USA > Illinois > Stephenson County > History of Stephenson County, Illinois : a record of its settlement, organization, and three-quarters of a century of progress > Part 12
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In the year 1839 the people of Freeport were stricken with fevers of all va- rieties. It was one of the trying times of the early days, when doctors and medi- cines were almost a minus quantity and hospitals were not yet thought of. The crisis, however, brought out the splendid spirit of co-operation and neighborly kindness that happily prevailed. In regard to the "fever year," Mrs. Oscar Taylor says: "This year of '39 was remembered also as the fever year, when fevers, bilious, intermittent, remitting and I know not what else, visited the new-comers without partiality.
"Dr. Martin in his green overcoat, on horse-back with his saddle-bags, rode from farm to farm with little rest by night or day. I was the last member of my father's family to succumb to the fever, and the last to recover. As the weather was cold during my convalescence, and it was necessary that changes should be made in our house, Dr. Martin kindly arranged for me to be taken to Freeport
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Luther Guiteau. Mr. Guiteau, the merchant of the town, was keeping store where the Billerbeck building now stands."
Mrs. Taylor speaks as follows of the celebrating of the 4th of July, 1839: "To celebrate the glorious 4th, a number of farm wagons were mustered and the patriotically inclined drove off together into the country, not minding board seats and joltings, but full of merriment in their determination to honor the day. After the drive and return to town the Declaration of Independence was publicly read by Mr. Clark, and Mr. M. P. Sweet, whose eloquence as a public speaker was soon known through all this vicinity, made a stirring patriotic address. The celebration terminated in a dinner at the Mansion House, given by the proprietor, the father of Mr. Alpheus Goddard. This Mansion House is still standing where first built and is known today as the pop-factory.
MORMONS INVADE THE COUNTY.
In the year 1840, Stephenson County was deeply stirred by the Mormons. Joseph Smith and his followers having made temporary establishments in New York, Ohio and Missouri, had found surroundings unpleasant in the last named state and had built up a prosperous settlement at Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illi . nois. This town of Nauvoo was headquarters from which the Mormon mission- aries went out proselyting. They came into this county and held public meet- ings. These meetings were entirely respectable and were attended by some of the best people of the county, for Mormonism was not then understood. There was not much public speaking and exhortation. The agents of Mormonism be- lieved in individual work. They devoted their time mainly to personal interviews. They had great success elsewhere, especially in southern Illinois, but met with meagre result in Stephenson County. Hector C. Haight, of Jefferson township, and a man named Shumway, from the northern part of the county, joined them and went to Nauvoo. Haight and family followed the Mormons in the long pilgrimage across the plains to Salt Lake City. Nothing was heard from him for years, but finally word came back to Stephenson County that he had been very successful. He was well to do and was one of Brigham Young's advisors. In this matter of the Mormon invasion, this county manifested early what has always been one of its chief characteristics,-conservatism. The county has never been exceedingly emotional. It has not shown itself to be easily and en- thusiastically led first this way, then that. It is rather a stable society, pursuing the even tenor of its way, avoiding temporary and transient whims and fads.
In 1840, seven years after the first permanent settlement was made, Steph- enson County had a population of 2,800. Freeport at that time had a population of 49. There were then in the county, 9 saw mills and 5 grist mills. There were 10 schools with an attendance of 170 students.
Among the settlers who came after 1839, not including those who settled in Freeport, were the following:
Mr. Martin P. Sweet came to Freeport in 1840 and opened a law office. He was born in New York. He came to Winnebago County in 1837, at that time being a licensed Methodist minister. From 1840 until his death, he was a leader in this county. He took the stump for Wm. Henry Harrison, the log
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
cabin campaign of 1840. He was a candidate for congress in 1844 and was de- feated by Mr. Hoge, the Mormon from Hancock County. In 1850 he was again the Whig candidate, and made a great fight, but lost. As a lawyer, he was re- markably successful, and as an orator he had scarcely an equal in all the west. He was a self-made man. With the aid of his wife, he built his cabin-home in Winnebago County in 1837. He had the advantage of but little education. He made his way from the bottom to the top in his profession.
William Corning of English descent. He was a native of New Hamp- shire and at sixteen worked on a farm for $5.00 a month. Later he drove the stage from Londonderry and Fovel to Andover, Mars. In 1842 he caught the western fever and went to Galena where he secured a position as stage driver on the line from Galena to Freeport. He saved his earnings and bought a farm in West Point township, but did not quit the stage till 1853 when it was evident that the stage was to be replaced by the railroad.
