USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside county, Illinois, from its first settlement to the present time, with numerous Biographical and Family Sketches > Part 57
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The early settlers of Sterling had been well educated at their old homes, and soon turned their attention to providing means for the education of their children. There were no school houses, and as in similar cases throughout the county, the cabin was turned into a school room. Mrs. E. B. Worthington has the honor of being the first teacher, the school being held in her own house. Among her scholars were many who to-day are leading citizens of Sterling and other places. The next school was taught by Mr. L. Whipple, in a building erected for a shop on Fulton street, in the fall of 1838. Mr. William H. An- drews succeeded Mr. Whipple as teacher in the same building. Now the finest school houses in the county, or in this section of the State, can be found in Sterling.
Religious services, like the schools, were held at first in the cabins of the settlers. Hezekiah Brink, Luther Bush, and others, early opened their resi- denees to the minister, and invited their neighbors to attend divine services. The first religious society in the township was organized in the cabin of Mr. Brink, in 1836, by Rev. Barton II. Cartwright, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The members were then few in number, but strong in the faith. Out of this organization has grown the present Broadway M. E. Church, in the city of Sterling.
The first traveled road was from the present city of Sterling to Gap Grove, and was laid out by Hezekiah Brink in the primitive manner of the time, by cutting down a small tree and hitching his oxen to it, and then having it dragged over the prairie, the distance between the places being seven miles. The road was soon afterwards legally laid out by viewers appointed by the Jo Daviess County Commissioners' Court, Mr. Brink being one of the viewers.
The first town meeting in Sterling under the township organization law, was held at the Court House, April 6, 1852, with Luther Bush as Moderator, and David M. Ward, Clerk pro tem. Fifty-four votes were polled. It was or- dered, among other things, at that meeting, that there should be one Pound Master in the town who should build at the expense of the town, a good and sufficient pound or yard to keep any animals which might be put into it, the yard to cover an area of thirty-six feet square, and to be located at the disere- tion of the Pound Master. The owners of hogs were forbidden to allow them to run at large at any season of the year; but other stock owned by them might be permitted to do so under certain restrictions. It was also voted to levy a tax to build the Pound. The Commissioners of Highways, elected at this town meeting, reported during the year that the road labor assessed was two days for each man, not exempt by law, and that all the fines and commutations had been received by the Overseers, and expended for the benefit of the highways.
At the town meeting in 1853, it was ordered that the grave yard above the upper town be purchased for the use of the inhabitants of the township, and that a deed be made to the Board of Supervisors in trust for the township. A committee, consisting of L. D. Crandall, R. L. Wilson, and Hezekiah Brink, was appointed to obtain. if possible, a further quantity of land, either by do- nation or purchase, adjoining the above grave yard, which should be added to it, for burial purposes, the committee to report at the next town meeting. 1 motion was made at this meeting to repeal the hog law passed the year before, but it was vociferously voted down, and to show that hogs must mind their business, and keep in their little pens, it was ordered that a fine of twenty-five
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
cents in addition to the lawful fee be levied on each hog put into the Pound, the owner to disburse the quarter. It was further ordered that a fine of ten dollars be levied on any person who should forcibly take away any hog put into the Pound, or for injuring or destroying any part of the fence enclosing the yard, all of the money arising from swine fines to become a part of the town fund. The number of votes cast at this election was thirty-four, twenty less than at the first town meeting.
At the town meeting in 1854, the committee appointed at the previous meeting made a report, and it was then ordered that the township purchase of Jesse Penrose, a tract of land consisting of eight or ten acres, owned by him, lying east of the grave yard, near the bank of the river, above the upper part of the village of Sterling, and that twenty-five dollars per acre be paid there- for, the tract to be used as a burying ground for the township. It was also voted to raise two hundred dollars to purchase the land. The hog law was further added to, by imposing an additional fine upon the owner of every hog, large or small, taken up, and put into the Pound. A tax was not deemed nec- essary by the voters at this meeting, to meet the expenses of the township for the coming year, as a fund sufficient for that purpose remained in the hands of the Supervisor. The number of votes polled at this election was only thirty- two. The following shows the vote cast at each town meeting from 1855 to 1860: 1855, 91; 1856; 242; 1857, 226; 1858, 321; 1859, 407; 1860, 430.
