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 23
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A Baptist Church was afterward organized, and held meetings in this build- ing. In 1849, the congregation built a house of worship in the vicinity, being the first church edifice built in the town.
In 1868, the Methodists built a house of worship on the Sand Ridge at Dickertown, and another at North Prairie in 1870.
TOWNSHIP OF CUBA.
This town lies in the southwest corner of the county, and is bounded on the north by Wauconda, on the east by Ela, on the south by Cook County, and on the west by McHenry County. It is one of those fractional townships upon the west line of the county, being one only four miles in widtli, and six miles in length. It is watered by Fox River and Flint Creek, and several small rivulets, besides one or two small ponds. Flint Creek takes its name from Amos Flint, one of the early settlers of this township, who settled upon the banks of this stream.
As a Congressional Township, it is numbered Township 43, North Range 4 East. The early settlers of this town were Olcott A. White, Joshua A. Harn- don, John Aylesworth, V. H. Freeman, Amos Flint, L. H. Bute, Robert Conmee, Robert Bennet, Jared Comstock and Freeman Martin. Amos Flint was the first settler, and built the first house in what is now the town of Cuba, in the latter part of the year 1834, as is said. It was on Section 10, on Flint Creek, which takes its name from him, as before stated, near where the stream empties into Fox River. The route of travel for the army and those connected with the military and Indian service, from Chicago to Fort Winnebago in Wisconsin, in early days, about 1831, passed through or near the southwest portion of this town, crossing Fox River above what is now Algon- quin, and near what was afterward Denney's Ferry.
Mrs. J. H. Kinzie, in her book entitled Wau-bun, or the Early Day in the Northwest, gives an interesting account of a trip over this route, from Chicago to Fort Winnebago, with her husband and members of their family and guides, in the Summer of 1831. Mr. Kinzie was at this time' the Government Agent
C
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
of the Winnebago Indians, and was going to Fort Winnebago in discharge of his duties. In describing the journey, after crossing the Aux Plaines, she says :
" One afternoon's ride was over a prairie stretching away to the northeast. No living creature was to be seen upon its broad expanse, but flying and circling over our heads were innumerable flocks of curlews.
" The accelerated pace of our horses as we approached a beautiful wooded knoll warned us that this was to be our place of repose for the night. These animals seem to know by instinct a favorable encamping ground, and this was one of the most lovely imaginable.
" The ground around was carpeted with flowers ; we could not bear to have them crushed by the felling of a tree and the pitching of our tents among them. The birds sent forth their sweetest notes in the warm, lingering sunshine ; and the opening buds of the young hickory and sassafras filled the air with perfume.
" Nothing could be more perfect than our enjoyment of this sylvan and beau- tiful retreat (afterward known as Dunkley's Grove), after our ride in the glow- ing sun. The children were in ecstacies. They delighted to find ways of mak- ing themselves useful-to pile up the saddles, to break boughs for the fire, to fill the little kettles with water for Petaille and Lecuyer, the Frenchmen, who were preparing our supper."
In reference to pursuing their journey the next morning, Mrs. Kinzie con- tinues :
" It was the work of a very short half hour to strike and pack the tent, stow away the mats and kettles, saddle the horses and mount for our journey.
" Lieut. Foster had left us early in the morning, feeling it necessary to rejoin his command ; and, now having seen us ready to set off, with a serene sky above us, and all things 'right and tight' for the journey, our friend, the Sag-an-nash (' Englishman,' Billy Caldwell, a Pottawattomie Chief), took leave of us, and retraced his steps toward Chicago.
" We pursued our way through a lovely country of alternate glade and for- est, until we reached the Fox River. The current ran clear and rippling along, and as we descended the steep bank to the water, the question, so natural to a traveler in an unknown region, presented itself : 'Is it fordable ?'
" Petaille, to whom the ground was familiar, had not yet made his appear- ance. Lecuyer was quite ignorant upon the subject. The troops had evidently preceded us by this trail sure ; but they were on horseback. The difficulty was, could we get the carriage through? It must be remembered that the doubt was not about the depth of the water, but about the hardness of the bottom of the stream.
