USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside county, Illinois, from its first settlement to the present time, with numerous Biographical and Family Sketches > Part 39
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
occasion Deacon A. R. Hamilton officiated by reading a sermon, and leading in the other services. The first sermon preached in the town was by Rev. Elisha Hazard, in the same cabin, in June, 1836. The first church society was organ- ized by the Congregationalists in 1836, and others afterwards followed.
The Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad, now owned by the Chi- cago, Burlington & Quincy Company, enters the township on section 6 of Con- gressional township 20 north, range 6 east, and runs in a southwesterly direc- tion through sections 1, 12, 11, 10, 15, 16, 21, 20, 19 and 30 of Congressional township 20 north, range 5 east, and passes out at the northwest corner of the latter section. The Mendota and Prophetstown branch of the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy Railroad strikes the township at Rock river, in the southeast part of section 30, and running northwesterly passes out on the southwest cor- ner of section 19. The two roads intersect each other on the line between scc- tions 19 and 30.
The following is a list of the Supervisors, Town Clerks, Assessors, and Collectors of the township of Lyndon from 1852 to 1877 :
Supervisors :- 1852-'55, Robert G. Clendenin; 1856-'62, Justus Rew; 1863, Lucius E. Rice; 1864, John Whallon; 1865-'69, Henry Dudley; 1870-'72, John Whallon; 1873, Justus Rew; 1874-'77, John Whallon.
Town Clerks :- 1852-'53, W. Andrews; 1854, C. A. Sperry; 1855, W. An- drews; 1856, A. A. Higley; 1857-'64, Henry Dudley; 1865, Samuel G. Scott; 1866, Homer Gillette; 1867, Charles C. Sweeney; 1868, Edward Ward; 1869, W. Andrews; 1870-'72, Moses Lathe; 1873-776, E. B. Hazard; 1877, Ethan Allen.
Assessors :- 1852, Justus Rew; 1853-'55, John Lathe; 1856, H. B. Free- man; 1857, Reuben King; 1858, John Lathe; 1859-'60, Alpheus Clark; 1861, Lucins E. Rice; 1862-'77, John Lathe.
Collectors :- 1852, Amos Cady; 1853, O. Woodruff; 1854-'55, Amos Cady; 1856-'63, John Roberts; 1864-'67, Samuel G. Scott; 1868-'69, O. W. Richardson; 1870-'71, E. C. Sweeney; 1872-775, Harry R. Smith; 1876, Joseph F. Wilkins; 1877, E. B. Hazard.
Justices of the Peace :- 1852, David P. Moore; 1854, Joseph F. Wilkins, D. P. Moore; 1858, Wesley Anderson, Orange Woodruff; 1860, Wesley Ander- son, O. Woodruff; 1864, Joseph F. Wilkins, W. Anderson; 1868, J. F. Wilkins, W. Anderson; 1872, J. F. Wilkins; 1873, Charles C. Sweeney; 1877, J. F. Wilkins, Moses Lathe.
Lyndon township contains 16,390 acres of improved lands and 409 acres unimproved; 174 improved lots, and 94 unimproved. According to the Asses- sor's book for 1877 there are in the township 618 horses, 1,926 cattle, 17 mules and asses, 658 sheep, 2,256 hogs, 2 billiard tables, 170 carriages and wagons, 38 watches and clocks, 106 sewing and knitting machines, 5 piano-fortes, 33 melodeons and organs. Total assessed value of lands, lots and personal proper- ty, $407,012; railroad property, $27,295; total assessed value of all property in 1877, $434,307.
