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 59
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George E. Turkington became connected with "The Shades," and his genial qualities made it a very popular place of resort. Of an evening we can imagine seeing most of the prominent men of the growing little village gathered there, engaged in social converse or participating in the excitement of whist or euchre.
As we stated before, the old "Lane Hotel" was built by Horace Coon, the Summer before the completion of the railroad, in 1853. "Abe" Adams, then lately arrived, did the carpenter work, and the hotel was looked upon as a great enterprise. Coon was mine host for several years, and under his management the hotel enjoyed a deserved popularity. It was finally sold to a Mr. Kendall, who ran it till about 1858 or 1859, when Col. D. C. May, from Rockford, assumed control. The Colonel officiated with distinguished success till 1863 or 1864, and sold to Mr. Asa Green, of whom it was purchased by " Uncle" John Short, of Aurora, for the use of his son John and daughter Susan (now Mrs. J. M. May), who assumed control as proprietors, and fully
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sustained the popularity of the house until their retirement, in 1865. Mr. Short sold to two men from Geneva, Ill., who, in two weeks, transferred it to Mr. A. Simpson. He tore down the greater part of the old building, and replaced it by a new one, which, for size, style and architectural beauty, is not surpassed by that of any town of equal size in the State. When Mr. Simpson died, the hotel came into the hands of its present efficient proprietor, H. Brackett, and is now called the " Brackett House."
The east half of the block on which the brick row was built, in 1871, was purchased by Mr. David B. Stiles, and a store erected by liim in 1853, some- where in the vicinity of John Rae's. In the Winter following, he opened a stock of dry goods, groceries, etc., being in full operation when the railroad came. Stiles had no competition of any importance till the next year, when "Jerry" Barber entered in trade there, and did a rushing business from the start. Oscar M. Lake and J. S. Patchin were employed as salesmen by Mr. Stiles, and, if reports are true, they were very active " counter jumpers " in those days. The store was one of the tumble-down wooden buildings on the west side of Washington street, known some time afterward as "Lovejoy's Row," and destroyed in the first great conflagration in the Winter of 1860-61. Stiles formed a copartnership with Mr. J. Parker, a few years afterward, and they continued the business in a more commodious store, situated at the head of Cherry street, on the lot where the north half of Turkington & Hilb's block now stands. Here they were burnt out at the time of the fire mentioned above.
About the next establishment, in point of time, was Henry Burlingim's. He was located in was was called the "Ark." a little low building with a car roof, on the corner where Milne & Loomis' coal warehouse stands. "Burly" kept a small line of groceries. confectionery, etc., and lived in the back part of the "store." In 1856, he erected the building now occupied by D. A. Baxter as a harness shop, and put in quite an extensive stock of groceries and provi- sions. This was the first exclusive grocery in town of any consequence. Miles J. Braiden came West about this time, and was connected with the Burlingim store as partner. "Burly" was subsequently engaged in the grain trade, and the stone elevator was built by him. From here he moved to Chicago, where at one time he was conducting quite an extensive business. "Burly," or " H. B.," was an eccentric, good-natured genius, fond of a joke and extremely social, and his peculiarities will be recalled by a host of warm personal friends.
J. B. Barber came to Lane the next season after the railroad and put in a general stock of dry goods, groceries, etc., in a store erected by himself just east of the " corner brick." The same building was occupied for hardware a num- ber of years afterward, and was torn down or moved away at the time of the erection of the west half of Turkington's block on Cherry street. "Jerry" had a rushing business immediately, and at the end of the year entered into a partnership with John R. Hotaling, under the firm name of Barber & Hotaling.
In about the year 1856, Republican Block or the "corner brick " was erected by them. They never moved into it, however, as the partnership was dissolved. In the division, Barber took the stock of goods and the business, and Hotaling had the new block.
They had sold their old store, and "Jerry" was obliged to find a new place and he built what was known subsequently as the "Oak Front," on the present Ililb lot. He sold to Brice & Coon, and the store was continued by the firm for awhile, and finally by Brice alone. The establishment was at last closed out or burnt out in 1860 or 1861.
