Kendall County, Illinois - Chapter 35: The Slave Auction, 1877

Chapter 35: The Slave Auction

'he year 1844 - the year of the first 'I telegraph between Washington and Baltimore - was marked by a decided return of prosperity. The winter had been severe ; the spring mud was something unknown before, and up to the first of June the roads were well nigh impassable for teams. The entire summer was very wet, keeping the roads bad and the streams flooded, yet a larger number of emigrants came through than in any one season during the seven years previous. There is room to mention only those who became permanent settlers : In Kendall, Charles Merrick, William Buchanan, William Dunn, James Springer, Mr. Willet; in Lisbon, P. W. Coulthurst, Henry Munson, C. Z. Convis, Mr. Widney, W. J. Jordan, Harry Harford ; in Na-au-say, L. A. Whitlock, Conard Schark, George Schilling, Lawrence Carroll and David Smith. The voting precincts were re-formed that year. Na-au-say had formerly been in the Gary precinct, voting at Oswego, but was made the Aux Sable precinct. In this precinct the local officers were chosen viva voce, and it was discovered at the close, funnily enough, that 0. C. Johnson had been elected Justice by mistake, instead of Rollin Wheeler. In Little Rock were Alfred Houghtalen, Sherrill Bird, T. Ryder, John Cox, Henry Hart and Mr. Field. The village of Little Rock was laid out that season, and the above, with L. D. Brady and Abram Crandall, were the purchasers of lots.

In Oswego, Wright Murphy, M. S. Richards, John and William Bertram, Ezekiel Davis, Edwin Hunt, Elias Ladd. In Big Grove, Hiram Scofield, Davis Lord and three sons, Samuel Bingham, Aaron Petty, Ira Scofield, Mr. Drumgool and Ezekiel Howes. Mr. Howes was killed in 1851 by a bucket falling on him while digging a well on Mr. Cassem's place, west side of Big Grove. In Fox, Tunis F. Budd. Among the peculiarities of the times was a rage for

Perhaps nearly every village in the West has at some period in its history caught the Academy fever, formed an association, either incorporated or otherwise, and perhaps built a house. From this we may draw an indication and a use. It is an indication of the strong love entertained by the early settlers for education, and its use was to supplement the deficiencies of the common school system until that system was able to meet the demands of the people. When that time came the Academies were merged into the common schools. The

New Churches Organized

Lisbon Academy - the present public school building - was built in 1844. Mr. Dewey, Mr. Slade, a son of Gov. Slade, of Massachusetts, Mr. Andrews and Col. Oleson were among the teachers. The Pavilion Academy was originated and carried on to completion by Rev. J. F. Tolman. He rode all over the country soliciting five dollar shares, hailing men at their work and boys at the plow, and so raised the full amount required. The building was a one-story brick, two rooms. The present school house is built out of the old bricks. E. L. Bartlett was the first teacher. In Newark two religious societies were formed. One, a Universalist Society, under the preaching of Rev. Messrs. Hall and Manly. It was for a time quite flourishing. The other, a Baptist Society, the nucleus of the organized by the Sailor Preacher, Rev. Morgan Edwards. Mr. Edwards had formerly been a very wild and wicked man. His first serious thought arose from seeing the word "eternity " on a leaf which a fellow sailor was reading. It startled and troubled him. He felt very keenly that he was in no proper state for going into eternity. He procured a Testament as soon as he reached port, and read it, attended the Bethel chapel, and was soon changed by the Spirit of God to a new man. His desire then was to preach the gospel in neglected places, where he should find men situated as he had been. So he came to Chicago and worked his way out among the settlements, finally making Newark his home. Finding a number of Baptists, he organized a church in Mr. Gridley's house, March 8th, 1844. The constituent members were Henry, Sarah, Selah, Catherine and Fannie Gridley, John Brown, Lot and Elsie Preshur, Mary Doran, Betsy Bond, and Sylvia Tremaine.

The next week at the precinct house, Annis Russel, Cordelia Wright, Solomon Doran, and W. H. VanMeter were received, and repairing to the river, at Milford, Mary Case was baptized by Rev. James Scofield - the first baptism in the river at that point. In June Mr. Edwards was ordained, at a meeting held in the precinct house, and was solemnly sent forward by the church in the eccentric but exceedingly useful career he had so lately begun. He had lived for a time in Big Grove, but for a longer time out near Robert Brown's. His true calling, however, was not to be a pastor, but an evangelist, and in that he made full proof of his ministry, as hundreds can testify. The meeting house was built in 1848, and the following is the list of pastors : J. F. Tolman, Nathan Card, John Higby, 0. E. Clark, N. F. Ravlin, Mr. Jacinsky, John Wilder, P. Taylor, Mr. Brimhall, Mr. Wolfe, W. W. Smith, Thos. Reese, Mr. Negus, G. C. Van Osdel, and E. W. Hicks.

