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 52
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As stated in the introduction of this chapter, Du Page is prairie land, with the exception of a few sections of timber along the Du Page River, and a small grove in the southeast corner of the town. The prairie is of the finest and most productive. When white people first began to settle here, they found the prairie teeming with wild flowers, their beauty and fragrance surpassing all that they had ever dreamed of floral loveliness. Some of the more romantic of them say, that it seemed as if the whole earth had been converted into green grass, blue sky, blossoming flowers and glorious sunshine. This beautiful valley of the Du Page was originally called Fountaindale, from the numerous springs
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to be found along the margin of the Du Page River. But upon the adoption of township organization, in the process of naming the towns, Du Page was deemed an appropriate title for this, owing to the fact that the two branches of the Du Page River are united within its borders. Thus the pretty and roman- tic name of Fountaindale was discarded for the less euphonious one of Du Page. During the Sac war, the few whites then living in Du Page, were forced to seek safety in flight. Some of them went to " Fort Beggs," and some to the fort or blockhouse at Naperville. But when the clouds of war blew over and the olive-branch of peace was held out, they returned to their deserted homes and redoubled their efforts to open and improve their claims.
Politically, Du Page is Republican ; but from the information gathered of its early history, we are of opinion that in the days of Whigs and Democrats, it gave its majorities to the latter party. Its record during the war was patriotic, and many of its citizens shouldered their muskets and marched to the front, and risked their lives for the Union they loved.
WHEATLAND TOWNSHIP.
Wheatland is the northwest township of Will County, with Kendall and Du Page Counties on the west and north ; Du Page Township on the east, and Plainfield Township on the south. It is described as Town 37 north, Range 9 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and at the last census contained 1,133 inhabitants. It is watered by the Du Page River and its branches; the former entering its territory at the northeast corner, flows through it a little west of south. It is wholly prairie, having but a few acres of timber, and, like thé surrounding lands of Plainfield and Du Page, is the finest farming and grain sec- tion of the county. There are no villages or railroads cutting up and marring its beautiful surface, and the snort of the iron horse is never heard, save as faint echoes of his voice float over the prairies from the distance.
Rev. Isaac G. Foster is supposed to have been the first permanent settler in Wheatland Township. He came from Watertown, N. Y., and settled here in 1837. It is scarcely known at the present day whether Mr. Foster was a minister or not, although the prefix of Rev. is used, and he was generally termed "Priest " Foster. There are none, however, who remember to have heard him preach. He now sleeps with his fathers. Chester Ingersoll, who first settled in Plainfield Township, settled in Wheatland about the year 1839. He laid off the village of Plainfield, as mentioned in that part of this work, and as his history is there given at some length, we deem it unnecessary to repeat it here. Joseph B. Wightman came from Rome, N. Y., and settled in Plainfield in 1838. In 1840, he removed to Wheatland Township, being the third family to settle in this town. Previous to his settlement in Plainfield, Mr. Wightman had lived in Kendall County, where he settled in 1834, upon his first arrival in the West. George Wightman, a son of his, settled also in Wheatland at the same time,
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where he resided until 1865, when he removed into Lockport Township, and located on the farm known as the Sisson Place, west of the village of Lockport. Mr. Wightman married the youngest daughter of that old pioneer, Holder Sisson, whose history is fully given in the history of Lockport. His father and mother are still living in Du Page Township, rather feeble and aged, and the former quite deaf. A man known as "Hoosier " Smith settled in Wheatland the next year after the Wightmans, on Spring Brook, and in a few years moved away ; of him very little is remembered, as he remained but a short time; he was probably from Indiana, however, as he went by the name of "Hoosier" Smith. Another settler of 1841, was David Cheeny, from Massachusetts, and a man named Eddy. It is not known where Eddy came from, nor where he lives at present. Cheeny had settled in Plainfield before coming to this section, as did several other families, who became residents of Wheatland Township. L. G. Colgrove settled in this township in 1839, and, in 1840 and 1841, several other families were added to the scattered settlement of Wheatland; among them, Simeon B. Tyler and Anthony Freeland. In 1843 and 1844, they came in still more rapidly, including quite a colony from the "banks and braes" of "Auld Scotia" dear, among whom may be numbered the McMickens and Clows, who are more extensively noticed in the general history of the county. This year, there were also added the families of William and A. B. Cotton, James and John Robbins, and many others. In fact, they were coming in at this time in such numbers that it was not an easy matter to keep trace of them.
