USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. > Part 32
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The Amboy bar has been composed of men of respectable legal talent. William E. Ives, the oldest practicing attorney in the county, settled here in December 1854, and was the first to hang out a sign in the place. Alfred Tooker and James H. Felch, partners, came next ; and in 1855 Alonzo Kinyon, one of the most marked men that Lee county has had, settled here, read law, and began practice in this place. Although lacking in the advantages of education, he possessed large . intellectuality and great energy of character, and added to these natu- ral endowments habits of ceaseless and rugged industry. By force of will and activity his success was solid and conspicnous. In politics he was a republican, and an active man in his party; and in 1868 was elected representative to the general assembly. The principal measures passed by that body, as the result of his labors, were a charter for the Chicago & Rock River railroad ; and another act creating " The Court of Common Pleas of the City of Amboy," to have concurrent jurisdic- tion in the city of Amboy with the circuit court of Lee county in all cases, civil and criminal, except murder and treason. In April, 1869, Mr. Kinyon was elected judge of this court for a term of four years, with an annual salary of $3,500 ; and C. D. Vaughan was elected clerk. In February, 1874, the act establishing the court was repealed. In the
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early history of the town Mr. Kinyon was largely engaged in building, and in no small degree increased its growth and accommodations.
Enos J. Ives and William B. Stuart were attorneys in practice here when the town was first started. The latter was a pioneer of the county, and is still a resident of Amboy. In 1858 B. H. Trusdell, a young lawyer from New Jersey, settled here in practice and still resides in the place. He was elected to the legislature by the demo- crats for one term, and served the county with credit. E. Southwick, a lawyer of ability, and some note, lived here, and died just before Mr. Trusdell came. N. H. Ryan was another early lawyer. He also went from this county to the legislature. An attorney by the name of Ryon formed a partnership with Mr. Kinyon when the latter com- menced to practice. Ryon's stay did not exceed two years. J. E. Lewis, C. E. Ives, C. H. Wooster and T. P. Duffy have all been ad- mitted here, and represent the later generation.
INCORPORATION.
In the winter of 1854-5 Amboy became a town under the general incorporation law, and Deacon Allen E. Wilcox was president of the first board of trustees. H. B. Judkins was president and Dr. J. A. Jackson clerk of the second and last board. In the autumn of 1856 agitation for a city organization was begun, and on the 23d of Decem- ber a meeting of citizens was held at Mechanics' Hall to consider the subject. A. E. Wilcox was called to the chair and W. M. Taylor chosen secretary. J. B. Wyman, W. E. Ives, A. Kinyon, E. Southwick and John L. Skinner were appointed a committee to present a form of char- ter at an adjourned meeting on the 30th. This was held at the Orient House, and the charter reported was adopted by sections, and then as a whole. A committee consisting of J. B. Wyman, W. E. Ives and J. V. H. Judd was selected to lay it before the legislature and urge its passage. It was enacted and approved February 16, 1857, and adopted at an election held for the purpose on the 2d of March. The city limits were defined as "the south half of section fifteen and the north half of section twenty-two, in township twenty north, of range ten east of the fourth principal meridian ; also that part of section twenty-three which embraces Arnold's addition." Taylor and Davis' addition has since been annexed. Two amendments have been made to the charter, the first in 1867, and the last in 1869. The city government comprises a mayor and a council consisting of eight aldermen, elected from four wards, a marshal, a treasurer, an attorney and a clerk.
The first charter election was held on the 8th, and the following persons were chosen to fill the several offices: John B. Wyman, mayor; Orange D. Reed, marshal ; S. S. Stedman and E. S. Reynolds,
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
aldermen of the first ward; J. R. Stevens and F. B. Little, aldermen of the second ward ; and J. M. Davis and J. A. Jackson, aldermen of the third ward. 234 votes were cast. The officers were installed on the 16th, and the council elected Daniel T. Wood, clerk; W. E. Ives, attorney ; A. E. Wilcox, assessor; W. B. Andrews, collector; Edward Little, treasurer ; and Arthur Pond, surveyor.
