Grundy County, Illinois - Chapter 10, 1882

Deer Huntjng-Elections-Officers-Impiiovements And

No lakes are here extending wide, Inviting traveler to their side; But those who came could easy tell, That with earnest work they might do well.

FOR several years before the dividing of the county into townsiiips, tlie territory, afterward called Greenfield, belonged to Mazon Precinct. In tlie year 1850, a township organization was effected, the first " town meeting" being held the first Tuesday in April of that year. In order of business came the "naming of the township." Seventeen voters were present and nearl}' every one had a. name for his new home - a name dear to him because it belonged to " the old home in the East." Each pressed his claim with all the enthusiasm at command; but after a noisy canvass and several ballots, a choice was not made. Finally a committee of three -

Robert Wood, Robert Finley and Milo Wilcox, was appointed to choose a name. Wilcox proposed " Greenfield " after Thomas R. Green, a land speculator of Chicago, who then owned several tracts in the township. The name was sent in and adopted with a linrrah!

Greenfield township occupies the southeast corner of Grundy County, and includes an area of six miles square. Braceville township bounds it upon the north. Goodfarm u]ion the west. Round Gi'ove (Livino-. ston Co.) upon the south and Essex (Kankakee Co.) upon the east. The surface is very level, with gentle undulations along the banks of creeks and sluices. The highest land is in the southern part witii a gradual descent as you go northward. Unfortunately for drainage, the banks of the streams are generally a little higher than the lands some distance back; so in order to get rid promptly of the su- ]ierfluous water, it is needful to cut drains through these rolls.

The soil is a rich black loam from one to two feet in depth, and with proper drainage and cultivation, its productiveness can not be excelled.

The timber originally consisted only of a few groves, scattered along the banks of the Mazon. One of these on the south line of the township, known as Currier's Grove, was widfly known iunoiig the early settlers, rect'ivin;^ its name tVoni a family wlio settled in the ini mediate iieiirhborhood diiriii:;^ the eai-ly years. As we go down the sreani we tind another fine timlnn* lot on section tunrteen, now the ]ireniise3 of L. C. Fnller. On sections one and twelve was another grove of considerable size, probably the largest in the township. The varieties were such as were indigenous to this part of the State, namely; oak, hickorj, walnut, elm, basswood, etc.

The Mazon Creek, the largest of our water courses, has its origin in Broughton, Livingston Ciumty, and running north enters Greenfield upon the south line, a half mile east of the center. Bearing to the northeast to the south line of section one, on the farm of F. O. Andrews, it turns to the northwest, and runs out on section two.

Cranery Creek, a stream of considerable size, drainin.g a portion of Essex, comes into our town from the east and unites with the Mazon on section one. Another creek coming from the south, and draining a goodly portion of the southeast part of the town, empties into the Mazon a little farther up, near the residence of the late Robert Wood. Two creeks rising in Round Grove enter Greenfield, one near the southwest corner, the other a mile farther east, and running to the northeast, coalesce on section twenty-two, and on section fourteen, pour their united waters into the Mazon. These streams, like all others dependent entirely for supplies upon surface water, get very low in dry seasons, and, perhaps, all except the Mazon, at times go dry. Though insignificant at low water, when swollen with heavy rains they are very torrents; and in the years gone by, when bridges

The winter of 1S5S-9 was one of those wet, open winters that has always wrought ruin to Illinois roads, and ruffled the sweetest tempered souls that tried to travel them. The streams were full and covered with ice, but not strong enough to bear a team. Then flour was not kept in the markets as it now is; but fanners grew their own wheat and got it ground as needed. In oui- neighborhood we had been borrowing one of another, waiting for a "harder freeze,'' , until all were out and something must be done. D. R. Doud, still living four miles northwest, started to AVilniington to mill, but striking one of these treacherous streams, his horses broke through the ice and went down, wagon following. With considerable difficulty he got his horses out and across; carried the sacks of wheat - about fifteen - across; took off the wagon box, slid it across; uncoupled the running gears and tugged them over; so after long hours of fearful labor and exposure, he found himself again upon terra Jiima, and on his " way to mill." After reaching Wilmington he found he could not get his grinding done and must at last return home empty. The novel part of our story remains to be told. Governor Madison at that time held control of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, and for some reason no trains were run for several days, coming to Gardner. Doud secured a handcar, a dummy without gearing, with platform about four by five feet, and he and Allen Slyter, a local preacher, and tlu; writer, got aboard. Holding aloft a couple

Here we were joined by Jolm Booth, now in Kansas, riding a little bay mare owned by Doud and known as " Queen." As our etory proves, Queen was one of the most sensible and docile of her race. The old mare was hitched to the car by a long rope and away " we all went to mill." To get old Queen over the cattle-guards and bridges, all we had to do was to lay down our boards and lead her over. Upon the return trip to make room for grist and passengers, we laid the boards upon the sides of the car, stood the sacks thereon, while the passengers stood between the rows of bags, or perched on tup. Coming home we had about fifteen hundred pounds of flour and bran, and two extra passengers - one a woman wlio left the car at the first station. "We pushed the dummy across the Kankakee River, and then attached our locomotive (old Queen) with plenty' of steam and a wide "open throttle" we made good time for home.

When we reached tlie first cattle-ffnard, we were for a little time nonplussed; our sacks were upon the boards that had served for a bridge going over, and could not well be moved. Between the sacks was a space, when the " train hands " were off, the length of the car, some five feet in length by one foot and a half in width. Here was just barel}' room for a horse to stand, and at Bond's word, Queen took and was pushed over. This was repeated again and again, until we reached the Mazon; here we halted for a hasty council. The bridge was 2S0 feet in length, and some 25 i'eet above low water; to undertake to cross it as we had the small ones seemed perilous; to swim the faithful mare threiugh the stream full of running ice would be cruel indeed. Queen stepped "on Uuard " with her usual promptness and was safely wheeled across the eddying mass of ice and waves. The old bridge long since went down nnder a freight train, and a fearful wreck was the result. Without further adventure we reached home "in good order," with an abundance of "stufi'"to make the "staft"" upon which to lean for many weeks.