The following have been the Supervisors, Town Clerks, Assessors, Collec- tors, and Justices of the Peace, of the township of Sterling from 1852 to 1877, inclusive:
Supervisors :- 1852-'55,"Jesse Penrose; 1856, Edward N. Kirk; 1857-'58, Decius O. Coe; 1859, Frederick Sackett; 1860, Samuel S. Patterson; 1861-'62, Daniel Richards; 1863, Marcus L. Coe; 1864, Nelson Mason; 1865-'66, A. A. Terrell; 1867, Decius O. Coe; 1868, Joseph M. Patterson; 1869-'73, Joseph M. Patterson, Wm. M. Kilgour; 1874, John G. Manahan, Samuel C. Harvey; 1875-'76, Joseph M. Patterson, James M. Wallace; 1877, W. A. Sanborn, W. C. Robinson.
Town Clerks :- 1852-'53, Norton J. Nichols; 1854-'55, R. De Garmo; 1856, Edward Jamieson; 1857, A. H. Buckwalter; 1858, Rudolph Kauffman; 1859-'61, Jesse Penrose; 1862-'77, J. B. Myers.
Assessors :- 1852, Henry Tuttle; 1853-'54, Marcus L. Coe; 1855, Benja- min Stauffer; 1856, Cyrus Manahan; 1857, James Galt; 1858, Charles Rost; 1859-'67, D. M. Ward; 1868, J. C. Teats; 1869-71, W. H. Smith; 1872, Adam R. Smith; 1873, J. C. Teats; 1874, Israel Slater; 1875-'77, Charles N. Munson. Collectors :- 1852, Henry Aument; 1853-'54, George W. Brewer; 1855, Benjamin Stauffer; 1856-'57, John Dippell; 1858, Rudolph Kauffman; 1859, Joseph E. Cobbey; 1860, Jerome D. Herrick; 1861, Charles M. Worthington; 1862, C. L. Ginkinger; 1863, Edward H. Barber; 1864, C. L. Ginkinger; 1865, R. L. Mangan; 1866-'67, Richard B. Getz; 1868, F. O. Headley; 1869-'71, Andrew K. Haberer; 1872, Charles N. Munson; 1873-774, Israel Slater; 1875, D. Bard Rock; 1876, Noah Merrill; 1877, John H. Sides.
Justices of the Peace :- 1855, Joseph Golder, D. M. Ward; 1856, Wm. M. Kilgour; 1858, D. M. Ward; 1860, Wm. M. Kilgour, John S. Stager, Joseph E. Cobbey; 1864, John S. Stager, Allen W. Beatty; 1866, R. L. Mangan; 1868, John S. Stager, R. L. Mangan, E. G. Allen; 1869, R. Champion, F. Vander- voort; 1872, R. L. Mangan, J. W. Alexander, R. Champion, E. G. Allen; 1873, J. W. Alexander, R. Champion, R. L. Mangan, E. G. Allen; 1877, E. G. Allen, R. Champion, Adam R. Smith, J. W. Alexander, R. L. Mangan.
On the bank of Rock river above Sterling are several groups of mounds
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HISTORY OF STERLING TOWNSHIP.
and earthworks, and below the Fair Grounds there are twenty-two mounds, one of which is the largest in the county. These ancient mounds contain in many instances human bones, showing that the builders used them in part at least, as burial places for their dead. The question whether these mounds were built by a pre-historic race, is still a mooted one. Besides these bones, a great var- iety of articles have been found, consisting of ancient crockery, arrow and spear heads, stone axes, curiously shaped fragments of stone, intended undoubtedly for ornaments, and in some cases copper tools and implements. These have been eagerly sought after by those interested in ancient relics, and are care- fully treasured by their possessors.
