USA > Illinois > Stephenson County > The History of Stephenson County, Illinois : containing biographical sketches war record statistics portraits of early settlers history of the Northwest, history of Illinois, &c. > Part 26
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Among those who came in 1837, Maj. John Howe should not be forgotten. He had been a member of the New York Legislature, and came West with the close of his official term. His influence in Stephenson County was wide-spread, and he was regarded as a man of the most brilliant attainments. After filling the offices of County Commissioner, County Judge, etc., he emigrated to Wis- consin, where he died. His daughter married L. W. Guiteau, long a prominent resident of Freeport, where he died during the month of July, 1880.
With the opening of spring in 1838 the tide of emigration again began to flow in slowly, tis true, but of a character, as the sequel proved, the reverse of transient ; for those who came, settled, and contributed their efforts toward building up the country. Commercial interests increased in Freeport, which by this time bore evidences in its buildings and increase in population of possi- bilities in the future. The uncertainties born of the financial crisis of the pre- ceding year had been dissipated, and were succeeded by a feeling of confidence which found expression in investments made not only in the future city but the surrounding country, while improvements were projected and completed at a number of points. These were the reverse of ornamental as a rule, architect- urally speaking, yet they relieved the primitive surroundings of tiresome monot- ony and added the spice of variety to scenes otherwise characterized by too much sameness. No change was made in municipal or county affairs, and schools were sustained by private subscription to the absence of legal assess- ments for their support. Religious services continued to be held, and the num- ber of worshipers visibly increased. Good order was the rule, though in Free- port, which was made the rendezvous of that class of men who direct their steps to communities of recent date, the law officers were often compelled to enforce the statutes by arrest and confinement in jail. But the innumerable trials to which the pioneers were subjected were by this time lessened, and the cases of actual suffering more remote. The men were strengthened by the experience through which they had passed, and timid women became brave through combats with dangers that had been real. The constant struggle for the means to sus- tain life had brought with it some incidents of ease and luxury, and it was not until many years after, when the distance to market and the cost of transporta- tion absorbed the proceeds of the crops, that settlers were reminded of the days
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that had once been dark. Mills were accessible, and, instead of resorting to "gritters" or the improvised pestle and mortar for an unsatisfactory quality of meal, or obtaining a modicum thereof for home consumption at the expense of a fatiguing journey, meal such as is prized to-day for its purity and health-giv- ing properties was easily secured at the Van Valzah, Kirkpatrick and other mills that had been completed meanwhile. In the olden time of the settlement of Stephenson County, heads of families were obliged to visit the mills at Galena, na, Peoria and elsewhere for their grinding. The slow mode of travel by ox teams was rendered still more prolonged by the utter absence of roads, bridges and ferries. In dry weather these embargoes were sufficiently discouraging, but when the rainy season was at its height, or during the breaking up of winter, these troubles became dangers. To get mired in a slough was no uncommon occurrence, and often a swollen stream would blockade the way, when if the traveler was unable to cross, he was obliged to have recourse for his object at other points. In dry weather they got along better, but in winter progress was next to impossible. The utmost economy of time, too, was necessary, for often, when the goal was reached after a week or more of toilsome travel with many exposures and risks, and where the applicant was anxious to return to his fam- ily with the least possible delay, he was not unfrequently disheartened with the information that his turn might come in a week. When his " turn" came he must be on hand or miss his " turn, " and, when the anxious soul was ready to endure the trials of a trip back, his heart was heavy with the thoughts of how affairs had been at home.
It is interesting to trace the relation between the present condition of the county and the first acts of its first settlers. The beauty of the landscape to- day, proceeding from the industry of a later generation, has its seminal princi - ple in the events of the first years of the county's settlement. The ambition that their children should be educated, for which they permitted themselves to be assessed, was a fit prelude to the zeal for the adoption of a system that has since obtained. The persistence of Father McKean, the Revs. Winslow, Bol- linger and others, in maintaining religious services under difficulties, was the germ from which have sprung the churches, and promoted public morals and order. To these agencies, more than all others combined, is due, not only the production of material wealth, but the thrift and refinement for which Ste- phenson County and her inhabitants are characterized.
