USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside county, Illinois, from its first settlement to the present time, with numerous Biographical and Family Sketches > Part 23
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As faithful chroniclers we must not forget the first marriage which occur- red in the town. Although there were no marriage bells to merrily peal forth an announcement of the happy event, yet we have no doubt the occasion was one of as great rejoicing, and the twain as supremely happy as though the bride's trosseau had been brought from Paris, the wedding presents costly and innu- merable, and a thousand bells had rung out their merry peals of joy from a thousand towers. The fortunate couple were Edward Rolph and Frances Ba- ker, and the marriage took place at the house of John Baker in the fall of 1837, Moses Barlow, Justice of the Peace, performing the ceremony. Mrs Dan- iel Reed supervised the culinary department for the occasion, and made a bride's cake which called forth the wonder and astonishment of all. So highly pleased was the bride with its richness and ornamental beauty, that she called all of her friends, as fast as they arrived, into Mrs. Reed's room to look at and admire it with her. Those who were present at the wedding, and are now living, say they could not conceive how Mrs. Reed could make such a cake with the limited ma- terial for so necessary an appendage to a marriage feast, then to be had. They
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can only account for it from the fact that Mrs. Reed possessed the skill of mak- ing the most toothsome viands from the scantiest larder-a skill which no other lady then possessed in this section of the country, and probably none since. Invitations to the wedding were extended to every man, woman and child for miles around, and it is said that every one attended except a Mrs. Foote, who was detained at home on account of illness. It was in every sense of the word a pioneer wedding, and celebrated as only pioneers of that day could celebrate an event of the kind.
The following facts of interest relating to the Precinct and Township of Fulton are gleaned from the records on file at the County Clerk's office, in Morrison :
At a meeting of the County Commissioners held at the house of William D. Dudley, in Lyndon, May 16, 1839, it was ordered that Road District No. 10 shall embrace all the territory in Fulton Precinct, and that John Baker be ap- pointed Supervisor. At the same meeting it was ordered that Hosea Jacobs be appointed Assessor of the Precinct. The books afterwards show that Mr. Jacobs received $8 for four day's work in assessing.
On May 11, 1839, the following petition was received by the County Com- missioners from several of the citizens of Fulton :
Fulton City Petition vs. License and Ardent Spirits. To the County Com- missioners of Whiteside county: We, the subscribers, respectfully petition your Honorable Court that no license be granted in Fulton Precinct for retailing ardent spirits by the drink. Signed : Daniel Reed, William Ross, Richard L. Mills, Elijah K. Webb, John K. Prentiss, Hollis Chenery, A. Phelps, W. H. Knight, W. Y. Ives, Henry Bond, Lewis Graves, H. F. Rice, Moses W. Jenks, Reuben S. Rhodes, Nathan Scott, John Morgan.
The presentation of this petition was the first public movement in White- side county against the sale of intoxicating liquor, and at that day it required some nerve to battle against the almost universal custom of dealing in ardent spirits, and more especially in pioneer settlements. Four of the signers to the petition still reside in and near Fulton, to wit : Dr. Daniel Reed, W. Y. Ives, William H. Knight and Henry Bond. The petition was not favorably received by the County Commissioners.
On the 2d of July, 1839, the County Commissioners were asked to lay out a road from Fulton to Lyndon, by the way of Delhi, and John Baker, C. G. Woodruff, and William Farrington were appointed road viewers. The viewers were to serve without pay to the county,
At the meeting of the Commissioners in December, 1839, it was ordered that Caleb Clark be licensed to keep a public house in Fulton City by paying $25 into the Clerk's office.
On the 1st of June, 1840, James McCoy entered a complaint before the Commissioners against Daniel Reed, A. M. Wing and Caleb Clark for neglect in keeping a ferry boat across the Mississippi, at Fulton. Upon appearing before the Commissioners' Court the defendants' counsel made a motion to quash for variance between the summons and complaint. The motion was overruled, but after a hearing the case was dismissed.
On the 8th of June, 1841, it was ordered by the Commissioners that Royal Jacobs have three additional months in which to complete the horse ferry boat then in progress of building at Fulton.
