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 68
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Druggists .- C. M. Haller, 1860; Dr. R. C. Schultz, August, 1868 ; J. D. Covell (also bookstore), 1877.
Hardware .- Smith & Campbell, Angust, 1877 (Mr. Smith has been en- gaged in the hardware business here for eight years ; Mr. Campbell formerly dealt in Drugs and Dry Goods ten years) ; A. Middlekauff & Bro., 1866.
Restaurants .- R. Reubendall & Co., December, 1877 ; Conrad Sterling (also saloon, billiard hall and bakery), 1866; M. S. Dellinger, May, 1876; Thomas Ausherman, 1870; M. B. Geer (also groeery), 1862.
Groceries .- B. Savage & Son, 1868; C. E. Ileinen ; D. A. Glasgow, January, 1878.
Saloons .- Barney Fritz (also billiard hall) ; John Muhring, November, 1876.
Boot and Shoe Shops .- John Lang, 1857 ; B. Eilers, September, 1872; R. Koper, 1875; M. Leisson.
Harness Shops .- F. A. Heilman, October, 1870, successor of Levi J. Bowers, 1860 : Henry Cramer.
Furniture .- Lewis De Graff, Ang. 19, 1872.
Livery Stables .- Thomas S. Fletcher, October, 1877 ; Henry Fletcher.
Lumber and Coal Dealers .- M. Hunsicker ; Staley & Co.
Butchers .- M. Oppenheimer (also stock dealer), June 10, 1859 ; H. Foll- rich, May 7, 1874; Joseph Beck, 1868.
Barber .- George De Graf, 1877.
Cooper .- H. Jansen.
Tailors .- W. H. H. Miller, 1867; R. Cirksena, 1875.
Jeweler .- H. A. Broaddus, January, 1877.
Millinery .- Mrs. Oltmans, 1876 ; Mrs. E. C. Miller, 1876 ; Miss Jennie Osgood, April, 1878.
Confectionery and Tobacco .- S. Knodle, October, 1869.
Hotels .- Sherman House, by N. J. Clark ; Forreston House, by Eli Schaftner, July, 1877.
Physicians .- Dr. Thomas Winston, 1868; Dr. J. D. Covell, Dr. G. S. Bals- baugh, J. B. E. Albright, D. F. Hallett, 1878.
Lawyers .- E. Baker, 1877.
Dentists .- Johnson & Shannon, 1877.
Photograph Artists .- Cyrus E. White, 1877.
Carpenters and Builders .- J. W. Potter, S. W. Potter, H. B. Miller, Joshua Swett, N. Eakle and Wallace Gitchell.
Blacksmiths .- M. D. Stover, John Brookman, Harmon Anderson and M. Vosberg.
THE CHICAGO AND IOWA RAILROAD.
In June, 1870, Forreston Township voted an appropriation of $75,000 in aid of this road, to be paid if the railroad was completed through the township by January 1, 1872. The road was finished to Forreston village by that time, but the bonds were not issued, as the road was not built through the township. After a legal contention of three years, the matter was compromised by issuing bonds to the amount of $35,000, with the provision that if the road was com- pleted through the township within five years $15,000 more should be issued. That time has elapsed, and Forreston is still the terminus of the road. The same depot is used for both that and the Illinois Central Railroad. The "round
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
house," or engine house was erected by both companies in 1872, each company having six stalls. It is in charge of A. R. McElhiney, of the I. C. R. R., and Henry Williams, of the C. & I. R. R. Miles N. Prichard has been the sta- tion agent for the past twenty years; J. M. Myers, baggage master; Henry Hough and F. D. Swett, telegraph operators.
FIRES.
Forreston has been visited by several fires of various magnitudes, the last and most important of which was on the night of January 16-17, 1878. It burned the following buildings: John J. Hewitt's two-story frame, occupied by the store of Bonn & Co .; H. Follrich's two-story frame, butcher shop; J. Z. Hunsicker's two-story frame building, occupied as a barber shop by G. De Graf; E. O. Reedy's two-story frame shoe shop, and the residence of Moses Oppen- heimer, owned by Wm. Minstermann.
