Kane County, Illinois - Chapter 20, 1908 (part 1 of 3)

Chapter 20

"The thriving city of Elgin is beautifully and picturesquely located upon both banks of the Fox river, forty-two miles west by north from Chicago, at the point where the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad crosses the river. The first settlement of the town was made by James T. and Hezekiah Gifford, in April, 1835. Mr. H. Gifford had visited the country the previous year and explored it from where Elgin now stands, to Y'orkville, in Kendall county, and was so much pleased with it that he induced his brother, James T. Gifford, to sell out his property and migrate west. James T. lived at Dundee, and Hezekiah in Oneida county, both in the state of New York. From Chicago they proceeded to Milwaukee, then called 'Milwaukie bay.' Not finding any good opening at this point they crossed the country to Fox river, and explored it as far south as the head of the 'Little Woods,' and finally concluded to settle on the site where Elgin now stands. Returning to Chicago for their teams, which had been left there, they again returned to their new home, this time accompanied by Mr. Joseph Kimball, whom they met in Chicago.

"The Giffords immediately proceeded to choose and mark out claims, James T. claiming the land now included in the plat of Elgin bearing his name, and Hezekiah the land south of it, and including that on which the National Watch Factory now stands. James T. Gifford built the first log cabin on the original town plat, near where now is the corner of Prairie and Villa streets, in front of the present residence of G. B. Raymond. Hezekiah built a log cabin sixteen feet square in April, 1835, on what is now called Sherman's addition to East Elgin. Mrs. Hezekiah Gifford arrived at the settlement on the I2th day of May, 1835. (This spot is now owned by the Bowen family, on St. Charles street. This was the first cabin built in what is now Elgin. This is shown by the fact that the cabin of James T. Gifford, above mentioned, was not completed until July or August, 1835, Mrs. J. T. Gifford arriving at that time.) For six weeks she was the only white woman there.

"Messrs. S. J.. G. W. Russell, and Jonathan Kimball, and Isaac Stone, arrived in the latter part of April of the same year, and the little colony began to improve quite rapidly. Mr. Joseph Kimball died while on a trip east for his family. His son, Samuel J. Kimball, came in his place, and claimed the property afterward owned by his sons, Joseph and Walter, the former of whom was the first child born in Elgin, his birth dating November 28, 1836. "Jonathan Kimball claimed the land on the west side, later owned by Hon. S. A. Wilcox and others. These two names, Gifford and Kimball, were the most prominent in the earl}- history of Elgin.

Dr. Joseph Tekft

"A road was staked and 'blazed' to Meacham's Grove, now Bloomingdale, in the early summer of 1835. In June of this year two more ladies, Mrs. P. J. Kimball and daughter, arrived and joined the settlement. The same season, also, the wife of James T. Gifford, accompanied by his sister, Miss Harriet E. Gifford, arrived in the colony. The latter lady taught the first school opened in Elgin, in the fall of 1835.

"The town was named Elgin by Mr. James T. Gifford, who took a great liking to the old Scotch names. The first Fourth of July celebration took place in 1836, the settlers celebrating the nation's anniversary by opening the nevi' road between Elgin and Meacham's Grove.

"The precinct, as the townships were then called, was known as the Lake Precinct, and included the two towns of Elgin and Dundee. The lirst election for the precinct was held at the house of Thomas H. Thompson, which stood on what is now the Captain Turner farm, within the limits of Dundee, July I, 1836. At this election eighteen votes were polled, the majority of them belonging to Dundee. Jonathan Kimball was elected justice for Elgin, and Wanton Parker for Dundee. S. J. Kimball and Seth Green were elected constables - Kimball for Elgin, and Green for Dundee. This seems to have been a sort of informal election. The first election in the town of Elgin, properly speaking, was held at the public house of Hezekiah Gifford, October 10, 1836, according to Mr. Gififord's recollection, and was probably the first formal election held after the organization of the county, which was effected in 1836. An election occurred in August, 1836, at the house of Thomas H. Thompson, for congressmen, state senator and representative, county commissioners, sheriff, recorder, surveyor, and coroner. On the 7th of November, 1836, another election was held at Mr. Thompson's house, for presidential electors, at which forty-two votes were polled. In October, 1837, James T. Gifford was elected justice and Eli Henderson constable.

"During the year 1836, James T. and H. Gifford, with S. J. Kimball as surveyor, marked out a road from Elgin to Belvidere, which has been a great thoroughfare ever since.

"The first resident physician in Elgin was Dr. Joseph Tefft, who settled here in 1835 or 1836. The first marriage was celebrated at the house of Jonathan Kimball, Esq., whose daughter Martha was united to Mr. Sidney Kimball. The first death in the colony occurred in May, 1836 - Miss Mary Ann Kimball, a daughter of P. J. Kimball.

"Hezekiah Gifford built and opened the first hotel, or tavern, in the month of October. 1836. This was sold to Eli Henderson the ensuing year. A dam and bridge were constructed in 1837. A saw-mill was also put in operation. The dam and saw-mill were built by the company, Messrs. William C. Kimball, Janies T. Gifford, and S. J. Kimball.

"The first building used for a school was built in 1837. It was of wood, twenty-four by thirty feet. It had a small bell in its tower, probably the first one ever heard in the valley, and was used both for school and church jiurposes. The first district-school building was erected in 1847. ^^ stood on the corner of DuPage and Chapel streets, and was built of brick. Some time after two brick school buildings were put up on the west side of the river, and in 1858 the city higli-school buikling was built on Kimball street.

"The Elgin academy was chartered in 1839. In 1848-9 the Free Will Baptists made an effort to establish a college. The present academy building was commenced by them, but pecuniary embarrassments compelled the abandonment of the project. In 1854 a new organization was effected, under the academy charter of 1839. to whom the shareholders of the proposed college transferred their interest, and in 1855 the building was completed and opened as the Elgin Academy.

"The first religious society was organized in May, 1836, by Rev. N. C. Clark, Congregationalist. who had figured quite extensively already at Naperville and St. Charles. ]\Ir. James T. Gifford was the most prominent member of this church. The society occupied the little chapel already spoken of, until 1843, when they built a house on the corner of Center and Fulton streets, seventy by forty feet. This building was completed in 1846. The Baptists organized at the house of Hezekiah Gifford. in 1838. The Rev. J. E. Ambrose was their first pastor, and continued until 1844. The Episcopal Methodists organized a church in 1837. and built a house in 1840, which, with subsequent additions, was occupied until 1866, when the splendid Centenary church was erected, at an expense of $25,000. The Free Will Baptists and Unitarians erected houses of worship in 1846. In 185 1 the Catholics erected a church upon a lot (on the corner of DuPage and Gifford streets), presented to them by Mr. James T. Gifford. The Universalists erected a very neat and tasteful house in 1866, and the same year the Free Methodists built a plain, but substantial and commodious house. In February, 1853, a Presbyterian society was organized, and in May, 1855, a Reformed Presbyterian society was formed. There is also a German Lutheran society in the city. They own and occupy the church erected by the Free Will Baptists in 1846, on the corner of Division and Spring streets.

"Elgin, like all western towns, has been prolific in hotels. In addition to the first building erected by Hezekiah Gift'ord, in 1836, there have been the Elgin house ( that stood at the northeast corner of Center and Chicago, the site now occupied by the First Congregational church), long the stopping place of the celebrated Frink & Walker line of stages between Chicago and Galena ; Shaw's, or the City hotel, centrally located (that stood where the Sherwin block now stands) ; the Kimball house, near the East depot; and the Waverly, on the West side, the last well known, far and near, as one of the best hotels in the country. In addition, we might state that there have been a number of German and other hotels at various periods, among which the Chicago house, on Douglas avenue, is perhaps the most prominent."

Soon came a demand for the necessaries of life. Bread had to be obtained, and the settlers having gathered in their first crop of corn, the question arose, how was it to be ground. Journeys to Ottawa, Joliet and Chicago for this purpose were frequmt, but they were long and tedious, and it was evident that the place then called "State Road" by a few settlers, in the hope, it is to be supposed, that a state road would some time or other get to it, must lia\e a mill. Mr. J. T. Gifford constructed one by hollowing out a large stump and fitting into it an immense stone, which was raised and depressed by means similar to those once used in raising water out of wells. A sort of powerful mortar and pestle were thus formed.

The year 1836 saw the first religious organization of Elgin firmly established. Before this date services had been held in the Messrs. GifTords" cabins. In February, of the year alluded to. Rev. John H. Prentiss, of Joliet, and Rev. N. C. Clark, then of Naperville, but afterward for many years one of the most honored citizens of Elgin, met at Mr. J. T. Gifford's house. b\ invitation, and spent a Sabbath there. ]Mr. Prentiss preached on the occasion, and it was concluded to organize a church as soon as possible. In May, 1836, a Congregational church was formed.

The first marriage - rare in those days - was celebrated at the house of Jonathan Kimball, when his daughter Martha, was united to Sidney Kimball.

The first death, too. in Elgin, that of Miss Mary Ann Kimball, daughter of P. J. Kimball, Sr., took place in May of this year. The deceased was buried in the then newly formed cemetery, where John Newman's residence now stands. The Channing street cemetery was not used until 1844, and on its establishment many bodies had to be transferred to it from the old burying ground. A perfect record of interments has been kept, that is almost invaluable.

Emigrants now commenced passing into the western country in great numbers. The Indians had. in 1836, received their last payment in Chicago and were moving off. The Elgin people no more heard their importunities for "pennyack," "quashkin" and "goonatash," yet. in this year, the settlers received a severe scare from a report brought into the village by a courier from the north, that the Indians were coming back to slay and scalp all before them. A public meeting was at once called, and a committee of defense appointed, but the red men did not put in an appearance.

The village was growing now. Dr. Joseph Tefft built a house (ui the ground afterward used as a hay and wood market, now the city hall. A man named Stowers. too, had built a store. Mr. GiiYord had got the name of the village legally authenticated in Washington, and the mail and stage route west, located through Elgin. People no longer had to send horsemen to Chicago for letters and papers. Settlers, including the Knox, Gilbert. Tefift and other families, had come in on the trail that led up the Fox from the direction of Joliet.