" It was agreed that two or three of the equestrians should make the first trial. My mother, Lecuyer and myself advanced cautiously across to the opposite bank, each choosing a different point for leaving the water, in order to find the firmest spot. The bottom was hard and firm until we came near the shore, then it yielded a little. With one step, however, we were each on dry ground.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
" 'Est-il bien ?' called my husband, who was driving.
" ' Oui, Monsieur.'
" ' Yes, John, come just here ; it is perfectly good !'
" 'No, no-go a little further down. See the white gravel just there-it will be firmer still there ! '
"Such were the contradictory directions given. He chose the latter, and when it wanted but one step more to the bank down sunk both horses, until little more than their backs were visible.
" The white gravel proved to be a bed of treacherous yellow clay, which, gleaming through the water, had caused so unfortunate a deception."
" Here was a predicament !. A few hours before, we had thought ourselves uncomfortable enough, because some of our horses were missing. Now, a greater evil had befallen us. The wagon was in the river, the harness cut to pieces, and what was worse, carried off in the most independent manner by Tom and his companion ; the pole was twisted to pieces, and there was not so much as a stick on that side of the river with which to replace it.
" At this moment, a whoop from the opposite bank, echoed by two or three hearty ones from our party, announced the reappearance of Petaille Grignon. He dismounted, and took charge of the horses, who were resting themselves after their fatigues under a shady tree, and by this time Lecuyer had crossed the river and now joined him in bringing back the delinquents.
" The first thing was to cut a new pole for the wagon ; and for this, master and men must recross the river and choose an iron tire out of the forest."
Mrs. Kinzie, after relating the manner of repairing the wagon and harness, adds :
"So great had been the delay occasioned by all those untoward circum- stances, that our afternoon's ride was but a short one, bringing us no further than the shores of a beautiful sheet of water, now known as Crystal Lake. Its clear surface was covered with loons and poules d'eau, a species of rail, with which at certain seasons, this region abounds."
The points mentioned, and circumstances detailed in this narrative, tend to show that the route between Chicago and Fort Winnebago, at that day, must have passed over, or at least near the southwestern part of what is now the town of Cuba. This conclusion is reached from the fact that the point of cross- ing Fox River would, as a natural consequence, be in or somewhere near the line between Dunkley's Grove and Crystal Lake. The circumstance mentioned of the west bank of the river being clear of timber, while the east bank was wooded-the party having to return to the east side to obtain a suitable stick for a wagon pole-shows that the place of crossing the river must have been at a point above the present site of the village of Algonquin. Indicating the route traveled to be as before mentioned, the point of crossing the river may be further identified from the steep bank on the east side mentioned in the nar- rative.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
The original name given to this town by the Commissioners having in charge the matter of dividing the county into towns was Troy ; but on report to the State Auditor, it being found that there was another town in the State of that name-the law not allowing two towns in the State of the same name- the Board of Supervisors of the county were requested to give the town some other name. At their meeting, in 1851, the Board gave to the town the name of Cuba.
This was about the time of an insurrection in the Island of Cuba which at- tracted much attention in the United States, partly from the fact that many prominent persons engaged in it proved to be citizens of this country, which contributed to inspire quite general sympathy here in favor of the insurgents. The name of Cuba was upon everybody's lips. This suggested the name of this town.
About the year 1844, a log building was erected near Thos. W. White's place, on Section 26, to be occupied both for a public school and for religious worship. The first school taught in this building was at the time of its com- pletion, by Edward Wheedon. This is said to have been the first school taught in the town.
About the year 1844, a Post Office was established in this town, on Section 10, called Flint Creek, which was discontinued some time since. There is now no Post Office in the town.
In early days there was a saw-mill in this town, on Flint Creek, near where it empties into Fox River, known as Freeman's mill. It was abandoned many years ago. A branch of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway passes through the southwestern portion of this town, formerly known as the Chicago & Fond du Lac Railroad. It was completed through the town about the year 1854, and a station established at the point where this railroad crosses the line between Cook and Lake Counties-partly in the town of Cuba in Lake County, and Barrington, Cook County, called Barrington Station. Soon after, a town plat was cut out at this station, in the town of Cuba, by Willard Stevens. Another plat was laid out adjoining this, on the south side of the county line in Cook County, so that the village of Barrington lies in both counties. The village of Barrington became organized as a corporation in 1864. The first Trustees were Homer Wilmarth, N. R. Burlingham, Wm. Howorth, John Sennott and G. Hermandinger.
