The history of Carroll county, Illinois, containing a history of the county-its cities, towns, etc., a biographical directory war record statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men history of the Northwest Illinois miscellaneous matters, etc, Part 34

Author: Kett, H.F., & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Chicago, H.F. Kett & Co.
Number of Pages: 508


USA > Illinois > Carroll County > The history of Carroll county, Illinois, containing a history of the county-its cities, towns, etc., a biographical directory war record statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men history of the Northwest Illinois miscellaneous matters, etc > Part 34


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60


On the 23d day of January, 1856, articles of agreement were made and concluded by and between the Savanna Branch Railroad Company, and the Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company, merging and consolidating the capital stock owned and held by them, together with all of the powers and franchises now held by them, by virtue of their acts of incorporation.


Ou the 9th day of November, 1860, the sheriff of Racine County, Wis- consin, by his deed, conveyed to Morris K. Jessup, of the City of New York, the following described premises and property, to wit : The Eastern division of the railroad of the Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company, extending from the City of Racine to the City of Beloit, with all its tracks, rails, appurtenances, right of way, etc.


February 5, 1863, Circuit Court, by David Noggle, judge, ratified and confirmed the sale made by the sheriff of Racine Co., Wisconsin.


On the 6th day of January, A. D. 1865, Morris K. Jessup, by his deed, conveyed to Richard Irvine and G. A. Thomson, all the Eastern division of the railroad of the Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company, extending from the City of Racine to the City of Beloit, with all its right of way, and all other appurtenances.


326


HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.


On the 13th day of April, A. D. 1865, Richard Irvine, of the City of New York, by his deed, conveyed to G. A. Thomson, of Racine, in the State of Wisconsin, all the right, title and interest which said Richard Irvine has in and to all the Eastern division of the railroad of the Racine and Missis- sippi Railroad Company, extending from the City of Racine to the City of Beloit.


On the 7th day of February, A. D. 1865, Henry W. Bishop, Jr., as Master in Chancery of the United States Circuit Court for the Northern District of Illinois, by his deed, conveyed to George A. Thomson all the railroad of the Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company extending from the line between the States of Wisconsin and Illinois, in the Town of Rockton, in the County of Winnebago, and the State of Illinois, to the Western ter- mination of said road, in the Town of Savanna, in Carroll County, in said State of Illinois.


February 20, 1865, the Circuit Court of the United States for the Northern District of Illinois in Chancery ratified and confirmed the sale made by Henry W. Bishop, Jr.


June 5, 1865, G. A. Thomson filed, in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Wisconsin, his certificate of organization of the West- ern Union Railroad Company in the State of Wisconsin. Said certificate specifies as follows :


First. The name of the said corporation shall be "The Western Union Railroad Company."


Second. The number of directors shall be thirteen.


Third. The names of the directors for the first year are herein desig- nated as follows : Richard Irvine, Jacob S. Wetmore, S. P. Nash and R. G. Ralston, all of the City of New York; S. C. Tuckerman, Henry T. Fuller, Darwin Andrews and George A. Thomson, all of the City of Racine, Wis- consin; E. P. Barton, of Freeport, Illinois; H. A. Mills, of Mount Carroll. Illinois; D. W. Dame, of Lanark, Illinois; Wm. Shannon and Elijah Northey, of Shannon, Illinois.


June 16, A. D. 1865, G. A. Thomson filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Illinois, his certificate of organization of the West- ern Union Railroad Company in the State of Illinois. Said certificate specifies as follows:


First. The name of the said corporation shall be "The Western Union Railroad Company."


Second. The number of directors shall be thirteen.


Third. The names of the directors for the first year are herein desig- nated as follows : Richard Irvine, Jacob S. Wetmore, S. P. Nash, and R. G. Ralston, all of the City of New York; S. C. Tuekerman, Henry T. Fuller, Darwin Andrews, and G. A. Thomson, all of the City of Racine, Wisconsin; E. P. Barton, of Freeport, Illinois; H. A. Milis, of Mount Carroll, Illinois; D. W. Dame, of Lanark, Illinois; Wmn. Shannon and Elijah Northey, of Shannon, Illinois.


