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 29
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY.
aught happening or being done to solve the mystery of Boardman's continued and prolonged silence. As summer appeared, with the dawn of June, a query was addressed to many in this connection, calculated to assail the innocence of Noble, and put him upon the defensive. One afternoon, Mr. Marsh, a neigh- bor, was engaged in the discharge of his farm duties, when his sense of smell was assailed by the stench of corruption, and he hastened to ascertain the cause. After a brief search, his efforts were rewarded by the finding of a human skel- eton in the brush, so decayed that it was beyond recognition, yet bearing marks indicating that he had met death by violence. Mr. Marsh detached the skull from its connection with the body, and, proceeding to Noble's premises, exhibited his "find " to the latter, who was engaged in threshing in his barn. His appearance upon being confronted with the spectacle was calculated to con- firm previous suspicions, and after consultation it was decided to arrest him on the following day, or as soon thereafter as a warrant could be obtained therefor from Justice Frankeberger. In the mean time, Noble directed his wife to get ready, and that night he quietly disappeared. Mrs. Noble he left at her father's, in Ogle County, while he proceeded to Dixon, where he left his team, thence to parts unknown. He was never arrested, and the death of Boardman, in all probability a victim to the unsettled condition of affairs at that day, or the turbu- lent passions of man, has always been involved in mystery.
A correspondent of the Madison (Wis.) Express, traveling through this country about that time, gives his impressions of portions of the county through which he passed, as follows :
" Since I have been here I have been about the county considerably, and have become well convinced that it is well deserving of the high reputation it has attained, of being one of the very best counties in the State. From Rock- ford to this place (Freeport), the road passes through one continuous prairie, with the exception of a grove about one mile in length. The prairie is quite rolling, in many places amounting to hills, with an uncommonly rich and fertile soil. There is in this county less waste land on account of sloughs or marshy places than in most prairie countries with which I am acquainted. Yet the land is admirably well watered, there being a clear creek nearly every mile, wending its way through the prairie to the Pecatonica. These, I am told, originate in springs, the water being always clear and pure, and the streams never dry. The banks of the creeks are usually high, and the land, on either side of the water's edge, is perfectly dry. A heavy body of timber is to be found on the north side of the Pecatonica River, the best growth I have ever found in the State. It is mainly oak, but in many places we find a great variety of heavy timber."
The population of the county was then supposed to be somewhere between five and ten thousand, and was "rapidly increasing." The amount of wheat raised in the county, that year, was upward of fifty thousand bushels, which talked well for a county that had been settled a little less than ten years. It was but ten years since Mr. Waddams erected the first cabin, and what vast changes time had wrought! Since that day, though, the progress of the county has been far more rapid-far beyond the wildest expectations of the most hopeful enthusiast. The five thousand inhabitants have increased to nearly ten times that number. The prairies, with scarcely a cabin to vary the monotony of the landscape, now present unbroken chains of the finest farms in the country, ornamented with mansions and buildings. The dirt roads and corduroy tracks, with their lumber wagons and " prairie schooners," have given place to the railways and palace cars.
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY.
The following year, 1844, was characterized by the arrival of a class of settlers who were possessed of some means, and desirous of investing a portion of what they brought with them in lands, to hold the same until it appreciated in value, when sales could be effected with profit. At that time, F. D. Bulk- ley was Recorder of the county, and, in the discharge of his official duties appertaining to the position, he was sometimes assisted by his daughter and niece. These young ladies, though almost constantly occupied, were ever ready to assist the pursuit of knowledge by strangers who were endeavoring to trace a chain of title, and generally had little time to devote to anything else. These visitors were quite numerous, and many of those who came in at that time and became real-estate speculators have remained, and are now large land-owners.
