USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside county, Illinois, from its first settlement to the present time, with numerous Biographical and Family Sketches > Part 61
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of July, 1843, while attempting to cross Rock river during a fierce gust of wind. Maj. M. S. Henry came in 1844. Now there are fifteen disciples of Coke and Blackstone in the city. The old court house is still standing, although its uses as a seat of justice ceased at the removal of the county seat to Morrison in 1858.
We have mentioned the fact that as early as 1839 an appropriation was made under the the internal improvement act of the General Assembly, to con- struct a canal around the rapids on the Rock Falls side of the river, which would enable steamboats and other river craft to go farther up the stream, and the untimely fate of the scheme by reason of the crash which followed the reckless and extravagant system of finance of the State at that time. This failure, how- ever, did not deter those who considered Rock river a navigable stream from soliciting other appropriations, and entering into other undertakings, to remove or avoid obstructions to navigation. They therefore petitioned the General Assembly of the State to pass an act for the improvement of Rock river, under which a tax could be levied for the purpose. In compliance with this request the General Assembly passed an act on the 25th of February, 1845, entitled " An act for the improvement of the navigation of Rock river." By the pro- visions of this act the County Commissioners of the counties lying on the river, were authorized to levy a tax in their respective counties to secure the removal of all obstructions from the rapids at Sterling to the mouth of the river, the work to be. done under the superintendence of a Board of Commissioners. The report of these Commissioners, made December 6, 1847, and signed by John Dixon, President, states as follows in regard to the improvement of the rapids : "The contract made with Thomas McCabe to excavate a channel through the rapids at Sterling, having been given up by him, the Board employed William Pollock, one of our members, to superintend the work on said rapids, with author- ity to employ the necessary workmen, and procure the necessary tools and im- plements. Mr. Pollock reports that he found it very difficult to get suitable workmen, but with the small number he succeeded in raising, he has made con- siderable improvement in that part of the channel that remained to be excavated, by removing the more prominent obstructions in the channel, by which means the passage of flat and keel boats will be much facilitated. The Board expended for the work upon said rapids under Mr. Pollock's superintendence, and for the services of Mr. Pollock, connected with it, the sum of four hundred and fifty-two dollars, and fifty-three cents. There had been previously paid to Mr. McCabe for excavation on said rapids under his contract, in the years 1845 and 1846, the sum of five hundred and sixty-five dollars and seventy-eight cents, making with the amount paid during the last season, the sum of ten hundred and eighteen dollars and thirty-one cents, which has been expended by authority of this Board for the excavation on the rapids at Sterling. And although the channel has not been completed through the rapids, such as was contracted for with Mr. MeCabe, yet the Board is of the opinion that by the work already done, the passing up and down said channel for boats, rafts and other craft, will be found to be ma- terially improved and expedited, and that persons who have occasion to pass up or down said rapids will be satisfied that the money expended thereon by this Board, as above stated, has not been misapplied." The Board made a further report, December 23, 1848, in which they state that "since their last report made in December, 1847, the Board has held but one meeting, which was in August last, at which they appropriated of the tax assessed for the improvement of the navigation of Rock river, a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars to be expend- ed under the superintendence of William Pollock, in removing obstructions to the navigation of Rock river from the rapids at Sterling to the mouth of the
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river; of which sum Mr. Pollock has expended eighty dollars and fifty cents in procuring the removal of the most prominent obstructions." It will be seen by these reports that the commissioners appointed under the act of the General Assembly, for the improvement of the navigation of Rock river, entertained the most positive assurance that by the removal of the obstructions then known to exist, the stream would be rendered navigable for the future for "boats, rafts and other craft." This idea prevailed for some years later, but was finally abandoned as we have mentioned elsewhere, and the water of the river put to a use at Sterling, Rock Falls, Lyndon, and other places, which has proved of much greater financial advantage.
