Lee County, Illinois - The whole text, 1881 (part 9 of 24)

Enos J. Ives and William B. Stuart were attorneys in practice here when the town was first started. The latter was a pioneer of the county, and is still a resident of Amboy. In 1858 B. H. Trusdell, a young lawyer from New Jersey, settled here in practice and still resides in the place. He was elected to the legislature by the democrats for one term, and served the county with credit. E. Southwick, a. lawyer of ability, and some note, lived here, and died just before Mr. Trusdell came. N. H. Ryan was another early lawyer. He also went from this county to the legislature. An attorney by the name of Eyon formed a partnership with Mr. Kinyon when the latter commenced to practice. Ryon's stay did not exceed two years. J. E. Lewis, C. E. Ives, C. H. Wooster and T. P. Duffy have all been admitted here, and represent the later generation.

Incorporation

In the winter of 1854-5 Amboy became a town under the general incorporation law, and Deacon Allen E. Wilcox was president of the first board of trustees. H. B. Judkins was president and Dr. J. A. Jackson clerk of the second and last board. In the autumn of 1856 agitation for a city organization was begun, and on the 23d of December a meeting of citizens was held at Mechanics' Hall to consider the subject. A. E. Wilcox was called to the chair and W. M. Taylor chosen secretary. J. B. Wyman, W. E. Ives, A. Kinyon, E. Southwick and John L. Skinner were appointed a committee ,to present a form of charter at an adjourned meeting on the 30th. This was held at the Orient House, and the charter reported was adopted by sections, and then as a whole. A committee consisting of J. B. Wyman, W. E. Ives and J. V. H. Judd was selected to laj^ it before the legislature and urge its passage. It was enacted and approved February IG, 1857, and adopted at an election held for the purpose on the 2d of March. The city limits were defined as " the south half of section fifteen and the north half of section twenty-two, in township twenty north, of I'ange ten east of the fourth principal meridian ; also that part of section twentj'-three which embraces Arnold's addition." Taylor and Davis' addition has since been annexed. Two amendments have been made to the charter, the first in 1867, and the last in 1869. The city government comprises a mayor and a council consisting of eight aldermen, elected from four wards, a marshal, a treasurer, an attorney and a clerk.

The first charter election was held on the 8th, and the following persons were chosen to fill the several offices : John B. Wyman, mayor; Orange D. Reed, marshal ; S. S. Stedman and E. S. Reynolds, aldermen of the first ward ; J. R. Stevens and F. B. Little, aldermen of the second ward ; and J. M. Davis and J. A. Jackson, aldermen of the third ward. 234 votes were cast. The officers were installed on the 16th, and the council elected Daniel T. Wood, clerk ; W. E. Ives, attorney; A. E. Wilco.x, assessor; W. B. Andrews, collector ; Edward Little, treasurer ; and Arthur Pond, surveyor.

The council passed an ordinance September 8, 1857, creating a tire department, but this was never of any service to the city ; and by beguiling it into fancied security paralyzed all attempts to make it efficient. Not until the fire demon had several times lapped up tiie business quarter of the city were earnest efforts made to render property reasonably secure against destruction. After the disastrous fire of August 2.5, 1871, prompt measures were taken to provide the city with suitable and efficient tire apparatus. A third-class Silsby steam tire engine, and a hose carriage with 500 feet of hose were contracted for at a cost of $5,050. This apparatus was delivered to and accepted by the city authorities in November 1S71. The Vigilant Fire Company was organized November 18, with the following officers: A. B. Huston, foreman; J. H. Stott, assistant foreman of engine; H. E. Donnell, foreman of hose; C. H. Bunker, assistant foreman of hose; E. n. Thresher, secretary ; and George Stimpson, treasurer. The officers of the tire department were as follows: B. B. Howard, chief engineer ; W. W. Powell, assistant engineer ; M. A. Brewer, engineer of steamer; and Daniel Maloney, tire warden. The Vigilant Fire Company, than which none could be more efl^'ective, was in active service until August 5, 1873, when it withdrew from the tire department of Amboy. Lnmediately "Amboy Fire Company No. 1 "' was organized, and the following day reported to the council. It has twenty-six members, and the following are the officers: Chas. Walker, captain; James Morris, assistant captain; Edward Smith, foreman of hose ; Wm. Wells, assistant foreman ; Frank Almy, secretary ; and David Shafer, treasurer.

In the autumn of 1864 the city erected a two-story building in the business row on the south side of Main street for a council room, and a hall for an engine company, when such an organization as the latter should be formed. In October, 1870, a cell built of solid masonry was put into the building, and in the great fire the following year a prisoner confined over night for a tritiing offense was literally roasted alive, a cruel because unnecessary tragedy, occurring by reason of the criminal thoughtlessness of the officer. This hall was immediately rebuilt. On the first floor is the engine room and calaboose, and on the second the council meets. This body first occupied the new building Friday evening, February 2, 1872.

Everett E. Chase. In tlie winter of 1854-5 the post-offices were discontinued at Shelburn and Bingharaton, and one was established at Amboy, with Orange D. Reed as postmaster. He lield the office until the spring of 1861, when R. H. Mellen was appointed under the administration of President Lincoln, and lias been in possession since.

Medora Bell, daughter of Charles Bell, was born August 27, 1854; this birth was the first in the village of Amboy. The first birth in the townsliip was that of Simon, son of John Dexter, in 1836, and the second was that of Win. C. Doan, son of James Doan, October 16, 1837. The first marriage in the village of Amboy was that of Wm. C. Bartlett and the widow of Danford Bartlett, formerly Caroline Vinton, October 18, 1854. Almira Melissa, infant daughter of Wm. B. Stuart, died January 5, 1855 ; this was the first death in the village. In 1874 east and west Main street was partly ballasted, and the macadamizing has since been extended through the city. Before this was done this thoroughfare at some seasofis was next to impassable.

, Not only has the grade of this street been raised, but in the business quarter the surface, by filling in, has been made some four feet higher than it was when the town was laid out. In the early settlement of the country this was almost a quagmire, which was described as "Farwell's slough farm."

The two principal tragedies have been the murder of Dennis Allen, saloon keeper, by Owen O'Connor, October 11, 1872; and Edward Egan, by John McGrath, April 18, 1873. The first was shot, and died within an liour; the last was stabbed in tlie bowels, and survived until the fourth day. No serious cause of trouble existed in either case, and both acts were incited by strong drink. Both murderers escaped adequate punishment. Two negroes had an altercation in the passenger house, and one dealt the other a blow which ended his life in a few days. The number of drunken men who have been crushed and mangled to death on the railroad track in the city forms a list sickening to any brain not made impassive by alcohol.

The removal of the county seat to Araboy at one time formed an engrossing theme of controversy. It passed from the domain of words to that of acts in 1866, when the nomination by the republican union convention for representative fell upon Col. George Ryon, of Paw Paw, who represented the claims of Amboy. The people of this city at once held a meeting and selected W. E. Ives, B. H. Trusdell and N. H. Ryan to attend to the advertising required by the law relating to removals. The effort did not succeed.

In June, 1880, the city purchased from the Leake estate a tract of ground comprising nearly twenty-five acres, situated east of and adjoining the corporate limits, on the south side of Main street, and inclosed in the angle of Inlet creek, for $2,250. Tliis was formerly the property of A. B. Searles. It is covered with a thrifty growth of young timber, and is to be fitted up for a park. In 1878 a soldiers' reunion, the first in this part of the state, noted for the large attendance and its complete success, at which Gen. Logan and prominent men besides were present, was held in this grove.

Illinois Central Railroad Buildings

As recorded on a former page, in the summer of 1853 ground was first broken for the erection of the passenger and freight houses, and they were completed and put to use the next year. Both were constructed of brick, and the first was 40x100 feet on the plan, two and one-half stories high, and built in a ver}' substantial manner. It was a railroad hotel, went by the iiame of "Passenger House," and was kept by the following proprietors: James Aiken, John B. Wynian, Gushing and Hubbard, Gushing, J. Swift, Thomas Burns, A. H. Var- ney, N. P. Almy, J. A. Kamsdell, Davison, C. C. Fulton, Gaylord, Dr. A. P. Chase, Oscar Hughes, and Frederick Hepburn. At three "o'clock Monday morning, November 15, 1S75, this house was discovered to be on fire, and in two hours it was totally consumed. This was the last regular hotel in the city. Next year a new building of brick, with light-colored stone trimmings, was erected on the site of the old, but its character was wholly changed. The first floor is divided into a ticket office and waiting and baggage rooms, while in the upper story are situated the various offices for operating the line.

Illinois Central Railroad Bridge At Dixon, Ill

The original freight house, 40x80 feet, remains well preserved, and is good for a hundred j'ears' entire use. The first freight and station agent was C. R. Fields, who held the position three months and was succeeded by Lemuel Bourne, who retained it eight years.

