USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 47
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W. T. Sherwood. Thomas Fish and M. II. Everett followed. J. Oliver Stanton, too. Among the later physicians were James H.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
Braffet, Thomas Steller and Thomas D. Palmer. The last named today has a commanding position in Chicago as a physician. Doc- tor Avery is now in Paw Paw, and has assumed a strong position there. For a long while he acted as assistant to Dr. A. W. Chandler of Compton.
THE ELEPHANT
In 1880, the skeleton of a monster was discovered by L. W. Bidwell, in the employ of George Lindsay, excavating in a slough for an ice pond. Its length was twenty-two and one-half feet and its height about fifteen or sixteen feet. Its eye socket was about the size of a tea cup. The head was about three feet in length; the lower jaw twenty-six inches. In this, two teeth remained; one twenty-one inches in circumference, the other two inches smaller. The upper joint of the hind leg measured four feet four inches long and twenty-one inches in circumference at the knee; from there to the ankle joint the measurement was three feet, two inchies. The foot was about twelve inches high. The backbone and ribs were well preserved, some of the ribs measuring six inches in cir- cumference.
EAST PAW PAW
East Paw Paw, though partially in DeKalb county, was con- nected by such inseparable ties that it cannot justly be divided here. Some of the items already related, were indigenous to DeKalb connty soil ; but interlocked with Lee county, they always have been associated with the latter and always will be.
William Rogers reached there about 1836, the first man. He was a great gambler. After buying part of the Ogee section, he sold it piece meal. Subsequently he went to Dixon; run the West- ern tavern ; then he went to the Mexican war; then to California. He probably was the widest known man who ever lived in Lee county. In 1877, when he came back, John Wentworth of Chicago, and others banqueted him.
Charles Morgan settled immediately west in 1836. He lived here until about 1850.
Of course we must not forget Job Alcott, who came in 1836. He joined Morgan on the east.
Along the county line, north of the Chicago road from Rogers, Bailey Breese from Morristown, New Jersey, settled in the fall of
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1840. He bought from Rogers a quarter section. Part of the vil- lage was platted on his land. His house was the second built on the town site.
At one time when Breese had $400 in cash he was offered forty acres of land near the Bulls Head tavern near Chicago; but Rogers persuaded him to buy more land and he bought from Rogers. He was a cousin of Judge Sidney Breese. He died in 1859.
Jacob Wiriek came along in 1842 or 1843 and bought out Wil- liam Rogers. A tavern was on the place and he run it awhile. He later moved to the southeast part of the village.
In Ohio he was converted to Mormonism, removed to Nauvoo; thenee to Missouri; lost his property and later by leaving the for- tunes of that sect, he regained a fortune.
Wiram Gates came in 1845, bought out Mead and settled down. He had been a circus proprietor. He was believed to be a copart- ner of counterfeiters and horse thieves, and while never caught with the goods, the goods were found suspiciously near, more than once, and thieves were caught at his place.
At one time he owned 600 acres of land. He built a fine estab- lishment for the time. His house cost about three thousand dol- lars. One day it burned down and he never recovered any insurance.
He entered mercantile life in East Paw Paw. Once he brought $12,000 worth of goods to the place, to be disposed of fraudulently, as has been said. Before the goods reached there, the settlers sent a party to the scene and required him and a son, who had means, to indorse for the son who originally had bought them. Unable to meet the notes at maturity, the goods were seized and Bogus Gates' career was at an end.
The first store was opened by Charles Howard in 1847. This stock subsequently was moved to East Corners (East Paw Paw), and sold to Sherborn Gates. In 1849, S. B. Warren bought the store and James Little entered as a partner.
The postoffice was established in 1850 and Andrew Breese was made postmaster.
Eleazer Darby LeMoyne settled there before 1845.
Old Spartan Lodge, No. 272, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, is the parent of five other lodges, Shabbona, of Earlville; Anchor, of Paw Paw : Fidelia, of Steward; Fertile, of Shabbona; and Triumph, of Melugin's Grove. It was organized March 31, 1859.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
SOUTH PAW PAW
South Paw Paw, on the DeKalb county line in section 24, is more a small collection of houses than a village, a Methodist Epis- copal church, a cemetery and a few private houses.
John Ploss, who settled there in the spring of 1835, was the first settler. Eber St. John bought his claim when he left to return to Michigan, and when Deacon Orlando Boardman reached there in 1840, he bought the claim.
Deacon Israel Hallock came there in 1840.
Ralph Atherton, from Massachusetts, came in 1844, a shoe- maker.
