USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 24
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Another address was made by Rev. Father Leydon of the Catholie Church, who also paid a glowing tribute to the departed. It is said by those who still survive, that Woodstock had never listened to such periods of true eloquenee before.
At Marengo, on Sunday, the churches were befittingly draped and memorial services were had. Rockford furnished their chief speaker. For many days the half-mast flags and drapery were seen finttering in the breeze along Main street in Marengo. The colors used were black and white.
At Algonquin, on the day and hour which Garfield's body was being lowered into the tomb in Cleveland, services truly befitting were being held. All business was suspended for the day. Services were held in St. John's Episcopal Church at 11 A. M. At 2 P. M. a large congrega-
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tion assembled in the German Lutheran and also one at the Free Method- ist churches. The bells of the church and schools tolled mournfully and slow, striking forty-nine times, representing Garfield's age.
At Richmond, this county, all business was closed for the day. The Garfield Guards from Grand Junction marched through the streets in funeral step.
Thus it will be seen that all Mellenry County mourned for him whom they had cause to respect and love.
DEATH OF U. S. GRANT
While not a tragie death, that of the great Civil War commander, and ex-president, U. S. Grant, which took place in July, 1885, eaused an almost world-wide sorrow. He died of a caneer in his throat, after being a patient sufferer for many weary months, and it is recorded that no murmur of complaint fell from his lips during all that period.
The Woodstock Sentinel on July 30, that year, devoted six and one- half columns to his obituary notes and a review of his wonderful eareer. At the memorial services in Woodstock, the order of exercises was about as follows : The line formed at 1 :30 p. m. and marched around the public square to the east entranee, the order being, the marshal, Col. William Avery ; the MeHenry military band; Company "G" of the National Guards, Capt. A. E. Bourne; Woodstock Legion Seleet Knights, George Eckert, commander; and others including the Grand Army of the Re- publie, Judge B. N. Smith, commander, followed by citizens. Over 2,000 people attended this memorial for the "Silent Soldier." The serviees were under the auspiees of the Grand Army Post. Mayor Bunker was president of the day. Adjutant Wright read the orders; scriptures were read by Rev. D. S. MeEwan of Kansas City; Rev. Hoover offered prayer. The musie was in charge of E. E. Richards. Hon. Frank Crosby delivered a beautiful and truly appropriate address and reviewed in detail the deeds of the great hero. Rev. S. C. Hoy pronounced the bene- diction. The decorations and emblems of military and eivie mourning were never more impressive than those furnished at the park ou that oceasion. Each of the four corners of the park entrances were draped and each had a portrait of the deceased soldier-president, he who suc- eceded in bringing a great rebellion to its close where many others had failed, and he who was twice elected to the presidential chair of his country. About the portrait thus suspended were the simple words:
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"The Nation's Loss." On the reverse of these words were the names of the many battles in which General Grant had fought.
All business of the county seat and other places in MeHenry County were closed for that solemn day. Nunda Grand Army Post was up to Woodstock and took part in the exercises. The ladies, unaided by the men, furnished the entire decoration and drapery of the grounds at the park.
The exercises included music by the MeHenry band, reading of the orders, music by the band, prayer, music by the choir, the address, music by the choir, music by the band, short address by Rev. HIcover and others. The vice presidents of the day were: T. M. Cook, Seneca Township; Burton Wright, Greenwood; William Walkup, Ridgefield ; Wm. G. Conklin, Hartford; II. M. Mead, Ilebron ; R. Bishop, MeHenry.
It should be stated that all preparations had been made to hold these exercises on Saturday but on account of a rain storm on that date it was postponed until Sunday afternoon.
DEATH OF PRESIDENT WILLIAM M'KINLEY
Again the hand of an assassin ent down a dearly-beloved president, causing universal sorrow to prevail throughout the land, when William MeKinley was shot by Louis Czołgosz, while attending the Pan-Ameri- can Exposition at Buffalo, N. Y., September 6, 1909, and from such wounds, died on the 14th of that month and year. He had just com- menced his second term as president.
