USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88
The legal officers present at the organization given above were as follows: The Hon. Dan Stone, judge; Aaron Waklee, sheriff; Shelton L. Hall, circuit attorney, and George W. Chase, clerk. After considering the bonds and securities of the constable, sheriff, and coroner, the court proceeded with regular business.
The first appeal case tried in the circuit court was at its first sitting in 1840, involving rights of property, Smith Gilbraith vs. Buckner J. Morris. The first case of appeal from the justice court was in a case of fine for an assault and battery. The fine, however, being reduced from $27 to $20, it was paid withont further litigation.
In March, 1840, the boundaries of the road districts were changed, and their number increased to forty-two.
The first collector for Lee county was David Tripp, who received his appointment in June, 1840 ; and at that time Richard F. Adams was appointed to take the first census of the county.
In the year of 1840 the court-house was built according to the contracts noted above, at the cost of $7,610, and 80 acres of land ; the former donated by the citizens of Dixon and the latter by the founder of the city, John Dixon. The jail was also completed this year.
On the 16th of June the commissioners appointed Joseph Saw- yer the first overseer of the poor, and David Tripp the first collect- or for the county of Lee.
Bearing the same date (April 16, 1840) the first license to sell intoxicating liquors in Lee county was issued to Rodney Burnett for a term of two years, for which Rodney paid the sum of 25 cents. And the first indictment by the grand jury for selling spirituous liquors without license was at the first term of the circuit court in 1840.
In the antumn of 1840 the land office was removed from Galena to Dixon. Mr. John Dixon visited Washington in this year, with application for the removal of the land office to this city. Gen. Scott being a personal friend of Mr. Dixon, and having been at Dixon during the Black Hawk war and learned the topography of the country, he rendered valuable aid to him in introducing him to the president of the United States, Mr. Van Buren, who issued the order for its removal. Col. John Dement was appointed receiver, and Major Hackelton register. These gentlemen were succeeded by D. G. Garnsey, receiver, and John Hogan, register.
70
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
Township Organizations .- The original organization remained, with regular change of officers, until 1850, when by virtue of an act of the legislature, approved by the chief executive of the common- wealth February 12, 1849, providing for the organization of coun- ties and townships when a majority of the legal voters of a county at any general election should so determine, by vesture of power in three commissioners, organized and established boundary lines by which the county of Lee was divided into ten civil townships.
Paw Paw Township, embracing the three eastern political town- ships, Nos. 37, 38, and 39 N., R. 2 E., of third meridian.
Brooklyn Township, embracing the three political townships east of the third principal meridian, Nos. 37, 38, and 39 N., R. 1 E., of third principal meridian.
Hanno Township embraced No. 19 N., R. 11 E., of the fourth principal meridian.
Lee Center Township, embracing No. 20 N., R. 11 E., of the fourth meridian.
Bradford Township, embracing No. 21 N., R. 11 E., and the S. ¿ of No. 22 N., R. 11 E., of the fourth principal meridian.
Hamilton Township, embracing No. 19 N., R. 10, 9, 8 E., of the fourth principal meridian, and No. 20 N., R. 8 E., and the S. ¿ of No. 20 N., R. 9 E., of the fourth principal meridian.
Amboy Township, embracing No. 20 N., R. 10 E., and the N. ¿ of No. 20 N., R. 9 E., of the fourth principal meridian.
Tremont Township, embracing No. 21 N., R. 10 E., and the S. part of No. 22 N., R. 10 E., of the fourth principal meridian, in Lee county.
Dixon Township, embracing No. 21 N., R. 9 E., and that part of No. 22 N., R. 9 E., of the principal meridian, which is situated and lying in Lee county.
Palmyra Township, e ubracing that part of No. 22 N .. R. 8 E., that is in Lee county ; also that part of No. 21 N., R. 8 E., that is S. of Rock river.
Palmyra Township, embracing that part of No. 22 N., R. 8 E., that is in Lee county ; also that part of No. 21 N., R. 8 E., that is N. of Rock river.
