History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I, Part 7

Author: Davis, William W
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 706

USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 7

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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY

For thirty years Charles Diller was one of Jordan's most valuable mem- bers. He never shrank from a responsibility. Whether justice, assessor, trustee, he was always ready and efficient. His cabin was a center of influence, a bureau of information, as he was more intelligent than his neighbors, and they came there for counsel. He was cordial, and ever ready to do what he could to enlighten the inquirer.

He gave to misery, all he had, a tear, He gained from Heaven, 'twas all he wished, a friend.

Generous to a fault. A warm friend of education, and when the first school was opened in the district, he boarded the teacher a year as a free will offering, asking no recompense. A close reader and thinker, he drew inspiration from the New York Tribune, a welcome weekly visitor at the home. Of good stock. His uncle, Roland Diller, was the solon of his town in the east, and another uncle, Solomon, was in the Pennsylvania legis- lature.

His wife was Miss Ann E. Thompson, and they were married in 1840 at Newville, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, her home. There was a large Presbyterian church here, to which Rev. E. Erskine was called soon after he left the church in Sterling, and here he died. She often recalled the Cumberland valley, so lovely and picturesque to her childhood, and which became so memorable in army movements during the civil war.

No more generous soul ever lived. She would divide her last crust. No beggar was ever turned empty from her door. Her table was the most bountiful in Jordan. Friends on leaving after a visit were rewarded with a roll of butter. The neighbors who did not fare so well at home were eager to accept an invitation for a quilting bee, knowing that their labors would be rewarded by a supper of satisfying abundance.

Nothing was left undone. Although the cabin was small, the family was large. To feed the numerous mouths, keep the wardrobes in order, and look after the various needs, occupied her time. Always busy. Sometimes no help, and after working beyond her strength, for she was a delicate woman, the next day found her in bed. A cheerful spirit, every ready to look on the bright side.

A happy soul, that all the way To heaven hath a summer's day.

There was no church in the neighborhood, and when an occasional min- ister preached in the school house, he was sure of a welcome at the Diller cabin. She came to Sterling now and then, staying over night to attend services on Sunday. After Sunday dinner was over at the cabin, the writer recalls her taking the big family Bible to enjoy her only leisure time of the week. She and Frances Wilson, wife of the Quaker miller, were con- genial friends, both refined, earnest, kindly.

In 1878, after nearly thirty years of toil and sacrifice, they removed to Sterling, leaving the farm in charge of a son. Charles began to fail, dying in 1883, and Ann, after ten years of infirmity, borne with Christian resig-

HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY

nation, followed to the silent land in 1893. They were buried in Riverside cemetery. Their children, Laura, wife of H. L. John, and three sons, Thomas, Samuel, and Will, survive, Roland having died in California.

Just above Dr. Pennington's old home was one of the longest hills in Jordan. Although partly lowered from time to time, it was the bug-bear of all wagoners coming from town' with heavy loads of lumber. In the fall of 1907 Commissioner Charles Bort, like Napoleon who decided there should be no Alps, determined to overcome the grade and earn the gratitude of the driving public. He gathered a force of men with plows and serapers, and by moving away four feet of earth from the top and filling up below and at sides, transformed the rugged descent into a gentle incline. The total expense was only a few hundred dollars, and it will avoid an endless amount of horse power and human profanity.

John Furry was a familiar figure in Jordan. Somewhat lame, yet he managed to circulate. Took a hearty interest in school matters. His daugh- ter, Mary, married to Oliver Talbott, son of the pioneer James, has for thirty years been a conspicuous worker in W. C. T. U., a good speaker and writer, and in regular attendance at the conventions.

John Guinther of Jordan celebrated his eighty-ninth birthday Thurs- day, Jan. 30, 1908, and is doubtless the oldest man in the township. He is still hale and hearty, and although entering upon his ninetieth year still drives to town regularly and attends to all of his own business affairs. He came to this state in 1868 and has made his home here since that time. Mr. Guinther has always led a temperate life, and although he worked in the fields as hard as any other farmer he always made it a rule to take one hour's rest at noon regardless of the amount of work to be done. To, this, largely, he attributes his long life and health. He says his aim is to reach the hundred mark.

CALL FROM OLIVER TALBOTT.

'Tis the last rose of summer, left blooming alone, All its lovely companions are faded and gone .- Moore.