Work was commenced on the shops in lS5-i, and they were finished the next year. The company's temporary shops were located between the Dutcher building and the track, and were torn down when the permanent buildings were occupied in the spring of 1856. The mechanical department comprises eight divisions, which are distributed among the several shops ; these divisions are machine, car repair, blacksmith, paint, boiler, locomotive, wood repair, tin, and storehouse. The machine shop is two stories high, 85x130 feet on the ground, built of brick and covered with slate roof A stationary engine of eightv horse power, almost as noiseless as a clock, drives all the machiiierv in this and tlie blacksmith shop by means of sliat'ting througii both buildings. Steam is supplied from two large tubular boilers. In the first shop the machinery is all on the ground floor, while in the second story are the locomotive, wood repair and the tin shops. Tracks extend into this building and connect with a turntable for convenience in the rejiair of locomotives. The blacksmith shop adjoining on the northwest corner is one story, with walls about twenty feet high and slated roof. Its dimensions are 70x125 feet on the plan. A dozen or more forges are ranged round, with a large one in the center supplied with all necessary apparatus, including a trip hammer, for handling and doing heavy work. A powerful blower supplies the blast ; and above the forges extends a large pipe fiom which smaller ones lead down with valves to regulate its use. The car repair shop is a frame building 60x150 feet and one story in height. Two tracks extend nearly the full length, and on either side is a continuous row of work-benches. Repairing onl^' is done in these shops, though the time was when some new work was sent out, and one or two locomotives, we believe, have been constructed here. The engine house is a circular brick building 216 feet in diameter, inclosing an o])en, spacious court in which there is a turntable with tracks radiating therefrom into twenty-seven engine compartments. These may be tightly closed at pleasure by the large doors hung at the entrances in the inner wall. " Here can always be seen a noble stud of iron horses with their grooms fitting them up for the course." The oil room and sand house is 30x50 feet, and the stationary room 40 feet square. The storehouse, erected during the war, is a one-story building 30 feet wide and 120 feet long. The tank house is 25x65, and situated southeast of the engine house. The lower story is used for storage, and the upper is occupied by two huge tanks which are kept filled with water from Inlet creek, a quarter of a mile distant. A stationary engine at the latter point forces the water through a pipe into the tanks, and from these, engines and hydrants in the shops are supplied. The coal shed, a rough structure 17x320 feet, stands in this vicinity. The mason w6rk of these buildings was superintended by Michael Egan, one of the mo.<t thorough mechanics, who is still in the employ of the company ; and the carpenter work was in charge of Daniel S. Clark. John C. Jacobs is the superintendent of the north division of the road, and has filled the office with unquestionable faithfulness since about 1S58. We should have given a list of them " that exercise authority," and some description of the positions they occupj', but the information has not come to hand, and we can only ask to be pardoned, as we forgive him who has " held the word of promise to the ear and broken it to the hope." Subjoined are the names of many of the best known who have been in tlie employ of the company abont twenty to twenty-iive years: Lneius Clark, G. H. MeFatrich, A. E. Slanter, Jared Slanter, John Gunning, A. J. Poland, Joseph Drnmmond, Robert Eichards, B. B. Howard, Dennis Maloy, A. W. Spafard, J. B. Edams, L. G. Rice, G. W. Freeman, John Keho, Tliomas Branagan, Levi Ives, Timothy Crowley, Joseph Tait, Charles Tait, William Tait, 0. M. Thayer, Henry McGraw, William Trade, Charles Wescott, Homer Graves, Snow, Battles and Stay.

It would be hard to find a place which has passed through greater trials by fire than the city of Amboy ; and with perhaps a single exception the larger ones are regarded as incendiary. The first on the site was before the town was surveyed, and was the boarding-house kept for the railroad company b}' Charles W. Bell, alread}' noted elsewhere. The second was the dwelling-house of D. A. Thomas, destroyed Saturday, August 22, 1857. We shall omit the few barns and private houses burned subsequent to this date, and record only those conflagrations in which public or business property has suffered. The first Catholic church, so nearly completed that the plastering had been done, was accidentally burned December 2, 1857.

The historic Baker House was erected most probably in 1855, by Alonzo Kinyon, and stood on Jones street, where Carroll's tailor shop and the meat market just north of it are now situated. It was built of wood in the cheapest possible style, covered with tarred cloth, and the rooms divided with paper partitions ; and by the public was dubbed " The Ark." Kiuyon sold it to Baker, by whose name it has always been best known. It was afterward called the Burnett House, from a later owner, and was consumed November 13, 1859. It was occupied by two families at the time, one of which escaped with difiiculty and injury, the mother falling down stairs, and the father leaping from the second story with a child in his arms. Dr. Bainter's office, adjoining on the north, was destroyed by the same fire.

The city hall was the first brick structure, except the railroad buildings, erected in Amboy, and was situated on East avenue. It was a fine edifice, with brick and iron front, three stories and a basement ; built by Wm. B. Stuart and Paul Cullen in 1858. The first general conflagration originated in the basement of this building, occupied as a saloon by Peter Birkenbeuel, on the morning of December 10, 1863. The fire spread in both directions, and in its progress north was arrested by tearing down a building adjoining a vacant lot ; on the south it was stayed by Carson & Pirie's brick store, wliiuh was kept drenelied with M'ater. The aggregate loss was §35,000, of wiiich §14,000 was covered b\' insurance. Among the losers were Carson <k Pirie, who were fully protected by insurance; O. F. Warriner, Henry Brady, Wm. Murtlia, M. Carroll, J. L. Skinner, Adam Shugart, Francis Cnllen, Peter Birkenbeiiel, A.F. and A.M., J. Kline, Owen O'Connor, John Morris, Philii) Flach, Louis Brendell, James McCue, Abrain Jackson, Theodore Goldman, Samuel Goldman, Andrew Walters and John Burns, besides several smaller losers.

A second fire devasted this locality again in ISfi-i. On the morning of November 10 it broke out in the building occupied by Abram Jackson as a dry -goods and grocery store. Five business houses were consumed, and the new brick building just erected by the Badgers on the site of the Orient House was considerably damaged. The total loss of $4:5,000 was reduced by $38,000 of insurance. The sutlerers were Carson & Pirie, E. Arnold, A. Jackson, Philip Goldman, Samuel Goldman, Perley«fe Blackstone, H. Keeling and Badger Brothers.

The third great fire visited the south side of Main street about one o'clock Friday morning, March 10, 1865, and swept away all of the business block west from the cit}' building to the alley, including seven houses. The loss fell on W. E. Ives, McLean, George Keifer, Leake & Co., John Morris, Mingle Brothers, Benjamin Cope, Weddell estate, Wm. Keeling, A. E. Wilco.x, R. S. Burington, J. P. Newell, V. Weintz, Hunt, Howe and others.

Immediately following this the council passed an ordinance forbidding the construction of wooden buildings, except teu)porarily for a year, on Main street between Mason and the Central railroad, and on East avenue between Main and Division streets, and designated these limits as Fire District No. 1.

The fourth and most disastrous general fire up to this time occurred on the north side of Main street on August 24, 1867, and was discovered in the upper story of Josiah Little's drug store at half-past one in the morning. The row, in the middle of which the tire broke out, was composed of sixteen wooden buildings, which in two hours' time were completely lapped up by the flames. The dealers and others affected by this disaster were Hawkes & Bourne, Thomas Costain, Deming & Wilcox, W. Fasoldt, L. Barlow, J. Little, Lynn & Walker, Goldstone »& Jackson, C. D. Vaughn, C. Allen, A. H. Merrifield & Co., A.F. ct A.M., Mrs. Hudder, Fillis & Carroll, C. P. Miller, O. M. Miner, N. Woolsey, Dr. J. P. Foltz, dentist, Dr. J. R. Corbus, Dr. E. R. Travers, and L. Asire. The estimated loss was $75,000; the insurance amounted to half that sum.

Between two and three o'clock on the morning of April 2, 1868, a fire made its appearance in a building on East avenue occupied by William Murtha as a grocery and liquor store below and a saloon and billiard hall above kept by George Raymond. Four buildings, flanked on the south by Hawks & Bourne's store and on the north by Kline's bakery, were burned down. These were a barber shop, saloons and billiard rooms, kept by C. Praesent, Henry Brady, William Murtha, P. Fogarty, and John Dutcher.

The si.xth and last general fire, from which the city recovered with admirable grace and dignit}- after man\' woes, was more destructive than all the previous ones together. The aggregate loss reached §175,000, and a tabulated statement of risks held by insurance companies shows their losses to have been $103,000. The fire originated in the bakery of D. S. Corbin, underneath Vaughan's furniture store, and was discovered about fonr o'clock in the morning of August 25, 1871. It destroyed the buildings owned by C. D. Vaughan, William Murtha, C. F. L3'nn, and Wilcox & Brigham, on the north side of Main street, and those on the south side owned by W. B. Andrus, Martin Maus, V. Weintz, C. Badger, John Kline, P. McMahan, Thomas Cunningham, and the city building. Those who lost in personal property were Gale & Gardner, Masonic Lodge, C. D. Vaughan, Misses Mickler & Vaughan, Arnold & Sindlinger, Josiah Little, B. H. Trusdell, C. F. Lynn, Mrs. Pierson, office of J. H. Preston, county superintendent, I. Zwisler, Wheat & Gridley Brothers, French, G. A. Deming, Mrs. McGraw & Wilcox, Miss Murphy, Mrs. Hudder, M. Maus, Graves & Hines, City Hall store. Weintz & Barth, Judge Kinyon, Sanger & Badger,. Chase & Gale, engineers and firemen, John Kline, Terry Lynch, W. B. Stuart, and Merrifield & Co.

The most deplorable feature of this calamity was the burning to death of John Shannon, who had been arrested the night before on the charge of selling mortgaged property, and was confined in the calaboose. Sheft' Dyer was the officer in charge of the lock-up; he put the man in his cell and the key in his pocket; he was early at the fire, and engaged himself in the exciting work of saving property, where so little indeed was saved ; he saw the raging flames gradually approach and finally envelop the city building in which the helpless, unfortunate man was locked up, and still he never once thought of his prisoner. In its account of the aflair, the " Journal " remarked, with a

On January 3, 1872, the jewelry store of J. A. Lagercrantz in Fasoldt's building caught fire, but the prompt action of the tire department in the use of the new steamer averted anotlier disastrous conflagration. The loss was not extensive.

Farwell Hall, which had outlived its usefulness as a public building, and having been remodeled was used as a dwelling, took fire on August 2, 1872, and was partiall}- consumed, its total destruction being prevented by the promptness of the Vigilant fire company. It was repaired and is now residence property. The old Potter House was destroyed in the same manner June 17, 1873.

Another fire on East avenue occurred Sunday morning, October 11, 1874, making its appearance in Keeling's block. It was extinguished by the fire department. The loss was borne by C. G. Brauning, August Earth, Arnold & Son, and the Masonic and Odd-Fellows lodges.

