USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 21
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VICTOR.
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Victor, one of the younger townships of the county, was at first a part of the town of Clinton. The first settlers who came to this section, now known as Vietor, were Jeremiah Mulford. first postmaster under Van Buren and who named the postoffice after his favorite president. During the same year W. H. Keene, Aruna Beekwith, James Green. Newton Stearns, Peleg Sweet, George N. Stratton, Simon Suydam, Il. C. Beard and W. R.
Prescott took up claims in this locality. and during the next five years all of the land of the town- ship was entered. The completion of the C. B. & Q. Railroad and the establishment of a station at Somonauk proved advantageous to this section and the next year settlers came in rapidly and soon all the rich prairie was filled with thrifty. industrious people. Many Germans and Irish were among the number and also quite a colony of Nor- wegians. Also W. II. Keene and grandmother. Hopestill Fritz, who died a few years after com- ing to Vietor, at the age of ninety years. It was a pleasant memory of her life time, which she used to frequently relate that "Shortly after Washington had crossed the Delaware into Penn- sylvania the general and his staff stopped at the home of her father to get a drink. She hastened in the house, brought out some milk and supplied the general and his staff to their heart's content." Hopestill Fritz was buried in the Suydam ceme- tery, and owing to her splendid patriotism and her memories of "the father of his country," her grave is decorated each year with flowers such as are strewn over the graves of the boys who served in the later wars of the republic.
Victor is not crossed by any railroads and is exclusively an agricultural township, there being no villages or towns within its borders, and there is no postoffice in this section at the present time since the inaguration of the rural mail route. The Suydam church was built by the Methodists in the early '70s and is the only house of worship in the town. Services, however, are held by the Methodists in the Green town schoolhouse. This schoolhouse. one of the best country school build- ings in the county, was erected for the double pur- pose of school and church service.
After Victor was given a separate organization. in 1853 Benjamin Darland was elected its first su- pervisor. The northeastern part of the town was settled largely by United Presbyterians and among the number were J. C. Beveridge, who served the town many years as supervisor and for over thirty years was school treasurer. Hiram Loucks served his town for years as supervisor and was after- wards elected a member of the legislature. Hiram (. Beard, one of the early settlers of this town, taught the first public school in South Grove, the first public school in the town of Clinton, served as supervisor of the town for several years and was
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elected county superintendent of schools during the war. Mr. Beard was an excellent educator, was progressive in his ideas and the men who were associated with him in the management of school affairs pronounced him an excellent official. Wallace Moore, a resident of Victor, enlisted as a volunteer in the Civil war and lost an arm in the service. He was elected county clerk in 1869 and served till 1872, dying in office. The supervisors of Victor were: Benjamin Darland, one year : Samuel Lord, one year ; George N. Stratton, three years; H. C. Beard, four years; J. C. Van Der- veer, two years ; H. C. Beard, 1867-8; William H. Prescott, three years ; J. C. Beveridge, in all about seven years : Hiram Loucks. T. J. Warren, Silas D. Wesson, William Montague. N. J. Sawyer and Alvin Warren.
S. D. Wesson enlisted in the Eighth Illinois Cavalry and was with that regiment to the close of the war. Mr. Wesson is a speaker of consider- able force, has the wit of the son of Erin and is known as the "poet laureate."
Simon C. Suydam, one of the pioneers of this township, lived to the advanced age of ninety-six years and six months and in 1899 had his pho- tograph taken with his four succeeding genera- tions. Mr. Suydam remembered well the survivors of the French and Indian war, his life covering a greater part of the period of the United States history. Victor furnished one hundred and three men for the Civil war and raised ten thousand. eight hundred and fifty-eight dollars for use in that conflict. Some of those who perished in the strife were Ferdinand Van Derveer. E. T. Pierce. C. T. Bond, C. R. Suydam. These with about fif- teen others constitute the sacrifice during the strife, to say nothing of those who remained and lost their health.
CLINTON.
Being one of the inland towns with but scanty inducements in the way of timber and water for the early settler. the now prosperous township of Clinton was late in being settled. It was not until the year 1835 that the first white man made this place his home, and it was several years later be- fore any considerable number of people had taken up their abode. A small grove about one hun- dred acres in extent occupies the southwest corner
of the present township. In bygone days a portion of the Pottowattomie tribe of Indians lived here, but in 1832 when Black Hawk was captured the band left this domain, only visiting it occasionally on hunting expeditions and living here long enough to cultivate the corn that they raised. Three wigwams which they used while so em- ployed were left uninhabited a greater part of the year.
