USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 24
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Among the most successful farmers are Morris Cook. Ole J. Prestegaard. the very wealthy family of Herrmann. some of whom
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live over in Willow Creek, Ira Cooper, Elmer Smith, and the Henning Brothers. Peter Daum is another.
Farm lands of Alto have gone out of sight in price, so that it is impossible for me to quote it.
Just now, two railroads pass through Steward, the old Kinek- ley road, now the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, and the Chi- cago. Milwaukee and St. Paul running north and south.
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STREET SCENE. AMBOY
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OLD DISTILLERY AT ROCKY FORD. ON THE GREEN RIVER, AMBOY
CHAPTER XVIII
AMBOY
This claimed for a Frenchman named Filamalee, that he was the first settler of Amboy township and that he lived in Palestine Grove about a mile south of Rocky Ford. It has been said that in a burr oak stump, he placed mortar and therein he pounded grain into meal and flour for bread. He left the country as soon as set- tlers began reaching the country, and Jolm Dexter in 1835 became the first settler. He came here from Canada and made his claim on the northwest quarter of section 13. The cabin which he built immediately, was twelve feet square. In the spring of 1836, Mr. and Mrs. James Doan came into what now is the township of Am- boy. With them came John Doan the father and Jemima sister of James. In the spring of 1837, Andrew Bainter, brother-in-law to James Doan came in and took a claim on the Sublette road. In October, 1837. Asa B. Searls came up the Peoria road with a team of horses, bringing with him Benjamin Wasson, from Peoria. Both were New York people. Searls located on south half of section 14 and Wasson on sections 14 and 15. Later Searls laid out Binghampton, a mile east of the present city of Amboy. Nathan Meek settled near Rocky Ford about 1837. Rocky Ford was so named from the ford over Green river to the southwest of Amboy where Frederick R. Dutcher afterwards established a store, a mill and a distillery and where for a time a village of respectable pro- portions flourished. Meek was not reputed to be a desirable citizen during the days of the banditti. Three miles down stream he built his corn cracker mill and ground corn. He tried to make flour, but failed. A sawmill had been built in this township much earlier than in other sections of the county. When Mr. Searls first came here Timothy Perkins and Horace Bowen operated one at Rocky Ford, but later in the year, it was transferred to a man named
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Lee. After a brief career, Lee sold to Mason. The latter died and John Von Arnam (or Van Norman) secured it. In 1848, Frederick R. Dutcher purchased it.
In 1837, James Blair, and his sons, William, Winthrop and Edwin came here, and settled on section 29. The same year, John S. Sawyer and his four sons erected a cabin south of the Illinois Central shops. In 1841, Sawyer sold part of his claim to Joseph Farwell and the remainder to Joseph Appleton. Alexander Janes came in about 1837, but in a year or so sold his claim to Chester S. Badger, and moved to Bureau county. In 1838, Mr. Badger and his son, Simon, settled in this township, and in 1839 Warren, an- other son, came out with the mother and her two daughters, Sarah and Rowena (or Roena). But Warren returned and remained in the East until 1842 only, when he came back to Illinois and set- tled permanently here. Henry Badger came in 1849. In the sun- mer of 1838, John C. Church, Curtis Bridgeman, the latter's sons, Curtis and Urial, and William Hunt arrived. In 1841, Jacob Doan came out from Ohio and bought the claim made by Mr. Church, one mile south of Amboy. Martin Wright also came in 1838, from Massachusetts. John Fosdick, the Lee Center or Inlet blacksmith moved his smithy over to Doan's place and that be- come the first in the township. Later Fosdiek returned to Lee Center, and Doan and Frederick Bainter became proprietors and continued the business. Doan invented a sconring plow and many were made by the firm.
In 1839, Cyrus Davis and his son, Cyrus A. Davis, came here from Massachusetts and claimed a home on the southeast quarter of section 15, later Wyman's addition to Amboy. John and Wil- liam Hook, brothers, located at Rocky Ford in 1840. Aaron Hook came two years before. The Joseph Farwell claim on the northeast quarter of section 22 subsequently was platted into the original town of Amboy. Jesse Hale came in 1841, and Samuel and Lyman Bixby came here in 1844. Among others who came to the neighborhood about this time, were. Joseph Appleton (41 or 42) ; Josiah Davis: Francis II. Northway (1844) : Orris Adams and family: David Searls, Alvan H. Thompson; Hiel Lewis (1842) : Miles and Joseph Lewis ( 1845) : Seth W. Holmes (1846) ; Elijah and Warren Hill: Henry C. Shaw, and John M. Blocker (1849).
