USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Sandwich > History of the Somonauk United Presbyterian church near Sandwich, De Kalb County, Illinois : with ancestral lines of the early members > Part 17
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He lost no time, but, sending his wife and her people into Indiana for safety, called his son and a nephew to a secret rendezvous, where he revealed to them his masterly plan. Apportioning to each a certain dis- trict, he urged them not to spare their ponies but to reach each farm and settlement in a circuit of hundreds of miles. Mounting his swiftest pony, Shabbona rode the faithful creature until it dropped, when he changed the saddle to a borrowed horse and rode on, completing the circuit only at the end of forty-eight hours. In some cases he rode back a second time to urge the incredulous to seek safety within Fort Dearborn and the lesser fortified places. There is at least one person now living who as an infant was carried in his mother's arms in the flight to Fort Dearborn. This is Major Charles Blodgett, of Downer's Grove.
At Indian Creek, just south of Paw Paw township in De Kalb County, no heed was given the warning. The men were in the fields, the women about their household duties, little children were playing happily about the houses, when on the 20th of May, like a bolt out of blue sky Black Hawk's Indians fell upon the settlement. Fifteen were killed and two young women taken prisoners. The victims of the massacre lie buried in the beautiful cemetery on Indian Creek, where modest monuments stand out on the hillside, bearing the names of this little group that perished in their effort to blaze the trail for future home-makers.
United States troops, guided by Shabbona, captured the blood-crazed Black Hawk and thus ended the domain of the Indians east of the Mis- sissippi. Small as is the space given in general histories to the Black Hawk War, many who afterward became famous were here thrown together, among them General Whiteside, commander of the Federal troops, Col. Zachary Taylor, Capt. Robert Anderson, Lieut. Jefferson Davis, Albert Sidney Johnston, John Reynolds, and William Hamilton, a son of Alex- ander Hamilton. It was in this same war that Abraham Lincoln gained his first military experience, being captain of a company of state troops. Gen. Winfield Scott, assigned to the defense of Fort Dearborn, thus describes the line of march of a detachment of his troops: "From Fort Dearborn to Naperville, from Naperville across the Fox River, thence
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to Somonauk Creek, thence to Ross Grove, thence to Dixon's Ferry." The place where Scott's army crossed Somonauk Creek we understand was a point near the site of the United Presbyterian Church, where sev- eral generations of our people have worshiped in peace. The Indians lingered in this region in numbers until 1837, when the greater number were moved bodily to the reservations provided for them in Iowa, Mis- souri, Kansas and Nebraska. Shabbona returned more than once to his favorite haunts in De Kalb County, and it seems probable that the beau- tiful grove that bears his name will some time be marked with a tablet reciting the services that "The White Man's Friend" performed in behalf of the pioneers on this frontier.
Early Schools
In the hearts of the Scotch Presbyterians the lamp of learning was tended with the same zeal that kept the lamp of religion burning with an intense white light. Invariably the church and the school appear simultaneously in the villages settled by these people, and the following extracts from Andrew Graham's "History of School District 139" give us a first-hand picture that is typical and an invaluable record going back three-quarters of a century. This is still in manuscript.
"My father, Robert Graham, piloted his schooner across the flower spangled waves of prairie grass to the home of George Beveridge in May 1850. In those days school houses were few and far between and in the winter the big boys and girls would go miles to get to a school. Young men past their majority and occasionally a married man were often regular attendants. Miss Elizabeth Irwin who became Mrs. Thomas Beveridge was our first teacher in the little log school that stood in the brush a few yards from George Beveridge's house.
"The first school house in Victor township situated on the southeast corner of the N. E. quarter of Section 1 was erected mainly by the Rev. R. W. French and John Boyd, the lumber having been hauled from Aurora and Chicago, the latter a four day journey away. The building was 18 by 20 feet in size and set on blocks about which the earth was banked in winter. On the east side was a recitation seat the full length of the building, in front of which was a space for classes. The north end had a similar bench.
