USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 25
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The schools of Somonauk were established shortly after the building up of the village and the Somonauk graded school building was one of the first erected in the county. About four years ago the present new brick structure was completed. Warren Hubbard has been superin- tendent of the Somonauk schools for a period of seventeen years. Aside from A. J. Blanchard he has served continuously at one point in the county longer than any other individual. Mr. Hubbard is a true type of the Christian gentleman, genial. active, bright and one of the excellent school men of northern Illinois. Somonank maintains two excellent financial institutions : One known as the Somonauk Bank, managed by Wright & Stevens, and the other the State Bank, of which Joseph Antoine is president and C. White cashier. Frank- lin Dale erected the first store building in the village and opened a stock of general merchandise and became the pioneer merchant of the place. Mr. Itess was the second and opened a store, which is at present managed by his two sons, Henry and George. The Somonauk Reveille first made its appearance in 1875 and is in existence at the present time.
Since 1873, since Somonauk has been a separate voting precinct, she has furnished the assistant supervisor of the township. The first was Edward Hoxey. next Thomas J. Wright, John Clark, Charles Merwin, Charles S. Lewis, Carter Wright, Peter McClelland, who served for a period of twelve years. He was followed by Isaac Hay and he by Henry Hess, who was serving at the time of the division of the township. The supervisors for the old town of Somonauk have been Lyman Bacon, William Patten, J. H. Furman, I. Latham. Dr. C. Winne, E. W. Lewis, W. W. Sedgwick, W. L. Simmons, Hiram Loucks and
Dr. Winne, who has now served longer than any other supervisor from this township. He was serving at the time of the township division and ably opposed the separation. Since that time he has represented the town of Sandwich.
The graded schools of Sandwich have had W. W. Woodbury for city superintendent during a period of fourteen years. He was connected with the schools previous to this time and was princi- pal of the grammar school. Sandwich maintains a four-year high school course and is regarded as one of the strong schools of the county.
The Sandwich Manufacturing Company is known over the civilized world and sends its finished product to South America, Europe and Asia. This was one of the first strong establish- ments built up in the county. It stands as a monument to August Adams, ils founder. Its employees are well paid and are capable men, who have served their town and county in re- sponsible positions. The Enterprise Manufactur- ing Company was established at a later date and is at present in a prosperous condition. The old township of Somonauk has a splendid war record, furnished three hundred and eleven men for the suppression of the rebellion and raised nearly twenty-eight thousand dollars to meet war ex- penses. Captain L. II. Carr was among the first troops of Illinois to occupy the strategic position of Cairo, and was one of the first companies raised in the state under the first call of the president. The gallant officer who responded so readily to the call of the nation in danger met his death from a bullet of a sharpshooter at the siege of Island No. 10. Frederick W. Partridge, a native of Ver- mont, and å student in the law office of Franklin Pierce, postmaster of Sandwich in 1860, raised a company in Sandwich, became its captain, was twice wounded, rose to the command of the regi- ment and at the close of the war was breveted brigadier general. Ile was elected circuit clerk and recorder and became a resident of Sycamore. After his return as minister to Siam he was ap- pointed to several positions of honor and trust by Presidents Hayes and Garfield. Colonel Isaac Rutishowser, of Somonank, a native of Poland, and his brother Carl, did gallant service in the Civil war. The latter attained the rank of colonel. The Beveridges were residents of Somonauk and came to this county in a very early day. They
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were Scotch Presbyterians and of strong anti- slavery faith. They maintained a station on the underground railway here and assisted many a negro to freedom. As stated in another part of this work. James H. and John L. became promi- nent in affairs of state. the former serving as state treasurer and the latter as governor. Their father, George Beveridge, and their noble mother, were among the organizers of the United Presby- terian church.
The village of Sandwich was organized and in- . corporated in 1859-that of Somonauk in 1856.
One of the churches of this county which de- serves special mention is the United Presbyterian church in the township of Somonauk. about three miles north of the village of Somonauk. It may be of interest to know that in 1858 the Associate Presbyterian and Associate Reformed Pres- byterian churches formed a union. Since that time the organization to which this church belonged has been known as the United Presbyterian church. About the year 1832 Mr. George Beveridge of Washington county. New York, came to this place, and after some time and not a few privations secured a home. In 1842 he brought his family to his new home. About the same time other families came from the same place and settled in the neighborhood. These peo- ple wishing to enjoy church privileges, began to arrange the establishment of their church home. In August, 1842, Rev. James Templeton visited and preached for them. AAlso Rov. James Smith and Rev. George Vincent preached for them during the fall and winter. In 1843 Rev. R. Pollock. Rov. Isaac Law. Rev. R. W. French were sent by the board of home missions to preach for them.
