History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc., Part 14

Author: Hill, H.H. (Chicago) pbl
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, H.H. Hill
Number of Pages: 910

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The losses and insurance on buildings and machinery were as follows : Becker & Underwood, $100,000; insurance, $33,900 on machinery, and $5,000 on stock. W. P. Thompson, $35,000; insur- ance on machinery $17,000, and $5,000 on stock. Antone Julien carried $5,500 on one fourth undivided interest in this mill. Col. John Dement from $20,000 to $25,000 on water-wheels, buildings

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MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.

occupied by Dement & Eells, foundry, and Curtis' plow works; no insurance. H. D. Dement & S. C. Eells, from $12,000 to $15,000 on flax-mill machinery, stock, etc .; no insurance. Caleb Clapp, $15,000; insurance $6,000. Thomas Baldwin, $3,500 on grist-mill machinery and stock; no insurance. Total loss from $190,000 to $198,000; insurance $66,900.

The record begins August 2, 1856, and closes with the great fire of April 8, 1880, a period of twenty-four years ; during which time there have occurred twenty-six fires resulting in damages amounting to $302,000, and casualties, three deathis and ten wounded.

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.

Dixon Plow Works .- These works were established in October, 1856, by Col. John Dement on the site now occupied by Vann & Means, carriage makers. The business was there carried on for several years and was then moved to its present location at the water power. The whole business was, at that time, done in the building afterward used as a blacksmith shop. From a small beginning the establishment grew in capacity and reputation, and obtained its highest importance under Col. Dement's management, in 1863 and 1864, when his plows took the first premium at the field trial of the State Agricultural Society, over all competitors, and he was awarded gold and silver medals; from which fact, until the re- tirement of Col. Dement from the business, the plows were known as "The Gold Medal." At this time began the wonderful series of improvements which in a few years changed the soft, rough German steel plow, then in general use, into the hardened, highly finished patent-steel implement of to-day. Except in modes of manufacture and improved material there has been but little change in the Dixon plow. The short, deep, round-topped mould-board then in use, now remains. At that time it was unique, peculiar to Col. Dement's "Shaghai " and the modified "Shanghai," or "Gold Medal." The real value of this pattern is strongly attested by the fact that its principal features are now used by every prominent manufacturer of plows in the northwest. In 1867 the business was transferred to W. M. Todd & H. D. Dement, who conducted it for two years, selling nearly their entire produce to F. K. Orvis & Co., then a firm in the agricultural implement trade in Chicago. In 1869 the whole business was sold to Messrs. Orvis & Co., who continued the manu- facture of the various lines of goods, and added others from time to time, building up a large trade, extending over the entire northwest. They were succeeded by the Orvis Manufacturing Company, organ- ized under the general laws of the state, May 12, 1877, which com-

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

pany, after two years and a half of largely increased trade, sold out to Charles H. Curtis, of Chicago (the president of the company and largest stockholder), on November 12, 1879. Mr. Curtis has been identified with large manufacturing interests in this state for nearly forty years, and with his usual energy has pushed the business to its utmost, adding new articles, such as seeders, drills, sulky plows, etc., all of which uphold the standard of excellence so long deserv- ingly maintained by the Dixon Plow Works.

The works in 1880 occupied the greater portion of a magnificent factory building, erected by Col. John Dement in 1869. This build- ing is solidly built of stone, and is four stories high on the front, measuring on the ground plan 86x142 feet It is interesting to the older inhabitants of the county, who saw the beginning of this enter- prise, to go through the works and notice the wonderful changes which a few years have made in the methods of manufacture and their products. In the beginning a few small rooms furnished ample space to carry on the different branches of work, which were mainly done by hand. Afterward each department became a com- plete establishment by itself, doing all the work by machinery, and turning ont the parts assigned to it by the thousands, each piece being an exact duplicate of others of the same class. On the 8th of April, 1880, the works were damaged by fire, and business has not since been resumed.

