McHenry County, Illinois - Gkapton Township, 1885

Gkapton Township

Location. - Topography. - Streams and Lakes. - Railroad. - Settlement. - Name. - First Events. - Cemeteries. - Relics. - School Statistics. - First Cheese Factory. - Township Of. ficers. - Huntley Village. - Name. - Date of Settlement. - Blown up, then Burned up and then Built up. - First Events. - Village Incorporated in 1872. - Officers. - Congregational Church. - Catholic Church. - German Evangelical Lutheran Church. - Societies. - Postoffice. - Cheese Factory. - Biographical.

This township is one of the southern tier, being joined on the south by Kane County, on the east by Algonquin, on the north by Dorr, and on the west by Coral. It is township 43, range 7. When first settled and before any improvements in the way of drainage had been made, this township was one of the few in the county that bordered on swamp lands, the center being the lowest-point. But of late years it has in the main been converted into a good farming township, though not so well adapted to grain raising as the dairy business, which is quite extensively carried on here. In the Southern and Eastern portion of the township are to be found some of the finest farms and buildings in the county.

About one-fourth of section 1 is covered by Crystal Lake while the Kishwaukee passes through sections 2, 3, 4, 8 and 6. The south branch of this stream rises on section 11, crosses the northwest corner of section 14 and passes through sections 15, 16, 17 and 7. Still another small branch crosses sections 32, 30 and 19, thus furnishing living water to nearly half the sections in the township.

Settlement

The first settler of this township was a <Mr. Grinnell who remained in the township but a short time when he sold his farm to Lewis Holdridge, who was the second man to come into the township.

Next came Prescott Whittemore from New York, in 1838, and made his home in the township till about twenty-two years ago, when he moved to Nebraska and died about eight years afterward. Mr. Stowell, one of the first settlers, was from Massachusett He resided in this township about fifteen years when he went to California, where he died in 1870. In 1839 William Eobb came from New Haven. He located on section 30, where he made his home till his death, which occurred about twelve years ago. About this time came James Mullen front Scotland, who died in'this township many years ago. Then came an Irishman by the name of John Currin, who in a few years sold his farm to Thomas Huntley and moved to Iowa, where he died a few years afterward. Lewis Holdridge came from New York State in 1837, and remained ti 1852, when he went to California, where he died five years ago. About the year 1839 or 1840 came Richard Hadly, and after him came James Winney and John Conover, who are all residents of the township at present. The name was given to this township by Prescott Whittemore for the township of Grafton, N. H.

First Events

Marion, son of William Robb, was the first child born in the township. When a young man he went to California, where he died three years ago. The date of his birth was 1839. A twoyear-old daughter of Charles Stowell was the first person who died in the. township. She was buried in the eastern edge of Huntley Village, on what is now the Widow Cummin^s farm. On the 2d of September, 1844, Sanford Haight and Miss Mary A. Sprague were united in marriage by Beman Crandall, a Justice of the Peace; this was the first marriage in the township. The first school was taught in a log school-house erected in 1842, in District No. 7, Cynthia Thompson being the first teacher. She afterward married and returned to the East. The first religious services were held in 1839, in the house of Prescott Whittemore, by

Elder Marvin, a Baptist minister. The first house in the township opened as a hotel or house of public entertainment was that of Prescott Whittemore. Practically he was engaged in the hotel business ten years, it being more a matter of accommodation than for pecuniary gains. When the village of Huntley was started and a hotel opened there, Mr. Whittemore closed his house, so to speak, though his latch string was never pulled inside.

There are but two cemeteries in Grafton Township, and these are both located at Huntley Village. About thirty years ago the Protestants laid out a burying ground south of the village. It contains about two acres and is one of the most beautiful cities of the dead to be found anywhere in the country. South of this cemetery a short distance is situated the Catholic Cemetery which was laid out in 1882. It contains about two acres, is beautifully located arid kept in fine order.

Near the Free Methodist church, situated in the north side of the township near the line, three soldiers belonging to General Scott's army are buried. They died of cholera while passing through this country en route for the red man's abode.

