History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc., Part 43

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 43

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BROOKLYN TOWNSHIP.

Brooklyn township is described in the original survey as T. 31, R. 1 E., 3d P.M., bounded on the east by Wyoming, on the north by Viola, on the west by Lee Center and Sublette townships, and on the south by La Salle county. The present population of this township is largely German.

Standing on an eminence in the southeastern part of the township, and looking north and west, a scene of remarkable rural beauty meets the eye of the observer. Stretching away as far as the eye can reach is a vast expanse of gently rolling land, dotted here and there by handsome dwellings, waving orchards and fields of grain. Had you stood there fifty years ago, dear reader, a different scene would have met your view. Half a century ago the red man chased the deer and buffalo where now villages and churches rise as a mausoleum over the graves of his forgotten dead. Fifty years ago 'the long howl of the wolf and the scream of the panther echoed among the hills that now resound with the click of the reaper, the shriek of the locomotive, and the chiming of church bells. Civilization in its onward march has blotted out all traces of the red man's abode. His villages have disap- peared, his light canoe is seen no more darting down the crystal streams of Illinois, and he has been driven onward toward the setting sun. His name is heard no more, unless perhaps to a village or wood-girt stream he has left as a legacy an Indian name.

The earliest settler in Brooklyn township was Zacariah Mallngin, who came in the spring of 1834 and located on what is now the N.E. ¿ of Sec. 4. Mr. Mallugin built a hotel on the old Chicago stage road, and was one of the first landlords in Lee county. In the spring of 1836 John Gilmore came and located on the N.E. ¿ of Sec. 3. In 1836 William Guthrie came and located near Mallugin's Grove.

The first school-house in the township was erected in 1838 on the farm of A. V. Christiance, about a mile northeast of his present resi- dence. The first teacher who presided was Zacariah Mallugin. The first white child born in the township was Cornelius, son of A. V. Christiance, in 1835. The first justice of the peace was John K. Rob- inson, now residing in Mendota ; first constable, A. V. Christiance.

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BROOKLYN TOWNSHIP.

VILLAGES.

West Brooklyn, situated on the Chicago, Burlington & Quiney railroad in the western part of the township, was laid out in 1873 on land owned by Messrs. O. P. Johnston, D. L. Harris and R. N. Woods. The school-house at that place was erected in 1874, at a cost of $1,200. First teacher, F. M. Yocum. For the past two years the school has been under the supervision of Prof. M. M. Young, a teacher of marked ability, under whose care the school is in a prosperous condition.

There are two churches in West Brooklyn, a Roman Catholic and one Methodist Episcopal church. The latter named society was organ- ized in 1878, and the building occupied by them was erected in the same year. The first pastor was the Rev. C. H. Hoffman ; present one is the Rev. B. H. Dickens, a young gentleman who is just begin- ning his labors in the field of Christianity, and for whom we predict a life of usefulness. Membership of this organization, forty-nine.

Compton was laid out in 1873 upon land owned by Joel Compton, from whom the village derived its name. It is situated on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad in the eastern part of the township. Compton has one church, the Methodist Episcopal, which society was organized in 1837 at the residence of Zachariah Mallugin. Their first pastor was the Rev. Stephen R. Beggs. Until about the year 1850 they held services in a school-house at Mallugin's Grove. The build- ing now occupied by the society was erected in 1860 in that village and was removed from there to Compton. The membership of this organ- ization is forty ; present pastor, B. H. Dickens.

Masonic Lodge, No. 282, was organized at the residence of O. P. Johnston in 1858. The first officers were : Master, John C. Corbus ; Senior Warden, John Gilmore; Junior Warden, S. H. Finley ; Senior Deacon, Jonathan Hyde ; Junior Deacon, O. P. Johnston ; Secretary, J. R. Bisbee ; Treasurer, Win. Guthrie ; Tyler, Robert Ritchie. The present officers are: Worshipful Master, Theodore Doty; Senior Warden, W. W. Gilmore; Junior Warden, David Holdren ; Senior Deacon, W. C. Holdren ; Junior Deacon, S. W. Carnaham ; Secretary, A Bradshaw ; Tyler, Edwin Ellsworth ; Senior Steward, Abram Ben- nett ; Junior Steward, Andrew Compton.

