USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 78
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WILLIAM V. HENRIE.
William V. Henrie, born January 9, 1853, in Kaneville township, Kane county, Illinois, is the son of Joseph and Mary (Van Dine) Henrie. His father was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, in 1809 and died in 1899. His mother was born
in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, in 1815, and still lives in her home in Benton, Kansas. Mr. Henrie's paternal ancestors were from Aberdeen, Scotland, and removed to Wales, where the fam- ily name was spelled Henrie to distinguish it from the Henrys, who were numerous. W. V. Henrie's great-great-grandfather was a brother of the famous Patrick Henry of Virginia. He had a great-uncle in the war for the liberation of Texas, who lost his life at Alamo. He also had eighteen relatives, one of whom was a brother, in the Civil war.
Like all the boys of this state, Mr. Henrie at- tended publie school. He worked on the farm and at twenty-five years of age engaged in business. For ten years he was in the hotel and livery business and made a success. He then disposed of his busi- ness, spent one year on the Pacific coast and then came to Sycamore and purchased the livery prop- erty opposite the court house, where he remained fifteen years. On account of poor health he retired and spent much of his time in traveling. He was ever active in the building up of his city and has been instrumental in locating several institutions, among them the F. C. Patten Manufacturing Com- pany ; the Insulated Wire Factory ; and the Turnet Brass Works.
Mr. Henrie married Martha J. Smith, a daugh- ter of Samuel and Mary Smith,, of Blackberry, Kane county. Mr. Henrie is a republican in poli- ties and is associated with the Congregational church. As a son of a pioneer, who was compelled to carry his produce to Chicago by means of ox teams and endure those privations of the pioneers, our subjeet has many of those sterling traits which are inherited from those heroes inured by toil and privation.
TIMOTHY F. MCDERMOTT.
Timothy F. McDermott, of De Kalb, was born in Lee county, Illinois, October 5, 1860, his par- ents being Timothy F. and Margaret (Riley) McDermott. His father, a native of Ireland, came to the United States when about eighteen years of age and located in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he was identified with the manufacture of steel for about thirty years, having charge of furnaces in one of the large steel mills of that place. In
602
PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
1859 he came to Illinois and settled upon a farm in Lee county, where he resided until about sis years prior to his death, when he removed to Rochelle, where he lived retired until called to his final rest in 1893. Ile was a democrat ia politics and a Catholic in religious faith. His wife, also a native of Ireland, was born in 1831 and when seventeen years of age came to America with a brother, James Riley. They also located in Poughkeepsie. New York, where she met and married Mr. MeDermott. She is still living and is now a resident of De Kalb. By her marriage she became the mother of ten children, six of whom survive, namely : Mary, the wife of William Haley, of Rochelle, Hlinois : Margaret, the wife of John P. Yetter. of Steward, Illinois: Ellen. the wife of C. H. Gage, of Chicago: Catherine, the wife of F. G. Barber, of Malta, Illinois : William, who is living in De Kalb : and Timothy F., of this review.
The last named was reared at home. acquiring his education in the public schools of Rochelle. and when twenty years of age he entered business life as a clerk in a dry-goods store of that cits. There he remained for two years, after which he removed to Dixon, Illinois, where he served in the same capacity for three years. In 1887 he came to De Kalb and established a saloon. which he has now condneted for nineteen years with good success, the business proving to him a source of gratifying profit. In 1892 he opened and has since conducted a board of trade in De Kalb.
On the 10th of October, 1589. Mr. McDermott was married to Miss Margaret Kinney, of Dixon. Illinois, a daughter of John M. and Margaret Kinney, both natives of Ireland. They now have one daughter, Pauline Hazel, who is attending St. Xavier's College at Chicago. The parents are members of the Catholic church and Mr. Mc- Dermott affiliates with De Kalb lodge. No. 215. K. P.
HENRY FIELD STOUT.
