Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 101

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 888

USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 101

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1882-Aldermen, Ist ward, S. P. Bradshaw ; 2d ward. D. D. Brown ; 3d ward, George Wood.

1883-D. D. Brown, Mayor; L. M. McEwen, Attorney ; T. A. Luney, Treasurer ; S. O. Vaughan, Clerk. Aldermen-rst ward, E. B. Baldwin; 2d ward, C. Carter; 3d ward, S. M. Stevens.

1884-Aldermen-Ist ward, E. L. Mosher; 2d ward, C. A. Read ; 3d ward, Horace Hunt.

The affairs of the city have generally been pru- dently and economically managed, comparatively little complaint being made. The average appropria- tion for the expenses of the city is between $1 1,000 and $12,000 annually. For 1884-5 it was $1 1,060.

FIRST AND PRESENT THINGS.

The first hotel, as already stated, was the one run for so many years by Russell Huntley and whichi formed the nucleus of the present village. It was on the State roads which ran from St. Charles to Dixon,

east and west, and from Ottawa to Belvidere, north and south. There was considerable travel and Huntley's tavern became well-known. The house was built of logs, covered with shakes, and was an unpretentious structure. A part of the old Huntley tavern now forms a part of the Eagle Hotel on the corner of Second and Main Streets. The Eagle has continued uninterruptedly for a third of a century, and is now run by Hiram Jones.

The Central House, now Barb City House, on the corner of Main and Fourth Streets, was the second hotel in the village. It is now run by Mr. Rector. When first erected it was a small building, and was subsequently enlarged to its present size.

In addition to the Eagle and Central, the city has now one other hotel, the Glidden House.

The Glidden is the most pretentious house in the city, and is an ebject of pride among its citizens. It was erected in 1876 by J. F. Glidden.

Peter Johnson, a tinner, commenced business here in 1852. He was the pioneer in this line of trade. The business is now represented by J. M. Rodman & Bro., John Dunn, William Clifford, Eber Lake.

John Smith and Peter Wagner commenced the fur- niture business in 1855. They were both workmen at the cabinet trade. Mr. Wagner still continues the business and is the only representative in that line.

Dr. Ruby started the first grocery store in 1853. Many changes have since been made, the trade early in 1885 being represented by Olson & Wilder, Horan & Henaughan, Calvin Shurtleff, Reed & De Long, Roberts & Tyler, John H. Lewis, John Cheasebro, Frank Flusch.

BANKS.

In 1858 John R. Hamlin and E. T. Hunt com- menced the banking business in this place, being the pioneers in this line of business. Some time after- ward Mr. Hamlin disposed of his interest to Dr. Rufus Hopkins, the firm assuming the name of Hop- kins, Hunt & Co. By a subsequent change E. P. Young became a partner, Mr. Hunt retiring. The · firm name was R. Hopkins & Co. This partnership continued until the death of Dr. Hopkins, in 1874. Lott & Baird then commenced a general banking business and continued the same until January, 188 1, when Mr. Baird retired. Mr. Luney then became a partner and the firm name of J. D. Lott & Co. was adopted. The partnership continued until May,

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1882, when it was dissolved and the De Kalb Na- tional Bank was founded with a · paid up capital of $50,000. H. P. Taylor was chosen president ; T. A. Luney, cashier. The firm of Lott & Baird erected the present bank building in 1876. The De Kalb National Bank is ranked among the sound institu- tions of the county. The officers for 1885 are J. D. Lott, Pres .; T. A. Luney, cashier. The directors were J. D. Lott, P. G. Young, Jacob Haish, Martin Dodge and J. F. Glidden.

WATER WORKS.

In 1874 the city commenced the erection of water works, expending in the beginning about $20,000. Additions were made from time to time, new wells sunk, and other improvements entered into, until the expenditure has reached the sum of $45,000. Three wells have been sunk, to the depth of 2,400, 1,000 and 827 feet respectively. The two latter only are now used. A 40-horse power steam engine is used for pumping the water. The city has now three miles of main, extending through all the busi- ness portions of the city and reaching many private residences. There are 18 double hydrants. About 100 subscribers are now served with water, private families paying an annual tax of $6, while livery stables are required to pay $30. The Glidden House pays $50 per year.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The first steps taken toward the organization of a fire department was in 1870, when a hook and lad- der company was organized. In 1874 a hose com- pany was organized, and in 1884 the second com- pany was formed. The department has now two hose carts, with 1,000 feet of hose, and is well sup- plied with appliances for the extinguishment of fire. W. H. Miller is the present fire marshal; James Hulser, captain of the hook and ladder company; J. . R. Waldron, captain of the hose company.

