USA > Illinois > Cook County > Palatine > Palatine centennial book: history of Palatine, Cook County, Illinois > Part 3
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Justus' sister and her husband, Mark W. Saw- yer, with their son, James, had arrived three years earlier, the same year as James Whitcomb. The Sawyers routed themselves through Chicago, which at that time was a thriving village of over 4,000 which had just been incorporated. After reaching Plum Grove, he purchased about 160 acres from Or- ange Smith. The Sawyers' immediate neighbors in that first winter were some Winnebago Indians who were encamped there. These redskin neighbors left that camp the following spring and never returned.
During the first winter, the Sawyers lived on wild game which was abundant in the grove. In the spring of 1838, Mark Sawyer commenced till- ing his soil.
In June, 1838, four other families left the vicinity of Stockbridge, Vermont, and started a trek west. This party included Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin B. Lin- coln and their two sons, Julius and Fayette; Mr. and Mrs. Ira Coleman and son, Julius; Mr. and Mrs. David B. Strong with their five children, Charles L., George, Harriet, Mary and Ellen; and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Converse. The first leg of their journey was by stagecoach to Rutland, Vermont. Eventually, they arrived in Chicago after traveling by stage- coach, canal boat on the Erie Canal, and by lake steamer.
Upon reaching Chicago, the Colemans remained there where the father opened a shoe store which he ran for many years. The son, Julius, moved to Palatine some years later.
The rest of the party pressed on northwest by stagecoach. The Strongs and the Converses settled at Elk Grove, but the Lincolns continued on to Plum Grove. They arrived there 39 days after they had left Vermont.
Wild game was the menu for the Lincolns' first meal in Plum Grove. It was served on a makeshift table provided by an old red chest which contained many of their belongings. Ben Lincoln took up a
squatter's claim of 200 acres adjacent to Mark Saw- yer's property.
David Strong died in the early 1840's while work- ing on the Illinois Canal. His widow then moved to Plum Grove where she lived with the Ben Lin- colns. Her two sons returned east to live with an uncle. George Strong was graduated from West Point in the class of 1856. While serving in the War Between the States, he was mortally wounded at Fort Waggoner. He received his commission as a Major-General on his death bed from President Ab- raham Lincoln.
Other Plum Grove pioneers known to have or- iginated in Stockbridge, Vermont, included the Dur- kees, the Slades, the Putnams and the Porters. Moses Durkee settled on 120 acres east of the grove with his wife and daughter, Eunice. A few years later, his brother, Albert, arrived and settled tem- porarily in the center of the grove. He moved to Bloomingdale for a few years but returned to Plum Grove, married and made that his permanent home.
John Slade, wife and five children, Martha, Jo- seph, Rebecca, Sarah and John reached Plum Grove in 1838 and took up their government claim. Mr. Slade had $10 and a set of carpenter's tools when he reached Chicago. He rented a log house from Ben Lincoln and traded with the Indians for some corn which he planted the next spring and produced a good crop. Mrs. Slade died in 1847, and three years later John returned to Vermont, remarried and brought his bride to Plum Grove. They bought a farm north of his former claim and built a house there . His wife's brother and family lived there with them. Rebecca Slade married Henry Schier- ding who came to Palatine in 1864 and started a general merchandise store. They had two children: Mary, who married Dr. Wadham, and Henry Schier- ding. Joseph Slade married and had two daughters, Bessie and Emily May. Bessie married Calvin Sef- ton and lived on her father's farm north of town. Emily married Wesley Comfort whose father, Josiah Comfort, had come to Palatine from Canada in 1855, the year Wesley was born.
Their sons, Wesley and Clarence Comfort, con- tinue the lumber business founded by Joseph Slade and Wesley Comfort I in 1874.
Laban Putnam and his wife, Elvira Jones Put- nam, came to Plum Grove in 1839. For the next two years he labored on the Illinois Canal. He farmed many years and also worked in a Michigan lumber camp. Later he moved into the village where he kept a boarding house and took an active part in public life until his death in 1893.
