USA > Illinois > Kane County > Elgin > The history of Elgin, Kane County, Illinois, 1835 to 1875 > Part 5
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4I
HISTORY OF ELGIN.
Bingham is the present Superintendent. Office in Factory block, North River street.
NEW RESIDENCES.
Since 1870, the number of new buildings erected in this city will average about 200 per year. Among the most important private buildings we can only mention a few.
Mr. I. C. Bosworth built, in 1871, a fine brick residence, on the southeast corner of Center and Chicago streets, at a cost of $18,000. This fine prop- erty has just been sold, together with the furniture. J. A. Carpenter, of Carpenterville, is the purchaser, who will make this city his residence. Mr. Bosworth will erect another residence soon.
E. K. W. Cornell built, in 1871, a large brick house on DuPage street; cost $5,000.
Wm. C. Kimball, on Crystal street, a brick residence, worth $12,000.
Hon. S. Wilcox, on a fine eminence at the corner of Bridge and Crystal streets. $8,000.
Judge R. N. Botsford, on Channing street, a beautiful brick villa in the Italian style. $10,000.
O. P. Chisholm, on corner Spring and Cherry streets, a fine gothic resi- dence. $17,000.
D. C. Scofield, on the corner of Spring and Milwaukee streets, fine fire- proof residence. $12,000.
Judge J. W. Ranstead, on corner Bridge and Sylvan streets, a fine Ital- ian villa and grounds. $15,000.
Hezekiah Gifford, referred to as one of the first settlers of the city, built, in 1873, a fine frame residence, with modern improvements-$15,000-with seven acres of ground attached.
Benj. Cox, Horace French, Walter Kimball, B. Hagelow, Dr. Bennett, and a large number of others have each built residences within the same period, at a cost of $5,000 and upward.
Rev. Holmes Slade built a fruit preserving house near his private resi- dence at a cost of $2,000, in 1873.
BUSINESS BUILDINGS.
New business buildings have been erected since 1870, as follows :
Fred Stolt and John Gieske have built a brick block on the southwest corner of Douglas avenue and Milwaukee street, 40x80 feet; used for stores and offices.
John Blyer built a similar block on the northeast corner of the same streets, 40x80 feet.
C. P. Dean built, in 1873, a double wooden block, 40x60, on the corner of River and Fulton streets ; used for stores and dwelling.
John Gieske built, in 1874, a brick building on South River street, adjoin- ing Monroe's livery stable, 20x60, two stories and basement.
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HISTORY OF ELGIN.
J. Manly Adams, at the east end of the bridge on Chicago street, erected, the same season, a brick building, containing basement and ground floor stores, with photograph rooms on second floor.
Albert Mazel built, in 1874, on the corner of Milwaukee and River streets a two-story brick block, containing two stores, basement and dwelling.
A fine stone front store, on Bridge street, 30x60 feet, was built, in 1873, by Geo. H. Maule.
But the principal additions to the business buildings of Elgin since 1870, were built in 1874, on the site of the fire of March, 1874, which destroyed about a dozen stores on Chicago street, at the corner of Douglas avenue and on Fountain place. We give cuts of several of these new buildings.
Arrangements were made to rebuild the burnt district before the ruins ceased smoldering, and by the first of November following six fine busi- ness blocks were ready for occupancy.
HUBBARD'S BUILDING.
On the corner of Chicago street and Douglas avenue, Wm. G. Hubbard erected a building of white brick, 22x120, which is perhaps the best built block in the city.
The basement walls are cemented and the walls lined, rendering them rat and moisture proof, well lighted and suitable for offices. The two stores, one facing south and the other west, are among the best business sites in the city. The rooms on the second and third floors of this building communi- cate with those of the adjoining block.
XIXIXIX
KELLEY & TODD'S BUILDING.
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HISTORY OF ELGIN.
