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 63

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 63

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William Nelson, a prominent citizen of the town in the early days, came ere from Trenton, N. Y., but was an Englishman by birth. He settled in his section in 1848, and gave the town the name of Trenton, when it and Greengarden were known as one township, as noticed in the beginning of this

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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.

chapter. He sold out, some years ago, and removed into Jackson Township, where he still resides. William and Charles Bissett were from Bonny Scotland, and came to the settlement in 1848. Charles died in a short time after their settlement here. William went to California during the gold excitement of 1849 and 1850, where he still lived the last known of him. A man named 'Borders settled here in 1849. He was from Ohio, and did not remain long in the set- tlement. What became of him no one knows or seems to care, as he was, to use a Southern phrase, " small potatoes " anyway, it was said.

Clarke Baker came from New York, and bought land here in 1847, but did not settle on it until 1850. He is still living, an active, energetic man of fourscore and two years, and is one of the respected citizens and wealthy farmers of the township. He is the present Supervisor, an office he has held for several years, as will be found on another page. This comprises a number of the first set- tlers of Manhattan Township up to a period when the tide of immigration poured in with a rapidity defying the power of the historian to keep pace with names and dates. When township organization went into effect, in 1850, there were but ten legal voters in the territory now comprised in Manhattan Town- ship, and, as already stated, was not sufficient to form a township of itself, but was, with Greengarden, known as Trenton Township, and so remained until 1853, when they were separated and organized under their present names. William Nelson was the first Supervisor of Trenton Township, and held the office in 1850; was succeeded by M. Bailey, who served during 1851 and 1852, when the towns were divided, and John Young elected Supervisor of Manhattan for 1853. Clarke Baker was elected in 1854, and held it for two years, when Mr. Young was re-elected, and held the office from 1856 to 1860, inclusive. In 1861, Clarke Baker was again elected and also in 1862, and in 1863, was succeeded by G. A. Buck, who served until 1865, when J. E. Baker was elected, serving from 1865 to 1869, inclusive. G. A. Buck was then re-elected, and served 1870-72, and was succeeded by S. Robinson, in 1873-74, when Clarke Baker was again elected, and has held the office ever since. Other township officers are Clarke Baker and Hiram Olney, Justices of the Peace; Hiram Olney, Town Clerk ; Michael Haley, Constable, and George A. Buck, School Treasurer.

As recent as the settlement of Manhattan Township has been, the early record of mortality is somewhat cloudy and vague. The first death of which we have been able to learn definitely was that of Charles Bissett, who is noticed as settling here in 1848, and who, it is said, died in a year or two afterward. A child of Stephen Bowen was born in 1850, and was probably the first, or, at least, the first in what might be termed the second era of settlements in the town. It might be claimed that Edward Perkins was the first settler of the township to perpetrate matrimony, though he married in New York. But to come down to a more modern date, George A. Buck and Miss Sarah Baker were married at quite an early day. We do not give these, however, as being

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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.

the first births, deaths and marriages which actually occurred in the town, and are inclined to think they are not; but they are the first of which we have been able to learn anything definite. It is altogether probable that, with many Ger- man and Irish immigrants coming in, there were births at an earlier date than hose given. But it is stated by some of the early settlers that children were rather scarce in Manhattan in the early days of its settlement, and that it was long before there were enough to form a school. Mr. Young, who had resided n New York City, where the crop of juvenility was ponderous, says his wife was often annoyed there by the noise and racket of children in their neighbor- hood ; but used to say frequently, after she had been "here a spell," that she would give much to hear the noise of children at play.

The first Justice of the Peace in the township was William Bissett, and received the office in 1849, but did not hold it long, as he sold out in 1850 and went to California. The first blacksmith-shop was kept by a man named Cun- hingham, in 1851. Where Cunningham came from, or whither he went, no one can now tell. There is no village in Manhattan Township, nor has there ever been a store within its borders, nor a post office established for its particu- ar benefit. But very recently Greengarden post office was moved over, just nside of the Manhattan line. Joliet is the point of traffic of its citizens, and s the post office where the large majority of them get their mail matter. It is here they haul their grain and other farm produce, and hence, stores and post offices have not been at all required in their town, and would not, perhaps, be nuch patronized if they were as plenty as Falstaff's blackberries.

