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 64
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The decade between 1840 and 1850 was noticeable for the number and quality of those who came into Ridott to settle; during that period the improvements that were made, included the railroad then projected, and many other features of enterprise that in these Edisonian days would be regarded as bubbles on the water. On the 28th of August, 1842, a colony of English agriculturists arrived in the township and took up land that had been reserved for their occupation in the timber. The "head-centers " of the party sent out an agent the year previous who canvassed the situa- tion in America, prospected over the West quite generally, and, after making careful estimates of the advantages offered elsewhere, advised the establish- ment of an English colony in the township of Ridott. The report submitted and containing the recommendation cited was adopted, and in harmony there- with, the following persons came into the township: Thomas Hunt, wife and mother ; Robert Knight, Charles Foulkes, Robert Lankford and wife, Thomas Clay, Henry Layland Knight and wife, Charlotte Hurst, John Wooton, George Barnes, Joseph Gibson, Joseph Lester and W. R. Fairburn and wife. They settled in the timber and remained together about one year and a half, employ- ing their knowledge, obtained at home, in preparing the earth for the bounteous harvests, which have since been yielded. At the expiration of that period, death, a division of sentiments and other causes combined to dissolve the colony, the members of which were distributed about the then almost undiscovered West. Many, however, remained in Stephenson County, where they have prospered, and are, to-day, among the most extensive and enterprising farmers in this portion of the State.
About 1850, lands began to increase in value and command ready sale. During that year, the influx of Germans was quite large. They were com- posed of the better class of that nationality, and, settling south of the old State road, opened up farms and completed improvements, which to the present day, testify in behalf of those who projected and concluded them. The colony originally numbered about fifty members, among whom were Poppa Poppa, Wessel Wessels, Jurin van Buckum, Christian Akerman, Folk Huyanga, Yelle Ruter, Uno Collman, T. Jussen and others, whose descendants have sur- vived them and succeeded to generous inheritances, the fruit of labor employed by their parents, and which has done so much to create a demand for land in the State.
From 1850 to 1860, the settlements made by individuals and parties were more frequent and permanent. In 1852, the Galena & Chicago road, since
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY.
passed into the possession of the Northwestern corporation, was completed through Ridott and contributed materially to the populating and improvement of the township. In 1860, the lands had been generally taken up and occu- pied ; the war, as a matter of course, diminished the population to an apprecia- ble extent ; but since its close, the numbers who enlisted and never returned have been made up by the arrival of those now counted among the inhab- itants and identified with the public good. The township, to-day, is regarded, by those at least who reside within its limits, as one of the most healthful, fertile and desirable in the county, the home of industry, independence and prosperity.
The first deaths are alleged to be the drowning of Milburn and Reed, in Pecatonica River, as related in the history of Silver Creek Township, in which township it is also claimed this accident occurred.
RIDOTT VILLAGE.
When the Galena & Chicago Railroad was completed through the township, a station was established about one mile west of the present village, and a town surveyed and platted. The place was named Nevada, after Nevada City, Colo., at which point Daniel Wooten, who owned the ground upon which the former place was located, died in 1849, while en route to California. A post office was established here, of which William Wright was the Postmaster. Con- siderable improvements were made, and for several years appearances seemed to indicate that Nevada would, in a brief time, become a thriving town.
This condition of affairs remained unchanged until the summer of 1860. At that time, J. S. Cochran and brother, of Freeport, purchased 60 acres of land upon part of which the village of Ridott now stands. It seems that prior to the purchase of the town site, the Cochrans had concluded a contract with the rail- road company, by the terms of which the former were to grade the side tracks, plat and lay out the town, in consideration of the company's removing the sta- tion to the point now occupied. Accordingly, the side tracks, etc., were com- pleted, thirty acres of land were surveyed and platted into lots 30x120, and on the 10th day of July, 1860, the station was removed. Immediately thereafter, G. W. Loveland, Postmaster at Nevada, in obedience to instructions from the Department, removed the post office thither, and completed his present house on Adams street, the first house in the village, which was at that time known as " Cochranville." Improvements were made without delay. The Cochrans built the large frame building on Adams street, now known as the " Farmers' Store." A man named Oscar H. Osborn erected a house near the track, and adapted the same to residence and saloon purposes. In 1861, Samuel Irvin built a shoe- shop on Adams street ; James Clark, a residence on the same thoroughfare, and W. E. Moorhouse a dwelling on Jefferson street, these constituting the improve- ments made until the close of the war. The period intervening between 1861 and 1865 was not noticeable for enterprise ; some little building was carried on, but nothing of note is remembered to have occurred. Quite a number of sol- diers enlisted from Cochranville and vicinity, a limited number of whom returned, the remainder yielded to the fortunes of war and were buried in the trenches, or settled elsewhere.