Benjamin M. Porter bought 160 acres from Ben Lincoln in 1840. Until then, he and two other bache- lors, E. Moore and Cooper, had shared a home known as "Bachelors' Hall." The residents of "Bachelors' Hall" even had their own cook, a mulat- to, Charley Lansing, who had arrived from Vermont with John Barden.
John T. Barden had purchased 300 acres from Justus Whitcomb. A wealthy cheesemaker, Barden also shipped corn and beef to New York. He was married and had two sons named Gustavus and William.
One of the earliest claims in Plum Grove was that of Orrin Ford in 1836. He and his second wife settled on 160 acres in the northwest part of the grove. From his first marriage, he had two sons, William and John, and two daughters, Harriet and Eunice. His wife had also been married previously
15
1861
SHOWING HOMESTEADS OF EARLY PIONEERS
·
1
ONS
Stephen
H Shufeldt
B Kdycrton
Bornton 40
40
17 22 18
S
2
AH
R'X
J.
Stephens
Geo Fla 80
David Hans 80
Sayles 160
E Castle
LEdgerton
L Edgerton
10
27
LA A
N
782
A.Harris 110
HO
HP.Brown
Cha! Sandy
J.6 Spearlind
G.Strong
AH M. Clure 115 13
.
L
Minas
G Pas
Step Cherty
H. Miller
w Clay
- 120
N. P. Kers 100
Wimble
Frederick
Pant
A Wilson
Wilson
Pratt
156 90
JPBaldwin
H. Burdy
Cotton
Allen
40
S. SwitzerIno
Horley
C. Freeman
P.Reger
R.HAbott
P. Reger
Rocket
LD
Gustle
Blookett
R
Wilson
Smith
Abbott. 40
Sutherland
J.Comford
W. Com ford
80 .
M.
. Bradwoll 80
Abbott
Bowen
LD
42.55
I.Smith
14
ister
Hood
128
80
L. F. Grilly 140
F Roper 72
Wilson
SA Shepard 120
:
P
80
80
T'an Kalkenbury
RoJal Swink 16
100%
77.
Aup
280
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Slade
¥ 19
21;
20
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.
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A Hallfrisk
F Sena
Ed .. Smith
A.P.Bradford
Hy Linneman
110
H:6 Ford
D.
Brooking
156;
S.Darter 140
80
EG Kitchum
J.C. Wille
LA.Clark.
Hy Myers 80
H.Weute 80
.
F. Grate
H. Hartoung
Ingtoubliunk
40
I. White &o
TÃO Clark
48
10
80
d Wonte.
Boast Phillips
O.K. Hall 30
2944
Whitcomb
Portherdothers
6
3
15
B Jones
C. Burton 159-30
Fritz
LLClark
I.S.Clark wo
CH'S
80
Goss & Phillips 8.9
/ Porter
F. N.Clark
Henning
Burton
40
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3
L
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J.C. Berlin
6
10
61
Clifferd
...
DHines
Bruning Rohbrick
$2
294
werner
6
LPitman
.I Hadse
a.J R Kruter
" Hexiom"
Suvver
80
.
Schederman
AScheiderman
80
80
J.S.Smith 112
RO
W.S 10%
Baker
Backer
40
H. S. Johnson
E Kublank
33
3
D
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H.Kaker
Jarlarson
3
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Geo File 80
H.Gauner
.Sutherland. 50 $0
F. Knous
Flesher
Krav on
H.Hirn 16
Barburus 80
K Andrews
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6.Ela
L. Staples
13ª
6. Fla
130
JH Pahlman 240
A hautx 80
CH Reese
Prescott
40
-
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61
S Sutherland
1'g M.Sutherland
Hm H Cook
50
B Elfinck 95
.
JIandhver
E. Cally es2
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More house!
Tho!WHlion
114 M
120
C. Bennett
BV SO
200
160
R Filkins
das.Morris
Habein
Geishe
80
dorkomso
80
40
RO
AB
80
W P.Grav 160
Thomas Bradwell
365 75
J.Jenkel 60
R.BuTill
1950
& B. Clay
Alexander
Jno Wilson.
200
Rufus Griswold
CH Babcock
I. Kagurt
Feryua
G. H. Freia.
Tho! Swick
126
/J.6.
