USA > Illinois > Will County > History of Will County, Illinois, Volume One > Part 18
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1871, the law was revised for its government, and the appoint- ment of commissioners vested in the governor and subject to his removal. The commissioners were also authorized to lease the labor of the convicts, and this was the plan now pursued as far as possible. During the last year of Gov. Palmer's ad- ministration the institution became self-sustaining. The leas- ing ceased in 1906. Very little manufacturing is done now (1928).
The outstanding features which characterize and differen- tiate the New Illinois State Penitentiary from others may be enumerated as follows:
1. System of housing wherein are combined complete and efficient supervision, ample security, and healthful, sanitary "rooms" rather than "cages."
2. A system of classification and segregation accomplished by dividing the "yard" into sections corresponding to the dif- ferent "grades" whereby it is possible to house, feed, work and allow recreation to each class by itself and permitting the ap- plication of different kinds of treatment best suited to meet the needs of individual cases.
3. A system of co-operation and co-ordination between the divisions of Criminology, Prisons, and Pardons and Paroles, whereby each has the benefits of the experience of the others.
The work of constructing the new Illinois State Penitentiary is in charge of "The Penitentiary Commission," created by an act of the Illinois Legislature in 1907. The original commis- sion consisted cf Mr. John Lambert, of Joliet; Mr. James A. Patten, of Evanston; and Mr. Ira C. Copley, of Aurora. Upon the death of Mr. Lambert, Mr. Leslie C. Small, of Kankakee, was appointed, and became the secretary of the commission. The commissioners served without pay. They have devoted much time and study over a number of years. They selected Mr. W. Carbys Zimmerman (of the firm of Zimmerman, Saxe & Zimmerman), of Chicago, as the architect. Months of spe-
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cial study and research throughout this and many European countries were devoted to the project before even tentative plans were drawn. Nearly every important penal institution in the United States, England, Holland, France, Germany, Italy, and even the new prisons of Egypt and Greece, were visited by the architect, and those in charge were interviewed at length not alone upon planning and construction matters, but also upon administrative systems. The new Illinois Penitentiary of today is the result of intensive and continuous study as the work has progressed from year to year and, to quote, "It con- tains the most advanced and forward-looking constructive ideas developed in prison work in the United States or any European country."
The prison proper is located about in the center of the "State Farm" of 2,193 acres, one and one-half miles west of Lockport and about six and one-half miles northwest of the Old Joliet Prison. The "yard" contains 64 acres (being the largest known), and is surrounded by a smooth concrete wall 114 miles long and 33 feet high, 14 inches thick at the top and 24 inches at the bottom, and in its building new principles of engineering were applied which have been adopted by other states. All the buildings are of fireproof construction,-con- crete, brick, steel, and "wire" glass,-and have been constructed very largely by inmate labor, under competent supervision. Mr. Henry W. Tomlinson has been the superintendent of con- struction from the beginning of the first building, which was started August 25, 1916.
The radical difference between the new Illinois pres. and all other modern institutions is in the design of the housing arrangements. In the circular cell house it has been possible to combine complete and efficient supervision, ample security and healthful, sanitary "rooms" rather than "cages,"-while the cell houses have the same appearance from the outside they will vary in the arrangement of the rooms. The typical cell
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house has 248 single cells-others will have the rooms larger and grouped to afford dormitory accommodations for from three to six men.
All of the buildings are of concrete construction faced with light colored pressed brick with terra cotta cornice and trim- mings. The outside walls are insulated against temperature changes.
In the completed new prison there will be eight cell houses, thus permitting classification by means of small units which is a prerequisite to a successful carrying out of a graded sys- tem. Each house has 248 cells.
In the center of each cell-house is the officer's observation and control tower which he enters from underground. From this tower he has a clear view of the interior of each cell at all times, as the cell fronts are made of steel sash and polished plate "wire" glass. This places the responsibility for thorough and constant supervision on the officer in charge, where it should be, as he cannot avail himself of the customary excuse that he was about his duties elsewhere when wrong acts are being committed. From this tower he also controls the entire lighting and locking systems. The operation of the locking system is by hydraulic pressure.
