USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 26
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Following is the roster of the officers of the R. N. A., Myrtle Dade Camp 6061: Mrs. Earl Howey, oracle; Mrs. George Van Ness, vice oracle: Mrs. George Putman, past oracle; Mrs. Adam Eisenberg, chancelor : Miss Minnie Aschenbrenner, recorder : Miss Ida Eisenberg. receiver; George Putman, manager; Mrs. Roland Eisenberg, marshall: Mrs. John Weishaar, inside sentinel: Mrs. Conrad Smith, outside sentinel.
The Masonie body is very strong. Following are the officers of Ashton Lodge, 531, A. F. & A. M .: John Drummond, worshipful master: Carl Schade, senior warden; Ralph S. Charters, junior warden : George R. Charters, treasurer ; Roy W. Jeter, secretary ; Charles Hunter, senior deacon : Jacob B. Farver, junior deacon : Fred C. Mall, senior steward : Paul W. Charters, junior steward : Laban T. Moore, marshall: Fred A. Richardson, chaplain ; John D. Charters, organist : Charles Tuck, tyler.
O. E. S .: Mrs. Lewis Sindlinger, W. M. ; M. N. Glenn. W. P .: Mrs. Ed Chadwick, Associate M .: Mrs. Doll Orner, secretary; Mrs. JJoseph Wetzel, treasurer.
M. W. A., Camp No. 48: George Putman is V. C. : R. J. Dean. clerk : Jo Mall, banker.
Mystic Workers: W. F. Klingebiel, prefect : Miss Lena M. Howard, secretary ; John Oesterheld, banker.
The Ashton churches are all handsome structures. Of the Methodist Episcopal church, Rev. A. E. Ullrich is pastor. The Sunday school of this church is a marvel. Ralph J. Dean is the
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very able superintendent. The Men's class of Mr. A. W. Rosecrans has a membership of 85 men and the average attendance is 50. In the school there are 201 members.
Of the Presbyterian church, Rev. MeWherter is the pastor. He presides over the Franklin Grove church, too, I understand. Rev. Mack is the pastor of the Lutheran church. All of these buildings are frame. The United Evangelical, German. is a brick structure and Rev. George Walter is the pastor. Of the Catholic church, the pastor at Rochelle ministers to its members. Thus it will be seen why Ashton enjoys so much comfort and why so many good things abound there. The schools too are of the highest order.
The new school building which cost $35,000 is the best equipped school building in the county by all odds. It is positively fire proof. It was occupied Dec. 8, last. The present enrollment is 185. There are eight grades and a four-year high school course. Diplomas from this school are recognized by the colleges and uni- versities which of itself speaks volumes for the high character of the Ashton schools. There are three teachers in the high school courses, Prof. J. Nofsinger, superintendent ; Miss Eva Neleh, principal and Miss Alice Eddy, assistant principal. In the fon lower rooms where eight grades are taught, the teachers are John Absher, Miss Minnie Schade, Mrs. Pearl Billmire and Miss Lena Bode.
The members of the school board are S. T. Zeller, president : Dr. H. A. Bremmer, clerk, and E. C. Shippee.
While dwelling on the schools I may as well give the following historical sketch written in 1909:
"More than a half a century has passed since the educational interests of the village of Ashton began. The early inhabitants of the village were largely of Irish descent. To the north it was entirely American while to the south there were some English people and a small settlement of French. The thrifty German population is of more recent years. No very learned or enltured classes seem to have gilded the fair name of Ashton in an early day. Most emphatically the people of today are descendants of the common people, the tillers of the soil, of which we have no regrets to express.
"As early as 1859 a school election was held in the village of Ogle and elected James Breeumer, Daniel Suter and George Glem as directors. The records have it that the first school in the place where Ashton now stands was taught by J. A. Andrus who acted
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in this capacity for several terms. The first assistant was David A. Glenn. Among the early assistants were Maria Bradstreet, Miss Kate Buck, who taught for the stated sum of $10 per month, and Miss Margaret Cartwright who was engaged for $12.50 per month and furnish her own board. Miles Tennyek and George Brewer were also among the early teachers of the school. The above teachers taught in an old stone schoolhouse with a frame wing located on the south side of the present school lot.
"In 1860 the board of trustees were C. J. Wilson, J. B. Wil- liams and D. G. Shottenkirk.
"The first school treasurer was Aaron Weeks.