The first and the only church structure ever erected in Manhattan Town- ship, is the Episcopal Church, built in 1857, under the ministerial charge of. . Rev. Clinton Locke, who at the time was Rector of the Episcopal Church in Joliet, and now of Grace Church, Chicago, and whom we noticed as officiating n the reception of President Hayes in his recent visit to Chicago. . The church edifice is a frame, and cost about $1,500. Some dozen or twenty families wor- ship there at the present time under the pastorate of Rev. A. W. Glass. Other religious organizations have regularly-established societies in the township, and hardly a schoolhouse but serves as a temple of worship and for Sunday schools, out there are no other church edifices. The first schoolhouse was built in 1852, und in it was taught the first school in the township. For as before stated, there were but few children in the settlement for several years, and consequently not nuch need felt for schoolhouses. In 1872, a little more than a score of years after the second era of immigration set in, we find the town contained eight school districts and eight good, substantial schoolhouses. There were 415 pupils enrolled and 13 teachers employed; the district tax levy for the support of schools was $1,135.22, and $1,422.35 the amount paid to teachers. The schools of Manhattan are in a flourishing state; each district has a good, comfortable schoolhouse ; the best of teachers are employed, and school main- ained for the usual number of months each year.

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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.

When Mr. Young settled in Manhattan Township, in 1849, there was not, he informed us, a rod of fence in the town, but a little in Five-Mile Grove, where Mr. Baker had bought land. Aside from that little bunch of timber, it was an unbroken prairie, well set in tall, waving grass, overtopped with wild- flowers, and presenting a picture of beauty equal to the most extravagant ideas of the Western prairies to be obtained from the New York Ledger and kindred publications. The town is sufficiently rolling to drain well; in fact, there is not a section but that is capable of being well drained. It is irrigated by Jackson and Mud Creeks, two small brooklets that usually go dry in the Sum- mer season, but sometimes in long "rainy spells " get on the rampage and become rather boisterous streams. There are no mills in this .town, nor rail- roads, and as before stated, no villages or cities, or "corner lots," and hence, there is very little in the way of history pertaining to it, beyond the mere fact of its settlement, and that of its being, as already noted, one of the finest agri- cultural districts in the county. Although originally settled by New Yorkers, and other Eastern people, the foreign population has rather the ascendency at present. The German and Irish elements are well represented, and can boast of many excellent and wealthy farmers.

As showing the importance of Manhattan as an agricultural community, we present the following statistics from the last Assessor's books :

ACRES.

BUSHELS.

Corn

8,371

210,330

Oats

3,857

16,510

Irish Potatoes.

5,880

Apple Orchards

135

Flaxseed

231

TONS.

Timothy Meadow

2,063

2,500

Prairie Meadow

2,101

2,643

Pasture.

.5,959

(not including woodland.)

No. pounds wool shorn

160

Ibs.

No. of Fat Sheep sold

15 head.

No. of Cows kept.

557

No. Fat Cattle sold

107-average weight, 1,000 lbs. per head.

No. Fat Hogs

1,408

250

From the above figures it will be seen that Manhattan is an excellent farm- ing district, and does its part in swelling the agricultural resources of the county.

The political record of Manhattan is Democratic by a very small majority, or has been, until the present "shaking of the dry bones of the valley " caused by the National Greenbackers, and just now it appears somewhat uncertain as to what a day may bring forth. The township bore a good record in the late war, as is shown by reference to the "Patriotism of Will County." As the deeds of its soldiers are perpetuated in the pages of that work, we shall not go into details of their war history here. They bore the perils of the war for the

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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.

Union, and we will pass from the subject, with this tribute to those who sleep their last long sleep :

" Like a swift-fleeting meteor, a fast-flying cloud, A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave, Man passes from life to his rest in the grave."