Between two and three o'clock on the morning of April 12, 1875, Masonic hall was set on fire, which was put out and the building saved. Daylight revealed the diabolical work of the incendiary in the use of inflammable materials which had been applied to several buildings. Hardly had the people reached their homes before flames burst out of Patterson's hay-press, which was soon in ashes.

The Farmer's mills which had been removed in 1873 and reerected in Amboy by Judge Kinyon near the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy depot, and in 1875 sold to W. H. Lunt, of Evanston Female College, were consumed early on the morning of February 9, 1876. The property was insured for $8,000.

Education

The first school in the village of Amboy was a select one for young scholars, taught by Miss Cclia Winters, in the old Baptist church west of the railroad. Miss Vaughan was another who taught in the same place. The vestr}' of the present Baptist church was afterward occupied, and Miss Vaughan and Miss Mcrilla Warriner were the teachers. School was kept in Farwell Hall until need of that was superseded by the erection of the first school-house. In the summer of 1856 efforts were begun looking toward the construction of a school building in Amboy, and $2,600 were raised by taxation the following winter. The district had, besides, a fund of $800, derived from the sale of the swamp lands. On March 12, 1857, a public meeting of the voters of district

No. 4 was held at Farwell Hall to authorize an appropriation to build. A committee to select grounds was appointed, and the 21st was named for an adjourned meeting to hear their report. The location adopted was between Jones and Mason streets, fronting Hawley. This seems to have been unsatisfactory, for on the 20th of April the district had a meeting to reconsider the vote fixing the site, and the one on Provost street, where the house was built, became the choice. Ground was broken for the foundation on the 6th of July. The house is a plain brick, two stories, 36x60, and stands in the center of a spacious playground on the corner of Provost street and Commercial avenue. In the fall of 1864 a one-story wooden school-building was constructed in Gilson's addition, block 9, facing Davis avenue, and the next year the old frame Methodist meeting-house on the east side was purchascid by the district for a school-house in season for the fall term. The price paid was $1,000, one half payable in two years and the remainder in three. In 1868 a two-story brick, 30x5i, was erected on the west side, in the southeast corner of the old fair ground, and the campus contains about one-fourth of the original area. These four, none of them imposing in appearance, but all supplying feir accommodations, if we except overcrowding, constitute the public school buildings in present use.

We are able to give a partial list of the superintendents, and begin with J. K. B. Clayton, whose name once crops out above the debris of time in the autumn of 1859. He is followed the next year by J. H. Blodgett. Links are missing from this time until the school year 1865- 6, when we gather up the chain in the person of John Russ, assisted by his wife. About tliis period the languishing state of the schools excited no little public comment. C. W. Moore succeeded in 1866, and was in charge three years. We have discovered no incumbent for 1869, but Mr. Moore filled the position in 1870, giving place in the fall of that year to P. A. Childs. The latter was retained three years, and followed by H. A. Smith two years. Mr. Reagan, now in 1875, took the principalship, and discharged its duties until 1878, and since that time P. M. James has occupied the position. We believe a man by the name of Cook should have a place somewhere in the category.

The schools are divided into four departments, and regularly graded. In each of the frame buildings is a primary and an intermediate; on the west side Miss Lizzie Burke has taught a number of years in the former, and on the east side Miss L. Nowlin, who has been steadily employed about a dozen years and in different positions, is teaching at pi'esent in the same department. In the intermediate on the west side is James E. Shea, and on the east side Miss Lizzie Morris. The new or west-side brick has a primary and a grammar department, with Miss Lizzie Sears to preside over the former and Daniel Griffin over the lat- ter. All the departments are represented in the old school-building. Miss Lizzie Richards teaches in the primary, Miss Jennie Reed in the intermediate, Miss Lizzie Gardner, and Miss Eva Shurtleff" assistant, in the grammar, and Prof. James, and Mr. Kehoe assistant, in the high school. The latter was graduated here in the class of 1878. During the past year L. B. Searles has taught penmanship in the several departments. The studies in the high school embrace higher English, higher mathematics, and the sciences. Eleven years are recjuired to complete the full course, distributed as follows : primary three, intermediate three, grammar two, and high school three. Fifty-eigiit students have been graduated since 1876, the first year in which diplomas were granted. In that year there were two graduates, in 1877 eight, in 1878 eleven, in 1879 fifteen, in 1880 twelve, and in 1881 ten.

For the year ended June 10, 1881, the whole number of pupils enrolled was 673, and the average daily attendance 476. Children under twenty-one 1,199, and between six and twenty-one 889. The board of education is composed of Dr. George Ryon, president; J. B. Graves, clerk; Patrick Corcoran, J. G. Stafford, Rev. J. H. Hazen and Joseph Pennenbacker. C. D. Vaughan is the township treasurer.

The Baptist society was constituted May 1855, and the same year built a small tem])orary church on West Main street, on lot 1, block 14, Gilsou's addition. The leading constituent members were Deacons Cyrus Bryant, Warren Hill and Allen E. Wilcox and their wives, Almon Ives and wife, Samuel P.ixby and wife, and William E. Ives and wife. Deacons Jacob Luce and Harvey Barrell and tlkcir wives joined soon after. The Rev. Whittaker was the first pastor who ministered to the congregation in this house. Preparations were early begun to erect an enduring edifice, and in 1856 it was commenced, and before the close of the year finisiied outside. Deacons Hill, Wilcox and Luce and William E. Ives were the building committee, and E. S. Reynolds the contractor and builder. Its situation is on Mason street, lot 9, block 24, Wyman's addition, and the dimensions are 36 X 60 feet on the plan. The interior arrangement is an elevated audience room over a stone basement, and the cost was $4,500. The building w'as inclosed during the memorable presidential canvass of 1856, and in season to be occupied for a political meeting, which was addressed by the famous and fiery orator Owen Lovejoy. On March 2 of the next year, when the citizens were voting on the adoption of the city charter, the bell, which had just been lifted to its place, pealed out its first grateful sounds on the prairie air, - never before stirred in this vicinity by such a herald of " peace on earth, good will to men" - wliich vibrated and throbbed to the delight of the people with the music of its rich, glad tones. The house was formally dedicated on September 13, by Rev. Silas Tucker, of Galeshurg, who preached the sermon for the occasion. The Rev. T. H. Bail was the pastor at this time, and his predecessor was the Rev. P. Taylor, the earliest to preach in this new cliurch. The first funeral service was that of Mrs. Jacob Luce in February, before it was completed, and was held in the vestr3^ The second was that of Mrs. Mary Beresford, who died just a month after the dedication. The Rev. Ball's ministrj' was succeeded in 1S58 by the Rev. J. C. Miller, a noted laborer here in his denomination. In eight months of 1858-9 he added over 130 members by baptism. This was a period of very successful revival work by all of the churches, and will be remembered as that of the great awakening of religious fervor throughout America and Europe. Among those who took an active part in the affairs of the church just prior to this interesting improvement in its condition we would name R. M. Brigham, E. Arnold, C. A. Wall, M. L. Arnold, S. Carson, O. Arnold, W. S. Cottrell, E. S. Hill, J. M. Davis and their wives. The fourth pastor, counting from the Rev. Taylor, was the Rev. William R. Webb, D.D., one of the ablest the church ever had, whose pastorate began in the autumn of 1861. He was succeeded in his labors by the Rev. J. H. Hazcn, who came in June 1865, fresh from an exhausting three years' service in the army, which induced paralysis and drove him from the pulpit which he had so much adorned throughout his useful life. His connection as pastor ceased in the fall of 1869, and his place was taken by James Buchanan, who was followTjd in the summer of 1870 by M. T. Lamb. The Revs. George Wesselius, W. D. Clarke and Dr. N. AReed complete the list. Mr. Reed's pastorate terminated the present year. In 1865 the society bought a parsonage, and the next year repaired their house of worship at an expense of about §400. They have been out of debt since the spring of 1876. The membership is about 150, and the Sabbath school, under the superintendence of Prof. P. M. James, has 145 enrolled and an average attendance of 85.

The people of Amboy first worshiped for a short time in the dininghall of the Passenger House. The Baptists built a small meetinghouse and withdrew from the mixed congregations. Farwell Hall was soon erected, and to this all others then had resort. The second church in the town was built by the Methodists in 1857, and dedicated Sunday, June 21 ; Prof. Muiisell, of Mount Morris, conducted the dedicatorial service, and the Rev. O. B. Tiiayer was assigned to this charge in August by the conference. Tills house is a low-post frame, stands on the northeast corner of block 15 - at the intersection of Main and Center streets - and is now one of the four public school buildings of the city. Its erection was chiefly due to the zealous exertions of George H. Pierson, who took the lead in the matter, procured the lumber on his own account, invested labor of his own hands, and accepted payments from the society. On May 16, 1865, the corner-stone of the present massive church was laid with suitable ceremonies, and addresses were delivered by the Rev. Jewett, the Rev. W. T. Harlow, presiding elder, and the Rev. Dr. Robt. Hattield, of New York. On behalf of the society and the undertaking Dr. Hatfield lectured in the evening in the Baptist church on "The Sacrifices and Compensations of the War." The dedication took place April 1, 1866. The Rev. Dr. Eddy, of Chicago, was present, and preached an able discourse fi-om Matthew xxviii, 8, 9. The cost of the cliurch was nearly $14,000. but a debt of $6,000 remained, which was promptly canceled by liWeral donations in cash and pledges. In forwarding this useful object II. E. Badger bore a leading part, and was one of the heaviest contributors. This is a substantial stone edifice, plain, without beauty, yet having an air of Gothic style. Its size on the ground is 40x60 feet. A lectnreroom and two class rooms occupy the basement, and above is a spacious and attractive audience-hall. The front corners are surmounted by towers, the taller of which, containing the belfry, has replaced the spire which rose to the height of 127 feet, but which was blown down in a gale Sunday evening, July 17, 1870, depositing the bell uninjured in the street ; the damage was $500. The location is on Mason street just above Main. Joseph Lewis, Henry E. Badger, Ephraim Wheaton, I. N. Bear, George Mingle and Edward Miller were organizers of this church, and are still here, though the latter has transferred his membership to the Congregational church. They have been foremost members, and their long and faithful communion and usefulness reflect on them a halo of patriarchal dignity and venerableness. Mr. Badger has always served the church either as trustee, steward, or Sabbath-school superintendeitt, and has sometimes filled concurrently all these positions. H. F. Walker, an early business man here, now in Chicago, was very efficient on the building committee, and also as trustee and superintendent. Joseph Lewis has always been a reliable assistant as trustee, steward and leader. The offices of secretary and treasurer of both the society and the Sunday-school have been carefully filled most of the time by C. P. Miller. Since the new church occupied the superintendents have been H. F. Walker, II. E. Badger, C. W. Deming, W. H. Badger, G. W. Mingle and A. Burnham. H. E. Badger and C. W. Deming have been most of the time district stewards and delegates to the laymen's conference. The present membership, probably, will not fall below 120. Turning now for information to the records of the church, we find that the first quarterly

