Ogle County, Illinois - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 8 of those read), 1859

Previous to 1825, Ttizewell county included the whole northern part of the State, extending for a considerable distance south of Peoria, which was then known as Fort Clark. On the loth day of January, 1825, an act was passed, setting off Peoria county, which extended south of Peoria and north to the northern boundary of the State.

Jo Daviess counry was formed by an act passed on tiie ITih of February, 1827, and iocludiid all the territory lying between the following boundaries: Beginning at the northwest corner of the State; thence, down the Mississippi Kiver, to the northern boundary of the Military Tract; tlience east, with said line, to the Illinois i Kiver; thence north, to the northern bdundarj of the State; thence v/est, with i«;aid boundary, to the place of beginning. By reference to the map, it will be seen that this iiieludcs at present a large uum-

HoQ. J. Grillespie, of Edwardsville, has furuished us with the following interesting sketch of his experience in crossing Hock lliver a': an early day:

"It was about the 5tli day of March, 1827, that thirteen of us who hail met together at different places and formed a traveling company for the lead miaes, reached the banks of ilock lliver at the point, where, according to lay recollection, Dixon now stands. It was naked prairie on the south side, but there was excellent hickory timber on the opposite side of the river. A band of Winnebagoes were encamped on the south side. It became necessary for a portion of our party to cross the river and prepare our encampiacnt, and make iires in advance of the rest, and a Mr. Keed,my brother and myself were selected for that purpose. We had previously bargained with the Indians for the use of their canoes to ferry us and our wagon over, and had given a 1 irge amount of bacon and corn meal in payment. The Indians, without any reluctance, took Ueed, my brother and myself across the river with our oxen, and as soon as we were separated from our companions, they started down the river with their canoes. This operation was likely to be attended with much inconve-- nience, and som ' puffering and exposure to us who had croBSjJ tie river and were without provisions or bed-elothes. Our friends followed down afier Uie Indians, who pretended that they understood ,l,e couiract on Eheii- part to have baen uUilled. \Vc knew that hey were enuea,Toring io ieec? ,.j. Tt was "ound impossible .o bring iiieu' lo r,;^ree .o oa^ unklersianding of the bargain, :.hd loiliiri!;^- was 1 fi. roe oin- sidv; but io iiaLe .he ijo5(. c^;iu;s \fe could. They -(/ould uo. on any conditions we could propose, lO Terry our wagon over, pretending to boliere ilial it would sink their canoes. There was in our company a »Dgro, nam.Nl Fr mk, from Kaskaskia, who had joined us when the company consisted of but four persons - old Mr. Reed, his son, my brother and myself; the rest of tire company we picked up afterwards. We ratlier took care of Frank, and protected him when attempts were made to impose upon him, for which he was very gratefnl. Frank was in great distress when he found that tliree of his friends wer« separated from the company, and were without food or bed-clothes. He had a black overcoat, the body of which was about of the tex> ture of an old sleazy blanket, but the capes were really of first rate material, and were fastened to the body with hooks and eyes. One of the Indians took a great liking to Frank's caaf, and a bargain was struck on about these terms: Frank was to give the Indian his coat and they were to allow him to bring us over bed-clothing and food, and also to ferry the wagon over the next morning, up- ©n terms to be agreed on. Frank rolled up an auger in the blanket to enable us to build a raft in case it should become necessary, but the Indians were too sharp for that. They unrolled the blanket and contended that taking over an auger was not in the bargain, and so Frank came over without it. When they arrived, a great controversy arose between him and the Indians. Frank contended that he was to give only his coat, and they contended that he was to give the cape also. We had by this time become so incensed at the Indians that we felt very little like obeying the scriptural requirement - 'If any man will sue tliec at the law and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.' So Ave decided in Frank's favor, and he kept his Ci.pes. The Indians were very indignani. v.l '/rank's siriut construction, and we Kiighl jiive had irou'jle with them ; but that nigh. Ji aimed 'nteuse'y cold, and by the next morniug ilie Indians were as torpid as snakes in winter. They could not get out of their wigwams, and our men helped themselves to the canoes, and everything was pusked across esirly in the day. I believe the Indiians would scarcely have aroused theaiselves if they had

Icnown that we were about massacreing (hem. I am satisfied that Indians sutfcr more from cold weather (clothed as they are) than white men. Vv'e experienced very little inconvenience from the cold.