Tuberculosis has always been a great menace to the health of men in prison. One of the greatest preventives of this disease is sunlight. In these new cell houses the direct rays of the sun shine into each cell for at least two hours each day the sun shines. The cells on the south side receive sunlight through their outside windows-those on the north side re- ceive rays directly through the specially designed skylight and the glass fronts of the cells.
In the new institution a typical room or cell is intended for but one inmate. The dimensions are 6' 8" wide, 10' 6" long and 8' 0" high, giving approximately 550 cubic feet of air or five and one-half times as much as is provided in many of the cells
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in the old Joliet prison. Each of the new cells is provided with a lavatory, a toilet, steam heat, electric light, a bed, table and chair. At one end is an outside window and at the other end an overhead transom sash both of which the inmate can control to secure natural cross ventilation and pure fresh air. The walls and ceilings are painted with an impervious enamel so they can be washed with soap and water or with an antiseptic if necessary. The ceilings are buff, the walls a soft light green with darker green trimmings, the colors having been selected in accord with the psychology of color. The effect is cheerful, wholesome and not coldly "institutional." Every corner is rounded so that there is no place for lodgment of vermin, dirt or disease germs. Thus the prisoner has such privacy and accommodations as to be protected against the physical and moral foulness of an adjoining criminal, his every necessity for a healthful life, has been provided and he is safely housed in a room which although sanitary, is far from luxurious, and in which he can retain his self-respect.
The dining room is located in the center of the group of eight cell houses. It is 200 feet in diameter and seats the entire population of approximately 2,000 at one time. It is encircled by a corridor from which radiate enclosed passages to each of the eight cell houses and to the chapel, laundry and bath building, work shops, etc. The prisoners from each dormitory are seated in a section by themselves and, as they enter by eight doors the time required to serve and seat the entire num- ber or to vacate the building is no more than is required for a single section.
To facilitate the economical serving and secure a more healthful diet by providing the food hot and appetizingly the cafeteria system is used, service being provided by eight steam tables-located at the points of ingress. To these stations the dishes are returned to be washed. In the center of the dining hall is a stand for the prison band of 32 pieces.
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Illinois is the first state in the Union to make a successful attempt to get away from the old traditional ideas of what a prison plan and design should be. The new Illinois State Peni- tentiary demonstrates the possibility of introducing new fea- tures in prison construction that lend themselves to the pro- gram of rehabilitation rather than to mere punitive handling or treatment of those committed to it as criminals. It is be- lieved by those who have made an exhaustive study of the treatment of prisoners that the time spent in prison should so be used as a period of training and development of character as to make it possible for the prisoner, when his time is up, to live less a menace to society than before. The time was when no thought was given to this, and the result of punitive meth- ods alone has been that men have often left prison in a bitter and vindictive frame of mind against society-a potential lia- bility rather than an asset. Even now the popular thought, largely entertained by the public in general, is that "prison" is a place where transgressors are sent only to be confined, with the idea of punishment and safe keeping uppermost. This latter is necessary, of course, but, under the laws of a very large percentage of those committed to prison,-hence, the im- portance of having a prison so designed that it will lend itself to such a system of prison management as will insure a prac- tical course of training and development of stable character during the period of incarceration. The segregation from so- ciety while "doing time" is the punishment-the confinement within barriers is a necessity, but the rehabilitation of the man and his return to society as an asset is the final objective.
Such a plan has been worked out by the penitentiary com- mission for the benefit of Illinois, and building operations have progressed to such a point as to demonstrate the soundness and value of the underlying principles. These are: Healthful living conditions and security of confinement, combined with segregation and classification, permitting of different kinds of
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treatment in preparation for the several stages of advance- ment in the development of character under the Progressive Merit System. The basic principle of separation and classifi- cation is carried throughout, so that it is possible to house, feed, work, and allow recreation to each class by itself as completely as though each were confined in a separate institution, and more completely than has heretofore been possible in any sim- ilar institution.