It was into one of these vacant wigwams that Oliver P. Johnson, a daring young man of twenty- three years, brought his wife and young baby, April 22, 1835, and they lived in the deserted Indian home until a log honse could be built. Into the newly made home they moved and for three years had only the Indians and wild beasts for neighbors. They endured privations of every kind, but held their claim and made the beginning of the present. Clinton township. Among the other early settlers were W. B. Fields, Parker Thomas. Alexander McNish, Silas Ilines, John and James Walker. Preston Curtiss, William Robertson, C. B. Whitford, Shelburne and Tracy Scott. Felix and Baldwin Woodruff, Sylvester and Elbert Hall, N. S. and T. J. Greenwood, Benjamin Matteson, William Sherman, J. L. Bailey. J. L. Mighell, Aruney Ilill, John Secor. Later on came Messrs. Phillips, Congdon. Humphrey, Brown, Roberts, Colton and a host of others who are at present reckoned among the old settlers.
Clinton as a civil township was organized in 1850 and it then included a part of the townships of Victor and Afton. Reuben Pritchard was the first supervisor and held this responsible position at intervals for sixteen years. In 1853 the town- ship assumed its present proportions. It took its name from the almost universal wish of the early settlers, the majority of whom came from New York.
Clinton was known as a flourishing farming district for many years before it was known as anything else. In March of 1872 the village of Waterman was surveyed and platted by County Surveyor S. T. Armstrong. from land owned by Humphrey Roberts and additions from the Rob- erts. Greely and Congdon farms have since been made.
The village was named in honor of D. B. Water- man. general solicitor of the C. & I. Railroad, and as soon as the depot was located the present town
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of Waterman commenced to thrive. David Chap- man erected the first house in the spring of 1872 and about the same time Martin Fancher erected a small house and conducted the first general store. Among the other pioneer merchants were A. Brad- bury, Coy & Giles, Humphrey & Sampson, deal- ers in lumber: David Orr, hardware; Alexander Wallace, furniture; J. R. Griffith, harness : Mrs. Austin, milliner; E. Dean, meat market: George Wakefield. grain and coal ; Newell Persons, wagon maker: Richard Anderson, blacksmith ; John M. St. John, barber.
From the time of its first appearance, in 1872, Waterman has never had a boom, but the growth has been a steady one and is still continning. The business street reveals the fact that the merchants are a wide-awake set, who endeavor to please their customers by keeping a large assortment of sea- sonable and np-to-date goods.
The first school is supposed to have been taught by H. C. Beard in 1847, and from this beginning the educational interests developed into nine school districts, one of which, the village school, is graded. Its history dates back to the year 1856, when Miss Reynolds was the teacher, in a small frame build- ing formerly used as a dwelling. Two years later a schoolhouse was built and Miss Tilda Kirkpat- rick first occupied it as teacher. The building stood about a quarter of a mile sonth of the pres- ent one and continued to do service until 1875, when the one standing today was erected.
The building is a two-story frame structure sit- uated in a quiet and healthful part of town. It became a graded school in 1876, with Charles W. Rolph as its first principal. It continned for a number of years with only two rooms. In 1887 a third teacher was added. At present it consists of the primary, intermediate and high-school de- partments. By alternating and combining classes a large amount of the higher branches can be completed, thereby making this school rank well with other schools of more grades. The principal and his assistants have all had normal training and several years' experience in teaching. They bring into their work earnestness and thoroughness and are making the school second to none in the county. The school is being more closely graded and a course of study is being prepared for it.
The following is the list of teachers of Water- man public schools since 1876: 1876, Charles W.