"Lest what I have stated might lead persons to believe that all the Indians wei'e thus knavishly inclined, I would remark that in crossing the Winnebago stamps some ten or fifteen miles south of Rock River, we had great difficulty, and would have had more but for some "Winnebago Indians who were encamped by the swamps, and who were exceedingly kind and generous to us, and rendered us every assistance in their power.

"According to my recollection, there was a house about twelve miles northwest of Fort Clark, (now Peoria,) at wliich a man named Thomas Co.n; was lying very sick. W« all called to se^e him, although not one of us was acquainted with him; but such was the custom (to some extent) in tho5.e days. Tliis house was the last we saw until we reached Vinegar Kill, in the mines. The intervening country was one untrodden solitude. In most places the country was, evea in that season of the year, of surpassing loveliness. Seme of the groves reminded me of the description I read of the fabled Elysium or of Moha hamnied's Paradise (save the Ilouris.) The only indications wc found that human beings liad been there before us, were where the Indians iliad cut olf the branches of trees in which the Iioney-bees had made their hives. The groves ?eemed to have been almost alive with them, judging from the number of trees from wliich they had been dislodged. Thelndiaiis would not rut down the tre-js, but would climb up and ut otF the limb whicli contained the honey, or mt into the side of the tr«e where the Jiive n-as in the trunk. 1 have observed that for a w years after the honey-bee makes its first Bipp.oarance, it increases witli wonderful rapidiy, and after some ten or fifteen years begins 0 decline. I am speaking now of the wild i>ees. They had been but for a few years in the country between the Illinois and Rock rivers when I passed througli. They had not arrived in the mining country until about 1826, or perhaps the spring of 1827. It is a fact perhaps not generally known tliat the honeybee is just in advance of the wliitc population in the settlement of a new country, and its first appearance is a cause of great anxiety to the Indians."*

We find that we ^ere in error in stutin"- that 0. W. Kellogg and Samuel Eced arrived at BulFalo Grove in 1830. They settled here in 1831, one jear later. lu the spring of tliat year, the settlers broke the prairie and planted corn. The " first moon in June" yras the timt at which the Indians held their annual council; and when they met at Rock Island, it was rumored that they were going to make war upon th« whites. Deeming it imprudent to remain here, the settlers started for Galena. On arriying at Apple River, tiieir numbers were considerably increased by the addition of several persons from other points, and they concluded to stop and build a stockade. They had been here just a week, and coniiiienced

*In a note pxo nnpanying the above sketel\ Mr. Gillespie s;i.V8 : "In regard to the Winnebago Indians 1 would remark that from all I could learn they were regarded by the ether tribes in till Tioinity as intruders; that 1 heir language was entirely dilTerent from the surrounding Indians, and Gould not b= acquired by them ; that about the time I have spoken of, they were making their way ratlu-r eastwardly , until they wer« met by the wliite papulation coming West. Carver, an Englishman, who traveled through tJiis country just before the era of our Independence, found them about Prairie du Cliien, where they were governed by a Queen. They had a tradition at that time tliat they had come from wu'st of the Kocky Mountains; that they had attacked a Spanish cavalciide, or train, loaded with white metal or silver, and killed the attendants, and were consequently driven ofl' by the Spaniards. I mention these circumstances merely from memory, not havuig seen Carver's Travels since I was a boy, and so I may be 6«mewhat mistaken as to wiiat he suys."

cutting the timbers for the fort, when a dispatch ^yas received from Rock Island, informing them that a treaty had been made, and that they might safely return to their farms. On their return, the farms were fenced, in order to secure the growing crops, Before the crops could be harvested, provisions grew short, and the settlers were obliged to go to Peoria county for supplies.

When autumn came, the corn crop was light and late. i^fter being harvested, the grain was grated on a grater, to get meal for bread, until it was too dry, when it was pounded in a mortar. The mortar was made by boring and burning the end of a log prepared for the purpose. The pestle was made by fastening an iron wedge to a "spring-stick" attached to an upright post, (much in the fashion of a well-sweep;) handles were then put on, when the operator Commenced pounding, the elasticity of the stick lightening tlio labor by raising the wedge after it had struck tlie corn. This rude mill was generally used once a day. The Indians who were their nearest neighbors supplied them with venison during the winter, receiving corn and pumpkins for their compensation. The winter was long and tedious, with deep snows and high winds.

