USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 35
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The Huntley Cheese Factory was an important factor in the com- munity in its day, during the eighties. It was built by D. E. Wood & Co., in 1876-7. At the same time D. E. Wood and John Weltzine owned four other factories of this kind in MeHenry County. When this cheese industry flourished at Huntley, some of the business men were : William Hackett, S. Haight, George Van Valkenburg, F. O. Dain, Patrick Duffy, Thomas Fenwiek, J. G. Kelley, P. MeNinney, Wood & Waltzine, A. Dis- brow, T. R. Ferris, W. G. Sawyer, A. Oakley, B. F. Ellis, M. D. Hadley, Smith & Oakley, Teeple & Co., Devine & Skells, Hawley & Tappen, Ellis & Ballard, M. J. Kelley, D. M. Williams, Dr. O. K. Griffith and Otto Gaupner.
POST OFFICE
The post office was first established here in 1851, before which time people in this neighborhood went to Coral post office for their mail. Stewart Cummings was the first postmaster at Huntley and following
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IIISTORY OF McHENRY COUNTY
him were Peter Miller, John Wales, Miss Izanna Bridge, II. B. Williams, John S. Cummings, Edward Haight, T. R. Ferris, John Donahue, T. R. Ferris, E. Il. Cook and J. F. Wendt. This is a third elass post office and has two rural routes going out into the surrounding district. Route No. 1 has as its present carrier, J. M. Venard; for Route No. 2 Thomas Frederick.
INCORPORATION
lIuntley was incorporated as a village under the state laws in 1872 with officers as follows: John S. Cummings, president ; John P. Skells, clerk; H. B. Brown, treasurer; F. J. Glazier, city marshal ; D. E. Wood, Charles Bruckman, and S. S. Sprague, trustees. Sinee that date the various presidents have been : Thomas Grimley, Jackson Wood, O. K. Griffith, A .. W. Nash, Henry Sinnett, W. G. Sawyer, Henry Sinnett, John Wiltzien, James Sheldon, D. M. Williams, John Wiltzien, John Donahue, John Wiltzien, John Donahue, F. A. Fisher, John Donahue, Henry Maekaben, J. F. Wiltzien.
The following are the officials of the village of Huntley : President, John F. Wiltzien ; clerk, Frank MeNeeney; treasurer, W. F. Barlett ; magistrate, W. P. Whittemore; marshal, John C. French ; attorney, F. B. Bennett ; trustees, T. R. Ferris, Henry Williams, Cland Williams, James Marsh, Walter Butler and E. H. Cook.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
In 1910 the village bonded itself for water works. They now have three deep wells; an eighty foot steel tower; a twenty-foot tank sur- mounting the tower. Pumping is effected by means of an eleetrie motor. The fire department is equipped with two hose earts, 1,000 feet of hose, and a hook and ladder outfit. The village owns a small frame hall, with a jail in the rear of it. A small, neat park adorns the opposite side of the chief business street, and good paving obtains throughout several streets.
CHAPTER XXXI
GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP
BOUNDARIES-TOPOGRAPHY-EARLY SETTLERS-CEMETERIES-MILLS-BUT- TER AND CHEESE FACTORIES-VILLAGE OF GREENWOOD-EARLY INTERESTS -POST OFFICES-HARVEST PICNIC-POPULATION-TOWNSIIIP OFFICIALS.
BOUNDARIES
Greenwood Township is bounded on the north by Hebron Township; on the east by Mellenry Township; on the sonth by Dorr Township; and on the west by Hartland Township. It comprises all of congres- sional township 45, range 7. It was named by C. M. Goodsall, and this name was confirmed by township trustee, J. N. Barber.
TOPOGRAPHY
This township is gently rolling land, the soil is extremely fertile and well enltivated, and the farms are exceedingly valuable. At at early day, the valley of Nippersink Creek was heavily timbered but this growth has long sinee largely disappeared at the hands of the settlers who have (ut it down for fuel and feneing. The main stream of the township is the Nippersink Creek which has several branches.
EARLY SETTLERS
Probably IIenry Weston was the first white man to settle permanently in what is now Greenwood Township. He came in 1833, Queen Ann Prairie was named in honor of his wife, who was the first white woman in the township, and she was the first person to die in this township. Soon after her death, Mr. Weston was married (seeond) to a Miss Watson, and this was the first marriage in the township, although the first recorded marriage is that between Charles Frame and Mary Dufield on February 1, 1838, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Joel Wheeler.
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THOMAS LINDSAY
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HISTORY OF McHENRY COUNTY
Following Mr. Weston the settlers were: Alden, Almon and William Stone, Lewis Boone, Henry Westerman, Elijah Slaffon and James Wat- son, all of whom made 'elaim to their land in 1837.