Henry Field Stout. superintendent of schools of Genoa, was born at Fairview. Fulton county. Illinois. November 16, 18:1. His parents were Lyman Vroom and Sarah (.Toralmon) Stout. The
father has spent his entire life upon a farm m Fulton county, where he now resides. The mother, who was a school teacher prior to her marriage, was born in Newark. New Jersey.
The early educational privileges which Henry Field Stout received were extremely limited up to the time when he entered the Illinois State Normal University at Normal. Illinois, from which he was graduated in June, 1900. In the summer of 1901 he was a student in Chicago University. From early boyhood he worked at farm labor until eighteen years of age and after that spent only the midsummer seasons on the farm. He began teaching in the country schools on the 1st of December, 1890. and. ambitious for further educational advancement, he entered the Normal in the fall of 1896. Following his grad- uation from that institution he taught the sciences in the high school in Sycamore, Illinois. for three years and for four years has held his present position as superintendent of the public schools at Genoa, where he has given excellent satifac- tion. becoming recognized as one of the able publie school teachers of this section of the state. Ile did not find agricultural pursuits congenial but is certainly well adapted to his chosen profession by his natural qualifications as well as training.
Professor Stout was reared in the faith of the republican party and has seen no reason to depart from it since he attained his majority. On the contrary he is one of it- loyal advocates. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1893 and has been connected with the Order of the Eastern Star and with the Modern Wood- men of America for about ten years. Although reared in the Dutch Reformed church he now hold- membership in the Methodist Episcopal church.
Onthe 6th of Angust. 1903. Professor Stout was married to Miss Mary Johnston Wells of Decatur. Illinois, who was a student at Normal while he was pursuing his course there and was graduated in 1899. They now have one daughter. Genevieve Wells Stout. born June 15. 1906. Professor Stout has always been very fond of music and. as is natural, has marked literary taste. He finds his greatest source of recreation and rest in hunting and fishing. of which outdoor sports he is very fond.
603
PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
COUNTY SEAT AND COURT HOUSE.
To all of the inhabitants of DeKalb county, except a few leaders, a resolution offered at the September session of the board of supervisors in 1901 by the supervisors of Clinton township, W. J. Randles, created an excitement not felt since the days of civil strife, and projected a struggle that did not terminate until the early days of 1905. The resolution stated that the old court house was wholly inadequate for the tran- saction of county business, that our county was out of debt and able to build a new one in line with the progress and wealth of our county, and that the proposed court house should cost not less than $100,000.
This resolution was passed without one dis- senting vote. The chairman, Hon. V. A. Glid- den, appointed a building committee composed of the following named members: A. W. Fisk. chairman; Win. Randles, J. N. Antoine, H. C. Whittemore and Joshua Siglin. "Hon. . Jacob Haish and Col. I. L. Ellwood offered $20,000 cach and the citizens of DeKalb were asked to con- tribute an additional $20,000 on condition that the court house be located in DeKalb." Between the December session and the special session of January 22, 1902, a compromise was attempted by both sides. in which extensive repairs upon the old building were proposed, but the super- visors soon put the stamp of their disapproval on this movement. At the special session, after in- specting other court houses in adjoining counties. the minority report was offered by two members of the building committee, H. C. Whittemore and Joshua Siglin, which was in substance that DeKalb county build the court house on the general plan of the Lee county building, to cost $103,000. A motion to table minority report was lost by a vote of ten to twelve. Original motion prevailed by vote of thirteen to nine. A resolution was offered enlarging the building com- mittee from five to nine members. Win. Von Ohlen, D. B. Arbuckle, W. Montague and Thomas Jordan were added to the building committee. At the session of the building committee in Febru- ary plans that had been submitted were accepted and the contract was let to Wm. McAlpine of Dixon. By this time Sycamore had raised $70.000. F. B. Townsend of the banking house of Daniel Pierce & Co. presented a certified check of both
