USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 27
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174
PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
SYCAMORE.
The story of the township in which the county seat is located is generally in a large measure the history of the county. Sycamore was not settled first, but probably third, Squaw Grove and Somo- nauk settlements preceding it by a few claims. The first settler of Sycamore township was prob- ably Lysander Darling. He located on the farm now owned by Charles Davy on the Genoa and Sycamore road. Another early settler here was a Mr. Charters, a frontiersman, who located in the grove in the northeast part of the town. and from him the name of Charters Grove was taken. Peter Lamoy. a man of splendid ability, was one of those of a class now almost extinct, who roamed upon the frontiers of civilization, and he made his home here for a time. The story of Peter Lamis and of his selling liquor to the Indians is given in the reminiseences of Jesse Kellogg. Marshall Stark settled here in 1835, and in 1836 served as one of the first county jurors from Kane county. Others who followed in the year 1835 were Jesse C. Kel- logg. Edward F. White, Carlos Lattin, who had settled temporarily in the south part of the state, removing to De Kalb county this year, and took possession of a claim, including the west side of the present site of what is now Sycamore. IIe built the first house in what is now Sycamore. of logs, on Main street, on the present site of the Sycamore National Bank. This was his home for ten years, and in 1847 ho erected a brick house on High street, which he occupied for ten years, and in the later '50s his residence was a large frame house on the corner of Somonauk and High streets. where his daughter, Mrs. F. E. Stevens. now re- sides.
Those who came the next year were Christian Sharer, a wealthy New Yorker, who in company with Evans Wharry, Clark White and Mark Dan- iels, under the firm name of (. Sharer & Com- . pany. claimed two square miles of land, running from Marshall Stark's land on the north to the south line of the township. At this time the town- ship had not been laid out nor the county surveyed. but they struck out the supposed lines with ox teams and plow. This company dammed the Kish- waukee river. built a mill, enclosed with a high. heavy rail fonce a tract sixty rods wide and two miles long, whose west line was on what is now
Somonauk street, and prepared to build a town. This was in the days of inflated paper currency and "boomed towns" were laid out in every part of the Mississippi valley. The old town north of the creek consisted of two or three log cabins. In one Esquire Eli G. Jewell kept a blacksmith and wagon shop and J. C. and Charles Waterman a store. In 1831. after the county seat contest, which is given in the reminiscences of Evans Wharry, were settled and the present court house site was located, the town was removed from north of the river to the present site and laid out by Evans Wharry and James Waterman. The latter was a surveyor. An early resident of the village was Captain Eli Barnes, who built the first frame house in the town, which was known for years as the City Ilotel and stood on the site of the Syca- more Library. It was later purchased by F. B. Townsend and removed across the street, repaired and still is occupied as a hotel. The second frame house in the town had been removed from the ITamlin farm and was occupied by Dr. Barrett, the first physician of the place. It stood until 1855, where D. B. James subsequently built a handsome residence, and was then burned down on suspicion that it had been used for the sale of liquor. The old court house was built in 1839 nearly opposite the present structure and in 1840 the little village consisted of a dozen houses scattered over consid- erable land without fences and with but one well.
Captain Barnes' hotel was one of the best hostel- ries west of Chicago and for years was called the Mansion House. Dr. Norbro removed to St. Charles in 1837 and Mr. Charters left about the same time and at present it is not known where Lysander Darling located after leaving Sycamore. Edward White had located his claim on land now owned by A. F. Park and for a time that was one of the places of interest in the county. The first religious exercises of the town were held in the home of Mark Daniels and the Methodist society which was the nucleus of the present Methodist organization in this city was formed. They held services for years at the home of Edward White, who was the first Methodist class leader of the town. The first log school house was built in 183; on the farm afterwards owned by Dr. James Harrington, and here during the summer of that year Miss Mary Wood taught the first school in the township.
OLD LOG HOUSE OF EPHRAIM ILALL.
HYCAMINO
FIRST ENGINE THAT RAN INTO SYCAMORE, 1859.