Carnahan station is situated on an eminence about equidistant between West Brooklyn and Compton ; is the result of the labors of A. J. Carnahan. The expense of the side-track, station-house, and other improvements, were all borne by him. And whatever of convenience the neighbors in the community may enjoy in the future must be credited to his determination. When the project of the Canada Southern railroad was started he entered into it with enthusiasm and received assurances of having a station located on his farm. To get

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

possession of certain lands, it is said, the company located the station at Compton. But Mr. Carnahan, nothing daunted by this defeat, laid his claim before the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company when they became owners of the road. After some effort on his part a station was granted him, which was to be made at his own expense.

In July, 1874, a man named Layden, employed as agent for Payne, of Ashton, collected all the money he could belonging to the latter named gentleman, which together with notes he had taken in his own name amounted to about $7,000. With this amount of lucre in his possession he absconded.

In February, 1874, Leroy Blanchard, while a guest at the residence of Mr. Van Cisco at Mallugin's Grove, arose very early one morning and departed, taking with him fifty-five dollars belonging to Mr. Cisco, who on missing the money brought the telegraph into requisition and the thief was captured at Shabbona and brought to Dixon, where he was placed in custody.

WAR RECORD.

In sending troops to aid in the suppression of the rebellion, Brooklyn was not behind her sister townships. She was prompt in responding to her country's call. Scarcely had the echoes of the first rebellious cannon-shot died away, when her patriotic people, filled with indignation at this insult to their country's flag, joined in the universal cry, " the Union forever." In 1861, when the great yawning chasm opened between the north and south, upon one side of which was heard the rumbling of cannon and the mighty tread of armies marching under the old banner of the stars, keeping step to the strains of "Yankee Doodle" and "Hail Columbia," and upon the other mighty hosts were advancing to the conflict under the flag of secession -in this, the darkest hour in our nation's history, the citizens of Brooklyn township did their part toward administering a terrible rebuke to southern arrogance and treason. Her sons took part in most of the great struggles of the war, and some of them still lie by the shores of the Atlantic, whose waves sing a wild requiem by their lonely graves.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

JAMES P. JOHNSTON, West Brooklyn, born in Brooklyn township, Lee county, in 1851, is a son of O. P. Johnston, jr., who was one of the pioneer settlers in the township. Received most of his early edu- cation in Lee county. In 1867 he attended two terms at Douglas University, in Chicago. In 1868 he embarked in the drug business, on the corner of State and Twenty-second streets, in that city. In 1869 he returned again to Lee county, where he has since been engaged in

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BROOKLYN TOWNSHIP.

farming and stock raising. He was married in 1873, to Miss Annie D. Wellman, a native of Pennsylvania.

DANIEL MILLER, Mendota, was born in Somerset county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1822, where he resided until fourteen years of age. In 1836 he went to Wayne county, Ohio, were he resided four years, after which he returned to Pennsylvania and remained until 1844, again re- turned to Wayne county, Ohio, and after living there eleven years came to Lee county and bought land in the N.E. ¿ Sec. 33, Brooklyn township. In 1873 was elected supervisor of Brooklyn township, which office he has held since that time. He was married in 1843, to Miss Elizabeth Lewis, a native of Pennsylvania, and who died in 1848. He was again married in 1869, to Miss Leah Gittinger, also a native of Pennsylvania. He is father of twelve children, ten of whom are living.

HALSEY H. MILLER, Compton, was born in Fredericktown, Knox county, Ohio, May 8, 1847. In 1851 he moved from there with his father, Harmon R. Miller. He received his early education at Mount Gilead, Ohio. In 1856 he came with his father's family to La Salle county. In 1861 he went to Linden, where he attended school until 1863. In April of that year he enlisted in Co. K, 38th Ill. Vols., which regiment was stationed on the frontiers of Kansas and Missouri. He was discharged in October 1864, when he returned home and worked on his father's farm until 1868. In that year he began to work for the Fox River Horse Collar Company, with whom he was engaged until 1870. In June, 1871, he entered the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy office at Dayton, as student operator, and in the latter part of the same year took charge of the office at Yorkville, Illinois, as operator and ticket agent. He remained there six weeks, after which he took charge of the depot at Fox station. He remained in this place until 1872, when he came to Compton, where he for a time constituted the entire population. Mr. Miller was the first police magistrate in the village, which office he still holds, and is also local editor of the "Compton Record." He was married in 1870, to Rhody I. Dominy, a native of La Salle county.

