USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 41
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
PRIVATES.
Anderson, Frank, Sycamore. Clements, John, Sycamore. Davis, Gustavus. Sycamore. Dupne. Joseph D., Sycamore. Esterbrook, Carlos II .. Sycamore. Esterbrook. James S .. Sycamore. Hall, Marens, Cortland. Harlow, Orson, Sycamore.
Harding, George, Sycamore. Holliday, Hailey, Sycamore. Harned, Frank, Cortland. Jarvis. Engene H., Malta. Jones. Oliver. Malta. Jones, Adolphus, Sycamore. Lindell. John, Sycamore. Hallen, Gustus, Sycamore.
Nelson. Peter, Pierce. Mason, John, Sycamore. Marshall, Lucins W., Cortland. Maxfield, Adolphus, Sycamore. Peters. Colton, Sycamore. Rose, George W., Cortland. Snyder, Charles, Pierce. Stark, Jefferson, Sycamore. Scott, Goodrich, Cortland. Tunnecliff, Merritt J., Sycamore.
Tindall, James B., Sycamore.
Tewksberry, Warren F., Sycamore. Wilson. Clark, Cortland. Wilmarth, Emory F., Cortland.
Wright, Frank F., Sycamore. Watson. Ira. Sycamore.
COMPANY C.
Gunderson. Thomas. Shabbona.
When the war closed and again the boys in blue took up the pursuits of industry there was a feeling of relief from the stern, cruel demands of war. for all had felt its iron hand most keenly, and some were to feel its pangs down to the grave, for the vacant chair. the newly made mound and the little headstone on which the national emblem and arms were carved would ever be a silent witness of the sacrifice that had been laid upon the altar of the country. With the feel- ing that they had borne a glorious part in the war that had ended gloriously the soldier doffed the uniform for the somber garb of labor and in a few weeks the farm, factory, store. desk and even pulpit responded to the returned soldier. The boys were not the same. In their demeanor they were changed. Their experience had matured these youths into confident manhood. They had been placed in positions of responsibility. The average age of all commissioned officers was less than thirty years. Political parties gave them preferment. A successful soldier has ever been a favorite in American poiltics. The majority of the men who have held county offices from 1862 to the present time were soldiers. Grand Army posts were organized and in this county ten posts were established, three of which have been aban- doned and consolidated with others. Regimental rennions. county campfires and the open meetings
.
284
PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
of posts have been attended by thousands and the lessons of patriotism. the scenes of army life and the meaning of those days from '61 to '65 have been indelibly impressed upon those who follow them. Fifty-five regiments of Illinois had men from De Kalb county under their standards. Com- pared with other nations and with earlier days of the republie our nation has been most generous to her soldiery. All who were incapacitated for labor have been pensioned. Under the act of 1894 all soldiers and sailors in service during the war and attaining the age of 62 years received $8 per month : 65. $10 per month; 70 years, $15; 75 years, $20.
In 1896 the beautiful soldiers' monument, the gift of the county of De Kalb "to the boys who fought that this nation under God should have a new birth of freedom." was dedicated with appro- priate ceremonies. Ex-Governor Hoard, Wiseon- sin. and Rt. Rev. Bishop Fallows, Chicago, were the orators of the day. The De Kalb county camp- fire will be held at. Kingston in Stuart's Grove, September, this year. The soldiers believe that owing to their declining years and deercase of members this will be the last one held in our county.
NOTABLE EVENTS.
The first. cheese factory in the United States was established in 1851 in New York and this industry grew rapidly and many farmers om- barked in the dairy business. This rapidly extend- ed to Ohio and later to Illinois. In the carly his- tory of our country ahnost the entire business of the farmers was to raise grain. After the farmers in De Kalb county saw the need of diversified farming and the need of fertilizing, they gradually embarked in the stock business and the first cheese factories were built in the county in the later '60s.
The airs of civilization are generally taken on slowly and the collar as worn by gentlemen of tho present day was not a very common article of ap- parel in the early days of the county. In 1853. after the paper collar came in use generally the De Kalb county citizen could adorn himself at little cost. Tailoring, which has always been a trade that has had considerable business, was not so necessary after the establishment of clothing
stores and gradually the old trades, such as shoe- making, earpentering. coopering and harness mak- ing were supplanted by the industrial machine, which could do the work of many men at much less cost.
