USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 24
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Before Tampico was started, the first school in the district was a half mile south, 1869, but when the railroad was made in 1871, the schoolhouse was moved to town. When this became too small, an upper room of Guffey's building, now part of Burden's opera house, was rented, and another teacher hired. The present structure was built in 1874. A long list of teachers have wielded the birch since A. W. Bastian, who, after attaining fame and fortune, is now educating his countrymen through the columns of the Fulton Journal.
Beneath the rule of men entirely great, The pen is mightier than the sword.
RECOLLECTIONS OF MRS. CHARLES WEST.
Westward the course of empire takes its way.
Eli Cain was one of the earliest landlords of the old Tampico House, one of the first buildings in town. James Cain was one of the earliest merchants, and still owns two buildings on west side of Main street. Alfred .and Fred Smith have been hardware dealers for nearly 35 years. The old store is beside the new implement building. The first store and postoffice building occupied by S. B. Winter, now 84, living in New Jersey, was replaced a year ago by a brick. A part of the home of Delos Craddock belonged to a structure which occupied the site of Union hall, and was used by Dr. Taggart, the earliest physician, and later as a millinery shop. William Kilroy has the house which was occupied for many years by C. F. Gifford, the first editor of the Tampico Tornado. The tornado destroyed the back part, and left the front open to the
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weather until it was repaired. Thomas Dow occupied the first -schoolhouse, moved to town from the prairie where it was originally built. It was used for town elections. The teacher was George Apley, now 79, and living in Ne- braska. Charles Burden built an addition to an old brick, and with his brother, William, conducts a store. Above the two is Burden's opera house. I think it was in the spring of 1874 that A. W. Bastian took charge of the school. That winter the upper part of Guffey's building was rented, and the younger pupils placed in charge of Miss Rose Laughlin, a lovely girl, sister-in-law of Fred Smith. Mr. Bastian was an exceptionally good teacher. At the dedica- tion of the new building in 1874 a fine program was given. The music was by Isaac West and his son, De Witt, and daughter Lovina. It was the earliest orchestra I can remember. Afterwards a big supper was served in the unfin- ished room. It was a very pleasant occasion.
THE BOYS IN BLUE.
We are not many, we who pressed Beside the brave who fell that day; But who of us has not confessed He'd rather share their warrior rest Than not have been at Monterey ?-- Hoffman.
The Grand Army here was organized in 1884, and is called the S. G. Steadman Post, 491. There are 27 members. It was the privilege of the writer to visit some of the veterans. Thomas O. Steadman, born in Ohio, came to Illinois in 1855, enlisted in Co. D, 75th Illinois, 1862, serving until 1865, when he was discharged by general order. He was in Perryville, Stone River, Nashville, and never a scrateli. Health somewhat impaired of late.
Robert Collins was born in Ireland, Queens county, coming to Elgin in 1854. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. C, 7th Illinois Cavalry, re-enlisted in Co. B, 36th Ill. Cavalry, and again re-enlisted in Co. K, 10th Ill. Cavalry. He fought at Pea Ridge, Corinth, Chickamauga, Kenesaw, Atlanta, and Benton- ville, North Carolina. Served to the close of the war, and never wounded.
Barney McGrady came from New York, cnlisting at Leon, 1862, in Co. D, 75th Ill., Infantry, then at Prophetstown, re-enlisting in Co. B, 34th Illinois in 1864. He met the enemy at Perryville, Nasliville, Atlanta, Murfreesboro, · Lookout Mountain, Dallas, Raleigh, North Carolina. He served to the end of the conflict, and passed every battle unhurt.
John H. Milligan, born in Ohio, enlisted in Co. B, 85th Ohio Infantry, . 1862, re-enlisted 1863 in Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, and faced bullets at Knoxville and Franklin, Tennessce. Came through safe and sound.