The present Trustees are Daniel Holmes, G. Hermandinger, Fred. Foy, Horace H. Church, Oscar Lawrence and James Jamison.
The Post Office at this place is over the line in Cook County. The name of the Post Office is Barrington Station.
The first town meeting in this town was held on the first Tuesday in April, 1850, at the house of Noble R. Hayes. John J. Bullock was chosen Moderator and Noble R. Hayes, Clerk. The first set of town officers was as follows : Supervisor, Philetus Beverly ; Town Clerk, Noble R. Hayes ; Assessor, Jacob
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
McGilvra ; Collector, Rob. Conmee; Overseer of the Poor, Francis Kelsey ; Commissioners of Highways, James Jones, Lewis H. Bute, Harvey Lambert ; Constables, Chester Bennett and Wallace Bennett, Justices of the Peace, Innis Hollister and Robert Bennett.
The total valuation of property in this town for 1850, including both real and personal was $44,750.00. The amount of tax computed thereon was $672.73.
The total valuation of property for the year 1877, is $290,309.
Among the early settlers of this town surviving, and still a resident, is Lewis H. Bute. He is an attorney at law and resides in the village of Barrington. He was elected Supervisor of the town in 1852, and has been re-elected from time to time on many occasions since. He has been Chairman of the Board of Supervisors and holds the office of Supervisor of the town at the present time.
About the year 1844, a class of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organ- ized at the house of O. A. White, then being on Section 23, under the direction of Rev. Nathan Jewett. During the same Fall, as has been before stated, the members of the class moved in the matter of building a house for public worship, and arranged for combining a house for school purposes as well as religious worship.
In the Fall of 1858, a church was built at the village of Barrington.
In the Summer of 1873, this building was sold to a Catholic organization.
TOWNSHIP OF DEERFIELD.
Deerfield is a fractional Congressional Township, and lies in the southeast corner of the county, and is bounded on the north by Shields, on the east by Lake Michigan, on the south by Cook County, and on the west by Vernon.
As a Congressional Township this is known as Township 43, north Range 12 east.
The name of Deerfield was given to this town by the Commissioners having the matter in charge, in accordance with the wishes of the inhabitants as expressed at a public meeting called for that purpose at the house of Michael Mehan, when a formal election was held to decide upon a name. Philemon Caldwell and Michael Yore were chosen Judges, and Edwin Caldwell, Clerk. There were seventeen votes for Deerfield, and thirteen for Erin. The former name was therefore declared to be the choice of the inhabitants of the town. The result being laid before the Commissioners, the name of Deerfield was adopted as the name of the town.
The early settlers of this town were Jacob Caldwell and his sons, Madison O., Philemon, Caleb, Hiram and Edwin ; Horace Lamb, John Mathews, Jesse Wilmot, Lyman Wilmot, Benj. Marks, Robert Dygert, John Cochran, Michael Mehan, Magnus Tait, Anthony Sullivan, John King and Francis McGovern.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
Jacob Caldwell and sons came west from Norfolk, N. Y., in 1835, and settled in this town at what is now Deerfield Corners, in the Spring of 1836. It has been claimed that this family were the first settlers in what is now the town of Deerfield. But by some this is disputed, claiming that Horace Lamb was the first settler, and built the first house in the town, on the land now occupied by Phillip Vedder and his son Almon, and that the house was built before 1835. When we take into account the fact that the Indians remained in possession of the lands lying in Lake County by stipulation with the Government until 1836, and that occupation by settlers was not permitted before that time, except by consent of the Indians, we cannot expect to find settlers attempting to occupy the lands much before that year. It is well understood that Capt. Daniel Wright was the only settler in what is now Lake County in 1834, except, perhaps, Amos Flint, who is claimed to have settled on Fox River the latter part of this year. There are those now living who remember of hearing Capt. Wright say that he was allowed to remain in the country as a special favor of the Indians from the regard they had for him ; that no other person was alike favored. In 1835, the time in which the Indians were to leave the country being near at hand, which they seemed more to realize, they became more indifferent as to the encroachment of the whites, whereby during this year some progress was made by settlers, as has been already related in the com- mencement of this history. It is possible that settlers may have entered the town of Deerfield in 1835, but it is certainly not probable that any came before that time.
