USA > Illinois > Winnebago County > Rockford > History of Rockford and Winnebago County, Illinois, from the first settlement in 1834 to the civil war > Part 35
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Horace W. Taylor was born in Granby, Massachussetts, February 1, 1823. He was was graduated from Amherst in
M. L. GORHAM .- N. C. THOMPSON .- THOS. BUTTERWORTH. 365
1848. In 1857 he came to Rockford and was admitted to the bar in the autumn of the same year. For forty years Mr. Tay- lor was a well-known member of the legal profession of this city. In 1866 he began his work as master-in-chancery under appointment of Judge Sheldon. This position he held until his death, except an interim from 1872 to 1876. Mr. Taylor was elected a member of the legislature in 1878, and served one term. His death occurred at a sanitarium at Kenosha, August 29, 1898. His immediate surviving family are: Mrs. Taylor, and two daughters, Mrs. J. R. Crocker, of Chicago, and Miss Ama. Mr. Taylor was the first president of the New England Society of Rockford.
Marquis L. Gorham was a native of Vermont, and came to Rockford in 1857. He obtained a patent for a seeder manufact- ured by Clark & Utter, and for a corn cultivator made by N. C. Thompson. He was also the inventor of the first twine binder, the patent for which was sold to C. H. McCormick. Mr. Gorham died at Philadelphia in 1876, while attending the cen- tennial exposition, when he was only about forty-five years of age. His daughter, Mrs. Alice Harrison, died in 1882, and the last surviving child, Mrs. Lillian Harrison, died in 1890.
Norman Cornelius Thompson was born in Knoxville, Georgia, May 25, 1828. Mr. Thompson entered Yale college, and during his junior year his father's home and store were destroyed by fire. This misfortune changed his course in life. Mr. Thompson came to Rockford in 1857. He built one of the largest manufacturing plants on the water-power, and his immense output contributed in no small degree to the prestige of Rockford as a manufacturing city. Mr. Thompson was a public-spirited citizen, and a generous supporter of the First Presbyterian church. Financial reverses overtook him in 1884, which resulted in the suspension of his bank in East Rockford, and his retirement from his manufacturing industry. Mr. Thompson died July 4, 1898. N. F. Thompson, of the Manu- facturers National Bank, is a son, and Miss Norma C. Thompson is a daughter.
Thomas Butterworth was born in Manchester, England, September 6, 1827. He learned brick-laying in his native coun- try. In his twentieth year he came to America, and landed at New Orleans. On account of yellow fever, he immediately went to Cincinnati. He entered the employ of Stacy & Company, the proprietors of the Cincinnati gas works, and in their interest
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366
HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
he was sent to repair the works in Rockford about 1856. The latter plant was then owned by Lane, Sanford & Co. He remained in Rockford and assumed the management of the works. He also continued the business of contractor, and built Brown's Hall, the old People's Bank building on State street, and other buildings. He subsequently sold his contracting business, and in time became the sole owner of the gas plant. In 1878 Mr. Butterworth was elected a member of the legisla- ture, as a Democrat, and served one term. His death occurred at Ashville, North Carolina, April 5, 1885. His surviving family were Mrs. Butterworth, and seven children : Mrs. Will Tullock, Mrs. E. M. Botsford, Mrs. Paul F. Schuster, Mrs. Hosmer Porter, Mrs. Geo. Roper, and Chester and William Butterworth.
William H. Townsend came to Rockford in 1857, from Springfield, Pennsylvania, He was in affluent circumstances. His home was on South Third street, well known in later years as the residence of Dr. D. S. Clark. Mr. Townsend was a stock- holder and director of the Rock River Mutual Fire Insur- ance Company, and the later reverses of the company were a source of such anxiety to him that he became deranged. June 2, 1869, his body was found in Rock river, about four and a half miles south of the city. Mr. Townsend was about sixty years of age, and had been a member of the board of education. He was held in high esteem, and his death was a great shock to the community. Mr. Townsend was father of Mrs. D. S. Clark.
