History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc., Part 78

Author: Hill, H.H. (Chicago) pbl
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, H.H. Hill
Number of Pages: 910

USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. > Part 78

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N. Chandler Allen, Alonzo Allen, Harrison Allen (also in Mexican war), David Anderson, Dewitt Abrams, Devalson Abrams, Sylvester Bidwell, John Baisley, George Baisley, William Baisley, G. S. Briggs, Adin Briggs, John Britton, Alpheus Beemer, Charles Bennett, Reu- ben Bactil, Joseph Barnhard, Bigelow Barnhard, Lewis P. Boyd, Orin Sisco, Levi Cashner, Robert Donaldson, Alexander Donaldson, Frederick Erbes, John Edgar, John Ellsworth, Lewis M. Fairchild, George W. Girard, Ehrhart Gehrig, James C. Howlett, George Hol- lenback, Edward Hollenback, Charles E. Hall, Moore Hess, Santee Hess, Edmund W. Holton, Densla Holton, Chandler G. Holton, George Hochstrasser, Orlando Jones, Andrew Jackson, Sivert John- son, Morris Johnson, Joseph Kengular, Zephaniah Keugular, Nelson Larsen, S. S. Linton, Jonathan F. Linton, F. C. Mason, Peter Mittan, Chauncey Mittan, James Miller, William Miller, Merritt Miller, Clement Miller, Frank Mills, Francis Mills, William Mills, Amos Noe, William Noe, Hamilton Nichols, Thomas Nickleson, William Nettleton, Daniel Nettleton, Benjamin Nettleton, Nathaniel Nettle- ton, Jacob Schwab, Alexander Schwab, Jacob Sinck, Charles Stein- brook, George Seymour, William Steele, Thomas Steele, John Shoudy, John Smith, James B. Smith, Bayard Smith, Alexander Smith, John

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

Unger, David Vroman, Robert Vroman, Abram Van Patten, Irwin Vandeventer, William Vandeventer, Christopher C. Vandeventer, jr., Robert Wells.

TORNADO.

The tornado of Sunday, June 3, 1860, struek this township about 9 o'clock at night, midway of the west line of Sec. 18. William Cutts was within eighty rods of it when it left the township; he says the noise was not unlike the rattle and clatter of a freight train when standing elose to it, except that the former was tremendous in volume. Boards, plows, harrows, timbers, reapers, stoves, furniture, earth, stones, animals,-everything that it could gather in its way was whirl- ing, dashing and crashing with a thundering roar and force that filled the ear with a sound of picturesque terror, as much as if heaven and earth were battling for the same space at once. Andrew Stubbs, standing out of its range as it went by, saw it first several miles west, and describes its appearance as it approached and passed.

The night was moonlit, and from where he watched the tempest the moon was visible throughout. Massive pillars of flaming cloud were piled from earth to sky; the top was a sheet of fire; shafts of electricity, as large to view as a stovepipe, poured in hideous currents down the seething mass of inky blackness, presenting a sight of sub- lime horror.

The first house in Willow Creek which received its fury was Abram Miller's near the township line. It was unroofed, then taken up, car- ried over the well and the stable, but failing to clear a straw-stack was overturned and scattered in all directions. The occupants were Mr. Miller, Mrs. Miller, and two small children. The mother lay some time under a part of the roof in an insensible condition, having sus- tained considerable injuries. None of the others were much harmed. The children, sound asleep in their beds when the shock occurred, were blown twenty-five rods into a wheat field,. where one of the little fellows was found shouting lustily that all the windows were broken out. A tin boiler standing beside the house, full of water, was not dis- turbed ; and a book of receipts, brought from Iowa, was picked up on the farm. Gilbert E. Durin's place was the second reached. His house stood nearly out of the path of the electric monster, but a small addition was snatched away and dashed into fragments. James Nealis and another man were blown into the tops of some locusts in the door- yard, and the former was ent so badly in the thigh, on a scythe hang- ing npon a limb, that he bled nearly to death. A. N. Dow's premises were the next to suffer. His house was seized as if it had been a toy, carried into the air and turned roof downward, going to pieces in utter

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WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP.

wreck. Eight persons composed this family, and all were more or less hurt, one child having an arm broken.