After the organization of the Associated Press in 1855 all the larger periodicals of the country received dispatches from different parts of the world and the daily became a valuable adjunet of the business men. During the Civil war daily numbers of papers were issued at the exciting times and people in the smaller towns and even in the country began to look for the daily paper.
At present since the organization of the rural mail route almost every progressive business man and farmer has a daily periodical come to his door. When De Kalb county hecame prosperous frequent calls were made upon her charity. In the later '50s and early '60s and anti-slavery people of the north and especially of De Kalb county sent thou- sand of dollars to "bleeding" Kansas. As the country became developed the machinery which had been used for almost thousands of years was rapidly displaced and the inventions of the last half century have been more advantageous than all that have preceded them in the world's history. In 1821. after the great Chicago fire. thousands of dollars and large amounts of clothing and pro- visions were forwarded to that city. During the famine in Ireland and in other parts of the world the people of De Kalb county have responded with great generosity.
In 186% at the time of the Fenian rebellion in Canada many of De Kalb county, sympathizing with their countrymen across the border, organized to give assistance with the hope that in the tur- moil that would follow Ireland might be liberated from the British empire. In some parts of the Union organized bands of Fenians marched to the Canadian border and had some conflicts with Ca- nadian troops, but the standing armies of Great Britain and America soon brought the rebellion to a close.
People began to travel extensively after the building of the railroad and after they had at- tained a certain degree of wealth. In the later '40s and early '50s one of the early settlers of Sycamore township during a period of ten years made three visits to his old home in New York. taking with him different members of the family.
285
PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
This was considered a great luxury and many re- garded him as quite a traveler. It is safe to say that of the old settlers who came in the '30s and '40s few have ever visited the scenes of their early childhood.
In the later '60s and carly '20s the wheat crop suffered in this locality from the depredations of the chinch bug and finally wheat culture nearly ceased in De Kalb county. At the present it is safe to say that there are less than a thousand acres of cultivated wheat within our borders. Farmers who in early times raised immenso fields of wheat now give more space to the crops of corn, oats and hay, which are the staple crops of the country. From the earliest days of De Kalb coun- ty life, until in the '80s great amounts of grain were shipped from this locality. During the days of wheat growing teams would arrive at the ele- vator carly in the morning and come in constant procession during the entire day, the firms of De Kalb county paying out millions of dollars during the year. At present stock feeding consumes most of the grain raised and aside from oats very little grain is now shipped out of the county. The elevators still do a profitable business, but are largely engaged in selling feed for the dairies and many who are engaged in the business have now combined the coal and lumber trade, so that in smaller towns there are none doing an exclusive grain business.
In 1870 temperance societies were organized throughout the. Union and De Kalb county had at one time about forty organizations. The work of the temperance lecturer at those times was to make the business of the liquor dealer and the drunkard ludicrous. Many who were speakers were reformed drunkards and when it came to imitat- ing drinking men in their address they came to be experts. The temperance wave which swept . over the country at this time was of little lasting benefit. In some towns under the excitement of the moment the liquor business was banished for a time, but many did a profitable business on the sly and "blind pigs" were common.
In 1876 the red ribbon movement received con- siderable interest in this county and many so- cieties were organized which died out after a period of two or three years. Lasting benefits along the line of temperance were not fully real-
ized until the organization of the W. C. T. U. and the promotion of the teaching of temperance with regard to its effects upon the mind and system in public schools. This has now become a state law and in every school of the county seien- tific temperance is taught. In 1869 an organiza- tion known as the Patrons of IInsbandry was or- ganized and gradually spread over the Mississippi valley and later became known as the Grange. One hundred organizations were in existence in 1872 and 1873. This was a rebellion against the liquor dealer and societies were organized to deal directly with the wholesaler. Grange stores be- vame popular, but they were managed by people who had little experience in mercantile lines and they soon failed. The organization in South Paw- paw remained in existence until 1894. Some of the good effects of this movement were the ques- tions discussed for the betterment of the social and educational life of the farmer. In some localities libraries were established and many pa- pers were read and speeches were made, dealing with the education of the farmer's boy and the farmer's girl. Out of this movement grew some spasmodical legislation of the "long-haired" type. Men were sent to the legislature of the state and some even to congress who were wholly inex- perienced in the legislating business.
