USA > Illinois > Jo Daviess County > The History of Jo Daviess County, Illinois, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion history of the Northwest, history of Illinois Constitution of the United States > Part 61
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The first hotel built in the township was what was known as the One Mile House, and was on the stage route from Dixon to Galena. It was a little, low frame building, but has been enlarged and improved until it is a respectable dwelling house, and is occupied by a pioneer settler from Wisconsin, Mr. James Hood.
War Record .- There was no draft in this township. The people were too full of patriotism and love of the Union for that. One full company was raised and sent out to fight against treason and traitors. This company was made to forin a part of Hurlbut's Fifteenth Regiment, which was organized at Freeport, and mustered into the United States service May 24, 1861, and was the first regiment organized from the state for the three years' service. A full record of this regiment, and a brief history of the engagements in which it took part, will be found in another chapter, together with the names of the " brave boys " that Nora offered as a sacrifice for the cause of freedom and unity. Not only were the people liberal in their offer of volunteers, but of money as well, and, we are glad to be able to place within these pages the sum provided by the tax-payers, for the benefit of the soldiers and their families. These figures will be found in the War Record.
Village of Nora .- June 4, 1849, George B. Stanchfield and Samuel Stanch- field entered 320 acres of land in sections four and five. A part of this land is now occupied by the Village of Nora. The town site was laid out by George B. Stanchfield, John C. Gardner, County Surveyor. The plat was duly ac- knowledged before William C. Bostwick, County Judge, and Joseph Conlee. Associate Justice, June 20, 1853. Three additions have been made to the original plat, as follows : by Brigam, Binneson and the Illinois Central Railroad Company.
George B. Stanchfield built the first dwelling house, and Elijah Winslow the first store building, and kept the first store. The second store, but really the first in importance, was kept by a Mr. Leland. Mr. George B. Stanchfield is responsible for the story, that during the first Summer Leland kept this store, several barrels of eggs accumulated on his hands, because there was no market at which they could be sold. Some of the eggs rotted causing a bad odor to arise, when he hauled them out on the prairie in order to remove the stench, and where he might assort them at his leisure. Some little boys found the bar -. rels and opened them, and every day or two would bring eggs to Leland, who
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
readily bought them at from one to two sticks of candy per dozen. For some days there was a remarkably large supply of eggs, and Leland thinking he was driving a good bargain, took occasion one day to boast to Mr. Stanchfield, how cheap he was buying eggs from boys who purloined them from their parents. The offering of eggs continued until several bushels accumulated on Leland's hands, before the trick was discovered. The "joke " leaked out and the laugh was at Leland's expense. Leland had been buying his own rotten egg's.
The dry goods trade is represented by W. F. Rockey and G. W. Messick. Walter Stickney is a heavy dealer in grain whose annual shipments are very large.
Messrs. Young & Waddington represent the hardware trade.
J. H. Hines is the pioneer agricultural implement dealer, doing a business the first year of $1,000.00, which has increased to $8,000.00 per year.
Henry R. Lovin started the first meat market, with a capital of $50.00. He now pays out about $5,000.00 per year for stock for his market.
Walter L. Wasson represents the harness manufacturing business in a small way.
R. M. Rockey keeps the drug store and news depot. while A. Stevens and D. S. Farley are dealers in live stock, their aggregate business amounting to nearly $300,000.00 per year.
I. L. Cutler, M. D., is the physician.
Robert M. Wilson is the Village Blacksmith, and the present supervisor of the township.
Besides the above named business men and business houses, there are a large number of others-mechanics, etc .- who carry on business in a small way, but all of which goes to make Nora a village of no mean importance in a commer- cial sense.
RELIGIOUS .- The Nora M. E. Church is the outgrowth of the labors of Rev. James McKean, who came up from Vermilion County in 1835 by consent of the Illinois Conference. In the Fall of that year he organized a class at Waddam's Grove, Stephenson County, about six miles east of Nora. At that time this settleinent was the largest one between Freeport and Galena. Luman and Rodney Montague were then the only Methodists at the Grove. Luman Montague left a written statement of these facts which the Nora Church has preserved, and from which this early history is gathered.
