USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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
For years this home was the social center of the whole county and it was no uncommon occurrence for neighbors for twenty miles around to hitch their teams to attend a social event at the Welty's. The old stages used to drive almost past the Welty door and travel- er's used to alight to take a good look at that marvelous home sitting alone in the wilderness. For many years there were but three houses between Princeton and Dixon, Dad JJoe's, another south of Palestine Grove and the Welty house.
Among those who made up the sleighing parties in those days were Elias B. Stiles, Col. Silas Noble, Major Sterling, father of John M. Sterling of today; Aaron L. Porter, "Than" Porter; Father Dixon. James P. and John, Jr .; Smith Gilbraith ; James McKenney: Daniel B. MeKeney: Henry MeKenney; Lorenzo Wood; George Chase; William W. Heaton: Dr. Oliver Everett; Paul Gallup; Col. John Dement ; P. Maxwell Alexander and one MeBoel, who was a beautiful performer on the violin and a first class artist.
Later David Welty became probate judge of the county, a very prominent citizen and at his death a man of large means. At pres- ent his youngest son, Charles F. Welty, who is supervisor of the township, owns the same old home farm and he too is a very prominent citizen and a gentleman of large means.
John Welty, the oldest son, who went to live in Washington, D. C., where he held a fine position in one of the departments, was one of the brightest of all the bright young men who were raised in the county of Lee. For wit and high class Immor, it is doubtful if any other community could produce a match for John Welty and Charles Stiles, son of Mr. and Mrs. Elias B. Stiles.
The father of E. H. and Charles Brewster, while not dating his entrance into Marion so far back as Judge Welty, came at an early date.
Marion has been peculiarly fortunate in its population. While not settling up so rapidly as other parts of the county, today it is filled by beautifully cultivated homes, splendid houses, large red barns, fine stock, and contented, happy people. If ever a township of land responded to the efforts of the homebuilder, Marion has done so.
395
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
Settled largely by the sons and daughters of old Ireland, the Marion of today is one of the best exemplifications of what toil, honesty and frugality linked with patience will do.
Those heroic Irishmen and Irishwomen reached this country without money. They yearned for a country which would present them with the opportunity to carve a home and a competency for their children. The Irish love their families and for those little boys and girls which came along to the early Irish of Marion town- ship, those parents toiled early and late, often denying themselves some of the necessities of life in order that the children coming on might have homes without the drudgery of wresting them from the earth, generous though it was.
Those parents came here penniless. In the old country, they had been ground down by the hand of tyranny. They never had been permitted to secure for their efforts enough to sustain life even tolerably and about the only way they could reach this land of promise was to club together, rob themselves of their last pennies to send over here one of their unmber, who in turn worked for wages and who by the same process of denial sent every cent of his money back home to bring over another. Thus in time, a neigh- borhood was landed and permitted the privilege of working out a home. I have in mind one such man. He worked almost slavishly as a section hand. Little by little he worked his way westward. Every dollar he earned went back to Ireland. When at last he felt he might be permitted to marry, he added to his long hours of labor on the railroad, the burdens of a garden to raise from it something for the family in order that he might save a few cents more with which later he might buy himself a home. That garden was made along the right of way of the Illinois Central. After a while the farm was bought. But at what a fearful sacrifice of health! From 3 o'clock in the morning until 10 at night! But with the home always possible and always before him, he cheerfully toiled on and on and today the town of Marion is populated with the children of those heroic men and women.
How they loved liberty! And how they loved the country of their adoption! If for a lengthy story of what their love was, you will turn to the records of the War Department, there in blood you will read what the Irishman of Lee county did for that country of his adoption. Read over the Adjutant-General's Illinois reports and find the names of the men who composed the Thirteenth, the Thirty-fourth, the Forty-sixth. the Seventy-fifth, and you will see
396
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
what the sons of old Ireland did for the United States and for Lee county !
Marion township has done for the cause of religion what no other township in Lee county has done. Glance at the picture here of their beautiful church, dedicated last sunner, and their par- sonage and parish hall and see for yourself. And all were paid for by the farmers of that township. Thomas Dwyer, Edward Mor- rissey, $1,000 each ; the Lallys, the ('Malleys.
ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, WALTON
As you enter this beautiful church, the attention is attracted to a marble tablet, 5x5, to the left, facing west, with the names thereon of those who made it possible to build so beautiful a church, parsonage and parish hall.