The council passed an ordinance September 8, 1857, creating a fire department, but this was never of any service to the city; and by beguiling it into fancied security paralyzed all attempts to make it efficient. Not until the fire demon had several times lapped up the business quarter of the city were earnest efforts made to render prop- erty reasonably secure against destruction. After the disastrous fire of August 25, 1871, prompt measures were taken to provide the city with suitable and efficient fire apparatus. A third-class Silsby steam fire engine, and a hose carriage with 500 feet of hose were contracted for at a cost of $5,050. This apparatus was delivered to and accepted by the city authorities in November 1871. The Vigilant Fire Company was organized November 18, with the following officers: A. B. Huston, foreman; J. H. Stott, assistant foreman of engine; H. E. Donnell, foreman of hose; C. H. Bunker, assistant foreman of hose; E. H. Thresher, secretary ; and George Stimpson, treasurer. The officers of the fire department were as follows: B. B. Howard, chief engineer ; W. W. Powell, assistant engineer; M. A. Brewer, engineer of steamer; and Daniel Maloney, fire warden. The Vigilant Fire Company, than which none could be more effective, was in active service until August 5, 1873, when it withdrew from the fire depart- ment of Amboy. Immediately "Amboy Fire Company No. 1" was organized, and the following day reported to the council. It has twenty-six members, and the following are the officers : Chas. Walker, captain ; James Morris, assistant captain ; Edward Smith, foreman of hose; Wm. Wells, assistant foreman; Frank Almy, secretary ; and David Shafer, treasurer.
In the autumn of 1864 the city erected a two-story building in the business row on the south side of Main street for a council room, and a hall for an engine company, when such an organization as the latter should be formed. In October, 1870, a cell built of solid masonry was put into the building, and in the great fire the following year a prisoner confined over night for a trifling offense was literally roasted alive, a cruel because unnecessary tragedy, occurring by reason of the crim- inal thoughtlessness of the officer. This hall was immediately rebuilt. On the first floor is the engine room and calaboose, and on the second the council meets. This body first occupied the new building Friday evening, February 2, 1872.
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AMBOY TOWNSHIP.
The following is a list of the mayors and clerks of the city :
MAYORS.
CLERKS.
1857
J. B. Wyman.
D. T. Wood.
1858 John R. Stevens.
W. B. Andruss.
1859 James Rosebrugh.
W. B. Andruss.
1860
J. B. Wyman.
R. H. Mellen.
1861
W. E. Ives.
R. H. Mellen.
1862
W. E. Ives.
W. C. Sears.
1863 W. E. Ives.
W. C. Sears.
1864
C. M. Butler.
H. G. Pratt.
1865
C. M. Butler.
N. H. Ryan.
1866
C. D. Vaughan.
N. H. Ryan.
1867
C. D. Vaughan.
N. H. Ryan.
1868
Michael Egan.
Lee Cronkrite.
1869
Michael Egan.
Lee Cronkrite.
1870
Michael Egan.
Everett E. Chase.
1871
Isaac Edwards.
Everett E. Chase.
1872
Isaac Edwards.
Everett E. Chase.
1873
Isaac Edwards.
Everett E. Chase.
1874
Robert Richards.
Everett E. Chase.
1875
Isaac Edwards.
Everett E. Chase.
1876
Isaac Edwards.
Everett E. Chase.
1877
Isaac Edwards.
Everett E. Chase.
1878
J. B. Felker.
Everett E. Chase.
1879
J. B. Felker.
Everett E. Chase.
1880 J. B. Felker.
Everett E. Chase.
1881 J. B. Felker.
Everett E. Chase.
In the winter of 1854-5 the post-offices were discontinued at Shel- burn and Binghamton, and one was established at Amboy, with Orange D. Reed as postmaster. He held the office until the spring of 1861, when R. H. Mellen was appointed under the administration of President Lincoln, and has been in possession since.
Medora Bell, daughter of Charles Bell, was born August 27, 1854; this birth was the first in the village of Amboy. The first birth in the township was that of Simon, son of John Dexter, in 1836, and the second was that of Win. C. Doan, son of James Doan, October 16, 1837. The first marriage in the village of Amboy was that of Wm. C. Bartlett and the widow of Danford Bartlett, formerly Caroline Vinton, October 18, 1854. Almira Melissa, infant daughter of Wm. B. Stuart, died January 5, 1855; this was the first death in the village.
In 1874 east and west Main street was partly ballasted, and the macadamizing has since been extended through the city. Before this was done this thoroughfare at some seasons was next to impassable.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
Not only has the grade of this street been raised, but in the business quarter the surface, by filling in, has been made some four feet higher · than it was when the town was laid out. In the early settlement of the country this was almost a quagmire, which was described as "Far- well's slough farm."
The two principal tragedies have been the murder of Dennis Allen, saloon keeper, by Owen O'Connor, October 11, 1872; and Edward Egan, by John McGrath, April 18, 1873. The first was shot, and died within an hour; the last was stabbed in the bowels, and survived until the fourth day. No serious cause of trouble existed in either case, and both acts were incited by strong drink. Both murderers escaped ade- quate punishment. Two negroes had an altercation in the passenger house, and one dealt the other a blow which ended his life in a few days. The number of drunken men who have been crushed and mangled to death on the railroad track in the city forms a list sickening to any brain not made impassive by alcohol.
