USA > Illinois > Winnebago County > Rockton > The history of Rockton, Winnebago County, Illinois, 1820 to 1898 > Part 9
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Love & Densmore made fanning mills in the forties for a year or two, and had quite a business. They occupied the building for a shop which is now a part of S. R. Gridley's house. There were two of the Densmores, Israel H. G. Densmore and his brother Solomon Densmore. They were both members of the Congregational church. After the fanning mill business was given up, Love settled in Beloit. Israel H. G. Densmore
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married Albina Merrill, Oct. 19, 1846, and went to Iowa where he died. Solomon Densmore married Fidelia Teed, April 5, 1848, and moved away in 1849. She was one of the teachers in the Rockton seminary.
The first meat market in Rockton was kept by Russell Nel- son, and for want of paper to do up the quantity purchased, the customer received his meat on a skewer. Then commenc- ed the ludicrous sight of seeing a man scooting up the street with his choice steak on a stick, and all the town dogs in hot pursuit. Happily this is all changed now, and Crawford & Co. will give you your meat nicely enwrapped, and guaran- tee exemption from dogs while in transit. Mr. Nelson was a shoemaker by trade and carried on the business here. He built the Montanye house on Bridge street about 1854, but sold it to Mr. Chamberlain before it was fully completed. He went to Pikes Peak during the gold craze and probably died there.
Stephen Morse was quite an early settler, and was a mem- ber of the Congregational church. He was in trade in Beloit with Moses W. Allen, for a time under the firm name of Morse & Allen. He married Sophrona Hooker, a daughter of Chel- lis Hooker. They went to Iowa several years ago, and he died there.
Charles Havens settled here quite early in the history of the town. He married a daughter of George A. Young, and for some time was in company with his father-in-law in manufac- turing chairs. At one time he had a furniture store in the Wight building on the Veness corner. He went to Pikes Peak and stayed there many years, and accumulated quite a proper- ty. He died there about two years ago.
1847.
Dudley Spurling came here from the state of Maine in 1847. He was a sailor, and had spent his whole time from manhood till coming west on the sea. He worked several years for the Merrill Brothers, tending the stables of the New England ho- tel. He built the Bushorr house on Chapel street, which was his residence as long as he lived. He was born July 1, 1804, and died Feb. 8, 1869. His wife Lorinda, was born July 2, 1812, and died May 2, 1868.
Erastus L. Stiles was born in Penn., Aug. 8, 1820. He mar-
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ried Miss Marantha Capron June, 1841. They came to this county in 1845, and to Rockton in 1847. He worked at his trade as shoemaker for a number of years. He was superintendent of Smith & Martin's shoe factory as long as that institution was doing business. He was the first agent of the Racine & Mississippi railroad, commencing Oct. 28, 1856, and gave a faithful and continuous service of forty years, till Oct. 28, 1896. He is now on the railroad retired list with ample pay for the remainder of his life. He served the public both as town clerk and clerk of the village for a number of years, and discharged many duties for the public good. He is well up in Masonry and loves the order for its high moral principles. His gener- ous and impulsive nature has not enabled him to lay by as much worldly wealth as some might have done in his position, but he has spent it wisely and well, and has the ever-abiding consciousness that he has done a great deal of good with his means. He has always been a devoted worker in the cause of temperance, and his life record has been consistent with his high conception of manhood. Mrs. Stiles was born Sept. 1818.
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Ralph Smith, who was an early settler, purchased the Mof- fatt farm and a part of the Weld farm. He lived in the stone
house now owned by Charles Clarage. He had one son and three daughters. His son, Asbury Smith, married and after a time settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where he and his wife both died. One of the daughters married W. R. Weld, one married Howard Adams who went to California .and died there, and the youngest daughter married George Guthrie, who died in Rockton of consumption. Ralph Smith and his wife died here many years ago.
Dr. Nathanael F. Prentice was an early physician in Rock- ton and practiced here for a number of years. He married Miranda Hyatt, a daughter of Jacob Hyatt, Nov. 20, 1851. They moved to Freeport and the doctor died there.
Frank Prentice was a carpenter by trade and followed that line of business most of the time. He built the David Carpen- ter house, and built for isaac Adams the house now owned by George Ellis.