Articles of agreement made and concluded the 13th day of June A. D. 1865, by and between the Mississippi Railroad Company and the Northern Illinois Railroad Company, mutually merge and consolidate the capital stock owned and held by them, and each of them, and that the name of the com- pany formed by this consolidation shall be " The Northern Illinois Railroad Company," and that the whole management of the affairs of such new com- pany shall be under the management and control of a board of directors,


Urs, /Aflood Shimmer


PRINCIPAL & PROPRIETOR OF MT CARROLL SEMINARY ·


1


329


HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.


consisting of the following named persons, to wit : Richard Irvine, Elijah Northey, Enoch Chamberlain, L. H. Bowen, H. A. Mills, Duncan Mckay, Edward P. Barton, Wm. Shannon, D. W. Dame, G. A. Thomson, R. A. Knapp, S. C. Tuckerman and Henry T. Fuller.


January 16, A. D. 1866, articles of agreement were made and con- cluded by and between "The Western Union Railroad Company, a corpora- tion created and existing in the State of Illinois," and " The Western Union Railroad Company, a corporation created and existing in the State of Wisconsin," thereby mutually merging and consolidating the railroad and property owned and held by them, and each of them, and all the powers and franchises now held, owned and possessed by them, and each of them, and that the name of the company formed by this consolidation shall be " The Western Union Railroad Company," and that the whole management of the affairs of such new company shall be under the management and con- trol of a board of directors, consisting of the following named persons, to wit: Richard Irvine, S. P. Nash, R. G. Ralston, Jacob S. Wetmore, Elijah Northey, H. A. Mills, Edward P. Barton, Win. Shannon, D. W. Dame, G. A. Thomson, Darwin Andrews, S. C. Thekerman and Henry T. Fuller.


Articles of agreement were made and concluded the 17th day of Jan- uary, A. D. 1866, by and between " The Western Union Railroad Com- pany, a corporation existing under, and by virtue of, the laws of the States of Illinois and Wisconsin," and " The Northern Illinois Railroad Company, a corporation created and existing under, and by virtue of, the laws of said State of Illinois," thereby mutually merging and consolidating the railroads and property owned and held by them, and each of them, and all the powers and franchises now held, owned and possessed by them, and each of them, and that the name of the corporation formed by this consolidation shall be " The Western Union Railroad Company," and that the whole management of the affairs of such new company shall be under the management and con- trol of a board of directors, consisting of the following named persons, to wit: Richard Irvine, Jacob S. Wetmore, S. P. Nash, R. G. Ralston, S. C. Tuckerman, Henry T. Fuller, Darwin Andrews, G. A. Thomson, E. P. Barton, H. A. Mills, D. W. Dame, Wm. Shannon and Elijah Northey.


An act to authenticate and confirm the incorporation of the Western Union Railroad Company, and the consolidation thereof with certain rail- road companies in Illinois, and to grant rights of transportation by water, was passed and approved April 11, 1866.


To aid in constructing the Western Union Railroad, thus consolidated and legally perfected in its organization, farmers along the entire line from Racine to Rock Island contributed in subscriptions ranging from $300 to $15,000 each, for which they never received one dollar in return, many of the farmers losing their farms in consequence of encumbering them to meet the obligations thus assumed. The present management obtained possession and control of the road by direct purchase, receiving no contri- butions or local aid. "Through the influence of this road, Carroll County has been placed on an equal footing with the other counties of the state, and has developed her resources, which are ample, as the business resources of the road for the current year, given in another place, fully testify.


With the completion of the Chicago & Pacific Railroad through to Lanark-now completed to within about 30 miles-and forming a junction there with the Western Union Road, a new era of prosperity will open before this people. Extended on to Sabula, and there uniting with the


19


330


HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.


Sabula, Ackley & Dakota Railroad, and extending on to the Missouri River, tapping the lowa granaries, the pastures of Nebraska, and finally reaching the mineral and pine land regions of the Black Hills, by way of Yankton and the valley of the river that comes down from that distriet and dis- charges its waters into the Missouri at Brule City, and Carroll County will be on one of the great highways of the American Continent. And that con- summation is only a question of time.