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

This township is situated in the extreme southeastern part of the county, nd is the most distant from the county seat of any township, being from its enter, in a direct line from Joliet, twenty-seven miles, and by rail not less than hirty-five. Since the division of Reed Township, this is one of the two greatest n area in the county, including within its limits all of Congressional Town 33 orth and 14 east, and about one-fourth of Range 15. The township presents more han an ordinary variety of soil and surface, being in some portions quite flat nd in others rolling ; in some portions a deep, rich soil, and in others lacking this character. It is watered by the small stream which drains Eagle Lake, which also furnishes stock water for the northeastern, central and south western arts. Eagle Lake, formerly much larger than at present, covers an area of a uarter of Section 7 and the swamp adjacent, nearly all of this and Section 8. Before the work of draining the lake was begun, hundreds of bushels of ranberries were annually produced and gathered here, but now this industry is estroyed. The other products of the township consist of corn, rye, oats, pota- bes and hay. Stock-raising is carried on to some extent.

The Chicago, Danville & Vincennes Railroad passes through the western art, furnishing an outlet for its products and a means of communication with ther parts of the country. Prior to the completion of this line, most of the arketing was hauled direct to Chicago, or shipped by the Illinois Central at eotone or Monee. Most of the land in this township, being outside of the Ilinois Central limits, was sold to original settlers or to speculators for $1.25 er acre, and was occupied within a period ending about 1857.

The first settler in the township was a man of the name of Jesse Dutcher. ut little is known as to whence he came or whither he went; but, in 1851, he e was found here occupying some land a couple of miles north of Washington enter. The line running through the Center, and continuing through Crete, d thence to Chicago, with its southern terminus at Vincennes, Ind., was e main traveled road between those two extremes, and was one of the most- sed thoroughfares in the State. Marketing of all kinds was hauled from Vin- nnes and all intermediate points by way of this road to Chicago. As a con- quence, little settlements sprang up all along the line, and, at short distances, uses for the accommodation of the traveler and teamster, and for the profit the owners, were opened. These houses were scarcely deserving of the name : hotel or tavern, but were owned by parties who were opening farms, and

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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. '

having built cabins of more than ordinary size, established this species of lodging-house in connection with their farming operations. Such an establish- ment was Dutcher keeping at the time remembered by the earliest settler, in 1851, and for two or three years later. How long he had been there, we are unable to say ; but sthose who saw him there at the date named, judging from the looks of his house and other improvements, credit him with a half-dozen years' previous residence. Dutcher was also a preacher, and, as now remem- bered, was of the Methodist persuasion. Perhaps he was not a regularly- licensed minister, as his stay, in such case, could not have been so prolonged. However, like his ancient prototype, Melchizedek, the priest of Salem, he went as he came, unknown to any of his cotemporaries, and the balance of his history is lost to this part of the world.

Four miles south and a mile west of the Dutcher Tavern, hotel, caravan- sary, or whatever it might be called, was, at the same date, another stopping- place of a similar character, though, if report be true, of a little less respecta- bility, as its proprietor was anything else than a preacher. At this place, which was near what is now known as the Sollitt Farm, James McBein " took the stranger in " and accommodated him for a compensation ; and, with this Scriptural argument, he went before the Bar Supreme many years ago to plead admission to the "Heavenly Mansion." The McBein family have all removed from the township.

By an examination of the map, it will be discovered that these two hotels or taverns were not on the same section line; but they were on the same road, which did not follow the section line in all cases, but meandered about, follow- ing sometimes the bank of a creek, and at others being confined to the highest ridges of land. Along this general highway other habitations sprung up in due time, and the " big-road " settlement was distinct for many miles up and down its course. Among these were John Rose, William Strain and Joseph Maxwell. John Rose was probably the third settler in the township, and is almost entitled to the credit of being the first, as the settlements previously named could scarcely be called permanent. Certain it is that the Rose family is now the oldest family in the bounds of Washington Township. Mr. Rose was a native of Ireland, and came to this part of the country in 1851. He settled on the west side of Section 3, which, it will be noticed, is near the line of the former "big road." John Rose died in 1858. Heirs of the family still occupy the old homestead.

William Strain was also a native of Ireland. He came to this place in 1852, and still resides here, a few rods north of the "Center."

Joseph Maxwell came from Ohio with T. L. Miller, and still resides here.