About two miles east of the city of Sterling, on the farm of Mr. Albert- son, is a mineral spring, the water of which is said to contain soda, magnesia, potassa, lithia and silica, and some chlorides and phosphates. This spring has lately become quite noted, and many resort to it for the beneficial properties of its water. Bathing houses, and other buildings for the convenience of guests, have been erected, and the place has assumed the appearance, to quite an ex- tent, of a fashionable watering resort. The spring is situated in a beautiful grove, and the drive to it from Sterling, over a fine road, affords pleasure as well as benefit.
The following is related as the way an early pioneer of Sterling township secured a second wife, and may be useful to some at this day who are anxious to find spouses to take the place of those who have gone to the realms above. This early settler being left alone in a strange country by the death of the wife of his youth, and being desolate beyond degree, determined to seek for another help meet. But how to do this was the difficulty, and after revolving the mat- ter in his mind for several days determined to call upon the Probate Justice in Sterling, and one day made that official a visit. The Justice kindly gave him a list of all the widows in Whiteside county, taken from the Probate records, to- gether with a letter addressed to whom it might concern, that the bearer was an intelligent and industrious farmer, had a good home, and was in possession of all the qualities both personally and materially to make the coming wife happy and contented. Thus prepared he started out on foot on a cool, bracing Decem- ber morning, with his wedding garments, tied up in a bandana handkerchief. swung across his shoulder. The first day's search proved unsuccessful, but on the second, he found a widow willing to listen to his suit, and a bargain was soon concluded. Two weeks were to intervene before the happy event, and at the end of the probation he led his blushing bride of fifty summers to the altar. In this connection it might be well to add that the festive groom had grappled with the cold and snows of seventy winters. The Probate Justice, as a reward for the part he had taken in securing the union of two loving hearts was invited, together with his wife and friends, to partake of the banquet provided by the newly wedded pair at the home where they were to fight the battle of life together.
The township contains 12,040 acres of improved lands, and 2,292 of unim- proved. Number of improved lots, 1,082; unimproved lots, 385. The number of horses in the town, as shown by the Assessor's book for 1877, is 765; cattle, 3,185; mules and asses; 21; sheep, 65, hogs, 1,328; steam engines, including boilers, 7; carriages and wagons, 512; watches and clocks, 436; sewing and knit- ting machines, 319; piano fortes, 75; melodeons and organs, 99. Total assess- ed value of lands, lots and personal property, $2,340,470; value of railroad property, $45,829. Total assessed value of all property in 1877, $2,349,709.
The population of Sterling township and city in 1860, according to the Federal census was 2,428. The population of the township, outside of the
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
city, in 1870, was 712, of which 600 were of native birth, and 112 of foreign birth. The present population outside of the city is estimated at 1,000.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
HEZEKIAH BRINK was born May 21, 1809, in the State of Vermont. While he was an infant the family moved to Erie county, New York; thence to Penn- sylvania, and soon afterwards to New Richmond, near Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Brink's father was a soldier of the war of 1812, and was killed at a battle near Buffalo, New York. His widow married Samuel S. Geer, and moved from Ohio to Carroll county, Kentucky. After a stay of two years the family ehanged their residence to Madison, Indiana, where the subject of our sketch served an apprenticeship of five years at the hatter's trade. In 1834, Mr. Brink came to Whiteside county, and made a claim on section 22, in the present township of Sterling. A reference to his exploring expedition through a portion of Rock River Valley prior to making his claim will be found in the history of the town- ship. Mr. Brink, and Messrs. Andrews and Holland, who made the exploring expedition with him, together with a Mr. Bisbie who accompanied Mr. Brink back from Fox river, and Wm. Andrews, first commenced work on the Holland elaim where Como now is. The horses and oxen owned by the party being found insufficient to break prairie, Mr. Brink was despatched to Bureau county to se- cure an additional yoke of oxen, and a plow. A cabin was ereeted for Bisbie near the location of the old Como dam, and another one afterwards built near the drive to the ferry landing. Three or four days were spent in breaking prai- rie, when the whole party was prostrated with fever. The settlement was then abandoned, and the party went to Sugar Grove, Mr. Brink putting up with Benj. Stewart, and the others at John Morgan's. Mr. Holland soon afterwards died; Bisbie returned to Fox river, and Andrews to