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 48
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THE FIRST DEATH.
Each moment, in dying, bears with it a dead human being. Flowers perish and spring again, suns set at eve and rise again in the east, but the dead render not up their dead to mortal eyes. Death, the grand leveler of human greatness and human ambition, entered the infant settlement at an early period of its existence. Van Velzer's wife was the first victim of the grim tyrant. She died in 1837, and was buried amid the wild flowers of her prairie home. A native of the sunny South, her tender frame was unable to withstand the fierce winds of a colder clime. Others of the early settlers in time followed her to the better land. Joslyn, perhaps, was one of the first, and died about 1846-7. Stephen Godfrey died on his original claim in 1857, and Holden in 1875. Van Velzer sold out and moved into De Kalb County, where he died about the year 1867. Solomon Wright died many years ago, on the place where he first settled. Many of the carly settlers mentioned in these pages have removed to other sec- tions, and it may be that a number of them have made their last journey. All trace of them is lost, and whether they be in the land of the living or of the dead, we are alike ignorant. Upon those still surviving, the rolling years have written their record, and the hand of time silvered their hair with the frosts of Winter.
A post office was established in 1848, which was the first in the township. S. S. Mann was the first Postmaster, and held the office for a number of years, when he was succeeded by his brother, Franklin Mann, who held it but a short time, when S. S. Mann again took it; then John Ellithorpe was Postmaster for a while, then Henry Manchester, and he was followed by Walter Scott; finally the office went to A. J. Mann, who is Postmaster at present. Another post office was established, in 1868, at East Burlington, in the southeast
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quarter of the township. It was originally called Berkshire post office, but latterly changed to its present name.
The first frame house built in the township was put up by James Mann, in 1845, and was the one consumed by fire while the owner was absent in New York, as already noticed. He also erected a large frame barn in 1844, the first of the kind ever built in the town, and which is still standing.
His eldest son, Franklin Mann, and Gideon Sherman built the first saw-mill. This mill was put up in the village of Burlington in the Summer of 1850. It did faithful work for about seven years, when, having accomplished its day, it was sold, taken down and moved away. It cut the lumber for the plank road from Elgin to Geneva, a part of which only was ever built.
The first road through the township of Burlington was the old Territorial road from St. Charles to Galena, and was the regular stage line between those points. In the early settlement of the place, this road, together with the main line, leading from Chicago to Galena, were the only outlets from this section, save across the almost unbroken wilderness. On this road (St. Charles and Galena) Ezra Hanson kept tavern in a small log building, which was the first house of public entertainment ever opened in the township. But the continuous stream of travel pouring along this highway daily, induced other enterprising individuals to embark in a similar enterprise, until nearly every farm house on the road was a hotel, and every cabin a place furnishing " entertainment to man and beast."
The first place where the early settlers could exchange their superflous farm products for "store truck" was where Burlington Village now stands. At this point, S. S. Mann opened a store, in 1847, which was the first in the township by several years. In this store was kept, by Mr. Mann, as already stated, the first post office. With some changes in proprietors, and considerable changes in outward improvements, the store, as an institution, is still in existence, near the original location. The little frame building, in which it was first opened, has given place to a large and commodious brick structure, well filled from floor to ceiling. The present firm, Mann, Hapgood & Co., are doing a thriving business, and own the only store in the township.
The first church in Burlington Township was the Congregational Church, at Burlington Village. This edifice was constructed on as liberal principles, perhaps, as any church to be found in the country. It has been occupied by various denominations, without any regard whatever to their particular dogmas. The building was commenced in 1853, but was not completed until five years afterward. And although put up as a Congregational Church, and principally by that denomination (the elder Mr. Mann alone contributing about $400), yet it seems to have been used for years after its completion by the Free-Will Bap- tists. It was formally dedicated and opened for worship by the Baptists, in 1858, under the ministerial charge of Rev. Mr. Baxter. The Congregational Society was first organized in 1853, about the time the church building was
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commenced, but had become lukewarm and dormant at its completion. Hence its early occupancy by the Free-Will Baptists. The Congregational Society revived and prospered for a while, but at present is nearly extinct, and their church is occupied alone by the Baptists. The building is a large and com fortable one, about 30x40 feet, and well finished up.
