History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc., Part 24

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

USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. > Part 24

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and moved into it in December, having lived in the meantime on the " Blunt place," Amboy township. This was the first real settlement in Sublette, and the nearest neighbor of the Fessendens at that time was Joseph Doane, who was living about half a mile from the "Blunt place." The following year William Fessenden built half a mile north, on the southeast corner of the S.W. ¿ of Sec. 6, where John H. Long now lives. In 1838 Joseph Knox and his family settled at the south end of the grove which bears their name. The same year Sylvanus Peterson settled on the S.E. ¿ of Sec. 5. Before 1840 John Morton and R. E. Goodall settled north of him on land now owned by William Long, jr., and Russell Phillips on the southwestern part of Sec. 5, claiming forty there and forty opposite in Sec. 8. In 1839 Daniel Baird settled where Elijah Austin lives, on the La Salle and Grand Detour road, on Sec. 17. Mr. Baird settled in La Salle in the fall of 1836. The same year (1839) Phineas Rust built the first frame house in Sublette, on Sec. 30, half a mile south of where Ambrose Angier is now living. Mr. Rust never lived here, but sold his claim, the N.E. } of Sec. 30, to Philo Stanard and Thomas Angier late in 1840. The same year Thomas Tourtillott built a frame house 16×20 on Sec. 31, and O. Bryant settled on the "Old Chicago road " on Sec. 35. In 1842 Thomas Angier built a frame house where his present buildings are located. Gilbert Thompson also built on the site now occupied by Mrs. Fanble, on the S. ¿ of S.E. } Sec. 31.

In 1843 Ephriam Reniff settled with his family on the S. ¿ N.E. } Sec. 19, and afterward entered the same. It was in this year that Hi- ram Anderson settled on the N.E. ¿ of S.E. ¿ Sec. 33. The jumping of his claim subsequently caused quite an excitement among the rulers of the prairie. Bull, the offending party, lived at Dixon, and when it was known that Anderson's claim had been "jumped," the "Claim Society," consisting of all the settlers within several miles, turned out en masse, and going to Dixon well armed demanded the person of Mr. Bull. There were about sixty-five in the party, and the "jumper " was easily taken. While on their way back to the claim Sheriff Camp- bell interviewed the party, and concluded an agreement with them by which Bull was turned over to him. This was on the condition that the contestants should meet on a certain fixed day, and that the deed of the " forty " in dispute should be returned to Anderson, who was to pay the first cost of the land. The summary treatment em- ployed in this case had the desired effect, and settlers in this region were not troubled again in a similar way. In 1844 Alpheus Crawford came to the Knox Grove settlement, and bought from widow Pratt a claim of eighty acres on the S. ¿ of Sec. 13 for $75. At this time sev- eral families had settled at the grove. Daniel Pratt, Levi Camp and

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

J. B. Barton were early settlers here. The same year Prescott Bartlett claimed the S. ¿ of N.W. ¿ and the N. ¿ of S.W. ¿ Sec. 20, and built a log house on the same. Silas Reniff' settled where he now lives, on Sec. 20, and claimed about half a section. He entered only 160 acres, the N. ¿ of N.E. ¿ Sec. 20, and the S. ¿ of S.E. ¿ Sec. 17. In this year (1844) John Betz settled on the S.E. ¿ Sec. 33, and in 1845 Hoffman settled on the S.W. ¿ of the same. In 1846 Bartholo- mew Theiss made a claim of 120 acres on Secs. 29 and 30, where Godfred Theiss lives. In 1844 R. P. Hubbard settled and claimed the N.W. ¿ of N.E. ¿ and N.E. ¿ of N.W. ¿ See. 17. H. N. Erskine set- tled the " Kapser place," on Sec. 35, at an early day.

In the year 1844 was the land sale at Dixon. That year is known to this day by old settlers as the wettest season on record, from May until August. But few of the settlers were prepared to pay for their land, and consequently they formed themselves into societies for the protection of their homes, until they could raise the money necessary to pay for the land they had elaimed. The circumstance mentioned above had the effect of deterring speculators from abroad. Many farms were secured through Mexican land warrants on the market here soon after the close of the Mexican war. Many good farms were bought with these by men who could not have raised the eash to buy from the government at $1.25 per acre. But little land had been bought from the government before these warrants appeared, but within five years after nearly all was sold except that held by the Illinois Central Rail- road Company, and this was sold very soon.

In an early day wolves were plentiful, and are not yet extinct. In 1848 Alpheus Crawford and others killed a bear north of Knox Grove which weighed 400 pounds.

