USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside county, Illinois, from its first settlement to the present time, with numerous Biographical and Family Sketches > Part 75
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The Town of Ustick .- Wyatt Cantrell was called upon, but did not respond.
The Town of Hume .- Responded to by Chas. Wright, Esq. Mr. Wright spoke for several minutes in a most happy and pleasant manner. We should be pleased to give a more extended sketch of his remarks, but have not the notes from which to write it. He closed by offering the following sentiment :- "As Jacob of old loved Benjamin above all his sons, because he was youngest, so may the Town of Hume, being the youngest of nineteen sisters, stand high- est in the estimation of old Father Whiteside."
The Town of Erie .- Responded to by S. D. Carr. Mr. Carr said that he located at Erie in 1836. There was then but one house, built and occupied by Orville Brooks. Peter Guile, David Hunt and L. D. Crandall were among the first settlers. The town now contains from three to five hundred inhabitants. It is well timbered-has coal beds near at hand, and what is not usual in the northwest-the wells and springs afford abundant supplies of pure fresh water. He spoke of the flourishing condition of the schools, the industry and good morals of the inhabitants.
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The Town of Hopkins .- Responded to by W. S. Wilkinson, but the report gives no account of his remarks.
The Town of Clyde .- Responded to by Samuel Currie. Mr. Currie re- marked that he was not the oldest settler of Clyde and was not prepared to make a statement of its early settlement. He thought the first settlement was made by Messrs. Wing and Baker. The township contains four schools, which are well attended. He spoke of the good morals of its inhabitants and of the wealth and fertility of its soil.
The Town of Mt. Pleasant .- Responded to by H. A. Johnson, Esq. Mr. Johnson did not claim to be an old resident of the County, and was included in the invitation for the reason that his wife, a daughter of Royal Jacobs, was among its first settlers. He was not familiar with the early history of the town of Mt. Pleasant, but could say much in praise of her many advantages. Her soil is unsurpassed for its fertility, there is an abundance of timber, and excellent manufacturing facilities. He also spoke eloquently of the character of the inhabitants, their educational and religious advantages, and the future prospects of the town.
The First Settler of Whiteside County .- Responded to by John W. Stakes. Mr. Stakes stated that he wished to correct a wrong impression. There is a lady present-the wife of P. B. Besse-who had resided in the county longer than he had, and consequently is the oldest settler now living in Whiteside county. Her father settled here in May, 1834. At the time he came here, the county was a wild waste, inhabited only by roving Indians. He procured the first provisions for his family -- flour and groceries-at Peoria, and packed them eighty miles on a horse, following an Indian trail. There was no store nearer than Galena, and Rock Island was an Indian trading post. He rejoiced to rec- ognize here so many faces that he had seen in earlier days.
The Hardships of the Early Settlers, and the Secret of their Success .- Responded to by Col. R. L. Wilson, as follows: "In the land of our nativity, surrounded by kind friends, schools, churches, and the scenes of our childhood, why are we not content? Many causes contribute to alienate our affections, and offer a compensation for the privations incident to the life of the pioneer. Some are prompted by curiosity, and a love for the romantic grandeur of nature; but the largest portion seek retirement on the frontier for the purpose of bet- tering themselves and families. They can there obtain a home that they can call their own; although it may be a log cabin, it is still 'sweet home.' When we have fully made up our minds to emigrate, the work is almost done. All that remains is to 'wait for the wagon,' and we 'take a ride' to our future home in the West. The wagon box serves for a house-being at once the parlor, the kitchen, and the pantry-a place for everything. We finally arrive at our claim, and then comes the raising of log cabins, on which occasion every pioneer with- in twenty miles is on hand. By and by a school house and church are wanted; and if, in the West the husband is not able to assist in building the school house and church, and he may not yet have paid his last payment so as to re- lieve his home from the Shylock's Trust Deed, his wife calls a meeting of the ladies, when the work is done; for who ever heard of an enterprise failing when pioneer ladies undertook it. The secret of the success of the pioneer is ex- plained by his determination to leave his loved home, to endure the privations of the journey, the discomforts of the log cabin, the want of suitable food and clothing, the absence of schools and churches, and the recollection of dear ones who 'miss them at home.' The man or woman who encounters all these priva- tions, with the fever and ague of the early days, will succeed anywhere and
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under any circumstances, and their descendants may be depended upon as the guardians of civil and religious liberty."
