Lee County, Illinois - The whole text, 1881 (part 16 of 24)

Not more than one or two sections of this township but that is under partial cultivation. A portion of what is known as Brush Grove is the only natural grove in Reynolds township. It is located on the north border line in the northwest corner. Reynolds township was first settled at this point. It is in surface a ridge of undulating or slightly rolling of about one half of the township, running through it from east to west. The north and south of this ridge of about the other half of township is tiat, and in some parts swampy and wet. The soil is a rich black loam. It has a good many miles of willow and maple hedge, making it appear to the unaccustomed visitor as covered with groves. There are quite a number of small artificial groves of maple, willow and walnut planted by its residents. There is to all appearance an inexhaustible stone quarry, located one mile from the east line and nearly in the middle of the township known as stone ridge. In an early day parties came for miles around and quarried stone free. It has had several owners, among them R. M. Peile. It is now owned 1)3* P. Culkin. The Illinois Central Railroad Company once sent an engineer corps to this place to test the strength, but found the stone at that time unfit for abutments.

The peculiar beauty and attractiveness of this township is the good class of outbuildings, fences, extra good water and roads, there being a strong feeling toward bringing this portion of Lee count}' up to the highest possible state of cultivation and value. Its inhabitants are above the average in culture and intelligence. It is claimed as an actual fact that although the youngest in the count}' as to settlement it is leading in almost every direction. It is only within a few years that the wild ducks and geese were so troublesome in these parts that dogs and boys were employed to save crops from their destruction, and even now they call in such numbers as to cover acres.

The early settlers were Sewell Reynolds, now living near Rochelle. Thomas Manier, living now in Wisconsin. Jonathan Whitehead moved to Iowa, and since dead. John Herrington also went to Iowa, and is now dead. Dudley C. Whitehead was an early settler, who moved to lowa and has since died. Daniel Brink, jr., now living at Rochelle, was an early .settler, as was Charles Gooch, now living on Sec. 17. The latter is one of the largest stock operators and farmers in this township.

There are eight school districts in the township, one of these being a union district, part of which is in Ogle county. The township has a school fund of nearly $9,000 with seven school-houses, all nearly new, costing about §5,000. The school trustees at present are J. C. Piper, George Baley, and Thomas Patterson.

Sewell Reynolds was the first settler in Reynolds township, locating in what is known as Brush Grove. Simeon Reynolds, now living six miles north of Rochelle, was the first child born in same. Nelson Morgan was the first death.

The electors of the township met April 5, 1S59, at the school-house in district No. 1, and organized by choosing Peter Mills moderator, and R. M. Piele clerk. They then proceeded to elect the following oflSers by ballot: for supervisor, Thomas Minier; town clerk, John C. Piper; assessor, Thomas Minier; collector, Dudley C. Whitehead; overseer of pooi', Daniel Brink, jr. ; commissioners of highways, E. F. Gatten, Job Whitehead and David Doutliett; constables, Dudley

C. Whitehead and John C. Piper; justices of the peace, Peter Mills and Robert M. Piele. They then appointed E. F. Gatten, John Herrington and John C. Piper as a committee to divide the town into road districts. Tiie present town officers are supervisor, E. Wiener ; town clerk, Thomas Paterson ; assessor, J. C. Piper ; collector, Jacob Vauple; commissioners of highways, George Boley, Francis O'Eorke and L. D. Wilcox; constables, Eugene Horton and Charles Yauple; justices of the peace, P. M. Piele and Charles Ashenbrenner.

The cabin, 12x16, six feet high, used and built as a residence by Horace Stearns, where the few first residents met to organize Reynolds township and select its first officers, still stands near its original location. It is now used as a pig-pen, and has been used as a corn-crib. Tlie first meeting was small, and consisted in part of J. C. Piper, P. M. Piele, C. JST. Reynolds, Simeon Reynolds, Silas Shipee, W. M. Hawkins and others. The building is located on Sec. 10.

The Methodist Episcopal church of the Flats, located on the south line of Reynolds township and about four miles oast of Bradford township, is a neat church building, 32x42, 16 feet high to eaves, and has a seating capacity for about 200. Previous to the building of this church a meeting was held in the fall of 1875 at the house of C. W. Ament, the following persons being present: F. F. Farmlow, C. W. Ament, C. F. VanPatten, John A. Edgar, Daniel C. Miller, B. F. Parker. The meeting was opened by prayer, and after this resolutions were offered and passed toward an organization. F. F. Farmlow was chosen chairman and C. W. Ament secretary ; C. W. Ament was chosen clerk and treasurer, and he, with F. F. Farmlow, C. F. Van Patten, John A. Edgar, Daniel C. Miller and B. F. Parker were elected as a building committee. They immediately went to work and a building as above described was ready for use that fall. Soon after the building was occupied meetings were held and church officers were chosen and elected, consisting of A. N. Dow, treasurer, C. F. Yaa Patten, secretary, and John A. Edgar, C. W. Ament, A. N. Dow, C. F. VanPatten, B. F. Parker, trustees. Since its organization the church has been in a healthy and prosperous condition. It is now essentially free from debt. It has a Sabbath-school every Sunday, averaging forty members. The present officers are C. F. VanPatteu, treasurer and clerk, John A. Edgar, Chester Fosgate, B. F. Parker, C. F. VanPatten, trustees. R. W. Records is its present pastor.

The Emanuel Church, of the Evangelical association (German), is beautifully situated in Reynolds township, one mile east of Bradford town line and tour miles south of the Ogle county line. At a meeting of fifteen members held in the school-house in district No. 4, January 5, 1872, steps were taken toward building a church edifice. C. Gagstetter was chosen chairman and Ernst Wiener secretary. A committee was then appointed to canvass and see whether funds could be raised to build the church and report. The committee met at a subsequent meeting held at the same place, January 20, 1872, and reported favorably. They then appointed a building committee, as follows: John Kersten, George Sandrock, George Boley, Martin Wagner and Ernst Wiener. At the same meeting trustees were elected, as follows : Ernst Wiener, George Kersten, John Neuman, George Sandrock and George Boley; Ernst Wiener was chosen treasurer, John Kersten president, and George Bole}' secretary of building committee. The building is 34x50, IS feet high to eaves, having a steeple with bell about 18 feet in height. The seating capacity is about 400. The cost of building and furnishing was about $4,000. It is now (1881) being renovated, the interior all being replaced by wood ceiling, at a cost of about §900. It will then be one of the neatest country churches in Lee county. Its present pastor is A. Goetschel : the trustees are E. Wiener, George Boley, John Greise, George Kersten and Martin Wagner. The Sunday-school averages about 150. The cluirch was dedicated October 13, 1872, clear of debt, by raising $1,100.82. The church and Sabbathschool are in a very flourishing condition.

BIOGRAPHICAL. Robert M. Peilk, farmer. Steward, was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, March 7, 1832. His parents died from cholera in 1848. He was liberally educated in County Waterford. His youth, till nineteen years of age, was spent at school. November 1, 1850, he removed to this country, landing at Boston, ^Massachusetts. He soon came to Illinois, locating at Mendota, and taught school near there for two years. He then removed to Reynolds township (then called Brooklyn), and was among the first to introduce the herding of cattle in this county. He commenced herding 900, and has had 2,700 under his care at one time. While herding in June, 18^)1, the tornado of that year struck this section, devastating the country and killing many cattle and other stock. He has held nearly all important offices in the township, has bought and sold several thousand acres of land, improving a part of the same and bringing it up to a high state of cultivation. He has now a fine farm of 320 acres. Mr. Peile assisted largely in recruiting men during the late civil war. He was married Maj' 31, 1853, to Mary Landers, who died February 14, 1872. He married again, June 17, 1874, Lydia J. Banning. He has si.\ children, four by first and two by second marriage. Mr. Peile is a nephew of the late Robert

Moore Peile, M.D., F.R.C.S., and inspector-general of hospitals to the forces in Ireland, senior surgeon to the Richmond hospital and house of industry, and consulting surgeon to Dr. Stevens' hospital. This eminent man died February 4, 1858, aged ninety-three years. Mr. Peile is the oldest settler residing in this township. In June, 1880, his barn, 100x50, blew down during a tornado, also several trees. He has since rebuilt. He has now about 200 head of cattle and 100 sheep. Mr. Peile has one of the finest maple groves in Lee county, the plants for which were brought from Des Moines, Iowa, about fifteen years ago. His farm has fine hedge fences of osage and willow. He is one of the best known men in Reynolds, if not in Lee county. The names of Mr. Peile's children are: Maria M., Mrs. A. V. Sanborn, of Steward; Ellen R., Mrs. William B. SutliflF, of Beatrice, Nebraska; Kittie A:, John J., Minnie E. and Lydia J.

Maktha E. Sandeock, farmer, Ashton, was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, Angnst 16, 1835, and is widow of George Sandrock. She was educated in Germauv, goins; to school from the age of six to fourteen years.^ In 1848 her father with family (except herself, then living with grandparents,) emigrated to America. After her school days Mrs. Sandrock went out to work till nearly twenty-two years of age. She then emigrated, landing at the city of New York in 1857, coming directly west and locating in Bradford township. She removed to Reynolds on October i, 1867. She belongs to the Evangelical Association. She was married to Mr. Sandrock June 6, 1857. Her maiden name was Thiele. She has five children living. Mr. Sandrock died suddenly from lung fever, March 7, 1872, being sick only ten days. Since then Mrs. Sandrock and children have managed the farm, with a little hired help during harvest. She has had much sickness in the family since her husband's death, and has had a struggle to meet payments, there being $5,4:00 due at Mr. Sandrock's death, but is now in a fair way to have all clear in two years. She has a 240 acre farm under cultivation and fairly stocked. The children are George, Charles, Christina, Annie C. and William.

Martin Wagner, farmer, Ashton, was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, June 18, 1836. His parents are both dead. He had the usual school advantages from six to fourteen years of age in Germany. His youth till eighteen was spent in his native country. He was a tailor for three years. Ho emigrated to America in 1854, landing in the city of New York and coming directly west he located at Lee Center. Remaining there two years he engaged at his trade as tailor, and then he went to Chinatown and engaged at farming, working out live years and renting two years. He then moved to Reynolds township. He has held several local town ofiices and is a member of the Evangelical association. He is a republican in politics. Air. Wagner was married in March 1863, to Martha Henert. They have six children, lie has a 240 acre farm under good cultivation.

