USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 15
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A high tone in Erie society. The people are organized in various capaci-
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ties to do good. The Christian church was started in 1871 with forty mem- bers, the present property bought from the United Brethren, and remodeled in 1902. There are one hundred members, a Sunday school of 94, Ladies' Aid society and Christian Endeavor. The pastor, Rev. G. W. Morton, studied at Millersville, Pa., Moody's Institute, Chicago, and before his residence here,, was engaged in evangelistic work. His first year in Erie. A young man with plenty of energy.
As everywhere, the Methodist is the pioneer church, started in 1839 with preaching by Rev. Norris Hobart. In the first class were John Freek, Mrs. Hunt, A. Brooks, Mrs. Early. First services in the log school house. The present membership is 120, with a good Sunday school of 100 pupils. Also a Ladies' Aid, Epworth League and Junior Epworth. The pastor, Rev. John A. Edmondson, has had a varied career. Originally in the Tennessee con- ference of M. E. C. South, he was chaplain during the war of a state regi- ment, but resigned when it was proposed to turn it over to the Confederacy, came north to the Colorado conference in 1875, then to the Central Illinois, next to Rock River. This is his second year.
The plain building of 1870 gave way in 1901 to a modern structure with two elevations and tower at the intersection. Of frame, with stained glass and every necessary equipment for comfort and beauty. At the dedication, Rev. Fred D. Stone offered prayer and the sermon was preached by Dr. M. A. Head. E. W. Thompson was pastor at that time.
One of the oldest members is Dr. H. K. Wells, born in Lebanon, N. H., 1824, who took his academic course at McKendree college, and his medical at Rush college, Chicago. The doctor has been a stanch Wesleyan since sixteen. He came to Erie in 1865, and is still in occasional practice.
On a side street stands a dark frame building with cupola and bell, but the worshipers who once sat beneath that roof are dead or scattered. The bell rings no more.
Of joys departed never to return, How painful the remembrance.
This is the Baptist church, erected in 1870, with a membership of eighty in happier days. Rev. L. L. Lansing was the first pastor, with a dozen suc- cessors. Mrs. Maria Hubbard is one of the few remaining of the early members. The Hubbard farm was her first home before her marriage and removal to Erie, where she has lived 36 years. In 1853 she went to a log schoolhouse in Erie. Her great-great-grandfather was in the battle of Lex- ington.
Perhaps the most active intellectual influence in Erie is the Woman's Club. It was organized March 28, 1903. The motto is Progress, and the colors purple and gold. There are 43 members, comprising the leading ladies of the town. Mrs. Burnice Sieben is president, and Mrs. Margaret Burchell, treasurer. A fine fountain of malleable iron in the square is a monument of their zeal. Meetings are held every two weeks, and a neat booklet contains the program for each session. As will be seen the order changes from time to time, keeping their minds in wholesome occupation.
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For instance this program for Dec. 3: Music, Quotations from American poets, Early Indian history, the Indian today, Indian music and literature, music. For March 3, Plantation Folk Lorc, quotations from southern poets, southern dialect stories. One day is set apart for the annual reception, and one day to the discussion of local necds. In addition they aim to have regular courses of lectures. In the season of 1907-1908, Hon. Arthur K. Peck, of Boston, gave an illustrated lecture on the U. S. Life Saving Service. He was followed in an entertainment by John B. Ratto. . At one meeting Mrs. Maria Hubbard located the site of the first schoolhouse. It was a log building on Main street, on the lot now owned by Carrie Hoffman and her sister, Miss Sophronia Wright.
"What is so rare as a day in June?" inquired Lowell. What is handier than the phone? Erie has fine service in the Crescent Telephone Company. It was organized in Rock Island county 1898, by seven men. On June 14, 1904, the license of incorporation was received, capital stock, $12,500. A steady growth since. Today the company has 2331/2 miles of poles, of which 1771/2 are in Rock Island county and 56 miles in Whiteside.' They have sold also miles of wire. The stock of 494 shares is located as follows: Watertown, 38; Port Byron, 114; Hillsdale, 157; Erie, 185. The shares sell at $25 each or share and telephone, $40 each. At the annual election in January, 1908, at Joslin, Ill., it was voted to increase the capital to $25,000, or 1,000 shares, or 500 more than they had to sell.