Kelley & Todd erected, at the same time, on the two adjoining lots, a building nearly uniform in style with Hubbard's, and the upper stories of the whole have been finished for hotel purposes, containing thirty-six rooms for guests, beside all the necessary offices of a first-class hotel.
TOWN'S BLOCK-OWNED BY M. C. TOWN,
is of red brick, in the commercial-gothic style, with stone trimmings, iron pillars, metal cornices and composition roof. The ground floor is divided into five first-class stores with well lighted basements. The second floor furnishes about twenty business offices, and the third will be finished for some purpose hereafter.
Adjoining this, on Chicago street, is
THE MARTIN BLOCK,
a three-story brick, with ornamental stone and iron trimmings and tin roof. The third story of this block is the hall of the German Turn-Verein Vor- waerts.
A two-story brick, with tin roof, adjoins this, built by G. B. Raymond. We also give a cut of
DU BOI
OCK
1870
DUBOIS & RICHARDS. DEALERS IN DRY GOOD S.
CARPETS & OIL CLOTHS.
urmat Du BOIS & RICHARD S
THE DU BOIS BLOCK,
finished in 1870, and referred to in previous history. The lower part of this building is eighty feet square and contains three elegant stores. The two upper stories project over an alley ten feet, making them 80x90 feet. In the second story are offices, and rooms for a fine residence, and the whole of the upper story makes the largest and best public hall in the city, known as the "DuBois Opera House." The cost of this building was about $40,000.
THE CITY COURT HOUSE
was built in 1869, by the city, on River street, opposite the foot of DuPage. It is brick, 22x40. In 1873 another building was added to it, 22x60. The court
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HISTORY OF ELGIN.
room is in the second story, 44x40. The fire engine and hose company occupy the ground floor of the first named part and the new building furnishes offices for the city clerk, clerk of the city court and a large fire- proof vault for records. The whole cost of the building was $16,000.
CIVIC SOCIETIES.
Below we give all the items of historical information we have been able to gather concerning the civic societies of Elgin :
MASONIC.
ELGIN LODGE, No. 117, A. F. & A. M .- A. L. Clark, W. M. ; George R. Bassett, Sec'y. Regular communications second and fourth Fridays in each month, at Freemasons' hall.
MONITOR LODGE, NO. 522, A. F. & A. M .- N. J. Bloomfield, W. M .; Ira M. Hastings, Sec'y. Regular communications first and third Thursdays in each month, at Freemasons' hall.
LOYAL L. MUNN CHAPTER, NO. 96, R. A. M .- T. E. Lawrence, M. E. H. P. ; M. N. Frederick, Sec'y. Regular convocations first and third Tues- days in each month, at Freemasons' hall.
BETHEL COMMANDERY, No. 36, K. T .- Stated conclaves first Wednesday in each month, at Freemasons' hall. T. E. Lawrence, E. C .; C. D. Dick- inson, Recorder.
ODD FELLOWS.
KANE LODGE, No. 47, I. O. O. F .- Was first established in Elgin in Feb- ruary, 1849, but during the war it became defunct. In July, 1870, through the instrumentality of R. P. McGlincy, Dr. H. W. Rice, H. C. Rogers, D. W. Hewitt and others, the lodge was revived and is now in a flourishing condition, having about seventy-five members. The principal officers of the lodge are : H. J. Page, Noble Grand ; A. Gustason, Vice Grand ; D. J. Dumser, Secretary ; M. C. Town, Treasurer; R. P. McGlincy is District Deputy Grand Master for the year 1875. The lodge meets every Tuesday. evening in Odd Fellows' hall, old postoffice block.
ELGIN ENCAMPMENT, No. 112, I. O. O. F .- Instituted Nov. 8, 1870. Meets in Odd Fellows' hall on the second and fourth Mondays in each month. C. H. McComb, High Priest ; H. J. Page, Scribe ; D. W. Hewitt, Treasurer ; D. W. Hewitt, Deputy Grand Master.
TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.
