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 94
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The following named have served the township as members of the Board of
SUPERVISORS :
E. Whitehead. .1856
W. H. Woolston .. .1872 H. Madden. .1859-61
George W. Smiley . .1874 G. W. Smiley. .1866
Martin C. Dedrick. 1875-6
Daniel F. Pease .. . 1867
George W. Smiley. .1877-8
William H Woolston .. .. 1868
A. W Townsend .. .186g
-
Martin C. Dedrick. .1879-84
Village of Malta.
HE village of Malta was surveyed and plat- ted by Horace W. Fay, County Surveyor, in August, 1856. The land was then owned by Charles C. Sheppard and T. C. Wetmore. It was located on the northwest quarter of sec- tion 23, township 40 north, range 3 east. There have since been two additions made and recorded.
The first house was erected in the fall of 1856 by J. M. Orput. It was a story and a half frame and used by him as a dwelling house and for mercantile purposes. In this house Mr. Orput opened a stock of staple and fancy groceries, and therefore has the honor of being the first merchant in the place. He also dealt in lumber, coal and grain, buying the first grain shipped from this station. In the spring of 1857 Mr. Orput formed a partnership with John At- wood, and under the firm name of Orput & Atwood the business was continued, dry-goods being added to the grocery stock. In the fall of 1857 Dwight Booth purchased the stock.
Shortly after Mr. Orput began business, Shedd & Fuller erected a warehouse and began purchasing grain. A portion of this warehouse was subsequently converted into a hotel and was the first in the village. Frank Graves was the first landlord.
The present Orient House was erected in the fall of 1858 by Daniel Sprague, but opened by D. E. Fennell. It was the first house erected exclusively for hotel purposes, and has been used constantly as such to the present time.
The first hardware store was started by J. R. Evans in 1838.
Henry Madden was the first druggist. He com- menced business in 1857.
The first blacksmith was John Schultz, in 1857.
The first wagon-maker was Walter Tuiett.
The first furniture dealer was William LeBrant.
The first shoemaker was John Swanson, in 1858. The first harness-maker was J. O. Westgate.
The postoffice was established here in the winter of 1856-7. W. F. Shedd was the first postmaster. He was succeeded by Mr. Wicks, and he, in turn, by Henry Madden, Alfred Ball, F. H. Brundage, and A. S. Kinsloe, the incumbent. A money order depart- ment was connected with the office in July, 1872. David Campbell drew the first order, in favor of
Charles W. Haish .1870-I T. C. Wetmore. .1857-8
Martin C. Dedrick .1873 M. C. Dedrick. .1862-5
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DE KALB COUNTY.
Chase, Hanford & Co., of Chicago, for the sum of $5. The average amount drawn per year has been about $10,000.
In 1857 a school-house was erected in the village. It [was a frame structure, about 24 x 40, and was used until 1873, when the present two-story frame building was erected, at a cost of $6,000. This build- ing has four rooms, and four teachers are regularly employed. In the spring of 1885 the corps of teachers was as follows : D. G. Hays, principal ; Bertha Bei- tel, Edna Mettlar, Josie Morse.
The religious well being of the people is cared for by the Baptists, Congregationalists and Methodist Episcopals, each of which have church edifices.
The secret and benevolent societies in 1885 were the Masons, Odd-Fellows and G. A. R.
Malta Lodge, No. 320, A. F. & A. M., was organ- ized in 1859. A dispensation was granted June 9, under which the lodge acted until October 5, when the charter was granted by the Grand Lodge. Its charter members were T. C. Wetmore, John E. At- wood, Jacob M. Moon, John B. Orput, Edmund Badger, T. H. Hecox, J. H. Clark, J. A. Patterson. Its first officers were Titus C. Wetmore, W. M .; John E. Atwood, S. W .; J. M. Moon, J. W .; J. R. Evans, S. D .; T. H. Hecox, J. D .; C. B. Safford, Secretary ; A. Wetmore, Treasurer ; J. A. Patterson, Tyler. The officers were installed by S. O. Vaughan, of DeKalb. The present membership, in January, 1885, is 19, with the following named officers : Caleb Peters, W. M .; R. M. Hevenor, S. W .; George Spickerman, J. W .; David Claxton, Treasurer; J. C. Pierce, Secre- tary ; Horace Claxton, S. D .; C. W. Haish, J. D .; J. P. Newhall, C. F. Meyers, Stewards ; James Homan, Tyler. The P. M. W.'s are T. C. Wetmore, J. R. Evans, J. M. Moon, S. C. Hapgood, John Sargent, R. M. Hevenor and S. S. Coe.
