USA > Illinois > Stephenson County > History of Stephenson County, Illinois : a record of its settlement, organization, and three-quarters of a century of progress > Part 13
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The call for volunteers included a call for three regiments from Illinois. Enthusiasm ran high in this county and mass meetings of men from all parts of the county was held in the court house at Freeport. Major John Howe was chairman of the meeting. Stirring, patriotic addresses were made by S. B. Far- well and Hon. Thomas J. Turner. Several enlistments were the result, and these with enlistments that came in from almost every community, soon ex- ceeded the demand. In all, about twenty-five men enlisted and went into the war. One of these, William Goddard, won the rank of Captain. The Stephen- son County enlistments were placed in the company of Captain Mckinney of Dixon, and it is believed formed a part of the second regiment of Illinois soldiers, under command of J. L. D. Morrison, of St. Clair County. The regi- ment was mustered on July 2, 1846, and after taking part in the battle of Buena Vista and other battles returned to Springfield, June 4, 1847.
The Stephenson County volunteers then returned home and were accorded an enthusiastic reception. Mass meetings and dinners were given in their honor, and eloquent toasts and patriotic addresses, full of praise of the men who had fought under "Old Rough and Ready" welcomed the returning heroes. Another call for troops came in 1847 and met with a similar response, but the war soon closed by Scott's capture of the City of Mexico.
The war confirmed the annexation of Texas and annexed California, New Mexico, Arizona and part of Nevada, Colorado and Utah. Right or wrong in its inception, the Mexican War was right in its results. It rounded out nicely the boundary of the United States, gave us a harbor on the Pacific Coast, and gave over to Anglo Saxon civilization a great territory, the development and govern- ment of which was impossible under the control of the incompetent descendants of the Spaniard.
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
AFTER 1837.
Abraham Gund came to Stephenson County from Baden in 1847. Three years later he made the trip to California and there engaged in his trade of blacksmithing. He succeeded fairly well prospecting and returned to this county in 1855. His California earnings were lost in a St. Louis Bank failure, but he struggled on and soon bought the old homestead in Silver Creek township. He served the county as a member of the board of supervisors and county treas- urer. George and Sophia Gund, parents of Frederick and Abraham Gund came to America in 1848 settling in Silver Creek township where they died of cholera in 1850.
NEWSPAPERS.
In November, 1847, the first newspaper printed in the county came off the press. This was the Prairie Democrat, founded by Hon. Thomas J. Turner, and edited by Mr. S. D. Carpenter. The business of the paper was first con- ducted in a room in the old court house. Later it was published in a frame building at the corner of Galena and Chicago streets and then to the corner of Stephenson and Chicago streets. J. A. P. Burnside succeeded Mr. Carpen- ter, Mr. George P. Ordway running the paper the year of 1852. In 1853 with a new press and new type the paper changed its name and since that date has ap- peared as the Freeport Bulletin. For a time the bulletin was run by Bagg and Brawley and in 1861 was sold to Giles & Scroggs. The paper, from 1847 to 1861, had enjoyed a good patronage and was of great influence on the county.
In politics, the Prairie Democrat and the Bulletin were consistently Demo- cratic. Mr. Turner's aim in establishing the Democrat was to have an organ which would aid him and his party in managing the politics of the county. Democratic successes from 1847 to 1860 were very auspicious for the welfare of the Democratic paper.
The Prairie Democrat of 1847 contained its own ad as follows:
PRAIRIE DEMOCRAT.
Published Weekly.
Freeport, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 1848.
Terms-Single copy, if paid in advance or within two
months from the time of subscribing. $ 2.00
If paid within the year. 2.50
The usual rates will be charged to village subscribers who receive their papers per carrier.
5 copies to one post office, in advance. 9.10
Io copies to one post office, in advance. 17.50
20 copies to one post office, in advance. 30.00
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
Job and Advertising Prices.
For 100 half sheet bills. $ 4.00
For 100 half sheet bills per 100, over 100. 1.50
For quarter sheet bills. 2.00
For quarter sheet bills, per 100, over 300. 1.00
All bills less than quarter sheet per 100. 2.00
For Blanks per quire. .75 cts 1.00
For Cards, per pack. 1.00
For Cards per pack, each additional pack. -75
Ball tickets-one, two, three and.
5.00
Bills with borders and all fancy jobs charged extra.
Advertising-One square one insertion
1.00
each additional insertion
.50
one month 2.00
three months
3.50
six months 6.00
one year 10.00
Patent Medicines one column per year. 50.00
Cards not exceeding six lines per year. 5.00
Job and Book printing of all kinds neatly executed at this office.
