USA > Illinois > Stephenson County > History of Stephenson County, Illinois : a record of its settlement, organization, and three-quarters of a century of progress > Part 72
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Order of the Eastern Star, Freeport Chapter No. 303, was established in the city July 8, 1895, and has a present membership of over three hundred. The officers are Miss Amelia Miller, worthy matron; J. M. Fox, worthy patron; and Mrs. Rebecca M. Stiver, secretary. Meetings are held the first and third Thurs- days of the month.
White Shrine of Jerusalem, Capernaum Shrine No. 4, was established in the summer of 1904, by Mrs. Pauline K. Dickes, who became its first worthy high priestees. The present membership of Capernaum Shrine is three hundred, about coincident with that of the Eastern Star. The present officers are Miss Alena
585
HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
Hall, W. H. P., and Mrs. Etta Loveall, secretary. The Shrine meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at the Masonic Temple.
Most Excellent Order of Ancient Chaldeans, Royal Palace No. 2, was in- stituted in July, 1907, by the Imperial Lodge No. I of Chicago, who were the founders of the order. The charter members at the time of founding numbered eighty-seven. This number has since increased to one hundred and two. The officers of the Freeport Royal Palace are : T. F. Rogers, king; C. C. Wolf, scribe. Meetings are subject to call by the king.
This completes the list of Masonic Lodges in Freeport. The Masonic frater- nity has always taken a front rank stand in the social and fraternal circles of the city, partly because of its long standing in Freeport, partly because it has numbered about its members nearly all of the most prominent and influential citizens of the city. Also because of the Masonic Temple, one of the most beau- tiful buildings of the city today, architecturally and from a utilitarian standpoint. The mere fact that the' Masonic Lodges were instrumental in the erection of this pile places their brothers among the foremost of Freeport's energetic and patriotic citizens. The property owned by the Masons includes the temple and lot and their appurtenances on Stephenson street between Walnut and Cherry. These are valued at about $75,000.
ODD FELLOWS.
There are eight lodges in Freeport connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. These are the Freeport Lodge No. 239, the Winneshiek Lodge No. 30, Stephen A. Douglas Encampment No. 100, Stephenson Lodge No. 61, Canton Unity No. 3, two lodges of the honorary Rebekah Degree, Busy Bee Lodge No. 138, and Illinois Lodge No. 259, and Western Star Encampment of Patriachs No. 25.
The Odd Fellows have always played an important role in the fraternal life of Freeport. The Winneshiek lodge, the first one to be instituted in the city, was founded as far back as 1847, and has been almost part and parcel of the city itself, a sharer in all the vicissitudes of the latter's growth. The other lodges are only a few years younger, and all have numbered among their mem- bers some of Freeport's most prominent citizens.
The origin of the world organization of Odd Fellows is lost in obscurity. It extends back beyond the fifth century, and there are indications that the fraternity existed in Spain before that time. In Portugal it was introduced in the sixth century, and its existence in France dates from about the twelfth century. From France it was carried to England, and the American Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows is an outgrowth of English Odd Fellowship. In 1829, in a room of the Seven Stars, an ancient Baltimore hostelry, a circle of men met for the purpose of organizing and establishing an American Odd Fellows' society. The prime mover of the meeting was Thomas Wildey, the father of American Odd Fellowship, and the outcome of the meeting was the organization of Washington Lodge No. I.
Since that time, only eighty-one years ago, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows has spread throughout every state of the Union, and has its lodges
1
586
HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
in hundreds of cities, villages and hamlets. For about six years after the foun- dation in Baltimore, the growth of the order was only gradual. Then it took on new impetus and the rapid growth since that date has never for a moment been checked. In 1851 an honorary degree of Odd Fellowship, the Daughters of Rebekah, was instituted, designed to promote fraternal relations between the wives and widows of Odd Fellows.
