USA > Illinois > Lee County > Recollections of the pioneers of Lee County [Illinois] > Part 18
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She was an exceedingly interesting conversationalist a keen observer, and intelligent upon almost any subject, and very kind and sociable with the children and youth, for whom she always had a word of encourage- ment.
But the crowning glory of Mrs. Dixon's character was her deep, fervent,
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unaffected piety. No one could speak disrespectfully of Our Savior or His cause in her presence.
"Whose I am and whom I serve," was what she had to say of Christ; and she lived it out. Her influence was most salutary. In her own home she conducted family worship, Mrs. Dixon being a silent worshipper.
It is a remarkable fact that during the time they resided on the farm west of Dixon, now owned by the Dr. Everett estate, every farm hand who resided with them was converted and gave himself to the Saviour.
Mrs. Dixon was the mother of twelve children, all of whom, except three, she outlived. One by one they were taken from her to the Father's home on high. Yet she never lost her faith, nor murmered or complain- ed. By God's grace she was able to say, "the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
Sickness and her great afflictions so undermined her health that she was obliged to retire from active service and "be laid aside." On the ninth day of February, 1847, she died at the age of fifty-eight years, in the full triumphs of faith, and in the hope of blessed resurrection.
Dixon has been blessed in the lives of many other noble women, among whom were Mrs. John Richards, Mrs. Keizia Law, Mrs. Thummell, Mrs. Dr. Gardner, Mrs. Erastus De Wolf, Mrs. Harvey Morgan and many others, of whom their pastors could well say, "those women who labored with me in the gospel," as Paul said of the Phillipian women. All these died in the faith and left behind them precious memories. Would that some abler pen than mine might write fitting sketches of their lives.
I have written what I have, that the memory of the virtues which shone more conspicuously in the life of Mrs. Dixon might not be over- shadowed and lost sight of in this fast age in which we are living.
MR. AND MRS. J. T. LITTLE.
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The Pioneer Women of Dixon. -
T HE following brief notes concerning some of the pioneer women of Dixon who came here prior to 1840 (with incidental mention of some
of the pioneer men not elsewhere noticed in this volume) are not in the nature of personal recollections of the writer. But as one of the youngest of the second generation of the very early settlers in this com- munity, she has enjoyed the advantage of the family narratives of those far-fled days. In addition to this, the notes here presented are largely the reported recollections of the oldest settler of Dixon now residing in this city, whose memory reproduces with singular fidelity many scenes from that pioneer life since tirst, in 1836, as a girl of 13, she saw the waters of the beautiful Rock River, by whose side she has now lived for fifty-seven years. The simple story of her early experiences at Dixon's Ferry will serve as a natural nucleus about which to group the few rem- iniscenses herein narrated.
Her parents, John and Ann Richards, were English settlers at To- ronto, Canada. Being possessed of some means, and being further deceived by the alluring reports that reached them of the opportunities and advancement of the great west, they resolved to remove thither. Accordingly Mr. Richards and his family voyaged by the Great Lakes from Buffalo to Chicago, and then, after a brief stay at Chicago, which gave no promise of the greatness and magnificence which now make it a titting place for the display of four centuries of the triumphs of the new world, our travelers set forth for Dixon, their objective point, whose natural beauty was already far famed. Their trip was accomplished in four days and a half, in the customary prairie schooners-the Pullman sleeping cars of those more leisurely days. Upon arriving at Dixon's Ferry Sept. 1, 1836, Mrs. Richards asked why the wagons stopped, and upon being told they were at their destination said, "But where's the town?" Perhaps the surprise was justified, for there were then, count- ing every sort of structure, but eleven buildings in all. Two of these were general stores, so that, considering all things, the ladies of those
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days could not complain that their shopping privileges were abridged, or that there was any monopoly in the sale of "the latest."
One of these stores, that of Messrs. Hamilton & Covell, was kept in the old log house of Father Dixon, at the corner of First street and Peoria avenue. The rival store stood on the north bank of the river near what is now the end of the railroad bridge, and was conducted by Mr. Geo. A. Martin.
But, to increase the misery of the situation for Mrs. Richards, her baby, eighteen months old, had been taken ill on the way from Chicago, and just one week after reaching Dixon died. No coffin could be procured at that early day, and the best that could be done was to get Mr. Tal- mage, a carpenter from Buffalo, to saw boards for one and cover it with cloth. While Mr. Talmage was thus employed Dr. Everett first entered Dixon after his visit to Princeton. The grave of this baby was the third in Oakwood Cemetery. Singularly enough these first three graves were made during the same week. The first person buried in Dixon was a Mr. Lefferty, who had died from an illness consequent upon his swim- ming across Leaf River; the second was a Mr. Manning.