From the dates above given, it will be seen that Wheatland is recently set- tled, as compared to other portions of Will County. That it was not settled until so long after other sections, is due to the fact that it is all prairie. We were informed by Robert Clow that the entire township contained but about five acres of timbered land; and at the time of the first settlements made in this part of Illinois, there were no such things known in the West as board or wire. fences, and as stock was allowed to run at large, people were forced to put rail fences around their cultivated lands. Thus it was that the timbered land was taken up before the prairie, and for years the latter was deemed unfit for any- thing but pasturage, while many were of the opinion that they would never be cultivated. The old Indian boundary or trail, mentioned in another page, passes through this township, and was visible long after settlements were made. Robert Clow says it passed through his father's farm, and showed plainly for years after they came to the country.
Perhaps no township in Will County has a more diversified population than Wheatland ; very nearly half of it are Pennsylvania Dutch and their descend- ants, while the remainder rank as follows, viz. : Forty American families, forty Scotch families, twenty-four English families, with two or three families of Irish or French nationalities ; and we may add, that many of the model farmers of the county are to be found in Wheatland Township. Their handsome residences, the neat and tasty manner in which their farms are kept, and the care and attention
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bestowed on fine stock, all denote first-class farmers. We were told that the finest farm lands in the county are embraced in ten miles square in this corner, including Wheatland, a part of Du Page and Plainfield Townships ; and having been pretty well all over the county, we are quite willing to indorse the statement. There are no villages in Wheatland Township, as already stated, nor mills, and, in fact, the town contains very little of historic interest beyond its actual settlement, and the enterprise and energy of its "sturdy veo- manry."
The first birth in Wheatland is supposed to have been Levi B. Wightman. There are some, however, who are of opinion that it was a daughter of Mrs. Russell, formerly Mrs. Ingersoll. Just which is entitled to the preference, we are unable to say, but think it safe to say that both were first-that is to say, the first two. The first death was a child of E. T. Durant. It, at least, was the first burial in the public cemetery, located at the schoolhouse near East Wheat- land Post Office. The death of an elderly lady of the name of Coburn is remembered by some of the citizens as taking place at quite an early day ; but whether it was previous to that of the child mentioned, could not be determined, nor much information obtained in regard to her in any way. The first marriage was, probably, Rufus B. Olmstead to Juliet Foster, a daughter of " Priest" Foster, as the people called him. The date of the wedding is not remembered, neither is the name of him who united the happy couple.
The first schools taught in the township were on Sections 5 and 13, and there is some controversy as to which was taught first; but the preponderance of evidence, as the lawyers say, we believe is in favor of that on Section 5. However, they were taught very nearly at the same time, and in 1846 or 1847. There is another report of a school, believed by some to have been taught prior to these, by a Miss Elizabeth Hoag. She, it is said, taught a school in a pri- vate house belonging to Ira B. Thomas, on Section 26, before the building of schoolhouses. If so, it was probably the first taught in the town. At the present time, Wheatland will compare favorably with any part of the county as to the excellent character of its schools. At the close of the school year of 1872, the Superintendent of Schools reported ten schools and an equal number of houses, and 368 pupils enrolled. Twenty teachers were employed; five dis- tricts had libraries, containing a total of 156 volumes. The amount of special tax for the support of schools was $2,176.03; amount paid teachers, $2,257.80; total expenditure for the year, $3,573.12, leaving a balance in the treasury of $620.06. Thus it will be seen that the schools of the town are in a flourishing condition, well supported and well patronized.