Travelers, at this period, poured into and through Elgin, and every house in the village was a place where strangers might be entertained. In the fall of 1836 a frame addition was made to Gifford tavern, which remained standing, though not on its original site, until April, 1875. Some time after this, the Elgin house, for years kept by a person named Tibballs, was built. It stood on the northeast corner of Chicago and Center streets. It was at one time considered one of the finest hotels in the West : but after the departure of Mr. Tibballs. it was converted into a female seminary, and for years, under the management of the Misses Lord, held a first-class reputation.

In 1838 Henry Sherman settled about two miles west. Jason House, Elgin's first blacksmitli ; B. Healy, the first harness maker ; John and Vincent Lovell, Alfred Hadlock, William Shaw, Solomon Hamilton, Burgess Truesdell, Harvey Raymond and many others, came about the same time. The productions of the country found a ready market in Chicago, then just commencing her wonderful career. Wheat never sold for less than thirty cents per bushel, nor corn for less than twenty cents, and pork was often firm at $1.50 per hundred.

In 1838 B. W. Raymond, of Chicago, in connection with his partner, S. N. Dexter, bought one-half of J. T. Gififord's claim, and in 1840, Mr Gifford sold one-half of the remainder to Dr. Root, father of Anson Root, still living. Elgin is greatly indebted to B. W. Raymond for its early and later prominence. Although not an actual resident, he made large investments here and furnished the material for many of the most important enterprises. His contributions for the establishment of the Academy were liberal, and he was one of the first, and for many years one of the leading merchants. He was a partner in the foundry of Augustus Adams & Co., the first manufacturers of corn sheliers, in this part of the west, and was chiefly intsrumental in the establishment of the w-oolen factory, built by S. N. Dexter in 1842 (now the Yoimg Men's Christian Association g)-mnasium). He assisted in the erection of a large tannery, and in securing the location of the w-atch factory here, of which company he became the first president.

During the Christian occupancy of the little frame building, the several denominations worshiping there divided the time harmoniously among them, and the Sunday school officers were chosen from different denominations. In July, 1837. a great religious meeting was held in a large tent, near the site of the Centenary church, and in September of that year the Congregationalists secured the services of Rev. Mr. Clark, on alternate Sundays, he being then a resident of St. Charles. At this time he divided his services with the Dundee church. At this time, also. Rev. Mr. St. Palais, a missionary from Indiana, occasionalh' visited the Catholics in Elgin. This gentleman afterward was bishop of Vincennes, in that state.

Elgin's first bridge, built in 1837. was a wooden structure, reaching from Mr. Healy's place of business (now Healy block) to the Lynch block on the west side. It was carried off by a freshet in 1849, ^nd was succeeded in that )-ear by a substantial wooden bridge, which lasted until 1866, when it was removed and an iron bridge built. This structure fell beneath a drove of cattle, and a new iron bridge w-as constructed. This bridge fell on July 4, 1869, under a crowd watching a tub-race, and was replaced by an iron structure that w-as destroyed by the ice and flood in 1881. In the early years the raceway ran across Chicago street and entered the river south of where DuBois opera house now stands. All the land from the Seybold factory south is made land - the process of filling still going on, on both sides of the river. A pile bridge was used for many years. During its construction people were ferried across the river in a ferry boat about thirty feet long and twenty feet wide, attached to a cable strung across the river by means of trolleys or pulleys. The push of the strong current against the ferry, aided by a man with a pole, forced the contrivance across. One morning in April, 1881, a ferry started from the landing, just opposite the Milwaukee depot, heavily loaded. When it reached midstream the current sw^ayed it, and the occupants, becoming fearful, moved toward the outer edge. The result was to sink the boat under water, throwing the passengers (some htteen or twenty) mro the river. Many were drowned.

So the village continued to grow, with what is now \'illa court, as a business center, and in 1840 contained a population of nearly one thousand persons. That year marked a change in the business district, and began the movement toward the river, which in ten years saw Center street practically abandoned and Chicago street the main thoroughfare. The beginning of this change was the erection of a cobble-stone store at the southeast corner of Spring and Chicago streets by B. W. Raymond, which he long occupied as a general store. The building was not removed until 1906, when it was torn down to give place to the present Leitner block. By 1855 Fountain square had become the center of the village, then having a population of about three thousand, and it has so continued until the present day. Home bank block was built in i860.

The years from 1840 to 1866 show but little permanent advancement toward the making of the city that has arisen. The railroad on the east side was built in 1848, the depot being at Chicago and Spring streets, where the Stewart block now stands. For two years this was the terminus of the railroad, and the only avenue to the lands further west. Every train was tilled with homeseekers, who must be accommodated here. The old city hotel, afterward the Commercial, on the site of the present Sherwin block, was built about 1844.

About 1850 the Galena branch of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad on the west side, was constructed and travel instead of stopping here continued westward. The panic of the '40s struck the town about this time and dealt it a staggering blow. Its residents were, however, made of persevering temper and did not lessen their efforts to build up a city.

In 1843 the woolen factory was built. (The building is now occupied by the Young Men's Christian Association gymnasium.) This was the first manufacturing enterprise of consequence that had located here, and as an earlier writer has said, "through it Elgin received its first lesson in the great advantages to be derived from the location of manufacturing establishments. From that time to the present the lesson has never been forgotten in the community. Elgin knows that every stride it has taken has been owing to the building up in its midst of productive establishments." The woolen mill was enlarged in 1866 and long employed a large force of hands. It went out of business in the early '80s, and w-as succeeded by the Cook Publishing Company.

The crisis of 1857 soon followed and stagnation resulted in the young city. Said a former writer: "Property tumbled to fabulously low figures; the manufacturers, like all other enterprises, stopped, and stores were unrented. Elgin was a sort of Illinois Pisa, with grass growing in its thoroughfares, and its people employing their energies in providing for life's wants. Thus it continued for some years, and many predicted it would long continue."

The opening of the Rebellion found the city hardly recovered from the depression, but it became alive at once on the beginning of hostilities. One week after the news reached Elgin, the first company (A) for the first regiment (the Seventh) left the city for Springfield, and was the first company mustered in Illinois. This first company was made up of the old Continentals, who had been the "crack" militia organization west of Chicago. Edward S. Joslyn (afterward lieutenant colonel of the Thirty-sixth) was captain of these first volunteers who were mustered in on April 15. 1861. (For members of this company see Seventh Regiment in military history.)

The old "Continentals" of Elgin were originally organized in 1855. They early adopted the old Revolutionary uniform w ith cocked hat. The late Col. E. S. Joslyn was captain of the company, and General John S. Wilcox a lieutenant. Following is a copy of a program of a ball given by this company in 1859 :

Luther Herrick

The above is a reproduction of an invitation to one of tlie most fashionable society events given in Elgin before the Civil war. The original copy is the property of General John S. Wilcox, who at that time was a lieutenant in the Washington Continentals. A perusal of the names of the various managers and committees will be of especial interest to many of the older residents as well as to the younger generation.

General Elijah Wilcox, one of the honorary managers, was the father of the present General Wilcox and the Hon. John Hill was a brother-in-law of the general. Captain E. S. Joslyn is well remembered as the father of Attorneys Frank and Waite Joslyn. Among the members of the old W'ashington Continentals was Joseph Hemmens, father of Postmaster H. D. Hemmens and Walter Kimball, at present a member of the Elgin police department. It will be noticed that the invitation was printed by the Gazette Print of Elgin, which was the forerunner of the News-Advocate.

Although it is understood that there are a number of these invitations still in existence they are preserved with great care by their owners. When the old high-school building was razed the workmen found one of the invitations under the flooring.

On the 25th of July, 1861, Elgin furnished a company to the Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteers, and still another company to the Fifty-second regiment, mustered September 14, 1861. In October of the same year a company left the city for the Fifty-fifth Illinois Volunteers. Elgin contributed a very large quota to the Fifty-eighth regiment, which was organized in 1862, and in June of that year a company was also organized there for tlie Sixty-ninth Regiment of three months' men. On September 5, 1862, two companies left the city for the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Illinois Volunteers. The Elgin Battery was formed in the fall of 1862, and mustered into service in November of that year. In February, 1864. extensive barracks were built on the Lovell property, in the north part of the city, which received the designation of Camp Kane, and in February, 1864, these were temporarily occupied b}' the Fiftysecond Regiment, then at home for a short time. The regiment received large accessions from the place on its redeparture for the front in March of the same year, and in the June following the One Hundred and Fortieth Illinois Volunteers, marched from Camp Kane, Elgin contributing two coiupanies to the regiment. Besides these mentioned, Elgin contributed many soldiers to other organizations, and from the day, in the early spring of 1861, that the first company left it, until the hap])y midsummer, four years after, that the war's last veteran marched jiroudly home. Elgin was never derelict to the calls of the struggling, but at last victorious republic.

Scz'ciith Infantry. John Bradford Company A; died March 31. 1862. Corporal John C. Day, Company A; died March 14, 1862. *Eri H. Densmore, Company A; died June i, 1861. '''George P. Gilbert, Company A ; died February 4, 1862. Henry C. Hassan, Company A; died October 5, 1864. Sergeant James R. Kinney, Company A; died in 1863. Captain Samuel G. Ward, Company A; died April 6, 1862. *William H. Wheeler, Company A; died August 16, 1861.

Tliirty-si.rth Infantry. Albert Andrews, Company A; died October 10, 1862. *First Lieutenant Edward S. Chappel, Companv A; died October 16. i86r.

Corporal Cyrus F. Deane, Company A; died January 15, 1863. Alexander F. Henderson, Company A; died January 16, 1863. Charles Olszceski, Company A; died in 1865. Sergeant Alexander Robertson, Company A; died May 2j, 1864.

One Hnndred and Forty-first Infantry. John Batterman, Company C; died September 18, 1864. *Benjamin F. Webster. Company C; died July 20, 1864.

