USA > Illinois > Winnebago County > Rockford > History of Rockford and Winnebago County, Illinois, from the first settlement in 1834 to the civil war > Part 33
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36
August 14, 1857, in the afternoon and evening, occurred the formal dedication of the two union school buildings. Previous to this time Rockford had no schoolhouse of its own.
The first district school had three principals from 1857 to 1884. The first was Orlando C. Blackmer, who was appointed March 10, 1857. His assistant was S. F. Penfield. Mr. Black- mer is a brother of Mrs. N. C. Thompson. He is now living at Oak Park.
Henry Freeman, Mr. Blackmer's successor, is a native of Massachusetts, born within twenty miles of Plymouth Rock. He was graduated from Teachers' seminary, Andover, Massa- chusetts, in 1839, and taught for one year in the preparatory department. Prof. Freeman began his life-work as principal of the high school at Bridgeton, New York, in 1840. In 1845 he was offered the principalship of Salem academy, at Salem, New Jersey, where he remained five years, until he was elected prin- cipal of Wallkill academy, at Middleton, New York. In 1855 he was called to the position of principal of the high school and
343
HENRY FREEMAN-OTHER PRINCIPALS.
superintendent of schools of Freeport, Illinois. In 1859 the board of school inspectors invited Prof. Freeman to take the position of principal and superintendent of schools of East Rockford, at a salary of one thousand dollars a year. This position he filled twenty-one years, until he resigned in 1880. During this long service hundreds of pupils came under the influence of the principal. Prof. Freeman had high ideals of life, and his strong character was a potent factor in promot- ing that which was for the best interest of the pupils. His con- scientious efforts were appreciated, and occasionally hisformer pupils gather informally at his home and recall reminiscences of those formative years.
The third and last principal was Prof. McPherson, who remained until 1884. George G. Lyon was chosen principal of the Second district school, March 10, 1857. He was suc- ceeded by E. M. Fernald, E. N. Weller, J. H. Blodgett, and W. W. Stetson.
October 21, 1861, the number of school inspectors was increased from three to five. In 1884 the city of Rockford was made one school district, with one high school, in pursuance of an ordinance drawn by Hon. Alfred Taggart.
Provision was made for the construction of Kent school- house for South Rockford, soon after the arrangements had been made for the East and West side schools. This school for the greater part of the intervening time has been in charge of one man. Prof. O. F. Barbour, a native of Ohio, came to Rockford in 1859, and wasfor a time engaged in the dry goods business. In September, 1866, he became principal of the Kent school, and has retained this position for thirty-four years. For more than twenty years Mr. Barbour has also been a member of the library board.
The general law of 1872 for the incorporation of cities was silent on the school question, and when Rockford was organ- ized under the general law, it retained the school features of its special charter. School boards are elected by popular vote in other cities of the state, and have the taxing power. Rockford stands alone, with its board of school inspectors, appointed by the mayor, which has only advisory power. No subsequent statute concerning boards of education will apply to Rockford, and it would require new legislation at Springfield to change the board from an appointive to an elective body.
CHAPTER LXVII.
THE FIRST PUBLIC LIBRARY .- WESLEYAN SEMINARY.
The agitation for a public library began in 1852. Several years elapsed, however, before a library was established, and information concerning these early efforts are very meagre.
The Sinissippi Division No. 134 of the Sons of Temperance, of Rockford, surrendered its charter to thegrand division April 15, 1852. Its former members resolved to reorganize under the name of the Rockford Library Association. All members of the division who had paid their quarterly dues to the close of the preceding quarter, were to be equal sharers in the library. A request was made in the Forum of April 21st for the return of all books belonging to the library. Thus, so far as known, the first circulating library was the small number of books owned by the Sons of Temperance. The Forum of October 27th published a call for a meeting of the trustees of the Library Association for October 30th, and for the annual meeting of the stockholders on the first Saturday of November. No other reference to the library is found immediately thereafter.
At the annual meeting of the Young Men's Association, September 11, 1855, it was proposed to extend its sphere of usefulness by providing a library and reading-room. A com- mittee of three was appointed to confer with the old Library Association, with a view of obtaining its books. So far as can be learned, this effort to establish a library and reading-room was not successful.
It was not until March, 1857, that the first successful effort to establish a library was made. In that month a subscription paper was circulated, with the following statement of its object :
"We, the undersigned, agree to take the number of shares set opposite our names, in an association to be incorporated under the general law of this state, for the purpose of the estab- lishment of a public library in the city of Rockford. Said library to be under the management and control of a board of trustees, to be elected by the stockholders.
