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 64
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With whomsoever the aggression may have been at the beginning of the Black Hawk War, these people acted only on the defensive, and their bravery and courage, in protecting the lives of their families, were the subjects of much comment.
The Galenian of June 25th says : "The women were all occupied as well as the men-girls of eight years took their part, some made cartridges, some run bullets, some loaded muskets, all were engaged, and God grant that America may never have greater cowards in her armies than the ladies in Apple River Fort."
Immediately after the war, John D. Winters moved to the hill just east of the site of Elizabeth, in the edge of Woodbine Township, where he established a tavern, and continued to direct the stage line. Here, also, the post-office
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
was first established. Captain Clack Stone soon opened a store across the road, opposite the house of Mr. Winters.
In 1842, Horr and Smith built a saw mill west of Elizabeth, on the Apple River, which they continued to run until 1848, when Henry Glessner became a partner, after which the style of the firm was " H. Glessner & Co." In 1852, Mr. Smith sold his interest to Joseph Watson. The mill was changed to a carding, and afterwards to a yarn mill. In 1857, Mr. Glessner purchased the interest of Mr. Watson, and Isaac Horr died, although the estate of Mr. Horr continued to hold a one third interest until 1867, when it was sold, together with one third interest, belonging to Mr. Glessner, to Eby and Hefty, who purchased the remaining one third interest of Mr. Glessner in January, 1870, since which time the firm name has been " Eby & Hefty." They work seven months of the year, turning out 8,000 pounds of yarn. They have a dam one hundred and twenty feet long and five feet high, furnishing a power equal to twenty horses.
The first building erected within the site of Elizabeth was a saloon by Mr. Knack, a year or two after the war. Mr. Knack took the liberty of chop- ping logs for his cabin from the claim of Henry Van Volkenburg, during his absence. The first tavern was built by John Gates, and now forms a portion of Robert Scott's residence, on Main Street. Rev. Aratus Kent, who came to Galena in 1829, first gave religious instruction to the miners of this vicinity in 1830. Mr. Kent has been mentioned by the earliest members of many set- tlements in Jo Daviess County as a man who bravely bore the hardships of those years, and labored with a stern integrity to soften the characters and maintain the religious devotion of those men whom the wild surroundings had a tendency to make harsh and rough. From Mrs. Gates, now a resident of Woodbine, who settled there in the Fall of 1834, we learn some of the names of residents, at that time, on Jewell's Prairie-so-called from one of its first set- tlers, Mr. Jewell. Among them were: John McDonald, Henry Van Volken- burg, John Murdock, A. B. White, Johnson Young, George Harper, Milton Claypool, William Higgins, William Lawhorn, Francis Graham, Royal Daniels, Thaddeus Hitt, and Mr. Jewell.
The first birth was R. B., son of Edmund Gates, on December 19, 1836 ; John F. Childer was born in the same year.
The first death in Woodbine Township after the Black Hawk War was of the wife of Royal Daniels, in 1837.
Mrs. Hitt and Passingfair Gates are all who remain living in Woodbine of the early settlers of '36.
In 1835, a school-house was built, in which Rev. Schunk both taught school and preached.
In 1844, A. B. White and Solomon Shore organized the school districts and built two school houses-one on Jewell's Prairie and another on Tarpen Ridge. The former was taught by - Perry, and the latter by Henry Wol- cott. At that time there was another school-house in the township, located near Elizabeth.
A blacksmith shop and store were established on Jewell's Prairie in 1867 ; also a post-office called " Woodbine."
Religious services were held in the school-houses for a number of years, until in 1868 the Methodist Church was erected. J. F. Yates is believed to have preached the first sermon, although the first regular pastor of the church was James Rogers. Cyrus Carpenter and John Wixson were then leading mem- bers. At present Rev. William Liverton officiates.