" The Congregational church of Palestine Grove " was organized at the residence of Moses Crombie, July 5, 1843, and worshiped for several years at the Wasson school-house, near Binghamton. The societ}' was ministered to at this place by the Revs. John Morrell, Ingersoll, Joseph Gardner, and Pierson. About 1849 the place of worship was removed to Lee Center, and the name of this locality was substituted for Palestine Grove in the name of the church. Out of this sprang the subject of this paragraph - the Congregational church of Amboy. On June 27, 1854, Joseph Farwell and his wife Cyrene, John C Church and his wife Cyrene, Michael Blocher of Lee Center church, and Constant Abbott, Ruby his wife, and Caroline their daughter, of the First Presbyterian church of Galesburg, assembled at the house of Joseph Farwell and organized themselves into a "Church of Jesus Christ," which was recognized on the following day as the First Church of Amboy by an ecclesiastical council at Lee Center, convened under a call to ordain and install the Rev. S. W. Phelps. This was the earliest religious society formed in Amboy, and its organization antedates the first conveyance of town lots. Another body declaring its belief that " the cause of religion would be promoted by the forming of a society to unite with and sustain the action of the Congregational church," was organized upon this basis by some of the citizens June 17, 1856. Until Farwell Hall was built they held services in the Passenger House, and these were first conducted by the Rev. S. W. Phelps, who ministered to them occasionally; but on February 14, 1855, tiie Pev. David "Wert was invited to become tlieir pastor at $500 yearly salary and no expense for rent. The call was accepted and he officiated for them until April 1856. In December the Rev. C. P. Felch engaged to siip])ly the pulpit, and April 30 following he was ordained and installed pastor. During his ministerial charge the first house of worship was erected on Jones street, near Provost, at a cost of about $1,500, and dedicated April 1, 1858, by the Rev. F. P.ascom, of Galesburg, who preached the dedicatory sermon. The Rev. Felch was retained on a salary of $800 a year until October 12, 1859, after which time the Rev. S. W. Phelps preached once every Sabbath for about one year. The Rev. Samuel Day was next secured at $600 per 3'ear and a donation, and served the church from the autumn of 1860 till January 1802. The Rev. J. L. Wliite took the vacant place shortly after, and in July accepted the formal call of the church at an annual salary of $600, which was increased in 1864 to $000. In July, 1866, lie retired and was succeeded by the Rev. G. H. Wells, who declined the call of the church made in .January 1S67, but acce])ted it when renewed in March, though his ministry did not begin until September. He received $1,200 a j'ear for liis services, which ended December 25, 1870. His successor, the Rev. C. Caverno, employed at a salary of $1,500 per year, began his ])astoral labors September 3, 1871, and terminated them March 1, 1.S74. The congregation had no stated supply after this date until November, when the Rev. J. M. Lau Bach accepted a call to this charge and labored herein till April 1878. He was speedily followed the next month by the Rev. M. S. Crosswell, who was soon thereafter unanimously called to the pastorate, which he accepted, and from which he withdrew October 1, 1880. The church has had no pastor since. Their present house of worship, standing on the corner of Main and Plant streets, is a sightly frame edifice surmounting a stone basement, and is 40x72 feet in dimensions. The basement contains a lecture-room and parlors. This house was begun in the autumn of 1865, completed the next spring, and dedicated June 10, by the Rev. G. F. Magoon, of Iowa College. The cost was $14,000. During the present summer it has been repaired, repainted, and the interior frescoed, and supplied with a pipe organ, at an expense of $2,000. This church united with the Rock River association in October 1854, at its meeting at Grand de Tour; and in 1857, when the Bureau association was formed, it joined that body. Since its organization with eight members in 1854 about 400 have been added, and the present membership, including many non-residents, is 164.

1855, witli E. H. Mellen as superintendent, is maintained the year round, and tlie average attendance, which was then about tifty, has increased to nearly three times that number. Tiie first church was sold to the Free Methodists in tiie spring of 1866 for 81,200. Of the original members three are still living and in communion, - ^ Michael Blocher and John C. Church and his wife. The venerable Father Farwell, so often mentioned in these pages, whose name stood first on the list, was a native of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, having been born of Puritan stock, May 14, 1790. In 1815 he became a communicant in the Congregational church ; in 1819 he married ; in 1826 he settled in Lowell, and there assisted in forming the first Congregational church in that place, as he afterward also assisted in establishing the second and the third ; in 1836 he emigrated with his family to Amboy, Michigan, in which place he likewise aided in founding the first church of the same denomination ; and in 1841 he removed to this place, at that time called Palestine Grove. His death, which occurred March 5, 1875, found him ripe in years and good works. Mrs. Farwell survived him but is not now living.

The Episcopal cliurch was established in Amboy in the spring of 1850 by the organization of St. Thomas' parish. The proceedings took place in Mechanics' Hall, and the rector. Rev. W. M. A. Brodnax, Mrs. Brodnax, Mr. and Mrs. IST. S. Chase, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Merigold, Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel Bourne, Mr. atid Mrs. D. P. Stone, J. F. Somes, F. I. Foot, Mr. King, and Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Trusdell, were among the number who participated. The records of the parish have been burned, and the names of the original wardens and vestrymen cannot be given. Mr. Brodnax continued rector of the parish about three j-ears. He was a talented, courteous, agreeable, christian gentleman. The society worshiped in the hall where the parish was organized, and for a time prospered. In 1862 Mr. Brodnax resigned, and for several years there were occasional ministrations by clergjnnen sent liere by the bishop; but finally all hope of firmly establishing the church was abandoned. N. S. Chase, a gentleman of rare intelligence and pleasing manners, a thorough churchman, and a born leader, had died. He had done more for the parish than any other man, and there was no one to take his place. At a later date the parish sustained a serious loss in the death of Mrs. Robert Merigold. She was born in the church ; and although an invalid for many years, her sincere piety and active zeal brought her great respect and influence. When thoroughly disorganized and without hope, in the autumn of 1877, Rev. N. W. Heermans, then in deacon's orders, came to this his first parish and entered upon the work of resuscitating it. The results are marvelous. On the lots donated to the parish at its organization by Jolni B. Calhoun, Esq., and located on the northwest corner of Mason and Provost streets, has been erected a beautiful ciiurch edifice, which is completely and neatly furnished. The lots have been graded, grassed and fenced, and shade-trees planted, and all is fully paid for. During this period Mr. Heermans held occasional services at Tonica, Illinois, and there made the acquaintance of Mr. and Mrs. William Watron. Mr. Watron died very suddenly, and Mrs. Watron, knowing her husband's attachment to Mr. Heermans, and his desire to promote the welfare of the church, gave to Mr. Heermans §1,000 for the acquisition of a rectory for St. Thomas' parish. At one Sunday morning service, to the great surprise of his congregation, he placed a check for that sum among the offerings. March 30, ISSl, he purchased from Mr. James B. Arnold, for Sl,500, his residence adjoining the church lots, and moved into it in May. The society is now hopeful, and Mr. Heermans may well feel proud of and be thankful for the results of his coming to this parish.

The German Evangelical church in Amboy was formed by the Kev. Wm. Angelberger, of Franklin Grove, on the 30th of January 1870,with fifty-four members, among whom Jacob Ashenbrenner, Jacob Klein, Valentine Weintz, Fred Nickels and Charles Molloy were perhaps the most prominent. This organization took place in the basement of the Congregational church, where their first meetings were held, and was then styled the First Evangelical Lutheran churcii. On the 3d of July the old Congregational church was purchased from the Free Methodists for $1,500. The members named above and three other persons contributed one half of the purchase-money. The Rev. Angelberger preached to this congregation till May 26, 1S72, and was followed by the Rev. Anthest until September 5, 1875. Somewhat irregular services were now held by different ministers for a year. On the 20th of May, 187fi, the church voted an application for union with the Evangelical Synod of North America, a different denomination, and being accepted the name was accordingly changed to German Evangelical. The Rev. Wm. Fromm, of New York, was sent by the synod, and on January li, 1877, was installed pastor by the Rev. Biesemeier, of Forreston. He departed in the autumn of 1878, and from that time till July, 1879, several persons officiated. On July 27 the Rev. Hagemann was installed by the Rev. W. Stark, of Mendota. Owing to deaths and removals their membership has diminished to about twenty-five. In their Sabbath school of about fifty members the children are taught in German, so that they may read the scriptures and listen to preaching in the tongue of the father- land. The first trustees were V. Weintz, Fred Nickels, and John Klein, and the first deacons were Jacob Ashenbrenner, Charles Molloy, and Charles Hegert.

