USA > Illinois > Winnebago County > Rockford > History of Rockford and Winnebago County, Illinois, from the first settlement in 1834 to the civil war > Part 30
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December 31, 1853, Rev. Porter severed his pastoral relation. At a meeting held December 16th of the same year, it was voted to extend a call to Rev. Joseph Emerson. This call was accepted. May 21, 1854, a Congregational council convened in the church for the transaction of business incident to the
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HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
settlement of the pastor. The installation services occurred on the following day.
Rev. Emerson was a son of Rev. Daniel Emerson; a cousin of Ralph Emerson, of Rockford, and a second cousin of the famous Ralph Waldo Emerson. Joseph Emerson was born in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, in 1806, and died at Andover, Massachusetts, in 1885. Mr. Emerson was graduated from Yale college in 1830, and from Andover theological seminary in 1835. He received his ordination in 1836. His pastorate in Rockford was eminently successful. He built the house on North Church street, where Ralph Emerson now resides. Some of his friends thought he was building his home too far from the village-away up in Dr. Haskell's orchard.
The pastorate of Rev. Emerson was signalized by the erec- tion of the second house of worship on South Church street. July 19, 1855, the society voted that it was expedient to take action toward building a new church. A committee, consisting of D. G. Clark, G. A. Sanford, T. D. Robertson, John Edwards and John S. Coleman, was appointed to carry out the same. In 1856 subscription papers were circulated. A building com- mittee was composed of John Edwards, D. G. Clark, J. G. Man- love, G. A. Sanford, Ralph Emerson, and T. D. Robertson. A correspondence was opened with Renwick & Auchmuty, a firm of architects in New York, and from them was received, in the summer of 1856, plans and specifications for the structure. The committee invited proposals. The most favorable response was received from David and James Keyt, of Piqua, Ohio. The committee, before letting so large a contract, desired to obtain definite information concerning the character and standing of the bidders. John Edwards was sent to Piqua to make an inquiry. The result of his mission was so satisfactory that the contract was let to the Messrs. Keyt for the sum of twenty- three thousand four hundred and seventy-eight dollars and seventy-eight cents.
There was some difference of opinion on the choice of loca- tion. Certain members strongly urged the erection of the church north of State street; but it was decided, by a vote of eleven to two, that it should be built on the corner of South Church and Chestnut streets. The lot was purchased from L. H. Rood for three thousand dollars. Work was begun on the building May 17, 1857, and was completed in the autumn of 1858. The plans provided for a stone porch in front, and alecture room in
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DEDICATION OF THEIR SECOND HOUSE OF WORSHIP.
the rear. Upon signing the contract, the rear extension was omitted, because the committee could not depend upon obtain- ing money to pay for the same; and still later the porch was also abandoned, which reduced the expense about fourteen hundred dollars. The building committee met great difficulty in prosecuting the work, and during its progress the financial panic of 1857 came upon the country. It was one of the most severe strains in the money market in the history of the coun- try. October 13th of that year the New York banks suspended specie payment. The committee had fortunately negotiated a loan for six thousand dollars, with a gentleman in New Jersey, on the 1st of October. This loan was made, as were nearly all the loans, on the personal notes of the building committee. The loan of four thousand dollars was also secured by a mortgage given by G. A. Sanford, T. D. Robertson and W. A. Dickerman, on their individual property. This document was preserved for many years as a memorial of the courage of the builders. Under these circumstances, there were some who favored the suspension of the work; it was proposed to leave off the spire; but the committee continued the work to completion.
Farewell services were held in the old church on Sunday, November 28th. After this little sanctuary had outlived its use- fulness in a growing city, it was donated to the people in Owen township, where it was again used as a house of worship.
The new church was dedicated Thursday, December 2, 1858. The dedicatory sermon was preached by the pastor, from Isaiah 66 :1, 2: "Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool : where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." This church continued to be the house of worship for nearly thirty-font years, until the spring of 1892. It has been said that P. P. Bliss, the famous gospel singer and composer, wrote his best known song, Hold the Fort, in this church. Among the distin- guished persons who have entertained Rockford audiences from its pulpit are Rev. Lyman Abbott, D. D., and Mrs. Julia Ward Howe.
July 30, 1859, Rev. Emerson tendered his resignation : and on August 23d an ecclesiastical council convened at thechurch, and dissolved the pastoral relation. The church did not long
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HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
remain without an under-shepherd. At a regular meeting of the church December 7, 1859, a call wasextended to Rev. Jeremiah E. Walton. This call was accepted, although there is no record of his installation. This pastorate continued until December, 1863.