The population of the township of Lyndon in 1870, as shown by the cen- sus report of that year, was 1,039, of which 963 were of native birth, and 76 of foreign birth. The estimated population in 1877 is 1,100.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
ADAM R. HAMILTON was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, October 12, 1791, and came to Lyndon, Whiteside county, in August, 1835. He married Miss Nancy Miller on the 18th of April, 1813. Mrs. Hamilton was also a native of Massachusetts, and born on the 9th of February, 1792. The children
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of this marriage were : John M., born May 11, 1814; Nancy A., born May 6, 1816; Lovica B., born May 22, 1818; George R., born February 24, 1820; Mary J., born May 19, 1822; Adam R., Jr., born June 1, 1824; Mary E., born June 6, 1826; and Harriet A., born July 13, 1833. Mary J. died October 12, 1823. John M. married Miss Prudence Wright; children, Levi, Carrie E., Prudence and Elvira; Mrs. Hamilton died, and Mr. Hamilton married his sec- ond wife, Miss Anna Woodward; the children by this marriage are, George W., Charles A. and Frederick E. Nancy A. married Theron Cook, March 3, 1836; children, Asa, Mary E., George A., Adelia E., Lucy F., Adam R., and Edward and Edwin, twins. Lovica B. married John C. Swarthout; children, Harriet A., Albert M., James E., Adam, Emma J., George E., Mary E. and Lovica A .; James E., Adam and Lovica A. died in infancy; Mr. Swarthout died in 1848, and Mrs. Swarthout married J. W. Olds. George R. married Miss H. S. Belt, May 22, 1867; children, Willis G., Louie and Effie. Mary E. married John Garlick; children, Henry, Martha, Ida, Frank and Fred. Adam R., Jr., is in Oregon. John M. lives two miles west of Lyndon, and George R. occupies the old homestead; both are well-to-do farmers, and good neighbors and citizens. Mr. Ilamilton was a Justice of the Peace of the county when these officers of the law received their appointment from the Governor, and was one of the Justices appointed by the Legislature to superintend the election, under the act of 1839, for a place to be the county-seat of Whiteside county. He was a sincere Christian, and gave the subject of religion more attention than all other matters combined, never failing to attend all church, Bible, Sunday-school and missionary meetings. All other engagements had to yield to church duties. Ile was a deacon in the Congregational Church so long that he was known everywhere as Deacon Hamilton. He died August 28, 1865, his wife having preceded him several years.
CHAUNCY G. WOODRUFF was born in Livingston county, New York, Octo- ber 1, 1797, and came to Lyndon on the 5th of August, 1835. IIe had the dis- tinction of being the first child born in his native town. Mr. Woodruff and his family, consisting of his wife and three children, were, in connection with Adam R. Hamilton and family, and Wm. D. Dudley and family, the pioneer settlers of Lyndon. Mr. Woodruff's children were Julia, Orange G., and Mary J. Julia married Perry L. Jeffers, and died a number of years ago. Orange G. married Mrs. Helen M. Boardman, April 27, 1859; children, Lena E., Laura B., and L. Winnifred; Mr. Woodruff is well known throughout the county, and is a highly esteemed gentleman, and has been for some time United States Storekeeper at Sterling. Mary J. married David Hicks, and lives in the township of Lyndon, near the Prophetstown ferry. Mr. Woodruff took a prominent part in the affairs of Lyndon Precinct and township, and of the county, at an early day, and was a man of sound judgment, and unswerving integrity. He followed the vocation of a farmer, though in his early life in Lyndon he also prosecuted the trade of carpenter, to which he had been trained in New York. Many of the residences of the older settlers of the central and southern parts of the county bear the marks of his tools. He was a pronounced christian, a member of the Congre- gational church for many years, and was one of the founders of the church of that denomination at Lyndon. At the time he settled in Whiteside county it was a part of JoDavess county, and being elected Justice of the Peace he made the long trip to Galena to secure his commission of office. He was one of the two Justices of the Peace appointed by the Legislature to canvass the vote and declare the result for the location of the first seat of justice of the county, in 1839. Hle died at his home near Lyndon on Sunday, April 25, 1875, of old age and general debility. The partner of his early trials died many years ago, but
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a second wife, worthy of him, who cheered his life for nearly a score of years, yet survives.
REV. ELISHA HAZARD came to Lyndon from New York State, in 1836. He was a clergyman of the Congregational church, and died about twenty-five years ago. One of his daughters is the wife of James S. Brown, and lives in Morrison. Another daughter married D. K. Lincoln, and lives at Fort Dodge, Iowa.
