USA > Illinois > Ogle County > The history of Ogle County, Illinois, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics history of the Northwest, history of Illinois etc > Part 46
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Avery D. B. e. Feb. 23, 1864, m.o. Nov. 4,'65, as corpl. Allen Albert, e. Oct. 10,'64, m. o. Oct. 19,'65, term ex. Berkley David, e. Jan. 1, '64, m. o. Nov. 4, '65, sergt. Davis Thos. J. e. Nov. 5, 1861, died Feb. 28, 1864. Dement D. W. c. Jan. 1, 1864, m.o. Nov. 4, 1865. Elsey Henry, e. Nov. 5, 1861, vet.
Smith H. H. c. Jan. 1, 1864, m. o. Nov. 4, 1865. Turk Peter, e. Sept 10, 1861, disd. May 20, '62, disab. Welt2 Edw. D.c. Jan. 1,'64, m. o. Nov. 4,'65, as corpl.
8th Cavalry.
The 8th Cavalry was organized at St. Charles, Sept., 1861, by Col. J. F. Farnsworth. October, moved to Washington, D. C., and operated in Virginia, and was in many engagements, including Manasas, battles of Peninsula, Antietam, etc., etc. Was in advance of Army of Potomac in Fall of 182. Loss, 29 killed ; 71 wounded ; 20 mis-ing. During the campaign of 1864, was in some 25 engagements and skirmishes. Loss, 23 killed : 115 wounded ; and 57 missing. Was mustered out at Benton Barracks, Mo., July 17, 1855.
Company L.
Capt. Chas. L. Brandley, e. as private Sept. 14, 1861. com. 2d lient. Feb. 1. 1864. Prmtd. Ist lieut. Sept. 18, 1864. Prmtd. capt. Dec. 28, 1864. M. o. July 17, 1865.
Sergt. John G. Webb, e. Sept. 16, 186t, disd. Dec. 16, 1862. as private.
Corpl. Chas. L. Hall. e. Sept. 10, 1861, vet.
Corpl. Wm. S. Thomson, e Sept. 16, 1861.
Bugler W. A. Washburn, e. Sept. 14, 1861, absent, sick at m. o.
Colby Johu C. e. Sept. 2, 1861, died at Washington, D. C., Dec. 6, 1863.
Grady John, e. Sept. 16, 1861.
Howard L. J. e. ept. 16. 1861, kld. at Va. Jan. 27,'62. Jordon J. e. Sept. 16, 1861, m. o. Sept. 28, 1864.
McHenry Wm A. e. Sept. 5, 1861, vet., m. o. July 17, 1865, as Ist sergt.
Rice M. A. e. Sept. 16, 1861, disd. Oct. 14, 1862.
Wortman Sam'I G. e. Sept. 1, 1861, m.o. Sept. 28, 1864, 2s corpl.
Dickson A. e. Oct. 10. 1864. m. o. July 17. 1865.
Kemp L. S. e. sept. 28, 1861, printd. veterinary surg. Stein H. H. e. Aug. 14 1851, vet., sick at m. o. Weller Jas. e. Sept. 28, 1861.
Rogers I'. H. e. Nov. 30, '63, m. o. July 17, '65, corpl.
Company M.
Second Lieut. John F. Austin, com. Sept. 18, 1861. Res. Nov 1, 1862.
Allen H. C. e. Sept. 17, 1861, disd. Nov. 28. '62, disab. Blair John G. e. Sept. 17. 1861, vet., died Mch. 25, '64. B .. rtleit John, e. Sept. 17. 1861, vet., m.o. July 17, '65. Ciok G. Y. e. Sept. 17. 1861. m.o. July 17, 1865, sergt. Delair A. e. Sept. 17, 1861, vet., m. o. Sept. 28, 1864. Gifford Henry. e. Sept. 17.'61, m o. Sept. 28,'64, corpl. Grint L. V. e. Sept. 17, 1861, disd. Sept. - , 1864, wd. Gifford D. A. e. Sept. 17. 1861, at. o. Sept. 28. 1864. G fford A. e. Sept. 17, :861, m. o. Sept. 28, 1864. Hazleton U. e. Sept. 17, '61, disd. Sept. 26, '64, disab. Rutledge Win. J.e. Sept. 17.'61,disd. )ec. - ,'62,disab Smith Fred'k, e. Sept. 10, 1861, disd. in 1862, disab. Thompson Jos. e. Sept. 13, 1861, m. o. Sept. 28, 1864.