Tehe31
Aalleworth 40
100°
C.Tegmire
HP. Barney 80
Banker& Border 1.96 =d
A.C. Loomis
J. I. Vene TO
Y K. Graves
FHaymaning
60
Hartung FTheis 80
J. T. Baraen
E.W.Corcy 160
6. Dreht man
Theis
296
E. Moore
Barnen
John Carson
B.M.Porter 120
00
K.
Graves
A Johnson 40
60
BR Whitcomb
*
JA
Lincoln
3
GM 20
6. Foase
119
Homire
Theiss
il C Loomis
I.H.Kronche 80
Kannaman
Jno Kittron
Pratt
Joel Wopr
.IHolder
Henry H
N= Hupe
'S Surles B
AlSavles
Sonneborn
ROAD
Ja Dunton
Jewell
J. Baker
F. Teumeire 400
Paul BoAnton
13
D.R.Wood
80
120
77
ISSavIrs
H. H. Church
F. Preva.
TSwich
Thomas
J.GVehe
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60€
C. Krager 80
I'Dana
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47
J. Morehouse
15037
D. Wiseman
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H.Webster
80
Lyman Staples 10 320
80
Y Fant
40
47
82
OSTERN
J.G.Baldwin
White 115
80
Fosket
Wilson 120
Vanle
Jno Kitison
PALATINE
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6. Boluett
80
Roberta 40
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81
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Courtesy of the Chicago Historical Society
16
Bincser
760
Lincoln
J. Blood 60
L.Clark
H Meire
26
200
40
D
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10
and had four children from that marriage. Those children were Warren, Arthur, Austin H., and J. Francis Young.
From Ayshire, Scotland, John Carson brought his bride in 1842, and made claim to 200 acres in sec- tion 36. The Carsons farmed, and like many others in Plum Grove, hauled their produce all the way to Chicago. In 1845, John Carson sold 48 acres to Ben Lincoln for $135-less than $3 per acre. The Carsons had six children, a daughter, Mary, mar- ried Dr. W. M. Dyas of Arlington Heights.
Other early settlers in Plum Grove included Abram Howe who had 80 acres in the eastern part of the grove, Ebenezer Church who located on 300 acres in sections 34 and 35, James Stanton who pur- chased some land from Albert Durkee in 1844, and Amos Bailey with his sons, Bancroft and Orange.
Land north of Plum Grove was first claimed by Joel and Darius Wood who came from Pennsylvania in 1847. Their original claim was east of the pres- ent site of the village of Palatine. Darius Wood, anxious to get what was thought to be the last patch of government land available in the area, rode horseback all the way to Chicago through spring floods in the dark of the night so that he would be the first to reach the land office.
Actually, the last of the government land grants proved to be a portion of the Benjamin Porter farm. It was thought that Porter's entire farm had been entered by the government. In 1855, Joseph Barnes of Elk Grove discovered that a small part of that farm had been omitted from the government entry. He made immediate claim for it and sold it to Ben Porter at the then current market price of $1.25 per acre.
It is unfortunate that more personal information concerning Joel Wood is unavailable. He held many offices, and his name appears in village records with great frequency.
It is known that he made the original plat of the town. The north part of the town originally was known as the Joel Wood Subdivision. His many land donations revealed his generosity and civic in- terest. One of his earliest gifts was the land for the Hillside Cemetery where his wife was among the first to be buried.
The first school building in the village was erect- ed on land which he donated. It is fitting that the street on which this site is located was named in his honor, Wood Street, and that the school is known as the Wood Street School.
Israel Smith with his wife, Caroline Baker Smith, arrived from Maine in 1840 and claimed gov- ernment land. The land was south of what is now Algonquin road and a little east of the intersection with Quintens road. In 1851 he purchased the Joe Kitson farm. The house today has the address of 56 North Smith Street. There he continued to farm for some time. Israel Smith had three sons: John W. and twins, Edward, who became a doctor in Ne- braska and Albert L.