Jesse Van Bibber, another Ohio hero, enlisted in Co. H, 87th Ohio Infan- try, then in Co. G, 116th Ohio Infantry. The regiment was so badly cut to pieces towards the close of the war that it was consolidated with the 62nd Ohio Infantry, and later with the 67th Ohio. When discharged from service he was in this regiment. Comrade Van Bibber faced the foe in dozens of battles, Harper's Ferry, Winchester, Piedmont, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, Peters- burg, Appomattox. He was wounded and captured at Harper's Ferry, wounded
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at Newmarket, at Winchester, and at Fisher's Hill. Appomattox shows that he was in at the death of the Confederacy. Most of the old boys are in good health, and are met on the streets every day, and always ready to recall the bloody fight and the tented field. They face the setting sun, but like they faced the southern foe, with a heart that feels no fear. These five soldiers were all past commanders of the post.
The veterans were very much surprised and gratified with the action of a comrade, Henry Giles, an old soldier and a familiar character, who resided in Tampico for the past thirty years or more, made a will, bequeathing to Mrs. DeWitt West $200, also left $200 for a monument, $100 at interest to care for his grave and the remainder, about $1,000, to the G. A. R. post in Tampico. He had no relatives living so far as he knew. He did not know the date of his birth, but thought it was about 1833. . He came to Prophets- town when about fourteen years old. He enlisted in Company B of the Thirty-fourth Illinois and was wounded at Corinthi by being shot in the arm which left the arm stiff at the elbow.
Robert Collins, by the way, was a scout for Gen. O. O. Howard under Captain Duncan from Atlanta to Goldboro and he was one of the party of eight scouts under this same captain who captured Milledgeville, the town that then was the capital of Georgia, thirty miles in advance of Sherman's army. He was with Lieut. John A. McQueen's scouts from Buford to Goldboro and was in the night engagement at Darlington, S. C., where Lieut. McQueen was wounded.
TAMPICO AS A PHENIX.
In the Greek fable the phenix was a bird that burned itself to death, and from the ashes a young bird arosc. This is Tampico. Like a plucky pugilist coming up smiling after a desperate round. In 1872 the frame hotel of Maurice Fitzgerald, and part of Cain's store were destroyed. In 1874 High's grocery and dry goods, Burke's grocery and residence, Case and Davis, Cloth- iers, and Conroy's dry goods and grocery, were burned out. This was in Jan- uary, and by the following June the site was built up. Then came the fearful tornado of June 6, 1874, which fell upon the devoted village on the evening of Saturday. The worst since 1860. The Whiteside Sentinel gave a full account of the damage. The warehouse and elevator of Glassburn & Bryant, T. S. Beach's elevator, storcs, shops, dozens of dwellings, the Methodist church, were wrecked by the tempest, and all the dreadful ruin in a few seconds. . No lives lost, but many persons more or less injured. The storm came from the south- west. A committee appointed to receive aid for the sufferers met a generous response. But the cup of calamity was not yet full. In 1876, early on Wednes- day, May 17, 1876, a fire was discovered between the stores of Burke and High, and six buildings were consumed before the flames were under control The grocery and residence of James Conroy, Nelson Maxson's store, Peter Burke's grocery, High's store, the Tornado office, Melvin's law office, Paice's residence and butcher shop, Case & Adams' Billiard hall. Many of these were at once rebuilt. The courage of the citizen always rose to the occasion.
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LODGES AND ORDERS.
Oh, for a lodge in some vast wilderness.
No, Cowper was flighty, he ought to have wished for a pleasant town where people are neighborly. Tampico is nothing if not sociable. Most of the orders, and all flourishing. There are 220 Woodmen, and 100 Royal Neigh- bors, and when they have drills and suppers, no end of solid satisfaction. Burden's opera house is the favorite resort for these functions. It will seat .500 persons. The Woman's Relief Corps have 52 members, and are active in every direction. There are 25 ladies in the W. C. T. U. who meet every two weeks. The president is Mrs. De Witt West. After the late installation, 225 persons sat at tables groaning with chicken and angel's food. The rooms of the Masonic lodge are over Glassburn's bank, and are nicely fitted with every equipment for business and festivity. About eighty in the blue lodge. T. A. Curnow, of the bank, is master. The Fraternal Reserves have 155 members. The Mystic Workers are rolling up a good membership. Every installation of the officers of these orders is followed by a banquet, and no Venetian carni- val ever called forth so much happy entertainment. The churches, too, have their bazars. It is a community of good fellowship.