Dr. George S. Hunt, was the first regular physician. He located there in the spring of 1844.
Deacon Daniel Pine, who lived to be almost a hundred, came there in 1845.
David R. Town, son of Russell Town, came to Wyoming at the age of ten, in 1835. He went in 1848 to California, across the plains, in the Government service.
Timothy Goble, from the Wyoming valley in Pennsylvania, came to this Wyoming in 1843.
In the year 1838 Rev. Caleb Morris, Nancy, Caleb and Isacher Robinson, Betsey and Lydia Town, organized a Methodist class here. Caleb Robinson was made leader and steward and acted as such until 1858.
In 1843 the South Paw Paw Union Sabbath School was organ- ized in the schoolhouse, with C. M. Dickinson as superintendent.
THE RAILROAD
Like Amboy and Brooklyn, Wyoming bonded herself to help build the Rock River railroad, from Rock Falls eastward.
Thirty-four legal voters and tax payers petitioned to have called a special election to vote on the proposition to issue $50,000 in bonds for the purpose. John Harding, town clerk, issued the call, and on Sept. 22, 1869, the election was held, 142 votes were cast in favor of the bonds and 62 against. The eastern terminal was to be Calumet and on that understanding many voted affirmatively who would have opposed the issue, otherwise. It terminated at Shabbona.
On June 19, 1872, Isaac Edwards, the contractor, finished the line to Paw Paw and Mr. Edwards and his men were banqueted.
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At once, after finishing, the line was leased to the Chicago, Bur- lington and Quincy.
Injunctions were issued and the matter was litigated by James K. Edsall, for the town. On his election, as attorney-general, Judge John V. Eustace pushed the suit, but in the end the bonds had to be paid and now that the road is done, who shall say, he would do without the road ?
Another branch of the Burlington, runs from Paw Paw south- easterly.
PAW PAW OF TODAY
A little older, but the Paw Paw of the early day just the same. In point of years many may be classed advanced, but in all the delightful ways of life they are young. A constant sunlight is reflected from Paw Paw.
Here are the LaPortes of 1838, just over the line for so many years. The only difference between those who lived over in Paw Paw township and those living in Paw Paw village, Wyoming township is one generation. Alonzo LaPorte, the father who died at eighty-one some time ago, was not more than eighteen in spirit. Frank A. LaPorte, James H. LaPorte, Mrs. Lillian Nisbet and Mrs. Lucie Herrick, children of Alonzo, all live here yet and endowed as they are with plenty, it is improbable that they ever will change their residences.
For many years James H. LaPorte was engaged in the gen- eral merchandising business and aside from large ownerships else- where, he made money rapidly. A few years ago, desiring to get out into the open air more and enjoy the sights afforded out in the world, he closed out his business and now Frank LaPorte Ed- wards, grandson of Alonzo LaPorte is installed in business in the same store.
But James could not stand idleness. He opened a real estate office and he enjoys a very successful business in that line. Loans upon real estate too are negotiated by him. A large number of valuable farms have been sold by him in Lee and DeKalb counties.
Frank LaPorte oversees his farming interests in DeKalb county and Towa and that of itself keeps him busy.
From James LaPorte I found my information about the values of lands at present in Wyoming. The average price per acre is $175 and the average rental is $7 per acre. But most of the farms in this township are rented on shares.
Y
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF PAW PAW
MAIN STREET, PAW PAW
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
Charles W. McMillan is a very active and successful real estate man. Within the past year he has sold a large number of farms in this township and Willow Creek. Mr. McMillan does a large insurance business as well. S. A. Wright and Ed. P. Fleming too, are very successful real estate men. Paw Paw is a center for big deals and these firms prosper.
Among the professional gentlemen of Wyoming, is Mr. C. F. Preston, the attorney who long has been a resident of the village of Paw Paw. By common consent he is conceded to have the largest and best paying legal business in Lee county. The village is so situated that three counties are tributary to Preston, and from those three counties, Mr. Preston draws. His probate prac- tice is one of the largest in the down state counties. This may seem incredible, but so it is. As a professional man Mr. Preston stands very high. Many attempts have been made to lure him into running for office, but all to no purpose. Beyond a doubt were he to permit the use of his name to his party, the democratic, he might win ; but sensibly enough he refuses steadily.
