McHenry County, Illinois - Chapter 4: Resources and Industries. Offioia.l and Political History, 1885

Chapter 4: Resources and Industries. Offioia.l and Political History

McHenry County Industrially Oonsideeed. - Agriculture. - Advantages Afforded to Stock Raisers. - The Beginning and Growth of the Cheese-Making Industry. - The Dairy Interest. - Mc Henry County Agricultural Society. - Railroads. - Official Register. - Roster of Legislative, Civil and Judicial Officers from 1837 to 1884. - Political History. - Statistics. - Vote for President. - Valuation of the County. - Population. - Manufacturing Statistics.

The chief industries of McHenry County are agriculture, dairying and grazing. Having no large cities or towns, the county is the seat of few manufacturing industries other than such as are usually found in agricultural districts. As a farming region, it ranks among the best in the State. Possessing the advantages of a good climate, a soil of inexhaustible fertility, close proximity to the markets of Chicago, and excellent railroad facilities, the county has already attained such a degree of agricultural development as is seldom found in a country comparatively new. Its wealth and prosperity are steadily and rapidly increasing. "When we consider that but half a century ago the red men were the sole occupants of these lands which now support one of the most flourishing communities in the West, we may well be astonished at the wonderful results which time and intelligent industry have wrought. In many sections of our country lands which have been occupied by white inhabitants twice and thrice as long exhibit not one-half of the improvements and substantial evidences of real prosperity that McHenry County can show. Nature did much for this region, and a thrifty and progressive people have admirably co-operated with her efforts. Farms, buildings and improvements of every kind are of unusual excellence in this county. Numerous towns and villages scattered over the county furnish abundant and convenient trading points and home markets, while unexcelled educa-

The soil is adapted to every variety of products usually grown in northern latitudes. All the cereals, and especially corn, oats and wheat, thrive well and yield good returns to the agriculturist. The soil is also favorable to the production of fruits and vegetables. There is little untillable land, and everywhere the farmer is reasonably sure of adequate returns for his labor. The State contains no better or more productive grain-growing region.

The stock and dairy interests of the county are fast assuming an importance which bids fair to transcend all others. The very best of pasturage and excellent water supplies everywhere abound. The famous blue grass, so common in the South, is here indigenous and thrives luxuriantly. These facts have led the leading farmers to turn their attention largely to stock-raising and dairying, while at the same time they continue to give a good share of their attention to the production of hay, cereals, fruits and vegetables. The dairy interests are discussed further on in this chapter, but a few words relating to stock and grazing may appropriately be given here.

In view of the unsurpassed facilities for carrying on this industry profitably, the farmers of the county long since engaged in raising cattle for the market. Of late years, the importance of improving the breeds of stock has received general attention, until now choice herds of Holsteins, Alderneys and Herefords can be seen in all parts of the county. The combining of the stock and dairy interests has been attended with most satisfactory results, and both branches of the business are fast increasing.

The raising of fruits and vegetables is fast becoming one of the industries of the county. The somewhat novel industry of picklegrowing and pickle-making here finds its fullest development. The rapid growth of the business shows that it is profitable. Details are elsewhere given.

The Dairy Interests

Until within the last quarter of a century cheese making in Illi nois was of small importance. No cheese was made for exportation; in fact, the article was not produced at all, except in large dairies. Factories were unknown, and the markets of the State were supplied with Eastern products. The "Western farmer had the best farming and grazing land in the country, as well as every facility for raising stock at less expense than the Eastern farmer; still dairying received little or no attention. Cattle were kept in great numbers, but they were shipped to the East for beef. Butter was made and shipped to a small extent; but so little care and skill was displayed in its manufacture that Western butter acquired an unenviable reputation in the markets. Most of the farmers were in debt and gave their attention to stock, considering that the speediest means of raising funds. As in all newly settled countries, grains and stock received almost exclusive attention, and manufactures were discouraged. As to cheese, it was urged that only an inferior quality could bs .made in the West; that the milk did not contain the necessary ingredients; that the grnss, soil and climate were not suitable. But all these theories have been proved false again and again since the farmers went to work with intelligence and understanding and gave to dairy business the attention which its importance deserved.