On March 18, 1846, the Associate Congregation of Somonauk. De Kalb county, Illinois, was organ- ized by Rev. R. W. French. in the home of Mr. George Beveridge, near where the church building is located. Messrs. William Patten and David M. Dobbin were elected ruling elders. There were twenty-one charter members, of whom only one is now living-Mr. John Walker of Sandwich. Ili- nois. Rev. R. W. French was pastor of the congre- gation from 1848 until June, 1860: Rev. W. T. Moffett. D. D., from April 2. 1861. until No- vember 21. 1822 ; Rev. D. S. Kennedy. D. D., from September 5. 1828. until November 14, 1893 : Rev. A. G. Hastings, from January 27. 1895, until
August 29. 1903 : Rev. J. A. Speer has been pas- tor since June 12, 1904.
All the former pastors and members were in- vited to return and join in the celebration of the semi-centennial anniversary of the organization of the congregation. All the pastors were present ex- cept Rev. W. T. Moffett. D. D., who had removed to a distant field of labor in Kansas.
Rev. Alexander Gilchrist. D. D., a son of the congregation, was present and gave an address. A paper was read by Rev. A. G. Hastings, giving a history of the congregation and review of its growth from the time of its organization. Mem- bership at that time was two hundred and twenty- five. The closing exercises were in charge of the Young People's Society. Rev. Jesse Johnson of Muskingum College. Ohio, gave the address of the evening. Sous of the congregation who entered the ministry are: Rev. William J. Mc Allister. Rev. S. J. Stewart. Rev. Russel Graham, D. D., Rev. John Mahaffey, Rev. Jesse Beitel. Rev. Ar- chie Graham, Rov. Andrew Randles.
SQUAW GROVE.
Squaw Grove was the first settled township in De Kalb county. Much of the story of this town- ship has been told in the history of the county. so matters pertaining to its early settlement are found in the chapter "Early Settlements" in the fore part of this work. We have also noted in that chapter Mr. Hollenbeck, who lived near Ot- tawa, came as far north as what is now the town of Sycamore and laid a claim to Squaw Grove, a part of which remains west of the present village of Hinckley. This was the first claim laid in the county and it is now the Oscar Tanner farm. It was through the representations of Mr. Hollen- beck that the Sebrees. a family of Virginia origin. came here to look over the country and settled. The Sebrees, upon arriving at Squaw Grove, which had been given that name by Mr. Hollenbeck. found unocenpied wigwams and occupied them until a log house could be built. The wife of John Sebree, the first settler, was left during the winter of 1834-5 alone with her young children while he went to his eastern home to secure teams, wagons and apparatus necessary for the improve- ment of their new home. The home of Wm. Se- bree was the birthplace of Martha, the first white
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child born in De Kalb county. She married Mr. J. Jackson. Her death occurred in 1907. At this time the nearest neighbor of Mrs. Sebree lived at Millington, seventeen miles away. The new- comers lived in the most primitive manner. Most of them had cattle, horses and swine. The Se- brees rejoiced in a pair of hand millstones, with which the settlement all ground their corn. They made clothing from the wool of the sheep. For three years the only plow of the place was owned by Sebree and was made with a wooden mold board. The work of the prairie consisted in sow- ing oats and planting sod corn, and in the fall of 1836 Samuel Miller went with four yoke of cattle. carrying thirty bushels of oats to Chicago. These he sold for fifty cents a bushel, returning with salt and boots enough for the men of the settle- ment. The nearest neighbor on the north was on the banks of the Kishwaukee and in 1835 these people from Squaw Grove went to the home of William A. and Harman Miller and helped the former raise his log cabin. The first tax paid in 1837 in this town was by Samuel Miller, who paid sixty-two and a half cents. The first death in this community was the energetic and indus- trions mother of John Sebree. The first school was taught in Jacob Lee's house by a lady named Jane Sanford, in the summer of 1840, and M. P. Cleveland succeeded her the following winter. This has been a matter of dispute as to who taught the first term of school, Mr. Cleveland or Miss Sanford, but all agree that it was taught in 1840 in Mr. Jacob Lee's house. Squaw Grove was the first to sell her sixteenth section of land for school purposes. Two years later a log school- house was built in the grove and Mr. Alby, now deceased, made the window frames for the same. The first. school money was drawn by Mr. Cleve- land out of the public funds, while the first wages paid were by private subscription and the first school was known as the subscription school. The house occupied by John Sebree and the first per- manent home in the county was located a few rods west of the home occupied by his son, W. Marsh Sebree until the last two or three years.
