USA > Illinois > Ogle County > Mount Morris > Mount Morris : past and present, an illustrated history of the village of Mount Morris, Ogle County, Illinois > Part 2
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"I can assure it affords me untold pleasure to meet with this little band of pioneers. The announcement of this meeting brings back to me reminis-
JACOB RICE was one of the pioneers who came to Mount Morris in 1837. He was a farmer of Washington County, Md., and was of German descent. He took up a claim several miles north of Mount Morris and built a log cabin for his large family. The mother was Mary Roland; she died three years after arriving here, leaving twelve motherless children. The names of the children are as follows, in the order of their age: Barbara (Mrs. Maysilles); David, who lived at Byron; Joshua, who started for California and was never heard from; John, who resided in Leaf River Township; Susan, who married Elias Thomas; Lydia, who mar- ried Benjamin Hiestand; Elizabeth, who married Ezra Thomas; Jacob and Simon, who lived in Mount Morris; Mary, who married Daniel Etnyre; Isaac, of Mount Morris; William, who died at age of 21. Mr. Rice married again to Catherine Funk (better known as Aunt Kitty Rice) who mothered his large family of chil- dren. She died in 1900 at the age of 103 years. Mr. Rice died on his farm, April 25, 1870.
cences of early days, in fact, youthful days. My father with ten children, left Washington County, Md., in the fall of 1836. He stopped over winter near Springfield, Ohio-then known as the 'back-woods'-and in the early spring of 1837, he and Uncle Jacob Rice (who left Maryland with us, having the same number in his family as our own), started west on horseback, the objec- tive point being Rock River. At this time there were no settlements, except what were known as 'squatters' who had located all the timber lands with a view to accommodate the incoming im- migrants. My father paid about $3,000 for two timber lots. He and Uncle Rice then returned to Ohio for their families. My recollection is that we crossed Rock River at Oregon on the 9th of June, 1837. I remember quite well that the ferry boat's capacity was limited to four horses a trip. Father and Uncle Rice each had a six-horse wagon such as were known in the country at that time as 'prairie schooners.' Each one of these wagons had to be divested of its con- tents because of the incapacity of the ferry boats. This was the most tedious obstacle we encountered in our thou- sand mile westward movement. Hav- ing landed on the western bank of Rock River upon which the 'great city' of Oregon was located, we went within three miles of what was to be our future home.
"Now came a comforting contribution from Judge Ford, who proferred the use of a log cabin which he had pur- chased from a squatter. It was located one mile from where we expected and did build the first double-hewn log house in Ogle County, without invidious distinction was denominated a palace in
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THE RICE AND WAGNER FAMILIES
THE JOHN WAGNER FAMILY consisted of the above twelve children, ten of whom came to Mount Morris with their parents in 1837. The other two were born after the family arrived. The parents were John and Catherine (Rice) Wagner who were natives of Washington County, Md. They made the trip by horses and wagons along with the Jacob Rice family, which also consisted of ten children. The Wagner children shown above are, from left to right, top row, Mrs. Elizabeth Timmerman, Mrs. Susan Wertz; second row, Mrs. Sarah Good, Mrs. Barbara McNeill; third row, Mrs. Hannah Knodle, Nehemiah Wagner, Mrs. Kate Griffin; fourth row, David Wagner, Reuben Wag- ner; fifth row, Joseph Wagner, Benj. Wagner, John Wagner. All of these children lived beyond their sixtieth year before the family circle was broken, but all of them have now passed away. Three of the sons, Benjamin, David and Nehemiah served in the Civil War.
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT
the wilderness. This cabin, used with our caravans of wagons, afforded un- usual facilities for prosecuting our work for a home. In addition to our big wagon, we had two smaller ones and one 'carryall.' These were used for all purposes except cooking and dining.
"Now as to the first family settlers in Ogle County, west of Rock River, I believe that my father, John Wagner
DR. ISAAC RICE was a prominent citizen of Mount Morris for many years and also an old settler, coming here in 1837 with his parents, Jacob and Mary (Roland) Rice. He was born in Washington County, Md., Oct. 28, 1826, and was one of 12 chil- dren. He was one of the first students of Rock River Seminary, and was a room- mate of Shelby M. Cullom, who later be- came U. S. Senator from Illinois. He was a graduate of Rush Medical College, but he never practiced medicine and engaged in teaching and farming instead. His homestead was located north of Mount Morris. He retired and moved to Mount Morris in 1876. He was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives for the 28th and 29th General Assemblies, and aft- erwards served in the State Senate from 1880 to 1884. In 1877, associated with Major Chas. Newcomer, he established the Bank of Mount Morris. He traveled quite ex- tensively and made three trips abroad. In 1857, he married Sarah Hiestand, and they had three children: Roland, who died in infancy; Anna, who died at the age of 18, and Joseph L. Mr. Rice died May 3, 1897, at the age of 71 years, and Mrs. Rice died July 18, 1921.
