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 54
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In June, 1855, Prof. Pinckney resigned, and his aetive connection with the Institution ceased. For more than thirteen years he had devoted his time, ener- gies and money to advanee the prosperity and usefulness of the Rock River Seminary, and had been its Principal most of the time during that period.
It must be remembered, in reviewing the progress of this institution, that its pupils were gathered from a very wide extent of territory. There are probably more young men and women now in one-half of Ogle County who desire and need the advantages of such an institution, than there were then in all Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, and Roek River Seminary at Mt. Morris was the only institution of the kind then in existence in all this great territory. For
477
HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
this reason, if for no other, the Seminary exerted a more commanding influence in all this region than is now exerted by it or any other institution of similar character. It had a broader field. It is not strange, therefore, that during Prof. Pinckney's long and successful administration, it exerted a powerful influence in moulding the destinies of this, the comparatively unknown Northwest, which will continue to be felt through all coming generations. It is to be mentioned he never expelled a student from the Institute, and he enjoyed to a remarkable degree the respect, confidence and affection of his pupils, and the esteem of his associates. Although he was no longer connected with the Seminary as its Principal, he remained a member of the Board of Trustees until 1858.
Prof. Pinckney was succeeded as Principal by Prof. W. T. Harlow, who was elected in June, 1855, and soon after, the school was opened in the new building.
A loan of $12,000 was obtained of the Northwestern University, secured by the Seminary property, and a sufficient amount of notes on other property to " pay the Allen mortgage." This loan was payable in five years.
January 26, 1857, the Executive Committee were requested 10 finish the new building during the next ensuing vacation. The same committee was au- thorized to settle with D. A. Potter for work done and materials furnished on his contract made with the Trustees, August 8, 1855, "as they may deem just and proper."
The following entry appears on the records of the Trustees, June, 1858:
WHEREAS, Prof. D. J. Pinckney is unwilling to be re-elected as Trustee of Rock River Sem- inary ; therefore,
Resolved, By the Board of Trustees and Conference Visiting Committee, met in joint session, June 25, 1858, that we hereby tender to Prof. D. J. Pinckney this expression of our high regard and appreciation of him in all his former relations to us, and services rendered to us. Also, as a man of superior talents and scholarship, and as a most ahle educator. And we most sin- cerely regret the necessity that has led to his official separation from us; and we shall ever after be more than pleased to hail him as a brother in all the relations of life.
June 25, 1858, an arrangement was made with Profs. Harlow and Pope to take the educational and boarding departments on their own responsibility, em- ploying and paying their assistants, they to return the buildings at the end of the year, in good condition.
June 23, 1859, the Executive Committee were authorized to "confer and negotiate with any stock company that may be formed, for the purpose of pur- chasing and running the Seminary as a stock concern."
On the same day, the contract with Messrs. Harlow and Pope was renewed for another year.
June 27, 1860, W. T. Harlow, II. L. Martin and F. G. Petrie were ap- pointed to prepare and report suitable resolutions on the death of Samuel M. Hitt, Esq., a Trustee of the Seminary. The next day they reported the fol- lowing :
Resolved, That we take unqualified pleasure in expressing thus our testimony of respect and affection to the memory of the deceased, viz. : that he was safe and efficient in counsel, courteous in betring, generous and prompt in sharing the pecuniary burdens which the Board has, from time to time, been called upon to bear.
Resolved, That while we remember with pleasure the associations of the past, we feel deeply and mournfully the loss we have sustained in his death.
June 28, 1860, the Board resolved to "let Profs. W. F. Harlow and W. S. Pope have the institution on the same terms for the coming year as they have had it in the past."
June 28, 1865, Prof. Harlow resigned as Principal, and Profs. John Will- iamson and O. F. Matteson were elected Associate Principals.
478
HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
October, 1867, Rev. J. M. Caldwell was elected Principal for one year, and he was re-elected in 1868, upon condition that he employ and pay his asso- ciates.
June 25, 1868, a communication was received from the Trustees of the Northwestern University, stating that they had resolved to "release all claims against the Rock River Seminary."