In 1854 the Catholics, thirty or forty in number, began holding service at the residence of Michael Egan. Father Anthony was the first to celebrate mass, but Fathers O'Hara and Fitzgerald also came temporarily. In 1857, while Father Edwards was here, some lots were purchased in the north part of the town, and material to be used in the erection of a church was hauled to the ground. But this priest remained only a brief time, and being followed by Father Bray, the first who settled here, and who disapproved of the location, the lots were sold to Patrick Murphy, and others bought where the Catholic church now stands, on the corner of Adams and Center streets. The house was built in 1857, but when the plastering was being done it accidentally caught fire and burned down. This misfortune occurred on the 2d of December. Father Bray remained until the following spring, and then Father Vahey came to the place. In the autumn of this year, 185S, rebuilding was begun, and the church finished in the spring of 1859. Father Clark was the next priest, and was here as early as 1862; Father Murphy was his successor in 1868, and during his charge, probably in 1871, the church was enlarged by an addition to its length. In 1869 a house and three lots in Wyman's addition were bought for the priest's occupancy, and the sum of $3,000 was paid for the property. The next and last change in priests was when Father Keenan came in 1873. The church is in a flourishing condition ; it is out of debt, and its membership embraces over 230 heads of families. The building in which they worship is 32x9i feet; it begins to bear marks of age, and it is proposed to build another in the near future, and with this object in view a fund is being accumulated. It has reached $2,000.

The Catholic cemetery is located between Amboy and Rocky Ford. The ground was obtained by two purchases, both of which were made when Father Clark was over the church. The first piece of two and three-fourths acres was bought from Isadore Zwislerfor $200, sometime during the war. It was back from the road, and a few years after a tract of four acres in front was obtained from F. R. Dutcher for $400. Michael Egan, Patrick Corcoran and Lawrence McGrath are the cemetery trustees. Before this burial lot was procured the Catholics gave their dead sepulture at Sandy Hill.

A Free Methodist Society was formed in Amboy about 1864 by the Rev. Mead. The first meetings were held in Fasoldt's Hall, and the original body did not consist of more than half-a-dozen members, but it eventually reached as high as forty or more. The first regular preacher was tlie Rev. Miller, who was followed in 1865 b}- the Rev. Levi Kelly, and he in turn was succeeded by the Rev. Charles Harroun, sr. The Revs. Cain and Cooley preached subsequently, and the closing labors of the latter were coincident with the dissolution of the society. In 1866 the old Congregational church was bought, but four years after was sold to the German Lutherans. Dissensions having arisen among the Free Methodists in 1868, Stephen G. Virgil and H. S. Sweet joined the LTnited Brethren church at LaMoille, and then got Elder Dodson to come to Amboy and organize a society. This was done at Sweet's house, formerly tlie old Farwell Hall. The original members were Virgil, Sweet, P. A. Main, Rev. Miles Lewis, Rev. J. W. Lewis, Mrs. Sophia Lewis, and Epliraim Wheaton and his wife, John Slieflield and his wife, Mrs. S. G. Virgil, Alphens Skinner and his wife, and Margaret Sheffield came into the society soon after. Tiiis church grew out of, and ultimately replaced, the Free Methodist. The Revs. John Dodson and J. W. Lewis were the first pastors, and in 1870 they gave place to the Rev. O. A. Phillips. During his charge the ne.\t year a meeting-house was built on the west side, on Division street, and dedicated December 31 by Bishop Edwards. The sum of 81, "28 was pledged, clearing the church from debt. This house is 34x50 feet, and cost S-i,500. Elders Snyder and Crowder came next in order as preachers after Phillips. The Lewises have been leading members, and Joseph Lewis was ordained in this church. The society is in a prosperous condition.

In 1859 the Adventists organized at Binghamton with thirteen members: D. S. Clark, S. E. Maybec, P. J. Main, Emerson Royce, Miss Maria Steadman and others, with Wm. MeCulloch and wife, Lorenzo Whitney and wife, and Lysander Whitney from abroad, constituting the society. One says that Rev. Calkins was the first minister, another gives that distinction to S. E. Maybee. The earlier jn-eachers were A. S. Calkins, P. R. Morgan, Moses Chandler and Maybee, and of the later ones D. S. Clark, Wm. MeCulloch, Harry MeCulloch, O. D. Gibson, C. C. Marston, Frank Burr, Eldridge Burrington and S. B. Maybee have been the most prominent. The latter officiates at the present time. They have never built a church, but have worshiped in town halls in Amboy. At one time they had the use of the German Lutheran house, but their membership having fallen off from about forty to fifteen, they now hold services at the residences of Wm. Main and Rufus Hulbert. This denomination has held three largely attended camp-meetings at Amboy. It is known by the name of Advent Christian church.

Illinois Central Lodge, No. 178, A.F. and A.M., was organized in July 1855, and worked under a dispensation until a charter was issued by the grand lodge, October 3 of the same year. , The following were the charter members, and those designated the first officers: J. A. Jackson, W.il.; H. B. Judkins, S.W.; Warren Badger, J.W.; E. S. Reynolds, Trea?.; Lemuel Bourne, Sec; L. W. Borden, S.D.; P. G. Lyon, J.D.; John N. Brown, Tyler; David Bainter, John Stevens, Arthur Bobbins and Henry Porter. This lodge has suffered from four fires ; once or twice its property has been wholly destroyed, and in each of the other cases it received partial damage. For an account of these burnings the reader is referred to that subject on a previous page. Most, if not all, the masters have been Dr. J. A. Jackson, Dr. Harmon Wasson, E. P. Noyes, L. W. Borden, Francis Hudson, O. F. Warriner, A. H. Wooster, Robt. Richards, and Prof. P. M. James. Twenty-eight members have been removed by death. The lodge is in a flourishing condition, with a membership of about ninety. Present officers: P^ M. James, W.M.; L. A. Hulbert, S.W.; V. B. Andrus, J.W.; W. B. Andrus, Treas.; C. P. Miller, Sec; R. D. Badger, S.D.; P. E. Haines, J.D.; George Biims, T.; Charles Tait, S.S.; and I. S. Smith, J.S. Regular communications are on the first and third Mondays of each month, in Masonic, formerly called Keeling's Hall, on East avenue.

Amboy Lodge, No. 179, I.O.O.F., was originally instituted by Deputy Grand Master Eustice, under dispensation, July 2, 1855; and October 12 of the same year a charter was issued to William E. Ives, Charles B. Farwell, J. J. Conderman, Orange D. Reed, Harmon Wasson, James H. Preston, Simon Badger, Adam Roundenbush, Henry- Roof, and Joel B. Strickland ; signed by J. E. Starr, grand master, and S. A. Carman, grand secretary. At the first meeting the officers elected for the term ending with the year were H. Wasson, N.G.; O. D. Reed. V.G.; Alexander Martin, Sec; and C. D. Vaughan, Treas. In addition to these J. J. Conderman, A. Roundenbush, C. B. Farwell, J. N. Davis, S. S. Reed, H. Roof and William E. Ives were present, and all except the latter received appointive offices. Applications for membership came from S. S. Reed, J. M. Davis, W. P. Roff, Tyler Hale, and Julius Hale, and these persons were elected. At the next meeting, on the 7th, A. Martin, H. AVasson, J. J. Conderman, W. E. Ives and J. H. Preston were elected trustees. The lodge flourished until the war, when nearly half the members went into the army, and of the remaining ones many were train men, who could not attend the meetings with any certainty or regularity, and from these causes, the attendance having become deplorably reduced, in Jan- nary, 1864, the lodge suspended fora twelvemontli, and before the close of the year surrendered its charter and all its effects to the grand lodge. On August 23, 1873, the lodge was rechartered with the following members: Robert Richards, P.G.; C. D. Vaughan, P.G.; Henry Reals, Joseph Sackett, Jacob J. Conderman, J. H. Preston, P.G.; Robert Geddes, P.G.; James Rosebrngh, P.G.; Julius Hale, P.G.; Jacob Klein, Amiza Siioemaker, P.G.; Aaron Goldstone, P.G.; Peter Stein, Fritz Krehl, Benedict Fessler, Frank Weise, and Herman Zolf. An informal meeting was held on the 25th, and the result of the balloting for elective officers was as follows: Aaron Goldstone, N.G.; Robert Richards, V.G.; C. D. Vaughan, Sec, and James Rosebrugh, Treas. On September 11 the lodge was instituted and tiiese officers installed. The present elective officers are Charles Weis, N.G.; Dr. E. R. Travers, V.G.; G. W. Deming, Rec. Sec; Aaron Goldstone, Treas.; Jacob Ashenbrenner, Per. Sec. The lodge meets every Tuesday night in the spacious and beautiful hall over J. B. Graves' hardware store, where the walls are decorated with portraits of many of their members. During the past 3'ear $8.5 have been paid in funeral benefits, and §88 in sick benefits. The membership is about ninety.

Warren Encampment, No. 122, was instituted under dispensation at Franklin Grove, May 17, 1871, by James E. Ketchem, D.D.G.P. of Earl Encampment, with the aid of a number of assistants. For the term ending with the year the following were elected officers: D. H. Spickler, C.P.; II. A. Black, H.P.; S. W. Riegles, S.W.; John Blocher, J.W.: Josiah Graff, S.; Kiiicaid Runyon, Treas. At the lirst meeting nine received patriarchal and golden-rule degrees, and si.\ of this number took the royal-))urple degree. A charter was granted October 10, to D. H. Spickler, John Blocher, William H. Bassler, H. P. Black, S. W. Riegles, Kincaid Rnnyon, and Joseph Graff. The last meeting held by this encampment at Franklin Grove was on August 5, 1879. A proposition to move it to Amboj' was adopted, which measure was immediately carried into effect, and on the 7th the first meeting was held in the new location. Grand Patriarch Crocker was in the chair, and the other officers were filled by patriarchs from Paw Paw. Petitions were received from Daniel Bull, C. E. Arnold, Charles Randall, G. A. Deming, W. Bronson, Fay Strickland, and L. Hegert, and these persons were elected and initiated. There is now a membership of twenty-three. The place of meeting is in Odd- Fellows' Hall, on the lirst and third Fridays of each month. Present officers: G. A. Deming, C.P.; W. J. Moseley, H.P.; A. Shoemaker, S.W.; J. H. Preston, J.W.; Fay Strickland, S.; and B. Fassler, T.