1


MISCELLANEOUS.


ORIGIN OF NAMES.


Carroll County was named in honor of " Charles Carroll, of Carroll ton," one of the signers of the Declaration of American Independence. Mount Carroll was named by the commissioners who located the county seat here, in 1843. They drove the stake designating the location on the highest point of ground here, a point that had sometimes been called Baby Mountain, and christened the place Mount Carroll.


Elkhorn Grove and Elkhorn Creek take their names from the large number of elks' horns found there when the first settlers came.


Eagle Point derives its name from an eagle's nest having been found there in early times.


Rock Creek and Rock Creek Township, from the rocky stream that flows through that township.


Lanark was named after Lanark, Scotland, the home of the capitalists who furnished the money to aid in building the Western Union Rail Road.


Buffalo Grove, from "Nanusha," Indian for buffalo, large herds of which grazed around there until white men drove them away.


York Township was named in honor of New York State, the nativity of many of the early settlers.


Wysox, from a town of the same name in Pennsylvania, the early home of a number of the first settlers.


Woodland, from its forests and tangled woods.


Cherry Grove, from the wild cherry and plum trees that grow along its creek bottoms. Plum River derives its name from the same source.


Shannon Township and the Village of Shannon, from the name of the founder of the village -- William Shannon.


Savanna, from the low, grassy character of the land upon which the village was commenced.


Straddle Creek, now Carroll Creek, derives its name from a pioneer incident. A man named Chambers, who was the first settler at Chambers' Grove, was a man of about sixty years, short and rather corpulent. At one time in early days, he was assisting some surveyors, when they came to the banks of the creek, which rises in Ogle County. When the surveyors reached it, it was small and narrow. It was necessary to eross the stream, but they didn't exactly know how to do it without wading, when Mr. Cham- bers remarked that he could straddle it, as short as his legs were. Some of the party offered to wager him that he could not even jump it. He did not like to take such a banter, and did straddle it-planted one foot on each bank. But he could not master the situation. He could neither go over nor come back. The banks were pretty high, and, in his struggles to right


331


HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.


himself, he fell sprawling into the water, much to the amusement of the party, who at once named it Straddle Creek. It was universally known to the people by that name until some of the younger ones became too refined to use the name in polite society, and they named it Carroll Creek. The old settlers still call it Straddle Creek.


Stag's Point. When the building of the mill was first commenced here, there were no women in the party. On one occasion, there being a good fiddler among the men, they improvised a dance. The ball-room was within a cabin that stood where Sheldon's house now stands. The male dancers had males for partners. For a long time afterwards the place was known all over the country as " Stag's Point."


FIRSTLINGS.


From the report of the several vice presidents of the Old Settlers' Association, published in the Carroll County Mirror, September 22, 1876, we glean the following record of firstlings in their respective townships :


Report of Dr. E. Woodruff, Savanna .- A. Pierce, George and V. L. Davidson, and Wm. Blundell were the first settlers. They settled here in the Fall of 182S. They built the first houses.


The first orchard was planted by Aaron Pierce, on the site of his old home on block 33 in the village of Savanna, in 1838.


E. Woodruff was the first male school teacher, as well as the first physi- cian. He taught school in the Winter of 1837-S. Miss Hannah Fuller was the first female teacher, and taught in 1836-7.


The Methodist people built the first church edifice. It was commenced in 1848 and finished in 1849. Rev. Mr. Oliver was the pastor or circuit rider.


The first white child born in the county was born at Savanna.


Report of L. E. Gulusha, Fair Haven .- The first settlement was made on the N. E. quarter of section 15, by L. E. Galusha, December 10, 1844.


Planted out a few fruit trees in 1845. James McMullen, the next on the N. W. quarter of section 35.


The first school was taught in a small log house belonging to Samuel Geer, on the N. E. quarter of the N. W. quarter of section 23. Miss M. J. Healy, from Elkhorn Grove, was the teacher. The first school house was built on the S. E. quarter of section 15, in 1854.


The membership of the German Evangelical Association built the first church, in 1864.