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Employed by Barber as clerks, at different times, were George E. Turking- ton, Jay L. Putman, Joseph Hawthorne, " Johnny " Hunter, and " Jim Brice. George Turkington came in with the railroad, with which he had been connected in some capacity, and it is reported that at that time he was no steadier than an average deacon ; but he possessed first-rate business tact, and " Jerry " soon found his services almost invaluable. "Joe" Hawthorne is now a prominent citizen of Oregon, and Deputy Sheriff. "Jim " Brice was a son of the old Colonel, who succeeded "Jerry " in the business, and is now engaged in a prosperous trade at Tama City, Iowa. Of "Jerry's" other clerks we will speak further on.
Besides the store, "Jerry " was connected with several other branches of trade. He dealt in coal and had a small stock of furniture, and, in company with Hotaling, was one of the first grain buyers. Before going in with the " Major," however, he had erected a little warehouse, in company with a Mr. Flint, and was in the grain trade the next season after the advent of the rail- road.
The personal history of "Jerry" Barber is closely interwoven with that of the city in those early years. To his liberality and enterprise is attributable much of its subsequent prosperity and growth. No man in the commercial his- tory of Rochelle ever enjoyed the confidence of the trading public more com- pletely than "Jerry." Early in trade, his genial manner and well-known pro- bity commanded an immense patronage. Had his conscience possessed the elasticity of the modern tradesman, with ordinary parsimony he would have amassed a princely fortune, and, instead of resting in a grave unmarked by the simplest tablet, he might have reposed beneath the shadow of an imposing mon- ument. As it was, he met with financial disaster, failed in business, and the last years of his life were spent in comparative poverty. He died in 1872 and was laid to rest with Masonic honors. Before coming to Lane, " Jerry" Bar- ber was conducting a farm in Winnebago County, near the residence of Allen Miller, now deceased, who was Mrs. Barber's father. Here " Jerry " had led a quiet farmer's life for many years, being one of the oldest settlers in that section. He came to Lane, and for awhile was successful beyond all reason- able expectation in accumulating wealth and multiplying friends ; and the two seemed to disappear together, fully as readily as they came.
Mr. Hotaling is now Postmaster of Rochelle.
Though Barber & Hotaling built the "corner brick," it was first occupied occupied by the Cass Brothers, Frank and Milo. They engaged in the general trade, dry goods, groceries, etc., and were succeeded by Barbour & Co. Barbour was unsuccessful, and Sheriff Hughes finally secured possession and disposed of the goods at auction, for the benefit of Eastern creditors. The Brownell boys, Lawrence and "Will," opened a stock in the "corner brick" at about the commencement of the war. Possessing first-class business ability and any amount of enterprise, they built up a tremendous business at the old corner. This firm, with slight variations, continued to do business there till 1871, when they sold to Bushey, Rathbun & Francis. Francis, Glenn & Co., now constitute the firm, which holds forth in the Shockley Block.
The old brown building opposite the "corner brick " was built in the Sum- mer of 1854, by some stranger here, on the southwest corner of the block on which Milne & Loomis' coal house stands, and fronted toward the south. It was bought soon after by Messrs. R. W. Porter and Joseph Storm, and by them removed to its familiar old location up town. Porter & Storm filled it with a stock of dry goods, groceries, etc. Storm did not long remain in the
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firin, but it was continued by Porter for some years. On Porter's leaving, Gerrett H. Pierce, Mr. D. Bly, and others, held forth there at different times. The stock, toward the last, was principally drugs, with a few groceries. With a number of other old buildings, it was cleared away, some years ago, by Mr. Shockley, to make room for a brick block of four stores.
The old Grove House, consisting of two long frame buildings side by side, situated opposite the stone warehouse on the east side of the street, was built by Thomas Reed of Lynnville, in the Summer of 1854. It was run as a hotel a few years, but, after remaining vacant a long time, was torn down by Rufus P. Burlingame, who erected an old half-finished grain warehouse. This, in turn, was removed, and the livery stable of H. Earl erected.
Below the track, during the first season after the railroad, a man by the name of Leach conducted a pioneer whisky shop in the Bowler shanties. One of these shanties, with a car roof, is still standing as an old landmark. It was quite a popular resort with some, and, although it was a small concern, they disposed of a vast quantity of fire-water, as was evidenced by the number of "tired" men who staggered away from there.
