USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois : together with sketches of its cities, villages and towns : educational, religious, civil, military, and political history : portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, also a condensed History of Illinois > Part 31
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destroyed. The storm was very severe further along toward the East and much damage was done.
"From Alden, the cyclone passed over the line into Wisconsin, and just north of Hebron station, destroyed Levi Nichols's house, barn, etc., and killed his hired man. His father's barn was also wrecked. At Racine, eight persons were killed, a large number injured, and 150 buildings destroyed."
UNFORTUNATE OCCURRENCES.
The political campaign of 1856 won McHenry County from the Democrats and a rousing majority was given for Fremont. The Democrats on receipt of the news of Buchanan's election decided to have a celebration, and brought out the old " Woodstock can- non," which figured very prominently in many a political celebra- tion in the olden time. By some mismanagement the cannon was prematurely discharged and Orson Bates was so badly injured as to require the amputation of the right arm above the elbow, and the left hand above the wrist. He was in the act of ramming down the charge and received it full in his arm and hand.
A snow storm early in December, 1856, blocked up roads and railroads so effectually that travel by any method was impossible for several days. On the railroad running through Woodstock several trains were snowed in on the track remote from any station.
On Sunday, Aug. 28, 1859, James Ashe, a prisoner confined on the charge of ill-treating his wife, was found hanging in his cell in the county jail. He was a native of Ireland, about thirty-five years old, and had been a resident of Hartland for some time. On a scrap of newspaper, pinned to the floor with his knife, he left the following somewhat remarkable communication:
"A DECLARATION. - I do confess I never abused this Woman no Harder then woss nessarey to correct a seven years old child that would Be Disobedient to his parents but when I see a woman taking an oath before God and man all In a treacherous lie, It makes the hare of my hed Stand on an End. The world is so wicked In the form of law that Every boddy when they get an . opertunity will Turn round and persecute There Nighest benefac- tor. I declare this to be the truth. JAS. ASHE.
" Here I die brave Strong and Honest.
"You folse creature how will go before the people you can get plenty law but Verry Justice from-that cheated half the county. 22
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"Here goes James Ashe that never Told alie.
" Berry me wherEver as you please for I am libertine of no re- ligion.
" Let Barny McGuire have my Coat and boots and John Sulli- van Blacksmith Get ten dollors from Squire Thompson and Give Jim Slavin one Dollor use the other nine dollors as you please-I cant stand Swindling under the Cloak of Law."
Oct. 22, 1859, William Dalzell, while bricking up a well thirty feet deep on a farm about one and a half miles northeast of Mc- Henry, was buried alive by the earth caving in upon him, covering him eighteen feet deep. When his body was recovered his head and face were terribly mangled, indicating that he had been almost instantly killed.
In the spring of 1859 a young man named Deming, son of Jedediah Deming, of Harvard, started for Pike's Peak in company with others. When near there he became sick and was almost overcome by his hardships. He decided to turn back; but being joined on the Missouri River by his brother, John concluded to start for California. He was sick all along the route, but re- covered in a measure after reaching his destination.
On the 20th of January, 1860, he went out hunting, and not re- turning when expected, his brother went to search for him. Seeing tracks of Indians he at once concluded that John had been foully dealt with, and went to the neighboring miners for aid. The body was found, shot through the head. While the brother of the murdered man was absent from his cabin, the Indians raided it, carrying off whatever they fancied. They were not pursued.
A man named Babcock was drowned in the Nippersink, near Spring Grove, while fishing with a seine, May 19, 1860. He was about thirty-five years of age and had recently come to this county from the East.
A. C. Wilson, aged about twenty years, was killed at Harvard, July 20, 1860, while attending to. his duties as a railroad employe, in trying to get cars that had run off back upon the track.
In July, 1861, a young farmer named Andrew Austin, of Green- wood, was killed by being thrown from a horse.
At Harvard, June 6, 1862, a man named Cutter, a railroad em- ploye, was killed by the cars.
March 17, 1862, Solomon West, in Seneca, committed suicide with poison. He was comparatively a stranger in the community.
Monday, May 5, 1862, John E. Burr, of Greenwood, met his
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HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
death by accidentally falling into a well. He was about twenty- three years old.
Amasa Clapp, a conductor on a freight train, was killed near Woodstock in November, 1863, falling between the cars while walking over them.
In December, 1863, only a few days later, Eben Lord, of Janes- ville, Wis., a brakeman on a freight train, was killed at Woodstock in a similar manner.