Malta Lodge, No. 606, I. O. O. F., was instituted February 18, 1876, with the following named charter members : J. V. Willett, D. S. Holderness, J. V. Cor- nish, P. Barnes, R. Pendergrass, J. Conlin. The lodge has been quite successful, and numbers 38 members, with a well-furnished lodge room. It has lost by death four of its members during the nine years of its existence-J. Lamb, A. McCrea, I. H. Claxton and John Fanson. Its present officers are M. Quincer, N. G .; I. P. Hoyt, V. G .; R. Pender- grass, Sec .; J. V. Willett, Treas. The P. N. G.'s are
J. V. Willett, R. Pendergrass, A. McCrea, J. V. Cor- nish, Henry Shaver, William H. Haish, P. Barnes, R. Fox, A. S. Kinsloe, William M. Kempson, F. Rist, M. L. Dedrick and William Spickerman.
Edward Bridge Post, No. 124, G. A. R., was organ- ized March 16, 1882. Its first officers and charter members were J. C. Pierce, Com .; R. M. Hevenor, S. V. C .; R. Fox, J. V. C .; A. S. Kinsloe, Adjt .; A. Van Patten, Q. M .; T. S. Warren, O. D .; B. Cart- wright, Chap .; A. A. Spickerman, Surg .; S. P. Sher- wood, O. G .; S. Palquest, S .; W. H. Cheatham, D. A. Smith, A. Allenburg. The Post has now a mem- bership of 33, and meets the third Monday in each month in Haish's Hall. Its present officers are A. S. Kinsloe, Com .; A. Van Patten, S. V. C .; W. H. Scofield, J. V. C .; R. M. Hevenor, Adjt .; J. C. Pierce, Q. M .; B. F. Hurt, O. D .; S. Sherwood, O. G .; S. Lloyd, Chap .; A. A. Spickerman, Surg .; J. Tomassen, Q. S .; C. Tomassen, S. M .; S. Palquest, Sent. The only P. Com. is S. C. Pierce.
One of the first industries of the place was the grist-mill erected by Clement & Dodge in 1857. It was a two-story frame structure, about 40 x 60 feet, with two run of buhrs. The owners ran it until about 1859, when they leased it to Booth & Sprague, who ran it for a time, at a loss, and then sub-let it to Caleb Peters. In 1861, while being run by the lat- ter, it was totally destroyed by fire. Clement & Dodge sued Mr. Sprague for the value of the mill, and for several years the case was before the courts of the State. Judgment was finally rendered against Sprague in the Circuit Court; the case was appealed and the verdict sustained by the Supreme Court. It is said to have cost Mr. Sprague about $18,000.
In 1867 a second mill was erected by Caleb Peters, assisted to some extent by the citizens of Malta. It was also a two-story frame, a little smaller than the first, but with two run of buhrs. It is yet running, and is the property of C. W. Haish.
Malta was incorporated by special charter in 1869, its first election being held April 5, resulting in the election of G. W. Smiley, President of the Board of Trustees ; C. Anderson, J. V. Willett, James Welch, S. T. Wright, Trustees; C. W. Haish, Treasurer; S. E. Powers, Clerk ; J. C. Westgate, Police Justice; W. H. Scofield, Constable. The tristees and clerks since that date have been as follows :
1870-G. W. Smiley, President .; A. S. Kinsloe, J.
DE KALB COUNTY.
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M. Orput, W. D. Cook, S. T. Wright, Trustees; J. W. McClure, Clerk.
1871-G. W. Smiley, President ; R. F. Lintleman, A. S. Kinsloe, D. F. Pease, J. M. Orput, Trustees ; J. W. McClure, Clerk.
1872-G. A. Ingersoll, President; J. C. Pierce, A. McCrea, Wm. Le Brant, A. S. Kinsloe, Trustees; J. W. McClure, Clerk.