The moving column raised slightly at Twin Groves, through the south one of which it tore a gap ten to twenty rods wide, leaving the undergrowth but little disturbed, while twisting, splintering and inter- lacing the taller trees, mostly stalwart black walnuts, in the wildest disorder. The damage to the timber fell chiefly on William Smith. Thompson's house, a very heavy structure, was unroofed, and the large building moved on its foundation. His strong corn crib and two log stables shared the general ruin. A man named Schieler, living on Thompson's land, had his house demolished, and all seven of the family were severely injured, and horribly begrimed as if violently rolled and dragged in fine dirt.

From this point to Sec. 14 lay a stretch of prairie, and no injury to life and little damage to property were done; but there a house belonging to William Bacon, occupied by Allen Johnson and his sister, Norwegians, was wrecked. The inmates, on the first appearance of the storm, had luckily gone to a neighbor's, and thus escaped its terrible fury and danger.

The county line was reached midway of Sec. 13, and here at Allen McConeky's the most painful "destruction was accomplished. It was now between nine and ten, and the family had retired. Rain had been falling hard but calmly before the crash came, and Mrs. McConeky arose to attend to keeping it out of the windows. The wind began to rise, and in a few moments so increased that she remarked to her hus- band that the house would blow away. He sprang to her side at the window, and at that instant, she relates, she saw the east side of the house coming in upon them, but can remember nothing more, save that she was conscious of lying on the ground with a heavy weight resting upon her body. The house was shivered to atoms. Mr. McConeky was killed outright, also the eldest and the youngest boys. Another little son was terribly bruised, and all hope of his recovery was for some time abandoned. Mrs. McConeky had an arm broken. Horses and cattle were killed here as elsewhere in the path of the destroyer.

In this vicinity a boulder weighing half a ton was lifted from the ground and carried some distance ; but the most curious exhibition of power was at the point where the storm ended its work, three-fourths of a mile east of the county line. At this place was a piece of newly broken prairie. The furrows lay parallel with the direction of the tor- nado, and the tough sods were lapped up, twirled into a close body, and deposited forward in a pile of ten or twelve wagon loads. As if glutted with disaster, the storm now raised, and carrying on its dismal and solitary energies high up in the air, moved on to Lake Michigan, where it lost its identity.

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

COUNTRY CHURCHES.

In 1868 a church under control of the Methodist Episcopal denomi- nation was erected on the southwest corner of Sec. 16, jointly by the Methodists, Congregationalists, and United Brethren, and is called the Twin Groves Methodist church. The ground on which it stands (one acre) was conveyed by James Thompson and his wife Amanda, to James Thompson, Henry Lewis, Aaron Smith, L. G. Durin, and M. A. Rice, trustees, in trust for the Methodist Episcopal church. In con- sideration of certain subscriptions by the Congregationalists and United Brethren, they have a guaranty of use upon certain conditions set forth in the deed. A reservation in favor of the Methodist denomination empowers them to annul the joint ownership by refunding to the other societies the respective amounts invested by them in the edifice, when- ever they shall deem the sole ocenpancy of the house necessary. The building is 30×40, neat and shapely, with a high spire, and cost $3,500. Over half of this sum was subscribed in advance, and the remainder was secured at the dedication, delivering the societies from debt. Mr. James Thompson and aunt Amanda enjoyed the privilege of being the most liberal donors. Besides the site, the former contributed $1,000, and the latter $630. The house was built by the Rev. Seeley, Meth- odist contractor, who had taken to supplying pulpits in a manner not contemplated by Holy Writ; the terms of the contract were disre- garded, yet the work was accepted, and in 1874 it had become neces- sary to make extensive repairs, which amounted to $600. The dedica- tion was on November 9, 1868, and the services were conducted by the Revs. F. A. Hardin and A. P. Beach. The first regular Methodist preacher in this house was the Rev. C. C. Combs, and the Rev. Brewer represented the Congregationalists. The Rev. Wendell was one of the first, if not the first, who preached for the United Brethren. Among his successors there have been the Revs. Young, Bender, and two Lewises. Following Combs there have been the Revs. Curtis, Farm- iloe, Stoddard, Davis, Hoffman, Tibbals, Record, and others whose names cannot be given. The Rev. Record began his ministry in 1879. The most important incident in the history of this church was the pro- tracted effort in the winter of 1868-9, lasting seven weeks and result- ing in over 130 conversions. The Rev. Combs conducted the revival on the part of the Methodists. Over 100 united with his society. When he camne on the circuit the Methodists here had only nine mem- bers, and these were all women ; but during his pastorate the number was swelled to more than 130, including those on probation. These were divided into classes, some of which have had regular preaching, and have become as strong as the parent church. The membership

