USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 36
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EARLY HISTORY OF HEBRON
By Cyrus L. Mead
Recollections of one of the oldest residents, dating from 1853 up to the early sixties.
It is with pleasure that we present to the readers of The Tribune a brief history of reminiseence of the early days before Hebron became a town. This information is given us by Mr. C. L. Mead, of our village, who has been a resident of this section sinee 1853. Although in his ninety-second year, his memory is very keen and his physical condition most wonderfully preserved. Following is the story dating from that time on until recent years, just as it was dictated to the editor by Mr. Mead.
"On the fifteenth day of March, 1853, I came to Woodstock, Illinois, from Oswego County, New York, town of Sandy Creek. My early arrival in that then small and unattractive place was made on that memorable
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day and well do I remember the weather. The sun shone brightly and the roads were as dry as in mid-summer.
"Not being favorably impressed with the village of Woodstoek, I decided to walk to Richmond, a distance of some sixteen or seventeen miles. I carried a large satchel or carpet bag in which I carried my wearing apparel. Show me today the young man not yet in his twenty- sixth year who would attempt to walk this distanee and carry a heavy parcel.
"I arrived in Richmond about the noon hour and took dinner at the hotel then owned and operated by Colonel Gibbs. In the afternoon I walked to the house of Barney Burdick, about a half a mile northeast of Richmond and there spent the time until the next day.
"On the following day I journeyed on foot to the neighborhood of Gena Junction, northeast of where my brother, IIenry W. Mead, was then employed as teacher in the Gibbs district or Mound Prairie.
"Myself and brother had purchased the 400-acre tract of land now lying north of the Hebron townsite, which we came into possession of in the fall of 1853. After taking possession of our newly acquired farm, my brother Henry again resumed the teaching of school and I busied myself with the arranging of the buildings, there being a fair-sized honse already built. This is the first house that was built in Hebron and stands today, except for some remodeling, with many characteristics of its original outlines. In later years it was moved and now stands as a part of the home in which James Roan lives.
"In the year 1854 together with my brother, we broke forty acres of sod, using seven or eight yoke of oxen to draw the plow. We sowed wheat and barley and had a fairly good erop. The harvesting was done with an old style cradle and grass seythe.
"Our sister, Mrs. Emily Conklin, kept house for us and together we toiled to gain a footing in this new country.
"In the fall of 1854 we purchased some twelve or fifteen head of hogs which we began feeding and by December were ready for the market. We killed and dressed them and hauled the meat to Milwaukee by wagon. We received $3.25 per hundred for the dressed meat.
" About the sixteenth of January, 1855, I concluded to return to New York, and although we had experienced a very open and mild winter the snow began to fall as I left and we had the heaviest snow and most severe winter weather up until April.
"I reached my destination and was united in marriage to Miss Finett Carman, in Wayne County, N. Y., on the 29th of January. We spent
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the next few weeks in New York, when we came to our new home in Hebron, arriving here about the middle of March. The snow was yet on the ground and the weather very severe.
"That spring we prepared our forty aeres of new broken ground and put in wheat. In the harvest time we received thirty-five bushels to the aere. This occurred in the time of the Crimean war and we received all the way from seventy-five cents to $1.25 per bushel for the grain. Other erops were of a fairly good yield and times were very good.
"In the year 1856, April 1st, we sowed wheat, which looked like a promising yield, but a late frost occurred about the first of June, and although the grain was of good height it only yielded an average of nine bushels of poor wheat to the aere.
"Ilere I wish to speak of some of the early pioneers and neighbors who resided in this country and helped to subdue the vast prairies of this fertile township. To the east were: Eden Wallin, Alphonso Tyler, Fred Smith, L. D. Seaman and a man by the name of Farman, who owned the Simes place at that time. To the west we had 'Pappy' or Zenus Pierce, Colonel Ehle, John Adams, Whitney Brigham, Deaeon Tower, Sheldon Sperry, Deaeon Sawyer, Wm. Woodbury, Capt. Stone, Chas. Wright, Squire Giddings, Volney Phillips. To the south were Rowel Carney, John and Peter O'Dell, living on the farms now owned by A. J. Cole. We had no neighbors within two miles to the north, there being no road in that direction.
"The first post office was at the home of John Adams located where the present home of Charles Nichols, Sr., now stands, two miles west of town. We received mail twice a week from MeHenry to Big Foot, the trip being covered by a mule team conveyance which also hauled freight, etc.