In April. 1832, rlie settlers commenced plowing. Tliey had heard and seen that the Indians were going up Hock River, to plant corn, as they said. One d;iy, some of their old Indinu friends called upon Mr. Reed's family v,-ith some fresh fish, and, one of them told the family that Gen. Whiteside was comiMg up the river with " heap Chemokce man," to fight the Indians. Said he, " You must go away - bad Indian kill you - me no kill you - bad Indian kill you and your papooses." Mr. Reed had planted his potatoes and about two acres of corn; this had been done on Saturday. On Sunday, there was a heavy fall of rain, which made it too wet for planting. On Mondajl evening, the report of firearms was heard in the direction of Kellogg's house, which, on, account of the number of shots, greatly alarmed Mr. Reed's family. G-en. Dodge, with a scouting party, had encamped here, and had fired off tlieir guns on arriving at Kellogg's house. The next morning, before sunrise, a messenger from Gen. Whiteside's camp arrived, with the news of the battle of Stillman's Run, and telling them that they must immediately go to Dixon,, where the army was encamped. As soou as possible, their "traps" were loaded,, and they started. After staying a few days in Dixon, Mr. R,eed's family went to Peoria county with a company of volunteers who were a;i ing south to get their discharge. In September, the men yeturned to their farms, leaving the women and children in Peoria county. After plowing, sowing wheat and making hay, they returned and again brought their families to Buffalo Grove.

In IS-So, it was rumored that tlie Indians were dissatisfied with the treaty they had made, and were bent on war. For tho third time the citizens of Buffalo Grove left their homes, taking their families with them to Peoria county. The men immediately returned to cultivate the crops ; and befure harvest time came, tha families were sent for. This waa called ''Mammy Dixon's War," from the fact that t'le alarm was caused by Mrs. Dixon's overhearing a conversation between some of the Indians, in which they expressed their dissatisfaction with the treaty. No outbreak occurred, however, and this was the last time the settlers at Buffalo Grove were driven from their homes by "wars and rumors of wars."

The first wedding ever celebrated in this vicinity was at the house of John Ankeney, early in 1832, when S. M. -Journey was married to Ankeney's only daughter. All the neighbors (except Kellogg's family) for miles about were invited and were present on the joyous occasion; many persons from Galena, Rush Creek and the southern part of the State, were also there. The dancing and festivities were kept up till near morning, when the happy couple were put to bed in real old-fashioned style. Journey afterwards went to California, where he still remains, while his wife is living at Lyons, Iowa.

We may here remark that the first newspaper issued in Chicago was published on the 2Gth of November, 1833, under the title of Chicago Democrat, by John Calhoun. In 1836, John Wentworth purchased Mr, Calhoun's interest, and has continued to publish the Democrat from that time to this - an example of steadfastness rarely to be found in the history of AVesteru newspaper enterprises. Mr. Calhoun died February 20th, 1859, in the 51st year of his age. For many years the settlers in this section depended almost entirely upon the Democmt for news

In 1834, Elisha Doty came from Peoria with his family, and settled at Buffalo Grove. In the same year, Ankeny removed to the farm now owned and occupied by Harry Smith. In May of ^hat year, Albion Sanford and his family setcled here, and in the fall they were followed by Cyrenus, Ahira and Harrison Sanford, with their families. ]Mr. Cyrenus Sanford was the father of Ahira, Albion and Harrison Sanford; he continued to reside at Buffalo Grove, on the same quarter section which he first " claimed" on his arrival here, until his death, which Occurred on the 28th of May, 1858. H 1834, a Mr. Sackett became a resident of Buffalo Grove. Pearson Shoemaker, now a resident of Elkhorn Grove, near the Ogle and Carroll county, line settled here in the same year. On the 4th of September,18S4, Cyrus Doty, the first white native of Ogle or any of the adjoining counties, was born at Buffalo Grove, where he still resides, having now a family of his own.

The first school ever taught in this county was at 0. W. Kellogg's house, in Buffalo Grove, in the winter of 1834-5, by Simon Fellows, In 1836, the building now occupied as a church by the United Brethren, at Buffalo Grove, was erected for the double purpose of a church and school-house - being the first building erected anywhere in this vicinity, for educational purposes. In the winter of 1836, there was a singing-school in this school-house. The building was built by subscription.

