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 66
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These two districts remained uutil 1867, when they were consolidated by an act of the General Assembly, entitled " An act to incorporate Polo School Dis- triet," approved February 14, 1867. The act provided that Dr. William W. Burns, Col. Morton D. Swift and Andrew M. Hitt, Esq., should constitute the first Board of Education, to hold one, two and three years respectively, terms to be determined by lot. The Board met on the 19th of February and determined, by lot, the term of office of each, as follows : Dr. Burns, three years ; Col. Swift, two years, and Mr. Hitt, one year. Dr. W. W. Burns, Chairman ; A. M. Hitt was elected Clerk, and J. C. Luckey, Treasurer.
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
February 28, 1867, offers for the erection of a new school building were received and placed on file from John II. Mowry, Daniel E. Baker, Salathiel Hibarger and Moses E. Sammis. At this meeting, Mr. Alexander Smith, of Chicago, presented a plan, with elevations, which were approved and adopted by the Board. Mr. Smith was appointed "Superintendent of Buildings " and authorized to contract for stone, lumber, ete. The building was located, by vote of the people of the district, on Lots 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, Block 8, Barber's Addi- tion, on the northwest corner of Locust and Congress streets, and work was commenced at once and prosecuted with sneh energy that the building was com- pleted during the Autumn of the same year. This handsome building is of blue limestone, roek-work style, and cost about $20,000. Until the completion of the new school house, the school was continued in the basement of the Presby- terian Church. Prof. Luman B. Searle was the first Principal ; Assistants, Misses Carrie Ford, Dora Ford, Annie More, Annie Coleman and Julia E. Bogue. In the Winter of 1867-8, the school occupied the new building.
In June, 1868, Reuben Wagner, Esq., was elceted a member of the Board of Education, vice Hitt, term expired : and in 1869, Hon. John D. Campbell succeeded Col. Swift, and since that time Dr. Burns and Messrs. Wagner and Campbell have served continuously, and constitute the present Board.
March 12, 1869, Prof. Searle resigned, and the Spring term of that year commenced with Prof. Joshua Thorpe, Principal, and Misses Carrie Ford, Annie Kendall, Mary Mason, M. E. Daines and Lucy Webster, Assistants.
April, 1870, Prof. Joseph H. Freeman succeeded Mr. Thorpe, with Misses Martha Scoville, Mary Jessup, Mary Mason, M. E. Daines and Annie More, Assistants. In May, 1874, Prof. Freeman resigned, and Prof. H. H. Smith became Principal, who remained until September, 1876, when Mr. Freeman again assumed control of the school. April, 1878, the Board of Instruction was as follows : Principal, Prof. Joseph II. Freeman ; Assistants, Misses Emma R. Pearson, Flora Carll, Mary L. Mason, Frankie M. Luckey, Inez Sammis, Annie Parmalee and Julia E. Read. There are six school rooms, four recitation rooms, and 526 scholars are enrolled.
RELIGIOUS.
" You raised these hallowed walls, the desert smiled, And Paradise was opened in the wild."-Pope.
As the transformation of any country from a condition of barbarism to : state of civilization is the work of long time, so that branch of civilization, Religion, must be of slow development.
For many years after the cabins of the immigrants began to dot the beauti- ful prairies, religious worship was known only at the home firesides of those who, in distress and privation, had not forgotten their devotion to Him who had provided their dwelling place. The earliest publie worship in Buffalo Town- ship of which trace remains in history was conducted in the Fall of 1834, in the log house which Brookie and Bush were then building. The floor was not laid, and the audience, consisting of about twenty persons, sat on punchcons. The preacher on that occasion was a settler of Lynn, Grove, now in Whiteside County, named John Tomlinson, who had been a local Baptist preacher.
The M. E. Church was organized in 1836. Its first pastor was Rev. James McKean. His salary was about $100. Number of members, five. This society built a commodious church edifice in Polo in 1859. The present pastor is Rev. J. O. Cramb, with a salary of $1,200; number of members in this church now is 245. A good parsonage is also owned by the society. J.