On this date (July 21, 1928) the population of the Illinois State Penitentiary reached 3,239. The new penitentiary at Stateville leads with 1,601 inmates. The following account is from the Joliet Herald News for July 21, 1928:
"All records for inmates at the state prison here have been shattered as the county in three penal institutions is above the 3,200 mark.
"Figures obtained from the prison yesterday show 1,469 inmates at the old prison, 1,601 at the new prison at Stateville, 84 at the honor farm and 85 women inmates, making a total of 3,239.
"There are two factors attributed by Warden Elmer J. Green for the large number of inmates. Warden Green pointed out that the courts are dealing out longer sentences in an effort to stem crime, while the parole board is requiring prisoners to serve a longer length of time than was formerly the custom.
"Warden Green is confronted with a hard task of finding employment for this vast army of men. A large number are used in construction work at the new prison, others in the shops and quarry.
"There are 84 men stationed at the honor farm, but every morning a detail from 60 to 100 men is taken from the new prison at Stateville to do farm work. Great care must be taken in selecting men for this work because of the certain amount of liberty allowed the farm workers.
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"Men who have proven by their conduct that they merit trust are selected for the farm detail.
"There is very little possibility that the state will be able to abandon the old prison during the next five years, unless a large sum is appropriated for new cell-houses at the Stateville prison."
CHAPTER XII.
TOWNSHIPS, CONTINUED.
LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP-LOCKPORT-LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL-MAN- HATTAN TOWNSHIP-MANHATTAN-MONEE TOWNSHIP-MONEE-NEW LENOX TOWNSHIP-VILLAGE OF NEW LENOX-PEOTONE TOWNSHIP-PE- OTONE-PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP-PLAINFIELD-REED TOWNSHIP-CITY OF BRAIDWOOD-TROY TOWNSHIP
Lockport Township includes a portion of the "Great High- way", which passes through Will County. Aborigines passed through on their expeditions of peace and war. Interesting, indeed, would be the account of their journeys, how they trav- eled, what plans they had, what rejoicings there were after a successful tour or what sorrowings there were when they failed. The Indians passed and repassed through many gen- erations. Sometimes they traded and sometimes they warred. They, too, had a wonderful history, but nothing remains to record these things excepting remains from tombs and a few traditions. From these we gather much which has been given in a previous chapter. The white man left more records. Father Marquette came this way. Joliet sought his fortune through this route. The later settlers left records and these are our theme in this account of Lockport Township.
The first permanent settler in Lockport Township was Arm- stead Runyon, who came to the neighborhood in October, 1830, He was born in Kentucky, but removed to Ohio when but fif- teen years old, where he remained until 1827, when he came to
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Danville, Illinois. Here he remained until his removal to Lock- port, as above stated. His first winter in this section was that of the "deep snow," so vividly remembered by the few old set- tlers still surviving, and who were here that memorable winter. Mr. Runyon had a large amount of stock, most of which he left at Danville, except some hogs which he brought with him, thinking they would winter on nuts and acorns, but they all perished during the deep snow, as he had nothing to feed them. The next spring, as soon as the snow had sufficiently disap- peared to allow travel with safety, he took his men and went to Danville after the remainder of his stock and for provisions. The high waters, consequent on the melting of such quantities of snow, detained him six weeks beyond the time he expected to be gone, and his family ran short of provisions before his return. Mrs. Boyer, of Lockport, a daughter of Mr. Runyon's, informed us that for several weeks before he returned they had nothing to live on but salt pork and corn bread made of meal so musty that it did not seem fit for a dog to eat. She remembered but two families then living in what is now Lock- port and Homer Townships besides her father's, viz., Edward Poor and a man named Butler, who lived where Mr. Milne now lives. Of Butler she remembered but little except that he lived there; but whence he came or whither he went she had for- gotten. When her father decided to remove to this section, he gathered up, brought his family and hired men to the place and lived in a tent until he got his cabin ready to move into. Mrs. Boyer remembered very distinctly how the prairie wolves used to come round that tent and render the night hideous with their blood-curdling howls. When the news came of the Black Hawk war, and that the savages were moving in this direction, Mr. Runyon was plowing in the field, which he continued until noon notwithstanding the exciting rumors. He then gathered together his family and what goods he designed to take, and moved on to Hickory Creek, where the settlers were to rendez-
