USA > Illinois > Winnebago County > Rockton > The history of Rockton, Winnebago County, Illinois, 1820 to 1898 > Part 8
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
About this time a St. Louis man fitted up a boat and perform- ed the laborious feat with the assistance of two men, of run- ning up Rock river to Rockton, and then up the Pecatonica to Mineral Point, Wis. He took groceries and mining tools on his trip up, and a load of lead on his return. The boat being a light one with a comfortable cabin, the men would drive it up the stream with setting poles or pull it along with a tow line from shore, and when night came, tie up to rest for the next day's labor. It took a long time to make the up trip, but the return was greatly aided in speed by the current of the river. Only two trips could be made during the season. This plan did not prove very profitable and was soon given up.
During this year two barges were built in Rockton by Thom- as M. Coons and Charles Kane, for Capt. Harris, of Galena. The dimensions of these boats were a hundred feet long, eigh- teen feet wide and two and one-half feet deep. They delivered these boats at the mouth of Rock river where they were turn- ed over to Capt. Harris for use on the Mississippi river.
Sometime during the summer of this year a bear from the Wisconsin woods paid Rockton a visit, passing through the north part of the village and crossing the river near the dam. As soon as the Nimrods of Rockton heard that bruin was pay- ing his respects to the town, they were all after him with a good deal of energy. The bear was shot over on Sand prairie. This was the last bear found in Rockton. It weighed three hundred and thirty pounds.
John Clover was born in England, June 1, 1817. He came to Rockton in 1844, and located a quarter section of land on sec- tion seventeen west of Coon creek, which is now in the pos- session of two of his sons. He hired a part of the money to enter his land of Stephen Mack, and built sod fence to pay for it. He first lived in the village and built the stone house now owned by W. R. Axe. He also built the Webber house near the railroad station. He quarried the stone for the Cong'l church in the Bligh quarry. In 1853 he had a contract to grade two miles of railroad between Roscoe and Beloit, and also had a contract in grading some of the Racine and Mississippi rail- road between Beloit and Freeport. He purchased a part of the David Johnson farm on section twenty, and made brick there in 1858 and '59, in connection with Edwin Martin and Mr. Carlton. The brick yard was on the line of the rail-
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
road, and they made and shipped brick to Beloit to build the first Congregational church there. He died on his farm in November, 1864. His wife died May 26, 1877.
Thomas M. Coons first came to Rockton to live in 1844. For a few years before he had lived at Winnebago, the old county seat just above Rockford. The first of his work here was the building of the boats already spoken of. £ He was an active business man, and did considerable building in town in an early day. The stone building now occupied by B. B. Hill for a harness shop, was one of his first buildings. It was erected in 1845, partly. with the assistance of Mr. Kane. Soon after he had a job of dredging the river at the head of the island and making a dam there to deepen the water on the north side to facilitate the passage of boats and rafts. Mr. Mack got some kind of an appropriation for this purpose. He had the con- tract of furnishing the stone for the stone block when it was built about 1846 or '47. In 1848 he built a canal boat in con- nection with Charles Kane, to be used on the Illinois canal. It cost about $1500. It was taken to Chicago by the way of the rivers, and was considered one of the finest boat on the canal. In 1868 he in connection with Robert Penman built the stone store on the corner of Main and Prairie streets, now occupied by Mrs. Rummell as a drug store, and carried on business there until Mr. Penman sold out and went to Iowa. For the past twenty years he has been retired from business, and is now living in comfortable health, highly respected by all, and will be eighty-four years old on the 22nd of July. He was twice married. His first wife was a daughter of Charles Reed, and his second wife was Mrs. Daniel Fairchild, whom he married Nov. 7, 1849.
The first Carpenter bridge was built about 1844. It went through various stages of repair until it was succeeded by the present iron bridge. The Jones ferry did duty for the traveling public before this bridge was built.
E. Stanley Smith was quite an early setter, and at one time had a claim on the south half of section twenty-nine. About 1845 he started in trade in the new stone store built by Coons & Kane, and in connection with his grocery business was the first man in town to buy and pack butter to ship to an eastern maket. He paid ten cents a pound in trade for his butter. He claimed he did not make anything on his butter, but got pay
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
for his goods. He built a cottage on the Lampman block, where he lived. After staying in Rockton about two years, he moved to Beloit and carried on a larger business.