Lewis Boone took up many acres of both timber and prairie land, and a Mr. MeCollum laid claim to a portion of this land and built a cabin on it. This action was resented by Mr. Boone, who tore down the cabin and cut the logs in two, aceusing MeCollum of jumping his elaim. Finally, the two men resorted to a personal encounter, in which Mr. Boone was the conqueror. MeCollum and his friends then attacked the Boones and drove them from the land. A lawsuit resulted, the same being the first filed on the MeHenry County doeket. Lewis Boone re- mained in the township until his death, and was buried in Greenwood cemetery. His son, Eldridge Boone, was the first white child born in the township, and when he died in 1838, he was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, his being the first body to be interred there.
George Weller, Amos Scofield, Daniel Cattle, Nathan Dufield, Jacob Eckert, Michael J. and Peter J. Herdklotz and their father Eldod Taylor, Squire Baldwin, and O. J. and A. P. Murphy, all of whom came prior to 1839. These settlers all located in the eastern portion of Greenwood Township. Another very early settler was Neill Donnelly who came in 1838.
CEMETERIES
About one-half mile south of the village of Greenwood lies Green- wood cemetery. It is the oldest burying place in Greenwood Township. Here repose many of the pioneers of the township.
Another cemetery was early laid out near the Methodist Church in southern part of the township.
What is known as the Soldiers' Monument Cemetery in this town- ship, originally contained one aere of land, but was subsequently en- larged. In its midst stands the monument erected in memory of the soldiers and sailors who lost their lives during the Civil War. This was dedicated July 4, 1880.
Near the center of the township there was platted a small cemetery by the German settlers, and surrounding the Norwegian Church the people of that faith laid their dead to rest.
MILLS
In 1841, Lake & Scofield built a saw-mill on seetion 11, it being run by the waters of the Nippersink Creek. For more than a quarter of a
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HISTORY OF McHENRY COUNTY
century this mill was active, or until late in the seventies, when it was torn down and today no trace of a millsite can be seen.
The second mill of this kind was built by Toles & Brown, a mile below the first one just named. It was also a water-mill. In 1845 they also erected a grist-mill at an expense of $5,000, but this mill was destroyed by a fire in 1862. Job Toles built a grist-mill in the village of Greenwood at a little later date. The flour-milling industry has long sinee been left to the great milling centers, near to the supply of northern wheat and the farmers all buy their flour.
BUTTER AND CHEESE FACTORIES
It is of no little interest in these days of high-priced butter and cheese, ahnost prohibitive on account of prices, to read of the many early creamery and butter and cheese stations and factories in this county, including the plant of Abbott & Thompson, who built the first cheese factory in the township in 1848, and its capacity was more than 100,000 pounds of cheese annually. The second cheese factory in the township was built in 1870. by Job Toles, in the village of Greenwood. These are all obsolete industries, for today all of the surplus milk is bottled and shipped to Chicago and other great cities for direet consumption, while other seetions of the United States manufacture the butter and cheese which MeHenry County farmers used to make in such quantities.
VILLAGE OF GREENWOOD
Greenwood is an inland village which was surveyed in 1842, and platted into lots by Job Toles. He made an addition to the place in 1845. It is finely situated on the south branch of Nippersink Creek ou seetion 11. The first residences here were erected by Lake & Seofield. The first store was started by C. M. Goodsell, who carried a very large stock for so early a time. Burr & Co. started a wagon shop about as soon as the place was established.
Greenwood contended for the county seat when it was removed from MelIenry to Woodstock in 1843. Not succeeding in that the village has not grown commercially as have the railroad towns of the county, but is a beautiful place of residence.
EARLY INTERESTS
In 1854-55, Weller & Hamilton planted several aeres of apple trees, and Greenwood had a nursery which was continued for a number of years, but Hamilton finally sold and moved to Ridgefield, while Weller
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HISTORY OF McHENRY COUNTY
closed out the business at Greenwood. Later Garrison Bros. conducted a business in furnishing fruit and ornamental trees, garden seeds and flowers. The first orchard in the township was set by Andrew Murphy, on Queen Ann Prairie, in 1842, the trees coming from Will County, this state.
The first store was opened in Greenwood Township, at Boone's Mill, in 1847, by a Mr. Lockwood who soon moved away, being succeeded by C. M. Goodsell, at the village of Greenwood.
Sinee the days of rural mail delivery, and near-by railroad stations, the trade of Greenwood has not even held its own, there now being but a small country store trade there.
