USA > Illinois > Kane County > The past and present of Kane County, Illinois : containing a history of the county a directory war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion statistics history of the Northwest etc., etc > Part 44
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THE FIRST DEATH
in Rutland was Mrs. Hannah Rich, the mother of Elijah Rich, already men- tioned as one of the earliest settlers, who died in 1838, and was buried in the old grave-yard, on the farm of Mr. Starks. In 1840, Mrs. Starks (wife of E. R. Starks) died, and was the second interred in the Starks' burying ground. These were the first two mounds raised in this little " City of the Dead," to which have since been added many of the old pioneers of the early settlement. Adelia. Rich, daughter of E. Rich, was born February, 1837, and was the first white child born in the township. The first marriage was that of Lewis Bandal and Miss Brady. They were married in 1839 by Elijah Rich, the first Justice of the Peace of the Township.
THE OLD STATE ROAD,
from Chicago to Galena, was the the first highway through Rutland Township, and the great thoroughfare of travel between east and west, and was crowded with travelers of every class from "early morn to dewy eve," from the emigrant to the seeker after pleasure. A more complete account of this road is given in another part of this history.
THE RAILROADS
of the township are the Chicago & Pacific and the Galena Division of the Chicago & Northwestern. The last mentioned road was built through the township in 1852, and crosses in an almost northwest direction. The following anecdote is connected with the building of the road through this section : After the road had been graded, there came quite a freeze, on the breaking up of which a large hole " fell in " on the present site of Gilbert's Station, and in the graded work. It seemed to be without bottom, and the more they tried to fill
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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY
it the less progress appeared to be made. Entire trees were dumped into it, and all kinds of rubbish poked into its capacious maw with little avail, until some of the more superstitiously inclined decided that, if it was not the bottomless pit itself, it must be the famed " Symmes' Hole." Finally, after industriously employing the whole corps of workmen for several days upon it, they succeeded in filling it. A large amount of freight is daily shipped from Gilbert's Station, consisting chiefly of milk sent to Chicago. This alone is an important item, and for the year 1877, the amount paid for freight, on milk exclusively, was as fol- lows : January, $862.00; February, $865.00; March, $1,009.00; April, $1,046.00; May, $1,130.00; June, $1,179.00; July, $1,022.00; August, $1,108.00 ; September, $978.00; October, $985.00; November, $939.00 ; December, $864.00, making a total of $11,987.00. Other freights are light, as milk is the main staple of this community.
Gilbert's, or Rutlandville, comprises the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 23, and west half of Section 24. It. was surveyed in June, 1875, and laid out in village lots by Andrew Pingree, and is owned, principally, by him and Elijah Wilcox. There is in the place one general store, kept by John Kelley, who is Postmaster and Express Agent, and is doing a very good busi- ness ; one steam feed-mill, owned by Messrs. Eatinger, Mason & O'Brien, and which is crowded to its utmost capacity to supply the demand for this class of feed. It has, also, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, and the best school house in the township. The post office was established here at an early date, as noticed further back. John Mann was the first Postmaster, and, after hold- ing the office for some years, was succeeded by John McGraw, and he by Nicholas Freeman ; John Martin succeeded Freeman, and, after serving for six years, was succeeded by Mr. Kelley, the present Postmaster.
THE CHICAGO & PACIFIC RAILROAD
was built in 1874. It had a hard struggle for existence, and every influence was brought to bear in opposition to the project. The company did not even receive the right of way, except at the highest market value, from a single in- dividual, after leaving Elgin, until reaching the lands of Andrew and Doctor Pingree, who, in addition to donating the right of way, contributed some fifteen hundred dollars in cash. Quite a strong contest for the depot came up. Some wanted it east, and some west of its present location. It was finally decided by the Pingrees, who not only donated the ground, but built the depot, which is an elegant one, at their own expense. They have made the station what it is, and justly merit the reward of giving to it their family name. A great deal of freight is shipped from Pingree Grove Station ; but, like Gilbert's, the bulk of it is milk, and goes mostly to Chicago. The receipts for freight shipped during the year 1877 are as follows : For milk, $4,085.80 ; for other freights, $833.35; total, $4,919.15. Freight and travel are rapidly increasing from this point, which is destined, in our opinion, to become one of the main stations on the line.
