USA > Illinois > Lee County > Recollections of the pioneers of Lee County [Illinois] > Part 40
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But in spite of his good advice the shanty was loaded on a wagon, good Aunt Rhoda given a seat, and the entire establishment moved off the claim to a spot where it is to be hoped they were able to "keep pos- session."
The second permanent settler was Charles Edson, who came in 1839 with his wife and family. There were five sons and three daughters, some of whom were born here and some in Pennsylvania.
They were a remarkably intellectual and interesting family, combin- ing graces of mind and heart with a kindness and benevolence that reached and touched all that came within their influence. Mrs. Edson was of that cheerful mirthful disposition that attracted the grave as well as the gay while her lovely character bound in the ties of a warm es-
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teem all who were thus attracted. A single reference will show her ready wit.
I remember that after she lost her teeth her chin inclined a little to- ward her nose, which seemed to appreciate the kindness in seeking a meeting, and I said to her, jokingly, "Your nose and chin will have a meeting some day." "Indeed," said she quickly, "I am not certain but they will, many words have already passed between them."
Mrs. Edson was left a widow before her children were fully grown, but their training was begun aright and it was her pride to say in her old age that "not one of them ever caused her a moment's shame or pain by any wrongdoing." They were all worthy men and women, noble in nature, honored by their fellow citizens and beloved by those who knew them best. To the day of her death in advanced age they showed the tender- est solicitude for their mother, and this slight tribute to her inestimable worth will find an echo in their hearts, as well as in many others.
The oldest daughter, Harriet, was married to Otis Eddy, but was soon bereft of her husband and infant daughter. She became a very "tower of strength" to all the family thereafter, and is to this day an ideal woman-practical, unostentatious, but noble in every sense. She went with her brothers across the plains to California when the gold fever broke out. Returning, after a few years, she again accompanied them to Pike's Peak on a summer trip made in the same way. When a younger brother lay at the point of death in a southern hospital during the war ' it was Harriet who went to him, cared for him, and brought him home.
The family went to California in the early '60's and have prospered there, as they well deserve, but with characteristic modesty they refuse to have the little town on a part of their property called "Edson," but instead have named it "Gazelle." It lies at, the foot of Mt. Shasta in Northern California, and it is a noteworthy fact that Mrs. Eddy was the first woman who ever ascended this beautiful peak. She made the ascent about 1854, and ten years later repeated the feat in company with her brothers and youngest sister, Libbie.
The other sister, Lucy, is well remembered by the carlier settlers of Dixon and vicinity as a talented musician, in addition to the same noble traits which characterized the rest of the family. Though a sufferer from a fracture of the hip joint which made a crutch necessary from childhood, she was as ready and cheerful as any, and no more delightful evenings were ever spent by the young people of that time than when they gathered at "the Edson's."
They built the house and barn now owned by the writer-one of the
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few of the original farm homes left on the prairie. They afterward removed to the place near the "Brick School House," which is often spoken of by their name. Their house is still standing, though no longer used as a dwelling.
Here Mr. Edson died, and here the sweet youngest daughter, Libbie, was born. As soon as their first home was inhabitable Mrs. Edson gave up her largest room for a school. This was the first in the vicinity, and very probably the best in the county. The teacher was a Miss Robinson, later a preceptress in Mt. Morris Seminary. She married Judge Fuller of Ogle county, and after his death Bowman Bacon, a nephew of Mrs. Jos. Crawford. She is the mother of Frank Bacon, who married Kizzie Kennedy-well known in Dixon.
Amoing the scholars beside Mrs. Edson's children were Mary Augusta Gardner, now Mrs. Hawley: William D'Wolf, the genial judge of later years; his brother Erastus: Wellington Davis, and Hannah Casterline, afterward his wife.
The superior schools in that district at a very early day were largely due to the influence of the Edson family, some of whom were its best teachers. Mr. Edson helped to build the first M. E. church of Dixon, of which his family were all devoted and useful members.
The next family which came here to make a home was that of James Campbell with his wife and two excellent, amiable daughters, Ophelia, now thie wife of Dr. Todd, of Worcester, Ohio, and Julia, who married Eugene Pinckney and died some years since. Mrs. Campbell was left a widow at an early age, and became the wife of Isaac Board- man and was well known and highly esteemed by the people of Dixon and vicinity.
