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 41

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 41

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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.

The first Fourth of July celebration in Lockport was an old-fashioned bar- becue, which was gotten up in 1839. Whole animals, such as muttons, pigs and poultry were roasted, and the primitive board groaned under the bountiful supply of eatables. Hiram Norton was President of the celebration ; Gen. James Turney, a lawyer of considerable ability, was the orator of the occasion ; Edward B. Talcott read the Declaration of Independence, and Dr. Daggett marshaled the grand procession. It was a general good time-a day of rejoicing-and everybody enjoyed it to the utmost, winding up in the evening with a grand ball at the Canal office, then the most capacious building in the place, which had been put in "apple-pie order" for the occasion. Fiddlers were rather a scarce article in the country at that time, and the only one of any note was living at St. Charles, Kane Co. Dr. Daggett was appointed a committee of one to procure his services. Of course about the "Fourth," the old fellow's musical accomplishments were in demand ; Daggett found him with several propositions before him for consideration, and the only means of secur- ing him was to outbid all others. He offered him $60, and being the longest pole, it "knocked the persimmon." Daggett brought him over to the scene of action, but as he was extremely fond of the "wine when it is red," before mid- night he was blind drunk. So went their $60, and they were forced to find some one who could make a noise on the catguts, about as harmonious as the filing of an old saw, in order that the dance might go on as laid down in the programme.

One of the most important features in the business of Lockport is the industries of Norton & Co., who employ a large number of men in the several departments of their business. Their flour-mills on the west side of the Canal are the largest in the State, having the very best and most improved machinery, with twenty-eight runs of buhrs, under the superintendence of Robert Whit- ley, an experienced miller, and when employed at full capacity, will turn out from seven to eight hundred barrels of flour per day. The Winter wheat used at these mills is brought from the southern part of the State, while the Spring wheat is from the West. In connection is a cooper-shop, in charge of Henry Ripsom, who employs, usually, about thirty hands, making the barrels used at the mills. On the east side of the Canal, at the large warehouse and elevator, is the corn-mill, having five runs of buhrs, and used wholly for corn and for grinding wheat for their home customers. Albert Deeming is Superintendent of the store, carried on in connection with the mills and grain warehouse, and Jacob Lotz is the general shipping clerk and manager of the warehouse. The paper mills of this firm, known as the Lockport Paper Company, are an extensive establishment. About thirty men find employment in them, and they run day and night. The mills were built in the Fall of 1872, and make a specialty of board paper, which is manufactured from straw, using daily about six and a half tons-one and a half tons of straw to a ton of paper. To the efficient man- ager of the mills, Samuel Wilmot, we were indebted for a visit through the

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large establishment, and many items of interest as to its workings and capacity.

The stone quarries in and around Lockport are quite an important branch of the business of the place, though in the immediate vicinity of the village the stone does not compare in quality with the quarries of Joliet and Lemont. J. A. Boyer opened a quarry here in 1869, but the quality of stone taken from it did not warrant the working of it, and it was soon abandoned. Mr. Boyer's quarries at Lemont are among the most extensive, and produce as superior a quality of stone as any quarry in this section of the State. He furnished from these quarries much of the material in the beautiful stone-front buildings recently erected on the West Side in the city of Chicago. He, also, has furnished the stone for the new Catholic Church in Lockport, by far the hand- somest church edifice in the village. Though these quarries are not in this town- ship, nor in Will County, yet their proprietor, Mr. Boyer, was born and reared in Lockport, where he still lives, and to omit mention of them here would be to leave out an important part of its history. He employs from one hundred to one hundred and fifty men, and has all the improved machinery and the best of shipping facilities-both on the Chicago & Alton Railroad and the Canal.

