USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. > Part 67
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664
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
his hold was broken William's arms involuntarily went with sudden force to the left; the muzzle struck Barber in the side and Conant fired. The poor man clasped his sides, exclaiming, "Oh God ! I'm shot !" Srygley and Kavanaugh rushed at Conant, but were kept at bay with the cocked weapon ; the infuriated woman, bitter and venge- ful to the last, finished the melancholy affair which she had begun by hurling first her club and then a pole at the old man. Srygley assisted Barber into the house, Kavanaugh went for a doctor, and Conant and his men loaded up the lumber. Then the Conants went to Paw Paw and stated the facts to John M. Derr, justice of the peace. Ex- citement ran high and they were advised to waive examination, which they did. Barber lingered nine days and died. They obtained a change of venue to Whitesides county and were tried at Morrison at the October term 1867. The father was sentenced to six years' impris- onment and the son to eight. Judgment was obtained for $5,000 to be paid to his widow ; a woman was brought from Canada who proved to be his widow, and she released the judgment. William Conant served two years and nine months and was pardoned, and his father four years and four months, when he also was released through execu- tive clemency.
SCHOOLS.
Among the early immigrants the schoolmaster came, and his call- ing made him welcome. At first, school was taught in a log house on the north side of Paw Paw Grove, on Dixon road, probably. A peda- gogue who wielded the birch for several seasons here, and whose checkered life is still the topic of talk in many family circles, as occa- sion recalls it to memory, deserves a brief notice. Born in Ireland, after living for a time in an eastern state, he left his family, and soon after his arrival here was engaged as the teacher. In many respects it seemed fortunate for the settlement. He was not only a man of con- siderable learning, well-read in literature, but he had also some poetical genius, and was so well versed in law that he could plead successfully a desperate case and win it before a backwoods jury. If in anything he was perfect, he would say sometimes, it was his ability to impart a " correct knowledge of the English language." He could quote Byron, Burns and Shakespeare by the hour, and made it his boast that no one could name a purely English word that he could not define. His stu- dents invariably mention his remarkable gift for teaching. Unfortu- nately he had a consuming appetite for whisky. If not intoxicated in school hours, he often was at other times. At length a neighbor, who had been his boon companion in many a carousal, mysteriously disap- peared, and a terrible suspicion rested upon the school-teacher. If he
665
WYOMING TOWNSHIP.
had stained his hands with crime it was done in a drunken craze. Years afterward a body was found, believed to be the missing man, under circumstances which strengthened the suspicion ; but it was too late to call the perpetrator to account. The old schoolmaster's bad habits had wrought retribution. Grown old, without friends here, and sad, he appealed to relatives in the cast. His daughters had become wealthy by marriage, and they bade the messenger bring back this an- swer: " Father shall have a good home with us if he will come; the best of clothes, plenty of money, and nothing to do, if he please; lov- ing hands will minister to him in sickness ;- but there is one condition -he cannot come to disgrace us by getting drunk." When told this the old pedagogue wept. He reflected. Finally he said : "I cannot give up the drink."
The first school was started as early as 1836 in a " little pole school- house" not more than 12×12, built expressly for the purpose in the woods on the Meade farm. Emily Giles, from Fox River, taught for $1 a week and boarded around. All the early schools were supported by sub- scription. For several years vacated cabins and private houses were used on the Chicago road and at Sonth Paw Paw ; we hear of one at Fonda's corner, another near Wheeler's creamery, and very likely there were still others. Of the early teachers we can name but few : Adams, Robert Walker, Willard Hastings, Deacon Boardman, Walter Hyde, Basswood, Mary Harding, Mrs. Amasa Harrington, Elisha A. Stanton, and Mrs. Andrew Breese before marriage. The latter taught in the " little pole cabin," and also the "section-line school." Walker, who came here with May and Breese in 1841, taught in the Comstock brothers' blacksmith-shop, and kept up his school with more or less regularity until about 1846, but probably not all the time in the same place. He is spoken of as a capital teacher, but large acquirements and excellent capabilities are often yoked to crying vices, and the pity is that this was true in his case. But Uncle Bobby's grape-vine swing, the whippings caught for the sly swings in school-hours, and the quaint, doggerel verses he composed on these themes are fresh and withal pleasing recollections to citizens who were then his pupils. The first frame school-building in the township was built as early as 1846, near the location of the creamery, in Paw Paw. About 1848 the country hereabouts was divided into districts, and about 1860 the school in dis- trict No. 1, South Paw Paw, was graded, but the one in No. 5 (Paw Paw) is now the only one with a graded course of study. The township contains ten districts, with ordinary school-houses, around which shade- trees, and upon which window-blinds, are generally conspicuous for their absence. The number of children of school age are 434, of whom 354
666
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
are enrolled. The principal of the township fund is $1,730; value of school property, $6,550; and the tax levy for 1880 was $2,342.79. John Colvill is present treasurer.