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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
Pingree Grove has one general store, owned by Mr. Alfred W. Kelley, of the firm of Kelley & Hart, of Elgin, and is doing an extensive business. The post office is kept in this store. Mr. Kelley owns a magnificent hay barn here. with one of the largest and best hay-presses in use attached. It is employed during the hay shipping season at its full capacity. The school house, which is owned jointly with Plato Township, and is exactly on the line, is a comforta- ble and commodious edifice, and cost $700. It is attended, on an average, by about fifty pupils.
Professor Hood, formerly of St. Charles Township, is putting up an elegant school building and residence combined. Hannigan's steam feed-mill is doing a large business in grinding stock feed, and is quite an institution in the neighborhood.
THE HOLSTEIN CHEESE FACTORY,
located four miles from Pingree Grove Station, and in the northwestern part of the township, was erected in the Spring of 1875, by James H. Gage, who is still the proprietor of it. It is an elegant two-story and basement building, the two stories being frame, while the basement is built of brick, and is larger than the average of buildings of this kind. The Holstein Factory is doing a good business, running, upon an average, up to its full capacity, and is under the management of one of the most skillful cheese makers in the country. A part of the milk is bought direct, while a part is worked up for his patrons, as is the usual custom with the factories in the county. A very great portion of the milk of Rutland Township is shipped to other points. Some is shipped from Pingree Grove, some from Gilbert's Station, while a large portion is taken to factories across the lines. The milk and dairy business comprises the principal source of industry, and is increasing in volume every year.
THE FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE
was a log one, built by the inhabitants en masse about the year 1838 or 1840, in the southwest corner of the township. No school was ever kept in it; as the township appears to have been, at that remote period, one of the bachelors, who, however, seemed to anticipate the time when such a building might become useful. There are now ten School Districts entirely in Rutland Township, and three union districts, all having good, substantial frame buildings, with an assessed valuation of $3.500. The first entry in School Records now existing is dated November 2, 1842. It was then ordered "that Francis Pingree be Treasurer." At a meeting held at the house of Robert Eakin, John L. Rowe and John Flynn were elected Trustees of Schools, in the place of Mason Sherburne and Joseph Randall, resigned. At that meeting, it was ordered that the town- ship be divided into five School Districts. There were no schools established in the town previous to 1842. It was voted May 20th, that M. M. Marsh and Daniel Pingree circulate a petition for the sale of School Section (Sec. 16). There seems to have been some trouble, at this time, about the name of the town, for we find an isolated entry in the School Records, as follows: "Num-
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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
ber of voters in favor of naming this town, 3; number of voters against naming this town, 7; number for naming it Meriden, 3; number of votes for the name Cumber, 1." At a meeting of the Board of Trustees, held at the house of Thomas Fraser, April 1, 1848, it was ordered "that all papers out of date, and of no use, be committed to the flames."
Mr. Samuel Eakin has held the office of Township Treasurer for twenty-two years in succession. The school funds, when he obtained the books, were but $26.00; now they amount to the sum of $4,300. Rutland has a school fund which ranks among the highest in the county, and it seems to have been well managed by the efficient Treasurer. In 1848, S. B. Eakin, Alexander McCor- nack and Daniel Duff were elected Trustees. July 7, 1849, there were eight districts, which turned out school children as follows:
District No. 1, 36; No. 2, 106; No. 3, 34; No. 4, 67; No. 5, 55; No. 5 East, 15; No. 5 West, 7; No. 6, 64; Total, 384. And in April, 1850, the number of children entitled to school privileges was: District No. 1, 42; No. 2, 84; No. 3, 40; No. 4, 78; No. 5 East, 29; No. 6, 87; No. 7,13; No. 5 West, 77; Total, 450.
The following teachers had presented schedules: J. Sprague, Betsy Pingree, Jeremiah Boggs, Mary J. McLord, Lavina J. Eakin, Betsy N. Pingree.
In 1855, there were eleven districts, and 619 children within the pre- scribed ages.
