USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 12
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
Z. James McMaster, Surgeon, Dixon.
TWELFTH CAVALRY
Company A: (Reernits) Benjamin A. Gonld. AAlto: John Hart, Dixon : Edward C. MeClure, Alto.
Company G: ( Recruits ) Leonidas Kelly, Hamilton ( ?) : Rus- sell Reece, Hamilton ( ?) : Ed T. Stuart, Hamilton ( ?).
Company I: Amasa B. Crandall. Farrier. Dixon: William C. Jones, Dixon ; Charles Keech, Brooklyn: David Lester, Palmyra : William J. Moran, Brooklyn: Horace T. Plumb, Bradford ; Sam- nel S. Reed. Dixon: Franklin S. Shirk. Hamilton: George St. Clair. Dixon : Leonard Stumpf. Brooklyn : Mark Thomas. Dixon : Albert A. Van Gieson, Dixon: Charles R. White, Dixon.
I find in the Twelfth Consolidated Cavalry a Francis S. Shirk. of Dixon. It may or may not be above Franklin S. Shirk. I find also as a recruit in this regiment. an Edward L. Lathrop, of Dixon. who must be the surgeon in the Tenth.
Company H. Consolidated : Henry Richardson, 2d Lieut., Leo county: Jesse II. Doane, unassigned reernit. Amboy: Homer C. Stedman, Dixon: Lyman W. Booth. Dixon: Edward B. Warner (reernit), Dixon.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
Company M: John W. Cartright, Dixon; George Hardin, Dixon; Henry Richardson, Dixon; William Saylor, Dixon; Wil- liam H. Wade, Dixon ; George M. Williams, Sublette.
Unassigned Recruits: Arthur Bailey, Sublette; James H. Barrett, Dixon; Charles E. Burns, Dixon; George Burchel, An- boy; Dwight Burnham, Nelson; John JJ. Boyce, Dixon; W. J. Carpenter, Dixon; Hugh Colter, Brooklyn; Lewis Compton, Brooklyn; James Carmen, Brooklyn ; Morris T. Dunn, Sublette : Jolm W. Holtzman, Dixon: Edward Herrick, Dixon; George A. Kerr. Dixon.
FOURTEENTH CAVALRY
Company C: Joseph W. Clark, Sergt., Dixon; Alfred F. Young, Corp., Dixon ; James P. Breed, Dixon; Andrew E. Jones. Dixon : Eugene H. Levering, Dixon ; William Peeks, Dixon : John H. Richardson, Dixon: John Sifes, Dixon.
SIXTEENTH CAVALRY
Company K: Joseph E. Barber, reernit, Dixon.
SEVENTEENTH CAVALRY
Company K: Charles E. Burns, Dixon; Sammel S. Reed. Dixon : Geo. C. St. Clair, Dixon : Mark Thomas, Dixon.
Company L: William J. Carpenter transferred to this Com- pany, Dixon : Charles Keech, Brooklyn ; Leonard Stumpf, Brook- lyn: Hugh Catter, Brooklyn; Lewis Compton, Brooklyn. Three or four of these members came here by transfer, which makes a repetition of their names.
Company M: Arthur D. Bailey, 1st Sergt., Sublette; George G. Hardin, Wagoner, Dixon : James Carmon, Brooklyn ; John W. Holtzman, Dixon ; George A. Kerr, Dixon : Nattie C. Roe, Ashton ; William J. Moran, Brooklyn.
FIRST ARTILLERY
John T. Cheney, Major, Dixon.
Battery C: Guy W. Blanchard, Dixon; George S. Benton. Sublette: Julius A. Perkins, Sublette: Henry J. Shoemaker. Dixon: Jeremiah Swover, Nelson.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
Battery D: Henry C. Powers, 2d Lieut., Dixon; Lewis W. Jones, Corp., Wyoming; Theodore S. Jones, Wyoming; Eli Mead, Wyoming; Horace Melntyre, Wyoming; Amos A. Neal, Wyo- ming; JIenry R. Walton, Wyoming ( ?).
Recruits: Noah Beal, Dixon; Amanzel D. Burr, Dixon; George C. Ball, Dixon; Seth C. Bretton, Wyoming ; Benjamin W. Clapp, Dixon; William Steele, Dixon; Samuel Sepley, Dixon; George W. Tracy, Dixon ; Joshmia Wood. Dixon.
Battery F: This battery, "Cheney's," was discontinued and the veterans and recruits were assigned Feb. 22, 1865, to other batteries.