"A wood stove stood about seven feet from the south end. The rest of the space was occupied by one aisle and twelve desks made for two pupils each. The teacher had no stand or desk. There was no vestibule and we stepped from outdoors into the schoolroom and hung our hats, hoods and wraps on nails. It was not very warm. We wore cowhide boots. The boys wore no underwear. Some of us never heard of under- wear until after we were grown, but we sometimes put on two pair of pantaloons. The girls wore shawls and hoods and both sexes had big scarfs called 'comforters' wound around and around their necks.
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"The teachers in this schoolhouse were Margaretta Thompson (1852), Thaddeus Carpenter, Salina Cheever, Sarah Jane Graham, Augusta Carpenter, Miss Barber, Edward Elsey, James Price, Samuel McBride, Mary Ann Davis and John Stakemiller."
Mr. Graham himself taught nearly one hundred months in this vicinity and many now living are grateful for the desire for learning inspired by this able educator, who, as a tall, straight, sandy-haired boy, "stepped from the outdoors into the schoolroom" that was to be the stage upon which so large a part of his after life was to be played. Both James and Henry Patten were among his pupils for a term.
ORGANIZATION OF THE FIRST TEMPERANCE SOCIETY IN DE KALB COUNTY, SOMONAUK, MARCH 9, 1847
"At a meeting of the inhabitants of Upper Somonauk, held at the schoolhouse No. 3, the meeting was called to order by Mr. Hyatt. Several addresses were delivered on the subject of temperance. A pledge was circulated and forty names subscribed.
"A temperance society was then organized by the appointment of H. D. Kirtland, president; David Merritt, vice-president; William Patten, secretary.
"H. W. Fay, J. H. Beveridge and Daniel Hoag were appointed a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws for the society and report at the next meeting.
"G. H. Hough was invited to deliver an address at the next meeting. Adjourned to meet at the schoolhouse No. 2, on Monday the 15th at 6 p. m."
The Pledge
"We hereby pledge ourselves that we will abstain from the use of all intoxicating drinks as a beveridge and that we will use our best endeavors to dissuade others from the use of them.
David Merritt
Frances Bacon
F. N. Witherspoon
J. H. Beveridge
Mary Clark Colin L. Pratt
William Patten
Lavinia S. Clark Daniel H. Beman
Sophia Clark James N. Kirtland
Horace W. Fay
Jane N. Pratt
Luther M. Hough Calvin Hough Henry Carpenter
George Hough
Esther Ann Hough
Catherine Coleman
H. D. Kirtland Andrew J. Potter
Philo P. Tuttle
Lucy Ann Alexander
H. Wm. Eddy Charles H. Westfall
Miles Kellogg
James H. Furman
Wesley Hough
Noah W. Hancock Henry Stone
Wallace Carpenter
Ann Beveridge
Harvey Ward
T. G. Beveridge
Melinda Wilson
Daniel Hoag
D. M. Dobbin 1
A. R. Patten Franklin Dale
Catherine S. Pratt
I. S. Clark
Daniel N. Boyd
Calvin D. Lackey
Wm. H. Eddy
Susan Alexander
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George Beveridge
Harriet Hough
Martha N. Sweetland
Charles P. Buckingham
M. Hoag
W. M. Sweetland
Horace Bacon
Clarissa Dale
William French
Hez. S. Clark
Caroline Dale
Isabel French
William Root
A. Westfall
James French MARCH 15, :847
G. L. Hough
L. M. Westfall
Byron Carpenter
Mahala P. Fay
Burrage Hough
Alex. Wilson
Rhoda S. Fay
Mary Hough
Augusta Carpenter
A. D. Root
Silas D. Coleman
Jennet Burchim
Agnes Beveridge
James Clark
Roxanna Carpenter
Robert Patten
Robert Howison
Francis Clark
Catherine M. Patten
Henry Tucker
Sarah Eddy
Mary Patten
Eunice Eddy
Belinda E. Eddy
Elizabeth Patten
Josepha Lay"
OAK MOUND CEMETERY Somonauk Cemetery Association
The cemetery records show that the original three acres were part of a parcel of land purchased by David Merritt from the United States April 21, 1847, and were deeded to the commissioners of De Kalb County, May 3, of that year, "for the inhabitants of Somonauk precinct and vicinity to be used as a burying ground." Under date of September 15, 1881, the Board of Supervisors gave a quit claim deed on these three acres to the Oak Mound Cemetery Association. The members of the Cemetery Board at that time were James H. Beveridge, James W. French, William S. Beveridge, Charles E. Wilson and Josiah Fosgate.