Amboy Towxsiiip

F. R. Doty, T.; Rev. N. W. Heermans, G; W. P. Barnes, G.; G. Binns, W.; A. H. Virgil, S. Dr. C. A. Wilcox is medical examiner, and Dr. E. Manning, alternate. Meetings are held in Odd-Fellows' Hall on the second and fourth Fridays of each month. This is primarily a life-insurance organization, and the aggregate amount for which the cliarter members are insured is $168,000. This order was instituted in Boston, Massachusetts, three years ago; its objects being social and fraternal union for the purpose of extending material aid to its members, to cultivate their minds, morals and tastes, and to establish a fund for beneficiary objects.

On the IJrth February, 1879, an independent organization was formed in Amboy bearing the name of United States Pensioners' Aid Protective Association, composed of about ten veteran pensioners, with the following officers : C. K. Northriip, C; P. Diinsmore, V.C.; C. A. Getty, Sec; H. S. Merrow, Treas.; J. H. Hazen, C; E. Tourtlott, S. at A.; Joseph Carr, S. The objects of this association were expressed in its name ; but after a short trial it was found that the pensioners were too few and the objects too limited to give it stability, and accordingh' on the 17th of October a radical change was made in the organization, enlarging its scope and making its features more attractive and valuable. The names of the offices, but not the officers, were changed. Mr. Hazen and Mr. Getty, assisted somewhat by others, originated the secret work of the new order, which was called Our Country's Defenders, and also prepared the charter and the constitution. Tiie headquarters were removed to Chicago in November 1S80. The order has extended into Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, New York, and New Hampsiiire ; and in some of these states there are state encampments. Generals Grant, Logan, Governor Beveridge, and others of repute, have given this organization their hearty indorsement. The subordinate camp at Amboy, designated as Wyman Encampment No. 1, has been in existence since the creation of the order. Its regular meetings are on the second and fourth Fridays, and the gatherings were formerly in the reading room. There are about twenty-five members, and the condition of the camp is not altogetiier flattering. The present officers are M. T. Spencer, C; E. J. Post, L.; L. A. Hulbert, A.; Col. George Ryon, S.; J. H. Hazen, C: R. Rose, O.D.; Thos. Meachain, O.G.; E. Dunsmore, C. of O.

In 1803 the Brotherhood of the Footboard, an association of locomotive engineers to elevate their standing as such and their character as men, and for mutual insurance and assistance in sickness and distress, was instituted at Detroit. Its prosperitj' very soon waned throughout the country ; and then it was reorganized at Indianapolis, August 17, ISQi, the anniversary of its establishment, under the style of the Grand International Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. A division was formed in Ambo}' subordinate to the Brotherhood of the Footboard, but it was short-lived. A charter was issued to I. R. Patterson, December 25, 1805, with power to organize Ambo}' division No. 1, and on January S following a meeting was convened, at which B. C. Howard, chief engineer of Centralia division, presided. S. L. Peters and others from Aurora division assisted. The initiates were J. W. Howe, S. Hoisted, W. B. Trude, F. Westcott, S. C. Hnff, C. Putnam, C. H. Marston, Pat Allen, and D. Reynolds. The following were also the first officers: C. H. Marston, C.E. ; F. Westcott, F.E. ; J. W. Howe, S.E.; I. R. Patterson, F.A.E. ; C. Putnam, S.A.E. ; and W. B. Trude, T.A.E. At the second meeting, on the 15th, J. Hath- away, A. McCall, C. Randall, and H. McGraw, old members, joined the division, and P. Battles was initiated. The present officers are J. Shaw, C.E. ; (vacant) F.E. ; F. Weise, S.E. ; O. Corastock, F.A.E. ; A. Armstrong, S.A.E. ; Wm. Stine, T.A.E. ; G. Bustick, G. ; and C. n. Rosier, C. R. Rosier, chief engineer, a highly esteemed man, died February 17, 1881, and Mr. Shaw was elected to his place, leaving the office of first engineer vacant. The members number thirty-six, and the division is in a flourishing condition. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Sunday afternoons.

In 1807 the conductors formed a union, and in 1868 it was changed to division No. 1 of the Conductors' Brotherhood, a charter being granted August 4. Li its last state it was a benevolent association, but its existence was of brief duration.

Division No. 1, A.O.H., was organized September 26, 1875, by John D. Neill, of LaSalle, with a membership of thirty. It holds regular meetings and is in fair condition.

One of the most thoughtful sources of public intelligence is a good circulating library. The Illinois Central Railroad Company, with that interest in the welfare and improvement of its employes for which it is noted, early conceived the design of providing books for the use of such as would avail themselves of the privilege, and accordingly established in Chicago a library of nearly 2,000 volumes. In the winter of 1864-5 the books were divided and removed from that city, one-half being sent to Centralia and the other to Amboy. Here was formed the Illinois Central Library Association, composed at first exclusively of employes of the company, but to which others were afterward admitted ; not on equal terms, however, but by paying an annual fee double that of the railroad men, and being deprived, besides, of all voice in its management and in the choice of officers. As was sure to be the case, this discrimination, though not unsupported by very plausible reasons, bred, or rather at once made, two parties, a condition not calculated to deepen interest or increase harmony. Notwithstanding, the association flourished and the books were much used, while the company for a number of years paid the rents and the librarian. At length, funds and more books being wanted, an excursion to Dunleith and Dubuque, under the auspices of the Woman's Cliristian Temperance Union, was planned, and was liberally encouraged by the general superintendent, E. D. Jeffrey, who bad been more instrumental, perhaps, than any other man in originating the library. The excursion took place in August 1869, and the net returns ainonnted to $613.45. Thus improved in condition, the association bought more books, which inspired fresh interest. But this did not last long, and when the apparent concern of the members, or a large majority of them, had disappeared, late in 1872 the company discontinued the allowance for rent. It languished until the early part of 1875, when Mr. J. C. Jacobs, division superintendent, who had not only taken from the start a leading personal interest in the success of tlie library, but because of his position was clothed with a certain responsibility for its care and use, proposed a reorganization under the laws of the state. This meeting with favor, it was incorporated, April 2, 1875, with the name of the Amboy Library Association, Mr. Jacobs being named in the charter as president, E. Hull as librarian and secretary, and Josiah Little as treasurer. Messrs. Jacobs, Little, Hull, L. T. Moore and Lemuel Bourne, upon the advice of the railroad employes who were members of the old organization, were selected as trustees. On March 18, 1876, the trustees adopted a constitution and by-laws, which put all members on an equality. On October 3, 1877, the association ran an excursion to Dubuque and cleared $963. Altogether there have been two hundred dollars' worth of books purchased and added to the original stock, besides the donation of a lot from New York; and now there are 755 volumes of standard works on history, biography, science and fiction. The library is kept in the reading room over W. B. Andruss & Son's store, and is open at stated times throughout the week. The membership numbers 93. The librarian, Mrs. M. L. Knowles, has been in charge about a year, and the present prosperity is due ver}' largely to her exertions and her devotion to the interests of the association. Mr. L. T. Moore, too, has labored with especial zeal for its success. The board of trustees remains the same as at first, except that Mr. W. E. Ives has succeeded Mr. Hull. Mr. Jacobs is still president.

its first gathering in 1873. W. H. Haskell, of '- The Amboy Journal," in the issue of November 16, 1872, couiuienced agitating the subject, and continued it until a meeting was had on the 22d of February in the city council room at^Ainboy ; J. B. Tuttle presided, and Mr. Haskell acted as secretary. Wednesday, June 4, 1873, was designated as the day for the old settlers' meeting to be held at this city, and a committee of arrangements was appointed. At the time fixed about 200 gathered to greet old friends, renew acquaintance and exchange reminiscences. Speeches were made, and otherwise the features were those of an ordinary picnic. A committee was appointed, composed of one member from each township, making a total of twenty-two, with C. F. Ingals as chairman and W. H. Haskell as secretary. The second annual reunion, held also at Amboy, on June 18, 1874, was a decided success, over 2,000 people being present. The venerable Father Dixon occupied a seat on the stand, where he received the congratulations of friends and the respects of the multitude. Col. John Dement delivered an address on this occasion, and was elected president for the ensuing year. Mr. Haskell was continued secretarj' of the executive committee. The thii'd annual meeting was held again at Amboy, June 19 of the following year, and Dr. Charles Gardner was chosen president. In 1876 the association met at Dixon, and Col. Dement was again chosen president and Mr. Haskell secretary. June 22 was the day of the gathering. At this time a cane made from Black Hawk's pirogue was presented to Col. Dement as an appropriate surprise. Removal of the files of "The Journal" from the office to be bound prevents a further connected account of this organization. The reunion this year (iSSl) was at Ambo}', on the 1st of September. The grove belonging to the city is the meeting-place, and Dr. C. E. Loomis is present secretary.