Oak Hill Quarry, now owned by Isaac Nobes, is one of the best in this sec- tion. Just south of Lockport village, conveniently located to both railroad and canal, has fine facilities for shipping. This quarry was opened by G. A. Cous- ens & Co., afterward passed into the hands of George Gaylord, and, in 1868, Mr. Nobes came into possession of it and has since worked it. He works about . thirty-five men, and is supplied with all the modern machinery for working quarries and handling stone. He has one of the finest residences in the State, outside of the large cities. It is built of stone, and presents a very fine appearance. The large quarries of W. A. Steel are in Lockport Township, but were men- tioned in the history of Joliet, where the owner of them lives. The first quar- ries worked in this section of the country, however, were opened by Dr. Dag- gett on the west side of the Canal, a little south of Lockport, and nearly oppo- site Nobes' quarry. He sold $30,000 worth of stone the first year he opened them, and that of an excellent quality. But he is not operating them at pres- ent, owing to the fact, perhaps, of there being so many others in the business that it does not pay as well as it did years ago. It is wonderful to contemplate the inexhaustible supply of stone in the hills and bluffs of the Des Planes Valley. And the quality, too, the convenient ledges and layers in which it is found, and the easy access to it, is not the least wonderful item in regard to these vast quarries. It almost seems that the layers of stone had been pur- posely arranged for the convenience and benefit of man.

The history of the press dates back to quite a remote period in the history of Lockport. The first newspaper was established by one H. M. Fuller, in 1848, and was called the Will County Telegraph. During the year 1849, Judge Parks (now of Joliet) became the leading editor, while Fuller remained the publisher, until the Moon arose on the 23d of January, 1850, when it

Firman Mach (DECEASED) · JOLIEÝ.

THE LIBRARY OF THE UNWERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.

passed into the control and management of John M. Moon, who continued to edit and publish it for a few months. The business men of the town, it seems, owned the paper, while Moon was only editor and publisher, and his political views not altogether coinciding with those of his readers, he was forced to resign his position. The paper was somewhat tinged with Free-soilism, and he, it ap- pears was a red-hot Democrat, and if one may be allowed to judge from the fol- lowing extract taken from his valedictory, this Moon set ingloriously in a cloud- bank : "He pledged himself at the outset to keep the avowal of its proud motto intact; at the same time that he also declared his sympathy with the party named,* in its present sentiments, and in regard to its peculiar objects. Not unmindful that it is not in the power of mortals to command success, he regis- tered his stern determination to deserve respect, by resigning his post as soon as it might seem that the assertion of those sentiments would be incompatible with the feelings of subscribers and the success of the enterprise. That time has fully come. From several quarters he has received intimations to this effect, and they had recently become so plain and so numerous that he could no longer, with consistency, overlook them. His retirement follows in mere consistency." He closes his valedictory with a grandiloquent Micawberistic flourish as follows : " He has carried his colors high and fearlessly against the extension of it (slavery) in the free portions of this country upon any pretense or construction whatever; and he wraps these colors around him, now that he can no longer combat as a testimony of the principles for which he fought, and in defense of which he fell." Dr. Daggett succeeded him in the editorial management of the paper April 10, 1850, and follows his high-strung valedictory with a modest salutatory, in which he acknowledges his ignorance of the newspaper business and cares of the editor, and ventures to hope that he will give satisfaction to his readers, and as a means to that end declares his intention to please himself. When Daggett sat down in the editorial chair, the name of the paper was changed to Lockport Telegraph. He remained the editor until 1857, and for a few months had for assistant editor-or editress-a Mrs. P. W. B. Corothers, a lady of considerable literary merit, and whom many of our readers will re- · member as quite a pleasing writer. The paper underwent several changes in proprietors, viz., Plumb & Holcomb, Daggett & Holcomb, Charles D. Holcomb and we know not what others, until it finally became extinct, and the Phoenix " rose from its ashes." The Lockport Phoenix was established in 1875, and the other branches were added to it the following year, as noticed in the history of Joliet. The plan of publication of each office is to set its ratio of type, which is sent to the central office, and there put in the form of general local and read- ing matter, while the advertisements for each locality are inserted at rates cor- responding to the amount of circulation. The papers are devoted especially to local and county news, and are intended to go with Chicago and other outside journals, so that subscribers ordering one of them with a Phoenix can obtain a

* The Free-soil Party.

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complete assortment of reading matter at the usual cost of one country paper. The Phoenix is under the control of J. S. McDonald, a veteran editor and live newspaper man. The Will County Commercial Advertiser, a live and sprightly paper, published by Hawley & Curren, is the Lockport Standard in a new form and character. It is devoted to home interests and is quite a readable sheet.

