USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside county, Illinois, from its first settlement to the present time, with numerous Biographical and Family Sketches > Part 49
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W.M. G. NEVITT was born in Breckenridge county, Kentucky, in 1814, and was one of eleven children who all grew up and were married. In 1819, with his father, he removed to White county, Illinois. In 1832, when volunteers were called for to operate against the Sae and Fox Indians in the north part of the State, Mr. Nevitt, then a lad of sixteen, enlisted. His father equipped him with a horse, gun, and accoutrements, and he joined the Spy Battalion of the Second Brigade, and served honorably throughout the campaign. After the many trials of a lonely journey on horseback, Mr. Nevitt reached Knoxville, after the close of the Indian troubles. His father removed to that town in 1835. While at Knoxville, the subject of this sketch was employed to make the asses- ment of Henry county, then attached to Knox for judicial purposes, and he, while thus engaged, visited Prophetstown and Portland, and assessed the set- tlers there, these two townships being then a part of Henry county. In 1836
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his father, Wm. Nevitt, in company with others, bought the claim where Albany now is, and the next year, 1837, W. G. Nevitt was married and made a claim three miles southeast of Albany, where he now resides, and has for forty years. He has reared seven children, and lost two. Mr. Nevitt, in the early days of settlement, served as constable, and has also been a Justice of the Peace about twenty years. He is a type of the honest, hard-working, God-fearing farmer, his rules of life being the Ten Commandments.
HENRY REXROAD was born in Pendleton county, Virginia, in 1815. He resided there until 17 years of age, farming and teaching school, when he removed to Wood county, Virginia. In 1836, when 21 years of age, he came to Rock Island county, Illinois. The same year he prospected in Newton town- ship, and in the winter of 1837-'38 he located in the township, where he has since resided. In 1839 he married Eliza, daughter of Luke Abbey. After her death he was married to Miss Huffman, sister of Adam Huffman, by whom he has had two children-A. F. Rexroad, now a telegraph operator in Wyoming Territory, and Augusta, now Mrs. Ronse, of Grand Island, Nebraska. Upon the death of his second wife, Mr. Rexroad married Miss Mary Thompson, who is now living.
JOSEPH MILLER was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1802, where he resided until he came to Newton township. In 1838 he came to Whiteside county on horseback, with his brothers John and Samuel. When they arrived at Chatham and Harrisburg, where Sterling now is, they traded their horses for lots, and as a consequence, upon their return, were obliged to walk nearly the whole distance to Cincinnati, swimming rivers and carrying their baggage. Mr. Miller returned to Whiteside in 1840, purchasing the claim of the Piercys' on section 21, where he now resides. He was married in 1832 to Sarah Grier, who died September 18, 1836. March 14, 1839, he was mar- ried to Elizabeth Thompson. She died October 14, 1867. In 1869 he married Mrs. Ege, who is now living. Children: Rachel A., now Mrs. Sailhammer; Louis G., Joseph Alexander, Sarah S., John N., Mary J., Samuel T., William M., Moses F. and Joseph Arthur. Louis G. died of disease contracted while at Vicksburg nursing his brother, who was wounded; Joseph Alexander died of wounds received at Champion Hills; John N. died in infancy. All the other children remain in Newton township.
JOHN MILLER, brother of Joseph Miller, was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1800. He settled on section 21, in Newton, in 1840, and died the same year. He was unmarried.
SAMUEL MILLER was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1792, and died in Newton, October 6, 1846. He was married to Rachel Thompson. Mrs. Miller died December 25, 1848, aged 46 years. Mr. Miller settled in Newton in 1839, and purchased a portion of the Stallnaker claim in section 15. Children: Sarah Ann, now Mrs. J. B. Work, of Winona, Illinois; Louis F., now in Kansas; Mary, now Mrs. J. H. Marshall; Rachel E., now Mrs. Wm. Marshall, of Kansas; Samuel N. and John H. The two last reside upon the original farm in Newton.
