USA > Illinois > Stephenson County > History of Stephenson County, Illinois : a record of its settlement, organization, and three-quarters of a century of progress > Part 51
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Until 1848 settlers came slowly and in small numbers. While the rest of the county began to crowd up with emigrants about 1840, Loran Township did not receive its full quota for fully eight years. With 1848, the process of change began and soon Loran became as populous as any township in Stephen- son County. The first marriage said to have occurred in Loran was that of Thomas French and Polly Kirkpatrick, who were married in the fall of 1840. A certain Mrs. James who died about the same time and was buried in the township was the first death. The first school in the township was founded in 1840 at Kirkpatrick's Mills, where it remained for about a year. Then the pedagogue removed his parlors of learning to a new schoolhouse built especially for the purpose in Section 2, near Babb's church. The men instrumental
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in securing the new building were Reuben Babb, William Kirkpatrick, and An- son Andrews, the first school trustees of Loran.
Until late years Loran Township has always been behind the other town- ships of the county in point of development. One reason for the neglect which the township suffered was the comparative unhealthfulness of the township, especially along the banks of Yellow Creek. It is said that all sorts of fevers and agues prevailed along the banks of that stream, while even the inhabi- tants farther inland were subject to fevers of the severest sort. Now-a-days this condition of affairs has been entirely dissipated, and it is very hard to realize what must have been the dangers to which the early Loranites were subjected. In 1850, when the cholera plague made its presence known in the county, Loran suffered excruciatingly. Mill Grove, about Kirkpatrick's Mills, was nearly wiped out of existence. All the farms in the vicinity felt the ef- fects of the plague, which was in every instance of so sudden and violent a character, that many a sufferer who had not realized that the poison was work- ing in his system in the morning was seized with the sickness and died before sunset. In 1852, when the cholera appeared the second time, the horrible story of two years previous was repeated with even greater calamities. In 1854, on the occasion of the third and last visit, Kirkpatrick's Mills suffered again. Since that time, the improvement of the farms, and the drainage of the land has brought about so great a change `that Loran Township has no longer a reputation for unhealthfulness as a place of abode. Mill Grove has disappeared, but Pearl City is very much alive and is as thrifty and thriving a little set- tlement as can be found in the rural districts of Illinois.
In addition to the unhealthfulness of the land there were the various other plagues to which the early settlers of Stephenson County were subject : snakes, the unfriendly red man, and the ordinary terrors of the wilderness, of which we can have not the slightest conception today. But the farmers were sturdy and survived the perils of the years and their descendants are engaged in the cultivation of farms which are as productive and well conducted as any that can be found in the county.
The township is well supplied with streams. Yellow Creek, entering from Kent Township at the north, flows south and east through Loran and is joined by a large number of sluggish creeks and brooklets. The Chicago & Great Western Railroad crosses the township from east to northwest, following some- what the course of Yellow Creek, with its one station at Pearl City. The area is the regulation thirty-six square miles, since the division with Jefferson Township.
MILL GROVE.
There is little to tell concerning the history of Mill Grove, but what there is is of a profoundly pathetic nature. The settlement marked the site of the first permanent settlement in Loran Township. It is located in Section 14, on the banks of Yellow Creek, where that stream makes a wide curve and loop to the northward, and William Kirkpatrick was the man whose efforts brought it into life.
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He settled here with his household effects in 1836, and straightway pro- ceeded to build a mill which was christened Kirkpatrick's Mill. For a long time, it remained the mill of greatest importance in the county, its nearest competitor being the Van Valzah Mills at Cedarville, established by Dr. Van Valzah. When new emigrants came to Loran Township, Kirkpatrick's Mill was the logical place for them to take up their abode. Not only was it the only settlement of consequence, but the rest of the township was almost an untrodden wilderness, and the courageous pioneer was never desirous of hew- ing himself a home in the wilderness when there was already one hewn out for him on the outskirts of the virgin forest. So Mill Grove continued to thrive and became quite a settlement in spite of the unhealthfulness of the site.
