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 56
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Police Magistrates. - 1870, Hiram L. Currier; 1870, William R. Buser ; 1874, Iliram L. Currier.
City Clerk. - 1870, John Rutledge; 1871. John Rutledge; 1872, John Rutledge; 1873, John Rutledge; 1874, John Rutledge; 1875, F. R. Artz ; 1876, F. R. Artz ; 1877, F. R. Artz.
City Attorneys .- 1870, E. F. Dutcher; 1872, John H. Cartwright; 1873, E. F. Dutcher; 1874, John R. Leslie ; 1875, John R. Leslie; 1876, John R. Leslie ; 1877, H. P. Lason.
City Treasurers .- 1870, Michael Nohe; 1871, Michael Nohe; 1872, Michael Nohe ; 1873, Michael Nohe ; 1874, Alonzo Ettinger; 1875, Chris- tian Lehman ; 1876, Christian Lehman.
RELIGIOUS INTERESTS.
Lutheran Church .- The first church organization was effected on the 16th of March, A. D. 1848, by an assembly of the Lutherans then worshiping in the "Phelps School House."
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
Rev. N. J. Stroh was ealled to the Chair, and Charles M. Haller was chosen Secretary. A constitution was adopted, and the church organized, under the name of " Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Oregon," with Daniel Etnyre, Charles M. Haller, Ernest J. Rieman, Samuel B. Haines, Nathaniel Swingley and Philip Sprecher, Trustees of the Corporation.
. The congregation worshiped in the Court House, until the present church building was erected, the corner stone of which was laid April 27, A. D. 1850 (which was the first church edifice crected in the city).
At the laying of the corner stone, a discourse was delivered in the Court House to the assembled congregation by Rev. C. B. Thummel, of Sugar Grove, Lee County, Ill., from the text, Isaiah xxviii, 16, " Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation : he that believeth shall not make haste.'
Under the auspices of a society of ladies. called the " Ladies' Philanthropic Sewing Society of Oregon," a bell was purchased and placed in charge of the Trustees of this church, in trust, for the benefit of the congregation, and to be used on all suitable public occasions ; and to this day, from its little belfry in the publie square, it rings out its merry peals, calling both saint and sinner to duty.
The Lutheran Church of Oregon became a home for all worshiping Chris- tians, of different denominations who had settled in the place, until A. D. 1858, when the M. E. Church dedicated a building and formed a class by themselves. It continued to be the leading congregation of the city, until A. D. 1873, when the Presbyterian element in the church branched off and built the elegant church building which they now occupy. In 1874, the congregation enlarged and improved their church building, at an expense of fourteen hundred dollars; and, in 1875, supplied it with the first pipe organ ever set up in Ogle County, the cost of which was fifteen hundred dollars.
There are at the present time seven congregations of Lutherans in Ogle County, viz .: The Church at Payne's Point, at Oregon, at Mt. Morris, at Polo, at Brookville, at Forreston, and at Adeline.
The Lutheran Church Synod records show it to be the third in membership in the United States, the Baptist and Methodist Episcopal only exceeding it. Thus showing its importance among the evangelical churches of the country.
Superintendent of Sabbath School, Rev. B. F. IIill; Assistant Superinten- dent, Samuel B. Wadsworth. Number of scholars, 80.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- In 1835, the Illinois Conference sent Rev. James McKean to what was called the Buffalo Grove Cireuit, of the Galena District, with his residence at Buffalo Grove, near what is now Polo. He roamed almost at will, making a four weeks' cireuit from beyond Rochelle, on the east, to the Mississippi River, on the west, and from the mouth of the Kish- waukee, on the north, to Prophetstown, on the south. There was a preaching appointment for nearly each week day and two for each Sunday. On the same territory there are now twenty-two pastoral charges. Oregon was made one of those appointments.
Following Mr. McKean, Revs. R. Delap, Barton Cartwright, George Pool and G. G. Worthington successively traveled the Buffalo Grove cireuit and ministered in Oregon. Mr. Cartwright still remains in the ministerial work, and has achieved a favorable notoriety. During these earlier years, Revs. Hitt and Irvine, local preachers, also filled appointments in Oregon and ren- dered such valuable assistance to Methodism as to merit this special mention.
On the Ist of December, 1839, Mr. Worthington organized a Methodist " Class," of eleven persons. Of these, two were men, Robert Davis and Isaac
N. P. Lasow.
OREGON
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S. Woolley. These gentlemen served the class as leaders at different times, and by their zealous and self-sacrificing labors did much toward establishing Meth- odism in Oregon.