At a meeting of the citizens of Amboy and vicinity, held November 5, 1856, Prairie Repose Cemetery Association was organized, and the following persons were elected officers : Joseph Farwell, president; M. L. Arnold, secretary and treasurer, and J. F. Powers, C. A. Wall and Jacob Luce directors. This board was instructed to purchase from Harvey Barrel four acres in a square, in the northwest corner N.W. J of N.W. ^ Sec. 15 in this township, for $600. This was done, and the ground laid out in lots, with three driveways from east to west, and alleys of four feet width from north to south between the lots. There are 442 of these lots 10x20 feet, besides 60 on the north end 10x26 feet, used for a Potter's field. Tlie following soldiers, some of whom died on the battle-field and others after their return home, are buried in this cemetery: Wm. H. Arnold, Co. A, 111th N. T. Vols. ; Frank D. Brown, Co. F, 75th 111. Vols.; Edward W. Bull, Co. I, 89th 111. Vols. ; C. E. Blanchard (regiment unknown), John Burrington, Co. D,

Although the Lee County Agricultural Society is now extinct, it was once so prominent an institution that it requires some mention. It was organized in 1854, and incorporated in July 1857. The third aninuil fair was in Amboy, in 1856, and from that time this was the regular place for holding the exhibitions. In 1858 grounds were leased in Farwell's addition for a term of five years, and buildings erected thereon. The society ceased to be of any public usefulness after the expiration of this lease. In 1863 a fair was held, or attempted to be held, but it was a failure. There was a rival society in Dixon, and overtures were made by each looking to consolidation, but whether it was ever effected we are not informed. At all events it did not have the support of Amboy, and so far as this place is concerned the active history of the society ends during the time of the war. J. B. Wyman, C. F. Ingals and R. N. Woods were presidents, and Josiah Little, N. S. Chase and II. G. Pratt were secretaries.

Temperance Work And The Demand For It

At the beginning of the year 1867 there were nine licensed saloons, seven sold intoxicating liquors and two retailed beer. Tliis was not an unusual number, but about the average for many years. These dens made men shameless, brutal, vagrant, and dangerous. Drunkenness and its concomitant routs, frays, thefts, insults, deadly accidents and blood-shedding became almost too familiar for comment. Ladies upon the street were obliged to push their wa}' through maudlin, ribald crowds, and unoffending citizens were never safe from being set upon and beaten by cowardly gangs of drunken roughs, for such offenses were not uncommon.

During the year succeeding the war no less than five attempts were made to burn the business part of the city. Add to these public annoyances atid dangers all the disgrace, orphanage, unseen woe and

To overcome as mnch as possible these licensed, alarming evils, many cooperative temperance and total-abstinence efforts have been started and maintained, until periodical apathy would strangle them to death or neutralize their influence. We can only briefly refer to the principal ones. The first organized movement to " suppress the unlawful sale of ardent spirits and gambling " was the " Carson League." A meeting of the inhabitants, attended by many of the leading men of the place, was held on February i, 1856, in the Baptist church, and a constitution and by-laws common to this form of organization were adopted. Alonzo Kinyon filled the chair and J. F. Pirie acted as secretary. The business was conducted by twelve directors, whose duties were to attend to the enforcement of the law. The first board consisted of D. S. Clark, R. M. Brigham, J. Clark, E. H. Mellen, J. D. Weddell, John Dexter, W. E. Ives, J. F. Powers, A. E. Wilcox, H. M. Taylor, A. Kinyon and C. Bridgman. Stock was taken to the amount of $600,000, and those subscribing gave what was called stock notes, on which the directors were authorized to make assessments " to defray the expenses of the league," which included the exjjenses of prosecutions. This league existed about two years.

We find it stated in " The Times," in 1858, that the Sons of Temperance and Good Templars were meeting in the same hall with the Masons and the Odd-Fellows. The lodge of Good Templars was organized in the spring of that year, but its existence was not long continued. After this had lapsed, in January 1862, a lodge of this order was started at Binghamton. In March a " section of the Cadets of Temperance" was instituted in Am boy for the training and instruction of the youth. Ambo}' Lodge, No. 646, was organized in November 1865, and enjoyed a tolerable lease of life. Friendship Lodge, No. 512, was started in October 1870. Organizations of a transient character have been formed at times to arouse the slumbering sense of the people when urgent labors were necessary to carry elections, and otherwise to checkmate the debauching alcoholic interest.

Reform divisjion, No. 555, Sons of Temperance, was organized February 21, 1862, under the jurisdiction of the Grand Division of Illinois, E. D. Lamoine, of Paw Paw, being Grand Worthy Patriarch, and Geo. L. Moore, of Lebanon, Grand Scribe. Charter members : W. H. Tonsley, N. T. Pratt, W. B. Andruss, C. P. Miller, F. I. Foot, Wm. H. Hayward, John Carter, jr., M. Gilleas, Chas. A. Allen, D. C. Udell, J. A. Scollay, W. C. Sears, D. C. Graham, D. B. Wall, Chas. E. Ives and Samuel E. Appleton. The division has had its days of prosperity - when high tide came and multitudes floated in, - and of adversity - when tlie tide ebbed away, and those of least principle or will-power dropped out; but a few have always held on to the good craft. The period of greatest prosperity was in 187C and 1877, during and since which time over 200 have been initiated. This division, with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, organized in December 1S76, and the Red Ribbon Club, organized in 1877, worked in harmony together, the reading-room over the store of W. B. Andruss & Son being their headquarters. The club has ceased as an organization, leaving the other two bodies still doinir effective work. Present officers : Mrs. Daniel Bull, W.P.; Mrs. C. W. Bell, W.A.; DaniePBull, R. 8.; Miss Emma Sleeper, A.R.S.; Wm. B. Andruss, F.S.; Edgar Miller, Treas.; Rev. K A. Reed, D.D., Chaplain ; B. B. Howard, C; Mrs. A. Lossie, A.C.; Mrs. M. J. Mingle, I.S.; C. W. Bell,O.S., and C. W. Deming, P.W.P. Representatives to the grand division : C. W. J)eming, E. Miller, C. P. Miller, W. B. Andruss, J. S. Oleson, C. W. Bell, Rev. Dr. N. A. Reed, G. W. Mingle, Mrs. M. J. Mingle, Daniel Bull, Mrs. Daniel Bull and B. B. Howard ; of these Messrs. Andruss and Deming are representatives of the Grand Division of Illinois to the National Division of North America.

"On November 10, 187*!, a few ladies who had attended the state annual convention at Dixon, and returned with hearts quickened to the need of gospel temperance work in their midst, extended "ii invitation by the various pulpits to all interested in temjierance to meet Tuesday afternoon, November 21, in the Baptist church, to organize a Woman's Christian Temperance Union." A committee was named to obtain a good lecturer, and another to collect funds from the citizens to pay the expense of the lecture-course. Prayer-meetings were appointed to move the hearts of the people in the new work, and three of tho.se were held in the Methodist church. Volunteer laborers having come forward, on December 2 a called meeting was held in the Congregational parlor to district the city, so that f'e canvassers could go to work soliciting members and money. Their success was very encouraging. Mrs. Foster, of Iowa, was engaged, and gave three lectures on December 17, 18 and 19, and then it was decided to organize, which was done in the Baptist church on the last day mentioned. The officers chosen were Mrs. Mingle, president; Mrs. Vaughan, Mrs. Poland and Mrs. Badger, vice-presidents; Mrs. Williams, recording secretary; Mrs. Chase, corresponding secretary, and Mrs. Reagan, treasurer. The standing committees were: on reading-room, Mrs. Andruss, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Poland, Mrs. Williams ; on public work, Mrs. Battis; on literature, Mrs. Chase ; on statistics. Mrs. Reagan ; on finance, Mrs. Miller. Most untiring and zealous endeavors have been put forth by these christian women to secure a ripe harvest of good works in the com- inanity, and their hands have heeu royally upheld l)y the citizens. The Union occupies the cheerful and tastefully furnished hall over the hardware store of W. B. Andruss & Son, on Main street. Gospel meetings are held here every Sabbath afternoon under the auspices of the Union. These ladies inaugurated a free reading-room, and dedicated the hall to the high objects of social, religious and intellectual culture, with devotional and literary exercises on April 17, 1877. The Library Association uses the same hall, holding under the Union.

The Father Matthew Total Abstinence and Benevolent Society, founded by P. A. Boland and named in honor of the great Irish benefactor and apostle of temperance, is an independent body chartered by the state, and was organized December 15, 1872. It has sixty members and is in a flourishing condition. This is a valuable auxiliary' to the reform movement.

Banner Temple, No. 24, of the United Order of Ancient Templars, was organized in August, 1889, with thirty-four members, and was chartered October 21. Present ofBcers : Lee Cronkrite, T. ; Mrs. C. A. Baitlett, P.T. ; Frank Almy, V.T. ; Frank Marrow, R. ; Mrs. Ford, A.R. ; H. T. Ford, F. ; H. Shurtleff, C. ; Miss Fisher, M. ; (vacant) A.M. ; Mrs. Henry T. Ford, T. ; Mrs. Trainer, W. ; Mr. Skinner, G. Meetings are held on Monday nights in Odd-Fellows' Hall. This order furnishes insurance to its members, and embraces as coinpi'ehensive objects as any of the benevolent associations.

Journalism In Amboy

"In May or JuTie, 1855, the 'Amboy Printing Association' was formed, which secured the publication of the ' Lee County Times,' with Augustus Noel Dickens, a brother of the autlior Charles Dickens, as editor. So far as we can l-'arn the stockholders were A. Kinj'on, W. E. Ives, John L. Skinner, John B. Wyman, H. B. Judkins, W. B. Stuart. August 1, 1855, as appears by a bond in our possession, one H. B. Judkins bound himself in the sum of $200 to said association in consideration of the transfer of the press, etc., to publish or cause to be published the said 'Lee County Times' for the space of one year. Volume 1, number 33, was issued February 7, 1856, by H. G. Pratt as editor and proprietor, and this is the oldest paper on our files. Volume 1, number 41, was issued as the 'Amboy Times,' by Cottrell & Pratt, April 3, 1856 ; and that name was continued for ten years, or until volume 11, number 18, published by Goff & Shaw, February 8, 1866. In the meantime, however, publishers had succeeded each other in the following order : Cottrell, Pratt & Miller ; Cottrell, Pratt &

Somes ; Pratt A: Co. (John Lewis, James F. Somes) ; Pratt, Shaw *fe Co. (Joseph Lewis); Gardner, Shaw 6c Lewis; and Pratt 6c Shaw. When Goff & Shaw issued volume 1, number 1, of the 'Lee County Journal,' February 25, 1866, they called it the 'new series,' and dropped the record of the eleven years and twenty weeks of a newspaper issue from the same office. This course we consider unwise, and propose now to remedy by calling the present issue of the 'Journal' volume 19, number 1.