Of all the early inhabitants of Jordan, Oliver Talbott is the only one alive. Although born in 1833, his hair is not gray, his eye not dim, his natural force not abated. He is the only man living who can write a history of Jordan without referring to books. He has all the original information within himself. He did the writer the honor to call at his home, and relate many incidents not generally known and never recorded. He spoke of the Scotch delegation, Archy Maxwell who came to Jordan in 1849, David and Sandy in 1851, of John and William, Charles Crichton, and the Andersons. Mr. and Mrs. David Anderson now reside in Sterling. Oliver's father, James Talbott, was a mechanic, who could do anything with wood, and he built Joseph Wilson's log mill in 1835. It was afterwards made of frame in 1849. For years this mill did an immense business, as it was the only one within a circle of many miles. When Nathan and Sikes, the sons, took charge later, to run it for their father on shares, their one-half profit in a year was $4,400. Joseph had great pride in his product. "People may say I twist

HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY

the wheat, but cannot say I do not make good flour." Near the early mill was a store kept by John Brookie. So farmers coming for flour also laid in supplies of groceries. His father moved the whole family from Peoria with · an ox team in 1835.

James Talbott also built the mill on Rock river at Sterling for Wyatt Cantrall in 1837 or '38. Jordan had several mills at an early day. Besides Wilson's on Buffalo creek, there was the Hubbard mill further west, built by Manoah Hubbard in 1839. It was a saw mill; burned down, rebuilt in 1851. Becker and Henry Miller were here for a while. Further down on the Elkhorn was the mill known latterly as the Bressler mill, but built by the elder Coe in 1839-40. A flour mill and saw mill. John Wolfersperger occupied it afterwards. There was also a Hillyer's saw mill, 1839. The log cabin in which Charles Diller lived was built by Joseph Wilson near the mill, and moved to Diller's farm. It is still. in existence. When Sanborn bought the farm, he moved the old structure to one side, and made some improvement.

In regard to crops, Oliver says that winter wheat was raised from 1835 to 1845, both winter and spring wheat from 1845 to 1855, spring entirely from 1855 until the bug and rust have completely destroyed all hope of a crop. No wheat was hauled to Chicago at an early day, as it was all needed for flour and seed. Little corn was raised, as there was no market for it, and few hogs to fatten or sell.

Burials were made on farms. Joseph and Francis Wilson, some of their family, and others, were interred in their orchard. Oliver knows numerous cases of this kind, and many of these private enclosures have already dis- appeared, because as property changes hands, strangers have no sentiment for forgotten dead.

THE COE FAMILY OF JORDAN.

Of all the Jordan settlers, Simeon M. Coe was most like Jacob of Bible times, for he had thirteen children, one more than the patriarch. But it was not an unlucky number, and I don't suppose in his day there was any foolish superstition connected with the figure. At any rate, they all turned out well. The father settled in Jordan in 1835, and died in 1848. He was born in Connecticut, but the family moved to New York.

Simeon had the name of his father. He was the oldest of the boys, born in 1810. My first acquaintance with him was in 1856, when as teacher I called at his farm in Jordan to get my hard earned monthly wages. Like all the early settlers, plain in speech, frank in uttering his convictions, cor- dial in manner. In five minutes you were as much at home as after five years. He was treasurer of Jordan.

When the great celebration was held in Sterling on the completion of the railroad to this point, 1855, a barbecue was arranged for onc feature, and Sim furnished a three-year-old stecr. That was the Coe style. Nothing small or mean. Their nature was large and generous. His old family car- riage was familiar on our streets as long as he continued to drive to town. Dark as all the Coes were.

HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY

Doc was really Jonathan F., born in 1819, the seventh son in succession, and the superstitious belief was that this fact conferred a healing power in scrofula, and so the boy lived and died as Doc Coe. His house was on the Freeport road, about four miles north of Sterling, and for years was the best, two stories, painted white, and a contrast to many of the weather beaten shacks. Jimmy Woods was the carpenter. The old part was behind, and used for a kitchen. D. N. Foster now has the property.

His first wife was bitten by a mad dog while walking along the road and eventually died from the poison. A son, Frank, was bright, and able to read in Sanders' Fourth Reader at an early age. Doc's second wife was Sarah Murray. He was not adhesive, for he first moved to Milledgeville or near there, and then to Missouri, where he died. Stout, as the Coes all were, jovial, fond of driving and much liked by his neighbors.