Grand Detour Plow Works. - This well-known establishment was founded in 1837 at Grand Detour, by John Deere, now of Moline, Illinois, and Major Andrus, now deceased. They started what was styled a plow factory in a little blacksmith shop (such as may be seen at a conntry cross-road), and two forges were sufficient to meet their wants for some two years, when they became able to run an ordinary horse-power, for the purpose of turning the grindstone and fanning the furnace fire. The building in which these labor-saving arrange- ments were located stood some forty rods from the "factory " proper, and every plow ground and casting moulded had to be car- ried one way or the other, in the hand or on the shoulder, and the sight of the two proprietors lugging their work back and forth is called up with interest, in view of the great prosperity which each of them, by means of the same hard work and close management, ultimately attained. In this manner, and under these disadvantages, the business went on for about six years, when such success had attended the enterprise that they were enabled to put in steam. From this time forward they continued adding machinery and im- provements, and their progress was uninterrupted. However, there were no means of sending their plows through the country except

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MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.

by wagons, and few markets except the farm in even the best agri- cultural sections. Teams were loaded and sent throughout the country, and substantial farmers were supplied with plows, which they sold through the community, reserving a handsome commission for their services.

In 1848 Mr. Deere withdrew from the firm, which had experi- enced several changes, at one time presenting the array of Andrus, Deere, Tate & Gould, and started a plow factory at Moline, which grew and prospered from the first, and might with reason be termed a child of the Grand Detour Works. The business was run by Mr. Andrus alone, who was then joined by Col. Amos Bosworth, who, in our late war, was known as lieutenant-colonel of the 34th Illinois, and died in the service in March 1862.

In October, 1857, the factory, which had been steadily growing and extending its limits, was burnt down, and upon the same site and remnants of the walls a new factory was erected. In August, 1863, Theron Cumins, Esq., senior member of the present firm, became one of the proprietors, which took the name of Andrus & Cumins. Under their administration the business was carried on until February 1867, when Mr. Andrus died. Few men pass away more deeply and sincerely lamented than was Mr. Andrus. Upon his death the business passed into Mr. Cumins' hands, and was by him conducted until June 1869, when Col. II. T. Noble, of Dixon, became interested therein, the name of the firm being T. Cumins & Co.

In 1869 the works were moved to their present location at Dixon. In June, 1874, Mr. Dodge, for several years a merchant here, became interested therein, and the business was then conducted under the firm name of Cumins, Noble & Dodge. In June, 1879, the business was incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois, the title being "Grand Detour Plow Company." Theron Cumins, Henry T. Noble, Orris B. Dodge and Charles H. Noble being the incorpo- rators. The plow works, which in the first years only turned out from seventy-five to a hundred plows per year, are now producing many thousands, and scattering them by means of the steam horse over the limitless West. The works are located on a spacious trian- gular piece of land, between the depots of the Chicago & North- western and Illinois Central railroads, with switches from both roads running to the shops and warehouses. . The factory has a frontage on the north of 206 feet, and to the west of 164 feet. The forging room is 116 × 50 feet ; the grinding room, 44 × 50 feet ; the machine room, 30 × 70 feet ; the wood room, 150 × 50 feet; the foundry, 60 × 40 feet ; and paint room on the second floor, 150 x 50 feet ;

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

with a warehouse for storing purposes, 120 × 50 feet, two stories high. The workmen connected with the works are men of large experience in the manufacture of agricultural implements, many of whom have been identified with this establishment for ten, fifteen and twenty years, and some for even a quarter of a century. The good name fairly earned by the Grand Detour Plow is more than sustained by the very superior quality of goods now being made by the Grand Detour Plow Company.

Sash, Door and Blind Factory .- In 1868 James Fletcher erected the building he now occupies, and commenced the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds on quite an extensive seale. The factory building is 36 × 60 feet, and four stories high. Everything is done by machinery, so that all that is done to a door, sash or blind by hand is to put it together and smooth it up and sandpaper it. Every tenon is cut by a machine that is set to fit the mortise, and every tenon is just exactly the same size and shape, as is also every nor- tise. The machinery used by Mr. Fleteher is all of modern manu- facture, with late improvements ; comprising such machines as planers, mortising, boring and stieking machines, saw-tables, sharp- ers, formers, etc. His trade is mostly confined to this eity, his present facilities being too small to supply a large foreign trade, yet he does sell stock to many of the neighboring towns. It is seldom that the busy hum of the saws at Fletcher's mill are not heard upon working days, and among the most industrious of those working in this mill is the proprietor himself. The excellence of the work turned out by this factory is deserving of great success.

