USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 43
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In 1868, a Methodist Episcopal church was erected on the southwest corner of section 16, jointly by the Methodist, Congre- gationalist and United Brethren societies, and today is called the Twin Groves Methodist elnich. James and Amanda Thompson donated the ground. The trustees for the Methodist church were James Thompson. L. G. Durin, Henry Lewis, Aaron Smith and M. A. Rice. The building was 30x40 with a high spire, and it cost $3.500. Besides the lot donated, James Thompson gave $1.000 and his wife, Amanda, gave $630 towards building. It was dedicated Nov. 9. 1868; Revs. F. A. Hardin and A. P. Beach con- ducted the services.
By the arrangement governing this church, made at the time,
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it was agreed to permit each other denomination to use it; that if at any time the Methodists desired to control it exclusively, they might do so by returning to the donors of other societies the money these members had contributed.
The first regular Methodist preacher to occupy this pulpit was C. C. Combs, while Reverend Brewer officiated for the Congre- gationalists. Reverend Wendell was the first preacher for the United Brethren.
Among those who have followed are Reverends Young, Bender, two Lewises, for the United Brethren. Following Combs, are Curtis, Farmiloe, Stoddard, Davis, Hoffman, Tibbals, Record (1879).
In the winter of 1869, a protracted meeting was held here, last- ing seven weeks, during which 130 conversions were made. Rev- erend Combs conducted it. Over one hundred united with his society. When he reached this circuit, the Methodists had only nine members, all women.
The Congregationalists and United Brethren have nearly all of them left the community.
The Congregational Society was formed about 1859. Among those who were original members were Ephraim Durin, Mrs. Durin, Mr. and Mrs. Harper B. Davenport, Woodbridge, Rev. and Mrs. James Brewer, Mr. and Mrs. Simon (or Simeon) Cole. Caleb M. Bacon became a member later. Reverend Brewer was the first preacher, Rev. Henry Buss the second, and the third and last was Reverend Breed. A salary of $200 was paid the preacher and the services were held in the Twin Grove schoolhouse until the erection of the church.
In the spring of 1864, Rev. Jacob Fowler revived the Episcopal church, which had been in existence formerly, and he brought together about fifteen communicants. Under the fostering care of this gentleman, the church grew and prospered until about forty communicants attended regularly in the Ellsworth and Beemer- ville schoolhouses. Among the number of communicants were Winfield Argraves and Mrs. Argraves, Adam Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Argraves, Mr. and Mrs. Abram Rosenkrans, Lydia Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph McCoy, Henry Abrams, Jephtha Mittan, Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Koons and Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Beemer. This mission was attached to the Shabbona mission. In 1866, the vestry, with some outside help, built a chinch, 30x40, for $2,600. This was dedicated Sunday, Ang. 6, 1866. Rev. Madison Handy became the second minister and he continued to keep the flock
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together. But when Rev. A. C. Wallace came along, the beginning of the end appeared. He lost his congregation. When it owed him, in arrears, $500 for salary, he obtained judgment against the church, sold the place to make his debt, bid it in himself and when the redemption ran out, he sold it to the United Brethren Society. As a matter of fact the church stands over the line into Wyoming township on the northwest of section 6. This society, which lived exclusively in Willow Creek, was organized in 1857 with twelve original members. The first pastor was Reverend Adams; the first class leader, Cummings Noe, and the first trustees were R. Hall, Cummings Noe and H. Lewis.
A German Lutheran church was organized in Willow Creek township at the Byrd schoolhouse by Rev. William Halleberg, in 1870. The families of the following persons became members: George Erbes, Ehrhard Hochstrasser, George Hochstrasser, God- fried Gehrig, Louis Gehrig, William Hackman, Henry Schultz, Jacob Rubel, Jacob Schoenholz and John Schoenholz.
Revs. William Halleberg, Charles Weinsch, John Feiertag, H. H. Norton, W. O. Oeting and W. Krebs have been ministers for this pulpit.
A society of Dunkards was organized in the Byrd school- house in 1863, after meetings had been held around at various houses. The original members were John and Margaret Toft, Alva R. and Amanda Harp, William and Elizabeth Vroman and D. C. and Catherine Vroman. Rev. John Filhore settled in the town- ship soon after and he held services around at the Beemerville, Byrd and Twin Groves schoolhouses.