Wy. BOOTH, SR., a native of Virginia, settled with his family in Newton township in March, 1839. He drove through from Indiana the preceding win- ter. After leaving Virginia he remained a year in Ohio, and four years in Indiana; but the ague troubled his family so much he fled from it, thus leaving the Iloosier State and locating in the Rock River Valley. Mr. Booth settled on section 9, he being the first settler in that part of the present town of New- ton. Mr. Booth was born in Randolph county, Va., May 4, 1783, and died upon his homestead in Newton, December 7, 1854. He was married in April
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
1802. His wife was born October 11, 1786, and died October 1875. A very large number of children, grand-children, and great grand-children are left to revere the memory of Mr. and Mrs. Booth. Children : John, now a resident of Ohio; Malinda, wife of Samuel Emmons of Tampico township; Heuston, a resident of Virginia; Hart, a resident of Indiana; Elijah, killed at Memphis; Jane M., wife of S. J. Thompson of Missouri; Naney A., wife of Asa F. R. Emmons of Rock Falls; Stephen C., now in California; Isaac, a resident of Indiana; Edward D., a farmer in Newton; Wm. S., a farmer in Albany town- ship; James H., a farmer in Newton; Lucinda, Daniel and Deborah, deceased. Stephen C., made a claim soon after his arrival in Newton, on section 15, east of the place occupied by J. H. Marshall. Edward D. made a claim on section 9, where he now has a fine farm. James H.is an extensive and success- ful farmer in Newton township, his residence being on section 9.
ALEXANDER THOMPSON, with his family, came to Newton in October, 1839, and settled on section 15. He was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1758, and was engaged in farming until he emigrated. He died the next year after his arrival in Newton. His wife survived him several years, and died in Garden Plain township. Children: Rachel, wife of Samuel Miller; Susan- nah, died in Pennsylvania; John S., now living in Newton; Alexander, Jr., died near Portland; William, died at Xenia, Ohio, on his way West; Hugh, died in 1864; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Miller, died in 1867; Sarah, wife of Dean S. Efner, is deceased; Margaret, wife of Robert Blean; Moses, died in Garden Plain in 1862. John S. was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1806, emigrated to Newton with his father in 1839, and made a claim where he now resides. Ile was married in 1835 to Sarah Ann Peebles, who died June 16, 1874. Children now living : Alexander, now in Iowa; Jane S., wife of Rob- ert Kennedy, of Kansas; Thomas L., at home. Several children died in infancy. Hugh was born in 1812, in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania; came to Newton in 1839, and died April 4, 1864. He was married to Jane P. Kennedy in April, 1841, who is still living on the homestead in section 15. Children : Robert K., killed at Perryville, Ky .; Sarah S., now Mrs. James Van Fleet, of Newton; Agnes J., Maggie E. (late wife of George Slaymaker), now dead; William A., and Mary B. Moses settled in Garden Plain, where he died in 1862, leaving a family. Alexander, Jr., made a claim in Portland township, and remained there until his death.
LUKE ABBEY was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1787, and died on his homestead in Newton in 1869. He emigrated to America in 1818, and set- tled at Mt. Holly, N. J .; removed to Ohio in 1832, and in September, 1837, located in Newton on section 24. Children : Matthew, now in Albany; Mark, now dead; Eliza (Mrs. Henry Rexroad), now dead; Sarah (Mrs. O. A. Root), now of Kansas; Luke, now dead; Charles W., of Abilene, Kansas; Hannah, wife of John Marshall; John, a resident of Newton; Maria, wife of Henry Eye, of Kansas; and William, who died in the army.
JOHN BEARDSWORTH is a native of England, and was one of the earliest settlers of Newton township. He is a man of great industry and force of char- acter, and has accumulated a large landed property in the township. JESSE K. BLEAN is one of the prominent citizens of the township, and is a man of ex- cellent mind and unblemished character. He has represented the township in the Board of Supervisors for several years, much to the benefit of his immedi- ate constituents and of the county at large. E. THOMAS is one of Newton's leading men, and has been frequently called upon by his fellow-citizens to accept township positions. WM. ROWLAND, B. M. RIORDAN, L. A. and R. M. SLAY- MAKER, R. DRURY, A. O. MYERS, HI. S. HAWK. S. B. BLISS. A. BYERS, L. M.
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HUNT, R. C. BLEAN, P. NOFTGER, JOSEPH H. MARSHALL, C. E. WOOD, J. Y. McCALL, J. B. McCALL, and D. FINICUM are among the worthy citizens and successful farmers of Newton township.
The Kingsbury Postoffice has been established for several years, and is the only postoffice in the township. The mail is brought from Fenton Center and Erie by horse. Dr. Cyrus Miller is Postmaster.
The Mineral Springs, noted for their superior medicinal qualities, are sit- uated on section 24, near the eastern boundary of the township. There are two of these springs, the water being about alike in both. They are resorted to by many in quest of health, during the summer season; but the hotel arrange- ments, as yet, are insufficient for the accommodation of a large number at a time. With a proper outlay of money these Springs could be made a favorite resort, not only for the invalid, but the pleasure-seeker, and would soon become widely renowned. The place has already become known as the "Saratoga of Whiteside." The Springs are owned by Mr. William A. Passmore. The sit- uation is romantic, being in a beautiful ravine, and surrounded by hills. At- tached to the Springs are good bathing-houses.