SAMUEL P. FAIRCHILDS, was born in Queensbury, Warren county, New York, in 1801. In 1836 he moved to Canada, where he was for eighteen years engaged in farming and stock raising. In 1854 he came to Lee county and bought land in N.W. ¿ Sec. 5, where he has since resided. Mr. Fairchild was married in 1825, to Miss Wilmot Ogden, a native of New York state. He is father of ten children, six of whom are living. Four of his sons enlisted in the Union army during the rebellion. Samuel enlisted in May 1861, in Co. C, 13th Ill. Inf. ; David O. enlisted in the 13th Ill. Inf., Co. C; Ogden enlisted in the 13th Ill. ; Lewis enlisted in August 1862, in Co. K, 76th Ill. Inf.

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

A. V. CHRISTIANCE, Compton, was born in Schenectady county, New York, in 1808. In 1817 he moved with his father, Evart Christiance, to the city of Schenectady. Mr. Christiance received most of his early education in this city, and at an early age was apprenticed to a wagon- maker, and served six and a half years' apprenticeship. He resided in Schenectady until 1829. In that year lie came west to visit his brother. He returned in the same year and bought out the business of his former employer, which he carried on about three years. By this time his health, which had been very poor, began to grow worse, and his phy- sician advised him to come west, and he accordingly moved to Lee county in 1835, and bought land in N.E. } and part of the N.W. } Sec. 3 in Brooklyn township. At that time the surrounding forests abounded in game of all kinds, and there were but two other settlers in the township. Roving bands of Indians frequently passed his cabin, and he became quite familiar with the old Indian chief Shabbona, who was an occasional visitor at his home. He frequently had as guests the notorious Fox and Birch, and also the Mormon prophet, Jo Smith. Mr. Christiance is father of sixteen children, five of whom are living. Four of his sons responded to their country's call and engaged in the great struggle against disunion and slavery. James enlisted in the 13th Ill. Inf., and George W., William and Cornelius enlisted in Cheney's battery. The latter-named son was the first white child born in Brooklyn township. Mr. Christiance is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he united in 1870; is also a member of Masonic Lodge No. 282, at Compton. He is one of the landmarks, in Brooklyn township, and has been closely identified with its history from its organization to the present day.

ALEXANDER GILMORE, Compton, was born in the city of New York, in 1826. His father, John Gilmore, removed to Michigan in 1830; resided in that state until June 1835, when he removed to Lee county and bought a claim from Zachariah Mallugin in N.W. } Sec. 2. Alex- ander received most of his education in an old log school-house that stood a short distance north of the cemetery at Mallugin's Grove. Mr. Gilmore was married in 1855, to Miss Mary L. Frost, a native of Maine. His first wife died in 1865, and his next choice was Miss Eliza Fisk. He is father of ten children, eight of whom are living ; is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he united in 1845. Mr. Gilmore is one of the oldest settlers in Lee county and is also one of her most respected citizens.

OLIVER P. JOHNSTON, West Brooklyn, was born in Erie county, New York, in 1812. In 1821 he removed with his father, Oliver Johnston, to Sangamon county, Illinois, six miles from Springfield, which at that time consisted of two stores and three dwellings. They

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BROOKLYN TOWNSHIP.

remained there four years, and then removed to Logan county, where they resided eight years. At the end of that time Oliver P. removed to La Salle county and remained one year and then went to De Kalb county. In 183S he came to Lee county and took a claim in S.E. ¿ of N.E. ¿ Sec. 5, in Brooklyn township. He helped erect the first dwell- ing built in Wyoming township. Mr. Johnston was quite well acquainted with the Indian chief Shabbona, whose name is familiar to the early settlers of northern Illinois. He was at different times strongly urged to join the banditti who infested the country in early days, but on each occasion respectfully declined. He kept a hotel in Mallugin's Grove for twenty years, and during that time had many unpleasant experiences incident to hotel-keeping in early days. Mr. Johnston was married in 1834, to Miss Elizabeth Ross, a native of Vir- ginia, and is father of six children. He has been one of the most successful farmers in Lee county and is now the possessor of over two thousand acres of land, the fruits of many years of economy, hardship and toil.

BENJAMIN F. HOLDREN, wagon-maker, Compton, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, in 1823. He resided in that state un- til he was nineteen years of age. In the fall of 1841 he came to Mil- waukee, Wisconsin ; at that time the population of that city numbered about 500 souls. He remained there until the following spring, when he together with two companions walked to Chicago, a distance of ninety miles. While in Chicago he worked in the first sash and blind factory erected in the city, which stood on Sonth Water street. In 1850 he began working at carpentering in the capacity of contractor, and continued until 1862, when he enlisted in the 89th III. Inf., which regiment took part in the great battles of Stone River, Mission Ridge, and others equally severe, and returned to the north crowned with the lau- rels of a grateful nation. Mr. Holdren was discharged in April 1864, and returned to Mallugin's Grove and began working at wagon-making, which business he has since followed. He was married in 1848, to Miss Zurich Cowen, a native of New Hampshire.

