USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > The voters and tax-payers of De Kalb County, Illinois; containing, also, a biographical directory a history of the county and state, map of the county, a business directory, an abstract of every-day laws > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
Love & Carter have during the year erected a new and commodious store for agricultural implements.
Ilon. L. M. MeEwen is erecting a large and handsome dwelling house.
W. B. King is also making arrangements for the erection of a dwelling.
117
HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY.
Jacob Haish has erected a building for his factory 26x67, in which he has placed new machinery.
Stores in DeKalb rent anywhere from $200 to $600 per year, and in spite of hard times, rents have an upward tendency.
BANKS.
One-Private Bank ; Messrs. Lott & Baird.
HOTELS.
Two-The Eagle and the Central House, kept respectively by Frank Scripter and George Shakleton.
CHURCHES.
Catholic-Rev. Father Dun, pastor.
Swedish Lutheran-Rev. N. Nordgren, pastor.
Adventist-Rev. H. G. Mccullough, pastor.
Methodist Episcopal-Rev. G. R. Van Horne, pastor.
Wesleyan Methodist-No pastor at present.
Congregationalist-No pastor at present.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Graded on the Chicago plan-ten departments. High School unor- ganized at present. It is the intention to organize it and complete all the grades, so that pupils may pass up the inclined plane through the whole twelve years' course of instruction, and in the high school prepare for college. The building is a fine brick structure. It was built in 1861. Cost, $25,000. It is well furnished and the school is under a competent corps of teachers.
T. S. DENNISON, Principal.
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
JABEZ CHEASBRO, President. G. W. LYON, Clerk. C. C. HINMAN.
CITY OFFICERS FOR 1876.
L. M. MCEWEN, President.
JABEZ CHEASBRO. ALEXANDER RAY. HIRAM EDDY. CLARK CARTER,
P. G. YOUNG. S. C. VAUGHAN, Clerk.
SOMONAUK.
In 1834, a mail route was established between Chicago and John Dixon's residence on Rock River. This route crossed the southern part of DeKalb County, running through what is now known as Freeland Corners. Near this place, in 1834, a log house was built, and to this station was given the name of Somonauk.
118
HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY.
In 1853, the railroad was constructed through the county, and Mr. Alvarus Gage, the owner of the land on which the present town of Somonauk stands, gave to the railroad company five acres of land on which to erect their buildings, and laid out the town. A mail route was in operation through this place, running north and south, and, as it came but once a week, some delay was occasioned in the delivery of the letters. The postmaster at Somonauk was induced to remove to the station, and through the aid of the citizens near the station the office was removed, hence the name " Somonauk" at this place. After a time the office was again established at the old place, and the name " Freeland Corners" given it. During the years immediately succeeding the advent of the railroad, the town grew with extraordinary rapidity. Many came who were compelled to live in tents until they could erect a home. A man by name of Franklin Dall built the first store and warehouse here, and a Mr. Hess erected the second one.
After the advent of the manufacturing company in Sandwich, and owing to the strenuous efforts put forth by the citizens of this latter place to induce all such persons to settle there, and to the farmers to bring their produce to this market, the growth of Somonauk became slow. No manufactories were started, and the chief business of the town was trade with the surrounding populace. The growth of the town has been moderate, but healthy, and the village contains now some fifteen hundred inhabitants.
A few years since a pickle factory was established, which also cans corn. It has been doing a good trade, and, properly sustained, will be a help to the town. A cheese factory is in operation here and doing a good business. The California Windmill Company, under the control of Clark & Co., are working up an extensive trade; but as their mills are all made at Sandwich, the mechanics of that town get the benefit of the work. Somonauk should aid these gentlemen and all others in such works, and as much as possible get all the work done at home.
There are now in town enjoying a good trade, four dry goods stores, one hardware store, one grocery, two harness and saddle shops, one of whose proprietors manufactures a fine harness oil, which finds a good sale, three shoemakers, three blacksmiths, two wagon and carriage makers, two lumber yards, and three warehouses.
There are three or four physicians and two attorneys.
