USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. > Part 77
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GERMANS.
In the first half of the middle period, as we regard it, German im- migration set in, and the first of that nationality to settle in Willow Creek was Gotlieb Hochstrasser, in 1854. A little later, and probably the same year, was Joseph Herman ; in 1856 Frank Bates, Frank Her- man and John Herman came, and in 1857 a second Frank Bates and Areheart Hochstrasser. These were all the Germans who arrived up to this date; after a short interval others made their appearance, the most conspicuous of whom is John Yetler, in 1859. Next year George Erbes, one of the solid and reliable men of the township, brought his family.
At the present time these people number nearly 200, and for thrift and good citizenship are unsurpassed in any part of the country.
NORWEGIANS.
Ommon Hilleson, the first Norwegian immigrant to Lee county, is regarded with so much pride by his countrymen as to suggest the
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WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP.
attributes of a Scandinavian deity, and a little notice of him at the head of this article will not be out of place. He reached our shores in 1837, and walked all the way from New York to Chicago. From the latter place he started for the Norwegian settlement on Fox river on foot, but being overtaken by a covered wagon filled with men, women and chil- dren, and being invited to ride with them, got in. He was by this time able to understand a little English, and when two of the men got out and walked behind and talked together about his money, their real character and intentions were revealed to him. He had some money, and no doubt his situation was uncomfortable, until a man and a woman driving a team providentially overtook them, when he leaped out as the charmed bird flies when the spell is broken, and sprang into the other wagon without a word of parting to the one or of introduction to the other. His leap in the dark had brought him to good footing, for this time he had not fallen among thieves, but among some of his own people going home to Fox river, and his journey thither was happily relieved of further unpleasant incident. It has a singular seeming, but is never- theless a verity, that with scarcely any knowledge of the English ver- nacular he left all his countrymen behind and pushed forward to Lee Center among strangers, not in habit, sentiment and nationality only, but in language also. This shows him to have had the truly pioneering spirit ; he could not have been less than a pioneer. Having obtained work there, it was not long till he was able to start independently, and he settled in Bradford township, where he became wealthy, and his widow, Elizabeth Hillison, yet resides. In course of time, as a certain consequence, other Norwegians came and settled around him, and as their numbers increased they scattered out, many going early to Sub- lette township. The first to go was Lars Larsen Risetter, in 1847, who was also the second to come to Willow Creek.
The earliest Norwegian settler here was Amund Hilleson, a single man, who emigrated to Sublette in 1851, and having saved enough from his first year's wages, in 1852 bought the N. E. ¿ Sec. 15, his present home, at the government price of $1.25 per acre, and in the spring of 1855 came on it to make his permanent residence. Toiling here year after year with the patient, unrelaxing industry of his class, he has in- creased in worldly goods and grown in the regards of the whole com- munity until there is no man who stands fairer, and none could more justly so than Amund Hilleson. He was followed early in 1856 by Lars L. Risetter, from Sublette, who had at this time been in the country long enough to secure a considerable start, and who located his family on the S.W. ¿ Sec. 15, which is now occupied by his son Lewis. The story of how Mr. and Mrs. Risetter labored with unflagging persever- ance in and out of doors, and bought and sold crops and land, combin-
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
ing calculation with severe labor, and making for themselves in a few years a handsome fortune, as well as adding greatly to the consequence and prosperity of the township, is one that cannot be told in our nar- row space. But his neighbors say, "No man made money so fast and so fairly by hard work and economy, and from large crops and the rise in values, as Mr. Risetter."
The third Norwegian settler was Edwin O. Winterton, who im- proved the N.W. ¿ Sec. 15; the fourth was Amund Cragowick; the fifth was Thomas Hilleson ; the sixth was Lars Salmonson, who began his home in the center of Sec. 16 in the winter of 1860-1; the seventh was Ole Olson ; then came Edwin Edwards in the spring of 1862, and bought the N. ¿ of N.E. ¿ Sec. 11; Lars Oleson in the spring of 1863, and settled with his family on Sec. 10, where he at present resides. Christopher Oleson came about the same time, and in 1864 Jacob Oleson began to improve the N.E. ¿ Sec. 1. Heldor Nelson came to the N. E. 1 Sec. 2, and William Oleson to Sec. 16. Later arrivals, without regard to date or order, were Edwin Edwards, N.E. ¿ Sec. 11; Heldor Eden in the same location ; Lars Hilleson, S.E. ¿ Sec. 14; and Nels Oleson, Peter Johnson, Allen Johnson, Andrew Eskland, Lewis P. Boyd, Lars Knutson, Vick Winterton, Thomas Oleson, Christ. C. Alsa- ger, Hans Johnson, Jacob Edwards, Hawkin Risetter, Newt Boyd, and Thomas Nelson.