The company have four switchboards, one at Watertown, Port Byron, Hillsdale, Erie. The officers are W. H. Whiteside, Joslin, president; E. L. Hansen, Hillsdale, treasurer; and A. A. Matthews, Erie, secretary. Mr. Whiteside has been at the head for several years. A struggle till the enter- prise was on its feet, but now it is a great success, giving the best of service.
Erie was incorporated in 1872 and the board of trustees for 1908 are: George H. Fadden, president; C. D. Hannon, clerk; and the usual commit- tees on streets, finance, fire, health, judiciary and cemetery. Regular meet- ings are held first Tuesday evening of the month at seven in the winter, and 7:30 in the summer.
No town, west or east, is complete without a paper. A city sheet can- not give the local news, and even your own county dailies are unable to furnish the little items that people enjoy. A town paper is really a home bulletin. The Erie Independent was established in 1877 by G. W. Guernsy, and in 1885 was purchased by Wm. M. Patrick, of Lyndon, who was pub- lishing the Lyndon Advocate. In 1890 the establishment was bought by the present editor and publisher, C. D. Hannon. He has given his best efforts to the paper, and made it an excellent repository of home intelligence with an advertising patronage creditable to the merchants. Mr. Hannon is an affable and courteous gentleman. The Independent has four pages and .six columns to the page. One dollar per year.
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THE CEMETERY.
All that tread the globe are but a handful To the tribes that slumber in its bosom.
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY 129
Along the main street leading north is the cemetery. Here is the tomb. of Andrew J. Osborne, a well known reformer in his day, who ventilated his views freely by pen and voice, 1829-1901. On the dark granite is the inscription, "His greatest aim in life was for the liberty of labor." A hand- some soldiers' monument, Orcutt Post, 553, with a volunteer on the summit. On cach of the four sides, Gettysburg, Stone River, Shiloh, Vicksburg. Names of soldiers engraved below.
"Dedicated to the soldiers of the Rebellion." 1861-1865. Samuel Orcutt Post, G. A. R., Erie, Ill.
Ah, never shall the land forget How gushed the life-blood of the brave,
Gush'd warm with hope and courage yet, Upon the soil they fought .to save!
A goodly band of veterans are enjoying their well-earned retirement. Robert Thompson, 34th Illinois, enlisted at Prophetstown, mustered out at Goldsboro, N. C. Started as private, returned as captain. H. A. Hatton, enlisted in the 10th Iowa Infantry, saw long and strenuous service at Island No. Ten, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, Mission Ridge, with Sherman in the march to the sea, and then north to the grand review at Washington, 1865, which he says was the proudest day of his life. Of the 107 who left in his con- pany, only 17 came back. L. E. Matthews, 75th Illinois, was hit in knee at Perryville, and wounded also at Dallas in 1864.
Hiram Deyo, enlisted twice, first in Mechanics Fusileers, then in 92nd Illinois, Col. Atkins. He fought at Chickamauga and Lookout Mountain, ·· marched with Sherman to the sea, and was mustered out in North Carolina. Arthur Welding, first in 15th Missouri Independent Rangers, 1851, next in 8th Kansas Infantry, 1862, followed the flag under Rosecranz, Sherman and Grant, and was mustered out at Chattanooga in 1864. York Eddy, 75th Illinois, was in that terrible fight at Perryville. He is thankful to Uncle Sam for $20 a month pension. Joseph M. Stephenson, born in Eng- land, enlisted in De Witt, Iowa, in 26th Iowa Infantry, spent his term chiefly about Helena, Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, hospital at St. Louis, to his discharge in 1863.