This territory then belonged to Waddam's Grove class, and to the Peca- tonica Mission. In 1837 it was embraced in Pecatonica Circuit, with Rev. James MeKean as its pastor. In 1840 it was in Freeport Circuit, with Rev. Richard A. Blanchard in charge. In 1850 it was embraced in Cedarville Circuit. In 1854 Rev. Joseph Hartman, from Warren Circuit, came to Nora and formed a class consisting of eight members, to-wit : Cornelius Judson, Lucy Judson, Wyman Stephens and Deborah Stephens, Silas Hill and Ruth Hill, John Cowan and Mariah Cowan. The first services were held in a brick store now owned and occupied by Wm. B. Leach as a wagon shop. In this building and in the school house, services were held until 1868, when their present Church edifice was completed at a cost of $3,200.00. In 1855 this station was embraced in Lena Circuit with Rev. G. F. Gage in charge, but there were no services this year, as the people were too poor to raise the required amount. In 1865 Nora Circuit was established. The church now has a membership of fifty-five. The average attendance at the Sunday Sunday is sixty, with O. T. Spencer as superintendent.
Rev. Bertram Dickens is the present pastor.
Wesleyan Methodist .- This branch of the Christian church of America dates its separate and independent organization from 1842. In November of that year, Revs. O. Scott, J. Horton and L. R. Sunderland, three eminent divines of the Methodist Episcopal Church, who had long been dissatisfied with
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
the indifference of that society towards the institution of American slavery, as well as with the arbitrary rules of its church government, withdrew from that organization, and inaugurated measures for the establishment of a church body in opposition to slavery, and with a greater degree of liberality in government. Another source of objection entertained by these eminent divines against the present church was its quasi endorsement of Masonic and other secret societies. The old discipline of that church emphatically denied permission to its follow- ers, especially its ministers, to become members ; but as the country and the church grew older, this forbidding clause ceased to be enforced, and seemed likely to become a dead letter in their faith and practice. Claiming to be true Methodists-disciples of Wesley, the founder of Methodism-Scott, Horton and Sunderland, when they took the decisive .step of secession, because, in their way of thinking, the true spirit of Methodism and its teachings were being prostituted and violated, found many followers, and succeeded in establishing what is now known as the Wesleyan Methodist Church Organization. They retained the anti-Masonic clause of the old discipline, and rigidly enforced it ; they discarded bishops, and introduced a system of lay preachers in their annual and general conferences, that makes their church thoroughly republican in form. Their government recognizes no distinctions, as between elders, pastors or people. They are all equal in their church relations as they are equal in the sight of God.
In 1848, six years after Scott, Horton and Sunderland had withdrawn from the parent society, a general division of the Methodist Church occurred on the question of slavery. The General Conference was held at Louisville, Ken- tucky, that year, and its proceedings were marked with national interest and importance, resulting in a separation, or complete and, so far, irrevocable divis- ion. Northern Methodists had, in six years, come to regard slavery as a relic of barbarism unholy and ungodly-a league with hell, and a covenant with death-and were as bold in their denunciations of the evil as they had formerly been meek, submissive and acquiescent. Southern Methodists believed it to be a divine institution, and that it was a religious duty to uphold and sustain it. After the separation they came to be known as the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The separation is still maintained, although several meetings of the representative men of the Northern and Southern Methodists have been held with a view of fixing a way for a reunion.
From this brief reference to the Louisville division of the M. E. Church in 1848, it will be seen that the Wesleyans were the pioneer Methodists in opening war upon the system of American slavery.
A society organization of Wesleyans, known as the Chelsea Church, is maintained in this township. 'The early records of the society have been lost, however, so that we are unable to fix the date of organization, but it is remem- bered that Rev. Morrison Delap was the first Wesleyan Methodist minister to preach in Nora Township. He came in the Fall of 1849 and organized the ,society, which held meetings in the school-houses of the neighborhood for twelve years, during which time the office of pastor was filled by Revs. Mr. Morgan, W. W. Steward, H. R. Will and his wife Mary A. During the charge of the latter minister, in 1861, their church was built on the township line road five and one half miles south of Warren. Since that time the following ministers have officiated : Revs. R. Baker, F. Mastin, D. W. Bond, Wm. Cummings, J. P. Spaulding, and the present minister-D. W. Bond. The present membership numbers about thirty-five. The Sunday school was organized in connection with the church at the time of the erection of their building. Its first superin- tendent was Rev. H. R. Will. At present Rev. D. W. Bond acts in that capacity. The Sabbath-school has a membership of fifty.