Before 1866 there was not a cheese factory in McHenry County. In 1867 there were eight in operation, and the number has contin ually increased. The business at first met with considerable opposition. There was a lack of confidence among stockholders as to profits; and there was also great difficulty in obtaining employes possessing the qualifications of experience and adaptation to the work.

The cheese was generally made for those furnishing the milk at a stipulated price per pound, either two and a half or three cents. The proprietors of the factories furnished the other materials, making and storing for a specified time. At the expiration of the time agreed upon the owners of the cheese either took it, to dispose ot themselves, or allowed the manufacturers to sell it on commission.

The Richmond Factory, the pioneer establishment of the county, built in the spring of 1866 by Dr. R. R. Stone and Wm. A. McConnell; a two-story building, 30 x 112 feet, with an addition. The first cheese was made May 18, 1866.

The Hebron Factory, built in the spring of 1866 by R. W. and W. H. Stewart; a two-story frame building, 30x55 feet - enlarged the second year.

The amount of milk used and the number of pounds of cheese made by the above factories during the year 1867 is thus given in the Woodstock Sentinel:

Cheese

In addition to the above there were a great many farmers in the county in 1867 who had dairies of from twenty to fifty cows and made cheese at home.

The dairy interests have grown rapidly from the beginning. The county now contains fifty-three cheese factories and creameries, and numerous large dairies. The shipping of milk to Chicago is carried on extensively and with great profit to dairymen. This branch of the dairy business is also comparatively new, but its growth has been rapid, and it is now one of the chief industries of the county. Every railroad station in the county sends its daily quota of milk to feed the great city.

At the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition, J. S. Watrous, of the town of Nunda, placed on exhibition samples of butter made at his factory - the Eidgefield Crystal Spring Factory. The exhibit was awarded a gold medal for its superior qualities - a result particularly gratifying to McHenry County dairymen, when it is consid ered that not only States of the East were competitors for the honor, but also all sections of the country and Canada.

The dairy statistics of 1877, together with those of 1883, are given below, and fully illustrate the rapidity of the growth of this interest in this county:

Agricultural Society

McHenry County Agricultural Society was organized in 1852. Captain "William H. Stewart and Colonel J. M. Strode were appointed on the committee of organization, but most of the work fell on Captain Stewart, who drafted the constitution and by-laws and was the prime mover in the laudable enterprise. He was the first Secretary and Treasurer, and has much of the time since held one or other of their offices. William M. Jackson was the first president, and was quite energetic in advancing the interests of the society. It remained as au agricultural society till 1874, when it availed itself of the privileges offered by the Sfate, and since then has borne the name of Agricultural Board of McHenry County. For several years after its organization the society held itsfairs in the streets or on the commons in different villages in the county, wherever the greatest conveniences were found. They built rail pens to hold the stock, and rented a room to exhibit the fine arts in. At first the receipts were small, but the society grew stronger as the connty became richer, and in 1859 it was enabled to purchase teu acres of land, which now forms a part of the fair grounds east of Woodstock. They built sheds for stock, and without many conveniences carried on the fair from year to year with considerable success till 1866, when they organized a life membership, with an admittance fee of $20. Over 100 names were added to this list, which raised sufficient funds to enlarge the grounds and procure better accommodations, which was done by purchasing five acres adjoining on the south and erecting the agricultural' hall, observatory, ticket office, etc.

About the year 1868 the society purchased seven acres adjoining its grounds on the north. This makes a commodious show ground of twenty-two acres. There is a fine half-mile track, and some of the largest fairs in the State are held here. Receipts for the past five years have reached $4,000. Present officers: T. McD. Richards, President; A. S. Wright, Secretary; Captain Bowen, Treasurer. Every year noted speakers, both from home and abroad, are engaged by the enterprising managers of the exhibition, constituting an extraordinary attraction to visitors.

body. McHenry County was fortunate enough to be supplied with a railroad among the earliest built in Northern Illinois, and to-day her railroad facilities are unsurpassed by any exclusively rural county in the State.

Every village of importance is located upon a railroad, and every township in the county is either crossed by one or more railroad lines or has one in close proximity to its borders.

The years 1854, 1855 and 1856 were eventful ones in the annals of McHenry County, for they witnessed the completion of three railroads through the county. First came the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad in 1854. It is now the Galena division of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, and has stations in McHenry County at Huntley, Union and Marengo. In June, 1855, the Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac Railroad reached "Woodstock, and the following year it was completed to Harvard, and rapidly built on to its northwestern terminus. It is now the Wisconsin division of the Chicago & Northwestern, with stations in this county at Carey, Nunda, Ridgefield, Woodstock, Kishwaukee, Harvard and Lawrence. It crosses the county from the southeast to the northwest.