During the fall of 1861, through the agency of a petition prepared by the residents and addressed to the Department at Washington, the name of the village was changed to " Ridott," by which name it has been known to the postal authorities, the commercial world and the general public, ever since.
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY.
After the peace at Appomattox Court House, an impetus was given to building up and improving the village. Ross Babcock erected the brick block on Adams street, containing two stores, office rooms and "Ridott Hall," a com- modious audience-room dedicated to "free speech," wherein the Free Methodists hold services, lectures are delivered, soirees are given, and the cheerful min- strel warbles his melodies. Isaac S. Shirey put up a handsome residence on Washington street ; J. A. Kerr followed the precedent on the same street, and later, Josiah Deimer, Mrs. Lewis Getchell, Reuben Clark and Hezekiah Poffen- berger, on the same thoroughfare; Henry Gibler, one on Adams street ; Dr. M. W. Walton moved a building into the village and reconstructed it, making an attractive residence out of its frame, etc., etc.
In 1867, the church edifice of the United Brethren Association on Adams street was commenced, and completed during the year following. In 1869, the old red schoolhouse on the Waters place was vacated, and the base of operations changed to the handsome brick schoolhouse on Jefferson street, completed that year and since occupied.
The past ten years have been years of prosperity, though not fruitful of events or replete with accidents or incidents calculated to inspire ambitious youth or create a fever in the blood of the age. In 1875, the town was incor- porated as a village, under the general law, with the following list of officers. It should be observed, however, that the first birth was a son to Oscar and Mary Osborn, named Irwin, and who now resides in Iowa. The first death was Elizabeth Leech, and the marriage of Brock Mullen to Mrs. Mary Hill was the first matrimonial venture concluded in the town.
The village now contains a population of about 350, has three stores, two blacksmith-shops, two saloons, two religious congregations, and one wagon, shoe and harness shop, also one livery stable.
OFFICIAL ROSTER.
1874-F. D. Coolidge, President; H. P. Waters, Samuel Moyer, O. M. Doty, W. A. Kerr and J. L. Robinson, Associates.
1875-Reuben Clark, President; Samuel Moyer, J. L. Robinson, C. L. Christie, H. Poffenberger and W. A. Kerr.
1876-Isaac S. Shirey, President; C. L. Christie, Reuben Clark, O. M. Doty, H. Poffenberger and Samuel Moyer.
1877-H. Poffenberger, President; Samuel Moyer, Terrence Griffin, H. Gochenour, F. W. Kerr and Robert Shirey.
1878-Henry Gochenour, President; C. W. Warner, C. A. Dibble and G. W. Moyer.
At a special election held November 5, 1878, Isaac S. Shirey and O. M. Doty were selected as Trustees.
1879-Isaac S. Shirey, President; Reuben Clark, W. K. McGilligan, Samuel Moyer, O. M. Doty and H. B. Dibble.
1880-H. Poffenberger, President ; R. Clark, W. K. McGilligan, H. Gochenour, C. Knickenberg and James Hotchkiss.
Clerks .- W. A. Kerr, 1874; I. S. Shirey, 1875; W. K. McGilligan, 1876-78; G. R. Loveland, 1879; George E. Bennett, 1880.
Treasurers .- S. Moyer, 1874-76; G. W. Loveland, 1877-80.
Police Magistrates .- G. W. Loveland, 1875: resigned and was succeeded by M. W. Walton, who still serves.
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY.
SCHOOLS.
The first school taught in this portion of the township, was a select school in a log house on the farm of Horace Colburn, now owned by Samuel Moyer. Here Miss Laura Colburn and her successors in office sowed the seeds of knowledge and administered the birch for about ten years. At that date, or in 1855, a frame schoolhouse was erected on the farm of Harvey P. Waters, and for fourteen years the " Old Red Schoolhouse," by which term it was known, did duty as a church, lecture-room and house of entertainment, in addition to the object for which it was erected. In 1869, the brick schoolhouse on Jeffer- son street was completed, the " Old Red " vacated, and moved to the Moyer farm, where it supplies a varied want, graphically expressed as "long felt," being a wash-house, butcher shop, and what not peculiar to settlements pro- vided with limited resources.
