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 91
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levy for the support of the schools in 1883-4 was $4,022.
The Methodists and Baptists were pioneers in matters pertaining to the religious welfare of the people. Societies were formed by the Methodists north of the present village of Waterman, and by the Baptists southeast of the same village. The people now worship in the neighboring villages.
Clinton township furnished III men for the war, and raised for war purposes $13,746. The names of those who lost their lives in the service were, Jona- than Morris, Egbert Matteson, M. C. Kirkpatrick, Seeley Simpson, Henry Kellogg, James Low, Asahel Childs, C. Rose, jr., Corydon Heath, Alfred Hodgkin, Charles Nears and E. A. Pritchard.
From the abstract of assessments in the office of the County Clerk, the following facts were obtained :
Clinton Township in 1884 had 22,231 acres of im- proved land, valued at $331,551. Town lots were assessed at $25,480; personal property, $91,295 ; total $448,326. This amount was reduced by the State Board of Equalization to $396,809. Among the items of personal property, reported by the Asses- sor for that year, were the following: Horses, 632; cattle, 2,856; mules and asses, 26; sheep, 160; hogs, 3,501 ; steam engines, 3; safes, 4; carriages and wagons, 250; watches and clocks, 71 ; sewing and knitting machines, 138; pianos, 9 ; organs and melodeons, 50. Of hogs Clinton reports a larger number than any other township in the county, and of cattle, the largest number save South Grove, which reports 2,897, and Cortland, 2,857.
Waterman.
HE village of Waterman was surveyed and platted by S. T. Armstrong, County Sur- veyor, in March, 1872. It comprised a portion of the north half of the northeast quar- ter of the southeast quarter; and the south half of the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 16, the property of Humphrey Rob- erts. Three additions have since been made. The village at the present writing presents a neat appear- ance, and has about 400 inhabitants.
A station was established here on the completion
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of the railroad, and a temporary depot building erec- ted. 'The village was named in honor of D. B. Wa- terman, of Aurora, general solicitor of the road.
In the spring of 1872 David Chapman erected a dwelling-house, the first in the village. Soon after, Martin Fancher erected a small building just above where the depot is now located, and opened a stock of groceries. Mr. Fancher was soon followed by A. Bradbury, who also opened a grocery and provision store; Coy & Giles, who carried a miscellaneous stock; Hill & Fancher, with groceries. Humphrey & Samson commenced retailing lumber in the winter of 1871-2. They also brought in the first coal dur- ing the same season. They put up the first scales, the same which are now in use at the stock-yards. With the foregoing in business, and the erection of a number of dwelling-houses, Waterman had a fair start in 1871. For some time it had a good, steady growth.
The first grocery store was by Martin Fancher in the spring of 1872. The present representatives in that line are A. Bradbury and F. Schrader. The , latter has a restaurant in connection.
Coy & Giles, the first general merchants. S. H. Perry and James Fulton, present representatives.
Coy & Giles were the first to keep drugs in stock, while Giles Bros. were the first exclusive druggists. E. Dean is now engaged in the trade, and is the sole representative in that line.
David Orr was the first to engage in the hardware trade exclusively, in 1872-3. In connection with his sons, he still continues in the business.
In 1873 Alex. Wallace engaged in the furniture trade, being the pioneer in that line. F. Wirts now represents that trade.
J. R. Griffith is the first and last to engage in the harness trade.
In the spring of 1873 Mrs. Austin opened the first millinery store in the village. The present dealers are Mrs. J. R. Griffith, Mrs. R. Ostrander.
Humphrey & Samson were the first to deal in lum- ber and coal. In January, 1885, the Minnesota Lum- ber Company, with G. G. Kopp, manager, conducted the business.
George W. Wakefield was dealer in grain and coal in January, 1885.
H. Roberts, Jr., at the same time was a grain dealer.
The stock dealers early in 1885 were H. L. Ful-
ler & Co., Roberts Bros. and E. H. Baie. The first buyer was Robert Humphrey, of the firm of Huni- phrey & McCleery.