Jonathan Strickland settled here as early as 1844, and started a small store near where Mr. Bentley has his office. He mov- ed into the store across the street a couple of years later, after Mr. Smith went away. After a time he took Rumsey Hatch as a partner. Mr. Strickland purchased Mr. Smith's cottage and lived in it until he built the brick house now occupied by Mrs. George Gleasman. The cottage house was finally used for a school, and became known as the "cottage" school house. The The building was afterwards torn down. After doing busi- ness here about ten years, he sold out his interest in the store and went to Iowa. His wife was a sister of Mrs. Stiles.
Rumsey Hatch settled in Rockton about 1844 and soon after engaged with Jonathan Strickland in mercantile business un- der the firm name of Strickland & Hatch. After a few years Mr. Strickland retired from the firm, and the business was carried on by Talcott & Hatch. Mr. Hatch built the brick house as a residence which is now owned by Mrs. Trimmer. He was elected the first master mason of Rockton lodge, A. F. and A. M., which was organized in the town in 1849. He went back to New York state and died there. Mrs. Hatch died in Indiana some years later.
Charles Kane was a settler of Rockton as early as 1844, and engaged with Thomas M. Coons in building boats and other work. He was a stirring man of business. In 1850 he went to California with severel others, and stayed there about a year, when he started for home by way of Mexico. He died of mountain fever in the city of Mexico, about 1852. Dr. Hu- lett was with him at the time. His wife was a sister of Mrs. Stiles, and lived in Rockton for some years after.
Samuel Adams was here as early as 1844. He made furni- ture as early as 1845, especially chairs, and had his machinery for preparing the material on the water power on the site of No. two paper mill. The chair business was quite an indus- try for several years. Later he was engaged in keeping the brick hotel on the corner of Main and Center streets. When the location of the present river bridge was decided .upon, he was one of the committee, and did all he could do to have the bridge cross the river on a line with Center street so as to have
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
more travel by his hotel. After keeping the hotel for several years, he sold out and went to Iowa.
About this time a man by the name of Barbour taught the winter school here. He brought with him a roll of sheep's gray cloth and some woolen socks, which he kept in Mr. Halley's tailor shop. It was supposed to be all of his wealth. He after- wards started a store at Buffalo Grove, about two miles from the present town of Polo. When the Illinois Central railroad located through what is now Polo, he secured a part of the town plat and removed his business there. He made his in- vestment exceedingly profitable, for when he died about twen- ty years ago, he left his family a property worth about a quar- ter of a million.
Kendall C. Young was an early settler. He went to Cali- fornia in 1850, and after a few years came back quite wealthy it was supposed. He was a partner in the paper mill firm of Hollister & Co., from 1854 to 1856. He sold out his share in the paper mill to the Merrill Bros., for a stock of goods, and went to Iowa where he laid out the town of Mason City. The place became of consideable importance on the advent of rail- roads, and he had a good chance to amass a fortune.
Orwell Bailey came from Vermont in an early day and work- ed for the Talcotts. He was here through two sickly seasons, and was almost the only person who escaped from being af- fected by those local diseases known to early settlers. He brought about one hundred dollars with him from the east, and as he had been schooled to frugal habits, he saved a large part of his earnings, and was soon able to purchase a section of land seven miles south of Freeport. The Illinois Central railroad was located through his section, and a depot built on his land. He laid out the town of Baileyville. He subsequent- ly sold out at a good price and went to Iowa, where he could have more room. It is presumed that with his money making qualities he became very wealthy.
John Henry was an early settler. He was a broken down merchant from the east, and came out here to improve his fi- nances and his heatlh. He owned land east of town near Mr. Martin's farm. He at one time owned the house which is now - the residence of W. W. Austin. He was a man of considerable ability, and a member of the Cong'l church. He died here a number of years ago.
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
Alonzo Rice comes in with the early settlers. He was a member of the Cong'l church, and married Delia Carpenter. He lived west of the river, near the present residenc of Warren Graves. He was a constable for several years. One time dur- ing the term of his office, he was sent out to Harrison on a rainy day with a warrant to arrest a man. His prisoner refus- ed to come unless he would bring him, and as he had only a cart with a seat for one, he had to give up the horse and cart for the prisoner's comfort, while he tramped home in the rain and mud on foot. The prisoner presented himself before Esq. Weld, and was duly examined and discharded for want of cause; and when the tired and mud-bespattered constable arrived, the business was all done and his chances for a fee adequate to his wounded feelings was exceedingly small. He moved to Buffalo, N. Y., and engaged in the grain business.