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vous preparatory to retreating toward Danville. But upon his arrival there he found they were already gone. His company consisted of his own family, Edward Poor's, Holder Sissons's and Selah Lanfear's. Finding that the Hickory Creek people were gone, they held a council of war, and, at Mr. Runyon's suggestion, went to Chicago, or Fort Dearborn, instead of Dan- ville, as originally intended. He was also the first to propose to come out from Chicago and build the blockhouse which was built on Mr. Sisson's place, as noticed further on. Indians were plenty in this section when they first settled here, but of the friendly Pottawatomies; and Mrs. Boyer remembers an en- campment, or Indian town, on both sides of her father's place, and their trail from the one to the other was by the house. They used nearly always to come in when passing, but did nothing wrong and generally behaved very well. While Mr. Runyon was gone to Danville, and detained so long, it was reported that the smallpox was at the Indian camps, and Mrs. Runyon refused to let any of them come into her house; when they were seen approaching, the proverbial latch-string was drawn in. This very seriously offended the "noble red men," but they offered no molestation. Mr. Runyon went to Cali- fornia in 1849, where he lived until his death, which occurred in September, 1875. His daughter, Mrs. Boyer, made a trip there to see him the summer before he died. Though one of the very earliest in this section, he had been away so long that none but the oldest settlers remember him personally.
Many of the early settlements of Lockport were made by New Yorkers-men of intelligence and enterprise-qualities still distinguishable at the present day. Among these early pioneers, we may mention the following from the Empire State: Holder Sisson and his brother-in-law, Cyrus Bronson, Selah Lanfear, Lyman Hawley, and his son Warren Hawley, Nathan Hutchins, William Thomas, William Gooding, Isaac Preston, A. J. Mathewson, David C. Baldwin, Edward P. Farley, Col.
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James Wright, James S. Baker, Justin Taylor, Horace Morse, Hiram Norton, and Henry Bush. Sisson was one of the first settlers in the township, and located on the east side of the river in October, 1831, on what has since been known as the Hanford place. He was born in Rhode Island in 1790, and died in April, 1878, at the ripe old age of eighty-eight years. Though born in Rhode Island, most of his life had been spent in New York, until his removal to the West. He served six months in the War of 1812; was captain of a company during the Black Hawk war, and built a fort or blockhouse on his place near the village of Lockport, in the spring of 1832. He first located in Indiana, near the present city of Evansville, at which time the country was new and very sparsely settled. During the fifteen years he remained there, he improved five farms, and, finding no market there for his produce, built flatboats and carried it to New Orleans. As an example of his indomitable energy, of the four trips he made to the Crescent City, he re- turned from two of them on foot. From this Indiana settle- ment he returned to New York, but did not remain long, until he again removed to the West, as already noticed, in October, 1831, and settled in this township. When the Black Hawk war broke out, the families of the few settlers were removed to Fort Dearborn (now Chicago) for safety; they made the trip to that haven of peace in ox-teams, and on the return to the settle- ment of the men, Mr. Sisson was elected captain, and proceeded at once to build a blockhouse, and make preparations for de- fense. On receiving his command, he was ordered by General Scott to proceed with his company to Indian Creek, in LaSalle County, and bury the unfortunate whites massacred there by the Indians. In November, after settling in Lockport, he went to Michigan where he had sold a drove of cattle "on time" while living in the Wabash country, to try to make some col- lections; but the trip was a fruitless one, as well as one of pri- vation both to him and his family at home, which at that time
