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 39
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The first blacksmith was a Mr. Dodge, who barely got started when Jacob A. Wood bought him out and carried on the business from 1846 to 1860.
About the year 1845 Mr. Seward completed the saw-mill started by Lewis and also built a grist-mill. The saw-mill was torn down a number of years ago. The grist-mill ran about eleven years,
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when it was torn down and the present stonc mill built in its place, which is at present doing a good custom business.
A cheese factory was built here in 1878 by a company who ran it two years and then sold to a Mr. Wenager, who is at present taking in daily 6,000 pounds of milk. This factory has taken in as high as 10,000 pounds daily.
The postoffice was established liere in 1845, Mr. Seward being Postmaster. He held the position about five years, when he was succeeded by George Wooster, who held the office till the winter of 1860 and 1861. Charles Hunt then had the office a short time. Then the present Postmaster, S. L. Puffer, was appointed.
The first hotel was opened shortly after the place was laid out by S. S. Parker who ran it about eighteen years when he was succeeded by D. S. Sitzer who ran it six years. Jacob Kennedy took it of him and is the present proprietor.
The first religious services were held in the log house built by Mr. Lewis. This was in 1846, and at this time the Methodist so- ciety was formed. They held their services in a school-house up till the year 1874, when they built their present house of worship. It was built through the instrumentality of Rev. Wm. Clark, who preached here one year before and after the church was built. Previous to the building of the church they were supplied by circuit riders, but since then by stated ministers, who sometimes resided in Chemung and sometimes in Harvard. Rev. Swartz is the present minister. The present membership will not exceed twenty.
The following is a summary of the business interests of the vil- lage of Chemung: Agricultural implements, B. F. Cary; carpen- ters, A. J. DeGraw, Peter Fitzer; butter and cheese, Henry Mun- ger; wagon manufacturer, Householder Brothers; dressmaker, Mrs. S. Battis; hotel, J. P. Kennedy; merchants, E. D. Maxon, S. L. Puffer; meat market, J. A. Little; milliner, Mrs. Jennie Alexander; mason, John Alexander; flour-mill, G. I. Sinderson; physician, Warren Chase; painter, James Potts; shoemaker, N. Crane.
HARVARD VILLAGE.
This village is situated on section 35, Chemung Township. It is just sixty-three miles northwest of Chicago on the main line of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, wherethe Madison, Rockford & Kenosha branches connect. The place numbers in population 1,600
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It is considered one of the most healthful places in the Northwest. The ground on which it is located is high and gently rolling, thus furnishing most desirable building spots and a pleasant place of residence. This land was originally purchased from the Govern- ment by Abraham Carmack and Jacob A. Davis, who sold it in 1845 to Gilbert Brainard. After the death of Mr. Brainard the estate was sold to a company of railroad men, consisting of Page, Eastman and Ayer, who laid out the town in April, 1856. The place was named by Mr. E. G. Ayer for Harvard, Mass. The act incorporating the village was approved Feb. 28, 1869.
Blackman's Addition is located on a portion of the farm owned by Wesley Diggins, who sold out to Blackman in 1859 and moved to California where he died. The old farm house still stands on the corner of Third and Diggins streets.
Hart's Addition is a part of Wm. Hart's farm who still owns the remainder on the east side of the village. Soon after laying out the town Page & Eastman sold out to Ayer and left for new fields while Ayer remained to see the growth and development of a handsome and enterprising village; 1856 dates the earliest exis- tence of Harvard as a village.
The first merchant to locate in the place was Charles Crawford who put a stock of goods in a railroad shanty in 1856. Messrs. Hull & Julius soon after opened a general store in a one-story log building, situated on the present site of Richardson's drug store.
The first frame building on the original plat of Harvard was a lumber office erected by J. C. Crum, on the corner of the railroad and Ayer street. It now constitutes the wing of Mr. Milligan's house.