"Owing to the needs and increasing demand for better school advantages there was considerable discussion as to the possibility of a new school building. The agitation grew and found hearty cooperation among the more progressive people of the village. These affairs took definite shape when an election was held which resulted in the decision for a new building. There was considerable contention over a location for the new building. Two sites were under consideration by the people. One side favored the site where the present school building is and the other the more ele- vated location where the Catholic church now stands. After a considerable excitement over the contending locations the old one was chosen and was made larger by the district purchasing the lot to the north which made the present school grounds. The trustees at the time of the new building were Henry Glenn, Henry Bly and Aaron Weeks. W. H. Emerson was clerk when the school site was chosen.
"The material for the building was obtained in the quarry on the north edge of the village. James Quick superintended the work and a Chicago architect designed the style of the building. Among those that worked upon the building were Isaac Earl, Wilburn Earl, and J. S. Thompson : the latter making the pattern work for the stone. There is no accurate record as to the actual cost of the building, but upon inquiry we find that a bond of $19,000 was given by the district and other additional expenses brought the cost up to $23,000. The building was completed in the fall of 1869 and school was begun in the new building the first Monday after New Years, 1870, with H. M. Halleck as principal.
"No town in this part of the state could boast of better school advantages at this time than Ashton. The building was a mon- ment to the district and was considered superior to any in this section of the country. Foreign scholars from a radius of many
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miles were enrolled as members of the Ashton High School, there being so many that it was necessary to utilize a portion of the upper hall for a part of the scholars. During the history of the school which covers a period of forty years there have been seventeen principals. The first high school assistant was Miss Olive Rogers. Among the most successful of the early principals were M. E. Phillips, A. W. Rosecrans and H. V. Baldwin. There are other good teachers that preceded and followed these and did their share towards raising the school to a higher standard, but there can be no valid objection in giving these men the honor of such successful effort.
"Many able scholars and professional men have had their pre- paratory work in this school. The first class that graduated from the school was under M. E. Phillips in 1874. The class consisted of Lyman Booth, Mrs. Westana Glenn Rosecrans and Mrs. Mag- gie Brown Byers. Since that time many good classes have been graduated from the school whose members are proud that the Ash- ton High School is their alma mater. The Ashton High School Alumni Association is a flourishing organization and its influence will be a force for good for the school.
"The influence of the former students and the general inter- est of the patrons of the school and the people of the village is the best evidence of the spirit and success of the school.
"Perhaps some of the older inhabitants of the village, as well as the younger generation, will be interested in the above sketch. To the critical reader some errors may be detected in data and names, but often school records are poorly kept and errors in dates are very frequent and sometimes annoyingly so, and for this reason much of the information has been obtained from inquiry. Mere facts have only been stated and some one after me has the field for embellishment."
Possibly another reason why Ashton enjoys so much praise as not only a live village but one so mighty clean, is because its municipal affairs are conserved so creditably by its officers: JJ. B. Farver, president; Ralph J. Dean, clerk; Harry Pierce. E. J. Yenerick, Clifford Knapp, Charles Tuck. Adam Strabe and J. W. Griese, trustees. Ashton township and its surrounding territory are regarded as a German community very largely and that of itself assures Ashton of wealth and sturdiness of char- actor.
Charles Heibenthal is supervisor: Fred Beach is collector: S. T. Zeller, Sr., is assessor and the highway commissioners are C.
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W. Bowers, Henry Reitz and Earl Howey. George Stephan is town clerk.
Naturally in listing the business houses of a place, the banks come into view first. The Ashton Bank is a very prosperous con- cern. Its history has been noticed already. Its published report Jan. 20th. last, shows loans, $420,000; bonds, $62,000; cash means, $79.000. Its capital stock is $50,000 and its surplus is $25.000. Its deposits are $482,253.10.
The Farmers Bank was organized April 10, 1905. Its presi- dent is W. C. Yenerick : vice president, Lewis Sindlinger; cashier, E. J. Yenerick and the directors are W. C. Yenerick, Lewis Sind- linger, John M. Killmer, William Krug and Will Sandrock. The beautiful new building for this bank will be ready for occupancy in a very short while. Thus equipped the Ashton banks will have the finest homes to be found in any small town in the state. By state- ment dated January 19th, this bank is shown to have a capital stock of $25,000 and undivided profits of $3,234.42. Its deposits are $104,414.21. Its cash means are approximately $20.000.
At the present time, Ashton markets 450,000 bushels of grain every year. Before the elevators were built down at Middlebury on the electric road which runs from Lee Center. Ashton shipped 650.000 bushels, and inasmuch as the Middlebury houses are run by Ashton people, it might be classed as Ashton grain to this very day.