The Grand Army Of The Republic

No child can be born into it; no proclamation of president, edict of king or czar can command admission ; no university or institution of learning can issue a diploma authorizing its holder to enter; no act of congress or parlia- ment secures recognition; the wealth of a X'anderbilt cannot purchase the position ; its doors swing open only upon presentation of a bit of paper, torn, worn, begrimed it may be. which certifies to an honorable discharge from the armies and navies of the nation during the war against the rebellion, and, unlike any other association, no "new blood"" can come in; there are no growing ranks from which recruits can be drawn into the Grand Army of the Republic. With the consummation of peace through victory its rolls were closed forever.

1. To preserve and strengthen ihoje kind and fraternal feelings which bind together the soldiers, sailors and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion, and to perpetuate the memory and history of the dead.

2. To assist such former comrades in arms as need help and protection, and extend needful aid to the widows and orphans of those who have fallen.

3. To maintain true allegiance to the United States of America, based upon a paramount respect for and fidelity to the national constitution and laws ; to discountenance whatsoever tends to weaken loyalty, incite to insurrection, treason or rebellion, or in any manner impair the efficiency and permanency of our free institutions; and to encourage the spread of universal liberty, equal rights and justice to all men.

Membership

Any honorably discharged soldier, sailor or marine, who served during the late rebellion, between April 19. 1861, and August 20, 1866, is eligible to membership. No person shall be eligible who has at any time borne arms against the United States.

Muster Roll Of Members

Gould, L. J., Company I, Thirteenth Wisconsin. Gifford. S. J., Company C, One Hundred and Fifty-third Illinois. Groce, Henry A., Company F. Forty-third Massachusetts. Griggs, Eugene H., Company K, Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry. Glines, Andrew B.. corporal. Company C. One Hundred and Thirteenth Illinois.

Members Of G. A. R.. Elgin, Taken May 80, 1908 Mustered Out

Lynd, W. R., Company G, Fifty-second Illinois; died March 24, 1899. McCartney, John C, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Illinois; died May 9, 1885.

Since 1899

Wilburn, A. W., captain. Company I. Fifty-second Illinois. Woodcock, V. A., musician, Twenty-first Maine. Zanders, Jr., L. V., Company B. Third Wisconsin.

Company C, One Hundred And Twenty-Seventh Illinois Volunteers

Forty-five years ago on a bright September day eight hundred and eightyseven men, with uplifted hands, swore to uphold the constitution and laws of this government of the United States. Then days of camp life until the frosts of November came, we bade good-by to aged father and dear mother; blessed wife and darling babes, or to the blushing sweetheart whose pledge some boy in blue held in hopeful love ; a parting to many - the last - and it was well they knew it not. At Cairo on the steamer "Emerald" we took passage, and on the 13th of November we landed at Memphis, Tennessee, and joined the First Brigade, Second Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps; a brigade division and corps that at the close of the war had a record for miles marched, battles fought and victories won unequaled by any other in the western army. The latter part of November we started out to invite Generals Price and VanDorn to a Thanksgiving dinner, but they did not come to time as gentlemen, but from the planters on the line of march we received many contributions of chickens, hams and sweet potatoes. The regiment learned experience in marching and many knapsacks became lighter; and we learned a soldier needs but little here below. The clothes he wore, fortv rounds in his cartridge box and sixtv more in his breeches pocket were the needful in going after the enemy. On Christmas day we received our baptism of lire at Chickasaw Bayou, and the first of our heroes was killed.

Then we were transferred to Arkansas post. On Sunday, January ii, 1863, we had the proud honor to be foremost in the assault and one of the first to plant "old glory" upon the rebel works. Then back to Vicksburg, to pass long weary days on Young's point doing fatigue duty on the canal across the peninsula. Here sickness and death made havoc in our ranks. Then the relief of Commodore Porter's gunboat fleet from Shel's and the Back bayous; and finally, on July 4, came the surrender of Pemberton's army and \'icksburg was ours.

The One Hundred and Twenty-seventh was called the "Slap Jack" regiment, because our quartermaster drew rations of flour instead of hard tack and we mixed the flour with Mississippi water flavored with salt, and I can assure you that the pancakes were a hard lot of baked dough. The march to Chattanooga and the relief of Burnside at Knoxville left a trail of blood, from feet shoeless, with strips of blanket wound around their feet, yet with eager hearts and powder dry they pressed on. Then the might}' march, and on to capture the gateway of the south, Atlanta. A hundred days of battles, repulses and captures, the loss of our beloved IMcPherson, and then temporary disaster, the repulse of the rebels and the recapture of the lost ground the 226 of July, 1864, will ever be memorable in the history of our beloved country. In this battle the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh sensed with distinguished bravery. The regiment had advanced and occupied the strong line abandoned by the rebels just outside the more important lines surrounding the city. From the roof of the Howard mansion could be seen the spires of Atlanta, and we felt as if our work was almost done. But Company K was on the skirmish line - that was ominous - for Company K on the skirmish line generally meant trouljle, and soon it came. About noon Tom Kellett, in command of the company, was wounded, and while his wound was being dressed by Dr. Clark, just in the rear, there came the dull sound of a gim from rebel works, and a solid shot crashed through the trees, tearing oft great branches, some of which fell upon poor Tom, who thought he was called for. In a moment all was confusion, the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh and two other regiments of the brigade were ordered on the double quick to the threatened rear. Away they tore oyer that dusty road on that hot July day. Just as they were taking position, up came General Logan, his black horse on the dead run, the general's hat gone, his long black hair flying in the wind, his eyes flashing, a very god of war : "Colonel ^lartin, double quick your men back and recapture youT works." Again over that same road they ran. General Logan at the head. Honor was at stake, the Fifteenth Corps had lost its works. No other corps must be allowed to retake them for us. So, rushing pell-mell, all regimental order lost, went the three regiments into the works to be driven out by the deadly rebel fire. Under the cover of the hill they reformed. "Get into line ! Get into line anywhere!" is the cry. Officers drop their swords and seize the Springfields and in a moment move up over the hill. W'^ith a dash and hurrah goes the line, and the works are won. Quick as thought Lieutenant Richmond, of Company E, with the aid of two or three others, wheel around a deserted gun of one of the captured batteries and fire it into the disordered ranks of the retreating foe. The ground in our front is literally carpeted with enemies slain and wounded. The end of the campaign was the capture of Atlanta. And now let us say, "Hail to the future ! To the past we can never say farewell."

Following the Civil war Elgin took a new lease of life and entered into an era of prosperity that has not since abated. The immediate cause of this new beginning was the location here of the watch factory, which had been secured in 1864, and went into its first building on the present site in 1866. It first occupied a building on the river bank, just back of where the First National Bank building now stands.

A group of men, including B. W. Raymond, A. J. Joslyn, S. Wilcox, Dr. Joseph Tefft, Henry Sherman and others, became the factor at this time in advancing the industries of the growing city. In 1868 they secured the location of the asylum, and had placed the Elgin Academy on a firm basis. Common schools were also established. Elgin now- saw its destiny as an industrial city. The possibilities for dairying also now began to be seen, and everything took an upward turn. New buildings began to be erected in the business district and new merchants to open their stores.

In 1 860 the Borden Condensed Milk Factory was located here and in 1870 employed forty persons. The Elgin Iron Works employed twenty-five operatives. The Elgin Butter Factory opened in 1870. The Elgin Packing Company began business about 1869 and sold three hundred thousand cans of packed fruits and vegetables that year. The Phoenix Foundry was then operated by William F. Sylla. Spillard's tannery employed twelve persons. A plow factory was started in 1870. In 1873 Wilder & Joslyn began making brick, and in 1875 made three million. A shoe factory was opened in 1873 by Groce Bros. & Co. A chewing gum factory was started by Vollor & Co. in 1875; a soap factory bv W. H. Herrick; a cotton batting establishment by G. W. Renwick & Son.'

A fine fountain was, in 1873. placed on Fountain Square (before that time known as Market Square). Town's block was built about 1873, but the north half was destroyed by fire in 1874 and at once rebuilt as it now stands. A library was established in 1872. In 1873 a writer of that year wrote: "A meeting of citizens has been held at the courthouse in which the unsuitableness and ruinous condition of the old buildings now used as schoolhouses was characterized in strong terms, and an informal recommendation made to build two schoolhouses worth together seventy-five thousand to eighty thousand dollars." Three thousand dollars for a library was collected in 1873 by taxation. From 1870 to 1875 new churches were built on every side. In 1871 the Chicago & Pacific Railway ( now the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway) was run through the city. In 1871 a gas company was organized, and the old candles and lamps discarded. The village was becoming a city in fact

In 1 87 1 the population was five thousand, four hundred and forty-one. In 1873 it was given as seventy-three hundred; in 1874 as eight thousand. Elgin had now cast off her swaddling clothes and was a well advanced vouthful city. It continued to grow by natural increase of its factories and business. The watch factory nearly every year added to its force and buildings, other small industries came in. and by 1880 Elgin had become a city of ten thousand people.

In 1882 the D. C. Cook Publishing Company removed their entire plant to Elgin and occupied the old woolen mill. This was the first large industry to be located since the watch factory and gave an impetus to the city. It at once employed three hundred and fifty people.

In 1871 there came to Elgin a young man (then twenty-two years of age) who was to have a large and continuing influence upon the growth of the city. He engaged in the grocery business with success until 1882, when he began a series of public operations that not alone enriched himself but gave to the city a larger industrial scope and a much increased population. That young man was William Grote. who was born in Germany in 1849 - a striking example of what may be accomplished in this land of the free by men of perseverance and capacity. Through the impetus given by the efforts of William Grote in the early '80s more factories were located in the city from 1882 to 1892 than have been located here before or since that time. Mr. Grote and his associates. A. B. Church. E. D. Waldron, and others, are chiefly credited with this acquisition.