About this period, the troubles arising between purchasers and claimants first found open expression, and sometimes reached a state of affairs that could only be likened to a combat between the cats of Kilkenny, or worse. As will be remembered, these troubles grew out of the land sales at Dixon, and were pursued until one of the contesting parties had reached the end of his worsted. In these sales, the doctrine caveat emptor should have obtained, but did not apply. The purchaser of a claim by no means secured possession of his property by the payment of the purchase money. If its location impinged upon the claim of an old campaigner, or rather one who had come in at an early day and borne the heat of the battle, he was decided in his refusal to yield the coign of vantage to one who came on to the field when the victory was won. In many of the townships the fight between claimants and purchasers was prolonged and bitter. If the purchaser insisted upon maintaining his title to the property, he was met by opposition which endangered his remaining, and in all cases realizing this fact, he generally abandoned the field of occupation to his foe, and departed for other scenes. There is no recorded case of homicide grow- ing out of these disturbances, but these may have been avoided by the surrender of him whose alleged right was disputed. An instance of this is to be found in the case of a resident of Rock Run, who innocently became a trespasser, though he claimed title to lands purchased at Dixon. His neighbors, including the Seeleys, Carnefex, Webb, Davis and others, so interfered with his occupation that he was compelled finally to abandon the land and go elsewhere. These troubles, however, were finally compromised, and long since ceased to exist ; but, while they were active, nothing short of civil war, say those familiar with its ramifications, could equal the land contests for bitterness and refusal to yield.
There were many other annoyances to which these same people were subjected, long after the introduction of civil process, and the establishment of courts; but they have not occurred during late years, and need only be referred to as among the incidents of life in the West at an early day.
Among those who came in 1844, was the Hon. John H. Addams, President of the Second National Bank, and as prominently identified with landed as monetary affairs. He settled in Cedarville, where he purchased the mill built, in 1837, by Dr. Van Valzah. He has represented the district, in which Stephenson County is included, in the State Senate, is the father of railroad enterprise in Stephenson County, and of the extension of lines to points that were thereby benefited. In all the departments of life he has sustained a character above criticism, and is esteemed not more for his unimpeachable integrity than his enterprise and public spirit.
The year 1845 was not different from 1844, in any of its salient features. The prospects were no more discouraging than had been those of that year, and the improvements had kept pace with the times, though the rush of emigration
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and the influx of money was not by any means proportioned to the wishes of the people. Farmers were yet obliged to market their products in Chicago, and put up with treatment that enforced a belief that their lives were not nearly so independent as they were considered by men who contemplated them from a distance. Little had been done even at this late day, to render the roads passable, and, when teamsters en route to Chicago or other distant points found them to be in a condition that forbade their attempting to proceed, they unloaded, and, returning to Freeport, waited until the weather and improvement of the highways permitted them to renew the attempt. This entailed a second loss in the depreciated value of the quality, which, with that estimated by the purchaser in Chicago, had a tendency to diminish the area of cultivation, and turn atten- tion to other sources of revenue which would not be so severely assessed.
The coming of railroads, however, a few years later, rather equalized the necessities of both planter and factor, and removed this embargo to progress and wealth.
MEXICAN WAR.
Before the close of 1845, the dispute with Mexico, consequent upon the admission of Texas, became so open and apparently beyond the powers of diplomatic agents to adjust, that war between that nation and the United States was only a question of time. This was what came, as all remember, after robberies and outrages had been perpetrated under the cloak of official sanction, involving the loss of millions of dollars' worth of property to Americans resi- dent in Mexico and upon the border.
When hostilities were begun, a call was made for volunteers, apportioned mostly to the Western and Southern States, and the requisition from Illinois embraced three regiments. When this proclamation was promulgated, and reached Stephenson County, it created an excitement and enthusiasm only equaled by that precipitated by the firing upon Sumter. Age forgot its crutch and labor its task; and youth, rank and genius rushed into the lists, anxious to be of the number who should follow the eagles of another Cortes and camp in the halls of the Montezumas. Nor was this spirit of ardent patriotism confined to the men. It was manifested by ladies, who formed sewing societies and aided in the fashioning of uniforms for the soldiers, and flags for the regiments. Public meetings were convened and the situation discussed by men who hurled oratorical thunderbolts against the pugnacious foe. Volunteers were enlisted without bounty or effort, and, after imperfect preparation, hurried to the field of battle, thirsting for reputation and gore.