The first Illinois lodge was established at Alton on August II, 1836, and christened the "Western Star No. I." Since that date the spread of the or- ganization in Illinois has been rapid. The qualifications for admission to the I. O. O. F. are a belief in the Supreme Creator, sound health, good character, and an honorable trade. The members bind themselves by a solemn oath to visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead, care for the widow, and educate the orphan.
Winneshiek Lodge No. 30. On July 15, 1847, when the city of Freeport was a mere handful of houses and stores, the Grand Lodge of Illinois granted a charter for the organization of a lodge in Freeport to be known as "Winneshiek Lodge No. 30," of which the following men became charter members: Thomas F. Goodhue, E. A. Aiggins, C. G. Strohecker, A. W. Schuler, W. T. McCool, H. G. Moore, S. D. Carpenter, Chas. Powell and S. B. Farwell.
Meetings were first held in the garret of a brick building in that portion of the city which is now the Second Ward, then known as Knowltontown. In time the organization became prosperous, and the place of meeting was changed to one more convenient and better adapted to the needs of the order. After various changes, the I. O. O. F. finally took possession of the hall in the Munn building, which has since continued in their hands, and is known as Odd Fel- lows' hall. The growth in importance and prosperity of Winneshiek Lodge has been steady and consistent. Some of the famous men of Freeport's history have been connected with the I. O. O. F. and always the order has stood for the best and most advanced in social, fraternal, and charitable circles. None of the charter members of Winneshiek lodge are living, and many of them never returned from the Civil War ..
The lodge now numbers about one hundred and seventy members, and has elected for the current year the following officers: Noble grand, W. F. Alte- meier ; vice grand, E. L. Yoder ; secretary, Henry Brinkman ; financial secretary, Frank B. Koenig. Meetings are held on Wednesdays in Odd Fellows' hall.
Freeport Lodge No. 239. A large number of German citizens of the Win- neshiek lodge had for a number of years wished to organize into a separate lodge where their own mother tongue could be used in the meetings and rituals. In 1857 a portion of them decided to take this step, and a withdrawal from Winneshiek lodge was effected. A charter for the new lodge was petitioned for, and Freeport lodge was duly installed with the following charter members: D. B. Schulte, John Hoebel, Jacob Krohn, Henry Deuermeyer, and William Stine.
Meetings were at first convened in the old Odd Fellows' Hall over the Stephenson County Bank, corner of Chicago and Stephenson streets. The place of meeting was afterward moved to the lodge rooms in Munn's building, now known as Odd Fellows' Hall. Meetings have been held there ever since.
587
HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
Freeport Lodge has an enrollment of about one hundred members at the present time. Meetings are held every Monday, and the business is conducted by the following officers : Noble grand, George Foss; secretary, Albert Dittman.
Stephenson Lodge No. 61. Stephenson Lodge is the newest acquisition to the ranks of the subordinate Odd Fellows' lodges of Freeport. It was founded in April, 1884, by members who thereupon withdrew from the other two lodges, W. W. Krape being instrumental in its founding. As it was thought best to conduct the business of Stephenson lodge entirely apart from Winneshiek and Freeport lodges, the new society did not meet in the old Odd Fellows' Hall, but secured new quarters in the Rosenstiel building, on the third floor over the store now occupied by H. A. Hunekemeier. Here club rooms have been fitted out, and the fraternal and social side of this lodge is made an especial feature. The membership is ninety-five, having grown from an original fif- teen. The officers for the year are: Noble grand, Arthur Graham; secretary, Walter Oswald.
Western Star Encampment of Patriachs No. 25. Encampment No. 25 was founded at Belvidere, Illinois, but was subsequently removed to Freeport. The charter had been granted to Belvidere on the 14th day of October, 1857, and the removal was accomplished within a very short time after that date. The Western Star Encampment is the highest branch of Odd Fellowship and is open to all brothers in good standing who have obtained the Scarlet Degree in the subordinate lodges.