In 1890 a movement of a similar nature but some what more conservative, under the name of Farmers' Alliance, grew up in this state and at one time exercised considerable power. In the State Legislature of Illinois three members of the Farmers' Alliance held the ballots of power when it came to election of United States senator, They finally cast their votes and influence for John M. Palmer, securing his election. At the present time Farmers' Institutes have been instituted and have been supported by wise legislation. These institutes are held in each county and last for several days. Discussions in improved methods of farming and better social conditions and better educational facilities are also made strong features at their deliberations. This is the same movement and one which has accomplished lasting benefits. The state legislature of Illinois and many other states of the Union have an agricultural courso in connection with their college course. Many who graduate from the literary and scientific
286
PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
courses of college afterward take the agricultural course and return to life on the farm. taking with them improved ideas and exert an influence which is wholesome and beneficial to progressive farm life. When our pioneers came to De Kalb county they brought with them few of the luxuries of life. and musical instruments, except the old fash- joned "fiddle." were unknown in the county. One of the carly inhabitants of Sycamore well remem- bers when the first melodian was brought to this town and was considered almost a musical wonder. In the assessor's list of the early '60s we find that in some townships no musical instruments are given at all, while in others two or three were fortunate enough to have a melodian. Soon the organ became common and was purchased and placed in many homes not only in the cities and towns but of the farming population. At present the improved piano is found as frequently as was the organ fifteen years ago and many are the skilled musicians of De Kalb county at the present time. Musical organizations in almost every town and city have done much for the ethical life of our people. In the city schools especially trained musicians are teaching the children to read musie and to sing. In many of the country schools under the guidance of teachers who had musical ability much has been accomplished in training the musical instinct of the child. Sometimes we hear especially older people -peak of the good old times. We believe that the patriotie spirit of the Civil war was greater than during the Revolution and we believe also that the days of 1861 to 1865 proved the patriotism of the people to a greater degree than during the struggle for independence. In that war two hundred and thirty-one men en- listed to serve under the Father of his Country. The number who deserted is ten times the propor- tionate number that deserted during the Civil war. In so many of our histories of the Revolution wo read of the militia that often threw away their loaded muskets and ran withont firing their gun. While it is true that the Continental soldier en- dured more hardships and was as good as ever shouldered musket or drew a sword, still a greater proportion of patriotic soldiers of the Civil war exists than of the Revolution. So in our school government. School is controlled so much more easily, feuds arising between teacher and pupils are the exception at the present time. No
teacher at the present time is hired for his mus- onlar ability but for those good traits of character and for the qualities of head and heart and for ability to instruct.
The yellow fever plague that broke out in the southern states had drawn heavily on the charity of De Kalb county and many thousands of dollars, to say nothing of the supplies sent. have been given to the suffering southland. The forest fires of the north have appealed to the charitable in- stinets of our people and those appeals have always been responded to generously. Contagious diseases which often broke out in earlier times and devas- tated whole communities, and those diseases which are of an epidemic nature and are so fatal to children are almost a thing of the past. Nothing shows the advancement of our civilization better or more effectually than improvements in the med- ical science. In every organized city there is a health department under whose intelligent direc- tion many of the diseases which are caused by neglect of sanitary conditions are prevented. In 1811 the Colorado potato bug appeared in this locality and wrought great havoc in that branch of farming industry. They have continued their ravages from time to time in different parts of the country, so that many thousands of bushels of potatoes have been destroyed. Those insects that are pests in the producing of crops are dealt with under the instruction of the department of agriculture and the havoc caused heretofore has been in a great measure prevented. In 1822 the epizootie disease known before the Christian era among horses broke out in De Kalb county. eaus- ing great loss to the farming community. This raged during the winter of 18:2-3 and the spring of 18:3. and in one township alone about a hun- dred horses perished. to say nothing of those that were disabled for a long time. Farm machinery has been improved, so at the present time the binder does the work in the grain fields where all the cereals are harvested, the corn cutter cuts and shocks the corn, hayloaders do the work heretofore done by two or three men. the harrows that were formerly ten feet wide have been succeeded hy the four-horse harrower twenty-four feet in width. which makes the cultivation of one hundred and sixty aeres of land possible for one man except during the busiest times. In the early day the farmer carried a sack of grain on his back and
H. C. WHITTEMORE. Representative, 1884 to 1886.
C. F. MEYER. Representative. 1892 to 1894.
J. B. CASTLE. Representative, 1902 to 1906.
HIRAM HOLCOMB. Minority Representative, 1886-1588.
