USA > Illinois > Winnebago County > Rockton > The history of Rockton, Winnebago County, Illinois, 1820 to 1898 > Part 6
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Said Mr. Comstock in relating this sad account, "I was nev- er more deeply impressed at any funeral in my life."
A box was brought forth containing the dead man's personal effects, which were hung on a pole supported by two crotched sticks driven in the ground. A mark was put on a tree and the young Indians were allowed to shoot at the mark, and as often as they hit it, they could take their choice from the arti- cles hanging on the pole. This was kept up until all of the things were gone. Having thus settled the dead man's estate in his own presence, the body was then placed in the shallow grave and tenderly covered with earth. Then the ceremony was over and the crowd departed.
A week later as Mr. Comstock was passing along the trail near the grave, he was attracted by hearing a deep, mournful sound, and on going a little nearer, he found the aged mother lying on her son's grave, and moaning as if her heart was
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broken. The mother love was as strong and abiding as in the white races.
For years after an oak plank marked this Indian's grave, but now the exact location is unknown. There were two other graves on the same hill in early times, but all trace of them is now lost.
Ansel Comstock was an early settler in Rockton. He was born in Conn., May 24, 1817. At one time he had a mill on the water power for sawing stone for window caps and sills and for other building purposes. This industry did not last long as it failed to be remunerating. He married Miss Mary L. Willard Oct. 14, 1847, and soon after built the Dr. Waite house, which was destroyed by fire March 14, 1895. He moved to Warren, Ills., about 1852, and six year after he returned to Rockton. He was interested for a spell in a planing mill on the water power. He was town collector for one or two years. In 1861 he secured the appointment as postmaster which he held to the time of his death, March 31, 1863. Mrs. Comstock was appointed his successor, and held the office 1111- til 1873. She first came to Rockton in 1841, and taught school for a number of years. During the last years of her life she made her home with her sister, Mrs. Thomas Talcott. She died in Rockton, Aug. 16, 1895.
FIRST BIRTHS.
Ann Gibson was the first white child born in Rockton town- ship. She was born Jan 22, 1839. She is now Mrs. Ann Gib- son Ruger, and resides in Chicago, Ills.
Lucy W. Peterson was the first white child born in the village of Rockton. She was born Sept. 2, 1839. She is now Mrs. Lucy W. Joslyn, and resides in Elgin, Ills,
William Ariel Talcott was the first white male child born in the village of Rockton. He was born Sept. 28, 1839. He now resides in Rockford.
FIRST DEATHS.
1st. Miss Cummings, a sister of Ira Cummings.
2nd. Walter Wight, a son of J. Ambrose Wight, who died Jan. 24, 1842, and buried near the guard locks in that part of the present cemetery.
3rd. Thomas Stokes who was drowned in the river.
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4th. A young man died at Jacob Hyatt's tavern by the name of Hopkins.
MACKTOWN.
In 1839 Mack built the large two story house which is now the sole survivor of that early settlement. At the time of its erection, it was the best house west of the lake, and but few e- qualed it in Chicago. It was built on a good stone foundation, the first in the place, and when completed was painted, which was a luxury rarely indulged in during those early times. He occupied this house until his death. He built other houses, but they did not involve such an outlay of money.
The first one built west of Mack's house was a frame struct- ure, and a story and a half high. The lower part was occupied for several years by Sylvester Stevens, as a furniture room and work shop. The upper story was reached by stairs on the out side, and was first used for a school house for Mack's children and such others as lived in the vicinity. Some Indian child- ren were induced to attend for a time, but all the effort put forth to educate them was comparatively labor lost. The dif- ferent teachers were paid almost wholly by Mr. Mack. This school was kept up until he built his school house in another part of the place. After the chamber ceased to be used for school purposes, it was rented for a dwelling. S. K. Blodgett tells of going to this school when quite young, but the most marked feature that he vividly remembers was on the occasion of the building being on fire. The teacher and scholars were greatly frightened, but prompt help soon put out the fire. One of the teachers of this school was Miss Jane McDowell. This building was taken down after Mack's death and moved over to Rockton, where it was put up again. It is now the residence of Thomas Jordan.
Still farther west was Mack's store. This was first carried on by Mack, but after a few years he took in his cousin, Merrill E. Mack, as a partner, which continued until the latter's death, March 25, 1844. After Stephen Mack's death, the nice black walnut counters of this store were sold to a Shirland man, and a lady of that place has now a wardrobe made from that material, which she prizes very highly.
