USA > Illinois > Ogle County > Sketches of the history of Ogle County, Ill., and the early settlement of the Northwest > Part 9
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"3d. Resolved, That as part of the people of the said Northwest Territory, we will not consent to an alteration of said line so as to place us under the jurisdiction of a State to. which we do not lawfully belong.
"4th. Resolved, That the lines as originally established by Congress in the 'ordinance for the government of the Northwestern Territory' are better suited to the geographical situation, and to the local interests of the said Territory than any others which can now be made.
"5th. Resolved, That we are decidedly op- posed to alter the lines as originally established so as to place any of the territory north of the 'line drawn through the southern extreme of Lake Michigan' within the jurisdiction of a State south of said line, without the consent of the people of the said Northwest Territory. "6th. Resolved, That it is expedient for the people now included in the State and residing north of a 'line drawn through the southerly extreme of Lake Michigan' to claim to be in- cluded in a State to be formed from the terri- tory north of said line,
"7th. Resolved, That it be recommended to the Legislature of Wisconsin to apply during the present session of Congress to be admitted into the Union, claiming as a southern boun- dary of the State 'a line drawn through the.
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
Doh zates sent to confer with the Wisconsin Authorities-Rockford Pilot-Boundary Meeting at Freeport.
southerly bend or extreme end of Lake Michi- gan,' and running due west to the Mississippi. "eth. Resolved, That the liberal appropriation of the Legislature of the State of Illinois for internal improvements within our district em- bracing that part of the Northwest Territory claimed by Illinois was made in good faith, and that we disclaim auy intention to absolve ourselves from any pecuniary responsibility created by the Legislature of Illinois for such purposes and hold sacred the legal obligations of the State.
' Ath. Resolved, That a committee of nine persons be appointed as delegates from this county to proceed to Maitison in the Territo- ry of Wisconsin, with full power to consult with the Governor and Legislature, or either of them, of said Territory, and to take such inca ures as in their opinion will most speedily and effectually obtain the object of this meet- ing.
"The resolutions having been read, were fally debated, and respectively adopted unan- imgesly.
"Agreenbly to the Ith resolve, a committee was appointed to nominate nine delegates to the Governor and Legislature of Wisconsin or either of them, who having retired for that purpose return ul with the following nomina- .ions, viz: W. W. Fuller, Dauphin Brown, Jo- sept 15. Henshaw, I miel Day, James Swan, Spooner Ruggles, Stopnel M. Mitt, Henry Hic- stan !, Augustis Austin.
"The above nomination having been submit- ted to the meeting, they were unanimously olocal as delegates with power to fill any v .- car i's that may wear in their number.
was unanimously voted that the pro- ". . tags of this meeting be signed by the Chairman and Beereiary, and published in the Virago American and democrat, thailand Goede, Rock River Register, Rockford Pilot, and the Madison, Wisconsin, papers. "DAUPHIN BROWN, Ch'm. BEPH B. HENSHAW, Sec'y. "Oregon City, Jan. 22, 1812."
No. 6 of the Register speaks of the Rockford Pilot, twenty miles up the river, as its nearest newspaper neighbor. The same paper publishes the proceed- ings of a meeting held at Oregon on the 22d of January, 1842, for the purpose of forming an "Ogle County Agricultural Society." Spooner Ruggles was Chair- man of the meeting, and D. II. T. Muss was Secretary. A constitution was adopted, H. Norton, Dr. A. Hurd and James B. Henshaw being the con mittee who drafted the document. In this issue are given some remarks made by Rev. T. S. Hitt, at the consecration of Mt. Morris Cemetery, February 2, 1842, and a list of the letters remaining in the Post-Office at Mt. Morris, January 31, 1842, signed by John Sharp, P. M. This list contains thirteen names !
In the Register of February 26th, 1842, is a notice sigued " Many Citizens," to , the efect that a petition would be pre- Mented- to the Legislature for a division of the county by Rock River, north and south.
The same paper contains the procced- ings of a meeting of the citizens of Ste- phonson county, at MePowell & Stone- man's, in Freeport, on the 19th of the can't month, " for the purpose of consid- ering upon the best incasares to be alopted by the inhabitants on what is commonly called the . disputed territory,' for the assertion and maintenance of the rightsguaranteed to them by the ordinance of 1787. The meeting was called to order by O. W. Brewster, Erq., and on his mo- tion, Maj. John Howe was chosen Chair- man, and George Reitzell, Secretary.'