Thanks to the genius of Edison, a mild moonlight is enjoyed in all our smaller towns every winter night. An electric plant furnishes incandes- cent lights in Erie streets. The town is charged $1.25 for every light, or $66 per month for the whole number. It was established in 1899. There is an engine of cighty horsepower. The price, three lights for $1.25 per month, seems reasonable, for household use, sixteen candle power. E. L. Muesse, formerly of Wisconsin, is engincer. The service is generously em- ployed in stores, shops, hotels and the newer residences.
The bridge over Rock river was built in 1892 by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Works at a cost of $21,500. Three spans. A solid piece of work.
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EARLY SETTLERS.
Erie comes naturally by its name, as two of the first settlers came from Erie county, New York. Lewis D. Crandall settled here in 1835, and estab- lished a ferry over Rock river, the first below Dixon. Lafayette, also, came from the same county in New York, and opened a farm in 1837. Samuel Carr, Vermont, kept hotel in a log cabin, 1843, when a stage line was in operation. John Freek, England, came in 1835, and took an active interest in Sunday schools and preaching services, so often neglected in the primitive districts. In 1840 a postoffice was kept at Crandall's Ferry by Lewis D. Crandall, and moved to Erie in 1849.
In the autumn of 1835, Peter Gile, wife and two children, with L. D. Crandall, started from Dixon with goods on two canoes lashed together. Night came on, and the frail craft was overturned in the raging current.
The boat was on a stormy land, A stormy sca before her.
The younger child was drowned, and Mrs. Gile soon died from the effects of the exposure. O. Brooks built the first house in Erie, and the first teacher was Polly Ann Sprague, afterwards Mrs. Reuben Hard. The first marriage, that of Oliver Olmstead and Electa Hunt, and the first child born was Harriet Coburn, her father, Charles, having come in 1839 from New York.
An agreeable hour was spent with John D. Fenton, who as a child canie with his father, Joseph, to the country in 1835. He was born in 1832, and has lived in Erie since 1863. All of his carly associates are dead and gone. He likes to tell of the family trip to the west by Erie canal, the lakes and ox cart from Milwaukee. Mr. Fenton is one of the most sprightly men of his age to be met in a day's travel. Rises early, does his own chores, regular in eating, sleeping and all his habits, and what is rare, a systematic reader of the dailies and magazines, taking a variety of the best publications. He talks well, no slang or slip-shod words. The thought and language of a gentle- man.
TWO CHARACTERS.
William Allen, esq., who has been in Erie since 1856, may be called the Dean of the Whiteside bar. A judicial mind and a phenomenal memory. A Solomon in judgment, and a Macaulay in recalling names and dates. His spacious farm house and barn on a tract of 300 acres, on the edge of town, is conspicuous, and assure Mr. Allen a comfortable old age.
But D. B. Henwood is in age the G. O. M. of Erie. A pioneer of pioneers. His mother kept tavern in Harrisburg, Pa., in 1812; he was born in Phila- delphia in 1824, moved to Ohio in four-horse wagon in 1825, to Indiana in 1837, to Erie in 1850. He had a farm and ferry, and ran the boat across the river till the bridge was built. A genuine Charon that the Latin poets speak of. Still vigorous at 84.
The First National Bank has a paid-up capital of $40,000. Robert L. Burchell is president, Ora A. Wilson, vice-president and Robert C. Burchell, cashier. Eight directors: Charles McLane, Ora A. Wilson, Frank J. Vogt,
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Henry A. Huntington, G, H. Fadden, R. C. Burchell, R. L. Burchiell, W. C. Durkes.
ITEMS.
All the fraternal orders flourish. The Masons doubtless the oldest, Erie Lodge, No. 667, instituted in 1870. Then there are the Mystic Workers, Odd Fellows, Woodmen, Knights of Pythias, with their lady society adjuncts.
At the last meeting of the board of trustees, a bill of $543 was allowed for gravel on the streets, the best material for giving a solid foundation for traffic.