In 1840 Oneco, in Oneco township, was platted and there were several men who believed that here was to be built up a great town. The town was laid out by John K. Brewster. It was the day of water power and Brewster believed that Honey Creek had great possibilities along this line. He believed the power sufficient to run several mills and that a town would be built around them. For two reasons, and more no doubt, the town never materialized. One was that the water power was not there, and the other was that Orangeville possessed good power. Thus another good paper town went the way of Ransomberg.
The stage line to Chicago was well established in 1840. It was the only regular means of communicating with the outside world. The arrival of each stage from Chicago was as much an event as the arrival of a train today in the small village. The signal of approach was the lusty notes of the stage bugler, and they were greeted with joy by the passengers of the stage, and with antici- pations by the town, most of which turned out to see the arrivals and to get the mail.
In 1839 and '40 the temperance wave that swept over America in 1830 to 1840 reached Freeport. A temperance society was organized in 1842 and held meet- ings in a room over a saloon on the corner of Chicago and Galena streets. Mr. Alpheus Goddard was a leader in the movement. It was on his invitation that. L. W. Guiteau went to Cedarville and made what is thought to be the first tem- perance address in the county. When the time arrived, Mr. Guiteau found it necessary to ride through a terrific snow storm to Cedarville, but he meant to keep his engagement, and went and delivered his address to a small but apprecia- tive audience. Among the leaders of the movement were John A. Clark and Rev. F. C. Winslow.
From 1840 to 1850 more professional men came into the county, more ław- yers and doctors, and likewise more merchants. Among the lawyers were Martin Sweet, Thomas J. Turner, Horatio C. Buchardt, and Oscar Taylor.
In 1844, Hon. John H. Adams came to Cedarville and bought the mill.
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
AFTER 1837.
Mathias Hettinger came to Freeport in 1841. He was a native of Keffenach, Alsace Loraine. He came to America in 1836, working at the wagon making trade in Williamsville, New York, for ten years. He lived a while at Canton, Ohio, and then was three years in Portsmouth, Ohio, manufacturing plows. After working as a journeyman at the wagon makers trade a few months in 184I, he opened a small shop, repairing and making wagons, buggies, etc. In 1865, he was influential in the organization of the German Insurance Company and was its first president. In 1876, he entered the banking business. He was one of the committee that erected the present courthouse. Mr. John Hoebel, of Phenish-Bavaria, came to Freeport in 1842. For several years he was in the shoe-making business. He served as city treasurer and was three times elected alderman.
Thomas W. Johnson who came from England to Freeport in 1839, worked in the store of D. A. Knowlton and received for his first year's work $50.00 and his board. He later became a well to do real estate dealer.
June II, 1838, O. H. Wright was granted a license to sell merchandise for one year, he paying $12.00 into the county treasury.
August 16, 1838, on sworn complaint of William Kirkpatrick, Richard Hunt and William Baker, against the county clerk, Wm. H. Hollenbeck, for want of qualifications and neglect of official duties, the commissioners removed him from office and appointed Richard Hunt as clerk.
The commissioners qualified in 1838 were L. W. Streator, Robert M. Mc- Connell and John Moore.
October 25, 1838, L. W. Guiteau was granted a permit to retail merchandise in Freeport, paying $5.00 to the county treasury.
December 4, 1838, O. H. Wright gave and took the oath of office of probate justice of the peace.
D. A. Knowlton was granted a permit to vend a retail merchandise March 16, 1839.
In June, 1839, grocer's license fee was raised to $200.00.
Financial statement of the commissioners in March, 1839, for years 1837 and 1838 to date :
Payments :
Orders issued for service ... ... $ 448.04
Orders issued and not redeemed. 154.99
Orders issued 91.55
Orders issued 121.28
To T. J. Turner, court house contract. 2,500.00
To Hollenbeck & Truax on jail. 750.00
To James, extra mason work on court house. 374.00
Total
$4,440.00
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
Receipts :
For licenses $ 200.00
For taxes, 1837 214.00
For taxes, 1838 94.50
From fines 78.00
Taxes due for 1838. 201.631/2
Fines due, not collected. 86.00
Bonus received from proprietors of Freeport. 3,707.51
Bonus due from proprietors of Freeport. 542.131/2
Total
$5,124.00
RICHARD HUNT, CLERK.