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
Report of the Delegates sent to Wisconsin-Removal of the Register to Grand Detour-Grand Detour in 1842.
This meeting was addressed by M. P. Sweet and O. H. Wright, and passed a resolution recommending that an election be held on the 5th of March, to decide whether or not the people in the proposed territory were desirous of forming an independent State. Judges of election were appointed for the several precincts, who were to make returns to the County Central Committee.
The question of boundary agitated the people of this section for many years, en- tering into their political conflicts and ex- ercising an important influence. Many of the old settlers, to this day, condemn the act which fixed the present boundary line. The grounds of complaint are pretty well set forth in the preamble and resolutions adopted at Oregon.
On the 26th of February, another mect- ing was held at Oregon, to hear the report of the Committee sent to Wisconsin to con- fer with the authorities of that Territory. The Committee reported that they had received assurances of the earnest co-ope- ration of Gov. Doty and the Legislature, who recommended that a census of the several counties in the " disputed terri- tory" be taken, with a view to the pre- sentation of a petition to Congress for the formation of a new State.
Subsequent issues give reports of "Boundary Meetings" in various parts of Northern Illinois, showing the feeling to be deep and wide-spread.
No. 12 of the Register bears the names of Knodle & Stephens as publishers, and announces the death of the Editor, Eman- uel Knodle, in the 32d year of his age.
On the 10th of July, the Register
abandoned its neutral position and hoisted the Whig flag, headed with the name of Joseph Duncan for Governor, in opposi- tion to Thomas Ford, the Democratic candidate, and denounced Judge Ford as "a Northern man with Southern princi- ples," inasmuch as he was opposed to re- moving the northern boundary of Illinois.
The issue for September 16 is dated at Grand Detour, to which place it was re- moved on account of the mail arrangements -the mail at Mt. Morris " being reduced to a weekly horseback."
On the 7th of October, the paper was dressed in mourning, on account of the death of D. C. Dunbar, its Editor, aged twenty-eight years.
In the issue for October 14, the Editor writes of "Our Village," (Grand Detour.) After boasting of the healthiness of the place and the energy of its citizens, he says :
"We have two stores, one of which has sold upwards of thirty thousand dollars' worth of goods the past season, and furnished a market for a large quantity of wheat, pork and other produce, and a third to be filled in two weeks. One. good hotel; two blacksmith shops; one plow factory, tin shop, cigar factory, one painter and glazier, two coopers and two car- penter shops, two shoemakers, cabinet shop, broom factory, one wheelwright and wagon- maker's shop, one turning shop for both wood and iron, one tailor, one physician, de .; one grist and flouring mill, which turns out for ez- port from six to eight thousand barrels of flour per year: one sawmill, and one printing press. Water-wheels are now being put down for pro- pelling a carding and cloth-dressing machine, and the manufacture of cloth.
" In addition, our water power, which is al- ready sufficient for present purposes, can be
1
64
HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
Oregon-Northern Illinois-Statistics of Ogle County-Winnebago Forum-Grand Detour Manufacturing Company.
improved to any extent, and will be another sea- son. We know of no town where mechanics are better patronized than here, and there is still room for more, and their work is much needed."
The next number announces the death of the Rockford Pilot and the dying con- dition of the Chicago American.
The article on Grand Detour seems to have aroused a citizen of Oregon, for on the 28th of October appeared an article "puffing" that town. The writer gives the following business statistics of the place : "One clock and watchmaker, one saddler and harness maker, three carpen- ters, two cabinet makers, two painters and glaziers, one turner, one wheelwright, two masons and plasterers, two shoe- makers, one blacksmith, one chair maker, three tailors, ten barber=, two stores," one grocery, two taverns, and six attorneys at law."
Nearly a month later, we find an arti- cle boasting of Northern Illinois, and set- ting forth its capacities and advantages. In this article is a statement that from June, 1841, to November, 1842, the set- tlers in this vicinity had paid at the Land office in Dixon, about $280,000-show- ing a rapid progress, as the settlement of this section had commenced only five or six years before.
The Register for December 9 gives the following statistics of Ogle county, which may be well compared with those of the present day :
"We have seventeen saw-mills, two Distil- leries, one Seminary of learning, sixteen School Houses and places of public worship, ten Stores. The estimated quantity of wheat raised the present year from three hundred and
fifty to four hundred thousand bushels to say nothing of other grain, pork, beef, &c. The amount of money paid into the Land Office within the last year, by our actual settlers, is not far from $100,000.