The present school edifice is 40x60, compactly built, two stories high, and cost about $5,000. The premises contain two departments, employ two teachers, and enjoy an average daily attendance of seventy-five pupils. The schools are conducted at an annual expense of $1,200, a portion of which is obtained from the State, and are under the control of a board composed of Wesley Johns, J. A. Kerr and Marvin Hammond.
RELIGIOUS.
United Brethren Association .- This society, the largest and most influen tial in Ridott, was established in the township before the village was laid out, with a small membership, under the pastorate of the Rev. James Johnson. The congregation was composed of residents of Nevada principally, as also mem- bers of the denomination residing in other portions of Ridott Township, and serv- ices were conducted in the schoolhouse, first on the Moyer farm, and, finally, until the church was built, in that on the Waters farm.
In 1867, the frame edifice on Adams street was commenced, its comple- tion and dedication being postponed until the following year, when it was taken possession of and has since been occupied. It is of frame, 28x48, handsomely equipped, capable of seating an audience of two hundred. The congregation at present numbers forty-five members ; the church property represents an estima- ted valuation of $2,500, and the following have officiated as Pastors : Revs. James Johnson, Mr. Frazer, Mr. Dodds, Mr. Davis, L. B. Peck, G. B. Wal- ker, J. H. Phillips, Mr. Thayer, P. Hurles, I. K. Statten, J. H. Grimm, F. Reibel, H. D. Hesley, and W. S. Hayes, the present incumbent.
Free Methodists-Numbering about thirty communicants, was organized in 1875, under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Ferns. The association worships in Babcock's Hall, the Rev. Mr. Frink being the Pastor in charge.
RIDOTT CEMETERY,
located on the farm of Samuel Moyer, and laid out about 1868 or 1869, is a handsome inclosure of one acre, devoted to burial purposes, and under the control of Mr. Moyer. The cemetery contains some elaborately carved monuments, commemorating the virtues of those who sleep beneath the sod, and is a spot of beauty, if not a resort for joyous pleasure, that will be regarded with sympathetic interest until the world is rolled up like a scroll.
POST OFFICE.
Was removed from Nevada in 1860, to the depot in Cochranville, with G. W. Loveland as Postmaster. In the fall of 1861, it was changed to Ridott. Mr.
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY.
Loveland remained in charge until 1863, when he was succeeded by Samuel Irvin, who removed the office to his store on Adams street. He was followed by William Carroll, Jr., who continued in possession from 1865 until 1870, when Jacob D. Schmeltzer took charge, and acted until I. S. Shirey was appointed. Mr. S. discharged the trust until the fall of 1879, when he resigned and G. S. Babcock was appointed his successor, and is still serving.
RIDOTT BAND.
The village boasts a band, composed of the young men residing in the vicinity, which was organized in 1878, and on all occasions when its services are called into requisition, discourses most excellent music.
- WEST POINT TOWNSHIP.
This township, located on the western boundary of the county, is six miles square, embracing the east half of Township 28, with an aggregate area of 22,800 acres, 19,574 of which are under cultivation. The western portion of the township is as fine prairie as can be seen anywhere, while the part occupied by Waddams Grove, is covered with a superior quality of timber. In the eastern portion of the township, there is more or less scattering timber, or, as they are usually called, openings. A number of excellent limekilns and stone- quarries have been opened in the township ; there is no lack of excellent water ; fruit is cultivated with profit to the producer, and a steady market is afforded the farmers-combinations which have aided in building up and rendering prosperous what is claimed by the inhabitants of West Point, as the banner township in the county.
In the early part of the year 1832, William Waddams, accompanied by his sons Hiram and Nelson, arrived in Illinois, and, staking out his claim on the north side of the grove which has inherited his name, became the pioneer settler, not only of West Point Township, but also of Stephenson County. He was, barring the presence of his two children, solitary and alone in the primeval forests of the undeveloped West, with neighbors on the east no nearer than Rock River, Galena on the west, and Grant County, Wis., at the north, where there lived Andrew Clino, a man who is represented at that date to have been a patriarch in years, adventures and experience.