Iq 1835, the citizens of Buffalo G-rove received several accessions to their numbers, among whom were John D. Stevenson, George Webster and the Waterburys, all of whom are now living in the vicinity. Previous to 1835, the inhabitants of the Grove were obliged to go to Dixon's Ferry for their mail matter. In the winter of that year, a Post-Office was established at the Grove and Elkanah P. Bush appointed Postmaster. At this time there was no Post-Office at Rockford. Bush did not remain in office for any length of time, but was soon removed and 0. W. Kellogg appointed in his stead.

In 1835, 0. W. Kellogg and Hugh Stevenson laid out what is now the town of Buffalo, and called it St. Marion. About this time, V. A. Bogue was the only lawyer in the county, and to him were - referred all intricate questions of law, his judgment being considered final.

. The first saw-mill erected in Ogle county was the one now owned by John D. Stevenson, at Buffalo Grove. This mill was built in 1836, the proprietors being 0. W. Kellogg, George D. Wilcoxen and Reason Wilcoxen.

Up to 1838, almost the only money in circulation, was of the '-red-dog" stripe. Good money was very scarce, but these pictured "promises to pay" wereWcry abundant in proportion to the scarcity .of gold and silver. The harvests were abundant, but there was no market^ except in the lead mines. Cash had to be paid for sugar - wheat net being considered equivalent to it.

It may be interesting to note here that the only member of 0. W. Kellogg's family now living, is his daughter, the wife of E. B. Baker, Postmaster at Dixon. Mr. Kellogg became involved and lost his property, and, as a matter of course, his friends deserted him when his misfortune overtook him. He afterwards became a Minister of the G-ospel,, and died in Dixon. His wife, who was in every way a superior woman, survived, him only two or three years.

"Wilson's Mill" was begun in 1835 by Joseph M. Wilson and James Talbot,, and commenced grinding corn in Jun& 1836. Wheat was ground there in the fall of the same year. Phelps' saw-mill on Pine Creek was running in 1836; it is still in operation.

C. a. Holbrook, Esq., says: "When we came from Dixon in 1837, and came up on the rising ground three miles north of that place, there was not a single foot of ground to be seen which the hand of man had touched. Men were located in the country, but were in the hollows and groves where they could not be seen." Since settlements have been made, many of the prairie fluwers have disappeared, being destroyed by the cattle and the fires. When settlers first arrived here,ther8 was nounderbrush in the groves, as the spring' fires always kept it down, and one could see almost as far in the groves as in the prairies.

original alaims of Ankeuey and Chambers in Buffalo Grove. How the suits were decided is a matter of no particular importance to our readers, but it is interesting to notice the perpetuation of the quarrel.

J. W. Jenkins, in 1835, built the first house in tke present town of Oregon. In the year preceding, Martin C. Plills, Jehiel Day and a Mr. Goodwin made a claim on the prairie bordering on the river, and adjoining the village of Oregon, on the south. In 1835, John Phelps, now living in Texas, settled on his farm a short distance from Oregon, and shortly after, in company with some others, laid out that town. Thomas Ford, afterwards Governor of the State, arrived in 1836, and was soon followed by W. "W. Fuller, James V. and John Gale; the latter two are now the oldest settlers residing in the place. The first school in Oregon was taught by a Mr. Whitney, in 1839. In 1836, there were no settlements on the East side of the river from Oregon to Inlet. In that season, however, a piece of ground was broken near Washington Grove by a Mr. Stevenson, another nekr Oregon by William J. Mix. The country on the west side of the river was being more rapidly settled.

At the session of the Legislature held in 1835-6, Ogle county was organized, and embraced the territory now included .in the three counties of Ogle, Lee and W^hite«ide. The county seat was located at Dixon, and the first Circuit Court convened there in October, 1837, Hon. Daniel Stone, Judge, presiding. William W. Mudd was Sheriff, and William J. Mis was his Deputy. Smith Gilbraith, of Dixon, was Clerk, and Thomas Ford, Prosecuting Attorney. The name Ogle was given in honor of Capt. Ogle, at the suggestion of Gov. Ford. During his lifetime, Capt. Ogle was a resident of the southern part of the State. Among the jurors chosen at the first Circuit Court, will be found many familiar names. Among the Grand Jurors were John Whitaker, Lester Evarts, William Wamsley and G. D. II. Wilcoxen; and among the Petit Jurors we-find E. Kimball, Jarcd Sanford, James V. Gale, Elisha Doty and John D. Stevenson.

