The History of Livingston County, Illinois : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., Part 34

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Chicago : W. Le Baron
Number of Pages: 884

USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The History of Livingston County, Illinois : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 34

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The town was surveyed and platted by Thomas F. Norton, Deputy County Surveyor, August 10, 1856, the proprietors having previously conveyed to the Chicago & Mississippi Railroad Company fifty feet on each side of the railroad track, extending through the whole quarter section. Thus was the town firmly fixed, and the attention of emigrants consequently turned to this quarter.

For a year after the switch was located, the only inhabitants of the place were the few employes of the road who attended the station and the water tank and who were engaged in keeping the track in order. Of these, Daniel Smith, from New York, was the first agent ; and, as a post office was established about this time, he received the appointment of Postmaster. Mr. Morgan, though at the time a resident of Joliet, alternated between that point and this; and when Smith was superseded by J. H. Link (formerly of Canada) as Station Agent, Morgan was appointed, by James Buchanan, as Postmaster. Though Morgan was principal, yet Link, acting as deputy, had charge of the mails ; and he also brought on a few goods and kept them for sale in the station house.

In the meantime, David Williams, from the town of New Michigan, had come to the place and erected a little shanty and displayed a few basketfuls of groceries and notions. He was, however, a chronic grumbler and chronically sick, and stayed but a few months and returned to New Michigan.

361

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

About the time of Williams' exit, S. W. Curtiss, of Kendall County, estab- lished a general store in the warehouse that been erected by the Railroad Com- pany. Curtiss did not make this his home, but employed S. P. Lundgren, of the same county, and known to the people of Odell as " Peter," to take charge. Link, having become disgusted with the store business, and also with the annoyance from the care of the mails, was anxious to turn these two branches of business over to other parties, and in this connection, the following incident is related : Lundgren says that when he stepped off the train, on his first arrival in the Winter of 1856-7, he was eyed sharply by Link (much after the manner of other lynx), who asked him if he was not the man who was to have the post office. Lundgren replied that he was an entire stranger, and that he was cor- tain that no such arrangement had been made. He was then questioned as to what his business was at the place. Lundgren acknowledged that he had come to take charge of business for S. W. Curtiss, but had not yet had any instruc- tion as to the location of the store. Link then turned to the station house, and, taking the bag in which he had just received the mail, began crowding into its open mouth, indiscriminately, papers, books, letters and everything pertaining to the office, remarking the while that he knew this was the man, and, having com- pleted his packing, handed him the bag. Lundgren, however, protested that he was neither appointed nor qualified, and that he could not accept it; upon which, Link gently pushed him from the door, throwing the post office after him, and no amount of argument or persuasion could induce him to again permit it to be placed in his possession. Lundgren says that, in this instance, he verily felt that the "office was seeking the man " with a vengeance. After deliberating upon the matter a few minutes, and concluding that there could be nothing criminal in caring for that which was in a fair way of being lost or destroyed, Lundgren picked up the office and, with it on his shoulder, proceeded to hunt up his other mission, which, in due course of time, he found. A few days after installing himself as manager of the store-there being no Justice of the Peace or other officer qualified to administer an oath in the neighborhood-he pro- ceeded to Mud Creek, where resided one of those worthies, and took the oath to support the Constitution of the United States, and, as Deputy Postmaster. to transact the business of the office according to the rules and edicts of the head of the department.

At this time, there were, besides those already mentioned, but four families. Thomas Lyons was an employe of the railroad company, and pumped water for the tank. One night, while in the performance of his duty, he discovered a colored fugitive concealing himself in the building. The fellow had evidently mistaken the newly built railroad for a branch of the "underground," and this point as one of the "stations." Lyon reported the discovery to S. S. Morgan, who says that he found the poor fellow in a bad plight. He was ragged and sore, and his feet were torn and lacerated, and were bound up with some old rags tied on with strips of hickory bark, and he looked as though he were more

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364

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

of the town, this was a large amount to appropriate for that purpose, but it proved to be only the beginning of a very extensive scheme for making the highways of this township the best in the county. During the year, petitions were presented and granted, for the laying out of thirty-eight miles of new road; and, almost every year since, large appropriations have been made for their construction and improvement. In some instances, as much as $5,000 has been appropriated for that purpose. As a result of this wise course, Odell is the greatest grain market in the county ; and, with two or three exceptions, the greatest on the road.