" Burrington 6c Shaw published the ' Lee County Journal ' from Februar}', 1S67, to December, 1867, when we find a card published giving notice that they would suspend the issue of any paper for two weeks, because of the want of payments and patronage on the part of business men and subscribers. From January 16 to December 24, 1868, B. F. Shaw was editor and proprietor.

" Some graceless scamp has stolen the files from the last date to January 6, 1870, when we find the paper issued by Stimson 6c Corbus until March 10, when the thief, or the most improvident publishers, again leave us no files up to September; when Wm. Parker changed the name to the one now used, and continued its publication for just two years, to September 6, 1872, when we [W. H. Haskell] bought the ' Journal,' paid oft' its mortgages, began to improve the paper and increase its circulation, having gained 200 subscribers in nineteen months without es])ecial effort at solicitation."

On October 15, 1879, Mr. Haskell sold the office to E. W. Faxon & Co., and on February 1, 1S81, Dr. C. E. Loomis, of Lee Center, ])nrc!iascd it and is the present editor and ]iroprietor. The paper has always been republican in politics.

Tornado

TORNADO. The great tornado of 1860 occurred on Sunday, June 3. It began its ravages as far west as Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and gathering force as it proceeded, left a track of death and desolation behiiui. In the vicinity of Clinton twenty-five persons were killed. The town of Comanche, on the Iowa side of the Mississippi, was totally destroyed ; and Albany, on the Illinois side, shared nearly the same fate. In tlie two places the killed and wounded reached not fewer than 125 persons. The towns of Lyndon and Mount Pleasant, in Whiteside county, suffered severely, and in the neighborhood of Morrison and Sterling about a dozen were killed and a larger number wounded. From the point where the hurricane struck this county to Bradford township it spared nothing in its course. Trees, crops, stock, fences and buildings were swept away with terrific fury, and numbers of persons, not a few frightfully mangled, were killed outright, while a still larger number sustained different degrees of injury. In its progress onward from Bradford it alternately raised and lowered, leaving evidences of its violence at intervals. Its track was about forty rods wide, and the ground over which it passed had the appearance of having been swept by a mighty torrent. In its twistings and whirlings it described a zigzag course, with arms and angles jutting out at short distances. The general direction was from west to east through Amboy, about a mile south of the north line of the township. The first casualty was the serioiis injury of a man named Emmet, his wife, two children, and a hired man, who were living in a house owned by E. B. Stiles. The building was demolished. The next place visited east of this was Mr. Morse's. His house was destroyed, and Mrs. Morse was hurled five rods and disemboweled. She survived in this horrible condition about an hour. Mr. Morse was despaired of for some time, but finally recovered and is now living. One of the sons was slightly injured, another dangerously, and a daughter had botii legs broken and died, James Rosbrugh's farm, occupied by Edward Sacket, was next in the track. The house, barn and blacksmith shop, were carried entirely away ; and all the family of five persons seriously and some dangerously injured. F. H. Northway's buildings satfered total wreck. The family were taken up with the house into the air, but fortunately all escaped with the exception of cuts, bruises and broken ribs. A boulder weigiiing a quarter of a ton was lifted at this place and carried ten rods. From here the storm headed more northerly, and John Crombio's house shared the general ruin ; one of his little children was killed, and another was so hurt that it barely recovered. Lyman Bixby's family took refuge in their cellar half a minute before the tempest reached them and were saved, though the house and barn went to atoms. Farther north James Mofl:at's house was unroofed ; and cuts and bruises, from which no one was exempted, were the extent of injuries here. R. D. Peironnet lost his barn, back kitchen and outbuildings. A traveler, who had stopped at a vacant building near, and had tlie calves of his legs nearly torn ott", was at once brought to Mr. P.'s tor care. Onward the destroying force went to Isaac Gage's; but we shall let Mr. Gage tell iiis own fearful story of loss and bereavement in -the picturesque account which ho has given of this calamity, and on which we mainly rely for adequate description. P. D. La Forge's handsome residence was partly unroofed, a back kitchen blown away, and his barn rent to pieces.

From this point we prefer Mr. Gage's striking statement of his personal experiences at the supreme instant of disaster, and of his intimate knowledge of the ravages made in his neighborhood and to the eastward. It was publislied in the Amboy " Journal " February 7, 187i.

" Tliis wind storm, called a tornado, struck our house on the eve of June 3, 1860, about nine o'clock. It being Sabbath evening we liad retired rather early, and I soon fell asleep to be awakened by a terrible crash as of thunder, seemingly without a cause. For tiie next instant it was so still one could have heard a pin fall in any part of the house, but for a moment only; then, sir, there was a sound which I shall ever fail to describe, but I will give the best version my poor mind can. It was not thunder, and though it lasted but a moment it shook the earth for miles around. Another moment and everything was as still as death ; then instantly came the grand crash, and we were in the elements. Xow it is partly by sight and partly by feeling that I shall attempt to describe what took place. 1 jumped out of bed and grasped the door-handle to go for our children, but could not open the door. Suddenly it opened and knocked me down on one knee, and violentlj' dragged or shoved me about five feet out of doors to the ground, while the house and my four boys went into the air far above my head; some of the furniture, or some portion of the house, struck me in the back and passed on. This confused state of things lasted perhaps five minutes, I should think not longer, and then out came the moon as bright as day ; it seemed as if it wanted to show us what desolation and destruction had been done. Here and there lay heaps of rubbish, parts of the house and some parts of the furniture, all broken small enough for stove wood, and only three out of seven of our family were able to see this ruin. Some were dead, and some were not conscious of anything that was going on, though yet alive. A twin bo}' of eleven years had his life literally whipped out of him; he was dead when found. My eldest, a boy of seventeen, was carried through the air and debris the distance of sixty rods or over, and was so bruised that his entire jierson after a few hours became perfectly pulp-like, resembling a blood-blister. He lived, however, until the seventh day, in the most wonderful agonj'. Most of the time he lay seemingly \inconscious.

" The rest of the boys were not carried so faraway. When we found ra}' youngest son the little fellow looked most horrible, not a scraji of clothing on him save the collar of his shirt; his head was cut and bruised, aiul his body so bloody and dirty that we could scarcely see any hunuin shape to him. We picked him and his little dead brother up al)out twelve rods from where the house had stood a few moments before.

" When we went to bed that evening a large kettle that would hold a barrel or luore was standing under the eaves of the house, full of water; it was taken up and carried high enough to strike the corner of the barn about twelve feet from the ground, and there it sat where the barn stood witli two or three pailfuls of water in it 3'et. In the debris of the barn lay a young stable horse ; when first seen he was on his back with the timbers piled upon and about him six feet high, and one large piece lay across his neck and held him down so firmlj' that he could not stir.

" From this point on in a southeast direction the surface of the earth was covered with bits of everything in the shape of fence rails, boards, timbers, etc. All seemed to have been carried with so great force that they were driven into the ground from three inches to one foot or more. One stick, thirteen feet long and about ten inches square, was taken over 100 rods from my house and thrust into the earth ten feet, at an angle of forty-five degrees. It seems that the air must have been full of every conceivable thing, parts of wagons and buggies and goods from the house were literally torn to fragments and scattered abroad. Before tiie storm I had two lumber wagons, after it I had only two wheels left.

"After leaving my place it struck Mr. Lorenzo Wood's, there it entirely demolished the buildings (and they were many), but carried awa}' nothing very heavy, except a few sheep that were transported something near twenty miles. His papers were found by honest men and returned. I think there were none on Mr. Wood's farm seriously hurt, unless it was a tenant familj' [the Felties] who were lifted house and all into the air and carried in a southwesterly direction over the line fence into my field, and there caught by another current and carried in a circle back into the same field that they started from, making a distance of about fifty rods before the bouse was torn to pieces. Its course could be traced for weeks after, for in places the corners of the house struck into the earth, and in others the building dragged along and made large holes as if several wagon-loads of soil had been removed, and then elevated itself, no one knows how high, before coming to the final crash. As I said before, this family were somewhat hurt, but I think they all survived. One of the men who were in this house told me afterward that when it was in motion the stove rolled over the room like a ball, and all their furniture, with themselves, was pitched and tumbled about fearfully. At this point it seemed to reach out to the north about twenty rods and take in a Mr. Preston, who owned and lived on the Chadwick farm. It demolished all his buildings, and carried him with two of his children out through the tree-tops and landed them several rods from where the}^ started unharmed, save some flesh wounds; but his only a son, a little boy, was killed outright. From there it passed on, devastating everything in its way, until it struck Mr. Martin Wright's. It cleared him out, tearing down everything in its course, and threw him and liis wife's sister up into some trees, broke out a large piece of the ladj's jawbone, taking with it the teeth, and so nearly killed Mr. Wright that his lite was despaired of for a long time. Both finall}' recovered, while Mrs. Wright, who was in the house at the same time and not hurt at all, died in less than ten days, as it was supposed, from fright. The cyclone moved from here to Mr. John Lane's, destroying everything, but killing no one. From this point it left Amboy township and visited the corner of Lee Center, passing into Bradford, doing serious damage to Mr. Darwin WoodruH''s farm, lifting up his house and dashing it to fragments instantly, so injuring the inmates that they were taken up for dead, but they all recovered. Beyond this point for some miles it did little harm; but fourteen miles distant it descended, leaving articles taken from this neighborhood, and so lowering at intervals to deal out destruction; its force did not seem to abate until it reached Lake Michigan."