Report of Henry Smith, Elkhorn .- The first settlement was made on the north side of the Grove, on sections 7 and S, by John Ankeny, in 1831.


Elijah Eaton built the first saw mill, now Thorpe's Mill, in 1837 .* The first grist mill was built in 1857, by G. W. Landon.


John Knox planted the first orchard, in 1835.


* The first saw mill was built on Plum River, about two miles east of Savanna, in 1835, by L. H. and J. L. Bowen. J. L. Bowen was in charge of this mill up to the time of his death, in 1844.


In a letter from Dr. E. Woodruff, under date of November 19, 1877, to the publish- ers, to be found on page 248, the building of this mill is credited to James Craig. Dr. Wood- ruff, at a subsequent date, but too late for the printer, called attention to the error, and hence the reader's attention is here called to the correction.


-


332


HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.


The first school was built on section 17, in 1835, now known as Center District or school house. A man named Ingalls was the teacher.


The first church built was the South Elkhorn (Methodist). James McKean was the first pastor.


In 1832, the first settlers had to leave their claims, in consequence of the Black Hawk Indian War troubles. Ankeny returned in 1833.


Report of C. Hegeman, Rock Creek .- David Becker was the first set- tler. In 1844, he settled on land now owned by Daniel Belding. The prairie was broken by E. Spaulding and L. T. Easterbrook. Becker gave the town its name.


The first machinery introduced in the township was an old threshing machine-simply a horse power and cylinder-owned by a man named Smith, and generally employed by Becker. The first thresher and cleaner was operated by S. Dunn and - Cline, in 1847 ..


David Becker planted the first orchard.


The first school was taught by Phebe Humphry, in the Winter of 1849-50, in an old log house rented for the occasion. The first school house was built in 1853. Asa Belding was the first teacher to occupy it.


The first church was built by the Methodist people, near the present site of Lanark.


The first marriage was that between Wellington Jenkins and Mary Becker. The first death was a Mr. Seamon.


Report of Sumner Downing, of Mount Carroll .- The first settler was Samuel Preston, senior.


The first saw mill was built about one mile west of Mount Carroll, in 1837-S, by Messrs. Hitt, Swingley. Christian and Swaggart.


The first orchard was planted by Heman Downing, on section ten, in 1840.


The first school was taught in the upper part of Mr. Preston's house, in 1840. Miss E. Downing was the teacher.


The first church was erected in 1851, by the Presbyterians. Rev. C. Gray was the pastor.


Report of N. D. French, of York .- N. D. French was the first set- tler. He settled here in 1835. William Dyson, senior, and Russell Colvin came in 1837.


The first saw mill was erected in 1846, on Johnson's Creek, by Russell Colvin.


N. D. French planted a nursery in 1851, but did not set out an orchard until 1871.


Two schools were taught in the Winter of 1835-6. Elizabeth Thorn- ton and Emmert Ingham were the teachers.


The first church was built in 1851, in the Bailey neighborhood. It was erected by the Baptist people. Emmert Ingham was the pastor.


The first meeting of school trustees was held in 1843.


Report (verbal) of Duncan Mackay, Salem .- The first settlement was made by Mr. Daggart, in 1839. There were but fourteen families in the township when Mr. Mackay came. A man by the name of Walker undertook to build a mill, but never finished it. The first school house was built near where Mr. Kingery now lives. The school house was built and the school maintained by private subscriptions. The teacher was D. B. Shattenkirk. The first orchard was set out in 1843.


Report of M. C. Taylor, Washington .- The first settlement was


333


HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.


made by John Bernard, in the year 1828 or 1829, on the farm now occupied by Edward Hatfield, four miles north of Savanna, on what is known as the Savanna and Hanover road.


The first orchard was planted by M. C. Taylor, on the farm now owned by John Kelley.


The first school was established about the year 1842. It was taught by Miss Susan Noel.


The first church was built about the year 1845, by the Presbyterians. The pastor was Rev. Mr. Harsha. It was located at what is known as Center Hill.


First birth, Mary Bernard, daughter of John and Ellen Bernard.