While the following will not bear directly upon the history of this township yet it may be of interest to some to know that some choice mementoes are in the possession of Washington Whittemore, of this township. A chair used by Colonel Perry, the Lake Erie hero, over 150 years ago, became the property of Mrs. Whittemore by inheritance. Kettle- shaped copper warming-pans used by Mr. Whittemore's grandfather over a century and a half ago are in possession of Mr. Whittemore and are matters of considerable curiosity to the people of this age. He also has a pair of saddle pockets used over 100 years ago by Mrs. Whittemore's Grandfather Perry. Also a pocket-book used by his great-grandfather, Nathaniel Whittemore, while holding the position of paymaster in the Kevolutionary war. The last time it was used was in paying the soldiers just before the battle of Bunker Hill.

School Statistics First Cheese Factory

was built in the spring of 1866 by Messrs. Blanchard & "Woodworth on the farm of A. W. Nash, section 28. It commenced operations in May and consumed the milk of 200 cows the first season. After operating it two years they sold to Messrs. Cummings & Haight who ran it till 1870, when they sold to Jackson Wood, whose son is running it at the present time.

The first township election was held at the house of Lewis Holdridge April 2, 1850, and the following officers elected: Thomas Huntley, Supervisor; Stewart Cummings, Clerk; E. S. Haydon, Assessor; W. S. Robb, Collector; Prescott Whittemore, Overseer of Poor; Wm. Chambers, Elisha Dayton and Sanford Haight, Commissioners of Highways; J. Holbert and J. Hoyt, Justices of the Peace; Wm. Robb and W. Smith, Constables. The present officers are: W. D. Sawyer, Supervisor; D. S. White, Clerk; B. F. Ellis and C. M. Pendleton, Justices of the Peace; R. Eatiugton, Constable; H. Sinett, James Lawson and Chas. Brookman, Commissioners of Highways; John E. Cummings, Assessor; B. F. Ellis, Collector.

Huntley Village

was named for Thos. S. Huntley, who owned the land and laid out the village in 1851, it being the same year the railroad came to the place. The first house in the place was built by Mr. Huntley. It was used first as a dry.goods store; it is the corner building now used as a drug store. Sanford Haight built the first hotel. It is still in existence, and now serves as a portion of Glazier's Hall; it was used by Mr. Haight as a hotel but a short time. Lewis Holdridge built the second hotel in 1851. It was used as a hotel about seven years, first by a Mr. Johnston, then by Mr. Fletcher. It is the building which stands directly east of the Ellis House. Fletcher sold it to Byron Thornton who was the last man who kept hotel in that building. He went to the army where he was killed. The next hotel was built opposite the depot by H. B. Brown who ran it about two years, and sold to Peter Ferris who ran it about four years when he traded it to a stranger for a stock of dry-goods who soon afterward sold it to H. Phillips who ran it about one year and sold to George Scheler who kept hotel about two years and then sold to Ben Rowe who was the owner when it was burned. George Scheler built a hotel about the year 1878, which is now a portion of Skeels & Devine's store. This hotel was run by Mr. Scheler about two years when he sold out to Cummings Brothers & Haight, who rented it to O. P. Mason, who ran it but a few months. At the end of one year this firm sold it to Levi Disbrow who kept hotel about two years when Stewart Cummings became the owner and proprietor and ran it one year and then sold it to William Devine, who built an addition to it and converted it into a store-room. The Ellis House comes next in order. It was started about six years ago by the present proprietor, B. F. Ellis, who is a model landlord and keeps the only house in the village. This building was among the first erected in the place and is the property of Peter Ferris.

In 1851 T. S. Huntley opened the first store. He remained in trade one year and then sold to Hoyt & Brown who built a storeroom and added largely to the Huntley stock of goods. They remained in trade only a few years. Henry Dunn opened a store while Hoyt & Brown were in business; then a store was opened by a Mr. Grist; then Mr. Hill engaged in the dry-goods business, but they were each unsuccessful and remained in trade but a short time. The first hardware store was opened in 1862 by a Mr. Marshall who ran the business about three years. Wm. Schemerhorn bought the stock and ran the business five years and then turned it over to his son, Theodore, who ran it till 1881 and closed out. The same store is now occupied by T. F. Feeney who is carrying on the same business. In the year 1866 or '67 a steam gristmill was built by the Jewell Brothers & Father. It was situated in the southeast portion of the village. It was a frame building and cost about $10,000 when completed. They ran it successfully two years and then sold out to a Mr. Shaffler who ran it till 1871 when the boiler burst and blew the mill into atoms and killed the engineer, "Wm. Benedict. :. Mr. Shaffler was hurled from the building about ten rods. He rebuilt the mill and sold it to Mr. Spalding who ran it till 1876 when it was burned. Spalding rebuilt it and sold to David Williams who still runs it as a feed-mill.