The first livery stable was opened by John Andrews, in 1854. "Johnny" Hunter occupied the old stable opposite the Rochelle House, in 1858, and was not noted for keeping the best stock in the world. IIe was suc- ceeded by Josiah M. May ; then Charles Welch, who sold to Edward Gard- ner ; he, in turn, was followed by H. Earl, who moved to his new stable when Mr. May rebuilt, near the railroad, and is still in the business.
The building owned by C. H. Gates and occupied as the " Revere " eating house, by C. Brookes, was erected about 1857. Hughes & Frisbee opened it the same year, with a stock of dry goods. Hughes afterward was elected Sheriff of the county, and during the war served as Captain of a company in the 46th Illinois, and is now at Boone, Iowa.
The first lumber dealer in Lane was one Thornton Beatty, who had a small yard a little west of Wade's pump factory. A. H. Fields and Judson F. Bur- roughs were running a yard, a few years after, on the corner where Comstock's billiard hall is located. That corner and all the east half of that block was an open prairie at that time. Fields subsequently formed a partnership with John F. Nettleton, in the same business ; but not meeting with any great success, he branched off in the butter and egg traffic, which he is still following. Bur- roughs, after leaving this place, became quite a noted character, being the vic- tim in the Mary Harris shooting affray, which created a great sensation at the time. I. M. Mallery, soon after his arrival here in 1857 or 1858, opened a lumber yard on about the same ground afterward occupied by Parks & Miller for the same purposes.
At a very early day the grain trade at this point assumed great importance, Rochelle, or "Lane," being surrounded by a very fertile and extensive farming region that is naturally tributary to it. The first elevator was erected by Mr. James Smith, or "Deaf Jimmy," as he was often called, and was situated on the warehouse lot directly south of Colditz & Williams'. He bought grain there for awhile, and it was afterward operated by Boyce & Bump, who were in it at the time of the second fire, in May, 1861, for which Burke was hung. The large elevator which stood on the lot just west was built by Spaulding & Hotaling, and the basement excavation over which it was raised can still be seen just south of the old Brownell store. Lake & Blackman were the last occupants of this warehouse, and they were conducting the grain business till they were burned out by the great fire above mentioned. Their warehouse was
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very heavily crowded with grain at the time, and O. M. Lake, of the firm, was in Chicago attending the funeral obsequies of Stephen A. Douglas. Returning the next day, Oscar found their vast hoards of grain strewn round in scorched and blackened heaps, flooding the basement, and scattered on every hand among the smouldering embers. The fire fiend had been let loose upon them, and in one fearful night the rich products of a hundred harvest fields were trampled in ashes beneath his feet. Messrs. Lake & Blackman are still living at Rochelle. The old brown warehouse in the east of town was built by Mallery & McCon- aughy, and the stone elevator by M. J. Braiden and Henry Burlingim, about eightcen years ago. It is now operated by Stocking & Ringold. In 1863, the elevator near the old Stiles place was built by a joint stock company, and Messrs. Shockley & Phelps were placed in charge. They purchased all the outside interest in the warehouse after awhile, and operated it for a number of years, when it came into the hands of R. C. Craft & Co., and is now owned by the Chicago & Iowa Railroad Company. On the completion of the Chicago & Iowa Railroad, it became evident that the full benefits of the railroad competi- tion could not be enjoyed until a warehouse was built on the new road. This was done by Messrs Shockley & Co., in 1872, and is now managed by Andrews & West.
James S. Patchin entered into the mercantile business in 1858.
The old hardware firm of Geo. E. Turkington & Co. began operations in the old Barber building, just east of the "corner brick," about 1857-58. The " Co." was "Tom " Padgett, and they continued to do business in the old build- ing until 1863, when it was replaced by the present brick stores, which were erected by the same enterprising firm. After passing through different hands, the store finally came into the hands of Colditz & Williams, the present enter- prising proprietors. M. T. Ellinwood was in the hardware trade in the old row of wooden buildings located in the vicinity of Jolin Rae's, and was burnt ont in the great fire of the Winter of 1860-61. On the erection of the old Union Block in 1861, by Angus Bain and Messrs. Clark & Dana, Mr. Ellinwood leased the north store, where he remained till the purchase of the old Bird building on his present corner. He fitted up the old brick front and put on a wooden extension reaching back to the alley. This made him a very commodi- ous establishment, but it in turn was brought low by the flames in the great fire of December, 1870. In company with Mr. Scranton, he rebuilt during the next season, and his brick store, reaching the whole length of the lot, is one of the most complete hardware establishments in the State.