As soon as possible Mr. Richards built himself a frame house on his farm on the river three miles north of Dixon, and immediately above Hazelwood, which had not as yet been built upon by Gov. Charter. A part of the lumber for Mr. Richard's house was hauled from Freeport. Only the ruined cellar wall now remains to show the location of this early home. Here-in 1837-Gov. Ford spent several days on his way from Vandalia, then capital of the state, being delayed from proceeding by the swollen condition of the Seven Mile Branch. In order to obtain water more conveniently, Mr. Richards soon moved across the river and located on the Grand Detour road, when he became the nearest neighbor of the late Joseph Crawford.
At the home of Mr. and Mrs. Richards, who were earnest Christians and members of the first Methodist class organized in Dixon (1837), the warmest hospitality was always extended, and many were the Methodist ministers, on their way to the then famous school at Mt. Morris, who shared their entertainment.
Mr. Richards died June, 1852, leaving his wife and five children sur- viving. At this time his two sons, James and William, were absent in California, and one week before his death his daughter Mary had been married to Thaddeus D. Boardman. His wife, who removed the same year to Dixon and there died in 1877, long before her death had been familiarly and lovingly known as "Mother Richards."
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During her declining years she was tenderly cared for by her oldest daughter, Sarah, who remained unmarried, and who also devoted herself unselfishly to the care of the motherless children of her twosisters. Miss Richards now resides with the writer, her youngest niece, and, as above stated, is the oldest settler of Dixon now living here ..
Upon Mr. Richard's coming to Dixon, he found but ten families, those of Father Dixon, James Dixon, E. W. Covell, Saml. McClure, Caleb Tal- mage, Geo. A. Martin, J. W. Hamilton, James B. Barr, E. W. Hines and Alexander Irvine. The latter gentleinan had previously been one of Mr. Richards' pastors at Toronto, though he never joined an Illinois Confer- ence. His daughter was engaged to be married to the Mr. Lefferty, whose sad death has been spoken of above as the first at Dixon's Ferry.
An eloquent tribute to Mother Dixon is elsewhere paid in this volume and but little need be added here. A custom of her's, whose influence upon the frontier life of the little settlement can never be measured, was that of opening her house for preaching services whenever a minister happened to be in the community. That none might miss the then rare ' privilege of hearing a sermon, she sent her conveyance throughout the settlement'and the surrounding country to bring the people to her home then located near the present site of the C. & N. W. depot. This she ยท continued to do until 1837, when a school house was built just west of the cemetery. Worship was then conducted in this school house, which sub- sequently "wandered" down to Ottawa street, and from thence to Main street at about the site of Anstin Bros.' store, where it "evolved into a grocery and saloon and was finally burned in 1859.
Previous to the building of this school house Mother Dixon's house had been used for the first school also, and but for her efforts the school house might never have been built. The men of Dixon had started a subscription to raise money for a school house, but gave up in despair before a sufficient sum had been subscribed. With energy and determi- nation which must have put to shame the easily discouraged men, Mother Dixon took up the work and accomplished it. To her belongs the credit of getting built not only this school house, but also the first Bap- tist Church in Dixon. To raise the funds to build the church she went with her own horse and buggy from Dixon to Galena, collecting the money along the way.
Mrs. James P. Dixon was formerly Miss Fannie Reed of Buffalo Grove. She was married to Mother Dixon's oldest son in 1834 and lived on Main street about half a block east of Galena. There - June 30th, 1836-the first white baby in Dixon was born, and little Henrietta Dixon,
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we may be sure, was an object of great interest to the entire community, for all hastened to pay their respects to the little pioneer. She was mar- ried in 1860 to William H. Richards and now resides at Moline, Ill. Her, mother, the oldest settler of Dixon now living, spends a portion of her time at Moline, and the remainder in Dixon with her son Hon. Sherwood Dixon, and her daughter, Mrs. Wm. Barge.
The families of Mr. Covell and Mr. Irvine removed from Dixon as early as 1837.