There are now 400 of this nationality in Willow Creek township; and concerning the cultivation of the humbler arts of peace and the practice of the soldierly virtues in war, this writer can say from per- sonal knowledge that few equal, while none excel, them.
PIONEER FACTS.
Chicago was the first trading point for this part of the country, and people went with ox and horse teams, singly and in companies, but gen- erally in companies, as it was not often that a team could make a trip without getting stalled at least once on the road, and it was of no little advantage to have help at hand for every distress. Forty bushels of wheat made an ordinary load. When stuck in a slough the bags of grain had to be carried over on the teamster's back, and the fewer there were to divide the task, the longer and more arduous were the labor and detention. Sometimes the water was deep; then if there were wagons enough they were unloaded, placed end to end across the stream, and with the end-boards taken out formed a bridge that an- swered well the object of its improvisation.
One time, when uncle John Colvill and David Smith were hauling grain to Chicago, their wagons got set in the mud and they had to carry the bags of wheat across the slough on their backs. In doing
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WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP.
this uncle John pulled off his boot-soles and had to go into Chicago barefooted. The hostler, just from Erin, viewing him from head to foot, in innocent wonder broke forth : " Where in the dickens part of the world did ye come from?" The bootless man felt that he must be in sorry plight indeed, but was skeptical of Pat's judgment when, in feeding the horses the rank, coarse slough-grass, then so common, he volunteered the information : " And sure and 'tis the biggest timothy that grows in this country."
Usually a horse-team made the round trip to Chicago in seven days, stopping there just long enough to feed and do trading. Teamsters not infrequently took along cooked provisions and camped out at night when the weather was good. Taverns were not wanting on the road, but the patronage dispensed to them made a heavy inroad into the profits and sometimes wholly consumed them. A pioneer of 1845 says there was then no room in Chicago to put up teams, that he had to sleep and feed his team in his wagon, because accommodations were inadequate. That was thirty-five years ago in a city than which not another in the world, say travelers, is better supplied with facilities for public entertainment. He had taken to market forty bushels of wheat, which sold for sixty cents a bushel, and he received twenty cents per bushel for hanling. His expenses were $3.50, leaving $4.50 for seven days on the road with his team. But occasionally a load of merchan- dise was brought back for hire, and this made a more profitable trip.
After the opening of the Illinois and Michigan canal, Ottawa and Peru became trading centers, and when the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad was constructed to Mendota, in 1853, a market was established still nearer, at Earlville. Only wheat and pork were hauled by teams to Chicago, the latter to be sold for $1 to $3.50 per hundred; but when these other points were opened to trade, corn and oats were sold there. Aurora was an important trading place, and a good many did business there, especially as it was where they often went to get grinding done. The grist-mills at Dixon, Fox River, Binghamton, and Dayton's above Ottawa, drew enstom from all this region. When one went to mill he took a full load, all the neighbors sending a grist by him ; he would be gone two or three days, and would not have to renew the journey until each of his neighbors had been to mill in the same manner. Cooperation was practiced in everything. In getting stock to Chicago neighborhoods made up droves together. How beau- tiful was the spirit of this period ! The pioneers avow in sad agree- ment that if they had the power they would
"Roll back the tide of time, and raise The faded forms of other days."
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
The first roads in the country were laid out on Indian trails. The Chicago and Galena, and the Ottawa and Rockford roads were survey- ed mainly along such traces.
In the beginning Galena exceeded Chicago in size and importance, the lead mines there attracting men in pursuit of labor from parts as remote as the Wabash and the lower Mississippi. Mr. H. G. Howlett has seen as many as twenty teams together pass Allen's Grove in the spring going to Galena, where they would remain through the summer and return in the fall.
For many years buffalo bones were numerous in low places, and the first settlers were told by the Indians that before any of the whites came the buffaloes perished one hard winter. This was the winter of 1830-1. Snow fell to great depth and blew into immense drifts ten and twelve feet deep. The cold was intense and prolonged. For more than forty days under a beaming sun the eaves of the cabins far- ther south did not run. The buffaloes resorted to the low places for tall grass, and great numbers never got away. The following winter, though less severe, was remarkable as well for exceeding inclemency.
EDUCATIONAL.
