USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside county, Illinois, from its first settlement to the present time, with numerous Biographical and Family Sketches > Part 54
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PROPHETSTOWN.
The town of Prophetstown was laid out and platted in 1838, the propri- etors being George W. Campbell, Dixon B. Morehouse, James Craig, Daniel Webster, Asa Crook, Erastus Nichols, and Jabez Warner. The original plat
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only included that part of the present village lying north of Main street. Campbell, Morehouse, and Craig lived at Galena. The interest of Daniel Web- ster was probably given to him for the influence of his great name; but, be that as it may, Prophetstown can exultingly exclaim that the godlike Daniel was one of its first proprietors. Mr. Webster's interest was sold in Philadelphia some time afterwards. In 1855 the town was re-surveyed, as the first survey was found to be incorrect. The village is beautifully located on the south bank of Rock river, and is the market town of a rich agricultural country. The first frame building in the village was erected in 1838, by Alanson Stowell, the lum- ber being brought from Spring Creek, in Henry county. It stood upon the river bank until 1875, when it was torn down. The streets are broad, and most of them, outside the business part, finely shaded. Many handsome residences grace the village, showing the opulence of its citizens. The business portion of the town is mainly on Washington and Second streets, and these present a lively appearance during business hours. During the past few years several fine stores and other buildings have been erected, notably among them being the mercantile building of Baldwin Bro's, the First National Bank building, and the Seely House.
Prophetstown was incorporated as a village in 1859, and held its first election for charter officers on the 4th day of April in that year. The follow- ing have been the Trustees and Clerks of the Village Council from the organi- zation of the village up to and including 1877-the name of the President of each Board of Trustees being in italic : 1859, Andrew J. Tuller, Elias C. Hutchinson, John H. Warner, Albert G. Porter, Edward S. Dickinson; Clerk, William T. Minchin. 1860, Andrew J. Tuller, John H. Warner, Elias C. Hutch- inson, Russell I. Dickinson, Albert G. Porter; Clerk, Martin P. Warner. 1861, Andrew J. Tuller, Elias C. Hutchinson, John H. Warner, Paul Newton, Albert G. Porter; Clerk, Martin P. Warner. 1862, George A. Bardwell, John H. Warner, Elias C. Hutchinson, Albert G. Porter, James Scarrett; Clerk, Mar- tin P. Warner. 1863, Andrew J. Tuller, John H. Warner, James Scarrett, Elias C. Hutchinson, Albert G. Porter; Clerk, Silas Sears. 1864, Andrew J. Warner, James Scarrett, Elias C. Hutchinson, John H. Warner, Alonzo Davis; Clerk, E. F. Nichols. 1865, Andrew J. Warner, James Scarrett, Elias C. Hutch- inson, John H. Warner, Alonzo Davis; Clerk, E. F. Nichols. 1866, Andrew J. Warner, Elias C. Hutchinson, James Scarrett, John H. Warner, Cyrus Emery; Clerk, A. J. Mattson. 1867, Andrew J. Warner, George N. Fenn, John H. Warner, Harvey C. Hull, James Scarrett; Clerk, A. J. Mattson. 1868, Elias C. Hutchinson, Paul Newton, John J. Green, Silas Sears; Clerk, A. J. Matt- son. 1869, Nathan Thompson, A. D. Adams, Johnson W. Gage, James Scar- rett, George Kellogg; Clerk, A. J. Mattson. 1870, Nathan Thompson, . James Scarrett, Johnson W. Gage, A. D. Adams, George Kellogg; Clerk, A. J. Mattson. 1871, Henry R. Kent, Henry F. Kellum, James H. Mo- sher, Sherman G. Baldwin, Jabez F. Warner; Clerk, A. J. Mattson. 1872, Henry F. Kellum, Nathan Thompson, Andrew J. Warner, Daniel K. Smith, Elias C. Hutchinson; Clerk, A. J. Mattson. 1873, Luther B. Ramsay, Henry R. Kent, Johnson W. Gage, Everett L. Ballou, John H. Meyers; Clerk, A. J. Mattson. 1874, Martin V. Seely, John J. Green, Hamden A. Sturtevant, Aaron D. Hill, Orson G. Baldwin; Clerk, A. J. Mattson. 1875, Orson G. Baldwin, Hamden A. Sturtevant, Johnson W. Gage, Elias B. Warner, John H. Meyers; Clerk, A. J. Mattson. 1876, John J. Green, Elias B. Warner, George N. Fenn, William Sanderson, James H. Mosher; Clerk, Silas Sears. 1877, George N. Fenn, Orson G. Baldwin, Johnson G. Gage, Martin V. Seely, Harvey C. Hull; Clerk, Martin V. Seely.