The physicians and surgeons of Paw Paw are W. M. Avery. the associate of Doctor Chandler at the Compton hospital, T. H. Stetler and J. R. Crowell. J. B. Daugherty is a D. D. S. and E. L. Von Ohlen, has established himself in a fine business in Paw Paw, as a veterinary surgeon. S. M. Bennett also is a veterinary sur- geon. These medical gentlemen enjoy practice far into the two adjoining counties. In fact it may be repeated that Paw Paw always was singularly fortunate with its doctors.
Unusual for the small town, Paw Paw has a fine greenhouse of which J. J. Bennett is the proprietor. His greenhouses have a demand for every bloom it can supply.
Mr. C. C. Faber beyond doubt enjoys one of the best trades in meats in Lee county. Not so very long ago, he was requested to ship clear back to Virginia, some of the meats of his preparing. Here, too, is a fine example of doing things down to date. Mr. Faber's market attracts people from those same three counties. We have seen in so many small villages how difficult it is to main- tain a first-class market. Mr. Faber never has been confronted with that feature of the meat trade. He has large interest in lands up in Minnesota. The grain elevator of Frank E. Guffin and J. W. Banks, known to the trade as Warner and Guffin, does a very large business, not only in the shipment of grain, but in the sale of coal, and seeds and those kindred commodities which go
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
with them. Last year over 250,000 bushels of grain were shipped from this village and by this company alone. The proprietors own the elevator at Compton, just to the west and between both eleva- tors these gentlemen have one of the best businesses.
Paw Paw is splendidly supplied with hotels and restaurants The Detamore House is one and Mrs. E. M. Ransom is proprietor; the other is the Commercial House and Dallas MeLaughlin is the proprietor. These two hotels stand side by side just to show that neither dislikes having rivals in business. Besides the hotels, there are lunch rooms kept by Thomas Harper and Fred Gehl- fuss. The latter keeps a full line of fancy groceries besides. C. M. Gibbs sells cigars and confectionery and in connection with his grocery trade, H. R. Town sells confectionery and ice cream. Thus it may be seen that he who hungers can find no legitimate excuse for going hungry.
Paw Paw is the center of a large amount of building and to care for it. the village is especially well provided. Arthur S. Wells pays most of his attention to things built of cement and he is without doubt one of the best posted men in Lee county on cement and what may be done with it.
At a recent meeting of the board of supervisors of which he long has been a member, he was made superintendent of highways for Lee county at a salary of $2,000.
Harry Prentice, E. J. Valentine, J. O. Morrow, H. G. Beach and C. C. Smith are contractors and builders. The telephone sys- tem which serves Paw Paw is the Northern Illinois Telephone Company which has headquarters at Sandwich.
Paw Paw is well cared for so far as lighting is concerned. The Paw Paw Electric Light Plant owned by Beemer Bros., composed of the brothers, J. J. and Harrison Beemer, have but lately estab- lished a plant here. Since opening for business the village is as well lighted as any other in the state.
I. H. Breese is the hardware man. This store also cares for tin work and plumbing.
The postoffice is managed in a very superior manner. Wilbur Woods, son of A. N. Woods, was assistant for a long while before his recent appointment, the first appointment of postmaster in the county. Mrs. Verna Woods is assistant.
The firm of J. M. Beale and Co. has been established here for a long while. They send their output to almost every state in the Union. Brick and drain tile are made by them in large quantities. Over at West Brooklyn they have another branch plant.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
There are two very large general stores, one owned by Edwards and Case and the other by Chaffee and Faber. These two stores are large, and the stocks are very large and selected with especial care for the trade of that locality. In fact they are much larger than the average village store. The store that I am most familiar with, the one of Edwards and Case has made four generations wealthy.
Pratt & Hartwell carry a full line of jewelry, silverware and china. The drug, paint, oil, medicine, toilet articles and school book trade is very well provided for by Wilbur A. Pratt.
Hicks Brothers are the clothing dealers.
L. C. Coss and F. J. Adams are the barbers. W. II. Smith is the undertaker and in connection he handles a full line of furniture, carpets, rugs, curtains and paints and oils. Closely identified as a kindred business is the Williams & Henry establishment. These gentlemen are extensive painters, paper hangers and decorators.
Paw Paw has 800 inhabitants and being in line for all the down to date features which go with 800 people, she has a first class "Lyric Theatre." Mr. J. H. Hackman is proprietor of that. The movies and occasional vaudeville are put up here in the latest fashion.
The Beemer Brothers who run the electric light plant are pro- prietors also of the Paw Paw garage and it may as well be said at this point that this township of Wyoming owns and operates eighty automobiles and almost every business man in Paw Paw and many of the women own automobiles.