The German Methodist Church of Woodbine is situated on Jewell's Prairie, on the farm of Leonhard Bastian. It was erected in 1871 and dedicated October 29. The first trustees for five years were : George Hermann, William Hildebrand, John Andrus, Henry Schultz and Erhard Dittmar. The present
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
trustees are : Leonhard Bastian, Fredrich Steffens, George Krall, Samuel Horsch and John Andrus. Their ministers have been John Schnieder, for two years; John Schaad, one year; Henry Sauer, two years; Philip Hummel, one year, and Carl Miller, two years, the present pastor.
In 1837, Bird and Gomer built a saw mill near the forks of Apple River, which they continued to operate until 1847, when it was sold to James DeGraff, who transformed it into a grist mill. It was first operated by Hiram Tyrrell. He afterwards disposed of this to James B. Watts, by whose name it has since been known, although Roberts & Co. became its proprietors, and it is now owned by Mr. Sampson.
In 1856-'7, John Eustace built Mitchell's Mill, now known as Elizabeth Mill.
The Village of Elizabeth was laid out in. 1839 by Charles R. Bennett, sur- veyor, on the land of John D. Winters and Captain Clack Stone, in the southeast quarter of section 24, township 27, range 2 east. It is one hundred and seventy feet above the water of Apple River. Its streets were : Madison, Main, Wash- ington and Illinois Streets, running south, 35 deg. east; West, Vine and Catlin Streets, running north 8 deg. east; Myrtle, Sycamore, Poplar, Orange and East Streets, running north 55 deg. east.
John D. Winters afterwards laid out an addition which received the name of "Reynolds' Addition," in honor of Abram Reynolds, an early settler and the agent of the citizens in 1847 to purchase, at the Dixon land sale, all the lands of section 24, on which the village was located.
An election was held May 4, 1868, at the school-house, with D. Robinson, president, and W. H. Eustace, clerk, to ascertain the feeling of citizens regarding the incorporation of Elizabeth, as a village, at which seventy-four votes were cast for, and thirty-two against, incorporation.
After the Black Hawk War, Mr. Tart was absent from Elizabeth until 1843. Before his return Mr. P. J. Pilcher came (in 1841) and settled there with his family during the following year. Hence, Mr. Pilcher, who is still living there, is the oldest (continuous) living resident in the village. At the time of liis arrival, James B. Watts and Samuel Nye had opened their store, the first one of prominence in the village.
James W. White opened a store, and in the Fall of 1843 Robert Barker, who still resides at the edge of town, built a store room and opened a general stock of goods.
After Watts & Nye opened their store, the post-office was moved there from the tavern of Mr. Winters, in Woodbine Township, and Samuel Nye was made · postmaster.
In 1864, Mr. Barker sold out. to Mr. Fraser, who, with his son, is still doing business there under the firm title of Fraser & Son. There are at present eighteen stores, among the prominent ones being those of Fraser & Son, D. Robinson, Goldsworth & Rankin, and Weir & Barrett, each of whom keep a general stock of goods. There is one hotel-the "Union Hotel "-of which Thomas B. Shaw is proprietor. There are four physicians: Drs. Kittoe, Wm. Howarth, and the firm of Hutton & Beebe.
Schools .- At the time of Mr. Barker's arrival, school was kept by Mr. Quig- ley in an old log building, bought by the people, which had been a dwelling. In this house meetings were also held by Rev. McKane. When the Presbyte- rian Church was completed, in 1846, it was used for school purposes until the present school-house was erected.
Mr. Packard, now a prominent educational worker of Chicago, first taught in the church, followed by Mr. Coleman. Mr. Eberhart opened the school in the new school building.
As the village grew, more school room was found necessary, and the Odd Fellows' Hall, situated just north of the school-house, was rented for school
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
purposes. This school is now taught by Miss Amelia Davis, while the teachers in the school-house proper are Henry McKay, principal, assisted by Miss Abbie Linn.
Churches .- The first Presbyterian preaching was, as has been already stated, by Rev. Aratus Kent, in Ames' house at Rocky Point, in 1830.