Thirty minutes after the telephone message to Woodstock from Chi- cago that "MeKinley is dead," the Sentinel had out extras, nine by twelve inches, and was seattering them broadcast throughout the city. This was 5:35 P. M. and it was 8 o'clock that night before the Chieago papers reached MeHenry County. The following Thursday an immense andionce gathered at the city hall at 2 P. M. to pay a fitting homage to the third president killed by an assassin within thirty-six years. The hall was not large enough to hold one-half of the people who wanted en- tranee. All business was suspended and evidences of great sorrow were seen on every face and in all places. Men of strong wills and sturdy frame would meet and glaneing at one another, pass without speaking for fear that they would break down and ery. Every flag in the city was flying at half-mast and the pietures of the dead president were to be seen everywhere, at the eity building and at the near-by park. At the corner entranees of the public square might have been seen draped arehes
Charles B. Higher
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and portraits of MeKinley whom all had honored in life, and truly mourned in death. No Sunday was ever more quiet in Woodstock than this weck-day of mourning. The decorations at the hall were never so fine and bore mute testimony to the skillful hands who had tenderly fashioned them. The Oliver Typewriter band headed the procession made up of the local Grand Army Post and Women's Relief Corps, with members of Company "G," Illinois National Guard. They marched onee around the park and then entered the city hall auditorium, which was almost filled before this procession reached the building. At the rear of the stage were seated fifty of the older citizens of the county and just in front of them were twenty-four singers and at the front of the platform were the ministers and speakers, members of the Mellenry County bar, ete. Mayor E. C. Jewett presided in a most dignified man- ner. The band played Handel's "Dead March in Saul," and Rev. S. Il. Ilay of the Presbyterian church read the scripture lesson, after which the quartette sang "Soldier Rest in Peace." At just 2:30 P. M. (the exact hour that the body of the lamented president was being low- ered to the tomb at Canton, Ohio), the chairman requested the entire audience to rise and stand five minutes with heads bowed. In silence of death this was carried out and at the close, the band broke the long silence by striking up "Nearer, My God, to Thee," and all who could con- trol their feelings joined in the singing of that hymn now made immortal as Major MeKinley's favorite.
The address was made by Attorney Lumley, and after him a personal friend of the deceased president, Rev. Sunderlin of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, spoke feelingly.
At the Methodist Episcopal Church in the evening of the same memo- rial occasion, A. S. Wright spoke of his several meetings with Major Me- Kinley, as governor and president.
More was printed in the secular and religious press concerning Major MeKinley than of any other deceased president. After the memorial services were over and the addresses made, all in which the Woodstock and MeHenry County people participated, were printed in a neat book- let and sold at five cents each, and 1,000 were thus disposed of, and many are yet in existence throughout the county. The addresses are given in full in this booklet.
CHAPTER XVIII PERSONAL REMINISCENCES
BY E. E. RICHARDS
PREAMBLE- FIRST MEMORIES-EARLY YEARS-FREE PASTURES-THE COURTS -COUNTY FAIRS- MUSICAL EVENTS - FISHING - HUNTING - ORIGINAL CHIARACTERS-MUSICAL REMINISCENCES OF IIALF A CENTURY.
PREAMBLE
Having assumed the position of historian of my personal reminis- cences, I enter upon my task with some misgivings as to whether I shall make my story of sufficient interest to pay for a perusal thereof. If there be any criticism that my own personality be unduly in evidenee, I ask you to remember that this is my story of what has happened to myself and others during the years from 1852 to 1918, and that I must necessarily be present, either as an anditor, a participant, or a looker on. It has been the custom of some writers to introduce their subjeet with a long erudite disquisition of the philosophical aspects of the subjects, and with tedious elaboration, allow their pen to run away from their subjeet, thereby indneing but little further interest in the story. I shall take the more modern plan of giving this short prelude and then at once start on my "Story."
FIRST MEMORIES
My birthplace was Sharon, Massachusetts, the date of my birth being February 12, 1838. On June 10, 1852, we arrived in the village of Woodstoek, father, mother and six children. Our trip was from Boston to Buffalo, New York, by rail, tlience by steamboat by way of Lake Erie to Monroe, Michigan, and from that place to Chicago, by the railroad. We stopped at the City Hotel on Lake street one night. The next day we extraeted ourselves from the mud of Chicago streets and via Chicago & Galena Railroad arrived at Marengo, and from there by stage to
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Woodstock. One of the passengers on the stage was a young lawyer, Theodore D. Murphy, afterwards Judge of the Circuit Court, and also of the Appellate Court. Ile was very pleasant and was enthusiastic about the country and its possibilities in the future, possibilities that became aetualities.
Our home was on the farm of my uncle Joel H. Johnson, opposite the residenee of the Rev. R. K. Todd, now the site of the Todd Seminary.