Those who followed Mr. Sebree and Samuel Miller were William Leggett. M. P. Cleveland, Watson Y. Pomeroy, John Boardman and Jacob Lee. Mr. Cleveland located at Pappoose Grove, the present site of the village of Hinckley. John
Eastabrook was a native of Pennsylvania. HIe lo- cated on the north side of Squaw Grove in the home later occupied by Mr. Tanner, where he re- mained until his death in 1850. He was accom- panied to this state by his son Decatur and his daughter Mary. Ilis wife and the remainder of the family came the following year. Decatur Eastabrook removed to Carroll county, where he still resides. When Mr. Eastabrook came to the county he brought with him two large, powerful dogs. When the men were away from the house the dogs would allow no one, especially the In- dians, to come near the house unless called off by Miss Eastabrook.
Samuel Miller and John Sebree spent the re- mainder of their lives on land which they took up from the government. Mr. Pomeroy subse- quently became a Methodist preacher and until a few years ago was active in the service in Illi- nois.
W. A. Fay located on section 29 in the Somo- nauk timber, a part of which extends to this township. All the settlers of 1835 have passed away except W. Marsh Sebree, who still resides at Hinckley, and is hale and hearty. When Marsh Sebree came to Squaw Grove he was less than two years old and consequently is the oldest living settler who has resided continuously in the county. His father, John Sebree, died in 1873. In his carly life he had spent some years in teaming and in boating on the Mississippi river. In the fall of 1834 he started from his home in Indiana with his wife and one child, making the journey to De Kalb county with a team and one cow. On his way he worked for a time near Bloomington. picking corn on shares, which served him well when he reached his pioneer home. Their first shanty in Squaw Grove had a fire place built of stick's and mud and the floor was covered with hay. This caught fire on one occasion, but did no damage save the fear of utter ruin to the establishment. Ile built a log house later, which was quite substantial. He cut the first hay crop in the county. After he had established himself he left his wife and one child and proceeded to Bloomington to bring the corn he had earned on his way here. During this time Mrs. Sebree lived on cornbread, the meal of which was made by hand. They lived in this house for twelve years
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and kept a sort of hotel, as there was no other place for prospectors and land-lookers to obtain lodging. Frequently the floor of the little log house was covered with the sleeping forms of tired travelers.
The first physician to permanently locate in the township was Dr. Winslow, who located about two miles from the present village of Hinckley. Around the home of John Sebree and a little to the north had sprung up quite a village. A school- house had been built and the attendance was as large as that of any other district school of the county. A Methodist church had been erected, which was moved to Hinckley in 1818. when the C .. B. & Q. road passed through this county. mak- ing the villages of Hinckley. Waterman and Shab- bona possible. For years Mr. Frank Merrill and H. D. Wagner were merchants in the old village of Squaw Grove, notwithstanding the inconven- ience of securing their goods, which in early days were mainly hanled by teams from Chicago and later from Aurora and Somonauk. This town in the '50s began to be settled by a number of Ger- mans. Among them came William Loifeiht, C. Hartman, James Morsch, F. Granart and August Bastian. Most of these were emigrants from Ger- many, who came here poor and by industry and economy have purchased many of the beautiful homes of Squaw Grove township, so that at present the Germans have the majority of the population of the town.
In the carly 90s they erected one of the largest churches in the county. The membership of the Lutheran society at this town is nearly four hun- dred. The church is modern in every respect and has a valuable church organ, which cost over a thousand dollars. They have another society in the town of Hinckley known as the Evangelical church. Aside from the churches mentioned there is a Methodist church, which was erected in the present village about twelve years ago, and a Baptist and a German Methodist church.
Hinckley is a thriving town and, being in a rich grain producing section, has a large farm trade. They have two large elevators, two banks, one a private bank, managed by I. D). Wagner, and the other a state bank. of which William Von Ohlen is president and James Pogue cashier. From the rude log house built in the grove in 1838 has grown a largo graded school containing five rooms.
