USA > Illinois > Will County > The History of Will County, Illinois : containing a history of the county a directory of its real estate owners; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; general and local statistics.history of Illinois history of the Northwest > Part 30
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tow-path, and poured over the lock without any regard to canal regulations. It was easy to believe the theory that all this beautiful valley from bluff to bluff was once a mighty Mississippi. Great feats of energy and daring were per- formed in rescuing the inmates from the houses in the sloughs and on the bottom below the R. I. R. R. which was also all afloat. The scenes of that night, both harrowing and ludicrous, will not soon be forgotten by those who witnessed them. Many families had a tight race to get from the lower floors into the chambers, and some who had no chambers to flee to, found refuge on the roofs. The family of James Congden, on Cass street, reached the second story barely in time, and in the morning, on taking a peep into the parlor which had been so neat and cheerful the night before, they found two pigs had floated in and quartered themselves on the piano, where they were waiting patiently for the waters to assuage. A hired man of M. O. Cagwin's, on the same street, was not aroused until the waters came over his bed. Without taking very much time to make his toilet, he jumped for the door and on stepping out found the steps had gone, and when he planted his feet where they had been he went in all over. He swam for the barn, cut loose his team and saved them from drowning. The lumber-yards were all afloat and many thousand feet of lumber sought a Southern market without a shipping bill or clearance. Bluff stock rose suddenly ; many fled thither for refuge. W. S. Brooks said his beautiful place on Scott street was for sale, but he still stays there, and we presume does not lie awake nights for fear of a recurrence of the scene. Many felt for a time that they would like to go up higher; but as the floods subsided we suppose they concluded it was not much of a shower after all. The excitement and damage was by no means confined to Joliet. The railroads leading to the city were flooded and greatly damaged, bridges swept away, culverts destroyed, tracks torn up and embankments torn away, and the bridges on all the county roads were in like condition, and a virtual blockade was established for a few days. Farm- ers were also great sufferers, stacks of grain and hay were destroyed, and few escaped some damage.
RAILROADS.
The opening of the canal made a great change in our mode of travel to Chicago. We had been wont to go by stage, a long and tedious ride-hot and dusty in Summer, and cold and uncomfortable in Winter. Or, we could drive our own conveyance, occupying from three-fourths of a day to a day and a half, according to the weather. Sometimes it required a day to get across the nine miles lying between " Widow Berry's Point " and the Chicago River, a low, wet, prairie then, although much of it is now included in West Chicago. It consumed three days, generally, to go, do business and return. But now the canal being open, we could go aboard a packet at night and wake up (if we were lucky enough to sleep) in Bridgeport, transact our business and return at night,
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thus losing only one day. were happy and content. thing better and swifter.
This was a great improvement, and for a while we But after a few years, we began to sigh for some- Canals were slow. They were safe, to be sure; but who would not rather risk his life than to be all day or all night going forty miles, when he could do it in a couple of hours ? We must have railroads. The principal towns in the county became agitated with railroad projects ; pub- lic meetings were held, and the county papers were filled with the reports, and with discussions and projects.
The Chicago & Rock Island Railroad Company was chartered in 1850-51, and organized in 1851. One of our citizens, N. D. Elwood, Esq., was one of the Directors, and Secretary of the Board. The road was opened from Joliet to Chicago in October, 1852. Matteson was a large contractor, and the work was driven with his usual energy. The President of the road gave Joliet and vicinity a free ride. The packet-boat business soon dwindled and expired. Capt. Connett, the famous canal captain, had to get meta- morphosed into a railroad conductor. Now we could go from Joliet in the morning, buy half the city (if we had the dimes), and return at night. Lock- port was left out in the cold, and she was welcome to her old canal office, over which Jolietians had growled so many years.
The Rock Island Railroad was opened to the Mississippi in 1854. The builders of the road (Farnham & Sheffield) chartered some steamboats, and gave the people a big excursion to St. Paul. Happy the man who was important enough to get a ticket. Pleasant memories of that excursion still linger in the minds of many of our citizens. Some interesting stories are told of the affair. Some strong temperance men at home were said to have been very much afraid of Mississippi water in its undiluted state. Preachers, on their return, made the country and the Great West the theme of their discourses. It was not known then that the writer would be a historian, and everybody had forgotten that he was Judge, and consequently he got no ticket, and therefore cannot expand the subject. That was a great oversight in Messrs. Farnham & Sheffield. But there was a compensation-we did not have to drink Mississippi water! There was an in- cident, however, connected with this road, which occurred soon after it was in full operation, about which we know something and will relate a little.