Albert married Matilda Hahnke of Long Grove. For many years, he had a tin shop and hardware store. Later, he developed an extensive mail order business. The large home, which he built at the cor- ner of Benton and Chicago Avenues, burned. He then rebuilt at the same location, and this home at 5 North Benton Street is now the Harry Tharp home. Albert's son, Bert, kept Palatine as his home and presently resides with Dr. Louis Smith, one of his sons. Bert Smith's other two sons, Clifford and
Howard, also are Palatine residents.
Life was not dull for these early settlers. The rigors of pioneer life created a kinship that lessened the distance between neighbors. The few legible tombstones remaining in the surrounding cemeteries bespeak a high mortality rate, especially for the children.
Every effort was made on the frontier to con- tinue their accustomed standard of living. As soon as homes were completed, churches and schools were begun. There was even a dancing school which was conducted by Dan Carpenter. The first school held in Plum Grove was in a log house built in 1840. It was located between the homes of Mark Sawyer and Ben Lincoln. Church services, con- ducted by traveling preachers, were held nearly ev- ery week in the same log houses. Later, church wor- ship was at the Sam Smith home. Mr. and Mrs. Sam Smith and their three children, Sam Jr., Joseph and Harriet, lived near the intersection of Old Plum Grove road and Algonquin road.
Early in the 1840's, a dam was built across Salt Creek (probably just east of the bridge on Meacham road), and a saw mill was erected. The mill was run by Lot Whitcomb. This enterprise was appar- ently a financial success, but immediately following a misunderstanding among the owners, it was com- pletely destroyed by fire in the early 1850's. Although suspicion arose at the time, it was never determined whether the fire was of incendiary origin. The pond formed to get the water power for the mill was about a half mile long and several rods wide. During the winter, it proved to be a popular place for the ice skaters of Plum Grove.
A cheese factory was operated where Old Plum Grove road crosses Salt Creek. At that time the road continued north along the creek bank to connect with an extension of what is now Kirchhoff road and which then continued northwest to the Deer Grove settlement. Old maps reveal that an Indian burial mound was located just west and north of the inter- section of Old Plum Grove and the Woodstock road (now Algonquin road).
The settlers were law-abiding and took active part in the political life of the community. Ben Lin- coln was appointed as the first Justice of the Peace in 1840. Amos Bailey, a settler in section 26, fol- lowed him in that office.
The first national election for the Salt Creek pre- cinct, which included five or six towns, was held at the home of William George in 1840. That was the election in which President Van Buren was defeated for re-election by William Harrison (Tippecanoe and Tyler, too). Almost 100 votes were cast in the Salt Creek precinct.
William George, in whose home the election was held, lived south of the grove with his wife and two sons, Edwin and William. He was an excellent gar- dener and probably had one of the first truck farms of the area. It was said that his onions brought 75 cents to $1.00 per bushel.
Wolves roamed between the Des Plaines river on the east and the Fox river on the west destroying livestock and provisions. In 1839, the men in the district all joined in a great wolf hunt determined to rid the district of animals. The commander-in- chief of the group was Dr. Miner of Elk Grove.
One account states that snow was on the ground as the men began the round-up at sunrise. The hunt- ers made a great circle and converged on Plum Grove. As they neared the grove they held their fire because sharpshooters had been stationed on
17
scaffolds to slay the animals as they were driven into the trap. Some of the men lacked rifles and used knives and pitchforks. Wolves were scarce that day. There was community effort, a good time and a total kill of one wolf and one deer by William Clay.
HIGHLAND GROVE
Early settlers in the southwest corner of the township include Luman and Thomas S. Clark whose land claims dated back to 1842; Elias E. D. Wood who arrived the following year; Daniel and Morgan S. Johnson, in 1844; and Bradford and Orange Kent. The latter kept a tavern and hostelry on the Chicago- Dundee stage road now Algonquin road.
Mr. Daniel Bergman whose family has owned this property for the past several decades, states that the hotel was located just east of his present home. The Kent House was especially well known because it was the halfway stop between Chicago and Woodstock. As the Highland Grove population grew, it became a popular place for dances and community gatherings.