The first school at Allen's Grove, the earliest in the township, was taught in 1848 by Miss Martha Vandeventer, sister to Christopher Vandeventer, in one of Israel Shoudy's log houses. Mr. Shoudy had several of these and was keeping tavern at the time. A Miss Nettle- ton and Miss Laura Brace kept school in the same place a little later. In the autumn of 1849 a frame school-house was built by subscription on nearly the site of the present one, the land being donated by Shoudy ; and the next winter the first school was taught by Miss Clara Price. Miss Smith, of Shabbona, was an early teacher in this house, and Israel Shoudy says uncle John Colvill trained the shooting ideas of the young in the same place.
The first school ever taught at Twin Groves was in a log cabin in James Thompson's dooryard, the one which he put up on his settle- ment there. The name of the first teacher is swallowed up in time unless, as has been suggested, it was that of the widow Stubbs, who was an early tutoress. Miss Maria A. Holton, now Mrs. B. F. Ells- worth, taught in this cabin in the summer of 1853. The Twin Groves school-house was built in 1854 by the joint efforts of a number of indi- viduals, and in the autumn of 1857 was purchased by the district at auction. In the winter of 1863-4 it was burned down, and the pres- ent house was erected the following summer. Miss Mary J. Fisher taught the first term in the new house.
The Ellsworth school-house was built in the spring of 1855, says
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WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Mrs. Ellsworth, who kept the first school that summer. Joseph McCoy hauled the shingles and finishing lumber from Earlville, and the house was regularly used for religious worship. Another occupies the old site, and David Smith has the old building for a shop.
The Vroman house was built not far from the same time of the last, and Miss Helen Vroman was a teacher in it a number of terms.
The Norwegian parochial school was established in 1866 as a part of the Lutheran church system, having for its object the education of the children so that they can be taught the catechism in the language of their fathers. In the beginning the sessions were held in private houses ; next in school-houses during public vacations. The Lutheran community embraces parts of Alto and Willow Creek townships, and is divided into three private districts for select school purposes. Six months' school are held each year, one half in the spring and the other in the fall. Those living in Alto, and nine families in Willow Creek near the town line, constitute the Alto district, and hold their school in Union district, No. 10. They have had two and one-half months' every year since it was instituted. The third, or south district, which has occupied the school-houses in districts No. 5 and 7, has had two and a half months', leaving one month for the village of Lee, where the term is held in the public school building. The school was organ- ized by the Rev. C. G. P. Peterson, preacher in charge, an able scholar and divine. Rasmus Rasmusson, a good old man in the congregation, took control of it for a month and until a regular teacher could be found. The first was Thomas Nelson, who has taught more or less up to the present time. The following other teachers have also been em- ployed at various times : Hendrickson, Christopherson, J. Gössendal, Iver Fanebust, E. Teffre, S. W. Weeks, J. J. Maakkestad, and another who was a student at the time. Only one instructor is employed in the same period ; he teaches first in one district and then in another. The school is maintained by subscription, and has about 100 pupils, divided among the three districts. The scholars attend the English public schools regularly. The south district built the present year (1881) a private school-house, 18×26, on the southeast corner of Sec. 15, at a cost of nearly $500, including furniture and fixtures, neat patent seats being among the latter. Holden Risetter donated one-half acre of ground for the building site.
The present township treasurer is E. W. Holden. His report for the school year ended June 30, 1881, shows nine public school-houses in Willow Creek, and an estimated value of school property of $5,550. Number of children under twenty-one years of age, 581; between six and twenty-one, 372; enrollment, 304; principal of township fund $6,525.08 ; tax levy for schools, $1,558.68.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
POST-OFFICES.
This township has had two country post-offices. The first was the Willow Creek office, called by the people " Twin Grove," where it was established, as near as we can ascertain, about 1849. Robert Blair was appointed first postmaster, but as he moved away about that time he never handled any mail. It was actually established at the house of one of the Goffs, who had it for a short while, and until he removed, in 1850. Gilbert E. Durin now took it until some time in 1853, when it passed into the hands of William L. Smith. After keeping it for a time he deputized a man named Beckwith, who turned out to be a peculator, and then he took it back to his own house. It is said that James Harp was the next postmaster, and that when the office again changed hands it went to Squire Ira Durin's. We cannot follow all the changes with certainty, but are told that a William Moore was postmaster at one time. B. F. Ellsworth was the incumbent from July, 1866, to 1873; the office then went to A. H. Knapp's, and from there to Adam Miller's, when it was discontinued about 1875.