On the 7th of September, 1842, a writ was issued by Guy Ray, Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court, by order of said court, to the sheriff of the county, upon application of James McCoy, commanding him to summon twelve good and lawful men of the county to meet on the 30th day of September, 1842,
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HISTORY OF FULTON TOWNSHIP.
on the southeast { of southwest } of Section 11, township 22 north of range 3 east of 4th principal meridian, the property of said James McCoy, and then and there set apart by metes and bounds so much land as will be sufficient to erect a mill dam in the stream of Johnson's creek, on said land, to propel a saw mill and such other mills or machinery as the said McCoy or his assigns may ereet thereon, and also view and assess the damages that others may sustain by reason of the overflow of any land or lands of any other person or persons by reason of the erection of said dam, and report the same to the County Commissioners' Court at the next term thereof. The writ was duly served by Henry C. Fel- lows, Deputy Sheriff. The jury reported in favor of the writ, and proceeded to set apart by metes and bounds land sufficient to build a saw mill, or such other mills and machinery as James McCoy or his assigns may deem meet to erect; also to ereet a dam in the stream of Johnson's creek to propel such mill, mills or machinery. The jury also allowed by their inquest that the dam be raised twelve feet, provided it does not flow the water over the natural bank at the junetion of Otter and Johnson's creeks; but if it should do so, then it is not to be raised higher than to raise the water to the top of said creek bank. It was found that about six acres of the lands of Joseph Fowler, at the junction of the two ereeks, would be overflowed, and it was therefore adjudged that the sum of $8 should be paid to said Fowler.
At the election held on the 3d of April, 1849, upon the question of the removal of the County Seat, Fulton Precinct gave 11 votes for Sterling and 71 for Lyndon.
The records of the Town Clerk show that the first meeting under the town- ship organization law was held at the house of Wilson S. Wright, on the 6th day of April, 1852. Charles J. Johnson was chosen Moderator, and James F. Booth, Clerk pro tem. Forty-one votes were polled, and the following officers elected: Supervisor, Wilson S. Wright; Town Clerk, Orlando Sprague; Justices of the Peace, Elias Sage and Charles J. Johnson; Collector, E. Humphreys; Assessor, G. HI. Rice; Overseer of Poor, James F. Booth; Commissioners of Highways, G. H. Rice, John Masters, Elias Sage; Constables, Warren Bond, N. R. Boon.
At that town meeting it was voted to let hogs run at large; that $100 be raised by taxation to defray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year, and that a lawful fence be four feet six inches high, the first two feet the opening not to exceed four inches, and the next two feet not to exceed ten inches.
On the 29th of the same month Orlando Sprague resigned his position as Town Clerk, and James McCoy was appointed by the Justices of the Peace to fill the vacancy. Sterns Ostrander was appointed at the same time Commis- sioner of Highways, in place of John Masters who failed to qualify.
At the second town meeting held at the house of Wilson S. Wright on the 5th of April, 1853, only 26 votes were polled.
The following is a list of town officers to date:
Supervisors :- 1852-'53, Wilson S. Wright; 1854-'55. A. W. Benton; 1856, W. C. Snyder; 1857, I. C. Fellows; 1858, C. N. Wheeler; 1859-'60. H. C. Fel- lows; 1861-'62, I. G. Gates; 1863-64, H. C. Fellows; 1865, John Phelps; 1866, I. G. Gates; 1867, John Dyer; 1868-'69, B. Robinson: 1870, HI. C. Fel- lows; 1871, Richard Green: Mr. G. resigned, and H. C. Fellows was appointed; 1872, H. C. Fellows; 1873-74, A. R. McCoy: Mr. McC. resigned during the year, having been elected a Representative to the Legislature, and J. C. Mitch- ell was appointed; 1875, John Dyer; 1876-'77, W. Y. Wetzell.
Town Clerks :- 1852, Orlando Sprague; 1853-'54, Jas. F. Booth; 1855, L.
[20-R.]
