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 47
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During the summer of 1835, important accessions were made to the settle- ment around the Grove. The township, from the first, presented inducements. to immigrants which they were not slow in perceiving. A high table-land above the fevers and chills of the river bottoms, and possessing all the fertility of the lower sections, with timber in abundance-the indispensable considera- . tion in the mind of a Yankee and a powerful one to the Hoosier, as well-a- land of hills and streams, resembling more than those of any other town in the county the Eastern country, it was the first of the back townships to be settled.
To the native of hills and valleys, the boundless prairies appear unspeakably flat and dull when viewed for the first time, and it often requires weeks and months to remove this first impression. The variety of surface in Blackberry, on the contrary, was the exact reverse of the extensive plains, dreary in their changeless beauty, which the pioneers had crossed on their way thither, and, consequently, many of them remained.
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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
Among those who settled in the above-mentioned year, were Harry White, Hiram Hall, David W. Annis, George Trimble and L. D. Kendall. White located at the south part of the Grove. Annis came from the State of Vermont, and located on land now owned by his heirs. He was a noted man in the town- ship during its infancy ; was County Commissioner and held several positions less important. It is said that he never sought for a public position and pos- sessed none of the contemptible qualities of the scheming politician.
In the Spring of 1835, John Souders, from Ohio, took up the claim where he now lives. At that time, Mr. Souders was a bachelor, possessing only a small amount of wealth, and worked for the farmers in the neighborhood. Late in 1835, between Christmas and New Year's, he married Mary Lance. The ceremony was performed at the log house of the bride's father, by Esquire Morgan, from near Yorkville, as there was no Justice of the Peace in the town- ship at that time. The marriage certificate was obtained in Ottawa, and an unsuccessful attempt was made to secure the services of a magistrate in Aurora, but none could be found in that place qualified to serve. In the same Fall, Martha Beeler-now Mrs. Cooledge, of Oregon-a daughter of David Becler, was born. This was the first birth in the township. After his marriage, Mr. Sonders settled upon his claim. His land has never been transferred nor mort- gaged, and the title is, therefore, one of the best in the county. John Vanatta settled in Blackberry in 1836, on land now owned by Mrs. D. Beeler. R. Acers was one of the proprietors, following Vanatta. Among the first settlers at the head of the grove were Messrs. Corey and S. Kendall. J. G. Acers, from the State of New York, took up the land where he now lives, in June, 1836, and James Smith, S. Platt and J. Calkins were in Blackberry, previous to the close of the year 1837. Mr. Sperry was likewise an carly settler, as were Messrs. Larkin and N. B. Spalding, near the present site of Blackberry Station. As might have been expected, the grove was entirely claimed, before settlers began to establish themselves upon the open prairie, and there were not a few of the pioneers who believed that much of the land which is now the most valuable in the State would never be inhabited. Taking a claim without timber or running water seemed to them an under- taking sufficiently wild to warrant the indictment of a man for insanity. It was cutting apart from all moorings. Still the prairie was, in process of time, set- tled, and many claims had been made upon it, at the time of the public land sale.
FIRST DEATH.
The first death of which we find any record in Blackberry occurred under unusually distressing circumstances. Mrs. William Lance was one of the numerous good women whose minds have been wholly absorbed within the lin- its of their own homes. She, therefore, found but little time to visit her neigh- bors, although one, Mrs. Vanatta, had frequently urged her to call at her place. At length, she determined to comply ; and on the 2d day of February, 1837,
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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
she left her five younger children at home, with one James Dawson, who boarded at her house, and in company with her husband, proceeded to the Vanatta claim. The chimney of the Lance house was built upon the Hoosier plan, with one of the wide-mouthed fire-places, so familiar among the pioneers. The members of the family left at home retired early. while Mr. and Mrs. Lance remained with their friends until late in the evening. A coal rolled from the fire-place upon the floor. The young man Dawson and the children were all asleep, and the house was soon in a blaze. One of the little girls, Sarah, awoke and aroused the others, who ran out of doors; but the terrified and bewildered child, to whom the others owed their lives, remained upon the bed, and the flames enveloped her. Pamela, the eldest of the children, saw her sister's danger, and running to the portion of the low roof above her, uncovered it, and reaching over into the smoke, had succeeded in touching her hand, when a gust of air sent a cloud of smoke and forked flames toward her, obliging her to desist from the brave efforts. Dawson, who was a youth of eighteen summers, did nothing to assist the little girl, or quench the flames, but according to tradition, sat upon the fence and watched the building burn. The child perished; and her parents, returning from their pleasant visit, discovered, with agony, the charred remains of their daughter amid the ashes of their dwelling. She was buried in the old grave yard, upon the farm now owned by C. Souders. The neigh- bors circulated a subscription paper for Mr. Lance, gave liberally, and rebuilt his house, thus restoring his property ; but the greatest loss no generous friend could return, and the horrible manner in which the child perished saddened, for years, the previously happy home. Mr. Lance died in 1873, at the age of 102, his life having been shortened by a cancer. His memory remained clear to the last.