There were ten boys, and all had nicknames. Decius O. was born in 1820, and a Presbyterian as he grew to manhood. His place was also on the Freeport road, a mile north of Sterling, but in later years he bought the Dr. Hunt property on the Hoover road, where he died. Two children, son and daughter, died young. Mark, who married Julia Galt, was a farmer, and died a few years ago. Like Doc, Dish also married the second time, Miss Addie Ward.

Dish was no reculse, and liked to be in a crowd, and see what was going on. Although a Calvinist, he thought it no sin to watch the horses trot on the race track, and throw up his hat for the winning nag. On circus days, too, he was always an observer of the procession, and in the menagerie tent looking at the animals, and sometimes in the other tent laughing at the jokes of the clowns.

Of thirteen children, ten brothers and three sisters, Mrs. Stevens, living on Eighth avenue, Sterling, with her daughter Helen, is the sole survivor. A cataract appeared a few years ago, which refused to submit to treatment, and she is now blind. Her general health is good, she takes a hearty interest in current affairs, loves to meet friends, and is full of incidents of the olden time.

She told the writer of going to school when seventeen, about 1843, to a teacher, Major Winn, in a little building near Broadway, who got pro- voked at the big girls for singing Whig songs. She boarded with General Kilgour's father, Ezekiel, whose cabin was on the site of Walter Haskell's residence, Bellevue place. Mrs. Stevens and George Brewer are the only pioneers living here before 1849.

POLL BOOK OF 1844.

Miss Libbie Bush placed in the Whiteside Historical Society a stained record of an election held in Sterling precinct, Aug. 5, 1844. It is not a printed blank, but four foolscap sheets are pasted together, end to end, and lines drawn for the names. The writing is in blue ink. There arc ninety-six voters. Below the tally columns is this declaration: "At an election held at the house erected for a court house in Sterling in the county of Whiteside,

HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY

and state of Illinois, on the fifth day of August in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty-four, the following named persons received the number of votes annexed to their names for the following described offices, to wit: For congress, Josepli P. Hoge had 45 votes, Martin P. Sweet 47, John Cross 1. For representative, Winfield S. Wilkinson had 45 votes, Oliver Everett 46. For sheriff, James W. Noble had 47 votes, James A. Sweet 44, Daniel F. Millikan 1. For county commissioner, Eben- ezer Seeley had 8, Bacchus Besse 72, Charles S. Deming 1. For eoroner, Gilbert Buckingham had 57, Jaeob Baker 1 .. Certified by us, Luther Bush, E. B. Worthington, Jaeob Whipple, judges of election. Attest, Robert C. Andrews, Luther B. Wetherbee, elerks of election."

The old document is well preserved, earefully written, and as legible as though prepared yesterday. It may be added as a politieal reminder that in 1844 Henry Clay and James K. Polk were the candidates for the presi -. deney.

ALBANY-A PILGRIMAGE.

Mine be a eot beside the hill; A bechive's hum shall soothe my ear; A willowy brook, that turns a mill, With many a fall, shall linger near .- Samuel Rogers.

If you have not seen Albany, you have a treat in store. It is the most picturesque spot in the county. It is like the Psalmist's "Beautiful for situation is Mt. Zion, the joy of the whole earth." Whether you approach by rail from Fulton or Rock Island, or by boat on river, there is the high terrace running to the water's edge, and in the rear, the rounded hills, not a long ridge, with the cottages nestling among the groves on the summits.

As you walk towards the town from the station, you will notice a low briek house with a hall running through, and an entrance, front and back. This was the residence of Samuel Happer, who came from Washington county, Pa., in 1841, and formed a partnership with John D. MeIlvaine, earrying on a store and doing a forwarding business for many years. Their old briek warehouse along the river bank disappeared long ago. Mr. Happer was married to Miss Sarah Curry, of Allegheny county, Pa., who was born in July, 1816. She is the oldest survivor of the Albany pioneers, and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. E. W. Payne, in Morrison. Except a partial deafness, Mrs. Happer is in fair health. This low briek dwelling was built in 1848, and Dean S. Efner, a mason, laid the briek.

While we are on the river bank or levee, as St. Louis would say, let us go down the river, and take a look at what remains of the Eagle hotel built by William S. Barnes, who settled in lower Albany in 1839, and soon after- wards ereeted the hotel. It was a welcome hostelry for stage and river passengers, and was a commodious inn for those days. The fearful tornado of 1860 wreeked the larger part, leaving the section still standing. This is about 25 feet long with four windows upstairs, and is now a boarding house. Mr. Barnes was the first supervisor of the township, an active Mason, and held

HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY

in high estcem. He was born in Woodstock, Vt., 1808, and died in 1872. The old hotel was frame.