Miles Prentice was an early settler, coming from Mt. Vernon, N. Y. He married Almira Norton, a sister of Mrs. Wait Talcott. They were both members of the Cong'l church. He was a car- penter and built the Dock Whitney house, now owned by Amos
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Burdick. They moved to Rockford in 1866.
Leonard W. Osgood was a settler of Rockton as early as 1847. He bought the George Stevens place opposite of Macktown, and built the stone house there. The property is now owned by E. S. Waite. During the high water of 1851, his place was all overflowed, and he and his family had to be helped away in boats It is said that the first intimation that Mr. Osgood had of the sudden rise of water was in throwing his hand out of bed and finding it touched the water which had become a foot or so deep in the lower story. After this adventure on a river farm, he bought the lots and built the stone house in the east part of the town, now owned by N. B. Kincaid, which was his home the remainder of his life. He and his wife died some twenty-five or thirty years ago.
Alonzo Sackett was here for a few years in an early day, and kept a livery stable. His brother, Elisha Sackett was here at the same time, and carried on the tin smith business. They both went to Iowa several years ago.
William Davis was an early settler of Rockton. He was a shoemaker by trade and worked for years for Mr. Stiles at that business. He built the house west of Mr. McCue's, which was the residence of his son, Edgar J. Davis. He and his wife died a number of years ago. They had several children. Mr. Lampman's second wife was one of their daughters.
J. Herva Jones was born in Canandaigua, N. Y., August 20, 1827. He came to Rockton in 1847, and was a resident of this place for sixteen years. He was an inventor of rare ability, and originated a corn planter which was extensively manu- factured and sold for a few years. He commenced making these machines about 1856, and during a part of this time the business was carried on by Jones & Randall. He moved to Rockford in 1863, and was superintendent of the Emerson, Talcott & Co's manufacturing works during the remainder of his life, with the exception of three years. He married Miss Paulena P. Austin, a daughter of Henry S. Austin, June 27, 1849. She was born in Maine, June 14, 1832. She resides in Rockford. Mr. Jones died in Rockford, Nov. 30, 1896.
1848.
Charles L. R. Manning was born in Canada, Feb. 19, 1821, and came to Rockton in 1848. He carried on the business of
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
harness making as long as he lived. He held the office of jus- tice of the peace for several years, and had been a member of the village board and school director. He married Miss Jane Baker, in Canada. She was born in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., Dec. 4, 1821. They were both members of the Methodist church, and were highly respected in the community. He died in Rockton, April 8, 1891, She died in Rockford, August 14, 1896.
Alanson S. Newton was born in Winsor, Vt., Aug. 1, 1795. He came to Rockton in 1848. He first lived on the Bligh farm, and after that built his house in town, which is now the resi- dence of A. T. Hart. He married his first wife, Polly Prentice, May 3, 1818, who died Dec. 5, 1830, He next married Eunice Palmer, July 17, 1831. She died April 29, 1877. Mr. Newton was an honorable and upright man, and held in high esteem by his friends and neighbors. He had been a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity for over sixty years. He died July 29, 1877.
Thomas Glover was born in Manchester, Eng., August 28, 1807. He married Miss Ann Collier, in January, 1828. At that time they were both members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. He was a zealous member of the Masonic fraternity. having joined the order in 1836, while living in Manchester. He emigrated with his family to this country in 1848, coming directly to Rockton, where he lived the remainer of his life. He worked in Thompson's woolen factory in Roscoe as spin- ner for a few years, and after that he devoted his time to sign and house painting. He died July 3, 1885, and was buried with Masonic honors. His wife was born November 16, 1809, and died December 11, 1884,
The first brick made in Rockton was in 1848. Jamies Preston started a brick yard on the south side of the river, where John Lally afterwards built his house. Isaac Adams was concerned in the enterprise, and the business was carried on for a few years. He made the brick for the Mansion house and most of the other brick buildings in the village.
James S. Cowen was born in Canada, December 15, 1835, and came to this country with his parents in 1848. He was a soldier in the war of the rebellion, entering the service as a private, August 6, 1862, and the rank of captain by brevet was conferred on him April 20, 1865. He was in the battles of Stone River,
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
Mission Ridge, Franklin and Nashville, and the Atlantic cam- paign. He was in the mercantile business for a few years. He has held several town offices, and is now supervisor of the town, which office he has held for the past four years. He has also served as village president and a member of the school board. He has been twice married; his present wife was Mrs. Sarah M. Lester.