John TnoTrKR, fanner, Flag Station, Ogle county, was born in Scotland, January 3, 1835. His parents died while crossing the ocean emigrating to America, nearly 300 out of 400 passengers dying from ship fever on the passage. Mr. Trotter had a partial education in Scotland, but finished at Newburg Seminary, Vermont. His youth till thirteen was spent in Scotland at school. In the year 1848 he emigrated to America, landing at Quebec, Canada, June 4: remained till November. His father being a high Mason and having died on the way over with his wife and three children, he was taken in charge by Masons of Quebec, and correspondence commenced with friends in Scotland, who were thus found living in Orange county, Vermont. These came and took charge of the children. Mr. Trotter remained in Vermont about three years, working summers and attending school winters. He then went to Massachusetts, acting as foreman of hands engaged in cutting timber, and remained about one year. He then returned to Vermont and attended the Newbury Seminary till 1855, going in November of the same year to Eockton, Illinois. Here he worked summers and taught winters till the spring of 1860. In February of that year he removed to Reynolds township and farmed till the fall of 1862, when he enlisted in Co. I, 14th 111. Cav., remaining till the close of the war. He has since been teaching, buying grain and farming. He was town assessor for five years; was census enumerator in 1880, and is a republican in politics. He was married July 6, 1873, to Sarah Patterson. They have three children. The house now occupied by Mr. Trotter is the first one built in Keynolds township by C. N. Reynolds.

George Boley, farmer, Ashton. Mr. Boley was born in German3', April 14, 1834. He was in school from si.x to fourteen in Germany, and spent his youth till sixteen at home. After this for about six years he worked out among farmers. When nearly twenty-three years of age he emigrated to America, landing in New York city in May 1857; came directly west and located at Fianklin Grove. Here he worked out among farmers for about eighteen months, and then rented land in Lee Center for three j-ears. He removed to Bradford townsliip, living three years, and then located in Reynolds. He has held local town offices for over sixteen years. Mr. Bale}' is a member of the Evangelical association, and has always been a republican. lie was married in October 1854, to Catharine Bawer. Tiiey have three sons, George W., William, and Jacob, and three daughters, Martha E., Catharine, and Mary. He has a 160 acre farm well cultivated and stocked.

Chas. Goocii, farmer, Ashton, was born in the county of Suffolk, England, September 1, 1835, but removed with his parents to Somersetshire when two years old. Here he remained till 1855, and then emigrated to America, landing in the city of New York June 12, 1855. He came directly to Ogle county, Illinois, via Rockford, and commenced work for Henry Mix at spile-driving on Kock river. There being a disagreement as to wages, Mr. Goocli engaged a ferry, continuing about six weeks, and then went to Beloit, Wisconsin, to see a brother whom he had not seen for live years. His brother was foreman in a stone quarry and he went to work for four weeks with him. Then both went about four miles east of Beloit and worked about twelve months on the Racine & Mississippi railroad. In the winter of 1856 he went to Kockton and was engaged that winter in feeding stock, going in April to Asliton and working for William Hodges in a stone quarry for about three years until Mr. Hodges died. He then commenced farming, renting land of Col. John Dement in the spring of 1861 at Washington Grove, remaining there four j'ears. He then rented a farm of Col. Dement in Reynolds township for four years, and then he bought it and lived there four years. He then bought the next adjoining land, his present home and farm, of M. J. Braiden. Mr. Gooch is now owner of one of the best sections in Reynolds township. His mother is still living, is ninety-one years old, and hale and hearty. He has been school director for seventeen years ; is a member of the Methodist Episcopal churcli, and a republican. He was married April 23, 1855, to Charlotta Gardner. They have eight children. When Mr. Gooch landed in Chicago in 1855 he had but $2 as a starter.

Maegaeet Vatjpel, widow of John Vaupel, farmer. Steward, was born in Baden, Germany, March 25, 1833. She went to school till thirteen years of age, then for nine years was employed as house servant in difierent homes, remaining from one to three years in a place. She emigrated and ari'ived in the cit}' of New York July 1855, going directly to Mendota. Here she remained a short time and then went to Amboy and remained one year employed in a hotel, going then to Binghamton, near Amboy, where she was employed in a hotel, where she married Mr. Vaupel, who was employed in a plow shop. After marriage Mrs. Vaupel took in washing, beside her household duties. They remained between two and three years, and a short time at Sublette, then removed to Bradford township and rented a small farm, remaining about five years. He then Came to Reynolds and bought eighty acres near the Evangelical church, living there about five years. Here Mr. Vaupel died in 1868. Previous to his death he sold the eightj' acres and bought 160 acres about four miles directly east in Reynolds at $50 per acre. Mrs. Vaupel being left with seven small children from three months to twelve years of age, and fearing payments could not be met, sold back eighty acres at $40 per acre, leaving the eighty costing $60 per acre. The first two years after her husband's death she kept hired help during the summer. After this, Mrs. Vaujtel with the children struggled alone until all of the $2,800 debt was paid. She then bought ICO acres more at an average of $45 per acre. She has paid $1,600 on one 80, and on the other $800. Her second son is tax collector. They are members of the Evangelical association and are among the industrious and worthy farmers of this township.

John Geiese, farmer, Ashton, was born in Hainebach, Germany, April 15, 1831. His father and mother, both seventy-four years old, are living with Mr. Griese. He received the usual education given in Germany, and his youth and early manhood till thirty-three years old, except five years in the German army, were spent at home on the farm. He came to America in 1SG4, landing in New York city, and came to Reynolds township, Sec. 19, Lee county, the same year. He has been collector two years, school director two terms. Is a member of the German Evangelical association, and in politics is a republican. He was married April 1857, to Dora Lizzie Klunchmidt. They have four children. He has a 250 acre farm stocked and under good cultivation.

Ek.xst Wiener, farmer, Ashton, was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, March 24, 1834. He attended school in Germany from six to fourteen, and spent two years at Bremen painting. Tiie rest of the time till 1858 he was at home on the farm. On his arrival in Ameiica he came to Lee Center, Lee county, Illinois, remaining about two years, and then came to Bradford township and afterward to Rej'nolds, in 1864. He has held the office of school trustee three years, town clerk six years, school treasurer four years, and supervisor two years. He is a leading member of the Evangelical association, and is a republican. He was married in 1860, to Elizabeth Huhnstock, and has a fine family of eight children (one married). Just in harvest time in 1878, about a month after finishing a new barn, it caught fire by some unknown cause and burned up with its contents, including several colts. It has since been rebuilt. He has a 200 acre farm, well stocked and under good cultivation. Mr. Wiener lives near the Evangelical church building in Reynolds townshi]), and was mainly instrumental in its erection. He is one of the leading farmers in the township.

Henry Speek, farmer, Ashton, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, June 11, 1820. He attended school in Germany till fourteen years of age, after this he hired out and worked on a farm till he was twenty-six. He then emigrated to America, landing in the city ot New York. Going at once to Buflfalo, he hired out as a wood-chopper at 37^ cents per cord, paying 25 cents per day for board, working one winter. In the spring he engaged in a shingle-mill at $8 per month and board, remaining two or three years. He then engaged in a sawmill and worked abont three years. Then he removed to Illinois, locating in Bradford township, working one year for John Gatner. He then rented the farm, Mr. Gatner furnishing one pair of oxen the first year, and a pair of horses the next. He remained on this farm about ten years, having cleared $600 and his team. He then bought his present home of 120 acres. May 11, 1854, he married Mena Kept. They are members of the Evangelical association. They have two children, Hannaii and George, and have lost four by death. His farm is clear from debt, and is under good cultivation.

J. A. Geiese, farmei', Ashton, was born in Hainebach, Germany, November 4, 1838, and attended school from six to fourteen, and then till eighteen lielped his fatlier on the farm. His parents are both living. In 1857 they came to America, landing in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, with $80 capital. Coming directly west to Franklin Grove, he hired out as fivrm hand during the summer and hauled wood in the winter, going ten miles for his load and chopping the same himself. He continued in this work about five years, after which he rented eighty acres, working it for four years. While working the rented farm he first bought eighty and after forty acres and fenced the same and built himself a house. At the expiration of his rented farm in 1866 he bought more land, and moved on his farm where he is now living. He has held several local town offices, is a leading member of the Evangelical association, and is a republican. He was married February 28, 1863, to Anna Katy Kerst. They have seven children and a farm of 447 acres well under cultivation.

Ltdia a. Hoeton, widow of Nelson J. Horton, farmer, Rochelle. Mrs. Horton was born September 29, 1832, in Otsego county. New York, and spent her youth till fourteen at school. About 1847 she moved with her parents to Bradford county, Pennsylvania. In 1851 she was married to Mr. Horton, and came west, locating in Ogle county, and remained till 1863, when they removed to the present home. In October, 1861, Mr. Horton enlisted in Co. H, 46th reg. 111. Vols. (Capt. Stevens), and served through the war, being honorably discharged as a veteran. He went from Fort Henry to Mobile, the last struggle of the war. On his return he was found to be broken in health. Everything was done to raise him, but he continued an invalid. In January, 1877, Mr. and Mrs. Horton, after selling all their personal eft'ects, rented their farm and went to Wisconsin, hoping to regain his health. He lingered till June 10, 1878, on their way toward home. He died from hemorrhage of the lungs on the cars.

