USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. > Part 52
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HENRY MILLER, farmer, Palmyra, was born in the Province of Old- enburg, Germany, November 13, 1822, and is the son of Pope E. and Theda (Remmers) Miller. His father during his youth was engaged in milling, but after his marriage became a farmer, and in 1837 came to America and settled in Cass county, Illinois, where he died a few months later, leaving a widow and five sons, Sibald, Emke D., Anthony F., Becker and Henry, all of whom survive, with the exception of Mrs. Miller, who returned to Germany in 1850, and died there in 1859, and Emke D., who died of consumption in the fall of 1848. The eldest son, Sibald, returned to Germany, and is still living, and Anthony and Becker are residents of Whitesides county, Illinois. In 1838, soon after the death of the husband and father, the family removed to Palmyra township, Lee county, and settled on the property which is now solely owned and occupied by Henry Miller, and which he has farmed for
THE NEW YORK PELA LIBRARY
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forty-three years. Mr. Miller was married on September 29, 1850, to Miss Fredrika A. Klostermann, of Palmyra, and there are nine chil- dren living, of whom the eldest is Charles E., aged thirty, who resides at Detroit, Michigan, and is an attorney-at-law ; Mary E., aged twenty- eight, wife of Warren F. Powers, and residing in Whitesides county ; Rena H., aged twenty-six, and wife of Mathias Rikert, now of Pal- myra, but soon to remove to Iowa ; Lucy, aged twenty-four, married to Henry Lemken, and residing in Grundy county, Iowa ; Nellie G., aged seventeen, is engaged in teaching school in Iowa ; Alma, aged twenty- one ; Frank S., aged nineteen ; Kate, aged fifteen, and Minnie, aged thirteen, reside with their parents. Mr. Miller is a republican, and is a member of the Lutheran church.
BECKER MILLER, brother of the above, and now residing near the boundary line of Lee and Whitesides counties, was born in Oldenburg, Germany, on April 6, 1820, and his history up to the time of their residence in Lee county is comprised in that of his brother Henry. He sold his interest in the farm in Palmyra township to the latter in 1854, and removed just across the line of Lee county into Whitesides, where he has since resided, largely engaged in farming. He was married on September 19, 1852, to Miss Elizabeth M. Thummel, a daughter of Rev. C. B. Thummel, of Palmyra. They have six children : Emma C., born August 12, 1855, and married in December, 1876, to Henry Montillon, a resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Adeline E., born January 26, 1857; Ella M., born May 18, 1860; George W., born April 2, 1862; Frederick L., born September 15, 1864, and Jessie L., born September 14, 1872, all of whom reside with their parents.
ABRAM R. RUTT, farmer, Palmyra, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1853, and is the son of Samuel W. and Maggie (Rutt) Rutt, and the grandson of Samuel Rutt, an old settler of Lancaster county. His father was born there in 1822, and. after receiving his education engaged in farming in his native county, and continued there until 185-, when he removed to Franklin county, in the same state. He removed to Lee county and located in Palmyra township early in 1865. His property in Pennsylvania was valuable and well improved, but he had endured many losses during the civil war from the incursions of both the Union and confederate armies, and at the time of the burning of Chambersburg by the rebels he resided within two miles of that town and suffered greatly from their depreda- tions. He accordingly sold his property considerably below its value and moved west. In 1879 he returned to Sterling, Whitesides county, and is now engaged in the ice business there in company with two of his sons, Levi and Henry. Abram R. came west with his parents in 1865, and when old enough engaged in farming in Palmyra township, where
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he still resides. He was married on the 16th of December 1874, to Miss Maria Landis, a resident of Whitesides county, and they have two children : Clarence, born September 23, 1876, and Anna, born March 6, 1878. Mr. Rutt is, and always has been, a thorough republican.
RICHARD C. PECK (deceased), Palmyra, was born in Bethany, Genesee county, New York, in 1821, and was the son of Richard and Catharine H. (Comstock) Peck. His father was a farmer, whose whole life was passed in the State of New York. Mr. Peck grew up and was educated in his native county, and when grown to manhood became engaged in farming there, which he continued until 1856, at which time he came to Illinois, and settled in Whitesides county, until 1863, when he pur- chased a farm in Palmyra, on which he resided until his death, January 12, 1877, and where his widow and children are still living. Mr. Peck was married in December 1852, to Miss Sylvia A. Gillett, at Byron, Genesee county, New York. Five children resulted from this union, the eldest being Charles D., born March 25, 1854 ; Mary Hope, born October 21, 1861; Kate L., born March 10, 1864; William J., born February 3, 1866, and Frank H., born January 31, 1873. Mr. Peck was universally esteemed and respected, and left to his family a legacy more precious than gold or silver, that of an unsullied reputation and untarnished name.