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WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP.

has been reduced by removals to about eighteen. The Congregation- alists have nearly all left, and the United Brethren no longer have a class, but the neighborhood keeps up a Sabbath-school. The present trustees of the church are James Fisher, E. M. Pettenger, George A. Brittain, Richard Phillips, L. G. Durin, Caleb M. Bacon, and one or two others.

The Congregational society, now disorganized, was first formed about 1859. Some of the original members were Ephraim Durin and his wife, Harper B. Davenport and wife, Woodbridge, the Rev. James Brewer and wife, and Simon Cole and wife; Caleb M. Bacon became a member subsequently. The membership at no time exceeded seven- teen. This was organized under the Home Mission, from which it obtained aid ; and the first preacher was the Rev. Brewer; the second was the Rev. Henry Buss, and the third and last was the Rev. Breed. A salary of $200 a year was paid the pastors, and services were held in the Twin Groves school-house until the erection of the church. The society was involuntarily disbanded by the removal of members.

In the spring of 1864 the Rev. Jacob Fowler revived the Prot- estant Episcopal society which had formerly been in existence, and brought together some fifteen constituent members. He was a man of kindly spirit and excellent character, and left behind him a reputa- tion as an able and faithful minister. Under his pastoral labors the infant organization grew to respectable numbers, not fewer than thirty or forty, including in the list of the principal ones Adam Miller, Samuel Argrave and wife, Winfield Argrave and wife, Abram Rosenkrans and wife, Lydia Miller, Joseph McCoy and wife, Henry Abrams, Jeptha Mittan, Nathan Koons and wife, and Alexander Beemer and wife. This work belonged to the Shabbona mission, and the first two years the wor- shiping places were the Ellsworth and Beemerville school-houses. In 1866 the society, with the outside help furnished, felt itself able to raise a house of worship, and accordingly undertook that object. The house, 30×40, was built at an expense of $2,600; but a contribution of $1,800 was obtained in Chicago through the exertions of Elder Fowler. The dedication took place on Sunday, August 6, 1866. The Rev. Madison Handy succeeded as the second pastor, and during his charge also the church prospered. He, too, was a man of gentle spirit and manners, and was followed by the Rev. A. C. Wallace, whose earthly warfare unhappily brought the tottering society to a violent fall. Having become too weak to maintain preaching without assistance from other people, and being in arrears to the pastor in the sum of $500, he procured a judgment in the circuit court, levied upon the church, and sold it under execution. It fell to him under the hammer, and he disposed of it in 1874, to the United Brethren society,

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

for the amount of his claim. This house stands across the road in Wyoming township, on the N.E. ¿ of N. W. ± Sec. 6.

