USA > Illinois > Stephenson County > History of Stephenson County, Illinois : a record of its settlement, organization, and three-quarters of a century of progress > Part 59
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
Solt, Israel, 55 Cherry St.
Stouffer, B. F., 37 S. Galena Ave.
Spitler, W. H., 34 Nursery St.
Sieferman, Lawrence, 29 Chestnut St.
: Smith, Iriah, Orangeville, Il1.
Schock, Enos, Rock City, Il1.
Smith, Wm. Smith, John G., dead.
Snyder, John W., R. F. D. 3, Freeport.
Stober, Wm., 151 Delaware St., dead.
Sprague, Irwin, 222 Van Buren St.
Sechrist, A. G., 209 West St.
Shaughnessy, Samuel, 26 Park Ave. Smith, J. H., 199 Stephenson St., dead. Taft, Ira B., Soldiers' Home.
Thompson, P. R., 328 Stephenson St., died Jan. 6, 1910.
Thayer, Wm. H., 127 S. Galena Ave.
Turneaure, G. B., 23 Green St.
Vore, John, 51 Illinois St.
Van Reed, M. A., 47 Brick St.
Vore, Wm., Cedarville, Il1.
Weinhold, W. S., 146 Washington St.
Williams, Hugh.
Wentz, Phillip . W., Park Heights.
Waddell, John R., 399 Walnut St.
Webb, Oliver, 165 Locust St.
Winters, William, Dakota, Ill.
Wardlow, Robert, Rock City, Ill.
Williams, Henry, 241 Spring St., died Dec. 12, 1909.
Work, James M., 153 Jackson St.
Washburn, Crip.
Young, Thomas B., Rock City.
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The Grand Army of the Republic, as a national organization, has always stood for all that was best in civic affairs, for advancement in all business rela- tions, and as a result, has accomplished a great deal of good and has gained an enviable reputation. What has been true of the national order has been equally true of the local branch. Together with its auxiliaries, the Ladies of the G. A. R., the Woman's Relief Corps, and the Sons of Veterans, John A. Davis Post has maintained the high standard of the national society and has been an active influence for good in the community.
The most active days of the Grand Army of the Republic are now over. An interesting report from Washington, D. C., states that about ninety names per day are being dropped from the pension rolls. This means an average of about two thousand seven hundred deaths per month or thirty-two thousand annually among the federal survivors of the Civil war carried on the pension lists. It is too evident that the old soldiers of both armies are vanishing rapidly. The generally accepted estimate of the number of individuals serving in the Union
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
army and navy during the Civil war was two million two hundred and thirteen thousand three hundred and sixty-five. On June 20, 1909, the actual number of survivors of the Civil war on the pension rolls was five hundred and ninety-three thousand three hundred and sixty-five. On June 30, 1909, the actual number of will be a matter of history. But the brave men who fought for the Union of their country will never be forgotten, nor the effective work which they ac- complished through the medium of the G. A. R.
For some time after its organization the John A. Davis Post met in the hall formerly known as Old Temperance Hall, in the building on the southeast corner of Chicago and Exchange streets. Recently the place of meeting was moved to the G. A. R. Hall in the City Hall building. This room is also used by the auxiliary associations as a meeting place and the city donates to the order the free use of the rooms.
On the days May 23, 24 and 25 there occurred a noteworthy event in the history of the John A. Davis Post, and the national order as well. The 44th annual encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic was held, and Freeport was selected as the meeting place. For three days the city was turned over to the distinguished visitors, who flocked to Freeport in immense numbers from all parts of the United States. Mayor Rawleigh delivered an opening address of welcome, and presented the principal speakers of the day. The men of distinc- tion who were present and spoke during the three days of the encampment were General Fred Grant, Governor Van Sant, of Minnesota, Governor Deneen, of Illinois, as well as many others of less national reputation. The Grand Opera House, the First Presbyterian Church, and the First Methodist Church were utilized as places of meeting, and were all crowded to the doors on every occa- sion. It was during one of the encampment meetings that Jasper T. Darling made his now famous speech against the placing of a Lee monument in the Hall of Fame. The incident created quite a breeze at the time it occurred and vio- lent demonstrations of protest were made by the audience. Even now the oc- currence is not forgotten, and is regarded by many as the one blot on the record of the Freeport encampment. In all other respects the event was a most brilliant success. Certainly the Freeporters and the John A. Davis Post acquitted them- selves in most hospitable fashion, and the out-of-town guests were loud in their praise.