DWIGHT CROSSETT. Minority Representative, 1888-1890.
G. M. TINDALL. Representative, 1906 to 1908.
JAMES BRANEN. Minority Representative, 1894 to 1900-1904 to 1906.
THE NEW YORK PUTINIC LIBRARY
---
A TUR, LENOX SPLDIN FIN NDATIONS.
289
PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
sowed by hand-now the sixteen-foot seeder does the work of four men. When the first separators were used in this county it was considered a splen- did day's work to thresh six hundred bushels of grain. Now with the present threshers, run by engine, four thousand bushels of grain have been known to have been threshed daily. The rural mail routes bring the mail of the farmer to his door every morning, including the daily paper, and the farmner is as familiar with the market as the men of the city. The telephone is in all parts of the county and no one need be without communi- cation with the outside world if he desires it and is willing to pay eighteen dollars a year for that service. Labor troubles have never caused any disorder in our county. In 1877, during the great railroad strike, the militia of DeKalb county were called out by the governor to serve at Braidwood. No lives were lost and in a short time the strug- gles dispersed without bloodshed. The weather. which is a source of morning inquiry to the aver- age citizen, has played freaks from the beginning of time. In 1822 it was very cold and snow fell in great quantities, making many of the roads im- passable. In 1878 was the hottest weather known in this locality for a long period. For days at a time the thermometer stood at one hundred de- grees in the shade. Farmers were compelled to do their work of the fields by moonlight and in the cities thousands of cases of sunstroke occurred. In the year 1881 during the month of March one of the great snowfalls occurred, which blocked the railroads for weeks, and for days made it impos- sible for people to receive their mail. even at points near cities and towns. There were places in De Kalb county where the drifts are known to have been eighteen feet high. Many of them remamed along the hedges and willow rows until late in the month of May. One instance during this storm will show the great inconvenience to which the average cilizen was put during the time that communication with the outside world had ceased. William Wike of Mayfield lost a little boy nearly three years of age. Two days later the time was set for the funeral. Snow fell in such quantities that no exercises were held, and the next day was again set for the funeral serviees. On this day one of the infant twins died and the storm con- tinued. Two days later the second twin passed away and it was one week before the people of the
community were able to carry the remains of the three little children to the cemetery, and services were held early in the spring, when the roads had become again passible. For nearly a month no trains passed on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad in the northern part of the county. The citizens of De Kalb county, like those from other parts of the Union, have been excited by stories of gold and discovery of new territory and have emigrated largely at these times. During the gold excitement of 1849 and 1850 about five hundred people left this county for the Golden Gate. Nearly all who left at that time in one way or another were benefited financially. In the early '60s before the breaking out of the war, gold was discovered near Pike's Peak and again the spirit of emigration prevailed. "Pike's Peak or bust" was the motto of many young men of this community. Those who went to Pike's Peak at that time were not so successful as the 49ers, and many returned with considerable experience and but little gold. Again in 1875 and 1876 gold was discovered in the Black Hills and again emigra- tion drifted westward. The citizens of De Kalb county have settled in almost every state of the Union. Former citizens of Sycamore are now known to have homes in every state and territory of this country. To show how our people have emigrated at different times and how they move away from the old home Irce, in the story of the town of Pawpaw, which was told in 1899, we have given a partial list of former Pawpaw citizens, who are in other parts of the Union. This will give us an idea of how widely our people have become distributed.