The Hospitality of the Early Settlers .- Responded to by Marcus L. Coe. Mr. Coe said that "nowhere does the stranger meet with a more hearty welcome than with the 'old Pioneer.' To his 'corn dodger,' or 'roast turkey,' you are alike welcome and will ever be greeted, with a hearty 'I reckon.' His 'latch string is always out.' 'Old Settlers,' may their corn and bacon always equal their hospi- tality."
Teachings incident to the Early Settlement of a New Country-the Pioneer Baby of Sterling .- Responded to by Col. Hugh Wallace. Mr. Wallace gave an amusing sketch of some of his experiences in the early settlement of Sterling; the practical lessons he received by being placed in a position where he had to depend entirely upon his own resources and efforts. He came here fitted for the practice of law-equipped with ruffled shirts and his law books. He found that the only tools of real utility consisted of the plow, the hoe and such imple- ments as belong to the farm and workshop, and with these his old friend Gear was well supplied and ready to accommodate his neighbors. His Chitty and Blackstone were not adapted to his immediate uses. They would not cultivate the soil or build the cabin. It was labor with the hands that was required, and this must be performed by each individual with his own hands; it could not be hired of others. After the conclusion of his remarks, Col. Wallace presented to the audience the "Pioneer Baby" of Chatham, now part of the City of Ster- ling, Mrs. John A. Bross, of Chicago-the eldest daughter of Nelson Mason, Esq. The appearance of Mrs. Bross upon the stand was greeted with much ap- plause and in response to calls from the audience Mr. Bross responded in a neat and appropriate speech. The speaker closed with the suggestion that the whole audience rise and sing,
"Should auld acquaintance be forgot."
Which was responded to by several hundred good, strong voices, led by Nelson Mason, Esq.
The Pioneer Farmers of Whiteside County .- Responded to by L. B. Wether- bee. Mr. W. said: "The pioneers of Whiteside County left happy homes and pleas- ant firesides in other lands to make new farms and homes, and, we may hope, to build up the cause of education, of virtue, of temperance, of morality and piety, until Whiteside county shall stand as a proud monument in the history of our country. The calling of the farmer is one which all will readily agree is the basis of society. It is an occupation upon which all others depend. Annihilate the farming interest, and where would be the cities, the towns and the villages? Annihilate the farming interest, and what branch of mechanical industry, what profession in life could be sustained? Who, then, is the farmer? Not simply he who turns the furrow or sows the seed, but he whose mind directs and con- trols the operation. And here it may not be amiss to take a retrospective glance over the county, and see what the farmers of Whiteside have been doing for the last eighteen years. We shall see that within that time all the land of the coun- ty has been bought, and if we estimate the cost to the present owners at five dollars per acre, it will amount to about $2,910,000; if we estimate the same amount for improvement, it will amount to the sum of $5,820,000, which the farmers of Whiteside County have paid out within the last eighteen years. If, then, the farmer is the foundation of society, it becomes of paramount impor- tance that his energies be directed in the most skilful and enlightened manner. Ile needs all the assistance which education, science and inventive genius can give; he will no longer carry the stone in one end of the bag to balance the grist
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in the other because his father did, but will be guided by reason, discretion and judgment. With such a soil as Whiteside county possesses, farming may be made profitable, and we may soon expect to see farmers wending their way to wealth and fame in that department."
Pioneer Mechanics of Whiteside County .- Responded to by A. McMoore, as follows: "I, your humble fellow citizen, have the honor to respond in behalf of an important class of the early settlers of Whiteside county. They were few in number but diligent in business. Some of them have gone to their rest -others are here present on this occasion. Mr. Chairman, you have heard this evening of the changes and improvements in the county. Permit me to speak of some of the improvements that the mechanics have set in motion. The first improvement of any importance in the way of plows, was the Dimon or Slinker, by Wyatt Cantrell, an old settler. Jonathan Haines, a pioneer mechanic of Union Grove, invented a harvester that is not surpassed by any in this section. Builders: John Ogle was among the first and did much to make the first cabins comfortable; and in this department, allow me to name H. Wallace, Esq., and myself. The first named, we called a wood butcher, but he could make a bat- ten door. Pioneer Cabinet Makers, Mr. Allen of Albany, and C. C. Judd and John Enderton of Sterling, all good workmen."