Philip Nolan was also one of the earliest settlers in this part of the town- ship. Nolan had lived in Chicago a couple of years before removing to this vicinity in 1851. Joseph White was one of the prominent men of the early times in this neighborhood, though his residence here was but brief, extending from

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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.

the year 1854 till about 1858. It was at his house, on the Dutcher farm, that the first township election was held, in 1856; and at this election he was chosen one of the first Justices of the Peace. After the exodus of Dutcher, White installed himself as landlord and farmer, and continued here until 1858, when he removed to Indiana.

While these settlements were being made, another, known at the time as " The Settlement," was being made in the northeast corner of the township, in the vicinity of Eagle Lake. Among the first settlers in that neighborhood were Henry Bahlman, Peter Dohse, Andrew Carstensen, Pade Kruse, Charles Fuller and William Bliss, most of whom have since removed to other places.

The Bahlman family, of whom Henry Bahlman, Jr., is a member, still reside here. The modest-looking lake was, about twenty years ago, the scene of a horrible and most disgusting tragedy, with which, however, none of the citizens were in anywise connected. Parties, residents of other parts of the county, to conceal another crime, and for the small consideration of $50, com- mitted a crime here that has justly cursed them for all time to come. The night was dark and gloomy, and well calculated to inspire the two monsters who committed the devilish deed with feelings which must be necessary to the accomplishment of such an inhuman act. Their victim was an infant, of which they had been put in charge for the purpose of procuring for it a home in some institution established for such unfortunates. But either the price received or the idea of a more effectual concealment of the original crime, impelled them to committing the little body to the depths of Eagle Lake. The details of the crime, though published in all of the papers at the time, are too disgusting for further mention, except to say that the perpetrators were discov- ered, arrested, tried and convicted, but by some means they escaped the just penalty of their dark deed.

By 1856, farms were also being opened in the southern and western parts of the township. The Germans, who are now more than half owners of the township, were beginning to arrive; and by the year last named, there were about twenty additional families, among whom are remembered : Rensellaer and Edwin C. Richards, W. and C. Lyon, Joseph Irish, Horace Morrison, William and M. Watkins, Richard Lightbown, Isaiah and Stephen Goodenow, Robert and David Dunbar, John B. Bowes, John Miers, Peter Dohse, H. Spanler, John Tatmire and Aaron and Miles Johnson. The township was yet a part of Crete, and voted and transacted all political business with that precinct. In the year mentioned, however, a move was made toward establishing this as a separate precinct. A petition was prepared and presented to the Board of Supervisors ; and no good reason appearing to the contrary, an election for the purpose of organization and for selecting township officers was by them ordered to take place on the 1st Tuesday of April, 1856. As has been stated, the election was held at the house of Joseph White, and the record which is still extant indicates that there were thirty voters present. Rensellaer Richards was

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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.

chosen Moderator and William Watkins, Clerk pro tem. They were sworn to. perform the duties of their positions according to law, by William Hughes, a Justice of the Peace, and were about to proceed to business, when it was men- tioned that as William Watkins had not resided in the town a year, he was con- sequently ineligible. M. Watkins was therefore chosen and qualified in his stead, and the election proceeded. Rensellaer Richards was elected Supervisor and Assessor ; Edwin C. Richards, Clerk ; William B. Conner, Collector ; William A. Bliss, Overseer of the Poor; Joseph Irish, Joseph Maxwell and Henry Bahlman, Commissioners of Highways; Joseph White and William Watkins, Justices of the Peace; and Isaiah Goodenow and J. H. Irish, Con- stables. The Richards family must have been both a popular and competent. one, as they monopolized the three most important offices.

The names of the present officers are: F. Wilke, Supervisor ; Charles Holtz, Clerk ; Henry Bahlman, Jr., Assessor ; August Guritz, Collector; Henry Valtner, John Tegtmeir and Edmund Smith, Commissioners of Highways ; Charles Holtz and Henry Lattz, Constables ; Rudolph Pecht and Henry Bahl- man, Justices of the Peace; and Christopher Koelling, School Treasurer. The number of votes polled is about 200, though a full ballot has never been cast.