In 1868 General Grani, the hero of the Civil war, was nominated for the presideney and it is needless to say that with his military prestige he was elected by an overwhelming majority. At this time Charles W. Marsh of De Kalb county was eleeted state senator, R. M. Pritchard, Lewis McEwen of De Kalb county were elected mem- bers of the house: W. IT. Moore, a one-armed soldier, county clerk ; General E. F. Dutton eir- cuit clerk ; Captain R. A. Smith county treasurer ; Caplain E. P. Safford. sheriff: Luther Lowell, county judge ; and H. P. Hall, who had served in the civil war from the state of Vermont, county superintendent. By 1872 the opponents of the republican party of the Grant administration or-
200
PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
ganized a movement under the head of liberal republicans. They nominated Horace Greeley for the presidency and Gratz Brown for vice president. A number of the -taneh republicans deserted tlie regular ticket and supported this movement. Among that number was Chauncey Ellwood, who was nominated by the liberal republicans and afterward endorsed by the democrats of the state senate. A campaign ensued and much political bitterne>> seemed manifest. The regular repub- lican ticket. however, swept not only the United States but De Kalb county: C. M. Conrad. county clerk : E. F. Dutton, circuit clerk and recorder : Daniel Dustin. county treasurer : R. J. Holcomb, sheriff : Luther Lowell, county judge. II. P. Hall was re-elected county superintendent of schools. The hard times of the carly "Os, which always creates dissatisfaction for the reigning political power, caused a large number of those who had formerly allied themselves with the republicans to support the democratic ticket. The campaign of Tilden and Hendricks was carried on with great excitement and much political animosity. The regular marching club. which were instituted in this country in the campaign of 1860. was carried to perfection during this campaign. Those who lived in De Kalb county will not forget the long period of uncertainty that followed that election. The county officers elected at this time were: C. M. Conrad, county clerk : George C. Cox. circuit clerk : Robert Roberts, county treasurer : R. J. Hol- comb. sheriff: G. S. Robinson, a Vermonter, who had moved to South Carolina at the breaking out of the rebellion, became a citizen of Sycamore and was elected county judge : and S. L. Graham was elected county superintendent of schools.
In the latter 60s a political scrimmage that created considerable interest occurred in De Kalb county, when R. L. Divine, one of the leading lawyers of northern Illinois, became a candidate for congress. The opposition nominated William Harrington. a Methodist minister, who was at the time serving as presiding older. Again the stump speeches were held in the schoolhouses of the land and at the elose of the contest Rev. Harrington. who received the indorsement of De Kalb county. was defeated in the convention. In 1868 Hon. R. Ellwood received the endorsement of his county but was not successful in congress. The admin- istration of Rutherford B. Hayes was remarkably
successful and he did much to allay the bad feeling which still existed between the north and the south and under his judicious management of national affairs the country again prospered and by 1880 the republican party was again strong in the con- test. At this time much interest was manifest in the caucuses previous to the convention. as people now regarded the republican nomination as equiva- lent to an election. The only exception by this time had been the election of Captain R. 1. Smith over Mr. Tappan. the regular nominee for treas- urer. George S. Cox. who had served one term as circuit clerk and had made himself extremely popular with the farmers. was a candidate for re-election. General Dustin. the pride of the soldiers of De Kalb county. a speaker of force and a man well known. was Mr. Cox's antagonist. Mr. Cox's political plans had been so well laid that the political man- agers of affairs found that it was a great under- taking to bring about his defeat. The matter was not settled when the delegates appeared at the convention. Everything was uncertain and much depended upon the nomination of the circuit clerk. Mr. D. J. Carnes, candidate for state's attorney. was withdrawn and J. B. Stephens. of De Kalb. received the support of the Sycamore delegation. R. J. Holcomb, who had served for seven years as sheriff. was withdrawn and Sycamore's sup- port was given to L. P. Wood. of Genoa. At that time John Syme was a candidate for representa- tive. When the balloting commenced Cox had more votes than any of the other candidates, Dustin second in the list. Mr. Winslow of Squaw Grove had five and A. S. Kinsloe of Malta five votes. On the twenty-second hallot Dustin was nominated by a majority of a half vote. The other men nomi- nated in the convention at this time and elected were: Ira Roberts, county treasurer : L. P. Wood. sheriff. Mr. Cox announced himself as an inde- pendent candidate and made a desperate effort to defeat the regular nominee, but was unable to turn the tide of republicanism and the entire ticket from president down to county surveyor elected. Hiram Loucks, of Sandwich, and Henry Wood. of Sycamore, were elected members of the legislature. The off-year elections gave C. MI. Con- rad the office of county clerk: Robert Roberts. county treasurer : L. P. Wood. sheriff : S. B. Stin- son. county judge : George I. Talbot, county super- intendent of schools : and S. T. Armstrong, county
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.