The removal of the county seat to Amboy at one time formed an engrossing theme of controversy. It passed from the domain of words to that of acts in 1866, when the nomination by the republican union convention for representative fell upon Col. George Ryon, of Paw Paw, who represented the claims of Amboy. The people of this city at once held a meeting and selected W. E. Ives, B. H. Trusdell and N. H. Ryan to attend to the advertising required by the law relating to removals. The effort did not succeed.
In June, 1880, the city purchased from the Leake estate a tract of ground comprising nearly twenty-five acres, situated east of and ad- joining the corporate limits, on the south side of Main street, and inclosed in the angle of Inlet creek, for $2,250. This was formerly the property of A. B. Searles. It is covered with a thrifty growth of young timber, and is to be fitted up for a park. In 1878 a soldiers' reunion, the first in this part of the state, noted for the large attend- ance and its complete success, at which Gen. Logan and prominent men besides were present, was held in this grove.
ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD BUILDINGS.
As recorded on a former page, in the summer of 1853 ground was first broken for the erection of the passenger and freight houses, and they were completed and put to use the next year. Both were con- structed of brick, and the first was 40×100 feet on the plan, two and one-half stories high, and built in a very substantial manner. It was a railroad hotel, went by the name of "Passenger House," and was kept by the following proprietors: James Aiken, John B. Wyman, Cushing and Hubbard, Cushing, J. Swift, Thomas Burns, A. H. Var-
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ney, N. P. Almy, J. A. Ramsdell, Davison, C. C. Fulton, Gaylord, Dr. A. P. Chase, Oscar Hughes, and Frederick Hepburn. At three o'clock Monday morning, November 15, 1875, this house was discov- ered to be on fire, and in two hours it was totally consumed. This was the last regular hotel in the city. Next year a new building of brick, with light-colored stone trimmings, was erected on the site of the old, but its character was wholly changed. The first floor is divided into a ticket office and waiting and baggage rooms, while in the upper story are situated the various offices for operating the line.
AT SEARS
CHE
ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD BRIDGE AT DIXON, ILL.
The original freight house, 40×80 feet, remains well preserved, and is good for a hundred years' entire use. The first freight and station agent was C. R. Fields, who held the position three months and was suc- ceeded by Lemuel Bourne, who retained it eight years.
Work was commenced on the shops in 1854, and they were finished the next year. The company's temporary shops were located between the Dutcher building and the track, and were torn down when the permanent buildings were occupied in the spring of 1856. The me- chanical department comprises eight divisions, which are distributed among the several shops ; these divisions are machine, car repair, blacksmith, paint, boiler, locomotive, wood repair, tin, and storehouse. The machine shop is two stories high, 85×130 feet on the ground, built of brick and covered with slate roof. A stationary engine of eighty horse power, almost as noiseless as a clock, drives all the
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
machinery in this and the blacksmith shop by means of shafting through both buildings. Steam is supplied from two large tubular boilers. In the first shop the machinery is all on the ground floor, while in the second story are the locomotive, wood repair and the tin shops. Tracks extend into this building and connect with a turntable for convenience in the repair of locomotives. The blacksmith shop adjoining on the northwest corner is one story, with walls about twenty feet high and slated roof. Its dimensions are 70×125 feet on the plan. A dozen or more forges are ranged round, with a large one in the center supplied with all necessary apparatus, including a trip hammer, for handling and doing heavy work. A powerful blower supplies the blast ; and above the forges extends a large pipe from which smaller ones lead down with valves to regulate its use. The car repair shop is a frame building 50×150 feet and one story in height. Two tracks extend nearly the full length, and on either side is a continuous row of work-benches. Repairing only is done in these shops, though the time was when some new work was sent out, and one or two locomotives, we believe, have been constructed here. The engine house is a eircular brick building 216 feet in diameter, inclosing an open, spacious court in which there is a turntable with tracks radiating therefrom into twenty-seven engine compartments. These may be tightly elosed at pleasure by the large doors hung at the en- trances in the inner wall. "Here can always be seen a noble stud of iron horses with their grooms fitting them up for the course." The oil room and sand house is 30×50 feet, and the stationary room 40 feet square. The storehouse, erected during the war, is a one-story building 30 feet wide and 120 feet long. The tank house is 25× 65, and situated southeast of the engine house. The lower story is used for storage, and the upper is occupied by two huge tanks which are kept filled with water from Inlet creek, a quarter of a mile distant. A stationary engine at the latter point forees the water through a pipe into the tanks, and from these, engines and hydrants in the shops are supplied. The coal shed, a rough strueture 17×320 feet, stands in this vicinity. The mason work of these buildings was superintended by Michael Egan, one of the most thorough mechanics, who is still in the employ of the company ; and the earpenter work was in charge of Daniel S. Clark. John C. Jacobs is the superintendent of the north division of the road, and has filled the office with unquestionable faith- fulness since about 1858. We should have given a list of them " that exercise anthority," and some description of the positions they oeeupy, but the information has not come to hand, and we ean only ask to be pardoned, as we forgive him who has " held the word of promise to the ear and broken it to the hope." Subjoined are the names of many of
I Alva Hale
(DECEASED)
J BJEDAMS DEAD
1916
J. B. Edams, a resident of Amboy for half a century, and for many years master mechanic for the Illinois Cen- tral railroad company, died at his home in Freeport Thursday morning, Jan. 6, and will be brought to Amboy today on the noon train for burial.