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NEWSPAPERS.
The first Police Magistrate elected was A. J. Mattson, Esq., and he has continued to hold that office ever since, no other name being suggested at any election. His present term will expire in April, 1879, at the conclusion of which time he will have held the office for an entire decade. The village of Prophetstown has always paid its orders promptly, never borrowed any money, and never issued a bond or other evidence of indebtedness, outside of its mere municipal orders. It is doubtful if any other village or city within this broad land can show the same record.
A large brick building was erected in the village in 1854 by Horace Annis, Thomas Bryant, and the Warner brothers, as a plow and wagon factory, and for four years quite an extensive business was done. The firm then dissolved, and the manufacture was successfully continued by the Messrs. Warners, who also added a steam saw-mill to the factory, with which they sawed considerable lumber. The whole business was discontinued in 1868.
The First National Bank of Prophetstown was organized in 1872, with a capital of $50,000. The officers of the bank are : Nathan Thompson, Presi- dent, and A. J. Mattson, Cashier. In the same year Mr. Mattson erected a fine bank building, in which the bank has since been located.
The old Rock River House, at Prophetstown, was for many years a well known and largely patronized hotel. Probably no public house in this section of the country had a wider fame. A part of the building was moved to Proph- etstown from Portland, in 1841, but additions and extensions were made to it from time to time afterwards, as needs demanded, until it became a commo- dious structure. The traveler was sure to find at the Rock River House a bountifully supplied table and acceptable accommodations. Its destruction by fire in March, 1872, removed one of the few remaining landmarks of the county. The loss, however, is well made up by the present Seely House. The main part of this structure, like the Rock River House, was moved to Prophetstown from Portland. It was built in 1856, by Mr. S. M. Seely, and kept by him as a hotel two years. Col. E. Seely then moved into it, and continued the business for about two years, when it was purchased by Mr. M. V. Seely, who occupied it as a farm-house and hotel for twelve years. In 1872 Mr. Seely had it moved to Prophetstown, at a cost of four hundred dollars. He then had it remodeled, plastered and painted, and formally opened it to the public on the 25th day of December, 1872.
The business houses in Prophetstown, in 1877, are : Three general mer- chandise stores, seven grocery stores, two drug stores, two hardware stores, two boot and shoe stores, one furniture store, three millinery establishments, two lumber and coal yards, one grain elevator, one bank, one printing office, three blacksmith shops, three wagon shops, two harness shops, one bakery, one hotel, two barber shops, three physicians, five saloons, one livery stable, one meat market. Since the completion of the railroad, business has vastly improved in the village, and its population is estimated now at 1,000.
NEWSPAPERS.
Immediately after the completion of the railroad to Prophetstown, and it had begun to feel the impetus of a new growth, the people decided to have a newspaper organ to inform the great public of the many decided advantages it possessed as a business point. Acting upon this decision, they invited Messrs. A. D. Hill and Charles Bent to establish a newspaper there, and in compliance therewith these gentlemen, receiving some aid from the citizens of Prophets- town, purchased type, presses, and other material for a publication and job office, and on the 2d of September, 1871, issued the first number of the Prophets-
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town Spike, Mr. Hill having entire charge as business manager and editor. The name of the paper originated from the fact that shortly before its publication the last spike had been driven that completed the railroad to Prophetstown, making the name a very suggestive one. At the end of the year Mr. Hill became the sole proprietor, and still continues as such. His experience as local editor of the Whiteside Sentinel had given him a good insight into journalism, which, combined with excellent business qualities, an untiring energy as a news-gath- erer, and fine ability as a writer, made the Spike a success from the start. The paper is now in its seventh year, and has always ably and sturdily advocated the interests of Prophetstown and the south side of Rock river. It is Repub- lican in politics, and has an excellent circulation and business patronage.
CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES.