A substantial city hall of brick, built two years ago. On first floor an assembly room, in rear, fire engine and jail, above council chamber and other offiees.
Erie had no railway connection until the Rockford, Rock Island and St. Louis R. R. was opened in 1869, and since then the place has enjoyed a healthy improvement. One advantage. It has no competing towns in business, Rock Island and Geneseo on the south being too far away to attract trade.
The two most imposing residenees in Erie are those of R. C. Burehell, merehant, and Dr. Larue, physician. They are both of the southern style, Thomas Jefferson at Monticello, or Jackson at Hermitage, with their tall columns under the high portico in front.
Like Chicago, the town recalls a memorable fire, July 3, 1897, which destroyed a whole block, stores, printing office, heart of the place, but the new buildings are better. Erie is progressive.
Men said at vespers, all is well. In one wild night the city fell.
A young men's club was lately organized at the Christian church on "the plan of the Y. M. C. A. with 25 members, with the general aim of personal and publie improvement in the better life.
A highly respected citizen died in Jan., 1908, M. H. Seger, whose father came from Maine and settled in Erie in 1854. Mr. Seger was born in 1838. A useful man. In his seventy years, he had served Erie in every position, justiee, assessor, collector, director, supervisor.
THE SCHOOL.
Erie people have always taken much pride in their educational affairs, and the school was never more efficient than today. Gradual additions are made to the library, laboratory and necessary apparatus. A half hour twice a week is given to musie in each room. A eatalogue is published in which the general course of study is outlined. There are twelve grades, compris- ing the primary, intermediate, grammar and high school divisions. Grad- ing is on the scale of one hundred. A pupil falling below 75 must make up the study in the next term. There is a truant officer. Four years in the high school with the following course." For the Freshman, English, Algebra, Physiology, Botany and Latin. Sophomore has English, Alge- bra and History, Geography and Physiography, Latin. Junior has Eng-
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lish, Geometry, General History, Latin. Senior has Zoology and English History, Solid Geometry and Political Economy, Physics, Arithmetic. For graduation in the complete high school course, 32 credits are required. Six teachers in the building. Miss Abbie May Hughes, of La Salle, in the pri- mary; Miss Jennie Lewis, of Morrison, intermediate; Miss Elizabeth Fenton, of Erie, grammar; Miss Annie Adams, of Erie, instructor in music; Miss Alvara Proctor, Spenser, Mass., assistant in high school. She is a graduate of Smith College, Northampton, Mass., and a thorough scholar.
The principal, Miss Jessie E. Jewett, Woodstock, Illinois, is a young lady of admirable qualifications. After graduating at Woodstock high school and Downer College, Milwaukee, receiving the B. A. degree, she spent sev- eral months in travel abroad, visiting the British Isles, France, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Italy. A young woman of fine presence and enthu- siasm that cannot fail to awaken the dullest pupil. The writer heard a recita- tion in . English on the topic of Burns and his poetry, and it was happily illustrated with pictures of Ayr, Dumfries and the scenes he rendered im- mortal.
Kings may be blest, but Tam was glorious, O'er a' the ills o' life victorious.
MRS. WONSER AT NINETY-FOUR ..
It was the privilege of the writer to spend an hour with the most ven- erable woman in Erie, Mrs. Ruth Wonser. She was born in Oneida county, N. Y., March, 1813, and is therefore in her 95th year. She came to Erie in 1848. Her husband had a store and farm. Mr. Wonser died in 1893. Her maiden name was Churchill. Of ten children, five are living. She makes her home with her single daughter, Ruth, who is devoted in her attendance upon her aged parent. The old lady shows traces of her early refinement in her casual phrases. Alluding to her daughter's care, "She is entitled to the highest seat in the kingdom of heaven," and in allusion to her family, "Most of them are gone over the great divide, and I stay at my advanced age. My eyes are dim, ears dull, but heart as young as ever."