The first to settle in this part of Mazon Precinct (two years later named Greenfield) were Dr. James Miller and Nels )n La Force, who moved here from Chicago, April 8, 1848. The}' bought the northeast quarter of section three and put up a house on the north line. This was the first building on the thirty-six square miles of which we write, and is yet standing, sheltering a tenant. In this house the Doctor with his family lived for many years, and here George ililler, now in Florida, was born, the first birth in our territory. Doctor Miller had a crippled leg and always went on crutches; yet during the early years he attended to quite an extensive practice among the pioneers besides overseeing the farm. After a time he moved to Gardner and kept a drug store on the west side; here he ministered in medicine until about four years since, when he closed out and moved to Florida; here, in unending summer, amid the orange groves and everglades, we leave him to while away his declining years. The old farm is now owned by J. C. Lutz, who bouglit it a year ago of Miller, paying $G0 per acre.

sey and drifted to New York city in liis youth, from [there to Cliicago, which was tlien only a small town without a railroad. Stoj)ping there for a co;i])le of years he concluded the quickest wa}' to fortune would be over some "governtuent land," and so persuaded Dr. Miller to come onto this prairie with him; when the quarter section was divided he (La Force) took the south half. lie went back to New York and was married in 185'3; a year later returned with his wife and settled down on the little larm in the west. Here was their iionie until a j-car ago when he sold to Taylor Williams of Sterling, and moved to Gardner. Here, fixed in a jileasant home, although beai'ingdown the "shadowy side of life," they are enjoying well the fruits of their labor.

Taylor Bradfield built the second house in our precinct in the spring of l^id, near the northeast corner of section ten, i'or many years the home of Robert Glass, lie came here from Trumbull Count}', Ohio, remained here a few years on section ten, sold out to Joseph Robinson and built a new house on the farm now owned by F. O. Andrews, on the Mazon. The house was afterward moved to Gardner, Jackson street, and is known as the Clake place. Bradfield moved from here to Iowa.

Robert Glass moved here from Guernsey Co., Ohio, in April, 1849, and bought the northwest quarter of Sec. ten, and erected a cabin on the west line, opposite the Fielder place. lie afterward bought the northeast quarter of the same section, built a good house and continued to reside there until the spring of the present year (1882) when he sold to Mr. Taylor "Williams and moved to Sedgwick County, Kansas, where he now lives. Mr. Glass sojourned here for a third of a century, and through all these j'ears he enjoyed the full confidence and esteem of all who knew him. A son, Frank Glass, is at this writing, a resident of Braceville. The old farm has this summer been tested for coal and is found to be underlaid with a valuable vein of the dusky diamonds, varying in thickness from two feet ten inches to six feet. Three drillings gave each three feet and a half.

Robert Finlej', another of the pioneers, came here from Guernsey Co., Ohio, in June, 1849, and settled upon the northeast quarter of section nine, having a land warrant. The tract cost him $13-4. A little later he bought the northwest quarter for $175. During the building of the Cliicago & Alton railway, in 1854, one of the teamsters employed jestingly told Mr. Fiiiley that his "land would some day be worth $200 per acre." Since tluit Gardner village has spread over quite a proportion of the original purchase, and he has lived to see small lots of less than one-fourth acre sell for more than the money named. Mr. Finley built his first cabin a little west of where Mrs. Purvis now lives, on Jackson street. It was constructed of slabs cut at a horse saw-mill, on the West Mazon. Later, he put up a frame house on the site where John Allison now lives. The old farm (N. E. qr.) has long since been divided - the north half laid off into town lots and decked with comfortable dwellings, while here and there a residence of costly and elaborate finish varies the scene. Father Finley is now in his eighty-sixth year, and is living near where he built his first rude cabin, thirty-three years ago. Sickness and financial reverses have years since robbed the pioneer of his broad fields, and forever blighted the hopes of his earl j manhood ; but, for bread he wanteth not, till the last inn is reached, where all must lie down and forever sleep. Daniel Fuller came from the State of New York in 1S49, and first located on the northeast quarter of section six. Alter a little time he moved onto the southwest quarter of section eight, now owned by Mike Bookwalter. He sold out here in 1854 and moved to Iowa, from there to Nebraska. He is represented as being a shrewd fellow and a skilled hunter; that the timid deer, which were then plenty upon the prairies, fell before his unerring rifle at long range.

Robert Wood, one of our first settlers, was born in AYayne Co., N. Y., moved from there to Quincy, Michigan, from there to Illinois; came here in 1819, or the early part of 1850, and located on the southwest quarter of section 22, now owned by Thos. Crooks. He lived herefive or six years, and sold out to C. K. Snyder and his brother, and moved to Missouri; soon tiring of that country, he came back and bought out John Kelso, on the east bank of the Mazon, section 12. Here he resided until three years since, when, ripe in years, rich in experience, his brow furrowed with many cares, his hair whitened by the frosts of seventy winters, he lay down " to sleep with the Eternal."

Another to anchor upon this prairie in the early years was George Willis. He arrived here from Guernsey Co., Ohio, May 10th, 1850, and bought the southwest quarter of section four, built a cabin out of split logs on the site where J. W. Hull now lives, on Main street. He lived in the little house the first summer without a floor; in the fall he went to the timber and split out slabs and put one down. Mr. Willis lived here about ten vears, when he sold out and moved back to Morrow Co., Ohio. From there he went to Lynn Co., Kansas, where he now lives. S. V. Hartley, a well-to-do farmer living a mile west of Gardner, came here with George Willis in 1850. He (Hartley) was then a lad of eleven summers. (See biography.) The east half of Mr. Willis' old farm has been divided and subdivided, and now a score of village lots have taken the place of the old wide fields. The west half still serves the purposes for which intended, and is owned and cultivated by A. M. Bookwalter.

Franklin Morgan came here from the State of New York in April, 1849, and bought the southeast quarter of section five, now owned and cultivated by B. D. Parker, and the nortlieast quarter of section eight, now owned by Mrs. Arnold, west half, and A. Easton, east half. Mr. Morgan built his house - probably the second one in our territory - upon the place where Mrs. Arnold now lives, but just on the east side of the sluice. He remained hero until 1854, when he sold out, and after several moves brought up at Plj'mouth, Indiana, where he now lives. Mr. Morgan was quite a scholarly fellow, and mucli given to putting up jokes upon his neighbors.