CHAPTER XXI.
HISTORY OF PORTLAND TOWNSHIP-BIOGRAPHICAL.
HISTORY OF PORTLAND TOWNSHIP.
Portland originally formed a part of Crow Creek Precinct, and in March, 1837, was placed into a precinct called Prophetstown, by the Commissioners' Court of Ogle county, to which Whiteside was then attached. At that time Prophetstown Precinct included all of Whiteside county lying south of Rock river. Upon petition being made the Commissioners in March, 1838, changed the name of the Precinct to that of Portland, to include the same territory. In 1840 this precinct was subdivided, a part being named Rapids Precinct, and a part Prophetstown Precinct, the balance retaining its original name. The pres- ent township of Portland comprises all that part of Congressional township 19 north, range 3 east, as lies south of Rock river, and also fractional parts of sections 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36, in Congressional township 19 north, range 3 east, as lies south of Rock river, and contains 22,243 acres of land. The soil is for the most part a sandy loam, and the surface generally level. There are some sloughs in the township, one of which, called the Big Slough, runs along its eastern border, continuing its course through Henry county to Green river, its whole length being about twenty miles. A good quality of building stone is found on sections 17 and 25. The township also contains a considerable quantity of timber land. Before the settlement of the white man the township was a favorite hunting ground of the Indians, as the prairie, extending to Eight Mile Grove in Henry county, abounded in deer, and Rock river, which bounds it on the north, afforded an abundance of fish. Near the village of Portland, on a rise of ground called Thunderbolt Hill, in honor of an Indian chief of that name, was their burying ground, and skulls are yet fre- quently dug up there.
The first settlement in the township was made by Alexander J. and Nor- man B. Seely, in June, 1834. These gentlemen made claims where the village of Portland now stands. Mitchell Ruxton also came that year, and these three comprised the whole population of the township in 1834. The improvements made that year, consisted of a shanty put up by Norman B. Seely, in the grove, in which he remained all winter. The high water in the spring drove him out of it, and he then dug a hole in the ground for a habitation, where he remained until the 4th of July, 1835, when he erected his log house. He had also a few acres of breaking.
The year 1835 was a memorable one in the history of Portland. The let- ters written back to the East by the few who came in 1834, and the glowing accounts the messengers gave of the wonderful beauties of the Rock River Valley, caused the tide of immigration to flow in, the arrivals commencing as early as June. Among the first to reach the new land of promise, were Horace Burke, Simeon Fuller, and P. Bacchus Besse. Mr. Burke made his claim a lit- tle to the northwest of where Spring Hill now stands; Simeon Fuller a few miles east of Burke; and P. Bacchus Besse still farther east, near the village, where he now lives. During the summer Alphonzo Brooks, W. H. Cushman,
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Joy Avery. John Smith Rowe, Robert Getty, Simeon Chaffee, and George Strat- ยท ton came, and the settlement extended along the margin of the timber through the town. Joy Avery made the first settlement on the Dutch Bottom, at what is now the Reis farm. Late in the fall John Baxter, Christian Benson, and Ransom Burgess came and settled on the Bottom at first, but afterwards moved to the higher ground. Nothing was raised the first year, and the sup- plies were obtained from Knox county. The nearest mill was on Spoon river, at Ellisville, Fulton county. Mr. Burke procured. his first spring wheat that fall at Canton, Fulton county, and his first potatoes at Rock Island, bringing the latter up in a canoe. But little breaking was done, as the settlers had all they could do to provide shelter for the winter, and put up hay for their stock.