The Free Methodists have a plain, but substantial church building, on the south line of the township. It is in a flourishing condition, and has a large membership. Long before a church was built in the township, Methodist circuit riders preached at farm houses; and even held protracted meetings. For several years, Godfrey's was used as a regular preaching place, and the Revs. Swift and Styles proclaimed the word of God there many years before the township boasted of a church.
The first preacher in the township was Elder Eaton, of the Free-Will Baptist denomination. He came from Ohio early in 1840, and organized a church, or rather a society, at the old log school house soon after. This was the first sanctu- ary of worship, and within its walls was preached the first sermon ever heard in Burlington Township. The shepherd of this early flock finished the work given him to do, and has long since gone to his reward.
The first doctor was I. W. Garvin, who practiced in this township for several years. What year he came to the settlement, and where from, could not be obtained. He went to California in 1849, where he remained for a time, and then returned and settled in the town of Sycamore, where he still lives.
CHEESE FACTORIES.
The dairy business, so extensively carried on in Kane County, is repre- sented in Burlington Township by three large cheese factories. The first one built was that at the village of Burlington, erected in 1871 by a stock company, Uriah Thomas taking $1,000 stock, and assuming the business management of the concern at the time. It is a two-story frame building, of the capacity of a majority of the factories in this section. It is doing a good business, but running somewhat below its average, and is owned at present by Mann & Roseborough. They make up the milk exclusively. In 1872, a factory was built at East Burlington, by Kraft & Parks. It is a large two-story frame, with stone basement, and is doing a flourishing business. It is owned at present by Duncan Johnson, a man heavily interested in cheese manufacturing in the county, and mentioned frequently in this history in connection with different factories.
Edward Jackson, in 1874, put up a factory on the south line of the town- ship. It is a two-story frame building of the usual style, and is doing a very good business. He makes up the milk for his patrons, and still owns and operates the factory. Nearly all of the milk produced in Burlington Township is manufactured at home, but a very small portion of it being shipped to other points.
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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
The first school house in the township was built between 1840 and 1844, by Root & Eaton. It was a small, log affair, and built on Section 10, on the St. Charles and Galena road, about one mile from the present vil- lage of Burlington. Who taught the first school in this house is, at the present time, a question involved in some doubt. A Miss Larrabie taught there at an early day, as also did Miss Nancy Hill. But to which one, or whether to either, belongs the honor of teaching first in this rude temple of science, cannot now be determined. Mrs. Catharine Ellithorpe, wife of John W. Ellithorpe, it seems, from the best information to be obtained, taught the first school in the township. She taught a school in her own house, in 1839, a year or two before the log school house was built. This method of schooling was often resorted to by the early settlers, when school houses were scarce, and educational facilities almost unattainable. Mrs. Godfrey taught a school at home, in 1840, when there was no school house in the township but the one before alluded to, which was not within the reach of the neighborhood where the Godfreys lived. Miss Fannie Putnam taught a Summer school, in 1842, in Van Velzer's barn. The present generation would doubtless turn up their indignant noses in lofty scorn, at the idea of becoming scholars under such dif- ficulties. Yet, little more than a quarter of a century ago, school houses were few and far between, in the great State of Illinois, and the people of those days snatched eagerly, at every opportunity to obtain an education.
The present schools of Burlington Township seem to be in a very flourish- ing condition, and to compare favorably with those of any other township. But of their history, from the early period of schools down to the present time, but little definite information can be obtained. Their records have all been destroyed previous to 1870, and nothing remains but the remembrance of some of the more important events connected therewith, in the minds of those directly interested in the matter. The following is the school report of 1871 : No. of school districts, 10; No. of pupils enrolled, 278; No. of teachers, 12; No. of school houses, 10; No. of school libraries, 6; No. of volumes in libraries, 300; amount of school tax, $3,271.02; amount paid teachers, $1,288.00.