The German Baptist Church .- The members of this organization are noted for their industry and integrity, being nearly all farmers of thrifty and econom-
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
ical habits. Unbelievers in worldly show or display, they wear clothes of the plainest kind, discarding entirely jewelry or ornaments of any description. The exact date of their church organization at Nora could not be obtained, but in the Fall of 1874 they erected a house of worship, a plain but neat structure 32 by 40 feet, at a cost of $1,400, on section 16, two and three quarter miles due south of the village of Nora. This church is a branch of the Waddam's Grove District in Stephenson County, and among its first preachers were one Mr. Fry and B. H. Kepner, who officiated as early as 1850, and held services in a store basement in what was known as the Chelsea School District. Mr. Kepner still lives in Nora, and is actively engaged in the church, and in conjunction with Wm. K. Moore, has placed the Sunday-school in a flourishing condition, with an average attendence of about sixty scholars. The church proper has a mem- bership of 35 persons, and an attendance of upwards of 150.
LECTURE ASSOCIATION .- The Nora Lecture Association was organized in the Fall of 1875, with the following officers : President, T. C. Puckett ; Secretary, A. E. Ricker; Treasurer, R. M. Rockey.
Four lectures were given for the first course, as follows :
I. Prof. E. C. Hewett, of Normal, Illinois.
2. Hon. William Parsons, Dublin, Ireland. Subject, "George Steph. enson."
3. Prof. David Swing, Chicago. Subject, "The Novel of the Future."
4. 3 Mrs. Mary E. Livermore, Chicago. Subject, "What shall we do with our daughters ?"
The Association now has $150.00 at interest, which it has earned and saved above expenses since its organization. Among the Lecturers this Winter (1878) was Wendell Phillips, one of America's greatest orators.
The present officers of the Association are T. C. Puckett, president ; H. B. Lathe, secretary; A. J. Young, treasurer.
APPLE RIVER.
The oldest living resident of Apple River Township is Mr. William Colvin, whose intimate connection with the early history of the County has already been mentioned. Mr. Colvin came to Galena June 18, 1824, on the keel boat "Col. Bumford." After mining near there until 1828, he settled on the farm where he now lives, four miles west of the village of Apple River. At that time Lot L. Dimick, Wm. Hudson and Adam Vroman had already settled in the township as farmers. In 1829, Samuel Warner came from Ontario County, New York, and settled near Mr. Colvin where he has resided up to the present time.
For five years after the township organization, Apple River was incorporated in the Township of Thompson. The name of the township and village were derived from a river of that name by which the land is watered.
In 1854 the Illinois Central Railroad was built through the northern townships, and soon after, the village was established. Ebenezer Baldwin, a civil engineer on the road, J. W. Webster and Charles H. Lamar purchased the ground north of the railroad and laid out the town plat. The railroad company owned the land south of the track and formed it into a town addition. F. A. Strockley also made an addition on the east side of the original plat. The north line of the village is identical with the state line.
The first house on the site of Apple River was built of logs about 1832, by Daniel Robbins-the first settler at that place. He sold out to Francis Redfern, who came West about 1850, from Ohio. A large family of rough
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
characters, named Daves, settled on a branch of the Apple River about the year 1835, which received, on account of their residence there, the name of. " Hell Branch." In 1837 they had a dispute with a man named Alexander McKillips regarding his claim, which resulted in the Daves brothers waylaying McKillips, at night-tieing him to a stump and whipping him until almost dead. Such acts were among the lawlessness of frontier life. It may be added that a just retribution overtook these brothers, several of whom were hung, one killed by a falling mineral tub, and another chopped to pieces with an ax.
In 1842 Melzer Robbins, a brother of Daniel, settled in Apple River and became a prominent man in its progress. School was first taught by Edward Town, at the site of the village, in a log cabin situated where the residence of Thos. H. Maynard now stands. Soon after, school was kept by John Hartwell in the old historical cabin built by Daniel Robbins. The location of this house was across the railroad track just opposite the present Robbins Hotel. Mr. Redfern built the third house at the village on the site of Capt. John Maynard's present residence. In 1854, Francis Cosgrove built the first boarding house and saloon for the accommodation of railroad hands. The first hotel was built in 1854 by William Hoskins where the Robbins House now stands. It was originally 28 by 32 feet in size but was enlarged and owned for many years by J. B. Robbins, a son of Melzer, who, in 1877, built the present and only hotel of Apple River. In the Spring of 1854, J. M. Irvin built the first general store in the village and has continued in business on the same location to the present time. A little later in the same year David Black built a store room and sold goods there for a few years. In 1855, James Powers opened a store, and the following year another was added by George Frost, who continued in business until 1864, then, after eleven years' absence in Chicago, he established the first and only Bank of Apple River.