Considerable Excitement

was created during the summer over the Presidential contest. James K. Polk, the Democratic candidate, favored the annexation of Texas, while Henry Clay, the Whig candidate opposed it. Mr. Polk was elected, Texas was annexed, and the Mexican war followed. Nine hunhundred and eight votes were cast in Kendall county, of which one hundred and forty-two were for Mr. Barney, the anti-slavery candidate.

Inspection For The Canal

Hancock county. There was war between the Mormons and the people of the surrounding country. Gov. Ford repaired to Nauvoo to settle the difficulty ; and having arrested Joseph and Hyrum Smith, lodged them in jail at the county seat, where they were assassinated the same afternoon. The matter finally ended by the Mormons leaving the country.

In December, B. F. Fridley was, after three ballotings, elected by the State Senate, State's Attorney for this iudicial circuit. John D. Caton was Circuit Judgre. On December 13th, John Davis and W. H. Swift, canal commissioners from New York, on behalf of foreign bondholders, passed up Fox river on their tour of inspection. Work had ceased on the canal for some time, for want of funds, and no more money could be borrowed, as the State was unable to pay the interest on what had been borrowed. This visit was to thorouo-hlv examine the whole matter and see what more could be done, as it was plain that the bonds already issued would be vnlueless unless the world-renowned canal could be completed.

The Shonts school, in Little Eock. began in 1844, The early teachers were: Miss Eddy, daughter of Rev. Mr. Eddy, Harriet M. Shonts, Miranda Williams, Sarah Tenney, Mary Powers, Isaac Hibbard, J. C. Sherwin, Hannah Dow, Esther Mighell, George Charles, Delano Williams, Miss Libby and Elizabeth Smith.

town." Mrs. Martin, now Mrs. Rev. Hewett, was the first teacher. Then Malvina Ashley, Annie Avery, Ellen Davis and Annie Gleason. The new school house was built in 1853.

In Oswego, Walter Selvey deeded to the county one hundred rods of ground, near Mr. Albee's, for a burying ground. His son. Perry Selvey, twelve years old, was the first one buried there. It contains many graves, but is not now used.

Negro Sold At Yorkville

under the State law providing that any free negro emigrating to this State might be arrested and tried for the offense, and on conviction sold at auction for a sufiicient time to defray the expenses of the suit. Then, if he did not leave, he should be sold again, and so on from time to time. Any Justice was compelled to hear the case and render judgment according to the statute, under penalty of fines. The negro above mentioned, however, was not free, but was a fugitive from slavery who had succeeded, by the help of friends, in getting so far on his way to freedom. He had escaped the dangers of the border, of pursuers and bloodhounds, and rivers and forests, only to be seized as he was coming into Yorkville, on a friendly load of wheat, by a gentleman who could not feel for the slave. But in absence of proof of his being a fugitive, he was held as a free negro unlawfully at large, and was lodged in jail and advertised to be sold. A great excitement was created, and on the day of sale an immense crowd gathered from all parts of the county. They thronged the store, they gathered in groups at the street corners, they listened to moving addresses by different speakers. " Shall it be ?" cried one. " They are going to take a brother man from our midst and run him off south and sell him, and will you allow it?" "No!" came in deep chorus from the multitude. One man went about constantly repeating in a loud voice : "And he that stealeth a man and selleth him, if he be found in his hand he shall surely be put to death" - Ex. 21:16. At least an ominous text. Sheriff J. S. Cornell, standing the prisoner on the steps, commenced the sale : " How much for this man?" The bidding was dull. The feeling was so high that those who had intended to invest in the colored chattel concluded that it would be a profitless investment. He was finally struck down to Dr. Seeley for three dollars, the only slave the Doctor ever bought in his life. He was his own for the time, and as he could set him at any work, he decided to set him traveling toward liberty. The dark man was willing, and bidding goodbye to his new acquaintances at the capital of Kendall county, he set out on a successful trip to Canada. And so ended our first and last slave auction.