The year 1836 made an addition of about thirty families to Portland, and it probably then contained more white persons than all the rest of the county. Among those who assisted materially in the development of the town, were Daniel Blaisdell-who was one of the early County Commissioners, Levi Fuller, Sr., Robert Thompson, John S. Logan, James Rowe, Alden Tuller, Guy Ray, Hiram Harmon, Rodney Besse, Dr. Wm. Price, and Dr. Wm. Max- well, the latter settling on the county line of Henry county, and were the first physicians in the neighborhood. They were of the old school, and believed in the potency of calomel. The perusal of one of their bills, which will be found on page 86 of this volume, cannot fail of convincing even one of the regulars that the first settlers were men of iron constitutions. They were educated men, and had an extensive practice for several years. Dr. Maxwell is dead, and Dr. Price when last heard from was in Ohio. Guy Ray brought in a few goods, and opened the first store in the town, but did not replenish after selling out his stock. The settlements of that year extended principally around Spring Hill. Jacob Arnett and Lewis Rink made claims in the timber on section 35, near the county line, but did not actually settle until the next year. Some crops of grain, sod corn, and potatoes were raised that year, but not enough for home consumption. The prairie, however, was broken, and fields fenced along the river road to Rock Island, so that the place began to assume some of the appearances of civilization. The season was not very propitious for crop rais- ing, being wet and cold, and the following winter was noted as being very severe. A man by the name of Bowen was frozen to death between Prophets- town and Dyson's farm in Hume. The Presidential election in 1836 was as warmly participated in by the voters of Portland as by those of the older and more re- fined portions of the nation. The polls were held at the house of Horace Burke, the election being the first held in Whiteside county. The vote was not large, yet it was that of a respectable people asserting their rights as American freemen. The names of the voters, as near as can be ascertained, are as follows: Asa Crook, Theron Crook, John W. Stakes, N. G. Reynolds, P. Bacchus Besse, Norman B. Seely, Alexander J. Seely, Wm. Hill, Sr., Wm. D. Dudley, Adam R. Hamilton, Chauncey B. Woodruff, John Baxter, C. Benson, Jason Hopkins, Hezekiah Brink, John Freek, John Fenton, Wm. Cushman, Simeon Fuller, and Levi Fuller, Sr. At that time Whiteside formed a part of Jo Daviess county. The returns were given to Solomon M. Seely, a boy then ten years of age, and son of Col. E. Seely, and being mounted on an Indian pony, he was told to deliver them to John Dixon, at Dixon's ferry, who would put them in charge of the stage driver for Galena. The distance to be travelled was twenty-eight miles, with nothing to follow but an Indian trail, and not a house on the route between Prophetstown and Dixon. On reaching what was then known as the nine mile run (nine miles west of Dixon), he found it full and running over; but having been told to place the returns into the
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HISTORY OF PORTLAND TOWNSHIP.
hands of Uncle John Dixon, he knew it must be done. The weather was cold and freezing, yet he boldly plunged his pony into the stream, and had him swim across. On reaching Dixon's house his clothes were frozen to his person, but by the motherly care of Mother Dixon he was put in a proper condition to re- turn home the next morning.
In 1837, Portland received an addition of about twenty-five men, a large portion bringing families. Among them were John Kempster, who settled on the Dutch Bottom, where he now resides. Lewis Arnett, with his sons Jacob, William, Joseph, George, Anthony and John-all of whom settled near the county line, Reuben Hurd, Horace Hurd, Daniel F. Cole, A. T. Bracken, Rob- ert Woodside, James Graham, John P. Welding, James Crozier, D. Porter Brew- er, Jeremiah H. Johnson, and Hiram Mckenzie, the latter now living in York- town, Bureau county. All of these parties have descendants now living in Portland. They were men of good standing, and contributed much to the de- velopment of the town. Nathaniel Norton, now a capitalist in Chicago, came also in 1837, and bought the claim of W. H. Cushman, opening a store at his house where he sold goods for several years. He afterwards sold the farm to Mr. Guild, who in turn sold to L. C. Underwood. Dr. Richard Brown was an- other arrival, and practiced his profession for some time. The settlements were mostly around Spring Hill, and along the county line. Two school houses were built this year, one near the village of Portland, and the other near the Sharon church, both being of logs. George Hamilton put up the first frame house in the township this year, covering it with split shakes. He afterwards sold it to D. Porter Brewer. The house is still standing. The election in 1837 was held at the residence of Mr. Burke, and with the exception of the election of 1840, it was held there until 1856, when it was changed to Spring Hill.
In 1838, Portland received a further accession to its population of about twenty families who settled mostly in and around the village. John Laird opened a farm near Burke's, and Fred Knapper one on the Bottom. All the lands along the timber, and about Spring Hill, were covered by claims, the prairie south of the latter place not being considered valuable at that time, as it was hemmed in by sloughs, and remote from timber. During this year Job Dodge, not then of age, came into the town with a peddler's wagon, and sold notions to the inhabitants during the summer, and in the winter following opened a store in Portland village. The next summer he again commenced peddling, and so con- tinued alternately peddling and keeping store until 1848. The currency at that time consisted mostly of coon skins, and with some, about all the necessaries of life were considered to be tobacco and whiskey; still Mr. Dodge kept a few lux- uries like calico and coffee, and managed to get along until the stock of hogs increased so that a few could be spared, when he commenced packing pork and shipping it to St. Louis, by the way of Albany. He bought pork for $1.50 per hundred. In 1841, he moved his store and goods to Prophetstown.
