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 36

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Chicago : Wm. Le Baron, jr. & co.
Number of Pages: 980

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 36

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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.

The Joliet Republican is the next oldest paper to the Signal. It was originally established by A. McIntosh in 1847, as the True Democrat. In 1848 he sold it to H. N. Marsh who owned and edited it until 1852, when Mr. McIntosh bought it back, and, in 1857, sold it to Joseph L. Braden, at one time Postmaster of Joliet, who, in 1864, changed its name to Joliet Republican. In 1866, Bruden died, and the paper being sold, was bought by James Good- speed, Esq., the present owner, and the present Postmaster of Joliet. The Republican is a semi-weekly paper and quite readable.

The Joliet Record was established in 1870, as a Democratic journal, and is a live, free, outspoken newspaper. It is an able defender of the " true faith," and death on political stealings and unprincipled doings generally. A large quarto paper, it is well filled with chaste reading matter, and a good fireside journal. D. C. Henderson, the proprietor, is a man of considerable journalistic experience, and understands making a readable newspaper.

The Phoenix is a weekly paper. In January, 1877, a consolidation was effected of the Will County Courier, Lockport Phoenix, Lemont Eagle and Plainfield Echo, and two other publications were added, one at Wilmington and the other at Braidwood. An editor was stationed at each of these towns; the type set up by them and shipped to Joliet on publication day. The matter was then assorted in such a manner that the reader obtained the local news of all these points. This plan gives more home news than is usually contained in ordinary country newspapers. Each editor has more time to devote to news- gathering, and therefore a better paper can be published at each point and sold cheaper than by the old plan. The issues at present, together with the editors and proprietors, are as follows : Joliet Phoenix, J. S. McDonald, editor and proprietor ; Lockport Phoenix, J. S. McDonald, proprietor, and Leon Mc- Donald, editor ; Wilmington Phoenix, J. S. McDonald, proprietor, and C. H. Duck and F. H. Hall, editors ; Lemont Phoenix, J. S. McDonald and W. P. Haughey, proprietors, and W. P. Haughey, editor.

The Joliet Sun was established July 12, 1872, by C. B. Hayward, as a Re- publican newspaper. In October, 1874, the proprietor issued the first copy of the daily Sun, and since then a daily and weekly paper has been issued, the daily being an evening paper, and the largest daily issued in the Seventh Con- gressional District. The Sun is a live newspaper, and a true exponent of Re- publican principles.

The Joliet News was established in April, 1877, as a morning paper, three columns, by Charles F. Dutcher, as editor and proprietor, and was Independent in politics. In October, of same year, it was bought by Nelson, Ferris & Co., and a weekly Greenback paper added. It is still owned by these parties, and pub- lished daily and weekly in the interests of the Greenback party. It is in a flourishing condition, and rapidly increasing in importance.

The first hotel of which we have any account was the " Juliet Hotel," and was erected in 1834. It was kept by William H. Blackburn in 1836, but

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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.

whether or not he built it, deponent testifieth not. The " Old American House" was another of the ancient hostelries, and could it have been imbued with the power of speech for a little while, doubtless it could " a tale unfold," and have detailed an interesting history of early times and events. But these landmarks have passed away, with their cramped capacity for accommodating " man and beast," and no city of its size can boast of better or more commodious hotel ar- rangements than Joliet at the present day. The "Robertson House," the " St. Nicholas," and the "National " (when in operation), are models of comfort and elegance. And a number of others, such as the " Atkinson," " Mansion," " Auburn," "City," etc., though making less pretensions, are comfortable houses of entertainment.

We mentioned in the history of Joliet Township, the erection of the first school house in 1836, which was likewise the first in the city of Joliet, as it was built within the present city limits on Hickory street, and is or was recently occupied as a residence by Wm. Terrell. It was built by Demmond, McKee, Beaumont and some others for school purposes, and was also used for a temple of worship. As previously noticed, John Watkins taught the first school in this house-the pioneer teacher, who had taught one of the very first schools in Chicago. As the demand for school facilities increased, other edifices were erected, and to-day the city is well supplied with substantial school buildings. The High School, or graded school buildings on the East and West Side, are built of stone, though not presenting as attractive outward appearance as some other school buildings in the county. The schools of Joliet are divided into three classes, viz., primary, intermediate and high school, and the city into two school districts by the river. Each district has a high or graded school, under the su- pervision of six inspectors-three to each school, and all subject to the control of the city government. Then of the ward or primary schools there are six, viz .; The Rolling Mill, Third Ward, Fourth Ward, Fifth Ward, Sixth Ward and Seventh Ward. Pupils are required to attend the primary schools in their respective wards until far enough advanced to enter the high schools. In addi- tion to the common schools, there are a number of private and Catholic schools. Mrs. Sarah C. McIntosh, formerly County Superintendent of Schools, and whose term of office expired in 1877, has since opened a kind of academy, which is rapidly increasing in popularity. She at present occupies the second story of the National Hotel building on the West Side, and has a large and flourishing school. Mrs. Judge Olin also conducts a private school, but more of a primary than the one just mentioned. The Convent of St. Francis, in charge of Mother Francis, Lady Superior, is a kind of boarding-school or academy of a high order. The first building was put up in 1858, and a large three-story addition made to it in 1870, at a total cost of about $13,000. It is built of stone ; is beautifully situated on the West Side bluff, overlooking the city, and will accommodate sixty or seventy pupils. There are about ninety Sisters connected with the order here, but most of them travel over the country