The membership of the society now owning this building is con- tained almost entirely in Willow Creek, which name the society bears. The organization dates from 1857, with twelve original members. The first pastor was the Rev. Adams, the first class-leader C. Noe, and the first trustees R. Hall, C. Noe and H. Lewis. The number of members is twenty-four. The present minister is J. L. Harri- son ; class-leader, J. M. Able; trustees, R. Hall, J. M. Able and C. Allen. Fifty scholars form the Sabbath-school.

The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church of Lee county was first organized in the fall of 1858, by the Rev. Didrikson, who made one visit to Bradford township. The members were widely scattered in Sublette, Bradford, Lee Center, and Willow Creek, and meetings were at first held four times a year, and distributed to the several townships. The Rev. A. C. Preus came after the church was put in working order, and ministered to all the people of this faith. Meet- ings began to be held more frequently, and the worshipers here assembled at the Byrd and Twin Groves school-houses. The Luther- ans gradually left the other townships and settled in this and Alto, and when they erected their present church, in 1864, twenty or more families were in the community. We can mention the following : Amund Hillison, Lars L. Risetter, Lars Salmonson, Jacob Oleson, Heldor Nelson, Jacob Peterson, Holden Peterson, Lars Oleson, Will- iam Oleson, C. Christopher, Edwin Winterton, Lars Hillison, Haakn Risetter, Thomas Hilleson, Christian Hillison Sexer, Omund Oleson Cragvick, and the Boyds. The Rev. Preus remained over the con- gregation a year or two and gave way to the Rev. C. J. P. Peterson, under whose charge the church was built and the parochial school es- tablished. This church is the most graceful and stately edifice of the kind in the township. Its location, in a beautiful and commanding spot from which one may view the country for miles in almost any direction, adds much to its attractive appearance. A lofty, beautiful spire pierces the clouds, and arrests the eye at a great distance. The house is 34×60 feet, substantially built, and cost $3,500. It is situ- ated on the northeast corner of the W. ¿ of N.E. ¿ Sec. 11. A parson- age of twenty acres on the town line is the property of the church, and is described as the E. ¿ of N.W. ¿ of N. W. ¿ Sec. 2. It was pur- chased in 1870, for $40 per acre, and the same year the south part of the residence was built. In 1875 the main or front part was added, completing the building for $1,700. The present year (1881) a barn has been put on the premises at an expense of $200. The place is neatly kept and ornamented with evergreens and the common varie-

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WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP.

ties of deciduous trees. The deacons are H. Nelson and Vick Will- iams, and the trustees are Thomas Nelson, Einar Buer, L. Helland and O. P. Boyd. Since the Rev. Peterson the following pastors have been settled here: G. O. Jukam, P. A. Rasmusson, J. Tackle and J. Nordby. The salary paid is $450, which is increased by incidentals from baptisms, funerals and marriages to $600. The congregation numbers 460. A Sabbath-school is kept up through the pleasant part of the year, and at the present time it has a membership of seventy, under the superintendency of the pastor, who, according to the custom of this church, has the charge of such schools. Instruction of the children for one year, beginning at the age of fifteen, is attended to one day in every week by the pastor, and is called "preparation for confirmation." At the end of the course they are confirmed, and be- come a part of the visible membership of the church. In the church- yard a few graves have been made. The first burial was that of Thomas, son of Lars L. Risetter, who died September 23, 1864.