1873 -- D. F. Peas, President; P. Deane, Wm. Le Brant, J. S. Endstrom, Phineas Barnes, Trustees ; Millard Spoor, Clerk.
1874-A. McCrea, President ; G. W. Smiley, S. T. Wright, A. Ball, R. Pendergrass, Trustees ; John Murphy, Clerk.
1875-A. McCrea, President ; G. A. Ingersoll, R. Pendergrass, S. T. Wright, A. Ball, Trustees ; W. H. Cory, Clerk.
1876-A. . Ball, President ; E. A. Watkins, S T. Wright, R. F. Lintleman, J. C. Pierce, Trustees; A. S. Kinsloe, Clerk.
1877-A. Ball, President; J. C. Pierce, R. F. Lin- tleman, H. Claxton, S. T. Wright, Trustees ; A. S. Kinsloe, Clerk.
1878-A. Ball, President; C. F. Pease, C. A. Tin- dall, R. M. Hevenor, Caleb Peters, Trustees ; M. Fitzgerald, Clerk.
1879-J. V. Willett, President ; J. C. Pierce, W. F. Phelps, P. Barnes, H. Claxton, Trustees ; J. M. Smith, Clerk.
1880-C. W. Haish, President ; J. C. Pierce, W. F. Phelps, S. T. Wright, R. F. Lintleman, Trustees ; M. J. Cunningham, Clerk.
1881-J. C. Pierce, President ; R. F. Lintleman, W. F. Phelps, B. B. Smiley, J. M. Orput, Trustees ; M. Fitzgerald, Clerk.
1882-J. C. Pierce, President ; J. V. Willett, S. T. Wright, W. F. Phelps, J. M. Orput, Trustees ; B. B. Smiley, Clerk.
1883-C. W. Haish, President ; A. S. Kinsloe, A. F. Engstrom, A. Van Patten, Caleb Peters, Trustees ; M. Fitzgerald, Clerk.
1884-G. W. Smiley, President; A. S. Kinsloe, A. Van Patten, David Claxton, J. V. Willett, Trustees ; M. Fitzgerald, Clerk.
On the 17th of March, 1884, the question was sub- mitted to a vote as to whether the town should in- corporate as a village under the general act. There were 31 votes cast for incorporation, and 53 against.
The issue in all charter elections has usually been that of license or no license. About one year in five the anti-license people have a majority.
SUPERVISORS.
George W . Smiley 1869-71
Jacob V. Willett .... .1879
G. A. Ingersoll .. 1872
Charles W. Haish .1880
Dan F. Peas. .1873
Joseph C. Pierce .. .1881-2
A. McCrea
. 1874-5
Charles W. Haish ... .1883
Alfred Ball 1876-8
George W. Smiley. .1884
MAYFIELD TOWNSHIP.
AYFIELD Township was one of the
first settled in the county. The valuable timber lands that lie along the Kish- waukee River, which courses through the eastern part, attracted the attention of the pio- neers of De Kalb County, and it was but a short time before every rod was claimed. Mayfield is bounded,on the east by Sycamore Township, on the north by Kingston, on the south by De Kalb and on the west by South Grove. As stated, along the Kish- waukee River are valuable timber lands, but west of this is a beautiful prairie, which is now dotted over with fine farm houses, and which has been placed under an excellent state of cultivation.
In the early day deer, wolves and game of all kinds abounded. Prairie chickens were in great numbers. Mrs. E. D. Walrod states that she has slipped up and caught them unawares, they being quite tame.
Who has the honor to be the first to locate in the township is unknown, but it is supposed that John Tower preceded all others. Among those who came in during the first two or three years-from 1835 to 1838-were John Thorn, Morris and Erasmus D. Walrod, James and Samuel Gilbert, Ira Douglas, John Nichols, Lyman Judd, John Tifft, Robert Gra- ham, James McCollum and Henry Madden. The latter was the first Representative in the Legislature, being elected while the county was part of La Salle, even before Kane was organized. Dr. Madden, as he was always called, was a well known man in the early history of the county, and is deserving of more than a passing notice. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and was held in high esteem by the pioneers. In the county-seat contests he favored Brush Point, near where he was located, and in secur- ing the appointment of commissioners to locate the
828
county seat, he selected, it is said, those whom he thought he could influence favorable to Brush Point. Dr. Madden died at Malta, in this county.