"In addition to the River timber, which extends from one end of the county to the other, on either side of the River there are twenty-one groves, containing from one-half to six sections, or from three hundred and fifty to three thousand eight hundred and forty acres of timber each ; and so distributed over the whole as to accommodate every township in the county (which embraces twenty-one town- ships) at ninety-eight sections, or 62720 acres, (which we believe is too low from the informa- tion we have been able to obtain, ) and distri- buted as it is, it places nearly every quarter section of prairie within reasonable distance of timber, which will give about one acre of timber to every six of prairie. We designed to say something of our villages, which are seven in number, but want of room prevents us this week. The rapid growth and settle- ment of our county is undoubtedly without a parallel in the history of the settlement of any conntry in the world."
The first number of the second volume is dated Jaunary 27, 1843, showing that omissions had been made during the pre- vious year. It also purports to be "pub- lished by the Proprietors," but does not inform us who the proprietors are.
In February, we find a notice of the Winnebago Forum, a new Whig paper then recently started at Rockford. If our memory serves us correctly, the Fo- rum was the immediate predecessor of one of the papers now published in that city.
In the latter part of March, we find an act ino rporating Solon Comins, Wil- liam G. Dana and Willard A. House, and
65
HISTORY OF UGLE COUNTY.
Change of Proprietors-The Illinois Tribune-County Division-Colonizing Buffalo Grove.
their associates and successors, as the " Grand Detour Manufacturing Com- pany," with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars.
On the 10th of May, the names of Charles II. Lamb and A. G. Henderson appear in the paper as proprietors. In July, Mr. Henderson withdrew from the concern, leaving Mr. Lamb in sole charge.
No. 26, Vol. 2, of the Register, dated August 25, 1843, is the last one we can find. No notice is given of its suspen- sion, and we are at a loss to know how much longer it survived-probably, how- ever, but a short time.
We have before us No. 7, Vol. 1, of the Illinois Tribune, dated at Grand Detour, . December 26, 1844, and published by John W. Sweetland. As this is the only number we have been able to obtain, we can give no further intelligence con- cerning it. From its typographical ap- pearance, we should suppose it to be the Register's successor. It contains a notice of the marriage, on the 19th of that month, by Rev. D. J. Pinckney, of Henry A. Mix to Miss Catherine J. Bennett.
In looking over the files of the Rock River Register, we have found a great many matters which would be of interest if republished at this time, but our limits forbid our copying them.
[NOTE .- The statement on page 51. that the county seat was located at Dixon, is somewhat erroneous. The first Circuit Court was held there by direction of the County Commissioners, they having the power to direct where the courts should be held. The struggle on the question of a division of the county, in 1838-9, was 7
animated and bitter. Petitions and re- monstrances were the order of the day, and much ill feeling was engendered, which has not even yet died out. As many of those taking part in the struggle are still living, we prefer to leave the matter here, without "raking up" any old feuds. ]
CHAPTER XIV.
In 1835, George R. Webster and Ste- phen Hull settled in this vicinity. Sev- eral of Mr. Webster's relatives have since settled here, and the family is now quite numerous. Mr. Hull left a large number of daughters. but no sons. The daugh- ters are nearly all married, and now liv- ing in this vicinity.
In 1835, John Waterbury and Solo- mon Shaver came to this section to look out a place for settlement. In the fol- lowing year, they, with six other fami- lies-those of Wm. Wamsley, Wm. Nich- ols, B. Beardsley, Duncan Grant, Abram Schryver and Thos. Worden-numbering in all seventy-two souls, left Delaware county, N. Y., and came to Buffalo Grove, where they settled. They performed the entire journey with wagons, and were seven weeks and two days on the route, and did not sleep in a house from the time of leaving home till they reached this point. With the exception of Mr. Beardsley, now a resident of Iowa, they are all still living in the vicinity of Polo. Since their arrival, four cther families of Waterburys have settled here. In point of numbers, the Waterburys, with their
66
HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
First Frame Buildings in Buffalo Grove-First Blacksmith's Anvil-Claim Difficulties-Amusing Fight.
family connections, exceed any other family in this section.