When the encampment was removed to Freeport the charter members were seven in number. The encampment now has a membership of one hundred and twenty-seven, among them some of the most prominent business men of Free- port. The officers are: C. P., Geo. McKnight; scribe, E. S. Auman. Meetings are held
Stephen A. Douglas Encampment No. 100. The Stephen A. Douglas En- campment was an outgrowth of Freeport Lodge, in that it came to be founded by the same German citizens who had been the originators of the subordinate organization. It was chartered October 12, 1869, by Jacob Krohn, John Hoebel, William Wagner, Sr., Henry Rohkar, Sr., Gabriel Lampert, and Mathias Het- tinger, Sr., who made up the entire list of charter members. From this small list the membership has grown to about seventy-five. Meetings are held .on the second and fourth Fridays of the month in Odd Fellows' Hall. The officers are : C. P., Allen Janssen; high priest, Charles Meyer; secretary, Albert F. Dittman.
Canton Unity No. 3 P. M. The Canton Unity, which is a social and mili- tary order in Odd Fellowship, is the newest of the I. O. O. F. lodges of Free- port. It was founded in October, 1904, by I. G. Wise, with a charter roll of twenty-five members. The branch is somewhat analogous to the commandery in Masonry. Although of recent organization it is flourishing and promises to be one of the most active of the I. O. O. F. organizations of the city. There are about forty-five members. The officers are: Captain, E. L. Yoder; lieu- tenant, John C. Bricker; secretary, John Sharples.
Busy Bee Lodge No. 138, Rebekah Degree. The honorary "Rebekah" de- gree, designed to include the wives and widows of Odd Fellows was originated
588
HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
in 1851. Freeport now possesses two lodges, of which the Busy Bee Lodge is the oldest. It was chartered in Freeport June 4, 1884, by about a dozen mem- bers, out of whom three are at present living. The especial function of the Rebekahs is to care for the charitable and social side of the Odd Fellows' or- ganizations, with the emphasis on the former. They make provisions for the care and maintenance of dependent widows and orphans of Odd Fellows, and for that purpose they support two orphan asylums and homes at Lincoln and Mattoon in this state. The present membership is about one hundred and forty-eight. The officers for the current year are: Noble grand, Mrs. A. B. Haney; secretary, Mrs. Ida Howell. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month in Odd Fellows' Hall.
Illinois Lodge No. 259, Rebekah Degree. Illinios Lodge was established June, 1889. Dr. Krape, who was also instrumental in establishing Stephenson Lodge, was a factor in securing the Illinois Lodge. Forty-three names appeared upon the original charter, and Mrs. George Emerick became the first noble grand. Mrs. I. G. Wise was the first secretary of the lodge.
Illinois Lodge now numbers one hundred and seventeen members. The of- ficers for the years are : Noble grand, Mrs. Anna Jackson ; secretary, A. Roberts. Meetings are convened on the second and fourth Fridays of the month in Odd Fellows' Hall.
This completes the list of the various I. O. O. F. organizations of Freeport. All are in a most prosperous condition, and have succeeded in accomplishing a great deal since their founding. A movement is now under way for the build- ing of an Odd Fellows' Temple, but it is extremely improbable that the project will culminate in the near future at least. Concerted action is the only factor which can possibly bring about the building of such a temple, and at present,' with Stephenson Lodge holding meetings in quarters of its own and having no connection with the other lodges, the outlook for such unity is not very bright. Winneshiek and Freeport Lodges have taken steps toward the building of the temple, in that a sort of ways and means committee has been chosen. Among the active members of the committee are the Rev. William H. Beynon, William Garrety, Henry Brinkman, and George Schmelzle. Should these gentlemen be successful in raising enough funds to carry the project through, Freeport will have more reason than ever to be proud of its I. O. O. F. lodges.
The Freeport Lodge No. 617 of the B. P. O. Elks was organized September 6, 1900, with a roll of charter members numbering forty. It is thus one of the youngest organizations in the city, but, during its career, has been very active. It has taken the place, to a great degree, of a young men's club among the younger business men of the city. All of the prominent young men of the city are identified with the Elks, and while the younger men are those principally interested in the lodge, and connected with its workings, the membership is by no means limited to their ranks.