Mr. Walton graduated from Williams college, in 1853, and from Hartford seminary, in 1856. He came to Rockford from Troy, New York, when a young man, full of hope and enthusi- asm. Mr. Walton entertained religious views similar to those held by the late Horace Bushnell, and especially those concern- ing Christian nurture. After his removal from Rockford Rev. Walton took orders as a priest in the Episcopal church. He subsequently returned to Rockford, and became the rector of Emmanuel church. Mr. Walton resides at Marshall, Michigan.
The pipe organ was constructed in 1863, at a cost of about two thousand five hundred dollars. Rev. M. P. Kinney was called to the pastorate August 10, 1864; and an ecclesiastical council was convened Nov. 29th. Rev. Frank P. Woodbury, D. D., was called November 23, 1870. He was succeeded in 1888 by the late Rev. Walter Manning Barrows, D. D. His successors have been Rev. Wesley C. Haskell and Rev. Peter Snyder.
Of the constituent members, eight are still living: Thomas D. Robertson, Mrs. Caroline M. Dickerman, Mrs. Emily G. San- ford-Dodd, and Mrs. Rebecca Alling, of Rockford ; Judge Henry C. Hyde, Mrs. Sarah D. Hyde-French, and Miss Esther A. Hyde, of Freeport, Illinois; and Mrs. Hannah L. Gorham-Weldon, of Santa Barbara, California. Mrs. Emily Sanford-Dodd was the wife of Albert Sanford, who died in 1854. In 1877 Mrs. Sanford married Jacob S. Dodd, and removed to New Jersey. After the death of Mr. Dodd in 1884, Mrs. Dodd returned to Rockford. Mrs. Rebecca Alling is the widow of the late David D. Alling. She was born in December, 1813, and came to Rockford in 1837 with her husband. The last death among the charter members was that of Mrs. Harriette Platt-Cotton, which occurred April 9, 1900, at her home in Rockford. John Platt died in 1880. Mrs. Platt married Robert Cotton, and was again left a widow.
The accessions to the church in 1850 were twenty-nine; 1851, thirty-five; 1852, fifteen; 1853, sixteen ; 1854, twenty- four; 1855, fifteen; 1856, twenty-seven; 1857, twenty-nine.
CHAPTER LX.
INCORPORATION OF ROCKFORD AS A CITY .- MINOR NOTES.
T THREE nearly cotemporary events contributed to the pro- gress of Rockford from the simple village to its more com- manding position as a city. The advent of the railroad, the first in importance, has already been noted. The organization of the new water-power company is reserved for a later chapter. The third factor was the incorporation of Rockford as a city.
As early as 1851 the citizens realized that the local govern- ment was no longer adequate to meet the needs of the rapidly increasing population. In the autumn of that year steps were taken for the organization of a city government. In pursuance of a call signed by Jason Marsh, G. A. Sanford, Willard Wheeler, Isaiah Lyon, George Wyatt, Newton Crawford, C. I. Horsman, W. A. Dickerman, W. P. Dennis, Jesse Blinn and William Hulin, a meeting was held at the court house November 29th. It was deemed advisable at this conference to submit the question of city organization to a vote of the citizens. The trustees of the town thereupon ordered an election for this purpose to be held January 3, 1852. There was no excitement to call out the voters, as the prospective change was generally accepted as a matter of course. One hundred and nine votes were cast for organizing under the general law of 1849. The city government of Springfield, Illinois, was adopted as a basis of organization.
The first election under the new order was held April 19, 1852. The candidates for mayor were Willard Wheeler and E. H. Potter. The election resulted in the choice of Mr. Wheeler. The aldermen elected were: Sumner Damon, First ward; E. H. Potter, Second ward; H. N. Spalding, Third ward; C. N. Andrews, Fourth ward. The first meeting of the city council was held on Monday, April 26th, at the counting-room of Eleazer II. Potter. William Lathrop was appointed city clerk. An ordinance was passed creating the following city officers: clerk of the council, attorney, treasurer, marshal, assessor, col- lector, engineer and two street commissioners. These officers were to be appointed annually by the city council at its first
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HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
regular meeting after the annual municipal election. At the second session of the council, held May 1st, the following city officers were appointed : William Lathrop, attorney ; Hiram R. Maynard, treasurer; Duncan Ferguson, assessor; K. H. Milli- ken, collector; Duncan Ferguson, city engineer ; Thatcher Blake and William McKenney, street commissioners.