The first Justices of the Peace in Wheatland Township were Robert Clow, the present efficient Circuit Clerk of Will County, and Edward Lilly, but as Mr. Lilly declined to qualify, Mr. Clow was really the first officiating Justice. The present Justices of the Peace are John McMicken and Augustus B. Cotton. Other township officers are, A. S. Brown, Town Clerk ; Franklin Boardman,
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School Treasurer, and John McMicken, Supervisor. When the county adopted township organization, in 1850, D. W. Cropsey was elected first Super- visor, and served during the years 1850 and 1851. Since his time, the list of Supervisors and their terms of office have been as follows: S. Simmons, 1852-53; F. Boardman, 1854-56; Robert Clow, 1857; S. Simmons, 1858-60; Robert Clow, 1861-76 inclusive, when he was elected Circuit Clerk of the county, and John McMicken, the present incumbent succeeded him. Mr. Clow has served his township and county in various offices, in all of which he has acquitted himself with credit, and we should take this opportunity of giving him an extended notice, but know that his modesty and good sense shrink from such notoriety. Hence, we pass without further allusion.
The first regular preacher, unless we except "Priest" Foster, was the Rev. Mr. Oburn, who sometimes preached at the house of Mr. Finley, in the south- west part of the town, on Section 30, about the year 1846 or 1847, but what denomination he claimed, we do not know. The first church was built by the United Presbyterians, in 1855, and was erected on Section 19. It is a substan- tial frame building, and cost about $1,500. The Rev. James Buchanon is the present Pastor, and has a large and flourishing membership and Sunday school under his charge. In 1864, the German Lutherans built a church on Section 14, which is quite an elegant edifice, costing $3,100. It has a flourishing membership, and a large Sunday school for a country church. The first Directors, or Trustees, were Jacob Fry and John Leppert, Sr. The first meet- ings were held at their houses. The first clergyman to preach to them was Rev. Mr. Leisman. In 1863, land was deeded to the Church by Robert Clow, Jr., and wife, and the present building was erected. Their first Pastor was Rev. Ernest Buhre, who remained with them until his death, which occurred in 1877. He was a man much beloved by his people. Rev. William Uffen- back succeeded him in the pulpit. The present Directors are Jacob Fry, Rich- ard Weinhold, John Smidt, Joseph Smidt and Frederick Stultz. The following story is told of an old German citizen and member of this Church. About the close of the war, when greenbacks were plenty, and fears manifested by some of those who always experience all their woes in anticipation, that greenbacks were of little value, this old German friend concluded to invest as many super- fluous greenbacks in the church as possible. So, with this idea in view, he started out on a tour of collecting, or begging, to obtain money for the purpose of adding a steeple and bell to their church, and used for his strongest plea the instability of greenbacks, or the uncertainty of their long remaining of value. In 1868, the German Evangelical Association, or German Methodists, built a church on Section 17, at a cost of between $2,500 and $3,000. It is a hand- some frame building, well finished, and presents a modern appearance. A flourishing Church and Sunday school are maintained, and ably supported by the German citizens of this part of the town. Wheatland has several pretty little cemeteries, which are kept in good order, and show much respect for the
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beloved dead. There are two on Section 14, one at the schoolhouse, one at the German Lutheran Church, and another on Section 8.
The first post office established in the township was called East Wheatland, but what year we were unable to learn. It is located on Section 13, and Tam- arack Post Office was established some years later in the southwest corner of the town. There is a store at Tamarack Post Office, the only institution of the kind maintained in the entire township. In the early times, prior to township organ- ization, Wheatland was known as Oregon Precinct. But in the process of naming the townships, as "made and provided" by law, this was called Wheatland by a man from the Empire State, whose native place was called Wheatland, and the name has been retained ever since.
Politically, Wheatland Township at the present day, is largely Republican, perhaps three-fourths of its voters supporting that ticket. Before the organi- zation of the Republican party, however, it was probably Democratic; but as in many other sections of the country, it has changed its base, politically speak- ing, in the last decade or two of years. During the late war, Wheatland did its duty equally well with other portions of Will County. Its citizens waited no urging ; that the old flag had been defied by rebels and traitors, was suffi- cient incentive to send them to the army by the score. But as the deeds of the Will County soldiery have already been written, we shall not repeat them here.