The first school in what is now the town of Deerfield is said to have been taught by Rosilla Caldwell, at the residence of Philemon Caldwell, in 1848. The names of the scholars attending are now forgotten, except that of Mrs. Walter H. Millen, who is still a resident of the town.
The first school house in town was built on land now occupied by Walter H. Millen, on the road near the county line on Section 33. It was after- ward removed from time to time from one place to another, and occupied for various purposes. It is still in existence, attached to the house of Mr. Duffy, at Deerfield Corners, and forms a part of his premises.
Mrs. Walter H. Millen, before referred to, was a daughter of John K. Clark, who lived just over the line, in Cook County, from the time of the first settlement of the country. He was better known as Indian Clark. His life was an eventful one in the pioneer history of the Northwest; a brief reference to which would seem to be proper in this connection-at least, it may not be considered out of place. Mr. Clark was a man of a quiet nature, and never intruded himself upon the attention of others. This accounts, in some degree, for the fact that his name has been so little mentioned in the early history of the country. He was born near Fort Wayne, Indiana, in June, 1792. His mother was from Virginia, on the head waters of the Kanawha River. She was taken prisoner, when she was eight years old, by the Shawnee Indians,
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
together with two other sisters, who were two or three years older. His grand- father was at the time out hunting horses, when the Indians came to the house and killed his grandmother and took these little girls prisoners. His mother was taken to Piqua, Ohio, and adopted into the family of a brother of Tecumseh. When she grew up, she married Alexander Clark, an Indian trader from Malden, Canada. He afterward established a post at Fort Wayne, where John K. was born. He was a twin. His twin brother's name was Andrew, who was an aid to Tecumseh at the battle of the Thames, and fell with him in that conflict.
His father afterward died, and after Wayne's treaty his mother returned with him to Virginia.
His mother's sister married John Kinzie, Sr., as his first wife.
After John K. grew up, he came to Detroit, and in the Fall of 1816 he came from that place with his aunt, Mrs. Kinzie, to Chicago, as a guide, knowing something of the country, and having a perfect knowledge of the Indian character and the languages spoken in that part of the country. He remained at Chicago for some time and joined with James Kinzie in trading with the Indians.
In 1818, he went to Milwaukee, and there engaged in trading with the Indians for two years. He then went back to Virginia and brought his mother to Chicago. He cut the first wagon track from Fort Wayne to Chicago.
He was in Maj. Bailey's battalion, in Fort Dearborn, at Chicago, in the Blackhawk war, in 1832, and subsequently went as an express from Gen. Scott to Gen. Atkinson at the Four Lakes, in Wisconsin.
He possessed a thorough knowledge of the geography of the country in the Northwest, which he acquired by actual observation long before its settlement by the whites. He died, a few years since, at his home in Northfield, Cook County, much respected by all who knew him.
The first town meeting in this town was held at the Green Bay House, a tavern situated upon the old military road, a short distance south of Port Clin- ton, on the first Tuesday in April, 1850. Lyman Wilmot was chosen Moder- ator, and Edwin Caldwell, Clerk. The following were chosen the first officers : Supervisor, Caleb Caldwell; Town Clerk, F. A. Goodbody ; Assessor, John Millen ; Collector, James Duffy ; Overseer of the Poor, Philemon Caldwell; Com- missioners of Highways, Benjamin Raudenbusch, Michael Mehan and Francis McGovern ; Justice of the Peace, John Denker; Constable, H. J. Kollar. The number of votes cast for town officers at this meeting was 71.
The total assessed value of property in this town for 1850, including both real and personal, was $56,740. The amount of tax computed on the same for collection was $753.40. The total assessed value of property for the year 1877 was $596,621.
The villages and incorporated towns in this township are as follows :
Deerfield Corners, on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad ; Re- vinia, Highland Park and Highwood, on the Milwaukee line of the Northwestern
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
Railway. At an early day, something over thirty years ago, a town plat was laid out on the lake, east of what is now Highwood, called St. John's. Some progress was made in building here, with the prospect of making it quite a place; but the title to the land becoming involved in litigation, its further progress became impeded, and the enterprise was finally abandoned, and the town plat became vacated. About the year 1850, Jacob C. Bloom, William Steele and others laid out a town plat on the lake, immediately on the south of St. John's, called Port Clinton. A post office was established here in April, 1850. A steam saw-mill was erected, followed by the erection of dwelling houses and other buildings for various purposes. A plank road was projected from this place to Half Day, and considerable progress was made in grading it, but about this time it was discovered that plank roads were a failure, when the enterprise was abandoned.