RELIGIOUS.

The first religious services within the present lim- its of the city of De Kalb were probably held at the house of Dr. Ruby, in 1850. On the completion of the school-house soon afterward, services were held therein, and a Sabbath-school was established, con- ducted by J. Willard Glidden and Dr. Ruby, with Miss Earl as one of the teachers. There are now eight Church organizations in the city.

Methodist Episcopal Church .- The first meetings of those holding the views of the Methodist Episco- pal Church were held in the house of Dr. Basil Ruby in the year 1850. The preacher was from Sycamore and came here on the invitation of Dr. Ruby. About 1852 a class was organized in the log house of Rev. Brown. Dr. Basil Ruby and wife and George Har- rison ard wife were among the number. The min- ister led the class. Meetings were held once in two weeks for a time. In 1855 a small frame building was erected, but the class increased in numbers and in 1856 that church was sold to the Adventists and a larger house was built, which was in use until 1879, when the present house was built. . It is a fine brick structure, costing $10,000. There is now a member- ship of 230. The trustees are: Andrew Bradt, Ab- ner Wood, Morris Willey, Daniel B. Lattin, Calvin Shurtleff, William Barr, C. H. Salisbury, E. O. Wood, Thomas Dodge. Stewards-C. Shurtleff, S. W. Pat- ten, C. H. Salisbury, M. D. Shipman, J. O. Olsen, J. E. Atwood, M. Hoyt. Class-leaders-J. L. Curts, C. Shurtleff, Thomas Piper.

The Congregational Church was organized Dec. 2, 1854, by Rev. H. N. Norton, with Michael Flynn, Hannah Flynn, Joseph Hiland, Hannah Hiland, Sarah Hopkins, Almira Simonds, George Flynn and Olivia Flynn comprising its original membership. The first officers were, Lucius .Wood, Deacon and Clerk; Sidney H. Wright, Deacon. The present church edifice was purchased from the school dis- trict in 1856. Among those who have served the Church either as pastor or supply have been Revs. R. C. Bristol, F. L. Fuller, J. D. Parker, S. P. Putnam, Mr. Buss, L. P. Atwood, John Bennett, John Bradshaw, A. P. Peake, S. I. McKee, F. D. Rood and J. P. Hutchinson. The latter be- gan his pastorate Oct. 19, 1884. The Church has now a membership of 72, and is looking forward to the time when it shall occupy a new house of wor- ship, better adapted to their wants and to the flourishing city in which it is located.

The Baptist Church was probably organized in 1854. Unfortunately, the early records are lost, and the first members have either died or removed from the place; therefore it is difficult to ohtain facts. Elders King, Estey and Moxom were among the earliest to minis- ter to the spiritual welfare of the Church, though the first named never served as a regular pastor. In

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1864 Rev. B. S. Williams was with the Church. He was succeeded by Revs. John Couch, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Fish, James M. Berry, L. H. Holt, F. W. Foster and H. A. Delano. A house of worship was erected by the Church within four or five years after the platting of the village, which continued to be used till the fall of 1884. As this work goes to press a new and handsomer church edifice is being erected. Present membership, 78.

The Adventist Church was organized in 1857 at the Methodist Church building, by Rev. McCulloch. The membership at first was sniall. Among the first members were George Houghton and wife and John Bennett. In 1861 they erected the present church building.

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 organized the Church. The congregation met for worship in the old school-house and elsewhere until 1861, when a frame church was built, at a cost of $1,600. Some years later, a par- sonage was built on the lot adjoining the church. There are now about 340 communicants. The deacons are F. C. Colson, E. Anderson, Peter Lind- berg, J. A. Backstrom, A. Anderson and F. Berg- quist. The present pastor is Rev. C. J. Malmberg.

The Episcopal Church was organized in 1875. Meetings of this denomination were held at intervals from an early day, but no organization was effected until the date mentioned, when Rev. W. E. Toll, of Sycamore, organized a mission society. Among the members joining at that time were Mr. and Mrs. T. N. Conant, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Johnson, Dr. P. I. Cromwell, Mrs. J. E. Atwood. Mrs. Helen Winship, Mrs. M. A. Davy and Mrs. Rufus Chandler. This society was organized and met for worship for a time in the Congregational chapel; then erected their present church building on Second Street. The society is small but flourishing and out of debt. Rev. J. H. Edwards is the present pastor ; Alfred John- son, warden; Dr. P. I. Cromwell, secretary and treasurer.

The Swedish Evangelical Mission Church was or- ganized in 1883, and a frame building was erected the same year as a house of worship. Rev. Christ- enson was the first preacher. Rev. Gustavson is the present pastor. Charles Aspengren is the oniy deacon.