ELGIN TEMPERANCE UNION .- G. P. Lord, President ; Thomas Perkins, Secretary ; I. C. Bosworth, Treasurer. Was organized in 1874. A very large number of citizens of all ages signed the " pledge," which constituted them members of this association-1,260 in all-composed largely of the members of the leading churches and the educated portion of the community.
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HISTORY OF ELGIN.
LADIES' BRANCH OF THE ELGIN TEMPERANCE UNION .- Organized April 27, 1874. Mrs. Holmes Slade was chosen President; Mrs. A. G. Sears, Secretary, and Mrs. F. S. Bosworth, Assistant Secretary. The present officers of the society, elected April 26, are as follows : President, Mrs. I. C. Bosworth ; Vice Presidents, First ward, Mrs. John S. Wilcox ; Second ward, Mrs. H. Gifford ; Third ward, Mrs. R. P. McGlincy ; Fourth ward, Mrs. Dr. Whitford ; Fifth ward, Mrs. W. S. Balch; Sixth ward, Mrs. G. B. Raymond ; Secretary, Mrs. F. S. Bosworth ; assistants, Mrs. S. J. Stiles and Mrs. A. Sherwin. The committees of this society have been very active in the work of promoting the objects of their organization, and have indirectly met with much success.
ELGIN CATHOLIC TOTAL ABSTINENCE AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETY .- D. Nolan, President; B. Lynn, Secretary. Organized in 1873. Meetings in Temperance hall, Hoagland's block, Douglas avenue, corner of Dexter avenue. Present number of members, thirty-two.
YOUNG MEN'S CATHOLIC TEMPERANCE AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETY .- Organized November 17, 1872. M. C. Tobin, President ; T. P. Sheehan, Secre- tary. Meets in same hall as above. Number of members, forty. These two societies number among their members many of the most influential and promising citizens of Elgin and vicinity, and are exerting a marked influ- ence upon the community.
ELGIN LODGE, No. 474, I. O. G. T .- Was instituted on Tuesday evening, April 20, 1875, by G. A. Richardson, D. G. W. C. T. The following are the principal officers : E. K. W. Cornell, P. W. C. T .; Dr. John O. Swan, W. C. T. ; Mrs. C. H. Weld, W. V. T .; R. P. McGlincy, W. Rec. Sec'y.
MISCELLANEOUS.
OCCIDENTAL LODGE, No. 5, K. OF P .- W. H. Truesdell, P. C .; L. Pro- vost, Rec. Scribe.
ELGIN TURN-VEREIN VORWAERTS .- Hall in Martin block, south side Chicago street. Organized May, 1871. Sebastian Ranzenberger, President ; Fred C. Kothe, Secretary. The society commenced with twelve members. It now numbers sixty. The hall of this society, with all its contents, has been burned out twice-once in 1873, and again in 1874. As now rebuilt in the third story of Martin block, it is 44x80 feet, and is being furnished at a cost of about $800. The present officers are : Caspar Althen, President, and Fred C. Kothe, Secretary.
SAM. G. WARD POST, No. 18, G. A. R .- Organized July, 1874. Post Com- mander, Walter S. Joslyn ; Adjutant, Albert C. Ward ; Quartermaster, Geo. H. Knott. The number of members of this order at its organization was twenty-three. The present number is fifty-two. Meets Monday even- ings at Temperance hall, Hoagland's block, corner Douglas and Dexter ave- nues. This post was named in honor of Capt. Samuel G. Ward, Company A,
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HISTORY OF ELGIN.
Seventh Illinois Infantry, who was killed at the battle of Fort Donelson. The objects of this order are indicated in their motto: Fraternity, Charity and Patriotism.
LODGE NO. 2, UNITED FELLOWS .- Andrew Newsome, President ; Henry Oats, Secretary.
MUSICAL, SOCIETIES.