VILLAGE ORGANIZATION.
At a meeting held at the school house, in the town of Forreston, on Saturday, September 21, 1867, to determine the question of village incorporation, G. M. M. Glenn was elected President, and Thomas J. Hewitt, Clerk. 172 ballots were cast : 128 for incorporation, 44 against incorporation.
The first meeting for the election of village officers was held at the Pennsyl- vania House, October 15, 1867, when Simon Geeting, Levi J. Bowers, Absalom Eakle, Nehemiah E. Rogers and Miles N. Prichard were elected Trustees. October 21st, following, the Board organized by choice of Simon Geeting, President, and Thomas J. Hewitt, Clerk pro tem. At this meeting, Mr. Eakle resigned and Thomas J. Burt was appointed in his place. November 2d, Martin V. Saltzman was elected Clerk ; Philo J. Hewitt, Treasurer ; Thomas J. Hewitt, Corporation Attorney ; Edward H. Foy, Constable and Collector, and Simon Gross, Street Commissioner. November 18th, " An ordinance prescrib- ing and defining the boundaries of the town of Forreston, County of Ogle and State of Illinois," was passed by yeas and nays. Yeas, Rogers, Burt and Bowers-3; nays, none.
October 15, 1868 .- Aaron Middlekauff, Isaac H. Long, Henry S. Funk, Godfrey Pyfer and Charles Shuman were elected Trustees. This Board organized on the 26th of the same month. Isaac H. Long, President ; G. H. Richardson, Clerk : E. If. Middlekauff, Treasurer ; A. Eakle, Street Commis- sioner ; J. M. Meyers, Constable. W. II. Knodle was elected Clerk, Novem- ber 6th, vice Richardson resigned.
December 15, 1868 .- A special meeting was called "for the purpose of getting a special charter for the town of Forreston. Mr. Funk was appointed to see J. M. Bailey, and have a form of charter drawn."
February 17, 1868 .- " The form of charter sent from Springfield " was adopted. May 11, 1868, the new charter was accepted by the people by vote of 67 to 55.
October 19, 1869 .-- Trustees-M. N. Prichard, President ; John Meyer, John Korns, Samuel MeCreery, John W. Cahill ; Martin V. Salzman, Clerk.
October 18, 1870 .- Trustees-Andrew A. Robertson, President ; Aaron Billig, David Fager, Jacob C. Salter, M. B. Geer ; Clerk-M. V. Salzman.
October 17. 1871 .- Trustees-Miles N. Prichard, President; John W. Cahill, John Korns, Jonathan Knepper, Isaac Voglegesaug ; Clerk-Lewis De Graaff.
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
October 16, 1872 .- Trustees-M. N. Prichard, President ; John W. Cahill, John Korns, John S. Campbell, Isaac Voglegesaug : Clerk-L. De Graaff.
October 22, 1873 .- Trustees-Edward H. Riley, Joseph M. Myers, Philo J. Hewitt, Aaron Bowers, Levi Clark ; Clerk, M. V. Salzman.
October 21, 1874 .- Trustees-Samuel Mitchell, President; Isaac B. Allen, J. M. Myers, M. V. Shelden, Aaron Billig ; Clerk-M. V. Salzman.
October 19, 1875 .- Trustees-Isaac B. Allen, President ; Aaron Billig, Samuel Mitchell, Samuel Knodle, J. G. Middlekauff; Clerk-M. V. Salzman. October 17, 1875 .-- Trustees-John W. Cahill, President ; John Korns, Elias Rowland, John Miller, Levi Clark ; Clerk-Edwin Baker.
October 19, 1877 .- Trustees-Anthony Omelia, President; John Doven- barger, Elias Rowland, John Korns, Fred. Plate ; Clerk and Attorney-Edwin Baker; Treasurer-Lewis De Graaff; Marshal-John Miller; Police Magis- trate-Philip Smith.
Township Officers, 1878 .- Supervisor-Cornelius Bowman ; Town Clerk- Simon Geeting ; Assessor-Levi Clark; Collector-E. W. Derby ; Commis- sioners of Highway-I. B. Allen, Fred. Korf and N. D. C. Medbury; Justices of the Peace-W. W. Swett and Warren Lightheart; Constables-Eli Rowland and C. W. Prince.