The first election in Ogle county of which we have any record was held at Oregon on the 24th day of December, 1836. The following is the record, as we find it in the County Clerk's office :

"At an election held at the house of John Phelps in Oregon City, in the County of Ogle and State of Illinois, on the 24th day of December, 1836, the following named persons received the number of votes annexed to their respective names for the following described offices, to wit:

(Jruffalo Crrove lost their -way oa their return from attending the above election, while in the region of Pine Creek, and did not reach their homes till several hours after their companions, who had preceded them.

At this time, instead of the present township organization system, the county affairs were principally administered by a Board of Commissioners. The first Board chosen consisted of V. A. Bogue, (now our County Judge,) S. St. John Mix and Cyrus Chamberlain. The first County Court was held by Commissioners Bogue and Mis, at Oregon, on the 3d of January, 1837, Smith Gilbraith being Clerk. Tlie second term of this Court was held at the house of F. Cushman, in Bufialo Grove, in the following March. At this hitting of the Court, the county was divided into election precincts as follows : ]>loomingville, (now Byron,) Oregon City, Grand Detour, Buffalo Grove, Dixon and Inlet.

A petition was presented by L. Andrus and others, asking for the appointment of viewers to locate a road from Dixon's Ferry to Grand Detour; thence to Oregon, on the west side of the river; thence to Bloomingville. The petition was granted and the present road was laid out shortly after. A license was also granted for establishing a ferry at Grand Detour.

The town of Byron, which was early called Bloomingville, was first settled in 1835. Jared Sanford came from the "Military Tract" in the month of June, in that year. On arriving at Kockford, by his pleasant story of the country through which he had passed, and especially of a mill site he had found near where Byron is now situated, he induced Perry Norton and James Sanford to return with him. They, being as well pleased with the country as he was, laid claim to all the country in the vicinity, according to the custom of those times. Mr. Norton is a native of New-York, and at the time of which we are how writing had been visiting his brother at Galena, where he "hired out" to Germanicus Kent, and had gone to Midway, by which name Bockford was then known, to perform the work he had been hired to do. Mr. Norton, in company with several other young men who were at work with him, came to Midway in the previous fall, where they kept " bachelor's hall" during the winter. In the spring, Mr. Mr. Norton's family ; which was the first, came to Midway. At the time that Messrs. Norton and Sanford left Rockford, there were but two families there. In the fall of '35, P. J. Kiaiball and M. M. York settled at Byron, and in the spring of '36 came S. O'Brian, Asa Spalding, Simon Spalding and James Spalding. The family of Mr. Shepherd was the first to come to Fairview, as the place was called before the name was changed to Bloomingville. In the winter of '36-7, a number of families, including those of Erastus Norton, S. St, John Mix and Lucius Heed, settled in the place. The first school-house in the place was built during this winter, and we believe the first school was taught in the summer following. After the prganization of Ogle county in 1836, a great deal of escitomeut and j strife ensued in regard to the county seat. ' The first Commissioners were favorable to Dixon, and held their sessions there. In 1838, the Oregon party succeeded in electing their candidates, and the county business was at once transferred to Oregon. The Commissioners soon made a contract for building a court house, and thus Jixed the county seat. As soon as this was done, the people of Dixon commenced agitating the question of a division of the county. John Dixou had posted, in Galena, notices of his intention to apply for the formation of a new county - the proposed territory including Oregon on the north. John Phelps, of Oregon, chanced to be in Galena and discovered the notices which Dixon had posted, and he immediately posted like notices of his intention to apply for a division of the county, the southern line of his county just including the present town of Dixon. Learning this fact, and being fully aware that if Mr. Phelps' project was successful, it would greatly detract from the importance of his town, Mr. Dixon at once called upon Mr. Phelps, when a compromise was agreed upon and the present limits of the two counties were fixed, and a joint petition was sent to the Legislature, the prayer of which was granted. The act for the separate organization of Ogle and Lee counties, is dated February 27th, 1839. Horatio Wales, now residing at ]'uffalo Grove, was the first Sherifi" after the new organization. In the spring of 1839, the first Circuit Court was held at Oregon, Judge Ford presiding.

We find in the Mt. Morris Gazette of July 17, 1851, a statement that the first regular preaching of the Gospel in this region'was in 1834-5, Ly Ilcv. Mr. Sugg, a young Methodist missionary, who here began his ministerial labors. Before he had spent a single year in his Master's service, he was called to his reward. In 1835, Rev. James M. Kean was sent into this field by the Conference. Mr. Kean died at Elkhorn Grove about two years ago.