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and teach wherever their services may be needed, and only about fifteen are here permanently. In addition to the Convent of St. Francis, there are three good schools. aside from the common schools and the Monastery of St. Francis, conducted under the charge of the Franciscan Fathers of the German Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist, and are supported exclusively by the members of this Church, without any aid from the public money. These schools are attended by about 300 children. Thus, it will be seen from these observations, that the stranger locating in Joliet is blessed with abundant school privileges, and can have his choice of public, private or Catholic schools.

It is supposed by some that the first sermon preached in "Juliet " was by Rev. George West, a Methodist preacher, whose arrival in the settlement is noticed as being in 1833; while others think that Rev. J. H. Prentiss, a Pres- byterian, was the first to proclaim the Word of God. It is pretty generally conceded, however, that the first church was built under the auspices of the Methodists, while the first regular church society was organized by the Episco- palians. This pioneer was, as it is still, known as Christ's Episcopal Church, and was organized by Bishop Chase, the first Episcopal Bishop of Illinois, on the 16th day of May, 1835. (Bishop Chase was the founder of Jubilee Col- lege, near Peoria.) The following were the original members : Comstock Han- ford, John Griswold, Miles Rice, Orlen Westover, A. W. Bowen and wife, Julia Ann Hanford and Amorette B. Griswold, all of whom, except Dr. Bowen and wife, resided in the adjacent country. Rev. Andrew Cornish was the first settled Rector of this Church. Before his advent, Rev. Mr. Hallam, Rector of St. James' Church, Chicago, used to come down at times and officiate. The church edifice was built in 1857, under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Locke, now Rector of Grace Church, Chicago. It is a frame building, cost about $6,000, and was dedicated by Bishop Whitehouse, the second Bishop of Illinois. Be- fore the building of this church, the society worshiped in the school house or wherever convenience dictated. The present membership is about 160, and the parish is without a regular Rector. The ministers who have been in charge since its organization to the present time are as follows : Rev. Andrew Cornish, Rev. Wm. Bostwick (who died in 1845), Rev. Mr. Brown (his brother-in-law), Rev. Mr. Todd, Rev. Mr. Pulford, Rev. Wm. Bostwick, Jr., Rev. Mr. Locke, Rev. Mr. Wilkerson, Rev. Mr. Gilbert, Rev. Mr. Green, Rev. Mr. Tays and Rev. Mr. Mor- rill. A flourishing Sunday school is connected with this Church, under the superintendence of Henry Knowlton, with an average attendance of about seventy-five children. An Episcopal Mission has been organized at the Rolling Mills, which is in a very prosperous condition. It was established by Rev. Mr. Gilbert, and is usually attended by the Rector of Christ Church. It also maintains an interesting Sunday school.

As before stated, the first church edifice in Joliet was built by the Method- ists, in 1838, and cost $2,500. The Rock Island Railroad when built, in 1852, struck the house and bought it, allowing the society $800 for it. There

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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.

