USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside county, Illinois, from its first settlement to the present time, with numerous Biographical and Family Sketches > Part 21
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DONALD BLUE was born in Argylshire, in the Highlands of Scotland, Jan- nary 18, 1799. He married Catharine McFarlain, January 15, 1815. She was born January 1, 1801. Mr. and Mrs. Blue have lived together now over sixty- two years. In March, 1820, Mr. Blue, with his family, emigrated to New Brunswick, where he resided eight years, and then settled about thirty miles from Toronto, Canada. After taking part in the " Patriot War" in Canada. in 1839 he settled and made a claim upon section 17, in Clyde. He was warned to abandon the claim, but replied to the committee that he was in peaccable possession, and would hold it at all hazards. He was allowed to remain. In 1852 Mr. Blue went to California, where he remained three years, and then re- turned to his farm. For the past twelve years he has resided in Morrison. Children: John, Jane (now Mrs. JJohn Wilson). Alexander, Donald, Margaret, Isabella, Charles, Catharine. Three children died in infancy; eleven children in all. Charles and Alexander died upon the plains, from starvation, during
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the Pike's Peak gold excitement in '59. John and Margaret died in Clyde in 1839 .
JOSEPH MILNES was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, August 17, 1831, and in 1842 came with his father's family to Clyde, where he has since resided. On the 8th of March, 1860, he married Miss Jennie Mason, of Chicago. Their children are: Thomas H., born March 25, 1861; Lizzie M., born April 12, 1862; George S., born July 10, 1864; and Cora A., born April 18, 1866. Mr. Milnes has held the position of Town Clerk of Clyde township for twelve years, Col- lector three years, and has been annually elected Supervisor of the township since 1873. These publie positions so repeatedly bestowed, show the high esti- mation in which he is held by his fellow citizens. During his residence in Clyde he has accumulated a valuable property, lying in sections 21, 27, and 28. As a member of the Board of Supervisors, he is active and vigilant in the dis- charge of his duties, and brings to the position a sound judgment, and an intel- ligent understanding of the needs of the county.
JOHN ALLDRITT is a native of Armitage, Staffordshire, England, and was born April 24, 1814. While quite young he came with his parents to Lowell, Massachusetts, where he remained until May, 1846, when he came to and set- tled in Clyde, Whiteside county. Mr. Alldritt married Miss Nancy Kingsley, at Lowell, Massachusetts, in May, 1846. Mrs. Alldritt was born at Athens, Summerset county, Maine, November 16, 1817. The children of this union are: Ann, born February 23, 1847, now married; Mary, born May 16, 1849; Thomas Jackson, born October 19, 1851; Isaac, born April 1, 1854; and John Henry, born December 10, 1856. All the children live in Clyde.
RICHARD ALLDRITT was born at Armitage, Staffordshire, England, January 4, 1819. He came to America at the same time with his brother John, and lived at Lowell, Massachusetts, until 1844, when he moved to Clyde, in this county. Mr. Alldritt married Miss Orrilla P. Bosley, a native of Farmington, Trumbull county, Ohio, on the 31st of December, 1848. The children of this marriage have been: Emily C., born January 17, 1850; Albert, October 5, 1851; Lucy A., August 11, 1853; Edward, June 2, 1858; Alonzo E., July 6, 1860; Henry R., March 31, 1863; Orrilla B., April 9, 1865; Benjamin F., January 22, 1867. Of these, Lucy A. died September 14, 1859, and Edward, September 17, 1859. Mrs. Alldritt died March 21, 1875, aged nearly 47 years. Albert lives in Friendville, Saline county, Nebraska, and the rest in Clyde.
WILLIAM ALLDRITT was born October 6, 1824, in Braidley, Staffordshire, England, and also came to Lowell, Massachusetts, with the rest of the family, when quite young. In May, 1845, he settled in Clyde, and was married in that township to Miss Mary C. Griffin, his first wife, in January, 1856. She died, and in 1860 he married his second wife, Miss Julia A. Hiner. His children have been: Charles J., born May, 1864; William R., born June, 1866; Benja- min F., born August, 1868; and Nathan G., born July, 1870; all of whom live in Clyde. Mr. Alldritt has been Justice of the Peace of the township.
