENKINS, President.


STATE OF ILLINOIS SS


KANE COUNTY


Personally appeared this 26th day of November, 1855, John W. Jenkins. John Hathron, Lorin Heath, William Moore and James Hains, elected and qualified as trustees of the incorporated town of Lodi, Kane county, Illinois, and made oath to deposit in the commissioner's court of the county of Kane the above written statement of the polls and to discharge of all the duties of their office according to the best of their abilities.


Before me


DAVID HIGGINS, JR., Notary Public.


(Seal. )


RUTLAND TOWNSHIP.


The township of Rutland was named after Rutland, Vermont, by E. R. Starks, who arrived in the township in 1835, and was the first settler. He came from Rutland. Vermont. At that time the township was uninhabited except for a few Indians. Starks spent the winter at Naperville, but returned to his claim the next spring. He was soon after joined by Elijah Rich, who took up a claim adjoining his. The two men built a log cabin for Starks. which was the first ever erected in the township, and there kept house. They lived there during the summer. The next year. 1836. Mr. Rich sent for his family, with whom he lived on his claim until his death in 1871.


Nathaniel Crampton came in 1836, and Noble King about the same time.


KANE COUNTY HISTORY


They boarded with Starks and Rich when they first arrived. In 1838 Andrew McCornack arrived with his family. He died in 1875 at the age of ninety years. In 1838 William Moore and William Lynch, who were brothers-in- law, located in the western part of the township. A man named Seymour was living near there at that time. Francis and Straw Pingree came in the fall of 1837, and in the spring of 1838 Andrew and Daniel Pingree arrived. The grove near their settlement acquired the name "Pingree Grove," and has since been known by that name. A considerable village has grown up there in the last thirty years. Andrew Pingree was a minister of the gospel, and a native of New Hampshire. In 1838 there were but three cabins along the road. John Hunter was a native of Ireland and came to America in 1832 and settled in Rutland township in 1842. He was an enthusiastic republican and a leader of the strong Irish Presbyterian sentiment in the township.


A postoffice named Deerfield was established about two miles west of Pingree Grove in 1838. Pingree Grove postoffice was established in 1848. A postoffice was established at Rutland (now known as Gilberts ) in 1852.


The first physician in the township was Dr. Mckay. Mrs. Hannah Rich died in 1838, which was the first death in the settlement. Adelia. daughter of E. Rich, was the first child born in the township; and the first marriage was that of Lewis Bandal and Miss Brady, who were married in 1839, by Elijah Rich, the first justice of the peace.


The Chicago & Galena stage route ran directly through the township, and the feeding and housing of travelers were the chief sources of such small amounts of cash as the settlers obtained.


A log schoolhouse was built in the southwest part of the township in 1840, but owing to the scarcity of children school was never taught in the building ; but it was often used as a meeting house and for other purposes. Francis King. John L. Rowe and John Flynn were elected trustees at the house of Robert Eakin in 1842. In 1848 S. B. Eakin, Alexander McCornack and Daniel Duff were elected school trustees, by whose report it appears that in 1849 there were eight school districts and a total of three hundred and eighty-four pupils: in 1850 there were four hundred and fifty pupils. By 1855 the districts had increased to eleven, and the school children numbered six hundred and nineteen.


The first church in Rutland township was erected by the Catholics, which was completed in 1855. The building stands on ground that was given to the church by Andrew Pingree. The first building was about two miles west of Gilberts at the old Catholic burying ground. The first priest in charge was Rev. John Guigin, a Frenchman. He was succeeded by Rev. Scanlon. Father Gallaher was in charge for many years.


Gilbert Station was laid out and platted by Andrew Pingree and Elijalı Wilcox in 1855. John Kelley acted as express agent and postmaster. He was afterward county sheriff. The first postmaster was John Mann, who was succeeded in the office by John McGraw, Nicholas Freeman and John Martin.


The village of Pingree Grove was platted and laid out by Daniel and Han- nah Pingree in 1882, and is now a village of five hundred or six hundred inhabitants.