FIRST ROAD, MILLS, ETC.
The carliest road through Blackberry was laid from Sugar Grove to Chicken Grove, about 1837, and was surveyed by Mr. Tanner, now a hardware merchant in Aurora. The first mills were wooden mortars scooped from oaken blocks, while common iron wedges served for pestles. Thus the grain was pounded, and the cake made therefrom was appropriately called pound cake. When grinding was required on a more extensive scale, the settlers made journeys to the distant hamlet now known as Dayton, but then called Green's mill. Here they were often obliged to wait for a number of days, as customers were invariably ahead of them, and the small establishment was patronized for a distance of over forty miles on all sides. They were joyful days for the Blackberry people when mills began to appear along the river in Kane County ; and Aurora, St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia thenceforth furnished them with the staff of life until the village of Blackberry became the business center of the town.
One of the earliest Justices of the Peace, as well as one of the best known settlers of Blackberry, was William West, who located on a tract near the grove
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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
now occupied by his heirs. He afterward removed to Geneva, opened a bank and became one of the fixtures of the capital, where he died a number of years since.
CLAIM ORGANIZATION.
At an early day, the settlers of Blackberry, in common with those of Sugar Grove, established a claim organization. In this organization, they bound themselves, under bonds of $2,000, to protect each other from claim jumpers. Asa McDole, a Justice of the Peace in Sugar Grove Township, drew up the writings, and Banker West bid off the claims at the land sale.
MISCELLANEOUS INCIDENTS.
A cheese factory is in the process of erection at Ball Mound and will soon be running and in operation.
The Blackberry people originally obtained their mail at Geneva (La Fox post office). The first in the township was at Blackberry Center.
One of the first churches built in Blackberry Township was a Union church, on the edge of this township, in or about 1853. And among the first preach- ers were Rev. Mr. Springer, of the M. E., and Rev. Van Deuser, of the Chris- tian Church.
BLACKBERRY VILLAGE
is situated 44 miles west of Chicago, and nine miles west of Geneva on the Iowa Division of the Chicago & North-Western Railroad. The original plat was made in 1854, by Jacob Johnson, and contained 40 acres. Since that period, additions have been made by Andrew Johnson, Horace Willis, Gates and L. K. Reed. The first house within the corporation was a small station house, built in the Fall of 1854. A Mr. Vandevere, at that time Station Agent, built a shanty just south of the railroad track, which is still standing, though recently moved to another part of the village. A store was built on the east side of Main street, by Henry Remington, in the Fall of 1854, and occupied by him for some time with dry goods and groceries. It was the first lot sold in the place, and has since changed hands several times, and was owned at one time by A. T. Gray, now of the firm of Gray & Warne. It finally came into the possession of John McElliott, and was burned about 1868. A house was built on south side of railroad in 1854, by M. D. Frary, which is still standing, but has been moved across the street, and is now owned by George Corby. The drug store of Dr. McNair-40 feet of it-was built by Fuller & Owen, in 1855, and occu- pied as a general store, such as are usually found in small country towns, by them for a number of years. The Free-Will Baptist Church and also the Christian Church were built during the Summer and Fall of 1856. At the close of this year, there were only five or'six dwellings inside of the corporation. The ware- house now owned by Willis & Swain was built in the Summer of 1856, by J.