PIONEER HOGEBOOM.
Noah J. Hogeboom died at the home of his son John at Denrock, Jan. 13, 1908, in his 93rd year. Mr. Hogeboom came from Vermont in 1855 and located on a farm south of Tampico, which was his home for nearly 50 years. A few years ago he went to Missouri and stayed about three years and on his return made his home with his son at Denrock. The deceased was born in Manchester, Vt., Nov. 22, 1815. He married Miss Sara Estabrook Sept. 14, 1842. They were the parents of four children, two of whom survive, John N., and Highland. The funeral was held at Tampico Thursday, with burial in the cemetery.
Mr. Hogeboom was widely known throughout this section and was a con- scientious citizen, filling a number of official positions.
His early home in Vermont was near Bennington, where General Stark defeated the Hessians in 1777. The writer saw the old gentleman at Den- rock a month before his death, and his tottering step showed that the pilgrim would soon pass to the other shore.
In the cemetery in the northern section of town we find the names of well known citizens, Glassburns, Allen, Leonard, Wylie, Howlett, Ferris, Brown, Craddock, McMillen, Hughes, Morse, Vandemark, Dean, Muray. Isaac W. Hayes, a soldier, 1861, aged 21, a flag on his tomb. J. F. Leonard, G. A. R., 1838-1905. This stanza on one brave boy's stone :
He has finished his task, He is now with the blest, May this flag ever wave, O'er a soldier at rest.
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On the tomb of Olsson, an inscription in Swedish. Some expensive monu- ments. Iron fence in front. Numerous evergreens.
Besides Dr. A. P. McMillan, dentist, there are four physicians, Horner, Terry, Newton, and E. W. Wahl, here since 1895. He is a graduate of the medical department of University of Illinois, Chicago, and has his office and residence on Main street.
One of the earlier doctors was Taggart, succceded by Dr. A. C. Smith, of Kentucky, graduate of Long Island Hospital College, 1874. For over twenty years he was a medical Good Samaritan to Tampico and the whole outlying district, traversing the Winnebago swamps when bridges were scarce, and horses had to swim. His father in Kentucky was a disciple of Henry Clay. A few years ago Dr. Smith removed to Sterling, and soon acquired a fine practice.
TAMPICO'S G. O. M.
In a cozy cottage sitting in an arm chair, the writer found the dean of early settlers, Tampico's grand old man, Rufus Aldrich. He was born in Bradford county, Pa., in 1817, emigrated to Whiteside in 1855, and purchased the farm on which he spent most of his life for five dollars an acre. Of seven children, four are living. His youngest daughter, Mrs. Steadman, was the first child born in the township. Sparsely settled then. Only two houses between his place and Sterling. Mr. Aldrich is the picture of a patriarch, who, with his bright eye, genial smile, snowy hair and beard, has welcomed the advancing years gracefully.
--- Therefore my age is as a lusty winter, Frosty but kindly.