Morris Walrod was Sheriff of the county several terms. He is now dead.
Erasmus D. Walrod is an old and highly respected citizen of Sycamore, at present owning a farm ad- joining the city on the west. He served as Deputy Sheriff for eight years.
John Tifft was a native of New Hampshire. He located on section 1, where he remained many years. He is now a resident of Sycamore.
James McCollum was an eastern man, but came here from Indiana in 1835, locating on section 15. About 1843 he sold out and removed to Round Prai- rie, Boone County, where he has since died.
Robert Graham was a native of Kentucky. He made claim to a tract of land in the northeast part of the township and died there about 1850. A son yet resides on the old homestead.
Lyman Judd settled on section 1. He was a na- tive of York State, but came from Indiana in June, 1835. About 1858 he moved to Minnesota and set- tled in Rice County, where he has since died.
Ira Douglas was also a native of New York. He came to the county in 1835 and stopped about one year at Paw Paw Grove, and then came to Mayfield where he now lives.
Much trouble was had with claim jumpers by the early settlers, and it was some years after the land came into market before all claims were settled.
The first religious services in the township were conducted by the Methodists, and for some time ser- vices were held at the house of Ira Douglas. Being convenient to Sycamore and De Kalb, the citizens of the township generally worship in those places.
The first school is said by some to have been held in 1839, the teacher being Fanny Clark. Others claim Lucy Stewart was the first teacher, the school being held in a log cabin belonging to David Hodge on section 11. This was also in 1839.
The County Superintendent of Public Schools in his report for the year ending June 30, 1884, gives the following items in relation to educational matters in the township : Number of persons under 21 years of age, 365 ; number of school age, 270; enrollment, 238. There were nine districts, each having a frame school-house.
Mayfield sent 103 men to the front during the
rebellion, of whom the following named gave their lives to the country : Marvin Smith died at Smith- land, Mo., Dec. 31, 1861; W. H. Decker, at Farm- ington, May 16, 1862; G. G. Farwell, at Shiloh, April 6, 1862: Turner Wing, at Mayfield, May, 1862; Joseph Piper, at Quincy, Ill., April 23, 1862 ; Elias Goble, at Gallatin, Tenn., Dec. 21, 1862 ; William Kerr, on steamer City of Memphis, Jan. 5, 1863; J. Patterson, at Camp Sherman, Miss., Aug. 25, 1863; Samuel Piper, at Young's Point, La., April 1, 1863; J. P. Young, at Camp Nelson, March' 5, 1864; Alonzo Houghton, in rebel prison, Cahaba Ala., September, 1864; William Stevenson, at Kene- saw Mountain, Ga., June 27, 1864; Edward flowe, at Chattanooga, Tenn., Aug. 15, 1864.
Mayfield Township, in 1884, had of improved land 22,270 acres, valued by the local assessor at $316,570. The personal property listed the same year amounted to $89,094 ; a total of $405,664. This was reduced by the State Board of Equalization to $361,319, on which the assessment was made. The personal property included at that time the following items : Horses, 781 ; cattle, 2,348; mules and asses, 4; sheep, 152; hogs, 2,049; steam engines, 2 ; safes, I ; carriages and wagons, 274; watches and clocks, 189; sewing and knitting machines, 115; pianos, 6 ; organs and. melodeons, 35.
SUPERVISORS.
Mulford Nickerson ... 1850
T. Wynkoop. .1863-64
Willis Lott . 1851
Curtis Smith.
Edward P. Safford .I865-72
James Sivwright 1852
. 1873-76
Agrippa Dow .1853-54
Nelson Sivwright ..
.1877-79
James Parker . ... 1855
Edward P. Safford. ... 1880
Henry Madden. .1856
Nelson Sivwright ... .188x
W. A. Nickerson 1857-58
A. B. Crippen .1859-60
James Sivwright I861-62
MILAN TOWNSHIP.