First marriage, Mr. Albert Henry to Miss Elizabeth Doner.


First death, - Hays, in 1843.


In the years 1830-1, James Temple and John Bernard opened a tan- yard on the land now owned by Benjamin Hatfield. It was successfully operated until the Spring of 1832, when the Black Hawk War breaking out caused a sudden dissolution of the partnership, which was never again resumed, so the first and only tan-yard was of short duration.


The first and only mill was a saw mill, built by Joseph McCollipps. It was erected entirely by himself, and was commenced about 1841, but was not finished for several years. It was located on Rush Creek, about five miles north of Savanna.


334


ABSTRACT OF VOTES CAST IN CARROLL COUNTY, ILLINOIS, AT THE ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 7, A.D. 1876.


NAMES OF TOWNS.


Tilden.


Hayes.


Stewart.


Cullom.


Stowell.


Wallace.


Shaw.


Nevitt.


Burchard.


Pattison.


Mastin.


Smith.


Bailey.


Stakemiller.


Sutton.


Blake.


Lohr.


Armour.


Shelly.


Smith.


52


98


Washington


30


55


36


62


1002


81


792


54


44


30


25


40


2


45


30


23


60


31


46


119


54


179


Woodland


52


99


80


99


202


151


150호


99


80


47


55


47


18


81


56


40


101


66


. 39


69


48


118


Freedom


34


79


39


79


129


42


109


96


75


41


23


61


25


8


70


21


25


75


92


58


60


91


151


Cherry Grove-


60


91


60


91


140


39


136}


1363


91


60


52


28


31


40


74


43


32


12


116|


128


107


136


245


Savanna


97


143


98


143


289₺


42


211₺


208}


142


197


87


22


138


3


169


76


5


144


96


102


139


241


Carroll Township


58


160


60


161


202


250


204


155


63


46


59


100


10


166


41


13


157


160


105


117


221


Mt. Carroll City


118


280


121


281


445


3


440


309


274


128


74


142


159


27


261


101


31


270


131


220


182


402


Salem


22


117


27


118


89


3


161


158


112


32


16


72


30


27


82


37


26


119


22


41


102


145


Rock Creek


125


295


131


297


2052


206


434


426


298


128


116


209


91


286


116


23


293


128


135


292


428


Lima


25


58


25


58


54


21


102


73


59


24


20


59


9


3


59


24


4


59


24


26


57


83


York


79


273


85


273


277


6


396


370


273


84


52


215


91


282


71


5


262


82


126


232


358


Fair Haven.


56


135


56


137


250


6


162


154₺


135


58


32


101


60


134


47


12


103


62


103


89


193


Wysox


26


224


33


230


45


91₺


313}


3252


216


45


15


202


39


8


214


23


24


198


43


220


263


Elkhorn Grove


18


96


27


102


54


6


147


138


94


40


8


88


36


3


87


26


22


95


19


43


92


129


TOTAL


918 2231


996 3258


27252 5012 3291


13019}


2204/1042


748 1354


984


155


2123


822


297


2144 1000 1345 1903


3254


HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.


Presid'nt Governor


Representative.


C'n gress- man.


Circuit Clerk.


Sheriff.


States Attorney.


Coroner.


Total Vote as shown on Governor.


Shannon.


118!


126


118|


127


243


111


196}


181₺


127


118


130


16


98


1


122


110


Rinedollar.


I


335


.


HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.


A TABULAR STATEMENT


Showing the Totals of the Footings of the several columns of each of the Assessment Books of Personal Property of the County of Carroll and State of Illinois, and the Grand Totals of all said Books for the year 1877.


GRAND SUMMARY-PERSONAL PROPERTY.


ITEMS.


NUMBER.


AVERAGE VALUE.


ASSESSED VALUE.


TOTAL.


Horses of all ages


8,340


$35 59


$296,872


Cattle of all ages.


22,912


10 56


242,007


Mules and Asses of all ages


273


44 67


12,195


Sheep of all ages


3,431


1 84


6,315


Hogs of all ages


37,738


3 21


121,429


Steam Engines, including Boilers


4


206 25


825


Fire or Burglar-Proof Safes.