WILLIAM D. DUDLEY was born at Richmond, Massachusetts, November 21, 1786, and came to Lyndon August 5, 1835. He married Miss Tryphena Fitch, February 11, 1817. Their children were : Louisa, born July 9, 1818; Frances R., born April 20, 1822; Ann C., born August 5, 1824; Mary, born June 24, 1827, and William C., born July 7, 1830. Of these, Ann C. and Mary died in infancy, and Frances R. died July 19, 1833. William C. married Miss Armina Summers, March 15, 1855; children, Mary L., Collin D., and Ruth. Mr. Dudley was one of the most prominent men in Whiteside during its early history. His widow is living with her son-in-law, W. O. Dudley, and although eighty-one years of age, possesses remarkable physical and intellectual vigor. Mr. Dudley died at Lyndon, January 25, 1857.
TIMOTHY DUDLEY was born in Connecticut in 1772, and came to Lyndon in 1838. On the 2d of February, 1800, he married Miss Anna Osborn, who was a native of Connecticut, and born June 17, 1778, the children of the marriage being : Henry, who died in infancy; James Henry, born April 28, 1802; Wil- liam O., born December 2, 1803; John, born November 3, 1805; Eliza, born July 2, 1807; Jane, born August 27, 1810; Ann, born March 16, 1812; Charles, born December 8, 1813, and Henry, born March 31, 1818. James Henry died May 6, 1829; Eliza died November 27, 1851, and Timothy died August 10, 1849. William O. married Miss Louisa Dudley, October 18, 1837; their children have been : James Hervey, Frances Ruth, Eliza O., George F., Ann L., Jane and John; Frances Ruth died January 16, 1850, and James Hervey, August 19, 1861; Eliza O., George F., John and Jane are married; Ann L. resides at home with her parents. John married Miss Abigail - ; children, John William, and Abigail. Ann married Marcus Sperry, November 27, 1836; children, James C., Jolin V., and Restore C .; James C., and Restore C., are married; John V. was killed in the army. Charles married Miss Sarah Leek, and resides in Portage county, Ohio. Henry married Miss Harriet F. Smith, November 27, 1855; children, Edwin, and Charles; Mr. Dudley died August 12, 1873. Jane mar- ried Augustine W. Newhall, December 2, 1830; children, Ellen Jane, and Eliza D .; Ellen Jane married A. A. Higley, who died in the army in 1862; Eliza D. married Rev. L. D. White in January, 1857; children, Frank N., Alfred L., Jennie P., and Alden.
SOLOMON HUBBARD was born July 19, 1804 in Sangerfield, Oneida county, New York, and came to Lyndon from Clarendon, Orleans County, New York, in 1839. He married Miss Saropta Stone, August 30, 1826. The children of this marriage were Chauncy B., born July 4, 1827; Levi, born June 15, 1829; Elizabeth, born September 20, 1831; Darwin, born July 15, 1833; Almina, born December 11, 1836; William, born November 20, 1838; Orson, born May 24, 1843, and George Henry, born February 16, 1845. Of these, Elizabeth died October 14, 1849; Almina, September 23, 1849, and Darwin, November 7, 1849. Chauney M. married Miss Lizzie Morris; children, Orson, Dana, and Nellie V. Levi married Miss Ruth Delano; no children living. William married Miss Mary E. Hayes; children, Minnie S., Walter S. and George H. George Henry married Miss Louisa Pollins; one child, who died in infancy; Mrs. Hubbard died, and Mr. Hubbard married his second wife, Miss Olive F. Adams. Chauncey
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
M. enlisted in Company B, 75th Illinois Volunteers, and was elected Sergeant; he was wounded at the battle of Stone river, and afterwards discharg- ed on account of the wound. William enlisted in Company B, 34th Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and was wounded at the battle of Stone river; afterwards did hospital service until the close of the war. Orson Hubbard also enlisted in Company B, 34th Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and became siek while in the service, and was discharged; he afterwards enlisted in Company B, 75th Illinois Volunteers, became Corporal, and was killed at the battle of Perryville, Ken- tucky, October 8, 1862, and was buried on the battle field. George Henry also became a member of Company B, 34th Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, and afterwards discharged on account of his wound; he re-enlisted in Company C, 8th Illinois Cavalry, and served during the remainder of the war. Each of these patriotic brothers was wounded in the head and breast. George H. was shot in the face, the ball coming out at the baek of the head, and is still living. Orson was shot through the heart.