345
LIBRARY CLOSED-BOOKS SOLD AT AUCTION.
"Shares to be fifty dollars each. Ten dollars per share pay- able upon the formation of the association, and ten dollars per share per annum thereafter, in such amounts and at such times as shall be determined by the said board of trustees. Shares subject to forfeiture by the trustees for non-payment of install- ments."
The first four names upon the list pledged twelve hundred dollars, and by the autumn of 1858 six thousand dollars had been pledged. William L. Rowland collected a considerable portion of this amount, and a schedule of cash payments has been preserved by him. The library was duly organized Octo- ber 14, 1858. Rooms were secured on the third floor of Rob- ertson, Coleman & Company's bank. James M. Wight, Seely Perry, Selden M. Church, Elias Cosper, and Thomas D. Robert- son constituted the first board of trustees; Elias Cosper was chairman ; Spencer Rising, treasurer; F. H. Bradley, librarian. The original board was composed of gentlemen of exceptional literary equipment. Others rendered efficient aid in the selection of books. Among them was William L. Rowland, who was subsequently apppointed librarian of the public library. The books, although few in number, possessed very high merit. The number of volumes at this time was about one thousand ; number of magazines and newspapers, thirty-eight. During the next few years the library steadily received accessions. According to the annual report of the stockholders, made Octo- ber 11, 1860, there were 1,134 volumes. There had been drawn during the year ending October 4th, 1,669 volumes. This was an increase of 396 over the preceding year. Several gentlemen acted as librarian for short terms, and received a nominal compensation. Among those who rendered this ser- vice were John F. Squier and Hosmer P. Holland.
This library served its purpose several years; but during the war popular interest began to decline. The library was finally closed, and about 1865 the books were sold at public auction in a building on North Main street, directly north of Mr. Ashton's block. Some of these books are now in the public library, and quite a number, in excellent condition, are in the private library of Robert H. Tinker. The first library was organized under a general law, and was entirely supported by private subscriptions and annual fees. It was not until 1872 that the legislature enacted a law which provided for a tax for the support of public libraries.
346
HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
In the summer of 1856 a movement was begun for the founding of a co-educational seminary in Rockford, under the control of the Methodist Episcopal church. February 14, 1857, an act of the legislature was approved, to incorporate the Rock- ford Wesleyan seminary. The incorporators were E. F. W. Ellis, T. D. Robertson, D. W. Ticknor, and W. F. Stewart. There were to be twelve trustees, appointed by the stockholders, eight of whom should at all times be members of the Methodist Episcopal church. A board of three visitors was to be appointed by the annual Rock River conference. The company was to have a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars, divided into shares of one hundred dollars each.
A farm of about two hundred and sixteen acres was pur- chased of William M. Rowland. It adjoined Judge Church's farm on the west, and extended north to the State road. The purchase price and accrued interest amounted to nearly twenty thousand dollars. A large portion of this tract was platted into town lots, and it was proposed to build a college suburban town. The sale of lots occurred April 29, 1857. The sub- scribers to stock purchased lots. Rev. W. F. Stewart had been transferred from the Ohio to the Rock River conference, and had been assigned to the Second or Court Street church. Rev. Stew- art was made purchasing agent for the seminary by the annual conference.
August 31, 1857, the ceremony of breaking ground for the seminary buildings took place under the direction of Rev. T. M. Eddy, who was in attendance upon Rock River conference, which was then in session in Rockford. Several hundred people were in attendance. An address was made by Rev. J. C. Stoughton, agent of Clark seminary; and Rev. W. F. Stewart gave a brief history of the origin of the seminary movement.
When the ground was broken, fifty-seven thousand dollars had been subscribed. The enterprise, however, was unsuccess- ful. Quite a number of houses were built, but in time several of them migrated into town on rollers, and the land reverted to farming purposes.
In October, 1857, Rev. Stewart began the publication of the Rockford Wesleyan Seminary Reporter, in the interest of the seminary. Only four numbers were published. Both Rev. Stew- art and Rev. Stoughton have died within the past few months.
CHAPTER LXVIII.
BAYARD TAYLOR'S TRIBUTE .- FRATERNITIES .- NOTES.