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
B. Warner; 1856, J. F. Booth; 1857-'58, Geo. S. Phelps; 1859, N. F. Webb; 1860-'61, J. T. Wiswell; 1862, J. F. Booth; 1863, J. B. Peabody; 1864, W. E. Bassett; 1865, Wesley West; 1866-'67, Daniel Reed; 1868-'70, E. Summers; 1871, A. R. McCoy; 1872, Wm. C. Green 2d; 1873, John Exley; 1874-'75, Thos. H. Smith; 1876, L. F. Puffer; 1877, S. V. Boyer.
Assessors :-- 1852, G. H. Rice; 1853, E. Summers; 1854-'56, H. C. Fel- lows; 1857, John Phelps; 1858, B. S. Gerrish; 1859, Orlando Sprague; 1860, J. P. Jacobs; 1861, Orlando Sprague; 1862, H. C. Fellows; 1863, Daniel Reed; 1864, I. G. Gates; 1865-'66, D. E. Dodge; 1867, E. Summers; 1868-'71, C. B. Mercereau; 1872, G. W. Padelford; 1873-76, J. C. Mitchell; 1877, Fred. W. Pearson.
Collectors :- 1852, E. Humphreys; 1853, R. M. Rockwell; 1854, R. E. Benton; 1855, Austin Davis; 1856, J. F. Booth; 1857-'59, W. C. Snyder; 1860, John Dyer; 1861-'62, Richard Green; 1863-'64, W. West; 1865-'66, E. Sum- mers; 1867-'68, John N. Baird; 1869, J. C. Mitchell; 1870-'72, J. W. Smith; 1873, Wm. C. Green 2d; 1874-'76, E. D. Chapman; 1877, C. L. Marcellus.
Justices of the Peace :-- 1852, E. Sage, Chas. J. Johnson; 1854, H. C. Fel- lows, E. Summers; 1856, J. M. Brown, R. Patrick; 1858, R. M. Rockwell, E. Summers; 1859, H. C. Fellows, E. Summers; 1860, E. Summers, Wesley West; 1864, E. Summers, Wesley West; 1866, Daniel Reed; 1868, E. Summers, J. N. Baird; 1869, A. W. Plumley; 1872, H. C. Fellows, John Dyer; 1873, Abner Ustick, J. C. Mitchell; 1876, Thos H. Smith, N. E. Wheeler; 1877, Thos. H. Smith, George Terwilliger.
School district No. 2 is situated in the northeast part of the township, near where Norman E. Wheeler resides. The school building is a large one, and sup- plied with good seats and apparatus. Being the only school district out of the city, the attendance of scholars, especially during the fall and winter months, is sufficient to demand the services of two teachers. The present teachers are Mr. James Kirk, Principal, and Miss Jennie Linn, Assistant.
The township contains 4,191 acres of improved lands, and 7,936 of unim- proved. Of improved lots there are 360, and of unimproved 750. The number of horses in the town as shown by the Assessor's book for 1877, is 324; cattle 619; mules and asses 14; sheep 8; hogs 524; carriages and wagons 190; sewing and knitting machines 176; piano fortes 29; melodeons and organs 29. Total value of lands, lots and personal property, $486,909; value of railroad property $51,747. Total assessed value of all property in 1877, $333,368.
The population of the township outside the city in 1870, was 287, of which 196 were of native birth, and 91 of foreign birth. The present population out- side the city is estimated at 400.
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF FULTON.
The city of Fulton is beautifully situated on the Narrows of the Mississip- pi River, 136 miles almost due west from Chicago. The business portion of the town is mostly on ground of a sufficient height above the river bank to preclude any danger from overflow. The bluffs, at the north and east of the business part, present elegant sites for dwellings, and many of them are occupied. The view from them is magnificent, embracing the Narrows of the river, the cities of Lyons and Clinton on the Iowa shore, with the bluffs back of them, upon which are many fine residences, as well as a wide stretch of country in the county of Whiteside. Many of these residences are notable for their beauty and ele- gance. The streets of the city vary in width from 60 to 100 feet, many of the resident ones being bordered by long lines of shade trees, giving them quite a forest like appearance. Much attention has been given to render the business
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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF FULTON.