But the settlers had founded their expectations upon vain hopes if they ever thought Mill Grove would become a settlement of considerable size. In 1850 the cholera visited Kirkpatrick's Mills with disastrous results. In 1852 the dread disease appeared again, and almost the whole population was which to operate. The population was gone, the town dead, and the wheels of the mill silent. Never again did Mill Grove attain importance as a settle- ment. When the schoolhouse was moved away in 1841, no second institution of learning was ever built. With the advent of the cholera and its attendant calamities, the town was abandoned, and its name is almost forgotten.
PEARL CITY.
Pearl City is one of the most wide awake and progressive villages of Stephen- son County. It has a population of about five hundred inhabitants, and ranks about fourth in size in the list of Stephenson County towns. While it is a vil- lage in point of organization, and number of inhabitants, Pearl City, as its name rightly indicates, has many of the qualities of a miniature city. It is not far from Freeport, but the fact that it is not connected with the county seat by railroad has permitted it to devleop independently, and has kept many of its citizens from transferring their place of residence to the larger city.
Pearl City is in reality made up of two separate and distinct villages : Pearl City, the main village, the business section of which is located south of the Chicago Great Western tracks, and Yellow Creek, the old original Pearl City, which is located north of the railroad tracks, and has completely separate business and residential sections of its own. Yellow Creek is now known as the "north side" to the people of Pearl City, and contains the few scattered buildings which are remnants of the old village.
Concerning the history of Pearl City there is not a great deal to tell. The village is of comparatively recent growth, having been almost entirely built up within the last twenty years. Before the Chicago Great Western Railroad came through the county there existed a tiny settlement known as Yellow Creek, which contained a blacksmith shop, general store and post-office, and three or four houses. The location of the village was not especially pleasant, and it did not seem at all likely that a village of consequence was to be erected at that point. But the advent of the railroad changed matters. A station was established at Yellow Creek, and a grain elevator built, after which the town
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A Pearl City Church
Old Evangelical Church, Buckeye Center
Church at Eleroy
Church west of McConnell
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immediately began to feel its own importance. The Yellow Creek settlement, . which was about a quarter of a mile north of the point at which the station had been erected, was enhanced by the addition of a few houses, and one or two stores were also put up.
But the distance of the station from the village, and the inconvenience at- tached thereto soon caused a revolution in the village. The more progressive merchants moved about half a mile south of their old locations and erected new buildings close to the Great Western tracks. Three grain elevators were put up, also south of the tracks. With the building of two brick buildings in the new business section, the growth of the new village seemed assured. The rail- road had caused the whole site to be platted out when it came through, and the officials of that company were interested in bringing the village farther toward the station.
Still the name of the settlement remained "Yellow Creek" and the sign painted upon the Great Western station announced the fact to travelers. Finally a number of public spirited citizens, feeling that it was inappropriate that their growing town should be hampered by the public proclamation of its proximity to Yellow Creek, petitioned for a change of name and the village became "Pearl City" about fifteen years ago. Since that time the name of the railroad station has also been changed, and now the metropolitan character of the settlement is assured in name if not in fact.
The churches of Pearl City are three in number, the First Methodist church, St. John's English Evangelical Lutheran church, and the Dunkard church.
First Methodist Church. The Methodist church is the leading church of Pearl City, both in size and activity. The early history of the church is ex- tremely difficult to trace. In the beginning it was a part of the Kent circuit, and was ministered to by a student pastor. About fifteen years ago, the Pearl. City congregation, having increased greatly in size, felt hampered by the lack of church facilities offered, and decided to petition for the establishment of a separate church, and a pastor who should be able to devote his entire time to Pearl City. The petition was carried through, and the Pearl City congrega- tion became a separate organization.
Soon after this event, the church previously occupied by the congregation was sold to the Dunkard congregation, and the erection of a new structure commenced. Previous to the occupation of their first church the Methodists had been in the old town hall which stands just south of the present commo- dious edifice. The new church, probably the handsomest country church in the county, was built in 1901 at a cost of $5,000, L. W. Herbruck being espe- cially instrumental in the work of building.
The latest work of the congregation has been the building of a new par- sonage for the minister, next to the church. This parsonage, which cost about $3,000, was completed the latter part of July, 1910. The church is in a flour- ishing and satisfactory condition in every way. The congregation numbers sev- enty, with a Sunday school of approximately one hundred and fifty. The Rev. J. V. Bennett is the minister at present in charge.