June 19, 1839, the commissioners passed an order : "Resolved, that it is in- cumbent upon the commissioners as special agent of the county, to take into their special possession the court house as it now stands, the contract having been, by said Turner, abandoned." The court house was said to have been completed in eighteen months, but the commissioners state, "said Turner has failed and absolutely refused to comply with the stipulations of the contract."
June 19, 1839, the commissioners advertised for bids for the completion of the court house.
June 19, 1839, the commissioners retained Thompson Campbell as attorney to bring suit vs. Thomas J. Turner and William Fitzpatrick on contract to build court house. For this service and for advice to the commissioners on other subjects, Campbell was to receive $100.00.
July 11, 1839, the commissioners entered into a contract with Richard Earl, with L. W. Guiteau security, to complete the outside of the court house for $1,000.
AN EARLY HOTEL.
Mr. Horace Tarbox, of New York, came to Freeport in 1841 and engaged in the hotel and livery business. In 1848 he completed a three-story stone hotel building at the corner of Chicago and Stephenson Streets. This hotel was opened to the public January 1, 1849, and called the "Winneshiek House." This was then credited with being the only first class hotel in the county. The opening was celebrated with a grand ball and was attended by people for miles around. The ball was one of the big social events of the decade.
Joseph B. Smith who came to Freeport in 1846, speaks of the society of the citizens as follows :
"The good fellowship that existed among the inhabitants of the small village in 1846 was remarkable in its social and friendly intercourse and the confidence maintained by the integrity of each other. No breaches of the peace for crimes of any magnitude were perpetrated. The doors of the dwellings were seldom locked; indeed many of them contained no locks at all. The merchants, whose stocks were limited to the necessities of the settlers, all were striving through honest effort to better their conditions."
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
A. T. Green, an early attorney and prominent citizen of Freeport, came in 1839. He walked from Rockford and sitting on a stump on a hill near Free- port, he counted just forty roofs of all, that being all there were at that time. James Hart came in 1836, his family arriving the next year. . Thomas Wilcoxen, of Georgia, made a prospecting tour through the county in 1835, following the Indian trails. In 1837, he settled on a claim near Cedarville.
O. P. McCool came into Stephenson County with his father in 1840, settling first in Lancaster, then in Harlem.
THE PEOPLE VERSUS SHIN-PLASTERS.
December 18, 1852, a public meeting was held at the office of William Pres- ton to adopt measures calculated to suppress the circulation of illegal currency or "shin-plasters." Mr. Preston was elected chairman, and John S. Emmert, secre- tary. The following committee was appointed: John Black, John K. Brew- ster, W. P. Hunt, E. H. Hyde, Warren Clark, S. D. Knight, J. A. W. Donahoo, I. Stoneman, Thomas Egan, G. W. Maynard and William Sanford. Resolutions were adopted urging the people to discountenance the circulation of all but specie paying bank notes.
THE TOWN BELL.
In October, 1853, the Freeport Journal made a strenuous complaint because the town bell ceased to ring. The Journal editor said he understood it had ceased because the sexton felt that his pay was too small. "Who will take hold of the matter," asks the Journal.
MANNY REAPER WINS OVER McCORMICK.
The Journal of December 3, 1852, expresses great joy because the Manny Reaper won a gold medal at the annual fair of the Chicago Mechanics Institute, over the McCormick Reaper.
In 1853, September, the following were elected town trustees: Peter B. Fos- ter, William D. Oyler, Jacob Mayor, Frederick Baker, and William D. Smith.
April 15, 1853, the Freeport Journal says the following lawyers attended the meeting of the circuit court: Turner, Betts, Clark, Goodhue, Bright, Mea- cham, Burke and Kean of Freeport and Marsh, Loop, Brown and Burnap of Rockford and Dutcher of Ogle.
THE FIRST CIRCUS.
It was in June of 1842 that Freeport had a touch of real life in the form of a circus. The first show grounds were on the site of the old Fremont House. Settlers for miles around came in and Freeport established a reputation as a good circus town, a reputation that holds good with a vengeance to date. This first circus did not come in a special train, but it was a "great success" and the box office of Levi North, the manager, was liberally patronized.
TRIPP BOY LOST.