The township is well supplied with school facilities, there being, besides the- seven public schools, four private schools supported by the different religious denominations. The first effort to provide school advantages for the children of the township was in 1855, when Sabina Graham was employed to teach a few children, in a room of the Dutcher-White Hotel. The next Spring, a little shanty was erected in that neighborhood. This first schoolhouse was a simple Summer concern, constructed of rough boards, and was but twelve feet long and as many wide. At first it was designed for only a single Summer, but was pressed into the service for several years. Miss Graham was an excellent teacher, and her praise as a kind and diligent instructor may still be heard from some of her early pupils, now grown to be middle-aged men and matrons. In 1857, a good schoolhouse, which is still mentioned in this vicinity as the "new schoolhouse," was erected in this vicinity, and the following year the township was divided into two districts, and a second house was erected.

A few items extracted from the School Commissioners' report of that year, will prove interesting to our readers, as showing the satisfactory advance in this- direction at the present date :

Schools.

Number of months in each year.

Average wages.

$19 63

Number of scholars attending. 99

Number of persons under 21

171

Number of persons between 6 and 21. 112

Amount paid to teachers.

402 74

Whole amount paid for school purposes.

$1,992 14.

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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.

If the items in regard to attendance and number between 6 and 21 are both correct, it shows a remarkably high percentage of those entitled to school privi- leges taking advantage of the opportunity. Especially is this so, when the newness of the settlement is taken into account. In 1866, eight years later, we find 4 schools here, with 569 persons under 21; and still eight years later, in 1874, the number had increased to 6 schools, with 612 persons under 21. The present status of education may be determined from the following figures :

Number of persons under 21 881

Number of persons between 6 and 21. 650

Number of scholars attending. 237

Number of schools .. 7

Number of months taught. 46}

Amount paid teachers

$1,959 00

Total expenditures for school purposes.

3,087 00

The present apparent meager attendance is accounted for by the fact that about four hundred children, between the ages of 5 and 14, are in attendance at the parish schools, of which there are four in the township.

The oldest organized church in the township is St. John's Evangelical Lutheran, near Eagle Lake. This organization was accomplished in 1850; but, as has already been stated, there were not more than two families resident in Washington Township, and they, as has been intimated, being of other belief; in regard to religious matters, it will be surmised that the organization could not have been effected here. The church was at first established a mile north of its present location, in the township of Crete. A building for religious and edu- cational purposes was erected there at the date named, and church and school were kept open there until 1864. Rev. Gustav Pollack was the organizer of the enterprise, and was Pastor for fifteen years. In 1864, it having been determined to build a new house of worship, a new location was selected for the same, though school has been kept open at the old site till the present time.

The new building at Eagle Lake is a very neat and commodious one, and cost the society $5,000. The old building, a mile north, was torn down a few years ago, and a new schoolhouse erected at a cost of $1,000. A dwelling for the use of the teacher was also built, at an expense of $900. At the Lake a parsonage, costing $2,200, was built in 1865 ; also a schoolhouse was erected which cost $1,200.

At the north establishment, in Crete Township, A. Albers is employed as teacher. In the school at the Lake, Friedrich Fathaur has been teacher ever since its organization. The congregation or society consists of 118 families, of whom Rev. J. F. Nuoffer is Pastor.

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, located a mile northwest of Beecher, was organized in the Spring of 1865, by Rev. Gustav Pollack, who had been preaching in this vicinity. Herman Lossner was installed Pastor, in which position he is still engaged. The organization was first started with

$646

HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.

twenty families, which has increased to eighty-five, embracing a membership, as estimated by other denominations, of about three hundred and fifty persons. In 1865, a two-story building, for the use of Pastor, and as a church and schoolhouse, was erected, at a cost of $2,500. In 1867, a neat parsonage, cost- ing $1,250, was built; and the other building has since been used for school and church purposes. It is proposed, next year, to build a church edifice 40x60 feet, at an expenditure of about $3,500, the plans of which are already procured and most of the money subscribed. At this establishment, as at all of the others of this denomination, school is kept open nearly all the year, and the common branches of German and religion are taught. At the age of 14, or confirmation, the children attend the public schools. Albert Dorn has been in charge of the school for the last three years.

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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 63

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