"Dr. Giddings built a residence on the present site of the R. D. Sill residenee, which has also undergone many alterations and repairs, al- though the original part of the structure is still standing. This was the first house built in Ilebron after my coming here.
"After Dr. Giddings built this house, the post office was moved to his home and even after the post office was moved to the Goodsell store in 1861, it still went under the name of Giddings and all business of the government was done through his name.
"At that early time there was no envelopes, although they were soon adopted, but at that time we simply folded our letter and plaeed some sealing wax on the fold to hold it securely. The postage at that time was five cents and we didn't send very many letters.
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"In the year 1855 the first schoolhouse was built and is the building now occupied by the Hebron bakery. David Rowe was the carpenter who done the building. Miss Rebecca Lord taught the first school in the summer of 1855 in a granary on the Rowel Carney (George Fran- cisco) farm and in the fall the school was resumed in the new building.
"The first board of directors were C. L. Mead, Henry Ehle and Rowel Carney. I served on the school board continuously from 1855 until 1880, except one year.
"In the year 1855 there was no road leading either north or sonth, all travel being done in an easterly and westerly direction.
"In the fall of 1855 I purchased the eighty-acre farm which I now own, for $22.50 per acre.
"In 1856 we purchased fourteen head of steers and fed them on meal and corn fodder. The meal was secured by taking corn to Rich- mond to the mill and having it ground. I had no previous experience with cattle feeding, notwithstanding I had very good success and by April 18, 1857, we sold these steers for $3.25 per hundred. Eggs and butter at that time sold at a low price. Butter was twelve and one-half cents to fifteen cents per pound and eggs were five cents and six cents per dozen, which was taken in trade at the stores.
"The erops in 1856 were just fair for a new country and we did not have much money.
"In the summer of 1857 we purchased some steers and a few head of sheep and began dealing in stock to some extent, also putting in our usual crop of wheat, oats and barley and some corn.
"By October we had selected abont fifteen head of steers which we had intended to feed, we also had a good drove of seventy-five or eighty fat sheep. About the 29th of October, a cattle dealer came along, a Jew, and wanted to buy our herds. My brother had purchased a carload of hogs and together with the sheep and steers, we sold the entire lot to the Jew and did not feed any stock that winter, delivering our stock to Richmond, where they were loaded onto the trains.
"In the year 1858 the regular farm work was done and erops raised were not extra good, prices were also very low. In November I drove seventeen head of steers to Milwaukee, walking the whole distance and without the aid of help. I marketed the bunch for $3.00 per hundred and came home by rail as far as Springfield, Wis., thence by stage to Lake Geneva, and walked the balance of the way home.
"About the first of the month of December I again drove a herd of one hundred head of sheep to Milwaukee, this time covering the distance
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on foot and alone as before, receiving in the neighborhood of $3.00 per hundred.
"About the 10th of January, 1859, I drove some fourteen head of eattle to Milwaukee, which I had purchased of different farmers. These steers were in good condition and made the trip as well as our previous herds. In about two weeks I again made the trip on foot to Milwaukee, with some nine or ten head of fat steers. The country was new and it was difficult to find a place to shelter myself and stock for the night. About the first of March, I went for the fifth time with a herd of sheep, which were in very poor condition and my experience was very costly, realizing very little if anything on this trip. During my whole business transactions I was never held up or robbed, although foreed to earry the proceeds of my herds home in money, cheeks were unheard of at that time. The five trips to Milwaukee covered over 300 miles and would be considered an impossibility or a rare undertaking on foot in the winter months at least.
"Our farming activities had so increased that we employed two men, my brother teaching school in the winter months, and in the following year of 1859 and 1860 we were very actively engaged. The steers we sold this year brought a better priee and were sold to a Mr. Knowles, of Marengo.
"In the year of 1860 my brother went with a shipment of eattle to the Chieago market, then situated about six miles west of Chicago known as 'Bull Head Market.' At that time there were also a market and slaughter house located at Twenty-second Street. The Merrick Yards, near Cottage Grove, was the third yards and slaughter pens.
"The Methodist Church was built in the year 1861 and dedicated in the year 1862, in September. Elder Jewett was the promoter and be- sides being a good organizer, his ability as a horse trader is also recalled.
"In the year 1860 I raised and fattened a earload of hogs and had them ready for shipment over the new railroad, which reached Hebron in 1861. Abont the last of May the hogs were loaded onto a flat ear and shipped to Milwaukee. This was the first ear of stock out of Hebron. The railroad was of light construction and very little stoek was shipped at that time.