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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY
and A. Stewart, as a grain warehouse, and long used in that capacity. Another grain warehouse was built in 1861, by N. L. Barber. These ener- getic men also opened the first lumber yard in the village. Gleason built a tavern on the spot now occupied by the hotel known as Hurd's Hotel, in 1858. H. S. Read built extensively in Blackberry at an early day. He built the handsome Read briek block, by far the best in the village, in 1860, in which are several business firms, together with the Masonic Lodge. E. Warne built an agricultural warehouse in 1866, which has been occupied as such ever since. Gray & Warne built the store, now occupied by them, in the year 1866. The store in which the post office is at present kept was built by John Scott, in or about 1856.
THE FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE
in the village of Blackberry was a small house, 22x24 feet, and had been in a union district of Blackberry and Campton Townships, and stood in the south part of the latter. Was bought, in 1860, by Blackberry, and moved over into the village, but has lately been degraded by being used as a hog pen. In 1860, an elegant frame school house, two stories high, and specially adapted to school purposes, was ereeted in the village at a cost of $3,000. It is daily attended by an average of 200 pupils. Miss Hattie Smith taught the first school.
The church organizations in the village are the Methodist Episcopal, Free- Will Baptist and Catholics. The Christians also had an organization some years ago, but it has gone down, and their church, at present, is used as a concert hall and theater, occasionally. The Catholies have a good stone church, built in 1868, in the south part of the village. It is well attended, and has a large membership. The Methodists have about 60 members, an elegant church edifice, which was built in 1862, and are in a flourishing condition. When the church was built, the Rev. Mr. Webster was Pastor, and so continued for years. He took charge of the little floek with a membership of sixteen, which, at present, number as above. The Free-Will Baptist Church was built in 1857, and their society in the village organized in the same year. The first preacher was the Rev. Mr. Coulton ; and the society, when formed, had some twenty-five or thirty members. At present, the attendance is regular, and a large congregation gathers every Sunday to hear the Word expounded.
The Masons, Odd Fellows and Good Templars have flourished successively in Blackberry village, but none of them exist here at the present day, save the Masons. Their hall is in Read's brick block, and is known as Blackberry Lodge No. 359, A., F. and A. M.
THE CHEESE FACTORY
was built in 1877, by Daniel Johnson, and is a good, substantial building. He receives about 2,000 pounds of milk per day, which is mostly worked up for
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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
his patrons. He designs increasing his capacity for the coming year, and of doing a larger business than he has done hitherto.
A post office was started here in 1854, of which William Ross was the first Postmaster. It was known as " Blackberry Station " office, at that early day.
The war record of the village was good, and a hearty response made to every call for soldiers to maintain the old flag. The names of some of those enlisted are as follows: H. and W. Tracy, N. D. Frary, Z. Hayes (deceased), A. S. Fuller, John Johnson, Reuben Fellows, and Jacob Matthewson, present Post- master, all served in the Eighth Illinois Regiment; Walter Ottway, H. Z. Tyde- man, W. H. Tydeman and J. W. Swayne served in the Fifty-fith Regiment.
Dr. Smith was the first located physician in Blackberry, and came in 1856. He, however, remained but a short time in the place, and was soon followed by Dr. Samuel McNair-probably about the Spring of 1860.
The first burial in the present village cemetery was Herbert Frary, a son of N. D. Frary, but the first death occurring in the village was Mrs. R. David- son. A. S. Fuller and Miss Hannah Johnson were the first couple united in the holy bonds of wedlock, within the corporate limits of the town of Blackberry.
The legal profession was represented by A. S. Babcock, first about 1858, and, at a later day, by C. H. White and F. G. Garfield. But the citizens are quiet, honorable and upright, and are not the most liberal supporters in the world of those " learned in the law."
Joseph Smith built the first blacksmith shop in 1854, which was torn down some years ago. It stood on the north side of the railroad, and was well patron- ized by the neighboring farmers.
To sum up: Jacob Johnson made the original plat of Blackberry in the Fall of 1854, as before stated, having bought the land from John Calkins, the original claimant. The next plat was the addition of Anderson, who was a Norwegian by birth ; and soon after Gates and Willis also made additions. Willis was a very benevolent man. and an enterprising one withal. He did considerable toward the improvement of the place, and contributed liberally to the building of the churches. He also built one or two dwellings. In 1868, a large steam flouring-mill was erected, to which the town gave $2,500. It is a large and substantial building, and is doing a good business.