A boy lost in the woods in 1842 caused considerable excitement. The boy's name was Tripp, and he had gone out to the woods along Yellow Creek to
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
hunt butternuts. His companions were evidently full of the "Wild West" and sought to have some fun by frightening him. One of the boys with a buffalo robe represented a panther and this with the cries of the other boys cause young Tripp to take to the woods. He became separated from his companions and soon lost his way. At night the party returned, but without young Tripp. Next day a meeting of citizens was held and a committee on horses searched the woods for the lost boy. The committee kept up the search for several days and nights and finally found the lad three miles from his starting point. The boy was ex- hausted and almost starved. He soon recovered and the affair that caused so much commotion was soon dropped.
THE FIRST BRICK BUILDING.
The first brick building was erected in Freeport about 1842. Just where the first one was erected and the exact date can not be definitely determined. As usual several claims are put forward. One claim refers to a residence of David Clay at the corner of Bridge and Van Buren streets. Another refers to a brick residence built at the corner of Galena and Cherry streets, about 1845, by John Perkins. Still another points to a one-story brick building at the corner of Stephenson and Mechanic streets. In 1846 Mr. A. T. Green built a brick build- ing at the corner of Stephenson and Chicago streets. The first three-story brick building was that built on Stephenson street by O. H. Wright and used as a store and warehouse. In 1848, Mr. Horace Tarbox, who came to Free- port and established a hotel and livery business, built a large three-story stone building at the corner of Chicago and Stephenson streets. This was used by Mr. Tarbox as a hotel. It was torn down in i874. By 1840 other good build- ings were erected by D. A. Knowlton, George Purrington, E. Rosenstiel, Wil- liam Glover, Emmert & Strohm, I. C. Stoneman and others.
In 1849 the first church building was erected in Freeport, on the present site of the Y. M. C. A. building. The church was to be 40x65 and was built of stone and brick and cost $460.00. Owing to difficulties, the building was not completed until 1851. In 1851 the Second Presbyterians and the Methodists built churches. In 1850, December 25, the First Baptist church was built where the German Catholic church now stands. The Episcopal church was built in 1852. The first Catholic church building was erected near the present site of St. Mary's church in 1854.
Early in the fifties Plymouth Block, at the corner of Van Buren and Steph- enson streets was built and the people of Freeport were proud of the structure. The building had served its purpose and gave way in 1868 to the present Wil- coxen building. In 1852 the Union school was built at a cost of $3,000 on the site of the present high school.
WATER POWER RIGHTS.
In 1846 O. H. Wright and E. S. Hanchett by act of the Legislature incor- porated the Hydraulic & Manufacturing Company of Stephenson County. The charter gave Wright & Hanchett legal right to build a dam across the Pecatonica
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
River. The race was built by Jacob Zimmerman under the direction of John Lerch. The race was 900 feet wide and 6 feet deep. In 1847 Hanchett built a saw mill on the site of the old Goddard flour mill. The mill was built of logs, square-hewed with the ax.
ENGLISH COLONY-RIDOTT.
In 1842, Stephenson County was still one of the localities of Northern Illi- nois that was attractive to the immigrants from the East. About this time the unsettled political condition of Europe was the cause of considerable emigration to America. The free public land system of America by which the landless of the old world could easily become owners of large farms, appealed to the ten- ants of England especially. Just as the Norwegians in 1839 had sent an agent to look over the public lands of America and pick out a location in 1842, farmers in England appointed a man of their own number to visit the United States and select a favorable site for settlement. This.agent crossed the United States to Illinois, came out on the Frink and Walker stage and after making con- siderable investigation, was especially pleased with the surroundings in Ridott township and, writing to England, advised the colony to settle there. He ex- plained to the English farmers the advantages of this county. The farmers began at once to make preparations for the journey. They looked to America as the country of opportunity and about twenty-two of them left their native land August 28, 1842, to cross the continent of America to find new homes. They came from that strong class of Englishmen that has always been the basis of England's successes in war and peace. They were skilled in agriculture. The descendants of many of these people are yet to be found in this county and, though assimilated in the mass of our population, they have added something of enduring value to the character of the population of Stephenson County.
An attempt was made to operate the colony on the community of interest plan. No doubt, they were influenced by the teachings of Robert Owen, who had brought out a colony of Englishmen and founded New Harmony, Indiana.
After two years the colony was broken up by withdrawals, some going on farther west. The settlers came into other parts of the county in 1842, but no- where, not even in Freeport, in such numbers as in Ridott township. In fact, there was considerable disappointment because the population did not increase fast enough to meet the expectations of the people.
By this time trade was turned largely to Chicago. The lead mine markets had fallen and Chicago offered the additional inducement of newly arrived immi- grants who wanted to be transported to this section. This was cash business and very acceptable to farmers on the return trip.