In 1877, there were eight school districts wholly in the township of Bur- lington, and two union districts. These all have good, comfortable frame build- ings, with sufficient capacity to accommodate all who are entitled to their benefits. Franklin Mann is the present School Treasurer, recently having been elected to that office. The report of 1877 was as follows: No. of school houses, 10; No. of pupils enrolled, 313; No. of children under 21 years, 404; value of school property, $6,700.00; present school fund, $1,300.00.
The first marriage in Burlington Township was John Holden, one of the early settlers, and Miss Hannah Van Velzer, in 1840 or about that time. It is supposed that they were married by Esquire Griggs, who lived in Plato Town- ship, and who appears to have been in the habit of performing that duty as fre- quently as the sparsely settled community would admit of.
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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
The first birth in the township is a little obscure, as to date and to whom the honor belongs. Some claim that it was a child of Van Velzer, by his second wife (he having married a second time, in 1839), while others maintain that Mrs. Banker gave birth to the first white child born in the township.
Eben Norton and T. C. Ellithorpe were made Justices of the Peace, when this township was first divided from Plato, it and Plato formerly comprising Washington Precinct.
When the State was organized into townships under Government survey, in 1848, Washington Precinct was divided into two townships.
At a meeting held for the purpose of organizing, the subject of a name came up, when Mr. Hapgood, a native of Vermont, and still cherishing a venera- tion for the old Green Mountain State, moved the name of Burlington, which carried unanimously.
When Van Velzer came to Burlington Township, in 1835, he brought with him a negro female slave, but which became free according to the laws of Illinois. She remained, however, with the family for years, displaying all the devotion to them characteristic of that perculiar race. But longing for the old plantation where she was born, after the death of her first mistress- Mrs. Van Velzer-she wandered back to the old Southern home.
BURLINGTON VILLAGE
was surveyed by Andrew Pingree, in 1851, for James and S. S. Mann. Though about twenty-seven years old, it has not grown to a city, but is still a small, un- pretentious village. Considerable business, however, is done every year.
There is one large store, comprising a general and complete stock of goods, owned by Mann, Hapgood & Co .; one cheese factory, owned by Mann & Rose- borough ; one wagon and blacksmith shop; one church; one school house, and a post office.
East Burlington consists merely of a post office, a school house and a cheese factory.
Burlington Lodge No. 637, A., F. & A. M., was organized in 1867, in the village of Burlington. It was organized as Willing Lodge, U. D., but when chartered, some eighteen months subsequently, the name was changed to Bur- lington.
After the Masonic Lodge in Hampshire Township was removed from the old to the new village, the two being so near together, it was decmed advisable to discontinue Burlington Lodge, No. 637, and accordingly they surrendered their charter in the latter part of 1877.
CEMETERIES.
Burlington Village has a beautiful little cemetery, handsomely laid off and neatly kept. The first to occupy this necropolis was Miss Julina Mann, who died April 26, 1847.
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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
There is another small cemetery on the south line of the township, not far from the Free Methodist Church.
There are also several private burying grounds on plantations in different parts of the town.
Politically, Burlington Township is Republican. In the old times, however, it gave a large, in fact almost unanimous, Whig majority.
BIG ROCK TOWNSHIP.