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St. John's English Evangelical Lutheran Church. The Lutheran church of Pearl City, which is located on the south side of the town, and occupies a hand- some brown frame structure, was organized September 1, 1888, with a charter membership of thirteen earnest members. Rev. Klock was the first pastor.
Soon after organization the congregation deciding upon the erection of a church building, the present edifice was built, and has been occupied for about twenty years.
The Pearl City church is on the same circuit with the Kent church, both of the churches receiving the services of the Rev. Alex. MacLaughlin as pastor. The Pearl City church has a membership of thirty-nine, with a Sunday school of about fifty-five members. * The church property is valued at $2,500, with a parsonage worth $2,000.
Dunkard Church. The Dunkards' stronghold in Stephenson County has al- ways been in the western part of the county in the vicinity of Pearl City and Kent. There had always been a number of the sect in the village itself, but they never occupied a church edifice of their own until about fifteen years ago, when they purchased the church of the Methodist congregation. They have no pastor, but every member of the congregation officiates as pastor in turn. The membership of the church is somewhat fluctuating, but remains in the neigh- borhood of fifty.
Lodges. Pearl City, like every other country village in this section of the country, supports a number of lodges. Most of these have been founded within the last ten years, and deserve only passing mention. The Masonic lodge is the oldest of the aggregation, and holds an important place in village activities.
Pearl Lodge, No. 823, A. F. & A. M. The Pearl Lodge of the Masonic order was founded in the winter of 1893. It is the most important fraternal organization of Pearl City, and has a membership of about sixty-five. Meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Dr. M. W. Hooker is worshipful master, and C. G. Robinson is secretary.
Fox Camp. No. 711, M. W. A. The Woodmen founded their Pearl City lodge about fifteen years ago, and have maintained a prosperous and lively or- ganization ever since. The camp meets every Thursday evening. The officers are: J. F. Mishler, V. C., and John Seebold, clerk.
Eleroy Lodge, No. 247, I. O. O. F. The Eleroy lodge was organized at Eleroy, in Erin Township, on the 18th of December, 1857, but was transferred to Pearl City a few years ago. It is now attended by the inhabitants of both villages, and by the farmers of the country lying between. Although the lodge itself is by far the oldest in the list, the time of its existence in Pearl City has been comparatively short, and hence it ranks among the newer Pearl City lodges. Meetings are held every Monday. P. H. Schnell is noble grand, and J. V. Ben- nett secretary.
The other lodges have all been founded since 1900, and occupy somewhat secondary position in the fraternal life of the community. They are:
Rose Leaf Camp, No. 110, R. N. A. The Royal Neighbors meet on the sec- ond and fourth Fridays of every month. The officers are: Oracle, Sarah Heine; recorder, Lucy Hooker.
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Orpha Chapter, No. 304, Eastern Star. The Eastern Star meets on the first and third Friday evenings of the month. Emma Sheffy is worthy matron, and Julia E. Snow performs the duties of secretary of the organization.
Pearl City Banking Company. The banking facilities of Pearl City are un- excelled for a village of the size. The Pearl City Bank, a' private corporation, was organized about twenty years ago, by Simon Tollmeier, who became the first president, and has since continued to hold the office. The firm represents a capital of $25,000, and a personal responsibility of $250,000. The officers are : President, Simon Tollmeier; vice president, Dr. S. H. Aurand; cashier, A. L. Hurd; directors, Simon Tollmeier, Dr. S. H. Aurand, Frank R. Erwin, Fred Tollmeier, Frederick Althof, Henry Althof, August Althof, Charles Althof, Al- bert Althof, Otto Althof.
The bank occupies a frame structure on Main street which is well fitted out for its banking offices.
Pearl City News. One of the best country newspapers of the state is the Pearl City News, edited and managed by Dr. M. W. Hooker, who purchased the paper last March. It was founded in 1889 by William H. McCall, who also started the Orangeville Courier on its career. Mr. McCall resigned after fill- ing the editor's chair for a brief time, and Ed Barklow took charge of the venture. Subsequently the paper fell into many hands. It passed under the management of Messrs. Beadell, Perkins, Freas, and Buckley, and on March I, 1910, was sold to Dr. Hooker.