Near Greenwood and in section 10 there are several Indian Mounds in which early excavations revealed the presence of numerous human skulls and other remains and instruments of domestic use. supposed to be the work of Mound Builders.
The first post office in either township or village of Greenwood was established in 1850, and was kept in the store of C. M. Goodsell, the first postmaster. Other postmasters were: Messrs. Robbins, Martin, John M. Barber, J. II. Garrison and D. W. Soper. Postal matters have all been changed of later years, for nearly every farmer has his mail dropped at his door every week-day morning, hence has little use for post offices.
IlARVEST PICNIC
During the summer of 1877 the people of Queen Ann Prairie and the surrounding neighborhood inaugurated an annual outing which beeame for many years very interesting and attractive. It was known as the "Harvest Pienie." The first one occurred August 23, 1877, in the fine grove owned by Michael Senger. A big dinner and excellent literary program was enjoyed by a large gathering. It seems too bad that this eustom was not kept up perpetually.
POPULATION
The eensus reports show that this township had in 1890 a population of 899; in 1910, 908; and in 1920, 858.
PRESENT OFFICIALS
The following are the present officials of the village of Greenwood : president, L. W. Thompson; clerk, M. C. Doolittle; treasurer, L. W. Thompson ; magistrate, J. N. Barber.
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HISTORY OF McHENRY COUNTY
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS
The following are the township officials of Greenwood Township: supervisor, L. W. Thompson ; assessor, M. Dassow ; elerk, N. C. Doolittle; highway commissioner, O. H. Aavang; justice of the peace, John N. Barber; constable, Oscar Anderson.
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CHAPTER XXXII
IIARTLAND TOWNSHIP
BOUNDARIES-FIRST SETTLERS-PIONEER INCIDENTS-CEMETERIES-BROOK- DALE POST OFFICE-EARLY COUNTERFEITERS-POPULATION-RAILROAD- VILLAGE OF HARTLAND-TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.
BOUNDARIES
Hartland is the second township from the northern line of the county as well as the second from the west. It is bounded on the north by Alden Township; on the cast by Greenwood Township; on the south by Seneca Township and on the west by Dunham Township, and comprises all of congressional township 45, range 6, east. When it was first settled by white men, its surface was nearly all covered with good timber, but by the time of the Civil War all of the heaviest first growth had been cut off. Grain and stock raising are callings largely followed by the land- owners in this township. The name Hartland was given the township in 1840, in honor of a town in New York by that name. The name "Antrim" was proposed by the many Irish settlers, but was not adopted by those in authority.
FIRST SETTLERS
It matters not, but here is a conflict in history, three factions of pioneers contending, one claims that the first to locate within this town- ship was F. Griffin; another set up a claim that the honor belongs to George Stafton, and still a third faction is sanguine that to such honor should be attached the name of John Quinlan. It is certain that all three came here at about the same date. Right on their heels was P. W. Tower, and a Mr. Smith, who gained the nick-name of "Whisky" Smith, arrived not long thereafter. P. M. Dunn, William Fanning, Alvin Judd, Andrew J. Haywood, Appolos Hastings, and Alonzo Golder were among the pioneer band in Hartland Township.
This township was settled almost entirely by Irish Catholic people,
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
who, strong in their faith, have made excellent citizens and built up thrifty and large congregations. Here, as in other townships in the county, a few of the settlers made their claims before the land had been surveyed by the government. Such claims gave rise to many disputes as to rights and titles, to settle which, meetings were held, attended by men with arms in hands, ready, if necessary, to maintain their rights by force. All such disagreements were finally adjusted without the spilling of blood, or creating of feuds, as has often been the case in other sections of the country.
PIONEER INCIDENTS
John Short, later known as "squire" in Woodstock for many years, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Short, was the first white child born in this township. The date of his birth was sometime in 1836. His father lived in Hartland Township until his removal, early in the eighties, to Woodstoek.
Mrs. Debbit, who died in 1840, was the first white person to die within Hartland Township, and her remains were buried in Hartland Cemetery.
The earliest marriage in the township, celebrated at the residence of a Catholic priest, was that of Walter Gibbs and the widowed Mrs. Sutton, but the first recorded marriage was that uniting William Fan- ning and Catherine Donnelly. the ceremony being performed by Father J. Gregory, a Catholic priest, on February 4, 1842.
CEMETERIES
Up to 1844, a rail or pole pen surrounded a single grave, and this constituted the only cemetery in Hartland Township, but during that year Mr. Brocken gave to the township a piece of land in section 13 to be used for burial purposes, and about it is now located Hartland Cemetery. There have been other small burying plots within the township.