Here he resided for two years and upward, when George S. Payne ven- tured into the vicinity, and settled himself on the farm subsequently owned by Thomas S. French. During this year, John Garner, with his sons, A. J. and Alphonso Garner, entered a claim within half a mile of the present limits of the village of Lena. This trinity comprehended the number of emigrants who yielded to Western attractions, and established an abiding-place in West Point Township. The precedent thus established was emulated a year later by Rodney and Luman Montague and William Tucker. These gentlemen settled near William Waddams, and for years supplied the absence of neighbors.
In 1836, Jabez Smith, Alfred and Sanford Giddings, looked in upon the settlement established near Waddams Grove, but passed on and became identified with the building up of Kent Township. John B. Kaufman came in 1835, and remained only a year, when he moved to Erin Township, but Wash- ington Parker, who settled in West Point during 1836, remained without in- dulging his wandering proclivities.
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY.
The tide of emigration which followed westwardly in 1837, was not checked, did not ebb, before West Point Township was overrun with new-comers, many of whom remained, while others drifted into the waves of circumstances or inclination and went elsewhere. Among those who added materially to the population of the promising township was the family of Samuel F. Dodds, David T. Perry, Robert and William Lashell, James and Oliver Thompson, Mr. Graham, Benjamin, John and Jesse Tucker, Jacob Burbridge, Martin Howard, John Harmon, Samuel and Marshall Bailey, George Place and others. Jacob Burbridge, at the time of the Black Hawk war, resided on Apple River, and served as a volunteer in the campaigns which were concluded only when the savages, led by their wily chief, evaded extermination by surrender and humiliation.
In 1838, Thomas E. Way, Samuel F. Dodds and J. D. Fowler, and in 1839, M. L. Howard, joined their individual fortunes with the pioneer settle- ment, and remained to participate in the profits that accrued with time and the advance of civilization, and in 1839 and 1840, the population was measurably increased, until in the latter year an informal census returned an enumeration of sixty residents. Ten years later a similar experiment established the popu- lation at 250, all told.
In September, 1853, the Galena & Chicago Union road was completed to Freeport, its success due, in no inconsiderable degree, to the aid extended by the inhabitants of Stephenson County. The result was that, notwithstand- ing the increase in the value of lands of at least 25 per cent, the township began to fill up with settlers of a sterling character, who lent an additional force to that already employed in the cultivation of West Point, and appreciated the value of all her material interests. Lands were held at a stiff price, which was gradually increased each year, until 1865, when they were quoted as com- manding a steady demand, at a rate per acre not differing from that paid dur- ing the year last mentioned. This was continued until the panic of 1873, when " nominal " were substituted for substantial prices, and remained under that head until the paralysis in business was succeeded by a healthy re-action, and that supplemented by complete restoration.
In January, 1854, the road was completed to Warren, and, in the spring of that year, Samuel F. Dodds, in conjunction with the Illinois Central Com- pany, laid out 160 acres of land, in the southeast corner of the township, for a village site, and named it Lena, by which it is still known, a prosperous munici- pality and the shipping point for farmers residing at points within the radius of twelve or fifteen miles.
From 1850 to 1860, the increase in population, both of the village and township, was rapid, the population of the latter in 1860 being 1,798. This was slightly increased a year later, when the war broke out, which had the effect, not only of diminishing the number then enumerated, but also of pre- venting any increase during its continuance. Immediately upon the conclu- sion of hostilities, the number of inhabitants once more attained large dimen- sions, as the census taken during the current year (1880) indicated.
During the war, the quota under every call made by the Federal Gov- ernment for troops was promptly filled, and the township was well represented in the Eleventh, Fifteenth, Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth and Ninety-second Regi- ments of Volunteer Infantry, and Fourteenth Regiment of Volunteer Cavalry. All of those who went into the service, discharged the trust committed to their care with fidelity ; many of them were left the occupants of " trenches " or
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY.
unknown graves by the sea, many of them returned to participate in the ben- efits sought to be attained by victory.
In November, 1835, the Rev. James McKean, a Methodist minister, preached in the cabin of Luman Montague, and, in the following year, a Meth- odist class-meeting was organized. In about 1840, the Rev. Aratus Kent, who was identified with the cause of religion in Galena and Dubuque years previous, came to Waddams Grove and organized a Presbyterian class ; about the same period, a Sabbath school was held in J. D. Fowler's cabin, and a school for the education of the young in a log house erected near the residence of Luman Montague.