The difficulties referred to were in a degree banished with the approach of 1838; their benediction was pronounced with the close of 1837. The country was no longer a frontier. Business was an established fact. Farms were in a high state of cultivation, and all that would aid in hastening the advent of days of prosperity was combined to that end. What a metamor- phosis ten years had wrought ! What a contrast between 1827, when Kellogg came timorously into the country, and 1838, when that country, freed from Indian occupation, was comparatively thickly settled.
This year elections were held, and the first Assessor, L. O. Crocker, inducted into office. He was a most excellent man, who came into Freeport among the first to locate there, and engaged in merchandising. Well fitted to discharge the duties of life in whatever position he might be assigned, he was intrusted with many important duties and generous enterprises, and found faithful in all. He died many years ago, but not until he had witnessed the growth and advancement of the city from infancy and penury to age and wealth.
During the early administrations of the Assessor, every species of taxable personal property was listed. The cradle and the winding-sheet and the
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coffiin were doubtless excepted, but nearly every other necessity, not to say luxury, from a prairie-breaking team to a $12 watch, was made to pay tribute, and that, too, as high as the law permitted. The man who carried a time- piece of measured value, was compelled to pay 6} cents for the privilege, and three of the richest men in the county contributed $2 each to the support of the county on the watches they owned. Hubbard Graves was Collector, and the total amount paid him in his official capacity footed up $96 and some cents, the rate being about 45 cents on each $100 assessed value, which would give the assessed value of personal property in the county in 1838, about $21,333.
At the election this year the voters were more numerous than had par- ticipated in that held when the county was organized. For example, in Ridott Township, the election was held at Daniel Wooton's house, with the host. John Hoag and William Everts, Judges ; Horatio Hunt and Harvey Waters, Clerks; who, with D. W. C. Mallory, Philo Hammond, Giles Pierce, Zebulon Dimmick, William Barlow, Pat Frame and S. Forbes, constituted the number who were entitled to exercise the privileges of the elective franchise. The day there, as elsewhere, was made one of rejoicing. At Wooton's house a barrel of whisky was provided, and frequent resorts to its contents had a tendency to elevate, if not inebriate the company. All maintained a commendable condi- tion of sobriety, however, save one, whose capacity to resist the effects was disproportioned to his appetite for the beverage. As a consequence, when night came, the gentleman was oblivious to passing events, and scarcely able to maintain his equilibrium. During the day-an inseparable incident of all elections-the rain fell in torrents, and, when it came time to disperse, the route home was over shallows and full of difficulties, aggravated by the semi-incapacity of some to travel, and particularly the merry little gentleman under considera- tion. He crossed the river in safety, where a hill, the sides of which had attained the consistency of thin mortar by the action of the rain, opposed his advance. Like as a war-horse, while cavorting in peaceful solitudes hears the strains of marshal music, pricks up his ears and snorts and paws and kindles at the sound, so did the intoxicated citizen joy in the knowledge of his powers to overcome the difficulty. But he counted without carrying the fractions, for a trial was concluded with the subject on his back in the mud, the object of merriment to those who witnessed his fall. But he was a man of heroic mold, and, like Antæus, renewing his ambition with defeat, he raised up, a most laugh- able spectacle, and tried it again. The second attempt was attended with similar results, as was the third, until some of his neighbors crossed over to where he was and assisted him home, where he was tucked into bed and left to sleep off the effects of his too frequent absorbings.
It was in 1838 that the first house was built in the present village of Rock Grove; a schoolhouse was put up in Freeport, and Hiram Eads built a hotel in the same town, and, on the Fourth of July of that year, invited the entire country for miles around to take dinner therein.