I remember that I thought Mr. Todd was the finest gentleman I had ever seen and that Mrs. Todd was his fitting mate. Mr. and Mrs. Todd were exceedingly kind to us and during the years that soon passed, we became greatly attached to them. Mr. and Mrs. Todd had musical eve- nings, frequently, at which my brothers and sisters and I assisted. In the year 1864 the students at the seminary, under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Todd, gave a spectacular representation of the great Re- bellion, which was ably gotten up. I had charge of the musie. 1 after- ward led the Presbyterian choir for several years. Mrs. Fidelia Belcher Hamilton was organist.
The question of water supply was one of a serious nature, as the wells were, most of them, only from fourteen to twenty feet deep and became dry if the seasons were dry ones. I remember of going to the well in front of the courthouse for a pail of water after nine o'clock in the evening many a time. If the season was a wet one, many eattle got mired and men' would have to get them out, or the eattle would have perished as they were helpless.
There were many rattlesnakes (Massaugers) around the sloughs. We killed eleven in one summer during haying time. While threshing on the Olson farm, as now known, some hunters over near the Fair grounds set fire to the slough grass, and we barely saved the grain staeks and threshing machine, by fighting the fire with brush and plowing furrows between the fire and the staeks. The roads were poorly built. In low places logs from the woods were laid and brush cut, and laid on the logs, and then earth laid on the brush. After driving over these roads a few times and after a good hard rain the earth was sifted and washed into and through the brush, leaving but little but logs to ride on. This eaused eramps and bruises as well as blasphemy. But to be truthful, some of our roads at the present time are as bad as they were sixty years ago, and the torrents of profanity are let loose with more justice and reason than in the olden time, because machinery and methods are greatly improved and only need to be put to use intelli- gently to have good roads.
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IN EARLY YEARS
The only brick buildings on the public square were the store now owned by Mr. Lyman T. Hoy, and then used by himself as a drug store, and the old Rat Hole building, wood being the usual material for build- ings until later years. In after years these old wooden buildings were destroyed by fires and replaced by brick structures. These fires will doubtless be written up in this work, hence are only referred to here. The burning of the old courthouse in the square on the evening of July 4, 1858, was an event of much importance. The bank had purchased the old building and for a long time had neglected to remove it, which had caused some feeling as it was not pleasant to look at. After one attempt to burn the building a young attorney, whose libations pouring at the shrine of Baechus were frequent and eopious, told a friend during the day that, although he had made a previous attempt to burn the old courthouse, there would be no failure this time, as he had hired a first class ineendiary from Chicago. He would make no mistake! The bank being suspicious of the attempt to thus summarily remove the old courthouse, a watchman to foil any attempt of the kind was engaged. A friend of the watchman, desiring, no doubt, somewhat to relieve the tedious lonely hours of the night, asked the wateliman across the street to quench his thirst, and during the absence of this guardian of the building the first elass incendiary got in his work!
An alarm of fire was heard and the watchman, rushing back to assist in quenching the fire, saw what he supposed was a pail of water (it really was a lot of camphene, a most inflammable fluid), caught up the pail and threw the contents upon the flames, which act with the prelimi- nary work of the first class incendiary, made a complete and successful conflagration.
FREE PASTURES
In those carly days the pastures were the commons, the forest ex- tending from the village to the prairie. The cows would stray away through the woods and usually come home at night to be milked and fed. Sometimes our bossy would not come up. A hunt would ensue, an extended one sometimes, and end by finding the recreant cow feeding demurely, near a thicket, greeting us with an assumption of surprise at our presence. However, when we began to explore that thicket of bushes, bossy at once became intensely interested and also our close
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companion in our exploration, which would end in the discovery of a calf (her baby). We would drive the cow and calf home. The mother of the calf did not stray far from home for a number of days, she being duly impressed with the importance of her duties as a good mother.
I remember one thicket where we found a newly-born ealf, and where there were several wild plum trees loaded with yellow, dead ripe plums which were delicious indeed.
THE COURTS
My experience in the courts of this county began when I was about nineteen years of age. Many amusing and interesting episodes occurred during the years that followed. I was deputy eireuit elerk under my unele Joel H. Johnson. Then followed many years as deputy county elerk under Elam M. Lamb, William H. Stewart, M. D. Hoy, all grand, good men who honored the position they held. November, 1876, I was elected elerk of the Cirenit Court and held that office for three terms, twelve years. I met men of fine abilities. The judges were Isaae G. Wilson, a distinguished, dignified, scholarly man; Allen C. Fuller, Charles Fuller and Robert Wright, of Belvidere; Charles Kellum, of Sycamore ; Clark W. Upton, of Waukegan; Theo. D. Murphy, of Wood- stock ; Charles H. Donnelly, also of Woodstock.