For many years after the settlement of this region prairie fires were the scourge of the settlements. Many are the thrilling incidents related of their ravages. Mrs. Baird relates her experience in fighting one when Mr. Baird was away from home. She whipped it until she was completely exhausted and had suffered greatly from the heat of the fire; and all the time expecting it would sweep their house and entire personal effects. Early in October, 1845, the settlers were visited by one of these fires. It is described by one of the early set- tlers in nearly the following words : " After dark my family noticed in the southwest the light of a fire so far off that it seemed it would not reach them before morning. That night a family of emigrants from Tennessee were camped in their wagon on a small piece of breaking near my house. About midnight my wife was aroused by loud knocking and other noise. Upon getting up she found a girl about twelve years old nearly frightened to death. (This girl was the

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only one of the emigrants not sick.) Going out of doors she saw the whole country southwest and west in a blaze of fire, some of which was thirty feet high. She started for the nearest house, which was half a mile distant, and aroused the inmates, and then a quarter of a mile further to another dwelling, where all were sleeping. These parties all had property that would have been destroyed had they not been warned. Upon returning home she found the worst danger over, the main fire having passed a little northwest of the building and break- ing. Her husband, who was in Chicago at the time, found on his return the entire prairie burnt over."

Nearly all of the early settlers teamed to Chicago more or less till the Illinois Central road came through. Produce was cheap, but this was the only way known to raise a little money. Often would they return home with a few trifles, the gross profits of an eight or ten days' trip. Little or nothing was taken for expenses, and often would a man be gone a week or two without entering a house. They would often go in companies of ten or more ox-teams, generally entering the city in the morning and coming out at night, thereby avoiding hotel bills. For a good load of wheat or dressed-pork but a few dollars would be realized. Often the driver had to unhitch his team and carry his load out of a slough on his back, and not unlikely this interesting .process would have to be several times repeated during one trip. The farmers also went a long distance to get their milling done. For several years they went to Greene's mill, at Dayton, and to other points on the Fox river.

But little was seen of the Indians by the settlers of Sublette. Old Shabona, however, with his followers, was an annual visitor for several years, passing, as he did, across the town on his way from his reser- vation, in DeKalb county, to the swamp near Walnut grove, in Bureau county. Shabona was a noble red-man, and on account of his friend- ship shown the settlers in the Black Hawk war, became very much endeared to them.

. The first post-office was that of Brookfield, at Daniel Baird's house, started about 1840.

In 1841 O. Bryant burned a kiln of brick on the northwest corner of Sec. 35. In 1850 a certain Beck built a blacksmith shop on or near the site now occupied by Dorsey Scott's shop. Richardson, Daniel Baird, Thomas Tourtillott, and Morrison, just over the line in May town, kept taverns in an early day.

Township Organization .- Soon after the organization of Lee county the west half of Sublette, and what is now May, were known as Bureau precinet ; the polls were held at the house of Daniel Baird. The east part of the township was incorporated with a part of Brooklyn,

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

with their voting place at Knox Grove. In 1849 the county was di- vided into townships. This town was first called Hamo. The railroad company having named their depot Sublette, it was desired to have the name of the township correspond, and consequently a petition was sent in the winter of 1856-7 to John V. Eustace, representative in the Illinois legislature. The name was accordingly changed to Sublette. This name was first employed, it is said, because of the frequent sub- letting of the grading of the road in this vicinity. The first town meeting was held on the second Tuesday in April 1850, "for the pur- pose of electing town officers, dividing the town into road districts, and for the transaction of other business." Alpheus Crawford was chosen moderator and Daniel Baird clerk for said meeting. A tax of 12} cents on every $100 of taxable property was voted to be assessed and collected. Stock was prohibited from running at large from Novem- ber 15 to April 1 of each year. The first election resulted in the choice of Daniel Baird for supervisor, Henry Porter clerk, Whitlock T. Porter assessor, Silas D. Reniff collector, Daniel Pratt overseer of the poor, Hiram Anderson and W. H. Hamblin highway commission- ers, Samuel Averill and Thos. S. Angier constables, Alpheus Craw- ford and Andrew Bertholf justices of the peace. The town was di- vided into nine road distriets two miles square. April 17, 1851, the highway commissioners ordered that district number " 10" be formed out of the east half of Secs. 20 and 17, and the west half of sections 16 and 21. At an election held in the school-house in district "3" April 6, 1852, forty-six votes were cast for supervisor, forty-seven for assessor, forty-five for collector, and forty-seven for town clerk. It was voted that the next annual town meeting be held at the house of Dan- iel Pratt, at Knox Grove. In 1854 the annual meeting was held at the house of Daniel Wilcox on Sec. 15, and in 1855 at the house of Daniel Maxwell. At this meeting $1,000 was voted for the erection of a town-house in the village of Sublette. Thomas Angier, H. Benton and Prescott Bartlett were appointed a committee to report a site for the same. At a special meeting held in December, Thomas Angier, John Tourtillott, S. Reniff, Thomas Fessenden and Horatio Benton were appointed a committee to build a house one story high, and of a size to correspond with funds voted for that purpose. At a meeting held in 1858, $150 was appropriated to bridge Bureau ereek at the old army trail. At the annual meeting in 1860 a fence law was passed de- claring what should be considered a legal fence, whether of wire, rails or boards. In 1860, 150 votes were cast for the supervisor, and the same number for town clerk, 152 for assessor, 147 for collector. In 1866, 177 was the highest vote cast for any office ; Silas Reniff was unanimously chosen assessor. For justice of the peace T. Angier re-