The national organization of the Elks transacts its business with appropriate secrecy. Absolutely no publicity is given to the affairs of the Grand Lodge, and if some of the good offices were made public, it is certain that the Elks would number an even larger circle of friends and members than they today enjoy. The work of the order has been carried on in charitable lines, and an amount of work
589
HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY
has been done which seems nothing short of astonishing to the uninitiated. For example, large sums of money were raised and sent to the sufferers in Italy after the great Sicilian earthquake at Messina. A great deal was done to alleviate the sufferings of the miners' families after the Cherry disaster, and in all of these good works, the Freeport Elks have not failed to do their part.
The Freeport Lodge maintains club rooms, at 133 Stephenson street over C. W. Harden's store, between Van Buren street and South Galena avenue. Here a common meeting place is provided for the members of the organization, and thus the social and fraternal life of the society is promoted. The lodge now numbers two hundred and forty members. Meetings are held on the first and third Thursdays of the month in the club rooms at 133 Stephenson street.
The officials of the Elks, known as the exalted rulers, are as follows for the current year : R. P. Eckert, R. D. Kuchner, Dr. C. L. Snyder, T. H. Hollister, Emil Haeni, M. J. Hanly, W. E. Fry, Wm. A. Stevens, W. N. Tice, and Wm. G. Krape. John W. Clark is secretary.
INDEX
Iiiinois-Under Four Fiags. 3
Sucker State.
6
Physiography of Stephenson County.
7
Criminal Records ..
113
Geology of Stepheuson County
10
The Black Hawk War.
31
Frontier Life in 1832.
36
Battle of the Pecatonica.
41
Captain Stepheusou's Battle.
42
The Original Muster Roll. 50
Biack Hawk War Monument. 51
Reunious of Survivors of Black Hawk War 54
Black Hawk-An Historic Piay.
55
The First Settiements-1833-1837. 55
Ransomberg
64
The First Electiou.
66
Locating the County Seat.
67
The Name Freeport.
68
1837
69
Stephenson County, 1837-1850. 76
An Early Suicide ..
78
1840-Amusemeuts
82
First Circuit Court ..
86
Courts, Laws, Etc.
86
Prairie Fires.
88
Mormons Invade the County . 89
After 1837
91
Richard Hunt, Cierk. 92
An Early Hotel ..
92
The People Versus Shin-Piasters 93
The Town Beli.
93
Manny Reaper Wins Over McCormick .. 93
The First Circus
93
Tripp Boy Lost. 93
The First Brick Building 94
Water Power Rights .. 94
English Colony-Ridott 95
The Wallace Suicide 95
The Boardman Murder 96
German Coiony
.96
1844-1850
96
The War With Mexico 97
After 1837.
98
Newspapers
98
Township Organization-1850-1860. 100
Freeport a Town-1850 101
Census of 1850. . 101
Asiatic Cholera-1850-1852. 103
The Forty-Niners-The Gold Fever 104
Whig Celebration, 1849.
105
Politics
105
Various Items of Interest ..
106
Fourth of July Celebration in Freeport, 1851 106
Agricultural Meeting 107
Meeting of Soldiers of War of 1812
.107
Temperance in 1854
107
Real Estate.
108
Business-1857
110
The Manny Reaper Company .
110
Hard Times in 1857.
111
Freeport Gets City Charter-1855.
114
Big Fremont Meeting-1856.
115
116
Campaign of 1860 116
Item, 1860.
117
The Railroad -The End of Pioneer
Times
117
The Galena and Chicago Railroad.
118
The Iliinois Centrai.
120
The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paui.
.120
Items on Railroads-Freeport Journal. . 121
The Cars Are Here ..
.121
The Chicago Great Western Railroad Company-The "Corn Beit Route". . 122 The Rockford & Iuterurban Raiiroad Company 122
The Migration to Stephenson County . .122
Frontier Conditious 137
The Log Cabin.
