USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. > Part 76
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DANIEL M. HARRIS, farmer and stock raiser, Paw Paw Giove, was born in Cayuga county, New York, July 9, 1825. His parents were Daniel and Miriam (Page) Harris. In September, 1846, Mr. Harris came to this township, and bought the farm he has since occupied, as well as a part of the farm opposite, the two pieces being in Secs. 5 and 8, making 120 acres altogether. He returned to his father's place in New York, and on November 18, 1848, was married to Christee Ann Adeline Carmer, of Auburn. In the following spring they came to their prairie home in the west, and the same season built the small part of the house now owned by the Potter heirs, known as the "red roofed house." About 1851 they erected the small part of the house they now occupy. Two stages passed their place daily. In wet sea- sons it was not uncommon for Mr. Harris to have to get up at night and hitch to the stage with his ox-team, while the passengers with rails in hand lifted at the wheels, when a lift and a pull together would bring the stalled coach ont to firm footing. In those times, says Mr.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
Harris, his family rode to church at South Paw Paw behind yoked oxen, they not yet having begun to keep horses. These excellent peo- ple are the parents of three children : William Arthur, Evart M., living in Marshall county, Kansas, and Dale E., at home. Mr. Harris has been commissioner of highways several years, and is now school trustee. He was deacon in the Baptist church of Paw Paw nine or ten years, and is a republican in politics. Mr. Harris is held in highi esteem by all who know him.
W. A. CONANT, farmer, Paw Paw Grove, was born in Chenango county, July 24, 1832, and the son of Elihu and Jeanette E. (Johnson) Conant. His school advantages were quite fair, and included two terms at Glens Falls. He never had any difficulty in keeping at the head of his classes. He came to Wyoming township in the spring of 1849, was married to Charlotte L. Erwin, of Shabbona, and settled on Sec. 27. He bought 200 acres, and has since added to it till now he owns 640 acres. They have three children living: Sarah Jeanette, Mary Elizabeth, and William Terry. Sarah is Mrs. Simon Mann, of the Chicago Stove Works. Mr Conant has one of the largest and best farms in the county. Mr. Conant enlisted in Co. K, 75th reg. Ill. Inf., and did three years' faithful service. He was in the engagements at Perryville, Stone River, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Ring- gold Gap, and the Atlanta campaign. He was wounded at Perry- ville. At the reunion of Co. K, September 27, 1881, when a perma- nent organization was formed, J. C. Howlett was elected president, William A. Conant vice-president, and James H. Thompson secre- tary and treasurer. Another item of Mr. Conant's history is given elsewhere in this work. To that the writer gave careful investigation, and has given the facts. These speak for themselves.
ISAAC B. BERRY, farmer and stock raiser, Paw Paw Grove, son of James W. and Margaret (Baldwin) Berry, was born in Onondaga county, New York, March 24, 1813. He was raised on his father's farm, and at the age of fifteen moved with his parents to Oswego county, where he left home four years later to learn the carpenter and joiner trade in the city of Oswego. In the fall of 1836 he came to Ottawa, Illinois, worked at his trade a few months, and then went to Chicago, where he remained till the next autumn. From there he went to Warrenville, then in Cook but now in Du Page county, took a claim and improved it, and lived twenty-five years. He was mar- ried in that place to Mary Louise Ward, who survived only two years. In 1856 he celebrated his second marriage, with Harriet E. Rogers, of Naperville. His two children are L. Louise, and Mary E., now Mrs. W. A. Pratt. In 1862 Mr. Berry came to Lee county and bought 314 acres of land lying in Secs. 4 and 5, in Wyoming township, and
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WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP.
in 32 and 33 in Willow Creek. Our subject is a republican in politics.
WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP.
The civil township is coterminus with the congressional, which is 38 N., R. 2 E. of the 3d P.M., and comprises thirty-six sections of the choicest farming land in the most delightful prairie situation in the world. The physical features present a pleasing outline wherever one may go. Standing upon either extremity of the valley of Willow creek, he sees unequaled farms running back upon the long slopes and across the ridges, which lose themselves in the general elevation of the country, all stretching far away in gorgeous beauty of land. scape. The morning sun in hazy autumn bathes the surface in spark- ling tints and mellow radiance, and the blue horizon receding into faint lines displays a misty trace of groves and hedges against a back- ground of watery sky ravishing to the view of animate brush or pen- cil. Elsewhere than upon the borders of this stream the country lies in bold undulations, excepting a narrow strip on the south side.