The first school was taught in 1851 by an Irish girl in a frame school-house, located at the west side of the village. The number of pupils was thirteen. The present school-house is a remarkably fine one for a place of this size. Here the matter of education is first with the citizens. The most proficient teachers to be had are hired.

The first car-load of hogs ever shipped from Huntley Station was by John S. Cummings. Having no scales he was compelled to guess the weight, paying three cents per pound. Mr. Cummings remembers that afterward when his stock was weighed in Chicago he found he had estimated a little too high. He also shipped the first car-load of cattle from this place. Pr ce per head, from $10 to $15.

The village of Huntley was incorporated in 1872. The following is a list of the first officers elected : John S. Cummings, President; John P. Skeels, Clerk; II. B. Brown, Treasurer; F. J. Glazier, City Marshal; D. E. Wood, Charles Bruckman, S. S. Sprague, constitute the balance of the board.

Present officers: A. W. JSTash, President; E. R.Pearsell, Clerk; Thos. Grimley, Police Magistrate; Richard Eatinger, Marshal. The balance of the board consists of O. W. Mason, John "Wales, M. Coyne, H. Smith, T. F. Feeney.

The Congregational Church, was organized Sept. 11, 1852, by Revs. Starr and Dickeson. Prior to 1858 this church had no regular preachers, but werelsupplied by ministers from other charges, Rev. Clark, of Elgin, and Rev. Shapley, of Harmony, doing the principal amount of preaching. The pulpit* was filled from 1858 to 1861 by Rev. L. Church, and had no regular minister from 1861 to 1863. From 1863 to 1865 Rev. C. S. Harrison was their minister, and it was through his exertions that the present commodious house of worship was built. In the matter of securing funds to erect churches he seemed to have special ability. Many church buildings have through his instrumentality been erected throughout the State. He is now a resident of Pueblo, Col. This

The Catholic Church was organized several years ago in conjunction with the congregation of Catholics at Gilbert's Station. In July, 1873, the society was divided and a church established at Huntley by Father Clement Duerr, who was the first resident priest of Huntley. He remained in the place till 1880. He was succeeded by Father Stack, who remained till May, 1884, when Father John Kilkenney took charge. In 1873 they built a fine large house of worship and their membership is constantly increas" ing.

The German Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized March 1, 1871, by Rev! F. W. Richmann, of Elgin. The following is a list of the first members: John Schroder, Henry Heuer, John Frost, John Gutschow, Chas. Gruitzmacher, Wilhelm Hennery, Fred Miller, Fred Zimmerman. Rev. Richmann remained their pastor till 1873, when he was succeeded by Rev. Steinrauf, who remained till 1875, when Rev. Richmann was again the minister, but this time serving only as a supply; he remained till 1876, when the present pastor, Rev. John E. Baumgartner took charge of the church. The present number of communicants consists of fifty families. They built their house of worship in 1874. It is a frame building, 38 x 52 feet on the foundation. In 1878 Rev. Baumgartner added to the building a steeple and bell and furnished the church inside. The bell, weighing 1,545 pounds, swings in a steeple 105 feet high from the base.

