USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside county, Illinois, from its first settlement to the present time, with numerous Biographical and Family Sketches > Part 33
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JAMES MCMULLEN was born in Ireland. He came to Canada, and in 1837 settled in Genesee. He had a wife and eight children. His wife died soon after his coming, and he sold out and returned to Canada. He married again, and after a number of years came back to Illinois, and settled in Carroll county. He is now living in Fulton, but has been an invalid for several years. He was an intelligent, enterprising man.
JACOB HUFFMAN and family eame from Canada, and settled on the north side of Genesee Grove in 1837. He was a farmer; had four sons and three daughters. The oldest son and one daughter died in the Grove. The other children are still living, two in Whiteside county. The parents have been dead a number of years.
MRS. AMANDA WICK, a sister of R. T. Hughes, was first married to John R. Smith, a son of T. W. Smith, one of the first Judges of the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois. She had one child, I. S. Smith, who is now living in Chicago. Mrs. Smith afterwards married Azariah Wick, Angust 6, 1838. She had seven children by this marriage. Mr. Wick enlisted in the 75th regiment of Illinois Infantry in 1862, as a private, and died in Military Hospital No. 14, at Nashville, Tennessee.
EDWARD RICHARDSON was an eastern man. He came to Genesee Grove in 1838; boarded with Mr. Coleord until his family came in 1839, when he lived in the same cabin with Unele Watty Doud. Soon afterwards his wife died.
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He had one child-a daughter-who married Charles Weed, and settled in Rock Island county. Mr. Richardson was the first Postmaster in Genesee Grove, in 1839. Soon after his wife's death his health failed, and he shortly afterwards died.
EZRA R. HUETT came from the State of New York, and settled in Genesee Grove in 1839. He married Miss Clawson. After remaining a number of years he settled in Northern Iowa. He was a carpenter by trade. Had thirteen children.
JOHN YAGER was born January 3, 1809, in Union county, Pennsylvania. His father came to Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1812, and in 1820 removed to Jackson county in the same State. He married Elizabeth Ayres, April 19, 1829, and came with his family to Illinois in 1836, settling in Chamber's Grove. He remained there until 1843, when he came to Whiteside county, and settled near Genesee Grove, where he has lived ever since. He had ten children, viz: Maria, George, William, Henry, Harriet, Sarah, James, Mavilla, Martha, and Amanda. They are all dead but two-Mary, now Mrs. Miller, and Harriet, now Mrs. Ephraim Brookfield, of Sterling. Mr. Yager's ancestors were from Ger- many. He was brought up a farmer, and followed agricultural pursuits. In addition, he was an ordained minister of the church organized by Alexander Campbell, now called the Christian church. His wife died October 2, 1852, and he married Catherine Nance in Jeffersonville, Indiana, December 12, 1853. His wife died June 17, 1863, leaving no children. He married Mrs. Margaret A. McCrea, the widow of Martin D. McCrea, November 16, 1863. Mr. Yager, although an early settler, never had any claim troubles, and never was concerned in any of the controversies, either as a party or as a witness. Many persons made it a business to locate timber and prairie claims, so that about all the lands were taken up or claimed. These large claim brokers reduced the business to a system. Mr. Yager bought out John Cox, paying three dollars per acre for his land. One forty acre lot of that claim has recently been sold for two hundred dollars per acre.
RENSSELAER BAKER came from New York in 1839. He had a wife and two children, a son and a daughter. He went to California, leaving his wife on the farm, and has not been heard from recently. Mrs. Baker died about two years ago.
HARVEY SUMMERS came from Indiana in 1838. He married Charlotte J. Wick, a daughter of Wm. Wick. He is now living in Jasper county, Missouri.