All communications and advertisements should be left at the office as early as Saturday next preceding a publication, in order to insure a publication the next week.
N. B. Advertisements should be marked the number of inser- tions required, or they will be continued until forbid, and charged accordingly.
The first issue of the Freeport Journal appeared November 22, 1848. The paper was a six column weekly folio. The Journal was founded by H. G. Gratton and A. McFadden. The "office" was an old building at the corner of Broadway and Beaver streets. After a year the Journal was published in a frame building on Galena street, between Walnut and South Galena Avenue. The next place of publication was north of the courthouse and in 1855 the Jour- nal was housed in Martin's block on Stephenson street between Van Buren and Chicago streets. In 1852 the Journal expanded and became a seven column folio, and appeared in a new dress. Mr. Hiram Sheetz, who had purchased a part interest in 1851, became sole proprietor in 1853. Mr. Sheetz sold the paper to Judson and McClure in 1856, who conducted the paper the next ten years.
THE ANZEIGER.
In 1853 the Deutscher Anzeiger was founded by William Wagner, Sr., assisted by William Wagner, Jr. From 1853 to the present time, the Anzeiger has been the property of the Wagner family. Mr. Wagner purchased a printing outfit at Galena and began with a four page, five column weekly. The office was located in the third story of the Wright building on the northeast corner of Stephenson and Adam street. In 1854 the paper was domiciled at No. 8 South Galena Avenue. The paper was printed by a hand press. For a time
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
on account of limited means, the paper was published by amateur type setters. In 1855 the office was moved to the third story of the Rosenstiel building, now 93 Stephenson street. In 1859 Mr. William H. Wagner, the present publisher and editor, became foreman of the mechanical department. As an apprentice, he had mastered the mechanical part of the newspaper business.
The Anzeiger waxed strong because it had a hard fight for existence and because of the ability and persistence of the Wagners. The circulation increased rapidly and had always been a boon to the German settlers, who came out from the Fatherland. Among these people the paper has exercised a powerful influence which it holds to this day.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION-1859-1860.
A different form of county government was established in 1850. From 1837. the date of the first county organization, to 1850 the county was governed by three commissioners. The first commissioners were Lemuel G. Streator, Isaac Forbes and Julius Smith. Such a system was entirely adequate in the early days. But with rapidly growing population, a different plan, better adapted to present conditions, was to be desired.
The Constitutional Convention of 1848 provided for township organization in case the voters of the county desired it. The Legislature of 1849 provided fur- ther that at the next general election the counties should vote on the proposition of township organization. There was some opposition in Stephenson County to the proposed change. Public opinion, however, was strongly in favor of it, and the opposition was too weak to make much of a contest. The result of the election of November 5, 1849, was :
For township government 973
Against township government 99
Total votes cast 1,072
The above vote indicates the result of a one-sided contest.
At the election of 1849, Hon. George Purrington was elected county judge. The county court met in December, Judge Purrington presiding. Levi Robey, Robert Foster and Erastus Torrey were appointed to mark off the county into townships. After considerable investigation the three commissioners made their report, having provided for the following townships: Rock Grove, Oneco, Win- slow, West Point, Waddams, Buck Eye, Rock Run, Freeport, Lancaster, Har- lem, Erin, Loran, Florence, Silver Creek and Ridott, in all, fifteen townships. Commissioner Torrey desired to change the name Harlem to Wayne, but the report had been adopted and the change was not made.
November 5, 1850, the following men were elected supervisors: Lancaster, Johnathan Reitzell; Rock Run, C. G. Edley; Rock Grove, James J. Rogers ; Oneco, George Cadwell; Winslow, Cornelius Judson; Waddams, Michael Law- ver ; Buck Eye, Montelius ; West Point, Daniel Wilson; Harlem, William M. Buckley; Erin, John I. F. Harmon; Florence, Conrad Van Brocklin; Ridott, Gustavus A. Farwell; Silver Creek, Samuel McAffee; Freeport, E. S. Hanchett ; and Loran, Hiram Hart.
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
Three additional townships were added later. In 1856, March 17, Kent Township was formed by dividing Erin. The division of Erin aroused intense feeling, says an early history, because the residents of Erin were deprived of superior wood and water advantages. In 1859 the citizens of the west half of Loran Township petitioned for independent organization and Jefferson Township was formed by the commissioners. nI September, 1860, Dakota Township was formed out of the east half of Buckeye, because of the infinite inconvenience and vexation of spirit caused by the residents being compelled to go to a distant place to cast the ballot.