The first settlements in China township were made at or near the head of what is now known as Franklin Grove. In June, 1835, Cyrus Chamberlain, Lockwood Minor and Col. Nathan Whitney arrived in Dixon. These parties were formerly near neighbors in Genesee county, New York. Whitney, a few years before this, had moved into Ohio. Chamberlain located a claim near Grand Detour in what is now Nachusa township, and Minor stopped with him. Mr. Whitney came along the north side of the grove to near the present site of Franklin, but not finding running water he made no claim, nor did he see or hear of any others who had claimed in this vicinity. He returned to Ohio in July, and in the fall came back to Rocky Falls, Whitesides county, where he spent considerable time looking for a good location. He wintered in Joliet, and in the spring of 183G he again visited this vicinit}', this time claiming a large piece of prairie three-quarters of a mile squai-e, the farm now owned by his son, A. R. Whitney ; he also bought a timber claim of twenty-eight acres. Mr. Whitney hired about ten acres of prairie broke in August. After arranging with Lockwood Minor for the breaking of twenty acres the following June, he again went back to Ohio, where he spent the winter of 1836-7. In the meantime a few families had settled at the head of the grove. The first who made claims there were James Holly and Ciiarlcs Harrison. This was in 1835. They soon sold out to Adam Vroman and went to Iowa. The same year David Holly with his family settled on the S.W. J Sec. 35, T. 22, China. His house was built where Jacob Miller lives, and Cummins Noe settled on the Creek south of the grove about one and a quarter miles west of the railroad depot at Franklin Grove, and about eighty rods north and a little west of Henry Hansen's house. Early in 183fi Edward Morgan, from Indiana, settled farther up in the grove near the middle of the S. i of Sec. 27, T. 22, China. Late in August or early in September, 1836, Nathaniel C. Yale and his famil}', of New York, came here and moved into a log house which stood nearly opposite the '' Dunkard " church, on what is now David Lahman's premises. This house was built by James Holly. Here they lived till the spring of 1S39, when they moved to the south side of the grove. When the Yales came there were three families, numbering sixteen souls, living at the grove: Cummins Noe, his wife and two children ; David Holly and wife, and father, Jesse Holly, two children, and Samuel Ayerhart, who lived with tliem ; Edward Morgan and wife, his three children, and Nicholas Kinman, a nephew of Morgan. In the spring of 1836 Cyrus R. Minor, father of Lockwood Minor, came to the new settlement, and from a man named Brown bought a claim to eighty acres of timber and "all the prairie he could see." In the following December Minor came west with his family. During this month they lived with Morgan. January 1, 1837, the family moved into their new house, which was built on the corner east of the Hughes' Hotel, where Gabriel Miller lives. This primitive dwelling had neither floor nor windows, and for a door a blanket was used. Kails were laid down upon which to place the bedding.

In March of 1837 Jeremiah Whipple came with his family in wagon from western New York. Otis Timothy, then a young man, drove his team from Buffalo, leaving there the latter part of January. Whipple was out here in 1836 with a buggy, and at that time made arrangements with Jesse Holly for the construction of a saw-mill, for which he (Whipple) brought machinery on his return in 1837. Joseph, a bachelor brother of Jeremiah AVhipple, came out with him, and lived in the family for several years. They settled in the grove near the creek, near what is now known as " Whipple's cave." In July of this year Nathan Whitney returned to his claim accompanied by Jacob John. They went to work getting out timber for a house to be. built on Whitney's claim. This is said to have been the first frame-house between Chicago and the Mississippi river; it was framed and partly inclosed in the fall of 1837, and completed the following spring. It was put up at a great cost of labor and money (for those times). All the lumber not made by hand was purchased in Chicago at nearly §200 per thousand. The family of Mr. Whitney arrived fi-om Ohio in February of 1838, and lived in the " Noe house" (log) on the south side of the grove till the new house was completed ; this is now used by A. R. Whitney for a vinegar house. Jacob John, who had a family, settled where Joshua Lohman now lives.

In 1848 Harrison and W. Henry Hansen came from Maine, also Philip Stahl. The three purchased a large claim from Erastus De Wolf, which they paid for chiefly in labor. Most of it is land now owned by the Hausens, wlio live west of the village of Franklin Grove. It was first claimed by Noe, by whom it was sold to Bowman, of whom it was bought b}' De Wolf, who, after disposing of it, settled farther south on the Lee Center and Dixon road.

In 1839 Thomas Brown came here with DeWolf, the latter having been here before, and made a large claim, intended for a Rhode Island colony, Dr. Gardner was also connected with this projected enterprise, but the original plan was not carried out. In 1838 Amos Hussey, ot Pennsylvania, with his wife and two children, came to the grove in a wagon. He lived in the " Noe house," on the south side of the grove, during the winter, 1838-9, and then moved to near where he is now living, a few rods north of the corporation of Franklin Grove, and built there soon after. The same year Silas P. Tolinan located a few rods east of where the Methodist Episcopal church stands, and bought from A. Vroman a claim to half a section. About this time James Hulhreturned from Iowa, and, together with Hnssey, bought from Vroman a large tract, for which they paid §1,400. In 1839 F. DeWolf claimed the E. ^ Sec. 24, T. 21, China, tlie south lialf of which he entered. E. C. Thomas, who settled in the grove, a family of Coopers, Michael Brewen, or " Little Mike," as he was called, and John Durfee, were early settlers. The Coopers at first lived near the mill-dam, in Xachusa township, on land nuw owned by Samuel Lahman. Mike made a claim east of the grove, and Durfee settled south of Whitney, where Gilbert lives. In 1843 "W. C. Eobinson claimed his farm in Sec. 10, T. 21, on the south side of the Dixon and Lee Center road, and built on the same. In this year C. Lahman and family came, in company with the Emmerts, all of Pennsylvania. Lahman settled on the farm now owned by his son David, a little north of A. Ilussey, having bought the property from J. Holly, who then left the settlement. Then only the Hollys, Morgan and Ayerhart lived on tiie north side of the grove. Two or three years after his arrival Emmert built a grist-mill on the creek, which in a few years was bought by the Lahmans, who ran it many yeiirs. In 1844 the Kiddelsbargers came, and settled on the north side of the grove. From tliis time till 1854 the settlement grew slowly, but when the railroad came through there was a marvelous change.

Most of the first settlers came from their eastern homes in wagons, sometimes drawn by four-horse teams. Their life at that period was simple and earnest. The spot they had chosen for their homes was one of the fairest portions of Illinois. None thought tiiat the beautiful prairie spread out around them would ever all be settled. Franklin Grove, around which they built their cabins, was so named, it is said, after the youngest son of " Father Dixon."

The creek which flows through it into the Kock river affords much picturesque scenery. Along its banks, in places, the sandstone walls reach a height of fifty feet. The beauty of this stream is unsurpassed, if equaled, by anything in northern Illinois, excepting only a little of the Illinois river. " The ditt'erent varieties of oak, hickory, walnut, elm, cherry, maple, and the soft woods except pines were found here in large trees by the early settlers. Much of the large timber has been cut oft', and some of the ground is now tilled, but the area of the grove by the growth of young trees has been increased.'' For several years after the pioneers came deer were seen in the grove ; there were also a

Tragedy

The history of China records but one criminal murder, and this, too, in the pure, primitive days. In the fall of 1847, or early the following winter, Moody Thompson, a widower, had bought a small place on the bank of the creek, in the grove, about one and a half miles "west of town." During the winter Thompson lived with the family of whom ho had purchased. In June this family left for St. Charles, Illinois. Thompson being alone, sent for his friend Olig Gamerson to come and stay with him. Accordingly on Wednesday evening the latter went, having come from Inlet that afternoon. On the following Saturda}' Jacob Wingert, while out hunting, had occasion to call at their dwelling. He found their dead bodies in bed, where the}' had been brutally murdered with their own axe. Their heads were split open, and they had apparently died without a struggle. Their chest was found broken open and rifled of its contents. Gold coin to the amount of $60 or $70 was found remaining in the chest. Wednesday evening Thompson had been to Mr. Riddelsbarger's to get a bag of corn. He was not seen alive after this; but one feed for his hogs seemed to have been taken out of the bag of corn. It is thought they were murdered on the night Gamerson came. This was only three davs after the fainilv left to so to St. Charles. They were Norwegians by birth, and had been known here for nearly a year. They were thought to be upright and peaceable. Considerable effort was made to find the criminal or criminals, but the perpetrator of the crime has never been found, and a veil of .mj'stery hangs over the horrible deed.

For several years the dwellers at the grove got along without a school-house of any kind. One of the settlers of 1836 says that Louisa Cooper taught a school near Whipple's, about 1839; and the next was taught by Lorenzo Whiting, in a little log cabin in Tolman's timber; the next in a little log house on the south side of the grove, by Harry Godger. One winter Nathan Whitmore taught a school in the house of T. L. Minor. He was hired by a club of boys in the neighborhood. Girls and small boys were excluded. John M. Crawford at quite an early day taught in the James Holly log house. In 1851 the log school-house was built a little east of where Amos Ilussey is living. The settlers each hauled a certain number of logs. One of their number is reported to have said : " By G - d if there is going to be any quarreling about this, I will jerk my logs out."