The first public land sales were held at the Dixon Land Office in the autumn of 1844. Prior to this time of course, every person was a squatter. But as noticed already, every community had its
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code under which lines were regulated, settlers were protected in the peaceable enjoyment of their claims and in the right to buy the same from the Government when offered for sale, unhampered by speenlators. The Amboy association about 1837, centered around Inlet, of which Amboy was a part at that time. Later, the settlers around Palestine Grove, organized and held meetings at the homes of Sherman Hatch and William Dolan. In 1847, all need for this latter association having vanished it was discontin- ved. While individual associations existed everywhere, they all were confederated together for any emergencies which may have arisen.
On the 16th of March, 1839, George E. Haskell, was chosen president of the claim association for Inlet and Martin Wright. clerk. The committee elected consisted of Ransom Barnes, D. H. Birdsall, Ozro C. Wright, Daniel M. Dewey and Benjamin Whiteaker. March 20, 1841, Haskell and Wright were reelected, and D. H. Birdsall, David Tripp, Daniel M. Dewey, Charles Starks and Sherman Shaw were made the committee.
In the spring of 1850, April 2d, the first ammal town meeting was held in Amboy, Joseph Farwell acted as moderator and Joseph B. Appleton as clerk. Miles Lewis suggested that the new township be named Amboy and the name was adopted. David Searls was made supervisor ; J. B. Appleton, town clerk : Martin Wright, assessor and A. H. Thompson, collector.
The old road from Pern to Grand Detour, mentioned already was the first to run through Amboy township. The second ran from Inlet to Prophetstown, taking in Binghamton, and Rocky Ford. Main street today is that very road and the old cotton- woods along the edges to mark its course, were planted by Joseph Farwell.
In 1855, the Illinois Central railroad was finished through Am- boy to Freeport, and on February 1, it was thrown open for traffic. The first train to reach Amboy was in November, 1854.
During the session 1868-9 of the Illinois Legislature, Alonzo Kinyon of Amboy was a member of the lower House. During this session, he procured a charter for the Chicago & Rock River Railroad Company to run from Rock Falls to Calumet. In 1869. Kinyon was elected president and on July 26, 1869, Amboy voted by 517 for, to 92 against, to issue township bonds in aid of the road to the extent of $100,000. January 4, 1872, the road between Rock Falls and Amboy was finished and June 19 it was finished to Paw Paw. Under Kinyon, shops and all manner of good things
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for Amboy were promised, but when the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway Company obtained possession of the road, and connected it with the Chicago & Iowa road at Shabbona, Amboy was doomed. The bonds were fought bitterly for years. All sorts of subterfuges were resorted to in the efforts made to escape serv- ice of process; but to no purpose. Their payment had to come sometime. A settlement was made at last, and not very long ago the last dollar was paid off. Many times the burden became intolerable but with a sublime courage the citizens stuck to it until every cent was paid.
Amboy always has been fortunate with her school system. The same intelligence which pervaded Inlet, while Amboy was a part of that precinct, has pervaded Amboy ; teachers and ministers and physicians, all men of rare intelligence, came early to Amboy and they saw to it that the Amboy schools were built on subtantial foundations and presided over by good teachers.
Lucy Ann Church was the first teacher to teach in this town- ship. The schoolhouse, built of logs, was located on the Sublette road just south of the railroad crossing. Leonard Pratt, John Carey, Ira Hale, David Hale and Charlotte Doan followed Miss Church. The second school in the township was the famous Wasson School, a frame building erected over towards Lee Center, in 1845. In this school Misses Rowena (or Roena) Badger and Roxy Wasson taught for a long while. John Scott, an able teacher. H. E. Badger and Lyman C. Wheat also taught there.
Later, the first school was moved further south and located near the Lewis place.
Private schools never were attempted to any great extent. At Rocky Ford, a few irregular terms were ventured, but in the face of failure, they were not continued.
Church services were furnished first by Father Gorbus, a Methodist, who came over from the Indian Creek country.
The next minister to appear so far as known, was a German Baptist named Father Hetehler. Rev. Curtis Lathrop came along third. He was a Methodist. Father White, a Methodist was next to appear.