Among the attorneys who practiced in the courts were: Lawrence S. Church, William Kerr, Charles M. Willard, A. B. Coon, Merritt L. Joslyn, James H. Slavin, John B. Lyer, T. B. Workman, Frank Crosby, and many more.
The famous Jim Daey murder trial was heard. Daey was eonvieted and hung in the courtyard.
There were many lively verbal passages between attorneys; some- times approaching physical encounters. One day there was a tilt between A. B. Coon and Frank Crosby, which showed great quickness of retort. Mr. Crosby had accused Mr. Coon of conduet that was not strictly in accord with the ethics that should obtain within the sacred preeinets of the courtroom. Mr. Coon replied: "Well, Mr. Crosby, I never get drunk and roll in the mud and gutter and made a d- fool of myself as you did." The retort came from Mr. Crosby instantly : "No, Mr. Coon, you did not make a d- fool of yourself, nature anticipated you."
At one time a decree of divorce had been granted to the wife. As eertain real estate was involved, it was deemed necessary to formally
1
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default the defendant (the husband). Ile was hustled into a side room adjoining the courtroom and told to stay there. The sheriff therefore began calling the defendant's name, Richard Roe, Richard Roe, where- upon defendant opened the door and came into the courtroom, saying : "I'm here." The attorneys began shonting to him in whispers: "Go back, go baek! Go back, you darned fool, you!" A bailiff caught the defendant by the collar and yanked him back into the room. The judge was busy writing the order for default of the defendant.
COUNTY FAIRS
The county fairs held a half century ago, were primitive, unsatisfae- tory and discouraging. The cattle, sheep and swine were exhibited along the streets. Store rooms were rented and exhibits were placed there. Later on the grounds now in use were secured.
Col. Horace Capren of Alden exhibited his herd of Devons. No finer animals were ever shown. E. A. Seward of Marengo had a fine herd of Durhams. Elsworth was on hand with Poland-Chinas and David Crink- law, of Riley, with his Berkshires. The Morgan and Black Hawk horses were the favorite breeds at that time. Charles S. Dole, of Crystal Lake, had a stable of fine-bred horses. "Lakeland," a direct son of "Hamilton 10," "Brigand," the sire of Maud S .; "Patchen" and many others were on exhibition. Dan Duffy, with his grinning Old Barney, was always a favorite in the raees. It is a discouraging thing to make a county fair a sueeess finaneially.
MUSICAL EVENTS
In the years from 1858 and afterwards, musical conventions were held. William B. Bradbury of New York, George F. Root, Everitt L. Baker of Buffalo, Prof. Fargo, Dr. Palmer, Prof. Wheeler of Boston were engaged to instruct and conduct. As many as 200 persons would attend. Our Woodstock people opened their homes to them and after a week's instruction, a grand eoneert would elose the convention. Great enthusiasm prevailed. In 1861. Prof. Wheeler was drilling a large children's ehorus. A telegram eame, stating that Ft. Sumter had been fired on by rebels. I took the telegram to Prof. Wheeler. He read it and then turned to the children and said: "The rebels have fired on Ft. Sumter, on the flag, our flag, and I want you to sing the 'Star Span- gled Banner' as you never sang it before." They sang it at him, they
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just sereamed at him as he stood before them with the tears running down his face. I never knew the National Hymn sung as those children sang it. As it ought to be sung now with every fibre of our being vibrating with love and devotion for our flag, for our country.
These musical conventions were productive of a great interest in music. Among the persons who contributed their time and their talents for the promoting of further interest in musie in the early years I would name Harvey Denfee, Mrs. Fidelia B. Hamilton, Mrs. Ball MeEwan, Mrs. Olive Wright, Miss Agnes Quinlan, Mrs. Sadie Murphy, Mr. Alvois Dryer, Charles D. Lemmon, A. R. Murphy and others. The eantata of Esther, the Oratoria of Daniel and other cantatas were given. My operetta of "The Reception" was given and was accorded a kind reeep- tion by the audienee filling the eity hall and netting $210 for the publie library. The Oliver Typewriter Band was an organization of which we were justly proud.