The first frame dwelling in Buffalo Grove was erected by Wm. Merritt, in 1836. This building now stands near Hon. Z. Aplington's new residence, at the north end of the town of Polo. The first frame building was a store built by John D. Stevenson, who brought the first stock of goods in this section, in 1835. In 1836, Messrs. Wales, Hunn & Co. brought another stock in here.
The first blacksmith's anvilever used in the Rock River country is now in the possession of Hon. Z. Aplington of Polo, himself a blacksmith, to whom it was presented by the venerable John Dixon.
The settlement of the country pro. gressed but slowly from 1837 to 1846. The land sales ocentred in 1842-3, and nearly all the money in circulation was paid out for land. Men were selected to bid off whole townships for the settlers, and had anybody bid over $1.25 per acre, they would have been in imminent danger of being shot by the pioneers.
The carly settlers had much difficulty with their claims. The claims were made by each one's staking out such land as he wanted-as the land was not yet in market. A claim committee was elected, regulations adopted for the government of the settlers, the clerk of the commit- tee keeping a record of the different claims made. The Government had sur- veyed the land into townships, and the people subdivided it for themselves. The first committee clerk was William Hling- worth, who was suecceded by Zenas Ap- lington. The claim committee were often
called upon to remove men who had "jumped" claims. An old settler re- lates an amusing story of a claim fight be- tween V. A. Bogue and F. Cushman on one side and H. Wales and O. W. Kel- logg on the other side. Bogue and Cush- man had drawn a lot of rails to the "dis- puted territory," intending to fence the land and thereby secure its possession. Learning that this had been done, Wales and Kellogg proceeded to remove the rails, Kellogg carrying with him a "shil- lalah." While they were loading up, Bogue and Cushman arrived at the scene of operation. Bogue commenced throw- ing the rails off the wagon, while Cush- man "pitched into" Kellogg and knocked him down. Wales took up the reins and. started on a run with his team, Bogue fol- lowing and throwing off the rails as fast as he could. Kellogg, as soon as he was knocked down, promised to leave the premises if he should be left alone. He started for his eoat, which was lying on the grass near by, beside which lay his shillalah. Picking it up, he gave Cush- man a sound rap over the back. Cush- man then ran to a pile of rails, and by flourishing a huge rail about Kellogg, ended the fight. The quarrel about the claim was finally settled by arbitration.
At the first session of the Legislature held after Lee county was separated from Ogle, a half range of towns was taken from Carroll county and added to Ogle county on the west.
Work on the Illinois Central Railroad was commenced in this county in 1852. As the work progressed, and the prospect of its being finished became a certainty,
67
HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
Illinois Central Railroad-Incorporation of Polo-Its Newspapers-Business Establishments, Churches, &c.
business in this section began to improve at a rapid rate. Zenas Aplington was the contractor for the eight miles beginning one mile south of Polo and extending seven miles north. In January, 1855, when the Railroad was completed, there were but five or six buildings in the pres- ent town of Polo. From that time to this, the town has continued to increase rap- idly in population and importance.
In the month of October, 1856, the Polo Sentinel, the first Democratic news- paper printed in Ogle county, was com- menced by F. O. Austin. It lived, how- ever, but about three months.
In the winter of 1856-7, the Legisla- ture passed an act incorporating the town. The first Board of Trustees consisted of J. B. More, S. E. Treat, Z. Aplingtou, G. R. Webster and George Swingley.
Hon. Z. Aplington, in 1854, was the owner of the principal part of the town. and he it was who gave it its present name, in honor of Marco Polo, the Veni- tian traveler. The name has at least one important advantage, in that there is not another town of the same name in the United States.
In , June, 1857, the Polo Transcript was started by Chas. Meigs, Jr., who con- tinued its publication until about the Ist of April, when the materials were pur- chased by the proprietor of the PoLo ADVERTISER. On the 14th of April, 1858, was issued the first copy of the Ogle County Banner, R. P. Redfield, Publisher for a joint stock company. Ou the 6th of May, the first number of the ADVERTISER* was issued, since which
time its publication has been continued without intermission. In January, '59, Mr. Redfield purchased the Banner office, and at once enlarged the paper. It is a matter of no small credit to Polo that she supports her two newspapers, and sup- ports them well.
There are now in Polo two printing- offices and newspapers, three hotels, nine grain dealers, seven dry-goods stores, two drug and book stores, two hardware stores, two millinery stores, one melodcon fac- torv, one wind grist-mill, one steam planing mill, three blacksmith shops, two bakeries, fifteen carpenters, four shoe shops, three lawyers, two coal yards, one wagon factory, one wood turner, three tailors, one cooper shop, three harness shops, one tin shop, one paint and oil store, two painters, two dentists, four practicing physicians, one furniture roon: and cabinet shop, four lumber yards.