Prior to July 2 of the same year the name Wyoming was substi- tuted for Paw Paw, and China was substituted for Tremont.
During 1855 the following townships were organized and added to the original list, making in all thirteen townships, namely, May, Willow Creek, and Marion. In 1857 Hanno was discontinued, being superseded by Sublette. The same year Harmon was organized, which was followed in 1859 by the creation of a new township called
71
THE ORGANIZATION OF LEE COUNTY.
Reynolds, after an early settler of that township. One township was added in 1860, known as Nelson, and in 1861 the board of super- visors created three new civil townships, Alto, Ogle, and township 38, political survey, which received in 1862 the name of Viola. Since that date Ogle has been eliminated from the list and two added, Ash- ton and South Dixon.
In February, 1871, the town of China was divided, and a new township called Nachusa was created out of the territory composing the W. ¿ of T. 21, R. 10 ; and also extending north on the same line through T. 22, R. 10 E., of the fourth principal meridian to the Ogle county line, being the W. ¿ of the present township of China.
In February, 1872, the town of Dixon was divided and a portion thereof was added to the town of Nachusa, commencing at or near the center of Rock river, at or near the center of Sec. 10, T. 22, R. 9 E., of the fourth principal meridian, at the point where the line dividing the E. ¿ and the W. ¿ of said Sec. 10 strikes the center of said Rock river ; thence south on the half section line to the center of Sec. 34 ; thence east to the center of Sec. 35 in the town and range aforesaid ; thence sonth to the center of Sec. 2, T. 21, R. 9 E., of the fourth principal meridian ; thence west 80 rods ; thence south to the north line of South Dixon. Effort has been made to have a portion of Nachnsa thrown back to Dixon township, but the committee to whom it was referred reported adversely and asked to be released from any further consideration of the matter. This leaves the county of Lee, at this writing, with twenty-two civil townships, fifteen of which are divided according to the political survey, while seven in the N. W. { of the county were created irrespective of the political townships.
County Officers .- Below we give a list of all county officers from the organization of the county to the present time :
County Commissioners. At the first election in 1839 three com- missioners were elected; after this one commissioner was elected and one went out of office each year. C. F. Ingals, Nathan Whit- ney and J. P. Dixon were elected in 1839, A. E. Haskell in 1840, Joseph Crawford in 1841, O. F. Ayres in 1842, J. C. Morgan in 1843, D. Baird in 1844, D. H. Birdsall in 1845, James Goble in 1846, N. Whitney in 1846 (to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of D. Baird), W. Badger in 1847, Stephen Fuller in 1848, John Gilmore in 1848 to fill vacancy.
County Judges. H. Morgan from 1839 to 1843, O. A. Eddy to '47, Lorenzo Wood to '54, David Welty to '62, W. W. DeWolf to '69, John D. Crabtree to '76, Jas. B. Charters present judge.
County Clerks. I. S. Boardman from 1839 to 1843, Chas. T.
72
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
Chase to '49, J. B. Gregory to '53, Thos. W. Eustace to '61, Jas. A. Hawley present clerk.
Circuit Clerks and Recorders. G. W. Chase from 1839 to 1841, C. T. Chase to '51, N. F. Porter in '51, I. S. Boardman to '57, G. E. Haskell to '59, I. S. Boardman in '59, B. F. Shaw to '68, J. N. Hyde to '76, R. Warriner present Clerk.
Recorders. M. Fellows from 1839 to 1844, E. W. Hine to '50. Since which time the circuit clerk has served as ex-officio recorder.
Treasurers. John Morse 1840 to 1843, N. Morehouse to '46, S. Parker in '46, W. W. Bethea to 50, E. B. Stiles to '57, T. B. Little to '59, E. B. Stiles to '63, J. T. Little to '71, Josialı Little to '76, F. A. Truman to '79, Josiah Little present treasurer.
Sheriffs. A. Wakelee from 1839 to 1841, A. L. Porter to '42, Jas. Campbell to '48, Jas. Goble to '51, A. L. Porter to '53, O. Wheeler in '53, Win. Butler to '56, O. Wheeler to '58, Lester Hard- ing to '60, A. L. Porter to '62, Chas. F. Lynn to '64, R. P. Tread- well to '66, T. L. Pratt to '68, G. M. Berkley to '76, J. N. Hills to '78, Walter Little present sheriff.
