USA > Illinois > Kane County > Elgin > The history of Elgin, Kane County, Illinois, 1835 to 1875 > Part 4
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WOOLEN MILLS.
The Fox River Manufacturing Company was organized in 1866, with Oba- diah Jackson and Bowen Brothers, of Chicago, and G. W. Renwick, of Elgin, as principal stockholders. The main building was erected in 1844 by S. New- ton Dexter, and is 80x34 feet and five stories high. The monthly pay roll of the company is about $1,500 per month. They employ forty to fifty hands, use on an average 500 pounds of wool, and turn out from 300 to 500 yards of finished goods per day.
The mill is furnished with machinery to the value of $100,000. The company also built in 1870 a two-story brick block 80x50 feet in front of their factory building. It contains four fine stores fronting on River street, one of which is used for the office and salesroom of the Company. The second floor of the block is used for the extensive printing office of the Elgin Advocate. The Bluff City, daily newspaper, is also printed in the
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HISTORY OF ELGIN.
same building, the presses being run by gearing attached to the woolen mill power.
The present officers of the company are : J. P. Goodale, president and treasurer ; J. M. Goodale, secretary ; Chauncey T. Bowen, B. F. Ray, Obadiah Jackson, of Chicago, J. P. Goodale and J. M. Goodale, of Elgin, directors.
ICE PACKING.
This business has been carried on for several years by F. L. McClure for the supply of the home market. He puts up, on an average, 10,000 tons ; employs twenty hands during the packing season, at an expense of about $1,600.
Messrs. Wadhams, Willard & Co., in 1873, commenced putting up build- ings and storing ice for the Chicago market. They have added to their buildings each year until they now cover three-quarters of an acre, contain- ing over 50,000 tons of the cool commodity. The lumber alone used in their structures is valued at $12,000.
Jacob Reiss puts up ice for city sale to the amount of some 2,000 tons.
The Elgin Ice Company is composed of Elgin and Chicago capitalists. Mr. John H. Gieske, of Elgin, is business manager and treasurer. They have erected this season one building, 100x100 feet and filled it with 5,000 tons of ice. They have material for two more such houses, and intend to put up 50,000 pounds of ice per year in future for the Chicago and St. Louis markets.
"Fox River Crystal Ice " has acquired a reputation for purity, clearness and coldness second to none produced elsewhere. The dam thrown across the Fox at this point creates a fine body of deep water, setting back about three miles, which, with its picturesquely rolling, wooded banks, forms a beautiful boating and fishing ground in summer and a splendid ice field in winter. It yields a crop which will not grow in tropical climates, at least not in the open air. A good supply of ice in summer is one of the blessings of modern civilization. Ice packers have one advantage over all other manufacturers-their goods can never be adulterated. Like mercy, the quality of ice water "is not strained." But like mercy, "it is thrice bless'd ; it blesseth him that gives and him that takes." Can this be said of any other beverage ?
"Oh water ! bright water, ice water for me,
And wine for the tremulous debauchee."
BRICK MAKING.
The manufacture of brick has been successfully carried on for the last three years by Messrs. Wilder & Joslyn. Their kilns are just below the city, near the crossing of the Chicago & Pacific and Northwestern railroads. They manufactured about 5,000,000 brick of excellent quality last year, to meet the demand for rebuilding the district burnt out in March, 1874.
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HISTORY OF ELGIN.
LUMBER TRADE.
The lumber trade has always been active in Elgin. The surrounding country consumes a vast amount in buildings and fences. Among the oldest lumber dealers in Elgin, located on the east side, are G. B. Raymond & Son and R. S. Tickner & Son. Messrs. Eaton & Rosenkrans commenced business in 1874 on the west side, near the C. & P. R. R. depot, and in Jan- uary, 1875, Fletcher & Burgess opened a lumber yard on the east side, near the Fox River depot.
CARRIAGE MAKING, BLACKSMITHING, ETC.
In carriage and wagon making and blacksmithing, there are a large number of firms engaged. At the corner of River and Milwaukee streets, Philip Long has long been in the business of making lumber wagons, car- riages and all that belongs to the trade. John Long & E. Kittell are in the same business, north on River street. DeRemer & Squier and Messrs. Plummer & Messenger have also extensive establishments on South River street, for the manufacture of fine carriages, buggies, etc. I. C. Towner, at the foot of Division on North River street. John Connor, at No. 24 North River street, Terrence Connor, on Bridge street, and John Hays, on Main street, west side, do a general blacksmithing business, besides their respec- tive specialties.