THOMAS ALLDRITT is a native of Lowell, Massachusetts, and was born Au- gust 27, 1831. His early years were passed in Lowell, and in May, 1845, came to Clyde. He was married in that township to Miss Lavinia T. Heacock, on the 13th of January, 1858, the children of this marriage being: Emma A, born Au- gust 13, 1859; Annie E., born May 9, 1862; Delbert T., born December 6, 1864, and Samuel D., born February 22, 1868.
WESLEY ROBINSON is one of the early residents of the county; BENJAMIN WEST has been Supervisor of the township; J. F. DEMMON is the largest farmer in Clyde, and these, with A .. PUDDIFOOT, JAMES and SIMON STAPLETON, WM. J. TRYE, J. WOOD, FRED. WOOD, W. W. HORNING, JOHN PLATT, and R. M. KEN- NEDY, are among the active, influential citizens and farmers of the township.
CHAPTER VIII.
HISTORY OF ERIE TOWNSHIP-BIOGRAPHICAL-HISTORY OF ERIE VILLAGE- CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES.
HISTORY OF ERIE TOWNSHIP.
The township of Erie was formed from Erie Precinet under the Township Organization Laws in 1852, and contains 14,392 acres. The village of Erie, within the township, contains 195 lots. The township upon the south and east is skirted by Rock river, the borders of the stream being fringed by timber of a fine quality. The land is usually savanna, which by drainage is being rap- idly reclaimed, and is of unexhaustible fertility. Within the borders of the township is a large body of sandy land, portions of which is not valuable for agricultural purposes. Rock Island county borders the township on the west and Newton and Fenton townships on the north. Erie Lake, a consider- able sheet of water, as fair as a picture, lies just north of the village of Erie. Wells of living water are easily obtained.
The farmers of the township are principally engaged in stock raising. The luxuriant growth of grass making the breeding of cattle a desirable occupation. Heavy crops of corn are also produced, and large quantities of pork. The yield of cheese and butter is also considerable.
The first settlement made in the territory now Erie, was by Lewis D. Crandall, Peter Gile and Mr. Hunt, in the fall of 1835. Mr. Crandall located upon Section 18. The first farming done in the township was doubtless by him. A large proportion of early settlers of Erie were from Erie county, N. Y., on Lake Erie, and the name of the lake that washed the shores of their home county was transferred to the fine body of water near their new homes. Naturally and properly the Precinct when organized became Erie, which name descended to the present township.
The following is a list of the first settlers of Erie and their nativity, being as nearly complete as can be secured from memory. None are intended to be enumerated who settled after 1840: John Freek, England; Joseph Fenton, David Hunt, N. J .; George, Henry and Harvey Steele, Conn .; Peter Gile, Lewis D., John and L. Crandall, Orville and Alvin Brooks, Wmn. Teats, James Hamilton, Charles R. Coburn, Samuel Carr, N. Y .; Arthur Putney, Ernest Warner, Mass. Mr. Fenton is classed a settler of Erie, but more properly belongs to Fenton, as very soon after locating in Erie he removed across the line into what is now Fenton township. A biographcial sketch of him will appear in the history of that township.
Erie Precinct was established by order of Commissioners' Court, December 1, 1844. The territory was formerly embraced in Lyndon and Albany Precinets, The boundaries of Erie Precinct are described on the books of the County Com- missioners as follows: "Commencing at the town line in town 20 north, range 4 east 4th Principal Meridian, at the southeast corner of seetion 37, running north to the northeast corner of seetion 15; thence west to the northwest corner of section 14, township 20 north, range 4 east; thence south to the town-
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ship line, thence west to the county line; thence to Rock river; thence up said river to the place of beginning." This Precinct included all the present township of Erie and portions of Newton and Fenton townships. When the question "for" or "against township organization" was voted upon, November 4, 1851, Erie was one of two precincts to vote "against organization," casting eleven votes "for" and seventeen "against."