Sycamore banks for that amount. Mr. Fisk sub- mitted a communication from Hon. Jacob Haish and Col. 1. L. Ellwood offering $100,000 if located in De Kalb. Legal entanglements now arose, and DeKalb through her attorney, Hon. J. P. Wilson, applied for an injunction before Judge Crabtree of the circuit court, restraining the supervisors from proceeding with the building on the ground that no provisions had been made for the se- curity and protection of the county records during the tearing down of the old building and the erection of the new one. The injunction was granted. During the spring of 1902 DeKalb adherents served legal notice that they would cir- culate a petition asking that a vote be taken on the erection of the court house and that the site be located in DeKalb. This work of circulating peti- tions was carried on during the summer and early fall until over two-fifths of the voters, the number necessary to secure a vote on the proposition, had been obtained. The matter of hearing petitions came before County Judge W. L. Pond. Syca- more objected to a call for an election on the ground that the county court did not have proper jurisdiction on account of lack of publication of notice. The county court sustained the ob- jections and refused the prayer of the peti- tioners that an election be held. When it was found that because of lack of publication to make the notice of election legal and no vote was pos- sible, DeKalb's attorney, Judge Willard MCEwen of Chicago, charged this neglect to publish notices to the county clerk. Sycamore's attorney. Judge Botsford of Elgin, claimed it was the duty of DeKalb's attorneys having the matter in charge to prepare these notices and supervise their pub- lication. Another attempt was made in May, 1903, to bring about a settlement of the contro- versy. Col. I. L. Ellwood and Hon. Jacob Haish proposed that an old people's home be built in DeKalb, to cost $150,000. Sycamore to contribute $50,000 thereto, and the board permitted all gifts to the county for the purpose of building a court house to be withdrawn. Sycamore was then to have the court house built on the old site. and H. C. Whittemore offered a resolution carrying an appropriation of $140,000 for a court honse, which was carried by a vote of twenty to four. Provisions were then made for the care and pro- tection of the county records during the tearing down of the old building and the erection of the
604
PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
new, which rendered the injunction of Judge Crabtree ineffectual. for by the provisions of this resolution the objections made when the injune- tion was applied for were no longer in force. The building committee made a contract with Crowe Brothers to remove the old court house. Win. MeAlpine was again awarded the contract to erect the county building, and he was to receive therefor $131.964. The Crowe Brothers were en- joined from removing the old building by Judge Holdom of Chicago. This injunction was. upon hearing. dissolved August :. 1903. from which time the work progressed rapidly. The old buildings were removed. the foundation of the new one laid and the corner stone was laid by the Illinois Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, October 29, 1903, with appropriate cere- monies. Addresses were delivered by Attorney General H. J. Hamlin and Hon. Frank O. Low- den. At the special session of August preceding the supervisors released Sycamore from the pledge to pay $50.000 to the old people's home, as the citizens of DeKalb and her supporters generally opposed the compromise offered by Messrs. Ell- wood and Haish in May. 1903. Sycamore then paid $55.000 into the county treasury for the building of the new court house. Later Hon. Jacob Haish deposited $103.000 in the Commer- cial Bank of DeKalb for the construction of the court house in that city. DeKalb circulated an- other petition for a vote and again had the requisite two-fifths of the voters' names on their petition. Sycamore adherents then industriously began to circulate a counter petition, and secured on it 1,200 names of those who had signed the original petition circulated by DeKalb. which was in effect a withdrawing of their names from the petition asking for an election. When the matter came before the county court he held that the names could not be withdrawn, and overruled the contention of Sycamore's attorneys that the petition by the withdrawal of 1,200 names was not sufficient. Application was made before Judge George Brown of the cirenit court for the issuance of a writ of certiorari transferring the case from the county to the circuit court, which was issued. The supreme court denied a writ of mandamus applied for by DeKalb to bring the case before it.