Since 1892 Elgin, though suffering severely from the depression of 1893-97, which closed many of its factories and put the rest on short time, has continued to grow in population and business enterprises. Today every store and every office is occupied, and despite the panic of 1908 is advancing in public improvements and in the enthusiasm of its citizens. This vear large paving contracts have been given and the system of sewerage inaugurated under the administration of Carl E. Botsford successfully completed. A commercial club comprising already nearly three hundred members, paying annual dues of ten dollars each, has been launched. A specialist will be employed as a secretary, whose work it will be to secure industries for location here and in every way advance the interests of the community. Backed by the best citizens, this organization promises great good.

Elgin, with its present population of twenty-five thousand, bids fair within the next ten years to increase to forty thousand, and continue as she has been these man)' years, the Queen City of the Fox.

The advancement of the city in the matter of parks and public playgrounds, thanks to the generosity of the late Mr. George P. Lord and his esteemed wife, ]\Iary Carpenter Lord, and the late \\'illiam H. Wing, has, been unsurpassed. j\Ir. and ^Irs. Lord gave to the city the splendid Lord's ])ark east of the city and expended much money during their lives to make it the beautiful place it is. They also contributed largely to the Young Women's Christian Association building and the Young Glen's Christian Association building. They gave to the Young Men's Christian Association tlie block occupied by Hall's drug store. Mr. Lord also gave the city the small park (Central park) on the west side, opposite the Old People's Home, which was built by Mr. and Mrs. Lord on the old Lord homestead. Mrs. Carpenter Lord also built the fine Congregational church at Carpentersville in memory of her first husband, Julius A. Carpenter, by whose efforts much of the wealth she generously and wisely distributed was accumulated.

William H. Wing, who died leaving no immediate heirs, gave to the city the magnificent park on the northwest side, now named Wing park. It contains nearly two hundred acres, and has room for a race course and a golf grounds (both of which have been laid out), and is destined to become one of the most attractive playgrounds in the city.

Formerly what is now Grove avenue south of Prairie street intersected Prairie street at a point several rods east of River street, thus making an unseemly turn in the road and interrupting the view. Efforts were made as early as 1870 to have those streets connected in a straight line, but owing to the opposition of property owners it was not effected until 1873. Then the two-story brick house of Mr. R. Beckwith, which stood in the way. was raised with screws and removed several rods to the west of River street, where it now stands. This was the first exhibition of this kind of modern engineering skill ever accomplished in Elgin. Grove avenue thus became a part of South River street and is now one of the finest drives in the cit}'.

Much feeling was manifested and discussion had as to the propriety of the appropriation for building the new bridge, now National street. It was claimed that the expenditure was not then called for by any existing general public interest, but was beneficial, if at all, to local interests merely. Promises from private parties interested to aid in the expense of erecting the bridge have not yet been realized, though private property has been largely enhanced in value thereby. The plea that such extension of available residence property is an indirect benefit to the city is neutralized by the fact that the population was not yet crowded in other quarters already accessible.

In 1870 the late Dr. P. W. Pratt commenced the culture of fish and enclosed a park of some seventy acres of what was known to the early settlers as the "cedar swamp," lying on the east side of the river, one and a half miles above the city. The numerous springs in this "Trout Park" feed the ponds in which are reared the young salmonaide. This park was also at one time stocked with elk and deer. Some of the springs are believed to have valuable medicinal properties. This park has since become a popular resort for pleasure seekers, especially Germans from Chicago. Dr. W. A. Pratt continued to improve it after the death of his father in 1872.

In the same year Mr. D. S. Hammond, of Hammond Station, on the Chicago & Pacific Railway, near the southeast corner of the city limits, commenced the business of pisciculture in a scientific way by building a system of capacious tanks and ponds of solid masonry, fed by bounteous springs of pure cold water, gusliing up in a beautiful dell, surrounded by a grove of magnificent forest trees. Hammond's grove is also a popular resort for picnic parties from

The Franco-German war, which commenced in the spring of 1870. aroused the sympathies of our German fellow citizens and liberal donations were sent from Elgin to the fatherland during this year to aid in assuaging the sufferings always caused by war.

The census of Kane county was taken this year, ^vhen it was found to contain a population of thirty-nine thousand, an increase of nine thousand since i860. The census of this city, giving five thousand, four iiundred and fortyone, was taken this year. This shows an increase of nearly three thousand in about five years.

On J^Ionday, the 9th of October, 1871, when the new^s came flashing over the wires that the city of Chicago was still in flames and thousands of her people were driven homeless and hungry into the open air or crowded into the remaining houses of the suburbs, the citizens of Elgin at once called a mass meeting at DuBois Opera House and appointed a committee to visit every bakery in the city and set them at work preparing bread for the outcasts. Of the names of the committee we have learned positively only two - ^Messrs. A. B. Fish and John Coburn. So many others acted in concert with these gentlemen, and such was the eagerness and enthusiasm of all without regard to appointment or priority in the generous rivalry of doing something to provide for the terrible exigency of fellow mortals in distress, that no one now can remember, for certain, whether he acted by authority as one of that committee or not. \\'e could give the names of a score of citizens who were constantly on the alert for several days and nights in providing, shipping and delivering the donations of the people. Certain it is that "the ovens were heated seven times quicker than was their wont," and all night long on ]^Ionday night not only every bakery in the city was worked to its utmost capacity but at private houses women and men were busy baking bread, meats, beans and cookmg ajl kinds of portable provisions, so that by half-past four o'clock on Tuesday morning the first carload of "relief" that was shipped from any point on that memorable morning was dispatched to the scene of suffering and distributed to the famished and frightened refugees from the flames. Over two thousand loaves were thus sent by lightning express on this first train, and as the day broke over the supperless, shivering, shelterless crowds, who had all night long looked despairingly up into the face of the cold sky, over which hovered the smoke of their smoldering homes, they must have fancied that the old-time fable of bread dropping from heaven had been realized. We note the fact of our priority in providing bread to break the fast of that starving multitude more from pride in the general impulses of human nature than to give any particular credit to our single city, though in that connection it is an item worthy of the historian's pen. To boast of being first in performing a charitable act. which was so spontaneously and universally seconded by the entire civilized world, would be invidious as an estimate of our benevolence, while it may be no more than a just meed of praise to the spirit of practical activity and "push" which jiervades our community. The first carload was followed by another batch of bread and provisions on the seven o'clock a. m. train, and by another fnll carload in the afternoon containing clothing and blankets as well as food. Three times a day for over a week fresh provisions were sent in with citizens in charge to see them safely and properly bestowed. The whole energies of the entire people were \'irtually given up to the task of assisting the sufferers from this great calamity. The amount of value in dollars and cents thus contributed by the citizens of Elgin, in money, time and material, was never computed nor accounted. But aside from this fully one thousand dollars in cash was raised by citizens and paid over to the bakers and victualers, who charged only for the bare material. Though our gifts were small in comparison with the gratuities which flowed in from every quarter of the globe in such liberal streams, amounting to millions in the aggregate, yet we think this an appropriate place to chronicle the fact that, both in amount and in promptness, the citizens of Elgin have cause to remember with pride their preeminence on this occasion.

Dear Sir ; * * * We have been duly placed in possession of the truly generous donation of $1,591.50, from the liberal and sympathizing employes of the National Watch Company. * * *

It is further stated, in a note from T. M. Avery, president of the National Watch Company, acknowledging this remittance, that "it was made up to a considerable extent by contributions from young ladies who necessarily had to make great sacrifices for the accomplishment of so noble a charity." What higher praise could be paid to the liberality and intelligence of our industrial population ?

The question of granting license to liquor saloons has at various times agitated the people of Elgin. In 1868 the experiment had been tried of refusing license. Litigation followed, and either through the fault of the law or the apathy of its supporters, it failed to secure the results anticipated.

On the i6th of ^lay, 1873, a petition was presented to the common council, signed by one thousand five hundred and eighty-seven persons, praying them "not to grant license to saloonkeepers." The petition was reported upon adversely by two of the members of the committee on license, giving at length the arguments against any attempt to prohibit the traffic and recommending a license at $100 per annum. Aid. R. P. Jackman moved to substitute $300 for $100. Lost, 10 to 2. The report adverse to the petition was then adopted bv a vote of 1 1 to i .

On Monday morning. March 23, 1874, Elgin was visited by one of the most destructive fires which ever occurred here. The ground burned over was tlie two prominent business corners of the city, fronting on Chicago street, Douglas avenue and Fountain place. The total loss was estimated at $150,000. Insurance on this property, buildings and goods was paid to the amount of nearly $100,000, and by October of the same year the entire ground, with the exception of one lot in Chicago street, was entirely rebuilt in a much more substantial and ornamental style.

In the spring of 1874 what was known as the tenij^erance crusading wave reached Elgin. Mass meetings were held in the churches and at DuBois Opera House, at which the pledge was circulated and signed by large numbers of our citizens. The ladies were especially active in promoting the cause of temperance during the spring and summer of this year. On the 15th of April a petition was presented to the city council by a committee of prominent ladies, praying that no license to sell liquor be granted. The petition wa'^ considered at the next meeting of the council, April 22, and rejected by the casting vote of the ma}-or - six aldermen voting in favor and six against it.

About the first of May, 1874, the Elgin Gazette, which had been published longer than any other paper e\-er started here, ceased to exist, from mismanagement and consequent financial difficulties. Its office and a portion of the material on which it was printed were soon after secured by Mr. S. L. Taylor, proprietor of the Elgin Advocate, who has made it one of the best country newspapers in the state. Mr. E. Keogh, the last editor of the Gazette, immediately after its demise started the Elgin Times.

On the 4tli of June, 1874, the old settlers held their annual gathering at the fair grounds, where speeches were made by several of the old residents of the vicinity, and by Governor Beveridge, who was present by invitation.

In the month of November, 1874. an agent from Smith county, Kansas, visited Elgin, and presented the claims of the sufferers from drought and grasshoppers in that region. The agent being known to D--. Joseph Teft't, of this city, the appeal was met by the citizens of Elgin in the most liberal spirit. Upward of $1,000 worth of goods, clothing, etc., were donated and shipped to .Smith count}-, and $530 in cash was raised and paid over to the agent for that purpose.