Seth Taylor was ranked with the old settlers, and was elect- ed one of the first constables. He was a sort of an old bache- lor, so he lavished his affections on his beautful pony, which he thought as much of as an Arab would of his splendid steed. One morning on visiting his stable, he found his pony gone, and despair was in his heart at once .. He soon got the town pretty well aroused to the necessity of putting out to find the missing animal, when Dr. VanBrunt came into town riding the missing pony. The doctor had had a pressing midnight call to go into the country, and for want of a horse, had indi- vidually arranged with the pony to take him out. Mr. Taylor died in Rockton. May 17, 1845.
Alexander Miller was born in Caledonia county, Vermont, March 18, 1808, and came to Rockton in 1844. He married Mary Mackie, in Newbury, Vt., March 7, 1833. She was born in Scot- land, March 5, 1810. He built a house on the corner where the Methodist church uow stands which is owned by Susan Wal- lace. He next built the house now owned by old Mrs. Gam- mon. Both he and his wife were members of the Cong'l church. They moved to Shirland in the fall of 1854, and engaged in farming. They had a family of ten children. He died at his home in Shirland, Jan. 29, 1889. Mrs. Miller is now living with her daughter, Mrs. Jewett, in Harrison.
Joel Bradley came here in 1844, from Westfield, N. Y., and purchased the place first settled by Frederick Bird, who died Nov. 5, 1842. Mr. Bradley ocenpied this farm for a number of
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON
years, and built the cobble stone house, which for years has been a distinctive feature on the Roscoe road. He and his wife were members of the Congregational church. He sold his farm quite a number of years ago, and moved to Brodhead, Wis.
Dr. Charles Bradley, a son of Joel Bradley, was an 1844 set- tler. He married his cousin, Mary Ann Bradley, in 1845. They soon moved away.
Jolın M. Hulett settled in the township of Rockton as early as 1842, locating on the south-west quarter of section thirty- five. He held the office of county commissioner from 1846 to 1849. He was one of the administrators of the estate of Stephen Mack in 1850. After living in Rockton about ten years, he mov- ed to the town of Owen, where he was elected supervisor of the town for two years during 1854 and '55. He was a man highly respected by all who knew him. He died at the home of his son, Luke T. Hulett, in Owen, April 13, 1881. Mrs. Hu- lett died at her son's home at Latham Station.
Henry S. Westlake was an early settler of Rockton. He married Juan Fernandez Teed, April 24th, 1849. They were married by the Rev. Lewis Benedict. His wife died after be- ing married about a year, and then after a year or two he mar- ried her sister, Murilla Teed. He further married a third wife by whom he had three daughters. He held the office of sher- iff in one of the counties of Kansas during John Brown's ex- ploits there. He now resides in Chicago.
Calvin Harden was one of the Maine colony settlers. He lo- cated a claim on what is now a part of W. A. Phelps' farın. He was a member of the Cong'l church for a time, but must have left in an early day for some other locality.
Howe P. Teague was an early settler of Rockton township. He located on the north-east quarter of section three, which land is now owned by William H. Farmer. He married Mrs. Susan Foster, a sister of David Carpenter. They moved to Newark, Wis., where he died several year after. Mrs. Teague afterward married Luther Lawrence, and died in Rockton, April 29, 1892.
Hugh Jones was quite an early settler, and located land on the west side of the river, claiming the east half of section seventeen. He came from Canada with his family during the Papaneau rebellion, driving all the way with one horse. He
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established a ferry across the river just below the Carpenter bridge, which was in running order until the bridge was after- wards built. Mr. Jones and a part of the family lived on the claim and made some improvements, while his wife and some of the children occupied a dugout on the west bank of the riv- er and tended the ferry. Mrs. Jones was a fearless woman of nerve and combined with her great strength she was amply able to take care of herself without aid from the male side of the house. One day after she had set a man with his team across the river he tried to cheat her by refusing to pay full fare. This so enraged her that she up with her bony fist and knocked him clear into the river. Crawling out on shore the crest-fallen fellow was only too glad to pay full toll and depart with a whole hide. The early settlers who had occasion to use that ferry, had a wholesome respect for the prowess of that woman ferryman. The family moved up to Sugar river, and after a few years to Iowa.