The recent settlements of Wheatland Township, and the absence of any- thing like towns or villages, leaves but little here to write about, or to make history. It is now pretty thickly settled, and that by an intelligent and ener- getic class of people, with excellent schools and churches. It has good roads and a number of substantial wooden bridges, but these are of such modern date as to be hardly considered an interesting matter of history. Then, with these brief pages, we will leave it for some future historian to do it more ample justice ..
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
This is one of the earliest settled townships in the county, the date of its: first settlement being almost coincident with that of Chicago. Chicago was laid out August 4, 1830, and the first settlement was made at Reed's Grove six months later. This grove being situated at the corners of Jackson, Channahon, Wilmington and Florence Townships, has given rise to no little misunderstand- ing as to the location of some of the early settlers of this vicinity; and we shall not be surprised if some of our statements do not receive immediate indorse- ment. Several parties, or colonies, who settled in the Grove, though in the immediate neighborhood, since township lines have been established have proved to be in different townships. This fact also makes the narration of events in one township, without at the same time bringing in the history of other town- ships, quite difficult; and a small amount of repetition will therefore be necessary.
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Reed's Grove received its earliest white settler in 1831. At that time, Indians were plenty in this part of the State, and the Grove was one of their favorite resorts and dwelling-places. The territory now embraced in these townships was occupied by the tribe or nation called Pottawatomies. The rela- tions between these people and their early white neighbors were of the most friendly character. They hunted, visited and drank together, as peaceably as the more modern occupants of the county.
To Charles Reed belongs the credit of being the first settler, not only of Jackson Township, but of the grove which still bears his name. Reed was a man of energy and spirit. He had a family of grown up children, some of whom were already married; and, being desirous of seeing them settled in homes of their own, such as he was unable to provide for them in the older settled States -he resolved to emigrate to this place.
Accordingly, he with his two sons-in-law, Charles Koons and Eli Shoemaker, and Joseph Shoemaker (brother of Eli), set out for this place in the early Spring of 1831, and reached the grove March 2 of that year. At that time, but few families had settled in the whole section now embraced in Will County. Dwellers at a distance of twenty-five miles were considered neighbors. Joseph Shoemaker, though mentioned here as a member of this settlement or colony, did not in reality settle in Jackson Township. He is usually accredited as the first settler of Wilmington Township; but this, too, seems to be an error, as his cabin was just on the north side of the line subsequently located between Wilmington and Chan- nahon. Reed, with the balance of his family, removed from the township more than twenty-five years ago, and while the country was yet indeed new. George Kirkpatrick and brother and James Hemphill lacked but a few months of being the first. They came from Ohio, and settled here in May following the advent of Reed. Of these, George Kirkpatrick still resides in the township, but the other two are dead. James Hemphill died in 1863.
During the Spring of the next year, two new companies settled in the town- ship. Wesley Jenkins, Thomas Underwood-brother-in-law of Jenkins-and Jefferson Ragsdale were from North Carolina. Of the "Jenkins Colony," as it was called, none are left, all having removed to other parts. Jenkins was quite a character-a very loud and emphatic-spoken man, and a great admirer of Gen. Jackson, whose glory was then at its height. It is related that when the matter of naming the creek, which traverses the township, and from which it is named, was under consideration, Jenkins swore with violent gesture that no personage was worthy of the name but the " Hero of New Orleans," and Jackson it was called.
A Methodist Church was organized in this neighborhood at a very early date, and one of its members felt that he was "called to preach." Some doubted the genuineness of the calling, amongst whom was this profane Jenkins, who accounts for the preacher's determination to proclaim the Gospel, by saying that it was his custom to go out early every morning to feed his hogs, and in
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stentorian tones, which might be mistaken for Gabriel, to call his pigs to their morning meal. On one occasion, he says, while performing this work in the dim light of the approaching morning, he observed running with the hogs, with hymn book in hand, this self-styled preacher, who, he avers, had mistaken his voice for the "call to preach." Indeed, the conduct of the preacher, as subsequently developed, has gone far toward verifying Jenkins' story, the preacher having long since fallen from grace. Jenkins was the life of all the house and barn raisings, and enlivened all of the husking and other " bees " with his peculiar, though sometimes profane, jokes.