BROOKDALE
During the year 1840, Wesley Diggins built a saw-mill on the banks of Kishwaukee Creek, and for a number of years a flourishing business was carried on at that point. About it grew up a tiny community, known as Brookdale, and for a time it was believed by some that here was the nucleus of a city, but with the clearing off of the timber, and
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
the end of the immense lumbering business, the trade was drawn away to Harvard and Woodstoek, and this generation knows of "Brookdale" only by hearsay. A store was maintained there for several years, as was one also at Oliver's Corners, but it too died a natural death. Other little communities of Hartland Township prospered for a time but soon fell into that "dreamless sleep that knows no waking." The little ham- let of Hartland is the only village now within the township.
POST OFFICE
For some years after Hartland Township was settled the people had to go to MeClure's Grove, a distance of twenty-five miles, for mail. Later they received their mail at Crystal Lake, and finally a post office was established at the residence of Alvin Judd, about the center of the township. Eden post office was established in the eastern part of the township, with Henry Oliver as its first postmaster, and Peter MeFar- land was its second. At Deep Cut a post office was established in 1855, and there maintained until 1865. From 1865 to 1879 the people had to go to either Woodstock or Harvard for mail, but in the latter year a post office was established at Kishwaukee, and Philip Gafner was post- master for many years. The people of the township, outside of the eireuit around Hartland village, are furnished their mail by the rural free delivery system, daily, except Sundays.
EARLY COUNTERFEITERS
At an early day Hartland Township harbored a gang of counter- feiters. These daring men had their outfit in a kind of natural eave in the timber, which was covered with planks and sod. In it the counter- feiters were found to be entering into competition with the government in the production of silver coins. A mile away was a shanty in which the men spent their time when not working at their unlawful task. The excellent citizens were not backward in expressing their disapproval of these methods, and the gang, taking the hint so openly expressed, dis- appeared and were never again seen in this county.
POPULATION
In 1890 IIartland Township had a population of 960; in 1900, 874: in 1910, 905; and in 1920, 860.
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HISTORY OF McHENRY COUNTY
RAILROAD
The Chicago & Northwestern Railroad traverses this township from the southeastern to the northwestern part, through the eentral portion. In 1877 a depot established near Deep Cut was first called Kiswaukee, now is called Hartland.
VILLAGE OF ILARTLAND
Hartland was platted in the southwest part of section 13 and in the southeast of section 14, township 45, range 6, July 26, 1878. It is the only railroad station within the township. It is a small shipping point and in the midst of a very fertile agricultural section. A few stores and shops comprise the business interests of this place.
PRESENT OFFICIALS
The following are serving Hartland in an official position : president and treasurer, Earl C. Hughes; clerk, John H. Haley; and magistrate, Daniel H. Desmond.
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS
The following are the township officials of Hartland Township : super- visor, E. C. Hughes ; assessor, Frank Sullivan ; clerk, J. H. Haley ; high- way commissioner, C. R. Cooney; justice of the peace, D. H. Desmond.
GEORGE LOWE
JESSIE WATSON LOWE
CHAPTER XXXIII
HEBRON TOWNSHIP
BOUNDARIES- ORIGIN OF NAME-FIRST SETTLERS-PIONEER EVENTS-CEM- ETERIES-EARLY INDUSTRIES-VILLAGE OF HEBRON-POST OFFICE-IN- CORPORATION-EARLY HISTORY OF HEBRON-POPULATION-TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.
BOUNDARIES
Hebron Township lies along the northern line of the county, and is bounded on the north by Wisconsin ; on the east by Richmond Township ; on the south by Greenwood Township; and the west by Alden Town- ship. It comprises congressional township 46, range 7, east. It is one of the best watered and drained townships in this county. Nippersink creek and its tributaries, with Goose Lake form a magnificent natural drainage system and supply unlimited water at all seasons of the year. While the greater part is prairie land, considerable timber was originally found growing along the streams. Grain, stoek raising and dairying are profitably carried on here. Verily he who owns a farm home in this township is an independent man.
ORIGIN OF NAME
The story surrounding the naming of Hebron Township is so interest- ing and unusual that it is here given at length. The first white woman to live in Hebron Township was Mrs. Bela H. Tryon, and as is usual in sneh eases her home was the gathering place for lonely pioneers who came from far and near to her for motherly advice, and help in their affairs. It was the custom for them to engage in singing during the Sunday afternoons and evenings, and upon one oeeasion after they had finished singing Old IIebron, she suggested that Hebron would be a good name for the new township. Her selection was approved and the name adopted. On the Sunday following the adoption, the settlers gathered at her home, and to prove her pleasure, she fried a bushel of
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
cakes for them, all of which were eagerly consumed by the hungry men.' tired of their own efforts at eulinary operations. This is the only in- stance in Mellenry County of the name being given by a woman to a township division.