Somonauk contains seven churches. The Protestant Methodists, were the earliest organized. Some twenty-three years ago they effected their organization under the labors of a Mr. Watson. For some time services were held in private houses, afterwards in the school houses, until a church could be built. This congregation has now some twenty or thirty members. The pastor is the Rev. S. B. Guiberson. Two or three years after the organization of this church, the Presbyterians estab- lished a church at Northville. After being there two years they removed to Somonank, and have remained ever since. They have a membership of fifty or sixty, under the pastoral charge of the Rev. Edward Scofield. The Baptists have a small organization here, of some fifteen or twenty members, having maintained this for some fifteen or sixteen years. Their minister is Rev. W. H. Card. The German Baptists organized some six years since. The Rev. H. Wernick is their minister. About the same
119
HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY.
time the Episcopal Methodists were constituted. They have now about thirty members in town, but have a goodly number in the country. Their pastor is Rev. R. Burns.
The Catholic Church is the largest in town. It has been organized about sixteen years, and numbers near two hundred members, embracing a large extent of territory. The priest is Father C. J. Huth.
The German Lutherans were organized about ten years since. The church, in common with the others, save the Catholic, is small, but sup- ports an organization presided over by the Rev. G. Weiser.
THE SCHOOLS.
Prior to the foundation of the town, a school was held about a mile and a half north of town in what was known as the Poplin neighborhood. As soon as the settlement justified it, a school was formed about eighty rods south of the present town school building, and was a joint affair between the two townships. A school had also been held in a small building southeast of town, but, owing to a want of support, was in operation but a few months in the year. For the second or third term held in it, Mr. Alvarus Gage went around to all his neighbors with a sub- scription paper, each one agreeing to give a certain amount, irrespective of the number of scholars sent. By this means enough money was raised to continue the school four months. This gave way to the South School referred to, which was commenced about the year 1850. School was held here some three or four years, when this house (built by sub- scription) became too small for the number of scholars, and the present edifice was built, in which a good school has since been regularly main- tained. The attendance now is 257, requiring a force of three teachers, the school being divided into primary, intermediate and high school depart- ments. Mr. S. H. Towne is the present superintendent, having been here seven years. He has the schools in good condition, and he and his teachers are ornaments to the profession.
THE PRESS.
In December, 1875, Mr. C. A. West, an enterprising young man, with only two or three weeks' experience as a printer, came here and established the Reveille. The weekly circulation is now four hundred, and steadily increasing.
In Somonauk are three societies : the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Grand Army Republic. A Musical Union is also well supported, and a . good dramatic company sustained. These two latter organizations furnish amusement for the citizens of the town, and from the attendance at their entertainments from the country they enjoy a good reputation.
SANDWICH.
Prior to the advent of the railroad, a post-office had been established near the present town, and was for the accommodation of the settlers mid way between Newark on the south and Somonauk, now Freeland Corners, on the north. This office was named "Sandwich," by Hon. John Went- worth, familiarly known as " Long John," then United States Represen-
120
HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY.
tative from this district, Sandwich being the name of his native New England town.
The railroad was surveyed through DeKalb County in the year 1851. The land on which Sandwich is situated, was owned by Mr. Almon Gage, still living in town, and his house was the mark used by the surveyors in their approach to this locality. His house thereby became the first build- ing in town. Mr. Gage gave the railroad company five acres of land, on the condition that they would erect the necessary depot buildings within five years. He also laid off the town site into lots, and offered one of these lots to any one who would come and erect a building thereon. Mr. James Clark was the first to avail himself of this offer, and built a large, rambling, one-story dwelling house, afterwards known as the " Donegana " House.
Some two years after the completion of the railroad, through the influence of the citizens, a depot was established here, and was known as Newark Station. A mass-meeting had been held at Newark, and William Patten, Washington Walker and Lindsay H. Carr were appointed a com- mittee to go to Chicago and induce the railroad company to build a depot for passengers and a warehouse. Mr. J. H. Furman had made a canvass of the surrounding country, and ascertained that some 400 persons would make this their railroad point for business or travel. On the representa- tion of this and other facts presented by the delegates, the officers agreed to stop their trains when flagged. But the people were not to be defeated. A carriage was run from Newark, eight miles south, and all who could were induced to make as frequent trips as possible.
Such determined efforts had their effect. The railroad officers erected the necessary buildings, and Newark Station was a reality.