PIONEER PREACHERS.
With the earliest settlers came the open Bible: As early as the winter of 1834-5, or the spring of 1835, the venerable Benoni Harris would preach occasionally in his son's cabin, where he lived, and the word would be listened to with an appreciation hardly known in these later days. In 1839 came also the aged Father Morris, whose voice would be heard in the cabins of the settlers. Circuit preachers began to come about this time, among the first of whom were elders White, Lumery, Alonzo Carter, Peter Cartwright, and Batchelder, all of whom were Methodists. As the circuits were very large the appoint- ments would be some three months apart. The early Baptist preach- ers were elders Carpenter, Charles Harding, and Norman Warriner.
POST-OFFICE.
It is said that a star mail route was established here in 1837, and that William Rogers was the first postmaster. Before an office was obtained for this point the nearest was at Somonank, fifteen miles east. Isaac Robinson was postmaster as early as 1838 or 1839; in 1841 Wil- lard Hastings, who was keeping store and tavern, carried the mail between Paw Paw and Princeton, going by way of Four-Mile Grove. Hiram Wood was the incumbent of the office from 1845 to 1849, when William H. Robinson took it till 1853, and then Wood again. He was next succeeded, in 1857, by James Simons, and he, in 1861, by John Colvill, who has held it continuously since. The latter became deputy under Robinson in 1850, and, with the exception of two years, was connected with the office until his appointment. J. D. Rogers was an early post carrier. At one time being set upon by fourteen drunken men, who insisted on examining the mail, he made some remarks to them which brought a return of bricks and billets, but the smart animal which he rode bore him out of bad company without loss of anything but temper.
We condense a few rambling facts of curious interest. In the early settlement " The Big Field," as it was called, was established by com- mon agreement for the protection of crops, no one being allowed to turn stock upon the area until a specified time. It extended on the north to the road running along the south side of Smith's and Allen's groves, east to the county line, south to the Chicago road, and west to Jacob Epla's. We have no knowledge how long it was maintained.
667
WYOMING TOWNSHIP.
The three cottonwoods on the Ritchie place, measuring nearly four feet in diameter, were planted by the hand of Rhoda Rogers in 1838. The one at Grummond's corner was set out by George Town in 1840, and those in front of Amos Siglin's by A. J. Harrington a few years later. The half mile row of maples standing Lester Harding planted in 1847. The same year he bronght a lot of cottonwoods from Viola township, a distance of six miles, on his back, and set them out on land which he sold the next year to Lord Jones, who has since built a barn from them, and still has a large grove left. The large and beau- tiful grove on the Earlville road, owned by Deacon Israel Hallock, was planted by him at two different dates, the hard maples about 1850, and the soft maples some twelve years afterward. It is partly inclosed with a border of stately cedars and tamaracks. The first hedge raised in Wyoming township, if not in Lee county, stands on the west line of Sec. 21, on the Morton Girton farm, and was grown by Ira Baker. He found 13,000 osage plants, where some discouraged peddler, no doubt, had thrown them away, and put them to grow in that place.
ORGANIZATION AND STATISTICS.
The township was organized in 1850, under the name of Paw Paw. The first meeting of citizens to elect officers was at school-house No. 5, April 2. The whole number of votes cast was one hundred and thirteen. David A. Town was chosen supervisor and John Colville town clerk. The name of the town, as before mentioned, was soon after changed to Wyoming. The honor of the highest township office has been conferred upon only eight different persons in the long period of thirty years.
The population of Wyoming in 1870 was 1,280, and by the last census 1,453. Not a colored man resided in the township at either date. The assessed valnation in 1880 was as follows: Real estate, $550,893 ; personal property, $114,679. The township contains 165 farms, some of them of large size. The latest and best agricultural machinery is in use. The soil is a rich, deep, black loam; the sub- stratum usually gravel, but sometimes clay. The rainfall seems more abundant and frequent, even in years of drouth, than elsewhere, and springs are numerous ; hence crops are usually sure. The highest ground in Wyoming marks the divide between the Illinois and the Rock rivers. The surface is diversified by ridges, and at almost every point drainage is easy, often without artificial aid. Ague and malaria seem not to have been known, or at least not enough to be noticed. Good health and long life and general comfort and prosperity are more generally enjoyed here than in most other parts of the west.