Joseph Elliot came to Illinois from near Boston, Mass., and for a time stopped in Du Page County. He came to Mazon Precinct, and in 1849, took up a quarter section - one eighty on section 24, and the adjoining eighty on section 23. He lived for awhile in a rough shanty upon the farm now owned by Mrs. Henrietta Dodge. His shanty experience was unpleasant; the winter was exceedingly cold, and the bleak unbroken winds of tlie prairie whistled tiirongh every crevice of the rude dwelling, making a music for the benumbed occu- ])ants not at all inviting, lie afterward built a house upon his own premises, where he lived for about twenty-five years, when he sold out and moved with his son - Henry Elliot - to California. Two years since he contracted small pox and died, and his sacred dust forever sleeps on the slope beyond the mountains. Henry Leach now owns and cultivates "the old farm" and it is one of the best kept places in Greenfield. Upon an unlucky day some four years since, the humble cottage, for a quarter century the home of "Uncle Joe" Elliot, went up in flame and smoke, and the imposing farm house of Mr. Leach now marks tlie spot.

John Kelso, one of the early settlers, caioe here from Indiana in 1819, and located on the east bank of the Mazon - on section 12. After a few years he sold to the late Jlobert "Wood and moved to Southeastern Kansas, where he died some ten years ago. The farm was sold a 3'ear since to James Mix, a speculator in coal lands from Kankakee.

Milo AVilcox came to this county at an early date, and for a few years lived near the West Mazon; in 1819 he took up the southeast quarter of section 15, and put up a little house on the bank of the creek. He lived here but a short time when he sold to Charles Roe, a Methodist preacher. Mr. Wilcox finally moved down onto the northeast quarter of section 12, now a part of the Wilson estate, where he died. George AYilcox, a son, is now a well-to-do farmer in Pilot towuship, Kankakee County. Myron, another son, was married three years since in Chicago, to quite a noted woman, and taking his wife he went to China as a Methodist missionary. With all that vital foi'ce begotten by early life and training upon these Western prairies, he now pours salvation into the untutored ears of the " heathen Chinee."

George F. Spencer came from Monroe County, New York, and located upon the southeast quarter of section one, putting up a house on the east bank of Cranery Creek, where he still lives.

Mr. Sj^encer brought with him from the East a good constitution and good habits; these were his stock in trade, and these have won him a competency'. He had another quality and a virtue too, a contented mind. Of the sixteen tax payers that were here when Mr. Spencer came, he is the onI>/ one uovf residing upon the original purchase, and one of three, to remain in the township. Mr. Spencer has made himself a fine home, large orchard, fine shade and ornamental trees, good fences, good buildings and all that belong to a well-ordered farm. He has lived here through thirty-two eventful years; thriving villages have sprung up around him, railroads have been built on every side. The rank grasses of the early years have given way to golden grain; where the wild deer roamed unalarmed and the wolf dug his hole unscared, he sees a harvest of ripening corn. The lonely hut of the pioneer has been replaced with homes of luxury and splendor, and Lazarus with his rags has made room for Dives in his golden armor. School-houses have been built around him, and the children of education are pressing buck the tribes of the ignorant.

Nelson Clappcame liere in 1849, and built a little house on the bank of the sluice, on the northwest quarter of Sec. 22. He lived there a short time when he sold out and moved out on Grand Prairie. About ten years atjo, when on his way home from Gardner, he was taken suddenly ill - we think with cholera morbus, and stopped at C. K. Snyder's, wiiere he died.

Benjamin Banister came the same year as Clapp and built on the east line of section fifteen. The place is now the north half of Wm. Kewin's farm.

We have now briefly noticed about all that were here at the time of township organization, April, 1850. Prominent among those who came a little later, were Alexander and Kennedy Brown, J. W. Hull and Pobert Atkinson. Brown sold put several years since and moved away. Hull and Atkinson are both citizens of (T-ardner, the latter a dealer in grain and coal.

We are under obligations to Nelson La Force, J. W. Hull and R jbert Atkinson for most of the facts connected with the first settlement of Greenfield.

Koads And Bkidges

The Greenfield highways are generally laid out upon the section lines; there are a few exceptions, to wit: the road running south from Snyder's mill in Gardner to the Livingston County line - five miles, passes through the center of five sections, and the road running south from the iron bridge, known as Nason's, passes through sections 14 and 53, eighty rods from the east line.

During the early yeai'S, while travelers could keep upon the native praii-io sod, but little attention was paid to roads; but as the vears went by'and travel increased and was concentrated by the fencing of the farms, throwing up grades and opening ditches became a necessity. Although considerable work had been done and quite a sum of money expended, our roads, where much traveled, were in wretclied condition. Three years ago James Cook bought a grading machine and began operation upon onr highways, and the work has been kept up since, until now nearly all our roads are well graded. Under the thorough work of our highway commissioners for three years, our roads have steadily improved; but in wet seasons they continue the bane of this otherwise delightful country. It is a fact, well demonstrated, that prairie muck is a poor material for constructing roads. Macadamized roads are expensive, but sometliing of the kind must be made before we can have good roads in wet seasons.

Tlie first hrkl(je to span the Mazon in Greenfield, was a wooden structure at Nason's ("three mile house "), built by John ¥. Peek, of Gardner, in the winter of 1867-8. It was 200 feet in length and 20 feet above low water; this bridge stood the ravages of flood a:v:l time until 1878, when it was condemned by the commissioners, and replaced by an iron bridge 150 feet in length. There were two spans of 75 feet each, supported by stone butnients with a middle pier. The structure of stone and iron, looking as permanent as the stream itself, was taken from its moorings by a cyclone the following summer, and the present one, of heavier iron, put in its place. Bridges were built across the creeks at Goodson's and Snjdor's on " Snyder's Lane," some time before tlie first bridge at Nason's; botli of these were wood ; the hitter was re- ]ilacGd a 3'ear since ('SI) b^' stone l)utnicnts and iron superstructure; the former at this uriting (September, 18S2), is being torn down to make room for stone and iron. An iron bridge - stone butinents - was ])ut in across the creek, four miles soutli of town on the " mill road " last year, and this year one is going in at Andrews of tiie .same material. Many of the bridges over the smaller streams being " worn out in the service," are being replaced this year by iron. The Greenfield highway commissioners will expend this season, five tliousand dollars for iron bridges.

