USA > Illinois > Winnebago County > Rockford > History of Rockford and Winnebago County, Illinois, from the first settlement in 1834 to the civil war > Part 7
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Skiffs were used for carrying passengers, and a scow for horses and other property. A scow was made from the halves of large split logs hewn down to proper thickness, and planked in the ordinary manner. A large cable was stretched across the river, supported by posts on either side, which kept it in place. From the ends of the scow smaller ropes ran to pulley blocks running on the cable. By shortening one of these ropes and pushing the boat from the shore so that the current could strike it obliquely, the craft was given the required momentum, and the rapid current propelled it over. The scow could carry two teams at a time. Teams were driven upon the scow, and if any danger was apprehended from frightened horses, the driver would block a wheel to the scow with a chain. A platform at either end of the boat, supported by levers attached to each side, was lowered to the solid landing, and thusformed an easy entrance and exit. A railing at the sides and base at the ends insured perfect safety. The countersign was "Over!" which, with various repetitions and inflections, always preceded the starting of the boat.
There was a ferry-house on either side of the river. The ferryman resided in the one on the West side. It was a frame structure built on the site of the public library building, in 1839, by Allen & Brown, for Kent & Brinckerhoff. Its dimen- sions were fourteen by fourteen feet, one story, boarded up and down, with shingle roof. James Taylor, a bachelor, was the first ferryman. He was succeeded by Giles C. Hard, and he in turn by John Fisher, after whom Fisher avenue was named. He was a native of New Hampshire, a strong and muscular man, of strict integrity. Mr. Taylor was assisted by Asher Miller. Their combined strength was sometimes severely tested in getting arow-boat, loaded with passengers and mails, across through the ice, when the ferry-boat could not run.
63
SURVEY OF THE STATE ROAD.
When Germanicus Kent and Thatcher Blake made their settlements, there were no state roads in this vicinity. Indian trails wended their way through prairie and forest, but these did not greatly facilitate the travel of the white man. At that time Chicago and Galena were the only well known points in northern Illinois. The first settlements in the state were made in the southern portion : and as the tide of emigration poured from the east into the Rock river valley, after the Black Hawk war, each session of the legislature laid out a number of state roads.
By an act approved January 15, 1836, James Gifford, Dan- iel S. Haight and Josiah C. Goodhue were appointed special commissioners to view, survey and locate a road from Meach- am's Grove, in Cook county, to Galena, in Jo Daviess county. The bill directed that the commissioners should make "Elgin on Fox river, in Cook county, Belvidere on Squaw Prairie, in the county of La Salle, and Midway at the ford on Rock river, in the county of Jo Daviess, points on the said road, and shall fix the said road on the most advantageous ground, for a permanent road, having reference to said points." This road was opened without delay, and State street in Belvidere and in Rockford is a portion of this highway, which extends nearly across the state in a general northwesterly direction from Chicago.
By the same act David W. Whitney, Stephen Mack, and John P. Bradstreet were designated commissioners to locate a road from Belvidere to the mouth of Pecatonica river, at Maek- town, which was named in his own honor by its founder, Stephen Mack. By an act of the legislature, approved March 2, 1839, Benjamin T. Lee, of Winnebago county, Ephraim Hall, of DeKalb, and Isaac Marlett, of Kane, were made commissioners to view, survey and locate "a state road from where a certain road terminates at the Will county line, to Aurora, on Fox river ; thence, by the county seat of DeKalb county, Rockford, in Winnebago county, Trask's ferry, Pekatonikee; thence to the state line, in a direction towards Mineral Point. The said commissioners shall lay out a state road from the town of Winnebago, in Winnebago county, intersecting the State road in the direction to the Will county line." Mr. Marlett, the third commissioner, was the father of Mrs. O. F. Barbour, of Rockford. About 1839 Charles street was opened as a more direct route to Chicago, by way of St. Charles ; hence the name. But it was of little value in this respect beyond Cherry Valley.
64
HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
In March, 1839, an act of the legislature was approved, by which twenty-five thousand dollars were appropriated from the state internal improvement fund, which had been created two years before. This money was distributed among the northern counties. It was to be applied by the commissioners' courts of the counties receiving the same, exclusively to the construction of bridges, and the improvement of publicroads in their respective counties. Winnebago county received three thousand one hun- dred and fourteen dollars and eighty-three cents, with the proviso that "the bridge across Cedar creek, on the State road leading by Bloomingville to the mouth of the Pickatonike, and the improvements of the Great Western mail route or road from the east to the west line of Winnebago county, shall first be made and paid for from the sum appropriated to said county."