From these insignificant beginnings. the causes of morality and education in West Point Township have attained an importance and value that can only be measured by the beneficial influence they have exerted, not alone in the build- ing-up of the township, but in formulating and maintaining of a quality of public opinion which finds expression in the character of the people, and their observance of those obligations which civilization and humanizing influences impose.
In the latter part of 1850, the west half of Township 28 was taken from Waddams, and added to West Point, making the latter six miles square, its present boundaries.
In 1836, Amanda Waddams was born at her father's cabin, which still stands on the Waddams farm, about four miles west of Lena, on the road from Nora to McConnell's Grove, being occupied by Mrs. George Place, who, as Eunice Waddams, was married to George Place, July 4, 1837, by Squire Levi Robey, the first marriage in the township, and the first of record in the county.
About 1839, Minerva Rathburn, residing with Robert Burbridge, near Pin Hook, while engaged in scuffling with Abija Watson in Mr. Burbridge's house, was accidentally thrown against a peg driven into the logs as a shelf support, and received injuries which caused her death soon after. This was the first death in the township, and the first burial in what was known as Waddams' cemetery-long since vacated, and now inclosed in the farm owned by J. P.Fair.
LENA.
The town of Lena is located in parts of Sections 32 and 33, on the Illinois Central Railroad, twelve miles west of Freeport, and is, next to that city, the largest town in the county.
In 1853, the survey of the present railroad corporation had located its route and the grading of the right of way was begun. As soon as the building of this highway of commerce had been settled, Samuel F. Dodds, who owned eighty acres of land on the present site of the town, acting on behalf of the railroad company, purchased an additional tract of 80 acres, and laid out the town. The survey was made by B. Dornblazer, the original town being in the form of a parallelogram, comprehending twenty-six blocks and a total of 304 lots. Subsequently, I. C. Allen, S. J. Kimball, Underwood & Albee, C. Roush, N. C. Pickard, A. Weaver and A. C. Allen, made additions to the original town, increasing its dimensions to a large extent.
When the town was laid out, Samuel F. Dodds owned a stone residence then and now occupying Lot No. 1, on Lena street, while Dr. F. Voight held title to a log house standing a short distance east of where the depot was subse- quently erected. It remained intact until the advance of improvements com- pelled its demolition. £ These two houses embraced the list of buildings at that time-there were no others of any description.
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HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY.
During that summer, lots sold rapidly, commanding prices varying from $50 to $150 each, William Allen and S. H. McEathron, being among the first to purchase and make improvements. Allen put up a store at once, but McEath- ron delayed the erection of a building, devoted to similar purposes, until the fall. Both were of frame, but only one survives the lapse of a quarter of a century.
On New Year's Day, 1854, the track was laid, and cars began to run between Freeport and Warren. This had the effect of increasing the number of arrivals and stimulating enterprise. The additions to the population were largely made up of English and Irish, many of whom became permanent resi- dents, together with representatives from the Eastern States, who engaged in business, and have since been identified with the growth and prosperity of the. town.
In this year, there were about a dozen families in Lena, and the following comprise the business directory :
Dry goods and groceries-S. H. McEathron, William Allen, J. E. Am- brose.
Lumber yard-J. N. Clifford.
Blacksmith-William Young.
Grain dealer-N. Perrin.
Postmaster and railroad agent-Samuel F. Dodds.
Physicians-Drs. N. C. Pickard and F. Voight.
There were three church organizations in the village, viz. : Presbyterian, Rev. R. Colston, Pastor ; Methodist, Rev. A. Wolf, Pastor; Baptist, Rev. J. E. Ambrose, Pastor. There were no church edifices in the village or town- ship at that time, and the several congregations occupied the schoolhouse alternately. The public school was in charge of Miss S. D. Hyde. Dr. J. R. Chambers, the only other physician in the township, was located at Louisa.
From this date until 1860, the increase in population was quite rapid. The panic of 1857 produced no pronounced effect disastrous to the growth of the town, which progressed in business and importance in a manner that was gratifying to those who had first projected its survey. During the summer of 1855, Reber & Cheney and S. F. Dodds began the three-story brick build- ing at the corner of Railroad and Schuyler streets. It was completed about the fall of 1856, at a cost of about $4,000, and is still used for business pur- poses.
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