Allen's Grove had preaching of some kind from 1844. About 1848, the Presbyterians organized a society and maintained an existence for several years. Reverends Baker, Breed and another were the preachers.
A Methodist and a Baptist society were organized there too.
The Zion church of the Evangelical Association was organized by Rev. John F. Schnee, who continued as the first pastor. Some of his successors have been Revs. G. M. Young, John Schweitzer, A. Gotschel, A. Strickfaden, C. Ghestatter, J. K. Schultz, and J. J. Lintner.
At first, for six years prior to the organization in 1868, at the Byrd schoolhouse, regular preaching was had every two weeks by Rev. J. M. Sindlinger, Henry Messner or L. B. Tobias.
Some of the original members were William Dunkelberger and Mrs. Dunkelberger, John G. Yetter, Mr. and Mrs. John Yetter,
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Mr. and Mrs. Philip Yetter, Mr. and Mrs. Gotlieb Hochstrasser, George Hochstrasser, Julia Yetter and Mary Hochstrasser. Wil- liam Dunkelberger was first class leader. The first trustees were John Yetter, William Dunkelberger and J. L. Lutz. John Yetter was superintendent of the Sunday school for many years before his removal to Steward and later to Mount Morris.
On the southeast corner of section 5 a church building was erected in 1875 at a cost of $3,000. Its dimensions are 32x46 and the same was dedicated by Bishop Jacob J. Escher.
The first services of the Catholic church were held at the house of Peter Kimbler about 1863. Father Westkam said mass. The first communicants were Peter Buchholz, Peter Schneider, John Herrmann, Joseph M. Herrmann, Frank Herrmann, Frank Bates, Thomas Down, Frank Bates, JJr., Peter Kimbler and six other families.
Father Westkam, who came over from Mendota, advised the building immediately of a church and almost $2,000 was subscribed at once. The next year a church was built on the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of section 16. The main building was 26x40, with an addition which at times has been used as a parochial school. John Herrmann donated four acres of ground for cemetery purposes. The first priest who celebrated mass in the new church was Father Nigg of Mendota. Fathers Goldsmith, Gobbles, Anthon Butter, Frank Schreiber, Fralich, Joseph Baenak, and Charles Hahn have been subsequently installed in this parish.
By far the largest societies in Willow Creek township are the Norwegian Evangelical Churches. One is Southwest and the other Northwest.
This church was organized in the autumn of 1858, by the Rev- erend Didrikson, who made one visit to Bradford township. At first, the members were scattered widely apart; some in Sublette, others in Bradford, Lee Center and Willow Creek and meetings were held four times a year, around in the four different townships. After the church had been put into good working order, Rev. A. C. Preus, came and meetings were held more frequently and the mem- bers assembled at the Byrd and Twin Groves schoolhouses. After a little while, the Norwegians left their old settlements in the other townships and came to Willow Creek and Alto to live, and in 1864, over twenty families had gathered here to live. Among those who were first worshipers in this church were Amund Hillison, Lars Larson Risetter, Lars Sahnonson, Jacob Oleson, Haldor Nelson, Jacob Peterson, Holden Peterson, Lars Oleson, William Oleson,
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C. Christopher, Edwin Winterton, Lars Hillison, Haakon Risetter, Thomas Hillison, Christian Hillison Sexer, Amund Oleson Crag- vick and the Boyds. Reverend Preus remained a year or two when he was succeeded by C. J. P. Peterson, under whose charge the church was built and the parochial school was established.
This beautiful church building, located in the northeast of section 11, arrests the eye from a long distance. It cost $3,500. It is 35x60 with a fine spire. A parsonage with twenty acres of ground surrounding belongs to the church and is located on the northwest quarter of section 2. In 1870 it was bought for $40 per acre. This latter building cost about $1,700 and was built in 1875. A barn has been added.
First, Chicago, was the market for Willow Creek farmers. With the completion of the canal to LaSalle and Peru, the latter places were patronized. Seven days were consumed in the Chicago trip with horses.
The gristmills were at Dayton on Fox river, Dixon and Bing- hamton.
In Willow Creek buffalo bones were especially thick over the ground when the earliest settlers came in. It was thought that inasmuch as they were more numerous in low places, the animals must have been driven there for forage during the cold winter of 1830-31, and unable to get out of the blinding storms, were frozen to death in great numbers. This, however, is not true. In 1825 no buffaloes were seen in Northern Illinois by the settlers or the suckers going to and from the mines at Galena.