The people of Lockport, with their ten churches in their midst, have" no lack of Gospel influences surrounding them. Religious services were first held in Lockport under the auspices of the Episcopal Church, in 1834, Rev. Isaac W. Hallum, of St. James' Church, Chicago, occasion- ally visiting it and administering to the welfare of the people. The first Rector was Rev. Andrew W. Cornish, at the time Rector of the Episcopal Church of Joliet, where he resided, preaching at the two places alternately. From his day to the present time, the following ministers have officiated : Rev. William Bostwick, 1842-45. During his administration, the parish was duly organized by Rt. Rev. P. Chase, D. D., and the first church was built in- 1844. Rev. Charles F. Todd, 1845-46; Rev. D. E. Brown, 1847-51; Rev. S. D. Pulford, 1852-55. In his time, the present parsonage was secured to the parish. Rev. S. L. Bostwick, 1857; Rev. Samuel Cowell, 1858-62; Rev. C. A. Gilbert, 1862-66; Rev. W. H. Cooper, 1868-70; Rev. William Turner, was next, under whose ministry the corner-stone of the new stone church was laid. After the Rev. Mr. Turner, Rev. Mr. Cowell again took charge for three years, and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Philips, and in the Summer of 1878, Rev. John McKim became Rector. The church cost about six thousand dollars, was finished in 1874, and is at present under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. McKim. The membership is small, but is flourishing, with an interesting Sunday school, of which the Rector is Superintendent. The corner-stone of the church was laid September 20, 1870, as above stated, by Bishop White- house, assisted by several local clergymen. It has been completed in excellent style, and is one of the handsomest churches in the village. .

The Methodist Church was organized in Lockport at an early day. In 1838, this was included in Joliet Circuit, with Rev. William Crissey, Pastor, and Rev. John Clarke, Presiding Elder. In the Winter of 1838, Rev. Mr. Crissey formed the first class in Lockport, consisting of G. L. Works, class- leader, his wife, D. Breesee and wife, M. Brooks, R. Lowrie, Polly McMillen, Dira Manning, A. Heath and Julia Reed. In the Spring of 1842, Col. Joel Manning joined on probation, and was appointed class-leader, a position he held for fifteen years. In 1852, Lockport was made a station, and, in 1854, it and Plainfield were united. In 1854-55, during the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Reed, the present fine stone church was built, at a cost of $7,000; and, in 1867, a second parsonage was built, costing about $3,000, on a beautitiful lot opposite the church. The present Pastor is Rev. Mr. Strout, with a large membership and a flourishing Sunday school, of which Arthur Deeming is Superintendent.

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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.

The Baptist Church was organized in 1844, by Rev. Solomon Knapp, with twenty-one members. Some years later, their church was built, a neat little frame building, which cost about $1,500. The Church is now under charge of Rev. Robert C. Ray, and has about seventy-six members. A Sunday school is maintained, with an average attendance of eighty children, of which Frank Hopkins is Superintendent.

The Congregational Church was organized in 1838, with nine members, viz. : Erastus Newton and wife, John Gooding and wife, Harvey Raymond, Dr. Chauncy White and wife, and William B. Newton and wife. The church was built in 1839, at a cost of $2,000. The first minister was Rev. Isaac Foster, and following him in the order given were Rev. Jonathan Porter, Rev. Alanson Porter, Rev. Joel Grant, Rev. Mr. Whiting, Rev. George Slosser, Rev. Alfred L. Riggs, Rev. H. C. Abernethy, Rev. Mr. Post, Rev. A. B. Brown, Rev. J. E. Storm. The present Pastor is Rev. S. I. McKee, with a membership of fifty. Sunday school established in 1841, Eli Eddy, Superin- tendent, with an attendance at present of about two hundred children, and Prof. D. H. Darling, Superintendent.

The Roman Catholic Society was organized here at the commencement of the building of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, and was at first attended by the priests in charge of the Joliet Mission. The first resident priest at Lockport was Father Dennis Ryan, and the first church was a small frame shanty, moved from Lemont, which, with some improvements, has been their house of worship ever since. In 1877, the elegant stone church was begun which is not yet completed. When finished, this will be the finest church in the vil- lage, and a handsome ornament to the place, and will cost about $25,000. The architects are Egan & Hill, of Chicago, and the stone is furnished by J. A. Boyer, of Lockport. Father Dorney is the priest in charge, and to his energetic efforts is the parish indebted for this magnificent church. A well- attended Sunday school is maintained in connection with the Church. The German Catholics also have an elegant stone church, a comfortable parsonage, and fine grounds. A large membership worship at this church, made up of the German citizens of Lockport and the surrounding country. There are in the village, in addition to those already mentioned, three other German churches and one Swede church. Of these, however, we have not been able to learn much beyond the fact that they are occupied regularly, with the usual church and Sunday school services.