THE FIRST CHURCH
erected in Rutland Township, and the only one existing to-day, is of the Catholic denomination, and located at Gilbert's Station. The present edifice was built in 1855, on ground donated for the purpose by Andrew Pingree. It is an elegant building, of modern architecture, and cost $2,000. The society was organized several years previous to this, and built a small church about tow miles east of the present one, at what is known as the " old Catholic burying ground." This house was built of lumber sawed on Tyler's mill, one of the first saw-mills built in Elgin Township. Father John Guigin (a Frenchman) was the first officiating priest, but was succeeded in a few years by Father Scanlon, formerly of Elgin, but now living in Chicago. After the new church was built at Gilbert's, it was for many years in charge of Father Gallaher, who administered spiritual consolation to the full satisfaction of his flock. A few years ago, the society divided, and a large number went to Huntley, just over the line in Mc Henry County, to worship. About fifty families still remain in the old mother church, comprising about two hundred members, and are under the pastoral charge of Father Gormley.
IN POLITICS,
Rutland has always been a straight Democratic town, never having given a majority to one of any other political faith for an office of consequence ; and socially, her citizens are intelligent, enterprising and honorable.
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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
PLATO TOWNSHIP.
So far as can be ascertained with any degree of correctness, the first settle- ment was made in Plato Township in the early part of 1835. In the Spring of this year, John Griggs and son, also named John, came from Ohio and took up claims adjoining each other in the southwest part of the township. They had lived for some time in Du Page County, but came here, as above stated, in the Spring of 1835, and made permanent settlements. A man named Judkins located a claim this same Spring, and built on it, but sold out soon after and returned to his old home in Indiana. He and Griggs, Sr., built about the same time, and to one of them, but which one cannot now be determined, be- longs the honor of erecting the first house in Plato Township. That built by the elder Griggs is still standing, having survived the sunshine and the storms of more than forty years, that of its builder more than a decade. He kept the first tavern in the township, a small log house, and as it was on the direct stage line from St. Charles to Galena, he in that early time had plenty of patronage. As " mine host," he entertained his guests with plenty to eat and to drink, and his hospitality was proverbial far and wide. He died in 1861. John Griggs, Jr., still owns his original claim made in 1835, but has recently moved to Genoa, and his son, Eugene Griggs, occupies the old homestead.
John S. Lee, another of the early settlers, when about 19 years of age, came to Kane County from Putnam County, N. Y., in July, 1835. In the December following, he made the claim upon which he still lives. He owns a fine farm of over five hundred acres.
There were then but three log huts in the entire settlement, and the few families there did their milling in Du Page County, near Naperville, until sev- eral years later, when they went to Boardeman's, on the east side of the river, near Batavia, and, later still, to Elgin.
Mr. Lee was elected Justice of the Peace in 1840, and was the second in the township (John Griggs, Sr., was the first), and, after holding the office nine years, resigned.
Dr. L. S. Tyler came to Udina, in Plato Township, from Orange County, Vt., early in 1836, and located a claim. John Ranstead came about the same time, and took up a claim near Tyler's, and for a while both lived together. A family of Merrills were living near Udina at that time, but of them nearly all trace is lost. Mr. Ranstead died a few years ago, and his son-in-law, Mr. Britton, now lives on the old original farm. Dr. Tyler, finding no opening in Chicago, came to this township and went to work. He was eight years at Udina, and was the first regular physician in the town.
The following anecdote is illustrative of the hardships of those early times : In December, 1836, Dr. Tyler had been to see a man named Moore, between his claim and Dundee, and had gone in a wagon drawn by two horses. They
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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
(Ranstead was with Tyler) started to return home about 4 o'clock in the even- ing. Three miles distant, they came to Tyler Creek, so called from two fami- lies of Tylers who had settled near its mouth, in Elgin Township. It was frozen, had partly thawed, and dropped down so as to form a letter V. It was a very cold night, and the moon shone clear. After some deliberation, they concluded to see whether the horses would break in, and so took them from the wagon for that purpose. Ranstead led in first, and the horse broke in. Tyler then led the other, a rather poor old horse, into the creek. He was badly shod, and, his feet slipping from under him, he fell twice, when he gave up. Ran- · stead went to Olds', who lived a mile distant, for oxen to pull the horse out, while Tyler remained, in water up to his waist, and held up the horse's head, meantime, to prevent him drowning. A rather worthless cur, with somewhat questionable habits, which was with them, when the, oxen came seized one of them by the nose, which set up a hideous bellowing and ran home. They then bethought themselves to fasten a rope to the horse in the creek, and haul him out with the other, which they successfully accomplished, and, leaving him on the bank, wrapped in blankets, they went to Olds' to supper, having previously given the horse the remainder of a bottle of whisky which Olds had that day bought in Elgin, and was thoughtful enough to bring to the rescue. After supper, they went home, and it was so cold that, next morning, the ice would bear the wagon and team, and they were crossed over in safety. Dr. Tyler moved to Elgin in 1849.