F. H. Manny came to Rockford in 1859. He was a cousin of John P. and John H. Manny. For some years he was en- gaged in manufacturing on the water-power. His home was the residence owned later by W. F. Hudler, on the South side. He met with reverses in 1875, went to Waukegan, and from there to Chicago. Mr. Manny died in Chicago April 15, 1899, at the age of eighty-two years. The remains were brought to Rock- ford for interment. He had one son, James, who so far as known by his friends, is no longer living, and three daughters, the first and second Mrs. Farrington, and Miss Harriett.
Among other well-known citizens who came to Rockford during the period covered by this chapter are the following : George Trufant, George H. Dennett, Wmn. Mckinley, 1855; A. C. Burpee, 1856 ; David Keyt, S. F. Penfield, D. S. Hough, H. B. Hale, W. H. Smith, C. A. Shaw, 1857; John R. Porter, 1859.
Other citizens engaged in active business during the fifties were: L. H. Todd, dealer in boots and shoes; Thomas Ennett,
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THE PROPRIETORS OF ROCKTON.
contractor ; D. Miller, boots and shoes ; J. W. Seccomb, books ; C. T. Saekett, painter; W. G. Johnson, painter; Robert Smith, hatter; J. B. Agard, grain buyer; Joseph Burns, dry goods ; Win. Lyman, physician ; John Fraley, druggist; Israel Sovereign, hardware dealer. James B. Skinner, who conducted a black- smith shop on North Main street, became the founder of the manufacturing firm of Skinner, Briggs & Enoch. Hewasfather of Mrs. C. F. Henry and Mrs. A. C. Gray.
Several early settlers should have been mentioned in their proper chronological order. Among these were the Talcott family. The first permanent white settlers of Rockton, with the exception of Stephen Mack, were William Talcott and his son, Thomas B. They came from Rome, New York, with horse and wagon, in 1835. The father removed his family to Rock- ton in 1837. Wait, Sylvester and Henry Talcott were younger sons. William Taleott held a captain's commission in a com- pany of New York state militia during the second war with England. His death occurred September 2, 1864. Thomas B. was one of the first three county commissioners elected in 1836. He died at Rockton October 1, 1894. The Talcott family were the first proprietors of the northern village. Samuel Talcott settled there in 1843.
Levi Rhoades was born at Hinsdale, New York, June 25, 1830. In 1847 he came to Rockford. He learned the cooper's trade, and during the war he laid the foundation of a large estate in supplying the demand for barrels. He continued in this business until 1884. Mr. Rhoades was interested in many manufacturing enterprises, and was a man of great force and executive ability. He was elected mayor of Rockford in 1876, and served one year. His death occurred November 19, 1891.
W. D. Trahern was born in Louden county, Virginia, March 24, 1824. In 1848 he came to Rockford, and the following year he began the manufacture of threshing-machines. In 1862 Mr. Trahern engaged in the manufacture of iron pumps. Mr. Trahern was successful in business, a considerate employer, and was highly esteemed. He died November 2, 1883. O. P. Tra- hern is a son.
CHAPTER LXXIV.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 1850-60.
D URING the pastorate of Rev. F. A. Reed, the congregation of the First Methodist church became so large that he suggested the formation of another church on the West side. In 1851 the Methodists living on the West side held their Sun- day and Thursday evening prayer-meetings at the home of the leader, James B. Skinner, on North Main street. The organi- zation of what is now the Court Street Methodist church was completed January 1, 1852, in the First church. The charter members, as nearly as can be ascertained, were as as follows : James B. Skinner, Charlotte L. Skinner, William Hazard, Louisa Hazard, Elizabeth Keyes, Rev. Wm. Fowler, Mrs. Eliza- beth Fowler, Daniel Ticknor, Thomas Peters, Ann Peters, Clark Fisher, Francis Richards, Lucy Richards, James Preston, Ann Preston, Jonathan Hitchcock, Mrs. J. Hitchcock, Asael Ives, Mary Ives, Dr. Charles N. Andrews, Mary Dewey, Joanna Davis, George Boyd, Alzira Andrus, George Reeves, Elizabeth Reeves, G. W. Reeves, W. J. Cole, Mary Cole, William Hamley, John Travis, Mrs. Travis, John Austin, Mrs. Austin.