WINTHROP SEAVEY (deceased), Palmyra, was born in Rye, New Hampshire, January 26, 1802, and was the son of Joshua and Betsey (Webster) Seavey. In his early manhood Mr. Seavey was engaged in the mercantile business in his native state, and remained in that line until 1839, when he removed to Illinois, and settled in Palmyra town- ship and became engaged in farming, which pursuit he followed until his death, which took place in the month of November 1864. He was married January 10, 1863, to Miss Elizabeth Curtis, of Washington county, New York, who died June 25, 1853. There are two children surviving this union, William W. and Gideon W., the latter of whom is engaged in business at Fort Wayne, Indiana. William W. Seavey, the eldest son, was born in Palmyra township October 18, 1840, and has ever since resided in his native town, and has for many years been engaged in farming. He was married November 17, 1870, to Miss Augusta O. Moses, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and they have but one child living, Albion M., born January 27, 1872. Mr. Seavey is a member of the republican party.
T. A. BUTLER, farmer, Palmyra, is a native of Huntington, Long Island, where he was born March 2, 1814, and is the son of John and Nancy (Abbott) Butler. His father was a stone-mason in his youth, but soon became a farmer and followed that calling until his death, which took place in Delaware county, New York, in 1836. Mr. But-
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ler acquired his education in Delaware county, but in 1839 removed to Illinois, and soon after located on his present farm in Palmyra town- ship, where he has ever since resided. He was married February 14, 1850, to Miss Roxana Stewart, a native of Illinois, and they have had seven children, five of whom are still living: Lilian H., born June 7, 1854, is married to Anton Brauer, and resides in Whitesides county, Illinois ; Otho J., born November 20, 1857; Perdita A., born July 10, 1860 ; Katie, born November 30, 1867, and Nora M., born May 9, 1872. In his political views Mr. Butler is entirely independent, be- longing to neither of the existing parties.
EDWARD A. HUGHES, farmer, Palmyra, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, on the 26th of March 1857, and is the son of Elwood and Elizabeth .(Hill) Hughes, who are now residents of Palmyra township. When thirteen years of age Mr. Hughes came to' Lee county with his parents, and for six years was engaged in attending school and assist- ing his father in farming. In 1876 he commenced to farm on his own account, and still follows that vocation. He was married on the 12th of February 1878, to Miss Vernia Champlin, then residing in Mount Pleasant township, Whitesides county, Illinois. Mr. Hughes is a re- publican in political sentiment, and has a well-deserved reputation for ability and enterprise, of which so young a man may justly be proud.
NACHUSA TOWNSHIP.
" "Tis well to speak of things of the past While memory is clear to serve us."
The present town of Nachusa was organized in 1871. The terri- tory embraced within its limits once constituted parts of the original towns of Dixon and China.
On November 10, 1870, Col. A. P. Dysart presented to the board of supervisors a petition praying that the board create a new township, called Nachusa, comprising the W. ¿ of T. 21, R. 10, and the W. } of T. 22, R. 10. At the same time a remonstrance was presented by Robert L. Irwin against the creation of said new township. Where- upon the petition and remonstrance were laid on the table until the next session of the board. On Tuesday, February 7, 1871, on motion of supervisor Viele, the petition was ordered to be taken from the table, and the board having heard said petition and the remonstrance thereto read, and being sufficiently advised touching the same, it was, on motion, ordered that the prayer of the petition be granted and that a new town called Nachusa be created, comprising the territory before described. The name was conferred upon the township in honor of
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
Father Dixon, to whom, in early times, the Indians applied the name of "Nachusa," meaning in their language white hair.