The decorations on the occasion of the encampment were particularly at- tractive. Stephenson street was spanned with flags and triumphal arches and every building was royally draped with the Stars and Stripes. The encampment was doubtless a big "boom" for Freeport, and the credit for the success of the affair should be given to the Freeport business men and the John A. Davis Post for their untiring efforts to secure the encampment for Freeport. It was a pronounced success and will go down on record as one of the big events of Free- port's history.
One of the most promising organizations of the city of Freeport is the Sons of Veterans, Smith D. Atkins Camp No. 400, Division of Illinois. The society, which has had a rapid growth during the past few years, nationally as well as locally, is composed of the direct male descendants of those men who served as Union soldiers in the Civil War. The Freeport camp was instituted about
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
ten years ago with fifteen charter members, and named in honor of Smith D. Atkins, Freeport's veteran postmaster, and former commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. M. G. Kleckner became the first commander.
Since the time of founding the Sons of Veterans have increased in member- ship until at present their number is eighty-four. The officers of the organiza- tion for the current year are: Commander, George F. Korf; senior vice com- mander, Frank Hawn; junior vice commander, Frank Hand; chaplain, F. M. Carl; secretary, E. Ray Williams; treasurer, F. M. Miller.
During the recent G. A. R. encampment in Freeport, the national convention of the Sons of Veterans was also held. At this convention resolutions to change the name of the society was introduced but nothing was done on the matter. It was proposed to change the name from the "Sons of Veterans" to the "Sons of the Grand Army of the Republic." It was argued that such a name was more consistent with the original aim and purpose of the society, but others felt, on the contrary, that the name "Sons of the G. A. R." would imply that the members were sons of members of the older organization, rather than of any or all of the old soldiers of the Civil War. The project was not looked upon with favor by the Freeport camp, but nothing was done, and the motion was laid on the table to await further developments.
The activity of the Sons of Veterans has also been conducted along social and fraternal lines. Each year there is a social gathering at the time of initia- tion, at which the auxiliary ladies' organization assists. The prospects for growth are bright, and the Sons of Veterans number in their camp some of the leading business men of the city.
The Freeport Post of the Ladies of the G. A. R., which is not an auxiliary, but an allied organization of the Grand Army of the Republic, was founded by Mrs. Helen Underwood in September, 1900. The membership of this national society is made up solely of the wives and immediate families of the soldiers of the Union army, as opposed to the Woman's Relief Corps, which admits to membership any loyal woman. The society was inaugurated with thirty-five active members and nineteen comrades. Mrs. Underwood, who was instru- strumental in the organization became the first president, and afterwards be- came the society's chaplain, which office she has occupied for the past four years. At present there are sixty members and about thirty comrades. The officers recently elected are: President, Mrs. T. M. Kaufmann; secretary, Mrs. J. A. Gale; chaplain, Mrs. Helen Underwood.
The Ladies of the G. A. R. find their work in assisting sick and enfeebled comrades and sisters, sending them fruit, etc. On each Decoration Day, the society makes it its duty to provide a means of transportation for the aged and infirm comrades to go to the cemetery. The ladies also attend the funerals of G. A. R. members in a body, and are present at all memorial services.
The history of the progress of the Ladies of the G. A. R. for the past ten years has been unusually bright, and the society has lost only four of its mem- bers through death. At the time of the recent encampment the national conven- tion of the Ladies of the G. A. R. was held in Freeport and the affairs of the society were found to be in most prosperous condition.
D
8
IST PRI2L
GAR STORE DECORATION
NEPIS
APARTMENT ME ADOL ADTE OS
G. A. R. ENCAMPMENT VIEWS, FREEPORT, 1910.
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS.