The following board of trustees was elected: William J. Cole, James Taylor, Charles N. Andrews, Jonathan Hitchcock, and James B. Skinner. In 1852 the Dorcas Society was organ- ized. January 14, 1853, a lot was purchased on North Court street, and the erection of a church was soon begun, with John Austin, architect ; Jonathan Hitchcock, mason; and W. J. Cole, carpenter. During the erection of the church, the congregation worshiped in Boyd's Hall. Rev. Luke Hitchcock was presiding elder.
The conference of 1853 sent Rev. Chatfield, who remained a part of the year, and then returned to Michigan. Rev. William Tasker, pastor of the First church, assumed oversight of the church until the next conference. In September, 1854, Rev. W. F. Stewart was appointed pastor. The dedication of the new church occurred in November, 1854, conducted by Revs. Hooper Crews, Bolles, Stuff, and Agard. The cost of the building and
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THE FIRST MASS.
grounds was seven thousand dollars. A revival followed the opening of the new church, and during that conference year one hundred and forty persons were added to their numbers.
In 1864 Court Street church was set off in the Mt. Morris district, and William T. Harlow was appointed presiding elder. This division of territory was unsatisfactory, and in 1865 this charge was returned to the Rockford district, where it belonged, and where it has since remained. August 26, 1857, the confer- ence met with this church. This conference was signalized by the passage of stringent anti-slavery resolutions, and in "break- ing ground" for the Wesleyan seminary, to which reference was made in a preceding chapter. The first pastors served in the following order: 1853-54, Rev. Chatfield ; 1854-55, Rev. W. F. Stewart; 1856-58, Rev. Luman A. Sanford; 1858-60, William P. Gray; 1860-61, Revs. James R. Goodrich, William E. Daniels, T. B. Taylor. Rev. J. H. Vincent, founder of the Chau- tauqua movement, and now a bishop of the church, was pastor from 1861 to 1864. During his absence on a trip to Europe, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Daniel P. Kidder, D. D.
Information concerning the early history of St. James' Roman Catholic church is very meager. The records are said to have been destroyed in the Chicago fire of 1871. Mass was celebrated in the homes of Catholic settlers of Rockford by priests located at New Dublin and Freeport, previous to 1850. Father Gueguen said mass and baptized children in 1840. The permanent organization dates from 1850. John McAnar- ney is said to be the oldest resident Catholic in the city. In 1851 Artemas Hitchcock and wife conveyed to Rt. Rev. James Oliver Van de Velde, for one hundred and fifty dollars, lot one in block twenty-six, as found in Duncan Ferguson's map of the village. A second conveyance was from John Lee and wife to Anthony Regan, bishop of Chicago, of lot two in the same block, for four hundred dollars. Father Hampston was appointed priest of the parish in 1851 by Bishop Van de Velde. He was the first resident pastor, and built the first church in 1852. It was a small, one-story frame structure, with a seating capacity for two hundred people. The citizens of the town contributed a portion of the money with which the church was erected. Father Hampston died while in charge of the parish, and is buried under the present church. He was a man of studious habits, modest and retiring in manner, and highly respected by the citizens,
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370
HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
The present St. James' church was begun in 1866, and dedi- cated the following year, under the pastorate of Rev. J. S. O'Neill. The pastors of St. James' church have been as follows: Revs. John Hampston, George Hamilton, William Lambert, J. Bulger, John P. Donelan, J. S. O'Neill, Joseph McMahon, T. J. Butler, James J. Flaherty. The only surviving pastors are Fathers McMahon and Flaherty. The latter started the parochial school in 1886, and in 1891 completed the present brick structure. The school is in charge of the Dominican Sisters.