Building progressed, but rallies were held by both parties to the contest in every town and village and in many of the school districts of the
county. Both sides had excellent speakers, and quartets to furnish good music. The songs were prepared by local poets. and gave the contest a humorous side. but underneath it all there was grim determination. The speakers for DeKalb were. first and foremost, Col. I. L. Ellwood. He had been for compromise, was related to Sycamore by ties of blood. and had the friendship and es- teem of every citizen, and especially of those cit- izens of maturer years who had known him from young manhood. Like all the Ellwoods he was forceful, energetic and an experienced cam- paigner.
.1. J. Kennedy had been in the fight from its inception, was well acquainted in the south part of our county. was an excellent speaker. and did good service to his cause. The other DeKalb speakers were Judge Willard MeEwen of Chi- cago. W. H. Prentice and W. L. Pond of DeKalb.
Sycamore had an able body of lawyers, who closed offices and took the stump. Judge Bishop was perhaps more conversant with every phase of the case than any one, his addresses were well directed and effectual. He was looked upon as the leader of the Sycamore forces. That he proved to be a good leader is written in the rec- ords, and not even the opposition will deny.
D. J. Carnes is not a campaigner, but went at matters in lawyer fashion. The fact of his being clear headed. a ready speaker and is known for fairness. and had not mingled in politics as a campaigner, gave his addresses telling effect.
T. M. Cliffe, than whom no readier and more eloquent speaker lives in our county, dealt telling blows to the opposition. He had been a cam- paigner before attaining his majority, and knew well the strategies of the platform.
11. S. Earley had been from youth a speaker. a good campaigner, a resident of both sections of the county at different times. made addresses that were dignified and effectnai.
J. B. Stephens was another speaker who added to the strength of his section. He made some addresses that for humor and sarcasm were equal to any delivered on either side. A few days he- fore election Judge J. S. Baume granted an in- junction restraining the people of the county from an election. November 10. 1903. when the polls wore opened. the injunction was served at every voting precinct. Sycamore adherents generally refrained from voting. At some of the precincts
605
PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
sheriff and constables were ousted without cere- mony when the writ of injunction was served, but nothing more than feelings were hurt, while some constables were removed out of booths rather live- ly. Over 4,000 votes were cast at this election. Nothing remained for either party to the contest to do but await the result of legal proceedings. At the December session Messrs. Fisk. Olmstead, Dodge and Randles reisgned from the building committee and Messrs. JJordan, Hess, Ault and Sawyer were appointed to fill vacancies.
Motion to quash order of Judge Pond calling elections was argued before Circuit Judge Brown, who rendered a decision adverse to DeKalb.
January, 1905, DeKalb filed appeal bond in certiorari case. Judge Brown sustained injune- tion of Judge Baume in preventing an election. Bill of exceptions filed by DeKalb and case was tried in the Appellate Court. where decision of Judge Brown was sustained. The case then went to the Supreme Court, where the decision of the Appellate Court was sustained.
Early in the contest an election held in the village of Cortland for president of the village board, who became assistant supervisor by the legislative act of 1862. This election was con- tested and in due process of law reached the Supreme Court, where T. W. Jordan, a Sycamore adherent, won and gave Sycamore a majority of one in the board of supervisors.
In 1905 the court house was occupied by the county officials and the contest ceased. but sore spots are not all healed, but generally good feeling will return.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The winter of 1900 and 1901 was very cold, but no snow was on the ground and the earth was frozen lo a depth of over four feet. Forest trees the following summer began to die by the thousands, and in the course of a year or two a
large percentage of the timber of the county had been removed.
The election of 1902 returned W. L. Pond to the county bench for a second term. Dan Hohm become county treasurer. A. S. Kinsloe returned to the county clerk's office for the fourth term. Ferd Rompf of Somonauk was elected sheriff, Lewis M. Gross for the fourth time was elected county superintendent, and J. B. Castle of Sand- wich was elected representative.
