USA > Illinois > Stephenson County > History of Stephenson County, Illinois : a record of its settlement, organization, and three-quarters of a century of progress > Part 14
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March 13, 1854, a Freeport public meeting indorsed the movement for an Illinois industrial university and recommended Professor J. B. Turner of Jack- sonville as the first state superintendent of schools of Illinois.
MEETING OF SOLDIERS OF WAR OF 1812.
May 3, 1854, the veterans of the War of 1812 held a meeting at the court- house in Freeport. The meeting was addressed by T. F. Goodhue, Wm. Baker, and David Niles. Resolutions were passed asking for pensions in cash, instead of land. The following old soldiers were present: David Niles, Joseph Norris, James Van Velt, Marcus Carpenter, Jacob Klontz, Abraham Cole, Jacob Mor- ris, Ira H. Sturtevant, George McCoy, William Baker, E. H. Shumway, John Malone, Geo. Lattig, Jos. Van Meter, Mary Walter (widow of Aaron Walter), Josiah Smith, Henry Shepherd and Thomas Matteson.
David Niles was chairman and Henry Shepherd secretary.
TEMPERANCE IN 1854.
One of the organizations of Freeport in 1854 was the Maine Law Alli- ance. The purpose of this organization was to secure law enforcement and to elevate the moral standing of the city. The Freeport Journal, January 12, 1854,
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said, "The organization of the Maine Law Alliance we regard as one of the best movements on the part of the friends of temperance, and the enemies of the liquor traffic, that has ever been made in our community. It has instilled new life and energy into the hearts of those who for years have been offering but a feeble resistance to the frightful and rapid advance of this destructive vice. That there is an urgent necessity for such an organization, few can doubt when they contemplate the unexampled wretchedness and misery the liquor traffic produces; the demoralization that inseparably attends it, resulting in the increase of our poor and county taxes, the spread of crime and debauch- ery, and the death of its innumerable victims. We hail the Alliance, believing that it will have a tendency to check and ultimately abolish this evil from our midst."
January 5, 1854, the Journal had a 3/4 column editorial on "Home Manu- factures," in part as follows: "The remark is sometimes made that Freeport is not a manufacturing town, but we are certain that one branch thrives wonder- fully among us. We mean the manufacture of drunkards and gamblers. A license can be got to sell liquor for $50. A room with screens, gaudy painted window curtains, lascivious pictures, and a bar set out with rows of glittering bottles and tumblers, gives the front view. A little whiskey and some papers of logwood and other healthy drugs, make brandy, wine, gin, rum, of the best quality. Behind, is the gambling room. The raw material are young and innocent boys. At first the novice is shy. He will take a cigar, then a dish of oysters with some ale, next joins a game of euchre to see wno treats, and becomes familiar with the tainted moral air of the place. Every step of ns downward course is encouraged by the men who profit by his ruin. A young man in Freeport is in peril. The fact is, it is safer here to destroy a young man's soul, than it is in Rockford to kill his body.
We should have a reading room for the boys, a lecture course. Yes, it will take money, but is money the God for which we are made. You men of busi- ness may hoard up your money, now, but the day will come when, if it is locked up against such uses, it will eat like a canker of your happiness."
Freeport had a 2/3 majority vs. saloons in the spring of 1855.
A city ordinance was passed prohibiting retailing liquors and permitting only gallon sales. The Journal urged the enforcement of the law, but the attempt was abandoned.
REAL ESTATE.
A boosting pamphlet on Freeport issued in 1857, in speaking of the advan- tages of northern Illinois, says: "As the traveler comes west from Chicago, he will find but little that is inviting until he approaches Elgin on the Fox River. When he approaches Marengo and is conveyed through the center of Garden Prairie, he begins to see some of the loveliest portions of the western country and as he passes through the flourishing town of Belvidere, his admira- tion for the prairie land will be in no wise diminished. The face of the country is a little more uneven, and the soil is allowed to be richer between the Rock River and the Mississippi. Throughout Stephenson County the land is suffi-
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ciently rolling to make the prospect diversified without being detrimental to agriculture. The soil is so rich that few farmers have begun to think of ro- tating their crops.
