USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 25
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On another threshing occasion, the men started before breakfast to set the machine firmly to be ready to begin work early. But a blind horse balked, refusing to pull, and while the men rode back to the barn, on the way they had to pass a pond where a flock of geese were sleeping. The blind horse stumbled over the birds, bruising an old gander, and the whole troupe set up a furious screaming. Peter's kitchen door was ajar, and a face peered in the direction of the clamor. At breakfast, they told Peter of the catastrophe, claiming that a wolf had killed one of the flock during the night. "Wolf!" exclaimed Peter, "it was your horse, your blind wolf, that spoiled my fowl." To make the best of the disaster, Peter got the goose, and the two Henrys had the fat bird for dinner.
Several years ago Peter had a sore leg with an inflammation that refused to yield to repeated medical treatment, until a Spiritualist doctor was sum- moned from Polo, and the limb was restored whole as the other. This is not an advertisement, but belongs to our narrative.
His house had low ceilings, and on Mr. Pott telling him that he had to be continually dodging as he passed through the house, Peter said he didn't build the cottage for anybody taller than he was. Peter was a small man; of light frame, and until recent years of active habits, laboring regularly on his farm.
At one time, he had a large plantation of several hundred acres, lying northeast of Deer Grove, on the borders of Whiteside and Lee counties. Various misfortunes, however, rendered it necessary to sell parts, and at his death, he was in moderate circumstances. His son took charge of the farm in later years, and Peter with his wife retired to a home in Tampico, where he remained to her death. Since that time, he lived with his daughter, Mrs. Cole- man, in Deer Grove, where he breathed his last.
His son Dominick lives in Sterling, and tells the writer his father at his death had a head of snow white hair, the color originally black. He had no full beard, simply whiskers on the chin.
His death occurred on Friday, May 17, 1907. Mr. Ford was born at Killala in county Mayo, Ireland, June 22, 1802. He was married to Miss Mary A. Mul- doon on Jan. 24, 1834, and came to this country in 1840, locating near Utica, N. Y., where he worked on the Erie canal. Three years later his wife and two children came over and the family then went to Canada and made their liome near Smith's Falls until 1857. They came to Illinois that year and stayed in Dixon for a short time. Mr. Ford then purchased a farm in Hahnaman and engaged in farming. In 1887 he removed to Tampico, where he resided until his wife's death in 1895, since which time he has lived with his daughter, Mrs. Coleman, in Deer Grove. Mr. and Mrs. Ford had nine children, seven of whom are now living.
Mr. Ford retained his faculties well until his death. He was strictly tem- perate in his habits and never used tobacco nor intoxicating liquors although at one time he was employed for several years in a distillery. He had a re- tentive memory and easily recalled the war of 1812 and the Black Hawk and Mexican wars. He had a distinct memory of the death of cvery president of the United States except Washington.
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Mr. Ford came of a long lived race. All of his brothers and sisters lived to be over 80; one aunt lived to be 115 years of age and his grandmother also passed the century mark.
The highway commissioners of Hahnaman township are making arrange- ments to install two new steel bridges over Green river near Deer Grove. The structures spanning the river near Deer Grove have been in a dangerous con- dition for some time and these will be replaced with two good steel structures. The township of Hahnaman is one of the most costly townships of the county to be bridged, due to the many ditches and the Green river which crosses it.
His daughter, Mrs. Coleman, says her father had no faith in doctors, would not take medicine, and when sick, would often fast four days. He lost his last teeth ten years before his death. Although for the last four years, he sat much in his chair, he was not helpless. Appetite so good that he regularly took three meals a day. Took great interest in current affairs, and followed the operations of the Boer struggle and our Spanish-American war. He never wore glasses.
A PIONEER'S WIDOW.
In her white frame cottage on Sixth avenue, Sterling, the writer found Mrs. Elizabeth Davis, quietly enjoying the sunset of life. Her maiden name was Work, and she was married to Reuben Davis in Ohio in 1849. They came to Como, where they kept the Rock Island House, at which the stage travelers took meals. At the same time, her husband practiced his profession, as he had attended medical lectures in Cincinnati. In 1860 they moved to the farm in Hahnaman, where they lived till his death in 1887. Although busy with his farm, he had constant calls from the sick which he always obeyed. A ready speaker, and fond of debate. When able to go out, Mrs. Davis is a regu- lar attendant at the Lutheran church. She is nearly 77. Doc was 68.