From this time to the date of organization of the society, February 9, 1844, there was occasional preaching in private houses by Rev. Kent and Rev. Osias Littlefield, the latter of whom organized the church. At the organization the following trustees were elected: Wm. P. Warwick, James B. Watts, Wm. Both- well and John Rees. A stone building was purchased in 1846, and fitted for church use. In this services were conducted until the erection of the present frame building in 1875, at a cost of $2,500.
The following pastors have officiated in their respective order : Revs. Cal- vin Gray, J. W. Downer, E. D. Neil (now an active educational and religious worker in Minnesota), - King, W. W. Harsha (occasional), A. Kent (occa- sional), A. C. Childs, A. B. Peffers, J. R. Smith, Mr. Dillon, J. W. Stone, D.D., concluding with the present minister, Rev. J. R. Smith.
The present Trustees are : D. Mckenzie, A. H. Weir, and John Hutchinson.
The Methodist Church .- The Methodist Association of Elizabeth is the oldest one, except that of Galena, in Northwestern Illinois; but owing to the fact that no records were made previous to the coming of Hon. Henry Green, in 1842, the facts regarding the Church previous to that date can not be obtained. At that time the Elizabeth Circuit extended north into Wisconsin, and south to include Savanna, Carroll Co. It is thought to have been organized in 1837. They first met in the old log school-house. The first Methodist Church was erected in 1845-'6 ; size 26 by 40 feet. The present one was built in 1871. Its size is 40 by 60 feet, seating 450 persons.
The following list of preachers who have been stationed on the Elizabeth charge since 1842, has been kindly furnished by Mr. Green :
Revs. -
McCain and
Pillsbury, 1842 ; James McCain and M. Decker, 1843 ; James
Thomas, 1844; Isaac N. Lehy, 1845; R. Blanchard, 1846;
Parks, 1847 ; - - Wilmot, 1848; G. L. S. Stuff, 1849 ; George Lovsey, 1850; Boyd Lowe, 1851 ; William Tasker, 1852; William McKaig, 1853; Wil- liam McKaig, 1854; Aaron Wolf. 1855; S. Guyer, 1856 ; S. Guyer (removed, and appointment filled by - Aldrich), 1857; William Tasker, 1858; W. D. Atchison, 1859; W. D. Atchison, 1860; W. D. Skelton, 1861; W. D. Skelton, 1862; G. L. Wiley, 1863 ; Aaron Cross, 1864 ; Joseph Wardle, 1865 ; Fredrick Curtiss, 1866; C. R. Ford, 1867 ; Richard Donkersley, 1868; Richard Don- kersley, 1869; S. S. Helsby, 1870 ; - - Anderson, 1871 ; - Anderson, 1872 ; P. C. Stire, 1873 ; P. C. Stire, 1874; D. W. Linn, 1875 ; Samuel Cates, 1876; Samuel Cates, 1877.
The present membership of the Church is fifty, and of the Sabbath School, .two hundred.
The Village Trustees are : George H. Green, Thomas Goldsworthy, Thomas Eustace, Charles Banworth, and Leopold Hessig. Clerk, E. R. Smith. There is a post-office in Section 4, near the north line of the township, called " Avery," where there was at one time a tavern.
The bridge spanning Apple River, west of Elizabeth, was built originally of wood, in 1859. An iron bridge was built on the same abutments, by the township and county, regarding which the following resolution appears on the Board of Supervisors' Record, dated September 13, 1871 :
" Resolved, That the sum of $2,134, or one half the cost of building an iron bridge over Apple River, in the Town of Elizabeth, be, and is hereby appro- priated ; the County to be at one half the cost of the bridge; provided said cost does not exceed $4,268 ; the appropriation to be paid when the bridge is completed and accepted; said bridge to be built under the supervision of the
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
County Bridge Commissioners in conjunction with the Commissioners of High- ways of said Town."
The bridge was accordingly built in 1871-1872.
About 1842, Horr and Smith built a saw mill on the Apple River, west of Elizabeth, on Section 23. A few years thereafter Glessner, Horr and Smith put in machinery, and started a carding-mill, which was again changed to a yarn-mill. The present proprietors are Charles Eby and John Hefty.