But for an unfortunate fall 28 years ago, breaking her thigh and ren- dering crutches necessary and an indoor life, Mrs. Wonser would be some- what active. She sits in her chair, and reads coarse print in book or paper. In 1902 she received a large book with blank leaves, in which she began to make entries about the weather and various events, and this is the introduc- tion to
HER DIARY AT EIGHTY-NINE.
"This beautiful book, sent by my dear friends and children, I accept and appreciate with heartfelt thankfulness. What a world of memories rise up in mind of friends tried and true, of loving kindness bestowed in hours of severe trial and heart-stricken grief, and of cheerful counsel in. happier days. Long may they live, and may health, peace and plenty be their store! "According to the family record, I have been on this earth, and a resi- dent of the United States for 89 years. A long time. Instead of ignorance,
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I should be very learned. Instead of poverty, I should possess a competenee. But in all my life, I have tried to use time judieiously. I have tried to do the best I eould. What have I accomplished? Is the world better for my having been a resident of it so long? Have I aided anyone to live a better life? Have I wiped away the tear of the mourner? I eannot solve the problem. I am weary, and would gladly go henee."
This is a wonderful reeord. The writing is large and legible. Could Wesley at 85 do better? The writer pressed the wrinkled hand with sadness as he felt it would be the last on the shores of time.
This sketeh was written in December, 1907. On March 13, 1908, she celebrated her 95th birthday, and sat down to the dinner table with a few relatives and friends, and seemed to be as bright as usual. But soon after- wards she began to fail, and died early in April. The funeral was held at her home, eondueted by Rev. Mr. Edmonson. Mrs. Wonser was a member of the Methodist church. The interment was in the cemetery at Erie.
Her husband, M. Wonser, died many years ago. Several eliildren are living. C. D. Wonser, the youngest, came from his home at Kansas City, Mo. The other son, M. G. Wonser of Tama, Ia., was also present. He was here on his mother's last birthday and had returned to his home, but eąme baek before she died. Mrs. Wonser lived with her daughter, Ruth Wonser.
PORTLAND.
From yon blue heaven above us bent, The grand old gardener and his wife, Smile at the elaims of long deseent .- Tennyson.
. How did Portland get its name? Not from the precious Portland Vase found in Rome, and now in the British Museum? Perhaps from the Dukes of Portland, eminent English statesmen. Or the eities of Portland in Maine and Oregon. Or Portland Cement, which means everything sound and hard. Or from the Isle of Portland in the English channel, noted for its eastle and building stone. Perhaps, after all, a fanciful name.
Portland is one of our seven townships, Jordan, Genesee, Clyde, Hume, Newton, Montmoreney, whose saered soil has not been invaded by the iron horse. Erie is the nearest point by rail. A mile from Erie is Roek river, and erossing the iron bridge, you are in Portland. There is a bayou, the land is low and swampy, and at an early day in wet times this particular place was impassable. Now, thanks to the labors of the commissioners, travel is a pleasure. The approaches and the high embankment, like a railroad, for rods is macadamized with Joliet stone. It is made to stay.
Four miles further is Spring Hill. A elean, elleerful-looking hamlet of about one hundred people. Dr. J. T. Magill, who, after a residenee of fourteen years, knows the families, gave the writer the eensus on his fingers. He is a graduate of Bennett Medieal college, eeleetie in praetiee, and in his leisure cultivates a fruit farm, shipping what he is unable to use. On a sign is "Village Hotel," recalling Miss Mitford, a store kept by Mr. Perkins, a
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separator which sends the cream to Erie, a school in charge of Miss Erma Mason, with 34 pupils enrolled, and a blacksmith shop.
But this is none of your common shops where horses are shod and shovels are mended. George Rollo, who has had the business for sixteen years, is from Aberdeen, Scotland, is a master of the trade, an artist in iron. The shop is supplied with machines for doing every kind of work, power drills, ripping saws, emery wheels, disc sharpener, plow repairing, trip ham- mer, everything necessary, all run by a six-horse gas engine. Farmers come many miles to have their plows sharpened and put in order. Two men are generally employed.