William Leffingwell was an early settler and located a elaim on the west half of section eight. He died a number of years ago.
Lucius Fassett was a Rockton settler as early as 1844. He was a member of the Cong'l church for several years. He built the Keeney house, now the property of Miss Lizzie Swan, and lived there a number of years. At one time the house caught on fire when only two little girls were at home. With rare presence of mind they sought the water pail, but when they found that was empty, they thought of the well filled cof- fee pot, and by careful management succeeded in extinguish- ing the incipient fire. Putting out a fire with a lot of good coffee was a luxury which but a few indulged in, but in that case it was cheaper then to have the house destroyed. . Mr. Fassett moved from Rockton a good while ago.
Dr. Hulett comes in the list of early settlers. He owned a place south of Thomas Webber's residence, and practiced his profession for quite a number of years. He went to California with' Charles Kane in 1850, and was with him when he died in the city of Mexico. The doctor returned to Rockton, and later moved to Peru. Illinois, where he died.
Albert Hulett was born in the town of Veteran, N. Y., Aug. 14, 1833. Came to Rockton township with his father's family when about nine years old. The greater part of his life was
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
spent in the township of Owen, where he has a farm of two hundred acres. Quite recently he moved to Rockton and pur- chased the Merritt house on the south side of the park, which has since been his home. He married Rachel Ann Lake, May 1, 1856. She died Nov. 25, 1876. He married his second wife, Mary M. Feakins, Oct. 17, 1889. He held the office of supervis- or of the town of Owen for five years while living there, and since his residence in Rockton, he has served one term as vil- lage trustee and one year as president of the village. He is a man of exemplary habits and is held in high repute by all who know him.
1845.
The first bridge across the river at Bridge street, commonly known as the Thayer bridge, was built 1845.
Work on building the New England hotel was commenced this year, and the building was completed in 1847, and occu- pied as a store and hotel. It was a very fine building for those times.
ROCKTON SEMINARY.
The cause of education received a good deal of attention in the early settlement, and no sooner had the village assumed any adequate proportion, than the idea of a seminary was conceiv- ed and carried into effect. The school at that time was largely a subscription affair, so the transformation to a seminary un- der the same management and in the same building was large- ly in matter of name. Miss Mary Ann Bradley and her cousin Cornelia Bradley, were the first teachers after the school had assumed the name of seminary. The Teed sisters soon follow- ed, and having some means, bought the lot and built the house which is now the residence of Albert Hulett on the south side of the park. The building was used as a residence, but was intended as a part of the seminary building, which was to ma- terialize in the near future. The school was conducted about four years as a seminary under the instructions, first of the Misses Bradley, and then under the Teed sisters, but the bright dreams of a great institution of learning were never realized. So many bright and intelligent young women were attrac- tions the young men of the town could not resist, and matri- mony so disorganized the school plans, that the seminary soon
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON,
lost its individuality, and quietly slid back into the old grooves of a district school in 1849.
George C. Albee came to Rockton in 1845, from Grafton, N. H. He was a harness maker by trade and carried on the business for several years. He built the stone house now owned by Leonard Thurton, where he lived during his stay in Rockton. Both he and his wife, Susan (Mills) Albee, belonged to the Congregational church while living here. They moved to Mad- ison, Wis., and from there to Fairbault, Minn.
Emerson Albee was a brother of George Albee, and came here the same time. He was a tailor by trade and worked at that business while here. He built the Thurston brick store, now the resdence of L. D. Kincaid. He went to California in 1850, where he married and settled.
Thomas Harley came to Rockton township in the fall of 1845, and settled on Sand prairie. He deeded an eighty of land from the government, which had been a part of the claim made by Mr. Ordway. This was his home for a number of years. This farm is now the property of E. J. Veness. He died Oct. 11, 1859, at 72 years of age.
William Harley was born in the state of New York, Nov. 19, 1835. He came to Rockton township with his father's family when only ten years of age. He married Fidelia Miller, in Beloit. She was born in Vermont, Feb. 18, 1838. He lived in Shirland over thirty years, and during that time was town clerk nine years, and supervisor of the town two years. In 1895 he moved back to Rockton, where he now resides. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist church.
