USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside county, Illinois, from its first settlement to the present time, with numerous Biographical and Family Sketches > Part 24
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On the 1st of May, 1852, a meeting of the stockholders convened at Union Grove for the purpose of electing a President and Directors, which resulted as follows: President, James McCoy; Directors, J. T. Atkinson, Royal Jacobs, Chas. Dement, Benj. Lake, Elijah Buell, John Phelps and A. W. Benton. In the month of January, 1853, the Directors let the contract for building the road, and on the Sth of February following the work was commenced. This was an auspicious era for the young and struggling town, and many a heart throbbed with gladness to note it. In April, 1853, the Michigan Central and the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad Companies came forward and took some $400,000 stock in the road, thus placing it upon a firm basis. At the annual election for officers of the road, held in May of that year, the following were ehosen: Chas. Dement, President, and John B. Turner, J. H. Burch, E. Peck, J. Van Nortwick, James F. Joy, Chas. Dement, James McCoy, Bayard Fowler, and Lewis D. Crandall, Directors.
About this time a railroad was projeeted from Chicago through the village of St. Charles to the Mississippi river, called the St. Charles Air Line Railroad. This, however, in a short time passed into the hands of the Galena & Chicago Company, and whatever was really of avail in carrying on the road from Chi- cago to Fulton was adopted. The Galena & Chicago Company had at that time
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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF FULTON.
become so far identified with the road, that it was carried on mostly under their direction, assuming the name of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad and eventually the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad.
In 1857 two other roads from Fulton were projected, one connecting with the Racine & Mississippi Railroad, near Mt. Carroll on the north, and the other with the so-called Camanche, Albany & Mendota Railroad at Prophetstown, on the south. The first road was built, although considerably changed from the original project, and is now known as the Western Union Railroad. The latter project flashed in the pan. A road, however, now runs from Fulton through Prophetstown, and is known as the Mendota & Prophetstown branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad.
When the shovel first cut the prairie turf for the railroad track to Fulton, there were probably not over 400 inhabitants within the limits of the corpora- tion, but within a few years thereafter there were at least six times that num- ber. A large number of stores of all kinds were built; hotels and dwellings were erected, and churches and public and private schools started. The Dement House was built by Chas. Dement in 1855, and at that day was the largest hotel west of Chicago. The main building is 96 by 100 feet in size, and five stories high including the basement. The walls are stone, 23 inches in thickness, and substantially made. The wing was originally 70 feet in length and two stories high. The dining room was a spacious one, and the hotel fitted with all the modern conveniences known at the time. For some time after it was opened it was filled to repletion with guests, and many were the gay times held within its walls. The building of the bridge at Clinton, the removal of the passenger depot to its present position, and the building of the railroad shops at Clinton, however, gave Fulton the severest blow it ever had, and from which it has not as yet recovered.
The first ferrying done between Fulton and Lyons was by a skiff, which seems to have been used as required by the few citizens who then resided in Fulton. The travel, however, soon increased to such an extent as to demand much larger facilities, and in 1838 a company consisting of John Baker, Dr. Daniel Reed, M. W. Jenks and A. and J. Humphreys, obtained a license to run a flat boat ferry. This ferry, it appears, soon afterwards passed into the hands of A. M. Wing, and then into those of Royal Jacobs, a nephew of Hosea Jacobs. The latter ran it until about 1844, when it was purchased by Augustin Phelps, who began for the first time to use horse power in propelling the boat aeross the stream, building a boat especially for the purpose. In 1850 Wm. H. Kuight bought Mr. Phelps' interest, and substituted steam power for horse musele. The steamer was called "The Sailor," and was purchased at New Albany, Indi- ana. It was a small craft, but answered the purpose very well. Mr. Knight ran the ferry for five years, and then sold to John P. Knight and C. C. John- son, who in turn, after running it a few months, sold to Allen & White, of Davenport, Iowa. The present owner is Capt. Bentley, of Lyons, and the steamer used a large and commodious one. Opposition ferries started up sev- eral times, but did not maintain the contest very long at either time. On the 2d of March, 1840, Caleb Clark obtained a license to run a ferry between Fulton and Lyons, his schedule of prices being fixed at 25 cents per footman; man and horse, 75 cents; cattle, 25 cents per head; two wheel carriage, $1; yoke of oxen and wagon loaded, $1.50; additional ox or horse, 25 cents; sheep, 12} cents; one horse and wagon, $1. Geo. W. Sayre got a license in February, 1857, to run a steam ferry from Fulton to Lyons, and some others before that time tried to make a fortune at the ferry business, but it is not recorded that any succeeded. A ferry also ran fora short time between Fulton and Clinton.