center attractive, the buildings for the most part being large, handsome, and built of brick. The general healthfulness of the place is a matter never contro- verted, and is accounted for by its favorable location, the excellence of the water, and the enforced cleanliness of the city. The commercial advantages of Fulton, it has been truly said, are not surpassed by any point on the Upper Mis- sissippi. Directly west of Chicago, and its nearest approach to the river where one of the greatest railroads on the continent crosses, on the line to California, it offers unequaled facilities for western traffic. The Western Union Railroad running upon the eastern bank of the river opens communication north and south, besides connecting with the coal beds in Rock Island county and throughout the State. A branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad opens more direct communication with the interior of the State. The bridge crossing a lit- tle south of the city furnishes ready connection with the numerous railroads traversing Iowa and the vast regions west of the Mississippi. Besides these railroads the river furnishes great advantages for transportation, and during the season is largely used. All the materials for building are abundant. Stone of fine quality is conveniently found; the limestone furnishes an excellent quality of lime; the brickyards make a superior order of brick, and in the lumber yards are found huge piles of lumber. As a point for manufacturing and commerci- al purposes Fulton has no superior on the river.
The original owners of the real estate upon which the city now stands were John Baker, Henry C. Fellows, James McCoy, Alvin Humphreys, George W. Kellogg, John B. Jenkins, Daniel Reed, R. J. Jenks, Jeremiah Humphreys, Lyman Blake, John W. Baker, Ed. Rolph and some others. The land was pur- chased of the Government in 1840. Fulton was organized as a village in 1855 and the first trustees were Henry C. Fellows, Dr. W. C. Snyder, Dr. A. W. Benton, but we have been unable to get at any records showing the balance of its officers under that organization, or other facts as to its municipal history. In 1859 it became a city under a special charter granted that year by the General Assembly. The book of records, together with all documents, ordinances, etc., belonging to the city were destroyed by fire on the 26th of March. 1875, so that but very few facts in relation to that part of the history of Fulton can be ob- tained. Through the kindness of Mr. John Phelps, however, we have been en- abled to obtain the names of the different Mayors, Aldermen and City Clerks. They are as follows :
1859-Mayor, James McCoy; Aldermen, Leander Smith, David E. Dodge, Lyman Blake, Chas. A. Chace; City Clerk, Everett A. Ingalls.
1860-Mayor, Irving G. Gates; Aldermen, Benj. S. Gerrish, George T. Ford; City Clerk, Jerome T. Wiswell.
1861-Mayor, George T. Smith; Aldermen, Edwin P. Welles, L. E. Duryea; City Clerk, J. T. Wiswell.
1862-Mayor, James McCoy; Aldermen, Charles B. Mercereau, David Mc- Cartney; City Clerk, J. T. Wiswell.
1863-Mayor, David E. Dodge; Aldermen, H. P. Wiborg, R. II. Adams; City Clerk, Wm. E. Bassett.
1864-'65- Mayor, James McCoy; Aldermen, J. P. Rice, Michael Kennedy; City Clerk, Wm. E. Bassett.
1866-Mayor, W. C. Snyder. Dr. Snyder resigned soon after the election, and C. N. Wheeler was elected to fill the vacancy. Aldermen, B. Robinson, S. Needham, A. A. Wheeler, C. B. Benedict.
1867-Mayor, J. P. Linn; Aldermen, John Phelps, C. W. Aylesworth, George Eckert.
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
1868-Mayor, C. A. Griswold; Aldermen, David E. Dodge, Orlando Sprague, A. A. Wheeler; City Clerk, George W. Padelford.
1869-Mayor, C. N. Wheeler; Aldermen, Orlando Sprague, L. H. Potter, C. A. Winslow, John Dyer, A. A. Wheeler, J. M. Fay; City Clerk, George W. Padelford.
1870-Mayor, R. H. Adams; Aldermen, Z. M. Church, J. M. Startzman, E. W. Dutcher, Peter Kitchen; City Clerk, George W. Padelford.
1871-Mayor, R. H. Adams; Aldermen, L. H. Potter, Wm. Kitchen, F. L. Norton; City Clerk, George W. Padelford.