589
HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
BYRON.
This village, situated on a horse-shoe bend of the Rock River in the northern part of the county, is one of the earliest settled localities, is favored by features of unusual value to its development, and will, without doubt, become one of the best towns on the river. For many years it labored under great disadvantages, having no railroad or capital to improve its water power, and in 1877, being visited by a conflagration which leveled to the ground the new growth which it had attained under the stimulus of the railroad.
About the first of July, 1835, Jared W. Sanford came up Rock River from Dixon, on horseback, en route for Rockford-then called "Midway." Noting the excellent water privilege a mile west of the present site of Byron, on Leaf River, he laid claim to it by planting there a claim-stake, and proceeded on up the river. His brother, Joseph, and Perry Norton were then working on Kent's mill at Midway, and when told of the beautiful country south, they were induced to go down and examine it.
Mr. Norton still resides one and a half miles north of Byron, and is the oldest living resident. An account of his trip to the " far West," as it was then called, may be of some interest, showing, as it does, the vast changes time has made. From ocean to ocean is now but a pleasant ride of seven days, in palace coaches. Mr. Norton was from April 26 to May 26, 1835, in traveling from New York to Galena. The route was: to Buffalo by canal, to Detroit by steamboat, across Michigan to Chicago by stage-all passage seats to Chicago were taken fifteen days in advance, such was the multitude seeking Western homes-from Chicago to Ottawa by stage. Ottawa had one tavern, one store, a few dwellings on the south side of the Illinois River, one on the north, and one between the Fox and Illinois Rivers. He went to Paw Paw Grove by pri- vate conveyance, and thence to Dixon on foot. Dixon consisted of a tavern, kept by a man named Black, in the old fort of the Black Hawk War, and five or six dwellings. He then went by stage to Galena, where he hired out to a Mr. Brush, agent for Germanicus Kent, of Midway. He arrived there on the eighth day of June. Rockford then consisted of two families and eight or ten young men ; Mr. Kent on the west, and Mr. Haight on the east side of the river. Mr. Kent had begun improvements there in the Fall of 1834; had commenced building a dam across the creek, near the Holland (now the Tinker) place. During the season of Mr. Norton's arrival immigration became more general ; among the settlers were Montague Dunbar, Fox Wood and family, Boswell and family, Thatcher Blake, 'still a resident of Rockford, and Joseph Sanford, who came in the Fall or Winter of 1834.
As before stated, Joseph Sanford, Jared W. Sanford and Perry Norton went down the river to the site of Byron, about July 10, 1835, and while there they claimed land to the amount of nearly two sections, on the southwest side of the river. They returned to Midway the same day. Joseph Sanford decided to continue work for Mr. Kent for a year, so J. W. Sanford and Mr. Norton returned to their claim with a horse and yoke of oxen, and established their claim by laying the foundation for two cabins. This, rude as it must have been, inquired four days' labor. Indians and mosquitoes were plenty, though the latter were by far the more troublesome. On the fifth day the two settlers returned to Midway, where Mr. Norton met, unexpectedly, his father and brother J. W. Norton. The former afterwards became a resident of Byron Township, where he still resides. Mr. Norton needed oxen to cultivate his land, and to purchase them he borrowed $100, each, of his father and Joseph Sanford. The latter was a partner in the claim. The next thing was to buy the oxen. Neigh- bors Kent and Haight had none to sell-other neighbors, where were they ? At
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
Dixon's Ferry, Cherry Grove-forty miles away-Buffalo Grove, Washington Grove, and on Old-Man Creek (now Kyte River). But no cattle were found for sale at any of these places, and Mr. Norton finally found three yoke of oxen at Indian Creek, fifteen miles north of Ottawa. For these he paid $45, $52.50 and $55. He also bought a plow and barrel of flour. In order to get these home he must have a cart, and, to make one, a friend sawed two circles from an oak log for wheels. The return road was a strange one and he received fre- quent directions from passing Indians. Much trouble was experienced by the settlers in keeping the cattle at home. When they were let out to pasture they would frequently stray away forty or fifty miles.