Upon the organization of the county, the commissioners devoted considerable attention to receiving petitions for the appointment of viewers to locate roads. The rapid settlement of the county, in a day preceding the railroad, demanded the best possible facilities for transportation. Every property- owner was anxious to secure a public road near his homestead, and was willing to give whatever land was necessary. The records of the county bear testimony to the fidelity with which the commissioners transacted this important business.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE VILLAGE CHRISTENED .- THE FIRST SURVEYS.
M' R. KENT was in a sense the first proprietor of the colony. He gave it the name of Midway. This name, which is said to have been proposed by Mrs. Kent, was suggested by the fact that the settlement was about halfway from Chicago to Galena. "Midway, Rock River, Jo Daviess county, Illinois, June 17, 1835," is the name and date Mr. Kent gives in a letter to a friend. The law of 1836 which established the State road, noted in the last chapter, referred to "Midway at the ford on Rock river."
A letter written by Mr. Kent in the autumn of 1834, ad- dressed to J. B. Martyn, of Alabama, directed that gentleman to "Midway" as follows: "At Galena call on my brother. From Galena go directly east until you come to and cross Apple river, thence turn in a southeasterly course to Plum river, and from there to Cherry Grove. There leave some timber on your left, and a small grove on your right [later known as Twelve-Mile Grove] and then keep on until you strike Rock river, from which a blind path will lead you to Midway." These instructions were about as definite as Launcelot's direction to the Jew's house, in the Merchant of Venice : "Turn up on your right hand at the next turning, but at the next turning of all, on your left ; marry, at the very next turning, turn of no hand, but turn down indirectly to the Jew's house." Nevertheless, Mr. Martyn found Midway.
Under date of October 17, 1837, Mr. Kent writes a letter from Rockford. The settlement was therefore known as Mid- way from one to three years. It is said "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet ; " but it is doubtful if the ambitious young community would have become the commercial and edu- cational center of the Rock river valley, handicapped by the primitive name of Midway. The original proprietors early came to this conclusion. Authorities differ as to the origin of the name Rockford. One writer says the place was known as Rockford by the Indians; and that this name was suggested to them by nature. Upon the site of the present dam was a solid rock bottom, where the water was usually so shallow as to afford
66
HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
easy crossing with their ponies. Hence it was called by them the rock-ford.
John H. Thurston gives a somewhat different, though not necessarily a conflicting, version. He says Daniel S. Haight, Germanicus Kent, William H. Gilman of Belvidere, John P. Chapin and Ebenezer Peck of Chicago, and Stephen Edgel, later of St. Louis, met at Dr. Goodhue's office, on Lake street, in Chicago. to name the claim, or mill privilege, which they hoped at some time would become a town. "Midway," though an appropriate name, was not in favor. Various names were suggested and rejected, until Dr. Goodhue said : "Why not call it ROCKFORD, from the splendid rock-bottom ford on the river there?" The suggestion seemed an inspiration, and was at once unanimously adoped ; and from that day to this, Dr. Goodhue has been given the credit of the present name. The date of this christening is uncertain. Mr. Thurston says it occurred in the summer of 1835; but the statute of January, 1836, still designated it Midway. News traveled slowly, however, in those days; and possibly the solons at Vandalia had not learned of the change.
The first surveys in Winnebago county were made early in 1836. Don Alonzo Spaulding, a pioneer of 1835, was the gov- ernment surveyor. One of his associates was Hon. Charles B. Farwell, of Chicago, who in 1886 succeeded the late General John A. Logan as a United States senator from Illinois. In October, 1835, Mr. Spaulding began the extension of the third principal meridian, at a timber corner about two miles north of the point where this meridian crosses the Illinois river, on the western boundary line of La Salle county. Mr. Spaulding extended the third principal meridian north to its intersection with the Wisconsin boundary line. He then returned on the line to the corner of townships forty-one and forty-two north, range one east, and commenced the stand-line running east along the southern boundary of townships forty-two north, ranges one, two and three east ; and then surveyed the range and township lines in these three ranges to the north line of thestate. He subdivided townships forty-four and forty-six, Rockford and Rockton, before leaving the field in January, 1836. Mr. Spaulding resumed his surveys in the spring of that year, and subdivided township forty-five, range one east, and townships forty-four, forty-five and forty-six, ranges two and three east. In 1839, 1840, and 1841, under another contract, Mr. Spauld-
67
THE RIVALRY BETWEEN KENT AND HAIGHT.