The celebration here indulged in 1838 was the first of the series since celebrated in the county. Preparations were made for a proper observance of - the occasion weeks prior to its arrival. The Rev. F. C. Winslow was quite active in perfecting arrangements, as, also, were Benjamin Goddard, Isaac Stoneman, O. H. Wright, Allen Wiley, William Baker, the Truax boys, Abe Johnson, and, in fact, the patriotic citizens generally. For days before the Fourth, the Rev. Mr. Winslow had a class in training to sing ballads of Revo- lutionary memory and a national ode, believed to have been specially composed
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in honor of the event. This class was composed of Miss Cornelia Russell, now Mrs. T. J. Hazlett, and residing}in Freeport, Eliza Hunt, Marion Snow, Mrs. Amelia Webb, who subsequently married Hollis Jewell, and others, and it would be no exaggerated statement of the case to inform modern choristers that their efforts, including the Ode to Columbia, were received with pronounced mani- festations of pleasure. Benjamin Goddard's barn was selected as the forum, where the Declaration was read with proper emphasis upon each syllabic reference to liberty. O. H. Wright, it is believed, delivered an oration, after which, dinner, dancing and the pursuit of happiness as each particular celebrant individually inclined.
The year 1838 is remembered by the settlers of that day in connection with the tragedy which occurred in what is now Oneco Township, resulting in the suicide of one of the Lott family while laboring under a fit of temporary insanity. The cause of this diseased mind could not be ascertained, nor could any but the most meager particulars be obtained from presumably reliable sources. At all events, according to the drift of these statements, it appears that Lott, while invested with one of the constantly-recurring paroxysms manifested, left his home unbeknown to any of the family, who were cognizant that he had inherited the malady, and maintained a watch upon his movements, and, proceeding in the direction of Jonas Strohm's farm, in Section 27, disap- peared from view. He had not been gone long before his absence was noted, and a general search made for his whereabouts by members of the household, assisted by Alonzo Denio and others of the neighbors, who happened to be in the vicinity. After some delay, he was overtaken, but not until he had hanged himself to a tree, and was almost dead when found. He was cut down, it is said, by Alonzo Denio, and every effort made to resuscitate him, but without accomplishing the desired object. The spark of life was too feeble to be restored by the means improvised or the remedies employed. The scene of his immolation is almost in sight of the present home of Duke Chilton, half a mile distant from the village of Oneco, and was regarded with curiosity not unmingled with superstition for many years after. His tragic taking-off caused a feeling of gloom to pervade the vicinity, from the effects of which recovery was not immediate.
The first marriage ceremony by a minister of the gospel was celebrated early in February of this year, the happy pair submitting their affections for community purposes being Thomas Chambers and Rebecca Moore. The Rev. James McKean, better known as "Father Mckean," officiated, and pronounced them man and wife at John Moore's cabin, in Rock Grove, on property now owned by Levi Kiester. The cabin was but twenty feet square, yet in these contracted limits not less than forty guests were gathered as witnesses. The event was considered as of distinguished importance, and was attended by resi- dents in the county whose homes were some of them at a distance of eighteen miles from the scene of festivities. At the close of the services, cake, wine and music were dispensed with, and the couple settled down to the realities of life without any of the memories that chaperone brides of to-day when they launch their barques on the tempestuous waves of matrimony, hoping to float with the tide and escape all hidden obstructions.
These are some of the incidents of the times, but, while they were occur- ring, labor was not suspended by the architects who were engaged in those days laying the foundation for that magnificent superstructure which was to rise therefrom. The sublime promise ventured by its prophetic infancy was being gloriously realized unto Stephenson County, as day succeeded day, and months
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cycled into years. The hours of travail and despondency in which that infancy was passed were gone-glimmering phantoms, school-boy dreams-to yield place to days of rejoicings, when hope's most generous fruitions were fully realized to the confidences that had been reposed.
But improvements were not entirely confined to Freeport, as would be naturally imagined, though that municipality was particularly favored in this respect. The court house was in progress of completion there, the company of Kirkpatrick, Galbraith & Co., had been nearly constantly occupied in putting up buildings or providing for future operations. Benjamin Goddard was occu- pying the position of Boniface at the Mansion House, erected by himself. There were three stores in the town, to which an addition was made in the fall of 1838 by L. W. Guiteau, etc., etc. The country tributary was proportion- ately fortunate, and as proportionately benefited. The area of cultivation was increased and its quality improved by the introduction of valuable aids. While the labor of preparing and laying by the crop was thereby diminished, plans were incubating that should revolutionize the machinery employed at harvest, and found expression a year later, when a four-horse threshing machine was first used in the county.