Amos Guptill came here from the state of Maine in 1845. He built the house where David Harper now lives. After living here a number of years he moved to Shirland and died there. He had one son and four daughters. His daughters married as follows: Almira Guptill married John Sterns; Flora Guptill married Doras Parker; Lydia Guptill married John Parker, and Abigail Guptill married Seymour Treat. His son John Guptill, married Emily Warren. They went to Dakota and he died there. She is now living in Shirland.
George A. Young settled here in 1845. He built the house owned by Willis Houston. He was engaged with his son-in- law, Charles Haven, in manufacturing chairs for a consider- able time. He was one of the charter members of the Rockton
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masonic lodge, which was organized in 1849. He went to Cal- ifornia in 1850. He died in Rockton a number of years ago.
Alonzo F. Chase was born in Westville, N. Y., July 4, 1810, came to Rockton with his family in 1845, and after a residence here of several years, removed to Waseca, Minn., where he died April 8, 1883, His remains were brought back for inter- ment in the Rockton cemetery. His wife, Martha Chase, died Oct. 9, 1866, at 50 years of age.
James M. Williams was a 1845 settler, coming first to Rock- ton, and then later on to the town of Harrison, where he has since lived. In 1849 he went to Chicago for the Talcotts, with six yokes of oxen and four wagons, taking 150 bushels of wheat and ten barrels of flour. He was gone twenty days, and brought back a run of burr mill stones, which weighed four tons, for the grist mill. Mr. Williams has held most of the offices in the gift of his town, and is a man in whom the community re- pose confidence and respect. He has a family of five children, and owns a fine farm worth about $10,000.
Valentine A. Lake was an early settler of the county, living first in the town of Owen, and subsequently moving to Rock- ton, where he devoted his time to buying and shipping live stock and grain. He married Miss S. M. Taft, a niece of Levi Taft, of Roscoe, Oct. 25, 1850. He held several town offices. He died Oct. 5, 1878. The family moved to lowa where they how reside.
J. E. Chase was born in Franklin county, N. Y., Dec. 25, 1830. He settled in Rockton in 1845. During most of the time he has been engaged in farming. He owns a house and lot in Thay- er's addition. He has been school director several years, and has served as street commissioner of the village several terms. His first wife was Jane Newton, and his second wife was Ma- tilda Jane Vanderburg.
Dr. John H. Carpenter was one of the first pioneers of Rock- ton, and located land west of the river as early as 1836; yet by reason of his services as traveling agent for the bible society for several years, he could not be claimed an actual settler un- til 1845. He was bornin Berkshire county, Mass., May 19, 1797, and graduated at Williams college, in 1824. As he never mar- ried, he made his home with his brother David the most of the time. He was a member of the Cong'l church for nearly half
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a century, and a deacon or church for about half that time. He died May 28, 1885.
1846.
Frederick J. Bentley was born in Columbia county, N. Y .. June 22, 1822. He married Sarah Crandall, in Berlin, N. Y., June 9, 1843. She born Feb. 17, 1823. They came to Rockton in 1846, and settled on land west of the river, were he secured a farmi of 240 acres. They had four children. He died Sept. 3, 1888. His son Frederick J. Bentley now occupies the old homestead. Mrs. Bentley is still living.
Aaron Shores was an 1846 settler as has been previously stated.
Orvis Shutleff was born in Canada, Oct. 29, 1817, came to Rockton in 1846, purchased land on section thirty-three, and engaged in farming. He married Sarah Smith, in Beloit, June 25, 1854. She was born in Canada, June 20, 1832. They had eight children. He died a few years ago.
Calvin Stevens was born in North Andover, Mass., Dec. 24, 1803. He married Rozilla Young, July 22, 1830. She was born Dec. 24, 1807, just one year younger than her husband. He was a ship carpenter by trade. They came from the state of Maine to Rockton in 1846, locating first in Macktown, but after- wards built the house on Center street which was their home as long as they lived. Mr. Stevens labored at carpenter work, and assisted Coons & Kane in building the caual boat. Mrs. Stevens was quite successful in doctoring the women and children of Macktown with roots and herbs, and was often call- ed to relieve the sufferings of the Indian women. They had five children, three sons and two daughters. The sons, Albi- on, Herman and George, all enlisted in the war of the re- bellion. Albion died in service and Herman came out a cap- tain. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens both died in Rockton. She died April 19, 1864, and he died Oet. 3, 1871.
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