The Zion church of the Evangelical Association belongs to the Rochelle circuit, and holds services once a fortnight. Its thirty-three members are all Germans. For six years prior to the organization, in 1868, at the Byrd school-house, regular preaching was had there every two weeks by one or other of the following ministers : J. M. Sindlinger, Henry Messner and L. B. Tobias. Some of the most prominent orig- inal members of the class were William Dunkelberger and wife, John G. Yetter, John Yetter and wife, Philip Yetter and wife, Gotlieb Hochstrasser and wife, George Hochstrasser, Julia Yetter, and Mary Hochstrasser. William Dunkelberger was the first class-leader. The society was organized by the Rev. John F. Shnee, who continued as the first pastor. His successors have been the Revs. G. M. Young, John Schweizer, A. Gotschel, A. Strickfaden, C. Ghestatter, J. K. Schulz, and the present pastor, J. J. Lintner. The first trustees were John Yetter, William Dunkelberger, and J. L. Lutz, and the present ones are John Yetter, Christ. Rothe, and Peter Wagner. A flourishing Sabbath-school is well attended the year round; seventy-three scholars are now enrolled, with John Yetter as superintendent. Mr. Yetter has filled this responsible position ever since before the organization, and has been a class-leader in the church several years. The society owns a tasteful and substantial house of worship, standing on the southeast corner of Sec. 5. It was erected in 1875 at a cost of $3,000, including the lot which it occupies. The dimensions of the building are 32 x 46 feet, and the dedicatory services were held by Bishop Jacob J. Escher.

Mass was first read to the German Catholics by Father Westkam, of Mendota, at the house of Peter Kimbler, about 1863. At that time there were Peter Buchholze, Peter Schneider, John Herman, Joseph

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

Herman, Frank Herman, Frank Bates, Thomas Down, Frank Bates, jr., Peter Kimbler, and six other families who joined in the organization. Only ten of these were permanently settled in the township. Father Westkanı advised the immediate building of a church, and nearly $2,000 were at once subscribed. The next year a house built of stone and costing some $3,000 was erected on the northwest corner of the S.W. Į Sec. 16; the main building is 26×40, with an addition sometimes used for a school in which the children receive instruction in the tech- nical education required by their religion. John Harman donated four acres of ground for a churchyard. The first priest who celebrated mass in this church was Father Nigg, of Mendota. Fathers Goldsmith, Gobbels, Anthon Bütter, Frank Schriber, Fralech, Joseph Baenak and Charles Hahn have been the later celebrants. Father Hahn, the offi- ciating priest at the present time, comes from Chicago once a month. Fifteen families now constitute the membership of the church.

A German Lutheran society was organized in 1870 by the Rev. William Halleberg, at the Byrd school-house, with the families of the following-named persons : George Erbes, Ehrhard Hochstrasser, George Hochstrasser, Godford Gherich, Lewis Gherich, William Hackmann, Henry Schultz, Jacob Rubel, Jacob Scheinholtz, and John Scheinholtz. Preachers have served this society in the following order : Revs. Will- iam Halleberg, Charles Weinsch, John Feiertag, H. H. Norton, W. O. Oeting, and W. Krebs. There are now eight families who hold meetings at the Byrd school-house once in five weeks. They have a Sunday-school superintended by the pastor on preaching Sabbaths. George Erbes has been the trustee from the beginning.

A society of Dunkards was organized at the Byrd school-honse in 1863. Occasional meetings had been previously held in other places. The original members were eight in number, as follows: John Toft and his wife Margaret, Alva R. Harp and his wife Amanda, William Vroman and his wife Elizabeth, and D. C. Vroman and his wife Cath- erine. Their numbers finally increased to eighteen. The Rev. John Fillmore settled in the township soon after the organization and was the only minister the society ever had. A. R. Harp was the first deacon. Services were held at the Byrd, Beemerville and Twin Groves school-houses. At the end of three or four years the members removed to Marshall county, Iowa. An organization of Dunkards holds regular services still at the Byrd school-house.

The subjoined notes relating to pioneer history should have appeared under their proper heads. As early as 1844, and from that date for eight or ten years, regular preaching was had at Allen's Grove. About 1848 a Presbyterian society was formed, and maintained an existence several years. The Revs. Baker, Breed, and another, were the preachers.

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WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP.

Afterward a Methodist society was instituted. The Rev. Gammon, a Baptist, also held meetings at the Grove.

A family of Littletons came to Smith's Grove near 1845, and the younger members lived there until recent years. A Scotch family of Platts arrived about 1854 from Aurora, but were originally from Prince Edward's Island.

CEMETERIES.