The Lee County Times is the only newspaper in Paw Paw and it enjoys a splendid patronage both in circulation and in job work. Ed F. Guffin, chairman of the republican county committee, is the owner and editor of it. Its history is quite fully noticed in another column. I am indebted to Mr. Guffin to a very large extent for facts obtained which went into this history. He and Mr. J. II. LaPorte approached every business proprietor and obtained the facts needed to make this chapter. Moreover, Mr. Guffin loaned me several copies of his files from which to derive facts I needed very much. I desire to thank him for his kindness, right here. His office turns out some of the best job work in the county and the paper turns out some of the best reading matter to be found. The paper is very ably edited. From these and the geologically added fact. Mr. Cuffin's office is one of the most profitable offices in the county. Paw Paw is singularly fortunate in its tributary country.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
But Paw Paw is still more fortunate in possessing the business people who know how to handle it.
Fred Henry is proprietor of the boot and shoe store and he also handles the repairing for the community.
S. Baker is the proprietor of a flour and feed store. Julius Schamberger is a merchant tailor. R. L. Tarr has a large agri- cultural implement house. Clemons Bros. operate a very large shoeing and blacksmithing business. Another one is carried on over at Compton.
Wayne Pierce operates the North Side Billiard Parlor.
Ellen C. Mitchell is proprietor of a millinery store. A. L. Coakes repairs and tunes pianos and organs. Snow Brothers is another firm. Harper & Stroyan are proprietors of the livery, feed and sale business. J. W. Mayor has the harness and blanket store. Beginning with the hay that the farm animals eat, we find F. Flewellin, the hay dealer. For years Wyoming township pro- duced some of the best pure bred horses and cattle one might find. J. W. Larabee has a large herd of red polled cattle with which he has met great success at the various fairs.
J. W. Lambkin has gathered around him a splendid herd of pure bred Herefords. In making his selections, he has secured the best animals both on blood lines and individual merit. This has been the home of Herefords for half a century, but Mr. Lambkin has assembled the best herd of all that period.
J. T. Epla is proprietor of the West Side Stock Farm. He raises and trains and drives fast horses. I should like to stop and talk a little while about the fine horses which have been de- veloped by Paw Paw men, but it cannot be done.
George W. Frey & Co. are large buyers of poultry and eggs. Mr. M. D. Warren is the manager. F. R. Mead is proprietor of the Paw Paw dairy. Mr. J. C. Miller long has been a successful horse buyer. He buys and ships for market.
D. L. Hartwell has a jewelry shop at which watches and jewelry are repaired.
There are three churches here at present: the Methodist, Rev. O. T. Canfield, pastor; First Presbyterian, Rev. C. H. Miller, pastor; and the Baptist, Rev. J. B. Martine, pastor. There are three cemeteries in Wyoming township-Wyoming. Harding and Cottage Hill.
The Pogue Brothers Lumber Company, dealers in coal, lumber, lath and building material, have an office here. Besides they are
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
engaged in business at Hinckley, and at Waterman over in De Kalb county.
G. C. Schreck has a large blacksmithing and horseshoeing busi- ness.
In commenting on the postoffice it was my plan to state the business of this well managed office. The number of outgoing pieces of mail, first class, for one year were 100,000; the number of second class, 6,000; the number of third class, 2,000; the number of parcels post, 4,500. The record of the incoming is as fol- lows: First class pieces, 80,000; second class, 75,000; third, 45,000; parcels post, 7,000. The total receipts for the year were $2,600. This volume indicates plainer than words the amount of business the village does.
Paw Paw has a right to be proud of her schools. It holds one of the best buildings in the county. W. C. Duff is the superin- tendent; Mrs. W. C. Suft is principal; Miss Elizabeth Turner is assistant principal. A four-year course is taught in the high school. Besides there are four rooms in each of which two grades are taught. In the first or primary grade there are today nineteen pupils, eight boys and eleven girls; in the second grade there are five boys and six girls. Miss Erma Lowrey teaches these two grades. Grade three has nine boys and six girls. Grade four has eleven boys and nine girls. Miss Gertie Smith teaches these two grades. Grade five has six boys and eight girls. Sixth grade has six boys and twelve girls. Miss Avis Adams teaches these two grades. In the high school for the first year there are five boys and nine girls. In the second year there are eight boys and seven girls. In the third year there six boys and six girls. In the last year there are five boys and eight girls. Total enrollment, 175.