Josiah II. Burton, Capt., Dixon: Jefferson F. Whaley, 1st Lient., Brooklyn; Theodore W. Raub, 2d Lieut., Dixon; Robert Richey, 2d Lient., Brooklyn; John Q. Yates, 2d Lient., Dixon.
Sergeants: Edward O'Brien, Dixon : James M. Vesper, Dixon.
Privates: Frederick W. Bennett, Dixon ; Obadiah Berringer, Brooklyn; Lloyd Berringer, Brooklyn; Reuben Booth, Brook- lyn ; Henry C. Chappell, Brooklyn ; G. W. Christiance, Brooklyn; Benjamin Carey, Dixon ; George Carey, Dixon: Cornelius Chris- tiance, Brooklyn; Valentine Doctor, Brooklyn: Frederick E. Ful- Jer, Brooklyn : Ole Gunderson, Dixon ; Charles Hough, Brooklyn ; Henry Horn, Dixon ; John Haynes, Dixon; JJacob Hoffman, Pal- myra ; Frederick Holdren, Brooklyn; Charles Y. (or G.) Ken- nedy, Dixon : Michael Kearns, Dixon: Michael Karshner, Brook- lyn : Walter Little, Viola : Leander L. Leach, Dixon : Jeremiah Len- nihan, Dixon ; John H. Lyle, Dixon: James Lahey, Dixon; Jom Mann, Brooklyn ; Frank MeElroy, Brooklyn: John Nightlinger. Sublette; S. E. Parker, Brooklyn; Amos Rohrer, Dixon: John Reardon, Palmyra ; William Richardson, Dixon : Thomas Shelly, Brooklyn; Perry Stetler, China: Rush Schick, Palmyra; N. 11. Thompson, Dixon : James E. Taylor, Dixon: James Thomp- son, Palmyra: Earl A. White, Dixon: Addison Wagner, Dixon : Johnson Whaley, Brooklyn: Albert Youngs, Brooklyn. Re- eruits: Henry W. Ayres. Dixon; Frank Aird. Brooklyn: Calvin Burkett, Dixon: James Ball, Dixon: Daniel Bressie, Dixon ; Henry E. Brierton, Dixon: Benjamin Burr. Dixon: Syl- vamus Beadway, Dixon: William M. Black, Palmyra: John D. Boardman. Dixon: Franklin H. Babbitt, Dixon: Lionel C. Burr, Dixon : Charles W. Curtis, Dixon; Daniel Cobb, Viola: William H. Christiance, Brooklyn : Franklin Conway, Pahnyra : Homer H. Clink, Palmyra; John W. Deck, Palmyra: Laureston L. Deyo. Dixon : Eliphalet B. Edsom, Dixon ; Alfred Eyre, Pahyra : Wil-
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
liam Elwert, Dixon; Hervey Ferguson, Dixon; George W. Far- rell, Dixon; Samuel C. Fairchilds, Brooklyn; George W. Good- win, Dixon ; Alonzo D. Gage, Dixon; Henry Graff, Dixon; Justin Hollister, Dixon; John Hughes, Dixon; Hiram Hetler, Dixon; Theodore Johnson, Palmyra; German Knipper, Ashton; Edwin M. Keiser, Dixon; Andrew JJ. Loveless, Dixon; Thomas C. Little, Dixon ; Charles Lowe, Dixon; George R. Loveland, Dixon ; Joseph M. Loveless, Dixon; Jeremiah Mosteller, Dixon; Clark W. Moon, Dixon; Henry L. Peacock, Dixon; Shepard G. Patrick, Dixon; Franklin O. Pierce, Brooklyn; William C. Snyder, Dixon: Joh J. Snail, Dixon ; Adam Scheer, Dixon ; Henry W. Short, Palmyra ; Emery M. Santee, Dixon; William H. Seullen, Lee Center; Amos Sweet, Brooklyn; Edward Shelters, Dixon; William A. Stewart, Dixon.
FIRST BATTALION
John Tombow, Palmyra; Alexander Turner, Dixon; Van J. Thomas, Palmyra; William T. Wood, Dixon; Thomas Wade, Dixon.
It has been difficult to get these names, whole pages of the re- port have no addresses. For instance, George R. Loveland's ad- dress was blank. I am fearful, therefore, that some names have been omitted.
Battery G: William Hamilton, Amboy.
Battery I: Michael Welch, Dixon.