Another event worthy of notice was the estab- lishing of the Chautauqua in Sycamore in 1902. William Jennings Bryan. presidential candidate of 1896 and 1900, delivered a noble address to a large assemblage of people. These Chautauquas have been increased in interest, and Sandwich established one in 1906. This year, 1907, tem- perance Chautauquas are to be held in DeKalb and Waterman. Questions of social, political, re- ligions and moral interest are discussed by men and women of national prominence, while courses of instruction in domestic science and scientific subjects along their lines are given much atten- tion.
Aside from about one hundred and sixty-five miles of railway in our county, the electric rail- way has been established here, the first being built in 1902-3 from DeKalb to Sycamore; and another road using gasoline as motive power was built in 1906 from Aurora to DeKalb, which in a few monthis will use electric power. Rumors of new electric lines are in constant circulation, and in a short time other lines will be built, uniting the other portions of the county.
From 1896 to 1907 has been a most prosperous time in our county's history. Factories have been built employing thousands of operators, our popu- lation has increased, especially in cities, with great rapidity. Every year finds many farmers past the meridian of life entering the towns and villages to retire from active work, where their children find greater school privileges and a large social world for their instruction and entertainment.
INDEX
HISTORICAL
Introduction
5
1841-1848
73
Somonauk and Sandwich. 162
Early Conditions
6
Resurrectionists
83
Squaw Grove 164
Indians
S
1848-1860
80
Chief Shabbona
9
Underground Railroad 97
101
Reminiscences of Shabbona.
20
Half Shire Bill.
113
The Stone Age.
22
Paw Paw
115
War History 189
Noted De Kalb County Indians.
24
Shahbona
121
Notable Events 284
An Historic Place.
27
Milan 124
Schools
First White Men in the County.
29
Malta
125
Early Postoffices
302
Reminiscences of Border Life.
31
South Grove
127
Reminiscences by MI. B. Castle. 304
An Act to Create Certain Counties.
42
Franklin
131
Reminiscences of L. P. Kellogg. 315
1837
45
Victor
137
Sixty Years Ago 310
Major Wharry's Reminiscences.
50
Clinton 138
Bench and Bar. 326
1838-1840
53
Afton
141
Medicine and Surgery 330
Game of Pioneer Days
60
De Kalb
142
To the Reader. 335
1840-1841
62
Mayfield
151
County Scat and Court House 603
Banditti
65 Kingston
157
Miscellaneous
605
BIOGRAPHICAL
Aldrich, W. H.
562
Anderson, C. A. 490
Branen, James
588
Collin, C. P. 579
Anderson, O. W
545
Brenner, Judson 424
Brock, L. F. P. 300.
Brown, Dr. C. B 600
Brown, D. D. 405
Crosby, C. II. 496
Culver, Dr. G. S. 590
Bagg, W. J. 377
Baldwin, Il. H.
525
Bark, W. H.
538
Benson, Benjamin
518
Benson. J. A
471
Camp, Charles F 580
Carlson, Albert
507
Beveridge, J. L.
380
Carlson, M. F ..
460
Bishop, C. A.
352
Carter, Dr. C. D
583
Dutton, W. P
390
Blee, John W
508
Challand, Henry 574
345
Eiklor, W. A 527
Boynton, C. O.
478
Chellgreen, C. G 373
Ellwood, I. E. 339
Bradshaw, S. P. 557
Cherry, W. E. 436
Eng, Charles 599
Bradt. C. E ..
490 Clark. I. S. 576
Evans, M. R ..
423
Durland, T. H. 512
Dustin, Daniel
346
Dutton, Everell F
393
Bent, F. J.
451
Buck, William
413
Buckardt, H. J.
4GS
Cristman, J. M. 617
Aurner, J. F.
361
Bradt, S. E .. 472
Colby, S. T. 411
Connell, William 556
Arnold, E. E 469
Cook, J. G ... 543
David, Dr. J. C. 569
Burnham, A. P. 377
Dutton, George E 400
Bloom, R. E.