In 1843, the Rev. Donaldson, assisted in organizing a Congre- gational society, said to be the first in the county. This was done at the house of Moses Crombie, and the name adapted was "The Congregational Church of Palestine Grove." Services were held for many years in the Wasson schoolhouse. Rev. John Morrel was the first regular pastor. He in turn was followed by Rev. In-
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gersoll, father of Robert G. Ingersoll. Revs. Joseph Gardner and a Mr. Pierson followed Ingersoll. Later this church moved to Lee Center. Many stories are related of Rev. Ingersoll especially by Rev. Haney, the Methodist circuit rider. From all, we can learn the gentleman was rather opinionated and considerably belliger- ent.
The Palestine Grove Baptist Church was another early church. In 1847, Rev. Charles Cross became its pastor.
The Mormon church attempted to secure a foothold in this township and what is more, it was actually secured. The first preacher, William Anderson, held his services in Joh Hook's house. Both Joseph and Hyrum Smith came up here often from Nauvoo. Joseph. the prophet, married a Miss Emma Hale, sister to Alva Hale of Sublette, and David Hale and Mrs. Benjamin Wasson of Amboy. Asa Searls was a boyhood acquaintance of Smith, and had been a schoolmate. Smith visited his friends and relatives here often. He made it a point always to preach when here, using the log schoolhouse on the Sublette road. When in the famous litigation of June, 1843. the Governor of Missouri, sent a requisition over into Illinois for Smith's arrest, the latter was visiting those relatives and friends in Palestine Grove. An Illi- lois constable and the Missouri agent came up here and arrested him. Smith fought desperately, but after receiving many bruises. he was overpowered.
The crowd believed the proceedings were entirely illegal and many followed Smith and his captors to Dixon. It was agreed. however, that Smith was to return to Nauvoo. But npon the dis- covery of the Missouri agent's design to take the prisoner over to Missouri direct, a party of Mormons collected and rescued the prophet. Immediately he was brought triumphantly into Nauvoo. A writ of habeas corpus was issued and Smith was released by Judge Stephen A. Douglas.
Aaron Hook who had gone to Nauvoo and who had been or- dained an elder. returned now. to Rocky Ford. William Smith, another brother of the prophet came over to Lee county from Nauvoo about this time and a very considerable Mormon follow- ing was obtained in Lee county.
Among the number were the Hooks, Edwin Cadwell, Went- worth Blair, Stephen Stone and David L. Doan.
It was a deplorable circumstance, however, that none of the Smiths could get along with his neighbors. This William Smith
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was no exception. He was arrested here for bigamy, released and then he left the country.
In 1860, April 6th, the anniversary of the founding of the church, the annual conference was held in Amboy. Joseph Smith, Jr., was installed prophet and high priest in the old Mechanics Hall, where the meeting was held.
Amboy township was peopled early by enterprising people. So soon as the settlers got their bearings, they proceeded at once to build their homes and schools and churches and then to estab- lish villages for trading and manufacturing purposes.
Binghamton was laid out by Asa B. Searls and named in honor of Binghamton, New York. Its location was on the southeast quarter of section 14. The date was April, 1848. Warren Badger laid off some lots contiguons. Here Mr. Searls opened and main- tained the Binghamton House. He erected a store as well and took into partnership Edward Waters. Later Henry Potter bought the store and he in turn sold it to the Union Company, a cooperative company, conducted by James H. Preston. Robert G. Ingersoll was Mr. Searls' "hired man," for a considerable period.
Binghamton became a flonring mill center, John Dexter in 1844 built one on Green river and the Badger brothers, Warren and Palmer, built another. The latter was killed by a bank of earth falling on him and Chester Badger took his place in the partner- ship. In 1858, Chester and Henry Badger took over the property and introduced steam power instead of water power. On Thurs- day night, July 18, 1872, the mill was burned and a loss of $6,000 was sustained. The mill was rebuilt and H. E. Badger and son took it over and operated it until the evening of July 21. 1881, when it was struck by lightning and burned. Loss $16,000; insur- ance $6,000.
John Doan started a plow factory which he ran for a year and then sold it to Frederick Bainter. In 1846 another was started by the Shaws and Churches. One of the factories, a quaint lit- tle limestone building testifies to the business thrift of Bingham- ton, to this very day.
There were two blacksmith shops, a shoe shop, a wagon shop, the "Reed House, " and in 1850 it had secured from Shelburn the stage headquarters and the postoffice. At this time Binghamton was one of the prosperous places of the county.
Binghamton is one mile east of Amboy. There the cemetery was established in the early day and in it, Patience, wife of A. B. Scarls, was first to be buried. She died Dee. 19, 1846.