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
The postoffice at Fulton was established in 1838, under the administration of President Martin Van Buren, and the original settler, Mr. John Baker, ap- pointed Postmaster. Mr. Baker held the position to the best information received until 1841, when Hollis Chenery was appointed, and he in turn was succeeded by Augustin Phelps, who retained the place until 1849, when a vacancy was caused by his death, and John Phelps was appointed. The latter held the office until 1853, when Franklin Pierce became President. He then gave way to Wilson S. Wright. From that time until the appointment of Dr. W. C. Snyder, in May, 1861, the following gentlemen respectively have held the position: Geo. S. Phelps, John J. Jones, Octavius Leighton and E. P. Welles. From the time Mr. John Phelps left the position until the appoint- ment of Dr. Snyder, the location of the postoffice was so frequently changed that it gave rise to the expression that it was carried around on wheels, and that the wheels were constantly moving, no one knowing where they could be found the next morning. Dr. Snyder righted this public inconvenience by plac- ing the office in his own building, and fitting it up at his own expense in a man- ner to fully meet the wants of the community. The present office is admirably arranged for the convenience of the public, and in all its appointments one of the neatest and most finely constructed in this part of the country.
Fulton has been widely known for many years as one of the great lumber points on the Upper Mississippi river. The product annually has been many million feet, and this has been disposed of to purchasers for long distances around. The quality has always been excellent, as experienced proprietors have had charge of the mills-men who knew how to buy good logs, and how to saw them. Parties desiring lumber in large or small quantities never missed of ob- taining at the Fulton yards just what they wanted, and at reasonable prices. The beginning of the lumber business in Fulton, however, like other places, was limited in extent. The first saw mill was built by John Masters on the Cattail Slough quite a distance above Culbertson, Smith & Co.'s present mill, and was run by water power. It was built in 1845. Mr. Masters continued the busi- ness for a while, and then sold a half interest to a Mr. Mckenzie, but the two abandoned it after some unsuccessful efforts to make it pay. Finally a Mr. Ritchie took hold of it and ran it for some time, when it was taken down.
The next saw mill was put up by Messrs. Sprague & Hamilton, and was situated near Base street. It was run by horse power, and had a rotary saw, and sawed some logs. It was principally used, however, for manufacturing shingles. About the same time Sprague & Lamberton had a chair and bed- stead manufactory situated a little east of where the residence of Mr. E. Sum- mers now stands. In 1854 Chas. Dement put up the saw mill now owned by Culbertson, Smith & Co. Mr. Dement ran the mill for four or five years, when it passed into the hands of Col. Todd, and afterwards into those of Chas. Her- rick and others. In 1863 it was purchased by W. P. Culbertson and Dr. Lean- der Smith, the latter afterwards selling his interest to Ed. Welles. The firm then became Culbertson & Welles, and the mill was run by them for about three years. In 1869 Dr. Smith and J. Martin Fay bought the interest of Mr. Welles, and a firm was then formed under the name of Culbertson, Smith & Co., and so remained until 1876, when it was dissolved. The mill has a capacity of turn- ing out 25,000 feet of lumber, 12,000 shingles, and 8,000 lath per day. The average per season is about 3,000,000 feet.