are, we believe, several claimants for the honor of preaching the first Methodist sermon in this settlement. Father Beggs and a local preacher named Isaac Scarritt both contend for it, while others accredit a local Methodist preacher, Rev. Mr. West, as having preached the first sermon. Father Scarritt claimed to have also preached the first sermon in Chicago, and to have done so bare- footed, having been in a shipwreck the day previous, and lost his shoes. A class was formed in the settlement in 1832, the bounds of the mission extend- ing from Chicago to Peoria and from State line to Fox River, and from 1832 to 1835, was known as Des Planes Mission ; from 1835 to 1837, as Des Planes Circuit, which extended from Blue Island to Ottawa, when it became Joliet Station, and the first church edifice commenced and finished, as above statcd, in 1838. In 1852, after disposing of their first church to the Rock Island Railroad Company, who converted it into a blacksmith shop, the society built a brick church, at a cost of $10,000, including a parsonage. This church was burned in 1859, and was without insurance. The same year, their present stone church was built, at a cost of $8,000, and afterward remodeled, with $2,000 additional cost, and was dedicated by Bishop Simpson. It has now a membership of about two hundred and fifty, under the pastoral charge of Rev. Mr. Axtell, and an excellent Sunday school, of which Elijah Hunter is Super- intendent. The Richards Street Methodist Church, an offshoot of this, was built in 1877, at a cost, including parsonage, of $5,500, and was dedicated by Rev. Mr. Caldwell. Mr. Otis Hardy bore the entire expense of building this church, except $500. The membership, including the Rolling Mills Mission, is about one hundred and fifty. It has a flourishing Sunday school, with Miss Kate Swarthouse as Superintendent. The Rolling Mill Chapel was built in 1874, and cost about $2,200. Its membership is included in the Richards Street Church. It has a large Sunday school, and Mr. Webb is Superintend- ent. The three Methodist Sunday schools have a regular average attendance of about four hundred children.

St. John's Universalist Church was organized as a church society in 1836, by Rev. Aaron Kinney. Until they erected a church they used the Court House for a time, and then fitted up a room in " Merchants' Row," on Chicago street, in which they worshiped. The first church edifice was built about 1840, and dedicated by Rev. W. W. Dean. It was a frame building, and cost about $1,800. Their present elegant stone church was built in 1856, at a cost of $20,000, and was dedicated by Rev. Henry Walworth. It has a large and increasing membership, and is under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Laing. Its Sunday school has an average attendance of about eighty children, is in a flourishing state, and Mrs. C. A. Dean is Superintendent.

First German Evangelical Lutheran, of Joliet and vicinity, is an offshoot, or, rather, a part of the German Evangelical Church on the West Side, of which Rev. Christian Sans became the Pastor in 1860. In 1871, a separation took place, and the more liberal of the members, with Rev. Mr. Sans, organized a

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church on the East Side, with the above title. They have erected a very elegant church, but have only the basement completed, owing to a failure to receive money subscribed by people in Chicago just before the great fire. They are making efforts, however, to finish it off by next June, in order to have it dedicated under the auspices of the Wartburg Evangelical Synod, of Central and Southern Illinois, to the jurisdiction of which this Church belongs. So far the building has cost about $6,000, and it will require $2,500 more to complete it. Rev. Christian Sans is still Pastor of the flock he has so faith- fully served for eighteen years, and the services of his Church are conducted in German. He is also Superintendent of the large Sunday school, which is attended by from seventy-five to eighty children. A Young Men's Christian Association and a Ladies' Sewing Society have been organized in connection with the Church.

The first religious effort of the Presbyterians was inaugurated by the Rev. J. H. Prentiss, in the Winter of 1834-5. Under the auspices of the Ameri- can Home Mission Society, he visited " Juliet," and " finding that there were even then heathen enough to justify the step," says Mr. Woodruff in his " Forty Years Ago," "came on the next Summer with his family, established preaching, and soon after organized a Presbyterian Church, some time in 1835." He preached in a little stone building that stood on Broadway until the building of the first school house, when services were held in it. This Church had its ups and downs, and finally died out, comparatively speaking, but was revived under the ministerial labors of the Revs. Hiram and Lucius Foote. The remnants of Mr. Prentiss' old church, some old professors and new converts, were organized into a Congregational Church, under the name of the "Union Church," and the Rev. Hiram Foote chosen Pastor. Some years later, when it had again become somewhat lukewarm, there came a Second Adventist, who, as an old member informed us, " turned things topsy- turvy for a few weeks." John M. Wilson (now of Chicago) turned preacher, and proclaimed "the end at hand" to his excited hearers, who were so thoroughly convinced of the fact as to have their "long white robes in readi- ness." C. E. Fellows, a popular lawyer of the time, was another of their leaders and preachers, and took the ground that whoever provided worldly comforts for the future would certainly be lost, and so would only buy food enough for one meal at a time. But when the appointed time came, and this rolling world con- tinued to revolve upon its axis in the usual way, Fellows became disgusted, and for- swore belief in all religious sects, "and," says the old member referred to, "went to the devil as fast as possible." Indirectly, from this old original Presbyterian Church and upon the remains of those that followed, has arisen the Central Presby- terian Church of the present day. As such, it was organized in 1844, by Rev. Benj. W. Dwight, with twenty-two members, and for a time they hired a room on the West Side, but afterward moved across the river and occupied the Court House, and still later, the Universalist Church. In 1852, they erected their