Thompson John, e. Sept. 15,'61, vet., m.o. July 17,'65. Wood E. S. e. Sept. 17, 1861, m. o. Sept. 28. 1864. Wilson Wm. O. e. Sept. 15,'6r. m.o. Sept. 28,'64, corpl. Wilson S. M. e. Sept. 15, '61, disd. Feb. 15, '62, disab. Waite B. W. e. Sept. 15, 1861, m. o. Sept. 28, 1864. Wren L. e. Sept. 17, '61, vet., m. o. July 17, '65, corpl. Austin Robt. A. e. Oct. 10, 1864, m. o. July 17, 1865. Cook B. F. e. Sept. 25,'64, vet., m.o. July 17, '65, sergt. Crum G. e. Oct. 10, 1864, m. o. July 17, 1865. Delair John, e. Sept. 22, 1864, m. o. Sept. 28, 1864. Francher M. J. e. Sept. 22, 1864, m. o. Sept. 28, 1864. Grant S. U. e. Oct. 10, 1864, m. o. July 17, 1865. Grant Jas. L. e. Oct. 14, 1864, m. o. July 17, 1865. Hemmerling G. e. Oct. 14, 1864, m. o. July 17, 1865. Perry E. A. e. Sept. 23, 1861, vet., m. o. July 18, 1865, as blacksmith.
Prentiss R. T. e. Sept. 23, 1867, vet , m. o. July 17, 1865, as sergt.
Wood M. V. e. Sept. 23, 1861, m. o. Sept. 28, 1864.
12th Cavalry (consolidated.)
Company C.
Vanston Daniel, e. Feb. 19, vet., died at New Or- leans Sept. ao, 1864.
Company K.
Second Lieut. Benj. I. Arnold, e. as Ist sergt. Co. C, 4th Cav. as consolidated. Prmtd. 2d heut. March 28, 1865. Prmtd. Ist lieut. Dec. 19, 1865. Mustered out May 29, 1866.
Company L.
Capt. John F. Wallace, com. 2d lieut. old Co. E, 4tb Cav., Aug. 26, 1861. Prmtd. Ist lieut. Sept. 1, 1862. Printd. capt. Co. C Dec. 5, 1862. Prmtd. capt. Co. D (consolidated) Dec. 5, 1862. Com. capt. Co. L, 12th Cav., Dec. 5, 1862. Mustered out May 29, '66. Second Lieut. Oliver H. Swingley, e. as Ist sergt Co. D. 4th Cav. Prmtd. 2d lieut. April 25, 1865. Com. ad lieut. Co. M, 12th Cav., April 25, 1865. Resigned Feb. 16, 1866.
13th Cavalry (consolidated.)
Company C.
First Lieut. Ira B. Henry, com. 2d lieut. Co. F, old Co., Feb. 7, 1863. Com. 2d lieut. this Co. Feb. 7, 1863. Prmtd. ist lient. Sept. 5, 1864. Mustered our Dec. 31, 1864.
14th Cavalry.
Adjutant General's reports give no history of this regiment.
Sergt. Maj. Isaac H. Allen, com. Oct. 13, 1862. Prmtd. 2d lieut. Co. D.
Company E.
McRead Wm. E. e. Jan. 16, 1863, trans. to Co. I. Palmer Chas. e. Jan. 16, 1863, trans. to Co. I. Roosa A. V. L. e. Sept. 19, 1863, tr ins. to Co. I. Smith Thos. e. Jan. 16, 1863, trans. to Co. 1.
Company I.
First Lieut. DeRiley Kilbourne, com. 2d lieut. Jan. 7, 1863. Printd. Ist lieut. May 25, 1864. Resigned Oct. 29, 1864.
First Lieut. Washington L. Sanford, e. as private Oct. 6, 1862. Prmtd. 2d lieut. May 25, 1864. Prmtd. Ist lieut. Oct. 19, 1864. Resigned Feb. 21, 1865.
Second Lieut. Moses G Hascall, e. as private Oct. 17, 1862. Prmtd. Ist sergt., then 2d lieut., March 28, 1865. Mustered out July 31. 1865.
Bemis C. C. e. Sept. 24 1862, missing in action July 31. 1864.
Butterfield E. M. e. Oct. 12, 1862, missing in action July 31, 1864.