The town of China was organized under the state law April 2, 1850. It was previously called Fremont. Russel Lynn, an earl v settler in the south part of the township, whose native township in Maine was China, urged the adoption of that name. China originally included T. 21, and the S. ^ and Sees. 17 and 18 of T. 22 X., R. 10 E. of the 4th P. M. In 1870 the west half was set off as the town of Naehusa, leaving the present area of China nine by three miles. Town meetings were held at the house of H. S. Buckman till 1855, and subsequently, with two exceptions, for several years at the Hughes Hotel. At the first meeting Geo. R. Linn was elected supervisor, receiving thirty votes; Josiah Wheat, clerk, forty-tive votes; Christian Lahman, assessor, thirty-nine votes ; Moses Curtis, collector, tweut3'-two votes ; overseer of the poor, B. Hunnum ; commissioners of highways, Jesse Hale, W. C. Robinson, Nathan Whitney ; justice of the peace, Robt. B. Sprout ; Moses S. Curtis and W. C. Robinson, constables. Forty-si.x; was the highest number of votes cast for any one office. At this meeting the town was divided into ten highway districts; a fence law was passed; decided measures were adopted to prevent stock from running at large. At the next annual meeting seventy -seven was the highest vote cast for any office. At a special meeting held at the Hughes Hotel, March 1865, seventy-six votes were cast for raising a bounty, and three votes were cast against the same. The census of 1880 shows for China, exclusive of the village of Franklin Grove, a population of 681 souls. There are six school districts in the township. China is strongly republican in politics, having given, in the election of 1880, 196 votes for Garfield, 97 for Hancock, and but 5 for the Iowa candidate. Of 262 votes polled at a general election in 1870, 199 were republican. There were then about 450 legal voters in the township. In 1873 China had 90 per cent less delinquent tax than any other township in the county of Lee. Besides her line farms, large and costly barns, elegant houses, China has for several years been noted for blooded stock, including cattle, sheep, swine, and less notably, horses. In 1854 or 1855 C. Lahman brought some high-grade short-horns from southern Illinois. Henry Hansen commenced improving his cattle soon after with good results. In 1867 Henry Hansen and Samuel Dysart brought the first thoroughbred cattle here from central Illinois. These were short-horns. In 1871 Joseph Lahman began breeding that kind of stock. Mr. Dysart now has a herd of about fifty, one of the finest in the state. He has at diflFerent times taken many diplomas. Twice at the Iowa state fair his herd has come oft' victorious. In 1873 Mr. Dysart, at five different fairs in northern Illinois, took thirty-five first premiums, and eighteen second premiums, in a total of thirty-nine contests, losing only four first premiums. These and other similar victories have made the "Pines Stock Farm" one of the most noted in the northwest. In the fall of 1873 Mr. Hansen took premiums at Rochel'e, Illinois, on everything he had on exhibition from the " Grove Stock Farm." Mr. Hansen has recently sold his entire herd. The breeding of choice swine and sheep has been pursued by several stockmen and farmers. In 1870 Sam. Dysart introduced the fir^t pure-bred Berkshire swine. The varieties of sheep include Cotswolds, Merinos, and Lesters. Horses for speed were bred by Dr. Hewitt and George Gilbert. The Norman and Clydesdale blood is now being introduced. Fi'om these and other sources the improvement of stock has been much advanced. The assessment value of stock in China township in 1875 was $70,000,

Tree culture had here an early history. In 1843 Father Whitney established the Franklin Grove nursery, and began grafting on stock raised from seed that was brought from Ohio in 1838. In 184:fi he sent forth his first advertisement. From that time until the present iiis nursery has had a steady growth, until now he has an orchard covering more than a hundred acres. He also added other fruits, and ornamental shrubs and trees. This, at present, is an attractive spot. To this nursery, and the thrift and enterprise of residents in this vicinity, must be attributed the beauty of shade and ornamental trees for miles around. In September of 1873 W. H. Hansen shipped to the Iowa state fair ninety-seven varieties of apples and fifteen varieties

Military

Of the noble war record of Lee county China claims a full share. Two companies were organized at Franklin Grove. Besides these, several men went from China in other regiments. Co. G, 75th 111. Inf., enlisted at the grove, and organized bj^ choosing Joseph Williams ; David Sanford first lieutenant, and Robert L. Irwin second lieutenant. They were mustered into the United States service August 22, 1862, with the legal number of non-commissioned officers and seventy privates. We do not know how many of these were from China, as it then existed ; but probably much tlie greater part, if not nearly all, were from this township. At Perry ville, Kentucky, the 75th sufli'ered terribly'. Here, in their first fight, twenty-two of Co. G fell. Co. C, 35th 111. Vol. Inf., was organized at Springfield, Illinois; mustered into the United States service for three years September 7, 1861 ; reenlisted as veterans December 23, 1863. The original oflicers were: captain, Ale.xander P. Dysart, promoted major April 18, 1862, colonel 1868, resigned July 1863 ; first lieutenant, Benson Wood, promoted captain May 1, 1862, resigned January 29, 1863; second lieutenant,

Daniel liiley, promoted first lieutenant May 1, 1862, wounded 1863; sergeants: first, Peter F. Walker, promoted second lieutenant May 1, 1862, captain January 26, 1863, major October 5, 1864; Adaniram Keen, discharged August 5, 1862; Lindsey Black, veteran, promoted first sergeant July 20, 1863, first lieutenant October 5, 1864; David A. Glenn, discharged January 15, 1862; Wesley J. Williams, promoted first sergeant May 1, 1862, second lieutenant January 20, 1863, first lieutenant January 30, 1863, resigned October 5, 1864; corporals: B. F. Dysart, promoted quartermaster-sergeant September 9, 1862, second lieutenant Co. C, January 29, 1863, resigned October 5, 1864; John C Laluiiaii, promoted sergeant February 1862; Samuel S. Worley, veteran, reduced per request; William Seitz, promoted sergeant January 1, 1863, wounded at Stone River; Sidney Davis, transferred to the regular service December 10, 1862; George E. Crumb, Thomas Flynn, and Samuel Fish. Of this company the following deaths are noticed : Daniel Riley, first lieutenant, January 20, 1863, from wounds; J. Lindsley Black, first lieutenant, March 19, 1863; Charles Santee, killed November 31, 1862; Jacob C. Sunday, July 20, 1864; Henry Hoffmaster, May 17, 1862; John Fahey, killed April 7, 1862; John Adams, December 19, 1861 ; Charles H. Evans, June 1862; Jeremiah H. Stevens, killed December 31, 1862; George W. Schmucker, June 17, 1864; Joseph Lascert, killed June 27, 1864; John Rousch, 1863; George W. Conrad, killed May 19, 1865; Luther D. Wood, April 28, 1865; Aurelius Gaslin, 1864. Of the 115 about 30 did not live in Ciiina towiiiiliip when they enlisted. The larger ]»art of these came from Ashton ; a few from Ogle county. During their service the company were in moi'e than twenty engagements, biiginning with "bloo.ly Shiloh" ami ending with Goldsboro and Raleigh, North Carolina, including the siege of Corinth, Mississippi, Stone River, Tennessee, Kenesaw Mountain and Poach Tree Creek, Georgia, siege of Atlanta, march through Georgia, and the Carolina campaign.

The village of Franklin Grove is situated in the N.E. J Sec. 1, T. 21, R. 10. The first movement toward making a town here was in 1848 or 1849, when Christian Lahman, who owned the southern part of what is now Franklin, laid out in lots about ten acres in the southwestern part of the village. The only building then in this vicinity was the Minor House, which was used by various parties as a hotel until the new one was built on the same site.

In 1851 George W. Pense came to this place, and built a blacksmith sho)3 near the corner south of the hotel. At the same time Webster came, who succeeded Thomas in the hotel. Davis also came, and moved into the Minor log house. In the fall of 1851, or the following spring, Webster built a stone building for a store on the corner west of where

George Engel is living. In this building Charles Ambrose opened a dry-goods store, and L. Yale clerked for him. In 1852 Charles Bill put np the first shoe shop, and Dr. Clark put up a barn where Charles Hansen is living. In May of 185i H. I. Lincoln brought a stock of goods from Kendall county, and bought from L. Yale the store occupied by Ambrose. Ambrose then built for a store the present residence of F. A. Zoeller; sold out to Lahinan & Bill ; went to Texas in 1855, and soon died of consumption. All who knew him speak highly of the pioneer merchant. In 1856 Lahman sold out his interest to Bill, and built a large store on the corner, now occupied by the residence of G. Miller. He failed the same fall, and was closed out at auction. He is now a successful farmer in one of the western states.

The first post-ofBce was established about 18-±8. A. Brown was the first postmaster, A. R. Whitno}' mail carrier. The route then was from Rockford to Peru. Whitney brought the mail once a week from Dixon on horseback ; for this lie received half the emoluments of the office, which amounted the first quarter to thirty-seven cents. Dr. Clark was the second incumbent, and during his term the name of the office was changed to Chaplain. A. R. Whitney' received the next appointment. His deputies were Ambrose, Bill and Merritt. Whitney's gross receipts for the first quarter amounted to only $4.75. In May of lS5-i Dr. George W. Hewitt located here, and sold drugs on a small scale. A. L. Merritt soon succeeded him in this line of business, and in the fall of 1855 John C. Black located here and bought in with Merritt. The next year Black was made postmaster.

Franklin Grove had now fully attained the dignity of a country village. But in the meantime tlie new town had begun to develop. This was laid out in 1853, by A. W. Tolman, C. Lahman, and F. D. Robertson. The land in the northei'n part was owned by Tolman, the other by Lahman. In 1851 the Dixon Air Line of the Chicago & Galena Union railroad was completed tiirough here, and the first regiilar train run to Dixon Decembei' 3, 1854. The same day A. B. Fitch came and began as agent for the railroad company. This position he has held nearly ever since. This fall Reuel Thorp built one of the first houses in the new town, and began in the grain business. Joseph Williams built on Spring street where Tliomas lives. L. M. Blaisdell built on next lot south. At this time Simmons was living in a little house where Gilbert now lives. W. J. Leake started a harness shop in the small building now occupied by U. C. Roe for an office and medicine room. The building was then owned by John D. Chambers,, who worked for Leake. In 1854 Williams put up the first building on Elm street south of the railroad. This was an elevator on the site of Smith's new elevator. In the rear of this building he kept a small grocery store. S. J. Smith ct Co. and L. M. Blaisdell began in the lumber business. In the winter of 1854-5 Rufus Covell came from Rochelle and started a small furniture store just south of William's elevator. The following spring Robert Scott built on Spring street, where Dr. Roe, jr., now lives, and also the warehouse now owned by H. I. Lincoln ; Conrad Durkes built on Elm street, and in the fall brought a stock of dry goods from Oregon, Ogle county, the tirst suld in the new town. Mix it Losey built the store on the corner of Whitney and Elm streets, and a few weeks later began selling dr}' goods. Lagerquist opened the iirst shoe shop; Jonas Ciisbee built, for a hotel, the house in which Dr. U. C. Roe lives, and this year Josiah Hughes put up his three-story stone hotel building in the old town of Chaplain. The work on this building was done by George Engel, who came to the town in 1855. The men who settled the village of Franklin Grove were young or in the prime of life. They had small means, but were energetic. Tlie changes that have occurred here in business circles are too numerous to mention. Rufus Covell went to Iowa in the spring of 1864, and died there near his home at Nevada the following August. Mix is living in Oregon, Ogle county, a retired merchant. Losey returned to Ohio, and died of consumption soon after he settled here. When the town was incorporated the streets had received but little attention. The names of those running north and south, naming from the west, are State, Spring, Elm, Walnut, and S^'camore ; from the north, North, Middle, Whitney, Franklin, South, and Lahnian.