June 23, 1869, the entire Faculty having resigned, Prof. Brush, of " Upper Iowa University," was elected Principal. " he to select his own assistants," but did not accept the position, and on the 22d of July, Rev. R. H. Wilkinson was elected, who served until June, 1870, when he resigned ; and on the 28th of September following, a contract was made with Rev. S. H. Adams to " run the Seminary according to the provisions of the charter, and to have all the revennes from the same," until said revenue reaches the sum of $4,000, with elaborate provisions for the disposition of any surplus that might accrue in ex- cess of that amount.
June 21, 1871, John Williamson and Sarah H. Stevenson were requested to assume control of the institution, but it does not appear that they complied. The school was suspended and no further meetings of the Board are recorded until May 7, 1873, when the following resolution was adopted :
Resolved, That the Executive Committee be authorized to make, in connection with R. R. Hitt, such arrangements with Wm. Harrison or some other person or parties, as 'will "secure the opening of the school and running the same, without incurring expense or liability to the Trustees."
At this meeting there were present F. G. Petrie, President ; M. T. Elling- wood, Hl. J. Farwell, W. H. Atchison, A. Newcomer and F. B. Brayton.
September 16, 1873, the Executive Committee reported that "they, together with R. R. Hitt, had secured the services of N. C. Dougherty, as Principal, together with a full and competent faculty, under whose management the school had been opened with the most satisfactory results," and recommended that they be elected and confirmed.
Accordingly Prof. N. C. Dougherty was elected Principal : R. Arthur Edwards, Professor of Latin and Greek ; Miss Lottie M. Smith, Preceptress ; Miss Maria Hitt, Teacher of Music.
Prof. Dougherty was requested to write a brief history of the Seminary, and a sketch appeared in his first catalogne in 1874.
Since that time the Institution has been under the charge and control of Prof. Dougherty, who has managed its affairs with skill and ability, and it is now (1878) in a prosperous condition.
The present Board of Trustees are Hon. F. G. Petrie, President; Fred- erick B. Brayton, Esq., Secretary ; Hon. Robert R. Ilitt, N. C. Dougherty, A. M. (ex officio), Andrew Newcomer, Esq., Rev. Richard Edwards, Rev. W. H. Tibbals, Rev. W. A. Burns, Gen. B. F. Sheets, Capt. John W. Hitt, Hon. Chas. Newcomer, Hon. Isaac Rice and Jackson Farwell.
Faculty .- Newton C. Dougherty, A. M., Principal; Richard A. Edwards, A. B., Instructor in Latin and Geeek ; John H. Parr, Instructor in Natural Science and Mathematics ; Florence Farnsworth, Instructor in Reading and Grammar ; Edward L. Wells, Instructor in the Science and Art of Teaching; Florence Brayton, Instructor in Instrumental Music; Lillian D. Brayton, In- structor in Penciling and Painting.
In closing this brief history of this important institution, it is proper to record the names of some of the principal teachers employed during its long and useful existence. Among the Professors and Teachers may be mentioned
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
Lyman Catlin, Joseph C. Parks, William H. L. Wallace, Samuel M. Fellows, James N. Martin, George L. Little, David A. Wheeler, W. S. Pope, Joseph Hale, S. C. Caldwell, F. A. McNeill, Silas Searle, J. N. Banks, Jabez Brooks.
Preceptresses .- Cornelia N. Russell, Ruth R. Carr, Electa V. Mitchell, Almira M. Robertson, Eunice A. Hurd, Rosalie D. Blanchard, Sarah A. Steele, Mary E. Hoverland, Harriet Fowler, Carrie E. Mumford, Clarinda Olin, Mrs. M. C. Catlin.
In connection with the Seminary several literary societies have been main- tained among the students. In 1843, there were three societies for the improve- ment of the students in composition and extemporaneous speaking, one of which had a small library. Periodicals were issued weekly by them, as also by the young ladies. In 1850, there were several of these societies. There were three manu- script papers issued by them, each of which was issued semi-monthly. The year previous, in 1849, there were four of these papers. The principal of these societies were the " Amphictyon," organized by Prof. Pinckney during his first term in 1842, and the " Philorhotorian," organized, probably, about 1848.
OLD SETTLERS.
Oh! a wonderful stream is the River Time, As it runs through the realm of tears, With a faultless rhythm, and a musical rhyme, And a broader sweep, and a surge sublime, As it blends in the ocean of years.
-B. F. Taylor.