668
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
The following is a list of township officers since the county adopted township organization :
YEAR
VOTE
SUPERVISOR
TOWN CLERK
ASSESSOR
COLLECTOR
1850
113
David A. Town.
John Colvill.
Willard Hastings
Geo. S. Walton
1851
62
Edwin Ellsworth
1852
73
Geo. Ryan.
Jas. Simons.
. .
Elisha A. Stanton
Miles S. Simons
1853
83
Lester Harding .
Miles D. Cass. .
Elihu Rogers
Harvey Bills
1854
140
S. McIntyre. ..
1855
93
Harvey Bills
Hiram Wood
1856
150
Hiram Terry .
Jno. Colvill
Willard Hastings
Zera Town
1857
185
Jno. Colvill.
D'd W. Madden
Hiram Wood
1858
225
O. W. Bryant.
J. M. Derr
S. N. Bunker
1859
188
Jno. Colvill.
L. H. Flagg
1860
197
O. W. Bryant.
John A. Hunt
1861
185
Jno. Edwards
66
6 6
1862
214
Geo. Ryan
Win. McMahan
Stephen N. Bunker
1863
203
Obed W. Bryant
Jas. E. Woodbridge .
1864
173
Geo. Ryan
،،
Wm. McMahan
L. H. Flagg
1866
210
John Colvill.
1867
201
Lester Harding. 66
Jno. Harding ..
IV. C. Rusiyan
Jacob Epla
1869 212
Wm. McMahan.
Isaac E. Hunt.
Isaac Morris
1870
164
O. W. Bryant ...
66
Wm. McMahan
Jacob Epla
1872
201
66
Rem'ton Warriner
1873
160
Jno. Edwards. . .
Jno. Agler.
Remington
Warriner
Thos. W. Marble
1874
213
L. H. Flagg
Clark Agler
1876
240
66
=
Win. McMahan John Harding
John Allen
1878
301
Wm. McMahan.
| Henry Potter .. 66
1879
240
1880
252
1881
6 .
...
A. C. Radley. .
Ira Baker Jas. H. Thompson W. H. Smith
PAW PAW.
The thrift and superiority of this town exceed any conceptions that might be formed of it from its size. The greatest worth takes the least room. It contains most of the business and over one-third of the population of Wyoming, and having no corporate existence is one of the most orderly, as it is one of the most pleasant, villages in the state. The larger part of it is upon a tract of twenty-five acres, purchased by Peter May from George Town in 1841.
Mrs. Vincent Breese, daughter of Peter May, narrates that on ar- rival of her father's family, just as the journey's end was reached, their team got stalled in the mire near the spot where the depot now stands, and that they put up that night at the nearest house, which was George Town's. This was on May 5, and the smouldering ruins of Hastings' house and store were still smoking. Town's hewn log house, built in 1837, was the first on the site of the village after the historic cabin built by Edward Butterfield in 1835. May's cabin stood close to the
Stephen A. Tarr
1865
105
.
.
Wm. McMahan
B. J. Wheeler
1868
182
1871 151
John Harding
1875
197
1877
246
283
66
66
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WYOMING TOWNSHIP.
present Suttor house, west of Siglin & Potter's brick store, and his smithy, started in 1842, was on the south side of the road, nearly oppo- site the store.
The Hastings house, formerly on the site of the Roberts dwelling, was built in May 1841, and was the first frame house both in the vil- lage and township. About this time Charles Pelcher burned brick at the east end of the grove, and Hastings was one of his first and heavi- est patrons, having erected right away a house which is now clapboarded and standing at Fonda's corner, the first brick structure in Wyoming. The brickyard was soon moved to the west end of the grove, and this circumstance, trifling as it was, seems to have exerted a remote influence on the future growth of the struggling hamlet. The Pelcher land is now the Wheeler farm ; on it, near the " big spring," was built a frame house in 1844. Jacob Epla rented this farm and lived on it in 1845. The perennial fountain may have suggested the need of the "fount of knowledge," as near by was now built the first frame school-house in the township.