In Freeport, a public meeting was called, which convened at the court house, during the continuance of this excitement, and was largely attended by representatives from all portions of the county. Maj. John Howe officiated as Chairman ; addresses of patriotic import were made by Thomas J. Turner. S. B. Farwell and others, and some enlistments were secured that evening, What is true in this connection regarding the feeling at Freeport, applies to other portions of the county. Wherever a settlement existed, the utmost enthu- siasm was manifested, and volunteers were greatly in excess of the demand. About twenty-five recruits were obtained in Stephenson County, including William Goddard, of West Point, who was promoted to a Captaincy, and survived the contest to fall at Shiloh; the Pattee boys, George and Jason, from Lancaster and Silver Creek; Foster Hart, from Florence, with others representing the remaining townships. They were apportioned to the company commanded by Captain McKinney, of Dixon, it is said, and formed part of the Second Regiment
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY.
of Illinois troops, of which J. L. D. Morrison, of St. Clair County, but latterly a resident of St. Louis, was appointed Colonel. The regiment was mustered in July 2, 1846, and, after a brief sojourn in camp, crossed the Rio Grande and entered the city of Santa Rosa, thence proceeding to the base of the Sierra Gorda. This regiment participated in the battle of Buena Vista, and other engagements, being finally disbanded at Camargo, whence they returned home, arriving in Springfield, June 4, 1847, thence to their several places of enlist- ment.
The soldiers on their reaching home were received with marks of affection, and tendered, as they deserved, the enthusiastic welcomes of the people. Dinners, addresses, toasts and speeches greeted their arrival ; newspapers in the vicinity lauded their patriotism, while, as candidates for office, civilians were obliged to yield precedence to the victorious warrior. Those who had fallen on the battle-field, or died in the hospital, were held in sacred remembrance, while the wounded who bore the marks of strife, were regarded with an awe and veneration passing comparative comprehension.
In April, 1847, the Government issued another call for troops, that was responded to with equal readiness, and the lists of volunteers, it is believed, were made up in part of residents of Stephenson County, mustered into the Sixth Regiment. However, the fall of the City of Mexico virtually ended the war, and, beyond investing Vera Cruz, and the engagement at Tampico, the duties of the two battalions into which this regiment was divided, were confined to garrisons, returning home when peace was declared, to again take part in the duties which had been temporarily abandoned to engage in the pursuit of arms.
RAILROADS.
In the fall of 1846, according to the record, the people began to appreci- ate the necessity of an outlet and a market for their crops, and a strong feeling in favor of railroads began to manifest itself. This was the beginning of an era in the progress of the State, county and city. The farmers had long before realized how utterly hopeless any approach to independence could be made under the existing condition of affairs. The labor employed in cultivating the soil and laying by the crops, together with the expense of conveying them to market, left but a small margin when high prices were paid for their products. But the rates received by them, per bushel for their grain, and other expenses incurred in its delivery, left them no margin for present necessities or future operations. They must either obtain more remunerative prices, less expensive means of transportation, or engage in occupations that would not only afford a living, but a surplus upon which to live when age incapacitated them from the active duties of life. With these sentiments, the project of securing a railway, accessible to farmers in the county, was canvassed, and met with a hearty response from those interested. Scheming brains, with an eye to the future, endeavored to formulate a plan by which this inestimable desideratum might be attained, and its powerful aid secured to develop the country, as also to educate, civilize, and Christianize the people. People talked about the influences it would exert, and it became a topic of general conversation on the streets, or in the hotels, in the commercial marts, and by the fireside. However, nothing came of the efforts made in that connection during the year 1846 but plans which did not crystallize into acts, and it was not until the following year that practical work commenced.