with ten children, and Jacob Rice with a like number of children, were the pioneers and the first of the Maryland Colony in Ogle County at least. Of course there may have been others at this time locating homes, some of whose families were then on the way and would arrive later in the summer and fall of the same year. Samuel Hitt was then arranging for a strong colony from Maryland. John Phelps of Tennessee, who preceded his family, was preparing a home for them, and many others pros- pecting for new homes; but for absolute family settlement from Maryland, our families in my opinion took precedence."
After the Wagner family settled here, two more children were born and this remarkable family of six sons and six daughters all lived to ripe old ages. The circle was not broken until the death of Joseph in 1891, at which time the eldest was aged 75 years and the young-
CALEB MARSHALL was one of the few of the settlers who arrived in Mount Mor- ris in the spring of 1837. He was born in Massachusetts, Nov. 5, 1777, and was of English and French nationality. He was twice married, his first wife dy- ing in 1809, and they had but one daugh- ter. His second wife was Louisa San- born and they were married in 1818 in the State of New York. They settled on a farm in Clinton County, New York, where the following children were born to them: Caleb S., Elmira E. (Mrs. Wm. Spencer), Lucian, Phila (Mrs. John V. Gale), Mary (Mrs. Solon Crowell), Reu- ben S. The Marshall family started for Illinois in 1834 but on arriving at Cleve- land, Ohio, they heard alarming reports about the Indians so they remained in Ohio for about two years. In October, 1836, Caleb Marshall left his family in Cleveland and came to Mount Morris and made claim to a half section of land sev- eral miles north of town which became the Marshall homestead. Lake naviga- tion having suspended when he was ready to return to Cleveland, he walked the entire distance back to that city. In February, 1837, the family left Cleveland for their new home. The trip was made overland and they arrived at Oregon March 19, 1837, after being about four weeks on the road. They were com- pelled to wait several weeks before cross- ing Rock River because of the floating ice. They took possession of the claim previously made by Mr. Marshall and built a log cabin 12x24 feet, where they continued to live for many years. The father died in the original cabin on May 17, 1860, and the mother on August 12, 1857.
21
THE REV. THOS. S. HITT FAMILY
est 49 years. The Wagner homestead was located three miles northeast of Mount Morris, later owned by George W. Carr.
The Jacob Rice family which accom- panied the Wagner family also con- sisted of ten children. They took up a homestead north of town, and here the large family was raised and scattered to different parts of the country. Those of the family best known in Ogle County were Isaac Rice, father of Joseph L. Rice; John Rice, father of John H. Rice; and Jacob Rice, father of Fred N.,
TATER in the year 1837, in which the body of settlers already described as the first Maryland colony came to the township, there also came the Rev. Thomas S. Hitt. Rev. Hitt and wife left Ohio in a carriage in the fall of 1837 to examine the new country of which his brother, Samuel, had written such favorable accounts. He was a Meth- odist minister and expected to continue his work in the new country. On ar-
MRS. MARGARET (HITT) PINCKNEY was the daughter of Rev. Thomas S. Hitt, sister of Hon. Robert R. Hitt and wife of Prof. Daniel J. Pinckney. She was born in Maryland on June 25, 1824, and came with her parents to Mount Morris in 1837. She was a student of Rock River Seminary until her marriage in 1844 to Prof. Daniel J. Pinckney, principal of the seminary. Following her husband's death, which oc- curred June 7, 1883, she moved to Chicago where she lived with her daughter, Mrs. Thyetta Gilson, until her death on June 4, 1905.
William (Timothy Bunker), and El- dridge. All three of the above genera- tions have passed away leaving no de- scendants. Two of the daughters were Mrs. Daniel Etnyre of Oregon and Mrs. Susan Thomas of Leaf River.
Another prominent family which ar- rived in 1837 was that of Caleb Mar- shall. His son, Reuben S. Marshall, raised a large family on the old home- stead, three miles north of town, and a number of his descendants are now liv- ing in Mount Morris and vicinity.
THE REV. THOS. S. HITT FAMILY
rival here in September, he occupied a house which Martin Reynolds, a brother-in-law, was then completing on the site of what is familiarly known as the Lohafer farm, west of town. Later he invested in a tract of land two and one-half miles south of town. This tract embraced one thousand acres, one hun- dred of which was broken. Rev. Hitt, however, soon moved to a claim which his brother, Samuel, had reserved for him. This claim consisted of what is now the Railroad Addition to the vil- lage and the land immediately north- west. Here Rev. Hitt lived until his death in 1852.