First lumber yard was started by J. C. Crum prior to the com- in of the railroad to Harvard. He purchased his lumber in Ke- nosha from whence he shipped it to Chicago by rail, and from thence by rail to Woodstock, from which place he hauled it with teams to Harvard.
The first frame store was built by John Diggins in the spring of 1857 where McGee & Keatling now keep saloon.
First wagon-maker was J. Flemming, who came in an early day and is still running his shop.
First blacksmith was H. Norton, who came soon after the place was laid out and remained about twenty years when he removed to Fort Dodge, Iowa.
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The first shoemaker was Daniel Carpenter, who came as soon as the town was laid out.
WALKER HOUSE.
During the season of 1856 the first part of what is now the Walker House was put up by David Smith, who sold out to J. E. Sanford in August of the same year. Mr. Sanford built to it an addition, and in three years sold it to Milton Stevenson. The house was afterward sold to Lewis Thompson, then to William Parker, then to Schuyler Higgins, of whom it was purchased in 1866 by the present owner, Everton Walker, who has enlarged and added to it many improvements. It'has a fifty-foot front on Ayer street and runs back on Front street 113 feet. The house will accommodate twenty-five guests, and has a good reputation under the management of W. B. Walker.
AYER HOTEL.
In 1856 Wesley Diggins began the erection of the present Ayer Hotel. The first part was built with the end toward the railroad. It was afterward turned with its side toward the track and many improvements made. In 1859 it became the property of H. C. Blackman, who immediately sold it to E. G. Ayer, who raised the building to its present three-story height and built the wing facing Ayer street and added to it the veranda. The property still belongs to Mr. Ayer, but it is run by his son-in-law, H. B. Minear, who has a good trade and is well calculated for the business.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
Sept. 20, 1863, Harvard lost one of its best business blocks by fire, and the destruction of personal property was great.
DEPOT.
In 1856 a small depot was erected, which served the purpose till 1877, when it was removed a few rods east to its present location, where it was enlarged and now constitutes one of the most comfort- able depots along the line.
The first engine house was erected by the Kenosha & Rockford Railroad Company, and is now used as a blacksmith shop by the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. It contained stalls for but two engines. After the purchase of the Madison division by the
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Chicago & Northwestern Railroad they shipped here from Janes- ville, Wis., a round-house containing stalls for six engines. Another round-house was erected, but burned down in 1875. The present round-house was built in 1875. It is a brick building ca pable of holding twenty-five engines. Repair shops are operated in connection with the round-house, using an average of $2,200 worth of material each month. For labor alone the railroad com- pany pays out over $3,500 per month, not including dispatchers, conductors and engineers. There is paid out to men who reside here and in the employ of the railroad over $10,000 each month. The freight receipts average per month $2,500, and for tickets they receive $1,200.
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS.
In 1864 the village, in connection with the railroad company purchased for the safety of their property a hand fire engine which is still in use. In 1884 the village purchased a fire engine which is operated by horses instead of men or steam.
MANUFACTURES.
Malt-House, No. 1 .- In the fall of 1872 Messrs. Burbank & Law built a malt-house situated south of the depot about twenty rods. Its capacity is over 100 bushels per day. They sold their malt in Chicago, Milwaukee and in the State of Pennsylvania. Besides their own labor they employed three hands. They did a good business for three years when they closed out. Their prop - erty was worth about $5,000, and their annual sales exceeded 45,000 bushels. The building is now used as a grain warehouse.
Malt- House, No. 2 .- Not long after the first malt-house was built a second one was erected about twenty rods south of the freight depot by a joint stock company, known by the name of Harvard Malting Company. The capacity of this malt-liouse is 250 bushels per day, but the business has never been carried on to that extent. The business was under the management of E. E. Ayer. After running three years with fair success this company rented the building to Pettitt & Co., of Kenosha, who are doing a large business. At present they have on hand over 60,000 bush els of malt. The original cost of this three-story stone building was $24,000, but to-day could be bought for less than half that amount.