1872-Mayor, R. H. Adams; Aldermen, Charles E. Langford, Fred W. Pearson, John Downs; City Clerk, George W. Padelford.
1873-Mayor, Almon A. Wheeler; Aldermen, Thomas Taylor, A. D. Mitch- ell, J. M. Fay; City Clerk, L. F. Puffer.
1874-Mayor, Wm. C. Green; Aldermen, Patrick Dorsey, James W. Smith, Daniel Daly; City Clerk, George Terwilliger.
1875-Mayor, William Y. Wetzell; Aldermen, Lucian S. Kinney, A. D. Mitchell, John C. Mitchell; City Clerk, George Terwilliger.
1876-Mayor, William Y. Wetzell; Aldermen, John Stuart, James W. Smith, Daniel Daly; City Clerk, George Terwilliger.
1877-Mayor, James W. Smith; Aldermen, Robert B. Myers, A. D. Mitch- ell, Rheimer Kahler, John Downs; City Clerk, T. J. Pickett, Jr.
The first building put up within the limits of the present city of Fulton was a small one of hewn logs, on the bank of the river a little north of where Bachelder's pottery now stands. It was built in 1837, the work being done by the men then in the settlement, although the ownership was claimed by John Baker. It was erected originally for a store, but during the first summer was used by James McCoy, Henry C. Fellows, George Kellogg, John B. Jenkins and R. J. Jenks as a bachelor's hall. These bachelor halls were necessary institu- tions throughout the West at that period. Large numbers of those who sought the then comparatively unknown wilds and prairies of the Upper Mississippi Valley, were young men without families, and very many of them with limited means, if any at all, and for the sake of economy, and in many instances of necessity, banded together and occupied dwellings which could be the most easily and cheaply obtained. In these they resided until by their labor and industry, homes of their own could be procured. Many of them can now look baek to these old bachelor halls with feelings of the keenest pleasure. They were young, hardy, and enthusiastic, and the difficulties and inconveniences of pioneer life only added zest to the situation.
The first store in the place was opened in the building above referred to, in the fall of 1837, by John W. Baker and Moses Barlow. It was a general country store, and was kept by them until the next spring, when they sold to a firm by the name of Church & Wing, who continued the business about a year. Isaac Wicksom also put up a building, and opened a grocery store that year. It was a frame building, and stood about four rods north of Mr. W. P. Hall's present residence. He kept the store about two years.
The first frame building was erected by John W. Baker during the summer of 1838. It stood on the present premises of H. C. Fellows, Esq., on the corner of Base and Ferry streets. Mr. Baker occupied this building for about two years, and then sold it to Mr. Edward Cowdrey. The second frame building was put up by Isaac Wieksom as a store, as mentioned above, and the third by Rev. John Prentiss. The building of Mr. Prentiss stood near the location of Mr. John Phelps' present residence. The next year, 1839, a dozen or more buildings were erected, all of them in the same vicinity as those of the previous
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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF FULTON.
year. In fact, for quite a period the village of Fulton was confined to that locality, the streets which now almost wholly monopolize trade and other business being then covered with a thick growth of brush interspersed here and there with forest trees.
The first hotel was built and kept by Robert Booth, and was at the start a very primitive concern. Mr. Booth commenced putting up, or rather putting down the hotel in the spring of 1838. He first dug a hole in the ground and sided it up with small logs, the upper part of which extended but a couple of feet above the ground, and filled the chinks with clay, spaces being left here and there above ground for lights. The room thus made, was then partitioned into smaller ones, a roof placed over the (w)hole, some necessary furniture and bedding brought in, and the underground hotel was ready for guests. Almost from the start he had as many regular boarders and transient guests as he could accommodate, and in a little over a year, felt rich enough to build farther up towards the clouds, and when he had finished was the possessor of a very nice two and a half story hotel besides the original underground part. His excellent table gave him popularity far and near. He kept the hotel for about five years, and then sold it to Col. Johnson, Mrs. R. S. Sayre's father, who continued it as long as he lived, and then it passed into the possession of Wilson S. Wright. A hotel was also started in 1839 by A. M. Wing, in a building which stood on the bank of the river, just north of the present pottery of Mr. Bachelder. This was run about a year. In 1841 John W. Baker built a hotel near the cottonwood tree now standing in the lumber yard of Langford & Hall, and kept it for a short time, and then sold it to John Baker, who afterwards transferred it, together with his other real estate interest in Fulton, to Augustin Phelps. These were the original hostelries in Fulton.