The Methodist Episcopal Society erected a church edifice in the village in 1864, which is the only one of any denomination iu the township. The Society worshiping at this church is the one which grew out of the formation of the mis- sion society, at the house of N. G. Reynolds, in the summer of 1836, as men- tioned elsewhere in this chapter. Mr. P. B. Reynolds donated the lots on which the Church structure stands, and other citizens contributed towards its erection. Rev. Mr. Lewis was the pastor in charge at the time the building was erected, and not only superintended the whole work, but labored with hisown hands wherever he could, taking his team to help haul the lumber, and bringing the mortar into his residence to be prepared in order to prevent it from freezing. The members of the church have a grateful remembrance of the labor bestowed and the zeal manifested by him at the erection of the building. The church is now in a prosperous condition, and has a well attended and well conducted Sun- day School. Rev. S. Stover is the present pastor.
Masonic Lodge :- Prophetstown Lodge No. 293, A. F. and A. M., was insti- tuted in October, 1858. Charter members: William T. Minchin, Andrew J. Grover, Simeon Fuller, William Pratt, David H. Nichols, William A. Spencer, Franklin Haddaway, James C. Monroe, H. A. Parkhurst. . The present officers are: H. B. Leonard, W. M .; Fred W. Hutchinson, S. W .; Elbridge Paddock, J. W., Silas Sears, Secretary; O. J. Sholes, Treasurer. The Lodge numbers 95 members, and has a fine hall, built in 1868, at a cost of $2,500. There is also connected with this Lodge an Eastern Star Lodge, which was instituted in 1870, and has a membership of 65.
Prophetstown Chapter Royal Arch Masons :- This Chapter of Royal Arch Masons was organized in December, 1875, and chartered October 26, 1876. Charter members: Silas Sears, Albert J. Jackson, James Scarrett, P. W. Spen- cer, James H. Mosher, Ambrose L. Hotchkiss, William McNeil, Jr., John J. McNeil, Orrin J. Sholes, Hamden A. Sturtevant, Sherman G. Baldwin, Henry R. Kent, Robert L. Burchell, Marlon C. Mckenzie, Orson G. Baldwin, F. J. Barber, N. O. Freeman, Arthur H. Baldwin, Eldridge Paddock. The officers for 1877 are: Silas Sears, H. P .; Ambrose L. Hotchkiss, K .; James Scarrett, Scribe; Orson G. Baldwin, Secretary; Sherman G. Baldwin, Treasurer.
Odd Fellows Lodge :- Sinnissippi Lodge No. 508, I. O. O. F., was char- tered March 3, 1873. Charter members: Silas Sears, David Cleaveland, George Cleaveland, P. Bacchus Besse, L. Paddock, Ebenezer Seely. The present offi- cers are: Charles N. Stevens, N. G .; E. Simpson, V. G .; F. J. Nichols, Secre- tary; Cyrus Emery, Treasurer; P. B. Reynolds, Chaplain. The Lodge now numbers seventy-one members, and meets in Sinnissippi Hall, a handsome build- ing erected in 1874, the upper rooms of which are owned by the Lodge.