Church Hay Carrier Manufactory .- This hay carrier was
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invented by E. L. Church when a boy, and in 1874 he secured a patent on it and got it manufactured at Rockford the year follow- ing. He thien resided in Walworth, Wis., and there he sold the carriers the first year.
During the busy seas 'n of the following year he made his head- quarters at Rockford. He came to Harvard, August, 1877, and commenced the sale of his carrier, and continued to have them manufactured in Rockford till 1880, when he engaged in the mann- facture of them himself in this place. He purchased the building located on the corner of Church and Ayer streets, and enlarged it till its present dimensions are 24 x 115 feet. He employs from four to five hands, and sells annually between 3,000 and 4,000. There are other hay carriers sold in Harvard, but this is the only estab- lishment that manufactures them. The Church Hay Carrier is sold in every State and Territory in the Union. During the last year or two the sale of them in Washington Territory, Idaho and California has been immense.
Hunt, Helm & Ferris, manufacturers of the celebrated "New Star" one-way carrier, and the " Swivel Reversible" Hay Eleva- tor and Carrier. The New Star Carrier stands at the head of one- way carriers and elevators, and has been on the market for two years. It has the ball pulley block, and the most practical and finest working lock made. It has only two pieces and works true -no complication, no missing. There is a large demand for this carrier in barns that have but one bay, where hay is taken in at the end of the barn, and for out-door stacking. The complete Swivel Reversible is conceded by all who have seen it work to be the most practical, strongest, and most perfect carrier and elevator made. It not only possesses the quality of being reversible, but also possesses the swivel which makes it the quickest working, easiest adjusted carrier made. It has the ball pulley and a double lock of but three pieces, and the trip block is a simple square piece of iron. It stands at the head, without a doubt the finest, best working carrier made. Both these carriers have been patented by Messrs. Hunt, Helm & Ferris, who have the entire control of them. They are cast at Rockford and put together in Harvard. In addition to their carriers, Hunt, Helm & Ferris carry a full and complete line of the latest and most improved hay forks, hooks, etc. They have four traveling salesmen, and their carriers are sold in all parts of the United States and Canada-where they also have a patent.
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Pickle Factories .- In the spring of 1883 J. A. Sawyer erected a pickle factory on the west side of the village, whose capacity is 30,000 bushels. The same year Clark & Brainard built one about the same size on the east side of the village. In the spring of 1884, Mr. Sawyer built a second factory situated near the first one, whose capacity is the same. Each of these factories is doing all the business its capacity will admit of. The pickles are usually purchased of the farmers; they seldom do a storing business.
Harvard Flouring Mill, G. H. Wood & Co., proprietors, loca- ted north of railroad. This is a brick building, and was erected in 1857, by Jonathan Wells for a warehouse, but shortly afterward sold it to Colonel Blandin, who in 1870 sold it to G. H. Wood, A. S. Gurnee and P. C. Farnum, who raised it one story higher and built on additions, and placed in it machinery for grinding flour. Shortly afterward Mr. Farnum sold his interest to G. H. Wood, and Mr. Gurnee sold his interest to Franklin Pierce. In 1874 the junior partner, Geo. H. Wood, bought out Mr. Pierce's interest. Between the years 1873 and 1881 over $10,000 worth of improve- ments have been added to this mill. A complete set of rollers for manufacturing the choice roller flour are in use, and a steam engine runs the power. The mill is doing a big business, and is quite worthy of the patronage it receives.
BANKS.
Harvard Bank .- This bank was started by the present proprie- tor, J. C. Crum, in the year 1866, in the store of A. E. Axtell. The following year Mr. Crum bought the building which he now occupies, on the corner of Brainard and Ayer streets, and here located his business. During the first five years the business grew rapidly, but after the panic of 1873 took the course of all other business. For the past few years this bank has kept pace with the gradual and permanent growth and prosperity of the country. Deposits with the Fifth National Bank of Chicago, aggregating about $500,000 annually. In 1881 the deposits of this bank with the Importers and Traders' National Bank, of New York City, reached $46,755.04. The average amount on deposit is $65,000.