McIlvaine, Happer & Co. were hustlers, as the saying is, doing a large business in various lines. From an advertisement in a Sterling Times of 1854, they carry a full stock of dry goods, groceries, clothing, hardware, glass, paints, and lumber at the steam saw mill. In another paragraph appears this notice: Wanted-173,000 bushels of grain. McIlvaine, Happer & Co., grocers, general merchants, and produce dealers. Half a mile up the river is a tall chimney stack, and rubbish near it, the ruins, as the writer was told, of a steam saw mill. It is along the railroad coming from Fulton. One is reminded of the obelisk at On, near Cairo, which also stands alone on the sand, once a center of Egyptian civilization.

In this ancient Barnes hostelry we met a grizzled veteran who with his family has made a cheerful home that belies the desolate exterior. An inviting dinner was smoking on the table at our noon call. Perry Langford. born in 1835 in Fulton county, came to Albany in 1849, and enlisted in Company F, 93d Illinois infantry. He was three years in the service, was at the Grand Review in Washington in 1865, and saw Grant tip his hat, but refuse to shake hands with Halleck. He has two framed relics which he prizes. A commission to his father, Asa Langford, by Gov. John Reynolds, as captain in Black Hawk war, 1832, and one to Thomas Langford, as second lieutenant, 1833. Both signed at Vandalia, the early capital of the state.

An agreeable call upon Miss Frances D. Barncs, the oldest of the eight children of W. S. Barnes. Her brothers, Henry and Charles, were veterans, Henry in 93d Illinois, Charles in 147th Illinois. Three of the children are dead. Mr. Barnes was a schoolmate of the famous sculptor, Hiram Powers, who was three years older. In fact, they sat on the same seat. It was the Greek Slave in 1843, that gave Powers his world-wide reputation. Singular to say, they died almost in the same year, Barnes in 1872, Powers in 1873, in Florence, Italy. Mr. Barnes was an invalid six years before he died. and he remarked one day when the sculptor was on a visit to America, "If Hiram knew how sick I am, he would come to see me." Indeed, W. S. Barnes must have been more than an ordinary pioneer with qualities of mind and heart to commend him to the friendship of eminent men. He was one of Whiteside's representative citizens. When Gov. Oglesby was in Morrison, he was invited to take dinner with him. He was on intimate terms with E. B. Washburne. He was sent to Springfield when the removal of the county seat from Sterling was in consideration. Very energetic in business, he opened the first general store in Albany, and the Eagle hotel was the headquarters for travel between Chicago, Galena, Rock Island and Peoria. Those were the golden days of the Frink and Walker stage line. lightning express, four lines a day of four-horse coaches. A horse ferry was in operation across the Mississippi. When there was a strong adverse wind in March the ferry could not run. Frances Barnes says she was a school- mate of the late Mrs. John Whallon, formerly Martha Millikan, and a pioncer teacher. Although in her seventy-seventh year, Miss Barnes talks as fluently and correctly as a Vassar girl of twenty.

HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY

THE HANKS BROTHERS-LINCOLN.

So he grew up, a destined work to do, And lived to do it; four long suffering years.

On the hill live two brothers, David Hanks, born in 1826, who came in 1844, and further along, the older, Stephen, born in 1821. They were born in Kentucky in a county not far from Lincoln's early home. Stephen looks venerable but in talk and motion, brisk as most men at fifty. He was full of reminiscence, and enjoyed going back. It will be remem- bered that Thomas Lincoln in 1806 married Nancy Hanks, a bright young woman of twenty-three, and in 1816 removed to Indiana. They had three children : the first a daughter who grew up, married, but left no issue, the third a son who died in infancy, the second the immortal Abraham. Stephen recalls the fact of his father and mother once making a visit to Thomas Lincoln after he moved to Indiana, and taking a younger brother along. It seems to be the impression of the family that this Nancy Hanks was their father's sister. The Hanks clan was small, and not widely scattered. Stephen has had a career of varied activity. He came in 1836 with Alfred Slocumb, and made himself generally useful, worked in the timber, was pilot on the river to St. Paul, drove team in building a projected state road to Spring- field to be built by the people, hauling the posts and bringing the surveyors home at night. A difficult undertaking was a causeway from Albany to Morrison over the Cat-tails by laying timbers to make a corduroy passage, early Western fashion. One hundred men were employed. Mr. Hanks is in excellent trim for an octogenarian of 87, able to sleep, eat three meals, saw wood, dig garden, and all the minor chores of the household. Kathryn Hanks, teacher in grammar department of the Albany school, is a daughter of David the younger brother.