Reuben Trobridge settled near the present town of Eldena, or rather his father did, and he afterward brought his pretty, young wife to the old homestead, where they reared a pleasant family. "Grandpa" Tro- bridge and his large family of boys have done much to add to the wealth and influence of Lee county; several of them-notably our present sub- ject, Reuben-have been devoted workers in the interest of our Sunday schools.
Hiram and Herman Mead came soon after, families of worth, whose children grew up to be useful, capable citizens and worthy members of society. Their brother, Alonzo Mead, settled in China township, but soon came to Dixon, where he and his family are well known, and his sons, J. C. and W. H. still reside.
Somewhat in contrast to these was a man by the name of Hammill,
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who brought with his family from the poor house of Buffalo, N. Y. The child was so shamefully treated that N. G. H. Morrill, the county poor master, (for, remember, this was long before there were many town or- ganizations, there being but four or five voting precincts in the county, not more than 150 voters), took her to his home in Dixon. Her pitiable condition excited the sympathy of the people at once. Her hair was dirty and matted, face unwashed, and what do you think she was clothed in? It was an old coffee sack with the corners cut off for arm holes, and a hole in the center of the bottom for her head, no underclothing, shoes or stockings.
Hammill prosecuted Mr. Morrill for kidnapping the child. When the case was called he was ready with his lawyer, whom many old settlers remember, Mckay by name. When they adjourned for dinner they went to the old "Western Hotel." Just as they were through dinner some men stepped up to Hammill with a kettle of hot tar, which they poured over his head and shoulders, the streams running down over his whole body; another shook over him a bag of feathers, and then they rolled him in the sand of the street. I shall never forget how he looked, lying there with closed eyes-I thought he was dead-but in a moment he opened one eye then the other, and seeing the men busy elsewhere, rolled over and springing to his feet ran to some bushes near, then for home. he was a laughable sight! On the principle that the "partaker is as bad as the thief" the men felt that his attorney deserved similar treatment and attempted to administer it, but the tar was too cold to run easily or to hold the feathers. He showed fight and came near killing one of the boys. The muzzle of his gun was knocked up by a bystander just in time. The kidnapping suit ended there, and so I think, did the career of Mr. Mckay in Dixon.
In an early day provisions, pork and flour were mostly brought from the southern portion of the state, also from Kentucky, Indiana and St. Louis, in large wagons with broad tires, high wheels and very high, long boxes, often 20 or 22 feet long. They made a track over a half wider than our common wagons. Drawn by three or four teams of horses or four to eight yokes of oxen, and carrying from sixty or eighty hundred pounds, they well deserved the name of "Prairie Schooners." They went in gangs of six or eight wagons, with several men on horseback to pilot them and help to avoid the sloughs. They sold their bacon at from 25 to 30cts. per pound, flour from 25 to 35 dollars per barrel.
A few years later, while the men were working at the abandoned track still discernible in places, of the Illinois Central railroad, some such
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traders would start from the southern part of the state, with large droves of hogs, carrying with them all the facilities for butchering-kettles for heating water, tubs for scalding, etc. ' When they came to a gang of men or to a village, they would sell, kill and prepare the meat for their cus- tomers. They carried their own corn, and gathered wood at the groves as they traveled, did their own cooking and were very independent. They lived chiefly on fried pork, coffee and "hoe cake," made of corn meal wet with water and baked on a board before the fire.
It is said that when the prop for the board failed to do its duty, they caste lots or played "high, low, jack," to see who should lie on his back and prop the board with his feet.
It would be a pleasure to add more particulars in regard to the early history of the pioneers of South Dixon, but as I cannot do so I trust what I have already given may add a little interest to your book.
ABRAM BROWN.
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1
Wolf Hunting Fifty Years Ago.
W HEN the prairies were almost bare-but few houses, trees and fences and no railroads to prevent a full sweep of the country- one of the favorite sports enjoyed by young and old fifty years ago was hunting wolves.
A party was first chosen to select an elevated point of land on which to place a high pole. A certain day was agreed upon on which. to have a general wolf hunt, and the men for miles around were notified.
They came from Inlet Grove, Franklin Grove, Grand Detour, The Bend, Dixon, Sterling, "Dad Joe's" Grove and East Grove and Palestine.