ILAN is an exclusively prairie township,
there being no natural grove within its
borders. It is bounded on the south by
Shabbona Township, on the east by Afton,
on the north by Malta, and on the west by Lee
County. The township was organized in 1857,
and was taken off of Malta and Shabbona. It being so far from timber, the land was not taken up until quite late. The township comprises township 39 north, range 3 east, and was organized in 1857,
Edward P. Safford. .. 1882
Henry O. Whittemore ... 1883-84
DE KALB COUNTY.
DE KALB COUNTY.
829
previous to which time the southern half had been attached to Shabbona and the northern half to Malta.
Lewis McEwen, now of the city of De Kalb, was the first white man to locate in the township. In 1852 he made claim to a tract of land, built a cabin and was for a tizne, like Robinson Crusoe, “ monarch of all he surveyed." Benjamin Banfield and Reuben Dodd soon after moved into the township and Mr. McEwen then had company. In 1852, when he located here, not an acre of the land had been entered from the Government, but much of it was taken up the following year. Gurdon Hewitt en- tered nine sections in one day, with land warrants, worth eighty cents per acre.
In the winter of 1853-4 more than 100 deer were seen from McEwen's cabin door, and wolves were extremely troublesome. The deer disappeared with the advent of the locomotive.
After the first settlement was made it was but a few years before every acre of land was taken up or purchased from speculators by actual settlers, and to- day the township of Milan is one of the most pros- perous in the county. In the southern portion of the township a large colony from Norway located.
In the summer of r868 a large two-story building was erected in the center of the township for school and town purposes. The lower part was used for school purposes, while the upper served as a tower hall and place of public worship.
In 1860 the population of Milan was but 262, yet it furnished 38 men for the suppression of the rebellion.
The school section was sold in r865 and produced a township school fund of over $8,000. The first school-house was built in the center of the township in 1855.
From the report of the County Superintendent for the year ending June 30, r884, the following items are gleaned as to the schools of this township: Number of persons under 21 years of age, 450; num- ber between the ages of 6 and 21, 330; number en- rolled, 263; number of districts, 9. In each district was a frame school-house, the total value being esti- mated at $6,000. There was a tax levied of $1,944 for school purposes. During the year 18 teachers were employed, receiving an average salary of $31.46, the highest being $42.50, and the lowest $25.
Milan Township has 22,295 acres of improved
land, according to the assessment of 1884. This was valued by the local assessor at $309,410. Of per- sonal property there was assessed $52,715. Total, $362,125. This was reduced by the State Board of equalization to $315,361. Among the items of per- sonal property assessed there were the following: Horses, 670; cattle 1,880; mules and asses, 4; sheep, r31 ; hogs, 2,208 ; melodeons and organs, 35 ; carriages and wagons, 203; watches and clocks, 123; sewing and knitting machines, 86.
The following have served the township as mem- bers of the Board of Supervisors : Lewis McEwen, 1857-60 ; John Banfield, 1861 ; Lewis McEwen, 1862-8; A. L. Wells, 1869-72; Edwin R. Colby, r 873-84.
PAW PAW TOWNSHIP.
AW PAW Township lies in the southwest corner of the county. It is bounded on the east by Victor Township, on the north by Shabbona Township, on the west by Lee County and on the south by La Salle County. It comprises 36 sections of land known as Congressional township 37 north, range 3 east of the third principal meridian.
Paw Paw Township is a fine body of land, princi- pally rolling prairie. There are within its borders three groves,-Paw Paw, Ross and Coon Grove,- the first named extending into Lee County. The township is well watered by the Big Indian Creek and its numerous tributaries.
The natural advantages of timber and water at- tracted settlers here at an early day. David A. Towne was doubtless the first, locating here in the spring of 1835, and erecting his log cabin on the southwest quarter of section 19, on what is now known as the Pierpont Edwards place. Mr. Towne broke a few acres and made his home here till the following year, when he transferred his claim to his brother, Russell Towne, and removed to the adjoining township on the west, now Wyoming, Lee County, where he resided the remainder of his life.
The next to locate here was the Harris and But- terfield party, who came from Cayuga Co., N. Y., in July, 1835. The party was composed of Rev. Benoni
ـصـ
830
DE KALB COUNTY
Harris, a Methodist Episcopal minister, and family ; Benjamin Harris, son of Benoni, and family ; Ed- ward Butterfield and family; John Plass and family ; and L. D. McDowell and Joseph Harris, two single men.