The first hotel was erected in 1872, by John Ful- le, now known as the Clinton House, standing just opposite the depot. H. Leifheit is the present pro- prietor. The Irving House is run by Robert Irving.
John M. St. John was the first barber. William Marion now represents that trade.
Newell & Persons in 1872 were the first wagon- makers. George W. Place is now in the business.
Richard Anderson for some years had worked near the present village at his trade of blacksmithing. When the village was started he moved into it with his shop, and became the pioneer in that line. Charles Tompkins and Isaac Edwards are the pres- ent blacksmiths.
David Chapman and G. G. Kopp were the first carpenters. Henry Baie now carries on the trade. Mr. Schrader is the jeweler.
E. Dean opened a meat market in the spring of 1873. He is still in the business.
D. Horton was the first painter to locate here. The trade is now represented by D. Horton, James Barmore, Henry Hudgen.
Drs. G. M. Macklin and S. C. White attend to the physical well-being of the place.
George Hutes is the shoemaker.
The manufacturing interests are represented by M. Daly, in the manufacture of adjustable harrows and swill carts.
Kirkpatrick & Andrews have a feed mill in success- ful operation.
Robert Telford and Charles Tompkins are livery- men.
The village of Waterman was incorporated under the general act in March, 1877. The following-named comprise the Board of Trustees since that date :
1877-A. Little, David Orr, C. F. Mighell, E. Dean, C. Taft, Martin Fancher.
1878-A Little, C. Taft, G. G. Kopp, E. Dean, D. Orr, C. F. Mighell.
1879-C. F. Mighell, D. Orr, G. G. Kopp, E. Dean, John Abbey, A. L. McCaskey.
1880-C. F. Mighell, David Orr, George G. Cong- don, E. Dean, A. L. McCaskey, John Abbey.
1881-J. Abbey, A. L. McCaskey, G. G. Congdon, J. J. A. Zellar, W. H. Moremus, George W. Place.
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1882-W. H. Moremus, D. Orr, L. E. Phelps, H. Roberts, Jr., James W. Porter, G. G. Congdon. 1883-J. R. Griffith, G. W. Place, A. L. McCas- key, W. H. Moremus, H. Roberts, Jr., G. G. Cong- don.
1884->A. L. McCaskey, G. W. Place, J. R. Grif- fith, R. P. Rowley, G. G. Congdon, C. G. Kopp.
The village is provided with a council-room and calaboose combined. It has a well 55 feet deep by 6 feet in diameter. The well is a never-failing one, and, doubtless, lies over a subterranean lake. Within two minutes after striking water it filled up. For the extinguishment of fires the village has 300 feet of hose, with a lever force-pump at which ten men can work.
Religious.
A T Waterman the Christian religion is repre- $ sented by the Methodist Episcopals, Baptists and Presbyterians. In 1855 a Methodist Episcopal class was organized north of the present village, to which was given the name of Malugin and Twin Grove class. It com- prised the following named : Hiram Greeley, Leader; Ora Greeley, O. G. Greeley, Ezra Samson, Catharine Samson, W. W. Fuller, Evaline Fuller, Lydia Fuller, M. S. Fuller, H. L. Fuller, L. K. Fuller, and Eber Greeley. In 1859 a class was organized known as the North Clinton class, of which Eber Greeley was Class-leader. For some time meetings were held at private residences and then in the school-house. Be- coming strong, numericalty and financially, it was determined to erect a house of worship, in which both classes might unite. Accordingly, in 1867, a beautiful structure was erected and dedicated to the service of Almighty God. In the winter of 1873- 4, the building was removed from the farm of Robert Humphrey to the village. In 1884 the house was newly furnished and now presents a very attractive appearance. The Church is known as the North Clinton Methodist Episcopal Church. The present membership of the Church is 110. The pastors since 187 I are as follows : Revs. N. O. Freeman, 1871 ; J. R. Allen, 1872 ; Joseph Wardle, 1873; J. J. Tobias, 1874; J. Hartman, 1875; W. R. Beans, 1876-7; C.