Dixon. Andrews afterwards sold his claim at Como to Jason Hopkins, and those of Holland and Bisbie were aban- doned. In 1834, Mr. Brink broke five acres on section 22, where John Stauffer now lives. Wolves were then numerous and bold, at times being so audacious as to steal Mr. Brink's dinner from his wagon. In November of that year he built a log cabin of round logs on the lot where Mr. Cross now lives, on bloek 34, east of Broadway, Sterling. In 1836, Mr. Brink broke prairie for William Kirkpatrick, where the Fair Grounds are now located. He also broke five acres during the same year for Anthony Sells, where Mr. Reed now resides, and several acres in 1835 near the Big Spring in Coe's Grove, for S. Miles Coe. In 1837, he built a saw and grist mill, and a carding machine, the latter of which he sold to Adam Knox. The mill property was sold to Joel Harvey, in 1847. Mr. Brink built another saw mill on the Elkhorn in 1850, which he sold to Smiths and Weber. He married Miss Martha Buckhannan, September 25, 1829, in Ripley county, Indiana. Their children have been : Thomas and Mary, who died in infancy; Samuel, born July 21, 1834; Margara, born February 25, 1836; David, born April 7, 1838. Mrs. Brink died October 16, 1839, and Mr. Brink married Miss Sophronia L. Guffin, October 11, 1840. The children by this mar- riage have been : Harvey, born November 30, 1841; Caroline. born February 7, 1845; Albert, born March 2, 1847; Julia L., born March 26, 1849; Newton L., born August 11, 1851; Alma, born November 9, 1853; Ada M., born Sep- tember8, 1855; Ella, born April 13, 1858; Martha Belle, born September 9, 1860, and Allen H., born May 21, 1865. Sixteen children were born of the two mar- riages, of whom nine are now living. Margara married A. B. Crandall, in 1855. Charles died in 1844, and Alma in September, 1854. Harvey died of typhoid fever at Nashville, Tennessee, while a member of Company D, 75th Illinois Vol- unteers. Samuel died at Burmuda Hundred, being then a Sergeant in Com-
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
pany G, 39th Illinois Volunteers. David is now a resident of Page county, Iowa; he served during the war in Company B, 13th Illinois Volunteers. Albert resides in Sterling; he was also in the war, and served in Company G, 39th Illinois Vol- unteers. Newton resides in Pottawattamie county, Iowa. Caroline married H. N. Bartholomew, and lives in Powesheik county, Iowa. Julia L. married Daniel Cole,; Mr. Cole died and she afterwards married J. M. Armstrong, and now lives in Rock Falls. The remaining children are living in Sterling.
LUTHER BUSH was born August 12, 1794, in the State of Connecticut, and emigrated with his family to Lewis county, New York, where he remained until he came to Whiteside county in 1836. He was a brick mason and plasterer by trade, and followed it all his life. His work always had the merit of being well done. He was a man with few faults; a model of intelligence, and moral hon- esty, and a sincere christian. He was a member of the first church society organized in the present township of Sterling, in 1836, the meeting being held at Brink's cabin. This society grew into the present Broadway M. E. Church. Mr. Bush was chosen the first class leader, and continued to fill the position until his death in October, 1870. He died of dropsy at the age of 76 years. On the 22d of January, 1820, he married Miss Eunice Cornish, who was born July 28, 1800. Their children were : Henry, born October 17, 1822; Edward, born March 18, 1824; Esther H., born January 22, 1826; Andrew, born July 18, 1829; Alfred, born August 31, 1832; Julia V., born February 3, 1836; and Martin L., born November 22, 1838. Henry married Miss Sarah Judd, Decem- ber 4, 1850; children, Lewis C., Jeannette L., and Norton G .; Mrs. Bush died March 9, 1857; Jeannette L. died September 22, 1858; Mr. Bush married Mrs. Elizabeth J. Nichols, January 3, 1858; children, Emma E., Phoebe C., Isaac J. and Henry L .- twins, and Nathan J .; Mr. Bush is an intelligent. industrious farmer, and has a well arranged, comfortable home, with fine surroundings. Edward married Miss Electa Bartlett, October 22, 1846; children, Mary Jane, Charles H., Sarah, Edward N., Arthur, Ellen, Rosalia, Catharine, and George L .; he learned the trade of plasterer with his father, and followed it as long as he lived, his death occurring July 14, 1871; he spent a few years in California, and after his return acted as Deputy Sheriff for sometime. Esther H. married John Dippell, June 18, 1843; children, John L., Sophia E., Etta M., George W., Frederick W., Anna A., Emma R .; Frederick died in infancy; when Mrs. Dip- pell came to Harrisburg in October, 1837, she remembers that there then but eight houses. Andrew J. is a plasterer by trade, and unmarried; he went to Iowa a number of years ago, where he is engaged in farming. Alfred married Miss Caroline Verbeck; children, Franklin, and Marietta. Julia V. married Joseph M. Martin, December 18, 1860, and lives in Kossuth county, Iowa; they have no children; Mr. Martin is a school teacher, and also carries on a farm. Martin L. married Miss Catharine Vexler, and is a farmer in Kossuth county, Iowa; children, Laura C., Bertha L., and Eva E.