The community is altogether rural and these contributions are nothing short of wonderful. Father Cullen contributed the tablet in appreciation of his regard for the unusual work done by the congregation.
Following are the names inscribed on the tablet, of those who furnished the funds to erect the church and other buildings: Edward Morrissey, $1.400; Miss Mary A. Leonard, $1,400; James Cahill and family, $1,100; P. D. Fitzpatrick, $1,000; Thomas Dwyer ยท and mother, $1,000; Patrick Lally, $700; Mary, Michael and A. J. O'Malley, $600; Martin Whalen, $575; P. A. Morrissey, $550; J. J. Morrissey, $530; James McCoy, $510; James F. Dempsey, $505; Mrs. Ann O'Malley, $500; Edward Dempsey, $500; William Morrissey, $500: John C. Lally, $400; James McCaffrey, $400; Mrs. T. S. Healey, $350: E. J. Lally, $300; P. H. McCaffrey, $300; John Leonard, $300; P. F. Keane, $300; John Lally, $300; Thomas F. MeKune, $300; Charles and Mary Keane, $300; Miss Rose Lyons, $250; Thomas and Bridget Morrissey, $200; Mrs. Kathryn Hoyle, $200; John H. Dempsey, $200; Austin O'Malley, $200; Mrs. J. Convoy, $200; Thos. Burke. $150: Rev. T. J. Cullen, $150; Mrs. Bridget and Frank Fin, $130; John Blackburn, $125: Owen Burns, $125; E. J. O'Malley, $125: Thomas P. Finn. $100: James D. Murray, $100; Joseph Grohens. $100; Lawrence Dempsey. Sr., $100: James Canfield, $100; Peter Campbell. $100: James Harvey, $100; M. J. Fielding, $100; Thos. Halligan, $100; Mrs. C. F. Welty, $100; Michael O'Malley, $100; Wm. Blackburn, $100; Henry and Edward Ullrich, $100; JJohm A. Greenwalt, $100; William McCoy, $50; Mrs. E. Schmidt, $50; Mrs. Hugh MeGuirk, $50; E. II. Jones,
-
-
-
ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, WALTON
397
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
$50; Sarah McCoy, $50; P. H. Dumphy, $50; Carl Acker, $50; Henry O'Hare, $50; John Finn, $50; Angust Grohens, $50; Ed- ward Campbell, $50: Thomas Blackburn, $50; B. J. Bushman, $40; Anton Donvier, $30; Charles McCoy, $25; Patrick Patterly $25; George Healy, $25; George Welty, $25; D. T. Fitzpatrick, $25; Thomas McCoy, $25; Frank McCoy, $25; A. M. Head, $25; Ber- nard Feely, $25; John Dunphy, $25.
The rectory is 30x34 feet, of red pressed brick, two stories, basement and attie, heated by hot-air furnace. Water from a large tank in the attic is afforded all over the house, and a splendid sewage disposal system has been supplied.
The furniture is solid mahogany of the Mission style. Hard- wood floors have been laid thronghont. The cost was $8,500.
The church is of the Spanish Mission style, 40x80 feet, with belfry. It is made of red pressed brick. The pews, of massive dark oak, will hold 346 people.
Steam is the heating medium. The altars and communion rail are of white marble. Over the sanctuary are ten Roman arches, the main ones, over the altars, rest on massive pillars. The vestry is of brick and may be used as a chapel.
The main altar was contributed by Miss Mary Ann Leonard; the Virgin's altar by Patrick, Thomas, Bridget and John Mor- rissey ; the St. Joseph's altar by Patrick and John Lally; the communion rail by William Morrissey. The contributions by the Morrisseys make $3,200. The sanctuary lamp was the gift of the Cahill sisters. The large candlesticks were given by Martin Whalen : the ostensorinm by Mrs. Mary O'Malley : the three mar- ble erncifixes for the altars by Mrs. Bridget Finn.
In 1854 a petition was presented to the board of supervisors, to organize a new township out of what then composed Amboy and Hamilton. The petition was granted and the first town meeting was held in April, 1855.
The first supervisor was Alfred Wolcott; first assessor was Sherman W. Caldwell ; first justices of the peace, Abram Morrison and A. S. Phillips ; first town clerk, Simon Dykman ; first collector, David Morrison.
In 1838 W. H. Blair located on section 24. In 1841 J. C. Haley, a native of Pennsylvania, settled there. In 1846 R. Scott, a native of Scotland, settled on section 15.