John Galt opened a store in Sterling in 1844, and the next year James L. Crawford became a partner, the firm name being Galt & Crawford. Afterwards John B. Crawford entered as a partner, and the firm name was changed to Galt, Crawford & Co. In 1847, J. H. Boynton and James C. Woodburn formed a partnership under the name of Boynton & Woodburn, and opened an assorted stock of goods. Mr. Woodburn died in 1848, and Mr. Boynton continued the business. The latter was in the peddling trade previous to 1847. His wagon was labelled "Western Trader," and was known by all the settlers in Northern Illinois, and Southern Wisconsin. It has been rightfully said of him that he was a Napoleon in that branch of trade. M. S. Henry commenced a private bank in 1852, and in 1854 formed a partnership with Lorenzo Hapgood, the firm name being M. S. Henry & Co. This bank was continued until 1861. HI. A Munson also opened a bank during that time, in connection with an insurance company, and ran it for a short time. A. H. Buekwalter started a store about the same time as Boynton & Woodburn, and after conducting it awhile, received Edward Jameison as a partner. The house closed about 1858. Feather & Hoover fol- lowed, and when the latter retired, E. G. Allen became a member of the firm, and remained so until the firm was dissolved in 1859. The firm of Patterson & Witmer commenced business in 1855, and had a heavy trade for about ten years, when the Pattersons retired. The firm of David M. Crawford & Co., came into existence after the dissolution of that of Galt, Crawford & Co. Mr. Craw- ford has continued in business ever since, his partners, however, having been changed several times. These were among the oldest and largest of the early business houses of Sterling, after the removal of Happer & MeIlvaine to Albany. The stores of Mason & Barnett, and others, were in existence before the con- solidation of Harrisburgh and Chatham.
The excitement in regard to the Postoffice ran high again in 1856. When E. B. Worthington retired, Lewis D. Crandall received the appointment as Post- master, and located the office soon afterwards in a building on the north side of Third street not far from where Maj. M. S. Henry now lives. There was not much objection made to the removal to that place, and had the office remained there until the demands of the people as the town increased required a differ- ent location, everything relating to the mail and its delivery would have been serene. But by some means not generally understood, Mr. Crandall was removed and Joseph Hutchinson appointed. This change was enough of itself, as it ap- peared, to arouse the indignation of the people. They wanted to be consulted in so important a matter. It was probably not so much because they desired Mr. Crandall retained, as it was to have a voice in the appointment of his suc- cessor in case of his removal, the great object being to have an incumbent in the position who would keep the office at a point convenient to the business distriet. The announcement, therefore, of the removal of Crandall, and the appointment of Hutchinson, created the greatest excitement among the citizens and business men generally, as they knew it portended a change of base as to
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
the Postoffice location, and sure enough the change was made. Hutchinson kept a store in what was then known as Wallacetown, some distance west of the business part of Sterling, and there he established the Postoffice. To get to it the merchant, lawyer, doctor, mechanic, and the "rest of mankind and womankind" in Sterling proper, would be compelled to travel greatly out of their way, and in rainy weather to wade through thick mud. To show how deeply they resented this movement on the part of the government and its new appointee, they refused to mail their letters at Sterling, and directed all their correspondents to send their mail to Galt or Nelson. Some even went so far as to refuse to take their mail out of the Sterling Postoffice, preferring to suffer the inconvenience occasioned by the delay rather than in any manner patronize the Hutchinson institution. This inconvenience caused considerable trouble in business matters, but it was cheerfully submitted to. Meetings were held by the indignant citizens to devise means to secure the removal of Hutchinson, or if he must be kept in office to get an order from the Postoffice Department causing a return of the office to a locality within the business part of the town. On one occasion a large number gathered at one of the stores just after a very heavy rain, and as usual the Postoffice was the theme of discussion. It did not take long to excite the already intense feeling of the crowd, and to make them ripe for any movement which could be used as a means of retaliation for the great wrong perpetrated upon them. The suggestion soon came that they all march down to Hutchinsons's store through the deep mud, and carry with them on their boots as much of the article as could be made to adhere, and when they had entered the place to deposit it by thorough stamping upon the floor or any other con- venient place. The chronicles of the times do not state the result. Relief, however, came afterwards in the removal of Hutchinson, and the appointment of L. King Hawthorne, who moved the office to Third street, between Mulberry and Spruce. This brought it again within gunshot of the stores and other business places, and the people once more calmly returned to their various pur- suits. The stirring times during Hutchinson's incumbency are still fresh in the remembrance of many of the citizens of Sterling.