JESSE PENROSE was a native of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, and born November 18, 1802. 1Ie settled in Whiteside in 1838. He was a Quaker, and an exemplary member of that denomination. He owned and occupied a farm north of Sterling for some twenty years, and upon leaving it became a member of the firm of J. & W. Penrose, in the crockery business, at Sterling. Mr. Penrose married Miss Sarah Kirk, about twenty years age. They had one child. Both Mrs. Penrose and the child have been dead a num- ber of years. Mr. Penrose was County Treasurer from 1855 to 1857, and made a capable and efficient officer. He was a man of sterling integ- rity-one against whose public and private character not a shadow of suspicion could be raised. He was also for fifteen years township treasurer of Sterling.
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
His death was caused by paralysis, and occurred at Sterling, on the 26th of July, 1876.
HENRY BREWER was born in New York State, December 2, 1788, and married Miss Lucinda Johnson, December 2, 1812. He came to the West in 1836, and settled at first on the farm now owned by P. Bacchus Besse, in Port- land township. In February, 1837, he came to Harrisburg. Mr. Brewer took the water route when coming West, first floating down the Alleghany and Ohio rivers on a raft as far as Louisville, Kentucky, and shipping his family and goods on a steamer to St. Louis. While the vessel was lying at the wharf at St. Louis one evening, Mr. Brewer being on shore, and Mrs. Brewer engaged with the children on deck, the cry was raised "a man overboard." Mrs. B. thinking it might be her husband, ran with a candle in her hand to the river side of the boat to ascertain, and accidentally fell into the water near the wheel which was being turned by the current. One of the hands on the steamer noticing the ac- cident, ran behind the wheel judging she would catch hold of it in her fall,? so as to be ready to rescue her as she rose with it. This opinion proved to be cor- rect, and as the wheel made its revolution she was found clinging to one of the buckets with one hand, and still keeping hold of the candle with the other. In this condition she was taken on board, not only thoroughly drenched, but thor- oughly frightened. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Brewer were : William, born September 10, 1813; Harry, born November 19, 1815; Mary, born January 18, 1818; Lucena, born February 27, 1821; Lucinda, February 4, 1823; Harriet, born July 28, 1825; George W., May 6, 1827; and John, born January 19, 1834. Three died in infancy. Harriet died in Harrisburgh, February 11, 1841; John died March 14, 1841, and William, June 27, 1844. Lucena married Porter Greene, and died in Wisconsin in 1864, leaving five children. Harry married Miss Helen Adams, of Van Buren county, Iowa. Mary married Daniel Drake, October 22, 1836; children, Harry L., who died in the army, Lucinda M., Lucetta, Henry, Frank, and David; Mr. Drake died in California, and Mrs. Drake afterwards married Dr. Walker who became a surgeon during the late war, and died in the service. Lucinda married James Bradley, February 13, 1844; children, Otho J., Rosetta, and Deborah; the two latter are dead; Otho J. lives in California; Mr. Bradley was killed by Indians in California, and Mrs. Bradley married John S. Bass; children, Herbert, Mary, Darrow, and Seymour. George W. married Miss Elizabeth S. Green; children, Deborah E., Orra L., Emma, George N., Hattie L., Charles D., William H., Addie C., and Carrie M .; Emma, George N., Hattie L., Charles D., William H., and Addie C., are dead; Mr. Brewer learned the wheelwright business in the shop of his father, then followed farming for a time, and afterwards engaged in the grocery business in Sterling. Henry Brewer the father, died February 27, 1848, at the age of 59; Mrs. Brewer died January 6, 1867, aged 78.