Superintendents of Schools. E. R. Mason to 1840, J. T. Little to '43, D. B. McKenney to '46, Lorenzo Wood to '50, J. V. Eus- tace to '53, John Stevens to '55, S. Wright to '57, J. A. Hawley to '59, John Monroe to '61, W. H. Gardner to '63, B. F. Atherton to '65, J. H. Preston to '73, Daniel Carey to '76, J. H. Preston present superintendent.
Surveyors. Joseph Crawford from 1839 to 1844, S. H. Whit- more to '46, S. Parker in '46. C. Camp to '49, J. Crawford to '55, A. W. Tinkham to '57, M. Santee to '61, K. F. Booth to '63, W. B. Andrus to '65, C. R. Hall to '67, Wmn. McMahan to '80.
Coroners. Sam'l Johnson from 1839 to 1841. John Lord to '48, Sol. Parker to '50, Jas. Goble to '54. D. B. McKenney to '56, H. O. Kelsey to '64, J. Hatch, jr., to '66, H. Barrell to '70, A. E. Wilcox to '78, J. E. Church present coroner.
State's Attorneys. Wm. E. Ives from 1872 to 1876, A. C. Bard- well to '80, Charles B. Morrison present incumbent.
The Circuit Judges have been Daniel Stone two terms of 1840, Thos. C. Browne to '48, B. R. Sheldon to '51, I. O. Wilkinson to '56, J. W. Drurey in '56, J. V. Eustace to '61, W. W. Heaton to '78, J. V. Eustace present judge.
March 7, John Morse was appointed first assessor for the county. The present county officers are as follows :
County Clerk-James A. Hawley.
Circuit Clerk-Remington Warriner.
County Treasurer-Josiah Little.
73
PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT OF LEE COUNTY.
County Recorder-Remington Warriner.
County Judge-James B. Charters.
County Sheriff-Walter Little.
County School Superintendent-Jas. H. Preston.
County Coroner-John C. Church.
State's Attorney-Chas. B. Morrison.
Judges 13th Judicial District-Hon. Wm. Brown, Hon. John V. Eustace, Hon. J. M. Bailey.
PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT OF LEE COUNTY.
Two or three years after the Black Hawk war the Indians were removed from the northern part of the state, leaving the country open for the white man to occupy. Settlers began to fill up the country, and in a few years all the prairie land adjoining the groves of timber was taken up. Dixon advanced from four families in 1836 to thirty-five or forty in 1838. In 1836, when Lee county was embraced in Ogle, at a closely contested election growing out of a rivalry between Dixon and Oregon, less than 200 votes were cast al- together in the county, and that under the old state constitution, pro- viding that all white inhabitants of six months' residence in the state should be legal voters. One writer says : " As early as 1838 several wealthy families from New York and other parts of the country, at- tracted by tlie beautiful scenery and fertile lands along the Rock river, settled in the vicinity of Dixon. Among them were Capt. Hugh Graham, an old gentleman of fine presence and courtly man- ners, and Mr. Alexander Charters, familiarly called "the governor," whose genial, and characteristic hospitality, and whose picturesque and finely kept place, two miles above the town, have been to thou- sands the most attractive feature of a visit to Dixon."
In 1839 the general assembly having created Lee county, which was approved February 27, 1839, the citizens of Dixon had the oppor- tunity to retrieve their losses in their defeat for the court-house in 1836. On the location of the county seat at this place, with the or- ganization of a new county and the erecting of the necessary public buildings gave an impulse to the improvement and development of the county. The removal of the United States Land Office from Galena to Dixon in the autumn of 1840, and the establishment of the office of the engineer of the "Internal Improvement System " at Dixon, gave the new county a prominence that but few have been favored with.