The growth of Sterling was slow until the railroad era. Up to that time it was considerably behind Fulton, Albany and Dixon. Its prospects for the future were often so dark and gloomy that neighboring towns looked upon it as a doubtful enterprise. The citizens, however, were not dismayed. They felt assured that the vast water power would be utilized at no distant day, and that the fertile agricultural country surrounding it would soon be populated by en- terprising and thrifty farmers. It needed only some avenue more speedy than the common highway to take the products of the machinery at the water power, and the surplus products of the soil, to a general distributing market, to make available the advantages which nature had so lavishly bestowed upon it. Rail- roads were being constructed through different parts of the State, and the peo- ple felt assured that the beautiful valley of Rock river would not remain long as a region unknown to the iron horse. Chicago was sending out tracks in dif- ferent directions; and it would be strange if one did not find its way through the Rock river country. The more sagacious predicted that the time would soon come when an air line railroad would run from the Lakes to the Mississippi. They saw the great markets at the East reaching out even then for the pro- ducts of the Upper Mississippi Valley, and the way to grasp them could only be afforded by the locomotive and the car. In these predictions they were correct, and the air line railroad came.
The project of constructing a railroad from Chicago directly west to the Mississippi river was brought forward as early as 1851. Previous to that time,
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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF STERLING.
the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad had been completed to Rockford, and shortly afterwards to Freeport. But that road did not answer the purpose for Rock river valley, neither did it look toward a consummation of the project of a direct line from the Lakes to the Mississippi river, and as a consequence the St. Charles Air line, the Dixon Air Line, and the Mississippi & Rock River Junction Railroads were projected, and work upon them commenced. In 1853 the Michigan Central, and the Galena & Chicago Union Companies came for- ward and assisted these newly organized companies, and eventually they all passed into the hands of the latter, and the name of the Chicago & Galena Union Railway was assumed. This company immediately pushed forward the work of completing the present road from Chicago to Fulton, and in 1856 the first train entered Sterling. The people had been watching and waiting for this event so long, that when it did occur their joy was unbounded, and to give vent to it, in part at least, an old fashioned barbacne was decided upon. This long to be remembered occasion was held in the summer. Over three thousand jubilant people assembled under an awning composed of branches of trees in full leaf, erected just south of the present artesian well. A large, fat ox had been donated by S. Miles Coe, and roasted whole, and after partaking of it, and the numerous other viands and luxuries furnished by the grateful citizens, the vast concourse listened to an eloquent oration delivered by Benjamin F. Taylor, the then literary editor of the Chicago Evening Journal. At its conclusion the "little giant of the West," Hon. Stephen A. Douglas, came forward and made one of those happy addresses for which he was so famous. Those who heard it, say it was superior in matter and delivery to anything of the kind they ever heard. The ceremonies and festivities of the occasion concluded with a ball in the evening, which was largely attended, Mr. Douglas being among the gayest of the gay throng which, inspired by the best of music, threaded the mazy intricacies of the dance. From that day Sterling has been rapidly march- ing on to wealth and greatness.
Unlike most other towns, Sterling did not organize as a village previous to its incorporation as a city. There were probably valid reasons why this was not done, yet in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred the people of so large a town as it had grown to be, would not have been content to have remained under township organization simply for so many years. Local pride alone would have induced many to organize as a municipality. The citizens of Sterling, however, were undoubtedly looking forward to the day when they could jump into the harness as a full fledged city, without the preparatory schooling as a village. Such at any rate was the case.