At the first meeting of the Board of Supevisors, November 1I, 1850, John I. F. Harmon was elected chairman. Hanchett of Freeport was not present and failed to qualify. Thereupon, John K. Brewster was appointed supervisor for Freeport Township.
FREEPORT A TOWN-1850.
From its settlement to 1850 Freeport was governed as a village. From its first settlement in 1835 by William Baker to 1850, Freeport had grown slowly to a population of 1486. In 1840 the village had a population of forty-nine. In the year 1850 there arose a general desire to have the old village organization sup- planted by a town organization. During the summer that year the place was in- corporated as a town under the laws of the state of Illinois. At the election held later in the year, the following persons were elected town trustees: Thomas J. Turner, Julius Smith, John K. Brewster, John Rice and Joseph B. Smith. The town organization seems to have satisfied the ambitions of the pioneers of the future city till about 1855, when the town organization gave way to city gov- ernment under the State Charter.
CENSUS OF 1850.
..
December 27, 1850, Mr. Oscar Taylor published his report of the census in the Journal :
Freeport
1,436
Buck Eye
1,27I
Waddams 1,160
Rock Run
1,037
Erin
886
882 Oneco
Lancaster
835
Rock Grove
727
Loran
654
Ridott
652
Silver Creek
603
Florence 444
Harlem
444
Winslow
384
West Point
250
Total in County in 1850
11,666
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
Total in County in 1845 6,344
Total in County in 1840 2,869
The city of Galena in 1850 had a population of 5, 986, and Jo Daviess County 18,466.
The census of 1850 showed that the 11,666 inhabitants of Stephenson County were born in:
Pennsylvania · 3,360
Illinois 2,826
New York 1,485
Ohio
981
Vermont
263
Indiana
177
Virginia
III
Massachusetts
103
Connecticut
83
New Hampshire
68
Kentucky
68
Wisconsin
63
Maryland
57
Michigan
54
New Jersey
47
Tennessee
25
Rhode Island
24
North Carolina
19
Iowa
15
Maine
IO
Delaware
6
South Carolina
5
Missouri
4
Georgia
2
Alabama
I
Total
·9,827
Germany
821
Ireland
409
Canada
320
England
206
Norway
37
France
23
Scotland
9
Nova Scotia
5
New Brunswick
3
Wales
3
Switzerland
I
Brazil
I
West Indies
I
Total in County
.11,666
103
HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
ASIATIC CHOLERA, 1850-1852.
The people of Stephenson County, and especially the people of Freeport, suffered from an epidemic of Asiatic Cholera in 1850. People were unprepared to fight such a plague. It made rapid inroads on the population and, though all common remedies and specifics were applied, the patient usually died. The physicians were not familiar with the disease and had no experience in treat- ing it. The neighborhood of Nevada, Ridott Township, Kirkpatrick's Mills, and Freeport suffered most. A traveler through the county at the time said that there was hardly a family on the old state road in which there was not one of its members down with cholera, dying or buried.
But the people stood loyally by. The sick were cared for by physicians, and nurses and neighbors hurriedly buried the dead. Duty was stronger than fear of the dread disease, and a splendid heroism was manifested among the people who time and again took their lives in their hands, in caring for their neighbors. The towns were practically abandoned and business was at a stand- still. In 1852, the plague returned and wrought great havoc. In 1854 it again appeared, but was soon stamped out by the physicians who had learned how to treat it.
There was practically a decrease in the population of the county from 1850 to 1852. Emigrants went on through or around the county and settled else- where. Many went back east and others who had prepared to come west remained at the old homes in the east. It was a hard blow and checked, for a time, the growth of the county.
The following by Mrs. Oscar Taylor who lived through the period gives a better idea of actual conditions :
"With a sense of security in the present everyone was looking forward to a time of continued prosperity when suddenly, in 1850, across the sunshine of our hopes fell the black shadow of the terrible visitation of cholera, remembered still with a shudder by all who can look back to it. Like a thief in the night it came, striking first in a house near the head of the creek crossing the town. In a home where five were living the day before, in the morning all were dead except an infant. The woman who took this child, died two days later. A great horror settled over the community. The paralysis of fear added greatly to the danger from the disease, and an attack meant in most cases death. The physicians were almost as ignorant of the treatment for cholera as were the citizens. No nurses were to be had and the victims were dependent on friends and neighbors for care. When quaking with fear we were often called upon to minister to the dying, or to prepare the dead for burial. And we mothers, as we closed for the last time the eyes of some neighbor's child, thought with sickening dread of the morrow for our own little ones. Not often was there a funeral service. The dead were taken quickly to the cemetery by the old sexton, Giles Taylor. As far as business went the week days were like Sun- days and country people were afraid to come near the infected town. When the shadow lifted with the end of summer, one-tenth of the population of Free- port had been taken away. The experience was not lost upon our physicians,
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
however, for when cholera came here again in '54 it was much more success- fully treated."