Besides churchyards and some private burial lots there are the Ells- worth and Twin Groves cemeteries, both desirable locations for sepul- ture. The former is on the south side of the publie road and of Sec. 34, and obtained its name from Isaac C. Ellsworth, on whose farm it was laid out. The other is situated on the S.W. ¿ of S.E. ¿ Sec. 17, adjoining the public road, on a prominence falling off on every side, and washed on the north by Willow creek. Mrs. James Thompson gave one acre and sold half an acre more for this site. It is held in trust by the school trustees of the township, who sell the lots for $5 apiece. Several handsome monuments have been set up in this beau- tiful city of the dead. Each, Durin, Miller, Rees and Yetter, have one, and the Thompsons two.

" The dead are here. I hear their steady throw Of shuttles moving in the upper sky, Weaving a fabric pure and white as snow."

VILLAGE OF LEE.

This flourishing village is situated in the counties of Lee and De Kalb, the part on this side of the line being on the northeast corner of the S.E. ¿ Sec. 1. The Chicago and Iowa railroad was completed to this point in the autumn of 1871, and at once a movement was begun to inaugurate business. From a slight beginning has grown a live town, bristling with activity, running over with trade, and from which more produce is shipped than from any other station on the line. The population is largely, if not principally, Norwegian.

The first building put up was a small one by Christopher & Jorgens, which was used for a grain office and grocery. J. Cheasbro built an office at the same time and started trading in grain, coal and lumber. Both firms had their offices up in the fall, but transacted no business until after New Year's. R. J. White built the first store in the spring of 1872, on the northeast corner of Main and B streets, and soon after a post-office was established and he received the appointment of post- master. His partner, named Knight, sold out after three months to A. B. Trask; the latter disposed of his interest to Henry Moore, and he to W. H. Bryant. The firm then added farm machinery to their trade. In 1874 White retired, and Mr. Bryant accepted the appoint-

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

ment of postmaster, and has been the incumbent of the office until now. After three years he disposed of his store, and has since dealt only in agricultural implements.

After White, J. Johnson started next in a general store on the west side of Main, between A and B streets. In July, 1872, the railroad switch was finished ; freight began at once to be delivered, and then the place took a sudden advance. Abel Downer opened the third general store, including a stock of drugs, on the southwest corner of Main and B streets. Ostewig & Leyder started the same season in hardware.

The first dwelling was built by James Minnihan in 1872; the next March W. H. Emmett erected the second; and in 1874 others went up, among these Mr. Christopher's, east of the track.

Frank Bacon built a hotel on B street, in the early winter of 1872-3; in 1874 A. B. Trask built the second, which is now the only place of public entertainment, and is called the Clifton House, a well kept establishment, of which John A. F. Lambert is proprietor.

The north elevator, built by J. Cheasbro, went up in the fall of 1872, and immediately in the winter following Christopher & Jorgens erected the south one. The first butcher shop was opened on B street, east of the track, in 1872; next year William Finton moved it onto Main street, north of B, where he has enlarged it, and now occupies it for a market and dwelling. Miss Margaret Edsall, first milliner and dress-maker, opened rooms in 1873. The present drug store, kept by W. F. Forbes, was built in 1873 for a saloon, and the next year moved to its present location on B street. In 1873, also, Lars Helland put up a wagon shop, and Iverson & Espe a smithy. These shops and the elevators were on the east side. The same year N. D. Schoenholz built a harness shop, L. L. Risetter a store and dwelling on the southeast corner of Main and B streets, Lars Midnes a notion store, Knudt Ty- son a photograph gallery, and Trask a store and dwelling, first occu- pied by C. H. Rathburn, and afterward sold to John Dyas for a saloon. Cheasbro sold his elevator and lumber-yard this year to McLean, West & Co.

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History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc., Part 78

Author: Hill, H.H. (Chicago) pbl Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, H.H. Hill Number of Pages: 910

Author: Hill, H.H. (Chicago) pbl
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, H.H. Hill
Number of Pages: 910