From this time till 1852 was an appointment of different named circuits, as the territory of the old Buffalo Grove Circuit became divided into new circuits. The ministers who successively officiated during that period were Revs. A. McMurtry, L. S. Walker, N. Jewett, G. L. S. Stuff, William Palmer, C. N. Wager, and others whose names are not reported.
In 1852, Oregon was made the head of an Oregon Circuit, having four appointments, and so continued till 1869. During this period, the ministers who successively served the circuit were Revs. J. C. Stoughton, D. L. Winslow, - Thayer, A. Cross, H. L. Martin, J. H. Hartman, Prof. Harlow, Jas. Mar- tin, J. Wardle, W. H. Haight, J. Penfield, G. R. Vanhorn, A. P. Hatch and George S. Young. Mr. Stoughton was a peculiarly gifted and earnest temper- ance worker, and his pastorate was signalized by a temperance reformation. Prior to 1857, the services were held in private houses, the school house and the court house. In 1857. A. Cross began, and in 1858, II. L. Martin finished, the enterprise of building a neat brick church, at a cost of $3,000. In 1868-9, during the administration of A. P. Hatch, the society erected a comfortable parsonage, at a cost of $2,800. The parsonage is still used as a pastoral residence.
In 1869, Oregon became a "Station," demanding the entire service of a pastor. Since then the pastors have been, successively, Revs. J. Borbidge, J. H. Alling, G. W. Carr, and the present pastor, Isaac E. Springer. Oregon is now a charge in the Dixon District (of which Rev. I. Linebarger is the efficient Presiding Elder), of the Rock River Annual Conference.
Gracious revivals have followed the labors of most of the pastors. Among the most noticeable were those during the administrations of Revs. A. Cross, G. R. Vanhorn, J. H. Alling, G. W. Carr and Isaac E. Springer. Mr. Van- horn greatly endeared himself to the community by his genialty and earnestness. Mr. Alling closed his pastorate with a reported net increase of sixty-eight in membership.
The pastorate of Rev. G. W. Carr was of especial value to Methodism in Oregon. During the three years of his labors, there was a net increase in the membership, as reported, of 101. The congregations became too large for the old church, and the society began and completed, under the very energetic and prudent management of Mr. Carr, the beautiful and commodious edifice in which the society now worship, at an outlay of $15,000.
The present officiary of the church is as follows : Pastor, Rev. Isaac E. Springer ; Local Preachers, Revs. E. Wadsworth and A. S. Babcock ; Class Leaders, F. G. Petrie and E. Stevens ; Stewards, F. G. Petrie, A. L. Ettinger, T. Welty, C. Marsh, J. A. Barden, J. Matmiller and R. Donovan ; Trustees, F. G. Petrie, B. F. Sheets, E. P. Piersol, A. L. Ettinger, A. Woodcock, F. H. Marsh, A. S. Babcock, J. W. Mack and W. Osborn.
Rev. E. Wadsworth has been a faithful, zealous and useful local preacher. Since 1845 he has preached in the vicinity of Oregon nearly every Sabbath. By his earnest labors, large liberality and wise counsels, he has rendered great service to Methodism around Oregon, and has won an enviable share in the esteem of all.
Hon. F. G. Petrie has rendered invaluable service to Methodism in Oregon. He has been class leader since 1859. His home has been ever open with most hospitable welcome to the preachers. His irreproachable record, hearty support
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of every reformatory and humanitarian project, deep interest in whatever per- tains to spiritual welfare, and generous contributions to every religious and benevolent cause, have given him a commanding position in the society and community.
Col. B. F. Sheets is the Sunday school man of Northwest Illinois. He was elected Superintendent of the Oregon M. E. Sunday School in 1862, in which office he has remained ever since. His tact, patience, industry and personal worth have enabled him to build up the Sunday school in numbers and influence till it has become noted as one of the best schools in the district. To serve the best interests of the school, Col. Sheets has spared neither pains nor personal means within reasonable possibility. Aside from his labors in the Sunday school, he has been notable in sustaining with heart, voice, personal labors and open purse, every department of the church's interests. His prominence in church and community is the result of demonstrated ability, tried integrity and a marked, though unostentatious, liberality.
Other members of the officiary are also worthy of praise for their devotion to the interests of the church, and have been less prominent in the history of Methodism in Oregon, only because their membership has been much briefer than the above named.