WESTON .- In 1842 and '3, the mines two miles west of the Village of Eliz- abeth, gained considerable notoriety and, naturally, a large number of miners flocked to the vicinity. Many small patches of mineral were found, generally distributed with some fine bodies of ore.
In 1843, Green, Tart, Hughlett and Estey started the first smelting furnace. At that time there were but three cabins at that place, George Williams owned one-Vandyke another ; the proprietor of the third has been forgotten. Many cabins sprung up in rapid succession and in 1844, "Green, Goldthorp & Co." (Estey having sold out to Wm. Goldthorp), started a general store, and post- office. O. A. Bennett was first postmaster, then Mr. Goldthorp managed the store and post-office while Mr. Green attended to the smelting. A Methodist Church was soon erected there in which Rev. Father McKane first preached. Its pulpit has been generally occupied by the Elizabeth pastor. Mr. A. B. Lewis soon opened school in the church building, which was continued until the erection of the school house in 1862. Mr. Lewis taught seven successive years. The teacher now is Mr. Wenner.
March 8, 1847, the Village of Weston was laid out 'and platted by John C. Gardner on the land of Benjamin Tart, in the west half of the southeast quar- ter of section 22.
But the village was not destined to prosper. As one of its proprietors remarked, " It sprung up like Jonah's gourd and died in the same manner." When the pockets of the earth were exhausted the miner shouldered his pick and sought other fields. The store was closed and in 1859 the post-office was discontinued. At present Mr. Wm. Goldthorp is the principal proprietor. Mr. Henry Green has a smelting furnace between Elizabeth and Weston, is one of the capitalists engaged in manufactures at Hanover, and lives on his farm near Elizabeth, where his beautiful residence and grounds are generally admired. At the time of the land sale at Dixon, in April 1847, Mr. Green was made the agent of the township residents and bid off their lands en masse.
In 1844, occurred the "Stone's field excitement," as it was called. Cap- tain Stone owned land adjoining the Weston property on which he forbade prospecting. John Bennett, a German, and associates who were in the employ of Green, Goldthorp & Co., urgently requested permission to examine the land; but being refused, they went on the land at night and, before morning, mineral had been struck in three places. Then followed intense excitement. Mr. Stone endeavored to raise a company of armed men to protect his property, while miners flocked to the field in large numbers, all "armed to the teeth " with pistols, guns and knives. A bloody conflict was at one time imminent but Mr. Stone decided to accept the usual percentage, one sixth of all the mineral raised.
The third noted mines of Elizabeth Township were discovered by Martin Wishon and John Allen, about one and a half miles northwest of the village. They are still being worked though not so successfully as soon after they were opened, when, in two years, they yielded nearly 2,000,000 pounds of ore. The mines will be referred to more specifically in an article on that subject.
The officers of Elizabeth Township are :
Supervisor-John S. Young ; Assessor-Thomas Cubbon; Collector-George Green ; Commissioners of Highway-James Virtue, Thomas Cubbon, and Rich- ard Eustace; Justices of Peace-E. R. Smith and J. Q. Robinson ; Constables- James H. Bateman and John Price.
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Elias
RUSH TP.
· THE LIBRARY OF NE
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
The population of the Township in 1850 was 1,805; in 1860 it had de- creased to 1,460, and in 1870 it numbered 1,618.
The Township of Woodbine, which was originally called " Jefferson," had 935 inhabitants in 1860, and 959 in 1870.
The officers of Woodbine Township are :
Supervisor-Donald Mckenzie; Assessor-Mark Thomas; Collector- Adam Long; Commissioners of Highway-John Old, John McCoy.
Kavanaugh Lodge, No. 36, A. F. & A. M., was first organized under the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin, June 16, A. D. 1845, with the following officers :
William Vance, W. M .; D. A. Main, S. W .; W. P. Warwick, J. W .; Ro- land Madison, Secretary ; W. B. Whiteside. S. D .; William Rogers, J. ]). ; Jas. B. Goble, Tyler.