The first mill put up where Langford & Hall's large mill now stands, was built by Chas. E. Langford in 1865. It was 24 feet by 60, and had one single rotary and a muley saw to do the work. In the following year Warren P. Hall became a partner, and the mill was increased greatly in size and capacity, so
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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF FULTON.
that instead of turning out from seven to ten hundred thousand feet of lumber annually, as the original one did, it turned out over three million feet. Yet with that capacity it was found inadequate to the demands made upon the pro- prietors for lumber. In 1875 they commenced the erection of a new mill of ample dimensions, and completed it in the latter part of 1876. We give a de- scription of this mill as it is one of the largest and most thoroughly furnished upon the river. The main building is two stories high. The lower or first story is 40 by 128 feet, and contains the shafting, friction and belt pulleys, and also the planing, moulding and siding mills, with some small machines for resawing. The upper or second story is 40 by 144 feet, with an addition on the north side 10 by 80 feet, and contains a fifty inch gang with thirty-two saws, and a double rotary, the two having a capacity of 75,000 feet of lumber per day of ten hours. Connected with these are a case of live rollers, a log transfer, board transfer, Mæzinger edger, lumber trimmer, slab saw, and two edging cutter saws. In the same story is also the lath mill with capacity for cutting 15,000 lath per day of ten hours. On the southeast corner of the main building is an addition 22 by 26 feet, which contains the shingle mill. The shingles are sawed in the second story of this addition, and then sent down to the first, where they are jointed and packed ready for market. This mill has a capacity for cutting 20,- 000 shingles per day. Next to this addition on the west is the boiler room, 37 by 42 feet, constructed of brick, with iron roof. In this building are four boil- ers, 42 inches in diameter, and 20 feet long, set into an arch of briek. Over the areh is a saw dust conveyer, running so as to bring the saw dust from the dif- ferent machines in the main building, and deposit it in the fire through iron sponts. West of the boiler room is the engine room, 18 by 30 feet, also con- structed of brick, with iron roof. This room contains the engine, 22 by 30 inches, which gives power enough to drive all the machinery in the establish- ment satisfactorily, besides a fly or balance wheel 14 feet in diameter, and weighing 11,300 pounds, and a lifting and force pump by which water is drawn from the river and forced into the tank over the boilers, and also through pipes to barrels on the main building for protection against fire. The engine room also contains another pump by which water is forced through the Berryman heater into the boilers. The cost of the mills and machinery complete was $30,- 000. Messrs. Langford & Hall employ a large number of hands in their mills and yard, many of whom remain during the entire year.
The Fulton stoneware manufactory is situated on the bank of the river just north of Langford & Hall's extensive steam saw and planing mills. The manufacture of stoneware in this establishment was commeneed in July, 1866, by Edward A. Tolman. In the fall of that year J. Davis bought a one-half in- terest, and in February, 1867, Wm. Aikman a one-third interest, and the three continued the business until August, 1867. when L. Bendle purchased the inter- est of Davis and Aikman, and the firm became Bendle & Tolman. Under this firm the business was carried on until April 13, 1868. when C. B. Bachelder purchased the interest of E. A. Tolman, and the firm name was changed to Bachelder & Bendle, and so eontinned until September 20, 1868, when Mr. Bachelder obtained the entire interest, which he has held ever since. Since Mr. Bachelder has had entire control of the establishment an average of 100,- 000 gallons of ware have been manufactured annually, a large proportion of which is sold in the vicinity, although considerable of it goes to Minnesota and Wisconsin, each year gaining in celebrity for durability of make and beauty of finish. The most of the clay used comes from Boone, towa, and the balance from Illinois, the latter being also excellent in quality. Mr. Bachelder has been for some time past making large quantities of flower pots of all kinds in con-
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
neetion with his other ware. These are painted and ornamented in a beautiful manner. His green glazed flower pots are the only ones manufactured in this country, and are extensively sold. He is also making the best open lava spit- toons in the market. Altogether, the work turned out at this manufactory ranks high in the market for its superiority, durability and beauty.
In addition to the mannfactories and mills spoken of, we may add the large carriage manufactory and blacksmithing establishment of J. & W. Stuart. Mr. John Stuart, the senior member of the firm, commenced first in 1862 in a diminu- tive building on the ground where the establishment now stands. About eleven years ago le put up an additional building, and soon followed that by others, until there are now five in all. The carriages turned out at this establishment are of great beauty, combined with strength and durability, and find a ready sale, purchasers coming from all parts of the country. In 1873 William Stuart pur- chased an interest, and the firm became J. & W. Stuart. The Messrs. Stuart keep a large number of hands constantly employed.
Mr. Robert B. Myers has also a carriage and wagon manufactory, doing mostly custom work. His wagons and carriages are of excellent make and finish.