Most of the cholera victims in Freeport were along the creek. Eighteen deaths occurred in one day in Freeport. Among the more prominent phy- sicians were Dr. Chancellor Martin, Dr. L. A. Mease, Dr. F. J. Hazlet, and Dr. Robert H. Van Valzah.
Calamities seldom come singly. It is maintained that while the county was under the ban on account of the dreadful result of the cholera, the people suf- fered a renewal of thieving and rowdyism. An old settler told the following story as an illustration : "A gentleman traveling from St. Louis to Buffalo, via stage from Galena of Freeport, was taken ill with cholera at the hotel in Freeport. It was quite well known that the stranger had money and he was carefully watched by the proprietor of the hotel. One afternoon he walked about the town to regain his strength. That night he had a relapse and died. Examination of his effects showed that $6,000 had disappeared. He was buried in the old cemetery near where Keene's Canning Factory now stands. His relatives traced his travels and years later came to Freeport to remove the body, but the grave had not been marked and the effort was fruitless."
The census of September, 1853, by Giles L. Taylor, for the school directors was:
Males of all ages. 1,569
Females of all ages 1,359
Total
2,926
Children under 21 1,233
THE FORTY-NINERS-THE GOLD FEVER.
In 1849 the California gold fever struck Stephenson County. It produced the same excitement here as elsewhere and almost one hundred left the county that year to cross the plains to the gold fields. Old and young and men of all profes- sions and vocations joined the mad rush for immediate wealth. Outfits and sup- plies were loaded into wagons and those drawn by horses and ox teams joined the caravans from other sections, and began the long and tiresome journey half across a continent. Many men, not over-conservative, put all their eggs in this one basket. It was a long chance at best, and fraught with difficulties, privation and danger. Some died on the way. Others pressed on to certain failure. A few were fortunate and some became permanent settlers in the west, and rose to distinction in the farther west. One of them, Cameron Hunt, became gov- ernor of Colorado. Loved ones and friends at home were compelled to wait long for news, sometimes sad, often not reassuring and seldom good. In all, almost 200 men, mainly young men, left the county for the west. Men of means, who did not go, furnished outfits, for others in return for an agreement to share the profits. But the gold fields were far away and these men seldom realized on the investment.
The purchase of supplies made business in the county good for the time, but the ultimate effect was bad. The county could ill afford to spare at that date
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
so many vigorous men. Smaller crops were cultivated; trade was slow and times were dull.
Among the men who went to the gold fields were: John Walz, B. T. Buckley, Charles Willet, William Vore, John Kirkpatrick, Elnus Baker, John Mease, O. Weaver, J. W. Shaffer, Alfred Caldwell, William Patterson, Mr. Shutz, P. C. Shaffer, Joseph Carey, Charles Bogar, S. B. Farwell, Joseph Quest, William Young, Robert Hammond, Charles O'Neal, Horatio Hunt, Cameron Hunt and others.
49ERS.
William Preston, who settled in the county in 1838, drove an ox team to Cali- fornia in 1848. Walking all the way except about 250 miles. He made a stake in California and went by steamer to the Isthmus of Panama. He walked from Panama to the River Chagras, and went by boat down that river to Chagris, then to Havana, then to New Orleans and up the Mississippi to Galena, arriv- ing home by stage in 1851.
The Journal of June 11, 1850, had an able editorial on the effect of the Free-trade Tariff of 1845. It says, "Furnaces are everywhere closing, mines are everywhere being vacated, and the course of things seems to turn towards the abandonment of these industries. We trust that Congress will speedily set- tle the slavery question and hasten to the relief of the manufactures, the with- holding of which cannot much longer be endured."
In 1851 the Legislature passed an act providing for a new judicial circuit, embracing the counties of Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Winnebago.
About March 21, 1851, two gentlemen with a team visited farmers north of Freeport and secured samples of wheat with the evident idea of purchasing. While there they passed counterfeit bills.
WHIG CELEBRATION, 1849.