It was reported for Lee county, in 1840, a population of 2,035. Dixon precinct had a population of 725 ; 125 persons were employed in agriculture, 17 in commerce, 55 at manufacture and trades, 12 in
74
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
the learned professions and engineering. There was one school and 30 scholars.
For a few years succeeding 1840 the county was of slow develop- ment. "The state suffered from the great indebtedness and loss of credit occasioned by the visionary and disastrous internal improve- ment system of 1837, and increased in population very slowly from 1840 to 1850. The fear of taxation diverted emigration, and agri- cultural interests languished for want of inter-communication. There was no market for the products of the country nearer than Chicago, and the expense of transportation of them was often equal to the value of the products when sold. The cash trade of the interior towns was meager, and a credit system, ruinous to the merchant and demoralizing to the customer, prevailed."
The county, however, steadily advanced in population ; lands were taken up and farms were being improved, so that by 1845 the county had a population of 3,282, an increase of 1,247 since the cen- sus of 1840; the village of Dixon had, at this time, a population of 400. There were in the county at this time 2 grist-mills, 5 saw-mills, 1 carding machine and 1 iron foundry. The assessed value of property in the county was $28,000 ; horses, 900 ; cattle, 3,222 ; sheep, 2,197, and hogs, 3,905.
In 1850, as noticed previously, there was a reorganization of the county, at which time it was divided into towns, each being repre- sented by a supervisor in the transaction of the county business, which had been done by the board of commissioners. The board of supervisors held their first session on May 13, 1850. At this time the population of Lee county was 5,289, being an increase of 2,007 since 1845; Dixon township's population was 1,073. The value of real estate was $215,360, and of personal property $168,341. There were twelve corporations or individuals in the county, producing ar- ticles to the value of $5,000 annually. One was engaged in the man- ufacture of harvesting machines ; one manufacturing plows ; one producing lime ; two in lumber, and two in the milling business ; the capital invested was $24,300; the average number of hands em- ployed was twenty-three. The county had one academy, with two teachers and forty pupils : public schools, with forty-six teachers and 1,518 pupils. The average monthly wages for farm hands was $12, and that paid to day laborers was 63 cents per day with board, and 75 cents per day without board ; carpenters, $1.50 per day ; female domestics, $1.25 per week. Board for laborers could be obtained at $1.50 per week ..
Within the next decade the county made wonderful progress, being less embarrassed by threatening taxation, while the Illinois
75
PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT OF LEE COUNTY.
Central railroad was opened through it in 1855, which contributed largely to the development of the country. We find the population, as given by the census of 1860, for Lee county to be 18,854, an in- crease from 1850 of 13,604, or a little over 1,300 annually. This was the great decade of the popular increase of Lee county. Emi- gration flowed in like a tide. The material wealth of the county greatly increased. The decade of 1860 and 1870 increased 8,012 over the preceding ; so that the census of 1870 gave a total popula- tion for the county of 26,866 ; this period embraced the years of the great struggle during the rebellion. Emigration was greatly re- tarded, and many of the brave sons of Lee county went to the front at their country's call and never returned. During the period from 1870 to 1880 the population of Lee county increased 3,037 over 1870. While there has been a great falling off in the increase of population within the last census period, it arises from the fact that the lands had been generally occupied ; that there was not the inducement to land seekers as had formerly been. Some lands, however. were to be improved, which brought in the faithful yeomanry from the east, and manufacturing interests offered inducements to the mechanic, so that in 1880 Lee county had a population of 30.186.
COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP CENSUS FROM 1850 TO 1880.
TOWNSHIPS.
1850
1860
1870
1880
Alto
301
832
Amboy
504
2,507
4,104
4,699
Ashton
1,007
1,009
Bradford
158
1,252
1,086
848
Brooklyn
354
1,324
1,235
1,296
China
687
1,712
2,351
1,411
Franklin
757
730
Dixon
1,072
3,408
4,687
4,241
East Grove.
765
797
Hamilton.
315
355
186
427
Hanno
475
148
542
1,254
Lee Center
292
763
1,028
1,229
Marion
1,007
397
902
May
362
600
2,313
Palmyra.