INCORPORATIOX. In 1857 the town of Franklin Grove was incorporated under a general law in force at that date. On May 11, 1857, the citizens of the incorporated district met to vote on the question of incorporation ; and after a president and clerk were sworn, 36 votes were cast for and 17 against incorporation. Josiah Hughes, Jonas Ciisbee, L. M. Blaisdell, S. J. Smith and A. W. Tolman were elected trustees, with L. M. Blaisdell president; S. J. Smith was chosen clerk, and Jonas Ciisbee was appointed street commissioner for the ensuing year. The boundaries of the corporation corresponded to those of the N.E. ^ of Sec. 1, T. 21. At a meeting on October 6, 1857, a petition signed by lifteen citizens was presented, calling for sidewalks on some of the principal streets. October 8 it was ordered that a tax of fifty cents on the hun dred dollars be levied on all real estate for building sidewalks, crosswalks, etc. December 28 C. Durkes was appointed treasurer of the corporation. At a meeting May 12, 1858, the following financial report was adopted: bills allowed and ordered paid, 8161.17; moneys received, $124.97 ; dues unpaid, $34.05. In 1864 alleys were opened and about two miles of sidewalk was laid.

A special charter for the town of Franklin Grove was approved by the state legislature in February 1865. It provided for the election of six councilmen and a president, a police magistrate and a town constable, each for four years ; and fixed the date for the first election under the same March 1, 1865. Tlie limits of the town were but slightly changed, a small strip south of the railroad on the east side being omitted. Small additions have since been made on the southern side.

The first election under the new charter resulted in the choice of C. Dnrkes for president ; Josiah Hughes, J. J. Lichty, Joseph "Williams, Jonas Clisbee, Geo. "W. Brayton and Geo. H. Taylor were elected councilmen. On motion, Oscar Hughes was elected clerk and W. C. Robinson treasurer for the ensuing year.

In 1872 the town was chartered under the state law of incorporation. The issue at the municipal elections has generally been the license question. Of those who have most strongly opposed the license system may be named Geo. H. Taylor, C. Durkes, Charles Hansen, Ezra Wood, and Thomas Scott. With the railroad came a demand for liquor. E. McGuire, a noted character in the annals of this town, set up a rum-shop in 1854 on State street near the railroad. A year or two later it was torn down by a body of citizens and his liquors emptied in the street. This act led to considerable litigation. The irrepressible McGuire again located near the Hughes hotel and for many years after waged war with the anti-license element, claiming that if he had been let alone he would have converted the people to the cold-water plan, so much was he given to watering his stock. In 1861 a license was granted, and for a few years a bad state of things seemed to have prevailed. To use the language of a prominent citizen acquainted with the facts, " Tiie legality of the town board was soon after questioned ; its ordinances were obeyed or not as suited the individuals; lawlessness and drunkenness were rampant; gambling was carried on day and night in low places." Elections for town boards were not regularly held, nor were the proceedings of meetings always recorded. " The board ordered walks repaired and road labor performed ; scarcely anyone would obey. The walks became unsafe ; drunken men staggered in the streets until the thing became intolerable." The new charter of 1864 made strict provision for the regulation of the liquor question. In July of that year three roughs with drawn revolvers tried to intimidate the president of the board, C. Diirkes, for the purpose of obtaining permission to gamble in one of the saloons. In a mel^e that ensued Samuel Simmons, an inoffensive citizen, was severely injured. These were the dark days in the history of Franklin Grove. No licenses were issued from 1867 till

1877, when after an exciting canvass the license party prevailed. There are now three saloons in the village, each pa3'ing a license of $200.

According to the census of 1880 the town has a population of 730. It has never contracted a bonded indebtedness. In 1860 H. I. Lincoln built the first substantial store building in the new town. In 1864 Frast and Hanger put up a large elevator, now owned by D. F. Lahman. In 1867 P. C. Roone}' built his store. In 1871 Black and Twombly put up the block now owned and occupied b\' Black and Durkes. Canterbury built in 1872. The Band Hall was built in 1874, the wind grist-mill in 1875, and the Franklin Hotel in 1876.

The only paper here that has survived its infancy is the Franklin Grove "Reporter." Its short-lived precursor was the Franklin Grove " Gazette," printed in Dixon ; it lived only a few months. The "Reporter" was started by John Blocher, editor and proprietor, and dates from August 1869. At the close of its second year D. H. Spickler bought the paper. He ran it till May 1875, when T. W. Scott became the manager.

Dr. D. H. Spickler was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, March 18, 1830. He came west in 1853, and in 1857 graduated from Rush Medical College, Chicago. For several years he was associated with Dr. G. W. Hewitt, of this place. After his connection with the " Reporter" he edited the Mendota " News " two years. He then settled to the practice of his profession at Ashton, where he died October 28, 1879. He was buried in the Franklin Grove cemetery. Scott sold out to D. B. Senger, the present editor and manager, August 5, 1876. The "Enterprise" was edited by P. O. Sproul from June, 1879, till November, 1880, the limits of its existence. The " Electric Light " -was commenced in June of 1881, by A. D. Webb and W. G. Blocher.

Secret Societies

Franklin Grove Lodge, No. 264, A.F. and A.M., was chartered October 6, 1858. The charter members were L. M. Blaisdell, Daniel B. McKinney, Nathan Whitney, A. R. Whitney, William Forbes, Reuel Thorpe, C. Durkes, J. C. Black, George W. Hewitt, A. B. Fitch, P. C. Rooney, M. Decker, Isaac F. Forbes, Thomas L. Wood. The first officers were L. M. Blaisdell, W.M.; D. B. McKinney, S. W.; William Forbes, J.W.; Reuel Thorpe, Treas.: C. Durkes, Sec; A. B. Fitch, S.D.; P. C. Rooney, J.D., and J. C. Black, Tyler. The present officers are Samuel Dysart, W.M.; B. L. Spence, S.W.; E. E. Faunce, J.W.; A. R. Whitney, Treas.; P. Runyan, Sec; Jacob Gall, S.D.; S. Mong, J.D.; T. W. Scott. Chap.; A. D. Morrison, S.S.; Edward Druramond, J.S.; J. B. Spafibrd, Tyler. For eighteen years

A. R. Whitney lias been treasurer of the lodge, and P. Runyan has been secretary for twelve years. In the winter of 1867-8 the lodge met in the new hall over Rooney's store. This hall they purchased in the following year for $3,000. Previously meetings were held in the Hughes House, where the lodge was organized. Its membership is now fifty-five, only two of whom are out of the State of Illinois. Since the last return to the Grand Lodge, August 1880, the Franklin Grove Lodge has sustained the loss of three members. Dr. G. W. Hewitt, Thomas L. Wood, and L. C. Fish.

George Engel, "W. H. Bassler, and Nelson Strong. At the first meeting fourteen were admitted by card and initiation. In 1871 tiie lodge had forty-live active members. In 1880 eighteen names were reported to the Grand Lodge. The present ofiicers are John Blocher, N.G.; Solomon Sunday, V.G.; Kincaid Runvan, Treas.; S. W. Reigle, Sec.; Geo. Engel, P.G.; S. W. Reigle, D.D.G.M.

At quite an early date religious meetings were held by the Methodists, Germanj Baptists, and the T'niversalists, of the Franklin Grove settlement. Log cabins and log school-houses served for temples of worship. Even the saw-mill on the creek was sometimes brought into requisition ; and when in a busy time it was considered necessar}' to run it Sundays, the water would be shut off only long enough for the assembled worshipers to go through with their praises and devotions. The writer did not learn the denomination, if denominational they were, by which these " saw-mill " meetings were conducted. We doubt not, however, that they were of the genuine stamp. The first class of the Methodist church was formed by Father McKane, the Rock river missionary, probably before 1840, and C3'rus Minor was leader. The class met at his house and at Morgan's, and perhaps elsewhere. "In 1853 and 1854 R. R. Bibbins, of Light House Point (Ogle county) circuit, preached here once in four weeks Sabbath evening. In the fall of 1854 Brother Henry Martin, then stationed at Light House Point, came here and made an effort to raise the scattered membership; he reorganized the class with James Welsh leader." The class then met in the log school-house at the head of the grove. Brother Welsh Sister Rogers and Joseph Williams were often the only members present; occasionall}- old Sister Morgan would attend class. In 1854 Docter Roe and his wife were members of this class. In the fall of 1855 M. Decker was sent to Lee Center, and Franklin Grove became a part of his charge. This year the first quarterly meeting was held in the new school-house, Luke Hitchcock, the presiding elder, being present. A. D. Field, H. Richardson and Brother Penfield followed M. Decker as pastors of the society. In the fall of 1860 W. T. Harlow, principal of the Rock River Seminary at Mt. Morris, came twenty miles to fill his appointments here. "Garrison's" and Grand Detour were then the other points on the circuit. In the fall of 1861 Rev. Brookius came and remained two years. In 1802 the Universalist church was used for worsliip. During this year many were added to the church ; three classes were formed. In 1863, during the pastorate of C. W. Wright, the church building was begun on the corner of what are now known as State and Middle streets, in the western part of the village, very near where the Tolmans settled. In the same year a board of trustees was chosen, among whom were James H. Welsh, A. R. Whitney, and Joseph Williams. In the fall of 1866 H. J. Husted organized the Sabbath-school, with twenty-five scholars. The same year twenty were added to the church. The school now lias an enrollment of seventy-eight, E. A. Wood, superintendent. The pastors not mentioned have been C. Webster, " Brother Penfield," L. M. Anderson, H. T. Giles, John Williamson, A. P. Hatch, S. T. Snow, James Bush, A. J. Scott, J. Wardle, J. C. Cooper, and A. H. Schoonmaker. The present othciary of the church are : trustees, George H. Taylor, A. S. Jacobs, E. A. Wood, George Newcomer, John D. Sitts, and M. L. Gaver ; stewards, George Newcomer, John Welsh, H. L. Gaver, H. Street, E. A. Wood, Mrs. Durkes, and Mrs. Forbes ; pastor, A. H. Schoonmaker. The church is clear of debt and has a membership of about fifty.