In October, 1863, at Woodstock, Mrs. Bridget Lee was killed while attempting to cross the railroad in front of a freight train.
A few days later a brakeman named George Batie was killed in a collision at Ridgefield.
Adam Schneider, of Greenwood, was killed Oct. 20, 1863, while at work in the field. His horses became frightened and ran over him. He was forty-seven years old and a very worthy citizen.
April 18, 1863, Augustus Clark, of Franklinville, in the town of Seneca, committed suicide by hanging. Mental aberration brought on by business trouble was supposed to liave been the cause.
John Steffer, working near Ringwood, April 24, 1863, ate wild parsnips, being ignorant of their poisonous qualities, and was killed by them.
In January, 1864, Charles Jacobs, son of Norman Jacobs, was found dead in the road near Woodstock. He had poisoned him- self with strychnine.
In February, 1864, a brakeman named Archibald Berryman was killed on a freight train as he was approaching Woodstock from the north.
In March, 1864, Willard Joslyn, a nephew of Orson Diggins, was killed on the farm of the latter near Harvard, while trying to turn a somersault over a pole.
W. Vinton, a farmer whose home was near Huntley, drowned himself in the Kishwaukee, Oct. 6, 1865.
In April, 1865, as citizens of Marengo were celebrating tlie fall of Richmond, an anvil which they were fixing exploded, and a large piece struck H. G. Otis, who died two hours later. Others Were injured but not fatally.
June 16, 1865, John Dolan, of Woodstock, about nineteen years old, was shot and killed while trying to enter the house of Rut. ledge Harris near Crystal Lake. He with a companion, both in- toxicated, went to Harris's house to see a girl and were denied ad- mission. While trying to force an entrance Dolan was killed.
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In June, 1865, during a picnic excursion, two young ladies, Addie Deitz and Lucy Adams, both members of prominent fami- lies, were drowned in Crystal Lake while boating.
In February, 1866, A. E. Lyke, of Hebron, accidentally sliot himself fatally while pulling a loaded gun toward him. He was twenty-six years old.
In August, 1867, Michael Dwyer, of Woodstock, aged seven- teen, was accidentally drowned while bathing in Crystal Lake. The next day efforts were made to recover the body, and among other means employed the cannon belonging at Woodstock was taken to the lake and fired. The second time the piece was dis- charged it exploded, injuring J. Dwyer, the father of the drowned boy, so that it was feared he could not live, and wounding two other persons in a less degree.
On the 9th of July, 1867, Archibald G. Filkins, of Harvard, a lad nine years of age, was thrown from a freight car on which he was riding and received injuries which rendered the amputation of his leg necessary. He survived the operation only a few hours.
In May, 1868, a boy named Ira Clason, eighteen years of age, was killed by a flaslı of lightning while plowing on a farm six miles south of Marengo. The pair of horses which he drove were killed at the same time.
June 17, 1868, Archie Van Vleet, ten years of age, son of Na- than Van Vleet, in Harmony, committed suicide by hanging him- self with a rope in his father's barn.
Henry Jackson, twenty-three years of age, was drowned in Crystal Lake while fishing, Aug. 15, 1869.
In August, 1869, the body of a man was discovered in the river below the railroad bridge at Cary Station. Papers on the person proved that the deceased was T. H. Bennett, a railroad employe, of Janesville. It was known that he was on a train passing the spot where the body was found, a few days before, but whether he jumped from the train to commit suicide or fell from it accidentally can only be surmised.
T. J. Hobart was instantly killed Oct. 8, 1869, by the wall fall- ing in upon him as he was digging a cellar under a building. This occurred about six miles from Woodstock, on the McHenry road.
In October, 1869, a little girl, four years of age, daughter of Patrick Crowley, of Marengo, was so badly burned by her clothes taking fire that she died ten days afterward.
Henry Keller
Sarah & Keller
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HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
Jan. 17, 1870, Henry Vanute, brakeman, was killed by the cars at Woodstock.
In August, 1870, Bela Darrell, at Woodstock, while moving a building, was accidentally caught by falling timber and strangled.
Aug. 30, 1870, Captain Alexander Smith, of Union, fifty-five years of age, committed suicide by hanging.
March 23, 1871, Jeremiah Halesey was killed near Harvard by a railroad train. He was riding a horse and had crossed the track, when the horse, becoming frightened at the cars, was rendered unmanageable, ran back and threw him off in front of the train.
In August, 1871, Mrs. John Oakley, living three miles north of Marengo Village, committed suicide by hanging.