CONTENTS


Chapter 1 Introductory 5


Chapter II The Ancestors of the Pioneers 19


Chapter III How the Pioneers Came. 29


Chapter IV What the Pioneers Found. 38


Chapter V


What the Pioneers Brought With Them 53


Chapter VI


What the Pioneers Did and How They Lived


54


Chapter VII


Letters of James C. Hanks 75


Chapter VIII


List of Early Families 113


Chapter LX


Beginnings Along Fox River 122


Chapter X Underground Railroad 129


Chapter XI The Resurrectionists 132


Chapter XII Banditti 138


Chapter XIII Geological 142


Chapter XIV


Internal Improvements 147


Chapter XV


Agricultural and Dairying Interests, Stock, Ete 161


Chapter XVI Religious and Educational. 165


Chapter XVII


Wars-Revolution 178


178


Rebellion 180


Spanish-American


429


Chapter XVIII Political


145


Chapter XIX Bench and Bar 450


Chapter XX The Press 502


Chapter XXI


Medical Profession 513


Chapter XXII Aurora 539


Chapter XXIII


Elgin 662


Chapter XXIV


Towns and Townships 816


Geneva 816


Geneva Township 820


Batavia 821


Batavia Township 823


St. Charles 824


South Elgin 834


863


Mexican


864


CONTENTS


Dundee S35


Carpentersville


837


Dundee Township 841


Elburn 847


Blackberry Township


847


Plato Township


849


Kaneville Township


851


Campton Township


852


Big Rock Township. 854


Burlington Township 855


Hampshire Township


SỐ7


Sugar Grove Township. 859


Virgil Township 860


Rutland Township


861


ILLUSTRATIONS


Broadway Looking North in an Early Day-Aurora 549


The Island in an Early Day-Aurora. 213


Looking up Fox Street Hill-Aurora-About 1868 655


City Hall-Aurora 541


West Aurora and Part of the Island About 1868. 635


Birdseye View of the Southern Part of West AAurora 507


Old Stone Schoolhouse-West Aurora 591


East Aurora High School. 599


West Aurora High School . 599


Aurora North from Hotel Arthur 565


East Bridge-Aurora-Erected in 1885. 565


Old C., B. & Q. R. R. Bridge-Aurora 531


North End of Stolps Island and West Aurora in 1852


41


Looking up River from Stolps Island About 1860 321


Stolps Island Looking East-1866. 557


Stolps Island-Aurora-From Fox Street Hill-1867 583


View Looking North from Near Fox Street-Aurora-About 1853 133


Looking up North Broadway-Aurora-About 1855 71


Flood, Aurora, 1857 575


Flood of 1857, Aurora. Showing South End of Stolps Island. 159


First Congregational Church and Centre Schoolhouse-Aurora 645


Old First Baptist Church-Aurora-Built in 1852 645


Universalist Church-Aurora-Erected in 1864. 607


Memorial Building-Aurora-Erected in 1877 625


Aurora Public Library, Erected in 1902.


615


Bridge Across Fox River That Was Floated Down Stream in the Flood of 1857 103


Downer's Place in an Early Day-Aurora.


103


Old Ladies' Home-Aurora -- Opened in 1903. 615


Broadway-Aurora-Looking South About 1868, Jennings Seminary in the Distance 625


Birdseye View, Aurora, from the Steeple of the First M. E. Church. 575


The Makers of Elgin 663


The Makers of Elgin 671


First Universalist Church-Elgin-Erected in 1865. 417


Presbyterian Church-Elgin 167


St. Joseph's Church-Elgin 193


First M. E. Church-Elgin 297


865


S66


ILLUSTRATIONS


First Congregational Church-Elgin 787


Universalist Church-Elgin 7.87


Grace M. E. Church-Elgin 793


Episcopal Church-Elgin 375


St. Mary's Church-Elgin 375


First Baptist Church-Elgin-in 1871 801


Highland Avenue Brethren Church-Elgin. 443


German Evangelical Church-Elgin 403


Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church-Elgin


403


Bethlehem Swedish Lutheran Church-Elgin


478


Old Baptist School-Elgin.


175


Elgin Seminary


167


Old High School-Elgin-Built in 1857


753


Elgin Academy


761


Abby C. Wing School-Elgin 761


Old Brick School. Dedicated in January. 1848 175


High School-Elgin 753


Lincoln School-Elgin 769


Franklin School-Elgin


769


Washington School-Elgin


417


St. Mary's Academy-Elgin


233


Elgin in 1835


87


City of Elgin


17


Fountain Square-Elgin-in 1870 253


Fountain Square-Elgin-in 1907 719


Fountain Square Showing Old Union Hall.