JOHN THOMPSON CRUM came from Indiana in 1838 in company with Martin D. McCrea. Mrs. McCrea was his sister. He made a claim, and after remain- ing a number of years he went to Indiana and married Mary Pierce. He had a stock of goods at Genesee Grove, which he afterwards sold to Ephriam Brook- field, and then went back to Indiana, where he still lives. Mr. Crum built the first house in the place now called Coleta, for a store and dwelling house com- bined, on the corner of sections 10 and 22.
WILLIAM CRUM came and made a claim in 1838. He followed farming until about ten years ago, when he sold out and went into the dry goods business at Galt. He now owns and lives on the farm known in Como as the Perkins' place. He first married Emeline Wick, in 1843. Had one child, now the wife of Joe. Sales, in Iowa. Mrs. Crum died, and he married Rachel M. Lee., Four children were born, but all are now dead.
MIDDLETON G. WOOD was born in Virginia, February 26, 1811. When one year old he was taken to North Carolina, and stayed there until he was six- teen, when he went to Greencastle, Indiana; thence to Rockville. Came West and settled in Georgetown, Vermillion county, Illinois. Married Lucy Ann
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Law, December 25, 1832. In the spring of 1836, he went to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, but came back to Illinois in the fall of that year, and settled at Eagle Point. He lived there until 1843 when he went to Hickory Grove. Mrs. Wood died January 11, 1848, leaving three children. Mr. Wood married Sarah West in October, 1850, and had seven children by this marriage. He is a blacksmith by trade. In January, 1837, he made an agreement with Hezekiah Brink and Elijah Worthington to open a blacksmith shop in the upper part of Sterling -- then called Harrisburg. They agreed to build the shop, furnish the tools, and be ready for him to commence work on the first day of May, 1838. At the time agreed upon he reported himself ready, but the shop was not completed, and the enterprise was abandoned.
HENRY H. HOLBROOK was born May, 24, 1815 at Cornish, New Hampshire. He married Caroline Ross, April 11, 1833. He came west and settled in Genesee Grove, December 5, 1838. Mr. Holbrook was a practical farmer, but worked at shoe making in the winter season, and when not otherwise employed. Children: Jane, Abigal, John, Silas, Sarah, Alzina, Emeline, Watson, Eliza, Mary, Isaac, Adeline, and Nancy. Silas, Alzina, Emeline and Nancy, are dead. Mr. Holbrook first settled at a spring in the Grove, but after four years removed to where he now lives. As late as 1838, the cabins were all built in the timber. The belief was universal that no person could live on the prairies on account of the severe winters. The father and mother of the subject of this sketch came from Steuben county, New York. They travelled in a buggy drawn by one horse, while the family and goods were conveyed by two horses. They started in October, 1838, and came to Erie, Pennsylvania, where Mr. Holbrook shipped one large box on a sail vessel. After traveling five weeks, making over one thousand miles, they arrived at Genesee Grove in December, 1838, having suf- fered severely from the cold and exposure. Edward Richardson accompanied them, and traveled the whole distance on foot. The vessel on which the box was shipped was wrecked, but a portion of the goods was received about a year afterwards. The father and mother were both old at the time they came west, and died a long time ago. A man calling himself Sharp, squatted in a vacant cabin in the neighborhood in the winter of 1838-'39. One of the hogs belong- ing to one of the settlers was missing one day, and the proof was conclusive that Sharp was the guilty person. The settlers went to his cabin, compelled him to hitch his horses to his wagon, while they loaded up his goods, and sent him off. He was never heard of afterwards.