Land as fertile as any in existence can be bought for $12 to $25 an acre, and in an ordinary season will produce almost enough to pay for its cost. The truth is, that aside from the difference in cost of transportation of its crops, an acre of land in Stephenson County (1857) is worth just as much as an acre of land "away down east." The eastern farmer who will canvass this matter thoroughly, can not resist this conclustion, and he who sells his farm at the east and comes among us and buys three acres for one and finds himself to all in- tents and purposes (excepting in the lack of fruit, which, however, will soon grow and is now growing) as well located as regards the comforts of civilized society, will act the part of wisdom. We have schools and churches, as good as can be found in the east, and we are as much "down east" so far as all such privileges are concerned as are our friends to whose good sense we are now appealing. Think of it, and come and give the county a visit. Take a look at our beautiful prairies and handsome groves, view our busy and crowded young city, the pride of our county, and we will venture that you will think as we think. There never was a more favorable time to purchase than now. Many of that class who always try to keep just ahead of the march of civiliza- tion and improvements, are selling and going to Kansas. Good farms can be had at fair rates and farms within two miles of the city can be bought for less money than is asked for unimproved land lying near paper towns in Kansas and Nebraska. There is no more favorable town for real estate investment than Freeport-no place of its character and prosperity where homesteads can be obtained on better terms."
In the history of Freeport of 1857, by Boss and Burrows, the Illinois en- tral Railroad has a two page spread advertisement, offering for sale 1,500,000 acres of choice farm lands, at $6 to $30 per acre, and up, on long credits and low rates of interest. A vivid description of Illinois from Cairo to Galena is given, picturing in brilliant colors the resources of the state, the fertile soil,. stone, coal, lead and timber. They asked 3% interest and gave 20% discount for cash.
The Yankee real estate man of that early day was busy. He sold corner lots in paper towns, and many were the victims of his wiles. A story printed in a magazine in 1839 illustrates a characteristic of the period. As the story goes : "Major Wilkey of Mooseboro, Vermont, traded his New England farm for the land and town of Edensburg, Illinois. The real estate man gave Mr. Wilkey a beautiful colored plat of the city of Edensburg, with Broadway, Com- mercial Street, College Street, the public squares, parks, etc., etc., all located. The plot showed 300 acres that would produce 400 bushels to the acre. The credulous major drove in a wagon with his family across New York, over the mountains, across the great endless Mississippi Valley, building air castles broader and higher as he approached his own town of Edensburg. Finally, worn out and exhausted, he found Edensburg to be an uninhabitable swamp. The city and the major's dream vanished. Hardships unnerved him and he returned to the east with a broken down wagon, a broken winded horse, a
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broken hearted wife, a broken legged dog, a broken down constitution, and three sons, Johnathan, Jerry and Joe shaking with the ague."
BUSINESS-1857.
The De Armit Plow Co. was well established in Freeport in 1857 and doing a large business. The company employed 12 men and for power had installed a 14 horse power steam engine. The year 1856-7 De Armit manufactured 300 stirring plows, 50 corn plows, 300 breaking plows, 50 shovel plows, a few drags and cultivators. He also did a turning lathe business and his total output ex- ceeded $10,000 worth of business. The Boss & Burrough's booklet (1857) says that this was very gratifying because it shows that Freeport can sustain home industries.
The F. B. Williams Threshing Machine Company began in 1851 and em- ployed ten men in 1857. In 1856 the Company made and sold ten threshing machines at about $1,000 apiece. The company made the Fowlersville thresher.
THE MANNY REAPER COMPANY.
Pells Manny was a pioneer manufacturer of Stehphenson County. His work and fame and the services of his inventive genius was too great to be confined to one county, and the world over his name stands far towards the head of the list of early inventors and manufacturers of reapers.
It is said that he got his idea of the Manny reaper from reading a descrip- tion of a machine used by the Gauls over 350 years ago. His first machine was one which cut off the heads of the grain. After much experimenting, he pro- duced the Manny reaper which soon supplanted the header. The new inven- tion struck the rocky roads encountered by most inventions. It required time and labor and over $20,000 to perfect the machine so that it would work suc- cessfully. This was accomplished in 1852 and in 1853. Mr. Manny's son, J. N. Manny, began the manufacture of reapers in Rockford. In 1856 the Mannys established a factory in Freeport. The company found a great demand for its product and the annual output soon rose to several thousands. In 1857 the Freeport factory run by Mr. Manny manufactured reapers, hay presses, and the Manny Subsoil Plow. The Freeport booklet (Boss & Burrough's) 1857, says that the Manny Company had enough orders ahead that year to make it neces- sary to employ from 250 to 400 men. It was believed that this company alone would increase the population of Freeport 1,200 to 2,000.