TWO GOLDEN WEDDINGS.
Look down, you gods,
And on this couple, drop a blessed crown .- Shakespeare.
Ponce de Leon looked for the fountain of perpetual youth in Florida, but never found it, because it was not there. It is in Hahnamań. People die even in California, but seldom in this favored township. Just think of two golden weddings within a week! On Sunday, Feb. 16, 1908, Mr. and Mrs. John McGuire celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage at their home, surrounded by their children, grandchildren and a host of relatives. They were married in Dixon, and after three years in Sterling, removed to Hahna- man, where they have since resided. They are both hale and hearty, and will now prepare for the diamond jubilee.
On Saturday, Feb. 22, by a freak of the almanac, the fiftieth anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wahl coincided with the birthday of the illustrious George. They really belong to Hahnaman, as their active years were spent there, but farming becoming too strenuous, in 1890 they took their abode in a new home on Ninth avenue, Sterling. This was the scene of the festivities.
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All of their family were present except a daughter, Ethel, in California. Both are in the discharge of daily duties, and ready to greet friends with a smile.
Including the family of nine children, sixteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, thirty-six relatives sat down to a banquet that only Mrs. Wahl, a cook of the old school, could prepare. She was Miss Anna Kirgis. Besides words of congratulation, the occasion was made memorable by marks of substantial appreciation. Mr. Wahl was brought to time with a solid gold watch, and his estimable partner will hereafter make her toilet with a diamond brooch.
Perhaps the only murder in the township occurred June 26, 1901, when Thomas Brunton killed Thomas McDonald, at Deer Grove, by knocking him down. Both were tramps, and at the time were carousing at a shed or corn crib.
DRAINAGE IN WHITESIDE.
BY JOHN D. AREY, CIVIL ENGINEER.
The history of the drainage of the swamp lands of Whiteside county will at the present time cover a period of over fifty years. The south half of the county is mostly level land with here and there a few sand hills, and contains about four-fifths of the swamp lands. The north half is more broken and hilly, and most of the low lands are in the western part along the Mississippi bottoms.
In 1850 congress passed an act to enable the states to reclaim and improve the swamp lands within their limits, and in 1852 the general assembly of the state of Illinois passed an act giving each county the authority to select, and sell the swamp lands and devote the proceeds, to the drainage or reclaiming said lands.
The act also provided for the appointment of a drainage commissioner who was to select the lands, and under the directions of the board of super- visors see that the provisions of the act were carried to completion.
The total number of acres selected and sold by the county was a little over seventy thousand, of which about one-fourth was in the townships of Tam- pico and Hahnaman, the rest being in the other twenty townships except Gen- esee and Jordan, both high and rolling land. The lands were appraised and sold at different prices, three dollars, one dollar and fifty cents, and fifty cents per acre, the terms of sale were one-fourth cash, with the balance in notes with interest. Forty acres was the smallest subdivision of land sold, and some tracts would be partially dry land, others entirely in deep swamps, the total receipts from the swamp land salcs was over $175,000.
Three-fourths of the procceds of the sale of lands were loaned at a high rate of interest, and a large sum of money having accumulated it was turned over to the school fund, and distributed among the townships in the same ratio with other school moneys. The townships of Tampico and Hahnaman pro- tested against it, but were overruled. The amount turned over was about $175,000, about the amount for which the lands were sold.
After the first land sale the drainage commissioner began the construction of ditches through the channels of the largest sloughs, the longest being the
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Coon creek ditch about twenty miles in length, running from the east line of the county in the township of Montmorency, in a southwesterly course through the townships of Montmorency, Hume and Tampico, emptying into the creek east of Prophetstown village. This ditch has several branches that would make the total length over forty miles.
Over one hundred miles of ditches were made at a cost of nearly $90,000. This amount was all the county of Whiteside spent in the drainage of the lands donated by the government for that purpose.
In 1879 an act was passed by the general assembly enabling the owners of adjoining tracts of land to form drainage districts for the purpose of raising money by assessment on the lands improved, to pay the cost of building levees, and digging ditches. The law proved to be a cumbersome piece of machinery to effect its purpose, and until it was amended in 1885 making the commis- sioners of highways ex-officio drainage commissioners, there was very little done. Since then there has been spent a large amount of money for reclaim- ing wet lands.