WATSON PARISH was born in Virginia. His father was in the war of 1812, and died in the military hospital twelve miles below Richmond. The mother and the rest of the family emigrated to Mercer county, Kentucky, in the fall of 1815, and remained there until 1837, when they went to Dyer county, Tennessee, remaining there until the spring of 1839. Mr. Parish married Louisa Demint. In June, 1839, he emigrated to Illinois, and settled in Genesee Grove. Children: William C., Elias, Augustine, Sampson, Watson, Sarah, Harrison H., Amanda L., Mary E. Mrs. Parish died in 1847, and soon after Mr. Parish again married. The children by his second wife are: John R., Isam S., Francis M. Mr. Parish's second wife died, and he married his third wife. The children by this marriage were: Hattie G., Amy M., Clara M. William C. died in the army November 29, 1861; Elias lives in Johnson county, Nebras- ka; Augustine lives in Butte county, California; Watson resides in Nebraska; Sarah married Isaac N. Thorp who enlisted in the army and was drowned January 3, 1865; Clara M. died in 1865. Mr. Parish has been extensively known as a successful auctioneer.
ELIAS DEMINT came from Tennessee with his family to Illinois, and lived
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about ten miles south of Dixon, at the Inlet. He kept a public house there. Settled in Genesee Grove in 1840. Children: Louisa-afterwards Mrs. Parish, Isaac, Polly, George, Samuel and Sarah. Mr. Demint after remaining in the Grove a number of years, went to Iowa with his family, and is now dead.
SAMUEL LANDIS was born in Virginia in 1792. He married Elizabeth Stretch in Indiana. Came to Genesee Grove in the spring of 1836. Children: Nathaniel, Susan, Sarah, Enoch, Mary, William, Nancy, John, Elizabeth and Margaret Ann. Elizabeth, Nancy and Margaret are living in Missouri. Enoch, Sarah and John are in Iowa. The rest are in Illinois. Mr. Landis was troubled with a tumor which grew so rapidly that a surgical operation became necessary; chloroform was administered, and it was skillfully removed, but he did not rally, and soon died. Mr. Landis was a cabinet maker by trade, and occasionally work- ed at it in connection with farming. Mrs. Landisis still living in Missouri.
COLETA.
The village of Coleta is laid out on the corners of sections 9, 10, 15 and 16, in township 22, range 6 east of the 4th principal meridian. The first build- ing erected was the store of John Thompson Crum, on the corner of section 10. After occupying it for a number of years, Mr. Crum purchased an acre of land on the opposite corner, on section 9, and moved the building to that corner, where he used it as a dwelling and store room. He afterwards sold out to Ephraim Brookfield, who in turn sold to Henry S. Wickey, the present owner. The forty acre lot on the southeast corner of section 9, and the southwest cor- ner of section 10, were owned at first by David Wyman, who afterwards sold it to Azariah Wick. Mr. Wick sold it to Alestis S. Smith, who in turn sold to C. Overholser. Mr. Overholser sold to Samuel H. Kingery, who afterwards sold back again to Overholser. In the plat of the village this forty acre lot was laid out into town lots. In 1856 Mr. Crum purchased four acres on the northeast corner of section 16, and laid them out into lots. A lot of fourteen acres was also sold by Wick to A. S. Smith, who sold to Mr. Crum. This ground was also laid out into village lots. The next owner of them was Samuel Halde- man, who sold lots to David Horning, Dr. E. M. Winter, Barrett M. Burns, and the balance to Hiram Reynolds. The latter afterwards sold one lot to Andrew Griffith, one acre to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the balance to John Yager. Wick sold an acre on the northwest corner of section 15 to Wm. Pierce, who erected the first house on that corner. Mr. Pierce sold to Mrs. Winslow, who soon after sold one lot to Hiram Reynolds, and the other to Henry Kenne- dy. On the road leading west, lots were sold by A. T. Crum and William Har- row-one, a two acre lot to Cephas Hurless. Mr. Hurless has since sold one village lot to Seth Knapp, and one to Catharine Fenton.