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
C. Luckey is Superintendent of the Sabbath school, which holds its sessions in the basement room of the church.
The Independent Presbyterian Church in Buffalo Township was the out- growth of the old Congregational Church, and was organized May 5, 1848, with eleven church members, by Rev. Calvin Gray, D. R. Miller and R. M. Pearson, and occupied the Buffalo Grove Union Church. Rev. Mr. Gray first supplied the clinrch and, after an interval, was succeeded by Rev. Wm. Todd, who received a salary of about $400. October 3, 1858, Rev. Wm. E. Holyoke took charge of the station, followed by Revs. A. Hyde, Robert Proctor, James Vincent, and the present pastor, Rev. J. L. Granger, whose salary is $1,200. The society was removed to the village of Polo in the Spring of 1855, and the corner stone of its present commodious brick church building was laid July 4of that year. The Trustees elected after the removal of the society to Polo, at a meeting held in the school house June 5, 1855, were : Zenas Aplington, L. N. Barber, Samuel Waterbury, V. B. Webster and Wm. Haynes. The church cost $10,000, and was dedicated to the worship of the "Triune God" on August 7. 1857. The present membership is 150. The Sabbath school has been in operation since the society was established in Polo.
The Episcopal Church was organized July 9, 1858, and commeneed the erection of its building on November 14 of the year following. It was com- pleted at a cost of $3,100, December 23, 1862, and all indebtedness paid within one year from that time. At the time of organization the church had sixteen communicants. To this number there have been added by profession and letter seventy-four, and lost by removal and death, sixty-eight, leaving a present (March, 1878) membership of twenty-two. The following is a list of reetors who have held a settled charge here: Chas. J. Todd. Dec. 5, 1858, to May 2, 1859, died May 2, 1859; S. T. Carpenter, Sept. 24, 1859, to April 27, 1863; Byron MeGam, July 26, 1863, to July 17, 1864; Geo. H. Jenks, Sept. 11, 1864, to April 9, 1865; S. Y. Johnson, Sept. 22, 1867, to Feb. 8, 1869; T. M. Eddy, Oct. 1, 1869, to Oct. 1, 1870; A. W. Glass, Nov. 26, 1870, to April 1, 1872; G. W. Dean, April 28, 1873, to June 10, 1874, and N. W. Heermans, who is the present rector.
The church is a substantial building, aud is in a prosperous condition, never having failed to obtain the amount of their rector's salary.
Church of United Brethren in Christ-Its Origin .- About the middle of the eighteenth century, the Lord remembered the Germans in America, and raised up men to preach to them in their own native language. Among others was William Otterbein, who was the founder of the church. The first society was organized in Baltimore, and the first conference was held in the same city in 1789, with seven members present. Their polity is partly Con- gregationalism and partly Presbyterianism. Secret societies, slavery and the manufacture and sale of ardent spirits are expressly prohibited. The doctrines of the church are acknowledged purely orthodox. They had, in 1877, 4,078 organized churches; a membership of 150,000; ministers, 2,059 ; church build- ings, 2,003; conferences, 42; Bishops' districts, 5; foreign missions, 3-two in Germany and one in West Africa. The latter has seven missionaries and two teachers, and the former one each. Educational institutions of the church: Col- leges, 4; universities, 3; seminaries. 3: academies, 2; theological seminary, 1. Periodicals-the Religious Telescope, their church organ, and Heavenly Mes- senger, their German paper. Sabbath School literature-Missionary Visitor, Children's Friend and Our Little One. Their book concern and printing honse is located at Dayton, Ohio. They operate from the Atlantic to the
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
Pacific Ocean, and in Canada. They have in Ogle County, Ill., five charges, with a membership of about 600, the most important of which is at Polo. This was organized in 1863, by Rev .. L. B. Peck, pastor, who was succeeded by Rev. E. A. Vansant, I. K. Statton, S. Healey, G. A. Coalman, J. W. Robert- son and the present pastor, Rev. J. H. Grimm. The society numbers 171, and has a good church building, which was erected in 1863 at a cost of $3,000; a Sabbath School with five officers, eight teachers and one hundred pupils; David N. Johnson, Superintendent.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized August 7, 1870, in the Methodist Church building, where meetings were held, principally, until in 1872 the Society erected in Polo a church edifice of blue limestone at a cost of $17,- 000. In architectural beauty and finish this edifice is not surpassed by any other in Ogle County. There were thirty-six members at the time of organiza- tion, and the first pastor was Rev. P. G. Bell, with a salary of $750. The church was dedieated by Rev. F. W. Conrad, D. D., of Philadelphia. Mr. Bell remained until April, 1875, and he was superseded by the present pastor, Rev. J. S. Detweiler, January, 1876. In September, 1876, the Society pur- chased the present parsonage and lot for $1,400. The church is liberally sup- ported and largely attended, having now a membership of 175.