At the present writing there are 267 members and probationers. There have been 77 persons received into the society by the present pastor. The Sun- day school has 7 officers, 18 teachers, and 225 scholars. The average attend- ance is 185. The annual contributions of the society for its own and other church interests are over $2,000. It has an active, working membership, and makes itself a felt power for good in and around Oregon.
May the light of its prosperity, like that of the just, shine brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.
Presbyterian Church .- The following historical summary of the First Pres- byterian Church of Oregon is gleaned from a sermon read before that society by Rev. George W. Crofts, July 2, 1876 :
In the growth of Oregon there had been quite an accumulation of what may be termed Presbyterian element. Quite a number of Presbyterian and Congregational families had from time to time moved into the place. The most of them had identified themselves with other religious interests, yet they began to feel a desire for a society of their own, one to whose polity, forms and doctrines they had been accustomed, one in which they could put forth all their powers for good and salvation of man, and for the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom. They felt that they had numbers and means sufficient for the successful prosecution of individual church work, for the building of a suitable house of worship, and for maintaining a stated ministry. To this end there was a meeting of the citizens of Oregon called on the 16th of February, 1873, at the office of E. L. Wells, County Superintendent, for the purpose of organizing a religious society, and, on the motion of Mrs. Mary J. Mix, the society was called the First Presbyterian Church of Oregon. At that meeting the following named persons were elected permanent officers for one year, viz. : G. W. Hill, Chairman; E. L. Wells, Secretary ; and J. H. Allen, Treasurer (Mr. Allen held the office of Treasurer until May 31, 1875, when he resigned, and T. A. Jewett was elected in his place). There were also five Trustees elected at that time, as follows : P. Jacobs, G. W. Hill, G. M. Dwight, W. J. Mix and A. Barnum. After the transaction of other business relative to the time for holding congregational meetings, the duties of Trustees and privileges of members of the society, etc., on motion of Mr. Hugh Rea, E. L. Wells
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
was chosen to attend the next meeting of the Freeport Presbytery, within whose jurisdiction this church would come, to lay before that body the interests of this charge, and make arrangements for the regular organization of the church, which meeting Mr. Wells duly attended, and there secured the appoint- ment of a Presbyterial Committee for the purpose assigned. On motion of Mr. W. A. Washburn, a committee composed of P. Jacobs, A. Barnum and G. W. Hill, was appointed to procure supplies for regular preaching until the meeting of the Presbytery in April.
It was also resolved to organize a Sabbath school upon the next Sabbath and to hold weekly meetings for prayer, and the discussion of the Sabbath school lessons. At this first meeting for the formation of the society, the names of those who desired to become members of the society were enrolled. It appears from the record that the society was formed under the direction of the Rev. G. M. Wilson, of Rochelle, who has since gone to his reward in heaven. On the 11th of April, 1873, service preparatory to the organization of the church were held in the Court House, the Rev. W. S. Curtis, D. D., preaching from Lamentations iv, 1. On Saturday the Presbyterial committee, consisting of Rev. Dr. Curtis, of Rockford, Rev. A. Smith, of Galena, Rev. R. Proctor, met in the Court House at half past two o'clock P. M., to organize a Presbyterian Church. According to the record of the first meeting, there were but twenty-three received into membership, after which they proceeded in regular form to the organization of the church. After the confirmation of the name of the church adopted by the society, the following Elders were elected : E. L. Wells, H. Jewett, A. Barnum.
After the election of Elders, a Board of Trustees was elected, consisting of Mr. P. Jacobs, G. W. Hill and Geo. Dwight, W. J. Mix and A. Barnum ; Mr. John Rea was afterward elected to fill the place of Anson Barnum, deceased. Soon after, an invitation was extended to Rev. R. Proctor to become its pastor, which invitation was accepted, Rev. Proctor remaining until after the dedication of the church edifice, October 25, 1874. At a meeting of the society held September 1, 1873, a plan for a church edifice was adopted. A building committee was appointed, when shortly after the work began. On the 6th of October the corner stone of the churchi edifice was laid. The church was dedicated October 24, 1874.
The church building is forty-eight feet front, seventy in depth, of brick. It has a basement beneath the audience room, airy and cheerful, and well adapted for prayer meetings, Sabbath school, congregational business, and social meetings. The cost of the church edifice, not including the finishing of the basement, is about $9,000. Added to this, the worth of the lots on which the church stands, the bell, the organ, and the amount raised and expended by the ladies in finishing the basement and furnishing the church, with other expenditures, makes the entire worth of the church property $14,000. The first pastor of the church was Rev. Robert Proctor, who was succeeded by Rev. G. W. Crofts, whose pastorate closed January 1, 1877, since which time Rev. Dr. Curtis, Rev. C. C. Hemenway and Rev. C. H. Hoyt have supplied the pulpit.