Jared Sanford named their new habitation Fairview, after his Connecticut . home.
About the middle of October, M. M. York, who bought an interest in the claim, P. T. Kimball, - Rogers, and Mr. Norton returned to Fairview from Midway, to make rails for fencing their claim. They brought flour, bacon and coffee and made saleratus biscuits with the river water. Here they lived in a rail shanty and the wagon box for twenty-three days.
The Pottawattomie Indians frequented the river, which they called the "Sini-sepo," or Rock River, whence the name "Sinnissippi." The settlers obtained a log trough which the Indians had hollowed out to hold maple sap, or "sugar water," and used it as a canoe for crossing the river. Being cut square at one end, it was known as the bob-tailed canoe. Wagons were ferried across the river for travelers in this rude canoe. The present woods of that vicinity have grown up since that time, and it was necessary to obtain logs from the other (north) side of the river.
They returned to Midway to pass the Winter, and when Mr. Norton returned in the next March, he found M. M. York, P. T. Kimball, Sebra Phil- lips and J. Sanford in a little log cabin of about ten by fourteen feet in size. This was the first house in the township, and was just across the river, opposite the village.
Here Mr. Norton took up his abode, sleeping on a wagon board at night, with boots for a pillow and overcoat for a blanket. This exposure resulted in an attack of the ague. In this Spring other settlers came in. L. O. Bryan, Silas St. John Mix, Asa Spaulding and others came in April. These filled the cabin unto overflowing, so that Messrs. Kimball, Bryan and Norton moved up and across the river, about one and a half miles. Here they built a log shanty near and northeast of Mr. Norton's present residence. To make this log house two tiers of rails were built up, leaving a space between them of one and a half feet. This was filled in with prairie grass, making a warm house. The roof was made of "shakes,"* while the door was made by hanging up a blanket. Cooking was done out of doors, and a cow was purchased to furnish milk. The pioneers then began to think themselves living in fine style.
David Juvenall with his family, from Sangamon, Ill .; Andrew Shepard, an uncle of Mr. Norton, with his family, from Ohio, and William Illingworth, arrived in May, 1836. J. L. Spaulding and - Kizer came soon after, and Simon S. Spaulding came in October. In the Spring of 1835, John Whitaker settled at Black Walnut Grove, where he resided with his family until his death. His son, William J., now resides there, having married the only daughter of Silas St. J. Mix. Another son, Solomon, is living near by, both in good circum- stances. There are two daughters, Mary, who married John Millis, and Julia, the wife of Stephen B. Shuart. Peter Smith and James Scott also made claims at this grove in the Fall of 1835, two or three miles southeast of Byron. Scott sold out to Dauphin Brown and S. Patrick in 1837.
Mr. Silas St. John Mix first came April 10, 1836, but returned to Jackson- ville for his family, having emigrated there from Bradford County, Pa. Mr.
* Shingles, about four feet long, split out of logs.
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
Spaulding arrived at Fairview in August, 1836, and brought three cows, a team, provisions, etc. belonging to Mix and Spaulding.
The claim of Mr. Norton and Jared Sanford on the north side of the river was divided and the site of Byron included in Mr. Sanford's portion. This he disposed of to Miner M. York and Joseph Sanford. Mr. Mix built his (the first) house within the village site during that Fall. It is now used as the resi- dence of his son William.
October 29, Lucius Reed arrived with his family. John Morrison, - Slavin, Lewis Carr and Samuel Patrick came in 1836. Seth Noble, a wealthy farmer of Marion Township, came in the Spring of that year.
Much trouble was experienced on account of claim-jumpers. The first prominent conflict of this kind was in 1837, between Wm. D. Johnson, a settler, and the notorious Aikens, Carrs and Morrison.
The first election was held in August, 1836, at Fairview, to elect precinct and county officers. This was then a portion of Jo Daviess County, and Col. Wight, of Galena, passed through on an electioneering tour. He made stump speeches wherever he could obtain a hearing, and furnished the proper papers and directions for holding ;elections. He was a candidate for the State Legislature. Mr. Moses Hallett, candidate for the office of sheriff, also visited Fairview, and both obtained the thirteen votes polled there, as the voters knew of no opposing candidates. A local justice and constable were elected. Mr. Norton was chosen to carry the poll books to Galena, a distance of over eighty miles.