The Sabbath school was organized in July, 1873, by W. T. Schell, Super- intendent, who still continues. The school numbers 330.
The Baptist Church was organized, at Buffalo, in 1860, with a membership of 15. Its first pastor was Rev. Edward O'Brien, with a salary of $400. In 1870-71, this society re-organized and erected a church edifice at a cost of $7,000. Number of members at present, 82. At the time the church was erected, Rev. John N. Young was pastor. It was dedicated by Rev. N. F. Ravlin, who re- mained as pastor for some time, and was followed by Rev. J. Cairns, then P. O. Shirley, who was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. A. A. Russell. Mr. Russell came in October, 1876. During several vacancies, the pulpit was occa- sionally filled by stated supplies, the last time by Rev. J. H. Pratt, of Sterling.
Sabbath school has been held from the organization of the church, the pres- ent Superintendent being Merritt Rogers.
The Catholic society erected a church edifice in Polo at a cost of $1,500, in 1858. It has a membership of about 75. This church has never had a local priest nor any stated time for service.
Buffalo Grove Bible Society was organized in the village of Buffalo, Sep- tember 16, 1849. Its first officers were : David Waterbury, President; William Wamsley, Vice President ; Timothy Perkins, Treasurer ; V. B. Webster, Secre- 1850-Amaziah Henderson, President ; J. W. Frisbee, Secretary. tary.
1854-George Frisbee, President. 1856-Samuel Waterbury, President ; J. H. More, Secretary. 1857 - Zenas Aplington, President. 1860-J. R. Phelps, President. 1863-R. M. Pearson, President ; J. R. Phelps, Secretary. 1873-J. R. Phelps, President ; W. T. Schell, Secretary. 1878-J. R. Phelps, President ; W. T. Schell, Secretary ; Charles F. Barber, Treasurer.
MASONIC.
Mystic Tie Lodge, No. 187, A. F. §. A. M., was organized at Polo, under dispensation, November 13, 1855. The first meeting was held on this date, on the second floor of the store occupied by Daniel Buek, on the north side of Mason street, third building east of Franklin. The first officers and members were as follows :
James C. Luckey, W. M. ; Allen C. Mason, S. W. ; Robert Lawson, J. W .; James H. More, S. D. ; Charles F. Webster, J. D .; Wayne B. Chatfield,
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
Secretary ; Zenas Aplington, Treasurer; Marshall D. Higley, S. S. ; Samuel C. Peek, J. S. ; James Lawson, Tyler ; and Robert Fisher. Subsequent meetings were held in the Normal School building, at Buffalo, then occupied by Professor J. W. Frisbee's school, until February 27, 1856, when, in connection with the gentle- men who soon afterward organized Polo Lodge, No. 197, I. O. of O. F., the Lodge fitted up a small hall on the north side of Mason street, four doors east of Division. The Lodge was regularly instituted under charter from the Grand Lodge, November 2d, 1856. April 1, 1857, the Lodge removed to Mosher's Hall on the east side of Division street, second door north of Mason street. About January 1, 1858, the Lodge again removed to the new Odd Fellows' Hall, on Franklin street, where it remained until about September, 1868, when it occupied its own new hall on the east side of Franklin, midway between Mason and Locust street.
Following is the roll of W. M.'s from date of organization : James C. Luckey, 1855, '56; C. F. Webster, 1857; J. C. Luckey, 1858: J. Il. More, 1859; J. C. Luckey, 1860-'66; John Ruggles, Jr., 1867; J. C. Luckey, 1868-'72; Samuel W. Clark, 1873 : Joseph H. Freeman, 1874; Sherman S. Rogers, 1875; Thomas Treat, 1876-'77; William G. Atkins, 1878.
Officers 1878 .- William G. Atkins, W. M. ; Isaac D. Appleford, S. W .; John A Sanborn, J. W. ; Sherman S. Rogers, Secretary ; Salathiel Hibarger, Treas. ; George K. Reynolds, S. D. ; George Brand, J. D. ; John W. Brown, S. S .; B. B. Maydwell, J. S .; Thomas Treat, Tyler.