The southern portion of the town is flat, and until a system of drainage is inaugurated it will be inferior to the surrounding country. In the central part the land is gently rolling and the soil excellent. Northward the township extends to Rock river, which describes all sorts of serpentine crooks and bends along the northern border of the county. Along its shores in this locality great masses of rock, vine-covered and green with the moss of a century's growth, pile them- selves one upon the other to the height of many feet, and here and there jut far out into the water. Great grim bluffs, whose summits are crowned by lofty pines that sigh in the breath of May and roar in the blast of winter, tower skyward like huge billows on the sea. From one of these bluff's one can see far up and down the river, whose sil- very sheen is visible for many miles, now gliding behind hills and now leaping into the sunshine and rippling along at your feet. Here, tradi- tion tells us, the Indian maiden once bathed and prepared her simple toilet and saw mirrored in the crystal waters her dusky cheeks and raven hair. Here, listening to the murmuring waters, the sighing pines and mournful cooing of the turtle-dove, she waited the coming of her swarthy lover. Surely this is a charming spot, - wild, weird and picturesque.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
The first permanent settlers in what is now Nachusa township were Messrs. Bennet and Brown, who came from New England and located on Sec. 14. Next came the Eldrige brothers, who entered claims on Sec. 19. About the same time Squire Chamberlain located on the same section ; Mr. Hollingshead came soon after and also located on Sec. 19. In 1835 Hon. Joseph Crawford came and lived one year with Mr. Hollingshead and then located in Dixon township. In the sum- mer of that year Mrs. Hollingshead came from Louisville, Kentucky, and joined her husband in his frontier home. Having been raised amid the luxuries of civilization, one may easily imagine her feelings on being suddenly ushered into the wild life of the pioneer. She had never done any washing or performed any household labor, but Mr. Crawford states that she entered cheerfully upon her duties and seemed quite contented in her rude home. Solomon Shelhamer was also one of the early settlers of Nachusa. He first located in the town of Dixon in 1837, and after remaining a short time removed to what is now Nachusa.
In 1836 John Chamberlain bought Mr. Hollingshead's farm. In the same year Mr. Fisk came from Pennsylvania, bringing with him a stock of goods, with which he began business in the house formerly
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owned by Mr. Hollingshead. This building is still standing, a relic of early times. At that time all goods and supplies were drawn by ox teams from Hennepin, on the Illinois river. Barclay Smith came in 1836, and bought what was known as the lower ferry farm, on Sec. 14. Mr. Crandall, Jerry Murphy and Josialı Moores also came at an early day.
The first settler in the southern part of the township was Mr. Jones, who located on Sec. 20. Dr. Charles Gardner located on the same section. Rev. Erastus Dewolf came from Rhode Island as an Episco- palian minister. He bought Jones' claim, which he extended to such proportions that after being surveyed it was found to comprise several sections. He evidently desired to become " monarch of all he surveyed." Alvah Hale came at an early day, and entered a claim on Sec. 33. In 1839 John Leake came from England, and located on Sec. 28. In 1841 his brother Daniel came, bringing both families.
Mr. Crawford states that the early settlers did not turn as much of their attention to religious matters as people of the present day, but that they worshiped God without a creed. Their religion did not consist in rearing costly churches with lofty spires, but in doing right by their fellow men, in imitating the "meek and lowly Nazarene " in word and in deed. Mr. Crawford states that during the years of 1839-40 malarial and bilious fevers were quite prevalent among the inhabitants of this portion of the county. This was supposed to result from the poisonous vapors arising from the newly-broken prairies.
The modes of traveling in early days were quite different from those of the present. Then if a man wished to go to Chicago he paid his fare on the stage and took up his march behind that vehicle, carrying a rail on his shoulder to aid in extricating it from gulleys and mud-holes, with which the prairies then abounded.
Previous to the establishment of a cemetery the settlers buried their dead on their farms. About the first public cemetery in the township was on the farm of John Hetler on Sec. 22. This, however, was soon abandoned and the present one established on land given for the pur- pose by Josiah Moores. This one is located on the S.E. ¿ Sec. 23. The remains of Mr. Moores were the first laid to rest in this "quiet city of the dead."