CELNEW YORK POBLICHBEARY
122
PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Jesse C. Kellogg, who became prominent in county affairs, taught the winter term of 1837-8 and religious exercises from this time forward were held in the schoolhouse. The first child born in the township was Caroline White, who was born August 31, 1836; the first boy was Mar- eus Walrod, born in 1838. The first wedding was that of Daniel Lamb and Julia Maxfield, March 16, 1838, and the first death that of Mrs. Lorinda ( Wood) French, May 29, 1837. Mark Daniels was the first postmaster in the town, receiving his appointment in 1837, the salary being sixteen dol- lars and eighty-eight cents.
After the organization of the county the first Fourth of July celebration in our history took place at the fine new log house of Ephraim Hall. At this time Mr. Hall's residence was no doubt one of the very best in the county. A picture of this building, which still stands, will be found in this history, and an account of the celebration is given in the county history proper.
Mr. Lattin was not married until 1839, so he and Marshall Stark kept "old bach" together. "Carlos" never liked housework, and after eating a meal the two would try a game of old sledge to see who would be kitchen maid, and as Marshall proved the shrewdest player, poor Carlos generally had to wash the dishes, much to his discomfort. So passed the days, and in their declining years they loved to live them over and over again. not- withstanding all the privations endured, and al- though their last days were spent in plenty and amid all the luxuries of life, their happiest days were the struggling days of their pioneer life.
Another old settler in the north part of the town was Edward Jackman. whose son Kendall later removed to Genoa and still lives at an ad- vanced old age, and is prominent in Genoa's polit- ical and social life. The Clark Wright farm now owned by F. B. Townsend was first selected as the proper site for a county seat, a change afterward being brought about by disagreement between Dr. Henry Madden and Evans Wharry, so that to Ev- ans Wharry particularly we are indebted for the selection of the present site of our court house.
In 1839 Sycamore had grown to be a village of a dozen houses, but most of its inhabitants boarded in the Mansion House, a portion of which was also used as a store. Those who came in 1838 and 1839, who afterwards were prominently identified
with the interests of the town and county, were Joseph Sixbury, Timothy Wells. Sylvanus Hol- comb, Clark Wright, E. D. Robinson, E. P. Young, Deacon Harry Martin.
The Walrods came to this town in 1839, but had settled previously at Union Grove on land which is now in De Kalb township. Those who came and settled outside of the village were Ralph Wy- man, Amos Storey, Benjamin Evans and Elihu Wright. AAfter locating the county seat Eli G. Jewell was required to sell at auction certain lands of the one hundred and sixty acres of land which had been donated to the county. Twenty lots were sold at from fifteen to twenty dollars. the size being twenty by thirty feet, and the first ses- sion of the court was held here in 1839. After the first court house was built the first school taught in the village by Dr. Bills in the second story of the court house, and it was occupied for several years and the first public school house was built here in 1853.
The Congregational society was organized here in 1840 and held meetings in the court house. Mr. Charters built his log house on land now owned by Elijah Garvin. Eli G. Jewell located first on the farm now owned by James Divine, and the ex- act site of Dr. Norbo's house is now known. Other stores were opened here in the early '40s and Syca- more became quite a business center. In 1842 Sycamore had doubled the number of houses of 1839 and had three wells, but much sickness pre- vailed on account of the surface water, which many were compelled to drink from the shallow wells provided at that time. One of the pioneers who still lives at an advanced age remembers that dur- ing her first visit here nearly half of the people were sick from fever and ague. The life of the town centered around the Mansion House, and many social events patronized for many miles around occurred there. In the early '40s two cemeteries were laid out, one known as the Metho- dist cemetery on the site of the Methodist parson- age on Somonauk street and the other located on East State street. These were occupied until about 1865. when the bodies occupying these old ceme- teries were taken up and removed to beautiful Elmwood cemetery, southeast of town.
During the '40s the early band of pioneers were reinforced by the Mayos, Hosea Willard, George Weeden, James Harrington. J. C. Waterman, C. O.
178
PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Boynton, J. R. Hamlin, George Holcomb. Edwin P. Rose, Dr. O. M. Bryan, Dr. Page. Judge D. B. James and others, who put their shoulders to the wheel and gave new life to the little village. In the '50s came Daniel Pierce, Generat Dustin, George P. Wild, J. H. Rogers. Dr. W. W. Bryant, Moses Dean, James Kellum, E. F. Dutton, fu- ther Lowell, R. L. Divine, Harmon Paine, Horatio James. The Ellwood family, Reuben and Chaun- cey, came first in 1837, remaining well into the '408. when they left their interests here for a while and returned to New York, returning early in the '50s. They were accompanied by their parents, their brothers, Alonzo and J. E. The addition> of the '50> were strong in the new life and vigor, and with the capital they brought with them helped the village over many rough places.