Mr. Gage had built a medium-sized granary, which he sold to the Carr brothers, who at once fitted it up for a store and dwelling, and in it opened the pioneer store of Sandwich. A post-office was established here known as Newark Station P.O., but the letters would often be sent on down to the town, only to be returned. Many would direet their letters to their friends here and omit the "Station" on the address. These things of course caused some delay and considerable vexation, and trouble, and the propriety of changing the name of the village was discussed. Every one wanted this, and a petition was sent to "Long John," whose influence prevailed, and the old office of Sandwich was revived and the name bestowed on the rising village. From the advent of the railroad, and more especially from the erection of the depot buildings, the growth of the town was rapid and vigorous. Surrounded by a fine farming country, rapidly filling up with an enterprising and intelligent people, men of liberal hearts and large purses were attracted here, and an excellent trade was soon established.
Through the influence of the Pattens, Hon. Augustus Adams, who had been a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1848, and a State Senator and Representative when residing at Elgin, Illinois, was induced to come here in 1856. He was at this time still a Senator, and was by trade a foundryman and machinist.
The residents of Sandwich well knew the importance of a manufac- tory to their town, and by liberal offers of aid induced him to settle among them.
121
HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY.
The following year he removed his family here, and building his shops, laid the foundation of the immense establishment now known as the Sandwich Manufacturing Company. In 1864 he suffered a loss by fire, but at once rebuilt. In 1867 the establishment was enlarged, and a Stock Company organized with a capital of $75,000, afterwards increased to $125,000, and again to $250,000. These works employ from 50 to 250 hands, whose weekly pay-roll will average $1,500. The company manu- facture the Adams Corn Sheller, which has had a large sale in this and foreign countries ; the Adams and French Harvester, of which they made some 2,000 last year ; also farming machinery, and when not too busily engaged on their own machinery, make a great many castings for other companies. W. L. Simmons, a prominent grain merchant here, is Presi- dent of the company ; and J. P. Adams, Secretary and Treasurer.
Across the street from this company's works, stand the buildings of the "Sandwich Enterprise Company." The main buildings of this and the "Sandwich Manufacturing Company," are of Batavia stone, a most durable building material. The "Enterprise Company " was organized in the Winter of 1868-9, and was originally owned and worked by the Kennedy Brothers. In 1872 the present building was erected, and the manufacture of the Enterprise Windmills actively commenced. The capital stock was $50,000, since increased to double that amount. In addition to the windmills, this company manufacture all kinds of farming machinery, and also the castings and woodwork for the Windmill Com- pany at Somonauk. New machinery is now being placed in these works. and the facilities for more work are being rapidly augmented. They employ from twenty to thirty-five hands, whose weekly pay-roll will average $300. E. Banta is President ; H. Packer, Superintendent ; and B. F. Latham, Secretary.
These manufacturing companies give to Sandwich its solidity and wealth, and furnish steady employment to many of its best citizens. The town has always been an important grain market. In former years, when wheat was the main article produced by the farming community, the ship- ments have been enormous. During the year 1865, over 300.000 bushels of grain were sold here, one grain dealer paying out over $400,000.
In 1856, a bank was opened by Mr. M. B. Castle, which from an exchange business, that year, of $50, has grown to many times that amount, and is now a paying institution. In 1875 the Culver brothers, long merchants here, opened another bank, which is doing a good busi- ness. Mr. G. W. Culver and Robert Patten opened the first lumber yard ; this is still in successful operation, and is owned by M. W. Abel. An additional one is owned by M. B. Castle & Co.
The business of the city is represented by these two lumber yards, the two banks, one large grain warehouse, the two manufacturing com- panies, two carriage and wagon makers, one agricultural implement store, eight groceries, five dry goods stores, two clothing stores, three hardware stores, four restaurants and saloons, one steam flouring mill, two livery stables, one cheese factory, three butchers, two coal dealers, two harness and saddlery shops, three blacksmiths, three shoe shops, one builder, a large number of carpenters and masons, two drug stores, two merchant tailors, one book and news dealer, one cigar factory, two bakeries, two
122
HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY.
photographers, one music store, six milliners, and three hotels. The pro- fessions are represented by three lawyers and seven physicians.
From the above it will be seen that the town is well represented in all trades and professions.