The Woman's Relief Corps, which admits to membership all loyal ladies of the Union, is the only recognized auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Re- public. It has been in existence in Freeport for many years, having been founded in 1888, by twenty interested ladies. These ladies became the charter members of the Freeport organization and elected Mrs. L. M. Devore president. At present there are sixty-two active members in'good standing, who meet on the first and third Tuesdays of each month to carry out the offices for which the society was founded. The object is to do charitable work and care for the orphans and widows of the soldiers of the G. A. R.
Each Decoration Day, the Relief Corps serves lunch to the old soldiers in the G. A. R. rooms at the City Hall. During the G. A. R. the Woman's Relief Corps was particularly active. They gave a reception at the Freeport Club to the visiting posts, and afterward another reception in the G. A. R. rooms in honor of Commander F. C. Held, who was honored by election to the post of senior vice commander of the state. Like the other auxiliary ladies' organiza- tions of the various lodges, the Relief Corps aims to care for the sick and af- flicted of the comrades, and render them all possible service.
The officers at present are: President, Mrs. Therese Otto; secretary, Mrs. Bowers; treasurer, Mrs. Molter.
D. A. R.
The elder William Brewster Chapter No. 519, of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1900, by Mrs. Charles D. Knowlton, who is at present honorary regent of the chapter. For some years previous to the time of founding there had been chapters in the va- rious cities about Freeport, but no effort had been made to establish a so- ciety in Stephenson County. In 1900 Mrs. William Talcott of Rockford was state regent, and being desirous that Freeport should have a chapter, she con- ferred with Mrs. Knowlton on the subject. The result was that Mrs. Knowl- ton succeeded in getting the members together, and although it took some time to secure the necessary papers and establish the claims of the various mem- bers it was less than a year when the Elder William Brewster Chapter became an established fact, and Mrs. Knowlton, who had done so much to promote its existence, was elected regent. She. retained this office for nine years and was only supplanted this year by Mrs. Matthew B. Marvin who takes office next fall. Ten ladies were instrumental in founding the chapter: Miss Gertrude Converse, Miss Esther Dana, Mrs. Walter Diffenbaugh, Miss Jesta Judson, Mrs. Charles D. Knowlton, Mrs. J. L. Robinson, Mrs. F. A. Read, Mrs. J. L. Rosebrugh, Mrs. Emma S. Wise, and Mrs. Charles C. Wolf. Since the time of founding the membership has swelled to thirty-seven names. An honored daugh- ter was Mrs. Eleanora Zimmermann, who died November 5, 1909, aged eighty- eight years. She was the only real daughter in the chapter, being a daughter of Major Nicholas Ickes, of Chester County, Pennsylvania, who served under Gen- eral George Washington. Major Ickes was a figure of some prominence in the
486
HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
army and gained promotion and title for brave conduct, although he was only sixteen years of age when he entered the army. He married Miss Susan Barn- hisel and became the father of twenty-one children, of whom Mrs. Eleanora Zimmermann was the nineteenth.
The chapter holds meetings every two weeks at the homes of the members. Readings, discussions, and papers usually form the order of the program. In addition to this a number of activities have been fostered by the D. A. R., among them the annual colonial ball which is held yearly at the Masonic Tem- ple. The function is held on Washington's Birthday and is usually a costume affair. In past years, the ladies have arranged a colonial minuet, maypole dances, etc. While the colonial ball is the most notable event of the D. A. R. year, the chapter has put the most work and time upon the Relic Room of the County Historical Society which is located on the second floor of the Library building, and it is of this that the members are most proud. The historical col- lection of relics suggestive of and dealing with the early history of state and county is most complete and interesting. A number of the exhibits were loaned to the society for a short time, and the rest are its permanent property. The historical collection is intended as the nucleus of a historical museum which shall have its rooms in the Library building, and contain relics of interest in con- nection with the history of the state and county.
The original purpose of the D. A. R. was to find and mark the graves of all Revolutionary soldiers throughout the country. A number of these have been discovered within the confines of Stephenson County and all have been appro- priately marked. A short time ago the Freeport chapter helped the Rockford chapter to officiate at a meeting at Polo at which memorial services were held for two old Revolutionary soldiers. A monument was erected and a boulder, and these were dedicated on June 20, 1910, with appropriate exercises.