Mr. Alvin Brooks, now of Clyde, Kansas, one of the original settlers of Erie township, furnishes the following in regard to the early settlement of Erie. . His statements are confirmed by the surviving pioneers of Erie town- ship. He says: "The first man who crossed the river to make a claim com- menced cutting timber to erect a cabin and was frightened away by the Indians. He was next followed by Lewis D. Crandall, Mr. Hunt and Peter Gile. Hunt made a claim of the grove three miles below Erie, known as "Hunts' Grove." Messrs. Crandall and Gile selecting the Eric Grove, Crandall choosing the lower half and Gile the upper. The three men put up a cabin for Mr. Hunt, it being the first house of any kind between Lyndon and the Marias De Ogee. [This was in the Autumn of 1835.] Soon after, Mr. Gile went to work, being anxious to complete his cabin so that his family could be with him, he in the meantime boarding with Mr. Hunt. Giles' cabin was about 10x12, built on the bank of the slough, under a spreading oak. The material used was of the roughest, and the cabin most rudely built. Upon the completion of his dom- icile, Mr. Gile, accompanied by L. D. Crandall, started for Dixon to receive his family and goods, having two canoes lashed together. The difficulty of rowing against the current to Dixon being at length overcome, the family-consisting of Mrs. Gile and two children-and the goods were embarked and the voyagers started upon their return. Their destination was almost reached, when night having fallen, the canoes ran into a tree top and were overturned. The youngest child was drowned. [Other settlers, in speaking of this incident, say dry goods boxes were lashed between the boats, one of which floated away with two children, whom Mr. Crandall found upon his return asleep in the box which was drifting with the current.] Mr. and Mrs. Gile and Crandall saved themselves by clinging to the branches of the tree in a half drowned and chilled condition. Only Mr. Crandall could swim, and he resolutely set about swimming to the shore, to a point from which he must travel several miles for a boat to remove the other survivors. Every hour of his absence seemed a day to the sufferers in the tree top, but at length he came, and the family were removed and taken to the cabin. In the morning the body of the drowned child was rescued and buried. Part of the goods were recovered, but the precious iron, as harrow teeth and chains, probably lie at the bottom of the river to this day. Mrs. Gile . had but recently recovered from the measles, and her terrible experience of the night threw her into a fever. There were no sympathetic neighbors nor phy- sician to assist or prescribe in her time of need. Her husband cared for her as best he could, but in a few days death removed her from her trials and suffering. Mr. Gile then taking his orphaned boy upon his back traveled about five miles where he found assistance, and sent for Mrs. Cushman, who then lived two miles west of Sharon. She came, and with her two other women, to prepare the corpse for interment. A shroud was cut out, and then it was found that no needle could be proenred, but the best preparations possible were made and the body was buried in the southeast corner of what is now Esquire Weaver's orchard-at that time prairie. Soon after this John Freek, Joseph Fenton, Orville Brooks and Win. P. Teats made claims. Mr. O. Brooks built the first house in the now village of Erie. His wife for three months did not see the face of a white woman. I came to Erie in the fall of 1837. There
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HISTORY OF ERIE TOWNSHIP.
was then three houses in Erie. George and Henry Steele came the same fall. Samuel Carr had settled the year previous. Prior to this year, the nearest postoffice had been at Dixon, but then one was established at Prophetstown. I visited the Prophetstown postoffice about three months after I had been in the country, and received two letters from friends for which I paid fifty cents. The next spring, when five families had come in, a log school house was built without bonds or subscription. A teacher was employed-Polly Ann Sprague, afterwards Mrs. Reuben Hurd. She was the first teacher in Erie. My wife died in the fall of 1840. and was the first person interred in the Erie Cemetery."
The second school teacher in Erie was Mr. Horace Cole. In 1840 a post- office was kept at Crandall's Ferry by Lewis D. Crandall. He had charge of the office until 1848 when Mr. L. Crandall became postmaster. In 1849 he was succeeded by Judge C. C. Teats, and the office was removed to Erie village. The sand burs now so common upon the sandy land of Erie, are "old ยท settlers," but strangely enough did not appear until some time after settlements had been made. When the peculiar grass that bears the burs was first seen the settlers cherished it, presuming it might prove of value, but all familiar with a sand bur will appreciate their mistake.