Sandwich supports two good papers ; the elder of these is the Gazette, started in 1857 by William L. Dempster, under the title of the People's Press. It survived only six months. In 1859 it was revived under the name of the Prairie Home, and again met the same fate. After a while it was again issued by James Higbee with the name of Sandwich Gazette ; as such it was issued bi-monthly. In a short time, however, it was made a weekly, and Mr. J. H. Furman, before mentioned, assumed control. In 1874 he sold to Mr. G. H. Robertson, the present owner and editor. It is an excellent county paper, and according to the bills returned from the company from whom the paper is purchased, the present bona-fide circulation is 768 weekly copies.
The Free Press was started in 1873 by its present owner and editor, Mr. H. F. Bloodgood, a former attache of the Gazette office. It is a sprightly sheet, and according to the same authority has a weekly circu- lation of 981 copies.
Mr. Bloodgood also publishes the Shabbona Express, which circulates largely in that township.
RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
The city contains six churches, all well patronized. The Baptists were the first to occupy the field. Their house of worship was erected in 1853. The Methodist Episcopal next, in 1854, and the following year the Presbyterians built their house. The Congregationalists had organi- ized a church at Little Rock, seven miles distant, as early as 1853. In June of 1856, they removed their church here, using the Methodist whenever they had services, until July, 1857, when they erected a small house. This they sold to the German Lutherans in 1864, and built their present beautiful church edifice. In the year 1866 they built their par- sonage. They organized with sixteen members, and now number nearly two hundred. Their pastor is the Rev. J. L. Granger. The minister in charge of the Baptist Church is Rev. A. L. Farr, and that of the Presby- terians is Rev. George B. Black. The German Methodists maintain a church, organized some ten or twelve years, whose pastor is Rev. C. T. Morf. Shortly after their organization that of the German Lutherans was effected. The pastor of this church is the Rev. R. Menk.
The city maintains exellent schools. The earliest efforts in this direction were made in a small, red frame house, which stood near the intersection of Main and Center Streets. School was held here from about the year 1851 or '52 until the year 1857. During the year 1855 an incorporated company was established who built an academy on the ground now occupied by the South Side School. This academy did not prove a success, and the small school house becoming too small, the dis- trict purchased the academy building and employed the principal, Pro- fessor Hendrick, to conduct school in it. As the town grew, this was found too small and at an inconvenient distance for many, and a similar building was erected on the north side of the railroad. Additions have
123
HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY.
been made to these, and three small additional buildings constructed in different parts of the city for the use of the smaller pupils. During this last year, 1875, there were enrolled 689 pupils, which required the services of eleven teachers. Mr. A. E. Bourne, a graduate of the Wisconsin State University, who has been connected with the schools some three or four years. is the superintendent.
Sandwich was incorporated as a town in 1860, with the following persons as trustees : Augustus Adams, President ; Almon Gage, George W. Culver, Washington Walker, and William G. Morris ; S. B. Stinson, Clerk. On the 19th day of November, 1872, the question of adopting a city organization under the general laws of the state, was submitted to the citizens, and decided in the affirmative.
The first City Council was constituted as follows :
Mayor-W. W. Sedgwick.
Aldermen-H. A. Adams, M. R. Jones, A. A. Marcy, John Wood- ward, Henry Jones, O. S. Hendee.
City Clerk-T. E. Hills.
The present City Council is as follows :
R. M. BRIGHAM, Mayor. Aldermen.
First Ward-J. H. CULVER, ENOS DOAN.
Second Ward-JOHN WOODWARD, HARVEY PACKER.
Third Ward-H. F. WINCHESTER, GEO. KLEINSMID.
J. A. TOLMAN, City Clerk.
S. B. STINSON, City Attorney.
There are two Masonic lodges, two Odd Fellows, and one of the Grand Army Republic. A good Musical Union is sustained, which fur- nishes many evenings of profit and pleasure to the members and enter- tainments to the citizens. A lecture course is regularly kept up, which adds very materially in developing a correct social taste. This is well patronized by the citizens of town and the surrounding country.
MALTA.