ing subdivided, in ranges ten and eleven, east of the fourth principal meridian, from the northern line of the state southward nearly thirty miles. It will thus be seen that Mr. Spaulding surveyed the range and township lines in all of Winnebago county, and the western range of Boone; and subdivided all of Winnebago except New Milford and Cherry Valley townships.
Mr. Spaulding, however, was not responsible for the fact that the streets of East and West Rockford do not squarely meet at the river. Mr. Spaulding stated that in January, 1836, Mr. Kent requested him to lay out two or three streets, parallel with the river, on the West side, as the beginning of his town. There were probably ten or twelve blocks, the corners of which were defined by stakes. This survey of blocks and streets was a personal transaction with Mr. Kent, and entirely separate from Mr. Spaulding's survey of townships and ranges for the government. In the spring of 1836 several persons interested in the east side of the river wished Mr. Spaulding to lay off the beginning of their town. After making a preliminary examina- tion, he found that he could not make the front street or the street next the river, on the most suitable ground and have the cross streets correspond with the streets on the west side of the river. He then examined his work on the West side, and found that it could be changed so as to conform to the East side. At that time no improvements had been made which would have been affected by the prospective change ; and a slight modification would have made the streets on the two sides of the river harmonize, as though there had been no river dividing thetown. Mr. Spaulding explained to Mr. Kent the advantage of such harmony to both sides of the river; but Mr. Kent was unwilling to comply with his suggestions. Forty-five years later Mr. Spaulding made this explanation to relieve himself of the responsibility for the city streets as they now touch the river.
The rivalry between the two sides of the river could not be compromised. Nature provided that the river should be a bond of union in which there is strength; but the two factions made it a cause of division. Both Kent and Haight foresaw that the prosperity of Rockford would largely depend upon the develop- ment of the natural water-power; but neither would make any concession, even for the general good. William E. Dunbar had settled on the West Side in 1835; but he subsequently removed to the East side, purchased land of Mr. Haight, and joined him in a common rivalry against his former neighbor.
CHAPTER XV.
THE RISE OF METHODISM .- FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
IT has been said that John Wesley gave one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to the poor, and at his death he left to the world two silver spoons and the Methodist church. The latter has proved a splendid legacy. Methodism has always been a pioneer. It received its baptism of divine energy in the days of John and Charles Wesley. George Whitefield caught the holy flame, and came to America to preach a more simple gospel to the common people. Methodism has since kept pace with the course of empire that westward takes its way.
Methodism was established in Winnebago county in 1836. It was therefore the vanguard of the church militant to enter and possess the land. The official record of the first society has not been preserved. It is an interesting fact that early and authentic information was given by Bishop Vincent thirty-five years ago. At that time he was pastor of the Court Street Methodist church. On Sunday, October 2, 1864, Rev. Vincent preached a sermon on Methodism in Rockford, which has been preserved. Thirty-five years ago there were living witnesses of the first effort to organize a Methodist church, and others who had seen the stately tree grow from the grain of mustard seed. This sermon is supplemented by an excellent historical address delivered by Rev. G. R. Vanhorne, D. D., August 6, 1882, in the Centennial Methodist church, which is on file in the records of that church. These sermons furnish the only available infor- mation concerning the first church organized in Winnebago county.