Mr. Brierton states that he once packed 4,500 pounds of pork, out of which he realized nothing; what was not consumed by the family was fed to the dogs. The price of meat was too low to pay for trans- porting it to market. It might be well to mention here the difficul- ties incident to transporting produce to market. An incident related by Mr. Brierton may give the reader an idea of hardships encountered by the early pioneers. In July, 1845, he and a neighbor named Brandon
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started for Chicago, each with a two-horse wagon loaded with wheat and oats. After traveling two days they arrived at Johnston's Grove, thirty-five miles distant from their starting-point. In traveling that distance they "doubled teams" nineteen times in order to get across mud-holes. On the second night a terrible storm of rain set in, which was so severe they knew it would be impossible for them to reach their destination, and they accordingly abandoned the trip, sold their loads and started homeward across the prairie, which was almost a sheet of water, sometimes reaching their wagon-boxes. At one place they saw parties with eleven yoke of oxen hitched to one wagon, and even then were unable to extricate it. In making these trips to Chicago it was no unfrequent occurrence for the settlers (they always went in parties) to form a bridge across a stream with their wagons, in order to get their grain across. This was accomplished by unloading them and placing one after the other until the stream was spanned. This done, they would take out all the end boards and carry the produce across to the other side; after which the wagons were drawn out, reloaded, and the party again resumed its laborious journey only to repeat the operation at the next stream.
John Leake, sr., was also among the early settlers, having come in a very early day. For many years his only conveyance was an ox team and a lumber wagon. With this outfit he drew his produce to market and also took his pleasure rides in it. In the fall of 1847 his entire family were prostrated with the chills and fever.
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Prominent among the pioneer settlers of Nachusa was Mr. Solomon Shelhamer, who died in 1879.
The following is an extract from the history of Nachusa, as written for the Dixon "Sun " by Col. A. P. Dysart.
In 1842 there was a settlement started on what is now called the Franklin Grove road. Ludlum Ayers, Levi Green, Thomas Hopkins, William Parker, William Richardson, James Goddard and Don Cooper took up claims and erected rude huts, the palace of the emigrant of that day.
They mostly belonged to that class of people who are best at home among the society that follows closely upon the footprints of the red man. Most of them disposed of their claims in a few years, immigrat- ing farther west to bear further hardships in opening and developing some newer country, glorying in the name of the hardy pioneer.
In the year 1845 quite a number located lands near the present vil- lage of Nachusa and some at the west end of Franklin Grove. At the latter place Joseph Emmert, from Maryland, bought the claim of Don Cooper.
Mr. Emmert, being a man of considerable means and energy, erected
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in that and in the succeeding year a two-story dwelling and a large barn ; the latter was said to have been the first erected in Lee county. In the year 1850 he erected quite a large flouring-mill on Franklin creek at a very heavy expense, it being the first one of the kind built in the northern portion, and said to be the first in the county. It stands yet as a monument to energy and enterprise. About the same year he erected what is known as the Dunkard church, he being a min- ister of the gospel of that persuasion. This building was occupied for several years as a school-house as well as a church. Since that time it has given place to a more stately edifice.
In the same year Col. A. P. Dysart entered lands adjacent to those he now occupies.
In the same year (1847) he purchased the claim of Thomas Hopkins and entered the lands, where he has resided ever since.
In the year 1846 John M. and Samuel Crawford located on lands where they now reside.
Like all surrounding towns, the facilities for opening up and im- proving the country was necessarily slow, and the outlet for its surplus cereals being so far to reach they were almost valueless. The dawn of the day of its prosperity had to await public improvements.
In the year 1854 the Chicago & Northwestern railway (formerly the Dixon Air-line) was completed, passing through nearly the center of the township north and south, and having located a depot at first named Taylor and since named Nachusa. At that time all the freight- ing for Grand Detour was done there.
What can be said of the early settlements of the greater part of the state can be said of Nachusa; a greater portion of the emigrants were from the eastern part of the states where timber was abundant. It was natural for them to select for their homes places as convenient to timber as possible, and very many of them had doubts at that time that they would ever live to see the day when this broad and alınost treeless expanse, which lay off from the timber, would be dotted all over with the rural homes of the husbandmen. And the planted forests that loom up, turned in any direction, demonstrates it as a fact that it is easier to raise a forest than to remove one.
THE VILLAGE OF NACHUSA
Was laid out in the fall of 1853 on land owned by Col. Dysart and George Baugh. The following in regard to it was taken from the records : "I, Joseph Crawford, surveyor of Lee county, do hereby cer- tify that the town of Nachusa is situated and laid out as follows, to- wit: upon the E. ¿ of S.W. ¿ and upon the W. } of S.E. { of Sec. 6, T. 21 N., and R. 10 E.