Dr. Hooker occupies the position of editor, with his brother, O. G. Hooker, as associate editor. The paper has a large circulation among the farmers of the vicinity. It is a seven column weekly octavo, and is an attractive up-to- date sheet in every respect.
The management of the Pearl City News also publishes the Kent Observer, a weekly newspaper devoted to the interests of the village of Kent. This por- tion of the paper was founded by Mr. Freas during his management of the con- cern. The Kent Observer occupies the last four pages of the News, the two papers being printed together, and containing items of interest for both of the villages. The News also maintains correspondents in the various country towns about Pearl City, and publishes items of interest to the subscribers in those localities.
Pearl Hotel. The hotel of Pearl City, known as the Pearl Hotel, occupies a frame structure near the railroad station. It is a neat, well kept, and inviting hostelry, far superior to the ordinary country village tavern. L. J. Krell was proprietor for some time, but disposed of his interests to Mrs. Dodge who is the present owner.
The hotel offers excellent accommodations at somewhat reasonable prices. The table is especially good.
The business districts of Pearl City and Yellow Creek contain two or three dozen stores, including general stores, hardware establishments, millineries, dry goods, drug stores, a blacksmith shop, livery stable, etc. The business outlook of the town is most satisfactory, and the prosperity of its inhabitants may be judged from the statement that there are sixteen automobiles owned at present within the corporate limits of the village. Many of the farmers about Pearl
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City are also owners of the horseless carriages, and the whole of the rural dis- tricts thereabout present an appearance of thrift, careful attention, and scien- tific farming. Pearl City is thirteen miles from Freeport, and is accessible from the county seat either by carriage, or by the Chicago Great Western from the South Freeport station.
FREEPORT.
RELIGIOUS.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CIIURCH.
The First Presbyterian church of Freeport enjoys the distinction of being the oldest Protestant church, not only in Freeport, but in the county. It was organized in 1842, with Rev. Calvin Waterbury as pastor, November 24th be- ing the traditional date of its founding. At the meeting said to have been held on that date Rev. Mr. Waterbury presided as moderator, Samuel Spencer acted as clerk, and a resolution was adopted setting forth the confession of faith in the form and government of the Presbyterian church of the United States. Of the fifteen men and women who assembled on that memorable day, not one is today alive. They included, besides the pastor, the following persons, all of them names of importance in the early history of the county: Philip Reitzell, Mrs. Mary Reitzell, Orestes H. Wright, Mrs. Emmaretta Henderson, Mrs. Elizabeth Lucas, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Lucas, Mrs. Sarah Young, Asa W. Rice, Mrs. Nancy Rice, Orrin B. Munn, Mrs. Jane L. Wright, Samuel Spencer, and Mrs. Elizabeth Spencer. The Rev. Calvin Waterbury was formally installed as minister by his congregation of fourteen, and the records state that his annual salary was fixed at $400, probably an extraordinary sum for the year 1842. For some time worship was held in the courthouse, but as the congregation grew, the trustees felt the need of a regular place of worship, and accordingly two lots were secured on the southeast corner of Walnut and Stephenson streets, where the Y. M. C. A. building stands today. One of these was purchased for the sum of $40, the other was donated by Kirkpatrick and Baker.
Plans were immediately drawn up for a church edifice of brick and stone, to occupy a space 40 by 65, and to cost $460. A subscription was undertaken and before long the directors felt safe in proceeding with the work of building. The stone for the foundation was quarried across the river and hauled to the place of building by an ox team driven by L. L. Munn. The wood timbers were also cut in the neighborhood, and the workers started out with zeal to finish their labor in a short space of time. They never finished it, however, for sufficient funds were not forthcoming, and when only half completed, the church was deserted, the pastor resigned, and with him fifteen members of the congregation left the church. It was a critical period in the history of the church, but the church survived. In December, 1847, shortly after the resignation of Rev. Mr. Waterbury, Rev. J. C. Downer was called to take charge. During the years 1847-1853 when Rev. Mr. Downer was with the church, a phenomenal growth was experienced. Work was re-commenced on the deserted church, and it was finished for occupancy in 1851. To years later, the pastor received another call
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH
ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH ST. JOSEPIT'S CATHOLIC CHURCH
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and left Freeport, to be succeeded by the Rev. Isaac E. Carey. Mr. Carey re- mained in charge for three years, and was followed by the Rev. C. B. Van Zandt who left two years later, in 1860. Rev. Mr. Waterbury, the first pastor of the church returned again for the space of one year, and at the close of that time, resigned, leaving the church without a pastor for a whole year. In 1862, Mr. Carey was again called to the charge.