137
Going to Miii.
139
Raisings
140
Quiitings and Corn Huskings.
141
Cutting Grain.
141
Threshing Grain
142
Markets and Prices.
.144
Poisonous Snakes.
146
Frontier Life
147
Large Families of the Pioneer Times. .149
Indians-The White Man's Burden.
153
A Murder-Tradition or Fact.
155
The Prairie Pirates. 156
Pioneer Advertising, News and Business 159 Interesting Items-1850-2. 168
Pioneer Education
172
Schools
174
The Little Red School House. 175
Cornstalk College, District No. 1. 178
Union Schooi Exhibit. 182
Short Items of Interest.
182
Freeport Seminary Exhibition-1854. 182
Pioneer Preachers.
184
The Pioneer Physician. 184
The Pioneer Newspaper.
185
Stephenson County Court and Bar in Pio- neer Days 186
Court
190
Court and Bar. 191
The Lyceum of Early Days. 192
The Lecture Courses
193
Addams Institute.
195
Freeport Literary Institute 195
Public Lectures ..
196
The Lincoin-Douglas Debate-1858
196
The Ottawa Debate.
201
The Freeport Debate ..
.202
Where the Debate Was Heid.
.203
590
Banners
591
INDEX
Description of Douglas aud Lincoln .... 204
Lincoin's Questlons and Douglas' Reply. 206
Second Joint Debate. .208
Wiuneshiek .396
Harlem Township 396
Scioto Milis
.398
Queco Township .399
Oneco
.408
Jefferson Township 409
Loran
. 411
Florence Township 412
Bolton,
415
Loran Township 415
Mill Grove
417
Pearl City
418
Freeport
422
Religious
422
First Presbyterian Church 422
St. Mary's Church
423
First Baptist Church .427
St. Joseph's Church 429
Second Presbyterian Church 430
First M. E. Church 431
First English Lutheran Church .434
Embury M. E. Church 436
Grace Episcopal Church 437
Trinity Church
438
First German Reformed Church 440
German Immanuel Church 441
St. John's Evangelical Church 441
Third Presbyterian Church 442
German M. E. Church 443
Salem Church
444
Emanuel Evangelical Church 445
First Free Methodist Church
446
First English Reformed Church 447
First Church of Christ, Scientist 448
United Brethren Church 449
First Congregational Church 449
Christian Church
450
Theosophicai Society 451
People's Institute 451
Schools after 1860 452
Schools of Freeport
453
Township Treasurers 458
Teachers
459
Early Teachers 460
County Institutes 461
The County Commencement 461
Globe Park and Chautauqua 464
Freeport Newspapers
465
Freeport Journal
465
Deutscher Anzeiger 467
The National Swine Magazine 470
Freeport Bulletin 470
Freeport Standard 472
Dead Newspapers
472
City Editors
476
Fraternal Organizations 476
Grand Army of the Republic 476
Woman's Relief Corps
485
Daughters of the American Revolution .485
Woman's Club
486
Freeport Shakespeare Society
488
Euterpean
490
Rock City .389 Humane Society 493 Enloyanna .390 Juvenile Court 494
Irish Grove .390
Silver Creek Townshlp .391
South Frecport
392
Dunbar
.393
Baileyville .393
Lancaster Township 393
The Clvll War .. .238
Cedarville in the Civil War. 240
Camp Life of the Forty-sixth Illinois .241
Eleventh Infantry. .243
Fifteenth Infantry .248
Twenty-sixth Infantry. .254
Forty-fifth Infantry 260
Forty-slxth Infantry. .262
Sixty-seventh Infautry.
.287
Seventy-first Regiment
.289
Seventy-fourth Infantry
.290
Ninetieth Infantry.