Four bodies of woodland are situated in the township, namely : Smith's Grove, Allen's Grove, and the Twin Groves. The first lies in Secs. 34 and 35, mostly in the latter; the second chiefly in the N.W. { of Sec. 36, which it mostly covers, and the other two in Sec. 17. The larger of the Twin Groves belongs about equally to the southeast and the southwest quarters, while the smaller occupies the center of the northwest quarter. Side by side they stand ; their name had an obvious origin. The others are named from first permanent settlers.
Willow creek takes its source in Wyoming township, crosses the line into this a mile and a quarter east of the southwest corner, and flows north in a circular course, passing through Twin Groves. On the farm of L. G. Durin, on Sec. 7, it bends directly west, and a little lower down on the same section is joined by East Branch. This cuts the east boundary at the southeast corner of Sec. 12, runs southwest to the corner of Sec. 14, and thence northwest nearly to the point of union with the first stream. Native willows found growing upon the banks of this water-course suggested the name for it, and when the township was organized no more appropriate name for that could be adopted than the one borne by the principal creek.
The population is a mixture principally of Americans, Norwegians and Germans, the first predominating, and the second constituting one-third of the whole. The thrift, industry and intelligence of the
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
inhabitants are conspicuously manifest. By the last census only four, and these old persons, were found unable to read or write.
The enumeration was made in 1880, by Thomas Nelson, Esq., and showed that there were 1,214 souls in the township. One-half the number is of foreign birth. There were 172 farms and 190 farmers. Compared with other sections, the improvements in Willow Creek township are of the first order. Hardly a farm but has a tasteful and spacious dwelling; and the favorite red barns, large and heavily built, contrast pleasantly with the white-painted residences. Planted groves have been reared with universal care, and the willow hedges, which in this township so closely approximate perfection, are the glory of the landscape.
The township was settled nearly simultaneously at all the groves. Peter Gonzolas, a Frenchman, from Dutchess county, New York, came in the fall of 1836, and made a claim of the Shondy farm, at Allen's Grove. He remained only two or three years, and then disap- peared suddenly ; some say he went west to join the Indians. Before his departure he sold his claim to Richard M. Allen. This was the first farm improved in Willow Creek township. To the neighboring grove came an excellent family in 1837. These were the Smiths. The head of these was John Smith, from Argyleshire, Scotland, who had been educated for the ministry. He arrived in August, and bought a claim in Sec. 35, from James Armour. A prior claim to this land had been made by a man named Cameron, who sold it to Armour. Neither of these squatters was here long, the stay of each being too short to compel the erection of a cabin. A few logs had been ent, and that was all that had been done. The claim which Mr. Smith purchased in- cluded all of "Dry " Grove (a name given because no creek was near it) except a few scattering trees. This name was borne until 1838 ; when the country was surveyed into townships in that year the grove was designated as Smith's Grove in the field notes. John Smith was the first settler at this place, and crected his cabin close to the spot where his son David's house now stands. In December following the family suffered a great misfortune in the loss of this dwelling by fire, together with their clothing, bedding, money, and a large and valuable collection of books. It was roofed with mowed grass, and in this covering the fire caught. This was the second house erected in the township and the first burned. Another was built right away, some ten rods east of the first. Death entered the Smith household about three weeks after their settlement here. John, the second son, was the first to be laid in the family burying-ground. This was the first death of any white person in the township. Robert and David Smith occupy parts of the original claim which belonged to their father, and
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WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP.
together own the greater part or the whole of the grove. The father died at the old homestead in 1860. A part of the house where David Smith lives, on the home place, was put up in 1855. Uncle John Col- vill, of Paw Paw, came from Scotland with the Smiths, to whom he is related, and made his home with them some years at first. With the national affection of the Scotch for home-ties, and their tenacity to things of the past, John Smith, same in attachment as the ancient Scotchman who, on emigrating to Canada, thought he could never sleep so well on any other as on his thistle bed, brought it with him only to throw away, by which last act he propagated a dangerous pest, -brought also the favorite all-iron plow, supposing, doubtless, that not another plow in all the world could turn a furrow like that which turns the glebe in Scotland. But the Scotch plow, like many Scotch notions, had to be straightway abandoned on reaching the new west. At that time the steel plow had not been invented, and the then common im- plement could not be used at this day, except its use should be com- pelled by imminent starvation. What glories shine about thy path- way, O Progress !