To George Isherwood, editor of Tampico Tornado, we are indebted for the subjoined account of the telephone business :
The Tampico Farmers' Mutual Telephone Company, which now has in active operation about three hundred phones and has miles of wire reaching out on nearly every country road, was the direct outgrowth of the work of one man, A. A. Shere, who resides southwest of Tampico in Bureau county. Tired of riding for doctors and threshing hands, Mr. Shere thought that he and a few neighbors could erect a telephone line along their highway and let it do the work. A dozen farmers responded to his request to buy phones, put up poles and have a line. Other farmers then clamored for admission as they saw the benefits of the service, and the Company repeatedly outgrew its lines, central stations and reached a magnitude beyond the wildest dreams of the organizers. At first a president and secretary attended to what little busi- ness was transacted but as the volume of traffic grew the company was incorpo- rated with a capital stock of $6,000, all shares subscribed and paid for and at this date the capital stock will have to be increased. The company maintains a central office in Tampico and also has a central office in Rock Falls. Its lines reach Prophetstown and all other neighboring villages either over its own lines or that of several other mutual lines that are connected with the Tampico central. E. A. Emmons is one of the pioneer founders of the com- pany and virtually the "Father" of the Telephone Co.
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A SOLDIER PIONEER.
His family was shoeked by the sudden death of Elbert E. Wheelock in February, 1908. He was born in Massachusetts in 1847, came to Whiteside in 1854, and 35 years ago moved to the north of Tampico, where he lived ever since. Mr. Wheeloek served as a private in Co. G, 147th Ill., Vol. Inf., and on his enlistment in Feb. 18, 1865, moved with his regiment right into the thick of the war around Dalton, Ga., and until mustercd out at Savannah in Jan. 1866, was engaged in the perilous work of scouting and fighting the numerous guerrilla bands that infested northern Georgia, and protecting the Union's interests among the people. Hc always took a very great interest in the Grand Army Post and was the founder of Samuel G. Steadman Post, located here. He also was instrumental in securing the large cannon that decorates the park and was active in the formation of the Tampico Relief Corps. He was Com- mander of the post for several terms and was also the first consul of the Tam- pieo Woodmen camp, being a member of that order and also the Knights of the Globe, holding insurance in each order for $2,000.
In all things pertaining to the post his whole soul was wrapped up and he will be greatly missed by his old comrades and the Post.
A PIONEER MINISTER.
His son, Rev. William Pinkney, now residing in Sterling, has given the writer some account of his father, Rev. John Pinkney, Wesleyau clergyman, who seemed to be pastor at large for the whole lower section of the county, from Tampico to Hume, preaching in schoolhouses and homes. He labored in season and out of season, and his devotion was duly appreciated by the people who otherwise would have had no gospel privileges. He came from Yorkshire, England, in 1841, and died in 1870." Pleasant to relate, his son, William, continues the work in some of the old neighborhoods.
Servant of God, well done, Rest from thy loved employ !
ITEMS.
A good stock market. Farmers buy, feed, and sell. Ralph McGrady this winter shipped a carload of hogs to Chicago, which averaged 263 pounds.
For the six months ending Jan. 1, 1908, the first class mail weighed 1,192 pounds, seeond, 2,924, third, 261, fourth, 234.
Water is good and abundant. Wells can be sunk anywhere, and at a depth of a few feet, a never failing flow is securcd.
C. F. Gifford, former editor of the Tornado, is one of the retired oracles of the town, to drop into offices, and regulate the polieics of the nation. He spent some years in California.
The road leading from Sterling to Green River and Yorktown was the first main highway, with branches at Glassburn's farm, one to Yorktown, the other to Green River.
A natural euriosity west of town called the "Blow-Out." Over a spaee of seven acres is an immense basin, the sand blown away to the depth of sixty
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fect, as if by a succession of enornious whirlwinds. A red cedar once stood in the center, cut down in 1850.
Before the land was drained by ditching, the sloughs in spring and win- ter were terrible, and many narrow escapes are related of teamsters from drown- ing and freezing.
The Tornado is now printed on a large new cylinder press recently in- stalled. It is so large that it nearly reaches the ceiling, and the press fecder has to mount four steps to reach his position.