Dr. Daniel Pingree came to Plato Township, in 1838, from New Hamp- shire, as noticed in the history of Rutland Township. After taking up his claim, he spent several years in traveling, and in teaching in the Southern States, mostly in Tennessee, occasionally visiting his claim in Illinois. He studied medicine, and graduated in February, 1849, at the Indiana Medical College, when he went to California, and practiced his profession in the Golden State for several years. He returned, in 1860, and located permanently on his claim in Plato Township, where he continues the practice of medicine. He has devoted con- siderable attention to the raising. of Norman horses, and owns some fine speci- mens of that famous breed.
William Hanson, a native of England, came to this township, in 1839, and took up a claim one mile south of Plato Center, upon which he is still living. He is Town Treasurer, an office he has held without change since 1844.
Thomas Burnidge, when but a minor, came with his parents from Massachu- setts, and settled at Plato Center, in 1840. He is still living, but the old couple " sleep with their fathers."
Indians were plenty in the country at the time of the early settlement of the township. When Mr. John S. Lee came to the town, in 1835, there were large numbers, he informed us, in this section. Though perfectly harmless at that time, they were rather disposed to be lazy, were arrant beggars, and re- quired watching, owing to a slight disposition on their part to take little things
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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
not strictly belonging to them. The last of them were removed to their reserva- tion, in 1836, made them by the United States Government.
The first birth, or one of the first, in the township, was Abijah Lee, born September 4, 1839, who, from the best information to be obtained, is believed to have been the first white child born in the new settlement. One of the most noteworthy facts connected with this, the first-born, is that he entered the army of the Union, at the commencement of the late war, where he continued faithfully serving his country until peace crowned her arms.
John S. Lee, already mentioned as one of the earliest settlers of Plato, and Miss Perry, of Campton, were the first couple married.
The " grim monster " appears to have favored this community, for no death had occurred until the population had increased to such an extent that the event was not felt nor noticed as it would have been in a more sparsely settled neighborhood, and there is no one now who remembers the first to cross the dark river.
A post office was established at Plato Corners, near the south line of the township, somewhere between 1840 and 1844, but was discontinued, after a few years, since which time the citizens of that section have mostly gotten their mail from Elgin. In 1854, they obtained an office at North Plato, of which Freeman Temple was the first Postmaster. Three years after, he was succeeded by C. M. Campbell, who held the office until 1859, when it was discontinued. It was re-established in 1869, with H. Eastman as Postmaster. After holding the office for four years, he was succeeded by L. E. Bamber, who held it until 1876, when he in turn was succeeded by Charles Cole, the present in- cumbent. A post office was established at Plato Center, with Thomas Bur- nidge as Postmaster, during the Presidential term of Andrew Johnson, but, after existing for seven years, was discontinued. In 1877, they again petitioned for an office, but from some cause failed to obtain it.
The first store in Plato Township was established at Plato Corners in 1848, by Levi Jackman, of Elgin, who, after a few years' business; closed it out and returned whence he came. The next of which we have an authentic account was opened in North Plato in 1854 by Freeman Temple, who continued it about four years, when he was succeeded by other parties, who, with some changes, have kept it in operation to the present day.
The cheese factories in this township are three in number. The first was built in 1866, two and a half miles southeast of Plato Center, and was run by Duncan Johnson, who finally became the owner of it. It was consumed by fire in March, 1876, and so speedily rebuilt that it was in operation again in two months from the burning. Soon after rebuilding, he sold this factory to Haw- thorne & Brother, of Elgin, who are still running it and doing a good business, Sometime before making this sale, Johnson built a factory at Plato Center, and commenced business in March, 1874. It is a good and substantial framy building, two stories high, and runs, upon an average, up to its full capacity.
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452
HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
In 1873, Peck & Son built a factory at North Plato. It is a stout frame two- story and basement, and remains in good condition. Messrs. Peck & Son are still the owners, but for the two past seasons it has been operated by R. R. Stone, of Elgin. It is doing a very good business, but at present is not run- ning up to the average capacity. These factories make up most of the milk for their patrons, but what is not thus made up is bought from them direct. A large portion of the farmers in Plato Township are having their milk worked up at home ; only a few along the north boundary shipping from Pingree Grove.