FLOURING MILLS.
The flouring mills of Elgin have always been an important source of her prosperity. The oldest mills in the city are the Waverly mills on the west side, owned by W. C. Kimball, commenced in 1845, and the Stone mills, established by Dr. A. Root about the same time, now known as the Eagle mills, and operated by Messrs. Heideman & Root.
The Excelsior Mills, by Bierman & Heine, are supplied with steam as well as water power, thus increasing their facilities during a low stage of water.
The Elgin City Mills, owned by S. & S. W. Chapman, the finest mill structure in the city, is of brick, 50x65 feet, two and a half stories high, and having a capacity for manufacturing 100 barrels of flour per day.
TANNERIES.
John Spillard & Son have an extensive tannery on Main street, west ยท side, above W. C. Kimball's mill, where they work from 1,500 to 2,000 pelts per week, employing eighteen to twenty hands. This firm also deals largely in green and dry hides of all kinds.
Messrs. Gahan & Hutchinson have an extensive tannery located in South Elgin, or Clintonville, and also an establishment in Elgin, at the west end of the bridge, south side Bridge street, which they use for an office and salesroom, where they buy green and dry hides and sell their manufactures.
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HISTORY OF ELGIN.
BOOTS AND SHOES.
Messrs. Groce Brothers & Co. commenced in, 1873, the manufacture of boots and shoes, in the third story of Gronberg, Bierman & Co.'s brick block on river street. They have this year enlarged and extended their working facilities and shop room, doing as much of their work by machin- ery run by water and steam power as can be done to advantage. They employ six to eight hands, and put up about six cases of work per week, averaging $60.00 per case. They make a specialty of a gent's business boot, which they have christened " The Elgin Boot." We regard this as among the important manufactures of Elgin, for a good understanding must under- lie all true progress.
COTTON MANUFACTURE.
Elgin had another industry located here in 1871, a cotton batting manu- factory, under the management of G. W. Renwick & Son. It is the only manufactory of No. 1 cotton batting in northern Illinois. Old batting can be worked up at this mill into a No. 1 batting, thus forming a fine item for families disposed to practice economy. As the first cotton manufactory in Elgin, we mention it as the harbinger of others that will doubtless dot the banks of our beautiful river, both here and at various other points, ere many years.
SOAP MANUFACTURE.
William H. Herrick, at the corner of River and Franklin streets, has a very neat establishment for manufacturing that promoter of neatness, hard and soft soap. Soap is one of the prime necessities of civilization. Without it we should never have known the blessing of a clean shirt. From our old ashes and bones Mr. Herrick creates a commodity that converts the aborig- ines into gentlemen, and with the refuse tallow and grease of the kitchen he makes good Christians, for " cleanliness is next to godliness."
CHEWING GUM.
Messrs. Vollor & Co. commenced, in March, 1875, the manufacture of chewing gum, in the basement of Hoagland's block on Douglas avenue. They have removed their business from Portland, Maine, to this city, in order to be nearer the market for their goods. They employ twenty-one girls and four men. They sell at wholesale only, and expect to do a large business, as the energy of western boys and girls is supposed to be adequate to supply power for the consumption of an immense quantity of gum.
PHOENIX FOUNDRY.
on Main street, has been operated by William F. Sylla since 1870. The manufacture of school furniture castings has been a specialty with this 5
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HISTORY OF ELGIN.
establishment ; but owing to a temporary suspension, preparatory to re- opening it as a general foundry, it was not mentioned in time to place it under the appropriate heading.
TRADE MARK.
Several specialties of Elgin goods have done much to advertise the name and fame of Elgin by adopting the name as a trade mark. We have the " Elgin Watch," the " Elgin Boot," the " Lady Elgin Watch," the " Lady Elgin Wringer," and the Elgin lady herself. Any gentleman who has a good education and stands well in a pair of "Elgin boots," has an " Elgin watch " in his pocket, an Elgin lady in his house who owns a " Lady Elgin watch " and "Lady Elgin washer and wringer," has all the necessary equipments of a genuine business man, and with a good supply of " Elgin Dairy " or "Elgin Condensed " milk, need have no fears of assuming any " responsibilities," whether domestic or financial.