The settlement of Big Rock is historically interesting, from its having been one of the earliest in Kane County, and from its position, which was adjacent to one in Kendall, of still more venerable date. As early as 1834, claimants had taken up large tracts in Little Rock, the adjoining township upon the South, and it is not at all improbable that some of them wandered, during that year, over the territory which forms the subject of this chapter. The first actual white settler, of whom any satisfactory records or traditions remain, was found occu- pying the banks of Big Rock Creek, in 1835. How long previous to that year he had been there with his family, it is difficult to determine, as there was no one in the country for a circuit of many miles, when he came ; and he seems never to have wasted any time in bragging that he was the oldest inhabitant. Esquire Mulkey, of Little Rock, states that when he first became acquainted with the country north of him, the settler was there, and Mr. Mulkey's arrival on the borders of Kendall County dates from 1834. Even the name that the man's mother gave him is involved in doubt and uncertainty. His family name was Cook ; and the people who purchased a portion of his vast claim say that he was generally known by the meaningless nickname of "Santy " Cook. His family was large in more senses than one, for they were all, like himself, gigan- tic in stature, and were numerous. They came to Illinois from Kentucky, and, for some time, lived in a tent on the creck, about a mile south of the spot now occupied by the little village of Big Rock. Justice Ament, who came in the Fall of 1835, found them there, and John Pierce, now a resident of the township, states that upon his arrival, the following year, the Cook family occu- pied a tent upon his original claim. Again, in 1837, we hear of them from L. J. Lamson, who came from New York City, and took up the claim upon the west side of the creek, which he still occupies. Mr. Lamson arrived late in the even- ing in the township, having made the journey from Chicago by stage, and was deposited, at his own request, near the creek. Wandering thence along the unknown stage road, he noticed a light in the distance, and approached it with the hope of obtaining comfortable lodging. Knocking at the door, he was received by a tall and uncouth individual who towered a foot or more above him, and was evidently suffering acutely from toothache. All of the rest of the family had retired, he stated, and, with Southern hospitality, invited him to do
E.G.KETCHUM DUNDEE TOWNSHIP.
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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
the same, adding that he might take his place, as his sufferings would not allow him to sleep. Accordingly Mr. Lamson laid down upon a space on the floor, which the young man assigned him, amid a number of recumbent forms only partially distinguishable in the dim light. Morning revealed to him a scene which he had not discovered the night before : Men and women lay promiscu- ously under their blankets, upon the floor, like savages in a wigwam ; the cabin was a wretched one in every respect, and there was a general lack of furniture and every comfort peculiar to civilization. All the men and women stood far above him as they arose, and all the family had reached maturity.
Some two years later, Shepard Johnson arrived from the East, and purchased a thousand acres of Cook. He returned to the East and went on a trip up North River, and was never heard of afterward.
The following June, Lamson went back to New York, and when he came West again, brought a stock or lot of goods for his brother, which they stowed away, during the night, in a stable belonging to L. D. Brady. They were broken into and stolen. This was the first theft committed in the township.
Matthew H. Perry, more commonly called Hale Perry, and his brother William Perry, from Berkshire County, Pennsylvania, went to New York in 1813, and in 1835 came West and settled in Big Rock Township. Hale Perry entered a large claim, on which he remained a number of years, when he sold out and removed to Burlington Township, where he still lives, enjoying a reason- able state of health.
In the Fall of 1835-6, Justice Ament came from the State of New York with his wife and four children. There were at that time but two families in the township-Hale Perry's and Cook's. He settled about a mile from the village, where he died some twelve years ago, on his original claim, which had been pur- chased from a man living just outside of the township.
John Pierce came to the township in 1836; Joseph Summers came with him, and also, Robert Nash. Indian Jim, a noted character, lived in the vicinity where Pierce located, and often did work for him.
James W. Swan, originally from Vermont, came from Chautauqua County, to Michigan, where he remained but a short time, when he came with his wife to Big Rock Township, arriving in January, 1836 ; Percy Taylor, from New York, came with Swan to Big Rock. Mr. Swan bought his claim from Hale Perry, as also did Taylor. In addition to Hale Perry, Justice Ament, Jos. Summers, Nash, Pierce and Whiddon were all in the township when Swan came.
James Hatch, from Oneida County, New York, came out, arriving in Cli- cago, in September, 1837. He went to Oswego, where he worked for some time building a grist-mill, but returned to his claim during the Winter. He had bought his claim from one Enos Jones, who lived over the line in Little Rock, in 1840.
James Dundee came from Ireland at an early day, and took up a claim, on which he lived some years. He died several years ago, in the State of Nebraska.
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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY
He was the inventor of one of the riding cultivators now in use and so popular in the Western States.
Daniel and David Evans and Thomas Jones came at an early day, and set- tled in the township. Ellen Jones, living in Blunt, is 97 years old ; Mary Jones-now Mrs. Pierce-came to the township in 1840. These parties all came from Wales.