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ceived all but one (176), and A. L. Wilder the same number for town clerk. In 1881 about 220 votes were cast. The supervisors of Sub- lette have been : Daniel Baird three years, S. Peterson one year, T. Angier eighteen years, Albert Linn one year, Jonathan Peterson three years, John Theiss, five years, G. M. Crawford one year. The justices of the peace have been T. Angier thirty-one years, Alpheus Crawford six years, A. Bertholf one year, James Brewer one year, W. F. Wilder one year, A. B. Linn eight years, Daniel Barton three years, Isaac Clink one year, N. W. Smith twelve years. Silas D. Reniff was elected assessor of Sublette in 1854, and except three years has assessed the town ever since. A. L. Wilder with one exception has held the office of town clerk since 1864.

The village of Sublette occupies parts of Secs. 9, 10, 15 and 16. The Illinois Central railroad buildings, a depot and a warehouse on the northwest corner of Sec. 15, were built in the summer of 1854. Daniel Cook built the first dwelling house the same winter. In the following summer A. L. Wilder built a small store, in the back part of which he lived. Jesse Hale began his store about the same time. George A. Richmond put up a house, and did. a flourishing business in the sale of lots. Mr. Swartwout built the same fall a part of the house which he finished the next year, and lived in the winter of 1855-6. Frank Bartlett built what is now the Catholic parsonage in the fall of 1855 and moved into it the same winter. Paul Lindstraum built a shanty the same fall and began his tavern, which he completed the next year. Doctor Smith built a part of his present residence and got into it in December. Hugh Carr came in the dead of winter and rigged up an old barn in which he lived a short time. "Uncle Aba " Hale came in 1856, also the families of James Colvin and Robert Ash. J. B. Barton came the same year and opened a drug store. There are now fifty-seven families in the village, doing a good business. The Methodist, Baptist, Congregational and Catholic churches are located here.

Sublette Lodge, No. 349, A.F. and A.M .- The dispensation was issued to Thomas S. Angier, W. D. Tourtillott, Jacob D. Tourtillott, James Tourtillott, Daniel Barton, B. F. Berkley, and Prescott Bartlett, and the first meeting was held January 31, 1860. The charter of the lodge was issued October, 1860, to Thomas Angier, W.M .; W. D. Tourtillott, S.W .; Jacob D. Tourtillott, J.W .; James Tourtillott, secre- tary ; Daniel Barton, S.D .; B. F. Berkley, J.D .; Daniel Baird, treas- urer ; H. C. Chapman, and N. J. Swartwout. At first meetings were held in the rear of Jesse Hale's store, and subsequently on the second flour of the school building. In 1870 the members of the lodge put up a building at a cost of $2,500. The first meeting in the new hall

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

was held Angust 16, 1870. The lower part of their building is rented for store purposes, and is now occupied by Frank Thompson. The present membership of the lodge is thirty, five of whom are non-resi- dent. The present officers are Joseph H. Ayres, W.M .; Joel S. Cook, S.W .; Henry Paris, J.W .; E. W. Patten, treasurer; T. S. Angier, secretary ; Oliver A. Wood, S.D .; William Obernaur, J.D .; Lafayette Long, tyler.