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consisted of a wife and five little children. The winter set in, and he was detained long beyond the time he had intended re- maining; his family was almost without provisions, or any of the necessities of life. During his absence his wife had to go out and cut wood in the forest and carry it to the cabin to keep her children from freezing. There were few neighbors, and they were at a distance; Indians were plenty, but mostly of the friendly Pottawatomies, and under these circumstances, the heroic woman endured the long absence of her husband ignorant of his fate, and hardly daring to hope for his return, owing to the severity with which the winter had set in. His sufferings and perils were great, and a man of less courage and energy would have sunk beneath them. As he was return- ing from his fruitless trip, while crossing Mud Lake with his Indian pony, the ice gave way and pony and rider were sub- merged; the weather was piercing cold and the snow nearly two feet deep. It was night, and in his frozen clothes he rode on to his home, not knowing whether he would find his wife and children alive or dead. Upon his arrival, finding them all well and comfortable as could be expected under the circum- stances, he sat down and wept like a child. But we draw a veil over the meeting, and, as the novelists say, leave it to be imagined; to describe it is beyond the power of any who never experienced a similar meeting. Soon after the close of the Black Hawk war, he sold his claim to Comstock Hanford and removed to the west side of the Des Planes, on the bluff where George Wightman (who married Mr. Sisson's youngest daugh- ter) lived. The second night after his removal to this place, a prairie fire, one of those terrors to the early settlers, came well-nigh ruining him. Sixty tons of hay, standing in ricks, were burned, and handfuls of the cinders could be picked up on the spot where the ricks stood many years after. Of 170 head of sheep, they were all burned to death or injured so that they died from the effects, with the exception of six or
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eight; and of forty head of cattle, many died from the scorch- ing, and those left he was obliged to sell for a dollar or two apiece to prevent them from starving on his hands, as he had nothing left to feed them.
William Gooding, together with the family of his father, who are also mentioned in the history of Homer Township, came to Illinois in 1833. He had been prevented from coming earlier on account of "wars and the rumors of wars" of Black Hawk. He and his wife and infant son were the first pas- sengers to come around the head of Lake Michigan with the United States mail, and arrived in Chicago in May of the year mentioned, when the metropolis of the Great Northwest was mighty in nothing but its mud and mire, and contained but about one hundred and fifty inhabitants besides the garrison. Three days later, they arrived in Gooding's Grove, then a part of Cook County. In 1836, he was appointed chief engineer of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, which position he held until its completion, in 1848.
As already stated, there were plenty of Indians here when the white people began to settle in the vicinity, but they were friendly, lazy, and not at all times disposed to heed that com- mandment forbidding us to steal. Says the "Will County Gazet- teer," of 1860: "From the observations of the first white set- tlers in this vicinity, it is evident that what is now Lockport had long been a favorite resort of the Indian tribes which had occupied this section of the country. The spreading oaks, the clear running brooks, the rapid river, all made this one of the brightest spots in this paradise of the red man. Here their graves are found, their caches, or places for hiding their corn, etc., and arrow-heads, stone hatchets and other evidences of their having lived and died here. Even after the settlements by the whites commenced, the Indians often came here to spend the hunting and fishing season. Another reason why this be- came an important stopping-place for them was, that here was
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the best ford across the Des Planes River, and a crossing could be effected here in consequence of the rapid fall and numerous channels into which the river was divided in extreme high water, when it could nowhere else." But the time came when, "Lo! the poor Indian," with the star of empire, had to wend his way westward. Their old hunting-grounds have changed into broad, cultivated fields, and herds of domestic animals now graze where they once chased the wild deer. Their war- whoop is no longer heard, their council-fires have gone out in the forests and few now living remember them from personal knowledge. Mrs. Wightman said she very well remembered the last Indians she saw in this settlement. She and others of her father's children were sitting on the fence eating butter and bread, when two Indians came along on their ponies, and snatched the butter and bread from their hands. Mr. Rogers, who lived in the neighborhood, had called for something and witnessed their act to the children, became incensed, and seiz- ing Mr. Sisson's horse-whip rode after the Indians and whipped them every jump for a mile or more. She was a small child at the time, but remembers the occurrance and that they were the last she ever saw in the country. Mr. Bronson says that when they took up their line of march for their new hunting- grounds beyond the Mississippi, they presented a rather sad and mournful spectacle, as they trudged along on foot in true Indian file, with heads bowed down and a melancholy and de- jected cast of countenance, that might well have become the bard of Bonny Doon, when he wrote:
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