FERDINAND B. HUBBARD is a native of Sangerfield, Oneida county, New York, and was born May 4, 1818. He married Miss Mary O. Dorchester, April 17, 1850. Their children are: Siley M., born December 14, 1852; Charles, born March 7, 1855; Ferdinand B., Jr., born May 24, 1857; Lizzie C., born March 26, 1859; Belle, born March 28, 1861; Hattie A., born January 4, 1863, and Lena C., born August 20, 1865. Mr. Hubbard eame to Lyndon in October, 1839, with his brother Alexis, and at first taught school, and afterwards be- came a farmer. In 1855 he moved to Sterling, and engaged in the agricul- tural implement business, which he has since followed. The firm is now F. B. Hubbard & Sons, and their business house is on the corner of Mulberry and Second streets, Sterling. Mr. Hubbard is an active, thorough business man, a good eitizen, and a kind neighbor.
ALEXIS HUBBARD was born June 11, 1811, in Sangerfield, Oneida county, New York, and came to Lyndon with Solomon Hubbard, in 1839. Ile married Miss Olive Dusette on the 11th of September, 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard have had no children of their own, but have adopted and raised quite a number. They are still living at their old home in Lyndon, and are very highly esteemed by all who know them.
D. F. MILLIKAN is a native of Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and was born October 31. 1797. In 1837 he came to Whiteside county. and settled in Lyndon, where he still resides. He married Miss Aurelia S. Pease, January 6, 1820. Their children have been: Eliza P., born May 15, 1821; Robert D., born March 12, 1823; Ellen D., born March 24, 1825; Martha 1., born January 25, 1832; S. Frank, born September 8, 1834, and Frederick W., born March 15, 1842. Eliza P. died September 26, 1822, and Robert D. January 6, 1838. Ellen D. married Geo. W. Fitch, now a leading business citizen of Lyndon, February 4, 1843. Martha A. married John Whallon, September 10, 1861, and resides in Lyndon; Captain W. is a prominent citizen of Lyndon, and has been Supervisor of the township for several years; they have one child, Halleck. S. Frank mar- ried Miss Mary Andrews, of Rochester, New York; children: Allen, Robert. Max, Grace and Marjorie; he is a Congregational minister, and has a charge in Maquoketa, lowa. Frederick W. married Miss Emma Stone, March 15. 1862; children: Willie and Eddie. Mr. Millikan still lives on the old homestead in Lyndon township. Some of the incidents connected with the early history of Mr. Millikan's life in Lyndon, are given elsewhere in this chapter. He is now far down on the sunset side of life, yet well preserved, and is one of the most esteemed citizens of Lyndon township.
DAVID HAZARD was born in Chenango county, New York, March 9, 1804,
[34 -F.]