It continued under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin until October 6, A. D. 1846, when it received its present charter from the Grand Lodge of Illinois, with the following as charter members :
Robert Barker, W. M .; August S. Mitchell, S. W .; W. P. Warwick, J. W .; P. G. Ames, Treasurer; William C. Smith, Secretary; William B. Whiteside, S. D .; Theodore Winters, J. D .; J. B. Goble, Tyler. Besides these officers there were William Vance, Isaac S. Horr, D. C. Berry, John Cadman, John McKie, and E. Marsh.
The present officers are : John Bowden, W. M .; John Long, S. W; John Martin, J. W .; John Hefty, Treasurer; W. H. Eustace, Secretary; T. W. Eus- tace, S. D .; John Goble, J. D .; Richard Bryant, Tyler. The present member- ship is fifty.
Hardin Lodge No. 33, I. O. O. F .- This Lodge was instituted Septem- ber 15, 1847, by dispensation of the Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois. The charter members were James Thompson, William R. Bennett, Abram Wilcox, J. B. Watts, and Joseph Shipton.
The present officers are Alonzo Pierce, N. G. : W. J. Adams, V. G .; Wm. J. Davy, Secretary ; T. B. Bray, Treasurer, and E. R. Smith, D. G. Master.
The Woodbine Mutual Fire Insurance Company .- This company was or- ganized under the law providing for such associations, a portion of which is quoted in the Ward's Grove sketch. It was incorporated (by filing charter in the office of the Clerk of the County Court,) on February 23, 1874, and com- menced business April 6, 1874, with the following officers :
Directors-Andrew Wand, Solomon Shore, Donald Mckenzie, Amos H. Weir, Edward Mitchell, Sr., John Crawford, Ignatz Goldhagen, James Rogers, J. Steele Weir; President-D. Mc.Kenzie; Treasurer-Andrew Wand ; Sec- retary-J. Steele Weir ; Agent-A. H. Weir.
For the year ending December 31, 1874, the number of policies issued was fifty-six, and the whole amount of risks taken, $51,290. From April 6, 1874, to February 19, 1878, there have been ninety-nine policies issued, with a total amount of risks taken, $90,440.
This company having been organized nearly four years, is now in a prosper- ous condition, although it has not suffered any losses by fire as yet. The com- pany feels able to meet any loss that may occur among its members, having a good amount of capital in the treasury. All business matters have been trans- acted thus far, with entire satisfaction. The members work harmoniously to- gether, and the inhabitants of the township are becoming more and more inter- ested in the advantages of township insurance companies. Each person insur- ing is a member, and is entitled to a seat in the regular meetings. The present number of members is 71. Officers are elected annually ; the following are the present (1878) officers :
Directors-D. Mckenzie, Amos H. Weir, Andrew Wand, Solomon Shore, E. Mitchell, Sr., Ignatz Goldhagen, Robert B. Gates, James Phillips, Joseph J. Artman ; President-D. Mckenzie; Treasurer-Andrew Wand; Secretary -- Sampson R. Reed; Business Agent-Ignatz Goldhagen.
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY. 1
Jewell's Prairie appointment (now the head of the Woodbine Circuit) of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was first organized with the Pleasant Valley Circuit, December 22, 1855, with Rev. C. C. Best, Presiding Elder ; Rev. W. D. Atchison, Pastor. Since that time the following Elders have presided: Revs. C. C. Best, 1855 ; D. Cassady, 1859; W. F. Stewart, 1862 ; R. A. Blanchard, 1864 ; F. A. Reed, 1868; W. H. Tibbals, 1873; J. H. Moore, 1877.
A parsonage was built at Jewell's Prairie in the Autumn of 1867, during the pastorate of Rev. J. M. Conlee. The M. E. Church was built on the same premises during the Summer of 1869; Rev. C. E. Smith, pastor. Both build- ings are frame : the former costing $400, and the latter $1,200.