Dunn Jas. e. Sept. 25, 1862, missing in action since Nov. 14, 1863.
421
OGLE COUNTY WAR RECORD.
Douglass O. C. e. Nov. 20, 1862, missing in action since Ang. 7, 1864.
Perrine Thos. J. e. Oct. 1862, m. o. July 31, 1865. Trotter John, e. Nov. 5, 1862, absent, sick at m.o. regt. Burger Geo. e. March 22, 1864, m. o. July 31, 1865. Cross J. D. e. Feb. 23, 1864, died Sept. 25, 1864.
Company K.
Corpl. Robt. A. Horning, e. Dec. 1, 1862, deserted June 8, 1863.
Corpl. Daniel Lower, e. Dec. 1, 1862, m. o. July 31, 1865, as sergt. Blacksmith Henry Lower, e. Dec., 1862, m. o. July 8, 1865, prisr. war.
Baney J. E. e. Dec. 1, 1862, reclaimed by 65th I. V. I. Sept. 15, 1863.
Bowman Wm. e. Dec. 25, 1862, m. o. July 31, 1865. Gibbs Samuel, e. Dec. 25, 1862, died in Ohio July 21,'63. Klinger David, e. Sept. 1, 1862, disd. June 20, 1863. Melinger John, e. Dec. 1, 1862, m. o. July 31, 1865. Paul A. e. Dec. 25. 1862, m. o. July 31, 1865.
Shirk John J. e. Nov. 6, 1862, m. o. July 31, 1865. Williams J. O. e. Dec. 25, 1862, deserted Jan. 23, 1863.
15th Cavalry.
Company L.
Crum Henry, e. Dec. 30, 186t, m. o. Jan 9, 1865. Griffin Leander, e. Jan. 9, 1862, disd. June 23, '62, disab. Lowe L. e. Feb. 3, 1862, died May 13, 1862.
Peck H. C. e. Dec. 27, 186r, disd. for promotion. Pinckney Thales L. e. Jan. 9,'62, disd. June 7,'62, disab.
17th Cavalry.
The Seventeenth Cavalry Regiment Illinois Volun- teers was organized under special authority from the War Department, issued Ang. 12, 1863, to Hon. John F. Farnsworth. The rendezvous was established at St. Charles, Kane County, Illinois. By the approval of the Governor of the State, the Colonelcy of the Regi- ment was offered John L. Beveridge, then Major in the Eight Illinois Cavalry, who assumed the work of re- cruitment and organization and opened the rendezvous Nov. 15, 1813. Eight companies were mustered in Jan. 22, 1814. Four other companies were mustered in and the organization of the Regiment completed, Feb. 12, 1854. The Regiment was sent to Jefferson Barracks. Mo., where 1, 100 sets of horse equipments were re- ceived. From there it moved to Alton Ill., and re- lieved the Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry in guarding the Military Prison at that place.
Early in June following, the First Battalion was or- de.ed to St. Louis, and the Second Battalion followed immediately. Both being fully mounted were ordered at once to North Missouri District. The First Battal- ion, Lieutenant Colonel Dennis J. Hynes commanding, proceeded to St. Joseph, Mo., where the commanding officer reported in person to General Fisk, commanding District of North Missouri. The Second Battalion, Major Lucius C. Matlack commanding, was assigned by General C. B. Fisk to the post of Glasgow, Mo. From this period, for four months, the three battalions were separate and remote from each other, and so ex- tended were their movements, that it is impossible to follow thein in this brief sketch. They seem to have been all over Missouri after Price's and jeff. Thompson's Guerilla Bands, following them into Kansas and Arkan- sas, doing most efficient service.
Company M.
Capt. John F. Austin, com. Jan. 16, 1864. Resigned June 8, 1865. First Lieut. John Acker, com. Jan. 16, 1864. Resigned June 8, 1865.
First Lieut. Chas. G. Robbins, e. as Q. M. sergt. Nov. 9, 1863. Prmtd. ist sergt., then 2d lieut., Ang. 26, 1864. Prmtd. Ist lient. July 3, 1865. Mustered OUL Nov. 23, 1865.
Second Lient. Unal Haselton, e. as sergt. Nov. 9, 1863. Prmtd. ist sergt., then 2d lient. July 3, 1865. Mustered out Nov. 23, 1865.