The two grain elevators of Ashton are run by O. C. Baker and R. W. Jeter.
A little further up the track. Nathan Sanders has his sheep vards. Annually. Mr. Sanders feeds thousands of sheep which are taken off here in transit and he feeds them until they are fully rested from their usually long journey from the West. Some- times he buys and feeds his own sheep: but he prefers feeding for others. This business amounts to a large profit ammally.
The physicians are Drs. William Petersmyer. C. M. Cheadle. H. A. Bremmer, E. M. Sheldon and James Brown. Dr. S. C. Gould is a D. D. S., and so is C. R. Root. H. L. Winder is the veterinarian.
There are no lawyers in Ashton: just why is inexplicable because in the probate court at least, there is a vast amount of legal business for this community to be transacted.
The business houses of the Ashton of today are: A. W. Rose- crans. general store: C. W. Jonker, jeweler: Harry Pierce, bar- her: G. R. Charters & Son. drugs: Randle & Lake. shoes; M. N. Tol 1-1u
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Glenn, hardware; The Passtime theater, picture show, by Philip Ereich; Conrad Kliebe, butcher; The HI. D. Mosher candy store; Mrs. William Fee, gift shop; Jordan & Paddock, blacksmith shop; Carl Wedler, jeweler; J. B. Farver, blacksmith; Philip Ereich, pool room; William Meister, livery; F. H. Boyd, garage; W. J. Sams, blacksmith; J. C. Griffith, lumber and coal; MeCade & Weishaar, implements; Charles Bode, harness and shoemaking; Oscar Schade, pool room; Louis Sindlinger, tinner; F. P. Eisen- berg, 10 cent novelty store: George Stephan, furniture and under- taking; F. I. Smith, drugs; Adam Faber, hinch room and cigars; E. S. Rosecrans, clothing; W. B. McCrea, grocer ; postoffice, Har- low E. Chadwick, postmaster; Clifford Knapp, plumber and auto dealer ; Joseph A. Roesler, grocer : William Leslie, implements and coal; Griffith & Moore, automobiles ; L. T. Moore, harness and bng- gies ; Ventler and Klingebiel, implements and automobiles: C. S. Kron, hotel and restaurant; G. A. Hamel, general merchandise ; George Van Ness, barber; George Geyer, harness; Henry Nel -. son: William Schade, cigars, paints and oils and C. W. Jonker, jeweler, a very strong array of very strong business men. The Illinois Northern Utilities Company supplies Ashton with elee- tricity and power. Ashton has the only municipal gas plant in the county. The streets are well lighted with 300-candle power electric lights, one on each corner. Cement walks have been laid before every building in Ashton and every vacant lot as well.
In Ashton township there are five quarries from which the very best of sandstone is taken. Once these quarries did a thriv- ing business. but cement now forms so strong a competitor that but little is quarried.
Ashton township and village lead all other commities, except Dixon, and perhaps, Lee Center, with macadam roads. This town has spent large sums of money for roads. Only a short while ago $20,000 was expended in making hard roads. Every main road in the township has been macadamized. Ashton is blessed with one of the best local newspapers in the State of Illinois. Mr. Ralph JJ. Dean, the proprietor, makes every train : he is constantly on the alert for locals with the result that every week he gives his readers about eight columns of locals besides a front page full of good matter pertaining to his locality. In connection with his print shop which turns out the very best of job work, Mr. Dean owns the only book store of Ashton. He is a very active wire, a money maker and saver and I put him down as the most com- fortable newspaper man in the county.
CHAPTER XX
BRADFORD TOWNSHIP
Bradford! Another subdivision of Inlet! In Bradford the best and sturdiest of Lee county's population was started-the Norwegians, now so populous and prosperous; the Germans too started in Bradford.
John Hotzell came here about 1842, and he and Ommen Hillison kept bachelors' hall (separately ) a long while before marrying. Christian Reinhart's daughter, Catherine, married Ommen Hillison and later John Aschenbrenner. The mother of Henry W. Hillison and Reinhart Aschenbrenner and Andrew Aschenbren- ner came in 1845. Reinhart Gross came in 1847.
The history of the Germans is identical with that of the Nor- wegians. Friends back home desiring to come to America, came directly to the home of their old friend Hotzell. The latter was hospitable and he cared for them all as one by one and more came over. A day or two was all that was needed ; then they sought work and later lands, always under the guidance of Neighbor Hotzell whose counsel was always good. Thus early, Bradford took on its reputation for solidity which ever since has characterized the place. When one speaks of Bradford, he is known to indicate the township where lands always are rising in value until perhaps Bradford is the highest priced land in the county.