"The tornado of Sunday, June 3, 1860, struck this township about 9 o'clock at night, midway of the west line of section 18. William Cutts was within eighty rods of it when it left the town- ship; he says the noise was not unlike the rattle and clatter of a freight train when standing close to it, except that the former was more tremendous in volume. Boards, plows, harrows, timbers, reapers, stoves, furniture, earth, stones, animals,-everything that it could gather in its way, was whirling, dashing and crashing with a thundering roar and force that filled the ear with a sound of pie- turesque terror as much as if heaven and earth were battling for the same space at once. Andrew Stubbs, standing out of its range, as it went by, saw it first, several miles west and describes its appearance as it approached and passed.
"The night was moonlit, and from where he watched the temp- est, the moon was visible throughout. Massive pillars of flaming cloud were piled from earth to sky: the top was a sheet of flame ; Vol. I-31
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shafts of electricity as large to the view as a stovepipe, poured in hideous currents down the seething mass of inky blackness, pre- senting a sight of sublime horror.
"The first house in Willow Creek which received its fury was Abram Miller's near the township line. It was unroofed, then taken up, carried over the well and the stable, but failing to clear a straw stack, was overturned and scattered in all directions. The occupants were Mr. Miller and two children. The mother lay some time under a part of the roof in an insensible condition, having sustained considerable injuries. None of the others were much harmed. The children, sound asleep in their beds when the shock occurred, were thrown twenty-five rods into a wheat field, where one of the little fellows was found shouting lustily that all the windows were broken out. A tin boiler standing beside the house, full of water, was not disturbed ; and a book of receipts, brought from Iowa, was picked up on the farm. Gilbert E. Durin's place was the second reached. His house stood nearly out of the path of the electric monster, but a small addition was snatched away and dashed into fragments. James Nealis and another man were blown into the tops of some locusts in the dooryard, and the former was cut so badly in the thigh on a seythe hanging upon a limb, that he bled nearly to death. A. N. Dow's premises were the next to suffer. His house was seized as if it had been a toy, carried into the air and turned roof downward, going to pieces in utter wreck. Eight per- sons composed this family, and all were more or less hurt, one child having an arm broken.
"The moving colunm raised slightly at Twin Groves, through the south one of which it tore a gap ten to twenty rods wide, leaving the undergrowth but little disturbed, while twisting, splintering and interlacing the taller trees, mostly stalwart black walnuts, in the wildest disorder. The damage to the timber fell chiefly on William Smith. Thompson's house, a very heavy structure, was unroofed, and the large building moved on its foundation. His strong cornerib and two log stables shared the general ruin. A man named Scheiler, living on Thompson's land, had his house demolished, and all seven of the family were severely injured, and horribly begrimed, as if violently rolled and dragged in fine dirt.
"From this point to section 14, lay a stretch of prairie, and no injury to life and little damage to property was done ; but there a house belonging to William Bacon, occupied by Allen Johnson and his sister, Norwegians, was wrecked. The inmates, on the first
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appearance of the storm, had mekily gone to a neighbor's, and thus escaped its terrors.
"The county line was reached midway of section 13, and here at Allen MeConeky's the most painful destruction was accom- plished. It was now between 9 and 10, and the family had retired. Rain had been falling hard but calmly before the crash came, and Mrs. McConeky arose to attend to keeping the rain ont of the windows. The wind began to rise, and in a few moments so increased that she remarked to her husband that the house would blow away. He sprang to her side at the window, and at that instant, she relates, she saw the east side of the house coming in upon them, but can remember nothing more, save that she was conscious of lying on the ground with a heavy weight resting upon her body. The house was shivered to atoms. Mr. MeConeky was killed outright, also the eldest and the youngest boys. Another little son was terribly bruised and all hope of his recovery was for some time abandoned. Mrs. MeConeky had an arm broken. Horses and cattle were killed here as elsewhere in the path of the destroyer.