THE BLUFF CITY BAND .- Organized in the spring of 1868, as "The National Watch Factory Band," with eighteen members. Reorganized as the " Bluff City Band," in 1871. Frank K. Preston, Pres't ; Milton S. Hayes, Sec'y and Treas ; Frank K. Preston, Leader and Business Manager. There are fourteen members at present, all but two of whom are employes of the National Watch Factory.
THE UNION BRASS BAND, of Elgin, consists of fourteen members. Henry Tetzner, Leader ; Th. Schroeder, Pres't ; Fred C. Kothe, Sec'y.
THE MENDELSSOHN SOCIETY .- Organized Jan. 25, 1875, and held its first rehearsal in February following. Dr. A. L. Clark, President ; Mrs. Lois E. Hillis, Vice President ; Mr. J. A. Palmer, Treasurer ; Mr. Geo. H. Daniels, Secretary ; Dr. S. E. Weld, Librarian ; Mr. Frank Perkins, Mrs. A. L. Clark and Mrs. D. P. Freeman, Executive Committee.
GERMAN MUSICAL SOCIETY .- Organized April 4, 1875. Gus. Volstorf, Pres't; Christ. Gerlach, Sec'y.
LITERARY SOCIETIES.
THE BURNS CALEDONIAN CLUB .- A literary and benevolent society, was organized on the 25th of January, 1875, and is the only chartered society of the kind at present in the city. The society's rooms are at Nos. 4 and 5, in Town's block. Thomas S. Martin, President ;
ELGIN SHAKESPEAREAN CLUB .- This is a purely literary society and was formed in September, 1874, Miss Flora Pennell being appointed Presi- dent and Miss A. H. Hussey, Secretary. A constitution and by-laws were drafted, but have never been signed. The club meets weekly at private residences only. It is contemplated to procure a charter and secure a per- manent organization.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS.
In some of the preceding pages we have not always referred to events in their chronological order, preferring to group those which pertained to par- ticular subjects in paragraphs by themselves. In doing so, we have omitted some matters worthy of being remembered, which we now proceed to chron- icle, though we are obliged to omit many others which we should like to notice.
- During all of Elgin's history death has been busy with our citizens, and many who were once active and influential among us have slept the " slept
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HISTORY OF ELGIN.
the sleep that knows no waking." One of the first to leave us since the beginning of 1870, was Mr. Abraham Hoagland, whose death occurred on the 4th of January in that year. He had been a resident of the place about sixteen years, during most of which time he was engaged in the lumber business, and was one of our most respected and valuable citizens.
As an item showing the longevity, as well as the social traits of Elgin's early settlers, we note, that on the 11th of January, 1870, a reunion of the Gifford family was held at the house of O. Davidson, on which occasion there were present eight persons of the first generation, thirteen of the second and eight of the third. Mrs. Ruth G. Dixon, a sister of the pioneer Giffords, having reached her seventy-fourth birthday, was made the recipi- ent of valuable presents.
Formerly, what is now South River street, south of Prairie street, was called Grove avenue, and intersected Prairie street at a point several rods east of River street, thus making an unseemly turn in the road and inter- rupting the view. Efforts were made as early as 1870 to have those streets connected in a straight line, but owing to the opposition of property owners it was not effected until 1873. Then the two-story brick house of Mr. R. Beckwith, which stood in the way, was raised with screws and removed several rods to the west side of River street, where it now stands. This was the first exhibition of this kind of modern engineering skill ever accom- plished in Elgin. Grove avenue thus became a part of South River street, and is now one of the finest drives in the city.
Much feeling was manifested and discussion had, as to the propriety of the appropriation for building the new bridge on Dexter, now National street. It was claimed that the expenditure was not then called for by any existing general public interest, but was beneficial, if at all, to local interests merely. Promises from private parties interested, to aid in the expense of erecting the bridge, have not been as yet realized, though private property has been largely enhanced in value thereby. The plea that such extension of available residence property is an indirect benefit to the city, is neutral- ized by the fact that the population was not yet crowded in other quarters already accessible.