The land now improved under the drainage law is more than twice the amount selected and sold by the county, and about one-half of the wet land is now under cultivation. The old ditches have been enlarged, new ones dug, and ditching machines are continually at work. It will take much labor and time to make all of the low lands tillable every ycar, but as they increase in value, a greater expenditure will be warranted for their improvement.
The boundary line between the counties of Whiteside and Rock Island is the channel of a swamp through the low lands between the Mississippi and Rock rivers, a distance of about fifteen miles, called the Meredosia slough, the name being a corruption of "Marais D' Ogee", given the swamp by the early French explorers. About half way between the two rivers the channel is hard to find, the ground being very lever for about two miles in all directions, and for some time there was a dispute about the line, each county claiming juris- diction over about a thousand acres. The land in question is on a higher level than the swamp north and south, and forms a divide between the rivers over which the water from either river when high would flow to the other. A few years ago a dyke was built across the divide over which the water has never been high enough to pass.
The drainage of the swamp is accomplished by forming union drainage districts, parts of which are in each county.
COLOMA.
The world was sad-the garden was a wild;
And man, the hermit, sighed-till woman smiled .- Campbell.
As Paris is France, so Rock Falls is Coloma. For a long time, there was no Rock Falls. It has shot up like a gourd within the memory of the present generation. After Sterling was a goodly city, the opposite bank, the site of Rock Falls, was a sand waste. It was open commons for sham battles. It was like Ethiopia on maps of Africa in 1850, a sort of unoccupied territory. In
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looking across, there stood the Arey House, a solitary landmark, like the lone tree of the prairies, the lone star of Texas. It is today the historic building of Rock Falls. It has been removed from the original site, and is now on the street west of the Methodist church. It was built in 1837 by Edward Atkins, an Irishman, and had, says John Arey, walnut shingles, oak floor, and siding of various timber from the woods." Another early house but remaining on the original situation is the homestead erected by L. H. Woodworth, who came in . 1839, as surveyor for that wonderful canal. But this dwelling was built later. . It is the same as first erected, says Mrs. A. S. Goodell, with the exception of a porch added afterwards. It is on the river bank in eastern Rock Falls, and is still surrounded by the trees of the early woodland.
RAPIDS CITY.
A change came o'er the spirit of my dream .- Byron.
Our early settlers were men of large ideas, immense plans. In 1837 Edward Atkins, A. B. Wheeler, Isaac Merrill, and Daniel Brooks, laid out a tract a mile square to be called Rapids City. It was in keeping with the spirit of internal improvement that prevailed throughout the state. Rock river at this point was selected as a favorable stream for better navigation, and the scheme comprised a canal up and down the rapids to enable boats to pass by means of a lock. The canal was located along the south bank of the river, and $40,000 expended. This gave the south side a great advantage in future prospects, and led to the project of Rapids City. It was on the south side of Rock river opposite Chatham, west of Broadway, and while the state canal work was in progress, seemed to have a more prosperous future than Chatham and Harrisburg on the north bank. The work done on the canal was onc-half mile long, between avenues A and D in the present city of Rock Falls. A dry stone wall, eight feet wide at the bottom, and four feet at the top, was laid along the margin of the river far enough from the bank to give the canal the proper width. The stone was quarried from the bank to build the wall, and the stripping from the quarries deposited on the river side, making a bank fifty feet wide and a little higher than the wall. When the work was stopped, the wall was from six to eight feet in height, but no part of it was completed. With the failure of the canal, all further progress ceased in Rapids City. Business was suspended, and the parks and palaces of the paper city vanished in thin air.
The best laid schemes o' mice and men Gang aft agley.
ROCK FALLS.
A. P. Smith was the founder of this hive of industry. Originally a music teacher, in 1867 he purchased of the Sterling Hydraulic Company, which con- trolled a dam built in 1854, one-half interest in their water power, and forty acres of land on the south side of the river, as well as 25 acres from other parties, and laid out the town. Hc constructed a racc, and wisely offered.