On July 12, 1881, the Dixon District Camp-meeting Association was organized at Franklin Grove. The officers of the association are : president. Rev. L. Hitchcock, D.D. ; vice-president, Hon. Isaac Rice; secretary. Rev. I. E. Springer ; treasurer, Rev. A. H. Schoonmaker ; executive committee, Rev. A. H. Schoonmaker, Rev. F. P. Cleveland, Rev. R. M. Smith, Rev. G. ^Y. Carr, Hon. F. G. Petrie, R. B. Sproul, and James Brow.n. Ten acres of ground just outside of the village corporation, west of the Methodist Episcopal church, was bought from I. Zug for $1,000. This is being fitted up, and is to be used for a permanent camp-meeting ground. The first meeting opened August 31, 1881.

The Revs. W. W. Harsha and E. Erskine, and Elder Charles Crosby, were a committee appointed by the Rock River (O. S.) presbytery for the organization of a Presbyterian church at Franklin Grove. Accordingly' the committee met in the public school room January 1, 1861. The following persons presented themselves, and were duly organized under the name of the Franklin Grove Presbyterian church : Tiiomas Scott and his wife, Elizabeth; George H. Brewer and Mrs. Abbie D. Brewer, James Leidy, Mary A. Girton, Mrs. A. Twiss, Mrs. C. D. and Mrs. S. Loomis, Jeremiah Ketchura and Mrs. Phoebe Ketchurn ; George W. Brayton and Lucy A. Brayton by letter ; and on profession of faith, Mr. P. Y. Van Vrankin, Richard Pollock, Miss Mary A. Pollock, Mr. J. Gilbert and Mrs. Elizabeth Gilbert, Silas P. Tolman and his wife, Clarinda. Mr. C. D. Loomis and Jeremiah Ketchum were elected elders. C. D. Loomis was the first clerk. G. W. Braj'- ton, G. W. Hewitt, G. W. Pitcher, G. H. Brewer and Jeremiah Ketchiim were the first board of trustees. At a meeting February 9, 1861, George H. Brewer was elected secretary of the church and board of trustees. There had been occasional preaching a short time before the organization was effected. W. W. Harsha was the first pastor. During January of 1861 Mrs. Van Vrankin, Mrs. Jane Hussey, James Butler and Mrs. Sarah Butler were admitted; in June, 1862, James M. Dysart, Martha A. Yan Vrankin, Gertrude M. Van Vrankin, Alice M. and Lucy A. Bray ton. September 19, 1863, G. W. Bray ton, Thomas Scott and J. Gilbert were ordained and installed as ruling elders by W. L. Lyons, the second pastor. At the same date Dr. G. W. Hewitt, his wife, Carrie D., and Mrs. Sophia Brown were received on examination ; and Mrs. E. M. Lyons by letter. The Rev. Lyons has been succeeded in the pastorate by W. Hare, A. F. Morrison, Spencer Baker, S. N. Vail, W. C. Cort, F. C. Cochrane, and H. S. Jordan. A Sunday-school was organized in 1857, with T. W. Scott as superintendent, in which capacity Mr. Scott has acted ever since with sligiit intermissions. This was a vmion school, and it now numbers about 100 members. The present membership of the church it sixteen. Li 1865 this society conjointly with the Liitiierans (German) built a church, which they have since used in common.

The German Lutheran church was organized under the preaching of Rev. William Uiil, and meetings were held in Lincoln's Hall, tiie Universalist cliurcii, and the school-iiouse, previous to the building of the church, about one year. George Engel, George Fishback, George Kreitzer and Joiin Genk constituted the first board of trustees. Tlie pastors have been William Angelberger, who organized the Sabbathschool, Charles Young, C. A. Reuter, H. Stauff'enberg, and Rev. StoUe. Tiie present trustees are Joseph Goether, Ernst Dietrick, Z. Wendel, and Henry Gonnerman. For several \-ears tlie church has been weak, there having been a dissension which lias divided its members.

The German Baptist church, familiarly styled the Brethren or Dunkards, has great financial and numerical strength. The first families of this faith to settle liere were the Lahmans and the Emmerts, who came in 1843. The following year the Riddiesbargers came, and about this time meetings were held in their respective dwellings and subsequently in the log school-house. Father Enunert was tlie fir.^t preacher. Christian Lahman was also a minister in this church. The first house of worship was built on tiie Dixon road in the present town of Nachusa. This was a small grout house, about 20x30 feet, on the south side of the IS'.E. ^ Sec. 5, T. 21. It has since been twice remodeled, until its dimensions are 35x60 feet. About fifteen years ago a'churcli was built at Ashton. In the fall of 1879 the central church was built at Franklin Grove, a little northwest of the village. This is a large building. In these three edifices services are alternated. This is styled the Rock Kiver church. Its present membership is about 175. Seven or eight j'ears ago it was 300, but man}' have left, thus reducing the number. The church has no officiating pastor ; but they, so to speak, do their own preaching ; that is, there are two resident ordained elders or bishops, and others of inferior orders, there being three orders of ordination in the church. These bishops and elders sliare the labor of preaching the gospel. The most apparent characteristics of this people are the simplicity of their dress and worship, and in business their industry and thrift, with a lack of what is commonly called enterprise or public spirit.

The Universalist church of Franklin Grove was organized by Thomas J. Carney, who wrote the constitution, by-laws, etc. In 1856 a church was built on the corner of Elm and Bradford streets. While it was building meetings were held in the house of Jonas Clisbe, now Dr. IT. C. Roe's dwelling. The Hausens, Uncle John Fish, "old man Clisbe," who had the contract to build the church, John C. Black and Isaac Twombly were early members of the organization. But many years prior to this organized society there was preaching at Haiasen's, Whipple's, Cooper's, and at other private houses. T. J. Bartholomew was the first preacher. J. O. Barrett and C. F. Dodge preached each two years. The Rev. Chase and the Rev. Cook were pastors. Cook being the last. For several years there have been no regular services, and the society, once quite flourishing, seems now to be nearly broken up.

The first and only school-house in Franklin Grove was built in part in 1856, on the corner of Elm and Bradford streets. It was then 30x10 feet. In 1867 thirty feet in length was added, making it 30x70 feet. The first principal was T. W. Scott, ably assisted by his wife. The school was soon graded into four departments, one primary, two intermediate, and one high school. Mr. Scott was connected Avith the school in all seventeen years. The other principals were Moler, Wood, Whetstone, Newton, and Webb. Of the teachers who deserve mention by reason of their long or efficient service, or both, are Miss Hattie Walters, Miss Young, Julia M. Brackett, Virginia Brown, Sophia Town, Mrs. Tyler, Maggie Bailey, Miss Ramsdell, Bricj' Gaver, and Mrs. Xewton. E. W. Newton, S. A. Griswold and A. Plessinger are the present trustees, and Prof. Thorp is the principal.

Miscellaneous

In 1863 the Franklin Grove Cemetery Association was formed, and Isaac Tvvombly was made president. The long-neglected ground was enlarged and fenced. It is said that Mrs. Holly was tlie first one buried in this cemetery; this was in 1839. It is situated west of the northern part of the corporation of Franklin Grove, joining it. In 1872 a sidewalk was constructed from the Methodist Episcopal church to the cemetery ground.

In June, 1874, James McCosh organized the Silver Cornet Band of Franklin Grove, with twelve pieces. In October they were made a corporate body, and as such proceeded to the erection of a band hall, which after a year or two passed out of their hands. For about two years it has been used by E. W. Xewton for a plow manufactory.

The Cheese Factory Association of Franklin Grove was organized in February 1881, A. H. Schoonmaker, president; N". Hansen, vicepresident; H. Black, secretary and treasurer; A. R. Whitney, C. L. Anthony and Charles Wertman, directors. A committee was appointed to draft constitution and by-laws. February 12, 1881, an agreement was entered into between the Association and C. L. Anthony, of Whitesides county, by which he agreed to manufacture full cream cheese from the milk of not less than 100 cows at two and a half cents per pound. Manufacture of cheese was begun May 4, 1881, in the village of Franklin Grove.

Nathan Whitnet, Franklin Grove. Col. Nathan Whitney, or more appropriately Father Whitney, was born in Conway, Massachusetts, January 22, 1791. His grandfather, Capt. Jonathan Whitne\-, was one of the selectmen who organized the town of Conway, about 110 vcars ago. He bore arms in defense of the colonies all throug:h the revolutionary war. He emigrated to the Indian Orchard, called " Seneca Castle," near the city of Geneva, Ontario county, New York, about ninety years ago. Capt. Jonathan was followed two years later by his eldest son, Nathan, who settled near him, when our subject was two years of age. The elder Nathan Whitney had live sons, Luther, Otis, Nathan, Jonathan, Cheney, and one daughter. A few years ago these five brothers were all living, their united ages being four hundred years. Three still survive. The eldest died in 1880 of cancer in the eye, aged ninety-eight years. The younger, Nathan, like his father, seems to have been born a pioneer. He opened a farm near Allison, New York, and another in the town of Elba. He first visited Lee county in 1835, again in 1836 and 1837, his family following in 1838. He was one of the commissioners to organize the county of Lee, Illinois, and he has since twice held the office of county commissioner in said county. His nurseiy was the first north of the Illinois river. From De Witt Clinton, of New York, he has three militia commissions, those of captain, lieutenant-colonel, and colonel. He was in the engagement at Fort Erie in the war of 1812. Mr. Whitney is the oldest Mason in Lee county, if not in the northwest. During the Morgan excitement he was " among the faithless faithful found." He married Sarah Graef when twenty years of ago. He has had a family of ten children, three of whom died young. Of the others only one, the youngest, was a son, with wliom Mr. Whitney is now living, about a mile south of the village of Franklin Grove, on the farm claimed by the colonel fortyfive years ago.