In May of 1837 Samuel M. Bowman, a cousin of Senior Bishop Thomas Bowman of the M. E. Church, came from Pennsylvania with his gifted and beautiful young wife. Mr. Bowman and his wife's brother, Isaac S. Boardman, who came west with them, opened at the corner of Galena and Water street the first dry goods store in Dixon, which was then the best between Chicago and Galena. Their goods were brought from Phil- adelphia and Pittsburgh by way of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers as far as Fulton or Savanna and from thence by wagon overland, or by flat- boat up the Rock River to Dixon.
Mrs. Bowman was at this time only nineteen years old. She had been carefully educated at Cazenovia Seminary, New York, and was by nature and training well fitted for the exacting social position she was in later years called upon to fill. Although most tenderly nurtured, she entered upon her pioneer life with the courage, common sense and energy which ever characterized her. At first she lived in a part of the building occu- pied by her husband as a store. Subsequently Mr. Bowman built the residence now owned by Mr. Asa Judd, and known as "Maple Hill" from the beautiful trees then planted by Mr. Bowman.
Mrs. Bowman, although always a Presbyterian, became a member of the first Methodist class organized in Dixon, in 1837, of which her hus- band was the leader.
Mr. Bowman during his stay in Dixon was a frequent contributor to various magazines, and gave evidences of a literary talent which was afterwards utilized in a work on European travels and also as the chosen historian of the campaign of his friend and neighbor of many years, Gen. Wm. T. Sherman.
Being unsuccessful as a merchant, Mr. Bowman studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1843. Meanwhile he took a contract for and erected the present Court House at Dixon. He then removed to St. Louis and engaged in the practice of law there, at San Francisco, Baltimore and Kansas City. During the war he attained to the high rank of brevet Major General.
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Mrs. Bowman spent much time in Europe for her health, and traveled there for a considerable time with her friend, Mrs. Gen. Lew Wallace, wife of the gifted author of "Ben Hur." She died at Kansas City in 1885, having survived her husband just ten weeks. Gen. Sherman pronounced the closing eulogy over the remains of Gen. Bowman, his friend and companion of thirty-five years.
Isaac Boardman, who was for many years county clerk, circuit clerk, and editor of the Dixon Telegraph, was married to Father Dixon's daughter Mary in 1841, who died ten years later. Mr. Boardman died in 1885.
In 1839 came Thaddeus D. Boardman aud Rev. W. E. Boardman, the brothers of Mrs. Bowman and Isaac Boardman,
Thaddeus D. Boardman, as has been said, was married to Mary, daughter of John Richards. They built and occupied the old stone house recently demolished by Mr. J. V. Thomas. After the death, in 1862, of his first wife, Mr. Boardman was married to her sister Jane, the mother of the writer, who in 1872, in her infancy, was deprived by death of that mother's care.
Mr. Boardman will be remembered by many with respect for his sin- cere christian life and for the constant warfare he carried on against intemperance and other evils, while his simple trust in the honesty of human nature caused him to be often imposed upon by those on whom he relied, to his serious financial loss. His death occurred at Chicago in 1886.
Rev. W. E. Boardman and wife resided in Dixon less than a year. During the war he was secretary of the great Christian Commission, and afterwards became a leading Presbyterian divine and evangelist, both in America and Europe. His later years were spent in London, where his wife now resides. Rev. Boardman and wife are best known as the authors of a number of widely read religious works.
Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Talmage lived on what is now the R. B. Fargo farm, and were also meinbers of the first Methodist class. Mrs. Talmage was from Buffalo, and is remembered as a quiet woman of strong domes- tic tastes. She was a cousin of Bishop Chase, first Episcopal Bishop of this diocese. After Mr. Talmage's death she was married to a Col. Stev- enson, a near relative of Vice-President A. E. Stevenson. Her death occurred a few years ago.
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. A. Martin, who had come in 1834, soon returned to Kentucky, their old home, but again moved to Dixon, where they lived on the Drew farm on the Palmyra road.
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Mrs. J. W. Hamilton, the merchant's wife, died at Dixon early in the '40's.
"Aunt Rhoda," wife of Peter Mckinney, who came in 1836, was greatly adinired and respected by all with whom she came in contact.