The settlers of Erie were very soon provided with religious instruction. The mission preachers soon sought out the new settlement. Elder Carpenter, a Baptist, preached at Crandall's house as soon as 1838, J. C. Hubbart stating that he heard him at that time. The same minister preached the funeral sermon of Mr. Hubbarts' mother at the Hamilton school house, in Lyndon, in 1839. He also preached in Arthur Putney's house. The Methodist minis- ters early made their appearance and in 1839 regular services were enjoyed by this denomination.
The first marriage in Erie was that of Oliver Olmstead and Electa Hunt, and the next was that of James Hamilton and Lucinda Crandall.
The first white child born in Erie was Harriet Coburn, though many per- sons claim that Alfred Fenton was the first, yet from the best evidence it would appear that Mr. Fenton was over the line in Fenton township.
Among the early settlers of Erie was JJames Cassen, who traded a watch to Levi Fuller, now of Erie. for a claim. Mr. Cassen returned to the east and not coming back the claim was taken by David Martin. Claim jumping was frequent in Erie, and a committee existed to regulate the matter. At the time there was much bitterness, and in the neighborhood wars property was some- times destroyed, but at last the differences were adjusted, and now are only remembered as incidents of pioneer life.
In 1844 a destructive tornado swept across Eric, the whirlwind having crossed the Mississippi, pursuing a southeasterly direction. No lives were lost in Erie, but several persons were killed in other parts of the county. Large trees were twisted off like pipe stems, cattle blown a considerable distance, and farm utensils and household furniture transported and never recovered. It is said when the hurricane passedover the river the water was parted like the Red Sea of old, and fish and shells were afterwards found that had been carried some distance out on land.
During the civil war Erie made a splendid record. With a voting popula- tion never to exceed 120 previous to the war, the town in August, 1862, had sent 70 men to the field. This fact was published in the Whiteside Sentinel of Au- gust 28, 1862. Mr. Samuel Oreutt, a soldier of the 75th Illinois regiment, from memory reealls the names of 85 men from the township. Doubtless others vol- unteered later, which with re-enlistments would greatly swell the number. Seven commissioned officers went from the town : F. A. Harrington, Colonel of the
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
27th Illinois, killed at Stone River; A. B. Seger, Captain company I, 75th Illi- nois, died of disease; Sherman Ferson, Surgeon 74th Illinois-killed in railroad disaster in Tennessee; Thomas Maloy, Captain in 54th Illinois-killed at Mobile; L. E. Chubbuck, Lieutenant company I, 75th Illinois; Thomas Rhodes and John Rhodes, captains in United States colored regiments. A number of soldiers from Erie were killed in action or died of wounds and disease, while a number of the citizens of the town bear honorable scars made in the line of duty. Large sums of money were raised by the citizens of the township to pay the heavy bounties and otherwise assist in prosecuting the war.
In accordance with the act of 1851, and in pursuance of vote of the Pre- cints of Whiteside county, Erie township was organized in 1852 and defined by the Commissioners to divide the county into townships as "all of town 19 north, range 4 east of the 4th Principal Meridian north of Rock river; and also all of town 19 north, range 3 east of the 4th Principal Meridian, north of Rock river." The first annual town meeting was held April 6, 1852, at the Erie school house, James Early, Moderator, and Addison Farrington, Clerk. The voters were W. W. Hubbart, N. K. Chapman, Daniel Morehouse, Charles R. Coburn, Charles W. Case, Alvin Brooks, John Freek. M. G. Wonser, A. J. Osborne, Frank Campbell, J. B. Goodrich, James McMillen, Nelson L. Rouse, Thomas Freek, A. Broad- well, James Hamilton, Samuel D. Carr, George Steele, John McLay, John Pink- ney, James Earley, C. C. Teats, A. Farrington, Thomas J. Phillips, Abner Bull, Alfred Wood, L. Crandall, Hervey Steele, Orville Brooks. The following officers were elected : Supervisor, Charles R. Coburn; Town Clerk, A. Farring- ton; Assessor, M. G. Wonser; Collector, James McMillin; Justice of the Peace, Orville Brooks; Overseer of the Poor, John Freek; Commissioners of High- ways, James Earley, N. K. Chapman, L. Crandall; Constable, James McMil- lin; Overseers of Highways, Alfred Wood, T. J. Phillips.