Mr. John T. Bird came to Lane in about 1855, and set up a forge and anvils in an old shop on Brice street. After a few years of faithful labor, he was enabled to build the large brick shop which was afterward converted into a hard- ware store by Mr. Ellinwood. He afterward entered into a banking business in the firm of Lewis & Bird, but is now at his old trade, including the sale of agricultural implements.
At an early day, there was a drug firm called Knight & Bennett, located in the old row of wooden buildings which we have mentioned before. David A. Knight and Charles C. Bennett composed the firm. Mr. Knight moved away, and Mr. Bennett is now express agent in Rochelle.
A few years after the demise of the above firm, Clark & Dana opened a drug store. Though located on the same lot where their successors are at present, their building seemed to stand out separate and alone, quite a little distance from the center of business. It was raised up from the ground, too, and quite a high step was placed in front of the door to connect it with the
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sidewalk. This establishment met the fate of a great many others, being burned down in the winter of 1860-1. It was rebuilt the next season, and formed a part of Union Block, a three-story wooden building, with three stores below and a public hall above, the north two-thirds of which was owned by Mr. Angus Bain. This block was in turn destroyed in the fire of December, 1870, and was replaced with the present elegant row of brick stores. Though this firm has undergone numerous changes, the head partner, Mr. Clark, has been connected with it most of the time. The present company is composed of Messrs. Clark & Barker.
Jay L. Putnam came to Lane in the employ of "Jerry " Barber, and after " Jerry" went out of trade, he was variously engaged until he became estab- lished in the drug business. He was in the next door north of Clark till the completion of Shockley's Block, when he removed into his north store, where he yet remains. The firm became Putnam & Cook, in 1871.
R. W. Porter was proprietor of one of the earliest furniture stores, and was located in the old wooden row. He was succeeded in that branch of trade by Moses Lovejoy, who was in the same building occupied by Peter Unger. George Kershaw afterward held forth in a wooden building just south of Ellin- wood's, and his repair shop was conducted by Peter Unger, who afterward established a furniture store, independently, which he still continues.
The different boot makers who have held forth in Rochelle are too numer- ous to be remembered. Among the first and last, however, was Jacob Fisler. At the time of the first fire, his building stood on the lot where Bain's middle store is located, and as it was separated from Clark & Dana's by a vacant lot, it escaped destruction. It was then removed to make room for Bain's portion of Union Block. Mr. Fisler sold his shop to S. J. Parker for a harness shop, and moved West. There have been several exclusive boot and shoe establish- ments, but George L. Howe's was the first successful one. He opened, during the latter part of the war, in the firm of Covell & Howe. They were located in a wooden building on the Rae lot ; but, on dissolution, Mr. Howe went into the middle store of the Union Block, where he was burned out in 1870. He is now located in Turkington & Hilb's Block. Robert Anglemire opened in the same trade, and his successor, Joseph Craft, continues, in Shockley's Block.
The pioneer harness maker of Lane was Delos A. Baxter, who opened in a portion of the present Rochelle House. He afterward enlarged the building ; took a few boarders and at last developed the house into a regular hotel, called the Baxter House, but having sold out, he managed to get into the harness trade again. After Mr. Baxter's retirement, the name was changed to the Rochelle House, and during the following years underwent many changes of proprietors, who met with various phases of success in pleasing the public. In 1871, however, Mr. Thomas W. Mills assumed control of the house and con- tinued to manage it until April, 1875. Until 1876, it was kept by John Collar, followed by J. S. Patchin, and is now continued by Hines & Wilson.
S. J. Parker & Brother have also been in the harness business for a great many years.
The first meat market in Lane was kept by M. J. Woodward in a little shanty west of Wade's pump factory. His slaughtering was often done in the street, we are informed, in front of his market. Mr. Elijah Taylor had a mar- ket at quite an early day and held forth for several years, in a little shop on the Comstock corner. He is now located between Main and Washington, on the north side of Cherry street.
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John Dowling's tailor shop, in the Werner building, was a feature of Lane.