An act of the legislature of June 18, 1852, authorized the city of Rockford to borrow money, not exceeding ten thousand dollars, for the purpose of constructing a bridge. Bonds were to be issued, in the sum of one hundred dollars each, bearing interest not exceeding ten per cent., and were to be redeemed within twenty years from issue. This sum was evidently insuf- ficient for the purpose; and an act of the legislature of Febru- ary 3, 1853, authorized the city to borrow a maximum sum of fifteen thousand dollars. Bonds were to be issued in sums not exceeding one thousand dollars each, payable within twenty years, and to draw interest not exceeding ten per cent. The act of 1852 was repealed. There is a tradition that Jason Marsh was sent east to negotiate the sale of the bonds, for which he charged a commission of ten per cent. This fee was very reluctantly paid. Today Rockford can borrow money at a very low rate of interest, and command a liberal premium on her bonds. The second or covered bridge was built in 1854, with the funds derived from the sale of bonds the preced- ing year. This bridge stood until December, 1871, when it was torn down and succeeded by the first iron bridge.
There was some technical irregularity in the incorporation of the city ; and an act of the legislature approved February 8, 1853, legalized the previous official acts of the mayor and coun- cil. Section two of this law provided : "That all official acts of the council and of the mayor, or either of them, of said city, done or performed since their election as such, and prior to the period this act shall take effect, and which would have been valid in case the original incorporation as a city had been legal, be and the same is hereby legalized."
A special charter was granted to the city by the legislature March 4, 1854. By this act the general law of 1849 was declared to be no longer in force, so far as Rockford was concerned, except for the purpose of supplementing proceedings had or commenced, so as not to impair the legal consequences of any past transaction. This charter was amended February 14, 1855, April 26, 1859, and February 22, 1861. "An act to reduce the
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EARLY MAYORS AND CLERKS.
charter of the city of Rockford, and the several acts amendatory thereof into one act and to revise and amend the same," was approved February 15, 1865. Rockford was governed by this charter until the city was reorganized under the general law. This general law. enacted in 1872, repealed the general law of 1849, and abolished the system of special charters. Between these dates there appear to have been two methods for the incorporation of cities in force at the same time: by a general law, and by a special charter. It may be presumed that a city generally obtained greater powers under a special charter than by a general law; and the former method of incorporation was more generally adopted by the cities of the state.
The constitution of 1870 abolished special legislation, which for half a century had been a cumbersome method of incorpo- rating cities, colleges and business enterprises. Moreover, the old system afforded great opportunities for corruption in the legislature. The evolution of legislation in Illinois, from the special to the general, is an interesting study to the student of political history.
Previous to 1887 the mayor was elected annually. The chief executives of the city prior to 1864 were as follows : Willard Wheeler, April 26, 1852, to April 25, 1853; Hiram R. Maynard, April 25, 1853, to April 22, 1854 ; Ulysses M. Warner, April 22, 1854, to April 25, 1855; Edward Vaughn, April 25, 1855, to April 29, 1856; James L. Loop, April 29, 1856, to May 4, 1857; William Brown, May 4, 1857, to May 3, 1858; Seely Perry, May 3, 1858, to May 2, 1859; Charles Williams, May 2, 1859, to May 2, 1864. Mr. Williams served five consec- utive terms. This honor has been conferred upon no other citizen. Mayor Brown will have served six years upon the expi- ration of his present term, but he has been elected only three terms.
The city clerks to 1866 were as follows: William Lathrop, May 1, 1852, to June 6, 1853; John K. Farwell, June 6, 1853, to December 6, 1853; Lyman F. Warner, December 6, 1853, to May 16, 1855; Samuel W. Stanley, May 16, 1855, to May 5, 1856; Hobart H. Hatch, May 5, 1856, to May 23, 1857; Edward Vaughn, May 23, 1857, to May 10, 1858; Louis W. Burnham, May 10, 1858, to May 12, 1859; Porter Sheldon, May 12, 1859, to May 7, 1860; Rufus C. Bailey, May 7, 1860, to April 2, 1866.
The following named gentlemen served the city as attorney
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HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
down to 1863: William Lathrop, May 1, 1852, to June 6, 1853 ; Lyman F. Warner, June 6, 1853, to May 1, 1856; Samuel W. Stanley, May 1, 1856, to May 26, 1856; Orrin Miller, Jr., May 26, 1856, to May 23, 1857 ; James M. Wight, May 23, 1857, to May 10, 1858; Harris D. Adams, May 10, 1858, to August 6, 1858; Porter Sheldon, August 9, 1858, to May 7, 1860; Chris- topher M. Brazee, May 6, 1860, to June 22, 1863.