Building operations in Elgin during 1S74 were unusually active. In addition to rebuilding the burnt di.strict a large number of other business buildings and jjrivate residences were erected. Not far from half a million of dollars were expended in this way, including $150,000 upon the asylum.

On the evening of May 13, 1875, a large meeting of citizens was held at the courthouse to hear a report from the board of education relative to the contemplated ne^v schoolhouses. They recommended an expenditure of $90,000 for this purpose, and ere long Elgin was provided with school Ijuildings which were an honor to the city and attracted hither persons who had children to educate.

Old Cfty Hotel. Klcix

From information lately recei\'ed we are able to correct a statement that has heretofore been current that the first white child born on the site of our present city was Joseph Kimball. It appears that Louisa, the daughter of John and Lydia Kimball, and Charlotte, daughter of Sidney and Martha Kimball, were both born in the spring of 1836, and consequently saw the light sooner, by some months, than Joseph. After having borne these natal honors for so many years, putting on airs in the belief that he was the first of his race in Elgin, it seems hard to strip the laurels from his brow and bind them upon the forehead of the feebler sex.

Another item t(j which we allude with melancholy interest is the death of the first white woman who ever saw the banks of tJie Fox river at this point. This lady was Mrs. Mary Jane Gififord, wife of Hezekiah GifTord, whose name is familiar in these pages. Her death occurred on the first day in January, 1874, just thirty-eight years and a half from the date of her first appearance upon the spot where her career was ever afterward marked with all respect and esteem due to a brave pioneer, as well as a pious, kind and gentle woman.

Gail Borden died on the 13th of January, 1874, in Borden, Texas, where he had gone but a few days before from this place and after having made arrangements to permanently reside here.

The annual city election was held on the first Monday of March, 1875. License or no license was to some extent an issue, and although the complexion of the common council on this subject was not materially changed, they soon after raised the price of liceiise from $125 to $300, and the number of licensed saloons has been reduced about one-half. The city sexton's report was read at the first meeting of the new council, showing the number of deaths in the city during the past year to have been one hundred and eight. This, in a population of eight thousand, speaks well for the health of the place. With the commencement of tliis year R. W. Padelford, who had been clerk of the council ever since the establishment of the city government in 1854, and had given universal satisfaction, ceased to act as such, and W. F. Sylla was appointed in his place.

The Chicago & Pacific Railroad, to which Elgin is so much indebted, was during this month completed to Byron, on Rock river, fifty-eight miles west of our city.

The deaths of William C. Kimball and Roswell Smith, the former aged sixty-nine and the latter sixty-one, and both of them old residents of the city, occurred at nearly the same hour on the 6th of May, 1875.

The property known as the Lovell farm, on the east side of the river, was this year ( 1875) platted and brought into market. A large number of new streets and residences are now situated upon a portion of it. This property, lying along the track of the Fox River Valley Railroad, is admirably adapted to become the site of some of the new mammoth manufacturing establishments, which are seeking locations among us. (This prophesy came true when the D. C. Cook Publishing Company built on thirteen acres of this land in 1900.)

The Solid -Men Of Elgin In 1864

Below we give, as a matter of curiosity and interest, the incomes for 1864. on which the five per cent special war tax was paid by such of our citizens as were supposed to be liable to it. It will be remembered that $600 of income were exempt from taxation, as well as sundry payments for repairs. taxes, etc., so that the amount set opposite the names is only the excess above exemptions. There were undoubtedly many others whose income rendered them liable to taxation but who escaped by the neglect ni the assessor or the evasions of themselves :

Aa'. F. 8Ylla. R. Av. Padelford

Henry Westennan, Thomas Stewart, Denison R. Jencks. John Kizer, Finla L. McClure, Charles D". Dickinson, John A. Coburn ; clerk, Wm. F. Sylla; marshal, John Powers; acting city marshal, Hugh Murphy; acting city marshal. Palmer Clark; city attorney, Oliver P. Chisholm; treasurer, A. C. Hawkins; street commissioner, Sebastian Ranzenberger ; city sexton. Henry B. Waters; city physician, Dwight E. Burlingame; fire marshal, Richard Parkin.

1889-90. Arwin E. Price, mayor: William F. Sylla, city clerk: Richard N. Botsford. corporation counsel ; Charles H. Fisher, city attorney : E. Dunbar Waldron. city treasurer; George L. Kinnear. city marshal: John W. Carr. superintendent of streets: Albert :Marckhoff. superintendent of cemeteries; board of water commissioners. David F. Barclay. Charles W. Raymond. G. Rosenkrans (resigned). John \\'. Ranstead : city physician. Alban L. Mann: fire marshal, .\ndrew O. Apple: aldermen. Frank Kramer. James \'.

Snow Fall In The '80S

veyor, Adin Mann; city electrician, H. E. Shedd; building inspector, William R. Lynd; inspector of weights and measures, Joseph Kreeger; pound keeper, Harry Corbett ; city collector, John L. Davery.

1898-9. Mayor, Arwin E. Price; city clerk, Wm. F. Sylla; city treasurer, Alfred Bosworth; city attorney, Chas. Abbott; aldermen, Albert Fehrman. John H. Williams, Louis Schrader, *Malcolm Heath, yFred W. Jencks, Albert F. Alden, Charles L. Kohn, John W. Schramm, Fred B. Allen, August L. Anderson, William Smailes, John Henry Carr, George Schmidt, George E. Linkfield, Thomas W. Tefft; corporation counsel, Charles H. Fisher; superintendent of streets, William Rundquist; superintendent of cemeteries, Albert Marckhoff; city physician, H. J. Gahagan; city marshal, John A. Logan; fire marshal, John M. Geddes; water commissioners, Chas. W. Raymond, C. H. Woodruff and C. H. Potter; park commissioners, George P. Lord, George B. Richardson, Frank Kramer ; city surveyor, Adin Mann ; city electrician. H. E. Shedd; building inspector, William R. Lynd; inspector of weights and measures, Joseph Kreeger; pound keeper, Harry Corbett; health officer, Wm. Rundquist, ex officio.

1899-1900. Mayor, Arwin E. Price; city clerk, Wm. F. Sylla; city treasurer, Wilson H. Doe; city attorney, Joseph Manley; aldermen, John H. Williams, Albert Fehrman, Louis Schrader, Paul Kemler, Jr., Fred B. Allen, Benjamin S. Pearsall, Charles L. Kohn, Eben B. Shearman, William Smailes, August L. Anderson, John Henry Carr, Thomas Dorcy, Henry M. Childs, George Schmidt; corporation counsel, Chas. H. Fisher; superintendent of streets, William Rundquist; superintendent of cemeteries, Albert Marckhofif; city physician, H. J. Gahagan; city marshal, John A. Logan; fire marshal, Joiin ^i. Geddes; water commissioners, George E. Hawthorne, C. H. Woodruff, C. H. Potter; park commissioners, Geo. P. Lord, Geo. B. Richardson. Frank Kramer; city surveyor. Adin Mann; city electrician,. James H. Risdon; building inspector. Robert T. Chapman; inspector of weights and measures, Joseph Kreeger ; boiler inspector, William F. Hallet ; pound keeper, Sam Hill ; city collector, Geo. W. L. Brown ; health officer, John W. Mink ; clerk of city court, John J. Kelley.

1901-2. Mayor. Arwin E. Price: city clerk. Wm. F. Sylla : city treasurer, L. N. Seaman; city attorney, Roy R. Phillips; aldermen, Albert Fehrman, John H. Williams. Louis Schrader, Paul Kemler, Jr.. Albert F. Ansel, Harvey M. Chittenden, Fred B. Allen. Eben B. Shearman. William Smailes, John C. Redeker. Charles L. Abbott, John A. \\'right, George Schmidt. Elwood E. Kenyon; corporation counsel, Charles H. Fisher; superintendent of streets. William Rundquist ; superintendent of cemeteries, Albert Marckhoff; city physician. H. J. Gahagan; city marshal, John A. Logan, Louis Freeman;* fire marshal, John ]\L Geddes; water commissioners, J. G. Tapper. Chas. W. Cornell, George X. Morgan ; park commissioners, George P. Lord. A. F. Schader. George B. Richardson ; city surveyor. Adin J\lann ; city electrician. James H. Risdon : building inspector, Robert T. Chapman ; inspector of weights and measures, Robert K. Plumleigh ; boiler inspector, William F. Hallet ; pound keeper, Sam Hill ; city collector. George W. L. Brown ; health officer, George E. Allen ; clerk of city court. John J. Kelley.

A. Prout; city electrician, W. S. Skinner; building inspector, Thos. F. Mackey; sealer of weights and measures, Geo. A. Heindel ; boiler inspector, W'm. F. Hallet; city collector, Ed. S. Hubbell; water commissioners, David F. Barclay, W'm. F. Hunter, Henry Schmidt; park commissioners, Geo. P. Lord, Galen B. Royer, J. M. Blackburn; fire and police commission, E. S. Eno, R. D. Hollembeak, John A. Logan; pound keeper, Sam Hill; health officer, Geo. E. Allen.

E. P. Gerry; superintendent of cemeteries, Albert Marckhoff; city physician, Arthur B. Sturm; city marshal, James W. Younger; fire marshal, John M. Geddes; city surveyor, Chas. A. Prout; city electrician, W. S. Skinner; building inspector, Thos. F. Mackey; sealer of weights and measures, Geo. A. Heindel,* Oliver V. Fox; boiler inspector, William F. Hallet; city collector, Ed, S. Hubbell; water commissioners, David F. Barclay, \\^m. F. Hunter, Henry Schmidt; park commissioners, George P. Lord, Galen B. Royer, J. M. Blackburn ; fire and police commission, John A. Logan, R. D. Hollembeak, C. Dallas Monroe; sewer commission, L. D. Nish, John A. Waterman, Chas. H. Potter; pound keeper, Sam Hill; health officer, Geo. E. Allen.