A. Bucks, 1878-9-80; N. M. Stokes, 1881; John O. Foster, 1882; John Adams, 1883-4.
The N. Clinton Center Baptist Church was organ- ized in 1856. A preliminary meeting was held in Tuttle's school-house, two and a half miles south- east of the present village, Sept. 27, at which the fol- lowing named expressed a willingness to enter into mutual covenant for the formation of a Baptist Church in that neighborhood : E. Mighell, John Curtice, Alexander Henderson, J. C. Miles, Mrs. Julia A. I. Henderson, Mrs. Ellen Miles, Mrs. Harriet Swift, Mrs. Benevolence Maple, Mrs. Eliza Mighell, Mrs. Delana Mighell. On the 11th of Oc- tober a meeting was held for the purpose of perfect- ing the organization by adopting articles of faith and covenant. J. C. Miles first served the Church as its minister, while E. Mighell was its deacon. On the 19th of May, 1858, a meeting was held at the Swift school-house, at which the organization was recog- nized as a Baptist Church. Among those serving the Church as pastor or supply, were: Elders Per- sons, H. R. Hicks, Paul Kinney, D. T. Richards, M. J. Martin, E. W. Hicks, S. P. Davis, P. Reynolds, Nelson Crandall and A. S. Orcutt, the present pas- tor. The present membership is 30. The President of the C. & I. Railroad, soon after the village of Waterman was projected, offered to transport material for the erection of a church edifice free of charge, if the congregation would remove here. The offer was accepted and work was commenced on the building in July, 1872, and completed in January, 1873.
The Presbyterian Church of Waterman is in good condition, with a neat church edifice.
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Schools.
HE school district of which the village of Waterman forms a part was organized about 1856. The first school remembered by those consulted was in that year, Miss Rey- nolds being the teacher. The school was held in a small frame building that had been used as a dwelling. The first school-house was erected in 1858, Tilda Kirkpatrick first occupying it as teacher.
This house, which was a frame structure, stood about one-fourth mile south of the present one. In 1875, a new building was erected within the corpor-
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ate limits of the village, and the school became a graded one. Charles W. Rolph was the first princi- pal in this new house, with Sarah Anderson as assist- ant. Ella York succeeded Rolph, Miss Anderson remaining as assistant. The following year C. W. Curtis was made principal and Miss York was given the primary department. Hattie L. Norton was the successor of Mr. Curtis, with Finette Norton as the primary teacher. The latter is now in her fourth year as teacher in this department. Miss Frank Hutchinson succeeded Hattie L. Norton, and in turn was succeeded by Wirt F. Weston, the incum- bent. The school is in a flourishing condition, with an enrollment in January, 1885, of 109.
Societies.
N 1873 members of the Masonic fraternity living in the neighborhood, desiring to or- ganize a lodge, and there being no place in which they could meet, organized the Masonic Building Association, and erected a two-story frame building, 26 x 60, with 24-foot posts. The lower room was destined for mercantile purposes, while the upper was to be used as a lodge- room. The building was completed in 1874, and a dispen- sation was secured, under which they acted until Oc- tober 5, 1875, when a charter was granted to Water- man Lodge, No. 628, A. F. & A. M. The following- named were the charter members: Nathan S. Green- wood, W. M .; Irving W. Pritchard, S. W .; Richard P. Rowley, J. W .; E. P. Rowley, I. J. Reynolds, Joseph Gilchrist, O. F. Matteson, E. Dean,. George Hall, D. Horton, Milton Kain, George Greenwood, R. Humphrey, R. Telford, C. P. Sage, J. W. Giles, Martin McCleery, Edwin Reynolds, Kirk Anderson, John Deacon, R. M. Pritchard, C. F. Greenwood, H. N. Rose and J. H. Phillips. The following named have since served as W. M .: I. W. Pritchard, E. F. Greenwood, E. P. Rowley, J. M. St. John and Enoch Rowley. The latter is the present W. M., with Rob- ert Humphrey, S. W .; A. J. Kirkpatrick, J. W .; George W. Wakefield, Sec .; R. P. Rowley, Treas. The lodge has lost the following named by death : N. S. Greenwood, J. W. Porter and J. W. Giles. The present membership is 45.