Amasa Harrington arrived in 1844, bringing his two sous, A. J. Harrington and H. H. Harrington (the two last of whom reside in the village to-day), and in 1846 bought the May property, receiving the deed direct from George Town. In the same year that Harrington came, Adolphus or Rudolphus Holly built on the south side of the Chicago road (identical with Main street), opposite George Town's, a part of the house now owned by Abram Thomas. The next year Amos Sawyer put up a cabin on the site of the Detamore house. In 1846 George Town moved out of his log cabin into the present Grum- mond house, which he had just erected. John Colvill and Jacob Rogers (nicknamed "Prairie" Rogers, for being so eccentric as to locate out on the prairie in an early day) were in partnership in the manufacture of shingles by horse-power.
Thus as late as the spring of 1847, when twelve years had elapsed in the history of this little settlement, it contained but half a dozen families, and its business was all comprised in the one little smithy and the shingle mill. After the little grocery burned in 1841 no one had ventured again in trade. In the absence of stores peddlers had profited, among whom was William H. Field, who had plied his vocation in these parts since 1843. On the northeast and south sides of the grove were settlements fully as pretentious and competitive, unconscious rivals for the immigration and trade of a world.
But now came an influx of population and improvements cheering to this community. Jedediah Foster and his son Dwight located on the Ira Baker corner in 1847. Dr. J. C. Heath, from Somonauk, set- tled here between 1846 and 1849, and was the earliest located physi-
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
cian in the place. In the latter year he was selling drugs, and not long after erected two buildings on the north side of Main street. He re- mained a few years, and is now in Texas.
Field & Robinson began merchandising in a building put up by them on the east side of Peru street in the autumn of 1848, the one now standing next north of Squire Harding's residence. They dissolved in a year or two and Field erected the Mayor building, now a harness shop.
Charles Pelcher erected four brick houses in the next two or three years : one was on the Hendershot corner (torn away in 1880); an- other was the Field house, begun in 1849 for Willard Hastings; and two for himself-one on the Wheeler place, still in use, and the other the old Detamore house, in 1851.
Meanwhile various industries had been established. Mechanics moved in. Blacksmiths had been the first to put up shops ; they did a flourishing business. The Walton brothers lived just south of the cor- ner of Main and Peru streets, on the west side, and Sylvester Smith, shoemaker, next below. On the opposite side William Field, in 1849, built the main part of 'Squire Harding's house, the first floor of which Eri Butler afterward used for a wagon shop.
In 1849 Isaac Morris came to the place and began shoemaking. He has worked at his trade until now. Harris D. Merwine arrived the same time, and the next year set up in the wagon-making business in the western part of the village.
Erastus Gates, school-teacher, at this time owned lots on the west corner of Peru and Main streets. John Allen, carpenter, afterward owned property there which his family occupied many years. He sold the last of this ground in 1880 and moved his house to East avenue.
Not far from 1850 a blacksmith shop was built by Alonzo Osborn, and another by James Symonds, both on the south side of Main street. Symonds did a large business manufacturing wagons and plows, keep- ing as many as five forges at work. William Cole, Thomas Webster, Bunker, Leonard Bell and Maj. Morse are some of the smiths who have waked the echoes of the anvil here in times past. But probably the most distinguished was 'Squire L. H. Flagg, an early settler, who was engaged at his trade several years, connected with different travel- ing troupes, and by the partiality of his fellow citizens was contin- uously in township office, holding various positions. He was a man of remarkable frame, weighed over 300 pounds; was a rare vocalist, and as such established a flattering reputation. He was called the "lion bass," and his voice is said to have rivaled the depth of distant thunder and the pureness of the ÆEolian harp.
Returning to the first merchants we find that John Colvill was
yours truly David Smith
FIFTY
١٦ ٩٣
.
A
1
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WYOMING TOWNSHIP.
the leading tradesman after 1850. In 1862 he built the Flagg & Baker clothing store, and in the winter of 1872-3 the Colvill or post-office building. Westcott Field sold out to I. K. Miller, who was succeeded in 1854 by Sears & Howlett. This firm was in trade till about 1856, when the senior member ran away, leaving Howlett to pay the debts, amounting to $8,000. Stephens & Lawton followed them a short time, and in the fall of 1856 sold their stock to Cone & Madden, who oc- cupied the drug building. Madden bought out Cone and then sold to Hiram Fuller. Mark Averill sold goods in the place prior to most of those named. A chronicler tells also when the first saloon was here, but it little matters.
Andrew Breese opened a dry-goods store in 1852, and the next year Wilcox & Beck a cooperative establishment. These were in busi- ness a few years. In 185S Jacob Hendershot began in the grocery business in the West building and continued in it till 1873; he then erected on the south side the first brick business house ever in Paw Paw, and added a stock of dry goods. ITis building consists of two stories and a basement. In 1880 he erected an elegant brick residence on the southeast corner of Main and Pern streets, where he had lived twenty years.