Driving Park :- The Prophetstown Driving Park Association was incor-
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
porated in 1875. The grounds comprise twenty acres, and are finely located in the southwest part of the village. The amphitheater is a large one, and the track one of the best in the State. Three Fairs have been held, each of which has been successful. The officers of the Association are: George P. Richmond, President; H. F. Kellum, Secretary; A. J. Mattson, Treasurer.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
ASA CROOK waa born in Rutland county, Vermont, in 1790. When nine- teen years of age he moved to Erie county, New York, where he remained until 1831, when he came to Indiana, staying there only a year, and then moving to Michigan. His residence in the Wolverine State was of three years duration, and in May, 1834, he came to Prophetstown, and made a claim adjoining the present village. He then returned for his family, and going by the way of Knox county, engaged a Mr. Benjamin Brown there to go up to Prophetstown to do some breaking for him. He arrived with his family on the 4th of June, and as the breaking had been completed, planted it to sod corn, which produced a good crop. Mr. Crook erected a log house that season, and lived in it until 1839, when he built the large two-story frame house now owned by W. A. Tay- lor. In this house he entertained many travelers. He was probably the first Justice of the Peace in the county, having been elected to that office in August, 1835. He was also Postmaster early in 1836. He was always a farmer, but like many other of the early settlers, made some money in selling claims. Mr. Crook's family was a large one, and endowed with strong constitutions. The children are all still living, and enjoying excellent health. Mrs. Crook is with her son Timothy D., in Nebraska, and is now eighty-four years of age. Mr. Crook died in Sharon. Henry county, in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Crook, the latter being a Miss Mary Dustin, were married in 1811. Their children have been: Theron, who married Miss Nancy Hamilton, and lives in Oregon; Timothy D., who married Miss Elizabeth Barker, and lives in Nebraska; Charles, living in Iowa; Asa, Jr., who married Miss Lucy Cole, and lives in Henry county, Illi- nois; Lydia, who married Norman B. Seely, and lives in California; Mary, who married Mr. Penwell, and after his death, Andrew T. Bracken, and lives in Portland; Cynthia, who married David Brown, and lives in Iowa; Lucy, who married Robert Woodside, and lives in Portland; Sarah, who married P. Bacchus Besse, and lives in Portland; Laura, who married Benjamin Mattson, and lives in Henry county, Illinois; and Caroline, who married David Vader, and lives in Iowa.
JOHN W. STAKES was a native of Butler county, Ohio, and born in 1809. His first settlement in Illinois was in Hancock county, and in 1834 he came to Prophetstown. At that time a Mr. MeClure was running a small ferry boat across Rock river, from the mouth of Walker's slough, on the bottom above the present village of Prophetstown, the point being where the old Lewiston and Galena trail crossed the river, and Mr. Stakes bought him out. He remained at that place about two years, and then went with John Bowman and Josiah T. Atkinson to Union Grove Precinct, the three making claims there. The claim of Mr. Stakes was where the city of Morrison now stands. He put up a log house on the land where Ed. B. Warner's residence is now situated in that city, and lived there about a year, and then purchased the ferry at Prophetstown of James Knox. He ran the ferry about a year, and then sold to John C. Pratt, and went back and died at his home in Morrison in 1861. Mr. Stakes married Miss Sarah Bowman in 1833. Their children have been: Mary Ann, who first married William Wright, and after his death, George MeKnight, and lives in Iowa; Rebecca, wife of Fletcher Bollen, living in Geneseo, Henry county; Eliza-
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beth, wife of Gardner Reynolds, living in Prophetstown; Walter W., now dead; Susan M., living in Prophetstown; Emeline A., wife of Ebenezer Beardsley, liv- ing in Iowa; Sarah Helen, living in Prophetstown; Lusina, wife of Orpheus Parker, living in Iowa; and John B., living in Prophetstown. Mrs. Stakes is still living on a farm adjoining her first home in Prophetstown.
JOHN BOWMAN was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, in 1815, and came to Prophetstown with Mr. Stakes. He was a blacksmith by trade, and worked with Alexander Seely. He went to Union Grove with Mr. Stakes. In 1850 he went to California, and died in that State in 1852.
WILLIAM HILL was born in Rutland county, Vermont, in 1783, and came to Prophetstown in 1835. He came all the way from Vermont with teams, and was two months on the road, arriving at Prophetstown in the fall. He was a carpenter and wheelwright by trade, but became a successful farmer. His large family of sons were nearly grown up when he came, and they immediately made claims along what is now Washington street. Coming from New England, he appreciated the importance of schools, and the next year after his arrival suc- ceeded in having a log school house built, which was used until 1841. This was the first school house in Prophetstown. Mr. Hill married Miss Susan Baker. Their children have been: J. Sullivan, who married Miss Rachel Belden, and lives in Prophetstown; Almira, who married J. Colin Southard, and is now dead; John, now dead; William, who married Miss Ann Smith, and lives in Prophets- town; Ezra, who married Miss Jane Underhill, and lives in Prophetstown; For- dyce, who married Miss Polly Wall, and lives in Prophetstown; and Joseph, who married Miss Martha Reynolds, and also lives in Prophetstown. Mr. Hill died in 1846, and Mrs. Hill in 1876. The Hill family have lived in Prophets- town since their arrival from the East. William lives on his valuable farm, and has done much to improve the breed of sheep, cattle, and hogs in the county. He has lately introduced the Holstein cattle, so celebrated for their dairying qualities. Among the public positions held by him have been those of Super- visor and Justice of the Peace of the township. Joseph has also acquired a large competency by farming, and owns perhaps the finest farm in the town. During the present year, 1877, he has tried the experiment of tile draining, having laid about a mile of tiles. Ezra lives on Washington street, and has a fine farm, devoting his attention principally to raising hogs, in which he has been very successful.