FIRST SETTLERS
The honor of being the first settler in this township belongs to E. W. Brigham, who made his original elaim in 1836, and built the first house in the township, constructing it of poles. He was a native of Vermont, as was Josiah II. Giddings, the second settler, who erected the first frame house, and long continued to occupy it. although he later added to its original proportions. Bela II. Tryon was the third settler, coming here in 1836, and residing here until his death in 1848. HIe was from New York state. From that same state also came in to this township, R. W. Stuart, A. H. Parker, and John Sawyer, very early settlers. G. W. Giddings and C. S. and John Adams were settlers of 1836.
PIONEER EVENTS
The first white child born in Hebron Township was Mary Roblee. who lived many years in her native township. Arabel Hibbard died in September, 1852, when eighteen years old, and hers was the first death in the township. She was a daughter of William and Julia Hibbard. On September 7, 1840, was celebrated the first marriage of the township. when Rev. Samuel Hall united George C. Hopkins and Rebecca Tuttle in marriage.
CEMETERIES
The first burying place within Ilebron Township was set apart in 1844, two miles northwest of the village of Hebron, at the Presbyterian Church, and a Mr. Dunean, a Scotchman, was the first person to be buried in it. Another early cemetery was in the eastern part of the township, and there several burials were made before the place was abandoned. This was really a private burying ground on the farm of Robert Stuart.
During the sixties, the cemetery at the village of Ilebron was laid out and has since been used. This is located right south of the main village and is handsomely eared for.
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
EARLY INDUSTRIES
In the sixties and early seventies cheese factories sprung up here and there all over this county, including those in and near the village of Hebron. The leading ones were those of 11. W. Mead, George Conn, Robert Stuart, a Mr. Perrin and a Mr. MeGraw.
VILLAGE OF HEBRON
Hebron village is situated in Hebron Township, in sections 16 and 17, township 46, range 7, east. It is situated on the line of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad running from Rockford to Kenosha, and now has a population of more than 700. Its churches are the Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist and the German Lutheran. The village has fra- ternal societies-the Masons, Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of Ameriea.
At first Hebron was named Mead Station from the fact that Henry W. Mead had been appointed depot agent at this point when the road first went through. The place was platted on the Mead lands, they hav- ing been the first settlers to locate here.
POST OFFICE
Prior to the building of the railroad the township of Hebron had two country post offices, one of which was situated at the house of Bela H. Tryon, who was the postmaster, the date of establishment being 1839. Mail was brought from Chicago and thence to Jaynesville, Wis. The mail was carried on horseback. Another office was established in 1842 in the west part of the township, and kept at John Adam's place, he being postmaster. The list of postmasters at Hebron office established in 1856, is as follows: J. II. Giddings, Munson Goodsell, Frank Rowe, John Pettibone, Frank Rowe, George Boughton, M. W. Merry, who held it three full terms; Dr. E. A. Mead, Henry Earl, who was commissioned in 1913. This is a third-class post office and has two rural free delivery mail routes going out from it six days each week. Route No. 1 is now in charge of carrier Ed Hawthorne, while No. 2 is under Clyde Trow.
INCORPORATION
IIebron was not incorporated as a village until October 21, 1895. The presidents of the village council since the first have been: G. W.
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IIISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
Conn, W. C. Ilyde, G. W. Conn, Frank Rowe, Z. Il. Young, L. A. Nichols and F. C. Slavin, and M. B. Spooner.
In the month of June, 1906, a system of waterworks had been in- stalled and were on that date accepted by the Couneil. Bonds were sold to provide this needful internal improvement.
PRESENT OFFICIALS
The following are the officials of the village of Hebron: president, M. B. Spooner ; clerk, C. E. Bieren ; treasurer, Wilder E. Smith; magis- trate, K. Woods; attorney, D. R. Joslyn, Sr .; trustees, J. M. Trneson, M. C. Clark, G. Phillips, Frank Holmes, M. B. Brooks and A. G. Diekerson.
EARLY COMMERCIAL INTERESTS
The first store built in Hebron was opened by M. S. Goodsell, and the first wagon shop was that condueted by George Colburn. The first "village blacksmith" was a Mr. Risden, while the first shoemaker was James Rowe. Among the dealers who came in a little later were: William O. Broughton, J. O. Reynolds, Lund & Johnson, C. F. Prouty, D. S. Blodgett, J. W. Webster, E. F. Hews, II. W. Mead, Frank Rowe, G. L. Phillips and Taylor Bros.
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