The place was first called "Crum's Store," and then Clayton. The people seemingly not being satisfied with either, called a meeting, at which a majority voted to call it Coleta. This name was suggested by Miss Nora Porter, now Mrs. E. R. Ferguson. The first school house in the village was built in the summer of 1858, Ephraim Brookfield being the first teacher. The number of pupils on the roll then was sixty, now it is over one hundred. The first church erected was the Methodist Episcopal, in 1868. The Society then numbered twenty members; now there are sixty-six. The building is a large frame struc- ture, well finished and furnished, to which is also added a neat parsonage. Rev. H. F. Clendenin is the present pastor. The Sunday school has fifty scholars, with J. W. Tumbleson as Superintendent. The United Brethren built a church in 1869, the membership of the Society being then about one hundred, but has been reduced by emigration since to about seventy-five. Rev. Mr. Gardner is
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the pastor. The Sunday school has fifty scholars, and David Overholser as Su- perintendent. The Christian Church edifice was erected at an expense of $2,500. Nearly the whole amount was furnished by John Yager. The church has no settled minister at present, but services are held every Sabbath by either John Yager or Thomas Stanley. The Sunday school numbers one hundred and twenty-five scholars, with Thomas Stanley as Superintendent. Besides the three church buildings and school house, all finished in modern style, there is a hall over Wickey's store, called " Brookfield Hall," which is used for all public meetings. There is also a flourishing Masonic Lodge in the village. Coleta contains twenty-eight dwelling houses and eighteen business places, including stores, shops, etc., making in all fifty.
CHAPTER XIII.
HISTORY OF HAHNAMAN TOWNSHIP -- DEER GROVE-BIOGRAPHIES.
HISTORY OF HAHNAMAN TOWNSHIP.
The township now known as Hahnaman was originally a part of Portland Precinct, then of Rapids Precinct, and so remained up to 1852, when its boun- daries were defined and name given by the Commissioners appointed by the County Commissioners' Court, but owing to the small number of inhabitants was attached to Hopkins township for judicial purposes until 1859, when the organization became fully complete. The town is largely made up of what is known as swamp lands, fully four-fifths of the area being such lands. Efforts were early made in the history of the township to have these lands drained, as the soil was found to be exceedingly rich and fertile wherever it could be cul ti- vated. Finally the county, in 1863-'64, resolved to drain the swamp lands in all the towns where they were situated, by proper ditching. Previous to this action, however, the county had thrown these lands upon the market, and had realized from Hahnaman alone about $26,000. The county ditch in this town commences about two miles from the east line of the town, and runs about four miles, where it strikes the east line of Tampico. It has not proved a success as yet, as far as Hahnaman is concerned, although by being deepened, and hav- ing branch ditches running into it, as is now proposed, it is thought that every acre of the original swamp lands can be reclaimed and brought under a good state of cultivation. At present over one-half of these lands remain unim- proved. The balance of the town is rolling, and of good soil, with the excep- tion of a few sand ridges. On one of these, a short distance north of the resi- idence of Mr. Amos Reeves, is what is called the " little blow out," a basin scooped out of the sand. A description of these "blow outs" is briefly given in the history of Tampico. The crops raised in this town are those usually found in all the towns of the county.
The earliest settlers in Hahnaman were William Renner and family, who came from Pennsylvania in 1841, and settled at Deer Grove. Mr. Renner died in 1859, at the age of 51 years, and was buried in Bureau county. He left eight children, five boys and three girls. Two of the former died while soldiers in the Union army. Lemuel Scott, a pensioner of the war of 1812, came next in 1845. He came from Vermont, and also settled at Deer Grove, and died at the house of Mr. Renner in 1849. The widow Renner is still living in Hahna- man, a neighbor of Mr. Reeves. In 1854 the widow Ryder, with several sons, settled in the township, and in 1855 came W. M. Halsted, James Chandler, Benj. Ackland and Martin Clark, from Indiana; Wm. Johnson, from New York, and Wm. Humphrey, from La Salle county, in this State. In the following year, 1856, came John Van Valkenburgh, from New York, Wmn.' Brakey, Geo. Brakey and Wm. MeNickle, from Pennsylvania; Peter Ford and Thomas Lan- gan, from Ireland, and in 1857, Amos Reeves, from New York, and : Reuben Davis, from Ohio. Dr. Davis originally settled in Montmorency township, as will he seen in the history of that township. During that year what is known
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HISTORY OF HAHNAMAN TOWNSHIP.
as " Paddy's Island," located in the eastern part of the town, was also pretty well settled. In 1858 a large number came and settled in the town.