The first local election remembered was in 1856 when Chauncey Hutchings and E. B. Downes were nominated for the office of Justice of the Peace. The night before election a gravel train was run into town, bringing about sixty men (more than the entire number of residents) and, being of Downes' nativity (Irish), they gave him an overwhelming majority. However, Mr. Downes, who is still living at Apple River, declined to serve and Mr. H. S. Russell was made Justice.
After the adoption of the township system in 1853, and up to September, 1858, Apple River Township was included in Thompson Township, and C. C. Thompson was the first Supervisor. At that date, however, a new township was created, and called Apple River. It was created out of fractional township 29, north of range 3 east, and was taken from the Town of Thompson. Wm. F. Tay- lor was the first Supervisor. At a later period, a mile strip of territory was taken from Warren Township and attached to Apple River, including the Village of Apple River. After this change, Hiram DeGraff was the first Supervisor. Another change was made about 1864, by taking a strip of one mile and a half from Apple River, including the Village of Scales Mound, and attached to Scales Mound Township. At the election of 1859, held at Hudson Mound School-house, 80 votes were cast.
July 22, 1868, a vote was taken on the propriety of incorporating Apple River as a village, resulting in 35 votes for, and 33 against, incorporation. Incorporation under the general laws of the state followed immediately. The following Trustees were elected : J. A. Funk, Rob't Irvine, James M. Irvine, S. Woolan and Melzer Robbins. February 19, 1870, it was re-incorporated under special charter. The population of Apple River Township in 1860 was 508, and in 1870, 1,108 persons.
The assessed valuation of the township for 1877 was :-
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
Real Estate. $125,700 Lots_ 38,245
Personal
92,646
-$216,591 00
Its present officers are : Joseph Roberts, Supervisor ; P. A. Easley, Town Clerk; John Barry, Assessor; D. W. Christy, Collector; Patrick Murphy, John Hume and C. Lichtenburger, Commissioners of Highways; Geo. Frost, T. J. Birmingham, Hugh Williams, Henry Smith, Joseph Robbins and Robert Par- kins, Trustees ; Thomas Scott and William Levitt, Justices of the Peace; John Bush and C. Teppert, Constables.
SCHOOLS.
The schools held in cabins have already been referred to. The first build- ing erected for school purposes was in 1857, on lot one, block nine of the rail- road addition, which was donated, for the purpose, by the railroad company. On it was built a one-story stone house, to which a second story was afterwards added. As the village grew, more school room was found necessary, and in 1873, a frame building of two stories was erected on the opposite side of the railroad track, to be used as a high school. Professor Brown first acted in the capacity of teacher in this building. The present principal is Thomas Ber- mingham, while Misses Ada Rivenburg and Selina Woodward officiate in the stone building. Twelve hundred dollars is appropriated annually for teachers' salaries.
CHURCHES.
Rev. J. Hartwell preached, in a log cabin, the first sermon in Apple River, in 1855. The first regular mission preacher, of whom record remains, was William Taylor, now Postmaster at Nora, who,.in connection with school teaching, directed the devotions of the scattered settlers as early as the year 1857.
In the year 1858, the people gathered in the school-house to listen to the teachings of Rev. S. S. Guyer, a Methodist circuit-rider, and in the same year, a Methodist Sunday-school was organized, by T. F. Hastie, in the railroad office. This was soon transferred to the school-house. Two years after, the Methodist Church, a good frame building, was erected, costing about $2,000, and seating three hundred persons. At present, Hans Lamont is the Sabbath- school Superintendent. The church was dedicated by Rev. Peter Cartwright, a pioneer of Methodism in Illinois. The ministers in succession have been : Revs. J. Clendenning, E. B. Russell, J. M. Clendenning, J. Odgers, H. U. Rey- nolds, S. O. Foster, T. L. Olmsted, A. D. Field, Joseph Crummer, Joseph Caldwell, Thomas Cochrane, concluding with the present pastor, Rev. D. W. Linn.
Catholic .- Church services were held for several years in private houses. In 1858, Rev. Father P. Corcoran superintended the building of their church, which was originally 26 by 36 feet in size, but was enlarged in 1872 by an addi- tion of 30 by 26 feet. It now.seats about five hundred persons, and the church has a membership of one hundred families. Rev. Fathers Shilling, Michael El Heren, Joseph Kindekins and M. Zara have, in succession, officiated as their priests, Father Zara having just taken the position.