Fiest Birth, Deatii And Marriage

Greenfield's first birth was George Miller, born in spring of 1850, to Dr. and Mrs. James Miller. George grew to maturity, worked some on the farm, clerked in his father's drug store in Gardner; was married four years since and moved to Florida, where he now resides.

The first death, was that of George Beal, who came here from Guernsey County, Ohio, with Robert Finley's family in the spring of 1849. He was a young man yet in his " teens" - full of hope and promise; but a hot season, undue exposure, and surface water, brought on dysentery, from which he died before the first summer in the west had ended. The obsequies were conducted in Mr. Finley's log cabin, where he had died. A neighbor offered a prayer, three or four chanted a mournful hymn, and two or three rude wasrons followed the remains to Wheeler burying ground, where get the whole name), a sister-in-law of Daniel Fuller, the officiating justice. The marriage was solemnized at Fuller's house, now owned by M. Bookwalter, and known as the " Bachman farm."

Tiie date of this, the first nuptial tie was June or July, 1851. The magic words which made the twain one, are said to have been these: " Ilenry do you love Amanda? ' Yes.' Amanda do you love Henry? 'Yes.' Then I pronounce you man and wife by God."

Early Elections And Officers

In another place we have noticed the organization of township and origin of name. This was at first " town meeting" held at the house of Milo Wilcox, where Calvin Cotton now lives, first Tuesday in April, 1850.

At this meeting seventeen votes were polled, and the following officers elected: Supervisor, Franklin Morgan; town clerk, Nelson La Force; assessor, Robert Glass; overseer of poor, Taylor Bradfield; collector, Nelson La Force; highway commissioners, Robert Finley, Robert Wood, and John Kelso: constables, Thomas McCartney and Jachin Banister; justice of the peace, Daniel Fuller; path-master, Taylor Bradfield. At the next town meeting, April 1, 1851, the same officers were re-elected, except Robert Finley, highway commissioner, who was replaced by Daniel Fuller, and Thomas McCartne}', constable, by Daniel Otis. Two path-masters were elected : Taj'lor Bradfield and Joseph Elliot. Twenty-three votes were polled at this election. During this year La Force concluded to j^o back to New York - tliinkinoj, no doubt, that the pleasure that a wife could give was preferable to the honors of oflBce. Oliver Williams was appointed his successor and held both offices (clerk and collector) until April, 1853. A. J. Brown was elected clerk to succeed Williams, but failing to qualify, James W. Snj'der was appointed. In addition to those mentioned who officiated during the early years, were Dr. James Miller, supervisor and, later, justice of the peace; William B. Royal, supervisor; Chester K. Snyder, town clerk; Milo Wilcox, justice of the peace; D. B. La Force, assessor. The present town officers are: Louis Germain, supervisor; John H. Coles, town clerk; Henry Leach, assessor; II. K. Lovejoy, collector; C. K. Snyder, G. W. Melbourn, and A. W. Itoot, commissioners of highways; Isaac B. McGinnis and J. H. Coles, justices of the peace; Isaac C. Persels and Fred. G. Thompson, constables; J. H. Coles, B. D. Parker and Wm. Kewin, school trustees. From seventeen voters in 1850, we liave increased to about 325 in 1882. At the last Presidential election we cast 305 votes. Politically Greenfield is most emphatically Republican - at the election of the lamented Garfield the "tally-sheet" showed 39 Greenback tickets, 41 Democratic and 225 Republican.

Our township residents of to-day are, as regards place of birth and nationalit}', thoroughly mixed. The "Scully prairie" in the southwest, embracing over two thousand acres, owned by Wm. Scullj' in Ii'eland, is cultivated almost entirely by Danes and Norwegians. The northern and central parts are generally settled with people from the New England and Middle States.

In the southeast are quite a number of well-to-do Irish families. Every State east of us to the Atlantic has sons and daughters upon the prairie. They have come from the classic towns of Massachusetts and the "back woods "^of Ohio, from the malarious bottoms of the Wabash and the Dominion across the lakes, from the White mountains of New Hampshire and the fruitful gardens of little Jersey, from the green hills of Vermont and the historic valley of the Mohawk. Nor is this all: many countries across the sea are represented here. Out of Scandinavian snows they have come, and from the shores of the Baltic; from the busy marts of old England, and Scotland's Grampian hills; from the bogs of the Emerald Isle and the slopes be- 3-ond the Rhine. These are the people that are here to-day. They came with little means - -poor in purse but rich in hope. In the bosom of our virgin soil the}' plowed deep furrows and scattered good seed, and the yield has been " an hundred fold."

In the settlement of every new country there is commonly more or less of the " eventful ;" some " wonderful adventures " and "hair-breadth escapes" that enter into the warp and woof of its history, that give sjiice and aroma to what must otherwise be a dry and insipid literature. Unfortunately for the writer, and for the reader who has a taste for tragedy, our chronicles reach not b;ick to the remote past. Our first settlements are within the memory of the middle aged. The cruel wars with the Black Hawk chief and his allies had years been over. The death song of the relentless savage and the wail of his helpless victim were forever hushed. The smoke of peace had curled up to heaven, and qniet reictned tliroughont the border. T'le council fires had gone out upon the shores; tlie cabins of the red men were iu the dust, and their war-cry bad faded away iu tlie nnti'oddeti West.