The Dixon Water Power .- In the year 1844 the agitation of the subject of building a dam across Rock river at this point was com- menced, and about the year 1845 resulted in a survey being made by one Woodworth, who reported a fall in the river from Grand Detour of nine and a half feet, and that the erection of a dam at this place was not a difficult undertaking. Subsequently, probably in 1846, a charter was obtained to organize the Dixon Dam and Bridge eom- pany, and in the fall and winter of 1846-7 the bridge was built. We have seen how this first bridge fared. Subsequently a new charter was obtained and a company organized in 1848, under the name of the Rock River Hydraulic Company, for the purpose of construet- ing a dam, but for some reason the work was not immediately carried forward. In August. 1849, application was made to the county com- missioner's court for a writ of ad quod damnum in accordance with the law in regard to proposed mill-dams ; a jury of twelve disinter- ested men was summoned, who met in September and declared in favor of the building of the proposed dam. The company entered

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into negotiations with Messrs. Hanchet & Dalston, of Beloit, Wiscon- sin, which resulted in a contract on the part of these gentlemen to build the dam for a bonus of $1,500. They immediately commenced work ; they were allowed to help themselves, without charge, to such ma- terial as the woods and quarries afforded, and were to own the dam when completed. Although provision was made for a five-foot dam in the preliminary proceedings, it at first was built only two feet and a half high, but was found to be inadequate to furnish the power needed and was soon raised higher. It was built of brush or young trees, stone and gravel, and was soon finished. Although Hanchet & Dalston had acquired the ownership of the work, they were unable to retain it, by reason of the indebtedness that they had incurred in its construction. Mr. J. B. Brooks had furnished their employés with goods from his store, and Col. Dement had provided funds, until the demands of these two gentlemen were more than the firm could liquidate. As a matter of security, therefore, Messrs. Dement and Brooks eventually acquired the entire ownership of the dam, and Hanchet & Dalston retired. A saw-mill was built at the north end of the dam at the same time, by Mr. Christopher Brookner. The building that, previous to the great fire of April 8, 1880, was known as the Becker & Underwood mill was commenced by Brooks & De- ment as soon as they had become owners of the dam. Col. Dement sold his interest in the mill, and acquired Brooks' interest in the dam, and the mill was afterward run by Brooks & Daley. Dement then built the foundry and the present race, and laid the foundation for what, prior to the fire mentioned above, was known as the flax- mills and the flouring-mills of Thompson & Co., both of which were afterward built by Chas. Godfrey, Esq. Col. Dement, since the war, also built the plow works and the flax-mills on the south side of the race. Mr. Godfrey not only built the flouring-mill mentioned, but purchased the Becker & Underwood mill of Brooks & Daley, and a large interest in the water-power.

The dam withstood the tide for two or three years without re- quiring any considerable repair. Breaches were not infrequent, but in every instance they were readily mended and the proprietors, after years of experience and observation, have gained a knowledge of the current and bed which has at last enabled them to construct a first-class dam, seven feet in height, against which water and ice seem to be powerless.

From Grand Detour to this place, a distance of nine miles, there is a fall of nine and a half feet, with a volume of 7,355 cubic feet of water per minute, at the lowest stages of the river. This has been ascertained to a certainty by J. M. Patrick, Esq., who measured it

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and made estimates in 1863, when the river was very low. This would furnish a power equal to that of 3.000 horse. The fall at that time was five feet. and since then it has been raised to seven feet and two inches, which will nearly double the power. At least 5.000 horse power is attained. Calculating that it will re- quire twenty horse power for one run of stone, we find that our water power is capable of propelling 250 run of very large stone. This calculation is made from the lowest stage of water-when the river is up to a medium stage the power almost doubles the above figures. It is estimated that the water used by our factories when they were all in operation was not perceptible in the flow of water over the dam. The capacity of the power already developed would be sufficient to run a line of factories on each side of the river that would reach from the dam to the railroad bridge. This places within the grasp of Dixon the banner of manufacturing towns in Illinois. Will she take it ? By placing that portion of this water not needed by the present owners in the market at reasonable figures, new capital would be invested in it, and by the full employment of this immense power by capitalists, who have, and will feel, an increasing interest in the city, equal to the amount of their capital invested in the me- chanical appliance of that power, all branches of industry and mer- cantile enterprises would be stimulated to such an extent that it would not be unreasonable to expect that in ten years Dixon would become a city of 15,000 or 20,000 inhabitants.