Forty-eight years have come and gone since white men began to exercise dominion in the Rock River Valley-erst the home of the Winnebagoes and their kindred. These years have been full of changes, and the visitor of to-day, ignorant of the past of the county, could scarcely be made to realize that within these years there has grown up a population of nearly thirty thousand in 1878, that, in all the accomplishments and acquirements of life, are as far advanced as are the people of the counties of the older States. Schools, churches, col- leges, palatial-like dwellings, beautiful grounds, large, well-cultivated and pro- ductive farms, as well as eities, towns and busy manufactories, have grown up and occupy the hunting grounds and camping places of the native tribe of red men, and in every direction there are evidences of wealth, comfort and luxury. There is but little left of the old landmarks. Advaneed civilization and the progressive demands of revolving years have obliterated all traces of Indian occupancy, until they are only remembered in name.
The beginning of these changes was made in 1830, when Isaac Chambers and John Ankeny selected their claims at Buffalo Grove.
Of the voters and heads of families representing a population of 3,479 in 1840, many removed from the county to find homes in other States, while the spirits of others were called to join the immortal throng gathered around the great white throne in the far-away realms of eternal life and light. Others preferred to remain in the homes they commenced in the lands of the Winne- bagoes, and, by the goodness and mercy of God, have grown in wealth, wisdom and usefulness, until, in their declining years, they are respected and honored patriarchs in the community that owes much of its character to the influences they established in pioneer times.
It is not strange that among the pioneer settlers of any new country a deep- seated and sincere friendship should spring up, that would grow and strengthen with their years. The incidents peculiar to life in a new country-the trials
480
HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
and hardships, privations and destitutions-are well calculated to test not only the physical powers of endurance, but the moral, kindly, generous attributes of manhood and womanhood. They are times that try men's souls and bring to the surface all that there may be in them of either good or bad. As a rule, there is an equality of conditions that recognizes no distinctions. All occupy a common level, and, as a natural consequence, a brotherly and sisterly feeling grows up that is as lasting as time, for "a fellow feeling makes us wondrous kind." With such a community, there is a hospitality, a kindness, a beucv- olence and a charity unknown and unpracticed among the older, richer and more densely populated commonwealths. The very nature of their surround- ings teaches them to "feel each other's woe, to share each other's joy." An injury or a wrong may be ignored, but a kindly, generous, charitable act is never forgotten. The memory of old associations and kindly deeds is always fresh. Raven locks may bleach and whiten ; full, round cheeks sinken and hollow ; the fires of intelligence vanish from the organs of vision; the brow become wrinkled with care and age, and the erect form bowed with accumu- lating years, but the true friends of the "long ago" will be remembered as long as life and reason endure.
The surroundings of pioneer life are well calculated to test the " true inwardness " of the human heart. As a rule, the men and women who first occupy a new country-who go in advance to spy out the land and prepare it for the coming of a future people-are bold, fearless, self-reliant and industrious. In these respects, no matter from what remote sections or countries they may come, there is a similarity of character. In birth, education, religion and lan- guage, there may be a vast difference, but imbued with a common purpose-the founding and building of homes-these differences are soon lost by association, and thus they become one people, united by a common interest, and no matter what changes may come in after years, the associations thus formed are never buried out of memory.
In pioneer life there are always incidents of peculiar interest, not only to the pioneers themselves, but which, if properly preserved, would be of interest to posterity, and it is a matter of regret that the formation of the " Old Settlers' Association " has not been continuously maintained in Ogle County. The presence of such associations in all the counties of our common country, with well kept records of the more important events, such as dates of arriv- als, births, marriages, deaths, removals, nativity, etc., as any one can readily see, would be the direct means of preserving to the literature of the country, the history of every community, that, to future generations, would be invaluable as a record of reference, and a ready method of settling important questions of controversy. Such organizations would possess facts and figures that could not be had from any other source. Aside from their historic importance, they would serve as a means of keeping alive and further cementing old friendships, and renewing among the members associations that were necessarily interrupted by the innovations of increasing population, cultivating social intercourse, and creating a charitable fund for such of their old members as were victims of mis- fortune and adversity.