The prairie wolves were here, and while no one was ever injured by them, many a belated traveler was badly scared. They liowled in the darkness along the lonely pathways, and men of good courage were startled by their unwelcome nearness, and were only too glad to reacii home and shut back their noisy company. Plenty of deer were here in the early years, and venison at the farmer's board frequently figured largely in the bill of fare. In those days a drove of a dozen were sometimes seen in close proximit}' to the settler's cottage. At night in winter they would seek the groves along the creeks for shelter. C. Iv. Snyder relates how he and his cousin, a young Wood, hunted them one cold winter's night. A drove was known to come every night to a certain clump of trees for shelter. Wood having had more experience was master of ceremonies. He proposed that each climba tree, a little distance apart, and keep breathlessly still until the wild ruminants should seek their accustomed retreat, when they would fire upon them from their elevated positions. Snyder climbed his tree, fixed himself astride alimb, and Wood passed up his gun, telling him nnder no consideration must bespeak, but if likely to freeze he might whistle. S. found bis perch a desperate cold one, but being " gamey " and after game he proposed to wait.

whittle; but he could not, his month would not pucker! bis lips were mute. His tongue, however, loosened lively! Wood came to his rescue. The deer that were afar off heard his voice and stood well aloof. Mr. S. was often afterward reminded of his tree top experience, and the little episode is still fresh in his memory.

The first tile draining was done last year by C. K. Snyder, upon the Nason farm S.E. J," Sec. 7, and by J. C. Lutz on IST. W. ^, same section. Mr. Lutz has laid this season over three miles of drain and will add to it as fast as tile can be procured. George Goodson will put in two car loads ii])on his farm this year; J. S. Small one car load and Dr. Taxis one car load each. This is the extent of underdraiaing iu Greenfield up to date; so far as tested it has iiroven eminently satisfactory; so much so that doubtless hundreds of miles will be laid in the near future. For these lowlands, by nature so poorly drained, stigmatized "frog ponds" and "mortar beds," despised by many and forsaken by few, tile draining is our hope. No enterprise in which our iixrmers can engage promises so well. With this well done, we have nothing to wish, nothing to fear, no country can bear our laurels. Our fields will blossom like the rose, and our granaries will be the pride of our commonwealth.

A loolfhunt in which one of the best of our early settlers very nearly lost his life, will be of sufficient interest to warrant its publication here. Although our hem was a little outside of our precinct, we are iu jMSsession of the facts which will not likely reach the ears of the other historians, and hence we take the liberty to write theui. John Wheeler, with his family, came to Mazon Precinct from Pennsylvania in 1846 and located in what was, fonr years later, named Goodfarm, - northeast quarter, section two, now Goodrich estate. At the time of which we write his place was upon the outskirts of the settlement. To the south there was not a mark of civilization short of theYermillion River, a distance of twenty -live miles. In December,'!!, there having been a fall of snow, Mr. Wheeler and one or two others started out to hunt wolves which were plenty. Being well mounted they struck out boldly to the south, across the snowy plain. After going quite a distance they struck a wolf track which they continued to follow for several miles, when all but Wheeler were tired of the chase and turned about and rode home. He, being more determined than the others, rode on in pursuit of his game, but by this time snow was falling thickly, the tracks were obscured and he, too, thought to return. He was now many miles from home, the winds were sweeping wildly about him and cheerless darkness was coming on apace. Chilled by the cold and storm he alighted from his horse, thinking to warm a little by walking. The horse was startled at something, and with a bound pulled the rein through Wheeler's benumbed fingers, and sped away like an arrow through the storm. The unfortunate man following the tracks of his steed, and in a desert of shifting snows, he was alone. Through the pitiless storm he plodded his weary way, knowing not whither he was tending. On and on, breasting the imge drifts, until his very vitals seemed frozen within him. Exhausted with ceaseless effort he sank down in the snow. Digging for himself a little pit in the drift, he found the cold was less severe, and getting a little rest he raised himself up and made another struggle for home. Again his chilled and weary limbs succumbed; again he pitted his body in the drift. This process was repeated eight or nine times; as the night wore on the cold increased; at last he could not stand. He planted his rifle in the drift, pressing the snow about it, that it might stand erect, and serve as a guide to those who might come in search. His very blood seemed frozen in his veins, the last rayof hope had fled his breast, and with a prayer for wife and babes upon his mute lips he lay down to die. He did not die; with the morning light he spied the cabin of John Brown, and began crawling toward it. Mrs. Brown was the first to see him; his clothes frozen and covered with snow alarmed her. Mr. B. helped him to the house and when sufficiently recovered, to his own home, about five miles west. Brown lived where H. Jackman does now - center sec. 33, Braceville.

r.ARDNER - TOWN PLATTINCx - NAMING - FIKST BUILDINGS - INHABITANTS - IMPROVEMENTS - COAL AND MINING INTERESTS - SOCIETIES-SCHOOLS - CHURCHESBUSINESS FIRMS AND INDIVIDUALS, ETC.

("^ ARDNER was laid out immediately as Willis' addition to Gardner. The south ^ after the comoletion of tlie Chicago lialf of sec. 4: and the north half of 9 - one

Gardner was incorporated in February, 1867, containing at that time about four hundred inhabitants. The first village trustees were John II. Coles. Amos Clover, AV. W. McMann, F. Lathi-oji and Louis Germain. George Milner, the village school master, was the first clerk of the board, and J. II. Coles the first president, and also first police magistrate.

The first dwelling house built in town was the home of the " section boss " on the east side of tlie C. & A. track. The house has uiulergone some repairs and still serves the purpose for which erected. The building in the north part of town, known as the " barracks," was the second house in order of construction. It was built by Absalom Gleason, the first postmaster, and served as the first ]>ost-office. It has served the town as post-office, store, dwelling and boarding house, paint shop, etc. The old house still stands, but tenantless; the marks of advancing years are clear, and speedy decav is sure. Gleason is now livin<j in Rose County, Kansas.