The title of the circuit has undergone several changes. It was, in 1855, called the Pleasant Valley Circuit, under which Rev. W. D. Atchison served as pastor. The Plum River Circuit was organized December 5, 1857, under which the following pastors served : Revs. W. H. Hunt, 1857 ; C. Furst, 1858; W. Tasker, 1859. The name of the circuit was then changed to "Elroy and Plum River," with Rev. J. C. Stover, pastor; J. Buss, assistant.
The Rush Creek Circuit was established January 4, 1862. The following pastors had charge : Revs. J. Buss, 1862 ; A. H. Ellis, 1863 ; M. W. Goodsell, 1863; S. P. Lilley, 1864; C. Coombes, 1865; J. M. Conlee, 1866; C. E. Smith, 1868; A. G. Smith, 1869; F. R. Mastin, 1870; J. L. Roberts, 1871 ; R. Brother- ton, J. A. Gready, assistant, 1872 ; J. H. Kennedy, 1873. About this time the style of the circuit again changed to Woodbine Circuit, with the following pas- tors : Revs. A. Perry, 1874; S. W. Richards, 1875 ; J. H. Soule, 1877; W. J. Liberton, 1877.
At the present time there are three churches in this circuit : Jewell's Prai- rie Church, Salem Church (frame) which was built at a cost of $1,000, and Long Hollow Church, of brick. Three other appointments are held in school- houses.
James Rogers, of Jewell's Prairie, now the oldest resident official member of Woodbine Circuit, was, in 1875, appointed lay delegate to the Rock River Annual Conference, held at Joliet, Illinois, by which conference Hon. Henry Green, of Elizabeth, was appointed lay representative to the General Confer- ence held at Baltimore in 1876.
About 185 1 the first Sabbath School was held at Jewell's Prairie, in a school-house, conducted by the Baptists; Mrs. C. Carpenter and Mr. White, Superintendents. The Sunday School was afterwards taken up by the Meth- odists, who came to settle in the neighborhood, and has since been carried on by that denomination.
HANOVER.
The Township of Hanover forms the southwest corner of the county. It is consequently out of the lead mining region, except, perhaps, its northwestern border. Geographically, the township presents a great variety of natural beauty. ()n the western side lies a low prairie of nine by two miles in size, which, from its barren nature, has been named the "Sand Prairie." This is washed on the west by the " Father of Waters," while on the opposite side rises the high bluffy chain of hills which extends up the river bank to Galena, broken only by the valleys of the Small Pox and Galena Rivers. A tradition was cur- rent among the noble red men of the forest that the bed of the Mississippi once passed on the eastern side of the prairie near the bluffs, and an examination of this location tends to confirm the story. It is known that, in the flood of 1828 the supposed river bed was filled with water from the Mississippi.
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
Beyond the range of hills lies the beautiful valley of Apple River. Up this river, in the Fall of 1827, rowed Daniel Fowler and Charles Ames-two adventurers and the first "pale faces" whom the inhabitants had seen in that locality.
At the place where the Village of Hanover now stands, the voyagers encountered the Apple River Falls, and were obliged to carry their canoe around on the land. At this time, remarks our droll informant, there was here a large city called Wapello-inhabited by a tribe of Sacs and Foxes, and named after their chief. Appreciating the value of this location as a mill site, Fowler and Ames marked it with a claim stake, and proceeded up the river. The next Spring they returned, took up the claim and engaged in farming.
At this time this region was reserved as mineral land, though it was out of the mining region, and in 1827 a purse of $1,000 was made up by settlers of the county to defray the expenses of some person in going to Washington and securing a release of that portion of the land outside of the mineral region. Mr. James Craig was selected for that purpose, and returned the following Spring with the desired permission. He, also, had the Falls of Apple River in view as a location, and going there in 1828 he and his son Daniel compromised with Fowler and Ames, and secured one half of the land, including the falls. Here he dammed the river and erected a saw mill and a grist mill on the site of the present factory. The following year the family of Mr. Craig moved down from Galena.
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