Others who came to Dixon in 1837 were: Mr. and Mrs. Horace Benja- min, parents of Ed. Benjamin. Mrs. Benjamin subsequently was mar- ried to Aaron L. Porter, once sheriff of Lee county, and died in 1891. Miss Caroline Davis, who became Mrs. James Benjamin, mother of Mrs. Chas. H. Noble. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mckinney. the parents of Mrs. Libbie Wilbur (the second child born in Dixon) and Mrs. Chas. G. Smith. Mrs. McKinney was one of Dixons most loved and respected women and was familiarly known as "Auntie Fred." Her painful death from an accident occurred in 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Otis Loveland, and the daugh- ter of the former by a previous marriage, Miss Emiline Loveland, The latter soon married Smith Gilbraith, one of the most extensive owners of Dixon real estate of that day. After his death she was married to Mr. Seaman and both now reside in New York. She is an aunt of Mrs. H. E. Paine and Dr. H. J. Brooks.
The then very limited supply of marriageable ladies was at this time greatly increased by the arrival of the six Misses Clark from Canada. One of these was soon espoused by G. W. Chase, Lee County's first recorder. It is related of the latter that his wife and his family, being desirous of getting him to remove to the east with them, induced him to enter the coach to kiss his wife farewell, when Sheriff Porter slammed the door shut, and the husband, much loath to leave his beloved Dixon, was rapidly driven away.
During the previous year Stephen Fuller and wife, parents of Cham- pion Fuller, settled on the "Cave" farm two miles up the river, where the latter still resides. Mrs. Fuller was in delicate health and lived a very retired, quiet life. She was a member of the Baptist Church, of which Elder Cowell was the first minister in Dixon. Baptist and Metho- dist services were then held alternately in the old school house.
In the "Bend" of the river and on the prairie east of town, during the year 1837, there settled the families of Mr. and Mrs. James Sauter, Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Shellhammer and Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Hetler. Mrs. Sauter still lives in the Bend with her children. Mrs. Hetler, at the present time, has a home with her son Judd in the Bend. She is more than ninety years old and for several years has been totally blind.
Other arrivals in 1837 were David H. Birdsell and wife, from Albany, whose two daughters were married to Rev. Luke Hitchcock and Rev. O.
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F. Ayers. Mr. Birdsall succeeded James Dixon as postmaster, but soon removed to Lee Center, where Mrs. Birdsall died. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Brookner, both of whom, with their son, died during the great cholera epidemic in Dixon. Cyrus Williams and wife, whose daughter is now Mrs. Ira W. Lewis, wife of the present circuit clerk. Thomas McCabe and wife, who during the mining excitement removed to California, where they acquired considerable wealth.
Rev. James Depuy, who came in 1837, was the first Episcopal clergy- man settled in Dixon. He had a wife and one child. Father Dixon gave him the block now occupied by Messrs. J. V. Thomas and E. C. Parsons, and upon the foundation now covered by Mr. Parson's house Mr. Depuy built his little home. The house has been moved twice and is now owned by Mr. Kicken and stands on North Jefferson avenue. It is prob- ably the oldest house in North Dixon. Mr. Depuy had a well close to his back door and many years after Mr. Depuy's house was gone, the writer's only sister, when she was but four years old, fell into this well. Fortunately her father was close at hand at the time of the fall and immediately went to his daughter's rescue by letting himself down into the well in one of the buckets. The child the next day told the story thus: "Papa was a long time coming for me yesterday. When I went down I went heels over head and I made a great splash."
In the fall of 1837 Mr. David Law and daughter, Mrs. Mary McGinnis, came from New York. They were joined about six months later by Mrs. Law with her two sons, William and David (the present .Dr. D. H. Law of this city), and her three daughters, Grace, Bessie and Theodosia. Mrs. Law lived to be an hundred and two years old. She died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. McGinnis, in 1782. Although so very old she was ever a great reader and enjoved conversing on the news of the times, which she did most intelligently. She lived to see wonderful changes wrought around her and took a keen interest in them all. Her life was ever that of a devoted Christian. Mrs. McGinnis still lives on her farm a few miles down the river. A woman of great talents-she has sacrificed herself while she labored to relieve suffering and distress. She has been
"A flower born to blush unseen
And waste its sweetness on the desert air."
Bessie Law became, in 1845, the wife of our loved and honored Dr. Everett, and though less generally known than was her husband, she was equally beloved by those who were so favored as to know her. She died in 1881. Theodosia Law became the wife of Wm. Kennedy and removed to St. Paul, where she died in 1865.
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While all of Mrs. Law's daughters were very attractive, Miss Grace was so strikingly beautiful in her youth as to excite questions at Sabbath service as to who that beautiful young lady might be. The delicately molded features, golden curls and exquisite complexion made her exceed- ingly attractive. She chose to remain unmarried and lived here until her death in 1892. She showed much the same characteristics as her mother and has been called the "Personification of Industry."