Benoni and Benjamin Harris, with their families, settled on the northwest quarter of section 14. Rev. Benoni Harris was the pioneer preacher of this re- gion, and labored faithfully in his holy calling, both as a mission and circuit preacher. His wife, Thank- ful Harris, was the first to die in the new settlement. Her death occurred in the spring of 1836. She was buried in the grove on the west side of the road on section 19. The venerable pastor died in 1845 and was buried beside her. Benjamin Harris moved to Iowa in 1854, entered the army in the late war, and died some years later.
Edward Butterfield made his first claim on the west side of the county line, but the following year he moved into Paw Paw Township, making his claim on the west side of section 19. He continued to re- side in Paw Paw until 1852, when he removed to Iowa. He returned in 1864 and died two years later. Solomon V. Butterfield, his son, is the only representative of the first colony now residing in the township, and from whom the historian obtained much valuable information.
Joseph Harris moved to Kansas in an early day.
Jolın Plass remained in the township only one year, and removed to Wyoming Township, Lee County.
S. D. McDowell, who came here a single man, married Delilah Harris, July 4, 1836. Miss Harris was the youngest daughter of Rev. Benoni Harris. This was tlie first marriage in the township. Their daughter, Mary E., born in the summer of 1837, is believed to have been the first white child born in the township. The houor is also claimed for Caro- line Towne, daughter of David A. Towne, who is said to have been born in the spring of that year. Mr. McDowell and family continued residents of the township for several years, and then moved West.
William Rogers, Asahel Baldwin, Joseph Ross, Russell Towne, J. Alcott, Job Morgan and Mr. Ban- nigan are numbered among the pioneers of 1836.
Asahel Baldwin kept the stage house and was the first Postmaster at Paw Paw Grove. He remained but a few years and then removed towards the set- ting sun ..
William Rogers located at what is now East Paw Paw, where he kept a tavern until 1842, when he sold to Jacob Wirick. He built the first house on the site of the village. Of this man, Boies thus speaks:
" Bill Rogers was a marked character. He was bold as a lion, tall and straight as an Indian. He sometimes acted as detective of criminals, and some- times, it is said, in the character of principal. An exciting story is told of his arrest of a huge, power- ful negro, who had hitherto defied all efforts to cap- ture him. Rogers met him on the prairie when both were unarmed, and, after a fight lasting over an hour, succeeded in pinioning his arms, handing him over to the officers, and securing the large reward offered for his capture. Rogers was the contractor to remove the Indians from this country to their new homes west of the Mississippi. Five or six years. ago [Boies wrote in 1868] an early citizen of this county, cross- ing the plains to California, was astonished to meet him far beyond civilization, dressed in Indian cos- tume, and mounted on a wild mustang, with long hair and beard as white as snow, still hale and hearty, and still a pioneer."
Joseph Ross was from the South. He located at the grove which bears his name-Ross' Grove.
Russell Towne settled on section 19, and spent the remainder of his life in this township.
Mr. Bannigan was an Irishman, and located in a grove to which he gave his name, but has long been known as Coon's grove.
But few settlements were made in the township until 1841, when settlers began to conie in quite rap- idly. Among those who came between 1841 and 1846 were Matthew Nisbitt, Jacob Wirick, Moses, Marcus A. and Eli Bartlett, Alonzo M. La Port, Den- nis Connell, Thomas, William, James and Robert Harper, James McFarland, Vincent Breese, Robert Hampton and A. W. Lake.
Some of the earliest settlers at Paw Paw were no credit to the community, and from suspicious circum- stances surrounding theni were supposed to be mem- bers of the horse-thieving and counterfeiting frater- nity. But they were not allowed to remain long, the better elements buying and forcing them out.
Rev. Benoni Harris was, without doubt, the first to preach the gospel of Christ in this region of coun- try. He was an old man when he came to the county, but lived some years to do good as he had
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DE KALB COUNTY.
opportunity. He died at the grove, at the age of 84. Meetings were held at private houses until the erec- tion of school-houses, when services were held therein. Services were held at the house of Marcus Bartlett in the summer of 1845, Rev. Wmn. Atkinson, a young Congregational minister, officiating. He traveled a circuit of forty miles on foot for several months.
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