Cemeteries .- There are several burial places in the township. The most important of these are the one at the Catholic church in Sec. 32, and that in Sec. 4 on the land of N. and J. Peterson. In the first nearly a hundred have been buried, all Catholics, and some from a considerable distance. In both, many of the old settlers are buried, one of whom, in the latter, is Jonathan Peterson, sr. Near here on the N.W .¿ of Sec. 3, are several graves. Near Knox Grove is a small cemetery in which Daniel Pratt and others of the early settlers of this vicinity are reposing. Several interments have been made near the Catholic church in the village of Sublette. Daniel Baird was buried on the farm which he last owned. This is the "eighty" en- tered by E. Reniff. Besides these there are a few other small burial places within the town.

CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.

Many of the first settlers here were church members, and conse- quently religious meetings date from the beginning of society here. They were of a very humble and unpretentious style, and in keeping with the spirit of the time. Few went, we apprehend, to display finery-if any there were to display ; nor did they have churches of any kind for many years in which to worship. Primitive dwellings or rnde school-houses were their only temples, and in these did they often meet to sing their songs of praise and offer their devout prayers to a Father whose guidance they sought. The first church organization in Sublette was that of the Baptists. This was effected April 1843, in Jonathan Peterson's log house. There were at first thirteen members : Jonathan Peterson, sr., and his wife, Jonathan Peterson, jr., Sylva- nus Peterson and his wife, Nathaniel, Mary and Hope Peterson, Jon- athan Eells, Hubbard Eells and his wife, Joshua Rogers and his wife. Meetings were held in the log school in this vicinity as soon as it was built ; previously from house to house. This was the central or mother organization for quite a large adjoining region, and was known as the first Baptist church of Palestine Grove. Meetings were held alter- nately on opposite sides of this grove for the mutual accommodation of those who lived widely apart. Some of the members of this society became by letter members of the Baptist church of Amboy at its or-

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ganization. In 1854 meetings were first held in Benton's Hall, on Sec. 16, about half a mile west of the site of the church in which they now assemble, and here they continued till 1858, when, in November, they dedicated a church edifice in the village of Sublette, on Main street, erected at a cost of $5,000. The first pastor was Rev. Henry Headley, of La Moille. Jonathan Peterson, sr., was the first deacon, and Warren Hills, the second. Sylvanus Peterson was the first clerk. Pastors have been : Charles Cross, E. O. Whittaker, J. H. Morrison, A. S. Denison, O. D. Taylor, Albert Guy, A. S. Merrifield, H. C. Yates, R. R. Coon. Jonathan Peterson and A. L. Swartwout are the present deacons, and A. J. Rogers is clerk. The society has a membership of about 120, is out of debt, and owns a parsonage worth $2,000. The Sunday-school of the church is in a flourishing condition, and is superintended by Abram Swartwout.

Methodist Episcopal Church .- The first Methodist organization within the limits of the township was at the house of Levi Camp, at Knox Grove, about thirty-five years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Pratt, Mr. and Mrs. John Skinner, Mr. and Mrs. Vertrees, Joseph, Miriam and Sarah Vertrees, Mrs. Levi Ellsworth, Mrs. Dr. Heath, Mrs. John Clink, Joseph Knox and his family, were early members ; also Mr. and Mrs. John Barnes, Albert Linn and his wife, Skinner Pratt and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Wood. These parties were then living around or near Knox Grove. Nearly all of them were first members. For quite a number of years the society was supplied by circuit preachers. Elder Julian was a very early preacher in this vicinity. Milton Hana and U. P. Golliday were others. For several years meetings were held in the town hall at the village of Sublette. W. H. Smith was one of the first pastors at the " Hall." In 1870 a church was built and was dedi- cated in 1871. The ministers of the church since have been : F. F. Farmiloe, Wm. A. Cross, Philo Gorton, T. C. Youngs, E. Brown, W. H. Records, and M. C. Smith (supplied). The officers of the church at present are W. W. Ireland, W. R. Long, C. Brown, John H. Gen- try, trustees; W. R. Long, Mrs. W. W. Ireland, C. Brown, E. Lewis, Mrs. Joel Cook, Statira Crawford, stewards, and Ida Ireland, recording steward. But very few of the early members are left, they either having died or moved away.

Congregational Church .- The organization of this society was ef- fected April 20, 1871. Rev. E. Baker was the first pastor. Meetings were at first held in the town hall. The officers were : John Meth- ven and Elias Purdy, deacons ; Levi Mead, clerk ; Russell M. Brown, treasurer. There were about thirty original members, among whom were John Methven and wife, Mrs. Walter Morse, Mrs. Jane Ells, E. Purdy and wife, Russell Brown and his family, Wm. Brown and

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wife, H. C. Chapman and wife, Levi Mead and wife. A few weeks after the organization of the society a church was begun, which cost about $5,000. The officers of the church are E. Purdy, jr., and Chas. Hatch, deacons ; Edward Fessenden, John Tourtillott and E. Purdy, jr., trustees ; Chas. H. Ingals, treasurer E. Purdy, clerk. The first Sabbath-school was superintended by Russell Brown, under whom it flourished. Mr. Edward Fessenden is the present superintendent.