"Henry W. Mead was appointed agent of the local station and the first station was built at that time. My brother continued to be the agent until after years, when the road installed telegraphy. The station was known as Mead's Station, but was changed to Hebron.
"In the year 1867 the Linn-Hebron Church was built and is still
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PEHR H. LUNDGREN
FRANZ E. LUNDGREN
MRS. PEIR H. LUNDGREN
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standing as first erected. Elder Lord was the first minister and previous to the building of the new church, held services in the residenee now occupied by Willis Brown, which was then the Elder's home.
"The Baptist Church was built in 1876 and eost about $3,000. The Presbyterian Church was built in 1877. The cemetery in Hebron was laid out in 1860. Volney Phillips being one of the promoters and to my recollection, the first man buried in the new place. The German Lutheran Church was construeted in 1900.
" In the year 1862, Ilenry W. Mead was married to Miss Anna Turner, and myself and family moved from the north side of Hebron to the eighty-acre traet which I still own, my brother occupying the original farm, thereby dividing our interests and embarking separately.
"In going along I failed to mention the fact that in 1853 the only persons owning a buggy with steel springs were B. Tryon and Colonel Ehle. Buggies were just coming into use in this seetion at that time.
"The first cheese factory was built by William and Robert Stewart on the farm now owned by John J. Stewart in the year, as I recollect, 1865. In 1868 Henry W. Mead built a factory just north of the town site on his farm.
"The first schoolhouse was moved from the original site to Main Street in the year 1878, and is now occupied by the bakery. A briek building was erected which was the first half of the original building which was discarded for the new modern structure which now adorns the site. The first briek structure was built by Beek and Strowler. The board at that time were : E. R. Phillips, C. L. Mead and D. A. Clary.
"The only man now living who was here at that time is George W. Seamon, we being the two oldest residents.
"Our wheat erop in 1860 went thirty bushels per acre and with the 1855 crop of thirty-five bushels per aere were the only two which paid us for the raising.
"The first teachers in the new briek schoolhouse were: Friendly Strong and Miss Mary Brigham, the latter being a resident of Hebron at this time."
POPULATION
The census gives the population of this township in 1890 as 1,430; in 1900 it was the same number; in 1910 it was 1,167; and in 1920 it was 1,363.
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TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS
The following are the township officials of Hebron Township: super- visors, II. M. Turner; assessor, Charles Hawthorne; clerk, L. K. Rowe : highway commissioner, Fred Peterson; justices of the peace, Carlton Hunt and F. E. Woods; constables, G. M. Honsholder and Lyle Pierce.
CHAPTER XXXIV
MARENGO TOWNSHIP
BOUNDARIES-EARLY SETTLERS-ORIGINAL NAME-EARLY EVENTS-CEM- ETERIES-POPULATION-TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS-CITY OF MARENGO- EARLY BUSINESS INTERESTS-MUNICIPAL HISTORY-FIRE DEPARTMENT- PLACES OF AMUSEMENT-110TELS-POST OFFICE-COMMUNITY CLUB- REMINISCENCES OF MARENGO-FIFTY YEARS AND MORE AMONG THE BEES.
BOUNDARIES
Marengo Township is bounded on the north by Dunham Township; on the east by Seneca Township; on the south by Riley Township; on the. west by Boone County, and it is described as congressional township 44, range 5. The Kiswaukee and Rush ereeks together with their numer- ous small tributaries furnish abundant water and drainage. Originally, this township was almost entirely a prairie seetion, the soil is of a rich, fertile character, and the farms of today are among the highest priced and most valuable of any within this county. This is the only township in MeHenry County that has a stone quarry of any considerable im- portanee; and it is located on section 31.
EARLY SETTLERS
Calvin Speneer came here from Seneca County, Ohio, in the spring of 1835, and made his elaim in what later became Marengo Township. He was accompanied by his sister, and she was the first white woman to keep house in the township. Soon after locating here Mr. Spencer was married to Miss Mary Hanee, and they became the parents of eight children. He lived until 1875, when he died in Marengo Township. In the autumn of 1835, Moses Spencer, father of Calvin Spencer, joined his son and daughter, and in November that year his wife died, hers being the first death in the township.