When the Kinyon road promised to go through Marion town- ship, its managers desired the township to bond itself for $50,000; but the proposition was defeated ahnost unanimously. But the
398
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
road was built just the same; and largely through the influence of Messrs. McCrystal, Conderman and Jones, the station was located about in the center of the township, and it was named Walton, and it is the only station in the township.
Today, besides the beautiful Catholic church, the parsonage, and the parish hall, there is one general store, a blacksmith shop, an agricultural implement store and warehouse and a grain ele- vator which does a very large business, the average amount of grain being about two hundred thousand bushels per annum, shipped from the elevator. Marion raises a great deal of live stock.
Some of the biggest men of Lee county in all lines of endeavor have come from Marion township. Mr. Hiram A. Brooks, now of Dixon, one of the ablest lawyers and one of the best trial lawyers of the state, was born there and so was his brother and partner, Clarence C. Brooks. Charles B. Morrison, at one time United States district attorney for the Chicago district, was raised there. Edward and Charles Brewster, two of Dixon's able lawyers, were born and raised there. Connty Judge Robert H. Scott is a Marion boy. born and raised there, and son of a pioneer. George O'Malley. the clothing merchant, and Charles E. Slain, of the undertaking establishment of Jones & Slain, are Marion boys. Thus all over Lee county the boys from Marion have rendered a good account of the stock which made it the rich and populous township that it is.
Marion has had its tragedies of the air and of the earth. The tornado of 1860 passed right through the middle in its eastward race through the county. It picked up here and there a few little items of lumber, but no damage to speak of was done. In the year 1912, however, a windstorm came along which blew down the pas- senger station, and nearly every other building in Walton.
In the early part of January, 1870, an unfortunate tragedy ocenrred which shocked the countryside. Francis Marion Spangler shot and killed one Timothy Keane. Both were prosperous farm- ers and residents of Marion and both were men of high standing in the commity. It seems Keane's cattle broke into Spangler's field. The latter shut them up and kept them until Keane came over and demanded their release. In anger hot words passed and Keane then attempted to drive them away. Spangler then shot and killed Keane with a gun, after which he surrendered himself to the authorities in Amboy and was brought to jail.
This became one of the most famous trials in the history of Lee county. Leonard Swett of Chicago defended Spangler and after a terrific battle, he succeeded in getting an acquittal for his client.
CHAPTER XXVIII
MAY TOWNSHIP
Still sojourning within the confines comprehended in old Inlet precinet, we enter the township of May, whose history is preserved to us with considerable volume and accuracy.
The first settlers of May were compelled to go to Inlet to vote at the house of Joseph Sawyer, which was the polling place. May did not become a separate polling place until the year 1843.
The first settler was a man named Joseph Bay, who settled on section 13. The next settler was Tra Axtel, who settled the same year on section 6. So far I have been unable to ascertain the exact dates of their settlement, but it was in the early thirties.
The town was named May in honor of Captain May, an Ameri- can officer, who fell in the battle of Palo Alto.
Of those who came in 1840 were William Dolan, who settled on section 14; Martin MeGowan, J. Moran and John Darcy, who took up their claims on 14 and 23.
In 1843 May was made a separate precinct, and in 1845 the land was surveyed by the Government and thrown into market.
The old Peoria road from Dixon's Ferry went through this township, which joins Marion on the south, and along the same, at the residence of Mr. Morrison, a postoffice was established which was called May Hill.
As I have said, May was made an independent voting precinct in 1843. In seventeen years, 1860, she had 120 votes, yet May town- ship furnished forty-seven men to aid in the suppression of the rebellion. Company F. of the Seventy-fifth Illinois Infantry, was recruited almost exclusively from this little township.
Patrick Riley, one of May's best citizens, settled in that town- ship in the year 1848, on section 23. He was a hard working, frugal man and in time he had accumulated a fortune. In 1860 his health began to fail, and. notwithstanding all his efforts to restore it, in 1868 he died. Ambitious to do good to less fortunate people, who might be assisted by educational advantages, he left 120 acres
399
400
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
to be enjoyed by his wife during life, then Martin McGowan and Patrick McCann in trust for the purposes of constructing an acad- emy in Maytown. These trustees sold the 120 acres left them and set to work and executed their trust faithfully by beginning its construction on a piece of land belonging to the estate, on the old Peoria stage road, eight miles from Amboy. The main building was 30x48. The L was 16x18 feet and the entire structure was twenty feet in height. The school was divided into several com- partments. On the first floor were the school rooms, music room, parlor, sitting room, dining room and kitchen. On the second floor was the chapel, beautifully finished with a vaulted roof. The rest of the upper floor was divided into sleeping rooms, occupied by pupils who boarded at the academy. The building was surmounted by an observatory, from which a splendid view of the surrounding country was had. Young ladies alone were received as boarders, but boys were received as day scholars. Six sisters of the Benedic- tine order taught the various grades in the common branches and in addition tanght music, drawing, French and German.