A. R. Whitney, nurseryman, Franklin Grove, was born February 22, 1821, in Orleans count}', New York. He is the youngest child and the only son of Col. Nathan Whitney. Mr. Whitney was but fourteen years old when the family emigrated to China from the State of Ohio, in which they had lived a few years prior to this movement. August 14, 1851, he was married to Mary J. Oakle}'. Their issue are four children : Jesse, Carrie (wife of A. W. Crawford, South Dixon), Nathan, and May. The sons are married and associated with their father in his extensive business, the culture and shipping of fruit, and the manufacture and sale of cider. The mother of A. R. Whitney died in April 1865.

William Dtsaet, farmer, Franklin Grove, was born in Henderson county, Pennsylvania, in 1828, son of James and Elizabeth Dysart. His father's parents and his mother's mother came from Ireland, and his mother's father from Germany. They were of strong constitutions and lived to a ripe old age. His mother was born in 1799, and died in 1875. His father died March 1873, aged eighty-five years. Ten children were born to tliese parents, eight boys and two girls, all of whom grew to maturity. They were all reared on a farm, and received a common schooling. Joseph Dysart, the grandfather of our subject, and a brother, Alexander, were the only members of a family of five or more sons who came from the north of Ireland to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and thence to Henderson county. Alexander traded much with the Indians, and became very wealthy. From 1807 till 1812, inclusive, he was a member of the general assembly of Pennsylvania, from Henderson county, and again in 1815. In 1846 James Dysart came to Lee county, and between that and 1849 bought land enough to give each of his children one half-section. In 1850 William Dysart came to Dixon, Illinois, and the same year broke twenty acres of his farm in Sec. 13, T. 21, China. In 1853 he built a house where he now lives. In February, 1858, he celebrated his mar- riage with Mary Grazier, of liis native county. Their issue are two daughters, aged thirteen and eleven. Mr. Dysart owns the N.W. ^ Sec. 13, and the E. i of S. W. J same, 120 acres of timber in Ogle county, 240 acres in Cerro Gordo and Bremer counties, Iowa. In 1869 Mr. Dysart built his barn, at a cost of $4,500. He is a republican in politics, having formerly been a whig. His father was a whig until he became an abolitionist. Of the many genial men we have met in this vicinity Mr. Dysart is rather more than an average.

Samcel Dysakt, farmer, Franklin Grove, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, September 14, 1834, son of William and Eliza Dysart, from whom he inherited a strong constitution. He was reared on his father's farm, and received a common schooling. In 1855 he came to China township and went to work on a half section of prairie previously purchased by his father. This is the E. i Sec. 14, T. 21, to which he has since added an eighty in Sec. 13, making a farm of 400 acres. On February 24, 1858, Mr. Dysart was married to Margaret J. Henderson, born September 11, 1834, a farmer's daughter, and the playmate of his youth. Ten children have been born of this marriage : Harry W., December 26, 1858; Lilly V., June 7, 1860; Lola W., January 10, 1863 (Lola died October 11, 1865, and Lilly, March 15, 1872) ; U. Grant, September 14, 1865; Drusilla D., December 1, 1866; Horace IL, September 18, 1868; Jesse R., July 12, 1871; Birdie B., April 4, 1873; May J., August 23, 1875. Mr. Dysart began farming with the intention of raising improved stock as soon as he should get his farm sutRciently improved. Accordingly in 1867 he began with four thorough-bred short-horns, and now has one of the linest herds in the state. He has heretofore given attention to the breeding of Berkshire swine, having shipped them as far as the Rocky mountains. Mr. Dysart was one of the tirst members of the Lee County Agricultural Association. He has been several years a member of the State Board of Agriculture. In consequence of his prominence as a stock breeder he was appointed live-stock commissioner to the Paris exhibition of 1878, and received his commission from President Hayes in February. He sailed in May, and besides spending three months in Paris, traveled several weeks in dift'erent parts of Europe. Mr. Dysart's residence, built in 1877 at a cost of between §6,000 and $7,000, is elegantly furnished. His grounds are beautifully decorated with choice flowers, in the care of which he is much engaged. His large stock barn is in keeping with his other buildings. The farm is known as the " Pines Stock Farm," having taken the name of the " Pines place " from the lai'ge pine trees planted near the house. In politics Mr. Dysart is a republican.

dersoii county, Penns^'lvania, 18^1 ; son of James and Elizabeth Dysart. In 1856 he came with his father to Lee county. He attended school at Lee Center and Dixon. In the fall of 1860 he began improving his farm, the N.E. J Sec. 23, T. 21, China, and built a house on it. August 7, 1861, he enlisted in Co. C, 34:th 111. Inf., and was mustered at Camp Butler, September 2. November 4, 186i, his resignation was accepted and he was discharged. The same year he was married to Miss A. C. A. Harrison, of Canton, Stark county, Ohio, by whom he has one son, Edgar H., born January 1866. After his discharge from the army Mr. Dysart was one year United States revenue assessor in East Ohio and West Virginia. He was one year engaged in business in Canton, Ohio; thence to Franklin Grove, where he lived one year. In the meantime he was improving his farm, before mentioned, on to which he moved in the spring of 1868. Here he lived till 1876, when he sold out and moved into the village of Franklin Grove, and engaged in the lumber business with C. D. Hussey. In 1866 Mr. Dysart sold his farm of 160 acres in Nachusa township. He is a republican.

Amos Hussey, farmer, Franklin Grove, was born in York covmty, Pennsylvania, August 1806. His father, Amos Hussey, and his mother, Abagail Edraondson, were both born in Pennsylvania. His father was of Welsh ancestry, and followed the occupation of farmer ; he had a family of twelve children, five of whom lived to maturitj'. He died when our subject was fourteen years of age. The mother of the latter was of English descent, and died nearly fifty years ago. Amos Hussey, jr., learned the liusiness of weaving, spinning, and dressing cloth, and followed the same for a few years. About 1834 he married Jane F. Holly, whose birth was the first in Fredonia, New York, January 1, 1817. - In 1838 Mr. Hussey came with his wife and two children overland to Franklin Grove ; lived the first winter on the south side of the Grove, and the next year came to his present location, a little northwest of the village of Franklin Grove, in Sec. 35. His wife died May 1876. He and an elder sister residing in Ohio are the only survivors of his father's family. His family consist of three living: Mary D. (Mrs. Josiah Little, Amboy, HI.); Jerome (married and living in Amboy), and Columbns. The second, third and fourth of his family died young: Jesse, aged three years; William H. Harrison, eight years, and Medrick D., between one and two years of age. Mr. Hussey now owns a farm of 115 acres, having sold some of his land. In politics he is a republican.

George H. Taylor, grain dealer, Franklin Grove, was born in Cheshire county, New Hampshire, 1823. His father, John Taylor, was of Scotch ancestry. His mother was Catherine Livermore. The Liverraores were early Puritan settlers in New England, and came from Holland. John Taylor was a tanner by trade; he had a family of eight children, only one of whom was a son. In 1838 he came to Ogle county, Illinois, and settled at Daysville, and snbsequentlv claimed half a section of land. Here he lived till 1840, when he removed to St. Charles, Illinois, where he died in 1854 or 1855. His wife died in 1871, aged eighty-si.\. In the fall of 1846 George H. Taylor married Emily C Wood. Their children are : Alice (Mrs. William B. Loyd, St. Charles, Illinois), Ella (Mrs. William Hemme, California), Flora (Mrs. D. R. Timothy, China, Lee county, Illinois), Clara (Mrs. David T. Jones, Washington, District of Columbia), Frank and Lucius. In 1857 Mr. Taylor came to Franklin Grove and engaged in the grain business, which he has since followed. In 1870 he built his elevator at a cost of 85,000, with a storage capacity of 20,000 bushels. Mr. Taylor is a republican in j)olitics, having been an abolitionist. His wife is a member of the Methodist ciiui'ch.

U. C. Roe, doctor, Franklin Grove, was born in Eddyville, Lyon county, Kentucky. His father, John Roe, was born in Philadelphia, August 19, 1800, of English and German blood, and possessed a splendid physical organization. When he was twenty-one years old he located in Lyon county, Kentucky, on the Cumberland river, and was here married to Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Col. Nathan Lyon, a native of Ireland. In 1827 John Roe moved with his family to Springfield, Illinois, and began the study of medicine. In an early day he settled at Light-house Point, Ogle county, having previously made a claim on the Illinois river, in Putnam county, but on going to Galena to enter it found that a speculator had got ahead of him. In the fall of 1837 the subject of this sketch made his first trip to Chicago. In the winter of 1837-8 he went to a school kept in his father's log house, and in the winter of 1838-9 in tlie new seliool-hou.-;e, to Charles P. Farwell, now of Chicago. He worked on a farm summers till 1844, attending the Mount Morris Academy winters. In 1845 he entered the Ohio Botanico-Medical College, and attended one term of lectures. After sixteen years' practice of medicine he received a diploma fi-om this institution, rpon his father's removal to Chicago, about 1845, our subject entered into a large and lucrative practice. In 1846 he married Almeda Brown. Their issue are : Nathaniel C. (married), Ella (Mrs. T. J. Giddings, Cedar Rapids, Iowa), Lucy (Mrs. A. R. Hamlin, Wisconsin) ; Frederick U. and Carrie, Emma and Belle, aged fifteen years, and John, aged two years, are dead. In the spring of 1854 Mr. Roe came to Franklin Grove and lived here till 1860, and returned again in 1870. In 1860 he began the manufacture and sale of medicine, in which business with his sons he is now engaged. He has a large number of teams and wagons out through the country in the sale of his medicines. The doctor also treats chronic diseases, and lectures on phrenology and, the laws of health. Pie is an ordained deacon in the Methodist Episcopal church, and a greenbacker in politics.