The Baptist church, vacant for a time, has a new pastor in Rev. Mr. Mayhew. He was born in Wisconsin, and after attendance at various schools, and attaining the degree of A. B., he studied in the graduate schools of the University of Chicago from 1902 to 1905, specializing in public speaking. Later teaching public speaking at Illinois Wesleyan college and serving pastor- ates at Albany, Wisconsin ; Barrington, Illinois, and later at Silvas, from which place he came to Tampico.
The following is the ticket elected in 1908, April. Trustees: P. A. Mc- Millan, 79; A. J. Glassburn, 67; J. M. Jacobs, 73; Clerk, Frank Linder, 67.
ATTORNEYS OF THE WHITESIDE COUNTY BAR IN 1908.
W. H. Allen, Erie ; J. O. Allen, Erie; Frank J. Bowman, Sterling; Wm. A. Blodgett, Morrison; E. M. Blodgett, Sterling; Jacob Cantlin, Rock Falls; Jarvis Dinsmoor, Sterling; D. S. Efner, Albany; V. S. Ferguson, Sterling; Walter N. Haskell, Sterling; Alfred M. Hanson, Fulton; C. C. Johnson, Ster- ling; Edmond Jackson, Fulton; Royce A. Kidder, Sterling; J. J. Ludens, Sterling; Harry Ludens, Morrison; C. G. Macklin, Morrison; C. C. McMahon, Fulton ; Wm. H. Mitchell, Fulton ; R. W. E. Mitchell, Sterling; S. M. McCal- mont, Morrison; Luther R. Ramsay, Morrison; John A. Riordon, Morrison; Myron C. Rogers, Fulton; L. T. Stocking, Morrison ; Walter Stager, Sterling; John Stager, Sterling; C. L. Sheldon, Sterling; Carl E. Sheldon, Sterling; N. G. Van Sant, Sterling; H. C. Ward, Sterling; A. A. Wolfersperger, Sterling; C. H. Woodburn, Sterling; D. C. Wait, Fulton; H. H. Wait, Prophetstown ; I. L. Weaver, Sterling; John A. Ward, Sterling.
Of these the longest in practice are W. H. Allen, Walter Stager, C. L. Sheldon, H. C. Ward, C. C. Johnson. Several brilliant young advocates are coming on who may in time take the place of Judge Marshall on the bench and Daniel Webster in the Senate. ,
HAHNAMAN.
Joy, temperance, and repose, Slam the door on the doctor's nose .- Longfellow.
If our carly friend, Reuben Davis, or Doc Davis as he was familiarly called, had been the first settler, the supposition might be that he named the township after Hahnemann, the celebrated German physician, who died in 1843. But as he was the founder of homeopathy, and Reuben may not have believed in that method of treatment, we give up the conundrum. William
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Renner and family from Pennsylvania, who settled at Deer Grove in 1841, were the pioneers in this quarter.
DYING IN THE LAST DITCH.
Although much of the land is swampy, the settlers knew that thorough drainage, as in Holland, would bring rich returns from the deep black soil, and from the first have spared no labor or expense to improve the situation. Never say die. Winnebago Swamp on the north and Green river on the south surround a large area, and form what is known as Paddy's Island, from the number of Milesian emigrants who were gathered there. These ditches have done excellent service, but are not yet complete. Heavy rainfalls or- gorges of snow and ice still occasionally inundate fertile fields. A contract has been made for a new ditch, perhaps the largest yet constructed. The drain- age district begins on the Lee county line, and continues westward to Proph- etstown. The ditch when completed will be one of the largest in Whiteside county and will be a small river. It will be twenty feet wide on the bottom with a slope of one to one. Even now through what was once a sluggish marsh, a strong current flows along like a creek. For the new ditch there were twelve bidders, prices ranging from twelve and one-half cents per cubic yard to six and four-tenths, the lowest. In February, 1908, the necessity for better defense against the elements was signally shown. The levee on Green river broke under pressure of heavy snow following rain, submerging hun- dreds of acres. Only the summer before Green river was dredged and widened and a bank built to protect the farm lands in that country. The work on the river and on Winnebago ditch was done at a cost of $100,000. Tlie only safety is in enlarging and strengthening these levees.