2. M. Sergt. Chas. G. Robbins, e. Nov. 9, 1863. Prmtd. Ist sergt., then 2d lieut.
Comsy. Sergt. U. Haselton, e. Nov. 9, 1863. 1
Sergt. C. E. Coolbaugh, e. Dec. 4, 1863, m. o. Nov. 23, 1865, as Ist sergt.
Sergt. Wm. R. Buser, e. Dec. 22. 1863, m. o. Nov. 23, 1865, as Co. comsy. sergt.
Sergt. S. M. Wilson, e. Dec. 9, 1863, Co. Q. M. sergt., sick at m. o.
Sergt. Wm. B. Harris, e. Dec. 10, 1863, m.o. Nov.23,'65. Sergt. Frederick Smith, e. Nov. 9, 1863, m. o. Nov. 23, 1865. as private.
Corpi. Chas. Lewis, e. Dec. 16, 188, m. o. Nov. 23, '65, as sergt.
Corpl. Mark Burnham, e. Dec. 18, '63, died Nov. 19,'64. Corpl. N. McCloud, e. Nov. 11, 1863, m. o. Nov. 23, 1865, as private.
Corpl. B. F. Robinson, e. Nov. 9, 1863, m. o. Nov. 23, 1865. as sergt.
Corpl. W. S. Fuller, e. Nov. 9, 1863, disd. July 28, 1865, as sergt.
Corpl. Jacob Buser, e. Dec. 22, 1863, m. o. Nov. 23,'65. Corpl. W. Rohrback, e. Dec. 26, 1863, m. o. Nov. 23, 1865, as private.
Corpl. Jasper McCloud. e. Jan. 18, '64, m. o. Nov. 23,'65. Bugler F. J. Baker, e. Jan. 18, 1864, prmtd. chief bugler. Bugler Geo. F. Thorne, e. Dec. 14, '63, desrtd. Oct.7,'65. Farrier Geo. L. Snyder, e. Dec. 8, '63, m.o. Nov. 23,'65. Ashton Jas. R. e. Dec. 10, 1863, m. o. Nov. 26, 1865.
Bridge J. P. e. Dec. 9, 1863, prmtd. hospital steward. Burchell H. C. e. Dec. 22, 1863, desrtd. Sept. 6, 1864. Bennett W E. e. Dec. 1, 1863, m. o. Nov. 23, 1864. Carnahan J. C. e. Dec. 20, 1863, desrtd.
Culver S. e. Dec. I. 1863, m. o. Nov. 23, 1865.
Clark John C. e. Dec. 23, 1863, m. o. Nov. 23, 1865. Davis H. W. e. Dec. 29, 1863, m. o. Nov. 23, 1865. Edgar L. e. Nov. 9, 1863, m. o. Nov. 23, 1865.
Furness Joel, e. Dec. 28, 1863, m. o. May 25, 1865. Gill John B. e. Dec. 12, 1863, m. o. Nov. 23, 1865. Griffin Edw. A. c. Dec. 29, 1863, m. o. Nov. 23, 1865. Jewell R. e. Tan. 9, 1863, m. o. Nov. 23, 1865. Knox John, e. Dec. 8, 1863, died Sept. 6, 1864.
Karumb Julius, e. Dec. 29, 1863, m. o. Nov. 23, 1865. Lilly T. e. Dec. 10, 1863, m. o. Nov. 23, 1865. Mitchell H. e. Dec. 14, 1863, disd. July 28, '65, disab. Miller John H. e. Dec. 17, 1863, m. o. Dec. 23, 1865. Maguire Thos. e. Dec. 8, 1863, absent on dnity at m. o. Mc Names C. e. Dec. 17, 1863, m. o. Nov. 23, 1865. Phillips Chas. e. Dec. 17, '63, m. o. Nov. 23, '65. corpl. Roe N. C. e. Dec. 10, 1863, m. o. Nov. 23. 1865. Robinson D. C. e. Dec. 10, 1863, m. o. Nov. 23, 1865. Virgil Wm. e. Dec. 18, 1863, m. o. Nov. 23, 1865. Wood Jas. M. e. Dec. 23, 1863, m.o. Nov. 23,'65, corpl. Wade Jacob, e. Dec. 22, 1863, m. o. Nov. 23, 1865. Acker Sam'ı D. e. Feb. 20, 1864 detached at m. o. Gill Thos. B. e. Ang. 26, 1864, m. o. July 5, 1865. Wilson W. O. sick at m. o.