Dick Allen, who succeeded Gonzolas, and gave his name to the first settled grove in the township, was a character who could boast no savory reputation. Horse-stealing and counterfeiting were the means of livelihood to the criminal class, whose ranks were full. These law- breakers were not separated from the rest of men, if we except a few of the more diligent ringleaders, who were constantly roving in their occupation of crime ; but they were settled down and living, scattered everywhere among better people. This could not have been but for sparse settlement, which limited the power of the friends of order. To the extent of that limitation the immunity of the others was enlarged, and their ability to commit crime and avoid its consequences was still more augmented by their dispersion through every community. Each was deeply or not in the business, according to his personal energy ; and while these men could not so much escape observation as not to be suspected, it was generally impossible to discover enough against them to insure conviction. It was likewise quite impossible to calcu- late with certainty on bringing an offender to justice on evidence rea- sonably complete, because allies whom the penalties of perjury were powerless to restrain were not wanting in any place. Besides, officers of the law had been known to be confederates. Allen lived in a log house and kept tavern from the first. The grove was thickly grown up to hazel brush, and was a safe and easy trysting-place for these men. The neighborhood was exempt from their robberies, a shrewd precau- tion to render their retreat more secure. The tavern was simply a
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
station where shelter, refreshment and concealment were supplied to this class from a "fellow feeling which makes men wondrous kind."
We do not know the date of Allen's departure, but he was followed at this place, we are told, by a man named Price. Israel Shoudy came in 1844, bought Price's claim, and has lived on the place until this time.
In 1839 Horatio G. Howlett came from Dixon, where he had been living two years, and settled at this grove. He is still on the same ground enjoying the golden autumn of a busy life. Having spoken of the insecurity of property in the first settlement of the country, an an- ecdote of Howlett is apposite to the subject. David A. Town was. elected justice of the peace, and Mr .. Howlett constable, with the understanding that neither should exact any fees in civil cases. These two men were the inspiration of vengeance in the eyes of those who set the law at defiance, and were chosen to their offices because it was well known that they would act with vigor and decision. One day Town sent Howlett a warrant for the arrest of a man named Lovelin, charged with horse-stealing. He went to Allen's house and was told that Lovelin was in the field plowing. Securing the horse, and putting him under guard of another, whom he instructed to take deadly aim with his rifle on Lovelin the moment he should give the order, he went to the field and read the warrant to the man. He was pointedly told by the criminal that he would not go with him. Howlett, unperturbed by this, told him that he could do as he pleased about submitting; that he supposed Lovelin was armed, while he himself was not; but he should take the horse, saying this with much determination. Lovelin, feeling that he had been victorious thus far, promptly replied that Howlett would have to pass over his dead body before he could touch the animal, and bothi started for the stable. The instant they arrived Howlett demanded his surrender, and receiving a defiant refusal ordered his man to draw a bead at his heart, and to fire when ordered ; then taking out his watch gave him barely a minute to submit to arrest. His hands began to twitch nervously in token that bravado had given place to fear, and he tamely yielded to be handcuffed. Then was taken from him a huge bowie-knife, and pistols. He was bound over, but gave bail and was released. Soon after, he further compli- cated his situation by stealing Allen's wife and horse. He was caught by his bondsmen, with Allen's assistance, and lodged in jail at Syca- more. He broke out, and lay in a stream of water until nearly dead, to avoid discovery, but was subsequently retaken and lodged in jail at Galena. One day when the jailor's little boy carried his victuals to him he succeeded in getting out of his place of confinement, and catch- ing the child in his arms ran to the top of the cliff near by. When the
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WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP.
sheriff started in chase he halted him below, and, holding the child be- tween them, made a clever speech in which he conceded the right and duty of the sheriff to pursue and recapture him, but pointed out that he could have no personal motive in so doing beyond that involved in his official obligation, and added that liberty was dear to himself; that he was now free and should continue so at any cost; and wound up with the terrible threat that if followed another step by the officer he should dash the child down the precipice upon the rocks below. With- out recourse, the sheriff naturally enough desisted from the pursuit, and the desperado escaped. The only word of him ever received here was when he was in jail in St. Louis on another charge of stealing. Judges Caton and Drummond, who used to pass Allen's Grove travel- ing from court to court, told Mr. Howlett of this last episode. This was the first arrest of a horse-thief in Lee county.