March 5, 1849, the whigs of Stephenson County held a celebration of the election of Taylor and Fillmore. Every part of the county was represented. "The day was ushered in by a national salute of 30 guns. John A. Clark was president of the day, and Hubbard Graves, M. M. Woodin, Dr. Cutler and Lorin Snow were vice presidents. Hon. Martin Sweet, was the orator of the day. After the speech "which was of great force and eloquence and charmed a de- lighted auditory," over 100 sat down to a sumptuous dinner at the Stephenson County Hotel. After dinner, toasts were given and letters read. Besides 13 regular toasts, 23 voluntary toasts were given among which were those by Charles Betts, L. W. Guiteau, Hubbard Graves, Oscar Taylor, Dr. Martin, M. P. Sweet, E. H. Hatchett, Julius Smith.
It was a big day for the whigs.
POLITICS.
In 1849, the whig county convention, according to the Journal, laid aside party politics, and nominated the following ticket: For county judge, Major
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
John Howe; associate judges, Samuel F. Dodds and Josiah Clingman; clerk of county court, Hubbard Graves; school commissioner, L. W. Guiteau; sur- veyor, Cyrus Clingman; treasurer, Asabel Rice. The democrats were success- ful and elected the following: George Purinton, judge; William Preston, clerk; Johnathan Reitzell, treasurer; school commissioner, L. W. Guiteau, whig. In Freeport, Julius Smith and F. W. S. Brawley were elected justices and James B. Barr and Frederick Baker constables.
Colonel Thomas J. Turner was a "Wilmot Proviso" democrat in Congress. He was once stigmatised by the southern leaders as one of the "thirteen fan- atics" for resisting the Walker amendment.
VARIOUS ITEMS OF INTEREST.
SOCIAL.
The Journal thus describes a party held at the Freeport House, Monday, January 14, 1850:
"This was truly a fine affair-the arrangements were all in excellent taste, the company large and highly respectable, and an abundance of agreeable ex- citement to render the occasion pleasant and interesting. And the music-that was a little ahead of anything mortal ear has ever listened to before. Could it have been surpassed? No Ole Bull could have discoursed sweeter music than did the venerable Charley on that magic instrument of his, neither could a Ned Kendall haye immortalized himself where Leonard is with that post horn, unsurpassed for richness and sweetness of tone. And then there was Gitchell, the king of players, sweet, a regular triumph with his clarinet, and last, though not least, the juvenile Dutchman, with his father of fiddles. He is some, though we dare not attmept to tell how much." "
FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION IN FREEPORT, 1851.
Freeport celebrated the Fourth of July as follows in 1851 :
"The procession followed a band to a grove near the public square. Wash- ington's Monument was sung by the choir in a very beautiful and impressive style."
Prayer by Chaplain M. P. Sweet.
Reading of the Declaration of Independence by H. Bright in a manner cal- culated to awaken memories of 1776.
An eloquent, instructive and patriotic address by F. W. S. Brawley, Esq .: the profound attention with which it was listened to is the best testimony of its excellence; and the repeated demonstrations of applause, the best evidence that the hearts of the American people are still susceptible to impressions from "thoughts that breathe and words that burn."
The Union Forever, sung by the choir.
The procession then marched to the tables where a sumptuous dinner was spread by D. B. Packer, the host of the Winneshiek House, with the choicest viands and the luxuries of the season.
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
The following regular toasts were then offered by the toast committee con- sisting of John A. Clark, J. D. Turner and Charles Powell:
I. The 31 stars of our glorious Constitution-may they forever move in harmony around one common center. .
2. The heroes of the Revolution-the heritage of their graves can not be divided.
3. The memory of George Washington.
4. The President of the United States.
5. The Governor of the State of Illinois.
6. The Army and the Navy of the United States.
7. The Heroes of the Mexican War-we delight to honor them.
8. The Constitution and the Union.
9. Freeport, the city of the seven hills-may she, like Rome, her great prototype-be eternal.
10. The ladies-we are their servants.
Several voluntary toasts were given.
President of the day, Julius Smith ; secretary, T. E. Champion."
AGRICULTURAL MEETING.
A Stephenson County agriculture society was organized in Freeport, Feb- ruary 23, 1854. Over 150 farmers were present. All sections of the county were represented except Rock Grove and Winslow. The following were elected officials : President, O. W. Brewster; vice president, Luman Montague ; secretary, John A. Davis; treasurer, Wm. M. Buckley; corresponding secre- tary, Wm. Preston.
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