The proceedings of the meeting were certified to by M. G. Wonser, an act- ing Justice of the Peace. The Commissioners of Highways met April 22, 1852, and divided the township into two road districts, and defined them as follows : All roads lying north of the north line of section 18 in Congressional township 19 north, of range 4 east, extending on said north line of said section running east to Rock river, and west to the Marias DeOgee, shall comprise district No. one; and all roads lying south of said line in said township shall comprise dis- trict No. two.
At the second annual town meeting it was decided by vote that "every man should be his own pound master;" also "that hogs taken up shall be proceeded with as in Constable's Sales." Twenty-two votes were cast, and the appropria- tion for township expenses fixed at $25,00. In 1854, 39 votes were cast and laws adopted regulating stock running at large. In 1855, 53 votes were polled, and a lawful fence defined as "three boards, the fence four and a half feet high. If of rails to number four, the lower to be not more than eighteen inches from the ground, the top rail to be not less than four and a half feet from the ground." It was also resolved "that each man should be fined $1,00 per head for each hog allowed to run at large." In 1857, 62 votes were polled and a resolution adop- ted to raise $100,00 to refund money subscribed by certain persons to build the Rock creek bridge. In 1858 the hog law was re-enacted and it was decided that sheep should not run at large; $125,00 was voted for township expenses; num- ber of votes cast, 99. In 1860 it was resolved that bulls be free commoners, and "that line fences be sufficiently built to protect hogs and sheep." A special meeting was held the same year when Ralph Sage was elected Supervisor, and James Collins, Justice of the Peace. In 1861, 109 votes were cast, and at a special election the same year C. C. Teats was elected Supervisor. Votes of
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
1866, 125; of 1870, 132. It was decided by vote in 1873 to build a town hall, and in pursuance thereof a substantial frame building was erected.
Supervisors :- 1852, Charles R. Coburn; 1853-'54, C. C. Teats; 1855, T. B. Whipple; 1856-'57, Ralph Sage; 1858-'60, A. Farrington; 1861, F. A. Har- rington; 1862, C. C. Teats; 1863-'64, Wm. H. Allen; 1865, Thomas Freek; 1866, Samuel Orcutt; 1867, Thomas Freek; 1868-'69, William H. Allen; 1870-'71, A. M. Earley; 1872-'73, C. C. Teats; 1874, M. H. Seger; 1875-'77, William H. Allen.
Town Clerks :- 1852-'54, A. Farrington; 1855, L. Barnum; 1856, M. G. Wonser; 1857-'59, Samuel Gordon; 1860, James Collins; 1861-'62, L. Barnum; 1863, Porteus Barnum; 1864, O. M. Crary; 1865, W. R. Davis; 1866, Seneca Teats; 1867-'69, James O. Brooks; 1870-'74, H. K. Wells; 1875-'77, L. E. Matthews.
Assessors :- 1852, M. G. Wonser; 1853, A. J. Osborne; 1854, D. B. Hen- wood; 1855, A. J. Osborne; 1856, James C. Hubbart; 1857-'58, L. Barnum; 1859-'62, James Collins; 1863, George Paddock; 1864, James Collins; 1865 -'66, George Paddock; 1867, John Freek; 1868-'69, John D. Fenton; 1870-'73, A. W. Capen; 1874-'76, John D. Fenton; 1877, O. H. Steele.