Unassigned Recruits: Frederick E. Fuller, Willow Creek ; John Jordan, Dixon: Simon P. Kuhn, Palmyra (?) ; Franklin Peterson, Dixon; Noah Thomas, Palmyra (?).
SECOND ARTILLERY
Battery F: Peter C. Brooks, Nelson ( ?).
Battery G: Charles Slate, Wyoming.
Recruits: Edgar M. Condit. Hamilton : George C. Cade, Ham- ilton ; Milton B. Dumton, Willow Creek ; Horace Kegwin, Hamil- ton ; Henry P. Landns. Reynolds; Jabez Landns, Willow Creek : Oscar F. McIntosh, Reynolds: Warren Pike. Hamilton: Hugh Scott, Viola: Frederick M. Tilden, Hamilton: Chabris Taylor, Alto ; William Tate, Hamilton : Encins C. Vroman. Willow Creek : Allen B. Warn, Amboy : Alonzo Webster, Viola.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
Battery K: William N. Henrie, Dixon. This man served three years in Company H, Forty-sixth Illinois Infantry. He came from Kane county. Here he enlisted as a veteran. In reality, he was not a Dixon man.
Battery L: Patrick Kerivan, Dixon.
Cogswell's Battery: John Allen, Wyoming; Horace Allen, Wyoming.
Henshaw's Battery: Michael L. Keryn, Dixon; Lawrence J. Millard, Marion; Barney McCoy, Amboy; Thomas O'Connor, Dixon ; Henry O'Neal, Amboy.
COLORED TROOPS
Company F: John Wahnslee, Sergeant, Dixon.
SIXTY-EIGHTH UNITED STATES COLORED INFANTRY
Isaac Waugh, Dixon.
FIRST UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS
Company Two: Frederick A. Snider, Dixon.
Company Three: Horace S. Tambling. Reynolds.
Company Fon: Jacob Hoffman, Palmyra (?); Solomon Shafer, Nelson.
Company Five: Philip Puterbangh. Viola ( ?) ; Abram Swart- wont, Sublette.
Company Six: George Christiance, Brooklyn : Parker L. Cass, Sublette: George Feidles, Brooklyn; Michael Keraus, Sublette ; Andrew Lind, Sublette.
Company Seven: Henry Henzer, Willow Creek.
Company Nine: George A. Seymour, Palmyra ( ?).
Company Ten: Edward A. Barnard, Lee Center : Henry Clay, Lee Center : Frank C. Lee, Lee Center : Henry J. Lee. Lee Center. Company Eleven: James H. Mannen, Ashton.
Company Twelve: Robert Kenney. Willow Creek.
RECRUITS FOR REGULAR ARMY-FOURTH UNITED STATES INFANTRY
James JJ. Ashley. Amboy.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
SEVENTEENTH UNITED STATES INFANTRY
David Abbott, Amboy; Charles A. Anderson or Andrews, Dixon; Reuben Blank, Amboy; Abraham Blank, Amboy; Fred- erick Bailey, Amboy; Maximon Bourdon, Amboy; Peter Black- burn, Amboy ; Robert Brown, Dixon; Douglas Cameron, Amboy ; John Cunningham, Amboy; Patrick Carey, Amboy; James K. P. Craig, Amboy ; Joseph Fulks, Amboy ; Stephen Fairman, Amboy; Henry H. Fritz, Amboy; Lorenzo B. Gardner, Amboy; Joseph Graham, Amboy; Stephen Z. Hartley, Amboy; Abram Hill, Am- boy ; M. W. Hollister (rejected, ill health), Amboy; Charles Hill, Amboy; Lorenzo B. Kiser, Amboy; Dudley P. Loomis, Amboy; William Lafity, Amboy; Charles A. Lambert, Amboy; Robert Livingston, Amboy ; Stephen Lee, Amboy ; Samuel Leonard, Am- boy ; Charles MeCristal, Amboy ; Patrick McGinnis, Amboy ; John Murphy, Amboy ; James H. Osgood, Amboy ; Stephen Osegh, Am- boy; James Potter, Amboy; Patrick Ross, Amboy; Andrew Schoonmaker, Amboy ; David Springer, Amboy ; Franklin Saylor, Amboy ; Davies Springer, Amboy ; John Sullivan, Dixon ; Patrick Tiernay, Amboy; Edward Thompson, Dixon; Patrick P. Ward, Amboy; George H. Wilson, Amboy ; William A. Whitehead, Am- boy ; Frank Wright, Amboy ; John C. Wagner, Dixon.