B AYARD TAYLOR, in a letter to the Tribune, published in the spring of 1855, paid Rockford this generous tribute : "I last wrote to you from Rockford, the most beautiful town in northern Illinois. It has the advantage of an admirable water- power, furnished by the Rock river; of a rich, rolling prairie, which is fast being settled and farmed on all sides, of a fine build- ing material in its quarries, of soft yellow limestone, resembling the Roman travertine; and of an unusually enterprising and intelligent population. Knowing all these advantages, I was not surprised at the evidences of growth since my first visit a year ago. People are flocking in faster than room can be fur- nished, and the foundations of two new hotels, on a large scale, show the requirements of the place. I was pleased to note that taste keeps pace with prosperity here, as elsewhere in the north- west. The new Unitarian church is a simple but very neat Gothic edifice, and the residences of Mr. Holland and Mr. Starr are very fine specimens of home architecture. The grounds of the former are admirably laid out; there is nothing better of the kind on the Hudson."
The charter of Winnebago Lodge No. 31, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was issued by Geo. W. Woodward, grandmaster of Illinois, in 1847, to the following named charter members: Selden M. Bronson,' Ansel Kenfield, Dewitt Clinton Briggs, Frederick H. Maxwell, and Rev. Nathaniel P. Heath. The lodge was instituted August 11, 1847. The place of meeting was Horsman's block, on the West side.
Rockford Lodge, No. 102, Masons, was organized February 13, 1851, under a dispensation from C. G. Y. Taylor, the grand master. The following named citizens constituted its first membership : Alfred E. Ames, William Lyman, Henry Carpenter, C. H. Spafford, William Hulin, E. H. Baker, Ansel Kenfield, John Fraley, James P. Burns, W. F. Ward, Jesse Blinn, and Buel G. Wheeler. E. H. Baker was the last survivor of this original membership.
348
HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
Social Lodge, No. 140, Odd Fellows, was instituted Febru- ary 6, 1854.
Winnebago Chapter No. 24, Masons, was organized Decem- ber 12, 1854, under a dispensation from Louis Watson, grand high priest. The following constituted its first membership: A. Clark, Chauncy Ray, W. F. Parrish, H. Miltimore, John A. Holland, L. P. Pettibone, R. H. Cotton, Abiram Morgan, G. D. Palmer, and Ansel Kenfield. This chapter was constituted under another charter in December, 1855.
Star in the East Lodge No. 166, Masons, was organized February 12, 1855, under a dispensation from James L. Ander- son, grand master. The charter members were: E. F. W. Ellis, R. H. Cotton, W. M. Bowdoin, William Hulin, S. G. Chellis, Jos. K. Smith, Joseph Burns, C. I. Horsman, B. G. Wheeler, G. W. Reynolds, John A. Holland, C. H. Richings, D. G. Clark, Adam McClure, Holder Brownell.
The dispensation for Rockford Encampment, No. 44, Odd Fellows, was granted August 5, 1857, to the following patri- archs as charter members: James Fleming, J. H. Clark, Hugh Strickland, Enos C. Clark, G. A. Stiles, Joseph Schloss, and Robert Smith. The encampment was instituted by Deputy Grand Patriarch A. E. Jenner, August 26, 1857.
The Rockford Burns Club was organized November 5, 1858. It is an association of Scottish-Americans, who meet annually on the birthday of Robert Burns.
John A. Phelps, a Rockford attorney, died July 28, 1854. The bar of the city adopted resolutions of respect, and attended his funeral in a body.
September 6, 1854, the city council passed an ordinance for the construction of sidewalks.
About 1855 James S. Ticknor was appointed agent of the American Express Company, and held this position until 1881. Mr. Ticknor came to Rockford in 1854. He was preceded by his brother, D. W., who came in 1846, and taught school. The brothers were in the drug and book business a short time. J. S. Ticknor died September 18, 1899.
February 15, 1855, a charter was granted the Rockford Central Railroad Company. The incorporators were Rockford citizens. It was proposed to make a connection with the Illi- nois Central at Mendota, and run through Rockford to the Wisconsin pineries, and make a north and south line to Cairo.
349
DEATH OF JOHN 1. HOLLAND.
Piles were driven in Rock river at Rockford, for a bridge, which are now used by the Burlington company. The route was sur- veyed, but no track was laid.
In February, 1855, the Rockford Gas Light and Coke Com- pany was incorporated. The incorporators were Simon M. Preston, William Lyman, John Platt, Henry Fisher, and Jesse Blinn. A few years later Thomas Butterworth was made its manager, and he finally became the owner of the plant.
May 17, 1855, occurred the sale of several hundred acres of canal lands in Winnebago county. These lands were selected as a part of the grant to the state of Illinois by the general government, to aid in building the Illinois and Michigan canal.