Early in the A. M. the hunters, with their guns and dogs, some on horseback and others on foot, start for the pole. Often on their way they would start up deer and game of all kinds, kill it and get it when they returned home at night. They all keep traveling toward the pole, making the ring smaller and smaller and the wolves more and more frightened as they find themselves surrounded and they try to break through the ring and escape, but as they go the hunters shoot at them and dogs and men and horses try to chase them down.
Finally when the men are within about a mile of the pole and all. the wolves either killed or escaped the day's sport sometimes ended with a race to the pole. As they reached the pole they 'frequently collided with such force as to knock each other down.
I remember at one hunt two horses ran against each other and one fell and rolled over his rider, but he jumped up apparently not much hurt. Among those whose faces were familiar at the various hunts were the Hales, Doans, Bainters, Dexters, Bliss, Badgers, Leakes, Patrick Nally's, Hausens, Wilsons, Gardners, and many others whom I cannot now recall.
On one occasion the pole was placed on what is now the writer's farm, then known as Harvey's Hill.
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I remember how I barely escaped being shot on that day. A wolf broke through the circle and Wilson shot at it, missed it and the bullet whizzed past, barely missing me.
R. TROWBRIDGE.
The Township of Sublette.
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MRS. DANIEL BAIRD.
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Charlotte B. Field.
C HARLOTTE B. FIELD was born February 27th, 1811, in West Brookfield, Mass .; December 20th, 1832, married Daniel Baird of Westborough, Mass. 1
They came west in 1836 and settled in Rockwell, La Salle county, and in 1839 moved to Lee county and settled on a farm near Palestine Grove, three miles distant from what is now the village of Sublette. He died March 26th, 1866, and she March 18th, 1890. Both lie at rest on the old homestead.
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MRS. S. L. HATCH.
Pioneer Mothers of Sublette
T HIS work of collecting matter of interest to the present generation concerning those brave pioneer women who between the years 1838 and 1846 laid the foundation for our present condition of comfort, culture and morality is attended with some difficulty, as most of those who took part in the activities of those years have passed into the world - beyond. And I the daughter of one of those mothers, born during those years, have but a shadowy memory of those days. And yet from mate- rial gathered from parents and friends I will try to prepare a chapter, which, although it may lack interest to the casual reader, will at least fill its niche in the "Lee County Columbian Book" as a tribute to our mothers.
The county at that time I believe had not been divided into townships · and what is now known as Sublette was then simply the settlement of Palestine Grove while our post office was at Inlet Grove, until about the last of this period, when a post office was established at the house of one of our neighbors, Mr. Daniel Baird, he being quite scholarly for those times.
No doubt the manner of living of our mothers was almost the counter- part of that of the pioneers of our sister towns. The educated woman turned the mill to winnow the grain which was to take its three or four days' journey to Chicago, to be exchanged for a pair of boots for father or a pair of shoes perhaps, for mother, some sugar, tea and coffee, calico, sufficient for a dress, a paper of pins, etc , and once, perhaps, within the recollection of the children, mother was so extravagant as to send for a bit of silk and ribbon, with which Mrs. Ingals, our oracle of fashion, was to shape a bonnet. I think however, that the styles of those days were mostly taken from the latest arrival from the far away "East."
The bride passed her honey moon on a floor of mother earth, with a blanket hung at the doorway to keep out the night wind, and a home- made table with some other as crude pieces of furniture were placed
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against it to keep out wild beasts, and the ax and pitchfork stood beside the bed of the lonely woman at night as a defense against man and beast, when her husband was away. Then there were all of those farm chores to be attended to during all of those six, seven, eight and sometimes nine or ten days' trip to Chicago. Six days was the shortest time, under the most favorable circumstances in which the journey could be made. Well do I remember the anxious watching for father to come. The sixth even- ing mother would occasionally say "hark children, I believe I hear the sound of a wagon" and yet scarcely expecting it to be the one listened for, but the seventh evening the supper would be prepared with quite a feeling of certainty that father would be there, and yet often mother would sit up late anxiously watching, and no father came, and as the eighth, or perhaps ninth day drew to a close mother would look at the little ones with an expression which in after years we remembered, and it told us plainly that she was thinking "perhaps my children are father- less," and yet mother's anxious face as she watched for father is not the only gloomy picture of those far off days that many whoread this through glasses will find hanging on memories wall. Many a little toddler in the pioneer cabin wandered about neglected and forlorn all day, while mother lay in bed sick with a terrible chill and the fever which always followed it, and at last sinking into a tired sleep at night, then waking in the darkness of the early morning to find her babies, who had crawled supperless to bed, on either side of her.