The following table shows the number of votes cast, and the names of the succeeding Supervisors and Clerks to the present time :

DATE.

VOTES.

CLERK.

SUPERVISOR.

1858

A. A. Streator.

S. S. Morgan.

1859

A. A. Streator.

John Harbison.

1860.

A. A. Streator.

Samuel Hoke.

1861

A. A. Streator.

H. F. Hamlin.

1862

E. Williams.

A. Aerl.

1863.

J. D. Curtiss.

B. F. Hotchkiss.

1864

J. D. Curtiss.

B. F. Hotchkiss.

1865.

S. H. Penny.

B. F. Hotchkiss.

1866

131

S. H. Penny.

B. F. Hotchkiss.

1867

160

S. H. Penny.

B. F. Hotchkiss.

1868

154

Jolın Reeder.

B. F. Hotchkiss.

1869

212

John Reeder.

B. F. Hotchkiss.

1870.

268

B. F. Pound.

Stephen Wooley.

1871.

212

B. F. Pound.

Stephen Wooley.

1872

301

B. F. Pound.

John Mc Williams.

1873.

130

B. F. Pound.

L. G. Green.

1874

230

B. F. Pound.

Michael Cleary.

1875

292

B. F. Pound.

Michael Cleary.

1876

340

C. A. Vincent.

Michael Cleary.

1877.

381

C. A. Vincent.

Michael Cleary.

1878.

238

C. A. Vincent.

Michael Cleary.

The names of the balance of the officers for 1878 are: A. G. Goodspeed, for this and the last eleven years, Assessor; G. W. Abbaduska, Collector: C. N. Coe and J. D. Pound, Justices of the Peace ; T. D. Thompson and E. Debraie, Constables ; Z. Supplee, School Treasurer : S. S. Morgan, J. N. Moore and C. W. Barber, Road Commissioners.

It will doubtless be noticed that "rotation in office," "third term " and like phrases could not have entered largely into politics in this town, the main ques- tion being the fitness of the man for the position. B. F. Hotchkiss, whose name appears seven times as Supervisor, was a man eminently qualified for such a position. and so highly was he appreciated by the Board, that, while he con- tinued in office. he was honored as their presiding officer. A. G. Goodspeed has been Assessor so long, and knows so well what everybody is possessed of. that he can almost perform the duties without leaving his office. S. S. Morgan, who has had much to do with building the fine roads in this and adjoining townships, has held the office of Road Commissioner for nineteen years.

Krach COUNTY TREASURER PONTIAC

367

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

The first grain was shipped from the station in 1855. by James Henry. This grain was not handled by any dealer, but was loaded from the wagons directly into the cars, and this continued to be the principal method of disposing of the products of the farm until 1861. when L. E. Kent, of Pontiac, built the elevator now occupied by C. A. Vincent. Prior to this, the only convenience for handling grain. beside the direct transfer from the wagon to the car, was a small board shanty that had been in use by various persons and for various purposes, and the Kent elevator was considered a fine addition to the business facilities of the place. A. Aerl. who had come from Pontiac two years before, was placed in charge of the elevator. and continued in the grain business for some years. J. B. Curtiss also built. about the same time. the elevator occu- pied until recently by Z. Supplee. In 1866. J. & W. Hossack erected their fine elevator, which, for capacity and convenience for handling grain, has few superiors in the State. The cost of the building was $23.000; it is sixty feet in width and ninety in length, and has a capacity of 60.000 bushels. Messrs. J. & W. Hossack buy annually 700,000 bushels, and have handled. some years, over 1.000,000 bushels.

The first school taught in the township was organized in the dwelling house of Joseph French, in 1857. The school was taught by Mrs. H. H. Robinson, and consisted of seven pupils. By the next year, 1858, there were two schools in the township. and the number of scholars in both was twenty-eight.

That the reader may be able to realize the growth of the system in the township, a few statistics are presented :

No. of Children under 21 years.

No. of Scholars in attendance.

No. of Schools.

1858

1866

186

150

1877

96%

490

وا

The following additional items will prove interesting, as indicating more fully the state of schools at the present time :

Number of schools.

Number of scholars enrolled.

490

Number of persons between 6 and 21

637

Number of persons under 21.

968

Number of teachers in the township.

Whole amount paid for teachers' wages.