SECOND STREET, ROCK FALLS
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
tempting inducements to capitalists to make investments. His business sagac- ity was abundantly rewarded, and soon numerous factories were in operation. One of them was his own mitten factory, which employed eighty persons, mostly girls, producing $100,000 worth of goods annually. In 1871 the rail- road was completed, giving Rock Falls direct communication with Chicago. The largest concern to be established in the young town was the Keystone Works, 1867, formerly Galt & Tracy, in Sterling. In 1876 W. E. Lukens platted his nursery, and began to sell lots. The first new store was built by T. Culver in 1867. The village was organized in 1869 under the state law. The Rock Falls House, kept by Barnard Doty, was opened in 1868. The post- office was established in 1868, Truman Culver, postmaster. He held the office three years, and during the last year, the business amounted to $1,500. A bank was established in 1874 by Ephraim Brookfield from Coleta, and after his death, George W. Nance took charge. The different ferries and bridges by which the two sides of the river have always had communication are con- sidered under a separate head. As Como was declining, her buildings no longer in use, were removed to Rock Falls, whose star was in the ascendent. In the spring of 1867, A. C. Hapgood opened a' store in a structure thus transported over the prairie. This was afterwards the Baltic House. Sub- sequently A. Woodworth became partner in a building also transplanted from old Como.
THE CHURCHES.
The rectory of Epworth is the fount To which all streams of Methodism mount .- E. W. Pearson.
The Rock Falls M. E. church was organized as a class during the winter of 1868-69 by Rev. J. H. Alling, then pastor of Fourth Street church, Ster- ling. Religious services were held in the Industrial building, and later in the upper room of the Dr. J. L. Morrill building. Alling with Mr. Denning of Broadway church held a revival, assisted by Presiding Elder Moore, and the society began its career. The need of a building was urgently felt, subscriptions were asked for, a lot was purchased from Merrill for $300, and the structure was occupied in the spring of 1870. An organ was secured in 1869 for $140, and in 1870 the mission committee at Elgin appropriated $100 to the support of the work. John A. Stayt was appointed first pastor, Oct. 11, 1870. The dedication of the church which had now cost $4,189 took place in April, 1871, under direc-, tion of Dr. J. H. Moore. The first bell was cracked and taken down. The present bell, hung March 22, 1872, has been faithfully ringing its call to worshipers. In the early part of Stayt's pastorate, preaching points were estab- lished at Hune Center and Banes' Corners. A lot was bought for a parson- age, and the house completed in 1872, at a cost of $1,104. At the close of 1872 the charge had grown to a membership of 87, with three Sunday schools, Rock Falls, Hume, and Banes, which had a total attendance of 388. Rev. Thos. Chipperfield became pastor in 1872, the membership increased to 158, and the S. school to 214. During the pastorate of Rev. M. M. Bales, the church was completely remodeled and a new parsonage constructed at a combined cost of $5,146. During the 36 years of her history, 1,164 persons have united
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on probation, and since 1883, more than 1,800 have been converted at her altars, an average of 61 conversions a year. The total enrollment of member- ship for 36 years is 8,795, an average yearly enrollment of 244. Total benevo- lence contributed $5,896. Last year it amounted to $506. The present pastor, Rev. F. W. Nazarene, is the seventeenth in this flourishing field.
In connection with the church proper, are numerous societies. The Sun- day school has 286 pupils with 29 officers and teachers. The Epworth League has a membership of more than a hundred. Then there is a Junior Epworth. Four socicties of the gentler sex: Woman's Home Missionary, Woman's For- eign Missionary, Ladies' Aid, and Social Auxiliary. Rev. C. A. Gage, ap- pointed to the charge by Bishop Andrews in 1903, gathered the various items in regard to the history of this congregation and issued in a neat booklet, from which much of our information has been derived.
The Christian church, one of the last on this field, has had a phenomenal advance. Although only organized in 1904, the present membership is 200. Rev. Mr. Spicer of Sterling, and State Evangelist Monser took a leading part in its establishment. As a nucleus, a Sunday school had been started in 1897, which has an enrollment of 250. There is an Endeavor Society and Ladies' Aid. Rev. Roy Stauffer, now in an eastern pastorate, contributed largely by his unceasing efforts to the development of the work. A young man of unlimited energy. His successor, Rev. C. F. Ladd, was associated for a time with the Volunteers of America. He and his wife are both from Rhode Island, and find an earnest people to strengthen their hands. One of the active men of the young society is M. T. Mouck. At a recent prayer meeting officers were elected for the ensuing year as follows:
Trustee-Robert Larson.
Elder-Joseph Hoak.
Deacons-Howard Sprinkel and James Creighton.
Financial Secretary-Charles Hoak.
Treasurer-J. W. Hatch.
