USA > Illinois > Lake County > The past and present of Lake County, Illinois, containing a history of the county a biographical directory war record early settlers statistics history of Illinois the Northwest etc., etc > Part 22
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A Baptist Church was organized in the village about the year 1862, with about twenty-five members, Rev. Mr. Stimpson, Pastor. A house of worship was built during this year.
A house of worship was built by the Christian Church organization, in 1863. This church has now about one hundred members. Elder T. Johnson is the present preacher.
In Antioch Township, aside the village, are now the following churches and church organizations :
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
The First Congregational Church, of Millburn, organized in September, 1841, by Rev. Flavel Bascom, acting at the time as agent of the American Home Missionary Society.
The following persons constituted the original members : William Abbott, Mark Pitman, Jr., Merrill Pearson, Robert Pollock, George Trotter, Samuel M. Dowst, Alexander Kennedy, Eliza F. B. Abbott, Harriet Pitman, Lydia Pear- son, Elizabeth Pollock, Jane Trotter, Mary Thayer, Abigail Berry. Samuel M. Dowst was chosen Deacon and Clerk. Rev. E. G. Howe supplied the congre- gation as Pastor, a part of the time, for two years from that date. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. Lucius Parker, who supplied the congregation until July, 1844. At that time, Rev. William B. Dodge commenced to supply, and, at the close of a year, received a call to become their pastor, which he accepted on condi- tion that a house of worship should be built before he was installed, which was accordingly done. On the first of June, 1847, the house was dedicated, and Mr. Dodge was installed as Pastor. He continued in that relation until De- cember, 1862, when, at his own request, he was relieved. Rev. Calvin Selden Supplied from January, 1863, until May, 1864, when he was succeeded by Rev. H. Bross as Pastor. He has recently been succeeded by Rev. Mr. Bingham, who is the present Pastor.
Under the ministry of their Pastor, Rev. Wm. B. Dodge, the membership of the church was increased from sixteen to seventy-two, and now numbers about one hundred members.
The first church building or house of worship was built in what is now the village of Millburn, in the Township of Antioch, but near the line of Newport ; the members residing in the four towns of Antioch, Newport, Warren and Avon. The present house of worship was built in 1866, and opened for public worship on the first Sabbath in 1877. Rev. W. B. Dodge, generally known as " Father Dodge," was one of the landmarks in the history of the Protestant Church in Lake County. He was also active in the Anti-Slavery movement, and noted for his zeal in the Anti-Slavery cause. He died a few years since, at his home in Millburn, respected by all who knew him.
TOWNSHIP OF AVON.
This town, as a Congressional Township, is known as Township 45, north Range 10, east of the 3d P. M. The first claim of Government land made in this town was by a man by the name of Taylor, in the Summer of 1835, on the north side of the lake, since known as Taylor's Lake. He built a log cabin during that year, in the edge of the woods, south of the site of the present school house at Avon Centre, and commenced the work of a more commodious log dwelling. He left in the Fall of that year, and never returned, but con- tinued to hold his claim until 1837, when he sold it to Leonard Gage.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
The early settlers of this township were Noer Potter and sons, Churchill Edwards, Delazan E. Haines, Harley H. Hendee, David Hendee, David Rich, Levi Marble, George Thompson, Thomas Renehan, Leonard Gage, Thomas Welsh, A. F. Miltimore, Lawrence Forvor, Freeman Bridge, Nathaniel King and William Gray.
Gray's Lake takes its name from William Gray, who settled at an early day on the south side of the lake. That chain of lakes, sometimes called First, Second, Third and Fourth Lakes, were originally known as Gage's Lakes, from Leonard and George Gage, who were the first settlers in the vicinity, near the present east line of the town.
The first school house in this town was a log building, of hewn logs, and built by contribution of the inhabitants, in the southwest corner of the town, about the year 1841, on the present McHenry road, at the crossing of the north and south road on the quarter section line, which became known as the Marble School House, from Levi Marble, who lived near by immediately on the west. The first school in town was taught in this building. It is believed that a Mrs. Hankins was the first teacher.
The old building has been superseded by the present frame structure, stand- ing on the same site.