In September, 1837, John Fridley pur- chased the old Ford cabin and claim, where he continued to live until the time of his death, when it became the property of his sons, Andrew, David, John, Jacob and Benjamin, whose de- scendants live in this vicinity.
These settlers who arrived in 1837 were well pleased with the new coun- try, and consequently in the following spring, 1838, at the solicitation of Samuel Hitt and Nathaniel Swingley, who had induced many of the settlers to come the previous year, a large number of fam-
JOHN W. HITT, early settler of Mount Morris, died Sept. 3, 1903, at the age of 71 years. He was the son of Samuel M. Hitt, and came to Mount Morris with his father with the first Maryland col- ony in 1837. He and Thomas Mumma built the first creamery in Mount Morris, and he served the township as super- visor for a number of years. He enlist- ed in the Civil War as a private in the 4th Illinois Cavalry and was promoted to quartermaster. He moved to Missouri in 1885.
22
MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT
REV. THOMAS S. HITT, besides being an early settler of Mount Morris, was a pioneer Methodist minister, and was largely instrumental in securing Rock River Seminary for Mount Morris. He was the son of Martin and Margaret (Smith) Hitt and was born in Bourbon County, Ky., Feb. 14, 1797. He was educated for the Methodist ministry and preached at various points in Ohio and Indiana. In 1830, he married Miss Emily John. In 1837, he decided to come to Mount Morris, where his brothers Samuel M. and Daniel F., had just located. He established his homestead on a 400- acre claim just north and west of the present village limits of Mount Morris. He took a great interest in the religious and educational interests of the community. Mr. and Mrs. Hitt raised five sons and three daughters: John Hitt, for many years deputy collector of customs in Chicago; Robert R. Hitt, for 20 years representative in Congress from this district: Martin E., Thomas M. and Henry P., who located in South Dakota; Elizabeth, wife of Capt. R. B. Wagner; Margaret (Mrs. Albert Newcomer) and Maria, wife of Major Chas. Newcomer. Rev. Hitt died in 1852 and Mrs. Hitt in 1881. They are buried in Oakwood Cemetery.
23
THE REV. THOS. S. HITT FAMILY
REUBEN S. MARSHALL came to Mount Morris with his parents, Caleb and Louisa (Sanborn) Marshall, in 1837, when he was but ten years old. They settled on a claim several miles north of Mount Morris where Mr. Marshall lived continuously until the time of his death, June 16, 1907. He was born in Clinton County, N.Y., Oct. 5, 1827, and was nearly 80 years of age at the time of his death. Mr. Marshall was married Jan. 30, 1850, to Matilda Steffa and they had twelve children: William C., Mary E., Mrs. Emma Clements, Ira W., Chas. C., Albertus S., Francis C., Ida C., John C., Mrs. Grace M. Rinehart, Mrs. Viola Bock and Oliver. Mrs. Marshall died Feb. 24, 1875.
ilies, known as the Maryland colony proper, left their eastern homes in Maryland and came to Mount Morris. Many of them took up claims here, while others went to Carroll County and other places. Among these fam- ilies were the Ilers, the Etnyres, the Sprechers, the Allens and many others. In May, A. Quinby Allen arrived and taught the first school in Mount Morris Township. Others who came at that time were Philip Sprecher, John Coff- man, John Smith, Henry Artz, Michael Brantner, Henry Sharer, Henry Hie- stand and John Wallace. These are all familiar names in Mount Morris and many of the descendants of these early settlers still live in this vicinity.