After the construction of the Chicago & Milwaukee Railroad, a station was established at Highland Park and a town plat was laid out and the work of building up a town at this point commenced. This was done by a company organized and known as the Port Clinton Land Company. Among the stock- holders of this company were some of the most substantial men of the country at that day, mostly residents of Chicago. They were Francis C. Sherman, Dr. C. V. Dyer, M. D. Ogden, Elisha S. Wadsworth, Ezra L. Sherman, Walter S. Gurnee and Hiram A. Tucker.
Mr. Gurnee, after a time, purchased all the stock of the company and be- came the owner of all its property.
The original town plat of this town was laid out in 1855.
At the session of the General Assembly in 1867, a special charter was granted to the Highland Park Building Company, and a corporation under that style was duly organized. To this company Mr. Gurnee sold the entire prop- erty of the Port Clinton Land Company. The principal stockholders of the Highland Park Building Company were mostly citizens of Chicago and were as. follows : James E. Tyler, Judge Henry Booth, Jesse O. Norton, Rev. W. W. Evarts, R. E. Goodell, H. B. Hurd, Frank P. Hawkins, C. R. Field, John H. Wrenn, W. H. Lunt and Rev. G. L. Wrenn. The first President of the company was W. H. Lunt, and C. R. Field was the first Secretary and Treas- urer. Frank P. Hawkins was appointed General Agent and Manager. The capital stock of the company is $500,000.
The property of the Highland Park Building Company, acquired from the source before mentioned, and which originally included that upon which the city of Highland Park is situated, is a tract of land of great natural beauty and adaptability to the purposes for which it was purchased-the building of a suburban town. It was bought at what was considered at that time a very low figure, the suburban idea at that day not having been at all developed in Chi- cago. Highland Park was among the pioneers in this new, popular movement for creating beautiful homes in the suburbs.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
The Highland Park Building Company claim that, while they were among the first to go extensively into the real business of building and creating an at- tractive and first-class suburban town, they can show a greater growth and greater prosperity than any of its competitors in the same line of business, and that they have constructed more miles of good streets and drives, built more houses and sidewalks, than any suburban company.
It is claimed for this company that its affairs have been conducted and han- dled in a broad, liberal and progressive manner, and that its management points with pride to the beautiful town that has been created under their care, with its high-toned population, its churches and schools, its elegant residences and beautiful drives, for which they feel a commendable satisfaction. Highland Park is situated on a high bluff, traversed with deep, picturesque ravines. It is about eighty feet above the Lake. The whole property is covered with a vig- orous growth of young trees, which have been carefully preserved in the midst of the residences, and properly trained. The undulations of the ground afford excellent natural drainage, which has been well and suitably improved.
The streets and drives have been laid out under the direction of the most skillful landscape gardeners that could be procured.
Rustic bridges have been built over the ravines, on the line of the streets and drives.
A pier has been built on the Lake shore, to accommodate the landing of excursion parties, and for unloading lumber to facilitate building.
Of public buildings in Highland Park there are three churches and two public schools. There is, also, a commodious hotel. About four years ago, a fine building was erected in this place for a hotel, and which was occupied as such until something over a year ago, when it was transferred to Prof. Weston, to be occupied as an educational institution for young ladies, as will be hereafter mentioned. This building is, indeed, a very fine structure. Its length is 300 feet, with a corresponding width. It is three stories in height. and the eleva- tion to the roof is 50 feet, above which is a beautiful look-out tower, affording a view of Lake Michigan and the country for miles around. The structure is surrounded by verandas, affording 1,000 feet of promenade. The building is divided into rooms of convenient dimensions, each having a door leading both to a veranda on the outside and a hall on the inside. The halls run clear through the building, with large windows at each end, giving excellent ventila- tion. It is surrounded by handsome grounds, from which numerous graveled drives lead to all parts of the town.
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