1849,
William R. Weld was born in Le Roy, N. Y., October 12, 1820. He married Miss Mary Smith, a daughter of Ralph Smith. He held the office of justice of the peace for fourteen years, and was associate county justice during eight years of that time. He also held the office of town clerk, and was a member of the school board. He practiced law, carried on an insurance busi- ness, and for several years kept a hardware store. He moved to Rockford in 1872, where he lived the remainer of his life.
William A. Phelps was born in Wyoming county, N. Y., April 6, 1825. He married Miss Mary Jane Lippitt, in Crawford county, Penn., January 12, 1848. She was born September 2, 1822. They came to Rockton in 1849. and located on the farm on which they now reside. Mr. Phelps has held several town offices, been school director a number of years, and has been and actively engaged in the Methodist church and Sunday school, of which he and his wife are both members. They celebrated their golden wedding, Jan. 12, 1898. Mrs. Phelps first came to Rockton with her father, Dr. Lippitt, in 1836, when she was only fourteen years old; but retuned to her old home in Pennsylvania a few years later.
Seely Perry was an early settler of Rockton. He was born in Stockbridge, Mass., Aug. 10, 1822, and graduated at Union college, of Schenectady, N. Y., in 1845. He went South and en- gaged in teaching for four years. He came to Rockton in July of 1849, to visit bis brother-in-law, Rev. Lewis Benedict, and at the solicitation of Messrs. Talcotts and others was induced to take charge of the village school. The fall term was held in the school house in the park, but the basement of the Congre- gational church was completed by the end of the year, so on the first of January, 1850, he commenced his school in the base- ment with Miss Julia Adams, now Mrs. Frank Packard, for as- sistant teacher. During the summer of that year, he had a
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
house built, which has since been known as the William Cow- en house. It was put up by Frank Packard, and was the first house in town to be built wholly of pine lumber, which was all hauled from Chicago with teams. The house was destroyed by fire Aug. 23, 1886. Mr. Perry continued the school until the first of April, 1851, when he moved to Rockford. He sold his house to Dea. Luman Pettibone. Since living in Rockford, he has been engaged for over forty years in the lumber business.
Mr. Perry related a little incident in his experience while teaching in Kentucky. It was impossible to get help there to assist his wife with her little child, so the bright thought struck him to buy a colored girl, and thus effectually settle the vexed question of hired help. To think was to act, and soon he bargained for the colored house maid, subject to the approv- al of his wife, never once dreaming but that she would be pleased with the plan. With her birth and education in abo- lition Massachusetts, she was horrified at the idea, and could never bear the thought of telling her dear little innocent boy, that his father was a slave holder. The trade was declared off, and all of the impending evils were thus happily averted.
Asa P. Wiggins was one of the early settlers, and owned land on the south side of the river, south of the Harrison road, including the hill now owned by Lewis Fairchild, where he had his dwelling house. He died a good many ago, and was buried on his own land nearly opposite the south side school house. His wife Lucy Wiggins, was the administratix of the estate, and sold the land to Henry Shibley, in 1866, for the con- sideration of $1,100. The family went back to their old home in New Hampshire. The remains of Mr. Wiggins were taken up a few years ago, under the directions of E. L. Stiles, and sent to his children in the east.
William Webber came here in 1849 with his family, and pur- chased quite a quantity of land in the south-east part of the township. Most of this land was bought of David A. Blake, one of the first settlers of the township. Mr. Webber was born in England, March 26, 1804, married his wife, Miss Mary Hake, May 3, 1832, and in 1849 came to this country to improve their condition for their growing family. They had five sons and three daughters, and lived to grow up and settle in married life. He was able to give each of five sons a farm of their own. Two of his oldest sons, John and William developed a good
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
deal of mechanical ingenuity and got up the "Webber reaper," which was quite a noted machine forty years ago. John Web- ber is now living in California, and William Webber in South Dakota. Two sons Herman and Thomas devoted their time to farming. Thomas resides on the old home farm, and Herman has since disposed of his farm property and moved into town. Henry A. Webber was too much of a mechanic to content him- self on a farm. He invented and patented a number of useful appliances of practical utility, among which was a farm gate, a railroad snow plow, a track lifter, besides greatly improving the Carpenter angle sieve fanning mill, which he is now exten- sively manufacturing in company with B. B. Gates. He has also been engaged in building steam boats for river navigation.