Vol. 1-9
CHAPTER VIII
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS IN LEE COUNTY
It was the policy of the Board of Public Works of Illinois, to build the proposed great north and south railroad in sections, here and there, in order to keep the various settlements in a tran- quil state of mind. Dixon's Ferry was given more than its due proportion, and instead of building from both sides of a stream as was the policy of the commissioners, in Lee, they built altogether from the south bank of Rock river, southward, and clear through the county to its southern boundary. That circumstance indicates to us of today the commanding position of Dixon's Ferry in Illinois affairs, although it contained but a house or two or three at the time. And it indicates also the commanding influence of John Dixon as a factor in the business and political affairs of Illinois.
When in 1837-8 and -9, these works were going forward, the engineers of the state occupied a building on First street as their headquarters. It has been mentioned once, but repetition here will not be uninteresting.
In 1835, James Wilson built a blacksmith shop of logs on First street, on the spot occupied by the present Dixon Telegraph build- ing and its neighboring building to the west. The building did not reach the corner. I would say the west wall of the Telegraph building would measure approximately the center of the old log building. In 1837 this building received a floor, and it was used to hold therein the only term of court held in what comprehended the territory of the old Ogle of Lee and Ogle counties.
This building, on the south side of the street, was perhaps twenty feet long, east and west. and when the grade was ent down to its present level. rather than pare down the entire lot even with
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
the street, as at present, a stone basement or ground floor story was built under the building to reach the street level, so that there- after the building became a two-story building. The upper one of logs was sided and in its altered form, it gave out the appearance of a very elaborate structure.
The appointment of John Dixon as a member for the Sixth Judicial District of the Board of Public Works, gave to Dixon's Ferry a still more commanding position.
Large quantities of stone, much of it dressed for proposed outside use in building piers and abutments in bridges over streams, including Rock river, were hauled into Lee county and deposited along the route of the proposed railroad and in Dixon a very large amount of material was left.
In reports for subsequent years, made by the commission, it is interesting to notice the orders made for the public sale at Dixon, of those materials. The grade made through Lee county began at the south bank of Rock river where Hennepin avenue intersects the same and ran southerly, crossing the south line of Lee not far east of the Dad Joe house. To this day it may be traced overland for every foot of its ancient course and so too may it be traced easily from the old first map of Lee county made in 1863 by Joseph Crawford and Jason C. Ayres.
Originally it was planned to have a wagon road run alongside its alignment on the northeasterly side, but with the abandonnent of the project, the grade was appropriated instead and was retained for many years. Between Dixon and the Northwestern right of way, it is used today as at first. Beginning at the junction of Hennepin avenue with the river the grade was designed to run south on the avenne to the library corner where it curved towards the east, passing through the jail block and the intervening blocks between that and Seventh street and Chicago road, just east of the Keyes residence. Here as a matter of fact, the actual grading began for its southward journey. Beyond the right of way of the Northwestern, it paralleled the present Chicago road until the Clarence Smith place is reached at the top of the hill, where it continued sontherly between the Smith house and the White Temple schoolhouse. A short distance further on it followed the Pern road. On the farm north of the county farm, the channel by the roadside is well defined still, and the right of way passed through the dooryard of the county farm, running not far west of Shelburne and the Joseph G. Hall farm; further south, it ran through Maytown by the diagonal road that passes the spot
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
occupied by the old Academy before its destruction. It is today a clean-cut trace, with the few exceptions where intervening ridges appear. No doubt these appear because when the various gangs working towards each other got orders to quit, their work had not met the work of the approaching gang. It may be interesting to know that Sterling made desperate efforts to secure the location of the Central road at that place. The counter petition which was presented by John Dixon is now owned by Edward H. Brewster and reads as follows:
To the Honorable, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Illinois,