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
and was married to Miss Altheda C. Wolcott, February 14, 1827. The children of this marriage were: William B., born January, 1828; Harmon, born Novem- ber, 1829; Olivia W., born April 5, 1831, and Altheda C. M., born December 15,1833. Mrs. Hazard died in January, 1834, and in September of that year, Mr. Hazard married Miss Lenora Reynolds. The following are the children: John W., born May 31, 1835; Elisha H., born December 8, 1837; Eliza, born Septem- ber 25, 1842; Hannah, born February 27, 1845; Albert S., born April 21, 1846; Edmund B., born February 20, 1849; David A., born June 29, 1851, and Anna A., born June 5, 1853. Hannah died in infancy; Elisha H. died March 27, 1847, and David A., March 6, 1852. William B. married Miss Nancy Conyne; children, Florence, Emma, Ashur, Jay R., and Elizabeth. Harmon married Miss Sarah Roberts; one child, Daniel W; Mr. and Mrs. Hazard were divorced, and Mr. Hazard afterwards married Miss Mary Buchanan; children, Elisha H., Lola and Emma. Olivia W. married A. J. Grover; one child, Nena A. Altheda C. M. married Charles C. Upton; children, Caroline C., David E., and John; Mr. and Mrs. Upton were divorced, and Mrs. Upton afterwards married Louis Barter; one child, Bird. John W. married Miss Sarah Gould; children, Jessie F., and John; reside in Lyndon. Eliza married Luther L. Scott; children, Ella C., Albert C., Sarah L., and Leroy B. Albert S. married Miss Dora Bartholomew; children, Elsie, Jennie L., and Edmund; lives in Lyndon. Anna married Fred R. Decker; one child, Anna. Upon leaving his native home in New York State, Mr. Hazard went first to Pennsylvania where he remained until 1837, when he came to Lyndon, and lived at first in a house built by Dr. A. Smith. He afterwards made a claim and put up a cabin about three miles northeast of Lyndon, and there followed the occupation of a farmer for thirty years. The cabin in due time time gave way to a fine residence, and the open prairie to well tilled, fruitful fields. During the time he was upon this farm he was elected Treasurer of Whiteside county, and discharged the duties of that im- portant office ably and acceptably for eight years. In 1875 he moved to Lyndon, and embarked in the mercantile business, in connection with his sons. Ile is one of the staunch pioneers of Whiteside county.
ROBERT G. CLENDENIN was born January 17, 1812, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. In June, 1836, he moved to Ohio, where he remained during the summer, and in the fall came to Plainfield, Illinois, staying there until the next spring, and then came to Whiteside county and made a claim in Lyndon Precinct, now the township of Fenton. Mr. Clendenin married Miss Hannah Clark on the 3d day of October, 1839. Mrs. Clendenin was born in Cayuga county, New York, March 26, 1818. The following are the children: Frank, born November 23, 1840; William, born April 12, 1845, and Cassius C., born June 27, 1850. Frank married Miss Mary A. Smith, March 14, 1866; children, two who died in infancy, and Alpheus Augustin, born December 20, 1875; resides in Morrison. William married Miss Rachel E. Gridley, April 16, 1867; children, Robert Gridley, Frank Joy, and Mable H .; resides in Moline; his wife died at that place October 15, 1877, of consumption. Cassius C. married Miss Nannie Nevitt, June 3, 1874; one child, Ralph Ramsey; resides in Moline. Mr. Clendenin sold his farm in Fenton in 1844, and settled in Lyndon township. Being an educated, energetic, strong minded man, it was not long before his fellow citizens called upon him to fill positions of public honor and trust. Ile was elected the first Supervisor of Lyndon, and was re-elected for several successive terms. In 1856 he was elected Sheriff of the county of Whiteside, and again in 1860. From the time of his first election as Sheriff in 1856, until shortly before his death, he served continually either as Sheriff, Deputy Sheriff, or Deputy Provost Marshal. He was admirably fitted to dis-
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
charge the duties of an executive officer, being prompt, fearless, persevering, and untiring. "The way of the transgressor was hard" when he got after him. He would undergo any labor to do his duty, and had not only the moral courage, but the physical ability to handle evil doers, and bring them to justice. At an early day, and even up to 1858, this section of the country had been infested by counterfeiters. These counterfeiters were shrewd, sharp men, and had for years successfully eluded every effort on the part of the authorities to arrest them. But Mr. Clendenin determined that it should be done, and although the clue at the start was very slight, he followed it up unceasingly until he felt certain that he could lay his hand upon the head man of the gang, and not un- likely several of his confederates. In October, 1858, he had his plans ready, and armed with the requisite documents, and attended by a small posse, made the suspected house, situated about six miles west of