Erastus Norton and family came to Byron November 1, 1836. Doctor A. E. Hurd-the first physician-and Hiram Horton came during that Winter. " Deacon " Brewster, with a family of seven daughters and two sons (James and Mortimer), came in 1837. A large number of settlers came that year. We can not attempt to name them all, but a few have been remembered, among whom were Isaac Norton and family, consisting of his wife and five daughters (his four sons were already in the West). Col. Dauphin Brown and family, con- sisting of three sons and five daughters, who was a resident of Marion Township ; Curtis, now gone; Deacon Morley, now of Iowa; John Sabens (who built the first barn in the township), now gone; Charles Tanner, Joshua White and James M. Clayton, of Marion Township; F. A. Smith ; Allen Woodburn, still living on his place, three and one half miles north of the village ; Hiram May- nard, deceased, and many others.
Jared W. Sanford lived at Byron until within five years, when he moved to and died in Kansas. Joseph Sanford is still living. Perry Norton lives a mile and a half north of Byron. M. M. York now lives at Fort Scott, Kansas. Parton T. Kimball now lives at Rockford. Sebra Phillips died in this state. L. O. Bryan died in Marion Township. Asa G. Spaulding lives in Rockford. Andrew Shepherd died in this state. David Juvenall died in Marion Township. Silas St. John Mix, the oldest resident of the village, resides in Byron, aged seventy-nine years, and still retains all his business and physical faculties, unimpaired. His portrait appears in this work. I. S. Knowlton and T. P. Parker, still residents near Byron, came in the Spring of 1838.
For a long time, Dixon, twenty-five miles distant, was the nearest post- office. The settlers took turns in going for the mail, once a week. When Frink & Walker established a stage route along the river, between Dixon and Rockford, the local post-office was established, and as the settlement was then called Bloomingville, that name was chosen for the post-office. The Postmaster General, however, suggested that the name be changed, as there was already a " Bloomington " and " Bloomingdale " in the state. It was then decided to call it Byron, a name it has since held. Asa G. Spaulding was the first post- master, who was followed by Mr. Mix. Then Albert Wilbur was made
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
postmaster, and Mr. Mix appointed his deputy, followed by John H. White as nominal postmaster. Mr. Mix succeeded him and still continues, efficiently, in that office.
The first saw mill was erected by Messrs. Sanford Brothers & Brown, in 1837. The first grist mill by William Wilkinson, of Buffalo, N. Y., who com- menced building it in the Fall of 1837 and completed it during the next year. In 1837, it was sometimes necessary to go as far as Dayton, on Fox River, near Ottawa, to Elkhorn Grove or Newburg, on the Kishwaukee River, to have milling done. In 1835 and '36, supplies were obtained from Galena or Chicago. The first salt hauled from the latter place cost fifteen dollars per barrel. The first stirring plows used here were manufactured at Buffalo, N. Y., by Wilkinson & Sons. These were very good in a clay soil, but almost useless on the prairies of Ogle County. In plowing with such implements, knolls were left wherever a turn was made, making, finally at the edges of the field, quite an embankment. Deere, of Grand de Tour, made the first plows suitable for this country.
The Village .- As stated, its site was first claimed by Jared W. Sanford and Perry Norton ; allotted to Mr. Sanford in division, and transferred to Joseph Sanford and M. M. York. These two admitted Asa G. Spaulding, S. St. J. Mix and James L. Spaulding as partners, and at the time of the land sale Ebenezer Brown, as agent, bid in the land, and deeded it, equally divided, to the mem- bers of the company. Mr. Mix sold the first goods, in his house, in the Summer of 1837. The house of Mr. Mix has been called the first one in the village, which is true, although a Mr. Irvin had a shanty of logs, in which he sold some goods which he had brought from Canada. The next house was one which Mr. Kimball built for Lucius Reed. In this house the latter kept the first tavern. The next buildings were a house and blacksmith shop which Mr. Bradbury built in the eastern part of the town. The first regular store was built in the Spring of 1838, by Isaac Norton and his son, Hamilton. The first regular hotel was built by Samuel and Dudley Wood. It is a two-story brick building, and now used as the Pacific House, by Mrs. Brindley. The first ferry was established by J. W. Sanford and Miner York. It is now operated by James Cattanach.