Mr. P. II. Cossman carries on an extensive machine and blacksmithing es- tablishment. He makes and repairs all kinds of machinery, excepting engines and some of the larger kinds of work. He has several inventions of his own which he uses to decided advantage in his business.
Gerten Bros. and the Messrs. Spark have each a good sized pipe manufac- tory, and each of them turn out annually a large number of boxes of pipes, which find a market in all sections of the country.
The Fulton Steam Flouring Mill was erected in 1874, and was first run by Mr. W. H. Hoyt. ' Two years ago Mr. Geo. W. Mathers purchased it, and con- ducted the business a short time alone, and then took in his brother as a part- ner, the firm becoming Mathers Bros. Both are practical and experienced mil- lers, and with an excellent mill and machinery, are manufacturing a fine grade of flour, together with corn meal, feed, ete. Their custom work is very heavy.
In the fall of 1866 the managers of the then consolidated Chicago & Northwestern Railway having at that time no track to the Upper Mississippi, and being desirous of carrying to the Chicago market a portion of the pro- ducts of the teeming wheat fields of Minnesota, conceived the design of erect- ing at Fulton a suitable elevator for the transfer of grain from boats and barges to their cars, thereby securing what was then, and what will probably continue to be, the shortest rail route from the river to the lakes. The elevator is 40 by 70 feet on the ground, 90 feet high, and covered with iron, making it practically fire proof. Attached is a fire brick engine room. It has a working capacity of 75,000 bushels. The enterprise has proved eminently successful, transferring annually an average of 1,500,000 bushels of grain to the cars. It has handled as high as 1,900,000 bushels in a season, and during the season of 1876, which, it must be recollected, is since the company have had a continuous line of their own from the State of Minnesota to Chicago, the receipts at this elevator ag- gregated over 1,750,000 bushels. It will undoubtedly continue to be a pay- ing investment, for by this way the longest water route coupled with the shortest rail route is secured, and no one needs to be told of the great economi- val superiority of water over rail transportation. Although different steam- boat lines have from time to time brought grain to the Fulton elevator, most of it has come by what is called the Diamond Jo. Line, owned and opera- ted by Mr. Joseph Reynolds, familiarly known as "Diamond Jo." The Diamond Jo. Line was established at the time the elevator was built
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NEWSPAPERS.
to run between Fulton and St. Paul and Stillwater. It has had uninterrupted connection with the C. & N. W. Railway since that time, notwithstanding the many changes of officers the road has experienced during the period. The down freight consists principally of wheat and flour, while the up freight transferred to the boats at Fulton consists of agricultural implements and general mer- chandise, consigned to all known points on the upper river, or points reached by rail running back from the river landings. These advantages render Fulton one of the best known and most convenient shipping points on the river. An- other feature of the grain trade here is to keep constantly on hand at the elevator large supplies of Minnesota wheat, which the millers on the Dixon Air Line and branches may purchase at any time for the supply of their mills.
The growth of the city at present is steady, and of a very substantial char- aeter. The business buildings which have been erected of late years have been nearly all brick, and many of the dwelling houses of the same material. The number of stores, business places, manufactories and mills at present is quite large, and is yearly increasing. The present population is estimated at 2,700. Fulton is 7 and 9-100ths feet above Lake Michigan, and 590 and 9-100ths feet above the level of the sea. These heights are obtained by taking the railroad track as a standard.
NEWSPAPERS.