Thefrst /lotel was the "Eagle," 18x36, a story and a half high, built by G. R. Taxis and Scott Armitage during the summer of 1855. "While building, the carpen-

ARDNER was laid out immediately -^ after the completion of the Chicago it .\lton railway in 1854. The first town lilat covered an area of 160 acres, namely: The southeast quarter of section ibur, Greenfield. The original town site belonged to Henry A. Gardner, J. C. Spencer and C. H. Goold. Gardner was chief engineer of the C. & A. railroad companj' during the construction of their line. lie did tlie surveying of the original town, and for him the village was named. Gardner did a great deal of engineering afterward u]jon lines running in and out of Cliicago; died some five years since. Goold and Spencer, who was also a railroad engineer, were then dealing in lands and town lots; the former is still a resident of the county, residing in Morris. The territory first platted was divided into blocks, twenty-seven in number; but owing to the railroad running diagonally across the site, they were not uniform in shape nor size. About ten years later the town had reached such proportions that more room was in demand, and a part of the north half of section nine was laid out in lots and described as Price's iirst and second addition. Peck's addition, Hyatt's addition and Finlej^'s addition. The east part of the southwest quarter of section ibur was quite early platted and is known ters slept on sliavings in a box car, on tbe C. & A. side track; this was tlie best the young town could give. During the uight thej were bunted hither and thither by passing trains; never knowing when retiring, where tiiey would find tiiemselves in the morning. The builders, Taxis and Arinitage, have laid away the jack plane and hammer - tlie former is now circuit clerk, and the latter for many years has served the U. S. Express company as their Gardner agent. George Allen, for whom the little tavern was built, and who provided the first menu, now lives in Chebanse, Iroquois County. Allen, as caterer, was succeeded by J. W. Hull, he by Chas. Eoyal, and lie by S. X. Underwood, who conducted tlie business for many years. Four or five years ago the liotel was remodeled and more than doubled in size; the inline was changed to the '- Gardner House " and James Cook entered as proprietor. Mr. and Mrs. C. still provide the " bill of fare." T\\ii first store was kept by Ciias. & Wm. Eoyal, opened in 1855, in a little building on the West side^ where O. P. Stumph's building now stands. The store room was a diminutive affair and the stock of goods never exceeded thecapacitj'; upon nail kegs and shoe boxes were seated a number of the "first settlers," who in point of gossip have not been outdone in these later years. The Eoyals are now living near Portland, Oregon. They were succeeded in the store by Chas. E. Gardner, who looked after the trade for a number of years, and was finally elected sheriff of the county. He died at his home in Gardner in 18C6. I. F. Benson was one of our first merchants, coming here and going into business in the fall of 1856. He commanded quite a trade here for several years, but financially' was not successful. Dui'ing his last years lie speculated considerably in coal lands. He died suddenly two years ago in Chicago, in the bath-room of his hotel. He put up the brown building on the "West side, which is known as the " Benson store." The first warehouse built in town was put up by Charles Booth, east side of C. & A. track, M'here Atkinson's elevator lately stood. It was built in 1857, Taxis & xVrmitage doing the carpenter work as usual. A. V. Ever soil bought the building and moved it up the track to wliere it now stands. It was afterward fitted up for a grist-mill, and for a few years did considerable grinding. Corn is still ground there in considerable quantities. A few years since it was generally overhauled and converted into an elevator, while the milling apparatus was improved. It is now owned by Snyder & 8on, who ai-e running it to a good purpose.

Charles Johnson, a tinner, from Kentucky, built the first sidewalk in Gardner, on the north end of Liberty street. Joseph Hall built the first garden fence, and Virginia M. Ilawley planted the first flowers, on Washington avenue, where Henry Donaldson now lives.

The country being sparsely settled, the growth of tlie town was slow up to the time of the sinking of the Gardner coal shaft in 18G1, when it started up with new life. At that time Morgan & Hart put up a store on the AVest side, now owned by John Allison, occupied by Truesdell & Wylie, and put in quite an extensive stock of general merchandise. Business was entirely confined to the West side until the spring of 1807, when Lutz & Foote opened up a general store on the East side, in the build-

Tlif^ llrxt hrivk buiMint;; )nit up in town wa.- 1-.-. McMann's clrug store in 1869. The Commercial House, 50 by 60, three stories, was begun August 2d of the same year and c'am])leted tlie winter following. R. R. Stone was the first landlord. He was succeeded by Wni. Smith, John Southcomb, A. K. Stiles, Ilowland Price, James Wilson and one or two others. Mrs. Nancy A. AVilson, widow of James Wilson, is now owner of the property and provider of the menu. The liotel was built, and for some time owned by A. K. Stiles and Rowlantl I'rice. Ko. 3 Commercial block was built a year later. In 1872 the brick row, numbers 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 Commercial block was built by Jones, Price, McClure and Kloft. The five stores were destroyed by fire Christmas night, 1878. This was the most destructive fire the town has known; besides the loss of building, the destruction of goods amounted to many thousands of dollars. The losers on stocks were: O. P. Sturaph, No. 4, drugs; R. B. Huss, No. 5, dry goods and groceries; C. E. Parker, clothing, and T. F. Lippengood, boots and shoes, No. 6; Pratt, Martin ct Phelps, dry goods and groceries, No. 7; Wm. Xlott, saloon fixtures. No. 8.

The "city hall" was built by A. S. Martin and Louis Germain in 1868, and was first occupied by Lebrecht, a Jew, with boots, shoes and groceries. The elevator in front of the Commercial House was built in ISGO by E. W. Cole, of Chicago, and is one of the best buildings of its kind in this part of the country. It is now owned and operated by Lutz & Germain. The brown elevator, which is now being moved to the north part of town onto the line of the K. &l S. railroad, owned and operated by Robert Atkinson, was built in the winter of 1872-73 by R. Turner.

Gardner has two railroads, the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis and the Kankakee & Seneca. The first was built in 1853-54, the first passenger train over the line, passing through Gardner upon the morning of the 24th of August, 1854. The line through here is double tracked; runs five passenger trains each way daily and takes rank with the best thoroughfares in the State. The second was built last year, 18S1, and the first regular trains were put on the 1st of February of this year. The K. & S. is a short line connecting the Cincinnati, Indianapolis & Chicago, with the Chicago & Rock Island. It is a well constructed road, now running two trains daily each way. The people of Gardner and immediate vicinity gave i?3,000 for rigiit of way. C. K. Snyder was the first ticket agent of the Chicago & Alton at this station, receiving his appointment about two weeks after the completion of the road. The company provided no building for an office, but gave Sn3'der a tin trunk in which to carr^' his tickets, books and valuable papers. Gardner was then a "town w-ithout houses" and the agent boarded witii his uncle, two miles south. Going home at night after the "eleven o'clock train," on foot and alone, wading through wet grass breast high, hearing the bark of the prairie wolves almost within reach of a walking stick, was the experience of the "first agent." B. N. Ilaslett was the first agent of the Kankakee & Seneca road.