In December, 1871, the wife of Alexander Martin, living a short distance north of Woodstock, was so severely injured by being thrown from a wagon by a runaway team that she died in a few hours.
Jan. 10, 1873, a boiler in a steam flouring mill at Huntley exploded, killing Wm. L. Benedict, the engineer, and seriously injuring Philip Shaffner, the owner of the mill.
Aug. 25, 1873, the remains of Patrick Quinn were found on the railroad track near Woodstock. He had been killed by the cars.
Aug. 29, 1873, Watson Heath, of Dunliam, had both legs and an arm cut off by a mowing machine, and died soon after. He was sixty-four years old, had long resided in the county and was a very worthy citizen.
George B. Jackson, nearly seventy years of age, was killed by a railroad train near Harvard, Feb. 12, 1872, while walking upon the track.
Dec. 7, 1872, Jacob Hurst, night watchman at the Woodstock brewery, was killed in a singular manner. A bin of malt above him broke through the floor, and he was buried and smothered.
In the same month the body of Buenas Pease, of Marengo, was found floating in the Chicago River with a bottle of laudanum in the pocket.
In March, 1874, George McNally, of Harvard, a brakeman, was killed about eleven miles from Chicago, by falling from a train.
Miss Dema Miller, thirty-three years of age, committed suicide by drowning herself in a cistern, April 2, 1874.
Monday, June 9, 1874, a very severe storm caused heavy damage in this county and elsewhere. Trees, houses, barns, fences suffered
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severely. The damage was especially great at Harvard, McHenry, Union and Richmond. At Harvard the new engine house of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway was destroyed and much property suffered.
Aug. 24, 1874, a little ten-months-old child of Wm. H. Howe, was drowned near Harvard by falling head first into a pail of milk. John Hallasy, of Hartland, died in October, 1874, from injuries received through being thrown from a wagon.
On the 12th of October, 1874, a ten-year-old son of Isaac Mussey, of Seneca, went to the pasture to catch a horse. While returning home his hands became cold, and that he might put them in his pocket he tied the rope, by which he was leading the horse, around his body. The horse taking fright, the boy was dragged upon the earth and killed.
Dec. 15, 1874, on the farm of J. E. Nourse, two miles west of McHenry, Wm. Grant, twenty-four years of age, was buried in a well sixty feet deep. Eleven feet of earth caved in from the top and fell upon him. It required the labor of two men for nearly a day to extricate the body.
A Norwegian, name unknown, was killed near Ridgefield, in August, 1875, by carelessly discharging a pistol which he was handling.
Oct. 30, 1875, about two miles from Woodstock, on the Austin Frame farm, George Schneider was struck by lightning and killed instantly. He and his wife were in the cellar sorting potatoes at tbe time. His wife escaped uninjured.
Nov. 5, 1875, N. T. Bryan, a well-to-do farmer near Wood- stock, was killed by a kick from a colt.
In March, 1876, a man named Sweet, at Harvard, while sawing wood with a horse-power, was caught by the coat in the machin- ery and killed by being drawn upon the saw.
RAILROAD ACCIDENTS.
On Thursday, Feb. 5, 1874, there was a railroad accident near Kishwaukee, six miles north of Woodstock, by which a large number of persons were injured. The train was the Green Bay express, going south, and due at Woodstock at 4:33 A. M. The accident happened at the creek, which was crossed by a trestle- bridge 120 feet long and thirty-five feet high, flanked at either end by an embankment which extends about a half mile in each direc- tion. The road-bed presented a steep incline toward the bridge,
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so that a train from either direction must run over the down-hill side rapidly in order to gain sufficient momentum to make the ascent on the up-hill side. On the morning in question the train was a little behind time, and came down the grade at a high rate of speed.
The train consisted of two express cars, a baggage car, two passenger cars, a Pullman sleeping car and a caboose. About thirty rods from the trestle bridge the heavy wheels of the locomotive forced the top from a rail, cutting it smooth. The locomotive and two express cars passed over the break safely, but the five cars following jumped the track, and ten rods further on four of the detached cars took the plunge down the embank- ment twenty-five feet or more. The baggage car passed some distance further before it was thrown down the embankment. The sleeping car, passenger cars and baggage car turned entirely over, and the caboose was evidently lifted bodily from the track and deposited right side up about sixty feet away. The passen- gers, thus suddenly awakened, were stricken with terror, and to add another horrible feature to the situation, the cars took fire from the overturned stoves and soon the whole wreck was in a blaze. The passengers and train men went coolly and system- atically to work and not only rescued all the passengers, but saved all the loose personal property and baggage that could be found. About forty persons were hurt, eight seriously, but none fatally
On September 7 and 8, 1875, Northern Illinois and South- ern Wisconsin were visited by a very heavy rain storm which caused immense damage to fields, roads, crops and buildings. Three frightful railroad accidents occurred on account of the storm, two of them in McHenry County. The first of the accidents was at Lawrence, McHenry County, where the Green Bay express broke through a bridge, completely wrecking locomotive, bag- gage, express and smoking cars and piling them one upon another. Four persons were killed: The engineer, Henry Morris; the baggage man, James Furey; a passenger, W. J. Grouse, and Frank Carr, the newsboy. A number were injured.