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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.

present building, at a cost of $3,000, and, in 1871, enlarged it at an additional cost of $3,000. It is a frame building with stone basement, and was dedicated by Rev. R. W. Patterson and Rev. A. H. Dean, Pastor at the time. It has now about 250 members. A Sunday school was organized cotemporaneously with the Church, George H. Woodruff, Superintendent. E. L. Spangler is the present Superintendent, with an average attendance of 164 children. The fol- lowing are the names of the Pastors of this Church since organized as the Cen- tral Presbyterian : Rev. M. Strong, called from Rochester, N. Y., preached one Sabbath and was then taken sick and died. The next, Rev. B. W. Dwight, Rev. R. Reed, Rev. Mr. De Loss, who built the church, Rev. J. Kidd, Rev. Mr. Hubbard, Rev. H. D. Jenkins and Rev. A. H. Dean, the present Pastor.

The First Presbyterian Church was organized August 3, 1866, with fourteen original members. The church, which is of stone, was built in 1867, at a cost of $9,000, and what is strangest of all in this age of stupendous church debts, it is free from all pecuniary incumbrances. It was dedicated by Rev. O. A. Kingsbury, and at present has 101 members. The following are the Pastors from its organization to the present time: Rev. O. A. Kingsbury, 1866-1869 ; Rev. C. R. Burdick, 1869-1873 ; Rev. James McLeod, 1873-1876; Rev. Mr. Knott, 1876-1877 ; Rev. Thomas M. Gunn, 1877, and still occupies the posi- tion. The Sunday school was organized in 1863, several years previous to the Church, and has an attendance of about 125, under the superintendence of D. W. Pond.

The Baptists organized a society as early, almost, as any other religious denomination. Their first meetings were held and their first church organized in the building on the West Side, on Broadway, at present used as a school house; and one of the first Pastors of this society was Rev. S. Knapp, who is yet living in Jolie :. This Church seems to have become for a while extinct, and that the present one on the East Side grew out of it. The latter was fully or- ganized February 16, 1853, a council having been called for that purpose, which was presided over by Rev. R. B. Ashley, of Plainfield. The following are the original members : Prudence Burdick, J. B. Wait, Jesse Kyrk, Michael Tate, Margaret Tate, Thos. Tate, Eliza Henry, F. Crouch, Eliza Crouch, Henry Watkins, J. C. Williams and Sarah Williams. Their meetings were held in the Court House and other places until July, 1858, when it was resolved to build a church, not to cost more than $8,000. This section of the country being poor," and in its infancy, comparatively speaking, it was determined to send a representative East to solicit aid, and accordingly Mrs. S. F. Savage was chosen. She was gone six months, and during that time sent to the Building Society an average of $500 per month. In this manner, together with what was obtained at home, their present elegant church building was erected, and dedicated to God in 1859. The following are the Pastors of this Church since its organization : Rev. J. F. Childs, 1853-1854 ; Rev. W. J. Clarke, 1854-1856 ; Rev. A. B. Foskett, 1856-1857; Rev. E. P. Savage, 1859 (supply); Rev. E. Button, 1859-1862 ;

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Rev. W. P. Patterson, 1862-1864 ; Rev. C. H. Remington, 1864-1868 ; Rev. A. G. Eberhart, 1868-1871; Rev. R. Leslie, 1871-1874 ; Rev. J. P. Phillips, 1874-1877, and Rev. A. H. Stote, the present Pastor. A large and flourish- ing Sunday school is carried on in connection with this Church.

St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church is one of the oldest Catholic churches in the diocese of Chicago .* The Society of St. Patrick was organized in 1838, under Rev. Father Plunkett, who commenced the building of the church that year, and continued on as money could be obtained until their zeal and perse- verance have resulted in the magnificent stone church on Broadway, which has cost altogether over thirty thousand dollars. Between two hundred and three hundred families worship at this sanctuary, and there is also a well-attended Sunday school. The sad death of Father Plunkett is remembered still by many of the old members. He had been out on a collecting mission for his church, and was returning home in the midst of a March snow-storm, riding very fast against the wind, with his head bowed low to protect his face from the storm, when his head struck the limb of a tree extended over the road, killing him almost instantly. After the death of Father Plunkett, Rev. Father Du Pout- davis, a Frenchman, became the Pastor, and remained about four years and was succeeded by Father Ingoldsby. He remained also about four years, when Father Hamilton took charge, remaining about four years, and was followed by two other clergymen, whose names are forgotten, neither of whom remained long. Father Farley then came and remained in charge for fourteen years, when he was succeeded by Father Power, the present Pastor. In 1868, the parish was divided, and another formed on the east side of the river, known as St. Mary's Parish.