In 1860, Elijah Scott started a planing-mill, in connection with a lumber yard, on the lots north of Byington & Northup's establishment. This was the first mill in Lane. In a few years afterward, Scott went out of the business, and made way for John W. Cook. Cook, when he first came to town, lived in the house now occupied by Mr. P. Lyon, and the barn on the alley was used as a sort of machine shop. Ile had two or three wood lathes, and a few other machines, which were run by horse power. As his business extended, he determined to move down town, and he located on the corner where Horton's carriage factory now stands. Cook put in a planer, a circular saw, a fine iron lathe, besides several wood lathes, and at the time he was burnt out, in 1866, was enjoying a good business.
The foundry was started by John Rae & Co., in 1865. This firm was dis- solved after a short time, and, when Cook's planing-mill was destroyed, the new firm of Byington & Simons erected an addition to the foundry building, putting in a planing machine, saws, and iron and wood lathes. George F. Northup purchased a half interest, some years ago, and the concern, under Byington & Northup, is now in a very flourishing condition. Albert Byington, who was a member of the original firm, is quite a successful inventor, having patented several little devices that are very extensively manufactured.
A grist-mill was started in Lane, about eighteen years ago, by Miller & Jarvis, in what was once a school house, the first building south of the Presby- terian Church. Mr. Jarvis did not remain long in the mill, but it was man- aged by J. T. Miller for several years alone, when he finally sold to A. S. Cox, and Pierce C. Himebaugh was made head miller. The present mill was erected about twelve years ago by Cox, Himebaugh & Co., Mr. Cox having formed a partnership with the brothers F. F. and P. C. Himebangh. The firm subse- quently became Himebaugh & Brother, then F. F. Himebaugh, and is now A. S. Cox & Co.
William Slaughter was blacksmithing in Lane many years ago. He erected the Comstock building, which was merely boarded up, battened and painted a coarse red. Here he worked at his trade for a few years, but finally sold to John N. Comstock, who fitted it up for a billiard hall. Tom Skelton was also an early blacksmith.
About eighteen years ago, the old building on the corner north from the Craft warehouse was built by George and Theodore Minkler. Before it was fairly completed, a bowling alley was arranged in the basement, and, soon after, a billiard hall above. The hall was purchased by John N. Comstock, and occu- pied by him until his death, when it passed into the hands of his brother, the present proprietor.
Enoch Hinckley & Son established the first bank in Lane about 1860. Subsequently E. T. Hunt & Co., with W. E. Lewis as manager, were engaged in the same business. Mr. Lewis became the head of the firm and sold out to I. M. Mallery. Mr. Mallery went into the banking business about sixteen years ago, in the store now occupied by Mr. S. Dawson. From this banking house the Rochelle National Bank was organized, Mr. Mallery being President, and his old bookkeeper, John T. Miller, Cashier. The present officers are : Mortimer D. Hathaway, President ; Isaac N. Perry, Cashier. It is located in the brick block facing east. Two national banks were chartered in 1872, the other being the First National, of which M. T. Ellenwood was elected Presi- dent and John C. Phelps, Cashier. This bank, which has been located in
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
Meyer's building, will soon remove to new quarters in Bain's Opera Block. The present President is Peter Smith ; J. T. Miller, Cashier.
Otto Wettstein dates his establishment from the year 1858. He was in the little building occupied by E. A. Hinckley as a meat market, then located on north side of Cherry street. Mr. Wettstein had this building moved to its present location, but afterwards moved to his present substantial storeroom. His jewelry store is very elegant.
Another fine feature of Rochelle is its press. The office of the Register is not excelled among the country offices in the West. It will be referred to in a chapter on that subject.
Longenecker & Shinkel commenced in the general trade here about eighteen years ago. They were first located in the Flinn building, and when the two stores west of Turkington's block, on Cherry street, were built, in 1863, they moved into the store now occupied by Otto Wettstein. They remained there until the double store east of it was built, a few years later, and in the Fall of 1871 they made a third move, to the brick block facing east. The firm was dissolved in 1872, and are now of the firms of C. O. Longenecker and I. Shin- kel & Co.
Miss M. K. Minier was here at quite an early day, conducting the millinery business. Her first rooms were in a part of the John Jones building, and her establishment was about the first one of the kind in Lane. She is still in the trade, over Perry & Todd's store.
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