Actuated by the purposes suggested in the last preceding paragraph, the pioneers of Ogle County organized a society in 1869, that was known as the "Ogle County Old Settlers' Society." The first formal meeting was held in the town of Rockvale, at the house of Hiram Reed, February 10, 1869. John Phelps was elected Chairman, and James V. Gale, Secretary. James V. Gale presented the following constitution, which was adopted :
481
HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
The name of this Society shall be the Ogle County " Old Settlers' Society." Its objects shall be to revive and establish the harmonions social relations once existing, and to perpetuate among themselves a remembrance of the trying and eventful scenes through which they passed in the early settlement of the county.
SECTION 1. The Society shall consist of those who settled in the county up to the year 1841 inclusive, and shall pay to the Treasurer annually the sum of one dollar.
SEC. 2. The officers of the Society shall consist of a President, one Vice President, Secre- tary, a Treasurer, and an Executive Committee of five persons, all of whom shall hold their posi- tion for one year, or until their successors shall be elected.
SEC. 3. The Recording Secretary shall keep the records of the Society, and conduct the cor- respondence of the Society.
SEC. 4. The Treasurer shall keep the funds of the Society, and disburse them on the written order of the President, or Chairman of the Executive Committee.
SEC. 5. The Executive Committee shall take charge of all papers transmitted to the Society, designed for publication, or otherwise. They may also establish such by-laws, rules and regnla- tions as they may deem necessary for the government of the Society. Provided, the same do not conflict with the constitution.
SEC. 6. There shall be an annual meeting of the old settlers of the county, at the County Seat, at snch times as the Society many think proper.
SEC. 7. The constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds present, at any annual meeting.
After the adoption of the constitution, the following named gentlemen were elected to the various offices : President, John Phelps, of Rockvale; Vice Pres- ident, A. O. Campbell, of Byron ; Secretary, James V. Gale, of Oregon ; Treasurer, William J. Mix, of Oregon ; Executive Committee, William P. Flagg, of Flagg; Hiram Reed, of Rockvale; Albert Brown, of Marion ; Virgil A. Bogue, of Buffalo, and Isaac Trask, of Pine Rock.
On motion, it was declared that the first annual meeting of the old settlers be held in Oregon in May, 1869.
The second meeting of the old settlers was held at the house of John Phelps, Esq., in the town of Rockvale, Tuesday, March 23, 1869.
The Reporter contained a sketch of the second meeting, as follows: Mr. Phelps was not apprised of the event, but he was one of that class of individu- als who cannot be carried by storm or captured by surprise. Shortly after the arrival of the guests, a presentation of an elegant and finely wrought silver cup was presented to Mr. Phelps and a pair of gold spectacles to Mrs. Phelps. James V. Gale, of Oregon, made the presentation, and accompanied the same with an elegant and well-timed speech. Mr. Phelps responded briefly, review- ing the past history of the county and the trials endured by the early pioneers. Supper was announced at short intervals from 9 till 12; the table fairly groaned under delicious burdens. Mr. Gale then read a short sketch concerning the manner in which Mr. Phelps made his claim. * The guests were thanked for their visit, and they retired in company with the "small hours," feeling that the ties of friendship had been strengthened and their hearts made lighter for having "auld acquaintance brought to mind."
The first annual meeting of the association was held at the court house in Oregon, May 27, 1869. The meeting was called to order by the President, Mr. John Phelps, who delivered a welcome to the old settlers. He was followed by Mr. William Artz, of Oregon, who spoke at length. At the conclusion of the speaking, Mr. John James moved that, on account of the stormy weather, the festivities of the occasion be postponed until some future time, and that the Executive Committee be empowered to call another meeting at such time as they might think best. On motion, all those who came into the county prior to 1842 were invited to sign the constitution, when the following gentlemen recorded their names, giving, also, the year in which they immigrated to the county, their place of nativity and their ages.
482
HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
The roll presents the following names :
YEAR.
NAMES. PLACE GF BIRTH. AGE.
1834. * John Phelps
Bedford County, Va
72
1835. James V. Gale.
Concord, N. H.
62
1836. A. O. Campbell.
Bradford County, l'a.
1835. * Iliram Read Cornish, N. H.
1835. * William Carpenter.
Massachusetts.
1834. * John Russell.
.Ohio
77
1835. J. W. Jenkins.
Ohio.
1835. * Lewis Williams
.Ohio.
1839. Augustus Austin
Canada.
1836. Phineas Cheney
Virginia. 54
1838. A. 1. Allen
Lancaster County, Pa 54
1837. F. A. Smith
Massachusetts 52
1837. Clinton Helm.
New York 40
1838. F. G. Petrie.
.Canada.