Church of the Evangelical Association of North America .- This society built their church in 1864, on the N.W. ¿ of Sec. 35, at a cost of $2,000. This is a branch from the church of the same denomina- tion at Perkins' Grove, Bureau county. The services are all in Ger- man. The preachers who officiate at this writing are the Revs. Woehr and Fry, this being in the Perkins Grove circuit and Mendota district. The Sabbath-school in connection with the church has an average membership of about 55. J. C. Speilman is the superintendent. The trustees are Messrs. Barth, Richert and Speilman. The membership at present consists of a dozen or more families.

Roman Catholic Church .- The organization of this church was effected in the fall of 1848. Meetings were first held at the house of Bartholomew Theiss. Among the first families of the church were the Steins, Katzenbargers, Theisses, Beckers, Smiths, Laner, Krebs, and others. Rev. N. Steele was the first priest. In 1853 a church was built on Sec. 32, on land owned by A. Stein. A parsonage was also built. This burned in 1869, since which the church has not had a regular priest. The Catholic church built in the village of Sublette in 1868 is a branch of this, also the German Catholic church built a few years ago in May township. Only seven of the original members are left, and meetings are held in the old church only a few times a year.

Schools .-- The school land was sold about 1850, and the town was soon divided into ten districts. On each of these is a good school- house. There is also a school in connection with the Catholic church at the village. As early as 1841 there was a Sunday-school started in the Tourtillott neighborhood. This was not in connection with any church. The prime movers in this work were Father Tourtillott and Mrs. Angier. It was not continued more than a year or two. The first school was in a log house on Tom Fessenden's farm ; the next was in a slab building on the farm of Thomas Tourtillott. This was a structure used at first for preëmption purposes, and was never intended for a school-house. It was afterward known as the "sheep pen." Maria Codman, of New York, was the first teacher here. The next school in this vicinity was taught in the winter by Joseph Carey in Mrs. Tourtillott's house ; and the next of any importance in Mrs. Rich- ardson's house by John Bacon, about 1850. The third school in the

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town of Sublette was in the log school-house on Sec. 5. Mrs. Chute, sister of Jonathan Peterson, taught the first summer school here about 1844. The winter school held here was for several years quite impor- tant, being well attended by an advanced class of students.

WAR RECORD.

Sublette has a war record of which her people are justly proud. According to the population and area, it seems almost incredible that so many men should have been furnished within the short space of four and a half years. From the beginning to the close of the great civil war Sublette sent fathers and sons into the service, till her ener- gies seemed all but exhausted. When the great struggle was nearly ended, and the town shorn of its strength, a number of men were hired ; nearly all of them from outside of the township. The quota of troops for Sublette was 204, fourteen of whom were veterans. Of the veterans who first enlisted from within the township but two were afterward hired, the others having volunteered their services.

The Lee County Guards .- Designated as Co. F, 12th Inf., was mustered into the military service September 20, 1878, by Maj. W. G. Coulter, with a membership of sixty-one men, which augmented till, at its annual inspection and muster, March 31, 1879, it numbered ninety-eight, and 103 at the annual inspection and muster, March 31, 1880 ; thirty-four more than any other infantry company in the State of Illinois.

The Guards have been the recipients of many invitations to par- ticipate in public demonstrations and ceremonies, among which were decoration of soldiers' graves by the citizens of Mendota, May 30, 1879; the Guards being escort for procession, and were handsomely entertained by the city.

They encamped with the 3d reg. I.N.G., at Freeport, July 3, 4 and 5, 1879, being entertained by the public. They encamped four days with the 1st brig. I.N.G., in September 1879, at South Park, Chicago, at which time eighty-one men reported for duty. On November 5, at a reception tendered Gen. Grant by the citizens of Mendota, the Guards had the honor of being the first military company to receive and escort the general in Illinois after his tour around the world. On July 4, 1880, at a celebration in Amboy, they escorted the procession and were guests of the city. Having accepted an invitation to attend the twenty-fifth annual fair of the northwest, held at Sterling, Sep- tember 14, 15, 16, and 17, the company was entertained with princely hospitality by the management of the association. At this time it escorted Gen. Grant and other gentlemen of national reputation, among whom were Gov. Cullom and Gen. Logan. On account of

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History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc., Part 24

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