The South Willow Creek post-office was established in time of the war, and was kept by Hiram J. Abrams, on the south line of the town- ship, and on Sec. 34. It was kept up until about 1873.
PIONEER WORSHIP.
Pious hearts raised altars to the Most High, and companies of peo- ple came together at convenient intervals for public devotion. Elder Baker, a transient Presbyterian, was the earliest regular preacher at Allen's Grove that we have heard of, and held meetings in the Shoudy sehool-house. Occasional services by the Rev. Canfield and Elder Wood, of Earlville, and an exhorter named Olmstead, antedated Elder Baker's ministrations. Wood and Olmstead were Methodists. It was the custom of these men to visit all the neighboring settlements, and they preached at Twin Groves as well as here. Elder Smith and the Rev. James Price should also be mentioned. Classes were formed at the school-houses after the inhabitants had become numerous enough to have such meeting-places and to establish an orderly system, but all we ean say is that what was done was for the good of souls and the glory of God, for few traces remain of actual occurrences, and the recollec- tions of the good fathers and mothers in Israel refuse these treasures out of the abundance of their forgetfulness. How quick is the good forgotten ! How long doth the evil remain !
The first sermon at Twin Groves was preached by a Methodist minister from Rochelle. The Rev. Richard Haney was the first circuit preacher, and came there with tolerable regularity. He was extremely
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WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP.
fond of wolf-hunting, and never missed an appointment when circum- stances favored a good catch. On one occasion he secured seven of the animals, which he dug out of their burrow. Elder Wood preached at the groves several years subsequent to 1853; when he began we have no means of knowing. The Revs. Davids and Roberts labored there regularly anterior to 1860.
POLITICAL AND WAR HISTORY.
Formerly what is now embraced in Wyoming, Willow Creek and Alto townships was a part of Paw Paw precinct, and elections alter- nated between Malugin's and Paw Paw Grove. After the adoption by the county of township organization, in 1849, this territory was formed into Wyoming, whose dimensions were not changed until 1855, when Willow creek was organized with its present bounds, including the area of Alto township.
The first annual town meeting was held at the Twin Groves school- house in district No. 3, April 3, 1855, and was organized by the appoint- ment of Ira S. Durin as chairman ; A. N. Dow was elected moderator, and G. Bishop clerk, and they were qualified by E. Woodbridge, justice of the peace. The recorded proceedings show that besides the election of officers, the running at large of stock and penalties relating thereto were the chief subjects acted upon.
In 1861 Willow Creek was reduced one-half in size by the organiza- tion of Alto township.
Until 1860 the polls were held at the Twin Groves school-house ; the next two or three meetings, including two special ones, were at the Vroman school-house ; then they were moved to Allen's Grove; and in 1865 back to Twin Groves. In 1867 and 1868 the Vroman house was again the polling place, and in 1869 the Center school house, the meet- ings going back again for two years to the Vroman, and in 1872 to the Center house. In 1874 the election was at the red school-house, and the next year at Adamı Miller's. At the town meeting in 1874 a reso- lution was presented by C. M. Bacon and adopted, instructing the town board to take the initiatory step toward procuring a building lot for a town-house near the center of the township, and to report to the next annual meeting the probable 'cost of each, a site and a hall. John Yetter, supervisor; L. G. Durin, assessor; Dwight Davenport, town clerk, and Robert Thompson and H. G. Howlett, justices of the peace, reported that one acre on the southeast corner of Sec. 16 could be pur- chased for $150, and that a building 20×34, with 12-foot posts, would cost about $800. A vote was taken whether to buy and build, result- ing with 50 in the affirmative and 47 in the negative. The house was erected the same season, the whole property costing the township $1,100.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
The annual meeting in 1876 organized at the nearest school-house and then adjourned to the new town-house.
At a special meeting held at the Vroman school-house October 16, 1869, to vote upon the question of subscribing to the capital stock of the Rock River railroad, 1 vote was cast in favor of and 24 against the proposition. Another called meeting was held at the same place on March 26, 1870, to vote for or against taking stock of the Chicago and Iowa Railroad Company to the amount of $50,000, on the condition that they should construct their line within one mile of the center of the township. On this proposal 75 votes were recorded in its favor to 51 against it. The company failed to comply with the condition of the agreement, and the township was thereby released from its obliga- tion. Willow Creek is flanked by these two roads, which furnish all the inhabitants convenient markets without their taking any of the burdens.
The following township officers have been elected from year to year :
Year.
SUPERVISOR.
TOWN CLERK.