CORTLAND TOWNSHIP.
ORTLAND comprises one of the six townships lying upon the eastern border of the county. It is bounded on the east by Kane County, on the north, by Sycamore, on the south by Pierce, and on the west by De Kalb Townships. It is well watered by the Kishwaukee River and its tributaries, and has a large body of timber land in the eastern part, the remainder being a rolling prairie. The Chicago & Northwestern Railroad passes through the southern part of the township, while the Sycamore branch of the same road runs due north from the village of Cortland to Sycamore, a distance of four miles.
The first settlement was made in 1835 at what was subsequently termed Ohio Grove, from the fact that the greater number of the first settlers in that neighborhood were from the State of Ohio. Among the pioneers of the township were George W. and Isaac Gandy, John and Perry Ellet, David Wood, Henry Smith, Hale Perry, Alvin Dayton, Ralph Wyman, John Champlin, Peter Young, Elias Hart- man, the Crossetts, Springs, Norcutts, Kites, Lowries and Osgoods. There may be others. All these it is believed settled in 1835 and 1836. They all settled as near as possible to the borders of Ohio Grove.
About the same time James and Joseph Roberts settled at a small grove in the center of the town- ship, to which was given the name of Lost Grove, from the fact that it was separated from the main body of timber. These brothers for many years en- tertained travelers.
The township settled slowly until the completion of the railroad, much of the land even at that time being owned by the Government. The early settlers, could not bear the thought of locating upon the prairie.
A postoffice was established at Ohio Grove as early as 1841, Samuel Spring, at that time being Postmas- ter, the receipts of his office for the year amounting to $2.22 Mr. Spring was succeeded by Homer Roberts, who held the office for many years.
At Luce's Corners, one-half mile south of the pres- ent village of Cortland, a number of houses had been erected, a tavern and store opened and a postoffice was established there about 1850, with Chauncey
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DE KALB COUNTY.
Luce as Postmaster. The office was continued until the completion of the railroad, when it was moved to the station which had been established by the rail- road company, and is now the Cortland postoffice.
The first name given the township was Richland. This was soon after changed to Pampas, a name suggested by J. R. Crossett, from the resemblance of its prairies to the pampas or plains of South America. In 1864 the name was changed to Cortland, the name of its village.
The first school in the township was at Ohio Grove and held in a log house erected for the purpose. The first teacher was Rev. Castle Churchill. He was succeeded by Mary Ann Hamlin.
In his report for the year ending June 30, 1884, George I. Talbott, County Superintendent of Schools, gives the following interesting items in regard to the schools of the township: There were eight school districts, each having a frame school-house, the total value of which was estimated at $9,980. Of the schools one was graded and seven ungraded. There were 589 persons under 21 years of age, 299 being males and 290 females, of whom 421 were of school age, and of which number 341 were enrolled in the public schools. During the year 18 teachers were employed, the average salary paid being $31 per month, the highest being $68 and the lowest $15. The tax levy was $3,240.
The record of Cortland in the war for the Union is honorable in the extreme, 134 having enlisted from the township. Of that number 16 lost their lives in the service: Ruthven Russell, Alonzo Russell, Rob- ert Close, W. Stark, Charles Plapper, Spafford De- ford, John Young, Charles F. Bannister, Charles V. Peck, Oliver Wilson, Emory Marshall, George H. Gould, T. D. Packard, W. H. Rose and Morris R. Wilson. For war purposes the township raised $12,103.
There are two mills in the township-one at Cort- land and the other at Maple Park. The latter was built in 1882 by Nathaniel A. Hail. The building is 60 x24, with 16-foot posts. There is one run of buhrs and a corn-sheller. It is a feed mill, run by steam, with a 30-horse power engine. A good busi- is done here.
Porter S. Coolidge has the credit of being the first to bring Norman horses into the township, and prob- ably the first in the county. Mr. Coolidge was also
one of the first to engage in the dairy business, hav- ing at one time 100 cows.