The Flax Bagging Mill .- Under the proprietorship of Col. John Dement is an establishment that cannot well be ignored in this sketch, as its relation to the manufacturing interests of Dixon is one of great importance. This mill is the first one of the kind estab- lished in the United States. The project was developed in 1865, and the mill erected in 1866. In February, 1867, the mill commenced operation under the proprietorship of Messrs. Jerome & Downing : a few months latter the firm name was changed to Dement & Jerome ; but for some years Col. John Dement has been sole proprietor. Knowing the demand for the manufactured material, the mill was established on a large basis, and as soon as it commenced operation turned ont 1400 yards of bailing cloth per day. The original build- ing was of stone, 45×75 feet, two stories high. Running three years in this building and finding the demand so much greater than their facilities could supply, Dement & Jerome increased their capacity in 1870 by extending the factory building back sixty feet, making the whole building 45×140 feet, and increasing the capacity of the mill to its present immense business of 3,200 yards of bailing cloth per day. The factory now gives employment to fifty men, women and

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girls. To illustrate the importance of this flax establishment and the number to whom it gives employment it will be necessary to go outside the mill. The flax bagging mill uses 9,000 pounds of tow per day, which Col. Dement manufactures himself from 36.000 pounds of flax straw, which is the product of twenty-five to thirty acres. The mill runs a full capacity for 280 days a year. This would make 1,260 tons of flax tow manufactured into baling cloth by this factory during the year, produced from 5,040 tons of straw, or the product of from 7,000 to 8,140 acres. The mill receives three car loads of tow per week, and ships two car loads of bagging. Most of the product of this mill is shipped south to Memphis and Louisville, and some to St. Louis, from which places it is distributed through- out the cotton-fields, where it is used to inclose the bales of cotton.

The Becker & Underwood Mills .- These mills stand unrivaled and alone as the only mills operated in this country on the complete Hungarian system, and are attracting flour manufacturers from the far east, west and north to witness the successful working of this wonderful machinery.

The building is 50 85 feet, six stories high, with basement. An elevator and cleaning room constitute the east wing, 22 × 36 feet, and five stories in height. This building the firm commenced on August 12, 1880, by five mechanics, which force was increased sufficiently to carry the entire building up together; the siding was worked from the inside, inclosing each story as it was raised. The work was managed with such skill by the proprietors that on Feb- ruary 10, 1881, a little less than six months from the time the work' was commenced, the mill started, with all that wonderful combina- tion of machinery extending from the cellar to the garret.

On the first floor are set thirty-five rolling-mills, through which the grain passes until reduced into the finest flour. Each roller is complete in itself and runs independent of the others, performing its own part of the reduction process, the grist having to pass through a number of these rollers before it is reduced to its finest state. These rollers are connected by conductors and elevators, through which the grist passes from one rolling-mill to another until perfected. The grain passes the first roller, where it is cracked and falls through to the basement. from which it is carried by elevators to the fifth floor, where it is separated from impurities and returns to the first floor to pass through the second roller, then to the upper floor as before ; and continues in like manner until the full series is passed, consisting in all of eighteen operations or reductions. On this floor, besides the rolling-mills, are four flour packers.

On the second floor are sixteen stock hoppers and twenty-two

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

conveyors ; and on the third floor there are nine bolting reels and eight purifiers. The fourth floor contains, also, eight bolting reels and eight purifiers, with three bran dusters and three aspirators by which the stock is cleansed from impurities through a suction pro- cess. The fifth floor is occupied by thirty-four bolting reels ; and ascending to the sixth floor, or attic, we find it occupied by the machinery which drives belts and elevators in the mill below. The mill is capable of turning out 500 barrels of flour per day.