Rolph, first principal; Sarah C. Anderson, first primary teacher; 1822, C. W. Curtis, principal. four months; Ella R. York, principal and pri- mary; Sarah (. Anderson, primary: 1878, C. W. Curtis, principal; Ella R. York, primary : E. M. Hicks, primary; 1879, C. W. Curtis, principal ; Kittie Decker, primary : 1880, C. W. Curtis, prin- cipal; Kittie Decker, primary; Susie Roland, pri- mary ; 1881, D. D. Kail, principal, three months ; Harriet Norton, principal and primary: Finette Norton, primary ; 1882, Harriet Norton, princi- pal; Finette Norton, primary; 1883, Frank Hutchinson. principal; Finette Norton, primary ; 1884, W. F. Weston, principal : Finette Nor- ton, primary; 1885, A. J. Long, principal : Ellen Hopkins, primary: 1886, N. A. Graves. principal: J. F. Van Vorhies, principal ; Emma Warren, primary: Carrie Graces, pri- mary; Nellie Fulle, primary; 1887, N. A. Graves, principal ; Belle Wheeler, intermediate ; Ida M. Sage, primary; 1888, same as 1887; 1889, M. M. Young, principal ; Phoebe Allbee, intermedi- ate: Ida MI. Sage, primary: 1890. J. H. Clark, principal : Minnie Tucker, intermediate: Ida M. Sage, primary : 1892, J. H. Clark, principal : Hat- tie C. Spencer, intermediate; 1893, G. L. Spalding, principal: Charles E. IInsk, principal; Minnie Tucker, intermediate: Ida . M. Sage, primary ; 1894, Lester Bartlett, principal : Minnie Tucker, intermediate : Ida M. Sage, primary : Jennie Flan- ders, primary; 1895, Lester Bartlett, principal ; Carrie Wormley, intermediate : Mildred Gray. pri- mary; 1896. P. W. Warner, principal: Carrie Wormley, intermediate: Mrs. Carrie Warner, pri- mary; 1897. P. W. Warner, principal ; Blanche Wormley. intermediate; Mrs. Carrie Warner, pri- mary ; Mertic Kirk, primary ; 1898, J. B. Wallace, principal : Harriet Brainerd. intermediate; Frances Merk, primary.
Waterman has reason to feel proud of its public- spirited men and the work they have done for their town. The town board expends time and energy in looking after the interests that will promote the growth of the place.
The fire protection of the village has always been adequate to all needs and the town has never suffered a disastrous fire. Several have started in the business center, but they have been discovered and extinguished before any considerable amount of damage has been done. A gasoline engine with
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hose cart form the main part of the fire outfit, and water is obtained from the town pump, which has a supply coming from five hundred feet below ground. The town is also supplied with a system of water works erected by a combination of pri- vate parties and a stock company, and a large elevated tank holds the supply. Private residences and public places are furnished with city water at a nominal cost.
Croquet, tennis and base ball occupy consider- able of the leisure time of many Waterman people. and although the former two games are some- what on the wane there is much interest in the latter. One thing that makes the latter game still popular is that Waterman is the home of several crack players. Frank Griffith, who was at one time known in more than a local way as the left hand pitcher, passed all of his life at Waterman. On account of an injury a few years ago he is now unable to play, but the enthusiasm is still kept up.
Waterman was the only small town in this vi- cinity of the state that followed the idea pro- mulgated by larger places, that of holding a mini- ature world's fair. The summer of 1894. a year after the World's Fair closed, the place united in making a world's fair on a slightly smaller scale than was the one at Jackson Park the previous year. The relies that were collected were intense- ly interesting and many of the articles which they exhibited had had a place in the big fair. The young people who had charge of the enterprise deserved the praise which they received for so successfully planning and exeenting the affairs. and the churches were richer by quite a sum as a result. It was held two days and one night in the Masonic Hall, which had been divided into two booths and streets in such an artistic manner as to he scarcely recognizable. Everything imaginable was on exhibition and for those to whom curios wore uninteresting a refreshment hall and Japa- nese tea room were most welcome additions to the fair proper.
A custom which was not only followed that year, but has been one of annual occurrence for the past twenty-two years, is the old settlers' meetings or reunions, which are held the first Wednesday in September in Johnson's or Pritchard's grove, the place where the Johnsons and Pritchards first lo- cated. This reunion brings together all of the
early settlers of the county from the north, south, east and west. It is the custom for whole families to pile into their carriages, wagons, or whatever conveyance they possess and start early in the day for the grove. The forenoon programme con- sists of the greeting of old friends, and as this oc- casion is an opportunity to meet the friends of long ago, as well as the new ones, everybody is there. Such a lot of handshaking and "Do you remembers" are exchanged that day that the re-
union has come to be looked upon as one of the most enjoyable holidays of the year. The first re- union was held in 1826 and then the programme consisted chiefly of a picnic. Every family brought a lunch basket containing dinner enough for double the number in their own keeping, so that old time friends spread their dinners together on the ground or on the planks which formed the tem- porary seats. Now the order of the day is more on the plan of a celebration, and the program from year to year is in the hands of an organization. of which S. D. Wesson is the president. Some orator is engaged to make a speech, reminiscences by the pioneers are given, vocal and band music inter- spersed throughont the day, and an exciting ball game usually played. Thus in the history of Waterman comes an incident of interest in the his- tory of the country.