On Wednesday night, November 1, 1854, a most appalling accident occurred on the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad, a few miles below our city, near Rock Run. The engine of the down passenger train was thrown from the track by running over a horse, and upon it the two forward passenger cars were thrown. One of the steam-pipes of the engine was severed, and the escaping steam was poured through the cars, terribly scalding sixty-two of the pas- sengers, literally cooking some of them alive. Twelve of this number died within a few minutes. The train was brought back to the city about 8 o'clock in the morning, and the scenes of suffering presented at the depot were indescribable and sickened the heart of every beholder. N. D. Elwood, Esq., and other
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officers of the road were indefatigable in their efforts to relieve the sufferings of those who survived. The stone house on Scott street, next to the present resi- dence of W. A. Steele, was appropriated as a hospital, and thither the survivors were taken. Our physicians, Drs. Harwood, Danforth and McArthur, were in attendance by order of the railroad company, and nobly acquitted themselves. The citizens of Joliet, especially the ladies, were untiring in their attention, and everything possible was done to alleviate the sufferings of the survivors. Among the number of the dead was a man from Gettysburg, Pa., his mother, wife and two children-five of one family ; their name was Laughlin. A niece of Mr. Laughlin was also supposed to be fatally wounded, and four others. Seven others were dangerously scalded, and eleven scalded more or less severely. Four of these died subsequently, making sixteen deaths in all. The hospital was established with Dr. McArthur as Director, and Drs. Bailey, Davis, and others beside the three previously named were called into the service. For ¿ many weeks the attention of these doctors, and of our ladies as nurses, was demanded. Some of those who survived were seriously injured for life, losing an eye or an ear, and will carry the marks of the terrible burns to their graves. They will not forget the gratuitous and unremitting services of our men and women as volunteer nurses.
Two villages have been built up by this road in our county-New Lenox and Mokena.
N. D. ELWOOD.
The Secretary of this road, Nelson D. Elwood, was so long identified with Lockport, Joliet and Will County, that a brief mention of the part he played in our history is called for. He came to this county in 1837, and settled at Lockport, where he obtained employment in the engineer department of the canal .. Having the misfortune to lose his father at eight years of age, his, opportunities for acquiring an education were limited; but he was possessed of so quick and inquiring turn of mind that he readily acquired the elements of a substantial business education, and was an accomplished penman, accountant and surveyor. In 1843, he was elected County Clerk, and held the office six years. During this time he studied law, and was admitted to the bar of Will County and of the Supreme Court of this State in 1847. On leaving the office of County Clerk, he formed a partnership with Judge Parks, which contin- ued through his life. He was one of the original directors of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, and for five years Secretary to the Board, as above re- lated, and mainly instrumental in obtaining the right of way. With Gov. Matte- son, he built the Joliet & Northern Indiana Railroad, commonly known as the "cut- off," and now a branch of the Michigan Central, and was its President until it was sold to the Central. Mr. Elwood was also closely identified with the pros- perity of the city of Joliet. He was Mayor during the years 1855 and 1856, and an Alderman from 1857 until his death. He was also placed upon the first Board of Penitentiary Commissioners, and continued until his death. He
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was re-appointed when laid upon what proved to be his death-bed, and this appointment was made by an administration adverse to him in politics. Mr. Elwood was long an official member of the Episcopal society, and also eminent as a Mason, holding many important offices in all the grand bodies of the State, He died February 24, 1861, leaving one son, James G. Elwood, present Mayor of Joliet, and a widow now residing in Chicago.
THE C., A. & ST. L. R. R.
The Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad was chartered and organized in 1851-52. The work was commenced in 1852, and the road opened to this city in August, 1854, and from this city to Chicago in 1857. This road added greatly to our commercial facilities. Passing through Wilmington, Joliet and Lockport, it gave Joliet another route to Chicago and access to the coal-fields of our county ; also to Wilmington and Lockport, the railroad communication they had so long desired. The daily " bus " between Lockport and Joliet was useless, and that city was happy.