The first dry goods, and general country store, was opened in the spring of 1839, by Chenery & Phelps, in a large building a little north of the present pottery. They were both Massachusetts men. Chenery came out first in 1838 on a prospecting tour, and becoming satisfied that the point was a good one for business, arranged with Mr. John Baker that if he would ereet a suitable build- ing the firm would come out the next season and open a store. In accordance with this agreement, Mr. Baker put up the building, and Chenery & Phelps took possession of it at the time just stated, and filled it with goods. They remained in it about four years, and then built one of their own a little to the south of it. The firm continued until 1844 when Mr. Chenery disposed of all his interest in the store, together with his other property in the place, to Mr. Phelps, and went back to Massachusetts. Messrs. Chenery & Phelps did a large wholesaling and retailing business, as well as dealing largely in grain, pork, and produce. They paid good prices for whatever they purchased, and hence drew to their establishment farmers and producers for many miles back in the county. Smaller storekeepers could also buy from them at rates which made it an object to go to Fulton instead of elsewhere for their supply of goods. In 1845 Mr. John Phelps became a partner of Augustin Phelps, and the two continued the business until 1849, when the latter died suddenly of cholera at the city of Syracuse, N. Y., while on his way to the eastern cities to purchase stock. Mr. Chenery died the following February at his home in Montague, Franklin county, Massachusetts. Both were men of great energy, admirable business talents, social in their manners, strictly honest in their dealings, true in their friendships, and broad and liberal in their views. Such men are an advantage to any town.
The first brick building was put up in 1847, and still stands at the corner of Base and Ferry streets. It was originally used for a blacksmith shop, E.
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
Summers, Esq., occupying it for quite a period. It is now occupied by D. C. Goble as a stable. The next briek was built for a residence in 1849 by a mason named Quinlan, and stands on the northeast corner of Cherry and River streets. It is now owned and occupied by Mr. D. E. Dodge as a restaurant and eonfee- tionery store. The third brick was erected by Messrs. McCoy and Phelps for a printing office. It stands on the southeast corner of Short and Union streets, and is now owned and occupied by Mr. Chas. D. Rose as a dwelling. The stone school house, now the city calaboose, was put up in 1847.
The first mail from Dixon to Fulton was brought by Ezekiel Kilgour, by the way of the Sterling, Morrison and Fulton road. From Dixon to Sterling the mail was carried by an ox team, and from the latter place to Fulton by horse. This primitive way of carrying the mail was continued for some years.
Fulton did not grow very rapidly until 1851, when the project of building a railroad from the Lakes directly west to the nearest point on the Mississippi river was broached. It was found that this nearest point was Fulton, and upon that fact being declared the town started forth with new energy. A railroad meeting was immediately held at Lyons. The Legislatures of both Illinois and Iowa were then in session, but it was concluded to bring the matter first before the Legislature of the latter State, and assure the members that if they would pass an act for the incorporation of a railroad company to construct a road from Lyons to Council Bluffs, a charter would be procured from the Legislature of Illinois for a road to intersect the then contemplated Illinois Central Railroad, at Dixon. The Lyons meeting was largely attended, and a committee appointed to repair at once to Iowa City, at which place the Iowa Legislature was in ses- sion, and present the petition for an act of incorporation. This was done, and the second day afterwards the aet was passed, and had received the Governor's signature. This was at once followed by an application to the Illinois Legisla- ture for the passage of an act authorizing the construction of a railroad east- ward from Fulton. Hon. James McCoy placed the subject before the Legis-" lature, and procured before the adjournment of that body a charter for the Mis- sissippi & Rock River Junction Railroad. It was provided by the charter that books of subscription to the capital stoek should be opened within one year after the passage of the act. In the month of January, 1852, they were accord- ingly opened, and nearly all the stock subscribed in a short time.
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