In 1855 steps were taken for the organization of a fire department. Its need had daily become more apparent. A committee, appointed by the city council, purchased four small engines, named Constantine, Alexander, Sevastopol and Nicho- las. The Sevastopol was received in the latter part of October, and February 21, 1856, a public trial was made of the engines, all of which had arrived. The result was not altogether satis- factory, and the "machines" with Russian names were dis- carded. In May and June, Winnebago Engine Company Num- ber One, and Washington Number Two were organized, and nearly a year later the efficient engines bearing those names were received. Subsequently Union Engine Company Number Three was formed, and an engine procured. These three engines constituted the fire apparatus of the city as late as 1869. The first six chief engineers were Edward F. W. Ellis, Samuel I. Church. M. A. Bartlett, Howard D. Frost, A. G. Springsteen, Gardner S. Allen. The first four first assistant engineers were Gardner S. Allen, James E. L. Southgate, Charles T. Jellerson, Hiram H. Waldo.
The tax levies for the first few years under the new regime were as follows: 1854, seven and one-half mills on each dollar of taxable property, both real and personal; 1855, ten mills on each dollar; 1856, one and three-quarters per cent. on each dol- lar; 1857, one and one-half per cent. ; 1858, one and five-eighths per cent .; 1859, two and one-half per cent .; 1860, two per cent .; 1861, two per cent. It will be observed that the rate increased each year up to 1859.
The City Hotel was opened in June, 1852, by James B. Pierce, who had been connected with the Winnebago House. The City Hotel stood on the southeast corner of State and Church streets. It was one of the old land landmarks on the street, and was torn down to make room for Hon. E. B. Sum- ner's brick block, occupied by the Forest City National Bank.
The Rockford Forum of July 7, 1852, appeared in mourn-
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DEATH OF CLAY AND WEBSTER.
ing for the death of Henry Clay, which occurred June 29th. Bells were tolled upon receipt of the intelligence. A mass meeting of the citizens was held at the court house July 1st, to make arrangements for a public tribute to the memory of the great statesman. Anson S. Miller was chairman, and John A. Phelps, secretary of the meeting. Newton Crawford, William Brown, John A. Phelps, John Edwards, Selden M. Church, Anson S. Miller and Mayor Wheeler were appointed a commit- tee to complete arrangements. Memorial services were held at the Baptist church July 24th. Prayer was offered by the pas- tor, and Ex-Governor Bebb pronounced an eloquent eulogy. It has been said man is, as he is related to other men. Henry Clay could be measured by this standard. He was thegreatest parliamentary leader of his time, with Douglas and Blaine as close seconds.
The First Baptist church purchased a bell from the foundry of Rincker & Company, of Chicago, in July, 1852. Its weight was fifteen hundred and forty pounds, and cost about six hun- dred dollars.
Hon. John P. Hale, the candidate of the free Democracy for the presidency, delivered an address at the court house in Rockford, October 15, 1852. The audience was estimated at five thousand, and many came from neighboring counties. Mr. Hale's address was dignified and candid, and made a favorable impression.
In October, 1852, the Bank of Rockford was organized under the general banking law of the state. Charles I. Horsman was president, and Charles C. Wilcox, cashier. A sworn statement of its condition on the first Monday in July, 1853, reported a circulation of $49,995. Levi Moulthrop began his business life as a clerk in this bank, when he was twelve years of age, and remained five years. The bank suspended in 1857.
October 27th the Forum a second time appeared in mourn- ing, for the death of Daniel Webster, which occurred the preced- ing Sunday. Although Mr. Webster's death made a profound impression throughout the country, it did not so stir the hearts of Rockford citizens as did the passing of Henry Clay. Men loved Henry Clay; they admired Daniel Webster. One moved men ; the other expounded principles. The work of Webster is the more enduring. He will rank in history with Hamilton and Marshall. On the Sunday following the death of Mr. Webster, Theodore Parker preached a memorial discourse in Boston, in
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HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
which he boldly criticised his subject. In view of the fact that this oration is regarded as one of Parker's masterpieces, a local cotemporary estimate is of interest. The Forum, edited by A. Colton, made this editorial comment: "That erratic divine, Theodore Parker, has improved the opportunity to preach a sermon upon the death of Mr. Webster, . His attempt to criticise the career of Mr. Webster is like a phosphoretic spark prescribing for a thunderbolt. It has been well observed that it is an illustration of the ass kicking the dead lion."