MARVIN FRARY was born in Massachusetts, in 1799. In 1802, he went with his father's family to Ontario county, New York, where he grew to man- hood, and then located in Cattaraugus county, New York. In the early part of 1835, he came to Prophetstown, and made a claim between the present villages of Prophetstown and Portland, which he afterwards sold to Fred Dwight, and bought the claim of Norman B. Seely. In addition to farming he was engaged for a time in the distilling business in Portland. Mr. Frary first married Miss Mary E. Seely, but they were divorced, and he afterwards married Mrs. E. S. Ellithrope, widow of Sampson Ellithrope. The children by the first marriage were : Myron, who died in 1836, and Caroline who married Joshua Bennidum, and is now dead. By the second marriage there was only one child, Delia, who married Fernando Brewer, and lives in Lyndon. Mr. Frary died in Prophets- town.
J. SPERRY JOHNSON was a native of Castleton, Vermont, and born in 1809. He came to Prophetstown in 1835, and his first claim where William Hill now lives. This claim he afterwards sold, and went to Fox river where he remained several years, and then returned to Prophetstown, settling in the southwest cor- ner of the township where he opened a large farm, and engaged in sheep and
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cattle raising. He died in 1876, after a long and severe illness. Mr. Johnson married Miss Betsey C. Gault in 1838. Their children were : Harrison L., liv- ing in Prophetstown; Thomas F., living in Kansas; Carlos E. who enlisted in the 34th Illinois Volunteers, and died from disease contracted in the service; Frank V., living in Prophetstown; Ellen M., wife of Wallace Burroughs, living in Nebraska; and Clement D., who married Miss Fanny Booth, and lives in Prophetstown.
ALONZO DAVIS was born in Worcester county, Massachusetts, in 1815, and moved to Oncida county, New York, when quite young. In 1834, he came to Chicago where he worked at his trade, that of wagon maker, for about a year, and then came to Prophetstown. He has made, and purchased, several claims since his residence in the town, and has also worked at his trade. He is still living in Prophetstown. He married Miss Mary Warner in 1839; no children.
NATHANIEL G. REYNOLDS was born in Hancock, Berkshire county, Massa- chusetts, in 1794, and came to Prophetstown in 1835. From a biography of his life, written several years before his death, we gather the following facts : In 1796, his parents moved to St. Armands, Lower Canada, where they remained until 1809, when they returned to Massachusetts. Soon afterwards Mr. Rey- nolds was indentured to Deaeon Levi Clarke, of Lanesborough, Massachusetts, to learn the business of tanning, and making shoes. In 1812 he was drafted in the State Militia, but as Gov. Strong refused to place the Militia under United States officers, he enlisted in 1813 as Sergeant in the 40th Regiment, and served during the war, being honorably discharged at Boston, in 1815. In 1816, he went to Genesee county, New York, and took a saw mill on shares, where he sawed lumber for a shop and tan vats, and commenced work at his trade. He also su- perintended the opening of the road from Warsaw to Buffalo, through a dense wilderness. In 1820 he moved to Black Rock, near Buffalo, and built the second tannery in the latter place, conducting it for five years, and then disposed of it to good advantage and went to Aurora, Erie county, New York. He remained at Aurora, working at his trade, erecting buildings, and selling goods, until Oc- tober, 1835, when he started for the then far West. The balance of the biog- raphy we give in his own language, as it relates more particularly to his life while a resident of Whiteside county, and to incidents similar to those exper- ienced by many of the old settlers. He says, "I came with my family, consist- ing of my wife and five children, from Buffalo to Detroit by water, and from thence to Chicago by team over roads as bad as one could possibly want to sce. From Chicago to Rock river my road was an Indian trail, and for the last forty- four miles before reaching Prophetstown, I crossed the prairie without a road, and not a house in sight, my only guide being the lone tree. The weather was inclement, and erossing the sloughs very difficult. In most cases we had to swim the streams, but we finally reached a cabin near my destination, where we were made happy with refreshments, and a fire, and had a good night's rest on the soft side of a hewn plank. Three days afterwards I returned for the wag- ons which I was compelled to leave at a slough; camped out during the night, and returned the next day all right. This was in November, and the cold had increased, with a fair prospect of winter setting in. Here I was with five horses, one yoke of oxen, and seven dollars in cash, but no hay, grain, or provisions, except what we had in the wagons, nearer than seventy miles, and no roads or bridges on the way. Knoxville was the Egypt for us, it being the nearest point where provisions could be obtained, and for that land of corn I started with my teams, one of my neighbors acting as pilot. We swam Green river, Edwards river, Big and Little Page creeks, and arrived safe, but on account of high water could not return with any load until the water fell. We were weather bound for
[48-S.]