In 1860 William Hazel started the first harness shop. In 1865 William Mayor engaged in the same business on the south side; two years after his son, J. W. Mayor, took charge of it for him, and in 1869 succeeded as proprietor. John Harding commenced trading in 1865, in partnership with John Colvill, and since 1872 has been alone in business. William Merrill began selling goods in 1875 in the firm of William Merrill & Co., and the next year built the Centennial brick building, which he still ocenpies.
On July 7, 1872, Lester Potter, just commencing in business here, received the first shipment of coal and lumber ever brought to Paw Paw by rail transportation. He was a partner in the erection, in 1880, of the Siglin & Potter double brick building, which occupies nearly the identical spot on which Peter May raised his rude cabin. The Wheeler brick store was erected by George W. Lindsey in 1877. Reuben Hall built his large double brick building in 1880, and HI. M. Wilson also erected a two-story brick structure on the sonthiwest corner of Main and Peru streets. A man named Skoyles built the flouring- mill about 1876.
The Oak Grove creamery and cheese factory, 30×40, with an addition 20×50, owned by B. J. Wheeler, was erected by him in 1880, and the manufacture of dairy products was begun the present season. On the first floor are four rooms ; one contains an engine of twelve- horse power; one is the creamery; another is used for making and 40
674
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
pressing, and the last contains the springs. These send up water six feet above the surface in such quantity that a pump throwing sixty gallons per minute does not exhaust the supply. The second floor is divided into apartments for storing. The factory has a capacity for 15,000 pounds of milk per day, and the quality of the butter and cheese produced here compares most favorably with the products of older establishments.
Paw Paw contains two hotels for the accommodation of the public. The Detamore house has an interesting history and a well established reputation. The old brick, 16×22, was built in 1851, and two years later an addition 28×36 was made. In 1874 the first part was torn away and replaced by another, 20×30, giving the edifice a home-like appearance and an air of repose and comfort. Before it was remodeled, Union Hall, in which Corinthian Lodge held meetings many years, was in the second story. This house has an ancient reputation for having been run on temperance principles.
The Paw Paw house, sometimes called the West house, was built by Barber, Bull & Hendershot in 1857. It is a two-story frame, and stands next east of the Detamore house. Anchor Lodge met in Wash- ington Hall in this house for several years.
The principal business men in the town, not before mentioned, are H. H. Harrington, J. H. Thompson, Alexander Field, W. A. Pratt, S. C. Mitchell, W. H. Barringer, Guffin, A. R. Harp, S. A. Abbott, Marshal Reams, Henry Lewis, and John Rosenberger, station agent. Others have been in business here from time to time; but this topic is already too much extended.
For twenty-five years prior to 1873 Paw Paw could support but two stores, and each had but a small trade. The farmers would go where the railroad was, and to keep their patronage at home a railroad must needs come here. Those who feared that the cost of the road would be a burden are agreeably disappointed. It was harder for farmers to haul 100 bushels of corn to Earlville in ante-railroad times than now to deliver 250 at Paw Paw. Besides, when they went to Earlville to carry products and procure supplies a day's time was con- sumed. Now the market is so near every man's door that he can do his trading in the evening. But the rapid development of Paw Paw is most conclusive evidence in this matter. In 1871 the lots and build- ings together, in this village, were assessed at only $3,809. Now they pay taxes on a valuation of over $60,000. Ten years ago the two stores of much importance carried, the one a stock valued at $550 and the other $250. Now there are at least a dozen prosperous concerns in trade here, and a single firm carries a stock worth over $5,000, which it must frequently replenish to meet its brisk trade. New buildings
675
WYOMING TOWNSHIP.
are yearly erected, some of them fine business blocks. Hotels have increased. Two good newspapers are established. Of course the tax for the railroad is more than met by the increase of wealth.
In recent years an extensive trade in butter has been established, and so excellent a reputation has been made for the product shipped from Paw Paw that the brand of the dealers here is much sought after by dealers abroad. To the excellent pasturage in the vicinity, and the intelligent and painstaking care in the different stages of making, keeping and shipping, is due the superior quality of the butter sent from here. In 1873 the number of packages invoiced at this station was 875, and in 1880 it had increased to 4,550, aggregating about 227,000 pounds. A single firm handled in one year over $23,000 worth.
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