The young ladies of this family with their very agreeable mother made their home a most delightful place to visit. They greatly enjoyed getting their friends in for a merry evening and their Halloween parties are well remembered events.
During the next year (1838) the number of familes in Dixon was greatly increased. Solon Crowell became associated with Mr. James Wilson (then an old bachelor, commonly called "Granny Wilson") in the management of Dixon's second hotel. "The Rock River House," the first hotel having been the "Western Hotel" erected in 1736. Mr. Crowell and wife later removed to Oregon and were the grandparents of Dr. Crowell and Mrs. Augustus Lord of this city. James N. Kerr and wife came to Dixon during this year. Mr. Kerr, with John Dixon, Jr., opened the first cabinet shop. His sister Eliza married Joseph Buckaloo and lived in the "Bend." Left a widow with six children, the eldest of whom was but twelve years old, Mrs. Buckaloo heroically set herself to the task of raising and supporting her family entirely by her own efforts. Her long and useful life was terminated in 1892. Three of her children, Thomas, George and Amanda, still reside in this community. John Lord and wife, parents of John L. Lord and Mrs. H. Kelsey, came also in 1838 from New Hampshire. Mr. Lord engaged in the blacksmithing business at Dixon, but his wife died soon after their arrival. Mr. and Mrs. John Moyer, parents of Jeremiah Moyer and Mrs. Swygart, came during this year, and resided at first on a farm east of Dixon. The Edson family, consisting of Charles Edson, his wife and children, Joseph, Epaphras, Eliphalet, Clinton, Harriet, Lucy and Elizabeth, settled upon the present Abram Brown farm, southeast of town. They were a very highly cultivated and much respected family, deserving of more extended mention than can be given here. Those surviving live near Yeeka, Cal.
Mr. Wm. Seward and wife. parents of Mrs. Wm. Peacock of this city, during this year bought Caleb Talmage's farm and moved upon it. David Welty, afterwards county judge, removed with his wife to Dixon in 1838. and afterwards for a time lived upon a farm near Walton. Charles Welty and Mrs, Leander Devine, of their children, still live in Lee
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County. Edward Perry and wife, who came this year, after a few years returned to Toronto, their former home. Mr. Perry was strict ,to the verge of Puritanism in his religions life. He and his wife were in the habit of spending that portion of the Sabbath left afterattending church at the home of their old friend, Mr. Richards, whose long-suffering fam- ily, which contained several young people, were obliged those long Sunday afternoons to patiently sit and listen to Mr. Perry's unmelodious voice while he read to them sermons of some early divine.
Miss Elizabeth Sherwoood came here from New York City in 1838 and was soon married to Mr. John P. Dixon, son of Father Dixon, who resided with her at her present home in North Dixon at the time of his death. This estimable lady, though of retiring disposition, is greatly loved by all who knew her. Her two children, Frank and Louise, now make their home with her.
The same year Dr. Everett brought here from Princeton his first wife, Emily Everett. He had just built a home on the present site of the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. N. Johnson, and there he took his young wife. Mrs. Evetett showed unusual talents and beauty of character, but she lived only about five years after coming to Dixon.
In February of 1837 Dr. Charles Gardner and Erastus DeWolf came here from Rhode Island and in the spring of '39 returned to stay. Dr, Gardner's family then consisted of his wife and two years' old daughter now Mrs. James A. Hawley. Their home was about six miles out on the Chicago road, and Dr. Gardner practiced medicine throughout the sur- rounding country. Mrs. Gardner was a most intelligent and enterprising woman who is remembered by her neighbors and friends with pure love and respect. Increased acquaintance with her brought increased esteem. Her surviving friends are strongly reminded of this true woman, by her daughters, Mrs. James A. Hawley and Mrs. E. C. Smith, who resemble their mother both in looks and characteristics. Mrs. Gardner died in 1878.
Mrs. De Wolf was Mrs. Gardner's aunt and was a woman of noble qualities. She was the mother of Rev. Wm. DeWolf, who was so well known in Dixon. Her death occurred in 1851.
Rev. Luke Hitchcock and Rev. O. F. Ayres, who married, as has been said, the two daughters of Mr. Birdsall, were among those who first came to Dixon in 1839. The former was the first regular Methodist Episcopal pastor in this city, and afterwards attained to high offices in that de- nomination. He and his worthy wife pass the decline of their useful life at Chicago with their daughter, Mrs. Wilson. Rev. Ayers came from
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