587
1,055
1,109
1,118
Reynolds
288
742
743
South Dixon.
905
973
Sublett
1,123
1,300
1,384
Viola
639
685
Willow Creek.
729
1,019
1,348
Wyoming
808
1,237
1,280
1,931
COUNTY.
5,252
18,359
27,138
30,186
Harmon.
688
747
848
Nelson.
76
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
Internal Improvements .- Very early in the history of Lee coun- ty a system of internal improvements was inaugurated in the state, for which tax was laid upon the people that became a burden, em- barrassed the settlement and growth of the state, and from which Lee county suffered greatly. Railroads were contemplated as well as the improvement of Rock river by a system of slack-water naviga- tion. These works were begun and carried forward as long as the state exchequer was flush, but it was afterward abandoned for want of means to carry forward the project. This being in 1836 and 1837, before the county was developed, the embarrassment enforced upon the new state deferred the building of railroads for near twenty years, when the Illinois Central ran her first train across the Rock river bridge at Dixon in 1855. This event was of first importance to Lee county, causing not only the rapid growth of Dixon but the founding of Amboy car works, which gave rise to the growth of that young city. This road was followed by the Chicago & Northwestern road, the Chicago & Rock River, and the C. D. & M. road.
The Dixon Air Line Railroad was built by the Galena & Chi- cago Union Railroad Company from the junction, thirty miles west of Chicago, in 1854 and 1855. The original design seems to have been to make this a branch to operate as a feeder to the main line, tapping the Rock river valley at this point. The subsequent rapid develop- ment of the country and the constant increase of business induced its extension westward. striking the "Father of Waters " at a point opposite Clinton in Iowa. Soon after the Galena & Chicago Union, with its branches, and the Northwestern (Chicago & Green Bay) were consolidated under the general name of the Northwestern, a railroad bridge crossing the Mississippi at Clinton was completed, and the " Dixon Air Line " became one of the leading trunk lines between Chicago and the Pacific coast. Mr. Charles Chase was appointed agent at Dixon. The first business done in the receipt and shipment of freights at this point was about February 10, 1855, five days before that branch of business was commenced at the Illinois Central depot. Mr. Chase was succeeded as agent by Mr. J. R. Stewart, Mr. Charles Murray following, then Mr. George Rogers, who was succeeded by the present agent, Mr. H. E. Hand.
BUSINESS DONE BY THE N. W. R. R. AT DIXON DEPOT FOR PREVIOUS YEAR.
FREIGHT FORWARDED ..
FREIGHT RECEIVED.
Tonnage.
Unpaid.
Tonnage.
Unpaid.
18,595
$48.248.56
10,313
$31,409.62
77
PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT OF LEE COUNTY.
SALE OF TICKETS.
Local Tickets.
Coupon Tickets.
Extra Baggage.
$1,728.42
$668.95
$2.55
For 1880.
COAL RECEIVED AND FORWARDED.
Soft coal via. Ill. Central and distributed at Dixon for the company.
Hard coal received and delivered at Dixon.
Weight.
Ch'g's paid I.C.R.R.
Weight.
Unpaid.
49,290,700
$10,464.20
1,882,717
$2,076.41
GRAIN SHIPMENTS TO CHICAGO.
Wheat.
Corn.
Oats.
Barley.
Rye.
8,954
197,239
37,481
8,181
8,654
The Illinois Central was also built in 1854 and 1855. Its beauti- ful iron bridge at this point was completed January 1, 1855 ; the last rail was laid upon it in the midst of a furious northwest snowstorm on that day. Receipts and shipments of freight commenced on Feb- ruary 15, under Mr. Addison Chase as agent ; Mr. Chase was suc- ceeded by Mr. S. Y. Pierce, then Mr. A. E. Mason, who was fol- lowed by Mr. W. C. Wooley. The latter was appointed September 15, 1858.