There is no town in the county that has a greater wealth or capital than the village of Hinckley. The Hinckley Tile Works, which were established many years ago, is the leading manufacturing in- dustry.
PIERCE.
Congressional township 39 north, range 5 east, is known as the civil township of Pierce, so named in honor of Franklin Pierce, who at the time of its organization was just inaugurated as president of the United States. It is bound on the cast by Kane county, on the north by Cortland township, on the south by Squaw Grove and on the west by Afton. The headwaters of the Big Rock creek are in this township. It is a prairie country. the northern half being undulating, while the south- ern half is rather flat. It has been an excellent wheat country in the past. and in 1820 it pro- duced more of that cercal than any other town- ship in the county.
Elder Nathan Wilcox has the honor of being the first to locate in what is now the township of Pierce. Ile located in the north part of the town- ship in 1812. During that year John Lesher, a native of Pennsylvania, and Jacob E. Plapp, a native of Germany. came and selected their future homes. Læsher selected the southeast quarter of section 24. Hle built a substantial frame house, lived there until 1853, when he sold out and re- moved to lowa. He now lives in Dubuque. Plapp selected the northeast quarter of section 24. but did not permanently settle until about two years later. Hle died on the homestead in January. 1885.
En 1848 Michael Welsh, a native of Ireland. came and entered land on section 11, improved a farm and there lived until he died.
Jacob Lintner came from Lake county, Illinois, and located on section 25. He was born in Dau- phin county. Pennsylvania, in 1:99. His wife was Frances Shaffner, also of the same county and state. In 1828 they settled in Richland coun- ty. Ohio, where they remained until 1844. when they settled in Lake county. Illinois. Mr. Lintner died on the old homestead in 1850. Hlis widow successfully managed the farm until her death. March 23, 1883. They had eight children, only one of whom is now a resident of the township- Mrs. Ferderick Hoffman.
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There were a number of arrivals in 1849. among whom were Henry Ramer, Christian Meyer. George Eberly, David Gerlach, Bernard Milna- mow, Thomas Gormley, Malachi Henanghan, John Allen and Josiah Jacob. Ramer was from Penn- sylvania. IIe settled on section 27 and died there. Meyer also settled on section 27. He now resides in Sandwich. Eberly was also from Pennsylvania. IIe located on section 26. He died here. His son George now lives on the same section. Gerlach chose for his home a portion of section 24. He is now dead, but has two sons living in the township. Samuel on the homestead and Anderson on section 14. Henaughan located on section 19. He is now dead. Two sons survive him, who yet reside in the township. Milnamow, Allen and Gormley all yet reside in the township. All are Irishmen.
Among other pioneers of the township were Levi and Moses Hill. Thomas Halloran, P'. Horan, P. Dunn. L. Hennegan. John Ferrick. the Butlers and Dillons.
Pierce township has for its settlers many sturdy sons of "Erin." who have served their town and county well, many of whom have attained promi- nence outside of this town and county. The same is true of the Germans, who came here. They make most excellent citizens. have established pub- lic schools and churches, where their language is spoken. The Evangelical church service is now conducted in the English language.
Pierce township was first included in Somonauk precinct, subsequently in Orange precinct. then in Richland. Until 1853 the north half was at- tached to Squaw Grove, and the south half to Cortland township. In that year it was organized as a civil township.
The first school in the township was taught by William J. Bates, in 1850, on section S. The schoolhouse was made of split poles. Mr. Bates tanght twenty-one terms in that district. In re- lation to the present status of the public schools of the township, the following items are gleaned from the report of the county superintendent of public schools for the year ending June 30, 1884: There were four hundred and sixty persons in the township under twenty-one years of age, of whom two hundred and ninety-six were over six. Of this number two hundred and seventy-two were enrolled in the public schools. There were eight districts. each having a frame schoolhouse.
the total value of which was estimated at six thousand. two hundred and fifty dollars. Each district had school over one hundred and ten days during the year, in which twenty-four teachers were employed. receiving an average monthly sal- ary of thirty-four dollars and forty-three cents. the highest being forty-five dollars and the low- est twenty-five dollars. The tax levy was two thousand, two hundred and twenty dollars.