"Oatman Bros., of Dundee, Ill., built a cheese fac- tory near Maple Park, in the spring of 1884. It is a commodious frame building, with a stone basement. The factory is run on the dividend plan, though some milk is bought. Alfred Hall is cheese-maker, and William Morrison butter-maker.
In 1884, according to the local assessor, there were 22,068 acres of improved land in the township, val- ued at $326,061, an average of $14.77 per acre. The town lots were valued at $24,773; personal prop- erty, $100,515; a total of $451,349. The State Board of Equalization reduced this amount to $400,- 727. There were many articles of personal property listed, among the items the following: Horses, 800; cattle, 2,857 ; mules and asses, 9 ; sheep, 198 ; hogs, 1,646; steam engines, 4; safes, 1; carriages and wagons, 454; watches and clocks, 327 ; sewing and knitting machines, 178; pianos, 23; melodeons and organs, 60.
SUPERVISORS.
David F. Finley: ... .. 1850-52
Edwin Gilson. .1866
Austin Hayden .. . 1853
John Wright .. .1867-68
David F. Finley. . . 1854
Horace S. Champlin . 1855-58
Alonzo L. Lovell ... . 1859-61
P. S. Coolidge .. .1862
Dwight Crossett. . 1878-81
Jacob R. Crossett 1863-65
Theodere Balis .1882-84
Village of Cortland.
URING the month of January, 1855, the
village of Cortland was laid out by Ezra and Maria Croft. The plat is located on the northwest quarter of section 29, township 40, range 5. In April, 1855, Samuel L. Parker and J. T. Tubby platted the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 29, in connection with that laid out by Mr. and Mrs. Croft, the whole forming the original plat of the town. Two addi- tions have since been made.
Previous to the building of the railroad, which was completed quite a year before the platting of the vil- lage, some half-dozen or more houses had been erected at Luce's Corners. Some of these were moved to the station and a village soon sprang up, which for a time bid fair to be one of the most impor- tant in the county. From the beginning for a num-
A. V. L. Smith .1871-72
Dwight Crossett .. .1873-74
William Raymond .1875-77
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DE KALB COUNTY.
ber of years it was one of the best points on the railroad for grain. H. S. Champlin and John M. Lawrence were the first to engage in the grain trade. They were not partners, but each commenced about the same time in 1854. Other dealers soon estab- lished business here, among whom were Mr. Arnold, George and Jerome Champlin, and Pierce & Jewell. At one time it is said there were 17 local buyers, representing, probably, some half-dozen firms. The trade continued to be good until the completion of the Sycamore & Cortland Railroad, when it began to decrease, much of its trade from the north going to Sycamore. Pressed hay for a time was quite largely dealt in by Pierce & Jewell.
Horace S. Champlin and James S. Waterman, un- der the firm name of Champlin & Waterman, were the pioneers in the trade of general merchandise. They commenced business in 1854, and while they had the monopoly had a very large and lucrative trade.
Smith & Brown were the next dealers. After run- ning about two years they failed, as the local rhyme- ster put it, "Smith & Brown, they broke down."
Jabez Gwinup was the first to engage in the man- ufacture and repair of wagons.
Marcenus Hall and Charles Smith were the first blacksmiths. Albert Havens opened the second shop, Hall & Smith being partners.
Lawrence & Washburn and Mr. Woodworth might also be classed among the pioneer merchants of the place, commencing business but a short time after those already mentioned.
As stated in the township history, the postoffice known as Lost Grove was removed to the station in 1854. The following named have since held the position of postmaster: A. D. Brown, John Cadwal- lader, R. O. Joslyn, Theodore Loring, Marcus Wash- burn, I. Carpenter, Mrs. C. Sackett and Joseph Adams. The latter now holds the commission, but the business of the office is transacted by Mrs. Adams.
The school district in which the village is located was organized at an early day. There was a school- house near the present site in 1841, the first teachers being E. Eaton and Malden Jones.