JOHN F. CLAPP, West Brooklyn, was born in Hampshire county, Massachusetts, in 1835. He resided there until he was nineteen years of age. In 1854 he came to Bureau county, Illinois, and engaged in the grain business with his uncle, Caleb Cook. In 1857 he came to Lee county, and bought land in Amboy township. In 1859 he sold his property in Lee county and returned to Bureau county, where he re- mained two years. At the end of that time he bought land in the S.W. ¿ Sec. 16, in Brooklyn township, and since that time has been one of the most successful farmers and stock raisers of Lee county. Mr. Clapp was married in 1857, to Miss Sarah S. Smith, a native of New York

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

state. He is the father of six children, four of whom are living. He is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he united in 1867. In politics he is a republican.

JOHN W. DORN, blacksmith, Compton, was born June 14, 1816, in Morris county, New Jersey, where he resided until he was twelve years of age, when he went to Chemung county, New York, where he remained with his father until he was twenty-one years of age. At the age of fifteen Mr. Dorn commenced working at the blacksmith trade. In September, 1837, he came to Illinois and located near Marseilles, La Salle county, where he farmed for two years. At the end of that time he built a shop three miles north of La Salle, and worked at his trade there until 1857. In that year he came to Willow Creek township, and resided there until 1862, when he located in Mallugin's Grove, where he has since resided. He was first married in 1836, to Miss Elizabeth Reeser, who died in 1838. He married again in the fall of the same year, to Miss Lovisa Rood. His second wife died in 1850. He was again married in September 1850, to Elvira Parker, a native of Indiana. He is the father of five children, three of whom are liv- ing. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he united in 1837. Although Mr. Dorn is sixty-five years of age he is still hale and hearty, and swings a hammer as dexterously as he did in the palmiest days of his youth.

JAMES P. ANGLEMIER, furniture dealer, Compton, was born in Mon- roe county, Pennsylvania, in 1848. At the age of twenty-two he came to Willow Creek township, Lee county, where he worked at the carpen- ter trade until 1879, when he embarked in the furniture business at Compton, where he is doing a flourishing business, and is one of the most popular business men in the village. Mr. Anglemier was mar- ried in 1875, to Miss Elizabeth Kettley, a native of Lee county.

SAMUEL W. CARNAHAN, farmer, Compton, was born in Montour county, Pennsylvania, in 1840. He came with his father, Samuel Car- nahan, to Lee county in 1848. His father bought land in N.E. } Sec. 10, Brooklyn township. Mr. Carnahan received most of his early education in Lee county. He remained at home with his father until twenty-five years of age, and then went to farming for himself. His father took quite a prominent part in political and other public affairs while living, and died leaving a large circle of friends and acquaint- ances to mourn his loss. Samuel W. is a member of Masonic lodge No. 282, at Compton, of which he has been a prominent member for some years. He was married in 1865, to Miss Celestia Jones, a native of New Jersey, and is the father of four children.

THOMAS D. YOCUM, farmer, West Brooklyn, was born in Colum- bia county, Pennsylvania, in 1819. He resided in that state until 1855,

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BROOKLYN TOWNSHIP.

when he came west and located in Sublette township, where he remained until 1860. In that year he bought land in N.E. ¿ Sec. 6, in Brook- lyn township, upon which he has since resided. Mr. Yocum was mar- ried in August 1843, to Miss Lena Lemon, a native of Pennsylvania, who died in 1845. He was again married in 1849, to Miss Rachael Steadman, also a native of Pennsylvania. His second wife died in 1878. Mr. Yocum is the father of two children : Francis M., born March 1851, and Lena Ellen, December 14, 1856. In religion Mr. Yocum is a Universalist, and in politics a democrat.