Old settlers long remembered how Milton Kent met his death back in 1840. Mr. Kent, father of Bradford and Orange, had a claim dispute over a house in Meacham's Grove, now Bloomingdale, in DuPage County. He was dispossessed but returned with his sons the following night to regain posses- sion by force. The occupant was awaiting him with rifle, pistol and a butcher knife. In the struggle that followed Milton Kent was stabbed and staggered into the yard to die. His son, Bradford, after being stab- bed in the back with the same knife, rallied and with the help of his brother managed to overcome the possessor.
Years later Bradford Kent who then resided in Chicago acquired an infectious disease and was re- moved to the Kent House still run by his brother, Orange. His death was also unusual as is disclosed by the following report of it :
"The sick man was not allowed in the tavern but was taken to a little shanty in the wheat field. He died and was laid out by Morgan Johnson and two other farmers. Some hours afterward his broth- er, Orange, went to the little shanty to see that no evil betided the corpse. To his astonishment, the corpse raised up in bed and said, 'Orange, where is my wallet? It was in my pantaloons' pocket and had $63 in it.' The pants were found, but the wallet was missing.
"Morgan Johnson was sent for and advised that the other two farmers should be sent for, but that they should not be told what had happened until they arrived. When they arrived Mr. Johnson told them what had taken place and proposed that they all three should be searched. Whereupon one of them said, with an oath, he would not be searched. Mr. Johnson then said: 'You are the man who stole the money, and we will get a warrant for your ar- rest.' Then the accused said, 'I supposed he was dead, or I never would have taken his money; here is $53 of it, the other $10 I have spent.' The money being found, the corpse lay back in bed and did not again come to life."
Morgan Johnson came from Yates County, New York and purchased the farm owned for several years by Gustavus W. Southworth. Mr. Southworth kept a tavern called the 'Wickliffe House." When
Mr. Johnson moved in he took down the sign and said he would not keep transients. However, so many travelers stopped and asked for lodging that Mr. Johnson was compelled to keep them overnight and at last kept the tavern as his predecessor had done. It was a popular stop and often during the summer as many as ten or fifteen covered wagons would be lined up in a string, loaded with new set- tlers from the east. People from Rockford and Dun- dee, on their way to Chicago, always stopped here to rest themselves, their oxen or horses.
Morgan Johnson donated the land for the site of the St. John's church located on Algonquin road im- mediately west of Roselle road. Prior to the con- struction of that church worship services were held in private homes and in the school house of what was then school district No. 2. Being a carpenter and builder by trade, Johnson built a beautiful home in Palatine and moved there in 1861. For two years he served as Palatine supervisor on the county board and subsequently held many other pub- lic offices. He had two sons, Willis and Jay J.
This little community, including the St. John's church, the school, and the Kent Hotel, became known as Highland Grove and still retains that name. The Diekman store was established across from the church and became the important trading center for the farmers in the neighborhood. It was there that the mail was brought from town every two weeks and the farmers would come to call for it. Later, Cuthbert Richmond opened a creamery and cheese factory immediately to the west of the Diekman store.
ORIGINAL LAND GRANTS
Andreas History of Cook County, 1844, names the original claim holders to Government land in Palatine township.
1836-George Ela, sec 4; Orrin Ford, sec. 27; A. H. McClure, sec. 5; Asa Dunton, sec. 9; Asahel Har- ris, sec. 3; Russell Andrus, sec. 4.
1837-Amos Bailey, sec. 26; Ezekiel Cady, sec. 8; Palmer Webster, sec. 9; Harris Webster, sec. 10; Grove Bennett, sec. 2 and 11; John Fosket, sec. 17; James Whitcomb, sec. 26.
1838-Samuel Smith, sec. 34; B. B. Lincoln, sec. 35; M. W. Sawyer, sec. 35; Loren Edgerton, sec. 6; Mason Sutherland, sec. 11; Silas Sutherland, sec. 2.
1839-Lyman Staples, sec. 10; John Slade, sec. 22; Joseph Slade, sec. 22.
1840-Thomas F. Wilson, sec. 9; Elisha Pratt, sec. 10; Israel Smith, sec. 34.
1841-Edward Castle, sec. 6; John H. Foster, :. 29.