The membership of the church at the present time is sixty. There is connected with the church a Sabbath school numbering eighty pupils.
Catholic Church .- The industry and zeal that characterizes this people, that has carried their faith and practices among the people of all ages, in all countries, found a footing in Oregon when Michael Nohe, an enterprising grocer, and John M. Schneider, clothing merchant, settled here. With that energy
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which is born of good intentions, and which always characterized their under- takings as private and reliable business men, they soon began to cast about for ways and means to build a house of worship that should be dedicated to the worship of God by the people of their religious belief. They were not long in laying the foundations and providing means for the accomplishment of this cherished purpose. They secured the necessary grounds for a church edifice, and then, by subscriptions obtained from the generous and liberal people of Oregon and vicinity, a sufficient amount of money was raised to commence the erection of the present church edifice, which was completed in 1862, at a cost of $1,600. The first officiating priest was Rev. Father Lightner, of Dixon. The church society (or congregation) is represented by about forty families, who are noted, not only for their strict obedience to the requirements and duties of their faith and creeds, but, also, for the high character which they maintain in the community in which they live. Their church edifice is a stone structure, located at the corner of Third and Monroe streets, where services are conducted once a month by Rev. Father Beineke, of Sterling.
EDUCATIONAL.
The educational interests of Oregon maintain a high standard of excellence. As previously noted, the first school house was built in the Summer and Fall of 1839. As the scholars increased and there came a demand for enlarged and more comfortable accommodations, the old school house gave way, and was suc- ceeded by larger and better ones. In 1859, the present Union School House was erected, at a cost of $2,000. The people and their representatives, the Board of Education, have always labored to secure the best educational talent to be found in the country, to whom they have always paid liberal salaries. As a result, the children of the city are surrounded with educational facilities equal to those of any other city in the State. School is maintained nine months of each year. Six teachers are employed, of whom Prof. S. B. Wadsworth is the Prin- cipal, and teacher of the High School Department. His assistants are: First Primary, Miss Agnes J. McMollin ; Second Primary, Miss Belle Hobbs; Third Primary, Miss Mary Wilson ; Fourth Primary, Miss Rusha Dunkleberg ; Gram- mar Department, Miss Laura Middlekauff. During the Winter of 1877-8, there was a school enrollment of 325 pupils.
LODGES.
Oreyon Lodge, No. 420, A. F. & A. M .- Organized September 10, A. D. 1863, under a dispensation from Thos. J. Turner. Grand Master. The follow- ing members constituted its first membership : Ruel Thorp, W. M. ; Hiram L. Currier, S. W. ; William J. Mix, J. W. ; M. N. Smith, Secretary ; John M. Sewell, S. D. ; Perry Barker, J. D. ; William Rea, Tyler; Lewis Hormell, A. A. Chamberlin, George M. Dwight, M. L. Ettinger, George M. Kinney, H. A. Mix, Robert Rea, Hugh Rea, A. P. Snow, George O. Snowden.
Present Officers: A. S. Babcock, W. M .; Harry P. Sargent, S. W .; John T. Rea, J. W. ; A. L. Ettinger, Treasurer ; J. E. Sheldon, Secretary ; C. A. Anderson, S. D .; S. Lee Anstene, J. D. ; Daniel S. Trout, Tyler. Number of members, 59. Meet every Wednesday preceding the full moon of each month.
Oregon Lodge, No. 94, I. O. O. F .- The charter of Oregon Lodge, No. 94, was issued by H. L. Rucker, Grand Master, in 1851, to the following named charter members: R. C. Burchell, John V. Gale, John M. Hinkle. C. F. Emerson and N. K. Hawthorne. The Lodge was organized October 17, 1851.
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
Present Officers : S. Lee Anstene, N. G. ; J. S. Sanders, V. G. ; Frank Young, R. S .; S. B. Wadsworth, P. S. : J. W. Mack, Treasurer. Number of members, 36. Meeting Friday evening of each week.
TEMPERANCE ORGANIZATIONS.
A lodge of I. O. G. T. was organized May 11, 1877. Its membership includes a number of the best and most influential citizens in Oregon City. The Lodge holds its meetings every Tuesday evening.