In the summer of 1876 a project was formed for building the Rock River Valley railroad, connecting the Rock Island & St. Louis with the Chicago & Pacific, thus forming another trunk line between Chicago and St. Louis and the great west and south. A company was formed, with Mr. James A. Hawley, of Dixon, as president, sur- veys and location made, grading commenced along the line of Water street in this city, when the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy ab- sorbed the stock of the southern portion of the road, thereby crush- ing the Valley road, together with all the fine schemes of the inhab- itants, for the present, for the further development of the water power and manufacturing interest of the valley. Some consolation, however, for the loss of these prospective commercial advantages lies in the fact that had the road been completed on the line as lo-
78
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
cated, the iron horse, with its trains of living freight and commerce, would have marred some of the most beautiful natural scenery to be found on the continent.
The Illinois Central enters the county on the south, crossing the line twelve miles west of the southeast corner of the county, and running dne northwest passes Amboy to Dixon, where it crosses the Rock river, following that valley two or three miles north, then bear- ing west it passes out of the county five miles east of the northwest corner of the county. The track of this road is laid through Dixon on a high grade and system of arches over the principal streets, a· d across the river by a magnificent iron bridge resting on huge stone abutments and piers.
The Chicago & Northwestern enters the county on the north, eleven miles west of the northeast corner, passing south of the city of Dixon, where it crosses the Illinois Central, and passing down the Rock river valley it emerges from the county on the west, one mile north of the river.
The Chicago & Iowa, known as the Chicago, Dubuque & Minne- sota road, crosses the northeast corner of the county dividing Alto township, diagonally, into two equal parts.
The Chicago & Rock River road enters the county on the east, at Paw Paw, four miles north of the southeast corner of the county, and bearing north of west to Amboy, and from thence to the Rock river, passing out of the county on the west two miles south of Rock river.
Navigation .- But little can be said respecting navigation in Lee county. Although congress recognized Rock river as a navigable stream, they neglected to legislate sufficient water in the channel, in consequence of which the commercial world failed to utilize what water already flowed between its banks. There are times, however, that were it not for the bridges and dams that now obstruct the river the heaviest Mississippi boats could safely pass up to Dixon. In an early day the Mississippi river steamboats occasionally made trips up Rock river. In April, 1838, the steamer Gipsey went up the river as far as Oregon ; she had on board a load of bacon bought in St. Louis by Mr. Phelps, of Oregon. There was some dissatisfaction in regard to the contract and Mr. Phelps would not take the meat ; Smith Gilbraith was aboard the boat and told the captain to turn around and unload the bacon at Dixon. It was unloaded at the foot of Peoria street. In July, 1844, the Lighter ascended the river as far as Janesville, Wisconsin. Perhaps this is the time that Col. John- son wanted the " boys" to " fire off the stump " in honor of her arrival, which some of the early settlers recall with so much amusement.
yours Truly & b. Hunt
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R L
81
COUNTY BUILDINGS.
It had been announced that a boat would be up the river on a certain day, and preparations were made to receive her, and Col. Johnson was selected to make the address of welcome to the captain and crew. Being in primitive days there was no navy howitzer or military field-piece with which to fire the salute. The colonel, how- ever, was equal to the emergency, and ordered a stump, which stood on the bank of the river, to be bored with a large auger. and loaded with powder and tow. to be in readiness to fire off on the approach of the expected steamer. An adjacent saloon was chosen as the base of observation. Here they would plan the reception, and anon appear on the bank looking for the "smoke way down the river," which was slow to appear. The day was far spent, and the sun was fast sinking behind the western hills, and they were weary of waiting and watching for the great water-witch, when the cry was raised, " the steamboat is coming." Headed by the colonel the anxious committee emerged from the saloon to hail the great steamer. It was, however, but a small hull. but being blinded by weary watch- ing the orator mistook the stranger for the long expected, and lifting his hat he delivered his address of " welcome, welcome to our shores," and, turning to the artillerymen, the order was given, "Boys, shoot off the stump;" and as the reverberations of the shooting stump were dying away beyond the Rock river hills the little cruiser rounded into port, and, safely mooring, received the honors which were designed for one that did not come. The old citizens believe until this day that the address of welcome and the cannonading in- junction were appropriate to the occasion.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.