The second accident happened at Shopier, near Janesville, where a freight train was wrecked and the engineer and fireman killed. The cause was a culvert, washed out by the rain.
The third accident occurred on the Kenosha division of the Chicago & Northwestern, two miles east of Harvard. A freight
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HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
train was wrecked in a washed out culvert and J. Henich, brake- man, instantly killed.
OTHER ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS.
Herman Hammerstabt, a German in the employ of Wm. Groes- beck, of Alden, while at work in the field May 19, 1876, took refuge under a tree during a thunder shower, and was struck by lightning and instantly killed.
Sept. 24, 1876, a little son of C. O. Parsons was injured by a horse in the barn and found insensible. He died the next day.
Kate Kashion, an old lady who lived near Mc Henry, was burned to death Nov. 17, 1876. It is supposed that she lay down near the stove and that her clothes caught fire while she was asleep.
From the Woodstock Sentinel, Jan. 18, 1877:
" FROZEN TO DEATH .- On last Sabbath afternoon the lifeless form of John Burk, of the town of Greenwood, was found in the town- ship of McHenry, near the old residence of Hon. H. McLean. The circumstances connected with this sad affair are substantially as follows: Mr. Burk left his house on Friday morning for Mc- Henry with a load of oats, and not returning that night, his mother, who lived with him, notified his brothers of the fact on Saturday afternoon, and Sunday morning they started out to find what had become of him. They went directly to McHenry and were informed that John was there on Friday afternoon and left for home in the evening. They also learned that there was a sleigh, from which the horses were detached, near the railroad track north of the village. On examination, it was soon found that on leaving McHenry Mr. Burk took the railroad track instead of the wagon road driving over cattle-guards, etc., until he came to the outlet of McCollum's Lake; and at this point it seems the horses refused to cross the bridge, left the track and undertook to cross the stream on the ice, but it gave way precipitating horses and sleigh into the water. It appears that Mr. Burk left the sleigh and suc- ceeded in detaching the horses therefrom, removed the fence and started to cross the slough, but ran into a soft place or spring and here the horses left him, he traveling in one direction and they in another. Mr. Burk went but a short distance from where the horses left him, took shelter under some bushes on the shore of the lake, where he was found by his brothers, frozen to death. His clothes were wet nearly to his waist, which proves he had
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been in the water. Jolin has been in the habit of indulging too freely in strong drink for several years, and there is no doubt but what this was the case on Friday night causing him to lose his way and bringing him to this untimely death."
In May, 1877, a boy named Phineas Andrews was killed at Woodstock while trying to climb upon a moving freight train.
In June, 1877, a German named Jacob Haag fell from a train at Ridgefield and was killed.
Robert Bendt, eight years of age, son of Charles Bendt of Harvard, was killed while riding on a switch engine at Harvard in October, 1877.
Dec. 1, 1877, John Keating, of Hartland, was severely injured by being thrown from his wagon in a collision with another team; he died on the next day. He was sixty-three years old.
March 7, 1878, the body of Miss Ella Shultz, a young lady who had been living in the family of Mr. Buell, of Hebron, was found near the railroad track in a small pond, about a mile from Cale- donia, Boone County. She left her home in Hebron on the 17th of January, without notice to the family, and nothing further was heard of her until the discovery of her body was made.
In August, 1878, a German named Christian Beir, living about six miles west of Huntley, was standing on the top of a threshing machine and slipped down into the cylinder while it was in full motion. His body was horribly mangled, and mutilated in a man- . ner too shocking to describe. He lived an hour later and was fully conscious until he died.
In December, 1878, James McMahon, saloon-keeper, formerly a resident of Woosdtock, was killed in Chicago, by John C. Hay- ward, a student in the Chicago Medical College. The crime grew out of a quarrel over cards.
In December, 1878, Chris. Buck, express agent, was injured by the cars at Nunda so badly as to render the amputation of his right leg necessary.