In February, 1870, the death of Philip Lasher, son of Stephen Lasher, and formerly one of the proprietors of the Waverly house, occurred in New York city, where he was residing at the time.
On the 6th of April, 1870, the distillery on the west side, which had long been a prominent object in that part of the city and an extensive business concern, was burned down. The Chicago & Pacific railroad has since cut the property in two, and the remaining buildings and grounds will doubtless soon become the scene of other manufacturing industries, for which the location is very favorable.
On the 7th of April, 1870, Col. James Hunter died. He was a resident of the place for many years and favorably known to all.
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HISTORY OF ELGIN.
William Saunders, Sen., a native of England, but an old resident of Elgin, also died on the 27th of this month, aged sixty-nine.
The property known as the Lovell farm, on the east side of the river, was this year platted and brought into market. A large number of new streets and residences are now situated upon a portion of it. This property, lying along the track of the Fox River Valley railroad, is admirably adapted to become the site of some of the new mammoth manufacturing establish- ments, which are seeking locations among us.
A mat and mattress manufactory was established and operated in 1870, on Douglas avenue, near Hoagland's block, employing a number of hands, but was unfortunately burned down during this year.
At the city election, in March, 1870, M. B. Baldwin was re-elected mayor. Local political feeling ran high on the subjects of appropriations, sumptu- ary laws, etc.
On the 3d of July, 1870, the old Baptist church was formally withdrawn from, with appropriate allusions by the pastor, Rev. W. P. Everett. Among the honored members and founders of this church were the Schoonhovens, Kennedy, Weston, Hull, Walker, S. J. Kimball, A. J. Joslyn, Philo Sylla and others. The society worshiped in this building twenty years. It was built of the material of which several of the best early residences were con- structed --- cobble stones-found abundantly in our gravel knolls. Since its abandonment it has suffered much decay, but is still thought good enough to teach children in, though the parents worship in costlier houses.
In 1870, the late Dr. P. B. Pratt commenced the culture of fish, and inclosed a park of some seventy acres, of what was known to the early set- tlers as the " cedar swamp," lying on the east side of the river, one and a half miles above the city. The numerous springs in this " Trout Park " feed the ponds in which are reared the young salmonaide. This park was, also, at one time, stocked with elk and deer. Some of the springs are believed to have valuable medicinal properties. This park has since become a popular resort for pleasure seekers, especially Germans from Chicago. Dr. W. A. Pratt has continued to improve it since the death of his father, in 1872.
In the same year, Mr. D. S. Hammond, of Hammond station on the C. & P. R. R., near the southeast corner of the city limits, commenced the busi- ness of pisciculture in a scientific way, by building a system of capacious tanks and ponds of solid masonry, fed by bounteous springs of pure cold water, gushing up in a beautiful dell, surrounded by a grove of magnificent forest trees. Hammond's grove is also a popular resort for pic-nic parties from Elgin and Chicago.
In September, 1870, Mr. A. C. Lynd, a prominent young citizen, and for some time chief clerk in the postoffice of Elgin, died in Washington, D. C., where he was in the employ of the general government. His genial tem- perament won for him hosts of warm friends in Elgin, where he had been
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HISTORY OF ELGIN.
visiting but a few days before his death, leaving in good health and spirits, little thinking it was his last visit.
The Franco-German war, which commenced in the spring of 1870, aroused the sympathies of our German fellow-citizens, and liberal donations were sent from Elgin to the fatherland during this year, to aid in assuaging the sufferings always caused by war.
The census of Kane county was taken this year, when it was found to contain a population of 39,000, an increase of 9,000 since 1860. The census of this city, giving 5,441, was taken this year instead of 1871, as we stated by mistake under the head of " population." This shows an increase of nearly 3,000 in about five years.
In September of this year, the Rock River Annual Conference of the M. E. church, embracing nearly 200 members, held its session here, being the only time our city has been honored with its presence.