While the above road was building, another, known as the Fox River Valley, was in progress through the eastern part of the county, crossing it from north to south. It is now known as the Elgin & State Line Railroad, a branch ot the Chicago & Northwestern. The principal stations in the county on this line are Algonquin, Nunda, or Crystal Lake, McHenry and Richmond.

Lastly, the Kenosha & Rockford Railroad, crossing the northern part of the county, was built in 1861-'2. It is also a part of the Northwestern, and has stations at Hebron, Alden, Harvard and Chemung. v

Official Register

From 1831 to 1843 the State had but three congressional districts. After McHenry was formed it was included in the Third Congressional District until 1843. From that date until 1852 the Fourth District comprised Lake, McHenry, Boone, Cook, Kane, DeKalb, Du Page, Kendall, Grundy, La Salle, Will, Iroquois, Livingston, McLean, Champaign, Vermillion and Bureau. From 1852 to 1861, Lake, McHenry, Boone, Winnebago, Stephenson, Jo Da- viess, Carroll and Ogle constituted the First Congressional District. From 1861 to 1872 the Second District was composed of Lake Mc- Henry, Boone, Winnebago, DeKalb and Kane. From 1872 to 1882 the Fourth District was composed of Kane, DeKalb, McHenry, Boone and Winnebago. The Fifth Congressional District now comprises Lake, McHenry, Boone, De Kalb and Kane.

Under the appointment of 1861 and until 1872 McHenry County was in the Twenty-third Senatorial District, which also included Winnebago, Boone and Lake.

Under the Constitution of 1848 until the next appointment, Boone and McHenry formed the Fifty-second Representative District, entitled to two Representatives.

County Judges

Until the adoption of the Constitution of 1848, the county judge had jurisdiction only in matters of probate, and was denominated "probate justice of the peace."

Board Of Supervisors

1850. - The first Board of Supervisors met at the court-house in Woodstock, Nov. 11, 1850. The following were present : Chemung, Jas.t). Thompson ; Byron, Cyras Allen ; Marengo, Amos B. Coon ; Riley, Ira E. Searls ; Seneca, Calvin Pike ; Hartland Alonzo Golder; Alden Andrew Easton ; Hebron, Josiah H. Giddings*; Greenwood, Joseph N. Barber ; Centre, Elzaphan J. Smith ; Algonquin, Elias A. Thomas ; Brooklyn, Wm. Salisbury; Richmond, Chas. IT. Russell; Benton, SylvanusS. Stillson ; Coral, Charles Crego ; Grafton, Thomas S. Huntley; McHenry, Alex. H. Nixon.

Political Statistics

At the first election held in this county, June 1, 1837, the whole number of votes cast was 115. The election was for county officers, and it was held at the store of Hiram Kennicott, near Half Day, on the Desplaines Eiver, within the limits of the present county of Lake.

In 1838 the county chose its first Eepresentative to the Legislature, electing Dr. Eichard Murphy, Democrat, over Giles Spring, Whig, by a considerable majority. The convention which nominated the successful candidate was held on the first Monday in March, 1838. About sixty delegates were present, among whom were the following from McHenry County: Wm. M. Jackson, Proctor Smith, Wm. Sponable, Eussell Diggins, S. Canfield, Wm. A. McConnell and A. B. Coon. Of the entire number of delegates, but four are known to be living, two of whom, W. M. Jackson and A. B. Coon, were delegates from this county.

The county was solidly Democratic from its infancy until 1856, when the impending crisis changed the majority to the Eepublican side, where it has since remained.

1848. - Cass, Dem., 1,096; Taylor, "Whig, 660; Van Buren, Freesoil, 1. (Some of the Democratic and Whig electors appear to have received more votes than others. The highest vote is that above given. The lowest was 1,015, Dem., and 528, Whig.)

Native And Foreign Population, 1880

male employes above sixteen years of age, 354; females above fifteen years, 127; children and youths, 215; amount paid in wages, $113,869; value of materials, $1,062,788; value of products, $1,496,242.