SOCIETIES.

DeKalb Lodge, No. 144, A. F. & A. M., was or- ganized under dispensation July 13, 1854, with T. C. Wetmore, W. M .; E. B. Gilbert, S. W .; J. H. Burg- hardt, J. W. A charter was granted October 3. 1854. The officers under dispensation were con- tinued under charter. T. C. Wetmore was the first Master, and W. F. Pierce fills that position at pres- ent. The lodge is in a flourishing condition, with a membership of 86, meeting the first and third Mon- day of each month. J. Dunn is the present Secre- tary.

A dispensation was granted for the organization of a Chapter of R. A. M. October 24, 1858, with S. O. Vaughan, H. P .; F. J. Helmer, King ; J. R. Hamlin, Scribe. A charter was granted by the G. R. A. Chapter October 3, 1859. The Chapter has flourished from the beginning, and now has a membership of 79. It was honored by the selection of one of its menibers-S. O. Vaughan-in 1880 for the position of Grand High Priest of the Grand R. A. C. of Illi- nois. E. C. Lott is the present High Priest. The regular meetings are on the first and third Fridays of each month. J. Dunn is the present Secretary.

DeKalb Lodge, No. 155, I. O. O. F., was organized in 1853. Among the charter members were Clark L. Barber, Smith Baldwin, Rufus Hopkins, Gideon Wolcot. The present officers are Peter Larson, N. G .; Alonzo Cheney, V. G .; Eugene Knappenberger, Sec .; N. Goodsell, Treas. There are 54 members in good standing. The lodge meets every Monday evening in their lodge-room in Haish's block.

Merritt Simonds Post, G. A. R., was organized in 1883 with 22 charter members. There are now 31 members, with G. H. Gurler, Com .; D. W. Tyrrell S. V. C .; M. V. Wilder, J. V. C .; B. Snow, Adj. The Post meets once in two weeks.

CEMETERIES.

The " city of the dead," where the loved ones are laid away to rest, has always been a place of interest to the fair sex. Women were first at the tomb of the crucified Savior, and her tears have hallowed the ground wherever mankind have been interred. Death comes to all, and provisions should be made for the disposal of the remains of those whose spirits have been called away to other worlds. The ladies of De Kalb realized this fact, and on the 9th day of Sep- tember, 1854, met and organized the De Kalb Cen-

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ter Sewing Society, having for its object the procur- ing of means for the purchase and care of grounds for burial purposes. At their first meeting they elected Mrs. S. G. Nichols, President ; Mrs. Susan Flynn, Secretary ; Mrs. O. C. Flynn, Treasurer ; Mrs. Cynthia Hiatt and Miss Harriet Earl, Directors. About four and a halfacres of ground were purchased in the southeast part of the city, and provisions made for its care. The first interment therein were the re- mains of Mrs. Norris Sweet. After the lapse of ten years it became evident that more ground must be secured, and being unable to obtain any land ad- joining, another location was determined on. In 1865,"having accumulated money enough for the purpose, five acres of land were purchased north of the city and platted for a second cemetery. With the exception 'of a short period of time, but long enough to run the society into debt, the ladies have had entire charge of the two cemeteries. Their management has been excellent, having, in January, 1885, as accumulations from the sale of lots and from mites contributed from time to time, a surplus of over $600, which has been loaned on interest. In 188 I the society organized, under the State laws, as the De Kalb Cemetery Association. Its present offi- cers are Mrs. Charles G. Bodman, President; Mrs. Burt, Vice-President ; Mrs. R. H. Roberts, Secretary ; Mrs. H. H. Wagner, Treasurer ; Mrs. J. F. Glidden, Mrs. D. D. Brown, Mrs. M. A. Randall, Directors. For some years after the organization of the society it met once in two weeks, engaged in sewing and preparing articles for sale, and held, now and then, a fair for their disposal. Of late they meet for a so- ciable, having a picnic dinner, each member paying a fee of ten cents. Like the one who wept at the feet of Jesus, and anointed him with costly ointment, it will be written of these ladies of De Kalb: "They have done what they could."

MANUFACTORIES.