ASSESSOR.
COLLECTOR.
1855
Robert Smith
G. E. Durin.
Prince Stevens
William Byrd.
1856
WVesson IIolton
George Bishop
L. G. Durin.
B. F. Ellsworth.
1857
Wesson Holton
James A. Harp.
Chas. R. Ilall
William H. Dow.
1858
Wesson Holton
James A. Ilarp
Chas. R. Hall
Hugh Wells.
1859
Chas. R. Hall.
James A. Ilarp
L. G. Durin .
Hugh Wells.
1860
James A. Harp
A. C. Smith.
William Sutton
I. P. Mittan.
1861
James A. Ilarp
A. C. Smith.
Benjamin Nettleton ..
William Byrd.
1863
Benjamin Nettleton .. Ira S. Durin
Chas. E. Hall
L. G. Durin
H. B. Davenport.
1865
Wesson Holton
Dwight Davenport.
L. G. Durin
D. M. Nettleton.
1866
Wesson Holton
Dwight Davenport
David Smith.
J. C. Howlett.
1867
Wesson Holton
Dwight Davenport.
David Smith.
O. B. Jones.
1868
Wesson Holton.
Dwight Davenport
David Smith
F. C. Mason.
1869
Wesson Ilolton
Dwight Davenport
David Smith.
B. F. Ellsworth.
1870
John Yetter
J. C. Ilowlett.
Adam Miller
James Miller.
1871
John Yetter
J. C. Howlett.
Adam Miller
John Edgar.
1872
John Yetter
B. F. Ellsworth
C. M Bacon
R. Wells.
1873
John Yetter
B. F. Ell-worth
C. M. Bacon
John R. Sherwood.
1874
John Yetter
Dwight Davenport
Robert Smith
George Beemer.
1875
John Yetter
Dwight Davenport
L. G. Durin.
George A. Brittain.
1876
John Yetter
J. C. Howlett.
Adam Miller.
W. II. Bryant.
1877
John Yetter
J. C. Ilowlett
Adam Miller
A. L. Irwin.
1878
J. C. Howlett.
R. J. Thompson
W. W. Brittain
L. P. Boyd.
1879
J. C. Howlett
R. J. Thompson
Adam Miller.
L. P. Bovd.
1880
J. C. Howlett
R. J. Thompson
Adam Miller.
Robert Hopps.
1881
J. C. Ilowlett ..
R. J. Thompson
Adam Miller.
Robert Hopps.
1862
Benjamin Nettleton
M. N. Dunton
William Sutton.
Charles Miller. (. M. Bacon.
1864
James A. Ilarp
L. G. Durin
In 1861 C. M. Bacon was appointed town clerk, vice A. C. Smith, who moved away. The following have been elected justices of the peace, and possibly a few others whom the defective records do not enable us to identify : in 1855 Ira S. Dnrin and Henry Bishop; 1858, H. C. Holcomb ; 1860, Joel C. Jackson ; 1862, Ira S. Durin and C. M. Bacon (the latter did not qualify) ; 1865, R. H. Walker; 1866, M. G. Phillips ; 1867, L. G. Darin ; 1868, William H. Dow and Hugh Wells; 1870, William H. Dow; 1872, H. G. Howlett; 1873, W. Holton ; 1874, H. G. Howlett; 1877, R. Thompson; 1881, W. H. Emmett and Thomas Nelson.
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WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP.
During the war the fires of patriotism burned brightly on the altars of the country, but nowhere more brightly than in Willow Creek. She lavished the flower and strength of her yeomanry upon the greedy appetite of war, and the anguished rents in her Spartan firesides tell what woful work was done in the ranks of her sons by ghastly disease and red-handed carnage. Those who remained at home-the old men, the wives, the mothers, the sisters -upheld the hands of the government with exalted devotion.
A Union League was organized late in 1862, when it was feared that the state would be invaded by foes without, and convulsed by enemies within. A membership of about seventy was formed into a company, of which Nathaniel Nettleton was the captain-president. Andrew Stubbs was the marshal of the organization, which assembled generally at Allen's Grove and Vroman's school-house, and was drilled by John Edwards, of Paw Paw, a veteran of the Mexican war. After the presidential election, in 1864, the league fell into neglect.
Before the close of the war the township voted a bounty of $600 to every volunteer who should be credited to Willow Creek after that date. No draft soiled her garments.
We annex a list of the soldiers who went from this township in the time of the war, and though it may not be without error, it is be- lieved to be as correct as it can now be made with no records for authority.
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