There is but one religious organization in the vil- lage-the Methodist Episcopal. It was organized before the village came into existence. A neat church
edifice was subsequently erected here. The present membership is 54. Among those who have served as pastors since 1862 have been Revs. C. M. Web- ster, F. D. Corwin, E. Smith, O. E. Burch, R. H. Wilkinson, N. O. Freeman, Frick, Swift, Samuel Hewes, Isaac Whitcomb and F. B. Hardin. The latter is the present pastor. In the winter of 1884-5 a revival was held in the church in which there were 40 conversions, and the Church greatly strengthened.
About 1855 a frame building was erected for school purposes on the north side of the railroad. The village growing quite rapidly, it soon became too small to accommodate the pupils in the district, and one was erected on the south side. It being impossible to properly grade the schools using two school buildings, the district, in 1867, voted to erect another building, larger and more centrally located. Accordingly the present building was erected the same year. On its occupancy the school was divided into three grades. Dwight Crossett was the first principal. Since that time the following named have served in that office : Mr. Watson, J. M. Whitson, C. W. Curtis, J. A. Vroman, J. L. Calland and L. S. Parsons, the latter being principal in 1884-5.
The village was incorporated in 1866. The Pres- ident of the Board of Trustees, by virtue of his office, is also a member of the Board of Supervisors. The following named have served :
T. T. Peck . 1867 Nathan Peck 1877
John King. .I867-71
John T. Woodley .1878
B. McGough. 1872
George W. Savery. . 1879
Jabez Gwinup . 1873
John T. Woodley . 1880-81
John King. .1874-76
John King ... 1882-84
The Cortland flouring mills are owned by Goodall & Holdridge, who purchased the same in the fall of 1884. The mill was built about 1870 by Lovell, Smith & Craft, the village giving a bonus of $2,000. Lovell subsequentiy became sole proprietor, and sold to the present owners as stated. The mill has four run of buhrs, and is run by a 40-horse power engine.
The butter and cheese factory of Wood & Delaney is one of the institutions of Cortland. It is consid- ered one of the best in this region of country.
The best days of Cortland were previous to the building of the 'Sycamore & Cortland Railroad, still a fair business has always been transacted here. It is surrounded by a fine country, and only its prox- imity to Sycamore and De Kalb is in the way of great prosperity. In the beginning of 1885 the fol- lowing business was represented in the place :
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General merchants-Henry Martin, E. Jordan & Co., James Murphy.
Agricultural implements-W. J. Bates.
Blacksmiths-Benjamin Champlin, Wheeler & Havens.
Wagon-maker-James Cheasebro.
Hotel-C. A. Talbot.
Grist-mill-Holdridge & Goodall. Lumber and coal-J. T. Woodley. Meat market -- Snyder & Ramer.
Harness shop-C. A. Talbot.
Livery-C. A. Talbot.
Barber-Carl Mattice.
Cheese factory-Wood & Delaney.
DE KALB TOWNSHIP.
E KALB is one of the best townships in the county. It is mostly rolling prairie, while yet abundantly supplied with timber. The Chicago & Northwestern Railroad passes through the township from east to west, afford- ing its citizens an outlet for all their produce and stock. The township is bounded on the east by Cortland, on the north by Mayfield, on the south by Afton, and on the west by Malta.
The first settlement made in the township was in 1835. Among the number locating that year were John B. Collins, Mr. McClellan, N. C. Moore, Phineas Stevens, Mr. Root, S. Jenks, James Cox, James Paisley, Levi Barber and sons. There may have been some others, whose names have been forgotten.
Mr. McClellan is thought by Clark Barber, now the oldest living settler in the township, to have pre- ceded the others. He was from Indiana, and located on section 23, where he remained until in the winter of 1836-7, or early in the spring of 1837. On one occasion during the winter, while away for the purpose of securing food for his family, they ate up everything in the house and were two days without food. Calling upon Levi C. Barber, they made known their wants, but Mr. Barber's family were in almost the same condition. He gave them a few ears of corn, which he had been saving for seed, and which they hulled and ate. Clark Barber hastened off to some neighbors and succeeded in getting some
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