Mr. Edams was foreman of the Illinois Central repair shops here in the earlier years of their history and was afterward promoted d to the position of master mechanic. He continued to reside in Amboy after his retirement from the Company's service until about four years ago when he moved with his son George to Freeport. amboy News
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AMBOY TOWNSHIP.
the best known who have been in the employ of the company about twenty to twenty-five years : Lucius Clark, G. H. McFatrich, A. E. Slanter, Jared Slanter, John Gunning, A. J. Poland, Joseph Drum- mond, Robert Richards, B. B. Howard, Dennis Maloy, A. W. Spafard, J. B. Edams, L. G. Rice, G. W. Freeman, John Keho, Thomas Bran- agan, Levi Ives, Timothy Crowley, Joseph Tait, Charles Tait, William Tait, C. M. Thayer, Henry McGraw, William Trude, Charles Wescott, Homer Graves, Snow, Battles and Stay.
FIRES.
It would be hard to find a place which has passed through greater trials by fire than the city of Amboy ; and with perhaps a single ex- ception the larger ones are regarded as incendiary. The first on the site was before the town was surveyed, and was the boarding-house kept for the railroad company by Charles W. Bell, already noted else- where. The second was the dwelling-house of D. A. Thomas, de- stroyed Saturday, August 22, 1857. We shall omit the few barns and private houses burned subsequent to this date, and record only those conflagrations in which public or business property has suffered. The first Catholic church, so nearly completed that the plastering had been done, was accidentally burned December 2, 1857.
The historic Baker House was erected most probably in 1855, by Alonzo Kinyon, and stood on Jones street, where Carroll's tailor shop and the meat market just north of it are now situated. It was built of wood in the cheapest possible style, covered with tarred cloth, and the rooms divided with paper partitions ; and by the public was dubbed " The Ark." Kinyon sold it to Baker, by whose name it has always been best known. It was afterward called the Burnett House, from a later owner, and was consumed November 13, 1859. It was occupied by two families at the time, one of which escaped with difficulty and injury, the mother falling down stairs, and the father leaping from the second story with a child in his arms. Dr. Bainter's office, adjoining on the north, was destroyed by the same fire.
The Orient House, kept at that date by John L. Skinner, was burned Friday evening, September 28, 1860.
The city hall was the first brick structure, except the railroad build- ings, erected in Amboy, and was situated on East avenue. It was a fine edifice, with brick and iron front, three stories and a basement ; built by Win. B. Stuart and Paul Cullen in 1858. The first general conflagration originated in the basement of this building, occupied as a saloon by Peter Birkenbeuel, on the morning of December 10, 1863. The fire spread in both directions, and in its progress north was ar- rested by tearing down a building adjoining a vacant lot ; on the south 20
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
it was stayed by Carson & Pirie's brick store, which was kept drenched with water. The aggregate loss was $35,000, of which $14,000 was covered by insurance. Among the losers were Carson & Pirie, who were fully protected by insurance; O. F. Warriner, Henry Brady, Wm. Murtha, M. Carroll, J. L. Skinner, Adam Shugart, Francis Cullen, Peter Birkenbeuel, A.F. and A.M., J. Kline, Owen O'Connor, John Morris, Philip Flach, Louis Brendell, James McCne, Abram Jackson, Theodore Goldman, Samuel Goldman, Andrew Walters and John Burns, besides several smaller losers.