Coal Ixtkkests, Shafts, Etc

In 1862 the Gardner people began to take intei-est in the co-.A product, with wliich the town and vicinity were thouj^ht to be under-laid, and l)y subscriptions, money was raised and lirill tests made. These were satisfactory, but it was some time before arrangements could be made for sinking a shaft. December 1, 1863, James Congdon and Win. II. Odell leased of II. A. Gardner, J. C. Spencer, J. K. Keese, T. C. Meyer and 0. H. Goold, ,the north part of the village plat, namely: Blocks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 25, also lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 in block 26, for mining purposes. By the terms of this lease, Congdon and Odell were to have what coal they could raise during the first seven years free, after which they were to pay a royalty of six cents per ton. Tiie Gardner people raised $2,000 by subscriptions for Congdon and Odell, as an inducement to undertake the enterprise. The work of sinking the shaft was begun about the first of January, 1864, but owing to some mismanagement, when down sixty feet, the sides caved in, the hole- was abandoned and another begun. The work went on slowly, Congdon sellino-out his interest to Odell before the coal was reached, which was in the fall of 1864. Julv 1,1865, Odell sold to Wm. A. Steel and Thomas Kerr. December 1st, of the same year. Steel sold one half of his interest to D. G. Wells for $7,000. On the 22d day of January, 1867, Steel, Kerr and Wells sold out to Aaron K. Stiles for $25,000. Stiles sold out to the Gardner Coal Company April 17, 1872; it soon after fell into the hands of the C, W. & V. Company, who continued to operate it until the summer of 1874, when they closed it up. The quality of the coal mined at this shaft was pronounced by experts to be fully equal to any in the State.

While Stiles had control of the shaft he started the manufacture of brick out of the fire clay, giving employment to quite a number of men. The most of the brick buildings in town now were made from the brick there and then molded. They were generally rough, but for "staying" qualities they were excellent. The life of this shaft was ten years. The distance from the surface to the top of the coal ISO feet. Thousands of tons of the "dusky diamonds" were brought to the surface and sent to Chicago and other markets. Tlie mining gave emploj'ment to lots of liands, and business of all kinds was brisk. An accident at the shaft which cost the lives of two emiiloyes, will be of sufficient interest to justify its record. E. L. Sutton, Alex. Mc- Kinzie, Wm. Ilarwood and Ilariy Watts had just stepped u]iou tlie cage to go below when the rope broke and all went crashing to the bottom, a distance of two hundred feet from the landing where they started. It was in the evening, dark and gloomy, but the knowledge of the accident soon spread through the village, and soon quite a number had gathered at the top of the fatal pit. It was some time before things could be fixed, so the unfortunate men could be hauled up. Those that were at the top were appalled at the moans of distress that came up through the darkness from the helpless victims below. Ilarwood received internal injuries, from which he died that night; Watts had his spine lacerated; lived twenty days; Sutton got a badly fractured leg, and McKinzie received adis-

In 1805 a company was organized, called the " Joint Stock Coal Mining Company of Gardner," and on the 8tli of June began the sinking of a sJiaft a little southwest of town, on the line of the C. & A. railway. They got down only forty or fifty feet when they struck a powerful vein of water, and after spending all the means at command, in the vain endeavor to get rid of it, that enterprise was abandoned. In 1S74: the railway company laid a]upe underground from this shaft to their tank in town, since which the iron horses have never wanted for drink. Last fall Taylor AVilliams, of Sterling, commenced sinking a shaft a mile east of town, was very nnich delayed by the water, and did not get down until this ST)rinii', and wlien the work was completed all were dismayed in iearnitig that there was no coal there. After spending a large amount of money it, too, was abandoned, and the buildings moved south to near the center of section ten, where, at this writing a shaft is being lowered. We have good reasons for believing that this shaft will not be lowered in vain. Five drill tests have been made near b}', showing, at a depth from 156 to 200 feet, a coal vein from two feet eight inches to six feet in thickness.

Scuools And School-Houses

The first Gardner school was taught in a shanty east of the "section house," by Lizzie Hussell ; the next was in a little house west of the mill, by a Mrs. Brown; after that, school was taught in a little shanty west, across the street from where the Baptist church now stands. Stephen Grav

The Jft'gt school-house proper, 22 by 36, was built by Taxis and Armitage on the site where J. O. Edmunds now lives, in 1S57. J. II. Armitage taught first school; he was succeeded by David Bookwalter, and he by Virginia M. Hawley, who a little later necame the wife of Dr. J. B. Taxis. In 1S()7 a new school-house was built on the east side of town, 28 by 60, two stories, the town having outgrown the first - Peter Hyatt, builder. By 1872 this was found too small and a two story addition, 28 by 44 was put on the rear by J. F. Peck. In February, 1875, the building caught fire from the furnace, and burned to the ground. That summer, the present school building, 52 by 1872, two story brick was erected at a cost, exclusive of furniture, of $8,044. J. F. Peck, architect and builder. Five teachers are now employed, and about 236 pupils enrolled. Miss Elizabeth Baumgardner is principal; Misses Mary A. Bush, Lettie J. Smiley, Mary E. Parker and Belle Overman, assistants.