.293
Ninety-second Infantry .204
Ninety-third Infantry . .303
The Que Hundred and Forty-second In- fantry .309
The One Hundred and Forty-sixth In- fantry .313
One Hundred and
Forty-seventh
In-
fantry
314
Seventh Cavalry. .317
Eighth Cavalry. .317
Twelfth Cavalry 318
Thirteenth Cavalry .318
Fourteenth Cavalry .319
Fifteenth Cavalry. .320
Seventeenth Cavalry 320
First Artulery
.320
Second Artillery 321
Miscellaneous 321
Stephenson County Soldlers' Monument 321
Buckeye Township. .340
Buckeye Center. .341
Red Oak.
.342
Buena Vista. .343
Cedarville .344
Rock Grove Township. .348
Rock Grove.
.351
Winslow Towuship. .352
Winslow
.354
West Polnt Township.
.355
Lena .357
Waddams Grove. .359
Louisa
360
.360
Kent
.362
.363
Ridott Township. .368
RIdott
.371
German Valley. .373
Nevada
.374
Everts
.376
Legal .376
Waddams Township. .376
McConnell
.377
Damascus
.378
Waddams Center
.379
Erin Township .379
Dublin
.381
Rock Run Township
.381
Davis
.384
Culture Club
492
Truant and Home Matron
494
Women's Christian Temperance Union
.495
Freenort Audubon Society
.496
Stephenson County Medical Association 497
Kent Township.
Dakota Township.
Dakota
.364
592
INDEX
Freeport Club 498
Lakota Ciub 499
Germania Society 500
County Club 504
Democratic Club
505
Citizen's Commercial Association 505
Business Enterprises
508
Stover Manufacturing Company 508
Stover Engine Works
509
Arcade Manufacturing Company
510
.
Moline Plow Company
511
The Hoefer Manufacturing Company . . 512
Tbe Ziegier-Scbryer Manufacturing Com- pany 513
Dirksen & Towslee
514
W. T. Rawleigh Medical Company .514
Natural Carbon Paint Company 515
Freeport Water Company 516
Stephenson County Telephone Company . 517
Freeport Telephone Company
517
The Fuerst-McNess Company 518
Baier & Ohlendorf
.518
Schmich Brothers
.519
Western Brewery
.519
Yellow Creek Brewery
520
Woodmanse Manufacturing Company .. 520
Freeport Gas, Light & Coke Company .. 521
Freeport Railway, Light & Power Com- pany .522
J. W. Milier Company .524
Freeport Artificial Ice and Cold Storage Company .525
Freeport Shoe Manufacturing Company.525
Keene Canning Company 526
D. E. Swan Company 527
Henney Buggy Company
528
The Charies E. Meyer Company
528
The Wailace Severance Gas Machine
Company
.528
The Freeport Gas Machine Company .528
The Illinois Central Shops
529
Freeport Factories .529
J. W. Miller Company .529
Stores
529
Wholesale Houses
.537
Freeport Real Estate Business .538
The Union Building and Loan Associa- tion .539
The Freeport Building and Loan Asso- ciation 540
The German Building and Loan
Asso-
ciation of Freeport
.540
The German Insurance Company
540
Banks of Freeport
541
First National Bauk
.541
Second National Bank
.542
German Bank
.543
State Bank
543
Knowlton's Bank
544
Non-Existent Banks
545
Stephenson County Court and Bar in
1910
.546
Institutions of Freeport 549
Young Men's Christian Association 549
Freeport Public Library .554
The Hospitais of Freeport
.558
King's Daughters Settlement Home
.562
Oakland Cemetery Association
564
'The Oid Settiers' Association
565
The Great Storm of June, 1869 568
The Courthouse .569
The County Jail
.570
The Freeport Postoffice
571
County Officials-1910
.571
City Improvements
572
Local Option Campaigns
.573
Trustees of the Town of Freeport from its Organization in 1850 to the Year 1855 .573
City Officers from its Organization in
1855 to 1910
.573
General Lodge Directory
.577
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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 977.333F95H C001 HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS, 1
3 0112 025389377
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