The incorporation of the Oak Mound Cemetery Association bears the date April 3, 1882. A new act being approved May 14, 1903, papers of incorporation were issued to the Somonauk Cemetery Association October 14, 1910, and the property deeded to the new body.
In 1909, George W. Patten bought ten acres of land west of the original cemetery and built the superintendent's house. Later, a complete water system with an artesian well was installed by his brothers who also built the Bedford stone balustrade surrounding the cemetery. George W. Patten by his will bequeathed $42,000 to form an endowment fund for the cemetery, which, by additions from other lot owners, has grown to about $60,000. An unusual feature of the improving of this spot is the extensive planting of trees and ornamental shrubs of varieties not native to this region, which in time will constitute an arboretum. The cemetery is situated on a rise of ground a quarter of a mile west of the United Presbyterian Church, five miles north and two miles west of Sandwich, Illinois.
In this cemetery are buried nearly all of the original members of the Somonauk United Presbyterian Church and many of their descendants.
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NAMES OF PERSONS WHO UNITED WITH THE SOMONAUK UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DURING THE PASTORATES OF THE REVEREND R. W. FRENCH AND THE REVEREND W. T. MOFFETT, 1849-1878 1849-By Certificate 1853-By Certificate
Mrs. R. W. French
Mr. Elijah Stewart
Mr. Joseph Thompson
Mrs. Elijah Stewart
Mr. James McAllister
Miss Mary Stewart
Mrs. Jane McAllister
Mr. Tobias Cole
Miss Mary McAllister
Mrs. Anna Cowden Cole
Mrs. N. P. French
Mr. James C. Patton
By Profession Mr. James H. Beveridge
Mrs. John Campbell
Mr. James W. French
Mrs. Daniel Boyd
Miss Eliza Howison
1850-By Certificate
Mr. Robert Graham
Mrs. Sarah Graham
Mr. James Henry
Mr. Harvey Easton
Mrs. Jennet Henry
Mr. Thomas Beveridge
By Profession
Miss Sarah Ann Stewart
Miss Nancy Ferguson Method and Date Not Given
Mrs. Mary Patten
Mr. Alexander White
Miss Margaret McFarland
Miss Catharine McCleery
Miss Margaret McCleery
Mr. Joseph Thompson, Jr.
Miss Margaretta Thompson
Mr. Samuel McBride
Mrs. Rebecca McBride
Mrs. James McCleery
Mrs. John McCleery
Mr. James Ferguson
Mrs. Nancy Ferguson
Mr. Robert Ferguson
Miss Mary A. French
Mr. David Orr
Mrs. Isaac Kirkpatrick
Mrs. Elizabeth Orr
Mr. Hezekiah Kirkpatrick
Mrs. Hezekiah Kirkpatrick
Mr. Andrew Beveridge
Mrs. Jane Martin Beveridge Mrs. Elizabeth Stahl
1854-By Certificate
Miss Catherine Walls
Miss Ann Beveridge
Mrs. Harvey Easton
Miss Margaret Thompson
Mr. James More
Mrs. Maria More
Miss Christian Easton
By Profession Mr. John Boyd Miss Martha McAllister
1851 (or 1857)-By Certificate
Mrs. Thompson
Mr. James McCleery
Mr. John McCleery
Mr. Edward C. McCleery
Mrs. Edward McCleery
By Profession Mrs. Elizabeth Irwin Beveridge
Miss Robena Jane French
1852-By Certificate
Mr. Isaac Kirkpatrick
Mrs. Eliza Stott Dobbin
1855-By Certificate
Miss Mary L. Pratt
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By Profession
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1856-By Certificate
Mr. James A. Henry