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Rocky Ford was settled early and became the center of manu- facturing interests without being platted. The old Indian trail from west to east crossed the river here. Timothy Perkins set- tled here first. He and Horace Bowen erected a sawmill, which passed successively into the hands of Lee, Mason, Van Arnam (or Van Norman) and Dutcher. In 1849, Frederick R. Dutcher plat- ted the property and named the plat, Shelburn. The river was the dividing line. Dutcher erected a distillery at once and in 1853, he added a store. Jacob Doan next year put in another store.
The Shelburn Manufacturing Company of which Dutcher was president, put up a large flouring mill in 1856. It was combined with the distillery and Shelburn attracted considerable trade and a large business was handled.
The mill was a stone building 60x60 feet, four stories high. The distillery was 40x140, two and a half stories high. The dam was built of solid masonry, the whole costing $65,000. Col. John B. Wyman for a time was an influential member of the company.
In 1859, by reason of an explosion, the south wall was partially thrown down and the boiler was hurled thirty rods across the creek. The engineer, John Bentley was injured badly. Loss $4,000. Ten years later the building was destroyed by fire. A small section of wall stands today to invite attention to the former glories of Shelburn. Beautiful Rocky Ford cemetery is located here. It is owned by the Catholic church at Amboy.
When the Illinois Central was built, Shelburn and Binghamton collapsed and became deserted villages.
The first postal facilities were furnished by Dixon. Then Asa B. Searls became first postmaster and the office was maintained in his house. Warren Badger followed when Searls resigned. Dutcher was made postmaster of Shelburn, but when Bingham- ton secured its removal, Dutcher secured its re-establishment un- der the name of Equator.
Shelburn had all the opportunity to lead. When the mail route was changed from Peoria to Peru. Shelburn became the stage headquarters. Two lines were rum, one by Frink and Walker and another by Dixon and Andruss. But the Binghamton people outgeneraled their rivals at every turn and finally secured the stage lines. Midway between Binghamton and Shelburn, stands Amboy, made by the entrance of the Illinois Central railroad.
In 1851, a corps of engineers under Roswell B. Mason, ran lines through this locality. T. B. Blackstone, had charge of the men between Dixon and Bloomington. The town sites then were owned
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in many instances, by individuals of companies, composed of stockholders of the Central. Very much after present day methods they pursued the tactics of the present day man. At first a farm two miles north of the present depot, was bought and the com- pany sent out word that the machine shops for the new road were to be located there. Some stone was hauled and the place actually was named Kepatau. This feint was made for the sole purpose of securing another farm for the town. The scheme worked very well and Amboy stands today just where the Central people de- sired, on the "Farwell place."
In June, 1853, Michael Egan came here to begin work on the station buildings. Plans for the machine shops were made and Mr. Egan pushed their construction with rapidity. Eighteen hun- dred and fifty-four became the birth year of Amboy. Town lots were sold rapidly. Farwell's and Wyman's and Gilson's additions were platted and residence lots went off rapidly. R. D. Peironet and Samuel Goldman opened the first stores; the first named had a small stock of knick-knacks. Goldman sold clothing.
In the spring of 1854, Josiah Little erected a store building which was opened in October and in which a stock of drugs, hard- ware and groceries was sold: Wilcox and Wooster followed with a dry goods and grocery store. Later, Mr. Wooster bought the interest of his partner. During these first formative years, Am- hoy grew very rapidly.
David Bainter was the first doctor to settle here. William E. Ives, the first lawyer to settle here, came in December, 1854. Alfred Tooker and James H. Filch came the next year. Alonzo Kinyon, who read law here came about the same time. Desirous of securing the facilities of a court. Kinyon seenred the passage of an act by the Legislature establishing. "The Court of Common Pleas of the City of Amboy." with jurisdiction conenrrent with the circuit court, cases of murder and treason excepted. In 1869. Kinyon was elected judge of this court and C. D. Vanghan was elected clerk. The court did not prosper, however, and in 1874 the law was repealed.
Armed with a letter of introduction to Stephen A. Donglas. Bernard H. Trusdell came to Amiboy in 1858, to practice law. Donglas had advised Amboy. Edward Southwick moved here from Dixon, but died about the time Mr. Trusdell came here. Nor- man HT. Ryan came a little later. Both Trusdell and Ryan became lawyers of renown.
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Incorporation as a town followed soon. In the winter of 1854-5, the town was incorporated. Allen E. Wilcox became the first president of the board of trustees. H. B. Judkins became the second clerk.