$4,191 00

Amount raised for school purposes by special tax. 4,840 00

Principal of township fund. 7,184 00

From the above it will be seen that the schools have kept pace with the other enterprises.

VILLAGE OF ODELL.

After the surveying and platting of the village, alluded to on another page, the lots were offered for sale, and many of the best were purchased for $20 to

368

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

$30 each. The business lots, first sold, almost all went at the former price. At first. the east side of the square seemed to be the favorite place for business, and the first respectable sized store building erected was the one into which Curtiss & Dewey moved their goods after leaving the warehouse.

This building still stands on the corner, just south of Hossack's office, and is occupied as a saloon. But gradually the west side of the square built up : and as the newer buildings, owing to a demand for more commodious store rooms, were larger and better. the east side, to some extent, fell behind, its smaller buildings serving the purpose of shops and the smaller class of trade. Espe- cially was this noticeable when, in 1867, Wm. Strawn erected the hotel, with a number of convenient store rooms. At the time of its erection, it was consid- ered, as it really was, the finest hotel in the county. The hotel drew about it, at once, a number of business men ; and, ever since, the west side has had the lead ..

We left the post office on the hands, or rather on the shoulders, of Peter Lundgren. S. S. Morgan was, at that time, Postmaster ; but, as soon as the duties of the office became such as to need careful attention, he, too, turned it over to other parties. His successors have been as follows : John Williams. A. A. Streator, S. H. Putnam, H. G. Challis, S. H. Putnam and the present effi- cient incumbent. S. H. Hunt, who was appointed in 1869, and has held the office continuously ever since.

As already intimated. Rev. I. T. Whittemore held the first church service in the town. After a few services had been held in the station, a carpenter shop was erected by Seymour & Nichols, who, by the way, were the first resident carpenters in the place ; and in their shop services were conducted for a while. The people all worshiped together, and sect and denomination were scarcely thought of, but all were glad of the privilege of hearing the Gospel preached, even in a carpenter shop. When, in 1858, the school house was built, they were more comfortably situated. Mr. Whittemore continued to minister to the people, and with such acceptance that, in 1862, the Congregational Society was organized. Among the original members were Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Hotch- kiss, Mary P. Camp, Mrs. A. R. Morgan, Mrs. Polly Robinson, Mrs. Sarah Lucas, Mrs. S. C. Putnam.

In 1866, the society, having increased very considerably in numbers and wealth, and being desirous of possessing a house of worship which they might feel was their "religions home," erected their present neat and substantial church building. The house is thirty-eight feet in width and sixty in length, and cost the society $8,000. At the time of its erection, Rev. L. Leonard was Pastor of the congregation. He was a man of much energy and influence, and it was largely due to his zeal and management that the enterprise was begun.

The society is in quite a healthy condition, and is increasing in numbers and influence. Rev. J. Allen is the present Pastor.

The history of the Methodist Church of Odell is very similar, in many respects, to that of the Congregational just given. The two societies-or

369

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

rather the two peoples-worshiped together in the depot, in the carpenter shop, and in the school honse. Both organized about the same time, and held ser- vices alternately in the school house, and both built their houses of worship the same year. The Rev. Thomas Cotton, a man whose influence in social and religious matters in Livingston County has, perhaps, been as great as that of any other man of like profession who ever resided in its limits, organ- ized the church in 1860. The prosperity of the society has been quite marked. Beginning with a very few, they have grown in numbers until at present the church consists of 130 members ; and, though laboring under the disadvantages of hard times, high material and expensive labor, crected, in 1866-67, their present tasty and commodious house of worship. It is fifty-six feet in length and thirty-six in width, and cost $6,000. The present Pastor is Rev. W. P. Graves.

In connection with the church is a very flourishing Sunday School, under the supervision of M. Tombaugh.

The Catholics of this place, in 1875. completed a very large house of wor- ship. It is forty feet in width by eighty-six in length, and cost $5,300. The society consists of about 120 families. The parish is in charge of Rev. Ber- nard Boylan.

The citizens of Odell justly pride themselves on their excellent schools. In the selection of teachers. they have always been very successful ; and during the eight years ending with 1873, the Odell school, with one exception, pre- pared more teachers than any other school in the county.

The Board of School Directors, as now constituted, are : S. S. Morgan. T. O. Bannister and James Funk. Teachers : W. W. Lockwood and Misses Craw- ford, Graves, Pound and Bell.