1842-Thomas S. Clark, sec. 29; Luman Clark, sec. 29; John Carson, sec. 36.
1843-Elias E. D. Wood, sec. 29.
1844-Thomas Bradwell, sec. 17; Daniel John- son, sec. 32; M. S. Johnson, sec. 32.
1846-Bradford Kent, sec. 29.
1847-Joel Wood, sec. 23; D. B. Wood, sec. 23; James E. Morris, sec. 1 and 12.
1855-Benjamin M. Porter, sec. 25.
18
Voters Name Township Palatine
In 1850 the Illinois Legislature passed an act compelling each county to be divided into townships of 6 miles square as near as possible, and each township was to be named. It is said that the prin- cipal men of township 42 met at a school house op- posite the site of what is now known as the Witten- berg school house, to choose a name for their town- ship in advance of the organization meeting.
There were many names suggested - among them : Yankton, Deer Grove, Marion and Palatine. Deer Grove and Marion were dropped, and Harrison Cook's suggestion was officially chosen. It is a fair- ly well established fact that Harrison Cook came from Palatine, N. Y. He was of Swiss origin and the surname was originally spelled Koch.
The first officers of the township were required by law to take this oath upon assuming office: "You do solemnly swear that you have not fought a duel or accepted a challenge to fight a duel, the probable issue of which might be death to either party, and to uphold the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Illinois, and that you will faithfully execute and perform all the duties of your office to the best of your knowledge and ability, so help you God."
The first entry in the Palatine Township minutes is dated April 2, 1850. Between the hours of 9 and 10 o'clock the electors of the above named town met and organized with John Slade, chairman, and D. B. Wood, secretary. Elias D. Wood acted as moderator.
Elected were Thomas S. Clark, supervisor; D. B. Wood, town clerk; Harris Webster, assessor; Milton Fosket, collector; John Slade, overseer of the poor; Daniel Stanard, Ezekiel Cady and Luman Clark, commissioners of highways; Milton Fosket and Fleming Gaines, constables; Thomas Bradwell and J. N. House, justices of peace.
The commissioners of highways divided the township into nine road districts each two miles square. The following officers were chosen by up- lifted hands: 1. A. Ford, 2. Wm. Clay, 3. E. P. Castle, 4. Milton Fosket, 5. John Kitson, 6. Joel Wood, 7. M. W. Sawyer, 8. Justus Whitcomb, 9. E. W. Covey.
Sheep and cows were allowed to run at large, but when they broke into enclosures, the owners were required to pay the damage, and on sheep, three cents a head additional, half of which went into the town fund.
Ownership of the sheep was determined by markings, some of which were: "A square crop from the right ear and a round hole through same;" "the shape of a half moon cut from the underside of the right ear;" "a square crop from the right ear and a split through same." The markings had to be filed with the town clerk.
Ten years later, in 1860, cattle and horses were no longer allowed to run at large. Owners had to pay 25 cents a head and 10 cents a day to the man who fed them.
Plum Grove and Ela roads were among the first roads laid out. There were more petitions for roads in those days than there are roads today. Three highway commissioners had direct charge of all roads and bridges, but the care and maintenance of the roads fell upon road overseers to whom the male adults were supposed to report to work out their poll tax or pay for the time of some other person to do the work.
The township was later divided into 25 road dis- tricts. The overseers were supposed to file with the highway commissioners a report of all work done on 'roads in their territory and make an accounting of funds collected.
A town meeting in 1870 directed that suit be brought against any road overseer who did not make such a report and turn over money he had collected.
Laying out of new roads was the major activity of the highway commissioners and required volum- inous records in the minute books on the part of the town clerk.
The road commissioners did not always accept a road petition and did not allow their official accept- ance to permit an excessive claim for damages.
One paragraph in the minutes reads, "We the commissioners have decided not to lay out the road under petition on account of the uncertainty of the law, it being not well understood by lawyers of courts and we cannot settle with Timothy Dean with- out such law or give four times its value as we verily believe."
When board of auditors turned down a town bill, against the town, the creditor could appeal to the electors at the town meeting and force payment. This occurred in 1861.
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