SYCAMORE IN 1840. East
*Sylvanus Holcomb
*1. Bannister
North
*Mansion House
*J. (. Waterman
*E. P. Young
South
Clark Wright*
E. Walrod*
*Court House
Wells & 1. 1 ..* Barnes' shoe shop* 1 .. (. Jewell's*
N. D. Robinson*
(. Lattin*
J. Sixbury*
West
On a beautiful Sabbath morning in the year 1836. in the month of June, might have been seen a few humble worshipers, gathering at the home of one Mark Daniels, who lived about one mile north of this city on the farm now owned by Philo Van Galder, nearly opposite the residence of Fred Van Galder in Sycamore township. There were then only three Methodist families in the community-the Whites, the Daniels and the Walrods. Two of these brethren, longing
to hear again a gospel sermon and wor- ship to God. went to Kingston and found a man - Levi Lee - a local preacher, who came and preached, it being the first service held in this place at this time. His text was, "Have faith in God." Mr. Lee was owner of Lee's mill and one of the first county commissioners and a prominent and intluential citizen of that early time. At that time there were missionaries, Wil- liam Royal and Sammel Pillsbury, sent out to look over the ground and plan the work of the church. These men organized the first class, composed of the following named persons : Edward White, who was appointed class leader ; Mary White, his wife: Mark Daniels and wife; Peter Walrod and wife, making six in all. In the following Septem- ber there was held the first quarterly meeting serv- ice. Stephen R. Beggs taking charge. At that meeting occurred the first baptismal service, be- ing that of Caroline White, infant daughter of Brother and Sister White. In a few months a log school house was built. in which was held the reg- ular church service, which occurred once in fonr weeks. This log school house was built on the farm now owned by Lewis Lloyd. By this time Sycamore was included in the circuit, which ex- tended to Rockford on the north, Mount Morris on the west. Somonauk on the south. and St. Charles on the cast. The first parsonage was built about 1810 on Brother White's farm. four miles. north of town on the farm now owned by Captain A. F. Park. At that time some of the pastors of the church were Stephen R. Beggs, who lived at Plainfield, Illinois, dying at the advanced age of ninety years, Rovs. Wiley, Frink. Decker. Lattin. Blessed. indeed, was the work of the Lord in the hearts of these devoted soldiers of the eross, and bishop. presiding elder and pastor together en- joyed the hospitality of the old log cabin and the schoolhouse with the same pleasure as the palace of the present day. Then it was common to enter- tain sixteen in a home of only two rooms when at- tending the quarterly meeting service. and great blessings attended their meetings. In 1845 preach- ing appointment was removed from the school- house to the old courthouse in Sycamore, a frame building situated on State street, opposite the pres- ent courthouse building. At this time, although Sycamore was a town of few inhabitants, intoxi- cants were sold in hotels and many people were very
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
wicked. Dr. Luke Hitchcock was presiding elder and S. R. Beggs pastor. These men were earnest shepherds of the people and felt deeply the need of a revival of religion. They began the work and the holy spirit came in saving power to the people. Many people flocked from miles around to hear the word of light by those who were saved of the Lord. Among those brought to Christ at that revival of religion were our beloved Brother Sixbury and wife. Brother Carlos Lattin and wife, Brothers David and Daniel Walrod and wives and others. These men were afterward among the most useful and efficient class leaders in the church, and some of them are now in Heaven. This was the be- ginning of better and more prosperous days in Methodism. In 1847 a new church edifice thirty- seven by forty feet was built upon the present church site, the land being given by Brother Car- los Lattin. This church still stands and is used as a part of a livery barn by Helson & Walrod. Many blessed revivals attended the work of the ministry and church, and as the years passed by, one marked with special power occurred in the year 1855, un- der the pastorate of Revs. Tascar and Higgins, when the church was crowded nightly for weeks and more than a hundred souls entered into the service of the Lord, some of whom today are in the ministry of the church. Pastors in the years following were Revs. Comb. Scarl. Brown aad Thayer. In the year 1850 the first parsonage was sold and a new one was built, which still remains on the lot adjoining the church edifice and in later years the pastor's present home was built on beau- tiful Somonauk street. After two or more decades of years from the date of the building of the first church and the society had been greatly blessed and prospered, the present church edifice was erect- el. As I recall those few incidents of the early days of the history of the church, my thoughts turn to those beloved elders, pastors, leaders and stewards of the church who lived among us as cit- izens but were loyal to the Lord their King, and who now reign with Him in Glory. Let us cher- ish their memory, emulate with them good works and win with them the crown.