Mrs. Elizabeth Henry
Miss Christie Ann Henry
Mr. A. M. Stewart
Mrs. Jane C. Stewart Mr. John Dobbin
Mrs. Elizabeth Carr
Mr. Smith Mercer
Mrs. Smith Mercer
Mrs. Jemima Cummings
Miss Margaret Macklin
Mrs. Jane Somes Patten
Miss Sarah Jane Graham
Mr. James McClellan Mr. Moses Robertson
Mr. Thomas Graham
Mrs. Thomas Graham
Miss Pamelia Henry
Miss Annette Stewart
Mr. W. B. Graham
Mr. S. Nelson McClellan
Mr. Isaac M. Graham
Mrs. Elizabeth Graham Mrs. M. E. Shankland
By Profession Miss Jane Patton Miss Phoebe Dobbin Miss Lucy Wells
1857-By Certificate Adeline
By Profession Miss Ellen Ann French
Mrs. Laura Avery
1858-By Certificate
Mr. William Henry
Mrs. William Henry
Mr. James McEachron
Mrs. Margaret McEachron By Profession Mr. William Howison Mr. Robert Howison Mr. Alexander Howison Mr. Andrew S. Dobbin
Mr. James M. Dobbin
Miss Emeline Stewart
Miss Anna Mary Henry
Miss Isabel Henry
Miss Ellen McAllister
Mr. Edward Graham
Mr. William P. Wells
Mrs. Mary Wells
Mr. Henry Carr
Miss Ellen Walker
Mr. Andrew A. Beveridge
Mrs. Sarah Bullock
Mrs. Jane Allen
Miss Elizabeth Henry
Miss Eliza McIlvaine
1859-By Certificate Mrs. Eliza Fullerton By Profession
Mr. John V. Henry
Mr. Andrew Beveridge
1860-By Certificate
Mr. John Armstrong
Mrs. John Armstrong
Mrs. Margaret Dobbin Walker
Mr. David Armstrong, Sr.
Mrs. Margaret Livingston
Mrs. Mary McAllister Christie
By Profession
Mr. Leonard Wells
Mr. Samuel J. Stewart
Mr. George Allen
Mr. James H. Coon
Miss Sarah Belle Beveridge
1861-By Certificate
Mrs. W. T. Moffatt
Miss Nancy Taylor
Mr. Anderson Graham
Mrs. Anna McCague
Mr. John Morrison By Profession
Miss Catherine Pratt Mr. Andrew H. Graham Mr. Alexander Graham
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1862-By Certificate
Mr. William T. Armstrong Mrs. Mary Armstrong Mr. William Irwin Mrs. Margaret Irwin Miss Eleanor Irwin Mr. John C. Beveridge
Mr. John McCleery
Mrs. Ann McCleery
Mrs. Margaret Howison
By Profession Miss Mary French Miss Margaret Ann Dobbin Mr. John C. Stewart Mr. Robert Brown
1863-By Certificate
Mr. John McGibbon
Mrs. Cynthia A. McGibbon
Mr. William McKee
Mrs. Mary McKee
Miss Maria McKee
Miss Sarah McKee
Miss Esther McAllister
Mrs. Hannah Ellen Howison
Mrs. Maria P. More
By Profession
Mr. Thomas Irwin
Miss Sarah French
Miss Sarah E. More
Miss Mary Ann McCleery
Miss Elizabeth McCleery
Mrs. Rosanna Fraser
Miss Nancy Mary Graham Mr. James Graham
Mrs. Sarah McAllister Graham
Miss Mary Ann Graham
Mr. William John Graham Miss Mary Jane Graham
1864-By Certificate
Mrs. Margaret Orr Mr. Alexander Fullerton Mr. Christopher Pierce Mrs. Margaret Pierce Mr. Joseph Gilchrist
Mrs. Martha Jane Gilchrist Miss Anna Mary Gilchrist Mr. T. B. Cole Mrs. Elizabeth Cole
Mr. John Cain
Mrs. Eliza Cain
By Profession Miss Sarah Irwin
Miss Sarah Henry
Miss Lucretia Carr
Miss Ellen McCleery
Mr. James Blair Dobbin
Mr. Andrew Graham
Mr. George Lawrence
Miss Arvilla Roff
1865-By Certificate
Mr. Daniel Tuttle
Mrs. Margaret Tuttle
Miss Agnes McGeoch
Mr. Alexander Robertson
Mrs. Albina Walker
Mr. Alexander Miller
Mrs. Eliza Miller Mr. John Mahaffey
Mrs. Martha Mahaffey
Mrs. Ellen Radley
Miss Margaret McCleery
Miss Mary Ann Orr
By Profession
Mr. Joseph More
Mr. John Walker, Jr.