During the winter of 1835-36 Ward Burley located in Marengo Town- ship, and he was the third settler. Ilis elaim was the present site of the
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city of Marengo, and it is interesting to note that he traded his now extremely valuable land to Frank Stafford for a stock of dry goods, and dealt in merchandise for a time, and practiced medicine. He was the first doctor to locate within the township, and was actively engaged in medieal practice until his death in 1847. John Sponsable located here in 1836, coming in from Garden Prairie, Boone County, Ill., where he had made a claim, but only remained there a short time, then located in Marengo, and there died in 1846. His brother, William Sponsable, came in the fall of 1835. ITis claim had formerly been taken by Richard M. Simpkins, but the latter removed to Coral Township. William Spon- sable, after buying the Simpkins elaim, later sold it to another settler, and moved to Seneca Township. In the fall of 1835, I. Bache eame in from Pennsylvania, and purchased a claim upon which he resided until 1840. Amos B. Coon eame to Marengo Township October, 1835, from Bradford, Penn., but after a short stay went to some one of the Southern states. In 1837, however, he returned and for very many years was engaged in an active practice as an attorney. Theophilns Renwiek was another settler of 1836, and in 1837, M. B. Bailey arrived in Marengo, and opened a small store in the village of Marengo, which he conducted for a short time. He lived here until 1882, when he died. George R. Page, George Bennett, J. A. Davis, William and Charles Barnes, Tim- othy MeNamara, and H. II. Chapman were all pioneers of Marengo Township.
ORIGINAL NAME
Originally this township was called Pleasant Grove, but when the post office was established it was ealled Marengo, and when the township was organized by the county board, for convenience sake, the same name was given it as the post office held; hence the eivil township, the village and its post office are all known by one and the same name, Marengo.
PIONEER EVENTS
Dr. Ward Burley and wife had a son born to them soon after eoming to the township, and it is believed that he was the first white ehild born within Marengo Township. This child only lived two years.
The first marriage ceremony performed was that by Justice of the Peace M. B. Spencer, January 14, 1838, when he united in wedlock M. B. Bailey and Miss Lydia Hanee.
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The earliest grist-mill, built in 1846, was located one and one-half miles northwest of Marengo. No traees of this mill have been seen for more than thirty-five years.
CEMETERIES
A little burial ground lying north of the village of Marengo was platted by the Scotch people living in that vicinity, and used by them.
The Catholic cemetery of Marengo lies in the northern part of the place and was laid out late in the seventies.
The Marengo Cemetery proper is directly north of the railroad, and was laid out in 1861. It originally comprised ten aeres, but later was expanded. There are other small burying grounds in various parts of the township.
POPULATION
The census for 1890, 1900, 1910 and 1920 gave the following as the population of Marengo Township: In 1890, 2,702; in 1900, 2,859; in 1910, 2,250, and in 1920, 2,442. The corporation of Marengo had in 1900 as high as 2,005 inhabitants.
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS
The following are the township officials of Marengo Township: supervisor, D. M. Wright ; assessor, J. G. Kitchen ; clerk, J. T. Beldin ; highway commissioner, J. F. Wilson ; justices of the peace, J. C. Tanner and A. G. Beath ; constables, Willis Jobe and M. M. Wilson.
CITY OF MARENGO
Marengo was platted in 1846 by Damon & Spencer, and at a time when there was a small community settlement. The surveyor was A. B. Coon. It is situated in the extreme southeast corner of the Township of Marengo, in sections 25, 26, 35, 36. It is deseribed as being all within congressional township 43, range 5, east.
The first house ereeted on the townsite of Marengo was that of Joseph Bryton, which was built in 1835. Moody Bailey opened the first store in 1837; A. M. Canon opened the first wagon shop, and Mr. Blakes- ley was the first blacksmith.
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
EARLY BUSINESS INTERESTS
Among the men and concerns to be engaged in business at Marengo later than 1880 may be recalled with certainty the following: F. G. Vail, Skinner & Treat, Farmers & Drovers Bank, B. S. Parker, First National Bank, C. V. Wells, William Dougherty, P. T. Parkhurst, Wil- liam Blood, Alexander Walling, John Kelley, John Arlington & Co., Tillman Gallaway, Reuben Miller, N. L. Jackson, Cady, York & Thomp- son, John Miles, C. Il. Hance, F. W. Alderman, Arthur Wilbur, C. I. Boyington, M. A. Webb, William Stewart, Asa Wood, F. W. Patrick & Co., William F. Abbott, Casely & Fillmore, Vail, Otis & Co., A. S. Norton & Co., Gilbert Metcalf, C. W. Ingersoll, W. H. Sanders, Pacific Hotel, L. G. Buek, Almon & Ryder, C. F. Renwick, W. A. Treat, S. A. Srissey, G. W. Saunders, J. Il. Bulard, Almon & Ryder, Henry Under- wood, George Crego, Rodgers Brothers, Teeple & Co., E. P. Persons, A. R. Coon, Ira R. Curtiss, George Sampter, J. A. Read, H. E. & F. A. Patriek, P. B. Smith, A. P. Abbott, David Johnson, W. P. Pringle, Metcalf & Brown, A. L. Derry, George Stanford, Bartholomew & Co., W. II. Mesiek, S. C. Wernham, L. C. Nutt, J. W. Green, C. N. Clark, O. L. Sherman, Marengo Pickle Manufacturing Company, J. J. Wilson, C. Fraidrich, J. Griffin, H. D. Storms, Frank Gaskell.