In 1855 the legislature passed a very stringent prohibitory liquor bill, known as the Maine law. The bill was not to go into effect unless approved by a majority of the popular vote at an election to be held June 4th of that year. The vote in Winnebago county was a splendid endorsement of the bill. Every township in the county sustained the measure. The vote in Rockford was as follows: for the law, 752; against, 71. The vote of the county was: 2,153 in favor of the law ; against it, 363. The bill was lost, however, in the state.
July 14, 1855, the starch factory belonging to Lewis, Smyth & Company was destroyed by fire. The loss was about $15,000.
The death of John A. Holland occurred September 29, 1855, at Mount Vernon, Ohio, while he was on a visit to his father-in- law, who resided there, in company with his family. The remains
were brought to Rockford for burial. Resolutions of respect were adopted by the Masonic bodies and by the bar of the city. The funeral was held at the Unitarian church on Sunday. Rev. Mr. Murray, the pastor, preached the discourse. John A. Hol- land was born in what is now West Virginia. He came to Rock- ford in 1845, from Worcester, Ohio, where he had practiced law. He formed a partnership with T. D. Robertson in the practice of his profession. He was the attorney for the Galena & Chicago Union railroad, and assisted the Illinois Central in securing the right of way from Chicago to Cairo. Mr. Holland was an attendant at the Unitarian church, but was not a mem- ber. He was a man of comprehensive mind, great energy and sagacity, and always operated upon a large scale. He was a leading spirit in every public enterprise. The Holland House was named in his honor. Mr. Holland was father of Hosmer P. Holland. His second wife was a daughter of Dr. J. C. Goodhue.
CHAPTER LXIX.
MURDER OF SHERIFF TAYLOR .- EXECUTION OF COUNTRYMAN.
T' UESDAY, November 11, 1856, John F. Taylor, sheriff of Winnebago county, was instantly killed by Alfred Coun- tryman. On that day Alfred and John Countryman came to Rockford from Ogle county with some cattle, which they offered for sale at such low prices as to arouse suspicion. The cattle were sold for a sum below their market value. The purchasers delayed payment until notice had been given the sheriff, and papers made out for the apprehension of the brothers, which occurred about nine o'clock in the morning. They were then arrested on suspicion; and before they were taken to jail Sher- iff Taylor searched them for concealed weapons. He found pis- tol balls in Alfred's pockets, and upon inquiring for his revolver the prisoner replied that he had none. Sheriff Taylor, assisted by Constable Thompson, then started with the prisoners for the jail. Just as they reached the steps Alfred Countryman broke away from the sheriff, leaped over the fence on Elm street, and ran down that street, with the sheriff in pursuit. At the next corner, near the livery stable of Hall & Reynolds, the sher- iff had nearly overtaken Countryman, and was about to seize him, when the latter drew a pistol which he had concealed, and fired. The sheriff staggered a few paces, and fell. His only words were: "I'm shot; catch him."
Countryman ran to the woods north of Kent's creek, with hundreds of infuriated citizens in pursuit. John Platt was the first to overtake him. He took his pistol from him, and, with assistance, secured his arrest. Amid threats of lynching, the prisoner was placed in jail and securely ironed. Samuel I. Church, the sheriff-elect, briefly addressed the crowd and assured them that the prisoner was secure.
Sheriff Taylor was thirty-one years of age, and left a wife, and a son a year and a half old. He was an excellent officer, and was held in high respect by the community. The funeral was held Thursday on the public square, adjoining the jail,
351
THOUSANDS WITNESS EXECUTION.
under the charge of the Masonic fraternity. The board of supervisors were in attendance in a body. The discourse was preached by Rev. W. F. Stewart.
Countryman was indicted and tried for the murder of Sher- iff Taylor, at the following February term of the circuit court. The prosecution was conducted by U. D. Meacham, the state's attorney, assisted by William Brown. The counsel for the defense was Orrin Miller and T. J. Turner. The following gen- tlemen constituted the jury: Levi Tunks, Philo C. Watson, Anthony M. Felmly, Silas G. Tyler, Jacob B. Place, G. R. Ames, Allen Rice, Charles Works, J. W. Jenks, Edward Peppers, J. W. Knapp, S. P. Coller. The trial began on Monday, February 23d. The case was given to the jury on Thursday; and Friday morning they returned a verdict of guilty. Judge Sheldon pro- nounced the sentence of death upon Countryman. One of his counsel, Mr. Miller, tried to obtain a stay of proceedings, so as to bring the case before the supreme court. But Judge Caton refused to grant a writ of error.