St. Mary's Catholic Church, of Joliet, was separated from the original parish in 1868, and the new parish formed under the pastorate of Rev. P. W. Riordan, now Pastor of St. James Church, Chicago. He had been preceded by Rev. Father Flanagan, who remained about a year, and built a small wooden church near the Alton depot, which still belongs to the parish. Father Rior- dan remained about two years and was succeeded by Father Mackin, who re- mained in charge for five years. Father Murphy was the next Pastor and in about one year was succeeded by Rev. Maurice F. Burke, the present Pastor, who took charge in April, 1878. The corner stone of the present magnificent church, which, when completed will be the finest church edifice in the city, was laid by Father Murphy in August, 1877, and the work pushed forward with so much rapidity as to have the basement ready for occupancy in one year, and on the 11th of August, 1878, it was dedicated by Bishop Foley and Rev. Dr. McMullin, of Chicago. It is built of Joliet limestone; is 70x132 feet, and 112 to the top of the tower. The spire will extend 90 feet above the tower, and the entire structure, when completed, will cost about fifty-five thousand dollars. The supervising architect is P. C. Keeley, of Brooklyn, N. Y., the

Mr. Keegan informs us that when he came here, in 1840, there was bat one little Catholic Church in Chicago.

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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.

stone contractors, Charles and William Werner, and wood contractor, Francis Devine. A Sunday school is connected with the Church, taught by the ladies of the parish, and under the superintendence of the Pastor.

The German Catholic Church was organized in 1852, on the West Side, and the building commenced at the time was erected of stone, at a cost of about twelve thousand dollars. In 1866, having become too small for the grow- ing society, it was pulled down and a fine stone edifice erected upon the site, costing nearly fifty thousand dollars, with a parsonage in connection, also of stone, and which cost between three and four thousand dollars. The first offi- ciating priest was Father Regel, a Frenchman, but who spoke the German language. Since then, the Church has been supplied as follows : Father Cas- par Mueller, Father Rauch, Father Charles Kumin ; then the Benedictine Fathers had charge of it about one year, and were succeeded by Father Algeir, and he by Father F. X. Nolte, who remained for nine years. In 1876, the Franciscan Monks, with Father Gerard Becher as Superior, took charge of it, and still continue to administer its affairs. About three hundred families (all German) worship in this sanctuary.

There are two other German churches in the city, viz .: the Evangelical Church and the German Lutheran. The latter is located on the West Side, and is under the jurisdiction of the Missouri Synod, and is the Church to which Rev. Christian Sans was called in 1860, and of which he remained the Pastor until 1871, when a separation took place, as narrated elsewhere. The Evan- gelical Church is on Herkimer and Cass streets, is quite a handsome frame build- ing and in a flourishing condition.

Having given the first settlement of Joliet, and traced it through its differ- ent sources of enterprise to its present commercial importance, we return to its early organization as a village. In March, 1837, a meeting of the legal citizens ,of the village of "Juliet" was held, pursuant to ten days' notice, under pro- vision of the General Act of Incorporation. Joel A. Matteson was President and George H. Woodruff Clerk of the meeting. The question voted upon was whether the village should be incorporated, and was decided unanimously by seventy-eight votes in the affirmative. An election was held at the old Ameri- can Hotel on the 31st of March for five Trustees, which resulted in the election of Joel A. Matteson, J. J. Garland, Daniel Reed, Fenner Aldrich and R. C. Duncan. On the 4th day of April, 1837, the Board organized for business and appointed Dr. William Scolfield Clerk; and thus the village of "Juliet" was duly incorporated. In 1841, the Trustees resigned on account of the repeal by the Legislature of the Act of Incorporation, and from that time until 1852 it was without any form of government other than township organization. In these early days, there was a good deal of rivalry between the east and west sides of the river, in illustration of which we make the following extract from " Forty Years Ago": " The town was divided into two wards by the river. The point contested was to get the odd Trustee, as by the charter each

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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 36

Author: Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Chicago : Wm. Le Baron, jr. & co. Number of Pages: 980

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Chicago : Wm. Le Baron, jr. & co.
Number of Pages: 980