Miscellaneous.
Whitbeck Wm. H. Coolbaugh C.
1st Artillery.
Company F.
First Lieut. Henry L. Benn, com. Feb. 25, 1862. Res. Sept. 2, 1862.
Bridges C. P. e. Oct. 1, 1861, disd. June 26, '02, disab. Hanson John, e. Oct. 1, 1861, died June 3, 1864.
Kempe Warren, e. Oct. 14, 1861, disd. Jan. 4, 1864, as sergt., term ex.
Long A. V. e. Sept. 16, 1861, trans. to Bat. I, disd. Oct. 30, 1862.
Losee Jos. P. e. Sept. 25. '6r, disd. Jan. 4, '65, term ex. Lane Geo. P. e. Nov. 12, 1861, disd. April 28,'63, disab. McCloud S. e. Dec. 1, 186r, disd. May 22, 1863, disab. Prescott Wm. H. e. Nov. 27, 1861, disd. Jan. 4, 1865, term ex.
Sewell L. A. e. Oct. I, 1861, disd. Jan. 4, 1865.
Taylor A. D. e. Oct. 1. 1861, corpl., di-d. for disab.
Tracy Henry, e. Oct. 20, 1861, died Sept 26, 1863.
Knepper G. e. Jan. 4, 1864, traos. to Co. B, m. o. July 6, 1865, as corpl.
2d Artillery. Battery G.
Rice Asa, e. Oct. 1, 1861, disd. Oct. 14, 1862, as corpl., disab.
Scutt H. B. e. Sept. 16,'61, vet., m. o. Sept. 4, 1865.
422
OGLE COUNTY WAR RECORD.
Adams Albert, e. Jan. 5, 1864, m. o. Sept. 4, 1865. Bain Robt. e. Jan. 17, 1864, m. o. Sept. 4, 1865. Crane Geo. e. Jan. 5, 1864, m. o. Sept. 4, 1865. Coolbangh H. e. Oct. 8, 1864, m. o. Sept. 4, 1865. Hull F. L. e. Jan. 19, 1864, m. o. Sept. 4, 1865. Lang W. A. e. Feb. 22, 1864, m. o. Sept. 4, 1865. Megoreth M. e. Jan. 5, 1864, m. o. Sept. 4, 1865. Orner Edw. P. e. Jan. 25, 1864, m. o. Sept. 4, 1865. Slaughter T'hos. J. e. Jan. 5, 1864, m. o. Sept. 5, 1865. Small J. W. e. Jan. 5, 1864, m. o. Sept. 6, 1865. Steele Wm. e. Jan. 5, 1864, died Jan. 23, 1865. Young Francis, e. Jan. 5, 1864, m. o. Sept. 4, 1865.
Company L.
1
Sergt. Owen E. Lloyd, e. Feb. 27, 1862, desrtd. Feb. 28, 1863. Brooks Peter, e. Feb. 28, '62, vet., m. o. Aug. 9, 1865.
Israel John, e. Feb. 27, '62, vet., desrtd. June 30, 1864. Joyce C. S. e. Feb. 27, 1862. desrtd. May 10, 1862. Johnson C. N. e. Feb. 28, 1862. died June 8, 1863. Snell John. e. Feb. 18, 1862, vet., m. o. Aug. 9, 1865, 25 artificer.
Sanford D. e. March 1, 1862, vet., m. o. Aug. 9, 1865. Scott Peter, e. Feb. 19, 1862, left sick at Chicago, no further record.
Woodruff Henry, e. Feb. 28, 1862, vet., m. o. Aug. 9, 1865, as sergt. Arnold F. e. Oct 18, 1864, m. o. Aug. 9, 1865; Beterbenner S. G. e. Sept. 1,'62. m.o. Aug. g, '65, sergt. Baker A. D. e. Aug. 30, 1862, m. o. Ang. 9, 1865. Gantz Wm e. Oct. 15, 1864, m. o. Ang. 9, 1865. Hunter John D. e. Oct. 10, 1864, m. o. Aug. 9. 1865. Jacobs. D. M. e. Oct. 11, 1864. m. o. Aug. 9, 1865. Wolf John, e. Oct. 15, 1864, m. o. Aug. 9, 1865. Wagoner C. F. e. Oct. 10, 1864, m. 0. Aug. 9, 1865.