Fulton has had its vicissitudes in newspapers in common with other western towns. Early in the year 1853, Judge James McCoy and Mr. John Phelps concluded that the business interests of the town demanded a representative in the shape of a weekly paper, especially in view of the railroad enterprises which were then in project, and acting upon that conclusion purchased in the fall of that year at St. Louis a press and type, which together with some wood type obtained at Galena, were to be the outfit for the new newspaper and job office. The press, however, was sent on so late that the steamer which had it on board had to go into winter quarters at Rock Island, on account of the ice, and it was not until the next spring, 1854, that it arrived at its place of desti- nation. The next thing was to secure a practical printer to publish the paper, and conduct the business of the office. The owners could have written the editorials and local items if necessary, besides expounding the law and selling goods, but they were not at home in setting type, correcting proofs, making up forms, and working the press, and had any one came to them for a job, they certainly would have made a job of it. It therefore became a necessity to get some one learned in the art, and the fortunate person proved to be Mr. A. Me- Fadden, of Freeport. Mr. MeFadden came on in obedience to call. and after some delay succeeded in issuing the first number of the Whiteside Inves- tigator in May, 1854. This was the first newspaper published in Whiteside county, and was a creditable sheet for that day, and to Messrs. McCoy and Phelps great praise should be awarded for the energy displayed, and the means expended in securing its publication. The Investigator was published in a new two story brick building, erected expressly by these gentlemen for a printing office, on the corner of Short and Union streets, and is now owned and occupied by Mr. C. D. Rose as a dwelling. Soon after the commencement of the paper, Mr. G. A. Laighton appeared and purchased an interest in it, and the firm became MeFadden & Laighton, the former having previously purchased the office from Messrs. McCoy and Phelps. Subsequently Mr. Laighton beeame sole proprietor, and changed the name to the Fulton City Advertiser. He made considerable improvement in its columns, and with an efficient editorial staff, consisting of Dr. C. A. Griswold, and Messrs Groot and Lewis, new life and
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
interest was given to it. In the political campaign of 1856 the Advertiser took a stand in favor of Buchanan, the Democratic candidate for President, and the former editorial staff withdrew, leaving the duties to Mr. Greenleaf. During the time Mr. Laighton conducted the paper, and was Postmaster, he became considerably involved, and took leave of absence to see his eastern friends, and did not return. The Advertiser office was left in charge of an apprentice, and soon thereafter suspended.
In the summer of 1859 Messrs. G. J. Booth and B. C. Golliday leased the establishment, and commenced the publication of the Fulton Weekly Courier. At the end of six months this firm dissolved, and Mr. Booth continued the Courier individually until the 16th of March, 1863, when he purchased the establishment from Mr. Laighton, made considerable improvements, and changed the name of the paper to the Fulton Journal, which name has been continued to the present. In 1866 Mr. Adoniram J. Booth took a joint interest in the office, and the business was thenceforward carried on under the firm name of G. J. Booth & Son until March, 1872, when the establishment was purchased by George Terwilliger. The Messrs. Booth conducted and main- tained the local press in Fulton for a period of nearly thirteen years, having always at heart the best interests of the place and its citizens. In common with other publishers they met now and then with parties who endeavored to impugn their motives, and destroy their business, but both paper and publishers prospered, and yet continue to live and prosper.
In March, 1872, the paper and office passed into the hands of George Ter- williger as editor and proprietor, and so continued until November 26, 1872, when Dr. W. C. Snyder purchased a half interest, Dr. Snyder taking charge of the publication and business departments, and Mr. Terwilliger of the editorial department. This continued until March, 1876, when Dr. Snyder purchased the whole interest, Mr. Terwilliger still remaining as editor. In November, 1876, Mr. Terwilliger retired, and Dr. Snyder leased the establishment to Thomas J. Pickett, Jr., who is at present the editor and publisher of the paper, with Miss Annie E. Snyder as assistant editor. In politics the Journal has been Republican from the organization of the party, and has always had a good circulation in the city and country.
Other newspapers have been published at different times in Fulton. The first was the Fulton Argus by the Messrs. Pratt in 1868. It was printed at the Advocate office, in Lyons, and continued only a short time. In 1871, Mr. F. L. Norton started the Whiteside Democrat, and published it until a short time before his removal to New York State, in 1873. The Democrat was a spiey, well edited, local paper. In the campaign of 1872, a paper called the Liberal, advocating the election of Horace Greeley, was published by J. M. Finch.
CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
Presbyterian Church :- The history of this church involves that of the old and new School Presbyterian churches from which it was formed. The history of the new school branch is blended with that of the Congregational church under three successive titles, from which it sprang. On the 21st of December, 1839, Rev. John H. Prentiss, of Fulton, formed an organization at the residence of Ilenry Ustick a few miles east of Fulton, called the "First Congregational Church of Union Grove," several of the members of which were residents of Fulton. The total membership was eleven. Their names were Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ustick, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Town, Elijah Town, Miss Eliza Town, Mrs. Eliza Prentiss, Mrs. C. A. Adams, Henry F. Rice, and Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Daniel Reed. The First Congregational Church of Fulton and Lyons was organized at
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