The first house, or rather cabin, was built of logs at Deer Grove, by Wil- liam Renner, in 1841, and the few that were built previous to 1857, were of that material, or as near to it as could be had. In 1857 the first frame buildings were erected.
The first school house was built in 1857 in what is known as Brakey's set- tlement. It was sixteen feet square and seven feet high. Mr. Amos Reeves, the present Supervisor of the town, taught school there in the winter of 1857- '58, and was consequently the first school teacher in the town. He had an at- tendance of twenty-two scholars during that winter, some of them coming a distance of five miles. Now there are five school districts in the town, each having a good school house, with an average of forty-five scholars.
The first white child born in the town was a son of De Witt and Catharine Ryder, in the fall of 1855. His name is Isaiah Ryder, and he is now a resident of Kansas. The first wedding was that of H. V. Hinman to Miss Jane L. Bra- key, the happy event occurring in 1859. The wedded pair are now living in Kansas. The first death was that of the widow Ryder, which occurred in 1855. She was about 53 years of age, and was buried in a private burial place now on the farm of Cornelius Cunningham. No regular religious services were held in the town until about a year ago, when a preaching place was established by the Methodists at Deer Grove, services being held in the school house at that place. There being no meeting houses in the town, members of the different denomi- nations attend church either at Tampico, Sterling, or Rock Falls.
The first election for town officers was held at the school house in District No. 2, on the 3d of April, 1860. Reuben Davis was chosen Moderator, and Amos Reeves, Clerk. Twenty-six votes were polled.
At the second town meeting held at the school house in District No. 1, on the 2d of April, 1861, a tax of $125 was voted to defray town expenses. Thirty cents on the one hundred dollars was also voted to be raised for road purposes. Thirty-six votes were polled at that election.
The following are the names of the principal town officers from 1860 to the present:
Supervisors :- 1860, Wm. M. Halsted; 1861, O. H. MeNickle; Mr. Mc- Nickle resigned in September, and Wm. Johnson was appointed to fill the va- cancy; 1862, Wm. Johnson; 1863, M. A. Myers; 1864-'65, Reuben Davis; 1866, Amos Reeves; 1867-'68, Reuben Davis; 1869 '72, Edward Perkinson; 1873, John Conlon; 1874-75, John McCabe; 1876-'77, Amos Reeves.
Town Clerks :- 1861, Amos Reeves; Mr. Reeves resigned in 1861 to go to the war, and Win. M. Halsted was appointed; 1862-'65, Wm. M. Halsted; 1866, O. II. McNickle; 1867, J. C. Brakey; 1868, Wm. M. Halsted; 1869-'75, Amos Reeves; 1876-'77, E. L. Halsted.
Assessors :- 1860, Geo. S. Brakey; 1861, Thomas McCormick; 1862-'63, Reuben Davis; 1864-'65, Thomas McCormick; 1866, Geo. S. Brakey; 1867, J. C. Reeves; 1868, Thomas McCormick; 1869, Geo. Dee; 1870, Win. Caughey; 1871-'73, Geo. Dee; 1874. John Cooney; 1875, W. K. Caughey; 1876- 77, John Conlon.
Collectors :- 1860, Reuben Davis; 1861, W. E. Walter; 1862, Henry Hum- phrey; 1863, W. J. Humphrey: 1864, Wm. M. Halsted; 1865. John MeCabe; 1866, H. V. Hinman; 1867-'69, A. S. Fee; 1870-71, W. K. Caughey: 1872- '73, John H. Conlon; 1874, Patrick Fahey; 1875, John H. Conlon; 1876-77, Jolin Conlon.