Axtell's Bank .- In 1877 A. E. Axtell commenced to operate in exchanges in connection with his other business, and in April, 1878, he commenced to receive deposits. His integrity, and the high esteem in which the people held him, is shown in the fact that the deposits doubled annually, till now they exceed
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$40,000. During the first six months of 1881 the deposits made monthly were $32,000. Drafts made on his correspondents at New York and Chicago aggregate $250,000.
RELIGIOUS INTERESTS.
Immediately after the foundation of the village, the attention of the citizens was turned to the matter of religion. A Free-Will Baptist, by the name of O. S. Brown, held the first religious ser- vices of the place in the store of John Diggins, on Ayer street; the building is now occupied by a saloon. About the time of Mr. Brown's coming came also a Methodist minister, by the name of W., H. Richardson. As soon as Mansfield Hall was completed it was occupied by various sects as a place of worship. Not long after the village was laid out there came a minister by the name of Reed. He was followed by Rev. Howell. They were both of the Second Advent faith. During the services held by Rev. Howell, a fire broke out in the building, which resulted in the disastrous fire of 1863.
Methodist Church .- During the winter of 1857-'58, the Method- ist Episcopal church was organized with five members, and built their church in 1860, it being the first house of worship erected in the place. The Board of Stewards at that time consisted of Wm. H. Fuller, E. J. Sanford, L. B. Wyant and L. M. Stephenson- W. H. Reynolds was their pastor in 1860. The same fall Rev. J. H. More became their pastor. In 1863, S. F. Demming became their pastor. Rev. C. R. Ford came in 1865, and in 1867 came Rev. G. L. Wiley. L. Anderson took charge of the church in 1868, and in 1870 Rev. L. Hawkins took his place. He was suc. ceeded in 1871 by Samuel Cates; his successor was Rev. R. H. Wilkinson, who was succeeded the following year by Rev. Wm. Clark. In 1874 John Hichcox was their pastor, and in 1875 Moses G. Sheldon was called but remained less than a year, on account of being silenced. Rev. C. R. Cryder completed Sheldon's year. Rev. J. W. Scott came in 1878, and remained three years. He was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Swartz in 1881, who is the present pastor. The present membership exceeds 100, and the Sabbath-school is in a flourishing condition.
Congregational Church .- This band of worshipers commenced in 1860 to hold religious services in Hart's Hall, and continued till 1866, when a society was formed under the supervision of Rev C. R. Fittz, and a house of worship erected the same year at a cost
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of $3,000. It is a frame building capable of seating 250 persons, and situated between University and Church streets. The present membership numbers sixty. Their present pastor, Rev. N. W. Clark, is now with them his fourth year. The Sabbath-school con- sists of forty scholars; Albert Thompson, Superintendent; Fred Smith, Librarian; J. Lake, Secretary and Treasurer. The first Trus- tees were A. C. Bingham, Samuel Richardson and Lyman Clark. The following is a list of the present church officers: A. M. Thomp- son, H. Allen and Dr. A. C. Bingham, Deacons; A. M. Thompson, James Lake and Dr. Bingham, Trustees.
Catholic Church .- The Roman Catholics of this place wor- shiped in their church at Hartland till 1867, when the St. Joseph Church at this place was completed. The first priest who officiated here was Rev. Terrance Fitzsimmons, who resided at Woodstock and also supplied Hartland church. He was succeeded by Rev. Patrick Riordan, now pastor of St. James Church, Chicago. The next priest was Rev. Thomas Quigley. Rev. Dominick Egan succeeded Quigley in October, 1868. He was the first pastor who resided here. The parish consists of 200 families.