1905-6. Carl E. Botsford, mayor; Wm. F. Sylla, city clerk; R. H. Kramer, city attorney; C. Fred O'Hara, city treasurer; aldermen, Henry Muntz, Louis Schrader, B. S. Pearsall, John W. Schramm, Olcott H. Nix. Harry E, Perdue, J. E. Bakker, Wm. G. Wilcox, Frank W. Shepherd, Chas. Pierce, Frank Webster, Geo. S. Anderson,* George H. Andresen, Jerry Aubertin, Elwood E. Kenyon ; corporation counsel, Robert S. Egan ; city engineer, Henry Dakin ; superintendent of cemeteries, Albert Markchoff; city physician, F. C. Shurmeier; city marshal, Jas. W. Younger; fire marshal, David W. Sharp; city electrician, Earle L Fish; building inspector, Jas. R. West; sealer of weights and measures, Oliver V. Fox; boiler inspector, William F. Hallet ; city collector, Ed. S. Hubbell ; water commissioners, David

Dakin ; superintendent of cemeteries, Albert Alarkchoff; city plnsician, F. C. Shurmeier; city marshal, Jas. W. Younger; fire marshal, David W. Sharp; city electrician, Earle I. Fish ; building inspector, Jas. R. West ; sealer of weights and measures, Oliver V. Fox; boiler inspector, William F. Hallet; city collector, John O. Myers : water commissioners. David F. Barclay, Wm. F. Hunter, Henry Schmidt; park commissioners, George P. Lord. J. M. Blackburn. Harry D. Barnes; fire and police commission, L. D. Nish, John A. Waterman, J. A. Rovelstad : pound keeper, Chas. Harding; health officer. Adolf Fischer.

By William G. Hubbard, In 1 875

The first attempt to supply the mercantile wants of the people of Elgin and vicinity, was made by a Mr. Storrs, in 1836 or 1837, who opened a small store on Center street, now Villa court. He was succeeded in the same building by V. S. Lovell, John S. Calvert, William C. Kimball and others.

Mr. Kimball brought on his first general stock of merchandise about 1838, and soon after removed to his new store on the west side of the river, which is still standing directly north of Lasher's hotel, now the condensed milk factory, and continued his mercantile business until 1858. In 1847 '""^ built the stone mill on the west side of the river; in 1852 the W^averly house, and in 1872 his residence, all of them monuments of his enterprise.

A new, and for that time extensive, store was opened about 1838 by S. N. Dexter, of Whitesljoro, New York, and B. W. Raymond, of Chicago, under the firm of B. \\'. Raymond & Co. It was under the direction of Harvey Raymond (a brotiier of G. B.), who died instantly in the store in 1842. The building occupied by this firm was on the southwest corner of DuPage and Center streets. In tiie fall of 1842 they removed to their new brick store on Chicago street, afterward occupied by Stewart Brothers as a bakery, where they remained until they closed business in 1851. (Now Leitner block.)

In the early days of Elgin, most of the firms kept general assortments, consisting of dry goods, groceries, crockery, hardware, boots and shoes, drugs and medicines, etc., etc., but within a few years after its settlement, they commenced making specialties of certain classes. Some of the principal merchants in the several departments, since 1843, have been as follows :

Demarcus Clark & Co. commenced about 1844. in a small building which stood on the lot on Chicago street, owned by L. H. Yarwood (now Killip's restaurant). They afterwards moved to Hubbard's corner, and then to the south side of the street, where they continued business until about 1854.

About 1846 Dr. Erastus Tefft erected a building on the south side of Chicago street, where he sold goods for several years. On closing business here he removed to Clintonville, and subsequently to Topeka, Kansas.

Cornell & Wilder commenced business in 1850 in Mehan's building, near the City hotel; removed in 1852 to a wooden building, which stood on Douglas avenue, and afterward, until 1861, sold. dry goods in one of the blocks on the south side of Chicago street, part of the time in connection with F, L. McClure. They are now ( 1875) in the furniture Ijusiness on Market square (Fountain square).

Hanson & Ransom were in business from February, 1846, to February, 1847, '" the building then standing on the northeast corner of Chicago street and Douglas avenue. They were succeeded in the same building by M. C. Town, who, after two years, removed to his new store opposite. Mr. Town engaged in the banking business in 1851, in which he continued until 1858, and embarked in it again in 1862.

In connection with this reference to banking, it may be proper to say that in 1855 Mr. O. Davidson opened a banking office in Mehan's wooden building, near the Fox River Railroad. He afterward purchased the corner where the Home National bank now is, and for a time did business in a wooden building on that site. In i860 he built the Bank block; in October, 1861, the Home bank was organized, and in August, 1872, it was changed to Home National bank. After Mr. Town changed his business, his store was occupied by Harvey & Dearborn, Henry Brooks, Huntley & Hamilton, Calvert & McAuleys, Adler. Schultz & Todson, and perhaps others, until it was burned in the spring of 1874.

Timothy Lynch commenced business, in a small way, un the west side, in 1848, which in a few years became quite extensive, and continued so until his death in 1873. He erected the block of three large brick stores just west of the bridge.

In 1858 Todd & McNeil erected a store on the corner of Chicago and River streets, where Weld's (now Hall's) drug store stands. It was built over the mill-race, as that formerly continued across Chicago street, and united with the river again at a point near where the DuBois block now stands. This store was occupied by them for six years and then sold to Calvin Tyler, who used it for a drug store until it was burned a few years after. Todd and the McNeils sold groceries and dry goods in various buildings for several years, and then went into business in Chicago.

William G. Hubbard commenced business on the northeast corner of Chicago street and Douglas avenue in 185 1 and closed in 1861. He was succeeded soon after I>y Newman & Innes. afterward John Newman, who occupied the store until the great fire, March 2^. 1874, and now occupies the rebuilt one on the same lot. ( Now Spillard's clothing store.)

In the earlier days of Elgin business was done for several vears by R. L. Yarwood, deceased, in a building on River street knowai as the factory store, a part of which was afterward occupied by Mr. Eakin as a grocery. He was succeeded for a short time by his son, J. R. Yarwood.

The first hardware store in Elgin w^as opened by J. B. Smith, about 1847. He had previously done something in a small w-ay in the tin and sheet iron business. Before this no tin ware or stove pipe could be procured nearer than Chicago. The firm was subsecjuently Smith & Clark ( both of whom are now dead ) , who sold to James A. Carlisle and George Bowers.

E. A. Kimball commenced the hardware trade on the west side in 1849. He was succeeded, in 1861, by Barclay & Holmes, they selling to I\I. Mallery & Co. After a residence in California, E. A. Kimball again commenced business in the same store, and in 1869 again sold out to N. & H. C. Rogers, and they to Hawthorne & Bosworth, in 1872. After another vacation, Mr. Kimball resumed business at the old place, in 1874, in connection with lohn Nish. (Nish Bros, continued the business until 1907.)

The first drug store in Elgin was opened by O. E. Parmerlee about 1845. succeeded by A. C. Lewis and LewMS by L. H. Yarwood and others, and finally by Kelley & Hart. ( William Hart is still conducting the store.)

St. A. D. Balcomb commenced the drug business at an earlv day in the building afterward owned by William Marker, now^ Elgin National bank block, afterward removing to the Sherman block, now Armory hall. He was succeeded by Henry Sherman, and :Mr. Sherman by R. & S. E. Weld. (E. Hall now owns the business. )

James Knott was probably the pioneer in the exclusive grocery trade. He did a successful business on the northwest corner of Chicago and River streets, from which he retired, and died in 1874.

Fountain Square, Showing Old Union Itaij

The first merchant tailor and clothing store was established by S. McOsker, in 1855, who, after conducting a successful Ijusiness for many years, died in 1874.

George B. Raymond opened his hat, cap and crockery store in 1852. He had previously been one of the firm of B. W. Raymond & Co., and was afterward in the lumber business. The first lumber yard w^as opened by his brother. Augustine Raymond, deceased, in 1850, and after tw^o years this was continued by G. B. for nine years, in connection with his hat and crockery business.

With the exception of Calvin Hall, who worked both at carpentering and watch repairing, William Barker was the first jeweler in the city, commencing in 1845. (His grandson, William Barker, still resides here.)

The first regular and permanent book store was established in 1861, by Howe & Clark, succeeded by Rev. N. C. Clark, I. S. Bartlett, and Denison & Burdick, whose place was at the northeast corner of Chicago and River streets). Smith & Kelsey were in the same business for a year or two, and closed in 1873.

Edgar Wait and G. W. Kimball were among the earliest furniture dealers, succeeded by Tichenor & Phelps, P. VanNostrand, E. S. Wilcox and S. D. Wilder. G. W. Kimball was in this business longer than any one else.

Bernard Healy opened a harness shop in 1842, and still continues it. He has been in business longer than any other man in Elgin. Next to him is William Barker, and the third is George B. Raymond, who was a partner in the firm of S. N. Dexter & Co., as early as August, 1846. The fourth in point of time of those who are still in business, is George B. Adams. He opened a grocery in a wooden building, where his brick store now stands, in 1S49, and changed to his present occupation in 1855.

The limits of this article forbid more than a mere mention of other old merchants of Elgin. Among them were J. Parker, R. M. Martin, S. A. French, Swan & Bailey, E. W. Cook, L. S. Stowe, John Shanks, C. H. Coffee, Mrs. Clififord, Fay, Ward & Eaton, Eugene Lynch, James Christie, C. Bachrack, Adler Brothers, F. Ferhman, Fred Stolt, Hemmens & Jones, Lynn & Cassidy, M. B. Baldwin, G. H. Merrill, W. W. Merrill, Eakin & Co., Lewis & Westerman, J. M. Peyton, W. H. Batchelor, Fred Seitz, P. J. Kimball, R. S. Tickner & Son, James H. Gifford, J. J. White, and others, whose names do not occur to us.

The present merchants of Elgin are honorable and energetic men, and as they are patronized, not only by the citizens of tlie place, but by those of surrounding townships, most of them are doing well and securing a competence. We do nut even mention their names, except those referred to as among the older ones, but trust that some future historian will presers'e a memory of them, as we have endeavored to do of their predecessors.