The Youth of The Pioneer Fathers of Whiteside County .- Responded to by Wm. M. Kilgour, Esq., a first-rate specimen of Western production. Mr. K. spoke as follows: "I don't know, Mr. Chairman, that any occasion could arise, or any time or circumstances occur, under which I would more willingly attempt to make a speech were I possessed of the ability to make such an one as the audi- ence is deserving of and as they are capable of appreciating. I am called upon to respond, on the part of the children of the 'old settlers,' one of which I am; and, when I attempt to look back to March, in the year 1837, a period barely within my recollection, and the time when I first saw the beautiful prairie on which Sterling now stands, I am confused, and such a multitude of incidents and changes crowd upon the imagination that I scarcely know where to begin or what to say. But this is not a place for long, dry speeches, and I don't know that I can do better than, so far as growth of men physically is concerned, to exhibit myself as a specimen, as one who has grown to the height of six feet two and one-half inches, upon the soil of Whiteside, and in this very town. But to the text, 'the children of the 'old settlers'.' It is true, we have not had what, in the East, they call ' advantages,' that is, the advantage of learning to twirl a cane gracefully, to carry a heavy watch chain and seal; of learning the names of the streets in some city; of learning the different qualities and quantities of liquors a man can carry; and all under the pretence of attending college for the space of three or four years. We get our education in the old log cabin school house, where the pupils are free at least from the vices of a higher (as some would call it) state of civilization. Where we get up in the morning and do our chores, and off to school, learning at once the lessons of industry and economy, as well as the lessons in the books-perfecting the physical as well as the mental facul- ties. And I think the biographies of men in this country bear out the truth of the assertion that more men of sterling worth have sprung from such origin, and such training, than from colleges and schools. Then Hurrah for the heirs apparent-the children of the 'Old Settlers!' May we follow the example of our fathers in good works, and imitate their virtues. More we need not ask."
The Pioneer Pomologist of Whiteside County .- Responded to by Dr. L. S. Pen- nington, in a few neat and appropriate remarks, as follows: "This, sir, with me has been a passion. There is something in the growth and development of trees and plants, so enchanting-so full of interest, that wherever Divinity has left
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its impress, can it but be admired? The development of the bud is, of itself, a wonder of wonders, and exhibits the secret springs of a vital energy, which man, as yet, has never been able to penetrate. What would a country be without the great family of fruits? What the physical and moral condition of that people, whose existence has never been regaled by the apple, the peach, and the pear? and what the condition of that community, whose homes have never been blessed by their cooling and agreeable shade? Every plant, not indigenous, is untried, in a new soil and climate, consequently many plants and trees that may grow and give promise for years, owing to our great climate changes, may be cut off in a day-thus blasting in a moment the hopes and prospects of years. Such rever- ses of fortune belong to the pioneers of every enterprise, especially those of pomology. On emigrating to this State, in 1836, I was at once struck by the luxuriance and healthy aspect of the trees, and by the great abundance and lux- uriance of the fruit. It was such as I had never seen before. It excited my youthful imagination, and I at once resolved, as soon as circumstances would admit, to engage in it (fruit raising). I counted largely on the pleasure and profit I should surely reap when my plans were fully consummated. I had not then counted the cost of the winters of 1842-3, of 1855-6. The first fruit trees I was able to plant, were on my present farm, in the fall of 1839. N. Mason and John D. Barnett planted some in Sterling at the same time, which were, per- haps, the first cultivated trees planted in this city. They are now owned by J. Rice. Among those who took an early and lively interest in the cultivation of fruit and trees, I cannot refrain from naming that old pioneer, known to many of you, Harry Burlingame. He commenced the business, in conjunction with myself, in the town of Jordan, in the spring of 1842, prosecuted the same, al- though a man of many years, with all his might, and had it not been for the cold winters of 1842-3, I doubt not but many years of prosperity would have attended his efforts. In fact, I owe to him the first words of advice, in the fall of 1841, for prosecuting the nursery business on a large scale (large for the time), and, so far as I know, this was the first effort at raising cultivated fruit in Whiteside county. This business we commenced, without any previous knowledge but the dim light at that time gained from books. Although Mr. Burlingame has, with many of our early settlers, long since passed away. the trees which he planted will long remain, his most enduring monument. The man who planted the first fruit-bearing tree in the county of Whiteside, perhaps, never will be known, Many blessings rest upon his head. May he eat of its fruits, and rest under its shade for a thousand years."