There are other branches of manufacture to supply local demands, in all the ordinary mechanical and artistic trades, which can not be mentioned here. Large manufacturing establishments always stimulate the lesser, and in a town like Elgin, having so many extensive factories and requiring such a large number of operatives, agents and managers, all the handicrafts for supplying custom work can not fail to be in a flourishing condition.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS, ETC.
NEW BRIDGES AND STREETS.
A substantial Howe truss bridge was erected across Fox river on National street, near the Elgin National watch factory, in 1870, at a cost of fully $12,000. It gives easy access to a growing portion of the city, lying adjacent to the Northern Illinois Hospital for the Insane. Bridge street has been opened to Union, and the latter from South street to Galena, giving access to the packing factory and a fine residence portion of the city. New streets and additions, in various parts of the city, have been opened, and are build- ing up so rapidly that a description of them now would soon be obsolete.
PUBLIC FOUNTAINS.
In the fall of 1873, a fine cast iron fountain was placed at the triangular plaza formed by the intersection of Chicago street, Douglas avenue and River street. It is fed by pipes, carrying a two-inch stream, leading from an inexhaustible spring, near the corner of North street and Douglas avenue. A watering tank on Douglas avenue, at the Chicago house, is also supplied from the same source. The cost of the fountain, tank and fixtures amounted to $3,396.72. The water in these fountains is of the best quality -" sparkling and bright in its liquid light "-and a good, strong stream supplies the wants of man and beast, and slakes the thirst of thousands who never fail to accept the invitation gurgled from the throat of this free
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HISTORY OF ELGIN.
LORD & BRADFORD REAL ESTATE, LOAN& INSURANCE OFFICE
TODSONDO SCHULTS & TODSON
LINKFIELD& HUSSEY. RICHMANN & BRO."OCHPOTTER
TOWN'S BLOCK -FOUNTAIN SQUARE.
and wholesome fountain-" take a drink "-without money and without price. The beautiful jet d'eau is a refreshing and ornamental object in summer, not to mention the fishes and other specimens of natural history that disport themselves in the limpid flood below.
BORDEN'S SPRINGS.
1455605
In the same year Mr. Gail Borden erected a fine wooden building on a substantial stone substructure over the large springs, near the corner of North and Spring streets, for the purpose of forming a reservoir of pure water to supply the condensing factory, on the corner of North and Brook streets. The building is 50x90 feet and eighteen feet elevation. The gothic roof spans this structure without the intervention of either partition or pillar. The window openings are secured by strong wire netting, and a stone tablet in the foundation contains the inscription, " Borden's Springs, 1873." The reservoir of pure spring water is 40x80 feet, and six feet deep.
PUBLIC PARK.
In James T. Gifford's original plat of Elgin provision was made for a public park, and accordingly the space between Du Page street on the north, Fulton street on the south, Chapel street on the west, and extending east far enough to contain about two acres, was reserved for that purpose. In 1862 the park was platted, fenced and planted with trees. In 1874 the old fence was removed, the grounds graded to conform to the street grades, and a new iron fence put up, at a cost of about $1,300. The center of this park
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HISTORY OF ELGIN.
would make an excellent site for a new school-house, costing $100,000 or more, but it is needed for its present purpose, and the new school-house will probably be located elsewhere.
CITY CLOCK.
In 1867 the city purchased a "town clock," at a cost of $550, and caused it to be placed in the tower of the Fox Fiver Manufacturing company's building. A very neat and ornamental dial, with gilt numerals, adorns the four facades of this tower, where large gilty hands unceasingly " point the slow, unmoving finger of time " at those " fixed figures," and at least twice in the twenty-four hours accurately tell the " time o' day." Silently, except when the bellman tolls the hours of labor, does this solemn chronometer strike the beholder as the emblem of man's mortality and time's uncertainty.
Being paid for by the city's funds, it refuses to run on tick. An example of economy, stability and reticence, it stands a monument of past time, and thus deserves a place in this history.
SCHOOL HOUSES.
The modern idea of large school houses has never yet been adopted in Elgin. Hence, there have been several small structures erected in various parts of the city. In 1870 the old Baptist church building was purchased and fitted up for school purposes, and in 1872 a wooden addition to the brick high school building, on the corner of Kimball and Center streets, was con- structed. A small frame school-house was also built on the heights near the watch factory, about 1870. The question of erecting a school building that will comport with the standing, dignity and wealth of the city, is now agi- tating the people, and can not much longer delay a decision in its favor.