Collectors :- 1852-'53, James McMillen; 1854, N. K. Chapman; 1855, A. E. Thomas; 1856, James McMillen; 1857, B. F. Hubbart; 1858, William Frink; 1859, A. A. Matthews; 1860, Samuel Orcutt; 1861-'62, Daniel Schryver; 1863, Henry Paddock; 1864, Alexander Johnson; 1865, John D. Fenton; 1866, Alex- ander Johnson; 1867, Charles Smith; 1868-'70, L. E. Matthews; 1871, A. M. Crary; 1872, L. E. Matthews; 1873-'74, H. C. Fenton; 1875, O. S. Martin; 1876-'77, G. G. Matthews.
Justices of the Peace :- 1852, Orville Brooks; 1853, A. Farrington, M. G. Wonser; 1854, A. Farrington, L. Crandall; 1857, James Collins; 1858, A. Far- rington, Joseph Weaver; 1862, William H. Allen; 1864, Joseph Weaver, Wil- liam H. Allen; 1865, Samuel Orcutt; 1868, Samuel Orcutt, John Freek; 1873, J. D. Fenton, M. H. Seger; 1877, M. H. Seger, Samuel Orcutt.
The population of Erie in 1870 was 695, and is, in 1877, estimated at 900. The vote of the township in November, 1876, was 165. The Assessor's book for 1877 shows 3,294 acres of improved land, and 11,098 acres unimproved. In the village of Erie 195 lots are enumerated. Number of horses in township, 276; cattle, 927; mules, 22; sheep, 96; hogs, 990; wagons and carriages, 95; sewing and knitting machines, 76; pianos, organs, and melodeons, 24. The assessed value of the property for 1877, is $198,447.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
LEWIS D. CRANDALL was born in Erie county, New York, in 1816, and settled in Erie in the fall of 1835, on section 18. In 1837, he established the ferry still known as " Crandall's Ferry," it being one of the first on Rock river below Dixon. Mr. Crandall was Sheriff of Whiteside county one term, and was also engaged in business at Portland with Mr. Sol. Seely. He was also editor and proprietor of the Sterling Times, now Gazette. His wife's maiden name was Phebe Hunt. She died several years previous to Mr. Crandall, whose death occurred in 1860.
LAFAYETTE CRANDALL is a native of the town of Collins, Erie county, New York, and was born on the 9th of April, 1822. He came to Illinois in 1835, and located first at Grand DeTour, then in Jo Daviess county, now in Ogle, where he remained until 1837, when he settled at Crandall's ferry, in the pres- ent township of Erie, his farm lying in section 18. On the 10th of February, 1847, he was married in Portland township to Miss Lovina Rowe, the children of the
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
marriage being the following: Francis Marion, born April 27, 1849; Ida E., born March 6, 1853; Alice A., born November 12, 1857; and George W., born September 15, 1863. These children are all residing with their parents. Mr. Crandall is one of the successful farmers of Erie. He has been Justice of the Peace of the town, and is a member of the Executive Committee of the White- side County CentralAgricultural Society.
SAMUEL CARR was born in Vermont, May 27, 1815. Married Elizabeth Emmins, February 22, 1843. He died June 22, 1861. Mrs. Carr married Mr. James Collins. Samuel Carr settled in Erie in 1836. He commenced keeping a "hotel" in a log cabin in 1843, when the Frink & Walker Stage Line was carrying passengers and the mails. The " hotel" stood near the site of the pres- ent St. Nicholas House.
ARTHUR PUTNEY was born in Goshen, Massachusetts, in 1799. While in Massachusetts he was proprietor of the "Oldtown Stage Route." In 1831 he was married to Lucinda Wood. In 1837 Mr. Putney settled in Erie. He was one of the first Justices of the Peace in the new settlement; his death occurred in 1842. His widow, now Mrs. N. K. Chapman, still resides in Erie, one of the three oldest settlers remaining. The first bread she ate after her arrival in Erie was made from green corn grated by hand. N. K. Chapman was one of the first drivers on the Frink & Walker Stage Line.
HARVEY STEELE and his wife still reside in Erie, where they settled in 1836. Mr. Steele was born in New Hartford, Connecticut, in 1808. When a young man he belonged to the ranks of the irrepressible and energetic " Yankee peddlers," and sold clocks in New England and the British Provinces. Mr. Steele was married to Elizabeth C. Wood, in July, 1841.
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