In 1855. when the population of Elgin was about three thousand, a map of the city was published by Thomas Doran, to which the names and employments of those subscribing for it were appended. The list embraces a large share of the then prominent business men of Elgin, and we republish it for the gratification of our older citizens, who will remember them. The list shows how rapidly the business men of a place are changed by death, removal, or retirement. It contains one hundred and forty names, of whom only about fifty now reside here, and of these only about fifteen are in the same business that they were twenty years ago.

The map is embellished with cuts of six of the best buildings then in the place, viz. ; the Elgin Academy, or College, as it was called, the Waverly house, the Kimball house, the woolen factory, the old Baptist church, and one of the old three-story blocks on the south side of Chicago street, in which was the store of J. J. White and the daguerrean rooms of R. W. Padelford. The city was then quite circumscribed, compared with its present dimensions, and much of what is now occupied by beautiful residences, was then farming or pasture land. This was especially the case with the region around the watch factory, and the Lovell farm, on the east side.

H. B. Annis, produce merchant: Hon. A. Adams, farmer and merchant; Thomas Avery, miller ; Dr. G. S. Abbott ; D. W. Bangs, nurseryman : I. X. Buck, auctioneer; D. F. Barclay, tinsmith; B. Burritt, street commissioner; A. Barrows, architect and builder; Peter Burritt, farmer, Hanover, Cook county; J- W. Brewster, fanner; John Bowlin. farmer; Lv'man Black: A. Chase, Waverly house; city council; Cornell. Wilder & Co., City Gem; Alvah Chandler, machinist; C. A. Clark, cloth finisher; S. A. Call, architect; James H. Crawford, carpenter and joiner; George Clarkson ; E. K. W. Cornell, City Gem; D. M. Cole, boot and shoe store; John Connor, blacksmith ; Charles S. Clark, hardware merchant ; Martin Coney, millwright : Demarcus Clark, merchant; E. F. Colby, attorney-at-law and vender of real estate; S. Newton Dexter, proprietor woolen factory; Dexter & Co., leather manufacturers; Alex. Denis, carpenter and joiner; Michael Dougherty, farmer and produce merchant: L. S. Eaton; A. B. Fish & Co.. merchants; J. Force, machinist; G. W. French, farmer; John Forlarcher. carpenter and joiner; Miss Harriet E. GifYord : S. A. Gregory, carriage and wagon manufacturer ; James H. Gift'ord, produce merchant; P. H. Graves, saleratus and baking powder manufacturer: Daniel Gahan. tanner: Joseph Gardner, sea captain: Edm'd Gifford, Esq.. attorney and solicitor, general land agent, notary public, commissioner for Iowa, etc. ; George P. Harvey, produce merchant ; W. Holloway, merchant ; John H. Harris, merchant : George Ha'^san. dravman and carrier; A.S. Harpending-, livery stables; A. Hadlock, threshing machine manufacturer; William G. Hubbard, merchant; A. Hoagiana. lumber merchant; J. W. Hoagland, lumber merchant; Joseph Hutchinson, mason and builder; A. Hewitt, mason and builder; C. S. Hadlock, machinist; S. H. Hamilton, merchant; A. B. Hinsdell, farmer; Ezra Hanson, farmer; Rev. A. J. Joslyn, pastor Baptist church ; E. S. Joslyn. attorney-at-law ; William C. Kimball, merchant and vender of real estate; P. J. Kimball, Jr., vender of real estate; P. J. Kimball, Sr., farmer; S. J. Kimball, farmer; G. W. Kimball, cabinet and chair manufacturer; J. C. Kennedy, hardware merchant; Dr. Thomas Kerr, physician and surgeon ; James Knott, merchant ; B. F. Lawrence, distiller ; Seth Lobdell. machinist; Timothy Lynch, merciiant and leather manufacturer; J. Lyman, printer and publisher Kane County Journal; G. W. Morse, machinist; William F. Munay, cloth finisher; R. G. Morgan, civil engineer; John Mann, carpenter and joiner; A. J. Messenger, wagon and plow shop; G. H. Merrill, agent Galena & Chicago Union Railroad ; William W. Merrill, butcher ; John McDowell, blacksmith; T. McBride. produce and lumber merchant; S. McOsker. merchant tailor; John D. Meehan. merchant tailor; Manning & Barnum. merchants; R. O. Old, book and news depot, east end bridge; Daniel O'Brien; E. Owen, editor; R. W. Padelford. dagiierrean artist; Phelps & Tichenor, furniture warerooms ; John J. Paris, miller; C. K. Patterson, fruit gardener; J. E. Phelps, proprietor livery stables; L. T. Pembec. mechanic; E. F. Reeves, mason and builder ; Milo Smith, chief engineer and superintendent Fo.x River Valley Railroad ; L. C. Stiles, machinist ; J. B. Smith, hardware merchant; George Smith, weaver; John B. Smith, engineer; Philo Sylla, manufacturer reapers and mowers; T. Schoonhoven, farmer; S. B. Sexton, proprietor livery and sale stable; M. Strausell, proprietor Fox River house; Isaac Stoddard, carriage and blacksmith shop; C. C. Stiles, farmer and builder; Fred. Seitz, merchant tailor; M. D. Seward; William Saunders, grocer and provision dealer; R. Smith, merchant; James S. Taylor, Esq., justice of the peace ; J. F. Taylor, boot and shoe dealer, east end bridge ; B. Truesdell, proprietor Elgin nursery and garden; Dr. A. Turner, physician and surgeon; Charles Tazewell, brewer; M. C. Town, banker; James Todd, lumber merchant and farmer; William G. Todd, merchant and proprietor planing mill and sash factory; C. C. Theirs, merchant; William M. Taylor, law student; R. S. Tickner, lumber merchant; J. N. Truesdell, carpenter and joiner; P. Van Nostrand. produce merchant; W. S. Vescelius, tanner; S. Wilcox, attorneyat-law; Paul R. Wright, attorney-at-law; A. J. Waldron, attorney-at-law and secretary Fox River Valley Railroad ; F. W. Wright, machinist ; E. S. Wilcox, postmaster; John Watkins, produce merchant; D. O. Wilkie, carpenter; G. Works, machinist; Abel Walker, undertaker; J. M. Wilber, carpenter, joiner and contractor; D. E. Winchester, physician and surgeon; J. J. White, dry goods, wholesale and retail; L. H. Varwood & Co., druggists; R. L. Yarwood, merchant and woolen cloth manufacturer; J. R. Yarwood, clerk; H. L. Yarwood. druggist.

Since the above was written, in 1875, many changes in the business centers and methods have been realized. Fountain square, then the center of business, has become less important. Business has spread in every direction.

more noticeably south on Grove avenue and into DuPage street, where now the fine department stores of George M. Peck and Theo. F. Swan (both oldtime merchants) are located. On Milwaukee street the department store of Ackemann Bros, makes that a new center of trade. Chicago street, while retaining its former importance, has not advanced as rapidly as the other business streets ; while River street has become the seat of innumerable manufacturing plants, the most noted among them being the Seybold piano and organ factory, organized but a few years ago, but now doing a large business in every part of the country. The west side has remained little changed except that all the lots on State street are now occupied by business blocks. All parts of the city have grown and extended until now it covers an area over three miles square, in every part of which factories and business places are active. The department store is the modern development in trade and has no doubt come to stay.

"The rise and progress of the dairy interest in the town of Elgin and vicinity was so rapid and wonderful that it seems as if its present gigantic proportions had been reached by a sort of magic, and so strange does it sound when the truth is told to a stranger, that he looks upon us as he does upon those whom he knows are in the habit of exaggerating. But where in the history of this branch of agriculture do we find its parallel? Twenty years ago we could find in Elgin and the adjacent country around for six miles, only eight hundred cows, where now we have thirteen thousand. Then in all this range, only about one thousand pounds of cheese were made annually, and about four times as much butter, above what was used in home consumption. Now we find upon the same belt of country there are two million pounds of cheese made annually, and five hundred and fifty thousand pounds of butter. As these products have increased in quantity and quality, year by year, so has their reputation, until Elgin butter and cheese can be found in the stores of the fancy grocer of San Francisco and New York, and upon the wharves of Liverpool. Besides the milk required to manufacture this vast quantity of butter and cheese, three carloads are sent daily to Chicago; and last, but not least, the condensing factory condenses daily the milk from one thousand cows, and sends its products forth to the entire known world. Yes, every outgoing ship from our seaboards, in every army, whether in fort or field, with the traveler and mountaineer, can be found the condensed milk bearhig the name of our beloved city - Elgin.

"As the early history of this great business will interest strangers, as well as those in our midst who have been engaged in other vocations and consequently have not watched its growth, it may be well to take a retrospective view of it from its infancy to the present time. In 1852 Mr. P. H. Smith, by the help of Father Brewster, made arrangements to furnish the Adams house, of Chicago, with milk direct from his farm and to be sent daily by rail. The first can was sent on the I2th day of February, 1852. Mr. Smith was then Hving upon the farm of Dr. Tefft, one mile east of Elgin. The milk was brought to the depot upon an ox cart, drawn by a yoke of oxen. A portion of the cart, and the identical can in which the first milk was sent to Chicago by rail, are now in the possession of the writer. The next to try this experiment was Deacon Luther Herrick, who commenced six months later. The price of milk at this time was only six cents per gallon, free of freight, and had to be sent twice a day, the morning's milk at 6 a. m. The deacon and his wife still live, in their eightieth year, and often tell us how that, long before day, they commenced the work of milking, and in cold weather placed their feet in the \varm bed the cows had just risen from, to keep them from freezing. Soon after others commenced, among whom were O. B. Jenne, John Cook, F. W. Wright, A. D. Gifford, Samuel P. Burdick, Jarvis Smith, Ballard, Sherman, McLean, Larkin, Padelford and others, until the Chicago trade was really overdone. A surplus of milk was thus found upon the hands of the producers, which was manufactured into cheese, made in the old-fashioned way. Among the first to commence cheese making were Frank Webster, upon Henry Sherman's farm; C. W. Gould and L H. Wanzer. We made our cheese as best we could and carried them to to Chicago loose in wagons, for we had no boxes to ship by rail. The writer has spent two days in peddling a one-horse load of cheese, getting on an average, six cents per pound, one-half money and one-half trade, and yet contented, because it was the best business going.