Whiteside county now and as she was when her sons wore Buckskin trousers and Wolfskin caps .- Responded to by Joseph Ware, Esq., in the following neat and appropriate manner: "It is useless for me to speak to this audience of Whiteside county as it was. You have all seen it in its original beauty. You have looked upon these prairies before they were marred by the plow, or dotted with buildings, as they lay in green luxurianee-
" Gardens of the desert unshorn, Fields boundless and beautiful."
Their fertility and beauty were sufficient to cause you to give up your comfort- able homes, and induce you to brave the toils and dangers of a pioneer life; but to one whose boyhood has been spent in their midst, who has no other recollec- tions to fall back upon, who has recognized no other spot as home, their beauty is doubly attractive. Of the earliest settlers, of the men who wore the coonskin cap and buckskin hunting shirt, I doubt not your recollections are as broad as mine. That they were good men and true, hardy, enterprising and honest, you all know. I have one in mind who would serve as an excellent example of the
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class. Doubtless many will recollect him, John B. Dodge, of Mt. Pleasant. Ilow I wish he could stand before you this evening in his pioneer dress, with buckskin moccasins and hunting shirt, surmounted by that veritable coonskin cap. He was a man of matchless proportions, had seen some active service in the Black Hawk war, and had the reputation of being the strongest man in Northern Illinois. He had been known to kill a wolf with his naked hands, and to conquer a savage and frightened horse by mere force of strength and will. John B. Dodge was one of the members of the first Board of County Commis- sioners that was elected in our county, and in that capacity officiated at the first court. The court house on that occasion was one room of a double log house, near Lyudon. Mr. Dodge, as one of the commissioners, opened the court; and, standing in the door of the cabin, arrayed in all the glories of buckskin and coonskin, he announced in a loud voice-O yes! O yes! O yes! the first Hon. County Court of Whiteside is now setting, and will soon hatch!' Of the future of our county it is useless to speak. Her present prosperity and past success are sufficient guarantees that she will continue to advance. All the elements of wealth, prosperity and greatness lie thick around us, and literature, science and art will assuredly follow in their train. Then honor to old Whiteside-
" We'll plow the prairies, as of old Our fathers plowed the sea ; We'll make the West, As they the East, The homestead of the free."
Other sentiments were offered, which elicited spirited and appropriate re- marks.
After the sentiments and responses were concluded, a vote of thanks were offered to Col. Hugh Wallace for the use of his hall, which had been granted to the meeting free of expense. Also, to Mr. McCune, of the Wallace House, for the excellence of his entertainment.
In response Col. Wallace tendered the free use of the Hall for the annual meeting of the 'Old Settlers' of Whiteside county, for all coming time. It was resolved that the next meeting should be held at the same place on the 22d day of February, 1859.
PRESENTATION BY HON. E. B. WASHBURNE OF THE PORTRAIT OF THE INDIAN CHIEF " PROPHET " TO WHITESIDE COUNTY.