I. L. Ellwood & Co .- The citizens of De Kalb have a just pride in their manufactories, the largest of which is that of I. L. Ellwood & Co., for the manu- facture of the Glidden Barb Wire. At the present everything seems perfect about the works, but in the beginning the process of manufacture was crude in the extreme. The barbs were cut by hand, and first a pair of flyers, and afterwards the parts of an old coffee mill were extemporized as a machine for coil-

ing them about the wire. When a piece 20 or 30 feet long had been barbed, a smooth wire was placed beside it and one pair of ends fastened to a tree, and the others attached to the axle of a grindstone, which by turning with a crank gave it the twist. About this time, Mr. I. L. Ellwood became associated with Mr. Glidden and began the manufacture and introduction of the fence. The "factory " was moved from the farm over to the village, and here the im- provement was made of using horse-power for doing the twisting, the barbs being slipped om to one end of the wire and then placed the proper distance apart by hand. By this method 100 pounds per day was a good average to the workman.

The first year the sales of barb wire were meager and confined to the vicinity of De Kalb, where the proprietors would go out themselves and put up fence, guaranteeing satisfaction or no pay.

In 1875 the company built the first part of the old brick shop, put in a small steam engine, which was made to do the twisting, and Mr. Glidden and P. W. C. Vaughan obtained a patent for some devices for barbing and spooling, that were used for some time and proved an efficient aid to the workmen.

In 1876 the Washburn & Moen Manufacturing - Company, of Worcester, Mass., noticing an increas- ing demand for a size of wire not heretofore called for to any great extent, began to investigate the cause of it, and subsequently purchased Mr. Glidden's half interest in the patents and business, and formed the present co-partnership with Mr. Ellwood. The busi- ness rapidly increased and soon the old shop became too small, so in 1881 new buildings were erected. The main building is now 600 feet long by 60 feet in width, and two stories high. This building is occu- pied by 202 automatic machines for making their "Glidden " barb wire. These machines manufacture finished fencing at the rate of a car-load an hour, which is at the rate of a mile a minute of complete fencing. This would aggregate in one year 3,130 cars of 20,000 pounds each, or 62,600,000 pounds of fencing, which would extend in a straight line 187,- 800 miles, or enough to encircle the earth seven and one half times. The number of men employed by this firm varies from 200 to 400, according to their necessities and the season.

Jacob Haish .- The celebrated "S " barb wire is manufactured by Jacob Haish, the inventor and

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patentee. Early in 1874 Mr. Haish began the manufacture in a small way, and has increased his works from time to time until he has one of the larg- est manufactories in the country, with a capacity of 50 tons or more per day. In 1881 a building 300 feet in length and too feet in width was erected, to which additions have since been made. One hun- dred men are now employed. There are 75 machines in the building.

The Superior Barbed-Wire Company was organ- ized in 1880. President, Reuben Ellwood; Directors, Reuben Ellwood, J. B. Lott, I. L. Ellwood, J. F. Glidden, and Hiram Ellwood. The latter was elected secretary and general manager. The com- pany purchased of I. L. Ellwood the building they now occupy. It is a brick building 48 x 144 feet, two stories in height, with 35 machines, having a capacity of 20 tons of wire per day. Eighty men are employed.

Cigars .-- There are three cigar manufactories- those of P. S. Trumbauer, Frederick Bohe and J. Crawford.

Gloves .- John Davy and I. Robinson are manu- facturers of gloves.

Bradt & Shipman are wholesale dealers in gloves. The business was established by Mr. Bradt in 1857.

The Samson Novelty Works, owned by Bradt & Shipman is located in the east part of the city. Here is manufactured the Samson barn-door hanger and the Samson wire-stretcher. They also do a general repairing business. Their foundry and machine shop

is supplied with the latest improved machinery, and they employ none but skilled mechanics. They em- ploy about 15 hands.

The De Kalb Creamery was established in 1882 by Gurler Brothers-Henry B. and George H. Gurler. They erected a frame building 32 x 70, two stories in height, with boiler room 16 x 24 and an ice-house 20 X 40. The building was furnished with all the ma- chinery in use at that time. This building was burned Sept. 25, 1884. The present building was erected and ready for work the 26th of October fol- lowing. The main building is the same size as the one burned, while the ice-room and boiler-house are larger. In 1883 they sent out teams to gather cream, and the products of the factory for that year were $52,422. In 1884 the cream gathered was taken to their other creameries, and thus the total receipts were not so great, but amounted to $49,358. They have all machinery, including five centrifugal cream separators. The Gurler Brothers rented the South Grove Creamery in 1884; the products there amounted to $7,178. In 1884 they bought the Malta Creamery. The products there, in 1884, amounted to $13,367.

SUPERVISORS.

The following named have served the village and city as members of the Board of Supervisors :

W. H. Allen. .1861.62 Harvey Thompson, .... .. 1868

Silas Tappan . 1863

William A. Miller .. .. 1869

L. M. McEwen .. . . 1870

L. Morse ... . 1864

S. O. Vaughan .. .1865

William H. Record ...... 1871

E. B. Gilbert. .1866

William C. Tappan . 1867

J. S. Russell . ... 1872

870

DE KALB COUNTY.