Galena was the first appointment within the bounds of the present Rock River conference. It was at that time, in 1829, in the Illinois conference, which comprised the states of Indiana and Illinois. The Indiana conference was formed in 1834. After this separation of Indiana from the Illinois conference, the latter still covered a vast region. In the autumn of 1835 Rev. William Royal was appointed to the Fox River mission. Rev. Samuel Pillsbury was associated with him. This mission circuit extended
69
THE FIRST CLASS.
northward from Ottawa. In June, 1836, Rev. Pillsbury preached a sermon at the home of Henry Enoch, in Guilford township. seven and one-half miles east of Rockford. This was the first service in the county conducted by a Methodist clergyman. On that occasion Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Beers and Mr. and Mrs. Sam- uel Gregory traveled six miles in a heavy lumber wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen. Verily, these godly pioneers were not car- ried to the skies, nor even to church, on "flowery beds of ease." Their religion cost them something; but they received manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life ever- lasting. This first service was followed during the summer by occasional sermons by Rev. Royal at Mr. Enoch's house; and Mrs. Enoch often prepared Sunday dinners for the congrega- tion. On his way to conference at Springfield, in the autumn of 1836, Rev. Royal passed through Rockford. Monday after- noon, September 2d, he preached in Samuel Gregory's log house, which stood on what is now block fourteen in Gilbert Woodruff's Second Addition to Rockford. At the close of the sermon Rev. Royal organized the first Methodist class, which consisted of five persons: Samuel Gregory, Joanna Gregory, Mary Enoch, Daniel Beers and Mary Beers. These pioneer Methodists have been honored by five memorial front windows in Centennial church. Mr. Gregory and Mrs. Beers were living when Dr. Vanhorne prepared his memorial address seventeen years ago.
Rev. Vincent, in his sermon, made this reference to that humble beginning: "I visited a few days ago the remains of the old log house, scarcely a mile east of the river, aud near the railroad, where this organization of Methodism took place. It was in an humble place, but in the midst of a glorious land and under a beniguant heaven that this little germ was planted, and it has grown rapidly, and the five have become nearly a thousand who live under the shadow of Rockford Methodism today; and who can tell of the number who have gone up from the field of conflict into the temple of triumph ?"
At the conference of 1836 Bishop Roberts appointed Dr. Arnold to the Sycamore circuit, of which Rockford was a part. The few Methodists gathered for worship as often as possible at Mr. Gregory's house. In 1837 the conference met at Rush- ville, when Bishop Roberts sent William Gaddis, with Robert Lane as assistant, to the Rockford circuit. This circuit belonged to the Chicago district, over which John Clark was presiding
70
HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
1
elder. Mr. Lane soon retired from the field, and he was succeeded by Leander S. Walker. At the conference of 1838, at Alton, Bishop Soule returned Mr. Walker to Rockford as preacher in charge, with Nathan Jewett as assistant. During the early part of Mr. Walker's pastorate he preached in the house of James Boswell, north of the brewery. The Methodists subsequently worshipped in a building erected by Mr. Haight on the site of the American House. This building was used for various pur- poses. In the summer of 1838 the Methodists built a parsonage on First street, between Prairie street and Lafayette avenue, facing west. This was the first Methodist parsonage built within what is now the Rock River conference. Another memorable event occurred during this year. The first quarterly meeting was held late in the summer, in a barn belonging to Mr. Haight, near the intersection of State and Third streets, and is known in local history as the "stage barn." The services began on Saturday, and continued through Sunday. Bishop Morris presided at the conference held in Bloomington in 1839, and returned Nathan Jewett to Rockford as preacher in charge.
The Rock River conference was organized August 26, 1840, at Mt. Morris. Bishop Waugh presided over this conference, which was held in agrove. Rockford was retained in the Chicago district, with John T. Mitchell as presiding elder, and Semphro- nious H. Stocking as circuit preacher. August 25, 1841, the conference was held at Platteville, Wisconsin, when Bishop Morris sent John Crummer to Rockford. The Methodists were then holding services in the brick schoolhouse on the East side public square. The Universalists appointed their service at the same hour and place, and differences arose. The Methodists withdrew from the schoolhouse; the pastor removed his family "up-stairs," and finished the lower story of the parsonage as a chapel.
August 3, 1842, the conference met in Chicago, and Bishop Roberts assigned Rockford to the care of Silas Bolles. At this time the Methodist church was worshiping in what was after- ward known as the "old seminary building." This structure had been begun as a Congregational church, but was abandoned for the church built on the West side by Kent and Brinckerhoff. In 1842 the Methodists bought this property of the county commissioners, and held it for some years.
September 20, 1842, the First Methodist church became an incorporate body, with five trustees, as follows: Horace Miller,
71
PURCHASE OF FIVE LOTS.