Morrison, a midnight visit, and succeeded in capturing four of the leading men of the gang, a lot of dies, and ma- terial for making coin, besides a considerable quantity of bogus gold and silver coin already finished and ready for use. The arrest and punishment of these parties completely broke up the counterfeiting business in this locality, and to Sheriff Clendenin the credit was universally conceded to be due for accomplish- ing the praiseworthy object. An instance of his daring was shown in the capture of a deserter, a desperate fellow, during the war. While he was at- tempting to make the arrest he was shot at, the ball passing through his hat, and just grazing his head, but he made the arrest "all the same," and delivered the prisoner to the Provost Marshal of the district. Having at one time pur- sued a desperado day and night until he arrested him, he took the precaution, as soon as he had the fellow on the cars, to place one handcuff on his own wrist and the other on that of the prisoner, so that it would be impossible for him to escape. Being overcome with fatigue, he fell into a doze which was soon noticed by the prisoner, who taking advantage of the situation quietly took the key from Mr. Clendenin's pocket, and unlocked his handcuff. Just then Mr. Clendenin awoke, and as the fellow was trying to get out of the car, gave chase; but the prisoner succeeded in reaching the door, and jumped from the ears while they were going at a speed of twenty-five miles an hour, andescaped. Instances like these could be repeated many times-instances in which his qualities as an officer- vigilance, perseverance, moral courage, and pluck-were shown. Mr. Clendenin was an earnest advocate of the rights of man, and became a member of the Anti-Slavery party at its earliest organization. Universal freedom was not a mere hobby with him, upon which to gain a name and reputation, but a fundamental principle that should be enforced, and he never let an opportunity pass to practically enforee it. A fugitive fleeing from the chains of servitude, in the dark days of slavery, always found him ready to afford protection from the pursuer, and to assist him to a land where the Fugitive Slave Law had no binding force or effect. The underground railroad had no more efficient en- gineer than Mr. Clendenin. Those were the days that required nerve to be a friend of freedom. In 1859 Mr. Clendenin moved his family to Morrison, where he continued to reside until his death, March 12, 1867. As a husband, father, and friend he was governed by the great cardinal principles of the Christian religion, and was loved and revered by all who knew him.
JOHN C. PRATT was born April 8, 1787, at Northampton, Massachusetts. His father gave him a liberal education, with the intention of having him enter the ministry in the Baptist Church (his father's profession); but not inclining to striet orthodox sentiments, the idea was given up. At twenty-one he left Massachusetts, and settled in Erie county, New York, then a wilderness. He purchased a small tract of land on Buffalo creek, in the town of Aurora, in that
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
county, on which was a water power, and cleared a part of the land; but before he had accomplished much the war of 1812 broke out, and he entered the army and remained until its close. Upon his return home he built a saw-mill, and soon afterwards a flouring mill, on his water power, and conducted these mills until he came West. In 1816 he married Miss Hannah Olds. The children of this marriage have been : Diantha D., James M., De Witt Clinton, Clymena, Lucretia, Lucius H., Charles, Amanda, Thurston, also three children who died in infancy. Diantha D. married M. M. Potter, and died November 2, 1846; James M. lives in Fenton; DeWitt Clinton died at Dixon, Illinois; Clymena married J. C. Teats, now of Sterling, and died in Fenton; Lucretia married Reynolds, and died in Lyndon; Lucius H. lives in Lyndon; Charles died at Lyndon; Amanda married Samuel Emery, and after his death married James Shorett, and lives near Dunlap, Iowa; Thurston also lives near Dunlap, Iowa. Mr. Pratt first came to Whiteside county in 1835, and made a claim on what is known as Oxbow Bend, and another north of the Portland ferry, both on Rock river, and then in Lyndon Precinct. He then returned and secured the services of James Knox, Lyman Bennett and William Farrington to break the prairie and build fences on his claims, as mentioned in another part of this chapter. In August, 1837, he brought on his family and goods. Mr. Pratt was a leading man among the early settlers, and drew the constitution and by-laws which gov- erned the claim system in that part of the county. He was selected to bid in all the land in Lyndon Precinct at the Government land sales in January, 1843, showing the estimation in which he was held as a man of integrity and honor by his immediate fellow-citizens. He died in Lyndon. His widow is still living at that place at an advanced age.
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