The war ended and peace restored, the Union preserved in its integrity, the sons of Ogle who had volunteered their lives in defense of their govern- ment, and who were spared to see the army of the Union victorious, returned to their homes to receive grand ovations and tributes of honor from friends and neighbors who had eagerly and jealonsly followed them wherever the fortunes of war called. Exchanging their soldiers' uniforms for citizens' dress, most of them fell back to their old avocations -- on the farm, at the forge, the bench, in the shop, and at whatever else their hands found to do. Brave men are honorable always, and no class of citizens are entitled to greater respect than the volunteer soldiery of Ogle County, not alone because they were soldiers, but because in their associations with their fellow-men their walk is upright, and their honesty and character without reproach.
Their country first, their glory and their pride; Land of their hopes-land where their fathers died; When in the right, they'll keep their honor bright; When in the wrong, they'll die to set it right.
LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION -- A TRIBUTE TO HIS MEMORY.
April 17, 1865, three days after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, the foulest deed that ever polluted national escutcheon, the board of supervisors were in session, and Hon. James V. Gale, full of sympathy and just impulses, and out of respect for the memory of freedom's martyr, moved for the appointment of a committee of five to prepare a series of resolutions expressive of the sentiment of the board and of the people in relation to that cowardly and atrocions crime. The motion prevailed, and Messrs. Gale, Andrews, Davis, Moffett and May were appointed as such committee, who, in due time, reported the following:
WHEREAS, It has pleased Almighty God to permit the removal of our beloved Presi- dent by assassination ; and, whereas, the nation is now mourning its irreparable loss; and, whereas, we, as individuals, believe that our late President, Abraham Lincoln, was a true patriot, a faithful executive officer and pre-eminently honest and upright, and especially qualified above all other men to fill the high position to which the people had twice elected him; and, whereas, we believe that none but traitors and those sympathizing with them will dare gainsay or dispute the truth of the above proposition; and, whereas, we can not, as a Board of Supervisors of the loyal County of Ogle, permit this national calamity to pass without notice, and without expressing our deep-felt sorrow for the terrible bereavement which has so suddenly and unexpectedly fallen upon our people; therefore, be it resolved,
1. That we, as individuals and as a hody representing the people of the County of Ogle, do hereby endorse, sanction, and approve every official act of our late beloved President.
423
HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
2. That it is the sense of this body, individually and collectively, and as they believe, the sentiments of every loyal heart, that since the days of the immortal Washington, no man more capable, more patriotic, more honest, or more faithful, has been called by the Ameri- can people to fill that high position.
3. That, in the opinion of this board, the true interests of the nation were safe in his hands, and that all the ends he aimed at during the perilous period of his administration were " his Country, God and Truth."
4. That, as one family, we mourn, and that we tender to each loyal heart who are truly members of this bereaved family, our sympathy and condolence, believing that, while the ways of God seem to us mysterious, "He doeth all things well," and that behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.
5. That while we believe this sudden bereavement may for the moment paralyze and weaken the strength of the government, it will in the end tend to infuse new life and vigor in to it, and that the soldiers in the field, who so dearly loved our late President, will have new motives for action, and will hereafter spare no man through whose agency or sympathy the foul death of Abraham Lincoln was accomplished.
6. That we fear no other man could so well fill the position lately occupied by our departed President, because of his experience and close intimacy with the great questions of the day; nevertheless, we believe he will have a faithful, capable, honest and patriotic successor in the person of Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee; and we do hereby tender to our present chief magistrate a love, confidence and devotion in no way less than that we gave to his illustrious predecessor, whose place he now fills.
7. That we tender to the bereaved wife and children of our late worthy President, our sincere pity and sympathy in this the hour of their deep sorrow, believing that while the loss of Abraham Lincoln is a national calamity, it is to them a private and individual loss, out of which grows widowhood and orphanage.
8. That the Clerk of this Board be requested to transmit a copy of these resolutions to the widow of the late President.
9. That the members of this board shall, as a token of regard for their memory of the late President, wear crape on their left arm for the space of thirty days, and that, as a farther mark of respect to his memory, we do now adjourn.
On motion of Mr. Shottenkirk, the resolutions were adopted and ordered to be spread on the journals of the board.
RAILROADS.