Dean Butler was a priest of more than local reputation. He was born in Limerick, Ireland. 'He completed his education in the College of the Propaganda, in Rome. He possessed unusual musical ability ; and while in Rome was a member of the pope's choir. It is said Dean Butler was the papal ambassador at the baptism of the Prince Imperial, son of Napoleon III. and Eugenie. During the civil war, Dean Butler was chaplain of the Irish Bri- gade. He was a man of literary tastes, and for some years was a member of the Rockford public library board. Dean Butler died at Rome in July, 1897.
The formal organization of Presbyterianism in Rockford occurred in 1854. There were Presbyterians, however, in the city before that time. These naturally affiliated with the Con- gregational churches, and were not an unimportant element in their strength. The building begun as a Congregational church on North First street, and afterward abandoned, was often called the Presbyterian church. It was really the joint effort of Congregationalists and Presbyterians. The Presbyterian clergy of this country have been distinguished for piety and cul- ture, and the church has been a stalwart champion of the fun- damental Christian doctrines. The writer is indebted for the facts given herewith to historical addresses delivered by Rev. James Cruickshanks and Rev. J. K. Fowler.
Early in 1853 a few devout adherents of this faith lay the foundations of a Presbyterian church in Rockford. The first meeting was held in the summer in the old court house (the abandoned Congregational church) on the east side of the river. Rev. R. G. Thompson, of Beloit, preached the first sermon to a congregation of twelve persons. Services were subsequently conducted at intervals by members of the Chicago presbytery, until the arrival in December of Rev. Hugh A. Brown. In November, 1853, these services were held in Peake's Hall and
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REV. J. M. FARIS CALLED.
in the court house. In December services were regularly held twice each sabbath ; first in Horsman's Hall, and later in War- ner's hall, over C. F. Henry's clothing store. February 1, 1854, the little band resumed worship in the court house, where, July 8th of the same year the formal organization of the First Pres- byterian church of Rockford was duly effected, with thirty-eight members. Rev. G. F. Goodhue, of Marengo, presided.
The original members of this church were as follows : Wil- liam Johnson, Christina Johnson, Margaret Johnson, Deborah Burns, Charles M. Priestly, James Forbes, Esther Armstrong, Isabella Marshall, Elizabeth Clow, William McCall, James Nes- bit, John Bull, Rebecca Kozier, Thomas Meredith, Grace Hinch, John Martin, A. Ferguson, Mary Parland, Janet Shep- herd, Mary Johnson, Archibald Johnson, Michael Burns, Shep- ley Priestly, Fanny Moore, Petrina Forbes, Peter R. Marshall, Robert Clow, Sarah Forbes, Jane Blaine, Anna Nesbit, Sarah Bull, David Meredith, Nancy Meredith, Elizabeth Linn, Mary Martin, Mrs. A. Ferguson, William Shepherd, and John Tul- lock. William Johnson, Michael Burns, Thomas Meredith and Shepley Priestly were chosen to the eldership, and Robert Clow and William McCall were elected deacons, who were ordained and installed in their respective offices on the following day. A choir was employed September 17th to lead in the service of song, and November, 1855, the choir, by a resolution passed in the session, was allowed the use of an instrument for use in pub- lic worship. In October, 1855, H. C. Meslor and William Shep- herd were elected and installed as ruling elders.
December 3, 1855, the clerk of the session wasinstructed to apply to the board of domestic missions for an appropriation of three hundred dollars to aid in the support of Rev. Hugh A. Brown, as the stated supply of the church. February 10, 1857, Rev. Moses Ordway, of the presbytery of Chicago, was requested to be present at a meeting to make choice of a pastor. Rev. Hugh A. Brown was chosen. He declined the call, though he continued to supply the pulpit until January 1, 1858, when Rev. John M. Faris, of the Richland presbytery, synod of Ohio, was unanimously chosen pastor.