Miss Jeannette Sarah Gilchrist
Miss Caroline Goodell
Mr. William D. McCleery
Mr. William C. Ferguson
Mr. William James Walker
Mr. Robert Walker
Mr. John Huston
Mr. Edie R. Stewart
Mr. James Martin McCleery
Miss Anna Graham
1866-By Certificate
Mrs. Margaret Fulton Mrs. Elizabeth McGeoch
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Mr. Joseph Fulton Mr. Wilson A. Shelby Mr. John Bert Mrs. Jeannette McEachron
Miss Mary McCall
By Profession
Mr. Michael McCally
Mr. William Mitchell
Mr. John A. Armstrong Mr. George McEachron Miss Mary R. McEachron
Miss Isabel McAllister
Miss Minnie Wood
Miss Mary A. McEachron
Mr. William Robertson
Miss Mary Jeannette Randles
Mrs. Elizabeth Robertson
Miss Emma Kirkpatrick
Mr. William J. McAllister Mr. Chester Henry
Miss Agnes Kirkpatrick Miss Jane E. Fullerton
Mr. Andrew Robertson
Miss Martha S. Fullerton
Miss Margaret I. Robinson
Mr. I. McKelvey Mrs. Marie McKelvey
Mr. William Morehead
1867-By Certificate
Mr. E. E. Mitchell
Mrs. Anna Kirkpatrick Walker
Miss Mary Ann Mitchell Mr. Oliver Mitchell
1868-By Certificate
Hon. A. W. Graham Mrs. Mary Graham
Mr. Alexander Henry Mrs. Isabel Henry
By Profession Mr. John S. Kirkpatrick Mr. Wallace Gilchrist
Mr. Robert I. McCleery Mr. Albert Gilchrist
Mr. Henry Walker Mr. Easton Kirkpatrick Mr. John R. White
Mr. Taylor Fullerton
Miss Mary Jane Graham
1869-By Certificate
Miss Mattie Moffatt
Mrs. Sarah McEachron
Mrs. Mary Kenyon Mr. Donald McInnis
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Mr. Clark G. Cole Mr. James Graham Mr. William J. Randles Mr. James Irvine More
Miss Margaretta Kirkpatrick
Miss Puella White
Mrs. E. J. Mitchell Mr. Thomas McEachron Mrs. Margaret McEachron
Mr. Peter C. McClellan Mrs. Isabel Beveridge McClellan Mr. Andrew Randles
Mrs. Margaret Ann Randles Miss Robena Jane Kirkpatrick Miss Margaret Mcclellan Mr. Alexander Randles Mrs. Mary Randles Mr. John A. McConnell Mrs. Elizabeth McConnell Mr. William Armstrong Mrs. Phoebe Armstrong Mr. David James Armstrong Mr. James R. Graham Mrs. Margaret Jane Graham Mrs. Adeline McCleery Mr. J. Elliott Kirkpatrick Mr. James McCleery, Jr.