A second fire devasted this locality again in 1864. On the morn- ing of November 10 it broke out in the building occupied by Abram Jackson as a dry-goods and grocery store. Five business houses were consumed, and the new brick building just erected by the Badgers on the site of the Orient House was considerably damaged. The total loss of $45,000 was reduced by $38,000 of insurance. The sufferers were Carson & Pirie, E. Arnold, A. Jackson, Philip Goldman, Samuel Goldman, Perley & Blackstone, H. Keeling and Badger Brothers.
The third great fire visited the south side of Main street about one o'clock Friday morning, March 10, 1865, and swept away all of the business block west from the city building to the alley, including seven houses. The loss fell on W. E. Ives, McLean, George Keifer, Leake & Co., John Morris, Mingle Brothers, Benjamin Cope, Weddell estate, Wm. Keeling, A. E. Wilcox, R. S. Burington, J. P. Newell, V. Weintz, Hunt, Howe and others.
Immediately following this the council passed an ordinance forbid- ding the construction of wooden buildings, except temporarily for a year, on Main street between Mason and the Central railroad, and on East avenue between Main and Division streets, and designated these limits as Fire District No. 1.
The fourth and most disastrous general fire up to this time occurred on the north side of Main street on August 24, 1867, and was dis- covered in the upper story of Josiah Little's drug store at half-past one in the morning. The row, in the middle of which the fire broke out, was composed of sixteen wooden buildings, which in two hours' time were completely lapped up by the flames. The dealers and others affected by this disaster were Hawkes & Bourne, Thomas Cos- tain, Deming & Wilcox, W. Fasoldt, L. Barlow, J. Little, Lynn & Walker, Goldstone & Jackson, C. D. Vaughn, C. Allen, A. H. Merri- field & Co., A.F. & A.M., Mrs. Hudder, Fillis & Carroll, C. P. Miller, O. M. Miner, N. Woolsey, Dr. J. P. Foltz, dentist, Dr. J. R. Corbus, Dr. E. R. Travers, and L. Asire. The estimated loss was $75,000; the insurance amounted to half that sum.
The next noted landmark of early Amboy to yield to the greedy
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element was the old Exchange block on the west side of the railroad. It was burned down before daybreak on September 21, 1867.
Between two and three o'clock on the morning of April 2, 1868, a fire made its appearance in a building on East avenue occupied by William Murtha as a grocery and liquor store below and a saloon and billiard hall above kept by George Raymond. Four buildings, flanked on the south by Hawks & Bourne's store and on the north by Kline's bakery, were burned down. These were a barber shop, saloons and billiard rooms, kept by C. Praesent, Henry Brady, William Murtha, P. Fogarty, and John Duteher.
On the night of April, 25, 1871, the Amboy House, kept by Hugh McGee, was totally destroyed. Estimated loss $5,000; insurance $3,500.
The sixth and last general fire, from which the city recovered with admirable grace and dignity after many woes, was more destructive than all the previous ones together. The aggregate loss reached $175,000, and a tabulated statement of risks held by insurance com- panies shows their losses to have been $103,000. The fire originated in the bakery of D. S. Corbin, underneath Vaughan's furniture store, and was discovered about four o'clock in the morning of August 25, 1871. It destroyed the buildings owned by C. D. Vaughan, William Murtha, C. F. Lynn, and Wilcox & Brigham, on the north side of Main street, and those on the south side owned by W. B. Andrus, Martin Mans, V. Weintz, C. Badger, John Kline, P. McMahan, Thomas Cunningham, and the city building. Those who lost in per- sonal property were Gale & Gardner, Masonic Lodge, C. D. Vaughan, Misses Mickler & Vaughan, Arnold & Sindlinger, Josiah Little, B. H. Trusdell, C. F. Lynn, Mrs. Pierson, office of J. H. Preston, county superintendent, I. Zwisler, Wheat & Gridley Brothers, French, G. A. Deming, Mrs. McGraw & Wilcox, Miss Murphy, Mrs. Hudder, M. Maus, Graves & Hines, City Hall store. Weintz & Barth, Judge Kin- yon, Sanger & Badger, Chase & Gale, engineers and firemen, John Kline, Terry Lynch, W. B. Stuart, and Merrifield & Co.
The most deplorable feature of this calamity was the burning to death of John Shannon, who had been arrested the night before on the charge of selling mortgaged property, and was confined in the cala- boose. Sheff Dyer was the officer in charge of the lock-up; he put the man in his cell and the key in his pocket; he was early at the fire, and engaged himself in the exciting work of saving property, where so little indeed was saved ; he saw the raging flames gradually approach and finally envelop the city building in which the helpless, unfortu- nate man was locked up, and still he never once thought of his pris- oner. In its account of the affair, the "Journal" remarked, with a
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