City of Sandwich.

N October, 1853, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company completed its road through this place. At that time Almon Gage, Jacob M. Hall, Joseph Weeks, Wm. Davis, Harvey Joles and the Grover estate were the owners of all the land upon which the city is now located. The railroad com- pany did not design to locate a station at this point, having decided upon one at what is now the vil- lage of Somonauk and another at what is now the village of Plano. The citizens of Newark, a village lying a few miles south, were interested in having one here, and, together with the citizens living in this vicinity, appealed to the railroad company to estab- lish it. After a few months' delay the company consented to establish a flag station, stopping the trains only when signaled. The business here in- creasing rapidly, it yielded to the inevitable, and in the fall of 1854 erected the necessary buildings for the transactions of its business, and the future of the village which was rapidly springing up was se- cured.

The original survey of the village was made in tlie winter of 1853-4, but for some cause, doubtless for the reason the railroad company had not consented to establish a regular station, it was not acknowl- edged until Dec. 5, 1854, and filed Jan. 1, 1855. Almon Gage was the owner of the original plat, other portions being additions.

When the survey was made, with the design of platting, a name had not been decided upon for the prospective village. It was proposed by some to call it Almon, in honor of Almon Gage, but that gentleman would not consent. The deed given by Jacob M. Hall to the trustees of the Baptist Church described the lots as being in block 3 of the village

of Almon, and was so entered upon record. A post- office having been established here under the name of Sandwich, it was finally determined to give that name to the village, and Sandwich it was called. The railroad company, however, was probably not consulted with reference to the name and called the station Newark Station, the village of Newark, as already stated, being instrumental in securing its lo- cation. By this name was it known until 1856, when the railroad company again yielded to the wishes of the people and adopted the name of Sandwich.

During the years from 1854 to 1857 there was a regular and constant increase in the number of in- habitants and in the business of the village. In the second issue of the People's Press, under date of Sept. 17, 1857, a correspondent thus speaks of the place as it then existed :

" Sandwich is a stirring business village. Its set- tlement and growth were greatly retarded at first by designing men, who slandered and misrepresented it to the railroad company, so that the cars did not stop here for several months after they began to run on the track. Nor was it without much delay and great difficulty that the company was prevailed upon to construct a switch and erect buildings, al- though they obtained land for such purpose at the time of surveying the road. The cars began to run by Sandwich about the last of October, 1853, but did not stop here till the spring of 1854, and then the number of cars that could be obtained for freight was quite too small, the stopping irregular, and the hindrances and annoyances so very great and prolonged as to throw back the settlement and improvements of the village at least one year.

" Besides the railroad buildings, Sandwich has three churches-Baptist, Methodist and Congrega-

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tional. The Presbyterians worship in a large school-room, but are preparing to build a church. Each of these denominations have a Sunday-school. The German Baptists have one service in the Bap- tist house every alternate Sabbath. The Seceders occupy the Methodist church the same proportion of time.

" A large and commodious two-story building erected for an academy, and occupied as such for two years, is now used for a district school, and dur- ing a term of 17 weeks, just ended, 153 scholars at- tended, under two teachers; besides which there is a small private school.

" The people of Sandwich and vicinity must be a reading people, if we judge of them by the amount of reading matter received at the postoffice. The following facts were taken by the writer of this article from the official documents of the office for the quarter ending June 30, 1857. More than 4,500 newspapers, 195 pamphlets and other period- icals were received. The postage on letters re- ceived amounted to $110.67 ; postage on letters sent, $130. The deputy postmaster assured the writer it was not quite an average quarter.

" The following items will give some idea of the business done in the village, and of the progress made in improving it. There is one steam grist and flouring mill, one iron foundry, machine shop and planing mill, two lumber yards, one of which re- ceived from April I, to September 3, 1857, the fol- lowing: 570,000 feet of lumber, 100,000 shingles, 112,000 lath, 1,600 posts. The other yard received about 300,000 of all kinds, from July 10 to Sept. 3, 1857. There are II stores, all doing a good and some a heavy business, two blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, one livery stable, one bakery, one hotel, one jeweler, two cabinet and furniture shops, two shoe shops, two merchant tailors, 20 or 30 carpen- ters and joiners, niost of whom have convenient work shops, 16 or more masons, and four painters. There are several buildings for storage, one of which is large, and provided with apparatus propelled by steam for elevating grain, and about 20 others in course of erection."

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Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 101

Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros. Number of Pages: 888

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 888