The first report to the presbytery in 1855 shows that the membership had increased to fifty-five, the families to thirty- eight, and the congregational expenses to six hundred and twenty-five dollars. Rev. Faris' pastoratecontinued four years and a half, until October, 1862, when failing health made his
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HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
resignation necessary. His pastorate was successful. The communicants increased the first year from seventy-seven to ninety-seven, and the congregational expenses from seven hun- dred to thirteen hundred dollars.
Rev. Faris' successors have been Revs. Faunt Leroy Senour, J. S. Grimes, A. J. Leyenberger (now shortened to Berger), James Cruickshanks, J. K. Fowler, J. R. Sutherland, George Harkness, B. E. S. Ely.
In September following the organization the congregation worshiped in the old Unitarian church, on the northeast corner of Elm and Church streets. Services were held in the old court house from November, 1854, until March 1, 1855, when the old Unitarian church was purchased. The society used it for a time on the old site, and then removed it to the northeast corner of State and Winnebago streets, where the church continued to worship until December 20, 1868, when they took possession of their present house of worship.
The sabbath-school antedates the church six months. It was organized the last Wednesday in December, 1853, with fifteen pupils, promptly after a stated supply had reached the field. Mr. Brown may have directed the school for a time, but Michael Burns was the first superintendent.
The First Swedish Lutheran church was organized January 15, 1854, with seventy-seven communicants and thirty-two children. Late in the summer of 1855 it was decided to build a church. The original estimate of cost was seven hundred and seventy-five dollars. Its actual cost, however, was sixteen hundred dollars. This church was erected on the corner of North First street and what is now Lafayette avenue. It was a frame structure, forty-five by thirty-eight feet, and twenty- eight feet high. It had a seating capacity for three hundred persons. The dedication occurred November 23, 1856. Dr. Hasselquist preached the dedicatory sermon. This building is still standing, and forms a part of J. Friedman's double house on North First street.
The first pastor was Rev. A. Andren, who was called in the spring of 1856, and entered upon his duties in August of the same year. Rev. Andren built a parsonage on the church lot at his own expense, with the understanding that at the termi- nation of his pastorate the church should buy the building at its original cost. Rev. Andren's pastorate continued until the
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH .- WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN. 373
close of 1860, when he removed to Attica, Indiana. In May, 1860, the church decided to withdraw from thesynod of North- ern Illinois, and join the Augustana synod. At that time the church had one hundred and fifteen communicants.
The present church was built in 1883, at a cost of about sixty thousand dollars. It is the largest auditorium in the city. with a seating capacity for eighteen hundred. Its membership is fifteen hundred, with eight hundred children. This is the larg- est membership of any Swedish Lutheran church in America.
The Christian church was organized March 18, 1856, with twenty-five members. They first held meetings in the old court house. The first records are meagre. An edifice was completed in 1856. It stood on the site of the Trinity Lutheran church, and its estimated cost was $1,748. The clergy of the Christian church discarded the prefix Reverend. The first elder was Issac Shaver, who served one year. He was succeeded by L. J. Correll, who remained two years. Lorenzo D. Waldo, who came to Rockford in 1845, was for thirty-two years an elder of this church, and an honored and faithful minister of the gospel. Mr. Waldo died July 12, 1888. He was father of Billings R., Henry D., and Misses Jennie, Mabel and Ada Waldo.
The Westminster Presbyterian church was organized Jan- uary 3, 1856, with twenty-two members. Many of these had taken letters from the First Congregational church. A frater- nal feeling prevailed at the time of separation, but there was a conviction among those who were distinctively Presbyterian that there was an opportunity for a society of that faith. The organization of the church occurred in the old Congregational church. It was first called the Second Presbyterian church, and the name was subsequently changed to Westminster.