The Indian trail from Ottawa north to the hunting grounds in Wisconsin ran through Allen's Grove. The Indians were once paid their annuities by the government at this place.
Twin Groves were first named Moore's, from William Moore, the earliest settler there, who began his improvements in 1837 at the south grove. James Thompson and Levi Lathrop came together as early as 1842, and in partnership bought Moore's claim, on which he had thirty acres of plowed land. Moore was paid $50 for the timber claim where the Thompson homestead has always been and aunt Amanda still re- sides. It is described as the N.W. Į of S.E. ¿ Sec. 17. Not long afterward Mr. Thompson bought ont Lathrop's interest. He received a patent for this land, dated July 1, 1845, and three years later another for the S.W. ¿ of S.E. }. Robert Blair, by marriage brother-in-law to Mrs. Thompson, came here from Malugin's Grove with those we have mentioned, and bought a claim to part of the north grove, but never purchased it from the government. About 1850 he moved back to Malugin's. He died at the house of Mrs. Thompson in the present year, 1881. The first birth at Twin Groves was a son of his, Robert Blair, in 1846. On his settlement here Thompson improvised a shel- ter with rails-a rail pen,-and covered it with straw ; lived in it sev- eral weeks. This was succeeded by a log cabin, scarcely better for some time than the pen, but after chinking the crevices with rags and shut- ting out the free and often raw winds, they lived along in unchecked comfort until the rank grass and weeds, which grew in the humid at- mosphere of the grove to the height of a man's head, began to decay and give their juices to the air; then every one of them fell with ague except Mrs. Blair.
These first settlers were here three or four years before others began to come, and their nearest neighbors were at Malugin's Grove.
45
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
Then George Wise and Isaac Gardner, brothers-in-law, started im- provements at the north grove; they did not stay long, but sold to Mark R. Averill. Wise went to California, and Gardner to Florida. Averill's residence here was also short, for in the winter of 1853-4 he moved to Paw Paw, and embarked in trade, having first sold his land to Jacob B. Fisher, who came in the autumn of 1853.
Cummings Noe was an early man at Twin Groves, and settled there, as near as we can learn, in 1846. He first set up in a pen simi- lar to Thompson's, which he did not think of calling a house. His home for many years was on the place now owned by B. F. Ells- worth. He and Mr. Thompson and James Smith entered, from the government all of the south grove. This is now owned by Mr. Thompson's widow and William Dunkelberger. Jacob Fisher's widow and L. H. Durin are the present proprietors of the north grove.
The settlers here had at first only Indian trails to guide them across the billowy prairie. The earliest white man's road, though never surveyed, was one staked out by Erastus Noe, from Twin Groves to Hickory Grove, and used many years. Hogs were found running wild in these woodlands before any person came to make a home. They probably strayed away from a distant owner, or were lost from a passing drove.
In the summer of 1847 James Smith and Nathan Koons left Franklin county, Ohio, and came to this township. The latter made a home in the extreme southwest corner, and still owns the original homestead. The former settled at Twin Groves on a tract of 300 or 400 acres which he had previously entered. Joseph Barnhardt came in company with these men. The only buildings at the groves on their arrival was Noe's hasty cabin, already noticed, and Thompson's log cabin and hen-house. The immigrants made a descent on the hennery, drove out the fowls, and occupied the building to sleep in, while they still took their meals in their wagon. It is said they were homesick. Doubtless. Next day Shabbona and his tribe came that way. It was in the month of June, still the wind was raw and chilly, and this grand old chief, and as many of his followers as could, hud- dled behind the wagon for shelter.