In the line of societies, Waterman is not behind the times. Ilor churches will be given space in the chapter set aside for them, but these societies form only a portion of the social life. Secret so- cieties form another part. The Masons are the pioneers in the secret society line, having founded their organization in 1814. They built the Ma- sonic Hall, a two-story frame building, twenty- six by sixty feet, that they might have a place for meeting, and the building has since served as a public hall. It is often the scene of many a pleas- ant dance and entertainment by both home and traveling talent. During the winter a dramatic club is usually organized and by combining talent and hard work, they have given very creditable plays. Other secret societies are doing all in their power toward the upbuilding of the town in a social and material way, but evidences in the latter are more marked with the Masonic than any other organization.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
In her quiet and yet progressive way the little town of six hundred inhabitants is in the ascen- dency. Many of her young people are attending high educational institutions, some are gracing the professions and others are holding positions of trust at home and abroad. The men and women who have made the town and have built up the farming community can now rest from their la- bors and hear the verdict of "Well done."
The town of Clinton sent one hundred and eleven men into the service to suppress the re- bellion. They appropriated by contribution and taxation thirteen thousand. seven hundred and forty-six dollars for war purposes. Among those from Clinton who lost their lives in the war were Jonathan Morris, Egbert Matteson, M. C. Kirk- patrick, Seeley Simpson. Henry Kellogg. James Lowe. Ashael Childs, C. Rose, Jr., Corydon Hleth, Alfred Hodgekin, Charles Nears and E. A. Pritchard. The latter, a captain in Company H. of the Thirteenth Infantry. was a bright example of the Christian soldier. He came to Clinton in 1845, studied law at Aurora and Cincinnati, prac- ticing in AAurora. He left his young family at the outbreak of the war. served three years most honorably in the gallant old Thirteenth, and par- ticipated in every one of its battles. He lost his health in the service, fell a victim of consumption and just when the people of DeKalb were about to elect him to an honorable city office he died of that dread disease. His brother, Rueben Pritch- ard. was a man of more than local prominence, served his town six years as supervisor and was a member of the legislature from this district. Charles Wesley and William Wallace Marsh set- tled in Clinton and have gained both fame and fortune by the invention of the famous Marsh harvester.
N. S. and Charles F. Greenwood were early settlers of this township, both served as supervisor, while N. S. was county school commissioner, Charles F. county treasurer and afterwards state senator.
J. D. Roberts, a resident of Clinton, and one of the boys raised in that community. is a remark- able example of the successful financier. He has been engaged in farming all his life and with but little assistance from outside owns over three thou- sand acres of land in Illinois. James McCleery was a man of honor and integrity. Had a happy
disposition and keen wit, but was a sound man in public and business affairs and was an exem- plary man in the home and a true Christian. The supervisors from this town have been Reuben Pritchard, James R. Eastman, Arunah Hill. Cyrus B. Whitford, O. A. Tubbs, N. S. Greenwood, W. C. Macey, J. L. Mighell, Robert Humphrey, George Greenwood, Edwin Fraser, Charles Groen- wood, James MeCleery, Humphrey Roberts, Wil- liam Randall and Wilder Potter.
In 1855 the Methodist Episcopal class was or- ganized, which was named the Twin Grove class. and in 1862 a church was erected on the Harvey Fuller farm, north of town. In the winter of 1813 it was removed to the village of Waterman. The Baptist church was organized in 1856, the church was erected in 1822. The Presbyterian church has been organized since the building of the village of Waterman.
AAFTON.
The early history of Afton is not filled with Indian atrocities, as it had neither Indians nor people for them to harass, in early days. After the wooded portions of the county were settled, the prairie land of Afton began to be populated, W. R. Campbell claiming the honor of being the first settler. He was soon followed by John A. Hay- den. to whom the credit is given for naming the town. The head waters of Little Rock creek are in this township, and while working along its banks, Mr. Hayden was constantly reminded of the song. "Flow Gently Sweet Afton," and persisted in call- ing the stream "Sweet Afton." The name always clung to the land.