This was one of the later townships in being settled, owing to its situation on the open prairie, at considerable distance from groves of timber. Ezekiel Whitehead became its first settler in 1851. At this time a large proportion of the land in the township was in the hands of the government, but was entered during this and the following years by C. C. Shepard, H. A. Mix, Mark Howard, and other speculators, who subsequently became rich by the rise in the value of the land.
In 1854, by a petition of the citizens of South Grove, a station was established on the railroad, then completed to Dixon, and this gave such an impulse to settlement that the township rapidly filled up. It had been a part of the town of DeKalb, but, acquiring a sufficient popula- tion, was set off by act of the supervisors, upon a petition of the inhabit- ants, in 1855, under the name of Milton, which was changed to Etna, and a few years after, to Malta, its present name.
The village at the station was named Malta, and a thriving town rapidly grew up at this point. The financial crisis of 1857 gave it a blow from which it was many years in recovering. In 1857 a large steam mill
124
HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY.
was built, but owing to the stringency of the times, was not profitable, and was burned down in 1861. In 1867 another large and substantial steam grist mill was erected by Mr. Abraham Peters, by the aid of liberal subscriptions on the part of the citizens. This mill has continued to do good business.
Towards the close of the war the place took a fresh start. The high prices of grain attracted settlers and gave increased value to the new prairie lands. Money became plenty, business increased, new buildings were erected, real estate doubled in value, and sales which for many years were impossible became active and frequent. Malta has since been pros- perous. It is the natural center for a large extent of rich country, which, filled, as it is, with a substantial farming population, will support a town of three or four times the present population.
The first census of the town was taken in 1860; it then contained 620 souls. In 1865, the population was 849; in 1868, 1,200. The pres- ent population of the village is about 1,500. Malta furnished ninety-four soldiers for the War of the Rebellion.
The Congregationalists and Baptists have fine churches, erected in 1867.
The town contains three elevators-two of a capacity of 7,000 bushels each, and one of 2,500. It has a large flouring mill and cheese factory, eight stores, one hotel, and the usual variety of artisans' and mechanics' shops.
VILLAGE OF CORTLAND.
Prior to the opening of the Chicago & North-Western Railroad through this part of the county, the site of the Village of Cortland was composed of portions of the farms of Mr. Hall and Mr. Ezra Croof.
The latter of these two laid out the original plat, comprising all the south-western part of town, and including the grounds now occupied by the railroad buildings, and some of the western portion of the village.
The railroad was built through in 1853, and the following year the company purchased the farm of Mr. Hall, comprising the south-eastern part of town and extending across the railroad, including some of the eastern portions. Mr. Hall erected the first house in the new village, using it as a boarding-house. It stood a short distance south of the rail- road tracks, on the east side of Main Street.
The first store in town was built and occupied by Mr. Marcus Wash- burn. As the village was not of rapid growth, it is probable this satisfied the demands of trade for a year or two.
The liberality of the railroad company in disposing of their land purchased from Mr. Hall, induced many to come to the place and engage in the various kinds of trades and business demanded by a country town. Before the building of the Cortland and Sycamore Railroad, business was exceedingly good at this point, as the merchants and tradespeople from the latter town made this their shipping and receiving point. But no sooner had this road been completed, than all this was stopped, nearly all the travel from the northern portions of the county going to the county seat.
Mr. Lovell built a large steam flouring mill, and engages extensively
125
HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY.
in buying grain from the surrounding country. This, and the buying of stock, the supplying of the farmers with groceries, drugs, dry goods and farm merchandise, and the shipping of their produce, comprise the chief business of Cortland. It now contains three dry goods stores, one drug store, one agricultural implement store, one hotel and one livery stable.
The trades are represented by one butcher, three blacksmith shops, one wagonmaker, two shoemakers and two harnessmakers. The town supports one church and a good graded school, and contains a population of near 500 hundred persons.
The earliest church organization was that of the Methodist, the only denomination who have an organized congregation.
In the Fall of 1858, some sixteen persons met at the house of Mr. Peter Moore, then occupying the ground of Prof. Curtis' dwelling, and proceeded to organize a class. Before this time, in connection with a few resident Baptists, they had conducted services occasionally at different houses ; but now the need of an organization was realized, and this hand- ful of Christians banded together for mutual encouragement and aid. Rev. C. T. Wright was the officiating minister, and organized the congre- gation.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.