Hiram Curtis, freight brakeman, was knocked off the cars near Cary, in March, 1879, and received injuries which required the amputation of a leg. He died soon after the operation. His home was in Janesville.
Philip Newmeyer, station agent at Harvard, lost a leg by the cars running over it, April 4, 1879, while he was assisting in mak- ing up a train. He died from the effects of his injuries.
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HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
April 7, 1879, Loren Turk, of Capron, was run over and killed by a train near Chemung, while walking on the track. It is sup- posed that he was intoxicated.
In June, 1879, Mrs. James Jackman, residing near Crystal Lake, committed suicide by taking laudanum.
Oct. 24, 1879, a serious accident occurred at the sugar refinery at Nunda. A machine exploded, injuring Lorenzo Wilcox fatally and George Numson seriously.
Fred G. Davis, whose parents resided near Harvard, was injured by a railroad train at that place in September,, 1879, and died in February following.
In March, 1880, George T. Shimmin, of Turner Junction, brake- man, was knocked from the cars by a bridge at Richmond, and seriously injured. He died not long afterward.
James Bagley, a former resident of Woodstock, was killed by the cars in Dakota in the summer of 1880.
Oct. 21, 1880, Smith Nolan, of Marengo, while crossing the rail- road track with a team was thrown beneath the wheels of the cars by the engine striking his team and his right foot crushed in a terrible manner.
Oct. 26, 1880, Fred Arnold, Jr., of Woodstock, was shot in the right arm by the accidental discharge of a gun which he was hand- ling. The limb had to be amputated.
Oct. 31, 1880, Ezra Cross, seven years of age, was shot and instantly killed by a young man named Williams, who was playing with a revolver. The boy was a son of Welch Cross, living two and one-halt miles south of Harvard.
Nov. 15, 1880, Frank Shepard, of Buffalo, N. Y., was run over and killed by the cars near Richmond. 1
The dead body of a young man, a stranger, name unknown, was found in a wood-house near Johnsburg, Nov. 18, 1880.
Feb. 10, 1881, two children of Leonard Bantes, whose ages were seven and nine years respectively, were burned to death in the house of their grandfather, M. Wagner, north of Johnsburg. The cries of the children alarmed the household, who discovered the house on fire. The roof fell in before the little ones could be rescued.
Feb. 23, 1881, Wesley Houdeshell, of Seneca, shot himself through the head and died almost instantly.
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HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
Feb. 24, 1881, an imbecile child of John and Mary Kiltz, of Seneca, was burned to death in the building in which it was kept.
In February, 1881, George Goodhand, of Richmond, a young man twenty-five years of age, shot himself fatally during a fit of mental aberration.
April 30, 1881, Willis E. Bourne, of Woodstock, was killed by a freight train on the Kenosha division of the C. & N. W. Rail- road while attending to his duty as brakeman.
The body of Wm. Stewart, of Algonquin, was found on the bank of the river below that place May 11, 1881. He was a Scotchman, thirty-nine years of age, and had been missing for two weeks. A heavy flood had washed away the railroad bridge, and it is sup- posed he fell into the river at night, while walking upon the rail- road track, and was drowned.
May 29, 1881, Frank Holmes, of Oshkosh, Wis., fell from a freight train between Woodstock and Harvard and was killed.
June 2, 1881, a harness-maker named Moore, at Algonquin, com- mitted suicide by taking laudanum. He came from Dundee to Algonquin, and had resided but a short time at the latter place.
Edward Hughes, of Nunda, brakeman, was killed by the cars at Waukegan, July 22, 1881. He was in his twenty-second year, and much respected.
By a railroad accident two and one-half miles north of Wood- stock, July 25, 1881, fifteen freight cars were thrown from the track. A man named Frank Wilson, who was stealing a ride on the freight train, was found buried beneath the wreck, dead.
Sept. 23, 1881, Charles Zimmerman and his son were killed near Crystal Lake station white attempting to cross the railroad track in front of an engine.
On Tuesday, Aug. 8, 1882, Elias C. Buck, abont twelve years old, son of Isaac Buck, of Riley, was accidentally killed by the discharge of a gun which he was drawing toward him.
Aug. 7, 1882, John L. Brickley, of Dunham, was instantly killed by lightning while on the road to Harvard.
Aug. 12, 1882, two German boys who were stealing their way and walking from Minnesota, whither they had been sent by the Children's Aid Society, back to New York, stopped to rest near . Ridgefield. One of them went to sleep upon the railroad track and was killed by a passing train.
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