Among others who came in the early forties, should be mentioned Jacob Tur- ney, Michael Swingley, David Mumma, William Printz, Jonas Shafstall, Moses Crowell, Jacob Buck, Daniel Wolfe, Joseph Rowe, Jacob Detrick, Samuel
S. Fouts, Benjamin Myers, Silas Snyder, Adam Patterson, Otho Wallace, Solo- mon Nally, Henry A. Neff, Bartholomew and Benjamin McNutt, Jacob Hiestand, William Watts, Daniel and Frederick B. Brayton, Peter, Emanuel, Jonathan, Jacob and Joseph Knodle, many of them with their families. Still later came Benjamin Swingley, Frank Hamil- ton, Samuel Newcomer and son Charles, George Avey (father of Josiah Avey), Emanuel, Henry and Andrew New- comer, Joseph and Frisby Watts and scores of others. About this time they began to come so rapidly that it would be useless to attempt to keep track of them. In fact, the Maryland people never ceased coming, and today the
JOHN F. FRIDLEY was probably the first child born in the "Maryland Colony" and was the son of John and Nancy (Hoover) Fridley, early pioneers of 1837. He was born in the old Ford cabin, Sept. 30, 1838, and lived his entire life in Mount Morris and Rockvale Townships. He died Dec. 16, 1910, at the age of 72 years. He was married three times, his first marriage occurring in 1863 to Elizabeth Hildebrand, to whom a son and six daughters were born: Irvin Fridley, May (Mrs. Wm. Ham- mer), Anna (Mrs. Fred Domer), Elizabeth (Mrs. Wm. Castle), Grace (Mrs. Frank Muller), Ella (Mrs. Carlton Wolf), and Nettie (Mrs. Dale Betebenner). The mother died in 1884. Mr. Fridley's second marriage occurred in 1886 to Mrs. Cecelia Middlekauff, who mothered his large family of children. She died in 1906 and several years later Mr. Fridley married Mrs. Alice Winter, who survived him.
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT
great majority of the residents of Mount Morris Township are either natives of Maryland or children of emigrants from that state. It was a noticeable fact, and one often commented upon, that the obituaries of those dying in this com-
munity, as published in Mount Morris papers, almost invariably contained the clause, "was born in Washington Coun- ty, Md." Many of them came from Hagerstown in that county.
THE VIGILANTES
M UCH more than what has already been said concerning the appear- ance and condition of the country in the thirties and early forties and of pioneer life in those days, could yet be written. As has been stated, the Indians had practically left this part of the country when the first settlers arrived, and no trouble was experienced with them. But the township did not entirely escape from the ravages of the early bands of
THOMAS FORD took up a claim of 1000 acres located about three miles east of Mount Morris about the year 1836, on which stood the log cabin in which a num- ber of the old settlers (who arrived in 1837) stopped while the first cabins were being built. It is not known whether Ford actually built and lived in this cabin or whether it had been built by a squatter previous to the time he took up the claim. He sold the cabin and claim to John Frid- ley in 1837. Mr. Ford was born in Union- town, Pa., in 1800, and came to Illinois where he was educated. He became a prominent man, first being appointed cir- cuit judge and was elected governor of the state in 1842. He died at Peoria, Ill., Nov. 2, 1850.
prairie robbers who harassed the set- tlers principally by stealing their horses and smuggling them during the night- time along certain lines of dishonest settlers, somewhat in the manner of the "underground railway" by which slaves were aided in their flight to Can- ada before the war. These prairie pirates were well organized all over the country, being a combination of horse thieves, counterfeiters and murderers. At a very early day they held almost undisputed and unobstructed dominion throughout this whole section of the country, and very few of the honest set- tlers were fortunate enough to keep their property from being swept into the network these land pirates had spread around them. The principal leaders of this gang of cut-throats were John Driscoll, John Brodie and Samuel Aikens and their eight sons, and Wil- liam Bridge and Norton Royce. Al- though none of them were residents of the township, their operations were often carried on in this vicinity. Their nefarious transactions became so in- tolerable at last that an organization of settlers, known as Vigilantes, was formed, the members of which pro- ceeded to clear the country of these vil- lians in a summary manner. A man by the name of John Campbell, of White
PHILIP T. SPRECHER, the first Sprecher to locate in Mount Morris, was one of the original pioneers who arrived in 1837. The homestead was established on a claim one and one-half miles east of Mount Morris on what is now known as the Moats farm. Later he moved to the vil- lage where he died when more than 80 years of age, having survived his wife about one year. The wife's name was Catherine Houke. There were three sons and two daughters in the family as fol- lows: Daniel, who died many years ago; John, who became a prominent merchant in Mount Morris; George, who was a farmer and later moved to Zion City; Anna, who married Henry Moats and purchased the old homestead; and Mary, who married George Windle.
25
THE FIRST SETTLERS
"THE DAYES THAT WUZ"
This letter, written from Mount Morris by a Marylander in 1846, is a colorful literary document and gives a rare picture of the times, re- produced as it was penned, in the author's own style, spelling and all.
(Postmarked) Mt. Morris, Ills., November 23rd, 1846. (Postage) 10c.
Mr. David Ports,
Lappens X Roads, Washington County, Md.