Justices of the Peace :- 1860, Reuben Davis, Geo. S. Brakey; 1861, Geo. S.
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Brakey; 1862, Thos. McCormick; 1863, M. A. Myers; 1864-'68, John McCabe; 1872, Thos. Higgins; 1873, Amos Reeves, John McCabe; 1876, C. L. Dewey; 1877, Amos Reeves, C. J. Burgess.
The annual election held in April, 1864, was declared void by reason of alleged illegal votes being polled. For that reason many of the officers then de- clared elected did not qualify, and those who did soon afterwards resigned, thus leaving the town without officers. A special election was therefore called, and held on the 21st of May following, and resulted in the re-election mainly of the officers chosen at the April election.
On the 6th of February, 1865, a special election was held for the purpose of voting for or against levying a tax to raise a sum of money sufficient, with the county and government bounties, to secure men to fill the quota of the town under the last call of the President of the United States to replenish the Union armies. Thirty-five votes were cast, thirty-one of which were for the tax, and four against it. The records do not show what was done in reference to this tax. The town afterwards stood a draft, three men being conscripted by its means.
A special election was held on the 30th of September, 1869, for the pur- pose of voting for or against the town subscribing for one hundred shares of $100 each to the capital stock of the Illinois Grand Trunk Railway, now known as the Prophetstown branch of the C., B. & Q. Railroad. Twenty-one votes were polled, all of which were in favor of subscribing to the stock and issuing bonds in payment thereof. The railroad company afterwards did not feel will- ing to agree to the terms of the bonds, but wanted five per cent. of the amount paid down, and the balance when sufficient stock was subscribed to grade, bridge, and tie that part of the road between Mendota and Prophetstown. To test the question whether the town would agree to the requirements of the railroad company in reference to the terms of the bonds or not, another special election was held on the 25th of June, 1870. Nineteen votes were polled at that election, eight of which were in favor of the company's proposition, and elev- en against it. No change was, therefore, made in the terms of the bonds, and they were issued on the 1st of January, 1871. These terms were that one-fifth of the bonds should become due in five years from date, and one-fifth annually thereafter until the whole amount should be paid, the interest to be ten per cent. per annum. The company finally took the bonds, $10,000 in amount, and issued to the town a certificate of stock to that amount. Two thousand dollars have been paid on the bonds, and the town has two thousand dollars more ready to pay.
A special election was also held on the 17th of February, 1877, to elect a committee of three to investigate the legality of the action of the Board of Supervisors of the county in turning the unexpended part of the swamp land fund of the county into the school fund, the committee to employ counsel and take such other steps as may be necessary to obtain information regarding such action, and make a report at the next annual town meeting. Amos Reeves, Manson Robbins, and A. S. Fce were elected the committee, and they reported at the appointed time that, according to the best legal authority they could obtain, the county had illegally transferred the swamp land fund to the school fund before completing the draining of the swamp land under the act conten- plating the drainage of the land.
Probably the earliest traveled road is the one known as the Sterling and Green River road. Indications show that this road was originally an Indian trail, and was afterwards used by white men in going from Rock River Valley to the Green River country and beyond. Horse thieves used it early, and
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even up to a date within the recollection of some of the younger inhabitants of that section, as a favorite road upon which to " switch " off their stolen equines. Many recollect the time when hardly a day passed without inquiries being made as to whether strange horses and men had not passed along the route going southward. The first legally laid out road was the one commencing at the north line of the town, between sections 3 and 4, and running in a direct line to Deer Grove, known as the Sterling and Deer Grove road. This road was laid out in 1856. The next legally laid out road commences also at the north line of the town, between sections 5 and 6, and runs south in a direct line to the southeast corner of section 19; thence west to the town line. This road was laid out in 1857. Other roads followed as the town became settled and the demands of the settlers required.
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