After living on the farm for a number of years, old Mr. Web- ber and his wife moved into town in 1872, and occupied the brick house near the railroad station, where they lived the re- mainder of their lives, in the enjoyment of serene old age. He died July 19, 1889. She was born April 20, 1802, and died April 6, 1886.
The Talcott grist mill was enlarged in capacity this year by the addition of another run of stones which weighed six tons.
George Royden came this year, and for a time worked with J. B. Peterson at carpenter work. After following the busi- ness for ten or a dozen years, he started with a small stock of goods in the postoffice at the west end of Main street. From a small beginning he has gradually accumulated in wealth until he has now one of the most complete grocery stores in town, besids owning other valuable property. He has the rep- utation of being a thoroughly reliable business man, and the people have confidence in him. He has held the office of village treasurer for the past twenty-five years. He and John Veness are the oldest merchants in point of trade in town.
Thomas M. Thompson was one of the early settlers of Rock- ton. He was a millwright by trade, and found ready business among the many mill springing up on the water power. He built the Ran. McKay house opposite Jame King's, which was his home as long as he lived. His children are now all gone from Rockton. His son Henry who occasionally visits his old home, possesses rare talent.as a portrait painter.
. James Kincaid came to Rockton from the state of Maine, in the last of the forties. He worked at mason work principally,
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
and built for himself the brick house just north of Waite's ho- tel, now owned by Dr. Waite. He went to Dubuque, Iowa, a- bout 1852, and from that time his family has lost all trace of him. His wife lived here until a few years ago, when she died April 7, 1895.
Seymour Treat settled here in the last of the forties. He married Abigail Guptil. When the shoe factory of Smith & Martin started up, he traveled for the company selling their output. He went to Polo about 1854, and engaged in the live stock business. A few years ago he went to Chicago with a load of cattle, and while at the stock yards was accidently run over by the cars and killed.
The "Mansion House" was built in 1849 by Porter Vinten. He kept it as a hotel for a while, and was followed by Mr. Mo- sier. Mosier's wife died while he was living there. Then Mr. Kizer, from Harrison, kept the hotel until it was sold to Sam- uel Adams, who run it for a short time. Adams sold to Dr. Houghton, who kept it about the beginning of the war of the rebellion. Houghton sold to E. Smith Waite, the present owner.
There was a carding machine on the water power some time in the forties. It was built by J. B. Howell and run by a Mr. Davison. Quite a business was carried on for a few years. It was destroyed by fire about 1852 and never rebuilt.
1850.
THE FIRST TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.
The first teachers' institute ever held in the county, was in Rockton in the spring of 1850. Prof. Sweet was the manager. C. A. Huntington, the county superintendent of schools, and J. J. Andrews and T. J. L. Remington, of Rockford, were pres- ent; also Hiram H. Waldo, who was greatly interested in the cause of education, came up from Rockford to the institute. He was young and enthusiastic and highly susceptible to the charmes of the fair sex. The exercises of the institute had not progressed to any great extent before he discovered that one of the Rockton attendants was exceedingly handsome, and was as bright and intelligent as she was pretty. His admiration was of the high pressure order, and he was carried away with the though that he had met his fate.
At the evening session he was further delighted, and resolv- ed to ask permission to escort ber home. A ready consent
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
was granted, and the distance was all too short, so full was his mind of the beautiful air castles that he could see in the future. "Would he walk in," was the simple question at the door, but to him it ment a great deal. Most certainly he would, with vis- ions of a happy evening in her company. On entering she gave him an introduction to the gentleman sitting in the room, as Mr. Guthrie, her husband.
To say that our gallant knight-errant was dumfounded would be putting it too mildly. The sudden transition from the gilded pinnacles of his fondest hope, to the depts of dark despair was too overwhelming; and he longingly looked a- round for some friendly knothole to crawl into and completely hide himself. How he ever got out without giving himself dead away, he never could tell, but a good night's rest revived his despondent feelings, and "Richard was himself again."