When the Methodist church was completed in 1847 it was the first church edifice in the city and perhaps the second one built in the county. Little can we now realize how much the building of this church meant by way of personal sacrifice to its
members. One member subscribed five hundred dollars, others sums varying from that amount down to fifty, while the outside public who were anxious to see a church built here did considerable. One member of the church at the present time pos- sesses more property than the whole Methodist con- gregation in the carly '40s.
In 1840 the Methodist conference for this sec- tion of the state was held at Mount Morris by Bishop Scott and some of the presiding elders fol- lowing the trail from Chicago stopped for break- fast at the residence of Brother Edward White. They traveled on horseback, and, compared with means of travel at this time, great inconvenience was suffered by those pioneers of the church.
The second church edifice built in this town was the First Congregational church, located on land given by Captain Barnes, on the southwest corner or Main and Exchange streets. This build- ing was commended at an earlier date than the Methodist church and was not completed until 1850. At a meeting of the members of the Con- gregational church called in 1848 they resolved to make an estimate of all the personal property of the several members and to assess the property by two outside parties. This assessment was made by Carlos Lattin of the Methodist society and Stephen Townsend of the Wesleyan Methodist society of Mayfield. In making this assessment they deducted the amounts owed by the several members from the total valuation, and the tax levied from this assessment was a tenth of their entire property. The assessment made is now in possession of Emily Wood, of Sycamore, and it gives the members the property valuation as fol- lows, describing all kinds of property, real and personal : David West, thirteen hundred and ten dollars ; Harry Martin, six hundred and fifty-six dollars : Jesse Kellogg, nineteen hundred and twen- ty-nine dollars : Ellsworth Rose, two hundred and fifty dollars : James N. Hammond, eleven hundred and seventy-eight dollars: Charles J. Robinson. eight hundred dollars: John F. Snow, thirty-five hundred and ninety-one dollars; C. M. Brown, eight hundred dollars; Alexander Crawford, eight- een hundred and eighty-four dollars; Aaron West, nine hundred and ninety-two dollars: Clark Wright, twenty-three hundred and ninety-four dol- lars: Ashael Stow, two hundred dollars. In this way fifteen hundred and ninety-five dollars was
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
raised by the congregation. while those outside the church contributed liberally, thus after six years of struggle. toil and sacrifice. the first Congrega- tional society had an ample house of worship.
The third church organized was the Universal- ist. They first met in 1845 and held meetings in the first court house. The church grew larger and in 1854 built a brick house of worship on Main street, in the house now owned by Mr. Steriker. The next society organized was in 1855. and in 1852 the first St. Peter's Episcopal church was built on land donated by James S. Waterman. In 1849 the present stone structure and rectory was built, the church being donated by James S. Wat- erman. The Baptist church first held services in Franklin and Sonth Grove townships and little more than a half century ago moved to Sycamore. Their present elegant modern structure was erected nine years ago.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church was organized in 1859. The first meetings were held in the old school house in 1858. Rev. E. Carlson was the first preacher and organizer of the church. They later erected a frame church at a cost of about sixteen hundred dollars. Swedish emi- grants. however, were coming in large numbers and settling in Ohio Grove, and in the east part of Mayfield and the west parts of Sycamore town- ship, while a large number of their nationality became residents of the city of Sycamore. In 1820 Christine Nilson, the sweet singer of Sweden, because of relatives living here. came to Sycamore and sang, so that the people of her country strug- gling in a foreign land might have a church build- ing adequate to the needs of the large and grow- ing congregation. The concert was held in the Methodist church, tickets were five dollars each, and the house was crowded. Later in the evening she sang in Wilkin's Hall to the people of her own nationality and in her native language. The pro- ceeds of this entertainment gave them sufficient funds to build a large wooden church, which was used until 1896, when the magnificent stone edi- fice at the corner of Somonauk and Charles streets was dedicated.