Hamlets came into being, and towns, which had been heretofore laid out were platted and divided up into lots. Ransomburg, the first of the list which became flourishing cities in imagination, but finally sank into oblivion, was approaching that period of decay when its lease of life could be extended no further. A half-dozen residences, Way's school, Stewart's and Ransom's stores, and probably a. blacksmith shop, made up the aggregate of improvements, and less than half a score of inhabitants were enumerated in the bills of mortality. But its decay and final dismemberment, and the ultimate reduction of its site to agricultural purposes, produced no effect upon the army of enterprising men who had settled in the county, and were ambitious of distinction as the found- ers of towns. If anything, hope was stimulated and lived upon the almost certain results of the future. Robert McConnell, who drove a herd of cattle into the county about this time, purchased the title of Dennison & Vanzant to the town laid out by them in Waddams, which he named "McConnell's Grove," erected a store for trading purposes, and as a means of attracting settlers, which he stocked with goods purchased at Galena and hauled them to their final destination, over hills and sloughs, and remained in charge until the hopes he had nursed for days to come had become resolved into disappoint- ments.
Immigration in 1838 was, as it should be, greater than ever before. The flattering inducements held out for honest toil were not passed by unavailed of. The men who composed the incomers were, as those who came in before them, bred to the business of farming in the quiet old homes of New England, and the precedent established by Dr. Van Valzah encouraged a liberal quota of citizens of Pennsylvania to come hither. In addition, the number of foreigners was visibly increased, and what is claimed as the first Catholic Church in the county was that year erected in Irish Grove, though this is disputed by the commu- nicants of the Catholic Church in Dublin. But those were days of romance in church affairs, and a decision of the truth in the premises is remitted to the dis- putants.
The political views of the people then were not as pronounced or generally expressed as in later years. Indeed, politics and political manipulations did not concern them to any but a very limited extent. Among the pioneers of any new country, there will always be found a class of political adventurers who
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seek in new fields the life of ease and accumulation of property they were un- able to secure in common wealths established and indebted to the efforts of others for their independence, and there were no great political questions which, up to this time, divided the people. Politics was consequently more personal, and suffrage was bestowed more as a favor than to promote the public weal. The candidates represented the Whig and Locofoco parties, and, though the people almost to a man voted, it was not until 1837, when the murder of Eli- jah P. Lovejoy, at Alton, created the first impressions of the antagonism that were felt. This feeling grew apace with advancing time, and, though the democ- racy were often triumphant, and the party contained some of its ablest repre- sentatives from Stephenson County, an expression of the general opinion was delayed until the repeal of the Wilmot Proviso and the dissolution of the Whig party gave birth to the Republican party, which has obtained in Illinois for nearly a quarter of a century. But at the time we speak, politics was a most insignificant factor in the daily walks of life, and in 1838, at least, bore no ap- pearance to what it is to-day.
The arrivals that year included Robert Sisson, H. G. Davis, John Walsh, John and Thomas Warren. Isaac Scott, Samuel Liebshitz, Christian Strockey, with two sons, Chauncey Stebbins. F. Rosenstiel, P. L. Wright, William Preston, Louis Preston, Matthew Bredendall (Thomas Carter, Isaac Rand, Samuel Bogenruff, L. L. Pitcher, a man named Lathrop and some others settled about this time in Kent), Lewis Gitchell, David Gitchell, Philo Hammond, Ezekiel and Jacob Forsythe, John Lloyd, Putnam Perley, Ezekiel Brown, John Brazee, Christian Clay, J. D. Fowler, James McGhu, Adrian Lucas, Newcomb Kinney, Charles A. Gore, Hiram Gaylord, Cornelius and Jonathan Cowan, Alexander Allen, John Bradford, Thomas Loring, Columbus and Ichabod Thompson, Elias and Edward Hunt, and some others, doubtless, but lack of memory prevented the securing of their names.