Secret Societies

Gardner Lodge No. 573, A. F. and A. M. was organized May 24, 1866; received its charter Oct. 6, 1868. The first members were I. F. Benson, W. II. Schoomaker, Ed. Crane, J. W. Hull, Amos Clover, W. W. McMann, Wm. Hart, A. DeNormandie, Henry Elliott and H. V. Whalen. Its present membership is 58, with the following officers: W. M., H. V. Whalen; S. W., Henry Leach; J. W., C. G. Collins; S. D., J. F. Peck; J. D., F. A. Pagle; Treas., James Savage; Sec'y, John McGinnis; Tyler, J. W. Hull. Meetings every alternate

The first preachers in tliese parts were Methodists, and held services at private liouses fifteen years before Gardner was known. Charles Roe was a Methodist preacher; lived on the southeast corner of section 15, where C. II. Cotton now lives. lie used to have meetings at his own Jiouse and at DaTiiel Abbot's on the west side of Sec. 5, where Benjamin Ijookwaltcr now lives. Abbot was a Methodist preacher also; he would sometimes preach at home and sometimes at Cotton's. Those wlio attended these services beside the families of the ministers, were the Bradtields, McCartneys, J>rowiis and J. W. Hull. Abbot moved troin here to Iowa, and Roe went back to New York where he died. The G.irdner M. E. society was organized in the spring of 185S, and attached to the Mazon circuit, of which Rev. Thomas Watson was minister in charge. The first members were Wm. B. R lyal and wife; J. II. Coles and wife; Wni. Hart and wife; Robt. Glass and wife; Joseph Hall and wife, and Mrs. Cynthia VV. Hastings. Wm. Hart was appointed the first leader. The pastors in order of succession after Watson, were: John Grundy, J. B. Dillie, A. E. Day, John Cosier, Saninel Hart, H. Tiftany, Wm. M. Collins, D. H. Cridler, A. C. Price, Matthew Evans,

B. F. Wonder, J. W. Denning, A. D. Moore, M. C. Eignus, A. Bower, D. W. Brown, T. R. McNair and C. W. Green. " Gardner Circuit" was formed in 1867. The Ji/'st church edifice was built by the Protestant Methodists in 1856, corner of Jackson St. and AVashington avenue. Fav- / ette Doud, a local preacher, did the carpenter work and furnished a large amount of the money used in construction. Doud held a lien on the building for $500, which the Protestants were unable to pay; accordingly in Feb'y, 1864 he sold the building to the M. E. Society for the amount of his claim. Under the able ministry of Rev. Eiirnus in 1875, the congregation outgrew the building, and anew one 3i by 56, was commenced corner of Jefferson and Monroe Sts. The church was dedicated Jan. 9th, 1876; cost about $3,000; Wm. Hastings, contractor and builder. The society now numbers seventy-five members, and our meeting house is free from debt. The old building was sold and moved to Depot St. and converted into a saloon, showing how sometimes a good thing is j)ut to a had use. It is now used for harness sho]) and tin shop.

Pkesbyteeian Chuech

This society was organized September 5, 1858, under the ministry of Rev. L. H. Loss and Rev. S. II. Waldo. The meetm<r at which the organization was effected was lield in the school-house. The society started with six ladies, no gentlemen joining; their names were Mrs. Abbie La Force, Mi-s. Phebe Ann Wheeler, Mrs. Sarah M. Wright, Mrs. Susan Sawyer, Mrs. E. C. Benson, Miss Virginia M. Hawley. Rev. Waldo was the tirst minister in charge.

Of tlie six original members only two are now known to be living, namely: Mrs. Taxis )i',;; Miss Hawley,and Mrs. "Wheeler. The pastors, after Rev. Waldo, in order of snccession were: Revs. Alvah Day, E. G. Moore, Sextns E. Smith, F. B. llargraves, J. G. Lyle, Joel Kennedy, S. H. Stevenson and Robert Watt. The school-honse served tlie society for a chapel for several years, and after the school ont-grew it and went to new quarters, it was rigged over and still used. After a time this building was moved to Depot street, and converted into a store, and occupied by McGltire & Tolman for hardware; then the society used the Methodist church and the city hall. In 1871, under the able pastorate of Rev. Smith, they began the erection of a church edifice, brick, 32 by 56, corner of Elm and Main streets. It was completed and dedicated in the spring of 1872, and is now the society's place of worship. Many of the early members liave passed to "the other shore." The number now on record is 35.

Baptist Church

Under the ministry of Rev. W. H. Card this society' was organized in 186-1: with seven members, namely: W. H. Card, Phillip Spaulding, Albert W. Willard, David M. Griswold, Mrs. L. E. Taxis, Robert Huston and II. J. Edmunds. The names of the ministers, so far as could be learned, are, beginning with the first: Revs. W. H. Card, - Colby, J. Gordon, John Higby, E. G. Sage and F. M. Mitchell. The society built a church 36 by 60 in 1868; in February of 1871 the building took fire in some way unknown, and burned to the ground. The same year a new brick chui'cli was begun on the same site, the same in size, with a conference room 2i by 30 added to the rear end, and was dedicated to the service of God, May 11, 1872. The construction of this building plunged the society into debt, and by which they were much embarrassed until Rev. Sage's ministry, two years since, when the obligations were generally paid. The present number of memljers is sixty-four. Each of the societies supports a Sabbath school with a fair attendance.

And Traders

Gardner has thus far achieved very little notoriety as a manufacturing town; its life and business have depended mostly upon the farming country surrounding it. As a grain market, especially for corn, it stands well with other railwa}' towns. During the year 1880 nearly half a million bushels of corn and oats were shipped from this station; the numbers of fat cattle and hogs shipped, were they known, would make a good showing. The census of 1880 gave ns a population of 788, which in the two years since has somewhat increased, so that now we number, likely, about 900. The business of to-day is mostly represented by the following gentlemen and firms, carrying stocks of dry goods and groceries: Lutz & Eldred, R. B. Huss, Phelps & Lewis, Truesdell & Wylie - four stores; restaurants, D. L. Stralil, George Hader; grain buyers, Snyder & Son, Lutz & Germain, Robert Atkin son; buyers and shippers of live stock, Germain & Clover; hardware dealers and blacksmitliing. Smith & Rogers; blacksmithing, Atkinson & Erwin; hardware, Chas. V. Hamilton; dealer in farm implements, A. S. Martin; ready-made clothing.

Underhill. Dr. Taxis lias resided here since 1S59, Dr. McMann since 1S63; Dr. Underhill came later; Dr. Easton came in 1874. Notaries public, Isaac B. McGinnis and John Coles; attorneys at law. Clover & Clover. The present village trustees are: Harvey Eldred, George Smith, W. W. McMann, R B. Hnss, D. R. Keepers, Arnold Edmunds. Eldred is the president; H. A. Crawford, clerk.