They commenced with a membership of about 150 and are now one of the strongest bodies of worshipers in the place, and their house of worship, which was dedicated in 1869, is one of the finest structures in Harvard. It is a frame building, and will seat about 400 people. It cost about $5,000. In 1876 they built their fine parsonage at an expense of $3,000. Rev. T. Egan is their present pastor. He took charge of the church in 1870, and has since continued, and under his administration the church is constantly growing stronger. At the time of the organization of the church a Sabbath-school was formed which has since continued to grow in numbers and interest till now the average attendance of scholars is about seventy.
Presbyterian Church .- In 1868 those of Calvanistic faith organ- ized themselves into a society with Messrs. H. C. Blackman, Lewis Beaner and C. Brown, Trustees. At first their membership was quite small, but at present numbers seventy. Rev. Thomas C. Easton was their first pasto". They had not been organized many years when they united with the Congregationalists, and worshiped under one pastor, occupying the Presbyterian church. The follow- ing pastors had charge of this double church : Revs. Rose, J. B. Dixon and D. M. Wooley. In 1880 they separated from the Con- gregationalists and secured the services of Rev. J. M. Linn, who 28
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still remains their pastor. During the winter of 1868-'69 they built a frame church which will seat about 200 people com- fortably. This property is estimated to be worth $3,000. The present church officers are as follows : T. G. Spreggs, John Forby and J. E. Watson, Elders; W. C. Wellington, T. Marshall and J. V. Corwin, Trustees. The average attendance of tlie Sabbath- school is from sixty-five to seventy. The Superintendent is Rev. J. M. Linn, assisted by C. W. Onthank. Miss Mary Bagley is the Secretary, and Miss McPherson, Librarian.
Episcopal Church .- In the year 1870 Rev. Peter Arvidson, an Episcopal minister, of Algonquin, Ill., began holding meetings oc- casionally in Hart's Hall, calling together a few of the old country people who were scattered over a large scope of the surrounding country. This was continued until, at Mr. Arvidson's request, a petition was sent to the Bishop for a stated pastor. In response Rev. A. A. Fisk came in January, 1877, and leased the Congrega- tional church which was then vacant. This they used for the period of three years, when they were deprived further use of the church by the rupture which occurred between the Congregational- ists and Presbyterians, both at that time occupying the Presby- terian church. This occurred in the spring of 1880. In September of the same year the foundation of the Episcopal church was laid on the corner of Sumner and Division streets; the frame was erected the ensuing winter and the house was first occupied Sept. 25, 1881. This church organization was the first under the Dio- cese of Illinois. Great credit indeed should be ascribed to Rev. Fisk for the grand results he has brought about through his indom- itable will and energy. When he came here he met with only discouragement, there being virtually nothing to begin with or live upon. Rev. Arvidson had never formed a society, and the consequence was there were only three or four families who under stood their form of service. He has increased the membership to 100 and built a house of worship worth $4,000.
SOCIETIES.
Woman's Christian Temperance Union of this place was organ- ized through the instrumentality of Miss Helen Walker, a lady who was connected with the paper known as the Union Signal, published at Chicago. She was also engaged in forming Woman's Christian Temperance Unions throughout the country. This society was formed in the fall of 1883, with the following members: Mrs.
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Charles Hunt, Mrs. S. Purington, Miss Aggie Marshall, Mrs. Dr. Woodruff, Mrs. Dr. Bingham, Mrs. Samuel Richardson, Mrs. Nellie Fuller, Mrs. S. Swartz, Mrs. Rev. Linn, Mrs. Josephine Baker and Miss Mary Baker. First officers: Mrs. Nellie Fuller, President; Mrs. Swartz, Secretary; Mrs. Baker, Treasurer. The offices are at present filled by the same parties. Their meetings are held every other Wednesday, at the residence of some of the members. Their membership has grown to thirty.