During the Winter of 1854-55, occurred a great snowstorm, which is, no doubt, yet remembered by many. The train which left Joliet at noon on the 25th day of January, with 350 passengers, 22 of whom were members of the Illinois Legislature, was brought to a full stop when near Dwight. The weather had grown cold and the engines had frozen up, and they were utterly unable to pro- ceed. They were held in this condition for six days and nights, during which it was excessively cold, and there was much discomfort, to use no stronger ex- pression. It was several miles to timber, and the stock of fuel carried by the train was soon exhausted. The seats of the cars and also the second-class cars were cut up for fuel. They had no provisions the first day excepting a few cans of oysters and a few boxes of crackers, which were in the freight car. Relief, to some extent, was brought in sleigh sfrom the surrounding farmhouses and the nearest villages ; and on the seventh day, an engine from Joliet suc- ceeded in forcing its way through and bringing the shipwrecked train back to Joliet. Some of the Legislature, among them Messrs. Parks and Osgood, went forward from Dwight in sleighs.
We wish that this was the only disaster that we were called upon to record in the history of this road. But on Saturday evening of August 16, 1873, there was one which was indeed frightful, and exceeded, in the number lost, that of the R. I. R. R., as there were twenty-three persons killed and thirty- one wounded. The accident occurred about one-half a mile this side of the Sag bridge, in Cook County. The train which left Chicago at 9.40 was well crowded with passengers.
Although about ten minutes behind at Willow Springs, it had the right of way to Lemont, and the conductor ordered the engineer to make up the time. There was a heavy fog in the valley, and as the train passed around a curve at the feeder, the engineer saw the flash of a headlight. He instantly reversed his engine, opened the valve and leaped for
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life. An instant collision occurred with a coal train, coming on at full speed, and with much the heaviest locomotive. The passenger engine was thrown into the ditch, and that of the freight train went on like a mad bull, and, toss- ing the express and baggage cars one side, like a leaf in the wind, plunged, with terrible force, into and under the smoking-car, which had been raised up by the collision. The passengers were thrown in a heap to the rear end of the cars, and some tossed, with the seats on which they sat, into the air, and fell, bruised and scalded, into the swamps on either side. The smoke-stack of the locomotive was broken off at the first collision, and the end of the smoking-car was pushed over the boiler and rested on the top of it, and the escaping steam filled the car. Only two men in the car escaped injury, and they were in the first seat and were thrown into the air, while one who sat by their side was severely scalded. The concussion of the collision was so great that the pas- sengers in the other cars were stunned for the moment and did not realize what had happened, and that many of their fellow-passengers were dying around them and being scalded alive. Indeed, the only effective assistance came from the neighboring houses, after the citizens had been aroused. The scene which met them was heart-rending in the extreme; the cries of the suffering pierced the night air, and the crash of the collision and the roar and hissing of the steam were heard at Lemont, and aid dispatched to the scene. Dispatches were sent from Lemont to Chicago, and a relief train, with physicians, nurses and supplies, reached the scene at 2 o'clock A. M. In the mean time, the wounded and scalded had been removed to the uninjured cars, and were attended by those who had come to their rescue from the vicinity. Their con- dition was indescribably horrid. Six were found already dead, and forty wounded, who were enduring the most intense sufferings. They were taken to Chicago hospitals; two died on the way and fifteen afterward. Among the latter were J. W. Smith, the recently-appointed Warden of the Penitentiary ; J. W. Fluerey, the Purchasing Agent of the same; James O'Neil, a crockery merchant on Bluff street, Joliet, son-in-law of Dr. Leavy, and two other resi- dents of Joliet-Jacob Lauser and John Metzgar, a brakeman. The engineer of the coal train was arrested and put in jail. The conductor was a resident of Joliet and had been some time in the employ of the company here, and was regarded as a sober and reliable man. He was the son of one of our most an- cient Irishmen (who died soon after). He was not to be found for some time, but was afterward arrested at Monee. He could give no explanation, except that of forgetfulness.