1
LA FOX
is also a village of Blackberry Township, and is some three miles east of the village of Blackberry, on the railroad. It is a small place and situated too near Blackberry to ever grow to an immense size. The station was at first called Kane Station, and was established about 1858. Afterward changed to corre- spond with the name of the post office, which had been established under the name of La Fox. It was moved from Geneva, and new equipments sent there
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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
about 1859, and B. F. Dean was appointed the first Postmaster. The office is yet in existence and furnishes mail matter to quite a large scope of country.
THE CHEESE FACTORY
was built at La Fox, in the Spring of 1869, by Potter & Barker, who have operated it ever since. It is a large two-story building of about the average capacity. Most of the milk is bought direct from the farmers, and about one hundred thousand pounds of cheese is manufactured annually. They commenced the manufacture of butter in the Fall of 1877, and now run that branch of busi- ness pretty extensively.
The Potter & Barker elevator was built in 1868, by Dean, who then owned the place. It is a capacious building, and specially arranged for grain storage. It holds some 6,000 or 7,000 bushels.
The store, the only one in the village, is owned by B. F. Dean, and was commenced when the station was first located.
The first storehouse was a small, insufficient building, owned by Mr. Carlow, but in 1873 Potter & Barker built the present handsome store now occupied by Mr. Dean. The annual sales of the store are about $15,000.
The village has a splendid school house two stories high and containing all modern improvements and conveniences. It was built late in the year 1870, and is occupied during the entire school season. The very best of teachers are employed and particular attention given to all the branches of modern education.
BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP
is on the western line of the county, and is known as Township 41, north Range 6 east. It is an agricultural region, and equals in wealth any township, as de- void of towns and villages as it is, in Kane County. The population in 1870 was 919, and the tax book of 1877 shows the equalized valuation of taxable property to be $371,749.00.
From the most authentic information now attainable, there seems little doubt that Stephen Van Velzer made.
1 THE FIRST CLAIM
in the section of country now composing the Township of Burlington. He came in 1835, and located a claim twelve miles square, in which was embraced the larger part of this township.
The mode of making claims to land in that day was, it seems, for the party first in the field to claim as large a tract as he could plow around in one day. This is said to have been Van Velzer's title to his twelve miles square.
Allison Banker came from New York the same year, and took up a claim in this township, shortly after Van Velzer had settled. He married a daughter of
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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
Solomon Wright, who came from Putnam Co., N. Y., in the following year (1836), and settled near Huxley's Corners, in Burlington Township.
Mr. Wright had three sons, Baldwin, Elisha and D. C. Wright. Elisha is dead : Baldwin lives in Plato Township, while D. C. and their sister, Mrs. Ban- ker, still live in Burlington, near the original settlement.
P. R. Joslyn, a kind of migratory character, but a good man withal, settled in the town in the early part of 1836. He was originally from New Jersey, but had lived in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, From the latter State he came to Burlington. He had some difficulty with Van Velzer, in regard to his claim, who attempted to collect a sum of money from him as a bonus for the privilege of settling on it. Upon inquiry, he learned that Van Velzer had no just grounds for such demands, and so he settled upon the claim selected, in open defiance of him. His son, Riley Joslyn, came the next season, and took up a claim in the township.
In 1836, O. H. Ellithorpe came to Chicago, from Franklin Co., Vt., with his brother, T. C. Ellithorpe. They remained in Chicago three weeks, when they came out to Geneva, and stopped over night with one Herrington. From Her- rington's they went up the river to St. Charles, and from thence out to Esquire Griggs', who lived in Plato Township. They next went to William Paddock's, who lived six miles east of Geneva, in De Kalb County, and who was the only settler then between Burlington and Genoa. They had started for Galena, but turned back at Paddock's, and finally came and settled near Griggs', but over in what afterward became Burlington Township. Griggs had settled in 1835, as previously mentioned in the history of Plato Township. Mr. Ellithorpe made a permanent settlement-a claim upon which he lived many years. He is at present living in Elgin.
John Holden, from Pennsylvania, Asa W. Lawrence, from New York, and C. M. Andrews, from Hampshire Co., Mass., came out in 1837, and took up claims in the town, where some of them are still living.