On January 7, 1847, quoting from the recollections of John H. Addams, who was prominently instrumental in agitating the subject until it was regarded
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feasible, the first railroad convention ever held in the Western country was con- vened at Rockford. The attendance was very large, and included representa- tives from all portions of the country. Among those who attended from Ste- phenson County, the residents of which, by the way, were instrumental in call- ing the meeting, were John H. Addams, Luman Montague, Jackson Richart, D. A. Knowlton, Martin P. Sweet and Adrian Lucas. W. B. Ogden, Walter Newberry and I. N. Arnold were present from Chicago, and, after the disposi- tion of preliminary business, the questions at issue were very generally dis- cussed. The Chicago party proposed to commence the building of a road under a charter previously obtained, and this led to the organization of a company under which the Galena & Chicago road was constructed.
Though there was scarcely any money in the country, and it was indis- pensable to the success of the corporation that $20,000 of stock be taken in the county, the people subscribed as liberally as their limited means would permit, and succeeded in raising this amount. Railroad meetings were not frequent in those days, the settlers residing so far apart that they could not assemble at a moment's notice, and those interested in placing the stock were obliged to travel the county to secure its taking. Wherever they went the residents were found willing to co-operate, the ladies vieing with the sterner sex in their readiness to render assistance. They appreciated how necessary it was to have the road built, and were prepared to make any personal sacrifice to further the under- taking. Many of them helped pay for the stock subscribed for at their solicita- tion from the profits derived by the sales of butter, cheese and other house- hold productions, even depriving themselves of the means necessary to educate their children that a railroad might be built for the good of that and future generations. The stock sales were but incidents connected with an enterprise the establishment of which is always attended with difficulties. The road was finally completed to Belvidere, when the management was called upon to encounter greater vexations than any it had been able to dispose of up to that time. At this point an effort was made to divert the road from its original route to Savannah, which would leave Stephenson County without the benefits her peo- ple had so industriously labored for and liberally contributed to obtaining. Those who had urged the taking of stock were discouraged at the apparent failure of the scheme, while those who had subscribed were bitter in their expressions of disappointment.
Finally, a committee of gentlemen from Freeport, composed of J. H. Addams, D. A. Knowlton, O. H. Wright and John A. Clark, visited Rockford to endeavor to procure the execution of the original contract, and secured the indorsement of the people that so far as they could influence a decision it should be done. The trip was continued to Chicago, and after labors that were effectual as were the laborers deserving of the public thanks, the project of divert- ing the road was abandoned. Labor was continued on the route, and in August, 1853, the iron horse entered Freeport amid the rejoicings that such an occasion would bring forth. After many days, the trials of the people had become resolved into a triumph both pronounced and valuable. Those days have long since glided into the past, and the pioneer, who then acted his part in the struggle for improvement, realizes in the present days, always bright and clear with the glad sunshine and the song of birds, that " God will remember the world."
The building of the Illinois Central was begun almost with the building of the Galena & Chicago, and its entry into Freeport was made almost at the same time. The grand scheme of connecting Lake Michigan with the
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY.
Mississippi had long been a desideratum with the people of Illinois, and when, in 1850, an act was passed by Congress granting 3,000,000 acres to the State to aid in its construction, the completion of the road was regarded almost as a foregone conclusion.
The act granted a right of way for the railroad through the public lands the width of two hundred feet from the southern terminus of the Illinois and Michigan Canal to a point at or near the junction of the Ohio and Mis- sissippi Rivers, and for branches to Chicago and Galena. The construction of the road was to be commenced at its northern and southern termini simul- taneously, and when completed, the branches were to be built.
With the passage of this bill, it became the duty of the Legislature of Illi- nois to make a disposition of this grant, which should be not only prudent and wise, but satisfactory. After no inconsiderable delay, caused by the efforts necessary to defeat peculation and the appropriation of the franchise by other parties, a bill was passed by the Legislature, and became a law February 10, 1851, providing for its survey, construction and equipment.