The first Post Office in this town was the Fort Hill Post Office. It was origi- nally established in what is now the town of Fremont. About 1840, it was removed to the house of Levi Marble, in the southwest corner of the town, who was appointed Postmaster.
In February, 1846, a Post Office was established at Hainesville, under that name, and Elijah M. Haines appointed Postmaster. In the Spring following, Mr. Haines, the original proprietor of the land, laid out and recorded the town plat of Hainesville.
About the year 1850, a saw-mill was built on Squaw Creek, in the western part of the town, by Nahum White, which was in successful opera- tion for many years.
In deciding upon a name for this township there was a spirited contest. A petition numerously signed by inhabitants of the township was presented to the Commissioners having the matter in charge, asking that the name of the town should be Hainesville. To this a remonstrance was filed by Freeman Bridge, Leonard Gage, George Thompson and Samuel L. Emery, who pro- posed the name of Eureka, whereupon the matter was referred to the inhabitants of the township for a further expression of their wishes, when, at a meeting held Jan. 21, 1850, at the school house near Leonard Gage's, now Avon Centre, Avon was proposed and agreed to as the name of the town. It was according- ly so named by the Commissioners.
At the session of the Legislature of 1846-7, an act was passed incorporat- ing the village of Hainesville. In the Spring following, it became organized by virtue of said act, as a town corporate, being the first village incorporated in
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
Lake County. The act of incorporation provided, among other things, that no road should be established within the limits of the town corporate, without the concurrence of the Board of Trustees thereof. There were rival points both on the east and west on the same line of road. The endeavor of those places was to effect a vacation of the road passing through Hainesville, and locate it further south, and thereby destroy the place. The real object of the incorpora- tion of this place was to obtain the power to prevent the design of its enemies from being carried into effect, which succeeded, and the place continued undis- turbed. Indeed, the rivals in question in time disappeared.
Hainesville is at the present time a flourishing village of about two hun- dred inhabitants. It has two stores and various kinds of mechanics found in a country village. The inhabitants have manifested their public spirit by the erection, recently, of a commodious building, having a publich all fitted up for public assemblies and entertainments.
In the northwestern part of this township is a small village called Mona- ville. It was originally called Barnes' Corners, taking the name of an early settler at that point. There is a Post Office here, called Fox Lake, and it is a point of considerable trade.
Among the incidents in the early history of this township, which may properly be noted here, is one which occurred in the Winter of 1843, known as the cold winter, during what is known as the great Millerite excitement. It had been proclaimed by Mr. Miller that according to the prophecies of the Scriptures, as he had computed the time, the world was to come to an end on a given day in March, 1843. The only building in the country for some distance around suitable for holding public meetings was the school house known as Marble's School House, hereinbefore mentioned. During this excitement, relig- ious meetings were held in this school house almost nightly. During the time of these meetings a hen's egg was taken from a nest, with others, on the prem- ises of Chauncey King, in the neighborhood of the place of the meetings, upon which was this inscription in raised letters of the same composition as the shell : "TIME ENDS 1843." This strange phenomenon was the cause of much excitement and alarm in the neighborhood, and became the subject of quite a discussion at one of the evening meetings, at which it had been produced by Mr. King. Many seemed ready to receive it as one of the "signs of the times," and conceded it was a forerunner of the end of time and the destruction of the world. No one present could account for the manner in which these letters had been caused to appear upon it. At length it was suggested by a person present, who seemed to possess rather more sagacity than the balance of the audience, that in his opinion the inscription was a matter of art and noth- ing more; that he believed he could himself prepare an egg upon which the letters would appear in the same manner ; and on his return home would make the trial, and if he succeeded, he would produce it at the meeting on the follow- ing evening.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
He accordingly made the experiment as agreed. The words " REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED " were marked with oil upon the shell. The egg was then put into strong vinegar, when, after remaining a time, the surface of the shell was found to be decomposing, but the acid had no effect upon that portion where the oil had been applied, consequently it left the form of the letters perfect- raised out from the shell in such a manner as to give the appearance of being so formed in nature. This, on being presented to the meeting, needed no explanation or comment. The humbug was exploded, to the chagrin of very many who had believed in it.