The Presbyterian Church was organized by Rev. John Reynard, in April, 1861, at the residence of Mr. Vroman, when Joseph C. Jellison was made elder. From this time, the association took no action until 1864, when Rev. J. W. Cunningham came, reorganized the society, and caused the church to be built. Rev. Rufus King was their first permanent minister. He was followed by Rev. G. M. Jenks, then John Cook, D. B. Gordon and E. B. Miner, who remained until 1876, since which time the church has been unable to maintain a regular pastor.
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
INDEPENDENT ORDERS.
Masonic .- Apple River Lodge, No. 548, A. F. and A. M., was organized October, 1868, with M. Maynard, W. M .; J. P. Black, S. W., and H. J. D. Maynard, J. W. The present officers are : Geo. Frost, W. M .; Thos. White, S. W .; Hugh Williams, J. W .; E. M. Funk, Secretary; Geo. Kleeburger, Treasurer. Meetings are held on the first and third Saturdays of each month. Membership, forty-five.
1. O. O. F .- The Reliance Lodge, No. 533, was organized Nov. 9, 1873. Its first officers were : John Buche, N. G .; John Sieber, V. G .; Wm. Uhren, Treasurer, and D. P. Emery, Secretary. The first four named, with R. Buche and Thomas Gelaspie, constitute the charter members. The present officers are : Hans Lamont, N. G .; Nemiah Rowlston, V. G .; John Sieber, Treasurer ; G. L. H. Kleeburger, Secretary.
BUSINESS INTERESTS.
In the southeastern part of town is situated a large three-story stone building, erected at a cost of $10,000 by Black, Irvine & Co. as a plow factory. This business was sold, in 1876, to the Grand Detour Plow Factory, of Dixon, Ill., since when it has been occupied as a planing and sawing mill.
The leading business firms of Apple River at present are given below, together with the date of their establishment :
General Store .- J. M. Irvine, 1854; G. L. H. Kleeburger, 1870; Malachi Maynard, 1860 ; Nicholas Murphy, 1873 ; W. D. Ennor, 1876 ; S. H. Shoop, 1875.
Drugs .- R. L. Hall, 1870.
Hardware .- M. Maynard, 1877.
Jewelry .- T. Y. Maynard, 1870.
Lumber .- T. J. Bermingham, 1873.
Millinery .- Misses B. A. & L. Hall, 1864.
Wagon Making .- Hugh Williams, 1869.
Harness Making .- C. F. Spofford, 1877.
Banker .- George Frost, 1875.
Physicians .- Daniel Sheffield, 1859; Charles Carey, 1866.
The first postmaster was J. M. Irvine ; the present one is Beeri Serviss, who has held the position since Mr. Irvine resigned. The village has a general appearance of prosperity ; is well supported by a good farming community, and does a large amount of mineral, stock and produce shipping. It is the shipping point for several zinc and lead mines in Wisconsin.
WARREN.
To Captain Alexander Burnett is due the honor of first entering upon the lands of Warren for permanent residence. In the Spring of 1843 he emigrated from Ohio; made his claim and built a cabin, where now stands Mr. B. Servis' brick building at the corner of Water and Main Streets, upon section 24, of this Township.
Mr. Burnett continued to be the only settler in this immediate vicinity until the Fall of 1845, when Freeman A. Tisdel, of Michigan, came in and bought one half of Mr. Burnett's claim-about 120 acres.
At that time the surveyor had not defined the section lines, and the small branch running south through the town was made the line of division between the two farms-Mr. Burnett's being on the east, and Mr. Tisdel's on the west side. At this time, Mr. Kingsley Olds and family, living about a mile south,
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
Mr. Cowen, a mile west, and Mr. Newville, a mile east, constituted their only civilized neighbors.
The land upon which these people had settled still belonged to the govern- ment and did not come into the market until 1847, when they became legal owners by purchase, at the Land Office in Dixon. Mr. Burnett being located upon the old "Sucker trail," kept a public house for many years, and by the crossing of two roads near his house, the place received the title of " Burnett's Corners."
In the Fall of 1845, Mr. Burnett gave Mr. Tisdel possession of the log house, and built for himself a frame dwelling on the site of the present Burnett House. He still resides at Warren. The post-office was first established at Mr. Tisdel's house, in 1847.
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