Conrad Durkes, merchant, Franklin Grove, was born in the Palatine in 1829. His parents were Philip and Appolonia (Stelzer) Durkes. His father was tiiree years a soldier, and under Napoleon was taken prisoner on the march to Moscow. Conrad was the youngest of a large family, only two of whom are living. In 1842 he came to New Orleans with his father, who was a mechanic; thence after six months they v/ont to St. Louis, and in 1845 to Chicago, where his father died in 1858, and his mother in 1866. Here his widowed sister is living. Conrad Durkes remained in this city till 1852, when he went to Oregon, Ogle county, where he sold goods till 1855. He then came to Franklin Grove and began in the dry-goods business, which he has since followed here with one interruption of three years. By close attention to business Mr. Durkes has amassed a good property. In 1858 he married Mary Jones. They have four children living: Augustus P., Ida E., Warren C. and Stelzer A. ; Mary Kate died in 1870, aged four years. His family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Durkes is a Mason and independent in politics. He received an average schooling in the German public schools, but has since obtained in actual business that which is far more efficient, and which has made him a man of excellent business qualifications.

Ezra A. Wood, merchant, Franklin Grove, was born in Augusta, Canada, in 1833. His mother was Mary (Earle) Wood. His father, Anthony Wood, was born in Schoharie county. New York. In 1838 Anthony Wood left Canada, after a short residence there, and came to Ogle county, Illinois. He settled near Oregon and purchased a claim to 160 acres in Nachnsa township and improved it. He died on his way overland to the Pacific coast in 1850. He was twice married and had eleven children, two by his first wife. Ezra Wood was attending school at Mount Morris when his father died, but did not go to school after this event. In 1860 he went overland to Colorado, and there enlisted, October 1861, in the 1st Col. Inf. The regiment saw some fighting in New Mexico, and skirmished there and along the Rio Grande with the "rebs." and Indians. In June, 1862, this regiment was encamped at Val Verda on a sandy blufi'. There Mr. Wo jd, with many others, was taken sick with mountain fever, and did not recover till fall, when he was discharged on account of physical disability. He came to Franklin Grove in the fall of 1864, having traveled over much of the western country. In June, 1865, he married Charlotte Herrington. Mr. Wood is a republican and a member of the Methodist church.

Henky a. Black, stationer and jeweler, Franklin Grove, was born in Waldo county, Maine, in 1842; son of John C. and Clolie (Wilber) Black, both of ]\[aiiie. His father was a hotel-keeper; his faniilv consisted of seven children, six of whom are living. The family came to Franklin Grove in the fall of 1855, and John Black went into the drug business with A. L. Meritt. Mr. Black was made ]iostmaster soon after, which office he held till 18G1, after which he did but little business. He died in 1864 with consumption, having suffered many years from the effects of asthma. Henry Black, the subject of this article, attended school two years at Lombard University, Kno.x county, intending to complete a course there, but the civil war interfered with this plan, and in December of 1863 he enlisted in the 75t]i 111. Inf., Co. G, Capt. Irwin. By an order from the war department he was detailed clerk in the quartermaster's office at Camp Butler, in which capacity he acted about two months. After this he was in the adjutant-general's office at the same point, most of the time as chief clerk, till he was mustered out, August 1865. In the following November he married Clara A. Timothy, daughter of Otis Timothy. Their children are Nellie, born June 22, 1808; Lindsey, June 26, 1870; Edith M., May 2, 1875. His graiulfather on his father's side was of Scotch descent, and his paternal grandmother was born in Ireland, and came to Maine when she was si.v years of age. His mother's people were Scotch. His grandfather Black was militiaman in the war of 1812, and participated in the defense of shipping on Penobscot Ba}'. For this service he received a land warrant. In politics Mr. Black is a republican.

T. W. Scorr, teacher, Franklin Grove, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, July 19, 1832. He is the youngest child of James and Elizabeth (Jordon) Scott, both born in Pennsylvania. Of their family of five four are living. Mr. Scott's grandparents all came from Scotland. His father was a mechanic. Our subject received his education chiefly at Central Academy, Juniata county. In Februarj-, 1856, he married Elizabeth, youngest daughter of James Dysart. He came west to Nachnsa in March 1856. After remaining there a few weeks he came to Franklin Grove, which has since been his home. At this time he began opening the farm on which Samuel Riddlesbarger lives. In the fall of 1856 Mr. Scott organized the school in the new school-house at Franklin Grove. He was connected with this school till lb78 and taught in all eighteen years, all but one of which he was at its head. So long was he connected with the school that during the latter part of his service he could look over his pupils and see a dozen or more of them sitting in seats formerly occupied by their parents, who had also been his pupils. Among other things shown us as testimonials of regard from his pupils was a large bible, presented to him at an exhibition at the close of examinations for the first year. Mrs. Scott died May 11, 1862, leaving three children : Fi-ank G., born September 1, 1858; Lois M., March 2, 1860, and Lizzie D., April 18, 1862 (deceased July 28, 1862). She was born in Huntingdon county, December 14, 1837. She was a member of the Presbyterian church, to which Mr. Scott also belongs. In 1868 Mr. Scott bought a lot and built his house in the village of Franklin Grove. He sold his farm in 1874, upon which he had lived four years previous to the death of his wife.

W. C. Robinson, merchant,- Franklin Grove, was born in central New York December 26, 1817. His parents were Nathan and Mary (Minor) Robinson. He was reared about a mile and a half from the Pennsylvania state line in Chautauqua county, NewYork, into which his father moved at an early day and cleared up a farm. It is here that our subject has his first recollections. His father's ancestors were Scotch ; his mother's English. His father raised eleven children, seven of whom are living. In the fall of 1841 W. C. Robinson left home with a brother and went to Louisiana. Here they chopped wood during the following winter. In the spring he came to Ogle county, his brother returning home via New Orleans. In the winter of 1842-3 Mr. Robinson again went down the Mississippi. Returning in the spring of 1843, he bought a claim to his farm in Sec. 10, T. 21, China township, and built on it. The following year he married Harriet Hansen, eldest daughter of Charles Hansen, sr. Their issue are: Sophia (wife of Robert McCoy, Iowa), Henry, George, and Anna (Mrs. Frank Mentzler). Mrs. Robinson died April 10, 1872. In 1856 Mr. Robinson engaged in the drug business, having rented his farm. In 1874 be went into partnership with his son George W., who was married in 1874, to Mary E. Spiller, by whom he has one daughter. Mr. Robinson is a republican, but voted the democratic ticket till Fremont's candidacy.

David R. Minor, farmer, Franklin Grove, was born in the State of New York, in 1827. His father, Cyrus R. Minor, was born in Massachusetts, in 1782, of English ancestry. In 1836 David Minor came with his parents and their family to Lee county, where they settled. The family consisted of Lockwood, Albert, Sarah, Daniel, and David. Lockwood died in Missouri, September 1870. Daniel died in California in 1852, aged twenty-five years. Cyrus Minor died in 1846. In 1854 David Minor married Cina Whitinore. Their children are Daniel, Iva, Rose, David H. and Cyrus E. Mr. Minor is living on his farm in Sec. 12, T. 21, China. This is land he claimed in an early day, and worked several years before he was married. He belongs to the Evan-

David F. Lahman, farmer and stock dealer, Franklin Grove, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1837. He is the son of Christian and Elizabeth (Emmert) Lahman. He came west with his parents in 1843. He was reared a farmer. In 1863 he married Anna Briigh. Lulu is their only child. Mr. Lahman has lived on the homestead since 1858, at which time he came in possession of 205 acres. He built his barn in 1867, his house in 1869, which with his other buildings, cost about $7,000. Mr. Lahman now owns 532 acres in Lee county, 165 in Ogle, and an interest in a large tract in Story county, Iowa. Mr. Lahman is a man of great business activity. For about ten years he made stock shipping his business. He does but little of this DOW. From his farm he turns each year from 500 to 800 head of stock. For several years he has been extensively engaged in poultry dealing, handling from $18,000 to $20,000 in one season in this traffic. There are but few men who do as much business as Mr. Lahman. He lias live brothers and two sisters living, having lost his parents, one brother, and one sister. Mrs. Lahman is a member of the German Baptist church.

Israel Zug, butcher, Franklin Grove, was born in Lebanon county^ Pennsylvania, in 1827. His parents were John and Margaret (Lane) Zug. His fathers ancestors were from Switzerland, and his mother's from Holland. His father was born in 1797, and died in 1873; his mother was two years older, and died in 1871. Israel Zug followed farming, his father's occupation, till he was about seventeen 3'ears old ; then he learned the tanner's trade. In 1850 he came to Peru, Illinois; lived there one year, and then bought 80 acres of land about eight miles north of that city, and farmed it till 1855. In 1856 he came to Franklin Grove, and the following year opened a meat market. He has followed this line of business ever since, and has established a good trade. In 1848 Mr. Zug married Rachel Johnson. Their issue are seven: John, Nathan, Alfred, Mary, Frank, Hattie, and Llewellyn. John, when about fifteen or si.xteen 3'ears old, left home, went east, and enlisted in a New York artillery company. He was in the service about one and a half years; subsequently- learned the mason's trade, and was married in Memphis, Tennessee, to an Iowa lady. About si.x years ago, while working in St. Joseph, Missouri, he wrote to his wife, at Virgil City, that he would be home in a few days. He started from St. Joseph at the appointed time, but was never afterward seen by his family and friends. His fate is a mystery. He is thought, however, to be dead.

John D. Sitts, merchant, Franklin Grove, was born in Oneida count)'. New York, in 1831. His parents were George and Harriet (Bartlett) Sitts, who were born and reared in the Mohawk valley. His mother's ancestors came from Holland, and his father's from Germany, at an earlj' date in the history of New York. His father was a contractor on the Erie canal. In 1849 he came to Chicago and engaged in a commission business, which he followed till his death in 1863. John Sitts, his son, received a common schooling and learned the molder's trade. In 1854 he came to Chicago and in 1857 to Franklin Grove. Here he engaged in the lumber business, in the firm of Sitts, Thomas & Co. This he followed chiefly for about ten years. In 1872 he began in the grocery business, having previously farmed in Lee and Ogle counties. In 1863 he married Eva E. Lincoln. Their children are Henry B., Gertie G., Bertha C. and Helen E. ^Mr. Sitts has been four years a notary. He is a republican. His mother died in 1844. Of his father's family of nine only four are living, one sister and two brothers in Chicago.