The exhibition of this egg produced such an effect upon the mind of an old man in the neighborhood that he hastened home to prepare for the event which he declared he was satisfied was near at hand. He had been for some time in difficulty with several of his neighbors, all of whom he summoned to his house and confessed his wrong to them, adding that his life had been one of trans- gression-which no one could dispute-adding that he desired to make suitable amends as far as he could during the short period that he would be allowed to remain on earth. He asked them to state terms of adjustment, to which he would accede. Settlements were effected except in one instance, which was postponed to a day fixed for the presence and concurrence of an absent party. But before that day arrived, eggs with like prophetic inscriptions became com- mon in the neighborhood, whereby it was disclosed that the letters were produced by artificial means, as before stated. At the appointed time, however, the aggrieved party appeared according to understanding. As soon as they entered the house, the old man sprang toward them, and with much earnestness, shaking his fist in that direction, said: "That egg business is all a consummate humbug, and I'll have nothing to do with you or your settlement ; get out of my house or I'll sue you for trespass."
. Levi Marble was the first Justice of the Peace who served in what is now the town of Avon. He was first elected in 1839, and continued in office by re-election without interruption for about thirty years.
George Thompson, who was his near neighbor, where he still resides, was the advocate for suitors in Justice Marble's court from the time of his first election while he continued in office, and still continues as the local practi- tioner at the bar in that vicinity.
The first town meeting in this town was convened at the hotel in the village of Hainesville, on the first Tuesday in April, 1850. Nahum White was chosen Moderator, and Leonard Gage, Clerk, at which the following persons were elected town officers : John Gage, Supervisor ; Orville Slusser, Town Clerk ; James Kapple, Overseer of Poor; Caleb Arnold, Loonard Gage and Robert Carroll, Commissioners of Highways; Levi Marble and W. B. Dodge, Justices of the Peace; John Salisbury, Collector; John Salisbury and Robert D. Gordon, Constables; Freeman Bridge, Assessor. The number of votes cast at this town meeting was 128.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
The assessed value of property n this town for 1850, including both real and personal, was $80.266.00. The amount of tax on the same was $1,037.23.
The total assessed value of real and personal property of the town for the year 1877 is $304,934.
The first minister of the Gospel who settled in this township was Rev. James Kapple, a Congregationalist, who came in the Summer of 1842, and settled on what was afterward the McHenry road, on the east of George Thomp- son's. There was no congregation or society of that denomination in the town, but he preached in the school houses in different parts of the town, whenever and wherever an audience would come together. He usually preached at the Marble School House and at Hainesville. He was liberal as to his religious views, and everybody went to hear him preach out of personal respect.
A church of the Disciples of Christ, otherwise called Campbellites, was organized in this town, at Marble School House, January 12, 1850; J. L. Cor- rell and A. R. Knox were elected Elders, J. L. Correll being designated as preacher. There were fifteen persons who united with the church at their or- ganization, as follows : J. L. Correll and Mary J., his wife; A. R. Knox and Augusta J., his wife; Chester Hamilton and wife, Dayton' Gilbert and wife, Wm. Dalzell and wife, Nahum White and wife, Abner Marble and wife, James Wickham and wife, Samuel Waldo and Otis Marble. In December, 1853, the church numbered forty-one members, many of whom have since died. In the next three years there were forty-three added to the church, and the num- ber added continued to increase from year to year thereafter.
. In 1866, a church edifice or house of worship was built at the four corners of the roads north of Squaw Creek, near Nahum White's. It is thirty-two by fifty feet, with gallery, and will seat about four hundred persons ; it cost about $3,000. The present preacher is Elder Joseph Owen. The church at this time is said to be in a prosperous condition. They have meetings once in two weeks, and good congregations. Elder Owen is doing much by example, as well as by preaching.
In 1850, the Methodists met at the school house at Gray's Lake, under the direction of Rev. Francis Reed, and formed a class of fourteen members. They have continued to increase in numbers, and have held service from year to year at the various school houses in the town until 1876, when a fine house of worship was built on the Antioch road, near Lozell Munger's.