We have never heard that the mothers in those days had occasion to fight with wild beasts, but many a tale we have listened to of fighting with an equally unconquerable foe-a prairie fire-which in spite of every effort would sometimes devour every kind of grain, every spear of hay and the outbuildings, leaving a hungry herd of cattle with no visible means of support. The wives of that period must have watched and waited much of the time, for if the husband had occasion to grind his scythe the only stone in the vicinity was owned by his neighbor on the "other side of the grove," where Amboy is at present. And if a hole must be bored he probably had to go three or four miles to Mr. Ingals' to borrow an auger, and if Mr. Ingals was as good a talker then as now I will warrant the dinner spoiled. Borrowing saleratus, yeast cakes, etc., was no trifling matter then.
If Mrs. Baird wanted to make her little girl a dress and wished for Mrs. Hatch's pattern, she must put her babies in the wheel barrow and wheel them a mile across the prairie, and if Mrs. Hatch wanted Mrs. Baird's receipt for pickles, as she had no wheel barrow she would take her
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little ones as far as they were able to walk or she was able to carry them, then leave them by the fence corner, charging them not to stir from that spot, and to be very good children and at last telling them that she would stay but a few minutes. I have, however, a misty recollection of those same children wandering away in grass above their heads trying to find mamma.
Our houses were similar, usually the typical pioneer house of logs, varied slightly in design. Perhaps a corner for a pantry would be par- titioned with rough boards, and from the corner of that to the opposite wall would be drawn a curtain of some bright furniture calico forming a commodious alcove for the bed and the old time necessity for the child- ren-the trundle-bed. One family had besides the living room, a sort of lean-to, which was used for a bedroom, and it had a bonifide door of wood, instead of a curtain, and that bedroom was the envy of all the little folks in the community. It seemed the height of grandness to them.
Of course each year brought new arrivals from the eastern states, and frequently a little stranger came to stay to gladden the mother's heart; another one to love and to live for, another one to be educated, conse- quently with the toiling out of doors and indoors must be mingled the duties of teacher, and I must add that the progress of some of these lit- tle folks compared quite favorably with that of the little ones of the present time. At last, however, the great need of the community seemed to be a school house.
In the year 1843 a school house of logs was erected on the south side of Palestine Grove. Here for some years religious services were held, and attending these services might be seen Mrs. Jonathan Peterson with her little daughters; Mrs. Sylvanus Peterson and children; Mrs. Morton, a sister of the Petersons, and her little family; Mrs. Rodgers, her sister; Mrs. Ingals with her little brother and sister, to whom she was acting the mother's part; Mrs. Goodale, a sister of Mrs. Ingals; Mrs. Dr. Adams, a sister of Mr. Ingals; Mrs. Hatch with her two little girls: Mrs. Baird with her two; Mrs Hubbard with boys and girls; Mrs. John and Heze- kiah McKune, with little folks; and perhaps we might see the Mrs. Fessenden, who were among the early settlers. Then there were some bright young ladies, sisters and cousins of the Petersons, to take part in that society of the long ago. During this time a few families settled about Knox Grove, in the extreme eastern part of our town. Two fami- lies, the Pratts and Crawfords, became permanent settlers. Those brave
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mothers have passed away, but have left their children to go in and out among us as some of our best citizens.
There were but few persons here then approaching that much dreaded era in life after which we are called elderly. The parents of the Peterson family, Mrs. Eells, their aunt, and Mr. and Mrs. Ephraim Ren- iff, the mother and stepfather of Mr. Baird, were I think the only ones whose journey of life was in the decline.
Of those who ministered to our spiritual wants the first I believe was Elder Headley, who resided in or near Ottawa. He, I have no doubt, was instrumental in organizing the Baptist Church, which has been .spiritually the alma mater of most of those who have drifted out on the sea of life from Sublette. I have, too, a misty picture before me of one Mr. Hannum, a lay preacher, gathering with us around the family altar and putting up petitions to the "Heavenly Father" for our spiritual en- lightenment. Mr. Hannum lived on the old Chicago road some miles west of Lee Center. The older citizens of Lee county know that it is the road leading from Dixon on past the home of Dr. Chas. Gardner to Lee Center and still on eastward to our metropolis. These old landmarks are fast being obliterated, but this one at least we will preserve in the "Lee County Columbian Book."