In March, 1853, Julius J. Trask, a settler of Winnebago county, died in California. His brother, Alva Trask, the first proprietor of Trask's ferry on Pecatonica river, died in Califor- nia some months previous.
The term, "Forest City," as applied to Rockford, had its origin in an article written by a correspondent of the New York Tribune, which was published in the autumn of 1853. The preservation of the native forest trees made the name appro- priate, and Rockford is so designated to this day.
In pursuance of an act of the legislature approved Febru- ary 14, 1853, Thomas H. Campbell, state auditor of public accounts, offered for sale at public auction at the court house in Rockford, November 18, 1853, all state lands in Winnebago county. About twelve hundred acres were sold. The law fixed the minimum price at three dollars and fifty cents per acre. These lands were given the state by act of congress of September 4, 1841, for the purpose of creating an internal improvement fund.
CHAPTER LXI.
ELECTIONS OF 1852-53 .- ELIHU B. WASHBURNE.
N the presidential election of 1852 Winnebago county main- tained its position as a Whig stronghold. The presidential electors received 1,023 votes; the Democratic electors, 820; Free Soil electors, 725.
Under the apportionment of August 22, 1852, the legisla- ture divided the state into nine congressional districts. The First district comprised the counties of Lake, McHenry, Boone, Winnebago, Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Carroll and Ogle.
The campaign of 1852 was signalized by the election of E. B. Washburne as a member of congress from the First district. Mr. Washburne received 1,102 votes in Winnebago county ; Thompson Campbell, his Democratic opponent, 851; and New- man Campbell, 610 votes. The advent of Mr. Washburne into national polities is worthy of more than a passing notice. Elihu Benjamin Washburne was a member of the celebrated Wash- burne family. He was born in Livermore, Maine, September 23, 1816. In 1839 he entered the Harvard law school. Among his classmates were Richard H. Dana and William M. Evarts. He was admitted to the bar in 1840, and at once settled at Galena, Illinois, and entered into partnership in the practice of law with Charles S. Hempstead, one of the incorporators of Rockford female seminary. Mr. Washburne remained in con- gress from 1853 until March 6, 1869. From this long and honorable service he was familiarly known as the "Father of the House," and in that capacity he administered the oath as speaker to Schuyler Colfax three times, and once to James G. Blaine. By reason of his insistence that the finances of thegov- ernment should be administered with the strictest economy, Mr. Washburne was called the "Watch-dog of the Treasury." Mr. Wasburne called the attention of Governor Yates to his townsman, Ulysses S. Grant, who wished to enter military ser- vice. When the hero of the civil war became president, he honored his old friend with the appointment of secretary of state, and later he made him minister to France. This position he held during the Franco-Prussian war. At the request of Bismarck,
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and with the permission of the French minister of foreign affairs, Mr. Washburne exercised his official influence for the protection of the Germans in Paris. When the empire was overthrown, Mr. Washburne was the first foreign representative to recognize the new republic. He remained in Paris during the siege, and was at his post when the commune ruled the city. The emperor of Germany recognized his services by conferring upon him the Order of the Red Eagle. He declined this honor because a provision of the constitution of the United States prohibited it. Upon Mr. Washburne's resignation in 1877, the emperor sent him his life-size portrait; and he was similarly honored by Bismarck, Theirs and Gambetta. Mr. Washburne died in Chicago October 22, 1887. His rugged independence and absolute integrity gave him thefull confidence of the people.
Abraham I. Enoch was elected a member of the legislature from the Forty-seventh senatorial district. His vote in Win- nebago county was 1,063; Lyman F. Warner, Democrat, 840; Ezra S. Cable, 659. Mr. Enochi was born in Dayton, Ohio, July 24, 1819. He came to this county with his father's family in 1835, and settled in Guilford township. Mr. Enoch was hon- ored by several public offices, and in 1866 he was again elected a member of the legislature. Mr. Enoch removed to Rockford in 1867, and began the manufacture of plows. In 1844 Mr. Enoch married Catharine J. Davis. They had seven daughters : Mrs. D. C. Putnam, Mrs. H. H. Carpenter, Mrs. Charles A. Works, and Misses Clara, Harriett A., Emma A. and Lois A. Reverses of fortune came to Mr. Enoch, but he sustained them with the courage and honor of a high-minded Christian gentle- man. Mr. Enoch died in 1883.
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