In 1857, a large and commodios ( cs- byterian Church was erected at a cost of about $10,000. It has a basement whi li is used for the purpose of a lecture r. m. The upper part is capable of seating five hundred persons, The building is made of brick, and is one of the first things to strike the eye in approaching the town. Rev. William E. Holyoke is the present Pastor. In June, 1858, a parish was or- ganized under the canons of the Protest- ant Episcopal Church, and called Trinity Church. It is the design of the Vestry to erect a handsome and commodious church edifice during the coming sum- mer. At present they have regular, ser- vices at Union. Hall. Rev. Charles J. Todd is Rector of the parish. The
*See advertisement on second page of cover.
68
HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
Secret Societies-Young Men's Association-Educational-Population-Manufactures.
Methodists have a church edifice at Buffalo Grove, and hold services on alter- nate Sabbaths at the school-house in Polo. Rev. S. F. Denning is their Pas- tor. Besides these, the Unitarians have occasional services at Union Hall. The Methodists, Episcopalians and Presby- terians maintain large and thriving Sab- bath Schools.
There are laige and flourishing Lodges of Odd Fellow , Good Templars and Free Masons. The first-n med hold their meetings at their own Hall on Franklin street-said to be one of the finest in the State. The Good Templars and Masons hold their services in Union Hall.
Among other advantages possessed by Polo we must not fail to notice its Young Men's Association. The Association has been formed but a short time, but has already acquired a library of about one hundred volumes, to which it is making large additions. The number of members is respectable, and constantly on the in- crease.
There are now two free schools in oper- ation, and the project of a graded school is being agitated with a fair prospect of success. As the town grows, educational facilities must and will keep pace with progress in other respects.
The population of Polo is now estima- ted at from seventeen hundred to two thousand. It is the commercial center of a large extent of territory, drawing a heavy trade from more than one-half of Carroll county on the west, and from a large share of Oglo county on the cast. We know of one house alone whose cash receipts amount to over fifty thousand
dollars per annum. The business of Polo is well "backed up" by the sur- rounding country, an evidence of which is found in the fact that there is no sta- tion on the Illinois Central Railroad which ships a larger amount of grain in each year.
The manufactures of Polo are just in their infancy. During the year 1858, Messrs. Goodwillie, Jimmerson & Cairns erected a large steam planing mill and sash, door and blind factory, at a cost of $4,000. In the fall, F. O. Wilder com- menced the manufacture of melodeons, pianos and harmoniums, and continues to increase his business at a fair rate. Messrs. Geo. Huntley & Co. are soon to commence the manufacture of R. K. Frisbee's pat- ent broadcast sower and drill combined. There is no place in the West where a manufactory of agricultural implements will pay better than in Polo. An im- mense number of implements are sold here each year, which could be as cheaply manufactured here as elsewhere. We have no doubt our citizens would furnish a large amount of "material aid" to any such enterprise. Coal is easily obtained, timber can be procured near by, while provisions and labor can be had much more cheaply than in the large cities. A woolen factory is much needed here, and would prove a profitable enterprise to any one who might engage in it.
Building materials are plentiful and cheap. There are four stone quarries in the vicinity, from which is taken first-rate blne and gray limestone. Pine lumber comes from Chicago, and is sold in Polo at low rates.
69
HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
Township Organization-First White Man in Grand Detour-Hydraulic Company-P'low Manufacturing.
The township organization law was adopted in this county in 1849, when the County Commissioners went out of office and the control of affairs passed into the hands of the Board of Supervi- sors. The last Board of Commissioners consisted of Wm. Wamsley, Willard P. Flagg and S. W. Coffman. 'Zenas Ap- lington was elected chairman of the first Board of Supervisors.
Leonard Andrus was the first white man who set his foot upon the site of the pres- ent town of Grand Detour. He traveled up the river from Dixon, in a canoe, in 1835, and made a claim at Grand Detour in the following year. In that year, Mr. Andrus and W. A. House brought their families to that place. William G, Dana, Amos Bosworth and some others arrived in 1836. The name Grand Detour signi- fies Great Bend. Roek River forms here, we believe, the largest bend to be found anywhere between its source and its mouth.
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