Mrs. Margaret McCleery Mr. Alexander McGeoch Miss Eliza Kirkpatrick Miss Rebecca Kirkpatrick
By Profession Mr. Wallace More Miss Ellen Orr Mrs. Ann Still
APPENDIX
By Profession Mr. Robert McAfee Miss Susan French Miss Rosanna Walker Miss Laura Goodell
1870-By Certificate Mrs. Margaret Martin
1871-By Certificate
Mr. William Watson
Mrs. Esther Watson
Mrs. Mary Clymons Mrs. Mary Cain
Miss Eliza Cain
Mr. I. L. Graham
By Profession Mr. James Doig Orr
Mr. Alexander Gilchrist
1872-By Certificate
Mrs. Lizzie J. Shepherd Moffatt Mrs. Margaret Morrison Mr. Andrew Beveridge, Jr. By Profession Mrs. Eliza Ann White
Mrs. William Robertson Miss Mary A. Morrison Mr. William Robertson Miss P. Robertson
1873-By Certificate
Mrs. Mary Ellen Gilchrist
Mrs. Catherine Stewart
Miss Jeannette Stewart Miss Samantha Wood Mr. Thomas McIlhenney By Profession Mr. Frank Morris
Mr. Wallace Moffatt
Mr. Andrew Gilchrist Mr. Albert E. Stewart Miss Ellen Ann Stewart
Miss Agnes McBride Miss Emma White
Mr. Edward McCleery, Jr. Mr. Albert Dobbin
Mr. Alexander French
Mr. Elliott Cole
Mr. Joseph Mercer
Mr. Simon N. Patten Mr. T. H. Robinson
Mr. James T. Winter Miss Laura Reid
1874-By Certificate
Mr. T. H. Robinson
Mrs. Elizabeth Robinson
Mrs. Myra Beveridge Mr. John Mains
By Profession Miss Eliza Jane Dobbin
Miss Sarah E. Kirkpatrick
Miss Lizzie McMillen
Miss Emma A. Schiver
Miss Jennie M. Patten
1875-By Certificate
Miss Lizzie Dobbin
Mrs. Mary Hopkins
Mrs. Elizabeth Robinson
Miss Mary A. Robinson
Mr. Miles Robinson
Mrs. Ellen Radley Mrs. Belle Cole Armstrong
By Profession Miss Jennie Graham
Mrs. Mary Cain
Miss Mary Stewart
Miss Ellen Stewart
Miss Mary R. Carr
Mr. James C. McClellan
Miss Anna M. McClellan
Miss Jeannette French Mr. Alexander Farris Mr. Hugh R. Moffatt
Miss Sarah J. McCleery
Miss Nora McEeachron
Miss Anna J. McEachron Miss Agnes J. Dobbin
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Mrs. William McClellan Mr. Nathan O. Graham
1876-By Certificate Mr. William Mitchell Mrs. Margaretta Mitchell Mr. Hezekiah Kirkpatrick Mrs. Sarah Kirkpatrick Mr. William T. Stinson
By Profession Miss Effie Boyd Miss Fannie Stewart Miss Charlotte M. Morrison Mr. Henry G. Dobbin Miss Theresa Mcclellan Miss Emma Dobbin Miss Jennie Gilchrist
Mr. Robert F. McCleery Miss Emma McEachron Mr. James H. Robinson 1877-By Profession Mr. Ithamer Robinson Mr. William J. French Mr. Gilbert Henry Miss Anna Cole
1878-By Profession Miss Mary McCleery Miss Anna L. Irwin
Miss Charity Dobbin Miss Ida Hamlin Miss Lona Hamlin
Mr. Ernest Stewart Mr. Robert Cole
. .
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FAMILY LETTERS
The following have been selected from a large number of family letters either because they are vivid pen pictures of life in early Illinois or because they constitute a commentary upon the family histories con- tained in this volume.
The first group are all written to Miss Agnes Beveridge from girl friends in Washington County, New York, and touch in sprightly man- ner upon a wide circle of the younger generation, casting much light upon the manners and customs of society in the '40s.
The letters of Alexander R. Patten and his sister show them to have been deeply interested in education, particularly the progress of science. Miss Martha writes learnedly about two new therapeutic agents- tomato pills and mesmerism. Mr. Patten's letters to his wife reflect his intense devotion to "the lovely Agnes Beveridge," as her friends loved to call her.