Jacob Walkey in 1853 established a planing mill and furniture factory on Chicago Street. In 1857 he was doing a big business and employing a large number of men. He used a thirty horse power steam engine to run his ma- chinery. His building was a two story, with 60 feet frontage. He had two planing machines, scroll saw, four turning lathes, boring and mortising ma- chines. In the Exchange Block on Stephenson Street he had a furniture sales room, "One of the most creditable features of Freeport" in 1857, and "does a $37,000 annual business."
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The Halderman & Company Steam Flour Mill started August, 1856. The company has three run of stone and can grind 30,000 barrels a year. In 1857 J. B. Hazen's Iron Foundry was "doing quite a business in sleigh shoes and iron kettles. In 1856, J. Riegard's Flouring Mill, which did mostly a custom busi- ness, put in a steam engine. He had three run of stone running night and day, and has a capacity of 392 bushels per day.
In 1857 Benjamin Goddard's Saw Mill had one upright and one buzz saw. The company did a business of about 2,000 feet a day on the upright. Four men were employed, and the mill "did a business of from $35,000 to $50,000 a year."
In 1857 B. Rhode's soap and candle factory on the Galena road did a busi- ness of $8,000 to $10,000 annually. Stiles was doing "an extensive business at the fanning mill factory in 1857. Brown & Trowbridge were grinding corn for export. Washburn and Randall's stone cutting and marble works were do- ing a good business. In 1856 the Freeport Mfg. Co. completed a new brick building on Liberty Street, three stories high, 160x60, and with room for 500 workmen. The engine room was a wing 60x30, and contained an 80 horse power $6,000 engine to drive the machinery. The building was occupied by the Manny Reaper Company and the Williams Threshing Machine Company.
HARD TIMES IN 1857.
Panics, like comets, seem to return at more or less regular intervals.
The history of the United States shows that Stephenson County, with its first permanent settlement in 1833, was still in its infancy when the panic of 1837 struck it.' There were men here, however, who well remembered the panic of 1818 to 1819 which followed the reorganization of the National Bank of 1816. There may have been men whose memories reached back to the panic of 1783 to 1788. The first panic in America, that of 1783, followed the close of the Revolution and the breakdown of the continental currency and state paper money. "Rag" money had had its day. Inflation of the currency, the boon of high prices, speculation and wildcat banking brought the inevitable train of ruin. Out of this chaos and ruin came order and stability in 1791, through the financial genius of Alexander Hamilton. But when the National Bank's charter expired in 1811, the experimenters refused to charter it. Then followed another reign of "Rag" money, wildcat banking by states and individ- uals, followed by speculation, fictitious values and the inevitable crash. The National Bank was re-chartered in 1816 and a return to specie payments and sound finance was accompanied by sheriff's sales and the panic of 1816 to 1819. These two lessons were not well learned. The bank was not re-chartered in 1836, owing to President Jackson's mania for tinkering with the national finances. The result was the same as in 1783 and 1816-"rag money," irresponsible state and corporation banking, speculation on fictitious values, high prices and ex- travagant living, followed by inevitable redemption and resumption of specie payments, scarcity of hard money, sheriff's sales, low prices, low wages, poor markets and a mass of unemployed men. This panic of 1837 affected Stephen- son County indirectly more than directly. It held back the tide of westward
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immigration and expansion. Then came the panic of 1857, which affected the county more directly. In about twenty years followed the panic of 1873, and then the panic of 1893, and the so-called "Banker's" panic of 1907 which seemed to be ahead of the 20 year schedule. According to schedule the next big panic will be due about 1913 to 1916. It may be hoped that the flurry of 1907 will satisfy the demand for panics. That, however, may well be doubted, for history is likely to repeat with a thoroughgoing panic before 1920. Judging from the past, this is to be expected, and can be averted only by some such financial student as the great Hamilton, who will base a financial and economic system on real values. As yet the man has not appeared, and there is no assur- ance of a system sound enough to withstand the popular tendency towards speculation, overreaching credit (a new form of "rag" money) and the manip- ulation of stock gamblers.
The effect of the panic of 1857 was direct and real. Immigration slacked, hard money was scarce, loans were withheld, interest was high, markets were. slow, trade declined, business and industry came to a standstill, and laborers were thrown out of employment. Land values declined and lots and farms were a drug on the market. There was no money to move the crops and farmers, in many cases discouraged because of lack of a market, let much of their lands lie idle. Merchants bought but little new stock, right glad to avoid bankruptcy on stocks in store. All over the country, banks, corporations and individuals failed, the doors were closed and business men who had lived in high hopes of prosperity went into bankruptcy.