As we, surrounded by modern conveniences and living in comparative ease and luxury turn to the picture of our mother's early life, as she crawled to a spring a quarter of a mile away for water to slake her fever- ish thirst, wondering the while whether she would live to get back to her little ones, we see nothing but sadness and gloom, yet there were bright spots in their lives.
The old folks talk of "those good old times," when hospitality abound- ed, and everyone was a neighbor, although miles away. They frequently exchanged friendly intercourse and partook of the mince pie made with slightly cooked potatoes, soaked in vinegar, which took the part of the missing apples, and the wild plums preserved in molasses, or the wild crab apples boiled, the core taken out and served with sugar and cream Then there were the cookies, with caraway seeds in them, too. We have no doubt the ladies then enjoyed the little social gatherings, around a quilt on the visit to the lady of the house, while the husbands assisted their neighbor to erect a barn or a stack of hay, quite as well as the ladies of our time enjoy the elaborate luncheon, or the five o'clock tea.
There were, no doubt, many interesting incidents in those days which would be well worth recording here but they have passed beyond the ken of mortals with those cherished mothers, those mothers who were then
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only taking up those burdens of life which grew heavier as the responsi- bility of a family to educate became more apparent, while the facilities for doing it scarcely kept pace with the physical development of the chil- dren.
The mother of that day was indeed a Spartan mother, and "her · children rise up and call her blessed."
HARRIET H. GARDNER.
1
The Township of Viofa.
Viofa.
W HAT is now known as Viola township was a part of Brooklyn till. 1861, when the voters met at the home of Moses VanCampen, and organized the new township. Abram VanCampen, was. clerk and Simeon Cole moderator; fifty-two votes were cast. The names proposed for the township were "Butler," "Elba" and "Eldorado." At a meeting of highway commissioners held a month later to lay out a divid- ing road, the name of Viola was given to the township, the others having been found to conflict with township names in other parts of the state.
A beautiful, natural grove in the southeast corner of the towuship, containing about 320 acres-now called "Little Melugin's Grove," in an early day was known as "Guthrie's Grove," for Wm. Guthrie, the flirst settler. "Big Melugin Grove," another natufal grove, partly in Brook- lyn township, one half, or more in Viola, is situated in the southwest corner, and named after another early settler, Zachariah Melugin.
The drainage is by wide, deep ditches, leading toward and through the Inlet swamp to Green river. The surface is rolling from two to ten miles east, and the same on the south, the balance flat.
W. Guthrie made the first settlement, at the extreme south of Little Melugin Grove, in 1834. Wagon roads ran anywhere to the nearest point over the then vast and open prairie.
Among the first white settlers about the Grove were also Dick Allen, J. Gilmore, W. Lawton, who sold to W. Little. After these many more came, among them being Evins Adrian, who was the first one married in Viola, to Mrs. Marilla Smith (formerly Marilla Goodale,) in October, 1840, she died in 1857.
The first death of an adult was Walter Little, [grandfather of ex- sheriff Walter Little. The first birth was in the family of W. Lawton, and this child died before Mr. Little.
The first school was kept in the house of M. VanCampen, for three
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terms. The first school house was built at Little Melugin Grove. There are now seven school buildings, and schools are held from six to nine months.
The women of the township, like all pioneers, endured privations and hardships which are unknown to us more fortunate ones of the present day. Undoubtedly, though, if they were here to tell their story, they would relate with beaming countenances, what happy days those were. They knew no difference in social standing, they were like sisters, every one ready to help another in trouble, or share a pleasure. In many a rude cabin or sod house there was greater content and purer happiness than in the handsome, modern "residence." Wood was plenty, and abundant fires made cheerful warmth and light for winter evenings.' Not unlike today, crops failed and seasons were sometimes unfavorable, but there was rarely any lack of food, they were hopeful and energetic, the dark days passed and brighter ones followed. The deer roamed at will where now comfortable or handsome dwellings and broad fields of grain dot the landscape.
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