Another sprightly member of this family is Mrs. James H. Slaymaker, daughter of David Hanks. It seems it was her uncle, Sam Hanks, Princeton, Iowa, who was the child taken by the father and mother on the visit to Thomas Lincoln in Indiana, Abraham's father, who married Nancy Hanks. At the convention in Chicago in 1880 when Garfield was nominated, Robert Lincoln showed Samuel much attention, and secured a seat for him in the political circus. The Slaymakers were an influential family in Newton township, and James H. is a cousin of Thomas and Robert, who lived in Sterling over forty years ago, and removed to Kansas.

A MOTHER'S EXPERIENCE IN THE TORNADO.

It was the privilege of the writer to hear the experience of a mother who passed unharmed through this dreadful visitation. At the foot of the hill below the Presbyterian church is the low brick dwelling in which Mrs. Chamberlain has lived since 1848. She was born at Carmi, White county, October, 1828, came to Albany in 1845, was married to Wilson Nevitt who died in 1849, and in 1851 was married to W. A. Chamberlain. It was Sunday evening, June 3, 1860, a very sultry day. Her father, Dr. Riley, who had lived in the South, noticed the ominous appearance of the sky, remarked

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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY

that it looked like a hurricane, and left the dwelling to secure the windows in a new cement building not far away. A pane of glass was broken in the room, and she told her husband to stuff a pillow in the opening, but it was twice blown out with tremendous force. Now thoroughly alarmed, Mrs. Chamberlain picked up her baby girl and two little boys, and rushed for the cellar, followed by her husband. They had barely descended the stairs' when the whole roof and upper brick walls of the house fell with a crash upon the floor above them. As it was made of heavy joists and boards, it was sufficiently strong to sustain the weight, and thus save them from destruc- tion. Meantime the work of ruin was complete. Most of the young town was leveled. Her father was so terribly crushed by a falling timber that he lingered in agony for a few days till he died. Knowing her helpless con- dition with her babes and dying father, neighbors and mechanics at once made a gratuitous offer of their services, renewing the walls and putting on a roof. Across the street still stands a deserted frame store, built of the pieces gathered from the debris, and bearing above the name, "W. A. Chamberlain, druggist." Before this was erected, a temporary counter was placed in their sitting room, and the drugs dispensed. Mrs. C. is also a registered phar- macist. Prof. Pepper, principal of the school, married her granddaughter, who is a natural artist.

Wilson Nevitt, first husband of Mrs. Chamberlain, was one of eleven children of William Nevitt, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1779, moved to Kentucky, then to White county, Illinois, in 1818, then to Knoxville, and finally to Albany in August, 1837. He was justice of the peace, and his commission was signed by Shadrach Bond, first governor of Illinois. He was also school commissioner of the county. Mr. Nevitt died in 1848. His best known son, Hon. Edward H., was educated at Knox college, and filled several public positions, assessor, supervisor, and in 1877 was elected repre- sentative to the legislature from the Eleventh district. The Nevitts have always held an honorable place in the affections of the people of Albany.

THE CEMETERY.

The old Egyptians had a skull at their feasts to assure them of the end of all festivity. The bright shining monuments on the hill are a daily reminder in full view of the world to come. Albany people have a daily funeral sermon. There are few very ancient graves. Some of the early settlers were buried elsewhere or their bodies removed to other places. There is a family memorial block for the Nevitts, containing the names of several members of the once numerous circle. Also a family memorial of the Slocumbs, in honor of numerous members. Alfred Slocumb put up a log house in 1837. On one tomb is the name, Warren Olds, 1818-1888. Phebe, his wife, 1819-1897. Cheney Olds and family came to Albany in 1838. Here is Rev. Samuel Slocumb, 1783-1850. On one humble stone :

Remember as you pass by

As you are now, so once was I.

Capt. James Hugunin, 1839-1906, and wife. W. S. Booth, 1821-1883. Dr.

HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY

Jordan Brock, 1841. Francis Buckingham, 1845. One of the most imposing monuments bears the name Rosenkranz. It is of gray granite, which seems to be the favorite stone. James Hewlett, England, 1843.

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History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I, Part 7

Author: Davis, William W Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 706

Author: Davis, William W
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 706