Taken for its all in all, the year 1838, was one of success for Stephenson County, paving the way for the important events which followed in the years that succeeded.
The season of 1839 was, in very many respects, regarding settlements and improvements, a duplicate of 1838. The machinery of government moved noise- lessly and effectively, and among the improvements put up was a building on Luman Montague's farm, in West Point Township, to be devoted exclusively to school purposes, the first of the kind appropriated to that object in the county. The building was long since torn down, but the site is there, visible to the passer-by from Nora to Bobtown, on the farm now owned by H. C. Montague. The court house had been made ready for use, and the log jail, when necessary, was guarded by citizens, the same not having been sufficiently completed at this time to safely house prisoners. At one time this calaboose was filled with prisoners, received the addition of a man arrested for horse-stealing in Winnebago, and bringing his stolen property to Freeport. He was ar- raigned and called upon to plead, when his counsel moved to quash the indictment and discharge his client. The motion was demurred to, but with- out avail, as the document was defective, and no other course was left to the Judge but direct the issue of an order providing for the prisoner's release. At this critical juncture his Honor adjourned court without tak- ing action in the case, and a young man hastened to Rockford for the pur- pose of procuring a warrant for his return thither. Arriving at Rock- ford about midnight, he forded the river for the purpose of finding a Justice of the Peace, but just as he came out of the water he was met by a vigilance
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committee on the look out for horse-thieves, and narrowly escaped the punish" ment usually administered to one of that gentry. He was able to convince them of his identity in time to avoid the impending penalty, and, hurrying to the residence of a Justice, procured the document he was after. With this he returned to Freeport, in time for the opening of court in the morning, when the defective indictment was quashed and the prisoner discharged, but at once re-arrested and taken to Rockford, where he was tried, with the usual results.
It might be here observed that horse-thieves and rattlesnakes were among the most dangerous foes settlers had to contend with. The former were cunning in attack ; the latter fatal. Horse-thieves might be prevented from operating, but the bite of the rattlesnake was instant death in comparison. Every effort was made to kill off both, but without much satisfaction until the country became more generally settled, and the land-owners were, by associations and mutual-aid organizations, enabled to control one of these classes of cormorants. The horse-thieves infested every part of the country that promised returns, and counties bordering on the northern line of the State were particularly annoyed. The gang carried on their felonies so deftly that it was difficult to catch them in the act, and by the time discovery was made they were too far in the lead to induce pursuit. If, however, they were pursued, it was rare to over- take them, or, if captured, it was after they had disposed of the booty to an accomplice, who pushed across the Mississippi and sold him to a purchaser in the mines or one about to visit the interior.
A pair of these scoundrels visited the farm of Conrad Van Brocklin, in the town of Florence, upon one occasion, and came remarkably near getting away with a pair of fine blooded horses Mr. V. B. greatly prized. It was during the afternoon, and the horses were quietly feeding in the pasture. Sud- denly Mr. V. B.'s attention was attracted to the efforts of the thieves, and, comprehending the situation, he started to prevent them from executing their designs. But they succeeded in eluding his pursuit for the time being, and, procuring the assistance of Mason Dimmick, Van Brocklin started in their wake. The villains, however, had gotten considerably in advance, and but for one circumstance would easily have escaped. One of the horses had a peculiar dread of crossing a stream of water, and could not be made to enter a stream. The thieves had no bridles for the horses, and this rendered their escape the more difficult. At the first stream, the stolen steeds came to a dead halt, and no amount of persuasion or severity could influence them to budge. When Van Brocklin and Dimmick came in sight, both horses were abandoned, and the scoundrels sought security in the fastnesses of the swamp. In the mean time it began to grow dark, and both escaped.
Samuel Smith, of Lancaster, was depredated upon in this manner, and never recovered his stock, as they were transported to the Mississippi and were never more heard of. These are individual cases, and fairly illustrate the actual state of affairs existing at the time.
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