Clerk-Miss Ethel Mouck.
Deaconesses-Mrs. H. L. Shiffer and Mrs. M. T. Mouck.
In the western part of Rock Falls is a firm white frame edifice, bearing above the door the inscription :
Immanuel Evang. Luth. Kirche, 1877-1899.
There were ninety families in connection, but some have withdrawn to the Lutheran church in Sterling. There is German preaching in the morning, but no evening service, as so many of the people are farmers. The pastor, E. Hafermann, as we gleaned in an interview, came from North Germany, was educated at a gymnasium, came to America in 1888, and after thirteen years in Kansas and Wisconsin, accepted this place in 1903.
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
This was organized Dec. 26, 1875, by the following charter members: Richard and Mrs. Mary E. Arey, W. J. Rice and wife, Augustus Edgerton,
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Mrs. Delia L. James and Mrs. Allpress, James and Mrs. Mary Arey, Mrs. Sarah E. Phelps, Miss Hattie L. Arey, Mrs. Sophia E. Wright, Mrs. Emeline A. Dyer, Miss Fannie Wright, and Rev. S. D. Belt. Certificate of incorpora- tion filed July 27, 1876. The services were held in the fourth district school- house until Dec. 3, 1876, when the first service was held in the church build- ing, on the corner of First avenue and west Third street, Rock Falls. The Sunday school was organized, Jan. 2, 1876, with a membership of one hun- dred, Rev. S. D. Belt, Supt. A long succession of Ministers: Rufus Apthorp, W. Cone, O. W. Fay, C. B. Ludwig, J. R. Kaye, A. W. Safford, E. A. Freden- hagen, H. A. Kearn, S. S. Healey, R. W. Purdue, W. A. Elliott, E. W. Mur- ray now in charge. The present membership is 143, S. school, 183, Y. P. S. C. E., 25. Junior, 20. There are 24 members in the Woman's Miss. Society, Mrs. S. Atkins, president. In the Ladies' Mite Society, 60, Mrs. Ella Limerick, president. The officers of the church consist, besides the pastor, of four dea- cons, James Arey, J. Meckling, Aaron Fluck, E. Slater. Trustees, E. R. Nims, F. Lukins, F. H. Geyer, Fred Shuler, G. Fields. Treasurer, John L. Newton, clerk, G. H. Jennings, supt. of S. school, J. H. Meckling. The church is built of frame, neatly painted, and occupies a conspicuous position in the heart of Rock Falls.
THE BROWNING CLUB.
Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, The last of life for which the first was made .- Rabbi Ben Ezra.
The Browning club celebrated the tenth anniversary of its organization at the home of O. E. Maxson, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 1908. The house was beauti- fully decorated with festoons of club colors, purple and gold.
The club was organized January 7, 1898, at the home of Mrs. A. J. Mc- Neil with Mrs. McNeil president, Mrs. Robert McNeil vice-president, Mrs. C. C. Woodworth secretary and Miss Mary Geyer treasurer. The membership was limited to twenty. The object was the study of Browning and other poets. Of recent years the membership limit has been placd at thirty. About twenty of the charter members are still members, and during the ten years over sixty ladies have availed themselves of this opportunity to study the poets. The club is essentially a study class and in the past ten years has studied the Brown- ings, Scott, Tennyson, Homer, Emerson, Lowell and Shakespeare. Over four hundred study classes have been held besides the evening meetings for gentle- men and afternoon socials.
On the occasion of this anniversary the members and their guests to the number of fifty assembled at 1 o'clock when an elaborate four course luncheon was 'served. Several of the young lady daughters of the members assisted. Each guest received a beautiful souvenir in the shape of a folder prettily deco- rated and containing a striking photograph of the esteemed leader, Miss Gould, and the names of the present members. This was a surprise to the leader and shows the love and reverence in which she is held by those who have been helped and cheered by her close companionship during these ten years while she has given so freely of herself to meet their varied needs.
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After luncheon the president, Mrs. Mae Smith, called the mecting to order and.in a neat speech offered a toast to "The Brownings-may their shadows never grow less and may they live to celebrate their one hundredth birthday." Miss Farena Hubbard opened the program with a difficult selec- tion on the piano. Miss Gould read one of her scholary papers entitled "Lit- erature ; its place in Civilization." Under the general title "People Whom We Have Met," the following characters were discussed :
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