James B. Martyn, Samuel Gregory, Daniel Beers and Willard Wheeler. At the conference in Dubuque, Iowa, August 30, 1843, Rockford was made a "station," and Bishop Andrews sent Richard Blanchard. November 10th of that year the trustees of the society purchased of Daniel S. Haight the lot on which the parsonage had been built five years previous. The consideration was two hundred dollars. In 1849 the trustees sold the property to George Shearer, for three hundred dollars. The lot is now occupied by Thomas Sully's residence.
Nathaniel P. Heath succeeded Mr. Blanchard in 1844. He was sent by Bishop Morris, who presided at the conference in Milwaukee. In August, 1845, the conference met at Peoria, and Bishop Morris sent Charles D. Cahoon to Rockford. He filled this appointment only once, and died September 25th. His remains are buried in the Cedar Bluff cemetery. Of the fifty-eight pastors who were assigned to Rockford pulpits from 1836 to 1882, Mr. Cahoon is the only one who died among this people while in the pastorate. John Lucock was sent to fill out the term of Mr. Cahoon. During his pastorate the society resolved to build a church. December 6, 1845, a subscription paper was circulated. The quarterly conference had already appointed John Lucock, Willard Wheeler, G. (). Holmes, James B. Martyn, Horace Miller, Samuel Gregory, Edward Fitch, and Eliphalet Gregory as a building committee, to superintend the erection of the edifice, which was to be called "The First Meth- odist Episcopal Church of Rockford." This subscription list has been preserved, and is now in the archives of the society. The amount subscribed was two thousand three hundred and twelve dollars.
In August, 1846, Nathaniel P. Heath was re-assigned to this charge, at the request of the society, by Bishop Hamline, who presided over the conference at Galena. February 25, 1846, the trustees purchased of William H. Gilman, lots one, two, three, four and five, in the east half of block thirty-one, fronting on South Second street, between Oak and Walnut. The consideration was three hundred and twenty-five dollars. This part of the town was then called the "Barrens," and was a hunting-ground for the boys. These lots, except lot one, are the same upon which the Centennial church and parson- age now stand, and which were occupied by the First church and parsonage. The contract for building the First church was made with M. H. Regan, in 1846, but it was not completed
72
HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
until 1848. The brick for the church was made by Hiram Richardson; the stone for the foundation was donated by Jesse Buckbee.
The conference of 1847 was held in August, at Chicago. Bishop Waugh assigned James E. Wilson to Rockford. He remained one year. The church was completed and dedicated during his pastorate. March 13, 1848, a second subscription paper was circulated. The document contained this proviso : "That the seats in said church shall be free for all, in accord- ance with the discipline and usages of said church,-if not free these subscriptions to be null and void." The amount pledged was two thousand and sixty-nine dollars. This document is also preserved. The dedication of the church occurred June 1. 1848. Leander S. Walker preached the dedicatory sermon. The cost of the church was about seven thousand dollars. The pulpit of this sanctuary had an unique history. Several years before, Samuel Gregory had taken careful forethought for his burial, and cut down a stately walnut tree, sawed it into boards and solemnly stored them away for his coffin. Nature seemed to resent the insinuation, and the country became so healthy as to render his efforts useless. Before Mr. Greogory had an opportunity to die, William Logue came to Rockford with an abundance of undertaking supplies, and Mr. Gregory relegated the well seasoned boards to the loft of his barn. When the First church needed a pulpit, he brought forth his treasure of walnut and literally laid it on the altar. When the Centennial church was built, the historic desk given by the first class-leader was carefully taken apart, and fashioned into the beautiful piece of furniture upon which the Bible nowrests. Mr. Gregory lived more than forty years after this strange preparation for his burial; and that which was intended to encase a dead body, now holds the living word.
Canton was the seat of the conference in 1848, when Bishop Morris sent James C. Parks to Rockford. He was the first preacher who remained two years on this charge. During his first year, in 1849, the society built a "grout" parsonage on the corner lot just south of where the present parsonage stands. July 18, 1849, the annual conference was held at Rockford, with Bishop Janes presiding. Bishop Hamline presided at the conference in Plainfield, July 17, 1850. He assigned to Rockford, William P. Jones, who remained one year. He was succeeded by Francis A. Reed, who received his appointment
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