THE WALLACE SUICIDE.
A suicide broke the even tenor of the life of the people in 1841. An old man, William Wallace, had settled in the county in 1836. From his peculiar actions the people who knew him regarded him as insane. Little was known about the man and his history. In one of his melancholy moods, he hanged him-
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
self to a tree near the village of Rock Grove. His dead body was found swing- ing from a limb by some boys who were out hunting for cows in the "common." The boys carried the news to the settlers, who hastened to the place, cut down the unfortunate man and buried him near the spot of his own execution. The suicide caused quite a ripple of excitement over the county.
THE BOARDMAN MURDER.
The year 1843 brought the first murder in the county after its incorpora- tion. The tragedy occurred on a farm in Rock Grove township owned then by Daniel Noble. Boardman was a hired man employed by Noble. As the story goes, one day in the fall of 1843, Noble and Boardman with their guns started off on a hunt. The two were gone several days, when Noble returned without Boardman. Noble explained that Boardman had gone in the direction of Wis- consin, being discouraged with the prospect in Rock Grove township. Board- man gave a watch to Noble and asked him to tell Mrs. Boardman that when he was located in a new home he would return for his wife.
The winter and spring passed and Noble's story of Boardman's disap- pearance was not questioned, largely because of the character of the relations apparently existing between the two men. Early in the summer, a Mr. Marsh, a neighbor of Noble, discovered the remains of a man in the brush. The skull showed evidence of violence, and Marsh severing it from the body, took it to Noble's farm and in the presence of many men exhibited the "find" to Noble. Suspicion already under current, was strengthened against Noble because of his appearance and conduct when confronted with the skull. It was agreed that Noble should be arrested the following day, or just as soon as a warrant could be secured from Justice Frankenberger. Noble took time by the forelock, how- ever, and that night disappeared, leaving his wife with her father in Ogle County. He was last heard of at Dixon, and was never found or arrested. Consequently the story of the murder has never been told.
GERMAN COLONY.
A colony of Germans settled in Ridott township in 1850. Henry and Daniel Brick had come to America in 1844 from Germany. H. Frylings came from Hanover in 1850. John Heeren of Asuaisvaland, and Ulrich Boomgaarden from Hanover in 1850. Balster Jelderks, Jacob Molter, Fokke Rewerts and Michael Van Oosterloo came from Germany the same year. In 1852 among many others, the following joined the German colony in Ridott township: Henry Borchers, Bearnd Groveneveld, Peter Herrmann, Charles Rohkar, Henry Scheffner, John Scheffner, Abram Schleich and Edward Weik. Niel Johnson came from Han- over in 1853. Mathias Timms in 1854 and John Rademaker in 1855. Michael Bardell came from Alsace in 1845, having landed in America in 1841. Adam Fisher came from Bavaria in 1858.
1844-50.
It was not all peace and happiness in the county at this periol. The early . surveys were extremely faulty. Many corner stones were never set at all, and
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SUAR BAND BEFORE :
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OUR BAND BEFORE THE WAR
1. E. Balluff
2. W. II. Wagner
3. J. Kneff
4. II. Baier
7. J. Luecke
5. Mr. Johnson S. J. Rotzler
6. . J. Deckler
LILAARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
others were incorrectly placed. The surveys were especially faulty along the river. Claims overlapped and when the adjustments came to be made in 1844 to 1850, much strife arose among contesting claimants. Neighborhood contro- versies in which the people took sides waxed furiously. Much bad blood was stirred up and feuds were developed that continued long after the source of the conditions had disappeared. As land values increased and improvements were made, the controversies increased in fury. It is claimed to this day that some lands along the river are still government lands, but farmed by men who own adjacent farms.
THE WAR WITH MEXICO.
Stephenson County had not been organized ten years when the war with Mexico began in 1846. The war grew out of the annexation of Texas, losses of Americans by Mexican depredations, and a dispute over the boundary line of Texas. Mexico claimed that the Nueces River was the boundary, but Presi- dent Polk and Texas insisted that the boundary extended to the Rio Grande. Some Americans were slain in the disputed territory and Polk sent General Zachary Taylor with an army of about 2500 men to the Rio Grande. Polk's war message, "American blood has been spilled on American soil!" aroused the fighting spirit of Americans and the wave of warlike enthusiasm spread into the sparsely settled communities of Stephenson County.
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