There is still another incident of great interest touching this road. In October, 1862, the road was sold at the Court House in Joliet on the third mortgage, for the benefit of the first and second mortgages as well, all repre- senting the trifling sum of $6,500,000. It was bought in at this sale by Sam- uel J. Tilden and partner, for the sum of $1,600,000. We are happy to have this opportunity of getting Samuel and his "barrel" into the history of Will
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County. This he will no doubt feel to be some compensation for having been swindled (?) out of the Presidency. And as matters have turned out, we are very glad we did not bid against him. We hardly know why we did not, but perhaps the following circumstance, which occurred a little before and which we take from the files of the Signal, will account for it. "The residence of G. H. Woodruff, of this city, was entered last night by some miscreant and about $100 taken from Mr. W.'s pants." Now this "miscreant " is the only man we have not forgiven, but we promise to forgive him if he will return the prin- cipal, and we will say nothing about the interest and ask no questions. This is certainly a liberal offer as the interest would now exceed the principal. Anyhow we give him due notice that he can't do it again! There ! we have succeeded in getting into this history, and in such company, too !
Another railroad, the Chicago, Joliet & Peoria Railroad, has been opened from Joliet to Streator. This passes from Joliet along the east bank of the Des Planes, through the towns of Joliet and Channahon, crossing the Kankakee near its mouth, and so on through Grundy, Livingston, Woodford and Tazewell Counties, to Peoria, connecting with Streator by a cross-road. We thus have access to vast coal-fields, and our coal dealers supply those who wish with Streator coal. Yet another railroad-the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes-has been opened, which passes through the townships of Crete, Washington, the ancient village of Crete and the modern ones of Goodenow and Beecher, giving the extreme eastern part of our county all needed facilities.
The Joliet & Northern Indiana Railroad, commonly called the cut-off, and now owned and controlled by the Michigan Central, is becoming one of the most impor- tant railroad connections, furnishing as it does a direct communication with the Eastern markets, and it is making Joliet one of the most important centers of the grain and pork trade, as will appear from statistics elsewhere given. The opening of this road was strenuously opposed by Chicago, she being unwilling to lose any part of her immense trade. A fierce paper war was waged during its incuba- tion, but the project was so important and so obviously just that it was bound to carry in time. This road was built in 1855, and among the benefits which accrued to us from it, we must not forget, was the coming here of Calvin Knowlton, long time its Superintendent. His given name, we think, another case of lucus a non lucendo. It has also built up two stations-the villages of Spencer and Frankfort.
The Chicago branch of the Illinois Central road, which was part of the grand scheme of 1837, but had no vitality until Congress made the magnificent donation of 3,000,000 acres of public lands to the State for its construction, passes through the towns of Peotone, Will and Monee, having created the two flourishing villages of Peotone and Monee. Sev- eral other roads have been projected and surveyed through our county, and will, perhaps, sometime become fixed facts; but as they are still in the future, we leave them for some future historian.
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PLANKROADS.
The Oswego & Indiana Plankroad was chartered in 1849-50, and the sub- scription books opened in 1851, and the stock soon taken. Directors were chosen in May, 1851. These were J. A. Matteson, M .. H. Demmond, H. D. Risley, Isaac Cook and Uri Osgood. The Directors organized by choosing H. D. Risley, President ; Uri Osgood, Treasurer, and H. E. Streeter, Secretary. Under the energetic superintendency of the President, the road was soon opened to Plainfield. Work was also done beyond. This road was in use for several years until worn out, when the road was abandoned. It was under its charter, which was a liberal one, that considerable railroading was done. A plankroad was also constructed for a few miles south of the city. Lockport also rejoiced in a plankroad, chartered under the name of the Lockport, Plain- field & Yorkville Plankroad, organized in June, 1855, at Plainfield. Hiram Norton, John F. Daggett, George Gaylord, D. C. Norton and S. Hamlin were Directors. Hiram Norton, President ; J. F. Daggett, Treasurer and Secretary ; A. J. Mathewson, Surveyor. They built a road to Plainfield, which has also ceased to be a plankroad. Plankroads, like many other things, seem to be obsolete.
There are several persons who have been prominent in our early history, but who have now passed from the scene of their earthly activities, about whom it is proper that something more should be said than we liave found it conven- ient to do in the progress of our narrative. Some of these we will now briefly notice. We begin with
JESSE 0. NORTON.