In 1836, Robert Fisher, a native of Scotland, came to Big Rock, and set- tled in the northwest corner of the township, just below where Lamson was then living. S. Samson, who came from New York, in 1839 (now deceased), Robert Norton and Silas Long, from Ohio, were living near where Fisher settled. Perry, Taylor, Ament, Rhodes and the Swans lived on the west side of the timber in 1840. Rhodes bought his claim of Hale Perry, amounting to near 500 acres, where Blunt now stands, for the sum of $200. It was near Big Rock Creek, and to-day is worth, perhaps, one hundred times what Rhodes paid for it at that early period.
L. D. Brady, now living in Aurora, and Jesse Brady, living in Plano, came from New York, in 1837, and settled in this township, and bought their claims from the old man Cook, in the southwest part of the town, on the south side of Big Rock Creek, just north of Esquire Hatch's.
A man named Picksly came previous to the Spring of 1838, and settled near Robert Fisher.
Dr. J. T. H. Brady, a brother to the other Bradys, came in the Spring of 1838, and was the first doctor in the township. He did not commence a gen- eral practice of the healing art until the Summer of 1846, and soon after re- moved to Little Rock.
Dr. S. O. Long came the same year from Massachusetts. After practicing his profession some years in the township, he died.
One Matlock took up a large claim in 1837-38, where the Longs afterward settled, on the west side of the creek. A sharp turn in the stream about three- quarters of a mile west of Blunt is called Matlock's Point to this day.
Alexis Hall came at the same time as Matlock, and made a settlement.
Edward Whiddon and Maurice Price came as early as 1837. Rexford also came in 1837-38, and settled near Swan and Taylor.
Thomas W. Glasspool came to the township from "Merrie England," at an early period. He was married to Katie Cook, in 1838. George Peck's account of the marriage runs somewhat as follows : Glasspool took his bride elect and struck out for the Esquire's in the dead of the night. On arriving at the house of that functionary, who had retired for the night, and knocking at the door, received the inquiry, " Who's there ?" "Glasspool." "What do you want ?" " To get married." " Come in." The Esquire drew the bed-curtains for a moment, tumbled into his breeches, if such could be, and came forth looking as dignified as possible, and proceeded : "You, William Glasspool, etc., etc.," "and you, Katie Cook, etc., etc." "So help you God ; and may the Lord have mercy on
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your souls." The night of Glasspool's wedding was one of the coldest of the Winter.
Paul Colburn, now living in Big Rock Township, came from New York, in 1836, and made his present settlement.
Richard Morrison came from Wales, and settled in the township in 1840.
The first birth in the township of Big Rock was Edward Pierce, born in 1836. Calista Ann Ament was born in the township, November 13, 1837. This was the beginning of the fulfillment of the passage of Scripture, " Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth." And Big Rock has continued to do its duty in that respect down to the present time.
The first marriage was doubtless Glasspool and Miss Cook, as we have no account of one previous to that time.
From the green mounds and marble slabs to be found rather thickly grouped together in different spots of the township, we conclude that death has not been idle. Who the first was to meet it, we were unable to learn ; but the fact is evident to all, that many of the early settlers mentioned in these pages have gone to their eternal rest. "There shall be funerals hercafter, for many are laid out," and death, the grand leveler of human greatness, will sooner or later lay us all side by side.
In 1865, two daughters of James Davis (one of them now Mrs. James Davis, the other Mrs Edward Pierce) took the first and second premiums in horsemanship, at Chicago. They broke their own horses, and that, too, with- out saddles. Their debut in the city created a great sensation, which is not yet forgotten. They had their horses so well trained that they could make them kneel while they mounted.
A post office was established at the village by Brook & Hoskins, in 1837, and was at first called Acasto, afterward changed to Big Rock. This was the first post office in the township, and Orson Brooks was the first Postmaster. These parties also started a hotel, and were soon followed by Livingstone, Shepard Johnson and others. Johnson had money, but the others, except Thomas Meredith, possessed little of the world's goods.
The first tavern in the township was kept by Joseph Summers, on the Chicago and Galena State road, which passed through the township. Summers also kept a post office at one time at his tavern.
The first blacksmith in the township was Willard Coon. Isaac Hatch learned the trade from Coon, and afterward kept a shop on his claim. These men kept the first shop in that section, and worked for a large scope of country.
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