On the 21st of September, of this year, the "golden wedding," or fiftieth anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Horace Birge, was celebrated at their house, a short distance north of the city, an event which occurs so seldom that we deem it worthy of record.
The funeral of Mr. Colton Knox was held in the Congregational church Nov. 18, 1870. Mr. Knox was one of the very first settlers of Elgin, coming here in 1836, where he resided till 1862. He owned a fine farm on the west bank of the Fox, included in the present grounds of the Northern Illinois Hospital for the Insane, and sold by him several years ago to R. B. Chis- holm.
At the city election in March, 1871, Wm. C. Kimball was elected mayor, and held the office one year.
In 1871, a project was discussed for raising the head of water from four feet to six, by adding two feet to the top of the dam across Fox river. If such addition can be made without damaging other interests, it will double the available water power at this point.
The present city cemetery, being located at an early day, is now consid- ered too near the heart of the city. The question of its removal to some point further out, was discussed in the newspapers of Elgin as early as the spring of 1871, and this discussion will probably continue until its removal is effected.
On Monday, the 9th of October, 1871, when the news came flashing over the wires that the city of Chicago was still in flames, and thousands of her people were driven homeless and hungry into the open air, or crowded into the remaining houses of the suburbs, the citizens of Elgin at once called a mass meeting at DuBois Opera House, and appointed a committee to visit every bakery in the city and set them at work preparing bread for the out- casts. Of the names of this committee we have learned, positively, only two-Messrs. A. B. Fish and John Coburn. So many others acted in con- cert with these gentlemen, and such was the eagerness and enthusiasm of
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HISTORY OF ELGIN.
all, without regard to appointment or priority in the generous rivalry of doing something to provide for the terrible exigency of fellow mortals in distress, that no one now can remember, for certain, whether he acted by authority as one of that committee or not. We could give the names of a score of citizens who were constantly on the alert for several days and nights in providing, shipping and delivering the donations of the people. Certain it is, that " the ovens were heated seven times quicker than was their wont," and all night long on Monday night, not only every bakery in the city was worked to its utmost capacity, but at private houses women and men were busy baking bread, meats, beans, and cooking all kinds of portable pro- visions, so that by 4:30 o'clock on Tuesday morning the first car- load of " relief, " that was shipped from any point on that memorable morning, was dispatched to the scene of suffering, and distributed to the famished and frightened refugees from the flames. Over 2,000 loaves were thus sent by lightning express on this first train ; and as the day broke over the supperless, shivering, shelterless crowds, who had all night long looked despairingly up into the face of the cold sky, over which hov- ered the smoke of their smoldering homes, they must have fancied that the old-time fable of bread dropping from heaven had been realized. We note the fact of our priority in providing bread to break the fast of that starving multitude, more from pride in the generous impulses of human nature, than to give any peculiar credit to our single city, though, in that connection, it is an item worthy of the historian's pen. To boast of being first in perform- ing a charitable act, which was so spontaneously and universally seconded by the entire civilized world, would be invidious as an estimate of our benev- olence, while it may be no more than a just meed of praise to the spirit of practical activity and "push," which pervades our community. The first car-load was followed by another batch of bread and provisions on the 7 o'clock a. m. train, and by another full car-load in the afternoon, con- taining clothing and blankets as well as food. Three times a day, for over a week, fresh provisions were sent in, with citizens in charge to see them safely and properly bestowed. The whole energies of the entire people were virtually given up to the task of assisting the sufferers from this great calamity. The amount of value in dollars and cents thus contributed by the citizens of Elgin, in money, time and material, was never computed nor accounted. But aside from this, fully $1,000 in cash was raised by citizens and paid over to the bakers and victualers, who charged only for the bare material. Though our gifts were small, in comparison with the gratuities which flowed in from every quarter of the globe in such liberal streams, amounting to millions in the aggregate, yet we think this an appropriate place to chronicle the fact that, both in amount and in promptness, the citizens of Elgin have cause to remember with pride their pre-eminence on this occasion.
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