Since writing the above, a meeting of citizens has been held at the court house, in which the unsuitableness and ruinous condition of the old build- ings now used as school-houses was characterized in strong terms, and an informal recommendation made to build two school-houses, worth together $75,000 or $80,000. It is believed, however, that the experience of other towns demonstrate that the wants of a city of this size require but a single large school-house, and that that one should be of double the cost of the above. No city can be too lavish in supplying, in an economical manner, all the modern facilities for a thorough education of all the children within its limits.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
On the 7th of March, 1872, an act was approved by the Illinois Legisla- ture providing for the establishment of a library fund, to be collected by taxation in each town, village or city where such tax shall be voted by the people, and providing for the election of a board of directors, six in number, " who shall have exclusive control of all moneys collected to the credit of the library fund, and of all grounds, buildings, or rooms set apart for the use of the library."
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HISTORY OF ELGIN.
The sixth section of this act reads : "Every library or reading room established under this act shall be forever free to the use of the inhabitants of the city or township where located, always subject to such reasonable rules and regulations as the library board may adopt, in order to render the use of said library and reading room of the greatest benefit to the greatest number."
.
The town of Elgin, on the 2d day of April, 1872, voted to organize a public library under the above act. On the 1st day of April, 1873, at an annual
BLOCKI
of
SAM & PETE
MARTIN BLOCK.
town meeting, the following directors were elected, viz .: Zebina Eastman and I. C. Bosworth, for three years ; E. C. Lovell and J. A. Spillard, for two years ; and J. W. Ranstead and W. H. Hintze, for one year.
During the summer of 1873, the tax voted by the town for library pur- poses was passed by the town board, approved by the board of supervisors, and duly extended upon the collection books for the town of Elgin. The assessment for this tax was only three-fourths of one mill on the dollar of the taxable property of the town, and amounted to $3,000 when collected. On the 4th of October, 1873, W. H. Hintze and E. C. Lovell were appointed by the board of directors a committee to correspond with publishers in this country and in Europe and report a list of books for the basis of the library. In December of the same year the property, books, and furniture of the library of the Young Men's Christian Association of Elgin, were purchased by the board for the sum of $250, and subsequently transferred to the rooms
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HISTORY OF ELGIN.
in the third story of Bank block, on the corner of Chicago street and Doug- las avenue, which were leased and fitted up for the use of the library.
In the month of February, 1874, the circulating library of Messrs. Deni- son & Burdick, consisting of 700 volumes, was purchased for the sum of $300, and placed on the shelves of the free library. Other books were also purchased in Chicago, amounting to a total of $1,185.15, and comprising in all about 2,000 volumes. The character of this collection of books is such as to reflect credit upon the judgment of the board who made the selections, being chosen from the most recent and approved lists of standard works on science, history, poetry and fiction. To these is added a very liberal list of newspapers, periodicals and magazines, including the leading journals of this country and Europe. Several of these are in foreign languages, for the use of our citizens who are conversant with those tongues.
Hon. Z. Eastman was the first president of the board of directors, and acted as temporary librarian during the organization of the library. In the spring of 1874 Mr. Louis H. Yarwood was appointed sole librarian, and still acts in that capacity. By his tact and industry he has contributed much to render the benefits of the library available to all. On the first Tuesday in April, 1874, J. W. Ranstead and W. H. Hintze were re-elected as members of the board of directors, to serve three years from date of election. On the 6th day of April, 1875, E. C. Lovell and J. A. Spillard were re-elected for three years, and J. S. Wilcox was elected to fill vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Hon. Z. Eastman, whose term expires on the 6th of April, 1876. Mr. Eastman removed to Maywood in the fall of 1874, but his services, donations and assistance in rendering the free public library of Elgin a suc- cess, will long be remembered.
One member of the present board, Mr. E. C. Lovell, is now in Europe, and it is expected that purchases will be made through him of a collection of books direct from publishers, at greatly decreased cost.