592
Chatfield, J. K.
Pierce 166
Cortland 168
From the Sentinel.
Sycamore 174
Genoa 184
295
60s
PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Fay, Horace W.
44)
Lamont, Samuel
513 Rowan, Dr. F. N. 591
Fay. H. W .
3×6
Lecky, Robert S
557
Kumney, W. T.
503
Fraser. A. H.
407
Lott, E. C. 5.9%
Ludwig, A. ... 562
Ryan Brothers
600
George. Ameil 379
Lundberg, V. H. 424
Sanderson, S. M. 354
sawyer, Nicholas 526
Givens. N. H.
533
McCormach, Richard
5:3
McDermott. T. F
601
Severy, Dexter 412
Shipman, M. D. 520
Gross, Lewis M.
351
McEwen, L. M.
405
S.monds, Joel H
414
Gurler, G. H. 52-
Gurler. H. B. 446
Marselus, J. D 531
Hanway. H. H 583
Marvin. A. W
3.54
Heckman. I. J. 59%
Mayo, E. L.
534
Henderson, T. . 1
175
Mayo, Dr. E. L
462
Henderson, J. C.
46.1
Mennis. J. V
53.
Henderson, J. F
490
Millar. F. W.
Henrie, W. W
601'
Morton, Charles
444
tines, W. 1 ..
519
Mosher, O. M
532
Thompson, G. . 1
494
Howell, Mrs. E. A. S
540
Findall, G. M .. 374
Townsend, .1. W
430
Hudgens. Lee R
445
Townsend, Mrs. E. P'
435
Hunt, C. S.
477
Townsend. F. B.
504
Ingham, Ellis
523
Olmsted, A. H
434
Takes, John C.
477
Johnson, Allen
550
Johnson, A. M
445
Parke, .A. F.
454
Johnson, J. F.
Parks, .1. L.
429
Waddell, David
359
Ward, W. B.
552
Johnson, J. M.
438
Pasley. C. J 567
White, Henry
546
Peck. G. S.
535
wilson, C. E
Kaiser. Dr. J. M
476
Peckman, George
513
Wilson, J. M
Kennedy, A. G.
371
Perkins, H. . 1
425
Wilson, T. T.
335
Kierman, J. R
450
Peterson, Adnlph 356
Woodbury. W. .11
575
Kinsine, A. S.
595
Peterson, C. J 470
Worden, A. H
585
Kittle, J. N.
568
Pogue, J. B .. 344
Wright, Ed.
561
Knell, George
356
Wright. E. O. 570
Kylen, A. H
46] Redmond, J. P
Wright, J. H.
569
Sebree, W. M. 500
Glidden, C. F.
407
Ghdden. J. F
362
McDermott, William
487
McEwen, H. W.
564
shuey, William
564
Gross, William.
McMurry, Lida B .. fris
Simonds. M. J
414
snow, Byron
506
Stout, H. F.
602
Strack, Louis
Swanbum, Sanford
540
swanson, J. W 550
Swift, D. C ...
5$4
Taylor, A. K. 493
Houghthy, C. G.
451
Muzzey, E. . 1.
462
Howland, Byron
Nelson, Dr. Alfred
499
Norman, Everett
452
Turner, Il. J. .
567
O'Malley, Mathew
3~3
Van Dusen, Simeon 379
()strander, Hiram 443
Varty, Robert
523
Voris, C. II.
495
Johnson, C. L
524
Johnson, John
549
Parson, S. F.
591
Warren, Alvin 541
Johnson, L. O.
552
Joslyn, W. R.
419
T'asley, William J.
555
Wild, D. P.
414
453
Fraser, William
372
Lundberg, F. G 597
Russell. J. S .. 420
Gilbert, Eli R
Gillis Brothers
41
McAllister, W. M. 570
sensor, R. J. 503
Glidden, V. A. 5%9
I'arris, J. . \
533
.
T
1
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