The railroads of Ogle County constitute an important chapter in its history. Until the organic law of the state was amended by the people in 1870, providing that " no county, city, town, township or other municipality shall ever become subscriber to the capital stock of any railroad or private corporation, or make donation to, or loan its credit in aid of such corpora- tion," the people of Ogle County were very liberal in voting aid to various proposed railroads, but there was of course a strong minority in opposition, and bitter animosities sprang up, which unfortunately are not not allayed even yet. The complications arising from this state of affairs render the task of tracing the history of railroads in this county one of great delicacy and responsibility. By confining the work to the records and proofs, however, it is hoped that the principal facts will be found impartially recorded in the following pages.
THE GALENA AND CHICAGO UNION RAILROAD.
The railroad agitation commenced almost contemporaneously with the settlement of the county. In the same year that the County of Ogle was erected (1836) the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad Company was char- tered and authorized to construct a railroad from Galena to Chicago. The corporators were principally from New York. They seenred a tract of 1,000 acres of land in Du Page County, and in 1838 had done some grading on the prairie west of Chicago, and suspended active operations. Some time
424
HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
during the latter part of 1845 Messrs. Ogden and Jones, of Chicago, nego- tiated with Messrs. Nevins and Matteson, of New York, for the purchase of this charter, and the Du Page land, etc., for which they paid $20,000.
Upon the suspension of operations on the G. & C. U. R. R., other projects for something better than the rude prairie roads were discussed. At one time the construction of a plank road between Rock River and Chicago was seriously contemplated and estimates were made of the probable cost per mile, which was fixed at $3,860.37, or an aggregate of $312,731.29. A convention had also been held at Sterling to consider the improvement of Rock River so as to make it navigable. In 1843 a survey was made between Joliet and Aurora to determine the practicability of supplying the Illinois and Michigan canal from Fox River. The report of the surveyors and engineers was highly favorable to the scheme. The bed of the Fox River at Aurora was found to be forty feet higher than the summit level of the canal, and the report created great excitement among the people of Rock River Valley.
" Indeed," said the report, " there are but two places on the whole line that would require anything like heavy excavation. The deepest cut is abont fifteen feet, and the distance about twenty rods. The maximum cost of a feeder with a tow path, and to answer all purposes of navigation, is estimated at $200,000. * * * Should the plan be carried out, but one further step remains to be taken. If a favorable route can be found, the work will be extended from Aurora to Rockford. The interest of the com- pany demands it-the City of Chicago, the farmers of Rock River, the mineral region of Wisconsin, and the people of the state, all have an interest in the the undertaking." This undertaking was discussed for a time, but like the plank road and kindred schemes was finally abandoned, and in 1845 the project of a railroad was revived. On the 28th day of November of that year a meeting was held at Rockford to devise ways and means to interest the people in the building of a railroad leading to Chicago. Anson S. Miller was Chairman, Selden M. Church, Secretary, and Hon. M. P. Sweet addressed the meeting. The following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, That those counties interested in the construction of a railroad from Galena to Chicago be recommended to meet in convention at Rockford for the purpose of taking measures for constructing said road at the earliest possible period.
Resolved, That said convention meet at the court house in Rockford, January 7, 1846.
Jason Marsh, T. D. Robertson and William Hulin were appointed a Committee of Correspondence to carry out the spirit of the meeting; and Horace Miller, A. C. Gleason, Renben Barrett, Harvey Gregory, Robert J. Cross, Asa Farnsworth, Stephen Mack, Thomas B. Talcott. Simon Petti- bone, Guy Hulett, Snyder J. Fletcher, Alonzo Hall, Daniel Baker, E. S. Cable, Harvey Woodruff. Joseph Manchester, George Haskell, Willard Wheeler, E. H. Potter, Newton Crawford, J. C. Goodhue, S. M. Church, Anson S. Miller, Jason Marsh and Thomas D. Robertson, were appointed to address the meeting on the necessity and importance of the undertaking.
In all the counties from Chicago to Galena meetings were held and delegates appointed to attend the Rockford Convention, Cook County sent 16 delegates; DeKalb sent 1; McHenry, 15; Rock County, Wis., 3; Ogle, 80: Boone, 42; Lee, 1; Kane, 15; Stephenson, 40; Winnebago, 100; Jo Daviess, 6; total, 319.
The convention assembled at Rockford on the 7th of January, 1846, and was permanently organized by the election of the following officers:
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