Your petitioners-Citizens residing on Rock River and vicin- ity understanding that a petition has been or is about to be pre- sented to your Honorable body representing that the Central Rail Road or that part of the same from Rocky ford to Savannah crossing Rock River at Dixon is located on unfavourable ground, occasioning a longer and more expensive route &c &c .- to which we would respectfully protest-
And would add, that whatever may be the feelings of a few interested individuals at Sterling, we are of the opinion that that part of the Central Rail Road alluded to, has been judiciously located-answering both the interest of the finances of the State and that of a very large majority of the Citizens of the Rock River Country-
Authentic information on this Subject is in reach of your Honorable body, to which we would respectfully refer you. In the reports of the Engineers, duly appointed to examine and Survey Said Road, information will be found properly attested. And your petitioners have too much confidence in the good sense and judgment of our Legislature than to suppose the representa- tions of a few individuals should have much weight against all the evidence in your possession to the Contrary-
Praying that your honors will Consider said petition for what it is worth-Your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray T. D. Boardman
Smith Gilbraith Jos. Crawford Charles Edson D. C. Stevens
C. Brookner John Neumeyer Nelson Douglass R. B. Loveland Wm. Seaward
John Van Arnam
J. Campbell
Nelson Barnes
John G. Bellanger
Thomas McCabe
J. H. Page
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
Noble P. Bassett S. M. Bowman Oliver Everett Nathan Whitney Asa W. Stowell
Ab'm Cool G. B. Dills A. M. Braley Jos. Hartman
C. F. Ingals
J. S. Boardman C. A. Lane P. M. Alexander
John C. Oliver
Simon Fellows Alnıhı Moulton Samuel M. Fellows
James Power John Morgan Jacob Martin S. T. Martin Win. W. Tilton O. A. Hubbard
W. P. Burrough
Alanson Smith
T. H. Burroughs
Orin Skeel
C. W. McNaughton
E. Morgan
Geo. W. Chase
J. M. Hamilton E. S. Wing
Win. A. Fraser
E. W. Dutcher Thomas Dexter Michael Horner Zachariah Phillips J. D. MeComsey Harvey Wordle Isaac Griffeth William Kennedy William Lane
Stephen Fuller I. P. Mallock Alfred Cogswell Jas. MeKenney R. McKenney David Brown Ebenezer H. Johnson John A. Burton William Marsh
William Mackay D. B. McKenney Homer Preston John McKenney Frederick R. Dutcher
O. H. Chessman Henry Turrel Horace Benjamin
John Wilson
Jas. P. Dixon
F. A. Martin
Win. G. Frasier
Carlton Meliners
F. W. Coe
W. S. Coe Stern Mason
William Miers
Harvey Morgan
Isaac Morgan Wm. W. Beach I. T. Martin David Hill
Win. Martin
A. L. Porter M. Fellows
I. M. Johnson
Triton Swera
John Dexter John Montieth Edward Crosby J. T. Little C. D. Howard Daniel Reichwaz
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
Sam'l Nobling
John G. Peabody
Austin L. Bull
Nathaniel Browning
Gardner Robinson
E. W. Hine
Carter McCumsey
William Thompson
J. Tharp Lawrence, Jr.
F. C. Whitney
James Benjamin
Isaac Robinson
C. Brookner
Hiram Vanpatten
John W. Dixon
Peter McKenney
Jas. De Pui
J. B. Chatham Joshua Cameron
John Crosby
Elisha Crosby
J. B. Nash
Noah Beede
Dan'l Carpenter
Al. Fender
Wm. Dolan
W. W. Bethea
Josef Lorimer
Solomon Fender
Wm. MeKenney
Win. Miller
Daniel McKenney
John Belanger
N. G. H. Morrill L. S. Huff
Horace Thompson
Dixon prevailed. Beyond doubt, Mr. Dixon's appointment in 1838 as member of the Board of Public Works had much to do with the defeat of Sterling's aspirations.
The Tenth General Assembly, of which Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas were members, reduced to a point resembling system the vast numbers of inane theories which the people demanded, and Stephen A. Douglas was the member whose resolu- tions permitted it to be done. The Illinois and Michigan canal project by this time had proceeded a considerable distance. This scheine, however, should not become confused with the internal improvement schemes. The canal scheme may be said to date back when Representative Pope laid off the boundaries for the new state, and in January (22), 1829, when the act was passed providing for the appointment of commissioners to fix upon the route.
The year 1837 was the year of the Douglas resolutions and the beginning of active preparations for work. The bill which was passed at last, over the objections of the council of revision and the Governor's objections, appropriated the enormous sum of $10.200,000. Of this sum, $100,000 was appropriated for the improvement of Rock river, and for the railroad (through Dixon's Ferry) from Cairo to Galena $3,500,000 was appropriated. This latter was the most important of the list and received the largest
John McAllister
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
appropriation, and in the distribution of the $5,668,000 which was realized from the sale of bonds, the sum of $1,142,027 was placed in the hands of the commissioners of public works to spend ; about one half the sum appropriated by the bill.