He was born in Bennington, Vt., in December, 1812. His father, Col. Martin Norton, was a soldier, serving his country at the time of his birth. He pursued the usual preparatory course and entered Williams College in 1831, and graduated with honor in 1835. Having no means, and entirely depend- ent upon his own exertions, he immediately commenced teaching, first at Wheel- ing, Penn., and afterward in Potosi, Mo. While here, he formed the acquaint- ance of the lady he soon married, Miss Phebe A. Sheldon. In about one year after their marriage they came to Joliet-in 1839. The writer well remembers his first meeting with Mr. Norton, soon after his arrival, and how greatly pre- possessed he was by his courteous and winning manner, and he soon formed an intimate acquaintance with him and his wife. His genial manners soon made him popular and beloved by the community where he had settled, while his ability and integrity soon won a way for him in professional and political life. In 1846, he was elected County Judge, and re-elected in 1848. He was chosen to represent our county in the State Constitutional Convention of 1848. In 1850, he was elected to the State Legislature, and, in 1852, was chosen to rep- resent this District in Congress, and was re-elected in 1854. In 1857, he was elected. Circuit Judge, and discharged the duties of the position with ability. In 1862, he was again elected to Congress. In 1866, he received the
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appointment of District Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and removed to Chicago. He discharged the duties of this office with ability until April, 1869, when he became associated with Judge J. R. Doolittle in the practice of law, and kept up this connection until the great fire of 1871, which destroyed their library and papers. He subsequently received the appointment of Counsel to the City of Chicago. He died August 3, 1875, and his remains were brought to Joliet, where the greatest portion of his active life had been passed, and they rest in Oakwood. Mr. Norton was an able and effective speaker, both at the bar and on the "stump," and in the legislative hall. Dur- ing his residence in Joliet, he was a member of the Congregational Church (now the Central Presbyterian). Mrs. Norton and four children survive him.
URI OSGOOD
was one of our first lawyers-first in point of time and also of ability. He came here the same year in which our county was organized (1836) and from that day to that of his death was one of our most prominent men. He was gifted with more than ordinary mental powers, and took a high position at the bar. He also filled offices of trust and responsibility. He was elected to the State Senate in 1852, and was the Democratic candidate for Congress in 1858, and made a strong canvass in a Republican district and against a most popular opponent. Mr. Osgood accumulated a considerable property, and established a private bank. He was a man of strictly temperate habits and pure life. His death was remarkably sudden. He had partaken of his breakfast as usual, and risen to go down town to attend Court, when he complained of a pain in his chest. His family at once sent for Dr. Casey, who arrived in a few moments, but found Mr. O. in a dying condition. He did not live half an hour after getting up from his breakfast. Mr. Osgood was a native of Chenango County, N. Y., and 62 years of age at the time of his death, which occurred February 8, 1871.
W. C. GOODHUE,
another Joliet lawyer, died October 19, 1870. He was the son of Deacon Ezra Goodhue, one of the early settlers of Plainfield, and a graduate of Knox College, Galesburg. He came to Joliet and commenced the practice of law in 1857. He was comparatively a young man at the time of his death, and his friends anticipated for him a useful and successful career. He had just served as a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1870, participating actively in its debates and serving on important committees. He was one of the Com- mittee that prepared the address of the Convention to the people. Mr. Good- hue was a member of the Congregational Church in Plainfield. He died Oct. 19, 1870, in the 39th year of his age.
W. E. LITTLE.
In the year 1840, one of the most brilliant and promising young men we have ever had came to Joliet. This was William E. Little. He was born in
.
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the State of New York, but while quite young his parents moved to Pennsyl- vania. He acquired a good education, chiefly by his own exertions. One year he spent in Oberlin College, Ohio. After leaving Oberlin, he, at the age of 19, entered the law office of his brother, at Montrose, Penn., and afterward pursued his professional studies at Wilkesbarre, where he was admitted to the bar at 21 years of age. He was then married to Miss Mary J. Curtis, and immediately (1840) removed to Joliet. Young as he was in years and in his profession, he at once took high rank at the Will County bar, which then numbered in its ranks such men as Newkirk, Wilson, Boardman, Henderson, Osgood, Fellows, Parks and others, and where he also encountered such men as Caton, Collins, Spring, Butterfield, Dickey, Goodrich and others from Chicago. In such a bar and in such a circuit, young Little commanded the respect and admiration of his older brethren, and was justly regarded as a young man of great promise. He also soon entered the political arena, and was as ready and as popular on the stump as at the bar. He was elected, in 1848, by the Demo- cratic party to represent this district, then embracing Will, Du Page, Iroquois and Kendall Counties in the General Assembly. While in the Legislature, he was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and prepared able reports on the subjects committed to it. It is an interesting incident that, at the same time, his brother was Chairman of the like committee in the Legislature of Pennsyl- vania.
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