Tyrian Chapter No. 6, R. A. M .- Organized U. D., April 23, 1861. Instituted under. charter, September 28, 1861. Charter members, who were also first officers : James C. Luckey, H. P. ; Francis A. McNeill, K. ; William K. Palmer, S .; Samuel Y. Perce, C. H .; James G. Brown, R. A. C .; Leander Gordon, P. S. ; Joseph F. Ingalls, 3d V. ; Thomas Robisnson, 2d V. ; Edward P. Sexton, 1st V. ; Rev. Benjamin Close, Chaplain. All meetings were held in the hall occupied by Mystic Tie Lodge.
High Priests from organization : James C. Luckey, 1861-'71: Samuel W. Clark, 1872; J. C. Luckey, 1873 ; S. S. Rogers, 1874, '75, '76; W. S. Goodhue, 1877.
Officers of 1878 .- J. C. Luckey, H. P. ; J. L. Moore, K. ; Isaac D. Apple- ford, S .; S. Hibarger, Treas.
I. O. OF 0. F.
Polo Lodge, No. 194, was instituted under dispensation March 13, 1856, by P. G. E. W. Hulburt, of Star Lodge, No. 77, assisted by P. G.'s John Autis and L. P. Lott, in a small hall fitted up for lodge purposes on the north side of Mason street, near Division. The original members were: Robert Fisher, Benjamin W. Walkey, Ira Demander, John H. Jay, Hiram Gregory and Emanuel Hepler; and the following officers were elected and installed : Dr. Robert Fisher, N. G. ; Ira Demander, V. G .; B. W. Walkey, Secretary ; John H. Jay, Treasurer. In 1858, the Lodge added the third story to Wood- ruff's stone building, brick front, on the east side of Franklin street, a short dis- tance south of Mason, and furnished a beautiful hall at a cost of $1,500. This fraternity, worthily symbolized by the triple links of "Friendship, Love and Truth," has increased from its modest beginning to a present membership of 94, and has in its treasury an accumulated fund of $2,200 for the relief of its members, widows and orphans. April 10, 1878, its officers were: M. R. Trumbauer, N. G. ; William Strickler, V. G. ; Oliver Z. Hicks, Recording Sec- retary ; J. G. Clopper, Permanent Secretary ; Henry Wolf, Treasurer.
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
Polo Grange, No. 290, P. of H., was instituted March 13, 1873. Its first Master was Dr. J. II. Judson. Present membership, 29, Officers, April, 1878, are as follows : E. S. Waterbury, Master; S. R. Purse, Overseer; G. Shecly, Lecturer ; Gilbert Bentley, Steward ; Eli Eldridge, Assistant Steward ; J. P. Wilber, Chaplain ; J. H. Judson, Treasurer ; Charles Illingworth, See- retary ; Belford Slater, Gate Keeper; Mrs. B. Slater, Ceres; Mrs. J. P. Wil- ber, Pomona ; Mrs. E. S. Waterbury, Flora ; Mrs. J. HI. Judson, Lady Assistant Steward.
Unity Grange, No. - , P. of H., was organized in 1874, with Mr. A. B. Apple, Master.
ASSOCIATIONS AND SOCIETIES.
Polo Library Association .- On Saturday Evening, April 15, 1871, a meet- ing of the citizens of Polo was held at the City Hall to adopt measures for or- ganizing a Library Association under the general law of incorporation. At that meeting 169 shares of stock, at $5.00 each, were subscribed, and on the 12th day of May, 1871, the Polo Library Association was regularly organized by choice of Chanceford R. Barber, J. Leavitt Moore, Wayland S. Goodhue, Rev. J. H. More, Hon. John D. Campbell, Prof. Joseph H. Freeman and Col. Morton D. Swift, Directors. This Board organized by the choice of Rev. J. II. More, Chairman, and Morton D. Swift, Secretary. B. II. Barber was elected Trea- surer, and Miss Barber, Librarian.
Its stock subscriptions were procured mainly through the earnest and untiring efforts of Hon. G. M. Hunt and Daniel Buck, Esq. It commenced at once on a vigorous and brilliant career, and had, up to April, 1858, accumulated about 1,300 volumes of choice and valuable books, and is one of the most eminently useful institutions in the city.
May 24, 1871, the Association purchased the building and ground on the north- west corner of Mason and Congress streets. Eleven public-spirited and generous- hearted citizens contributed $100 each for the purpose of paying for the library building, viz. : J. Leavitt Moore, Chanceford R. Barber, Dr. Wm. W. Burns, Miss Relief R. Barber, Bingaman & Cunningham, Carlos Herrick, Edward G. Smith, C. F. Barber & Co., Reuben Wagner, John Weller, and Thomas T. Schell. The building and grounds were purchased for $1,000, and $100 was expended in fitting it up. The building was subsequently enlarged and refitted and is now worth about $1,500.