Well old friend I take this opportunity to forward you a few lines to inform you that we are all well at present and hoping theas few lines will find you all ingoing the same blessing-it has been pretty sickley all around us with the chils and fever and some cases of the bilious feaver but not many deths-I suppose you heard of the deth of my father. He was- ant well from the time we left Maryland til his deth-And I supose you heard of the deth of old Mr. Palmer and Isaack Emore-it tis bin the sicklist spring and fall that has bin sinse any of our Mary- landers has bin out heare-Well I must let you heare what I think of this little valley as I cal it for it tis onley about 800 miles to the Alagany and 2000 to the Rocka mounten-I must tel you the truth I don't wish myself back you may depend on it to be a slave. I am in a free state and a plenty of worke and good wages. I can get more for my family by wirking 2 days in the week than you can and wirk 6 and I will give you my reason for saying so. I make my dollar per day in the summer and get into the winter one Dollar pir hundred for making rails and in the fall you get 4 bushels of corn for one days wirking on the stack-well this fall porks will bring abught 2 dollars and maybe 2.50-wheat is selling heare from 30 to 371/2 corn from 10 to 121/2-po- tatoes we don't keep any account of them and the best I ever eat is hear-if you will pleas to bring me a waggon load of ap- pels and sider I will give you 4 bushels of potatoes for one bushel of appels.
And then you can raise as much off one acre heare as you can raise of 3 in Maryland. Mr. Curren bild a house 16 by 20 on Mr. S. Hitt land last winter -he found all and I done the wirk and I get for a tirm of years. He break up some land-and I just put holes in the sod and planted my potatoes pumpkins cabbage and never done anything til I dug them and had better potatoes than I ever had among your stones-I forgot to tel you the price of beef I can buy the best of beef for from 2 to 3c pir pound -and it would do your hart good to sea the . .. prairie hens partredges, rabbits wild geese ducks and then go to Rock River with us when we cetch pike that will way from 20 to 25 pounds and stur- geons that way from 70 to 100 1b. and all kinds of the best fish-I am nitting a sain (sein) 50 yards long for Mr. Heth brother James and myself-James lives 3 miles and Will 8 from me and doing will-I live one mile and half from Mt. Morris
-And if I could get my money I ben by (would buy) 20 akers one mile from Mt. Morris and all my old Marylanders around me-the man that owns the land is abilden am another place a mile from it and wants money bad so now its my time if I had my mony. I want you to get to see H. Palmer and tel him to go and see Dr. Titghman and then let him tel you what luck and wright to me-also I rote to V. Taves laste fall abut some business and haven got any answer-I wold like to no what he has done for me -also I rote to Thos. Albaste and haven't got any answer-but I reken out of site out of mind. I got a letter from E. Blom and a mail paper-and by what I see in it I think all the Locofokes has turned rong side out-you have made a pore sho. I am glad that I am out of the scrape-so I think you and some more had better come to this free state-before you get to be a whig.
O I forgot to tel you the prise of whis- key, Ohio Whiskey is 60c per gallon-the rot-gut that they make heare is 371/2 but when you drink it you must hold your brith and it tastes a week old by 6 days and if you get any in the summer you must hurry home as it will get sawer. And if you wold see Mrs. Albart how she can jump abut you wold think it was a gal of 16 and she never was hartier than she has ben this summer-my old woman, Mrs. Albart, Lawrence, Mary and the rest of my family send their best respects to you and wife and Miss Pof- fenbarger and to all thare enquireing friends-also my respects to all my old friends and if you and some more will come over some saturday I will have you some Ohio whiskey and a good mess of our big fish and some fried venison-I must close and I hope you will get my letter and will see Mr. Palmer you will rite and I hope to heare that you are a comin to this fine cuntra-Nothing more but still remain your old friend.
(Signed) O. H. Wallace.
Nov. 24, 1846.
P.S. If you have any noshen to come out heare and if you want me to attend to anything abught your farthers estate I will with pleasure. Smith lives abught 30 miles from me and if you want me I will find out if your farther maid a will or not and how it stands. It wold ben the best thing you ever done to come out here-and a good many more of my old friends to make a easy and a good liv- ing-I want you to see V. David Davis- I want to know what he has done for me for I must have a meshean augar -he can get achance to send it by some one in the spring-Don't fale and right to me as soon as you see the persons I have menshend-and I will be happy to hear from you and all my old friends.
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT
Rock, captain of the Vigilantes, was shot by the Driscolls in 1841, and imme- diately the entire country was scoured until the murderers were caught. A brief trial was given them, the entire one hundred and eleven Vigilantes serving as a jury, and being found guilty, they were shot without further parley, each being pierced by over fifty rifle balls. By this vigorous action, the settlers protected their interests very effectually until the time when the reg- ular courts of justice dealt with this class of criminals. A number of set- tlers from this vicinity had a hand in the execution of the Driscolls.
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