Elder Wilcox was probably the first to preach Christ and Him erneified in the township. There were in 1885 two church organizations-the Evan- gelical Association and the Lutherans.
The first meetings of those holding the views of the Evangelical Association were held at the house of John Lesher. about 1849. near the county line. The people of Kane and De Kalb counties met together to worship in private houses on both sides of the line for some years. Revs. IIall. Rockuts and Weldy were the first preachers. John Shoop was the first class leader and Jacob Lint- ner exhorter. Among the first members were David Gerlach and wife ; Benjamin Moss and wife ; John Shoop and wife: George Eberly and wife: Jacob Lintner and wife: John Kuter and wife; J. F. Plapp and wife: John Bartmeis and wife: John Schwitzer and wife : Valentine Hummel and wife: Christopher Hummel and wife ; John Lesher and Peter Hummel. Abont 1850 a church build- ing was erected on the southwest quarter of section 24. It was replaced in the early '90s by one of the most spacious and beautiful churches now in the country districts of our county. The first church was dedicated by Bishop Esher of Chicago. The society owns a parsonage conveniently located near the church. There are now one hundred and fifty members connected with the society. Peter Hummel, Jacob Kunes and Oscar Ramer are the classleaders : Andrew Gerlach, Thomas Shoop, Fred Lentz and George Schule, stewards; Peter Hum- mel. Fred Lentz. George Ramer, George Schule and J. Kuter. trustees. Rov. Jacob K. Schultz is the present pastor. Services are held in Ger- man and English. \ Sabbath school is connected with the church.
The first meetings of the Lutheran church were held at the schoolhouse in district No. 2, in 1870, and were conducted by Rev. John Andreas, from Somonauk. An organization was effected, em- bracing the families of Henry Rath, Peter Conse,
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Charles Dellenbach. Joseph Dellenbach. Demst. George Motz. Frank Redelperger, August Conse, Henry Schmidt, Henry Anspach. Hartman Schule and William Nehring. The society met for wor- ship in the schoolhouse until 1822, when a neat frame church building was erected on the north- east quarter of section 33. which. together with the furniture cost two thousand, four hundred dol- lars. There are now twenty families belonging to the society.
Pierreville postoffice was established in 1854. with Moses Hill as postmaster. His commission was dated February 21. 1854. The office was at his house, which was on the route from Sycamore to Cortland. Mail was received from each direc- tion twice a week. In 1852 Mr. Hill resigned. after which time various persons held the office until 1829, when Mr. Hill was reappointed. 1Ie served until George Schule was appointed and the office was discontinued in 1892.
The first birth in the township was that of a child of John Lesher, in 1819. The second birth was that of Mary Jane Meyer, daughter of Chris- tian Meyer, born October 6. 1850. She is now the wife of Valentino Hummel.
The first death was that of Jacob Lintner. He was first buried on his farm, but his remains were subsequently removed and interred in the ceme- tery of the Evangelical Association.
One hundred men were furnished by the town- ship to aid in the war of the rebellion and eleven thousand dollars was raised.
The supervisors of Pierre township were: H. S. Champlin. C. M. Humiston. B. Milnamow. S. Denton. T. Gormley. N. C. Cottrell. G. W. Slater. C. M. Humiston. P. W. Gallagher, JJohn Walsh. N. B. Sheldon, Charles A. Hubbard. James D. Gormley. A. G. Smith and J. D. Gormley. 1886- 1904.
One of the places of interest in Pierce township is the Grove known as Grimm's woods. It has been the scenes of many pienie parties and for a period of sixteen years the schools of the township have formed a Picnic Association and hold their an- nual picnics at this place regularly. Miss Nellie Davidson, who taught school in this township for many years, organized the above association.
Pierce is the only township of De Kalb county that remains democratic, and but one during her whole history has she given a republican majority
for a presidential candidate. The only log house remaining in the township is on Mrs. Rhoda Wil- son's farm, and it has been in constant use until the last year or two.
CORTLAND.
BY HION. DWIGHT CROSSETT, 1899. .
The settlement of this township dates back to 1835. when George Gandy, Isaac Gandy, David Wood. Henry Smith, Alvin Dayton. Ralph Wy- man, John Champlin, Peter Young. Elias Ilart- man. Russell Crossett, Hale Perry. John, James and Perry Elliott. the Springs, Norcutts, Kites. Lowries and Osgoods settled near the Ohio grove.
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