On Friday, March 27th, Countryman was executed on the farm of Sheriff Church, a short distance from the city. The execution was witnessed by eight thousand people. In the absence of a military company, the two fire companies, armed with sabres and carbines, formed a hollow square at the jail, into the center of which the carriages, which were to form the procession, were driven, and as the procession moved to the place of execution, the fire companies formed a strong guard. Upon arriving at the scaffold, Rev. Hooper Crews offered an earnest prayer. The prisoner made a short speech and professed repentance and forgiveness for his crime. At seventeen min- utes past two the bolt was withdrawn, and Countryman was swung into eternity. His father, sister and one brother wit- nessed the execution. Before the body was taken down, Sheriff Church addressed the crowd asfollows: " These painful proceed- ings being now concluded, and the sword of justice about to be returned to its sheath, I hope never again to be drawn with so much severity, I would thank you all for the good order you have maintained-your conduct does credit to the city, and I hope you will observe the same decorum in retiring."
CHAPTER LXX.
KENOSHA AND ROCKFORD RAILROAD .- EARLY MANSIONS .- NOTES.
N 1856 was projected a railroad to connect Kenosha on Lake - Michigan with Rockford. It was a part of the orginal plan that this line should extend from Rockford to Rock Island. January 20, 1857, a charter was granted to John M. Capron, Egbert Ayer, Thomas Paul, John Cornell, W. B. Ogden, John Bradley, Jason Marsh, George Haskell, David S. Penfield, Rob- ert P. Lane, C. C. Briggs, C. H. Spafford, A. S. Miller, Jesse Blinn and Seely Perry. The company was to have a capital stock of eight hundred thousand dollars, to be divided into shares of one hundred dollars each, and was authorized to con- struct a road from a point near the state line in McHenry county to Rockford. This road was built as a means of reliev- ing Rockford from burdens imposed by the high freight and pas- senger rates of the Galena & Chicago Union.
Books for subscriptions to the stock of the road were opened early in November, 1856, and on the 25th of the same month the company was organized by the election of the fol- lowing officers: President, C. H. Spafford; vice-president, R. P. Lane; secretary, E. H. Baker; treasurer, A. C. Spafford; execu- tive committee, J. Bond, J. M. Capron, R. P. Lane, D. S. Pen- field and Seely Perry. The subscriptions were made largely by farmers along the line, who gave mortgages on their realestate to secure their payments. The company negotiated these mort- gages in payment for iron, labor and other expenses in the building of the road. When these obligations matured many of the subscribers could not redeem them, and the holders of the mortgages foreclosed them.
The contract for the construction of the road to Harvard was made in March, 1857, and the work was begun shortly afterward. The eastern division of the road was under the con- trol of another company, organized under a charter from the Wisconsin legislature. The progress of construction was im- peded by financial embarrassments, arising from the great de- pression which spread over the country in 1857, and the enter-
353
THE MANNY MANSION.
prise languished. In August, 1858, the company applied to the council of Rockford for a loan of the city credit to the amount of $50,000 to aid in the completion of the road. An election was held September 2d, and the measure was carried by a majority of more than five hundred. This is the only instance in the history of Rockford of the loan of the credit of the cor- poration to a railroad.
November 21, 1859, the road was completed between Rockford and Harvard, and the event was celebrated by a ban- quet at the Holland House the same evening. In 1864 the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad Company was absorbed by the Chicago & Northwestern, and the Kenosha & Rockford road, as a matter of course, soon came under the same control.
The most beautiful home in Rockford during the period cov- ered by this history, was that of Mrs. J. H. Manny, on South Main street. The " Manny mansion " was built in 1854, by John A. Holland. The grounds had a frontage of three hundred and twenty-five feet, and extended from the northern limit of G. N. Safford & Company's lumber yard to a point below Kent's creek, and were fronted by a stone fence. The beauty of these grounds was due, in large measure, to John Blair, a Scottish landscape gardener, who came from Canada at Mr. Holland's solicitation. He laid out the grounds, and set the standard for landscape gardening in Rockford, and in this way he left his im- press on the city. Mr. Blair subsequently laid out the grounds of the Elgin insane asylum. It is said he now lies near Victoria, British Columbia. After the death of Mr. Holland, in 1855, financial reverses overtook his family, and about 1860 this splendid estate passed into the ownership of Mrs. J. H. Manny.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.