The society of A., F. & A. M. was constituted as Odell Lodge, No. 401, Oct. 5th, 1864. The charter members were L. H. Cordry, E. G. Putnam, Z. Supplee, who were the first three principal officers. The charter was granted by Thomas J. Turner, Grand Master. The Lodge numbers at present sixty members. Odell Chapter was chartered by John M. Pearson, High Priest, Oct. 7, 1870. The charter was granted to Z. Supplee, A. E. Gammon, John E. Williams, A. B. Dunlap, A. P. Wright, J. Martin, C. H. Ellenwood, R. G. Morton, J. Ford, Charles Finefield, E. Williams. A. G. Goodspeed, J. B. Garwood. H. H. Hill and R. B. Harrington. Elisha Williams was first High Priest: Z. Supplee, King, and J. E. Williams, Scribe. The present principal officers are : R. G. Morton, High Priest; D. A. Walden, King ; Joel Kidder, Scribe ; J. F. Trowbridge, Secretary, and J. A. Hunter, Treasurer.

Company B. Tenth Regiment Illinois National Guards, regimental head- quarters at Dwight, was organized June 25, 1876. J. F. Trowbridge is Captain ; E. M. Vaughn, First Lieutenant ; J. L. Trowbridge, Second Lieutenant ; Wm. T. Angell, Orderly. The company, as now constituted, contains, besides the officers, fifty-three enlisted men, fully equipped, uniformed and armed with needle guns.

370

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

Odell Lodge, No. 464, I. O. O. F., was chartered by Thomas B. Needles, Grand Master, Oct. 10, 1871, and instituted by N. J. Pillsbury, Deputy Grand Master. The charter members were J. A. Hunter, W. Dalley, E. P. Utley, Jerry Clay and I. H. Scovell. B. F. Pound was installed first N. G .; N. E. Wright. V. G .; A. P. Wright, Rec. Sec .: J. A. Hunter, Treas. The present officers are : I. H. Scovell, N. G .; E. DeBriae, V. G .; J. M. Beck, Rec. Sec .: T. O. Bannister, Per. Sec .; G. Z. T. Kenyon, Treas.

Several attempts have been made to establish a newspaper at this point, but with indifferent success. Owing to various circumstances, previous to 1877, enterprises of this kind have failed. But, during the year named, J. H. Warner. realizing that the time had come when a paper was really needed, established the Odell Herald. which bids fair to become one of the popular publications of the county. Merchants and other business men are beginning to realize that, to succeed in business, they must let their patrons know what they are doing, and, consequently, must invest in printer's ink.

A TRUE STORY OF CHARLEY ROSS.

Though but little given to sensations, the town of Odell has had enacted within its limits a little drama which, at the time, created the most intense excitement : and to this time, by many of the citizens who had the most ample means of knowing the facts, it is confidently believed that some of the persons connected with the Charley Ross abduction, together with the child in question, were the persons who figure in the following story: During the Summer of 1874, a woman, giving her name as Hannah Cole, arrived at Odell, bringing with her a child of five or six years of age, and whom she called Jimmy Hen- derson. She was a stranger to the people of Odell ; but subsequent events proved her to be a relative of George W. Murkins, who lived just south of town, and with whom she took up her residence for a time. A few weeks later. another stranger, calling himself Lewis Dungan. arrived from Philadelphia, bringing another little boy, who, as afterward remembered, very much resem- bled the descriptions given of the abducted Charley Ross. Dungan also went to Murkins' to reside. This. as will be remembered, was just after the abduction had occurred, and the $20,000 reward had been offered for the return of the missing child. Some of the children at Murkins' had heard the older ones of the family speak of $20,000 that Dungan was expecting to get from the East ; and this item, which soon became known to some of the neighbors. together with certain other suspicious movements, excited apprehensions which led to a quiet investigation of the matter. The inquiry, though conducted quietly, was evidently not unobserved by Dungan, for he seemed to take alarm, and procuring a close carriage. and tying the child up in a bag, and placing him under the seat, started at dark for Ottawa. Near Streator, they are known to have stopped and camped in the woods until near morning, when they again pursued their journey to Ottawa. Here Dungan is known to have stopped