Spring Hill was started in 1853, and Levi and Horace Fuller opened a store and did an extensive business until 1872. In 1869 a steam saw and grist mill was erected, but continued only a few years. A mail route was established from Princeton to Rock Island in 1852, and the postoffice in 1853, Levi Fuller, postmaster. The village is situated on a ridge, seen in every direction for miles, and is surrounded by a good country and productive farms. Much stock is raised. At a late sale by C. C. Fuller, a mile west of Spring Hill, among the animals offered at auction, were ncarly a hundred yearlings and cows.
The tornado of June 5, 1844, was remarkable in that it was exclusive, its ravages confined to the township. The storm came from the west, cross- ing Rock river at Crandall's Ferry. Houses, barns and cattle were destroyed, trees leveled and many persons injured. Two sons of J. Smith Rowe were killed, and a daughter permanently crippled. Some marvelous escapes. Horace Burke's barn and house ruined, but of twelve persons none were seriously hourt. Wagons and household utensils were carried for miles. Three of A. T. Bracken's horses driven through a sod fence and not badly damaged. This is said to be the first tornado in the county.
SHARON CHURCH. I love thy kingdom, Lord, The house of thine abode .- Dr. Dwight.
This stands on the site of the first church in the county. Although the Congregational society was formed in Lyndon in 1836, no church was erected, the meetings being held in dwellings or schoolhouses. The Presbyterians organized a society here in 1839, with Deacon and Mrs. Kemmis, the mother, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Getty, Reuben and Horace Hurd, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Norton and Mrs. Durfee. Christmas, 1841, the new church was dedi- cated. It was an oblong edifice, one main door in front, and three windows on each side. It cost about $800. Mr. Norton gave ten acres of land, and assisted in erecting a parsonage at a cost of $400. This was afterwards burned, but another was soon in its place. Rev. Daniel Rockwell was the first settled pastor, followed by a succession of faithful ministers, Bliss, a returned missionary, Martin, Baldwin, Kenricks, Chambers, Corbett. As the Presbyterians grew less numerous, and other denominations increased, the old building became known as the People's Church, on account of its
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various membership and liberal services. As the early structure had become too small for the increasing attendance, it was decided to erect a new build- ing, which was dedicated with fitting and solemn ceremonies, Sunday, July 7, 1907. Rev. Mr. Smith, the present pastor, was in charge of the day's exercises.
The edifice was packed at an early hour, and hundreds gathered out- side and were enabled to enjoy the exercises through the open doors and windows. At the close of the introductory hymns and prayers, Rev. A. M. White, D. D., formerly pastor at Morrison and ex-chaplain at Joliet, delivered the dedication sermon. It was a noble and impressive discourse. As he spoke of the friends of other days who had worshiped on this spot, eyes grew dim and strong men were stirred with emotion. Only three were pres- ent who had witnessed the opening of Sharon church in 1841: Henry Kempster, J. P. Fuller, Richard Thompson.
The handsome new church which is modern throughout, was erected under the supervison of John C. Meyer & Sons of Spring Hill. The main auditorium is 48x30 and twenty feet to the eaves, height of ceiling center, forty feet. There is also an annex 18x30 which will be used as a Sunday school room and league room. This annex can be made all into one room, as there are sliding doors. The cathedral windows of chipped glass give the building a soft light. The hard pinc ceiling is set in panels, the floors and woodwork also are of hard pine. The white walls are hard finish. The 10x16 rostrum for the minister and choir is in the south and opposite to the front entrance. The seats are the patent folding opera chairs, mahogany finish. The hardware and gas fixtures are copper finished. At night two gas lights will illuminate the annex and four the main auditorium. The basement, with cement floor, is divided into two rooms, one for the furnace, the other for the kitchen, conveniently fitted with culinary supplies. The entrance, 8x8, leads into either the audience room or annex through double doors. The solid foundation is made of concrete. The arrangement is very neat, the whole edifice well planned and finished.
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