Freemasonry and Odd Fellowship are represented in Lockport by flourish- ing lodges. Des Plaines Lodge, No. 23, I. O. O. F., is one of the oldest Lodges of this Order in Northern Illinois, and was chartered January 12, 1847, by Stephen S. Jones, Grand Master, and J. F. Ruhci, Grand Secretary. The charter members were John Blackstone, Harvey Mosier, William P. Whittle, John W. Paddock and B. C. Waterman, not one of whom are now living. John Blackstone was the first Noble Grand. The present elective officers are :

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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.

J. H. Weeks, Noble Grand; John Pitts, Jr., Vice Grand; W. J. Deeming, Secretary ; John Geddes, Treasurer-with a membership of thirty-five. The removal of members and the formation of new lodges in the vicinity have kept the membership down at a small number. Lockport Lodge, No. 538, A., F. & A. M., was chartered October 1, 1867, A. L. 5867, by Most Worshipful Jerome R. Gorin, Grand Master, and H. G. Reynolds, Grand Secretary. The first officers were : C. H. Bacon, Worshipful Master ; John C. Backus, Senior Warden; and William J. Denton, Junior Warden. It is officered at present as follows : F. F. Stowe, Worshipful Master; H. M. Starrin, Senior Warden ; W. C. Fisher, Junior Warden ; and H. R. Wells, Secretary ; with about sev- enty-five members on the Lodge records.

The medical faculty of Lockport comprises some able physicians, viz., Drs. Daggett, Bacon, Larned and Schoop. Dr. Daggett has been a practicing physician in this section since 1838, a period of forty years; and as a success- ful practitioner has few equals. Dr. C. H. Bacon came from New York, and first settled in Mokena, but soon removed to Lockport. He was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the Volunteer Corps, at the beginning of the war, but was promoted to full Surgeon in August, 1863, which he held until November, 1865 ; was appointed Post Surgeon at Johnsonville, Tenn. In 1869, he received the appointment of Physician and Surgeon at the State Prison at Joliet, which he held until July, 1874, since which time he has practiced in Lockport. Dr. Larned is a well-read physician, and Dr. Schoop is a young physician of promise. Writing of doctors and medicine naturally brings to mind grave-yards and burying-grounds. It is with no disparagement or disre- spect to the medical fraternity that we make the observation, but the grave-yard is the final abode of man after he passes beyond the doctor's wisdom; and in this connection we would say a word or two in admiration of Lockport's little city of the dead. Located on the summit of the east bluff, overlooking the village and the valley of the Des Planes, a more lovely and appropriate spot could not have been selected. It is well laid out and tastefully arranged, shaded with a few grand old forest-trees and plenty of ornamental shrub- bery, interspersed with flowers-fit emblems to the memory of the loved and lost.

The organ factory of William Evans is a Lockport enterprise; and while it is not an extensive establishment, it is of some importance as a manufactory. Organs, from the largest to the smallest, together with melodeons, are made to . order, and of an excellent quality. Another factory-if a tannery can be called a factory-is the tannery of John Marks, and which does quite an enterprising business and adds something to the importance of Lock- port. The mercantile business is confined entirely to a retail trade, which is well represented by courteous and energetic business men in all its branches.

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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.

WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP.