On Dec. 23, 1856, a citizen's meeting was held in Me- chanics hall to consider the question of city organization. J. B. Wyman, William E. Ives, Alonzo Kinvon and Edward Southwick, were appointed a committee to draft a charter. On the 30th at an adjourned meeting held at the Orient House, the charter was reported, adopted section by section and then as a whole. On Feb. 16, 1857, an act was approved and March 2 was set for the election to adopt or ratify it. On the 8th following, John B. Wyman was elected mayor, Orange D. Reed, marshal; S. S. Stedman, E. S. Reynolds, J. R. Stevens, F. B. Little, J. M. Davis and J. A. Jackson were elected aldermen. Two hundred and thirty-four votes were cast. Daniel T. Wood was made clerk ; W. E. Ives, attorney ; A. E. Wilcox, assessor; W. B. Andruss, col- lector: Edward Little, treasurer and Arthur Pond, surveyor.
In 1854-5. the postoffices at Shelburn and Binghamton were discontinued and Amboy secured the same. Orange D. Reed was made first postmaster.
The first birth in the new village was that of Medora Bell. daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bell, Aug. 29, 1854. The first birth in the township was that of Simon, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Dexter in 1836; the second was that of William C. Doan, son of James Doan, Oct. 16, 1837. The first marriage in the vil- lage of Amboy was that of William C. Bartlett, and Caroline Bart- lett, Oct. 18, 1854. The first death in the village was that of Almira Melissa, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Stuart, Jan. 5, 1855.
Two tragedies occurred in Amboy. Owen O'Connor shot and killed Dennis Allen, saloon keeper, Oct. 11, 1872. On April 18, 1873, John McGrath stabbed and killed Edward Egan. A negro killed another negro in the passenger station by striking with his fist.
Amboy has made several fights to seeure the county seat and always she has been vigilant to see that Dixon obtained no advan- tages. For that reason, until the erection of the present court- house, Dixon always had been compelled to build and maintain the courthouse. In 1866, the first effort was made. With Dr. George Ryon in the Legislature it was conceded that her chances were better than an average. But the effort failed. When it be-
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came known that the present new courthouse was probable for Lee county, Amboy made another desperate effort to secure the county seat ; but this defeat was more decided than the first. The removal of the division offices and the shops from Amboy, had cut her population, while the territory naturally tributory to Dixon, as well as Dixon herself had been enjoying a long period of pros- perity and increase in population.
Amboy has been subjected to fearful fires. The first big fire on the morning of Dec. 10, 1863, originated under the brick city hall, three stories high. A $35,000 loss followed; insurance, $14,000.
In 1864 a $45,000 fire followed; insurance, $38,000. March 10, 1865, another big fire followed. Other fires occurred April 2. 1868; April 25, 1871, and Ang. 25, 1871, the last one entailing a loss of $175,000; insurance, $103,000. In this last fire John Shan- non was burned to death. He had been incarcerated in the city jail and was forgotten until too late. Other fires of smaller de- gree have followed since, but none of any magnitude.
After the railroad debt had been saddled upon the community, the struggles of Amboy were hopeless, many times. No money could be secured for improvements. The railroad shops were taken away. The division offices were removed; yet she struggled for- ward bravely, and beginning with the administration of Mayor John P. Harvey, splendidly paved streets made their appearance. Boulevard lamps followed. Now Amboy is pushing forward splendidly. I do insist, however, that the splendid grasp which Mayor Harvey had of the situation and his uncompromising efforts for order, beauty and business development, have been responsible very largely for the new Amboy of today.
The Lewis families in Lee county are descendants of George Lewis, who, with his brother John, came from East Greenwich. County of Kent, England, about 1630, to Plymouth, Mass.
George married Sarah Jenkins in England. She was sister of Edward Jenkins, one of the earliest settlers of Scituate, and ancestor of most of that name in New England. George Lewis was a clothier by occupation and in religious matters was a Sepa- ratist, or one of the Pilgrims, as distinguished from the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He went from Plymouth to Scituate, and thence to Barnstable, being one of the early settlers of that town.
Nathaniel Lewis, Jr., as he is known in the family genealogy, was a direct descendant of George Lewis, and was born in Ver-
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mont May 27, 1769, and, with his wife (Esther Tuttle), came to Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, about the year 1785. Six sons and six daughters were born to them in Susquehanna county, and their names, date of birth, date and place of death are as follows :
Esther, born June 2, 1793; married Joshua MeKune: died at Osceola, Wisconsin, Sept. 19, 1878.
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