The second day's session of the institute possessed new at- tractions, and the pretty face of Miss Daniels, a step-daughter of Stephen Mack, was the next one to draw our hero's attention. He escorted her home to Macktown that night after the eve- ning meeting, going by the way of Mack's bridge, and when they arrived at her home, she kindly informed him that it would be much nearer to reach his boarding place with Mr. Blinn in Thayer's part of the town, by going down the river, than to return through town. His knowledge of the intricate windings through Mack's woods on a dark night was exceed- ingly limited, but he had no doubt of easily finding the way. So he started out and traveled and traveled, putting in more energy as the time passed away, and when nearly exhausted he finally brought up at Mr. Blinn's at three o'clock in the morn- ing, the very picture of despair.
We are happy to state that Mr. Waldo eventually got back to Rockford without further mishaps, and although nearly fifty years have passed since that event, we presume he has not for- gotten the time when he attended the first teachers' insti- tute in Rockton.
Alva Mckay was a settler of about 1850. About 1851 he had machinery on the water power for turning butter bowls and other wooden ware. He also worked at house painting. He was a member of the Cong'l church. He died August 4, 1887. His wife Eliza died Nov. 27, 1857.
George H. Hollister was born in Marshfield, Vt., Dec. 14, 1822.
-
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
He came to Rockton in 1850, and besides investing in real es- tate, he had money to loan, which was his chief source of in- come. He served the public in various ways. He held the office of postmaster seven years, township treasurer sixteen years, served one term in the state legislature, and supervisor of the town four years. He married Miss Elizabeth H. Petti- bone, Sept. 23, 1851. She died Sept. 20, 1860. He next married Miss Fannie E. Hooker, Dec. 11, 1861. She was born Sept. 13, 1838. He died Nov. 2, 1890. The family now reside in Sioux Fall, S. D.
Dea. Dorus Pettibone was born in Orwell, Vt., June 18, 1799. He came to Rockton in the fall of 1850, where he lived the re- mainder of his life. He was an active member in the Cong'l church, also in the masonic fraternity. He owned a farm in the town of Owen. Eliza A. Pettibone, his wife, was born in Nor- folk, Ct., Jan. 25, 1803, and died in Rockton, March 1, 1862. They had three children, Rev. I. F. Pettibone, a missionary to Tur- key for thirty years; Philomela, Mrs. J. S. Houghton ; and Ellen Pettibone, who is now the only one of the family living, He died Aug. 27, 1865.
John Sterns was a settler of about 1850. He married Almira Guptill. He worked at carpenter work for several years, and afterwards moved to Polo.
John C. McConnell was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, Oct. 10, 1804, and married Arleta Marvin, Oct. 1, 1825. They came to Rockton in 1849. He bought a farm on Sugar river in 1855, and in 1857 he traded it for land in Wisconsin, near Bara- boo, where they moved. They came back to Rockton in 1869, and remained here as long as they lived, occupying the last years, the house south of the Thomas B. Talcott place. They were both members of the Cong'l church. He died June 22, 1881. She was born April 5, 1809, and died May 27, 1894.
Samuel Young, who came here from Canada, was a settler in the early fifties, if not before, and owned a part of the Blodg- ett farm. He sold out about twenty-five years ago and moved into town, buying the Robert Penman house on the south side of the river, where he lived till the death of his wife, Feb. 5, 1878. He then went to Shirland or Newark to live with some of his relatives, and died there. They had two sons in the war of the rebellion, William G. and Hiram. William died of his wounds while in service, July, 1864.
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
UNDER TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.
. The township organization system was adopted and put in force in 1850, in most of the northern counties of the state, Winnebago county being included with the rest. Heretofore, the local government was under the county system, borrowed from the southern states; but when eastern influence began to have a voice in the state legislature, the township system of New York state was held up in strong contrast to the way they had done such business in the states of Kentucky and Virginia. Hence a bill was passed to allow counties to vote for organiza- tion under the township system or run in the old way. Most of the northern counties adopted the new method, but for years after the southern part of the state clung to the old rule.
FIRST TOWN MEETING.
The first town meeting held in Rockton was on Tuesday, April 2d, 1850. Dea. William Bradley was chosen moderator of the meeting and John B. Peterson, clerk. At the election Sylvester Talcott received fifty-eight votes for supervisor, and Stephen Mack forty-five votes. The town officers elected were as follows:
Supervisor, Sylvester Talcott. Town Clerk, William Halley. Assessor, John M. Hulett. Collector, Ira Cummings.
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