Sterling was organized as a city under a special charter granted by the General Assembly of the State, and approved February 16, 1857. The first elec- tion under the charter was held in April of that year, and resulted in the choice of Lorenzo Hapgood for Mayor; John Pettigrew and David H. Myers, as Aldermen for the First Ward; Henry Bush and D. R. Beek, for the Second Ward; and James Galt and B. G. Wheeler, for the Third Ward. The City Council met for organization at Boynton's Hall, on the evening of April 23, 1857. William Caffrey was appointed Clerk pro tem, after which Mayor Hap- good delivered his inaugural address. Some preliminary business was transacted, and the Council adjourned to meet at the same place on the evening of April 25th. At that meeting L. King Hawthorne was elected City Clerk; Edward N. Kirk, City Attorney; and Winfield S. Wilkinson, City Surveyor. Mayor Hap- good appointed the following committees: On Finance, Ald. Galt, Beck, and Pettigrew; On Claims, Ald. Beck, Wheeler, and Myers; On Judiciary, Ald Wheeler, Bush, and Pettigrew; Ou Printing, Ald. Myers, Galt, and Beck;
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On Streets and Alleys, Ald. Pettigrew, Bush, and Galt; On Ordinances, Ald. Bush, Galt, and Pettigrew. The first ordinance was passed by the Council, and approved by the Mayor, May 2, 1857, and related to the duties and salary of the City Surveyor. The second, relating to shows and exhibitions, was also passed and approved at the same meeting. Something of a contest arose over the selection of an official newspaper organ, there being two newspapers pub- lished in the city at the time, known as the Sterling Times, and the Sterling Republican. To ascertain which one was entitled to the honor, the Committee on Printing required both to furnish sworn lists of their subscribers, and when these verified lists were handed in, it was found that the Times had 187 sub- seribers, and the Republican 186, the former therefore winning the prize by a single name. This did not satisfy Mr. Caffrey, publisher of the Republican, and at the next meeting of the Council he sent in a petition asking for a recon- sideration of the vote which gave his rival the coveted honor of calling his paper the official organ. A special committee consisting of Ald. Bush, Pettigrew, and Galt was appointed to consider the matter, but before they reported a compromise was effected by which each paper agreed to publish the proceedings of the Council gratis, and charge the same rates for publishing ordinances and notices as had been before charged by the Republican. Ald. Myers resigned his seat in June, 1857, and on the 30th of that month a special election was held, at which Asa F. R. Emmons was chosen to fill the vacancy. Sterling Aldermen were fined at that day, one dollar and costs, for every time they were absent from a meeting of the Board. At the meeting of the Council held on the 6th of August, 1857, Hezekiah Windom, and two hundred and forty-five other residents of the Second Ward, presented a petition praying the Council not to grant any license for the sale of spirituous liquors in that Ward. The petition was referred to a special committee who reported on the 13th of the same month, adversely to the prayer it contained. The report stated that some eleven weeks previous to the presentation of the petition, the City Council had adopted the policy of refusing to grant license for the sale of liquor in any part of the city, and passed an or- dinance strictly forbidding its sale within the city limits, but that no effort had been made to enforce the ordinance, and in consequence parties sold openly in each Ward. Under such a state of affairs the Council had thought it best to repeal the prohibitory ordinance, and license a limited number of houses to sell spirituous, vinous, and malt liquors, in the respective Wards. The Committee did not, therefore, deem it policy to discriminate as to license in favor of any Ward. The report was adopted by the Council. This was the first attempt on the part of any of the citizens of Sterling, as such simply, to secure the inter- diction of the sale of intoxicating liquors in any part of the city limits. The principle, however, had taken root, and finally triumphed.
The charter was amended by an act of the General Assembly in 1869, and the city has been working under the amended charter since that time. Under this charter the corporate limits of the city are described to be " all that dis- triet embraced in the platted town of Sterling, including the several additions thereto, as now platted and recorded in the office of the Recorder of Whiteside county; also all that part of the Southwest quarter of section twenty-two, in said town, which lies north of Rock river, and all that part of the said town of Sterling lying between the said platted town and the central line of Rock river, and bounded on the east by the section line running between sections twenty- two and twenty-three, in said town, and on the west by the line of G street, in Wallace's addition to the said city of Sterling, extended southerly to the middle of Rock river." Section three provides that whenever any tract of land adjoin- ing the city shall be laid off into town lots, and duly recorded, the same shall be
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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF STERLING.
annexed and form a part of the city. Section four divides the city into Wards as follows: " All that part of the city lying east of the center line of Broadway, extending to the north and south boundaries of the city, to constitute the First Ward; all that part lying west of First Ward and east of the center line of Lo- cust street, extending to the north and south boundaries of the city, to constitute the Second Ward; and all that part of the city lying west of the center line of Locust street, to constitute the Third Ward." The Mayor or any two Aldermen may call special meetings of the city Council. City elections are held on the first Monday in March, in each year.