719


Decoration Day. Fountain Square-Elgin-in the '70s


687


Speech Making at Fountain Square. July 4th. About War Time


687


Fountain Square Looking North in 1860


333


Fountain Square Showing Fountain. 431


Residence of John W. Marshall 337


65


Peck's Store on Site of Old City Hall-Elgin. 139


Interior of Old Du Bois Opera House, Burned in 1886-Elgin 285


Ruins of Old Du Bois Opera House. Burned in 1886- Elgin 523


Chicago Street About 1866. Looking West from Fountain Square 117


Old Waverly House-Elgin . 145


The Old Mill That Formerly Stood on the Site of Borden's Factory 145


City Hall-Elgin 781


Northern Insane Asylum About 1870 781


Old City Hotel-Elgin 695


Postoffice-Elgin


Gail Borden Public Library-Elgin


Grove Avenne-Elgin-Looking North About 1870 493


Old Fording Place Used Before Bridge Was Built-Elgin


ILLUSTRATIONS


867


Chicago Street Looking East, 1860 727


West Elgin About 1860, Looking Northward from the Bridge. 389


River Street-Elgin-About 1860 735


East Side of Douglas Avenue-Elgin-About 1860 735


First Iron Bridge-Elgin 273


West Elgin from Chicago Street Bridge, About 1870


273


Old Wooden Bridge, Chicago Street-Elgin


125


View of Elgin, East Side, 1866.


243


Business District, West Elgin, 1866 203


View of Elgin Business District in 1866 203


West Bank of Fox River, Camping Scene North of Elgin 183


Fox River Near Trout Park, North of Elgin. 183


View from Bridge North, Elgin 1866. 309


View of East Elgin, Showing Academy, 1866 309


First Iron Bridge, Elgin, Built in 1866 347


View of Elgin, East Side, 1866 243


Snow Fall in the '80s. 711


Snow Banks on Douglas Avenue in the '80s 361


Snow Storm in 1870. 711 223


Bridge at Chicago Street Elgin.


Location of James T. Gifford's Log Cabin. the Second Built in Elgin


95


Park-Elgiu-About 1860


223


Villa Street-Elgin 95


Douglas Avenue-Elgin-in the '90.s. 361


"Old Octagon," for Years the Chief Boarding House of Elgin . 747


Chicago Street-Elgin-About 1860. 727


View Showing First Building of Elgin Watch Works, Taken in 1866 347


Elgin National Watch Works in 1868 741


Elgin Watch Works Completed in 1907 741


Noon at Watch Factory-Elgin. 431


D. C. Cook Publishing Company-Elgin 809


Old People's Home-Elgin. 809


Group of Elgin Pioneers, 1866 57


Members of G. A. R .- Elgin-Taken May 30, 1908


679


Kane County Courthouse. 25


Remains of a Log Cabin Still Standing West of St. Charles


The Pioneer 151


Judgment of a "Claim Jumpers Committee" 03


Front and Back of a Letter Received in 1835 by B. Hanks, Postmaster. . 79


Below the Dam Carpentersville, Abont 1875 263


Old Library Hall-Carpentersville 839


New Library Hall-Carpentersville .. 839


Illinois Iron & Bolt Company's Buildings. About 1875 845


11


Old Bridge Across Fox River


125


868


ILLUSTRATIONS


Illinois Iron & Bolt Company-Carpentersville $45


The Only City Clerks Elgin Has Ever Had 703


Gymnasium-Illinois Home for Boys-St. Charles 831


State Home for Boys, St. Charles 825


Office Building of Boys' Home 831


Illinois State Industrial School for Girl. Geneva.


617


Library Building-Geneva


S17


Judge Berry's Office-St. Charles, 1855


825


Kane County's First Courthouse


33


Kane County's Second Courthouse


33


Kane County's Third Courthouse 49


49


Kane County's Fourth Courthouse


Early Kane County Judges and Lawyers


451


Early Kane County Judges and Lawyers. 465


OUND BY


UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 977 323378H C001 V001 HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY, ILL. CHGO


3 0112 025387397




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