At the last session of the board of supervisors, Bradford was; honored in the selection of one of its strongest citizens, John J. Wagner, for the office of chairman.
Bradford was settled very early and Inlet was the point from which the settlers scattered into what now is Bradford.
For a long time Bradford contained its present six-mile square area and the present township of Ashton as well, and so it remained until 1861, when Ashton was set off as a township by itself. Brad-
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ford obtained its name from Bradford, Pennsylvania, whence many of its population came.
In 1850 the town was organized at the home of Ralph B. Evitts. At the town meeting Elisha Pratt was made chairman, Thomas S. Hulbert, secretary and Charles Starks, moderator; George E. Haskell, justice of the peace, swore them in.
At this meeting Charles Starks was elected supervisor; Ira Brewer, town clerk; E. W. Starks, assessor; Samnel S. Starks, collector; Ralph B. Evitts, overseer of the poor; Sherman Shaw, Stephen Clink and George Yale, highway commissioners; Samuel S. Starks and Daniel Barber, constables; Elisha Pratt and Lafay- ette Yale, justices ; Jesse Woodruff was put in charge of the town's litigation.
Meetings were held in private houses till 1856, when the school- house in Ogle Station, now Ashton, was used.
As in Inlet, Sherman Shaw was of the very first to build in Bradford, and Mr. Whitman in 1838. In 1840 Mr. Shaw built a frame house on the northeast 31. Egbert Shaw has the distinction of being the first white child born in Bradford. Ommen Hillison built a house about 1840. In 1838 Charles Starks came to Inlet and in 1839 laid his elaim on east 16 northwest 32 and the west 16 northeast 32. The Whipple brothers came in about the same time. Starks began work immediately on his claim and in 1842 moved on it.
George and Milo Yale claimed the northwest 6. In 1842 their father, N. C. Yale, settled on section 1 : Jesse Woodruff settled on 32; R. B. Evitts on 29 and C. Bowen settled on 29. Stephen Clink built a stone house.
In 1842 Elias Hulbert claimed south 12 southeast 19, and very soon thereafter moved upon it. JJohn Owen moved in at about this time.
At the very earliest period Lewis Clapp of Lee Center, firm in his regard for Bradford, took an interest in pushing the welfare of settlers and he furnished money for fully two-thirds of the early settlers to enter their land from the Goverment. Others moved in rapidly; William Ross, Reinhart Gross, Conrad Reinbart (already named), Conrad Hotzell.
Ira Brewer reached Leo Center township in June, 1848. That same year he bought west 15 northwest 32 and cast 16 northeast 31, Bradford. In 1845 he built a house, 19x24. He became a very large land owner in this and Lee Center townships. He was one of the fiereest enemies of the banditti which infested Inlet and
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his son, George W., owns the very compact which was signed by the regulators of those days.
Among the old settlers not already named were: William S. Frost, 1838: Lorin T. Wellman, 1848; David Wellman, 1853; Har- low A. Williamson, 1850; Philip Runyan, 1850: Peter Eisenberg, 1852; Inther Baldwin, 1852; Edwin Pomeroy, 1844; Frank and Nelson De Wolf. 1837; Berghardt Albrecht, 1855; Edward W. Pomeroy, 1845: C. Bowen, L. Shumway, Samuel Cobel, William, Warren and Stephen Clink, 1841 to 1843; Ralph B. Evitts, 1842; Sherman Shaw, 1839; Elias Hulbert and Ebenezer Whipple, 1842.
The Germans which have predominated in this township ever since they began settling here, predominate today, and the descend- ants of those pioneers are today rich, ahost to the last man. It may be said of them too, that the fortunes of the first settlers have been preserved down to the third and fourth generation.
The homes of Bradford are down-to-date, steam-heated, elec- tric lighted, and automobiles may be found in nearly every family in Bradford. The people are enterprising to an unusual degree and in no greater manner can this enterprise have been exhibited than by the exertions of Reinhart and Andrew Aschenbrenner, sons of Catherine Aschenbrenner who have put over forty thousand dollars into the construction of the Northern Illinois Electric rail- road. Only the other day when it went into the hands of a receiver, Andrew Aschenbrenner was made that receiver by the court. This road taps a fertile country and it is the only road in the world which affords the farmer along its line the opportunity to load grain and stock at his door.