36


39 17


1,410


Billiard, Pigeon-Hole, Bagatelle, or other similar Tables_


15


33 33


500


Carriages and Wagons of whatsoever kind.


3,180


23 36


74,295


Watches and Clocks


2,437


2 89


7,034


Sewing or Knitting Machines


1,545


11 55


17,855


Piano Fortes.


114


62 34


7,307


Melodeons and Organs.


394


32 90


12,965


Steamboats. Sailing Vessels, Wharf Boats, Barges or otlier Water Craft.


6


22 17


133


$801,142


Merchandise on hand


126,400


Material and Manufactured Articles on hand_


4,785


Manufacturers' Tools, Impl'ts and Machinery (other


1,780


than Engines and Boilers, which are so listed). Agricultural Tools, Implements and Machinery __ Gold and Silver Plate and Plated Ware.


110


Diamonds and Jewelry


50


Moneys of Bank, Banker, Broker or Stock Jobber


3,480


Credits of Bank, Banker, Broker or Stock Jobber.


5,000


Moneys of other than Bank, Banker, Broker or Stock Jobber


187,496


Credits of other than Bank, Banker, Broker or Stock Jobber


95,977


Property of Companies and Corporations other than hiereinbefore enumerated.


2,164


Property of Saloons and Eating Houses


25


Household or Office Furniture and Property


65,768


Investments in Real Estate and Improvements thereon (see Sec. 10) ..


805


All other Personal Property required to be listed_


28.880


Shares of Stock of State or National Banks.


75,000


Total Value of Personal Property


$1,445,918


LANDS.


Improved Lands (in acres).


235,860


18 00


4,257,036 324,792


$4,581,828


TOWN AND CITY LOTS.


Improved Town and City Lots (in acres).


1,630


344 42


Unimproved Town and City Lots (in acres)


1,166


39 10


561,417 45,591


Total Value of Town and City Lots


$607,008


PROPERTY BELONGING TO RAILROADS.


Lands other than " Railroad Track," (7 acres).


415


Lots other than " Railroad Track," (65 lots)


25,030


Personal Property other than " Rolling Stock "


6,426


$31,871


Total Value of all Property as assessed.


$6,666,625


Acres of Wheat, 16,655; of Corn. 76,619: of Oats, 32,151; of Meadow, 38,856; of other Field Products 21,426; of Inclosed Pasture, 57,538; of Orchard, 2,550; of Wood Land, 41,280,


Dated MT. CARROLL, ILL., December 6, A.D. 1877.


R. M. A. HAWK, Clerk.


I


47,056


1


Unimproved Lands (in acres)


51,207


6 34


Total Value of Lands


336


HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.


MOUNT CARROLL.


The history of Mount Carroll dates back to the Fall of 1841, when Emmert, Halderman & Co. commenced the erection of the flouring mills at this point. However, nothing was done towards " laying off" a town site until it became a settled fact, that a majority of the people of the county were in favor of re- moving the county offices from Savanna. In August, 1843, the people voted upon the question of removal. Four hundred and twenty-one votes were polled, of which 231 were for the removal of the county seat to Mount Carroll, and 190 in favor of retaining the county offices at Savanna, a majority of 41 in favor of Mount Carroll. A full history of the removal question, selection of a site for the new county seat, etc., already appears in these pages, so that fur- ther reference to the subject here is unnecessary. The names of the first set- tlers, a reference to the first houses built, etc., have likewise been written, so that but little remains to be written of the " county seat." The history of the county and of Mount Carroll are so intimately blended since the re-location of the county seat, in 1843, that it would be a work of supererogation to attempt any thing like an extended separate history.


The building of the mill was followed by the erection of a few scattered houses. Then came the building of the old court house,. in 1844, and the removal of the county offices and records from Savanna. This necessitated the removal of the county officers here as well, who, with their families and the few families of men engaged in building the mill, may be regarded as the beginning of a population that, on the Ist day of January, 1878, numbers very nearly 2,500. The growth of the town has not been rapid, neither in wealth nor population, but in both respects it has been solid and substantial.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.