D. C. CUSHMAN was born in Vermont, May 24, 1809, and came to what was then Chatham, in 1838, where he opened the first blacksmith shop in the place. He was married, and had two children, Helen, and Horace. Helen married David Carnes; their whereabouts are not known. Horace enlisted in the army, and has not been heard from since. Mrs. Cushman died, and Mr. Cushman married Mrs. Eliza Claypole in 1841. Their children were: Salmon, James, Emma, and Wesley; Salmon and Wesley are married and live in Ster- ling; Emma married George Hazen, and lives in Page county, Iowa; James died in infancy.
HUGH WALLACE was a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and was born August 10, 1812, and came to Sterling in 1837. Mr. Wallace was married March 16, 1830, to Miss Mary Galt, a member of a large family of that
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
name, several of whom came West, and are now the leading business men of Sterling and vieinity. Their children have been: James G., born May 10, 1831; Agnes, born July 10, 1832; Mary Isabella, born June 17, 1834; Elizabeth C .. born June 10, 1837; Kate, born October 28, 1839; James M., born October 25, 1841; Jesse, born June 10, 1844; Hamilton, born July 29, 1847; Ann Eliza, born September, 1852. They also had four children who died in infancy. James G., died in childhood. Mary Isabella married Wm. L. Patterson, March 20, 1860; they immediately left Sterling, and settled in Maunchehunk, Penn- sylvania, where they remained eight years; Mr. Patterson afterwards engaged in building a portion of the Union Pacific Railroad; then returned to Sterling where he has since resided, and is now one of the firm of Patterson & Co., bankers, and is also extensively engaged in manufacturing and other enter- prises; children, Nathan, Mary, Susan L., Hugh W., Stella, Lillian, and Isabella. Agnes married Roswell Champion. Hamilton married Miss Anna R. Spencer, September 17, 1870; children, Hugh S., and Jessie E. Ann Eliza married W. B. Leffingwell, December 17, 1874; children, Robert Bruce, and William Wal- lace. James M. enlisted in Hawthorn's Battery, in 1862, and was afterwards transferred to Henshaw's Battery; was in the service about three years, and during the entire time was Sergeant Major; he is now a practicing lawyer in Sterling, and has been Alderman of the city, and Supervisor of the township. Hugh Wallace graduated at Washington College, Pennsylvania, and read law with Gen. Porter, in Lancaster eity, and upon being admitted to the bar, opened an office in that place, practising for several years, when he returned to his native county. Upon his emigration to Sterling he pursued the mixed em- ployment of law and farming until business improved, when he devoted himself to the practice of his profession. Mr. Wallace was elected a member of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State in 1846, and in 1852 he became Senator. He also served four years as Register of the Land Office, at Dixon, receiving his appointment from President Pierce. He was earnest and persevering whenever enlisted in any pursuit or undertaking, enter- taining and holding opinions upon all subjects with inflexible tenacity. He never adopted any new theory, or engaged in any new enterprise, without full examination as to its merits, and when once fully embarked never doubted his ultimate suceess. His social qualities were of a very high order, and his table and fireside free to all. His great leading trait of character was hospitality of the old fashioned pioneer style. Ilis death oceurred on the 18th of August, 1864. The city of Sterling was named at the suggestion of Mr. Wallaee as a compliment to his friend, Col. Sterling, of Pennsylvania. His widow still re- sides at the homestead in Sterling.
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