Three years ago Byron Township voted to appropriate $15,000 for building a bridge across the river. At a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors, an appropriation of $12,500 was made for the same purpose, but at the next regu- lar meeting of the board, the movement was re-considered and voted down. In the meantime, the township commissioners had made a contract with Mr. Fish- ler, of Elmira, N. Y., for $27,500. He sub-let the stone work to Mr. Boone, who put up the abutments, but suspended work when the appropriation was denied them. It was to be a suspension bridge of six hundred feet, having one pier. The present indications are that Mr. Fishler will complete his contract, and call on the township to fulfill their part of it. Hopes are still entertained of receiving assistance from the county treasury.
The Chicago & Pacific Railroad Company first intended running a narrow- guage railroad from Chicago to Elgin, but finally decided to run a broad-guage road from Chicago to Byron. Subscriptions were circulated four years since, by A. O. Campbell, F. A. Wheelock, E. H. Evans and others. Among the principal subscribers were Hiram Gitchell, $1,200; A. O. Campbell, Dr. Joseph Blount, E. H. Evans, I. S. Knowlton and W. S. Ercanbrack, $1,000 each ; John Kosier, Junius Rogers and many others subscribed very liberally. This place took $24,500 stock. The public spirit of the citizens of Byron in this matter is very unusual and highly commendable. The road was completed to the river at noon, March 19, 1875. An extra amount of $5,000 was found necessary to secure the bridge across the river. This Byron's people advanced to the American Bridge Company, and the cars commenced running to Byron in the Fall of 1875. The bridge company and citizens were to have the pro- ceeds from Byron station until the debt was paid. This the bridge company
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
secured, but nothing has yet been received by those who advanced the needed $5,000. The bridge is nearly 800 feet long, with three piers, and is a combina- tion of wood and iron.
The company held a meeting for organization in February. 1876. Mr. Campbell was for two years a director of the road. The report shows the road to have been in a prosperous condition, although it is now in the hands of a receiver, J. M. Whitman. The local agent is Mr. A. B. Thompson.
The Fire .- The terrible conflagration which visited Byron on the night of November 13, 1877, swept out of existence nearly all of the business portion of the village. On the morning of Wednesday, the full sweep of the destructive element was made visible. Under the impetus given to the town by the com- pletion of the railroad, many new store buildings had been erected on Second Street ; all that were left on that street between Walnut and Union Streets, were Watson's grocery, Rogers' bank, George Kosier's hotel, and George Eddy's dwelling. Where others had been, were piles of blackened walls and gaping cellars.
Men and women were viewing in sorrow the places where years of toil and the gathered souvenirs of a life-time were heaped in ashes and smouldering tim- bers, never to be replaced. Women looked with tear-stained faces, and men nerved themselves again with courage to commence life's struggle anew, with nothing but hope to cheer and a God above to help.
The fire originated in the rear of Thompson & Kennedy's drug store. About rr o'clock, P. M., some kerosene and turpentine which were stored in that part of the building were set on fire, and all efforts to stay its progress proved unavailing. Mr. Thompson rushed into his store, grasped his books, but, blinded and choked by the smoke, barely reached the door. G. W. Hawks and family, who occupied the second story for a dwelling, escaped without hat or bonnet; every thing in this building was a total loss. Next west, H. G. Stout's building, with his shoe shop, and J. R. Sensor's clothing store below, and Mr. Stout's residence above, were burned. Mr. Stout was badly burned in attempting to recover some of his household goods. Next west was Wm. Mix's dry goods and grocery store and the post-office. Mr. Mix saved a portion of his stock, but the mail bags and office were burned. The last building burned on the west side was Mr. Eddy's. Mrs. Wilbur and family occupied the upper story ; not more than half their goods were saved.
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