While the place was sparsely peopled the coun- try was included under the government of DeKalb and of Clinton, and while in this condition was settled by Daniel Washburn, Timothy Pierson, John McGirr, Benjamin Muzzy, Charles Ward, Francis Bemis, Alexander Folger, T. R. Elliott. Michael Fennin, Patrick Brock, William, Osborn and Sanford Tyler. Silas Tappan, E. Noble and Mr. Farrell.
By the time the year of 1853 had been ushered in, the community decided to be organized into a township. Ezekiel Noble prepared the petition and circulated it. There were twenty-one signers of the petition, but only nine of them were legal voters. The others became voters before the spring
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election. The first election was held in the house of S. A. Tyler, April, 1856. Ezekiel Noble was elected supervisor ; Sanford A. Tyler, town clerk ; Clark Glidden. assessor and collector; Timothy Pierson and Orson Pearl, justices of the peace.
About that time the school lands of the town were placed on the market and sold to settlers, making the school fund of the town about seven thousand dollars, which now remains intact. About this time the town was divided into two school districts. The east half was the first dis- trict, the west half the second district. The east half was taxed to build a schoolhouse. costing five hundred dollars. The contract was let to E. Noble, and the building was completed to hold school dur- ing the winter of 1856. The next year the town was divided into nine districts of four sections each, and has remained so up to the present time, with few changes. The settlers tlowing in rapidly. the schoolhouses were built in the center of each district, as circumstances required. The center schoolhouse is a neat building, standing near the Afton center church.
The church was built in 1861, mainly through the efforts and money furnished by William Wat- son. Others contributed somewhat to its ercetion, and now the entire surrounding country helps in its support. It is of an Advent denomination. but, being the only church in the township, is nat- urally attended by all of the people with religious inclinations. A cemetery has been established near the church.
The early settlers were rapidly reinforced by newcomers, so that by the time the war broke out the following families had taken up their abode in Afton: J. W. Ward. C. W. Broughton, John Jones. John P. Newhall, Clark Glidden. Mr. Lawther. B. Pierce, L. DeForest, M. DeForest. John Pooler. E. L. Mosher, H. P. Rollins, William Watson. E. J. Farmer. the Makarrolls. James White. Sr., James White. Jr., HI. Kingsley. James Carter, Richard Boyce. J. J. Bent, Dana Earl. Judge Parks. D. B. Striker. Daniel Lattin. Ed- ward Boland. John and Martin Lyons. John Mc- Dole. John and Reward Sturtevant, Walker Bent. Benjamin Mosher, Orson and Julius Pearl, Alex- ander Gamble. T. Knights. Newell Thompson. Harrison Burt. O. M. Tanner, George King. Erastus Dean, Enoch Darwell, Moses Chambers and Enos Morrell. Eighty-one men were for-
nished during the war and the township paid bonn- ties to the amount of twenty thousand dollars.
Afton was known only as a farming community until 1884, when the Northern Illinois branch of the Northwestern road was built diagonally through the township and a station begun. It was named Elva in honor of Elva Glidden Bush, wife of William H. Bush, of Chicago, a daughter of Ilon. J. F. Glidden. of DeKalb. The station is scarcely more than a shipping point and a mail office. although it contains a creamery and a gen- eral store. It being on a branch line of the main railroad and near the large town of DeKalb, it will probably never grow to any great proportions.
The growth and the changes since the town was first inhabited are not marked, but they are numer- ons, and the old settlers, with few exceptions, have either passed to their long home or have moved to the west or cast. or to the cities, to take their case during the remainder of their days, and their places are occupied by sons or tenants, as the case may be. The only persons now living in Afton township of the carly settlers are J. W. Ward, Michael Fennin and E. Noble.
The principal offices of the township have been held as follows: Supervisors. E. Noble, C. W. Broughton, Henry Kingsley, S. W. Patten, John Ryan and 1. Woods: town clerks. S. A. Tyler. Julius C. Pearl. C. W. Baker. Newell Thompson. S. W. Patten. E. Curtis, Martin Lyons, Bernard Lyons. J. W. Ward. E. L. Mosher. E. Noble, Grant E. Mosher. Other offices were filled by too many different ones to mention.
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