50
1836. * Robert Davis
Virginia.
68
1839. William Artz.
Maryland 58
48
1834. B. Y. Phelps
Bedford County, Va.
59
1834.
G. W. Phelps.
Wilson County, Tenn.
57
1841.
S. T. Betebenner Maryland 63
58
1837. Benjamin Boyce.
New York
72
1841. Andrew Schecter.
Maryland
49
1838. * Jacob Deitrich.
Maryland
1838. John Sharp
Ogle County
31
1836. John V. Gale.
Concord, N. H
55
1841. John James.
Connecticut. 64
The next reunion was held October 12, 1869, at the fair grounds. We are unable to state any of the proceedings of that meeting or any that have been held since the above date, owing to the fact that the records have not been pre- served, or, if preserved, were not rendered accessible to the writer.
A large majority of the above-named pioneers came here before 1840, and saw the wild prairies disappearing year by year before the well-directed indus- tries of themselves and their followers. Nearly all of those whose names appear in this catalogue are well preserved intellectually and physically, and surrounded by all the necessary comforts of life, and in their declining years are enabled to take life easily-to sit beneath their own vines and fig trees and enjoy the accumulations of the industry and economy of their pioneer days.
SWAMP LANDS.
An act of Congress, approved September 28, 1850, and an amendatory act, approved March 2, 1855 [see Vol. 10 U. S. Statutes at Large]. entitled " An act to enable the State of Arkansas to reclaim the swamp lands within its limits," applied also to certain lands in the State of Illinois. That act vir- tually, and to all intents and purposes, vested the title to these lands in the several States in which they were located. Provisions were also made for the appointment of State agents to examine the country in which the swamp lands were situated, and report thereon to the Commissioner of the General Land Office, at Washington City. Under these provisions, certain lands in different parts of Illinois were condemned or reported as swamp lands, within the mean- ing of the acts of Congress already quoted.
An act of the Legislature, approved June 22, 1852, declared, in Section 1, that all the swamp and overflowed lands so granted to the State of Illinois " be, and the same are, hereby granted to the counties respectively in which the same
*Deceased.
1837. William J. Fletcher
Maryland
1840. Joshua Thomas
Maryland
483
HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
may lie or be situated," etc. The lands in Ogle (as in all other counties) were surveyed and found to cover 4,848.62 acres, of which 3,928.94 acres had been purchased at the district land office, leaving 919.68 acres unpurchased and as belonging to the county, which were subsequently sold, the largest part of them being purchased by Henry A. Mix.
In September, 1857, the Board of Supervisors being in session, and having the management and disposition of the funds arising from the sale of the swamp lands under consideration, it was resolved that the funds arising from the sale of the swamp lands of the School Commissioners of the county be loaned as other school funds, and that the interest on the same be distributed by the School Commissioners among the several towns in the same manner that other school funds are distributed; and it is further resolved that the Drainage Com- missioner is hereby directed to pay over to the School Commissioner of the county all moneys which are now or may hereafter be in his hands arising from the sale of swamp lands as aforesaid, and take his receipt for the same, to be filed with the Clerk of this Board.
The net amount derived from the sale of the swamp lands in Ogle County was $2,000, which was placed in the hands of the School Commissioner, as pro- vided in the above resolutions. It was a wise provision of the Board, and aux- iliary to those other measures that placed the educational interests of the county a little in advance of the other counties of the State, and secured for the schools a national reputation, as evidenced in the award of the diploma and bronze medal at the Centennial Exhibition.
RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
For many years the improvement of Rock River, so as to render it naviga- ble, was an enterprise that enlisted a good deal of attention from the people, not only of Winnebago, but of all the counties along the banks of this beautiful tributary of the Mississippi. In Winnebago County a river improvement fever would break out every once in a while, and spread its contagion through Ogle; meetings would be called, resolutions adopted, committees appointed, petitions drafted, signed and forwarded to Congress, and great plans inaugurated for this purpose. And indeed, it seems almost a pity that after so much time, money and labor spent in this direction, the efforts were not rewarded as the people hoped. But then, there is this consolation : what they failed to accomplish by these efforts and expenditures was at length compensated by damming the river, building up large manufacturing establishments, and securing railway commu- nication with every part of the country.
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