The following are the names of the different Mayors, Aldermen, and City Clerks of the city of Sterling from the organization of the city in 1857, up to and including the year 1877, with the date of their election :
1857 :- Mayor, Lorenzo Hapgood; Aldermen, John Pettigrew, Daniel H. Myers, Henry Bush, D. R. Beck, B. G. Wheeler, James Galt; City Clerk, L. King Hawthorne. 1858 :- Mayor, Lorenzo Hapgood; Aldermen, John Petti- grew, Charles L. Ginkinger, S. Hazen; City Clerk, L. King Hawthorne. 1859 : Mayor, Lorenzo Hapgood; Aldermen, Henry LeFevre, Smith Barrett, David Leavitt; City Clerk, L. King Hawthorne. 1860, Mayor, Nelson Mason; Alder- men, John Pettigrew, Ansel A. Terrell, Morgan Baker; City Clerk, L. King Hawthorne. 1861 :- Mayor, John L. Price; Aldermen, William L. Youmans, Benjamin Gurtisen, Thomas K. Facey; City Clerk, L. King Hawthorne. 1862 : -Mayor, Nelson Mason; Aldermen, John Pettigrew, Ansel A. Terrell, Morgan Baker; City Clerk, J. Haskell-Mr. Haskell resigned and J. B. Myers was ap- pointed. 1863 :- Mayor, Fred. Sackett; Aldermen, William L. Yeomans, S. L. Warren, Thomas K. Facey, Charles M. Worthington; City Clerk, J. B. Myers. 1864 :- Mayor, Samuel S. Patterson; Aldermen, George W. Brewer, Henry S. Street, Edward O. Cook; City Clerk, W. H. Thatcher. 1865 :- Mayor, Nelson Maxson; Aldermen, Richard L. Mangan, R. B. Stoddard, James M. Wallace; City Clerk, W. H. Thatcher. 1866 :- Mayor, Thomas A. Galt; Aldermen, W. W. Pratt, L. Morse, Benjamin C. Coblentz; City Clerk, W. H. Thatcher. 1867 : -Mayor, Benjamin C. Coblentz; Aldermen, Henry Thomas, Joseph H. Boynton, George B. Kitel; City Clerk, W. H. Thatcher. 1868 :- Mayor, Benjamin C. Coblentz; Alderman, John Pettigrew, Joseph M. Patterson, Andrew J. Hull; City Clerk, W. H. Thatcher. 1869 :- Mayor, C. D. Sanford; Aldermen, William L. Yeomans, A. A. Terrell, A. N. Young, L. P. Johnson, Miles S. Henry, H. A. Bunn; City Clerk, C. L. Sheldon. 1870 :- Mayor, John G. Manahan; Aldermen, John Dippell, Benjamin Gurtisen, Clarence Jewett, H. S. Street; City Clerk, C. L. Sheldon. 1871 :- Mayor. John G. Manahan; Aldermen, Maltby C. Stull, John Martin, L. P. Johnson, R. B. Colcord, William L. Patterson, James M. Wallace; City Clerk, C. L. Sheldon. 1872 :- Mayor, John G. Manahan; Alder- men, Henry H. Hoover, Benjamin Gurtisen, Decins O. Coe; City Clerk, C. L. Sheldon. 1873 :- Mayor, William H. 'Bennett; Aldermen, Maltby C. Stull, Jacob R. Sides, William C. Robinson, S. H. Kingery, James M. Wallace, R. Shove; City Clerk, Lucius R. Root-Mr. Root resigned, and J. C. Teats was appointed to fill the vacaney. 1874 :- Mayor, Joshua V. Mckinney; Aldermen, Cyrenus Beecher, M. H. Kreider, C. L. Sheldon; City Clerk, J. C. Teats. 1875 :- Mayor, B. C. Church; Aldermen, Maltby C. Stull, William C. Robinson, S. H. Kingery, D. J. Jenne, James M. Wallace, Nicholas Gaulrapp; City Clerk, J. C. Teats. 1876 :- Mayor, B. C. Church; Aldermen, Cyrenus Beecher, Meno S. Bowman, A. J. Hull; City Clerk, J. C. Teats. 1877 :- Mayor, Joseph M. Patterson; Al- dermen, William Lighteap, Norman A. Thomas, W. C. Robinson, Horace G. Clark, Henry S. Warner, John Werntz, M. B. Fitzgerald, M. A. Bunn, E. W. Edson; City Clerk, J. C. Teats.
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
The city of Sterling is one hundred and ten miles west of Chicago, and twenty-six miles east of the Mississippi river. Its location is sixty-three and six one hundredths feet above low water in Lake Michigan, and six hundred and forty-six feet above the level of the sea, taking the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad track as the point of elevation. It is in latitude 40 degrees, 50 min- utes north, and longitude 90 degrees, 5 minutes west, from Greenwich. The railway facilities are excellent to all points, as it is situated on the air line of the Galena Division of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, which affords speedy transportation accommodations east and west, and is the northern ter- minus of the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad, opening communica- tion with the south. On the Rock Falls side is the terminus of the Rock River branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad.
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