Bradford was a pioneer in the formation of a mutual insur- ance company for members of a particular community and this company. "The Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company," . always has been a model. The incorporators were Ira Brewer. Ralph B. Evitts, Thomas S. Hulbert, Charles D. Hart, Valentine Hicks, C. F. Starks and George Hulbert. It was incorporated March 30. 1869. At its first meeting of directors, held in Novem- ber, 1869, fifty-four applications were received and fifty-one were approved and signed.
For many years Ira Brewer was president of this company. Samuel Dysart. secretary: C. D. Hart, treasurer: William V. Jones, general agent. A million and a quarter dollars of risks have been written, and the losses have been remarkably few.
In the southeastern part of the township the land is low: it was the edge of Inlet swamp. But it has been drained perfectly.
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so that it now is valued as high as any other lands in the township. The people of Bradford always have been of a religious turn, especially the Germans.
As early as 1850, meetings of the Evangelical church of Brad- ford were held at the house of JJohn Hotzell, who built just over the line in China township. Hotzell fitted up a room for the pur- pose and very soon a successful Sunday school was started. These were the first German meetings of Lee county. The preachers came from Perkins Grove in Bureau county. A man named McLean was the first; William Kolp was the next. Among the original members of the congregation were: Reinhart Gross, John Aschenbrenner, John Hotzell, the Conrad Reinhart family and the Conrad Hotzell family.
In 1859 a church was built on seetion 17 at a cost of $1,300. In 1874 an addition was made and a steeple erected at an additional cost of $2,700, making a total of $4,000. The membership today is very strong in both church and Sunday school. Until recently the services were held in the German language.
It may be interesting to know that Edwin Pomeroy introduced the reaper into this commmity and when he used it in the wheat fields, farmers from far and near came to see it operate.
In writing a history of things and conditions around Inlet, one cannot get away from the good works of Ira Brewer and good old Unele ( George ) Russel Linn. There never was a crisis these sturdy pioneers feared to meet. Lighter affairs were managed with the same determination to succeed.
Mr. Brower understood music. Singing schools were the com- mon source of entertainment in every locality. One day Doctor Welch handed to Mr. Brewer a subscription paper with the request that the latter head it and then circulate it. Mr. Brewer did and very presently Mr. Brewer found himself teaching in six school- houses. The tuning fork used, he fashioned on the anvil of a blacksmith shop.
In 1843, when $40 had been raised by Daniel Frost and Russel Linn, with which to hire a teacher. it was tendered to Mr. Brewer for a winter's work and he accepted it. He also taught night school.
On one occasion when members of the "Grove Association," had been called together to settle a claim jumping case, Mr. Brewer responded. The case was over on Temperance hill, where a man deliberately jumped a settler's homestead and when the association decided he must leave "at once," he refused.
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Unele Russel Linn rose and said, "Gentlemen, we have come here to make homes for ourselves and our families. The Govern- ment has held out inducements for us to come, and we have made our homes, and we intend to defend them if we die on the defence. Then, we hope we have boys that will arise and avenge our death."
The claim jumper saw Uncle Russel and his seven boys and he declared that if he had to kill Uncle Russel and his seven boys before he could obtain possession of the land he would give it up and he did.
HO
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POST OFFICE
POST . OFFICE
MAIN STREET, FRANKLIN GROVE
STREET SCENE, FRANKLIN GROVE
CHAPTER XXI CHINA TOWNSHIP
By Miss Adella Helmershausen
Compiled by Adella Helmershausen (member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Mass.), from the actual reports of the early pioneers, and written records furnished by members of each family.
O lovely Lee, at Franklin Grove, The sylvan woodlands by ; The wild deer there no longer rove, The birch canoe no more in cove, The creeks and waters nigh ; There wood doves call in twilight gloan. There white gulls soar to heaven's dome.
The tract of the Black Hawk country included in China town- ship, is unexcelled in healthfulness of climate, fertility of soil and picturesqueness of scenery. From Timothy's bridge to Frank- lin Creek, Black Bass. Hansen Pond, passed Tron Spring, Lover's Leap, Whipple Cave, on to Steamboat Rock, the lover of Nature is entranced as one beautiful view changes into another. And when to this is added the fields of grain, pastures of cattle, and commo- dious farm-dwellings a traveler cannot refrain from exclaiming. "These gardens! Boundless and beautiful, the prairies!"
But the crowning glory of China township is the high social, intellectual and moral standard of her pioneers. These first fam- ilies were descendants of the nation's forefathers, and many of them representatives of the noblesse of Europe. The pioneers had executive ability. dauntless courage, and strict piety as their heri- tage.
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