Railroad Young Men's Christian Association of Harvard was organized July 8, 1884, with the following members in office : T. C. Gay, President; S. Richardson, Vice-President; W. I. Wooster, Secretary; James Lake, Treasurer; T. G. Sprague, William Truax, G. Brainard, N. B. Helm, A. C. Bingham, Directors. The asso- ciation organized with a membership of 150. There are in all about 200 members, forty-five of them being auxiliaries.
Ancient Order United Workmen .- This society was organized Aug. 7, 1879, with the following charter members : M. G. Sheldon, H. B. Minier, William Grovestien, W. I. Wooster, S. Brown, A. C. Bingham, George Wood, M. A. Adams, H. Schutt, J. Miller, William Wheelwright, A. Bell, W. B. Quick, J. McCahel, L. R. Lines, Ezra Smith, Ed Schutt, J. S. Gould and Andrew Irwin. First officers: M. G. Sheldon, P. M. W .; H. B. Minier, M. W .; William Grovestien, Foreman; S. Brown, Overseer; W. I. Wooster, Recorder; A. C. Bingham, Financier; George Wood, Receiver; M. A. Adams, Guide; H. Schutt, Inside Watch; W. J. Miller, Outside Watch. Present officers : L. R. Lines, P. M. W .; M. A. Adams, M. W .; Thomas Welch, Foreman; E. D. Beardsley, Overseer; W. I. Wooster, Recorder; A. C. Bingham, Financier; H. D. Crumb, Receiver; W. H. B. Ward, Guide; E. Smith, Inside Watch; Henry Vereck, Outside Watch. Their present member- ship numbers eighty. They occupy Brainard's Hall, with the Select Knights, holding meetings alternately. They meet twice each month.
Select Knights .- The organization of this society took place July 27, 1883. The following is a list of charter members: W. H. Grovestien, W. I. Wooster, A. C. Bingham, E. M. Schutt, M. Pease, R. E. Tucker, F. C. Peters, G. C. Parkhurst, E. P. Beardsley, P. Van Leshout, W. H. B. Ward, W. H. Willis, M. J. Allen, Thomas Welch, Samuel Cole, P. Sweeney, D. M. Chilson, John Heiden, H. Bretenfeldt and E. Smith. First officers: W. H. Grovestien, S. C .; H. Bretenfeldt, V. C .; M. Pease, L. C .; W I.
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Wooster, Recorder; E. M. Schutt, Treasurer; A. C. Bingham, Recording Treasurer. Present officers: A. C. Bingham, S. C .; W. I. Wooster, V. C .; M. Pcase, L. C .; N. B. Burtch, Recorder; P. Sweeney, Treasurer; Ed Schutt, Recording Treasurer. The so- ciety consists of thirty-one members. The attendance is usually good, and their meetings held regularly.
J. B. Manzer Post, No. 215, G. A. R .- This post was organ- ized April 7, 1883, with the following charter members: Joseph La Brec, John Forby, Edwin Rector, J. W. Groesbeck, C. W. Onthank, James White, R. J. Whittleton, R. Wheeler, Samuel Cole, H. W. Grovestien, Wm. Hollister, J. W. Seaverns, N. B. Burtch, Ed. Hancock, Burt Adderman, W. H. Gillis, Thos. Welch, D. E. Pixley, W. T. Hill, George King, Willard J. Scott, H. H. Paynter, H. T. Woodruff. The present officers are the same as at first with the exception of Chaplain James White. The first chaplain died shortly after the organization. His place was filled by Rev. Linn, hence we will only give the first officers: H. T. Woodruff, P. C .; Ed. Rector, S. V. C .; Joseph La Brec, J. V. C .; N. B. Burtch, Adjutant; Wm. Hill, Assistant-Adjutant; J. W. Seaverns, Officer of the Day; C. W. Onthank, Q. M .; W. J. Scott, Q. M. S .; D. E. Pixley, Officer of Guard; George King, Outside Sentinel; W. H. Grovestien, Surgeon. This is one of the best posts in the county. They number fifty members and their meetings are well attended. They hold their meetings monthly in the A. O. U. W. Hall.
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