The Temperance tidal wave first reached Oregon in February, 1877, when Francis Murphy inaugurated quite a reform revival. The interest he excited was carefully fostered by the Christian women of the city, and about the 1st of February, 1878, Major Matt. Cooper, of Michigan, who was labor- ing at Frecport, was invited by the temperance workers to deliver a series of lectures, which were largely attended, and resulted in the organization of a Reform Club that numbers nearly 600 members. In conjunction with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, organized about the same time, the Reform Club leased a room at the corner of Washington and Third streets, and fitted it up as a public reading room, which was placed in the care of Mrs. Hannah Jackson, an accomplished and earnest woman, and an industrious worker in all undertakings calculated for the benefit and elevation of mankind. The room was supplied with a large number of books, magazines, periodicals, pictures, etc., and rendered as attractive every way as earnest, Christian women could make it. The influences of the club became widespread and effective. Gospel temperance meetings were held every Sabbath afternoon during the last months of the Winter, which were under the direction of Miss Nancy Burchell, as President of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. The meetings were largely attended and judiciously managed.
The expenses of the reading room, such as rent, etc., were sustained by voluntary contributions of the business men. Mrs. Jackson's salary was pro- vided by the members of the W. C. T. U.
OREGON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The importance of such a fruitful means of education is appreciated in Ogle County, and soon after the passage of a State law (March 7, 1872), authorizing cities to provide by a tax of one mill on the dollar for their establishment and maintenance, the City Council of Oregon hastened to avail themselves of that privilege. December 3, 1872, an ordinance was passed, establishing a library and reading room for the general public.
At a meeting of the City Council December 3, 1872, the following named gentlemen were appointed to constitute a Board of Directors: Albert Wood- cock, E. L. Wells, G. C. T. Phelps, G. W. Hormell, J. E. Hitt, John Matmil- ler, John Rutledge and William W. Bennett. The Directors held their first meeting in the office of Judge Woodcock (then County Clerk), December 14, 1872. Albert Woodcock was elected President, and E. L. Wells, Secretary and Treasurer. At the next meeting, January 16, 1872, Judge Woodcock and W. W. Bennett were appointed a committee to make selection of books. The report of the above committee was accepted at the next meeting and the books ordered to be purchased. The committee appointed to select a snitable place for the temporary location of the library reported that R. C. Burchell would keep the books one year for $10, and that Dr. Woodburn would keep them in his office for nothing, provided a case was furnished. The First National Bank made a similar offer. On motion of J. E. Hitt, it was ordered that R. C. Bur-
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
chell's drug store should be the place of keeping the books. March 7, 1874, John T. Gantz was appointed Librarian, and the books were removed to his office, he being County Treasurer. November 24, 1874, the committee appointed to secure permanent rooms for the use of the library reported that they had made a lease of J. B. Mix, for two rooms on the second floor of his building, in Block 28, Washington street, at a cost of $30 per annum. The rooms were leased on the 24th of November, 1875, for five years, and were occupied Decem- ber 9, 1875.
There are 967 volumes in the library, exclusive of all public documents, there being a large number of the latter. In the reading rooms, there are five weeklies, four monthlies, two quarterlies, and many other magazines and papers.
Present Officers : President, G. W. Hormell; Secretary and Treasurer, S. B. Wadsworth ; Committee on Books, S. B. Wadsworth, W. H. Guilford and Agnes J. McMollen ; Committee on Library, E. P. Pursol, Mrs. H. P. Loson, G. W. Hormell ; Committee on Finance, John Rutledge, Miss Jenny Page, H. L. Woodburn.
MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.
Flour, Oat Meal and Grist Mills .- Of these there are three. A. Forrest & Co., on the west side of Rock River, are operating what is known as the Southwestern Mills, and are engaged exclusively in the manufacture of oat meal. These mills were built in 1873, at a cost of $45,000. The water power is bought of the Mix estate. A switch of the Chicago & Iowa Railroad runs up to the mills, a distance of one mile from the main track. The main build- ing stands upon the bank of the river, while just across the track is the store house and elevator. The oats are taken to the top of this building, and there conveyed through a tin spout 104 feet in length to the main building. There are three kilns in the mills, where the oats are dried. Three water-wheels, of the Phelps pattern, are used in the working of the mill. Five pairs of burrs are in use. The mill gives employment to twenty men, and produces 200 bushels of meal per day. Three thousand bushels of oats are received at this mill daily, of which 2,000 bushels are made into meal. Their sales are principally in Eastern cities and foreign countries .*
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