The Linebarger colony arrived here from Indiana the same Spring with Jenkins. The company consisted of Henry, John, George and Lewis. The last named, however, settled in the town of Florence, a short distance from the others. They were also Carolinians, and had left there years before and had resided for a time in Indiana, near the Wabash. Of these, Henry Line- barger lived here but four years, dying here in 1836. George Linebarger is now a resident of the village of Elwood. He has been a very useful citizen, a leader in the Methodist Church, and one of its most pious members. He is now in poor health, and waits but for a short time to take up his residence in another and better country. John Linebarger, though he came to the township. at the date named, returned to Indiana a few weeks later, and did not make the township his permanent home until 1850. He now resides in Elwood, and is engaged in the grain business.
Peter Eib, with his three sons, George, Levi and Augustus, was from the State of Virginia. The elder Eib was very fond of his gun, and an excellent marksman. He found here plenty of game on which to practice his skill. It was not an uncommon thing to see from fifty to one hundred deer in a single drove. Turkeys, wolves and other game were so plenty as to make them almost a nuisance. Mr. Eib passed away years ago, but his sons still remain and are amongst the best citizens of the community.
In 1832, emigration to these parts, and indeed to all Northern and Western Illinois, received a very severe check. Previously, the whites and red men had been on the best of terms; and especially in this region there seemed to be no jealousies existing between the two races. Land and game were so plenty, and the white settlers were so few, that the Indians here did not feel as though their rights were being encroached upon. And then again, the tribes dwelling in this part of the State were of a more civilized character than some others. Indeed, some of the leaders or chiefs were so much so that when the proposition to build the Michigan & Illinois Canal was being agitated, they were not only willing to have the improvement made, but gave it all the encouragement they could ; and it is said that among the first acts of Congress relating to the proj- ect there is a clause permitting the free use of the Canal forever to these people. However, before the completion of the work, the stealthy stroke of the Indian's paddle, propelling his canoe, had ceased. The causes which led
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to their removal were just beginning to take shape, when the emigrants whose names have been given had barely completed their journey. Black Hawk, of whom mention is made on pages 74-79, and his followers and allies had become restless and jealous of the white people, who were in that part of the country steadily encroaching on both the real and fancied rights of their red brethren. These jealousies eventually broke out into actual conflict, and the State and national military were called out to quell the deadly trouble that seemed to be rising. Of course, great excitement prevailed everywhere, and in sparsely- settled neighborhoods like this, with no commensurate means of resistance at hand, and with a people in their midst who, though professing friendship, were yet known to be of a treacherous nature, the most serious apprehensions were entertained. In this state of fear and anxiety the inhabitants of this vicinity were living when, about the latter part of May, 1832, news was brought to the neighborhood of the massacre of several families and the capture and abduction of two young ladies near Ottawa. In those days, this was considered only an adjacent neighborhood, and very naturally the alarm created in this place was intense. A meeting of all the citizens was immediately called, and it was quickly resolved that, in consideration of their utter inability to repel an attack, it was best to remove to the more thickly settled country on the Wabash, whence many of thein had formerly emigrated. Accordingly, on the following night at 10 o'clock, there were found nearly twenty wagons, and teams gathered at Five-Mile Grove prepared to start. At about the time fixed for their departure they were joined by some parties who reported the Indians approach- ing. This precipitated their flight, and great confusion prevailed. One man had loaned his ox-yoke, and had sent for it, as he could not harness his cattle without it; but when the announcement was made that the enemy were near, he snatched a rail from the fence, and with a half-dozen strokes of the ax fash- ioned it into a substitute, which in a moment more was bound on the necks of his oxen with withes of hickory, as quickly cut from the brush, and he was one of the first to start for the Wabash.
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