SAMUEL ARGRAVES, farmer, Compton, was born in Lancashire, England, in 1825. His parents came to America when he was four years of age, and located in Essex county, New York, where they remained six years. In this country Mr. Argraves received his early education. In 1835 the family removed to Canada West and remained there until Samuel was twenty-one years of age. Mr. Argraves then started out in life for himself. He came to Lee county in 1845 and hired out by the month on a farm in Viola township and worked one year in this way. In 1846 he entered a claim in S. W. ¿ Sec. 25, in that township, erected a dwelling on it, and began the great battle of life single-handed and alone. The first furniture he had in his honse was mostly constructed by his own hands. He says that he and his wife were as happy in their rude little home as though it had been a marble palace. In 1850 Mr. Argraves was stricken with the "gold fever" and accordingly set out for California by wagon. Soon after reaching " the land of promise " he embarked in the mining business, from which he realized enough to give him a fair start in the world. He spent two years in that state and then returned home by way of New Orleans. While absent his wife became very destitute, but owing to the kindness of Mr. John Gilmore and William Guthrie she was well supplied with the necessaries of life until Mr. Agraves' return, when they were repaid for their kind deeds, for which he still feels very grateful. Mr. Argraves enlisted in 1865 in Co. I, 15th Ill. Inf., and was in the service eight months. He was married in 1845, to Miss Martha Miller, a native of Canada West, and is the father of four children.

MINOR M. AVERY, merchant, Compton, was born in Wayne county, Pennsylvania, in 1845. He resided there until nine years of age, when he removed with his father to Lee county. Mr. Avery received most of his education in Lee county, where he resided until 1865. In that year he enlisted in Co. I, 15th Ill. Inf., which regiment went to New York city, thence to Morehead city, North Carolina, and finally joined Sherman's army at Goldsboro. At Raleigh Mr. Avery witnessed the surrender of Johnston's army. He was married in 1867, to Miss

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

Angelina Argraves, a native of Lee county. Mr. Avery has been en- gaged in the dry-goods and grocery business in Compton since the laying out of the village. He is a man of broad, liberal views upon all subjects, public-spirited and enterprising, a desirable citizen, a pop- . ular merchant, and we predict for him a bright and prosperous future.

ANDREW J. CARNAHAN, merchant, West Brooklyn, was born in 1816, in Columbia county, Pennsylvania. He resided in that county until 1816. He received his education at the Danville College. Mr. Carnahan came to Lee county in 1850 and bought land on which Carnahan station now stands. He was engaged in farming until 1872. Through his influence a railroad station was established on his land, where he built an elevator, flouring-mill, saw-mill, and store building. Since that time he has done an extensive business in dry-goods, grain and stock. Mr. Carnahan has been justice of the peace for sixteen years. He was married in 1834, to Miss Elizabeth Holden, also a native of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is the father of nine children, six of whom are living.

LEWIS COMPTON, farmer, Compton, was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, in 1847, where he resided until nine years of age. In March, 1856, he came with his father's family to Lee county, where he followed the occupation of farming until 1863, when he enlisted in Co. L, 17th Ill. Cav., and served until June 1864, at which date he was discharged. He was married in 1866, to Laura L. Covey. He is father of five children.

HIRAM CARNAHAN, physician, Compton, was born June 10, 1830, in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, where he resided until eighteen years of age, when he came with his father's family to Lee county. In 1848 his father, Samuel Carnahan, bought land in S. ¿ of E. } and N. ¿ of S.E. ¿ Sec. 10, and afterward the remainder of the S. { of that section. The doctor resided with his father until 1855, in which year he went to Chicago and attended two terms in the Rush Medical Col- lege. In 1857 he was married to Miss Sarah Christiance, and shortly afterward, in the same year, moved to Floyd county, Iowa, where he practiced two years. In the fall of 1859 he brought his family to Lee county, and again returned to Chicago, resumed his studies in the Rush Medical College, and graduated under the auspices of that insti- tution on February 16, 1860. In that year he commenced practicing in Mallugin's Grove, where he remained until 1875, when he moved to Compton, where he has since resided. The doctor is a staunch republican and has taken quite an active part in politics. He is the father of nine children, four of whom are living.

DAVID HOLDREN, farmer, Compton, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, in 1827. He learned the carpenter trade in that county,

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NELSON TOWNSHIP.

and came to Chicago in 1848, bringing a kit of carpenter's tools. While in Chicago Mr. Holdren worked on the old Tremont House that was destroyed in the great fire. At that time there were very few buildings west of the river. He worked in Chicago three months, and then went to Rockford, Illinois, and remained there two years, at the end of which time he returned to Pennsylvania, and was married to Miss Lucretia McCoy. He remained in Pennsylvania until 1863. In that year he came to Lee county. In 1865 he enlisted in the 15th Ill. Inf., and served until the close of the war. He then returned home and worked at his trade until 1876. In that year he went on a farm which he had bought in 1869. Since 1876 he has been engaged in farming and stock raising. He is a member of Masonic lodge No. 282.

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History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc., Part 43

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