The D. A. R. have maintained a very flourishing society in Freeport, and further developments are awaited with interest. The organization is one of the most wide-awake in the city and has accomplished a great deal of valuable work during the short period of its existence.
WOMAN'S CLUB.
The object of the Freeport Woman's Club, as stated in its constitution, is "the self-improvement of its members, and united effort for the advancement of social conditions in the home and the community." The club has been in existence since 1895 and during this time has been instrumental in effecting improvements and innovations in every direction. Mrs. Robert Hall Wiles, now of Chicago, was the prime mover in its organization and to her efforts may be attributed the successful career of the Woman's Club for the past fifteen years. In the fall of '95 a meeting was held in the circuit courtroom of the courthouse to which all ladies interested in the formation of a woman's club were invited. A large attendance resulted, and the club was formally instituted then and there, Mrs. Wiles being elected president. Mrs. Wiles served for several years and has since been succeeded by Mrs. C. F. Hildreth, Miss Flora Guiteau, Mrs. Charles D. Knowlton, Mrs. H. D. Bentley, Mrs. F. H. Towslee, Mrs. J. C. Gregory, and Mrs. George I. Brown.
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
Perhaps the most notable thing done by the Woman's Club was the placing of a granite boulder to mark the spot where the Lincoln-Douglas debate was held. The boulder, which is a huge red sandstone slab of exceptional beauty, was selected by a committee of the ladies of the club who went to Devil's Lake, Wisconsin, for the purpose of choosing a suitable stone. It was placed in its present position in 1902, and in June, 1903, it was formally unveiled and dedi- cated by President Roosevelt.
The work, however, of which the club has been the most proud has been the work in connection with the juvenile court. A committee consisting of three of the members of the club has been active in juvenile court work for a num- ber of years. The work was undertaken soon after the founding of the club, and while it has not been noised abroad, but has, on the contrary, been kept very quiet, nevertheless a great amount of telling work has been accomplished.
In addition to these activities, the club has done charitable work in the com- munity for the past fourteen years. Thirteen years ago, in 1897, it was voted to furnish a Christmas tree for the inmates of the county farm every Christmas eve. The tree was a great success the first year, and the custom has been con- tinued ever since.
In the beautification of the city, the Woman's Club has not been idle. Four years ago, in 1906, they presented the City cemetery with one hundred white cut birch trees which have made a material improvement in its looks. The City cemetery had been for some time somewhat ragged and run down in ap- pearance but through the efforts of the clubwomen the city has been induced to turn over a new leaf and the cemetery is today in much better condition than it might have been, had not the club seen fit to bend its efforts in this direction.
One of the first charities undertaken, was the care of the hospitals. For the past nine years the members have been sending fruit and jelly to both St. Francis and the Globe Hospital. Each individual is asked to bring a jar of fruit and a glass of jelly on an appointed day in the fall and the offerings are evenly distributed between the two hospitals. In the winter of 1902-3 the ladies took it upon themselves to furnish throughout a children's room at the Globe Hospital. They have also assisted financially in settlement and charitable work in the city. Some years ago they pledged themselves to give a stated amount each year to the King's Daughters' Settlement Home, and the results accom- plished in this line have been, to say the least, gratifying.
Four years ago, an agitation was started for the establishment of a domestic science department in the Freeport high school. The Woman's Club was anxious that this movement should successfully culminate, and immediately agreed to furnish the department throughout should the course be ultimately adopted as a part of the school curriculum. The domestic science department was, in fact, established the following fall, and has just completed the fourth year of its existence. The Woman's Club purchased the necessary supplies and made an arrangement with the manual training department to make the tables, and the furniture of the dining room. The domestic science rooms are one of the features of the high school building today, and the Woman's club is in a large measure responsible for the steady advancement of the department since its founding.
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY.
Last year the Citizen's Commercial Association began to set afoot a move- ment for the establishing and maintaining of a rest room for out of town vis- itors. It was thought that this would materially aid in Freeport's growth, or that it would at least show the enterprise and ambition of the Freeport popula- tion. The Woman's Club, when consulted by the secretary of the association, agreed to furnish and equip the room with the necessary furniture and appur- tenances. This work has just been completed and the club has still another public service upon which to congratulate itself.