Farther west still, and across the street running in a south- westerly direction to the Daniel Fairchild place, now owned by Fred Gleasman, was the double log house built by Mack,
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and first occupied by Eli Hayes. By reason of his willingness to entertain travelers in the newly settled country, it was dig- nified by the name of "tavern." Thus Hayer's tavern was one of the distinctive features of the early days of Macktown. Mr. Hayes and his wife Sophronia Hayes came to Macktown from Indiana, and were among the original fourteen members of the Congregational church. They kept this house till 1838, when it passed into the hands of Jesse Blinn. Mrs. Hayes died March 24, 1839, and Mr. Hayes soon moved away.
Mr. Blinn came from Toledo, Ohio, and arrived in Macktown with his wife and infant son, July 13, 1838. He occupied the Hayes house until 1843, and run the Mack ferry until the bridge was built, then he moved down to Thayer's part of the town, and while living there built the Griffin house, and worked at wagon making. He had his work shop in a stone builing near the Webber grist mill. He held the office of justice of the peace for a number of years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Blinn were members of the Cong'l church. They moved to Rockford in 1851, where he engaged in the hardware business. He subse- quently was interested in the manufacture of reapers. He
died in Rockford in 1879. While living in Macktown, Mrs. Blinn was in constant fear that her little boy would get lost in the woods, or fall into the river and be drowned. One day she missed him and started out with all a mother's anxiety to find him. Being directed by Mr. Mack, she sought the Indian camp, and soon found her child in the hands of the Indian boys. They had painted his face, fixed up his hair with feath- ers, and so transformed him into an Indian boy, that his own mother could hardly recognize him. It was but the work of a moment, to grasp him in her arms and take him home to be her own little boy again.
Mr. Whitman, who had settled in Macktown in 1841, next occupied the log tavern until he built the stone building, now in ruins, about 1846. He used it both for a store and dwelling, until about 1853, when he moved to Rockford, and about a year afterwards died there of consumption. The old log tavern has long since disappeared.
Farther along the road from the old tavern house to the Fair- child place, on the river side of the road, was the log house of a Frenchman by the name of Pelkey, who lived with a squaw wife. He was an educated man of fine appearance, and could
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.
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speak five different Indian languages. Another Frenchman by the name of Beaudine, living with a squaw wife, had a cab- in near the old tavern. A Frenchman by the name of Hemel secured the possession of section twenty-six, which was an In- dian float, by reason his squaw wife. He had an interesting daughter whom he was desirous of marrying to some white man, and made the following offer to Sylvester Stevens, then a young man in Macktown: "You takes my daughter," said the old Frenchman. "I gif him section land, bushel dollar, horse and vagon, forty pony and fifty hog." This marriage portion was more tempting than the dusky half-breed daugh- ter, but both were declined with thanks.
There was a frame house west of Whitman's store, on the river side of the street, which was built by William Shores in 1842. He and his wife Anna Shores, who were the parents of Aaron Shores, lived there a few years until Mr. Shores' death. The property was bought by Sylvester Stevens which was his residence until he moved over to Rockton in 1853. Some of the ruins of this house are still to be seen.
Along west of the William Shores house, and on the same side of the street, was the residence and shop of Henry Bates, who was the shoemaker of the settlement. He died in that house. Every trace of the location of the house and shop are now entirely gone. Still farther west in the same line, were the log huts occupied by French trappers with Indian wives.
On the west side of the street running south from Mack's bridge, and well up the hill, was the residence of Merrill E. Mack, which was quite a building for those times. He died in that house. Both he and his wife, Vienna D. Mack, were members of the Cong'l church. Across the street from this house was the Mack school house, built about 1846, and was used for both schools and meetings. Both of these buildings have since disappeared. Miss Mary D. Frost was one of the first teachers in this school house. She afterwards became Mrs. Thayer. She lived with Mrs. Isaac Adams for a number of years, and died Aug. 13, 1895.
Farther south of the school house was the cemetery. There Stephen Mack and his Indian wife were buried, and one of their children. Several other children and some older persons were also buried there. The remains of Mack and his first
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wife have been removed, and some others, but there are some buried there still. The site of the cemetery is now in a plow- ed field, and all traces of the remaining graves are wholly ob- literated.