Stephen Godfrey came from Orange Co., Vt., to this township, in 1839, and bought a claim from Van Velzer. This was in the Fall, and after hiring a piece of ground broken, he returned to Vermont and remained over Winter. In the Spring following, he brought his family to his new home and located perma- nently, where his widow is still living, with their only surviving son, Charles B. Godfrey. . Mrs. Godfrey said that in those early days she used to get so lonesome and so blue and discontented that it seemed almost impossible to remain a mo- ment longer in their cabin. In such moods she would go out and take a walk around their little patch of cultivated ground. After a few such turns, she would enter the house in a very complacent frame of mind, and perfectly con- tented with her lot.
In 1842, B. F. Chapman, from Canada West, and Stephen R. Ellithorpe, from Vermont, took up claims and located in Burlington Township, where both still live.
.
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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
James Roseborough, from the North of Ireland, settled in 1843, and is still living on his original claim.
David Sholes, from Genesee Co., N. Y., came to Illinois in the latter part of 1840, and after spending about a year in Knox County, and a like period in Galena, finally settled in this township, and at present owns and lives on the original site of Van Velzer's first settlement.
James Mann came from Wyoming County, New York, in the Fall of 1843, and bought a claim of 1,000 acres in the township, and after breaking a piece of ground and planting out an orchard, returned to New York and spent the Winter. In the following Spring, he brought his family to the West, and made a permanent settlement. He is still living on his original purchase-an old man, feeble in bodily health, but with a mind undimmed by the lapse of time. He celebrated his 84th birthday, which occurred on the 1st day of January, 1878, at the residence of his son, S. D. Mann, who gave the entertainment in com- memoration of the event. His children were all gathered around him, save one son living in Elgin, and two daughters who reside in Lockport, New York. Mr. Mann was likewise married on his birthday, and celebrated the 63d anniversary of his marriage, conjointly with his 84th birthday. When he came to the town- ship in 1843, Mr. Mann found, in addition to those already noticed, Eben Norton, Elder Isaac Newton, Spafford, Orlin and Joel Root, who came from the State of Ohio ; John and Stephen Ellithorpe, and J. W. Hapgood, from Ver- mont, all of whom had taken up claims and made settlements.
In 1849 Mr. Mann made a visit to his old home in New York, accompanied by his wife and two youngest children, in an open carriage. While absent from home, his house was burned to the ground, together with all his worldly goods contained in it at the time. When he returned from the East, he built an elegant brick residence on the ruins of the one destroyed by fire. It is still standing in a state of good preservation, and is occupied by one of his sons.
The claim law, at a very early day, was used in Burlington, and often to excess. We alluded, a little space ago, to the manner and mode of laying claims, by plowing around a certain tract of land. After one had made a claim of this kind, woe betide the individual who had daring sufficient to set his flimsy title at defiance. An instance was related to us of a man by the name of McClena- than, who had sold to one Mason a yoke of oxen for $100. Mason after- ward took advantage of the Bankrupt Law, and McClenathan, in order to get pay for his oxen, went to Chicago and got bond for deed of land that Mason held as a claim, and had improved to some extent. This was considered sharp practice on the part of McClenathan, and Mason determined on revenge for what he considered an outrage. He gathered a number of his friends around him for the purpose of giving him (McClenathan) a taste of claim law, or more correctly termed mob law. They stripped him and, after breaking the ice, " ducked" him time and again, until the poor fellow was half drowned, when he succeeded in escaping from the mob, who pursued him hotly to the village of
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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
Burlington. The Manns and their friends resolved to protect McClenathan, and so stood by him, and when his pursuers came, absolutely refused to give him up. High words followed, and savage threats were indulged in by the mob, but produced no effect. The mob disappeared for a while, but soon returned with forces augmented. Numbering fully fifty desperate fellows, they demanded their man, with an assurance that if their wishes were not complied with, the whole village should be treated to a coat of tar and feathers, while one, zealous in the cause, and more thoughtful than the others, flourished a rooster he had brought purposely to supply the feathers. But finding that McClenathan's friends were as determined as themselves, and moreover had the advantage of fighting behind the walls of their own castles, the mob finally withdrew, mutter- ing curses dark and dire upon the village and all connected with it. They never succeeded in forcing McClenathan to re-deed the land to Mason. In fact, many of the parties were arrested, and others, fearing prosecution, left the country. They came very nearly ending McClenathan's earthly career, and. as a consequence, suffered the penalty of their violence.
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