Grafton Lodge, No. 328, F. da A. M., was organized in the fall of 1858, with the followingcharter members: A. J. Rodman, Asa Northway, ¥m. S. Rabb, Chas. Jones, James Furguson, John Wales, Wm. Renwick, John Cole. S. C. Rowell, Wm. Tyson, Homer Whitney and Wm. Wright. The first officers were: Asa North way, Treasurer; John Wales, Tyler; Wm. Renwick, J. W.;

John Code, S. W.; S. C. Kowell, Secretary; ¥m. Wright, M. During the years 1861 aud 1862 the society was in its most flourishing condition ; its membership at that time numbered fifty- They held their meetings regularly till about two years ago, when, on account of a lack of interest taken by the few members left (the others having moved away), they held their meetings occasionally till in the spring of 1884 they surrendered their charter. At this date there were but sixteen members in good standing. The following members were holding ofBce at the time of its disorganization: J. S. Cummings, Master; Henry Dean, S. W. ; 0. E. Cook, J. W. ; A. Hitchcock, Treasurer; B. F. Ellis, Secretary; D. Glazier, S. D. ; Stephen Van Luven, J. D.; F.J. Glazier, Tyler.

Huntley Brass Band. - Among the most successful and lively institutions ever established in this place was that of a brass band corps, in 1859, consisting of T. L. Parsons. Ohas. Hubbard, J. S. Cummings, Jerome Glazier, John White, James Foley, Chas. Jones and Sam Clark. The following 4th of July they played against an old organized band of Marengo and carried off the Blue Bibbon. They played througli the campaign of Lincoln and Hamlin, going from home as far as Chicago. They were thoroughly organized and well drilled when the war broke out and most of its members joined the army and since then it has been a thing of the past.

Huntley Library and Literary Association was organized Jan. 15, 1880, by eighteen of the leading citizens of the place, the purpose being to disseminate among the people choice literature and elevate mankind. This association has raised a large fund (which was invested in the library) by giving literary entertainments and through their annual dues ot $1 each. Their membership has constantly increased. The library contains a large and valuable collection of standard works, besides quite a number of miscellaneous works. The best periodicals and magazines are taken. First officers: J. S. Cummings, President; Cora J. Francisco, Vice-President; E. K. English, Secretary; Mrs. C. S. Hanniford, Treasurer; T. L. Parsons, Librarian. Present officers: J. S. Cummings, President; Minnie Clark, Vice-President; Dr. C. E. Cook, Secretary; Jessie Blanchard, Treasurer; Mrs. L. E. Smith, Librarian.

the people of Grafton got their mail at Coral. The following is a list of Postmasters and the time they served: Stewart dimming, two years; Peter Miller, one year; John Wales, four years; Miss Izanna Bridge, four years; H. B. Williams, two years; John S. Cummings, nine years; Edward Haight, seven years; T. R. Ferris, is the present Postmaster. It was made a money-order office in 1870. The first money-order issued was Aug. 5, 1870, by Haight & Butler, to E. Dayton, of Marengo; amount $30. First moneyorder was paid Aug. 12, to Miss Libbie Shattock, drawn by Chas. Sweet, of Oswego; the amount of this order was also $30.

Huntley Cheese Factory, owned by D. E. Wood & Co., was built during the winter of 1875 and 1876, by D. E. Wood. It is a frame structure, whose main building is 36 x 105 feet. The engine and boiler room is 32 x 36 feet. It is a two-story building and the largest cheese factory in the county. The ice-house is 36x38 feet; one cooling-room 16 x 16 feet, and one cooling-room 12 x 16 feet. The building contains five cheese vats, each 4x16 feet. Here they have manufactured as high as 600,000 pounds of cheese and 100,000 pounds of butter annually.

Below will be found a list of business interests in the village of Huntley: Agricultural implements, Wm. Hackett, S. Haight, Geo. Yan Valkenburg; boots and shoes, F. O. Dain, Patrick Duffy; blacksmiths, Thomas Fenwick, J. G. Kelley, P. McNinney; creamery, Wood & Weltzine; wagon manufacturing, A. Disbrow; dressmaker, Mrs. R. W. Durner; druggist, T. P. Ferris; feed store, W. G. Sawyer; furniture, A. Oakley; hotel, B. F. Ellis; hardware, M. D. Hadley; livery, Smith & Oakley; lumbermen, Teeple & Co. ; merchants, Devine & Skells, Hawley & Tappen; meat market, Ellis & Ballard; tailor, M. J. Kelley; flour-mill, D. M. Williams; physician, O. K. Griffith; shoemaker, Otto Gaupner.