The first Catholic church was built in Sycamore in 1860. and about four years ago the present mag- nificent structure was erected. This parish ex- tends over a large area and has a membership of over six hundred. A Wesleyan Methodist church
was built in the early '70s. A Free Methodist church was built in 1878. The German Lutheran society purchased the old Congregational church and the latter denomination built their beautiful edifice on Somonauk and High streets. The Swed- ish Baptist church was built in 1892.
Sycamore has in a measure been an intellectual center for many years, and after the James block was erected in 1858 they began to maintain a lee- ture course, which was kept up at different inter- vals for many years. The first year of the course Horace Greeley, Bayard Taylor and Charles Sum- ner delivered lectures in the new building.
The merchants of Sycamore in the early history of the town were compelled to send to Chicago for their supplies. Upon the completion of the Great Western road they brought their supplies from Cortland overland. This consumed much time and was very expensive. In 1859 the Sycamore & Cort- land road was built, at a cost of about seventy-five thousand dollars, which was paid by the citizens of Sycamore and vicinity, and it was not until the early '60s that engines began to be used over this road in the transportation of freight. For many years the goods were placed on cars and hauled from Cortland to Sycamore by horses. The people in those carlier days traded in Sycamore for miles around. The trade extended to the west and north for a distance of nearly twenty-five miles, and on the east half way to St. Charles. It extended in a southerly direction half way to Sandwich.
In 1869 the Marsh Harvester Manufacturing Company was organized and established here and their extensive plant for years employed hundreds of men. The R. Ellwood Manufacturing Com- pany was organized in 1875. The village of Syca- more was incorporated in 1858. For ten years the village government existed, when the people or- ganized under a civil government. A special char- ter was procured and approved by the governor, March 4. 1869. Reuben Ellwood being elected first mayor. The Wilkins block was erected in 1864. and for a time was considered the best business block in the county. This was destroyed by fire in 1902 and on that site now stands the Daniel Pierce building.
In the winter of 1842-3 E. L. Mayo continued the school work of this village and was succeeded by Sheldon Crossett in 1843-4. School was held generally in the court house, but often in private
I.W.JOHN'S FURNITU
THE BLOCKADE AT SYCAMORE DURING GREAT SNOW STORM OF 1881.
EN YORBI PIPLIBRARY
--
-104 LENOX D'ELLE FONDATIONS.
183
PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
residences, and in 1846-7 Charles Robinson taught school in the old Deacon Martin house on the south side of West State street. He was succeeded at this place by Mr. Roswell Dow, and he received the magnificent sum of fifteen dollars a month. The directors, Joseph Sixbury and Sparock Well- ington, for the next term offered him twelve dol- lars a month, assuring him that he should not have over thirty pupils. Mr. Dow agreed to teach the school for twelve dollars a month, provided that he should have pay in proportion for all over thirty. School opened and the number of pupils steadily increased until the roll showed an attend- anec of sixty-four. In 1848-9 Mr. Dow organized a seleet school in the old court house building, afterwards in the Sons' of Temperanee hall, and later in the Universalist church. The school was held for several years in a house standing at the southeast corner of Main and Ottawa streets.
In the winter of 1853-4 Hannah Dean taught school in a house now occupied by Mrs. Rnel Da- vis, but in 1853 steps were taken for the erection of a school house, the first in the village.
A lot was secured on the northeast corner of California and Exchange streets, Hannah Dean was the first principal in the new schoolhouse. The population of the village increased and a four- room structure was erected in 1859 on the site of the old building. In 1863 the schoolhouse was burned and the directors erected a school building during the summer and fall of that year at a cost of fifteen thousand. five hundred dollars. It was constructed of wood, had eight large rooms, the requisite cloak rooms, recitation rooms, apparatus room, the superintendent's office and a large as- sembly hall. For years this was the best school building in this part of the state. The attendance rapidly increased, tuition pupils attending for miles around. By 1876 the attendance had so in- creased that a room in the basement of the Metho- dist church was used as a primary schoolroom. In 1887 a two-room building was erceted in the west part of town. In 1880 another ward school was built on the southeast side of the town, and an addition was built to the central school. In 1898 a new ward school was built in the south part of the town and the present high school building was erected north of the central school building. The high school course was ex- tended to a period of four years and the pupils
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