In September, 1880, the academy was dedicated and for a long while the school was crowded with pupils. But after about ten years of happy successes, the attendance fell off until it was con- sidered best to abandon it altogether. In 1895 the property was sold and the old academy was torn down.
The advantages to the township were immeasurable and May township as an educational center ranked very high. It seems too bad that so useful an institution should decline, but then in earthly affairs we must accept the inevitable. Like Lee Center, rivals attracted the children. As boys and girls read about the larger schools, like children the world over, they felt that the little school was not big enough for them and like the old Lee Center school it dropped out of existence peacefully and quietly, though leaving behind memories never to be effaced by the most vigorous workings of time. The spot was beautiful. The teachers were of the very highest class and all the conditions were ideal. It does seem too bad that idealism cannot fight its way against the intensely prac- tical institutions of today.
The old state railroad, which was graded through May town- ship, canght many a poor settler. James Darcy was one of them. He worked on the grade in 1840, for which labor he was paid in worthless serip, issued by a so-called banker of La Salle, named A. II. Bongs. Yet in the face of his early adversities, Mr. Darcy accumulated a handsome fortune.
401
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
Through the machinations of interested parties, the stage road was changed and the May Hill postoffice was shifted to the resi- dence of Daniel Beard. In 1850 William Dolan laid the matter before the then Postmaster-General, and three months afterwards the route was changed again and the postoffice restored to its for- mer location. A Mr. Hubbard then was appointed postmaster, which position he held continuously until the railroad was contin- ued into Sublette and the postoffice was removed to that place.
In the year 1850 the township was organized by Joseph Craw- ford, Harvey Morgan and Lorenzo Wood, county commissioners.
For a time, May township people had many good reasons to expect the Illinois Central railroad would run through the town. In fact, the old grade, made many years before the road was built, was made through May township, running southerly past the acad- emy. The same grade, to be seen today just outside of Dixon, was part of the same survey and fared as the one which was made through May.
The Anti Claim Jumping Association was very strong in May township. Its membership extended from May through Amboy over into Lee Center and the first call for action, alnost, was made to its members to redress a wrong done in the township of May.
A man named Hiram Anderson had made a claim. Anderson offended a neighbor, who, representing himself to be the owner, in turn went to Dixon and sold the claim to Bull, who dealt in claims once in a while. Bull it seems, as I get the story from May, also drove stage down the old Peoria road.
When Anderson found that his claim had not only been sold out from under him, but that Bull actually had stepped over to the land office and entered it from the Government and received his receiv- er's receipt, Anderson notified the committee. A meeting of the "Palestine Grove Minutemen," as the association was called, met in the barn of Mr. Fessenden, over in Sublette, and passed the usual set of resolutions demanding its return.
The entire association nearly, went to Dixon. Most of them waited in the timber south of town while Chester Badger and a Mr. Baird went to the Western tavern, where Bull was stopping, to demand the return of the claim. Bull was loaded in a wagon and started to jail; but explanations followed : Bull conveyed the claim to Anderson: the neighbor gave his note for what he got. Anderson secured the $1.25 per acre which Bull had paid, and thus a bad job was straightened out. If it had not been adjusted the .
402
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
angry members would have seized Bull and they would have secured satisfaction. There was a case, which if sent to the courts, never would have been adjusted properly. Besides much money in lawyers' fees would have been spent. This committee settled it fairly, expeditiously and without expense. Border committees generally are needed.
Religions influences always have had a strong foothold in May. Not only was the academy dominated by the refining and enabling influences of religion, through the efforts of a noble company of Sisters of the Benedictine order, but the laity at large over the town actively supported the interest of the church.
The first schoolhouse in the township was erected on section 3 and for a time it was used by the Catholic church for its services. A short time after the war, the German Catholics built a church on the east side of the township, which was named St. Mary's. At about the same time the Irish members of the Catholic church built a church on the west side of the township, which cost approxi- mately nine thousand dollars. It surpassed any church building in that part of the county for many years.