When the panic struck Stephenson County in 1857 Freeport had forty-eight dry goods and grocery stores, ten clothing stores, five drug stores, four furni- ture establishments, five saddle and harness shops, two book stores, three banks, two confectioneries, four hardware stores, five bakeries, two gun shops, four jewelry stores, four meat markets, one hat store, seven boot and shoe stores, two cigar and tobacco stores, two paint and oil stores, twelve hotels, three sa- loons, six millinery stores, five agricultural implement stores, two daguerreau galleries, one brass foundry, nine jobbing houses, one sash and blind factory and three auction and commission rooms. There were also several manufac- turing establishments, among which were the Manny Reaper Works, the Wil- liams Threshing Company, De Armit's Plow Company and Stiles and Grif- fith's Fanning Mill Factory. There were also three weekly and one daily news- papers. The daily had a short life. In a business and industrial way, Freeport was making rapid progress and just at the time when it seemed that the city's development might move along by leaps and bounds, the panic dampened the ardor of enthusiasts. Money became tighter than ever and business and in- dustry practically came to a standstill.
There was little recovery from this condition till about 1862 and 1863, when the demands of Civil War revived a lagging business. The high tide of pros- perity came again, only to see the nation, its lessons unlearned, march right up to the financial chasm of 1873.
With the arrival of two railroads, Freeport began a rapid and steady growth. In 1855 Judge Farwell put up a building on the south side of the square. Build- ings were built by Martin & Karcher on Stephenson Street; by Mitchel &
AN OLD CEMETERY
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Putnam, corner of Stephenson and Chicago; a block by E. H. Hyde, three stories high, the third floor being a public hall. The Hyde Block is believed to have been the first building in Freeport heated by steam and lighted by gas. This was old Plymouth Hall on the site of the Wilcoxen Block. The Exchange Block, by Hoebel & Engle & Strohm was built in 1855-1856.
The great want in 1855 was hotel facilities. The city had outgrown the hotels of the day. In March, 1855, John K. Brewster decided to build a hotel at the corner of Stephenson and Mechanic Streets. The foundation was laid in 1855. December 4, 1856, the Brewster Hotel was inclosed and on Tuesday, August 27, 1857, the hotel was formally opened, and the register showed the names of 29 guests. September 2 was the date of the opening. Celebrations and addresses were made by Hon. Martin P. Sweet, Rev. Dr. Sunderland and others. Music was furnished by the Great Western Band. It was a joyous day in Freeport. The building had a 60 foot front and was four stories high. The original cost was $75,000. In 1856, J. B .. Childs built four buildings on Stephenson Street between Chicago and Mechanic. J. P. Spitler put up a three story building on Chicago, between Galena and Stephenson Streets.
The period of 1855 of 1860 was one in which Freeport took on the appearance of a city because of extensive building.
CRIMINAL RECORDS.
The Crossen murder at Craine's Grove occurred Sunday, March 23, 1856. Crossen, who was drunk, beat his wife to death. When arrested he plead guilty but denied any intention of killing his wife as he said he had beaten her worse than that many times and she had not died.
Peter Arnd, a German, with his wife and four children settled about five miles north of Cedarville in 1859. July 26, 1859, he left his work because he had hurt his hand and his wife went to the field and did his work. At noon she got dinner and returned to the field. In the evening, accompanied by another woman, she returned home. As she neared the house, she saw her husband with an axe in his hand, staring at the bloody bodies of the four children whom he had slain with the ax. Arnd was arrested and died of softening of the brain caused by sunstroke.
June 7, 1859, a man named Lauth stabbed a William Lander, a German, causing instant death. Lander, known as "Butcher Bill," was insisting that Lauth pay him what he owed him. Lauth refused and with a butcher knife stabbed Lander through the heart. Lauth was sent to the penitentiary for a term of eight years. August 8, 1864, a soldier by the name of Walton, in the three months' service shot and killed Mrs. George Whitney, wife of another soldier, opposite the Stephenson House in Freeport. Both had been drinking. Walton was acquitted on a plea of insanity.
In 1869, Henry Schmidtz, a peddler and a former resident of Freeport, was found murdered in a slough in Lancaster Township. Suspicion pointed towards an assistant, but the coraner's jury made no indictment.