Aaron Shores was born in Ontario county, N. Y., June 2, 1806. He married Jane Horton, in Bradford county, Pa. He came west with his family and settled in Macktown in 1844, where he purchased .a lot and built a house south-east of the Whit- man stone store. He was a carpenter by trade and built the present barn on the Mack place, for which he received forty dollars in cash, which sum in those early days, seemed quite a small fortune to him. Mr. Mack advised him to invest it in land, but he did not do so, which he regretted, in later years. His house was destroyed by fire in 1851, when he moved over to Rockton and built the stone house which he lived in until his death, which occurred Sept. 23, 1893. He was heartily en- gaged in the temperance work and was a member of the vil- lage board of trustees. He was a man of many virtues and was respected by all who knew him.
William Hulin was one of the early settlers of Macktown, living first with Mack and tending ferry, but when Mr. Blinn came he made his home with Mr. Blinn's family. The people soon learned that he was a man of ability, and elected him to the office of justice of the peace in 1840. He was elected county recorder in 1843, and county clerk in 1849, and was a very effi- cient county officer. He got out an edition of the school law with proper forms, which was a great help to school officers, This might have suggested to Haines his "Township Organi- zation Forms." He had an addition to Rockton laid out on the south side of the river in connection with George W. Rudd, which was filed for record, July 10, 1856. Mr. Hulin owned the the north-west quarter in section twenty-five for a number of years. He married the widow of Merrill E. Mack, in 1855. They both died in Rockford.
Sylvester Stevens was born in England, in 1820, came to this country with his parents when quite young. He learned the trade of a cabinet maker. He came to Macktown in 1838, and soon started a cabinet shop. He also worked at carpenter work in connection with his other business. In an early day he made a trip up north and built a sawmill at Steven's Point, Wis., for a man by the name of Stevens, who called the place
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after himself. He married Miss Louisa Shores, Nov. 11, 1851, and after living in Macktown until 1853, he moved over to Rockton, where he lived the remainder of his life. He work- ed a good while in the Rockton chair factory, and a number of years in the corn planter shop for Jones & Randall. He was a great reader and was well posted in matters of history. He also took a great interest in studying works on religious sub- jects. He derived great pleasure in accumulating a valu- ble collection of curious and rare old relics which he highly prized, but these were nearly all destroyed by a fire a few years ago. After that occurrence he seemed to have lost heart in trying to make any further effort. He died Nov. 27, 1892.
Hiram Leffingwell was an early settler of Macktown. His
wife was a sister of Mrs. Jesse Blinn. He located on a farm in the south part of township, which has since been known as the Herrick farm. It is now owned by William Halley. Mr. Leffingwell went to St. Louis in an early day, and held the of- fice of city engineer for a long time. While living there he accumulated a handsome fortune. He died in Florida in 1897.
Daniel Fairchild settled in Rockton township as early as 1836, and secured the north- west quarter of section twenty-six, also that part of the south-east quarter of section twenty-two, south of the Pecatonica river. On the latter place he built a house and resided there a number of years. He died of con- gestion of the lungs while living on the Flemings farm in the town of Owen. After his death, Mrs. Fairchild moved into Rockton and built the brick house now owned by Edward Shotleft. Nov. 7, 1849 she married Thomas M. Coons. They were married in Rockford by Bela Shaw, justice of the peace. She was born May 24, 1819, and died in Rockton, March 2, 1896.
MACK'S BRIDGE.
The following letter was written by Stephen Mack to Hon. Robert J. Cross while he was in the legislature:
PECATONIC, Jan'y 24, 1847.
ESQ'R. CROSS, Dear, Sir :- --
I am just informed that the people of Rockford are about to present a petition to the legislature, for an act to make the Rockford bridge a county charge. If this should be done, you will readily see the injustice that would be done to other parts of the county unless other bridges are put on the same foot- ing.
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You will see by the charter granted to David Jewett, M. E. Mack and myself, to build a bridge across Rock river at this place, it was intended that the bridge when built, should be county property and so maintained; but when the bridge was ready for inspection by the county commissioners, they ob- jected to the expense of rebuilding in case the bridge should be destroyed, and have refused or neglected to this time to have any action in the matter. It rests so at present.
This bridge, commonly called Mack's bridge, is the best one ever built across Rock river, and the first one ever built across said river in Illinois. It has a good draw about thirty-six feet wide, and is as permanent as such a structure can be built of wood; and it has more travel across it than every other bridge combined, except the Rockford bridge. Now if the Rockford bridge is to be put upon the county, this bridge (Mack's) must be included, or the greatest injustice would be done to the people of this part of the county.