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thirteen days. In that time I exchanged one span of horses for such things as I wanted. In the mean time ten men with teams, on the same errand as our- selves, joined us, their company being very acceptable. We loaded upand started, making quite a respectable caravan. It was eighteen miles to the first house or cabin. We crossed the two creeks without difficulty, although the weather was excessively cold. Edwards river had so fallen in consequence of the freeze that we thought we could ford it, but the banks were so steep and frozen that one pair of horses or oxen could not hold our loads down nor draw them up on the other side, so we coupled six yoke of oxen together and made fast to the hind axle with sufficient length of chain, and thus eased the load down into the stream. Then we took the cattle across, and drew the loads up the other bank. In that way we succeeded in getting all our loads across safely, except mine. In raising the bank with it, and when about half way up, the cattle broke the chain, and my wagon run back and upset the load into the river. We soon righted the wagon, and I jumped into the river and collected my load, which was principally in barrels. I offered a good price for help, but the parties refused, and advised me to let the load go down stream, as I would get my death by such exposure, but I could not spare the articles. I floated them to the shore, put a chain around them, and run a pole through, when those on the bank, with my help in the rear, pulled them up, and loaded them again, when we went on. It was three and a half hours from the time I went into the water before I reached a fire, and what is somewhat remarkable, I did not freeze in any part, while every one on the bank were frozen, some of them badly. We succeeded, however, in getting along after that, but had often to put all the teams forward of one wagon. When we came to Green river we had to unload, and take our stuff over in a trough, or canoe; swim our teams, and fasten a rope to our wagons, and pull them over as a seine is hauled. Then we had good going on the prairie, as the sloughs were all frozen solid. We arrived home well and hearty, having been absent twenty- one days in going seventy-five miles and back. I found thirteen out of nine- teen in our cabin down with the measles, with no doctor within thirty miles, but all lived and got smart soon. Troubles did not come singly, for in a day or two I brokemy wagon tire, and had to load it in another wagon and take it to Naperville, a distance of one hundred miles, to be mended, and get my horses shod, it being the nearest shop I could get to without swimming. It happened well enough, as I got a good price for bringing a load back from Chicago. There was a heavy emigration that winter, and in the spring of 1836 provision were scarce, and commanded a high price, flour from $16.50 to $20, per barrel; pork 18 2 cents per lb. or $32 per barrel. In 1837, I was chosen President of the Rock River Land Claim Association, and the Society no doubt prevented a number of law suits, and claim fights. In the fall I was elected Justice of the Peace. At the organization of the County of Whiteside, in 1839, I was elected one of the County Commissioners, and in 1840 was appointed Deputy Marshal, and took the census of the county, the Marshal stating that my returns were the most correct of any Deputy in the district. In 1842 I was elected Justice of the Peace, and in 1847 appointed Colonel of the 103d Regiment Illinois Militia, and commissioned by Gov. French. In 1849, was elected Judge of the County Court of Whiteside, and Justice of the Peace in Prophetstown for four years, and in 1853 I was again elected Judge of the County Court for the term of four years. So much for the offices. I am now, and have been for several years, a thorough going Temperance man. I have said in the fore part of this brief sketch, that I moved to Rock river in November, 1835. I omitted to mention that I came out here in June, and made a claim. There were only three cabins then within a distance of a hundred miles. I drew up a petition for a postoffice, to be called
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