Although the property of this association belongs to the owners of its stock, yet by liberal by-laws its benefits are extended to the citizens of Buffalo Town- ship, free of charge.
During the Winter of 1877-78, the association inaugurated a course of eight lectures, and, with season tickets sold at $2.00 each, realized $100 for the benefit of the Library. The Public School Library is kept in the saure building, and much interest is manifested by the young people of Polo in the success of this beneficent institution. In April, 1878, the officers were : Trus- tees-W. W. Pierce, President ; Wm. T. Schell, Secretary ; J. H. Freeman, J. L. Moore, R. D. Woolsey, D. L. Miller, Henry D. Barber ; Treasurer, B. H. Barber ; Librarian, Miss F. Barber.
Polo Cemetery Association was organized April 21, 1857. The first officers were : Rev. William Todd, President; Zenas Aplington, Hamilton Norton, Seymour E. Treat, Directors ; Alfred M. Webster, Secretary. Area of cemetery, eight acres, comprised in 110 blocks, or 440 lots. Officers of
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
1858: Chester K. Williams, President ; C. R. Barber, Norman Hawks, C. W. Sammis, Directors; J. C. Luckey, Secretary. The grounds are situated on the beautifully sloping prairie just outside the northern limits of the city, are well enclosed, and beautified by shrubbery, elegant monuments and enclosures of smaller divisions.
Polo Literary Society was organized, in the High School room, September 30, 1870, by the election of Prof. Joseph H. Freeman, President ; Rev. J. Young and I. S. Struble, Vice Presidents: Secretary, Miss Anna More (now Mrs. O. B. Dodge, of Dixon); Treasurer, Mrs. Thomas Treat. The first regular meeting was held October 7, in the lecture room of the Presbyterian Church. On this occasion, the programme was an essay on Chemistry, by W. S. Millican ; debate on the question, " Resolved, that the war waged by Prussia against the French nation is unjust, and should be stopped by the intervention of other powers," Orris Mosher, affirmative; R. C. Bassett, negative ; select reading by Miss Julia E. Read; declamation by Miner Swearengen. The Association continued weekly meetings every Autumn and Winter until the Spring of 1875, but still maintains its organization. President (1878), J. W. Clinton, Esq.
Buffalo Decoration Association, organized April 28, 1874, " to honor, by proper observance, the memory of the soldiers and sailors who gave their services and lives in defense of our country." First officers : President, Capt. Joseph H. Freeman ; Vice Presidents, Rev. J. Cairns, Dr. J. Maltby : Secretary, Capt. R. D. Woolsey ; Treasurer, Sergt. F. B. Pierce ; Marshal, Capt. H. C. Peek ; Assistant Marshals, Col. M. D. Swift, J. W. Lunt, A. M. Webster, J. J. Thompson and Leander Griffin ; Chaplain, Rev. P. G. Bell.
Presidents-J. H. Freeman, 1874; C. W. Sammis, 1875-6; R. D. Wool- sey, 1877. Officers, 1878: R. D. Woolsey, President ; J. J. Thompson, C. L. Ilolbrook, Vice Presidents ; J. W. Clinton, Secretary ; E. S. Cushman, Treasurer ; J. H. Freeman, Marshal; Rev. J. L. Granger, Chaplain ; C. W. Sammis, S. B. Lowe, E. S. Waterbury, J. D. Campbell, Orris Mosher, Execu- tive Committee.
Polo Relief Association was organized on Tuesday, January 15, 1878, at City Hall, having for its object an united effort to give aid and relief to the poor and destitute, to furnish labor to the unemployed, and to alleviate, as far as possible, the sufferings of the unfortunate. The following board of officers were elected : President, Hon. George M. Hunt; Vice Presidents, D. B. Mof- fatt, S. Beard, M. F. Bassett, Pearson Shoemaker, John Mickler, J. R. Phelps, John Atley, Geo. W. Harshman and Samuel Yeakle; Secretary, D. L. Miller ; Treasurer, R. G. Shumway ; Executive Committee, John D. Campbell, Joseph H. Freeman, H. D. Barber, James C. Luckey and R. D. Woolsey. The Executive Committee met on Thursday afternoon, January 17, and appointed the following Relief Committee : Relief R. Barber, Chairman ; Mrs. R. G. Shumway and D. L. Miller, North Polo ; Mrs. G. M. Hunt and C. F. Cush man, East Polo ; Mrs. J. R. Phelps and HI. D. Heally, South Polo and Old Town. The donation of twenty-five cents or more constitutes the admission fee to this benevolent association.