Paw Paw is a great village for lodge work. Anchor lodge 510, I. O. O. F., is a very large order. Its officers are H. II. Row- land, N. G .; F. A. LaPorte, V. G .; E. J. Kirk, Recording seere- tary; D. R. MeLaughlin, financial secretary; A. C. McBride. treasurer: D. R. MeLaughlin, official examiner, instructor and representative to the Grand Lodge.
Officers of Paw Paw Encampment are E. JJ. Kirk, C. P. ; C. C. Tarbell, H. P .; R. L. Tarr, S. W .; G. C. Schrock, J. W .; D. R. MeLaughlin, Scribe : Albert N. Woods, Treasurer; L. A. Coss, rep- resentative to the Grand Encampment : D. R. MeLaughlin, official examiner and instructor.
Officers of Paw Paw Rebekah Lodge 264 are Mrs. A. R. Kelley. N. G .; Mrs. Fred Lilly, V. G .; Miss Vida Radley. F. S .; Mrs.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
R. L. Tarr, treasurer; Mrs. M. D. Warren, representative to the Rebekah Assembly.
Officers of Paw Paw Camp 4453, R. N. A., are Lula Rosen- krans, Oracle; Nettie Fightmaster, Vice Oracle; Jessie Barstow, Chancellor; Lettie G. Hyde, Recorder; Grace Baker, Receiver; Grace Rogers, Marshal; Mittie Lilly, I. S .; A. M. Carnahan, Man- ager 1; Florence Clemons, 2; Rose Hammond, 3; Wilbur M. Avery, physician.
Officers of the M. W. A. are A. M. Carnahan, Consul; F. D. Rogers, Adviser; Byron Rosenkrans, Banker; George E. Hyde, Clerk; Willis Hinke, Escort; W. T. Fightmaster, Watchman; Frank Ambler, Sentry; Dr. W. M. Avery, physician; F. D. Rogers, B. F. Ambler and W. T. Fightmaster, board of managers.
Officers of Corinthian Lodge 205, A. F. & A. M., are C. F. Preston, W. M .; E. N. Gibbs, S. W .; A. C. McBride, treasurer; H. L. Case, secretary ; F. J. Adams, S. D .; G. A. Ramer, J. D .; Charles Gibbs, marshal; J. C. Shamberger, chaplain; Dallas Mclaughlin, S. S .; E. P. Fleming, J. S.
Officers of Foster Chapter 331, O. E. S., are Bertha Wheeler, W. M .; Ed F. Guffin, W. P .; Alice Ramer, A. M .; Libbie Stetler, treasurer; E. Maude Pogue, secretary; Addie Guffin, Conductor; Josephine Pratt, A. C .; May Pierce, warder; Frank Wheeler, sentry ; Lillian Hammond, chaplain; Bertha Mills, Ada; Mary Hartwell, Ruth; Stella Case, Esther; Pearl Crowell, Martha; Helena Clemons, Electa.
The State Bank of Paw Paw is one of the strongest banks in the state. In a little village of 800 this bank on October 30 made a statement which totaled $416,253.31. But more than this: its stockholders are men of such business strength, that were they called to pay the last depositor and to the last cent, they could do it without very much effort. Just a little while ago, Mr. J. B. McBride, the vice president, died. He was one of the biggest of all our big Lee county men. He had led a long and quiet life in Paw Paw. He had been generous and public spirited. When his estate was inventoried a short while ago it footed $180,000, and but a few years ago he divided between his children, so I am told, a large fortune. All made in Paw Paw. The cash reserve hield in this bank runs all the way from 35 to 60 per cent. The bank enjoys the comfortable distinction of being able to take any good loan that comes along. If a certain reserve was desired, several stockholders could make the loan out of their own funds. It's a wonderful bank.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
In 1882 this bank was founded by M. M. Morse and P. C. Ran- som under the name of "Union Bank." A couple of years later, Mr. Ransom retired. In 1886, B. J. Wheeler and Teal Swarthout, who were partners known as B. J. Wheeler & Co., bought the bank and continued it under the name of the Union bank. This firm continued the business until 1901 when the partners, with others organized the present State Bank with a capital of $25,000, which capital was increased to $40,000.
In 1902 the First National Bank was organized, but during the same year the banks consolidated and increased the capital of the present bank to $50,000. The officers and directors who direct its affairs are: President, B. J. Wheeler; A. C. McBride, cashier; Frank Wheeler, assistant cashier; all of whom are direc- tors besides S. B. Miller, W. M. Goble, W. T. Chaffee and J. H. LaPorte. The surplus is $15,000.
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SAUK VALLEY CC LIBRARY
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