The following are the names of the first members of the class formed as aforesaid : Rebecca Vandemark, Nancy Whitney, D. C. Lewis, Abigail Lewis, Laura A. Lewis, S. E. Vandemark, Henry Vandemark, Mary Vandemark, Lorenzo Adams, Chloe Adams, Lydia Lindsey, Minerva Dimmick, O. H. Craw- ford, Lucinda Crawford.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
TOWNSHIP OF BENTON.
This, as a Congressional township, is Fractional Township 46, north Range 12 east, and is the northeast township in the county.
The early settlers of this township were Nelson Landon, Jeremiah Stowell, Hanson Minsky, Henry I. Paddock, Philo Paddock, Jeremiah Porter, John R. Nichols, Chester Butterfield, Samuel P. Ransom, Rev. Salmon Stebbins, Ed- ward Putnam, Sr., and Oren Jerome. Nelson Landon was the first settler and built the first house in what is now the town of Benton. He came in the Fall of 1835, and built a habitation on the ridge about a mile south of the State line, on land which he still owns. Mrs. Landon was the first white woman that came into the town as an inhabitant.
As an instance showing the price of provisions at that day, Mr. Landon states that during the Winter of 1835-6, he paid the following prices : For flour, $35 per barrel; for pork, $25 per barrel ; for butter, 50 cents per pound ; for potatoes, $3.50 per bushel ; and for other articles of provisions, in pro- portion.
The name of Benton was given to this town in honor of Thomas H. Ben- ton, at that day one of the leading statesmen of the Union. No formal expres- sion of the inhabitants. as to the name of the town, was called for by the Com- missioners having the matter of laying off and naming the towns in charge. Col. Moulton, one of the Commissioners who resided in the town, suggested the name of Benton, and stated that it would be satisfactory to the inhabitants, and it was adopted by the Commissioners as the name of the town.
The town of Benton is a district of country not very prolific in historical events. It is strictly a rural town. It has no village in it, nor collection of houses that may be called such ; nor has it a store, tavern, grocery or public building of any kind within its limits, save its churches and school houses. Some thirty years ago, there was a tavern in the western part of the town, kept by Ezra Newell, at the forks of the Milwaukee road, about two miles north of the town line. Probably but few persons now living remember this fact.
In the progress of its history, this town has had its noted and prominent characters, some of whom demand here a passing notice. Nelson Landon, who has been mentioned as the first settler in the town, who became one of the wealth- iest men in the county, was for several years prominent as a County Commis- sioner, and as a leading spirit in the removal of the county seat to Little Fort. To him the credit of success in this movement is largely due.
Capt. Morris Robinson, who has been mentioned as prominent in the removal of the county seat, was in early days an inhabitant of this town. He was a marked man, and a person of much native capacity. In point of intellect, he was a sort of " rough diamond," but without much moral culture. He was a sailor by profession. In 1835, he was Captain of a schooner called the " Hiram,"
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
which that year brought lumber and other freight to Kenosha, Wis., then called Pike Creek. About the same time, or perhaps the next year, he landed lumber at a place called Boughton's Landing, near the State line, some six or eight miles south of Pike Creek. He was put forward by Elmsley Sunderlin and other leaders in the county seat question to work up public sentiment in favor of Little Fort, and to devise plans of operation to effect the removal to that place. He proved equal to the emergency, and sustained his reputation as a man of sagacity and ability. He claimed, however, in after years, that his labors were never rewarded, and died disheartened-cursing those whom he alleged had been faithless to their engagements.
Henry I. Paddock, who is mentioned as one of the early settlers in this town, was noted for his eccentricities. He never filled any public position, but was generally out on public occasions, and attracted attention for his oddity and native wit. He was a man without education ; of a genial and humorous nature ; a kind-hearted neighbor, and a true friend. He was noted as a horse- trader, in which he excelled from his excellent judgment in horses. His wife, whose name was Rachel, was a woman of strong mind and considerable ambi- tion. In some respects, she was perhaps his superior. In most matters of business, he submitted to her opinions. Whenever she interposed, so much so that it became a matter of general remark in the neighborhood; this, in- stead of being a source of humiliation, he seemed rather to enjoy ; at least he accepted the situation. In his intercourse with others, his manner was jovial and humorous, and whatever the occasion, in referring to himself, or in advancing an opinion, he would style himself "Rachel," or give it as the opinion of Rachel.