If the county will take both bridges and maintain them, I should be much gratified, but to take one which is half rotted down and no draw, and reject one that has a good draw, and is otherwise perfect, would be too gross an act for a legislative body to commit if they are sufficiently informed on the subject. I conimit this subject to you and Mr. Miller in full faith that you will see justice done to us of the north in this matter.
The subject of the location of the lock in the Rockford dam is creating much excitement in some parts of the county. I can now repeat what I wrote you a few days since, that out of Rockford the opinion is unanimous that the lock should be in the dam and not in the race. Itis generally considered that placing the lock in the race will be tantamount to declaring Rockford the head of navigation.
Do me the favor to show this letter to friend Miller, and ac- cept the best wishes for him and yourself of your humble ser- vant.
STEPHEN MACK.
THE PECATONICA RIVER. BY JOHN GIBSON. Oh, river, calmly, smoothly flowing, With rippling waves the sandy shallows o'er, While over all the summer sun is glowing, On thy banks the flowers bloom once more.
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Upon thy breast the snow-white lilies slumber, Their fragrant cups filled with morning dew; And from each tree-top, birds in countless number, Their sweetest songs are singing unto you.
Like some fair maiden, who with downcast glances, And timid footsteps as though half afraid,
Thy waters flow, recede and then advances, In sunshine here; beyond in deepest shade.
The emerald setting of thy silver waters, Shifting the golden light and shadows there;
Proclaiming thou art, O, forest daughter, Of all bright streams, the fairest of the fair.
Thy solitary course will soon be over, And by thy name we shall know of thee no more; The hand of man will chain thee careless river,
Through dam and mill-wheel will thy waters roar.
No more idle wandering under shady arches, O'er rocky ledges and by pebble shore,
Thy limpid tide will step to quicker marches, When the united streams together pour.
Standing beside thee where the aspens quiver, A hope and wish is ours this summer day,
That we may be like thee, O, lovely river, All nature's mandates striving to obey.
Farewell, O river, may you surely find,
Far off that peace and rest yon leave behind; And when the ocean rolls beneath the tropic sun, Thy weary work be over and thy task be done.
Before proceeding farther we will give a short sketch of some of the first settlers previously mentioned.
David A. Blake was one of the very first settlers. He locat- ed a claim down the river and built a log house very nearly opposite the Indian encampment at Bird's grove, were he lived a number of years, until he built a framed house on the north- west quarter of section thirty-one, in range two. This was his residence until 1849, when he sold out his accumulation of land to William Webber and went to Iowa. The house was moved over and formed a part of the Webber homestead, now the prop- erty of Thomas H. Webber. The building was destroyed by
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fire April 20, 1877. Mr. Blake was the first constable in Rock- ton, being elected in the fall of 1836. His son Amos Blake, bought of Hemel, the old Frenchman, the west half of section twenty-seven, which property remained in the possession of the family until 1880, when it was sold and the parties went to Iowa. Fred Gleasman and Burdett Truman now own most of the land.
Darius Adams was born in Gilead, Maine, April 1, 1805. He was a graduate of Bowdion college in 1830. In 1833 he came to Illinois and settled in Ottawa. He came to Rockton in September of 1835, with his brother Isaac Adams. He made his claim on the north-east quarter of twenty-four, and a part of this land was in his possession as long as he lived. He was in company with the Talcotts for a short time while they were building the mill race and grist mill. In 1842 he was elected to the state legislature and served one term. After this he took but little interest in public affairs and devoted most of his time to the cultivation of his farm. In 1848 he laid out a part of his farm into village lots, which has since been known as "Darius Adams' addition to the village of Rockton." He was an excellent scholar, and had the reputation of being one of the best informed men in the community. For a number of years before his death, he was engaged in reviewing his ear- ly studies, which labor afforded him a great deal of pleasure. Though ailing for some time before his death, he did not give up until nearly the last. He attended the election on Tuesday and died the following Friday morning, Nov. 5, 1880. He never married.