371

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

with a man by the name of Tarr, who. as has since been ascertained, was an ex-convict of the Pennsylvania penitentiary, and a former confederate of the notorious Mosher who was shot in New York and who asserted that his accom- plice in that last burglary was one of the abductors of Charley Ross. It is believed that Dungan transferred the child to Tarr, and that he took him to St. Louis, where he was lost sight of. It is known that, immediately on Dungan's arrival at Tarr's, he (Tarr) left Ottawa, having expressed his baggage to Peoria, in care of Mrs. Ellen Webster, and from there the baggage was expressed to Bloomington, in care of Madame Webster. and thence to St. Louis, in care of Mrs. Webster. While the baggage was at the express office in St. Louis, a party appeared, desiring to open one of the trunks. Procuring therefrom a suit of child's clothing, the party stated that the trunks would be taken away in a few days; but they were never removed, by the owners, from the office. Another circumstance which the detectives hoped would lead to a clue to the mysterious movements of the parties was a personal, which appeared in the St. Louis Republican. which read as follows: "To Christian Ross, Philadelphia-Charley will be given up for. $5,000. Answer." Mr. Ross did answer. accepting the proposition ; but here again. either from the departure of the persons connected with the matter, or from appre- hension that they were being closely shadowed, the thread was broken ; and, Dungan (who. in the mean time. had been arrested and put in jail). having had his trial and being released, the detectives gave up the pursuit. Reverting to Dungan. after he returned from Ottawa he was arrested and, on a prelimi- nary examination. was held for bail. which being unable to give. he was placed in jail to await trial. A few days later. he was tried, but no positive evidence appearing. he was released. He subsequently sued S. H. Penny. Solomon Bishop. Henry Curtis. E. F. Bolter, Reese Jones. C. N. Coe, J. J. Halm, Carlos Putnam, A. S. Wisner and L. Putnam, for $50,000, for trespass and false imprisonment. The jury found the first three parties guilty of trespass and allowed the plaintiff damages in the sum of one cent '

Though not marvelous for a Western town. the growth and prosperity of Odell has been not only satisfactory. but much more rapid than ordinary. From a population of about one hundred in 1858. the town has grown in twenty years to a real little city, containing at least 1.000 inhabitants, thus showing an increase, in this respect. of nearly 100 per cent. every six years.

From a few loads of grain, which were bought on the track. we now find abont 1,500.000 bushels forwarded during a single year.

As indicating the amount of business done at this place during the year end- ing January 1, 1877. the following items have been kindly furnished by Mr. N. S. Hill. Agent of the C., A. & St. L. R. R .. at this place :

Amount received from freights forwarded. $30,647.73

Amount received from freights received 14,638.26

Amount received from sales of tickets 4.863.80

Total $50,149.79

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

Agent, which positions he held for a number of years. C. N. Coe, brother of J. H., was the first Station Agent, being appointed in the year 1856. He also bought the first grain shipped from this place, during the same year. Grain was handled in a small warehouse which had been built by Weed, the original proprietor of the town.

Eli Pearson, from Ohio, came in the Fall of 1855, and opened a farm just east of the village. He has since removed to the township of Esmen, where he still resides. Hanford Kerr and family, from the same State, came about the same date.

Moses Pearson arrived a few months later, and opened a farm east of the town.

In 1856. the Fish brothers, C. U. Udell and Dr. B. J. Bettleheim arrived. The last named was an eminent scholar and a learned and successful physician. He traveled extensively in China, Japan and other countries. In 1858, he gave a series of lectures at Pontiac on his Eastern travels, and on various relig- ious subjects, which were interesting and instructive in the extreme.

In 1857, Wm. Skinner, Wm. J. Murphy and a few others settled in the neighborhood. Skinner opened the farm just north of the village, where he still resides. Murphy started a broom factory. Mr. Murphy was also a preacher. and subsequently removed to Pontiac, where he took charge, for a time. of the Presbyterian Church. While at Pontiac, he opened the nursery where A. W. Kellogg now resides.

In 1858, Angustus Coleman, from Troy, Ohio, came in. Coleman was a graduate of West Point, and, on the breaking out of the rebellion, returned to Ohio, organized a regiment and took the field. He was afterward promoted to the office of Brigadier General, but was killed at the battle of Antietam.

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The History of Livingston County, Illinois : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., Part 34

Author: Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Chicago : W. Le Baron Number of Pages: 884

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Chicago : W. Le Baron
Number of Pages: 884