"In the vicinity a boulder weighing half a ton was lifted from the ground and carried some distance; but the most curious exhibition of power was at the point where the storm ended its work, three-fourths of a mile east of the county line. At this place was a piece of newly broken prairie. The furrows lay parallel with the direction of the tornado, and the tough sods were lapped up, twirled into a close body, and deposited forward in a pile of ten or twelve wagon loads. As if glutted with disaster, the storm now raised, and carrying on its dismal and solitary energies high up in the air, moved on to Lake Michigan, where it lost its identity."
Besides churchyards and several private burying grounds in Willow Creek township, there are two beautiful cemeteries, both kept beautifully. One is the Ellsworth cemetery and the other is the Twin Groves cemetery. The first named is located on the south side of the public road in section 34 and took its name from Isaac C. Ellsworth on whose farm it was laid out. The other is located on the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 17, adjoining the public road on a gentle rise of ground which sets off nicely the handsome momiments which have been erected there.
This chapter should not be dismissed without recording the little beginnings of things in the village of Lee, now so prosperons.
The Chicago & Towa railroad was completed to this point in the autumn of 1871. The county line between Lee and DeKalb
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counties runs north and south through the middle of the principal street in Lee although the major part of Lee is located in Lee connty, including the postoffice.
It is built on the southeast quarter of section 1, which brings it right up in the northeast corner of the town of Willow Creek. Norwegians today dominate its affairs just as they did when the place was platted. The first little building put up was by Christopher & Jorgens and was used for a grain office and grocery. At about the same time J. Cheasebro built an office and began buying grain and dealing in coal, and lumber. Both offices were completed before snow fell, but they did no business until after New Years day. R. J. White built the first store in the spring of 1872 on the northeast corner of Main and B streets, and soon after, when the postoffice was established, he was appointed post- master. He had a partner named Knight who sold out his interest to one A. B. Trask, who sold out to Henry Moore and he in turn sold out to W. H. Bryant. The new firm then added a line of farm machinery to their stock. In 1874 White retired and Bryant received the appointment of postmaster. After three years of trade he sold out the store and thereafter dealt only in agricultural implements.
Next after White. J. Johnson started a general store on the west side on Main street. between A and B streets. In July, 1872, the railroad switch was finished and freight began to move in and ont and Lee began to boom. Abel Downer opened the third general store which included a stock of drugs, on the southwest corner of Main and B streets. During the same season, Ostewig and Leyder started a hardware store.
James Minnehan built the first dwelling in 1872. The next March W. H. Emmett erected the second, and in 1874, others went up rapidly, including that of Mr. Christopher, east of the track.
Frank Bacon built a hotel on B street in the early winter of 1872-73. In 1874 A. B. Trask built the second which has outlived the first one. Trask's was called the Clifton House.
The North elevator was built by J. Cheasebro in the fall of 1872, and immediately following, Christopher & Jorgens erected another to the south. The first butcher shop was opened on B street east of the track, in 1872. Next year, William Finton moved it over onto Main street, north of B.
Miss Margaret Edsall was the first milliner and dressmaker and opened her rooms in 1873. Lars Helland erected a wagon shop and
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Iverson & Espe a blacksmith shop. These were built on the east side.
In 1873 N. D. Schoenholz built a harness shop, Lars Larson Risetter built a store and dwelling on the southeast corner of Main and B streets, Lars Midnes a notion store, Knudt Tyler started a photograph studio and Trask, a store and dwelling, first occupied by C. HI. Rathbun.
Stevens & Prestegaard built a hardware store on Main street in 1875. In the same year, B. II. Skoyles began the erection of a gristmill which was finished next year. In 1879 Christopher & Jorgens enlarged their elevator, put in a stationary engine and added wood-working works. On the northeast corner of Main and B streets, Sardis Vosburgh built in 1881, a handsome brick store, the first one built in Lee.
In 1874 the village was incorporated and the first board of trustees were James G. Boardman. Arthur Mebane, William R. Baumbach, A. B. Trask and W. H. Bryant. On Aug. 11th they held their first meeting. Mebane was chosen president and John Johnson clerk of the board.
The first school in Lee was opened in the Dyas building in December, 1874, with W. H. Emmett as teacher. In the summer of 1875, Miss Eva Bryant taught the school in the Midnes building. In the spring of 1876, Miss Margaret Edsall taught it in the shop she had occupied formerly as her millinery and dressmaking establishment. In that summer the schoolhouse was built. In this new school building, Miss Hampton taught the first school of term. J. L. Johnson, Miss Mary Griffin, JJ. W. Shanks, William H. Hallet and Mrs. George Lattin followed. Henry E. Daniels, Charles Childs and A. B. Trask were the first directors.