The first town meeting in this town was held on the first Tuesday in April, 1850, at the school house near B. T. Cook's. , Chester Butterfield was chosen Moderator, and A. Q. D. Leach, Clerk. The first town officers elected were as follows : For Supervisor, H. L. Putnam ; Town Clerk, A. Q. D. Leach ; Assessor, Calvin Truesdell ; Collector, C. Burrington ; Commissioners of High- ways, J. M. Moore, J. W. Bacon, C. Butler ; Overseer of the Poor, Chester Butterfield ; Justices of the Peace, E. H. Ellis and L. W. Bull ; Constables, A. G. Buell and P. H. Paddock. The number of votes cast at this town meet- ing was 86.
The total assessed valuation of property in this town, for the year 1850, including both real and personal, was $81,711. The amount of tax computed on the same was $1,234.10. The total assessed valuation of property in the town for the year 1877 was $251,800.
The first school taught in this town was at the house of Rev. Salmon Steb- bins, on the Milwaukee road, a short distance north of Newell's tavern, before mentioned, in the year 1840, by Miss Emily Stebbins. The expense was borne by the patrons of the school, as was the case with all other schools in the county in early days.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
The first post office in this town was called Otsego. It was originally estab- lished at what is known as the New York House, then a public house kept by Jeremiah Porter, in what is now the township of Waukegan. Mr. Porter was from Otsego County in the State of New York, and when this post office was established, he, having the privilege of giving its name, gave it the name of Otsego in remembrance of the county from which he had emigrated. The office was afterward removed into the town of Benton. This was the only post office in the county east of the Aux Plaines River, until that established at Little Fort in 1841. It was on the stage road from Chicago to Milwaukee as then traveled. In May, 1851, a post office was established on the Sand Ridge road, in the east part of the town, called Wellington, and Peter Lown appointed Postmaster. This road had then become the stage route from Chicago to Milwaukee. After the county seat was located at Little Fort, the route of this stage line, which had formerly run by way of the New York House and thence by way of South Port (now Kenosha), was changed to run by Little Fort, to supply the mail at that. place.
The Otsego and Wellington post offices were discontinued several years since. A post office has lately been established on the railroad at the State line station called Spring Bluff, being now the only post office in town.
The first school house built in the town was a log building, on or near the site of what was afterward known as Howe's School House. It was built, as were all the school houses in the county in early days, by contribution of the inhabitants. It was erected about the year 1841.
Rev. Salmon Stebbins was the first minister of the Gospel who settled and preached in this town. He was of the Methodist denomination, and came in 1837. He was a marked man, and a preacher of great power. He was one of the pioneer ministers in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Northern Illi- nois, traveling and extending his labors over a large district of country. In those days church edifices were rare; the religious meetings were generally held in school houses, indeed, every school house was occupied. as a house of worship. School houses, even, for many years were few and far between, all being built by private subscription. It was the custom of Elder Stebbins, in traveling over the country from point to point, whenever he came to a school house to stop in the neighborhood and invite the inhabitants to assemble and listen to a discourse. Preaching being rare, and the Elder being a man of impressive manner, he scarcely ever failed to obtain an audience. The Elder is still living, at an advanced age, in the enjoyment of health, at a place called Pikeville, in the southern part of Kenosha County, Wis., near the State line.
The first religious organization in this town was the formation of a class by members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at the house of Rev. Samuel Stebbins, in the year 1838, under his direction.
In 1842, the membership had increased to about one hundred, out of which, about the beginning of the year 1843, three classes were formed. This divi-
SAMUEL I.BRADBURY. EDITOR LAKE COUNTY PATRIOT 2 WAUKEGAN
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY
sion of the class was agreed to and arranged at a meeting at the school house heretofore mentioned, being the usual place of holding their meetings. The classes thus formed were located for public worship as follows : One at North Prairie, one at the school house on the Sand Ridge, called Dickertown, while the third remained at their usual place of holding meetings.
During the Millerite excitement in the Winter of 1842-3, the school house before mentioned was constantly occupied for religious meetings. It was the center of this great excitement in Lake County. The audience increased to that extent that it was found necessary to enlarge the building for the accom- modation of the increased number of attendants.
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