In 1839, the settlements began to extend considerably. Hiram Underhill, David Underhill, and Benjamin Dow, settled at Jefferson Corners. Alonzo Davis, who had been living at Prophetstown, made a claim at the same place. James Graham opened a farm on the road running south from the village of Portland. Philip Rapp, Christopher Rapp, and Anderson Crozier settled on the county line. Walter Young and Amos Young settled near Spring Hill, and altogether the town received an accession of fifteen families. The summer of 1839 was hot and dry, and bilious fever, and fever and ague prevailed to a great extent. During that season a trading boat owned by Mr. Cobb run up and down Rock river, and supplied the settlers with such necessaries as they required, especial- ly ague cures which were in great demand. A Dr. Sappington, of St. Louis,
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
also sent an agent into the township with his then celebrated pills. He travel- led on a large mule, selling pills and establishing agencies, and the Doctor got rich fast. Corn, wheat, oats, and potatoes were produced in sufficient quantities for home use, and hogs and cattle became plenty so that settlers could sell at the nearest market, which made Portland quite a prosperous place. The grists were yet mostly taken to the mill on Edward's river, at Andover, Henry county.
The immigration was not very large in 1840. During that year work was being prosecuted on the various lines of railroads, and as Portland was not on any of the routes, it gained but little in the way of population. Considerable improvement, however, was otherwise made. Large crops of wheat and corn were raised, and hogs became plenty, so that the settlers had considerable to sell. The Presidential election of this year created great excitement in Port- land, as well as elsewhere. The temperance movement had not at that time reached the West, and the campaign was conducted on the corn-juice basis. Hardly a gathering of any kind was held without whisky being furnished in abundance. Not even a house or barn raising, or bee of any kind, could be held without it. It even assisted in the cause of education, as it is related that the first male teacher in the town took a portion of his salary in a half barrel of whisky.
In 1841, Marvin Frary and Richard Potter built a distillery at the foot of Thunderbolt hill, but having no means for grinding the grain, sent it to Haines' mill in Union Grove Precinct, twelve miles distant. When the distillery was finished and the " tangle-foot " ready, the question arose who should have the honor of tasting the first drop of the home production. The lot fell to one David Ferguson, who laid upon his back, with his mouth open under the end of the worm. As it took some time to get the machine started, Ferguson became impatient, and called loudly to Frary to fire up, as he was getting awful dry. The enterprise did not prove a profitable one, as Ohio whisky was worth only from 12 to 15 cents a gallon in St. Louis, and it did not last long. As an offset to this the good people of the lower part of the town built a meeting-house, known as the Sharon church, which cost about $800. Nathaniel Norton eon- tributed more than half of the amount. The building was a good one, and is standing to this day, being the only church edifice in town. Robert Getty, J. S. Logan, and others, also aided in its construction. The erection of so good a building at that early day was creditable to the people of the town. Rev. Dan- iel Rockwell was the first pastor. The building is owned by the Presbyterians. The harvest of 1841 was a good one, a large surplus of winter wheat being raised, and, as the price in Chicago was over a dollar a bushel, it was taken there and the farmers realized handsomely. The trip took about eight days with horses, and nearly two weeks with oxen. During the months of September and October, the roads were filled with teams going and returning. Salt, lumber, and supplies for the families were brought back on the return trip.
The following are the names of the early settlers of Portland township, with the year of their arrival : 1834, Norman B. Seely, Alexander J. Seely and Mitchell Ruxton; 1835, Horace Burke, Alphonzo Brooks, Christian Ben- son, John Baxter, William H. Cushman, Simeon Fuller, Joy Avery. John Smith Rowe, Robert Getty, P. Bacchus Besse, Simeon Chaffee, Ransom Burgess and George Stratton; 1836, Daniel Blaisdell, Mason Blaisdell, Levi Fuller, Robert Thompson, John S. Logan, James Rowe, George Warren, Jacob Arnett, Jesse Slawson, Amos Young, John Reed, Alden Tuller, Guy Ray, Hiram Harmon, Roderiek M. Besse, Israel Spencer, George Hamilton, Charles Godfrey, Col. E. Seely, Horace E. Seely, Horatio S. Dix, Jeduthan Seely, Sen., Joseph Fitch, Dr.
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