Old Settlers' Association of Buffalo Grove and vicinity .- February 18, 1873, at a meeting of the old settlers, C. K. Williams was called to the chair and J. W. Clinton appointed Secretary. C. G. Holbrook, C. W. Sammis and C. K. Williams were appointed a Committee to draft a Constitution. 'February 25, 1873, they met at the office of the Press, adopted a Constitution and elected Col. John D. 'Stevenson, President ; William Illingworth, Daniel Hoff hine,
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
Charles F. Cushman, John Perine, George R. Webster, James Talbott and N. N. Shafer, Vice Presidents; C. G. Holbrook, Secretary ; C. K. Williams, Treasurer.
March 6, 1877, the association was re-organized, a new Constitution adopted, admitting to membership all who were residents of Ogle County prior to 1840 is honorary members and making them Vice Presidents of the organization.
Names of honorary members and Vice Presidents and date of settlement : John D. Stevenson, August, 1834; Christopher G. Ilolbrook, May, 1837; Chester K. Williams, October, 1837; Henry Peek, Fall, 1838; Nicholas F. Sammis, March, 1838 ; Charles F. Cushman, May, 1836; Charles W. Sam- nis, March, 1838; William T. Fearey, Fall. 1837 ; Robert Smith, November, 1837; Moses E. Sammis, March, 1838; Frances G. Jones, June, 1839; Abram Q. Sanborn, June, 1839; C. W. Bellows, November, 1836 ; Elias Reed, July, 1838 ; Elias Baker, May, 1838; William M. Mason, July, 1837 ; Justice Rogers, July, 1837 ; John Perine, June, 1836; Daniel O'Kane, February, 1836 ; Nicholas N. Shaver, October, 1836; William Donaldson, May, 1839. The record of the association contains the following names of members who came previous to 1850 : Timothy Perkins, October, 1840 ; Charles Perkins, October, .840; James A. Bassett, November, 1843; William Brand, May, 1840; Rob- rt Brand, May, 1840; Thomas B. Cutts, September, 1846 ; Calvin Waterbury, September, 1848; John W. Cushman (born), August, 1844; John Bingaman, May, 1841; J. W. Newman, July, 1842; J. C. Saltzman, May, 1845: Harry I. Lower, April, 1845; George D. Read, March, 1840 ; Charles L. Holbrook born), September 28, 1841; Wilson Allen, August, 1849.
Came after 1849: Charles F. Barber, October, 1854; H. N. Clopper, Iay, 1855 ; Joseph L. Spear, October, 1859 ; Milton M. Trumbauer, 1859; V. H. Cunningham, June, 1858; Edwin S. Waterbury, September, 1857; ohn W. Clinton, October, 1857 ; James W. Allaben, October, 1855.
Officers clected March 6, 1877 : C. K. Williams, President ; C. G. Hoł rook, Secretary ; C. F. Cushman, Treasurer. Historical Committee: C. G Iolbrook, George D. Read, John Perine.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Underground Railroad .- One of the moral influences which in later ays exerted a powerful political influence and swayed the destinies of this reat nation, was the agitation of the slavery question, and, as in other parts of he country, a few of the early settlers in the vicinity of Buffalo Grove took a trong anti-slavery position. Most prominent among them were Dea. Timothy Perkins, Virgil A. Bogue, Esq. (afterward Judge of the County Court), Dea. ohn Waterbury, Solomon Shaver, and a few others. The slaves of the South, attempting to escape from bondage, were not beyond the reach of their mas- ers until they trod the soil of Canada. In their efforts to reach a land where hey could own themselves, where the cross of St. George and not the Stars and tripes was the " flag of the free," they were assisted by the earnest workers ke those above mentioned, and there came to be established certain lines of avel over which the fugitives would be sent from one friend to another, until hey were beyond the reach of overseers and bloodhounds, beneath the flag of Great Britain. From 1842 to 1860, Buffalo and Polo were stations on, and the oble spirits above named were actively connected with, the Illinois branch of e Great Underground Railroad, extending from all parts of the Slave States the Canadian frontier.
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