The library rooms are a constant resort for all classes of our citizens, old and young, who find in the pleasant surroundings of the large, well lighted, quiet, well ordered reading room and the perusal of the various books, news- . papers, magazines and encyclopedias, recreation and instruction of the most improving character. The further fact that fully 1,000 volumes are con- stantly in the hands of readers at their homes in the city and township, shows unmistakably that the funds for founding this library have not been thrown away, but that the investment is paying and will continue to pay a large percentage in the increased intelligence and moral elevation of the people, qualities that have much to do with the material prosperity of any community. The average attendance at these rooms is estimated at 120 per day, and the rooms are kept open till near 10 o'clock each night. Already the demand for increased accommodations and a larger supply of books is urgently felt. Of all the expenditures for educational purposes, none have proved more popular than the public library, and the attention of our citizens
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HISTORY OF ELGIN.
will no doubt soon be turned to providing further facilities for its use- fulness.
NEW CHURCHES.
A fine church edifice was erected by the Baptist society in 1870. It is built of brick, in the Romanesque style of architecture, and is 112x84 feet in extreme length and width, including towers in front and organ gallery in the rear. The audience room is 60x80 feet and will seat 1,200 people. The ground floor furnishes a spacious vestibule, school and conference rooms and an elegant suit of parlors, besides a commodious pastor's study, jani- tor's rooms, kitchen and dressing room for baptistry. The cost of the entire building, furnished, was $40,000, round numbers, and of the lot, $5,000.
The Presbyterian church society, in 1871, erected a tasteful frame church building, in the gothic style, on the southwest corner of Center and Chicago streets, at a cost of $14,000. It was dedicated July, 1872. In December of the same year it was destroyed by fire. Arrangements were immediately made to rebuild, and in December, 1873, a brick building, 60x35 feet, and capable of seating 350 persons was completed, at a cost of $5,000. It is built of red and white brick, with stone trimmings. It has a basement full size, finished for school and church meetings. It fronts on Center street, and is designed as a transept to the main body of a building, of which they have the plans, and intend to erect at some future time, to front on Chicago street. When finished according to these plans, it will be one of the finest church buildings erected in the city, up to this date.
The Universalist society, in 1874, raised their church building, on the . corner of Center and DuPage streets, and constructed on the ground floor commodious parlors and school rooms for the use of the society. The improvement cost about $2,000, and has added materially to the appearance and utility of the building.
The colored Baptist church, situated on the corner of Dundee and Frank- lin streets, was burned in March, 1875, and has not yet been rebuilt, but funds are being raised for that purpose.
RAILROADS.
A new railroad enterprise, originating in Elgin, was commenced in 1871, . and in December, of that year, a company was organized under the name and style of the Chicago & Pacific railroad company. R. M. Hough, presi- dent ; T. S. Dobbins, vice president ; Geo. Young, John S. Wilcox, Geo. S. Bowen and Walter L. Pease, directors. The road was completed to Elgin in October, 1873, and is now running trains as far west as Byron, Ogle county, a distance of eighty-seven miles west from Chicago. The intended terminus of the road is Savanna, Illinois, on the Mississippi river. Although in process of construction, the earnings of this road are largely in excess of operating expenses. The present officers of the road are : T. S. Dobbins, president ; Geo. S. Bowen, vice president ; John S. Wilcox, W. L.
1
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HISTORY OF ELGIN.
Pease, Geo. Young, A. O. Campbell and T. M. Bradley, directors. This new railroad outlet has added largely to the business facilities of Elgin, causing a competition which has reduced the rates upon freights and fares materially. It has also opened up communication with the country west of the city, the trade of which has heretofore been tributary to other towns.
THE ELGIN GAS LIGHT COMPANY
was organized in 1871, with a capital of $50,000. A. E. Swift, President ; N. O. Swift, Vice President ; P. J. Howard, Superintendent. The build- ings of the company are of brick, situated on the west bank of the river, about half way between the Chicago street and National street bridges, and between the tracks of the C. & N. W. and C. & P. railroads. The main building is 25x60 feet, the retort room being 25x35 feet, containing six retorts. Coal house, 25x35 feet. Purifying house, 16x30 feet. Gasometer, forty-five feet in diameter. Uv to this date, there have been five miles of street mains laid, and preparations are made for laying one mile more the
JOH
JOHN
NEWMAN
GROCERIES
HUBBARD'S BUILDING.
present season. There are at present thirty-six street lamps in operation, the first being lighted in 1872. Most of our churches, public buildings and stores are lighted with this brilliant substitute for the ancient tallow dips. A large number of private houses are also replacing the explosive kerosene lamps with the more cleanly gas jets, to the manifest decrease of the mor- tality lists and the comfort of accident insurance companies. Dr. O. E.
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