FISHING
Fishing, like hunting, "is not what it used to be." Duffield's Lake, near Woodstock, Fox Lake, Pistaqua Lake, Crystal Lake, Fox River, all furnished good fishing. Piekerel, pike, black bass, river bass, roek bass, silver bass and muskalonge were abundant in those days. I saw a forty- two-pound muskalonge that was caught in Pistakee Bay thirty years ago. And this reminds me of a letter and a Christmas present received from a cousin of ours, a conductor on the Northern Paeifie Railroad, residing at St. Paul, Minn., a splendid good fellow, albeit he is given to the perpetrating of practical jokes upon his friends. Last Christmas lie sent me a Christmas present. It was in a red box, marked "Fishing Twine," and a two-pound fish would break that twine the first lunge after being hooked. It was an insinuation that that fishing twine was good enough for any fish I would eateh down here. To show proper resentment, I wrote him a letter, as follows :
"Dear Dock-
I give you my thanks for the fishing twine
You send to me for the fishing line You use for the minnows and such up there, Which, with pride in your skill, you safely snare.
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But say, Dock, up in Pistaqua Bay, When the shout goes up: "Give the right away!" When the boat starts with a surge and a plunge, You know you have hooked a Muskalonge-
Ile is at least a forty-pounder ;
You've a fight on hand for an hour or more,
And to land this whale, you steer for the shore. When the beast you've landed the fight is o'er, You've had fight enough-don't want any more.
But say, Dock, when you're making such a race, With a forty-pound muskie to make the pace; When through the water, with a rush and a roar, The boat sends waves rushing from shore to shore, And everything's going niee and fine,
Say, Dock : What would happen to that fishing twine ? Yours thankfully and sincerely,
E. E. RICHARDS. Dec. 27, 1916.
Among my earliest recollections was a fishing party consisting of nine persons, among whom were Charles Crawford, James Tappan, John M. Harper, myself and a few others whose names I have forgotten. The place was Fox River, near Burton's Bridge. We had a seine sixteen rods long. My share was a two-bushel grain saek full. The number of fishes taken was great. It is a erime to draw a seine now, and should have been then or at any time.
Spearing fish in Fox River was an exciting sport. With a torch attached to the bow of the boat, the spearman with his spear poised, awaited the swiftly darting red horse and other fish. When the fish was near enough a sudden lunge impaled the fish and it was lifted struggling into the boat. Red horse usually weighed from six to twelve pounds.
Trolling with a spoon-hook was one way to capture fish and many were taken in that manner. The stocking the waters of the State with German carp was a mistake. They destroy the breeding places of the game fish and are a nuisance.
IIUNTING
The game found in the years from 1852 to 1870 was abundant as eom- pared with the present time. Jack snipe, sandpiper, yellow legs, plover,
-
Riley Holunes
Dove Holmes.
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woodeoek, quail, prairie chiekens in elouds, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, woodchucks, gophers, to say nothing of the tens of thousands of ducks, wild geese, wild pigeons, ete. Hunters lived on the fat of the land. The slaughter of wild pigeons was as bad as seining fish, and consequently these pigeons are extinct. I will relate one instance to show the possi- bilities in hunting in the early days. An uncle of mine, living near Boston, paid us a visit. He had never been west of New York City. So one morning we ealled the liver-colored pointer dog and said to him: "we propose to hunt prairie chickens." The dog manifested his delight by rolling over and over. We hunted over the farms of the Hartlets and others of Greenwood Township for about three hours and bagged eleven prairie chickens, which gave my uncle great pleasure, not only the shoot- ing, but the wonderful intelligence of the dog. The broiled prairie chieken for breakfast next morning furnished a fitting elimax to the hunt- ing trip. The spring and fall gave the hunters fine sport in hunting dueks and geese. Burney Sherman was our guide and advisor in the hunting field in the early days, and is still with us hale and hearty.
ORIGINAL CHARACTERS
In every small town and village there are persons, men and women, who have peculiar characteristics and are denominated "characters." One man in Woodstock whose name was John Metcalf was supposed to be possessed of Indian lore, and who was perfectly willing to be considered such. He had the shuffle or walk peculiar to the Indian (assumed I think). He claimed to be able to locate bee trees, and to be familiar with the habits of the birds of the woods and fields, the wolves, the foxes, wild- cats and the fishes whose habitat was the river and lake. He could and did make excellent fish lines of horse hair, and of course was by the youngsters considered a wonderful man.
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