The first publie talk made in Lee was given by a Jew, who had changed his name to Professor Ryder,-in the Dyas building. On the same day a union Sunday school was organized in the same room. This room had formerly been used for saloon purposes and when Ryder spoke, planks were placed across the heads of some beer kegs which never had been removed, and right across those same seats this first and very successful Sunday school was organ- ized. At this same time, preaching was begun in Lee by Reverend Nicholson of Shabbona for the Methodists and Reverend Clonse from the same place for the Baptists. The next summer the religions meetings and the Sunday schools were removed to the Midnes building and there they remained until the schoolhouse was erected in 1876. There the two denominations, Methodists and
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Baptists, held alternate services until the Methodists built a church and in that the same alternate services were held for some time. Elder Clouse preached there until 1879 for the Baptists. He was succeeded by Rev. E. W. Hieks. The Methodist ministers have been : Pomeroy, A. B. Mettler, A. B. Dickens and W. H. Records. W. H. Emmett was the first Sunday school superintendent. Then it lapsed for a while, and Samuel Henderson revived it.
The Methodist church was built in 1877 and was dedicated Dec. 30th, of that year. Its cost was about two thousand dollars. It is a building, Gothic in style, 28x42, with a spire. It stands on the DeKalb county side of the village.
The Catholic church, built at Lee, stands just to the west of the business part of the village. It is a fine building, 40x60.
Before this church was built, Twin Groves to the west was the only place at all near-by, where services were had and there they were held but once a month. At Rochelle, thirteen miles north; at DeKalb, eighteen miles to the northeast, and at Sandwich, twenty miles to the east, were the nearest Catholic churches. In the spring of 1878, M. P. Harris, John Kennedy, James Kirby and Bernard Malloy began an active campaign for building a church suitable for the many communicants of the neighborhood. Kirby was designated to act as treasurer and Harris as secretary, to see the Catholics and enlist their co-operation. Cash in those days was not plentiful, but those who desired a church, were financially good in every way. In three days $3,000 in good notes bearing 10 per cent interest, were secured. John Kennedy, James Kirby and Stephen Kirby divided these notes equally as collateral and each advanced the sum of $1,000. Then the men first named went forward and built the church. John Kennedy gave one aere of ground and $500 in money which constituted the largest contribu- tion made by any one individual. The church cost $3,200. In the fall of 1878, it was dedicated by Rev. Father Verdin, vice president of St. Ignatius College, Chicago. Father Edwards was the first priest in charge. At first, services were held there but every other Sunday. Now the parish has a resident priest and regular services are held and the congregation is a very large one.
Six years ago, the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company, desiring to enter the coal fields to the southwest, in order to supply the needs of the company, determined to run a line of road through Lee county for the purpose. Under a leasing agreement with the Burlington, they were permitted to run over the Burling- ton line from Steward to Rochelle. From Steward southerly, the
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St. Paul road directed its course. It has been said that the pro- moters of the road desired to penetrate Compton and we are told that overtures were made to that village with a view to secure the right of way.
Like so many other places, contented with the present and under the impression that they are secure in their trade without other roads to establish other villages near and thus divide trade, those citizens, so the story runs, declined to assist the road. On the contrary, some resistance was manifested to the plans of the com- pany. Just how true these rumors are, I cannot state. But they are so characteristically Innan and have been repeated unprofit- ably so many times in history that color at least may be given them.
At all events, the company went in its course just about a mile and a half to the east and established the station of Roxbury where grain is bought and shipped in large quantities, and all at the expense of Compton. I must say, however, in justice to Compton, that the company also established a station about six miles north of Roxbury. called Scarboro and this little station has picked up an enormous trade, especially in grain and coal. Topographically, Scarboro, in Willow Creek. is so situated that from the east at least, it is so easy to hanl down hill to Scarboro, that farmers almost from the doors of the Lee elevators bring grain to Scarboro to market. From the rich Viola country to the west, of course, it attracts all the grain raised there and Steward, for so many years a million bushel point, has decreased at least 40 per cent on account of the inroads made by Scarboro. And this charming little village now markets something like half a million bushels of grain every year.
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