Deer Grove is the largest cluster of houses in the township. Besides the railroad station, there is an elevator, two stores, school, a few dwellings, an inn for the entertainment of travelers, and a blacksmith shop. Occasional preaching by Methodist ministers from Walnut. The postoffice was estab- lished in 1873, W. H. Wheeler as postmaster. He had come that year and built a house. Other settlers were Harvey Durr, M. Patterson, Cady Burgess. Fred Wahl bought his land in 1868, paying $18 per acre, living there until his removal to Sterling. Dr. Wahl, the leading physician in Tampico, is his · son. Henry Flock and Henry Pott, Germans, were also settlers about 1872. Both in the army.
On the hill south of Deer Grove is the residence of William McCormick, born in Ireland, 1825, who sailed from Cork in 1854, landing in New York. A fearful trip. A thousand emigrants and at sea for months. He bought his farın in 1855, but lived awhile in Sterling.
The road from Sterling to Green river was the earliest traveled, an Indian trail .. The first regularly laid out road was in 1856.
William Renner built the first log cabin in 1841 at Deer Grove, and the first schoolhouse, sixteen feet square and seven feet ligli, was erected at the Brakey settlement in 1857, with Amos Reeves as teacher, afterwards Supervisor and a prominent citizen.
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BRAVE RECORD IN THE WAR. .
But screw your courage to the sticking place, And we'll not fail .- Macbeth.
For a small, thinly inhabited town, the men of Hahnaman rallied nobly around the flag in 1861. Ten enlisted with the Yates Sharpshooters: Mc- Nickle, Hinman, Harvey, Reeves, William and Mahlon Humphrey, Crosby and H. D. Ryder, Henry May. The latter was killed at Atlanta in 1864. Mah- lon Humphrey died at Cairo in 1862. Hinman was wounded at Atlanta. John Renner was four months in Andersonville. J. C. Reeves joined the 9th N. Y. Cavalry. James Renner, Walter Johnson, T. B. Davis, John Chambers, Albert McNickle, H. S. Humphrey, enlisted in various Illinois regiments.
HENRY POTT, VETERAN.
In his cozy cottage in Sterling, the writer had a delightful visit with Mr. Pott, who, with his family retired from his Decr Grove farm in 1901. His war experience fresh and thrilling as of yesterday. His regiment, 75th Illinois, had only thirteen rounds of ammunition until they clamored for sixty to go into that disastrous battle at Perryville, and when they retreated into the cornfield the rebel bullets rattled on the shocks and stones like hail. He was in all the battles to Atlanta. At Lovejoy station a ball destroyed an eye. After discharge from the hospital, he was sent with others to Mound City near Cairo, where they received bounty and pay, and came home. He bought 120 acres at Deer Grove in 1872 of improved land for $30 per acre.
PETER FORD, CENTENARIAN.
The mossy marbles rest, On the lips he has prest, In their bloom ; And the names he loved to hear, Have been carved for many a year, On the tomb .- Holmes.
In January, 1908, it was the privilege of the writer to stand by the grave of the oldest man who ever lived in Whiteside. He was laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery at Tampico. It is a regret never to have met the veteran, and hear from his own lips the incidents of a career that started with the last century. Some of his younger neighbors who knew the old gentleman well, have given the writer various reminiscenes of their intimacy.
Henry Pott and his brother-in-law, Henry Flock, ran a threshing ma- chine, and frequently did work for Peter, on his farm. It was in the days when horse power was used. They had a pair of fine horses which they at- tached to the machine, the farmer furnishing the others. Henry did the driving with a long whip. Peter was lying barefoot by the stack, watching operations. The fat horses of the threshers were not pulling, and his own were doing most of the work, so Peter called out, "Henry, touch up your team wid your lash, the whiffletrees are dangling against their legs." Peter was a close observer and saw everything.
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