By this time the congregation had outgrown its quarters again and a move- ment was started for the erection of a new edifice across the street on the spot where the present building stands. In 1866 the corner stone was laid with ap- propriate ceremonies, and October 31, 1867 it was completed and dedicated by Professor F. W. Fiske, of Chicago, who preached the sermon, and Rev. J. W. Cunningham, who offered the dedicatory prayer. On the evening of the same day, Rev. Carey was installed as pastor, the sermon being preached by Rev. C. A. Williams of Rockford, and the charge to the pastor being given by the Rev. A. Kent, of Galena, and that to the people by the Rev. C. Marsh, of Mount Carroll. The church building cost $50,000 and on the day of dedication $17,000 was raised by subscription to pay the building debt.
This same building, erected in 1866, is still standing, and is still one of the most beautiful structures of the city, a credit to the community and especially to the brave band of followers whose labors helped to raise the pile. The First Presbyterian church is today in a flourishing condition, having a membership of nearly five hundred persons. The Sunday school, founded in 1844, by John Rice as superintendent, with only eleven pupils, is today one of the largest in the city. The church property is valued at $60,000.
Since the final departure of Rev. Isaac E. Carey in 1872, the following pastors have officiated :
Rev. H. D. Jenkins, D. D., January, 1873-September, 1889 ;. Rev. Edgar P. Hill, D. D., February, 1890-September, 1895; Rev. Charles E. Dunn, January, 1896-September, 1904; Rev. Hugh Lowry Moore, February, 1905-June, 1910.
The church is for the present without a pastor, Rev. Mr. Moore having left to answer a call at Beloit, Wisconsin.
ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
In October, 1827, before the first white settlers had permanently located in Stephenson County-before that historical event known as the Black Hawk War, the first mass was offered up to God by Father Stephen Vincent Baden. This event, so notable in the history of Catholicity in the county, occurred at the cabin of a man named Simon Brady who was then living in the vicinity of Kellogg's Grove. Father Baden did not stay long in the county, as he was on his way to visit Galena and Prairie du Chien to administer the spiritual needs of the miners who were beginning to throng to those regions.
The next six years are a blank. It was not until 1843 that further develop- ments took place. At that time, the Bishop of St. Louis, who had under his jurisdiction all the western part of Illinois, sent Father John McMahan to locate his dwelling in Galena and care for the spiritual welfare of the settlers who were beginning to appear in large numbers in that section of the country. At
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first Father McMahan went to Dubuque, Iowa, where he remained for a short time only, presently departing to fulfil his mission in Galena and the surrounding counties. Stephenson County was included in his charge and for the next ten years had no resident priest of its own. Father McMahan found the labors of his position excessive. In less than a year he had completely worn himself out and in the ninth month of his stay he died and was succeeded by Father Fitz Morris. Father Fitz Morris' labors were even more brief, for in three months he also went to his everlasting rest. Father Shanahan the third priest at Galena also died soon after coming to these parts and was buried beside his predecessors.
In 1843, the connection of Stephenson County Catholics with the Galena congregation ceased, and they received their first resident priest, Farther Derwin, whom the Bishop of St. Louis appointed to the parish of New Dublin. His parish was extended over the counties of Stephenson, Lee, Ogle, and Winne- bago, with his residence at New Dublin. The welcome pastor made his home with a family named Murphy and offered the holy mass in a log church "16x24 feet and seven logs high," which had been erected in 1836. In 1844 the Bishop of Chicago was given jurisdiction over all Illinois and in 1846 he appointed the Rev. James Cavanaugh to the charge of New Dublin' and the Missions in its vicinity. This clergyman was succeeded by Rev. F. Kalvelage, who erected, in 1855, the church now in use at New Dublin.
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