The ancient philosophers recognized in nature four primary elements-water, earth, air and fire. This was quite a natural classification, as from these, they readily perceived, came all of their comforts. From the first two came food and drink, and from the last two they derived health and heat. Modern scien- tists have changed and modified the arrangement of the ancient alchemist, so that the earlier classification is now known only in history. And yet these four items, just as the ancients understood them, are the great essentials of life, and to them we turn for all of our needs and all of our luxuries. A locality that furnishes all of these in abundance and of a good quality is a locality blessed by nature with all that is desirable. These four items entered into the argument which induced the settlement, not only of this but of every country in the world ; and, in whatever locality one or more seemed deficient, a corre- sponding tardiness in occupying the country is observed. Thus, the prairies of the West, though favored with a soil scarcely equaled, and possessed of climate and water unsurpassed, yet apparently lacking in the means of producing warmth, were slow to attract the attention of the speculator or the emigrant ; while the eastern portions of the United States, though not favored with such a good soil, settled two hundred years earlier. When Illinois finally began to fill, we find its first occupants steering immediately for the streams of water, where they rightly concluded lay, with a productive soil, also plenty of fuel and water. Certainly but few portions of the State have been more highly favored with these natural advantages than that of which we write. With a good soil, with water privileges and water-power in great abundance, with timber for fuel and with a salubrious climate, it is not strange that this section had attractions for the early emigrant. Nature seems to have overexerted herself, in this instance, in producing a locality which is at once beautiful, healthy and pro- ductive.

The Kankakee River at this place is one of the finest streams in the State or in the whole West. The water, pure and clear, flows over a solid limestone bed, and this, with a rapid descent, tends to purify the stream and the air, and render the surrounding country healthy in an eminent degree. Even the Indians, who preceded the white people, realized fully the advantages of this neighborhood, and the relics of these original owner's of the soil are found here in abundance. Arrow and spear heads, stone axes, rude pottery and other articles found upon the banks of the Kankakee, in this township, attest that this must have been a favorite dwelling-place as well as hunting-ground. Not only so, but the fortifications, constructed of earth, on which now grow trees more than two hundred years old, and of which the later race of Indians have not a tradition, points to an earlier race of human beings, who not only made this their home, but defended it with all the skill and power at their command Doubtless, prior to 1836, white men lived in the township of Wilmington.

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Even before the the Black Hawk war, some hunters may have made the banks of the Kankakee their headquarters. If such there were, their stay was but temporary, those inhabiting the section before 1832 retiring, on the rising of Black Hawk and his allies, to safer localities, and those coming in immediately after peace was restored making their stay so short as not to entitle them to the credit of permanent settlers.

To Thomas Cox is justly due the honor of being the first permanent settler of this vicinity. In 1836, he laid claim to all of the land on which the city of Wilmington now stands, laid out the town, calling it Winchester, erected the first saw-mill, built a house and disposed of a few town lots. He followed these improvements soon after with the addition of a corn-cracker to his saw-mill, and still a little later by the erection at the upper end of the race, near where Whitten's flour-mill now stands, of a grist-mill and carding machine. These improvements gave the town a wide reputation, and Cox's mills were patronized by many who lived more than fifty miles distant. The old pioneers of Kanka- kee, Grundy, Livingston and other counties are wont to tell how they took their corn and wheat to the mill at Wilmington, consuming, often, nearly a week in the trip. Having such a long distance to go, it became necessary to wait for the grinding of the grain before their return ; and, as the mill was frequently crowded, they were often necessarily detained several days. The first mill was built without any bolting machinery ; but, after a time, a bolt, made to turn by hand, was constructed, and through this the patrons of the mill were allowed to sift their own flour. Prior to the erection of the mill, tradition says there was an oak stump that stood near the site of Stewart & Henderson's store, which was slightly hollowed out in the top. A spring-pole was fixed in a suitable posi- tion, and to the end of the pole was tied a bar, into the end of which was fastened an iron wedge, constituting a heavy pestle. The stump was the mortar, into which was cast a small quantity of corn to be pounded and cracked for bread and mush. While undergoing the pounding process, hot water was some- times poured on, and while this prevented the mashing of the grains, it facili- tated the removal of the husk or bran, and a good article of hominy was thereby provided. This primitive machine is said to have been well patronized, and furnished food for the early pioneers.

Fearing that our younger readers may associate Cox's carding machine with a printing press designed to turn out the little bits of paper with which they are wont to amuse themselves on an idle evening, and which gamblers put to the more base purpose of deluding their simpler-minded companions, thereby gain- ing a livelihood, we will say that it was a machine used to straighten the wool of the sheep's fleece, and cut it into rolls or cards preparatory to spinning and weaving into cloth. In the early times, all these processes were common to the farmhouse ; and our grandmothers not only made the clothing for the family but spun the yarn and wove the cloth of which it was made. Times have changed wonderfully in this regard. The carding machine, though a wonder-

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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 41

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