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" The streets are sixty-six feet wide, and the alleys eighteen feet wide. The quarter-section line passes through the center of State street, north and south, and all the streets south of the railroad line are run parallel to the quarter-section line, and at right angles thereto; and the streets north of the railroad are laid out parallel to the railroad. For the size of lots and blocks reference may be had to the plat, where they are marked on the line in feet. At the southeast corner of block two, at the north- east corner of block thirteen, and at the southwest corner of the plat; are placed permanently in the ground good sufficient stones from which to make future surveys. The surveys done for A. P. Dysart and George Baugh. Done at Dixon, March 1, 1855.
" JOSEPH CRAWFORD, Lee County Surveyor."
This little village is quite a lively trading point. They receive from 150,000 to 300,000 bushels of grain yearly.
The first to embark in trade in the new-created town was Col. A. P. Dysart, who built a warehouse and began buying and shipping grain. In addition to his grain trade he also kept on hand a good sup- ply of coal and lumber, for which he found a ready sale, and good buildings and other improvements began to spring up all over the country.
In 1855 or 1856 Mr. Dysart, in company with a man by the name of Cunninham, engaged in the mercantile trade. Having put up a suita- ble building for the purpose he kept what might be called a general store. In 1860 this firm was succeeded by John Dysart & Riley, who built the large elevator which is now in use in the present extensive grain trade carried on by Johr Dysart & Israel Slothower. The store they sold out to Mr. Wm. C. Dysart, who is now carrying on an exten- sive mercantile trade in the village and surrounding country.
The first postmaster here was A. P. Dysart, appointed by President Pierce. The office has, till the present, remained in the Dysart family, W. C. Dysart being the present incumbent.
The school-house was built in 1868, and was first occupied by John A. D. Barnes as teacher. The building is a neat little frame structure, and does credit to the place.
The first blacksmith shop opened in the village was in 1855 or 1856, by Mr. Farwell. The present proprietor is Mr. John S. Eicholtz, who is also engaged in the manufacture of wagons and carriages.
The first school-house in the township was built and given to the pioneers by Cyrus Chamberlain, Esq. This building was located on Sec. 19. Mr. C. Herrington was the first teacher. Prior to the building of this school-house schools were taught in private houses by a man named Sheldon, and it is said he was the first teacher in this part of the county.
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Cyrus Chamberlain was the first justice of the peace. He was also county commissioner when Ogle and Lee counties were one. Mr. Chamberlain also built the first saw-mill in this part of the county.
The second school-house was built of stone, on Sec. 26, T. 22, R. 9. It is now used as a church by the United Brethren.
CHURCHES.
The German Baptist church (more familiarly known by the name of Dunkard) was organized in what is now Nachusa township, by Rev. Joseph Emmert, who built a house of worship on Sec. 5, T. 21, R. 10, as early as about 1850. This structure was superseded by a more stately edifice several years ago, in size 34 × 54, with basement, kitchen and sleeping-room above the audience-room. This same organization existed prior to Mr. Emmert's coming to Lee county, but was located just across the river in Ogle county. To them Mr. Emmert first preached, but for the convenience of himself, his many friends and members who were settled around him Lee county, organized as above stated, with the following members: himself and family, Christopher Lah- man and wife, Jacob Riddlesberger and wife, Samuel Riddlesberger and wife, Oliver Edmonds and wife, Isaac Siets and wife, Andrew Dierdorf and wife, Benjamin Kesler and family, with a few others. With a will and determination this little band of disciples held together and kept the faith through the pioneer period, and like the star in the east, guided many good men from Pennsylvania and other eastern states who came later and joined this little company, whose members are now counted by scores, and to whose fair dealings and honest in- dustry may be credited the prosperity of the community in which they live. Their present preacher is Rev. Levi Raffensberger, who has been prominently connected with the church for many years. Mr. Benjamin Kesler has been an elder for about twenty-eight years, and has been a pillar to the church ever since his residence in the county. In connec- tion with this church is a beautiful cemetery, where now sleep a number of the early pioneers, the first of whom was Debbie Beever. This burial-place is free to all, and all the surrounding country bury here.
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