On Wednesday, October 24, 1877, Hon. Elihu B. Washburne, formerly for many years Representative in Congress from the District of which Whiteside county formed a part, and for the past nine years Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States to the Court of France, presented to the people of Whiteside county a portrait painting of the Indian Chief, Wa-bo-kies-sheik, or White Cloud, more commonly known as the Prophet, which had been painted at his special order by Healy, from the original by Catlin. The portrait is one of great historic value to the people of this county, as the Prophet had his home within its borders, near the present village of Prophetstown. Mr. Washburne arrived at Morrison on the day prior to the presentation, and was received by the Board of Supervisors, and escorted by that body to the Revere House, where the formal welcome to the city of Morrison and the county of Whiteside was ten- dered him by Mr. P. B. Reynolds, Chairman of the Board, who made the follow- ing address:
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"Hon. E. B. Washburne, Sir: In behalf of the Board of Supervisors of White- side county present, I, as Chairman of the same, welcome you to this city and county and tender you their hospitalities. In looking over the history of your life among us, I find that you were among the first settlers of this great West; and I presume it had much to do in forming the high career that has followed you to this date. You, in those carly days of log cabins, had your privations; but, like a soldier's life, I have no doubt they are among the happiest of your mem- ory. What an age of improvements you have lived to see ! No railroads then; stage coaches and two-horse wagons were the traveling conveyances. This is truly an age of improvement in everything but morals. Many great men have fallen. We have seen some that at one time were within but a step of the highest honors that this nation could confer; but with their mistakes they fell, and now are not taking any part in government affairs. Although you have traveled upon that great highway, your honor, your wisdom, carried you safely through. You saw the end from the beginning, while many were blinded by the great offers of wealth. You stand to-day without a charge against you. You have met us under different circumstances than you do to-day. We have no political issues to discuss. You meet us as an honored citizen, honor- ed by all parties, and we all meet on the same level, all claiming the right to honor whom the people delighteth to honor. I presume that there is not a man in the United States that all parties can find so little to complain of, in his political life, as yourself. How well you have done your work! No man has done it better. I know of no mistake. You were always among the first to take your stand upon questions of great importance, and, in the heated mo- ments, it seems your mind, like Andrew Jackson's, always came to right conclusions. You saw that the railroads were getting too strong a hold in leg- islation, and in courts, and with that prophetic vision of yours foretold what has come to pass. They are common carriers now. They were not then. You stood by Gen. Grant when, in his dark days, he needed just such a friend. You stood by him until he accomplished all you could have wished, until the war closed. You were brave during the siege at Paris. You did not leave your post because they were burning powder, but stood your ground like a soldier. There are citizens in the United States that remember you in those trying times, shut out from the world by one of the bloodiest sieges of our day. All Germany could not speak too highly of you. You were not only brave, but generous; you looked after the wants and rights of all without expectation of any other pay than that you had discharged your whole duty. When I read of the reception of your successor as minister in Paris, I was never more delighted with our countrymen than I was then. It was not the language but the senti- ment put forth; it was not any acts of your successor; but it was that he might do as well as our honored friend, E. B. Washburne, had done. I hope you will excuse me for occupying so much of your time, and allow me the pleasure of in- troducing you to our Honorable Board of Supervisors of Whiteside county, in- dividually."
At the conclusion of his remarks Mr. Reynolds introduced each member of the Board to Mr. Washburne, and a few moments were spent in social conver- sation. During the afternoon of Tuesday and the morning of the next day Mr. Washburne spent the most of his time in receiving visits from varous gentle- men of the county.
The proceedings attending the presentation commenced about noon on Wednesday, when Mr. Washburne was escorted from the Revere House to the Fair Grounds by the Board of Supervisors, County officers, Board of Education of the city of Morrison, members of the Press, and by citizens in carriages and
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on foot, the procession being under the marshalship of Mr. Ed. A. Worrell, and preceded by the Fulton Cornet Band. Arriving at the stand erected at the Fair Grounds, the large assembly was called to order by Mr. P. B. Reynolds, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Capt. John Whallon, Supervisor from Lyndon township, then introduced Mr. Washburne to the citizens of Whiteside county, with the following address:
" Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen of Whiteside County :- I have this day the honor of presenting to you a gentlemen whose eminent services in sus- taining constitutional government, and establishing personal liberty, have ren- dered his name a household word in his native land, and given him a reputation as extended as civilization, and who in token of those generous and kindly feel- ings which should ever exist between the worthy public servant and his fellow citizens, will do himself the pleasure, and you the honor, of presenting to you the portrait of the Indian chief, "The Prophet,"-a magnificent work of art, stamped with the genius of both a Catlin and a Healy-whom I will now intro- duce to you in the person of the distinguished Minister, the able Statesman, your illustrious countryman and honored citizen, Hon. Elihu B. Washburne."
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