The constituent members were as follows: Thomas Garri- son, Mrs. Electa Garrison, Ralph Giddings, Mrs. Cornelia Gid- dings, Joel B. Potter, Mrs. Adaline B. Potter, E. S. Rose, Mrs. Jerusha C. Rose, Eliza W. Rose (now Mrs. E. T. Cleveland), Charles Williams, Mrs. Sarah S. Williams, Frederick A. Hart, Mrs. Sylvia Hart, Eusebia More, Eliza White, Stephen Rose, Mrs. Amanda H. Rose, Frances Rose, Stephen Rose, Jr., J. H. Wheat, Mrs. Frances E. Wheat, Juliet F. Wheat. Three of this number are still residing in Rockford : Mrs. Adaline Potter, Mrs. E. T. Cleveland (formerly Miss Eliza M. Rose), and Mrs. Frances E. Wheat. Joel B. Potter, Charles Williams, J. H. Wheat and
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HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
J. S. Rose constituted the first board of elders. The first dea- cons were Stephen Rose and Ralph Giddings. Rev. Morrison Huggins was the first pastor, who served until 1859. He liter- ally gave his life for his people, and died during his pastorate. As he consciously drew near the end, he said: "A pastor's death-bed is his people's."
The first place of worship was the historic court house on North First street. In the summer of 1856 a chapel was com- pleted on the ground now occupied by the lecture room of the church. This chapel soon proved too small, and public worship was conducted in Metropolitan Hall, pending the erection of the present church, which was dedicated in 1858.
The following have served the church as pastors or stated supplies : Revs. Morrison Huggins, L. H. Johnson, Charles Mattoon, Charles A. Williams, W. S. Curtis, J. H. Ritchie, T. S. Scott, S. L. Conde, W. M. Campbell, W. T. Wilcox.
The Winnebago Street church had its origin in a Sunday- school, which was started May 20, 1856, and which held its ses- sions in a grove on the river bank. From the grove, in Octo- ber, the school went, by invitation of the directors, into the new Kent schoolhouse. The Sunday-school continued to grow until a church became a necessity. The sabbath-school was under the supervision of the Court Street church. The church was organized March 4, 1864, at the home of Israel Sovereign. The presiding elder, Richard A. Blanchard, acted as chairman. The roll of members numbered twenty-eight. The following board of trustees was elected : Israel Sovereign, Fred. A. Arnold, Josephus Lakin, Benjamin F. Whittle, and Stephen Thayer. Ground was broken for the new church August 8, 1864. The corner-stone was laid August 24th. The address was made by Rev. Thomas M. Eddy. The cost of the church was eight thou- sand dollars, and was dedicated February 12, 1865, by Dr. Eddy. The parsonage was built in 1867, at a cost of twelve hundred and fifty dollars. Rev. Robert Bentley served as pas- tor from 1864 to 1866 ; Rev. William D. Skelton from 1866 to 1869; Henry L. Martin, 1869 to 1871.
One of the results of the religious revival of 1858 was the formation of the Young Men's Christian Association. The first meeting preliminary to organization was held May 4, 1858, at the First Presbyterian church. A motion prevailed that an Association be formed, and an adjournment was taken to
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YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
Tuesday evening, May 11th. The next meeting, however, was not held until the 18th, when the constitution was signed by sixty persons, all of whom were members of the varions evan- gelical churches of the city. May 25th, the Association met at the Baptist church. Rev. Hooper Crews delivered the inaug- ural address, and the constitution was signed by forty-five persons. On the following Tuesday evening, June 1st, the Association elected a portion of their officers, and at their next meeting, June 8th, the organization was completed. The officers were as follows: President, Horace W. Taylor; vice-presidents, S. F. Penfield, C. E. Buswell, William Wasson, Lewis Williams, R. P. Lane, William Brown, V. Daniels ; corre- sponding secretary, E. C. Daugherty ; recording secretary, O. A. Pennoyer; treasurer, William Culver; librarian, C. E. Wingate. A standing committee and a committee on library and lectures were appointed. The lecture and library committees were requested to procure Sunday evening lectures, as often as once in each month, from the pastors of the city and others.
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