Isaac Adams was born in Gilead, Maine, July 23, 1813, came west to Ottawa, Illinois, in June, 1835, and to Rockton in Sep- tember of the same year, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred April 15, 1883. He married in 1845, and had one daughter, who lived to be sixteen years of age. He was engaged in keeping store most of the time he lived here. He built that part of the stone block, known as the "Adams' store," now owned by Thompson & Baker. He possessed a very sympathetic nature, and his heart went out in kindness to those who needed a helping hand. Many could rise up and call him blessed, for the service he rendered them in by-gone days, while passing through the dark hours of financial trouble. In their half-discouraged condition, he cheered them by kind
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words and timely aid from his purse or provisions from his store. He owned the house he lived in which has since been purchased by George Ellis. He outlived his wife and daught- er, and in after years journeyed on in his loneliness, but still he was loved and respected by all his old neighbors and friends.
Charles J. Fox was another of the settlers of 1835. He was born in 1813. He located his claim in connection with the Adamses on the south-west quarter of section thirteen, and the south-east quarter of section fourteen. The addition to the village of Rockton known as the "Adams and Fox addi- tion," was located on the first-named section, and was filed for record July 17, 1847. Mr. Fox donated the lots on which the Cong'l church and parsonage were built. He started a plow shop in connection with Porter Bellows, about 1842, to make steel plows that would scour. Before this establishment was started, the farmers had to go to Grand Detour for such plows. The business was afterwards carried on by Wright & Willett, and later on by Willett & Vincent until 1858, when they moved to Capron. After the plow business was removed, the old shop at the cornor of Center and Franklin streets, was changed into a tannery, and was carried on by Fox & Manard as long as Mr. Fox lived. He died in Harrison, of typhoid fever, January 30, 1873. The family is scattered and the old homestead is occu- pied by strangers.
John F. Thayer was one of the 1835 settlers. He located his claim on the west half of the south-east quarter of section twenty-four. He married in 1838. He established a ferry a- cross the river at his place about 1840, or perhaps a little later, and built a bridge across the river, conneting with Bridge street, about 1845. He laid out and addition to the village of Rockton, called "Thayer's addition," which was filed for rec- ord, May 2, 1844. He opened his house to entertain travelers, hence it got the name of "Thayer's tarvern." One day he and Sylvester Talcott were riding over the prairie, and seeing a wolf they gave immediate chase. The wolf was finally run down, and a blow over its head from the butt of Mr. Thayer's heavy riding whip, effectually stunned the animal. He took it across his horse and carried it home, tying it fast with a rope to exhibit to his family in the morning; but alas, for the success of his private menagerie, the wolf gnawed the rope into, and like the traditional Arab, quietly stole away in the
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night. Mr. Thayer was one of the voters at the presidental election in 1836. He sold his place about 1854 or '55, and went to Iowa. He and wife visited in Rockton in the fall of 1890. He carried a gold-headed cane which was presented to him at their golden wedding in 1888. He died a few years ago in Min- nesota.
Pearley P. Burnham was one of the 1835 settlers, and lived in Rockton until about 1853, when he went back to his old home in the state of Maine. He owned the place where Isaac Brown now resides and kept a livery stable there in 1849. He also owned the brick house where Charles Laman now lives. He used to send his teams to the lake, hauling loads each way. He owned land on the Pecatonica river and hauled wood into town to sell. He became so crippled from hard work and ex- posure that when he got so bad as to be unable to work, his brother in the east came and took him home.
Capt. William Talcott, who may be justly termed the father of Rockton, was born in Hebron, Ct., March 6, 1784. He mar- ried Dorothy Blish in 1805. He settled in Rome, N. Y., in 1810. During the war of 1812, he served in the army under Gen. Win- field Scott, at Sackett's Harbor, and attained to the position of captain of a volunteer company, and served till the war closed. After making a trip to Rock river country in Illinois, with his son, Thomas Talcott in 1835, he moved his family here in 1837. He was instrumental in forming the Congregational church here in 1838. He also developed the water power by building the mill race and saw mill the same year, and the next year was followed with the building of a grist mill. He first lived in a log house near the mill race, but in 1843 he built a very fine residence on the site of the present Winnebago ho- tel, which was his home until his death. He laid out the vil- lage of Rockton, which plat was filed for record May 30, 1844. He was deeply interested in the growth of the town, and assist- ed largely in building the Cong'l church. When it was com- pleted he donated the bell, which cost $700 and weighed 1400 pounds. He was identified with the anti-slavery movement as early as 1844, and lived to see the cause he so nobly espous- ed triumph in the freedom of the slaves. He died at the ripe old age of 80 years, Sept. 2, 1864, highly respected by the peo- ple of Rockton and all who knew him. His wife died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Samuel Hersey, Nov. 24, 1879, over
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