The first church in the township was built at Udina, by the Congregational- ists, in 1852. The society was originally organized in 1848 by Rev. N. C. Clarke, of Elgin, and the first preacher in charge of the little flock was Rev. Mr. Taylor, who, after one year's services, was succeeded by Rev. Mr. French. He remained in charge three years. Up to this time, the society had worshiped in the school house, but this year (1852) a good, comfortable frame building was erected, and formally dedicated by Rev. Mr. Clarke, who became the first Pastor of the society in their new temple. The church at present numbers 62 mem- bers on its roll of membership, and is under the pastoral charge of Rev. Mr. Sawers. A few years subsequent to the building of the church at Udina, the old Scotch Presbyterian, or Covenanters, erected a church in the "Northeast Corner " of Plato, near the line of Rutland Township, known as Washington Church, a name it still bears. Rev. Mr. Stewart was their first minister. Rev. Mr. Gaily is at present in charge. Sometime about 1865-67, the younger element, becoming more liberal in their views and dissatisfied with some of the extreme tenets of the old church, seceded and built a church of their own but a few rods distant, and which goes by the name of American Presbyterians. Being young and weak both in numbers and in finances, they feel themselves unable to support a preacher exclusively, and their pulpit is filled by Rev. Mr. Sawers, Pastor of the Congregational Church at Udina. Both of these Pres- byterian Churches are near the Rutland line, and are supported principally by the Rutland people. The Methodist Episcopal Church, at Plato Center, is an elegant frame edifice, built in 1859. The first sermon preached in it was by Rev. T. M. Eddy, of Chicago, who formally dedicated it to the worship of God on the 7th day of December of that year. The ministers in charge during its first year of existence were Revs. Woolsey and Call. The society was organ- ized about the year 1848, and worshiped first in the Town House and afterward in the school house, which they occupied until the building of the church. It is in a flourishing condition, has a large membership and is under the spiritual guidance of Rev. Mr. Whitcomb.
A church was built at North Plato, in 1873, by the Scotch Presbyterians. It is a handsome edifice, and cost about $3,000. Rev. Mr. McDougall was the minister in charge at the time of its erection. Other societies were formed there several years anterior to this period, viz., Baptists, Free-Will Baptists,
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BURLINGTON.
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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY. 455
Methodist Episcopal, Free Methodist, etc., who worshiped in the school house. All of these societies have either dwindled away or been merged into the Free- will Baptists, who alone now occupy the church. The Presbyterians still hold the church property, but from some cause have not used it for the past year. The first preacher permanently stationed in the town was Rev Mr. Elmore, a sort of missionary sent hither by the Baptists, about the year 1845. Transient ministers, however, had occasionally preached in the township previous to his coming. He organized a society at Plato Center about that time, but how long it existed no one now living can tell. A school house was built at Plato Corners in the year 1840. It was a log structure, and the walls of it are still standing. This was unmistakably the first school house built in the township. The first school was a general subscription school, and was taught by Charlotte Griggs. In examining the old school records, the first entry we find is as follows : " At a meeting of Trustees of Schools, held at the house of Solomon Ellison, October 23, 1841, there were present Stephen Archer and Franklin Bascom, Trustees, who appointed J. S. Burdick Treasurer." The bond required by law, as the records of that date further show, was duly made by him and accepted by the Trustees, they themselves being " qualified according to law by John S. Lee, Justice of the Peace." At a meeting held November, 1841, the Trustees " proceeded to lay off said Township into School Districts, as follows, to wit: Sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 23 and 24 shall be known as District No. 1; Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17 and 18 as District No. 2; Sections 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 as District No. 3, or Chicken Grove ; Sections 25, 26, 27, 34, 35 and 36 as District No. 4 or Otter Creek." After which the Trustees proceeded to appoint Directors for each district as laid out. At a meeting held December, 1841, " It was ordered by the Trustees, at the request of the legal voters of said township, that the Treasurer give legal notice that an election be held on the 8th of January, 1842, for the purpose of incorporating said township," and at a meeting held on the day named, at J. S. Burdick's, " It was unanimously resolved that the town- ship be incorporated." Signed by L. S. Tyler, David Bogue, Russell Throll, John S. Lee, J. S. Burdick, School Trustees, who were elected for the town- ship at this meeting.
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