The letters of William Patten and his wife, Elizabeth N. Pratt, afford such a picture of pioneer life as is rarely met with in private correspon- dence, while the letters descriptive of the journey of the gold seekers to California are epic in their way. The unvarnished narrative of hard- ships experienced day after day-hardships uncomplainingly borne and dismissed with a jest-produces a profound respect for the enterprise, fortitude and endurance of Scotch-American young manhood. The ability of the young wife in the management of their farm, her cheerfulness and practical suggestions for the health and comfort of her absent hus- band are no less monumental.
Mr. Hummel's is valuable for its first hand information on the begin- nings of Somonauk.
LETTERS TO MISS AGNES BEVERIDGE
I. Miss Eleanor Crawford Pratt, aged 14, of Cossayuna, N. Y., to her former schoolmate, Miss Agnes Beveridge, of Somonauk, Ill.
Dear Friend Agnes.
July the 7 1842.
For some time past I have thought of writing to you but it being the first time I felt rather delicate about commencing and time past away so rapidly that I hardly was aware of it. I attended the temperance celebration on the fourth of July at Salem. The proceedings all went on well. First of the procession was the Salem band, after them came the captain with his trainers, the engine came next drawn on a car with 2 horses. Next came a small engine drawn by six or eight black caps marked number 2 .*
On each side of the large engine there were three men dressed in red coats and white pantalones, and large caps, and then came four boys
*The firemen's uniform consisted of very large black caps, blue coats and white pantaloons.
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dressed in blue. They carried a very handsome flag fixed off with arti- ficials and several small flags with writing on them, and the gentlemen and ladies (? ) came last. There were very large flags carried. A large white cloth about half as large as a sheet was hung between the meeting house and the house opposite, very high, with Temperance on it, looked very nice. On Saturday last I attended catechizing. There were quite a number there. I missed your company.
A week or two ago Andrus Weaver's youngest child died with the inflamation in the head. I attended the funeral. It was a very small funeral. There was not but eight waggons. Only 7 went to the grave yard. I suppose you have not yet heard of the death of Mrs Sarah Stott and her child. She died the next Friday after she was confined. How great must be the loss of Mrs Stott. Mr Thomas Lamb had 5£ stole out of his house Sacrament day. He said the money was in his desk. They first went to the front window and tried to get in and worked the nail down in the hole and then they went to one of the square room win- dows and got in. They did not notice it until Sarah went to the window and found the curtain string broke and then he looked and found the money gone. They have not yet found who it was.
James Dobbin and Catherine Campbell rode out to meeting Sacra- ment day. They had an elegant horse and wagon and some called them bride and groom. They looked very smart. James Hill married Hugh Martin's sister Nancy and James McEachron was married last week to Miss Sarah Stott. They made their appearance last Sabbath day. Mr Wells married Miss Ann Eliza Johnson about two weeks ago (the one that was to be married to her cousin Sarah Johnson that died).
On the 4th of July they had a choir. I could not tell you all of the names of those that sung. I was not acquainted with any of them. They sung beautiful cold water songs. Uncle Boyd's folks and us went together. They had 6 long tables, 60 could eat at one table. They got dissapointed in their speakers. One of them had a death in his family, the other was very sick. They intended to have Gillet of Philadelphia. He was sick himself and Beamen had a death in his family. Mr. William Russell read the revolutionary address and Mr Pritchet of Union Vil- lage gave them an address. He was very smart. He came unprepared but he spoke well. He gave them a very short address in the bower which was better than the church (?) He drank toasts. There was the greatest Huzaing about ever I heard. The tables were set very tasty and in nice style. Mr. Halley's congregation had a fair in their church yard. They were a great many, the most at the temperance dinner than there was at the fair.
Mother has just started for to go to Rev. Millers. Mrs Miller is very sick, they have not much hopes of her getting well. Mr Miller did not preach but one sermon Sabboth day. She looks very miserable. We called there last Saturday when we was coming home from cateciz- ing. We could not talk to her because she cannot talk to anybody but
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