Thus for a short while over two years, the insane mania pro- eeeded. In 1839, the people awakened to the fact that they were in debt over $17,000,000 and had nothing to show for it but a few grades and cuts and the great internal schemes collapsed. Lee county was favored more than any other northern county in the way of railroad grades and the Central Railroad languished until Senators Stephen A. Douglas and Sidney Breese, in the United States Senate, later secured the land grant which permitted the Illinois Central Railroad to be built through Lee county, not very far away from the old grade of fifteen or sixteen years before.
The scrip used in payment for labor and material depreciated to a ruinously small figure. I have secured a piece of it to repro- duee here as an illustration.
THREE STATE OM
THREE
. 302127
I DIXON HOTEL COMpy
When IHin (DIXONS) FERRY De: 25-1.38
SCRIP ISSUED BY FIRST CORPORATION ORGANIZED IN LEE COUNTY, THROUGH NICHOLAS BIDDLE OF THE UNITED STATES BANK
CHAPTER IX THE FRENCH IN LEE COUNTY By Oliver L. Gehant
The French in Lee county are to be found in nearly all the walks of life and scattered throughout the entire twenty-two townships. To the writer, however, it appears that the heaviest settlement is in Viola and Brooklyn townships, at West Brooklyn, and in the vicinity bordering that town. At least one-half of Brooklyn enterprise is due to the French descendants, and especially in the west half of the township they, with the Germans, constitute the majority of the population. We also find the French in Lee Center on the west and in Wyoming on the east. Quite a settlement is located in May township, a goodly number in Ashton, as well as scattering numbers in Dixon, South Dixon, Amboy, Harmon, East Grove, Bradford and Alto townships.
Our subject being a little too broad on account of our meagre knowledge of the French inhabitants throughout the entire county and not having the opportunity to learn more of those living out of the range of our acquaintance, we shall attempt only to center our history upon the French in our own township and its adjoin- ing communities. We must therefore ask the indulgence of our readers in overlooking any errors we might make or any omissions which might oeeur. Let us assure you that they shall not be inten- tional, but owing to lack of information.
The early arrivals from France landed at Lee Center township about the year 1853. Benjamin Leepy, a shoemaker, located at Lee Center and followed his profession for a number of years. The others were farmers in the persons of Claude Gehant and Ferdinando Py who took up their homes in Bradford township. Two years later, in 1855, a party of sixteen left their native land for America and all settled in the vicinity of Bradford. The party
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
included John Bazel Henry and wife with their two sons, Con- stant and Leopold. Constant had been married in France and was accompanied by his wife. Others in the party were Mr. and Mrs. John Bresson and their children, Delphine, Polite and Delphan; Mr. and Mrs. Edward Antoine and their three months old baby boy; Constant Barlow: Blaze Fraescheau and Modest Gehant. They landed at New York and started westward imme- diately, stopping at Franklin Grove upon reaching Lee county. From here they made their selection of homes in Bradford town- ship and for a few years the entire sixteen were located in the same parish. On January 13, 1858, two of the party were married, Delphine Bresson and Leopold Henry. This was one of the earliest French marriages taking place in the county and was solemnized at Amboy. The young couple made their home in Bradford township for a time and then removed to Shelby county where they remained for ten years. After their return to this county they located in Viola township on the farm which became known as the old homestead. About ten years ago they retired from the farm and located in West Brooklyn. To this union ten children were born, six of whom are still living and residing in the county. They are Lydia ( Montavon), Amel. Eugene, Delphan (deceased ), Edward, Josephine. Francis (deceased), Mary (Gehant), Francis Faley (deceased), and Charles (deceased).
Constant Henry had been a soldier in France before coming to this country and had served seven years in Africa defending the French flag. He also saw service in Algeria and Egypt. There were ninety-six in the party when the soldiers left the mother county for Africa, and only six of them returned home. The climate of the desert and the guns of the natives were terrible for any but a native to withstand. His stories of soldier life in Africa can vet be remembered by our older inhabitants. His family were all born in Lee county. They are Delia (Lawrence). Vietorine (Jeanblanc), Jennie (Larkin), and Mary (Terhune). Delia and Victorine, after their marriages, moved to Towa and are located at Eagle Grove and Fort Dodge. The other two children are still residing in the eastern part of the county.
In the year 1857 Mr. and Mrs. Laurent Gehant. Sr .. and two daughters, Judith (now Mrs. Joseph E. Henry of Dixon) and Leona (first wife of Joseph Chaon and now deceased), arrived at Lee Center and here the husband and father found employment in the Clapp stone quarries for a couple of years. With his family, which now consisted of Judith, Leona, and Frank J., and accom-
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