When the bill passed, or rather prior thereto, an understanding existed between the agent of the English capitalists, who were to furnish the money to build the road, and the Galena & Chicago management, that the former would proceed to Galena and the Mississippi River via Freeport. In consider- ation of this, the Galena road was to terminate at Freeport, and assign the right of way thence to Galena to the Illinois Central. This was the outgrowth of the efforts made during the construction of that road to divert its route in the direction of Savannah. When that question was under consideration, as will be remembered, a committee representing Stephenson County visited Rock- ford and Chicago, and labored for the prevention of so great a violation of the contract under which stock was subscribed to its building. The labors of this committee produced a restraining effect, as would appear in the light of subse- quent events, upon the influences exerted, and brought the road, as was prom- ised it should come, direct to Freeport.
Surveys were at once commenced, and by the spring of 1852, had made such progress that grading and track-laying were succeeding each other with gratifying rapidity, and the road completed to Freeport in 1853, with but little interruption. While the work was progressing in Silver Creek Township, near Crain's Grove, an emeute was caused among the laborers by the dissatis- faction expressed by strikers for higher wages. At first no attention was paid to the demands or complaints by the contractors. Emboldened by the admis- sions this silence was construed into conceding, the "gang" suddenly aban- doned work, with the significant assurance that it would not be resumed until they had a surfeit of leisure. Soon after their pugnacity became excited with drafts of liquor, which was on tap in the camp, and for a brief period it seemed as if a reign of terror would be substituted for peace and order, so difficult to maintain. At this juncture, the railroad authorities appealed to the law for protection, whereupon Capt. J. W. Crane marshaled his militiamen and, marching to the scene of disorder, distributed the whisky among the woods and creeks, dispersed the rebels, suppressed the disorder and came marching home with a consciousness of duty well performed.
The road was completed to Dubuque, Iowa, in May 1855, and on July 18, of that year, was formally opened with a celebration, attended by many who had been instrumental in procuring its construction and equipment. Stephenson County sent her prominent men to the city of Julien Dubuque, to grace with their presence an occasion so felicitous with the results of labors in which they
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had been " wheel-horses." Stephen A. Douglas orated, and the predictions he ventured regarding the future of Illinois, many have lived to see realized.
The Illinois Central enters the county in the southern portion of Silver Creek Township, passing through Silver Creek, Harlem, Erin and West Point, a distance of about fifteen miles. The Northwestern or Galena and Chicago, passes through Ridott and Silver Creek, to Freeport, its western terminus.
The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul line, entering the county near Davis, in Rock Run Township, was formerly operated under the name of the " Racine & Mississippi Railroad." It passes through Rock Run, Dakota, Lancaster, Silver Creek and Florence Townships, and does a large way business. The company was chartered in 1852, to build a road from Racine to Beloit, and was organized the same year. The city of Racine and the towns of Racine, Elkhorn, Dela- van and Beloit subscribed an aggregate of $490,000 for that amount of stock, while farmers along the line of the road took considerable of the same, for the payment of which they mortgaged their farms. The road was completed to Beloit in 1856, but, failing to pay interest on its bonds and maturing indebted- ness, a new company took possession of the property and refused to recognize the rights of the farmers who had hypothecated their realty for stock. Almost endless litigation followed the transfer of the corporation, but, the holders being innocent purchasers, the courts recognized their equities, and the mortgagors were compelled to pay them.
Along in 1858-59, the extension of the road to Freeport was commenced and prosecuted with vigor. The labors thereon were continuous and uninter- rupted, save by an experience similar to that encountered by the Illinois Cen- tral in Silver Creek Township, i. e., a strike instigated by a number of unruly laborers who attempted to compete successfully with capital, but failed of achieving results. The affair occurred at "Deep Cut," and was participated in by a majority of those employed ; but Capt. Crane's company, with their arms at a "right-shoulder shift," hurried to the scene and suppressed the mutiny without loss.
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