"Thus we toiled and struggled on until 1864, when the condensing factory commenced operations, giving a new impetus to the business, by taking the then surplus milk and making a market for more. But soon this new demand was satisfied and the business began to droop for want of means to utilize the milk. Then there began to be talk of building cheese factories to use the surplus milk, which increased year by year. The first cheese factory in this section to be run upon the associated plan, was built by Henry Sherman. The next was by A. D. Gifford, M. A. Devine and I. H. Wanzer; then came Gould's factory, Hanover factory (B), Udina factory, others following as the increase of milk demanded.

"The first butter factory built west of the lakes, was the Elgin butter factory, now managed by the Elgin Butter Company. Other factories have followed in rapid succession as they seemed to be needed. And thus we have traveled on, battling with the difficulties incident to our climate and soil, until we have proven the ill-prediction of the east to be ill-founded, and now place our dairy products in the markets of the world at the very highest-prices.

"Some idea of the extent of the dairy interest may be realized from the fact that the cash ])ai(l to the farmers within five miles of Elgin, for butter and cheese alone, amounts to $560,000 annually. This is exclusive of the milk sent to Chicago and that which is consumed at the condensing factory.

"The Board of Trade, established "for the sale of dairy products, brings large amounts from other parts to Elgin for sale. During the year 1874, 2.955,202 pounds of cheese were sold on the board, and 136.426 pounds of creamery butter, for wliich was paid $368,528.58. This amount of butter and cheese includes that produced outside of the hmit mentioned in the first part of this article. The dairymen take great interest in the Board of Trade, and its weekly meetings are generally well attended by those engaged in the manufacture of butter and cheese."

In the office of a great daily newspaper the telegraph editor scanned the dispatches handed him with feverish anxiety. It was within a few minutes of the "dead line" and yet the one message he was aw-aiting had not been received over the wires. The copy boy appeared, how-ever, at this moment, bearing in his hand a small piece of "flimsy" and the editor's fears were at once dispelled. The dispatch said, simply :

"Elgin Butter Market, Elgin, 111., Feb. 3. - (Special) - The Elgin board of trade today declared butter firm at 33c. The total output for the last week in this district was 59,700 pounds."

And yet it was a message considered so important by this editor that he hardly dared send his paper to press without it. This man was but one of hundreds of editors all over this continent, and Europe as well, who had been awaiting a dispatch from the little Illinois city of less than twenty-six thousand inhabitants which has thrived and prospered in the heart of the Fox river valley for nearly three-quarters of a century.

Millions Await News

On Monday afternoon of each week a similar message is sent out over the wires leading out of this city and by Tuesday morning it has met the eyes of no less than ten million persons who have been just as eagerly looking for it as the editor on the great daily paper. For more than half a century the press of two continents has given space to the two or three line paragraph, which authentically establishes the price of butter each week for the civilized world.

The scene which leads up to the sending of this message, generally recognized by dealers and others as a quotation, is no less interesting than in the editor's sanctum. At two o'clock each Monday afternoon a train from Chicago, thirty-six miles away, stops at a street crossing in the business portion of Elgin and allows fifty or sixty of its passengers to alight. They are members of the Elgin board of trade, who maintain offices in Chicago, and who are now on their way to a spacious hall in one of the business blocks where the prices of butter are made.

Chicago Street, Looking East, 1860

await in silence the reading of the week's report. There have been no others but the sales (.conducted outside the board) have been unusually heavy. When the gong is sounded as the signal to cease selling, the report of the "quotation committee" is received and adjournment quickly follows. The price of butter has been set and the press correspondents rush to the telegraph stations in the several corners of the room to send the news out to the millions who are awaiting it.

Elgin became the great dairy center of the world by mere chance. When James Hanks, a young woodsman hailing from Steuben county. New York, first established his cabin on the present site of the city, back in the fall of '1832, he little thought of the fame which would come to the city which he founded. He was barely out of his teens when he first saw the waters of the Fox, yet he wrote home, 'Tt is the most beautiful spot in God's kingdom and is destined to become famous. Come at once and bring all our friends and let them bring their friends."

City Gets A Start

In the spring of the following year James T. Gifford arrived, inspired by the news from Hanks, and, recognizing the natural advantages of the country, built his cabin and awaited new arrivals. Within a few months others came until there were soon enough cabins to give the appearance of a settlement. As the site chosen was just off of Scott's old army trail, it was known at first as "State road," but was subseciuently styled Elgin by Gifford and his associates. The tribe of Pottawattomies which occupied the country proved to be friendly and the little village commenced at once to prosper.

By 1837 there were five hundred residents in Elgin and two stage coaches rolled through the street of the town each week as they traveled forth and back from Chicago to Galena. Those were boom da3-s, indeed, and Elgin thrived. About this time Augustus Adams & Co. established the first manufacturing plant for corn crushers in the west, and later a large plow works was opened which attracted buyers from all over the west and Elgin's name began to spread. In 1842 the first woolen mill in the west was erected at Elgin by S. N. Dexter, and for more than a decade the town was the greatest wool center in the United States. Stores were built and two comfortable hotels were constructed, both of which are still standing. The failure of the Illinois State bank in 1840 caused havoc to reign, but Elgin was the first town to recover. It was a gala day in Elgin when, in the summer of 1849, the first railroad train running west of Chicago pulled into the city, and the event was properly celebrated with a great barbecue.

Milk Industry Begins

So it was a great day when, on the 12th of February, 1852, H. P. Smith shipped to Chicago the first can of milk, produced on his farm just on the outskirts of the town. The milk was hauled to the depot on an oxcart, drawn by a yoke of oxen. A portion of this cart, as well as the identical can in which the milk was sent to the Adams house in Chicago, still remain in the possession of Elgin pioneers. Mr. Smith had arranged through Father Brewster to supply this celebrated hostelry with a can of fresh milk each day, receiving six cents per gallon, free of freight.

Deacon Luther Herrick became the second shipper of milk to the metropolis and others, seizing the opportunit)^ of disposing of their products, arranged to ship milk on the morning train, which left Elgin at six o'clock. Among them were O. B. Jenne, John Cook, F. \V. Wright, A. D. Gifford, Samuel P. Burdick, Jarvis Smith and others, until the Chicago trade was really over-supplied. ]\Iany interesting stories are now told by the children of these early da}- dairymen regarding the hardships of those times. Often it was necessary to arise long before the dawn of day, and the milkers were forced to bury their feet in the bedding of the cows to keep them from freezing on winter mornings.

Chicago Over-Supplied

But when it was found that the Chicago market was over-supplied it was necessary to discover a method of disposing of the surplus milk. Frank Webster decided to make cheese and his idea was accepted by C. W. Gould and Isaac H. \\'anzer. In describing the experiment to a friend Mr. ^^'anzer wrote : "We made our cheese as best we could and carried it to Chicago loose in wagons, for we had no boxes to ship by rail. Once I spent two entire davs in peddling a one-horse load of cheese through the streets of Chicago, getting on an average of six cents per pound, one-half money and the other half in trade, and yet I was perfectly contented because it was the best business going."

For several years the farmers of this growing dairy center toiled and struggled on, until, in 1864, Gail Borden, the inventor of the first process of condensing milk, organized the Elgin Milk Condensing Company, capi-' talized at $25,000, among Elgin and Chicago residents. The location of this unique manufactory in the city gave Elgin much prestige throughout the countrv as a dairy center. The highest price was paid for milk delivered at the factory, which was required to be of the very best quality, fresh, rich and clean. It was necessary that the cows supplying the milk must be fed upon the richest pastures in summer and the highest quality of feed in winter, and the standard of milk in the Elgin district became a conspicuous one, a standard which has always been maintained and seldom equaled.

This factory gave a new impetus to the dairy business by taking the then surplus milk and creating a demand for more. The factory employed some thirty hands and was operated at capacity, but soon the demand for milk at this place was satisfied and the dairymen found it necessary to adopt other means of utilizing their milk. Then there began to be talk of building cheese factories to take this surplus and the first institution of this sort was built by Henran Sherman, who conducted it upon the associated plan. Other factories were established bv A. D. Gifford. M. .\. Devine and I. H. Wanzer.

Butter Making By Steam

In April, 1S70, a steam power butter factor}-, the tirst to be built west of the great lakes, was opened b}' the Elgin Dairy Company. The buildings were about 80x30 feet in dimensions, having two stories and a basement. A four-horse power steam engine was introduced to dri.ve the churns and the pumps. Steam power was a decided novelty in those days and the experiment, with its resultant success, was hailed with great joy. A series of experiments in the art of butter making was carried on under the supervision of Mr. Wanzer. with the result that an article far superior to the butter made in the hand churns was prodttced. It was approved by the dealers, and was at once worth ten cents per pound more than that butter made on the farm.

During the first year of operation the Elgin Dairy Company consumed seven hundred gallons of milk each day and manufactured from one hundred to two hundred pounds of "Elgin" butter, which was at once in great demand. At this time Dr. Joseph Tefift was president of the company, M. H. Thompson secretary and O. Davidson treasurer. The directors were Isaac H. Wanzer, Cyrus Larkin and Otis B. Jenne. Later the company changed its name to the Elgin Butter Company, and within a year had increased its business so that two thousand gallons of milk were used daily, for which twelve and a half cents a gallon was paid in the winter and eight cents in the summer. The aggregate amount of butter made was one hundred and forty-four thousand pounds for the year, and one hundred and ninety thousand pounds of cheese. All the output was readily sold at contract, the butter bringing forty cents a pound and the cheese from eight to ten cents.