Before departing from Ohio Smith cut a willow walking-stick and announced his intention to plant it when he should arrive at his pros- pective home; and, unmoved by the jibes of his skeptical friends, he predicted over and over again with great confidence that he should raise an immense quantity of timber from it, and realize thousands of dollars. He was not wide of the mark. Cutting the cane into four pieces, he set them in the ground, and in a few years had willows for- ward enough to furnish a good many cuttings, which the people were
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WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP.
glad to get. During the war a man from Galesburg, named Platt, bought up the trees growing in this region, prepared and shipped the cuttings in car-loads to all parts of the west, selling them at a good: figure, persuading patrons that in willows were just the right quali- ties for live fence. For some two years this was a thriving specula- tion, and gave many hands employment. This township has miles upon miles of willow hedge growing in great beauty and perfection. It has been so much a favorite for the reason that it furnishes a great amount of wood and timber in a short time, as well as a tolerable en- closure of land, that osage orange has not been able to make any con- siderable headway against it, although vastly superior for the single purpose of fencing.
As early as 1847 Jesse Koons arrived from Ohio, and A. N. Dow also settled here.
Samuel Reese, a young man, came now to live at Mr. Thompson's. Probably the next year, James Stubbs, a bachelor, and a married brother reached this community; the latter died not long after, and the other moved to Mendota. Cyrus and John Goff came as early, and lived here a few years. The former located his house between the two groves, and kept tavern on the route of travel between Ottawa and Rochelle. L. H. Durin and Gilbert Durin, brothers, came from Vermont in 1849, and settled here, the former on his present home- stead. The latter has removed to Steward. These are men of sub- stance and great respectability. Ira Durin did not come till some years afterward. He was a useful citizen and office-holder, who has now moved away.
Wesson Holton, another Green Mountain Yankee, located his family northwest of the groves in 1852, and was many years employed in mill- wrighting. He has taken an active part in the public affairs of the township and held various important offices. He sent three sons to the army in time of the late war.
William L. Smith arrived in 1853, or earlier, and James A. Harp the next year. Mr. Harp held township office several terms. The first arrival of Byrds, who settled on the north side of the township, was in 1853. They were from Virginia. There would be nothing to say of them had they sympathized with their country in the dark hour of pro-slavery, treason and rebellion. Louis P. Braithwaite came in 1853, and Louis P. Smith in 1854.
Returning now to the neighborhood of Allen's and Smith's Groves. we mention the later settlers without regard to the order of their arrival. Dr. Basswood came about 1840 and remained four or five years. Na thaniel Allen and his family came in 1845. His sons were Harrison, Nathaniel, Chandler, Ephraim, and Alonzo ; and he had four daughters.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
Chandler did not reach here until the following year, when he entered the land where he now lives, the S. } of S. W. { Sec. 26, and the N. ¿ of N.W. ¿ Sec. 35. Benjamin Nettleton had settled here as early as this period. Isaac C. Ellsworth, a Vermonter, emigrated from Ohio in the spring of 1846. His son Benjamin he had sent in advance the autumn before with a drove of stock, being compelled by the extreme drouth of that year to remove it from that state. Ellsworth settled on Sec. 34.
Christopher Vandeventer, formerly from New York, arrived here from Michigan in 1848, coming with a two-horse team, and driving sheep and cattle. He made his home where he at present lives, on the S. E. ¿ Sec. 24, and built a log cabin. At that time not a house stood between his own and Broady's Grove, 17 miles north. His father set- tled at the same date east of the grove, in De Kalb county.
As near as we can ascertain the following persons located themselves in the neighborhood of these groves between 1846 and 1855: Matthew Atkinson, Perry Atkinson, Amos Atkinson, MeNabb, Richard R. Walker, Andrew Stubbs, Freeman Crocker, Daniel Maxwell, Sylvanus Staples, Prince Stevens. Hugh Wells, George Clark, Richard Clark, John Platt, and Alonzo Osborne. Jeptha P. Mittan settled in the southwest part of the township about 1850, and is still residing there.
In the east part of the township settlement was made on Willow creek by John B. Briggs in 1851, and John H. Bacon and E. E. Bacon about 1854. Briggs' location was on the northeast corner of Sec. 14, and the Bacon last namned was a little higher up, on the same side of the stream, where he planted a large nursery and did an extensive business.
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