June 7, 1872, John L. Thompson shot and killed Frank Wood at the Kraft House. Both were drinking and were quarreling over two women of bad
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character. Wood struck Thompson and the latter shot him. He was sen- tenced to one year in the state prison.
In 1874, the county was stirred by the defalcation of George Thompson, ex- county clerk. Thompson, by forging numerous county orders, had swindled the people out of about $5,000. Most of the loss fell to Knowlton & Sons, the Second National Bank, Joseph Emmert, the First National Bank, and James Mitchell & Co. Thompson escaped to Canada and California, but returned to Freeport, pleaded guilty in 1878, and was sent to the penitentiary. He was pardoned after two years service and returned to California.
A. W. Hall, clerk of the circuit court, defaulted, and cost the county $1,184 and his bondsmen $2,000. He carried the case to the supreme court and losing, left the county.
FREEPORT GETS CITY CHARTER-1855.
In 1855 there was a general sentiment for more efficient government of Free- port. It was believed that the place had outgrown the old town organization. The advisability of a change to a city charter was argued pro and con for months. The more progressive were insistent on the change. These men were not only anxious for a change because of present demands but were men who were looking far into the future. They argued that the prospects of the town were good, that its location was sure to draw to it an ever growing population, and that with the general expansion sure to follow the railroad's advent in the county would be better secured under a city form of government. The very fact that it was a "city" would be a good advertising point, and would attract both population and industries. Public meetings were held and speeches were made by such men as D. A. Knowlton, O. H. Wright, Judge Farwell, A. T. Green, C. S. Bogg, Charles Betts, J. C. Kean, Judge Purrington and others. Business and industries were rapidly developing and it was realized that in order to hold its place with other localities in the west, its rivals in the race for new citizens and new industries, there must be established a more efficient govern- ment. Many of the evils and vices too common in early western towns had retained and some of these must be eliminated and others put under more vig- orous control. It was the same old question of better laws and a more vig- orous law enforcement. To meet these demands it was believed a different form of government, with increased powers, was necessary. Such additional powers, it was argued, could be secured only from the State Legislature in the form of a city charter.
There were citizens, however, who held that such a change was unneces- sary. They believed that the town trustees were able to meet the demands for some time to come. There was some fear that the new system proposed would bring additional burdens in the form of taxation. Opposed to the plan was the usual reactionary element always to be found against any progressive move- ment. They argued that drunkenness, gambling and disorder could be sup- pressed or controlled by the town trustees who had the right to have ample power to organize and maintain an efficient police force and fire department.
But the progressive element won out, as it always must, sooner or later.
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A petition was presented to the State Legislature and a charter was granted in 1855. On April 2, 1855, an election was held and the following city officers were elected: Mayor, Hon. Thomas J. Turner; treasurer, E. W. Salisbury ; clerk, H. N. Hibbard; marshall, W. W. Smith.
The board of aldermen consisted of the following: John A. Clark, W. G. Waddell, Jos. B. Smith, John Barfoot, A. Cameron Hunt, John P. Byerley.
With this organization Freeport began its career as a city. It marked the beginning of a distinct period of progress which was soon to be interrupted by the Civil War. Under the city charter, new and greater enterprises were launched and pushed to a successful conclusion, and Freeport soon became one of the most prosperous points west of Chicago.
BIG FREMONT MEETING-1856.
October 16, 1856, Freeport was the scene of a great mass meeting of the fol- lowers of John C. Fremont. The Daily Journal of October 17, says in head lines, "Grand Republican Mass Convention; from thirty to fifty thousand Free- men in Council; Procession 5 to 7 miles long." The Journal says: "Yesterday was a proud day in the history of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. About 10 o'clock the cars came in from Galena, and the crowd lead by "OUR" band and the Warren band marched up Stephenson Street. Delegations came in from all points of the compass with a profusion of banners and devices and many with glee clubs and bands. The streets were crowded with teams and the sidewalks were crowded with a moving mass of humanity. The main pro- cession commenced moving about eleven o'clock from the Pennsylvania House under the charge of Holden Putnam the marshall of the day. After parading the principal streets, the parade headed for the fair grounds. The Carroll County delegation, consisting of 120 wagons, arrived at 12:15. In the procession there were 488 wagons, of which a large number were 4 horse and 6 horse. The pro- cession was variously estimated at 5 to 7 miles in length.
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