Subsequently, however, the building of the beautiful Catholic church at Sublette, by all odds the most beautiful and costly church in Lee county, drew to it most of the May Germans and the May church was permitted to remain unoccupied. The west side church has prospered almost phenomenally. A parish house for fairs and entertainments and a handsome parsonage have been added. As though to contribute its mite, Nature herself furnishes with almost no expense natural gas which is piped to the surface and into the buildings and there you will find the most beautiful illumination to be found in Lee county. Rev. Father Porcella enjoys the love of one of the very large parishes of the county.
The farmers of May generally are men of large means, devoted to the best methods of soil culture and to the raising of live stock, pure bred. In fact May leads the county in its numbers of fine stock raisers. Among those who have very choice herds are MeLanghlin brothers, James and Charles, who own perhaps the best herd of Poland China hogs in Lee county. At the fairs of last fall, they took nearly every blue ribbon offered by the manage- ments. They also own a splendid herd of shorthorn cattle. Mr. Peter J. Streit, the noted Duroe Jersey hog raiser, by the exercise of careful selection and judicious mating and pruning, has assem- bled what is regarded as one of the choicest herds in the state. His ammal sales are regarded now as famous events in Duroc annals.
403
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
Mr. Streit also has the best stables of Morgan horses in Northern Illinois. Last fall nothing was able to stand before them at the fairs.
William J. Sharkey, James Buckley and Bernard Dorsey also have fine herds of the popular Duroc swine.
Michael Leffelman owns a herd of Chester White hogs, which for a long while has attracted attention. In strong competition, Mr. Leffelman, at the fairs, has taken every one of the blue ribbons.
One feature of Maytown has been made especially noticeable to the writer. For several years the children of James Buckley, espe- cially William, and the children of William JJ. Sharkey have been correspondents for the Weekly Citizen, and in justice to those young people, children I might say, I must say their letters are things of infinite delight to me. Invariably they are filled with sparkling wit and humor that would bring laughter from a cake of ice. Maytown children are exceptionally bright youngsters.
The children of May have given good accounts of themselves wherever they have cast their lot. Daniel E. Shanahan, of Chi- cago, Representative in the Legislature and the power in republican polities for many years, behind the throne, was born and raised in old May township. W. J. McGuire, of Peoria, is another worthy son of the same township. In politics he has won fame and in busi- mess he has won snecess. Two other young men, lawyers, are rapidly going forward to the same splendid goal-James Dorsey and John M. Buckley, another son of my old friend, James Buckley.
Normally, May is democratie ; but the voters of May never per- mit themselves to be influenced by party affiliations in township matters. Mr. Buckley is a republican, vet his democratic neigh- bors have elected him supervisor for years.
Maytown people are hospitable people; notably so. Nobody can call at the home of a man from May and leave before he takes a meal. I have seen this fact demonstrated so many times that very naturally my heart has been drawn towards the people of good old May.
Names of May's carlier settlers: Joseph Bay ; Ira Axtel : Wil- liam Dolan, one of the most prominent of May's citizens, 1840; Martin McGowan. J. Moran and John Darcy, 1840; Patrick McCann, who came with the Illinois Central grade into the county, 1853: Andrew Kessler, 1850; Joseph G. Hall, 1857; George Ash, 1857: Silas W. Avery, 1857; Hugh Fitzpatrick. 1857: Michael Harvey, 1852.
404
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
This famous trial was brought once more into the public eye so late as the month of November, 1913, when through Attorney John P. Devine, the old Keane farm, a beautiful piece of ground, was sold in order that it might be divided among the heirs who all these years had clung to the old home. Attorney Albert H. Hanneken, a special master in chancery, conducted the sale and the land was struck off and sold to Philip Keane, one of the heirs, for $122 per acre.
CHAPTER XXIX
MELUGIN'S GROVE TOWNSHIP
The first settlements of this county were made in or on the fringe of groves, hence we find Melugin's Grove, Guthrie's Grove, Franklin Grove, Inlet Grove, Twin Grove, Paw Paw Grove, Pales- tine Grove, Gap Grove, etc., and for that same reason the sections of Lee county dotted with groves were settled long years before the beautiful prairie country which generally offered much better soil. The wealth of timber for fuel of course was the first consideration of the settler and so the groves were selected.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.