There have been other services, but they have been less public than the ones above mentioned. The club has also assisted in the intellectual growth and uplift of the community by means of the lectures which it has secured for several years past. Undeniably the club has met with success and has ably ful- filled that part of its motto relating to "united effort for the advancement of social conditions in the home and in the community." As far as the "self im- provement" clause is concerned, it may be said that this has by no means been neglected. The policy has not been to take up any one definite line of study and pursue it for an entire year. On the contrary, the programs have been varied-so varied in fact, that, in looking over a recent year book of the club, we find one Saturday devoted to a discussion of "South Africa and Her Po- litical Relations," while the next is occupied with a talk on "Music as a Factor in Education." The club members have certainly neglected their opportunities if they have failed to acquire that broad general culture which it was the aim of its founders to diffuse.
The meetings of the club are at present held in the audience room of the Masonic Temple. After the foundation of the society meetings were held for a short time in the courthouse. They were soon transferred to the auditorium of the Y. M. C. A., where they continued to be held until the remodelling of the Y. M. C. A. building made it necessary for them to seek new quarters. For a short time they were housed in the First Presbyterian church, but they soon moved to the Masonic Temple, which they have now occupied for some years. There is at present a movement on foot to purchase a permanent home for the club. Several schemes have been advanced, one to the effect that the Woman's Club and Shakespeare Society shall buy the club house of the Freeport Club and occupy it jointly. Other plans have been proposed, but the outlook for a club house is not very hopeful at present.
During the short period of its lifetime the Freeport Woman's Club has ac- complished untold good in every branch of activities into which it has ventured. This has been entirely due to the energy and tireless work of its members. In view of its achievements in the past, Freeport has reason to look forward with confidence to still greater developments in the future.
FREEPORT SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY.
Among the literary clubs of Freeport, none has been more active than the Freeport Shakespeare Society. The club was first formed in 1887 under the name of the "Wantahno" (Want to Know) Club, and the charter members pledged themselves to carry out a course of reading and study outlined by the
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle. This course was completed within a year, but the "Wantahno's" had found their year's work, so enjoyable and profitable that they decided to make their club a permanent organization. It was then, in 1888, that the present Shakespeare Society had its inception, Mrs. Carl Nelson Moller, formerly Miss Vennette Crain being especially instrumental in the work of reorganizing. Mrs. Moller, who was a recent graduate of Wellesley College, proposed that the Wantahno:Club make plans for a Shake- speare Society which should follow the same lines as the Shakespeare Society of Wellesley College. A number of new members were asked to join, and all en- tered into the work with zeal and enthusiasm. Mrs. Moller was elected president of the club for three consecutive years. The organization at first went under the name of the "Wantahno Shakespeare Society," but two years later in 1890, the name was changed to "Freeport Shakespeare Society" which name it has retained up to the present day.
It was the first design of the club that the membership should consist solely of unmarried ladies, but when several of the sisters forsook their vows and ex- hibited a preference for the married state instead of single blessedness and membership in the Shakespeare Society, it became necessary to forge a new rule. It was finally settled that the statute must stand unchanged as far as the election of new members was concerned, but that "once a member, always a member" should be the rule in' other cases.
While the original intention was to study the life and works of the Bard of Avon, the Shakespeare Society had strayed somewhat from this purpose, and History, Economics, Art, and Literature have formed subjects for discussion for the greater part of the time. It has been the custom to present one or more plays each year, and this rule has been pretty regularly observed. The first dramatic effort of the society was a sylvan performance of "As You Like It," which was given in the pine grove at the residence of Oscar Taylor on South Carroll street. The play was a memorable success, and those who have wit- nessed it and later productions of the club as well, say that it has never been surpassed for daintiness and idyllic beauty. The cast on this occasion comprised : The Banished Duke. Miss Mary Staver Miss Nellie Moore
Duke Frederick, the usurper.
Amiens
Miss Carolyn Harding Miss Charissa Taylor
Jaques Lords attending on the Banished Duke
Charles, wrestler to Frederick. Miss Frances Goddard Miss Margaret Bidwell Miss Laura Malburn
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