The cleaning room is situated between the mill and elevator, and is of the same height of the latter, which is five stories, with a cleaning mill on each floor. The elevator has a capacity of eighteen thousand bushels, and is driven in connection with the machinery in the cleaning room, by an independent wheel; having no connec- tion with the power that drives the mill. In the basement of the cleaning room is being fitted up a Holly fire extinguisher as a means of protection from any accident by fire such as the firm expe- rienced in 1880, when their former mill was destroyed in the great fire of that year. It is an establishment of which Dixon mnight well be proud.

THE FOUNDER OF DIXON.

John Dixon was the first white man to settle within the limits of what is now embraced in Lee county. He was a native of New York, born in the village of Rye, Westchester county, October 9, 1784. When twenty-one years of age he removed to New York city, and opened a clothing and merchant tailoring establishment, in "which he continued in a successful trade for fifteen years. He was a member and one of the directors of the first Bible society organiza- tion in the United States. This was organized February 11, 1809, under the name of the " Young Men's Bible Society of the City of New York." While thus engaged, premonitory symptoms of pul- monary disease manifested themselves, making a change of climate necessary. Under the advice of his physician he disposed of his interests in the city, and in 1820, in company with Mrs. Dixon and children, and his brother-in law, Chas. S. Boyd and family (now of Princeton, Illinois), set out for the then Great West - the western prairies. Leaving New York in a covered wagon, drawn by a single team, the emigrants passed through the States of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, to Pittsburgh, and there purchased a flat-boat, on which they embarked with their team and effects, and floated down the Ohio to Shawneetown, Illinois, then a little landing. Here they disembarked with their horses and goods, and after disposing of their boat proceeded with their wagon northwest, through pathless prai- ries and unbridged streams, to the vicinity in which is now Spring-

for braunforel.

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTER ENON AND TILDE MONDATIONS R

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THE FOUNDER OF DIXON.

field. The prairie, now the present site of the state capital, was then an open wild, without a human dwelling, though a few pioneers had reared their cabins in the bordering woodlands. On Fancy creek, nine miles from the present site of Springfield, Mr. Dixon made his home at the close of his journey of over seventy days. Sangamon county was not then set off, and nearly all central and northern Illinois was embraced in the county of Madison. Early in the next year Sangamon county was formed ; and the first court in the new county was held at the house of John Kelly, the oldest set- tler near the site of Springfield. John Dixon was appointed foreman of the grand jury. In 1825 Judge Sawyer, whose circuit nominally embraced northwestern Illinois, requested Mr. Dixon to take the appointment of circuit clerk and remove to Peoria, then often called Fort Clark, which he did, receiving also from Governor Coles the appointment of recorder of deeds for Peoria county, then just formed. Northern Illinois was not then divided into counties, and within the territory attached to Peoria county were the voting pre- cincts of Galena and Chicago. This whole region, which now em- braces thirty counties, then had but 1,236 inhabitants. While Mr. Dixon was at Peoria the government established a mail route from Peoria to Galena, crossing Rock river at the present site of Dixon, and going by way of Gratiot's Grove, in Wisconsin, to accommodate a little settlement there ; mail to be carried once in two weeks on horseback. Mr. Dixon threw in a bid for the contract, which was accepted. In order to secure a passage for the mails over Rock river, he induced a man by the name of Ogee, a French and Indian half-breed, to establish a ferry at the point of crossing the river. This done, the travel to and from the lead mines so rapidly increased that Ogee's coffers became full - too full indeed for his moral powers to bear ; the result was constant inebriation. To avoid the delays in the transmission of mails, which these irregularities en- tailed, Mr. Dixon bought the ferry from Ogee; and April 11, 1830, removed his family to this point. From that date the place, as a point for crossing the river, became known as "Dixon's Ferry." At that time a large portion of the Winnebago Indians occupied this part of the Rock river country. Mr. Dixon so managed his business relations with them as to secure their entire confidence and friend- ship, which, on the return of the Sacs and Foxes, under Black Hawk, in 1832, proved to be of inestimable benefit to himself and family. He was recognized by them as the "red-man's friend," and in accordance with the universal practice of the race, who always give names to persons and places, descriptive of some incident or attribute pertaining to them, called him "Nadah-churahı-sah," --

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History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc., Part 14

Author: Hill, H.H. (Chicago) pbl Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, H.H. Hill Number of Pages: 910

Author: Hill, H.H. (Chicago) pbl
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, H.H. Hill
Number of Pages: 910