MUNICIPAL INISTORY
Marengo was incorporated as a village February 24, 1857. The first officers were as follows: F. Stafford, president ; Calvin Spencer, Fletcher Lindsley, A. R. Parkhurst, I. P. Warner, trustees, and J. B. Babcock, clerk.
The village history extended down to September, 1893, when it be- eame a city incorporation. The first officers under city incorporation were-E. D. Shurtleff, mayor; C. P. Fillmore, clerk; A. S. Norton, treasurer ; J. M. Marks, attorney ; aldermen-H. HI. Blair, N. L. Jackson, II. G. Otis, E. P. Vail, J. H. Patterson, S. C. Wernham.
The present eity officers are-C. B. Whittemore, mayor; Clifford Woeben, elerk: A. C. Smith, treasurer; E. D. Shurtleff, attorney ; councilmen-Fred Dunker, A. E. Thompson, J. E. Heath, C. W. Wilke, Willis Job, C. J. Coarson.
PRESENT OFFICIALS
The following are the present officials of the city of Marengo : mayor, W. C. Woodward; clerk, C. A. Woleben; treasurer, Carlton S. Robb;
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF MARENGO
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health official, W. S. Eshbaugh; magistrate, J. Il. Kitehen; marshal, Byron Miller ; attorney, R. D. Donovan ; aldermen, J. E. Ilcath, W. S. Seronguer, F. R. Ocock, A. E. Thompson, F. D. Piper and C. E. Kelley.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
A system of waterworks was installed in 1894. Wells were sunk and a good supply of pure water was obtained and this system continues to the present. It was piped throughout the city, a standpipe erccted and has been a blessing to the place ever sinee. The city bonded itself for this and other improvements, but all such debts are paid off, and the city government, aside from a few small bills, is free of any debt. In 1905 a sewer system was commenced and later completed; paving fol- lowed in 1908, and now one sees and appreciates a beautiful, even brick paving instead of former black dirt roads. A volunteer fire company keeps the city safe from the fire ravages of former years. They have an auto-truck and hose wagons, bought at an expense of $2,000. At present the lights of the city are provided by a private corporation. Before 1908 electrie lights were furnished by a local municipally owned plant.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Marengo Fire Corps was organized October 29, 1883, by H. B. Smith, J. Teeple and A. W. Kelley, with a charter membership of fifty- two. The need of such an association of men was felt on many former occasions, but never more than on March 5, 1876, when the Ryder House and adjoining stores were destroyed. There was also a large fire January 4, 1867. When this fire corps was organized A. S. Gormon was made its secretary ; E. A. Vandevere, treasurer; and H. D. Otis, Charles Ingersoll and J. Teeple, directors. For a number of years this company was maintained and did fine work, but as the place grew and times ehanged, it was finally superseded by other organizations. It is now the ordinary volunteer fire company, named above.
PLACES OF AMUSEMENT
It was in April, 1883, that the Marengo Opera House was built by R. M. Patriek at a cost of $30,000. At that day it was among the finest playhouses in all Northern Illinois.
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At present the places of amusement consist of occasional home talent plays, and the moving picture entertainments.
HOTELS
The first hotel at Marengo was built by Calvin Spencer in 1835, at the corner of State and Main streets. This was constructed of logs from the nearby forests, and was but sixteen feet square. When it was erected it was not with the intention of using it for a hotel, but Mr. Speneer soon found that he could not turn away the stranger, so engaged in the hotel business. In the spring of 1836 he built two more log houses about 18x26 feet in size; these served until 1838, when he added a frame structure 16x18 feet. Mr. Spencer continued in the hotel business until 1842.
In 1841 David Hammer built a log hotel, and conducted it a short time. In 1842 a Mr. Basford bought the Spencer Hotel, and took David Hammer as a partner. The firm of Basford & Hammer subsequently erected a frame hotel of considerable proportions, and it was used many years for hotel purposes by various persons. Later it passed into the hands of D. Johnson who converted it into a private residence.
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